The only sounds in the night were the gurgles of a panther’s stomach, sloshing around with a human inside as it swayed back and forth. Though the cat stuck to the shadows, the streetlights not operating, she walked with pride. She flaunted the pudge stuck to her body as if the whole world watched, the smile on her muzzle unceasing.

Finally reaching her destination: a small two-floor house with its back to the woods, facing a street of a neighborhood all with nearly identical houses.

The panther leaped over ten whole feet and landed atop the roof above the front porch. The window in front of her slid open on its own, and the panther climbed in, her belly sliding through unobstructed as she began lying down on the couch right beneath the window. “We’re here, sweetie~.” The panther nuzzled her sagging belly. It suddenly grew even larger, like ropes keeping it together had been cut, the weight of its contents almost reaching the floor as it spilled over the couch’s edge.

“Aw… already…” The disappointed voice of a young male came from the gut.

“Cheer up, Jake, I’ll stay with you for tonight~!” The panther’s paw glided across her engorged belly, fur jiggling, and the gastric groans intensifying.

“Thank you, Sierra!”

“You can thank me with some belly rubs, big boy~.”

Right on cue, the bulge shook and jiggled, random protrusions moving across the silky midnight fur. “That’s it~…” Sierra shifted her body, bringing the entirety of the bulge beneath her, and laid on it, squishing her prey. The belly raised her, acting as a gurgling cushion, one she nuzzled and licked out of affection. “Mmmmmm~...” She purred. “I think it’s time for you to be panther pudge now~…”

Immediately, the entire stomach contracted around Jake. It shook with his struggles, a handprint protruding out of the fat, before the belly rapidly shrunk as if a drain unclogged to empty. It went from massive with outlines, to smooth and round, to half size, a quarter, and empty, like some metabolic time-lapse in a mere few seconds. The end result was an empty stomach and some extra padding on the abdomen.

“There we are, right where you belong~.” Sierra looked back behind her, her hind legs standing up while her front lay down. Her tail swished back and forth, her thighs jiggling as she lay down completely. “Out of all the places you could wind up, you seem to enjoy my belly the most, but it looks like my hips may have snagged you~.” She rubbed her middle with a paw. “If that’s the case, I suppose you wanted that~.”

An audible groan came from the panther’s belly.

“There’s no shame in admitting it, big boy!”

An even louder groan rang out.

“Oh, but Faith doesn’t have a choice, sweetie~.” Said the panther as she licked her paw. “As far as I’m concerned, you’re my own personal gut boy~!”

More gurgles followed, this time with greater intensity.

Sierra rolled onto her back and rubbed her squishy dark grey tum with both paws. “Settle down, you~!” Ripples cascaded across her middle as she petted the fat. “Don’t go siding with her over me~!”

The belly’s activity lessened, and Sierra’s rubs went slower.

Like it was Jake itself, she caressed her paunch gently. “That’s it~…” The panther stretched, curling her back, sighing deeply. “With me, you’re whatever I say you are~. When I say you’re pudge, you’re pudge~.” Sierra closed her eyes, relaxing on the plump couch cushions. “Would you like to stay like that for the night?”

*Groan*

“Hmmm… I think I’ll bring you out for some cuddles…” Sierra flipped over onto her belly. The monstrously magical gut groaned deep and loud, like a snoring ancient dragon. Her cheeks bulged, and “BEEEEUUUUURRRROOOOPPPEEE!!!”

Cascading out with globs of spit, a topaz and jade necklace fell onto the couch. Immediately, the spittle dried up, leaving the couch clean as if worked on by a palace grade cleaner.

The amulet glowed brightly, the light growing and taking shape, casting Sierra’s shadow onto the roof. If one were to look at the house, they’d see the top window shine with light. The light quickly dimmed, and Sierra lied atop a boy.

