"This is Scythe," Scabberzerka says, keeping some distance back from the Grok's pen, despite the big female being chained to the wall. "She's the favorite pack leader of the High Priestess when it comes to hunting," the Beastmaster tells Alptraum. "She can be a bit unpredictable though."
"How close can I get to her safely?" Alptraum inquires, curious. He leans forward a bit and tries to get a feel of the grok's emotional state.
"That depends on if she likes you or not," Yodhrephath Scar admits. "She tolerates me because I feed her."
Scythe appears to be very calm, or else very still at least. She's half again as big as Scar. Alptraum does get the sense that she's studying him though.
Alptraum takes a few steps forward and squats so he appears less tall. He's still a respectable distance from her, of course, well out of reach so far. "Hello, Scythe," he says calmly.
Scythe is definitely focused on him, but still hasn't really reacted. "Isn't she magnificent?" the voice of Gronegk whispers from the shadows, although it's likely that only Alptraum can hear the demon.
"She is. Beautiful, even," Alptraum thinks. He's certain to other Grok's she's probably drop-dead beautiful. He moves a little closer, and remains squatted so that he does not appear as any sort of threat. He now also holds out his left hand in case the Grok wants to sniff ... and still out of range so she doesn't bite it off!
Scythe makes a show of sniffing - it's far too exaggerated to be normal, so she's actually telling Alptraum that she's.. acknowledging him?
"Ping her," Gronegk suggests. "It is what she expects of an Eeee, what she thinks of as their way of scenting."
Alptraum's brow arches, but he does as advised, a ping. Short, simple, and wide.
This gets Scythe to raise her smooth head slightly. "She's not growling or drooling," the Beastmaster notes. "That's usually a good sign. Do you want something to feed her?"
"That is probably a good idea. Many things can be befriended with food. Heck, most men can be befriended with food," Alptraum says and grins slightly.
Scabberzerka approaches slowly, keeping behind Alptraum. "You might want to feed her with your right hand," she says, holding out something wet and red, clearly fresh meat from a Rughrat or other large animal.
"Why my right hand?" Alptraum asks as he takes the wet slab of meat in his right hand. He shuffles a bit closer now and holds out that hand with the meat in it. He's guessing she's just in range to get the meat, but not his hand, if she stretches a bit.
"The High Priestess usually wears a gauntlet," the Beastmaster notes. "I think it's made with Grok chitin, maybe. But Groks aren't used to hunt creatures with chitin armor, so I suspect they don't think of armored creatures as prey."
Scythe stands, and is as tall as the crouching Eeee. She takes a single step forward.. then waits. There's still a few feet between them, but her chain hasn't gone taut yet.
Alptraum hmms. Maybe it's his turn to show some trust ... so he moves a bit closer now, with his right hand still held out.
After the move, Scythe closes the gap with another step, and sniffs the offered meat. She doesn't take it, but does open her mouth for it.
Alptraum hmms. This is nerve-wracking. He shuffles a bit closer again and tries to place the meat in her jaws, and if successful, to slowly draw his hand back. Or, if she snaps, to quickly draw his hand back!
As he places the meat into the Grok's jaws, Scythe doesn't close them until Alptraum's hand is withdrawn. Then she snaps quickly several times, and the meat vanishes. Her dark tongue licks the blood and other flecks from her jaws.
"Show no fear," Gronegk whispers.
Alptraum lets out a slow breath and nods. "You are impressive," he tells her. "Biggest Grok I've ever seen."
Scythe's head tilts slightly, as if saying, "Go on.."
"Do you mind if I touch and examine you?" Alptraum asks. "I was requested to do so by Koldesh."
At this, Scythe turns away unexpectedly. She goes to the side of the pen where her chain is hooked to a ring on the wall, then takes the hook in her mouth and lifts it out, freeing herself. Once she drops it to the floor, she sits back on her haunches, focuses on Alptraum, and waits.
"I hate it when they do that," Yodhrephath Scar whispers.
Alptraum blinks. Well, that was unexpected! And Worrying. Still, he cannot show fear, so he shuffles closer to the creature until he's sitting right beside her. "Thank you," Alptraum tells her, and doesn't touch her, yet. He waits to see what she does first.
The Grok's response is to drape her tail across Alptraum's shoulders, the barbed tip tapping against his chest a few times before stopping.
Alptraum thinks she is trying to scare him. He doesn't swat the tail away, and instead places his right hand against her armored body and feels over it slowly.
Someone really is taking care to groom and polish Scythe. Her plates are smooth and glossy, with none of the ragged edging he's seen with wild Groks. And her heartbeat is calm and steady, strong enough for him to feel and hear.
