The Twilight Garden 1 1

You've been wandering for what feels like hours, trying not to think about the weather. It was a hot July afternoon when you left the cottage, and now the blistering cold is finding its way past your too-few layers of clothing. It's not just cold, either - it's //snowing//. You desperately want to sit down and rest, but you're afraid you might drift off. You know it would be a death sentence if you fell asleep in the snow. You wrap your gloveless hands in the folds of your skirt, rubbing them vigorously. You're beyond grateful that you brought a headscarf to ward off ticks while you were wandering through the woods, but even your robust homespun linen is nowhere near enough to ward off the cold. It hasn't been snowing for too long, you don't think - the chill began to set in after you got turned around in the woods and came out in an unfamiliar grassy field, and you wrote it off as an uncharacteristic drop in temperature for some time. That was before you started seeing your own breath in the frosty air, though. The snow started falling not long after that, leaving you half-convinced you were dreaming. The snow has piled up quickly, disguising any landmarks you might recognize and leaving you hopelessly lost in the darkening fields. You have no idea which way home is, but you can see a faint glow up ahead, within a grove of snow-covered trees. [[You run towards it,]] hoping against all hope that whatever it is, it'll keep you from freezing to death.

As you approach the grove of trees, the open and lamp-lit gate comes into focus. It's made of wrought iron, twisted into intricate floral shapes and flanked by two tall iron lamp-posts. A few yards in front of the gate, there's an iron pole sticking out of the ground with a third, smaller lantern hanging from its curved hook. You wonder who lit these lanterns, and how they've managed to stay alight in the snowstorm. Surely whoever's responsible for it must be close by. You can't tell what the gate might open into - it's placed directly in the middle of the fir trees, but you can't see any more foliage behind it. Instead, there's a dark abyss that seems to stretch far deeper than the trees should go. [[Call for help]] [[Take the lantern]]

You hope that whoever lit the lanterns will be able to help you. Maybe they'll know where you can find shelter. "Hello?" You call, shouting above the wind. You lean around the outside of the gate, looking for any sign of a dwelling place, but there is nothing. "I need help, I'm lost!" Your voice echos slightly in front of the open gate. That... //shouldn't// happen, should it? You are left to ponder the answer alone, as nobody comes to help you. [[Take the lantern]]

You tentatively approach the gate, lantern in hand. Its dim light illuminates a dirt path, miraculously untouched by snow. Even in your dire state, something about this path feels wrong to you. The cold wind feels like a burning brand against your exposed face, and it's hard to focus on anything other than that, but... Why isn't this path also covered in snow? And why can't you see it at //all// when you peer across the outer edges of the gate? It's as if it only exists when you're standing right in front of it. You know you're going to die if you stay out in the cold much longer. However strange it may be, the promise of somewhere that's free of snow is too alluring to pass up. Holding the lantern out in front of you, you place one foot on the dirt path, [[and then another...]]

You gasp as you step fully beyond the gate. You can see now that it's not just a dirt path, it's a tunnel in the ground. The walls, ceiling, and floor are all made of dark earth, with gnarled roots reaching down from above and insects skittering back into their hiding places as you approach. It isn't possible. It //can't// be possible. Did you fall asleep in the snow and have a strange dying dream? Or is your exhaustion just getting the better of you, making a tunnel in the ground seem like an impossible, magical gate? Whichever answer proves to be right, you're no longer freezing. That's enough. It has to be enough for now. You don't want to wander too far into the tunnel, fearing a cave-in. The snow seems to be well aware that it isn't welcome here, so you sit down against the earthen wall and wait for the storm to slow down. You've only been there for a few minutes when you hear a voice calling from the unseen depths. It's saying... [["I need help, I'm lost!"]]

The voice jolts you out of your half-asleep state. Before you can write it off as a hypnagogic hallucination, it comes back louder than before: "I need help, I'm lost!" [[Try to help]] [[Wait a minute, something's off...]]

You stumble to your feet, grasping the lantern and trying your best to follow the voice. It calls out to you again - //"I need help, I'm lost! I need help, I'm lost!"// Rushing toward the person in need, you shout after them: "I'm here, don't worry! Just keep talking to me." "I need help, I'm lost!" The voice repeats, echoing up toward you. "I know, I'm coming! I just came in from the snow, so I bet I can get you out." As you hurry down the corridor, you come to a [[crossroads.]]

