The Lost of the Marshes – Chapter 9: Stuck
by Bad Manners

===

... Arguably, Kaati's largest contributor to its supremacy wasn't an intrinsic cultural superiority, but its highly organized and prevalent military hierarchy, unlike any seen before. Under the general-emperor would sit his generals, and under them, several regiments, with chains of command of their own. [...] The advancements in bronzeworking have served to constantly supply weapons, as more young men got drafted once they came of age. ...

... While Ranagas focused most of his efforts to the north of Kaati and along the First River, Elki's campaigns initially intended to occupy the remainder of the region eastward up to the Second River. The young emperor has reportedly been criticized for not being as ambitious, or competent, as his father. However, in both cases, despite the successful territorial expansion, all of it came at the expense of small villages with which Kaati previously had trade agreements with, as well as those of neutral standing, and we posit that the costs in blood far outweigh the supposed accomplishments. ...

===

A new day had arrived in the Hamora Marshes. The sun shone over the land, rousing birds and their morning songs. An abandoned ruin, home to a large dragon, would let light intrude through the collapsed roof and wall of white chiseled stones. Suugal could see the brightness, indicating that he should let the two occupants of his crop out, but he nestled his head close to the ocean blue plates of his belly instead. He could listen to their hearts inside, although their 'voices' were mostly quiet due to them being peacefully asleep. All that he could make out from the scavenger duo was contentment, no doubt due to the coziness and cool temperature that his insides could offer.

Then, some stirring. First in the gasham'sag, before Nikili even had started moving. Suu was well aware of how their emotions felt when they were awake or not, increasing in intensity as their minds returned to consciousness. Then, a big stretch and yawn, which could be felt and heard across the smooth wall of the crop – one that also caused the cat on the mongoose's lap to awaken. The taller scavenger's hand tapped three times on the wall, signaling that he wanted out – and the dragon obliged.

Much more practiced in regurgitating his visitors, his crop gently guided them back into the esophagus, with its reverse peristalsis guiding Nikili through the tunnel with the cat he was hugging. They'd been mostly dry in his organ, but they would land in his wet mouth and get a saliva bath before being placed on the ground. The routine went as expected, and once he felt his furry friends at the crease of his tongue, Suu slowly slipped them out to the floor, letting Nikili land feet-first along with a pool of drool.

Once the dragon's jaws were raised, the mongoose put Quince down, and both of them ran their paws over their bodies to wipe off most of the slobber. Suu gave a warm throaty rumble, watching the two naked mammals removing the transparent liquid from their fur, as he brought the tip of his long tail towards them.

Nikili scrubbed his eyes. "Good morning, big guy! Good morning, Quince!" He smiled at his companions as he greeted them. The mongoose wasn't completely dry, but the usual heat of the marshes would evaporate whatever saliva still clung to his fur in no time. Suu's tail was close to him, and like on a rack, his skirt and Quince's brown belt hung onto the spines. He grabbed the linen fabric and gave the scaly appendage some pats. "Thanks again, Suu."

The dragon blinked in agreement, and lowered his tail for Quince to do the same with their apparel. Both of them slipped each leg through the hole of their clothing and raised them to their waist. Nikili also tied a knot on a cord, to make sure that his skirt wouldn't slip down. The mongoose stared down at his draconic friend's crotch, still intrigued by the change that had occurred.

When they'd first found Suu, he didn't have sexual genitals – Nikili had confirmed as much. But now, clear as day, he had a large slit. He also had one ever since he could turn into a kobold, but even if Suugal had never mentioned its sudden appearance, the mongoose could only wonder: had his transformation caused this form to change as well? Regardless, Nikili was attracted to the dragon, so it wasn't just curiosity that weighed his mind from the sudden change...

Once they were both done dressing themselves, Suugal's entire presence vanished as he turned into a much smaller, nimble form that flew out to the vegetation in a blur, rushing to get some breakfast for himself. Similarly, Nikili and Quince got ready to set out for the day.

The mongoose headed towards a ceremonial urn with a broken lid, flipping it to spew the remaining water onto the ground. They all had their duties for the morning. He would head east to a stream diverging from the westbound Second River, and fill the ceramic with clean water for the day. Meanwhile, Quince would use the pockets of their belt to collect food in the marshes, gathering the duo's breakfast, which so far had consisted of a diet of wild pistachios and pomegranates. On the other hand, the dragon's assignments were simple; by virtue of being a dragon, he'd protect the other two – scaring off any other ferals of his species with his presence alone –, as well as offer them accommodations for the night. Thankfully, these last few days had been uneventful, but in a hostile place like these marshes, it was better to be safe than sorry.

These tasks aside, there wasn't much that the trio would do to spend their time. It had been about three days since Nurta had left them alone in Zugul. The red lizard – rather, the transformed red dragon – had urged them to stay here and wait as she returned by herself to Kaati. She'd intended to figure out a way to bring them back home, after all of the confusion that had happened in Kuir. It felt like an eternity that everything had started with Suu appearing in their lives... but in reality, it hadn't even been a week. Even after everything that'd come to pass with Nurta in Kyorna – Suu had recounted her story to the two –, it felt hard to digest everything. Over the last few days, with no distractions, it'd gotten easier to wrap their heads around the whole thing. And even in this uncertain situation that they'd ended up in, they tried to retain a sense of normalcy in their daily lives.

Nikili was the first to return, placing the urn by the wall just before the archaeopteryx flew back into the ruined temple. Suu then turned into a kobold, a black-and-blue reptile towering over the mongoose. He already had his flat snout facing down, ready to welcome Nikili's smooch. The two men embraced each other for a while. Morning kisses were part of their routine, too. Some days prior, Nikili had asked Suu to be his boyfriend, and the transformed dragon accepted. It was only a formality at that point given the couple's previous experiences, but it still was an important step for the mongoose.

The mongoose broke contact from his lips and smiled at him. "I love you, big guy." He knew that Suu could hear his heart say it, but he still wanted to tell him every time.

The kobold, reading his emotions, replied in broken Kaati. "You don't like my fish breath on morning."

"Well, it wasn't -that- bad today...! Did you eat something different?"

"I don't know. All fish very same to me."

"Do you mean 'very similar'? Anyway, maybe I'm getting used to tasting your tongue." He winked, arms still wrapped over his shoulders. "But there was something else I was wondering about..."

Suu grunted, in agreement with his thoughts, looking down at his legs. "It's surprise for me, too. But yes, I have two penis as dragon."

Nikili blushed at how forward he was, even if his scaly boyfriend wasn't being flirtatious or anything.

"But too big as dragon. Won't fit Nikili, might hurt you."

The scavenger's face flushed even redder. "S-Suu, I don't mean it like that! I-I thought– It might be interesting to just see them in action...! M-Maybe I could just...touch them, if that's fine with you?"

