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More is revealed about the Anticans as the peace summit commences, however something deeper, much more sinister might be happening here than anyone could imagine. (Part 2 of 2)
Yay 3-month art/writers block! I hope you enjoy reading.
Leave a comment and let me know what you think please! I love reading them, anything is appreciated! :)
After a short flight of stairs that left Sa’Rahn exceedingly winded and thanking the Gods starships had turbolifts, the group entered into what could only be the building’s main assembly hall. The grand auditorium was far more ornate and spectacular than the rest of the building, with smooth stone slabs covering the floor, reflecting back the warm light bleeding through windows overhead. The surfaces were polished so finely Sa’Rahn could nearly see his reflection. Granted, all he could see past his stomach was a sliver of his head, but still!
Adjoining hallways connected like creeping fingers through a series of arches along the towering walls. Dozens of colorful banners and a set of crystal chandeliers hung from the distant ceiling overhead, acting as both testament to the supposed unity of the numerous packs inhabiting the continent and as acoustic padding to dampen excessive reverberation. The spacious hall must have been at least four or five stories tall, with balconies and walkways peering from above the second floor! As big as he was, Sa’Rahn couldn’t help but feel as small as an ant.
The vast assembly hall was far warmer than any other part of the building too, no doubt heated by the hundreds of Anticans occupying it. The summit had already begun it seemed! In the center of the room like an island sat a multi-layered podium, on which a few Anticans were presently standing, speaking loudly and gesturing in all directions for the attendees to witness. Circling around the platform like a swarm of fish were countless smaller tables, seating only about a half a dozen each.
Although Sa’Rahn had thought little of it before, the massed scent of so many Anticans hit his nose at once! The amalgam of body odors, sweat, oils, and foul breath all trapped in a single room was nauseating, though he knew he’d get used to it over time. He was just thankful Iris didn’t have his species’ acute sense of smell.
A sharp spike in one of the speakers’ shouting drew Sa’Rahn’s attention to the stage momentarily. Only a fraction of the discussion had registered with him, but the present debate seemed to concern something about rainwater purification and a certain illness going around along the eastern coast of the continent. Confused and a little concerned, Sa’Rahn whispered to the ambassador, “What’s that about some packs becoming sick?”
“Hmm?” The ambassador mumbled, glancing briefly at the panel of speakers. “Ah, the eastern coast, yes. Worry not, my friend. The matters at present are not of concern to the Ant’lirca. My time to speak will come soon enough, I assure you.”
Gradually weaving through the sea of tables and onlookers like a chain of rats in a maze, Ambassador Budȧh turned to face one of his guards, raising his voice above the noise of the current speakers. “Escort the Captain and his band of friends to one of our secondary tables on the main floor. The Admiral and his mate will be dining at my private table this evening.”
“Yes, ambassador.” The armored Antican acknowledged, slinging his weapon on his back while turning to Morley and the others, motioning with his hand, “Captain, this way please.”
While he and Iris continued to follow the Ambassador and now a single guard to a separate table from the rest, Sa’Rahn began to notice something strange about the seating. None of the tables had any chairs or other contemporary seating. Instead, each were surrounded by three large, mattress-like couches, covered in a wide array of sheets, blankets, and pillows. Most Anticans already seated were reclining while facing inward towards the table as they listened to the speaking delegates. “Um, why are there no chairs?” Sa’Rahn openly asked to no one in particular, simply out of curiosity more than anything.
Turning his head to the question as they neared their own table, an amused smile spread across the ambassador’s face as he explained, “Our people favor to recline while resting or dining, Admiral. As hunters by nature, it is preferable than stiff chairs.” Budȧh paused while laying down his cane atop one of the mattresses against their table overlooking others below, awkwardly trying to position himself to lounge. Being as old as he was, transitioning from standing to a horizontal surface at knee level was no easy task. “Don’t just stand there, pup, help your elder!” He barked suddenly, waving the remaining guard to assist him with an arm for support. Finally seated, adjusting his legs and girth to lay comfortably on his side, the ambassador let out a sigh of relief, propping himself up on one arm. “To Anticans of my age, it is also a blessing to the hips. Not to mention a decent bed for light resting.”
Apprehensively glancing down at the mattress on which they were meant to recline, Sa’Rahn soon realized, considering his size and weight, this wasn’t likely to end well. Leaning towards his love casually, he whispered, “Ok… babe, I’m sorry, but I might need your help here…”
Giving him an unimpressed look, Iris simply replied, “My help? Rahn, sweetie, I’m the one wearing a tight dress here.”
“Right! Er-, right…” Sa’Rahn mumbled as he began to place one knee awkwardly on the cushion, attempting to sit first. Making sure the ambassador was busy and not paying attention, Sa’Rahn discreetly placed his hand under his bottom as he carefully maneuvered himself. The many times he had accidentally split his pants over the years readily came to mind. Always when he was least expecting it, he would twist a little too far or bend over a little too quickly, and with a sudden rip his briefs would make an appearance! He didn't want to take any chances.
Although it took a minute, and a little help from the Antican guard standing by, Sa’Rahn finally managed to plop himself down on the couch as well, also laying on his side. Iris on the other hand had little issue, sitting against her love closely with ease, legs tucked back beneath her. Sa’Rahn flushed a bit beneath his fur as she curled up next to him, feeling her warmth as she leaned into him, using his belly as a pillow.
His attention wavered however as a waiter passed their table, trays of foods above their heads, drawing Sa’Rahn by the nose with savory aromas wafting by. The delicious smells of roasted meats and exotic seasonings being served was enough to make his mouth water and his stomach rumble expectantly! “Mmm, that smells delicious…!” He exclaimed, “Are all your political events so well catered? This doesn’t feel like much of a ‘peace summit’?”
“I assure you, my friend, it is. Few enjoy these gatherings, least of all ambassadors such as myself. As such, the pack council has taken great efforts over the years to make these summits as tolerable as possible.” The ambassador replied while idly smoothing out a few wrinkles in his robes, uninterested by the present discussions being handled by the summit. “The issues to be discussed to are far more endurable if one is relaxed and well sated for clear thinking, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Sounds like something a lot of political gatherings should do.” Sa’Rahn chuckled.
The ambassador simply began to snicker before bellowing a quick laugh at the remark. “Haha! Very true, my friend, very true indeed.”
