FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"They're not here!" Amu gasped, shock written all over his stubby muzzle. The lantern mouse turned around to Yundo and stared at him with huge, quizzical eyes as if he expected him to know where his family was, but the slugcat was just as stumped about the situation. The lantern mouse nest around them was devoid of life, and judging by the thick layer of dust covering every surface, it had been in that state for quite some time.

This wasn't, at all, the outcome the slugcat had hoped for in rescuing Amu, but the world cared little for his hopes and wishes. I'm sorry, but I don't know where they are. Perhaps they're somewhere in the back? he suggested. He wasn't even sure if the nest had a back area, but that wasn't relevant. He mostly stalled for time while he tried to process the implications of an empty nest. All lantern mice he had gotten to know were timid, fearful creatures who lived in the most remote places, and they rarely ever dared to migrate, so he grew increasingly worried about whatever had caused the mice here to leave.

"I mean, I haven't actually looked in the back, but they should've heard me regardless, right?" Amu wondered, a dim glimmer of hope spreading across his face.

But right as the mouse set about to check the rest of the nest, a grim realization struck Yundo: what if it was inhabited by something other than lantern mice now? "No! Stop! You're right! I don't think they're here, and we don't yet know what else might be lurking back there!" the slugcat blurted out and grabbed Amu's arm.

Yundo's abrupt warning instantly snuffed what was left of Amu's tentative hope. His ears fell flat and he whimpered, "So d-do you think t-they're d-dead? A-all dead?" Tears welled up in the mouse's eyes and all strength left his limbs, causing him to collapse into a shivering heap of sobs and misery.

The slugcat's heart turned upside down in his chest as the lantern mouse burst into tears. We don't know if they're dead, Amu. Maybe they just left? he tried to soothe him, but his words didn't help, so he did the only other thing he could think of to ease the grief and embraced him, holding the defeated creature tightly to his chest.

All this time, Yundo's rescue mission had been so simple and crystal clear, but now, in the home stretch, everything was falling apart. What was he supposed to do? What would happen if he left Amu in a place like this, without his family and all alone? Although, one matter was even more urgent than those questions: the back area was still unchecked. A cold shiver raced down the slugcat's spine as he thought about the horrors that might wait in hiding, but whatever was lurking in the shadows fortunately hadn't noticed them so far, so how bad could it be?

Besides, regardless of the unknown danger, examining the rest of the nest could give them crucial clues about the fate of Amu's family and perhaps point a better path forward. Let us check the rest of the nest together, okay? Yundo suggested. He didn't feel very safe carrying a bawling mouse into perilous territory, but there was no way he would leave him behind and risk losing him behind his back. Not after everything they had gone through. Cradling his companion against his chest, he got up and cautiously ventured deeper into the nest, down the narrow corridor of black steel and concrete.

For better or worse, the only sign of life the slugcat could find were patches of glowing orange fungus on the walls, but nothing else. There wasn't even any rubble or scrap scattered about; every single room of the abandoned nest was tidier than any other place he had visited.

Finally, only one more room remained, a chamber in the rearmost part. However, instead of Amu's entire happy family, it turned out to be the home of a hideous abomination. A hulking, spherical body with wiry black fur and countless spindly legs entangled in a vast spider web greeted Yundo as he set foot into the dark room, and his heart skipped a beat before his fight-or-flight response kicked in with full force. His paws cramped and twitched as he raced through his options, and he fought the reflexive urge to hurl the lantern mouse at the massive wolf spider in front of them.

Of course, Amu sensed the slugcat's distress and turned around, only to acknowledge the sight of the abhorrent predator with an earsplitting squeak before freezing stiff with fear.

However, the monster didn't react to any of it. It didn't even twitch a single of its disgusting legs, and Yundo also noticed its blank, foggy eyes. Finally, a switch flipped in his brain, and his primal fear lessened to a more tolerable level. This wasn't a live wolf spider, but the lifeless husk of a once fearsome foe. Taking a deep, shaky breath, he announced, "Amu, it's dead! Gone! It can't hurt you!"

"S-s-spider! Gross, vile, icky spider! I hate it, hate it, HATE IT!" Amu howled at the top of his little lungs. Yundo's words had broken his paralysis, but not a moment later, the mouse succumbed to another crying fit, his light organs flashing erratically as he tilted between miserable wails and seething anger. "It killed them! It killed my family! This MONSTER!"

The mere idea twisted Yundo's heart. He had seen wolf spiders in action and readily believed that the desiccated predator had been the undoing of Amu's friends, but something wasn't right here. Wolf spiders hunted in packs, but this one was all alone.

Before the slugcat could finish his thought, Amu squirmed out of his arms in another bout of rage and charged at the corpse, punching and pummeling it with his tiny fists while unleashing a thousand curses. The dry, brittle remains didn't withstand the assault for more than a second, and they collapsed in a big puff of dust, filling the room with noxious powders. The sharp odor finally snapped Yundo out of his stupor and he dove in to drag his furious companion away before he inhaled too much of the pernicious mist. "Amu, stop it! It's dead! You're only hurting yourself!"

The lantern mouse responded with a defiant hiss, flailing and throwing punches at the air, but he didn't manage to wiggle out of Yundo's grip again. At the same time, a grimace of satisfaction emerged on his tear-soaked face as he had destroyed the destroyer and wrested the only bit of redemption from his wretched situation. "Take that!" he growled before his grief returned with a vengeance. The realization that everything was gone for good, not just his family but their killer as well, hit him all the harder and the tears flowed once more.

However, when the dust settled, Yundo made a curious discovery. A heap of broken eggshells had poured out of the ruined husk and settled the question of why the spider had been here on its own. It had been pregnant and tried to spawn a new colony but somehow failed to find any food in a nest that should've been teeming with lantern mice. He also realized that there weren't any bones or skulls anywhere, no food cocoons, and no signs of a fight or struggle. Finally, he grabbed Amu's shoulder and asserted with newfound confidence, "Amu, they aren't dead! This wolf spider has never even seen any of your family. It starved in an already deserted nest."

Amu gasped and stared at Yundo with utter confusion. "A-are you sure?"

"Have you seen the nest? It's perfectly clean. I don't think any spider would be able to do that, only to starve itself afterward," Yundo explained. "Something else must've driven your people out before it arrived. I still don't know what, but I know that nobody died in this place except that beast."

Tentative hope blossomed in the devastated lantern mouse, but it was promptly chased by a new depressing thought. "T-they left w-without me. They ab-b-bandoned me," he stammered. "G-gone."

"Amu, I'm sure they didn't leave because they wanted to. Tell me, how often do lantern mice relocate their nest?"

"I- I don't know. I've never seen it happen. There never was the need to."

"Exactly. They were forced to leave. Sure, that's not good either, but they definitely didn't want to abandon you. I'm sure they even held out to wait for your return until it was no longer possible," Yundo consoled his companion, patting and rubbing his back.

"Maybe. But what now?" Amu asked tiredly.

That's a good question, Yundo thought. His own plan seemed as clear as ever -- his return to Lash was the next step on the agenda -- but the lantern mouse's fate stirred new worries in his heart. Amu had returned to his nest, only to find it devoid of life, and wasn't he technically trying to do the same? So far, he had only focused on getting away from the Ebony Tower, but never thought any further, and he didn't even have a nest to return to. Suddenly, he wasn't sure where he would even find his lizard in this big and scary world. There was only one spot that came to mind, the hideout where they met the three scavengers, but would it be enough? Would he be there? He couldn't tell, and the mere idea that Lash wouldn't be there, patiently awaiting his return in however many days it might have been, crushed his heart and his hopes. His chest became insufferably tight, and tears welled up in his eyes.

