[User]
Laurent Le Garnig was the notaire of the port town of Kerouan, located in the department of Finistere in Brittany; his family had lived there for centuries, and before the revolution his ancestors were head of the noble house that ruled the region. The revolution had stripped them of their lands and had destroyed the family castle, but they had kept their ground working as merchants and organizing the fish trade between the town and the hinterland. Reading the local history one could find many mayors named Le Garnig, and some of the streets were named after his ancestors; his family was known and respected by everyone and his opinion was always taken into consideration by the city council.

In modern times the nation wide logistic operators had prevailed and Laurent's father had been forced to sell the business; the family was still affluent though, and he lived in a manor in neo gothic style on top of the cliff behind the town. At 53, he was a tall and muscular man keeping himself in shape swimming throughout the year; he had a commanding attitude but was a man of few words, not prone to talk much; he did not smile much either, he always looked like he was busy in something that was far more important that what was happening around him.

The town was facing a narrow and deep bay surrounded by high cliffs on two promontories and steep hills on the back, a lighthouse standing guard on the northern peninsula. The cobbled streets, the half timbered houses and the perched stone bridge on the estuary of the river Ker could have made the place a crowded tourist area, but it was far and badly connected to the major roads and there were no beaches in the area, so bathing was quite dangerous on the reefs because of the tide and of the frequent swells. The sun, moreover, was lightning the town for a limited number of hours everyday and this, paired with the humidity of the area, had almost everything covered in moss and mold. He was sitting at his desk, his face buried in his hands; Yannig was dead. His handsome, carefree, rebellious son had left the world after only 25 years on its surface.

He was not a man for crying but his eyes were wet and his face caught in a grimace of pain; It hurt so much more since they had been apart for five years since he had decided to leave the town and reject his family heritage. Yannig had moved overseas to make the cut with his past even deeper; he used to call his father twice a year, on Laurent's birthday and on the date of the death of his mother. So he had been informed of the good career he was making and of his wedding to a woman he dearly loved (no, his father had not been invited). There had always been love between them, and what had divided them was not hate, but a different view of duty; duty to the family and to the land that Yannig refused altogether claiming his life for his own. It wasn't that Laurent did not understand him, after all Yannig had done what he had dreamed to do many times, but as head of the family he was bound to convince him to play his role in the community and had done it at every possible occasion, up until his last call, a few months ago.

The lawyer that had called him had given limited but troubling information about the cause of his death: he had been hit by a car at full speed while he was fleeing on foot from an unidentified group of people. Maybe he had been targeted for a mugging or maybe... there had been too many strange deaths in his family, and he had been wrong thinking his son would be safe so far from there, and now it was too late.

Yannig, as it was right, had left all of his properties to his wife, but even in death he had managed an unexpected choice: he wanted to be buried in Kerouan; this gave Laurent a measure of how much his son had been still torn between his past and his present. He had left to the lawyer his contact information for the widow to get in touch with him to arrange the logistics; poor thing, she must be heartbroken by something so unexpected. Bad news spread fast, he thought, better to be the one to give them to the community; a problem that he had left there simmering had now exploded in full, and the town would expect him to solve it once and for all. He would talk to the priest and the mayor first, then there were people that had better give him the right answer.

[Assistant]
Twenty four was too young to be a widow. Too young to be making a trip across the sea to bury her husband, her husband of barely a year. They had just celebrated their first anniversary a week before his death. It was a tear streaked, puffy-eyed face that was reflected back at her in the tiny airplane window, which she promptly slammed shut, drawing irritated glares from her neighboring passengers. She just sighed and leaned back in her seat, shutting her eyes. The flight was a long one, and the last few days had seen her getting very little sleep. Though the space was tight and not exactly comfortable, exhaustion and the somehow soothing hum of the plane's engines through the walls had her asleep in a matter of minutes. She did not wake until the flight crew began doing their final clean-ups before the plane landed.

With a sigh, Sahar gathered her things, and when it was time, joined the line of people shuffling through the plane and out in to the airport. She had a special pass and paperwork that she needed to take to security to secure her husband's casket. Fortunately, that went through without a hitch, and soon enough she was watching the hearse drive him to the mortuary. The mortuary would finish the final preparations on his gravesite, and then there would be small funeral. It wasn't even really a funeral, just the last rites at the grave. He'd had a wake back home, as he'd wanted. But he'd wanted to buried here, for reasons Sahar could not comprehend. His childhood home was the one thing Yannig had never shared fully with her, to include the father he was quite distant with. Well, she supposed she would meet him now, during the funeral.

Her phone beeped in her hand, a notification saying the car she had scheduled had arrived and was waiting for her. She had packed fairly light, not intending to stay for long, so had only her purse and a wheeled suitcase not much larger than a carry-on. It was also late summer, so there had been no need for bulky layers. She was dressed in somber colors though, which fit her mood. Black knee length shorts, loose lavender tank top, with a sheer black long-sleeved cover up over it. Traditional mourning wasn't really 'a thing' anymore, not for people her age anyway, but again, the colors fit her mood.

It was late evening by the time she arrived at her hotel in Kerlouan. It was a small town, hardly more than a village by modern standards, with a population less than three thousand. The only tourists that they got were here for the beaches, or apparently some kind of cliff-climbing, but she'd only learned of that from a quick bit of internet research before her trip here. The hotel she was staying at was more of an inn, with only ten rooms or so available, but it was rather cute. She could see seeking out a place like this for a vacation with Yannig, in a different life. He'd been fascinated with science, with things like alternate dimensions and timelines, space travel, etc. He was a budding physicist, so it made sense, but his boyish enthusiasm about those topics had been rather endearing. In any case, she hoped such things were real. If it couldn't be true for her, maybe another version of Yannig was still alive, and another version of her wasn't a heartbroken mess.

The next day saw Sahar at the cemetery, her long hair pulled back in to a tight French braid---the irony was not lost on her---and coiled at the back of her head, and dressed in a plain knee-length black dress. She'd spent hours searching for a plain dress, not wanting to feel like she was getting dolled up for a funeral of all things. She'd arrived rather early, but aside from the officiant, she was the only one there. She was surprised; despite their difficult relationship, she would have expected Yannig's father to be here. Well, it was still early. There was time.

[User]
Laurent had waited in vain for a contact from the widow, expecting to arrange the burial himself, and had already contacted the priest and the funeral house to that end. So it had been a surprise when the funeral home owner, le croque-mort as he was called here, had called to announce that she had already arranged everything with him. It had been easy to check where she had booked her stay and he was sorry he had had no chance to accommodate her in the family home. He had no idea what Yannig could have told her of his family and did not want to impose anything on her in this difficult moment.

The town was restless after the news of the death of his son; a new heir to his family was expected, nobody told him openly but many had hinted at it: the family line could not be broken. After the death of his wife he had never considered marrying again but he had been sexually active with occasional partners, mainly in the city of Quimper where he traveled often to the Court of Justice. After so many years avoiding developing feelings with women the idea of finding a life partner felt odd, but he had no choice. It was unlikely any woman from Kerouan was willing to be his wife, so he would have to find one in Quimper; he sighed as he had never before had to think of a wife in such an utilitarian way.

It was the morning of the burial, he had finished his simple breakfast of black coffee and croissants and his housekeeper Enora had pressed his suit for him to wear. She was a short and thin middle age spinster that had lived in the family manor with him for a decade, a plain woman with grey hair that talked as little as him, yet there was a good understanding between the two. He went to his room to wear an elegant and classic black dress in light wool with a waistcoat under the jacket; a white shirt and a black tie completed the outfit. He looked at himself in the mirror and saw an imposing and prepossessing man with a grim expression; he was ready to go.

He drove his car to the cemetery that was just outside the town, on a narrow ledge of the northern cliff that was overlooking the port. The pallbearers were waiting just outside the entrance and upon entering he saw the casket, the priest and the widow; he walked to the woman, dressed in a simple black dress. As she raised her face to him he was stunned by the intensity of her eyes, something in the way she looked at him touched him deeply; he recovered and extended his hand, "I am Laurent de Garnig, Yannig's father. And you must be Sahar. I am sorry you had to organize everything, I hoped I could help with the local arrangements. You must be tired and jet lagged, having arrived just yesterday." He looked at the casket, and walked near to lay a hand on it; he would never see his son again, he asked himself if there was a way he could have avoided his death, but could not find an answer.

He turned to Sahar again, "In Kerlouan we have an old tradition, coming from the strong link this town has with the sea: before the burial the casket is brought to the port to be presented to the sea." He walked to a parapet overlooking the bay and motioned her to follow him, "As you can see, the whole town is at the port, waiting for Yannig." The area was crowded with people as if there was a fair: fishermen on their boats, people at the windows of the houses facing the area and hundreds on the streets. "It's time to start the procession." he made a sign to the pallbearers and moved on the left side of the casket to carry it.

The coffin was carried down the steep road and into the town, the priest was following right after the widow and as they met people along the way they joined the procession. The crowd at the port opened at their arrival and let them put the coffin on a support just in front of the water; the mayor was there waiting for them, wearing the stripe with the colors of France. One would have expected the priest to come forward and bless the corpse, but instead he stood behind the casket; everyone stood silent for many minutes facing the sea, the only noises coming from the wind. There was a definite swell in the sea, as it was actually reacting to the scene. Some people in the crowd made a strange gesture, putting forward the open left hand, palm up, and making a fist with the right on top of it. Laurent made a sign to the pallbearers and the strange ceremony was over as the procession made its way back to the cemetery.

[Assistant]
Sahar heard the car coming up the gravel drive behind her, and turned to look. Her eyebrows twitched up when she saw the well-dressed French man step out of the vehicle, and began moving towards her. She glanced down, feeling suddenly very underdressed, an odd and disturbingly shallow thought under the circumstances. She flushed momentarily, and shook herself, though it was more of an internal shudder.