"I am going to examine you in detail; it may feel a little strange, but it will also feel nice," Alptraum tells the grok before he starts to push out the shadow through his right hand. He's slow about it, to allow the grok time to 'see' it, and see that it isn't dangerous for her.
An animal should be more alarmed. Either Scythe isn't bothered by it, or Gronegk's immaterial presence is keeping her calm. But aside from a few twitches of her tail, she doesn't move.
Alptraum keeps pushing it further until Scythe is entirely encased in the shadow. Then he's slow and gentle as he examines the creature with it, from the inside-out. The down side of this is, dagh, does it feel good to him, and worse, he's starting to get, er, aroused by the grok! Good thing he's sitting down.
It doesn't help that Scythe is powerful. Even at rest, he can feel her muscles coiled up like a spring, ready to launch into action. He can even feel the way her tail is poised to open up his throat if she wanted to. It also doesn't help that Alptraum knows what it feels like to be a Grok. Hopefully the same thing won't happen if sees an attractive sow after being a hog. But Groks.. if they could talk, they'd be people.
Alptraum slowly draws the shadow back once he is done examining Scythe in detail. "Thank you," he tells the creature.
This gets the bat a long dry slurp from Scythe's tongue. It's not on his cheek though, but between his legs. It's hard to hide anything from that sensitive nose.
Alptraum erks and twitches. Did he just turn on the grok too? He sits there, waiting to see what more she may do.
Her job done, Scythe rehooks her chain to the wall, and curls up, ignoring Alptraum for now.
Alptraum pats Scythe's haunches, then gets up and moves away from the creature. "Well, that was different," he mutters to Scar.
"They all do that, don't worry," Scabberzerka says with a grin. "They're always nosing around the interesting bits."
"Do they ever try to get people to use those bits?" Alptraum asks, brow arched.
"I'm told they like to watch, but haven't had a chance to test that out," the Beastmaster claims. "I don't think anyone would try to mate with a Grok though. They're armored there too. But.. well I've heard things about the Yodhinala."
"So, you haven't tried, then?" Alptraum teases and grins.
"Oh, I have special tools," Scabberzerka claims, perking up. "We don't usually let them just mate on their own, so it's important to collect the seed of the best males, and when the females are receptive, I've got this.. well, want to see?" She seems a bit too eager. It doesn't seem like many take an interest in what she does, after all.
"Er, sure? I was asking if you've ever tried to mate with a male, but ... okay," Alptraum says, somewhat sorry he teased now!
"Just you!" the woman claims, and opens a cabinet filled with.. horrific looking sex toys. "Oh.. you wanted to visit the aerie too, didn't you?" she asks.
Alptraum finds the contents of the cabinet interesting! After all, Nicora has slept with just about everything. "Ah yes, Koldesh wanted me to test something," he confirms.
"Should probably get to that before I try these on you," Scabberzerka says. "Oh, I mean explain them to you! I'm used to talking to the Groks.."
"Aw, I wanted you to try them on me," Alptraum claims before he can stop himself.
"Oh sure, I can do that!" the Beastmaster says a bit too eagerly. "I've always wondered how they'd work on an Eeee. But the aerie first, just in case. You may have issues walking later, after all." She closes up the cabinet and gestures for Alptraum to follow her up a ladder.
Alptraum shakes his head after laughing. Scar is odd and rather cheerful. Yodh seem demented, but then all of them are in their own ways. Up the ladder he goes, following the Yodhrephath.
The aerie is basically a giant birdcage atop the temple. Pteras hang down by their tails, their heads mostly hidden inside their wrapped-around wings, while the Rakhtors make use of the lower rungs. They've got hoods on to keep them docile. The floor is.. horrific, even by Yodhgorphat standards. Aside from the piles of droppings, there are bones and 'pellets' that look especially morbid. The Rakhtors make a lot of noise, even when blindfolded.
"Well, thank you for leading me into such a lovely smell," Alptraum remarks as he clamps a hand over his nose, "Ugh." He looks up at the creatures and debates just how safe it will be to try and use the aura on them. If he goes slow and doesn't overdo it, it should be okay? One can hope. "You might want to stay near the exit," he warns Scar.
"Why, what are you going to do?" the Yodh asks.
"See if they react to some of my ... abilities," Alptraum says vaguely. And than's when, well, the oppressive feeling of the draconic aura seeps slowly from him and into the room. Vague feels of doom and danger with no locatable source...
