Chapter 30: Cerinian New Year
Drums pounded. Pipes whistled. Children squealed. And crowds chattered. Kezamat's streets swelled with people, and not solely its own denizens. Cerinians from across the region gathered in one place to celebrate the Yanfwet Festival. Together, they would bid winter farewell and greet the new year when spring arrived the next morning. The foot traffic alone reminded Fox of New Year's Eve in Corneria City.
He weaved through the maze of shoulders, taking in as much of the sights as he passed. Vendors from near and far sold food and trinkets. Performers entertained for coins falling into their purses. Demonstrations of magic and other skills competed for the eye's attention. Fox's only tether from the delightful chaos was Krystal's arm wrapped tenderly around his.
Last year, Fox had spent the festival on duty. He abstained from the celebrations, choosing to simply observe the Cerinians instead. This time however, Fox planned to enjoy himself freely with Krystal. Someone else could preserve the peace until tomorrow.
Fox dressed a little less like a field scientist on Fichina for today. The fire spirit necklace that Krystal made kept him warmer than layers of coats could. In fact, he came close to sweating in the single cloak over his favourite, green shirt. The little gemstone glowed softly in contact with Fox's life energy.
Stopping to enjoy a minstrel's strumming, Fox planted a cheeky kiss next to Krystal's ear. His touch disturbed her hair, causing the jades in her braids to click. Krystal giggled as she turned to meet his lips with hers. Fox ran his palms gently down the back of her cloak.
"Having fun?" Fox grinned.
"Lots of it with you here." Krystal cupped his face and stroked his cheeks with both thumbs.
In the corner of his eyes, Fox watched passers-by toss their change into the minstrel's cap. "The music is quite good. Almost makes me want to dance."
Krystal smiled. "We can certainly find a better place for that."
Taking Fox by the hand, she led him from the crowded streets. They followed the songs of other musicians before arriving at the old kechen tree near the barracks. Couples moved in harmony throughout the yard beneath its branches. Several noticed the gold cloth of Krystal's ceremonial robes and offered passage deep into the throng.
"I know I'm the one who brought it up, but I don't actually know how to dance like everyone else is." Fox looked around bashfully.
"It's okay. I'll guide you." Smiling, Krystal tapped her temple. Fox consented with the same action. Her mind joined his, enabling Krystal to show Fox each step before he took it. She led him better than the prompts on any arcade dance machine.
"So, your people also have technology that you can dance with," Krystal smirked. "That is such a strange thing to make. Though it looks like fun."
"I tried a couple of times but never really got into it," Fox said. "You should see Slippy on one though. He's a pro at it. There was a time when he'd never played this one song before. Yet he managed to get the top score on his first try."
They slowed so that Krystal could watch his recap. Fox could distinctly remember Slippy clicking his fingers to the beat and adding a little extra sway in his hips with every step. It all finished with one dramatic fist pumped towards the sky upon the final note. "He's a passionate dancer," Krystal smiled.
"He definitely gets into the zone," Fox agreed.
With Krystal's help, Fox managed to avoid making an utter fool of himself. Not once did he trample on her toes or bump into another unfortunate couple. However, he still wasn't close to Krystal's grace. Her movements flowed smooth and controlled. Something within Fox became reminded of their sparring matches. When the latest song finally ended, both she and him puffed from the exertion. Krystal reached to kiss Fox on the nose. Their tails swayed together behind them.
They refuelled on street food and wandered to explore what else the festival had to offer. The Temple of Cerinia held services throughout the day, with the priests leading prayers for another bountiful year. Magicians astonished audiences with spells that made water fly like serpents and stones melt into complex shapes. Elsewhere, a troupe performed a play about a maiden who fell in love with a spirit. In it, the woman's daughter inherited magic that caused all manner of humorous disasters until she defeated a wicked sorcerer and became the hero of her village.
Fox then took interest in a pair of jugglers that he and Krystal passed. They balanced atop giant balls, tossing smaller ones to each other. There were as many as eight in the air flying at once. Fox leaned to murmur in Krystal's ear. "I could do that."
She raised a brow to him. "Really? All that?"
"Well, maybe not the standing on a ball bit. But I did learn to juggle when I was a kid."
Krystal crossed her arms with a smile on her face. "Oh? Now that I would like to see with my own eyes."
Accepting the challenge, Fox spied a nearby vendor selling sets of wooden juggling balls. He bought one and stood aside with Krystal as his sole audience. She gave him an eager look to proceed. Fox started by tossing one ball into the air and catching it with his other hand. Once he got a feel for it, he added the second ball and then the third. All three flew and fell and flew again in a steady rhythm. Fox grinned as Krystal's mouth gaped. His focus lapsed, however. Fox soon lost control over one ball. He tried to correct himself but missed and failed to catch the next ball in time. Fox and Krystal glanced down at the two balls landed in the icy slush at their feet.
"Guess I need practice," Fox shrugged. Krystal giggled, but still applauded him for his effort.
