Bonds

Chapter 4


Lethe patiently watched Jill, feeling more than a little apprehension as the girl packed her wyvern. For a few brief moments, the fear of flying was effectively pushing away her need to fuck her wife. While she was trying to decide whether or not this was a good thing, she noticed Jill's movements slowing down, until she stood completely still, petting the green wyvern's head, a thoughtful look on her face.

"Something on your mind?" Lethe asked.

Jill looked up surprised, as if she'd forgotten Lethe was there as well. "Yeah, I guess..." she said vaguely.

"Care to share it with me?"

Jill frowned and scratched her wyvern behind its spikes. It growled in a way that almost sounded like a content purr. "You once told me about the beasts and the birds and the dragons, right?"

"I told you a lot of things about the laguz," said Lethe, deciding that now wasn't the time to bring up the fact that she had to tell Jill everything about the laguz, because the girl's head had been filled with stupid prejudice and malice.

"No, about their... you know..." said Jill. "How beasts can't mate with birds or dragons."

Lethe shrugged. "That's just how we work."

Jill absent-mindedly shook her head. "It's just... never mind." She shook her head a bit more forcefully this time and her eyes refocused on the here and now. "Come on, let's go. And, uhm, Lethe?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm afraid you're gonna have to keep your eyes open this time," said Jill. "Because, well, I don't know the way after all."

Lethe groaned. "I was afraid you were going to say that."

-----

The temple was situated in a forest, as Jill had more or less expected it to. Religious institution or not, she doubted many people would enjoy having such a place close to towns and cities. But what she hadn't expected was its size. She thought it would be small or quaint, but instead was a complex of several buildings connected by walkways and from the air a very large patch of greenery surrounding the one of the buildings looked more like farmland than a mere vegetable garden. Landing in front of the main gates, Jill saw that the building (or this building, at least) had been constructed of white brick, covered in vines of all kinds.

Hands clenched into fists, Lethe stared at the black metal of the gate and took a few deep breaths.

"Are you alright?" Jill asked. "I mean, would you want me to..."

Lethe held up a hand. "I'll manage. And, please, let me do the talking."

Jill nodded quietly.

Lethe stepped up to the gates and knocked on it twice. A small panel slid back, revealing a pair of brown eyes.

"Yes?"

"Greetings, sister," Lethe said. "My mate and I have come to request aid from the temple."

"Of course," said the eyes. "Please come in."

The hatch slid shut again and a few moments later, the small door resting in the gate opened. The brown-eyed gatekeeper turned out to be a girl not much older than Jill was, wearing a hooded light blue robe. Even though her tail and ears were invisible underneath the garment, Jill could tell it was a laguz. It was something in the way the stood and the structure of the face. Minor details, details most beorc would miss, but which Jill had learned by heart.

"After y-" the gatekeeper began. And stopped. Her mouth fell open.

Jill awkwardly raised a hand. "Hi."

"Who is...?"

"My mate," said Lethe. "And the woman I love."

"I- I'm not sure..." the gatekeeper stammered. "I mean, I think I'd better take you to see Mother Superior first."

"Yes," said Lethe. "I had a feeling that would be necessary."

-----

Mother Superior's office was a small room cluttered with huge amounts of paperwork strewn everywhere. There was a desk somewhere in there and a few closets as well. A few windows gave the room a light, airy touch and the large potted plant standing in the corner grew happily, seemingly undisturbed by so much dead trees all around him. There were three women in the room when Jill and Lethe entered. The one sitting at the desk wearing a white robe was presumably Mother Superior. She was talking to two others, both wearing black robes of their own.

The gatekeeper cleared her throat.

"Mother Superior. I have some... guests."

The three women at the desk looked up. The girl standing at the right side of the desk looked surprised, almost shocked whereas the face of the girl on the left side of the desk became completely impassive.

Mother Superior smiled and then said something in the snarling tongue of the laguz.

The gatekeeper bowed nervously and headed out the door.

