Stranded on The Southern Continent

1 Year After the Founding of the Forest Federationand Vylet’s Fight Against the Dracier Twins…

I needed to stabilize, and fast! If I pulled back my left wing while pushing forward my right wing maybe…but that was easier said than done! Especially holding a full sized guitar and a spear on my back! A sudden barrage of wind barreled over the canopy, rippling over the endless expanse of green like a colossal wave. Ah, shit!

“Vylet! Careful, don’t drop your guitar!” Windthrow shouted.

He was lounging on our wooden deck, doing maintenance on his bow. My beloved mate wore a dark green tunic with short sleeves, perfect to show-off his beautiful biceps. Over the last year, he’d grown out his platinum blonde hair slightly. No more short cropped hair, now he sported a long quilted braid. He absolutely didn’t enjoy it being called a “pony tail". His emerald eyes traced my path as I weaved in the sky above Sapwood.

A few other villagers glanced up from their knitting, cooking, and other projects. Free entertainment I guess! But, for the most part, my flight training was a normal sight in Sapwood Village.

“Trying my best to be careful!” The wind buffeted against my spectral wings, sending me into an uncontrolled spin. To make this so much worse, my cherry guitar slipped from my claws and plummeted down.

A few villagers hollered. I made out the voices of Milo and Dean–gotta tell them off later! I ducked my head, pointing my horns down and tucking my wings behind me. The blue of the sky and the green of the forest streaked into a brilliant turquoise as I homed in on my guitar.

I skidded to the ground just in front of Windthrow. He gripped my waist, dissipating my momentum with a twirl. Despite my dizziness, I saw my guitar in his other hand. Of course he’d caught it for me!

“Woah woah, steady yourself Vylet!” We laughed together and he pulled me into a passionate kiss.

I reluctantly pulled back.

“Thanks Wind!” I said. “What do you think, better than yesterday?”

Windthrow frowned, looked at the sky, and then back at me.

“The diving was impressive as usual and you recovered quickly from the stray wind.” He cleared his throat. “But you're not stable enough to play your guitar in the air yet.”

I pushed my body against his, letting my breasts squish against his solid muscles. On the tips of my talons, my head was almost level with Windthrow’s ear.

“A girl might get upset about comments like that.” I very gently gave him a love bite on the shoulder. “You know how out of control I can get when beneath you–”

“Or when I’m on top,” I added.

Not content with the one-sided teasing, his finger traced up the scales on my back, lingering on the ticklish scales on my neck. The ones that only he knew about, hidden by my long black hair. And that only he knew how to utilize during our most intimate and vigorous moments.

“You should put your wings away, Vylet. No one wants you fainting again.”

“Boo, you’re no fun!” I playfully pushed myself away. “That only happened one time!”

“You almost landed on Gorefang!”

“And I apologized!” I pulled open the door to our home. “Imma get cleaned up, I’ll meet after you’re back from your hunt.”

---

The front door–painted a vibrant blue–led into our beautiful sunlit atrium.

I’d accomplished something almost impossible in my old world: Homeownership! Even if it was in a tiny village, and technically shared with Windthrow, Cleyre and Gorefang.

Didn’t matter! “Property owner” was impressive enough to go on my imagined character sheet.

Beams of radiant morning sun shined onto a massive blue crystal, suspended from the ceiling with metal chains. Wooden spiral stairs curled around the crystal to the second floor, which housed the bedrooms. This left most of the first floor for Cleyre’s library and workshop.

Her stone desk was in front of the crystal. It was covered in various beakers, papers and creepy looking artifacts. Cleyre was there, scribbling runes onto a sheet of parchment. The quill looked like a toothpick compared to her massive body. Her draconic eyes burned with focus as she worked. As usual, she hadn’t bothered to change out of her nightwear yet. The sheer fabric of her skimpy gown clung to her curves, while her thighs were left completely exposed. Her red scales contrasted attractively with the pearly white spines running down from her head.

Gods! I was lucky to wake up next to Windthrow everyday and see Cleyre at her most beautiful.

“I can feel your eyes on me, Vylet,” Cleyre said without looking up.