They later marvelled at a group of acrobats before the sky grew dark. At that time, Fox followed Krystal to a vast amphitheatre behind the Lythan Jad's shrine. Thalse and Sabre met them there. Krystal kissed Fox once more before leaving them. As the crowds amassed, Fox accompanied the other two tods to the stands. As partners and family of master lythans, they had the honour of sitting in the highest rows with the best view.
The stage was circular and adorned with bright banners high overhead. A pool of water curved along the front, and a long trough of stones stretched across the trees at the rear. Twin bonfires burned on either side of the stage. Within its centre, several levels of a raised platform stood atop one another. Apprentices moved about the setting to run final checks prior to the event.
"Are you familiar with the Yanfwet Ritual, Fox?" Thalse asked.
"Krystal explained it to me," Fox nodded. "On the night of the Yanfwet Festival, the Lythan Jad summons spirits here into the city. The spirits will then feed off everyone's positive emotions from the festival. In exchange, the spirits will settle around Kezamat and rejuvenate the land. That will ensure good harvests and foraging throughout the new year."
"And the ritual is how that exchange is made," Thalse concluded, pleased. "You've learned our traditions well."
Fox smiled. "Krystal has been looking forward to the ritual for the last few months. Sometimes it's all she wants to talk about."
"Unsurprising. Now that Krystal is a master, she'll be performing alongside Nomar in the same role. She has wanted this for years."
Sabre crossed his arms at Fox's opposite side. "Personally, I reckon the part that Krystal had before was more interesting. The masters barely move during the ritual."
"Isn't their job the most important?" Fox questioned.
Sabre shrugged. "Yeah, but they could stand to make a better show of it." His comment drew dirty looks from overhearing spectators, though Sabre showed no notice.
Movement across the stage compelled the crowds to fall silent. The lythans gathered in rings by rank. Fox spotted Krystal at her mother's side near the top of the platform. Above them stood Randorn with his arms outreached. All three held their golden staffs in hand. Fox caught Krystal's eye for a moment and felt her touch his thoughts. He smiled and gave a subtle wave. Unfortunately, the dignity of her station prevented Krystal from returning it in front of the whole city.
"People of Cerinia!" Randorn bellowed. Even without a sound system, his voice carried clearly over the din. "Brothers! Sisters! Dear siblings from across our proud lands! I, Randorn Sythast, Grandmaster of Kezamat's Lythan Jad, welcome you on the final night of, what has been, another grand and trying year!"
The crowd cheered in response. All the better for the ritual. "On this night, we thank the gods for the blessings they have gifted us and pray for more into the future. We thank their envoys, the spirits, who deliver their blessings, and offer them homage. We look forward and greet a new year with hopes and ambitions. Tonight, I humbly ask that you all open your hearts and join us in giving thanks to our spirit brethren."
Drums thundered around the stage. Horns blew loud and long, inciting screaming cheers from the populace. More instruments joined the noise. It blended into a primal orchestra that shook the heart and set the blood aflame.
The lythans and their apprentices on stage broke into movement. Twirling their staffs, they stepped and spun in place. Forty heels stomped in unison. The combined impacts were heard throughout the amphitheatre. Staff heads descended as through striking unseen foes. The music picked up as the lythans proceeded with a dance fit for warriors.
Fox focused on the central platform. A dozen masters stood in a circle around Randorn. Krystal and Nomar's heads bowed before their standing staffs. Their song-like chanting rose over the drums, horns, and string instruments. It all seemed set to wake both heaven and hell. A spin of their staffs. Three strikes of their ends against the floor. The masters sang higher. Their throats hummed something mystical into their voices.
Flashes of flames stole Fox's attention. Several of the lythans stood beside the bonfires. With their staffs, they drew the embers out and twirled them through the air. The crowd whooped in delight. Other silver staffs pounded the earth, raising geysers of stone from the stage's rear. Waves formed across the pool like a storm blowing. Rivers coursed through the air, bending, and twisting with life.
The elements flowed in a series of patterns in sync with the dance. As much as Fox tried to keep his eyes on Krystal, there was too much else happening for him to focus. Fireballs and flying water collided into explosions of steam. Spellcasters formed crystals of ice within the fallout. Wind magic carried those shards through the air, where they then glistened around mini asteroids floating above the stage. Fox conceded that these were the most astounding special effects he had ever seen.
"We now call on the divine ones!" Randorn declared. "Our esteemed guests, who hail from beyond the mortal coil, please join us and share in our jubilations!"
Murmurs soon rippled through the stands. Thalse and Sabre leaned forward in their seats. "Here they come," Thalse warned.
Fox scanned around the amphitheatre. He then saw them emerge from the tree line: beasts of stone, water, and ice. The spirits. They scattered around the stage, roaming as though joining the performance. All the while, the lythans continued to dance and sing.
A pair of ice rabbits distracted one young apprentice from her routine as they bounded alongside her feet. A faceless golem rolled past the front seats, surprising a gang of children there. Flashes of light appeared suddenly. Swarms of wind spirits fluttered from the sky like tiny birds. The smell of ozone rode the breeze as lightning crackled within the spirits' cloudy bodies. They were not the last to arrive.
