Threats and Thoughts

You wake up, still a little exhausted from yesterday's activities. Having a bed certainly helped though, even if it wasn't nearly the same standard as your old bed. You eventually get up, if only because you know you have to. You stretch, still feeling cramped in the confining space, but quickly make your way out, not even acknowledging Garth or anyone else as you leave the building. Circling the building, you enter the forest and revert to your true form, straining slightly against your clothing. You know people can only get more used to you the more you're around, but it's just uncomfortable with so many stares.

Regardless, you have a mission this morning. You travel to the northeast, trying your best to remember where the hive is. It's not nearly as far as you remember, but that might just be because you're faster due to Knight's Legacy. You quickly recognize the surrounding terrain, with a lone mountain to the west acting as a good landmark for the region. Before long, you spot the distant spire of the hive, surrounded by a notably smaller, but still present, swarm. Descending below the trees, you take your time sneaking further into hornet territory. It's not dissimilar from last time, but you simply don't have to worry about concealing a second person.

You stop a couple hundred feet away from the base of the hive, barely able to spot it through the trees. The hornets seem to be acting similar to before, keeping a lookout for any threats. Shouldn't they have updated security or something? You creep closer, trying to get a better look at things, when you spot one of the guard's antennae twitch, and they look straight toward you.

Your heart stops. Did they spot me? Neither of you move, standing for an eternity.

The guard's antennae twitch again, and it continues its patrol. You exhale, relaxing your muscles. That was close. It didn't...see me... You begin thinking. I'm further out than Cap and I were before. Is it even possible for them to notice me? If they're similar to bugs back home then they'd... Your eyes widen. ...track by smell. You turn around to begin running off, only to spot a handful of hornets on ground level facing you.

"I wouldn't run off if I were you." A tall man shouts from a distance, but you can already tell he's not human by any means. He walks toward you cockily, arms crossed and a swagger in his step. As he does, you get a better look at him. He's got grey fur covering his muscular form, with only pants on, and canid ears poking up on his head. You briefly see a bushy tail swish behind him as he closes the distance, now only a dozen yards away. "Guards say you're the one that killed their old queen. Glad you decided to come back on your own, though. I'd have hated to send more hornets to die." You already hate him. He sounds like the cocky, casual villain that just seems to be doing stuff for the hell of it.

"I guess you were expecting me, then?" You gulp. You'd prefer not to fight if you can help it, but he may not be leaving you with a choice.

"Not any time soon, no. Thought we'd have to send another message to that human town in a few days. Anyway, Em would like to speak with you." He continues walking. "You can relax, by the way. Unless you insult her or attack, she said not to kill you. This time, at least. Next time, you're all mine." He steps past you after pausing, giving emphasis to his threat.

I really want to punch him, but this seems like the best way to get information... You swallow your pride and turn to follow, a squad of hornets at your tail.

You find a couple things odd as you ascend the tower. For one, you're ascending, and not descending, which is weird since the queen's chamber is several stories below ground. Second, why was this wolf-man so comfortable around the hornets? And why are they comfortable around him, even subservient to him, by the brief interactions you've seen. Your questions are answered when you reach what seems like a penthouse suite, even with person-sized windows to view outside. There, in a much cushier bed than the queen and maybe even the one from the inn, lies the exact figure Ariel had shown you: the Hornet Empress. Well...that's not entirely accurate. You only got the one glimpse, but you could have sworn she wasn't quite so swollen in the stomach.

"Ah, I thought I smelled something new." She props herself up on her elbow and looks you up and down, her antennae twitching. "You could smell better, though. You reek of my offsprings' ****."

You glance the therian beside you, who leans against the wall of the chamber with his arms crossed. "Uh, sorry. I haven't bathed recently." She glares at you for a moment before you finish. "Your majesty." You bow slightly. She's got a god complex, so just don't piss her off and everything will be fine.

A smile returns to her face. "I've been told you took on a thousand of my offspring."

You once again glance to the furry man, who glares at you. "Um, I don't remember the exact number, but yes. If I may ask though, why do you seem...happy about that?"