The longer the peace summit dragged on, the more confused Sa’Rahn grew. Every few minutes, a handful of Anticans would approach the central stage to replace the previous group, proceeding to bicker and argue as they withdrew. The ‘discussions’ covered a wide range of topics from hunting ground rights to territorial disputes. There didn’t seem to be any set rules or etiquette to the debates or topics being brought up either. Things were often left unsettled or dropped entirely at random. One of the delegates even struck another at one point! Sa’Rahn couldn’t tell if the Anticans on the stage were proclaiming matters to the hundreds of onlookers around them, or if they were simply arguing amongst themselves for entertainment. Their customs and mannerisms while near shouting seemed odd to put it lightly. Perhaps they were doing both, he wondered? It felt like both. Truthfully, Sa’Rahn quickly began to wonder what point the Federation had by sending a party to supervise these events. Perhaps other summits elsewhere might be different, but this seemed trivial at best.
While Iris wasn’t particularly enamored with the drama, she seemed glad to be with him at least. The two whispered into each other’s ears about mundane things, back and forth like young lovers in a schoolroom to pass the time. It had been a longer than he could remember since Sa’Rahn had gotten to take his mate on a real date, somewhere other than a holodeck simulation or the ship’s mess. Those were fun and all, but they didn’t feel real. As he enjoyed the momentarily freedom the evening granted, he briefly forgot she was still under house arrest.
Still, having not had anything to eat for the quite a while now, Sa’Rahn was growing restless. Much like the haphazard summit itself, the waiters too didn’t seem to have any pattern to the order in which they served the attendants. It had been hours since lunch, he was starving! His stomach offered a long, internal rumble he hoped only he could hear. He wondered if Iris noticed, leaning against him as she was. Thankfully though, it wasn’t long before Budȧh signaled one of the many roving servers. Ever since Sa’Rahn learned how to operate a replicator as a cub, he had consumed countless delicacies from nearly every species he could think of. While his own culture’s dishes would always hold a special place in his heart, he had to admit, Terran foods were by far his favorite. Humans just seemed to have a unique knack for making enticing sugary and deep-fried foods. Oddly enough though, he had never eaten any Antican dishes before.
His stomach had been patient for long enough though. Sa’Rahn didn’t hesitate for even a moment before digging into the first plate set in front of him. Each platter was stacked with creamy white meats protected by a sugary brown crust. The prickling scent of exotic wood smoke wafted up, likely grilled over an old fashioned fire. Each bite left a slowly bleeding warmth in his mouth, not a burn, but close. There was also a distinctly oily aftertaste to the meat stuck tenaciously to the roof of his mouth. It was a unique sensation he had never experienced before, but one he quickly learned to like!
A lighthearted chuckle escaped ambassador Budȧh as his attention wandered from the summit, noticing Sa’Rahn working his way through a second helping so quickly. “Ha, most impressive, Admiral. Are you enjoying yourself?”
Mouth full, Sa’Rahn simply nodded at first before swallowing. “I’ve never had your people’s food before. What is this anyway? It’s great!”
“Ah, it is a unique specialty, saved especially for events such as these. Imported livestock from the far north, quite rare.” Budȧh explained.
“I thought I read somewhere your people liked your food live though? Sa’Rahn asked, mouth half full.
“Many Anticans still relish the taste of a fresh kill, the primal rush of culling of worthy prey… As hunters, it will always be within our nature. However, most forego such impractical traditions of the past these days.” The ambassador responded.
Although the summit itself was turning out to be just as mind numbing as anticipated, broken by the occasional flash of physical violence among the squabbling old men, Sa’Rahn found little to complain about. The woman he loved was cuddled up at his side, and the Antican waiters were apparently prepared to serve as much food as his belly could hold! Licking smears of sauce and spices from his chops between mouthfuls, Sa’Rahn thought things were actually going pretty good for him finally!
As a satisfied smile spread across his face while tearing into another savory platter, Sa’Rahn glanced to Iris, asking her quietly, “Hey, flower, don’t you want anything to eat too?” While his love had neither the ravenous appetite nor the bottomless stomach he did, Iris would often join him for her own fill whenever he ate. She took more pleasure in watching him enjoy himself than anything really.
“Hmm? Oh, no… I’m fine…” Iris sighed, her voice distant as she stared off into the room.
Sa’Rahn paused as she spoke, his cheeks still stuffed. While he had never been good at reading people, he would have had to have been both blind and deaf to not discern she was clearly upset with him over something. His heart sank like a lead weight as dozens of thoughts raced through his mind, trying to hunt down what he might have done! Gulping down the remaining food in his mouth promptly, he placed a gentle hand around her shoulder, cautiously. “Babe, what’s wrong…?”
Her posture tightened as she continued to look away. She merely shook her head, pursing her lips and mumbling, “I just thought that… nevermind.”
Positive he had done something wrong now, he pressed further, frightened with each word, “Iris… please, talk to me. I’m sorry. What did I do?”
With another deflated sigh, Iris swept her long black hair out of the way to look at him directly. She silently stared into his golden eyes for a moment, wide with worry and desperation. As with earlier, she no longer wanted to fight him; she could clearly see he hadn’t meant to go back on his word so quickly. Rubbing her hand along his side gently, she whispered, “Rahn, sweetie, that’s your fifth plate… don’t you think you’ve had enough.”
Like a dim light bulb gradually flickering on, it wasn’t until he heard the words did Sa’Rahn finally start to realize just how much he had eaten. As if waking from a drunken stupor, he stared at the small tower of plates in front of him, each of them cleaned down to the greasy fats that seeped from the meat. The new belt around his waist had grown painfully tight without his noticing. He began to huff and heave for breath, feeling suddenly winded as it all sunk in. Between whispering playfully with his love and mindlessly viewing the summit, he had indulged well past his hunger long, long ago.
“I-… I…” He stammered, mouth hanging open.
“It’s just… back on the ship. You promised that-…” Iris began to say, sadness coating her voice.
Without a word, Sa’Rahn hesitated only for a second before pushing away the remaining half-eaten plate he had been working on. The enticing aromas from the food still tickled his nose and warmed his lungs, beckoning him to stay and continue to feed. His eyes watered as he dug his teeth into his lower lip! He had made so much progress in trying to win her favor. For the the first time in weeks now, things were starting to feel normal again. As much as he wanted to finish the plate, he wasn’t about to let any food, no matter how delicious, disrupt his progress! Trying to prop himself up a bit to bring himself closer to her, he whispered back, “Babe, flower, I-… I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention, I’ll stop. Help me do better, please?”