Lethe stepped forward, bowed and purred something to Mother Superior. The only words Jill could recognise were her name and Lethe's. It was probably some kind of introduction.

Mother Superior growled something in reply. It didn't sound aggressive or offensive, but there were a few harmonics Jill thought she could recognise and she didn't like that at all.

Jill coughed. "Excuse me, but... could you talk in beorc, please? I don't understand a word you're saying."

"I don't think..." Lethe started.

"Well, if the human insists, who are we mere laguz to say 'no'?" said Mother Superior.

Jill frowned. She knew she didn't like the sound of that at all.

"Thank you," Jill said neutrally.

"I suppose my years as a slave in Begnion have had their uses, haven't they?" said Mother Superior.

"I'm sorry to hear that," said Jill. "But I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that laguz slavery in Begnion has recently been abolished for real."

"Hah," said Mother Superior. "The senators will work their way around it. They always have."

Lethe purred politely. "If we could return to the matter at hand."

"Ah yes," said Mother Superior. "Your request to us to sin against the goddess and bring about abomination."

"It's not a sin," Jill said flatly. "Nor is it abomination."

"The parentless?" Mother Superior said and she poured more venomous poison into that single word than Jill imagined possible. "Or, as your kind calls them, the Branded? Such things should not exist. It's the only thing both our kinds can agree on."

"Actually, both our kinds can agree on a lot nowadays," said Jill. "Crimea has forged an alliance with Gallia and managed to establish friendly ties with Phoenicis. Even the Apostle of Begnion is opening the country's heart to her laguz brethren. In the coming years, the amount of Branded and parentless is sure to rise. But the rulers don't seem to mind that at all."

"Jill!" Lethe snapped.

"Of course they don't mind," said Mother Superior. "They are politicians. They care not for the will of the goddess."

"Ah. The goddess wants her children to keep killing each other, is that it?"

"The goddess wishes our kinds to be seperate, as you well know."

"Really?" said Jill. "Did she write that down somewhere? Maybe she told someone. How else would you know?"

"The mark every parentless carries is the goddess' sign of damnation and a warning to us all."

"How do you know that?" said Jill. "How can you be certain it's not her blessing?"

"Her blessing? Do not be foolish."

"Why should it be foolish?" said Jill. "The goddess created us all, didn't she? She created both beorc and laguz and made sure they could mate and bear children. But a beast cannot mate with a bird and bear fruit, nor can they with a dragon. So one has to wonder, if the goddess so loathes the mixing of our blood, why she would give us the opportunity."

Mother Superior raised an eyebrow. "Such eloquence in so young. Nevertheless, no matter what you say, you cannot change the fact that what you ask is abomination. And will give no aid to abomination."

"But..." said Jill.

"But there is no need to worry," said Mother Superior. "The poor girl you tricked will eventually descend into lust and she will become a mindless plaything to use as you please. It's what you humans desire of our kind, is it not?"

It was probably a stupid thing to do, but Jill did it all the same. She stepped forward and slapped Mother Superior's face as hard as she could, leaving a red hand-shaped mark on her cheek.

Mother Superior smiled serenely. "Humans. Your kind never changes, does it? Nevertheless, the temple is obligated to offer you a place to sleep for the night and a decent meal at dawn. I'm sure the goddess would not object to that, so feel free to enjoy our hospitality."

Jill said nothing. But the balled fists and the tight look on her face spoke volumes about her rage.

-----

"I'm sorry," said Jill, walking through a white corridor. "I shouldn't have said all that."

"It doesn't matter. She wasn't going to help us anyway," said Lethe. She was holding Jill's hand tightly, as if she was afraid that if she were to let go, she'd lose her.

"Still..." said Jill. "Anyway, was what she said true? About you, I mean? About how you'll..."

