FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

A rustle came from the trees as a gentle wind meandered its way through the forest, brushing the leaves against one another. On the ground below, a soft surge of the natural static-like noise rushed by as a sleek craft skimmed along the canopy. It sailed gracefully mile after mile, making short work of the tremendous distance it had to cover. The city was quite a long ways away, but then that was the point. A grand preserve insulated the center from the industrial feel of progress and infrastructure. The only sensible and practical way to reach this resort was by way of their in-house transportation, the very craft cruising effortlessly through the air. It was one of many, taking on the appearance of an exotic, exceedingly rare limousine, though it lacked the traditional form of locomotion. It had no wings, no wheels, no powerful internal combustion engine to urge it forward. Instead, the silent glide of a mystical gift of flight granted it such terrific speed and grace. It was impressive to watch. Even more, it was a marvelous way to give any guest the sense that they had fallen into the lap of extreme luxury.

The dragon liked that.

Smokey spent much of his day keeping track of all the various ins and outs of his inn, making sure it was running smoothly, that his guests were happy, and that his staff had no desire to seek alternate employment. Today had special significance though. The blue scaled fellow was more nervous than usual, and he had good reason to be. There was a special guest arriving that he absolutely had to make a good impression on. Any infinitesimal problem, any minute speck of dirt, any singularly tiny detail missed and he could end up seeing this meeting going badly. He stood there, visibly anxious as he requested various staffers complete this or that, going on about how everything had to be 'perfect'. It wasn't until a pair of white hands moved to his shoulders and began to squeeze and knead that he began to ease down.

"Relax honey. It's going to be fine. I promise. You don't need to go overboard." The angelic woman behind him offered what soothing comfort she could, knowing it would likely be largely ignored. Smokey was in full diplomat mode.

"I know, I know but... It's her. You know how important this is."

Shayna just sighed and leaned against the azure drake from behind, pressing her nose softly into the side of his neck as her arms wrapped around his chest.

"I know honey, but you'll not make a good first impression if you're all nervous and uptight. You need to relax. Go with the flow," She paused and slipped around in front of him to lock eyes with him, her stare hardening a bit, "Do I need to get you drunk for this to go over more smoothly?"

Smokey frowned and grimaced a little.

"What!? No! Of course not! I'm perfectly able to maintain a relaxed demeanor without imbibing!"

Shayna rolled her eyes and turned to go tend to her own tasks.

"Sure you are... hence the fancy vocabulary. You're trying to impress her rather than be yourself. Goodness, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were acting like an insecure, un-athletic genius with social phobias surrounding girls you would like to court."

"I am not acting like a nerd!" His cheeks were a bright rosy hue at this point. Shayna simply laughed as she strolled away, adding a sway to her step to ensure he would stare just a bit longer.

"Sure you are, but you're my kind of nerd. Knock'em dead sweetie."

The bespectacled fellow sighed a little as he stared, ever in awe of the angelic dragoness' form. As she disappeared around a distant corner, he sighed again and shook his head to clear his thoughts, turning back to the matter at hand. His guest would be arriving any minute. He straightened his vest and examined it for dust or other impurities before stepping through a softly shimmering doorway to reach the floor below. The chamber stretched out before him, largely dark but illuminated in key places by powerful white lights. The walls were lined with several bays, each housing one of the many dark, stately flying vehicles. The arrival area, which was little more than a pristine hanger, was bustling with activity: shuttles arriving and depositing guests, guests embarking back from whence they came, and staff going about their duties to maintain an air of professionalism. There stood a small console behind a wall of glass manned by a squirrel and slender gryphon, both of them busy directing traffic in and out of the reception bay. It was a model of efficiency, and it made Smokey feel more at ease seeing everyone doing their jobs so very splendidly.

"How long until our VIP arrives?"

The gryphon finished the direction he was giving before turning to glace at his employer. From there, he turned back to his console, tapping away on the display to manipulate it this way and that. A map of the immediate area appeared, dotted lightly with various vehicles coming and going. Each had its own label and designation. One in particular seemed to be highlighted differently from the others. He tapped on it and a listing of statistics appeared detailing its exact location, speed, and time to arrival.

"On approach now. Shall I have them divert directly to the VIP suite?"

"No, that won't be necessary. I'd like to great our guest here so it sets an example of what everyone can expect to see."

The gryphon nodded and went back to directing those in the sky. Smokey stood there behind him, peering out the glass towards the grand mouth of the hanger. From there he could watch as several shuttles lined up and slowed in an orderly procession. A series of yellow lights, held perfectly still in the air, flickered as if they were made of flame but never lost their brilliance. They did from time to time change color, becoming a shining white then returning to gold. It created a progression forward from the out of doors into the mouth of the hanger as one might expect along a runway. Just adjacent rest another row providing similar direction but for shuttles departing. It was difficult to tell which one was the very craft Smokey was interested in. Sensing his concern, the gryphon in charge of in-bound traffic manipulated the controls again, this time bringing up a sort of hologram on the glass before them, highlighting each shuttle as they entered. The first two guests were indeed important but not the ones the blue dragon was so overly fussy about. The one he sought was last in line of the queue. It slowed as it approached the entry to the bay, waiting patiently for a turn on the landing pad before settling effortlessly.

Immediately the dragon approached with a controlled rush to the vehicle's side. A bellhop pulled on the handle and opened the door, granting the nervous entrepreneur a view of the passenger he had been awaiting. And what a view it was.

A leg of crimson and black emerged from the vehicle, followed by an identical leg as their owner moved to rise, lifting two pointed ears tipped in black fading to a warm redish orange hue. Two relaxed yet attentive eyes glanced slowly about the area as a thin, elegant muzzle was pulled into a smile, the nose at the end twitching as the air was sampled lightly. The vixen came to stand at her full height, dressed in a rather flattering pantsuit which seemed to be tailored to accentuate her curves and bust a little more than might be considered professional attire, but then she could get away with it. A thick, bushy tail swished softly behind her as she was escorted a few steps forward away from the vehicle while two other bellhops collected her belongings from the truck. Without even requiring introductions, she knew exactly who was standing before her.

"Mr. Smokescale Aquatos, owner of the famous Treetop Inn, it's a pleasure to finally meet you." Her voice was quite lovely, but then most weren't paying that close attention to it when there was such a ravishing figure to drink in the sight of. Smokey maintained his composure and kept his eyes locked with hers as he smiled.

"Mrs. Inara Arthrikit, it's an honor to receive you." The chivalrous dragon bowed deeply before the lady, extending a hand in a polite gesture. It was indeed a rarity to see such behavior anymore. Usually men conducting themselves in such a manner were doing so to curry favor in the hopes of more sordid dealings. The vixen sensed nothing of the sort from her host. Still, it felt a little unnecessary. She took his hand and pulled to bring him back into a proper posture.

"Just Inara will do. I prefer to keep things a little less formal while on trips like this. I feel it shows more of the person's true character rather than having to wade through the facade most put on for situations like this. You call me 'miss' or 'my lady' and I will give you such a smack." She smirked, giving the blue fellow a nudge. Clearly she was in a playful mood. Smokey offered a similar smile, oddly conflicted over feeling less tense and more so all at once. To help take his mind off matters, he turned and lifted an arm to guide the lady towards the exit.

"Alright, well then let's just go ahead and get right down to business. I've arranged for a tour of the inn and the grounds. Your bags will be taken to your room where we'll conclude the tour."

Inara stopped him there, lifting a hand to politely quiet him.

"Actually, I think I'd like to see my room first. If you don't mind, I'd like to slip into something a little more comfortable. While it's appropriate for the office, it's not exactly vacation attire, and I do consider this to be a vacation." The fox lifted a hand and ran her fingers through her hair to try and relax the more formal style she had kept it before arriving. Smokey nodded and turned to gaze at the two lads carrying her things.

"Very well, gentlemen, would you kindly show us where the lady will be staying?"

The bellhops, a hare and a raven, nodded and scurried forward, taking the lead as dragon and fox followed. The same shimmering doorway led the group to the foyer as if they were directly adjacent. The lady crossed the threshold and shivered ever so softly as if she was struck by a sudden chill.

"That's no ordinary doorway. Would you mind telling me what it actually is?" She was quite sensitive to such things it seemed. That made the dragon's job just a bit more interesting.

"You're correct, it's not an ordinary doorway. We're in the foyer now, which is directly above the hanger. Rather than use elevators or stairs to cross between the two, we felt it would be preferable to use a portal. The inn is so expansive we've found it's easier to arrange for the more distant reaches to be connected by gateways like the one we just used. They stay open around the clock and are only shut down during emergency situations that call for it, which I'm pleased to say is not often at all. We test them monthly and have alternate means of reaching each destination should we need to close them down."

"So you use magic rather extensively here." She cut straight to the heart of the matter. No point in dancing around the subject it seemed.

"Yes, we do. And every member of my staff has at minimum a class one license, just enough to understand and operate the basic cantrips and enchantments. I encourage many of them to get certified for class two depending on their role but class one is a requirement to working here. We even have a small school to help employees get certified. I can assure you that every use of magic here either falls under the guidelines the international council has established or has been approved directly by the council themselves." He was quick to point that out. He was nervous indeed. Inara was no ordinary business woman. She waved a hand to try and calm the overly protective entrepreneur.

"I know, I know... you don't have to worry about me nit-picking your mystical applications. I know all about your dealings with the council. I was there for many of those approvals. That's not what this visit is about. I'm here to see and experience the inn, not audit it. Just... relax. Treat me as you would any other guest. You're so uptight I half expect you to lay a diamond encrusted egg any minute now."

The blue dragon's cheeks flushed again and he nodded, taking a few deep breaths. He had been terrified she had come to question every last aspect of his home. With that pushed aside, he was able to sort himself out.

"I'm sorry, I'm just... protective of what I've built here. You'll see why on the tour."

Inara nodded and took her host's arm and wrapped hers about it with a smile.

"I can't wait."

