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The Deepest Hug 1 of 3

Ah, Klyneth. That cultural hub was a wonderful place to visit, but not exactly the best place to live. As the largest city in all the world with millions of residents, it was just too much to handle for more than a few days or weeks a year. Still, Saethwr loved to visit, since many of his friends lived in or around town.

Most notably, both Leera and Ceylon lived north of town.

Saethwr had visited both of them in their den last time he'd been to Klyneth, their home in the northern region of the forest between the city and the lake. He didn't get to see them often, but he always enjoyed their company and was eager to return to them any time he could. Not only were they good friends, but they offered him something that he couldn't really get anywhere else, only last time Leera was not feeling well enough to participate, so he could only play with Ceylon. She had apologized profusely, promising that next time Saethwr was in town she would fulfill his wildest dreams, but it had been a year since he had visited.

He hoped she would remember her promise, and if not, at least he'd be able to see them again.

Problem was, Klyneth's size made it nigh impossible to find any one person unless that person was famous or always at their home or place of work. On the flip side, Saethwr was lucky and knew both Ceylon's place of work and home. He also knew Leera's place of work and home, but they were all so far north of town - one in the wilds of the Klynethian jungles and the other was off the Urto trade route. Only Ceylon's place of work was in town, since that gryphon sold wares and potions in the market.

Saethwr's race was that of bipedal dragon saurossin with red scales, so he stuck out in the bustling mess of the market among the hundreds - nay, thousands - or patrons that were milling about, his wings poking high above the crowd like a shark.

He knew he wasn't far from his friend's merchant stand, because he heard random shouts from the crowd declaring, "Potions, Potions here!" Ceylon's shack wasn't the only potion stand in Klyneth, but it was the only one who catered to people's sexuality in this area of town, and was also the most revered. At least, that was assuming he was still doing it.

The dragon pushed his way through the crowd to make his way towards the source of the shouts, excusing himself every step of the way as he slipped in one row of people at a time. As he got closer, he could hear more details about what people were saying. It was always cute to hear people trying to get sexual based potions, because they'd say stuff like 'I want to be big' and 'I'd love it if she knew how I really felt' or 'I want to give him what he truly deserves'.

Before finally making it to the front row around Ceylon's potion shop, the crowd parted to give Saethwr a good look at the black and white gryphon, who was pacing back and forth from one end of the storefront to the other to dip his talon in the potion, sprinkling seasonings and herbs into each vial before exchanging them for coin. With that brief moment of opportunity, Saethwr pushed the last step forward to lean against the counter.

It took a moment for Ceylon to notice him, and once he did the gryphon stopped in his tracks and smiled. "Saethwr! Long time no see! What brings you to town? Looking for some potions?" Before Saethwr could respond, Ceylon returned to his customers, adding flavor to potions and handing them out one vial at a time. He kept looking over to Saethwr to make it clear he was not being ignored, but that he was definitely still working.

"I know! How have you been? I'm not really here for potions, just thought I'd stop in and see you and Leera. I'm here for a couple of weeks, wanted to take you up on your offer from last time!" He smiled and tried his best to not get in the way of the other patrons who were pushing up against him to toss coins at Ceylon. There was a lot of people, and it was very crowded.

The gryphon paused for a moment and lowered one ear as he paused in deep thought. "Hmmm, offer. Offer. I seem to remember something, but....the details. OH! Right! I'll have to talk to you about that later! Now is really not a good time. Here, come behind the counter, we can chat a bit as I work. Can't leave my customers wanting or needing." He opened up a door to the side of the counter to let Saethwr in, which the dragon happily accepted. Anything to get out of the hustle and bustle of the crowd. Too many people.

The inside of the shop was quite nice, but had only a store-front access for customers. The potion shop was in a building at the side of the marketplace, one of the many well fortified brick stores that lined the shopping center. Some other shops allowed customers to go inside, but Ceylon's shop had a countertop covered by a canopy, like an outdoor bar that allowed patrons to ask for what they wanted and Ceylon or his worker would fill the order. His wares were too valuable to allow anyone inside, and strictly limiting who could go inside or behind the counter was a safety precaution.

