Cut and Run Ch. 14

Cut and Run Chapter 14
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 “Uuuuhhhmmmm.” I began, looking between Frazziss, Pirin, and Angelique, as the Were-cat and I lay in a post-coital afterglow, atop of Frazziss’ nest-bed.
I was floundering for a reasonable explanation, as I suddenly observed that Frazziss was starting to blow smoke out of her nose.
“She followed me home?” I quipped.
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With that snarky remark of mine Frazziss’ eyes, which were already burning a dull red, flared with a nova-like intensity. She then jumped forward lunging towards me, and transformed herself into her native Dragon form while in mid-arc.
“Ooofff!” was all I could manage as her body mass increased by an order of magnitude, as she landed atop of me, pinning me to the granite slab and cutting off my ability to breathe. I almost tried to struggle, but I came up short.
 Where an instant before was the succulently-kissable mouth of my hot-babe/Dragon-wife, now lay a mass of slavering fangs that protruded from a T-Rex like mouth. It became painfully obvious to me in that moment, that she was capable of biting my face off with ease.
This notion was reinforced when she opened her maw and plunged it forward, encasing the front half of my head in her jaws. Which gave me a grand view of the interior of her mouth. In that moment, I had an inkling of what the Jurassic Park lawyer must’ve felt like, just before his terrifying end.
I froze up, as she resolutely slowly sealed her jaws and lips around my head, then pressed them together. I could feel her upper incisor/fangs pressing tightly upon my brow, and her lower ones pushing up under my chin in an ever-tightening embrace.
I shut my mouth, I had to. For in that hellishly endless moment, the pressure of her teeth clamping down were forcing my jaws to shut achingly together. Thankfully, she stopped when I started to whimper with the pain of my teeth being crushed.
For some reason, her tongue darted forward and molested my face with several swipes, forcing me to clamp down my eyelids.
After several heart-thumping seconds, she loosened her bite and pulled her head back, leaving several ropes of Dragon drool bridging between my face and her lips.
It was then in that moment, that I finally got to see my Dragon in her ‘true-form’, and it was truly a wondrous sight. It was like seeing a combination of a Portugese Man-of-war and Godzilla.
As she pulled her head still further back from me with a feral glare, I managed to take in all of her majestic glory. In my peripheral vision, I noted that her wing claws were scratching the ceiling of the bedchamber.
She started to pant heavily, forcing her gaze to lock with mine. I finally noticed that her forward paw-claws were pinning me underneath her heaviness. She continued to stare down at me, daring me to challenge her dominance!
I first felt, then I noticed a flicker of movement off to one side. As I glanced over with my eyes, I noticed Angelique starting to scuttle fearfully away from us both. Frazziss noticed her too, following my gaze.
Without letting up her pressure on my shoulders and wings, I managed to view my wife’s Dragon silhouette still further, as Frazziss craned her sinuous snake-like neck up to look at the Were-cat, who immediately stopped in her striving to flee.
Frazziss then lowered her head down far enough to bump the granite slab with her chin, as she snarled at Angelique.
“MMMMIIIINNNNNNEEEEEE!” she growled gutturally with a fierce territoriality, as her wings flared up to the ceiling and far walls of our bedroom chamber, and then bent partially down and back, due to a lack of space to fully accommodate them. I felt her growl more than I heard it, as the granite slab underneath vibrated in tune with her rumbling.
In that moment, I thought that Angelique was done for. But, luckily for her, the Great Maou’s influence over all of Monster-kind could not be denied any longer. For it was then, that Frazziss’ form wavered and then retracted.
Thankfully, I was able to start breathing again, as Frazziss’ extra mass went wherever it had come from originally. It must have cost her a substantial amount of energy to do what she had just done. As Frazziss started to shiver with fatigue from her dominant position atop of me, dropping her head and closing her eyes.
I tried to move my arms to support her, but that was when she snapped her head up and her eyes shot open, as she began to speak.
“ALLEN!” she yelled, at a level much easier on my ears, “there are search parties out looking for …FOR!!!” she began fiercely, panting with exhaustion. But not letting up with her pinning of me.
“For me?” I asked after a moment, prompting. She got an outraged look.
“FOR YOUR BODY!” she howled, then stopped to catch her breath.
“I thought I felt you die!” She panted/gasped. I gaped like an idiot.
“I felt your pain! It was so terrible for a long instant, and THEN IT STOPPED!” she said with a sob. I noticed that she was crying then, as her tears started to drop down onto my face.
“I had no idea where to look for you! The Home Improver store personnel said you and Pirin never came by!” she panted. “Then Pirin showed up!....ALONE!” Frazziss yelled, with a quick glance towards where she’d been a moment ago.
“She said she saw you get washed away by a flash flood!” she said as she let up on my arms, and got down onto her elbows looking at me all the while, still keeping me pinned.
“What happened to you?!” she said loudly, as she gripped my face with both her paws, pressing her head to mine. I noticed that despite her eyes still being red, they weren’t quite so intensely so.
After several seconds, I managed to convince Frazziss to let go of me so that I could sit upright. I then explained to her and Pirin, what happened after the thunderstorm, the heating of the rock and Pirin’s need for insulation. I went on to mention the flash-flood, and that was when Frazziss grabbed me into a rib cracking bear-hug, whimpering. After a moment or three of my attempting to comfort her, she let go and I then continued with my account.
Frazziss listened to me with rapt attention as I described Angelque’s drowning, and what I did to bring her back eventually, and the cost of it. It wasn’t easy for me to explain what I did, as words simply weren’t enough.
During that part, Frazziss’ hard look softened when she glanced over to Angelique, then she returned her stern attention to me.  After I described the pain of splitting off a portion of my soul and depositing it within Angelique, I felt a soft paw place itself upon one of my wings. Turning, I knew without knowing that it was Angelique’s.
