Chapter Text
Spring was in full-bloom for the sylvan Greenwood, and just as the Mountain Bells and Bleeding Hearts were coming forth to fill the air with their perfume, so were all manner of magical and mystical creatures beginning to walk and run upon the earth again. Shaking the dredges of winter off of their furs and scales and wings and feathers.
On this particular day, the sun had already reached its midday zenith and was well on its way to descending to the western horizon. Golden-orange brushstrokes were becoming more and more prominent on the cloudy blue sky, and it wouldn’t be long before the whole horizon was aflame thanks to the evening sunset.
In one of the many nooks and crannies scattered through the verdant wood, it’s one particular cave carved into a rocky hill that also glows with its own flame- that of a well-made fire-pit. Surrounding the hearth are the remains of a hearty dinner, blackened wooden skewers that minutes before had been roasting a bevy of fatty boar and parsnips, wild garlic and nutty mushrooms. But dessert- a wooden bowl filled with blueberries and elderberries and the last of the sugar maple squares crafted in the wintertime- was sitting off to the side, ignored as something far more important was transpiring.
“And I say it’s the wrong call! Come on Rude, can’t you wait till morning? The sun's already so low out there, it’ll be dark before you even get to the valley!”
Reno turns away from the cave entrance where he and Rude had been arguing, angrily stomping his white hooves against the stone floor before flinging himself onto their nesting space with a loud huff. A fool might mistake him for a goatish faun at first glance, but they couldn’t be more wrong. His hooves are neither cloven or attached to legs covered in shaggy brown fur. Reno’s are a far more elegant cylinder that blends together beautifully with the violet-and-white fur rushing up from his ‘ankles’ and all the way up to his hips, with a patch of softer, curling fleece coating his lower belly and reaching up to his naval. More of his luxurious hair lays scattered about his arms, shoulders, neck, and finally tufts together at the end of a long, whip-like tail that’s currently doing just that. No, no he was surely no Faun. He was, in fact, a Unicorn, and from the fluff on his tail to the tip of his horn he excluded the radiance of one. Even with an unhappy scowl on his face.
Rude ignores the huffing and bluffing of his much smaller mate and finishes tying off the cords for the saddlebag on his hip. Reno’s tantrums are nothing new, and it always puts a pleasant heat in Rude’s heart that he could inspire such emotions in the other.
Once his preparations are finished, the Centaur finally turns his attention back to Reno, and makes his way towards the back of the cave where he’s still sulking. It’s the warmest and driest spot in their abode, and even just seeing Reno seated amongst the many blankets and furs laid across there makes his resolve crack the tiniest amount. But no, unfortunately he doesn’t have time for games right now. It takes a little extra maneuvering since Reno refuses to budge but, eventually Rude gets his massive body settled beside the redhead, his four powerful legs curled up against his body while his torso and head still tower above Reno. Their size differences have never been a problem however, which was quite lucky for both of them.
“Which is exactly what I want.” Rude leans down to kiss Reno’s forehead, pressing his lips to the star-shaped mark that adorns him. It surrounds the base of the long, mother-of pearl horn that gently curves into the air, with a tip sharp enough to draw blood at the slightest touch. He keeps his face close to Reno and wraps his fingers around the protrusion, showing no fear for its dangerous edge, “You know I prefer to navigate the forest at night, and this way the rest of the herd won’t be a nuisance. I’ll be back before sunrise, I promise.”
Reno whines unhappily and loops his arms around Rude’s shoulders to keep him close, “Why can’t you just fix it yourself? Some stupid healer can’t possibly do a better job then you, you even fixed your own arm last month when it got fucked up! And those scrapes in my back!”
“I tried. I kept that stupid cloth soaked and wrapped around it for a week. But whatever ingredients I have just aren’t potent enough. If I leave it like this I won’t be able to walk right, or slam you into the floor the way you like it.” He whispers that last part right into Reno’s velvety soft ear, and goosebumps erupt all over his spine. With that possibility in mind, Reno sighs and presses his forehead to Rude’s chest, magiking his horn away so that he can be as close to the Centaur’s heart as possible.
“Fine. But I’m not forgiving you for leaving me with a cold bed tonight.”
“Believe me, that is the last thing I want as well. But like I said, I should be back right as you wake up, maybe even before then. You won’t even notice once you’re asleep,” Rude runs his hand through Reno’s wild red mane, the strands just as supple and luxurious as the fur covering the rest of him “Besides, if you get too bored, I'm sure the pixies will help you out.”