He thought for a bit. "Okay. You want to see now?"

Nikili's head turned after hearing Quince's light steps entering the temple, and he slowly unwrapped his arms from Suu. « Maybe later, big guy. » He attempted to whisper over his heart, too embarrassed to speak it out loud. Nikili felt that it'd be inappropriate to talk about sex stuff in front of his genderless, asexual companion. Instead, he simply approached the yellow cat, watching as they unfurled the pocket of their belt to reveal a few berries inside.

"Wait!" Suu called out to the two. "Dangerous fruits!"

They both looked at him, but Quince replied with an inquisitive mew. They couldn't talk, but their heart  still spoke clearly to Suu, who changed his stance and grunted in agreement. Nikili couldn't understand what had just happened, and the kobold realized the confusion.

"I eat similar fruits long ago. But they are poisonous fruits. I feel bad for long time after eating... But Quince know this, and say they are different fruits. Very same– Very similar, but not dangerous."

Nikili was surprised. "Huh. I also didn't know there were two types of berries... It's always Quince who grabs them when we head out here." He directed his next question at Suu. "And you lived your whole life in the marshes – for who knows how long a dragon can live – without knowing it, too?"

The kobold assented with another grumble. Nikili turned to face his companion, who was quite full of surprises for someone incapable of speaking.

"Then...how did you know it, Quince?"

Quince looked away, flustered. Suu also looked away, his expression clearly indicating that he was holding off his tongue. Given their unique arrangement on who could understand who, the kobold would normally translate the cat's thoughts to Nikili. But sometimes, both would act coy – and he knew why. The cat was hiding something, and asking Suu not to reveal it.

"It's okay, Quince, I won't press it any more. If you don't wanna talk about it, that's fine."

He had a genuine smile of understanding, one which the small feline replied with a relieved trill. Nikili was still learning to trust his long time companion's boundaries, knowing that there were secrets they weren't comfortable sharing yet. He'd let go of it, since he wanted to do good in their eyes, after all. Especially after nearly losing them so many times recently; in Logas, in Kuir, in Kyorna... Even right here, on that first encounter with Suu. In the end, by sheer luck, they'd all found their way back to each other, the dragon included. Perhaps it really was destiny, or the gods' design, that kept them together through so much.

While he reflected, Quince's cupped paws offered him some of the berries, and he gladly accepted the little things that they chose to share with him.

***

There weren't many ways to pass the time out here. Normally, Quince and Nikili would venture into the Zugul Ruins to find artifacts – like the broken ones that used to adorn this temple – and sell them for gold in Kuir. However, already being in the ruins, money was the least of their concerns. They had to hope that Nurta would come back soon with news, but that could take a while.

Instead, Nikili and Suu would normally spend these afternoons talking, and today was no different. Suu's speech had suddenly gotten better due to the mysterious circumstances of his meeting with Nurta and her mother, but there was still room for improvement on his Kaatian. And, as it turned out, Nikili was a pretty engaging teacher, and Suu, an eager student.

"I know; you know; she...?" The mongoose was testing his boyfriend, sitting across from him.

Suu thought about his answer. "...knows?"

"Yes! And if it was some time ago..."

"She knoweds."

"'Knew', big guy. I knew; she knew."

"Isn't new the opposite old?"

"It's a different word, Suu..." Nikili sighed, but Suu seemed unfazed about his mistake, and kept beaming about his learning. "I don't blame you, it's kinda confusing... But still! You did some good progress today with your verbs. We can stop and keep at it tomorrow."

"Okay! Now you want sex?"

"S-Suu...!" His eyes went wide. Honestly, the fact that Suu could tell what he wanted at any time often felt more like a curse than a blessing. Especially as Nikili's wide pupils looked at the kobold's enlarged midriff, its large bumps containing a cat that had slipped into the crop before the start of his lesson.

"Why worry about Quince? They asleep now, but when awake, they don't mind sex. Like with Nurta in Kuir."

"Suu, I... I don't know, I feel that what we have – and what you and Quince have –, it's just...n-not compatible."

"I don't understand."

The brown mongoose ran his fingers over his arm. "I'm– I'm not sure I understand my feelings, either. Can't you use the gasham'sag to know what I mean?"

"No... It's confusing. Your heart, I hear love of me and concern of Quince. Concern of how Quince sees you. It's messy... No, different word."

"...Can you explain to me how it feels? To have this gasham'sag of yours." Nikili lied down on his side onto the white stone floor, next to Suu's legs. "Come lie with me."

The kobold obliged, guided by the furry hand cuddling his forearm. His noticeable ocean blue bulge brushed against the mongoose's leg, evidencing where the cat was resting.

"The gasham'sag for everyone is...different." Suu explained. "You are loud and crazy, like angry river."

"A raging river, you mean?"

"Yes. But Quince is quiet, peaceful...like lake. More clear than your heart. Usually. Sometimes cold."

"Cold?" From his description, Nikili thought his power would be similar to hearing voices or seeing words, but to mention temperatures... Maybe Suu struggled to describe it in terms that he could understand himself. "And you're saying that my heart is hard to interpret...?"

"Sometimes. It's hard now. But sometimes easy. In Kuir, it was clear when you shouted me to turn–" He stopped himself. "No, you don't want hear it again."

"You mean... That thing you told me in Kyorna, no? That the reason that you'd transformed into a dragon in the city was because of my heart calling out... How it wanted you to do exactly that."

Suu grunted in agreement.

"I– I'll admit I can't understand it like you do. My heart, I mean. And...maybe you're right." His hand reached the kobold's face, stroking his cheek. "Maybe it was out of my control when it called to you. But...that's why emotions can be complicated, right? Just because my heart cried it out in the moment, it doesn't mean that it's what I really wanted, or that I really believed it should've happened."

The reptile had a confused expression. "I don't understand. Your heart was very clear, then happy to see me. Now, very similar. You want for sex with me...but again you act like don't want it?"

Nikili averted his gaze. "I-I already said that it's confusing, big guy...! W-With Quince watching or participating, I–"

"Sorry." Suu whimpered. "I won't speak again."

"That's okay... I'm sorry. I know that you want my best, and it's hard to deal with my thoughts. But I wanna be more honest with myself." His hand rubbed over the engorged plates on his boyfriend's tummy. "More honest with both of you. I'm your teacher and your boyfriend, after all. And for what it's worth...I'm glad that we found you in Kuir."

Suu looked back into Nikili's green eyes. The scavenger's heart was much calmer and understandable now. "You want...cuddle before bed?"

The brown mongoose smiled. This much he would be willing to do before Suu would transform back into a dragon for the night to swallow him down. "Yeah... I'd love that."

With his hand on Suu's shoulder, he brought his head close to the kobold's face. Then, Suu's lips reached Nikili's...