Although the gesture would have meant little to anyone else, knowing him, Iris smiled. She had been his mate for the better part of six years, she knew it took a great deal of willpower for him to say those words and mean it. “Thank you.”
“…I love you.” Sa’Rahn whispered, hoping he had smoothed things over.
“I love you too, big boy.” Iris smiled warmly, kissing him, assuring him he had.
As the peace summit wore on and additional speakers stepped up to bark and whine over their petty inconveniences, it was becoming painfully apparent to Sa’Rahn just how much he had overeaten. Had it not been for Iris’s words, he likely wouldn’t have noticed until much later. Each shallow breath he drew was arduous, there simply wasn’t much room for his lungs to expand. His gut felt taught, struggling to digest the mass of food he had blindly consumed. The couch beneath him creaked with every squirm he made. He should have been paying more attention, he lamented, wheezing softly so as not to disturb anyone.
Leaning against him all the while, Iris was the only one to notice his discomfort. Laying a hand on him discreetly, she whispered, “Are you alright?”
Sa’Rahn declined to answer at first, not wanting to disrupt her evening any more than he already had, but eventually shook his head. “I’m feeling really bloated here. Laying down isn’t making it any better… It’s kind of hard for me to breathe.” His thoughts stumbled about drunkenly while contemplating what he could do to alleviate some of the cramping. Walking for a little bit might help, it would give himself a little breathing room. “I’m sorry flower, I need to get up. I need some air.”
Leaving the soft mattress at such an angle proved even more difficult than laying upon it in the first place. Having eaten so much, attempts to sit upright placed unbearable pressure on his guts! His legs weak and shaky, Iris supported him as he tried to regain his balance.
Taking notice of his guest rising from the table, Ambassador Budȧh naturally grew concerned. “Admiral. Are you quite alright?”
The Antican’s question caught him off guard; Sa’Rahn had hoped his leave would go unnoticed. Although not wanting to make an embarrassing scene, he merely stared at the old man with his jaw hanging open before finally stammering, “Uh yeah, yeah… If you’d excuse me, I just need to use the restroom. Nature calls and all that, heh.”
"Oh! But of course, my friend.” The Ambassador nodded, waving the trivial request off with his hand. “Inquire of the guards, I am sure they can direct you to the nearest facilities.”
“Right. Thanks.” Sa’Rahn nodded, eager to leave as he nervously tugged on his uniform. “I’ll be back soon.” He added with a whisper to Iris, struggling to bend over enough to give her a quick kiss. Taking a moment to gather his bearings in the enormous room, Sa’Rahn swiftly made his way through the sea of tables and along the outer wall to the nearest exit.
All the while, Morley had been watching vigilantly and listening from a few tables away. He hadn’t managed to catch every word said, but there was little need to. His gluttonous brother had been stuffing himself for almost an hour, and was now awkwardly making an exit, clearly distressed. Morley’s hands laid clasped in his lap, gripping each other so tightly his fingers might break! He couldn’t decide which was more aggravating: the fact he had been shoved aside so his brother could take center stage as always, or the present threat of Sa’Rahn ruining the mission due to his lack of self-control. Either way there was only one common denominator.
Walking as briskly as circumstances would allow, Sa’Rahn’s eyes began to wander when he suddenly caught sight of a familiar face from across the auditorium. Seated almost directly on the exact opposite side of the hall in a darkened corner, sat Ambassador Dagarr and his entourage from the Rit’lhir pack. It was unmistakably him, milky dead eyes glowing like ghostly flames in the dim light. Sa’Rahn’s hackles instinctively rose upon noticing the Antican was staring at him intently, unwaveringly.
Sa’Rahn merely looked away as he continued on, telling himself the Antican had just made eye contact by accident. Things like that happened all the time. The ambassador probably just recognized him from before. Afterall, how many three-hundred pound Caitians could the man possibly know! Clearly, Sa’Rahn stood out amid the sea of aliens.
Though upon glancing back, he found Dagarr’s lifeless eyes were still fixed on him as the Antican whispered something to one of the armed guard at his side. Pointing directly at Sa’Rahn, the man waved a command as the soldier readied his weapon before promptly turning to vanish out of sight into the shadows behind them.
Although unsettled by whatever had just transpired concerning him, the churning in Sa’Rahn’s stomach reminded him of why he had gotten up in the first place. He just needed to take a slow, leisurely walk around the halls, and everything would be fine. Taking one last look, he to turned to leave.
Nearly every Antican in the capitol building was presently in the main auditorium, leaving Sa’Rahn mostly to himself as he wandered the vast halls of the capitol. Only a few guards who likely worked there were posted along some doors and corridors he hadn’t seen before, but otherwise, the building felt eerily dead and abandoned now. Honestly though, Sa’Rahn was just thankful no one was around to witness him trying to walk off a stomach-ache, especially Iris. Nearly every other waddling step that jostled his innards would force another unpleasant belch, each flooding his mouth with the taste of the half-digested dinner brewing in his gut. He had changed his mind. From now on, Antican food was delicious, but to be avoided. It clearly gave him gas.
Taking a moment longer to let his stomach settle, Sa’Rahn eventually chose to idle by the nearest supporting pillar, taking in one slow deep breath after the other. He could still smell the aroma of spicy food from before coated his lips, reminding him of what he had done. The juices in his mouth tasted foul now.
Sa’Rahn mumbled as he cursed himself; why had he promised to try and get better to Iris? He clearly wasn’t capable, like always. His bar’shra, that demon in his blood, had always been a strong force against his will. It was easier to give in to the impulses that plagued him constantly than try to fight it. Besides, he enjoyed eating, not just out of necessity, but as a hobby. He liked the contentment it gave him, the experiences and tastes that filled his senses. In the unending fight to sate the hunger that never left, he even enjoyed overeating at times; a bad habit he had fallen into at a young age admittedly. But most importantly, he was fond of how it made him feel. Whole, an inner sense of satisfaction and peace that nothing else brought. Food was the only thing that seemed to fill the ever-gaping void inside him, if only for a little while.
But he loved Iris, more than anything else! As he saw it, she was the only person outside of his family that really loved him. For whatever reason, she looked past the outer flaws and habits that tainted his character. She had managed to change the man he used to be, gave him the courage to face the things he feared. Iris filled a broken part of him he knew he couldn’t live without. Even after so long, the notion still boggled him.