Lethe nodded. "Already it takes most of my concentration to think about things other than sex and pregnancy. In a month, maybe two, I won't even be able to think at all. I'll masturbate with desperate abandon and I'll only stop when you're fucking. If I do manage to fall asleep, all my dreams will be filled with fevered lust. I won't be able to eat or drink, clothe myself or even talk. And then I'll simply waste away and die."

Jill blinked away her tears. "That's awful," she whispered.

"I'm afraid so," said Lethe. "So before that happens, before I lose myself completely, Jill, I want you to kill me."

"I-" Jill paused. "I promise I'll try, at least."

Lethe rested her head on Jill's shoulder. "Thank you."

"Uhm... ex- excuse me?"

Lethe and Jill looked behind them, and their combined glares made the black-robed woman behind them flinch.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to overhear," she said. "Please, let me show to your rooms."

"Don't bother," said Jill.

"We're leaving," said Lethe.

"Please?" said the woman. "It's the duty of the temple."

Jill wanted to start walking again, but Lethe remained still. Her eyes narrowed. "Why?"

"It is my... our duty to help women," said the woman. "I'm not sure I believe what your mate has said about the goddess, but I don't think we have the right to judge you in her name. So... please."

Lethe glanced at Jill, who nodded.

"Very well then," said Lethe. "Lead the way."

-----

It was a small room, but it served its intended purpose. There was a bed after all. It wasn't small enough for a single person, but it wasn't quite big enough to be a regular two-person bed. It obviously wasn't a bed for sleeping peacefully in.

"Please wait here," said the woman in black. "I'll be back shortly."

Jill looked around. "Well it's not much, but I guess it's-"

Jill got interupted by Lethe dragging her onto the bed and kissing her. Lying on her back, Lethe on top of her, Jill put her arms around her and enjoyed the feeling of her being so close and kissing her.

There was a polite cough.

Lethe raised herself slightly. "That was quick."

The woman in the black robe nervously held out two cups filled with a clear liquid. "I put you in the room closest to our supply for a reason. Now I didn't know which of you... or maybe both, so... I got one for each."

Jill and Lethe both took a cup and looked inside.

"Looks just like water," said Jill.

"It isn't," said the woman. "Trust me."

"Thank you," said Lethe.

"Just drink that and, and everything will be alright," said the woman. "Probably. And before you begin, please bolt the door will you?"

The woman hurried out of the room. Jill and Lethe turned slightly to look at each.

"Well," said Jill, "bottom's up."

"What does that mean?" Lethe asked.

"Uhm, 'let's just drink this in one go', basically."

"Ah," said Lethe.

The girls put their cups to lips and drank them, in one go.

"OK, then," said Lethe.

She put down her cup and got up to close the door. After making sure it was as shut as it was going to be, she slid the large metal bolt home and turned around again. She went pale.

"Jill?"

Jill sat hunched over, arms across her stomach, her eyes shut tight. "P-pain."

Lethe hurried over to her and put her arms around her. "I'm here. Do you want me to get help? I'm going to get help."

"No," Jill gasped. "Something's... growing."

"What? What is?"

She looked up, opened her eyes and managed a thin little smile. "What do you think?"

Lethe kissed her. "I'm here," she whispered. "It'll be alright."

"Yeah, it will," Jill said, breathing slowly. "The pain's already going." She looked down at her crotch. "Oh, this feels weird. No woman should have that thing. What do you think?"

Lethe shrugged. "I don't know yet."

Jill raised an eyebrow and before Lethe could protest, raised the girl's skirt. "Is that so? Strange words for a girl with a cock."

"What?"

Lethe pulled the waistline of her skirt and looked down. And their, dangling more or less between her legs was a second tail and a pair of balls.

"Oh."

The clattering of armour falling on the ground made her look up. Jill was undressing calmly, and as her breasts and, yes, her penis came into view, Lethe suddenly did notice her cock as it filled with blood and became a natural extension of her arousal. She hurriedly took her own clothes off as was more than pleased to see that Jill's cock apparently rose in response.

