Interwoven Souls - Chapter 6: The Shadow's Stain

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

#17 of Interwoven Souls

With two predators on the list down, Mono finds himself already unsure of where to find the next predator in the city, the future of having to venture into The Wilds with Vera growing closer with each passing day. They soon decide to stop at the bar Mono would usually visit, hoping on finding one of the animals their they needed. But just as they begin to grow comfortable things ramp up, hearts racing as their next devourer has another plan for them in a much creamier place than they'd expected~

After a bit of a wait the chapter is now officially finished and out! This chapter shows more on the relationship between them both as well as more about the Dark Magic of the world. And by the end they find themselves vored once again in a way they couldn't have predicted by a predator that feeds off their fear.

The wonderful art was drawn by DeepDarkFantasies on FA: Thank you so much for taking on the project and I'm excited to see what you make in the future!

Link to their FA: https://www.furaffinity.net/user/deep.dark.fantasies~/

INTERWOVEN SOULS COMMUNITY:

If you're interested in joining the Interwoven Souls community where you can chat about the book, theorize or check out fan-art, feel free to join the link below! We'd love to have you and hear your thoughts about the chapters!

Link to Interwoven Souls Discord: https://discord.gg/QBuZ4xaP93

I hope you all enjoy the chapter and I'd love to hear your thoughts below! Enjoy!

I don't make any income from writing this book, so if you're interested in supporting this series to help keep it going smoothly consider joining the Patreon below!

Do you enjoy my stories? Consider supporting my Patreon where every $1 goes towards creating stories like this for you full-time

Link to Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/derekthedragon

..............

WARNING! This book features certain topics that others may be sensitive to, such as: Vore, Explicit Content, Depression, Suicide and more. Read at your own discretion.

..............


"Aaand we're back!" Mono finished, walking up to the house, the front door unlocked like it usually was, having a much easier time now opening it than he had the previous day. The warmth of the sun touched his scales, the tweeting of a bird reaching his ear along with the fumes of a passing truck from behind them. He rolled his eyes when he thought about how he'd bitten on the door the previous day, "You know, you could have just told me before you could turn into an anthro."

Her thoughts hummed in his mind, echoing back, ~I don't know... it was quite amusing watching you struggle with it.~ He smiled, her banter seeming to lighten the sexual tension from the spa earlier, thinking back about the fox and how sexual she had been through it all. Ayaka was much different than the snake now that he was thinking about it, treating Vore as more of a sexual and blissful thing than an 'art' as Slip had explained it. Yet even now their checklist had barely begun and already he felt himself running dry of where he'd find the next predator if not without Vera's help.

After standing there a moment in thought, he then opened the door, noticing some of the lights were on as he entered. He glanced around the entrance, peeking down the hall to the kitchen and up the stairs before closing the door. He instinctively tried to kick off his shoes before remembering he wasn't wearing any, admiring the talons she'd given him, still feeling a little weird about going barefoot out in public, let alone as a female. But that mattered little now, walking upstairs and down the hall towards his room.

"Ah, excuse me?"

He then stopped in his steps, his roommate's door swinging open as he almost walked into them, taking a step back to eye Mono up and down. A shiver passed through his veins, freezing on the spot as everything suddenly became more real. His clothing was now more prominent than ever, praying he didn't recognize it as his girlfriend's clothes, gulping as he then continued. "Who are you, and why are you here?"

He stumbled over his words, running a scaly hand up her arm, "Oh, I uh... sorry."

"Wait... did Mono... Ooooh, I see.~" His roommates then gave a knowing look, eyeing her up and down, "You're his girlfriend!"

He never felt like his cheeks could burn, but from his words, the skin beneath his scales heated up greatly, biting his lip a little as he tried to bite back a nervous noise. 'I'm MY girlfriend? Oh my god...' He barely had any time to think, knowing there was no way he could explain what was going on. Yet still, a weight placed in his chest, fingers twiddling with one another, glancing away before answering. "I... Well, we're dating is all! It's nothing serious." He could feel Vera rumbling in disdain inside his head, hoping she'd forgive him.

"Uh-huh? Ooookay. Damn, he found a good one. I've barely seen him leave the house though. I wasn't aware he had friends to be honest." He then paused, seeming to notice his own words, continuing, "I'm guessing he's in his room as usual?"

He glanced at the slightly open door to his room at the end of the hall and then back to him, nodding as the chance to escape was presenting itself, "Ah, um yeah! He's waiting for me in there!"

His roommate then perked up, peeking outside the door more, "Oh yeah, I had a question for him! Do you mind if I uh... squeeze by you to ask?"

His heart rate spiked, tail flicking quickly, "AH, NO! I mean, he's uh... busy. I'm not sure he's... dressed?" He hated having to talk about himself, he didn't really like how he looked either, but he had to do something, slowly inching closer to his door, giving a nervous smile. "You can uh, talk to him later. Maybe tomorrow? Hehe..."

He tilted his head curiously, looking her up and down before commenting, "You know, I never knew he was interested in dragons like that... but I can't say I judge. Yeah, that's okay. I'll poke him later then." He then nodded, standing there for a moment as if he was supposed to wait for something before he dipped into his bedroom and quickly closed the door behind himself.

Finally being alone again with Vera, he let out a breath of relief, leaning against the door as he looked over his room. He moved a hand up to his breasts, shocked his roommates hadn't mentioned the clothes he was wearing, wondering if he was drunk or not. He did feel a little hurt that his roommate didn't think he had friends but... did he? He could feel a pang in his heart, frowning a little. It didn't matter much though, their relationship was kept to a minimum anyways but it was hard to realize he wasn't really wrong.

He then moved to the bed, taking the time to separate their bodies once more as he focused before withdrawing the vial from The Ethereal Realm and replacing it with a new and empty one soon after. "Two down, six to go. I'll admit, we're making quicker progress than I would have thought."

Vera on the other hand eagerly began undressing her anthro body, giving a grumble as she began working on her shirt and pants. "God, I hate clothes. They're so itchy and restrictive." While they spoke he couldn't help but marvel at how odd it was to see her wearing clothes when she was still in her familiar form, her angelic form now in only her underwear as she threw her shirt and pants to the side.

