Chapter Text
Everywhere she goes that doesn't have an Adventurer's Guildhall reacts the same. The people see her and either turn to run or draw their swords. Nighttime is always better. The guards are either too sleepy to care or more eager to accept the “gnoll toll" Adaeze has to pay so that the guards don't raise a fuss. So, as she rides her camel through the cold, starry, but moonless night and heads towards town, she's surprised by the commotion in front of her.
A band of four dark-robed creatures surrounds a woman, lying on the ground and naked. Adaeze grips the reins of her mount and pulls back her lips, snarling into the darkness.
The robed figures turn toward her, each of them hissing and brandishing their scimitars.
Adaeze leaps from her camel, pulling out her sap and throwing off her traveler's cloak. She reveals her armored, massive form before them. Her spotted fur bristles, and her eyes glow in the dim starlight. “Alright, you vagabonds, you want to mess with someone? Why don't you pick on someone who can actually fight back!?
Two of the rogues rush forward, and she steps out of the way of one, smacking it in the back of the head. The creature's garments collapse as its sandy body dissipates into the desert. Her tail flicks out from behind her, her tail blade cutting along the abdomen of the second rogue. Sand spills out from its gut. It fights desperately to stuff it back in but manages a glance up before dissolving into a puddle of dust like its companion.
The third and fourth look at each other and then bolt back into the darkness, leaving the woman lying on the ground all alone in the night with her bestial rescue.
Adaeze slips her tail over her cloak and picks it up, approaching the woman, but slowly, with her hands up. “Easy there, miss. I'm not gonna hurt ya."
The woman stares up at the gnoll. If she weren't so frightened, she'd be gorgeous with her long, straight black hair and deep brown eyes. The gnoll flicks her tail and lets the cloak fall over the woman's body. “Here, take that. You're not hurt, are you?"
“Those… those men…" the woman says, shuffling the robe over herself, pulling the hood over her face. “They attacked me, and I could do nothing."
Adaeze laughs. “Men? Hardly. Those are sanders, nasty monsters that take on human form. I don't see any of your stuff here. Only tattered and torn nonsense from their disguises. Did they take you out here like this or what?"
“No, nothing like that," the woman responds, rubbing at her neck. “Just… I can rest for a few hours, and then I can head out once my power recharges."
“Ah, so you're a caster? Yeah, that makes sense." Adaeze says. “Want to head into town, then? I can take you there. Shouldn't be more than an hour or so from here."
“No, that's fine… we can camp here. I'll leave on my own in the morning."
“Right… okay. Well, I wasn't planning on sleeping until morning, anyway. Hold on a moment, and I'll get something going for ya."
With an experienced adventurer's practiced skill, Adaeze sets up a small camp, complete with a cozy tent and a gentle fire. “You can sleep in the tent tonight. I don't plan on doing none with sanders about."
“No… that's fine," the woman says, staring into the flame, sitting upon her knees.
“Right, of course." Adaeze plops down across from her by the fire. “Well, then, we might as well find some way to spend the time."
The woman grabs the robe.
“Whoa, now, don't get any wild ideas. Not that you aren't a sight for someone so long on the road. Ah, geez, sorry. Listen, let's start again. I'm Adaeze, and you?"
The woman responds. “I am just a frail thing you shall see this night. I am only a dream and a pleasant memory."
“A fan of riddles, eh? Listen, Riddles, I get it. I'm a monster, but I'm acting like I'm your friend. I get it's weird, and I have this conversation nearly every day. I'm not bad, just a mercenary. The only way we're going to go to blows is if you're a monster, and, well, the only kind of monster you could be is one of the fair folk… or maybe some type of lost maiden undead, or… Hm… actually, there are a lot of things you could be, but what's the point of speculating, right? Tonight, we're just two travelers on the road sharing a fire. I'm not a gnoll, and you're not some enigma. You're Riddles."
Riddles raises her head, her lips quivering.
“Hey, now, if I struck a nerve on your fairy style, I didn't mean to offend."
“I'm not a fairy," Riddles says.
“Heh, of course not," Adaeze responds.
Riddles stands up. “But, I recognize a compliment."
“Eh, no problem, lady, just—whoa."
The woman drops the cloak to the ground, her body glowing in the firelight. “This form… it pleases you?"
“I'd be lyin' if I said 'no', and I ain't no lion. I'm a gnoll." Adaeze slaps her knee, her cackle rising high into the sky.
The woman smirks at that and approaches her. She slips down into the gnoll's lap, delicate hands moving over her muzzle, soft and long fingers running through her fur and up and over her ears and down her mane.
Adaeze shudders, closing her eyes. “You know how to treat a lady right," she sighs. “But…" she grabs the woman's wrist. “There's something I gotta tell you about me. Gnolls, lady gnolls, we ain't exactly ladylike."
“So I've heard."
Adaeze sighs. “Of course. Why wouldn't that be the first thing you've heard about gnolls?"
The woman's hands move down, and she brings her hand to her chest. “The first thing I've heard about gnolls," the woman begins, “is that they are strong warriors who master the land and command great respect among the dunes."
Adaeze shakes her head, her eyes lost in the woman's. “Well, you sound like a fan."
“I happen to like beasts of all kinds."
“Yeah, well… kinky is as kinky does, I guess."
“You hate yourself unfairly, Adaeze," Riddles says. “Just enjoy my company."
“Can do!" With that, she lays the woman down on the discarded robe and climbs up to her. Adaeze brings mouth to mouth and loses herself in the entwinement of their bodies.