Ch168: Adeline’s Ailment
“Ah ‘ad thought tha’ yer grasp on this Human tongue was rather good...” Beryl begins, looking utterly unamused. “But now Ah’m reconsiderin’ tha’.” The tomboyish Elf takes a deep breath and slowly exhales, all but glaring down at the Dwarf. “She is feelin’ hot, aye. Tha’ is what ‘avin’ a fever means.”
“I am aware.” Inanna calmly replies.
Beryl’s brow knits together, her slightly exasperated expression quickly cracking as concern returns to the forefront of her mind. “So...” Her long and pointed ears begin to twitch with worry. “So when ya say tha’ she is in heat ya mean... like an animal? During matin’ season...?”
The grey-skinned shortstack simply nods. “Yes.”
A heavy silence hangs overhead, though it doesn’t last long.
“Oho~,” Thea brings a hand up to her mouth, failing to hide her haughty grin. “Really~?” A sadistic gleam fills her soft-blue eyes as she so smugly stares up at that Wood Elf. “ You thought that the little rabbit was sick, but she is just unbelievably aroused~? That~...! Ohoho~! That is~...! Ha~! How rich~! She is just a horny little harlot~! HahahaHAHA~!”
Beryl bristles like a thorny rosebush. But her genuine, growing anger only seems to amuse that brat, the arrogant noble girl doubling over in laughter and having to lean quite heavily against their barbaric lover’s body for support. “Ach! Girl! This is serious!”
“Indeed.” Inanna agrees. “More than you may think as well.”
Beryl freezes, her hands halfway towards Thea’s undefended neck. Slowly, she turns back towards the Dwarf. “Wha’ do ya mean...?” Those worried words come out as hardly more than a whisper.
“First,” the grey-skinned shortstack raises a single finger, looking less like she is about to list something off and more like she is trying to tell that Elf to calm down. “I should clarify that my knowledge of this subject is far from comprehensive. I am no expert on the topic at hand. I simply remember learning about it from a few different sources. Primarily anatomy books. But, if I do recall, there were also a few footnotes in texts regarding foreign cultures.”
For a moment, it looks like the tanned tomboy is going to throttle Inanna instead of the still laughing brat, who very much deserves such a treatment. In her opinion, at least. “Yes, yes,” she impatiently gestures towards the Dwarf, “get on wit’ it!”
Despite being told to hurry, Inanna still takes a second to get her thoughts in order. “As far as I am aware... Halfling woman have normal menstrual cycles, almost identical to those of Human women, but will fall into an intense sexual heat when certain conditions are met. Those conditions can be effectively summarized as the Halfling woman in question living in an area with few other Halflings. The heat is intended to force the population to grow by heavily encouraging them to bree–”
“And why didn’t ya mention this before!?” Beryl’s patience finally snaps, frustration oozing from her voice as she incredulously shouts at the shortstack.
A not insignificant amount of remorse enters Inanna’s otherwise neutral expression, accompanied by a bit of embarrassment. “Apologies, I... I had assumed that this was a known fact regarding Halflings. An explanation as to why and how they had spread so swiftly throughout Human lands. That Thea has ridiculed their rather fast population growth, likening them to a plague on multiple occasions, simply reinforced that incorrect assumption. In hindsight, I definitely should have told Krvavy, at the very least. It just... never came up in conversation. I’m sorry.”
Beryl slowly massages her temples, the tips of her fingers tracing small circles. “Ach. Don’t be. Sorry, Ah mean. Ah... Ah should ‘ave paid closer attention ta ‘er. We could’a caught this earlier if Ah ‘ad...” A long and deep sigh passes through the Wood Elf’s parted lips. Her blue-green gaze lifts up from the floor, meeting Inanna’s copper-orange eyes. “Is... is there anythin’ we can do ta ‘elp ‘er...? Or do we just need ta give ‘er some space...?”
The Dwarf shakes her head, that subtle motion sending the voluminous mass of her coal-black hair swaying side to side. “Unfortunately... there is no waiting this out.”
The tanned tomboy furrows her brow.
“To the best of my knowledge... This heat that Adeline is suffering from is caused by an absence of other Halflings,” Inanna explains, her tone solemn and serious. “Thus, as long as that condition continues to be met, Adeline’s body will continue to reinforce her heat, extending it in perpetuity.”