He chuckled, closing the case of vials before setting it on the edge of his computer desk, humoring himself, "Restrictive? How so?~"

She eyed him, glaring softly, holding the stare for a moment before admitting, "Okay, fine, you want me to say it? I'm still not used to having breasts. Everyone in The Wilds is pretty much in their feral form, if they have the power to change that is. It's only on special occasions when we shift into an anthro. Bras on the other hand... they're just uncomfortable in general from what I've heard."

A thought then peaked into his mind, noticing the grumbling of his stomach as he hadn't eaten since the spa, "Sooo... you're saying you're a nudist?"

"Okay, shut the fuck up. I'll bite you for that." She gave a growl, but something in her tone seemed to have changed, her looking down at her paws before shaking her head and turning away. "Anyway, what's the plan for tomorrow?"

He pushed the hair behind his good ear, looking at the monitor on the table, thoughts running wild in his head, searching for an answer with no conclusion. "I'm honestly not sure. I... I think we should sleep on it. I'm honestly kinda tuckered out from everything. I might grab a quick snack though first."

She then paused, glancing at the blanket and pillow he'd laid out for her next to his bed, looking back at him with an expression he couldn't read. Then, with a flick of her tail, she exhaled, asking in a quieter voice. "Could you... get me something to eat as well?"

"You... you're hungry?"

She then gave an annoyed growl, "YES, I'm hungry! Just..." Then with a breath, calming her tempter, she placed a paw on her chest, "It... feels like it. It's been so long since I've felt this that it almost feels... fake? It's been years... I can't explain it. Being deprived of the most primal of urges only to feel like I'm living a past life when they return..." Her comment seemed to draw out, a long silence passing between them, Mono thinking over it all as he hummed softly.

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine." She retorted, turning away, giving a huff. She then tightened the curve of her tail, wings pulling slick to her sides and raising her head. She looked like a war leader, conviction in her eyes, the past memories swirling through them like a cosmos of emotions. "I've been through worse."

He hummed, watching as she turned to the window before opening the door to grab something for them both. "Any idea what you want to eat? It is your first meal after all."

She glanced over her wing at him, the sun cascading through the window capturing the beauty of her body, the rays piercing her form without a shadow to cast her form upon the floor, "Just get me something with meat. I've nearly forgotten what it's like to taste something..."

He nodded, pondering the thought for a moment as he opened the door. When he closed the door behind him though, his roommate walked up the stairs, catching sight of him with a raise of an eyebrow, causing Mono's heart to clench. "Sooo, how's it going in there?"

"How's it- What?" He chuckled nervously, pushing a strand of hair behind his ear.

His roommate rolled his eyes, continuing, "How's the fun with the 'lucky lady' going? I saw her just a few minutes ago when she was coming upstairs. She's pretty hot."

He bit his lip, glancing at the door to his room, "Oh, damn, uh... we've been good. It's really nothing like that, hehe. She's just a friend."

He opened the door to his own room, pausing, "Really? She said you were both dating."

He gulped, cursing himself in his head, "Oh, well, um..." Then, despite wanting to say something to break the tension, he found himself unable to mutter the words, too embarrassed as his cheeks flushed at the thought of Vera liking him like that. 'She doesn't! She literally wants nothing to do with me... she's just... a work partner?'

"Well, if you dooo have any fun, please try not to be too loud. I'll be on call with some friends." Then, without any more words, he closed the door behind himself, leaving Mono to quickly rush downstairs and gather some food for the both of them.

He hadn't considered the idea of Vera ever... it wouldn't happen. Besides, he was way too shy for that, and she didn't care for him. 'God, I can't believe how gorgeous she is though... and her not being able to read my mind right now is nice...' He gave a soft chuckle at the thought, feeling like himself once again, if even for the moment. But for some reason, the lack of her with him felt... disappointing? He wasn't quite sure, he didn't know what to think, but he shook the thought from his mind, grabbed some food and retreated back upstairs.

When he opened the door he found himself stopping in the door frame, his heart starting to race as he was left standing there in amazement. Vera stood there in her blue familiar form, removing her bra and panties one at a time. Her back was to him, unclipping the bra and tossing it on the ground before slipping off the cute underwear over her thighs before they fell to the floor. She was so lithe and curvaceous, beautiful in every way to his eyes, gulping as he realized he'd just been standing there before walking in and trying to hide his erection in his clothes. Undressing while controlling her body was one thing, but this... 'Fuck, why does she have to be so hot?'

The two of them spent some time chatting about their plans for tomorrow, Mono unable to tear his eyes away from Vera as she ate a hotdog he'd heated up. It was so weird, a transparent dragon eating something. He assumed it would just be visible the whole time, but while he could see through her, he seemed to not be able to see inside her as the hotdog wasn't visible. There was just so much about her and the magical world that he would never understand, instead settling down into the bed as the sun set to get some sleep before their next expedition tomorrow.

...........................................................

The sleep was luckily peaceful, unable to recall if he'd had a dream or not as he pulled himself out of bed and began going about his day with Vera. He grabbed himself some cereal and hotdogs for Vera, offering it to her as she forced it down, complaining about how it was 'Tamed Lands' food but eating it anyway. He then got onto his computer, looking at the list of predators left as he flipped open The Book of Familiars to the correct page as he ate.

Vera sat beside him, using her tail to plop the end of the hotdog in her maw, Mono offering her a napkin to clean any of the greases off her appendage since she refused to eat it with a bun. She only grumbled, Mono's eyes going wide as she brought her tail tip to her maw and gave it a deep suckle. She curled her tongue around it, collecting the juices, pulling it out a moment after, the end flopping off her tongue with a strand of saliva. He glanced away as she did, face flushing as he lost track of his thoughts.

"Alright. So, what's the plan for today?"

Shaking his thoughts away with a soft blush, he then leaned down to look at the screen, giving a soft hum as he glanced back at the book. "Well, quite frankly I'm not sure where to go next. We got the snake and fox out of the way but... I'm not sure about the rest. Again, I uh, don't really go out much. I only knew about those two places because of Flare and... yeah." He flipped back to the spa page as he pulled back up the browser, biting his lip before deciding to check the local online map of the area.

