Scruffy’s Adventure

Written by Scruffy–hime

Edited by Luciferia

Chapter 12: Getting Comfortable

“I want you both gone before tomorrow night.” the tall woman said, making a quick motion.

The large gate cracked open and a young girl came rushing out. Grabbing them both by the hand she lead them inside.

The small girl looked to still be in her early teens and shorter than Airi by a few inches. She was skinny and just starting to develop her womanhood. She had light blond hair and green eyes.

Once they were inside the gate closed behind them. Something about all the women inside staring at Scruffy made him feel uncomfortable.

He leaned close to Airi and whispered “Why are they all looking at me like that?”

“Well, you are still covered in blood.”

Realizing she was right he turned back and asked the teenager, “So where are we going?”

“Somewhere we can keep an eye on you.” she replied.

“Oh…” Scruffy said in a questioning tone, deciding to change the subject he asked, “So what's your name?”

“Vera.” she replied in a seductive tone.

Looking around he realized that there were no men anywhere he could see. Scruffy decided not to ask about it as they walked. Vera stopped outside a large building, the sign hanging from the front was written in a language neither Scruffy nor Airi could read.

Vera lead them inside, upstairs and to a small room. It was just one room with no windows, only one bed pushed against a wall, and a small desk with one chair.

“This is the only room available...not like you two would get a choice anyways.” Vera said with a laugh. She turned to Scruffy and continued, “I’ll bring food up later...and I’ll bring you a bucket of water and a rag so your pet can wash you.”

“What do you mean pet?” Airi asked angered by her statement.

Her tail twitched violently and ears pricked forward.

Vera continued as if she weren't there. Only paying attention to Scruffy, who had walked over to the table and set the knife down, she asked, “Is there anything else you'll need? A map? Or maybe a leash for your feisty pet?”

“We...won't be needing a leash, but a map would be great.” Scruffy replied as he walked over to Airi and put an arm around her trying to calm the livid woman.

“Okay, if you think she is trained enough I won't make her wear a leash.” Vera smiled at Scruffy before she turned, shooting a quick glare at Airi, and then left the room.

“Why did she say that about me?” Airi whined in frustration a few moments after Vera had left, “I don't like being referred to as ‘Pet’.”

“I don’t know, just try to ignore it until we leave.” Scruffy replied.

Airi sighed, “You're right, I’ll play nice...for now…”

Airi laid on the bed, “Much better than a tree.”

Scruffy chuckled at her before sitting on the wooden chair backwards, folding his arms along the top of the back support, “They said something about food too.”

A loud knock on the door startled them. Scruffy stood and walked to see who it was.

Vera walked in with a small bucket of water, looking disapprovingly at Airi she asked, “You let her on the bed?”

Airi let out a low growl as she sat up to glare at her. Vera set the bucket on the table before continuing, “You sure you don't want a leash? Or something to beat the bitch with? Doesn't look like she was trained well.”

“No.” Scruffy said curtly.

Airi positioned herself on the bed so she could pounce on Vera. Scruffy moved to stand between Airi and Vera before she could act.

“Oh, judging by the bruises on her leg i guess you just like to beat her with your fists?” before Scruffy could answer she walked out the door shutting it behind herself, “Well... If you decide you need one I’ll be downstairs.”

Scruffy thanked her again as she left.

“That little brat. Can I kill her?” Airi said in a vicious tone, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Please don’t.” Scruffy said, “I’d rather not get attacked here too.”

“I wasn't serious…” Airi replied with a pout.

“But she was right...I think I will need your help getting this blood off me… At least the blood on my back.”

Airi looked irritated for a second but her expression turned to concern once she looked at Scruffy’s wounds again. She nodded and agreed to help him. Scruffy turned the chair to face the bed as he sat down in the same manner as before. Airi took a seat on the bed behind him and grabbed the cloth from the bucket. After wringing the excess water from the rag she dabbed around the long gash with caution, trying not to cause Scruffy any more pain.

