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Birds of a Feather

By Nemmy

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~ Prologue ~

This tale takes place in a land shared by feral hunters of the sky, dragons and gryphons, each with their own territories and cultures. Food and wealth were plentiful, the land was littered with settlements and camps in every corner where dragons and gryphons alike would barter their wares.

All that changed about fifty years ago. In the capital lair of the dragons a new attitude was spreading like a poison. They did not see the gryphons as equals in intellect but rather as feathered fleabags whose purpose in life should be to serve the greater race of dragons. These cliques began to spread to other lairs around the land and soon enough a leader emerged and led an attack on a nearby gryphon aerie.

The gryphons were completely caught off guard, the thought of war with the dragons never crossed the minds of those living in the small aerie. Only a few managed to escape the slaughter and bring news to their own capital. The younger gryphons of the aerie were spared death, but were raised up by the dragons as servants to their every whim.

Peace was sought at first. The leaders of the gryphons flew personally to visit the capital of the dragons. But they never made it, they were ambushed and killed in a clever trap laid out by Kythe, the dragon whom led the first strike and had been manipulating his way up the ranks. That was only the first phase of his plan. He committed atrocities of the worst nature next, attacking a sparsely populated lair of dragons, killing everyone and smashing all the unhatched eggs. He meticulously planted evidence of gryphons being behind the attack.

And so now both sides were seeing red and all out war began shortly thereafter. The dragon armies crashed through the legions of gryphons and in a few bloody years they finally laid siege upon the aerie capital, burning it into an unrecognizable husk of its once former glory. The battle also marked the death of many of the remaining gryphon generals and all of their most elite units.

Remaining gryphons across the land surrendered into captivity and were treated barely better than slaves. They were sold into labor for whatever tasks a dragon may have. And there was no limit to what the dragons had their new pets do, from sowing fields to providing pleasures in a harem. Dragon society had accepted this new role all too willingly save for a few packets of resistance on the outskirts. There was no open rebellion, but there were still dragons that remembered the old ways and they raised their hatchlings to remember the old ways as well. These communities also became home for many gryphons who found their way beyond the borders or the newly formed empire. Together, the bonds that once were strong were slowly beginning to rebuild.

---

Branches whipped at Liore's snout as she ran desperately through the forest, each panting breath like a dagger to her lungs from the cold air. The ache in her legs was growing too much for her to bare, she felt like she had been running forever.

"Please leave me alone!" She shouted back to her pursuit, another dragon easily double her size in bulk. He trotted along almost effortlessly, his long strides helping him keep pace without breaking a sweat.

She cursed her stupidity. Still relatively young, Liore had come into her first heat while over a day's flight from home. And of course there just happened to be a large buck eager to claim her, with or without her consent.

Breathing became increasingly difficult with each step, already her vision was blurring. Adrenaline was the only thing keeping her up at this point. Liore knew this was her only chance, to try to lose the drake in the trees. There was no way she could possibly out-fly him. And so she ran, and ran, and ran.

"Just give it up already, that jade ass is mine!" The male shouted back at her, laughing.

Tears were coursing down her scales, further obstructing her view. "N... no... please..." she whimpered, having lost the strength to shout.

Just as Liore was blinking her tears away her forepaw caught on a root sticking out above the ground and she fell painfully upon her belly. In an instant the male was atop her, growling next to one of her earfins. "You're mine now.... What a lucky night for me, was a terribly boring patrol before I caught your scent!"

Liore tried to cry out for help but her breath escaped her as the male pressed his weight atop her back. She could feel the stiff flesh of the male eager to take her, pressing against her scutes. Still she struggled, though, tucking her tail as close as she could to her belly until he reached back with a forepaw to pull it up by force.

"I bet you're as tight as they come... gods just look at that slit, your body wants this even if you don't." The male slid himself beneath her tail, poised for penetration. Liore was shaking, unable to even move an inch at that point.

Then all of a sudden, in a rustle of feathers, the weight upon her back vanished and she heard a loud thud as another figure had tackled the drake into a nearby tree. Liore stood up and glanced back, crying, gasping for air. A gryphon stood over the prone form of the drake, wings flared, down fluffed up in an effort to make him appear large.

He caught her gaze and shouted, "Run, girl!" just as the drake made a move to snap his jaws at the gryphon's closet leg. The avian easily dodged and responded with a slash of his foreclaws across the dragon's face, removing scales along with some flesh. The dragon roared his rage...

Liore startled awake at the sound of thunder shaking the early morning sky. With a glance upwards she sighed, in part at the nightmare and in part of having to travel in such lovely weather.

