The kobold crouched low just inside the tunnel entrance. Shading his eyes, he hissed as the bright light filtered through the undergrowth and stabbed into his eyes. The world beyond was so bright, the green and brown forest illuminated by a carmine glare that felt like a pair of daggers had been plunged into his skull.


"Goggles," the young kobold's companion hissed, a clawed hand stuck his horns in reprimand, "You'll ruin whatever vision you hope to have out there."


Returning that hiss with an added snarl at the strike, Nocuous fumbled with the leather, brass and crystal lenses that hung around his neck. The smoked glass cut the glare of the setting sun and brought the world into a sharper focus. Turning his head he watched his chief and trainer Vikris scuttle out of the tunnel and skirt the bushes on the outside. Vikris’ scaled body, normally bright red scales and maroon plates, was subdued in the smoky haze of the goggles but he could see his outline well enough. His lithe frame was barely four feet tall but he had a wiry strength that Nocuous aspired to attain one day; though he had little hope of attaining the skill at spellcraft and dagger-play his leader possessed.


The younger kobold checked his sword and crossbow were still safely stored. His claws grasping the handle of his sword and drawing it a few inches to test one last time its motion in the hilt before he moved forward to join Vikris as he motioned him out of the tunnel.


Crouching low, he scuttled forward, less smoothly and louder than he would have prefered, but it seemed unavoidable in the armour he had been given for this mission. It was tough black leather, and covered the purple scales and plates of his own body, extending down to his thighs and upper arms. It was new and stiff; and dug into his body uncomfortably. It was not entirely unwearable though, and had been well oiled by the quartermaster who had assured him with time it would break in and conform to him, but that would take time and probably weeks of wear to happen. Of course keeping it clean and in good condition was now up to him and a daunting task. Compared to hunting with the Chief however, he'd take looking after his armour any day of the week.


"It stinks out here," Nocuous muttered to Vikris as he crouched beside him, "What is that... stench, damp and pungent? I can taste it on my tongue... rotten and ugh..."


"That is the forest, most of the surface world stinks like this," Vikris hissed softly as his forked tongue tasted the air, "You'll get used to it in time, now follow me, be quick yet silent like Yaron showed you.” He then moved off through the deepening gloom, flitting from shadow to shadow like a ghost, his black tunic blending perfectly into the shade created by the forest's overlapping canopy of branches above and bushes on the ground. Even the red lining of the tunic’s hems seemed to vanish when the lizard went still.


Easier for you without all this armour, thought Nocuous before, and with a deep breath, he took after him. Scampering, claws skittering on stones from shadow to shadow, using deft twitches of his tail to change direction, never having to pause for long as he slid from shadow, to shade, to patch of darkness.
As their pace increased, the kobold’s trepidations for the outside world began to abate. Traveling like this was exhilarating, it was like he was pulling the shadows around his body and for nearly an hour they sliced through the forest together leaving almost no trail in their wake.


There were moments when it was less fun however, like the stagnant pool of water coated in scum they had skirted. The stench was unbearable and the floor of the forest wasn't solid rock like he was used to, it was soft and sticky and after wading into a low dell full of mud his legs were sticky with the vile organic gunk.


Eventually Vikris stopped and tilted his head to the side, listening, rocking his head this way and that. One claw snagged Nocuous’ muzzle as the purple kobold caught up and tried to speak, it held his mouth shut and rendering his speech as just a huff of breath from his nostrils as Vikris listened to the forest around them.


After a moment, a sudden flurry of wings beat a few meters above their heads, and Nocuous went for his crossbow but Vikris caught his hand as he released the purple snout. “Its nothing, just an owl on a hunt of its own.”


“A what?” replied Nocuous, his voice sounding tense.


"A night predator bird," Vikris explained as he released Nocuous’ wrist as well, "We need to get closer to the road."


"Why do we gotta hunt out here anyway!" the young bold hissed, "It's horrible and you can't feel or see very far."


Vikris' eyes glittered as he regarded his young charge and he reached out a clawed hand and pulled off Nocuous' goggles with a snap of strap pinging off his horns. With those off, the young kobold could now see that the sun had set and the forest was as dark as the tunnels they called home, darker even in some ways. Vikris it appeared had removed his own goggles quite a while ago. Nocuous mumbled a quiet and reluctant growl of appreciation.


