FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

When he woke, Talaron found himself encased in Seraisa's arms, and tail. At first he started to panic, but he didn't feel any pain, and in fact it was comforting. He could hear some noises outside the hut, mostly that of insects and frogs, but he could also hear some Zrasks speaking to one another. The light coming through the crevice between the flap and the door jam told him that it was late afternoon, or somewhere close to it. He knew he had fallen asleep in the morning so that gave him enough sleep to last him till late night. His internal clock was now askew.

He listened to his immediate surroundings, hearing barely a crackle from the fire, but he heard Seraisa's slight purring from deep in her chest. He didn't move, not wanting to rouse her from her sleep. It was awkward being where he was, but he didn't have the heart to pull away. And who knows, maybe if he did it would be seen as a great offense. He could feel her scales under his back--they were soft and warm. He closed his eyes and listened, hearing her heart beating in her chest, and her soft purring.

He breathed deeply and heard her purring cease, and then he felt her tail unwrapping from around them. She gently shook Talaron and he looked up to her face. She tilted her head to the side, "Mussst be wakeful now."

He nodded slowly and pulled off her, being careful not to hurt her in any way. She smiled at his carefulness and slowly started to rise to her feet as well. Seraisa breathed deeply and said, "You lossst sssomething."

Talaron looked down and saw that he was completely naked now. He felt his face turn bright red and Seraisa smiled and said, "You face isss red. Why?"

He quickly picked up the skin and wrapped it around his body and then he said, "That was embarrassing. Us humans don't normally walk around without any clothes on."

She tilted her head at him, "Clothesss are clumsssy. Alwaysss get in way."

He nodded, "Yes it is true it can sometimes confine your movements, but our...um...genitals are a little more..."

She bobbed her head, "Me underssstand. Humansss embarrassssed of sselvesss."

Talaron shook his head, "Well not embarrassed of ourselves, more embarrassed of just anyone seeing what they consider private."

She hissed slightly, "Did me embarrassss you?"

He shook his head, "No, I embarrassed myself."

A nearly inaudible gurgle from Talaron's stomach broke the conversation.

Seraisa perked up at the noise, "Me am hungry. You like sssomething to eat asss well?"

Talaron thought for a second what his meal would consist of, deciding that most of anything that lived in the swamp couldn't taste good. He was hungry, but was unsure that it was wise to eat unknown food. Seraisa cocked her head and raised her eyebrow, mimicking what he did early in the morning. He nodded and said, "Yes, I would."

She smiled in return, "Then come. Me will get you food."

Talaron tucked the skin around his waist tightly, "Okay."

She walked out the door holding the flap for him, "Nice day, perhaps kassza isss caught."

He nodded and thought, Wouldn't that be justice, killed my companion and was in turn caught and killed by these people.

She led him back to the center of the village and showed him a large fire pit where there was a large massive thing slowly roasting over the open flames. It was enormous, with large jaws and a few small horns on its back that ran parallel to each other. Its one eye was severely gouged, and Talaron nodded. Vengeance was served. Seraisa looked at the cooking form and said, "Looksss like kassza isss get hurt before being caught."

Talaron nodded and watched as a couple Zrask moved over to the cooked carcass. They pulled out small knives of a bone he never saw before and started carving through the Kaza's thick hide like a warm knife through lard. He knew his dagger would have had a hard time cutting through the thick scales on the Kaza, yet these blades carved through it with ease. He turned to Seraisa and asked, "How did they catch it?"

She smiled, "With big trap. That how we all catch kassza."

Talaron nodded and knew that it must've been some trap to contain that thing. The Kaza was about thirty feet long and must've weighed close to that of a medium sized dragon. Seraisa looked at him, "Huntersss get food firssst. They catch it."

Talaron nodded, "As it should be."

She grinned, "Perhapsss we catch Kassza together?"

Talaron looked at the large beast apprehensively, "Perhaps Seraisa...perhaps."

Actually Talaron wasn't sure if he would be around long enough to actually hunt with them. His main concern was the far eastern town of Caladir, and the new life that awaited him there.

As the hunters took their share of the kill, the rest that stood around came in to take some for themselves, and surprisingly it was very mellow. No one was shoving or pushing to get food, and not a single person got into a fight with any other. They truly were unlike humans. He sort of liked this fact. Seraisa took his hand and brought him before the great carcass that was the Kaza. One of the Zrask there sliced off some large chunks of meat and handed them to both Seraisa and Talaron. The meat smelled delicious. Seraisa watched Talaron for a moment and then took a small nip off the piece she was given.

