{{|3 The last week and a half were hell for me, for personal reasons I'd rather not discuss. Still...should've posted something sooner. Sorry about that.}}<br/><br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline">Two reference images (both stolen from aricat of FA):</span><br/><div class="inline-attachment"><!-- ia1 -->aricat_ari_hair.jpg<!-- ia1 --></div><div class="inline-attachment"><!-- ia0 -->aricat_sirus_rough.jpg<!-- ia0 --></div><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">&lt;&lt;Gamol Camp&gt;&gt;</span></span><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Kitts wrote:</cite>Kahmori takes a single step forwards, his hands spread wide. His first statement is directed at the female skunkfolk, likely nothing more than to distract them a little bit while his companions figured out a good method of getting the hell out of here. Or, fully preparing for a fight "Heeey. You looked so much better in pink. Finally scrub it off?" The second, to the female Leopard "And i remember you! You're a clawer! I like..." This statement is followed up by a smug grin, and a playful little wink - though it might be missed at such a distance.<br/><br/>Finally, he directs his attention to the male leopardfolk, the one that was leading the little band "I really can't stay and play, Cutie-pie. As you can see, i've had all I can stand for one day..." He once more pats his stomach...which, suddenly, begins to shrink? Quite rapidly "...Really don't have room for any more. Tell you what, I'll pen you in for next week, and we'll make a date of it, huh? Okay, I love you, byebye!"</div></blockquote><br/><br/>"<span style="font-weight: bold">Shut it, fox!!</span>" snaps the leopardess.<br/><span style="font-weight: bold">*THWACK*</span>The male feline loudly pounds a fist into his open palm. "No words this time, fox. No games." He approaches at a quick pace, the females and lizard close at his sides. The ogre brings up the rear, club at ready.<br/>"No tricks. Just you, and us, and us kicking your bloody head in<span style="font-weight: bold">right now.</span>"<br/>Kahmori is at the top of a short list of people who have disrespected this bunch and survived. From the malice in their eyes and body language, it is clear that they aim to cross his name off the list tonight.<br/><br/>"Thiss don' conccern the resst of yous." says the lizard to the others around Kahmori. "You walks away now, and--"<br/><br/><span style="font-size: 80%; line-height: 116%;">[Chrrou's readied action (Wall of Thorns) triggers]</span><br/>But he doesn't get to finish his sentence. Because at that moment, just as the mercenaries are approaching spitting distance and readying themselves to dish out a beating, Chrrou incants a command to the trodden weeds and roots beneath the dirt road. The plants heed his call, and transform in an explosion of vegetable growth to flood the road with heaping tangles of razor-sharp thorn-branches that surround the thugs.<br/><br/><br/>The five are stopped in their tracks while they struggle and curse at the painful vines.<span style="font-size: 80%; line-height: 116%;">(this buys the party more than enough time to escape)</span><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>Lin doesn't wait for a lift; she scampers immediately up Rihyan's mailed side.<span style="font-style: italic">"Going any place that isn't <span style="text-decoration: underline">here</span>--sounds good."</span><br/>She helps Chrrou select a suitable, mostly unsoiled bag. Then--when vines start erupting out of the ground--she dives in head-first with a cowardly screech. (as far as she can tell, a carnivorous plant monster has just arrived...not an entirely unreasonable assumption to make this far north.)<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>Nurkisi is easily one of the most flavorful meals Geno has ever had the pleasure of consuming. It is difficult for him to rush her down without thoroughly savoring the predatory joy of what he is doing...but rush her he does, and within mere moments the arrogant Gamol is naught but a series of heavy lumps gliding down the dark scales of his throat. Incredibly, the dragon's fathomless belly accepts the multi-thousand pound item without distending very much at all; once he's swallowed down the last of her tail and his meal settles comfortably, Geno is to external appearances only mildly stuffed.<br/><span style="font-size: 80%; line-height: 116%;">[Stuffed penalty: -16 (halved twice by 2x Improved Gluttony) = -4, no movement penalty]</span><br/><br/><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="text-decoration: underline">&lt;&lt;Jolly Barbazu suite&gt;&gt;</span></span><br/><br/><blockquote><div><cite>Allie wrote:</cite>"It's a bit of a story, but if you would be willing to listen..."</div></blockquote><br/>"Sure, hun." says Jess calmly. With her hunger now (mostly) under control, her nonchalant side has resurfaced. "I like to soak anyway."<br/>She gets comfortable and listens with interest as Alyssa explains her near-fatal brush with a succubus.<br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>"You see, ever since that time, I've had a recurring dream... It begins when I meet a woman. Her appearance is never the same twice, but she's always tall and powerfully built, and indescribably beautiful. She approaches me, and whispers something my waking mind can never recall- I think it must be my permission, because I always nod in agreement. She strips away my clothing and embraces me, caressing every inch of my body as though she's tasting me with her fingertips. Then she leans forward, opens her mouth, and begins swallowing me. I never try to resist- sometimes I even press myself forward to aid her efforts. As the last of my body enters her stomach, I climax and wake."</div></blockquote><br/>"That's...some dream there...." she sighs. If Alyssa was at all worried that she might alienate Jess with this revelation, her fears prove unfounded; the dog-gal is herself blushing now (though it's hard to tell apart from the effect of booze and bath).<br/><br/><blockquote class="uncited"><div>Alyssa shakes her head, laughing in spite of herself. "It really is absurd, isn't it? I've spent the last decade of my life learning how to avoid becoming a predator's meal, all the while fantasizing that someone will offer me the chance to be swallowed- and treat it as an act of intimacy, no less! I realize that it can never be more than a fantasy, not if I want to survive- anyone who would desire my body in that way would see me as a meal to be processed, rather than as a person. And yet, every time I encounter someone like you or Miss Auralia, I remember my dream and wonder if they might think differently..."</div></blockquote><br/>"Nah, it's not<span style="font-style: italic">so</span>absurd, really." says Jess with a shrug and a waving gesture. "The pred and the prey...It's like a, like some kinda primal thing. Like a drive, an instinct." She wants to put it more eloquently, but can't seem to find the right words.<br/>"Soma's kinda the same, actually. I eat her sometimes--when she's askin' for it." She laughs, exposing her fangs. "--when she annoys me, I mean."<br/>"But sometimes she really<span style="font-style: italic">does ask</span>me to do it. Like, as a game. It's kinda funny." she chuckles again. " 'Absurd' though? Nah, I would'n say that."<br/><br/>"So would you, maybe..." Jess pauses, gives Alyssa a look that likely gets her heart speeding up again. "...you maybe want me to...?" She hesitates, not out of lack of interest (she's barely holding back as it is) but out of a residual fear of doing something that might ruin her welcome and get her smote.<br/>"It wouldn't be for real, 'course..."