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THIRD

Passing between the lit torches of the hallway, I made it to the entrance. Pausing on the threshold I looked at the large round door, having to state how it wasn't provided with a lock. There was a part of me which made me aware of this, and I knew it was that same part that had assured me of my abilities with the sword--call it a sixth sense, but something made me sure I wasn't safe there.

Regardless, I busied myself getting a cup for her to fill it with a ruby red wine. I brought it back to her and she was already nestled when I came back into the room. Her front was facing the fire and she was sitting flat on her chest, but her back turned to take the shape of the nest, with her rear legs overlapping; I wasn't going to stop and stare to try and glimpse between them, moving around the fire instead so that I could hand her the cup--only to resume cooking the meat I left on the fire, turning my back to her.

I could hear a grunt coming from my stomach when the smoke rising from the charring meat found its way up my nostrils; I couldn't wait to dig my teeth into it but I had to turn it once more, as it wasn't quite ready yet.

She said, "What do you think is happening to us?"

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, only to reopen them to the sight of the grill and the red hot cinders under it, surrounded as they were by the larger fire warming up that simple bedroom. I wondered myself what was going on, and having explored that with her a little while ago I couldn't stop myself from heaving a sigh, shake my head and say, "I don't know what to think"--I was crouching right next to the fire when I turned around--"You're..." I was a little stunned when I glanced at her, as she seemed deeply saddened and worried. "You're here with me, in this place, and we seem to know how to keep ourselves alive."

I was a little lost, my eyes falling to set themselves on the packed ground where ash was scattered. "I could easily fall asleep," I said, stating that I was drowsy--but having thought about protection I felt like adding something. I opened my mouth only to contain myself, watching her take a long sip of wine before she looked at me from the flickering half-light.

"Me too," she replied. "Should one of us stay awake, to keep guard?"

"When you were outside did you sense anything other than those herbivores?" I asked, turning away from her only to check the cooking meat.

"No," she said. "And I don't like it at all, it doesn't feel right."

I didn't reply, focusing on the sound of crackling wood as my eyes reflected the rising sparks. "This whole experience isn't right. Before, when I touched you, that... door opened, and we managed to get here. Do you remember what it was like before?"

"Waking up and wondering in that infinity of columns? I do," she said, sternly.

"Well, at least we aren't losing any more of our memories."

"Drinking this wine reminds me of what it was like to do it before," she said, trying to make sense of it.

I couldn't really help myself from replying, "I was reminded of fighting the moment I found the sword in the pile. I'm worried that who or what put it there is going to put me to the test."

Not hearing her reply I turned back to her and I found that she was looking away from me, her neck lowered and turned so that I could only see the back of her head.

"Is something wrong?" I asked her.

"Everything is wrong--I can't remember more than what I'm purposely made aware of. You're right you know, saying that something or someone put us here--I hate not knowing why."

"Are you sure that is the problem?" I asked her, feeling that wasn't the true reason of her worry.

She was dreadfully silent before she rose her head and turned it to me, her eyes half closed and glistening as her cup was empty, her mind and her body progressively and dramatically altered by that sweet ingestion. "I know how to hunt and fend for myself. Yet I'm afraid something terrible might be out here."

"Is something in particular making you think that?"

She nodded, "It's the missing people," she said, her eyes widening slightly. "I don't like how there aren't any others like me, it makes me feel vulnerable."

Seeing my worries manifesting themselves in her words I too felt as if being there was only to give me a false sense of security, expose both me and her to a sudden threat. I couldn't quite add that I was ready to protect her with my life, trying to figure what I had to do in order to move on and to some other place where things could become clear.

With my meat finally ready I wasn't disturbed by her as I consumed it, grabbing my own cup to fill it with beer after a quick visit to the toilet. I carried my sword around as if I was waiting for nothing else but for someone to open that door and end my existence after a gruesome fight. But none of that occurred as I returned to her also carrying a large folded quilt that I tossed over my shoulder.

I found her asleep. I dropped the quilt and drank some beer before I picked up a log of wood and tossed it on the fire, making some noise. When I turned around I found that she opened her eye and turned her pupil to me, a pupil rather round and large as it changed size in focusing in on me.

She may have been differently shaped, but however odd it was being able to communicate with her and being together with her was really the only thing making me want to progress my existence, retrieve my memories and find a reason to it all. It was I to look down at her now that she was comfortably nestled lying on her side, her underbelly turned to the fire and one that I couldn't stop glancing at--it was in a remarkably pale white, contrasting sharply with the deep blue scales covering her topside.

"Can you stay up while I sleep?" she asked.

I was awakened from a state of trance that had made my lost my gaze on her. Hearing her say that I took a moment to set my eyes back on her yellow and very open one. "Yes, I will but can I--"

"Of course you can," she replied.

The emotion rose as I was granted that right. I immediately went on to ask her, "Would you like me to cover you with the quilt?"

She only batted her eyelid but it was enough for me to know she wished I did. I went on to grab a hold of the edge of the quilt with hands spread wide so to throw it over her body, then I went to grab my beer and before I drank some I said to her, "If anything opens the door I will confront it."

"Thank you. But only if you can avoid falling asleep can you stay by me under the quilt."

It amused me to feel the blood rushing to my cheeks and that tickling sensation to my lower parts as I anticipated what placing my naked body against that underbelly would feel like. She asked something very specific of me and I was fine with it: I drank a good amount of beer before putting the cup down to go over to her. I paused to think my way into that nest, under that quilt and by that much more warming fireplace; she was no longer saying anything and before I made my move I reconsidered undressing, soon to find myself next to her holding my short steel sword.

I was scanning for any other sound but that of the lively burning flame, but didn't hear any; my hair stood and I felt that warm energy, that pulsation through my guts as with my back I felt her shift to better accommodate me. As the minutes passed I regretted not having taken off my robe, as she was now fully asleep. I couldn't see her face because her neck went round so that with her chin resting on the straw she looked back and to where her tail spiraled towards it. Inside that circle and pressed against her I could feel her heat as it was gathering under the part of the quilt that I had taken for myself. I heard the fire die out, and even though tired I found the power to fight that urge, sometimes allowing myself to touch her legs with the bare soles of my feet, or rubbing her under-neck gently only to distract myself and keep me awake.

I got up to throw some wood on the fire when I decided to remove my robes. Carrying the sword I visited the bathroom before I came back where, once again, I found her staring at me with her open eye before she turned and raised her neck so to face me.

"Thanks for keeping watch on me," she said, only before her gaze traveled down making her gasp before she smiled, unshaken.

I covered myself with one hand and with the other I scratched my head and said, "Do you mind if I sleep now?"

She motioned me with a nod, adding, "What if we were to..."

And I paused just before getting by her neck to place myself against her, this time without that featureless white robe on. I looked up at her, gulped and looked away just as she did the moment our eyes met. Then I goggled in realizing what she really meant, "Do you think that could change something, like touching did before?"

"Would you like to try out?"

"Right now?" I asked.

"Right now," she replied.

Even though I was very tired I wasn't going to refuse.

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