NOVEL SIMPLE 21. Walking and Riding
The next morning, they set off for Miu’s clan’s Clowder. They each carried one of the backpacks taken from the battle site, which were much lighter now that everything had been sorted out. The backpacks held supplies for the journey, as expected, but the majority of the space was used to carry items to be returned to the lamia tribe: keepsakes or weapons to be passed to the nearest relatives of the fallen.
Bonny’s backpack held fruit and vegetables, from the dryad’s garden, as well as her dildo. She also packed Miu’s shirt and the cloth she had used as a loincloth, but she walked naked again. No point in ruining them before they reached civilization.
Miu had donned her leathers and Eloisss her breastplate and gambeson. The lamia also had her shield and falcata sheathed across her back, the backpack used a strap around her hips to hold it in place. They both carried the remains of the boar from the previous day, cooked and wrapped in long leaves to preserve it.
They were headed up stream for most of the day, then turning east again. Miu explained that most of the cats lived in the trees, but there were also a few big cats that had houses at ground level. Including the leader, an older lion named Fluffy, for his mane, of course.
Miu led the way, not only because she was the most familiar with the area, but her pathfinding helped speed them up. Bonny and Eloisss walked and slithered beside each other, close behind, Bonny watching Eloisss closely as the lamia moved. She kept her head mostly steady in the center while her body flexed side to side around the undulations of her tail.
The lamia was about 40 inches around at the hips, where her human half morphed into a serpent. A little wider than most women, back on Earth, but she did have a pronounced hourglass figure. The serpentine body stayed about the same circumference and width, just over a foot wide and high.
“Eloisss?” Bonny wasn’t sure if she should, but she really really wanted to.
“Yess?”
“Can I ride you?”
“…”
“May I?”
“…”
“I mean, you look amazing when you move and it seems fun, right? Have you let anyone else ride you?”
“No!”
“Please?” Bonny hopped ahead and turned to look at Eloisss with big, sad bunny eyes.
Eloisss sighed and stopped. “Ok. For you.”
“Yay, thank you.” Bonny hopped up to Eloisss and stretched up on her tiptoes to give her a hug and kiss. Then ran around and stepped over the serpentine body and sat down. She had to reach over the large fanny pack to grab on and couldn’t quite reach all the way around Eloisss' body.
Miu had stopped when Eloisss did and watched the spectacle wordlessly, shaking her head as if she couldn’t believe what Bonny was doing.
“Wait a moment.” Eloisss untied the backpack and removed it, so Bonny could slide forward.
Bonny wiggled forward, wrapping her arms around Eloisss’ hips and laying almost prone along the lamia’s back. She kept her head low to avoid the shield and swords strapped above her, and picked her feet up, knees held tight against the lamia's sides. “Ok, I’m ready.”
“Hold tight. I’ll go sslow until you get ussed to the movement.”
Eloisss slid forward and Bonny almost fell off at the unexpected sideways motion. It took a few tries until she learned to lean inward with each loop and flex her body as her section of the lamia bent around each curve.
They set off again, a little slower. Eloisss carried her bag in one hand, uncomplaining, as Bonny giggled along her back.
They continued following the river and Bonny noticed that Eloisss was being careful about how she slid around trees and rocks, leaving extra room for Bonny’s knees and legs until the obstacle was clear, then pushing in and off to propel herself forward.
Bonny was acutely aware of the muscles flexing underneath her and started subtly pressing against the lamia in time with her movements. At least she thought it was subtle, until Eloisss stopped and flickered her tongue out a couple times.
“Wass that long enough, Bonny?”
“Awww.” Bonny sat up and slid forward, dragging her sensitive groin along Eloisss’ scales, leaving a faint sheen of moisture. She shivered and got up reluctantly.
“We will have time later, but musst not delay too much now.” Eloisss strapped the backpack on, not bothering to clean her lamia body, then leaned down and kissed Bonny. When done, she winked, adding quietly, “You can ride me again later, if you wissh.”
Miu came back and kissed Bonny as well, clearly not wanting to be left out. Then motioned for them to follow again.
When they reached a trail crossing the river several hours later, Miu stopped and checked the sun’s position. “Eat here, nya. Then follow trail. Reach Clowder by nightfall.”
“Oh, Miu. I never asked, why were you hunting so far from your clan?”
“Wasn’t, nya. Was across river here. Found goblins and tried to lead them away, then injured and tried to escape. Kept going until I was caught and they dragged me to the cave.”
“I’m so sorry. I’m glad I found you though.” Bonny smiled. “I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been there to help. Maybe it was fate.”
“Maybe, nya. Don’t believe in fate.” Miu smiled back and they ate quickly in lieu of further conversation.
Just before they were done, a cute orange fox with black socks joined them, begging for treats. Bonny eyed it suspiciously, but passed it some of her fruits and vegetables. It sniffed at Miu and Eloisss as well, but they refused to share their food.
Once done and packed, they quickly and set off again, moving much faster along the trail. As they got near, they heard shouting and the din of battle.
“Oh, No. No. No.” Miu took off at a sprint, Bonny and Eloisss following.
They came around a corner to see a horde of goblins at the gates of a palisade. Axes, swords, and clubs struck at the wooden, protective wall, while arrows few from both sides.
One of the gates was already broken and Bonny could see a huge cat person with a very fluffy mane standing in the gap. He wore leather armor similar to Miu’s and wielded an axe with a huge blade. There was a gap around him and she could see his fur matted with blood and gore. There were houses and platforms in the trees inside the walls, with archers raining arrows down on the attacking goblins. It was a slaughter by any measure, but the goblins didn’t back off.
A howl went up and Bonny looked to see several goblins running at them, screaming. It seems they had been noticed.