You can't place why, but something about the voice unsettles you. Despite how terribly guilty you feel, a pang of anxiety pulls at you from deep in your gut, keeping you tethered to the mouth of the cavern. You decide to [[wait just a bit longer]] before risking a deeper venture.

You huddle down in your spot and wait. It's only a few seconds before the voice rings out again: "I need help, I'm lost! I need help, I'm lost!" There is no variation between the two repetitions. Perhaps they've just been down here for so long that they're... what? That they're //what?// You can't come up with a satisfactory explanation in your painfully exhausted state. "I need help, I'm lost! I need help, I'm lost!" The voice doesn't stop, calling over and over again with barely enough time for a breath in between. It begins to grate on your mind, further cementing your suspicion that something's not right with each repetition. [[You slowly stand up and back towards the mouth of the tunnel...]]

You can't hold back a gasp when your back hits the solid wall of dirt where the exit should be. You clutch the lantern in your hand and look around desperately for any way out. Did you sleepwalk and get lost? You're sure you didn't actually fall asleep, but what other explanation could there possibly be? As you explore the cramped space, you realize that there is nowhere to go except... //[[forward.]]//

You take a few reluctant steps into the dark, holding your lantern in front of you like a weapon. As you make your way down the tunnel, the voice calls out to you again, begging for help. It grows louder as you move further and further away from what used to be the exit, making all your nerves stand on end with its shrill, clear sound. You feel roots and stones beneath your feet, interrupting the unnaturally smooth, uniform dirt path. You look down at the small circle of yellow light cast by your lantern, carefully stepping around them so you won't trip. Your light isn't bright enough to illuminate much of the tunnel, though, and your foot inevitably catches on a large, twisted root. Your world tips sideways and the lantern [[goes flying out of your hand...]]

The sound of shattered glass makes your heart drop into your stomach. You scramble to your hands and kness, crawling toward the sound and praying that somehow, miraculously, your light hasn't gone out... But there is nothing, no matter where you look. Not a single speck of light in the pitch dark tunnel. You freeze, afraid to move and get yourself [[even more lost...]]

You hear a faint slithering sound, like dry leaves dragging against stone. It's followed by slow, clumsy footsteps. Too petrified to move, you [[hold your breath...]]

"I need help," the voice whispers against your ear, dry lips touching your skin. "I'm lost." A faint whimper escapes your lips as you cringe away from the unseen thing, your heart straining to escape your chest. [[You can hardly breathe.]]

The lips withdraw from your ear, and the slithering noise begins to circle you where you're crouched in the dirt, paralyzed with fear, sharp rocks and the edges of roots digging into your palms. Your arms begin to shake as you wait breathlessly for something to happen. You squeeze your eyes shut even though you can't see anything, hoping that somehow this will all turn out to be a terrible dream. After seconds that feel like hours in the blind dark, [[you feel a sensation that makes you scream...]]

The fabric of your skirt hisses softly as it's lifted up around your hips by some unseen force. You try to get to your feet and run, but before you can make it more than a few shaky steps, you're lifted up by what feels like several small, tickling tendrils, pressed against a fleshy mass that sends soft vibrations throughout your body. You struggle to escape, but you only fall forward onto a sharp spike that pierces through your abdomen. Your scream is cut short by the sudden onset of true paralysis, not the fear-based shadow of it that you felt before. Your limbs twitch faintly, helplessly, as a prickling numbness spreads from the spot where you're still impaled. The tendrils, or legs, or whatever they are reach around you again, collecting you as easily as flowers from a fallen basket and lifting you higher than you thought the tunnel's ceiling could go. [[Your consciousness fades under the crushing weight of fear.]]

Your eyes flutter open in a dimly lit alcove. Thick roots surround you like the bars of a cage - not that you need to be restrained, since you can't move a muscle. The most you can manage is the darting back and forth of your terrified eyes as you struggle to make sense of your surroundings. As far as you can tell, you're pinned underneath a massive tree whose roots descend down into this room, covered in dripping moss that emits a soft green glow. [[You're not alone.]]

