{"sf1_id":2077574,"sf2_id":"P1EvjG5e","title":"Chapter 1: Late Night Check In","author":"PapaDelta","words":3448,"posted_at":"2023-12-01T01:22:08.000Z","tags":["Age Difference","Age Play","Bareback","Bathing","Bodypaint","Boobs","Breast Fondling","Breastfeeding","Chastity Play","Claws","Cowgirl","Creampie","Cunnilingus","Drama","Fantasy","First Person","Forest","Garden","Greentext","Grizzly","HMOFA","Heat","Heterosexual","Human","Humor","Lactation","MILF","Magic","Masturbation","Mild Violence","Multiple Breasts","Nipples","Penis","Pussy","Risk of Pregnancy","Romance","Semi Consensual","Straight","Teasing","Tribal","Yoga"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2077574-chapter-1-late-night-check-in","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/P1EvjG5e","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/47/e5/47e56b73-33e0-43a9-88aa-7f9ec1d69e20","description":"Malik, a novice mage, travels to the far end of the civilized world on a mission to learn from a mysterious druid known as Nella. While under her tutelage he's torn between acting like the fine upstanding mage he was brought up to be and giving into his more base desires, Nella's way of life being far more liberated than what he's used to. All the while Nella seems intent on teasing the poor mage to his breaking point.   \n  \n~28,500 words  \n  \nNote: Tags apply to the work as a whole.","content":"\\\u003eMy horse trots along at a tired pace, the day's journey having worn the old mare down\n\n\\\u003eMy guide, a centaur with a jet-black coat of fur on his lower body and a hefty spear slung across his back, raises his hand signaling us to stop\n\n\\\u003eI gently pull back on the reigns and my mount stumbles to a halt\n\n\\\u003eI scan the forest, why did we stop?\n\n\\\u003eWith the day coming to an end the floor of the forest is cast in dim shadows and a distant mist, the last rays of the sun shining just above the treetops\n\n\\\u003eTall pine trees, berry bushes, and a floor of moist dirt and loose foliage fill my vision\n\n\\\u003eAfter having scanned every possible angle of attack I see nothing out of the ordinary\n\n\\\u003eI urge my mount into a slow walk and stop just behind my guide\n\n\\\u003eHis hand is still raised and he stares intently somewhere in front of us, as if observing a distant threat\n\n\\\u003eYet to my eyes our front appears to be nothing but low branches and a barely maintained dirt trail\n\n\\\u003e\"Armon, why have we stopped?\" I whisper\n\n\\\u003eHis hand slowly lowers\n\n\\\u003e\"Scouts. Two wolves. They smelled us then took off. The tribe will be aware of your arrival.\" He flatly states, speaking in the same dry monotone voice he always did\n\n\\\u003eI have to assume most centaurs speak this way, I've detected not a single identifiable emotion from the horse man since hiring him some days ago\n\n\\\u003eI squint into the distance and see nothing still\n\n\\\u003e\"I believe this to be a good thing Armon. If we've encountered scouts then we must be getting close. Think we can make it there before nightfall?\"\n\n\\\u003eHe looks to the darkening sky and huffs\n\n\\\u003e\"Doubtful. We could make it there today but we would have to travel in the dark.\" He retrieves the spear from his back. “I've told you how dangerous these roads can be after dark. I do not recommend it.\"\n\n\\\u003eI suppress a chuckle and reach behind me, fetching an oaken staff\n\n\\\u003eI raise the stout piece of walnut in front of me and look to Armon, like most residents of this land he was not used to the kind of magic that I practiced\n\n\\\u003e\"I'd like to take that chance. May I?\"\n\n\\\u003eHis eyebrows wrinkle in confusion\n\n\\\u003e\"May you what?\"\n\n\\\u003e\"Light the way. Like I said, I'm a mage.\"\n\n\\\u003eHe shrugs\n\n\\\u003e\"That's an odd torch, but you may.\"\n\n\\\u003eI give him a thankful nod and hold the staff even higher\n\n\\\u003eI think of the magical incantation for brilliant illumination and the head of my staff explodes in a bright bluish-white light\n\n\\\u003eArmon gasps in surprise and turns away, nervously pacing back and forth as he takes in the vibrant display of magic\n\n\\\u003e\"Fields of thunder!\" He bellows. “I've never seen a torch burning without flame before!