Chika stood as close to the "baths" as she could, which wasn't very close. In fact, she had to stand pretty close to the wall, her mouth slightly open as she panted to try to alleviate the heat. She hooked a finger in the front of her bathing suit and pulled it away from her fur, though it didn't help much. She probably should just eschew clothing entirely, as her hosts had suggested, but the extreme heat hadn't yet overpowered her modesty.

She heard the sound of claws scratching on stone to her right, and a female dragon entered the baths through the stone archway. She gave the mouse a confused but friendly smile before she walked to the lip of the bath proper.

The pool of molten rock let out a faint glow, which shimmered on the dragon's yellow scales. She sat down on the edge and lowered her feet inside, letting out a pleased sigh as they disappeared. Then she pushed herself off the edge and slid in up to her waist, a look of bliss on her face as she waded out deeper into the pool.

Chika bit her lip.

"Chika! What are you doing down here?"

Chika looked up to see Orlea standing next to her. She had been so distracted, she hadn't even heard her enter the baths.

Like all the dragons, Orlea was almost twice as tall as Chika. Her scales and hair were a brilliant yellow, and her tough skin a muted red. All of this rested on a set of curves that Chika couldn't help but be jealous of; she couldn't help but marvel at Orlea's beauty every time she saw her.

"Oh, just... I wanted to try to see the baths," Chika said.

"Isn't it too hot for you down here?"

Chika nodded, fanning herself with her hand. "Unfortunately, yes. I don't think I'll be able to stay much longer. Even standing this far away, the heat is killing me. I just... I wanted to get as close as I could."

Rather than walk to the pool, Orlea leaned against the wall next to Chika. "You're leaving next week, right?"

"Yeah."

"Do you feel you've accomplished your mission?"

"As well as I've been able," Chika said. "I'm a scholar, not a diplomat; my employers just wanted me to learn as much about dragon culture as possible, to help future diplomatic missions. And you've all been more welcoming than I could have imagined, thanks in no small part to you, Orlea."

A silence rested between them for a moment. "I just ask because... you could always stay longer. I know that your employers won't keep footing the bill, but my family would be more than happy to offer you room and board for a while longer."

Chika craned her neck upward to look at her friend. "Thank you for the offer. I'd love to take you up on it. But it's not just the money. The environment here -- it's just not suited for a mouse. I have no escape from the heat, even at night. Six months has been about all I can stand. Maybe if the city was located somewhere other than the bowels of a volcano, I'd be able to stay longer."

Orlea released a defeated sigh. "I understand."

Chika turned her gaze back to the lava pool. "I just wish I had been able to experience everything I wanted to."

"What do you mean?" Orlea asked, her tone curious.

"The baths," Chika answered, indicating the large pool with a sweep of her arm. "They're such a huge part of your culture -- combined relaxation, health, and public forum. A casual setting where you can discuss your families and issues affecting your homes. I can tell how important a ritual public bathing is for your people. And I can't even get close. They're filled with molten rock -- it would kill me instantly."

"I'm sure the other females would welcome you in if they could," Orlea said.

"I know! That's the worst part. And now I'm leaving, knowing that I missed out on this."

Orlea hesitated, looking out over the baths, then back at Chika with an appraising look.

"You know... maybe there is a way you could experience the baths. At least indirectly."

Chika furrowed her brow. What could she possibly mean? She had already run this problem into the ground in her head and exhausted every possible solution. "How?"

"Well... it's our tough scales that protect us from the extreme heat of the baths," Orlea said, tapping her chest with her fist to make a small clinking sound. "Maybe... maybe my scales could protect you, too."

"How could your scales protect... oh." Her gaze wandered down to Orlea's stomach. "Oh."

"I'm sorry," Orlea said. "It's a stupid idea. Forget about it."

Chika looked out at the pool, then back at Orlea's midsection. She tapped her chin as she considered.

It was crazy. Absolutely insane. Any normal person would run away screaming from the idea.

But the scholar in her wondered: would she ever get an opportunity to experience something like this again? Had anyone ever done this before?

She straightened her back. "I'll do it."

Orlea's eyes widened, as though she hadn't been expecting that answer. "You're sure?"

