Asher's Futa Chronicles

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How can Remmi's day start out so nice and end up so messed up? Be careful what you offer to strange entities you don't understand.

Enjoy!

PS: Next week is another long one as we close in on the big fight scene at the end of the movie.

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Chapter 34

REMMI

True to her word, I was still wrapped in Shae's embrace when I woke. I'd been so out of it that I'd drooled on her arm!

*It's alright, I've had worse,* Shae said quietly.

*Good morning,* I said, stretching and realizing we were alone in bed. *Where's James?*

*Making the rounds,* Shae sighed.

*What's wrong?* I asked.

*That man loves the military too much,* Shae said quietly. *He falls back into old habits too easily.*

I let her comment go as I had a feeling Shae didn't want to talk about that, as she turned her attention back to me.

*James told me we'll be leaving after this,* I half-asked, half-said.

*Yes,* Shae said slowly. *We?*

I searched my feelings and found that once I had Asher back, there was no way we'd let the Gestalt out of our sight again. They'd started to feel like the family we'd lost long before this. Not in a replacement kind of way, but more like our next home.

*Yes, we,* I confirmed.

*Alright,* Shae said and kissed the back of my head.

I turned to face her. I didn't need to; facial expressions didn't have much influence when you were speaking in someone's mind. I just wanted to look at her.

*You're going to make me blush,* Shae said, reading my thoughts. *For now, let's focus on getting through today before we start worrying about tomorrow.*

*Sure,* I said. All the questions that had been floating around my head the night before seemed to have fled. I sighed with frustration. But the sight of Shae's smile wiped that emotion away.

*OK, I'm up,* I said, starting to turn away from the gorgeous woman in my bed.

Shae's arms latched onto me and pulled me back to her. She kissed me long and deep, leaving me breathless when she was done.

*Next time, it's my turn,* Shae said with that wicked twinkle in her eye as she slipped out of the bed and into the bathroom.

I watched her go, appreciating the sway of her hips as she went.

*She's got a great ass, doesn't she?* James's mental voice came to me, reminding me I was never alone in my thoughts.

*Oh, you can be,* Shae said from the bathroom. *I'll teach you. Otherwise, my husband will be watching through your eyes the next time you're in the shower.*

*Hey!* James protested. *It was only the one time...OK, twice, but...OK, yeah...Shae's got a point.*

*My pervert husband...* Shae started.

*Pervect, thank you very much,* James said. *I take pride in my professional pervert status.*

I felt Shae holding her mental arms out towards James, as if to say, "See what I have to deal with."

I chuckled at the pair's antics. I wasn't sure whether they were performing for me or if this was just how they were. I was leaning towards the latter. Regardless, I appreciated the bit of "normalcy" they brought me.

*Normal?* James asked. *Did you just call us normal? I'm offended.*

*Do you need something, James, or are you just being annoying this early?* I asked.

*I'll show you after you've had breakfast, no rush,* James said.

But his words did make me start to rush; it was just how I was. My mind wouldn't stop imagining the worst until I knew for sure.

*You're going to give yourself an ulcer,* Shae warned as she emerged from the bathroom.

I was already halfway into my warskin but paused to watch her nakedness as Shae padded across the room and began to get dressed. She was pulling on her warskin when I realized I was still staring with my mouth open, and I quickly turned away so I could finish dressing.

According to the scout report James handed me, we'd taken out all the army's fire mages. They were the only mages in the army, as that was all the short-sighted king felt he needed.

Lucky for us, it turned out the king hadn't fielded his army in many years. As an army, they were rusty. They had few troops with actual combat experience, let alone those who had worked together as a unified fighting force.

Unlucky for us, the church had an ice- or water-mage in reserve. That mage was the one who eventually defeated the fire giant. But he or she hadn't attacked us.

I wondered if the church was reluctant to deploy their mage after seeing how easily Thomas had picked off the others. Then I remembered how rare trained mages were and concluded this had to be the case.

"They're just sitting there?" I asked as I looked at the report.

"Yup," James said. "Seems they consolidated their ranks and pulled back to behind the safety of the hill."

"Eat," a voice said as a sandwich was shoved in my face.

I turned to find Sinjin standing there holding a sandwich and a mug of something steaming.