She saw his shoes enter her field of vision, and glanced up to see him standing in front of her. It was shocking how much he looked like Yannig. Or more appropriately, how much Yannig had looked like him. This was likely what Yannig would have looked like, had he lived. Or something very close to it. She felt tears prick her eyes, and she squeezed her lids shut and pushed them away. Then he began speaking, and she couldn't help but feel slightly overwhelmed. Yes, she had arranged everything, and she was not interested in some French hamlet's odd traditions. She wished she could say Yannig would have felt the same, but he had written it in to his will to be buried here. It had to have been for a reason.

"Y-yes, I'm Sahar, but..." He had already turned, moved to the parapet, motioned to the crowd gathering at the bay. Fucking hell. The pallbearers followed his signal without hesitation, and she could only follow as well, though reluctantly. The ceremony on the beach was confusing, to say the least. The fist and palm gesture, what was that, some sign of respect? And the swell of the waves... she wanted to tell herself it was just a trick of the light, something in her eyes, but she knew that was bullshit. Then it was over, almost as quickly as it had begun---aside from the walk to the beach---and the casket was returned to the cemetery. She stood through the brief burial in rigid silence, not even looking at Laurent during the process.

When it was done, she turned away, intending to head straight for her own vehicle. But, she found she just couldn't walk away from Yannig's father, not without so much as a word. It was his father. "I do not know if Yannig ever intended us to meet, Mr. de Garnig." Oh, it was too difficult to meet those dark eyes of his, so much like Yannig's. "If he did, I am certain he did not intend for it to be like this. I... am sorry."

[User]
Laurent looked back at her, again affected by her eyes; she was a gorgeous woman by all means, but it was that look that touched something inside him. It was nothing new that his son had inherited from him his taste for women so if Sahar was Yannig's perfect choice then... he realized he was staring at her and replied in his good English with light Gallic accent.

"Please, my name is Laurent, we are family after all. I know that Yannig wanted us to meet, because he told me on our last call a few months ago. He had no idea when and where though, I don't think he would have brought you here. I don't know what my son told you about me, but believe me, despite the disagreements we had there has always been love between us. The years since he left Kerlouan have been hard for me, and that's why I ask you to indulge a grieving father and tell me of him, of his life with you; our house is not far from here, come have a coffee and let's share our memories of Yannig. Please."

Laurent realized that the reason he wanted more time with the American woman went beyond his son; he was a proud man and would not plead, but her answer would make all the difference in the world.

[Assistant]
Yannig had called his father? And had wanted to see him again? Sahar was taken aback by the revelation, and not entirely pleased. After everything, this he had kept from her? Her brow furrowed, even as she did attempt to rationalize his decision. He must have had his reasons, but finding out now, like this, still hurt.

Finally, she sighed, and relented with a weary nod. "Very well... Laurent. Please, lead the way. I drove here, I will follow you." She waited until he got in to his car, before settling in to her rental. As he had said, it was not a long drive to his family estate, and Sahar had to admit to being impressed when she first laid eyes on the villa. Yannig had not spoken much of his childhood home. She had known he grew up in a larger house, but such vague descriptions did this beautiful home no justice.

She pulled to one side of the driveway and put the car in park, then climbed out. After a moment's hesitation, she left her hat and purse in the car. The house wasn't far from the cemetery, but it was semi-isolated, with a private driveway. No one was going to just walk up here and break in to the rental without some fairly extreme motivation. If that happened, she would likely have large issues to worry about.

Once out of the vehicle, however, she hesitated again. Laurent had arrived ahead of her, of course, but she wasn't sure if she should go knock on the door, wait for him to escort her... with another sigh, she started to walk up the drive, towards the garage where Laurent had parked. Better to have him escort her, she thought.

[User]
Laurent drove home at a slow pace up the cliff to the small private driveway to the estate. The neo gothic villa was large, built in an era when families were larger, the staff ample and the houses of the nobles were the venues of much of the public life of a town. A 10-bed villa today was something for a movie star, not for a lone widower.

He left the car, a large station wagon, in the garage built in the former stables and joined Sahar who was walking up to him. "Bienvenue à Porh-Puns, Sahar. Though this comes in a sad moment for both of us, just know that in this house you will be welcome as long as a Le Garnig will live here." He walked her to the entrance, a large wooden double door that he kept open to let her into a large hall; well worn antique furniture was everywhere but the place did not look like a museum but as a familiar place.

Laurent walked down the hall then let the woman in a small tea room with large windows overlooking the English garden. He invited her to sit on a comfortable couch and sat in front of her on armchair. Enora entered the room, walked to The man and stood still; he turned and asked Sahar if she preferred tea or coffee, the told in french to the small maid what they needed. "This was one of Yannig's favorite rooms of the house, he often came here to study because of the light. Can I ask you how you two came to meet?"

[Assistant]
Sahar's answering smile was a small, tight one, but she managed it. Once inside the house, she again had to admire the architecture. She appreciated that the place looked lived in, though much of the furniture was clearly old and likely very valuable. And once she saw the tea room, she instantly saw why this room had been a favorite of Yannig's. The ambiance was so peaceful, the light made her feel, well, lighter.

She took a seat on the couch he motioned to, and raised an eyebrow when the housekeeper entered. The luxury actually made her a little uncomfortable, but she wasn't so uncivilized as to mention it. "Tea, please, ma'am," she murmured, and the woman bustled away after receiving the request in French from Laurent.

Her throat tightened when she finally tried to answer the man's question. Remembering Yannig at all at this point was painful, but it caused her particular distress to try to relate their first meeting. "We met at university, as he would have put it," she squeaked out. Clearing her throat, she started again. "It was the first week of the new semester. I know he attended some school here before he moved to the States, moved there on a student visa. We were both starting our junior year. All of the clubs and student organizations were still recruiting, had all of their little stands and tables spread across the quad. Yannig had been flagged down by the French club, naturally. I was at the next table over, the Italian club. There were three girls pestering Yannig to join, and not in an entirely innocent fashion either. I honestly hadn't even noticed him yet, not really, but the girls were being so loud I could hardly hear the boy talking about the Italian club. I finally snapped at them, said something crude and angry, I'm sure. I don't remember the exact words now. But Yannig stared at me, I swear for a full minute after. And then he started to laugh, and laugh, and laugh. That sound went straight to my bones, I swear. He asked me to lunch right then."

Sahar felt the tears rising again, and swallowed hard. She looked away from Laurent, unable to force herself to continue. In any case, she was sure he'd gotten the gist.

[User]
Laurent looked at Sahar and reached to her, touching her shoulder, "I'm sorry for causing you pain, I didn't mean to. It's just that I lost the last years of Yannig's life and now that he's gone I'd like to know more of them." He felt a sudden lump in his throat and felt tears welling up in his eyes; for some reason the woman had him lower his emotional defenses and he was suddenly hit with the magnitude of the loss. He began sobbing desperately, his self control trying in vain to make him regain composure in front of a guest; he looked at her and felt she was the only one who could understand what he was feeling. It took him a few minutes to calm down and dry his tears with a handkerchief.

"I'm sorry again, I don't usually entertain my guests this way; and anyway you're so much more than a guest. Actually I wanted to propose you to stay for a few days in Kerouan. It's not only about talking about the past, I would like to get to know you, since you're now part of our family. And there are a few things about the causes of death of my son that I'd like to discuss with you. If you like you can move here from the hotel, I'd be honored if you would stay with us."

He looked at the woman, why did he feel a need so strong for her to stay? Sure he needed someone to share his pain and his doubts about what had happened to Yannig, but there was something in her that touched him deeply, and he wanted to understand what it was.

Enora entered the room and put on a small table a tray with a teapot, two cups, a plate of biscuits and a small jug of milk. She served the tea and left the room as silently as she had arrived.


[User]
Altena's throne room was in an uproar of sorts... though no one dared actually roar. Except, as she so often did, the new Queen Angela. "More CAAAYKE!" Angela declared, throwing a fork and nearly hitting the royal chef. She'd just eaten her last piece right on her throne, with one servant to hold the plate while another dabbed up any crumbs.

Attendants scrambled, all over the palace, all day and night. Their new Queen's whims were many, and capricious, and ever changing. She always seemed to be changing her demands for exactly how firm the pillows of her royal bedchamber ought to be, or what sort of magical ice sculptures she wanted to see in the courtyards, or what type of thongs the all-female and scantily-dressed Altena wizard corps ought to wear.

And the food... Angela's culinary cravings were ever-changing and never-ending. And she never seemed to put on weight. Partially it was because she often stopped eating after a few bites to nag about how such-and-such was not quite prepared to her liking or she had changed her mind... but sometimes she did eat indulgently, and yet maintained her little wasp-waist. Perhaps magic burned a lot of energy. Perhaps all her yelling at her servants and subjects did.

Her demands for the latest coutures and costumes were even more indulgent and varied than for her dining. She wore all manner of flashy and revealing dresses and lingerie, even while holding court in her throne room. Presently she wore her scandalous Spellbinder attire, with its red and black slashes of cloth bound tight to her supple body by gold bands and chains, while she topped her brow with a demon-horned tiara rather than the traditional crown passed down from her mother.

Angela finished her present piece of cake---after throwing the fork, she'd just tipped the rest into her mouth right from the plate---and yelled again, "More CAAAAKE! My mouth is EEEEMPTY! FILL it NOOOW!"

[Assistant]
There was ever so many things running through his mind. Things that had been running through his mind in the years since the fall of the Dragon Emperor. He had been defeated that day and defeated summarily. Koren had begged for death and moved to take himself out in grief for the wrongs he had done. The assault on the kingdom, the corruptions of the Queen of Mages, and his work in all other fields. He'd been born without magic and at the first taste he had willingly done acts that many would consider vile. But he had been talked out of his mindset. Riesz had forced him to listen but not convinced him. Duran tried to inspire him but he had fallen short. Angela, however, spoke to him of her past. Of how she had not cast magic, even as the princess, for ever so long. That life was still worth living and she'd come around.