"Ahh!" Scar yelps and hugs Alptraum, whimpering, "They're going to eat me!" The effect on the Rakhtors is first that they stop their squawking, and second that they huddle down as if trying to make themselves smaller. The Pteras are the opposite, panicking and flying off screaming instead.
Alptraum immediately draws back the aura! "Okay, so, they do react to it," Alptraum says, looking satisfied. The next thing he tries, because he's a little bit of an imp, is the lust aura. Yes, he tries to see if he can make the creatures feel like they are 'in season'.
Alptraum also squeaks Scar, "It's fine, that feeling was me!" as he tries to detangle himself from her.
The lust aura does not help in trying to disentangle the Yodh. The Rakhtors make keening calls, but still don't seem ready to break out of their huddles. They probably need nests, or shinies, or something similar. Or possibly the lust aura, being more Inala based, only works on sapients that aren't governed by seasonal cycles.
So Alptraum leans he cannot turn a mount on the rider in a lustful way! Pity, that could have been hilarious; watching pirates being chased by amorous beasts. Heck, he and Hexen once collected the scent from hogs in season and then laced the clothing of the town major with it when he refused to let them perform; so he knows it can be effective at taking someone down a notch.
The musings are interrupted somewhat when Scar starts licking his crotch like Scythe was.
Alptraum erks! He cuts off the lust aura immediately! "Hey, eh, this is not a good place for that!" he squeaks.
"Oh.. right," Scar says, standing up and dusting off her knees. "What was I thinking? The toys are back below! And.. the Pteras are coming back, right?"
"They should, I hope?" Alptraum admits.
"Oh, I'll check back later then," Scar says and heads for the ladder. "Let's go get nasty! Without the guano."
Alptraum arches his brow at that ... then heads back down quickly before one of the creatures craps on him for all the aura tests!
Back down in the Grok pens, Scar is pulling things from the cabinet-of-horror. "Restraint collar.. collection jar.. ooo, the gloves.. can't forget those.." she mutters.
Alptraum blinkblinkblinks. She actually took him seriously! "Er, heh," he babbles. "You're really going to use that?"
"Well, not the gloves now that I think of it," she says, holding the gloves that seem to be covered in chitinous bumps. "Probably only safe to use these on Grok bucks. They simulate the texture of the female's... well, probably should use them." She puts those back, but then pulls out what is basically a nightmare dildo. "This is the injector. Once you get it all the way in, there's little pump attachment that works with the jar.."
Alptraum has the realization that were he Nicora right now, he'd want to actually insert that thing in her 'Wound' and try the pump. This makes him shudder a bit. "So, er, you basically milk males and inject the females?" he has to ask.
"Well, it's not that basic," Scar says, waving the fake phallus around casually as she talks. "But it's safer than letting them do it themselves. Sometimes the females can hurt the males if they aren't feeling satisfied. They can also eject the seed if they're unhappy as well. So it's better if I handle things. I've got the collar for safety, but I know how to make the women happy so there's almost never any rejection."
"And you're going to try all of that on me?" Alptruam has to ask, wide-eyed.
Scar blinks at this for a moment, and looks at the phallus in her hand. "Hmmm, I suppose I was caught up in the moment," she admits. "I'd prefer the normal way with you. The restrains are for the females after all.. the males are pretty happy not to be mauled. I think some of them get aroused when they see me now.."
Alptraum laughs and rubs his forehead. "Pity, it could have been interesting," he remarks, amused. "I don't have a lot of time, I need to see to Koldesh, she has an ask of me. But ... you wish to do something?"
"Oh.. only if you have time," Scar says, suddenly blushing. But she's rubbing that phallus rather suggestively too.
"I think you've used that on yourself," Alptraum says and gestures to that toy, and smirks. "I may have a little time."
The woman squeaks and hides the 'toy' behind her back. "I can be quick," she promises.
Alptraum grins. "So, you have," he says triumphantly! "Show me ... and then we'll ... do stuff."
"What? I only use it to practice with the gloves, honest," Scar claims. "And to make sure it won't break during use.." So, she brings it back out. "I've got a mount in my room.." she says, and hurries towards it.
Alptraum follows after her. He's amused by how embarrassed she is; didn't think it was possible for Yodhrephath.
There's a peg on Scar's small worktable that the prosthetic fits onto. She also produces a cloth covered jar. "You have to use this goo or the females close up," she explains, and starts slathering some musky-smelling oil on the tool.
"How does that keep the female from closing up?" Alptraum asks as he leans in to sniff the goo.