The red kobold beckoned and started to climb the tree they had been hiding behind, his short body slinking upwards rapidly. Nocuous watched him go then followed him, he'd spent enough time during his training climbing up rock walls in the caves back home that he knew he’d be able to climb this tree. It was stickier in places thanks to tree sap but also easier as he could dig his claws into the bark and make his own handholds.


Sliding through the tangle of branches and leaves at the top the young purple kobold rested his feet on a branch and balanced next to his Chief. Vikris was silent for a moment then leant forward and gripped Nocuous' shoulder and asked, "Where do we live?"


"Ah..." that wasn't the question he'd been expecting, "The galleries and caverns under Drailen Mountain, near the Font of the Shadow Flame."


"Exactly, dark, quiet underground caverns, we've got plenty of minerals, lots of rocks and metals but barely any space for food. Who do we trade with?"


"The… dwarfs of Traygon Hall?"


"Yes though their prices for fresh food are punishing, who else?"


"Erm, oh! The Orcs from Grendelholme, the Beholder Yarogoth's people and uhm... the drow occasionally?"


Vikris nodded, "Yes all powerful clans and a long journey from our caverns, and all unlikely to give us a good price on food and drink. So we have to hunt in these woods, you see that?" He pointed to a glow on the horizon, "Do you know what that is?"


Nocuous peered over the dark canopy of trees then shook his head, "No... I've never been outside before, is the forest on fire?"


"Hardly, that is Casa Tof'Marole, the largest independent trading port on the Koomnit river. We could buy anything we want in its markets. Food from all across the seven states, or from the Dominion of Wolf or the Baroncle Empire or even as far afield as Raythrust, Kingdom of the Dragons."


"Why don't we?"


"Because those who rule call us monsters, barbarians, uncivilized savages who should be killed on sight," sighed Vikris as he shook his head, "Our people are not welcome in the city and the tunnels that run beneath it are closed to us. Even skulking in their underground river tunnels we could get access to more food than we could trade off the orca, dwarfs and beholder combined." 


Nocuous frowned then glanced at his leader, "I guess there is a good reason we don't use their tunnels."


"The Beholder Yarogoth has claimed the only tunnel from the mountain that links to the city and the "Sewer realm" belongs to the Rat King… even if we could make a deal with him we are locked out."


“So,” Nocuous began but stopped as Vikris pulled one of his daggers out of his belt and teased the blade against his claws.


“We are cut out of the world, outcast from those who claim we are evil. A leftover experiment from the days when dragons ruled all. Egg-born, but free…” he grinned at the younger kobold, “And we have made our place in the world.”


“So we come above ground and hunt here as best we can to feed ourselves?”


“Yup, now follow me down and help,” the red lizard dropped off his branch and fell, Nocuous gasped and hurried to scramble down to the ground as someone yelped from below. What he found was his Chief perched on the shoulders of someone dressed in the soft green felt and brown leather clothing that identified him as a ranger, and the thick fur all over his body as something neither human nor elf but just as tall.


Vikris had his heavy foot-claws pressed into the sentient’s back and he’d been forced down onto his knees by the initial kobold assault. Vikris also had rendered him incapable of resisting by pulling his head back by his hair and pressing the blade of his dagger firmly against his throat.


“Disarm him Nocu,” Vikris hissed as the tawny furred stranger rolled his eyes toward the purple lizard in fear, “I’ve not had the pleasure of a fully fledged ranger before, so be sure to strip him of everything, I don’t want any hidden weapons left behind.”


Nocuous took a moment to take in look over their shared prey. Its canine muzzle and short but thick furred tail had to make it some kind of wild dog. He relieved the wild-eyed tall creature of its sword, the heavy dagger at his belt and his claws sliced the bow-string to pull the large ash-made bow away. He then took his talons to the ranger’s clothing, sturdy boots, leather trousers all died under the sharpness of his nails. He found a dagger in his boots and another one on a piece of string hanging down his back as he shredded his padded coat and shirt.


"I think that's everything sir," Nocuous murmured, as now naked, the spotted flanks of the canine made his native species obvious. The purple kobold had seen such pelts decorating their caves’ floors and walls.


