"You two are going to continue on with them?" Kal asked while they walked beside Soonu and Chaldi's wagon. In the distance, they could see the village where they planned on parting ways.
As far as size, it didn't look much bigger than Telsin. A few wooden structures stood above the rest in the village center, but where the buildings in his hometown were all made from wood, this little hamlet mostly had clay huts topped with straw thatch. The architecture reminded him a little of Fazal but with softer edges. The clay used for the walls appeared to turn bright white as it weathered under the scorching heat of the savannah's dry season. At least that's what Kal guessed from the partially constructed homes dotting the settlement's outskirts.
A fair-sized lake spread out just beyond the village and was the main reason for the town's existence. For the past day, the ground had been sloping steadily downward, and in the distance they could make out a similar gradual rise on the other side. The area acted like a gigantic collection basin. Kal didn't realize until he saw it, but this was the first real body of water he had seen since he crossed the mountains
Coovie and Rhim both nodded.
"Melir appreciates our sharp ears and eyes," said Rhim.
"And Soonu and Chaldi appreciate our other gifts," said Coovie. She wiggled her butt as her face took on a dopey expression, "and I certainly appreciate Soonu's gifts as well."
Last night Kal and Kashka slept alone for the first time since meeting the gazelle women. Their only interruption came from Rhim asking for some of Cyrene's lube. The merchant's guard wasn't quite ready to sink his cock into the gazelle's pussy. Lucky for him, Rhim enjoyed taking a man in her bottom almost as much as her sex. Although Prentas made monster girls so they barely required any extra lubricant back there, Rhim was sold on the merits of a little added slickness the first time Kal slipped inside her ass. Instead of the slime, Kal gave her the little jar of salve that he used before reaching Prentas's tower. The tiny pot now hung from a string tied to her shoulder strap next to the water bottles Chaldi made.
Neither gazelle was terribly impressed with the belts and instead opted to hang them across their torsos. After a few practice runs where they darted ahead of the wagon at full speed, they complained everything bounced around too much. Chaldi attached another belt, effectively turning the first into a shoulder strap, to hold everything in place. The girls seemed pleased with the result.
The leatherworker invited Coovie to share her and Soonu's bed last night, and today it looked like everything went well. Kal worried there might be some hard feelings or hidden jealousy, but that appeared not to be the case.
Because of his size, Soonu had never experienced a woman's bottom. According to Coovie, they were planning on changing that in the days to come. Chaldi had some bad experiences with men in her younger days, turning her off to taking a man in her bottom ever again. The leatherworker explained to the gazelle that this was something her husband wanted to experience for a very long time, but she just couldn't give him. She also mentioned that the couple of prostitutes they hired backed out once they saw him fully hard. On the other hand, the gazelle was looking forward to getting her rear stretched by the merchant. So much so that the gazelle said she slept with one of Chaldi's polished stone toys in her bottom once they were finished.
Kal had zero interest in seeing another guy's dick just for the sake of seeing it, but after listening to Chaldi, and now Coovie, talk about how big he was, the mage was finding it hard not to be just a little curious.
"Are you staying with them to the edge of the jungle then?" Kal asked.
Rhim looked up at Melir, "I thought you were going up and around?"
Melir nodded, "We are. The jungle is too dangerous to go through, even with a fully armed guard. Too many monster girls and too many bandits."
"Bandits, you said?"
Kashka looked up at the mage. Something in his voice sounded off.
Melir didn't notice as he continued scanning grasslands. "There are some ancient ruins off the main road through the Boordus Jungle. A group of bandits took it over a few years ago. After that, they made a pact with a tribe of ape-women to act as lookouts."
"I can hardly blame them there," said Rhim, grinning up at the man.
The mercenary blushed slightly, "There's a big difference between you and them. From what I've heard they are surprisingly strong, and their need for a man makes normal monster girls look like virginal prudes. When in their 'attractive' phase, they are truly insatiable. A single ape-woman can fuck three men into their graves, then look around for more. I've heard that the bandits have attacked and kidnapped groups of men to use as sacrifices to these women. However, that hasn't happened in a long time."
"How do you know about all this?" asked Kashka.
"Mostly rumors among the other mercenaries. The people of Lassedo," Melir pointed with his whip-stick at the town ahead, "should be able to tell you more."
"What are you two going to do while they are in town?" Kal asked the gazelles.
"Unless they object. We're bringing them with us," said Soonu.
Melir's head whipped around to stare at the merchant as Chaldi cried, "What!" from the back of the wagon.
"If they are going to help Melir protect the wagon, then I see no reason to run them off. It's the least we can do for their help."
