Spirits of the Earth

[ @Moonie ]

After over thirty years with the same Master, finally, Puppy was seeing the stage where she'd be sold. The last time she'd been here... It hadn't really changed. Slaves were still brought to the block and put on display. The more expensive ones for last. Her Master - Previous Master - wanted the most from her and so she was dressed in sheer fabric, jewels in her hair, ears pierced with dangling rubies. As one of the last to be put on display, Puppy felt just a little bit anxious. Would her new master like her? Would he care about her? A brief look behind her to the horned man, a little nod from him and a stern look on his face.

He'd gotten what he'd wanted from her. That meant her use was up.

Once guided to the stage, the outermost layers of the sheer outfit were removed, leaving nothing to the imagination. Every curve and scale was on display, the fabric hung from her short fat tail and she turned around when guided. A few of the wealthier buyers were allowed on stage to poke and prod her and she only let her ears fold back once in distaste - though it was quickly fixed when one of them pinched her breast. An angered flush on her cheeks but she said nothing.

Puppy didn't feel humiliated - that was something she didn't comprehend anymore - but she did feel thrown away. The posture spoke for her, her head was down when not commanded to be up, shoulders slumped forward. Her black scaled hands were held together at her waist and she only glanced around. Perhaps she'd be a pet again. Finally, she lifted her head to scan the audiance of prospective buyers. The Essyrni men who were either interested in the exotic creature or looked on at her with disgust. Yellow eyes flicked to every man and woman. Some were seeking to purchase house slaves, others were looking for everything else.

A little expensive than most, the seller rattled off what buying her would gain them. Mentioning the two children she'd had which - according to him - had grown into fine strong adults. The things she knew. Singing and dancing. Cleaning, cooking. Puppy had clearly been a slave for a long time and barely looked it. Still, she smoothed her hands over the sheer fabric, puffing it out so it didn't cling to her in the beating sun when she spotted the face in the crowd.

Perhaps the longest pause she'd ever done. Puppy stood, frozen, eyes wide, mouth dropped open slightly. The ears looked familiar and she felt her own pin back for a moment before she corrected herself. That person looked like her. Puppy's heart picked up and to get a closer look she walked along the stage, a hip swaying walk before she walked back. Every movement back towards the scaled man had her staring at him.

What was he? Why did he look like her? A few times she'd seen some men that had the same scaled appearance as her in the gladiator arena, but she hadn't been there for years. Hadn't thought of it further. Simply thought they were slaves like her but this man... He was free and...

Puppy wanted that one. Quickly she tore her eyes away and shifted her hips again, moving to stand in the middle of the stage when the bidding finally started. For the most part, she tuned out everything, eyes closed, head ducked down until finally she heard the word "sold!" and was guided into the back room of the tent. The shade was a blessing and she was given the rest of the sheer clothing. The leathery winged horned master of before looked down at Puppy, waiting with her to collect.

"You provided me with two very strong gladiators," His voice was husky and it sent a shiver through her body, mouth opened slightly before she looked up at him, ears back.

"Master..." Her voice was soft and she reached up for him, but her hands were pushed away and he grabbed her chin, leaning down and giving her one last deep kiss.

"But you haven't in twenty years," he looked down at her fondly before taking her breasts in his hands, running his thumbs over his nipples and giving a somewhat forlorn sigh. Puppy just looked up at him, sad. "So, this is your best chance at something other that being a gladiator play thing for the rest of your life and I like you far too much to break you," he stopped playing with her chest before he looked her up and down. Plenty erotic. Perfect.  Her master smirked and turned her around, hands on her shoulders, a finger caressing her neck.

Puppy leaned back into her old master, eyes closed waiting so goods could be exchanged. Deep breaths. The familiar sound of Master moving his wings impatiently and Puppy sighed, hands at her side.

 Kartok had formulated his plan when he'd first come to Essyrn. It had been years in the preparation. Having seen an enslaved female he'd known what his new purpose had to be. There were females being used and mistreated. It was so very clear that he had been cast out and guided here for the Fire's reasons. The females needed saved and protected.

Years ago when this plan had first come to him, he'd been so very excited to start. Becoming a gladiator hadn't actually been that hard. Signing up was super easy. It was very lucrative too. At first it had taken him a long time to grow accustomed to the way things were done in the human city, but he'd gotten much better at navigating the whole place. Not just the streets and buildings, but the people too. They'd been much harder to learn than the simple flow of the foot traffic.

His enthusiasm hadn't exactly died off, but he'd realized that just getting money wasn't nearly enough to make his new dream come true. Kartok had managed to save up a lot of money. The problem was finding a female to save. Kulshedra were not common at the market. Most that owned them did not part with them often and they were expensive when they did.

Each journey home from the market alone was discouraging, and his ears were held in a defeated pose most days before he'd even begun.

Imagine his surprise on that day, then. Kartok's violet eyes grew wide as saucers when a gorgeous Onyx strutted across the stage. Her tail was a bit short, and her body was thicker and curvier than the lean females of his old tribe, but he'd learned about these Essyrni and their ways. That she had such features was a sign of how well she had been taken care of by her old maser.

Kartok's heart skipped giddily as he watched her, barely listening at all to the man describing her. He didn't need to know anything about her other than that she was a female and she would be going home with him.

Did she look at him? He almost swore she did. His chest puffed up a little, as a Teal he was a strong and attractive male. Did she like what she saw? His only clothing was the sarong keeping him what the humans called "decent" although his pretty Onyx wore things so sheer he could practically see all of her. In this place that was considered decent as well. Kartok would have been fine naked. How he wished that he were closer to the stage! What he wouldn't give to get just one whiff of her beautiful scent. It had been far, far too long since he'd been in the company of one of his own kind. Kartok bet she smelled heavenly.

What if she was in season?

The way she strutted across the stage was almost suggestive, and his eyes followed her as greedily and hungrily as any of the other interested males. They would not have her! It was difficult to suppress the desire to split his mouth in a snarl at any and all that looked at her like they might actually take her home with them.

A Kulshedra female was not for their stupid, inferior human hands and eyes!

Somehow he managed not to burst from his skin or run onto the stage. Finally the bidding began and Kartok stubbornly met any offer. He had the money, and she belonged with her own kind. It was only when his bid was accepted that he began to calm his annoyance at all.

When she vanished from his view he practically ran to reach the tent where he would pay for her and meet his new female. It made him giddy all over again thinking about that.

Kartok had a female to take care of and protect.

He ducked into the tent and eyed the pair standing there. The Onyx was perfect and lovely, just as he knew she would be, but he eyed the strange winged and horned male holding her shoulders with more than a little distrust. His tongue flickered out as his cheeks split just slightly, tasting the air and catching her scent.

Not in season.

It didn't matter. She was not for that. Not that Kartok would have minded to be chosen by her. He'd always loved being chosen. It was a great honor and he enjoyed his time with the females very, very much. All he wanted was to have her with him so that he could keep her safe. That was his purpose!

"I have your payment. She is...mine?" It felt strange and wrong to even say those words. The promised bank notes were pulled from a satchel secured at his waist.

The former Master stared in wide eyed shock at the beast that looked like his Puppy.

Still, confused, a little distrustful, there was a flash of recognition in his eyes because while he wasn't a Gladiator himself, he owned a good number of them. A smirk and he gave Puppy one last grope before he pushed her towards her new master. "Looks like someone of your species found you, Puppy," his voice was silky smooth and his hand lingered on her hip for a moment. A confused look to her master and then to her new master and she just stared at him.

Wide eyed. Shocked. Mouth open. Her heart fluttered slightly and she took a few steps forward, reaching out to curl her hand around his arm and she pressed her cheek to his bicep. He felt warm. And kind. Puppy wasn't sure how someone could feel kind but... A long look at her master and then back to... Master and she pursed her lips before she closed her eyes. This was the one she'd seen in the crowd and she gave a little selfish smile.

"May she give you many strong sons! The ones she spat out for me are doing gloriously," He looked Kartok up and down, smirking, "I guess the height and size thing is a species trait. Those boys are huge, especially mine, boy's got a near fourteen foot wingspan." He gave an uproarious laugh and pocketed the payment, imagining all the new breeders he could buy that would actually do what he bought them for. As fun as Puppy had been, only two children over the course of thirty years hadn't been the most profitable. "I call her Puppy, on account of her big eyes and big ears but... You can name her whatever you like - I don't think she came with one -" He shrugged like it was no big deal and he smirked before shifting his stance and folding his arms over his chest.