"You going to behave hyena?" hissed Vikris into the ranger’s ears.


"Yeef," their captive mumbled, all the fight had gone out of him. Nocu watched with interest as Vikris pulled his dagger away, seized the hyena's arms and bound them behind his back. He was then unceremoniously tipped onto his side where he lay trembling. The purple kobold cocked his head in mild disgust, "He doesn’t have much fight in him..."


"That's the thing with the surface dwellers, especially the warm blooded furry ones; take away their weapons and their clothes and most of them will surrender."


Nocuous crouched down next to their captive and stared at him, "But he has claws, teeth... he could still fight us! I'd never surrender just because I was naked."


"That is because you are a kobold of Clan Shadowflame," Vikris slapped Nocuous on the shoulder in approval then turned his attention to the rangers gear. Sifting through it all he nodded his head and smiled, "Not bad for a night hunting, we'll get nearly a thousand gold for tonight’s haul."


Nocu couldn't stop grinning as it all became clear now. They weren’t out here for game. The little lizard puffed up his chest proudly, "So this our usual prey?"


"Lone travellers are always worth more than a deer or boar, let's get ready to move out,” instructed Vikris as he began taking the hyena’s captured weapons and attaching their holsters to his ornate chieftain belt.


The hyena suddenly growled, squirming into a sitting position, "You kobolds are as dumb as you are dishonourable, my gear is worth very little." Nocuous instantly felt that insult cut deep and reached for his sword but Vikris had already moved.


Having dropped the bow, Vikris had strode over and gripped the hyena's muzzle and stared into his eyes. He shifted a foot and stepped quite firmly atop the hyena's tackle making him whine and squirm, "You mis-understand me hyena, your gear isn't what I'm selling," he twisted his foot making the hyena squeal again then threw him face down in the dirt, "I know quite a few people who'll bid well for a muscular young hyena slave like you."


Nocuous gasped but then clasped his clawed paws together excitedly. He knew just how much coin a slave could net the clan. A single good one could get some of the best food for all of them for a month. "You mean it, we're really going to sell this one?"


"Of course, he's ours now, he'll learn his place and I've got some useful spells to jack his price up. Now get him on his feet and let's get him back below ground,” Vikris hissed to his clan brother before locking his eyes one last time on their prey. “Your life as a pissing tree-hugging ranger is over."


Nocuous nodded and quickly dragged the whimpering, naked hyena to his feet and pulled him after Vikris as the red and purple 'bolds headed back toward the mountain and their caves.


-0-


The cell was dank, humid, uncomfortable. The walls and ceiling where slick with a layer of condensation, and Shy was not faring much better. The hyena’s fur was slippery, damp with hour after hour of heavy condensation settling into it. He was also still very naked, his tawny coloured body on display for all to see. It was a state of affairs that made him squirm and blush whenever he dared think about what his captives might do to him. 


Standing up, head bowed to avoid the ceiling Shy examined the bars again. They were made of solid iron and buried deep in the rock at top and bottom. Whatever enchantment had made them grow into place when he was thrown in here was beyond his ability to unravel. The grill on the opposite side of the cell was he figured his best way to get out of here. It was a simple bronze cover keeping him out of the narrow vent that disappeared deeper into the kobold's tunnels. It also let out great puffs of steam every five minutes, keeping the cell in that unpleasant humid condition.


It also didn't fit properly and Shy had been working at one end of it on and off for an hour. The steam kept forcing him back, it wasn't scalding just uncomfortably wet and moist, like heavy warm mist and he could only take so much of it.


Kneeling down, Shy took a deep breath and held it as he dug his hands under the lip of the grill and pulled. The grill shifted ever so slightly, grating quietly and then a wet cloud of vapour poured out of the grill. Turning his head away from it, Shy strained. He pulled hard on the grill as the muscles under his fur bunched and rippled and at last the whole thing shifted and lifted free. Ancient mortar subjected to years of heavy, moist air crumbled away giving the hyena all the leverage he needed to pull the grill aside. 


