Exploring Domina's Spine (Vore)

The inn was called The Fallen Star. It wasn't very good, as inns went, but it was cheap. Sophie, wearing the knight armor that didn't rightfully belong to her anymore, was resting in the corner. Meanwhile, Dawn was out in the markets of Sutt's Hill. Though not even comparable to the great cities they had lived in before, it was populated enough to boast a wall and host respectable businesses. Plus, it wasn't all that far from the city of Lestia, they're destination. There was just the tiny issue of Dominor's Spine, an infamous mountain range separating the southern region of Viastre from the rest of it.

A few weeks ago, her entire life had been turned on its head. She and Dawn had gotten careless with their spending, and when the time came to fund various festivities... they couldn't. In response, they were ousted from their positions of power in Helia and were **** to run into the forest to avoid the retribution of their subjects. Still, this new lifestyle had its perks.

"Hey, Sophie! Check it out!" Dawn shouted excitedly as she burst through the tavern's door. "I just sold the loot from our journey..."

She was holding some small leather container, but admittedly, Sophie wasn't paying attention to her words. She couldn't help but think back. Dawn was always uncomfortable with the noble's life. The sedentary luxury and endless scheming just weren't for her. There'd only ever been an eagerness for adventure, and Sophie couldn't help but think the stupid smile on her partner's face was well worth getting kicked out of the world of political intrigue and mind games.

"...with the map through the mountains, we'll be all set!" Dawn concluded.

Sophie shook off her train of thought and asked, as though she had been paying attention, "And rations?"

"Well, I managed to scrounge up enough money for two days of supplies..."

"Two days?" Sophie blurted in response. "The trek is over 200 miles!"

Dawn responded with an easygoing shrug, "Oh please. You're capable! There is going to be plenty of easy hunting."

The wind was like splinters. Constantly assaulting her skin with ice from the jagged ridges of the Dominor's Spine. This blizzard seemed to come out of nowhere and slowed their pace to a crawl.

It had already been an arduous journey, and they had only been hiking for three days. Luckily, near the base of the mountain, Sophie had been able to down a small deer for some food — but they only had a day, at most, until the meat went bad. Dawn, despite her earlier bravado, seemed to be taking the strain of the trek much worse. Sophie was having to half usual her pace just to let her keep up.

"You alright?" Sophie asked. "We can stop for a bit."

Dawn didn't reply at first. She looked like she was about to say no and push on, but a strong gust of wind swept that determination from her face as soon as it appeared. Instead, she looked down at the map she had paid so dearly for and moaned in frustration loud enough for Sophie to get the message. She turned around, grabbed Dawn by the hips, and lifted her up into a fireman's carry.

"Hey! I'm tired, but I can still walk!" Dawn exclaimed as she was slung across Sophie's shoulders.

"Not as fast as I can. We are going back to find somewhere to hunker down until the storm passes," she replied as she surged down the path in the opposite direction. The duo had passed by the entrance to a cave earlier that seemed like a decent bet now that the blizzard was only getting stronger.

"You could at least choose a sexier hold..." Dawn weak-heartedly retorted.

It wasn't graceful, but it was effective. However, going with the wind was almost more dangerous than going against it. Carrying Dawn, she almost slipped down the path numerous times.

Soon, the stone mouth of the cavern loomed above them. It was easily 50 feet tall, but the angle prevented the wind from going inside perfectly. Sophie carried Dawn over the threshold and gently lowered her onto the cold rock floor.

She gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before reaching into her bag and fumbling for fire gems. She didn't have many left, but this seemed like a good time as any to use one. She felt the warm crystal, pulled it out, and gave it a swift crack with the pommel of her sword. It began to glow and heat rapidly, and Sophie set it down on the cave floor. The little nugget quickly produced a small but reliable flame.

The stone walls reflected the dim light of the fire as it cast the shadows of the two women upon the cavern. They looked so small and **** amidst the towering walls. What was this cave for...?

"Here, let me make us something to eat," Dawn said. The flames illuminating her form did an excellent job of accentuating how well-endowed those curves were, and her fears were wiped from her mind.

Dawn apparently noticed the exhausted lust, and gave Sophie's rear a playful slap before grabbing the straps of the larger backpack and pulling it off of her, "I need the mess kit you goof! Go relax for a bit and let me do my part."

"Thanks," Sophie said as she suppressed a groan. She took a seat and began to remove her layers; the gem was already warming the space from bone-chilling to comfy. "Go ahead and use up the deer meat. We will have to go with rations tomorrow."

Sophie stared off into the blackness that the weak flame failed to light. It went on for at least a quarter mile based on the echo of their voices.

"There is no telling where this shit leads," Sophie grumbled in frustration to herself, "Well, I'm not gonna risk exploring it on an empty stomach. We'll check it out tomorrow."

She remained lost in thought for a long moment. The smell of well-cooked flesh broke her trance, and she turned towards Dawn. She was turning the meat over the flame with her rapier. It suddenly occurred to her that the ceremonial blade had probably never pierced anything living before... At least it was getting some use.

"Almost done, babe! Go ahead and get out the bedrolls and such while I finish this up," Dawn said, looking back over her shoulder at Sophie.

Sophie did as suggested, first finding a relatively flat piece of cave floor large enough for the rolls to spread out next to each other. She finished readying a rudimentary camp when Dawn called out again.

"Hey, I'm done over here!" she said as she pulled the meat from the sword onto a bronze plate.

The two ate in silence while enjoying the warmth of the fire. They were both simply rebuilding their strength at this point. The deer was cooked to perfection of course. Dawn could be a top-tier chef in any world.

After they finished off the meat, they packed everything back up and got ready for sleep. Sophie laid down first and then pulled Dawn on top of her. She placed a kiss on her forehead, then rolled over so that she was spooning her partner. They were both too tired for anything intense, so they just held each other through the cold night. The fire gem would go out in an hour or two more, so they had to conserve body heat. At least, that was their excuse to sleep skin against skin.

Dawn always slept lightly. Sophie's arms were always there, wrapped around her waist, seeming to sleep so peacefully. But if Dawn had learned just one thing on this journey, it was that she could never trust the tranquility of a nice camp. That's why the sound woke her first.