Chapter 6B...?: Proliferation
Yoooo! Welcome back once again! You came just in time, because we've got even MORE outrageously wild shenanigans to unpack here. Where do I even BEGIN? Especially with the way we ended off last time… And in case you don't remember, Hashanah the Rogue Half-Genie showed up to this mysterious island located on one of Sequin Land's farthest corners, and whose atmosphere was subject to the most random and unpredictable of weather changes imaginable. Sunny in one minute, hailstorm in the next hour, hurricane in the hour after that, and even a gigantic, maximum-level, all-consuming SUPER TORNADO for another four hours… Name the weather condition, and you can guarantee that it occurred at least once in any given day on this island.
The name of the place was Cyclic Season Island (go figure), and Hashanah showed up there in search for the entranceway to yet ANOTHER mysterious location hidden within the confines of the already hidden landmass. Worse yet, she'd gone on something of a zoophobic rampage as she sliced, crushed, and blasted her way through hordes of native monsters before discovering that an unexpected additional party had potentially made their way onto the island… and further discovering afterward that the 'additional party' had possibly even beaten her to the punch on discovering how to get into this new location, oh-so-ominously called… the Capricious Titan Shrine.
Who was this additional party? Well, in case you don't remember (or if your brain's turned to mush), the interlopers in question were none other than the dynamic duo of the War Bird Trainer Sky, and her ambitious teammate, the Adventurer for Hire Bolo, who had been investigating a lead on the possible location of the third piece of the fabled Spirit Fuser. Only… uh… things immediately went off the rails as soon as the two of them arrived. After being chased around, tormented, hunted, and nearly mauled by multiple species of the wildlife on Cyclic Season Island, the two found themselves separated… by way of Sky being sucked DIRECTLY into that super tornado I mentioned and being whisked to the literal high heavens, and Bolo being 'rescued' (read: kidnapped) from said tornado by a member of an endangered species of visually appealing cat women, called Leopard Gals, and dragged off into the wilderness by the collar of his shirt. So, YEAH! Fun stuff, right? Exactly, because I know you agree! In fact, Sky and Bolo were having SO much 'fun' that we're gonna join them right now to see how much fun they were having! Because I swear neither of them is dead! At least, not yet… Uh… A-anyway…
Starting off in the chaotic wilderness of the Cyclic Season Island…
"Agh…! H-hey! Let me go! Where do you think you're taking me!?" the famous…ly (and presumably) doomed Bolo shouted as he continued to find himself being helplessly dragged along the gravelly surfaces of the Cyclic Season Island. He wouldn't get an immediate reply, however, as the abducting Leopard Gal had her hands full with dashing through the windy, rainy landscape… while she also had a mouthful of his shirt collar. Instead, he would continue to be pulled along on this inconceivably dangerous ride that could very well have been the last 'ride' he'd ever take. Try as he might to AT LEAST protect himself from all the dirt, wet rocks, grass blades, soggy leaves, and mud splashing all over him, he found it especially difficult while his kidnapper was also hopping, zipping, zig-zagging, and dashing over jagged hills, puddles of filthy water, and fallen trees alike.
"GET BACK HERE WITH OUR MEAL, YOU OVERSIZED, THIEVING HOUSECAT!" shouted a certain giant neon purple ant… in a COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDABLE LANGUAGE (and with a ton of agitation in its tone) as it skittered along the uneven terrain in an apparent desperate bid to earn its right to feast.
"NRT RN YERR LRFE, FRRMRICRS!" the Leopard Gal shouted back in defiance despite her mouth being full. I… could only tell from her remark that she and this giant ant were familiar with one another, though apparently not on very good terms. "IR NRRD THRS HRMRN MRLE!"
"THAT HUMAN MALE IS GOING TO FEED ME AND MY COLONY, KLAWDIA! STOP MESSING AROUND AND HAND HIM OVER!"
"Wait, WHAT!? Why am I being fought over!?" Bolo rightfully questioned as the apparently named Klawdia continued dashing through some wet, patchy, extremely rocky badlands on her way toward a mountain as the wind began to die down and the clouds above them began to shift. "And what the heck do you plan on doing to me!? Because if you're trying to eat me, then I've got some bad news for ya!"
"RM NRT GRNNR RRT YRU! IR NRRD YRU FRR SRMETHRNG MRRE RMPURTRNT!" Klawdia assured as best as she could, though it probably went without saying that Bolo didn't understand anything she said.
"I won't go down without a f-! Wait… You're NOT gonna eat me!? Then what do you need me for so badly that you're dragging me across this island in such a hurry!?" he asked, making me look QUITE silly. Huh. So, he DID understand her. Oopsies… "Can't we all talk about this!?"
"There will be no need for you to speak once I have you, human!" the giant ant (whose name I didn't outright know) countered as it prepared to shoot another one of those gnarly gobs of glowing lava spit to try and stop Klawdia from kidnapping Bolo… so that IT could kidnap Bolo and feed him to its kin. Jeez… Seemed like our blue-haired boy wonder was stuck between a rock and a hard place on this one.
"NR YRU DRN'T! PRSS RFF, YRU FRRGIN' PRST!" Klawdia shouted… something that, even for it being muffled, I can GUARANTEE I wasn't allowed to translate as she took a sudden turn to her right as she still sprinted toward the gigantic, snow-covered mountain. Meanwhile, the air grew unseasonably humid while the clouds cleared up to reveal utterly SCORCHING sunlight that immediately began to melt the pond Klawdia found herself running across.