"Well, it's the natural oil produced by the males," Scar explains. "I have to harvest that too. It's good for lamp oil as well, if you don't mind the smell." She applies it, then laces her fingers together and presses the heels of her hands to one another to work the shaft. "I'd have the gloves for this normally," she notes. She flexes her hands slightly to simulate how the female's orifice would move, apparently. "Now, I have to get them on their backs for this, but it's only a struggle the first time. After that they roll over right away!"
"Just like most Yodhinala. Rub them a bit and they're on their backs with their legs spread," Alptraum jokes. He also sneaks a bit of that oil onto his fingers, then reaches around Scar and he starts working his hands into her clothing, both near her chest and, well, near her nethers.
Scar gasps. She was clearly already worked up from the aura, but this definitely confirms it. "It's important to wiggle it around a lot for the females," she nearly purrs. "They really like that.."
Alptraum's oil-covered fingers slide right into Scar and wiggle all about, making her oily down there! Why? To see what happens, of course. And worst case, she'll just smell like a grok-hussy for a few days. "Do they? I think most like lots of movement," he whispers in her ear.
"Mmmm," Scar says, and starts pulling off her robes. "Well.. they like to be on top sometimes. Keeps the males from biting their necks.." she claims. Or hints.
Alptraum takes it as a hint and bites down on her neck. Then he moves one of his hands down as he undoes his clothing ... and oils up his bit too. He'll be groking out anyway later, so may as well smell like one...
Scar takes off her mask (which is just for show now anyway), and pushes back against Alptraum. There's a single stool, and the bed by way of other furniture.
Alptraum pulls Scar over to the bed while growling. Why? He's being silly mainly, and there he pushes her over it, jaws still holding onto her neck. And since he's behind her, he positions her just so ... then soon she's impaled by a less nightmarish bit of anatomy, though just as oily as the one she was demonstrating with.
The oil creates an odd tingly sensation when it reacts to Scars own juices. Maybe this is to help keep the female Groks happy? It makes Scar squeak happily at least.
Alptraum isn't minding it, either! Soon he's really going at her while, well, drinking from her! This is the most blook he'd had in one day for a long time! He also, well, tries something! He uses the shadow to, well, give him a little more texture down below; imitating the grok 'toy' only in a way that wouldn't hurt like hell. In other words, not as sharp and jagged.
"I miss you mounting me when I am female, Gronegk," Alptraum thinks, "Especially after you've hunted me down. Rrrr." He blames what they're doing right now as the cause for those thoughts!
On top of Alptraum's 'normal' enhancements, the shadow does make Scar squeal a bit louder and flutter her wings a bit. She might also be a bit light-headed from the blood loss. Gronegk doesn't reply, so maybe isn't watching - despite Scar's suggestion that Groks like to watch.
Alptraum is disappointed! But he's also busy, so doesn't dwell on that too long, instead he's using the shadow effects here and there to make it feel like he's more chitiny and such, just to give Scar an interesting experience! Sort of a half-grok rutting, so to speak.
There's a click from the doorway, barely noticed over Scar's squirming and squeaking.
Alptraum looks up at the 'click'?
In the open doorway squats Scythe. Her tail-blade is clicking when it taps the stone floor as she watches.
Alptraum's brow arches at their observer. Why is she watching he has to wonder? No matter, Alptraum focuses on Scar in his shadow-induced fake half-grok overlay state!
When Scar gets to the point where she's moaning, Scythe moves silently into the room (despite her chain) and twists her head to pick up the fake Grok phallus in her mouth. She then carries it over to the bed, sits down again and watches while holding it in her jaws. Click click click taps her tail.
"She seriously isn't intending on using that, is she?" Alptraum wonders for a moment, blinking. Then it's focus back on Scar and he's wiggling all about so that the new texture is really getting a workout within the Eeee!
Scar goes quiet, as if holding her breath for this part. Scythe nudges Alptraum in the shoulder with the tip of the breading tool.
Alptraum reaches over to, er, take the tool away from Scynth. "Does she want me to use this on her?" he wonders.
Scythe growls and does not let go.
Alptraum blinks, unsure of what the grok actually wants from him. He does let go of the tool, though, and keeps working away at Scar!
Is the Grok trying to supervise? Or rate Alptraum's performance? Or is the scent of the male oil the reason she's there? Scar doesn't seem to notice the alpha-Grok yet, and is panting pretty hard now.
Alptraum chirps at at Scythe and soft-growls as he keeps working on Scar; hip rolls, side to side wiggles, and even expanding and constricting the shadow within her to make it seem like things pulsate!