***

Eight days since the they had fled from Kuir. Seven days since they'd been brought here. Six since Nurta had left them alone in Zugul. And they still had no news from home. She wouldn't have forgotten about them – at least, Nikili had to believe that much.

Still, he was getting somewhat anxious. He kept repeating the dates in his head, and everything that had happened, wondering if they could have done something differently to avoid this outcome. He was incredibly glad to have reunited with the two most important people in the world in the end, but getting accustomed to this routine was getting on his nerves. But Suu and Quince didn't seem to mind that change of pace as much as him.

He tried to stay cheerful and keep appearances for the cat. The last thing they needed was for Nikili to start losing his mind. Of course, there wasn't much he couldn't hide from the kobold...

"How to make Nikili better?" Suu blurted out suddenly, nervous about the thoughts eating away at his boyfriend.

The mongoose looked at him, speechless. So did Quince, sitting across the room, realizing that there was something wrong.

"Big guy... I-It's nothing, really. Just don't mind what my heart is–"

"No! If you're feeling sad, I can fix it. Tell me how!"

Quince approached the two, asking with mews about what was going on. Suu was amplifying his inner desperation, even if he didn't realize it. Still, he had promised his boyfriend that he'd be more honest for his and Quince's sake...

"I'm just a little sad, it's not a big deal... I was just missing our home in Logas. Drinking my beer, waking up in our bed, having work to do. Even Ruunk being annoying. It sounds ridiculous, I know. And I know this is only temporary until we can go back to Kaati. But I can't help these thoughts that we might never go back, y'know? I know they aren't true. And I love just spending this time with you two. But I can't help but miss home still..."

Nikili looked at Suu. In truth, talking about it did ease up some of his burden – the kobold's smile back at him confirmed as much. The cat, however, had a dejected look. Something that the taller scavenger had said didn't seem agreeable to them.

"What's wrong, Quince?" He asked, only for them to turn away.

"Quince feels guilty." The blue reptile spoke on their behalf. "Quince says it's because them that we're stuck here."

"...What?" Nikili was genuinely surprised, looking at the cat facing away. "Why? It wasn't your fault."

"Quince wanteds me to go to Logas with you. And because I growed– grew into dragon in Kuir, you lost home. It's Quince's fault, and Quince say you know it's true, but don't admit it."

"No... No, I don't think that at all!" He squatted in front of his scavenging partner. "I'm so happy that I  got to meet Suu! And it was because of you that it happened. And it doesn't matter what our life could have been. Having the big guy in our lives has been great, and I wouldn't go back to how it used to be if it means that we would never meet him."

Suu continued paraphrasing them. "But you aren't happy with Suu... You don't want have intimacy with Suu, not with Quince around. Quince is weight– ...No, what word...? Burden."

"Y-You're not a burden! Okay?!" Nikili shrieked and shook their shoulders. Quince hissed at him, and he let go. "I'm sorry..." They looked away with saddened eyes, while their yellow arms moved down to remove their belt.

"Quince don't want talk anymore. Just want go bed... Alone."

"Quince..."

Nikili had been wrong. His friend also was affected negatively by their circumstances; he just didn't see the signs. But he never thought that Quince would turn out to bear this guilt on their own, so he was confused. What should he have said instead? Perhaps nothing? Suu wouldn't have let him stay quiet, anyway. As he watched the feline make their way to the newly-transformed dragon's open mouth, he decided that Quince could use some space for the night.

He watched them hug that huge pink tongue, rewarding them with a bath of saliva before scooping them up into those jaws and quickly swallowing them down. It was still intriguing to watch how quickly Quince could disappear into Suu, despite his unwavering gentleness. The dragon, without any words, offered them comfort like Nikili never could. It saddened him to see his friend so hurt, and it was him and his stupid heart to blame. Was there anything else he could have said...?

Once he saw the noticeable bulge in the dragon's gigantic belly, Nikili knew that Quince was safe in his crop. He wanted to console them from here...but no, it would be best to leave it for tomorrow. If the cat would even want to talk to him, that is... Some days in Logas, they'd shut themself off from Nikili and not do anything but sleep, then be happy and excited to head into the marshes the next day. He never thought much of it until recently. It's not like they could ever communicate with words, but finally hearing some of their thoughts through Suu made him realize that there was something deeply wrong.

But that was a matter for tomorrow. Right now, the brown mongoose felt too exhausted to think on what he was going to tell Quince. He had been essentially been kicked out from his usual bed, so perhaps he'd just sleep on the hard floor today.

The dragon grumbled at him to call his attention, before Suu raised one of his legs to reveal that genital slit once more. Of course, the heart-reading boyfriend could tell that he was horny, and in search of a soft place to sleep other than his crop. Knowing Suu, this offer was an attempt at killing two birds with one stone...and the next murr replying to that thought seemed to indicate so.

But Nikili sighed. "I'm sorry... I'm still worried about Quince. At least you can tell what's going on with them, right?"

He was surprised when Suu shook his enormous head. To the dragon, their gasham'sag felt 'cold', like he'd described to Nikili the other day, so it was hard to discern their true thoughts. At best, Suu could tell that Quince felt at peace alone in his crop, even if the negative feelings hadn't really waned. Similarly, he could tell that Nikili once again refuse to let go of his negativity and simply enjoy some kinky fun.

It was disheartening, but curious. Both of them kept acting against their wishes, simply rejecting the voice of their hearts... Even Nurta was guilty of it.

Instead of his crotch, the mongoose approached his belly, and Suu brought a palm for him to rest on. He thanked him timidly before climbing on the scutes around a claw, reaching the scaly pad of Suu's paw. Having to take in the entirety of the dragon in his vision instead of being compressed into a fleshy chamber; it made him feel tinier than normal. All that blueness in sight instead of absolute darkness. The gentle sounds of wind and Suu's breathing as night arrived. With the dragon's hand near his belly, Nikili lied down and leaned his tummy against the chubby plates, looking up at the bulging crop above his head. He still felt worried, and horny, and tired, and longing... How could Suu even make out clear thoughts from something as complicated as his heart?

Nikili sighed and closed his eyes. « After I talk with Quince, maybe we can do something special tomorrow, big guy. » He directed a thought at Suu, drifting off without knowing if it was heard.

***

A night's sleep did little to alleviate Quince's anxiety. In fact, quite the contrary. They jolted awake in Suu's crop, awakened by that recurring nightmare... Fleeing for their life, finding themself in a burning house, before being attacked by a monstrous black-and-white being. Since they had made it a habit to sleep inside of their draconic friend, they've never had that distressing dream. Until now, the cat thought that they were finally free from that dreadful memory, as long as Suu could protect them... But that turned out to be wishful thinking.