Talaron smiled at her, "Eat as you normally would Seraisa. I'm in your home now; don't feel that you have to live up to my standards. It wouldn't be right."

She looked at him sincerely, "You ssseem afraid of teeth, ssso me not ssshow them much."

Talaron nodded, "It is true that they are a bit intimidating, but I am over my fear of you."

She smiled warmly, "Then you truly be a find Talllaron."

He nodded and thought, "Don't use 'find' in your description of me, it's so like a pet."

She tilted her head to the side, "Why you no eat?"

He looked down to the large chunk of cooked meat in his hand, "I was just thinking Seraisa. It smells delicious."

He took a bite and was instantly overwhelmed by the almost sweet tender taste of the kaza. It was very good, much better then any steak he ever had. He chewed on the piece in his mouth for a moment, "This is very delicious. I was not aware things could taste so good in the swamp."

She smiled and her tail flicked, "There be many thingsss you no know in ssswamp."

Talaron nodded, "True, I have not lived here all my life. So I do not know many things that you would about the swamp."

She bit off another piece and chewed it. Talaron ate some more and soon found himself completely done his share of the kill. He was stuffed. They were more then generous in giving him food. Seraisa was finished before he was and had retrieved two bowls full of clear water. She handed Talaron one and then sat down next to him. He looked into the crystal clear water and said, "Where do you get such clean water in all this swamp?"

She smiled, "Fresssh ssspring."

He nodded and took a long draught from the cup before lowering it. She smiled and took an equally long drink, and then set the bowl down. Talaron sat down next to her and watched the commotion of the Zrask as they wandered around doing chores, or eating, or even getting drinks. And yet it was peaceful, not a single loud noise could be heard in the whole village. In fact almost no one seemed to talk at all. Well it was also possible that they talked in very low hisses so that he couldn't hear it, but he somehow knew they weren't very social. This didn't bother him much; it was like going on a vacation--a vacation to the most unlikely region.

He chuckled and Seraisa looked over at him with her eyebrows furrowed. She then asked, "What isss wrong?"

Talaron shook his head, "Nothing is wrong Seraisa, I was just thinking of something humorous."

She tilted her head, a common thing for her when she wanted to know more. Talaron smiled at her and said, "I was just thinking about how this is like a vacation, and about how it was in the most unlikely of vacation spots."

She righted her head, "Ssswamp not visssited asss ssspot for travel, except by you."

He nodded, "Some people like visiting places of magnificent beauty. Where the grass grows in lush clusters around blooming flowers of a magnitude of different colors. Others would chose the shore, and watch the tide roll in onto the beach, and swim in the clear blue waters. People would like to visit major cities, places of unparalleled splendor, such as Caladir."

Seraisa smiled, "Were you going vacation?"

Talaron shook his head, "I was going to Caladir to start my life all over. I have already visited many places, and taken many memories from each place." He paused for a second as if in thought and then continued, "Perhaps, Seraisa, if you have time I could tell you about places I've seen."

She beamed at him, "Yesss, me would like that much."

He nodded and slurped down the last of his water. Seraisa reached out a hand to take the bowl, and Talaron shook his head. He reached out his other hand and took her bowl instead. She tilted her head to the side, "Why you take?"

He smiled at her, "You have already done enough for me Seraisa, I'll put these back for you."

She pulled her head up and smiled, "Talllaron you make me happy."

He smiled and quickly walked off to where some Zrask were leaving with filled bowls. He found where they were stacked and placed the two in his hands next to them. A dark brown Zrask looked at him in wonder and then smiled toothily, appreciating the gesture. Talaron looked into his deep gray eyes and said, "Thank you," then he walked back to Seraisa.

She watched him with the same inquisitive gold eyes, "Where did you live?"

He smiled at her, "I didn't live anywhere really. I grew up in Falangar, far to the west, but as soon as I matured I became a journeyman. So in essence, my home is just about everywhere."

She seemed appeased with that response and became quiet.

Talaron quieted down as well, staring into the fire

She saw his thoughtful look, "You have thought. You ssshare?"

He looked down, "It is alright. Just thinking."

She nodded and looked away to two Zrask sitting along the other side of the dirt path. There was a gray-scaled male, and a lighter brown-scaled female who was in his arms. Talaron caught sight of the two and then looked at Seraisa. She turned and looked at him, "Letsss go. Have ressst of day."

