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Dark Soles

Chapter 5

Sponsored by Rickochet

by Draconicon

Kaolix leaned against the stone archway on the far side of the ramparts, glaring over his shoulder at the smoking corpse of the massive minotaur. The damn thing had nearly thrown him off the wall, and only pure luck had kept him from being completely obliterated by its many hammer swings. Hell, it had gotten its hands on him more than once, and the last time...

He remembered the feeling of that massive hand and its bulky fingers wrapped around his waist, and the sensation of the demon's rising cock. It had come within a scant few inches of forcing his thighs apart and ripping his clothes open for its own pleasure, despite his many kicks. He scraped his bare feet against the stone, grinding off some of the mess that remained from that.

"It's dead. It. Is. Dead."

And he was still standing. The pyromancer chuckled to himself, shaking his head as he looked down at his hands. The fact that he had managed to take down that demon, that he was still standing, felt like a miracle. In some ways, he supposed, it was. The souls that he had collected from the many slain Undead in the city below had given him strength, stamina, but it was his power over fire that had clinched the battle for him. He felt it coming again, the fires of his pyromancy running between his fingers, tongue-like between his digits. The raccoon just watched them, savoring them, before clenching his hands into fists and dismissing them.

He had to keep moving. He'd slain a demon - and a massive demon, at that - but there were other threats around. Their warmth, their inner fires, were still moving in the distance, and he didn't want to be caught off-guard if they came his way.

So, he kept moving forward.

As he walked through the towers and covered walkways of the great wall that surrounded the Undead settlement below, he couldn't help but think of what he'd seen before. That brief meeting with Rebecca the sorcerer had been an intense thing, and one that he wished that they'd been able to properly finish. Getting flesh to flesh contact that was willing for the first time in...in...

Gods, he didn't want to think about how long it had been, and he shivered at the realization as he kept walking forward. Too long, he decided, too long since he'd been with another person.

Regardless, it had been cut short by a black shade that they'd barely been able to see, something that had seemed far more menacing than either of them could explain. By the time that they'd gotten a safe distance from it, the mare sorcerer had already disappeared back to her world, and he was alone once more.

Alone and blue-balled, for that matter. Much to his frustration.

The pyromancer shook his head, pausing as he reached an intersection and a choice of direction. He slowly leaned forward, poking his head out of the gap. To his right stretched a bridge over the city that connected to a higher ledge, one that he guessed linked up to wherever that elevator down at the Shrine led to. A number of Undead walked across it, shambling from one place to another, probably already all Hollow.

Nothing that he couldn't handle, though he imagined it would use up the rest of his pyromancy energy before he reached the other side. A bonfire would be very useful by that point.

To his left, on the other hand...

A pair of staircases led down to a balcony, one with a stone barrier to keep those on it from falling. Not that the one man on it seemed at all tempted by the vast fall before him, considering that he was staring up at the distant sun.

Well, Kaolix thought, he is either sane enough to be more interested in philosophical meditation than random violence, or he is crazy enough to want to blind himself. Either way, that's better than the Hollows on the bridge. And at least I can get some decent conversation for a change.

The barefoot raccoon stepped out from the hallway. He cleared his throat as he walked down the steps, and the armored figure immediately turned to him.

"Ah, hello," the golden bull said, his horns sticking out from the sides of his helmet as he chuckled. "You don't look Hollow. Far from it."

"Far from it, indeed. Would a Hollow look this good?" Kaolix asked, chuckling as he put his hands behind his head. "Or this hot?"

"Ah, haha, a jolly fellow indeed."

Well, at least the bull had a sense of humor, though not much, it seemed, interest in his fellow Undead. If the bull even was undead, for that matter. He walked down the steps, joining the armored man in looking up at the sky.

Despite the stupidity of the act, he even joined the bull in looking at the sun. There was, he decided, something wonderfully bright about it, and despite the slight sting that it left in the back of his eyes, he felt almost like he had been blessed to look at it, like he had when he had touched some of the primal fires that had come to his call when he'd been dropped by Vinheim. He looked away, blinking and shaking his head.