\" Armon shouts, eyes wide with wonder as he stares at the ball of light glowing from my staff\n\n\\\u003eI smirk, silently happy to have finally gotten a rise out of him\n\n\\\u003e\"Like I said Armon, my magic is foreign to the people of this land. All the more reason I need to make it to the village and meet with Nella. We have much to learn from one another.\"\n\n\\\u003eHe retakes his position in front of me\n\n\\\u003e\"Mages. Druids. Strange folk. Odd inclinations.\" He mumbles under his breath\n\n\\\u003eWith our path lit by my staff we resume the journey to the village, passing over small hills and across shallow streams\n\n\\\u003eEvery now and then I'll see the glowing yellow eyes of some forest dwelling beast in the distance but I pay it no mind, if it were dangerous Armon would surely warn me\n\n\\\u003eThe sky is cast in near total darkness by the time we stop again, shadows cast in inky darkness and vague shapes filling my peripheral vision as I turn my head\n\n\\\u003eOnce again I have no idea why we stopped so I trot up to my guide\n\n\\\u003eBut before I can ask him he opens his mouth\n\n\\\u003e\"We're here. The village is just a couple hundred yards in that direction. They have a bonfire going so they must be prepared for your arrival.\"\n\n\\\u003eHe points to somewhere off the trail and my eyes follow, spotting a dim orange glow beyond the trees\n\n\\\u003e\"Thank you. I believe this is yours.\" I reach into one of my saddle bags and retrieve a small leather purse. I grab a few coins and hold my hand out. “Ten gold marks, as agreed.\"\n\n\\\u003eThey fall into his waiting hand and he bows\n\n\\\u003e\"Our agreement is fulfilled. I wish you luck on meeting with Nella, she is a strange beast, even among the druids.\"\n\n\\\u003e\"You've met her?\"\n\n\\\u003e\"Once or twice. She keeps to herself in the forest most of the time, communing with wild beasts and talking to the land. I would try not to anger her, she is gifted with the magical arts.\"\n\n\\\u003e\"I think I can deal with some minor spellcaster like her, I've yet to see a beast folk I could call truly magically gifted. Most are content simply knowing a healing spell or two, serving as village healers or shamans. They're barely above the common fraudster if you ask me.\"\n\n\\\u003eArmon shrugs\n\n\\\u003e\"It is not my place to speak on matters of the mystical. Just be careful with what you show them. The folk out here are rarely exposed to magic, they may become frightened.\"\n\n\\\u003e\"I agree. I should consult with Nella before exposing them to anything major. Wouldn't want to scare those under her care.\" I turn my horse towards the village. “Do you want to spend the night there Armon? You can follow me to the village.\"\n\n\\\u003eHe sheepishly turns away with a nervous laugh\n\n\\\u003e\"No, no. I…have a history with the village. It would not be good for me to make my presence known. I will make camp here then return to town tomorrow morning.\"\n\n\\\u003eI shrug\n\n\\\u003e\"Suit yourself. Goodbye Armon.\"\n\n\\\u003e\"Goodbye, Malik.\"\n\n\\\u003eI turn my horse towards the forest and begin moving towards the village, the orange glow becoming brighter as I approach\n\n\\\u003eI soon hear the loud whoops and hollers of the tribe members echo through the trees, their voices loud and guttural\n\n\\\u003eYet as I draw closer I can't make out a single word among the cacophony\n\n\\\u003eDamn it, I should have asked Armon if these people even speak in the common tongue\n\n\\\u003eSilently cursing my lack of foresight I draw closer to the village, soon exiting the tree line and coming to the clearing the village is nestled in\n\n\u0026nbsp;\\\u003eI see a number of huts and wooden cabins, all surrounding a massive bonfire in the center of the village\n\n\\\u003eThe flames easily reach the height of five men, fed by entire trees worth of wood and surrounded by a circle of dancing beast folk\n\n\\\u003eThey're prancing in a circle around the fire and shouting towards the sky in their strange tongue, arms held out with all their hands interlinked\n\n\\\u003eI survey the odd scene for a few moments, taking in their strange display\n\n\\\u003eWhat is this? A celebration? A ritual? Are they asking for help from the gods? Warding away misfortune? Preparing for a feast?