"Yundo?"

Amu's weary voice managed to interrupt the slugcat's emotional downward spiral, and when he looked at the little lantern mouse, he saw his own reflection in those big dark eyes. And now what? His uncertainty had never been greater, but he realized that there was one thing he still had that he mustn't give away. Not after all he had been through. Yundo tenderly lifted his companion back on his feet and whispered, "Amu, since things didn't work out as planned, let's keep going together, alright?"

The mouse nodded shakily and stumbled toward Yundo, wrapping his arms around his chest. "Yes, let's stay together. But where do we even go from here?"

"Away from this tower and to a special hideout. There are people out there waiting for me," Yundo explained, grimacing at the uncanny similarities between his and Amu's situations.

The semblance wasn't lost on the lantern mouse either, and he tightened his hug, patting the slugcat on the back to return the comfort. In as bold a voice as he could muster, he asked, "Other slugcats like you? Your f-family?"

At that moment, Yundo realized that he had never told Amu about Lash or the scavengers. It just had never come up in their constant forward struggle, but now it had suddenly become all the more important. "No, not slugcats."

"And who are they if not slugcats?" the mouse wondered, suspiciously raising a brow.

Yundo hemmed and hawed, unsure about the mouse's reaction if he revealed that one of his companions was a lizard and that he would have to travel together with a predator dozens of times larger and heavier than he was. At the same time, there was no way to hide the obvious once they met Lash, and keeping Amu in the dark until then, possibly even lying about it, was disingenuous toward the mouse and the lizard. With a sigh, the slugcat explained, "Before I got into this mess, I explored these lands with a lizard named Lash, and before our separation, we made friends with a band of three scavengers. These are the people who are waiting for me."

In the seconds following the revelation, Amu went through all emotions from stunned to appalled. His eyes widened in disbelief as Yundo mentioned the lizard, his jaw dropped as he mentioned the scavengers, and a mighty shiver raced through his little body, his entire fur standing up as he realized that he would have to be near them and live with them for the foreseeable future if he decided to join the slugcat. "A lizard? Scavengers? I... I ca... T-they would eat me!"

"What? No! None of them is going to eat you! I promise, and I wouldn't return if I didn't trust them on this. In fact, the lizard is more than just a companion. Lash is my mate, and I've known him for countless cycles," Yundo revealed. "I trust him with my life. Literally. And I know he won't ever hurt any of my friends!"

Amu still stared at Yundo as if he had gone insane, barely able to comprehend the idea that a slugcat and a lizard could work together. However, there was no sign that this was a joke, and no reason to lie so openly. Finally, with a deep sigh of disenchantment, the mouse admitted, "And I trust you with my life, Yundo. So if you say that it's fine, it will be fine, right? Besides, it's not like I have much of a choice anyway."

"Yes. Nobody will harm a hair on your head, Amu. Not after everything we've gone through. I'll make sure of that," the slugcat vowed and pressed his little companion against his chest. "Besides, the scavengers are well acquainted with the area, and maybe they know something about your family's whereabouts?"

"Are you sure they'll help?"

"Yes, I'm sure of that."

As Yundo's words echoed through the empty nest, a radiant shine illuminated the dark, gloomy chambers. The light organs on Amu's back were lighting up and he tightened his embrace around the slugcat. The hope that had been extinguished upon their arrival was rekindled, albeit only a faint flicker of its former self. And although the talk about his companions made the slugcat all the more eager to return, they still had to find them first, and the more he thought about it, the more daunting the task seemed to him. Even the very first step onward, passing the nest's labyrinthine outskirts, would be a formidable obstacle. "Amu?"

"Yes, Yundo?"

"Ummm... can you show me the way out? I completely lost track when we came here."

"Of course!" Amu nodded, tightened his hold around the slugcat, and pointed forward with the tip of his tail.

However, as they approached the crack in the concrete wall, the lantern mouse's determination crumbled, his tail flopped down, and he sagged against the slugcat like a bag of bricks. Another crying fit took hold of him as they stood on the brink of what used to be his home, now deserted.

Yundo could barely imagine the pain of leaving behind all those memories, but thanks to their mindlink, he didn't have to imagine anything, and he didn't try to suppress the stream of sorrow either. Like a distant echo, he saw blurry images of other lantern mice and the nest in its prime. It was more than enough to bring tears to his eyes, and he vowed, "We'll find them. I promise. But we need to get going now. The earlier we're back on the way, the better. So, are you ready to move on, Amu?"

Amu turned around to face the empty hallways one last time, his eyes flicking around to commit the deplorable sight to memory. Then, he nodded, raised his tail once again, and sniffled, "Y-yes. G-go ahead."

"Alright. Remember, you're the bravest lantern mouse in the world. You got this!" Yundo patted his companion's back before he got moving, squeezing himself through the gap in the wall and leaving the empty nest behind. A labyrinth of steel and concrete lay before them, but Amu's swaying tail and thoughts proved sufficient to lead him to the exit without much complication. On their way, the familiar surroundings triggered more waves of sorrowful memories in the lantern mouse, spawning sobs and tears a few more times, but he never stopped guiding the slugcat until they reached the end of the maze.

By the time they emerged from the guts of the Ebony Tower, Amu's tears had finally dried, and he just quietly hugged the slugcat, burying his face in the comforting warmth of his companion's chest. Meanwhile, Yundo found himself standing in front of the vast, dark silhouette of the ruins and constructs that encompassed the foot of the tower. Tiny specks of light studded the shadowy buildings, and while any kind of illumination was welcome in this gloomy area, it also showed that it was inhabited. The distorted outlines of nightmarish creatures appeared on the walls, and the slugcat shuddered as he heard a metallic clicking and screeching, an eerie greeting from the ravenous, merciless beaks of death. Unfortunately, it seemed like there was no way around this hellscape, and he braced himself for another struggle. Hold on tight, Amu, and keep quiet. This area is infested with scissor birds and I don't want them to find us.

"Wait..." the lantern mouse blurted out, only to slam his paw onto his muzzle and muffle his voice. Wait, you want to go past those creepy birds?

Well, it's not like we have any other options, do we? Wherever I look, it's all the same, and the birds are just the beginning. I remember that there's more lizards, vultures, and daddy long legs waiting in the outskirts, Yundo replied. Or do you know something I don't know?

Much to the slugcat's surprise, Amu nodded and even climbed out of his hug, announcing with an unsteady smile, Yes, in fact, I do! I can show you the origin, the tunnel that once led my ancestors to this place. I don't know how far it actually reaches since I only ever explored the initial bits, but parts of it are small and tight enough that most predators won't fit. It could be a safe shortcut for some of the way.

Oh, that's perfect! Anything is better than scissor birds. Maybe not daddy long le... Whatever, scratch that thought and lead the way!

With that, Amu grabbed Yundo's paw and guided him around the leg of the tower, climbing over rubble and mud until they reached an inconspicuous pit in the ground. If it weren't for the lantern mouse, he would've dismissed it as another irregularity of thousands, a tight, makeshift hiding hole perhaps, but little more than that. However, as he squeezed himself down the narrow passage, he learned that it was actually the entrance to a massive underground drainage complex.