"Nice doing business with you," The man said before he turned away, wings tucked tight to his back. Leaving Puppy with Kartok.

A moment and she looked up at him, eyes wide, lower lip caught between her teeth. A glance around the room, they'd been given privacy. Given her set of skills, it was a given Kartok would like to test out his new pet. "Master?" She said, looking up at him studying his features. Every glint of the teal scales made her breath catch and she reached up and gently touched the shell of his ear, eyes wandering down his chest to the gem-like cluster of scales at the base of his throat.

"What are you?" She breathed, fingers trailing over the base of his throat, leaving her hand on his chest. If there was one thing Puppy had no concept of, it was personal space, because she was plastered against his side and already rubbing him down.

Violet eyes narrowed dangerously, the black pupils were predatory slits as they locked onto that groping hand, a soft hiss escaping him despite himself. At least he managed not to let his cheek splits crack open at the gesture. He didn't like the idea of this male touching his pretty Onyx. Of course it was her decision who to allow touching her and who not to, but he disliked the way the male smelled and there was something in his voice that set Kartok on edge.

Her old master was not a very nice male.

He did not like the way the winged thing pushed his Onyx. As she stepped towards him he reached a clawed hand out to her. She wasn't shy at all about coming to him; although he could clearly see the shock on her face. Kartok had half expected her to be hesitant or afraid. Now that she was so close he noticed that she was just on the small end for a female, but still one of the most beautiful he had seen. Onyx were so very rare. Even with the many, many females he had known from his old tribe, she was only the second he'd ever seen!

Kartok couldn't resist the urge to lightly fiddle with one of her long braids. None of the tribe females kept such long hair. It would have been too inconvenient to care for. He still couldn't believe he had finally found one to save. No more being alone.

Honestly he'd wished to forget the other male even existed, but he jerked his head away from admiring the Onyx to glare at her old master as she spoke. Sons spat out for him? A growl vibrated low in his chest at hearing the female's offspring being spoken of that way. Why were her young not with her? Had...had she chosen to breed or had they forced her?

Kartok had been irate when he'd learned females of any species were often forced to breed against their will in slavery.

His nostrils flared and he nearly stepped towards the man menacingly, but thankfully he finally turned and left them.  Having the female on his arm made it impossible for him to lash out anyway, and thank the Fire for that.

Kartok's ears twitched when she called him master, and he looked down at her, violet eyes blinking and wide. Now that he finally had his female he was in awe and unsure what to do first. There was so much that he wished to know about her. His breath caught lightly when she reached up to touch his ear, causing it to twitch again. Oh that felt lovely. So did her slow exploration down his throat to the cluster of scales that was his teal gem.

"We are Kulshedra." He said softly, only a little surprised at the question. She had not acted as if she'd seen one of her own kind before. It was incredibly sad to him. "I am Kartok. Not master."

Kartok brought one of his clawed hands up to lightly stroke one of her beautiful dark ears. They were so long and lovely. It had been so long since he'd seen a female, and this one was beautiful and special. He dropped his hand down to lightly caress her cheek scales.

Then his eyes dropped down her neck to the scar that had replaced her black gem. Those pupils narrowed into slits again and Kartok hissed as he dropped his hand down to lightly run over the scar. Such a wound was almost always fatal. How had she survived losing that? Anger seethed beneath the surface, but he tried to look at her gently. She didn't need to think he was upset with her.

"Your gem is missing. Who hurt you?" He asked softly, eyes now transfixed on the old, but grievous injury.

Gem?

Puppy tilted her head at him, one ear going up and the other sort of drooping. It was clear she'd come about her 'name' honestly because she blinked wide golden eyes at him and gave a sort of confused pout. The reaction was surprising from him and she gave a simple shrug. She didn't know. It didn't bother her anymore anyway. Still, Puppy rose her hand to place on the back of his and she pulled his hand away to examine it. Her own fingers trailing over his. Well, she felt positively dainty next to this man!

Her own claws had been filed away, leaving blunt useless little objects. They always had been. In fact, Puppy hadn't known she could even have claws. A glance down at her feet and she reached a leg forward to press the side of her foot against Kartoks. Again, she looked small and dainty and the claws were filed down. Another look of wonder up at him and she grinned widely, ears perking up.

An excited noise bubbled up her throat and Puppy jumped up and wrapped her arms around Kartok's neck, arms wrapping around them while her legs wrapped around his waist. Her heart was hammering and she was grinning widely before she nuzzled her cheek in against his and held on tight. "You're like me!" She said, voice perhaps a little loud for how close she was to his ears. Her heart was positively pounding in her ears and she held on.

"When I saw you in the crowd I wanted you," She admitted, leaning back slightly, legs a vice grip around his middle so that even if he tried to pry her off he'd have a decent amount of trouble doing so, "Master!" She paused before she shook her head, "Kartok. I'll be a wonderful pet! I'll give you sons! You won't regret this, I promise. I'll be good," Puppy tucked in tight against his cheek again and she nuzzled against his jaw, leaning back slightly to look at the strange connection of scales on his face.

Loosening an arm slightly, she trailed it with a fingertip, "What's this?" She asked curiously, her finger following the seam of his cheek before she brushed her thumb over his lower lip.

The shrug wasn't really the answer he was looking for, but Kartok couldn't make her tell him; especially if she did not know. It must have happened when she was very young. It was hard to decide if he should be sad or angry for her. For now she seemed unconcerned with anything except touching and examining him, comparing herself to him.

He was content to allow her to do it.

A smile pulled at his lips as he watched her compare their hands and feet. She was quite small and dainty compared to him. Most females were. It was a shame her lovely claws had been filed away, but those could be allowed to regrow. How did they expect her to hunt without claws? Of course some part of him knew that they simply fed her. Hunting wasn't necessary in this strange human society. At least not many hunted that he noticed.

Money could buy food, but these humans ate little meat. Kartok still preferred to hunt his own food.

It caught him by surprise when she jumped up on him, hooking her arms and legs around his body to hold herself up. He couldn't stop a soft purr from coming up at the nuzzling. His arms wrapped around her, holding her up and to him. It was all so unexpected, but he could not deny the enjoyment of receiving affection from a female after so long all alone. His ears folded back at her exclamation that he was like her. It was loud, but he could not fault her excitement. Kartok was very excited too.

His heart raced a little when she said she'd wanted him when she saw him. He shook his head lightly to clear the happiness away. She obviously did not know much about their kind. It was not her choosing him, and she was not in season so he couldn't be chosen anyway. Still it pleased him a little.

Maybe more than a little.

What she said next drew a far more mixed reaction from him. Kartok would love to have offspring with such a beautiful female. It would be a privilege and an honor, but this felt like that thing where they were forced to do it and so he figured his beautiful Onyx thought she had to produce sons for him. Especially after he had heard what the stupid winged male had said.

It was wrong to let her think he expected that from her! Kartok also found it hard to correct her as she nuzzled against his jaw and traced the line of his cheek split. He was still purring.

"That's my cheek split, only male Kulshedra usually have them. Do you want to see?" He asked with a grin that started off normal and slowly grew ferociously wide as he parted his lips and opened his jaws a little bit. Kartok didn't want to frighten her, but gave her a small glimpse of his sharp teeth before closing it again.

The rumbling caught her off guard and Puppy smiled at it. Was that for her? One hand unhooked from around his neck and moved to press against his throat, while he purred and spoke. The wide inhuman grin caught her a little off guard but it stirred something primal in her. A wiggle of her hips to wrap her legs tighter around him and she drew her fingers over the seam on his cheeks before she leaned back to look at his face. A little tilt of her head while she examined his features, her hand trailing over his ear, fingertips at the scales on his cheek, her thumb over his lips.

"Kartok," she said firmly, reminding herself that was his name.

Puppy sighed happily at him before she leaned in and pressed her lips to his. Her hands moved to his cheeks when she introduced his tongue and she curled her legs tighter around him. Surely he bought her because they were the same. Which made her heart soar and she put every bit of neediness and eagerness to please into it before she finally pulled away, flushed, eyes wide and smiling. "I'm happy," She breathed against his lips before she moved her hands to his shoulders to uncurl her legs from him and slide down his body so she could stand.