"Whoahahahaaah, hey! Why are you running across this frozen lake!? It's gonna melt in no time flat!" Bolo warned while trying to wrest himself out of Klawdia's clutches to no avail.
"RXRCTLY! THR SRN SHRLD MRLT THR RCE BR THR TRME WR GRT RCRRSS!" the determined Leopard Gal explained as she allowed her paws to skid across the sleek, icy surface of the frozen body of water. And as she skidded across, she performed short, yet very deliberate hops, landing hard enough each time to make the ice crack and melt with *KRAKAKRAK* after startling *PRAKRAK*. By all accounts, she seemed determined to employ any means necessary to escape her insectoid pursuer.
"Gah! D-DARN YOU! YOU CAN CONSIDER YOURSELF EXILED FROM OUR UNITED SPECIES COMMITTEE FOR THIS EGREGIOUS ACT OF BETRAYAL!" the agitated ant shouted as it narrowly avoided slipping off of the separating ice blocks and falling into the lake. Noticing her success in slowing down her assailant, Klawdia took the moment she had to unclench her jaw from Bolo's collar, only to take him into her paws and foist him onto her back.
"As if I care, Formiricus! It's been TEN YEARS since our species encountered the last human male, and you melted him into a puddle before we got the chance to use him!" Klawdia angrily shouted back at him as she kept on moving.
"'Use him?' Use him for what?" Bolo curiously asked as he made a quick attempt to climb off the Leopard Gal's back.
"Don't you DARE try and dismount me, or else I'll gouge out your eyeballs and DEVOUR THEM!" Klawdia viciously threatened, promptly scaring the living daylights (no pun intended) out of Bolo, who frightfully and obediently clung to her. "Good boy…" she remarked as she watched Formiricus angrily hock one of his lava spit loogies at her from at least half a football field away in burning frustration. The lava gob landed with a sizzling *SHWAKIIIIISSSSSSSHHHHH* at least a dozen yards short of its target. Knowing that the attack would never reach her, Klawdia taunted Formiricus by stopping for a second, sticking her curvy feline butt out, giving it a firm *SLAP* while teasingly sticking her tongue out at him, and then turning to scurry off of the melting lake with Bolo in tow.
"…If I'm gonna be honest, I feel like what you're gonna do to me is gonna be SO much worse than what that ant had in store…" the human war token that was Bolo pointed out in stark apprehension.
"You won't be saying that in a little bit," the confident Leopard Gal calmly assured as she galloped through another patch of grasslands off the shore of the lake, at which point she dashed up a winding mountain path.
"And… might I ask why that is?"
"Trust me, human, you're gonna thank your lucky stars I saved you from that tornado and my hungry insectoid former friend. And after that, you're gonna thank me for a LOT more…~ That is, if you're willing to 'help meow-t' with something…"
"Help you out with what? Also, was that a pun?"
"Purr-ceptive, you are," she sneakily remarked again, giggling as she continued to gallop up the winding mountainside as the snow covering it quickly melted into water. Being the gentleman he was, Bolo found it in himself to force a chuckle that TOTALLY didn't communicate his fear of being mauled and eviscerated if he didn't play along with this crazy cat woman's… ahem, PURR sense of humor… You now have the right to put me out of my misery. I SWEAR I didn't come up with that on my own. I was told I'd get a bonus if I slipped it in there, but I'm already regretting how low I've sunk for just a few extra bucks… Ugh…
"R-right…" Bolo cautiously replied as he rode atop his captor before noticing a trio of giant neon-colored ants hurriedly climbing up the wall of the mountain while charging up burning goo blobs in their maws. "Ahh… S-so, we may not necessarily be out of the woods yet…"
"Woods? Don't be silly, handsome! We are far outside of the woods. Our promised land is not far."
"No, I didn't mean literal-! Wait, did you just call me 'handsome'?" the apparently attractive adventurer picked the best (read: WORST) of times to distractedly ask for clarification about Klawdia's opinion on his looks. And before the Leopard Gal could give a reply, a sudden *SPLURIISSSSSSSSSH* of a blindingly bright blue, steaming liquid splattered itself all over the pathway immediately up ahead. Accordingly, the rocky path almost immediately melted into lava lamp-like ooze. It seemed like they'd be stuck. Until…
"MRRAWAH!" Klawdia overcame her sudden surprise to shout as she, with INCREDIBLE acrobatic ability, leapt high and far over the smoking, sizzling, melting gap as she continued her mad dash toward the mountain summit. "Gah, those miserable insects don't know when to quit…!"
"KLAWDIA!" shouted a familiar, though very unwelcome voice as its owner skittered his way up the mountainside and gave chase to his targets along the wall. Meanwhile, two of his comrades came scurrying along with him while pressuring the human boy/Leopard Gal duo from behind and beneath.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS, FORMIRICUS!? I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO GO F-!"
"FECKLESS BEAST! IF IT'S THE LAST THING I DO, I WILL MAKE YOU SUFFER BEFORE I TAKE THAT HUMAN FOR OUR COLONY!"
"YEAH, WELL LET'S SEE YOU TRY IT! YOU AND YOUR BAND OF OVERSIZED DUNG EATERS ARE NO MATCH FOR ME AND MY NEW MATE!" Klawdia boldly proclaimed, revealing to some degree what she planned on doing with the young man she 'rescued' from certain doom.
"WAIT, WHAT!? NEW MATE!? WHAT DO YOU-!?" Bolo tried to ask, though his question would unfortunately be put on hold.
