Patterns

Another difficult day came by. These veteran travelers were adept at packing camp quickly moving swiftly off roads with weight on their backs. You had skill at neither, and so even though your four new friends were doing this all for and because of you without complaint, you couldn't help but feel like you were being a burden on them. The interrupted sleep didn't help either. Nobody accused of you dawlind or being weak, and Gilzra was making it a point to always walk behind you to ensure you weren't getting lost or left behind, you suspect, so it could have all been something in your head. Still it was too awkward of a discussion for you to bring up, so you dealt with the self blame and negative talk inwardly. More worrying than whether you were holding the group up or not was that there had been no more obvious signs of Xodion or his necromantic ways. Whether you were still on his trail and how far away was a mystery, with no real choice but to keep pressing in the direct path you understand.

As the sun reached the last hour or so of light, you come accross a large town, more so than the market town you visited before.

"Hey, I don't know but you guys, but my feet are killing me" Gilzra piped up. She glanced slightly at you as she spoke "Let's stop here for the night. A good meal and a good rest will go us all alot of good. Be up at dawn and ready to attack the rest of the trip head on."

Rhian nodded and added "I know this city. Attrimo. Last I heard, there's a healthy market here for scrolls and the like that we might need in the likely event this becomes hostile. I'll see what's available."

Kharn spoke up in turn "We need to make up the distance between us and this dragonkin. Horses or another animal could do us well to make up that difference, and possibly even beat him to the scepter.

Glen rounded things off "I'll put my ear to the ground and find out what the local rumors are. If there's a necromancer running around, they'll be talking about it."

"Great" Gilzra beamed "Demetria and I'll handle hospitality than. We'll keep eyes out for you guys and flag you down."

The group of five moved with a little extra pep towards the city, and broke up on their chosen mission once you entered the city centre. Alone with the other Tiefling, Gilzra patted your shoulder gently.

"You alright, darlin'? You're quiet as a graveyard today."

"Ya, I'm fine". You make a pair of slight nods as you answer.

"Come on now," She makes a gentle smile as she stands in front of you, forcing you look her in the eyes "everything that's going on, everything that's at stake, and you're taking it in stride?"

"I've got a lot on my mind" you admit. "I just don't want to be getting in people's way and stop their jobs by worrying about me."

Gilzra makes an unexpected move by closing the distance between you, completely straight faced, before reaching around you and pulling you in for a tight hug.

"You're a silly girl Demetria" She says softly "Understandable, but silly. Worrying about you is my job. It's everyone's job to be looking out for everyone else. That's what makes us family." The combination of the literal and metaphorical embrace started break something loose inside you. Although you had already reciprocated the gesture, you now were gripping her as tightly as she was you. This all felt different somehow. You were safe here in her arms. You belonged in them. This is what you'd been after. What you wanted your entire life. The sexual deviancy, the church, it hall been ways to search for this. Sensing the need for the touch, Gilzra was maternally patient, moving side by side gently until you were ready. You slowly release her, and she follows suit.

"Alright darlin', let's try that again now, shall we?" As she begins the conversation anew, the journey for a suitable abode resumed as well, with you walking side by side "What's on your mind? Are you scared?"

"Ya. That's not what's on my mind, but I am scared. It's weird, I'm more scared that I might make a mistake that gets you guys hurt or killed than I am about what might happen to me."

Gilzra gave a solitary shake of her head. "Not a thing weird about that at all. If anything, among the adventuring type, that's quite normal. Just so long as selfless doesn't become reckless. Here we are" she distracted the conversation briefly as she pointed to the sign overhead of the tavern of dramatic size. The images, carved from wood and intricately painted, was of a pair of burlesque dwarven women with heavy tankards of ale, with the name of the establishment both above and below them: Golden Reign. You follow her inside and wait patiently as she negotiates with a dwarf behind the desk in his native tongue. Keys in hand, she turns back to you.

"Sorry about that. If it's not fear, than what's up?"

"I'm noticing a pattern in my behavior and things happening to me that might be concerning."

"Alright" She began, "That's a little cryptic, and I don't do well in guessing games. Is this about you saying no like we were talking about the other day?"

"No." A slight pause gave you time to think on that "Not directly, at least. My mother spoke to me in my dreams again, and I noticed something. She comes to talk to me every time I have sex, and only when I have sex."