"Magnificent, isn't it?" the bull said. "I've always been a dedicated follower to the Lord of Sunlight, but ever since I became Undead, it's seemed all the more beautiful. Its shining light unites the world, and so, I follow it, seeking my very own sun."

"Mmm, well, if you're looking for impossible goals, I can't say that you can aim much higher," Kaolix said, shaking his head.

"Ah, and here I was about to ask if you thought me strange. Heh. You should; no need to hide it."

"Well, strange as you are, you're certainly more friendly than most in these parts. I'm Kaolix."

"And I am Solaire of Astora," the bull said, offering his armored gauntlet and shaking the raccoon's hand. "I am most pleased to meet you."

"Likewise."

Up close, Solaire certainly cut a nice figure. He had white-gold armor with green and red accents, and though he had a large helmet that hid most of his face, there was enough muzzle on display to show that he had a kindly and easy smile. Of course, that could easily be patronizing, considering that he stood a good eight inches taller than Kaolix did, but the raccoon chose to believe that it was friendly rather than patronizing. One less person to burn down, that way.

After shaking hands, Solaire turned back to the sun. Kaolix shook his head; it would have been nicer to have the bull looking at him that way, but he supposed beggars couldn't be choosers. And at least over here, he had someone that would sound off if a threat came close.

"I say, I have a proposition for you," Solaire said.

"A proposition? Well, if you're interested -"

"Oh, ha! Not quite like that, though I'm flattered that you're so interested in me."

"As if anyone wouldn't be; if I'm fire, you're already a blazing star."

And there was no lie in that. As vain as Kaolix was - and he knew that he was quite vain as things went - there was no denying that Solaire was someone that cut a fine figure of his own. Strong and broad across the shoulders, with a light to him that had nothing to do with the sun shining off his armor, he was one of those that would stand tall in the raccoon's memory for some time. And probably do more than just stand tall when there was more private time available.

Again, it was a pity that the man laughed off his flirting. He wanted some company, and badly.

"So, what's the proposition, then?" the raccoon asked, spreading his legs and leaning back.

"Well, the way I see it, the world is twisting and changing. Even now, I feel as if...as if we are sliding apart again, that our meeting was but by chance. I say, if the world allows us the chance to see each other again, we cooperate and aid each other. And everyone else that we find, I daresay; the world will only grow darker should we decide to abandon our fellow man, would it not?"

"You're not wrong," the raccoon muttered, remembering how the world had been very dark indeed back at the Asylum. "Without their help..."

"Friends of yours?" Solaire asked.

"There's a few out there. Some that would be good to see again, if there was a chance."

"Ah, then my friend, I think I may be able to help us both."

The bull reached to his packs, pulling out several small stones. He tossed them over and the raccoon caught them with ease.

"What are these?" he asked.

"White soapstones; I've noticed that they can leave messages behind that float between the worlds, and can be used to call on the one that's written them. It is hardly the precise tool that ones like ourselves would prefer, but when the choice is something clumsy or nothing at all...well..."

"Heh, I agree." He pocketed the stones, keeping one in hand. "Solaire...before you go, I've got a proposition of my own."

"Oh? Pray tell; I would love to hear what you have in mind."

"Just..." He got to his feet, walking on silent toes to the bull. "Turn around."

As soon as the knight did, the raccoon stood on his tiptoes and kissed the bull on the cheek. It was nothing more than the lightest of pecks, but it was sufficient unto its purpose. He chuckled as the golden male pulled back in shock, a blush on his cheeks and the slightest of smiles on his face.

"Oh, my. Perhaps I misjudged just how much you do like me."

"Keep that in mind; there's other propositions I could make."

"Well, ah, ahem. Fare thee well, Kaolix. Perhaps I shall see you again..."

The golden light of Solaire's armor faded at the knight's response, and soon, there was nothing left of him at all. It was a pity, really; he had been quite friendly, and certainly the warmest person that he'd seen in these horrible lands so far. But, at least he'd gotten something out of the bull.

"White soapstone, huh?" he muttered, tossing the rock up and down. "Well, we'll see how well that works. After the bridge..."