So he had chosen to live. They fought the Emperor and killed him. Koren's life was shortened but he could do good things in that time. He'd left for parts unknown and worked to help those who he could. Those who used magic he taught them as best he knew without a hint of power any more. He'd lived a humble life. And yet she... she had grown complacent. Grown arrogant. Grown wicked in her own ways. He'd kept his eyes on the heroes. Duran helped his kingdom. Riesz had rallied her people as best they could be. Angela had become the Queen and she had become as prone to folly as her mother had been. So easily tainted into falling back on her weaker self. Everything she'd told him had been lies and worthless prattle. He'd lived so that she could claim her throne and waste everything.

He'd returned to the place of his defeat to ponder this matter and eventually found the last dregs of the Dragon Emperor. Rather than make a deal he claimed that power for himself. It restored him to roughly his full life force once again. Not completely, perhaps, but enough that he could enact his will. He was, once more, the Wizard of the Crimson Lotus. It was his choice, and now his destiny, to force Angela to repent. The world could not be trusted to better itself so it required a lord. The Dragon Emperor was weak but so were the minions of those other false gods and warriors. He would unite the world under his reign.

The attack on Athena's home came swiftly. Mages and warriors lashed out at him only to be met with blasts of concussive force knocking them across the path and knocking them unconscious. His magics were nowhere near as strong as they had been before he had been defeated but he'd taken his time coming here. He had been learning a singular spell. A spell that would use the last of the Emperor's power to lay claim to what did not belong anymore.

"Angela," his voice boomed out as he approached her throne room "I have returned and I have come to judge you for all your actions."

When the doors to her throne room burst open there was a surge of flames but none were burned too badly. They were going to be his subjects after all. Better to have them clearly defeated but not killed for now. He'd lock eyes with her and wait for a reaction wondering how the haughty woman would take seeing him there like this.

[User]
"WHFFF?" Angela would have roared in indignation, but her mouth was full of cake. Cowardly servants screamed at the entrance of the Crimson Wizard; those who remembered his presence here once before, when he had been using Angela's mother as his puppet while executing the plans of the Dragon Lord, were especially terrified.

Angela, to her credit, did maintain her composure---other than the undignified way cake crumbled from the corners of her mouth and into her cleavage as she reached out with a hand. Her wand levitated up from an arm of her throne and shot into her hand.

Angela---her mouth finally empty---cried out---"You're SO not welcome here! Unless you come bearing gifts and cake!"

A blast of ice rushed out from her and her wand, shooting through the air like a miniature blizzard, putting out the fire the 'guest' had started and gusting at the wizard himself.

[Assistant]
Koren heard her reaction as she was so busy being full of cake. He sighed at the very sight of her. How similar she had become to her mother in her own way. Uncaring about her people and haughty in her actions. He sighed. Screams filled the room as he walked forward. Some ran and others shivered in place as he moved. Fire burned from where his spell had landed. Angela finally spoke up and grabbed her wand. He stared at her as she blasted ice towards him. He suddenly shifted from where he was to another side of the room.

"I have judged you," he said looking at Angela. Magic pooled around him like shadows. "And you have been found wanting," he said. He lifted his hand and darkness shot from his hand towards Angela.

"This is your punishment," he said. The magic would seemingly eat magic she shot at him before tethering the two of them with shadows. When, or if, she was hit she would feel her power fading from her and Koren would feel the surge in magical potential that she possessed.

[User]
The magic from Koren's hand was like tentacles of pure shadow... they lanced into Angela's body, causing her to arch her back, spasm in place, and let out a low and guttural moan, followed by a whimpering, "Nooooooo..."

She fell to her knees, winded. She'd dropped her wand; she picked it up again and stabbed it in the air, pointed at Koren, and... nothing happened. No magic emanated... then she realized she couldn't feel the magic with her at all! He had somehow blocked her off from it, silenced that part of her... or... stolen it? Oh no...

She felt weak-kneed, and used a throne arm for support as she began to rise. "What... what have you done to me... you... you monster! You monster with terrible guest-manners to boot, you... oooh, oooh, why I..." she tried to spellcast again... but still nothing... and the effort made her groan and fall back to her knees again, her chest heaving as she took a gasping breath of despair.

[Assistant]
Koren's shadow magic reached towards her and lanced into her. She let out a low moan before whimpering like the petty woman she was. He felt the power pulse into him and surge through his veins. It was so much more than he'd even had before. His eyes flickered with light as he slowly retrained them on Angela. She was reaching for her wand but he merely stepped forward. He smirked as her wand did nothing. He waved his hand and the crumbs and other pieces of cake disappeared making her look more clean for the moment as he approached.

"I've taken what you have wasted," he said looking towards the guards as he stood not ten feet away from Angela "this Kingdom is now mine. Angela has proven unfit to lead and I have claimed her power. By virtue of claiming her magical power I also lay claim to her birthright as ruler of Altena. Kneel before me and pledge loyalty now or be cast out into the cold."

He looked down at Angela. "And you, Angela, shall be Queen no more," he said with a smirk as he lifted his hand and held a silver collar "you shall be my slave. My servant for the rest of your days. Swear your loyalty and strip yourself bare for all to see and I might be willing to allow you a hint of freedom."

[User]
A wave of shudders rippled through the guards as Koren looked their way... they seemed frozen in shock, neither mounting a counterattack nor daring to run away. They all looked to Angela, as if to take a cue on whether to kneel and pledge as he had commanded.

Angela shivered as she felt his magic wipe away the crumbs from her face and cleavage, like a ghostly hand fondling her with remote telekinesis. When he issues his next command, Angela began to protest, "Why you---I... I'll never---" but the words were catching in her suddenly very parched-feeling throat. She felt naked without her magic, like a scared little girl, more vulnerable even than before her journey had first begun and she'd been a magicless, talentless spoiled princess. She began to wonder what it had been like for her mother when Karen had hypnotized her to his schemes and bidding... and she now wondered if he had done anything particular with her, taken any personal liberties when the Queen's body once he had her mind under control.

Angela felt like her own hands were betraying her as they reached up to her own dress. Her eyes were focused on the silver collar, something about the way it glinted hypnotically in the light of the throne room... the thought of surrendering and submitting so quickly seemed humiliating... but his magic had overwhelmed her so easily, and she could vividly imagine him doing worse to her with another magical blast; incinerating her to dust, or encasing her in eternal ice, or Goddess-knew what...

"So be it..." her voice came out choked and melancholy. "I... I swear my loyalty, to Koren the Crimson Wizard, just as did my mother before me..."

And with that, Angela, who had been the Princess and then Queen of Altena, began to strip---right there, in front of Koren and her own court. Her outfit, already quite revealing, was peeled away from her breasts. They bounced free in the cool air, high and round and fair, nipples a perkly pale pink like too-unblossomed rosebuds. She took off the headband of her outfit, and then everything beneath that. Her subjects gasped as her firm round buttocks were bared, so too her loins, those smooth and hairless pink petals. Her stomach was flat and lithe, her thighs slender too and firm. Her purple hair cascaded free around her shoulders, swishing most of the way down her back and over her breasts.

She took a step closer to Koren. And then she knelt before him. "Please my Lord spare my subjects' lives... I offer as your slave, your subject for the rest of my days. I swear my loyalty to you and strip myself for all to see."

The servants gasped, all in stunned shock. Some mumbled, "We... we pledge loyalty..." and they knelt, as Koren had commanded and Angela had done. The women among them, both the Altenish mages and the maids, began to undress as well, baring breasts and then bodies, and bowing their heads low.

[Assistant]
Wherever he glanced he could see the reaction. They shivered from his gaze and froze. Koren's power was now clearly overwhelming. There could be no doubt with their Queen so easily subdued. He looked down at her and made his commands. The hung in the air like the threat they were meant to be as his magic cleaned her. She started to protest as he held the collar up. It shimmered in the light of the throne room. Her mother had been more difficult to possess. He'd needed to do more than just claim her power though. This wasn't so complex. He'd never bedded that woman, no need, but now he saw the appeal. As he started into her eyes she spoke in a low choked voice.

"Good," Koren said as she began to pledge her fealty. Angela began to strip her outfit away. Her bountiful bust came free topped with perky nipples earning a smile from him even as the crowd gasped. Her headband followed and soon she was left with nothing hiding the curves of her body. Koren looked down at her as her violet hair framed her figure. She knelt before him, as she should, and begged him to spare her subjects.

"Do not attempt to sound honorable," he growled at her even as the others knelt and pledged their loyalty "you threw that away when you grew complacent." He looked around at them. "Watch on as your former Queen debases herself," he said before looking back at Angela "put the collar on."

He held it out for her even as he walked around her and say on her throne. "Then you may remove my pants and worship your King and Master before your former subjects," he said with a narrowed gaze.

[User]
Angela reached out, timidly, like the collar would shock her. It felt smooth to the touch, and weighty... a weight it would now be her fate to bear. She took it in two trembling hands, held it about her throat... and clicked it closed and locked, although she almost could have sworn it closed and locked itself, animated by her new Master's magic.

"Oh by the Goddess..." she groaned, both at the feel of it lightly choking her and laying upon her collarbone, yoking her, collaring her, enslaving her. She looked at the center of Miguel's body, realizing what he meant, what he demanded of her...

Her hands trembled anew as Koren reached out, loosened his belt, and tugged down his pants. "By the Goddess, they're massive..." the sight of his genitalia awed her, and she quivered in fear. "How will I even fit it into my... my mouth... I've never... never had anything like this in my mouth before, to say nothing of one of such size.."

Angela leaned forward, and brushed the purple hair away from her face. She closed her eyes, and she began to lick. Her tongue was soft and velvety, sliding over the shaft with wet licks. She shuddered... this was utterly humiliating. She felt dirty, and low, and whorish... and she realized that was the whole point. All the same, fear---and now a strange curiosity too---drove her own. She kissed the shaft, and the velvety head... again, and again... and then, she stretched her jaw low as she could. With some effort she got the head into her mouth, feeling violated and sodomized. She closed her lips around the base of the head... and she began to suck it.