Suddenly, the claustrophobic walls opened up and spew him out onto a small platform hanging in the upper half of a giant concrete tunnel. The air around him was pleasantly moist, and the roof was overgrown with bio-luminescent mold, its soft orange shine illuminating a roaring, raging torrent of water underneath them. A series of narrow, rickety platforms pointed the way deeper down the channel, each of them suspended by rusty steel rods that only still held because of stubbornness and force of habit.

Suffice it to say that Yundo had a bad feeling in his stomach as he eyed the questionable walkway ahead of him. It already worried him that the platform he stood on creaked at the tiniest movement. If a single one of them broke in the wrong moment, they would tumble into the deadly current underneath, and the spraying, roiling waters spelled doom even for the best swimmer. At least, they wouldn't have to deal with any other predators while they traversed this concrete underground tube. Not even a lizard should be able to survive for long down here, so close to splashing death and without any usable food to sustain itself.

Yes, this could work. Which way should we go? Should we follow the flow? Yundo asked.

Amu nodded and pointed forward. The other direction only leads to the center of the tower, so right ahead and down the drain. Then, he coyly looked up at the slugcat and spread his arms. Can you carry me again? That way you can focus on moving forward... and we'll stay together no matter what.

Of course. Yundo tenderly lifted his companion off the ground and cradled him against his chest, in the same position the mouse had spent the last few days in. As soon as Amu's arms tightened around his torso, he let go and started moving, now focusing entirely on the way ahead.

Judging by the sorry state of the walkway, the slugcat prepared for the worst. He made sure to always keep at least one paw on the supporting steel rods as he climbed from platform to platform, slowly moving away from the entrance and ever deeper down the yawning hole. And yet, it took barely a minute before the first platform yielded under his weight and snapped out of its hinges, crashing down into the roaring torrent to never be seen again.

Aaah! What the...?

Fortunately, the platform had announced its departure with an ear-splitting creak and left him just enough time to leap forward to the next, but the incident still left his heart pounding. His entire body trembled from the near-miss and he clutched two steel rods, his paws refusing to open and let go for another minute. Fortunately, they weren't in a hurry or trying to escape any predators, but that mishap didn't make him feel particularly safe here. It looked like the Ebony Tower refused to let them leave, finding ways to make even this path as toilsome and dangerous as possible. However, since it was the only way forward, there was little he could do but embrace the challenge and press on...

The slugcat's pondering was interrupted by the lantern mouse. W-why d-d-did this h-ha-happen? It n-never happened b-b-before? Amu whimpered, shivering even in his mind.

It's alright. I have everything under control, Yundo whispered, defying his own apprehension to nuzzle and comfort the terrified mouse. Just hold on tight and we'll be out of her in no time, alright? Not that he really needed to tell him, because the little male was already holding on for dear life.

For better or worse, the broken platform taught Yundo to be even more careful. Unwilling to risk another incident, he made his way forward without ever letting go of the steel scaffolding, and his ears were now always in motion, tilting and listening for any odd noises among the endless gurgling of the torrent below them. Obviously, the additional precautions slowed their progress to a crawl and permanently put him on edge, but at least their journey continued uneventfully from that point. A few more platforms did crumble under their weight, but he noticed their failure long before it could take him by surprise.

Minutes eventually turned into hours, and even though Yundo had pressed forward without pause, they still hadn't reached the end of the drainage pipe. It was the ever same before and behind him, raging waters below, glowing mold above, and him in the center of it all. Of course, Amu couldn't tell him how much was left either, as he had never delved this deep before, but even though they were trapped somewhere with seemingly no way out, not all hope was lost. As long as the water was flowing, it had to lead somewhere!

And yet, their growing exhaustion soon reached crushing levels. Amu was the first of the two to drift off to sleep, and the slugcat's spirit had reached its breaking point as well. Maintaining focus for many, many hours had finally drained his reserves, but just as he was getting too tired to carry on, a faint prick of light appeared at the end of the tunnel.

Was that the exit?

Yundo shook his head and rubbed his eyes, wondering if he was so tired that he was hallucinating, but the bright dot remained. It wasn't much and not necessarily signified the end of their journey, but even the tiniest bit of change was enough to send the slugcat into a frenzy of excitement. A gasp of relief emerged from the deepest depths of his heart and he momentarily forgot about anything else, charging straight for the prospective exit.

A few more steps and they were free!

Of course, the instant the slugcat neglected his own safety, the next platform under his feet yielded with a deafening creak, throwing him off balance and almost over the edge. With a loud cry, he tried to grab the scaffolding, but it was too late. His paw grazed the steel but didn't find purchase as the platform broke away entirely and plunged him into the splashing floods. Cold, roiling water engulfed him, and in just a split second, his ecstasy turned to sheer horror. He had been so close and still lost it all because he hadn't paid attention for one damn second!

The violent impact also jolted Amu from his slumber, and he awoke with a disoriented squeak. Yundo!? What is happening? Wha- where? Wet? Oh no!

The slugcat was too overwhelmed to respond, but despite his shock, he managed to do the only thing that mattered: he tightened his arms and legs around the lantern mouse and pressed him firmly against his body before the floods could rip them apart. But everything else around them was pure chaos and terror. The turbulent waters threw and tore them around with senseless brutality, slamming them against the concrete walls and flipping them around and over in an endless tumble. In short, they did everything they could to separate and drown the two males, but Yundo's desperate hug stood the test, and ever so often, he even surfaced long enough to catch a desperate breath of air.

However, the slugcat also knew that he couldn't keep this up for much longer. The excessive forces were wearing him down fast, and it was only a matter of time until he accidentally got water into his lungs. So before the inevitable happened, he grabbed Amu's head and pulled him into a tight kiss, sharing his presumably last breath and last moment with the lantern mouse. While he would reincarnate after his imminent demise, his companion wouldn't be as fortunate, and he could already feel the guilt over his mistake mounting. Worse yet, their mindlink was weakening and the mouse's thoughts fell silent at the very moment he wanted to hear them the most.

He had failed after all.

Just when Yundo's grip was slipping, a blinding light engulfed him as they finally reached the end of the tunnel. Fortunately, there was a large steel grate blocking the exit, and its bars were just close enough together to catch the slugcat's body. He initially didn't comprehend what was happening, and there was still water everywhere, obfuscating his hearing and vision, but he reflexively seized the unexpected boon, clutching Amu and the steel bar with rekindled determination and every available limb to stop them from being swept away.

Unfortunately, their safety was fragile. The blustering floods tugged and pulled at Yundo's body from all sides and angles, and the only way up along the bars was arduous and slippery, but there was no other way out of this predicament. So he closed his eyes, grabbed the steel rod behind his neck so tightly that the corrugated surface sent a sharp pain through his palm, and wrenched himself up, inch by inch, as far as he could reach. Then, he cautiously loosened his tail's grip around the steel bar on the other side and slid his heavy appendage up before tightening the coil again and heaving his body a little higher still. At the same time, the current rushed around and above him with unabated violence, dead-set on wresting his limp companion from his embrace to ruin everything, his weakening grip around Amu putting him on a timer.

However, the ultimate threat of Amu's death and the knowledge that he had finally reached the end of the tunnel infused Yundo's veins with adrenaline and pure determination. Nothing could stop him now! Not this close to freedom! Defying his aching limbs and his exhaustion, he continued to climb, inch by inch, until he finally emerged from the consuming wet and its relentless forces. And though he wasn't in the clear yet, he could see his destination for the first time. High above him, a massive, solid concrete platform jutted out of the tunnel's wall, offering safety far away from the raging torrents and any danger.

