Author/Oceras - https://www.patreon.com/DalonianGods
Other Characters:
Angell – \r\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Blue Bell - \r\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Cocamo - [iconname]caboose09[/iconname]
Dustafyer - [iconname]Dustafyer7[/iconname]
Furia - \r\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Ichaya - \r\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Ithilwen - \r\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Jaikonran - [iconname]Jaikonran[/iconname]
Kiaki - \r\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Neera - [iconname]Dryftwood62[/iconname]
Poojawa - \r\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Raekal - \r\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Rex - \r\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Rick Marks - \r\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Rime - [iconname]Dryftwood62[/iconname]
Saethwr - [iconname]Saethwr[/iconname]
Storm - \r\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Tritus - [iconname]Laestir[/iconname]
Var'Rex - [iconname]ApproachingDark305[/iconname]
Vel'Gahrus - \r\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Vraska - \r\n\t\t\t\t\t
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Zaldrin - \r\n\t\t\t\t\t
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In this story, a drifter roaming the Sosemman frontier by the name of Therris and his mare Oceras make their way to the growing city of Rhybute Pass - the central trade hub in the mountains between Sosemma and Itanobel. While there, he meets many of the locals and gets caught up in a potential heist of valuable gemstones and the mining equipment used to extract the ademane from the surrounding mountains.
This chapter of the story mostly focuses on the introduction of many of the characters that will be featured in the coming stories, as well as many of the sexy situations Therris and his intelligent horse get into in the fantasy land of Dalon.
Story is a western and as for fetishes it includes dozens of various themes and kinks throughout, so I'm not gonna list them all or I'll be here all day.
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This story is actually 33k words long, but FA still has a heck of a word count limitation. If you'd like to read the whole thing, check it out here:
https://www.sofurry.com/view/1420382
For people curious, this is a collaborative effort between Foxra and myself as a joint effort for our patreon rewards. Over there we do an auction of sorts using '$mutCoin', which means that for every 10 dollars you spend on either of our patreon accounts, you get one coin. The image and the story that went with it was a reward for that. No real money involved, just Smutcoin.
Very good incentive to pledge, and we do stuff like this every other month (Though we do intend on moving up to every month soon enough, once we're caught up on backlog.)
For now, enjoy the story!
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\tHow Cowboys Relax
\tChapter 1: A Cowboy and his Mare
\tTherris kept his form loose but upright as he rode his mare Oceras through the Sosemman frontier, sun setting in the distance to blanket the land in a soft orange glow. He had only been in the region for a few seasons but was already falling in love with the natural beauty that could be seen everywhere he looked, a beauty unlike anywhere else. The Kirin had spent many years travelling the globe but had never found a place to settle down, and yet his plan was to make this his new home.
\tThe Kirin kept his posture pristine so he looked good, even if nobody was watching. The pink bodied, purple scaled, cyan accented, and pearly-white haired kirin loved to be the most gorgeous traveller in the land, and there was nothing better than the warm glow of a sunset to highlight that.
\tHe and his steed were trotting along the banks of the Cauder river, heading upstream to go from Port Sanri to Rhybute Pass. As far as he knew, those were the largest settlements in the region with Port Sanri being the landing point of the settlers first invited to the continent and Rhybute Pass being the trade hub that connected the two nations on either side of the Rhybute Mountains. His goal was to find work in the valley that housed Rhybute Pass, because if the rumours about a vein of ademane crystal were true then there would be a lot more coin flowing through there than there already was.
\tThat spelled opportunity, and while Therris loved being a drifter some stability would be nice.
\tThe nations of Bloche, Itanobel, and Sosemma – as a southern extension of Nosemma established once the natives invited the agens of Ovariof to their land – were largely untouched by modern civilization since the natives – the dozen tribes of Itanobel – had preserved it with intent to keep it pure. While the dozen tribes weren't allies, they all agreed that the most important thing to their mutual survival was to keep and care for the land, to take as little as possible, and to not leave too big a paw print on history. A poetic ideal, one that Therris agreed with, but it appeared that such an outlook had largely left the tribes vulnerable to sickness far beyond that of the agens of Ovariof.
\tLess than a decade prior to Therris trekking down the Cauder river, a plague had struck all twelve of the tribes in unison, hitting hard and hitting fast enough that more than half of their population had dwindled before the following summer. One year after that, almost three quarters had perished in the wake of what came to be known the razing scourge. It was then that the elders of each of the dozen tribes convened at Val-Verrex to discuss the matter and unanimously agreed it was time to welcome the agens from Ovariof to their land.
\tUp to that point, there was a respectful truth between the tribes of Itanobel and Bloche as well as the agens of Saff'Rald, and Kerolioa, Kaidu, and Nosemma – then known only as Osemma before the north and south split. The agreement between the natives and the immigrants was that the land was owned by the natives, the immigrants were allowed to visit and erect a single port town for purposes of trade, but nothing more. The natives of Itanobel wanted nothing to do with the sprawling cities and technological advances that they felt brought pain and strife – even more than the petty squabbles between them – but had no problem with the presence of the agens of Ovariof.
\tTo them, the thing that mattered most was that the land was cared for and never sullied by industry or war. They lived a natural life and liked it that way. That worked, but once the razing scourge impacted them so fully, they needed help. The remaining quarter of the population was as strong as ever with a new found appreciation for life and an immunity to the plague that had killed so many, but it gave them a new perspective.
\tAs far as they were concerned, the health of the land was still paramount but it may have been a good idea to invite modern medicine into their lives. Spells, potions, and herbal remedies had lasted them for generations and would continue to be a cornerstone of their culture, but the pharmaceutical edge pioneered at NoThEn Labs and various other locations around the world could have given them what they needed to combat the sickness that ailed them.
\tSure, they would never fully change their culture to something completely foreign, but it may have been time to open their shores and their hearts to the outside world. While they were happy to welcome immigrants to their land, there remained only two major settlements in the newly established nation of Sosmma: Port Sanri and Rhybute Pass. That was all they needed. Aside from the trade routes that connected those two locations, the land remained largely untouched.
\tAnd skies above was it beautiful. There was nothing quite like the pale orange sunlight that cast itself across the land, a pink and blue sky above giving way to the dark of night as the trees and rivers and cliffs painted a tableau in all directions. Therris couldn't help but gawk to the point he nearly guided Oceras into the river he'd been trekking alongside. Luckily, his mare was smart enough to not let his wandering gaze dictate her direction.
\tTherris was certain his steed was smarter than other horses. She exhibited behaviour far more advanced than most equines and the hippogryph that sold her to him the prior summer had hinted that there was more than meets the eye to her, but Therris hadn't paid him much attention beyond the transaction that happened that day. Since then, Oceras had rescued him, exhibited acts of trickery, and displayed emotions far more expressive than horses were expected to.
\tHe had a very good reason for bonding with her; she wasn't just his steed but his companion. They shared a much greater connection than most riders and their mounts.
\t“Whoa, girl.” He said, lightly tugging on the horn of his saddle. He learned within weeks of purchasing her that she didn't need a bridle when riding out in the wild, she just obeyed commands with the intelligence of a dog or wolf companion. “Sun's gettin' real low, might be about time to set up camp before we make the ascent to Rhybute.” He knew he was mostly speaking to himself, but deep down inside he felt she understood him and that made every journey he shared with her all the more special.
\tShe did as commanded and not only halted her trot but leapt up the bank of the river to end up in a clearing that had a doused firepit and looked like it had been used to set up camp in the past. She was very perceptive and Therris was not the only one to travel this way. He patted her on the neck and hopped off her saddle to land next to her. She shook her head to make her golden-tipped mane flail about while grunting at him.
\t“Well, no need to get an attitude with me, Oceras. I wanted to stop back at the bend but you were givin' me that look like there was wolves huntin' us. Well, if they were, we'd still be in their territory, so pthpbth.” He stuck his tongue out at her and sidled down her flank towards her haunches, where he reached into her saddlebags and pulled out a few key items to sleep for the night. Mostly just a blanket, a hammock, and some gems to start a fire. The woods around him had plenty of leaves and twigs and branches for tinder.