There is a corpse sitting across from you, dry and dessicated. You try desperately to convince your limbs to move as its head begins to twitch, but it falls limp again just as quickly - and as it does so, a wasp the size of your hand crawls out of its eye socket. Thankfully, the wasp doesn't pay any attention to you, but that relief is short-lived. The dry rustling sound you heard in the tunnel grows louder, and then the head of a massive... wasp? Or something that //looks// like a wasp? Comes into view. "I need help, I'm lost!" Calls the same voice that drew you into the tunnel. This time, you can see its source - the wasp that crawled out of the corpse repeats the mocking refrain as it watches you from its perch on the dirt ceiling. The head of the //thing// is followed by a long, slender, segmented body that's covered in a fine layer of soft fuzz, glowing the same shade of green as the moss. Its golden-brown compund eyes are fixed on you as it [[approaches.]]

The creature's body is just slightly larger than yours, and you wonder how or if its glistening wings could carry such a massive creature. It steps slowly, delicately toward you, closing the short distance with the precision and grace of a skilled embroiderer's needle. The tears that have been pooling in your eyes since they opened finally spill as its head slips underneath your skirt. It nudges the cloth up over your waist. Once that task is complete, its pinchers grasp your underclothes and it begins to pull. You can hear the seams straining as they're drawn away from your body, leaving you utterly exposed. It crawls on top of you, its face inches from yours, and you feel a slick, wet cock begin to press between your legs. You close your eyes and make a futile attempt to scream as it rubs against your cunt, smearing you with a sticky secretion. A nearly painful tingling sensation spreads from between your legs into the depths of your abdomen, making your cunt twitch uncontrollably with what you can't quite believe is //[[pleasure.]]//

The creature's thick cock slips inside of you, stretching you open. You can feel it pulsing deep within, and your pussy clenches involuntarily around it. It seems to take this as an invitation to move. The soft buzzing that it emits grows louder as it thrusts deep inside of you, consuming all of your senses. You can hear nothing but the hum of its wings fluttering and the wet sound of its cock violating you. You can smell nothing but the earthy aroma of moss tinged with death and decay. And most importantly, you can //feel //nothing but the cock forcing itself deeper and deeper inside of you, until it presses against your cervix. You don't think you'd be able to take it if not for whatever strange effect this secretion has had on your body - you're almost numb, devoid of any sensation aside from an unnatural pleasure. Your cunt tingles and burns as it rubs your inner walls with the same fluid, throbbing so intensely that you'd assume it ought to hurt - but instead, your clit swells and twitches with anticipation as the creature pounds into you. The last faint threads of a coherent thought catch against your fracturing mind as it continues: //[[what's going to happen to you after this thing comes?]]//

As if it's heard your fear, the creature clutches you tightly in its many legs and buries its cock inside you up to the root. You want to squirm in disgust... at least, you try to tell yourself it's disgust. You feel the sharp, segmented parts of its face brushing against your own, almost as if it's trying to //kiss// you. They gently scrape your skin, close enough that you can hear each soft clicking noise as its face-parts shift fluidly against one another. You keep your eyes squeezed shut as tightly as possible, wishing you could turn your head to the side. Despite everything, despite the terror of what you're sure is about to happen, your cunt aches to be touched like it never has before. But that's not what this monster is here for. No, you're probably lucky that it even took the time to smear you with whatever secretion is making your body betray you like this. You feel a sharp pain around your navel as its cock [[bulges and swells inside you...]]

//The Twilight Garden// is an 18+ choose-your-own-adventure erotic horror novella that's //very// light on plot, instead serving as a vaguely interconnected series of sexy and violent vignettes mostly focused on monsters, noncon, and appealingly nasty bad endings. It's just shy of 39000 words. You play as a non-gendered, unnamed character with breasts and a vulva. If you have specific sensitivities or preferences, please read the [[Content Warning]] page for this game (which will give away certain endings and scares, as well as providing links to route instructions for 3 of the endings.) Otherwise, just know that it involves blood and gore, torture and death, and many different forms of sexual violence. There are 11 endings, eight of them bad, two of them "good", and one of them good. [[Start your journey]] [[Check out the list of ending titles]] if you're wondering which ones you've missed.

