FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

*****

Chapter Twenty Four

*****

Revaramek savored Enora’s warmth around his head, relished her soft touch against his scales, across his sensitive frills and ears. Her stroked her hair, the softness of it against his paw pads still so familiar. He inhaled her scent, orange blossoms and lavender. The same things she always perfumed herself with. Each time he was lucky enough to see Enora again, he realized anew just how much he missed her. For all the terrible memories he tried to shut out, they were inextricably linked to some of the best moments of his life. The dragon would have happily stayed in her embrace for the rest of his days if given a chance.

At last, he pulled away. He bumped his nose against her own much smaller one, gazing into her eyes, a lighter brown than Mirelle’s. They shared a similar skin tone, though Enora’s was perhaps a hint darker than Mirelle’s olive skin. And some of the wrinkles around her eyes were new, but not all of them. Her hair was longer now, as well, and more untamed than before, with more gray creeping into the black.

“I missed you.” Revaramek’s voice was a murmur, and he followed it with a tender lick across her cheek.

Enora laughed, turning her head, then wiped it with her hand. “I missed you too.” She kissed his nose, her lips and breath as soft and warm as ever. “You don’t visit enough. And don’t take that as a complaint, because I know it’s not your fault.” Her smile faded as she tilted her head to glare past the dragon at Mirelle. “It’s theirs.”

“Enora, she’s not like one of them.”

“So she’s just wearing a blouse with a fist and shield on its shoulders because she likes the way it looks?” Enora tilted her head, smirking.

Chir’raal perked his ears, then reached out and tweaked the emblem on Mirelle’s shoulders. “If you’re gonna try and cover for slave mistress, you might want her to change her clothes before you come here.”

Mirelle batted his paw away and stepped back. “I am not his slave mistress!”

Revaramek snapped his jaws. “She’s not my…er…what she said!”

“Uh huh, sure dragon.” Chir’raal snatched at Mirelle’s arm, hissing. “What are you making him do?”

Revaramek spun on the gryphon in an instant as Mirelle pulled away from him, wide-eyed. “Mirelle is my friend! And if you so much as think of putting a scare into her after all she’s been through, I’ll knock you on your feathered ass and smack your beak around a while!”

The gryphon snorted, and settled back down, fluffing up his wings. “Oh, alright.”

“I wonder, Mirelle.” Enora stepped around the dragon, walking towards Mirelle. “Or is that Councilwoman? If he’s told you why we may share a distaste for your…” She scowled. “Position.”

“Enora!” Revaramek snapped his jaws. She glanced back at him, and he moved to nuzzle her cheek. “Please treat her nicely. She’s not like that. She’s my friend, now.”

Enora heaved a long sigh, then rubbed the dragon’s nose. A smile soon graced her face again. “Very well. If you’re truly Rev’s friend, then you cannot be anything but my friend, as well. Just know that we are…” She glanced at the gryphon, then back at the dragon. “Protective of our scaly comrade. And suspicious of those in power in your village.”

Mirelle returned the smile, and gave Enora a little bow. “I understand.” She glanced at the emblem on her golden blouse. “Yes, I am on the council, and no, Revaramek didn’t tell me that was something you wouldn’t like. Or even that…” She hesitated, wringing her hands.

“I hadn’t told her about you.” Revaramek nudged Enora with his muzzle.

Enora laughed, shaking her head. “Why am I not surprised?” She patted his head. “Rev doesn’t like to remember or talk about certain things.”

“So I’ve noticed.” Mirelle looked around at everyone, bumping her boot against the grass. “So you’re Enora, then?”

Enora nodded, then poked Rev’s nose. “This one here seems to forgotten how to give a proper introduction.”

Revaramek scrunched his muzzle and pulled his head back. “I was too busy hugging you, and then too busy defending Mirelle.”

“Ah, yes.” Enora frowned and looked away. “Yes, I apologize. Been a long time since I’ve seen anyone wearing that emblem.”

Striding forward, Revaramek cleared his throat with a growl. “Accepted!”

“I was actually apologizing to-“

“I am Revaramek the Resplendent, your benevolent overlord!” The dragon called out in his most booming, officious voice, waving his paw in a sweeping gesture. “This is my good friend, Councilwoman Mirelle! Of the Shield and Fist.” He opened a wing, snapping it out towards the gryphon. “This is Chir’raal, my friend and wing-brother!” He stretched his foreleg, curling it around Enora. “And this is Enora, my most favorite subject of all!”

Enora smirked, patting Rev’s scales. “And this is my most favorite benevolent overlord, whom you already know.”