More lights floated in from overhead. The six spirits that now appeared were as formless as air. Yet their radiance was softer than the wind spirits, more like auroras. Through Krystal's description, Fox deduced that these were primordial spirits. Ones without vessels. Here, they would choose what materials from the stage they would build their bodies from.
The first dived straight into the stone trough. Dark rocks amassed into a vaguely shaped beast that crawled out on four legs. Three spirits flew through the bonfires. Burning ash spilled out and rose again as glowing, red snakes. The spirits that took to the pool emerged in anthropomorphic shapes. Ice spirits jumped through their liquid bodies one after the other, freezing their limbs so they could venture across the land to their next domains.
As more and more spirits appeared, the Cerinians cheered in a greater frenzy. In stark opposition, Sabre snarled into his hands. "Something wrong?" Fox raised his brow, concerned.
Sabre clicked his tongue. "I bet a good chunk of money that most of the primordials would become earth spirits this year. Since when is water so popular?!"
Thalse made a disapproving noise. "It's that kind of behaviour that invites negative emotions to the ritual."
"Aww, come on, Uncle! It's just a little, harmless fun. Adds to the excitement," Sabre defended. "It's not going to taint the spirits or anything like that."
Randorn's voice interrupted their argument. "Great spirits, we thank you for sharing this night with us. We thank you for blessing the lands that provide for us. We now ask you to go forth and spread our gratitude so that Cerinia may be revitalised anew."
The lythans chanted all at once. The rest of the city joined them. In one united voice, they channel their wishes through prayer. Fox clasped his hands together in respect for the practice. However, he did not chant along with everyone else. In Cerinian culture, it was better to say nothing than to speak without conviction. Despite the mystical powers demonstrated before his eyes, Fox wasn't devoted enough for his contributions to be appropriate. Thalse and Sabre prayed harder to compensate.
One after the other, the spirits departed to the sky and trees. Only then did the song end. "People of Cerinia," Randorn called. "The spirits have now set about their sacred task. May we all enjoy the boons that they shall help us sow and prosper in what is sure to be another great year."
He allowed for the audience to roar once more. "Rest well tonight, so that we may prepare our homes and fields for spring. Tomorrow is a day for new beginnings. Let us all make the most of it."
And so, the ceremony drew to a close. As the lythans stood together to bow as one, Fox looked to Krystal with a big grin on his face. He felt her touch again and seized it lovingly. "You were fantastic tonight, Krys. Great job."
He could almost feel her hug him from across the distance. "Thank you, Fox. Tonight was very important for me. I'm so happy that you were able to be here for it."
When the crowd began to disperse, Fox pushed against the flow of bodies as he made his way towards the stage. The joy that Krystal shared through their link refused to leave him. He could feel the way that she stood close to tears. A single desire drove Fox forward. He would not be satisfied until he had the most incredible and extraordinary vixen in his life right in front of him so that he could embrace her fiercely for real.
And Krystal waited impatiently the entire time to receive him.
After the ritual, Fox shared dinner with Krystal's family. Randorn reserved a private room for them all at a restaurant frequented by Kezamat's high society. Admittedly, Fox wasn't overly impressed. The place offered little that stood above other restaurants in town apart from its décor. And as someone from another planet, Fox didn't care much for the nude sculpture of Meen the Creator overlooking their table. It was just like any other establishment that thought itself classier than anywhere else. The food was delicious, at least. And Randorn covered the bill.
As soon as they finished their post-dinner tea, Krystal bade goodnight to her parents. Something about the length in which Nomar hugged Krystal struck Fox as peculiar. Thalse wore a downturned expression, which Fox couldn't identify, as he kissed his daughter on the cheek. Yet, no one said anything amiss when they went their separate ways.
The city's atmosphere was lighter following the Yanfwet Ritual. Everyone who Fox passed exuded joy that felt as warm as it was infectious. He couldn't keep the grin from his face. It was like they had already counted down for the new year and were ready to celebrate until sunrise.
"It's been a great day," Fox told Krystal. "The only thing that I think is missing is fireworks."
"Fireworks?" Krystal asked.
"They're little things that we shoot high up into the air. When they explode, they make this loud, popping sound and scatter sparks in lots of bright colours."
Krystal's ears straightened. "Is that safe?!"
"Not really. That's why cities hire experts to set the whole thing up. But fireworks are beautiful to watch when they're done right." Fox tapped his temple. "Here, I'll show you."
Krystal gasped as Fox imagined great bursts of rainbow sparks. Blues, greens, reds, and purples erupted in wild patterns that illuminated the black screen of night. "I think some parts of the Yanfwet Ritual looked a bit like that. Particularly the flame magic," Fox said.
A thoughtful expression overtook Krystal. "I wonder… Maybe we could try something like that next year."
Fox grinned. "I'd like to see that. Heck, I bet Andross could teach the Jad how to make fireworks if you asked."
A sharp breeze cut through the spell of Fox's necklace. Krystal felt him shiver. "I think we should head home now," she suggested.