"DUNG EATERS!? HOW DARE YOU!? THAT WAS ONE TIME! ONE!" Formiricus indignantly shouted, unwittingly making a most… unpalatable confession in his frustration. "DO NOT JUDGE ME! I AM A PROUD MAGMA ANT! WE FIND NUTRITION IN ANYTHING WE PARTAKE OF!" he further demanded of me, which… Okay, SOMEBODY NEEDS TO EXPLAIN HOW I KEEP GETTING NOTICED DESPITE ME SUPPOSEDLY BEING 'INVISIBLE!'
…Er, anyway, this winding mountain chase grew a lot more chaotic with every passing second as Formiricus the Magma Ant and his Magma Ant cohorts doggedly gave chase to Bolo and his new paramour Klawdia.
"Hey! Don't go making assumptions! I only just met her!" Bolo shouted VERY INAPPROPRIATELY WHEN HE NEEDED TO BE FOCUSED ON FINDING A WAY TO SAVE HIS OWN BACON BEFORE SOMEONE TRIED TO EAT IT!
"That weird, omnipresent disembodied voice is right, Darling! Surely, you must have some survival skills if you found yourself here of all places, no?" Klawdia… assisted me…? A-and queried… as… one of the Magma Ants spat another stone-melting gob of lava spit at the duo. "HOOH!" the Leopard Gal grunted with effort as she sped up enough to where she was running on the wall. In that same instant, the goop ball splashed all over the pathway with another squelching *GLASPLOORRISSSSSSHSHHH*, completely dissolving another massive chunk of the mountainside in the process.
"'Darling?' Uh… If this is about to go the way I think it's gonna go, then Rotty's probably gonna kill me if she finds out…" Bolo very… interestingly complained, for some reason worried about his zombified friend at a time it didn't seem-! "You didn't hear that! Move on with the next part, please!" he further frantically requested, only making me even more suspicious. Okay, y'know what? I'm not gonna let this slide anymore! You want to keep cutting me off and making smart remarks at me? Fine, but you're gonna hear me give you a piece of my mind in exchange every time! Starting with this…
Y'know, if something IS going on between you and that adorable zombie chick, you CAN just out and say it to spare us the suspense, Bolo.
"Nope! I've got nothing at all to say about that! Rottytops and I are just friends! FRIENDS! Stop getting distracted and keep talking about what's happening here already!" the endangered adventurer rudely demanded as another *GLAPLORRWISSSSSSSSHHHHH* of lava spit splattered all over the wall where Klawdia was just running. Klawdia continued to use her agility to her advantage as she deftly leapt from the wall back onto the pathway and kept on sprinting.
How rude! Ugh, you're SO lucky that this giant mutant ant chase is so much more exciting than your apparent relationship issues with your undead girlfriend, man. Otherwise, I'd certainly let you have it!
"Girlfriend?" Klawdia remarked, evidently perking up in curiosity. "And… did they just say she's UNDEAD?"
"DUDE! She's NOT my girlfriend! Stop spreading rumors!" Bolo shouted at me again, growing even more pedantic as this awful argument continued.
Then why are you thinking so much about HER instead of the friend you came to this gigantic disaster pit of an island with? Y'know, the blonde one that you were with, whom THIS LEOPARD GAL SWIPED YOU AWAY FROM NOT ALL THAT LONG AGO!? Don't you think-?
"Alright, I get it! I'll think about how to find Sky when I get the chance! I'm KINDA busy at the moment, if you couldn't tell by now! And if it makes you happy enough to keep you out of my business, then I won't mention Rottytops again since it bothers you so much!"
Yeah, well… you just mentioned her right there. So nyeh.
"Oh, you're SO mature! I swear if I get out of this in one piece, I'm gonna find you, and I'm gonna—!"
"Darling! Focus! I need your-! WAH!" Klawdia thankfully interrupted before narrowly avoiding being plastered with another *GLAPLIRRRSSSSSSSSHHHHK* of scalding ant slime splashing against the pathway, forcing the Leopard Gal to make another enormous bound over the widening gap. "If you've got something to help us escape with, then MEOW is the time to use it!"
"Ooh! Got it! I've got a few tricks up my sleeve… but none would work better than THIS…!" Bolo cryptically replied as he reached into his inventory and pulled out three tiny yellow Pike Balls. "Alright, I just need you to get steady for me!"
"Oh? Sure thing," Klawdia complied without objection. "What would you like me to do?"
"Just keep on running, but mind your speed. Our 'friends' here are in for a most… explosive surprise," the intuitive hero hinted as he turned and took aim with one of the Pike Balls in his throwing hand.
"You got it, but make it quick. Magma Ants are keen on completely overwhelming their prey when they think they've got the upper hand," the Leopard Gal warned as she slowed down to the point where the Magma Ants had begun catching up.
"Not a problem. Here goes…!" Bolo acknowledged as he flung one of the three Pike Balls. And to his merit, he stuck the Pike Ball onto the Magma Ant chasing them from its position on the wall of the mountain. He then took the next one, took aim, and flung it at the Magma Ant pursuing them from below. With a nearly silent *chik*, the second Pike Ball latched itself onto its target while said target barely made any effort to notice. Instead, the Magma Ant was preparing another surface-melting spit bomb within its mandibles.
"Hmm… What is that human doing…?" Formiricus asked himself in wonder as he continued to rush after his enemies. "His attacks are entirely harmless, yet he does not panic…" he further observed as he noticed the human in question locking his eyes on him.
"Alright, one more…" Bolo murmured to himself as Klawdia was made to run along the wall once more to avoid another *GLASKLRRRRRISSSSSSSH* of a lava spit blast from below, after which she made another courageous leap back onto the narrowing pathway to avoid a second *SPLORGLISSSSSSSSH* of another spit blast from the Magma Ant chasing them along the wall.