\n\n\\\u003eIf it's that last one I hope I'm not the one they intend on serving\n\n\\\u003eI grip my staff a little tighter and will the spell of illumination to die, my surroundings turning to darkness\n\n\\\u003eI urge my mount into a slow walk and begin closing the distance\n\n\\\u003eI stop a few dozen feet away from the fire and still they haven't noticed my presence, every single member totally focused on dancing and shouting\n\n\\\u003eI raise a hand up and shout\n\n\\\u003e\"Hail!\"\n\n\\\u003eAs soon as my voice fills the air the entire tribe freezes, then turns around\n\n\\\u003eI grow uneasy as several dozen pairs of eyes meet me all at the same time\n\n\\\u003eI lick my dry lips and try again\n\n\\\u003e\"I've come to meet with Nella! Is there a leader here I can speak to?\"\n\n\\\u003eA single member of the tribe breaks from the rest and walks towards me\n\n\\\u003eFrom the silhouette I can tell it's a wolf, with tall, pointed ears and long muzzle\n\n\\\u003eThe beast folk nears my side and I look down at them\n\n\\\u003eIt's a male, on the older side, could he be some kind of tribe leader?\n\n\\\u003e\"Hello, my name is Malik. I've come to see Nella.\"\n\n\\\u003eHe cocks his head\n\n\\\u003e\"Nella? Set har che coma? Kay Farth?\"\n\n\\\u003eFuck\n\n\\\u003eThese guys really don't speak the common tongue\n\n\\\u003eI nod my head and speak slowly\n\n\\\u003e\"Yes, Nella. I need to see Nella. She's a druid.\"\n\n\\\u003e\"Nella! Druid!\" He barks back excitedly\n\n\\\u003eGood, at least we have two terms in common\n\n\\\u003eI nod my head again\n\n\\\u003e\"Yes, Nella.\"\n\n\\\u003eHe shouts a few incomprehensible words back to the tribe and raises his hands in celebration\n\n\\\u003eThe rest of the tribe screams joyously and rushes towards me, I have to keep a steady hand on the reigns to keep my mount from moving as a wave of beast folk swarm around under me\n\n\\\u003eWolves, deer, bear, rabbit, rat, coyote, it's a wide mix of species\n\n\\\u003eThey reach for my cloak and run their fingers over my boots, touching and feeling every part of me and my mount they can\n\n\\\u003eI nearly raise my staff in self-defense before the old wolf raises his voice, looking over the crowd\n\n\\\u003eHe barks a few orders out and the crowd backs away\n\n\\\u003eHe speaks once more and I see a curious sight emerge from the crowd\n\n\\\u003eIt's a juvenile centaur with the lower half of a feral horse, like Armon, but instead of having the upper half of a human this centaur has the upper half of an equine beast folk\n\n\\\u003eSo she's half feral horse, and half anthro horse\n\n\\\u003eNever did I expect to see such an odd combination out here\n\n\\\u003eThe filly approaches the old wolf and they speak together in their strange tongue\n\n\\\u003eThe small horse girl gallops to the fire and retrieves a torch, then returns to the old man\n\n\\\u003eHe pats her on the head with a smile, then points to me\n\n\\\u003eThe filly approaches cautiously\n\n\\\u003e\"He says I'm to guide you to Nella's garden.\" She says\n\n\\\u003eI smile at her, happy to see that there's at least one person here I can communicate with\n\n\\\u003e\"That's right, I'm here to meet with the druid of this village. Lead the way little horse.\"\n\n\\\u003eThe crowd of beast folk return to their fire and resume their wild dancing and shouting as the filly and I make out way into the woods, our way lit with her flickering torch\n\n\\\u003eGrowing tired of the silence I decide to make some small talk\n\n\\\u003e\"So, what's your name?\"\n\n\\\u003e\"Freia.\"\n\n\\\u003e\"That's a pretty name. My name is Malik.\"\n\n\\\u003e\"Your name is ugly. Sounds strange.\" She responds in that same dry tone Armon talked in\n\n\\\u003eGuess they really all do sound that way\u0026nbsp;\n\n\\\u003eI shrug off her comment and change the subject\n\n\\\u003e\"Freia, if you don't mind me asking, are you the only person in this village who speaks in the common tongue? I couldn't understand a thing the wolf back there was saying.\"\n\n\\\u003e\"Just me and my mom can speak it. Everyone else talks in the old way. And the wolf who greeted you earlier is our chief, our most respected elder. His name is Arin.\"\n\n\\\u003e\"Noted. Are you the only centaur in the village? Everyone else I saw back there walked on two legs.\"\n\n\\\u003e\"Yes, it's just me. My mother is a mare of the two-legged kind while my father was the one I inherited my lower half from. Don't ask me anything about him though, he was banished from the village soon after I was born. Something he did made my mother very angry, but she refuses to tell me what it was. Something about not being able to keep his sword in its sheath, I think. Perhaps he cut someone with it.