Again Smokey blushed but tried to remain composed rather than melt into a bubbling, frothing mass of schoolboy-ish giggles and bashful looks. The walk to her room was relatively brief, taking them across two long corridors many referred to as 'sky bridges' in the construction industry. The windowed walkway offered a spectacular view of the grounds below, showing they were indeed truly held aloft by the trees themselves, tall and proud in their majesty. Questions arose as the vixen peered out and saw the state of the gardens down below. She held her inquiries for when they might descend to see them.

The guest wings were quite large, housing a few dozen rooms within each circular structure. It was a design selected to best make use of each supporting tree while not hindering its growth. The trunk could be seen within the center as they peered out into a sort of celestial courtyard. Balconies and walkways ran the length of the inner track, providing anyone with a comfortable place to rest in the out of doors and still remain fairly social. The rooms, facing outward on the ring, had their own balconies, but they were meant to be more private. Small lounge-like areas lay here and there along the inner track should anyone wish to make use of them to read or enjoy a snack in the company of others. There seemed to be no end to the consideration for the guest.

Eventually, they came to Inara's room and the door was opened with the turn of a rather old fashioned feeling key, part of the charm they wanted to instill. Inside, the suite was quite luxurious and spacious. It could have been mistaken for a penthouse. Light shined in warmly from the large wall-length windows, their curtains pulled to the side to provide a clear view of the outer world. A vast bed, begging to be leapt onto, lay against one wall facing a dark reflective panel hanging on the opposite wall, clearly meant to provide any and all visual and audio entertainment. The decor was rather interesting, described as 'the present as it might have been imagined by the past', not by a couple of decades ago but centuries. Dark, rich wood had been shaped into all manner of sturdy, intricately carved furniture, possessing a strangely natural feel. The carpet was thick and plush, feeling as if one was walking on a lush bed of grass. Inara closed her eyes as she stood in the middle of the empty space, inhaled deeply to draw in the scent of summer the room had somehow been blessed with, and sighed a relaxed breath.

"I think this will do just fine."

Smokey nodded with a smile, sensing how pleased she was with her accommodations.

"I'm glad to hear that. If there is anything you would like or need please don't hesitate to say so. The front desk is always available."

"I think the only thing I need right now is a moment to change." She moved to the bags the two bellhops had set aside, resting on a small stand or hanging as might be appropriate. Smokey nodded and stepped back towards the door behind him, granting her the privacy she might want.

"Very well, I'll be just outside when you're ready." He was suddenly stopped by a pair of eyes gazing back at him over the lady's shoulder, batting softly. She grinned seeing her host blush once again.

"You don't have to go. I rather enjoy company and I've nothing to hide. Besides, it would give us more time to talk. You don't mind do you?"

The dragon suppressed the urge to gulp nervously, trying to remain casual yet professional.

"If... if you would like me to stay... then, I can."

"It's not if I would like you to," She turned and strolled gracefully towards the innkeeper, "It's if you would like to. Does the prospect of seeing a lady naked make you shy away?"

"Well, I'm not sure if... if it would be... appropriate." He struggled to keep from stammering.

Inara laughed and tilted her head to the side as she watched the blue's reactions, amused oh so deeply by them. Chivalry wasn't dead. He was single-handedly keeping it on life-support.

"Appropriate. Right. With all the stories I hear about this place being the home of all manner of debauchery and outlandish sexual practices... and you're worried about watching me undress being inappropriate. That's precious. Go have a seat. I won't be long. And I meant what I said about having time to talk. I've got questions and I'm not exactly patient when I'm curious. Call it the CEO in me." The lady was already removing her blazer, folding it neatly and setting it atop the chest-of-drawers. The still nervous fellow bit his lower lip and took a seat as he was instructed in a chair a fairly decent distance from the lady, or as far as he could manage and still be in the same room.

"Alright. What sort of questions do you have?" Before he had a chance to really pause after the question, she responded.

"Are you married?"

Smokey coughed and sputtered a little, not having expected that. He cleared his throat and straightened his vest again, fighting back a new blush.

"I wouldn't exactly use that term but I am romantically attached, yes. I was going to introduce you to her when we got to the infirmary. She's our resident healer, incredibly gifted. Her name is Shayna." He turned to avert his gaze as Inara unbuttoned her shirt and slipped out of it, exposing her form which had come to be known as 'legendary'. She grinned back at him as he looked away, trying his best to be polite.

"I prefer people to look at me while I talk to them, Mr. Aquatos. If that's too much trouble for you, perhaps I should just go." She teased. The blue swallowed quietly and slowly brought his gaze back to the vixen, now without a top to cover herself, his cheeks turning a brilliant violet.

"My apologies."

"So then, you're in a committed, long-term relationship but not married?" She seemed so casual about discussing the dragon's marital status while she was undressing before him. He tried his best to keep his eyes fixed on hers rather than her other attributes.

"Yes. We've spoken about it before but she didn't seem concerned with it." He cleared his throat again, wanting to look away once more as the vixen slipped out of her skirt and undergarments, now completely nude.

"So, she's not interested in marrying you? Haven't really managed to land that fish?"

"She's taken my last name so I'm pretty sure she doesn't plan on leaving anytime soon. She has... an interesting past. I think that might have colored her opinion on the matter. She says it's just a word and a piece of paper. She doesn't need it to be happy."

Inara nodded softly as she moved to retrieve something from her bags. It was a simple robe, open and comfortable, as well as a little sheer. It wouldn't do much to conceal her. As she slipped into it, she let her tail swish along the carpet ever so quietly, enjoying the feeling of being free of the oh-so-confining business clothing.

"Not concerned about matters of legality or property is she? I guess it's one way to protect herself. If something goes wrong and the inn goes under, she can just walk away without any worry of it coming back on her. Sounds a little fishy to me."

"She's not like that. I can't see her ever just walking away when hard times hit. She's too good of a person to do that. I don't know why it hasn't concerned her but I know it's not due to naivety. If it hasn't given her reason to worry, then there's probably no reason for me to worry."

The fox had her back to the dragon at this point, looking over her shoulder at him from time to time. Now she had paused, gazing out the window as the notion of this rather organic, free-formed relationship rolled about in her mind.

"You trust her that far?"

"Further."

"How far is further?"

"I trust her completely. She did something for me a long time ago. Something I cannot ever repay her for even if I lived forever. She asked for nothing in return; no favors, no money, not even a place to stay after the matter had been settled."

That seemed to satisfy the vixen. There was a history between them, and from the sound of it a pretty hefty one that neither was about to throw away. She closed her robe around herself and tied it about the waist. As expected, it didn't exactly hide the details such garments were originally meant to but that didn't seem to bother the lady. She crossed the distance to the blue fellow and took his hand to bring him to his feet. She was beginning to feel bad about teasing him and undressing in front of him.

"I hope she isn't the jealous type. If it's any consolation, I thought your relationship was a bit more... open than it sounds like it is."

Smokey cleared his throat as he stood, still taking care not to lower his gaze past her face.

"Well, it is to a certain extent, but then again, she can come across as a little jealous. Sometimes she's not in the mood to share."

Inara grinned once more, taking the dragon's arm in hers as she had before.

"Oh so she hogs you some of the time?"

"I guess you could say that. I'm not worried about how she'll react to hearing you changed in front of me. She might do the same thing once we're alone. I guess it's to try and compete or it gives her ideas or something. I'm more worried about the relationship between us, or at least, the proposed one. I don't know if it would be right for the heads of two companies looking to do business together engaged in anything... well... other than business."

Again the lady laughed as she began tugging him out the door, finally seeing where this was coming from and liking it a little too much.

"Trust me, it's perfectly alright. Where do you think the phrase 'getting into bed with' came from? You'd do well to learn your history a bit better! Now, the tour!" She leaned up to give the flustered blue a peck on the cheek, further teasing him for her own amusement. He blushed all the further and nodded, trying to steer things back on track.

"Yes, the tour. We'll start with the main inn itself. You've seen your room and a few of the wings. They're all similarly laid out. If you would like, I can show you all of the wings once the rest of the tour is finished. I wouldn't want to bore you with that when there's a great deal more to see."

From there the two strolled along, the fox getting a few stares here and there. She relished the attention, ignoring those who might have thought ill of her attire or lack thereof. At least they were few and far between. The majority of looks she received were gazes of incredulity or lust. She was indeed a ravishing beauty. The foyer returned quickly, filled with its numerous seating options in the form of sofas and cushioned chairs, some of them gathered around a large hearth at one end, alight with a welcoming fire. The front desk sat opposite to the flame and on either side rose a wide curving staircase leading to the level above. Just to the left of the front desk was an alcove large enough for a dozen people, probably more. On the floor in the circular region lay a golden rune or glyph of some sort. It was perfectly round and intricately detailed, appearing to have a stylized tree incorporated into its design. A soft glow emanated from it as the two approached.

"Is this a teleportation circle?"

Smokey nodded with a smile.

"Yes, it is. It leads down to the gardens almost directly below. This was for the longest time the only way for anyone who could not fly to reach the inn proper. We've since changed that but we kept this in operation in spite of its somewhat out-moded style of transportation. As you can see, it was made to incorporate our crest and took a lot of doing to put in place. It would be an awful waste to let it fall into disuse or remove it entirely."

"Your crest. Do you mean the company's logo?"

The dragon shook his head this time, guiding the lady into the circle.

"No, I do mean crest. Logo suggests that it's just an icon to be used for branding and marketing. To call it a crest... it makes it feel more like we're a family; that it's not just about the prospect of making money. Sure we won't necessarily correct someone when they off-handedly call it a logo, but it just doesn't fully reflect the philosophy and atmosphere we've tried to cultivate."

"A family. Interesting way to view the company. You've rehearsed that speech much?"

"The best way if you ask me," Just then, a warm, soft light surrounded them, washing out everything around them. Just as they began to travel down to the world below, the dragon smiled a little, his cheeks flushing softly, "A time or two."

---

As the sun made its way across the sky, it came to rest at its apex, casting its light upon the land. Shadows shrank to a bare puddle of mild darkness beneath the denizens and stomachs clamored for the mid-day meal. Smokey's tour had taken the pair through much of the garden and a number of other sights, all of which left the vixen hungry to see more. The foyer returned in short enough order as the dragon guided his guest up one of the wide staircases spiraling in a graceful curve towards the floor above. The air quickly grew heavy with the scents of culinary delights and the pair found themselves amidst a group of other visitors moving to pay the dining hall a visit.