“You’re the one that does ‘arcane research’ naked!” I countered. “And with a body like that!”

“I’m not naked. And have you taken a look at yourself recently? You’ve developed nicely.”

“Pfftt, don’t try to butter me up. I’ll still wallop you during our training later!” I peeked around her, resting my chin on her shoulder. “Any progress with the crystal thing?”

“The ‘crystal thing’ is an artifact of untold power that can already exchange messages with its counterpart in the Wizard Guild in Strive.” She scrunched up a piece of parchment and tossed it aside. “But it can do so much more! Those damn Imperials figured it out and were using it as a glorified light fixture so surely…surely…”

I patted her on the head. “You got this! I’ll be washing myself upstairs so–good luck!”

After propping up my spear and guitar by the front door, I clambered up to the washroom. This was, in reality, a room with a large bucket of water and few washing clothes. But we did have a mirror! A gift from the people of Sapwood to us.

I wiped down with a damp rag, letting the water wash the dirt from my scales. Now that I could summon wings it made sense to call myself a dragon-woman, but…somehow ‘lizard’ just felt right. I looked at myself in the mirror. After the long winter recovering, you could hardly tell that I’d been on the brink of death. Courtesy of the Draciar Twins and their attempt to kidnap me.

Most of my scales had cracked or shattered. An entire horn had broken off. My claws and talons were in horrendous shape. Even many of my fangs were shattered. Not to mention the broken bones. If not for several very talented healers, I’d have been killed. And the Draciers? Last I heard, they escaped and had probably left the Weald.

Even with the healing, I’d spent months recovering, shedding, regrowing and resting.

I was lucky that talons, claws, fangs and horns could regrow for my species. We didn’t know what I was, so nothing was guaranteed! The Draciers said I was related to the Usurper, which was probably draconic in nature. Not a lot to go off!

After all that, the only hint of my injuries was a long shallow scar down my left thigh. Like a permanent engraving in my scales.

I had changed in other ways though. I’d grown a measly two inches over the winter, standing at 5 '2". And maybe Cleyre was right. I had been attracting more male attention. I scrubbed underneath my breasts. It’s not like they were absurdly huge or anything, just big for my small body. If anything my tail was much more impressive! It’d grown thicker and longer around the base–it was around 6 feet long now.

Besides my more unusual features, I was slender and toned from frequent training. My face was still wonderfully feminine, but inhuman in a way I’d grown to love. That was Windthrow’s influence. He made me feel so beautiful.

After finishing up, I threw on my green-gold cloak and wraps. It was time for lunch!

---

The longhouse was already buzzing with energy. Tonight’s meal: Forest greens and a thick porridge. The greens were from around our part of the Weald, while the porridge was imported from Six Dice.

This porridge was the first of many blessings resulting from us founding the Forest Federation. More and closer ties with our neighbors!

Sapwood even had some new arrivals from other villages. We were about 60 now! None of which had to live in tents. Instead we built two large dormitories and a couple small cabins for families. During our trip to the Federation meeting, the rest of the villagers had finished digging the well. It was next to our Smithy, we just had to follow the noise of hammer striking anvil.

Then there was my favorite spot, the Sapwood Library! It was painted white with a red tiled roof. Right now it was full of…well. Mostly empty shelves. But the two full shelves instantly made our library the largest in the Forest Federation!

I grabbed a bowl and sat down next to Gorefang and the orcs, Grel and Sally.

Grel had bulked up and Sally had a large round belly. She was around seven months pregnant. Gorefang looked tiny next to the two of them.

“Hey ya’ll! How we doing today?” I said.

“Grel wants to volunteer for a self-defense rotation,” Sally snapped.

She stared me down. What the hell! She wanted me to back her up?!

“Uh. It’s important that we not let the other nations think that we’re defenseless, remember what Proudhon said–”

“Grel is a cook not a warrior!”

“The lads and lassies out there need to eat too,” Gorefang said. “Ya should be proud of ol’ Grel!”

He patted Grel on the back with an audible slap. His green skin flushed with pride.

Sally scowled. “You remember what Vylet was like when she got back? How do you think Grel would do!?”

Awkward silence.

