The Nuclear Reign of Strottimar [Part 1]

Chapter 22; She Holds a Loyalty

Strottimar under a whole moon felt different, at this time of the season, this late into the hour. I sat silently by the juneberry bush, in my black pelt, my mind at ease. Everything had been silent at last for the past few sundowns. I felt intact with my body and the ground again. I'd finally found peace, regaining my thoughts and resting while it was safe. I had a strong feeling that it was not going to be safe around here for much longer.

I waited for a while more in anticipation, looking out into the field before sensing a figure in the distance behind me. I turned my keen senses as well as my ears as I remained still. I caught a whiff of egliptie in the gentle breeze as I slowly smiled and turned with intentions of peace. I'd groomed my fur all nice and kept a flower in my jaws while I waited for her to tread closer.

She took her time, as she does, she was a gentle egliptie, and a patient one too, Piaka. She was just a handful of seasons older than me, and strong. She was highly respected, smart, and keen. But most of all, she was beautiful, a dark purple undertone as contrast to my own dark blue shine, she had the same black shades in her furs and scales. Her ears were just as velvety and her horns even sharper than my own, curled at her cheeks and pointed downwards. Her scales and spikes fell in different distinct places along her back like the jagged mountainside. Her nose was purple and her muzzle wasn't as long. Her top fangs were larger and her bottom unlike my own, and her tail was thin as a lion's. She held more of a slender build, in fact, I could nearly make out her bones in some areas through her thinning summer's pelt.

We two beasts sat on the edge of egliptie and lander territories, just on the border of trees as she approached in silence, but the elegance that her beast had. She paced around me, before settling next to me and dipping her head. Ready to go? She lashed her tail at mine as I stood and locked my eyes to hers. Yes.

Piaka led the way as we walked for a little while, to the rocks where we used to sunbathe off our patrolling duties in the afternoon. This was a private spot, from what I knew, only we would tred around these parts aside from the occasional patrols. I watched her purple eyes graze over the surroundings before leaping up on a rock with her strong hind legs.

Considering her wit and strength, she was a highly respectable egliptie and my father liked her, but she would go unnoticed from his busy gaze quite often.

I wished she wouldn't.

She sat and licked her paws as I placed the flower before her in offering. She looked down at it unamused for a moment before meeting my eyes. She gave me that look as I smiled and laid down comfortably. There were many things to discuss, but for now, as always, we took time to simply lay and enjoy each other's warm presence before anything else. I closed my eyes and breathed her in, pressing my forehead to hers for a moment.

Finally, she changed first, speaking slowly and letting me follow after. "Ryu, we have to talk." her eyes fell sharply on my face. Her voice was low and her eyes were melting into my skin, turning my face red. Her regular form was more muscley, especially her top while her waist was slender. She had dark skin and white freckles, yet her hair was as black as mine, curled nicely, dancing at the rounds of her ears. The same spiked feathers stuck out of her shoulders and fur ran down her back as her limbs were a darker gradient as well, leading down to sharp clawed fingers. She folded her arms, and just below her elbow length was her flesh tattoo of a similar design to mine. "I know, that's why we're here, aren't we?" I scoffed, brushing my shoulders off as I felt my fur shift back into bare skin again.

"Yes, but, I wish we could've met sooner. This news is urgent." her eyes wouldn't meet mine as I relaxed again, feeling my bare skin on the cool rock and letting out a sigh. "I think I know what you're going to tell me."