\tWhile there, so close to her backside, she lifted her tail and squatted down a bit. He thought she was going to relieve herself but nothing happened so he quickly realized what was going on. His eyes narrowed and his horn started gently glowing blue, an indication he was feeling a stir of emotions within him. “Didn't I just take care of you after we left Port Sanri?” He chuckled at her, lightly patting her rump with the palm of his hand and walking his fingertips towards the base of her tail.
\tShe glanced back and tossed her mane again, lifting her tail in the process while subtly winking her thick vulva and clit at him. This was by no means an uncommon or out-of-character act for her, so it wasn't surprising to Therris even if he wasn't thinking about that sort of thing at the time. She was in heat and would still be for a few days; the mare had no qualms about letting her rider know and he had no problems indulging her if that's what it took to keep her by his side.
\tAfter a few seconds of teasing that were left untended, Oceras tossed her head again and stomped her hind foot, the motion tensing up her haunches beneath Therris's touch. She shifted and flicked her tail, swiping it from side to side while hoofing at the ground. She grunted and pumped her tail in between the swipes, each one accompanied by a wink of her clit that trickled bits of her natural fluids down her inner thighs.
\tTherris couldn't hide his feelings – the gentle glow of his horn told her all she needed to know – but he wasn't prepared to tend to her yet. “You're such a drama queen.” He teased, then slipped his fingers up under her tail to see how she reacted. Almost instantly, the mare stopped her agitated motions and lowered her head with her tail hiked up and hinds legs spaced for stability. She was soaking wet, so much so that he barely needed to apply any pressure while sliding a fingertip between her cheeks to have it slip into her.
\tTherris heard a juicy, wet sound coming from under her tail but couldn't be certain it was her; it might have been the light babbling of the river running by him. She'd completely paused, however, and was no longer causing a commotion so he felt he had no choice but to caress her silken walls with a couple of fingers and gently squeeze her clit just once before pulling his hand out from under her tail and giving her a light pat. She remained frozen as if she was expecting him to continue, but he didn't.
\tInstead, he reached over her haunches to pull her saddlebags off then laid it over a nearby fallen log. She had been sweating pretty badly so a powerful equine aroma wafted up from her flanks within seconds of him peeling her bags off her and it only got worse once he did the same to the saddle and the pad that was between it and her back.
\tIt was about here that she realized he wasn't going to be continuing to give her the attention she needed under the tail, so she wrenched her neck and lipped his arm, biting down on the tuft of peach fur on his elbow. When she tugged, it was enough to make him stumble off balance and end up with his cheek pressed against her golden-feathered shoulder.
\t“Ooomph! Hey!” He griped, then bit down on a mouthful of feathers and mane where the two met. “I'll teach you to bite me! And for that, no cock for you!” He then pulled away, slipped under her chin, and hopped over a log to kick some debris into a pile before clacking two gems together and tossing the one that started glowing orange into the pile. Within seconds, a flame had burst through the kindle and had illuminated the clearing with an equally intense orange glow.
\tOceras wasn't shocked by this sudden eruption of flame, she had been travelling with Therris since the prior summer and had experienced it every night that they weren't stabled. In fact, she was so unfazed by it that she hopped over the log to be with him closer to the flame, not even caring that she nearly tripped when she clacked her hooves off the bark of it. The mare just sauntered over and started headbutting him with the side of her face to get his attention before turning and lifting her tail. She repeated this three times without Therris making a move towards her.
\tNo, he was too busy setting up camp the whole time. He arranged the saddle on the log, draped the padding over a branch up above the flames to let the heat and smoke remove the scent of horse sweat, and then struggled to find two trees close enough to one another and the bonfire to hang his hammock. The drake was a roving wanderer, but he wasn't fond of sleeping in the dirt if he could avoid it. Nothing worse than twigs and bugs and leaves in his flowing, luxurious locks.
\tHe may have been dedicated to setting up camp but Oceras wouldn't leave him alone. She kept pacing around the fire as it crackled and danced in the clearing, embers landing on her flank and light dancing across both of them while she nipped his elbows and wrapped her chin around his chest from behind. In response, he caressed her snout and kissed her on the cheek before turning around.
\t“Alright, fine. Now that I'm done setting up, I'm all yours, okay? Don't get your bridle knotted.” He then leaned into her and swayed his tail, kissing her on the cheek while cradling her chin. “Come on girl. I'll take care of you.”
\tThe mare tossed her mane while he slid down her flank between her and the bonfire, his tail coming dangerously close to the flames. When he got to her hindquarters he kept a keen eye on hers while sliding his hand up her plot to brush her tail to the side. She saw and felt what he was doing and responded accordingly by flagging and squatting with a widened stance. She shuddered once in anticipation before lowering her head and letting her mane obstruct her gaze.
\tTherris laughed to himself and tugged on her rump cheek, parting her lips in the process as he sidestepped by her until he was behind her. He'd been in this position many times before so he knew she wasn't gonna get spooked and kick him. Well, as long as no wolves came howlin' or looking for a meal. Luckily he knew the fire would keep predators at bay, even the bigger ones like bears.
\tWhen he let go of her rump cheek and let her lips seal shut, a juicy splat could be heard while a light sputter of her fluids soaked his digits. She was so eager that she was practically drooling natural lubricant over his hand and onto his wrists, so he licked it up and revelled in the flavour, rolling it around in his mouth before positioning himself behind her and licking his lips.
\tOceras was a big girl compared to most horses. Her haunches were tall enough that Therris – an above-average height kirin – barely reached her rump and pussy lips even when standing up straight. Of course, this didn't stop him from brushing her tail to the side and leaning in to kiss her there, lips to lips and tongue probing her depths as he did so.
\tHis attention coaxed a full-bodied shudder down her spine resulting in a widening of her stance, a wink of her clit, and a gentle spurting of her fluids onto his chin and neck. The smell that washed over him coupled with the sweet tanginess of her flesh made his loins swell to the point it was uncomfortable, so he unzipped his pants and let his growing member flop out as a gooey strand of precum splashed against her fetlocks.
\tBefore he had time to contemplate the mess he'd left, he brought both hands back up to her haunches and buried his snout under her tail once more. There, he passionately made out with her depths, tongue probing into her and lips plucking hers in between gentle pinches and sucking on her clit to tease her more. As a result, she grunted and lightly shifted in place, grinding her hips against his face and making all sorts of guttural, fleshy sounds from deep within her only broken up periodically by the flagging and pumping of her tail.
\tShe was having a great time and continued to do so until Therris heard the faintest hint of a howl in the distance. Suddenly alert, he pulled his face out from under her tail and licked his lips, ears flicking and twitching to find out where the sound was coming from, which direction.
\tOceras didn't let this distraction last long. Mere seconds later she grunted, tossed her head, and stomped her hoof next to his foot to tell him to get back to work, tail flicking him in the face while she glanced back at him. Though she lacked the facial expressions that agens possessed, Therris swore she was smiling deviously at her.
\tSo he got right back to work, hands caressing her haunches and muzzle pressed tight against her soaked pussy lips and drooling clit. She was smothered in a combination of his saliva and her own natural fluids, the two combining to make her so slick he felt he could have lost his muzzle in her.
\tWhile Therris may have been the consummate gentleman – always putting her pleasure first – the sweetly pungent aroma she emitted was driving him wild and he knew he wouldn't be able to hold off for too long. Oftentimes he'd use his arm as a stallion supplement, but not tonight. No, she deserved the real thing and all he needed to do was find a position to make it happen.
\t“Hey, come on.” He urged her, patting her haunches and giving a gentle shove in between licks and sucks and nibbles and pecks. He was trying to guide her closer to the log that was resting against a nearby tree, because that's the only way he'd get enough leverage to take care of her in the way he desired. Luckily for him, she was quite receptive to his suggestions and did shuffle sideways and turn ever so gently to lean back into the log, plot hovering over it at the right height.
\tHe hopped up and gave her rump a gentle smack – something he originally did playfully but over time had learned that she liked it and it got her excited – while grabbing his cock with his free hand to slip it up under her tail. She flagged, arching her back and pushing back while widening her stance and squirting down his shaft, gaze trained on him with that uncanny eye-smile of hers.