Her eyes watered from the musky scent and taste... and the sheer size... she flicked her eyes briefly up to his face, curious about his reaction... and slowly, her head began to bob, her breasts bounced, and she worked her lips further along the shaft. "Mmmf... mff... mfff.." she moaned pathetically, sounds muffled as she slavishly sucked upon her new Master.

[Assistant]
Koren sat upon the throne as she took the collar. She acted as if it was going to shock her but it wasn't. All it would allow him to do is more easily handle her. Magical threads only he could use were attached and invisible to the eye. He could pull and yank her as he pleased if the urge arose. When she put it on his name appeared on the collar affirming the fact that he was firmly her master at this point. Koren smirked as she groaned from the feeling and he just snapped his fingers once his next command was given. The naked Angela moved towards him and loosened his belt freeing him. Her words echoed in the silent chamber as she was faced with his only half-hard length.

"You will learn," he said, "until you are nothing more than a willing pet for my desires." Koren smirked as she leaned forward and brushed her hair back. The only recently deposed Queen began her worship by licking along his shaft though she closed her eyes. He snapped his fingers again and she would feel a little stab of pain from the collar as he channeled magic into it. "Open your eyes and look at me," Koren said, "do not look away nor attempt to hide. You will accept your new place."

Angela kissed his shaft until she reached the head and began to stretch her jaw. He was certainly bigger than any she'd had before. When her lips closed around the head he smiled a little wider. He beckoned two of her closest guards, presumably her personal guards who had been hers since she'd claimed the throne, so that they could watch her up close as her head began to bob. His hand moved to her head as she sucked.

"Not bad," he said "but not impressive. Perhaps I'll have to make one of your guards teach you how to handle your master if you can't even handle such a simple task."

[User]
Angela squealed at the pain-jolt from her collar, her breath warm against his cock. She had been wondering whether she ought to look at him or not, and when he commanded her most decisively to, she cast her eyes---her eyes, watering from the pain, the humiliation, and the triggered gag-reflex of the cock crammed into her mouth---to gaze upward. Her eyes were doe-like, pleading, as if begging for mercy or trying to ascertain whether she were doing a good job. She kept working her lips further down the shaft, even as it made her choke and gag, and her eyes tear up. Her bare breasts bounced and jiggled as she shuddered bodily from the choking degradation.

The two beckoned guards, dressed in the uniform of the Altenish all-female mage corps, had followed Angela's lead in bowing, had begun to peel down the fronts of their uniforms, revealing their pale round breasts to Koren---and to everyone in the chamber, for that matter. They took Koren's beckoning as a signal to move closer; slowly they rose, cast off their wide-brimmed hats, and came near; they knelt again near the throne and Koren and their self-debasing, cock-sucking Queen, with their uniforms pulled down to the waist. They bowed their blonde heads, but they looked up much as Angela had been commanding to, watching Koren's face, and his cock, violating Angela's desperately sucking mouth.


[User]
Lucy and her youngest daughter, Milly, had been just hanging out in the kitchen preparing dinner for the family and discussing the fact that Lucy's brother and wife were thinking about coming to visit when Dan had joined them. Trusting her daughter to finish up the preparations for dinner Lucy had decided to treat her son to a little before dinner fun. Up on the counter naked as always and next to her daughter Lucy had only had to open her legs to communicate with her stud what she wanted. Though any other family might have been surprised by the fact that Lucy had just hopped up on the counter and presented herself to her son, the Bechard family was different and acts of such incestuous lust were extremely common.

"Fuck your mommy's tight pussy," Lucy moaned, as her son took what he wanted and what now had pretty much become his property. Feeling her son's thick cock deep inside her body, filled Lucy with an indescribable amount of pleasure, it a awoke the same fire that his uncle had been able to awaken inside her body when they had first fucked each other. "God Dan," Lucy continued, as the juices of her dripping pussy started to puddle between her legs on the counter. Pushing her arms back on the counter, accidentally knocking something to the ground, Lucy gave into her primal need to be breed by an alpha male. "Cum inside me, breed mommy," Lucy moaned, as her son continued to ram his thick cock into her sensitive, pulsing pussy.

[Assistant]
Dan had just finished feeding the chickens outside before coming back in for dinner. His father was still working in the barn and once entering the kitchen he saw his pretty sexy sister and his gorgeous milf mom working away at the food. Although, when Lucy saw her stud son entering the kitchen, she told Milly to finish dinner while she had some fun with her son.

Dan didn't need any more incentive to get between his mother's legs and shove his hung cock inside her tight pussy. Nothing was better after a hard days work than feeling his mother's tight pussy wrapping around his cock. "Fuuuck mom..." he moaned as he thrusted inside her with reckless abandon. "You're always sooo tight. How do you do that?" he asked, feeling his orgasm closing in.

Following her orders, once he felt his peak, he let go of self control and let his strong potent seed flood her womb as they orgasmed on the counter. Dan kissed his mother deeply as they still orgasmed and felt his cock being sucked by her inner walls.

[User]
Lucy had many males in her day, but none seemed to compare to her own son. The incestuous bond between mother and son was truly one of a kind. "Fuck me," Lucy whimpered and moaned, as her son thrust his thick cock into her tight pussy and erupted. Lucy had already been on the edge of her own orgasm, so feeling Dan erupt inside her body and lay claim to her fertile womb, easily pushed her completely over the edge. Gasping and moaning like the animal she is, Lucy looked up at her son with her bright blue and once more gave herself over to her newest alpha.

Overwhelmed by the pleasure that pulsed through her veins, it took Lucy a little bit before she was ready to talk and by then her pussy was practically oozing with her son's cum. "That felt so good," Lucy told her son, before leaning up to pull him into a passionate kiss, something more akin to a lover's kiss then one a mother would give her own child. After letting their lips press together, Lucy pulled back once more to look at her son and then down at his work. The sight of her pussy filled with her son's thick cock and dripping his cum scent a shiver down Lucy's spine.

"You sure like to make a mess of mommy's pussy don't you," Lucy teased, looking at her stud son. Perverted as she was, Lucy wished her husband was there so that she could have him lick her pussy clean, but still she had other ways of making sure her husband got to taste his stud sun. "Milly, bring your father's plate over, so Dan can hold it beneath his cock when he pulls out," Lucy explained, with a twisted smile. Listening to her mother, Milly handed her older brother her father's plate of food, even though she wanted to eat the messy between her mother's legs.

[Assistant]
"That felt amazing." Dan agreed with his mother. "As always." He kissed her one more time as his cock kept throbbing inside her. Before he was able to pull back out, Lucy asked Milly to bring over his father's plate. He was confused for a moment as to why before his mother explained it was for him to hold it under his cock. Grinning as he realized what she wanted, Dan accepted the plate from his sister and did as his mother wanted.

Holding the plate under is cock, Dan slowly pulled himself out of his mother's pussy. The loads of excess cum inside her oozing out of her pussy and falling directly into his father's plate. The feeling of pulling out even gave Dan another small wave of pleasure and one last shot of cum came out, which he aimed straight into his father's plate. "Fuck yes..." He moaned softly as he watched the plate being filled with his cum

[User]
Biting her lower lip, Lucy watched as her son pulled his thick cock out of her body. Feeling Dan's thick cock slide out of her body caused Lucy to shiver as his member pressed against the sensitive walls of her pussy. "Fuck that's so hot and dirty," Lucy explained, as she watched her son cover his father's plate with his thick cream. This wouldn't be the first time Lucy's husband had tasted his own son's seed and it probably wouldn't be the last. "Dad's gonna love the creamy messy you made him," Lucy added, before sliding off the counter and onto her knees in front of her son. Not wanting her son to be messy for dinner, Lucy started to lick and clean her son's thick cock.

Though she had been busy finishing up dinner, Milly hadn't been too busy to watch her mom and older brother go at it. Milly had grown up watching her parents fucking with her uncles and aunts, but only recently had she started to watch her big brother. Though sex in itself was pretty hot to Milly, compered to watching her dad or even stud of an uncle, watching Dan was just so much better, he seemed to truly pleasure his mother. "God you guys are perverted," Milly explained, as she put out a hand to take her father's plate from her older brother so he could focus on mom's blow job. "And hot as fuck, I can't wait until you can breed me too," Milly added with a smile, to show that she was just as into their hot incestuous sex as anyone else. Clearly aroused from her mother and brother going at it, Milly took the plate into the dining room and finished setting the table.

With a wet pop, Lucy pulled her mouth from her son's thick, wet manhood. "I think she wants to steal your cock from me," Lucy teased Dan, as she licked the cum from around her lips. Looking up at her son, Lucy began to slowly stroke Dan's thick organ. "Though I think you got enough meat to satisfy two females don't you," Lucy asked, as she pleasured her son with her paws and teased the tip of his shaft with her tongue.

[Assistant]
"Oh I know he's gonna love it." Dan agreed as he finished filling his father's plate with his thick creamy seed. Starting to get hungry and ready to sit at the table and wait for dinner, Dan was surprised when his mother got on her knees and started sucking and cleaning his cock. Not that he would complain of course. He loved seeing her serving him like that. "Make sure my cock is completely clean mommy" he grinned.

Handing the cum-filled plate back to his sister, he listened to her words while enjoying his blowjob and chuckled at her statement. "You call us perverted but you're the one that was watching and wishing it was you being pounded by your big brother's cock" he teased her back before looking back at his mother. In all honesty, Dan hadn't fucked his sister's brains out yet, simply because his father said he wanted to take her virginity. But Dan had started having second thoughts about that these last few days. He was going to steal her virginity from him.

But right now he had his sexy mom to attend to. Holding her head, he let her do her job in cleaning him up while smiling at her tease. "Oh you know I do. Three females even." he added with a chuckle.


[User]
Aoi was dreaming, clearly, but it was a dream with lucidity and clearness which was wholly unusual.