There were lots to do around here, not that Momo cared, but it could prove helpful to finding someone they were looking for if he looked hard enough. But even as he tried to search up certain keywords or names of animals there didn't seem to be any concrete information on who would be there. He checked some web pages, noticing anthros and ferals on the front, but none of the species they needed. After a while he slumped back in his chair, Vera now checking her talons, tail swaying back and forth behind her slowly. "I don't know. I can't find anything. Do... you think we should try going to The Wilds now? I think you said you had some leads there?"

She paused, maw open like she was going to respond before glancing away, eyes riddled and darting back and forth like she wasn't sure what to say. After a moment though she spoke, licking her jowls before tilting her head with an uncertain tone, "Yeeeeah, I mean, I do have some ideas where predators could be... It would help if there was someone nearby though as, honestly, a few on here I have no idea how we'll find other than just wandering around. Are there any sort of hubs of people where we could hang out to see if we could find someone?"

"Nothing comes to mind right now. I mean-" It was only then as he laid back in his chair, staring at where they were on the map. Before long enough, his eyes caught onto the entrance to the path leading to the lake behind the blocked-off road. Right beside it was the bar he'd walked by a few days ago when the two of them had first met, the very bar where Shade had come out and tracked him down from. He gulped, remembering the terrifying night, the clawing at the throat as he tried to escape. He shivered, pulling his legs together, the dragoness noticing his reaction.

"Are you okay? Did you find something?"

He tapped his foot, staring at the ping on the map as he let out a soft exhale, "I... as much as I hate to say it... Yeah, maybe? It's an idea." He then pointed to the part on the map, "Do you remember where you met me on the lake a few days ago? Wait, was that a week ago?" In all honesty, it had felt much longer than just a few days with how many creatures they'd met and been digested by, but in reality, it had to have been only three to four nights in total. He shook his head, continuing, "No, that was only a few days ago. Weird. Anyways, the path I usually take to the lake starts here, right by a local bar on the edge of town. I... sometimes go there when I want to think about..." He trailed off, looking away from her as he pondered over it all.

"Okay. Do you think we can find a predator on the list there?"

He grumbled, not being against the idea of going to the bar since he was used to occasionally stopping by, but the thought of running into Shade again, the wolf from the night they'd met... it struck fear in him that he wasn't used to associating with that place. Still, if he had the day right, today was supposed to be one of the days he wasn't usually at the bar so it would be the prime time to visit if they wanted to. He pushed a strand of hair behind his ear, glancing back at her, "Well, I don't think we'll find any of the more... 'exotic' creatures on the list but... maybe a panther? I don't know. But, I have seen panthers there before so that's honestly the best guess I've got. We could keep looking up different locations in the city if you think it could-"

"No, that sounds like it could work. Besides, it sounds like you've been there before so, you know..."

He blinked. "What do you mean?"

She let out a sigh, looking him up and down, "I mean, while we still are only starting I... do admit that I'm thankful you've been going out of your comfort zone to help me. So, going somewhere you're more comfortable in I figured would, you know, be more natural for you." She then turned to look away, standing up and looking out the window on the other side of the room. "But I'm doing this to try and find another predator so don't get any ideas. I'm just wanting this to be over with."

He rolled his eyes, pursing his lips before gazing at the bar on the map and nodding. Then, he closed the tab, checking the time on the bottom right of his screen before pushing his chair back and relaxing for a moment. Vera spoke up after a few moments of silence, her tail swaying softly behind her, "Are we going now then?"

"Hmm? No, it doesn't open until six PM. Besides, most of the crowd doesn't get there till around eight to nine PM so we'll just have to wait for now. We could try and pass the time with a game or something if you'd like?"

As they waited for the evening to come, Mono managed to convince her to try Uno, seeing a competitive side in her he hadn't realized was there when they first met. Still, it seemed like she was trying to hold back her words, holding back herself from really enjoying it. He was surprised to hear that her tribe had some games they'd play when she used to live in The Wilds, Mono asking about what they were only for her to grumble and wall herself off again, saying it wasn't important.

Things seemed to slowly be smoothing out between them, but even then she felt... distant. He could understand that, given how she'd been treated the last few years, but from how she had already begun to simmer down a bit around him made him only the more curious and hopeful to see her open up more. He was always inclined to learn about the deeper meanings of a person as he felt like talking about someone else's problems and worries helped to validate his own, but it also made him feel good. He always was reminded of Flare, his kindness in trying to help him, and while Vera wasn't someone he would have ever tried to be friends with from her annoyed personality, he couldn't help but feel that tug inside himself from his best friend encouraging him to try and understand her as well.

Even then, he didn't push it, enjoying the fun little moments they had before beating her a few times in a row as she was struggling with the rules. Not to mention how all the rules of Uno were different depending on who you played with. She complained how complicated it was, mentioning something about 'StoneShift' she'd used to play before shaking her head and continuing on as if she'd never mentioned it. They then had some lunch together as it got closer to leaving, Mono bringing it upstairs so he wouldn't bother his roommate when he got home, preparing for the bar as the sun began to lower on the horizon as they ate.

As he considered what to wear though, Vera mentioned in a passing remark that if he wanted to go out as an anthro with her so that he could be a girl again in public she wouldn't be against it. He still found himself extremely curious as to why she seemed to care about him exploring that side of himself, Vera flicking her tail as she turned and waited for his response. She was right that it could be fun to try in public, but it was also terrifying. He wasn't actually a girl, he was just curious about it all and wearing the same feminine clothes he'd worn the night before out in public instead of just in a confined space... 'What if someone... no, no one would recognize I'm a male hiding in a dragoness body. God...' In the end, he grew the confidence to take her advice, blushing a bit as he then grabbed the clothes she'd discarded from the night before and put them into a pile near the bed, the two of them Soul-Linking once more before getting dressed in them and heading out to the bar.

When they arrived at the bar and made their way in, Mono was greatly relieved to find that Shade was nowhere to be seen. He could never be completely certain when he'd come to pay the establishment a visit but he always looked out for him just in case. Regardless, being in Vera's body with her gave him some much-needed confidence after what had happened after the last time he came here. He knew that having her here would protect him against digestion even if things went wrong, taking comfort in that while the apprehension of being stared down by some of the patrons quickly took the forefront of his mind instead.