Fox looked at her in surprise. "You sure?"
Krystal nodded. He agreed with a slight shrug. Fox could have stayed out a lot longer, though he figured that Krystal was simply worn from the festival. Fox shifted so that he could hold her closer in one arm. Hers tightened snugly around his torso, and their tails coiled together. When Fox turned his head to kiss her cheek, he noticed something strange in Krystal. It had to do with the shape of her mouth and the gleam in her eye. She seemed… shy almost. Fox decided that he'd ask about it after they got home.
The house was freezing when they arrived. While Fox brought the fireplace to life, he heard Krystal discard her cloak carelessly to the floor. Her breath shivered behind him. "It should warm up in a minute or so," Fox told her. He stoked the embers a little more.
Once he was happy with it, Fox turned away from the fire. He was then greeted with a shock. Krystal stood tall before him as bare as the day she was born. Her robes were thrown aside with her cloak. Undergarments laid atop the haphazard pile. Krystal wrapped her arms across her middle. She flicked her gaze intermittently between Fox and a distant corner. Her tail curled around one thigh. Fox's voice caught briefly in his drying throat. His pants suddenly became uncomfortably tight.
"Krystal…? What are you doing?"
Krystal rubbed one forearm bashfully. "Um… Well… I just thought… since it's the Yanfwet Festival, maybe we could…"
Something jogged in Fox's memory. He remembered something that Sabre had told him last year about the festival. There was an old tradition in which couples greeted the new year by mating on its eve. At first, Fox thought it was just another of Sabre's jokes meant to confuse him. That changed when he noticed the uncharacteristically serious look on Sabre's face when he warned Fox not to disturb anyone who he caught going at it in a dark alley. Not that Fox ever came across anyone crazy enough to do that in the cold open. If Krystal undressed herself in front of him just now, that possibly meant…
'Oh…'
Krystal's lips turned downward. Looking firmly away, she lifted her arm so that it covered her breasts. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "This must be strange to you. Don't pay me any mind. I'm being stupid."
"No. No!" Fox quickly reassured her. "You're fine. It's just… You caught me a little off guard." Krystal finally looked him fully in the eye. Fox stepped closer. Gently touching her bicep, he stroked her thick, luscious winter coat. "You look beautiful. Like always."
Krystal smiled at last. Her tail unfurled to sway behind her. She cupped both hands around Fox's face and kissed him. He returned her love with every drop of his own. When Fox pulled away, his breath was lost in more ways than one.
"May I…?" He cleared his throat. "Is it alright if I touch you?"
"That would be the general idea here," Krystal raised one brow.
"I know. I know. But…" Fox released the hold that he had so far on her. "On Papetoon, we treat our bodies like your people do your minds. The way I've been raised to see it, your body belongs to you and no one else. Nobody should be able to touch you without your consent. Not even me. Even though we're together."
"But you've touched me many times in the past," Krystal remarked.
Fox nodded with a shrug. "Yeah. And technically, I should have asked for your permission a lot of those times too. But this becomes really important when we're dealing with sex. Otherwise, it's not clear whether you're comfortable with what I'm doing. My species isn't as good at reading how people feel as yours is. So, we try to be more verbal about it."
Face falling, Krystal removed her hands from Fox. "So, when I first kissed you… And other times… Should I have…?"
"I'd have appreciated it if you asked before cleaning my face on our first date. But all the other times I didn't mind, so I didn't bring it up."
Krystal bit her lip for a moment. "Then would it be alright if I kiss you again?"
Fox grinned. "You can kiss and hug me whenever you want to. And tonight, you can touch me wherever you like."
A blush burned in Krystal's smile. "And I give you my consent to touch me wherever you please."
Excitement pounded in Fox's heart. "Thank you. Because the first thing that I want to do is this."
Closing the gap, he pulled Krystal into his arms. Fox pressed her chest into his and kissed her deeply. Krystal swiftly bade him entry between her lips. He savoured the taste of her tongue rolling over his own. Krystal's breath carried the flavour of the day's delicacies, as well as the raw emotion that surged inside her. Fox's hands roamed freely through her fur. One combed the braids behind her head. The other ran through the small of her back.
Soon, Krystal tired of being the only one undressed. She tore the cloak from Fox's back. He lifted his arms so that she could then remove his shirt. Helping Fox out of his boots and pants, Krystal gasped as she came face to face with his bulging, red rocket. Fox shivered when Krystal looked up to him. He stroked one hand around her ear.
"May I?" she asked. Fox nodded. He sucked in a breath as Krystal wrapped her fingers around his shaft. She gave it an experimental rub. Fox moaned softly as her calloused pads ground against his sensitive skin.
Krystal let him go after a short while. Wondering why she stopped, Fox looked down just as she stood up once more. She kissed him on the way through, locking their lips as she pulled Fox's muzzle up towards her height. His thoughts drifted into a beautiful haze. Fox then lowered a palm beneath Krystal's tail. He halted upon her soft, fluffy buttock and gave the ample flesh a gentle squeeze. Moaning, Krystal leaned heavily into Fox.