Truthfully though, Sa’Rahn had known his health had been on a steady decline for years now as his weight grew steadily. It hadn’t exactly been a subtle change. He couldn’t afford to be complacent anymore, not only for his own good, but more importantly for his mate’s. Sa’Rahn shook his head, tearing up a little. He could only pray he would have the courage and resolve to follow through with what he knew he had to do. They would get past this, things would get better. He would make this up to his love. He had promised her that much.
Finally starting to feel a bit better, Sa’Rahn sighed while brushing off his uniform, eager to get back to his date. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed since he left, Iris shouldn’t have been left alone for so long. Only after briefly stretching out his aching back before turning to leave did it finally hit him… he didn’t recognize the hallway in which he was standing. While preoccupied with his discomfort and self-loathing, he must have gotten turned around.
“Cath…” Sa’Rahn mumbled in frustration, scratching his cheek.
Each endless hallway looked the same. All he could do was wander aimlessly in hopes of finding someone who would direct him back to the main hall, he figured. The same colorful banners, the same chiseled archways, and the same tiled floors radiated out in every direction. The deafening silence around him made Sa’Rahn feel like a helplessly lost cub, separated from his family in a strange place. The imposingly distant ceilings and spacious corridors made him feel small and useless, reinforcing the analogy ironically.
All of the guards and servants he had noticed before seemed to be missing from their posts all of a sudden. Not a soul was in sight and everything was quiet. Only after turning down what felt like the hundredth corner did Sa’Rahn finally spot someone! There was a young Antican carrying an empty tray under his arm a fair distance down the hall. The man was dressed in white robes with an apron drawn down to his knees, just like the waiters who had been serving food earlier. Surely they would know the way back to the main auditorium!
“Hey! Excuse me!” Sa’Rahn called out, gasping for air as he hurried his pace to a light jog to catch him.
The Antican however, seemed completely oblivious as he went about his business, turning another corner and out of sight just ahead.
“H-hey…! Listen… could you… direct me… to… guh…” Sa’Rahn gagged as he doubled over after turning the corner, heaving intensely between each word. The world seemed to wobble as he shut his eyes for a moment, catching his breath and calming his heartbeat; he was too out of shape to run like that for long. “I got a little… turned around. Do you know which way is to… to the… th-…”
Sa’Rahn’s voice slowly dwindled in confusion as he realized what he had thought was yet another corridor was a simple recessed space along the present hallway. The alcove was about three to four meters wide and deep. A colorful stained-glass window spanned one wall, two woven tapestries on the others, and a tall marble statue of some nude Antican holding a sword and sheathed bow on his back stood in the center. A bronze plaque with a detailed inscription in a language he couldn’t read sat beneath the monument’s base.
“Wh-… what the…?” Sa’Rahn mumbled, trying to understand what had just happened. The Antican he had been chasing down was nowhere to be seen! Sa’Rahn’s head swiveled on his shoulders like a lighthouse’s searchlight, left and right as he scratched behind his ear, completely puzzled. There were no doors or exits in sight, no places he could have gone. The man simply vanished! Still struggling to regain his breath, Sa’Rahn noted he did feel a little light headed. For a moment, he considered if something might be wrong with him.
However, the sudden, muted sound of metal clanking in the distance broke Sa’Rahn’s train of thought, one ear instinctively turning to the noise. It sounded like it came from his left! But upon looking, there was nothing but a wall of the alcove and a thick woolen tapestry hanging upon it.
Simple curiosity guiding his actions more than anything at this point, Sa’Rahn took a step forward to examine the piece of art more closely. The decorative drape depicted a spry Antican warrior, apparently having returned from a successful conquest of war, prominently seated with his sword at a long table with others praising him at his feet. Reaching out to touch the tapestry, Sa’Rahn quickly noticed it must have been woven at least four inches deep! His hackles rose instantly upon his head nearing the fabric as well; the curtain seemed to act as a natural acoustic dampener, absorbing sound so well it felt as if he had gone deaf in one ear suddenly!
Pressing his hand on the curtain, it billowed inward at his touch, as if there were nothing behind it. He could tell there was something back there. Sa’Rahn’s hefty arms quivered like frail leaves in the wind as he struggled to move the heavy tapestry with both hands. Doing so revealed a hidden passage of all things; a stairway that seemed to lead down to a lower level of the capitol building. Sa’Rahn simply stared in amazement as he moved to squeeze between the curtain and the wall to get a better look, his stomach scraping against the corner. There wasn’t a lot of room, the passage certainly hadn’t been made for someone of his girth.
Unlike the ornate and decorated hallways he had been wandering for some time now, the stairwell was constructed with rough stonework. Sa’Rahn wondered if the area might have been a condemned portion of the building, accessed during construction perhaps. What light that bled between his hefty shadow and the curtain seemed to die almost instantly. Darkness enveloped the stairwell like a fog, growing thicker until nothing but pure wall of blackness was left. Even with his species’ enhanced sense of sight in dimly lit environments, Sa’Rahn couldn’t make out anything past the first few steps. He squinted tightly, trying to focus his vision.
“Hello!?” Sa’Rahn said loudly, cupping his mouth as he shouted into the void, hoping someone might hear him.
There was no answer.
The fur on Sa’Rahn’s neck rose as he felt goosebumps pucker his skin. Something didn’t feel right about this. It almost felt like someone was watching him from the darkness below. This had to have been where that Antican had disappeared to though! There was no where else he could have gone. Gripping the edge of the door frame for support, he called out again, “Is anyone down there?”
There was still no reply, but there was a sound. He couldn’t quite make out what it was though.
However, just as his mind was shifting in thought, there was a quick brush of fabric and light from behind him. Turning to the disturbance, Sa’Rahn only managed to get a faint glimpse of a burly figure before a swift fist cracked his nose, blinding him! “GAH!” Sa’Rahn yelped in pain, brilliant flashes of stars dancing before his eyes!
It was hard to breathe all of a sudden! A steady flow of something warm began to gush from his nostrils! Shooting pain from his sinuses radiated into his eye sockets! Clasping a hand over his mouth, he awkwardly stumbled back, dazed and confused, initially forgetting he was standing on the precipice of a long stairway.
Helplessly falling back as gravity hurled him down like a tumbling boulder, each rigid step jabbed into his soft flesh! None of them hurt for long though after Sa’Rahn heard a single, loud crack somewhere along his upper temple, tossing him into a world of darkness as he laid sprawled, unconscious at the distant bottom of the stairs.