\tTherris then wrenched her tail up, grabbing it by the base and hoisting it to the side while using his other hand to guide his cock up between her cheeks. His member – which resembled a stallion's in form and texture but came from a slit between his legs and lacked a sheath or balls – was at full mast, its mauve and royal purple colours highlighted by the dancing reflection of the fire distorted by the natural lubricants that coated it. He was soaked, slimy, and ready; luckily, she was equally eager and produced just as much lubricant as he did, so when he leaned into her his length disappeared between her lips until his hips were pressed to hers.
\tHe grunted and let go of his shaft, pressing his palms against her haunches as he leaned into her, the throbbing blue glow of his horn mixing with the dancing of the embers to illuminate the clearing. The kirin rested all of his weight on her as he started grinding his hips, length pumping in and out with shallow, passionate motions while relishing the warmth and slickness of her flesh squeezing him tight. Despite her being a larger mare, she hugged him tighter than anyone he'd ever paired with in his journeys, her silken walls somehow stroking him without having to move.
\tHer muscles were clenching and squeezing in waves from her clit and lips all the way to her deepest depths, tugging him while she spurted her feminine ejaculate down his inner thighs and onto his trousers, soaking him with her warmth and marking him with her aroma.
\tNot only did he not mind, but the tickle of the fluids running down his shaft and mixing with the fluids of his slit coupled with the sweetness of her essence wafting up to his nostrils helped to coax a quick and powerful wave of pleasure out of him. He barely managed a dozen erratic half-thrusts before he found himself unable to hold back any longer, her tight walls resisting his every motion.
\tHe grunted, biting his lower lip and digging his fingers into her haunches while every muscle in his body tensed up at once. His cock throbbed and his flare exploded inside her followed almost immediately by a blast of his essence deep within her. He could feel his seed filling her, threatening to flood her womb only to reflect and splash back against his flare, the pressure building until some if it seeped down his shaft between his flesh and hers. Eventually, after a few more pumps, his essence seeped out over her clit, soaking her in white before dripping down between them and onto the log.
\tTherris considered pulling out to let his mess fertilize the ground but instead collapsed on her back, tail up and legs spread with his semi-hard member still pumping bits of his essence into her depths. He caressed her shoulders from there, tickling her flank and walking his hands back to her haunches before gathering all the strength he possessed to stand back up straight.
\tHis member had softened, the equine part of him keeping his session short but fun. Before long, the muscles in his loins had tugged his member out of her and back up into his slit, its length folding up and head curling in upon itself before finally disappearing and leaving a milky, creamy mess lining his crotch. She was just as much of a mess as he was, so he leapt down off the log and patted her haunches to get her to shift to the side again.
\tThere, he used his free hand to zip up his trousers while his other hand kept her tail out of the way as he buried his snout between her cheeks once more, his tongue lapping at her lips and probing her to clean her the best he could.
\tHe was a gentleman, after all. He didn't give up on her until he could find no more of his mess on her lips, on her pert little donut-shaped pucker, or between her rump cheeks. His tongue made short work of her, even though he was certain she didn't get it all; part of him knew she wanted to keep some of him inside her by clenching her muscles enough that it forced the deepest seed into her womb.
\tTherris and Oceras weren't compatible even if they shared a common ancestor in their equine heritage, but it always made him happy to see she shared that passion for him. As much as he wanted to stay there, comfortably nuzzling her cheeks while under her tail, it was getting late and he needed sleep and food. Without much in terms of transition, he tapped her at the base of the tail to tell her their tryst had come to completion, then he stepped past her to grab some jerky out of the saddlebags that were draped over the log. On the way, he nuzzled her and pressed his cheek to hers.
\tShe nickered and lipped his shoulder, giving him a hug between her chest and chin before letting him go. Once they parted ways, he crawled up into his hammock and she stood guard next to him, head drooped over his body to protect her rider while he ate his meal.
\tBefore falling asleep, Therris reached out with his arm, caressing her cheek once more to say goodnight. When he finally passed, his palm was outstretched and resting on her shoulder to ensure they didn't break contact.
\tIn the distance, a wolf howled. Therris knew they weren't a threat. Between the fire and Oceras standing guard, no wild animals would come near. The only beast in his heart was his mare. And with that pleasant knowledge in his mind, he smiled and let sleep overtake him.
\tChapter 2: Arrival at Rhybute Pass
\tThe following morning, Therris woke to see that Oceras was still standing over him, eyes closed and sleeping but there to protect him overnight. He gently reached out to caress her cheek, waking her in the process before rolling out of the hammock and stretching in preparation for the day.
\tHis mare sauntered out from around the trees to stand near the glowing embers of the fire pit next to Therris, batting his side with her snout for attention while using her hoofs to kick dirt towards the pit, extinguishing it. She had done this a few times and had picked up on Therris's morning routine by this point. Her knowledge of his patterns guided her to the log where her saddle and bags were resting, waiting for her. It was only a matter of time before he wrapped up and was ready to go.
\tAs expected, he removed the hammock from the trees, put all everything in the bags, kicked dirt onto the other side of the fire pit to ensure no smoke billowed up from the embers, grabbed an apple out of the saddle bag, and quickly equipped her once more without saying so much as a single word. He had packed up everything in on their campsite within minutes. Once her saddle was draped over her back, he hopped up and pointed towards the treeline closest to the pathway and she obeyed. Oceras kicked at the dirt, leapt over the log, and zig-zagged through the trees until she made it to the barren pathway marked by a lack of trees or grass.
\tHowever, once there, they were apprehended by a two-toned canine gentleman riding on a ulokar mount. He wore a large hat, white leather chaps over black denim pants, and a thick vest open at the front to reveal a series of scars across his chest. He was brandishing a rifle in one hand, ready to use it if needed. Once Oceras and Therris burst onto the path, both Therris and the canine stopped dead.
\tUnder most circumstances Therris would have grabbed his gun and aimed it at the traveller, just to make sure this canine didn't get the better of him in a duel. However, he kept it in his holster because he quickly saw that this gentleman had a star badge with the word 'marshal' on it with his name, Var'Rex, underneath that. Even at a distance of five meters, Therris's eyes could see that sort of detail and that had saved him from escalating the situation.
\t“Whoa.” Var'Rex said to his ulokar mount. He then lowered his rifle and looked to Therris. “You'd best be careful bursting onto the path like that. I almost shot ya.”
\t“Sorry about that.” Therris apologized, tipping his hat to the marshal. “I'll be on my way.”
\tVa'Rex spurred his ulokar forward. “Before you go, can I ask you for a small favour?” He reached into his saddlebags and pulled out a folded sheet of paper. Upon unfolding it was revealed to be a wanted poster for a horned feline named Vraska with bright blue and green striped fur and a thick lion-like mane tied up on either side of his face. “Have you seen this jysar?”
\tTherris took the wanted poster and looked it over, reading that he was wanted for the murder of a family, theft of a train car's worth of goods, the razing of a portion of forest near Port Sanri, and other minor infractions. Four hundred gold coins for him and one hundred gold coins for any of his gang members. He looked familiar to Therris. “I have, but not recently. Saw him and a few kobolds in Port Sanri a month or so back. Haven't seen him near Rhybute Pass.”
\t“A shame. He and his gang were reported to have also jacked a caravan of potion supplies coming to Rhybute and we have reason to believe his next attack will be at or near the Pass. If you are heading there and hear anything or see anything, report to Chief Storm of the Rhybute Pass Sheriff's department. It's paramount we catch this bastard before he does more damage.” Var'Rex was being very serious, dire even. He was not messing around.
\tSo Therris nodded. “If I see him or hear from him I will. But it says here the bounty's four hundred gold, could I bring him in myself?” He folded up the wanted poster and gave it back to Var.
\tThe marshal shrugged. “You could, but he's very dangerous, shoots without warning, and has at least a dozen gang members backing him up. You've not got a chance unless you ambush him.” He shook his head to refresh himself. “Just don't get yourself killed, mate. We've got professionals on his trail. You be careful on the road to Rhybute, I might see you there.” He then tipped his hat and spurred his ulokar to burst up the path towards Rhybute Pass, leaving Therris and Oceras behind.