Whatever the case, Saethwr was happy to get out of the crowd. It was only Ceylon, Saethwr, and a white wolf with blue highlights taking care of customers. Ceylon was on one side of the door, and the wolf was on the other side, each taking orders and slipping back into the store to produce them. Seemed like a good way to keep things orderly.

"How do you like the changes?" Ceylon asked as he came back from the counter to pick up a bright red vial of potion from the wall. He tossed some herbs in it for flavor and smell before putting a cork in the top of the vial and taking it back to the counter to give to a dragon.

Saethwr smiled and nodded, looking at the shelves of potions, the boxes of empty vials, and the massive kegs at the back, presumably all filled with the ademane needed to make the many concoctions that were for sale. "Yeah, I like the shop's look better now. Last time it was just a cart out in the middle of the aisle. This is much nicer."

"Yeah, took a long time to get it just right." He stopped for a moment to contemplate for a moment before deciding his next words. "You know what, I'm gonna take care of these customers, then we can go out back and chat, okay? It's nearing lunch time, and I need a break. Adam, if you want to keep the store open, you can, but if not, feel free to lock up for an hour." Ceylon stood by the counter and took a few more orders before informing them that they were about to leave.

Adam, the white and blue wolf, seemed to enjoy the lunch break, so he finished up the few orders that were also waiting on his side of the store front before politely informing them he'd be back soon. He lowered a metal shutter from the roof and latched it to the counter top, fortifying the store. Adam left through the front door and locked it behind him while Ceylon and Saethwr slipped into the back room behind the kegs.

There was a nice little rec room with a dart board, billards table, and some chairs of all shapes and sizes for bipeds and quadrupeds. It was his own personal tavern, complete with a drink bar on one end.

"Wow! I like this!" Saethwr marveled as he sat in one of the chairs next to Ceylon, who was resting on an elevated cushion in front of the bar. It was like a nest, but clean.

"I would hope so! Took a lot of work to get to this. Own my own store that's quite popular and successful. Thinking about expanding north to Kerolioa, get some people there. I can tell you, Potions are going to be big in the future if I can keep up with the demand." He rolled over onto his side and leaned into Saethwr hoping for a scritch.

Saethwr laughed a bit and gave an idle rub before reaching over to one of the taps, the look on his face asking permission to have a taste. Ceylon nodded so he pulled the lever, filling a mug with foamy juice. It wasn't alcoholic, but it had a bit of a tang to it. He had no idea what kind of drink it was, but it smelled good so he enjoyed a sip before returning to Ceylon. "So, uh, where's Leera?"

Ceylon rolled back onto his belly and held his head up straight, getting serious. "Actually, that's what I needed to tell you; I'm not sure. About a week or so ago, she disappeared into the jungles between our home and the lake. Went all feral on me. Haven't seen her since then."

"Wait, really? She just up and left?" Saethwr took another sip of the juice; it tasted like a combination of grape and pineapple, but seemed to be something else entirely.

"Yeah, went feral on me too. I tried talking to her but she struck at me, so I chased her out of the den and told her not to come back until she had come to her senses. She should be fine by now, though. Due home any day, can't guarantee it, though. Why do you ask? You say she promised you something?"

"Yeah. Said we'd pick up where we left off. She said she couldn't indulge me at the time, because of her cycle. Said it would be dangerous if I dared to submit myself to her. I've been thinking about it every day, hoping to return to Klyneth to take her up on her offer. It's a shame to hear she's not around." He cradled the drink in his claws and compressed his wings to his back, disappointed. "However, I am here for a few weeks. Maybe I can stick around, wait until she comes back? I'd really, really love to meet with her again, she's been in my fantasies all year."