She pushed him down onto the cushions. Breathless, Fox looked up and became lost in the view atop him. The fire's glow flickered over Krystal. It illuminated her deep blue eyes and glistened in her adoring smile. Fox reached to cup her face. Krystal sang a soft giggle as she nuzzled into his palm. She kissed the inner side of his wrist, electrifying Fox with the most delicate touch.
Straddled, Fox could feel Krystal warm and wet on his lap. She ground slowly, eliciting pleasured moans from them both. Fox reached full mast. He pulled his hand from Krystal's grasp and trailed it down her chest. His fingers found their mark around her breast. He felt its weight and cradled it. Krystal's hand clasped over Fox's while he teased her nipple.
Her other hand took hold of his length, now slick with her desire. Krystal's smile became a blend of shy and sultry. "Are you ready?" Caught without a voice in that moment, Fox nodded.
Krystal ran his tip along her folds. Their breaths hitched in unison. If an electric current could have linked Fox with Krystal, that was what he felt. The pressure grew as she finally pushed him inside. Her gasp came sharp. Fox stroked her thigh while Krystal lowered herself slowly, pausing in brief intermissions to acclimate. Her eyes rolled back into her head. She consumed Fox until his thickening knot blocked any further progress.
"How are you feeling?" Fox checked.
Krystal's chest heaved. "Wonderful."
Kissing him, she began moving at a steady rate. Her heat bled into Fox as Krystal took him as deep as she could. Every plunge met with a satisfying slap of flesh on flesh. Fox could focus on nothing else but Krystal. The rest of the world faded into oblivion. "Oh, Fox… Fox…" Krystal mewled. Fox groaned deep from his chest. His hands gripped her hips to support her through every stroke.
He then heard Krystal inside his head. Her thoughts interlaced with his. Fox felt her pleasure. He felt her need. Her love. It tied in with his own, building and surging as one incredible sensation until suddenly…
"Nghaaaaaah!" Fox cried out. Unable to contain it for even a second, he busted his load into Krystal.
As soon as the euphoria wore off, Fox discovered he was alone inside his head. He saw Krystal gape at him. Her stare fell to the milky fluids now leaking from her onto his lap. Judging from her shock, Fox realised that he might have finished too soon.
"Sorry about that," his ears flattened. "A lot of guys say this where I come from, but I promise you that that has never happened to me before."
Krystal blinked, completely lost for words. "I really wasn't expecting you to link our minds like that," Fox added.
"I'm sorry," Krystal answered. "When you said I could touch you anywhere, I thought…"
"I'll… keep it in mind from now on." Fox smiled in hopes of diffusing the situation. "Sorry. I'm usually better than this."
Krystal's gloom shifted. "What do you mean?"
'Ah, crap!' Fox stuck his foot into his mouth in the worst possible manner. He sighed and considered how best to respond. "Krys… I love you. But you should know that you're not the first woman I've dated, or even had sex with. There were others who I used to be with when I was living on Corneria."
He saw her heart break, and Fox stroked Krystal's cheek to console her. "In the Lylat System – and a lot of other places in the galaxy, I imagine – it's common for people to date, break up, and then date someone else. In some cases, it all happens within a pretty short amount of time. And sometimes, people have sex without ever being in love at all." Fox sighed again. "It's… messy when I think about it."
"And you?" Krystal's voice was terribly quiet. "Did you ever do this with someone who you didn't love?"
"No." Fox shook his head. "A lot of girls offered as much, but I was never into that. I did date a few girls who I did like though. Had sex with some of them too. But none of those relationships worked out in the end. The longest one I had was with my last girlfriend, Fara. We broke up about a year before I met you."
Krystal bobbed her head marginally. "Oh…"
He hated hurting Krystal against all his intent. Fox sat up so that he could hold her close. "But that's all in the past. Right now, I'm with you, Krystal. And I'm incredibly happy that you and I are together. And I want to make our relationship last for as long as possible. So long as that's what you want too."
"I do want that," Krystal replied. Though sorrow still marked her face, her tail did swish over Fox's legs. "So… do you promise you won't break up with me if you meet another woman?"
Fox smiled with all his heart. "As long as I have you, I don't need another woman." Her ears perked. "I love you, Krystal. And no woman I meet, whether in the past or future, is going to change that. I promise you."
At long last, Krystal's smile returned. "Thank you." She kissed him. "I love you too, Fox."
They cuddled for many long minutes. Fox threw every bit of reassurance that he could offer Krystal into his embrace. "This was my first time," she spoke suddenly. "In fact, everything we've done since we started courting has been a first for me."
"Really?" Fox raised both brows in genuine surprise. "Surely there'd have been other guys who asked you out before me."
Krystal chuckled. "There were. But I wasn't interested in courting at the time. I always wanted to finish my master's trials before I started looking for a mate." She scratched behind Fox's ear. "Though I wasn't expecting the one I'd find to fall out of the sky in front of me."
Fox grinned. "Then I'm lucky that you waited. Because anyone with a brain would have known what an amazing person you are and never let you go."