Luckily, the second half of the climb proved to be less agonizing than the first, albeit not by much. Freed from the water's influence, Yundo was finally able to readjust his position and wrap his feet around the steel bar to support his sore paw and tail, but most of the damage was already done. A trickle of bluish blood oozed from his torn skin and sharp pain flashed through his mind at the slightest movement as he heaved his battered body the last few feet up the bars.

The instant the slugcat finally reached the overhang, he dropped Amu and slumped onto the damp concrete with a defeated groan. The last whit of strength dissipated from his worn flesh and he closed his eyes, quickly succumbing to a delirious twilight. He didn't even have the energy left to check on the lantern mouse, but thankfully it didn't matter. They were safe, at least for the moment, and with a faint smile on his lips, Yundo passed out into an uneasy sleep.

After a few hours of healing rest, a loud squeak snapped the slugcat out of his sleep. He wrenched his eyes open and whirled around to Amu, worried that new trouble was afoot. However, the opposite was true, and it seemed like the lantern mouse had recovered from his ordeal. He sat upright on the floor, his light organs flashing as he eagerly scratched the rough concrete surface.

What's wrong, Amu? the slugcat inquired, but he received no answer.

What happened? Again, he was met with ignorance, but that didn't stop him from trying. However, not a single of his thought managed to reach the mouse, and finally, Yundo remembered that their mindlink had faded. "Amu, are you alright?"

The mouse jerked up with a yelp, and he would've tumbled right over the edge of the platform if the slugcat hadn't reflexively stopped his fall with a paw. The sudden shock woke him up in no time and he yelled, "Hey, careful!"

"Oh no! Huh? Wait, Yundo? Is it you?" Amu turned around to the slugcat, and within seconds, his fearful grimace turned into a radiant smile. "Hey, you're awake! Finally! I was worried seeing all the blood," he blurted out, tears of pure relief welling up in his big black eyes as he leaned forward and hugged the slugcat.

"I could say the same. And don't worry about me and the blood. It takes more than a few scratches to knock me out," Yundo chuckled, tightening the hug and patting his companion as boundless relief spread through him. Against all odds and seemingly fate itself, they had escaped the Ebony Tower's domain and its nightmarish inhabitants. Better yet, out of the corner of his eye, he could see the lush, vibrant green and red of the jungle, which meant they had come even further than expected. "In any case, it looks very much like we've reached the exit of that gloomy tunnel, doesn't it?"

"Yes! And everything is so bright and green out there... a little bit like on the edge of the Ebony Tower. I just hope there's not too many lizards," Amu murmured. "But you'll keep me safe, right?

"Absolutely! The creatures out there are no match for me -- for us because don't forget that you're the bravest, strongest, and best lantern mouse I've ever met. Possibly even in the whole world!"

"Oh, please, Yundo. What have I been doing anyway? I've mostly just hung from your neck and didn't do anything else," the lantern mouse whispered with a deep blush and abashedly pawed the ground. That very movement reminded him of what he had done earlier and he suddenly wiggled out of the slugcat's embrace, grabbing his paw and pulling him along with surprising force. "Wait, there's something I need to show you! Look!" He pointed at a few random marks on the ground and his chest swelled with excitement. "Do you know what that is?"

"Huh? Uhhh, no. Not really? It looks like some creature was here and sharpened its claws."

"You're pretty close, but it was not just any creature; it was a mouse from my family!"

"Wait, are you serious? How can you tell?"

"Because it's a symbol only we use. Three parallel lines, one zig-zag across, and another line crossing from the top. And do you know what that means?"

Yundo nodded slowly as he stared at the marking. If not for Amu's keen eyes, he would've simply dismissed it, but his description matched the grooves perfectly. "They passed this spot earlier, and judging by the depth and roughness, it wasn't too long ago. Maybe a few cycles?"

"Yes! So they must be out there somewhere!" The lantern mouse clapped his paws and bobbed up and down. He likely would've even jumped with joy if it weren't for the wet floor and precipitous, deadly drop right next to him.

Amu's reaction conjured a big smile onto Yundo's muzzle and he looked through the steel grating at the dense jungle. Out there, a group of lantern mice waiting for their lost member, so why wouldn't there be a group of a lizard and three scavengers waiting for him as well? While thinking of Lash and everything he wanted to tell and do with him once they were together again, his eyes slowly traveled down the steep gorge that followed the drainage outlet until his eyes eventually stopped on a pair of dilapidated brick buildings that stood on either side of the ravine. Both were connected by a steel rail with three suspended cabins, one of which was almost detached and held up only by a single beam. For some reason, this sight activated a memory in the back of his mind.

Wait, could it be...?

"Hey, Amu. Remember I told you about that hideout where I wanted to meet my friends?"

"Y-yes, I think I remember. Why?"

Yundo pointed at the distant construction, his voice wavering between disbelief and joy, "I think that's it right over there."

"Are you sure? What are the odds?" Amu marveled and burst into bright, tinkling giggles. The slugcat had never heard such a wondrous sound before, as it was the first time he had seen a laughing lantern mouse, and it boosted his confidence as much as the prospect of reuniting with Lash, because if a lantern mouse was happy and relaxed enough to laugh, then things surely must be looking up!

"Yes, I can tell by that dangling thing. And even if it just looks similar, I know for a fact that these buildings have shelters in their basement, so come here and let's get going!" Yundo explained, opening his arms so that the giggling lantern mouse could jump up and fall around his neck once again.

Finally, his destination lay right before his eyes, and he couldn't wait to get there! But that was easier said than done because as he stepped toward the exit of the drainage outlet, he was greeted by a steep, long drop. The raging torrent from their tunnel and a few others thundered down a giant concrete wall and merged into the stream that meandered down the gorge toward their destination. Going down there was obviously not an option.

Fortunately, there was also a rickety catwalk connecting the various outlets, but it was in even worse condition than the one in their tunnel. The metal was even rustier and half of the bolts holding it were long gone. This right here was another opportunity for fatal failure, but it was also their only way out of this pipe.

Now more than ever, Yundo was sure that fate had it in for him in particular, constantly throwing new obstacles in his path to break his morale and make his life as miserable as possible. But with success literally in sight, even this hindrance wouldn't stop him, and this time, he wouldn't get carried away by his own enthusiasm! This time, he would succeed!

Fueled by determination, the slugcat climbed through the steel grating and onto the catwalk. Of course, the beaten metal creaked and moved under his weight, and since he didn't want to tempt fate again, he always kept at least one paw wrapped around the stabilizing steel rods. However, even the bars that suspended the catwalk were marked by the elements. At least two of them crumbled under his paws as he only so much as touched them, and along with their platforms, they broke away and dropped into the roaring abyss, helping to maintain his constant high on adrenaline.

However, even these insidious incidents weren't enough to stop Yundo, and although his caution and the nerve-wracking agitation slowed progress to a crawl, every inch forward was worth the trouble because it ultimately got him where he wanted to be: back on solid ground.

Finally, after half an hour of climbing, the slugcat's foot landed on a foundation of concrete. He had never been happier about feeling the coarse gray material under his toes. As he stepped forward to safety, the last platform he had been on collapsed with a resounding bang, but he was so relieved that he didn't care. Not even a stray blue lizard lurking on his way to the shelter could break his stride or his enthusiasm, and he made it turn tail with a hail of rubble before he carried on with Amu in his arms.

As they neared the abandoned cable car station, the sense of familiarity grew almost unbearable. Yundo recalled even more details from memory, and as they entered the basement of the dilapidated building, the spit and fireplace were still there just as he remembered them from before his departure. "We're here! This is it! This is really it!" he blurted out, hurriedly pointing at every crack and tile he recognized.

