FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

A Life in Chains

Chapter Five: Routine

Things swiftly settled into a routine, bath in the morning, breakfast then training, a bite for lunch then study, dinner then bed. It felt good; I wasn't waiting around for someone to want a refill of a foot stool. Slowly but surely I was getting used to everything, bathing became more relaxed; Briar always seemed to share my tub. Training was going poorly however; my skill with swords was showing. I could dodge and evade almost everything Bastille threw at me but when it came to striking back I was terrible. Today he decided to try something new.

“Here try these today" he said handing me a blunt pair of short daggers; they were much lighter then the training sword. I didn't bother asking why; Bastille didn't like talking during training so I simply took up a position and focused.

His opening strike was always a straight jab with an extended arm, I sidestepped it easily waiting patiently for the follow up. His arm drew back and readied for diagonal slash, I side stepped back in the other direction and for the first time I managed to land a blow; slashing across his stomach as I ducked under his arm. I followed with a jab on the backhand before I copped his elbow to my jaw; sending me once again sprawling to the ground.

I gave out a sigh into the sand as I felt his sword point on the back of my neck.

'Better, much better but still needs improvement" Bastille said with a smirk as he helped me up for round two. As per usual I came away from the session bruised and limping but so did Bastille this time. I'd managed a few good hits here and there and I carried a smug smile to the kitchen where Tahl was waiting with a bowl of porridge. I had become near addicted to the simple meal of oats and hot water which I happily dug into as Tahl tended to me. Neil however was beginning to irritate me, he constantly made uncomfortable sexual gestures and slurs at me in the baths and sometimes even during meals. Training and study where my only two sanctuaries and with training over for the day I climbed the steps to Virgil's quarters two at a time.

My studies were coming slowly as well, I diligently read the phrase book i'd been given every night but still struggled with most of the words. Other then that I was enjoying the private schooling Virgil was kindly providing. I quickly got comfortable on one of the fire pit sofas and took up a history book written by some nagan scholar. I'd already worked my way through the culture studies book and Sheoagaths laws of slavery too. I now had a much firmer grasp of what was expected of me and a somewhat clear understanding of the heritage I now belonged to as well.

“We should be docking in Caprii by tomorrow, isn't healthy to be aboard a Zeppelin for so long" Virgil said as he relaxed into the sofa opposite me. My ears bolted upright at the mention of Caprii.

“We're stopping at Caprii? Capital of Siricuse"? I asked over excitedly, my eyes lighting up. Virgil simply nodded as he lounged back and closed his eyes, his tail lighting a few scented candles with a long matchstick.

“I always visit during the Sulaco tournament races I haven't missed one in twenty years" he stated, dousing the matchstick in a small cup of sand before letting out a sigh.

I was ecstatic, as a boy I had dreamt of visiting the Isles of Siricuse, Siricuse was a vast archipelago of towering islands that jutted up from an enormous coral reef. It was the naval empire of the world and the single largest trade kingdom worldwide as well; at least that's what the books said. News that we would be landing in its capital by tomorrow had my heart racing faster than ever before.

I was barely able to focus on the book in front of me anymore; curiously I gazed over at the towering bookshelves lining the left wall.

“Sir, do you have any books with pictures of Siricuse in them"? I asked politely, forcing myself to contain my excitement.

“Pictures, hmm no sadly my library is self built, books I personally enjoy reading or keeping on hand; I prefer words more than Illustrations I'm afraid" he said dismissively as he laid there. My ears folded back in disappointment and I slumped a little, I could only imagine what the city looked like. I'd been told stories long ago but I could barely remember them now.

“I've always dreamt of seeing Siricuse..." I said with a sigh as I pulled another book over from the side stand and opened it. I didn't have the focus to read anymore; even the book's title seemed to just float apart before my eyes. I hung my head with another sigh,

“I can't focus now, I'm too excited" Virgil's eyes slid open and he looked at me with a soft smile. His coils began to slide over one another, creating a swirling mass of cool colours before they stopped and he beckoned me over with a finger. I drew a deep breath as I slipped from the sofa and walked around the fire pit as confidently as I could toward him.

His form was massive, it still shocked me just how enormous Virgil was and being at any close distance with him made me nervous. I stopped in front of him but he obviously wanted me even closer than that. One strong arm looped under my tail; sort of like the way a father picks up an infant. Next thing I knew I was lying amidst those coils, my back against his lower chest, consumed by his body. Thick coils of soft supple scale and muscle now lay lazily over my legs and tail and his arm lay over my chest. I could feel his heart beating against the back of my head and I was surprised at just how comfortable his body was.