He nodded and followed as she led. She was just ahead of him so he spent his walk watching her tail. It was long and flexible, and waved back and forth to her gait. He traced her tail up to her back and followed the pattern of her scales to her shoulders. Seraisa turned her head and spotted Talaron looking at her and she asked innocently, "What isss it?"

He looked up to her, "Nothing Seraisa, just looking."

She stopped in her tracks and turned to him.

Talaron looked to her, "What's wrong?"

She flicked her tongue, "Isss you happy here?"

He looked around for a topic he could escape this question with, but all he saw was the dirt path, a few low buildings and the swamp beyond. He looked down at his foot, "Seraisa--hmmm...this is a hard thing to say."

She cocked her head to the side, "What isss hard to sssay?"

He looked up to her face and said what he had on his mind since the night before when she was told he could stay. "Seraisa, will I ever be able to leave?"

Her face contorted as if she was just stabbed in the heart and she looked away. Slowly her voice came back to him.

"You isss not happy here."

Talaron looked down and tried to think of something to say fast, but everything he thought to say sounded all wrong. He sucked in his breath and said the only thing he could.

"Seraisa," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder, "This place is--"

She turned to look at him and furrowed her brow.

"I don't know what to say, Seraisa. I just feel that I am only a pet here, a prisoner in a sense."

She tilted her head and flicked her tongue, and then she turned away. "Me not hurt you."

Talaron nodded, "I know, Seraisa, you haven't hurt me. And you've been far more generous then anyone I've ever known. I didn't mean to say this to hurt you Seraisa, I just wanted to see what I was in this village."

She closed her eyes, "Me wasss glad to find you, but you no glad sssee me anymore."

Talaron shook his head, "No, that is not true. You are something special Seraisa. You, and the rest of your kind are."

She turned her head slightly and smiled weakly. She replied softly, "You are ssspecial too, Talllaron."

Talaron gave her an apologetic smile, "I'm sorry I ever brought this up. It is not my place to say such things."

She turned, "If you mussst go, then go. I misss you when you go."

With those words he shook his head and replied, "Seraisa, I can't just leave. Not even if I were bound could I leave. Your people are so dissimilar to ours, in the way you act and the way you live. My kind seems so animalistic compared to yours. Back home males of my race would get into physical fights over just about anything, but here no one fights. Seraisa, as long as you are here I will stay."

She brightened up and she slowly flipped her tail on the small of his back. He smiled, "Let me help you in any way I can Seraisa. If you want me to hunt with you, I will. If you want me to do anything just ask."

She nodded and flicked her tongue at him, "Come Talllaron."

She took his hand and pulled him with her. She entered the hut and he followed after, curious about what she was doing. She walked over to a large wooden chest that somehow escaped his attention and opened it. She reached in and pulled out a smaller box that was intricately carved with small images. Talaron looked at the small box she held, "What is that Seraisa?"

She smiled at him, "Sssomething me make long ago. Me wantsss you have it."

She thrust the box toward him. He looked down at the box , "I can't take this."

She tilted her head to the side, "You no like?"

Talaron shook his head, "Its very nice, but I can't take anything of yours. Especially since I am living in your home."

She looked down at the box and gently flicked a small clasp with her finger. She slowly opened the box and Talaron could see an assortment of small object inside. There were many small gemstones, some blue, some green and others red. There were also a few other trinkets in there--including a round silvery green band, and a small nondescript white stone. She raised the box to Talaron, "Thessse for you if you like."

He lowered his head, "No Seraisa, you keep them."

Her tail flicked for a moment and then she came back, "They isss mine, but me give to you."

Talaron felt certain hopelessness and nodded his head.

"Fine Seraisa, I will take it...but you know that they are still yours."

She smiled as he took the small box. He slowly closed the lid and latched it. Seraisa said, "You sssay me can asssk you to do anything, then you tell me of journeysss."

Talaron nodded and sat down with her on the furs. He began his story back when he first left his home as a young lad of sixteen, then progressed through the years and told her about the many places he's seen. He told her about the Raus Falls, a great waterfall that surged into a large gully thousands of feet wide and hundreds of feet deep. He then went on and told her about the people he met, some being nonhuman. Seraisa listened intently, her tail slowly and gently wrapping around Talaron's body. Talaron felt her tail, but continued telling her everything. As he told her about the Cathan shore she perked up, "What doesss ssshore look like?"

