FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"Right, you ungrateful hungry bastards, soups on!" Shishuka calls from the crackling fire in the clearing to the others lounging nearby at the edge of the trees.

"I'm not ungrateful," Jupiter states as he steps up and accepts an offered bowl from Shishuka.

"It's a figure of speech, you fuzzy peach," Shishuka says with a good humored side glance as he pours another bowl.

"Ah. Right. Well. Thank you," The off balanced tabaxi replies as he moves to sit out of the way near the fire.

"It applies to me. Quick, servant man, hand me a portion of the delicious food I will not pay nor thank you for!" Kohaku demands with a snap of his fingers.

"Of course, my wayward lord," Shishuka says dryly, handing the mock impertinent noble another bowl.

Gnara lines up and wordlessly nods in thanks for the food, followed by a Stain, and then Teru. After a moment, it becomes apparent there is a missing person.

"What happened to Alyster?" Shishuka asks quizzically. "I know he doesn't usually root around for his dinner."

"I'm... not sure. He was around here a moment ago," Jupiter frowns, scratching the side of his head as they all look around. "I'll go find him."

Draughting his meal quickly, Jupiter hands his bowl to Teru as the big man holds out his hand, already ready for seconds. The astrologist can see where Alyster left his rucksack, but then where did he go to do? The answer to the question is a grey, fuzzy feeling. It's a bit strange, really, to have no honest clue. This bothers Jupiter.

"Gnara, do you know which way he went?" Jupiter queries.

The ranger looks up from carefully holding a spoon for his drakeling to tongue up soup. Roving his gaze over the ground, he quickly notices imprints in the grass leading into the loam.

"Thataway," He points with a claw, humming to himself. "... I think he said something about finding a stream?"

"Great, thanks."

"Come get me if you need help tracking him down. Shouldn't be too hard to follow tracks in this terrain."

"Will do."

Now that the path is pointed out, Jupiter strikes out into the dark forest. There's a fairly clear path made by the confidence of someone with boots to ward against sharp rocks and sticks, leading right to a creek where Alyster's clothes rest on the bank. But no Alyster is in sight. It's rapidly growing dark, so the inventor wouldn't have gone far, surely. No, he's not an idiot; he wouldn't just walk off. Jupiter's troubled thought is broken as he spies a strange essence in the air, the faintest glow he wouldn't have been able spot had he not spent years picking out white stars against the black canvas of space.

~

Alyster steps softly and carefully across the forest floor to avoid hurting his soft, pawed feet. He's following several glowing whisps. Enchanting and sapphire in hue, they swirl around him and ruffle his fur pleasantly. Having heard tales of such lights, both terrible and wonderful, the tabaxi feels inclined to test his luck and be led onward. After all, no one seemed to pay attention to him after camp was made, even outright ignoring him when he let them know he was going to find somewhere to bathe. They must be just tired. Therefore, he especially won't be missed... right? No, no, definitely not.

It occurs to Alyster he forgot his clothes. It would be rude to show up this way... thought it would be ruder to not answer such a summons. Yes, that's right! It's not long before he comes to a large cherry blossom tree. Despite not being in season, this one is shedding glowing petals thick and fast, creating a soft blanket across the ground. An outline of light appears in the tree and a hidden door swings out, revealing a tall woman of a distinctly vulpine appearance with nine large, fluffy tails.

Bearing a thick black coat with a grey underbelly, her hair is a streaked mixture of the two colors held tied behind her head. She's dressed not in unearthly silk or vibrant cloth, but a plain, clay stained shirt and trousers. She sighs, her hard amber eyes roving over his form.

"I see my brother found you. Very well, get inside," She says, standing aside to allow him entrance, but Alyster's thoughts lag behind and he doesn't move. "Quickly now! Lest our watchdog think you a meal."

Given an order, he quickly responds, and the door shuts behind him. Jupiter sees a light in the distance and rushes forward just to see its outline in the tree as the portal closes. Carefully, he pads closer, examining the tree. It's ancient and larger than any other one nearby, leafy limbs rising high into the sky and casting shadows even in the low light. Perplexed and concerned by the voice he heard on the wind, he digs his claws into the bark, trying to find the seam of the door but encountering none.

Every nerve stands on end as Jupiter's ears perk at the sudden sound of movement, not a twig but a whole branch cracking beneath the weight of something heavy. Whirling around with starry vibrance alighting his tattoos, he fires an arrow of light directly at the source, a heavy body moving out of the way of the shot, along with a second, before pouncing. Dashing aside and sliding as he narrowly dodges the attack, the deft spellslinger fires another bolt, catching the unseen foe and causing them to tumble into the underbrush.

Taking the advantage to flee, Jupiter buries his claws into the dirt and launches off at a dead sprint, rushing headlong through the forest. Pushing himself off trees and leaping over fallen logs, the attacker pursues him and catches up quickly. By a shaft of moonlight, Jupiter catches sight of their claws and turns, slashing at the seeking fingers with his nimcha. His attack connects and the fingers recoil, the two tumbling to the ground in a heap. Crawling rapidly backwards, Jupiter leaps up with additional tattoos continuing to come alive with lambent power, making a warding slash at his attacker.

The beast becomes visible in the starry light as they roll back and leap to their feet. Thick midnight fur would leave much unseen were it not so glossy, the form of a tall, broad shouldered humanoid taking shape with digitigrade legs, two large tails, and a wolven head with a jaw full of wicked teeth. Gemmed studs glint along two large, perked ears as the guardian stands and rushes forward.