Mirelle giggled a little. “Indeed.”

“What was that wing-brother bit?” Chir’raal clicked his beak.

Revaramek arched his neck. “I heard that in a tale! Do you like it?”

The gryhon snorted, ruffling himself. “No.”

“Too bad, I’m keeping it.”

“Hello, everyone.” Mirelle waved and offered them another bow. “If it makes you feel better, I’ve only been on the council for a week or so. And…part of the reason I took the job was to try and ensure everyone, all peoples, get better treatment. So, if that’s why you don’t like the council, maybe I can change that for you.”

“She’s no idea, does she.” Enora wrapped her fingers around the dragon’s ear, giving it a tug. “You’re going to have to change that.”

Revaramek grunted, leaning his head towards her. “I will. Soon. I…” He swallowed, his voice softening. “I…paid it forward, though. Your gift.”

“You…you did?” Enora faltered, her eyes widening.

The dragon turned his head and smiled at her, resting his chin on her shoulder. “Yes. For Mirelle.”

Enora rubbed the dragon’s cheek. Her fingers were soft and warm against his pebbly scales. “I take it that’s why you…well…” She eased away from him, gesturing at a few of his wounds. “I didn’t want to ask, but…”

“Yes.” Revaramek turned his head to smile at Mirelle. She looked confused, twisting some of her curls around a few fingers. “That’s why. We’ll talk about that later.”

Enora harrumphed. “I suppose we’ll also talk about why you’ve brought a council member here.”

The gryphon chirped, an irritated sound like a bird shooing something away from its nest. “And about what they need from us, no doubt!”

Revaramek growled. “Why are you so cranky? Kurekka not keeping you satisfied lately?”

Enora burst out laughing, shaking her head. “Oh, that’s definitely not his problem. Had to tell those two to keep it down the other night because I was trying to sleep!”

“It was only just after sundown!” Chir’raal hissed.

“And I’d spent the whole day working in the garden! You could have at least gone back to your house first.”

“It’s more romantic by the lake!”

“Then learn to keep your beaks shut!”

Revaramek rumbled laughter, nosing at Elora’s back. “I suspect their beaks are usually busy!” He tilted his head, ears perked. He swiveled them towards a soft, repeating rustling sound. “Ah! Speaking of busy beaks, here comes Kurekka now!”

Across the nearby hilltops, another gryphon swept in. Like Chir’raal, Kurekka’s body bore some resemblance to a fusion of feline and avian, with a powerful yet graceful body, and fours just like a dragon. Feathers covered much of Kurekka, melting into fur elsewhere. Where Chir’raal had a gray head and black wings, Kurekka’s feathers were more of a reddish brown. And where Chir’raal’s underbelly was white, Kurekka’s was a pale creamy tan, speckled with black. Furthermore, where Chir’raal was male, Kurekka was…also male. Which Revaramek hadn’t told Mirelle because he couldn’t wait to see her wrap her little prude head around that.

Kurekka held a deer in his claws as he hurtled across the valley. Revaramek tilted his head back and roared a call to his friend. The gryphon replied with a screeching keen, and dipped his red-brown wings to alter course straight for the dragon. He tossed his slain deer to the earth, and it tumbled across the grass.

Enora backed a few steps away from the dragon and glanced at Mirelle. “You might want to move back. Kurekka likes to pounce.”

Mirelle shook a finger at him. “Oh no, Rev. You can’t have some feisty gryphon pouncing you while you’re still recovering from your fight!”

“Oh, I’ll be fine, Mirelle. Quick! Move aside, here he comes!”

Revaramek gave a playful snarl as Mirelle scrambled around behind Chir’raal alongside Enora. The dragon hunched down against the grass as the brown and tan gryphon streaked towards him, grasses and heather billowing beneath his wings. At the last moment, Kurekka flared out his wings to slow himself, scarlet flight feathers displayed. With a screeching cry, he slammed into Revaramek hard enough to send the dragon tumbling across the grass the same way he’d knocked Chir’raal around earlier.

The gryphon rolled across the ground with the dragon, play-biting at him and batting him with his paws. Pain ignited all along Revaramek’s back, and yet all he really felt was glee as he tumbled with his friend. Revaramek laughed as they rolled across the grass together, batting and playfully snapping at each other. Soon he ended up on his sore back beneath Kurekka. The gryphon beamed down at him, his beak parked, ears up, and green-flecked eyes shining. Their shared happiness soothed his many pains.

“Hey, buddy!” Kurekka warbled laughter, pressing his forepaws to Revaramek’s shoulders. “Where the hell ya been?” He turned his head, chirping at Chir’raal. “Quick, help me pin him! We owe him wing-tickles!”

