My body gently pulsed waves of heat and then cold as I rested on the rock with Zolreya. I was sure that I went in and out of sleep a few times-the injuries on my body alternating between sharp pain and then numbness. What I was sure of, however, was that as my breasts trickled and as I occasionally gave them a gentle squeeze, the pain had begun to subside. I was almost surprised that my plan had worked, that something I had done actually had an impact. For so long I'd felt like I had no agency in my own life ... this new feeling was like waking up from a terrible dream. And though I was still scared about the task ahead of me, I had the sense that maybe I could do it too.
"You are leaving, now,"
Zolreya said, no doubt noticing that my breathing had changed.
"We're leaving," I replied and sat up to look at her.
"You ... do not have to do that,"
Zolreya said and wrapped herself in her arms.
"I know that you were wounded and helpless when you told me that you would. And you've helped me already with my ... pain."
That was right, something odd had happened in the water—something beyond just sex. I wanted to ask her about it, but I knew I was barely managing to competently handle the stress of my plan to escape the mines. Anything else would have to wait until we were out.
I shook my head and replied, "You saved me ... and you didn't have to do that. You didn't have to help me heal, you didn't have to talk me through. You ... are important to me, even if I don't know you all that well yet."
"Trust me in that I'm not important,"
Zolreya said matter-of-factly and glanced in the general direction of the current. I couldn't imagine the pain of being forgotten in a mine like this for however long she had been down here. The feelings of shame in her grimace were painfully obvious—she blamed herself for being imprisoned. And as if the time lost and the self-chastisement were not enough, I wondered if nobody had come looking for her.
"Well, you are to me," I said and gritted my jaw. In truth, I didn't feel any courage. I just knew that leaving her wasn't an option to me. I braced myself and worked to to stand on my feet. While my body was a bit shaky and sore, it did manage to support me after a few moments. I retrieved my armor and clothing—my cowprint one-piece, my sandals, my pink skirt, and my armored bra—and donned them one at a time.
I then knelt and cradled Zolreya in my arms bridal-style. Fortunately, she was only a little heavier than Daava. And while I didn't have the advantage of carrying her on my back, I knew I could make this work, at least for a while.
Zolreya grimaced as I carried her; she seemed frightened. But her blue glow helped me find my footing as I followed a rocky trail back up into the higher portion of the mine.
Once we reached the top, to nothing but a narrow mining tunnel, I realized that we were not in the same cavern where I'd fallen. That made sense; the current had to have dragged me quite a ways. Instead of stalagmites, it was the skeletons of animals that were lined along the ground.
"I ... thought they had made it," Zolreya said, her tone fragile.
I trembled, and a wave of uncertainty hit me. It had been one thing when I had thought that even animals had outwitted the boners. But that they had died ... it made me feel afraid for both of us.
"It's alright if-" Zolreya began to whisper.
"No ... I can do this," I said, knowing that my certainty was 100% fake. I didn't know if I could do this. If anything, I had my doubts. But neither staying in the cave nor abandoning my new friend were options. Just like with the current, the only way out of this was through it.
I began to move through the tunnels. I could hear the sounds of movement from up ahead. Going into my own headspace, I tried once again to engage my magic. This was a challenge now that I was not in the throes of passion like before. But I focused as best I could and tried to remember back to my previous transformations—of being in the milking stall with Hyrranesus, of being grabbed by the tail by the minotaur version of Daava, and then being ridden as her mount on the way here. I tried to imagine what knew situations might arise in the future ... maybe of being in the barn again, surrounded by other students also being milked.
Gradually, I felt my tail begin to grow out again. My breasts swelled slightly. But these were not what I needed. What I needed were ...
"Lilly!"
The sound of my name echoed in the cavern. It was distant, but I thought I had an idea of where it was coming from. I picked up my pace and continued to march towards it. I could feel adrenaline beginning to pump, mercifully helping me avoid the growing tiredness in my arms.
"I'm here!" I shouted as loudly as I could.
"Lilly!" repeated the voice, this time sounding frantic. They had heard me!
Trying to follow the sound, I wound my way through several more tunnels. I began to see the glow of sunlight further down the way! For just an instant, I felt hope that I was going to be free!
Then, as if on cue, a quite tall boner stepped from around a corner—blocking me from where I could hear the others still calling my name.
I'm not exactly sure what happened in my brain at that moment. Waves of one-tracked desperation just began to hit. I