After all, the bridge itself didn't look that bad. There was a portcullis on the other side, completely barred from entry, but he was reasonably sure that he could get enough fire burning to break through part of the metal. The Hollows between him and the gate didn't look too dangerous. No more than the ones down in the settlement did, at any rate. They were probably weakened, starving, which meant that he could probably burn his way through them without too much difficulty as long as he didn't just run out into the middle of them.

Like he had done before. And almost died.

The raccoon dusted himself off, gathering himself as much as he gathered the flames between his fingers again. It was time to do this.

Yet, as soon as he walked up to the end of the bridge, marking the closed door on his right, he heard a thump overhead. Kaolix paused, one hand on the stone wall as he looked up -

"Holy -"

Only to leap back as fire consumed the stone top of the bridge. A massive wave of it extended from the rocks mere feet away from him to the midpoint of the bridge, and the deep thump, thump, thump of beating wings could only barely be heard by the roar of the dragon breathing fire.

The pyromancer stared at the inferno that had taken over the stone path before him, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open. Of all the things that he expected to see, a dragon burning its way across the bridge and taking up residence just above the gate on the far side was not one of them. The large red drake settled in place, its tail hanging off one side of the other end of the bridge, and its beady eyes focused on him.

It knew he was there. It was waiting for him to make a move.

"Fire drake...pyromancer..." He clenched his hands together a bit tighter. "Can't be that much difference between us, can there? I killed two demons...and I did the second one on my own. It can't have that much more power than I do..."

He hoped it didn't. If he believed in gods properly, he might have prayed that it didn't.

One deep breath turned into two, then three, before he finally forced himself to run. The fires had died down, but he still felt the singing heat beneath his feet. His soles burned, hissing as they slid on the hot stone, but the roar of the drake was all that he could focus on.

Fire. You have fire. Use the fire. Use the Fire.

Kaolix brought his hands up, the fire strands twisting and turning as he summoned them. The drake was already taking to the skies again, fire blooming from its lips. As it breathed, he threw his hands up, spears of fire leaping from his palms. They streaked toward the dragon, and the dragon's fireball came for them...

And consumed them.

The raccoon's eyes went wide as the fire all but ate his flames, streaking through the air right for him. His mouth hung open as time sped up and the air around him went from too warm to incinerating. His fur burned and the reek of flesh melting and fur turning to smoke filled his nostrils. He screamed in agony as fire, his eternal ally, turned against him, the drake's flame burning him to dust...

#

"Ah!"

He leaped up from the bonfire, his mouth hanging open and his eyes wide. He grabbed for his face, only to stare at his hands again.

"No...no, no, no, no, no..."

Death had stripped him of the humanity that he had taken from the Asylum Demon, returning his flesh and fur to the patchy, burned look that it had had back in the cells. His breath came in ragged pants, and the pain - the so-soon forgotten pain - came back with a vengeance. Everything pushed at him, demanding relief from the raw flesh, the broken skin, the bones that were pushed near to their breaking point just from holding together. He wanted to scream; he did scream.

As he fumbled through what he had on him, he eventually found it. The Humanity that he had managed to take from the bull-demon on the wall flickered and flowed like a disembodied black flame. It had been something that he had kept more as a curiosity than a need. Now, it was his only connection back to the other, healthier self that he had almost forgotten.

No more...no more...

The pain, the reminder of his Undead state, the lack of life throughout his limbs wasn't something that he could tolerate. Not anymore. He needed that...he needed that taken care of. He needed his fur in good condition. He needed to not hurt just because he was alive. Everything needed to be fixed, and the Humanity -

The Humanity was already taking care of that. He shivered, hating himself for how weak he'd become that the simple death - something that had once held no terror - now felt like something that could break him if he didn't have some Humanity to fix things. All that time in the Asylum, all those months or years or however long it had been spent as something on the cusp of being completely Hollowed out, and now, he was almost a wreck just from one death.

And yet, he still shook with relief as his fur started growing back in, as the burn-marks faded, as the patches disappeared and the damaged feeling faded away. His hands trembled, fingers spasming in the throes of someone that had completely lost control of themselves, and he didn't even try to stop it.

