<blockquote class="uncited"><div>The second Plaur steps up into the wagon clutching Xali in his arms Vendra goes silent and keeps her head down. It was clear as day Vendra was scared to death of the leopardess, just the little flaunting of the fact that she devoured one of the other females had assured that. </div></blockquote><br/><br/>It was fortunate that they all had wagons upon which to rest while the caravan continued, Xali noted as she casually, almost idly licked and toyed with her paramour's still-engorged staff. Digestion was always an energy-intensive process for her, and though she could keep moving while stuffed if she had to, she'd learned that that was a good way to get a bellyache, even with only one prey. Humans were a little easier to process than equivalent sized anthros, and the defiant morsel Xali'd swallowed up was smaller than many of the males she'd eaten over the years, but even so... it was nice to be able to focus on the pleasure of the meal's aftermath rather than the rigors of travel.<br/><br/>By the end of the first hour, Xali's stomach had reduced by about six inches, and taken on a rounded appearance. Half an hour after that, the groans and churns of her stomach were accompanied by faint cracks and pops. To taunt that poor human cleric further, Xali explained aloud to noone inparticular; "Oh, I simply must thank Drir again for providing us with conveyance... it simply doesn't do to digest the bones while walking. You really need to<span style="font-style: italic">squeeze</span>, a ha haa..." One of the longer bones, probably a femur, bulged out against the tightening surface of her belly for a moment before another contraction struck and splintered it audibly. Xali followed it up by covering her mouth for a small, ladylike burp.<br/><br/>Xali found the terror which Kahimori's new toy exuded in her presence to be quite amusing. After having witnessed Xali stuff that other girl into her belly and visibly digest her to almost nothing in the span of a few short hours, Vendra appreciated the lethality of the hot pink throat that Plaur was enjoying about as much as she could without going down it herself. Vendra's fear was justified enough; the leopardess would be more than happy to unhinge her jaw and swallow her or help the kitsune do the same. Still, for the moment, she was in no danger. Vendra's cute little friend, now converted into nutritious mush, had sated Xali thoroughly for the time being, and she knew better than to dispose of Kahimori's property. No doubt he was planning to eat her himself, eventually.<br/><br/>By the time they arrived at Lakehavens, Xali's churning belly had done its work well on the brunettes vulnerable flesh. The huge bulge protruding three feet in front of her had reduced to a fraction of its earlier size and migrated down to Xalis lower abdomen. Now the human was nothing but a small bump of a few inches below the navel of her devourer. "Ahh, splendid timing indeed. I've finally digested enough of my lovely and gracious meal, whatever her name was, to dress properly. How difficult it is to find clothing tight enough to be enticing but loose enough for me to swallow prey... ahh, the sacrifices I make to allow others to partake of my beauty."<br/><br/>Rifling through her wardrobe, Xali made a mental note to have her earlier dress repaired and slipped in to one of her more simple and practical forms of dress. A small, loosely tied top of blue silk which only covered her upper chest and a thigh-length wide hemmed skirt of a lighter shade of blue were her only garments of note, besides a simple pair of leather sandals. Xali's midriff, and the tiny bump which marked Satrina's fate, was exposed. Not only could she swallow without shredding this outfit, but it was less restrictive and allowed her to run more quickly, if neccessary. Still, it lacked elegance compared to her more elaborate clothes (all packed into a small trunk and ready to be moved; the notion that bringing fancy outfits to a war is inappropriate hasn't occurred to Xali). She decided that if she met anyone suitably important, she could augment her 'au naturele' appeal with a spell.<br/><br/>Despite herself, Xali was taken aback by her first sight of Lakehaven, both by the still-fresh evidence of the enormous battle which took place not long ago and by the wolf-clan's commendable success in rebuilding.<br/><br/><div style="padding: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF; border: 1px solid #d8d8d8; font-size: 1em;"><div style="text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; margin-bottom: 3px; font-size: 0.8em; font-weight: bold; display: block;"><span onclick="if (this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display != '') {  this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = ''; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;hide&lt;/a&gt;'; } else { this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('div')[1].getElementsByTagName('div')[0].style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '&lt;b&gt;Spoiler: &lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href=\'#\' onClick=\'return false;\'&gt;show&lt;/a&gt;'; }"><b>Spoiler: </b><a href="#" onclick="return false;">show</a></span></div><div class="quotecontent"><div style="display: none;">Knowledge Local (1d20 + 18): 16 + 18 = 34</div></div></div><br/><br/>"Such splendid artisanship!" she exclaimed aloud, touched by the flowing and organic design of the town's new structures. "I must say, I am most impressed with what Yiemo has done. Old Lakehaven had a certain<span style="font-style: italic">quaint</span>charm, I suppose, but it was all terribly simple, all lean-tos and longhouses. When I'd heard of Yiemo's contract with dwarven architects I'd expected to see the squat, bulky style they prefer, 'Dwarven Classicist' I believe is the official term." She runs a finger along her chin thoughtfully. "Yet new Lakehaven is so lively, sprightly even... rounded, organic, even sensual."<br/><br/>She pauses a moment. "Let us hope he manages a war as deftly as the reconstruction of his home. That will be a greater challenge, I think, for soldiers are not as easily replaced as smithies and storehouses."