Jake was flat on his back, eyes closed but stirring. “I regret leaving it up to you… I should’ve stayed as fat…”

A small tongue licked his cheek. “C’mon now, isn’t it nice to feel yourself as belly fat~?” Sierra pressed her paunch forward. “Or was I right, and you were on my hips? Sometimes I have a hard time telling where exactly you ended up last~!” Laughed the panther, wrapping four limbs around Jake.

The boy returned the gesture, pulling Sierra’s head close. It was easy to hug her, given that she was smaller than he was, the size of a real leopard, at the moment at least. “Greedy panther…”

“That’s right~. I am greedy~. Greedy for you, that is~!” Her muzzle pressed downwards and smooched the boy right on the lips.

Jake gripped the sides of her head and pulled Sierra’s lips off him. “I’ve already got enough ladies out for me! Don’t make them more jealous!” Giggles broke out between his words.

“They’ll have to get through me first!” In an unexpected turn of events, Sierra rolled off the couch, along with Jake, and tumbled onto the carpeted floor.

“Sierra!” Jake exclaimed. The next thing he knew, a giant paw had pinned him to the ground.

True enough, Sierra had grown larger than she could fit in the room. She was just barely beneath the roof, and the front half of her body phased out of the wall.

“Let me show you what said ladies would have to go through~…” The panther walked forward, bringing her whole body just barely fitting in the room. Sierra laid flat on her flank, phasing through several pieces of furniture, brought Jake to her chest, and curled her body forward. Purring, she licked Jake’s hair repeatedly, slicking it backward. “They’d have to go through me~… and I guarantee they’d end up making me even more plump~.”

Jake buried himself into her silky midnight fur. “I guess I should hire you for crowd control~…”

Sierra giggled, finding his joke funny. “You can pay me in human snacks~.”

“Me, or should I start kidnapping people~?” Jake ran his hand down the side of her neck.

Sierra giggled even louder, putting her paw to the back of Jake’s head and pulling him to her fur. “No one tastes better than you~… you’re the only human I ever want~.”

Jake tried to make as much contact with her hide as possible, relishing in its softness and pudgy squishiness.

“Mwa!” Sierra smooched his head. “You’re so sweet~.”

“You’re so soft~…” Jake said sleepily.

“All thanks to you~.” The panther’s chest vibrated from her quiet giggles. She saw how sleepy her little human was. “I think it’s time for you to sleep~.” She pulled him closer, and Jake’s body began literally sinking into her, like a pit of hot tar.

As he sunk in, her body made wet, bubbly noises, Jake’s arms already deep within her, and his vision completely black.

With a ‘slorp,’ the last of Sierra’s body reconnected, becoming whole. “Have a wonderful sleep Jakey~.”

***

The birds chirped in the morning, singing their daily song.

Jake woke up in his bed, tucked in like a mother had put him there. Upon looking around, he frowned, seeing Sierra nowhere in sight.

He had hardly even seen Sierra during the day. The panther was always a creature of the night. She said goodnight, but not goodbye. Clutching his necklace, he wished she would have stayed. He wished to have woken up in her arms. To go to sleep close to someone and wake up alone wasn’t a good feeling.

Climbing out of bed, he exited his room, opening the door and turning right, heading straight downstairs.

Jake immediately stopped at the last step, seeing the cornucopia of breakfast sitting on the table. He smiled. “Thank you, Sierra.” He sat down and dug in.

After the hearty breakfast, Jake was feeling better, but not completely. He figured seeing Faith would solve that, and immediately began getting ready to leave.

After locking up, Jake began his hike into the woods. It wouldn’t take long to get there if he chose the harder route, which required a steep climb, and was especially difficult in the deep snow, which was exactly what he was trudging through.

He chose the longer, easier route, going through a path that had him zig-zagging up the hill. After a bit of walking, the cave finally came into view.

Jake entered, but found it… empty…

He checked the watch on his calendar, realizing it was hunting day, and since he didn’t know when she had left, he didn’t know when she’d be back.