"And I'm lucky that such a sweet and handsome warrior crossed all the way across the galaxy and became my lover," Krystal nuzzled.
"If we're both that lucky, it must be fate then." They both enjoyed that thought. Fox soon broke the following silence. "So… do you want to try that again? See if I can't last longer this time?"
Krystal giggled. He adored that sound. "Would you like to take the lead now?"
Fox seized her by the middle. A playful growl tore from his throat as he rolled Krystal onto her back. She yipped in shocked delight when Fox nibbled the soft skin of her neck. Butterfly kisses danced over blue and white fur. Pairs of arms and legs wrapped themselves around Fox. A luxurious, silky tail thumped against Fox's bristly one.
He eased into Krystal. Her blissful sigh tickled his ear. Fox kissed her neckline softly. His muzzle travelled upwards and along Krystal's jaw until he met her lips. "Is it alright if I link us again?" she asked breathlessly.
"Go for it."
Once more, Fox heard Krystal's thoughts. He felt her love for his soul and her desire for his body. Krystal warmed as she felt his same want for her. They were like two halves itching to become whole. Their next kiss stoked that wish like an inferno. Fox could not resist Krystal drawing him closer.
She wanted him to start. And she wanted him to be rough. Fox pulled out then shoved back in quickly. Krystal grunted. Her grip tightened. Ecstasy blew into Fox's head from hers like a fierce wind through a narrow parting. He thrusted again, maintaining that same, controlled force.
Krystal's telepathy made an odd addition to the experience. It didn't feel like Fox was screwing himself. His body was still distinct from Krystal's. However, he could feel her nerves flare to the rhythm of his thrusts. He could comprehend the heart-warming and mind-numbing pleasure that he was giving Krystal. Fox knew in real-time how fast she wanted him to go; how good she felt grinding her breasts against his chest; as well as how Krystal wanted Fox to hold her as he drove her further into paradise. He also knew that she knew everything that was going on in his mind, like how Fox wanted Krystal to lift her rear up a little. They had each become an extension of the other.
Fox felt the pressure building inside Krystal's core along with his own. His knot slammed against her vulva, trying to push through. Fox knew that they were both close. Krystal knew it too.
"Give it to me, Fox!"
Grabbing Krystal's rear firmly, Fox released into her again. Krystal moaned aloud. Her cries trembled as ferociously as the rest of her body. "Oh, Fox…" she wept. "Oh gods, Fox…"
He wrapped his arms around her. "There, there," Fox cooed, still connected to Krystal's reeling mind. "I've got you. I've got you."
Krystal buried her face into Fox's shoulder. She clutched him for dear life as she rode through her orgasm. Fox felt tears running down his nose as well. That was strange because he never cried from sex. It must be due to the link. Everything became twice as intense through it.
After a minute, Krystal kissed Fox with an intensity that she never had before. However, when they broke apart, she looked down between their bodies and pouted. "You didn't tie us." True; Fox's knot nestled outside her folds. A cork not quite sealing the bottle.
"Yeah," Fox admitted quietly. "I thought we'd save that until we finished up for the night. Since I'm half-fennec, it takes a long while for my knot to shrink down. A lot longer than other fox breeds."
"How long?"
Fox pondered briefly. "Usually somewhere between half an hour and two."
Krystal's eyes bulged. "Two hours?!"
"I've made it to three a couple of times before," Fox grinned. "It's a good thing that I've got my mom's bladder, otherwise I'd be busting long before I can pull out. You might want to visit the bathroom first though."
"That might be a good idea," Krystal murmured. She sounded nervous. Though through their lingering link, Fox could sense her excitement.
While she took care of her business, Fox brought the bed downstairs as well as a few blankets. He set them down in front of the fire. This way they wouldn't need to hope that the flames alone would keep them warm until morning; or try to crawl up the stairs while tied like some clumsy, two-headed spider.
Fox settled into the newly made bed while he waited for Krystal. He knew immediately that he made the right choice. Between the fireplace and the blankets, he was guaranteed to feel nice and toasty all throughout the night. Falling asleep then and there became a looming peril.
When Krystal returned, Fox melted as he gazed upon her. He marvelled her beautiful form and the grace in her step, committing it all to memory. Smiling back at him, Krystal slipped under the blankets and into Fox's arms. She kissed him sweetly. Her palm ran over his beating heart.
"Fox?" Krystal spoke softly. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure. What is it?"
"You mentioned earlier that you broke up with the other women you courted in the past. I'm curious. Why was that?"
Fox sighed. An unpleasant cocktail of emotions bubbled from the forgotten depths. "There were a bunch of different reasons. Sometimes I realised that the girl I was with just wasn't right for me, and the relationship fizzled out. There were even a few who actually only wanted me because I was famous. I learned pretty quickly how to spot those kinds of people after the first time. Those relationships never lasted more than a couple of weeks."
Krystal glared, though Fox could tell that it was for his sake. "How could someone be so shallow?" she fumed.