"Yeah. I mean, how could I turn this opportunity down? And besides," Chika smiled up at her friend. "I trust you, Orlea."

Orlea returned the smile. "Alright." She reached down and slid her hands beneath Chika's arms, picking her up. "You're sure about this?"

"Absolutely," Chika said, keeping most of the quiver out of her voice.

Orlea lifted Chika up higher, then opened her mouth wide.

Chika swung her legs forward, bringing her feet to rest on Orlea's wide tongue. She could feel the wet muscles move against her toes.

The dragon's tongue wrapped around Chika's feet, hesitating, as though waiting for Chika to change her mind. When she didn't, Orlea swallowed. Chika felt her feet slide into a tight, moist tunnel. Her legs slid quickly after them. If she leaned back, she could actually see the imprint her feet were making inside her friend's throat.

Progress stopped for a moment when Orlea reached Chika's hips, easily the widest part of her. She was sitting on the dragon's tongue now.

"Are you okay?" Chika asked.

"Ae' o'a'," she responded, her tongue moving against Chika's thighs. "Oo're a 'ittl 'uck."

From her current position, Chika was able to reach forward and grip Orlea's short horns for support. Then she wiggled her hips, trying to work them into Orlea's jaws. "Is this helping?"

Orlea gave her a thumbs-up.

She worked herself in a little deeper, the sides of her hips pressing against the inside of Orlea's muzzle.

Then Orlea swallowed, and Chika's hips popped into the gullet.

It was easy going from there. Her stomach slipped out of view, and she could feel Orlea's tongue on her back.

Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she could feel her face flush beneath her fur. Was this actually happening? She was letting herself be eaten by a dragon! A moment of instinctual panic took over, causing her to squirm.

"Oo' o'ay?" Orlea asked.

Chika took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. She wrapped her hands around the top half of Orlea's muzzle. "I told you: I trust you."

Orlea tilted her head back, lifting Chika up until she was pointed upright. Chika's heart pounded as she realized she now had a straight shot into her friend's stomach.

Orlea swallowed.

Chika slid down into the dragon's throat, her hands flailing for a moment before they, too, disappeared into Orlea's maw. Chika's entire world became dark, moist, and noisy. The throat caressed her on the way down, urging her onward, until it pushed her out of the tight tunnel and into a more open area.

It was... surprisingly comfortable. The soft walls conformed around her, and once she got into a good position, it felt like resting in an enclosed hammock. And Orlea had been right about those scales protecting her from the heat: it actually felt cooler in here than it had in the hot volcanic air.

"Are you okay?" Orlea's voice seemed to reverberate around her.

"Y-yeah," Chika answered. "I'm fine."

"Okay, I'm going to get in the pool."

Chika felt movement, and then the walls around her started to heat up. It was a soothing heat, like how an ordinary hot spring might have felt: the kind of heat that worked its way into your muscles and forced them to release their tension.

"This feels... perfect," Chika admitted. "Better than I would have expected."

"I'm glad to hear that. Your voice seems to be making it out okay, so if you want, we can go talk to some of the other dragons. They all watched the whole thing, so they're probably curious."

"Maybe in a moment. Let me just... enjoy this for a bit."

"Of course."

Chika closed her eyes. She could heart Orlea's heartbeat somewhere nearby. How odd that the inside of a dragon's stomach would be the most comfortable place she had visited so far.

In fact, maybe...

"Orlea?"

"Yes?"

"How long do you think you could keep me in here?"

A moment passed while Orlea considered. "Probably quite a while. I can control my body, so I won't digest you by accident. There are stories of bigger dragons keeping princesses in their bellies for years. I'll have to let you out so I can eat, but other than that, I'm not sure there really is a limit."

Chika nodded, even though she knew Orlea couldn't see it. "Maybe... maybe I will take your family's offer to stay a little longer."

"Really?" Excitement tinged Orlea's voice.

"Yes. And maybe instead of sleeping in my own room, I could... share yours."

Another pause, followed by, "I think that could be arranged."

"Good." Chika pressed her hand against one of the soft walls. "I'm looking forward to an extended stay."