Chaldi poked her head out the small door between the men, "Don't expect to be selling a lot while we're there."
"What are you talking about, wife? By the time we reach Lassedo, the faster merchants have already flooded the market. We hardly make any sales there as is."
"Fine," Chaldi grumbled, "but you could have warned me earlier." She pointed at Kashka. "The girls are going to at least have clothes like hers, or they won't let us in at all," she said before disappearing back into the wagon.
Rhim and Coovie looked at Kashka's simple top and shorts. "We have to wear clothing?" Rhim asked.
Kashka nodded. "It's usually required if you want to wander freely around a human town." The cat-girl leaned into the gazelle and whispered. "Plus, some men really enjoy watching you take them off."
"I'll attest to that," said Kal. "But sometimes we like to strip it off like we're unwrapping a gift." The mage held out his hands and wiggled his fingers as though about to grope an imaginary set of breasts.
Kashka nudged Rhim and smoothly pulled up one side of her top to expose a nipple. "Watch this," she whispered.
The gazelle looked on as Kal finished his lecherous pantomime and glanced around to see the other's reactions. The mage's eyes immediately locked onto the cat-girl's exposed breast and stayed there for a moment before giving Kashka a questioning look. Above them in the wagon, Rhim saw Melir was also staring at the feline-woman's charms. Kashka tugged her top back into place and grinned at the gazelle.
"But... they can see mine anytime they want," she said, looking down and cupping her breasts as if offering them for the men's inspection.
"Exactly, seeing you naked is just a normal thing. But for me?" Kashka slowly peeled up her top while looking at Kal. The mage hopped forward and spun around, walking backwards so he could get a better view. Rhim caught movement on the edge of her vision as Melir nudged Soonu. A moment later, the merchant was also staring at Kashka's breasts as she slowly pulled the material up, teased her nipples until they hardened, then covered herself again. Even after the men couldn't see Kashka's breasts anymore, they continued to stare at the bumps in the cloth left by the fabric.
"Coovie? Rhim? I need one of you so I can take some measurements!" Chaldi called.
Rhim glanced at Kashka's breasts, then up at Melir before yelling "Coming!" and darting to the wagon's rear where the leatherworker waited.
Coovie had also been watching the men's reactions. Looking at Kashka, the gazelle shrugged. "You convinced me," she said and stopped and let the back of the wagon come to her.
Kal again fell into step next to the cat-girl as the merchant and mercenary returned to their tasks. Kashka looked up at the mage, "When they mentioned bandits earlier, you acted strangely. Do you know something about these men?"
"Not a thing," said Kal, his tone cold. "But..." he turned to look at her, and Kashka saw a hatred in his eyes far beyond when they fought the sandworms, "if there is a thieve's den in that jungle, we're going hunting."
------
Lassedo turned out more lucrative than the merchant and his wife expected. The clothed gazelle-women with small bottles hanging from their belts attracted curious townsfolk, which Chaldi and Soonu quickly converted into sales. Most of the villagers accepted the monster girls were assisting Melir in detecting danger out on the road. Far fewer believed that the little bottles were to teach other monster girls how to attract a mate without resorting to kidnapping. That the gazelle-women gave no indication they were interested in any of the town menfolk did impress a few. Only two people didn't seem to understand the gazelle weren't enemies and had to be run off by Melir's whip-stick.
Most who managed to notice Kashka took a single look at her collar and promptly ignored her.
The more observant noted the daggers on her hips and kept out of her and Kal's way.
The people who noticed Kashka usually did so from Kal interacting with her. One man, however, addressed her directly.
"Those are some nice daggers, young... lady," said the shopkeeper. He appeared unsure what to call her. "Perhaps I could interest you in some better ones." A large awning graced the front of his shop, and he sat behind a couple of thin tables with selected wares displayed on top. A small, treadle-powered grinding wheel stood to one side of his outdoor area while another table nearby held an assortment of blades and handles waiting to be assembled. Most of the man's offerings were meant for a kitchen, not a fight, but the few daggers and short swords he displayed were well crafted.
Kashka glanced up at Kal, but he just smiled back and held out an arm, "Your call, Mistress, I merely hold the purse. Just remember to use your resources."
The cat-girl looked up at him, confused by the last phrase.
"Mistress?" the shopkeeper asked, looking between the mage and cat. He quickly shook his head, dismissing the question. "It doesn't matter. I have a pair of fine daggers you may be interested in."
"As you noted, I already have a pair. Thank you," she replied with a slight bow before turning to walk away.