When Airi was done she plopped the rag back into the bucket.

“There you go, anywhere else you want me to clean?” Airi said, tickling him with a lick on his back causing him to jerk.

Scruffy’s face turned scarlet, “Uh...no… I think I got it from here.”

Airi giggled as she flopped down on the bed again. Scruffy continued washing himself. Scrubbing his chest and arms.

He paused for a moment and asked, “Uh...can you not look while I take off my pants?”

Airi laughed at him, nodded and rolled onto her side so that she was facing the wall. She listened to the sounds of him splashing the rag around in the bucket as he went about his task. Several minutes later, when he had finished, she turned back around and eyed him hungrily.

“You look better without the blood stains, maybe this time I’ll nibble on you.” Airi stated seductively.

Scruffy flushed with embarrassment as a confused expression appeared on his face, “Wha…”

Airi laughed, “Oh? So you really were asleep?”

Before Scruffy could ask what she meant there was another knock at the door and Airi sniffed the air, “Smells like food.”

Scruffy opened the door for Vera as she brought in two wooden plates of food. She handed a plate of meat and potatoes to Scruffy and tossed the second plate with bread and cheese on the floor and said, “Here, this one's for the bitch.”

Airi hissed at Vera. Angered, Vera raised her hand to slap Airi, but before she could complete the motion Scruffy caught her with his free hand and shot the child a furious look.

“Please don’t do that.” Scruffy said in a stern voice.

“That whore needs to learn respect.” Vera stated, obviously upset by Airi’s presence.

Vera walked outside the door and grabbed a mug of water from she had placed on the ground. She brought it over and placed it on the table before stalking out. Scruffy thanked her and shut the door behind her.

“I don’t like her.” Airi stated after Scruffy walked over and sat next to her on the bed.

“I’m sorry.” Scruffy picked up her plate from the floor and placed it on the table across from them. “We can split mine if you’d like?”

“Yes…” Airi replied.

Scruffy chuckled as he grabbed the potato and split in half. He placed one side on her plate along with a few slices of meat, stole a piece of bread and cheese from her plate and then started picking at his potatoes. Airi mumbled a thank you, grabbed a slice of meat in her claws and took a bite. They ate silently. Airi licked her claws after she was finished.

Scruffy laughed as he placed his plate on the table and offered some of his water to her. She took a large sip, handed it back to him and flopped down on the bed.

She asked, “So what was it she said about a map?”

“I think she said she would bring it to us.” Scruffy said, licking his fingers before wiping them on his pants,“So what was that earlier about nibbling?”

Airi giggled before replying, “You were biting me in your sleep when I woke up.”

Scruffy’s face turned a dark red, “I-I’m sorry, I don't...”

Airi laughed again as she sat up and whispered in his ear, “I kinda liked it.”

Scruffy’s heart was beating so fast he thought it might burst from his chest. “I-I-...”

Airi laughed again and laid back down. A knock came at the door and Airi pouted with a huff and rolled to the side of the bed looking away from the door. Scruffy walked over to the door, took a deep breath to calm himself, and opened the door to let Vera in.

She placed a map on the table and handed a collar to Scruffy, “You need to at least put a collar on the bitch…bad enough she's not on a leash.”

Airi’s tail jerked noticeably as Vera called her ‘bitch’. Vera sat in the chair making it apparent she wasn't going to leave until Scruffy put it on her. He walked over to the bed, undid the clasp, and reached down. Scruffy gave her an apologetic look as she glared at him.

Vera reached over, gave her rear a hard slap, then demanded, “Sit up!”

Airi let out a sharp screech, shot to her feet and hissed at Vera. Vera stood from the chair as Airi lunged at her. Scruffy quickly grabbed Airi and pinned her to the bed while he sat on her and held her wrists down.

Kicking wildly, Airi screamed, “Your little brat, I’ll rip your damn throat out!”

Vera grabbed the knife from the table and said irritably, “There’s no reason to keep this defiant bitch around.”