Unfortunately for the hunter, this prey was beaten around docks and ship decks for years in sparring matches with his aunt, and this comes to burning fruition as Jupiter, forced to fight, comes thundering forward with an unexpected ferocity. Stopping and backpedaling rapidly, the wolven man just barely evades the onslaught of slashes followed up by blasts of starlight as his opponent's skin becomes gradually replaced with the stuff of creation, a constellation connecting in lines across his chest in the shape of a dragon.

One that suddenly roars, bellowing loudly across the countryside as a shaft of moonlight vaporizes the canopy and bares down on the guardian. He gasps as his fur vaporizes and flesh begins to sizzle under what he thought was only ever gentle light. Gnara, startled along with the rest of the party nearby at the camp, knows the true meaning of the roar as "The light shall burn!".

Entirely befuddled and now incredibly unsure of what he's dealing with, the beast decides to err on the side of caution and leaps backwards into the protection of darkness, turning and rapidly retreating. Full of adrenaline and therein induced fury, Jupiter angrily hisses breath as he draws back his arms once more and fires off arrows of light, one after the other into the blackness after it but hitting only trees. Hearing footsteps behind him, he spins around with a slash and nearly takes several of Gnara's fingers in the process. Running up behind him are the others.

"Jupiter, what's going on? What was that roar?" Gnara questions.

"Alyster's been taken! I think. I don't know by who or what, but they had magic, and it was no coincidence I was just attacked by some beast man!" Jupiter replies quickly

"Okay. Can you put this down first?" Gnara says, using the claw of his heavily scaled arm to push down the tip of the sword pointed at his nose.

"Right. Sorry."

Taking a deep, steadying breath, the light of the astrologer calms, leaving them mostly in the candescent light of Kohaku's torch.

"We need to go get him!" Stain affirms with a clenched fist.

"Ehhh, not to be that guy, but we're in the pitch black here," Shishuka says next to him. "And whatever took Alyster knows we'll be coming. That'd be certainly when I would set an ambush."

"Agreed," Kohaku nods. "We should move camp, set up watch, and come back tomorrow at first light. That's the wisest maneuver."

"No, I'm not going to leave him after seeing what just attacked me!" Jupiter pushes back.

"Yeah, exactly!" Stain seconds. "But. Uh. What did you see?"

"Some kind of giant wolf. It looked to be a cross between a lycanthrope and a kitsune."

"So... fey in nature."

"Definitely."

Stain practically vibrates on the spot with excitement. "I know exactly how to fight fey!"

"Alright, calm down the both of you. Jupe, you said Alyster was taken by someone with magic, right?" Shishuika asks.

"Yeah."

"Then clearly, they went through enough trouble that beastie boy there won't just chomp his head off. Can I say what will happen to him? No. But we're no good to him if we take unnecessary risk and die for it."

"He's right. My being with you in this land to begin with is partially a result of my rash actions. Let's not make hasty decisions," Kohaku states. "And perhaps stop talking at night, in the middle of the forest, with a torch as a beacon to everyone hiding out there with a ranged weapon."

"Fine," Jupiter sighs with a backward glance behind him. "By morning, then."

"Oh, alright," Stain grumbles.

Returning to camp, the group quickly collect their gear and fall back to a large, flat meadow with a wide view of the area around them. Sentry duty is run in shifts between each person throughout the night, morning arriving without incident. Upon rousing, the party shares a short meal of rations and then sets off without delay with Jupiter in the lead. As they enter the forest, all is clearly not as it seems when the sky darkens yet again and shadows sink across the forest. Testing it, they all back out and then enter again, coming to the collective consensus it is an illusion.

"A very powerful one at that for the area it covers," Stain remarks, peering closely at the shadows and the surrounding area. "But I'd be willing to bet we see all that it does. Since we're not hearing any animal calls or other details to make it more realistic, we're probably dealing with someone not too skilled: a more experienced caster wouldn't spring something so basic as soon as we entered their territory."

"Fair reasoning. Could this power belong to a demon?" Kohaku questions.

"Nope! This is fey magic; I can feel it. Literally!"

"I don't want to delay any more than we have," Jupiter asserts. "Is there anything we can do about this, Stain?"

"Not quickly, no."

"Then we'll push through," Kohaku states.

"Very well," Gnara nods.

"Oh, good. Magical darkness. What could go wrong..." Shishuka sighs, apologetically patting Teru's thigh after realizing he's made the already nervous tanuki even more on edge.

Unknown to them, the same whisps that led Alyster come to bob and weave in front of them as well, leading onward and then diverging. Soon enough, Jupiter is forced to admit he doesn't quite know where they are, having lost his bearings in the resulting chase, and they follow the whisps without much other choice.

"Trespassers," A voice calls in the distance. "If you value life, turn back!"

"Then give us our comrade back!" Stain yells back before being elbowed by a terse Kohaku.

"Don't give our position away!" The haragon says in a low, angry voice.

"We're following glowing orb things in the middle of a dark forest! We're already obvious!"

"Hush, Stain. Let's not make any more fuss than necessary," Shishuka chides him.

With a huff, the kobold goes silent and then suddenly pulls Shishuka forward as a shadow bolts past where he was a moment before.

"Run!" Jupiter yells. "Stay close together and don't let each other get picked off! I have an idea for when we get to the tree!"