Krvavy rather roughly bites the inside of her cheek, guilt swirling through her mind. She is the one who abducted Adeline. It is her fault that the poor girl is suffering through this... “Does that mean...” She hesitantly speaks up, glancing towards the trembling bundle of bedsheets resting by the fireplace. “Do we need to return her to her family...?
“Mm.” Inanna’s utterly neutral hum fails to answer that question. It isn’t clear if she is saying yes or no, or if she is simply thinking. The tense silence stretches on for a few excruciatingly long seconds before she properly responds. “That is one potential solution. But not an immediate one. Barring the travel time, and the fact that Adeline is unlikely to be in a state to give you directions back to her home... The process of letting her heat fade once its trigger has been removed could take anywhere between a week and an entire month. And I imagine that such a situation would also exacerbate her heat in the short term. Her body would recognize that what it desires most is rather close by. Thus, she would need to spend that entire time restrained, for her own safety.”
“Ach, tha’...” Beryl’s voice trails off, the air around them having long since grown thick and heavy.
Even Thea has gone quiet, her mocking laughter fading away beneath that somber weight. The brat may be a bit of a bitch at times, a bit racist and a bit hostile towards that Halfling, but she isn’t cruel enough to find joy in Adeline’s suffering.
Beryl shakes her head, her expression hardening. “We can’t subject ‘er ta tha’. Adeline... She wouldn’t be able ta live wit’ ‘erself if she acted so... unrestrained... around ‘er family. The shame o’ tha’ alone...”
“You said that was just one potential solution?” Krvavy lets herself feel a little bit of hope, her emerald eyes expectantly looking towards the grey-skinned Dwarf.
“Yes.” Inanna nods her head. “Another way to end Adeline’s heat, the most definitive way, would be to give her body what it wants. Which is to be impregnated and bred.” The slightly emotionally stunted shortstack so bluntly states. “Though there are flaws with that... method of treatment. For one, it may take some time for Adeline’s body to recognize that she is pregnant, thus this too is not an immediate solution. Additionally, it would take many pregnancies and births, likely around a dozen by my estimate, before the root cause is addressed and her heat no longer returns. Of course, that is assuming any potential half-breed children fathered by Krvavy would even count as Halflings for the purpose of her heat cycle.”
“You... really did not need to go into so much detail...” Thea grimly grumbles, her face scrunched into a scowl that looks stern rather than pouty, for once. “Because...” The girl straightens up, purposefully keeping the black-scaled arm slung over her shoulders exactly where it is. “Because that option is completely off the table! There absolutely is no way that Krvavy is going to breed that ra– that rabbit! Adeline is not even one of us...! She is not even in... ugh... Krvavy’s harem. I will not tolerate her getting that hono–!” The bratty girl abruptly cuts herself off, her cheeks burning a bit brighter as her expression grows notably more angry. “That is simply not happening!”
“Ach, Ah can’t believe tha’ Ah’m agreein’ wit’ Thea...” Beryl quietly sighs. “Even in the situation where our dearest love was ready ta ‘ave children... which we all know she isn’t... this is still not a fair decision ta make on Adeline’s behalf. Especially since it may not solve ‘er... current issue.”
“Yeah, that...” The Drakling trails off, unable to properly put her thoughts and feelings into words. Part of her is rather eager to jump on that solution, not just to help Adeline but also because it sounds incredibly hot. But that horny urge is minuscule compared to the utter dread clinging to her mind and heart. She is fucked up. There is no way that she would be a good... parent. And the thought of having kids right now is just... terrifying.
“Mm. That solution also has a physical limitation: I severely doubt that Adeline would be capable of taking Krvavy’s.rather large penis.” Inanna idly comments, glancing across the room towards the Halfling’s blanket covered body. Her thick, black-haired brow furrows ever deeper. “Of course, ejaculating with just the tip pressed past her labia would likely be all that is required...”
“That does not matter because it is not happening!” Thea furiously hisses, quite possessively claiming one of the Drakling’s hands with both of her own. “Are those our only options, or should we just start packing her bags already?!”