"Anytime now! They're gaining on us!" Klawdia urged, growing tired as she began to pant.
"Right! Take THIS!" Bolo obliged as he flung the final yellow Pike Ball at Formiricus, who was in the middle of leaping high and far over the lava-smothered gaps created by his allies. And just as the main Magma Ant landed on the pathway RIGHT BEHIND THEM, the Pike Ball stuck with another *chik* onto one of his antennae.
"Hm…? Odd. This weapon is useless, yet this foolish biped continues relying on them… and… why does this weapon smell like smoke and marzipan…?" the talking Magma Ant pondered, growing more perplexed by the second despite his efforts to catch his prey while they began to run out of room to make any form of daring escape.
"We're all set, Klawdia! Step on it!" Bolo commanded as he took the moment to pull out a remote control.
"As you wish!" Klawdia obeyed, BURSTING ahead with such a massive increase in speed that I could've sworn she vanished on the spot! She completely flabbergasted her pursuers as she quickly gained distance. However, as they ran along the path, it became startlingly apparent that they were losing ground. The mountaintop was a hop, skip, and leap away, and it was evident that Klawdia and Bolo needed to make their move soon, or else they were done for. Worse yet, the Magma Ants quickly adapted by speeding up themselves, and had even been crawling fast enough to OUTPACE Klawdia despite her running at top speed. Hmm, this situation was quickly looking like it would turn into one where the human male and the Leopard Gal were as good as ant food… At least, until… "Well? What are you-!?" the desperate Leopard Gal was about to ask.
"Need to create a bit more distance…!" Bolo murmured as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a trio of tiny RED Pike Balls. "Homing Pikes, GO!" he shouted as he practically flung the projectiles into the wind, where they seemed to harmlessly sail past their intended targets… until they suddenly stopped in midair, immediately after which they rocketed toward the Magma Ants! With three successive, startling *POCKs*, the Homing Pikes struck each Magma Ant in the face, distracting them just enough that they slowed down. Using the distraction to her advantage, Klawdia put more effort into separating herself from hers and her new friend's assaulters.
"Gonna need a little more than that to stop them in their tracks!"
"And a little more, they'll get! BOMBS AWAY!" Bolo shouted as he aimed his remote and slammed on the button as hard as he could. With a *KLICK* of the device's detonator, the yellow Pike Balls went off. With a collective, spectacular, and utterly ASTONISHING *KRABLOOOOOOWWWWMMMM* of the Pike Balls' explosions, two of the Magma Ants were blown into chunks of yucky, gooey bright neon purple and orange mist that splattered all over the mountainside. The only one not to have been entirely victimized was Formiricus, though he hardly fared better. The blast from the Pike Ball stuck to his antenna caused him to be flung backward and off the mountainside with only his antenna being detached.
"GHAAAAGH! YOU MISERABLE MAMMALS WILL Regret thiiiii…!" Formiricus could be heard vowing his revenge through an agitated scream as he plummeted for MILES down the mountain with nothing but rapidly blooming trees, bushes, and daffodils at the base of the mountain to break his fall.
"Whoa…! Impressive work there, darling!" Klawdia lauded Bolo as she reached the summit of the mountain and rapidly slowed herself down. Though a bit disheveled and out of breath, the apex predator was most relieved to be rid of the persistent threat of the insectoid human hunters she used to call her allies.
"Sure thing. Always glad to be useful," Bolo modestly acknowledged, wiping sweat off his face as he remained seated on Klawdia's back. He knew better than to let his guard down, however, as he realized he was still the captive of this incredibly attractive, incredibly tall cat woman. Wanting to avoid incurring her wrath (or possibly her hunger), he remained as calm as he could as he waited for her to make her next move.
"And useful, you certainly were," Klawdia further complimented as she remained on all fours, cantering toward an opening in the mountaintop just before the summit. "Your bravery and assistance will certainly be rewarded, warrior. Oh, and the name's Klawdia, in case you didn't catch it when that obnoxious ant was screaming it earlier. What was your name again?"
"It's Bolo. Pleasure to meet you. Also… R-rewarded how?" Bolo dared to warily ask as he allowed his 'friend' to take him into the opening, which revealed… a small sanctuary resembling a base of operations? Or, more accurately, a home setting fit for a person forever stranded on a deserted island with no hope for rescue. Inside the room was a nest-like bed made primarily of leaves, twigs, and grass blades, a rug made from what looked like the pelt of a bear (possibly a fallen Giga Ursid), a crudely crafted table to the side made of tree branches and rope that held up decorative… ANIMAL SKULLS that… as far as I could tell, included the skulls of rabbits, birds, fish, buffalo, alligators, and even ELEPHANTS… Oh, boy… And adding to this 'deadly huntress' theme, there was a rack on the other side of the cavern that was neatly decorated… with spears, shields, and slingshots made of sticks, pointed stones, and more rope. Completing the overall intimidating vibe of the unwelcoming abode, a smaller wooden table was located in the middle of the room atop the bear rug with two upside-down skulls placed ever-so-neatly atop it… in addition to a necklace that seemed to be fitted with the teeth of animals Klawdia presumably hunted. "…Aw, jeez…" Bolo rightfully murmured, gulping as his heart began to pound with anticipation for what this apparent huntress had in store for him.