"Looks like you had a very fun day." a smug, almost mocking voice rang out. There was an impish figure standing above her as she had opened her eyes. He was human, or mostly human, albeit one with red skin a shade darker than her own auburn hair, and white, shining eyes devoid of pupils. He was fully nude, possessing a lean build, and must have stood just a tad shorter than the woman beneath him. Akane was nude as well, she realized, lying stark naked on the bed of pink grass which felt bizarrely calming as they bristled against her bare skin like living things. "Did you enjoy it?"

"I have been carefully watching over you, Akane, and working to move you towards your full potential as a magical girl," the impish figure continued, "You see, I believe you have the potential to do a great deal of good in this world, and I will be making sure you learn to use the powers I will unlock for you. My name is Aoi, and I will be your patron."

Aoi, or blue... a strange name for a red figure, but as he spoke Akane caught sight of a dark blue tongue between his white teeth.

[Assistant]
Slowly, Akane blinked, her hazel eyes wide. Another dream. Was this like the one she had the night before? She couldn't remember that one, and it seemed difficult to believe that she might forget this one.

"It was a strange day." Akane said, her voice soft. The cool breeze, the gentle caress of the pink grass beneath her nude form, both seemed to calm her, soothe some of her anxiety. "Very strange. But..." She bit her lip a moment. "I felt good, sometimes." She'd been helpless at the hands of men more than once, but there was no denying the pleasure she'd felt. Perhaps... did being helpless in their grasp feel good, too? Gently, Akane shook her head, red hair brushing her bare shoulders. It wasn't a denial, so much as a temporary refusal to answer the strange thought. "It is nice to meet you, Aoi." Akane was very polite, after all.

She looked at the strange man curiously. "Patron? Powers? What do you mean?" Akane blinked, a slight crease appearing in the flawless skin of her forehead. Soothing as the environment was, and even with the knowledge that this was a dream, it was still strange. She looked at the strange man, Aoi, reddening slightly as her gaze traveled the length of him. "Why are you naked?"

A pause, then her hazel eyes opened even wider. "Why am I naked?!?!" With a slightly indignant gasp, Akane did her best to cover herself with her arms, draping one across her full breasts, the other coming down between her legs. It was... only somewhat successful, only just covering her nipples and slit, leaving most of her body bare, but giving her lithe figure an appealing curve.

[User]
The devilish figure gave an appropriately devilish grin as he enjoyed her embarrassment over her immodest condition. He had, of course, already seen her body many times before, but he'd never grow tired of seeing it yet again, especially when paired with such an adorable reaction.

"I thought it best we meet with nothing between us, and because clothing would only be a hindrance to what I need to teach you." Aoi answered, "There exists an entire world hidden just from view of the ordinary person. Legends tell of spirits, gods, fairies, devils and monsters of all manner, and naturally these legends have a basis in reality. I am one such member of that reality, and from here on you are to be one of those Chosen few to be in touch with both worlds; magical and mundane."

"In short, you will learn to vanquish Demons." Aoi grinned, "And in order to do as much, you will need to first use the magical energies of the their world. Look deep within yourself, extend your arm, and release your mind's pent up desires. You will find that it leaves your physical form with explosive force, with a little help from my presence and support of course."

[Assistant]
"Look within myself...?" Slowly, giving Aoi a curious glance, Akane rose to her feet, graceful and lovely. And then a slightly suspicious glance; this wasn't just an excuse to see her uncovered again, was it?

But no. There was something. She could feel it. All throughout the day, the very strange day, Akane had felt a power gathering in her. Curious, she'd felt it most right after a man had been touching her... again, Akane shook her head, her red mane swirling about her. But that feeling, it was some sort of power. On some level, she knew it. "Chosen..." She echoed softly. The word felt right to her. Her lips pressed together, a look of determination on her lovely features.

Slowly, she raised her hand, no longer concerned that she left her breasts fully exposed, rosy nipples on display. As she concentrated, she could feel that energy gathering in her, building up. Biting her lip, she focused on that feeling, focused on that tingling energy, focused on her passion... her hand began to glow, a sparkling golden light. Akane's eyes widened a moment, and then she straightened her arm, aiming her fist straight ahead.

"Hahhhh!" With a cry, Akane released the energy in a brilliant golden blast. There was a musical chime as it blasted through the air, harmlessly passing off into the distance. Panting slightly, bare breasts rising and falling, she looked down at her han, eyes wide.

"I did it. I really did it." Akane said in her breathy voice. She turned, looking at Aoi, amazement all over her lovely features. "I can use that to vanquish demons?"

[User]
Aoi's eyes widened, just a little, as the blast of energy shot from Akane's hand, sending her silky red hair fluttering back in response to the force of the magical burst.

"Not bad for a first try; I see that your exciting day left you with a decent supply of energy with which to draw upon, but not as much as I would have preferred. I suppose I'll have to see how much more I can force into your body in the future, so you can thank me later for the fun you'll be having, but for now we'll see how you do against an actual target." Aoi mused, crossing his arms, "In other words, why don't you try firing a blast at me? It's one thing to fire a weapon, and quite another to hit anything with it. Given that you'll be up against demons we can't have you missing all your shots, of course."

Sensing possible reticence on the part of Akane the red skinned figure poked out his blue tongue, offering childish mockery in a teasing voice, "That is, unless you're scaaaared."

[Assistant]
Akane looked at Aoi frowning. Then down at her hand, then back to Aoi, her frown deepening. Slowly, she lowered her hand. "Fire a blast at you?" Akane blinked a few times. "But won't it... hurt, or something? Vanquish you?" She gestured uncertainly. "Blast you to smithereens, or something? It feels powerful. I don't want to hurt you..." It wasn't like he was her friend or anything. In fact, he was downright weird. But, well, Akane in fact didn't want to hurt him.

And then he stuck that blue tongue of hers at her. Spoke in that annoying voice! Akane crossed her arms, her breasts shifting. "Ugh, really?" She rolled her eyes, although the corners of her lips did quirk, just a little. "Fine! But just so you know, you brought this on yourself."

Akane's half-amused, half-annoyed look vanished as she began to concentrate, building that power within her once more, focusing it. "You asked for this..." She murmured, bringing her arm up, steadying it as it began to glow...

"Hahhh!" Again, she gave a shout as the energy released, blasting towards Aoi with its signature musical chime. The violent retort of it stirred the strangely colored grass around her, made her silken red hair swirl about her bare shoulders. Her aim was fairly good, in fact, but the golden energy blast wasn't instantaneous, and she'd taken a bit of time to charge it up.

[User]
For only the fraction of the second in which the blast was moving toward Aoi, his smug grin became even more cocky as his eyebrows raised in mock amazement. And in that fraction of a second his body shifted, faster than the eye could follow, and before Akane could possibly have been aware of what had happened she felt a hot, slick sensation run across her left nipple. That mocking blue tongue had touched her directly, leaving a warm trail of saliva across her nub.

And another moment later a hand smacked Akane's rear with the crack of flesh striking flesh; yet more mockery by the impish patron.

Yet after all of this Aoi was standing off to her left, excitement and maybe even desire mixed with his smug expression. He parted his legs slightly, and between them his cock had become semi-stiff in anticipation. Whether or not the girl would notice, distracted and frustrated as she must be, was another matter.

"You'll need to be faster than that," Aoi laughed, "Like I said the amount of energy in you isn't optimal currently, but please, do try again. You're going to need to learn how to release your energy at a higher level, or else you're going to end up as some demon's plaything."

[Assistant]
Akane's eyes widened as Aoi seemed to blur, and then... "Ahhh!" She cried out softly as that wet hot tongue of hers slid across her left nipple, stimulating the little pink nub. Even the brief contact made her squirm, her lithe body writing, the shock of pleasure shooting through her. She could feel that wet heat linger, turning quickly to cool in the gentle breeze, making her breast tingle. Her delicate pink nipples grew stiff, standing out on her generous breasts.

As if that wasn't enough, he struck her rear. "Oh!" Akane gasped, giving a little hop, the rounded flesh of her backside quivering. An indignant look on her face, she reached back, rubbing the stinging flesh with one hand. She glared at Aoi, still rubbing her pert rear a moment, her bare breasts gently rising and falling as she angrily breathed in and out.

"You...!" Gritting her teeth, Akane raised her arm again. Her eyes widened as she saw his cock, growing ready... _focus, focus!_ Distracted as she was, it took Akane another moment to gather her power, but when she did, her fist glowed brighter. With another cry, she released the bolt at him the musical chime louder than before.

[User]
The next thing Akane was aware of were hands grasping her breasts. No, not just hands, but that blue tongue had snaked down from Aoi, pressing his body against hers from behind, and had coiled itself around one of her breasts. It squeezed and slide hot and slick against her pliant skin, contorting the supple orb as its tip made agonizingly slow circles around her nipple. Whilst this was occurring her other breast was cupped from beneath, lifted by one of Aoi's hands, and with his free hand he tugged and tweaked her the nipple of that breast, so that both nipples and the heavy orbs upon which they sat were all stimulated simultaneously.

And yet that was not all. Akane could feel Aoi's stiff shaft, now at full hardness, rub between her thighs. She felt the thick, mushroom head push and grind against her folds, stimulating the two of them without penetrating.

But in moments it was over, only slightly less fleeting than the previous tease, albeit more intense and damnably thorough, and so once again Aoi stood at a different place than before, this time behind, and smiled at her in mock politeness.

"Quickly now Akane," he called out, "I'm starting to get bored, so if you don't mind I'd really appreciate if you'd stop making yourself such an easy victim."

[Assistant]
The feeling of his strong tongue, hot and slick, encircling one of her sensitive breasts was a new sensation for Akane. She moaned as she felt it squeeze her supple flesh, her breast moulding under the press of his tongue, firm yet deliciously yielding. Even more, the slow circles the tip of his tongue made on her delicate pink nipple made her shiver and gasp, the sensitive bud hardening against his pressing tongue.