“You did that for me?” she said, looking at me worshipfully as tears threatened to overflow her eyes. After I nodded silently, she buried her head into the space between my shoulder and a wing, clutching at me with both paws. I could feel her quivering there.
It was kinda hard to put an arm around her then, and after a couple of fumbling attempts I gave up. Turning my attention back to Frazziss I noticed her staring at Angelique with a disapproving frown. But, I also saw her give off a momentary smirk. Which heartened me a bit.
 “Allen,” she said after several long seconds with her eyes closed in thought, “don’t you EVER do anything like that to me AGAIN!” she wailed.
“I’m sorry Frazziss, but I was tired…” I began, but I was interrupted.
“Exactly Allen! You were tired from working all day!” she grumbled. “Pirin!” she shouted, turning her head. Pirin was there in an instant alongside us both. She glared at me momentarily before turning her attention to Frazziss.
“Pirin!” Frazziss began again, “From here on out, I’m placing you in charge of minding Lokhnarr’s energy levels.” She intoned.
“Huh?” I asked, perplexed and annoyed by the thought of needing a minder.
“HUSH!” Frazziss snapped at me. I backed off. She returned her attention back to Pirin, who stood at silent attention.
“If at any time, Allen, I mean Lokhnarr, looks fatigued or tired I give you the authority to make him rest!” Frazziss said with a glare in my direction, daring me to contradict her.
I dared.
“I DON’T NEED A BABYSITTER!” I groused, loudly.
“YES YOU DO!” Frazziss and Pirin yelled back at me in unison.
“I saw that you needed a nap before we went flying Lokhnarr!” Pirin squeakingly chided me then. “You should’ve taken the time to do so!”
“I noticed it too!” Frazziss barked at me, joining in. “But I didn’t say anything, because I thought you were your own best judge. Apparently, I was wrong!” she grimaced painfully at her admission. It must have taken her a lot to be able to do that, Dragon pride and all.
“I’m an adult, and I know damned full well that I don’t need a minder!” I half-shouted back, while, staring resentfully down at the granite bed between us.
“Lokhnarr.” Pirin began, “you need to dispose of your Dragon-pride, it’ll cost you too much if you don’t.” she continued, speaking in reassuring tones. Looking over at her, I could see that she wasn’t happy about having to say that, her arms crossed and all. I turned my head away.
“Please…” she began again, her voice cracking to an even higher pitch, “..be reasonable!” she continued with her eyes closed. Then they snapped open, staring at me accusingly.
“Both of us could’ve died!” she continued angrily. “All because of your pride!” she hissed resentfully. “I don’t know this realm all that well, and I thank you for coming to rescue me like you did! But, even though I was somewhat OK after you were carried away by that flash-flood, it was still iffy!” she said, looking up at me through her scaly eyebrows, as I saw some of her tears starting to form.
“I came close to crashing several times, as I flapped back to report back to Frazziss! And that was after I tried to find you, but I couldn’t! I tried to find you, cold as I was!” she sniffled loudly through her tears, and her nose-snot that was starting to drip.
“Damnit…” I groused, then I relaxed, “Well, yeah I can see your point.” I admitted. “My judgment was clouded due to my fatigue.” Looking up, I saw that both of them were starting to get a satisfied look on their faces. But, I knew that I had to disappoint them. I crossed my arms and sighed deeply. I didn’t like the notion of needing a minder, even though I could see things from their side.
‘Maybe we can work out a trade.’ I thought to myself.
“Frazziss?” I began. “What about Angelique?”
“What about her?” she asked, confused.
“Are you going to arrest her?” I asked absentmindedly. At the moment, I felt Angelique tense up, and look over my shoulder in the direction of Frazziss. I looked too.
“I have to Allen. She broke the law, it’s my duty to.” Frazziss intoned. Angelique gave off a little fearful mew, then she spoke.
“But I want to stay with Allen!” she half-yowled, as Frazziss got up off of our nesting bed, and moved around behind me.
“Frazziss!” I warned. She turned her head to glare balefully at me.
“ALLEN!” she growled menacingly. “She’s a criminal, and she invaded my…I mean to say, invaded other people’s homes and campsites. She stole from them, and caused no small amount of damage! I have to take her into custody!” She said, reaching for her handcuff holder.
Angelique spat at her then, as she pressed herself into my wing/shoulder space for protection.
“Allen!” she protested, looking to me for help. “I don’t want to lose you again!” she wailed.
“HOLD IT BOTH OF YOU!” I shouted, placing a wing in between Frazziss and Angelique.
“Allen!” Frazziss yelled at me indignantly, reaching out for Angelique.
“Wait Frazziss, You’re wasting a valuable opportunity. I think we can work out something mutually agreeable.” She stopped, glaring at me expectantly.
“If you arrest her, where are you going to take her? Yosemite Jail? Some other place? You told me before, that Were-cats can escape from anywhere.” I reminded her. She got a rueful look on her face, then seemed about to say something. I interrupted her.
“We both know where she wants to be at, she said it herself.” I pointed out. “Give me the authority over her. That way you can ‘officially’ arrest her, and still know where she’ll be at all times. Isn’t that right Angelique?” I asked, looking over my wing at her. It took several more seconds, but eventually Angelique looked back at me with a frown, then nodded her head once, reluctantly.
“I’d have to go out on a limb for that. What’s in it for me, Lokhnarr?” Frazziss grumbled, severely annoyed by my imposition on her authority. I looked back at her for several seconds, thinking.
“Well?” she demanded.
“Well,” I answered. “If you allow this, then I will agree to Pirin being my….my….” I sighed angrily as I glanced back at Angelique momentarily. “Babysitter.” I spat out, annoyed.
“Very well then, Allen! I place her into YOUR custody!” Frazziss growled at me, mollified somewhat. “Whenever or wherever she needs to be, it’s up to you to make sure she’s there!” She continued, glowering.