Taking a moment to rearrange the sheer fabric, Puppy looked up at him and moved to his side again, taking his hand in both of hers and curling their fingers together. Marveling at how alike they looked and how different. The black scales and the teal. A little wag of her tail and she nuzzled against his bicep. "Do we have a home?" She asked looking up at him, ears perked up and smiling, "Do you have a family?" Another wag of her tail and she held his hand to her chest and then she paused, eyes trailing from his hand pressed to her breasts to his shoulder, his neck and finally his face.

"Kartok," she said, voice soft and she gave another wiggle of her tail and her ears were up and perky, "I'm excited to be yours," she said honestly grinning.

Kartok was happy to allow her the curious exploration, purring a little harder as she pressed her hand against his throat to feel it. He was happy on principle. Here he was, finally with a female that he could protect. It was the realization of his goal and purpose, which meant it was perfect. Even if the feeling of her fingers running over his ear caused him to shiver pleasantly.

Of course the curious way she trailed her fingers all along his face and cheeks seemed innocent and almost childish to him. The wiggling of her hips felt decidedly less so, and when her lips pressed against his Kartok's eyes grew wide. He could feel her tightening her hold around his waist, refusing to let go of him in that moment. It was strange to feel trapped by a female as her tongue slid across his lips. The kiss had caught him very off-guard, but he should have known that she would not understand. She was not tribe Kulshedra.

It was a great relief when she broke the kiss. Kartok had stopped purring, instead he swallowed thickly, eyes still large and unsure what to do. At least she was happy! He on the other hand, squirmed uncomfortably.

Still grappling with how to handle the situation, Kartok could only watch her slide back down to her own two feet and straighten her sheer outfit.

"We have a home. It is not very fancy." He said, eyeing her a little warily now that she was clinging to his arm again. At least that was safer. Kartok's chest clenched painfully when she asked about family, though. He had a family. His tribe had been his family. There were two offspring left behind, one a female grown, and the other he thought would be entering her first season soon. "I lived alone, until now."

His heart nearly burst at the next thing she said, and he squeezed her hand. Of course she did not know how any of that worked. "Onyx...Puppy? You don't have to be mine. I would never force you to give me affection or breed you against your will. I am going to protect you and take care of you. No one will ever hurt you again."

Violet eyes had flickered unconsciously to the scar on her chest. "Let's go home. We can get to know each other and I can tell you all about our people."

There was a strange sense of calm.

Puppy's breath caught in her throat and she looked up at Kartok, eyes searching his for lies. Lies and deceit and false words and... The words he spoke made a lump in her throat and she nodded at him, smiling slightly. A kiss was pressed to his bicep as a form of thanks before she snuggled her cheek against him and closed her eyes for a moment. A home. Not just... A place. Not just a master.

Of course, his words confused her a little. Why buy her if it wasn't to gain affection or breed her? Didn't he want her? Puppy looked away for a moment before chewing on her lower lip and looked over to the side for a moment. He wanted to protect her and take care of her. Which, while always a thing that had happened for her, was an odd combination. He wanted to take care of her and protect her but he didn't demand her affection or use her for children? 

Finally, when they were on their way, Puppy cling to Kartok's side, she tried to match his steps but she fell short so each step of his was two for her and she had to almost rush to keep beside him. Of course there were stares. As common as her being completely naked underneath the sheer fabric was on the slave block, it was the tiniest bit provocative on the common streets and a number of eyes were glued to her while they walked.

Puppy kept her gaze up, looking at all the things. While she'd lived in Essyrn almost her whole life she'd rarely, if ever, left her master's home. A few times to sit on his lap during Gladiator fights but other than that she was left at home. "Kartok," Her voice was soft and she clung to his arm while they walked, "I want what you want," She finally said smiling up at him, honesty in her voice.

"I want to be yours," she confirmed again and then paused, looking at his tail before she turned to look at her own, swaying while they walked. Had her tail always been so short? Was it supposed to be longer? "Except for my tail being smaller, we're the same!" Another gleeful smile and she paused before she sighed and gave his arm a tug, "I'm hungry. When do we eat?"

Of course Kartok knew that it probably sounded strange to her. She seemed to be very much an enslaved female. Her thoughts were all distorted by her captivity. It was something he had known could be likely. He also knew that he'd just have to try to teach her that she was a Kulshedra and a female to be protected and cherished, not used. With time surely she would learn that he was not like the non-Kulshedra males she had known so far in her life.

Frustratingly his lips still tingled from the kiss as they walked. Her legs were shorter than his, and he tried not to drag her or force her to jog, slowing his pace whenever he realized he'd begun moving too quickly for the significantly smaller female. She hadn't really spoken since he'd told her his intentions, and he worried.

He'd caught some of the gazes staring at her naked form and scowled softly. They were looking at his Onyx. They'd have to get her slightly less sheer and revealing clothes – if she wanted them. Perhaps she liked getting those looks. His tail flickered in slight agitation at the thought.

When she finally did say something he blinked and tilted his head down to look at her. "I want you to be safe and happy." He said slowly, as if that should have been obvious. His brow furrowed softly and he sighed. "In the tribe we do not have Mines. It is considered selfish. We're not in a tribe, but...it is complicated."

A Mine was a female that he caught the scent of and would drive him insane with love and desire. At least that's what he was always told. He'd always been overprotective and violent, they'd worried he would be far worse if he ever found the female that held a scent with that much control over his instincts to claim and defend. Kartok was a little worried of what a female like that could do to him, but now that there was no tribe to tell him no, and he had no one, well the idea of a Mine was kind of appealing.

A female that was all his forever...

He shook his head and smiled down at her gently. "What would you like to eat? And...what would you like to be called? In a tribe we don't have names unless we earn them. Before I got my name I was just my title. I was just Teal. You would be Onyx. Normally an elder would give you your name – when you had your first young in your case. I can call you...Puppy, if you want, but since there is no elder you could choose your own name if you liked."

Mine?

Puppy frowned slightly. What was that? Though the idea trailed off in her head and she looked up at his pretty violet eyes with her yellow ones. A lingering look at his lips and she licked her own. She found that she wanted to kiss him again. Wanted to do much more with him, the longer she looked at his body. Her eyes lingered on his mid drift and she finally eyed his hips. Would he be good to her? He seemed so focused on her feeling safe and happy so far... Puppy had a number of lovers, willing and unwilling, in her life but...

She'd never been close to someone like her. Mentally or physically.

Every time he spoke he had her attention, eyes on his mouth, watching his throat. Watching how his face moving made the sun glint off his scales differently.

"Called?" She blinked at him widely, looking confused before she shrugged, "I... Was just called Puppy," Her mind, instead of being consumed by how hungry she was turned to think of her name. Did she like Puppy? Onyx? A few memories of the name but she frowned because they made her chest ache and she nuzzled into Kartok's arm and thought. "I'm not hungry anymore," she decided, feeling the strange emptiness at the name Onyx.

Was she sick?

Puppy sighed against his arm and closed her eyes, frowning. "You could name me," She said voice soft, looking up at Kartok before she sighed and looked back down. The stares were going mostly unnoticed but she daringly made eye contact with one of the men staring at her as he walked passed. He ducked his head down and blushed. "Can we just go home? We can cuddle and sleep until night time when it's cooler."

Kartok noticed her fixation, the way she examined his body and watched his face. It made him want to squirm. Normally females only looked at him in such a way when they were in season. That was when such attention was appropriate and right. He wished that he could ignore it. Stubbornly he tried to. She had a lovely body, so soft and with rounded feminine attributes not typical to the women of his tribe. Wanting her would be selfish and wrong of him, though. If he produced a young with her now the pregnancy would be short and the baby small – if it lived to be born at all.

She didn't know any better.

His ears folded back and his expression fell when she said she wasn't hungry anymore. What was wrong? He raised his free arm and gently placed it on the top of her head, trying to be comforting to her confusion. Kartok stroked her hair gently when she suggested that he could name her. He'd never named someone before. It seemed like a great responsibility to him.

Dropping his hand lower he cupped her cheek, thumb caressing her scales lightly as he tilted her head up to look at him. She was very beautiful. "I am not sure what I would name you. I've never named anyone before. I don't want to give you a name you won't be proud of or like."

To be named was an honor, after all.