As he entered, a few men at the tables watched him, looking him up and down, eyeing him up from his legs up to his breasts, giving pleased murmurs before continuing their own chats at their tables. He could feel the blush on his cheeks, raising a talon to move his hair only to let out a surprised sigh as he remembered he didn't have any, feeling the soft scales instead pass under his touch. He glanced down at his bosom, trying to act confident, reminding himself why they were here and that they'd already gone too far to back out now. Besides, as Vera had assumed it was much more relaxing than when they were at the club, heck, even at the spa. He walked to one of his usual bar stools in the left corner of the room, taking a seat before the bartender, realizing that he couldn't just ask for his 'regular' since the man wouldn't know who he was.

'Fuck... this whole 'being in your body thing' is really messing with my brain.'

~Yeah, well it seems like you're fitting the part... at least mostly. Honestly, if I was looking at you, I wouldn't suspect you were anything but a female. At worst you'd seem shy. Some guys like that though.~ He hummed in his feminine voice at the thought, explaining to the bartender what he wanted when he finished cleaning a glass. As he took his order, Mono began to wonder if he would notice how similar the drink was to what he used to get, hoping it wouldn't look suspicious. But instead, he seemed a little distracted by her, the tall white anthro goat gazing at her form before shaking his head, "Yeah, I gotcha. I must say though, don't get many dragons around 'ere, let alone pretty lasses like you." Mono ran a hand over his scales thigh, a blush rising to his face as the amber eyes of the goat eyed her patiently.

"Ah, well, uh, thank you." He then continued soon after, trying to ease the tension he felt, "I can pay for the drink now if you'd like."

"Nah. Nah, it's on the house, the first one always is. Everyone 'ere, we're family. Don't worry 'bout it." He gave a nod, his hooves clopping over the wooden floor as he walked off to the other side of the bar to get their drink ready.

Mono blinked, giving a soft sigh as she glanced to the side. 'Is this how it feels to be flirted with by guys? It feels... nice. I'm not reading too much into it, am I?'

He could feel the soft whisps of her thoughts inside his head that twirled around his own, the dragoness adding on, ~No, he seemed like he was trying to be friendly. Yeah, he flirted a bit, but... it'll take some time to be able to sift through the guys. It's honestly not that easy all the time to just 'know' whether someone's bad news or not.~ She then stopped herself, the thoughts going cold as she tried to block them off, huffing to herself internally. ~God, why am I telling you this? I shouldn't even be here with you.~

'Wh- what do you mean? I... I really don't understand why you care about helping me with this, but it can't really hurt to just chat with me right? Like seriously, what am I going to do to you?' He raised his hands, holding them out in front of himself, leaning forward for emphasis. 'Vera, if we're going to stick together for a while, it can't fucking hurt to just get to know one another, right? This whole thing about you reforming me after digestion is supposed to be a 'trust fall' in a way. How can I trust you if you keep shutting me out?'

She fell silent, Mono tapping his scaled bare foot on the ledge of the stool below him. He glanced over at the bartender, watching him lift a glass to the taps, pouring one as it swirled a golden haze into the drink, the foam swaying on the top as he pulled it out and set it before one of the previous customers beside him.

Mono was relieved that no one was staring him down, feeling a buzz of excitement inside himself as he came to realize he was really doing it. Going out as a female, sitting here among other girls and guys, getting a drink while fitting in with the crowd. It felt... good.

Vera's thoughts then began to warm once more, calming down their rhythm as she replied in a calm tendril of consciousness, ~I've spent the last few years of my life under someone else's control because of opening up to someone I thought I could trust." He remained quiet, looking at his fingers absentmindedly, 'Listen, I'm not here to try and become your friend... but I'm trying, even if it doesn't seem like it. It's not easy and once this is over we'll part ways, but... I'll try.~

He smiled, the sway of her sincere mind curling around his own thoughts just a little more, making his shoulders relax. 'Thank you. I really can't imagine the shit you've been through. It's fucked up and I barely know any of it. Though even then, walling each other off when we're the only two who can do this won't make it any easier. I'll try to be less hard on you as well, I just ask that we try and work together rather than against one another.'

The man then walked over with Mono's glass soon after, a vodka drink with cranberry flavor mixed into it. He'd never been one for harder drinks, despised beer himself, but found it enjoyable to have some vodka here and there when he went out to think. The bartender nodded to them, "I 'ope you like it!" and then moved on to the other customers again. Mono took the glass as he walked away, the cup chilled to the touch, the red coloring swirling around like blood, infecting the alcoholic drink with its tangy flavor. He gave it a small swirl, raising it to his snout before taking a sip. He nearly spilled it on himself as he hadn't taken a drink before with a muzzle, planting it on the end of his mouth before slowly drinking some with care. The cool liquid washed over his taste buds, the bitter flavor intermingling with the soft undertone of vodka, humming at the thought before swallowing and setting the glass down.

He then glanced over to the pool table in the back corner of the establishment near the couches that lined one of the walls, remembering how he and Flare used to play together. His friend was always the pro at these sorts of things but, after seeing that competitive side of Vera earlier that day, he couldn't help but wonder... "Hey, you wanna play some pool?"

~ Some what?~ He then stopped his words, realizing he'd spoken out loud, happy no one looked at him weirdly as he then continued.

'Oh shit, you don't have that either in The Wilds, do you? Hey, I can teach you, if you're okay with that.'

~Why are we thinking about wasting our time like that? Aren't we supposed to be looking for a predator here?~

He closed his eyes, giving an annoyed sigh before standing up, bringing the glass with him, 'Yeah, but it can't hurt to have some fun while we're at it. Otherwise, we'll just be sitting here for who knows how long doing nothing... Just have some fun.' Luckily no one was using the table at the moment, grabbing one pool stick before walking up to the table. He let out a relaxed breath, surprised once again at the feminine voice echoing back at him, the weight of his boobs ever-present making him blush once again at the sight of them as he set his glass on the end of the game table. He then began grabbing the balls from all the pockets, setting the spheres back into the triangle shape in the plastic frame on the other side of the carpeted table.