_________________
-To Be Continued…
More is revealed about the Anticans as the peace summit commences, however something deeper, much more sinister might be happening here than anyone could imagine. (Part 2 of 2)
Yay 3-month art/writers block! I hope you enjoy reading.
Leave a comment and let me know what you think please! I love reading them, anything is appreciated! :)
After a short flight of stairs that left Sa’Rahn exceedingly winded and thanking the Gods starships had turbolifts, the group entered into what could only be the building’s main assembly hall. The grand auditorium was far more ornate and spectacular than the rest of the building, with smooth stone slabs covering the floor, reflecting back the warm light bleeding through windows overhead. The surfaces were polished so finely Sa’Rahn could nearly see his reflection. Granted, all he could see past his stomach was a sliver of his head, but still!
Adjoining hallways connected like creeping fingers through a series of arches along the towering walls. Dozens of colorful banners and a set of crystal chandeliers hung from the distant ceiling overhead, acting as both testament to the supposed unity of the numerous packs inhabiting the continent and as acoustic padding to dampen excessive reverberation. The spacious hall must have been at least four or five stories tall, with balconies and walkways peering from above the second floor! As big as he was, Sa’Rahn couldn’t help but feel as small as an ant.
The vast assembly hall was far warmer than any other part of the building too, no doubt heated by the hundreds of Anticans occupying it. The summit had already begun it seemed! In the center of the room like an island sat a multi-layered podium, on which a few Anticans were presently standing, speaking loudly and gesturing in all directions for the attendees to witness. Circling around the platform like a swarm of fish were countless smaller tables, seating only about a half a dozen each.
Although Sa’Rahn had thought little of it before, the massed scent of so many Anticans hit his nose at once! The amalgam of body odors, sweat, oils, and foul breath all trapped in a single room was nauseating, though he knew he’d get used to it over time. He was just thankful Iris didn’t have his species’ acute sense of smell.
A sharp spike in one of the speakers’ shouting drew Sa’Rahn’s attention to the stage momentarily. Only a fraction of the discussion had registered with him, but the present debate seemed to concern something about rainwater purification and a certain illness going around along the eastern coast of the continent. Confused and a little concerned, Sa’Rahn whispered to the ambassador, “What’s that about some packs becoming sick?”
“Hmm?” The ambassador mumbled, glancing briefly at the panel of speakers. “Ah, the eastern coast, yes. Worry not, my friend. The matters at present are not of concern to the Ant’lirca. My time to speak will come soon enough, I assure you.”
Gradually weaving through the sea of tables and onlookers like a chain of rats in a maze, Ambassador Budȧh turned to face one of his guards, raising his voice above the noise of the current speakers. “Escort the Captain and his band of friends to one of our secondary tables on the main floor. The Admiral and his mate will be dining at my private table this evening.”
“Yes, ambassador.” The armored Antican acknowledged, slinging his weapon on his back while turning to Morley and the others, motioning with his hand, “Captain, this way please.”
While he and Iris continued to follow the Ambassador and now a single guard to a separate table from the rest, Sa’Rahn began to notice something strange about the seating. None of the tables had any chairs or other contemporary seating. Instead, each were surrounded by three large, mattress-like couches, covered in a wide array of sheets, blankets, and pillows. Most Anticans already seated were reclining while facing inward towards the table as they listened to the speaking delegates. “Um, why are there no chairs?” Sa’Rahn openly asked to no one in particular, simply out of curiosity more than anything.
Turning his head to the question as they neared their own table, an amused smile spread across the ambassador’s face as he explained, “Our people favor to recline while resting or dining, Admiral. As hunters by nature, it is preferable than stiff chairs.” Budȧh paused while laying down his cane atop one of the mattresses against their table overlooking others below, awkwardly trying to position himself to lounge. Being as old as he was, transitioning from standing to a horizontal surface at knee level was no easy task. “Don’t just stand there, pup, help your elder!” He barked suddenly, waving the remaining guard to assist him with an arm for support. Finally seated, adjusting his legs and girth to lay comfortably on his side, the ambassador let out a sigh of relief, propping himself up on one arm. “To Anticans of my age, it is also a blessing to the hips. Not to mention a decent bed for light resting.”
Apprehensively glancing down at the mattress on which they were meant to recline, Sa’Rahn soon realized, considering his size and weight, this wasn’t likely to end well. Leaning towards his love casually, he whispered, “Ok… babe, I’m sorry, but I might need your help here…”
Giving him an unimpressed look, Iris simply replied, “My help? Rahn, sweetie, I’m the one wearing a tight dress here.”
“Right! Er-, right…” Sa’Rahn mumbled as he began to place one knee awkwardly on the cushion, attempting to sit first. Making sure the ambassador was busy and not paying attention, Sa’Rahn discreetly placed his hand under his bottom as he carefully maneuvered himself. The many times he had accidentally split his pants over the years readily came to mind. Always when he was least expecting it, he would twist a little too far or bend over a little too quickly, and with a sudden rip his briefs would make an appearance! He didn't want to take any chances.
Although it took a minute, and a little help from the Antican guard standing by, Sa’Rahn finally managed to plop himself down on the couch as well, also laying on his side. Iris on the other hand had little issue, sitting against her love closely with ease, legs tucked back beneath her. Sa’Rahn flushed a bit beneath his fur as she curled up next to him, feeling her warmth as she leaned into him, using his belly as a pillow.
His attention wavered however as a waiter passed their table, trays of foods above their heads, drawing Sa’Rahn by the nose with savory aromas wafting by. The delicious smells of roasted meats and exotic seasonings being served was enough to make his mouth water and his stomach rumble expectantly! “Mmm, that smells delicious…!” He exclaimed, “Are all your political events so well catered? This doesn’t feel like much of a ‘peace summit’?”
“I assure you, my friend, it is. Few enjoy these gatherings, least of all ambassadors such as myself. As such, the pack council has taken great efforts over the years to make these summits as tolerable as possible.” The ambassador replied while idly smoothing out a few wrinkles in his robes, uninterested by the present discussions being handled by the summit. “The issues to be discussed to are far more endurable if one is relaxed and well sated for clear thinking, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Sounds like something a lot of political gatherings should do.” Sa’Rahn chuckled.
The ambassador simply began to snicker before bellowing a quick laugh at the remark. “Haha! Very true, my friend, very true indeed.”
