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Safik/Tarkleigh - https://www.furaffinity.net/user/siranor/
In this story, we have a tale of a wyvern and his rider, two members of The Golden Wings - a band of hardened mercenaries - exiled from Rissen and hunted by the Alpha for daring to deny him his most cruel and reprehensible demands.
The eBook can also be found on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DalonianGods
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Cozy Copse of Comfort
\tLife had never been easy for Tarkleigh or Safik, not since they joined the illustrious Golden Wings – a mercenary group run by a well-funded team of wyverns and riders. This particular couple had Tarkleigh as the rider and Safik as his noble, scaled steed, with Safik helping to give The Golden Wings their namesake given his brilliant yellow scales and shining, reflective sheen. Their collective were some of the first founders of The Golden Wings, hence the moniker.
\tFor many years within the Golden Wings, they operated as one of the highest ranking teams, willing and eager to do any job put before them regardless of how dangerous it ended up being. For the most part, they tried to stay away from what they thought to be boring tasks; to them, they needed the rush of adventure to keep their adrenaline high and their performance at its peak. They were the first ones called upon if a bounty needed hunting or combat was involved.
\tGiven their status as mercenaries, their services were for sale, offered to the highest bidder or the one with the most value to offer. Not all payments were done in coin and gold bars, of course. As a result, this made them a valuable asset to any government or royal family that sought their services. In time, this meant that they were headhunted by the Risselian Alpha – the dominant political force in the nation of Rissen and the general in their army. He saw their value and paid them accordingly.
\tThe nation of Rissen was one dominated almost entirely by Saurossins, scaled folks ranging from teeny tiny kobolds all the way up to the purest of dragons the size of buildings with wingspans wide enough to blanket a village. Their lowest ranks were those who couldn't fly or walked on two legs, while the highest ranked and most revered were those who took to the sky or lumbered on all fours. The wyverns were somewhere in between, not among the lower class with the other bipeds but also not truly revered like the dragons, putting them as their own, unique middle-class. This made them perfect to serve in the Risselian army, they were skilled and powerful enough to fight without being on the same level as the elder dragons and the Alpha's close-knit group of pure-bloods.
\tNaturally, the Risselian military wasn't keen on hiring kobolds and other non-saurossin fighters. That's why they were happy to hire The Golden Wings as a mercenary band, not as citizens. The Golden Wings, despite being heavily comprised of wyverns, was not a group that called any one nation their home, not even the saurossin-run Rissen. They carried no loyalty for any one nation, opting to only go where the money took them.
\tThis was all well and good, until the Alpha of Rissen decided that their skills were worth enough to hire the entire company as full-time soldiers in his army. Still mercenaries, but paid-for loyalty to the high throne of Rissen, answering only to the Alpha of their armies: General Thadeau of the North. The Golden Wings resisted at first, as it was against their creed to pledge any sort of allegiance to any one nation or political group, but the money was too good to say no to.
\tDragons are and have always been known for their vast reserves of gold, jewels, relics, and other artifacts. They collect and they hoard. So when a dragon hires a mercenary, they will be very well paid, indeed. This was no different, and with the right amount of coin and treasure, even The Golden Wings could be bought.
\tThe relationship between the Alpha, the Risselian army, and The Golden Wings was immaculate for years. The mercenaries did as they were told, got paid handsomely, and kept coming back for more any chance they got. All was well for all parties involved, but as time went on things started to get a little dicey. What started as a professional, business-only transaction soon started to get political in ways that the Golden Wings weren't comfortable supporting.
\tAt first, the mercenaries were tasked with simple missions like fighting battles for the Risselian Army, taking strategic points on the mainland of Balico, serving as guards for political discussions, and even as royal guard in the high-altitude castles where the alpha dragon and his family slept.
\tBut as time went on, the demands from the Alpha and the rest of the dominant family grew despicable. The Golden Wings were tasked with killing opposing families within the nation of Rissen – sometimes including children – would be asked to disperse biological or magical weapons or traps, and were told to burn down villages just to prove a point. The Golden Wings were an efficient task force, skilled with blades and wings and magic where necessary, violent as needed, but they had rules about killing innocent bystanders. They couldn't and wouldn't kill kids, and they had rules about not taking part in certain elements of politics such as inter-family conflicts.
\tThe company resisted the Alpha's demands, demanding more money or other jobs as time went on. This worked at first, but eventually Thadeau and his family decided that the Golden Wings were out of free passes and that they were to do as they were told, regardless of their rules.
\tTarkleigh, Safik, and the other highly-ranked members of The Golden Wings met soon thereafter, agreeing that it was time to sever ties with the nation of Rissen as a whole if this was what their services were being used for. But rather than just quitting outright – something that would be against the Code of the Wing – they gave the Alpha an ultimatum. Either they returned to their roles as guards and soldiers within the dragon's flock, or they would move on, breaking the contract.
\tThe Alpha, Thadeau, took this about as well as could be expected, immediately declaring The Golden Wings to be enemies of the flock, attacking them on the spot and driving the entire company out of the nation. Some died, most managed to escape given their skills in flight and ability to fight with magic and relics while in the air. It helped that wyverns were naturally resistant to dragon fire.
\tFor the first time since forming nearly a decade prior, The Golden Wings were scattered, their members dispersed far away from the nation of Rissen to seek shelter and refuge in the jungles, caves, forests, and wetlands of the surrounding nations. Tarkleigh and Safik found themselves north of Rissen, across the narrow ocean in the nation known as Tehgol.
\tThere, they would be safe in the thick forests along the eastern borders of the nation, well hidden in the foothills of the Triquatic Mountains. Through their resources and network of information guided by the unsavoury members of society, they quickly learned that the bounties on their heads had specified they were to be captured alive and brought back to Rissen for judgement. This played into their favour, but did mean it might be a long time before they'd ever be safe again.
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\tWhile their chosen respite was in the foothills of the Triquatic Mountains, they found themselves regularly visiting the nearby market village of Laloi, a minor trade annex found on the northern side of the border shared with Untheria. They chose this location because both Untheria and Tehgol were friendly to wyvern-kin. Both had populations heavily guided by dragons and their nearest relatives, but both had poor relations with the more pompous rulers of Rissen. There were no better places in all the world to be safe from the Alpha's mercenary troupes than Tehgol or Untheria.
\tThe city itself was built in and around a constantly active delta, with entire sections of the settlement on various islands within it, connected by bridges and boats. The delta's source was the southwestern most of the three triquatic lakes that gave the region its namesake. There was a constant, steady flow of crystal-clear, pure, ice-cold water cascading through the region that powered mills, watered both nations, and was the focus of wars in the past due to its value on a continent that was mostly dry between the mountain foothills and the shores. The same delta that Laloi was built upon housed its sister-city, Alnoi, the Untherian equivalent.
\tThe entire continent of Epicelia housed savannah, jungles, plains, mountains, beaches, and all manner of biodiverse life, ensuring that no matter where one travelled, there was always something new to see and new groups to encounter. It's also why the region housed so many races.
\tTehgolian culture was comprised of the hooved errov, the primate kobolds, the canine cien, and of course the reptilian saurossins; four cultures that valued combat and power for many generations. The nation was once a warmongering establishment, as it had a stranglehold on the trade between the Epicelian continent and the equally rich nations of Tehgol, Veneisse, and the other commonwealth nations situated north of their shores. However, in prior decades – right before The Golden Wings formed – the nation sought peace instead of war, finding it to be far more lucrative to have allies than enemies. They maintained their warrior status over time, but it manifested in their entertainment rather than their foreign policy.
\tThat was why there were ample healing supplies to be purchased by Tarkleigh and Safik when they went into town. Plenty of athletes needed to be stitched up, healed, or given pre-fight potions to make them more durable; those same amenities were great for a wyvern and rider pair on the run.
