Chapter 2:
There was something to be said for Crane's persistence and energy, Tai Lung thought as he pulled the bird back onto his shoulder for what felt like the seventh time in the past three hours. They were climbing the paths that spiraled and curled like enormous snakes around the mountains. Crane seemed determined to either escape or commit suicide, both options not ending pleasantly for him in the first place so why bother?
Tai Lung was relieved to see the fog-cloaked villages that were built within the mountainsides. His warriors dispatched throughout the village as Tai Lung climbed to his home at the topmost ledge of the tallest mountain. The air was thinner and he could tell that Crane was having difficulty breathing as the efforts for escape became weaker. He quickly pushed back the oiled skin covering his door and placed Crane on the floor, quickly undoing his bonds.
Crane instantly lunged at the leopard, batting at him weakly with his wings, attempting to shoo him out of his way in order to get away.
"Now, now, Crane, don't even think about it." Tai Lung slammed his forearm into Crane's chest, sending the bird sprawling across the floor, gasping for already short breaths, full, plump chest heaving in exertion. Tai Lung pulled his gaze away from the tempting sight, turning to start a fire using flints pulled from a small sack around his waist.
He quickly struck the flints together, kindling a small flame, coaxing it into a crackling blaze that instantly warmed the cold home.
Crane coughed and struggled to get up but his body felt so heavy and weak because of the thin air. He ended up falling back to the floor. Tai Lung looked over his shoulder at him and came over and picked him up and took him closer to the fire. They sat there for a while until Crane went into another coughing fit.
Tai Lung held Crane until his coughing stopped. He thought for a bit before he thought of something that maybe quiet interesting.
"I have an idea that may help you get air better." Tai Lung said and then reached up and wrapped his hand around Crane's beak, keeping it shut.
Tai Lung took in a deep breath and then leaned down and pressed his mouth over Crane's nostrils and slowly pushed air into the bird's lungs.
Crane struggled against the paw on his beak until he felt his lungs filling. He paused, allowing the leopard to help him regulate his breathing. After a few minutes, he was able to breathe on his own, taking deeper breaths and not wasting his air.
He noticed a row of scratches on Tai Lung's shoulder and shifted, the instinct to help far too great to be ignored.
"You're hurt." The bird gently brushed his wings over the minor wound. "Let me help."
Tai Lung growled and batted the wing away.
"I am a warrior. We do not feel pain and we do not bleed." Tai Lung said proudly and puffed out his chest but Crane didn't look impressed in the least.
"You are an idiot and if you do not have that wound tended you will get it infected and your arm will become useless." Crane stated in a no nonsense tone. He took the sheet he had been bound in and tore a piece off, reaching into the small pouch of herbs that he kept around his waist he pulled out a small vial of salve. He rubbed the salve into the wound, massaging it to ease the sting before tightly wrapping the makeshift bandage around the wound, jerking on the ends slightly more violently than was needed.
"I honestly don't know why you have to think that just because you're injured that it makes you weak." Crane whispered, a talon lingering on the strong shoulder before he straightened and looked away.
Tai Lung looked at the bandage and then back to Crane and back again. He reached up and placed his paw on the bandage and rubbed it softly. He then looked back at Crane and stood. He walked up behind him and wrapped his muscular arms around the thin bird.
Crane stiffened and immediately warning bells went off in his mind. He flapped, struggled and wriggled, trying to get out of the strong hold.
"Let me go!" He squawked, managing to wriggle out of the grip and flap his wings, attempting to get to the door. A large paw grabbed his ankle and he grunted as he fell to the ground with a loud 'thud'.
Tai Lung pulled Crane back until it felt like he was far enough from the door and then let go and jumped over him and landed in front of the door. He used a large boulder that was kept inside to keep the cold out for the nights to block the door with.
Crane gaped at the leopard before letting out a sound of aggravation, standing and turning quickly, trying to find an escape route.
"Must we really carry on like this?" Tai Lung sighed, approaching the slender bird. Crane made a strangled sound of fear and stumbled back, his back bumping into the wall. He stiffened, eyes wide and terrified as Tai Lung loomed over him with a lecherous grin. "I can think of better ways to spend our time together."
Crane gasped as he found himself pinned to the wall, crying out in alarm as he began to struggle anew, wings flapping and legs kicking out desperately. The leopard's powerful jaws suddenly closed around his slender, delicate throat and Crane stiffened, eyes wide and beak wide in shock as he froze. A few seconds of absolute terror passed for Crane as he hung limp in the clutches of the brutal warrior.