“Sir"? I said tentatively and confused, but I was swiftly silenced as I felt his other hand on my shoulder, kneading into me, massaging. It felt good even better than a hot bath after training, I felt my eyelids grow heavy from it. My body relaxed into his and I could even hear purring from somewhere. It took me a moment to realise it was me who was purring; I could feel my chest and throat rumbling as I sank deeper into those comfortable coils and relaxed.

I woke some time later huddled up against Virgil's chest on my side; I was surprised at just how it felt. His scales weren't coarse or hard like crocodile scales, no his were soft and had a slick quality to them. I didn't know if all snakes were alike, Aldoran didn't have any native snakes; not anymore at least, the order of the Black Church had seen to their eradication years ago. I suppose my own scales had the same quality to them but I hadn't taken much notice, the skin I bore on my underbelly was the same as it had been before the transformation. Smooth, plain bronzed but plain, I ran my hand over myself; the border where skin became scaly felt distinctly different. There was a slight bump or rise then slick softness just like Virgil.

It was dark now, night time most likely, I slipped as gently as I could from Virgil's heavy coils, I had to fight hard to not simply got back to sleep. Once out I strode as quietly to the door as I could and slipped through it. The sight I got when I turned around however had my jaw slackened in awe.

Caprii, we'd made landfall whilst I slept It wasn't right there, still a few yards away but we were here. There were zeppelins by the dozen swarmed in the skies, all circling waiting to be cleared for docking. The city below was ablaze with colour, huge braziers lit with fire, paper candle lanterns floating up from all over. I made my way down the stairs slowly to the huge atrium window where I just stared. I was so absorbed by the view that I didn't even notice the dull yellow and mottled brown Vermian slip up beside me with a mug of something hot and savoury smelling.

“Pretty isn't it" they said, making me jump a little, I didn't recognise whoever they were but the tone of voice was unmistakably female.

“Um...who're you"? I asked as they turned to me and offered one of the mugs with a calm smile.

“Names Izzy, I work up in the cockpit with the flight crew, just came down to nab some grub, Tahl made an extra one for you, said he's going to bed soon; sent me to look for you" she said. I took the polished wooden mug and gazed back to the kitchen as I took a mouthful, it was spicy and rich some sort of stew or broth.

“I didn't know there were girls on board, are the rest of the flight crew women"? I asked curiously looking back out at the view.

“Mhm Me Luna and Simone, we have our own quarters up on the top deck, as well as a shower and what not, most Zeppelin pilots are women" she said with a snort, there was an interesting smell about her, something subtle but definitely female. I looked her over from the corner of my eye as I drank or ate whatever broth it was I'd been given. There were no defining features that sold her as a girl, no breasts, no wider hips or narrower waist, perhaps the smell was how they were differentiated.

“Whelp I better be getting back up to the others, Simone gets snappy when she's hungry, nice to meet you Kaiber" and with that Izzy turned on her heel and sauntered off. I watched the city below for a few more moments, finishing the meal in a mug before heading for the bathroom then making my way to bed.

Tahl was already there, curled up in my bunk clutching at the sheets, I gave out a sigh.

“This is gonna become a regular thing, huh Tahl"? I muttered to myself as I undressed, stowing my Frai in the laundry basket and slipping under the covers alongside him. I wrapped an arm around him and pulled him in closer; I didn't feel tired at all, my mind was racing with the thought of being in Caprii. I was too excited, even after my midday nap with Virgil. I'd seen a Siricuine before or Satarian as they were called, the native inhabitants of Siricuse. They looked mostly human but with deer like legs, antlers and fur in places like the chest and neck. Hooves instead of feet and those funny leaf like tails. I'd seen them a few times before in Ludos at the docks, though the ones I saw had been heavily armed. But tomorrow I'd see them up close and their city to, my head began to ache from the racing thoughts and excitement.

I laid there for what seemed like hours, staring at the wall or the roof of my bunk, trying to sleep, closing my eyes and counting sheep didn't help nether did all my tossing and turning. Eventually I gave up and slipped out of bed, leaving Tahl to hug and hold the sheets and pillows. I took a spare sheet from the linen and went back to the atrium.

I sat there on one of the long sofas that lined the windows and just watched the scene below, the landscape, the city and whatever celebrations were happening there. Eventually my eyes grew heavy and I laid down on the sofa, my headache faded as sleep claimed me finally but all I could dream about was tomorrow.