\t“You get a good look at the wanted poster?” Therris joked, patting Oceras on the neck. She shook her head and nickered at him as if she understood then immediately started trotting up the path.
\tFrom there, the two of them casually made their way through the winding path that followed the river towards Rhybute Pass. This trek kept them busy for most of the morning, with them only stopping briefly so that Therris could enjoy some tea and breakfast once they hit the treeline and emerged into the open wilderness. From there, the rest of their trip would be quite taxing for Oceras, since pretty much everything from that point to the Pass was uphill.
\tFrom the edge of the forest, while he sipped his tea, Therris surveyed the land and the path ahead of him. Much of the landscape and the horizon to the east was on a gradual slope in the foothills of the Rhybute Mountains, dotted by farms and ranches and groups of homes in between. Rivers, creeks, and pathways crisscrossed over the landscape until many of them converged into one unified trade route and one river that were both at the entrance to the Pass.
\tCliffs lined the edge of the mountain, creating a series of waterfalls and small lakes as the river cascaded down the side of the incline. Therris heard there were three great lakes hidden between the peaks and plateaus of the mountain range, but few could reach them given their altitude and difficulty scaling the cliffs to get there. All that Therris knew for sure was that the water coming from them and down the river he'd been following was some of the purest and coldest he'd ever tasted.
\tIf it wasn't enough that Rhybute Pass served as a trade hub for Sosemma and Itanobel, it was also the source of a bountiful, seemingly never-ending resource in the form of cold fresh water.
\tHis focus remained trained on the river and the waterfalls that fed into it for the duration of his trip. On the way, he came across many smaller homesteads in small bunches that acted as a hamlet but weren't large enough to be towns; he also saw ranches, farms, and everything in between. One ranch in particular had a tall orange and green-skinned dragon-like fellow tilling the fields while a series of smaller dragon and gryphon females helped out. Therris casually waved to him and tipped his hat before carrying on and seeing another smaller homestead with a pair of fields and no livestock being tilled and cared for by a brown-haired equine. Therris waved to him as well.
\tTherris was quite sociable, in general. Unlike most people who wandered the Sosemman Frontier, he felt no fear towards others and acted without caution while helping. One of the first rules of the frontier is to not trust anyone without a good character reference, but Therris had never found himself in a position to test this advice. Most everyone he met was nice to him and even the ones that were nasty were easy enough to avoid; he'd heard stories of being mugged or outright killed by roving gangs but he hadn't run into such an issue.
\tHe was just lucky. Luckier than most, at least. This fortune made him consider getting into gambling or betting given his luck, but he figured that would test whatever force was watching over him and could draw the ire of sore losers. Instead, he roamed alone or with friends and his trusty steed Oceras. Many months later, he was loaded up on coin and gemstones, always had a full belly, and had been enjoying the most freedom and beauty he'd ever experienced.
\tLife was good for Therris. That was why he was travelling to Rhybute Pass. He figured, if nothing else, he could buy Oceras a nice new saddle or fill up on a feast without worry. He could invest in local businesses or just give his girl some new shoes, it didn't matter, he just wanted to spend some money and Oceras definitely needed new shoes.
\tAt the foot of the mountain and the opening to the pass, Therris looked up the hill that would lead to Rhybute with a growing sense of dread. The incline was steep, but the path meandered a bit to alleviate the angle a bit. He would be fine and he knew Oceras could handle it but that didn't mean he wanted to force her to do anything he wouldn't do; to prove this to her and show he cared, he hopped off and walked next to her instead of acting as her burden.
\tShe looked confused, assuming his dismount meant they were stopping for some reason. It wasn't until she noticed that Therris had made a motion for her to follow while ahead of her that she decided to keep pace with him.
\tTherris was a kind soul and his sacrifice for his steed was admirable but Oceras was incredibly strong and barely felt him on her back. He was making it hard on himself for nothing aside from his own sense of love for his steed. She was smart enough to understand and appreciate this so she kept close by, nuzzling and nibbling his hair and hat from behind to show affection.
\tAbout halfway up the foothills of the mountains, Therris came to the realization that he didn't have it in him to go the rest of the way. After apologizing to her, he hopped up onto Oceras's back and held onto the horn for balance as she kicked into high gear. She galloped up the pass, blowing by other caravans and riders that were pacing themselves. She did this all without any command from Therris to do so, proving to him that she wasn't exhausted and that he didn't need to worry about her load.
\tDespite the mare having endurance for days, the incline did take its toll on Oceras. Just before they rounded the final turn of the pathway to enter the city limits, she slowed to a trot next to a caravan of a half dozen carriages heading into town next to them. The front carriage had a dapper looking feline rifleman in a vest sitting shotgun, eyes scanning the horizon for threats. On one of the further back carriages was a peculiar-looking hybrid creature with a bony dragon tail, dragon horns, canine features, and glowing arms that were partially transparent. He looked quite nasty and likely magically charged.
\t“Good day to you, mister!” Therris said to the feline as he passed the slow-moving caravan, tilting his hat to show goodwill. “Whatcha haulin' into town?”
\tThe feline narrowed his eyes and readied his rifle, clearly showing a distrust towards Therris and his large mare. The law of the frontier stated he shouldn't trust anyone without character references, which included the most friendly of folk such as Therris. “Nothing in particular, just goods from the farms to feed the people in town.” This was a lie and his expression showed that, but it mattered not.
\tTherris nodded and shifted so that his vest covered the handle of his pistol, a show of faith to prove he had no interest in inciting the ire of the feline rifleman. “Glad to hear it! I've got some coin myself so I might end up purchasing some jerky or spices. What store ya headed to?”
\t“Why's it matter?” The feline asked, suspicions rising.
\t“It doesn't, was just curious. I'm not here to cause trouble, just passing through and like spending coin where I can. Anyway, pleasure meeting you mister-”
\t“Dusty.” The feline interjected. “Or Dustafyer if you're not into brevity.”
\tWith another nod and a tilt of his hat, Therris acknowledged the feline. “Name's Therris. Hope to see more of you in town before I leave!” He turned back to take one last glance at the caravan – all eight carriages of it – to see two bipedal equines riding a big black dragon somewhere in between. They looked a little sinister but it didn't take Therris long at all to discern this was no produce haul.
\tMercenaries and riflemen protected this caravan with aplomb, their minds sharp and their guns ready to kill at any time. They were transporting something valuable if it needed this much protection. If that wasn't enough on its own, that bloke with the glowing arms looked like he could have conjured a fireball to envelop a whole city with one mere flick of his wrist.
\tWith that in mind, Therris spurred Oceras on in an attempt to get distance between he and the caravan. He just wanted to buy some goods and have a fun time in Rhybute, he didn't wanna stir up a fuss or get into any altercations; not only did he hate conflict, he so far had a perfect record of peace!
\tOnce he pulled ahead of the caravan, he turned the final corner to bear witness to the glory that was Rhybute Pass, the city in the valley and the central hub of trade between Sosemma and Itanobel.
\tThe city of Rhybute Pass was situated closer to the western entrance of the valley that cut through the mountains, with the downtown area itself mostly comprising of two strips on either side of a ravine that housed the river below. Each of these strips – an extension of the trade routes that fed the town from east and west – were their own unique main street with stores and vendors lining either side of it. On the outer edges farthest from the ravine, the buildings were large and built into the steep hills of the mountain, with the innermost sides of either of these halves having smaller merchant stands nestled up against the edge of the ravine.
\tDozens of bridges connected the north and south side of the ravine, some of them big enough to house stores and smaller establishments on their own. Each of these bridges – some of them stone and raised, others rope and dangling – remained in position above the river that raged below. It looked a little dangerous, with the majority of the city so close to a river that could have easily taken lives, but it also served as a central hub for all the businesses.
\tThe entire city was surprisingly lush despite being carved into the valley and nestled up close to the ravine. The mist from the river below ensured that plants, trees, mosses, vines, and other vegetation were plentiful, with rich brown dirt lining the pathways and plenty of flora poking out from the cliffs.