"No need for us to waste time talking about it, darling… We are still in a time for action… and I would prefer not to dawdle much longer before we got into it. You may now dismount me," she… sultrily whispered to him as she crouched and allowed her guest to climb off of her. Wordlessly and VERY warily, Bolo heeded her 'request' as he slowly, warily dismounted Klawdia. He dared not make any sudden move to try and escape, however, as he was still trying to weigh his options. Should he run for his life and hope he could survive in the wilderness? Much less, survive what Klawdia would do if she caught him? Or should he stay here and be potentially subjected to whatever it was this seemingly domineering chimera wanted to do with him? He wouldn't get much time to consider, however, before Klawdia took the moment to stretch, extending her backside up into the air as she arched her back and stretched out her arms… much like a common housecat. "Nyaaaaaah…~ That was some workout we had, huh…?"
"Uh… Er, y-yeah… It… definitely was…" Bolo barely stammered out as he locked his eyes on the Leopard Gal and tried his best not to get distracted… by which I mean he was immediately distracted as he became almost entirely absorbed into her stunningly curvy figure, the smooth and alluring tone of her voice… and especially the hypnotizing look she shot him as she finished her stretch and stood tall on her feet… to reveal that she was at least TWICE as tall as he was. Her height was not the first thing on his mind, however, as he visually scanned this adorable, yet incredibly dangerous cat lady up and down. Seeming not to notice at first, Klawdia nonchalantly walked around the room, lighting a pair of torches to set up in holsters on the walls. Bolo, evidently enamored with his host's appearance… spent more time examining her. Or, more specifically, he was 'analyzing' certain parts of the Leopard Gal's anatomy than he did others, but one could only assume he was staring so hard at her because he was assessing her for potential weaknesses… and DEFINITELY NOT succumbing to weaknesses of his own.
"…See something you like, sweetheart~?" Klawdia teased as she turned and approached him, her furry cheeks growing warm as she drew closer with her voluptuous hips sashaying with every step she took. To up the ante, she lifted her tail to where she brushed it under the fledgling warrior's chin once she got close enough to him. The gesture, however seemingly innocuous, caused the young man to shiver with… nervousness, or possibly delight? I couldn't tell… Either way, he shivered as his breath caught in his throat, though he couldn't rip his mesmerized gaze off the busty, curvy feline/woman hybrid that was Klawdia.
"…Er… S-so, what was it you needed me for, exactly?" Bolo did his best to focus enough to ask. "I-if you're not gonna eat me, then I imagine you're looking for my help… with… some…?" he tried to further assess, though Klawdia had other plans. With little warning, Klawdia went back onto all fours as she strutted around her captive, brushing her fur up against every part of him and especially tickling him with her tail. Even more alarmed, Bolo found himself frozen nearly stiff as he tried not to completely lose his mind figuring out how he wound up in this situation. And as if it wasn't overwhelming enough for the poor guy…
"Come with me, darling… I require some… affection that only a human male can provide…" Klawdia suggested as she remained on all fours, sauntering toward the leaf bed at the end of the cavern… all the while deliberately giving Bolo the 'show' of his life. With her tail lifted up high to shift her loincloth off of the area it was supposed to cover, the Leopard Gal prowled over to her bed and climbed into it with only the most… impure of smiling, blushing expressions on her face as she made herself comfortable. Running her fingers through her long, silky black hair and preening herself as she found a cozy (not to mention seductive) position to lie in her bed, Klawdia upped the ante by gesturing to Bolo with a 'come hither' finger.
"…Uh, l-look, I uh… I appreciate you rescuing me, a-and I'm glad to have returned the favor, but I… um… I-I don't think… I need that kind of a reward… plus, I'm pretty sure my teammate either got sucked into that tornado you rescued me from or was left all by herself out in the forest. I need to go find her. S-so if you don't mind, I'll… uh…" he tried to protest, though he was cut off by the sound of Klawdia's meowing and purring as she flipped over onto he stomach and did another stretch… only this time, she wiggled her hips while her backside was propped up high as she faced away from him. She additionally craned her head around to look the young man directly in the eye with a mischievous blushing grin on her face, her tail stretched high and wagging all the while.
"Mraaww, but come onnnnn… You wouldn't want to make a beautiful girl like me upset after what we'd been through together, now would you?" she teased, still swaying her hips from side to side as she wagged her tail. "I promise I won't hurt you… I merely need you to groom me. And maybe let me rest on your lap a little bit? If you can do that, then I'll tell you the real reason I brought you to my secret base. Won't you do that for me, baby~?"
"Ah, jeez…!" Bolo quietly remarked, flustered beyond belief as he rather suspiciously tucked his hands between his legs and took the DEEPEST of deep breaths. Meanwhile, his face SHINED red like someone jammed a piece of the sun inside his mouth. "H-hey, I see what you're driving at here, b-but… I can't. Like I said, I really need to go find my teammate. And also… I-I have a… w-well, I have another friend who'd be really upset with me if I did anything inappropriate with you…"
"'Friend?' Or girlfriend, like you were so vehemently denying moments earlier?" Klawdia curiously questioned, though she kept her flirtatious theatrics up. "Not that it matters to me, but why would a mere friend be upset with you having a little fun with a girl who really, really wants your company and companionship? Does she have that much control over you?"
"W-well… No, and… she's… just a friend, I guess, but… I don't know… It just feels… wrong to be in this situation, y'know?" he tried his best to explain, though he couldn't tear his gaze away from Klawdia as she flipped over to a position where she was lying face up once more, supported by her elbows as she… very intentionally spread her long, luscious legs. Let me tell ya, that loincloth of hers was doing EVERYTHING in its power to keep her decent… and only BARELY succeeding.
"Hmph. Sounds to me like you're just trying to shift the blame to this 'friend' of yours because you don't actually like me… How impolite of you to not even be honest about it. And here, I thought you were a brave and noble warrior…" the seductive Leopard Gal accused with a saddened pout as her pleading eyes glimmered.