\tCollectively, the pair of them had a sizeable hoard of coin, gold, and treasures to fund their lives for years. Still, it was important to be thrifty with their funds, for they never knew when they'd be able to get back to work and make more. Due to that, Tarkleigh often found himself haggling with shopkeepers who tried conning them out of extra coin any time they tried to bue.
\t“That'll be two gold, fifteen silver.” The blue and black kobold merchant said, her voice high pitched like a chirp. She owned a small gemstone hut, selling enchanted relics of all sorts, but mostly just pebbles and small pendants of smooth ademane crystals. She was holding up an aquamarine gemstone in a golden pendant, waving it towards Tarkleigh and Safik. “Worth it, too. This thing will make your pet's scales impenetrable for a full hour. Get you through any battle. Looks like you need it.”
\tTarkleigh didn't flinch when people called Safik his pet, but he did worry a bit considering Safik had a series of small cuts and abrasions all over his body. They'd been in a scrap earlier that day, and had since then found it easier to pretend Safik wasn't sentient. It was easier that way. He patted The wyvern's neck like he was assuring his pet while he thought of how to respond to that. He knew he wasn't getting a deal, he wasn't a regular and had only been visiting the village for a week. Plus, he wasn't sure if the gemstone could be trusted and had no resources to vouch for this kobold merchant. “How about this. Two gold flat, and you toss in two of those single-use healing vials.”
\t“You want the healing vials as well as the gemstone, that'll be three gold.” The kobold countered, almost angry. She didn't like their haggling. Nobody did.
\tBut Tarkleigh was by no means thick. He wasn't going to stand idly by and let he and his partner be cheated out of coin, no matter how good the wares proved to be. He leaned in close. “Look, You and I both know that there's about a fifty-percent chance this thing doesn't even work. I'd happily pay three gold if you could guarantee its effectiveness, but if it doesn't work, he's dead and I'm out one mount. That's worth a whole lot more than three gold coins.” He glanced back at Safik and grinned. “I'll make you a deal. Two gold for the pendant, and we'll bring it back when it's used up so you can recharge it. I know you can, I've worked with your kind in the past and I know it's possible. We can't do it, so it's of greater value that way.”
\t“And what guarantee do I have that you'll make it back in one piece? Alive?”
\t“If the pendant works, we'll be back. Simple as that. And I'd be happy to pay you to recharge it, so you'd have a repeat customer. Sound good? Plus, even if we don't come back, I think we both know that two gold pieces is worth it. That's a lot of coin.”
\tShe rubbed her chin as she pored over the offer. The tips of her ridgeback scales twitching. “I suppose you make a good offer. Two gold, and you can have the pendant with the agreement that upon return you give it back to be resold. Once you return, not if you return. Deal?” She held her hand out, pendant hanging from between her fingers to take the deal.
\tTarkleigh put two coins in his palm and shook her hand, exchanging gold for the pendant when they parted. “It's been good doing business. I'll be back to get this recharged.” He held the pendant up for emphasis. “Hopefully not any time soon, though. Oh, and can I have a fistful of healing vials?” He pointed to the rack that had a few dozen, each one swirling with power.
\t“Sure, but they're forty silver per, or three for one gold. No negotiations on that one, though.”
\tHe thought that was fair, so he fished out two more gold and tossed them over the counter before grabbing six of the vials and offering a polite salute. Once the transaction was complete, he and his mount turned to browse the rest of the marketplace.
\tLaloi was full of all manner of merchant stands, vendors, and established stores and restaurants that hosted bipeds but only the outdoor vendors were able to serve a massive creature such as Safik. He stood head and shoulders above any and all other patrons, a beast larger than a horse even with his wings folded up tightly to his side. Given Safik's size and wide berth, the pair of them had to be careful when walking up and down the pathways or fear offending some local again, like the one they'd upset that caused them to get into a fight already.
\tTheir next destination was a medic supply vendor. They had the potions and the gemstone to heal deeper wounds and resist attacks, but they still needed bandages and a curative salve to quickly fix up the minor cuts and abrasions that had dug furrows in Safik's scales. Fortunately for them, getting such materials didn't require nearly as much haggling or negotiation on their part. Bandages have a pretty uniform price regardless of the source.
\tOnce they stocked up on a dozen rolls of bandages and two large jugs of salve – they anticipated a lot of conflict in the near future – Tarkleigh put them in Safik's saddlebags and they moved on to their next destination. After a long day in the market, it was time to get something to eat! A massive wyvern like Safik needed a lot to eat, and many of the various vendors had unique options.
\tThe bazaar's entirety was spread from one end of the village to the other, but the middle was what was commonly referred to as a food court. One island amidst the delta with a rim of various food carts and services. This was different to the marketplace, which sold things like raw vegetables and chilled meats. The food court, on the other wing, offered pre-cooked meats, delicious meals, and platters for folks of all races and diets. Tarkleigh felt drawn to one in particular that sold massive, full-bodied ribs made of entire ulokar flanks. That was really the best way to give Safik what he wanted.
\tSince the pair of them were subtly trying to keep Safik's sentience to themselves, Tarkleigh more or less got to choose for him what he got to eat. The two had been together long enough that this was not an issue; Tarkleigh knew exactly the sort of delicious meat the wyvern loved.
\tAfter weaving through the dense crowd of food court patrons, they made it to the front of the line leading into the racks of ulokar ribs and Tarkleigh placed his order. “Two racks, please!” There was a ciennic cook working above a huge grill with a meat locker behind them, big enough to hold a dozen beast's worth of meat, at least. It must have been a well-established vendor. Tarkleigh was still unfamiliar with the area and hadn't gotten too intimately close to the locals. He had no idea when he might have to flee.
\t“Two?” The other canine vendor raised his eyes and grinned, exposing his teeth. “That'll be two gold; two silver on top if you want 'em quick fried!” This meant a magic fire spell would be used to give the outer bit of them a crispy texture. This was delicious, but only agens – the local term for a sentient person regardless of their race – cared about that sort of stuff. Feral beasts only cared for being stuffed full of meat and having bones to chew.
\tTarkleigh just turned to his friend to see his reaction, not sure if he should ask.
\tRather than subtly suggest what he wanted, Safik just answered. “Yeah, throw some flames on there. Spice it up while you're at it, too.” He probably shouldn't have spoken, but it was fortunate he had, as his voice got a reaction out of both the vendor and the cook behind him.
\tThe merchant dealing with the coin's ears went up. “Ah, so you two must be the ones them mercs are looking for.” He said, leaning down close to get Tarkleigh to listen. “Figured I'd ask about the char on the ribs, see if you were the ones them bastards are here for.”
\tThis greatly concerned Tarkleigh, as it should have. He leaned in close to get more info and slid three gold across the counter to the merchant, silently thanking him for the tip and advice. “How many? When were they here, and did they look well equipped?”
\t“Nine mercs from what I saw.” The vendor divulged. “Heard them asking about a Golden Wing or something. Go figure, your wyvern pal here has golden wings. Anyway, I don't know much about it, but I know they're waiting just outside of town for you. Some of the other locals weren't so kind to you, since you're outsiders and all. Gave up your info, told em what path you'd take out of town. You go north, right?”
\t“Yeah, we go north.” Safik interjected, his voice gruff and audibly angry. “I guess we'll have to kill 'em, won't we?” He was mostly speaking to Tarkleigh, but the vendor felt inclined to answer.
\t“If you do, keep it outta town. Murderin's looked down upon, even in self defence. Enjoy your ribs, and be careful on your way outta town. It's a dangerous place, apparently. I hope to see you back tomorrow, alright?” He offered a subtle salute as the cook behind him ignited a fire gem to sear the outside of two racks of ribs, quickly giving them the flavour they paid for.