The gryphon slipped off the elevated cushion and got to all fours, pacing across the room back and forth. "Well, I'm not so sure that's the best of ideas. I mean, by my knowledge, she should have come to her senses yesterday. Her cycle should have restarted and her mind should have reverted to sentience, but I haven't heard from her. I mean, this happens once every few cycles, but it hasn't been this bad for years. I'm sure she'll return, but I have no idea when. I genuinely don't feel it would be in your best interest to meet up with her, not this trip, anyway. Perhaps come back in a month after she's calmed down?"

Saethwr huffed, a bit of smoke coming out his nostrils. That wasn't really an option, since he was only in town for a few weeks and likely wouldn't be back for another year or so. Unfortunate for him, but he wasn't selfish or rude enough to demand she alter her physiology for his desires. The disappointment was welling up in him, but he knew that there was nothing he could to to change that and no fantasy was worth the pain a hungry naga could put on him.

Ceylon seemed to pick up on this frustration, so he offered an alternative. "You know, last time she was gone this long, I found her in the patch of cellitoke wood bordering the lake shore; that blue bark reminds her of home, so I figured that would be where she'd go. Probably not the best idea to hunt a hungry naga on your own, but if you hang around for a few hours, she's sure to find you. If she's there, of course." He slumped his rump down and laid a single talon on the table next to the mug of juice.

"Hmm. You think she'd be there?" Saethwr clicked his tongue to the roof of his mouth and bit his lip as his face twisted in uncertainty. He had a desire to feel what Leera had to offer, some powerful maw flesh sucking on him, just like she promised, but it sounded like it may not be the safest of routes, not with her hungry and feral. Part of him wanted to go and see, perhaps spread his wings and fly if things got out of hand or if he wasn't convinced of her intentions, but he didn't want to give up this opportunity. Really, he was more confused that Ceylon would so quickly urge him to seek her out after telling of the danger of her in feeding mode just minutes prior.

"Oh, I have no doubt she'd be there. Even if she wasn't, she'd find you from twenty kilometers away. She said you have a very distinct smell-taste." Then, as though he was reading Saethwr's mind, Ceylon added, "And even when feral, I've never known her to harm anyone. Wild animals, sure, those are food, but she has enough self control to keep herself from harming a friend. I'd say go up there, maybe your presence will tug her mind back to where it should be?" His subtle eye movements and the way he twitched his ears made him look like he was hiding something, but Saethwr wanted to see her again too much to pick up on it.

That was enough encouragement for the dragon, who could feel a stirring in his loins. He smiled and slammed a fist down on the table, wings flaring out and knocking a chair over next to him. "Alright then! I must travel north to the cellitoke shore, and meet Lady Ssevarine!" He looked proud and defiant before a sudden wave of fear washed over him. "Y-you will be coming with me, right?"

Ceylon let out a gentle laugh, the corners of his beak curling up and maw gaping a bit to show his gullet. Normally, Saethwr wouldn't have noticed such a subtle show of maw flesh, but he seemed to have a heightened desire for being noms. "Hah! Nope! Sorry bud, I have a shop to maintain and unlike you, I'm not free of her feral needs. If she sees me, she won't hold back because she knows I can handle her at her worst. No, Saeth, I'm gonna stay her and spare myself the pain." He patted the dragon on the shoulder and turned back to the bar, pouring himself a drink.

Suddenly, Saethwr wasn't so keen on heading out to visit Leera. When he thought Ceylon was coming with him, he felt he'd be protected, but now....now the risk seemed too high. Yet, in spite of his very rational hesitation, he still wanted to see her, risk be damned. He took another look at his drink and came to realize that he may have been potioned with some sort of mind altering concoction. Upon this realization, he smiled and took another sip. In his mind, the boldness was growing alongside his desire, and the potential dangers were paling in comparison to the payoff.

He knew he could get seriously hurt, yet the reward was so worth it.

"I think I'm gonna go anyway!" He got to his feet and chugged the juice in one go. He wiped his lips of the foam and stretched out his wings. "Time to be on my way!"

Ceylon put himself between Saethwr and the door, wings spread. "Whoa, buddy. What's wrong with you? I just told you under no uncertain terms that Leera has gone feral. She won't be kind to you if she finds you. You'd be food. Prey. Not a friend. And yet, you're still all gung-ho about finding her?"