~So how do we play this then?~

'Well... Hmph... Just gotta get it set up first. But basically, you want to hit all your balls into the pockets. You take turns with the other player hitting your balls into these pockets here. It goes back and forth until one person hits all theirs in before the other.' After he had pulled them all out and set into the triangle, he then grabbed the white ball and moved to the other side of the table, bumping his boobs with the wooden stick with a soft gasp, the tender flesh beneath his shirt and bra sending a soft pain in response into his chest. He grimaced, cracking his neck a bit before putting the white ball down on the green-carpeted table. 'Boobs are sensitive... Anyways, you're gonna use the stick to hit this white ball. You want to aim at your set of balls to knock them into the holes. That's the basic idea. I hope I didn't explain that all too fast.'

Her thoughts flickered, ~No, you didn't. This actually reminds me a bit of a game I used to play. 'TowerTilt' was what we called it. We'd set up piles of rocks and each of us would take turns trying to see who could knock down the most stacks with their stone...~ Her drifting mind then went still, hovering lightly inside himself until she added, ~Okay, maybe it's not that similar, but... I'm just trying to fucking relate, okay?~

'You're good, you're good! I'm not making fun of you. I think that actually sounds kinda neat. Maybe we could try it sometime.' Like a brisk wind, a vibrating bump of her strings of consciousness rubbed against his own for a moment. Since she didn't bother to answer, he then began lining up the stick to the sphere, starting, 'Do you want to go first or should I demonstrate?' Instead of a response though it was quiet, her thoughts present but stilled with a rumbling hum. He blinked, pulling back the tool again. 'Vera? I don't mind going after yo-'

~Mono, how the fuck am I supposed to play? You're the one controlling my body!~ He blushed, tensing up as he clenched his hands around the stick a bit more in embarrassment, the excitement of teaching someone quickly dissipating as he looked over himself.

'Damnit... did I seriously... I mean, I could just hit the ball for you but... No, that just sounds dumb.' He took a few steps back, looking over the table, raising a paw to his face in thought, feeling the soft scales on the underside of his muzzle. 'Sorry. I could just play by myself, but... yeah.' He then hummed, looking over to the rack of sticks he'd gotten his from, placing the tool back amongst them before picking up his drink on the other side of the table, leaning against the corner of it for a moment as he took another sip of the bitter beverage.

It was only as he set the glass back down though, humming happily at the taste, that a stranger approached them from one of the couches nearby, watching them keenly as he stumbled over on two legs. Mono's attention was immediately brought to his eyes, fear striking his chest at the sight of them.

Violet veins glowed menacingly around his black, dilated pupils like bolts of lightning, his eyes slitted despite the human descendants. He had to be human, he wasn't any sort of animal. It was only then that he was able to break his gaze away from the horror of his face to the rest of his form, the ragged clothes ripped and torn. He almost looked homeless, his black hair tangled and messy, his wicked grin and deep breathing causing Mono to step back. He seemed to have malnutrition, his bony shoulders poking out, every blood artery glowing with the same dark infection.

But above everything, there was one thing that made his blood run cold to see right in front of his very face: Charred black skin. It was somewhat like Vera's scar on her neck, the surface looking hard and cracked like the bark of a tree or a scab covering his entire body. It had a soft glow of purple below it all, the once-human creature speaking in a deep and drunk voice, eyes blinking, "What a fucking BEAUTY you are. Rrrr fuck yeah. Mmm, what you doing playing by yourself?" He continued approaching, causing the dragoness to back up, his heart thumping faster as he tried to hold his head high, biting back the fear as much as he could.

"N-no, sorry! I'm actually not interested-"

"Oh, come on, don't lie to me. Listen, you're a girl looking to get fucked by someone, right? Is that why you came here? Are you into kinky shit, huh?"

He blinked, the drink in Mono's hand shaking as he gulped, his feminine appearance now more apparent than ever as he stuttered. "I-I... I'm not interested. Thank you, but..." His voice caught in his throat.

"Oh, I see. Hehe, you want me to show you what I can offer? Let me be of service to you then." Before she could object he then reached into a satchel he had over his shoulder, delving into it before pulling out an otherworldly orb the size of his entire palm if not a little bigger. Within the sphere swirled a cosmos of black and purple flames, softened into muted colors as they danced like smoke in the sky. Within the center of the object was a glowing, golden light, dark mist curling around it, like a light at the end of a dark tunnel. When he placed it on the pool table, Mono instantly felt the power of the object, the corruptive energy that resonated around it, unable to look away as he found himself curious as to what its purpose was.

His heart continued to race as the man then chanted something under his breath, muttering with his eyes closed and hand outstretched. It was only then that Mono felt the freezing tendrils of Vera's thoughts clench in his mind, washing cold over his body as something seemed to change within her. 'Vera, are you okay?' But she didn't respond, remaining silent as the human then began the withdrawal process.

The flickering spark inside the mass of shadows curled and warped around the roots of evil, drawn outwards until it escaped the barrier of the object like smoke seeping through a crack, swirling around the stranger's hand, leaving the orb an empty mass of void. Mono found himself intrigued even more as he remembered very similar golden strings Vera would use when reforming him after being digested, wondering if they shared some sort of similarity. The man gazed at his fingers, the light circling around them before collapsing the light into a small sphere of pulsing amber magic in his palm. He snickered, his violet eyes alight with the same golden color, the flame in the center of his iris. He then slowly moved his gaze to the pool table, the strings of life floating away from his palm in response and onto the green carpet, slowly turning into a mass of swirling energy on the table growing into a larger size. Each strand overlapped the other like tangles of ribbons shielding the true form of something within, the glowing object on the table slowly shifting into place.

Then, as the vines of magic began to dissipate, the form of a golden fox about two feet long appeared, sparkles of the amber light covering their form. Their fur washed and flowed perpetually like a wave, Mono noticing how they seemed to not have any physical body much like how Vera was when he'd first met her. The fox gave a soft moan between panting, looking up at Mono with a heated expression, eyes white without a center, the creature shifting to look at the man.