As another strike comes, there's a hiss of steel on leather as Kohaku draws his shoddy katana collected from the demon they fought. Steel strikes on claw as he deflects the beast's attack from the front. An arrow of light from Jupiter on the left forces the beast to retreat, and another physical arrow shot from Gnara's bow dissuades an attack from the right. Another strike comes from above aimed for Teru, but the large tanuki evades with a puff of smoke by shifting into a dog. As the party comes to the tree, they find it flowering and petals draping the floor.

"Why have you come here?" The beast demands from within the shadows of the tree's floral foliage.

"I damn well already told you!" Stain snaps. "Our fellow was taken, and we want him back!"

"I know not of this. But that is of my master's concern, not mine. I guard this forest by oath during night fall," He returns before letting out a snarl and leaping from the treetops, landing in front of the group and sending petals scattering around in a large cloud. "And because of this star wielder, my master has ensured it is eternally twilight!"

The beast man points at Jupiter.

"So, you can imagine my irritation. Run or die! I! Care! NOT!"

As he launches forward, Kohaku draws his blade once more and meets his unnatural force. Blade is locked against fang with a grinding and stream of sparks before the warrior delivers a kick that sends the wolf sliding back.

"I hate magic. Get to the door," Kohaku orders as the wolf rears back. "I'll handle him."

"You cannot move me!" The guardian bellows as he makes to retreat into the shadows, only for a bolt of light to slam into his shoulder.

The damage quickly heals over, but a glow suffuses Kohaku's sword as Jupiter lays a hand on it. A trail of starry lines and dots connects the tip of the blade to the wolf, and as he rushes into the dark, it follows him. His next attack is easily dodged in comparison, Kohaku meeting him as he rushes at random for Stain. With a sudden flurry of slashes, Kohaku forces him to back away, allowing the others to reach the tree.

"Face me! Dispense with the cowardly skulking and fight with honor!" Kohaku commands.

"Don't speak to me of honor!" He barks, whirling around from mid retreat to strike back at Kohaku.

"Oh? You must not know of it," He grunts, barely parrying the attack. "The ignorant must be lectured! Allow me to educate you."

"Insolent child!"

With the sentinel's ire drawn, Jupiter focuses on the tree and finds his scratch marks from last night, attempting again but with still no success at opening the door. Quickly, Stain shoos him out of the way and the rest of them watch incredulously as the kobold's claws glow and he draws a line across one of Jupiter's marks, creating lines in the wood that spread until he easily heaves open a doorway.

"We use these all the time at the Cathedral," He clarifies. "Let's go!"

"What about Kohaku?" Teru asks with a concerned glance at the samurai.

"Fuck sakes -" Kohaku interrupts himself mid speech on the warrior's code to curse and is cut off as a claw catches his cheek, the warrior retaliating with a pommel strike that sends the wolf off balance and reeling back. "What part about 'I've got this' DID YOU NOT UNDERSTAND!?"

"I thought you meant that as a temporary thing!"

"I did not! Do not disgrace me with such low assumptions, tubby man!" Kohaku yells back, tripping the guardian as he attempts to lunge for his friends grouped up at the door.

Slashing rapidly, Kohaku forces the wolf to retreat or be cut to ribbons.

"Speaking of which, Teru, you might want to sit this one out," Shishuka pipes up.

"Too late for that!" Teru yelps anxiously with a glance at the wolf before pushing his mass through the thin doorway.

With him leading the way, the rest of them quickly pile in to protect the tanuki and Stain closes the entrace behind himself. As they do so, the illusion lifts, returning to a sunny, blue skyed day. With a dejected cry, the guardian backs away and falls to his knees, gazing at his claws in the sunlight with haunted eyes.

"Night has been lifted. You are no longer bound to protect this forest until it falls again, right?" Kohaku breathes, taking the pause to kneel with him and take a rest.

"You speak to me of honor. I was a great warrior before I faced defeat," He says. "But I cannot die to reclaim it. I was cursed as a beast for half a day forever more, an incredible shame! I swore fealty in hopes of it being lifted, and now I have failed in my sworn duty, ignoble or not. This failure adds time on to my sentence..."

The beast looks up sharply, his blue eyes smoldering. "My failures are too large in number to regard now. All I have left is you to blame_._ Know my name, Akizuki no Urufukin-shima, the man to send you to hell!"

Digging a paw into the loam, Akizuki launches forward with a wide slash so fast Kohaku is forced to outright block it. Claw bites into metal and the sword creeks dangerously as the two lock together.

"Where did this strength come from?" Kohaku gasps.

"I made the mistake of not drawing on this strength before, even if I lose myself in it. Where did this sword come from?" The wolf taunts. "It's disgraceful for a warrior."

"I invite you to find a better one on short notice when fighting demons."

With a snarl, the guardian holds his clawed fingers in answer before pivoting his weight to the side and throwing Kohaku off balance in the process as he heaves against the sword. Backstepping in timed to only be grazed by the follow up swipe, Kohaku strikes forward and slices a wound across Akizuki's arm. In his rage, he does not try to block or evade, only attack, leaving Kohaku parrying blow after blow with the blade, dealing wounds with each attack he can interject only for them to heal.

This cycle goes on for several long minutes, leaving Kohaku tired and exhausted. Akizuki lets out a sharp howl, slamming a palm to the earth and suffusing the area with darkness. Only this time it's like a thick, cloying cloud of ink. Kohaku sees Jupiter's mark on his sword, ever so faintly, but in trying to focus on it claws tear into his left thigh. Another attack comes head on, then left, right, above, randomly from all directions so fast he can't follow the line in time for each attack. It becomes apparent Akizuki is playing with him when he survives the first strike with a flesh wound, the next several creating similar lacerations.