\"\n\n\\\u003eIt's beginning to make sense why Armon didn't want to step a single hoof in the village\n\n\\\u003e\"Oh, sorry for bringing it up.\"\n\n\\\u003eI awkwardly face forward until her voice draws my attention downward again\n\n\\\u003e\"So why are you here Malik? Have you come to help us?\"\n\n\\\u003eI sigh, a rush of unpleasant memories flooding my mind\n\n\\\u003e\"I've…come here on a mission of learning. I'm a member of the grand college of mages back in the capital.\"\n\n\\\u003e\"And you came out all the way out here to meet with Nella? Why?\"\n\n\\\u003eI grind my teeth as the answer pops into my mind\n\n\\\u003eThe truth is, I'm a fuckup\n\n\\\u003eFailed every arcane test at the college, was tutored by every wizened old mage only for them to quit in frustration when my magical abilities failed to progress beyond a novice level, I even lit the head mage on fire with a horribly miscast fireball one time\n\n\\\u003eThe only reason they didn't kick me out was because my father is a well-respected professor at the college, with his connections he was able to prevent me from being outright expelled\n\n\\\u003eYet after the little incident with the head mage they had to get rid of me, or at least send me somewhere far away where I wouldn't bother them for a while\n\n\\\u003eHence my journey to the ass end of the kingdom, to the land of the backwards barely civilized beast folk, to meet with a druid of dubious magical ability and 'learn' from her whatever I can before making the long journey back home\n\n\\\u003eMy father tried to soften the blow, say that they were only sending me out here so I could 'find my niche', whatever the hell that means\n\n\\\u003eBut I can read the room well enough to know they sent me out here to get me out of their hair\n\n\\\u003eAfter all, what could I possibly learn from some dried-up old druid lady? Learn how to talk to plants or something? Ha!\n\n\\\u003eI clear my head of unpleasant thoughts and turn to Freia\n\n\\\u003e\"My colleagues believe Nella to be a powerful druid capable of many unknown and novel abilities. I came out here to learn what I can from her, then return to the capital to share my knowledge.\"\n\n\\\u003e\"That she is-that she is!\" She repeats with an excited whinny. “You'll learn much from Nella! She's helped our tribe through many hardships. Making sure our crops don't die during droughts, taking care of our cattle when they become sick, she even grants blessings of fertility and good health to the whole village every year!\"\n\n\\\u003e\"She sounds like a most powerful druid. Hopefully our meeting bears fruit.\" I flatly respond\n\n\\\u003eThe filly chuckles slyly in response\n\n\\\u003e\"What?\"\n\n\\\u003e\"Nothing.\" She blurts out. “Look Malik! Her hut is just up ahead.\"\n\n\\\u003eI turn forward and see Nella's home come into view, Freia's torch illuminating the small abode as we draw closer\n\n\\\u003eThe hut is nestled into a small hill and made primarily of compacted dirt and dried clay, several round windows are placed haphazardly at varying heights along the outward facing wall with a single flickering candle placed behind each one\n\n\\\u003eThe roof is flat and extends into the hill itself, it must be made of soil since there's short grass growing on its surface\n\n\\\u003eThe door, if it could even be called that, is nothing more than a massive piece of bark, presumably stripped from one of the nearby trees and cut to a rough rectangle\n\n\\\u003eTo be polite, Nella's hut could be described as 'cozy' or 'humble'\n\n\\\u003eTo be impolite, it looks like a barely maintained hovel, fit only for the most destitute of beings\n\n\\\u003eIt's also exactly what I expected, druids are known for being in tune with nature and that rarely means complex living spaces with any sort of modern amenity\n\n\\\u003eWe approach the entrance and Freia trots forward, ripping off a piece of parchment that was pinned to the door\n\n\\\u003e\"She left a note for you Malik.\" She says, reading the note in torchlight\n\n\\\u003e\"What does it say? Is she even home right now?