Akane cried out, arching her back, as she found both of her breasts cupped from beneath, lifted pleasurably, stimulating the sensitive underside curve. They rose impressively, heavy but firm, pleasure going through her at the pressure. She cried out again, louder than before, tossing her head back as both nipples were stimulated at once. She couldn't tell whether the teasing tugs on one, or the hot wet pressure on the other was more intense. She gasped and moaned, writhing against him, her delicate pink nubs almost pulsing with pleasure as he teased them with tongue and fingers alike.

The hardness between her legs... Akane gasped, her lithe form stiffening. And yet, as he rubbed, the tip of him gathered nectar from her folds, Akane's thighs trembling in response. Her rounded hips twisted appealing this way and that as her body was teased, above and below.

And then she was free. Akane panted, breasts rising and falling. Her head was lowered, just a little, silken red hair forming a curtain around her face.

"Bored? Bored?!?! I'll show you...!" Gasping, Akane spun, her hair swirling about her as she did so. This time, operating on instinct, she raised both hands, bringing them together. The resulting blast was larger, more powerful, the twin musical notes forming a pleasant harmony, a swirl of breeze and energy around her as she released the golden beam towards her taunting opponent.

[User]
For a moment afterward Akane saw or felt nothing. The cool breeze had grown still, and there was only silence in the grove of bronze trees.

But then, perhaps almost expected at his point, she felt another carnal touch. This time it started between her legs as something hot and slick ran across her her folds. To an extent a familiar feeling at this point, but now in a different place entirely.

Aoi's blue tongue ran across her eager folds again and again, flicking across and tracing around her stiff clit. One of his strong arms held her waist still lest she try and pull away, but the other reached up almost absent-mindedly to grab at one of her breasts, an attempt to add just that much more pleasure to the experience. Aoi's eyes looked up at her, watching her expression carefully, drinking in her reactions to every flick of his tongue.

Then, without warning, his long tongue took things a step further and pushed its way between her folds, entering her pussy. It snaked in and out, pushing deep inside of her, as deep as any cock could reach, tongue fucking her into submission. He was obliged to use both hands to steady her waist as his tongue worked her toward orgasm, her heavy breasts swaying and shifting as her beautiful form twisted with carnal pleasure.

[Assistant]
It was humiliating! Every time she tried to blast him, he evaded it, and then touched her. And yet, she couldn't help herself from trying again. Even as Aoi vanished from her sight, Akane knew she'd made a mistake. Her eyes widened, lithe body tensing, knowing on some level what was about to happen to her.

"Ahhh!" Akane cried out, her voice grown breathy, as his tongue brushed her folds, sending a sudden shock of pleasure through her nubile form, her face contorting with pleasure. Desperately, she tried to pull away, to resist, but she felt his arm snake around her slender waist. A moan escaped her parted lips as his tongue ran over her clit, making her silken thighs tremble. Suddenly, she found she lacked the strength to pull away, her struggles just making her writhe gently in his grip. She moaned again as his hand found one of her breasts, squeezing the sensitive flesh.

_I... should resist. Make him stop. Blast him._ Akane raised her hands, only to clutch at Aoi, her whole body quivering. Her thighs parted, just a little moans growing louder as his tongue stroked her slit again and again, gasping every time he touched her clit. Her lips were parted, eyes half-lidded as he watched her face. Flushing, she looked away, biting her lip, but couldn't stop displaying pleasure, couldn't stop her rising cries.

"Ohhh..." Her moan was almost a whimper as Aoi's tongue pressed into her channel. "That's... hmmm... don't..." Her voice gave way to a wordless moan, louder than before, as his tongue worked her relentlessly, rubbing her from the inside. Her hips began to rock, then thrash, shaking helplessly, her generous breasts swaying with the motion of her body, helpless against the pleasure.

And then, with a desperate cry, Akane threw her head back, her face contorting as she screamed her pleasure. Her inner walls seemed to pulse with sensation, wave after wave of sensation washing through her voluptuous form, delectable flesh quivering. She shook, helpless in his arms, clutching desperately at him, trembling for a long time as her climax gradually subsided. Helpless as she was, long legs still shaking, she could only stand with his support, her sensual body malleable to his will.

[User]
Aoi left a trail of kisses up from her folds to her breasts, lips teasing her nipple just a little more after the fact. He might have said something, but it was indistinct given Akane's overwhelmed mind, and moments later she felt her body being spun around. One of the bronze trees offered her a place to set her hands or to rest her body against, and Aoi's commanding hands grabbed hold of her hips in order to angle her to just the right position.

Akane felt the thick head of his stiffness once again between her thighs, rubbing and grinding against her slick folds, collecting her nectar upon his cock. Another tweak of her nipple followed, just a half second before she felt that mushroom shaped head push its way inside of her.

Aoi drew a sharp breath, stunned by how tightly she gripped his cock. He pushed deeper and deeper into her, splitting her walls apart until he pushed his hard shaft as far as it would go. There he remained for a moment, pressing his lips to her neck and hands into her heavy breasts, simply enjoying the sensation of filling her.

But this was only momentary, of course, and it was not long before he pulled his hips back, sliding his cock almost to the point of leaving her insides entirely, and then suddenly slamming his hips forward and releasing a loud smack of flesh against flesh. He began to pick up a steady rhythm, moving his hips back and forth, his shaft pushing inside of her and retreating over and over again as his hands continued to toy with her sensitive breasts.

[Assistant]
Still trembling from the aftershocks of her climax, Akane could only gasp softly as Aoi's lips trailed a path across her skin, from slick folds to her sensitive nipple. As good as her body felt, even this little bit of stimulation was making her react, want more. She gasped again, surprise this time, as she felt the world spin, suddenly found herself against one of those strange trees. And finally, a feathery sigh as Aoi gripped her curving hips, his will impossible to resist; Akane found herself rolling her hips herself, just a little, unconsciously presenting herself to him.

It had been a strange day, and she was in an even stranger place now. But on some level, Akane knew it was all real. Knew it was a real hand, gripping her breast, teasing her delicate nipple so that she moaned. Knew it was a real cock rubbing at her slit, making her bite her lip and tremble helplessly. Teasing apart her folds. A real cock thrusting into her tight channel.

"Ahhh!" Akane's rising moan became a cry as Aoi's shaft pressed relentlessly into her, filling her up. Her whole sensual body quivered, the sensation overwhelming her senses, a white flash of pleasure before her eyes. She shivered again as he slowly withdrew, only to cry out as he thrust forward powerfully, his hips colliding with hers, making her soft flesh shake. Any thought of resisting, of doing anything but yielding to his lust vanished every time he thrust into her. And then he began to move. She hadn't wanted for him to fuck her, but now he was.

And it felt so good. Every time he thrust into her, Akane couldn't help but respond, her lips staying parted, her lovely voice a near symphony of pleasured gasps and moans, the look of pleasure on her face obvious. But soon, she couldn't help but respond more. Her feminine hips began to roll appealingly, pushing back against him, her voice rising as his cock went deeper inside her tight passage, squeezing him. She pressed her torso into his hands, moaning wantonly at the pleasure in her breasts as he squeezed them again and again.

"Mmm, ahhh, Aoi... you're... ahhh!" She threw her head back, red hair spilling down her back. Her inner walls seemed to pulse around his shaft, her whole body quivering, a keening wail of pleasure escaping her lips. It was clear that the sensitive young woman had just climaxed from his steadily thrusting shaft, and by the way she continued to writhe, she seemed likely to do it again.

[User]
Akane's orgasmic cry and the sensation of her inner walls pulsing around his shaft drove the impish figure onward, spurred onward by the sense of dominance achieved by bringing such a sensitive figure to such a powerful orgasm so quickly. He pulled himself out of Akane, his thick shaft leaving her slick folds, and quickly spun her around so that she was facing him. Like that, he pushed her back against the bronze tree and thrust himself into her again, his lips meeting hers to cut off the lewd moan which his reentry elicited. His hands held her hips steady as he continued to thrust into her now from this new angle, her hot walls squeezing around him as his blue tongue danced with hers.

Her body heat seemed to radiate out from her figure to his as he pressed himself against her, Akane's heavy breasts being crushed between their chests. He could feel her nipples, stiff as they were, rubbing against him as he pushed himself against her body, and with his hands still holding her hips steady he moved this thumb to tease her clit as he pushed into her again and again. He could feel the wanton woman getting closer again as he worked her toward her peak once more, her moans muffled by his lips.

Aoi himself was approaching climax at the same time, and as he grew closer and closer he seemed to grow more and more desperate, losing himself in the ecstasy of carnal sensation. Her muffled moans, her feminine scent mixed with the smell of sex, the heat of her hot body against his, every jerk and twist of her figure and every squeeze of her inner walls urged him toward that blissful finality. His hand left her hips to wrap his fingers in her scarlet, silken hair as he pushed himself past the point of climax, his shaft burying itself as deep as he could plunge it into her pulsing, heavenly walls.

As his mind went blank with white hot pleasure, he felt the thick, sticky ropes of his seed leave his cock, each spurt sending a shiver down his back as he filled Akane's hot insides. He was panting, he realized; at some point he had released her lips from his, though a slight trail of saliva between them told of the recent nature of this breaking off of the kiss. She was panting too, he could feel, for his body was still against hers, both glistening with sweat.

[Assistant]
A brief moment of emptiness as Aoi withdrew. Akane found herself spinning, pressed up against the tree. And then the wonderful feeling of being filled with his hardness once more.

Her fresh cry of pleasure was stopped, or at least muffled, by his lips. Akane moaned wantonly into the kiss, her eyes squeezed tightly shut. She could feel him moving inside her, rubbing her tight inner walls. The different angle allowed him to touch different spots inside her, sending wonderful new pleasures through her nubile form, and she found herself rocking helplessly against him.