“I’m serious Allen! If she misses out on something, I or another Ranger will have the authority to arrest her, and we will!” she warned.
Well, it took a bit, but after a while Frazziss, Pirin, Angelique, and I were able to work out a set of mutually agreeable details. Angelique cheerfully agreed to stay with me at all times. She, would be my ward, and my responsibility.
Eventually, she’d be allowed to spend a night or two down in Yosemite Valley, with us in our Dormitory room. But only after she submitted to whatever the Park’s Magistrate felt was an appropriate punishment. Thereby to eventually to make reparations. Angelique agreed to it all, including a visit to the Valley clinic for a check-up.
After that, Frazziss called in to the Search and Rescue Squad to report that I’d been found. I couldn’t tell then over that radio, if the Raiju Ranger in charge of such was happy with the news or not. But I found out her feelings soon enough.
“You were screwing a Were-cat when everyone thought you were dead!?” she screamed at me unfairly, after she and the rest of the search parties arrived at Frazziss and I’s Nest, after having the details explained to them all.
Their field medic gave both Angelique and, I a Medical inspection after my Tail-Chewing. She then concluded that I was just fine, but that Angelique needed a more thorough inspection.
Luckily, the Search Party volunteers took it all in good stead. Though I was informed by their supervisor that I was expected to ‘compensate’ them all for their time lost, by ‘keeping them company’ overnight, a time or two each.
‘Oh damn. Is there anyone who doesn’t want a piece of me?’ I groused silently, while I forced a diplomatic thankful onto my mug.
‘It’s going to take a while to placate three athletic kobolds, six XXXX, five XXXX, and Mistress Wanda the Dark Elf!’ I thought nervously at the last one, as she got the biggest shit-eating grin I’d ever seen on an Elf.
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A couple of hours later, Angelique and I were left alone by Pirin to discuss matters. All while we waited for some time with Mitzi the Shoggoth-Medical Doctor, at the Yosemite Medical Clinic. She curled herself up half onto my lap, as we sat together in the waiting room, for her turn to be called in.
“Angelique?” I began, “Why didn’t you go home after you saw me,…you know?” I asked, motioning to indicate my nose-dive.
She didn’t say anything at first, instead she just reached out with her arms and hugged me close. I returned the hug as best I could.
“Because it broke me.” She said finally. I was about to say something more, but that was when she turned her head up to me and silently pleaded for me to allow her to continue. I did.
“When I saw the man I loved, kill himself. It broke me.” She said looking down at the floor. “I can’t explain it any better than that.” She continued, shaking her head, her pointed ears waggling in unison.
“I still felt my connection with you, my love-prey.” She said, as she laid her ears back onto her head, recalling.
“I just stared down into the valley for what seemed the longest time. Part of me was in denial at what I’d just witnessed. Another part of me was so very angry at you!” Angelique glared resentfully up at me in that moment. I could feel her claws sinking somewhat painfully into my leg.
“Hurting me like that! AGAIN!” She spat out, as she drew herself away from me and hunched over, I didn’t reach out.
“I thought that I had missed my opportunity for love yet again, and I just wanted to mourn. So I went back to gather all that I had left of you; Your backpack.” She chirruped.
“Then THAT DRAGON came along and took it from me!” she growl-frowned, as her whiskers drooped sorrowfully. “All I knew then, was that I wanted it back, no matter what it took!” Angelique turned and smiled at me ruefully.
“So I scented her, and followed as best I could. But she led me on a merry chase the next couple of days.” Angelique continued, tilting her head in recollection. “You made it difficult enough for me to track you, what with your leaving your undergarments all over the other trains!” She sneered at me momentarily. “But her! She could fly!”
“That made it much more difficult for me to catch up to her, but I did!” she said proudly, sitting tall. What she said next, surprised the shit out of me.
“I followed her into the Valley and up the other side. When I caught up with her, I told her what I wanted, and she refused! Imagine how surprised I was, when she told me to stay away from you! I still thought that you were dead!” she gaped then.
“Wait wait wait!” I said, interrupting her. “You mean you and she talked? Frazziss never mentioned that!” I sat back, shocked.
“Yes, we did then Allen, and many times over the next few weeks.” She replied, looking confused. “I followed you and her, every time the both of you went hiking. You mean to tell me, that she never once mentioned it?” she replied surprised.
“Not even once.” I replied in shock, shifting myself back onto the chair dumbstruck.
“Holy Shit.” I continued, “I thought it strange that she seemed so possessive, even for a Dragon.” I said, befuddled at this revelation.
“Did she ever, you know,…?” I asked, looking over at her.
“Threaten me?” Angelique asked, I nodded.
“Many, many times, yes.” She replied. “I continued to try and track you and her. It seemed like every time I caught up, she’d spit a fire-ball at me or try to grab me! I think I can guess why. She did take hold of a number of trees and tore them up in front of me, to demonstrate what would happen if she did get ahold.” I gulped at the thought of it.
“Holy Shit Angelique, I had no idea! I,..I,..” I began, wavering. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault Allen, Frazziss told me many times that Dragons are greedy when it comes to love, particularly when it comes to mates. She got especially violent in trying to drive me off around the beginning of February.”
“February? That was the time that she insisted on my taking the Succubus Nostrum.” I replied, wondering at the timing. Angelique gave me a quizzical look and I then explained about it, and its effects. She was most surprised.
“Allen! That would explain why it became so difficult for me to track you after then!” she gaped, her mouth hanging open far enough for me to see the bristles on her tongue. “Your scent changed! It became more like hers!” she sniffed me a couple times, wrinkling her nose. “In fact you still do, smell like her and hers!” she frowned. Then she smiled. “But you still smell faintly like mine.” She replied happily.