Going towards the wall to his right, Jake looked at his favorite out of the numerous printouts that stuck to the cave rock. Faith and him, sleeping together on her nest. It had been taken by his adoptive mother, Luna, when she had visited them one day.

The boy’s fingers rubbed the white edges, but he dared not risk smearing the picture itself.

“I’ll never forget how cute you were that day~.” Spoke a familiar voice at the cave entrance.

A massive smile came across Jake’s face as he looked in the direction it came from and saw two topaz eyes floating in the air. Immediately, he started running, and the dragoness turned off her cloaking, revealing herself.

Faith, his adoptive sister. The one he cherished most in the whole world. She was covered in forest green scales, with a lemony underbelly flowing beneath her. A line of small, dark green fins moved down her neck to her tail.

When he finally reached her, Jake wrapped his arms around her forearm.

“Aw…” She cooed, leaning down to nuzzle him. “My cute little human~.” But Faith knew something was wrong. She laid down and hugged the tiny boy to her chest. “Did everything go alright with Sierra?”

“Yeah, it was great!”

Faith leaned her head down. “What’s wrong? I know you, Jake. You can’t fake it with me.”

Jake frowned. “Every time Sierra takes me home… we never get to say goodbye. I… I shouldn’t be making too big of a deal about it… but I guess it built up over time.”

“Jake…” Faith cooed, holding him close. “You can’t blame Sierra. I’m betting she wants you to sleep peacefully, and you know she’s only around at night.”

He didn’t reply, he just refused to make contact.

“How about you spend the day with me this time~?” Faith tried cheering him up.

“Yeah, that sounds nice.” Answered Jake.

***

Jake’s eyes flickered open in the dead of night. Immediately, he knew something was up, but he couldn’t place his finger on it.

Until he saw the panther at the cave entrance, with a violet moon behind her.

Jake smiled, and he tried to say her name, except the words never came. A look of dismay came over his face as he tried again and again to speak, but nothing. He didn’t like it, even if it was Sierra’s doing. Crawling over to Faith’s head, he jostled and pushed it, trying to wake her up. He tried harder, but she remained fast asleep. Out of a reflex, he tried to cry out to Faith, but there was only empty silence.

“Don’t be afraid.” A whisper having the voice of Sierra entered both of Jake’s ears. And when the boy looked at her, the cat’s lips didn’t so much as budge. “I simply wanted it to be peaceful.”

Jake constantly wondered if this was real, a dream, or an illusion. Or something he couldn’t possibly conceive. It was so surreal, especially looking at that violet moon, making the cave exit look as if it were a cyclopean eye. But the loss of his voice was making him panic a little.

“There’s no reason to be afraid, Jake.” The whispering voice said. “Perhaps I’m overdoing it, but I want you to know I’ll always be with you.” Then the panther began walking forward. “I’m sorry I’m never around in the light; that’s just who I am. But, day or night, I’ll be there whenever you need me most.”

And when Jake blinked, she was gone.

“But what is it you’re afraid of?” Whispered the voices at each end of Jake’s ears. “I do not wish to cause you sorrow when I leave.”

With nothing to look at, Jake closed his eyes and tucked his knees to his forehead. And then he could finally speak. “When you left for a long time, you didn’t say goodbye… you told me you’d be gone, but after I went to sleep, all that happened was I woke up in my bed…”

A long moment of silence passed by.

“Then it is that you cannot cherish our last moments together?” Whispered Sierra.

Jake nodded. “I guess so. It never bothered me until you left that one time.” He was beginning to find himself relieved, speaking his confined feelings.

“I see…”

“I’m sorry, it’s stupid,” Jake replied. “I shouldn’t be holding it against you.”

“No. It is the last moments we spend together that leave the mark. You do not know this, but I have said goodbye every time while you slept. Seeing you so peaceful, I wouldn’t dare wake you.”

Now Jake was feeling more guilty than ever. “I know…” He whispered. “But I want to say it back… I’m sorry…”

“For what? For wanting to see me one last time? For desiring to give affection? You’re sad not because I didn’t say goodbye, but you couldn’t.”