"OK," said Jill. "Lie down on your back and let's get this over with."

Lethe kept sitting and reached out with her hand to stroke Jill's cock. "Does it still feel weird?"

Jill gasped. "Weirder and weirder, as a matter of fact."

"It shouldn't," said Lethe. "You should enjoy this."

In one smooth movement, she leaned forward and envelloped Jill's cock with her mouth.

"Lethe!" Jill hissed. "You, you shouldn't..."

Lethe ignored her, sucking Jill's member and licking it with her tongue. It was strange having it in her mouth, but she strangely enjoyed the sensation. And when Jill stopped trying to persuade her to stop and started to moan she enjoyed it even more.

"Lethe..." Jill groaned. "Oh... oh, Lethe."

"Does it still feel weird?" Lethe asked, letting Jill's cock slip out of her mouth just long enough to ask the question.

Jill shook her head. "No. It feels good."

"Good," said Lethe.

Lethe wrapped her lips around Jill's cock and tried to suck as deep into her mouth as she could, all the while letting her tongue play with the warm flesh.

"Lethe, you have to... let me..."

Lethe ignored her. There was nothing, now, that she wanted more than having Jill come in her mouth, having her seed shoot down her throat. As she sucked on Jill, she found her own hand going down to her own cock, wrap her fingers around herself and start jerking.

Surprise suddenly flashed through Lethe when Jill put her hand on the back of Lethe's head and pushed her down, forcing her cock further into her mouth a fraction of a second before she tasted her semen splashing into her. Lethe drank it eagerly. It didn't actually taste all that good, but it was Jill's and she loved it for that. She kept on sucking, willing every last drop of semen out of Jill cock, before the girl's member went limp. Only when it had gone completely flaccid did Lethe let it out of her mouth again.

Jill cupped her cheek and raised her so she could look at her face.

"You stupid girl," she whispered, smiling. "We don't know how many orgasms I'll get this night, how much seed I have. Do you have any idea how much you risked?"

Lethe grinned. "Did you enjoy it?"

"Yes," Jill breathed. "Oh, yes."

"Then I have no regrets," said Lethe.

Jill smiled faintly, then leaned back, lay down on her back and spread her legs. Lethe knelt between her legs and let the purple head of her cock rub over the slit conveniently located just beneath Jill's balls.

"You know," Lethe purred. "You have two openings down here."

Taking her cock in her hands, Lethe guided it down to press against Jill's ass.

"Lethe, no," said Jill.

"If it hurts too much, I'll..."

"That's not it," said Jill. "Lethe, I want your baby. Please."

Lethe froze at hearing the emotion in those words. Beorc didn't go into heat, she knew that. Having children wasn't a necessity for them any more than it was a necessity for a beast who fell in love with a bird. But apparently they could long for it. Intensely.

Lethe nodded and pushed her cock into Jill's pussy. She was so very wet that it slipped in effortlessly. Lethe gasped when she felt Jill's heat around her cock. Her fingers, her tongue, her tail, none of them had ever felt like her cock now did.

No wonder men could only think about one thing.

Lethe started moving slowly, every little motion sending a wave of pleasure through her. She put her hands on Jill's hips and started thrusting with ever more confidence. Up until now, 'tight' had never really entered Lethe's Vocabulary of Lust, but it was the centre of everything now. The way Jill squeezed and clenched and yet was so smooth and hot was... was... indescribable. She could a force building up in her, waiting, building itself up further as arousal filled her body.

And then it was unleashed, screaming through her body as she shot her seed into Jill. The power of her orgasm sapped her strength and she collapsed on top of Jill, who softly started stroking her hair.

"That was great," said Lethe.

Jill chuckled quietly. "Want to hear something really hurtful?"

"What?"

"I enjoy your tongue a lot more."

Lethe raised herself slightly to look Jill in the eyes. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah," said Jill. "I mean, it was nice, I guess, but..."

"Nice!?"