“Still smell like yours?” I began to ask, but I was interrupted by the nurse in charge, calling her and I back into the examination room. It was Angelique’s time.
My train of thought was derailed then, as Mitzi began inspecting Angelique, while simultaneously hitting on me. I had to slap away a number of her black tentacles, several times over the course of the next hour. They kept ‘accidentally’ finding their way to my crotch.
After a while, Mitzi gave Angelique a clean bill of health, which left me flabbergasted.
“Hey Doc! How can that be? It was just hours ago that she was dead from drowning!” I asked, all confused.
“Oh that!” Mitzi giggled. “Mamono aren’t like humans Allen! They’re much more resilient when it comes to near death situations. What matters now, is that she’s alive! So there’s no need for you to worry your scaly head about it.” She replied, patting me on one cheek condescendingly, then she turned her attention to Angelique.
“Oi! I guess that you’re down a couple of your nine-lives now, eh there Were-cat?” Mitzi joked. Angelique gave her a pained smile by way of response. Then giving me an eye roll as we got ready to leave. I shrugged apologetically at her.
“Where are we going now Allen?” Angelique asked me cheerfully, purring, after we stepped out of the Valley Medical Clinic. Thinking about her question, I realized that there was something important.
“Well Angelique, there is a person I think you really need to meet.” I said with a thoughtful look. She narrowed her eyes, and stopped purring.
“Who’s that?” she asked me, suspicious.
“His name is: Armand Poirier.” I said quietly. She jumped back away from as if I’d given her a hotfoot.
“Papas here!?” she yowled, surprised as the fur along her spine raised. I crossed my arms.
“Yes he is, or at least he’s in a town nearby. He doesn’t know that you’ve been found.” I told her, as she started looking around herself wildly.
“Angelique.” I said patiently after a few second. “Please try to calm down.” She turned and locked her dilated eyes with me.
“Allen! I’m scared!” she replied, curling herself into ball on the ground in front of me. I crouched down and placed a paw atop of her. I could feel her quivering underneath, as I began to pet her. She stopped shaking after a few minutes of reassurance from me.
“Oooh, Papa is probably very cross with me!” she fretted.
“No, I think he’s more concerned with your safety.” I replied.
“Maybe, maybe!” She mewled piteously.
It took no small amount of coaxing on my part. But, I was able to get her motivated enough to agree to go and meet him.
“Well, if we time it right, we can arrive at where he’s staying along about the time he’s sitting down for dinner.” I suggested. “Thus buying you some more time.”
“How do you know that!?” she gasped, looking at me with her eyes all wide. Then she blinked. “He talked to you, didn’t he?” I nodded to answer both of her questions. She looked down momentarily, then she swiveled her eyes up to meet mine.
“Oh, MY Allen, still as mindful as ever.” She smiled, standing up as she raised her arms to embrace me. I accepted her offer, and hugged her close. We stood there together for a short while. She sighed contentedly.
“Well, uuuuhh Angelique?” I began, she turned her head to listen. “I’m not technically yours, you know…” I hesitated.
“Oh pooh Allen! I know you’ve got a Dragon wife. I’ve smelled her scent on you for some time now.” She chirruped into one of my scaly ears, while scratching a trail in my hair.
“And I know that you’re a Dragon-Incubus, now too.” She said looking sadly into my eyes, as she scratched that nail onto one of my head horns, it tickled when she did.
“But I found you first!” she huffed. “I’ll share you with her, I’m not greedy. Not like Frazziss has been!” she giggled.
“Well there’s also Pirin,…” I began. She giggled again.
“I know about her too. I saw the way she looks at you Allen, back at your cave.”
“Well there are a lot of other details…” I began, but was silenced when she put a paw onto my lips. I looked back at her.
“Just tell Frazziss and Pirin, that you’ll feed me, exercise me, and give me lots of love.” She smiled. “We’ll work out the other details later as we go.” Her face turned somber. “Frazziss has no choice now.” She added.
“Though right now, I need to be the adult again. I’ve been a naughty kitten for far too long, acting like one of those strays I always found when I was growing up.” She said, remembering. “Papa and Mama always indulged me with them.” She said, wrinkling her nose and removing her paw.
“Papa.” She sighed, shaking her head. “When do we go?” I smiled.
“Hop on, and let’s go.” I answered, spreading my wings in preparation.
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It didn’t take long to fly her and me to Grover. I’d scouted out his hotel earlier, and was pleasantly surprised to discover that his ‘room,’ was in fact a furnished cabin. It was furnished with an attached kitchen that was in use, if the aroma I smelled coming from the roof chimney be any indication.
We landed fairly silently, which allowed me to surprise the shit out of a small group of nearby redneck Tour-ons, (Tourist/Morons). Who, naturally, had to start taking a kazillion photos for their Mace-book accounts.
After blinking away their phone-flash strobes out of my eyes, I quickly located Mr. Poirier’s cabin. I positioned myself in between Angelique and the door, while raising a finger-claw to my lips to request silence from her. She looked oddly at me, but complied. I then knocked resoundingly on the door. It didn’t take long to get an answer.
“Oui! Oui!” came a voice, as the door cracked open, and a familiar looking eye peered out at me. The eye blinked upon seeing me, the door closed and I heard the metallic sound of the chain latch being drawn back. The door was flung open and I saw Mr. Poirier standing with an apron tied onto him.
“Yes, Monsieur Belushi.” He said, frowning sternly at me. “I assume that you have some news of my daughter?” he demanded with a tightening of his eyes. The kind of tightening one would make as if steeling for bad news.
“Indeed I do!” I replied, I then raised a paw, and stepped out of the way. Angelique was still there, (Thankfully!). She looked back at him with her paws behind her back, and her head lowered.
“Hello Papa.” She said remorsefully, not looking at him. Mr. Poirier didn’t say anything beyond a rapid intake of breath. He then reached out with his hands, and gently took her in his arms. She didn’t resist. They stayed like that, and murmured to each other for a little while.