That breaks Scar's silence, and she yelps out as she hits her climax. This causes Scythe to focus back on the Yodh, at least, although her tail-tapping increases.
Alptraum keeps at it, and then bites down on the other side of Scar's neck! It's a good few more minutes before Alptraum is shuddering as he finds his own, well, peak! The shadow usage makes things a little less sensitive down there, after all! But, with a few last hard thrusts and he's being his own jar and pump with Scar.
This causes Scythe to move away.. only to come back and mount Alptraum from behind! She adds her own hip thrusts to his, making for a bit more of an impact! Luckily Scar's position gives her decent shock absorption, but she still doesn't know about Scythe's participation. "Ohhh! Yes!" she blurts.
This makes Alptraum squeak! Boy is he glad Scythe didn't try to use the toy on him! And wow, can that grok hit hard, it's making the bed creak! "What is she doing!?!?!" the bat wonders.
Scar would probably have some insight, but is showing signs of sleepiness - all of that blood-pumping activity along with blood-drinking may have left her a bit dazed. "Yarba.." she mutters.
Alptraum licks over the wounds on Scar's neck, then under a kiss, uses the shadow to close them. He's also still squeaking any time the grok pounds him.
Scythe drops back to the ground after she achieves whatever it was she was trying to achieve. But she still nudges Alptraum with the phallus. Is she hinting that he's supposed to use that on Scar?
Alptraum slides off scar now that he can and eyes Scythe. He tries to take that tool away from the grok again to see if she will let him have it.
This time the beast releases it, but then dips down to lick him again. Probably because of the oil scent.
And worse, he's still using the shadow to make it look, well, grok-like! So, while trying to avoid the distraction of licking ... Alptraum actually does try to ease that tool into Scar, nightmare and all!
That wakes the Yodh right back up, causing her to arch her back and make a keening sound. This appears to satisfy Scythe though, who turns and slinks back out to the pens, the only sound the dragging of her chain on the ground.
Alptraum starts working Scar with that toy now and sits on the bed edge! He keeps a close ear out for anything that sounds like pain, though!
Scar is definitely still sensitive, and obviously the prop couldn't be worked in all the way, but a few inches are enough to make the woman squirm and squeal.. but not in any obvious discomfort.
Alptraum pauses only for a moment to get the jar, the pump, and fill the jar with both the oil she was using, and some warm water! He seems intent on giving her an odd experience, that's certain. As he's working and wiggling the toy, he hooks up the jar pump ... and well, starts pumping it while wiggling that tool all about.
This is probably the creation of a new way to clean out the female plumbing, and it seems to really surprise Scar - who still may think it's Alptraum in there. It also leaves something of a mess, however. Hopefully it isn't hard to get that oil. "Oh.. oh!" she stammers. "Are you.. ruptured?" she then asks with worry.
Alptraum stops and withdraws the toy. "No, I was just breeding you like a grok," Alptraum teases and dangles the tool in front of her nose. "You seemed to ... like it." He grins.
"And you now smell like you've been with a dozen male groks," Alptraum adds.
"Oh... if you want to breed with me, I'll need about ten days to prepare," Scar says, blushing a bit when she sees the tool.
Alptraum laughs and licks Scar's nose. "No need to. I need to get to Koldesh now; before she gets mad," he adds as the tool gets set down and he goes to dress ... after wiping as much as the oil off as he can beforehand.
There's a small puddle of the diluted oil next to the bed now.. and Scar's legs are wet with it as well. "Oh my," she notes. "I'll have to collect some more." She doesn't seem all that put out about it though. Then something clicks in her head. "Hey.. how did you get the tool from the table while you were still on top of me?"
"Scythe brought it over," Alptraum explains, "And tried to give me pointers."
"Really?" Scar asks, a bit skeptically. "She never showed that much interest in things before. But I suppose she was watching when I bred the other females."
"I guess I piqued her interest or something," Alptraum says, "Maybe she wants me to breed with her at some point." He shrugs, laughs, and finishes dressing quickly.
"Well, she's very picky," Scar says as she starts cleaning up. "No male has been good enough for her yet. She's the top of the food chain, pretty much. The High Priestess if very protective of her."
"Well, I guess it takes a demi-god?" Alptraum jokes. "Thank you for your time with the groks and allowing me tests in the aviary. I know what I needed to now." He bows slightly, and heads out of the room to go find Koldesh.
Scythe watches him as he passes her pen, but doesn't do anything else. Probably for the best that she doesn't start following him around with a Grok sex toy in her mouth. It isn't hard to find Koldesh, since she's back in her suite.
