Pit Stop in Nillork

Virra's cart rolls through the streets, and there's a lot more eyes on them compared to last time they made their way through the town of Nillork.

Granted, last time they weren't with a centaur and a half-giant.

"So, this is Nillork? It's nice. It reminds me of my village." Kira remarks.

"Where is your village?" Terra asks.

"A good bit west of the mountain. I had originally planned to return after I had finally gotten my freedom from the giants."

John is the next to ask a question. "Why didn't you?"

"Because it would just be painful, and not just for me."

Kira's words signal the end of that topic, and luckily for them, they wouldn't have to go much further in awkward silence as they turn the final street before seeing the House of the Markana Family.

The cart gets to the gate, and the guards immediately let them pass after recognizing the group from their previous time in Nillork.

The cart continues before pulling up to the front entrance, and that's when they're met with a familiar Markana.

"You've made your return! I'm glad you all are safe." Oliver Markana says before seeing Clarva and Kira. "And you've brought some new friends."

"It's nice to see you again, Oliver." Terra says as she and the others disembark.

"How's things been since we left?" John asks.

"Things have been calm and well, luckily. We managed to get the bodies of the deceased back to their homes. Everything is also back to the sparkling way it was before the skirmish."

"What about Sydna and Kova? Do both still have their heads upon their shoulders?" Virra chuckles after her question, knowing her sisters all too well.

"I am pleased to say that they are both doing fine, and both heads remain on their correct set of shoulders."

Kira begins examining the Markana Estate, and the centaur catches Oliver's eye. "And who might your new friends be?"

"Name's Clarva." The half-giant starts. "This pain in the ass pixie is Karray."

"Hey dude." Karray adds.

"Nice to meet you both." Oliver then turns to Kira. "And you are?"

"Kira. Centaur. It's nice to meet you."

"Oliver Markana. It's lovely to meet you as well." Oliver turns to the group. "Now, shall we go inside?"

---

INSIDE THE MARKANA ESTATE:

Gilla Markana and Sydna Markana-Tarron are sitting at the large dining table making eyes at one another as they peck away at a lunch that's getting less attention than a ginger stepchild in the early 2000s.

"Y'know, I've never noticed until now just how deep your eyes can go. It's like staring into a beautiful abyss." Sydna says happily, obviously drunk on love as she continues to stare into her wife's eyes.

"If you keep feeding me these honeyed words, I may just have to see if this table can withstand what you and I will put the poor thing through. I paid a lot of money for it after all." Gilla gently brings Sydna's chin up before slowly kissing her wife, lips touching gently, but the urges become stronger than if they were to just make out.

Hungry eyes lock onto one another, both ready to pounce at a moments notice, but that is interrupted as the doors to the hall open.

"And here is my sister and her wife currently trying to ruin yet another piece of furniture." Oliver says, leading most of the group into said dining hall.

"Terra! Virra!" Sydna says, running over to her sisters before latching onto both with a big hug.

"Woah. You'd think we went on some sort of suicidal mission or something." Virra jokes as she and Terra return the hug.

"So, how's things been here?" Terra asks as they all split.

"Here?! You want to talk about here when you faced off against literal giants?!"

"Speaking of..." Terra says before the three look at the door to see Clarva ducking under the door to get in.

"That's the first time there's been a door way that I can actually somewhat fit through." Clarva chuckles before joining everyone.

"Who is that?" Sydna asks, eyes wide open as she stares at the colossal woman in front of them.

"Which one ya talking 'bout? The horse with a great rack? Or the half-giant who looks like she could curl a house for fun?" Amilia asks jokingly.

"My name is Clarva. Thank you for letting me in your house. I do hav'ta apologise though, I may have knocked a few things off walls by accident."

"It's fine, Clarva, we're somewhat overdue for a new-look anyway." Gilla walks up to the half-giant before extending her hand. "I'm Gilla Markana." Clarva reciprocates and shakes Gilla's hand as best she can.

"Holy H'nod. You might be the most beautiful centaur I have ever seen." Sydna says with awe as she heads over to Kira.

"Thank you. I have seen better days in terms of looks, especially in my prime. I would ask you to refrain from commenting on my beauty however as I do not wish for your wife to behead me so soon after getting my freedom."

Gilla has a little laugh as she walks over, shaking Kira's hand. "Do not fret, we have a rule in our marriage about looking at the menu, just not ordering."

Kira laughs, appreciating the honesty from the head of the Markana family, as well as appreciating the assurance that her head will remain on her shoulders for now.

"I realised that I haven't introduced myself. Kira. It's a pleasure to meet you both."

"Gilla, and this very forward bundle of sexy is my wife, Sydna."

"Pleasure to meet you as well. I love your hair." Sydna adds at the end, making Kira laugh again.

"I can assure you, it looks a lot better freshly washed than after several gallons of giant blood, ash, and whatever in the hells is in the air of that swamp."

"Oh, don't worry! We have plenty of baths for you to wash yourselves." Sydna turns to the group. "We also have a big group one underneath the house if that interests all of you."

