Ride in the Drakwald Part 2: Beneath the Trees
Part 2 of the "Ride in the Drakwald" series, if you wish to view the first part the link is here:
https://www.sofurry.com/view/1609100
Hope you enjoy.
Khazrak had made it a good distance from the camp, far enough so the sounds of bleating, yelling and struggling were out of earshot and the smell of her kin was no more. She snorted the air, making sure no males had followed her out here. Her furred ears twitched in search of noise beyond the creaking and rustling of the wind. Once sure she was alone she unfurled her barbed whip and rusted blade. Taking a combat stance against an unseen enemy, she swung her blade. She fought her imaginary foe for a while, dodging the invisible blows and striking to invisible dodges and parries. The enemy she fought was skilled, managing to fight on for minutes on end without tire. Her breath grew heavier over time as her goat-like snout hung open. The blade occasionally impacted the trees, the cracks shuddering the leaves above. Despite the exhausting fight against an imaginary foe the burning in her folds hadn't subsided, nor had her fantasies. Every time she imagined who she was fighting it came back to him. Imagining the man from the mountain dancing between the trees, his shield risen and a smile across his face. Taunting her, egging her on with insults with intermediating swings and charges. She could feel her loins aching, begging for attention but she wouldn't give them any. She just kept seeing his face.
After several minutes of sparing against herself, she slammed her blade into a tree. Her chest heaving beneath the chainmail while her jaw slacked open, panting harshly with a drooping eye. Despite her lungs burning and her head swimming her needy sex continued to cry out which she only satisfied by rubbing her furry thighs together. Hissing in frustration she lifted her hauberk, letting the cool air of the Drakwald caress her burning nethers. Sliding down the tree trunk she lifted the rusted chainmail beyond her waist as another hand snaked down. She grunted as she toyed with herself, her furred fingers rubbing her folds to bring out harsh gasps of delight. Ever since she was of age she'd been approached by male after male, some would fight each other over her while others would attempt it alone. Some just tried to rut her without her consent. First, she turned them away, then she struck them away. Even if the dumb ones tried again and again she couldn't let herself stoop down. Any weakness would be taken by anyone vying for lordship. Even as her fur greyed she had kept herself free of a bull. She was probably beyond the age of breeding, any who tried only sought it for possible power. Either that or carnal desire.
As she teased her lower lips, she brought a hand to her breasts. Pressing past the coarse brown fur and sinking her fingers against her soft bosom. Sure they weren't full and plump like the younger sows but they still held heft. She slowly began grinding against her hand, feeling her fingers disappear between her thighs and sending pulses of euphoria through her body. With her one eye tightly shut she only concentrated on herself. The winds and rustling leaves beyond her as she breathily moaned in delight. Pinching her nipples and continuing to press against her hand in a furious daze. As shockwaves of ecstasy rocked her body, she continued to think about him. She imagined him there, his rough and strong hands and his grizzly bearded face. Pressing against her with a broad and hairy chest while feeling his hot breath brushing against her neck. Of course, she had to imagine as she plunged her hand further into her soaked depths.
A clang of metal made her ear twitch.
Her eye shot open as she heard it again, the approaching sound of clashing iron and shouts of anger, pain and fear. She peered around the corner to view bodies moving between the trees and shrubs.
———
Todbringer smashed the rusted axe aside before running the ungor through the chest. Without hesitation, he ripped the blade from the beastman before swinging to meet another. The enemy blade clashed against his metal armour to no effect as he decapitated the next ungor. Despite the sweat and pain building up under his plate mail a smile stayed across Todbringer's cracked lips. Unlike the old statesman of Middenland, the Beloved of Ulric moved from enemy to enemy with grace in his sabatons. He could feel the anguish of his state life being washed away with excitement and beastmen viscera. It felt relaxing as he slammed his shield into a ungor sending shattered teeth to the forest floor. Following it up with a downward thrust. With his armour and shield, the crude weapons of the beastmen had barely any effect, but he could see them adapting. As he cut down another gor he felt a weight wrap itself around his back attempting to throw the count off his feet. Todbringer growled as he leaned with the creature. Bones crunching under the heavily armoured frame. Ignoring the creature's cries, Todbringer dived out of the way of an oncoming blade as it embedded itself in the downed ungor. With a swing of Legbiter severing the beastman's arm the count struck forth to impale the beastmen through the heart. Before the blade came down a hand grabbed Todbringer's wrist while another forced itself under his helmet. Feeling the finger brush his lips Todbringer's teeth clamped down upon the finger. The beast behind him letting out a roar of pain. With the dismembered beast coming in for another swing, the count twirled like a ballerina as the rusted blade impacted with the creature held by Todbringer's teeth. Letting the limp body fall, Todbringer surged forward, finishing off the one-armed bane beast. His limbs ached, his lungs heaved and his vision was going blurry.
He loved every second of it.