Realizing he cannot rely on the trick any longer, Kohaku drops the unfamiliar blade and draws his wakizashi. Focusing, he listens for ripples in the air and earth. As the next strike comes, he shifts and reflects the seeking nails, sparks flying of the screaming metal as a second, third, fourth strike are perfectly parried. In his haste, Akizuki left himself open for a moment, and upon sensing his location, Kohaku brings the weapon striking down into flesh.

~

Stain runs through the golem's legs as it brings its fists swinging down in an attempt to crush him, leaving an opening for Gnara to leap onto its back. With a yell of exertion, he plunges his scaled arm into the fiery core exposed by Jupiter's projectiles and tears it free. Tossing it to the ground, Gnara heaves down on one of the construct's shoulders as he leaps off, bringing it crashing down on top of the device. The air suddenly heats up and the four dive to the floor as the earthen device suddenly lights on fire. The conflageration is so great its stone is physically burning, filling the air with a foul smell. Another magical door opens, and they all rush through into an open chamber composed of twisting roots with blessedly clean air, coughing and gasping. Of course, the door shuts behind them.

"Well! I can't say I've had so many guests at one time before!" A voice calls out, silken and pleasant.

A kitsune steps out behind a root, small orbs filling the room to bring some light to its darkness.

"Apologies for putting you all in the cellar. But then again, you did come through my back door," The foxy man tuts with a clawed finger. "Naughty, naughty."

With snow white fur and purple eyes, he's slim and wears a gorgeous blue kimono, shimmering with the light upon its surface. As the light plays off it, it seems like the silk itself is moving as beasts of myth dance across the cloth. His hair is short and combed back, a few locks falling over his eyes in a charismatic way. Behind him sways nine large tails that float seemingly of their own accord.

"What is this place?" Jupiter questions warily.

"I just told you it was the cellar, so I assume you mean in general. It is my abode, of course! Well, technically we're in its astral projection on the spiritual plane, but details details."

"Was that golem yours?"

"Oh..." He hums, putting a finger to his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm. In a way, I suppose it was? But no, not really. Though my sister will be awfully annoyed with you, I think."

"We're looking for our companion, a tabaxi by the name of Alyster," Stain pipes up. "And we would like him back."

"Oh, yes, that adorable bundle of fur. I am still thoroughly enjoying him. Come back in a few weeks or so and I shall return him to you in peak condition."

"Come again?" Gnara barks, visibly outraged.

"I take it you're being rhetorical. It was as I said," The kitsune waves him off. "Alyster is naïve, wholesome, and endearingly loving. It's refreshing and I wish to enjoy him. What's hard to understand?"

"He's a person with rights," Jupiter snaps. "You can't just hold him.

"Hey now, don't be rude. He is here of his own volition and the poor man is rather stressed out as is! Does he not deserve a rest? Besides, you are the ones broke the heart of my poor watchman, forcibly entered my home, and destroyed my sister's golem she so lovingly crafted. If anything, I am being quite civil and forgiving!" The kitsune huffs and folds his arms. "You have not even introduced yourselves."

"I think what they're trying to say," Teru mumbles hesitantly. "They are mortals. And your... sudden intrusion into their lives is entirely out of their control. Does this not seem unfair?"

The kitsune looks Teru up and down before guffawing, "Wha-? HAH! Being lectured by a tanuki about such affairs? Ohhh, heh-heh! That alone has made this entire meeting worth it!"

"Look, we want Alyster back, fox man!" Stain shouts.

"Oh, fine, I'll humor you. What do I get in return?"

"I don't make your insides outsides!"

"Really now?" The magician croons, suddenly appearing by Stain and leaning on the kobold.

With a disgruntled snort, he throws a swing at the kitsune's chest but his hand travels clear through their torso, contacting with nothing but air. But the weight on his head feels real.

"Goddamitt! What's with you and illusions?"

"It's my 'shtick' if you will."

"Because you can't do anything in a fair fight?"

"If I say yes, will that soothe your ego?"

"No, it'll just piss me off more!"

"Honesty: I can appreciate that."

"Alright," Jupiter sighs, "What do you want? We don't have weeks of spare time, unfortunately."

"Hmm. Now there's the question. I'm bored, quite simply put," The kitsune smiles. "Can you entertain me more in one night than Alyster can for several weeks"

"This would be carnal in nature, I presume?" Jupiter asks.

"It doesn't have to be... but it is preferred."

"I know quite a bit on what to do with a rope."

"Oh, been there, done that, sailor. But you on the other hand," He purrs, shifting to Gnara and touching the scaled arm hidden beneath his shoulder cloak. "You're quite interesting indeed. Tell me, do the scales grow more downward?"

"How much are you willing to give to know?" The steadfast ranger frowns, crossing his arms.

"Turning the tables, are we? It's clear you want your friend back. If I do so, will you give me anything I name?"

"For this day and night, excluding anything that would be a danger to my health, sanity, or..." He trails off, critically gazing at the crafty kitsune. "Or my ability to discern fact from fiction, I'll do whatever you ask."

"Just one night?"

"Take it or leave it."

"Fine, fine, you gruff boar. What is your name, warrior?"

"Gnara."

"Just Gnara?"

"For the purposes of this encounter, yes. Just Gnara."