\tAfter that, Tarkleigh and Safik quietly took their food and enjoyed it beyond the outer rim of the food court, deliberately finding a place along the shore that was mostly away from the other patrons. Given Safik's size, however, it didn't do much to hide them. They knew they were safe in town, so they chose to stay there and formulate a plan before heading out.
\tSafik enjoyed most of the ribs, leaving only two single ribs for Tarkleigh to enjoy. While they munched on the meat, they went over their plan and possible alternatives to get back to their home base without being apprehended. They theorized battle strategies, considered stealth, and Tarkleigh even pitched the idea of hiring a handful of local mercenaries to help them out before agreeing that there wasn't much they could do that wasn't going to end in a fight.
\tThe alpha's flock were loyal and intelligent, so there's no way they'd be dumb enough to only block off one path that could serve as an exit to the town. There were three ways to travel short of flying, one to the north, one to the south, and one to the west among the many streams that converged into one river. Since their home base was to the northeast, that was the only option. Flight wasn't really an alternative, either. Safik's golden wings were brilliant and easy to spot from the ground, and there was no way the mercenaries didn't come with dragons to chase them. The thought of stealthily sneaking out of town was laughable, they audibly chuckled upon casually bringing that up.
\tThis left them with only one plan, as foolish as it may have been. They had to travel north on the path, maybe do so with a caravan to dissuade an attack, and maybe hire some mercenaries to help them out. The only problem with this plan was that if for some reason they were able to slip by the Alpha's hired thugs by getting protection of any sort, they'd just be followed back to their makeshift home. Considering their cozy little outpost was well hidden in the jungles in the foothills of the mountains, there was no way they were giving up their safe haven.
\tIn the end, they knew they had to attack head-on. They were mercenaries themselves, they knew what the Alpha's hired goons would likely do, so they had a bit of a jump on them. This worked well for them, but it still put them at extreme risk. Fortunately, they had those defence gems, which made this the perfect time to put them to use. If they worked, it'd give them another edge the mercenaries weren't going to be expecting.
\tWhen it was all said and done and their meals were complete, Tarkleigh helped equip the defensive gemstone on Safik, and the two headed north over the bridge to the single path headed out of town in that direction. They fully expected to be attacked, since there were no others and no caravans to use as cover or as a distraction.
\t“You ready?” Tarkleigh asked Safik as they took their final steps over the stone bridge. “I don't see anyone, but that's why it's an ambush.”
\t“I can hear voices up ahead, hiding in that patch of trees and bushes just before the bend. That's where they'll attack. Probably surround us.” Ready, they both set out down the dirt path, fields ominously swaying in the breeze amidst the silence. They were prepared, they knew a duel was on the horizon and they just needed to be ready for it.
\tWhat they were not prepared for was the two massive dragons that crept out from under the bridge to surprise them from behind. One black, one red. Both of them bigger than Safik. The moment they noticed they had been flanked, somehow by surprise despite their preparation, the rest of the raiding party leapt from the trees ahead to fully surround them.
\tRather than leap into action, the two stood back to back, Tarkleigh's sword in hand as a third dragon stepped ahead of them, ensuring they were entirely surrounded. Nine mercenaries – two canines, an avian, two kobolds, and four felines – spread out evenly, with the single female avian stepping forward to address the two of them.
\t“You know, considering your reputation within The Golden Wings, I genuinely thought you'd be harder to track than this. Tell me, Tark, were you even trying to hide from us?” She got a laugh from the others. Well, more of a chuckle smothered in the deep rumblings of dragon growls.
\t“Why would we hide? We were the best for many years, that's why the alpha hired us and held us in such high esteem for so long. If you were better than us, you'd know it.” Tarkleigh was trying to be brash and bold, to not show any fear. This didn't change the fact that they were outmatched twelve to two. He and Safik were both capable and it was true they were some of the best, but numbers mattered.
\tThe avian – a brown and white raptor with metal on her beak – stepped in closer. “You're lucky, you know. The Alpha made it clear you were to be brought in alive, or we'd have killed you already. So, rather than draw things out, go ahead, let us tie you up, and we'll have you delivered in one piece. No need for this to get bloody.” She outstretched her hand and marvelled at her perfectly trimmed talons. “I'd hate to have wasted all that coin getting that talicure.”
\tSafik's wings and frills bristled as he prepared himself for a fight, eyes glancing around to survey every element of the situation before making any crass movement. His stance on the matter of surrender was quite obvious.
\tTarkleigh, sighed and rolled his eyes, purposely exaggerating his disdain. “You can't be too good at your job if you think that's how this is going to end. We're mercenaries, too. We don't submit and we don't surrender. You're gonna have to take us by force and you know it. Hopefully none of you have to die.” He pulled out his sword and readied his shield, sure to take one more glance to make sure the cleverly chosen gemstones were properly installed.
\t“I suppose now isn't the best time to tell you, but I lied. You don't have to be taken in alive, I just really hoped that'd get to you. All we need is your head. Alright, get 'em, boys.” She leapt high and flapped, buoying herself in the air to give her the lift she needed to land on the nearest of the three dragons, instructing him.
\tThe other two dragons triggered traps that sprung nets onto Safik, partially covering the wyvern in weaves of nylon and stone right as six of the mercenaries moved to surround him.
\tSafik reacted quickly, raising both wing-arms up and spreading his digits to form a shield of wing membrane that kept the nets from tangling him up. He tossed the nets to the side and spread his wings to reveal that two of the mercenaries had leapt forward with rope-darts meant to tie him down. He swept one away and bit the other one on his upper body, clenching down and shaking him enough to ensure he wouldn't get back up before throwing him across the clearing and into a nearby tree.
\tThe black dragon leapt at him, but Safik was smaller and faster, allowing him to dodge to the side and roll before leaping up and tackling the dragon from the side. He used his thick tail to sweep around the clearing, tripping two of the mercs while the third one – the feline – managed to jump over it. However, just as that feline landed, Safik stepped on him with his wing fist while turning to face the red dragon. Two mercenaries down, seven to go.
\tTarkleigh was in a similarly difficult situation, as he was facing off against the apparent leader, the two canine hunters, and a silver dragon equal in size to Safik. He dodged and weaved, managing to slash at and disorient the two on foot while being very careful to not be grabbed or slashed by the dragon. In an odd way, the avian leader riding the dragon meant that she wasn't really doing much to hinder Tarkleigh, something he knew he could take advantage of.
\tWith lighting-quick reflexes and quick thinking, Tarkleigh put his shield up and pushed the nearest canine back, forcing him to trip and the silver dragon to accidentally step on him. The dragon had quick reflexes and was able to stop before putting any weight down, but the distraction allowed Tarkleigh to leap up and grab the saurossin's bridle and leap up onto its back alongside the avian.
\t“Clever little bastard, aren't ya?” The avian leader mused as she got to her feet, claws digging into the dragon's scales around the first of three saddles. The dragon tried to roll so the side and buck the two of them off, creating an uneven, unstable surface below them.
\tBoth Tarkleigh and the avian leader stood tall on the dragon's back, swords and shields up as their blades met. The danced on the dragon's spine, struggling to stay erect while swinging and missing, stabbing and staggering one another. Then, just as Tarkleigh moved in for a kill shot, the avian flutter hopped back off the dragon and landed gracefully on the ground, leaving Tarkleigh on the dragon.
\tThis gave the silver saurossin freedom to roll right over, knowing full well he'd likely crush Tarkleigh in the process.
\tHe was nimble, though. Tarkleigh ran around the beast's flank like a log roller, dodging the wing and eventually giving himself an opportunity to eviscerate the dragon. He knew his life was in danger, but he couldn't do it. Instead, he simply drew a line down the mount's belly without drawing blood before leaping to the side and lunging towards the avian leader.