"I must say Mr. Aquatos, I like what I've seen so far. If the rest is as impressive, we just might have to look into some sort of arrangement." The lady followed as she was casually guided to a table and smiled as the blue and grey fellow pulled out a chair for her. Such a polite and gentlemanly fellow. He must have had excellent upbringing. Once she was seated, he took his own place at the table. Their orders were taken promptly as the waiter provided them with water and fresh bread smelling wonderfully of yeast.

"My staff and I try our very best to provide an unparalleled experience for all our guests. It can be tiring, but it is extremely rewarding."

"Oh I don't doubt there are nights where you can all but just barely make it to the bed before you collapse."

Smokey chuckled and nodded, taking a sip from his glass quietly.

"Sometimes, yes. But it's always worth it. Every single time."

The vixen smiled a sly little grin, already so very much interested in the resort. In her mind, the decision was already made but she wasn't about to miss out on the chance to be shown around even further. After all, a shrewd businessman or woman didn't jump into such a venture without knowing everything about their partner.

"Good to hear you enjoy your work so much. It shows in everything you've provided here."

"Oh it isn't all my doing. In fact, not very much of it actually is. I've my staff to thank for the vast majority of what makes this place so special. In fact, the gardens weren't even my idea. It was actually my s-" The azure drake jumped softly as he felt a vibration trembling away in his pocket. A hand reached in to retrieve the offending device, pulling it up to see it displaying a short message requiring his urgent attention. He frowned and sighed a little, "Forgive me but I will have to skip lunch. I'm needed for something that I'm afraid can't wait. Would you be willing to have dinner instead? We still have a great deal to discuss."

The vixen frowned quietly as it seemed her company was being pulled away for some mysterious emergency. Still, she had been put in similar situations before, and his verve for his work did bode well for the environment he provided.

"It's alright. And I'll let you choose when we dine together since this is your establishment. I don't have anything but free time. I think I'll just wander about and see what I can get into. Now hurry! Off you go!"

The blue dragon nodded, bowing softly in thanks as he stood, turning to take his leave in a casual yet swift manner. He was even careful not to alarm the guests when he was needed so urgently. Inara simply sat quietly, looking about the room as she was left to dine alone. It didn't upset her, but it was a bit of a disappointment. She enjoyed having someone to talk to, and in Smokey's case, someone to politely tease. Maybe with so many people visiting she would be able to find another friend to occupy her free time with.

Just as the thought passed through her head, another dragon walked in, though it wasn't so much of a walk as it was a gentle stomp. This one was considerably different from the azure fellow that had been touring the fox about the inn. For one, the newcomer was decidedly female, and heavily endowed at that. It baffled Inara how this exceedingly tall woman was able to stand upright with such an expansive bust. Each swell had to be as large as the table the vixen sat at! Her demeanor was quite unpleasant as well. An angry shout was hurled across the counter as the black and white scaled lady sat herself down on a stool.

"Gimme a steak! The biggest one you've got! Rare! And a stiff drink! Well!? What are you waiting for!? Don't think! Just put the damn order in! I'm starving!"

Such rude behavior. And yet, the lapin lady behind the counter, staring up at the woman towering over her fought off her trembles and darted off to do just as she was demanded. In short order, she returned with a glass of water and a place setting for the irate woman, remaining as professional as she could muster while still riding the wave of adrenaline brought about by something so fearsome staring down hard at her.

"Y-your steak should be read in just a moment! W-would you like anything to go with it? Any sides?"

"Yeah! A nosy little bunny if she doesn't have a steak with her when she comes back again! Scram!" The dark dragoness clutched the small glass of water and tossed it back, emptying the entire thing into her mouth in a single gulp. It wasn't the 'stiff drink' she had ordered but it was an acceptable start, "And my booze better be big enough for me! I don't want a tiny lil shot glass like you gave me water in!"

The rabbit hurried away, scurrying across to the bar to whisper a hushed message to the bartender. The russet fellow nodded to her and began preparing what had to have been the largest glass of a rich spirit Inara had ever seen. She didn't even know glasses of that size were made! If this unpleasant lady was any indication of what the Inn was to accommodate, then perhaps keeping such ridiculous proportions within easy reach wasn't such a bad idea! Against what many might have thought better judgment, the vixen stood and began to approach the dragoness, sitting just a few stools down from her.

"Hard for folks to miss you when you walk into a room." She turned to grin up at the un-amused woman. A growl rumbled away softly as the heavy fronted visitor kept her gaze pointed forward.

"Whoever you are, just keep on walkin' before I throw you out the window."

"Yes indeed, hard to miss, and yet everyone seems content to pretend you're not here... well, except for the staff that is. Why is that?"

The dragon growled again, growing even more irritated than she already was.

"Because they know to leave well enough alone! Now sod off!"

Inara, unable to do what it seemed everyone else was smart enough to do, continued to 'poke the bear' as it was commonly referred to. She simply smiled up at the big lady and pretended all the venom being used on her was simply an act to be shoved aside with the right questions.

"Oh? And what have you done to make sure everyone else ignores someone as eye-catching as you? Why, if I were in your place, I'd rather everyone get a good look and stare just as much as they want. But then... I'm a bit of an exhibitionist. Name's Inara. What's yours?"

Paying her a compliment seemed to sooth the dragon, but only mildly; just enough to make her growls quiet again. She was still quite annoyed but it was more because the usual aggression wasn't having any effect. She likely could very easily make good on her word to lob the fox out the nearest pane of glass, but something told her it wouldn't do very much good. There was really only one thing to do in a situation like this: ignore her as much as possible, finish eating, and leave. The odd thing was, she found herself mysteriously compelled to answer the question.

"Ivory. Now go away. I'm busy."

"Busy doing what? Staring at the wall waiting for your steak?" In that very moment, the lapin waitress hurried over with a slab of meat that looked as though it could have been a whole side of beef, just seared long enough to brown and steam a bit.

"Eating. Now what don't you get about 'go away'? I'm not interested in chatting." Her sizable beverage was brought over as she began to rip into her meal somewhat viciously.

"Never did terribly good at doing what I was told. Besides, I'm kinda lonely and you looked like the most interesting person around. How long are you visiting?" There was a kernel of truth to Inara's words, inflated somewhat in the hopes of spinning the dragon's attitude her way. Ivory grumbled softly as she tore another large bite from the offering in her hands, not caring about the mess she was making. She had managed to completely forget that her plan was to ignore the fox, but at least she wasn't as annoying as some of the few who usually approached her. For instance, this one wasn't trying to dive straight into her cleavage, easily large enough to hide a small person inside.

"I visit as long as I damn well please. The senior staff knows me."

"Oh, so they just let you stay for free? What quarter is your room in?" It took careful study to gauge when enough became too much, but so far, Inara was surfing nicely right on the crest.

"I don't have a room. I have my own accommodations down in the gardens. What's it to you?" In between a few too-large bites, Ivory took a rather sizable sip from the super-sized glass of grog before her, washing down what she had already consumed before diving back into her meal.

"I'm just curious is all," She turned to look out at the rest of the crowd minding their own business, "Wondering what it is that has you so upset. It must happen a lot if the rest of the guests just know to keep away. Is it something about the inn?"

Ivory slammed her glass down onto the counter, now at about half its original level what with such a hearty thirst. She turned to gaze hard at the vixen, signaling that she might be losing her balance and about to topple over the line she was trying not to cross with the dragon.

"I'm not upset," Her tone was stern and direct, clearly the opposite of what she suggested, "I'm perfectly fine. What goes on with me is none of your business, now if you don't leave me be, I'll show you just how curiosity killed the cat."

"Oh come on, two girls can't have a little chat without one threatening to skin the other alive? I'm just trying to get an idea of how much people like this place."

"Go find out for yourself. Quit bothering me."

Now the vixen could begin revealing a bit of herself, if only to see how that might change the tall woman's attitude.

"Well, I already know how much I like it, but my personal opinion doesn't really go very far in the business world. I need more data if I'm going to look into moving forward with my little venture."

Ivory paused softly hearing that. There was a rather well known businesswoman by the same name, a fox to boot. She turned her gaze back to her unwanted visitor as she stared down annoyedly at the vulpine, her cheeks stuffed with another monstrous bite. She swallowed hard and ran her tongue across her teeth to make sure there wasn't anything to fly out as she spoke.

"Inara... as in, Inara Arthrikit? That big shot multinational corporate CEO? Member of the Global Sorcery Oversight Council? That you?"

The vixen smirked softly, pleased that the dragon was able to identify her.

"The same. Pleasure to meet you." Her calculation had been correct. Immediately the dragon's demeanor seemed to soften but only slightly. The tall woman turned her whole form to face the vixen properly before speaking again. With a bust so big, she could have used a pair of spotters and warning lights and alarms so no one walked by just to get knocked over.

"So, you're interested in the inn huh? Thinking about buying it and taking it over or something?"

"Oh nothing so foolish as that. After all, Smokey seems to have a good thing going here. I'm not about to take it away from him just to turn more of a profit for myself or come and stay whenever I want without having to make a reservation. Besides, I don't think there's a number high enough I could pay him to make him want to give this place up. He's quite passionate about it. No, I'm more interested in a joint venture of sorts. This place has gained such massive notoriety that I'd like to try and replicate its success."

Ivory frowned at the vixen, suddenly not terribly certain she liked what this Inara was all about.

"Replicate... you want to try and mass produce this place?"

"No, not at all. I don't want to make this place into the next sub-standard motel chain. I just want to make a few similar little resorts in a few key places. You know, for the folks who are just a little too far away to make the trip here. Why? You thought I was going to try and put this place out of business or something?"

Slowly, the dragon turned back to her plate to finish eating, which did not take long with her aggressive style.

"Can never tell with you business types. Never know if you're gonna do right by the people who are just trying to bring something good into the world or if you're gonna screw them over. At least you've got something of a reputation but... can't take anything for granted."