That day in her past was forever coming up in her nightmares. It was an event which had happened nearly ten years ago. To this day it still defined everything about who she was. After the near rape Liore had vowed to grow stronger and she did, becoming a very able warrior whose lithe form belied the strength which lay hidden beneath her green and yellow dappled scales. She was unusual in that her breath attack never really developed, no one knew why. But Liore had not let that keep her back and she grew sharp with both her wit and her claws.

Nowadays Liore hailed from the village Hayan. After the gryphon had saved her Liore had a falling out with her family. They kept a few as servants in their lair and she knew her father was laying one of the females whenever her mother was away. No one believed her story that one had saved her from being raped and no one would bother to change their ways. So one night she just left everyone without a word to find her own way in the world.

She had flown for weeks before stumbling upon Hayan, a village so remote that no one even known it existed. The thing that really struck Liore, though, was seeing dragons and gryphons living together without one species asserting dominance over the other. It was truly a village of peace and once the elders heard her story she was warmly welcomed to their ranks and grew into the bold warrior she liked to think of herself as.

Silently Liore had vowed to do whatever she could to change the world for the better. I will never forget my past. I never even knew your name, my friend, but know that your selfless act has changed me for the better.

Back in the present, Liore sighed again to herself and rose to all fours. She lifted a forepaw to her chest where she wore a leather pouch filled with a feather she had found back when the gryphon saved her. It was probably dust by now but Liore would never open the bag nor would she venture anywhere without it, it symbolized everything she believed in.

Liore gathered the few belongings she had brought along with her on her current journey and snaked her head through the loop of a satchel which would hold some bags against her flank as she flew. The dragoness had grown up to be an attractive specimen, her scales green and yellow with some random shades in between dappled in here and there. The scutes along her underside were thick and purely jade in color and bore the scratches of many altercations. Two ivory horns extended from her head, the tip of the left one chipped off and missing. Frills ran along the length of her back and spine, the membranes the same green as her belly while her wings were as gold as the sun.

A lot had changed in those ten years. Liore was certainly not a virgin any longer, having produced a couple of clutches with males in Hayan. Her relationships tended not to last, though, which was fine with her. She would raise her hatchlings and then go off on her next journey when they were old enough to take apprenticeships within the village. Such was her life and she was happy with that.

This time Liore was making her way deeper into the empire than she typically liked to venture. The quest was important, so very important. One of the other residents of Hayan reported that there was a very particular gryphon that was serving for a blacksmith. If rumors were true, this gryphon may be a descendant of the royal bloodline which everyone thought had been snuffed out by Kythe. Having such a figure would give hope to everyone of Hayan that maybe, just maybe the world could change for the better once again.

Liore took to the skies. To her relief, the storm rolling in was going by in the opposite direction. She was less than a day's flight from the town according to the maps she picked up in one of the border towns. Flying, for a dragon, never got old. Sailing through the heated thermals warmed her hide through the scales. Stretching her wings to their full span Liore glided along, diving occasionally to gain speed to keep going. In an hour or two, Liore lost track of the time, she saw the first signs of draconic architecture on the horizon.

The town she was headed towards was called Valleyview, drolly named for the fact that it was, indeed, situated in a valley. Throughout the town, mounds of various shapes and sizes littered the landscape as if a rock slide had left behind many giant boulders. But each mound was a home or a shop, simply dwellings crafted by dragons to give privacy along with the feeling of space. Dens of the wealthier residents were carved into the far mountainside dotted with the various colors of their clans. No one paid Liore's arrival any heed, she was simply just another dragon arriving in a dragon town, after all. Or so that's what she told herself. Settlements in the empire unnerved her more than she cared to admit and, despite her skills, it was all too easy to forget where she was.

She landed in the middle of the town, dust kicking up around her legs. Liore glanced around, sighing to herself. Typical village, no real presence of the empire's might here. What would they care about such a place anyways?

Liore strolled towards the center and greeted another dragoness who was sitting as a stand with various foraged goods. "Good morning!" Liore greeted with a dip of her snout. "Would you be kind enough to point me in the direction of the blacksmith?"

"A stranger to these parts, eh?" The red dragoness replied with a warm smile. "Don't get many visitors here, not much to see really in a town so far north." Her tail curled around herself as she spoke.

"That's a shame, the view here alone is enough to warrant a stop." Liore hated smalltalk with a passion but sometimes it just had to be done.

Oblivious, the other dragon hissed out a laugh, "Hah! You get tired of this view a week after you get here. But my mate insisted on living where he was brought up so here I am. Anyways, the blacksmith is right down the path there," she pointed with a foreclaw.

Smiling, Liore dipped her head again in a draconic bow. "Thank you, and while we're at it, how much for those peaches?" Their sweet aroma had found its way inside her nostrils.

"Five copper for a dozen, sweetest peaches this side of the empire!" The red's earfins perked up at the prospect of a sale.

