It has been some time, and for a while Grey has been feeling some sort of bummed out. No, that wasn’t because she-devil was leading him by his nose. Not at all. She had delivered the promised meal, even if it was her enemy. However, even if the said meal was filling a certain spice was lacking; the spice of the hunt. Somehow, all of it tasted better when Grey worked for it: sniffing the prey out, stalking it, tormenting it.

Hence why Grey has decided to look for his own meal, to source it locally. And what better place to do that than The Guild? This, coincided with the opportunity to test his newly crafted Fang Spear. The dwarf claimed it was his best masterwork, however, Grey remained skeptical. All it was was a piece of a tooth attached to a metal rod. Sure there were pointless engravings both on the rod and the fang, but they were meaningless weren't they?

The Guild of course didn’t change much, ever full of people who fashioned themselves as do-gooders and adventurers. They were anything but, or so Grey liked to think. While pretending to look at the quest board he sniffed the air seeking the particular smell. Unfortunately, he had found no sweet fragrance only the acidic smell of sweat and unwash. He wasn’t giving up, sooner or later the mage was bound to wander in, and even if there was no mage he will settle for his normal staple food.

He didn't bother reading the quest posters, but the large map on the wall drew his attention. By the looks of it, there was a monster incursion encroaching on the city from the forest; which explained the cramped quest board. Also, there were a few circles drawn on the outskirts of the territory indicating possible bandit encampments. Those were kind of new. What all of this meant was that the city wasn’t doing all too well. There was a possibility there will be a lock-down.

On the positive side, all of this meant that those who wanted to make quick money –had to strike it now. There was a lot of work and a lot of coins to be made.

Grey shook his head to clear his mind. For a moment he worried that he contracted the gold sickness from that elf. Life was not about the coins, life was about the food and simple pleasures. Ah, what sort of flavours will today's meal have? New day, a new surprise – Grey smiled overtaken by positive thoughts.

He didn't need to idly wait for too long. A welcome scent tickled his nostrils.

“Finally,” Grey muttered under his nose.

He turned to look at what this morning had brought to him. It was a woman clad in metal armour, head to toe. The sight confused him, this wasn’t an attire befitting a mage. He inched closer, maybe his senses were confused. No, there was definitely a scent of magic. He inched even closer and then a tragedy hit him like a hammer would an unsuspecting rodent. An unwelcome smell tainted the inside of his nose. The smell of corruption, the scent of blood tainted by an ever-polluting mana potion – the bane of good taste. The reek was coming from behind the armoured mage.

“Ah! I mean, we meet again!” A familiar runt shouted from behind her armoured bodyguard.

“You!” Grey roared accusingly.

“Sorry! I am sorry!” The runt bowed apologetically.

Yeah, this was the same rude girl who he had planned to eat in the forest, but now she smelt most foul; unfit for his stomach. So Grey chose to ignore the annoying shrimp and turned away from her.

“No, please wait!” She leapt and grabbed for Grey. “Let me explain. You have saved me, I know that now, and I have never gotten to thank you properly. I haven't even paid you for that day!” She sounded atypically bashful by the end of her sentence.

That was right, she hasn’t paid her dues! Grey turned to look at the stinking offender.

“My father insisted I reward you properly! Wait here, it will be only a moment.” The runt ran to one of the counters.

There was a little of real value she could offer him now, however, the new bodyguard interested him. Grey motioned her to sit by one of the nearby tables. She didn't even hesitate to leave the runt to her devices. What a crap bodyguard she was, or maybe she just felt that the Guild was safe.

“So, are you a mage?” Grey went straight to the point.

This seemed to surprise an armoured woman but only for a second. “No, not really, I have never gotten a chance to develop my magic properly. But what gave me away?”

“The way you carry yourself is different.” Grey bullshited her.

“Really?”

Grey nodded. Even if she wasn’t a developed mage, her blood had value to him. So maybe he had found his mark.

The runt was back just as quickly as she left, slamming a large bag of coins on the desk.

“This is yours. The bit for that day plus a generous reward for saving me.”

There was a lot of money on the table, but…

“I am not interested in gold… or silver.” Grey pushed the bag away.

“Eh?” The runt gave a flabbergasted look. “What do you want then? I am sure my father will be able to get it.”

“Hmm… What do I want?” Grey tapped a finger on his chin pretending to think. “A favour then I need it most. That would do.” He nodded.

“Really, that’s it?”

“Don’t underestimate the power of the favours. They can cost you dearly.” He pointed a finger up sagely. “So do we have a deal?” he pointed the same finger at the stinking runt.

“I…” she seemed to be out of her element. “I guess, we do.” She gave an unsure nod.

The bodyguard gave Grey a peculiar smile, one he was unable to read.

“Then, until that time comes.” Grey stood up to leave.

“Wait.” The runt reached for Grey again. “Do you want to join my party? I am no longer allowed to leave the city without a full party.”