"Thanks," I said as I took the offered breakfast. "How is everyone?" I asked through a mouthful of sandwich.

As a Guardian, I was responsible for security. Cr'eon, as the only Daemon, was the big boss, but she didn't do much, to be honest, and let us do our own thing. Angela and Sinjin oversaw The Roadhouse's day-to-day operations.

"So far, so good," Sinjin said as he sipped from his own mug. "Everyone's naturally worried, but we've been keeping to our routines, and that seems to keep folks too busy to get into trouble. Not to mention, after yesterday's little display, folks aren't too worried. They think the Guardians can handle whatever comes our way."

"Well, don't let them get too carried away," I said as I sipped the local coffee substitute. "There's still an army out there, and we're still a handful of fighters."

"Hey, we're a ragtag group of elite fighters," James chimed in, humor lacing his voice.

"Maybe," Mondy said as he stepped up to our little conference. "But you gotta admit, we don't look like much."

"Au contraire," I said and pointed at the five brothers and their outlandish monster outfits as they spread out to check the perimeter.

"I stand corrected," Mondy said as he tipped the cowboy hat he still wore and headed for the lookout platform.

"I've never seen him with a helmet, have you?" I asked, looking from James to Shae. "No? I wonder if Tim made a helmet that looks like Mondy's old cowboy hat."

"I wouldn't put it past him," James said. "I've never seen Mondy without that hat."

The day passed in a state of quiet anticipation. Everyone was on edge, waiting for the army to make a move. But as the day dragged on and night approached without anything happening, the anticipation turned to dread.

From what I understood, modern armies here didn't fight at night. There were no night vision goggles, but there was magic. Only, the magic was limited to small areas. Glowstones were too expensive for regular army troops, and magic glowing orbs like the ones Thomas could do only put big targets on the magic wielders.

So, armies tended to only fight during the day. This didn't mean they couldn't attack at night. But, with the pounding the army took yesterday, I was pretty sure they were no longer considering a stand-up fight.

James said this meant special ops-type stuff. Sending in small groups, like how they'd sent in their scouts. With the forest partially destroyed, the forest spirit didn't have dominance over the injured area that was quickly becoming known as the burn scar. Troops could sneak through, and the spirit would never know.

Needless to say, we dreaded what the king's army might do out of desperation as night closed in.

Then Thomas took over.

Our resident light mage set up a maze of light that threaded the no man's land of the burn scar. Multiple beams of light were strung between the still-healthy forest and the surrounding area, illuminating the entire area.

To be fair, it wasn't daylight, but it was still enough to easily spot anything moving out there. And that's just what it did when he first turned it on.

Two groups of fifteen men were sneaking up on either side of the burn scar. When the cover of darkness was suddenly peeled back, the groups froze in shock.

We yelled at them to get lost rather than murder the sitting sucks. But it took Terri providing a bit of encouraging fire support to send them fleeing back to their own lines.

While this solved our nighttime problem, it also meant Thomas was out of the fight during the day. We no longer had a laser beam we could use to pick off people, as he'd be up all night maintaining the light maze. Come morning, he'd be drained of power and had to sleep most of the day to "recharge."

Terri wasn't happy about it, but agreed she had to take the day shift opposite Thomas. Having the pair on constant watch provided some peace of mind for the rest of us. I felt for the couple, but it was a necessary inconvenience for our continued safety. Besides, at least they still saw each other every day and night at shift change.

I still had no idea where Asher was. I knew her mission was important, and to be fair, she probably wouldn't get back here for a couple more weeks. Plus, what's one more fighter against an army? Regardless of what I told myself, though, nothing kept me from worrying about her. I wondered if we'd still be here when she did finally show up.

And that last bit was the kicker. If things did go bad for us here, I'd be happy she wasn't here. As much as I wanted to see her again, I wasn't about to trade her safety for my own comfort. I'd fall on my sword as it were, if that meant she'd stay safe.

That realization was sobering. I'd never felt that way about anyone before. You always heard about that sort of thing in books and movies, but actually sacrificing yourself for someone you loved? I'd never truly considered it until tonight.

I'd made the rounds one last time before heading upstairs to take a bath and then try to get some sleep.

Patty was checking her infirmary for the millionth time, making sure everything was just right and where she wanted it. She'd only had to treat a few minor injuries so far, but she wasn't about to get caught short just in case.