Liore reached into her satchel and fetched a silver coin. "I'll take two dozen and please, keep the change." It was never a bad idea to befriend some of the locals. And peaches were Liore's favorite fruit, she couldn't resist after traveling so far.

The red dragoness raised an eye ridge at her though. "A stranger with coin to spare in this town, now I know you're up to something. Ah but who am I to care, we all do our own things. Here you are, enjoy the peaches!" She raised another satchel over Liore's head and let it slide down her neck.

"I just really love peaches, thanks!" Liore strained to give her best smile and then continued along her way towards the blacksmith's den.

She found it easily enough, the odors of metalworking tickled her senses many strides away and it was obvious being the only den with a thick cloud of smoke snaking out from the roof. When she entered she found a fairly attractive drake hammering out a rod of metal while his assistant held it in place, the assistant who happened to be the very gryphon she was looking for. Liore paused to briefly admire the feathered creature. He had the head of a hawk, the black, white, and orange markings of an oriole, and the body and tail of a black panther. His black down was spotted with subtle spots barely a shade lighter than their surroundings. Closer to his orange belly the spots became outlined with the same orange color. The gryphon's crest was black and orange feathers which he held flat atop his head as sparks flew around the two of them.

They both stopped what they were doing once they noticed that Liore was there watching them from the doorway. "Can I help you?" The drake asked. He nodded towards the gryphon to stick the rod in a nearby bucket of water, the loud hiss of steam filling the room.

Liore padded the rest of the way inside and turned her gaze upon the black dragon. He was a bit up there in age but still had a rough physique which any female could appreciate. Black scales and black scutes covered his body, the only change in color was the dirty white of his horns. "Yes umm, hi. I was wondering if we could possibly have a word in private?" With her head she gestured at the gryphon.

"What for?" the blacksmith replied curtly.

"A proposition for you, 50 gold pieces too if you agree." At that the black dragon's red eyes widened a bit.

"I see. Leave us for a bit, would you, Ko?" With a nod the gryphon trotted out the back of the shop. "So, what is it you wish to have me do that would be worth 50 gold? And just so you know my queue is rather heavy for the moment, I hope you don't plan on placing a bulk order of something."

Liore smiled and settled down upon her haunches. "Oh you don't have to do anything. I only wish to buy your gryphon."

"50 gold pieces for him? Are you mad?" The dragon was incredulous at the offer, Liore knew he had probably paid far less for him. He walked away from his work area and took a few steps towards her, curiously rumbling in a deep tone.

"Well you see uhh, oh I'm sorry, my name is Liore, what is yours?"

"Corik"

"Well met, Corik. It's a little embarrassing, honestly. You see, I have an employer who seeks out some of the more exotic gryphons. He uhh, has a taste for the males because he prefers the glove like fit, if you get what I mean."

"Ok, so you have a gay dragon who likes romping around with male gryphons. Unusual, that's for sure. And it sounds farfetched. Are you sure you're not window shopping for yourself?"

"Me? Oh heavens no! I would never let one of those birds so much as get a whiff of my tail! I am happily mated too, I'll have you know" Liore was good at rolling with a conversation however it went, but her show of disgust only earned a chuckle from the other dragon.

"Yeah, sure Liore. Even if what you say is true the gryphon has been a great asset for me. I mean, I bought him for far less than 50 gold and I'm sure I could find another with plenty leftover for myself." Corik lifted a forepaw and scratched at his chin. "50 gold though, damn, you don't see that type of coin often in these parts. Who are you, really?" The drake scowled, trying to see through Liore's facade. "You're not empire, if they wanted Ko that badly I'd already be knocked out in a ditch somewhere with a few spears poking from my hide."

"No I'm not from the empire. If you're so uncertain, maybe I can sweeten the pot?" Liore replied joyfully with a grin plastered across her muzzle. Males were so easy, if money didn't work then the thoughts of sex would lower any remaining barriers. She stood back up and walked around the male in a circle, brushing her scales against his, softly growling in a flirtatious tone. When she completed the circle, Liore casually walked away from Corik, tail angled to the side so nothing was hidden from his gaze.

Corik tilted his head with an appreciative growl, his body stirring from the display. "I thought you said you were mated? And who says I'm not?"

"Oh I am, and I'm afraid my tail would be off limits. But there are other things I can do for you."

"You really want that bird that bad, huh? Fine then, 50 gold and let's see what else you can do to ease my mind." For the first time, Corik smiled. It unnerved Liore just a bit, this dragon was more clever than he was letting on.

But it was too late to go back so Liore smiled too. _Gotcha_she thought to herself. She giggled shyly and followed it up with a low thrumm. "Why don't you get comfortable, my dear Corik?" She nudged at his flank and he obliged her by rolling over, exposing his obsidian underside. "Even though I'm mated I know a stud when I see one... And it's always a great pleasure just to get a taste of one" In her mind Liore was gagging in response to her words but she had him right where she wanted him.