"How did the testing go?" she asks as soon as Alptraum arrives.
"Aura works on the Pteras and others. I, er, scared them. They should be back eventually, I hope," Alptraum admits and rubs his neck. "Scythe let me examine her, so I now have her print ... and I can make you into her sister."
This gets Koldesh to steeple her fingers together. "You were able to get Scythe? I am impressed, Barsunala. But then, she is an exceptional killer. I often call her Little Sunala during hunts."
"We seemed ... to get along," Alptraum says, but does not mention the bit about the toy. "It's all a matter of respect and treating her like an equal, really."
"Hmm, she doesn't usually treat others as equals," Koldesh notes. "So, just how much of my personality will be retained but the transformation? Will hers come through?"
"Some will, I am sure, but if you remain focused, you should retain most of yourself fine," Alptraum says. "Are you nervous? I can understand if you changed your mind; becoming something else is terrifying the first time. After a while, though, it is enjoyable."
"I'm very familiar with Scythe," Koldesh notes, "so my concerns are not high. I've always wondered what it would be like to be her when she hunts."
"The grok form I use ... is not nearly as impressive as she is," Alptraum admits. "Mine comes from a scarred up wild grok that I befriended some years ago."
"Wild ones tend to be smaller than Hunters," Koldesh says with a nod as she leans back in her chair. "But I will be able to protect you. Is there any special preparation to be done for this?"
"Well, be naked and calm," Alptraum says. He can protect himself, but he doesn't mention that so she doesn't take offense. "Also, I recommend sitting on the floor; groks aren't built for chairs."
"Oh, we won't be doing it here in the temple," Koldesh notes. "Should we bring some of the hunting pack with us, or is it best to just go by ourselves to the hunting grounds?"
"By ourselves. I'm not sure the pack would be accepting of two new groks immediately, especially one that will obviously be alpha, and well, me. Do you want to take Scythe, though? She might be okay if she saw you change," Alptraum says.
"Hmmm, I've already established myself with her, so she should be safe," Koldesh notes, and then grins. "So long as you know which of us to change back."
"Will she tolerate a wild grok?" Alptraum asks.
"She tolerated you, didn't she?" Koldesh asks. "Scythe is very smart. If she sees us change, she will still recognize us for who we are."
Alptraum nods. "All right, she should be fine, then," he agrees. "So, shall we go?"
After checking out Scythe, Koldesh takes them to the hunting grounds, which are the forested and somewhat mixed terrain along the back of Mt. Rephath. There Koldesh removes her wraps and sets them with the rest of her gear, while Scythe focuses on the forest.
"You should watch this, Scythe," Alptraum tells the grok as he moves to Koldesh and helps her sort her gear and then waits for her to sit. "I need you to relax and trust me completely. If you fight the change, it will be painful," he warns as he places his hand upon her shoulder. "You tell me when you are ready."
Koldesh sits and does a breathing exercise. Apparently Yodhrephath - or the High Priestess at least - learn how to meditate. Scythe does come over and sit nearby. "I am ready," Koldesh tells Alptraum.
"All right. Remember, don't fight," Alptraum reminds and then breathes in, then out himself. He flows the shadow out slowly and carefully, engulfing Koldesh in its dark embrace. Once there, it's bringing back the memory of Scythe, and slowly overlaying that form upon Koldesh. Realigning bone and muscle slowly, changing from biped to quadruped, then merging in her wings. Once the shape is settled, it's on to growing the chitinous armor, and changing her senses so that she will see the world as the complete grok she will be. The changing takes the better part of an hour, so that it isn't painful or too forced. When the shadow does draw back, there sits a red and black-colored grok, the same size and build as Scythe.
Scythe approaches and bumps noses with the new version of Koldesh. She certainly seems to recognize her, but it may be that the transformation doesn't remove all of the original scent of the subject. Koldesh begins pacing about, lashing her tail, and scenting the air before settling down to watch Alptraum.
The story of Alptraum's life is about to play out again; being the weaker male around some scary females. Now he has to strip down bare and set his clothing to the side. Then it's sitting down and closing his own eyes. The shadow comes easily and the darkness and floating feeling is welcome; one he is very used to. Then comes the shape of the grok, and overlaying on himself isn't as difficult as it was for Koldesh; but then his body has been conditioned to shape much more easily. So it is only fifteen minutes or so before the shadow draws back to reveal the smaller Groktraum, complete with the mark-scar and the white and black coloration.