Talaron smiled at her and replied knowledgably, "It spread across the whole length of the edge of the land, parting the land from the sea. On it you would find sand, a similar substance to the earth of the swamp only gritty. You could also see many different types of shells on the shore with pretty markings," Seraisa coiled her tail fully around his waist and rested it on his lap, "Much like your scales."

She purred, "Then my ssscalesss isss prrretty?"

Talaron looked down at her tail nestled in his lap, "Yes, in a way they are Seraisa."

She looked like she started blushing, though her scales didn't turn shades of red like his skin would. Talaron smiled at her and gently stroked her tail. She looked up at him and asked, "Talllaron, if I isss a human...would you take me asss mate?"

Talaron smiled at her, and then looking into her eyes he nodded and said, "I would Seraisa."

She purred louder, "Talllarrron, you isss truly a ssspecial find," she then leaned forward and asked in a quiet voice, "would you be mate?"

Talaron looked up into her eyes and thought for a second about what she said. Had she just asked him to mate with her? He felt her tail quiver slightly in his lap and he breathed in deeply. Seraisa tilted her head to the side waiting for his response. Talaron smiled slightly and said, "Seraisa, I must admit that I like you considerably, but I don't feel that I am ready for that just yet. It is a large commitment and I just want to give it time."

She righted her head and nodded understandingly. She then said, "Well Talllarrron, me sssee in you a mate. Ssso when you ready, isss alright."

He smiled at her and gently stroked her tail, "Thank you Seraisa."

She nodded and looked over his face in silent musing. "Pleassse tell me more."

He nodded and smiled before continuing with his story. The day was coming to an end when Talaron finished his story, and then they both left their hut and made their way to the center of the village to get something to eat. After eating more of the Kaza caught earlier they walked back to her hut. It was getting dark outside, and torches were being lit along the pathway. Talaron noticed that same ruddy scaled Zrask from earlier in the day helping with the torch lighting and he smiled at her and nodded his head in greeting. She nodded her head and flicked her tongue and then continued lighting the torches.

As they reached her hut Seraisa said, "Me mussst go check trapsss, me be back."

She grabbed her spear from the wall near the doorway and walked up the path to the bushes again. Talaron sighed and sat in one of the chairs in her hut. He stared at the charred remains of a fire in the fire pit for a few moments and then decided that he could at least give her something extra to return home to. He went outside the hut and collected a few small pieces of dried wood and leaves that littered the ground just outside her hut. This he brought back inside and stacked neatly in the fire pit. He looked around for larger pieces of dried wood, finding nothing burnable. He shook his head and walked through the flap, back onto the path.

He walked up the path in the same direction Seraisa went, hoping to find some dried wood along the way, and even if possible...to find some just beyond the clump of bushes. As he neared the bushes he heard a sound far beyond it. It sounded like something thrashing around--something very large. Talaron carefully pulled the bushes apart to reveal the dirt bridge from before. He also noticed two Zrask of different colors running straight up the center path, heading toward the bushes there. It was there that the sound was loudest, and Talaron followed his ears out of curiosity.

As the bushes neared he could hear a great form thrashing around on the other side. Accompanying the sound was the many hisses and growls of the Zrask. He parted the bushes and looked out carefully and saw what was making the noise. It was a huge reptilian beast, the kaza as they called it. Its leg was entwined in vines, and more vines that were attached to a few trees around the grassy turf tied up its tail. Talaron noticed a familiar gray form jumping around near its side, and on several other sides there were more Zrask. They continued to weave around the enormous body gouging it with spears, and huge gory holes riddled its flank.

Talaron watched fascinated as they worked together to slay the beast. Then in one of the beast's thrashing throes Talaron saw a mud colored Zrask get thrown from the ground to a nearby tree where it remained, motionless. The kaza whipped its head down and opened its maw to shred the form on the ground, ignoring the small pokes it received in its other side. Talaron saw the Zrask's spear lying not far from where he was standing. Talaron looked down to it briefly and then back at the Zrask lying on the ground about to become kaza-repast, and in a spur of heroicness he leapt from the bushes and grabbed up the spear. The kaza opened its mouth wide and lowered it with great speed in an effort to chew the unconscious Zrask whole. Talaron lunged to the Zrask's side and pushed the spear upward toward the snout of the beast. The beast snapped down and the spear tip stabbed into its scaly snout.

