Tales of
Erogenia
Based
on the online comic created by J.E. Draft.
Episode 2: Journey to
Jinqua
Chapter
11:
Dislocations and
Revelations
Zenaria awoke long before
dawn. Their tower prison was
flooded with light early, but she was forced to
wait. However, it was close to
mid-morning when the High Sorcerer showed
up. By that time she had wolfed
down the chunks of raw meat that had been tossed through the bars and had
licked herself thoroughly clean.
Using her tongue to clean her fur seemed quite natural and she
couldnt stop herself from doing it no matter how animalistic it
seemed. Her only concern was
that she might cough up a hairball in front of Alzid or the
emperor.
Alzid stood outside the
bars. You are going to
be chained again. I suspect that
you would not do anything rash, but the emperor wants to see you and you
may not appear before him any other way.
Please do not resist. To
do so would be most unwise.
Zenaria had not expected
anything less. After all, she
and Sir Varden had killed and maimed scores of palace
guards. She only hoped that the
interview with the emperor might result in a change in their
status.
Guards entered the
cell. Warily they placed heavy
chains on Zenarias ankles and wrists and secured a heavy metal-studded
leather collar about her neck. Sir
Varden was similarly restrained, being hobbled on both his fore and hind
legs. An almost identical collar
was placed about his neck with a chain linking it to Zenarias
collar. Then with more than a
score of guards holding chains that served as metal leashes, they were led
from the cell.
Certainly it was a humiliating
experience for the two proud warriors to be led through the palace like animals,
but after all, now they were animals.
And they would likely remain so unless they
cooperated. That alone was motivation
enough for Zenaria to be on her best behaviour and apparently Sir Varden
through so too. Meekly they followed
their captors through the complex maze of passages that made up the
palace.
It was even more magnificent
than Junals palace. Every
surface was carved or decorated with elaborate mosaics made up of tiny pieces
of glittering stone or glass. It
made almost every surface shine brilliantly where the sunlight touched it
and the palace was constructed with numerous windows open to the
light. Zenaria found herself
wondering about the security problem this created, but noted that there were
guards every few yards along every corridor they
traversed.
The Emperor Pulan was seated
in an area where the palace opened to a magnificent garden that was fully
large enough to have enclosed two of her
villages. It even had a thirty
foot waterfall that emptied into a deep
pool. Fortunately her escort
moved her quickly along, preventing her from gawking, although with her leopard
features, probably no one would have
noticed.
The Emperor was seated beside
a stream that flowed from the artificial
lake. Zenaria noted a number
of large orange fish swimming lazily in the clear waters and had to fight
back an almost overwhelming urge to put her paw, err
hand, into the
water and scoop one of them out.
There was a low rumble from Sir Vardens throat and Zenaria guessed
that he was experiencing similar
temptations.
Alzid went down on one knee
before the Emperor and Zenaria decided that it was wise to do the same even
though such a custom was foreign to her culture and as a princess she was
ranked almost equal to him. In
his leonine guise Sir Varden was spared the obeisance, however, he sat back
on his haunches and assumed a lordly
mien. Zenaria decided that his
current guise suited him very well.
Emperor Pulan was very much
like what Zenaria had thought he might
be. Clothed in long robes of
silk and gold, he resembled Junal and stared at her and Sir Varden with a
regal air. So these are
the two that so decimated our guard and allowed our enemy to seize control
of the Orb of Power.
It is so, my lord,
Alzid said. However, I
believe that they were the unwitting instruments of your brothers
machinations. I also believe
that they may be able to redeem themselves by getting it
back.
And why should they
be trusted? the emperor asked.
They slaughtered the royal guard, and allowed the theft of the
artefact that offered our only protection from Junals
power.
That is so great lord,
but I have used a spell of truth to determine their
character. I find that both were
misled due to their naïve nature.
They are valiant, but somewhat stupid, their barbarian nature making
them particularly gullible.
Unconsciously Zenaria gave
herself a quick lick. Alzids
words described her and Sir Varden with cruel
accuracy. They had been gulled
into acting on Junals behalf, accepting at face value everything he
told them. They could not have
been more stupid and the consequences had been
tragic. Scores of men had died,
and an artefact of great power placed in the hands of an evil
despot. They had a great deal
to atone for.
We shall rely upon
your judgement, Pulan said.
Can you and Dendar perform the incantation or do you require
our aid?
With respect, my
lord. The spell is a difficult
one and we will have but one chance.
Then you will have
our help, the emperor said.
Let us proceed without
delay. Every moment increases
the danger that Junal may summon the power of the
artefact.
He rose to his feet and
waved away the servants that started to move forward with a
litter. The centre of the
garden? he asked Alzid.