"Wow, it's not just Smokey who's protective of this place. It really must be something special," Inara offered a smile, which was ignored by the black and white lady downing the last of her alcoholic beverage. A brief silence fell between them as the vixen sought a new topic to discuss, coming upon one quickly, "I have to say, I'm very impressed with the gardens. I'd love to find out how they built and maintain it all."

"There's a complex weather manipulation system down there, one for each quarter. I've been trying to replicate the effect for myself but it's proving more difficult than I originally thought. I'm not a novice, but I'm still not exactly a master of that particular subject."

The fox beamed brightly, finding perhaps an in with the big lady.

"Is that so? Well, I certainly wouldn't mind offering you a hand if you'd like. Two heads are better than one they say." Her smile was quite powerful, not in the sense that it was overly wide, but more the mood it displayed was incredibly infectious. Ivory refused to return the expression, but it was having an impact. Quietly, she grumbled, her ears folding back as she came to admit that it wasn't all that bad of an idea.

"Fine... could be worth having a second pair of eyes. Might see something I'm missing," She stood and reached into a pocket to retrieve a single large gold coin, slapping it on the table as the waitress returned to take away the dishes, "Wasn't a steak, but it was still good." Ivory turned and motioned for the fox to follow, not speaking much beyond what had already been said. Inara offered a shrug and opted to join her. After all, what could go wrong?

The pair trekked out of the dining hall and down the stairs to the foyer, turning towards the crest the owner had shown the vixen earlier. The same soft rush of light and warmth washed over them before their vision cleared to reveal the gardens so far below. A look back up showed the same terrific distance that left Inara marveling the first time. Of course, the grand tree holding the foyer aloft was nothing short of a landmark in and of itself.

"I'll never get used to that sight," She paused for a moment, amending the thought, "Well, I hope I never do. It's truly amazing."

Ivory nodded absently, pressing on towards their destination, her large paws cushioned nicely by the lush, rich grass underfoot.

"Yeah, it's pretty swanky. Now c'mon. I don't like waiting on others."

The fox kept within a reasonable distance, mentally plotting the path they were taking deep into the summer quarter of those magical gardens. As they left the center, she caught the last glimpses of the other regions, each one holding their respective seasons. The layer of white covering the ground in the winter quarter seemed especially intriguing, but that wasn't what she was being invited to investigate. Not far into the summer quarter there came a curious hut of sorts. It seemed quite sturdy, and able to accommodate the tall dragon, though only just. Without a second's hesitation, Ivory stepped into the tent-like structure and vanished through the opening. Inara, not questioning the lady's intentions, stepped in as well, finding it surprisingly dark inside. A light shined some distance away, well too far away for it to have been inside the tent, or so it would have appeared. The large figure of the dragon in front of her ambled on towards it, insisting that the vixen follow.

As they approached, the light grew larger and brighter, finally revealing another natural setting filled with trees, grass, and the like; all quite well groomed. Out stepped the tall, winged woman and her new acquaintance. Inara looked about, having sensed something odd about the structure they had walked through. She turned to glance behind them, finding an identical little hut nestled in right up against the trees and brush behind and surrounding it.

"That wasn't some sort of optical illusion was it? Make it look like it's a little tiny shack but it's actually the opening to a hidden corridor or something?"

"Kinda. The two tents are connected, but magically. Strictly speaking, we're still inside the tent. This is my home away from home, a little pocket dimension I use as my own personal refuge," She turned to gaze down at the fox with a gentle yet stern look, "I don't let just anyone in here, so you know."

"It's an honor. Quite a place you have here."

Ivory offered a quiet little snort in acknowledgement, pressing forward, driven by a purpose. A stone path led the pair through the small complex of buildings, each possessing a design and make as though it were from an ancient, otherworldly period when construction was a simpler concept. A forge came and went as they walked, as did a sundial of ornate design. Across a sizable yard the fox could see a handful of other buildings, all connected by the same sort of walkways they currently tread upon. One of the largest structures of the entire group loomed before them as the dragoness continued on, pushing the doors open into the foyer of her laboratory.

"This is where I do my work. It's nice and isolated so if I screw up, I don't blow up a small city. C'mon. You're so interested in my work, let's see just what you can do." The black and white woman made her way through the laboratory, past several different workrooms meant for different types of research. After several minutes, they reached the chamber housing her current project. The dragoness stepped aside and gave the vixen a nudge, pushing her towards the rather high worktable. Inara blinked as she was shoved forward lightly, climbing up onto a stool to see what was what.

"Hmm, I see you're opting for the simplest approach. Trying to get the basic principle, proof of concept, before you scale it up and make it more complex?"

Ivory nodded, crossing her arms atop her mind-bogglingly expansive bust.

"Yeah, since I'm not familiar with this type of application, starting simple is always the best way to keep from doing something really stupid. I understand how they get away with at the Inn, four stones, four seasons, each one working only one way. I'm looking to either develop a single stone that changes to make the weather how I want it, or if that doesn't work, just make four stones and have one that's active at any one time."

"Simpler is better when it comes to something so grandiose. Look, you're mana stream is incredibly underpowered for this sort of manipulation. You'll need a lot more energy flowing into the stone to keep it active, even at this level of experimentation."

"Well I didn't wanna blow up my lab with a sudden freak snow storm." The dragon frowned, snapping a little out of indignation.

"I know, I wouldn't want to cause a sudden localized ice age either, but you have to keep in mind stones like this absorb an awful lot of energy and just hold on to it. You're not getting much out of it because you're not putting much into it. It's like an electric coil. You have to run more electricity through it to get it to heat up faster or hotter. Trust me on this. You need to pump more power into it. I can help you set up some safety precautions to keep it from blowing up in your face... literally or figuratively. C'mon, let's get to work."

The larger woman raised an eyebrow but didn't question the fox's eagerness. She simply sat down next to Inara and began following her lead.

---

Hours passed as the two toiled away, struggling to fit together all the different pieces of the puzzle. Ivory's proposed final product was no small matter; a crystalline 'manifold' of sorts meant to manipulate the weather of the small world the dragon had built here inside the strangely spacious tent. It was carried out to the sundial where it was mounted in place and tested. The warm, summer-like air was quickly replaced with a brisk crispness common to autumn. Pleased with their triumph, Ivory nodded with a slight smile, finally feeling the stress of the experiment fading away.

"Good, now I don't have to move my tent every time I want it to turn seasons."

"I'm just glad I could help." Inara smiled brightly at the tall woman, feeling perhaps she had gained a new friend. The dragoness nodded down at her, impressed with her skill and expertise.

"I'm glad you could help too. Maybe you can help me with something else that's been bugging me."

"Oh I don't know if I can spend just too much longer in here. I'm sure Mr. Aquatos is looking for me. He was expecting us to have dinner together since he had to cancel on lunch." Before she could turn to head back towards the exit, the scaled woman reached out and gripped her shoulder with a large hand.

"No need to be in such a big rush. Time works differently in here. We've been in here for half a day, but outside hardly a few seconds have passed. We can spend all the time we want in here and step back outside without missing a beat."

The air did feel different here. And the sun still had yet to go down which was odd. According to the sundial, it hadn't moved scarcely at all. Whether that was a function of time's flow being different or if the sundial itself manipulated the day and the night within the tent remained something of a mystery. Still, there was a certain credibility to the big girl's story, and if she could spend even more time enjoying herself than she originally scheduled, then all the better.

"Yeah? Okay... what else did you need help with?"

Ivory waved a hand softly over the sundial and instantly, the daylight faded to a late afternoon, almost to the point of sunset. She then pulled the vixen back towards her, hoisting the girl up to her chest and pressing her against it. There was no intention of it being any sort of professional collaboration. Inara was surprised by the sudden embrace, but the grin spreading across the dragon's muzzle told the whole story.

"I didn't know you swung that way."

"I swing a lot of ways. I've got an itch. I need it scratched. If the rumors about you are true, then you'll do just fine." Without even asking her permission, Ivory turned and began to walk off with the vixen in tow. Rather than return to her laboratory, she took a different path towards one of the other buildings, easily the largest one out of the whole complex. Inside it felt more like a home than a library or a laboratory. Bedrooms lined the outside walls and the largest of them was Ivory's. The floor and bed were reinforced to support a great deal of weight. The ceiling flew high overhead. The doorways were tall, far taller than the dragon was.

"You're no ordinary magic user, aren't you?"

With a toss, the winged lady lobbed the vixen onto the thick, plush mattress before stretching her limbs a bit, wings fanning out into a terrific, enormous span. As she stretched, it seemed as though her form was literally stretching, growing taller as she groaned ever so softly. In minutes, what had been a woman that already towered over most was easily close to the fifteen foot barrier, and her proportions remained just as overly generous if not more so. She loomed over the vixen, peering sternly down at her guest.

"No, I'm not. I am Ivory Nightrider, goddess and ruler of this place. I created it from the void just as I could return anyone to it should they displease me. You've proven yourself worthy of my favor. For that, I will grant you the privilege of pleasuring me. If you do well, you may receive a blessing. If you do poorly, I just might decide to eat you and add your power to my own. Are you ready to serve your goddess?"

Normally, such a boast from such a creature might elicit fear, admiration, or even a fainting spell. Inara seemed to take it all in stride, as though this wasn't the first time she had met such a being.

"Wow, a deity huh? Impressive! How many followers do you have?" She smiled up at the grand dragoness, her tail swishing away quietly behind her. Ivory lowered herself onto the bed, crawling over the fox as she pinned the lady with nothing more than her breasts, heavy and soft, warm and pliant.

"I have none at the moment. I've been told I'm not ready to have followers yet. If you do well, I may decide to make you my first. The goddess you're named for cannot make a promise such as that, can she?"

The fox, rumbling away quietly as she lay there under those enormous swells, squirming against them delightedly.

"Heh, no, I can't say that she could make a promise like that for me. What all would I be required to do?"

More of the great womanly beast's weight came to rest on top of the vixen, not crushing her but keeping her comfortably situated and unable to escape. She purred deep in her throat feeling such wriggling in her cleavage, relishing it.