"Let's go home; we'll worry about it later." For now the day was hot and he agreed with her desire to sleep until the evening made everything cool and pleasant again. Maybe her appetite would return then.

Kartok turned and, with an arm around her to gently guide her, led the way to his home. Gladiators that were not slaves commonly lived in the district. The house was not particularly large, he had not wanted to waste too much of his earnings on it while saving for his purpose, but it was comfortable in size for him – and should accommodate at least an extra Kulshedra or three.

He let her go once they were inside, gesturing around with a smile of pride at what he had accomplished all by himself. "Welcome home. I know it is not fancy, but I will make it better for you."

The little touches helped ease the feeling of emptiness at her... Name. Lack of name. Her fingers brushed the scar tissue at her throat and she looked at his neck, resting her hand on his chest while he guided her along. The walk was a bit of sensory overload for Puppy. Having never really experienced the area in the past thirty years, she looked at everything. Ears were waving back and forth at all the sounds, perking up and pinning back.

When she wasn't paying attention, she was very expressive and she let Kartok guide her along. The sight of grilled snake caught her attention and she stared at it, frowning slightly before he guided her far enough away that she couldn't see it anymore. Master had had a half snake slave many years ago and when she didn't produce an interesting looking gladiator from that union she'd never seen him again. Puppy supposed that, if he was to be grilled, there would be a lot more meat.

Finally, the interesting sights and sounds were gone and she looked to Kartok and looked back to his home. It was a far cry from the palace she was used to. The indoor fountain with the watermage constantly beside it to make sure it stayed in the intricate design he'd demanding. Puppy nuzzled into Kartok's arm before she smiled up at him.

This was her home now.

Which meant that the outfit could be done with.

Before he'd even shut his door, Puppy pushed the sheer outfit off - more of a poncho than an outfit - and off to the side. Arms were pushed high above her head and she went on her tiptoes to stretch. "It's wonderful," She said simply, looking around, trailing her hand along the wall while she walked, leaving her pile of Sort Of Clothing behind.

It smelled like him and she closed her eyes and gave a low humming purr, smiling ever so slightly. Puppy let herself be at home, poking her head around and going through his things. Finally though, she found where he slept and she kneeled down on it before flopping onto her back and holding her arms up and out. "Sleep with me," She pleaded, wiggling her fingers impatiently, "I can fix it if you're not tired."

It wasn't that Puppy had no name, just that Kartok did not know if it was a name she really wanted. He had been trying to make her feel better, not to upset her. They just had to get used to each other, and they had all the time in the world for that.

The sights and sounds were all familiar and not particularly interesting to him, but he walked the city streets frequently; mostly to and from home and either the Coliseum or the Market where he had found and purchased Puppy. On any normal day Kartok was used to drawing a few looks. He was huge and could be intimidating to some. It never bothered him. Except today he didn't like it. They weren't staring at his size; they were looking at the female beside him and looking through her sheer outfit.

An outfit she promptly discarded once they were home. Kartok purred in appreciation as he watched her stretch. It was good for her to make herself comfortable and at home. That made him happy.

"It's plain, but you can help make it better now." He practically chirped as he watched her begin exploring. It really was a simple house, small next to a palace but a decent size for someone not intent on a hugely luxurious lifestyle. Furnishings were sparse, mostly lounging cushions in the main room, and empty bedrooms not yet occupied. There was a sort of dining table, though it was low to the ground and meant to be eaten at from cushions on the floor.

Kartok unhooked the satchel from his waist, discarding it next to her sheer outfit, and then dropped the sarong in the pile as well. Nakedness was more natural to him than the coverings and Puppy seemed unconcerned with being naked in front of him.

Feeling far more relaxed, he trailed behind her. She found his bedroom with little trouble. There was a soft mattress on the floor, but it was overshadowed by the large quantity of pillows, cushions, and blankets that also covered the bed. It was practically a nest, which was the entire idea. It was funny to see her lay down and hold her arms out like that; although the request wasn't quite as funny.

Fix it if he wasn't tired?

"I told you, Puppy. You don't have to do those things anymore." Not unless she was in season and wanted to, and even then only with males she chose. Despite that, he moved to the bed and crawled in beside her. There was nothing forbidding him from snuggling with her if she wanted that. His tail draped over her legs as he wrapped her up in his arms and nuzzled against her hair. She smelled so good.

"But..." she started, Puppy stared at him pouting a little though quickly grew somewhat content when he layed down with her and curled his arms around her. Still. He didnt want anything? Was she ugly?

Leaning back slightly she moved her hand to press against his chest, blunt nails scratching over the scales. Slowly, it drew down, her hand smoothed over his side until her plam rested on his hip and finally she gave his side a little squeeze and licked her lips.

Puppy looked down at him, head tilted. When he had walked into he room naked she'd been staring at his face. Still enchanted with the teal scales she just looked back at his face. "Don't you want me?" Her voice was a hush before she turned so her back was to his chest, her hands moves to his hands before she put then where she wanted them.

Which were less than appropriate places for strangers.

Puppy squished her back against him, wriggling her tail over his hip, took one hand, curled it over her breasts and tucked his other hand between her thighs. "There," she announced, snuggling back and closing her eyes, "I am comfortable."

It made him tingle pleasantly everywhere her hand touched. After years alone he'd come to sorely miss contact with another of his own kind. Out of desperation he'd gone so far as to seek companionship with humans, but it never felt quite right. Cuddling, affection, and breeding with non-Kulshedra just didn't feel quite right. Not for him. He'd heard some did it, though.

Kartok hadn't bought Puppy for that though. Well, not entirely true. Of course he was desperate for companionship from his own kind, but the thought of breeding again, while pleasant, wasn't that important. He felt himself purring again softly by the time she squeezed his hip. It had surprised him how very open, forward, and affectionate she was. Few females were quite so touchy among the tribe, even when in season and it was appropriate and expected for them to take mates.

It felt strange and poorly timed, but he was enjoying it all the same. Affection and cuddles were surely harmless. They were only two, after all. How could it be selfish when there were no other males or females to become jealous with and fight over?

What a question for her to ask. Kartok made a soft, distressed sound in his throat as she turned in his arms. Any response died in his throat as her back wiggled and pressed against his front. The places she pulled his hands to rest made him swallow, violet eyes bulging slightly. Involuntarily his tail wrapped around hers as much as it could.

Kartok was rather frozen in that moment. She said she was comfortable. Would it upset her if he moved his hands or pulled away? Somehow he thought it might. Was it wrong if they were just resting and sleeping like that?

He swallowed again before letting out a soft, frustrated whine. "It isn't as simple as wanting or not wanting. You're not in season."

Laying there with his body firmly curled around hers and his hands in such intimate places, the large male felt rather vulnerable and helpless against her. Kartok pouted against her hair, where his nose was unwittingly buried as he breathed in her scent deeply. She smelled so good. It was unfair how good! It was almost torturous to be so close and know that he couldn't have her because it was selfish.

Puppy could feel how tense Kartok was against her back and she gave a sly little smile, glancing at him over her shoulder. A little wriggle of her hips to tease him but then she stilled. Season?

"Not..." Puppy let go of his arms before she rolled over, propping herself up on an arm to look at him and idly trace the gem like scales at his collar bone. "What does 'in season' mean?" Her voice was soft and she traced where the scales met flesh before dipping in and giving the shiny teal gem a kiss.

Interesting.

Would she have been worth more of she had hers? Judging by the scar she'd had to have had one at one point.  Snuggling her head under his chin, she threw a leg over his hips and curled an arm around her chest. "Do you not want me because it's so warm? We can wait for night time - even though that isnt a season." Not that Essyrn really had much in the way of seasons.

Even if he didnt want her, he was still great for cuddling.

Even Kartok could not have described the sound he made as her hips wiggled teasingly against him, it was low and somewhere between a growl and a moan. Why did she torture him like this? It was always the same answer, of course, because she didn't know any better. Every time she asked a question about something obvious to him he was reminded that she was raised so absolutely different from a normal Kulshedra.

She didn't even understand her own biology.

A soft huff of breath escaped him as she rolled over to face him once again, letting out a short purr as her lips brushed against the teal cluster at his throat. An older female, her mother or the Elder, should have been the one to explain all this.