"What!? N-no, that isn't it at all, Klawdia! I-I promise! I like you. Really, I do. I'll… admit that… probably against my better judgment, but yeah. And… to be honest, I uh… as much as I probably shouldn't say this, I'm… I'm not entirely opposed to the idea of spending time with you, as long as you're not trying to lure me into a trap or anything… but I've got priorities that I need to keep straight as a hero, and fooling around with you up here unfortunately isn't going to help me in that avenue," poor Bolo did his best to explain, flustered beyond belief as he continued fighting through his rampaging nerves to hold his stance. "M-maybe we can settle on agreeing to be friends for now, and we can figure out how to find my adventuring partner?"
"Oh, I see. You're just playing hard to get, are you?" she teasingly accused once more as that cutesy pout turned into yet another salacious, blushing grin. Completely ignoring Bolo's request for her assistance in finding his missing teammate, Klawdia shifted once more to a position that made it look like she was preparing to pounce.
"Ah, n-not exactly. I'm just trying to explain why we… why we shouldn't be doing this. Or at least, we shouldn't be doing what I think you want us to do in here. I-I'm serious when I say that my friend wou-!"
"I will hear not another word about that silly old friend of yours being the reason we cannot get better acquainted," Klawdia impatiently cut him off as she leapt off the bed and, while on all fours again, cantered her way toward Bolo. Bolo nearly panicked in response, not sure if she was approaching him to attack or to continue propositioning him. He would receive his answer when Klawdia, with her back arched upward and her tail raised high, trotted around the young adventurer while rubbing herself on him from head to tail. "Come on, Bolo… I'm not asking you to make a huge sacrifice or give up an organ… All I want is for you to pamper me and keep me company. Won't you let me be your kitten for a little while~?" At that, Bolo's face contorted into a rather sour look for a split second.
"…W-well… maybe not 'kitten,'" he explained, though the wording of his reply made me nervous. "That's what my best friend lets her boyfriend call her when they get all… 'frisky' with each other…" I had no idea who he was referring to, but… oh, wait… Y-yeah, I do, but I would get yelled at again if I said anything… ANYWAY…
"Then I harbor no issue with being whatever you want me to be as we get 'frisky' with each other, handsome…~" Klawdia permitted with a giggle as she completed her third circle around Bolo and nudged his hand with her head and bowed before him. And… perhaps against his better judgment, Bolo took the invitation to gently scratch behind the Leopard Gal's ear. Instantly enamored with his enchanting touch, Klawdia began to purr with a rush of ecstasy as she nuzzled her face into his hand.
"Ah… W-well, I-I don't see the harm in at least petting you for a while, I guess… but just a little while, and then we need to talk about our potential alliance," he acquiesced as he reached his other hand toward her face and began delicately running his fingers on one hand along her neck and chin while his other hand was busy scratching her ear.
"Hmmmmnyaaaanh~! Oooh, I really like that…" Klawdia hummed in endless enjoyment as she pressed her face closer to her houseguest and encouraged him to keep going.
"…Aaaand just like that, I'm already feeling like I should stop…" he murmured, blushing a bit harder as he… ironically kept on indulging his feline friend.
"What for? Is it because of that not-girlfriend of yours again?"
"No!" he tried to swiftly deny, though he knew for certain she guessed right. As such… "W-well… kinda…" he bashfully confirmed, though he kept going with petting Klawdia.
"Nyaaaah, is she that important to you? Hrrrmmmmm~?" she questioned through her almost hypnotic purring as she drew even closer to him. "And even if she is, you are a grown man. You don't have to listen to anyone you don't want to."
"True, but as a man, I still have to-!"
"You're in good hands with me, trust me. I'll make our time worthwhile… Just you and me… and no one to stop us…~ I will make you feel like king of the world…~" she continued to pressure him, her blush deepening as her seductive grin grew wider.
"I get that, but the moral implications… I-I couldn't… She…" the perplexed and disquieted young man did his best to hold his stance, though it was already apparent he wasn't succeeding.
"Aww, boo… Sounds to me like this friend has quite the hold on you, which I find kind of odd if there's nothing more intimate going on between you and her."
"Odd? W-well, I guess that's a fair point, and… No, nothing 'intimate' is happening between us now… b-but I have to be respectful to her…"
"As I am SO sure she is 'respectful' to you when you're not around her. Doesn't that friend have someone special in her life she can spend more of her time worrying about? Especially if the case is that you and she are not romantically involved?" At that, Bolo's eyes shot wide open as he remembered something… something that, based on the furrowing of his brow and instinctive frown on his face, made him recognize an uncomfortable truth.
"…As a matter of fact, I think she does… She has two people like that, actually…" he admitted after breathing a heavy sigh of dissatisfaction, his face again changing to one of somber disappointment. "And she's sitting with one of them as we speak, tending to him while he's asleep like she's his personal nurse instead of being here to support us when we needed her… Doesn't help that she still treats me the way she does despite what happened…" he further opened up… perhaps at his own peril.
"How does she treat you?"