"I must determine if you are fit to be my follower. We'll see if you can stand up to my desires, my appetite for lust. Do you think you can handle someone as big as me?"

"You bet I can!" She didn't even need time to think up a response, the fox was just that eager to get a little satisfaction herself. Unfortunately, Ivory would need to move for her to be able to do anything about their mutual desires. Mercifully, she did, adjusting her posture to lay on her side, the bed creaking under her weight. One of those tremendous hands moved to her thigh and lifted it to grant the tiny fox access. When did she undress? Only just moments ago she was clothed and now she was completely nude, revealing her impressive frame. Inara simply sat up, slipped her semi-sheer robe off, and draped herself across the dragon's other leg, grinding softly against it as she pressed her muzzle firmly against the rather large set of folds before her. Ivory took a sharp inhale and tilted her head back, giving her hips a soft nudge towards the vixen. She was already liking this.

"Mmm, that's a good girl, really get in there and work it!" Her voice was already carrying with it a mild sense of a labored tone. Moisture trickled from between her legs, soaking the vixen's nose and cheeks. So early into their intimacy and already the little one had pushed her so far towards climax. Maybe she would make a good servant or pet. Louder the dragon growled, shifting her free hand to one of the mountains of her chest, kneading away and fondling with great verve. Not even she could hold the mass of her breasts with a single hand. Maybe if she had four to support with. One would have to do. Her wings fanned out lightly behind her as her tail curled up and arched around, pressing down against Inara's back, keeping her nicely in position, and even encouraging her forward. Those great petals seemed to open and welcome deeper exploration. Exploration the fox wasn't about to skip out on.

A slender, agile tongue sought out each and every little crevice and crease hidden away in that treasured tunnel. The dragon's sensitive womanly cleft trembled ever so lightly, more so when the vixen leaned up to tend to the 'small' bump of flesh just at the top of the delicate envelope of pink. She sealed her lips on it as if it were her mother's nipple, suckling away strongly. Instead of rich milk, she was rewarded with another splash of honey across her chin and throat. Ivory gasped as her breath caught in her throat, pressing her tail more strongly against the smaller lady. Clearly she was enjoying Inara's efforts, and that amused the fox. Hesitantly, she moved away from Ivory's clitoris and returned to the warm, spread tunnel before her. With great ease, her entire muzzle slid in, granting her a chance to taste deep inside the supposed goddess.

The dragoness arched her back in delight as her lips pulled into a broad grin, nudging the vixen against her just a bit more strongly. That tail of hers was quite the dexterous thing! Two small hands found their way to the fleshy gash their owner assaulted so liberally, spreading those petals further to permit her attention to reach deeper still. Oh how glorious it was! For so little a thing, the fox was quite skilled! Ivory hissed as she approached the explosion building inside her, working quite hard to hold back as long as she could. Whatever Inara was doing made it quite a challenge.

Unable to resist any longer, Ivory threw her head back and loosed a mighty roar as much of her form tensed, including her womanly valley, gripping the muzzle inserted into it with an unearthly strength. A terrific gush coated the whole of the vixen's head and even a good portion of her shoulders and chest. She tugged firmly, trying to remove herself lest she might accidentally drown. Ivory was having none of it. Her tail pressed forward even more firmly, forcing the unwitting lady towards the darkness within. With a soft pop, Inara's ears were flattened against her head, the dragon's folds now kissing at her neck. Again the great black and white dragon hissed, spreading her legs even further as she took it upon herself to engage in a favorite little activity of hers, sliding Inara up into her from below.

"Mmm, ooo that's a good girl! You'll do just fine! Congratulations! If you survive the trip in, you'll get to be my first follower! You should feel so honored!" Survival was indeed an interesting trick. Ivory's folds were clenching down powerfully on Inara, almost threatening to crush the fox. With so much nectar pouring down over her, breathing was going to be a challenge as well, and yet she somehow endured! Her wriggling form twitched and squirmed about as that great tail slid in alongside her. A gentle swell began to form just above the dragon's womanhood, barely noticeable at this point, but growing steadily. There was nothing to be done at this point except enjoy the ride, which the vixen resolved to do.

A moan rose up from under the dragon's skin as her new plaything began to move about, anxiously trying to make the big lady react somehow. And react she did. That great limb, used largely to offset the weight of her enormous bust, flexed and pushed further, angling such that the tip slid in along with the fox, now in up to her chest. Her fur was soaked, looking as though she had just gotten out of the shower. It no doubt made claiming her all the easier. Another good shove took Inara softly be surprise, the dexterous tail mashing against the crevice of her rump and grinding against it softly. She spread her legs just ever so softly and slipped a hand between her thighs, tending to her own needs as she was fed to the goddess' womb.

Ivory growled gleefully, fondling her chest and caressing over the growing bulge in her middle. Inara wouldn't make for a terribly big belly, but it would be noticeable for certain. She hissed and arched her back in wanton lust as she dragged the powerful business woman further out of sight, her walls undulating with an unusual strength. She didn't even need to use her hands in the slightest. It took years of practice to cultivate such an ability, and the dragon was putting it to good use. Another moist slurp from between her legs dragged Inara's shapely bottom into the heated depths of her new mistress. Inside she had reached what would be her home for however long Ivory deemed fit, forced to bend along her back and press the dragon's stomach out visibly.

With the majority of the work finished, Ivory sighed contentedly. She rolled from her side onto her back and ran her hands over the plump belly she now sported. Finishing off the fox would be quite fun, especially if she took her time and didn't let the little girl move about too much. The dragoness sat up and shifted off the bed, walking with a slight waddle to her gait, what with a pair of legs hanging from her womanhood. She snickered and left the bedroom to go back to work. She had other experiments to tend to after all.

"You just sit tight right where you are. Your goddess has things to do. I'll finish you off in good time." And she wasn't joking. Over the course of several hours, Inara was inched deeper into the winged lady's depths, making her grow about the waist just a bit more with every passing twitch. Moisture trickled down her legs and dripped lightly onto the floor, leaving a trail everywhere Ivory went. She didn't seem to pay it much mind. Her familiars would clean it up. She had so many of them.

By the time a full day had passed within the realm of the lady's tent, all that remained of the once influential CEO was a pair of calves dangling from the orca-colored dragon's petals. Having had enough fun and quite ready to begin working on making the fox into a proper servant, Ivory reached down between her thighs, cupped her palm under the vixen's feet, and pushed hard. She gasped and shuddered happily as those hungry nethers consumed the lady without any trouble at all. Inara found herself finally at long last able to bend her knees and pull herself the rest of the way into the surprisingly spacious womb. Usually creatures of Ivory's size had no need of being able to stretch, and yet she was quite the elastic lady. The fox drew herself the rest of the way past the steadily tightening cervix that would seal her into this prison and closed her eyes. She took a soft breath as she felt the world around her begin its work. Sleep took her quickly.

Outside, Ivory's now nicely gravid stomach grew perfectly still, taking on a spherical shape before it began to recede. She squeezed the great lump and pressed against it tenderly as it continued to shrink away, finally leaving her just as trim and slender as she had been before consuming the fox.

"See you in about nine months sweetie... I hope you like it in there because you'll be visiting it all the damn time."

---

Outside Ivory's tent, hardly an instant passed. Inside however, the days blended together into a long blur. The dragon was used to the disorientation. It had its benefits and its drawbacks, but really they only reared their head when she spent longer than a year or so hiding away with surprisingly little time passing. Only a scant two hours after the two ladies stepped into the odd little hut, the tall black and white lady, now back to her less intimidating height of nine feet or so, stepped out into the garden. A yawn and a stretch came before her hands moved to her heavily swollen middle. It had been a while for her since she partook of the inn's culinary prowess, and she had a powerful craving. She had been able to take care of such moods but this time her baby wouldn't be denied. She made her way back to the dining hall and procured another sizable meal, larger than her last lunch there. Without even bothering to finish, she collected the feast and strolled back towards home, gnawing away absentmindedly. Something about being pregnant seemed to distract her. Perhaps she was drinking it up as much as she could since it was soon coming to an end.

And that end came quickly.

Ivory winced softy as she felt a tell-tale pang catch her on her back just above the base of her tail and on either side of her spine. It was time indeed. She grumbled and hunched over to squeeze into her tent, her rotund belly making getting through the doorway a bit of an interesting challenge. A soft kick came from within and she twitched.

"Calm down. Mommy's not gonna do that just yet. You just hold your horses and I'll let you out when I'm good and ready." In spite of going into labor, she seemed quite casual, strolling along the path to the house while leaving a thin trail of moisture behind her. Her legs were already beginning to wobble just a bit. Going in was quite pleasant, but so was coming out, and the anticipation was heavy in the air. Part of her was grateful there were no males in range to smell her. It might be rather inconvenient to have one mount her just as she was about to give birth. Then again, she was disappointed as well. Another nine months to let the vixen grow further would have been quite nice. She would miss the belly.

The pregnant dragon finished her meal as she climbed the steps to her home, pushed the door open, and turned to head down to her room. The whole time, her composure never faltered... at least above the waist. Her petals continued to quiver, aching to feel the delight of another foreign object passing through them, in or out. She moved to her bed and reclined comfortably, a hand resting atop her stirring belly as her passenger shifted and squirmed, clearly growing concerned that Ivory might have changed her mind and decided to keep her. The notion was tempting. All those months spent expecting, feeling her stomach growing larger, her chest growing even heavier in preparation to feed the young one, and the bulk, oh my yes the bulk. Such a large, heavy belly felt absolutely marvelous; not unlike devouring someone but without the disappointment of digestion finishing them off before she felt like letting them go. Every step with such a gut felt heavenly, to the point that in her last few weeks a good bounce might have brought her to a gentle climax.