It took Kaolix a full ten minutes to come back from the fears of what might happen if he died too many times again, and by the time he did, he hated himself. What a weakling the proud pyromancer had become. What would his past self say to -

"I'd say I was alive, and that was all that mattered," the raccoon muttered, cutting off those hateful thoughts. "I'm still alive, and that's all that matters. Nobody's going to burn me down but me. I'm going to live long enough to show all those arrogant little sorcerers that the flame was all that mattered. I swear...I swear..."

It was the same promise that he had made to keep himself alive in the Asylum, and the promise held power now, just as it had then. It slowly calmed him down, and when he was able to look out the door, he was able to think clearly. He was back to the bonfire just before the big bull demon, and from what he could tell, the Undead were back. He shook his head, about to leave...

Then he felt two things, one new, one missing.

The first was a soul that had been tucked away in his bag with the Humanity that he had managed to rescue from the demon. It glowed with power, a great deal of power, and he smiled as he realized that the minotaur had carried more than just its own harvested Humanity. It had a powerful soul of its own right, something that he could use to gain power for himself.

The other...

The other was a lack of all the souls that he had drained from those that he'd fought on the way up. All those that he had taken from the Undead, all those that he had earned in the big fight...were gone.

What was very nearly a panic turned into something else as he focused on that empty feeling. At first, it was nothing but a lack, but as he focused on what it was supposed to be, on the warmth that had once filled him, he could feel an echo from somewhere. Somewhere...above him.

Cautiously, Kaolix wandered to the doorway, glancing past the crossbow archer standing in front of him towards the bridge that looked over the settlement. He focused on the echoing feeling, staring at it, and felt his eyes being drawn to a spot halfway across the bridge...right where he'd died.

So...we leave power behind if we gained anything...

And it was still there, still surging with the power of all those souls collected together. Something about that much soul energy gathered into one place must have caused it all to mesh together or something like that. Whatever the reason, it meant that the whole mass of souls were still there, waiting for him to make his way back and take it for his own again. Once he did that, he would be able to get even stronger.

But how was he going to get that without getting torched...

He shook his head. He'd figure it out when he got back to that point.

#

Kaolix arrived with less blood on his hands than he expected. He had run the gauntlet of Undead and Hollows so many times at this point that he knew it like the back of his hand. He'd spent less fire than he expected, but then again, experience seemed to matter.

When he reached the intersection from before, he glanced to where Solaire had been standing, but the bull was gone. A shame; it would have been nice to steal more than a kiss from the handsome male.

But, at least that meant that he could address the bridge - and the giant scaly problem at the other end - without having to deal with the distraction and embarrassment of someone else maybe seeing him die. Repeatedly.

This time, the raccoon stopped at the very edge of the last fiery breath rippling across the bridge. The drake's fire was strong enough that there was no possible way that he could seize control of it; whatever delusions he had of having the strength to break through to the other side by just seizing the fire were just that. Delusions. So, he'd have to find a different way, either of challenging the drake direction - something that he felt probably wouldn't go well - or taking some other way around the big scaly monster.

He tapped his fingers against the stone wall, tapping his chin until he saw the way forward. It was simple enough, and certainly something that would be easier than fighting the dragon. The only question was whether he could move fast enough through the lines of Hollows that still stood among the dying flames.

"Hmmm...hmmm..."

It was barely possible, and he didn't like his odds. However...there was another possibility. He reached for the soapstone at his waist, tossed it up and down, and sighed.

"Well, might as well see if it works."

As he knelt down to write, he felt the stone warm in his hand. It seemed to almost feed on the fire of his pyromancy glove, and he hesitated before continuing. When it didn't do anything to drain his power away, he breathed out a small sigh of relief. It must have been just a coincidence.

Soon, he had a message written out on the ground. It was simple, focused, and to the point, and he hoped that whoever passed it turned out to be helpful.

Anyone who can hit from a distance, come through.

That done, he leaned against the wall, and waited...

And waited...

And waited...

