The forest was dense, but not wild. The trees were tall, their branches tangled, moss clinging to their trunks.
The old man led the way, his steps quick and deliberate. The beast girl followed behind, still carrying me like I was a sack of potatoes.
I looked around, trying to make sense of the path.
"Hey, old man, where are—"
"Quiet," he snapped without turning.
"But—"
"Quiet," he said again, sharper this time.
"At least tell me—"
"QUIET!"
His voice echoed throughout the forest. Even the birds shut up.
I frowned, crossing my arms.
"Fine," I muttered. "Hope you choke on your own frustration."
I turned my head away from him, sulking into the crook of the beast girl's arm.
That's when I noticed her staring.
Her eyes were locked on me—curious, intense, like she was trying to figure out what kind of creature I was.
"What?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
She blinked and looked away quickly, her cheeks flushing pink.
"It's… nothing," she mumbled.
But the blush said otherwise.
I narrowed my eyes.
"If you say so," I said, suspicious.
She didn't respond, just kept walking, her grip firm and her gaze now fixed on the road ahead.
The walk continued for a while, the forest thinning as the terrain shifted. The trees gave way to open ground, and soon, a massive gate loomed ahead—flanked by towering walls that looked… surprisingly basic: cracked stone, uneven bricks. If someone sneezed hard enough, the whole thing might collapse.
Still, it was busy.
All sorts of people passed through—on foot, in carts, carriages, even on horseback. Most had furry ears, fluffy tails, and beast-like features. Just like the old man and the girl carrying me.
I blinked, watching a fox-eared merchant haggle with a tiger-striped guard.
As we approached the gate, something... shifted.
People began casting furtive glances our way, whispering to each other. Even the guards at the gate straightened and gave a slight bow as the old man passed.
Children pointed excitedly, "Look! It's him!"
I leaned forward, my curiosity burning. "Hey, old man, what's going on—"
A soft, fluffy tail wrapped around my mouth.
"Shhh," the beast girl whispered.
The tail was warm. Silky. And it smelled like lavender.
My hand moved instinctively, brushing against it. Then stroking it.
A sharp gasp escaped her the moment I began stroking, and a deep blush spread across her face. Her lips parted slightly, and her steps faltered.
I caught the reaction.
So I kept stroking.
Her breath quickened, and she let out a soft moan, too soft for the people around to hear. Her walking changed—just slightly. Her thighs pressed together, like she was trying to hide something between them.
"Please…" she whispered. "People are watching…"
I glanced at her, confused.
It's just a tail.
Back home, when I pet my dog's tail, he'd wag it like a maniac. Why was she acting weird?
I nodded slowly and let go.
"Thank you," she murmured, voice shaky. She unwrapped her tail from my mouth and looked straight ahead, her cheeks still glowing with a pretty pink hue.
The crowd thinned as we moved deeper into the kingdom. The streets narrowed, and the buildings looked older, their stone walls worn and ivy creeping up their sides. The noise of the bustling gate had faded.
That's when the old man suddenly stopped and turned, his voice cutting through the serenity.
"Pick up your pace," he barked. "You're lagging behind."
The beast girl flinched at the tone, ears twitching. She quickly adjusted her grip on me, catching up with him in a matter of seconds.
I glanced at her, curious. "So, uh... why didn't you want me touching your tail?"
She shushed me immediately, her eyes wide. "Not so loud! I don't want Father to hear you touched it."
I blinked. "Father? Oh… you mean the old man?"
She nodded, a bit self-conscious. Her ears folded slightly.
I looked at her, then at the old man's back.
Man.
…this girl must go through a lot just being that geezer's kid.
I leaned in, whispering now. "Okay, but seriously—why didn't you want me to touch it?"
Her blush deepened. She looked away, voice barely audible.
"It's… it's a sensitive spot, an intimate one. People don't just go around touching each other's tails…"
I blinked. "Oh."
Then I grinned.
A tail being a pleasure spot? That's… valuable info.
My grin widened, borderline perverted as I filed that away in my head.
She noticed the smile and her eyes narrowed, a pout forming on her face. "What's so funny?"
I froze, caught mid-thought, the grin faltering into an awkward half-smile. "Well—"
"We're here," the old man said, cutting me off.
We stopped in front of a modest stone house tucked between two larger buildings. Ivy crawled up the walls. A wooden door stood slightly ajar, smoke curling from the chimney.
"Home."