Really, it could be worse. Liore thought to herself.He actually is rather attractive. She grinned to the prone drake and began to nuzzle along his belly while she traced some claws over the curves of his haunches, feeling those strong muscles in his hind legs. "You know Corik, if you are mated I can stop..."

With a snort the black dragon shook his head. "Nah I'm just a lonely bloke in this lonely town.. Ooooh..." a moan escaped him when Liore's muzzle brushed over his swollen slit, the heat of her breath stirring his loins.

"That's surprising to hear... now let me give such a hard worker his due." Liore moved a paw down to massage through the scales surrounding Corik's slit while nuzzling and breathing in the drake's musk. "Gods you smell great, Corik, the scents of this forge go so well with you... I can't wait to see how you taste." And she was completely honest when she said that, which surprised her. Her tongue extended from her maw and began to trace circles over the slit between the male's scutes. It didn't take long for the blacksmith's heated rod to emerge, as red as the iron he had been forging earlier. It continued to swell to an impressive length and girth while Liore explored every inch of it with her tongue and paw. She turned her gaze to meet his and licked firmly enough to press his cock down against his belly which had Corik groaning with pleasure. She repeated that a few more times, deliberately going slower with each lick from base to tip, smirking at how the male squirmed below.

"Mmm... delicious, just as I thought..." Liore crooned, rolling the musky pre off Corik's shaft around her maw. She took a gentle grip of the male and directed his member into the heated embrace of her lips. Corik gasped as the first few inches disappeared and growled with lust as more and more slipped between her lips. When Liore's snout touched his belly she met his eyes again, grinning around his flesh. And then suddenly she began bobbing her head as fast as she could, taking the tip into her throat with each motion.

Corik's eyes went wide and he grasped her shoulders with his hind legs, eagerly thrusting upwards to help her swallow every inch. "Li.. Liore... yesss, just like that... You're too good at this!" He cried out with pleasure, his cock throbbing with pent up pressure about to blow. Liore wrapped her paw firmly around his crimson shaft, twisting it around and up and down in rhythm with her head, her saliva and his pre making it nearly frictionless to squeeze as hard as she could. Corik's tail lashed against the floor, his hips firmly arched up now as she continued. "I... I'm ssssso close... Fuck!" Corik stifled a roar and Liore felt his cock erupt, firing hot ropes of his cum right down her throat. The male squirmed, hissed, and moaned throughout his climax and Liore was relentless in milking him for every drop which his hidden balls had to offer. Her tongue darted and slurped over his tip even when he was spent, causing him to whine at the sensitivity.

Satisfied, Liore purred and pulled her head up away from his loins, purposely letting some cum leak from her lips that she made a show of slurping up. "Well I was right, you were pretty damn good, I could just eat you up all day." She was surprised that she could say that and feel like it was the truth. Corik didn't seem like a bad guy, she had definitely done more for far worse individuals before.

"Heh, well... glad you enjoyed... Now I'm too tired to give a damn about getting any work done, thanks." Corik chuckled and rolled himself so he was reclining upon his side now, his spent shaft laying limply over his thigh.

Corik's demeanor suddenly changed and he narrowed his red eyes. "Now that you've played your hand, why don't you tell me who you really are?"

For the first time Liore was at a loss for words and responded with a growl.So he had played me afterall!

Corik flashed a grin at the dragoness. "Don't get me wrong, you were wonderful with that maw of yours. But Ko is a good guy, I've had him for many years now, I practically consider him a son even if that sounds weird." He shifted a bit in his prone position, flexing his forelegs a bit. "The truth is, I didn't buy him, and I don't consider him my property."

Liore stepped closer and laid down on her belly. Her tail twitched about as she was still rather agitated but this drake continued to grow more interesting by the moment. "If you didn't buy him why does he work for you?"

"I found him when he was a chick, abandoned out in the woods. I guess whoever had him decided he wasn't worth it." Corik sighed. "This world.. it's messed up, you know? I took him in and raised him as best I could. I don't know how gryphons raise their young but I think he turned alright. I've told him everything about the world, I've never clipped his wings, he's always been free to go whenever he wants. But he is a hard, honest worker and I'm happy to give him a home and food." His red eyes met Liore's gaze. "And now you come here and offer an obscene amount of money to purchase whom I consider my son.."

"Wow, Corik... I didn't know, it's a habit to always just assume the worst."

The black dragon looked somberly at the female, his tail idly twitching upon the floor. After a moment he finally spoke up again, "Here's what we'll do. I'm going to clean myself off and then I'm going to invite Ko back inside. You can tell us your true intentions and he can decide to trust you or not." Without waiting for a response Corik headed towards the back of the smithy den leaving Liore to her thoughts.