"Well, that's interesting" she moved you to a table near a window, looking out for Kharn and the others "Does it creep you out, thinking that she's watching you go at it?"

"Ya, kinda. She's always been watching, I think, so it's not like she's doing it for her pleasure."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that. She might be doing exactly that, and it could be more recent than you think. She is a demon after all, and she still ain't your momma."

You find her insistence difficult to contend with, but recognize that stubborn denial or not, she has been at least insightful, so you press on "She knows who I am though. She knows all about me."

Gilzra's face went cold and stonelike. Her lips were pressed thin as she nodded along gently. Something about this conversation bothers her too, even more than you, and this was the closest she could get to keeping it normal "Did she tell you who your daddy was?" She enunciated clearly, taking clear effort to remove the tinges of her ancestral accent that carried in her voice normally.

"Well, n-no" You reply, sad that she was immediately able to point to a weakness "It never came up, not with everything that's happened."

"She's got time to send you on a mission to risk your life for the ability to set her free, after you deal with a cult, but the woman who claims to be your long lost momma can't find the time to catch up with you and tell you how you came to be? Or even how you got your name?"

"No, I guess not" You felt and sounded hurt in your response. You wanted a sympathetic end from her, but wouldn't be getting it from Gilzra just yet.

"Has she told you anything about yourself that doesn't involve fucking?"

"She knew what I've been thinking. She knew that since I was a little girl, as far back as I can remember, how badly I wanted to have a family. She knew that becoming a member of the Phoenician Church was a means to get that as a surrogate"

"Darlin" Gilzra replied slowly, more relaxed again "Every soul in the world get's that feeling. Gods, I've had my own family, I've had Kharn for a partner longer than I had my husband, for a lot, and I still get that same feeling you're talking about. That demon knows nothing."

"Really?" You ask, a little surprised at her honesty "Even with these great friends? even with us being a family, in your words?"

She adjusts herself in her chair, leaning back slightly as she looks away and past you and into the crowd "I'm tired of being the freak in every room. Especially with these horns, I'm the veritable bull in the store, far as most people are concerned. I've been accepted, but that doesn't mean I've belonged there."

"You make it sound like you don't actually enjoy being an adventurer, that you regret your life."

"Darlin, I've made the most out of my situation. None of this is what I wanted. I wanted to my luthier husband run a successful business while we raised four kids or five kids, and I only got to have the first before it all went downhill. We're getting away from the point though. We all struggle with the same feelings you do."

"Have you ever thought of marrying Kharn?" You ask rather abruptly.

"Not for a moment. Kharn's a great life partner. We're amazing together, really. When my body is on the other side of the dirt and my soul is taken by the Gods, I'll be reunited with the one I have loved and lost, and still love, and whom I shall never lose again."

"That's very pretty. I hope I'll get to find someone that I feel that way about one day."

"Beautiful young lady like yourself? That's a guarantee. As sure as the spring rain." You felt yourself blushing uncontrollably "Doesn't mean you can't have some fun exploring on the way, and I've actually got an idea."

"About what?"

"You've got a theory that the devil pretending to be your momma only chats with you after you have sex. Let's find you someone to have sex with, and test the theory out."

"That shouldn't be hard. Got a pair of volunteers, I'm sure. Kharn would agree to it and Glen's quite eager, I'm sure."

"You may even have a trio" Gilzra said making a casual point "There's a young elvish lady who seems **** to get your eyes on her with how she keeps fiddling with her hair and looking in our direction."

You look over and find the elf easy enough. One of the barmaids of the establishment, based on her attire, she is pretty, with the short dress allowing you to see her shapely legs. Your eyes connect and she smiles nervously. There's a small wave given to each other, and you turn back to Gilzra.

"Ya, maybe. That's all rather forward. Never done anything like that before, chatting up a girl just to have sex with them."

"Do you want my help?" Gilzra asked, a little giddy "I wouldn't mind going after her myself."

You're surprised by the offer, sharing a sex partner with her. You wonder whether the elf lady would have a go, especially with the secret you two have. Kharn knows for certain, you're pretty sure Glen knows too and is amenable. Either way, you feel your face and body warm up and your cock start to grow. It's clear, you're getting aroused, only question is the partner.