The dragon wasted no time to push them out once he realized that Quince was awake. He could tell that their heart was even colder, making it hard to understand any of their feelings. The furry creature quickly traveled up his throat and out his mouth, and as soon as they were outside on a puddle of his own drool, Suu turned into his bipedal form.

"Quince is okay?!" The kobold asked, arriving with their belt on his hands.

The feline grabbed it and assented with two trills, if only out of habit. They didn't want Suu or Nikili to be concerned about them – although, looking around, it didn't seem that the mongoose was in the temple with them.

"Nikili goed grab water. But you can talk to me to fix issue!"

Suu was too kind... But there wasn't anything that he could do. It was Quince's own problem to face, alone. They could tell the toll that their heart took on both of their friends. It would be best for them to leave before Nikili had returned.

"I go with you! We grab breakfast together."

The cat whined meekly. They wanted Suu to stay here, and wait for Nikili, so the couple could spend some time alone and be happy. Quince thought it'd be best to deal with it on their own, and that the kobold should tell the mongoose that they would be fine.

Suu wasn't sure what to make of it. He was concerned about his small friend, but their heart was clear in those specific demands, and he'd obey those wishes. Even if their true intentions were foggy, he genuinely believed that they would be back soon. "...Okay. I wait here."

Quince let the image of the worried reptile sear their mind before a tear ran down their face, and they rushed out to the marshes.

***

They didn't wander too far away before they had to stop. The weeping cat collapsed to their knees, bringing their front paws to their eyes. Their chest felt too heavy for their legs to keep up. The morning sun simply didn't feel warm on their fur. Quince wailed softly, collapsing to their side on reed sprouts. Running away was the right decision...it had to be. All they were to Nikili and Suu was a burden, and a wedge between their blossoming relationship. But facing that fact still hurt so much...

This wasn't the first time that they'd felt so terrible like this. Normally the episodes would be short, but only once before it had been this painful. Back then, they didn't even know the kobold or mongoose. They simply knew that their home was better off without them, and they fled. That was about 7 years ago. Quince had hoped that they'd have matured emotionally since then...but from how much they still relied on others to actually be a functional member of society, the feline knew they hadn't. Back then, they'd run to the marshes too, leaving their life behind to start over. However, unlike the ones to the north, these marshes had terrifying dragons that could easily kill Quince. But that was no longer a terrifying prospect. Better to have it all end than to keep on hurting others...

Quince knew that they were broken. That they weren't supposed to think these things. But no matter how much they tried, they couldn't be mended. They wish that they could fake a smile, and keep moving forward for others' sake. Right now, happiness didn't even feel real, not now or ever. Had they ever truly been happy? Or was it all fake...? Were they destined to wallow in the suffering that was living inside of their own head?

Their memories of Suu and Nikili... A reminder of how much Quince had scared them. When they'd swallowed Suu and couldn't regurgitate him, or when they'd led Nikili back to the dragon's lair. It was all their fault that he'd scared them. And to make it worse, they both knew it – why couldn't they simply admit it to their face? Because Quince couldn't handle the truth?! Their current tantrum certainly felt like a confirmation...

And by fleeing, they know they'd hurt them more; but it was better to rip it out now than to keep slowly sucking out their happiness over time. A useless emotional leech, that's what they were. Had any of their relations been meaningful, or were they all born from either inertia, or out of selfishness, because they simply couldn't pull their own weight? They'd manage fine without the cat – better even, not having to console Quince every time they felt down. They'd quickly forget them, too... Or so they hoped.

So many negative thoughts rushing in at once, but deep down, they all felt true. If Quince was a stronger person, they could have tried harder and done better. Tried to stop having these thoughts; tried to be a better friend. Not like Nikili or Suu had those problems, even if they had their flaws. Sometimes the mongoose could be hurtful or tactless, but he wasn't necessarily a bad person... The dragon, too, could end up assuming too much from others' hearts, but he was zealous to a fault in the end. While Quince was bad and knew it, and didn't do anything about it. They had to be hard on themself and not the others, because...because...

Hm.

They could only think of those two moments. Meeting Suu in the marshes, and then swallowing him down in Logas. But neither of them had been that bad, had they? Going back for the dragon was the right choice, in the end; and failing to puke the archaeopteryx was just a scary experience, but no harm was done to anyone. Suu was too concerned about their well-being to let them be injured in any way, and so was Nikili. It wasn't so bad to be cared about, but Quince really wished that they didn't have to always rely on others...

Plus, it wasn't the cat's fault that they'd lost their home. Nor was it the mongoose's, or the dragon's, even. Perhaps, when Nikili was frustrated about missing their home, Quince's own rage was justified. They too wanted the best for their friend and scavenging partner, but they didn't know who to blame for it. Now that their tear ducts had dried up, and their thoughts were less turbulent, the feline began to realize that it'd probably be worse to simply leave the two men behind, making them worry more about them. It was foolish to assume that running would make anything better, and they thought they were stupid to let themself get convinced otherwise in the heat of the moment.

Quince wasn't feeling any less sad or disappointed in themself. But at least, they realized that not all of those negative thoughts were true. Still, they needed – no, they wanted – to do more for their friends' sake. Nikili was earnestly trying to give Quince more space while trying to understand them, and Suu had literally changed his body to be able to coexist. Maybe it was time for Quince to pull their own weight and fix their problems. Yeah... Firstly, they'd show Nikili that he didn't have to be afraid to show his affection to Suu in front of them. Maybe Quince could even be more open about the feelings that they'd been bottling up for years, afraid that the other scavenger would abandon them if he learned the truth. But Suu could help with that, by translating and supporting them. It all sounded so scary to consider, but oddly motivating...

Their stomach grumbled, reminding them about their task of finding breakfast. As far as the two men were concerned, Quince had simply left to find some food. They could pretend that their outburst never even happened and gather some more berries, but the yellow cat still wanted to do something more. Something special... A fish, maybe, as was the mongoose's customary meal for celebrations. It'd been quite some time since they've had one; Nikili's attempts at fishing a few days ago had proven to be terrible. Although Quince still had some concerns about harming living animals...even rats. But the two men in their life didn't share any qualms when it came to fishes. They'd seen the archaeopteryx feed himself in front of them – even nudging the feline to engage in his feeding –, and the mongoose would expertly cook any catch of the day in Logas.

Even with some uncertainty, Quince decided that it was best to commit fully. Their renewed motivation, and the fact that the three of them had stuck together through so much adversity, both without and within, deserved such a celebration. Quince had tried fishing before solely for fun, and were confident that they could catch a fish with their bare paws. That, they decided, could be the start of their new path to do better. To be different from the old Quince.