I smiled indulgently as I turned and made to saunter off a short distance, so as to give the two some privacy. But, I was prevented from that, when I felt a hand upon a wing. Looking down, I saw that it was not Mr. Poirier who was holding me, but instead was the most-regal looking Kitsune I’d ever seen.
“Stay.” She said simply, commandingly. I obeyed. We stayed silent for a couple more minutes, as Father and Daughter caught up with each other while in their mutual embrace. After a bit, the Kitsune gently, yet firmly led me inside the cabin. Looking around, I noted that it seemed to be a themed cabin. What exactly, I wasn’t sure.
There, she let go and indicated that I follow her. I did and discovered why. There was a major meal being prepared. It was like as if they’d known they were having guests.
“Allow me to introduce myself,” The Kitsune said, “My name is Anais-Saya Poirier. I am one of Angelique’s step-sisters.” She explained, as she returned to her task of making and preparing the evening meal.
“How did you know we were coming?” I asked upon seeing the number of table settings laid out already.  Anais-Saya smiled over her shoulder and explained.
“We didn’t.” she smiled. “But, my Kitsune sense still works well enough in this world, that I knew a pair of famished ‘some-bodies’ would be arriving soon!” she replied with a knowing smile, as she returned to her preparations.
“Well I have to admit, that whatever it is you’re cooking it does smell delicious!” I said honestly, my mouth watering in remembrance. I sighed a heavy sigh as I looked down upon the items already on display. Some kind of Beast-Roast with potatoes, heavy with the gravy. Several assorted greens like steamed broccoli, kale, and mustard greens, (heavier sigh!) A round of cornbread, and some honest to goodness blueberry cobbler.
‘Ah man! This sure brings back memories!’ I thought to myself sadly. ‘Its too bad I can probably only eat the meat.’ I sighed to myself heavily, frowning.
I jerked when I felt a hand a hand on my shoulder, “Monsieur.” Came the sound of Armand Poirier’s voice. “I apologize if I startled you.” He said. I waved off his apology, explaining that I was so engrossed with the sight and smell of so much delicious food, that I couldn’t eat anymore.
Instead of his being offended by my preemptive rejection of his food, he merely smiled indulgently. He then surprised me once more. He gently reached out with his arms and hugged me down to him. He spoke.
“I forgive you, Monsieur Belushi. For you have kept your word; You have brought my daughter home.” He spoke quietly, his voice quavering just a little. What he did next surprised me one final time.
He then drew back and grasped my head. He then planted a pair of air kisses over my scaled cheeks, one on each side.
“May I call you Friend, Allen?” he asked, his eyes watery. I smiled then, as I realized the depths of that man. He smiled back when I nodded.
“I would be honored, Monsieur Poir…” began.
“NO!” he shouted, then hesitated. “Call me Armand! I will accept nothing less!” he continued, giving me a frown with his mouth, but a hopeful look with his eyes.
“I would be honored,…Armand.”  I replied, watching his frown disappear, which was replaced with a smile as he blinked away some tears.
After that, he insisted upon my joining his family for the meal that had been set out. It was easy to do then, in that moment, as I was famished. As I’m sure Angelique was as well.
I have to admit, that I rather enjoyed the break from Frazziss’ near constant moodiness. I also enjoyed the sight of Mr. Poirier and,… excuse me, Armand and his family sitting down to eat.
Angelique, Anais-Saya, and Armand chose to catch up with their family’s news and gossip over their respective meal. Everyone was relaxed, no recriminations were made, and a good time was had by all. Which, unfortunately, was so completely unlike the dinner table ‘conversations’ I had growing up with my Old Man.
At first, I enjoyed a more than generous portion of the utterly delicious Beast-Roast. But, I made sure to not eat any of the vegetable products, as I was so sure that they’d still taste like crap.
I tried to refuse a portion of the blueberry cobbler when it was placed before me, but Armand insisted that I at least try it. I gave off a secret sigh, when he did. So, I accepted after remembering my manners.
I looked down at that cobbler with a heavy heart, steeling myself for the inevitable throat clenching first taste. Looking up I noticed that Armand and his family waited expectantly for me to begin.
‘Ah crap.’ I thought to myself sadly. ‘Hopefully I won’t hurl like the last time I ate some.’ I thought to myself, thinking back to that unfortunate dinner party of Tallia’s. I then raised a portion of the cobbler to my lips and took a bite, determined not to insult my host with a refusal.
I then chewed, trying desperately to hold back the waves of inevitable nausea that I knew would arrive. And then, the taste hit me with both barrels!
“HOLY SHIT!” I exclaimed around a mouthful of cobbler, “That’s fucking delicious!” I cried aloud in delight! Then I realized that I just broke a table taboo by cussing.
“Pardon my French!” I babbled, desperate to excuse my fucking etiquette lapse. I then slapped a paw to my face, mortified when I realized what I’d just said. I then heard everyone at the table laugh. Looking out between my finger-claws I saw Armand laughing and waving at me, excusing me my slip of the tongue.
“I am quite pleased you find my family’s cooking so excellent, Monsieur Belushi.” Anais-Saya simpered, looking pleased with herself. I then continued to scarf my portion down rapidly, thoroughly enjoying every bite.
“Oh, my Maou!” I exclaimed in shock after I finished, “that was incredible! How on earth did you manage to accomplish that feat!?”
“How did I manage to make vegetable material taste good to a Dragon’s refined palate?” Armand asked me, smirking. “C’est un secret. A good teacher not only teaches, but learns as well! I have learned many things during my times as a Cooking instructor for Mamono!” he replied smugly, pleased with my praise.
“Oh, c’mon Armand, give me a hint!” I asked, almost begging, desperate for a repeat performance. “At least give me the recipe for that cobbler!” I whimpered hopefully. Armand merely shook his head regretfully.