The slugcat's excitement was infectious, and Amu literally bounced up and down in his arms, grinning and giggling, "Oh, that's amazing! I'm so excited!... Now, where are your friends?"

Friends? Yundo's blissful expression instantly derailed and his breath faltered. He had reached familiar grounds, but there were no familiar faces. Perhaps they were down in the shelter? "Lash? Modo? Salu? Yebe? Are you here?" he called down the steel shaft, but there came no response. He called up the stairs and out of the building, but again, there was no response. In a cruel twist, the situation had become much like the situation Amu had encountered in his abandoned nest, only that he was now the one searching in vain for his friends and companions, and worst of all, it didn't even come as a surprise.

Yundo's embrace around Amu slackened and he slumped onto the floor with a wistful sigh as all the repressed worries boiled up and overwhelmed his mind. Of course, the scavengers and his beloved lizard weren't here! Of course, they had moved on after he had gone missing! Maybe they had stayed and waited for a couple of cycles, but they couldn't wait forever for his return. Also, was it really reasonable to assume that Lash had joined them? After all, he was a dangerous predator and the scavengers were completely right to avoid his presence without a mediating slugcat at his side. Maybe he had snapped because he was gone? Or had Lash even survived the initial retreat? What if he never reached...

Yundo's thoughts plunged into an abyss as dark as the Ebony Tower's shadow. Salty tears welled up in his eyes and he choked as he lost himself in the direst consequences of his disappearance, in the chance that his return didn't matter at all, and that everything had gone down the drain.

"Oh no! Yundo!" Amu squealed and stormed at the slugcat, throwing his arms around the sobbing male. He patted Yundo firmly on the back and whispered, "I'm sure they're alive and well. Just like my family, they are still out there, and we only have to find them. Everything will be alright. They'll be there..."

For a moment, Yundo just wanted to shove Amu away. The consolation sounded so mockingly naive, doing little to address his worst fears, but at the same time, he appreciated the intimate embrace. When worse came to worse, the lantern mouse was the only friend he had left, and besides, hadn't he comforted him with the very same words earlier? At least, he now knew how his companion had felt under the same circumstances... miserable and forlorn.

The following hour was among the darkest in Yundo's entire life. Even deep down in the Ebony Tower, trapped in the belly of the beast, he had still harbored a flicker of hope and the irrepressible urge to return to Lash. But now that he had finally returned, only to find an empty shelter, the flicker and urge were extinguished and supplanted by pitiful sobs and wails. Throughout it all, the memory of his lizard tormented him and drove his laments to ever greater severity. He had spent so much of his life and adventures with that beautiful pink lizard, even sacrificed himself to help him live, but now that he finally could hear his voice, he was gone, maybe forever. Modo had been right with his warnings. He shouldn't have attempted to visit the Ebony Tower in the first place! He had been so stupid! So incredibly stupid...

The moment Yundo thought about the scavenger, a sonorous, familiar voice sounded from behind, "Yundo? Is that you?"

The sound electrified the slugcat and he ripped his head up, spinning around to face its origin. A tall, gray scavenger with glowing golden eyes and a large, branching mask peered at him from the top of the staircase. It took his brain less than a second to recognize him. "Modo?"

The scavenger nodded, his lips forming a tentative but concerned smile.

"Where is Lash?" Yundo blurted out, his voice trembling with apprehension. Now, he would get the answer he craved and feared the most. "Do you know where he is?"

Finally, the smile on Modo's face grew bigger, and he stepped aside to make way for a flash of black and pink scales. "He's here, and he's waited a long time for this moment."

Yundo's despair was blown away in a single second, and his doubts and worries were swept away as Lash hurtled toward him and pounced on him, burying him under his heavy body. The impact thrust all air from the slugcat's lungs, and as he inhaled again, his nose was filled with the comforting scent of his favorite reptile. Meanwhile, the lizard showered his face with licks and kisses, his toothy maw wide open and his eyes sparkling with boundless joy.

"Lash! I missed you so much! I love you!" Yundo whooped, bursting into tears of pure relief as he wrapped his arms around the lizard's bulky pink muzzle, patting and hugging him dearly. Finally, his arduous journey had come to an end, and he was reunited with the male he loved the most in the world!

Lash shared Yundo's sentiment, as he wrapped a paw around the slugcat's back and pressed him even closer to his scaly body as if he never wanted to let him go again.

Their joy culminated in a deep, predatory kiss. Suddenly, Lash parted his lips and wrapped his menacing muzzle around the slugcat's entire head, shoving his tongue deep into his mate's mouth and meeting his in a fiery dance.

The intimate embrace granted Yundo a titillating view of the lizard's gaping crimson gullet. For the moment, he smelled and tasted nothing but his rousing reptilian aroma, and felt his teeth around his neck, but there was no better feeling than this. Despite their separation, he still trusted his lizard with his life and embraced the deep affection with all his heart.

When the slugcat eventually emerged from his mate's warm, wet muzzle, he was greeted by a stunned and speechless audience. Salu and Yebe had joined their boss on the stairs, and together, the three scavengers beheld the spectacle with huge eyes and open mouths. Meanwhile, Amu trembled with distress as he watched them, and he whimpered, "Yundo? Are you okay? That looked... intense."

"Yes, I've never been better," Yundo laughed and rubbed his cheek against Lash's muzzle. He gave his beloved lizard another firm pat before he walked over to the lantern mouse. Tenderly, he picked up the quivering bundle from the ground and carried him around to introduce him to his friends, hoping it would ease Amu's fears. "So, as you may have guessed already, this is Lash. He's my mate and most precious lizard in the world."

"Uhhh, h-hey, Lash," Amu squeaked, nervously waving at the towering reptile.

Of course, Lash recognized the lantern mouse's instinctive fear and he gladly backed away to give him and his nerves some space, but that didn't stop him from performing a stormy welcoming dance. The entire building shook and quaked as the ecstatic lizard jumped and stomped around the basement, spinning in circles and flailing his head and tail around with effusive hisses and snickers. The sight infused Yundo with almost as much joy as the kiss, elicited profuse laughter from the scavengers, and even managed to penetrate Amu's apprehension for a moment, bringing a shaky smile to his lips.

Next, Yundo carried the lantern mouse over to the scavengers. "And here are Modo, Salu, and Yebe. We met each other in this very building, and even though we spent only a single night together, I'm so glad to see you again, guys!" he rejoiced. "And this is Amu, a lantern mouse I picked up on top of the Ebony Tower."

"Well, the pleasure is mutual, Yundo. We're all glad you came back in one piece," Modo chuckled, the two other scavengers nodding in unison before he turned to the lantern mouse. "And hello there, Amu. As a friend of Yundo, you are of course our friend too."

"H-hey, nice to meet you," Amu stammered.

"I'm sure we'll all have a wonderful future together, so do not worry, Amu," Modo reassured the mouse. Then, he turned to the slugcat and placed a hand on his shoulder. "So you actually climbed the Ebony Tower, Yundo? That's truly impressive! I'm sure you have even more stories to tell and so do we, so let us take a seat and get each other up to speed."

"Oh yes, I do. I think the last few cycles have been more eventful than half of my life before that," Yundo chirped and followed the scavenger's suggestion, gathering at the fireplace with the rest of their ragtag group. Modo and Lash sat down next to Yundo, Amu climbed down into his lap, and Salu and Yebe made themselves comfortable on the other side, looking at him with blinking blue and orange eyes.