He let her adjust herself until she was comfortable, his leg slid between hers easily as she threw hers over his hip and Kartok moved his arms around her again, one resting at her lower back just above her tail and the other pressing gently against her shoulders as he hugged her to his chest. It was warm having her there, with her head nestled beneath his chin. Given the heat of Essyrn it should have been more uncomfortable than it was.

"It doesn't have anything to do with the temperature. A female goes into season when her body is most ready to produce young. During a season is when it is safe to try to breed. The young will be healthy and strong." Kartok's cheeks were heated as he tried to explain it to her. "If a female gets pregnant out of season it lasts much shorter and the baby is smaller and weaker because her body was not ready."

He nuzzled the top of her head softly, sighing with only a little regret. "I want you, but it isn't the right time to mate with you. Doing so would be...selfish of me."

And her, but he didn't want to make her feel bad for her desires. It wasn't like Kartok didn't feel a deep attraction to her – she was a beautiful female – but life with the tribe had taught and conditioned him to suppress his desires as best he could unless the time was right and the female willing. Puppy seemed willing enough, but the timing...

A curious tilt of her head while she listened to Kartok. Puppy gave a curioua tilt of her head, one black scaled ear perking up. So many questions had been answered and she hadn't even realized she'd wanted to know why. A surprised little look up at Kartok and she frowned for a moment. Remembering.

"Shorter?" Her voice was small, remembering. It was so long ago. Her hand moved from Kartok's chest and she pressed her hand to her belly. "He was so small," Puppy whispered, a far away look on her face before she sighed and pressed her face to Kartok's chest.

"Is that true?" Puppy breathed, "This season thing? My first... He was so tiny. He didn't come out alive... had such lovely blue scales," Puppy swallowed and moved her hand to his leg, tracing the scales on his thigh and then touching his hip again.  Puppy closed her eyes and curled her arm around his chest.

"My other children..." Puppy shook her head, "I didn't get to see them.  But i hear they're alive... Master wanted more from me but..." She frowned and looked away, shame on her cheeks before she curled in closer to him, "I couldn't. That's why he sold me," Closing her eyes she smoothed her hand up and down his back.

Puppy sighed and moved closer to him, pressing their hips together, "how is it selfish if there is only  me and you?" She asked curiously against his neck, finding herself very comfortable.

Kartok's ears folded back and his expression fell drastically. Just the way she said it, the way she pressed her hand against her stomach for a moment, he felt a pang in his heart. She'd been breed out of season and lost her first little one. That was so sad. To lose your offspring was the greatest pain one could experience. He had always thanked the Fire that his young were born healthy and strong, with their mothers being sturdy and healthy as well.

"Yes, it's true." He felt so bad for her he barely noticed the way her fingers played along the scales on his thigh and hip.

Violet eyes narrowed when she looked ashamed at being unable to produce more offspring for her master to steal from her. He brought one hand up to cup her face, tilting her chin up so that he could press a soft kiss to her forehead. It was a tender gesture. "That was not your fault, and he should not have made you have any to begin with. Kulshedra are not very good breeders. Our females only go into season once a year at most, and most years they are unsuccessful in producing young. You have had three already."

A soft whimper escaped him as she pressed their hips together, his arms moved back around her and he stroked one hand down her back soothingly as he adjusted his hips slightly so that things were not pressing together. "Selfish because the pregnancy will be harder on the mother. She would be under undue stress and need greater care. The baby would be born small and weaker. It is considered selfish to put the offspring and female at risk just to sate desires."

Kartok sighed and nuzzled against her ear. "It does happen, but it is rare and frowned upon."

The season thing made some bit of sense she supposed. Still, a pleased little hum at the kiss to her forehead and Puppy tipped her ears back, shivering at the pet along her back. Kartok seemed stern in his ways. Maybe he hadn't been lying.

Puppy smiled slightly at the idea, leaning forward again to press another kiss to the teal gem. The kisses moved higher on his throat until her lips met his pulse and then she simply snuggled into him, not moving after he shifted his hips away.

Puppy was curious as to who frowned upon sating desires. Surely not the Essyrni people. Curling her leg higher on his hip, Puppy finally gave a pleased little hum before she nuzzled against him. "You're very kind," she said softly, not quite sure what to do with herself.

Just being naked didnt arouse him - he'd gotten naked too but not for anything. He'd said he wanted her but it would be selfish if he did so. Puppy's mind wandered, while her new Kartok was in her arms, thinking of how to make him tick. Did he want to use her for something? She was a good pet. Did he know she was a good pet?

Did that matter to him.

"You'll have to tell me who's frowning after we sleep," she mumbled against his neck, eyes closed. Just who said it was selfish? Puppy's mind wandered to the human length pregnancy, her blue scaled boy. She'd been pampered the whole time. The healer had said it was simply not meant to be. The child just... Didn't move. The other those.

Master had been confused whens she'd shown signs of carrying. Though he grew impatient when a whole year had gone by and she was just barely showing. Even after he could feel his son move... Puppy frowned and curled tighter into Kartok. "Do you want young with me?" She asked curiously, "If it wasn't frowned upon." Sleep, apparently, was a far off notion. The answers only led to more questions and Puppy still didn't know why he'd purchased her.

Surely there was a reason beyond the cuddling - though she enjoyed as much as he did.

Why was it so easy for her to set him to purring? Kartok rumbled deep in his chest and throat from the trail of kisses, his ears twitching slightly. It felt good when she did that. All of it felt good. Even back when the tribe still accepted him, nothing had made him happier than being chosen by the females when they came into season. It wasn't just the chance to father offspring, but it was the only time he'd been able to just cuddle with them without being judged for instigating something that he really wasn't.

How he missed his beloved females.

He snuggled the little female tighter, nuzzling against her more. It didn't matter that she was out of season for this. Kartok could cuddle and pet Puppy to his heart's content – as long as she let him. There was no one to say otherwise. No one was there to tell him he was selfish for the other things too, but the worry of a bad pregnancy kept him from becoming eager.

"Thank you." Kartok whispered quietly into her hair. Would she think him kind if she knew why he'd been exiled or what he did to make the money he had used to purchase her? Puppy would find out quickly that he was a gladiator. He had to keep making money so that he could take very good care of her. Now that he had her, all he could think about was making her happy and keeping her safe from all harm. Even harm from him, which he was convinced he'd cause if he mated with her outside of a season.

It didn't matter how rare it was to conceive. Any risk was too much risk. At least he was firm enough in his belief of that so far. A seductive female could lead astray even the likes of him.

The question caught him off guard, his eyes had started to close and he felt himself drifting slightly. A hot afternoon was the perfect setting for a lazy nap and the female cuddled against him had certainly brought a calm and warmth to his mind. Kartok stroked her arm gently, pressing close to her. "If you wanted a young one, it would be a great honor if you chose me to father it, but only if you wanted one."

The last time she felt content... Puppy couldn't think of it. There had always been a nagging worry about Master. When he was going to come. Where he was going to send her. Just what he was going to try to mix her with. The two children she'd given him had proven to be grand warriors and no doubt most of it was from her. Puppy smiled into Kartok's chest, her ear twitching and swiveling to catch sounds and listen to him breathe. Listen to his heartbeat.

Puppy hadn't ever slept with anyone. Not like this. Used and sent back to her room, sure.  But not... Cuddled. It was like a dream come true and she snuggled in tighter against Kartok, leaning back to glance up at his face, watch him talk. The words sunk in a little bit later. If she wanted a young one? He'd be honored? A little confused look before Puppy decided she'd simply ask later.

What a confusing man.

He wanted her. He thought her lovely. Just... He wouldn't. Puppy had never met anyone like him and it confused her. Wasn't she just a pet? Why wasn't he... Another little kiss was pressed to the teal cluster of scales - it fascinated her both because of it's lovely colour and because for all their similarities she didn't have that. Puppy wasn't aware when she finally drifted off to sleep, just one second she was nuzzling against his neck and the next they'd turned slightly.

Puppy had shifted, sometime during the nap she unhooked her leg from his hip. The sun was on it's way down and it cast a red glow to the room. Licking her lips, eyes still not open. Master had let her sleep with him? That meant... Puppy's hand moved from where it was on his side to his hip, reaching down from his navel, finger drip tracing down past his hip before she cupped him in her hand. A little frown while her hand moved about Kartok's downstairs and...