"Heh. Very well. Then just call me Snow. As for the rest of you..." The kitsune says, cocking his head at the other three. "I like a bit more fur than you have sailor -"

"Suit yourself," The astrologists rolls his eyes.

"I doubt I could even feel anything from the kobold, and..."

"What is it?" Shishuka grumbles, putting his hands on his hips. "Go on, out with it. Tell me how much a three-foot-tall fish is off putting."

"Good, you already get the idea then!" Snow claps as he takes Gnara by the arm. "Entertain my staff in the meantime, would you?"

"What? That wasn't a part of the deal," Gnara growls.

"Oh, relax," Snow pouts. "They'll be fine. Besides, I think Alyster would like to see you."

"Don't worry about is," Jupiter nods. "Go make sure he's alright."

"Fine," Gnara sighs, suddenly vanishing along with Snow from the chamber.

"He said staff? What staff?" Stain scoffs, gesturing at the empty room. "There's no one here!"

As if on cue, the floor shifts, and Jupiter let's out an annoyed sigh of, "Of course..."

"What the - OH SHIT!" Shishuka cries as the ground beneath their feet collapses and the three plummet into blackness, rapidly shifting through layers of air dry, humid, hot, cold, and many things inbetween until light begins to form below them.

Falling into a pool of blue, glowing fluid, Jupiter recovers enough to land with his legs facing downwards and sinking up to his shoulders in thick, viscous goo. Stain and Shishuka land on their backs, momentarily floating before they begin to sink and realize with horror it's too thick to swim through.

"Jupe, Jupe!" Shishuka yells. "You might not drown in this, but we will!"

"I see that," Jupiter remarks, heaving himself forward through the sludge with incredible effort. "What is this damn stuff?"

"Wish I could tell you," Stain sulks as Jupiter makes it over to the two and they latch onto his shoulders. "I haven't been of any use today."

"I'm certain you'll get more than ample opportunity by the time we get out of here," Jupiter muses as he shuffles towards the edge of the pool.

"I'm about ready to stab the next person we meet," Shishuka grumbles.

"Uh. Jupe. Where's Teru?" Stain says suddenly.

"I..." He replies, gazing around the chamber. "Don't know. I'm guessing he found a corner to hide in."

"Teru, you in here big guy?" Shishuka calls out, receiving no answer.

Getting the two the edge of the pool where they can crawl to safety, Jupiter is unable to lift himself out of the fluid even with the help of Shishuka and Stain. The stone walls of the chamber are pierced by roots and branch off into multiple tunnels, leaving many pathways to explore.

"Go on ahead and try to help Gnara if you can," Jupiter urges them. "I don't know what else to assume other than Snow just tried to kill us, and he might be in trouble."

"Are you sure? You look to be very stuck."

"I'll figure something out."

"I don't like it, but fine," Stain grouches, waving for Shishuka to follow him. "We'll come back for you as soon as we can."

"I'm certainly not going anywhere fast," Jupiter chuckles self depreciatingly, murmuring to himself after they leave, "Good grief. Alright, what have I got in this head of mine for this absolute mess?"

~

The two gasping for breath, Kohaku clumsily slaps aside Akizuki's slow strike and makes a swipe with his wakizashi. Having already felt the blade sink into his chest once, the wolf backs out of the range of the short blade before running forward and ramming his shoulder into Kohaku. Stumbling back, Kohaku makes to dart forward and stab at the guardian. Grabbing the blade, Akizuki roughly yanks it from the haragon's loosening grip and tosses it aside, earning a roundhouse of surprising force to his abdomen. Staggering, the larger man grabs Kohaku's wrist with his other hand before tripping on a rock.

The two fall to the ground like sacks of potatoes, Kohaku laying against the prone guardian's chest as the two exhausted warriors gasp for breath.

"J-just a moment," Kohaku breathes, holding up his finger.

The wolf nods weakly in agreement and the two slump for the time being.

~

Snow smirks as he lets his kimono drop to the floor around his delicate paws. "I see you have a great deal more muscle than Alyster. I'd like to put it to use."

Gnara has stripped by now and stands like a display piece for the staring kitsune, his drakeling carried off to be cared for elsewhere by a servant and leaving the two alone with a sleeping Alyster. The room has a polished, seamless wood floor covered by animal furs. The space in the center is dominated by a plush pile of pillows where Alyster rests covered with a blanket, dead to the world even after he was given a shake by the ranger.

"What can I do for you, in that case?" Gnara sighs, putting on the barest minimum of a sultry smile.

"Hmm..." Snow hums to himself, making a show of thinking.

Stepping up to the larger leonine, he puts a hand to his soft chest and stops for a moment, gradually pressing closer until his nose is nuzzling against it. By now Gnara can tell Snow always has something to say or do every moment of every minute, but as of right now he is entirely quiet. Hesitantly, Gnara wraps his arms around the magician, pulling him closer, and the kitsune practically melts in his arms.

"Do you... want to lay down?" Gnara asks.

"Mmm," Snow hums affirmatively.

Picking up the smaller male, Gnara plops down into the pillows next to Alyster and finds a blanket nearby to drape over himself and the fox.

"So...?" Gnara trails off.

"Mmm..."

"Is this it?"

"For now."

He just wants a nap? Sure, fuck it, why not. After being on the road for a rather long time now, Gnara is not entirely unhappy with this turn of events and relaxes into the cushions with Snow quickly falling asleep against him.