"And fret not about getting in before washing yourselves, the bath is more akin to a hot spring, but the natural elements burn away any grime rather quickly. It's extremely hygienic." Gilla adds. "We also like to make frequent use of it. It's very relaxing." Gilla gives Sydna a little nudge, making her wife blush.

"Big group bath sounds aces for me. Who else is showing off the goods with me?" Amilia asks, definitely more excitedly than anyone should rightfully be.

To everyone's surprise, it's Kira that answers first. "I will join you. It's been too long since I had a good chin-wag while taking a dip."

"A chin-wag? What? We back in the years of kings, queens, and incestuous monarchies?" Clarva jokes.

"C'mon, C! It'll be fun. Don't be a wimp." Karray jests, a smug smile following at the end.

Clarva grumbles, annoyed at how well Karray can push her buttons from time to time. Clarva then sighs. "Fine. I'll jump in the big-ass bath as well."

"Well, unlike you savages, I am going to enjoy a personal bath. I don't fancy some of you ne'er-do-wells seeing all of my bits before someone that puts a ring on this finger." Virra proudly states.

"I have some spare jewellery if that'll get your clothes off, sis." Sydna says, making everyone laugh apart from Virra who is a little annoyed her own words were technically used against her.

"What about the rest of you? Will you be joining?" Kira asks the remaining members of the group.

"I'll do it. I've always wanted to try a hot spring." Terra answers, surprising Amilia, but also making her very, very excited.

Kyuala shrugs. "Well, if everyone else is jumping in, why not? But if any of you even get the slightest funny idea..." Kyuala stops herself, but they all get her point considering her very muscular arm is now wrapped around John.

"Yeah, yeah, Ky. We won't look at your man or his little man for too long." Amilia seemingly brushes off, but is actually trying to assure her friend.

"Guess I've not really got a choice then." John jokes as Kyuala brings him in closer to her chest.

"You're damned right you don't." Kyuala says with a hint of jest in her voice, but also a hint of domination, the latter of which sends a tingle up John's spine.

Karray flies over to Lani. "What about you? You haven't said anything."

"Oh, my apologies. I thought it was obvious. Wherever John goes, I go."

Gilla claps her hands together. "Alright! Now that's been settled, let's go relax!"

"You all have fun. I have to go to the market and meet with a new merchant." Oliver says before taking his leave.

"My little brother has always been a horrible liar." Gilla remarks with a chuckle. "He actually has a scar on his back that burns in the hot spring. He's always been hesitant to mention it."

"I know someone else with a few scars..." Sydna with a sultry tone as she slowly runs her index finger up Gilla's midsection.

"If you two start canoodling in the hot spring. I will summon a rock to hit you both." Terra jokes making the love birds laugh.

"Anyway, follow us. It's time you stopped messing up my floors." Gilla says as she and Sydna begin to lead the group through the doors.

---

DOWNSTAIRS:

Gilla opens the large double doors, and everyone is hit with a strong yet not unpleasant smell emanating from the hot spring that they can all finally see.

Through the steam lies a pool of some of the clearest water you could ever hope to see, a light blue tint that you only see in holiday brochures.

The pool itself is quite a decent length, spanning about twenty feet in diameter. It's not completely circular by any means however as it's more of a melted rectangle.

"Alright. There's a laundry room in the back. You can put some of your clothes in the basket and activate it, by the time we're done with our dip, your clothes will be like they're fresh out the tailors." Gilla says, already pulling at her top to remove it as Sydna quickly follows suit.

"Guess we're just going for it. I like it." Amilia comments as she starts stripping as well, all too happy to free herself from the strict confines of clothing.

The others begin to strip down as well with Kira, Terra, Virra, and Kyuala having removed theirs while John and Clarva are a little more hesitant.

"What's wrong?" Kyuala asks.

"It's just... weird y'know? I've never just stripped down and jumped in a bath with a bunch of my friends before." John says as the others begin taking their clothes to the laundry room.

"I'm with John on this." Clarva adds. "I've jumped into ponds by myself, but I have never done it with anyone other than Karray."

"It's a bath. No one here is going to judge you. The only thing you have to worry about is Amilia trying to feel you up." That last part Kyuala directed towards Clarva. "Gilla and Sydna might as well, but I have a feeling it'll be more of a friendly grope than Amilia's attempt of trying to knead dough."

"That... actually doesn't sound too bad." Clarva mutters, surprising John and Kyuala, but they don't get a chance to as Clarva begins to take her clothes off as well.

Kyuala turns to John, getting really close to his ear. "So, are you joining in? Or are you just going to stand and watch like the perv I know you are?"

Before John can even form a thought, he can feel Kyuala unbuckling his belt, so he begins to speed up the process by removing his shirt just before his pants fall to the ground.

"Guess I don't have much of a choice, huh?" John jokes as he picks up his clothes before Kyuala drags him over to the laundry room.

A few minutes later, and after a passionate make out session, Kyuala and John return to the hot spring, and see everyone else has already got in, already enjoying the water.

"Hey! If you ain't going for another quickie, get yer asses in here! This shit is like an orgasm for your body!" Amilia shouts, causing Terra to face palm.