“There are two more potential solutions, though I will admit that they are... more theoretical than the previous ones.” Inanna pauses, slowly turning her intense copper-orange eyes towards the bristling brat. “The first would be for you, Thea, to use your Eromancy to excise the heat out of Adeline. You have quite the talent when it comes to inducing lust, and though you are lacking in practical experience in regards to removing lust... That is, logically, something which you very well should be capable of doing.”
“Would tha’ be safe?” Beryl cautiously asks, her foot restlessly tapping against the cold stone floor.
“Perhaps.” The Dwarf’s uncertain response really doesn’t inspire confidence. “Ideally, yes it would be entirely safe. But, for Adeline’s safety to be assured, I would advise against rushing towards this solution. It would be best if Thea had time to practice and increase her level of skill to prevent any... unwanted consequences. Which, hypothetically speaking, could be quite severe. It would be less than ideal if a failed attempt resulted in the complete removal of her ability to feel physical pleasure. Though, realistically speaking, I believe that a cautious and restrained attempt would not have such drastic consequences. It would likely just exacerbate the issue further rather than solve it. Not helpful, but not catastrophic either.”
“Ach... Why do we ‘ave no good options...?” The tanned Elf tiredly laments, weakly shaking her head.
Thea slowly sighs, that frustrated breath hissing through her teeth. “I... I might be able to do that in the future...” The poison that is self-doubt fills those words, making it much easier for this noble girl to swallow her pride. “But I very much doubt that I... that I would be capable of doing that for her right now. I would likely just fill the rabbit with even more lust...”
“Mm.” Inanna’s hum sounds rather understanding. “The only other potential solution that I can think of is... It is rather crude, to be honest.”
Krvavy’s right hand has long since stopped its mindless petting of her precious puppy, simply sitting still atop that Were-Beast’s black-brown hair. Her left hand gently squeezes her bratty fiancee’s delicate fingers. “What is it?” She hesitantly asks, afraid that this final choice will be just as out of reach as the others.
The grey-skinned shortstack takes a deep breath. “I believe that we may be able to forcibly... for a lack of better words... kill Adeline’s heat by completely and utterly overwhelming her with pleasure.”
“What.” Thea blankly blinks, that single spoken word quite icy and harsh.
“Inanna...” Beryl stifles a groan, touching her temples once more. “Why didn’t ya start wit’ tha’!?”
“Because that potential ‘solution’ is not as simple as it may seem.” The Dwarf’s slightly guarded tone grows just a bit more defensive. “It would take hours upon hours, potentially more than an entire day, to burn out Adeline’s heat. She would need to be so thoroughly exhausted that her body no longer has the energy to maintain even a low level of arousal, lest that kindling reignite into the inferno she is currently inflicted with. Which could very well pose a danger to her physical well being. On top of that, we must also consider the effects this may have on her mind. Adeline is timid and emotionally fragile. We do not want to risk breaking her by treating the poor girl as little more than a sex toy for... an indeterminate amount of time.”
The tomboyish Elf can only grimace. “Aye... tha’ is fair enough...”
“Additionally,” the grey-skinned shortstack continues on, “we must consider another consequence that this method of treatment would bring: it will change how Adeline fits into our relationship. Her heat will inevitably return. In a few months time, perhaps, or even sooner. So, if this method proves successful, she would need to regularly have intense sexual relations with Krvavy to keep said heat at bay. Thus... I propose that we finally make her an official member of our Krvavy’s harem.”
“Wait!” Krvavy quickly speaks up, her heartbeat wildly drumming away within her ears. With nervous dread or anticipated excitement, she cannot tell. “Do I really need to have sex with Adeline? Couldn’t Thea just... zap her a bunch?”
“Yeah!” The bratty blonde perks up, even as her lips twist into a faint frown. She clearly isn’t happy about the idea of being the one responsible for tending to Adeline’s heat for... however long they may keep her. But if that is what it takes to keep the little rabbit out of their harem... “It would be easy! We can solve this whole problem in less than an hour!”