~

"This place makes no sense!" Stain grumbles as both he and Shishuka make their way through twisting corridors composed of stone and wood, the fibrous roots giving way to heartwood. "I can't tell if we're going in circles, or all this 'cellar' has is empty tunnels."

"Stain. Can you turn around?" Shishuka asks, spooked.

"Wha- oh! I - I can't. I can't walk backwards either! What's going on with that?"

"Bugger if I know."

"Hang on, I have a mirror," Stain says, setting his rucksack down.

"You just have a mirror?"

"Yeah! Well. Just a piece of one."

Pulling out a broken hunk, Stain holds it up in front of his head and shifts it to the left to view behind himself. Strangely, there's only blackness on it.

"What the?" Stain mutters, shifting it and catching a view of the floor directly behind him transition into the dark like it's a solid sheet.

Walking forward a few steps, Stain watches the wall stay where it is, only moving forward as Shishuka does as well.

"I think this is an illusion too," Stain affirms.

"How so?"

"We can't turn around because there's nothing there. Everywhere in front of us... I dunno, it's just fabricated?"

"Huh. Lemme see that," Shishuka requests, seeing the black wall for himself.

"Congratulations," A voice sighs as shafts of light carve out the outline of a door to their left, opening and revealing a dark furred kitsune in clay stained clothes. "That's the trick of this place. We have to use doors like this to subvert it."

"Oh. Well, thanks for the way out, lady!" Stain grins and strides forward.

"Thank me by leaving, would you?" She scoffs, standing aside to let the two through.

"May I ask who you are?" Shishuka questions as they shuffle through to the otherside, finding themselves in a clay stained workshop full of pottery tools and all manner of exotic crystals, metals, and other materials that leave a heavy, ozone tang to the air.

"Call me Hoarfrost," She replies tiredly, grabbing a nearby bottle of sake and taking a long draught as she sits down on a stool. "Earthenware extraordinaire.

"Ironic combination," Shishuka remarks.

"I used to specialize in cold magicks," She waves him off. "That became impossible, so I switched professions. How did you two end up down here?"

"Is Snow your brother?" Stain asks.

"Yes, that's his moniker nowadays. How is that relevant?"

"He dropped us into a pit, and we wound up here. We had to leave one of our friends behind in a pit of glowing sludge since we couldn't get him out."

"Blue, thick stuff, right?"

"Indeed. Quite sticky too," Shishuka sighs, having given up a while ago trying to wipe his apron down. "What is it and can you help us get him out?"

"Ah. Sap of the tree. Don't worry, the servants will have found and dredged him out by now."

"Snow called them 'staff'," Shishuka adds. "What are they?"

"Wayward spirits, for the most part. Yaoguai, oni, lost souls, a bit of everything, really. If you're here because of my dearest brother," She explains dryly, "It's because he intended for you to stay put and be used for their entertainment."

"What kind of entertainment?" Shishuka asks, concerned.

"For some, just chatting. Others friendly spars. Many are carnal. No servant here is hostile and will restrain themselves accordingly if that's what worries you."

"So, our companion is safe, is what you're saying?"

"Correct," She nods. "He might not sit down for a week, but he'll be fine. And to be frank, I couldn't get him back at this point anyhow. Best to let the servants have their fun and then I'll collect him when I am able."

"You can't open a door to him like you did for us?" Stain scoffs.

"Sure, I can. Then we'll have dozens of supernatural souls to contend with that will follow us through, and I have no command over them."

"Damn it. Can you get us to Snow? He has two of our other companions."

"Does he now? He's getting more ambitious. Or careless. I can't tell anymore."

"I noticed! Can you help us or not?"

Taking a deep sigh, she sets the bottle down and fixes her weary eyes on Stain. Though she does not say it, she feels partially responsible for admitting Alyster to begin with, leading to the events that have now taken place.

"I'm in a bind to do that. On one hand, yes, my brother does kidnap mortals, disrupting lives and bending their minds for his amusement. On the other, they are not harmed and returned home eventually. He also has a particular affinity for choosing targets that are wounded and in need of aid, which he provides. Is it creepy? Yes. Harmful? No, not really," She reasons. "Besides. I owe him. When our parents saw fit to seal my power and discard me, he opened his home and has been generous ever since; I am in no rush to start a schism with him over something that will lead to no harm by the end of it."

"I'm sorry to hear that, but unfortunately, that's not the damned case," Shishuka says, crossing his arms. "We've been dealing with supernatural creatures of our own terrorizing the countryside, from a troll hopped up on some kind of mutagen to a sea ghost that nearly smashed an entire ship to pieces with everyone onboard. And there aren't exactly volunteers lining up to take our place. Losing even one of our members for an indeterminate amount of time is an incredible hinderance. If we don't get back to it within the next few days, a lot of people may very well die. Does that sound like nothing to you?"

"No, I suppose not. But a small group like you lot would never make a large impact in the grand scheme of things."

"Tell that to the villagers we've saved and brought stability to their places of living."

"For how long, eh?"

"Until the next vicious bastard comes along, I suppose. Look, you said he bends minds, right? There's no way that doesn't leave some kind of effect. Sure, it won't matter for most people. But for hunters such as us? It could get us killed!"

"... I see your points," She nods. "Alright, I suppose this has gone too far. Let's get you lot back on the road, if for nothing else than to keep my golems in one piece."

With a finger, she wills another door into existence and opens it, the trio stepping through to find Snow on his back being royally spitroasted between Alyster and Gnara as the three come howling, or in Snow's case: choking, to climax. The lustful cats don't even notice the intrusion as they fire rope after rope of cream into the dominated and thoroughly senseless magician, panting as they pull out and drizzle the last of their shared load over his bare form.