Carfen was praying, of course. Only he had several people with him now. Apparently, his flock had grown despite everything or perhaps because of everything. Religion was quirky that way.

Larisa and her blacksmiths were forging spare blades, worried there may not be time to repair a broken weapon in the heat of battle. The forge had been running with someone at it around the clock. The sound of hammers falling was nonstop day and night.

Angela and Sinjin had already turned in. They'd been relentless in ensuring we were stocked and that emergency supplies were secured.

Raife had taken over the night shift for Angela. There wasn't a lot to it, though, mainly just holding down the fort.

Fia had evacuated her staff but chose to remain here herself. She'd placed Mabel in charge of the rest and sent them to Laghold to maintain the small office there until the situation here was resolved. Several had volunteered to stay, but Fia had literally pushed them out the main gates herself to make sure they left.

Fia said it was her place to ensure the guild's presence remained, no matter what. But there wasn't much for her to do, since no jobs were coming through. She mainly chatted with people and maintained the training room for the guild members who'd chosen to remain at The Roadhouse.

Cr'eon silently made the rounds, ensuring everyone saw her. She rarely spoke unless someone spoke to her. But her sheer presence seemed to bolster morale.

Kurden remained with us, still tending the bar for the few who wished to drink. He was his usual charming self, but you could tell beneath it all, he was scared.

Waylen continued to perform. When asked why he didn't leave before the fighting started, he said, "Why would I? Who else here could enshrine this heroic tale and do it justice but myself?" He was still full of it, but I had to appreciate the guy sticking around. Not enough to throw him a bone or anything, though.

Miranda had found Sinjin's old clockwork servants and had been treating them like her children. She kept trying to teach them new chores in The Roadhouse and to get them to speak. She said she could understand the chittering noises they made, but I wasn't so sure. Sometimes Miranda could be a bit airheaded.

When I finally dragged myself up to my room, I was once more mentally exhausted and not in the best mood. My dark thoughts had been weighing me down all day, despite James and Shae's attempts to cheer me up. I had managed to fake it, though, keeping up a brave face for the others because I had to. I didn't want to think of what would happen if everyone realized how scared their "leader" really was.

"Miranda?" I asked quietly.

Miranda appeared beside my tub in a copper-colored dress that showcased her ample assets.

"Yes, my Guardian?" Miranda asked, clasping her hands before her and bowing slightly.

Since The Roadhouse had shifted to a war footing, Miranda had been acting rather subdued. Where she'd been boisterous, flirty, and sometimes flippant before, now she practically kowtowed to me when I called on her.

"What's our status?" I asked as I closed my eyes and let the water's heat seep into my bones. I was tired and sore, but my brain wouldn't let me shut off yet.

"The walls are safe and secure," Miranda said. "The forest spirit reports no attempts to penetrate its territory. There have been no other attempts to cross the burn scar since the lighting went up. There are no injuries I've been made aware of."

"Good," I said, nodding. "Thank you, Miranda," I said through a yawn.

"Of course, my Guardian," Miranda said and began to fade.

"Miranda?" I said, stopping her from leaving.

"Yes, my Guardian?" Miranda asked.

"How are you doing?" I asked. The whole time this emergency had been going on, I didn't recall anyone asking the steward of The Roadhouse how she was doing, not even me.

"I'm sorry?" Miranda said.

"How are you doing? I know this is a lot, especially considering you haven't been back to your full self very long," I said.

It was true. Miranda had been basically asleep the first time we arrived at The Roadhouse. She'd only been fully awakened for a short time now, and our best guess was that she'd been asleep for 800+ years before that.

Miranda seemed to hesitate.

"Fine?" she offered.

"You don't sound convinced," I said and glanced at her.

"Well," Miranda started. "As you said, I was asleep for a long time before waking up. And when I woke up, there was so much going on, so much new life here. Now, most are gone and the few who remain don't seem as...vibrant as before."

"Are you saying you're sad because everyone here is too nervous about what's going on to enjoy themselves?" I asked.

"I...take my nourishment from the land," Miranda started. "But living things can also provide me with a...treat, if you will? When people are happy, they taste better."