"The word 'massage' exists for a reason." Terra says flatly. "But she does have a point. It feels exquisite."

Kyuala and John get in soon after, and immediately, they realize that Terra's words were an absolute understatement.

John sinks down, the water resting at his collar bone, and he has never felt so relaxed whilst in a bath.

The water is the perfect warmth, not scalding anything that shouldn't be near very hot water, and the minerals in the water feel like popping candy against his bare skin. The sensation is tingly, but every pop feels great, even the ones in uncomfortable places.

Kyuala lets out a low moan, letting John know exactly how much his unofficial wife is loving the hot spring.

"Yes, that's pretty much the reaction everyone else had when they stepped in as well." Sydna says as leans her head back.

"Should've heard the big one when she got in. Sounded like a damn bear getting a happy ending." Amilia jokes, making everyone chuckle, even Clarva.

"Listen. I haven't had a proper hot bath since I was a little tyke, and I'm pretty sure after everything that's happened since we met, I get to have this gods-damned reaction."

"She's not lying." Virra adds before running her head underneath the water for a moment.

There's a few minutes of silence that pass by, leaving John confused, so he decides to ask. "So, what do we do now? Just sit here and soak? Shouldn't we have like bars of soap or something?"

"Oh, no, no. The minerals in the water act as the soap, you see." Gilla starts. "When I said that the minerals would burn the grime away, I truly meant it, but it is also very cleansing. I would recommend running your head in like Virra just did, when you dry your hair, it will feel softer than a freshly shaved twink."

"Speaking of, we need to get you a haircut." Kyuala ruffles John's hair, which is now significantly longer than when he first arrived. If he really wanted to, he could probably make a bun.

"Oh! And we need to shave him too!" Lani adds excitedly.

The next to speak is Karray. "What about leaving some scruff? A man always looks better with a little hair on the chin."

Quickly, the conversation delves into all the ways they wish to style John's hair and beard, the only issue is, John hasn't even had the chance to add some input. It's even moved on from just the hair onto clothing now with some of the ideas being almost a complete overhaul compared to what he's been wearing thus far.

"Ooo! What about those shirts with the strings that you can loosen, and it shows off his chest?" Virra suggests.

Amilia shakes her head. "Couldn't do it. Kyuala would probably be staring at his tits every chance she could."

"Hey! I can't help it that he's getting more and more muscular with each passing day. I just so happen to appreciate the benefits of the visual."

The group laugh as Kyuala squeezes one of John's much more defined pecs than he had a few months back.

"What about one of those shorter shirts that ride up when they raise their arms? A little peak at the abs every so often never hurt anyone." Sydna jokes.

"Hold on, don't I get a say in what I wear?" John interjects.

Almost immediately, and in total unison, everyone in the bath says, "No."

Kyuala turns to look at John in the eyes. "John. As the woman who has claimed you, and has taken your cock in my mouth, vagina, and arse in a single night, I'm pretty sure that entitles me to change your wardrobe and your hair to whatever I wish."

"Wow, Kyuala. I didn't realize you were into ass-to-mouth stuff." Amilia says, just barely able to get through it without laughing.

"It wasn't in a consecutive order, unlike this freak of a catfolk that I happen to know." Kyuala looks directly at Amilia. "It was multiple instances that happened over a long, passionate night."

"Sounds like quite the wild night indeed."

"That's nothing!" Amilia says in response of Gilla. "Those lucky bastards are in a three-way relationship!"

"Amilia!" Kyuala scolds.

"Oh, c'mon, Ky. It ain't nothing to be ashamed of. You got a total gods-damned hottie in Tally. They even get to go to this sex dimension in their dreams and bang her brains out while she's hundreds of miles away!"

"Wait. You two can go to the Everplane?" Kira asks, her face a mixture of emotions.

"Uhh, yeah. Our girlfriend, Tally, she gave us access to it." John carefully answers, looking at Kyuala afterwards.

Kira doesn't say anything right away as she's clearly thinking about something, but unfortunately for her, being quiet isn't allowed with this group.

"Hey. What's wrong? Are you okay?" Virra asks, genuinely concerned.

Kira sighs. "My love. Before I was captured. She was figuring out how to access hers. I always wondered what it would be like to see her face every night no matter how far apart we were. It would've made nights in the mountains much less... lonely."

The hot spring goes silent, except the noise of the water rushing in. Everyone looks amongst one another before Terra puts her hand on Kira's shoulder. "You're free now, and you're in the company of friends. We might not be the best of company, but sometimes you don't need the best, you just need your friends."

Terra waits a moment before continuing. "I will also say that if you want, we would be honoured to help you find your love."

Kira is silent for a second, but then she puts her hand on Terra's. "Thank you. All of you. However, right now is not the time to worry about such issues. Let us enjoy the hot spring to it's fullest before we continue our journey."

"I'll drink to that!" Gilla says, grabbing a bottle of some wine that she brought down before taking swig, to the delight of everyone in the spring.

"By the way, we couldn't do the shorter shirt like you suggested. Kyuala got distracted by John's abs once, and walked head first into a tree." Lani responds, earning herself some chuckles, and a little stare from Kyuala which frightens the fairy.