The boy couldn’t keep it in. Tears ran down his cheeks, spilling onto his pants. And then… he felt the familiar silky touch of a fur coat surround him. When Jake looked up, he saw Sierra’s face to his left, with her body, in a larger form than she usually had, curled around him.

“My sweet human~. Is there anything else you’d like to say?”

A second passed by where they simply stared into each other’s eyes before Jake practically leaped out with his arms stretched. They wrapped around Sierra’s neck, who didn’t look the slightest surprised by this, and Jake began bawling.

“I love you, Sierra… I don’t deserve everything you’ve done…” Jake took a spazzing inhale. “I want to be able to be with you every day of my life like I do with Faith…” As he bawled, he started going slack, not of his doing.

“That means everything to me, Jake~.” Her paws hugged his limped body to her chest. “Perhaps simply saying goodbye will solve it, but you know me, I never settle for simple~. And now, I’m going to make it, so we’re never truly apart~.”

“What do you mean?” Asked Jake, sounding sleepy as he relished the softness of Sierra’s fur.

The panther giggled. “I will never tell you, but who knows, maybe you’ll notice~. You’re a smart boy, after all~. But I will tell you this: I plan to keep you with me for all my life, all of eternity. Death itself will not even take you away from me. All because I love you, Jake. With every moment we meet again, my love for you grows stronger. And right now… I can’t keep the guilt inside me any longer… I left you for three months, fearing that bond. I intended on leaving you for good...” Sierra began sobbing herself. “But every second, of every minute, of every hour, of every day… I thought of you…” Tears fell onto the boy. “It took all my willpower to keep myself in check… but I broke…”

“Sierra…”

“This is my sin… to be so selfish as to lie like that and leave you… it makes me sick!” Sierra looked at Jake’s eyes. “You have no idea what it’s like to be as old as I am… to be disconnected from people. But you, Jake, you changed that for me… and I gave you abandonment in return… I could never redeem myself for that.”

“You…” Jake smiled. “You came back for me!” Somehow shrugging off the spell, to Sierra’s surprise, Jake hugged her tightly.

“How can you be happy after what I did?” Sierra was unbelievably confused, sobbing a little.

“Hearing that at first, I was so sad. I understand why you don’t want to befriend people. It must be hard being immortal… but that you came back to me despite it all, it means so much to me…”

Sierra was frozen, and then she made a full-fledged embrace. “How could someone have a heart like yours? I promise you and Faith will be my friends forever…”

Then, everything changed. The violet moon vanished, and it reappeared as a normal, crescent rock in the sky, just as it should be.

And then, Faith stirred. When her eyes opened, they widened, seeing what was happening in front of her—Sierra and Jake in an embrace, soaked with tears.

“W-what? What’s going on?” Faith asked, trying to wrap her head over what ordeal had just occurred.

“Nothing.” Replied Jake. “Just friends visiting~.”

Sierra looked down at him, giving a look that said, “thank you.”

Faith kept her refused look for a bit, before smiling and laying her head back down. “What goes on between you two is beyond my understanding~.”

“I do know you’ll understand that he’s going straight to my belly right now~.” Sierra smiled at the dragon.

“Fire away~.” Faith replied, not even opening her eyes.

Sierra and Jake looked at each other, and then Jake was greeted with the sight of a familiar maw.

With how big Sierra was, it was a simple matter to swallow him. Her jaws closed down on his middle, and she threw her head back, letting Jake slide right on into her throat. Two swallows and he was sliding right on down.

Sierra put a paw to her chest as a flush of violet appeared on her muzzle. She had never done what she was about to do since there had been no reason.

Upon entering the fleshy organ, Jake was immediately greeted with an omnidirectional hug. An external pressure proved to be the greatest force, as Sierra’s paws rubbed her pudgy belly. It groaned and gurgled with activity, but not digesting the boy just yet.