“Sally, yer oughta apologize for that one,” Gorefang said.

After a dramatic sigh Sally turned to face me.

“I’m sorry Vylet, I’m only worried about Grel.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine!” I patted her on the hand. “Let’s talk about something lighter!”

“What about you and Windthrow? Sapwood is so safe! Get Windthrow to give you a baby!” Grel said, probably desperate to move on.

“We– Windthrow and myself. We, you know–”

“Are yeh worried that yer species won’t be able to work together?” Gorefang asked, tilting his head earnestly.

“Milo and Dean have a poultice that’s supposed to help. Secret Tabaxi recipe.” Sally nodded and started to demonstrate something with her hands. “If you apply it to Windthrow’s manhood just before–”

My tail slammed underneath the table, shaking all our bowls and cups.

“We’re fine! I’m not ready for that yet!”

This apparently qualified as a light topic. But not for me! I was running out of the tea that Lancet gave me…so I’d need to think about another way to stay not-pregnant. Being intimate with Windthrow less often was not an option.

I enjoyed the rest of my meal while learning far too much about the sex life of Grel, Sally, and even Gorefang.

---

That night, I laid in bed, nursing my sore body. Today’s training bout with Cleyre had been especially brutal and I was ready to sleep. But, I wasn’t going to bed without my mate.

Is this how housewives felt when their husbands came home late?

I wrapped myself in our blankets, snuggling in our shared bed. Compared to my old world this should be uncomfortable. So why did it feel so soft? I bunched up the sheets and brought them to my nose, inhaling deeply. Windthrow’s scent. Was that why I felt so comfy?

I heard someone coming up the stairs. Light footsteps, graceful. Less loud than even Gorefang. He was back!

The door creaked open. Windthrow would see me pretending to be asleep. But I’d made a few strategic adjustments.

My nightgown (no more than a few stitched pieces of linen), was low on my body, allowing the fabric to barely cover my breasts. Maybe a single nipple was slipping out. And I was letting my legs rest slightly open.

It’s not like Windthrow needed this much enticement, but it was fun!

I listened as he entered our bedroom and then paused at the foot of our bed. My anticipation was building!

A moment later, he was on top of me, pinning me down. I playfully writhed under him, getting drunk on his smell and his touch. This was token resistance–in truth I wanted him to be forceful!

He grabbed my wrists, eliciting a giggle from me. Then he effortlessly brought my arms up above me. I moaned, hot and heavy breaths. But he wasn’t in a hurry–apparently savoring my desperate whimpers, and the pathetic way I grinded against him.

“You can’t go a single day without me now.” Windthrow restrained both my wrists with a single hand, using the other to grip one of my curled horns. “I’m not sure I can do anything for you unless you say it.”

“Say–say what?”

“The obvious, that you love me”–he leaned over –”but also that you’re addicted to my lovemaking.”

I wanted to turn away, but he firmly held me in place. My body heated up, like a fire was raging just below my belly.

“I love you so much, Windthrow.”

“And?”

Something impressive–belonging to Windthrow–was resting on me. Atop the spot which burned with red hot desire.

“And, and I’m addicted to the pleasure—”

From outside, a storm of frenzied shouting interrupted us. Then the clamor of the Sapwood alarm bell. Windthrow climbed off me and grabbed his bow from the corner of the room. He only stopped to put on a pair of trousers.

“Wait here!”

The door slammed behind him.

Like hell I’d just wait here!

I pulled my cloak around myself. Just about decent! In the dark. If no one looked closely. Whatever! I was out the door.

Dozens of villagers were out with torches and lanterns. I ran past them, towards the entrance of town–the source of whatever this was. An invasion? The Draciars coming back for me? Some monsters from the forest?

“Leave! We don’t want you here!”

Windthrow’s voice. He sounded furious. But the crowd shouted their agreements.

I activated my Jump, leaping atop the walls for a better view. There were two figures in the darkness outside town. Windthrow and someone else barely illuminated by torch light. A slender figure, dressed only in rags. Painfully skinny. Their pale white skin looked like porcelain. This was the first one I’d seen alive since arriving on the Southern Continent!

A young woman! A human woman.