The longer the peace summit dragged on, the more confused Sa’Rahn grew. Every few minutes, a handful of Anticans would approach the central stage to replace the previous group, proceeding to bicker and argue as they withdrew. The ‘discussions’ covered a wide range of topics from hunting ground rights to territorial disputes. There didn’t seem to be any set rules or etiquette to the debates or topics being brought up either. Things were often left unsettled or dropped entirely at random. One of the delegates even struck another at one point! Sa’Rahn couldn’t tell if the Anticans on the stage were proclaiming matters to the hundreds of onlookers around them, or if they were simply arguing amongst themselves for entertainment. Their customs and mannerisms while near shouting seemed odd to put it lightly. Perhaps they were doing both, he wondered? It felt like both. Truthfully, Sa’Rahn quickly began to wonder what point the Federation had by sending a party to supervise these events. Perhaps other summits elsewhere might be different, but this seemed trivial at best.
While Iris wasn’t particularly enamored with the drama, she seemed glad to be with him at least. The two whispered into each other’s ears about mundane things, back and forth like young lovers in a schoolroom to pass the time. It had been a longer than he could remember since Sa’Rahn had gotten to take his mate on a real date, somewhere other than a holodeck simulation or the ship’s mess. Those were fun and all, but they didn’t feel real. As he enjoyed the momentarily freedom the evening granted, he briefly forgot she was still under house arrest.
Still, having not had anything to eat for the quite a while now, Sa’Rahn was growing restless. Much like the haphazard summit itself, the waiters too didn’t seem to have any pattern to the order in which they served the attendants. It had been hours since lunch, he was starving! His stomach offered a long, internal rumble he hoped only he could hear. He wondered if Iris noticed, leaning against him as she was. Thankfully though, it wasn’t long before Budȧh signaled one of the many roving servers. Ever since Sa’Rahn learned how to operate a replicator as a cub, he had consumed countless delicacies from nearly every species he could think of. While his own culture’s dishes would always hold a special place in his heart, he had to admit, Terran foods were by far his favorite. Humans just seemed to have a unique knack for making enticing sugary and deep-fried foods. Oddly enough though, he had never eaten any Antican dishes before.
His stomach had been patient for long enough though. Sa’Rahn didn’t hesitate for even a moment before digging into the first plate set in front of him. Each platter was stacked with creamy white meats protected by a sugary brown crust. The prickling scent of exotic wood smoke wafted up, likely grilled over an old fashioned fire. Each bite left a slowly bleeding warmth in his mouth, not a burn, but close. There was also a distinctly oily aftertaste to the meat stuck tenaciously to the roof of his mouth. It was a unique sensation he had never experienced before, but one he quickly learned to like!
A lighthearted chuckle escaped ambassador Budȧh as his attention wandered from the summit, noticing Sa’Rahn working his way through a second helping so quickly. “Ha, most impressive, Admiral. Are you enjoying yourself?”
Mouth full, Sa’Rahn simply nodded at first before swallowing. “I’ve never had your people’s food before. What is this anyway? It’s great!”
“Ah, it is a unique specialty, saved especially for events such as these. Imported livestock from the far north, quite rare.” Budȧh explained.
“I thought I read somewhere your people liked your food live though? Sa’Rahn asked, mouth half full.
“Many Anticans still relish the taste of a fresh kill, the primal rush of culling of worthy prey… As hunters, it will always be within our nature. However, most forego such impractical traditions of the past these days.” The ambassador responded.
Although the summit itself was turning out to be just as mind numbing as anticipated, broken by the occasional flash of physical violence among the squabbling old men, Sa’Rahn found little to complain about. The woman he loved was cuddled up at his side, and the Antican waiters were apparently prepared to serve as much food as his belly could hold! Licking smears of sauce and spices from his chops between mouthfuls, Sa’Rahn thought things were actually going pretty good for him finally!
As a satisfied smile spread across his face while tearing into another savory platter, Sa’Rahn glanced to Iris, asking her quietly, “Hey, flower, don’t you want anything to eat too?” While his love had neither the ravenous appetite nor the bottomless stomach he did, Iris would often join him for her own fill whenever he ate. She took more pleasure in watching him enjoy himself than anything really.
“Hmm? Oh, no… I’m fine…” Iris sighed, her voice distant as she stared off into the room.
Sa’Rahn paused as she spoke, his cheeks still stuffed. While he had never been good at reading people, he would have had to have been both blind and deaf to not discern she was clearly upset with him over something. His heart sank like a lead weight as dozens of thoughts raced through his mind, trying to hunt down what he might have done! Gulping down the remaining food in his mouth promptly, he placed a gentle hand around her shoulder, cautiously. “Babe, what’s wrong…?”
Her posture tightened as she continued to look away. She merely shook her head, pursing her lips and mumbling, “I just thought that… nevermind.”
Positive he had done something wrong now, he pressed further, frightened with each word, “Iris… please, talk to me. I’m sorry. What did I do?”
With another deflated sigh, Iris swept her long black hair out of the way to look at him directly. She silently stared into his golden eyes for a moment, wide with worry and desperation. As with earlier, she no longer wanted to fight him; she could clearly see he hadn’t meant to go back on his word so quickly. Rubbing her hand along his side gently, she whispered, “Rahn, sweetie, that’s your fifth plate… don’t you think you’ve had enough.”
Like a dim light bulb gradually flickering on, it wasn’t until he heard the words did Sa’Rahn finally start to realize just how much he had eaten. As if waking from a drunken stupor, he stared at the small tower of plates in front of him, each of them cleaned down to the greasy fats that seeped from the meat. The new belt around his waist had grown painfully tight without his noticing. He began to huff and heave for breath, feeling suddenly winded as it all sunk in. Between whispering playfully with his love and mindlessly viewing the summit, he had indulged well past his hunger long, long ago.
“I-… I…” He stammered, mouth hanging open.
“It’s just… back on the ship. You promised that-…” Iris began to say, sadness coating her voice.
Without a word, Sa’Rahn hesitated only for a second before pushing away the remaining half-eaten plate he had been working on. The enticing aromas from the food still tickled his nose and warmed his lungs, beckoning him to stay and continue to feed. His eyes watered as he dug his teeth into his lower lip! He had made so much progress in trying to win her favor. For the the first time in weeks now, things were starting to feel normal again. As much as he wanted to finish the plate, he wasn’t about to let any food, no matter how delicious, disrupt his progress! Trying to prop himself up a bit to bring himself closer to her, he whispered back, “Babe, flower, I-… I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention, I’ll stop. Help me do better, please?”
