I drew this for a lovely gift from CadenGallic featuring Caden and Jess. He wrote a fun blush-worthy story. ^//w//^ I hope y'all enjoy the art and the story...as I sink into the "ride" a bit. ;w;

(If you enjoy the story, go here and give it a fav: https://aryion.com/g4/view/959432 )

If ya like squishy tums and charming wonderland nonsense, you oughta enjoy this story he wrote:



Oh, how puzzling this all was.


Jessica pondered this as she wandered through the thick, towering trees of the mysterious forest. She couldn't help but yelp and squeak a little every time she saw a pair of eyes in a dark spaces between the discoloured plants, or hear a hungry growl that she feared belonged to some terrifying predator! She had been keeping to the path for some time, but now even that had seemingly abandoned her and she was now just trying to keep out of the tall grass, idle blades tickling her stockings as she hurried, her dress skirt fluttering like flower petals in the wind. Just how was one to find their way in a place like this, she wondered.


This morning had been so very normal too, pretty blue fields overhead with sheeplike clouds grazing in the air, ruffled by gentle breezes. Perfect picnic weather. But when she'd seen a particularly heavy bottomed white rabbit thundering past, his every hop shaking the ground a little bit, she had been utterly intrigued. A short chase and an unfortunate stumble later, she had found herself tumbling down the rabbit hole it vanished into, and her reality had turned upside down since then.


That invitingly sweet potion that had shrunk her down to be even shorter than usual, that nonsense race between those large exotic animals that she was sure had been trying to catch her or snap her up as they ran, that bed of surprisingly hungry looking flowers shaped like women in fine gowns or that caterpillar who had only confused her more. And now here she was, lost in the woods at a few inches her normal height, with no idea where to go or what to do.


“There really ought to be signs here.” She pouted as she continued on, occasionally checking her back. “A simple signpost or even just an arrow would do for me...”


Just as she said that, she spied something quite curious. Well, everything she had encountered recently was quite curious if she was being honest, but this in particular caught her attention for how curious it was. A single white gloved hand seemed to have appeared out of the darkness before her and was pointing to the left. She could not see any arm attached to it, and it did not seem to be a sign.


“That way?” She asked, following the index finger's point. She couldn't see anything of use down that way, just another line of towering trees. “But where is-” As she turned back, she saw that now the hand was pointing to the right. Why she hadn't seen it be moved! “But, a moment ago...” She once again looked to where it was pointing. That seemed to be a puddle, and she was not getting this fine dress wet. “That won't do eith-” And this time when she turned back, the hand was now pointing up! Jessica pouted and folded her arms. “Now see here, that is just maddeningly unhelpful! I can't go straight up!”


Now the finger wagged back and forth, tutting at her! The sheer nerve of this disembodied hand made her want to really put her foot down!


“What exactly are you in such a hurry to find, little one?” A voice echoed around the forest, and Jessica turned with a start, her eyes wide.


“Who is there?!” She yelped behind her.


“I am there.” The voice replied, and for a second, she saw an open grin materialise from the gloom around her. “Or perhaps, I am there?” The grin spoke, disappearing and reappearing to its right. “Or over there?” The grin vanished and was soon back on the left.


“Or maybe, I am here.”


“AAH!” Jessica whipped around to find the owner of the grin now right behind her, where the floating hand had once pointed unhelpfully. That familiar grin was now set upon human features, wide and upward curled. The owner's chestnut brown hair hung just over his blue pinpointed eyes. “Y-you gave me a fright!” She gasped.


“When you are so very small, I imagine much seems frightening to you, little one.” He chuckled softly, his chin in the grass. Jessica felt a little intimidated, as she realised this person was normal sized, which to her, meant he might as well have been a giant.


“I did not choose to be this small, you know.” Jessica huffed, folding her arms. “Now, are you going to continue to be rude by not even giving me your name?” That only elicited another worrying laugh from the stranger.