\tAs Therris strode through town – the incline finally giving way to the relative flatness of Rhybute Pass to give Oceras a break – he noticed that there appeared to be a series of pathways leading away from the central hub of the town to smaller groups of homes and suburban expansion. Therris quickly realized that there was more to Rhybute Pass than the central strips lining the ravine, even if the outskirts of town were sparsely dispersed among the many cliffs and hills.
\tHundreds of people of all races were milling about, with horses and carriages and caravans and individuals intermingling along each of the strips – both the one Therris was trotting down and the one across the ravine on the northern face of the valley. Folks were buying and trading goods, working girls and boys both were trying to sell their bodies in broad daylight, potion makers were loudly shouting to anyone who'd listen, and almost every building nestled up to the cliffs and the hills of the valley had a dozen or more mounts tied to hitching posts out front as their riders did business inside.
\tThe air was crisp and had the faint pungent aroma of ademane accenting it, something that was surprisingly welcoming, all things considered. Ademane was the primary fluid used in potion making, magic, and the creation of enchanted gemstones, so it was incredibly valuable. It resided in the bodies of all and could be extracted if needed but also occurred naturally in some caves and some plants, resulting in crystal caves and crystal forests that could be harvested or mined.
\t“Aha!” He said to himself as his thoughts brushed over the implementation of ademane and its impact on local economies. That caravan he passed that was violently protective of its goods must have been carrying ademane crystals or mining equipment! Rhybute Pass was an incredibly wealthy town despite being relatively young, and the scent of ademane in the air meant there must have been crystal in the mountains worthy of being mined! This revelation gave Therris a smug sense of self-satisfaction.
\tKnowing this, he kept a grin and trotted his way through the southern strip, tipping his hat to any and all folks who walked or rode past him in the opposite direction. Some ignored him, some gave him dirty looks, but most reciprocated and that made him smile. This positive first impression had an impact on him within minutes, making him feel at home even when he'd adjusted to not feel that way.
\tTherris was surprised at just how big the city actually ended up being. The twin strips that lined the ravine each were a few kilometres long and branched out to the surrounding highlands dozens of times in either direction. There were hundreds of vendors and small businesses lining each pathway, giving Therris many options to chose from.
\tAnd yet, despite having all those options, he couldn't decide. He came across four blacksmiths, seven farriers, five gunsmiths, easily twenty or more potion makers, two sheriff's offices – one with a prison and one without, and an uncountable number of food stands among the farmer's markets that filled up the space in between. Rhybute Pass came across as a bustling metropolis despite its reported population being less than thirteen thousand. It was by no means a small town, but it felt bigger than it actually was while also feeling homely due to the serenity that came from its location.
\tThe mountains that cradled the pass on either side doused out much of the outside noise while the steady flowing of water coming from below was serene. The surrounding homes all in the hills around the central strip made the district feel rural on the whole.
\t“Would you be against settling down here?” Therris asked as he patted Oceras on the neck.
\tShe shook her mane and grunted at him, coming to a stop in her tracks so abruptly that the lady following behind accidentally got a face full of mare ass followed by a whip on her cheek as Oceras swiped her tail to the side to scare away the pest.
\tTherris turned to apologize. “Sorry about that, miss.”
\tThe lady, a magenta shark wearing a sultry-looking short skirt and thigh high boots, smiled and waved a fan in her face. “It's okay.” She said, voice a bit too low to be female. “I should have been paying more attention. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get some supplies.” The shark girl then turned and headed into the store that Oceras and Therris had stopped in front of.
\tIt was called The Near and Dear, with a sign that indicated it was 'a general store for all your needs', with the word 'all' highlighted and accented. This intrigued Therris, so he motioned for Oceras to go sit next to the other horses, dragons, and ulokar so he could tie her to the hitching post. She wasn't wearing a bridle so he just latched a rope around her neck and over the post itself; he knew she only needed to pull it off the post to get away, but he also knew that she wouldn't leave regardless. He only tied her up to make it look good for any passerby and the law; she was well-behaved enough to not need such restraints.
\tHe gave her a kiss on the snout and patted her neck before hopping up onto the well-decorated front porch, and from there he noticed that there was a small crack in the land next to the building with a small stream of water cascading down into the main river. There were many other tributaries like this throughout the city but this was the first one he paid much attention to.
\tThis was interesting but not the primary focus of his journey so he slipped on inside and ignored most of the goodies on the front porch. This proved to be difficult because even the deck had a bunch of cool, sparkling goodies he wanted to indulge himself with.
\tOnce inside he was greeted by the image of an overwhelming variety of choices. The Near and Dear was stocked with a little bit of everything, at least as far as he could tell. One portion of the store was full of all the fresh and canned produce a traveller or local could hope for, including fruits and vegetables and dried meats and spices and canned fish. There was also a wide variety of household accessories like plates, cups, pots, pans, and silverware. A corner of the food area also had food for dogs and horses, which was something he'd definitely need to pick up. Oceras loved oatcakes.
\tBut that was only one part of the store. There was an area that sold actual furniture and appliances, a portion that sold potions and other concoctions such as elemental gemstones that could keep food frozen or heated up in a pinch, and a big pair of doors that led to another area. Therris had no idea what it was that was behind those doors so he felt the need to ask.
\tThe lass behind the counter was a white and blue furred wolf wearing a lovely little vest and a frilly white shirt underneath. She was reading a book and not really paying much attention until Therris stepped up to her. “Welcome to the Near and Dear.” She said simply; she wasn't trying to sell him any goods, she was simply stating it in a matter-of-fact way.
\t“Place to sate all my needs.” Therris joked, referring to the shop's tagline with the emphasis on 'all' just like it specified. “Yes, I know. But I'm curious what's behind the redwood doors.” He inquired, pointing towards the back of the store.
\tThe wolf half-cocked a grin. “New to town, are ya?”
\t“By less than an hour, yeah. Just arrived for the first time this morning.”
\t“Well then now's as good a time to tell you that the word 'all' in our tagline is pretty literal. The Near and Dear is a little bit of everything all rolled into one. We've got the general store up front, we own the blacksmith next door and they dabble in a little bit of everything from gun-smithing to horse-shoeing. Out back, however, is where things get fun.” She motioned for Therris to move in close. When he did, she whispered in his ear. “We got a saloon out back and a brothel upstairs if that's what needs satisfyin'.” She then leaned back and laid her book down on the desk next to the in-house catalogue.
\tThis all sounded pretty impressive to Therris. Most shops specialized and there were very few he came across that did such a wide variety of tasks. General stores were one thing, it wasn't in any way uncommon to see a store that sold produce and meat and tobacco and horse feed, but they rarely overlapped with blacksmiths and brothels. He couldn't help but nod in approval. “Impressive. I guess I found my spot to stock up, then.” He reached into his satchel and pulled out a small bag of coin. “How much for some oatcakes for the girl and some jerky for me? You know, to get started.”
\tJust as she was about to answer, the big red doors swung open to reveal a black, gray, white, and orange shark-fox hybrid in chaps with a glass pint mug in one hand and a towel in the other. “Hey Ithilwen, have we got any of that tribal ale in the back?” He then paused and looked at Therris with a smile. “It's very good, you should try some.”
\t“I don't drink, but thanks!” Therris politely declined.
\tIthilwen, the white and blue canine, shrugged. “You're the one running the bar during the day, you tell me.” She then shot a glance at Therris as if to tease the other bloke who came in. “That's Rick. From the Itanobel tribes. He helped Neera and Rime set up a few years back when they were first established.” She explained with a roll of her eyes.
\tTherris flicked his ear in confusion, one eye twitching. “That's some awfully convenient backstory. No idea why you felt the need to tell me that, but I'm Therris!” He outstretched both hands to Ithilwen and Rick. “New to town; might stick around a while; since I apparently know you both better than anyone else in town, it makes sense to call you my first friends! We've got a bond now and I suppose that means you can expect to see more of me.”
\tBoth Rick and Ithilwen took his hands and shook before turning to each other, pleased.
\t“Well, I guess if that's the case, you'd best whip out that satchel of coins to start spending. We could always use it given the competition in the region.” Ithilwen pushed, winking knowingly at him.