"Sometimes, like a friend… Most times, like an afterthought…" he glumly admitted. "But then, she gave off these hints at different points recently that our friendship could be something more… but then, as soon as I think the signs start to show, or as soon as at least one of these two other people enters the picture, she completely switches it up and hangs around them exclusively, or she pushes me away and shuts me down, denying anything more could come of our 'friendship'…"
"I see… So, if she is so willing to leave you by the wayside to care for someone else as you imply, she is not clear with you on her feelings to the point of being ashamed of you and any 'connection' you might hold when others are around, and she holds others in so much higher regard than she does you, then it is perplexing to me that you would want to respect someone who does not respect you. To me, that indicates that she does not actually like you, but may actually only want to keep you around at her sole convenience to avoid being alone or left out by those she truly has a desire to be with. That is most unfair to you, darling…"
"…Y-you're right…" he… agreed? Oh, no… "Come to think of it, it… makes me wonder if she really cares about me at all or if she's just using me, now that you mention it…"
"Oh? Then maybe mrrrroow is a good time to share our feelings," Klawdia suggested as she suddenly pulled herself from Bolo's grasp… only to saunter behind him and nudge him toward the bed. "Come. I will hear you out as we get to know one another…"
"Wh-whoa! Hey, I know what you're trying to do, but-!"
"Are you seriously still trying to convince me you're opposed to this? It doesn't seem like you have any true objections, and I think we could both use the stress relief… and the break from the evident yearning in our hearts…" Klawdia further reasoned, though she didn't stop nudging her acquaintance toward her bed. "Come on, hon… Do us both a favor and spend some quality time with me. It gets lonely up here, and you're the first human I've encountered in a really long time…"
"…Funny you should mention 'lonely'…" he cryptically muttered once again as his head sank. Hmm… Man, he seemed really bummed about something to be this unsure of himself…
"Oh, is it? Then you really shouldn't let your doubts about me plague you like they are. I promise you, I will take good care of you for as long as you're willing to stay. And who knows? Maybe if we grow close enough, I can help you in finding whatever it is you came to the Cyclic Season Island for in return, in addition to finding that teammate of yours…"
"Really, now?" Bolo asked, perking up just in time to realize that Klawdia had successfully pushed him all the way to her bed. Before he could object, however, she took the opportunity to pick him up and foist him over the makeshift footboard, where he landed on the bed's leafy surface with a rustling *PWOFF*. "Wow, you're quick… I had no idea you'd do that, but I-!" he tried to protest as he immediately set himself up to climb back to his feet.
"Ah-ah-ah~! You stay right there," she commanded, her tone dripping with flirtatious glee as she wasted no time in climbing into the bed with him. Within the next couple seconds, she pulled him toward her, curling herself up on his lap before he had a chance to escape. "Now, is this so bad? Hmm?" she dared to ask, shooting him an admittedly adorable toothy grin as she looked the unsuspecting young man right in the eye.
"Hm… I… uh… I-I can't say it is…" he admitted, though his heart began to race faster than the footsteps of a sprinting spider as he grew hot from head to toe. "S-so… you've got me in your bed now. What exactly are you planning to do with me, anyway? Aside from what I think you're trying to do…"
"I want you to pamper me, as I mentioned before. Scratch my back literally, and I'll scratch yours figuratively… unless you're into being literally scratched…~" At that, Bolo found it in himself to chuckle as he took off his gloves… and then took the initiative to fulfill Klawdia's not-so-innocuous request.
"No, I'll leave that to you," he respectfully denied while Klawdia began to mew and purr… very much like an affectionate housecat. Growing more comfortable by the second, the Leopard Gal snuggled herself up to the young man as she pressed her face into his lap to allow him more spaces to scratch her. Wordlessly, as well as a bit nervously, Bolo read her cues and continue to spoil her with gentle petting and chin-scratching. In turn, he grew steadily more… aroused by Klawdia's infectiously potent energy.
"Nyaaah…~ Mind rubbing those wonderful fingers of yours up and down my back?"
"Uh, sure. Like this?" he asked as he softly ran his fingers vertically along Klawdia's back as she requested. The smooth, bristly texture of her fur and the curves of the Leopard Gal's back caught Bolo by surprise, though he found himself getting into a groove of petting his feline companion like they'd been living together for years. He was… 'rewarded' with more of Klawdia's pleasured humming and purring as she practically melted into his lap.
"Mrrrrrrrrrrrow, that feels wonderful… Hmmmmnnnaaah…~" Klawdia… er, moaned some more as she took full enjoyment in her grooming session. "Lower…" she requested through an almost delirious sigh of unmistakable ecstasy. Bolo complied as he crept his fingers closer to the middle of her back. Klawdia found herself even more enamored as she arched her back toward her potential paramour's hand to show her approval. "Hmm, yes… That's good… but I still need you to go a bit lower…"
"…How low?"
"To my tail, if you should be so daring…~" she teased as she stretched her tail to where it was softly brushing along the young man's chin with playful vigor that practically electrified him.
"Hmmph…~ Sh-shoot…!" he cursed under his breath as his face grew hotter than a summertime racetrack. "You sure that's not… too low?" he found it in himself to ask, though his apprehension didn't stop him from reaching down toward the area in question. In return, Klawdia arched her back again, so that her voluptuous feline rump was as accessible to Bolo as possible.
"Of course it's not. I want those magnificent human hands of yours to touch me all over… especially in the spots I know are your favorite…"
"Oh. Er… W-well, I… I don't know if that's one of my 'favorite' spots exactly, but… if you're okay with it, then… um…" he nervously trailed off as he obliged her. Gulping as he did so, Bolo grazed his fingers the rest of the way down Klawdia's back to where they met the scanty loincloth she had been wearing. Despite the height difference and the adventurer nearly hitting the limit of his reach, Bolo remained focused (for a given definition of 'focused') as he brushed his fingers across her backside. Not at all certain what to do as he massaged her rear, however, he made a rather impulsive decision in lightly grasping the base of Klawdia's tail and stroking it with as much delicacy as he could manage.