Tai Lung chuckled and purred at the Crane's submission. But he kept him held in his jaws for a bit longer, wanting to see how he would react.
Crane felt tears come to his eyes, his wings trembling as he went limp, trying to appease to the leopard as he stared at him pleadingly. The silence could have been cut with a knife it was so thick and heavy and Crane had to breathe deeply to keep himself from passing out in terror. The last thing he wanted was to be unconscious with this monster in the room.
Tai Lung then growled softly and pulled Crane down as he got down on all fours. He then started to drag Crane from the main room to his private sleeping chambers. Tai Lung took Crane to his bed and gently placed him down onto of the large pile of furs and cushions that made up his bed.
"Don't move." Tai Lung growled, Crane shuddering as he lay prone, wings spread and legs pinned by large paws. He tried to look away but the cat growled and forced his gaze back to meet the leopard's own.
Tai Lung observed the soft figure beneath him. His soldiers had not been happy when he had taken the crane, they had been even less pleased when the bird had not been killed and eaten. He knew that several of his warriors would be asking questions about why he kept the bird. Truth be told, he found the smaller creature fascinating. Made of soft lines, curves and feathers, graceful, slender and poised while still putting up a decent fight. Tai Lung's eyes slowly lowered, following the soft rise and fall of the bird's full chest as Crane breathed deeply.
Tempting... Very tempting...
Crane shivered as Tai Lung buried his nose in his thick chest and takes in deep whiffs and purrs deeply. He flinches slightly as Tai Lung slowly skims down and over his body, sniffing and inhaling all of his scent from all his body parts.
Crane gasped and shook as Tai Lung trailed his thick, flat tongue across the bird's chest.
"Please, stop, stop!" Crane whimpered, tossing his head to the side. Tail Lung purred deeply, trailing his tongue up Crane's slender neck. Tail Lung chuckled, shaking his head.
"I'm afraid I can't do that." Tai Lung murmured, moving his grooming downwards towards Crane's thin waist.
Crane swiped and kicked his legs but Tai Lung laid his heavy body on top of them to immobilize them. Crane whimpered and was forced to endure Tai Lung's treatment.
"Come now, I'm merely repaying you for your healing." Tai Lung murmured, trailing his tongue over one of Crane's thighs.
"I don't need repayment! I don't want repayment!" Crane choked out a sob, shivering as the leopard mouthed his wing joints and chest. Tai Lung smiled and purred, sending vibrations through the slender bird. A sharp nip to his neck and Crane melted.
Crane's body betrayed him and started responding to Tai Lung.
A soft moan and Crane whimpered softly, the large leopard purring as he trailed his tongue over soft feathers and flesh, Crane cooing and arching into the touches. His body was reacting of it's own accord, his mind turning into a hazy mush as he was stroked and coaxed into a state of blank minded arousal, the only coherent thoughts being "more".
Tai Lung chuckled at the cranes reaction but continued to please the thin bird. Gently and firmly nibbling feathers and flesh and smoothing and shining the feathers in a pleasant way with his tongue.
Crane fell limp, gasping for breath that he suddenly found he needed, wings fluttering and curling around Tai Lung as he arched his hips against Tai Lung's, moaning at the rough thrust he got in return. Tai Lung growled and began rolling his hips against Crane's, continuing to lick and nibble the Crane's body, savoring him like a rare delicacy.
Crane whimpered and then cried out when Tai Lung thrust and suddenly forced him over the edge.
Crane went rigid, Tai Lung panting as he thrust one last time before feeling the familiar prickling wave of heat engulf him as well, falling across the slender bird, exhausted.
Crane panted and slowly opened his eyes to look at Tai Lung and saw he looked ready to pass out but he didn't. He forced himself up and then tucked Crane more under him, who protested at this and laid down on him.
Tai Lung growled, Crane stilling at the noise and allowing himself to be maneuvered into Tai Lung's arms so that his body was spooned by Tai Lung's. The leopard purred, tail flicking contentedly as he nuzzled into Crane's shoulder, eyes closing and arms firmly holding Crane's body still. Crane twitched and wriggled, but another warning growl forced him to relax into the leopard's arms. Eventually he drifted off into dreamless sleep, sighing as he thought about his friends. Were they alright? Were they even alive? He didn't know. He hoped they were better off than he was.