The landscape appears in shades of gray, except for the scents of living things. Koldesh has a red tint to her, save for a purple smear near her nose that matches the purple scent-aura of Scythe. The big female comes up to Groktraum and bumps noses, marking him as well. A phantom version of Alptraum hovers over his clothes, as does a scent-memory of Koldesh over hers, and a fainter trace of Scar as well. The odd olfactory sense adds a dimension of time to everything, showing their journey to this spot. The forest also has paths of color through it.
Groktraum bumps back gently in reply, then dips his head, deferring to the much larger female. He then focuses on Koldesh, trying to see her emotional state through senses, and if she is ... comfortable in her new body. He also stretches a bit, getting used to being back on all fours.
The colors of their scent-auras are how Groks communicate, and Groktraum can tell that Koldesh is happy and excited-in-the-hungry-way. Scythe is broadcasting follow signals, and heads towards the forest.
Gorktraum nods after Scythe and lopes along after her, quite content to let her take the lead. He has no idea how to hunt as a grok, after all!
The tactics of Groks become clear as soon as they enter the cover of the woods. Line of sight isn't needed to keep track of where everyone in the hunting pack is, since scent comes from all directions. Things are brightest where one's nostrils are pointed, but there's still an awareness of where everything is around a hunter. Scythe is also able to suppress her scent, entering a stealth mode of sorts when she takes the lead. Koldesh and Groktraum, being less experienced, are given the ambush duties, while Scythe drives prey towards them. It's a tactic that doesn't require being able to run down the target, but uses planning and intelligence. Within minutes, Scythe drives a long-legged feathered lizard towards them, possibly a wild shik'ahn.
Ambushes are somewhat familiar to Alptraum; he used to hunt as a child. The key is to remain hidden until they are just upon you, then you have to strike hard and fast. Teeth to the neck, or that barbed tail into the chest to go for the heart! He also tries to allow grok instinct to guide him some too, and allow himself to be more of the animal and less Eeee mentally...
The tail tactic works best, since it doesn't expose him as much, but is also rather hard to handle with accuracy. The weakness of Grok senses is that there is a lag that sight or sound doesn't have. It requires anticipating how the prey is going to move. The first few passes see the prey getting away, since neither Koldesh nor Groktraum are good with accuracy yet. So Scythe rearranges them. Groktraum is now the flanker, there to drive the prey back towards Koldesh, effectively increasing her chances.
Alptruam marvels how, well, Scythe is acting somewhat motherly and teaching them. It's actually bringing more respect for the beast than he already had. It also triggers instincts to want to please her by hunting well, so tries to flank and direct prey now to Koldesh, relying some on old hunting tactics used as an Eeee to direct prey.
It's a role that he fills very well, since since his smaller, relative lithe body is able to change directions quicker than the stockier females. It's also a lot of fun, practically a game. And when Koldesh catches the shik'ahn driven towards her, she seems to light up with pride, which makes her prettier to his senses. Scythe takes the kill from her though, and carries it off away from the hunting ground with the 'follow' command again.
Alptraum glances to Koldesh, bobs his head, then turns and follows after Scythe again. This is a lot more fun that he was expecting. It is ... freeing in an unusual sort of way. He even starts to wonder of Scythe is a projection of Rephath herself, given how skilled and solemn she is.
Scythe brings them to a cluster of boulders, which she scent marks before she starts digging. There's an urge to join her in the digging.
Alptraum doesn't know what this digging is for. Bury prey? Build a den? For fun? The instinct is strong, though, and he follows it; allowing himself to embrace the mindset of a grok ... mentally be one for at least a little bit.
Once the hole is deep enough, Scythe drops the corpse into it and the three bury it. Aside from the scent mark, this hides the scent of death. Scythe also licks away any telltale blood drops from Koldesh, and then presents herself to Alptraum for the same cleaning.
And Alptraum dutifully licks away the blood on Scythe's domed face, and where ever else he can find it. That was almost pure instinct, serve the alpha. It's good that he's used to being a vampire and blood does not bother him at all.
There are four more successful hunts before Scythe digs up the previous kills for consumption. Of the five, Alptraum gets one while the females get two apiece. They don't seem to mind the feathers at all.
Alptraum is smaller, so this doesn't bother him in the slightest. Nor do the feathers! But then he has eaten off things when shifted before, so this is nothing that new to him and his digestive track in this form mostly works right. Of course if Vorgulremik is watching this, he'll probably point out how this is how it is for him hunting sentients, so why should he be persecuted, and so on. That would follow suit to what he usually tries, anyway.
After licking away the feathers from their maws, Scythe nudges at Koldesh until she gets up and approaches Alptraum. Scythe also rolls onto her back for a moment while looking at the male.