“Haha, very funny. Get the hell out of here already, I expect to wake up to you here and with a hot breakfast ready on the fire.” Reno sticks his tongue out at Rude like a petulant foal, and all he gets is a hearty laugh in return. He plants half a dozen kisses to Rude’s lips before finally releasing the other man. He makes a point not to watch as Rude leaves their home, but he does still catch a lovely look at those thighs of his flexing from the sheer strength running beneath that shiny black fur when he’s far away enough for Reno not to get caught. And then just like that he’s alone.
He lays himself down in the bed proper, back supported by what Rude liked to call a ‘pillow’ stuffed full of goose feathers. With a little effort he manages to drag his bowl of sweet treats closer without having to stand or wiggle around too much, and digs in. He’s still pretty full from dinner but the blueberries are too plump and juicy to pass up, and like hell was he going to forgo the sugary-sweet rush of candied maple. He turns to watch the early-riser fireflies begin to flicker around the mouth of the cave, and try to not let his mind wander. For someone who lived alone for so long, it was pathetic how dependent Reno was to Rude’s company but, it was hard not to be with a mate as wonderful as his beloved Centaur. It made even a single night apart feel like infinity. Reno shakes his head and pops another maple into his mouth to suck on.
If Reno thinks about it too hard, he knows he never exactly had a say in the matter. He’d been injured and in Heat when Rude found him, and afterwards he’d been at the mercy of a far older, far larger and stronger Stud who made it very clear he had no intention of letting Reno slip away from him. It should’ve repulsed him, it should’ve made Reno lash out with his hooves and horn until the cave walls were splattered with blood and he could do what he’d always done best; run. Run back to the shadowy forest, to that tiny clearing in the darkest part of its shadow where no one would be able to bother him. As was supposed to be the nature of his kind.
But, even if it was against his very nature. Reno found himself not wanting that. In fact, he wanted the absolute opposite. He wanted, no, he needed to stay with this other creature, feel the heat of Rude’s massive body pressing against his own, muscles knit together by an abundance of strength that continues to shock and amaze the redhead. Reno never wanted another soul to come between him and those wonderful hands that comb his hair, feed him fresh berries from the thicket, and keep him pressed against the ground as Rude fucks into him with such a passionate fervor the younger unicorn didn’t think was possible.
As much as Rude wanted him, Reno wanted him just as badly, if not more. Reno does his kind proud with being such a greedy bastard, and instilling said greed and lust into others, and so who was he to deny himself the pleasure of being Rude’s mate?
He’s already gone through at least six Heats with the Centaur, and he’s curious to see if a seventh will still come given some more recent changes to the young Unicorn. Rude’s size and bountiful adequacy often left Reno’s stomach to bulge and rest heavily with his seed for days on end. And at first that had been the case too with his seventh Heat. But while it may have shrunk, the slight bloating of his belly never went away entirely, even when Rude helped him to carefully clean in the river and nothing more could be found. So Reno decided to just chalk it up to something upsetting his guts, maybe a bad piece of meat or fish mixing with his still-tender stomach. That had to be it.
But even a week later it still had not receded. In fact, one morning Reno awoke and when he went down to the pond, it was just barely visible peeking through the soft fur that covered the lower half of his belly and pubic region, larger than it had ever been before. And that’s when something deep within Reno’s brain clicked, and he knew what this really was.
Rude had bred him, successfully bred him, and now Reno was pregnant.
Reno cups the bulge with both hands and gently presses down. It already feels different too with far less of a squishy give, and remaining moored to its chosen spot unlike the dozens upon dozens of loads Rude has blessed him before. Almost like he had plucked one of the knobby crab apples growing near the edges of the valley, and swallowed the tart fruit whole. Reno had been shocked at how quickly the lump had developed when his last Heat had only been two weeks prior, but Rude had assured him that was normal for his kind, and for all they knew Reno’s body could’ve been preparing to show them this wonderful gift for far longer. It just needed an “extra push” Rude had reassured him while Reno rested against his mate’s equine half, calmly combing the knots out of his hair while his other hand remained buried in his belly fur, eyes shining with delight and pride every time his fingers brushed against this new addition to his mate. Any fear had bled away from Reno’s body in that moment, and despite being woefully ignorant in much of what was about to happen, he felt content letting his instincts and, more importantly, Rude guide him through this new journey.
It helped too, that this new state of his was already intertwining itself with his ancient magic. And as a result made his blood run very, very hot with the kind of lust only a Unicorn could brew inside of itself.