They flinch as Stain loudly clears his throat, immediately grabbing blankets to cover themselves but not bothering to offer anything in the way of an explanation.

"...I'm going to leave now," Hoarfrost states, promptly turning around and pushing her two smaller followers through. "Don't harm my brother, otherwise do whatever you wish. I'll return once I have the rest of your little troupe collected."

With that, she quickly shuts the door, and its frame disappears.

"Good to see you're alright, Alyster," Shishuka comments. "I see Jupiter wasn't bullshitting me about your size."

"... Good to see you too, Shish," Alyster scoffs, taking the blanket and disappearing into a closet to don his clothes.

"I see you made friends with his sister," Gnara notes, pulling Snow into his lap while still keeping the both of them covered.

Hearing voices already, the slight jostling is enough to bring Snow back to reality and he realizes he's surrounded by four armed men.

"Oh, dear..." He mumbles to himself as Alyster returns from the closet, fully clothed.

"What are we going to do with him?" Stain asks his compatriots.

"We had a deal and I plan on honoring it," Gnara says matter-o-factly. "So, if you don't mind, could you all check on my dragon in the next room over?"

"Are you certain he won't try anything?" Shishuka questions.

"If he does, he won't be fast enough to pull it off," Gnara affirms.

"Good enough."

Shishuka marches out with a sheepish Alyster in tow. Stain follows shortly after giving Gnara thumbs up.

"W-what are you going to do?" Snow stutters as Gnara picks him up and promptly presses him into the floor.

"You wanted to feel my strength," Gnara grins wolfishly. "Now save your breath for screaming my name."

Holding the kitsune's head down, Gnara aligns his barbed tip with the formerly mischievous kitsune's tailhole and promptly slams himself balls deep inside, drawing a yelp that turns to a pleasured cry as the ranger begins to roughly pound into his subdued partner. Thrusting with enough force Gnara's fluffy sack slaps against Snow's, he presses himself down and around him. Each pump of his shaft inside the kitsune grinds the spikes of his cathood across his inner walls, the added plates of Gnara's draconic influence rubbing heavily against Snow's prostate.

Biting down on his ear, Gnara turns Snow's chin, keeping his gaze fiercely locked with the kitsune's own as he breeds the troublemaker's hole for all it's worth. Having been robbed of any genuine interaction through use of his own magic, Snow can't bring himself to even remotely resist the leonine's rough treatment as the fierce stimulation all becomes too much. His urethra bloats with cum and fires against the floor in long, messy streaks as Gnara continues thrusting without relent, only prolonging Snow's orgasm and sending him screaming loud enough into another one the group in the other room can hear it.

"Tch. I'm not satisfied yet," Gnara grins viciously, rolling over to bring the surprised kitsune into a reverse cowgirl position.

Caught off guard and his legs already shaking, Snow yelps and cries as he's forcibly bounced along the ranger's hard length and made to take every inch as hot seed gushes into his belly.

"Fuck, you're tight," Gnara groans as he grips Snow tightly, thick strands leaking out of his tailhole and down the warrior's heavy balls.

Reduced to a shuddering mess as he climaxes across himself for the third time within a short span, the kitsune can only moan as the leonine begins thrusting once more to drain every drop inside. After coming down from his high, Gnara pulls out and pins his partner to the floor, wetting a scaled thumb with his tongue. Snow is more than loose enough by now to take it without resistance and mewls as it begins to press against his prostate, making heavy circles around the bruised and battered pleasure point as Gnara mercilessly milks him for all he's worth.

~

"Jupe! Jupe!" Teru calls out as he runs through root worn stone chambers, the tubby tanuki out of breath but able to see through the illusion of this place to navigate his way. "Where did you fall?"

A spectral figure suddenly appears in front of Teru, startling him and the big man comes to a halt, leaning forward with hands on his knees as he takes deep breaths.

"Such noise..." They breathe, vaguely annoyed. "Whom do you seek?"

"A fellow by the name of Jupiter. Big glasses, not much fur, dozens of tattoos," Teru answers, panting.

"Follow. We shall be there shortly."

"Okay," Teru nods, unsure of what else to do.

True to the specters word, it leads him past a few twisting turns and diverging tunnels until they enter a large chamber with a pool of deep blue fluid. Dozens upon dozens of spirits, some tangible, others foggier, are resting within the fluid and drawing strength from it. Jupiter sits on the edge of the pool, having been dredged from the thick sap by a tall, red scaled demon with heavy musculature and horns.

"Jupe!" Teru yells, quickly moving around the perimeter to greet the navigator.

"Teru! What happened to you?" Jupiter exclaims, stopping mid-conversation with the demon.

"I thought I was being clever and escaped Snow's illusion to avoid falling through the floor with the rest of you, but I just got myself lost."

"I'm glad to see you're okay. Have you found the others?"

"No... Illusions or not, this place is still huge."

"That's alright. Stain and Shish left not too long ago. This big guy here, Gadian, tells me a bunch of outsiders breached Snow's quarters, but he was ordered to not interfere, so I'm thinking they'll come pick us up soon enough."

"Heh," The demon snickers, steam issuing from his nostrils as he says in a deep voice. "Soon enough, yes."