"Although, if you don't mind, I have a question for you first," the slugcat requested.

Modo tilted his head. "Please, what is it you wonder about?"

"How come that you're still here? Have you been waiting for me all this time?" Yundo asked.

"Oh!? Well, we haven't been waiting here precisely all this time, so this meeting is a bit of a fortunate coincidence," Modo explained. "However, when Lash returned without you, we knew that something had gone horribly awry, and we swore to stay in this general area until you returned because we were sure you would eventually return. And yet, it took you still quite some time to escape the tower's grasp."

"I know. It's as big from the inside as it is from the outside," Yundo said. "And you took good care of Lash while I was missing?"

"Indeed. Your beautiful lizard has proven to be a wonderful companion, both during our hunts and our rests. I now understand why you love him so much," Modo laughed and patted Lash's muzzle. "But nothing else of significance has transpired during your absence. It was the ever-same cycle of hunting, resting, mating, and waiting with our eyes locked to the horizon, trying to spot the slender white body of a certain slugcat. Speaking of, I've noticed that you've grown bigger and healthier since we last met. What happened?"

"Thank you so much for joining up with him," Yundo whispered, reached out, and grabbed Modo's head, pulling him down and meeting his lips in a brief kiss. "Now, as for what happened to me, give me a moment to recollect because it's... a lot, and most of it feels like a blurry, surreal dream."

With the eyes of everybody on his hide, the slugcat closed his eyes and drifted back in time. The horrors of the tower's underbelly popped back into his mind. Fortunately, they were distant enough not to upset him anymore. Then, he remembered the journey through the illusive zero-G rooms with all those electric tendrils and floating orbs before he ultimately reached Radiant Heat, and suddenly, he remembered the robot's gift and all its implications. He jerked up with a gasp and hurriedly turned to Lash, clutching his chin with both paws. "I'm sorry, my story has to wait for just another moment! There's something more important I have to deal with first," he apologized and gave his lizard a hasty kiss. "Lash, I need you to do me, right here, right now."

The lizard cocked his head and hissed with surprise.

"And not just because I'm horny and longing to feel you inside me again. I also have a special gift for you, but it's better if I show it to you instead of wasting time explaining it. Trust me, it'll make sense soon and you'll love it," Yundo promised and let go of the lizard's face. Without missing a beat, he moved away from the fire and dropped onto the ground, prostrating and patting his butt. "For now, don't think about it and just breed me! Let me feel you again!"

Lash was still as confused as before, but he obviously couldn't resist the alluring call of his mate's plump rear, even less so after their painful separation. Head bobbing and tail flailing, he strode toward the slugcat and embraced the unexpected offer and intrigue with a big grin, curious about whatever that gift might be. But first things first. As the lizard reached his presenting partner, he opened his muzzle and greeted the big white butt with a wide, hearty lick, indiscriminately dragging his muscle across Yundo's thighs, tail, and holes.

At first, their audience was as dazed by the offer as the reptile. Four pairs of eyes silently peered at the scene, wondering about the slugcat's sudden change of heart. But as soon as the sound of Lash's eager slurps began to fill the basement, Modo broke out of his stupor and laughed, his eyes flickering with both arousal and joy and his impressive, blunt erection growing and swelling between his legs. "I presume the Ebony Tower's effect is getting to you, Yundo?"

"Yes, it's definitely made me hornier, but that's not what this is about. Just wait and see~" Yundo moaned and looked at his watchers with a smirk on his muzzle.

"Whatever it is, don't stop and just keep going," Modo chuckled and started to jerk off.

Meanwhile, the perplexed expression on Amu's face faded and he mirrored the slugcat's knowing grin once he realized his plans and remembered the gift.

However, the faces of their watchers soon blurred before the slugcat's eyes as his mate's love seized his mind and senses. He shivered softly as the lizard's girthy tongue zeroed in on his snug tailhole. The wet, powerful muscle circled it a few times, lubing every inch with ample spit before it thrust into the quivering center, pulling his pucker wide open and delving into his tight depths.

Initially, tying a mindlink with the lizard had been Yundo's only intention, but now that he finally felt his mate's full vigor and affection again, the moment became so much more than that. With every lick and brush of the tongue, Lash eased the tensions that the odyssey had fostered in the slugcat, relieving all those doubts and worries because now, there was nothing to worry about anymore. Yundo had reached his destination and reunited with the male he care most about, mating with him in front of his new friends, and their intimacy even kick-started a greater celebration, it seemed.

Inspired by the lewd sight, Salu and Yebe rose from their spot behind the crackling fire and joined Modo. Each of them was rock-hard by now, their fat, sweaty schlongs swinging around and their eyes sparkling with barely restrained desire as they huddled together and exchanged sloppy licks and kisses. Obviously, the horny scavengers couldn't resist such a prime opportunity for a fuck, and within moments, they were tightly entwined and had only eyes for each other anymore. Following Lash's example, their fingers and tongues plunged into every available hole, grunting and groaning as they prepared for even more fun.

The sight of the kissing scavengers riled Yundo up even more. His body heated up before finally, his glistening taper burst out of his slit with a wet pop and flopped down between his thighs, hardening and swelling throb by throb.

Presented with his mate's delicious erection, Lash briefly paused his anal affection and slithered his tongue between the slugcat's legs, running it over the growing taper, bathing it with spit, and stirring another wave of pleasure in his partner's mind, making him moan and quiver. In return, Yundo began to hump and grind against the prehensile muscle, his cock swelling to full size and girth in the warm veil of his lizard's tongue.

Spurred by the taste of salty, sticky pre trickling from Yundo's penis, Lash soon pulled back again and drove his tongue into his tight anus with twice the force. The slugcat howled as the squirming, writhing organ pressed against his prostate, rubbing and brushing against it to spawn ever-greater bursts of pleasure. Heavenly bliss rose from his loins like bubbles from the bottom of the ocean and infused his entire body with a tingling, comforting warmth.

Yundo's cries of pleasure and the lizard's eager slurps were soon accompanied by the heavy grunting and snorting of the scavengers as Salu and Modo reaped the fruits of their labor and plunged their massive, throbbing cocks into Yebe, one of them stuffing his taut, tight butt while the other had grabbed his face mask, using the rigid antlers as leverage to fuck his throat. Lash noticed as well and was prompted by it to continue, popping his tongue out of the slugcat's ass and tenderly placing one of his huge, clawed paws on Yundo's back.

"Ready to fuck me, Lash?" Yundo cooed and wrapped his tail around the thick, scaly leg, his eyes half-lidded and sparkling with lust. "Please, don't hold back and give me all you got! Both of your dicks! I want to feel it all~"

Lash snickered and nodded vigorously, licking his mate across the face before he crawled forward and aligned his pair of massive, spiky cocks with the slugcat's tight anus.

At that moment, Yundo's eyes met the only creature in the room who wasn't engaged in any raunchy activity. Amu still sat beside the fire and maintained a safe distance from the furiously fucking scavengers as he watched him and his lizard with barely concealed lust and curiosity, a narrow black cone throbbing between his fluffy thighs. Thanks to their one encounter with yellow lizards, Yundo knew that the lantern mouse was turned on by the pairing, by the sight of a large, horny predator preparing to slam his massive, glowing cocks into his tight, little prey, and yet, he was too timid to give free rein to those feelings.