"Ahn~! Hmm, yes…! Please, whatever you do, don't stop… You're already rubbing my sweetest spot…" Klawdia moaned in such unprecedented elation that one would've assumed she was being given a five-star massage as opposed to being engaged in this increasingly lewd heavy petting session…
"Ah! O-oh… I-I am…?"
"Hmmm, y-yessss… Mrrrrr, right there~! Right there~! Hah… Hahn…~!"
"…Huh… Well, this went from zero to hot and heavy in no time flat…" he half-joked as he barely resisted the urge to stop petting Klawdia… while other 'urges' became apparent when the cat girl suddenly flinched like something had poked her.
"Mrow?" she mewed, lifting her head off Bolo's lap to eye him up and down. And what she saw… only made her grin in the naughtiest of lights as she observed him. He was sweating profusely. She could hear his heart thumping in his chest despite the fact that she wasn't pressing her ear to it. He was staring at her like he'd been spellbound, a suspicious blush plastered all over his face. Without exaggeration, it appeared to the Leopard Gal that Bolo was more than willing to take this salacious encounter to the next level. And… when she reached a paw toward the fly of his pants and touched on the protruding object within them, Bolo stiffened up… in more ways than one. "…Seems to me like something has awakened in you…" Klawdia knowingly teased as she unabashedly took hold of the object in the young man's shorts and… began to do a bit of 'heavy petting' of her own.
"…Y-yeah. Sorry… I… I can't exactly hide it in this position… Gah…~" he bashfully admitted, moving a hand to nervously scratch the back of his head. It was clear, however, that Klawdia had him right where she wanted him. Rather than resist her intoxicating touch, Bolo let out the deepest of sighs as he… leaned back and propped himself up by his hands, giving Klawdia nonverbal permission to keep playing with him. And play with him, the lusty Leopard Gal did. She shifted once again to where she was lying prone in front of him with her legs spread and her face ever-so-charmingly nuzzling into his lap as she continued to massage him with her paws. In response, Bolo hesitantly reached forth with a hand and resumed scratching behind Klawdia's ear. Ooh, I can feel the passionate heat from HERE…
"Mmm, you're certainly telling me… That said, I could certainly 'take care' of this for you…" she forwardly offered as she grinned, leaned forward, opened her mouth, and… rather slowly and deliberately dragged her tongue across that very sensitive spot, looking Bolo in the eye all the while. In return, Bolo's eyes nearly shot out of his face and 300 miles into the forest as he instinctively shifted his hips forward. "That is, unless you still want to talk about that selfish 'friend' of yours who's got such an irresistibly handsome man like you feeling like you don't deserve such tender succor…" Bolo initially flinched at the mention of this friend he was trying so hard to keep in mind… yet, as seconds passed, and his expression changed from shock to deep contemplation, he seemed torn on what to do… at least, he did at first. After a few seconds that felt like minutes, however…
"…What do you have in mind as far as 'taking care of me' goes?" he asked, which… man, oh man, oh man… I can only WISH I could describe the bad feeling I got in my gut about this.
"Oh, you certainly won't be disappointed, sweetheart~!" Klawdia teased, her blushing face beaming with sensual glee as she shifted her position once more to where she was on her hands and knees, practically nose-to-nose with her new 'friend' with her paw still pressing into his lap. His gaze was locked onto the mesmerizing emerald-green orbs that were Klawdia's eyes as she licked her lips and grinned right at him. "But… rather than waste any more time beating around the bush, why don't I just… go ahead and get us started…? Hmmm…~" she whispered closely enough that he could feel her moist, steamy breath brushing against his face with every honey-soaked word she spoke. Before he could say anything in return, however, Klawdia took the initiative to close the distance… and just like that, she pressed her lips to his in such a surprise move that Bolo froze in understandably petrified shock. The kiss lasted no longer than two seconds as it ended with an almost inaudible *pop*, though it seemed two seconds was all Klawdia needed to completely win him over.
"…So, we're really about to do this, aren't we?" he asked just one more question, making his own intentions evident…
"You bet your sweet, tailless behind, we are. Glad to know we're finally letting go of our inhibitions. And if it helps put you at ease, I'll make it clear that I will certainly help you with whatever you need once we're done. Now, take off your shorts…!"
"Y-yes, ma'am," he obeyed as both of them began to disrobe… as Klawdia leaned onto him and planted another, deeper, wetter smooch that sent both of them toppling over onto the bed… and within a few moves, the brave and noble… if not impulsive and licentious hero and his wild half-leopard lover entangled themselves in an amorous embrace of steamy, mind-blowing proportions…
AAAAAAAND they do not, by ANY means, pay me enough to cover what happened next, so we're gonna have to pump the brakes right here. Pump 'em HARD, too… Oh, wait! Forget I said that! Er a-anyway, I didn't exactly sign up to sit and be a Peeping Tom for the sake of good storytelling. So, much as you may IRREVOCABLY DESPISE me for this, we're just… gonna go ahead and let Bolo make his egregious, lust-driven mistake in private. Plus, we still have PLENTY of ground to cover elsewhere. Jeez, I didn't know these heroes of ours were so grown despite coming across as so innocent. Guess you can't judge a book by its cover. Nevertheless, we may as well use our time wisely in checking up on Sky… whose whereabouts couldn't exactly be pinpointed, considering she was miles upon miles off the surface of the planet after being pulled into that deadly tornado. Whelp, we ain't gettin' no younger, so I'm gonna go ahead and fly, fly, fly on up… Stick around, though, because we may find her sooner than you know! See ya in a flash!