***

They were surprised by how easy it was to catch a barbel from one of these pockets of flood water. Maybe their nimble cat body was naturally adept at catching fish, even if the shallow pool made it quite easy. And the one trying to flail out from their paws was easily as big as Suu's dinosaur form. Nikili certainly would be impressed with them!

Still, Quince was ambivalent with the fish in his hands. The last time they'd held a live fish, it was Suu who gave it, in order to have the cat playfully feed it back to him. But their interpretation of those events had changed in recent days. Quince knew that Suu must have reacted to their heart in some way, so was it possible that they had wanted it, deep down...? It didn't sound far off, given the feline's other preferences. And Quince did reminisce on that moment with gladness and curiosity.

They glanced at their catch with new intent. Its slick scales, the smell reminiscent of Suu's insides, their hungry stomach begging to be filled. Could they do it...? It felt like they had to try, if Quince wished to cement once and for all the idea of leaving behind their old way of being. Anything to stop having tormenting thoughts anymore. Still, they didn't want to do it for real. It was easier to think of it as practice, if they ever tried to swallow the archaeopteryx again and needed to regurgitate him.

Quince's jaws parted for the brownish barbel's head, revealing the pink flesh glistening with saliva. The fish tried to struggle as it felt their humid breath, but the cat held its body still, guiding its head over their barbed tongue. Its carp-like whiskers tickled the back of their mouth, and even if the muddy water taste wasn't that pleasing, Quince's throat opened to accomodate it. Its slick head could be felt pushing into the pharynx, the cool water over its scales causing the hot walls to quiver at the touch.

The confused barbel began to struggle again in that warm and dark tightness, and Quince felt an instinct kick in. The feeling was a lot rawer than when Suu had willingly climbed into that same maw, maybe due to the feisty nature of this prey. It wasn't too dissimilar to an urge they'd had in a dream, not long ago... They tossed their head back and gulped strongly, letting the fish naturally slip into their bulging throat. Quince was careful not to accidentally sink their fangs into the mass in their mouth, and mused at the thought of carrying it inside of them back to the ruin, without their friends being aware before it was regurgitated... Well, Suu would know.

The aquatic creature's naturally lubricated skin worked against its favor, causing it to be consumed with remarkable ease compared to the feathery archaeopteryx. The only issue that the cat faced was how their throat had to expand around it, but it was hardly an impediment. That huge unchewed meal, stretching and stealing warmth from their esophagus, fins thrashing inside of their cheeks... If the small scavenger had any arousal, surely they'd have been overcome with it; however, the lack of a sexual drive didn't make it any less pleasurable or stimulating.

Their lungs lost some capacity with the barbel compressing the feline's chest from inside. Its head brushed past the entrance of their stomach, the groaning chamber being forced to accept that inappropriately-sized intrusion. More swallows quickly turned that fish into nothing but food. The scaly tail had slipped into their mouth by now. Their mandibles closed to seal it away. Their tongue was free to move around again, feeling the texture of the membrane of its tail fin that was slowly slipping from reach due to gravity. Its fate had been sealed moments ago, but that last bit soon vanished at the back of their maw.

The fish still tried to flop about with less intensity, eliciting more purrs from its predator. Quince's paws were rubbing the fur on their midriff, as the increasing volume inside forced their palms outward. It was curling on itself as it pushed against the bottom of their stomach, with no control as the throat did its job of pushing it through the esophageal sphincter. When the ring finally slurped its hind end, they let out a tiny burp from the displaced air, and sat down.

Quince had managed to swallow something alive, again...! They didn't care about the muddy aftertaste, or the soreness in their muscles. They relished the feeling of it – no, the power, most of all. From being able to swallow it in the first place, and being able to decide to keep it in or not. It was definitely one of their darker desires, the cat thought, but they had some renewed curiosity in indulging them.

Still, there was some guilt and uncertainty about subjecting the defenseless barbel to becoming an unwilling meal. Quince didn't regret swallowing it, strangely enough; but the thought that some harm could come to it bothered them, after it had pleased them so thoroughly. Besides, it'd be safer for the wriggling mass to be let out sooner rather than later...

They'd decided on it, then. Quince would regurgitate it now. There was no reason to panic because of Nikili or Suu this time, it was just the feline and the barbel. There was no-one else to judge them, and that thought helped to ease their nerves. They could focus on bringing it back up, already feeling the stomach complain about the improper meal. But having to induce vomit on a whim wasn't something they'd succeeded in before. Regardless, if Suu could expel Quince without fail every single time, this definitely was feasible.

Quince didn't know where to start... Maybe by picturing some disgusting sensation? Like the first time that they'd tried one of those yellow pomes that Nikili liked to keep in the pantry. Unbeknownst to the cat, the fruit was still raw, and they'd later learned their lesson about proper bletting. The unpleasant sensations were vivid in Quince's memory – despite its inviting outside, the fruit was hard, with a chewy fiber texture. Worst of all, it had an intense flavor, extremely sour and astringent. Quince should have realized that there was something wrong with the fruit, but assuming that the odious taste was part of the intended experience, they'd tried to swallow it...

The cat – now, not then – could feel their body reacting repulsively to that memory, and their stomach began to reflux its contents. Surprisingly, it was working...! Focusing on the acrid sensation at the bottom of their esophagus, evocative of that bad experience with the fruit, Quince clenched their muscles, feeling the contents hurtling back up the tunnel. Their digestive system worked backwards in their favor, and the cat got on all fours to retch. A few more strained pushes, and the barbel's head popped from the flesh in the back of their mouth, having turned around in their stomach. It was close, now...! With more raspy gags, it was finally slipping out. Quince carefully grabbed its gills for leverage, and the weighty fish was pulled in a single thrust before it slumped down on the ground.

It had some minor gunk from the feline's empty stomach that would easily rinse off, but it wasn't moving. Teary-eyed, Quince tried to grab it, and jumped back in a scare when it flailed at their paw's touch, managing to roll back into the nearby shallow pool and disappearing from sight. It had survived just fine, more than earning its freedom. And Quince was overjoyed... They had pulled it off! They were filled with a sense of perseverance and dominance. They'd overcome their fear and doubts, and brought it back up safely. Quince's heart was still racing from euphoria.

Completely forgetting about their breakfast duty, their earlier crisis, or their sore insides, they got up and ran back to the temple, excited to share their achievement with Suu.

***

Quince approached the ruin carefully, warned of the presences within from afar by the grunts coming out around the corner. They were clearly Nikili's moans, and... Suu's? But it wasn't the kobold's voice – it was the deep, growling rumbles of the dragon. The curious combination really piqued their interest, and the cat looked in to see what was unfolding.