Moving back from the grill Shy took a few breaths then wasted no time in clambering feet first into the vent. It was a tight fit, the hyena had to wiggle and squirm his way down as opposed to climbing. But he was doing it, squirming here and there, lifting his and arms around nodules of rock, if he was lucky this vent would connect to a larger space and he could find some way out of the mountain. Then the first billowing wave of moist air rushed up the vent and squished its way around his body that was mostly blocking the vent. It slapped against his privates like a warm, wet maw momentarily engulfing them and he squealed quietly at the unwelcome attention.


Panting from the heat, scraping his legs against the rock Shy pressed on, twice more his groin was subjected to the unwelcome warm attention of the escaping mist. His traitorous body was responding to the mist's touch, his sheath was thick and plump, a few centimeters of 'yena cock poking free. Whining, squirming, and wiggling, Shy did his best to ignore his stupid body and wriggled past a rock and felt his feet dangle free. There was no more rock and so carefully lowering himself down by his arms, Shy strained his muscles to hold his weight and looked around. There wasn't much to see, the cave he was in was full of steam, reducing visibility to about half a yard. Looking down he could just about make out the floor about six feet below him, there was a grating beneath him, the source of the steam. As he dangled there, arms straining to hold himself in place. He heard the slow clunking of some hidden machinery before a great belch of hot steam rose from the grating. Most of it dispersed into what must have been some kind of suna but a good chunk was drawn up into the vent above him.


Letting go, he dropped onto the grill then hopped off it as it scalded his feet leaving him bouncing from foot to foot to try and cool then down again. Panting, tongue hanging out, the hyena scrubbed a hand through his shaggy, unkempt mane of hair and peered around as he tried to find a wall or a door. It was so much hotter in this room and as he moved away from the grill his feet slipped on the terracotta tiles coating the floor. Wavering for balance Shy slipped a few feet then froze as a short, muscular shape strolled out of the steam and looked up at him. It was the red kobold from before, totally naked and leering at his body, a huge grin plastered over his muzzle.


"Making a break for it are we hyena? Pretty ballsy to climb down that vent, it could have dropped you anywhere at all."


Shy didn't bother with a witty response, he lunged forward, planning to rush the kobold, knock him over and flee. Vikris just smiled and ducked under the hyena's clumsy attempt to grapple him and grabbed him by his muzzle. Shy kicked out and tried to pull free but despite being so short the little lizard was fucking strong and wrenched his head around to look into his eyes.


"Suggestion..." the word was heavy, laden with power. Shy rasped and tried to shrug off the arcane invasion but it poured into his brain, smothering it, choking his thoughts and he felt his limbs go limp, his resistance fading as his mind grew as foggy and clouded as the very sauna they were in. "Now you should obey everything I tell you to hyena," a clawed paw wrapped about Shy's sheath making him whine and squirm as the kobold fondled him, "Especially if it is to do with pleasure, little hyena toy. Kneel."


"Y... yes master," Shy whined, slowly kneeling down as commanded, part of his mind was begging him to resist but he ignored it. It felt so good to be played with, the kobold whispering in his ears, giving him wonderful instructions, a purpose; and every muttered kinky phrase made more of his cock slip from it's home.


Soon Shy was rendered incapable of speech, incapable of rational thought. A slick, pre-dripping purple shaft scythed through the mist and pressed against his muzzle. Without any hesitation he opened wide and engulfed it, raising his eyes as he whined submissively at the tri-horned purple kobold now standing before him, the other one from the forest.


He moved and shifted his body, lowering his head to keep that musky, tasty cock in his muzzle as the ‘bold knelt down on the tiles and started to play with his ears as Shy let his tongue show the master how much he loved his dick. Behind him the red scaled Master was stroking his clawed fingers down his back, teasing his wet fur, squeezing his muscles and making appreciative noises about his body. Shy trembled, eyes wide, muzzle full, panting and gulping the purple ‘bold’s pre as he trembled in anticipation of what the master was planning. 


He didn’t have long to wait, clawed fingers teased his tail, played with the thick ruff of hair that ran down the length of his spine and then slipped beneath to tease his rump. Hours of training, of walking and running in the forests had toned him nicely and then one of those clawed fingers reached his tail hole. He squealed as something cold and sticky was spread around his tight tail hole. His muzzle opened wide, releasing the purple kobold’s cock but a sharp tug on his ears got him back on track. This time he sucked hard on the bold’s dick, pulling it into his muzzle all the way until his nose was pressed into the moist slit from which it emerged. The master whined and squirmed then started to buck his hips and shy took this as a good sign. 


