The Australian outback lay quiet under the pale moonlight. The jagged, rocky terrain cast long shadows over the dry, cracked ground, while the occasional rustling of the warm night breeze was the only sound. Near a cluster of rocks, a boy lay asleep—utterly unaware of the predator watching him from the shadows.
Cody had fought to stay awake earlier, his mind racing with fears of McLeach and the traps that had chased him across the wilderness. But exhaustion had finally overcome him. Curled beneath a threadbare blanket, his body was limp, his breaths deep and even as the stillness of the night cradled him in a false sense of safety.
Joanna was nearby, her sleek, powerful form coiled low against the ground as her sharp, golden eyes fixed on the boy. She had been trailing him for hours, her patience rivaling the stillness of the moonlit landscape. The scent of his sweat and warmth filled her nostrils, sending a ripple of hunger through her body.
She slithered closer, her claws pressing softly against the dirt to avoid disturbing the silence. The moonlight gleamed faintly on her green, scaled body as she approached, her movements deliberate and silent. Her forked tongue flicked out, tasting the air as she stopped beside him.
In the distance, McLeach stood leaning against a boulder, his rifle slung over one shoulder. He had seen Joanna stalk the boy from afar, his sharp eyes glinting with dark amusement. Now, as he watched her hover over Cody’s sleeping form, he smirked.
“Good girl,” he muttered under his breath, his voice carried off by the breeze.
Joanna crouched beside Cody, her head lowering until her breath brushed over his face. The boy stirred faintly, his lips parting as if to murmur something in his sleep, but he didn’t wake. Her nostrils flared as she inhaled deeply, savoring his scent.
With a quiet growl of satisfaction, Joanna nudged the blanket aside with her snout, exposing him fully. Cody lay on his side, his arms tucked close to his chest, his blond hair tousled and sticking to his forehead. The goanna tilted her head, her tongue flicking out to glide across his cheek. His skin was warm, soft, and tinged with the salt of dried sweat. She lingered on the taste, her hunger flaring with each passing moment.
“Do it,” McLeach murmured to himself, his grin widening as he watched from the shadows. “Nice and slow.”
Joanna opened her jaws wide, her teeth glinting faintly in the moonlight as her tongue unfurled. She lowered her head over Cody’s, her breath warm and humid as she began to take him in. Her sharp teeth grazed his hair and shoulders as her tongue cradled him, pulling him gently into her mouth.
Her first swallow was slow and deliberate, her throat muscles flexing as Cody’s head slid past her jaws. The boy remained limp, completely unaware of his fate as the slick, pulsing walls of her throat began to pull him deeper. Joanna paused briefly, savoring the warmth that spread through her as her jaws stretched to accommodate his small frame.
McLeach shifted closer, his boots crunching softly against the dirt as he approached. He crouched a short distance away, his grin widening as he watched her work. “Smart as ever,” he muttered, admiration lacing his rough voice. “Knew you’d get him.”
Joanna swallowed again, her throat rippling as Cody’s shoulders disappeared past her lips. Her claws pressed lightly against his sides, guiding him into her mouth as she took her time. The boy’s chest slid smoothly into her jaws, his arms pinned against his sides by the tight, slick embrace of her throat.
McLeach’s gaze drifted to her swollen neck, where the faint bulge of Cody’s body pressed against her scales. He let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “Didn’t even wake up yet,” he murmured. “That’s what I call clean work.”
Joanna tilted her head back slightly, gravity assisting her as she took another slow gulp. Cody’s torso slid deeper into her, his hips resting against her lips as her tongue coiled around him. Her belly swelled slightly as more of him disappeared inside, her golden eyes narrowing in satisfaction.
McLeach crouched closer, his rough hand brushing against her side as he felt the faint outline of the boy beneath her scales. The warmth radiating from her belly brought a dark smirk to his lips. “There he goes,” he said softly. “Didn’t stand a chance against you, did he?”
Joanna let out a low, rumbling growl of contentment, her body vibrating slightly as she swallowed the boy’s legs. Her jaws closed around his feet, her tongue curling one final time to savor his taste before she took a final, deliberate gulp.
Cody’s body slid fully into her, her throat bulging briefly before smoothing out. Joanna arched her neck, her chest heaving slightly as she let out a deep, satisfied sigh. Her belly now swelled prominently, the faint outline of her prize shifting as he settled into the tight, pulsing chamber.
McLeach rested a hand on her distended stomach, chuckling softly as he felt the faint movements within. “That’s it,” he said. “You earned it, girl. Enjoy it.”
Joanna stretched out on the warm rock, her claws resting protectively over her belly. The rhythmic gurgling from within was soothing, a natural rhythm that began to work on the boy inside her. McLeach stood, adjusting his hat as he gave her one last approving nod.
“No one does it better,” he muttered as he turned away, his boots crunching softly against the dirt as he disappeared into the shadows.
Joanna closed her eyes, her body relaxing completely as she settled into the warmth of her meal. Inside her, Cody remained still, the gentle contractions of her stomach cradling him as the inevitable process of digestion began.
McLeach stood and adjusted his hat, glancing down at her one last time from a distance. “You enjoy that, girl. You really earned it. And don’t worry—I’ll take care of the rest.”
He turned and walked off into the night, his silhouette fading into the darkness. Joanna remained where she was, her body heavy with the weight of her meal. Her eyes closed as she let out a deep, contented sigh, the warmth of the boy radiating through her.
Inside her, Cody remained still, his deep sleep uninterrupted as the gentle motions of her body worked to pull him deeper into her. The soft, rhythmic contractions of her stomach began their work, her body instinctively breaking him down into the nourishment she required.
The night stretched on, silent and serene. Joanna lay motionless, her swollen belly rising and falling with each breath. She had claimed her prize with patience and precision, and now, with the praise of her master ringing in her ears, she drifted into a deep, peaceful slumber.
For Joanna, it was another night of triumph in the unforgiving wilderness. And for Cody, it was a fate he would never awaken to.