It was pure sex. Their bodies were entwined, above and below. Her firm breasts pressed against the solidness of his chest, a comfortable pleasure, a contrast to the primal rutting as he buried his length in her again and against. Her tongue entwined with his, every breath a sound of ecstasy. His hands gripping her hips let him thrust deeply inside her, and before long she felt that peak rising once more.

She wasn't sure if she came first, or he did, or at the same time. All Akane knew was that sudden rush of heat inside her, his cock twitching, his seed filling her up. Akane cried out. arching her back, pressing against his hands as they clutched her hair. Her inner walls seemed to milk his shaft, squeezing him, urging every last drop of his seed into her, her whole body trembling with every fresh twitch.

Finally, it was over. "Aoi..." Akane murmured, looking up at him, her eyes wide. After a few moments, she blinked. "Wait... what does this have to do with training?" She squirmed indignantly, then moaned as her shifting caused one last pleasurable twitch, deep inside her.

[User]
Aoi smiled, his semi-flaccid cock stiffening again as his eyes drank in Akane's nubile body. In dream, he could enjoy her eternally, perhaps... but no, there was other fun to be had. Important fun.

"Your abilities are empowered by pleasure," the impish patron explained, "And so this bit of fun, and any other fun you might have, will make you stronger as a result. In order to be an effective fighter against demons, an powerful magical girl, you will need to learn to embrace pleasure. After all, you clearly enjoy the erotic..."

"But that's enough for now." Aoi said suddenly, his face turning somewhat serious, or at least more serious than it had been, "I will send you back to the waking world, but know that I will be watching over you very intimately. You will soon have to use your abilities in the waking world, so if you were wise you would do what you can to empower them, if you catch my meaning."

And with that, Akane found her body flying up through the pastel colored clouds, and back into her bed in the waking world with a start.


[User]
Therrok had been stalking the caravan for several days now, monitoring their ability and their potential. As it was, they were dumb, fur-less creatures with pitiful weapons. They traveled on horseback, pulling a cage on wheels behind them. It contained several non-furred creatures too, all of who looked miserable. There was one, though, who had caught his eye. There was a glint of fear in her eyes, they looked more alive than the dead, dull look of the others. And that was why he had been following them, really. It was more than a quick grab and attack of the unknown, it was to take something that they had.

He gripped his spear and inched closer. They were setting up camp for the night, which consisted of tying the horses up, putting up a tent and starting a fire. By the time it fell dark, they were asleep, leaving their cargo unsupervised. It was then he would strike, and so he settled in to watch, calculating the risks. It seemed likely that the live cargo would be the ones who would raise the alarm and scream, and he expected his target to run. That was okay. He could catch up with her quickly... it wouldn't be too long before she stumbled upon something terrifying. Slowly, he edged from around his lookout point, sneaking closer to the group. There was little movement from inside of the cage, but he knew as soon as he started working at locks, it would rock, and then he would be against the clock.

Carefully, he ran his paw over the wooden bars. A thick metal lock kept the door sealed, and he glanced up at the fleshy cargo inside. It was a group of six, a mixture of genders, and they all smelt of fear, even asleep. They appeared asleep, anyway.

[Assistant]
The nights in the jungle were miserably cold, with herself and the others huddled into each other to try and preserve what little heat there was to offer. Kaisa shifted, unable to get comfortable no matter what she did it seemed. Perhaps it was the lack of anything other than a few rough furs to pad the wood of the wagon, or the metal bars that boxed them in, or perhaps it was the heavy heart she carried inside herself, the knowledge that her people were now scattered to the winds, most of them caught as slaves and those not hidden in ancient places but with no one to protect them.

Her father had been so sure that they were safe, far from the ones who wanted to use their magic for selfish gains, confident in their warriors. He had promised her that she would never need fear her power being used for ill. But then iron men had come in the night, slaughtering the warriors who stood against them.

In the chaos she had become separated from her father, and her distinctive red hair had betrayed her to the men who worked for the greedy king who her father had refused her hand to. Kaisa had focused on using her magic to protect the children, unprepared for the iron laced whip that closed around her and muted her power long enough for them to haul her screaming and kicking. Gold, silver, any of those metals, those that came lovingly from the earth and sang with resonance would not have hampered her so, but this was cold iron, forged in blood and pain, and when they had closed the collar made of it about her neck she had fainted from the sucking pull of it.

Now, days later she was able to move at least, to eat what little they gave them, to try and sooth the others in the wagon with her and think of ways to escape. If her father was free he would be looking for her and the others, and the princess had to pray he was out there, strong and fearless as she had always known him to be in their wanderings. No one sang to the earth as he did, he was the voice of their people, of their hearts.

A noise registered, something at the wagon's entrance and it wasn't time for a meal nor for them to be allowed to relieve themselves. The redhead slowly raised her head, eyes trying to focus in the darkness as the collar muted her abilities in far too many ways. Her moving had the others stirring to life, though all of them had the sharp hearing of their people. Edvar and Anton were closest to the entrance, and she behind them, with Gregor beside her, little Maret tucked into her side and Paavo and Jelena behind her. They were silent though, their focus keyed on the young woman who was the daughter of their King.

[User]
_Shit._ They were stirring.

Therrok paused, hesitating just briefly. In the light of the fire they'd be able to see his shape, he knew that, but the immediate lack of scream gave him enough time to reach up to the lock. He placed the tip of his spear at the base, the keyhole small. It was a strong, yet delicate lock, something he had never seen before. Usually such metals and designs were crude. With a further glance inside, he gripped the lock in his paw and tugged, shaking the caravan, the bars disturbing. He tugged again, and a third time, and he grunted. Fuck, it just wasn't moving.

[Assistant]
The looming figure just beyond the cage of the cart was clearly not human, not with the way that the dying firelight gleamed off fur rather than skin, not with the shape of his shoulders and head, clearly something more animal in nature. Kaisa blinked, trying to clear her vision enough to clearly see what was attempting to break the lock on the wagon that kept them captive. She would have never thought to attempt to pick a lock with a spear, but perhaps this creature was unaware of such things.

And then he tugged on the lock, making the whole of the wagon shake. Her breath caught as on the third one she went spilling against Gregor's torso, his hands bracing her. The princess shifted back, meaning to murmur a thanks to the male who had taught her how to ride a horse and handle a bow. It was then that the stranger beyond the bars shifted, the fire's light reaching far enough now to reveal him to be a feline similar to the great jungle cats. A prickle of unease crept up her spine, for the stories she had heard of such creatures painted them as deadly, savage beings who possessed a ravenous hunger; was he seeking dinner then?

Maret, having spied him, cried out in fear, the redhead moving to try and clamp her hand over the younger female's mouth before it could rise alarm with their captives. A singular feline they might be able to best and win free of, but if the humans were roused they would remain trapped, helpless.

It was, however, too late, for some of the shadowed figures of the human males around the fire were stirring, and Kaisa closed her eyes against the bitter resignation that she might very well live the rest of her life behind bars.

[User]
The scream cut through the air, through the silence, and he froze, hissing at the bodies inside. It hadn't been a surprise, but it was inconvenient noise. And, sure enough, from behind came the movement of those who had kept the humans inside captive.

So be it. With a few final, harsh tugs, it broke, though did not fall. And swiftly Therrok's attention turned to the now furious men who were arming themselves and shouting words in fear and anger. It would be best to abandon this ridiculous plan, but he couldn't. Surely those inside would have the brains to finish the job, push the door open and go. A chase was easier than a defense.

[Assistant]
Kaisa had been so sure that at the sharp scream that had filled the air the strange beast would flee, that was what most wild creatures would do. Retreat, evaluate and then perhaps pounce again. But instead this male stayed, hissing in a sound that was distinctly feminine. The cage gave another few, violent rattles from his raw strength even as voices of the humans filled the fire lit air and she found her breath catching, realizing he meant to free them. Well then, he could distract the vile warriors, and she could lead them on a merry chase while giving the others time to flee. Shifting Maret from her lap she scrambled toward the bars, Gregor moving with her to shove the gate open.

"Run, run the way we have come, as quick as you can."

"My Lady, please, come with us." The redhead gave a shake of her head in denial, knowing that it was she that was most of value to their captors. Her sacrifice could buy their freedom, and a princess ever served her people before herself. She kissed their cheeks quickly, and leapt from the caged wagon.

"Go, it's an order. I shall survive. The earth will sing for me here." Not giving them time to argue, Kaisa raced along the outside of the camp, ensuring her vivid hair caught in the torch light before plunging into the jungle. Hopefully they would believe her honeyed lie, for the metal around her neck ensured she could not access the power of the land. It made her normal swiftness nearly human in pace as she pushed her exhausted body hard. If her life could buy the others it would be worth it though. And mayhaps if she was in luck they would kill her rather than take her alive.

[User]
They did. They weren't stupid, after all. Not that he stuck around long enough to see them off, it was the redhead he wanted, and it was her who had ran first. Those who had taken the humans captive were shouting and pointing, at her, at him, the others having been forgotten about.

Therrok turned and gave chase to her, and in turn, the men gave chase to the pair of them.

Breaking into the jungle was easy, and he made for the trees, the humans struggling with the dense growth of the wildlife underneath. For a brief time, he thought they'd given up, until he smelt it. The harsh, thick smell of smoke and the shouting. He lingered, just briefly, and then he jumped to the ground. This was fast turning from a kidnapping, from a rescue mission, into something else entirely. Where had she gone? They didn't care that much for her if they were willing to risk her life to get to him.

Where was she? He cried, a sharp yelping call. Seeking her, aware he was giving his own location out.

[Assistant]
Through the thick foliage she struggled, darting around trees with as much speed as her weakening body could provide. Curse the metal that cut her off, curse the humans who thought of her people, and she herself as mere things. Fury was the lash that she used in that moment to drive herself forward mercilessly into the darkness, hearing the jungle alive around her. For a time that was the only sound, and Kaisa allowed herself a moment of hope that she might have eluded them.

Until she caught the scent of smoke, the burning fire, and heard the bray of hunting dogs that would track her scent through the trees. Stumbling in fear she braced herself against a tree and turned her attention toward finding water. It would muddy her scent. A slim chance, but all she had.