And then a new pressure exerted on Jake.

“You better not start liking Sierra more than me~!” Said Faith as she nuzzled Sierra’s belly.

“Never.” Jake replied with a chuckle.

“I don’t mind that~.” Giggled Sierra. “You two are a special pair, and I like to keep it that way~.” Her paws gave a big press. “Time to rest, Jakey~.”

*Glooorrrrrn*

The belly took its time, kneading Jake to sleep rather than digest him in a swift, gastric clench.

“Sierra?” Asked Faith.

“Yes?”

“You have something planned, don’t you?”

Sierra smirked. “Yes, just don’t tell him what I’m doing.”

“And that is?”

“I’m keeping a fragment of his soul.”

“You’re what!?”

“It’s fine. In doing this, I’ll be able to comfort him whenever he’s sad or lonely.”

“It is… safe?”

“I wouldn’t dare if I wasn’t positive it’d be safe. It won’t affect him in any way in his everyday life.”

“I’m still not so sure about this…”

“Faith…” Sierra got up and stood in front of her head. “I want to keep you both in my life. I will do everything in my power to keep you both safe.”

For a long moment, there was nothing but silence, until a smile spread across Faith’s muzzle. “Thank you, Sierra.”

The panther went over to Faith’s side and lay down. “I can see why Jake likes to lay here~. Dragons are nice to snuggle with~.”

“It’s more common with the females.” Faith joked, laying her head down next to Sierra and closing her eyes.

And for one more time, Sierra let her natural body functions free of their restraints and allowed sleep into her life, while she enjoyed a full belly.

***

It was a beautiful morning. The birds chirped, unbothered by the cold winter air as they sang their morning song.

And inside a cave, warm and cozy despite the gaping hole that led to the outside world, was a human, a dragon, and a panther.

In some layered ball, they laid together, with a dragon on the outside, panther in between, and the human at the very center.

The boy stirred and opened his sleepy eyes. One of the widest smiles he ever had spread across his face. “Sierra…”

“Mmmm… yes~.” Replied the panther, sounding sleepy herself, hugging Jake with his back against her chest.

Jake hugged a paw to his chest, almost desiring to cry. “It’s daytime, and you stayed…”

“And I’ll be staying for a while~.” Her tongue began soaking his hair with saliva. “I’ll be with you so much more now~. And you’ll never feel alone again~.”

Faith raised her head and looked at the adorable sight, emitting an “Awwww…”

“Are you ready for lots of adventures, Jake~?” Whispered Sierra.”

“Yes…”

“No, you’re not~!” Teased Faith, bringing her tail over. “You’re just a sleepy boy right now~!”

“Okay!” He laughed drowsily. “In a few minutes then~…”

Sierra held him closer, and Faith tightened the circle around them.

***

It had been quite the day. Jake had seen Arla again, played with some jungle plants, and met a pack of velociraptors who proved to be quite kind to him. Faith had stayed behind, and Sierra was with Jake either watching from afar or right next to him. It was the first time Jake had ever seen her during the day, and she proved beautiful to look at with the sun on her silky pelt.

And when Jake left the raptors while the sun was setting, he realized how exhausted he was. Almost limping as he walked, but he was happy.

Sierra dropped down from a tree and walked over to him, the size of a regular panther.

Jake got to his knees and petted her as she rubbed her head into his chest.

“You sure do know how to have a good day~.” She said.

Jake chuckled. “Yeah, it was a good one~.”

“What makes it even better is that I get to take you home~.” The panther licked his cheek. “I can’t wait to play with your soul again~.” She cast a spell over him, trapping his mind in a light form of hypnosis, but he would remain conscious over everything that happened. “Wouldn’t that be nice~?”

A haziness came over Jake’s mind. He went a little limp, leaning against Sierra. “Yeah… that’d be nice~…” He sounded so sleepy and happy.

*Groan* went the panther’s belly.