Still, all good things had to come to an end eventually. And it wasn't as though she couldn't cram Inara back in later. She wanted to admire her handiwork. Those great thighs parted and hands moved to cup at the underside of the tremendous swell. She didn't bother to return to her 'normal' height. With a smaller stature, her baby would feel bigger, and bigger was always better in her mind. The lady closed her crimson eyes and took a deep breath, steeling herself before pushing firmly. Her teeth clenched tight as she felt movement inside once more, movement she would miss greatly. Her passenger squirmed all the harder, making her moan as the tunnel that had consumed the fox began to stretch anew. In a matter of moments, Ivory's folds began to part, revealing a still very vulpine muzzle then a face, completely soaked with moisture. The first breath was taken in a deep gasp as Inara emerged back into the world. As her lungs filled, she stretched her mother's passage all the further, making the dragon cry out in delight. Two terrific, almost comically large swells popped free with a pair of lewd, wet slurping noises. She had inherited something of Ivory's build in the time she spent housed inside the dragon.

"Ooo that's a good girl, just keep going..." The lady mused as her abdomen shrank. The weight diminished, leaving her feeling somewhat empty, but surely she would be able to correct that soon enough. The vixen's slender tummy followed as she was ejected from her nine-month home, sputtering softly and coughing to clear her mouth, throat, and lungs of the pervasive liquid she had floated in for so long. Her back arched and she flopped onto her side, her hips and thighs now hugged by the dragon's vice-like embrace. Ivory was fighting a powerful tremble, unable to stop a shiver from darting up her spine and stealing her breath away briefly. Slowly, the hungry petals began to gently suckle on the legs still held within them, threatening to undo the entire process. The dragoness simply grinned with her eyes closed, waiting to see if her new subject would be able to drag herself free or let herself be returned to the warm, dark environs of her goddess' womb.

A sharp tug answered her. The fox managed another desperate flop, pulling free to her knees as she panted heavily. There she lay on her side, slowly curling her legs to bring the last of herself from the oddly soothing chamber wanting to devour her again. With what strength she could muster, she pulled her feet free and rolled onto her back, out of breath and spent... for the moment. With the deed done, Ivory managed to sit herself up and pulled the vixen, limp as she was, to her chest, cradling the smaller lady as though she were an infant. Her large, surprisingly delicate hands guided the recuperating fox's lips to one of her engorged nipples, swollen and dripping ever so lightly of a sweet, headily aromatic cream. Inara sought out the curiously large knob of flesh and sealed her lips around it, finding it a bit of a challenge to do so. Immediately she began to drink, pulling and kneading softly against that vast breast before her. Ivory simply purred, relishing the act of nursing her first follower.

"That's good. Drink as much as you want. There's plenty to be had. You're all mine now." Greedy thing that she was, Ivory held the vixen against her, not about to let her get away for anything. She would need to devise a way to keep her new plaything on a short leash, be it literally or figuratively until she had the vulpine properly trained. For now though, her arms would do nicely. The fox seemed to find her strength quickly as she fed, her stomach filling just as swiftly from her 'mother's rich milk. She eventually pulled her lips away for a brief moment to try and speak, but not far enough to let go. Her words came out softly garbled. She had a rather large nipple in her mouth after all.

"Thank you... Mistress... what would... you like me... to do first?" Such spirit! She couldn't stop herself from drinking away, even past the point of a full belly. Ivory just cackled quietly, mashing the vixen's head into her bust all the more firmly. The lady's enthusiasm amused her, to the point where she felt a nice little reward might be in order.

"I think instead of giving you something to do first, I'll do something for you. If you obey me, serve me well, and devote yourself to me entirely, I will reward you in ways you cannot begin to imagine. As proof, I'll give you just a taste of what you can expect." Without shifting an inch, the nursing dragon brought a gasp to her new pet's lips. It forced Inara to pull away from the plentiful bosom she had been indulging in and look down to find the end of her mistress' tail parting her velvety folds. Deeper it pushed, stealing her breath away anew. Ivory let her lips pull into a broad grin as she watched the fox's reaction, claiming her new virginity only moments after being returned to the waking world. The noises of the smaller lady's aroused approval filled her ears and urged her onward.

And she did not disappoint.

With a powerful flex of her tail, the agile limb sank into the vixen well past the two foot mark. By then, a soft swell had begun to form about the shaken lady's abdomen. It was a bulge she wore quite well, so well that the dragoness opted to see how far she could go before it became too much for the fox. Ivory's legs spread lightly as she turned her servant about to lay her on her back. A large hand cupped against the squirming woman's stomach, feeling the tail twist about under her pelt, and what a lovely pelt it was.

Inara's eyes had long since squeezed shut while her mouth remained agape, chest rising and falling rapidly, heart pounding, fingers clenched into tight fists. She was holding fast for the moment, but the winged lady wanted to see just how much it would take for the vulpine to lose herself. Like a great serpent, the tail twisted and slithered into the warm chasm, growing broader with every smooth inch. The fox's belly surged outward as Ivory made surprisingly swift progress. The more the vixen was stretched, the louder she yowled, unable to contain her voice. Were there anyone near enough to hear, they might have thought she was in pain, and yet she unbelievably pushed further down upon the great limb.

"Ooo, my little girl wants more? Alright, I'll give you more." A thought had struck her, one that if it were considered for anyone else might have been dismissed as foolish. However, after having made the fox into a loyal follower, there was no possible way anything could go wrong. Besides, it surely wouldn't be physically possible for the vixen to take too much more! As Inara continued to writhe, Ivory lifted a single foot and bent the connected leg at the knee. With a smooth, graceful motion, she brought the sizable paw closer to herself until it rest against the limb protruding from her little fox and brushed it across the silky fur covering the woman's swollen stomach. The oddly intimate caress drifted lower until her toe claws prodded gently against the stretched passage occupied by the tail it held to so tightly. Those prods turned into a light push, coaxing those stressed lips to reach even further, letting the foot slip inside.

A new, shrill cry of elation filled the room as the ball of the dragon's foot popped inside. Having made a good start, Ivory pressed onward, deeply interested to see just how far she could let this odd little adventure go. In but a precious few seconds, Inara's surprisingly ravenous flower consumed the big lady's foot right up to the ankle, only strengthening her throes of passion. Encouraged by this, Ivory added her other foot, wanting to discover this fox's upper-most limits. A similar series of cries and squeezes came forth, trapping the dragon's feet just below the shin. It amazed her how this little vulpine could handle such a strain. Wanting to see her new pet spent and breathless before she retreated, the great winged lady gave her toes a soft wiggle, flexing them inside the heated, soaked tunnel. The reaction she received was not what she expected.

A spasm, feeling not unlike a hiccup, gripped Ivory's ankles, tugging them in just about halfway up her shins. The black and white dragoness let her eyes flutter softly for a moment in disbelief. The sounds Inara made seemed to contradict what her crevice desired. She looked almost as if she was in pain, but her gestures and the flexing of her impressive internal self suggested that it was the exact opposite. She couldn't possibly want more could she? It baffled the goddess, doubly so when another spasm saw her knees kissed by those honey-coated lips. The distention of the vixen's stomach gave her trim frame a new curve in the shape of those large feet trapped inside, and continued to swell as the upper half of the dragon's legs began to sink in. At this point, Ivory felt a growing concern gnaw at the back of her mind. What had once been thought an impossibility was gradually proving to be all too possible.

"Alright honey, that's enough. Time to let go." Her hands moved down to press against the fox's thighs, attempting to gain some sort of leverage against the unrelenting tunnel. All that served to do was coat her fingers in warm, sticky, slippery nectar. Her grip wouldn't last. She began to find it difficult to hold off the continuing progress until with a sudden pop, her hands both became lodged in the smaller lady. The dragoness gasped in shock while the servant-turned-predator only writhed and howled unceasingly.

She wasn't amused anymore.

"I said that's enough! Stop it! Let me go or I will have to tear my way out of you!"

Inara refused to listen. Her hands cupped against the steadily growing bulge of her abdomen, panting fiercely between cries of elation. A significant puddle had formed despite the absorbent quality of the sheets; a testament to just how the vulpine's body was reacting. The scent of arousal overwhelmed anything else that might have been present prior to such an intense series of climax, a series that didn't seem to be ending anytime soon. Ivory's broad hips forced her servant's wide as they vanished into the dark warmth beyond. How she could keep this up was a mystery for the ages. With her arms now tightly pinned against her sides and those insatiable lips creeping up across her smooth stomach, the winged lady began to struggle. She growled in frustration at her inability to overpower this little thing wrapping around her. Obscenities filled the room as the goddess tried to drag herself free, even if it meant harming her one and only follower. All the commotion seemed to do was entice the vixen further.

Inara's fingers danced across the greatly bloated swell of her abdomen, breathless from the fire ripping through her of consuming someone so large and from the great weight pressing down on her. It was quite the hefty load and while her breathing was becoming labored, she seemed to take it all in stride. As those hungry petals crept up to the lower curve of Ivory's legendary bust, everything seemed to stop. It was an odd sight indeed; two thirds of a dragon trapped and hidden by the velvety mound of a fox roughly half her size. The pinned woman halted her efforts to escape for a moment, noticing the lack of inward movement. Had she finally had enough?

"Alright! You've had your fun, now let me go this instant and I just might not kill you!" In the typical fashion one might try to wriggle out of a tight grasp, she began working her shoulders to try and pull herself towards freedom. What came from those efforts stunned her back into silence.

"I'm not done having my fun just yet... 'mistress'. I think someone needs to teach you a lesson in manners." The smile on Inara's muzzle was audible. It wasn't malevolent or dripping with a desire to exact revenge. It was sensual and lusty, as if it was all just a terrific act of intimacy and not a form of punishment. Immediately Ivory's rage surged forth.

"If you really think a mortal like you can get away with this you are sorely mistaken! This is your last warning! Let me go immediately or I will rip you in half!"

"We can't have that, now can we?" She giggled and shifted her hips about, still forced apart by the great beast trapped between them, "It would make such an awful mess. I think we should get you to bed right away. You're just so very cranky when you haven't slept!" A powerful jerk came from within as Ivory's breasts were forced into the tight confines of the mysteriously durable crevice. She roared in anger, letting her wrath mask the underlying moans brought forth by her chest being squeezed. It was a weakness, if one could call it that. She had let those motherly orbs grow so very large they had become unbelievably tender. Even the slightest touch could make her shudder. With enough attention, she had found she could actually bring about a rather stout orgasm. And now they were being swallowed up whole by that fox's ravenous womanhood. She fought and hissed and even thought about trying to sink her teeth into one of Inara's legs. Something blocked the notion though. It was difficult to say what, but the idea was oddly distasteful.