“I am sorry Allen, but there are limits that must never be crossed.” He replied, shaking his head sadly at my bummed-out expression. Then he smiled a mischievous smile, and looked up at me through his eyebrows.
“However,” he began with a grin, “my daughter Angelique is my first, best protégé when it comes to all of my cooking secrets.” He whispered in a tone that made my heart thunder in hope.
I then looked over at Angelique, who up until that point had been committed to catching up on her eating. Seeing me look at her, she nonchalantly licked her shoulder at me and smiled sultrily.
“Is what Armand have to say, true Angelique?” I asked, trying not to let my drool overflow my mouth, and failing slightly. She nodded at me, as she continued to smile at me through her whiskers.
“If you can cook that well, you could’ve worked as a Chef anywhere in the world!” I praised. Her smile turned to a grin.
“She did, for a while.” Anais-Saya spoke.
“What!?” I exclaimed, surprised. “Then how did you end up working as a Prison Guard?” I asked, shocked. She reached out across the table from me and took my hand/paws in hers.
“That’s because I had been so single minded on at being the best chef that I could be,” she began, looking at me sadly, “I ignored several chances at finding a male I desired.”
 “Once, I realized my error, I decided to not lose out again. I was originally supposed to be working at the prison cafeteria, but the paperwork got mixed up somehow, so I was offered a job as a guard instead. A prison full of strays.”
“Oh, my goodness.” I exclaimed, surprised. “How long were you there?”
“Six months.” She replied, not looking at me.
“What? Surely you could’ve found someone better than me in that amount of time.” What I said, must’ve angered her, because that’s when she contracted her paws around mine with her claws vainly sinking into my palms.
“There wasn’t anyone better!” she screeched, staring at me in the eyes. “Everyone else that was there, wasn’t worthy! Especially that Pedophile wass-his-name.”
“Larry.” I reminded. She rolled her eyes up at me resentfully.
“Larry! Him, yes. Especially him.” she growled. “Then you showed up, with that Green Ogre practically dragging you in.” Her face and voice softened. I grimaced in remembrance.
“At first I thought that you were no better than the others, especially with that,…that,…vile operation you had willingly done to you!” she frowned at me, tightening her grip once more.
‘Even now I can’t find a Mamono willing to say ‘Vasectomy’ out loud.’ I secretly smiled.
“But, I began to notice little things. That unlike the others, you didn’t like hurting people.” She tilted her head. “You were kind, even to Larry, whom everyone else treated terribly.”
“You were kind, even to me.” She replied.
“I most certainly was NOT!” I protested, outraged. She smiled.
“Yes, and No!” she replied mischievously. I screwed up my face, confused.
“I noticed that you were in pain, and I was astounded once I read the report in your records. I learned about your wife, and your,….” She trailed off, not continuing. For which I was grateful. Armand and Anais-Saya looked confused for a second, looking between Angelique and I. Thankfully they kept their peace. Angelique drew in a breath.
“I wanted to help you, like I did with so many strays, growing up. You dealt me enough indignities to drive me away, and No More!” she pursed her lips thoughtfully. “Except, of course for that shaving cream incident!” she half-growled.
“Well it did keep you off of my bunk for a couple weeks.” I replied, not quite ashamed. We stared back at each other for several seconds in silence.
“I also noticed that you were diligent in your assigned work tasks. Everyone else always slacked off with theirs. I couldn’t help but admire your work ethic.”
“Is it any wonder why I followed you, after you managed to pull off an escape? How did you do that, anyways?” I smiled.
“I’ll explain later. Right now I’m curious, how did you always manage to locate me? It seemed like you always knew where to look.” My question seemed to make her uneasy, as she wouldn’t meet my eyes.
After a bit, she sighed and replied.
“I guess it’s time for me to be completely honest, Allen. Do you remember those chocolates I left for you?”
“Yeah. What about them?”
“I doctored them with sedatives.” She replied, drawing into herself shamefacedly. Armand, her step-sister, and I all gasped. She looked at them both apologetically, and then turned to me.
“I’m sorry, Allen. But I raped you. I took advantage of you once, and left my ‘mark’ upon you. I guess you never noticed.” She said quietly.
“Holy Shit!” I replied, utterly shocked. “It all begins to make sense now. Why you kept coming after me! Why you wouldn’t go home. And, and…” I stood up at the realization.
“Why Frazziss was, and has been, so possessive of me!” I said to no one in particular as I stared off into space.
“She’s a Claim-Jumper!” I realized, disappointed.
“Allen!” Angelique cried, standing up. “Don’t be upset with her! I don’t blame her in the least for what she did and didn’t do.”
“I would’ve done the same, if given half the chance! That’s the way some Mamono are! We always have wanted the best male for a husband. She just managed to make you, hers first!” she replied, trying not to cry.
“How can you say that Angelique? Especially after all that she’s done to drive you away, make you live the way you have?!” I demanded. Angelique smiled hesitantly as she took my paws in hers. “How can you be so forgiving?”
“How can I not?” she asked me back. “She kept you from dying, didn’t she? I owe her for that!” After a few seconds, I came down from my peak of moral indignation and replied.
“We both owe her for that.” I echoed, embracing her. She hugged me tight in return. We stayed like that for the longest while.
“So now what?” I asked, my nose in her neck fur. Angelique drew back to look at me.
“I have an idea.” She smiled.
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Later, I stomped carefully into Frazziss’ and I’s dormitory room carrying a cloth bag full of food. Frazziss was there on the couch in the living area, all drawn up into herself. I stopped and stood still, we looked at each other in silence. She spoke first.
“Where is she?” she asked.
“She’s spending the night with her father and sister.”
“She’ll need to be at the Magistrate’s court tomorrow morning, 8 0’clock sharp.” Frazziss said coldly.