"Taste better..." I frowned and sat up in the bath to face her fully now. "Are you saying--"

"No, no, no, no, my Guardian," Miranda started, holding up her hands. "It's not like that. I don't harm anyone or take anything from them. But when someone is happy or sad, it's as if they exude that emotion, leaving it trailing behind them where it becomes a part of me."

"And right now everyone is scared," I said, frowning. "So, you're feeling scared."

"In a manner of speaking," Miranda said.

I chewed on my lip. Having our number one protector scared wasn't a good thing. What if it caused her to slip, and something got through her defenses?

"Don't worry, my Guardian," Miranda said as she pasted a smile on her face. "Regardless of how I feel, it doesn't affect how I do my job."

"Still," I mumbled. Then I had one of what I was starting to call my "Asher ideas."

"Miranda," I started. "Asher once told me that you were capable of anything."

"Yes," Miranda nodded. "This is mostly true."

"Well, to hear Asher tell it, you were making a pass at her when you told her this. Is that true?" I asked.

Miranda squirmed on the spot for a moment.

"Yes," she finally admitted.

"Are you interested in her, then?" I asked.

"I'm interested in all my Guardians," Miranda said.

"I meant, in a physical way," I said.

"If you mean--"

"I mean sex, Miranda," I said, cutting to the chase.

"Sex," Miranda started and actually blushed! "Sex is one of the tastiest treats."

I studied her for a long moment.

"You watch all of us, don't you?" I asked.

"I have to protect--"

"I'm not angry, Miranda," I said and basically meant it.

Miranda wasn't a human being, or any other corporeal being, so I couldn't treat her as such...kinda. She was a sort of spirit, and we were all, basically, living inside her, if I understood it correctly. As such, anything we did, she knew about. It wasn't her spying; it was just her existing.

"Have you had sex with any of us...wait, don't answer that," I said, stopping myself. "I don't need to know any of that." I took a deep breath. "Would you like to have sex with me?"

At the time, I had no idea what I was getting myself into by opening this door. Had I known, I would have kept my mouth shut.

"That would be...nice," Miranda said shyly.

This wasn't the Miranda I'd come to know. That girl was a complete flirt, and I needed to help bring her back. At least, that's what I was telling myself. Maybe I was just horny. Regardless, if I was happy, then she'd get happy, right? Who wasn't happy after a good romp?

I stood up from the bath, the feel of the water cascading down my body giving me goosebumps.

"Help me out of the tub?" I asked, holding out my hand.

Miranda took my hand and held onto me firmly as I stepped out. She grabbed a towel and, without a word, began drying me off.

She took her time with the towel, paying special attention to my breasts, butt, and nethers. But she made sure to get the rest as well. It was while she was kneeling and drying my feet that she looked up at me with the flirty eyes I'd been seeking.

"Miranda," I asked, reaching down and caressing the side of her face.

"Yes, my Guardian?" she asked, a slight hitch in her voice.

Was I exciting her?

"Do you have sex, the same way I do?" I asked.

I was so stupid, or tired, or both. At least, that's the excuse I'm going with looking back. This was a creature I didn't understand back then, and I was treating her like I'd treat any of the other horny people I'd been with.

As I said, I was dumb.

"Yes, my Guardian," she said to me demurely.

Without another word, I pulled her face to my still-damp pussy. As I put one leg on the lip of the tub, I watched her mouth open, and her tongue stretch out to taste me.

I couldn't take my eyes off Miranda as she began sliding her tongue across my slit, sending shivers radiating out and through my body.

Immediately, she began moaning as she licked, kissed, and sucked at my sex. Her hands ran up my legs, holding me in place as she worked her tongue into my pussy.

Pleasure coursed through me, which only seemed to feed her eagerness as she continued to assault me with powerful strokes of her tongue.

The next thing I knew, Miranda was behind me, but still kneeling. She pushed me forward, bending me over against the wall until my ass was sticking out, and returned to licking at my pussy.

When my thighs began to burn, Miranda's tongue slid up between my cheeks. She circled my as a few times before forcing herself past my tight ring and began to tease me. Her fingers moved to my slick pussy and effortlessly slipped inside.

I moaned deeply at the sensation of her face crushed into my ass. As her tongue violated me, it fed the filthy things I was feeling and sent a dark thrill through me.

Then her tongue and fingers plunged deeper into my depths. The sensation as they began to thrust in and out of me made my knees shake and my head spin.