"Don't be coy, Ceylon. You know I'll be fine. You did just say that, but you also told me exactly where to find her and that she'd never hurt me. You convinced me and you didn't even mean to! Good job!" He took a glance at the mug with the foam dribbling over the side. "Or maybe it's the potion, I don't know. All I do know is that I absolutely must see her, I've been waiting too long for that gullet of hers to hold back, now!"

Before he could leave, though, Ceylon flipped him a silver coin from the bags that hung around his neck. "If you are absolutely certain of this, then please do go, enjoy yourself, and be safe. If she gets too rough with you, the only thing I can do is hope she comes to her senses before you get too into it. Don't be afraid to run. And here, use this, get something to eat. If you're absolutely certain that this is what you want to do, then please, eat well and have fun. It's a long walk to the Cellitoke Shores."

"Who said anything about walking? I have wings!" Upon that final declaration, Saethwr disappeared out the back door, leaving Ceylon to tend to his store.

====================================

The dragon's mind was racing as he thought of a million things he'd been fantasizing about in the preceding year. Vore, unbirth, all sorts of kinky play that he could only do with a naga. His mind was buzzing with creative energy, and he needed something to unload his energy on.

He ran down the back alley, quickly stepping up a series of crates and barrels before hopping off them, kicking off the wall to land on the nearest roof. Still running toward the peak of the building, he spread his wings and jumped into the air, catching the slightest gust that aided him in soaring high above the market district of Klyneth. That area of the city was made of clay, bricks, shingles, and terra-cotta, all of which produced billowing thermals - invisible pillows of rising heat - to help him high in the sky.

From this high, he could see most of the city spreading out in all directions. North west of the market district was the central hub, where the town's fountain and primary water supply bubbled up for all to enjoy. There were six different major routes splaying out from that central hub, one north, one south, and two out to the east and two to the west. Each of those routes would lead to a different city or significant cultural hub; the northern path became the Urto Trade Route, and up past it, around the lake and into Kerolioa.

Saethwr would be heading north west, where one of the routes would lead along the lower path south of the mountains and around the range known as the Cradle of Dalon. Ceylon and Leera lived there, in a huge hollow carved in a cliff. From there, north of the cliffs, was the Cellitoke wood, squished between civilization and the great lake that supplied them. That's where he'd find Leera.

At least if Ceylon was to be believed, something Saethwr knew he shouldn't have put much faith in. Still, even in the event Leera wasn't anywhere to be found, there were many rocky cliffs and sandy beaches in the surrounding area that would serve to feed him the thermals needed to get some altitude.

Everything would be fine if he could just get there.

His trip took him only a half hour once he had the altitude and used it to glide with ease over the town and surrounding forest. His keen eyes picked up on a few things below him, most notably in the rim of farmland that surrounded the city and put up a barrier between it and the woodland. It was Ilorek's homestead, and outside in one of the fields was Valencia, milking a gryphon.

As Saethwr focused his hawk-like eyes, he saw that she wasn't milking that gryphon, but using her mouth on it's underside. He smiled and wanted to cheer her on, but since he was so high there was no way she'd hear it, so he kept moving north.

He could see all the landscape spread out across the horizon in front of him. To his left, the cliffs, and directly in front of him was the patch of tall, blue-tinted woods. That's where he would find the naga in her natural environment. Yesss, that's where she'd be.

Once he was close enough, he angled his wings to swoop into a dive, aiming directly at the tallest of the trees, the one that was sticking up so tall that its trunk was still seen poking up above the others, which were taller than the green-leaved trees around it.

The trunk came up at him, ready to slam him in the snout before he flared out his wings, fluttered a few flaps, and landed heavy on one of the upper branches. He ruffled himself and folded the wings up on his back before hopping down one branch at a time, rotating around the trunk until he was under the canopy, able to hop from tree to tree, gradually descending until he was able to drop the last few meters into the teal underbrush.