Although the gesture would have meant little to anyone else, knowing him, Iris smiled. She had been his mate for the better part of six years, she knew it took a great deal of willpower for him to say those words and mean it. “Thank you.”
“…I love you.” Sa’Rahn whispered, hoping he had smoothed things over.
“I love you too, big boy.” Iris smiled warmly, kissing him, assuring him he had.
As the peace summit wore on and additional speakers stepped up to bark and whine over their petty inconveniences, it was becoming painfully apparent to Sa’Rahn just how much he had overeaten. Had it not been for Iris’s words, he likely wouldn’t have noticed until much later. Each shallow breath he drew was arduous, there simply wasn’t much room for his lungs to expand. His gut felt taught, struggling to digest the mass of food he had blindly consumed. The couch beneath him creaked with every squirm he made. He should have been paying more attention, he lamented, wheezing softly so as not to disturb anyone.
Leaning against him all the while, Iris was the only one to notice his discomfort. Laying a hand on him discreetly, she whispered, “Are you alright?”
Sa’Rahn declined to answer at first, not wanting to disrupt her evening any more than he already had, but eventually shook his head. “I’m feeling really bloated here. Laying down isn’t making it any better… It’s kind of hard for me to breathe.” His thoughts stumbled about drunkenly while contemplating what he could do to alleviate some of the cramping. Walking for a little bit might help, it would give himself a little breathing room. “I’m sorry flower, I need to get up. I need some air.”
Leaving the soft mattress at such an angle proved even more difficult than laying upon it in the first place. Having eaten so much, attempts to sit upright placed unbearable pressure on his guts! His legs weak and shaky, Iris supported him as he tried to regain his balance.
Taking notice of his guest rising from the table, Ambassador Budȧh naturally grew concerned. “Admiral. Are you quite alright?”
The Antican’s question caught him off guard; Sa’Rahn had hoped his leave would go unnoticed. Although not wanting to make an embarrassing scene, he merely stared at the old man with his jaw hanging open before finally stammering, “Uh yeah, yeah… If you’d excuse me, I just need to use the restroom. Nature calls and all that, heh.”
"Oh! But of course, my friend.” The Ambassador nodded, waving the trivial request off with his hand. “Inquire of the guards, I am sure they can direct you to the nearest facilities.”
“Right. Thanks.” Sa’Rahn nodded, eager to leave as he nervously tugged on his uniform. “I’ll be back soon.” He added with a whisper to Iris, struggling to bend over enough to give her a quick kiss. Taking a moment to gather his bearings in the enormous room, Sa’Rahn swiftly made his way through the sea of tables and along the outer wall to the nearest exit.
All the while, Morley had been watching vigilantly and listening from a few tables away. He hadn’t managed to catch every word said, but there was little need to. His gluttonous brother had been stuffing himself for almost an hour, and was now awkwardly making an exit, clearly distressed. Morley’s hands laid clasped in his lap, gripping each other so tightly his fingers might break! He couldn’t decide which was more aggravating: the fact he had been shoved aside so his brother could take center stage as always, or the present threat of Sa’Rahn ruining the mission due to his lack of self-control. Either way there was only one common denominator.
Walking as briskly as circumstances would allow, Sa’Rahn’s eyes began to wander when he suddenly caught sight of a familiar face from across the auditorium. Seated almost directly on the exact opposite side of the hall in a darkened corner, sat Ambassador Dagarr and his entourage from the Rit’lhir pack. It was unmistakably him, milky dead eyes glowing like ghostly flames in the dim light. Sa’Rahn’s hackles instinctively rose upon noticing the Antican was staring at him intently, unwaveringly.
Sa’Rahn merely looked away as he continued on, telling himself the Antican had just made eye contact by accident. Things like that happened all the time. The ambassador probably just recognized him from before. Afterall, how many three-hundred pound Caitians could the man possibly know! Clearly, Sa’Rahn stood out amid the sea of aliens.
Though upon glancing back, he found Dagarr’s lifeless eyes were still fixed on him as the Antican whispered something to one of the armed guard at his side. Pointing directly at Sa’Rahn, the man waved a command as the soldier readied his weapon before promptly turning to vanish out of sight into the shadows behind them.
Although unsettled by whatever had just transpired concerning him, the churning in Sa’Rahn’s stomach reminded him of why he had gotten up in the first place. He just needed to take a slow, leisurely walk around the halls, and everything would be fine. Taking one last look, he to turned to leave.
Nearly every Antican in the capitol building was presently in the main auditorium, leaving Sa’Rahn mostly to himself as he wandered the vast halls of the capitol. Only a few guards who likely worked there were posted along some doors and corridors he hadn’t seen before, but otherwise, the building felt eerily dead and abandoned now. Honestly though, Sa’Rahn was just thankful no one was around to witness him trying to walk off a stomach-ache, especially Iris. Nearly every other waddling step that jostled his innards would force another unpleasant belch, each flooding his mouth with the taste of the half-digested dinner brewing in his gut. He had changed his mind. From now on, Antican food was delicious, but to be avoided. It clearly gave him gas.
Taking a moment longer to let his stomach settle, Sa’Rahn eventually chose to idle by the nearest supporting pillar, taking in one slow deep breath after the other. He could still smell the aroma of spicy food from before coated his lips, reminding him of what he had done. The juices in his mouth tasted foul now.
Sa’Rahn mumbled as he cursed himself; why had he promised to try and get better to Iris? He clearly wasn’t capable, like always. His bar’shra, that demon in his blood, had always been a strong force against his will. It was easier to give in to the impulses that plagued him constantly than try to fight it. Besides, he enjoyed eating, not just out of necessity, but as a hobby. He liked the contentment it gave him, the experiences and tastes that filled his senses. In the unending fight to sate the hunger that never left, he even enjoyed overeating at times; a bad habit he had fallen into at a young age admittedly. But most importantly, he was fond of how it made him feel. Whole, an inner sense of satisfaction and peace that nothing else brought. Food was the only thing that seemed to fill the ever-gaping void inside him, if only for a little while.
But he loved Iris, more than anything else! As he saw it, she was the only person outside of his family that really loved him. For whatever reason, she looked past the outer flaws and habits that tainted his character. She had managed to change the man he used to be, gave him the courage to face the things he feared. Iris filled a broken part of him he knew he couldn’t live without. Even after so long, the notion still boggled him.