The sun started to move across the sky and he was just starting to consider moving onto the bridge when the sign changed. He blinked as it shimmered, breaking down into a white shape that slowly rose from the ground. Familiar feathers started to take form, and a black-feathered head and rough body started to show through the silhouette. More color took over the white, until one of the other escapees of the Asylum lifted his head.

"...So, that's what that thing did. When did you figure out how to do that?" Baldred asked.

"After meeting a new friend. Long story." Kaolix tossed one of the white soapstones to the crow, who caught it with his free hand. "Simple thing; I need someone that can help me get across the bridge."

"Why? What's on it?"

"First time here?"

"I just got past the gods-damned bull back there; Rebecca had to help me get past that. What kind of hell is waiting out there?"

Kaolix pointed, and the crow turned. The feathery bandit stared at the drake for a moment before slapping a hand across his face.

"That is not what I wanted to see."

"The feeling's mutual. It killed me once already; I'm trying to avoid any more of that. No need to get all burned and nasty again," the raccoon said, running his hand down his side and squeezing at his leg. Just...flesh. The feeling of flesh was nice. "And I have a way past it. If you can -"

"No thanks."

"I'm helping you, too. You have to admit that."

"I'll figure it out. Goodbye."

And just as suddenly as the crow had come, he was gone. Despite the fact that he had carried throwing knives - not ideal, but better than nothing, and certainly less draining for the raccoon than throwing his fire everywhere - he was not willing to lend a hand.

"So much for jolly cooperation," he muttered.

Yet, at the same time, he didn't think that it was over. Not yet, at least. Kaolix leaned down, putting the same message on the bridge, and then leaned back against the stone wall once more. If nothing else, he had time, and he had patience. Sooner or later, something would happen - or someone would come - and he'd be able to take a step across the bridge. If the worst occurred, then he would make a run for it on his own, but failing that, he would give Baldred another chance. Something told him that the crow bandit would have a harder time getting past the drake than he thought.

As he waited, he was half-sure that he heard the roaring of the drake again and again, though he never saw it open its mouth, nor did he see the fire come again. He wondered if it was like the feeling of the ghosts and other-worlds passing by, or if it was just his imagination.

Regardless, he eventually started to reach down between his legs. The lack of satisfaction at the Shrine bonfire had continued to bother him, and now that he had flesh again, he was more than a little interested in taking care of that.

It wasn't like the raccoon had ever had much in the way of modesty. Back in Vinheim, he'd put himself out there quite frequently, and he knew for a fact that some of the sorcerers had considered him a dirty little secret of theirs, someone that they could come to for fun that they would never admit to knowing outside of those encounters. He had gotten a lot of use out of them, and they had done the same for him.

Shrugging off any embarrassment at the idea of an Undead or Hollow seeing him masturbate, he undid the ties of his clothes, reaching in and pulling his dick out. It was already firm, ready for attention, and he barely bothered to spit in his palm before he started stroking himself.

"Mmmph...that's it...thaaaaat's it..."

He closed his eyes to slits, enjoying the feeling of his fingers gripping his cock, his hips twitching for a moment as his ringed tail swayed behind him. It was less than the footjob or the anal that he had started enjoying with Rebecca, but it was something.

Stroke, stroke, stroke went his hand, teasing the shaft between his fingers, stroking right up past the tip before grinding it back down. His balls were already delivering pre-cum, oozing up the shaft and out the tip. He was so pent-up that it wasn't even funny; he needed some relief after so long in the Asylum, and then after the tease down below, and then after Solaire, and -

The mark glowed.

"Nnngh..."

His balls ached as he put everything away again. The glow solidified into the crow's shape once more, and the axe-wielding bandit looked quite a bit more pissed off than he had been just a few moments ago.

"Problems?" Kaolix asked.

"How the hell do we get across?"

"Happy to tell you...for a price."

"Fine. I'll help you across, but -"

"No, no. You're going to help me across, and then, you're going to help me with a different issue." The raccoon cupped his groin, just to make sure that the offer was that much more explicit. "I'm sick of dealing with being horned up all the time. You want me to tell you how we get across to the other side? You help deal with this when we get there."

"...That's just messed up."

"Take it or leave it."

"You'd leave me here?"