But the Dwarf is quick to dismiss and even discourage that course of action. “No,” Inanna very firmly states, her copper-orange eyes intensely staring into Thea’s soft-blue pair. “Introducing Eromancy into the equation in such an unrefined and crude way, with the intent of adding to Adeline’s lust rather than subtracting from it, will only complicate the situation. And attempting to rush through the process of satisfying her heat simply introduces an unnecessary risk. Not only would it increase the chance of causing psychological damage, but it could also cause physical damage as well. To be as direct and as blunt as possible... ‘zapping’ Adeline with pure and unfiltered lust is more likely to kill her via inducing a heart attack than it is to actually do any good.”
“Ugh...” Thea visibly deflates, her shoulders slumping as she leans further into the barbarian’s embrace, a bitter scowl tugging at the corners of her kissable lips. “Could the Elf hag deal with this instead? She already dotes on that little rabbit enough...”
“Ah... wouldn’t be against it.” Beryl gently bites her bottom lip, looking quite nervous as she stares across the room, towards the fireplace and the occupied bundle of bedding resting beside it. “And if she needed ta be penetrated, then... then Ah could just ‘ave some vines satisfy ‘er desires. Tha’ is definitely somethin’ tha’ Ah’d be capable o’ guidin’ along fer as long as Adeline needs.”
“Unfortunately, I do not believe that to be an option. Not an effective one, at least” Inanna reluctantly states, a sigh underlining her rather clinical tone. “Adeline is suffering from an intense biological urge. Thus this potential solution would have the best chance of success if we were to trick her body into thinking that pregnancy is on the table, so to speak. Which means that Krvavy, being the only ‘male’ amongst us, must be involved. This ‘natural’ problem needs a ‘natural’ solution.”
“Would that little rabbit’s instincts, or whatever, even recognize this lout of a lizard as... ugh... as a potential mate?” Thea skeptically asks, unable to keep her scowl from shifting into an unhappy sneer.
“Yes. Of that there is no doubt in my mind.” Confidence, certainty, and determination fill the Dwarf’s voice. “I have observed Adeline acting notably more on edge around Krvavy in the past few days. She, whether consciously or not, has been showing clear signs of sexual attraction towards our Drakling here. Signs that are far, far more pronounced when Krvavy’s penis is exposed in front of her.”
The corner of Beryl’s left eye twitches. “If ya’d noticed all o’ tha’...” Each tersely spoken word that passes through her lips is just a little harsher than the last. “Then why didn’t ya point any o’ it out before now?!”
Inanna is a bit hesitant to respond. Her fingers slowly tap away atop her thick thigh. “Because, as I said before, I... I had erroneously assumed that the reason behind Adeline’s recent behaviour was... known to you all.” Each slowly spoken word is carefully considered, this not exactly socially skilled shortstack aiming to make herself understood without causing offence. “With that in mind... What point is there in mentioning that our little Halfling clearly desires Krvavy when such a statement should be obvious? That would serve only to embarrass the girl, if she were listening. And with those large ears of hers...”
The Wood Elf simply sighs and rests her face in her hands.
“So it really has to be me...?” Krvavy slowly speaks up, nervously nibbling on the inside of her cheek. It kind of feels like this decision has already been made, and is being thrust onto her whether she likes it or not.
“You sound rather hesitant.” Inanna comments, raising a thick eyebrow as she meets the Drakling’s gaze.
“I am.” A weak sigh accompanies that confession. “This isn’t something that we can undo or brush aside. I can’t unfuck Adeline. Even though I wouldn’t actually be fucking her... But... you get what I mean.”
“Mate take little meat!?”
“AAAAHH!” Thea screams in genuine terror as the Were-Beast awakens, suddenly launching up from Krvavy’s lap. “Y-you stupid beast! Do not do that again! A-and get off of me!”
Khalia’s shaggy tail excitedly wags away behind her as she so tightly hugs both her barbaric Mate and that non-consenting brat, burying Thea’s face in her buff belly as her bare breasts just barely rest atop silver-blonde hair, squished into the Drakling’s shoulder. “Mate take little meat?!” A tiny trickle of drool drips past her four little tusks, wide tongue threatening to loll past her plump lips as she eagerly and enthusiastically pants.
The barbarian furrows her brow and looks at each of her girls.
“How much of our conversation did you hear?” Inanna curiously asks, speaking up before Krvavy can.