"I rarely give them any thought anymore," Fox shrugged. "Other times though, I made mistakes and bungled everything up. Like this one time, I accepted a job and forgot to tell a girl until the day my team was about to fly out. The really bad part was that it was on the same day as her birthday."
Shock lit up Krystal's features. "Goodness, Fox…"
"Yeah, I fucked up big time. Jessie cried and screamed over the phone for ages. She told me that if I left then she'd never want to see me again. Unfortunately, my team needed the work desperately, and it was too late to reschedule with the client."
Fox sighed. "So, I had to make a choice that day. I know I should have prioritised Jessie and her feelings, but Star Fox was in danger of going out of business. My team was the most I had to remember my father by, so I couldn't just abandon it." Yet here he was, snuggling his newest girlfriend and far away from Star Fox for almost two years. The irony was not lost on him.
"You really ought to have been more considerate, Fox," Krystal admonished. "But she should have understood that you made an honest mistake. It wasn't fair to force that sort of choice on you."
"I try to be better these days, at least," Fox said. Best to move on now. "With Fara though, things ended a bit easier between us. She worked for the Cornerian Army, testing their newest starfighters. We had a lot in common, so we always got along. Unfortunately, that included how much we loved our jobs, and it became hard for us to keep in touch whenever we worked in different locations. It put a lot of strain on our relationship, but neither of us wanted to give up our careers. So, Fara and I talked it out, and we decided it was better that we went our separate ways."
"That's so sad," Krystal lowered her gaze. "I'm happy that you're now courting me instead of her, but that's still a sad way to lose someone you loved."
"It was. Fara and I stayed friends after that, but we still didn't see each other much." Fox then shook his head. "I'm sorry, Krys. This was supposed to be a special night for us, yet here I am yammering on about my exes."
Krystal kissed his cheek. "It's alright. I'm the one who asked about them. I just wanted to understand why you left so many women you loved. That way I'd know what I'd need to do so that we can stay together."
Fox hugged her tighter. "Krys, you don't have to worry about that. There were a lot of differences between my past relationships and the one I have now with you. One of them is that I care about you a lot more deeply. Since I met you, you've supported me in ways nobody else I was with could."
He stroked Krystal's hair. "You saved my life and helped me get it back on track after I lost everything. You've also helped me feel more comfortable talking about things that I never thought I could before. Because of that, I want to spend every single day making you happy. Because you're someone very special to me. And I never want to lose you."
Krystal pressed her brow to Fox's. "You're very special to me too," she whispered. "Since I met you, you've opened my world to so many things that I never could have imagined before. I've watched you pick yourself up and move forward so that you can find your way home. I've grown to admire the strength it takes you to hold onto hope after all this time. You inspire me to do my best every day, and I want to take every step of that journey with you by my side."
Tears swam in Fox's vision. A warm smile tugged his lips. "Then will you stay with me, Krystal Sharrde, and help me stay strong?"
Krystal smiled. Her claws combed his hair. "As long as you stay with me, Fox McCloud, and brighten my life just like Ilis himself."
They kissed once more. Their love bloomed over the seal of their promise. Krystal thrust herself deep into Fox's mind and pressed him into the bedroll with her weight. Raw, mutual emotion rolled through their skulls and hearts, leaving Fox feeling drunk and dizzy. His lips parted from Krystal's only just long enough for them to each recover their breaths. When Krystal shifted over Fox's lap, their eyes locked. They knew that it was time.
Krystal took Fox all the way along his shaft. She went slowly this time, helping them relish this moment. "Krystal…" Fox moaned. Her name passed under his breath, yet Krystal heard it as clear as a bell. She cradled Fox's head and guided it into her chest. His nose tickled Krystal's skin. He inhaled her divine scent. He heard her heart race and felt its pulse with his lips. Fox then kissed his way down to her teat. As he suckled lightly upon it, causing Krystal to bite her lip, his hand came to treat her other breast.
"Fox…" she gasped. "Oh gods, I love you."
"I love you too."
Krystal increased her speed. "Tell me how to say it. In Papetoonish. How to say I love you."
His heart swelled. It had been so long since he'd spoken his native language to someone. Fox looked deep into Krystal's eyes. "Saeyat moko saboe."
"Saeyat moko saboe," she repeated, rehearsing each syllable carefully. "Saeyat moko saboe. Saeyat moko saboe."
"Yin kudai ral," Fox replied in her tongue. Tears ran down Krystal's wondrous smile as she rode him harder.
"Saeyat moko saboe."
"Yin kudai ral."
"Saeyat moko saboe."
"Yin kudai ral."
"I love you."
"I love you."
When their orgasms came, Fox relinquished all choice over to Krystal. She threw herself down on him with all her remaining might. Fox felt his knot squeeze into Krystal's tightening passage. Gritting his teeth, he pushed upward until the swollen meat finally popped its way in. Krystal threw her head back and moaned with loud abandon. Fox held her steady as he pumped every last bit of his seed into her.