\tTherris happily agreed with their logic and did precisely that. His shopping spree lasted the majority of an hour and involved him stocking up on apples, pears, dried meat, oatcakes, a few potions for healing and invigoration, and some new silverware while he was at it.
\tOceras was a large mare and was capable of carrying it all, but once he went outside to stow it all in her saddlebags with the help of Rick, he realized that his haul was too big to fit. That's when Rick, who had quickly become friendly to Therris, suggested something a little odd.
\t“How long did you say you were going to be staying in or round Rhybute Pass?”
\t“I hadn't decided, but I figure based on what I know and my travels thus far that I might be here a few months, at least. Why do you ask?” He patted Oceras on her haunches to establish contact only to have his touch trigger a raising of her tail that made his heart skip a beat. No, this was not the time for that.
\tRick seemed to notice the mare's instinctual reaction to Therris but didn't mention it. At least, not directly. “Well, you don't strike me as the type of guy who needs to pay for companionship, but the Near and Dear does offer an inn of sorts in the brothel part of the establishment. You can spend a few weeks in one of our suites and you don't have to pay for one of our workers if you don't want. You could if you felt so inclined, but I wouldn't push it.”
\t“That's pretty helpful. How much are the rooms?” Therris asked, hoisting the bag of apples over his shoulder. Oceras reached over and grabbed the sack with her lips, so he gave her one before getting a response. He then gave her a look of disdain, as if to silently scold her for her lewdness.
\tRick grabbed the sack of pears while guiding Therris back inside. “Well, it's one gold coin per night. Four coins for a week, which is a one-day discount. Twenty percent off.” Weeks were five days.
\tTherris cringed a bit. “That's a bit pricey for an inn, don't you think? Especially one that's likely got folks moaning and banging in the next room, drunkards fighting downstairs.”
\t“I suppose it is, but you'd be hard pressed to find better beds in town, we've got some soundproof rockwood lining the walls and floor, and it comes with complimentary breakfast and boys, if you're into that. Or girls. I can't actually tell what you're into.” Rick offered, hoping for an answer.
\t“Both are good, but you're right and I've got Oc-” He stopped himself before he admitted to shagging his horse. “I've got plenty of tail, I don't need to pay for it.”
\tThe two of them continued through the general store of The Near and Dear past Ithilwen and a few other shoppers before heading up some spiral stairs to the second level. Only once there and in relative privacy did Rick carry on with the conversation. “You don't have to be shy about what you do with your horse, mate. We're in the wild west, pretty much everyone has gotten lonely at least once.”
\tTherris chuckled to himself. “Who said anything about being lonely? She's a great partner!”
\t“You're probably not wrong.” Rick coyly agreed, then opened up the door to one of the suites, revealing a large room with red walls and a huge bed in the middle. “But the option's there if you feel the need to use it. Attached at the far end is a bathroom with a large tub in it, so you can shave or shine your scales if need be and if you want some, uhm, help, there's a bell you can ring.”
\tAfter glancing around and taking a few steps into the room, Therris put his bag of apples down. “I guess I can stay here for a week, see how it goes. Make it a sort of base of operations while I explore the rest of the town and look for work.”
\t“Too bad you can't bring your horse up.” Rick joked before darting away to return to his duties in the tavern, leaving Therris alone in the brothel with only his thoughts and some fruits.
\tHe wasn't kinky enough to do anything naughty to the apples, so he made his way back down to the main floor, paid Ithilwen for a week's worth of the room, and then went outside to gather up his saddlebags from Oceras, relieving her of the weight and leaving her wearing only the saddle and lead line loose around her neck and shoulders. He had a few places he wanted to visit before he got something for lunch or dinner – it was already mid-afternoon and he didn't know what sort of meal he craved – so he stored all his goods away and went about his day.
Chapter 3: Horseshoes and Dragon Flames
\tAs suggested, he took his mare around the side of the building, which was a blacksmith's shop. Ithilwen and Rick had suggested he take her to their onsite metal workers to get shooed while he also got his pistols looked at. Seemed awfully convenient, but he got a discount since he was spending the night in their inn of ill repute. This was clearly just fast-talk from the two folks he'd met and Therris knew this, but he liked them enough that he went with it and bought into their pitches.
\tThe blacksmith's shop was rather intricate, Therris noticed once he passed through the front gate. Inside there were two forges, a series of workbenches with tools and weapons – including swords, for some reason – hanging off the wall. Four blokes were working the various forges, hammering horseshoes, and carving up patterns on pistols and rifles. Upon entering with his horse, Therris was greeted by a tall red and purple dragon wearing only thick black goggles and a blacksmith's apron.
\t“Well hello there.” He marvelled, mostly looking at Oceris, in awe at her size. “What can I do for her? I mean, you?”
\tTherris offered the dragon Oceras's lead line. “She needs new shoes, if you could do that. And I could use some maintenance on my pistols. What's your price?” He removed his holsters and bandolier and held them out for the dragon to investigate.
\tThe dragon leaned to the side to get a better look at Oceras. “Well, she's a pretty big girl. Normally it's ten silver but I might have to charge you twelve for the extra materials.” He then took Therris's guns and laid them on the nearest workbench. “These look to be Adethryll metal guns, which I'm sure you know is incredibly high quality and is very hard to work with.”
\t“I'm aware, can you work on it? I don't care about the price.” Therris challenged with a grin.
\t“By the power of the dragon's flame within me, I can certainly touch these up for you. Two gold, five silver per pistol.” He waited for Therris's protest, but it never came. “I'll get right on that for you. I'll get my assistant to come and work on those shoes for ya. Jay! Get in here! You got work!” He shouted to the back.
\tA small roo-dragon with long whiskers, digitigrade legs, and a hell of a bulge in his pants came out from behind one of the forges. “Jaikonran here! What have you got for me Saethwr?”
\tSaethwr – the red and purple dragon in the goggles – pointed towards Oceras with a toothy grin. “You've got a mare to work on. Needs a set of shoes. And you'd best make them immaculate.”
\tJay stared up at Oceras and gulped. He was rather short to start with but he was absolutely dwarfed by the massive mare in front of him. Oceras was tall for a horse, at somewhere between twenty to twenty-four hands high, so she was tall even compared to Saethwr and Therris. The image of her standing tall over Jay made the roo-dragon gulp and his whiskers droop, intimidated by her.
\t“She's fine, promise.” Therris assured Jay. “Gentle as can be unless you hurt her. If you hurt her, well, you won't survive the kick.” He winked and grinned, making his point clear in the process.
\tSomewhat reluctantly, Jay took her lead line and guided her back to the forges to take some measurements while leaving Saethwr and Therris stayed at the front near the workbench. Seconds later, a whistle went off and most of the workers left for lunch, leaving the four of them alone.
\t“Any reason you're not going on lunch?” Therris asked as Saethwr opened a cupboard.
\t“Once we have a task we work until it's done. We still get lunch, but that comes later. Don't worry, neither of these jobs will take too long. No more than an hour, tops.” He then moved to the side to reveal what was in the cupboard. “What kind of tea do you want? We've got just about every kind.”
\tSaethwr wasn't lying. Inside the cupboard had to be forty jars or more of various tea blends.
\t“I didn't say I wanted tea, but if you're offering I like mine dark and rich.”
\tThe dragon returned to the cupboard to find a blend that worked. “No, but you look like a tea kind of guy and even if you don't like tea I do have dirty bean water and hot candy drinks if you're into that. Plus, I love sharing my tea. Now come, sit. I'll heat up the water while we're working up the flame for working in your pistols.” He grabbed a chair and slid it over towards Therris, who happily took it.
\tAfter sitting down, Saethwr quickly heated the water to a boil and let the tea steep inside metal cage balls while occasionally stirring. The same flame – one that came from inside him – was heating the forge to make Therris's pistols hot enough to be malleable. This was not common practice for most metal guns but was needed for Adethryll metal. One couldn't polish or buff it or clean it properly without heating it up; this sucked for maintenance costs but was great for longevity as the metal was quite resilient to wear and tear.