\tAll the while, Safik was navigating the dangerous dance of death with the other two dragons and the four remaining mercenaries on the other side, swiping and swishing his tail, using his wings to punch, and clawing with all his might. He may have lacked the limbs and pure strength of the dragons, but his life in such a position meant he was more agile, nimble, and brisk than the others. His reaction time was better, and he had less cargo weighing him down. He was able to disorient and temporarily incapacitate all four of the mercenaries with ease, but it was the dragons he found most difficult.
\tTarkleigh reached the avian, only to be stopped dead in his tracks by the canine getting in his way. The two clanged shields for a moment, then pushed away to rebalance. It was then that he realized it was time. “Safik, now!” He called out, then reached into his pouch to grab a vial. He wrapped his fingers around it and slammed it up into the gem that was nestled next to the shield's grip, activating both at once as he got down on his knee and raised his shield above his head like a turtle.
\tA powerful shockwave emanated from the shield, knocking back all the mercenaries and even hitting with enough force to make all three of the dragons recoil and roll away. Safik had the foresight to lower himself as low as he could go, covering his entire body with his wings to protect himself from the shockwave. He still felt the pressure from it, but he had braced himself perfectly.
\tAll six of the remaining mercenaries were blown away, tumbling over themselves to the point they were dizzy and disoriented, leaving them open for attack. The one the silver dragon stepped on was seemingly knocked out or injured and effectively taken out of the fight.
\tThe very instant that Tarkleigh recovered from the back-draft of his own attack, he lunged forward and impaled the remaining canine fighter, forcing his blade from belly to neck in one motion. As he pulled out, he spun and back-swiped, taking the merc's head off instantly. He used this momentum to keep spinning and go after the avian, who was disoriented enough to still be vulnerable. He could have ended her, as well, but he chose this moment to take an opportunity to leave.
\tSafik stumbled a bit and quickly put an end to two of the remaining feline fighters, biting one and swiping the second one away with such force that he was knocked out upon impact on a nearby rock. This left only the dragons, the avian leader, one feline, and one kobold left, each of them angry and willing to do anything to take them down. There was a brief moment where Safik could have used his talons or teeth to swipe at one of the dragon's exposed bellies, but he chose not to. Instead, he turned to notice Tarkleigh leaping towards him and reacted accordingly.
\tThe wyvern lowered himself so that his rider could quickly nestle into his saddle before leaping into the sky, wings wide and adrenaline surging. He flapped as hard as he could, eager to get away from the battle while the mercenaries and their dragons were still recovering.
\tBoth of them were able to hear the avian's shrill voice berating the dragons for letting them get away. “I don't care, they killed my men! END THEM!” She then leapt on the silver dragon, only to have it shake her off, unwilling to give chase. It wasn't clear, but it seemed he objected to killing Safik.
\tShe got angry and leapt onto the black dragon, forcing the feline to join her while the remaining kobold mounted the red dragon, allowing the six remaining to give chase.
\t“Through the fjord! It's pretty narrow and it'll throw them off the scent.” Tarkleigh suggested.
\t“Good idea, then once we're past the valley, the scent of the vegetation should hide us. I hope they're too big to follow.” Safik agreed, then dipped his wing tip to redirect his flight.
\tThe two dragons and three riders were hot on their tail, with the feline and kobold mercs shooting arrows ahead at Safik and Tarkleigh. The distance and speed at which they flew ensured that the arrows were not doing any damage even if they hit, so Safik and Tarkleigh ignored them.
\tA brisk chase through the skies above Laloi commenced, but the dragons were unable to catch up to their mark before the pair of them dove into the narrow fjord at the entrance to the forest. The valley was so narrow that Safik's wings nearly clipped the cliff-sides with every sharp turn. The fjord was a winding, meandering mess of a maze, with multiple branching paths all partially obscured from above with over-arching trees and vine cover, ensuring that they could lose their pursuers.
\tWhen Tarkleigh looked back, he noticed that the dragons must have given up, knowing they couldn't possibly have followed. He then looked up to make sure they weren't in the sky, tracking them that way. Only once he had properly surveyed the situation and assured himself he was no longer being followed, he informed Safik. “We're in the clear, buddy. We can head to our place, now. They can't find us at this point short of pure luck.”
\tSafik nodded and quickly spun back around to retrace his flight path through the fjord, eventually coming to a tiny, unassuming crevasse between two cliffs, accentuated by a small cave and waterfall at the bottom. He landed and crawled in, slipping through the narrow passageway with Tarkleigh on his back until they emerged into their personal glade.
\t=====--=--=====
\tTheir home base was a lovely, homely little copse in the ruins of an old temple or cathedral that had been completely overrun by vines, mosses, and various other forms of vegetation. The stream that entered the cave made it all the way to their glade, cascading over stones and rocks to give them access to clean, running water at all times. This was perfect for them, as it gave them something to drink and helped with their wounds when the situation called for it.
\tIt wasn't until they finally settled in and were sure nobody was following that Tarkleigh noticed that Safik's wounds had grown in number since the fight, with a handful of fresh cuts leaking blood that soaked into his scales. Things had not gone well for them but they were both certain that they had not been followed, giving them the afternoon to tend to each other.
\tTarkleigh sidled up next to Safik and ran his fingers across a series of scales, noting that blood had seeped onto his fingertips as he did so. “Dammit, Safik, you've got to be more careful. There's only so much blood in you and if you keep taking hits like that it'll run out.”
\t“My sincerest apologies, mate. I'll be sure to not get into fights in the future, and if I do I'll be certain to not get hit under any circumstances. Just to make sure you don't suffer the trauma of witnessing my minor cuts and abrasions. You have my word.” Safik responded in a deadpan tone.
\tThe two shared a glare before breaking down in nervous laughter.
\t“You'd better! At this rate I'm going to go mad long before you run out of blood.” They joked heartily, eventually calming down and relaxing next to one another. Tarkleigh grabbed some salve and bandages out of Safik's saddlebags and placed them off to the side. Once that was done, he daintily unclasped the leathers that held the bags in place and removed them from his wyvern partner's body. He gave Safik a gentle slap on the haunches to let him know the binds had been removed. “You're free again, beast. Make good use of your liberation.”
\tSafik extended a wing to push Tarkleigh before stepping away and stretching, the strain pushing out a bit more blood from between his scales; one particularly irritated wound produced a visible gush that needed to be tended to immediately.
\t“Halt, Safik.” Tarkleigh commanded. “You've got quite the gash on your haunches here.”
\t“Have I? I hadn't noticed.” Safik responded, but then winced as another flow of blood emerged from the reopened cut. “I'll be fine. I shall walk it off.”
\tTarkleigh sighed once and narrowed his gaze as he stared at his wyvern partner. “There's no place to walk, you'll just be spinning around in circles. Come here, let me take care of you.” He held up a vial of the potion he got in town. “I can apply this and it should seal you up until tomorrow. Or I could get out the stitches, if you'd prefer.”
\tSafik huffed, a bit of smoke billowing out his muzzle. “I'd rather be operated on by a horse. You are a skilled warrior, but your stitchwork is horrendous. Last time I looked like I had a new cloaca on my flank. Plus, you can't really stitch scales shut. It doesn't work like that.”
\t“You're still alive, aren't you?” Tarkleigh prodded as he elbowed the part of Safik's tail that was nearest to him. “Without my immaculate stitch work, your guts would have been spilled and I'd be short one mount. You should be thankful.”
\t“I should be pickier with my partners.” Safik joked as he curled his tail around Tarkleigh and pulled him in close. “Allow me to be honest, Tark, it was a mere flesh wound, one I've had healed myself in a matter of days. Your stitch work might have made it worse and I needed to go to a professional once we returned to have them fix your-” He halted his teasing when he felt another flow of blood emerge from the wound. In the heat of battle it had sealed itself, but the gentle slap of Tarkleigh on his hindquarters agitated the gash and opened it up again to make a mess.