"You'll be sorry for this! I swear I'll not let you get away with it!"

"Not let me get away? No honey, I think you've got that backwards. You're not getting away," those cries and screams of elation had vanished, though it was clear the vixen was still deeply enjoying the entire process, "I've got you right where I want you and you're not coming out until I say so. You're not fit to be a goddess. Someone should show you what a proper deity is supposed to be like, and I'm just the lady for the job." Another squelch saw the last of those soft, squeezable mounds of flesh slurped up completely, giving Inara's girth that much more size. All that remained were Ivory's shoulders and above.

"What the hell are you talking about!? You can't do this to me!"

"Oh I know I can. You're a lesser deity honey... powerful, but not the most powerful. I'm one of the older gods. I wasn't named for the goddess Inara, I am the goddess Inara. And I think I'm going to teach you everything you should have been taught when you were a little girl. Besides, I've always wanted another daughter." She snickered, arching her back as she inhaled sharply one last time. Ivory thrashed about anew as her neck was swallowed up and the world was framed by the vixen's silken thighs. Darkness inched across her field of vision until nothing was left. The great dragon had been sealed away completely within Inara's womb. She shivered and groaned as the struggles continued, and she let them for as long as her new baby could hold out. Time and again she cried out in delight as she became awash in yet another peak. Part of her wondered if she should stay like this for the duration, big and active.

No, that wouldn't do.

She would have to get up and tend to personal matters eventually, like food. Perhaps sometime after she gave birth and she let Ivory grow back up she might get a chance to repeat the marvelous act. She stroked the sides of her enormous belly, tracing across the shapes Ivory's form made in her pelt.

"That's my girl, big and strong. Don't you worry, mommy will take good care of you." Her words seemed to have no impact on the struggles taking place inside her. A few muffled swears rose up from that tremendous belly, making the almost obscenely gravid woman chuckle. This one had spirit! Of course, it wouldn't take her long to succumb. The movement slowed ever so gradually, much to Inara's delight, until at last the panting beast inside could fight no longer. She had worn herself out. Again the dragoness cursed, softer now that she had used up much of her energy. The swift pace of the vixen's pounding heart, the intense warmth, and the gentle pulsing of the flesh walls holding Ivory in went to work on eroding her waking state. Unseen by the world outside, her eyes grew heavy and began to flutter with every blink. Eventually, they closed and the lesser deity was lost to the powerful, comforting embrace of sleep.

Getting out of bed as she was would be quite difficult for the fox. After expending so much energy just trying to get Ivory in, Inara saw no reason to try. A nap sounded quite lovely in fact. A yawn escaped her lips as she continued to stroke along her impossibly vast stomach, murmuring to the woman she had managed to trap inside her. The vixen's thoughts turned towards all the preparations one normally would have to make when expecting a child. She would finally have an excuse to redecorate the guest bedroom back home, and she could let herself go as deep into going 'baby-crazy' as she wanted. A giggle escaped her just as she began to slip off to sleep. So much to do. And there was one rather important item of business to tend to before she could even consider all her other preparations, and she already had a subject in mind.

---

"I know, I know, I promised I would help with the transfer and I will. Can we just reschedule for tomorrow? I've a very important guest I can't neglect any longer." Smokey tapped a foot nervously as he stood facing the back of a smallish, large-eared fox. The vulpine was crouched in front of a large, cylindrical object that seemed to house a series of crystals of all colors of the rainbow. The fennec continued to fuss about with what he referred to as 'the core matrix', just slightly put out that what he had been trying to get taken care of was getting delayed again.

"Look, it's no trouble, I can easily take care of it myself. We understand if you're too busy to help out."

"I will be here, you have my word. It just kind of snuck up on me, this visit. Twelve hours... just twelve hours, that's all I'm asking. I'll help with Iris first thing in the morning. I swear it."

The fox sighed again and turned about to face his employer properly. This was the third time the blue dragon needed to postpone. He was on the verge of simply taking care of it without letting Smokey know until after the fact. Still, this was something very important to the both of them, for different reasons. It was a risky proposition, meddling with something from his boss' childhood without him being present, regardless of how minimal the risks were. Jace peered up at the taller fellow and crossed his arms, making the last concession he was willing to make.

"Twelve hours. I'll finish up all the prep work so that all we have to do is plug her in. But if you're not here, I'm going forward. I can't wait any longer. It's getting confining in that fishbowl of hers. We wait any longer and it starts getting dangerous."

"I understand. All other concerns are secondary. Twelve hours. I promise." With that, Smokey turned and hurried out of the room, the strangely shaped chamber with oddly textured plating lining the walls. It was quite the undertaking but it would have to wait for the moment.

He had pulled his attention away from his very important guest for far too long, having risked missing dinner. The blue dragon walked swiftly through the inn's impressive network of soaring enclosed bridges with the hopes that the lady he sought was where he hoped to find her. The dining hall came quickly enough and he scanned the room, his emerald eyes widening the longer it took him to locate her. At last, a familiar visage came into view and he sighed in relief, approach the vixen whose back was facing him. It appeared as though she had been well distracted during his absence, thanks largely to the angelic woman seated before her and lifting her gaze to smile at the approaching gentleman

"Miss Inara, I'm so sorry for being gone so long. You know how it is running a business."

The woman offered a smile as she turned to gaze up at him.

"All too well. It's not running properly if there's not a dozen fires you need to put out. Thankfully, Miss Shayna has been keeping me company. She's told me a great deal about you, some very interesting tidbits I wasn't aware of. I didn't know this was where you grew up."

The ivory-hued woman offered her customary smile, one that appeared only polite to strangers but offered the notion of mischief to those who were familiar with it.

"I've been telling her all about how this place came into being, how you came up with the idea and how it evolved," she smirked a bit wider seeing her companion blush until his cheeks turned violet, "but I think I should get back to the infirmary and check in on my staff. You never know when someone's taken a nasty fall. I'll leave you two to chat. Oh, and Miss Inara... to answer your question earlier, I don't see why not. Just try not to wear yourself out. I'd hate for you to see me in a more professional capacity." With that, the angelic woman rose to her feet and bid them both farewell.

"I'll be sure to take it easy. Have a good evening."

Smokey stepped aside to let Shayna pass, which she did after offering his cheek a soft, affectionate peck. Once she had passed, he moved to settle into the chair she had been using, focusing his attention entirely on the very guest he felt he had been ignoring far too much.

"So, I take it she has been entertaining you while I've been busy?"

Inara grinned and sipped softly at a glass of water, nodding to the visibly anxious innkeeper.

"Oh yes, very entertained. I don't think I've been more relaxed than I am in your fine establishment Mr. Aquatos. I applaud your hard work." There was an almost playful melody to her voice. She was in a fine mood indeed.

"Thank you. Thank you very much. We all go to great lengths to make sure everyone's stay is just as enjoyable as what you've experienced so far. Is there anything else I can do for you? Perhaps you might like to continue our tour?"

"I would like that very much," She set the glass aside and stood, offering the dragon her arm, "I would love to see more of the inn."

Smokey climbed to his feet and took her arm in his and guided her towards the exit.

"Then we'll do just that. Is there any particular area you'd like to visit? You did get a chance to have a look at a map of the grounds didn't you?"

"Oh yes, I've had a good look and I think I know where I would like to start," She paused once they were out of the dining hall, ready to test the waters a bit, "Shayna tells me that this all originally started as a tiny little tree house that you and your parents lived in when you were a child. Is that true?"

The polite dragon nodded and tried to fight back his blush, wondering just how far Shayna had gone with the explanation.

"It is. I was raised here and when a few friends came to visit, they commented on how they would pay to stay at a bed and breakfast out here. That sort of triggered the idea."

"Enterprising... and what became of the little tree house you grew up in?"

"It's still there. Of course, it doesn't look anything like it used to. It's been turned into a suite of sorts, my private quarters. "

That seemed to pique Inara's interest, her lips pulling into a broad smile once more.

"Is that so? Would it be possible to have a look at the owner's suite?"

"I... well... I guess it would be alright. Not a request I get too terribly often but I don't see why it should be excluded from a tour." His fight against his cheeks' continued flush was a losing one. He guided his guest through the inn, showing her to the staff wing. It was the largest residential section of the entire inn, and for good reason. The vast majority of the staff lived on site and as such, it was felt they needed to cater to their own people just as well as they catered to their guests. It was just one more thing that impressed the vixen.

Eventually, after a casual, relaxed stroll through the expansive wing, the couple arrived at a pair of doors, large and heavy. A brief fiddling with keys saw the dragon unlocking the entryway and stepped through, beckoning his guest to follow.

"And this is home. At first I tried to keep it fairly simple but Shayna has terrific powers of persuasion. She requested we add on a study, a couple of guest rooms for personal friends of ours, restore the kitchen so we wouldn't always need to go down to the dining hall, and a few other things."

About half-way through the explanation, Inara stopped listening. She instead chose to simply wander about the grand living space. There was furniture enough to cater to a decent sized dinner party, and some of it was large enough to comfort someone three, possibly even four times the size of either of them. The room felt big and yet cozy at the same time. The warm stained-wood colors on the walls and ceiling helped to confine such scale. The décor seemed to speak both present and distant past, suggesting that those who lived within these walls embraced change but never let go of where they came from.

A cold, dark fireplace sat off to one side, unused for the moment but certainly suggesting that it could be brought to life with a roaring blaze of light and warmth. The south wall was not so much a wall but a series of wall-length windows peering out to the grounds below. It was a marvelous sight; the forest, the mountains beyond, the lake between that range of rocky spires, the inn itself, and of course, the sky. What seemed to catch Inara's attention the strongest was the horizon. Specifically what it lacked. No matter what direction she looked through the glass, she could see no sign of civilization in the distance. No buildings, no skyscrapers streaking aloft, no cities or even the light that shined forth from such a place. They were so incredibly isolated.

"Amazing... how far away is the nearest city?"