\tWhile waiting for the flame and the forge to heat up, the two chatted a bit about Rhybute and Saethwr's time working the forge. At the same time, Therris noticed that Jay was acting peculiar while measuring Oceras for her shoes. He was taking her hind hoof measurements a few more times than needed while casually glancing up under her tail every time she flagged, resulting in a throb in his bulge every time. Even Therris and Saethwr could see the mare was moist and tender, still horny.
\tTherris knew exactly what was happening with Jay, so he called out to him. “You know, if you keep giving her plot so much attention she might demand you do something about it.” He said before taking his first casual sip of tea.
\t“Excuse me? I'm a professional.” Jay grunted as he hopped down off the stool where he was taking her hind hoof's berth measurement for the fifth time. “I'd never-”
\t“Don't tell me that, tell her.” Therris continued. “She's the one who decides who gets the pleasure of her backside. Don't worry, she'll kick if she doesn't like you.” Jay didn't respond, he just huffed and took one final glance up under Oceras's tail before getting back to work.
\tSaethwr took a sip as well. “You invite everyone to mount your horse like that?” He joked.
\t“Not everyone, but my girl's pretty smart. She has a good head for people and won't lift her tail to people she doesn't want to get attention from. If your assistant doesn't wanna be kicked, he'd best stop teasing her and either do something about it or get on with his work.” He was oddly casual about it as if this wasn't the first time he'd dealt with someone else wanting a go at Oceras. It wasn't. Not by a long shot. Seemed the girl went into heat every time they entered a new city or if she just got bored.
\tJay and Saethwr shared a glance before Saethwr shrugged. “Up to her, he says.” He called out.
\t“If you need privacy, I can leave and come back.” Therris offered with a laugh, then turned to Saethwr. “But I kinda don't wanna leave. This tea is delicious.”
\tHaving heard and taken in the things Saethwr and Therris had said, Jay's expression shifted to a far more enthusiastic visage. His whiskers started flicking and his bulge visibly grew as he allowed himself to stare up at the mare's tail hole and plump vulva. Everything had worked out perfectly for the roo-dragon up to this point, with Oceras being receptive, his coworkers leaving for lunch, and the mare's owner giving him the go-ahead all in quick succession.
\tUnder most circumstances, Jay never would have actually considered making a move on a mare that was a client, and if he worked at literally any other location he wouldn't have taken Therris up on his offer, but the reality was that he worked with Saethwr as a member of the Near and Dear family. Neera and Rime – the owners of the establishment – had made a point to push positive sexual experiences in any situation. This meant that, unlike most places in town, workers at The Near and Dear were encouraged to come to work naked if they felt so inclined, to fraternize with one another, and – within reason – to indulge where it was safe and viable.
\tAs it turned out, Oceras was receptive and therefore safe and viable. Still, he needed to make sure one last time before actually making a move on her. “So, you sure about this?” He asked, still glancing up at the massive mare's hindquarters. “I don't want to misread a client. You know, for all sorts of professional reasons.”
\tTherris sipped his tea, turned his chair around so he was facing jay, and shrugged. “I'm saying it's not up to me. She may be a horse – my horse – but what you do and do not do with her is her decision since it's her body. I can request you not touch her that way, but I won't. Have at it! I don't mind watching if she's in the mood.” He leaned back against the chair, tail pushed out under the backrest for balance as he took another sip of his tea.
\tBehind him, Saethwr had begun to work on the pistols by warming them with his internal flame. The dragon was casually interested in seeing where this went but didn't want to interrupt so he tried his best to focus on his work while only periodically glancing over to see what was happening.
\tJay shrugged once more and decided he wasn't going to question it further. The bulge in his trousers – which mostly consisted of his balls – showed just how long it had been since he had been granted a proper release and he figured a mare was the best place to deposit.
\tThe roogon grabbed a short meter-tall stepladder and pulled it up behind the mare while he kept a keen eye on her to gauge her reaction. The mare did hoof at the dirt and glance back to her rider, but then swished her tail from side to side, slapping him in the face twice while wafting her scent over him.
\t“Well, I guess that's a good sign.” He said to himself as he scaled the stepladder. Once he was on top, he gave her haunches a bit of a pat and a caress while remaining cautious. If she kicked, he was going to be knocked back into the wall with a workbench's worth of tools landing on his head; or worse he could be hoofed right into the forge. Not a fun idea of potential sexy times gone wrong. Much to his delight, Oceras swished her tail again and hoisted it up, revealing the plump black flesh of her vulva to him while glancing back at him with head lowered.
\tShe couldn't have been much clearer in her desires, but Jay still felt the need to clarify with Therris. “So you're entirely sure this is okay? You're not weirded out by this? Just some random stranger getting his hands all up in your ride?” He was trying to be as casual as he could to mask how hot he was getting in the presence of Oceras's drooling lips. It wasn't working; the bulge of his cock could be clearly seen poking out from the pillowy mounds of his balls pressing out against his trousers.
\t“If you want I can look away, but for her, it's just another day. You're not the first bloke I've encountered who is entranced by her beauty and you won't be the last. The more you talk, however, the more frustrated she'll get and the harder you'll have to work.” Therris took a sip of his tea, casually embracing Jay's reluctance while finding it endearing. “I'm not the jealous type, okay? Go ahead.”
\tThis seemed to be just enough to give Jay the incentive he needed to make a move on the mare. He gave her haunches another gentle pat before sliding his palms down to her inner thighs, revelling in her warmth and gulping in anticipation when she parted her hind legs and lifting her tail again. It was clear that his touch – especially in that region – was triggering her desire as much as it was his, based on her reactions. Upon identifying this he took another risk by sliding his fingers up between her rump cheeks to feel his knuckles drag along her moist lips while his fingertips parted her flesh.
\tShe winked at him. Not with her eyes, but with her clit. As his digits gently slipped into her, she clenched her muscles and pushed out her clit to shoot a gob of her creamy fluids right onto his snout, landing with a splat and immediately inundating his sense of smell with the aura of her estrus aroma.
\tThat was the end of his resistance. Up to that point, he had tried his best to be professional and restrained, all the while waiting for and expecting Therris to say something or put a stop to his advances towards the mare. The second he felt the warmth of her fluids on his muzzle and the sweet earthy aroma of her loins washing over him, his restraint was obliterated. Almost instinctively, he leaned into her to nuzzle under her tail, snout pressed close to her lips while his tongue probed her depths and his lips sucked on her clit in an effort to get more out of her.
\tShe hiked her tail up over the small of her back and widened her stance, arching her spine to lower her loins in an effort to get closer to his level; even with the stepladder he was barely able to kiss her on the lips and she was able to identify this quite easily. The shift in her position and the flip of her tail was as open an invitation as a mare could possibly give her partner, an invitation Jay happily took.
\tHe leaned into her, hands on her haunches and muzzle buried between her rump cheeks with his tongue lashing at her depths to taste what she had to offer. His whiskers were flailing about, lashing at her thighs to show his excitement as the bulge in his pants continued to grow. Jay got so excited he even pulled his hands inward, palms tracing her haunches as his thumbs slid into her and parted her lips to give him a great view of her glistening, cherry-pink insides as another trail of slimy fluid dribbled over her clit and onto his outstretched tongue. Her flavour urged him to lap every bit of it up.
\tThis was immediately followed by Jay pressing his relatively small snout into her, upper and lower jaws parting her lips while his tongue probed her depths as deep as it would go, thumbs both kneading and prodding at her tail hole to see if she liked that at the same time. She was bucking in time with his every move, pushing back and arching her spine and gushing a combination of her fluids over his muzzle and down his chest as well as down his throat, all of which got swallowed or soaked up.
\tJay was loving every second of this but knew that if he was to please her he needed to give her more than a tongue. He pulled his muzzle out of her and started brushing his fingers up and down between her cheeks, soaking his hand from wrist to fingertips in her juices before creating a single point between all of his digits and easing his fist into her. He was gentler than a stallion would have been, so he was surprised at how well she responded.
\tOnce more, she arched her back, flagged her tail as high as it would go, pushed into him, and gushed down his forearm to soak his chest, belly, and thighs. Her fluids – a slimy mass of mostly-clear and partly opaque juices – clung to him and smelled of sweetness and earthiness in equal measure. There was so much coming out of her that, had it had a golden tinge, it would have appeared to be something else entirely; it soaked him to the skin through his work apron, pants, and fur.