“She’ll be there, I guarantee it.” I replied, not moving an inch closer to her. Finally, after several seconds Frazziss spoke.
“She told you.” She said, not looking at me.
“Yes.” I said simply. Her face screwed up as she hugged herself with her arms. I couldn’t help it, I sat down next to her and tried to put my arm around her. She refused.
“How can you do that!” she cried, sniffling. “You must think I’m a Monster!” I coughed then, trying not to hurt her feelings any more than they already were.
“Well yeah, you are a Monster Girl, after all.” I snarked.
“ALLEN!” she cried indignantly, trying and failing to keep from laughing. After a few seconds her chuckles turned to sniffles, and then on to full on sobbing. I reached out and pulled her to me, she didn’t resist. In fact, she hugged me fiercely back this time-wings included.
“Are you going to leave me now?” She asked out of the blue.
“No.” I said, shaking my head. “I still love you as much as I did before, maybe even a little bit more.”
“Why?” she sniffled.
“Well, now I understand more fully what you meant by ‘Greedy-Love’.” I replied, holding onto her tight. “And you did save my life, in more ways than one.”
“Though.” I began, “we’re going to have to deal with a few changes.” She drew back away from me then. After a moment she met my eyes.
“But, before we get started discussing that! I want you to do something for me.” I stated, as I let go and pulled something out of my cloth bag.
Sitting up, I uncovered it and handed it over to Frazziss. After several moments of looking at it and then me and back, I shook my hand to encourage her to take it. Finally, she did so hesitantly, and gave it a sniff.
“ALLEN!” she said screwing up her face, and thrusting it back into my hands. “What is this?”
“It’s blueberry cobbler.” I replied. “I want you to take a taste of it.”
“Allen! Are you out of your mind! I’m a Dragon, not a fruit-eating Mud Monkey!” she replied indignantly, I sighed and grimaced.
“Frazziss, please, all I’m asking is that you take a taste. Nothing more.” I said, continuing to hold the container back out to her.
She met my eyes, and frowned back at me resentfully. Finally, after she saw that I wasn’t going to waver, she slowly reached out and broke off the smallest possible piece she could manage with her claws.
It took even longer, for that portion to make it to her mouth. But it did manage to make it inside, eventually. I waited patiently the entire time, betting that she would be happily surprised with the outcome.
I was right.
For when she chewed that small portion, she got the most surprised look on her face, and then she swallowed. She then snatched the remaining cobbler away from me, and made it rapidly disappear down her gullet!
“Oh my Maou, Allen! I had no idea it could taste so good!” she said cheerfully. Then she got a suspicious look. “But, I remember trying human fruit when I was a whelp, it tasted awful. In fact, I remember that you hate fruit too, now that I think of it.”
“I found someone who knows enough about cooking, that she can make many things that Dragons consider inedible, to be delicious.” I replied, smiling smugly.
“Who?!” she demanded. I could see the wheels turning in her mind then.
“Angelique.” I answered. Frazziss gaped at me then.
After she recovered from her shock, we then began to discuss in earnest the possibility of having Angelique come to live with us. Even then, Frazziss wasn’t too keen on the idea. But, she relented after I pulled out several other items that Angelique had cooked up in preparation, prior. She Were-wolfed them all down after a taste.
“All right, Allen, she can come to live with us. But, is she willing to forgive me for what I did?” she asked. I nodded.
“As am I.” I said, reminding her as I snuggled next to her. “It’s all water under the bridge as far as both of us are concerned.” I said, reaching over and grabbing a breast. She moaned achingly then.
“Though I imagine Pirin won’t be happy with a rival in the kitchen.” I said as I nuzzled a nipple. Frazziss then began to pant as she guided my head with a paw.
“She’ll have to get used to it.” Frazziss replied, as she reached out and began undoing my loin-cloths eagerly, fumbling in her eagerness. Finally, after several seconds of not getting anywhere, she simply grabbed a hold of the cloth and loudly ripped it apart, freeing my best buddies.
“Frazziss!” I cried, “those cost money!” she smiled.
“Don’t worry about it Allen! We’ve got a whole bunch more in supplies. They’re all meant for you anyways!” she then got a serious look.
“Speaking of money. Dain, from the Merced Home Improver store, called. He said that your shipment of sandstone is in, and he just needs you to come in and verify it’s what you’ve been looking for.”
“Fine! Fine!” I said, distracted. “I’ll attend to it tomorrow, after I drop Angelique off at the Magistrate’s Office. Right now I’ve got other things on my mind!” I growled, eager to get into more interesting matters.
Frazziss soon began to match my growls, and then my moans.
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The next day I stood outside the Merced Home Improver store, and tried to blink away the sight of that god-awful color scheme.
“Hey Allen! Fancy meeting you here!” I was startled from my reverie by a familiar voice behind me. Looking over my shoulder, I was happy to see that it was Dain, the store’s Contractor Services Super.
“Hey Dain, it’s good to see ya!” I replied honestly. “I take it your friend from Vasalia was able to make good on his promise?
“Ayup! That he was!” he smiled “Just come with me back into the goods yard and we can see what you think of it!” I followed him along as we made our way there.
“Uh, one question Dain!” He turned to look at me questioningly as we wended our way over. “I don’t suppose you’ve got any control over the Store’s color-motif?” I asked hopefully, pointing out one particularly disgusting-looking banner. Dain stopped and looked over to where I was pointing and blanched.
“Sorry Al,” he replied. “The chain’s owner, Druella, picked it out. I’m not suicidal enough to try and convince her to change it.”
“Yeah, Ok. I guess.” I sighed. “But do you have any idea WHY she had to choose such a fucking obnoxious shade?”
“I think you just answered your own question, Al.” Dain laughed. “She’s not only a Succubus, she’s a Lilim after all.”