“Little meat in heat, need Mate to breed her!” Khalia joyfully replies, smothering the increasingly annoyed brat beneath her. “Mate! Take little meat!”
“Mm. That is the gist of it, I suppose.”
“So, my dearest love, will ya ‘take little meat’~?” Beryl puts on a smile and tries to act playful, but her heart clearly isn’t in it right now. “Ah’d say tha’, regardless o’ wha’ever decision we make regardin’ ‘er bein’ a part o’ yer ‘arem, bein’ one o’ yer girls, this situation definitely calls fer an exception.”
“Shouldn’t... shouldn’t we ask Adeline first?” Krvavy weakly wonders, not expecting much from that suggestion. “Maybe it isn’t as severe as Inanna has made it seem?”
“I doubt that she will be particularly coherent.” Inanna replies in an almost callously clinical tone. “Though I suppose that it wouldn’t hurt to try to get her opinion. Just do not get your hopes up.”
“Ah’ll go wake ‘er.” The tanned tomboy quickly gets up and crosses the room, crouching down next to the Halfling’s prone body. “Shhh, sweetie, it’s okay...” She gently rubs Adeline’s shoulder through the blankets. “Oh. Ya’re already awake. Suppose we weren’t exactly bein’ quiet... Sorry about tha’...”
Adeline makes no audible response, simply shuddering and shaking from inside her bedroll.
A rather solemn expression fills Beryl’s face as she scoops the blanket covered Halfling up into her arms, carrying the tiny blonde over to the others.
“See?” Inanna plainly gestures to Adeline’s quivering form, as if saying I told you so to Krvavy.
“Hhaahhhhnghh...” The tiny blonde breathily moans as she sinks ever so slightly into the soft moss at the edge of their expansive bed. Her lips remain slightly parted and her big hazel eyes stare blankly into space. A glassy and dull expression fills her incredibly flushed face.
“Poor girl...” Beryl’s voice drips with sympathy as she runs a hand through Adeline’s sweat dampened hair. She slowly and carefully pulls the blankets away from the Halfling’s body, getting no real response beyond some gasped moans.
Adeline’s hands clutch tightly onto her tail, holding it in front of her chest as the tufted tip twitches and touches the top of her sleeping gown. Her thick thighs are mindlessly rubbing against each other as her wide hips roll forwards and back, hardly holding herself together as her body so desperately seeks pleasure.
“Sweetie...?” Beryl gently cups the tiny blonde’s cheek, rubbing her thumb over flushed skin. “Do ya want us ta ‘elp ya...?”
The Halfling shudders and gasps, her big hazel eyes blinking multiple times before hazily focusing on the Elf looming above her. “P-p-p-pl-pl-p-plea-easss...!” Desperation fills her weakly whispered voice, tears appearing in the corners of her eyes.
“We will, we will, don’t ya worry...” The Wood Elf’s softly spoken voice seems to ever so slightly soothe Adeline. “But we need ta know ‘ow ta best ‘elp ya, okay? Good... Now, do ya want us ta bring ya back ‘ome ta yer fami–”
“NoooOoOoooOOHh!” The tiny blonde loudly wails, her flushed face contorting with fear and dread and embarrassed shame.
“Shh, shh, it’s okay.” Beryl tenderly pats the horrified Halfling’s head, taking a few moments to provide what comfort she can. “And Ah take it tha’ ya aren’t ready ta be a mother either?”
Adeline’s breath hitches as she hears that question. The heat-addled girl goes completely still, not even trembling. A long second passes on by, a slight trickle of drool dripping past her parted lips. Slowly and with great difficulty... she shakes her head.
“Didn’t think so.” The Wood Elf kindly smiles down at the wide-eyed girl. “Would ya be willin’ ta let Thea ‘elp ya out? She might be able ta make ya feel better wit’ ‘er magic.”
Adeline’s hazy hazel eyes twitch towards Thea. The silver-blonde brat looks incredibly unhappy as Khalia continues to cling onto her from behind, that clingy Greenskin’s grip loosened just enough to let that girl turn around. The Halfling’s parted lips quiver for a few seconds before she hastily begins to shake her head, not having any trouble with that now.