Truthfully though, Sa’Rahn had known his health had been on a steady decline for years now as his weight grew steadily. It hadn’t exactly been a subtle change. He couldn’t afford to be complacent anymore, not only for his own good, but more importantly for his mate’s. Sa’Rahn shook his head, tearing up a little. He could only pray he would have the courage and resolve to follow through with what he knew he had to do. They would get past this, things would get better. He would make this up to his love. He had promised her that much.
Finally starting to feel a bit better, Sa’Rahn sighed while brushing off his uniform, eager to get back to his date. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed since he left, Iris shouldn’t have been left alone for so long. Only after briefly stretching out his aching back before turning to leave did it finally hit him… he didn’t recognize the hallway in which he was standing. While preoccupied with his discomfort and self-loathing, he must have gotten turned around.
“Cath…” Sa’Rahn mumbled in frustration, scratching his cheek.
Each endless hallway looked the same. All he could do was wander aimlessly in hopes of finding someone who would direct him back to the main hall, he figured. The same colorful banners, the same chiseled archways, and the same tiled floors radiated out in every direction. The deafening silence around him made Sa’Rahn feel like a helplessly lost cub, separated from his family in a strange place. The imposingly distant ceilings and spacious corridors made him feel small and useless, reinforcing the analogy ironically.
All of the guards and servants he had noticed before seemed to be missing from their posts all of a sudden. Not a soul was in sight and everything was quiet. Only after turning down what felt like the hundredth corner did Sa’Rahn finally spot someone! There was a young Antican carrying an empty tray under his arm a fair distance down the hall. The man was dressed in white robes with an apron drawn down to his knees, just like the waiters who had been serving food earlier. Surely they would know the way back to the main auditorium!
“Hey! Excuse me!” Sa’Rahn called out, gasping for air as he hurried his pace to a light jog to catch him.
The Antican however, seemed completely oblivious as he went about his business, turning another corner and out of sight just ahead.
“H-hey…! Listen… could you… direct me… to… guh…” Sa’Rahn gagged as he doubled over after turning the corner, heaving intensely between each word. The world seemed to wobble as he shut his eyes for a moment, catching his breath and calming his heartbeat; he was too out of shape to run like that for long. “I got a little… turned around. Do you know which way is to… to the… th-…”
Sa’Rahn’s voice slowly dwindled in confusion as he realized what he had thought was yet another corridor was a simple recessed space along the present hallway. The alcove was about three to four meters wide and deep. A colorful stained-glass window spanned one wall, two woven tapestries on the others, and a tall marble statue of some nude Antican holding a sword and sheathed bow on his back stood in the center. A bronze plaque with a detailed inscription in a language he couldn’t read sat beneath the monument’s base.
“Wh-… what the…?” Sa’Rahn mumbled, trying to understand what had just happened. The Antican he had been chasing down was nowhere to be seen! Sa’Rahn’s head swiveled on his shoulders like a lighthouse’s searchlight, left and right as he scratched behind his ear, completely puzzled. There were no doors or exits in sight, no places he could have gone. The man simply vanished! Still struggling to regain his breath, Sa’Rahn noted he did feel a little light headed. For a moment, he considered if something might be wrong with him.
However, the sudden, muted sound of metal clanking in the distance broke Sa’Rahn’s train of thought, one ear instinctively turning to the noise. It sounded like it came from his left! But upon looking, there was nothing but a wall of the alcove and a thick woolen tapestry hanging upon it.
Simple curiosity guiding his actions more than anything at this point, Sa’Rahn took a step forward to examine the piece of art more closely. The decorative drape depicted a spry Antican warrior, apparently having returned from a successful conquest of war, prominently seated with his sword at a long table with others praising him at his feet. Reaching out to touch the tapestry, Sa’Rahn quickly noticed it must have been woven at least four inches deep! His hackles rose instantly upon his head nearing the fabric as well; the curtain seemed to act as a natural acoustic dampener, absorbing sound so well it felt as if he had gone deaf in one ear suddenly!
Pressing his hand on the curtain, it billowed inward at his touch, as if there were nothing behind it. He could tell there was something back there. Sa’Rahn’s hefty arms quivered like frail leaves in the wind as he struggled to move the heavy tapestry with both hands. Doing so revealed a hidden passage of all things; a stairway that seemed to lead down to a lower level of the capitol building. Sa’Rahn simply stared in amazement as he moved to squeeze between the curtain and the wall to get a better look, his stomach scraping against the corner. There wasn’t a lot of room, the passage certainly hadn’t been made for someone of his girth.
Unlike the ornate and decorated hallways he had been wandering for some time now, the stairwell was constructed with rough stonework. Sa’Rahn wondered if the area might have been a condemned portion of the building, accessed during construction perhaps. What light that bled between his hefty shadow and the curtain seemed to die almost instantly. Darkness enveloped the stairwell like a fog, growing thicker until nothing but pure wall of blackness was left. Even with his species’ enhanced sense of sight in dimly lit environments, Sa’Rahn couldn’t make out anything past the first few steps. He squinted tightly, trying to focus his vision.
“Hello!?” Sa’Rahn said loudly, cupping his mouth as he shouted into the void, hoping someone might hear him.
There was no answer.
The fur on Sa’Rahn’s neck rose as he felt goosebumps pucker his skin. Something didn’t feel right about this. It almost felt like someone was watching him from the darkness below. This had to have been where that Antican had disappeared to though! There was no where else he could have gone. Gripping the edge of the door frame for support, he called out again, “Is anyone down there?”
There was still no reply, but there was a sound. He couldn’t quite make out what it was though.
However, just as his mind was shifting in thought, there was a quick brush of fabric and light from behind him. Turning to the disturbance, Sa’Rahn only managed to get a faint glimpse of a burly figure before a swift fist cracked his nose, blinding him! “GAH!” Sa’Rahn yelped in pain, brilliant flashes of stars dancing before his eyes!
It was hard to breathe all of a sudden! A steady flow of something warm began to gush from his nostrils! Shooting pain from his sinuses radiated into his eye sockets! Clasping a hand over his mouth, he awkwardly stumbled back, dazed and confused, initially forgetting he was standing on the precipice of a long stairway.
Helplessly falling back as gravity hurled him down like a tumbling boulder, each rigid step jabbed into his soft flesh! None of them hurt for long though after Sa’Rahn heard a single, loud crack somewhere along his upper temple, tossing him into a world of darkness as he laid sprawled, unconscious at the distant bottom of the stairs.
_________________
-To Be Continued…
Category Story / General Furry Art
Species Feline (Other)
Size 375 x 300px
File Size 255.1 kB
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