Saethwr knew better than to stay still while on the ground. These woods were thick with vegetation and could easily hide a predator, especially one without legs. Suddenly, this didn't seem like the best idea again. His mind kept switching between positive and negative. One moment, he was eager and excited, with all the hope in the world that all would end well, only to flip around the moment something reminded him of the danger he was in. Still, he was stuck in the flora of the cellitoke wood now, and his wings would not buoy him out over the canopy without tearing on the branches and vines.

His best course of action was to head north to the shores, get a boost from the sand. If Leera was in the area, she would have heard his descent from the sky or would have smelled him, so that was really the only option.

Sure of himself, he pushed his way through the deep ferns and flowers of the jungle's underbrush, making a path but sure to not break any stalks or leave any clear indicators that he was there. He had to be careful, ducking under ferns and hopping through the loops of vines hanging off trees as he slipped deeper and deeper into the woods.

There was a snapping sound as he stepped on a stick, and he froze solid in place, waiting to see if anything had happened. All he could hear was the distant cries of birds and the steady drone of the bugs in the area. Nothing. Of course, if there was a predator, it would know better than to reveal itself. "That doesn't prove anything." Saethwr said to himself as he pushed farther north.

Navigation wasn't as hard as one would imagine in the Cellitoke, for the sun was poking through the trees to illuminate the heavy mist that permeated everything from ground to canopy. It was afternoon and the rays of light were stabbing through the underbrush to the right. He was heading north. Perfect.

Everything seemed to be going well until he heard the groaning of a branch under pressure followed by a gentle crackling. This wasn't him, he knew it wasn't him. He glanced back behind him to the source and saw a gnarled branch snapped near the base swinging gently despite there being no wind. There was also what appeared to be a cloud of pollen rising from the ferns and flowers below it.

Time to run.

Saethwr took off as fast as he could go, heading north, bursting his way through fern after fern, kicking off three stumps, constantly worried about tripping over vines or roots. He kept his wings folded up as tight along his back as he could, worried about catching on a stick or having them tear. All he could hear was his own ragged breath and the snapping and rustling of leaves as he kept his pace, dodging and weaving between the branches as he pushed north.

He had no idea if anything was actually chasing him, but he wasn't taking any chances, so he kept running and hopping through the ferns until he saw the light of the beach ahead of him, poking through two trees. He could clearly see the sand, the water, and the mountains off in the distance. Once he was there he could hop up and catch the thermals in his wings and glide away, never to return to this jungle wood again!

The light grew and grew, flashing behind leaves and trees as he wormed his way through, growing ever closer. When he finally reached the edge of the forest, he took one final leap over the roots of the last tree, only to miss the vine that was dangling from the branches. He tripped in midair, tumbling and landing on back and shoulders. He tried to roll forward, but he had landed in sand and had no traction.

That was it. He couldn't get his footing and didn't have the breath to spew fire, and he was left on his rump, scuttling backwards away from the treeline as an ulokar beast burst out with a fiery roar, claws outstretched to pounce at him.

All he could do was raise an arm to protect himself, but as he did that he saw a flash of brown and yellow with a hint of technicolor reflection burst out from the treeline, slamming maw into the ulokar's neck. It was a naga, a massive snake striking at the prey to knock it off course mid-pounce, slamming it down on the ground and tugging it into a tight coil. The snake's tail anchored it to one of the trees, dangling low with the beast squeezed tight in its coils.

Saethwr watched, heart beating and fingers tingling as the ulokar gasped and twitched, taking the last of its breaths. The snake's head peeled off his neck and gaped its maw open, smothering the beast's snout with ease, biting down and twisting, slowly engulfing it. Her green eyes glanced sidelong at Saethwr as her lower jaw detached, slipping under the ulokar's chin, cradling it and biting down, the rows of sharp teeth digging into its fur, holding it in place as her upper jaw swiveled and waked its way over his face.