“Forgive me, I must have left my manners at home. They must have rolled under the bed again.” The figure then stood up, the rest of his body appearing as he rose, almost making it seem he was floating up from the ground. As he stood properly before her, forcing her to crane her neck to see him, she saw he was dressed quite smartly. That orange tailcoat certainly seemed clean and neat, as did his pinstriped trousers and button up shirt, albeit stretched out over a large tummy tucked away behind his waistband. His leather shoes with brogues reminded Jessica of big city bankers in their tall hats, while his gloves made her think of of the royal guards of Buckingham palace. And yet another surprise to her, was the brown fluffy ears that popped up above his head, and the thick tail that swayed behind him, brushing the ground ever so slightly.


“Why, you're a fox!” Jessica realised.


“A Staffordshire fox, little miss.” He greeted her properly with a mock bow. “And the pleasure is all mine.”


“Oh, I have never met a Staffordshire Fox before.” Jessica was surprised such a thing even existed to begin with. “What exactly is one of those, if you don't mind me asking?”


“Of course not, my dear.” The fox man sat down upon the grass, crossing his legs neatly, his round tummy settling in his lap. “Our kind are known to be particularly cunning, you see. Smarter than a degree from Oxford, more sly than a stage magician.”


Grrrrwwll...


“And...” The fox-man licked his lips, his belly rumbling quite visibly to the little lass. “Hungrier than a bear afore hibernation.”


Uh-oh, Jessica thought. That didn't sound particularly good for her. She tried to hide her worry behind a smile.


“Well um, perhaps if you were to tell me where I can go to leave this forest, we could... s-share a meal?” She offered a little faintly. The Staffordshire Fox looked upon her and licked his lips, a slow longing lick that rounded his entire mouth.


“A tempting offer indeed, little madam.” He grinned and suddenly leaned forward, bringing his face to within mere inches of hers. Jessica squeaked in surprise as that smug grin was now right before her, the hot breath of the fox-man wafting over her and making her shiver from her crown to her toes. “But where, exactly, do you want to get to?”


“Uh... um...” Jessica fumbled, finding herself quite taken aback with this creature's proximity. “Just, anywhere will do? Perhaps somewhere civilised and proper?”


“Ohoho!” The fox laughed, the resulting gust from his jaws bowling Jessica backwards, rolling in the grass. “Civilised? My dear, civility is not a concept most are familiar with.” He leaned forward even more, now lying on the grass with his chin amidst the small blades. “Except for myself, of course.”


“I-I think if you were truly civil, you wouldn't have knocked me over!” Jessica got up in a little huff, straightening out the skirt of her dress. “Now if you're simply going to be unhelpful, sir, then I shall be on my way.” She turned curtly and tried to leave. Alas, the fox man's arms stretched around in front of her, enclosing her in a little circle.


“Oh but madam, we have only just met!” The Staffordshire Fox grinned from ear to ear. “Surely we could just a moment more so we might get to know one another.”


“Um, no thank you!” Jessica laughed, trying to put off her nervousness to not give this tricksy fox anything more. She hurried to try and hop over his arms and run away while she still could. “I think I know plenty about you already!” She hurried on and looked back at him, seeing his shape fade into the shadows of the woods. She breathed a little sigh of relief, hoping she'd managed to escape this strange stranger.


Pomf!


Unfortunately, she'd failed to realise the very ground she was walking upon had suddenly become the trouser leg of the Staffordshire fox. And of course what awaited at the top was a rather plump rear she'd gone and run headlong into! As she realised what this round soft surface clad in felt was, her face went redder than a cherry cupcake!


“Perhaps you are trying to reach the land of Conclusions, little madam?” The fox teased her, glancing over his shoulder as she was leaning into his soft derriere. “As it seems that is where you want to jump to.” His voice was positively oozing with smug charm as Jessica pushed her way off his backside. It was so soft she was almost sinking in!


“V-very funny.” She huffed, pouting as she blushed and tried to stand up straight so she wouldn't be touching that fat bottom. The rounded mass wiggled a little, provocatively before her. “T-this is very untoward, I will have you know!”