“Mmmmm… hear that~?” Sierra licked her chops, casting a sound projection spell so that both her belly and her licks would sound as if originating within his own ears. “It wants you back in there~.” She moved, so her side was against him.

“It… wants… me…” Jake’s hand touched the pudgy side of her abdomen. He knew she had a spell on him that made him submissive to her, like drunken love. He didn’t care. In fact, he loved it. When he was incapable of worrying or even thinking about anything else. Ignorance was indeed bliss in this case. “Cheeky panther…” He said as his cheeks blushed. “I’m already yours… must you torment me so?”

Sierra’s own face gained a little color. “As you wish~.” She turned to face him, then ran her tongue up his face while Jake still hugged her. “Now, all you have to do is crawl down my throat~.” Then her pink maw opened.

That fleshy abyss, in reality, was so small, yet it seemed like something that led to the center of the earth.

Jake slipped a hand into her mouth, emitting wet noises.

Sierra hummed as she closed down on it and suckled as if it were a mere piece of candy.

*SLUUUURRRP!*

The suction pulled Jake forward, and his biceps were between the lips. The red exploded on his face while his arm felt around the throat.

“Mmmmhmhmhmhm~!” The panther hummed and giggled at the same time. Then came her voice, originating outside both his ears. “Mind handing over the other one?”

The boy slowly brought his free hand to her lips and pushed it right in there. On his own will, he got his arm deep to where he could hold his hands together. And right in front of his eyes was Sierra’s own.

The glowing pink orbs looked right at him; eyelashes fluttered heavenly. “This is your fate… to be with me forever… you and Faith…”

“Forever…” Jake exhaled. “Forever…” And despite the spell clouding his mind, he grasped the idea of eternity with Sierra and Faith… “Yes…” He pushed a little deeper.

“And now we’re going to be together one more time~. The closest possible.” And then, she swallowed.

*Gulp!*

It was gentle, bringing Jake’s soldiers to her muzzle.

“Bring your head inside, little one~.”

He did as she asked, bringing his skull into her purple maw, placing it onto her tongue. It got lapped a few times before Sierra brought that into the abyss.

*Glrk!*

And from there, it was smooth sailing. Swallow after swallow, Sierra brought him closer to her. Her esophagus clenched tightly on Jake, guiding him down and constricting his movements, with his arms already within her belly as his belly was licked by the panther’s playful tongue. Past that, she raised her head up, getting those legs to point straight down, and allowed the simple physics of gravity to help bring Jake into her embrace. At last, there were only the feet. Sierra teleported the shoes away and suckled on those bare toes, making Jake writhe and squirm. Her belly and neck pulsed with movement, and giggling could be heard within her. Then deciding enough was enough, Sierra made an audible *Slurp!* and…

*GULP!*

“Ahhhhh~…” Sierra sighed blissfully, feeling Jake slide right on down her throat. Her back paws were lifted off the ground as her belly grew huge with Jake’s size, with no spells to shrink him or manipulate space. She fell backward and sat down on her haunches, hugging her belly with her forepaws. “Welcome home, Jake~. Well, almost anyway~.” She leaned her head down and smooched her belly, where Jake’s head was, landing square on his lips.

Jake ceased every muscle in his body, being completely still and embracing his companion.

Keeping her lips against his through her fur, she kicked her stomach into overdrive. It gurgled and groaned, writhing on its own. The shape of her loved one turned soft, and her belly shrunk, turning sloshy in ten seconds. Sierra only broke the kiss when she couldn’t lean down any further. She smiled, watching as Jake became little more than some additional padding. A most precious addition. Then she had an idea and thought maybe she’d specifically keep that pudge, and whenever she burned any off, she kept that one. ‘Maybe eventually it’ll just be him on me?’ She giggled at the thought, bringing a paw to the gem on her chest.

Jake was back in the void again. The emptiness was a familiar thing to him. Only it wasn’t empty. He had his arms around Sierra, their lips touching as they floated in the void with no sense of direction.

She broke the kiss. “Welcome back, Jake~.”