\"\n\n\\\u003eThe filly shakes her head\n\n\\\u003e\"She says that she anticipated your arrival but is currently collecting nightcrawlers out in the fields. She welcomes you to her home and says that you are free to use the bed. You may also tie up your horse at any of the nearby trees, and not to worry as there are no predators nearby that could harm her.\"\n\n\\\u003eNo nearby predators? Ya right! Me and Armon saw all manner of feral wolf and bear on the way here\n\n\\\u003eI just about roll my eyes when a realization hits me\n\n\\\u003e\"That no nearby predators could harm, _her_?\" I say to Freia\n\n\\\u003eThe filly nods\n\n\\\u003e\"That's what the note says. You are riding on a mare, yes?\"\n\n\\\u003eSure, anticipating that I would arrive on horseback is an easy thing to guess given the distances I'm crossing, but correctly stating the gender of my mount is a little odd\n\n\\\u003eI step down from my mount grip my staff\n\n\\\u003e\"Well Freia, I believe this is where we part ways. Thank you for guiding me here and have a safe trip back to the village.\"\n\n\\\u003e\"I hope you learn a lot from Nella, Malik. Do you need this? Nella tends to keep the interior of her home dimly lit.\"\n\n\\\u003eShe offers me her torch but I turn it away\n\n\\\u003e\"No, I can light my own way from here.\"\n\n\\\u003eI hold up my staff and will it to light again, my surroundings now bathed in more bluish-white light\n\n\\\u003eFreia gasps and backs away, then slowly turns toward the village\n\n\\\u003e\"I should head home before mother begins to worry. Goodbye Malik.\"\n\n\\\u003eI wave her goodbye and she trots back to the village, her torch soon disappearing among the trees\n\n\\\u003eFunny, so far every beast folk I've shown that little light trick to has been awestruck by it\n\n\\\u003eBut I doubt Nella would be so easily impressed\n\n\\\u003eIt's something even the most novice of mages can do, often without any sort of instruction due to how simple it is\n\n\\\u003eIt's also one of the few spells I can perform on a regular basis without screwing up\n\n\\\u003eBut the reason isn't because of my own magical abilities, no, it's because of the staff\n\n\\\u003eImbued with all manner of assistive enchantments and powerful energies it amplifies, corrects, and guides my own spells, ensuring that any spell I can at least kinda-sorta-maybe perform is casted without trouble\n\n\\\u003eI'll just have to make sure that Nella doesn't find out lest she discover how poor my own abilities are and ruin my pride\n\n\\\u003eI tie my horse up to a nearby tree and walk to the large piece of bark masquerading as a door\n\n\\\u003eI pull it open and shine my staff inside\n\n\\\u003eAs soon as the light hits the interior I hear the scurry of tiny feet and spot a few pink tails run into the darkness\n\n\\\u003eShe has rats in her home\n\n\\\u003eOf course\n\n\\\u003eWhy wouldn't she?\n\n\\\u003eI sigh and close the door behind me, looking around at what will be my new home for the next week or two\n\n\\\u003eThe inside is much like the outside, walls made of dirt or clay with a few slender supports holding the ceiling up\n\n\\\u003eThe supports seem to be made of a bone like material, they must be the leftovers of some large animal\n\n\\\u003eShe puts nothing to waste, that's plain as day\n\n\\\u003eA few chairs and tables line the interior, they're all made of rotting wood or scavenged material from the forest\n\n\\\u003eLike Freia said the space is dimly lit, the only light aside from my staff are the melting candles placed by the windows\n\n\\\u003eI move forward and-\n\n\\\u003eHuh\n\n\\\u003eThis place goes deeper into the hill than I thought\n\n\\\u003eThe entrance opens into a large hallway with paths going left and right\n\n\\\u003eI choose right and pass more tables, bookshelves, and other miscellaneous furniture as I venture deeper under the hill\n\n\\\u003eEventually my staff lights the end of the hallway\n\n\\\u003eAgainst the wall is a sizable bed tucked against a corner\n\n\\\u003eThe sheets are mostly clean and the cloth blanket seems to be filled with cotton, honestly it's better than I expected, and after a hard day of travel I couldn't ask for more\n\n\\\u003eI set down my pack and take off my boots, getting into bed before turning the staff off\n\n\\\u003eSurrounded by inky darkness and the smell of moss I drift off into a deep and welcome sleep","series":{"name":"Lessons on Bearing Fruit","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2077577-chapter-2-beaver-dams-and-their-consequences.json"}}