It was only then that he spoke up, smiling deviously at the dragoness once again. "You see this little slut? They're my fucking plaything. My toy. They signed their life away to be sealed inside this Soul Sphere, permanently attached to me, never able to be free again." He then took another step around the table, looking over the fox as it lay on its side, lapping between its legs at its needy nether region. "It might sound scary at first, but oooh fuck does it feel good. I've put her into a constant state of euphoria, hehe, and look how much she likes it. Bitch." He reached out with shaky, violet-veined fingers, petting through her mist-like form, the haze parting as he tried to touch her, "Good girl." Then, he withdrew her once more, holding the orb up and chanting, watching as her form began warping and breaking into streaks of golden wires. Mono could hear a whimper from the creature as they disappeared, captured once more inside the orb until they became a small yellow light within once again.

The man leaned forward, eyes not leaving her, "So, what do you think? Does the idea of being someone else's 'thing' excite you?" Mono could feel his own hands shaking, having never met someone so lost to corruption like this in the bar before, forcing out the words as he barely held himself from running away from him.

"N-no. Please, get away from me. I don't want that."

The man's expression soured, eyes glinting with annoyance, his crooked teeth bared as he warned her, "You don't? Fuck that. You're a fucking pretty bitch... I want you to be mine and if I want you, then I'll get you. HAHA!" His hand scraped at the wood of the table between them, the orb glowering beside him, gazing her up and down.

Just as Mono began looking around to see if he should try and escape, the bartender appeared beside him, standing tall between him and the charred human, "You got fuckin' problem 'ere? Huh? Leave this 'ere lady alone. She ain't want what you're offerin'" Mono peeked around the arm of the bartender, the Purple-Blood growling in an almost animal-like manner before shoving the orb into his satchel and spitting on the ground beside him in disrespect. He then walked out the front doors of the bar, eyes fixing on Mono as he exited, huffing before the door to the entrance slammed shut behind him.

Once he was out of sight, Mono leaned against the pool table, sighing shakily as he hadn't realized he was holding his breath. He gulped, grabbing his glass as it almost spilled, placing it farther away before paying attention to the one who'd helped him. "Hrmmm... I haven't seen em before. Corrupted folks like him show up every once in a while but... he was long gone."

Mono added after catching his breath, noticing the marks on the wood from the man's nails earlier, "What... what was that? He had some sort of... orb with him."

The white-furred bartender glanced back at him, turning to face him, "I apologize for em bothering ya. I may not know ya but I like to look after my patrons. What was it? Hrmm... 'Soul Spheres' are what they call em, dark prisons to store one's spirit inside. I've seen em before. Some people use them for dark fantasy-type shit like that Bozzo... They're outlawed. But even then I'm sure we both know laws don't do shit around 'ere. People do what they want and ya gotta cover your hide." The anthro goat clopped one of his hoofs on the ground, looking over the dragoness. "Glad you're safe. You alright?"

"I- I think I'm good. Thank you."

"Alright, well I best get back to my drinks. Let me know if you need anything." He nodded politely, turning and returning to the bar a moment later. The customers had watched it all happen from what it seemed, taking notice as the goat returned before everyone began chatting once more as if nothing had happened.

'God fuck. Well, that was terrifying. I've heard about the corruption but never seen someone that bad up close before. Have you?'

Once again she was fairly silent, her tendrils a little warmer and yet wavering as she seemed to ponder her thoughts. He still wasn't quite sure how it worked, if she could hide certain thoughts from him or not. He presumed she might have been able to learn how to since she'd been under Rekali's control for so long, but he couldn't be sure. To his relief though she eventually replied, her thoughts spaced out and distant. ~Why... why do people do this?~

Her mind then began to flare alongside his own, continuing with a reverberation, ~Fuckers like that deserve to die. It's so fucked up. I would have fucking killed him if I could've.~ Mono froze, blinking as he found himself unable to place why she felt so passionate about this.

'What? I agree that messed up but... It seemed like they- the fox I mean- was enjoying it?'

~No, you don't fucking get it. That 'pleasure' he talked about was a special spell he added on. No, it's not hot. It's not some sort of fantasy. It's a living nightmare.~ He licked his lips nervously, looking down at his talons, trying to place his thoughts.

'Do you want t-'

~No. Drop it.~ He exhaled slowly, an uncomfortable feeling washing over him, his mind racing with thoughts as to what she could truly be thinking of before changing the subject.

'So... I remember reading in The Book of Familiars that Familiars are used to combat corruption... is that why Rekali has you imprisoned like this?'

~...If you must know, yes. Rekali is a witch and being a witch means casting Dark Magic. Dark Magic, as you know, corrupts the body. The problem with it though is that the darker the magic the better it feels. It's pleasurable and so even when one can lose part of themselves, it becomes addictive. Rekali on the other hand captured me to combat that physical weakness to be able to achieve what she's after. Does that answer your question?~

'I mean, yeah, I guess I just thought there was more to it. Let's just sit down. I'd like to relax for a bit after all that.' She didn't complain, sitting down on the plush cushions as he set the drink on the coffee table in front of them before taking another swig. He pulled his wings to his back, trying not to sit on the fingertips of them, the appendages still feeling unworldly to him. The sound of voices around him and the soft music playing through the speakers slowly began to soothe him, reminding himself he was okay now, wishing with all his might he could just be home once again, hiding under his warm blanket. But instead, he held firm, his eyes rummaging the attendees of the bar, waiting for whatever might come forth.

He had spent about fifteen minutes sitting there, finishing up his drink before the sight of a black leopard in the corner of the room splayed out on one of the couches caught his eye, making him wonder just how long he'd been there. His coat camouflaged him with the shadows in the back of the bar, yellow eyes gazing over Mono hungrily before climbing out of his seat and sauntering over to the back exit door nearby. He watched him, tail flicking, his movement slick and precise, his lean yet muscular body held high as he gave a nod in their direction before pressing the door open and slinking outside. He left it open, the red glow of the exit sign flickering above it, Mono speaking up to Vera, 'Welp, I guess we found our panther.'