The elements will
be well balanced there. It is
a good choice, my lord.
The Emperor led the way,
Alzid following and Zenaria and Sir Varden bringing up the
rear. The two captives still
wore their chains and Zenaria wondered how they were going to help if they
were not released.
They moved between well
manicured lawns and hedges and banks of exotic flowers and shrubs, until
they reached a large open space. It
was paved in alternating rings of red and black granite inlaid with polished
bronze symbols. Zenaria realized
that it was some sort of very large construction used for keeping track of
the movement of the sun and perhaps other heavenly bodies as
well. They stopped in the exact
centre and the Emperor and Alzid stepped aside to allow Zenaria and Sir Varden
to take up positions next to one another.
Zenaria noticed that Dendar was already there, having no doubt anticipated
the Emperors decision.
Zenaria noted that the centre
of the immense park had not been chosen by
accident. Set in a circle were
stones that appeared identical to the stone circle from which she and Sir
Varden had been transported. These,
however, were not roughened by the ravages of time and weather, but were
finely polished granite. Alzid
motioned that she and Sir Varden should move to the centre and they did
so.
Zenaria wondered what they
were supposed to do. She and
Sir Varden were still chained, and had no idea what Alzid or the emperor
intended. Fortunately the diminutive
wizard explained. It is
our intention to attempt the same spell Junal used to transport you to the
palace. Singly none of us possesses
anything like his level of power or
skill. Together, however, we
may be able to duplicate his spell and send you back to the place in
Junals palace where you came from.
Do not worry about the chains.
They cannot be transported with
you. It is our hope that your
arrival will be undetected and that you will be able to retrieve the Orb
of Power.
Alzid finished speaking
and handed an amulet on the end of a gold chain to
Dendar. The assistant sorcerer
placed the necklace around Zenarias
neck. If you find the
Orb, Alzid explained, use the amulet on the end of the chain
to return. It is triggered by
breaking it. Your jaws should
be strong enough to do that.
There was one serious omission
in Alzids directions. He
had said nothing about her and Sir Varden being returned to their natural
state. As much as her tribe
worshipped the snow leopard, she was not looking forward to spending the
rest of her life as one. Nor
did she like the idea that she and Sir Varden would be transported into
Junals lair blind. If they
were unlucky they might land right at the sorcerers feet, and he had
already demonstrated that he was more than a match for either of
them.
Alzid, however, did not
appear to be allowing them any choice.
Already he was moving to the periphery of the stone circle along with
Dendar and the emperor. There
was nothing for it. She and Sir
Varden would have to depend on luck and hope that somehow their desperate
mission would succeed.
Alzid began to chant, slowly
raising his arms as he did so.
Spaced at equal intervals on the edge of the stone circle Dendar and
the emperor joined in. Zenaria
felt a strange sensation in the pit of her stomach as a silvery sphere began
to form around them. It must
have been disturbing to Sir Varden as well, as a low growl escaped his jaws
and he began to salivate profusely.
Zenaria felt faint and her
body temperature rose until she was
panting. Drool began to drip
from her jaws and a steady humming surrounded her, rising in pitch until
it became excruciating. Unable
to stand it any longer she attempted to break through the silver sphere that
surrounded her and Sir Varden, but it was as if they were enclosed in an
iron wall. A scream rose in her
throat and she heard Sir Varden roar; then there was the almost familiar
gut wrenching disorientation and the stone circle and the palace garden
disappeared.
She found herself next to
the lion on her knees. Sir Varden
was sprawled on the ground, but he quickly regained all fours and looked
fiercely around him. Both of
them realized something was wrong.
The place where they had been sent was definitely not the tower where
Junal had transported them in order to steal the
Orb.
Zenaria looked around
her. She and Sir Varden seemed
to be in a thickly forested area.
Huge trees with strangely twisted roots and covered with thick vines
loomed all around them, and overhead massive branches spread out so thickly
that the ground was shaded in permanent
gloom. In the branches brightly
coloured birds called out raucously and strange long-limbed creatures jumped
from branch to branch and chattered down at
them.
It was obvious that
Alzids spell, even with Pulans and Dardens help had not
transported them into Julans
palace. The question was where
had it transported them? She
realized that if the spell had failed they might be
anywhere.
She began to get to her
feet when there was a low growl from Sir
Varden. Zenaria looked in his
direction and saw that the huge lion was looking straight at
her. A strange but familiar sensation
swept over her.
No!
It couldnt be happening
again. Alzid had put a stop to
it.
The lion was moving slowly
toward her as the feelings of hot and cold swept over
her. There was an incredible
aching in her loins that she could barely repress and more than anything
she wanted to get down on all fours and present herself to Sir
Varden. But she
couldnt. She and the knight
had more important things to do than engage in animalistic
mating. Taking time out to
participate in primal copulation might mean the difference between success
and failure in their mission.