The kaza recoiled as blood gushed out from the hole in its face, and blood splattered over Talaron's arms and hands. He pulled the spear back, jerking it from the kaza's face. The kaza reoriented, rage in its eyes and it came at him this time. Talaron dove to the side and felt the scaly lower jaw smash into his leg hard, toppling him over. He fell to the ground, his face smashing into the muddy ground. He heard a loud hiss go up into the air and then heard the repeated thuds of spears being thrust into the beast's hide. Then he felt a slight breeze on his back and knew what was about to happen. He quickly rolled over and pulled the spear out from under him. He stared up to the great toothy mouth of the kaza and felt sudden demise falling over him.

Talaron fell back trying to jerk away from the kaza, but the kaza's great body pulled the vines and stretched them to their limit. He could hear a few snapping sounds and then saw the kaza rushing at him, its eyes bloodshot and its mouth wide open, ready to take him. He pulled the spear up and pointed it helplessly at the mouth, hoping beyond all hope that the spear would fend the massive head off. The butt end of the spear wedged up against the roots of a tree behind him, and the tip flew up wide. The mouth started to come down, and Talaron closed his eyes waiting the eminent pain from the hundreds of sharp teeth. Instead he felt the spear in his hands shake and vibrate suddenly, and then the sound of bones being crushed and skin being split filled the musty air. Talaron's arm immediately became numb and then he felt a sticky fluid burst over his body, like a broken dam. He opened his eyes to see what had happened and saw the great head of the kaza just inches from his face--the spear protruding out the top of the beast's skull. There was a grating sound and a low level moan from the kaza, and then Talaron saw the eyes close and the beast went limp. He released his grip on the spear and fell back against the roots of the tree and breathed heavily, and then closed his eyes trying to pull himself together. All his muscles were tense from the amount of adrenaline pumping through his system, and he could feel his heart pounding in his chest like it were trying to break out. He heard some hissing sounds and then they too stopped.

After a few seconds he opened his eyes and saw a gray face looking down at him--Seraisa's face. She looked quite worried, and he noticed her tail flicking behind her showing her agitation. He breathed in deeply and then let his breath out, relieving some of the tension in his body. Seraisa knelt down to inspect him, "You no injured?"

He shook his head, "I'm alright, a bit shaken, but otherwise alright."

She smiled and then turned to a few of the other Zrask that had moved over to see what lay beneath the kaza. A very dark scaled Zrask with horns peered down at him, "You isss hunter. We isss glad."

He smiled slightly and slowly pulled himself out from under the great head of the kaza. A few of the Zrask moved closer and inspected him, trying to figure out where he came from. All their spears were soaked red in blood from the kaza, and yet Talaron was the only one soaked in blood. He then noticed something...his skin wrap was no longer on his person. If the blood weren't all ready on his face they would have seen something none of them could do, change the color of their skin. He felt the heat rising to his face and then slowly urged his hands to cover himself, embarrassed again. He looked beyond the few Zrask nearby to two Zrask over by the unconscious one.

Seraisa walked over, "You isss brave Talllaron." He smirked as she continued, "You sssave fellow hunter and risssk self."

He looked down, "I don't know what came over me, I just couldn't sit there and watch him be chomped."

She smiled and then he noticed that the mud colored Zrask stirred. The two there helped him get to his feet, and they supported him as they walked him toward the bushes.

The dark one spoke in a broken tongue, "Human, you help, you help carve kassza for meal."

Talaron bowed his head slightly, "I am honored."

The Zrask nodded and then walked over to the vines around the kaza's tail. He pulled out a similar blade to that Seraisa first cut him down from the vines with and severed the vines around the tail. Then two other Zrask walked over and helped tie the kaza up to be carried back to the village. Talaron looked around for his skin wrap, but couldn't locate it. So with a sigh he joined the Zrask with taking it back to the village. Seraisa joined him on his right and helped lift the kaza. They all heaved upward against the kaza's immense form, and slowly they started to walk it away, back down the path. Surprisingly Talaron found the kaza extremely light, but he also still had adrenaline pumping through his body, and also the help of about ten Zrask hunters. As they neared the village Seraisa hissed out, "Feassst in Talllaron's honor."

A few that Talaron could see nodded their heads as they walked with the huge carcass. As they mounted the kaza on the large spit Talaron could feel a sense of pride and belonging, and his thoughts of never leaving started to die. As they attached the kaza to the last beam he felt a tail coil up around his waist. When he turned he saw Seraisa looking at him, her eyes bright with happiness for him. She also purred and smiled.

He smiled in return, "Seraisa, I can't explain it, but somehow--"

But he was cut off as two of the village spiritual leaders approached them. Seraisa pulled her tail away from him and smiled happily at the two spiritual leaders. One walked up and said in a very broken voice, "Hu-man. Isss goo-d sssee you help an-oth-er. You isss now part of usss. We we-ellco-ome you to join and ssshare kill."