He had to stop though as the red kobold behind him gripped his hips, pulled his tail out of the way with his teeth and plunged something thick, long and achingly hard into his arse. It felt good, his whole body trembled in delight, it felt so right to be filled and as the red kobold’s groin pressed firmly against his rump Shy returned his attention to the Master’s dick in his mouth with eagerness. Sucking, slurping, bobbing his head up and down along the slick purple shaft he spread his knees, braced his arms and lifting his butt higher, making the master behind him groan.


After that Shy didn’t really register the passage of time. There was the steam clinging to his body, the cock in his maw, the slow, teasing, thrusting making him squirm and his own shaft pulse with need as the Master used his rear. All that mattered was making his masters happy, to give into the depraved, sensual pleasure of being a cock filled toy for the small scaled beasts.


He sucked cock, he clenched in time to the thrusting inside his rear and finally he was rewarded for his hard work when the purple kobold knelt before him started to lose control. Nocuous gripped his ears and started to thrust erratically, no longer content to let Shy set the pace as he fucked his muzzle, his long, slender shaft pressing into his throat to be wrung by the pulsating motions of his gullet. It was that little extra touch, the sudden squeeze of hot wet flesh around the tip of his shaft that sent the purple kobold over the edge.


Hissing with delight his body stiffened, his grip on Shy’s ears became almost painful as he fell over the edge and started to feed the hyena his cum! Shy didn’t object, he let it splash over his tongue, fill his mouth and then swallowed. It was hot, thick and coated the back of his throat but it tasted good. So Shy sucked harder, holding the master’s shaft buried in his maw, making him squirm and squeal a bit as the lil hyena worked over his cock until he had fed him every drop.


Nocuous fell back and Shy shuddered, licking his lips and enjoying the after taste. Not to mention the good sensation that came with a job well done. Then the kobold behind him, maybe not wanting him to become too relaxed and complacent, shifted his angle of attack and Shy yelped the chief kobold resumed his thrusting. He’d stopped whilst his underling had been giving him that protein rich drink and now he resumed in earnest. Vikris now pulled Shy back into a kneeling position, one arm around his chest, the other paw clamped around his muzzle, holding it shut stifling his breath. 


Shy whined at being so powerless but it was hard to focus, in this position the muscular kobold had better access to his rump and was really going at it. His hips jerked back and forth, ploughing his shaft thick shaft deep into Shy’s rump only to pull back out with an ear-filling slurp before plunging in again! Whining through the paw holding his muzzle shut, Shy leant backwards with the kobold’s insistence. His cock was standing tall and proud, leaking pre and his arse was being filled to depths he’d never experienced before.


Then the master shifted his hand, claws pinched Shy’s nostrils closed and hyena’s whole body twitched, his fuzzy balls unleashed their load and with a muffled whine he fired his shot into the thick, steamy air! In the act of orgasm, he clenched down around the Master’s cock as the kobold held himself buried inside the wild dog and shuddered as the hyena’s climax treated his cock to a pleasurable squeezing massage that tipped himself over the edge.


Shy gasped as he shot his load into the air and the sensation of his rump being filled made him squirm all over. The surge of warmth pushing deep into his body left him whining and jerking, prolonging his own orgasm as he rode a wave of pleasure at being filled so.


Then it was over, he was tipped forwards onto all fours, the warm feeling of being so full taken away as the master pulled free of his rear. Twisting his head, he looked up at the red kobold as he stepped up beside him, one clawed foot teasing the sticky fur on his stomach, “Are you a good boy hyena?”


Shy nodded, the voice at the back of his head that had objected to this had gone, the protests were silent and he felt so good. He needed, no, he wanted more. The kobold grinned, showing off all his teeth for a moment before turning to his scaled companion, “Take this.. toy to my workshop, I have more… enchantments in mind for him before we sell him.”


Shy stumbled to his feet as the purple kobold dragged him up and followed obediently, tail low, ears back, submissive, obedient, ready to do as he was told if it meant he could experience more pleasure like that.


~fin