It would have been a yes if the runt hasn't tainted her blood today so he shook his head to say a no. He will wait until her blood clears, the plan was already in motion.

“Come on! Why not?” She pressed further.

However, the bodyguard intervened. “My lady, you shouldn't! He must be busy.”

The runt shut up with a pout plastered on her face, the bodyguard seemed to hold some sway over her.

Grey dismissed himself and went back to pretending to look at the quest notices.

“Hey.”

Someone was calling from behind. Yet another stranger was looking for him likely to sell him something. He ignored them.

But the stranger didn’t get the subtle social cue. “Hello?”, “…”, “Hello, hello. Hey.” – They were persistent.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Grey turned to look at the annoyance. It was a rank-and-file adventurer, no different from the others. Aside from the fact that she was a hyena beastkin, a far removed species from their natural territories. So in all likelihood, a traveler like Grey was. As one would expect her body was a mixture of brown and grey with an iconic hyena-like spotted pattern all over. Her attire was barbaric, but not unusual, loincloth and a chest wrap. To pretty herself, she wore bone earrings and a fang necklace.

“What?” Grey asked as soon as he finished sizing up the savage woman.

“Big guy, wanna party up?”

“No, not really.”

“Come on, I will show you a good time. Just the two of us.”

Grey gave the woman another glance. She was giving an odd vibe. Most people didn't approach him for good reasons and here she was up to something.

“Like what you see? I am a good fighter. I bet I can outdo you in monster kills!” She provoked teasingly.

“Is that a challenge?”

“It can be if that’s what you like. The winner gets the loser to do what they want.”

Grey shrugged. Worst case scenario he will just eat her, it was time for lunch anyways. And the lone mages proved to be rare in current circumstances, so he will have to settle with normal no-mana blood and flesh.

“Count me in. What is the target.”

The woman gave that unique hyena-like giggle.

“Let’s just go out and see what the forest has to offer.”

So in other words she wasn’t taking a specific quest.

“I see. And you think you can beat me in the number of kills?”

She giggled again. “I don’t have to. Do I?”

… but that was the point. Whatever. They left towards the forest where the monster's incursion was happening.

“So, big guy, you’re new here?”

Grey nodded, there was no point in pretending otherwise.

“You know, you are quite exotic looking. Never seen anything like you. What’s your name?”

“Exotic?” he had never been referred to as such. “I could say the same about you. Grey is the name.”

“And I thought I will be forced to keep calling you as big guy. Name’s Yena”

Grey made no effort to commit the name of the dish to his memory.

“Grey, I see you like to carry long weapons. Have you… penetrated many foes with that spear already?”

“This is newly made. I still have to test this.”

“Oh? A virgin spear. Let’s not wait and christen it in blood.” Yena giggled to herself.

Their idle chatter didn’t last long. A monster wolf jumped on them from the bushes. The woman took the charge bashing its head split open with her axe.

“One to me already. You are losing, Grey.”

“No, I am not.” He protested.

The wolves rarely hunted alone, there must have been a whole pack of them nearby; and there was. Grey wielded his weapon awkwardly. He wasn’t good with it, but he wasn’t terrible either. Clearly, he needed more practice. It even felt like a handicap then compared to his usual fighting technique of claws and fists. By no surprise, this meant that he was losing to the barbarian woman.

“Hey-hey are you letting me win? Or are you just crap?” She taunted him while claiming another kill.

Grey responded with a fresh kill of his own, a wolf skewered right through the neck. He was finally getting the hang of the spear. Quick precise strikes were the way to go.

Yena gave Grey a toothy smile “We make a good pair don’t you think?”

Grey didn't respond and instead killed another wolf. And then, in no time at all the whole pack was finished.

“And, you lost!” She proclaimed herself a victor, head high and all that.

“We aren’t finished yet.” He protested.

“Okay, but I win this round. So one out of three?”

Grey nodded.

The pair went deeper into the woods.

“What will you command me to do if you win?” She asked giving Grey a peculiar smile.

Grey had forgotten about that, he just wanted to win. “I don’t know yet.” He said unsure.

Well maybe eat her flesh…

“Oh don’t be a bore. I am sure it’s something dirty, isn’t it? And I am okay with that.”

Why would he do that to her? This woman, like most of them, made no sense.

“Won’t you ask what I have in mind?” She probed seemingly indifferent Grey.

“Incoming!” He braced pushing the woman to the side.

A massive bovine creature came charging out of the trees. It pointed the four sharp horns directly at Grey. Grey knew he wouldn’t be able to dodge in time so instead, he jumped up in the air and used the monster's head as a stepping stone to leap over it. It was a splendid show of acrobatics one would not expect from someone as bulky as Grey. He landed on the ground gracefully, well as graceful as a half-a-ton man could be.

The bovine monster stopped its charge to turn around. Grey didn't idle and poked the monster’s side with Fang Spear. The weapon remained stuck and as the beast twisted it pulled the spear out of Grey's hand. Their eyes met and Grey slugged the beast right in the nose, and then again. Blow after blow came to stun the beast. It has even collapsed on its front legs unable to weather the pummeling.