\tTarkleigh noticed this and immediately sprung to action by grabbing some rags out of the bags next to him and pressed it up against Safik's haunches, squeezing the scales together. “Quit moving around; walking will just make the wound worse.” He patted the cut a bit more before tentatively pulling the rags away to double check and see just how bad it was in between heartbeats. The cut had to be twenty centimetres long and half as deep. Looked like a single claw slash that just happened to slip in between Safik's protective scale cover to hook his flesh. The other minor cuts and abrasions could wait or be ignored, this one needed immediate medical attention.
\tHe got to work quickly, holstering the potion vial on one side while he focused on the wound with the others. “Any idea which one of those bastards got you here?” He asked, trying to make idle conversation while he worked. “Mostly just wanna know if there's venom or poison in the wound.”
\t“I have no idea. Honestly, I didn't even realize I'd been injured until we arrived. Plus, if there was venom or poison in the blade or claw, I'd not have had the strength to carry you back here with such haste. It should be fine. Just apply the salve and potion so we can start dinner, shall we?” He rolled onto his side so that he wasn't resting any weight on the hind leg closest to the wound. As he did so, he exposed his belly leading down to the base of his tail, a position he only ever allowed himself to get into around Tarkleigh. Given his history with others, he felt that exposing his belly and loins was a recipe for disaster no matter what part of him was targetted.
\tWhile he laid there, Tarkleigh got to work, making conversation as he healed his friend. First, he had to put pressure on either side of the wound while padding it with a rag. “So what did you want for dinner, then? That flight must have taken a lot out of you and I don't want you weakened at any time.” He patted the wound and pulled the rag away, revealing the fabric to be completely soaked red. “We have some stuff hidden in the underground chest, but I'm not sure how good it is.”
\t“For me or for you? I can eat just about anything if the situation calls for it.”
\t“I know, but I don't want you eating spoiled meat. You deserve better than that. You've earned it.” Tarkleigh pulled the rag away again and popped the cork to the vial of healing salve potion, readying it by bringing it close to the open, pulsating wound before taking the next step.
\tBut Safik's body twitched as he laughed. “You keep making such a big deal out of that; stop being so pedantic about food. We're on the run, not living in luxury anymore. We get what we get.” He was trying to be a realist despite actively trying to suppress his own disappointment in that reality. Safik was by no means pampered – in fact he lived a pretty rough life prior to founding The Golden Wings and selling his services to the highest bidder – but that didn't mean he wasn't allowed to be upset when things didn't go his way. So many years of only getting the best spoiled him a bit, but he still had enough humility and maturity to understand what needed to be pursued and what didn't.
\tEating three-class meals at respected establishments was not on the top of his priority list. He and Tarkleigh got to eat the most splendid cuisine in town, but when they were in hiding they had to scavenge what they could and hunt the rest. They had a few deer carcasses on ice gems to keep them cool for a few days, but the copse they called home was humid and perpetually hot so the temperature on their underground chest was in a battle of attrition with the elements.
\tTarkleigh was equally aware of this reality. The difference between he and Safik was that, as a kobold, his taste buds and belly were more sensitive. Plus, he was smaller and had a far lesser demand for vast quantities of sustenance; he could afford to carry the burden of high cuisine even when in hiding. He could sneak a sweet roll or some jerky and that would sustain him for a few days, whereas Safik needed whole carcasses, mounds of meat, and piles of additional supplements to keep his energy up. He wasn't as picky with his food since Wyverns lacked the delicate palate of a kobold, but that didn't mean he didn't deserve better. He still earned his keep, and it made Tarkleigh feel guilty any time he had to sacrifice his mount's meals while he ate well.
\tBecause of this, Tarkleigh often shared food with Safik, resulting in him suffering through unpleasant food in solidarity. He knew he could probably eat better and Safik wouldn't care, but his wyvern partner meant entirely too much to him for him to do that.
\tAll of this ran through his head as he poured a few drops into the open wound, then smeared some on his fingers to rub it in. “This will hurt.” He warned before making his move. The goal was to coat the flesh with the potion-salve, and once it took hold it'd heal him up and seal the wound without having to rely on stitches or needles, and anyone could do it. The only real caveat was that the treated wyvern would have to be relatively relaxed at least until the following morning to ensure the wound sealed shut and the potion's enchantment did its job.
\tUsually, when applying it to the open, exposed flesh, the potion would hurt. However, Safik was pretty battle hardened; all that came out of him was a low growl and a tensing of the muscles in his throat. It hurt, he felt it, but he knew better than to kick or two twitch.
\t“Good, good. Awesome. You've done well, Safik. Now let me clean the wound and seal it up and we'll be done here.”
\t“I would appreciate it if you patronized me less. I'm not a hatchling” Safik retorted, voice low and gruff. He didn't like admitting it, but he actually liked it when Tarkleigh took care of him like this. It was an affection he didn't get very often and he relished every moment of it when he had a chance to do so. In fact, it was one of the best things about getting into fights. Not the rush of combat, not the sense of accomplishment, but the pleasantries that came with being tended to by his rider and friend.
\tOf course, now that they were no longer in a position of luxury and power, the intimacy between them served more of a purpose than just companionship; now, it was an integral part of their survival. Without Safik putting in the time and effort to tend to his partner's wounds, the both of them would be stuck and exposed, at risk of being found and caught.
\tTarkleigh took a moment to grab a second, clean rag to dab away any remaining blood that had pooled around the wound and its surrounding scales. He had to be careful to trace each of the wyvern's many scales with his fingertip, best ensuring that every drop of blood was cleaned up. Once he had done that, he grabbed both sides of the open wound and pinched them together, holding the flesh in place while the potion glowed teal and sealed itself shut. “There we go.” He said, mostly to himself. “Now we wait. Try to not struggle too much, or the potion will-”
\t“Yes, I know.” Safik interjected. “I've used the potion before. This particular brand of salve is well-respected in Rissen. Like I said, not a lot of scaled folk like stitches. Makes our scale patterns ugly.” Dragons were known to be vain – especially those working for the Alpha of Rissen – while wyverns weren't as conscious of such things. However, living in Rissen and working for the flock for so long as mercenaries had impacted Safik much more than he initially thought, and he quickly realized that he was being vain again so he silenced himself while lightly bending and stretching his leg.
\tThis was somewhat frustrating for Tarkleigh, who heard Safik explain his kind and his race's values more often than was needed. While Tark was in fact kobold and therefore not a wyvern or dragon or saurossin of any kind, he had been working with them long enough to remember and internalize the knowledge needed to live alongside them. Safik regularly shared this information with him, which he felt was unnecessary and a little insulting. Regardless of this, he didn't say anything to argue with his partner. Dealing with Safik's nature to over-explain things was part of the agreement he'd made all those years prior.
\tHe simply moved on by packing up the few materials he could and tossing the bloody rag into the trickling stream that cut their copse in half, fully expecting it to rinse them about as clean as they could short of taking them back into town for a proper scrubbing. Once he had disposed of the cloth, he rubbed his hands together and addressed Safik. “Remember, don't go acting too rambunctious or you'll tear the seal. You bled enough for one day; let's just have something to eat to restore your strength.”
\t“Yes master, I'll do as commanded.” Safik returned, mocking his rider. “I don't need to be told.”
\t“I am aware. It's habit. Do you wish to tell me what you want for dinner or not?”