Puppy's eyes opened. That wasn't Master. A terrible way to recognize him, but she pulled her hand away and looked at Kartok though she quickly shut her eyes and let her hand rest on the bedding between them in a lame attempt to make it look like an accident. An unfortunately unwanted groping accident.

Kartok purred with contentment, his tail draping over her hip as she kissed his gem again. She seemed rather fascinated with it, and he felt a pang of sorrow that her beautiful onyx cluster was gone. It didn't make her less pretty, but it must have been an agonizing injury. He still couldn't believe she'd survived losing her gem. She probably didn't even know how lucky she was to be alive. It wasn't a common injury, but all those he knew of to have those scaled ripped out had died.

Her questions didn't really bother him. Kartok would have been happy and content to sleepily endure a curiosity fueled interrogation. When no more questions came, only more snuggles and nuzzles, he slowly dozed off, once again with his face nuzzled in her hair.

Being alone for so long, he attributed his utter infatuation with her scent to simple joy with having a female close for the first time in what seemed forever. He must have missed the scents of his own kind very, very much. Not unreasonable to assume, Kartok had lived by his nose all his life with the tribe. Scenting out females and tracking them down had been his life's work before his exile. It had been his role, his job, and his purpose; except he'd taken it upon himself to have the purpose of protecting them, which had gotten him in trouble in the end. He should have obeyed the Elder better and stuck to his assigned role.

Sleep was amazingly peaceful; naps with someone cuddled against him were much nicer than naps by himself; although the wake-up was just a little startling. Kartok let out a soft, huffing breath, his hips wiggling just a little as that hand cupped and felt around down there, his body definitely reacted to the groping. She'd probably have felt him starting to stiffen in her hand before she pulled away.

"Puppy..." He was almost afraid to even breathe as his violet eyes popped open. Kartok reached between them, pulling her hand up from where she'd laid it against the bedding and pressed a soft kiss to the beautiful black scales that covered her fingers. "Please don't do anything you don't really want to do."

Damn. Caught.

Puppy cracked a yellow eye open and looked at Kartok when he said her neck. Moved to take her hand, she only half listened when he spoke and her ears pinned back and her pupils almost ate her irises when he spoke.

Dont do anything she didn't want to do?

A confused noise leff her throat and she simply remained on her side for a while. A lingering look to Kartok's face and then she leaned in to press a kiss to his neck and curl her hand around his dick. "Kartok," she whisepered against his throat before her teeth glazed the flesh she found.

"I can make you feel good," her voice was soft and she worked her hand over him gently. Did she want to do this? Well, she wanted her master to be happy. Master was a man, which meant he would like this. Puppy concentraded while she worked him, breath coming out in strange bursts of purrs.

"I have to show you," she admitted, looking down to appreciate him with a little posessive smile, bright eyes turned to his face, "Please let me show you?" Not that she was really giving him much of a choice, what with how instantly she'd dived in. Puppy wanted to do this. The reasons why she wanted to, however, weren't from arousal or wanting to touch him curiously.

"I can be good for you," she whispered, kissing his chin.

A shuddering groan pushed past his lips at the soft kiss pressed to his neck, and his body jumped slightly as her fingers curled around him. He panted and let out a soft mewl as her teeth scraped along the sensitive skin at his throat. The way she'd whispered his name had made his ears twitch and he hardened involuntarily in her grip.

"I know you can." Kartok groaned again, closing his eyes and letting his ears pin back. It had never been a doubt that Puppy could make him feel quite amazing. Just cuddling with her made him feel good, just not in the same way.

His ears were still flatted to his skull when she persisted. Why did she have to show him? There were a thousand reasons to protest, to pull away, and to stop her. She had been used and abused for so very long, even if she didn't realize it. It was not her season, if they mated, even if it was a very low chance it was still a chance that he would accidentally impregnate her when her body was not ready. Listening to any of those reasons was hard with a gorgeous, willing female begging to please him.

"You're already good for me." Kartok whined softly, eyes still squeezed closed as he tilted his head down so that the kiss to his chin quickly became their lips pressed together as he kissed her gently. Tingles raced through him at the contact, making him shiver. She was his female to love and protect and take care of, even if she didn't understand.

Perhaps he had not thought that taking care of would involve more than simply keeping her safe and fed and happy. What if she needed? Should he not take care of that too? Was it wrong to? "Why do you want to do this, Puppy? You don't have to do it to make me happy."

His voice was a little hoarse, but he wasn't trying to pull away from her, wasn't fighting her attention. Fire, how could he even begin to?

The kiss caught her off guard.

For the most part, kisses were a rarity. A small sign of 'this is mine' from her master. He didn't kiss her unless he was showing her that she was his. Showing her or someone else. Puppy closed her eyes and hummed into the kiss, eyes falling closed while she moved her hand slowly. Listening to his breathing. Feeling his heartbeat.

"I... Want to," She stated simply, like that answered all the questions. Puppy moved her hand away to  kneel beside him, pushing at his shoulders so he was mostly on his back. A frown when she looked at his hips. Right, this one had a tail. Puppy puffed out her cheeks and tilted her head at him, the setting sun cast a red glow on her scales and she eyed him hungrily.

Still, she didn't see aroused in the slightest and if anything, Puppy was looking at him like he was a puzzle to solve more than someone to slake her lusts upon. "Kartok," she said softly, looking at him, shifting so she was sitting on her hip with her legs under her tail while her hand went back to his manhood. He seemed to like it. Puppy watched his face before she continued.

"I just want to," She shifted, looking to her hand and concentrating, "You might like it."

Feeling his heartbeat was easy, as it was pounding fiercely as the kiss ended. Kartok felt the barest flicker of relief as her hand removed itself from him, but at the same time he let out a soft whine at the loss. Despite his protests to the contrary, he was more than eager for the attentions. Years without a single female to mate with after spending most of his life frequently chosen had left him more than sad and frustrated. His own hand hardly satisfied the urge to breed.

He rolled onto his back, tail twitching a bit before settling more comfortably. Looking up at her was really breathtaking, with the fading sunlight making her black scales glimmer in the most beautiful way. The sound of his name pouring from her lips made his eyes flutter closed again and he gave a soft hiss as she once again took him by his cock, which was standing quite at attention now.

It, at least, definitely wanted to breed with her – much to his frustration. She wasn't in season. This was wrong. His nose twitched and he couldn't even scent arousal on her. How could she want to do this if she was not even lusting for him?

Kartok swallowed thickly, his expression was one torn between pleasure and uncertainty, but he opened his eyes to look up at her again. She just wanted to. He might like it. If he'd been capable of it in that moment he might have laughed. He already liked it, even if it was wrong. How much he liked it should have been quite obvious with the way his erection strained in her hand, twitching and throbbing eagerly in her palm.

His own manhood betrayed him.

"Puppy, stop." He huffed softly, hand wrapping around hers as he tried to pull her hand away as gently as possible while he sat up. "If you really want this, I will let you pleasure me, but only if you let me show you what pleases me most."

Yes. Good.

Puppy froze when he grabbed her hand and she watched him sit up. Eyes wide, head tilted. Her tail gave a little tictok as surely as her ears moved up and down curiously. A look at him, Puppy let her eyes wander over his form, licking her lips when she looked at the scales and she smiled at the little flutter in her tummy when she looked at his face. The scales. The eyes. Sure his were a lovely violet but... They were the same and Puppy just smiled at him. The make up from earlier had wiped away a bit on his bedding and the reds weren't as pronounced but Puppy perked her ears up like a bunny and nodded.

"Show me," She insisted, giving a little nod, "I want to" Puppy gave a little pleased wiggle and put her hands on his chest, looking at him expectantly. If she learned how to please him, he would keep her forever maybe. Maybe not even share her. Practically vibrating with anticipation she leaned in and looked at him, eyes wide, "Show me what pleases you the most," She whispered.

It would be good. They'd get along. Maybe even be friendly and... Puppy smiled at the idea. The fact he was aroused wasn't exactly a concern to her when he was talking, oddly enough. Though she cast him a glance and then looked back at him. "You're big," She announced plainly, "Everywhere."

Everything about the situation still felt weird and awkward to Kartok, it was not the way things were supposed to be. Not on so many levels, but he couldn't deny Puppy's eagerness to please or his desire to breed. Out of season pregnancies were super rare, surely it would be fine if they did this just once.