Which was probably the biggest downside to Rude needing to leave him right now, even if it was only for a brief trot across the valley where other Centaurs tended to congregate. Rude’s status as a powerful stallion was slightly at odds with his preference of living on his own, as before encountering Reno no other mare or stallion had been worthy enough to bear his cock and seed. Rude had shown Reno off to them twice before, carefully situated on his back with every inch of hair and fur meticulously groomed, his hooves shining with oil and a great many flowers carefully woven into his mane so that he could be perfumed in their sweet scent. He’d never been a fan of attention before (and still shouldn’t be. Too much attention makes for an easier death with his kind) but he’d quickly found himself lapping it all up, letting others a brief touch in at his immaculate form before smacking them away with his tail. If Rude wanted to be boastful and lordly of his mate to the other Centaurs then Reno would make him proud.
But this time Rude had deemed it would be safer for Reno to remain here, in the cave they called home while he went and had a small crack in one of his hooves checked out. It would likely be nothing, but Rude never took any chances with either of their health. When Reno had questioned his impressive skills back when Reno’s leg was being mended, he’d told Reno that as a yearling he had been apprenticed to his herd’s healer, and continued assisting her until he’d finally had enough and left to find his own life. It was a strange concept for the redhead, to have someone wholly devoted to healing in a herd, but then again there had been no dangers in Reno’s old clearing. The ancient oaks had kept all calm and quiet. Not even letting any roots or sharp rocks emerge from the soil and be a tripping hazard. Safe, but so damn boring.
Ugh, just thinking about Rude’s hands taking such good care of him, gently unwrapping his injured leg and pouring medicinal oils on the wound he’d so carefully shaved around. The way he would massage in the oils and tinctures before bandaging him back up with a nice tight grip. Reno moans and moves his hand away from his belly and instead focuses on his clit and cock. He’s already starting to get heated, so he blissfully strokes his burning lips and uses his thumb to play with the head of his penis- it’s like comparing a mountain to a pebble when measured against Rude’s but, it doesn’t make it any less pleasurable to touch and caress. Reno buries himself deeper into the thick furs and soft blankets of their bed, and lets the rest of the world fall behind to his own pleasure. Maybe he should see how many times he can make himself cum before Rude returns? Leave the bearskin covered in his cum and fluids and see it drive him mad. Reno’s eyes slip shut and he smiles as the pleasure continues to ramp up. He presses down harder and flicks his wrist more urgently while his lower half thrusts helplessly into the air. He tries to use his hooves as extra support, but it’s hard to keep them planted firmly in the soft materials.
“Oh fuck!” Reno cries out when he feels the knot in his belly begin to tighten tighten tighten, until he feels fit to burst and then just that. The clear and white fluids make a mess out of his fur and, just as he was hoping for, Rude’s favorite bearskin. He sighs and melts back into the bedding as if he were sinking into a cloud, “Fuck, that was so good,” he moans breathlessly into the cooling air of his home. A great start to his night. And it won’t be his last. Reno lets himself drift into a satisfied haze and listen to the crickets beginning to emerge just beyond the cave entrance. He’ll give it a few moments, and do it all over again. Maybe if he still has the strength to crawl over to their collection of earthen pots and pull out that toy Rude gifted him last month. Oh yes, then he’d be nice and open just in time for Rude to return with that massive, warm cock of his, ready to go without a moment to waste. Yeah, this really is the life for a unicorn to have……
*******
To the Northeast of the Greenwood and not too far off from Rude and Reno’s territory, a dirt road snakes its way around and through parts of the enchanted forest. It offers the only path remotely safe enough for those of a non-magical nature to traverse upon. Despite this most humans make an effort to avoid the road entirely, and thus over time it has grown cluttered in leaves and debris, and likely would be fully reclaimed by the forest if not for ancient stone wards some brave soul planted down this pathway decades, perhaps even centuries earlier.
Along this dusty road a single wagon plods along, pulled by phantom stallions with only a matching pair of worn out tack visible to the naked eye. There is no coachman either, only the unrepentant gaze of a bright blue full moon painted beneath the wagon’s eaves. The rest of the paint was once just as colorful but time and rain have taken their toll, and now all that truly stands out are the various symbols and sigils burned into the grayish-brown wood.
The road eventually turns forked, and the wagon slowly rolls to a halt in a small clearing at the end of the rightmost tine. The bridle and tack roll into themselves until both are neatly piled where a driver would normally be seated, and the door at the back of the wagon opens to reveal three figures. Three men of various heights and builds emerge, with all of them dressed in identical grey and brown robes. They hop off the tiny set of stairs jutting out in front of the door to stand on the ground below, surveying the darker forest surrounding the grassy glade.