"There's a small town about fifteen miles outside the preserve, roughly fifty miles away from here. It's only about two or three hundred people. We do business with them on a regular basis, maintain good local relations. But if it's a major city you're talking about, there's a community of about two hundred thousand but it's a good ninety miles beyond, and even further away than that is the nearest major metropolitan area." He didn't realize but he had wandered into the realm of prattling. The vixen turned and lifted a hand to silence him politely. He paused just as he was about to continue and let the thought drop. Inara simply chuckled at his seemingly unceasing need to stand on ceremony.

"You're awfully rigid, you know that?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Rigid," She continued, crossing the distance between them once more, "Look at you, your posture is ramrod straight, your hands are hidden behind your back, your chin is pointed out just ever so slightly... you look uncomfortable and nervous."

The blue dragon averted his gaze with a mildly abashed grimace.

"I suppose so... I hadn't given it much thought. I guess I just don't have much experience dealing with guests as high profile as you."

The lady offered a sly little smile as she continued to approach.

"You're uncomfortable around me. Well let's just fix that."

"I wouldn't say uncomf-" He was suddenly silenced, his eyes stretching wide open as he found himself locked in a passionate kiss with the very woman who had been touring his home with him. For several moments they remained like this, the fox showing her skill in such matters to the point where her host began to feel dizzy. Eventually, she pulled free, but only just far enough to break the kiss. She had no intention of putting unnecessary distance between them.

"I'd say that's a good start, but we've still got a ways to go. Why don't you show me the bedroom?"

Smokey's cheeks turned a deep violet as she suggested a course of action. She was interested, even attracted. There was a concern that kept him from outright obeying.

"I... I don't know... if I could... if I can do this to Shayna." He swallowed hard as he felt a pair of silky arms slip up around his neck and hold the ravishing woman's form close. It did feel rather nice, but a chivalrous beast he was and he was not about to break another's heart for a few moments of intense passion. Inara on the other hand seemed to have a different thought on the matter.

"Mmm, that's very sweet of you to want to protect her like that, but she doesn't strike me as the sort of person who would get upset over something like this. While you were busy, we had a little heart to heart, she and I. Lovely woman, smart, caring, loyal... not to mention beautiful. And rather pragmatic when it comes to affairs of the heart. Take it from someone who prides herself on being a good judge of character, she won't be mad. After all, you said your relationship with her is open."

"Only to a point..." The trembling fellow gulped once more as the various possible outcomes of the situation he found himself in played out in his mind. None of them seemed to bode especially well for him, but in the past Shayna had found his stance on such matters to be... amusing. Maybe Inara was right, "I... I can't help but feel like I'm being tested."

"There's no test. Just a lady who would like to enjoy your company in a less... conversational manner. If she does get mad at you, I'll talk to her and take all the blame. I'll say I tied you to the bed and had my way with you while you cried out her name, apologizing over and over." Her lips pulled into a coy grin while the timbre of her voice suggested that she might not necessarily be serious, that she might be poking a bit of fun at him. Smokey lowered his nose indignantly as the impression washed over him. He couldn't formulate a response. He felt like a child whose argument had been stymied. All he could do was stare into her eyes as his willpower melted away.

"If I end up hurting Shayna, I'll never forgive myself..."

"Then we'd best make sure it's worth not being able to look yourself in the mirror, shouldn't we?" Her voice was sultry, a gently husky quality to it as she all but whispered in his ear. With what little self-control he had left, the blue guided her out of the living room and through a wide hallway towards the bedroom. The doors were closed behind them and clothing was stripped away slowly. Thankfully, the two had dressed such that they never had to break a renewed kiss as they disrobed. The bed welled up behind the somewhat timid winged fellow, grand and luxurious. Had they not been indisposed, Inara might have inquired about its tremendous scale.

Down he was pushed onto his back as the vixen pinned him, her hands working deftly to relieve him of his pants. Her efficiency seemed to suggest she had done this more than just a time or two. Within mere moments, they both felt the chill of air caressing their nude forms. The brief shiver passed quickly as they both acclimated and pressed to one another again. Fingers explored scale and fur, teasing and stroking over flesh to test for any tender spot that might be valuable during their time together. A series of soft gasps and surprised twitches came from their curiosity, helping them home in on where was best to assault. The scent of lust began to fill the room, and had the trapped dragon been of clearer mind, he might have noticed a curious quality to the lady's aroma. Unfortunately, it was lost on him. Her lips and hands however were not. His own palms slid smoothly across her form, still baffled by the fact that someone as renowned for beauty desired such contact with him. It was as if he were in a dream, or perhaps merely a delusional state. If it was either of these, he hoped it would not end until well after what was to come.

Inara marveled at the texture of the dragon's hide. Rarely did she come across a creature that possessed such fine scales, so small that as he moved and turned about, it felt soft rather than a natural armor. Again and again she stroked and caressed, drinking in the novel sensation. The reactions she elicited were quite amusing as well. As they grew more familiar with one another's bodies, the vixen made her intentions known. Her hips pressed forward against Smokey's, trapping his steadily swelling masculinity between them and forcing it to add to the already enticing warmth radiating from her own tender region. A few hints of moisture were immediately coaxed free, trickling softly down over the dragon's stiffening spire. A soft groan rose from his throat as the sensations and anticipations rushed through him. This was going to happen. There would be no stopping it, barring any sudden emergency.

Perhaps he should have locked the door.

A steady motion of the lady's hips took over all other gestures, bringing her entire body to grind along the blue fellow under her. The heat below began to spread, filling both lovers and urging them to loosen their inhibitions, Smokey more than Inara. A gasp and a sudden tensing saw them slip into place, the lady's form curving smoothly around the dragon's intruding visitor. He was average, not monstrous by any stretch of the imagination but decent. It felt rather natural, what he had been born with. That was growing more and more uncommon these days and the vixen found a certain appeal there, a certain degree of comfort with one's self. She hissed softly as she withdrew him from her grasp, exposing him to the chilly air of the world beyond her petals. A brief shiver rushed its way across Smokey's form, short lived as they pressed against one another again, settling into a steady pace punctuated by their various moans and groans. To many, such would have been too ordinary, or even outright boring. Inara was not among them.

As the moment built to a crescendo, Smokey squeezed his eyes tightly shut. He fought himself, the duality of wanting to finish and yearning to last as long as he could plagued his mind. Such were the battles he fought every time he shared such a moment with his beloved angel. His hips began to rise towards the vixen's, adding his own enthusiasm to her efforts. He would hold on as long as he could. That was all that could be asked of him. With such a vision of splendor before him, it would be a challenge. It was his first time with her, otherwise he might have performed somewhat better. It was tricky learning a new lover's body. Perhaps he just didn't have enough experience under his belt. Tonight would certainly help with that.

Silken crevices lavished the dragon's pulsing mast, keeping it nestled away deep within as a teasing squeeze wreathed the spire with each downward motion. The sensation of friction was abated only by the slick, sticky, fragrant nectar coating the intruder, beginning to pool between them. The vixen's lips sought out the dragon's, brushing across them time and again as she broke into a soft pant. Briefly they sealed together into a kiss, broken by the lady's need to breathe, then sealed again, over and over, feeling mildly frantic, urgent, almost needy. Claws raked delicately through fur, not daring to break the skin below. A palm was guided about to the woman's chest, coaxing him into offering the generous swell a fond squeeze. Had those grown since she arrived? He put the thought out of his mind as he lay there under the woman relishing her presence.

Quiet groans filled the otherwise silent room, hopefully not loud enough to be heard by 'the neighbors' so to speak. Speed built between them as Inara felt the final moment rushing forth to meet her, eager to keep her scaled lover caught up. A light squirming developed in the blue dragon, trying his best to extend his performance just a bit longer.

Ultimately, it was all for naught. A cry escaped the vixen, her back going rigid as she pressed down against her companion with all her might. Their hips mashed into one another, sealing the two together as she squeezed tightly about him. Smokey's chin lifted as his eyes pinched shut. A similar bellow rose from his throat as a burst of warmth rushed through the fox, heating her belly from the inside. Another gentle explosion followed, and another and another in a long series of firm pulses hidden away deep in her passage. Inara arched her back, almost sitting upright as she shifted, panting ever so delicately, waiting for every last drop the dragon had to offer had been given. She wasn't about to lose even the tiniest hint. It was important after all.

The blue's chest rose and fell briskly as he came back down off the climactic moment, his eyes finally opening again though appearing somewhat glassy. He had just done what so many men throughout the world had only fantasized about. It was likely a very select club he was now a part of. His hands glided down to the lady's hips and held her there, working to catch his breath.

"I'm... I'm sorry... I should have brought some sort of protection."

He was rendered speechless by a powerful, dizzying kiss. It was held for what could have been an eternity and left him back amidst the clouds as their lips parted again.

"If I was worried about that, I wouldn't have pushed you onto the bed. Now, are you ready for another round?"

---

Morning came just as it always did. Fingers of sunlight poked through the window as the two lovers lay against one another, one certainly more worn out than the other. A quiet yawn slipped from the vixen as she stirred. It took only a brief moment for her to realize where she was and recall the previous night's events. Carefully, without waking the dragon she had pinned only hours before, she rose and slipped out of the bed. Her clothing was gathered and slipped on before she departed. As she made her way back to her room, she let her mind wander back to the rather uncouth woman she had disciplined. Once she reached her room, she approached the closet and withdrew the very robe Ivory had been wearing when they met. It had mysteriously been resized to fit the fox as she slipped it on, grinning as a hand brushed across her tummy.

"I wish I could have kept you the size you were when you went in, but that would have drawn a little too much attention. Don't worry though, you'll be back to your normal size eventually. Can't say I've had a dragon before, so this should be interesting. I wonder how Smokey would react if I told him he's going to be a daddy."

Inara tied the robe about her waist and rumbled away with a pleasant trill of the tongue. Back out into the hallway she strolled, wondering if she might bump into Smokey or Shayna at all today. She wondered if she should keep this whole thing a secret and just surprise the blue later when she had an actual baby to take care of. She needed a distraction, something to take her mind off of things. The inn was certainly in no short supply of that.