Kartok did let out a soft, chuffing laugh as she proclaimed that he was big everywhere. She'd be able to feel his chest vibrating in a deep purr under her hands. "I hope that is a good thing for you."

His hands came up to gently cup her face, careful of his claws as he had never once harmed a female while breeding her and did not intent to start now. Leaning down, he pressed another kiss to her lips, smoothing his thumbs of her cheek scales as he did, enjoying the close connection before kissing her even deeper, snaking his tongue out to tease at her lips for a moment before pulling back.

"I really like kissing you." Kartok purred, shifting his hands back along her head until he could gently rub and stroke over her ears before dipping his head back down to kiss at her throat, tongue flicking out over the old scar where her gem should have been. "You're very beautiful, Puppy."

The name had at first seemed a little derogatory, being called after a baby animal, but it was the name she knew and if it didn't bother her then Kartok decided that it was fine. He ran his hands down from her ears to her shoulders and gently nudged her down towards the cushions. "Lie down, let me get to know you. Tribe females don't have your curves; all the females I knew were leaner. I like how soft and warm you are."

Puppy enjoyed his purring.

It was easy for her own softer purr to join his - a thing she had been aware she could do but didn't know she could do so often. Was this pleasing him? At first she was going to protest, just a little. The kiss distracted her though and she pushed into it, breath coming out hitched and her hand moving to his arm to gently stroke the flesh at his bicep. "I like you kissing me," She whispered, letting him move her and guide her.

Yellow eyes closed when he pet at her ears and she shifted her back, hands going to his and to comb through his hair when he paid attention to the scar at her throat. What was he doing? She wondered. He was talking and kissing her and... Why? Still, confusion was bright in her eyes, but if this pleased him- and she wanted to please him - Puppy would... Deal with it.

"I'm beautiful?" She whispered, of course he'd said that before, right? But... Now he was kissing her and touching her and Puppy tilted her head, puffing out her cheeks. Was she? Master had never said that. "Master would just say that I'm 'tight' or 'a good fuck'," She got comfortable on her back and moved her hands to rest below her breasts, "beautiful sounds nicer." Another tilt of her head and she lifted her head to look down at herself.

"I like how... Sort of green you are. Teal?" she said, reaching to touch his leg and drag her blunt nails over his scales. "Kartok?" Puppy whispered, moving her hand back to rest against her ribcage, "How is this pleasing you?" Her voice was small, like asking him would be a mistake, "I'm not even touching you anymore."

A little hum of pleasure escaped Kartok when she said she liked him kissing her. That was good; he wanted her to like his attention just as much as he liked hers. Even if she didn't realize it yet, he was determined to show her that she wasn't just there to be used – not by him or anyone else. He watched her do as he asked, violet eyes roaming up and down her body hungrily as he was laid out for him. It was always going to have been impossible to resist her, but he had hoped that he'd have held out for a while longer.

Of course her whisper snapped his attention back to her face and he smiled softly. "Yes, very beautiful." He assured her, though he made a face at the crude words her master had used to describe her. That was not how you treated a female! His gaze softened again. "I'm sorry you haven't been told how beautiful you are."

Kartok grinned at her compliment of his scales. "Yes, Teal is my title; it is what I was called before I earned my name." He purred at the stroke to his thigh, and shifted his position so he was stretched out on his side beside her.

"Because I am getting to touch you now, and that pleases me." He explained very simply, leaning in to kiss her deeply again, while his hand stroked its way down her throat before gently sliding over the soft mound of her breast, thumb brushing over a nipple with a soft moan against her mouth. Definitely softer than the tribe females, and Kartok really liked how the felt like they had a little weight to them as he massaged and squeezed gently. He lifted his mouth from hers and looked down at her very seriously. "Do you not like it?"

Touching her pleased him?

Puppy tilted her head at him, giving him a curious look but the curious look was quickly covered up by his lips to hers and she melted into the kiss. The hand on her breast sent little shivers through her and she pressed more eagerly into his lips, her hand rested on his arm. Puppy moved her hand over his, breath picking up. When he pulled away, she gave a little noise of disappointment, but her yellow eyes met his violet and she just blinked up at him, looking a little confused.

A sleepy blink up at him and she was flushed. "I do!" she said, insistent. The flush on her cheeks was telling, her nipples were hard little pebbles in his hand and Puppy moved to curl her arms around his neck to press her lips to his again, curling one of her legs over his hip. "I like pleasing you this way," She said softly giving him a little smile, "It makes me feel nice." A wiggle of her hips and she smoothed her hand over his arm, to his chest, to circle the cluster of teal scales.

"Kartok," She said his name again, "I am yours," Puppy's voice was soft, "and I think I like that," and she pressed in for another kiss, curling her arm around his neck as surely as she curled her leg around his waist.

That nagging voice in the back of his mind, the buzzing of disapprovals that he'd summoned up coming from the Elder and all the tribe members, had faded to almost nothing. Kartok was purring heavily as they kissed, drinking in the moment and savoring how sweet it was. Her taste, her scent, it was all intoxicating. Maybe it was due to how lonely he'd been for so long.

Kartok didn't think so. A somewhat goofy grin tugged at his lips when she said she liked pleasing him like this, and he felt a swell of pride that she was enjoying it.

It was the last things that truly hit him, though. Honestly the feeling was almost like a blow, things crashing down as his heart thundered. Kartok should have told her that she did not belong to him, that she was free to choose any male she wanted, but he could feel the lie inside himself without even letting it spill out of his mouth.

She was pressed so close to him, her arms around him like that and his hand between them as he plucked at her pebbled nipple gently. Her leg over his hip wouldn't stay that way, because Kartok pushed her back down to the bed as he rolled them so that he was poised above her, easily kneeling between her legs as he looked down at her with a huff. Puppy would be able to feel something hard poking at her thigh as stared into her eyes for a moment.

"I am yours." Kartok finally said, dipping down to kiss her deeply again.

"Yes," Puppy agreed, arms curled around his neck. Pushing her tongue against his lips, she shifted her hips and curled her ankles aound his thighs. The kissing was nice, but why hadn't he touched her? Wasn't he supposed to get hed ready for their coupling? She could feel him right there!

A little confused, Puppy moved a hand to venture betweem them. A little frown was on her face and she pressed her fingers to herself, well, she felt wet because... Puppy brought her hand up and she looked at it off to the side. "I feel full of butterflies," she admitted to Karok after she wiped her hand off on her belly.

The second time her hand reached between she put it on his cock, giving a little purr of delight. "That feels like it will be nice," she breathed out, eyes closing. She moved her hand along his length, shifting her hips to line them up. "Kartok," Puppy whined, eyes still closed and face turned away, "don't you want me?" She breathed, shifting hee hips impatiently.

Everyone else had gotten right down to it! What else was there to do!

Their tongues entangled softly when Kartok parted his lips, giving a soft moan as her hips shifted again. He could barely move with her all wrapped around him like that. There had been so more things he had wanted to show her! Well, it could wait, he supposed. She seemed far too eager to just get to it.

Truthfully so was he, and her hand guiding him made him groan softly. He could feel how wet she was, had seen it on her hand when she'd touched herself.

"Yes." Kartok hissed softly when she asked if he wanted her. Fire did he want her! Well, they were all angled correctly thanks to her and she definitely was ready if her squirming was any indication. He shifted his hips, pressing against her heat before sliding slowly inside. The feeling made him let out a low whimpering groan. "My Puppy is so impatient."

The sound of her breath hitching carried through the room and she moved her hands down his back, along the scales at his spine. Puppy kept her eyes closed while she shifted her hips to grow used to the feeling again. Slowly she opened them, looking up at Kartok, mouth slightly open, pupils almost eating up the yellow of her iris.

"Kartok," she whispered, voice feeling heavy. Puppy's ears and face were expressive and she arched her back, gasping softly. "I'm not impetiant," her voice was hitched and she shifted her hips again. She twitched her ears and licked her lips, teeth sinking into the bottom one.

What if she gave him a child? He'd want to keep her then, right? Puppy rocked against him eagerly, fingers digging into his back. His name was a heated pant. "Please," she whimpered, eyes closing, "please keep me?" Her arms curled back around his neck and she nuzzled against his cheek.

Fire, she felt amazing. Honestly Kartok couldn't move past that initial sinking of himself into her at first. His eyes were squeezed shut as her hips adjusted until she was comfortable, and he shivered as her hands trailed down his back. The stimulation was almost too much after having been denied for so long.