Oh Corik... Is what you say genuine? Do you really care for Ko that much? Liore rumbled softly and sat herself back up. If all that was just a fabrication then he's a damn good actor. Everyone I've ever dealt with before was too busy salivating over the coins or my ass to bother giving a second thought about the gryphons in their care. She gazed out of an opening in the wall, watching the clouds. If things are to change then our ideals have to start spreading from Hayan... And so she swore to tell them everything.

A few minutes later Corik came back with Ko alongside him. "Liore, I want you to meet Dre'Koh." She rumbled curiously at the name so Corik spelled it out for her. "Yeah yeah, I'm terrible with names, alright?" he grumbled.

Both dragon and gryphon dipped their heads in greeting before Corik and Dre'koh sat down on their haunches across from Liore. "So Liore, please tell us why you chose to visit my shop today."

Liore glanced at Corik and then at Dre'koh, the gryphon's unblinking eyes seemed to pierce her very thoughts. "Alright, I will be true with you both, I promise. My tale begins ten or so years ago, I was young, weak, stubborn.. like any female coming of age. I was in unfamiliar lands when my first heat came upon me and.... attracted the attention of a dragon who wouldn't take no as an answer." She hated telling this story, hated remembering how weak and powerless she had felt. The talons of her forepaws extended and flexed as she continued. "I ran into the woods, hoping my smaller body could afford me an escape. But he was relentless and eventually I tripped and lost my footing. I felt his weight upon me then... felt.... him below my tail. He was just about to take me forcefully when a gryphon appeared and tackled him off of my body. The gryphon fought my attacker in my stead, told me to run and not to look back. And so I did.. after collecting a feather that had fallen from him."

Fighting back tears, Liore reached up with a forepaw to rest against the pouch over her chest. "I still carry his feather with me now, a reminder of his sacrifice and strength to defend me, a dragon, an enemy of his species. When I finally returned home the world was different to me, like a veil lifted from my eyes. I grew disgusted with how everyone kept servants, though it was more like slaves if you ask me. Even my own family scoffed when I suggested that at least our gryphon deserved better care." Her eyes were wet now, all those emotions came rushing through the dam she had carefully built up. "I... I left my family. I couldn't take it anymore. I ran away, looking for what I had no idea at the time. Corik.. you have no idea how much I agree with you, this world is not right. Why is it now we treat gryphons like this when our two species got along so well for hundreds of years before?" Corik nodded his head silently, reaching over to put a paw on Liore's shoulder.

"Gods, I wasn't prepared to find someone like you here, Corik. Dre'koh, I'm so happy you've been blessed to have someone like him raise you."

"Corik is my father as far as I am concerned. My exposure to the world has been limited to this village so I have never truly felt the same pains as my brothers and sisters. But even here I see how the world works as I watch how others take care of their gryphons." Ko spoke with a rich, musical tone of voice even as his eyes appeared to be sharp, judging Liore. "You say you escaped being raped, Liore? Unfortunately that is not the case for gryphons, I see the dragons forcing themselves upon the females almost regularly. If their mate didn't lift their tail last night they take it out on a gryphon. It makes me seethe, I want to tear them all limb from limb but Corik holds me back." Dre'koh rubbed his beak against his foster father. "That makes me angry too, being held back from helping anyone out. Yet Corik never punishes me for getting out of line and I know that being a hero is the best way to get myself killed." The gryphon returned his gaze to Liore. "So Liore, you want to take me away from here, why? For what purpose?"

"Dre'koh... Corik.. there are villages far from the empire's core, villages where dragons and gryphons live openly in peace. I'm from such a village, a place called Hayan."

"Ahh yes, I've heard rumors of such settlements." Corik rumbled. "I had never seen one myself but the empire's reach isn't infinite, I figured there was truth to it."

Liore smiled and continued. "I found myself there after I left home and I trained and built myself up so that no one could ever again take advantage of me. We gather what resources we can to earn whatever coin we can and one by one we find gryphons whom we can purchase and bring to our village." Corik scowled and Dre'koh's wings flared in agitation at the word purchase, Liore noticed. "I wish I could say it in a nicer way but most dragons only care about the coin, that's the only way we can free the gryphons without bringing attention upon ourselves."

"But you, Dre'koh, there may be something special about you. Your markings... they are extremely rare amongst gryphons. According to the stories, the last gryphons to exhibit such markings were those of the royal line..."

"And so what if that's true? I'm just a simple gryphon learning the craft of blacksmith, being of royal blood doesn't mean a damn thing. Really it just paints an even bigger target on my ass."

Liore stood up on all fours suddenly. "That's exactly why I'm here! We don't want the empire to ever sniff wind of you. All I want is to take you back to Hayan, what happens from there I don't even know. You'd be free to do whatever you want, that's why the village exists. No one would force you to stay if you didn't like it." Liore turned her attention to Corik next. "And you, Corik, we could always use more dragons like you."

