In the Ratkin settlement, the shadows of the night concealed not only the surroundings but also the dark intentions of its inhabitants. In a dimly lit hut, a group of Ratkin gathered in conspiratorial dialogue, exchanging furtive glances and nervous gestures. The subject of their conversation was Lyra, the black-haired Ratkin who had assisted the humans during the day.
"She's a disgrace to our people," growled one of them, a Ratkin with scars on his face and a cold gaze. "Her black hair is an aberration, a symbol of bad luck. We must get rid of her."
"And how will we do that?" asked another Ratkin, his eyes gleaming with malice. "We can't simply throw her out. She's clever, never causes trouble, doesn't give us a reason to expel her."
"We don't need to throw her out," replied the first one, his lips curving into a sinister smile. "We have those two humans. The man seems quite comfortable with his black-haired companion. Maybe he wouldn't mind taking another one."
The others nodded, murmuring in agreement. They believed that since Ethan was with a black-haired woman like Yassmin, he wouldn't object to having Lyra as company. The conversation grew quieter, and their gazes turned even darker as they plotted their plan.
Meanwhile, in their tent, Ethan and Yassmin were enjoying a moment of intimacy. They had fallen into a renewed passion; Ethan sleeping away from Yassmin had no issues, but seeing her, smelling her, and feeling her made his desires unsustainable. The tent was warm, the atmosphere impregnated with their desire and the soft moonlight filtering through the fabric.
Ethan, with a calm smile, caressed Yassmin's legs as she moved with an almost hypnotic grace over him. To heat things up, this time, they weren't alone in their intimate moment of pleasure. Lyra watched them from the side with unwavering fascination. Her eyes glowed with a mix of curiosity and repressed desire. For her, this was a unique opportunity to witness something that had always been denied to her by her community due to her hair color.
"Does it bother you that she's watching us?" murmured Ethan, his voice barely a whisper in Yassmin's ear.
"No, let her. She seems quite interested... besides... This doesn't feel bad," replied Yassmin, her eyes briefly meeting Lyra's before focusing back on Ethan.
The Ratkin, fascinated by the scene, couldn't look away. She had spied before, but seeing how humans practiced reproduction not just as a necessity but as a source of pleasure, was now brought to life before her eyes.
Suddenly, the air in the tent grew denser, and a familiar figure emerged from the pocket dimension. Neith, with her intimidating presence, materialized next to Lyra, watching the scene with the same curiosity.
"Do you want to join in as well?" whispered Neith, surprising Lyra.
Lyra was so startled that she had to cover her mouth with both hands to avoid screaming, but this didn't stop Neith.
"Look, I'm also interested in how human customs have changed over time," said Neith, her eyes fixed on the couple, "If you want, I can help us both join them."
"Y-Yes, I want to try," responded Lyra, her voice trembling with nerves and excitement.
Neith approached Ethan with her characteristic elegance. She removed her mask, revealing a wide, grotesque smile that extended broadly, showing a row of sharp teeth. She leaned in and pressed her teeth against Ethan's lips. This was very strange, as she had neither lips nor a tongue to kiss him, but he didn't reject her, mainly because he was immersed in the ecstasy of the situation.
Then, she made Lyra do the same. This was strange for Ethan, yet quite pleasurable, especially Lyra's moist nose, which was extremely soft.
Lyra quickly became engrossed in the situation. Yassmin, though somewhat jealous, helped her through this first experience. The rest of the night passed in an atmosphere charged with satisfaction and desire. Only Neith couldn't participate and had to limit herself to watching, which frustrated her a lot but was impossible for her in such a state of decomposition.
Ethan had never expected to have sex with something that wasn't human. He had never thought of Lyra as anything more than a tool to use. However, the experience was satisfying for him, so he wouldn't mind taking Lyra with them.
The next morning, Ethan and Yassmin woke up a bit late but ready to continue their journey. They had decided to head towards Darathor, a human city to the north, in search of more information. As they prepared to leave, the Ratkin of the settlement gathered around them, insisting that Lyra be their guide.
"She knows the way well and can be of help," said one of the Ratkin, his voice laden with a false kindness that didn't go unnoticed by Ethan.
Lyra, having no say in the decision, simply bowed her head and nodded. She knew she had no choice, and her position in the community was too precarious to oppose.
"Alright, we could use a guide," said Ethan, looking at Lyra with a smile meant to convey reassurance. "Thank you for coming with us."
For Ethan, Lyra was more than just a guide. He had noticed how she was marginalized and knew that, with the right approach, he could turn her into an easily manipulated ally. They needed someone who knew the terrain and who would follow their orders without question. Lyra, because of her situation in her community, was the perfect candidate. Additionally, after last night, Ethan wanted her for himself. Surprisingly, they had saved him the trouble of asking for her.
The group set off towards the north, with Lyra leading the way. The journey was long, and the terrain increasingly difficult, but Lyra's experience in the forest allowed them to advance without major setbacks. The forest grew denser and darker, and the sounds of nature created a symphony of mystery and life.
By late afternoon, they arrived at a wide, fast-flowing river that blocked their path. Ethan frowned, evaluating the best way to cross it. But Lyra remained calm, asking them to wait a moment. It was then that the water nymphs made their appearance. Emerging from the river, their translucent, shimmering bodies reflected the light of the setting sun. They were ethereal beings with human forms, but their essence was pure water.
"We are the guardians of this river," said one of the nymphs, her voice resonating like a soft whisper of the water currents. "We can help you cross, if you pay, of course."
"We accept your help," responded Lyra, after throwing a bit of salt into the water.
The nymphs formed a bridge with their bodies, temporarily solidifying their form to allow the group to cross. Ethan, Yassmin, and Lyra walked carefully over the water bridge, feeling the nymphs' coolness and energy with each step.
The nymphs bid them farewell before vanishing into the waters, disappearing in plain sight.
Ethan watched them with curiosity, thinking about how useful they would be as guardians of their hot springs. They continued their journey, and by the time the sun was setting, they were still halfway there, so they had to spend the night outdoors.
"Tomorrow we'll leave the forest, and before sunset we'll reach Darathor..." said Lyra, pausing before asking, "Tonight... are we going to... do it again?"
"Not tonight, why? Can't you wait?" said Ethan with an evil smile.
"No, no, of course not, it's not that, it's because... because..." Lyra blushed, not knowing how to respond.
Both Ethan and Yassmin liked Lyra, but they both knew that someone like her wasn't prepared for what was to come. They might have been behaving with the beings of this world so far, taking things slowly, but at any moment, they might want to speed up the process and start a massacre in such a way that no one would dare oppose them. When that happened, she might flee or suffer a nervous breakdown, or even stab them in the back. Ethan knew he had to warn her about what was coming