~More like he found us. Hrrrff... Let's follow him.~

Preparing himself for what was to come, he fixed his breasts a bit in the bra, still getting used to the feminine garment as it held onto him snugly, brushing off the dust on his pants before pressing past the metal door and closing it behind him. The feline creature gave a rumble at the sight of them, growling dominantly as they were left alone. His tail began flicking more erratically than before, his deep voice resonating down the dark alley lit only by the red exit signs hanging above the doorways. "Go. Further into the alley. Now." His voice was solid as stone, piercing gaze unwavering, staring into him with viscosity, causing Mono to gulp and obey, walking across the messy alley, glasses of alcohol littering the pavement among the metal trash bins.

He stopped when they reached the last door in the back, letting out a displeased hum as the rain sprinkling down from above wettened his clothes, making him feel even more vulnerable than he already was. The windows to whatever place this used to be were broken and boarded, the X in 'exit' hanging limply from the sign. He even noticed names carved into the door with talons, etched like days marked into the walls of a prison. He was cornered in the back of the alley, already so helpless as he turned to watch the panther approach, hackles raised.

His strong jaws parted with a rumbling undertone, "Give me your name."

He gulped, stuttering, "I-it's M- Vera."

"Vera, change for me. I know you can turn into a feral. Do it."

He blinked, looking over the stranger, "How-" But when his growl heightened he didn't ask further, focusing on the spell he'd performed a few times now, watching it all take place as he focused before reappearing in a dizzy haze into his feral form. He gasped as he came to himself once again, the panther's hackles lowering, a heart-stopping purr drawing out in his masculine lungs.

Then, without another word, he suddenly lunged in a flash, jaws outstretched with a roar, crashing straight into him! He yelled from the pain in his chest, flying backward before slamming into the brick wall behind him beside the door. His teeth dug into his neck, clamping down like a vice, keeping him still as he climbed on top of the dragoness now laid out on their back on the stone. Mono panted, the weight of the male pressing down on him as he pinned the female. He tried pushing at the panther, the flight-or-fight response triggering inside himself as the bite tightened just enough to spark pain. He kicked or tried to, but the ever-encompassing growl of the predator quieted him, causing him to lay limp before the animal.

When his prey began to submit, he drew back from the bite, giving a lick of his jowls, saliva coating his maw in anticipation. "Yesss. Let that fear control you. It only enhances your flavor.~" He then clamped back down, body shifting once again, positioning his hips over his prey, Mono's wings splayed to his sides beside him as he was left to endure the abuse. The rain pattered over the fragile membranes, trailing down his snout as he was forced to raise his head up from the grip of his jaws. At that same moment, Vera's thoughts rang out in his brain, seemingly unable to hold back.

~FUCK YES. Shit...~ He let out a heated gasp, mixed with his friend's passion fueling the excitement between his hinds. He could smell the predator's rancid breath filled with meat and drugs wafting over him, the teeth wedged under his scales, pressing down into his flesh, warning him of what he could do if Mono didn't cooperate. He could taste the rain trickling into his maw as it parted, the scent of cigarettes mingling among the others as the moon was hidden beneath the gray clouds far above. At the same time, something warm and wet began growing and pressing against his crotch, lengthening further even when he thought it'd stop. He tried to glance down at it but was unable to, simply laying there as the panther pulled back from the bite and gave one last remark before beginning.

"You aren't getting fucked. You're gonna be a fucking cumstain on this alley, a worthless puddle for me to forget about. I don't care how scared you are. If a 'royal dragoness' like you can be dominated this easily then you deserve to be turned into my seed. But go on, struggle and yell for help. You are mine.~"

It was only then that he felt him move his scaled tail up between their bodies, Mono gasping in disbelief at what the panther was proposing before all too quickly the end of his tail was swallowed up by his dick. The panther bit into him again, Mono letting out a yelp of fear, Vera's arousal only seeming to confuse his feelings even more as he was left to lay there as it all happened.

The predator didn't bother to take his time, simply thrusting up in a lurch, each inch of his prey's tail slurping up with a pull, the warmth of his member clenching around his tail as he was humped further inside. He kicked at the panther out of fear, wondering how he could possibly fit inside his nuts, but the animal seemed more than sure of his capabilities. His arousal seeped out around his cock, lubing up his tail as it trailed over it, quickly reaching the midsection as the panther pulled back his maw and forced her to look into his eyes with a paw. "No one will even know you existed."

He could feel his tail curling up inside his balls, the surprisingly stretchy interior easily taking him inside as he was fucked directly into his mating shaft. The panther then ordered her, "Push your paws inside or I'll rip your neck out." Mono gasped, heart pounding as he did as he was told, his hind paws slipping into the entrance of his cock as he pressed it to his tail, the precum of the panther making the process easy. As he progressed over the base of his tail and legs he then caught a whiff of something, glancing between them both with an amused chuckle, "Oh, you wanted this all along? Kinky fucker. I'm going to enjoy splattering you against the floor once you're digested. A magical creature degraded into nothing but cum. Seed to breed another female, but you won't even get that treatment."

He then used a paw to rub at Mono's slit, causing him to moan out alongside Vera, their heated breath reaching up into the cold night air. The rocking of the panther's hips quickly arrived at his thighs and rear, those digits of his predator splaying apart his lips, coating them in his feminine fluids before retracting as he prepared to swallow one of the widest parts of his meal. Mono felt his body shifting and falling onto the ground the more and more he was eaten alive, his backside rising off the ground as the cock itself began pulling and massaging him further inside. It struggled for a moment, the near same-size vore making Mono wonder if the panther had bitten off more than it could chew. But only a few moments after, with a deep fuck against the wall, using his body as leverage for his thrust, the panther forced his scaled backside into his dick, clenching over his vagina as it entered. A reproductive organ that could have been wrapped around his member now swallowed whole inside of it instead.

The panther gripped his wings, pulling them to his sides, Mono attempting to help as much as he could. It was all taking place so fast, able to glance between the legs of the animal at the large lump he was making inside his sack, moving his tail as he watched the response inside the male's balls. He then whispered out subconsciously. "This is really happening..."

Once his wings were pressed firmly to his sides, helped by the paws of the predator holding him tight, his rumbling voice pressed up beside her ears, hot breath wafting against them, "It is. You are really being shoved into my shaft. Your entire body coated in my cum, no care for your pride or dignity. Just cock food."