“Alright...” Beryl gently grabs onto the sides of Adeline’s head, stopping the girl’s increasingly frantic shaking. “Wha’ about Krvavy? Would ya want ‘er ta –?”
“Mhhmnghh~!” A gurgling moan emerges from the Halfling’s mouth, her eyes going glassy at the mere mention of the Drakling.
“Mm. That is a good sign.” Inanna plainly states as she leans forwards, looming over the lust-addled Halfling and inadvertently pressing the bare skin of her massive breasts into the poor girl’s arms. “As I said before,” the Dwarf glances back over her shoulder, not noticing Adeline’s lustful gaze getting drawn to her titanic tits, “her instincts see Krvavy as the only ‘male’ around. And as such, she is naturally drawn to our Drakling. It is reassuring to see confirmation of what was, more or less, a mere theory.”
Beryl’s hand presses against the Dwarf’s collarbone, firmly pushing Inanna away. “Give the poor girl some space.”
Inanna doesn’t seem to be even slightly bothered by that, simply gesturing for Krvavy to take her place. “Come here, my Ushumgal. Watch how she reacts to your presence.”
“Ach, don’t treat ‘er like some sort o’ experiment...” The Wood Elf lets out a disappointed sigh as the Dwarf grabs onto Krvavy’s hand and drags the Drakling over.
“Hnnhhghhmn~!” Adeline shudders and makes a lewd groaning sound as the barbarian kneels down beside her. Those big hazel eyes of hers stare up at Krvavy, pupils dilating as her cute little nose quivers with each shaky breathe she takes. “P-p-pl-pleeshh-shhh~!” Her trembling voice sounds more like a slurred moan than an attempt at talking. Her chest rapidly rises and falls as she eagerly breathes in the Drakling’s scent, nearly hyperventilating with how quickly she is taking each breath. Her quivering fingers dart away from her tufted tail, choosing to instead desperately grab at Krvavy’s comparatively gigantic hand.
“Ah suppose tha’ settles it for us.” The tomboyish Elf sagely nods her head, giving Adeline one last reassuring pat before pulling back completely.
“Little meat!” Khalia finally releases Thea from her grasp, bounding over to the Halfling. “Mate make you feel good! Trust Mate! Be Mate’s mate! Mate help!”
The Were-Beast continues to shout out joyful words of encouragement even as Beryl forcibly drags her away.
“Ugh... There go all of the plans that we had for the day...” Thea grumpily laments, turning her back on everyone else.
“Mm... It would appear that the others are giving you some space.” Inanna plainly points out the obvious. “Suppose that is for the best. We do not want to overwhelm the poor girl. Psychologically speaking. We definitely want her get physically overwhelmed.” The Dwarf dismissively shakes her head. “Anyway, do not forget to feed her. And make sure to keep her hydrated. She is bound to lose plenty of fluids under your care.”
“Wait. Are you leaving as well?” Krvavy blinks a few times as her mind finally catches up to what is happening.
“Of course. Adeline will already be embarrassed and ashamed once she comes back to her senses, so no need to exacerbate that by witnessing whatever carnal activities the two of you get up to today.” Despite her professionally neutral tone, Inanna’s lips are currently curling up into the faintest of smiles. She turns her intense gaze turns towards Adeline. “Krvavy will do her best to help you. Place your trust in her. And do not be afraid to enjoy yourself.”
Krvavy holds back a sigh as the Dwarf walks away, leaving her alone with a heat-addled Halfling. “I’m sorry that you have to go through this. I really am...” She quietly apologizes after a few seconds of silence.
“I-it-it isn-isn’t y-y-y-your... y-your f-f-fault...” The bunny-mouse girl weakly whispers, small tears trailing down her cheeks as she all but hugs that barbarian’s big hand. “Hhnnh~...!” Her moment of lucidity ends all to soon. “P-llh-sshhh~...!”
“Come on, let’s get you cleaned up first...” Krvavy gently scoops the tiny blonde up into her arms, letting Adeline nuzzle into her bare breasts. Countless shaky kisses are soon planted across her pale skin, accompanied by a few timid licks and accidental bites, quickly leaving her chest with a glistening sheen.
Without another word, she carries that shuddering girl towards the bathroom.