Jill kissed her and Lethe could already feel her irration draining. "I'm sorry."

Lethe stared at her. "You really are all about girls, aren't you?"

"Well, yeah," said Jill. "Aren't you?"

"Well, I, kind of, wouldn't mind using a substitute or something," Lethe mumbled.

Jill giggled. "Really?"

"Don't start."

Jill giggled again and kissed Lethe lightly on the lips. "You're cute, even with a dick. So you cute in fact..."

Lethe became aware of something hard pressing against her stomach. She looked down to see Jill's cock stand eagerly upright.

"I think you're beautiful with it," Lethe whispered.

"Then I'll keep it," said Jill. "If it makes you happy."

"You know you can't. If everything goes as it should, at least."

"Watch me," said Jill.

"Hmm," said Lethe. She sat up slightly and straddled Jill's waist, guiding her cock into her.

She gasped when she felt Jill inside of her. It was... strange. Peculiar. Filling her with a stiff rigidity that was so unlike Jill, who was soft and flexible. She moved up and down experimentally, until she grew used to it. She started purring and tried moving faster. There was a strange kind of joy to feeling Jill's cock thrust into her, filling her up.

Lethe leaned forward, took both of Jill's hands and kissed her, her body still moving. She leaned back again, started at the ceiling with closed eyes, the heat of Jill's cock spreading through her body. She put her hands on Jill's stomach trying to increase the pace even more, when she felt Jill coming inside of her, her semen filling her.

"Wh- what?" Lethe gasped.

"I'm... sorry," said Jill.

Lethe tried to keep pumping, willing Jill's cock to remain erect, but it merely shuddered and started shrinking.

"No," Lethe whined.

Jill managed to rise into a sort of sitting position and hugged Lethe. "I'm... really sorry."

"It's OK," Lethe sighed. "I was just really starting to enjoy it, is all."

Jill grinned and, pulling out, rolled Lethe onto the bed and onto her back. She spread her legs and the next thing Lethe knew, Jill was lapping at her. She groaned, feeling Jill's tongue running up her slit and briefly caressing her balls.

"You still taste nice," Jill murmurred. "Me, not so much."

Lethe wanted to respond, ask a question, but found she couldn't when Jill's tongue went inside of her. The feeling wasn't as filling as her cock had been, but her tongue was more playful, dancing around, touching here, teasing there, sucking, licking, kissing. Lethe soon found her skin on fire again, her breath shallow and panting. Jill knew exactly how to play her, how to bring her to the brink and how to draw her away, how to draw the moment of orgasm out for minutes, but now it almost seemed as if she was determined to overload Lethe's senses with pleasure and as her hips buckled, her mouth screamed and her seed landed on her stomach, Jill did just that.

-----

In the dark of night, Lethe stirred. She opened her eyes and frowned. She felt... different. Not in a physical way... well... kind of in a physical way, but mostly... Something had gone. She wasn't exactly sure wha-

Lethe eyes widened and she grew pale.

"Jill," she whispered, shaking the girl's sleeping form.

"Whhrm," said Jill.

"Jill, wake up," Lethe whispered a bit more insistently.

"Whassamatter?" Jill mumbled slowly, trying, and failing, to blink the sleep out of her eyes.

"I'm pregnant."

"Thass nice," Jill mumbled and lay down to sleep again.

Lethe raised an eyebrow, an amused look on her face. She knew that Jill wasn't very good at waking up in the middle of the night and that her brain always needed a while to catch up.

When it did catch up, however, it shocked her wide awake. "You're what?" Jill asked.

"Pregnant," said Lethe.

"What? How? I mean..." Jill rolled her eyes. "I know how, but how do you know?"

Lethe blinked. "I just do. Don't you?"

"No," said Jill. "To be honest, I'm not even sure I was, you know, fertile today."

"Oh," said Lethe. She took Jill's hands and kissed them. "But I am sure of a few things. I'm no longer in heat and we are going to have a baby."