\tSafik shifted in place until he was on all fours – his hind legs and wing arms – nestling against the nearest wall of golden-yellow stone left over from the dilapidated temple. “I don't feel I have much of a say in the matter. It's deer, deer, or old day-old deer. I can't be out hunting, and even if I was I wouldn't want to get caught up in a hunting party of my own; those mercs are likely still after us.”
\t“Hm, yeah that's probably true.” Tarkleigh sighed as he shook his head. “I guess it's day-old deer, then. Not a lot of options and the stuff we bought in town on the market has all pretty much been crushed into food-paste after that fight. Speaking of that fight, did it feel in any way peculiar to you?”
\tA palpable awkwardness fell over them both, leaving only the light babbling of the stream to disrupt the silence of their thoughts. Safik did eventually speak. “Few fights feel peculiar to me anymore. It's all commonplace, just another aspect of life. But something about that ambush felt curious to me. Like they had been tipped off. Their knowledge and understanding of our location and behaviour was too perfect. There's no way they were there by mistake.”
\t“And that feels odd, because I didn't think the locals would sell us out like that.” Tarkleigh mused while clearing away some dirt and rocks from their buried chest, the one that held the chilled deer. Once he opened the flat-topped lid, a cool mist billowed out and blanketed the forest floor. The mist came from a set of four ice gems, each one left in the chest to keep it cold enough to maintain a kill's integrity for days without wasting literal piles of salt to dehydrate it. This way, the meat could still be cooked and the hide could still be used. Upon hoisting out the carcass to toss near the bonfire, he turned back to Safik to continue. “Who do you think it might have been? Did anyone seem suspect?”
\t“I can't think of any that come to mind. I have never fully felt comfortable here, but I didn't feel any less welcome than anywhere else. Laloi has been good to us, all things considered, but I certainly wish for a better long-term place of residence.” Safik tried to be as candid as he could.
\tTarkleigh was in a similar situation. “I like it here, but it's too close to Rissen. I don't think we'll be fully safe until we're on the other side of the world, as far away from the Alpha's flock and bounty hunters as we can possibly be. Even then, I'd not put it past the vindictive bastard to hunt us all down.”
\tSafik raised an eyebrow and widened his stance, bristling in disapproval. “It's not like you to run, Tark. You always said it was inviting a blade in your back.”
\t“I did say that, yes. And in most cases I still believe it. However, in the direst of circumstances, one must accept when they cannot win and retreat. If it was us against them in sequence, one at a time, I like our chances. We're capable of protecting ourselves better than most, but we're not perfect and even the most skilled of fighters can trip or make a mistake. Even the most prepared can be caught by surprise. We only managed to come out the other side of our tussle this evening alive because we were warned; our skill helped, but all the ability in the world would be for naught if surprised.”
\t“Hm. I cannot fault your logic.” Safik begrudgingly admitted. “Still, I'd rather not run forever.”
\t“We won't. That I promise. We will return to our jobs one day, but time must pass before we can proceed without caution. In the mean time, let's have some dinner.”
\tSafik nodded in agreement, so the two of them prepped the deer and scraps as best they could over an open fire in the dilapidated temple, silently contemplating what was to come next and how they planned on proceeding with their plans.
\t=====--=--=====
\tDinner wasn't the tastiest to Tarkleigh, but like Safik he knew he needed to worry more about nutrition and energy than flavour or comfort. Of course, he'd have preferred a perfectly cooked steak or a well-seasoned soup, but their situation didn't allow for such a thing. Instead, he carved off some of the deer's flank, tossed it in a few dried herbs he had in his pouch, and seared it over the same flame that cooked the rest of the carcass. Safik ate whatever Tarkleigh didn't, bones and all.
\tOnce they were done their meal, Safik rolled over onto his side again and Tarkleigh leaned against him, resting on his belly as he relaxed and stared up onto the sky between the gaps in the trees above. He knew there was a chance that the dragon riders could find them if they were diligent enough, but he also knew that if they hadn't by this point it likely wouldn't happen, and night had nearly fallen so the dragons wouldn't be able to see as soon as twilight hit.
\t“If we were to leave this place, have you got any ideas of where we might go?” Safik asked without raising his head from the rock he was resting upon. “Lots of directions, and Tehgol is linked to many neighbouring nations. And if the map is correct, there are plenty of islands between here and Veneisse. Should be easy enough to fly from one to another. Maybe we could even just settle down on one of those islands, start a hoard of gold and treasure, and-” He stopped himself mid-ramble to glance over at Tarkleigh. He noticed his kobold rider companion was staring at the sky, not paying attention. To get Tarkleigh's attention, he poked him with the end of his wing.
\tTarkleigh shook himself alert and saw that Safik was staring at him. “Sorry, my apologies. I was listening, but my mind was focused elsewhere. Your idea is good, but I think we need to do something more drastic than just hiding away in a remote location. Although-” He stopped to start idly rubbing Safik's thighs, sensually teasing the wyvern's scales. “It does give us plenty of time alone.” His prior concerns of safety quickly melted away as he realized what it was he wanted most in that moment.
\tThis was not uncommon of Tarkleigh; he was a suave man, shameless in his quest for physical companionship, while Safik had only him. They were very casual about poking and prodding one another when a need arose.
\tIn response to his rider's touch, Safik idly lifted his leg, struggling to do so given the seal of the healing potion in his haunch. This revealed his slit, which was completely inert at this point but still clearly visible. At the same time, to return the attention, Safik curled around so that he could nuzzle and prod Tarkleigh's shoulder and chest, licking his rider with a passion they only got to share when alone.
\t“I don't suppose you're in the mood, after what happened?” Tarkleigh suggested, still caressing Safik's inner thighs one at a time, deliberately massaging the wyvern's belly while also being careful to not tease his mount's slit. He didn't want to be too forward without proper consent. He was suave and bold, but he respected his partner too much to push beyond Safik's comfort at any time.
\tFortunately, Safik was not deterred by this. The wyvern shifted in place and bucked his hips against Tarkleigh's touch, the motion peeling his slit apart and revealing the fleshy, textured tip of his cock. Tarkleigh was familiar with this part of Safik's anatomy, so he wasted no time in giving it the attention it deserved, sliding his hands down the reptilian belly to knead on either side of his open slit.
\tNo words were exchanged between them. By this point, they both knew exactly what the other wanted and neither held back.
\tTarkleigh quickly peeled off his bandolier and shirt, leaving his entire upper half exposed, revealing a series of scars across his chest and shoulders. A further reminder that they'd been through many hardships and came out the other side alive, every time. Potions could have restored the scars and kept him impeccably pristine, but he liked the reminders of his past battles and victories. To him, they were each their own badge of honour linked to a positive memory. Safik's scales healed naturally and were regularly replaced, so the scars never stuck around for long and the ones that did were replaced.
\t“Good to see you're in the mood.” Tarkleigh mused as he gave Safik a sly grin. “Just don't get too rough, or you'll tear your sealed wound again.”
\t“I'll determine what's too rough, Tark.” Safik countered as he rolled onto his back, legs up and bent close to his belly. His wings were partially spread and partially folded over his chest, neck craned so that he could get a good look at his rider. Tarkleigh would be 'riding' him very soon, in a manner no rider should have mounted their wyvern according to some saurossins.
\tNeither of them cared much for what others thought, especially not when they were alone in their hideaway copse hidden in the dilapidated, overgrown temple they came to call their home. In public and when doing their work, they were stoic and professional, but once the masks came off they held nothing back from each other and enjoyed what intimacy they could. This was no different.
\tGiven their history and comfort, Tarkleigh wasted little time in making his move. He peeled each of Safik's lips to the side and kneaded both of his inner thighs in the process, coaxing the wyvern's member from its depths. The cock was quite massive compared to Tarkleigh, given the difference in size between the two of them; in fact, the shaft and head combined were about the size of Tarkleigh's entire forearm and balled up fist, maybe more. Maybe even thicker. Still, that didn't stop him from making a move. The kobold ride slid up so that he was straddling the base of Safik's tail, his own growing bulge nearly within range of the posterior end of his wyvern mount's slit.