He was too shocked and awed by the sudden and intense strike and coil of the beast to get up and run. This snake, this naga, had saved his life, but he knew better than to assume she wasn't going to carry on by making a meal of him. While he was looking for Leera, he didn't recognize this naga, so it wasn't the same. Still, he was frozen in fear, hoping she'd get busy half way through her meal and not focus too much attention on him. Had he gotten up to move, she might leave the beast and attack him.

Still, she glared at him as she gaped her maw wide, slitted green iris never looking away. Her maw was leaking saliva all over the place, powerful jaw muscles clenching and releasing as she used her coils to push the meal in deeper, its head forming a clear bulge in her throat as her teeth walked their way over its shoulders. She didn't seem to be having any issues whatsoever with her meal, she even brought her arms up to rest on her own coils for leverage as she released her body's grip on the prey.

Her body distended and stretched as her entire length writhed and contracted, forcing her maw to slide over the beast's form, gulping him down head first. Her jaws were spread wider than her body at its thickest point, squeezing the beast's flesh and biting down. Over his shoulders she swallowed, teeth still walking, her muscles forcing her downward.

The rest didn't take much at all, once she was past the creatures shoulders, its thickest part lurched into her gullet and her maw compressed, forcing it in deeper. She swiveled her neck and bit down one set of teeth after another as the ulokar disappeared into her gullet. Saethwr could see a distinct beast-shaped bulge sliding down her form as she lifted her head, gaping maw to the sky as the beasts hips slid through her gullet.

Her eyes never pulled from Saethwr, she was always staring directly at him as she undulated, gulped, extended, and contracted her body. Her tongue slipped out as her maw closed around the ulokar's hind legs and she turned to stare directly at him. Her lower jaw was mangled and twisted, maw still gaped and hooves sticking out either side, tail flopping and covering her windpipe.

She slowly moved closer and closer to him, body slowly and deliberately moving in a tight s-pattern, forcing her meal down her throat. The hooves and tail disappeared, but her throat was still gaped open and the evening sun reflected off the soft mounds of flesh in her maw, twinkling off all six rows of teeth. She yawned wide, twisting her neck and re-adjusting her lower jaw, mouth aimed directly at him so he could see deep down into her throat to see her muscles and flesh squeezing around the beast, forcing it deeper. Her body was pulling itself together in a tight coil, scales pressing down on the sand as she got into a striking position.

It wasn't until she closed her mouth back up and flicked her tongue that it occurred to Saethwr that he should slip from the trance he was in and start running. This brown snake was not Leera, and therefore a true danger to him. He grabbed some sand in his hand as he slowly scooted backwards, preparing for a distraction.

All at once, he threw the handful of sand in her face and turned to run, kicking off the sand and spreading his wings, only to find that she had lunged at him. Her teeth snagged into his ankle and clamped down, slamming him into the sand and dragging him backward. He missed the water, but he had nothing to hold onto. He clawed helplessly at the sand as the snake dragged him backwards into the forest.

This was it for him. She had him, and her grip was quite effective. He had nothing left to stop or distract her, all he could do was flail and poke at her and hope she let him go, satisfied with her ulokar meal. In a last-ditch effort, he grabbed onto one of the roots, trying to keep from being dragged any deeper, but her grip was better than his and even his powerful claws did nothing but scrape the bark and slipp off.

Her tail slipped up between his legs and wrapped around his hips, lifting him up and twisting him around to lay him down on one of her coils as another portion of her body laid down on him, holding him in a trap of her scales. Beneath his rump he could feel the ulokar kick and writhe in her belly as her muscles clenched down around it. Her entire body was shifting and writhing, tail around his hips, coils above and below him, her body doing a figure eight between his legs.

Only, she wasn't constricting. She wasn't squeezing harder than she needed to in order to keep him in place. She had him pinned against his will, yet her strength seemed restrained. She shifted her body and pressed her snout against his, green eyes glistening in the dim light that stabbed through the jungle. She flicked her tongue to slap at his chin as she brought her hand up to cradle his cheek.

"Sssaethwr. Long time no sssee!" She hissed at him, corners of her drooly maw curling up in a smile.

"Leera?"