She began to slowly back
away from the lion, barring her fangs and flexing her fingers to show her
claws as a signal to Sir Varden that she was not
interested. But the lion was
not fooled. He continued to move
determinedly toward her, his bright blue eyes fixed on hers and his nostrils
twitching as he caught her scent.
At the last second Zenaria
turned and leapt for the safety of the
trees. Her body was burning up
with primitive passion, but the mission was more
important. She had to
escape.
Her claws caught in the
vines encircling the tree and sank into its bark as she scrambled up the
trunk. If she could reach the
lower branches she should be safe.
But she had made her move
a split second too late. Sir
Varden reached her in one mighty leap, his claws sinking into the fur of
her shoulders and his teeth biting at the back of her
neck. He pulled her down and
with a roar tried to mount her.
Zenaria fought to escape,
but her heart was not in it. His
breathe on her neck and the feeling of his huge and powerful body against
hers sent all other thoughts from her
mind. With a leopard scream she
submitted raising her buttocks for easier access and stretching her lithe
and powerful body before him. Then
she howled as he penetrated her.
The next few hours would
be forever etched in Zenarias mind.
Pure animal passion overwhelmed her and she moaned and growled, her
body twisting in feline ecstasy as the lion coupled with
her. Locked with Sir Varden in
an inseparable sexual embrace she arched her back, her razor edged claws
shredding the bark of the tree in front of her and tearing up the
ground. Her mouth opened wide
and catlike yowls of carnal excitement came forth, accompanying Sir
Vardens deep growls and louder roars as he plunged into her over and
over again sowing his seed deep in her
womb. Only when he was completely
satisfied did he finally relax his grip on her and sink exhausted to the
forest floor.
Mere exhaustion, however,
could not begin to describe how Zenaria
felt. It was as if she had been
dragged into an Erogenian longhouse and forced to service every man
inside. Mouth open and her tongue
lolling out, and with her heart thumping like drum inside her, she could
barely move. Not even her first
round of lovemaking with Tren and the loss of her virginity had left her
so sore and completely done in. She
could barely move and wanted only to lie where she was and
sleep.
Day had waned during the
mating and the dark of the forest was now even more
pronounced. Even if she had been
able to move there was not enough daylight left to determine where they were
or to take any action even if it was revealed that Alzids spell had
landed them close to their objective.
Whatever they had to do would have to wait until
tomorrow.
Curling herself up into
a ball among the leaves on the forest floor, Zenaria closed her eyes as sleep
began to overtake her. She was
hungry and thirsty, but much too tired to do anything about
it. She knew that she would be
even sorer the next day, but right now all she wanted to do was
sleep. Her passion was spent
and now she would rest. A few
yards away there was a low rumbling.
Sir Varden was purring again.
Bastard,
she thought and then she was asleep.
Oh, by the Moon she was
sore. Even the slightest movement
hurt and the area between her legs felt as if it was on
fire. Without thinking she curved
her body and began to lick herself.
It was a calming action,
and she could reach every part of her body except her head and neck which
she groomed with a saliva-dampened paw.
Methodically she cleaned every limb and focused especially on those
parts of her body that were most tender.
When she was finished she lay back and considered her next
move. More than anything she
did not want to have to move. Even
the thought of having to get up caused certain parts of her anatomy to ache
even more than they already were.
But she was now ravenously hungry and thirstier than she could remember
being since her trip across the deserts of
Sandakar. She had to move, perhaps
there was water close by.
Sir Varden was no
help. He wasnt even
there. Typically he had left
her on her own after ravaging her within an inch of her
being. It did not occur to her
to wonder where he was. For some
reason she was quite sure that he was alright and would eventually turn
up. Slowly, and with a groan
she got to her feet. She began
to work her way through the forest, heading downhill, guessing that she would
be more likely to find water in that
direction.
Her guess turned out to
be right. A short and very painful
walk brought her to a small spring.
Greedily she lapped at the water and was still drinking when she heard
a noise behind her.
She turned, suddenly alert,
her hackles rising and then Sir Varden pushed though the vegetation dragging
the carcass of a deer with him.
Zenarias stomach rumbled.
Without waiting for an invitation or even thanking her gods she pounced
on the deer and began to rip apart the still warm
flesh. She growled when the lion
moved to take his share, but that did not stop him from ripping off a haunch
and retiring a few feet to eat it on his
own.
She watched Sir Varden as
she devoured her share of his kill.