\tHe kept caressing and tickling Safik's scales, teasing around the rim of his opening while keeping eye contact with his mount. The kobold rider was deliberately coy about not getting right to the point and delaying the inevitable as he watched his partner grow to full size before him. It didn't take long at all to see Safik's member in all its glory stabbing towards the sky with a slight curve towards his torso, the spine-like nubs around the head all throbbing and twitching in time with the beat of his heart.
\tTo many, such an aggressively-featured member would be too much to take, especially at that size. Even to Tarkleigh, it was something that require work and effort to properly enjoy, but that didn't stop him from trying. He was happy to tease and knead around its base, but he knew that was just the foreplay to something more fun.
\tAt the same time that Tarkleigh was working Safik, the wyvern was doing what he could with his hind talons, curling them and gripping the kobold's shoulder and upper chest to massage on both sides. Given his lack of traditional hands he had learned to manipulate with his hind claws, a natural adaptation of most wyverns. He used this adaptation and skill to caress and care for his partner, happily squeezing and rubbing and grinding while Tarkleigh got to work on him.
\tIt was at this time that he realized what his partner planned. “Tark, are you sure this is a good idea? You haven't taken any potions to protect yourself, and you know you can't quite handle me without them.” He cared deeply for his friend, and he knew his equipment was rather intense for anyone outside of the saurossin race. Dragons and other scaled beasties could handle his barbed tip, but a kobold's rump was not meant for such things. No rump was truly meant for such things, but that didn't stop them from adapting and adjusting and making it work if they wanted it.
\tCaught up in the moment, Safik simply ignored his own reservations to lean down and press his lips to Tarkleigh's, tongue eagerly probing his partner as he kept both his hind legs wrapped around his shoulders. It was clear that he was quickly changing his tone to a more agreeable state of mind. He was concerned, but at the same time his carnal instincts were taking over and he just wanted to feel the warmth of his partner, be it inside him or on top of him. One way or another, he'd be happy to share the evening with Tarkleigh. One way or another, he'd find the release he so desperately desired.
\tThe pair of them leaned into each other, pressing lips to lips while Tarkleigh made a point to finally bring his hands up to either side of the wyvern's shaft, slowly stroking it up and down while stopping just short of the spined head. His sensitive, kobold hands felt the pointy nubs of flesh against his thumbs and forefingers, so he used that as a guide while also pressing his chest against the mount's length. Extra effort was taken to return Safik's deep-tongued kisses, sucking the wyvern's tendril-like appendage, which resulted in him gagging and and spitting up a blend of kobold and wyvern saliva.
\tSafik immediately retracted his tongue and pulled back, worried he had hurt his partner. They had kissed like this many times before, but they were both usually a bit more reserved so such gagging reactions were uncommon. It was something they both expected but rarely experienced, so the few times it came up they both reacted a bit severely to it.
\t“Are you okay?” Safik asked, folding his wing-arms over his chest to show some bashfulness.
\tTarkleigh grinned and spat on the ground next to them, then rubbed his lips as he caught his mount's gaze. “I'm fine. Just warn me next time, will you?” He leaned back down and started rubbing on either side of Safik's slit again, never breaking eye contact, happily returning to where they left off.
\tWhile he was kneading with one hand, Tarkleigh started undoing his pants and eventually slipping them off without Safik noticing. The wyvern was focused on the teasing sensations of his rider between his hind legs, making his toe claws twitch and his tail swish from side to side behind the both of them. Only once he looked down to make a move of his own did he notice that Tarkleigh had stripped down nude and was grinding against the base of his tail. This drew his focus to the kobold's erect cock and the glistening mess that soaked its head and the underside of his shaft.
\tBoth noticed about the same time that each other were fixated on what the other had to offer. Safik's eyes darted between staring at Tarkleigh's cock and eyes, while Tarkleigh couldn't decide whether to focus on the arm-length cock in front of him or the gaze of his partner beyond it.
\tIt was Safik that made the next move, by rolling onto his side and using one of his hind talons to grab Tarkleigh by the shoulder, pushing his partner away before finding himself in a position on both hind feet, chest to the ground and tail up. He curled his tail up under Tarkleigh's body to hoist him off the ground and toss him between the wyvern's own hind legs, dumping him right beneath his massive, dripping cock. He didn't know what he wanted or expected from the situation, but he did know that he trusted whatever his partner was planning on doing.
\tThey were both hard, eager to take the next step. Fortunately, neither of them were shy about getting what they wanted and both knew how and when to be forthright with one another. This was by no means something that was new to them.
\tTarkleigh cradled the wyvern's cock with both hands and pressed his lips to the tip, gently sucking while being careful to not let any of Safik's spines catch or tug his flesh. This, however, was not something he often found himself willing to do, and as a result Safik was a little confused. With the help of potions and various other herbs and spices meant to make his partner relaxed enough to handle all the wyvern had to offer, the two had enjoyed a long and sensual partnership, but oral wasn't really something that worked for them, at least not in this configuration.
\tSafik had tried using his tongue and lips on Tarkleigh, but the other way around didn't look like it would work. To Safik, Tarkleigh looked like he was trying to shove a whole pineapple in his mouth without taking a bite; a rather comical image, one that actually made him laugh and stomp his hind leg, claw digging into the ground next to him.
\t“What?” Tarkleigh spat as he pulled away from the wyvern's cock. “I'm not going to be dissuaded by your size. I've taken on bigger than you, in more ways than one.” He clearly was treating his partner's member as a challenge, something to overcome while also engaging in the most intimate of partnerships. The two liked to joke around and playfully treat their sessions with a bit of jest, since their lives were so full of stress and danger when dealing with others.
\tBecause of this, Safik simply shuddered and shook his wings a bit, smugly waiting to see just what his partner planned on. Tarkleigh was an ambitious man, one who took to any challenge with aplomb. He also carefully considered his moves before making them, even when it came to his intimate moments with Safik. That's why the wyvern was only half-surprised when he felt the kobold's lips wrap around his cock tip, accentuated by the soft caress of hands stroking his shaft up and down at the same time. It was by no means overwhelming, but it was surprising in a way that threw him off guard.
\tHe was so distracted that he even bucked his hips. Just once; that was enough to knock Tarkleigh off balance by stabbing him in the throat before pulling back.
\tAgain, Tarkleigh gagged a bit and spat out some of the unexpected mess that had pooled on his tongue. “Warn me next time, would you?” He wiped his lips again, but rather than flick his arm to remove the mess from the skin and hair there, he licked it up, revelling in the sweetness of wyvern fluid as he swallowed. Only then did he turn and glare at his partner to warn him. “Don't worry about me; you just worry about not knocking me over.”
\t“This isn't sword training.” Safik joked, then realized the innuendo he accidentally implied. “Well, it's a form of sword training, but this kind can get you killed. Just be careful, would you? Did you take any potion to make sure you're fine?”
\t“No need.” Tarkleigh countered from under the wyvern, his voice trapped in the tent formed by Safik's wings. “And that shit makes me lose my ability to taste. I wanted to enjoy you, raw. Hard to do with you giving me sass.” He reached out and slapped the inside of the wyvern's thighs before turning his focus once again on Safik's swinging member.
\tWhile Safik was still a little apprehensive about letting such a small partner have his way with him in such a manner – one excited step or instinctive bucking of his hips could spell danger for his rider – he also knew enough to trust Tarkleigh to not mess it up. It took all his strength and self-control to not do anything that could bring harm upon his partner, but he was able to remain stoic.