It pained Yundo to see the mouse's struggle. He didn't want him to sit there, alone and afraid, while everybody else was having fun. So without another thought, he waved at Amu and called, "Come! Join us! Let's have some fun together, and share the gift!"

Obviously, Amu hesitated. His ears flicked back and forth as he pondered the offer, torn between his fear of the massive lizard and his blazing arousal. But even though he took his sweet time, neither Yundo nor Lash pressed on, both patiently waiting for him to make up his mind and hopefully master his natural fear to join them. In that case, the moment of wait would be more than worth it.

Finally, the potent mix of curiosity and lust won out. Amu shakily stood up and staggered toward the couple, embracing Yundo with a well-practiced hug around his neck while his eyes were pinned to the lizard towering over them. "I trust you, Yundo. But don't make me regret this."

"I'll make sure that you'll have the best time of your life. We will make sure of that, and once again, I promise that Lash won't harm a hair on your pelt," Yundo assured the shivering mouse and cupped his head, pulling him into a deep, loving kiss. "And I know that you can do this." As he spoke, his other paw roamed Amu's back, tenderly kneading and massaging the soft, fluffy fur. Slowly but surely, the mouse's tension and shivering lessened as he adapted to the situation and the toothy pink muzzle looming just inches above him. Thankfully, Lash's muzzle was perfectly at rest and his tongue tucked away so as not to upset their tiny partner, only his eyes glinting with lust while he waited his turn.

Eventually, Yundo broke the kiss with Amu and made his way to his crotch, playfully plastering his silky white chest and belly with even more kisses. His efforts paid off, as the mouse started to giggle and melt into his paws, being fully relaxed by the time the slugcat reached his engorged black taper, the narrow tip twitching and squirting a bead of pre as his tongue brushed against it.

Finally, as Yundo wrapped his lips around the mouse's tip, Lash thrust forward, sinking one of his huge, blooming cones into his tight partner. Even though the slugcat's horny muzzle and mind had demanded both of them, he was after all glad that he was only taking one to begin with. It alone was already more than enough to stretch him wide open and push his flexible sphincter to its limit. Further inside, the countless nubs and barbs that lined the lizard's prick triggered a tsunami of pleasure and flushed his whole mind in no time. The storm grew even fiercer as the spiky cock rubbed against his prostate, squishing and grinding against the sensitive bulb to coax muffled cries and moans from the slugcat. He had waited for this for so long, and the considerate yet powerful thrusts of his beloved lizard made the already delightful texture of his cock a thousand times better still.

And yet, Lash's huge, prickly cock was only half of the fun, as the vigorous shove had also slammed his mouth all the way onto his other partner's cock. Despite Amu's manageable size, the forces at play made Yundo gag and choke on the mouse's little prick, his surprised, desperate gulps drawing a big squirt of salty, sticky pre from the pulsing cone. The taste of the warm liquid was enough to awaken the slugcat's thirst for more, and he eagerly wrapped his tongue around the narrow taper, squeezing and milking it of every drop of pre.

Yundo's ministrations worked like a charm. As he looked up, he saw the lantern mouse's face melting with bliss. Amu's jaw had dropped wide open and eager squeaks poured from his muzzle, his voice vibrating with a wet, noisy squeal as one of the slugcat's paws slipped between his legs and cupped his snug, fuzzy sack, kneading and caressing the tiny orbs. Not a trace of fear or worry persisted as the mouse succumbed to his lust. He even closed his eyes and his back lit up with a brilliant glow as pleasure spread through every fiber of his being.

At the same time, Lash bottomed out inside his mate, his massive erection bulging and distending the slugcat's glistening belly and tinging the pristine white with a hint of pink. Of course, Yundo's tightness alone wouldn't satisfy the randy lizard. After realigning his paw and pinning the slugcat down even harder, he yanked his hips back and began to plunge his cock in and out of the snug hole with fervent thrusts and gleeful snorts.

Apparently, the lizard's vehemence inspired the little lantern mouse, because he suddenly grabbed Yundo's head and began thrusting into his muzzle and claiming him with zealous grunts and squeals. Maybe Amu had finally come to terms with his new situation, maybe his pent-up lust was finally boiling over and made him more assertive than ever, but Yundo loved the unexpected vigor either way.

Trapped between the horny males and pinned down by his lizard's paw, Yundo enjoyed the slurping and squelching of merciless sex as much as the unique paring of his partners with effusive moans. The combination of Lash's sharp, pungent odor and Amu's mellow, sweet aroma proved to be just as thrilling a mix as their massive size difference. On one end, the slender little mouse was poking only just the back of his throat in a frenzy, while on the other end, his beloved lizard straightened and stretched his entire guts with slow but deep thrusts, always making sure that he felt each of his nubs and barbs on the way in and out.

All this time, Yundo's own opalescent taper was squished between the cold floor and his soft, pudgy belly, squirming and writhing in a growing puddle of his own pre. It saw barely any action, but he didn't mind in the least. The stimulation and pleasure from getting pounded from both sides, getting bred by his beloved lizard and used by the horniest, most daring lantern mouse in the world were more than enough to catapult his mind into the highest spheres of bliss. This was where he belonged, where he wanted to be, wrapped up in the embrace and lust of those he cherished the most, and it would only get better from here! There was a mindlink in their future that promised even more fun, and Lash still hadn't put his other rod to use yet, the second throbbing shaft still outside, brushing and grinding against his supple tail.

The latter happened first. As the lizard's thrusts grew deeper and more excessive, it was only a matter of time until his spiked cock popped all the way out of Yundo's loose anus. And before he thrust back in, his other barbed pecker plopped down, dropping into the perfect position to join in.

The slugcat yelped as he suddenly felt the second tip prodding his puffy ring, but once his brain caught up to the new situation, a rapturous smile grew on his lips and he relaxed just in time to take both behemoths.

Yundo's brain exploded with pleasure as his mate's flowery dicks plunged back inside him. Within a single thrust, the spiky cones wrenched his anus wide open and claimed his whole guts, marking and stuffing him with a few squirts of pre. He howled with bliss, only for his voice to hitch and jump in rhythm with Amu's thrusts. The lantern mouse was too busy with his own rutting to care about the slugcat's accomplishment and kept hammering his face as if he owned it, but Yundo didn't complain or stop him. With two massive cocks inside his butt, he was too blissed-out to care and had become little more than a tight, warm toy for the two overeager males.

Obviously, with twice the girth stretching his guts, the slugcat's orgasm wasn't long in coming, and judging by Amu's desperate squeaks and Lash's strained grunts, his partners weren't far off either. At the same time, it could've just as well been another eternity, as the raging storm of stimulation robbed Yundo of all sense of time and space. Minutes, days, eons, it all blurred and blended into each other like the lantern mouse's fuzzy belly before his eyes, while the taste of cock and salty pre, the sensation of stormy love, and the song of rough, near-orgasmic pleasure became the only things still occupying his lust-possessed mind. He was theirs, now and forever, never to be separated again, and just as that vow echoed through his brain, his arousal became too much to handle and he finally burst. His body tensed up and he squirmed underneath Lash's paw like a jetfish out of the water while his brain blew up in a bright flash of joy and his cock erupted with a massive load, painting the floor white and drenching his entire belly.

Lash snickered as he noticed the slugcat's orgasm, but he didn't stop thrusting, draining Yundo's internal nuts with every stroke of his massive flowery shafts.