"What was that about, I don't know, 'figuring it out'?"

"..."

"Call it a consultancy fee. You want to get across, and so do I. I did the work of figuring out how to get there, and how to do it in a way that doesn't get us both killed. My payment is that you help take care of that when we get to the other side. That seems fair enough."

"...I'm going to regret this...but fine. Don't have another Humanity to waste, anyway."

"So glad that you could see sense." The raccoon pointed to the nearest Hollows. "Clear a path to that alcove over there with your throwing knives. Once we have a clear shot, follow my lead..."

And he'd need to grab his lost souls. Best not to forget that.

#

It worked. Just as he'd hoped, not only was there an under-passage to the bridge, but it passed right by the earlier bonfire. After knocking the ladder down to get to it easier, Kaolix led the way across the underside of the bridge, past several other Hollows and into a small room filled with no less than three rats. One had almost managed to bite him, and he'd seen the dripping ooze that was coming off their fangs. Too close, far too close for comfort.

With the beasts dead all around them, he and Baldred caught their breath. The crow looked back the way they'd come, only to turn when Kaolix cleared his throat.

"Time to pay up," the raccoon said, undoing his clothes.

"You can't be serious."

"I'm pretty damn serious. Do you know how long it's been?"

"...Well, it's going to have to be a little longer," Baldred said.

"Are you backing out of a deal, bandit?"

"Who said anything about backing out? I think that we're just out of time," the crow said.

"Time - oh, you son of a -"

"Byyyyyyye."

The twiddling fingers of the smirking bandit were just as bad as a flashed pair of middle fingers for what they actually meant. Kaolix just stared, dumbfounded at the fact that he had been utterly fooled. His pants hit his ankles, and his cock just throbbed stupidly between his legs as he tried to process what had just happened.

He had been bamboozled, used, despite his best intentions. The curses that he wanted to heap on the crow for stabbing him in the back like this just kept mounting up, and oh, the ways that he would howl if he could just find a way to make the other man hear it.

This wasn't fair. This truly wasn't fair, and now he had a throbbing need with no friendly - or at least, willing - hand to help him out with it. Standing barefoot in the middle of a scummy pond didn't help with things, either.

"So much for a little hand," he muttered, stepping back until he reached the ladder and some dry footing. "Well...old reliable it is."

He reached for his shaft, squeezing it once more. It didn't take long for the comfortable pleasure that he'd started to build up before Baldred's appearance started to come back, and he groaned under his breath as he felt the throbbing build up as well. Up, down, up, down his hand went, the familiar strokes coming back, and he bit his lips as he felt his balls already starting to clench, churning away with the raw need that they were so eager to spit free.

Just...a little more...

He closed his eyes, groping his balls with his other hand and letting the heat of the pyromancer glove seep up and around his shaft. It was hot, almost too hot, but not quite enough to hurt. It was just that warmth, that heat, that sent that lovely, warm scent of a hot cock up to his nose, and that almost made it like there was someone else there. As he worked himself to the edge, he let his mind go, fantasizing about the bird...and how he would love to put that feathery butt down...and back to Rebecca, thinking of her lovely, soft soles...and -

Thump.

He almost leaped out of his skin as a firm grip pushed down on his shoulder. Somehow, someone was there...and it had happened with his back against the wall, with no clear way of anyone being able to come up behind him.

"What do we have here?" The voice was deep, but quiet, whispering to him almost. "Don't answer. I don't think that needs to be explained. But I think that you could use a little help, little fire-bug..."

"W-who are you?" Kaolix whispered.

"Just someone that might be able to offer you a deal...if you're willing to stain your soul a bit for it...Heh...I think you could use my help quite a bit, as a matter of fact..."

The End

Summary: Oh, my god, we're back. And yes, White Soapstones don't work that way, I know. It's a twist on it. Anyway, Kaolix takes center stage and our pyromancer finds himself rather lonely.

Tags: M/M, M/solo, Masturbation, Kissing, Solaire, Raccoon, Bull, Crow, Dark Souls, Parody, Rule 34, Series, Half-Naked, Barefoot, Fire, Death, Addiction,