Satisfied and weak, Fox lowered them both onto the bed. Krystal laid limp over his chest. They panted heavily. Their thoughts were foggy but serene. Fox made an experimental wiggle of his hips. He was well and truly stuck inside Krystal. It felt like she was crushing him tighter than a bull clip. He loved it. And so did she.
Kissing between his ears, Krystal nuzzled Fox's cheek. "Saeyat moko saboe, Fox."
Fox met her lips with his. "Yin kudai ral, Krystal." Rolling her into a more comfortable position, Fox fumbled to pull the blankets over Krystal. She snuggled close. Fox kissed her brow softly and stroked her hair. Krystal nuzzled against his cheek and scratched behind his ear. She preserved their link. Through it, they shared a deep conversation that contained no words.
Time passed and Fox became able to extract himself from Krystal. She then shifted to lay across Fox's chest. Her eyes fell shut, and her mind bade him a loving goodnight before drifting away. Fox watched Krystal sleep with a smile spreading across his lips.
"Sweet dreams, my precious hero."
The festival continued late into the night. A hum of music and cheer carried on the wind to Kezamat's outskirts. Such sounds provided a pleasant change to Andross's evenings. His foot tapped absently to the rhythm of distant drums.
Cerinian customs intrigued him in his early years on the planet. However, since he was now familiar with the Yanfwet Festival, Andross preferred to allocate his time to more important tasks. A couple of hours that day was the most he allowed himself to revel.
Andross soldered another wire to the circuit board on his desk. It was crude handiwork limited by the tools he had available. Yet he could not abide anything too sloppy. Each component of the distress beacon needed to be as compact as possible to ensure minimal weight for its launch. Every resource also had to be used wisely, given how troublesome it was to acquire gold, copper, and aluminium for parts. So many sensitive factors surrounded this project that some men might have given up the prospect from the starting line. Andross, however, relished the challenge.
"Still tinkering away, I see?" Thene spoke suddenly behind him.
Andross paused to regard her. She carried a parcel of warm food in one hand. He did not overlook the fact that Thene's cloak and robes were wide open at her front. She set the package down beside him and smirked. "I don't know how you kept yourself fed without me in your past life."
Andross huffed. He wouldn't deny that occasionally he'd become so fixated on a task that he would forget a meal or two. Now that he was aware of it, his stomach growled terribly. Andross switched off his soldering iron and carefully set it aside.
"Thank you," he said, unwrapping the wax paper. The oily aroma of fried eba meat and vegetables filled his nose. A complex mix of spices warmed his mouth and belly.
Thene watched him eat with a lazy smile. "You always work yourself so hard. Do you ever stop to rest?"
"You know the answer to that," Andross replied.
"I do, and I adore you for it." Thene's tail brushed his chair as it swayed. "Though surely the beacon can wait a day for you to relax a little. Such urgency isn't necessary."
Andross finished the rest of his meal before answering. "There's so much that needs to be done. The electronics, the body, the thrusters, and the engine. Some of it we can recycle from McCloud's starship and mine, but the rest will have to be crafted from scratch. It will take so long for us to finish. We can scarcely afford to waste a single day."
He then cursed the wheels he fitted underneath his chair legs, for it gave Thene the means to pull him away from his desk. Boldly, she sat atop his lap. Andross gained a clear view of her cleavage. Thene cupped his face with one hand and lifted it to meet hers.
"If not for a day, then surely your work can at least wait until morning." She locked eyes with him, wearing a devious smile. "My poor, dear Simon. You work so diligently without pause, yet you forget to enjoy the life you have. You've done more than enough for today, so set your tools down for the night. Forget your plans for the future and unwind in this moment." Thene leaned closer. "With me."
As always, Andross appraised his assistant with stoic reservation. This was far from Thene's first advance towards him, and it was impossible to be her last. However, he never responded in the way she wished. There was always something else that demanded his attention; some other crucial business that needed him to focus on. There never was time or reason to indulge Thene's antics.
Yet the lab's lighting caught her visage in a captivating angle. The reflection in Thene's green eyes allured like twin wills-of-the-wisp. They compelled Andross to review his priorities. As of now, they had a clear plan to escape Cerinia's atmosphere. And with McCloud's aid and the support he garnered from the natives he befriended, Andross found it easier to seek able hands. His schedule could proceed more smoothly than ever before in the last eight years.
With that in mind, Andross considered as he drew Thene in to accept her deepening kiss, he could perhaps afford to indulge in some trivial pleasures from time to time. After all, Thene never concealed her interest, as evident through her removing her robes right in front of him. And if Andross was to admit – as did his stiffening phallus – she possessed many desirable charms. For in addition to her sharp intellect, roguish wiles, and indispensable talents, Thene was, put simply, quite an attractive woman.
End note:
And we'll leave the chapter off here. I figured that not many people would want to read about Andross inserting his DNA samples into Thene. It's better to stop now, so that you don't have to imagine them going at it in missionary position, doggy-style, wheelbarrow, forward and reverse cowgirl, and then finally back to missionary before collapsing, exhausted, into each other's tender embrace. Nobody should be made to imagine that.
Goodnight, everybody!