Draconic almost like a dragonborn but bigger and bulkier, Gadian has a more serpentine-esk visage with a flatter snout and flared nostrils, and a lack of ears. Feathery, long spikes form a loose mane on his head and neck, and his piercing eyes are wholly dominated by vibrant orange irises.

"Uh. Yeah..." Teru murmurs, cringing away from the demon knowing full well his kind are typically malicious.

"Relax," Gadian rumbles, ruffling Teru's head. "I'm only vicious when defending this domain."

"By the way," Jupiter pipes up. "Why are there so many spirits here in specific?"

"We have jobs," Gadian replies. "Some defenders, other housekeepers, that sort of thing. But mortals do not usually come down here, so when they do, it is because our lord saw fit to rewards us."

"Come again?" Jupiter blinks.

"You think it was by accident you were dumped into an inescapable lake?"

"Not exactly," Jupiter admits. "How... are we rewards?"

"Varies from spirit to spirit. Me personally? I'd like to press you both against the nearest wall."

"Ah," Jupiter says. "That's not... unappealing."

"I should hope not," Gadian grins. "If it helps, no soul here dares interrupt me. So, if I were to just keep going until you are retrieved..."

"I'm certainly coming around. But. Do you have, like, a few friends?"

"I do~"

"With rope?"

"So, I'm just going to take this one," Gadian purrs, scooping up Jupiter in his arms. "As for you, Teru, right?"

"Uh," Teru replies, color visibly draining from his nose as he blanches. "Yeah. H-how did you know?"

"You're worth a healthy sum to some people with sway in the spirit world, so I'm just gonna do you a favor and open a portal out of here to the top level where the lord resides. Don't go touching anything. Or, you know, I'll have to stove your head in," Gadian says as his tail draws several glowing lines in the wall, and it pops open as a generously sized door. "Off you go! I promise not to keep this one held up like my lord might."

"R-right. Thanks!" Teru nods vigorously before rushing through the door.

Opening another, Gadian saunters through and Jupiter becomes very confused as he finds himself in a particularly bizarre and advanced pottery workshop.

"Thank you, Gadian," Hoarfrost nods as Teru pops out of another doorway several feet away.

"I'm not seeing any rope, so I take it this is something else," Jupiter sighs.

Gadian laughs as he sets Jupiter down.

"Sorry, but I'm not having much to do with someone bearing the mark of a ragman," Gadian clarifies, pointing at Jupiter's scarred hand.

Jupiter draws in a long breath and lets it out with a grudging nod. "Faaair enough."

"Where are we, then?" Teru mumbles nervously.

"In my workshop. I thought it would take longer to retrieve you both, but Gadian was feeling helpful today," Hoarfrost explains. "I'll send you to the rest of your party and open a gateway through which you may leave. And if you ever come back:just fucking knock."

"I recognize your voice," Jupiter says.

"You were the one skulking in the dark after that Alyster fellow, I take it. Sorry about Akizuki, but I can't interfere or his curse might punish him."

"Oh. Oh, shit! Kohaku! We need to get outside NOW!" Jupiter blurts, realizing they had all forgotten about him.

"You left someone behind to deal with Akizuki?" Hoarfrost blinks, visibly concerned.

"Yes! Please, open a way out of here!"

She wills a portal into place, and both she and Jupiter bolt through. They exit at the front of the tree to find Kohaku and his royal ass laying on the ground, being knotfucked by the guardian in mid-climax while they both moan like animals in heat. Facepalming, Hoarfrost shakes her head and turns around, holding up a finger before Jupiter can speak and walking back through the portal without another word. Shortly after, Teru is shoved through, and it closes.

Speechless, Jupiter and Teru watch as another portal opens and the rest of the group exits the tree with Snow waving goodbye to Gnara before it too shuts, leaving them all witness as Akizuki howls and buries himself up to the hilt in the haragon, sending them both over the edge as seed explodes inside Kohaku and he paints both himself and the tree in white streaks.

"I should have never doubted you," Teru quips, startling both so badly Kohaku pops off the swollen knot and lets out a squeak before grabbing his kimono and covering himself. "You can handle it."

Wounded and still lightly bleeding but fueled by a volatile mixture of embarrassment and disgrace, Kohaku opens his mouth to say something, closes it, and then lets out a frustrated harumph before spinning around to make his unsteady walk of shame back to camp. Akizuki is far more used to being nude and merely uses a tail to cover himself.

"Are you all on your way?" He asks. "That is, to leave?"

"I certainly hope so," Shishuka replies wryly. "Snow certainly did a lot to keep us in."

"My... mood has been tempered, so I shall not interfere for the intrusion," The wolf nods, disappearing into the trees.

"What did you guys end up doing to Snow?" Jupiter queries as they begin to follow in Kohaku's steps.

"Put an end to his ways. He gave me his word to stop filching every traveler on the road that catches his fancy. If he wants to keep company to warm his bed, he'll have to serve them dinner first like the rest of us," Gnara replies.

"How did you manage that?"

"He fucked him silly," Stain succinctly puts it.

"Huh. A taste of his own medicine in overdose, eh?"

"Pretty much," Gnara agrees.

"I can dig it. Good to see at least two of you had some fun."

"Three, actually," Gnara smirks while he pets his drakeling. "If I had known all this one needs to stop crying is a belly full of steak, I would have put you lot to babysitting more often."

"Then what I'm hearing is Snow just gave us more work on top of all this trouble. Fantastic," Shishuka rolls his eyes.

As they proceed back to camp, they fill each other in on their misadventures within the tree, laughing at one another's misfortune now that the danger has passed.