FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Art by StaffKira on FA

Story written by Vaethund, for my dearest Sophrie

Happy Birthday, hun! And happy anniversary! Three years together already; time sure does fly, doesn't it? Here's to many more! Enjoy the story!

"You know, I could've just flown us up there," Kalinth idly remarked as the trail turned in yet another switchback. "Or you could at least have let me carry you. Four legs are better than two on stuff like this."

"Oh shush, you," Parker said, heedless of the loose shale as shi scrambled up the steep slope. "You know I like this stuff. Plus walking is good for you! All that exercise and stuff!"

"Right..." Kalinth drawled.

The pair had been in the Shenandoah National Park mountains for two days now, just exploring the wilderness and relaxing away from the stress of their daily jobs. Kalinth was especially enthusiastic about the higher altitude; the crisp, clear air a nice refresher while on the ground instead of having to be in the sky to experience it. Parker, on the other hand, was not so appreciative.

"Trust me," shi grinned up at him, muzzle parted as shi lightly panted in the summer heat. "You'll love this, but it's so much better to see it from the trail instead of the sky."

"Stony Man Peak, yes? I saw it from the road as we came in. Impressive for humans, yes, but we're not anymore."

"True, but-"

"And besides, I'm a dragon! A little cliff like that is quite literally a hop and skip away for me," He joked, prancing forwards a few steps and flaring his wings for emphasis, making the fox duck before scowling and jogging to catch back up.

"Och, stahp yer whinin', yeh overgrown lizard. It be like yeh nev'r enjoyed a goo', long hike before," Parker laughed, adopting a horrendously fake Scottish accent and thumping Kalinth's leg with a fist as shi got back in range.

"Alright, alright! I yield!" He chuckled in return, jokingly limping on the hit leg. "Violent little fox, aren't you?"

"Aw, I love you too, ya scaly menace."

"Seriously? A blindfold?" Kalinth blinked down at the large piece of cloth - more a tablecloth than a blindfold, really - that Parker was holding as shi stared up at him earnestly. "I didn't know it was kinky time yet today."

"It's not for-! We're not-! I mean-... Gah!" the fox drooped slightly, ears folded back as the inside darkened in a blush. "Will you just put it on already?! Please?"

"You make it too easy, hun," he chuckled, gently laying down to put his head in front of Parker, giving hir a little lick on the cheek as shi came closer.

"Hmph!" shi snorted even as shi smiled and gentled wrapped the surprisingly light cloth around hir boyfriend's head, tying it off behind his crown of horns.

"Alright, now stand up and give me your chin. I'll guide you the last little bit, ok?"

"Of course, I trust you."

"Your mistake!" shi giggled as the dragon slowly stood, before lowering his head until shi caught his chin on hir palm. "C'mon, slowly now."

Carefully, Kalinth followed his girlfriend, placing each step with careful deliberation. Slowly, the crunchy gravel trail was replaced with soft loamy earth, the soil squishing slightly through his toes.

"Rocks coming up now, be careful."

Kalinth hummed, taking even slower steps and dragging the backs of his knuckles across the ground to feel for obstacles. With increasing regularity, his forepaws bumped into larger and larger stones as they advanced. Some, he could simply step over without worry; others, he Parker had to lead him around. Then there were the middling ones.

"Oi! Stop fondling the rock! It'll call HR on you!"

"But it seems like such a nice rock!" Kalinth grinned toothily, running his paw over the rough granite. "Maybe she'll come home with us? Then you can really be between a rock and a hard place!"

*Smack!*

"Ow!" he yelped, more in surprise at the strike than true pain. "Come on! You really just... rolled into that one"

There was a pause as Parker took hir hand away from Kalinth's muzzle, before he suddenly felt hir grab his ear, and twist and pull down at the same time.

"GAH! OW! Damnit, I yield! I yield!" It wasn't so much a yelp as a screech this time as the dragon frantically tried to twist his head and body to relieve the pain, but also avoid crushing his companion.

Finally shi eased up a bit, but didn't let go.