What? Keep her?

Kartok moved to wrap his arms around her, one under her shoulders so that his hand could grasp the back of her neck gently while his other traveled down her back to her tail, stroking it gently and pulling her hips tighter against his. "Puppy...I am yours. For as long as you want me. I'll never leave you."

His voice was a soft rasp against her ear, and he nibbled softly on the tip before nuzzling her cheek, then down to kiss her neck as his hips slowly gave a few experimental rolls. "Ooooh...you are amazing. And Mine."

It was strange, being so close.

It was also strange being under someone but still facing them.  Puppy looked up at Kartok when she could, looked sideways at his face when he leaned in, shifted her back so he could hold her.  A soft noise was pulled from her when he adjusted her hips and she swallowed thickly, feeling her heart pick up. Puppy smiled at his words, though she expression quickly melted into one of pleasure and her eyes fell closed.

With her hands pressed against his back, she gave him encouraging movements of her hands. Dull nails dragging across his skin, "Kartok," she moaned, head tipped back, when he started to move. Of course Puppy had had sex before. On many occasions, not within the past few months - they wanted to make sure she hadn't conceived for sure before they sold her - but... "It's never felt like this before," she breathed, voice soft and curious.

Sometimes it'd hurt. Sometimes it felt nice but this was... Puppy didn't have the vocabulary. The words didn't exist for this, she turned her head and nipped at his ear, reaching up with her hands to push through his hair and cradle him against her while she gave encouraging rolls of her hips. Before, she figured if he'd used her, he'd like it and not want to give her away so easily.

Puppy had been convinced that he'd breed her and give her away. Now though, holding her so close. Puppy whimpered, her arms fingers tightening in his hair, his name another heated whisper against his cheek. The words he spoke, she knew they were false. He would leave her eventually - everyone did - but at least for now it felt nice. Being with him felt right. There was no wrongness feeling in her chest and she turned her head, mouth open and breath coming out in soft pants, "Kiss me," She demanded, curling her legs tighter around his hips to hold him closer.

The position wasn't strange to Kartok. He'd been with many females and they all had favorite ways to be taken by their mates during their season. Personally he enjoyed ones that let him see his precious female's face and to lavish her with kisses while he lovingly bred her.

He felt her nails dragging across the skin of his back encouragingly, the sound of his name moaning from her lips stirred a primal lust and pride. His hips rocked against hers eagerly, enjoying the way she rolled hers against his. It helped reassure him that she truly wanted this with him. "This is how it is supposed to feel." He cooed softly.

Kartok's violet eyes slid closed as her fingers pushed through his hair, a soft moan escaping him at her nip. Without hesitation he tilted his head so he could kiss her deeply.

His body moved against hers, clutching her close as he gently drove into her again and again. She felt wonderful, and the soft moans against her mouth would be testament to his pleasure. He pulled his lips from hers to pant hotly against her. "Mine."

The claim of being his sent a nice zing through Puppy.

"Yes," she breathed against him, eyes falling closed. Sweat beaded at her temple and she tossed her head back when he drove into her just right. Her hands flattened against his lower back and she gave encouraging noises to keep him doing the same thing. Her toes dug into his blankets and she greedily rocked her hips against him, lip between her teeth.  "Faster," She moaned in a breath voice.

Her ears twitched at the noises they made together and it brought a blush to her tanned cheeks. Puppy couldn't recall a time doing this with anyone felt so... Wonderful. "You were made just for me," She whined out, ears flattening back while her fingers dug into the flesh beside his tail. The nails didn't pierce flesh, blunt as they were and digging into scales. The rocking movements slowly ruined her braids and she curled her legs around his waist and cried his name out impatiently. "Kartok," She whined, holding him closer. He'd have to keep her.

He'd have to!

"Don't leave me," She said in a breathy whine.

Hearing her affirm that she was his sent tingles all through him. Sure, they were viewing his possessive claim in very different lights, but Kartok groaned and dipped down to kiss her throat and jaw tenderly. Yes, she was His, even if she didn't understand it yet. Even if he didn't fully understand it yet! After all, the declaration was made in the heat of passion.

He noticed which movement made her dig her toes in and throw her head. Kartok buried his face against her neck and clung to her tighter as she urged him to give her more. His hips moved like a piston, angling himself so that he would hit her deep in short, fast thrusts that left him panting.

"Yesss." Hissed against her skin, kissing and suckling at the skin and scales. He was probably her first Kulshedra. Of course he was made for her. Leave her? "Never."

Teeth sunk into plush lips when she arched her back. Needy whimpers and breathy cries. Puppy gripped onto him hard, fingers digging in before she squeezed her eyed shut. Was she allowed? Could she? "Kartok!" She panted again, so close to her end.

While she'd done this on many occasions, Puppy didn't know how to feel about how intense and raw this left her nerves feeling. Greedy and needy, her dull teeth bit down on his neck, filed down fangs meeting scales. Her legs curled around his hips to hold him to her.

With a nuffled cry against his neck between her harmless teeth, Puppy came hard. Hipa undulating benesth him, arms curled around his ribs and she didn't let go until she was sore from holding on so tight.

Kartok let out a guttural moan as her blunt teeth bit at his neck. Her whimpers and breathy cries were positively maddening, driving him to rut into her with frenzied movements and heavy pants and moans.

"Puppy!" He let out a strangled, hoarse yell as he felt her orgasm rippling around his cock. They should not have been doing this with her out of season, but even if Kartok had the presence of mind to pull out of her before cumming, well her legs curled around him meant he couldn't have if he'd tried.

So he didn't try.

Driving himself as deeply into her as he could, Kartok poured his seed into her with a shuddering cry of ecstasy. Once spent he clung to her body, trembling and nuzzling against the side of her neck, his hot pants washing over both skin and scale. "You're so beautiful." He murmured when he finally got his voice back.

Chest heaving, a light sheen of sweat. Puppy trembled beneath Kartok, breath coming out in heated little pants. Her fingers trailed up and down his spine while she wriggled beneath him. Flushed cheeks she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Puppy found she quite liked the feeling of him above her and inside her.

"Hmm," she hummed, opening her eyes and pressing her palms to his back. "I'm hungry," she purred, leaning to him to capture his mouth in a kiss. "Can we eat?"

It felt like his body was still on fire. A heavy flush had come to his cheeks as Kartok recovered from the heat and passion of the moment. Still panting softly when she leaned up to steal a kiss, he moaned and blushed, his ears folding back as she asked if they could eat.

That's right, she'd been hungry before and then lost her appetite for some reason. He felt ashamed immediately for not feeding her sooner.

Although he felt quite a lot more shame for having used her for his pleasure. It didn't matter that she'd been the insistent one. He knew better than to mate with a female that wasn't in season and she didn't. So the blame still fell to him.

Kartok blushed and nodded. "What would you like to eat?"

Puppy blinked up at him before she smoothed her hands down his back and held him to her before she gave a few more rolls of her hips. If she was going to stay, she'd have to make herself useful and the key thing of making men remember her was sex. Kartok seemed to enjoy it so far. Still, she moved her hands away and pushed them up, arching her back in a stretch and giving a little yawn.

"I'm not sure. Meat? Do you have that?" Then she licked her lips and moved her hands to her breasts, resting her palms over them simply for comfort now that she'd stretched out her kicks. "Maybe something with honey? Something sticky and sweet sounds good right now," She moved her hands to his face to pull him down for another kiss, nuzzling her lips to his with clear intent.

Kartok pinned his ears back with a soft groan as Puppy rolled her hips beneath him, he could feel himself twitch inside her as little aftershocks of pleasure rumbled through him in a gentle purr. This female was going to be the death of him. How was he going to hold to and teach her tribal culture and traditions while she was basically a walking temptation?

"I think I ha-" His words cut off as she pulled him down to nuzzle at his lips. Finding her impossible to resist, he pressed into her kiss, reaching a hand up to stroke at a messy braid. He purred again as he pulled away. "I have a jar of honey. I like my meat fresh, but we can get you something from a market stall. I didn't know I was bringing a female home, so I didn't hunt anything for you. I will do that tonight if you want."

He was extremely comfortable where he was, but they had to move if he was going to feed her. Kartok gently pulled out of his pretty Puppy and pushed himself up reluctantly, standing and stretching languidly.