Alptraum feels, confused. Is Scythe suggesting something? Isn't that the position that Scar mentioned they use for, er, breeding? He doesn't even know how this body, well, works! Or how to even, well, get aroused? Maybe that's all scent driven too?
When Alptraum doesn't immediately roll over, Scythe growls.
Alptraum remembers what that means! Or maybe instinct does. He flops to his side and rolls over onto his back, exposing his underbelly to both the females.
Scythe comes over, and licks Alptraum's genital area to make him respond.
That might be universal, because after some licking, his own nightmare-fuel looking appendage begins to make an appearance! And wow, does that feel funky, as does the scents of the two females; his head is swimming a bit as thoughts become more muddled and a bit more animalistic.
Koldesh gets some licking as well to make her receptive, and then Scythe directs her down onto Alptraum. There isn't much he can do with the weight of the larger female on him.. it's up to her to be the prime mover. It also feels interesting in that both the tab and the slot are fairly armored. It shouldn't feel as sensitive as it does, but there are specific points of interaction that are very sensitive.
It's a unique experience, not quite like Gronegk was, but then he was also a she at that time! It's very, well, feral. Wild. And frankly, exciting. It makes him rumble softly as he tries to move some beneath Koldesh, but allows the stronger female to direct things and tries to do movements that seem to elicit enjoyment from her. Of course, it also strikes him that Scythe may want a turn after Koldesh, but he'll cross that bridge if it comes to that!
Scent is very important. Alptraum can feel how it affects his gonadal response. Koldesh isn't in heat, this is for pack-bonding - but Groks are intelligent enough to pursue activities purely for pleasure too. So there isn't exactly any issue on his part, which means he can experience several peak events before Koldesh is satisfied.
Alptraum lets the scents fill his receptors and direct his mind, movements, and body response. It's a unique, and quite enjoyable experience. His brain is telling him being subservient to an Alpha does have its perks. As things continue, and events peak, Grocktraum becomes more and more, groklike in his reactions and responses. Perhaps that was Scythe's goal; to pull the grok mind forward more and suppress the higher Eeee parts.
Koldesh doesn't disengage once she's done, but does seem to enjoy just nuzzling at Alptraum for some time. But she does climb off eventually, and the absence of the weight on him comes as a bit of a surprise to Alptraum. It felt perfectly normal, even though it would have eventually crushed him!
Groktraum rumbles and nuzzles right back, the closeness of the moment triggering a sort of instinctual bonding. The loss of the weight also comes as a shock, as is the desire to get it back. He remains on his back and looks up between his legs and towards Scythe. He tries to be inviting, and this comes with an odd, well, scent glands he didn't even know he had become active with that strong male musky oil-scent he smelled in the lab.
Scythe sniffs, and comes over for a coupling, but does seem to be in a different mood from Koldesh. This time it really is about dominance, and she is a bit rougher. She also turns her head to take Alptraum's throat in her jaws while she grinds on him.
Groktraum exposes his throat instinctually when he senses the head turn, and right before Scythe takes a firm hold. There's an odd rush from this as any moment Scythe could bite through his neck, and this triggers all sorts of instinct-emotions to submit completely to his female. He is more still this time and lets Scythe control everything; it's about what she wants from him and that he will give it to her. This also feels good, but in a different way.
Strangely, the climaxes are a lot more intense in this situation. As if submission is meant to trigger intense pleasure. Which would make sense if Groks are made to be domesticated animals - or bioweapons. A predisposition and desire to be subservient would make a lot of sense.
And these come with new scents too; somehow Alptraum knows the scent he radiates is accepting, and stating, Scythe as his alpha grok. The pleasure response must have triggered this somehow; a built-in language they are born with. The more he submits, the greater he feels. It's an odd situation, and almost like submitting to a Goddess, when they feel inclined to reward, anyway.
This is what satisfies Scythe - the complete submission. It might make one wonder if alphas could literally command subordinates to make suicide attacks. She rewards the devotion with a bite that actually scratches the armor around Alptraum's neck, a permanent mark that only matches her dentistry, and then she releases the male and starts heading back to wear the clothes were left.
Alptraum realizes he just became part of Scythe's pack. This makes his head swim and swirl, to the point he's wobbly as he gets up. A glance towards Koldesh and then a bob after Scythe and they're following her back to the clothes. It's good they'll be returning to normal soon. After that, any prolonged remaining in this form and he won't want to change back. This was an incredible learning experience, and a great teacher to respect these magnificent beasts for both their intelligence, and their skills.