“It’s good to be back~.” Jake smiled. “This is pretty much my home~.”

“Not yet. We’re just missing one thing~.”

“You mean… Faith?”

Sierra nodded. “It’s time I brought you both together~.”

***

Faith’s eyes flaired open, looking immediately at the cave entrance.

Sierra stood there, her glowing amethyst eyes like a candle in the dark.

And that’s when a haziness, like Jake had felt, came upon her mind. “S-Sierra?” It was so much stronger, needing to be to overcome a dragon’s willpower. Faith’s own iris began making a pinkish glow as the magic poured into her. “J-Jake?” She sounded as if she was sleepy, but the concern over her loved one was evident in her voice.

“He is safe, and I have come to reunite you two~.” Whispered the panther.

And then, Faith blinked, and standing before her was a black dragon with every exact features of her. The horns, spine fins, and everything were there. Her scales were midnight black, glowing amethyst eyes, and the gemstone was far larger than it had been when Sierra was a mere panther.

“Would you like to be with Jake again?” Asked the black dragon.

“Y-yes…” Faith’s purple glowing eyes looked at the dragon, but didn’t appear to be surprised in any way.

Sierra grinned.

***

Sierra hummed, lying flat on her flank atop Faith’s nest. “I had almost forgotten how wonderful dragons feel inside me~. I only wish you squirmed as much as the rest~.” The panther was much puffier than she had been in a long time. Still carrying that lean look to her, but now akin to a marshmallow. “I feel so much warmer with all this pudge~…”

***

And in the void, there were two.

A dragon and a human, each was embracing the other, uncaring of the emptiness surrounding them.

“How did you take it?” Asked Jake with a smile.

“I let her.” Faith chuckled under breath. “She changed into something a lot bigger and teased me~.”

“I’m surprised you’re telling me this!”

“Well, you can relate to it, can’t you!?”

They laughed, and soon all was silent.

“This is very nice…” Said Faith.

“It is…” Replied the boy in her grasp.

“Both of you have no idea how much this means to me.” Sierra’s voice sounded in both their ears. “To keep both your souls safe and for you to be together like that.”

“Thank you, Sierra.” Faith whispered.

“I should be the one thanking you both. You each brought light into my life once again.” Sierra’s voice seemed to almost choke.

The next thing Jake and Faith knew, they were on the savannah fields beneath a cosmic purple night sky. They were still in the embrace they held, each unwilling to break it. The two didn’t even notice they were right next to an exact recreation of Jake’s house.

After a while, Faith broke the silence. “Would you like to join us, Sierra?”

“I thought you’d never ask.” Answered the voice in their ears. Then, a black house cat leaped onto Faith’s arm, and climbed down to Jake. She ducked under his arms and allowed the boy to hold her close. “Thank you for letting me be part of the family~.”

“You deserve it.” Faith pulled Jake closer, thereby pulling Sierra as well.

***

Meanwhile, in the physical plane, Sierra strutted out of the cave, her pelt rippling with every step, stopping to place a protective symbol on it. “Keeping you both for a bit won’t do any harm~.” She giggled. “In fact, I think you both want that~.” Her paw reached back and rubbed her belly. “Who knows, maybe someday, countless years from now, both of you will stay with me forever. But it’s impossible to predict such a faraway future.”

---

I love writing Sierra! Like I really should've written a story of her way earlier than I started Sierra's Visit! I was going to have her be like... this ghost friend that occasionally visits. She'll still be fulfilling that role, just not as much, being more of a companion now. A bit of a hybrid character now I guess.

Edit: I never mentioned this on FA, but I'm in college now. I'm three days into it now. Is it hard? Yes. Will this mean less stories? Yes, but not as much as I had thought. I'm still spending what free time I do have on my hobbies (40K minis are my second hobby). I do have some nearly finished stuff, but right now I'm doing stories I really want to do to keep me motivated in these brave new times for me.

Story, characters and settings