She had managed to locate a stream when a feline call made her heart skip a beat, bringing her back in mind of the creature that had freed them. Was the beast even now hunting her, trying to find her? To what end? Kaisa abruptly faced a choice, to attract his attention and likely the humans as well and pray he meant her no harm, or to try and escape on her own. Considering the way the world was turning to smears of darkness in her sight she knew it was unlikely she had it in her to last much longer.

Throwing back her head she let out a sound that echoed back the call he had yowled, mimicking it as best she could. One moment was all she allowed herself before splashing through the stream, heading downstream and praying it was the right direction. The current grow strong swiftly, up around her waist as it neared a river; her thought of attempting to swim it was lost when an arrow sank into her right shoulder and drew a scream of pain.

"She's here! Swiftly..." Aware of her blood spilling down her chest, the princess lifted a hand, bracing it against where the arrow had punched through her torso just beneath her collar bone. The river was so close. Surrendering herself to fate the redhead sank down into the water, letting her knees give out as the current swept her into the river, away from the humans who sought to capture her. Consciousness faded from her body, eyes rolling back into her head as limp she was carried by the current.

[User]
Trees became rocks that became ground as he leapt and ran with skill to the location the sound came from. This was his advantage. This was his ground, his territory, and he was built for traversing it with speed and grace that the invaders lacked. She was an easy find, blood had a tang even when it was mixed with flowing water. The cry had been sheer luck, if she'd fallen silent she would've drifted out into the river and lost her life to something with teeth. Whether the cry had been for him or for the furless ones he didn't know, but it didn't matter, because now he had her.

Taking her back to his own village was a risk. But he didn't have the ability to soothe her wound alone, nor was there any safe shelter around. The risk, it seemed, would be one he'd have to play. And he was approached with concern by the guards. The village healer also discussed her concern, but it was dismissed. Therrok was his own man, stubborn and pipped to be leader of the military or even the tribe once he had secured a mate and shifted from the required serving years as hunter.

He bundled up his prize in a makeshift bed in his lodge after she had been bandaged with firm leaves and a curious paste. It was no more than a thick straw hut with bundles of leather and straw as a bed, soft fur as a blanket. Fire dug into a pit and surrounded by stones heat the place and provided some vague sense of light.

[Assistant]
The world came back slowly to Kaisa, her awareness of it at first hopeful that the whole of the forced journey from her homeland, the race for her life through the jungle had been nothing but a horrible dream. Yet as her eyes fluttered upon, beholding a ceiling made with straw hatch, the fire burning with a scent of wood she knew not, the princess had to accept that she was indeed still far from home. Yet she lay upon a bed, soft and supportive with a thick fur to warm her further. Shifting slowly the redhead winced to realize the arrow's path through her shoulder paining her even yet. Thick leaves and a salve she could not identify covered the wound, though she could tell it was for healing at least.

Grey eyes moved slowly over the building she was in, nothing of the iron king's men present, nor her own people. For the first time since she had entered the jungle she felt some measure of warmth, though she would always yearn for the wide open plains of her people. A hand rose, finding the detested collar still locked around her throat, muting her powers, muting her very soul. It was akin to a poison, yet she was powerless to remove it, even as it welted her neck with it's cold embrace.

"Hello?" Tentatively she spoke, her voice hoarse from disuse. The memories of the night before---or had she slept longer than the night's passage---tugged at her thoughts, the male that was more beast than human who had broken the cage and released them. He was wild, one of the beastkin the tales spoke of no doubt but if he had rescued her she was grateful, having been certain the tumble into the river was the end of her life. Better death than being the iron king's caged song bird though. The tatters of her dress remained, clinging yet to her lushly curved figure as Kaisa pushed herself upward, keeping the fur hugged against her body for the warmth it provided.

[User]
"Yes." Therrok's people were on the primitive scale. The females spoke more of the Old Tongue than the males, as the males had less interest in learning. His own capabilities were slightly higher than that of other males in the village, but still nowhere near as eloquent as a human. Greetings were not spoken, they were actioned. And so, he had no idea how else to greet her other than such a simple term.

As she stirred, he stirred, rising from the floor to stand and climb onto his bed.

[Assistant]
A deep voice, like a rumble of thunder before the storm, came in reply to her own tentative greeting. She was not prepared when the owner of the voice was revealed to be a massive jaguar with some similarities to the shape of a man, nor when the creature climbed onto the bed to join her. Frantically Kaisa scrambled backward out of instinct, her people belonged on wide open plains and the hunting cats there were vicious creatures unless tamed.

Yet even as her heart pounded, laying naked save for bandages around her wounds and the tattered dress that hinted at her body on the bed of furs, memory stirred of the night before, or perhaps days before at this point. Someone, something had helped them escape, and while the daylight that streamed in through the windows and door illuminated him far better than the night had the being who had rescued her and those captured with her it was enough for the redhead to frown, to hesitate and wonder for a moment if it was not indeed the same male that had liberated her. He came closer, with sharp, vivid eyes that seemed to miss nothing and a thick musk that teased her senses even as she inhaled it.

Something about it calmed her, as he neared her, and the redhead bit her lower lip before reaching out with a trembling hand to touch the shoulder nearest her firm with muscle, but soft as well with the thick, rich fur. "You... you saved me, and the others." Wonder shimmered in her wide eyes, throat working as she gave a shy, uncertain smile, "Thank you, for daring to do that."

Her hand retreated, going to her collar with a naked plea in her eyes, "Can you remove this?"

[User]
Her touch was gentle, her hand small compared to his paw and even the females of his species. The thanks he was unsure what to do with, but the practical request, the collar, he knew. He reached out and rested a finger upon it, and he snarled. It felt vile, tainted, disgusting in nature. It was no wonder she wanted it gone.

"Yes. No. Unsure." It felt thick, but it was close to tender flesh. Had it been in another place, it would've been easier to remove. One wrong slip and it would mean death. He pulled back for a moment, and glanced towards the door of his lodgings. "Will need light, can do this at the Great Rock. Light shines upon it. This is a great risk to you and you need to be aware. Are you aware? This could send you to the great fields of Itzamna."

[Assistant]
Hope fluttered in her breast when the giant feline said yes, but it guttered at the word no, fear that she would forever be trapped, muted by it. Unsure, unsure she could work with. She held still, trusting him even though his snarl had made her tremble. But his thick finger was exploring the bounds of the collar, testing it's strength and no doubt understanding that she had not been able to remove it herself. Still, it was reassuring to Kaisa that he did not simply rip at it the way an animal might with brute strength, he showed intelligence and that might be a reason to hope for something more.

He withdrew, leaving the redhead to glance at him curiously only to follow his gaze to the door through which sunlight spilled. She would gladly go out into the day if it meant a chance to see nature's beauty without the fear of bars around her. Yet her unlikely savior was stressing the risk this posed.

For a moment she hesitated, reaching a hand up to touch the awful iron band before giving a nod. Her bright eyes were resolute as she pushed away the furs that had covered her, swinging her legs off the bed and pushing to stand with aching slowness. "I would rather risk death than remain a moment more with this horrid thing choking my life, my soul from me." Her words held the tint of her impotent fury after days held in a cage, and that rage was what gave her the strength to stand now, though she managed only perhaps three steps toward the door before her legs began to give out on her.

She reached for him then, gasping in shock as the world spun before her eyes---saved she had been, and healed to a degree but it would take time, and the removal of the hated collar to fully restore her to what she had been before.

[User]
Her sheer determination... this soft being was like one of their own. Soft, furless creatures usually were not so determined to move after sustaining injury, yet here she was. Moving. There was a risk that leading her to the Great Rock would attract those that had held her captive, and also that the journey truly would send her to Itzamna and his fields, but...

There was something in her eyes. Therrok reached for her, arm bracing her and keeping her held. "Palta's mixtures need time. Help fix. This journey you may have to ride. Can you hold tight?"

[Assistant]
The arm that braced her, that kept her from swooning to the floor had her gaze rising, filled with pain not only from her injuries but also the cold metal that circled her neck and cut her off from the world. From her magic. Kaisa leaned into him, exhaling heavily accepting that she would need help whether she wished it or not. She could not heal properly until the cursed thing was removed from her and so she gave a nod of agreement.

"Yes, I can. I am Kaisa, might I know my hero's name? I... I am sorry if what I ask places you at risk as well." Her fingertips tugged at the loathsome thing around her throat. "This stifles my magic, my soul. It hurts, just as much as the wound you tended."

[User]
"Therrok. I am a warrior. This is no danger for me, only you with wounds." It was true, he could handle anything her captors, should they still be out there, could throw at him. But somebody already weak and recovering from wounds stood little chance. It would be hard, but that determination in her eyes, in her voice. She wanted to be as free as anyone else.

Magic, though... Palta would want to speak to her when she was well. There was a strong belief in such things, though nobody in the camp knew how to call upon the Ancient Spirits. This one, Kaisa, perhaps she could teach her power. Therrok was curious, and this was why he was destined to lead. He was more than a simple warrior, a simple hunter. "I need you to climb onto my back."

[Assistant]
"Therrock." Kaisa repeated his name softly, rolling it on her lips before giving a weak smile at the mention of danger due to her wounds. "I can't heal, not properly with this on me..." Her fingers dug around the collar, loathing the metal that cut her off from the world around her. To have it removed was worth any risk and so the redhead nodded with understanding for the risk and then obeyed the simple instructions, drawing closer to him in the tatters of her slave gown as he lowered his powerful body to make it easier for her to complete the task.

Carefully she climbed onto him, biting her lower lip against the sounds of pain that welled when it moved her aching body, tugging at her wounds but stubbornly she ignored it and wrapped herself as tight as she could into his warm soft fur. Nuzzling her face in against the fur the young maiden exhaled shakily. "I'm ready..." Or as ready as she could be for whatever journey he would take them on.