“Wing tickles?” Mirelle sounded as if she couldn’t decide if she should be aghast or delighted.

“Oh, no!” Revaramek swatted Kurekka’s head with a paw just enough to knock the smaller creature off balance. “No damn tickles!” He surged up and rolled over, sending the gryphon stumbling off of him. Before Kurekka could catch his balance, Revaramek shoved him over, pushed him to his own back, and plopped down on the gryphon’s belly. “Just licks! For you!”

“ACK! Get your oversized ass off of me!” Kurekka warbled and flailed his forepaws in a vain attempt to prevent Revaramek from licking his face. “Chir’raal, help!”

“Nah, I already had my dragon-tongue bath. Yer on yer own, Kur!”

Revaramek snarled, bared his fangs, and then delivered a furiously affectionate licking session to the helpless gryphon. He lapped at his face and his beak, and his throat, wetting and slicking down some of his feathers while Kurekka squirmed and wriggled. “I missed you, Kurekka!”

“I missed you too, Rev, but I didn’t miss your horribly ineffective grooming regimine!” He shoved at the dragon’s muzzle. “Get off, already! You’re squishing my guts and your tail is in a very threatening place!”

Revaramek glanced back and saw his tail resting between the gryphon’s hind legs. “Oh, sorry about that. Guess you don’t have anything big enough for me to notice.”

“Hey! Very funny you-”

“Bahawkhawkhawkhaawk!” The other gryphon squawked raucous laughter, glancing at the two women. “You two hear that one? He said he’s got really small-”

“You’re not supposed to be laughing, Chir’raal!” Kurekka gave a squawk of his own, wriggling free when Revaramek let him up. He shook himself, ruffling his flattened feathers. “You’re supposed to be defending my honor.”

Revaramek swatted the gryphon on his haunch. “As if you had any honor to start with.”

“Hardly the point dragon.” Kurekka clacked his beak, then spun around and swatted Revaramek on the rump just the same. “Great to see you, regardless of your many insults!”

Revaramek waggled his haunches, laughing as Kurekka trotted over to his mate. The dragon turned to smile at Mirelle. “You see Mirelle? You’re the only one who takes offense at a little swat on the ass.”

Mirelle stared at him, then looked at Kurekka, then stared at the dragon, her jaw half open. “I thought…you said…”

“That an ass swat indicates attraction? It does.” Revaramek shrugged his wings, padding over to her. “Which I take as a compliment, regardless of whether that attraction is shared, or not.”

“But…you said…”

“Of course, it can also indicate approval.” Revaramek waved his paw. “Or encouragement. In this case I’m sure it’s all of the above.”

As Kurekka settled near Chir’raal, Mirelle stared at them again. “But…I thought…didn’t you say…they were…”

“Gryphons?” Revaramek cocked his head. “I did, and clearly they are. Feathers, beaks, four legs, yes, definitely gryphons.”

The two gryphons nuzzled one another, murmuring and cooing. They pressed their beaks together in a quick, tender kiss, then Chir’raal set about preening his mate’s red-brown feathers. Kurekka was a little smaller than Chir’raal, and his red-brown coloration extended all down his back save for a few crimson patches. The longer, mobile crown feathers across the back of his head were the same scarlet color as his longest flight feathers, was were the feathers of his tail fan. Along his tail, the fluffy feathers were a soft brown speckled with red. His four limbs were darkest brown at the top, fading to a tan color towards his paws. His palest colors were all along his underbelly where the fury was a very light tan, speckled with black.

“I know they’re gryphons.” Mirelle lowered her voice, whispering. “You know…they…liked each other.”

“Of course they like each other, they’re best friends.”

Mirelle’s voice got even soft, a whisper the dragon the dragon could hear. “You said they were mates!”

Revaramek tilted his head the other way, lifting his spines in confusion. “Yes, because they are.”

“But…but they both…”

“Yes?”

Mirelle pointed at the gryphons. “They’re both…well, they both have…you know…”

“What, feathers?” Revaramek scratched at his neck with a wingtip. “All gryphons have those.”

“No!” Mirelle jabbed her finger in the air. “Those! They both have those!”

Revaramek lowered his head to her hand, trying to see what she was pointing at. “What, beaks? Again, gryphons. I thought we covered that already.”

Mirelle growled through grit teeth. “Lower than that.” She pointed towards the gryphons hind ends as they sat on their haunches together. “There. Those!”

“Paws?” Revaramek jerked his head back, thoroughly confused. “I have paws too Mirelle, what’s special about that?”