\tTarkleigh was in no such mood. He didn't want to be stoic, he wanted to be active. Rather than passively lick and suckle the wyvern's tip, he got right into it, stroking his mount's member from base to right below the tip, each one a full-bodied motion accentuated by just the right amount of pressure. All the while he was keen to not let those cock spines grab his cheeks or tug his lips, but most of his focus was on using his hands to caress the wyvern's shaft and slit, massaging the scales at the base at the apex of each and every motion.
\tThis was considerably more pleasant than Safik was expecting. Tarkleigh's size meant there was no way he could fully engulf the wyvern's member, but as it turned out he had found ways to compensate for his lack of mass by using other parts of his body to simulate what Safik may have felt if buried hilt-deep in a partner. It wasn't quite the same, but the intimacy that came with knowing it was Tarkleigh – especially after such a stressful day – heightened his sensations. He was so enraptured that he couldn't help but curl his neck downward and nibble the kobold's rump as Tarkleigh did his work.
\tSuch compassion did nothing to phase Tarkleigh; he was on a mission and dedicated to coaxing a delicious mess from his partner. He kept massaging, stroking, squeezing, tickling, spreading, and sucking with all his might – which proved to be a lot more than the average person, even if it was relatively weak compared to a full-sized wyvern – until he felt something coming on. Safik's member was pulsating, his entire lower half twitching and constricting every few seconds; such reactions meant only one thing, which was exactly what Tarkleigh wanted. He opened his maw as wide as it would go and wrapped his lips around the wyvern's tip, tongue cradling the underside while relaxing his throat to take all his partner had to give him.
\tBut Safik was a little worried about what was about to happen. He had already seen Tarkleigh gag on tongue and cock twice this evening, there was no way he'd be able to handle all that had built up since their last night of intimacy. He fumbled to try and grab Tarkleigh, to push him to the side or otherwise remove him from the line of fire before he completed, but he stumbled and just collapsed forward, cock stabbing Tarkleigh in the throat and knocking the kobold onto his back beneath him.
\tTarkleigh was expecting this, and had braced himself in such a way that he kept his lips pressed against Safik's cock tip while leaning back with a single hand. Once he had gotten his balance back – and Safik had remained prone with tail in the air and chest pressed to the ground, nearly pinning the kobold below him – Tarkleigh traced the underside of Safik's member with his free hand and slid his fist into the wyvern's slit at the base of his member. The extra pressure seemed like it was exactly what Safik needed, as the wyvern could hold back no longer.
\tSafik grunted and dug furrows into the ground with his toes and wing claws as his tail pumped down, initiating his ejaculation directly into Tarkleigh's eager gullet. As expected, the volume quickly overtook the space available inside the kobold's maw and started spewing out the sides, soaking his chest and shoulders and everything else beneath him.
\tIt was a glorious mess, but one that Tarkleigh was not prepared to succumb to. All the while, even as he felt the pressure force him to the ground and his fist to pop out of Safik's tight, clenching slit at the base of his member. All the while, each contraction of Safik's lower body and every muscle in it pumped another hot stream of wyvern cum onto Tarkleigh's prone body, some of it getting in his hair, some in his mouth, and a whole lot everywhere else. Such a mess was absolutely glorious, and much to Tarkleigh's utter delight, tasty and rich!
\tJust as Tarkleigh was about to make another move, Safik collapsed forward, tucking his wing in close and rolling onto his back, half-mast cock flopping onto his belly as it let loose another spurt of slimy mess onto his scaled belly. Unlike Tarkleigh, his scales partially repelled the mess as opposed to sticking on the kobold's skin. This motion also ended by scooping Tarkleigh up thanks to Safik's hind leg, leaving the kobold on his belly, splayed across the dragon's tail and inner thighs.
\tTarkleigh was pretty close, himself, and was eager to maybe finish up but didn't know how to approach the situation with his partner already spent and seemingly done.
\tFortunately for him, Safik was still pretty lucid despite having just climaxed. Just barely, but he had just enough of a clear mindset to grab Tarkleigh with one of his hind legs, clawing the kobold's shoulder and dropping him in the same position they were in before Safik rolled onto all fours, with Tarkleigh straddling the base of his tail, cock hard and rubbing up against the underside of his shaft.
\tOnce more, no words were needed to convey what the wyvern was asking – nay, inviting – of his mount. Tarkleigh could see and feel exactly what was best for him, so he slid forward and aimed his own cock tip into the very same slit hole at the base of Safik's length, plunging himself in as deep as he could go. He had to use the base of Safik's member for balance and leverage, but once he managed to get a proper grip on the shaft, he started to buck and grind against his partner, happily enjoying the wyvern's natural body heat. More importantly, he relished the aftershocks of orgasmic pleasure that constricted the passage every time another wave of pleasure came over Safik in his dwindling afterglow.
\tThe slickness of the wyvern's depths were lovely, but it was made even better when Tarkleigh collected a combination of seed and other fluids to lubricate the opening and himself in equal measure, soaking himself from belly to thighs in mess to utilize as lubricant. The resulting film of fluid that soaked the kobold's skin ensured that he was able to grind and slide up and down Safik's ventral scales with ease, instilling a sense of pleasure that emanated father than just his cock, including every part of him that made contact.
\tTo him, and hopefully to Safik as well, the experience was deeper than just physical. The closeness that came with such a full-bodied sense of intimacy put his mind at ease enough to render him defenseless. He was prepared to finish quickly and happily, but the state of mind this put him in quickly brought him to his own climax; relative to his size, it was just as messy as Safik's! But, unlike his wyvern partner, Tarkleigh's resulting mess was entirely deposited inside his partner, with not a single drop of it wasted or spilled into the lush, vibrant vegetation of the copse they called home.
\tHe grunted and clenched every muscle in his lower body as his pleasure hit its plateau, his body tightening enough that he eventually collapsed on Safik's belly, pinning the wyvern's slowly receding cock between them. Rather than ignore it, push away from it, or do anything, Tarkleigh just relaxed, enjoying the sensation of sensitive wyvern flesh and cock spines tickling his belly en route to the slit from whence it came.
\tBefore long – and after a few full minutes of relaxed panting, heavy breathing, and basking in the afterglow of their mutual fun – Tarkleigh eventually got to all fours while still on Safik's belly, patting his partner on his belly scales to get his attention. “See? I told you not to worry about me.”
\tSafik had folded his wings up near his chest, but his head was flopped upside down, fully extended. This meant that, to address Tarkleigh, he'd have to crane it up and flip his neck so that he was looking down over his body. Once he did this, he kept his gaze muted and his eyes trained on his kobold ally. “You got lucky.” Was all he could muster.
\tTarkleigh raised a single eyebrow, not sure how to respond. He could have made a snarky comment or challenged Safik to another round to prove his mettle, but he opted instead to slide down off Safik's belly, coming to rest with his nude bottom on the cum-soaked moss near the stream while still leaning against his partner.
\tNo words were shared between them. The silence spoke to their mutual understanding.
\tSafik rolled over onto his side and wrapped his wing-arm around Tarkleigh, holding him close as he shifted in place, eager to find a position to sleep in for the night. His belly was full, he had the one person in this world he trusted and respected next to him, and while live in Tehgol was complicated and dangerous, he knew there was nobody he'd rather have by his side.
\tAs the sun fell and night blanketed the copse, they had plenty of time to think about what would have to happen next. One thing was for sure, the attacks would continue for as long as they stuck around. They would either have to hide every night and never make their faces known again, or they'd have to take the fight to the Risselian Alpha.
\tOr maybe they could negotiate. There were options and they were more than capable of whatever action they chose to pursue.
\tBut for this night, they needed only worry about sleep, and the mess they'd have to clean in the morning. Safik was pretty pent up prior to this evening, and the ambush made things even more tense. All things considered, it was a good day in the end.