Vera raised the knife over Airi. Scruffy pierced Vera with a ferocious glare, and said in a stern voice “Don’t.”

Terror shot through the girl as she dropped the knife onto the floor. “What..? I-... I was just doing what you would normally do in this situation.”

“I would be very upset if any harm were to come to her.”

“But… She’s just a Ythra.”

“I don’t care.” Scruffy said as he turned back to look at Airi.

Airi had calmed down significantly but was still blatantly angry.

“Well… She still needs a collar!” Vera said with a pout. “And now I want her further restrained.”

“Isn't the collar enough?” Scruffy replied hoping to get her to change her mind.

“No! The animal would probably kill you in your sleep.”

“I’m sure she wouldn’t…” Scruffy said with a sigh, “I’ve spent the night with her before.”

“That doesn’t mean anything! The bitch was likely just trying to get your guard down!”

Airi hissed at her again, causing Vera to scowl down at her, “See?”

Scruffy released Airi’s arms and she crossed them over her breast with an indignant huff. He didn't look at Vera as he took the black leather collar she held out to him. Scruffy whispered an apology as he slipped the collar around her neck. As he finished, he lifted out a few strands of hair stuck under between the collar and her neck. Vera handed him a small lock to add to the collar.

Vera turned to leave, stating she would return shortly as she shut the door.

After she had gone Scruffy climbed off Airi, sat on the edge of the bed, and sarcastically remarked, “That went well...”

“I’m sorry…” Airi said as she adjusted the collar and moved to sit next to him. “Thank you for stopping her...and for what you said…”

“Well I…” Scruffy said embarrassed. “The idea of you…not being here…”

Airi nudged herself under his arm and nuzzled her cheek up to his chest. The pair sat that way for a while before Vera returned with a loud bang at the door.

As Scruffy walked over to the door he whispered, “Please try your best to not make this worse?”

Airi pouted and said she would try. Scruffy opened the door and Vera walked in with a variety of items. A couple pairs of shackles, one chain being much longer than the other and a chain leash. Scruffy cringed when she put the items on the table.

“I demand she be chained at all times within our borders, I’ll be checking on you throughout the night to make sure they stay on.” Vera said as she motioned for him to restrain her.

Airi’s tail twitched violently and glared at Vera. Scruffy grabbed the shackles with the long chain and knelt down. Airi cringed as he clasped them around her ankles. He repeated the process with her wrists. In the corner of his eye Scruffy noticed Vera stick her tongue out at Airi, earning a growl from the furious woman.

Scruffy ignored the exchange. Trying to hold back his own urge to rip Vera in two, he bent down and picked up the knife to place it back on the table, “Anything else?”

“She is not allowed to leave this room unless put on a leash.” Vera replied.

“If you need anything I'll be in the room next door.” she added flirtatiously to Scruffy, stressing the word ‘anything’.

Satisfied, Vera turned and walked triumphantly out of the room.

She paused to add, “Just so you know, the others would not have tolerated this kind of behavior from a Ythra, she would have been put down long ago.”

Scruffy feigned a smile as she closed the door.

Airi jingled her chains as she moved to the middle of the bed, sat with her feet under her and shot a pout at Scruffy.

“I’m sorry…” he said. “Is there anything you need me to do?”

Airi paused for a moment then said in a suspicious tone, “Come lay down.”

Confused, Scruffy sat on the edge of the bed. Airi grabbed his hand in both of hers and pulled him further onto the bed. She shifted closer to the wall to make room for him. Still suspicious, Scruffy laid down on the pillow. Airi laid her head on his chest and put her chained hands on his chest. She started drawing patterns along his collarbone with one claw, listening as his heartbeat grew faster.

“I just wanted to cuddle…” Airi said after a long silence.

Scruffy chuckled and rolled his head to look at Airi. He shot her an unreadable expression, before saying, “Goodnight.”

It didn't take long before they both fell asleep.