“Behind those!”

“Tails? I’ve one of those as well, I don’t see why-EEK!” Revaramek made a very un-resplendent noise when Mirelle pushed the pointed toe of her boot against his left testicle. “Oh…Oh, you mean they both have balls?”

“Yes, you obnoxious reptile.” Mirelle nudged her boot against him a little harder. “They both have these.”

Revaramek tried to inch away from her boot, wriggling back on his haunches. “Males usually do, Mirelle.”

“That’s my point!” Mirelle stomped her boot in nerve-wracking proximity to his hoard. “They’re both male! You said they’re mates, but they’re both males, they…” Her eyes widened, and she whirled around. Both gryphons and Enora were staring at her. “I…umm…I’m sorry, I…”

Kurekka clicked his beak, shaking his head.

Chir’raal made a noise like an angry raven, then ruffled his wings. “Oh, don’t let us interrupt your bigotry.”

“What?” Revaramek had never heard Mirelle sound so horrified.

“No, it’s fine.” Chir’raal waved his paw, narrowing his dark eyes. “You just keep tellin’ Rev how wrong it is we love each other.”

“Wh-what? No!” Mirelle’s voice was little more than a whimper now. “It’s not wrong. It’s…I just…”

When Mirelle sounded half-ready to burst into humiliated tears, Revaramek decided he’d she’d had enough. He encircled a foreleg around her, pulled her up against his body, and rubbed her back with his paw. She pressed her face to his scales as if to hide from her embarrassment.

“Alright, that’s enough. Chir’raal, Kurekka, I promise you both that Mirelle is the last person who’d ever hold a bias against you. Just ask her.” He licked his nose, glancing down at her. “Mirelle, you don’t care that two males love each other, right?”

Mirelle glanced up at him, then gave her head a frantic shake, messy black curls bouncing. “No! Of course not! I just…I never…I didn’t think…it’s just…”

“You see? She feels so badly she can’t even form coherent thoughts anymore.” Revaramek chuckled and rubbed her back. “She’s not at all biased. She’s just a prude, that’s all!”

Mirelle shot the dragon a glare that made him second guess inviting her into a hug that left her boots primed and ready in attack position.

“Erm…what I mean is…she’s not a prude, she’s…very openly sexual!” Mirelle’s gasp and smoldering look told him that wasn’t the right course to plot either. “Mirelle, I’m trying my best, but it’s hard to concentrate with my balls on the line.”

Enora laughed, shaking her head. “Yes, you’re awfully wide open right, Revaramek. Now, boys.” She patted each gryphon upon his feathered head. “I think what our eloquent friend and his tongue-tied councilwoman here are trying to say is just that…well she hasn’t any experience with, shall we say, non-traditional relationships. Is that about right?”

Mirelle slowly turned around, nodding.

Chir’raal cocked his head, his blue-speckled crown feathers lifted. “Didn’t know a human could go so red.”

Kurekka nipped at his neck. “Enough, she clearly regrets giving the wrong impression. Right?”

Mirelle nodded again, stumbling towards the small lake. “R-right…I’m gonna…erm…drink. Water.”

“That’s usually what you drink out of a lake, yes.”

Revamamek chuckled and followed her to the edge. As Mirelle knelt down and scooped up water in her hands, he moved up alongside her. He dropped his muzzle down to slurp up the water and quench his own thirst. Now that the initial, adrenaline fueled joy of their reunion had passed, the needs of the dragon’s body were quickly taken over. Thirst parched his long throat, hunger rattled and gnawed at his belly. He gulped down after for long moments, then lifted his head, panting.

“I don’t suppose you’re going to share that deer you caught, are you Kurekka?”

“With Chir’raal and Enora? Yes.” The red-brown gryphon smirked. “With you? No.”

“Feathered ass.”

“I have a feathered ass.” Kurekka hoisted his haunches and waggled them, laughing. “But if that’s going to be your attitude, I won’t bother to go and hunt a second deer for you and your friend.”

Revaramek cocked his head, grinning. “What if I ask nicely and include a flowery compliment, you majestic, beautifully plumaged beauty, you?”

“Well…” Kurekka settled down, scratching at the brown feathers of his neck. “I suppose in that case I’d be forced to hunt a second deer, and break out one of those wine casks we stole a while back so I could get my benevolent overlord good and drunk!”

“Ooooh!” Revaramek bounced on his paws. “Did you hear that, Mirelle! We’re going to get drunk with the gryphons!”

*****

And that's this chapter! If you've enjoyed, please hit the FAVE button and leave a comment.