She was certain that no normal lion was that well endowed, not that
she knew a lot about lions. She
had never seen one before she had seen him, but she expected they should
be proportioned similarly to snow leopards and he definitely was
not. She wondered if that was
because he was larger than normal in his human guise as
well.
She could not fault him
for what he had done to her; she had been as caught up in the predatory passion
as he was. If he hadnt
ravished her before she reached the tree, she would almost certainly have
given in to him and in spite of her howls of feline
protest. She had to admit it
had been an enjoyable if rather painful
experience.
Engorged, she began to clean
her muzzle and whiskers. Having
finished her meal she now wanted nothing more than to lie down and have a
good nap, but the human side of her was nagging in the
background. Slowly it gained
control, brinigng with it the uncomfortable thought
that the leopard side of her personality seemed to be taking
over. She wondered how long it
would be before her leopard nature completely suppressed the human side and
turned her into a complete animal.
Judging from the way she had reacted to the mating with Sir Varden
that time was not far off.
With a groan she forced
herself to her feet ignoring the protests from her
loins. Her movement attracted
the lions attention.
Apparently he too was still human enough to remember that there was
something else they were supposed to be doing other than copulating and tearing
wildlife apart.
They had to see if they
were anywhere near Junals palace.
It was just possible that Alzids spell had dropped them somewhere
close by even if it had not sent them directly to the tower in the
palace. With no idea of where
to start looking Zenaria decided to put her leopard form to good
use. Padding over to the buttress
roots one of the forest giants she sank her claws into the bark and began
to climb.
Wreathed with vines, the
tree would have been easy to climb anyway, but her claws gave her an added
advantage and she quickly worked her way through the canopy to the upper
reaches of the forest giant. It
was quite unlike any tree in her native Erogenian
forest. The vines that encircled
its trunk from roots to crown were one major difference that made climbing
all that much easier and she was soon several hundred feet above the
ground.
Zenaria normally had little
fear of heights and her feline form had even
less. Gaining the very top of
the tree she perched there completely relaxed and surveyed the surrounding
landscape. A green forest stretched
out to the horizon in one direction, but in the other it ended suddenly at
an expanse of blue.
The
sea.
Junals place had been beside the sea.
She tracked the coastline and
at the farthest limit of her vision something stood out of the
landscape. She would not have
seen it except for the high tower, the very one, she suspected where she
and Sir Varden had been transported to obtain the
Orb. Its location fixed in her
mind, she descended the tree to a waiting Sir Varden.
She had found what she wanted,
but how to communicate her discovery?
Being unable to speak to her companion was incredibly frustrating
and very inconvenient. She could
probably make him understand that he should follow her, but what would happen
when they reached Junals palace?
Any attempt to infiltrate the magicians palace would almost
certainly require some sort of coordination, and if they could not communicate
their chance of success would be almost
nonexistent.
A sudden notion struck her
as she reached the flaring roots of the
tree. She sent out a mental query
of the sort she used to communicate with
Jaree. She got an immediate response,
but it was not what she had expected.
Jarees thoughts had been pure animal, a mixture of savage urges
and thoughts completely unlike anything
human. She was always careful
just to skim the surface of the big leopards mind so as not to get
caught in that bestial web. Sir
Vardens thoughts were definitely human, and full of
surprises.
There was, of course, the
astonished response to her mental
probe. That was not a
particularly unforeseen reaction considering that she had never sent him
or any other person a mental image.
What caught her off guard, however, was the quickly suppressed thought
that apparently had been uppermost in the transformed knights
mind. It was so graphic that
she suspected that if the knight had been in his proper form he would have
turned beet red. But more startling
was something she had not even briefly
suspected. The knight was deeply
in love with her, an emotion that kept on resurfacing in spite of his attempts
to hide it.
Zenaria was caught off
guard. Even despite the coupling
she and the lion had engaged in, she had thought it mere animal passion,
brought on by their transformation.
She had not for a moment thought that there was anything more to it
than pure animal arousal.
The revelation was more
than a little disconcerting. She
gave herself a couple of quick licks before she realized what she was doing
and then brought herself under control.
Sir
Varden,
she sent,
keeping her sudden knowledge to herself.
I have found the
sorcerers palace.
The thought that came back
was at first confused, but then steadied.
Then
we must complete our mission.
Zenaria found herself nodding
and then realized that the motion probably didnt translate in her leopard
form.
We
will head toward the sea and then follow the
beach. She motioned
with her arm in the desired direction.
This
way. She headed
through the trees, wondering how much more complicated her life could
get. She had gone off with the
ultimate goal of reuniting with her lover and now found herself wandering
through a distant and mysterious forest in search of the palace of an evil
wizard whose powers had transformed her and her lion lover into cat-like
creatures.
Things just had to get
better she hoped.
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