One more figure descends down the chipped steps, a young woman with her golden brown wrapped up in yellow ribbons in a fashionably-practical manner. Her light blue robes are of a modest style yet have been beautifully embroidered with silver and black silk, fitting well with the thin silver chains tinkling on her wrists and ankles.
Her physical appearance is nothing short of captivating, but buried beauty the surface is where her true light shines; for Lucrecia Crescent first and foremost is an alchemist, a scholar of the most ancient arts and magic, and thus is why she’s traveled to the Greenwood this evening.
When she’s standing on solid ground, Lucrecia opens up the small leather pouch attached to her belt and pulls out a shard of smokey quartz. She barely needs to push for it to tremble in her hand, and violently too. She takes in a deep breath and tightly squeezes the stone.
“It’s close, it has to be. With plenty of life left in it but we still have to act fast. Are you ready to head out?”
“Yes Doctor, we have the map and the tools you suggested, and we’ve already talked through our strategy.” The tallest named Malick answers for the lot of them.
“Good. Remember, stay alert, and avoid other humans as much as magical creatures. They won’t be worth the distraction. Here, as a precaution,” Lucrecia says, and hands the quartz to Malick, “This is your chance to impress both myself and your own master. I expect nothing short of perfection here.”
“Don’t worry, we have no intention to fail either of you. Let’s go.” He nods towards his two companions and the three of them quickly scurry off into the brush. Leaving Lucrecia to stand alone next to the wagon.
She wastes no time with her own work, having walked herself through the steps dozens of times already in their journey here. First things first, they’ll need protection from whatever else is lurking in the shadows. From the depths of her pouch she pulls forth a large glass jar, filled with a mixture of crushed silver, salt, iron shavings, and cedar ashes leftover from when the mixture burned in her fireplace. Lucrecia sprinkles a thin layer of the powder around the entire clearing, ensuring her circle has no imperfections to it. It’ll do for now, until the boys arrive back with her prize. Once it’s lit, nothing will be getting in or out.
But while she does get to work building a small campfire close to the wagon (she can’t risk messing up her set-up inside), the door creaks up and the railing squeals with the weight of a small, furry body leaping atop of it.
“You seem to be moving rather rashly. I’d expect more mindfulness with something so important.”
“It has to be rash, there’s no time for anything else,” Lucrecia isn’t shocked by the deep, graveled voice that comes from the cat, instead staying focused on perfectly stacking some of the wooden logs they’d brought along with them, “What little is in the texts are useless, and I won’t risk anyone else finding it first. Nothing you say changes either of those facts.”
“Hmm.” Vincent hums with an unamused purr. He scratches at one of his ears with his single golden-brown leg, as the rest of his body bears fur that would make the night sky shiver from its intensity, “And sending them out into this wretched wood, to do your dirty work? All in the name of science and your work, I trust?
Gods, does Lucrecia wish a silencing spell would work on him. She does not need this right now, “Hush. Gast owes me, and who would say no to a chance at seeing a Unicorn with their own eyes? They offered, and I accepted. Just as you decided to come, instead of staying home like I said you could. Strongly suggested you should, actually.”
She’s finally satisfied with the placement of the wood, so Lucrecia strikes her flint and the pile of erupts in a yellow blaze. The heat feels good on her face, a reminder that what’s about to happen is real. She stands and brushes the dust off her hands before turning to face Vincent, her tone reflecting her pensive state, “I know what I’m doing is risky Vincent. I know the power they hold even near death is on a different level. But I have studied and worked and fought with every bit of blood and magic in my body for an opportunity like this. Tell me a million more times it’s foolish, I don’t care. I want this more than anything to work, and I’ll do all I can to make it so.”
In the light of the fire, Vincent’s feline eyes glisten with his own flames of Chaos. They seem intent on driving right into the base of her soul, something Lucrecia has become used to with her semi-Familiar. Eventually he sighs and hops back off the ledge, and twists his body back into the doorframe “I am eager to see if your labor will bear the fruit you believe it will. Until then, I’ll let you carry on in peace.
The door slams shut behind him, propelled by a strong gust of wind that unfortunately misses his tail. Lucrecia shakes her head to try and make the annoyance dissipate from her mind. No, no she needs to stay focused, to keep moving. They’ll be back sooner than she thinks, and she must be ready
This would work. It had to work.
This night would be the start of so much for her, for finally getting to do things her own way.
And all it would take, is one Unicorn.