Amu, however, was overwhelmed and taken away by Yundo's furious orgasm. His slender arms cramped up around his partner's head and he even wrapped his legs and tail around the slugcat's neck, clutching it tightly while he pushed his tapered black cock into his muzzle one last time. He came with a bright squeak and illuminated the entire basement with a brilliant flash as he poured a few squirts of stringy seed down his gullet. At the same time, a wave of foreign bliss and a familiar voice entered Yundo's mind. Yes! Yundo! Your mouth feels so good! I love you so much! the mouse's cry echoed through his thoughts. The raw, unadulterated passion elevated his climax even more and it fused with Amu's into an even mightier storm of lust.

A rapturous grin spread across Yundo's lips as he heard the mouse's voice, and he sucked his twitching cone as hard as he could, greedily gulping and savoring every last drop of Amu's salty, tasty cum while he waited for Lash to join their orgasm. It couldn't be much longer, as the lizard's thrusts were already slowing and his spiky erections swelling and flaring. The rising barbs and nubs dug into his sensitive insides and triggered another avalanche of stimulation just when the slugcat was the most receptive, popping him and the lantern mouse once again, including another volley of spurts and another flurry of orgasmic screams.

Finally, the pounding stopped and the massive reptile burst with an ear-splitting roar. His spiked cocks tensed and twitched in unison, tearing and tugging on Yundo's insides, stretching them even wider in anticipation of a huge load, and not a second later, the first splash of thick, creamy lizard cum blasted deep into his guts. The next fat spurt followed almost instantly, and the slugcat swelled with the warm, gooey love of his mate in no time. His belly literally grew and inflated from the sheer amount of semen, but for once, the excessive stuffing wasn't the highlight of his already heavenly climax, because suddenly, a powerful, booming voice pierced through the lust and shook his entire body. Oh Yundo, so tight! So wonderful! I missed you so much, my squishy little cuddle bug!

Yundo's eyes widened and his heart skipped a beat, time itself stopping as he heard the inner voice of his scaly, voiceless companion. It was... different than he had expected, much deeper and heavier than his hissy, fizzy snickers, and so sonorous that it sent a shiver down his spine. Lash? Is that you?

The lizard's heavy, musclebound body suddenly arched up as he heard Yundo's words, and he stared down at the slugcat as if he had seen a ghost. Yundo? What? How?

Yundo howled as the lizard's cocks yanked him up, and his thoughts were scrambled by the abrupt stimulation as they turned and twisted inside him. Without even thinking about it, he routed the whole burst of bliss right back to its originator, flashing and overloading Lash's brain with the sensation of his own girth and barbs. The massive reptile lost all his tension and slumped back down with a stunned hiss, burying his mate and the lantern mouse under his huge body.

Shock and surprise enveloped the climaxing threesome for another moment before the roiling chaos of lust and stimulation settled. And as their orgasms abated and Yundo's mind cleared, he finally addressed his mate's confusion, Whenever we cum together, we can talk through our minds to each other afterward.

R-really? I- how? Lash stammered.

It's a long story. I'll tell you about it soon, but first... Lash, I'm so happy to hear your voice and your thoughts, Yundo whispered, closing his eyes to focus on the moment he had been waiting for so long. I love you so much! And being separated from you because of my idiocy was the most painful experience in my life. I'm incredibly sorry for my mistake.

I love you too, Yundo. With all my heart, my tasty little cuddle bug. Lash snickered and wrapped his front paws around the squishy, bloated male, his gesture and words filling Yundo's heart with as much comforting warmth as his belly. And don't be sorry. Sure, what you did wasn't smart, but it gave you this ability. And don't forget, you've made a new friend! Amu, right?

As if he had heard his name, the lantern mouse squirmed out from under Yundo and squeaked, W-wait, that's a new voice!? H-hey, Yundo, i-is that your big lizard friend?

Wait, I can hear him too? Lash gasped.

Yundo nodded, Apparently.

H-hello, l-lizard... I-I mean Lash! Amu stammered, quivering, awe-struck, nervous, because only now, as the orgasmic afterglow faded, did he realize what situation he had landed in.

Lash gently lifted his head off the two small males and grinned at the timid lantern mouse as he rolled back over and shuffled away to a somewhat safe distance from the towering predator, staring back with huge, fearful eyes. Hello, Amu. How very nice to meet the new friend of my beloved slugcat, and also, don't be afraid. I've never harmed a lantern mouse in my entire life, and I would rather die defending my mate's companions than harm them, the lizard vowed. Speaking of my mate... With a snort, he pulled his softening cocks out of the bloated slugcat and parted from his ravaged, gaping pucker with a playful tongue kiss. I always wanted to tell you how incredibly sexy you look, so full and fat with cum~

Likewise~ I love feeling your load inside me just as much, Yundo responded with a lewd grin as he lifted himself on his feet and patted his sloshing, swollen belly. It had been a nice reward before, but knowing just how much Lash enjoyed seeing him like this made it a thousand times better, and for the first time in his life, he felt sexy. Oh, this is going even better than I hoped! You can't even believe how happy I am right now.

Well, actually I can feel it right now, and let me tell you, I'm just as happy about it! Lash squeed and licked the slugcat all across the face.

Their intimate moment was interrupted when Amu suddenly stumbled past them and slumped against the lizard's foreleg, embracing it with both paws and feet. W-what? Surprise was written across Yundo's and Lash's faces alike, and even the scavengers, who were currently recovering from their own tryst, eyed the development with unparalleled amazement and a bemused glow in their eyes.

"You trust and love Yundo, I trust and love Yundo, and you promised not to hurt me." the lantern mouse stated, mostly trying to convince himself with his own words. "Since it looks like we're stuck together anyway, I'll take your word and trust you, lizard."

I cherish your trust with all my heart, Amu, Lash responded and flopped onto his side, watching the clingy lantern mouse with a resounding snicker.

"Okay, I'm not sure what is going on, but I know that something is up!" Modo chimed in, staring questioningly at Yundo.

Well, that's the gift I was talking about, Yundo explained with a beaming smile, only to yield an even bigger question mark on the scavenger's mask. Then, it dawned on him, "O-oh, sorry, what I was saying... that's the gift I talked about earlier. It's telepathy. We're talking in our heads, Lash, Amu, and I."

"Hold on, what did you just say? You are talking right now, but I am not yet sure what to make of your words," Modo wondered, wagging his head and scratching his mask.

Yundo took a deep breath and approached the fire, taking a seat right next to the three baffled scavengers as he thought about how to best explain the inexplicable. "As I said, we can talk through thoughts."

"That sounds impossible! But can you prove it?" Salu added, his blue eyes shining with curiosity.

Tell them that catching squidcadas in the ruins to the west was a lot of fun, Lash called and winked at Yundo. And while you're at it, tell them that I appreciate their help and hospitality immensely. Without them, I would've gone mad with grief.

Good thinking, Yundo nodded and smirked. "Lash enjoyed hunting squidcadas with you this morning. In the ruins to the west, he says? Also, he is very grateful for your hospitality and wouldn't have made it without you."

"Amazing," Modo gasped, the other two scavengers nodding unanimously. "That's... yes, that's true. That's what we did this morning."

"So you actually can read minds now?" Yebe added, his voice wavering between awe and worry. "Ours too?"

"How did you even get that power?" Salu wondered.

"No, I can't read your minds. I can only mentally talk with those I've shared an orgasm with," Yundo assured them, but that only raised more questions. With the awestruck eyes of the scavengers, his lizard, and even the lantern mouse all pinned on him now, he sensed that the perfect moment to share his story had come. "Alright. Let me start with how Lash and I got separated, and then I'll tell you how I got my ability to read minds..."