“Perhaps you would prefer for it to more unbackward?” The fox replied, bouncing his hips to knock into her so she'd fall backwards onto the forest floor. Jess landed with a soft thud, thankful the ground was so grassy and soft to catch her. But she was less thankful when this wicked and wiley fox suddenly loomed over her, his large belly coming within mere inches of her face and pressing down into her body. “Is this more prefferable for you, little miss?”


“N-no!” Jessica felt her face flush bright red as the soft doughy mass of this beastly fellow smothered her from above. It was all consuming, like the worlds largest blanket combined with the weight of, an elephant! It wasn't as if Jess knew specifically how much an elephant weighed, but she could think of no other animal whose weight could possibly come close to this large stomach currently smothering her! She tried to stretch out her palms and stick up her knees to lift it off of her, like they were tent poles. But alas, as she tried, the weight squished down and bent and deformed around her, rubbing over her body and pressing her down ever more. There was no escape!


“Really my dear, I believe if you and I spoke at length.” The fox continued with a mocking chuckle. “I think we could truly get along. I know a few parts of me have already taken quite a liking to you.”


Grrrrrrrrrrrglblblblblub...


A roaring and bubbling sound, like soup on the boil, filled Jess' ears. That fox's naughty tummy was gurgling at her, like it was hungry for her! That was only a further incentive to escape and ignore this fox's wiles! She would not be dropping into such a cooking pot!


“Hrf! I think the only 'getting on' I would do with you, is getting on down your throat!” Jessica wiggled her hardest and managed to find some ground, pulling herself free of the quilt-like smothering she had been trapped in, rolling herself over and turning on her heels to run. She felt the ground shudder as the fox pulled himself to his feet.


“Do come back, little madam!” The Staffordshire Fox called after her. “There is far worse than I in this forest, you know!”


Jess ignored him and continued to run full pelt. As she did, the earth ground gave way to softer and she looked down. Her eyes widened as the ground had become clad in a vast button up shirt and was getting softer with each step! And then as she ran, she found a maw waiting before her, wide and open!


Jess leapt with all her might and dexterity, bounding across the toothy gap and across the fox's forehead.


“I doubt that!” Jess called down to him, leaping once more to continue fleeing from him. A rumbling chuckle chased her between the tall blades of grass, under the curious flowers that bent when she passed, around the little stones that she might have once called pebbles. All to keep away from that greedy, gluttonous fox!


But alas, as she ran, she found only the signpost again with its nonsensical directions. And on seeing that, Jess became quite frustrated and stopped, huffing and panting.


“Oh confound it all, must it be so confusing and dangerous?!” She whined, stamping her foot.


“Not neccesarily.” The Staffordshire Fox said, casually stepping out from behind the signpost which could most certainly not have hidden his entirely generous form. “It's simply a matter of knowing where you wish to get to.”


“I think I know where YOU wish I would go! Into your stomach!” Jessica frowned, curling her hands into fists.


“Of course. I am rather famished, little one.” The fox chuckled once more, moving a hand to his belly and giving it a good pat. Jess tried to ignore how its jiggling corpulence drew her eyes. “But then I am always famished. But if you only knew where you wanted to get to, I'd need not show you the way into this.” He prodded a finger into his middle, sinking into the fat beneath.


“I... I...” Jessica tried to think with swiftness, realising she was on the brink of an important decision. Perhaps, if she thought in a very clever fashion and racked her little head, she could find a way to ward of this beastly gentleman. He simply wanted to know where she intended to go. But Jess didn't know where she was trying to get to! She was lost as a lamb without a flock.


As she was thinking, she realised that all that running had left her feeling rather famished and rather thirsty. And without thinking, she suddenly blurted out.


“Goodness, a good cup of tea would not go remiss...” And the Fox's grin grew wider.