The blue dragon was lying on his side, his enormous body taking up most of the large hall. The feline could first see his lower body. His long tail, his hind legs...but a different pair of features was protruding out between them. Suu's slit was open, and the pink hemipenes were fully exposed, side by side. One brushed on the ground, and the other was piled atop the first. His mostly smooth spires were massive at Suu's size. They were completely erected, if Quince had to guess, and between them, some of the flesh of his inner slit was exposed, from how much its muscles stretched to expand the pair of dicks.

"Oh gods, Suu...! Hmf–!"

Nikili panted and moaned, but he wasn't in Quince's vision. They walked into the temple to get a good look at the dragon's head. It was raised off the ground, slightly tilted up... With Nikili on top. He had undressed from his skirt; but the cat couldn't see his legs, because they were trapped past Suu's lips. Along with the dragon's rumbles, they could hear slurping noises. Quince didn't know how the two men had ended up in this situation while they were gone...but they were certainly enjoying themselves! And seeing the other scavenger getting head from Suu's huge maw was quite amusing... They were glad that the two boyfriends finally had decided to enjoy each other's sexual intimacy, and despite having no arousal of their own, Quince's unique desires was jealous of the oral attention that the mongoose was receiving.

The mongoose was facing Suu's snout, so his back turned to the feline. But the dragon's blue gaze turned to Quince, not minding the audience as he continued to murr and lick his partner's junk. He was glad to see them back, and felt the burning desire in their heart to have some fun, too. Despite having his mouth occupied with the brown mammal, there was at least one other way to indulge Quince. Suu glanced down his body, and taking the hint, the cat followed Suu's slit eyes to his loins. There was another entrance into the dragon: right between those two pink spires.

Quince didn't have to ask twice. If their friend would invite them into their sexy fun, who were they to say no? It was also their chance to prove to themself that they weren't just a wedge in the partner's relationship, in a way...

They walked over, under Suu's watchful gaze. Quince had no interest in his hemipenes, other than the gap between them. Getting close, the cat could see the pool of musky precum drooling from the smooth tips. The mongoose's arousal seemed to be causing Suu's own arousal to surge. And as a side effect of the cocks leaving their chamber, there was a clear way for a little furry scavenger to explore the dragon's new hole.

It was out of reach for them, but there was a clear way up. Arriving at the base of the penises, they used their paws to climb, grabbing at the ocean blue plates and exposed meat. The texture of his cock was much smoother than the rest of Suu's scaly body, akin to his crop. It was also slightly warm to their grip. Grabbing the sensitive pink skin to pull up their weight, the cat hoped that they weren't pinching their friend's genitals... But Suu seemed calm, as he continued to gently lap at Nikili's groin inside his maw, bringing out loud moans from him.

The base wasn't slick like its tip, and soon Quince was standing up on the dick, hind paws sinking into that musky cushion. Suu was careful not to disturb them with any throbs during their ascent. Quince couldn't completely stand up without their head bumping against the other cock, and the gap between the hemipenes got smaller towards the slit, so the feline was crawling closer on all fours over Suu's length.

There were some muscles jutting out in the middle to evert his penises. But there was a groove between the tissues, deep enough for light to disappear into. It wasn't loose, but with Quince being relatively tiny, there was more than enough space to climb in. Their paws would push in first, touching the pulsing coldblooded flesh, then grappling to leverage their intrusion. Not the narrowest spot that Quince had shoved themself into, and the fleshy insides were soft and roomy, so it was only a matter of climbing in themself.

The dragon felt Quince begin to slip inside of him, and brought his head close down to his slit to watch. They were too small to stimulate their cocks, but there were more nerves in his new crevice that allowed to feel their poking around. Nikili, halfway in Suu's mouth, was brought along with him, and the mongoose opened his eyes to see why everything was shifting around.

"Huf... What's going on–" He followed the dragon's gaze, managing to spot Quince's hind paws kicking into the pink gap, disappearing and leaving only that distinguishable yellow tail behind. It took him a moment to process the sight. "W-W-Wh– ...Holy SHI–ieeaaAAAHH!!"

The stimulation on his dick, the week-long denied desires, the tight maw holding his legs in place, the sight of his friend disappearing between his boyfriend's huge cocks. It all drove him to a long-awaited release. His cum was a drop in Suu's ocean of saliva, and the dragon's continued slurping encouraged his spiky malehood to release more and more spurts as they were swallowed down. Yet again, the dragon had given him one of his best orgasms ever, in a Manner that no other man even could.

"F-Fuck..." He panted, lovingly rubbing a hand over Suu's scaly lips. "That was...the best blowjob...I've ever–"

"NIKILI?!"

A sharp feminine yell called his name, and both men turned to look at the source. A white duck, her black eyes agape in shock, wearing a red dress and a bag. She was standing there...until she wasn't, collapsing to the ground into unconsciousness.

"Ruunk–?!"

There wasn't even time for the mongoose to react; when Suu suddenly changed forms in a panic. Nikili could feel the numbness and tug on his legs as he fell to the ground. After thudding on the floor, he looked down to see that the dragon had transformed into a kobold, but one of his legs was still inside of Suu's mouth! His midriff was also incredibly distended; not just from Nikili's foot that had been teleported into his stomach, but from Quince bulging out from his slit, their tail hanging out in the air. Not a moment later, both of Suu's cocks exploded into the air, from his sensitive pocket instantly being filled up by a squirming furry cat.

Throughout his orgasm, the reptile moaned with Nikili's thigh inside of his mouth. The mongoose's other drenched leg, sitting on Suu's chest, received some of the white cum flying out of the hemipenes. The toes of Nikili's swallowed leg were brushing against the slimy and empty interior of the kobold's stomach, feeling the pressure of the cat stuck in a different room, across the layers of flesh. Quince, being compressed tightly by the muscles in Suu's perineal chamber, let out an inquisitive mew, feeling each clench of the snug slit along with Suu's last jets.

When it was over, Nikili finally saw the results of the ensued chaos. He and Suu were both lying face up, but one of his legs was lodged down his boyfriend's throat. Quince was shoved into a tight ball in the chamber where his dicks would normally be hiding, except for their tail, which looked like a furry third dick from here. Everything near Suu was coated with his seed. And Ruunk, out of all people, somehow had managed to find them at the worst time possible; although she'd passed out before she could witness the worst of it.

"Are you two okay...?" The mongoose asked. In response, he got two unusual affirmative signals: a sequence of muffled trills, and a grunt reverberating around his partially consumed leg. "H-Holy fuck... This was incredible...and nuts...!" He looked over at the fainted mallard, unsure if she'd hurt herself. "B-Big guy! What are you waiting for...? Let us out...!"

***

After getting rid of most of the different sludges and putting on his skirt, Nikili was holding Ruunk in his arms, who was slowly returning to consciousness. Thankfully, she seemed unhurt. Suu, similarly, had Quince outside of his slit, holding them on his lap and his own arms. Now that their gasham'sag wasn't so cold, he'd realized what the cat had endured earlier, and whispered soothing words to them that the mongoose couldn't quite catch. Quince's face seemed distraught, Nikili noticed, but their purrs indicated that they were glad of Suu's company.