"Cut it out, this is supposed to be a nice, relaxing hike. Not a lewdness competition! Besides," shi suddenly growled lowly, leaning in close to the ear shi still held. "I know where everything is kept, so I know just. Where. To. Kick. Understood?"

"Yes dear," Kalinth whimpered, tail subconsciously curling up between his hind legs.

"Good!" shi chirped cheerfully, releasing his ear and replacing hir hand on his chin. "Anyways, we're almost there, just up around this bend, aaaand...

"Perfect! Sit." Kalinth couldn't see hir just yet, but could very well imagine the imperiously pointed finger as shi commanded her much larger boyfriend. "Now!"

The dragon sat.

"Ok, you can open your eyes now!"

Kalinth blinked in the evening light as he looked at the scene before him. On the cliff in front of him, Parker was smiling nervously, standing next to a large red and white checkered picnic blanket. There was a small wicker basket resting towards one corner, with a thermos and a set of cups beside it.

"You... had all this in your backpack?" He asked incredulously, slowly padding forward, gazing around at the wondrous scenery that was the Blue Ridge mountains and Shenandoah Valley. As he came closer, he got a whiff of the basket's contents - smoked sausage, fine aged cheese, something fruity (Blackberries? Strawberries, perhaps?), and... chocolate?

"Yep! Do... Do you like it?" Shi asked shyly, wringing hir hands together. "There was only so much I could carry, and I know you like being big like that, so I tried to stuff as much as I could in there. If it's not enough, I can ge- URK!"

Shi was cut off with a muffled exclamation of surprise as Kalinth darted forward and pulled hir into a hug against the front of his chest. Hir eyes went wide for a second, before shi melted into the embrace, reaching up to wrap her arms as far as she could around his neck and squeeze. For a long moment, there was nothing but each other.

"Thank you, hun, this is so thoughtful. It looks great!" Kalinth murmured softly as he pulled away after what felt like an eternity in his mate's embrace.

"I'm glad you like it," shi whispered back, slowly stroking his snout and giving him a quick peck on the end of his nose. "Now, shall we eat?"

"Why of course, milady! It would be such a shame to waste this wonderful spread, don't you think?"

"But of course, my good sir. After you, then."

*Snap!*

*Splat!*

"You're horrible at this!" Parker laughed delightedly as Kalinth failed yet again to catch the strawberry shi threw up at his face. "Some predator you are!"

Kalinth growled lowly, the deep rumble vibrating through Parker's body as shi snuggled even tighter against his sternum. His face already had half a dozen different splotches of red berry juice from other failed catches, the latest one leaving a smear right along his lower jawline.

"Yeah yeah," he grumbled good-naturedly, rolling his eyes. "Keep that up and we'll see if I ever get you any more venison."

"You wouldn't dare!" Shi gasped, leaning back and dramatically putting a hand to her chest.

"Oh but I would!" His eyes gleamed with mischief as he craned his neck to peer at hir a bit closer. "You see, I know you can catch anything you want all on your own, so I think I might just start keeping my prey to myself. Hmm, yes that does seem like a good ide-!"

He cut off with startled sound that defied description, ears springing straight up and eyes going wide and slightly crossed as Parker flung one last strawberry with a surprising amount of force. It struck him right in the middle of his snout with a resounding "SPLAT!" that spattered red juice all around his nose.

There was silence for a moment before the orange and white fox carefully and deliberately selected another berry, weighing it in hir hand with a thoughtful look. Nodding decisively, shi looked back up hir dragon companion.

"So about that venison..."

"Uhhh..." he gulped, eyes darting around wildly at the silent fruity threat. "What I meant to say, of course, is that I'll get you all the venison and other prey that you could ever want, dear."

"That's what I thought," shi chuckled, tossing the berry into hir own mouth. "Now come here, hun," shi continued much more softly, extending hir arms up towards his head.

His eyes melting with the love for his mate, Kalinth leaned his head down and gently accepted hir silent request for a kiss, almost enveloping hir whole muzzle as he did. Relaxing into each other, Parker reached up to grasp his jaw and horn even as he brought a wing around to hug hir even tighter against him.

"I love you, my big dragon," shi murmured, pulling back and resting hir head against his.

"I love you too, my lovely fox."