A blunt force struck his back, sending him to the blood-soaked soil. The count dived forward before a second swing thudded against the ground. Using a fallen log as leverage he staggered his feet. Raising his shield and gritting his teeth as another impact shattered his shield. Ignoring the throbbing pain he pushed himself up, lunging towards the bestigor only to feel a grip haul him back. A hand forced the blade from his arm while another hauled him to the ground. As he crashed to the mud and dirt his helmet slipped revealing the furrowed brow and pained eye of the Graf. Held down by two gors the bestigor gargled in laughter as more beasts watched on from the darkness. Barking, braying and mewling in sadistic cheer for the Graf's death. The bestigor raised his axe for the final blow.
Only for a sickening crack to echo, silencing the observing beastmen as another figure replacing the now slumped form.
The large shadow charged forward like a whirlwind of death, slicing beastmen limb from limb with an unlimited fury. Todbringer watched as one of the gors holding him down was wrapped in a barbed whip and thrown off his hooves. Sent crashing into a tree with breakneck speed. As the other gors watched on in horror, Todbringer saw his chance. Bringing an armoured fist to the other gor's muzzle with a hardy crumpling of bone. Todbringer finished the beastmen with a drop of his armoured knee. Leaving nothing but a bloody pulp where the beasts goat-like head used to be. The other beastmen fled, tails between their legs as they whinnied in fear.
Boris snapped his head around to look at his saviour. the first thing he saw was the goat shaped head adorned with mighty horns. But what made his breath hitch in his throat was the missing eye. Todbringer went to stand, crashing back down as his boots slipped in the bloody ground. Khazrak turned to Todbringer, watching as the ageing man struggled to pull himself back up. Toppling himself against a fallen log with heaving, misty breaths. She could see the strain in his eye as he continued to pull himself up on sore muscles and strained joints. Covered in blood, dirt and fur the Graf stared up at Khazrak as he gestured to the carnage around him. A sarcastic laugh echoing past the trees.
“Of course you'd show up…Was this your plan, send how many?" She recognised the voice, immediately confirming her suspicions as she turned to face the Graf. His smile staying through agonised aches.
“I counted over twenty and I slay most of them. Now you're here to finish me off while I'm weary? I thought you had some semblance of honour Khazrak!" She recoiled at the harsh accusation, stepping back as the Graf's harsh voice died down. She followed his gaze, shifting towards the discarded Runefang flung far from the fight. If he went for it she would easily be able to intercept him. The human sighed in defeat, lowering his gaze with a relaxed brow and loose lips.
“What are you waiting for Khazrak? Want to see me beg? One of your kin has knocked aside anything between your blade and my head. Are you going to split it down the middle? Remove my other eye?" He looked up, Khazrak hadn't moved. Dumbstruck as she looked down at the human with a curious gaze, offended as Todbringer raised his voice.
“You'd probably decapitate me and place my head on your belt. Show it off to your foul kind on how you bested the one-eyed human who took your eye?" Todbringer's smile returned as he outstretched his trembling arms, returning the stare of the beast-woman who took his eye and would have no problem taking his life. As she continued to stand still Todbringer cackled, tears flowing down his cheeks as he clenched his fists.
“It's funny, isn't it? My wives have died. My heir has died. My daughter's too young and my other son's far off in Reikland. I only ever see the other nobles for business…Then there's you…The one that's been in my life for the longest time." Managing to stay his footing, the Graf stood upright in the gore drenched dirt as he stared down his mortal enemy. A grin plastered across his jaw as he trembled with a swirling mix of emotion.
“I wouldn't lie, I enjoyed every bit of it. Even when you scooped out my eye it didn't stop me. For nearly three decades it was just me and you…Sword on sword, exchanging cuts and stabs. Now I die here. Go on Khazrak, I'M WAITING!" Even as death loomed Todbringer unsheathed a dagger, ready to take on the beast-woman in his final breaths.
Khazrak could understand what he was saying, he was offering himself to her. Even when accepting death he held a grim defiance and she could easily act on it. Her steps were light as she approached her rival. Stoping as she felt something connect with her hoof. She reached down, picking up the Graf's dented helmet. Raising it to her muzzle her snout tingled with the musky aroma of his manly sweat. Todbringer watched on in confusion, his decorative helmet was a symbol of beastmen destruction just as much as his eyepatch and Runefang. He looked on as she buried her muzzle into his helmet, his gaze wandering back to Legbiter. His head snapped back with the sound of crunching leaves, watching as Khazrak ran off into the Drakwald with his helmet in hand.
Todbringer raised a single eyebrow, his mouth fell ajar and his eye staring after the sprinting beast-woman. It felt wrong. Even if she didn't kill him she would have at least taunted, mutilated or insulted him. She just sniffed his helmet and ran off with it. He didn't know how long he was standing there, but it was long enough for his body to ache less. Enough to collect Legbighter and wipe away some of the blood. It dawned on him that as he fought he'd let go of his sense of direction and was now lost in the Drakwald. His horse had scarpered during the fighting and with nothing but the carnage of mangled beastmen bodies around him, he decided to follow her hoof marks.