The black male chuckled. "No, eye ridges would raise if suddenly both Dre'koh and myself went off with you together. Perhaps sometime in the future I may take you up on that offer but not now, it would be too suspicious. Dre'koh... you're a grown male now, this is your choice. Honestly I could not have imagined a better situation for you to wind up in."

"But then I'm just running and hiding from what reality is!" The gryphon chirped in anger, keeping his wings flared. Liore couldn't help but marvel at those black feathers streaked with white and orange.

"Dre'koh... son... If things are to change it has to happen slowly. The fact that such villages exist prove that there is a chance. Fighting will only get you killed, I don't want to see you throw your life away for nothing..."

The gryphon settled his wings back upon his back, his head bowed to his chest. "Ok. I will go and see what this village is like with my own eyes."

"That's great, Dre'koh! I'm so happy to hear you'll give us a chance!" Liore thrummed excitedly and extended her neck to nuzzle at the gryphon's shoulder. The motion surprised an awkward squawk out of him and he rustled his down indignantly before relenting and gently returned the gesture. "We can leave at your leisure, my friend."

Dre'koh regarded his father. "Are you sure you will be ok?"

With a warm smile, Corik nodded. "I'll miss you, believe me. But I'll be ok, there's plenty of young dragons who would jump at the chance to be an apprentice, so don't worry about my shop."

"You've taught me everything I know, I will always love you, my dear father." The hardened smithy sniffled and turned his snout away. "I hope you can come join us one day, your work is wasted in this village"

Liore echoed that sentiment. "Perhaps in a year we can send someone to give you directions, it shouldn't be weird or suspicious then."

"We'll see how the wind blows. Liore, you take care of him. I will hunt you down if I ever hear any ill news."

"I promise, Corik, I will not let any harm come to him for as long as he chooses to remain with us."

"I can handle myself anyways." Dre'koh said with youthful pride, chest puffed.

"I have no doubt that you can, son. Just try not to get yourself in trouble." Corik stood up and looked over Liore. "Would you stay the night? Got plenty of room here and I imagine your wings could use the rest."

"I really appreciate it, thank you. We'll leave first thing in the morning then?"

"Sounds good to me." Dre'koh replied.

---

The next morning saw a tearful goodbye between father and son. Liore watched silently at a distance and waited for the gryphon to come to her. Dre'koh carried a satchel much like her own with various belongings and items he had crafted with Corik.

_Corik..._Liore thought to herself. _I'll see you again, I hope. You are a wonderful soul._The black male took one more look at them, waved a wing, and then turned tail back towards the town.

Liore and Dre'koh watched him go. "Are you sure this is what you want to do, Dre'koh?"

The gryphon bobbed his head and turned to look in the other direction. "Hatchlings have to move out sooner or later, right? I'm more worried about Corik, I feel like he only lived this secluded life because of me."

Liore reached up and placed a paw upon the gryphon's shoulders. "He's a great guy, he'll find his way too." She stretched her wings out and crouched, about ready to leap to the sky. "Shall we go, then?"

"Yes, I am ready, Liore. Thank you."

They took to the air together and began their long journey back to Hayan. The misty air seemed to sense their mood, dampening scales and feathers for the first several hours of flight. They avoided any settlements along the way and paid no attention to any others that were flying. Eventually they passed over the Jagged Maw mountain range which, for now, marked the informal border of the dragon empire. The only civilization beyond was bandit camps and the hidden villages from which Liore had come from.

Liore kept an eye out for a suitable place to camp with the day beginning to come to an end. She spotted a nice clearing beside a river and called out to Dre'koh. The two descended together and settled upon the shore. Snout and beak dipped into the water as each gulped down a much needed drink.

"So I figured we should rest here for the night. We'll be able to reach Hayan by midday tomorrow."

"Alright. I'm going to go find us some dinner." Before Liore could utter a reply the gryphon was off circling the skies. She secretly envied the endurance that they had for flying. Sure, dragons could fly for hours on end but gryphons seemed like they could go days if they really wanted to.

With a huff she set about to dig a fire pit several strides from the river. Liore walked about, gathering logs and kindling which she dumped into the pit. Since she could not breathe fire she relied on a special stone the Hayan elders had given her. When scratched, it would create sparks large enough to catch on the kindling.

Dre'koh returned in time to watch Liore start the fire with a curious chrip. "Why don't you just use your breath?"

"I can't, I've never been able to breathe fire like other dragons." Liore shrugged her wings and perked her ears up when finally the sparks caught the kindling.

"Huh.." The gryphon replied. "Anyways, I found some nice game." The two feasted upon the meal as the fire burned beside them. Bellies full and hides warmed, they curled up together.