“Yeah, I guess I did.” I admitted. Then I turned and continued following him, all the while trying desperately to avoid looking at anything purple. We then shortly came to the stacks of sandstone that he promised.
Looking it all over, I was thrilled to discover that it all was the make and quality, that I’d been hoping for. They were all virtually indistinguishable from the Dragon-Realm sandstone that had first inspired me.
“It’s all perfect Dain! I’ll take it all.” I smiled in anticipation.
‘Finally! Something that’s good enough to make Frazziss smile!’ I thought to myself happily. I looked over at Dain who was holding a clipboard with the invoice clipped to it. I eagerly reached out for it.  He then did something I found odd.
He pulled it away from me at the last second. Which surprised me.
“Uh, Dain.” I began, reaching out for the clipboard again. He snatched it away again. I looked at him resentfully.
“Ok Dain, cut the shit.” I growled. He ignored it. Instead he looked up at me and crossed his arms, frowning. After a second I matched him.
“What?!” I demanded. He glared back at me and spoke.
“I bumped into a mutual acquaintance yesterday, Allen.”
“Yeah, so?” I said, crossly.
“It was your Father.” He said quietly. I jerked in surprise when he said that, and didn’t reply. Dain waited a few seconds for me to respond, and when I didn’t he continued.
“He and I shot the shit for a while.” Dain continued, looking at me. I wouldn’t meet his eyes. I knew what was coming. “He seemed to be in pretty good spirits, all things considered.” I licked my lips, and pulled my wings in tight.
“Or, he was until I brought your name up.” Dain said coldly. I turned my head away then. I kept my silence.
“Imagine my surprise, when I found out he didn’t know a thing about you, or where you were.”  I could Sense Dain’s anger rising then. “I can’t remember the last time I’d seen someone so sad over the thought of his son going missing, nearly a year and a half ago. He seems to think that you fell off of the face of the earth!”
‘Something like that.’ I said to myself. I spoke finally.
“Did you tell him?” I asked, quietly.
“No. I did not. It wasn’t my place to.” He replied, glaring at me through his eyebrows. “Don’t you agree?” I kept my trap shut. He stepped forward and stuck his face up into mine.
“Chief-God-Damn-it Allen! You need to tell your Father where and what you are!” Dain shouted in frustration, his hands turning into fists. His outburst garnered several nearby customers and associates’ attention. He ignored them.
“You don’t know what he’s like Dain!” I yelled back. “He HATES Mamono! If he sees me as I am now, he’ll shit an entire brickyard!” I cried with my wings flaring out slightly.
“Maybe so, Allen! But at least HE’LL KNOW YOU’RE ALIVE!!” Dain screamed back up at me, then he closed his eyes and stepped back. He tilted his head and calmed himself.
“I didn’t know about your first wife and,…and…” he began, then stopped, not looking at me. “I’m sorry about your Family Allen.” He finished. I nodded back at him. He kept looking back and away at me several times, but then he got his composure. I did too.
“So, if you want this sandstone, and I think that you do, Allen.” I’ll release it to be shipped to you on one condition.” He said, Danuki like. I frowned at the tone in his voice.
‘I think I can guess.’ I thought silently.
“You go and tell your Father what’s up with you. Right now, today!” he said sternly to me.
“You can’t do that!” I replied, indignant.
“Oh yes I can Allen, and I will!”
“But, but that’s unprofessional!” I shot back.
“Yes it is, Allen. Yes, it is! In fact, it’ll probably cost me my job! But you know what?” he asked, pinning me with one eye on mine.
“It’s worth it. I consider your Father to be a friend. Distant, but a friend nonetheless! He NEEDS to know about his only child!” he stated fiercely. We just stood like that silently staring each other down, for several seconds longer. He gave in first.
“You know where you can find me, once you’ve done your duty Allen.” He said as he turned around and walked away. I followed his progress with my eyes, resenting him every step of the way.
‘Asshole!’ I thought silently to myself.
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It took me awhile, but eventually I got over my silent temper tantrums. Though I did locate Dain’s rig, and I scorched some of the paintjob off of it by spitting out a small fireball. I took to the air, and flapped my way over to the side of town that I’d been avoiding. Avoiding, every time I came down to Merced.
I silently landed a block away in a park and clomped my way over. I noticed that the old neighborhood looked smaller now, seedier. There weren’t any kids playing in the park.
‘Wrong time of day, probably at school.’ I noted, stopping a couple of houses away from my destination, almost bolting away, despite.
‘Dain’ll probably blackball me from every other rock provider.’ I realized unhappily. ‘Damn it! Why the fuck does this shit have to happen?!’ I groused silently.
“Well, time to face another fear.” I said aloud. Finally realizing that I’d been irresponsible in the face of all this.
I then stopped one final time on the sidewalk in front of my childhood home. I stared at it then, remembering bits and pieces of my childhood. I noted that the place still was kept up better than every other house in the neighborhood.
‘But, it still looks like someone lost his heart, in the upkeep details at the very least.’ I conceded, frowning. I stopped procrastinating and stomped my way to the front door, knocked resoundingly and stepped back.
It didn’t take long.
“Chief-God Damn it!” shouted an all too familiar voice, from within. The door flung open inwards and I saw an old, yet heavily muscled man stepping out, his face livid-red with anger.
“Get off my Fucking lawn, you Fucking Mamoomoo!” he screamed while shaking his fists. He focused his eyes on me and he raised his voice even louder, somehow.
“What the Fuck do you want, you fucking fre….?” He stated, cutting himself short as his eyes took me all in, stopping at my face. In that moment, I saw all of his anger, all of his tenseness drain away out of him. His eyes went wide, and his mouth fell open to hang as he realized who it was that was standing in front of him, finally.
“Allen?” he said hoarsely, incredulous. I sighed heavily.
“Hi Dad.”
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