"Ugh..." The duck's groan caught his attention.

"Ruunk? Are you okay?"

"Nikili...?" Her eyes were squinting. "Well, I bruised my back, and there are these awful smells in my nostrils, and my heart is in a million pieces...but I'm fine."

"Your heart...?" Nikili realized what she meant, and his tone went from concern to consternation. "...Seriously? How many times do I have to tell you?! I'm not interested in you. I'm gay!"

She sat up. "Yeah well! I thought I still could– That I still had a chance...! I know it sounds stupid–"

"'Cause it -is- stupid."

Ruunk sighed. "I guess you're right... I could never compete with...that." She glanced straight at Suu, as if trying to burn him with her gaze alone.

"You could never compete with -any- men I've ever dated. But what the hells are you even doing here?"

"Isn't it obvious?" She grabbed her bag from the floor, and unfurled it to reveal some bread. "Nurta sent me."

The kobold's and cat's ears perked at the dragon's name, while Nikili continued his interrogation. "Why didn't she come herself?"

"She's been extremely busy because of you guys. I told her I could come here. I used to be a scavenger too, so I know my way around these parts."

She was distributing the balls of leavened dough, which was a welcome change from their usual breakfast options. Suu was somewhat reluctant to take it, but looking at Quince happily munching on their snack, he changed his mind and gave it a try. It wasn't tasty like fish, but not too bad. Definitely an interesting mouthfeel.

"Really?" Nikili asked with bread in his hand. "Sounds more like you bothered her just so you could see me."

"I'm not commenting on that. A-Anyway, she wanted me to tell you that you three should head to your birth town, Nikili. She didn't tell me the name. Something about safety..."

The mongoose's jaw had dropped. "W-Wait, how did Nurta–? What did she tell you, Ruunk? What's going on?"

"I dunno much of it. She arrived one day in Logas – naked, for some reason –, and told me what happened with you guys. But since then, she's been in and out, all the time. From what she told me, Kaati is preparing an offensive to the north and south, I think? They've been hush-hush about the whole thing, as well as the situation with you guys in Kuir. But the capital is mostly undefended, which is kinda odd."

"Yeah... It is very weird. Do you think– Err, does Nurta think it's deliberate?"

"Something along those lines. It's the first time that any emperor did this, ever. But she doesn't have proof, just a suspicion."

"So what about us? If Kaati isn't doing anything, doesn't mean we can just walk back in..."

"Ah, right! She said that they're still investigating the incident secretly. There was this guy who showed up in Logas to ask me some questions, a dog. I think he's a commander?"

Ludama. Of course. "...Right."

"But it was weird, y'know? Nurta said that you'd be considered dead, but he was asking questions like 'where is he hiding' and 'is he colluding with a dragon'. Of course, I didn't snitch on you, or Suugal, or Nurta."

"Hm. It's almost as if he knew that I didn't die from– Wait, hold on... Nurta told you she's a dragon? She told...YOU."

The white duck smirked. "Oh, I knew about it for a long time. She told me everything about her past after she got very drunk on your ale one night. Don't think she even remembers that time... She really loves your beer, y'know."

"Out of all people in Kaati, you're the last one I'd expect to keep a big secret like this... But still, thanks for covering my ass."

"Yeah well... I was expecting more than just 'thanks'."

"Ruunk..."

"I know, I know." She sighed.

Nikili felt somewhat guilty about having enthralled her, even if it wasn't his doing. If only he'd liked women, maybe they could have been a couple. Hells, it'd have made his life much simpler, not having to hide his sexuality! But Ruunk's ultimate understanding was a relief. And he was incredibly lucky to have Suu.

"Still, it's so strange." The mongoose returned to the topic at hand. "There were eyewitnesses everywhere. They saw me jump in Suu's maw. Anyone would assume I was dead. How would Kaati know that I'm alive...?"

"Why wouldn't we know, Goose?"

That deep smug voice. Everyone stood up and jumped back to face its source. A fifth person had found his way to that stage, and it couldn't have been a worse one than him.

"You really think Kaati is that incompetent? That I'm incompetent?!"

"Ludama." Nikili roared the tall sighthound's name back at him.

The black-and-white dog scoffed. Nikili glanced at his friends. Ruunk was extremely wary of him, and Suu gave a low threatening growl. However, Quince had legitimate fear in their eyes, and was fidgeting backwards. Ludama was clearly outnumbered, but he had two weapons at his disposal: a spear in his hands, and all the complacency in the world.

"I knew following that bird was the right call. And who does she lead me to... A whole gang of traitors?" He looked at the kobold. "And this must be the dragon? Transformed into a lizard freak."

He knew it all, somehow. How dragons could change forms, and how Nikili was safely transported away from Kuir inside of Suu. Stuff that only people intimately knowledgeable of dragons could know. Such as them, or Nurta. Could it be that something happened to her...?

The dog chuckled. "Why the surprised faces? Told you I wasn't incompetent."

"What's your plan, Ludama?" Nikili growled.

The commander still watched Suu with interest. "I'm taking him into custody. As well as all of you, of course. Those are my orders. Got it?"

"You know what he is, and what he's capable of. He's not gonna let you do anything."

"Hah! You thought I didn't have precautions? You're such an idiot, y'know?" He pointed his bronze weapon towards the mongoose. "The blue thing at the tip. Fool's saffron, was it called...? A tiny flower from the desert, but has a poison strong enough to kill a dragon."

The weapon was definitely laced with some colored liquid, Nikili could tell. Yet, Suu rushed in front of him and Ruunk, shielding them with his body.

"Suu?!" The mongoose was surprised at his sudden chivalry. But maybe he knew something because of his gasham'sag. "Then...Ludama is bluffing?"

"No." The kobold answered dryly.

"Huh?"

"He believes poison is real. But he isn't hurting my friends. I am not letting him."

The sighthound guffawed. "Hah hah hah! You really wanna pretend that you can protect them?"

Nikili pleaded, grabbing his boyfriend's arm. "Suu, please...! If it's true, t-then I– I don't want you to get hurt!"

"Maybe you should listen to him, dragon. I'm being reasonable, here." The malice in his voice was palpable.

It was Ruunk's turn to talk. "What do you want, really? I mean...what happens if we go with your plan?"

"The dragon goes to my superior. I don't care what he does with him. But the rest of you...?" Ludama's fanged smile was eerily twisted. "You're all mine. Especially you, Goose."

Suu leaned forward, bellowing ferociously at the commander. Why was Suu so protective of Nikili by putting his own life at risk? Was there some hidden intention behind Ludama's words?