He then began growing even more eager, fucking the feral dragoness into himself faster, gripping his shoulders and wings, cramming more and more of his prey into his meaty scepter. He growled louder with each hump, Mono's world rocking with his motions, his back and head dragging and rubbing against the alcohol-stained pavement beneath his body. The rain once pouring over his face quickly faded as the body of the panther blocked out the sky, slowly taking over his entire view. Mono glanced back down to find his predator's tip reaching just below his chest and halfway over his wings, the panther ordering him once more with a press of his paw on his neck, causing Mono to choke, "Press your paws to your side NOW!"

He moaned out in response, obeying and pressing his forepaws into his dick, watching them pull inside along with the rest of him after only a few seconds. Through it all he found himself unable to think of anything but the submissive lust filling his mind, finding the fear lingering among it for some reason flickering an arousal in him he never knew he had. He tried not to think about it but Vera calling out for more made it hard to ignore, her lustful thoughts stroking along his mind strings like a temptress, making pleasure wash through him from her own excitement. He felt a little dizzy as his world continued swaying back and forth, the blood rushing to his head as he gazed up at the chest of the panther, glancing into his hungry eyes as he watched Mono's reactions.

He could feel his body arching in an uncomfortable way as the weight of his lower body hung from the sack of the feline, his cock enlarged tenfold to fit the body of the 'ness inside it, tugging him deeper with no remorse, promising there would be no escape from his fate. Vera's thoughts huffed out, ~Just a cumstain... God...~ The panther's paws moved to his prey's shoulders, gripping them as he shoved more with each growl and thrust, the heartbeat of the predator seemingly echoed within his dick as it began to knead and stroke them inside faster, the lube inside growing and spilling his chest and neck scales. He then gave one rough shove, roaring out as he crammed the dragoness's shoulders inside his dick, his tip slurping lewdly over the wings and arms before closing around her neck.

It was then that his head raised off the ground, the virile scent of his musk filling his nostrils as his eyes were forced to stare at his stomach and crotch. The paw of the panther pressed his face into his belly fur, Mono unable to stop him as only his neck and head remained. "You will never see the light of day again. Your last look will be at my crotch, the dick around you, so real and hot. You're already dead, look at yourself. You're inside my member, swishing around in my seed-filled balls. You aren't a dragon anymore, you're useless."

The panther stopped humping at this point, leaving his cock to finish him off. The predator then began walking, simply sauntering around the alley, letting him feel what it felt like to hang between his legs like this. With the sheer size of his prey's form, though he was forced to drag them along the ground inside his balls, the stroking of his cock flesh pulling Mono deeper and deeper until it crested at the base of his head. It was then that the panther sat on his haunches, moving his pouch to lie before him on the ground, letting the dragoness see their struggles as they moved inside them. He then moved his paw to his shaft, right under Mono's snout, and began stroking himself softly.

He growled, masturbating with his food in his sleeve, the arousal seeping around their neck and down his shaft. He used the lube gathered on his paw to rub over Mono's face, not caring about him anymore as he coated him thickly in it. The scent of musk was thicker than anything else, that smell taking the forefront of his mind as the cock pulled again, gaining ground on his chin and over the top of his head. His ears were pressed to his cheeks, the precum slathering them, about to take over his eyes with the dick. He could feel the tight grip of the panther's paw around his neck and head as he simply stroked his dick to get off. The panther growled happily, fapping faster, hips humping as he began to grow close.

Then, with a loud roar he orgasmed, squirting around her face and over it as the flesh closed over his face, leaving only their muzzle outside his tip as it was splattered in cum. It was so warm, the pump of his digits around his face as pulses of his climax rushed around him, inside his penis as he came. He continued growling, letting the world know of what he'd done, his other paw pressing against Mono's muzzle before shoving it inside, the last breath of life outside sealing away as the heat of his dick claimed him completely with only a splurt of cum signaling their demise.

After only a moment he was slurped into his sack completely, curling up once more inside as the copious amount of cum sloshed around him. The casing around him was tighter than normal, squeezing them as they rested inside the very sack the panther was orgasming from. The pool of liquids raised to only their hind paws but the entire walls around them made sure to coat them in his jizz even if they weren't dunked in it yet.

Soon enough his bliss began to die down, Mono feeling the world shift around him as the panther began to move. He then heard a long scraping of claws against metal, the panther speaking up. "What was it? Vera? There we are, just another name etched into the door. Each one of them was digested by me and you're just another. The only remnant that you even existed." After that, he didn't even pay him much attention anymore other than a passing remark as they ventured away from the bar into the unknown. "Rrrff, you're gonna feel so good to splatter later... I've gotta sleep you off first though. Churn you into what you're meant to be." The dragoness could feel the heat from the balls increasing as he sat inside, the sheer scent of his milk making his head go dizzy. But unlike the numbing feelings from the stomach he'd become regrettably accustomed to, his orbs instead seemed to melt away his worries, a blissful wash of ecstasy causing his mind to go blank in heat. He rubbed his tail at his snatch, playing with himself as the pool of cum swished around, getting off inside the male as he was being digested so casually inside an animal the same size as him.

He wasn't sure how long had passed until the panther laid down, the sound of crickets outside and his rumbling snores filling his senses before he began to pass out. He could feel the thighs of the panther around his head, reminding him he was really sealed away between them in his cock. The time flew by as he eventually lost consciousness, too blissful to focus on the glowing golden strands around him, preparing to protect his form.

When they awoke sometime after, Mono found himself in the alcove of a cave, the two of them somewhere in the forest he'd never been to before. Their bodies were still covered in his seed, taking the time to withdraw the vial from the Ethereal Realm and capture the fluid within before storing it once more and trying to find the way home. Luckily he could hear the sound of a car in the distance, following the sounds of the city before they arrived near the entrance to the lake path he'd usually take. Familiar with the way back they then ventured back chatting here and there with one another about it all, glancing at the bar and the alley they were cock vored in, sighing in relief that it was over.

And with that they walked back home covered in cum, the most unlikely of friends stuck with one another in a situation he would have never in his wildest dreams imagined he'd agree to. The only question now was where they would be going next and who they would be digested by, praying with a blush that he'd be able to wash the smell of arousal from their bodies as he chuckled and walked under the sprinkling rain toward his house.