Drasus

My Coral is fragrant in my arms. She allowed me to curl up behind her, the tail I sport gripping at her ankle. I wanted to do something, anything in order to help her foot, but she was asleep almost the second she settled down.

Which means I have to deal with a cock which has no intention of receding, but I don't care.

I have her in my arms, so mating can't be far away….

Then the snarl wakes me, and I have all my claws extended, the tail and wings too. Ready to defend my Coral who is…

Not here.

She is not here, with me. She is nowhere to be seen. If anyone has taken her from me, they will pay with their lives.

I can't quite get out of the opening into the cave I found. My wings mean exiting in a hurry is awkward. This place was not built for a Sarkarnii.

Wherever this place is and whatever a Sarkarnii is. It's what I am, but other than the rut, I don't know what else it means.

It bothers me, but not as much as not knowing where my Coral is bothers me. I fold the wings flat and shove myself through the hole out into the passage, attempting to scent her through the smoke I'm making. Inside I'm burning up, like I want a release, only the release isn't mating, it's something else. I'm not sure if I like the feeling or not.

It's not as nice as wanting to sheath my cock in Coral's heat.

The smoke and my confusion are making it difficult to track where she is. I turn left, squeezing through the tunnel, scales scraping over the walls as I shove myself through, believing her scent is getting stronger until I burst out into a larger area and see it.

The creature is brightly colored. Two heads hiss from a legless body which is smooth. I do not like it at all. The feeling inside me rises up and before I can do anything, I release a sheet of flame which stops the creature instantly.

"Are you just going to kill everything we encounter?" A cross female voice rings out.

Coral! I'm not entirely sure what's happening but my wings and tail reduce, and I have her in my arms.

"Anything which threatens you," I reply. "Although, that thing is food."

The smell of cooked meat has my stomach rumbling, and if I am hungry, my mate must be hungry.

Coral looks over at the creature and she makes a face. "Melabuk," she says. "Horrible things."

"It was a threat?" I ask, my hungry stomach filling with pride.

"They hunt those smaller than themselves, yes. The Sarkarnii kept their quarters clear of them in the main," Coral replies.

I stalk over to the thing and release another burst of flame in an almost involuntary way. The flesh sizzles, and I swipe out a claw, stripping away the charred skin and carving out a large chunk, which I carry back to my mate and present it to her.

"My meat," I say reverently.

Coral stares at me.

"For you?" I suggest.

She reaches out and pulls a tiny strip from the outside, huffing at the heat of it, swapping it between her little pink fingers until she puts out her tongue and drops it into her mouth.

My cock pushes at my pouch as I watch her. I attempt some self control by taking a bite of the meat myself.

"Mmmm! This is…a surprise," Coral says, licking her finger, and I have to cross my legs. "I wasn't expecting it to be this tasty, what with them being orange and…bitey."

"They bite?" I ask, doing my best not to think about Coral biting me.

It's no use. Every movement she makes has my rut roaring.

"They're horrible, but they're nice to eat. Who knew?"

I'm glad I knew. I hand her another morsel which she takes, to my cock's delight.

"I've been having a look around while you rested," she says..

"You should not have gone off without me," I growl.

"And you needed to rest."

"Look what was waiting for you!" I retort.

She goes quiet, chewing thoughtfully. "I suppose you're right. But you still need rest. Do you remember anything?"

I think of the dream, the jumble of colors and sounds. The snarls and growls which seemed familiar. The feeling of weightlessness and of pain.

"Not really. I remember you," I say, pleased to see her face brighten.

"You do? What do you remember?" she asks quickly, swallowing the last of her meat.

"How beautiful you are. What you tasted like when I kissed you. How much I wish to sheath myself in you."

The spark drops from her eyes. It is not what she wants. I'm going to have to try harder.

"And I might have remembered some other scaly creatures."

"You're just saying that," she mutters, wiping her hand on her pants.

"No, I'm not."

I am, a bit.

Coral draws in a breath and lets out a sigh. "I found another place with a big aquium if you'd like. It's possible these caves lead to the control room, I don't know, but it's clear someone has been living here in the recent past."

I growl, my appetite gone. I dislike immensely that Coral has been wandering around without me. I am no mate if I do not protect her.

"What is an aquium?" I ask through fangs far too large for my mouth.

"It's water. Like you smelt last night. In fact it's probably what drew you here. It's big enough for you to bathe in," she says hopefully. "Maybe even shift."

"Shift?"

"Become Sarkarnii. It's one of the ways you can heal."

"I can become something else?" I query incredulously.

"You mean you didn't notice the tail and the wings…and the fangs?" Coral says, eyes dancing with mirth.

"I noticed. They are a nuisance."

She laughs.

I like it when she laughs. It is a balm over my rutting soul. It means my mate is happy, and if she is happy, I am happy.

"Then come and get cleaned up," she says. "And I'll tell you some more about being a Sarkarnii," she adds as she walks away from me, favoring her injured ankle.

I can't help but gaze at her delicious ass as it swings across the cavern. I'd follow her into the bowels of this place, into any danger, into anything.

Even into water, if that's what being a Sarkarnii means.