Talaron saw some Zrask from buildings coming closer to him, all curious about why he was up on the hunter's platform. Seraisa held up a torch she grabbed from a fellow Zrask and she handed it to him. Talaron looked into her eyes and smiled at her, and then he slowly lowered the torch into the kindling under the kaza and ignited the fire that would cook the kill. A hunter walked up to him and bowed slightly, his tail straight out behind him. He looked up, "You impressss, me ssshare blade ssso you cut kaza firssst."

Talaron smiled at him, "Thank you."

Seraisa took his hand, "Letsss go Talllaron."

He nodded and she led him back up the path to her hut. She spread the fur in the doorway and let him walk in first, following soon after. Once inside she said in softly, "Talllaron, you isss covered in blood from kassza. We get you clean."

She retrieved the large bowl from before and she exited the hut, returning several minutes later with a full bowl of cool clear water. She smiled at him, "Ssstand by fire pit, me make fire ssso no cold."

Talaron nodded and looked down noticing bumps all over his skin. She left the hut and came back with kindling and a few larger pieces of wood. She piled it all inside the pit and then used two stones and promptly had the fire lit. As the fire slowly grew in strength she returned to him, "You no embarrassssed now?"

Talaron nodded, "I am slightly embarrassed, I am naked and was naked when we were in front of most of your people."

She nodded and flicked her tongue, and then she dipped the sponge into the water and brought it out. Water ran down her fingers and down her forearm trickling down her side and quickly falling to the ground at her feet. She reached up with the sponge and started to gently scrub Talaron's face, removing the blood that was caked on there. Talaron kept his eyes on hers, watching her face as she concentrated on cleaning his. She slowly titled her head to the side as she scrubbed down the side of his face, and then his ear. She was like a sculptor working at a clay figurine. He could hear a distinct purring in her chest and he smiled.

She slowly and carefully scrubbed his whole body, perfectly wiping the blood and grime from his skin. She looked into his eyes as she washed out the scrub, and then she knelt down, starting to clean his lower body. Even her presence there made his body shiver, and he struggled to not show his bodies own reactions. Seraisa cleaned his thighs and legs, and then cleaned his genitals. Talaron furrowed his brows and felt his stomach tighten. His body was slowly reacting to the touching of his genitals. He looked down at Seraisa and noticed her staring at his member. He felt the heat rising to his face again but he managed to will the blushing away. Seraisa looked up and smiled mischievously, and then she gently cleaned under his genitals. Talaron closed his eyes and slowly sucked in his breath, trying to not embarrass himself much more then he already was doing.

Seraisa looked up, "Almossst clean. Your body isss interesssting."

He couldn't resist the urge to pull away any more, and as he flinched to her hands cleaning she asked, "What wrong?"

Talaron looked down at her, "You are cleaning in a place that is embarrassing."

She looked at his erection, "Why you ssso embarrasssed?"

He took her hand and slowly pulled her up to her feet. She looked into his eyes with the same joy from before, "Seraisa, I..." he paused briefly, "I am afraid of the consequences."

She cocked her head to the side and said with a bit of trouble, "What consss-ss-ssequenssces? You sssay you no ready, me isss waiting. No worry Talllaron."

He nodded and she slowly went to her knees and cleaned his legs and buttocks. Talaron gently stroked the side of her face and he said, "Seraisa, you are very kind."

She smiled, "Thank you Talllaron."

After they finished, Seraisa found him another skin to wrap around his waist. They then walked out of the hut and went toward the center of the village. Talaron saw the ruddy-scaled Zrask looking at him with a smile on her face and he returned the smile as well as a slight nod of his head. They both walked over to the large spit where the kaza slowly roasted away, it had been about two hours from his guess, and that meant that the kaza was not going to be finished cooking till the middle of the night. Seraisa walked him over to a ring of logs and sat him on one, and then she walked around and sat on his other side, pulling her tail up around him.

As night bore on, Talaron felt himself growing even more tired. He was also very hungry. Fortunately, the kaza was nearly cooked, and it would soon be time for him to be the first to slice into it. Seraisa sat next to him the whole time, watching the flames dance. She also purred and gently stroked Talaron's hand. Talaron motivation to leave was quickly slipping away, and even when he tried to call it back he felt Seraisa's body next to his and he was pulled into the present. He was never going to leave. He truly felt he belonged here.