She frowns. "You dare ask for my reasoning?"

You immediately bow, setting your hand over your heart. "Apologies, your highness. My curiosity got the better of me."

The Empress hums. "Don't let it happen again."

You nod, standing straight. "If I may introduce myself, I am Dusk."

She nods. "Dusk, you have been deemed worthy of my graces. You are only second to do so, behind Graul." She smiles at him for a moment before returning her gaze to you. "I am already bearing his child, and I will bear your own before the week is up." She rubs her round belly.

You hear a scoff behind you before you speak up. "You are capable of becoming pregnant? That is surprising, but I have no doubt that that is one of many advantages you have over your kin. Even your beauty puts them to shame, my liege." You bow once more.

"You're learning your place quickly, Dusk. You are dismissed for now, but I expect you to return every morning. Otherwise, I can't promise anything good for the people in that town of yours." A smirk sneaks onto her face when she sees you glare at her.

You breathe deep. "Of course. I suppose I will see you tomorrow then." You turn and leave, the wolfen therian you now know as Graul escorting you to where you had entered.

As you walk past him to leave, his hand-paw lands on your shoulder. "Just so you know. Em is mine." His grip tightens, claws nearly piercing your already-tight shirt.

"Oh?" You turn, looking down slightly onto the wolf. "I'll keep that in mind." Not.

"Good. As long as we've got that covered, we'll see you tomorrow." His grip on your shoulder remains for a moment before he releases you, crossing his arms.

You pause for a moment, staring down the wolf. You use God's Eye to compare yourself to him. To your surprise, he's actually quite powerful, his physical stats dwarfing Camilla's, and his strength and agility are more than enough to give you a run for your money. "See you tomorrow, then." You spread your wings and take off.

Kara kneels in the main cabin of her home. Did I go to far yesterday? She balls up her fists, upset with herself.

"Everything okay, sweetie?" Her father was on his way out the door, but stops when he sees his daughter in an unusual funk.

"It's nothing, Father. I just...may have done something wrong with Cammy..." She looks away.

He kneels across from her at the table. "Your mother can wait. Do you want to talk about it?"

Kara sighs. "Well...it's just that Cammy isn't...her own person anymore. You know how Mother is when it comes to life debts, but...this is more than a normal life debt." She purses her lips together.

The father mulls over the comment. "Do you mean to say her life wasn't simply in danger? Based on everything else you've told us, I'm surprised he could perform resurrection magic."

Kara was on the verge of tears. "According to him, he can. I was surprised too, but that's not the problem here... I brought up the possibility of Cammy and Dusk...being together sexually, and she got upset about it, and we didn't even talk the rest of the night..."

He nods, taking in all the information, before setting his hand on Kara's clasped ones. "You have to remember, Kara: not everyone views the world the same way as we do. Camilla has always had an independence streak. And Dusk...if he really is from another world, he probably has an even more different mindset. They might not even consider any kind of debt owed, and if they do, maybe they've already come to some kind of agreement. Just because your grandfather was notorious for his...collections, doesn't mean others view life debts the same way."

The young woman sighs. "You're right..."

"Now, you need to go out there, and apologize for the misunderstanding. Especially if you plan to do what we discussed for your birthday." He chuckles and winks.

"Faatherr!" Kara blushes.

He stands. "You know it's coming up, sweetie. Now, you know how impatient your mother can get with me, so I'd best get going."

Kara watched her father leave, still contemplating her situation, but a little more comfortable with it.

Hey guys! Sorry for not uploading yesterday. I'm having a bit of writer's block/'not want to work'-itis and won't be able to upload every day anymore, at least for a while. So, until further notice, Dusk's tale will be updated Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Why those days? Because those are when I work the morning shift, and am more likely to upload it before work (and likely before most of you are awake). Extra chapters like character sheets will still be updated mostly independent of this schedule, either with a double upload like today or filling in some time over the weekend. Thanks for your understanding and thanks for reading this tale from Monster Isekai!