As they laid together, Liore took out a couple of peaches for dessert. Dre'koh swayed his tail, "Oh I love peaches!"

"Really? Me too, they're the best, aren't there?" They both nibbled delicately at the flesh, sticking juices running down lips and beak. Noticing how messy they were they shared a laugh and took turns licking each other clean.

Liore always enjoyed the feel of laying with a gryphon. Their feathers and down always found their way between scales and tickled the flesh in such pleasing ways. She could only hope that Dre'koh thought scales were just as nice against his own body.

She closed her eyes, about to drift off to sleep when Dre'koh asked a sudden question.

"So uh, Liore, in Hayan, is it really a village where everyone lives as equals?"

"Hmm? Yeah, it sure is, no one is above anyone else, save for the elders. And the elders are comprised of both dragons and gryphons." Liore laid out on her flank and smiled up at the gryphon. "Some even mate permanently with each other, even though they know they can't have hatchlings."

Dre'koh cooed and nodded. "Have you mated with a gryphon before?"

"Heh! That's for me to know." Liore growled in a playful tone.

"With that response, I'd say you probably have." Dre'koh parted his beak a bit in the way that gryphons tend to smile.

"Like I said, species doesn't mean much in Hayan. Everyone one is free to pursue their own interests, live their own loves, love whomever they want to love."

"Would you mate with me, Liore?"

That earned a laugh from the dragoness. "Wow, Ko, I never would have guessed that this would be where your mind goes first. Did Corik keep you that pent up?"

"Nahh, my father would often arrange for some menial labor where he required the assistance of others. He would find dragons specifically with a gryphoness and send us off on our own to do the so called task." Dre'koh preened a bit. "It kept me sane, I'd probably have gone crazy otherwise. The gryphonesses were just as grateful. Had some good times.. and some surprise clutches."

Liore smirked and nipped at the gryphon's orange chest. "Well this isn't like one of those times where your father is sending you off on a date. If you want to mate with someone you have to work to pique their interest." Dre'koh's crest fell a bit at her words but Liore continued to chuckle. "Aww don't worry though, I do think you're very handsome. So you've already got a paw in the den, so to speak..."

She grinned up at the gryphon and ran the back of a forepaw through the downy fur of his chest. "What are you asking all this for, you want to mate with a dragon? I thought you hated us.." Liore teased, her paw roaming lower towards his belly.

But Dre'koh had a good response ready. "Well, it would prove that everything you say is true, if you let yourself be taken by a gryphon..."

"Haha you are a naughty bird, you know that? You do take after your father quite a bit it seems." She turned her snout upwards, grinning, flashing her fangs. "Like I said, maybe, if you make me want it enough. I'm not going to just mate with you to prove a point. Surely you know how to flirt better than that."

"Well, I brought you dinner, didn't I?" They laughed together at that one. "I don't know why, it's been on my mind this whole day actually. Whenever I'm alone with a female we tend to mate.. But that female has never been a dragoness before. I didn't believe I would be so attracted to one."

Liore purred to the gryphon and rubbed her cheek against his. "Ahh there you go, now you're getting there..."

Dre'koh brushed a paw slowly down her neck and then scratched softly back up towards her chin. "I mean it though, Liore. I never though I would meet another dragon who thought like my father. And that makes you beautiful to me, who you are inside."

Feeling the blood flushing her cheeks Liore tried to bury her snout under a wing but Dre'koh would have none of it. He cupped her head in his paws and smiled at her for a moment before his beak met her lips in a peck of a kiss. "It really means a lot to hear that, thank you, Dre'koh."

The gryphon separated himself from their loose embrace and crooned in a warm tone. He softly guided Liore to roll upon her back. Her nethers were already rather moist with arousal, the playful talk of mating had already riled her up even before those last words. There was no doubt that the gryphon had tasted her scent in the air, knowing she would be receptive. Dre'koh laid down so his belly pinned Liore's tail, his head between her thighs. He lowered his beak to nuzzle the scutes between vent and slit and licked his way slowly up the puffy pink flesh to her belly.

Liore hissed and moaned, clutching at air with her paws. The gryphon knew what he was doing, knew just how to tease her swollen lips with light touches of his tongue. There were moments where he completely ignored her slit, choosing to lick her scales all around instead which had her growling at him while silently begging that he return the focus to her dripping pussy. But still he teased, licking the nectar from her lips but never delving further, all the while grinning up at her with as smug a look as a gryphon could have.

Knowing he would get a better response now, Dre'koh sat back upon his haunches, still holding Liore's tail beneath him. "So, back to my question. Would you mate with me?"

"Oh Dre'koh... you damn bird. Yes, I would mate with you, you're as fine a stud as I've ever laid eyes on, I want to feel you inside me... I want you take me like a gryphoness.."