\tAs her lips swallowed him to the wrist, he pushed in a bit deeper and balled his hand up into a firm fist inside her. By wrenching his wrist downward, he was able to grind his knuckles into her most sensitive zones along her anterior wall, coaxing even more mess from her to soak his chest and arm. In and out he pumped, thrusting with the firmness of a stallion but the gentleness of a lover, each move urging her to grunt and squat and wink her clit at him in approval.
\tHe kept at this until she started to slow down, her appetite mostly satisfied. Neither stallion nor mare had a reputation for sexual endurance, so it made sense that after only a few minutes of passionate fisting she was starting to get low on fluid reserves and was growing tender inside.
\tJay recognized this and pulled out, slowly allowing her fluids to seep out as his balled up fist slid out from between her tender pussy lips. She winked and shuddered in delight, nickering and tossing her mane as she hopped from hoof to hoof in place. Her rump twitched as an orgasm shot through her body, clit winking and a series of wet squelches escaping her as the air he'd pumped into her emerged to form bubbles along her lips.
\tNaturally, he couldn't help but lean in and use his tongue to clean up the mess. He hadn't even pumped a load into her and she was already soaking wet from the underside of her tail right down to her knees, the fur of her inner thighs darker and dripping in mare fluids. He was a bit disappointed he didn't get to finish in her, but he figured he could use the lubricant she'd produced to fap during a quick bathroom break before finishing the job.
\tHe raised his hand to get Saethwr's attention. “Hey, boss, can I take ten to-” He was cut off when Oceras bucked in place, not kicking but jumping and pushing her hind legs out before leaping to the side and rolling onto her back with her front legs folded up on her chest and hind legs up high. She looked and was acting more like a dog than a horse while staring at him the whole time. This left Jay baffled until Therris pitched in.
\t“She wants seed, my friend.” He instructed, still sipping his tea. He was almost done and Saethwr was behind him already putting some finishing touches on Therris's pistols.
\tAs it turned out, Jay had lost more than a few minutes while his face was buried under the mare's tail. “You sure?” He asked, still standing on the stepladder with weak knees. Her little buck and sudden leap had triggered a burst of adrenaline inside him. However, as he looked down at Oceras lying spread eagle beneath him with her pussy exposed and vulva parted to reveal her pink insides, he came to accept that Therris was right.
\tTherris grinned and tipped his tea in a toast before taking another sip, encouraging Jay.
\t“Alright.” Jay mumbled to himself as he leapt down from the stepladder and pushed it to the side. He was still hard and his balls were still swollen and throbbing in anticipation of release, so he knew going into this that he wouldn't last long. All he managed to do was lift his apron, lower his pants by the waistband, and pull his cock out from its confines to have a strand of precum drool off the tip and land on her clit. The fluid trickled down between her lips, disappearing in the fluid inside her.
\tShe wagged her hindquarters, golden-tipped tail sweeping at the dirt on the ground while her abdomen tensed and her clit winked at him, fluids barely escaping to soak the base of her tail.
\tHe gave one final glance to Therris to make sure this was okay. He was greeted with the image of his client rubbing himself, a wet spot in his trousers. The moisture there despite a lack of bulge made Jay rethink Therris's gender but he didn't dwell long on it before making the plunge.
\tThe roogon grabbed his member and got to his knees behind Oceras, straddling her tail and lightly pressing down between her teats for balance as he slipped his length into her. He curled his toes as her flesh enveloped him, the surprising heat of her depths tickling him in all the right ways. He couldn't help but feel the familiar tingle of an encroaching climax overcoming him almost instantly; he had spent long enough teasing her and bringing pleasure to the mare that his own loins felt neglected, ready to pop at any moment.
\tHer silken walls clenching shockingly tight around his member made quick work of him, practically sucking the seed right out of him within minutes.
\tJay thrust into her repeatedly and with the vigour of a stallion, slapping his hips against hers with his hands wrapped around her thighs for leverage. His loins throbbed with every beat of his heart, flesh hypersensitive to every stroke and tease of her walls around him. He tried to last a bit longer than a stallion would, but quickly found that she had a grip upon him that he couldn't resist. Despite being a massive mare with a pussy that could smuggle Jay's entire body if she wanted, the muscle control she exhibited was far beyond any partner he'd ever been with, her walls more tender and sleek than others.
\tFor these reasons, he lasted less than a minute once he felt her lips swallow him. A few dozen intense thrusts later and he felt the dam break, his balls squeezing tight, and his cock turn into a hose to deposit gallons of his seed into her. He may have been short but those balls of his were filled to the brim with his essence and every last drop of it was pumped into her, flooding her cunt and even invading her womb in the process.
\tHe grunted and clenched his fists tight around her thighs, pulling himself into her to form a seal between his sheath and her vulva. This didn't work, as his loins pumped so much of his seed into her that it kept bursting out from between her flesh and his, the creamy whiteness soaking into the dirt beneath them both.
\tTotally spent and soaked in his own seed, Jay was rendered beyond a lucid state, mind drifting into nothingness as his member shrivelled and his balls shrank in the absence of his essence.
\tOceras could sense he was done so she shifted in place, grinding her back into the dirt while her hind hooves kicked at the air, one of her errant motions resulting in her shoe cracking Jay in the side of the head and immediately waking him from his daze. Luckily it wasn't a kick or he'd have been in trouble; instead, it was more like an incidental impact against him as she acted like a cat, rolling from side to side and flicking her tail.
\tHe rolled away and got up, the fur on the side of his face indented where she hit him. “Ow!” He groaned, rubbing himself with one hand while putting his junk back in his pants with the other.
\t“That's what you get for getting complacent.” Therris joked. “Have fun?”
\tJay glanced down at Oceras – who was still rolling and acting like a cat as more of his voluminous seed trickled out of her. “Yeah. Saeth, can I hit the shower before I finish this job?”
\tSaethwr, who had just finished etching some nice-looking patterns in the barrels of Therris's pistols, nodded. “Sure, but make it quick. And do something about your mess.” He pointed to the pearly puddle of roogon seed in the dirt between Jay and Oceras.
\t“Yes, boss.” Jay said with a salute. He then got a shovel, scooped up the dirt that was gummed up with his mess, and deposited it in a bin alongside a bunch of other trash.
\tAt the same time, Oceras rolled to her side, looked over at Therris, and got to her feet while a steady stream of white trickled out from under her tail accompanied by gooey bubbles. It was a delectable sight for Therris, who loved watching his mount get pleasured whether he was participating or not. His slit had soaked entirely through his trousers and he could feel the swell of his member.
\tSaethwr noticed the faint smell of dragon musk but didn't have the angle to see the moist patch on Therris's groin. He tried his best to focus on work. “Okay, so it turns out your pistols are made from a specific blend of metals.” He started, encouraging Therris to turn and pay attention. “As you can see, the metal is white, not black. With the proper application of dragon flame to the adethryll, it has been purified. These pistols should both last you a year or more before needing to be serviced again. Honestly, they didn't need to be serviced today. I respect a fellow drake who cares for his sidearms.”
\tTherris reached out to grab each of his pistols – one in each hand – only to stop and drag his fingers along the fine engraving patterns that started at the frame, wrapped around the cylinder, and traced down the barrel. The primary colour was white, while many of the detail pieces such as the hammer and trigger were golden and the grip was a dark magenta. A beautiful combination accented by an ornate pattern that wrapped around it.
\tHe reached into his satchel and pulled out five gold coins. “Here. Take it all. I know you didn't ask for that much but damn you did a fine job.” He didn't bother asking for change before plucking both of his pistols and holding them up to his face, investigating the details with an even closer look.
\t“Glad you like.” Saethwr boomed, chest out in pride as his client admired his handiwork. “But it is lunch time for me so if you don't mind I'm gonna grab a bite and be back in an hour. Jay won't be long, I don't think, so he should have her shoes ready by the time I get back.”
\tTherris offered a salute, got to his feet, twirled the pistols around his finger, and holstered each of them before taking a moment to practice his quick-draw.