"Looking for a fight?" He taunted the kobold. "No matter. You do something stupid, I'll say it was in self-defense. Might get an earful later, but–"

"You didn't answer her question." The mongoose looked at Ruunk. "You're clearly not interested in Suu...are you?"

The sighthound's sneer vanished. "Nah. I wanna punish you, Goose. For being a traitor to your country. To me. The embarrassment you caused me. You pushed me away four years ago, and you pushed me a week ago, just to hide here. Remember that?! You're a coward, running away with your tail tucked between them... And for what? Moral superiority?" He scoffed. "You're no better than me. You're just a rat. Even now you hide behind your friends, don't you?"

Nikili tearfully was begging in his heart for Suu to stand down, words dying in his throat. But the kobold wasn't so much as flinching.

"I've had to endure so much pain. Had to cause so much pain. Becoming commander is the only good thing I have going in my life! And you're trying to ruin it for me, mocking me... It's only fair that I cause you pain, isn't it...?" His face mugged into a horrifying grin again. "Maybe you'd like your friends to watch, huh? Or they'll fall if they stand in my way..."

There was no reasoning with him. He had shown his true colors. Revenge, bloodlust. They used to be comrades-in-arms, he and Nikili. Was he always like this deep down, or could have the mongoose prevented him to be taken by such twisted feelings? That didn't matter now. He knew what he had to do, one last time. It was stupid and risky, but it was the only option in his mind.

« I'm sorry, big guy... »

...

***

Quince, more than ever, had wanted to escape. It was a nightmare made manifest. In fact, the dog's face was exactly the one from their dream today. He was the monster that lunges at them in the end, killing them before they jolted awake.

They were scooting over for the temple's exit in the shadow, unnoticed by everyone else. They could run, but what good would that do? There was no-one to call for help, and Ludama was close to hurting one of their friends. Something bad was bound to happen soon, and the cat was about to let it unfold...

No, they thought. Quince had committed to being different from their older self. They wouldn't escape from their troubles anymore, or idly stand by. Maybe not confronting their fears was why they still had that nightmare and those despairing thoughts. It was time to finally stand up and face them, and put it behind them once and for all. Reaching the belt around their waist, Quince's shaky paw slipped into their pocket, grabbing the short blade inside.

It was because of Ludama that Quince knew no peace, even in their sleep. Because of Ludama that Suu had to hide, and Nikili couldn't be happy being himself. That Quince was pushed into their own personal hell. It was because of Ludama, and Kaati, that they'd lost their home twice, and were forced to live here. This monster... He was the reason that their life was like this.

No more running away. Ever again.

...

***

"...GAAAAHH!!"

Without hesitation, Quince had lunged at Ludama, sinking the tip of their dull knife into his leg. It took everyone by surprise, but the commander reacted quickly, turning his lance towards the cat and exacting retribution.

The yellow feline fell to the ground, leaving their weapon lodged in Ludama's thigh.

"Quince, no!"

"You little bitch– Ugh!"

What ensued was absolute chaos. Nikili's shriek pierced the air, the mongoose rushing past Suu as the kobold fell to the ground clutching his own leg. The white duck had acted quickly, tackling Ludama and finally managing to disarm him, before her body slammed him onto the ground to immobilize the attacker. Quince's mind raced with adrenaline, but with the sharp pains on their upper arm, everything was hazy.

"Oh no... Oh no oh no oh no. Quince! Stay with me!" The mongoose clutched them in his arms, crying.

Their shoulder was stained with blood, but the wound also had a distinct blue color. Fool's saffron. If what Ludama said was true, then...then...!

Quince looked in pain, and tried to mew something weakly. Nikili couldn't understand them, and ignoring Ruunk and the man squirming under her clutches, he ran over to the one person who could translate them.

"Suu! B-Bear with me, Suu! What are they saying?"

The kobold was struggling with a phantom pain on their own thigh, but he looked at the feline in his arms.

"Quince...! No. Sorry. Can't hear gasham'sag..."

Suu couldn't hear their heart? That could only mean... No. It couldn't be. Oh no. This wasn't happening...!

"W-We'll find a way...okay, Quince?" Nikili's thumbs brushed the fur on their back. "You're gonna be f-fine. Just stay with me, Quince. Please...! Don't close your eyes! Stay awake!"

Nikili urgently placed them down on the ground, removing their leather belt and wrapping it above the wound as a tourniquet to slow down the bleeding. It wouldn't stop the poison's spread. The cat's mouth was still moving and their lungs breathing, but there was no telling how long they had.

"L-Ludama, is there an antidote?"

The dog simply looked up at him under Ruunk's bind and spat. "I don't care if she dies." Talking with that monster was just pointless.

"S-Suu, if you know anything about this poison that might save Quince, now's the time!"

"I– No, but...I remember something..."

"...Spit it out!"

"Quince has a home with doctors. They keeped thinking of it. Can take you there, but..." He paused. "Quince didn't want Nikili to know."

"Suu! Now's not the time for secrets! If you don't take us there, Quince will D-DIE...!"

The kobold looked at the semi-awake cat in his trembling brown arms, blood still dripping from the yellow fur. He didn't want to break their trust, but Nikili was right. There was no other choice.

"Okay. Hold tight."

"Wait!" The scavenger turned to Ruunk. "We can't leave you alone with him...!"

"Yes, you can!" She yelled back. "Now go and save them!"

Nikili saw Suu's arm wrap around him, before his muscles froze and his body was thrown into darkness, still holding Quince with him. He held them tightly as everything shook, while Suu – who had immediately transformed into a dragon – took flight out from the temple and towards the cat's home.

The powerful gust of the giant creature's wings knocked over the duck and the sighthound in their close proximity. Within an instant, the trio was gone.

Ludama managed to get up slowly now that he was free, his frustration stronger than the pain of his bleeding leg. The blade lodged through his skirt was preventing him from hemorrhaging. He found his spear and pointed it to the Ruunk, who had just stood up as well.

"You're under arrest...traitor!" He growled between twinges of pain.

She raised her feathery white arms. "Fine. I did what I needed to do. Murderer."

"You're a smart one, aren't ya? Well...you won't be laughing for long, you fucking bitch. The general is gonna want to interrogate you himself, you hear?"

She simply nodded. Nurta had advised her to not do anything stupid and simply cooperate with the authorities. Maybe tackling a Kaatian commander wasn't a good idea on both senses, but it was the right move. Still, she was too concerned about someone else's fate to care about her own, and it was best if she also didn't end up on the pointy end of a weapon for no good reason.

"Ugh..." The sighthound compressed his hand around his wound. "Y'know... You're lucky I'm not into birds, bitch."

Ruunk's eyes rolled at his implication. She whispered to herself. "You're lucky I didn't break your arm."