“Oh? The little madam desires a cup of tea?” He asked, leaning in and looming over her, his wide shadow covering her. Jess felt fear gripping her nervous little heart and she squeaked out a reply.


“Yes?”


“Splendid!” The Staffordshire Fox clapped his gloved hands together. “Then I know just the direction in which you should point yourself, little miss.” He fell forward quite suddenly, but was swept backwards as if he were a feather on the breeze, hovering down until he was laying quite naturally before her. Jess felt the urge to run again, seeing that toothy grin so close once more, but she did not. “Now if you want tea, I'd recommend you go in that direction.” He pointed his left hand behind his back and to the left. “That is where the Mad Hatter lives. Always loves a fine pot of tea, that one.”


“The Mad hatter?” Jess repeated, raising an eyebrow. “Is that his title?” It was hardly a fit for something like 'lord' as she personally knew titles.


“That is what he is called.” The Staffordshire Fox chuckled softly, moving his sleeve away and his hand remained floating where it was. Him doing that displeased Jess so greatly, but it was far better than him trying to gobble her up. “Perhaps you are not taken with the idea? Then perhaps you would prefer to visit the March Hare, over there.” And now his other hand pointed straight to the right.


“A March Hare?” Well, it was certainly no white rabbit, by the sounds of things. “Well, perhaps that would be preferabl-”


“Ah but I must inform you, madam, he's mad too.” The fox shook his head slightly and Jess frowned.


“I do not wish to be around mad people, thank you kindly!” She squeaked.


“Then you are but fresh out of luck, I'm afraid.” The Fox grinned as both his gloved hands traced opposite circles around his head. “For here, madness is but the status quo upon which many of us tread.” Then his hands stopped and he leaned forward again. “Of course, if this is not good enough for you, there is the alternative.” And both his gloved hands pointed into his cavernous maw. He opened it wide and Jess saw the deep pulsing crimson tunnel that awaited her if she did not choose, with a red carpet of the fox's tongue beckoning her welcome within.


“Um, no, I think not.” Jess shook her head. “Perhaps um, the March Hare I shall visit then.” At least his title did not include the word 'Mad' so perhaps he would be the better choice.


“Excellent choice, miss. Though I do feel that he and the hatter shall be enjoying one another's company anyway, I'm afraid.” Jess felt rather frustrated, feeling her decision was ultimately fruitless if that was indeed the case. “Now, it is quite some way to his home, so might I recommend transport?”


“Transport?” Jess echoed with a surprised blink. There was transport in this curious place? “That would indeed be preferred.” Perhaps some form of carriage? This fox certainly seemed fine enough to own one, though she feared it might be too large for her.


“Splendid. Then climb aboard!” The fox's left glove swept Jess up from behind, making her gasp in surprise as she was lifted by the floating hand. The Staffordshire Fox levitated into the air and rotated where he floated, so now his belly was facing up. And speaking of such, Jess was suddenly deposited onto that doughy round mass as his hand released her. She gasped as the mass shifted and jiggled beneath her, coming to a steady stop. That did little to calm her nerves as she felt her face go red once more, her fingers curling into her dress and holding onto her skirt in base instinct.


“I should have known you would do something like this.” She grumbled, frowning over at the face of the fox.


“Indeed you should, little miss. But I assure you, this is naught but transport, I leave my ulterior motives behind me, for now.” Another curling smile in some vapid attempt to quell her troubled mind.


Although... and she would NEVER admit this to that smug beast who now floated through the forest. But this cushion she was forced to sit upon as they travelled the woods... it was quite comfortable. Perhaps even finer than a queen sized bed or her own pillow. How curious indeed. She found herself spreading out a little to steady herself atop it, stretching her legs out and placing her hands upon that soft mass. She watched from her perch as the trees swept around them and they progress through the forest, off the ground and at a far faster pace than she knew her little legs could carry her.


While she still didn't trust this Staffordshire Fox, she would at least admit, he was proving himself useful.


Well, she wouldn't admit it vocally anyway...