He got up off her tail, showing off his partial arousal in the process. Liore eyed the tip of the gryphon's member peeking from its sheath, a deep shade of cobalt blue that stood out so dark against the orange of his belly. With no need to be asked, Liore got back to standing on all fours. She lowered her chest close to the ground while her haunches remained raised, her tail lifted and to the side.

"With pleasure, Liore... My what a lovely view... Those scales don't hide anything at all.." Dre'koh mounted atop Liore's back, forepaws clutching around her chest. The gryphon shuffled his haunches nearer until the tip of his exposed member found the heated lips which led to Liore's achingly empty body. Dre'koh' drove his tip inside with a gasp from Liore and he quickly began thrusting, his cock growing to its full length inside her slit.

Liore pawed against the earth at the feel of Dre'koh swelling up inside of her. He was quite well endowed, would give most dragons a run for their coin. Once Dre'koh was fully hard he stopped thrusting so desperately and began to take his time, sliding inside inch by inch and withdrawing in a similar manner. "Liore... you feel amazing.. I love how smooth you are, how hot you are against my sheath... gods.. " He clutched her chest tighter, thrusting a bit harder. "This is where all your fire is, I swear..."

"J.. Just don't stop..." Liore gasped out between growls. She couldn't believe how close to a climax she already was. The dragoness ground her haunches back against Dre'koh, driving that wonderful cock a bit deeper than each thrust before. This spurred the gryphon to move faster and Liore felt her body explode around him.

She roared out her pleasure and Dre'koh uttered a screech in return. He pounded Liore's slit throughout her climax and then continued on with impressive endurance. The dragoness was nearly whimpering, a little sensitive after the initial orgasm but that feeling quickly subsided to more pleasure as the gryphon carried on. Faster and faster, harder and harder that cobalt cock slammed into her body. Liore was so wet it was effortless for Dre'koh, the results of her first release dripping down her thighs.

As Dre'koh neared his own climax the gryphon's knot began to form. He desperately thrust it within Liore until he felt himself tied. The knot continued to grow and Liore hissed out loud with lust, no longer trying to hide how much she loved being taken by a gryphon. Dre'koh continued to thrust and grind as much as his knotted member would allow, passing the point of no return. No words were necessary at this point, just the heated, panting breaths, the growls, the screeches. The two beasts shared the same carnal pleasures as the gryphon erupted inside Liore's body. Dre'koh cried out in a hawk-like screech and Liore roared from a second orgasm. She could feel the thick ropes of gryphon seed fill her up quickly and her body hungrily milked his cock for more.

Eventually Dre'koh stopped cumming and relaxed upon Liore's back. He remained tied with her even as she flopped to the earth upon her belly, pulling the gryphon along, purring and cooing sounds echoing around them. They laid together like that, panting, catching their breath until Liore spoke first. "Dre'koh... damn... "

"I.. I know... wow Liore, that was amazing..." The gyrphon's feathers were all ruffled in a mess of black and orange, air whistled through his beak in his attempts to catch his breath. "N.. now I'm ready to sleep.."

Liore just wiggled her haunches in reply, teasing and tugging at the spent length still filling her up. "You can leave it in, if you want... it feels so warm. And feathers make for a good blanket anyways." She turned her head sideways, grinning up at her companion for the night.

The gryphon ruffled up all his feathers in an attempt to realign and smooth them down. Then he found a comfortable way to cuddle up atop the dragon's back. "I'm glad you think so, I would enjoy keeping you warm for the night."

Dre'koh nuzzled down between her horns, cooing so sweetly. It was all she could do to not shake him off, pin him to the ground, and cuddle the stuffing out of that sweet bird. "Hope you rest well, Dre'koh. We don't have much further to go tomorrow. I think you're going to fit right in."

He cooed some more in reply and soon began snoring from atop her back. Liore smiled to herself and followed suit, her dreams this night promising to be full of dirty, flirtatious gryphons.

---

Liore began to stir awake far too soon. It wasn't the sunlight that awoke her but rather the familiar rustle of wings. She opened her eyes to the night still dark and full of stars and it took her a moment before she realized it was dragons alighting down near the pair.

"Dre'koh! Wake up!" She shouted, stumbling to her feet while shaking the gryphon off her back. The fall startled him and he awoke with an indignant squawk.

"What was that for?" he mumbled.

"We have to go, I heard others!" Liore fumbled about for her things. The urgency in her tone sobered the gryphon to full alertness as well and he followed suit.

"Now now, what's the rush? We only just got here." An unfamiliar voice spoke to them from the darkness. Liore heard the steps of what sounded like two dragons approaching their camp. She gasped when she could finally see them. Liore had been correct, it was two dragons, scouts by the look of them. And both were wearing the colors of the Empire.

---

To be continued~