She hadn't been subtle, her tracks clear in the broken twigs and imprinted dirt. Even as it mixed in with other footprints he could tell who's were Khazraks'. He managed to walk off his limp, eventually getting to a normal if weary gate. His eye itched in tiredness as he could feel sleep deprivation ensnaring his mind. He thought how many were losing sleep over the fact he'd left Middenheim. The Knights of the White Wolf would be ready to move as soon as daybreak came. State troop and road warden patrols were probably already being formed. Messages ready to be sent while search routes were planned out. All because he decided to run away from it all. So what would happen if he did die out here? His daughter was still too young to take the throne, a lord protector would be put in her place and he hoped the law lords would put his eldest son. But he cast those thoughts aside.
Free of anxieties, the shackles of an Elector Count life had stayed at the Gates of Middenheim. For now he was just a lonely armoured warrior of Ulric wondering through the Drakwald in search of a large beast-woman and his helmet.
A couple fallen logs, many shrubs and countless broken leaves later he stopped as a grunt caught his ear. Raising his blade, the Graf approached the source coming from behind a tree. He didn't bother hiding the sound of his movements, sneaking in his armour was impossible with the jingling and rattling. He steadied his legs and kept his movement purposeful, making sure to watch the placement of his boots. Was this it? From the harsh huffs and hoof trail, it had to her. He'd strike the final blow, avenge the many men and women she had slaughtered. Avenge his eye and triumph as another threat to his realm was conquered by his sword. Uttering a quick prayer to Ulric as he stayed off the aches and pains as he moved around with his blade raised. He stopped when he reached the tree, steadying his breath as he reassured the grip on Legbiter.
The sight he saw was bewildering.
———
Surely the human wouldn't follow her this far, but she wasn't thinking straight as she charged through the Drakwald with his helmet in her paw. Once she was sure she was far enough away she swiftly cast off her hauberk with her soaked nethers glistening under the moon's glow. Falling against a tree with exhaustion she raised the helmet to her muzzle. Shivering as she savoured the intoxicating masculine fragrance of her rival as she buried her snout into the sweat-soaked inner lining. Her legs went weak and she couldn't stop herself from falling to her knees, presenting her furred behind to the air with tail raised. With a hand leaving the helmet she trailed down her naked torso, brushing past her fur covered breasts and firm abs of a woman built for war. Past her child-rearing waist she found her glistening, puffy vulva as it cried out for attention. She sighed as she slowly twirled her fingers around her dripping folds, jolts of pleasure coursing through her body. As the virile scent continued to invade her nostrils stoking the fires of her lust she sunk her fingers in further. She had few moments to herself and she was going to make this one count. She had never got this smell for so long and she loved every second of it. Compared to the rank perspiration of her kin, the human's smell held an addicting spice that swamped her with passion. She closed her eye and grit her teeth while her moans and groans were stifled by the helmet. Inhaling his sweet scent made the experience all worth it, his manliness engulfing her while she pleasured herself to the fantasy of him.
Her eye shot open with a clank of armour, turning to see him. His blade above his head, ready to strike her down. Instead, he raised his eyebrows in confusion as he stared down at the stark naked beast-woman with Legbiter ready to decapitate her in a single stroke. Their eyes locked, the Graf of Middenheim trying to realise the masturbating beast-woman, her breast pressed against the forest floor. Her face buried in his helmet with her furry unclothed form against the dirt and tail topped bottom high into the air. Her paw was nestled into her dripping folds while the other gipped his helmet to her nose.
The stillness was broken when Khazrak went for her whip.
Todbringer snapped out of his stupor as he swung to parry the attack. Khazrak rolled to her hooves, circling the Graf like a hungry predator. Her cursed blade at the ready and whip trailing through the leaves. Even without clothes, she was still a formidable force. Todbringer tried to remember that as he averted his eye from the furred mounds swaying with her movements. Taking initiative Khazrak surged forward, knocking Legbiter out of the way before bringing down her blade once more. Despite the pain in his joints, Todbringer sidestepped the cleaver as he reposted. The blade only clipped her fur as she pivoted out of the Runefang's reach. They danced like that for a while, neither hitting the other as blades clashed with sparks and armour clattering. The forest stood silent with only the cracks of metal and breathy gasps breaking the silence. However, it was also the forest that broke the stalemate.
As Khazrak bought down her blade once more. Todbringer stood firm, roaring as he summoned the strength of Ulric and raised Legbiter. The ancient dwarven craftsmanship of the Runefang proved itself as Todbringer cut the rusted blade in twain. Destroying her weapon as the two halves crashed against the leaves. His victory was short-lived as his footing failed, sending him to the dirt with his sword disappearing into the foliage. As he scrambled for his fallen weapon he felt the bladed whip ensnare his armoured ankle. Dragging him from his weapon he grunted as Khazrak dived forward. Straddling his chest with his arms locked underneath her. Even with her naked form pinning him down he kept his defiant gaze to her eye. The memories of the past flashed before him. The day he lost his eye to the beast-woman, an eye for an eye and she let him go. But that debt had been settled long ago.
So why was she not killing him right now?