Some help would have made it quicker, but it never came. So while the beast was still stunned Grey bit and ripped at its throat. The pained beast stood up and tried to throw Grey away. The bovine titan managed to lift Grey in the air, but he held firmly on to its head. He reached into the neck hole he had made with his teeth, clawed at it and jumped away ripping a collection of blood vessels. They were thick like ropes. The fountain of blood followed. The monster tried to flee, but didn't manage far, and collapsed promptly.

“Okay… that was kinda impressive.” The idle spectator finally spoke.

“One: One.” Grey was keeping the score. Surely, this was worth as much as a pack of wolves.

“So, it’s a tie. And somehow I think we should head back, or at least back to the border. Something like that is out of my league.”

It was Grey’s turn to laugh. “We aren’t ending this in a tie.”

“…And I’m not very keen on going in deeper.” She seemed anxious for a moment. “But you are right, we aren’t ending this in a tie. Let’s play a game.” She started running. “Catch me before I reach the meadows. If you catch me - you win, if I escape - I do.”

One way or the other Grey had to catch her before she left the forest. To win of course, and to eat her.

She was quite quick considering her species. Being an endurance runner he had a hard time catching up. Yet despite her capacity for speed she never fully left his sight, as if to tease him.

“Ups!” There was a shout accompanied by a giggle.

A cloth she had used to wrap her breasts was laying discarded on the mossy floor.

Grey ran past it thinking about how the heck did she even manage to lose it.

“You better catch me soon!”

He will, it was only a matter of time. Predictably, the hyena woman began to tire and slow down. The distance between the two closed and Grey leapt at her pushing her half-nude body down. The landing was rough, but the thick moss cushioned it.

The woman launched into a burst of short giggles. She sounded excited and the smells she was emitting were odd in composition. Well, it wasn’t the usual scent of terror and helplessness Grey was used to, hence the perception of an oddity. This was understandable since he never made his intentions clear. He will correct that soon.

“Ups, you caught me.” Yena turned around to lie on her back. “I guess I am at your mercy. Do with me what you want.” She told it suggestively her voice sweet.

“Oh, I will. I will eat you.” Grey grabbed her by the neck to keep her from trying to escape.

She didn’t even try just giggled. “Yes! I love it rough!”

The air was made heavy by the chemistry the deluded woman was releasing. The deviant won’t be liking this for long! Grey grabbed her big and perfectly round breast and squeezed it in with his fingers, deforming it with plenty of force.

“Ahh!” she only moaned at the pain.

Grey licked at her neck, tasting her flavour. She was like an animal in heat, the taste was both sweet and salty, with some sourness in it, and it was unfamiliar but welcome; a different spice from the usual fear he knew so well. He was open to a change in the palate, of course. Ever since he came here there were so many new things he had experienced. The tongue explored the taste eagerly.

“Ahh! Give it to me.” She begged.

“I will give you… only pain.” He teased.

“Mmm… I will take it. I love it big!”

She seemed to be in a self-induced trance. Her arms caressed his own. Grey licked at her perked-up nipples, savouring the sensation, listening to the sounds she was making between his choking grasp.

“Do me. I can wait no longer!” She squeaked through the choke-hold.

Her reactions were amusing and he liked teasing her. He’ll play with her more and then finally eat her.

A certain something brushed at Grey’s thigh. It was hard and unpleasant. A concealed weapon? He looked down, there was a tent pitched at her loincloth. Something was there.

“What is this?” Grey ripped the cloth exposing the Intimate parts which were there. “No!” He leered backwards. “How?” He never was this confused and lost before.

And what parts they were. Despite the undeniably feminine smell, despite her perfectly round breasts, despite everything. There was an erect penis between her legs!

Grey’s vision spun and he wanted to vomit. What sin has he committed? He backed away from what he assumed to be an abomination to get him.

“Hey, no need to be intimidated. I am just excited. Your’s leagues bigger I bet, so what does it matter?”

A female with a dick! A thing he wouldn’t even conceive in his worst nightmare. Grey grabbed his weapon and ran. Ran away from the abomination and the image that still haunted his mind like a curse.

“Hey!” She shouted.

Grey ran, he ran as he had never run before. The nightmare was pursuing him, but this time by the sheer power of will he was faster. He didn’t turn around to check, he didn’t stop for a breather, he sprinted all the way back to the city. The gate guards met him with alarmed looks.

“What? What is it?”

“A monster! An abomination!” Grey pushed past the guards forcefully and continued running.

Grey couldn’t see but the men turned pale. Their imaginations ran wild, just how awful of a monster it must be to scare shitless as big a man as Grey was. They grasped their weapons tighter and braced for this abomination.

“I hate monster incursion!”

“This job sucks!”

“I think I will quit.”

Various complaints rang out.