This must be the echo of what happened to you back in the tunnel. As the pain returns, so does your ability to move, but only barely. You finally twist your head away from its alien face. It takes all your energy just to force out a faint whimper as your cunt is flooded with thick, hot cum. You can feel it overflowing, dripping down your ass and no doubt soaking the ground. Your legs tremble as you try in vain to move, to somehow fight this creature off - but you're still too dazed from whatever its stinger did to you, and it only pulls you closer, sending strong vibrations throughout your body as its wings buzz. Your cunt is pressed flush against the wasp-thing's body as it holds you, and a pathetic moan escapes your mouth as the vibration from its wings [[finally makes you cum.]]

It seems like the thing isn't finished with you yet. It doesn't let you go, and you gasp in shock as one of the smaller wasps lands on your// face//. Are you going to give birth to something like this? Will that somehow prevent it from stinging you as it crawls across your tightly closed eyelids? You can only hope so. You hold your breath, trying not to move even though the vibrating flesh pressed against your clit is starting to hurt. It's a futile effort, though, as something else starts to slide out of the cock inside you - a solid, round mass that's followed by another, and another, and //another.// They slip into the cum-filled cavity of your womb until you can feel your belly distending. You moan and twitch involuntarily, sending the small wasp fluttering off. //[[This can only mean one thing.]]//

Maybe... //maybe// you won't be able to carry this thing's offspring. You're different species, after all. But would that really be the best outcome for you? You've seen the gruesome puppet it made out of another unlucky explorer, and some deep part of you hopes, despite the horror, that you will be spared the same fate because of what's inside you. Only time will tell. ''BAD END: The Breeding Chamber'' [[Want to meet with a different fate?|and then another...]] Or maybe... you'd like to [[see what happens next?]]

At first, you kept track of time with the birth cycles. The creature had stopped stinging you eventually, after it was utterly certain you didn't //want// to move anymore. You hate to admit it to yourself... at least, in the early days, you did... but deep down you know you wouldn't run away, even if the path was cleared for you. If someone came to rescue you, you'd watch in gratitude and //relief// as your captor and its drones dispatched them for you. You stopped counting somewhere around thirty births, you think. You can't quite be sure. All you know is that there are more drones you've given birth to in the tunnels than ones you haven't. The creature... you want to call it a wasp, but that's not quite right, is it? You know what wasps are. You're familiar with them. They buzz around your tomatoes in your little garden and don't bother you as long as you're still and calm. You've never really been// afraid// of them. The wasps you used to know had the intelligence of little cats, curious about the world around them but utterly wrapped up in their own affairs, content to ignore you unless you were doing something interesting. This thing was not,// could not// be a simple animal. It was something else, something... //[[more.]]//

After several stings and several births, you began to hear its whispers in your mind. You couldn't make out the words, but you understood what it was saying - your fate was sealed, and it was //good,// however you might have felt at the start. Now you're part of something greater than yourself. You've been subsumed into a great and terrible force of nature, something utterly beyond human notions of fear and pleasure and consent. That's what the beast's whispers keep telling you, while it drowns your weak attempts to think your own thoughts under an abyssal sea of cum and eggs. Perhaps you would be miserable if it didn't fuck you so often, but it //does,// and you... well, happiness is such a pale word for what you're feeling. It fucks you even when you're full of eggs, because that's what keeps you weak and compliant. Often, you'll give birth immediatley after its cock slides out of you, [[hundreds of eggs flowing out]] through your slick, loosened cunt and onto the mossy ground of the breeding chamber.

You can still feel a shadow of irrepressible terror when the drones cover you - and they do, every time they hatch. They don't spend any time as larvae, instead crawling out of the eggs ready to fly. They've never stung you, but something about the rippling, twitching mass of little legs and buzzing wings overwhelms your mind with a deep-rooted instictive fear, even after all this time. The faint prickling buzz of the wasps landing on your exposed cunt, crawling through your cum-soaked folds and between your fingers, exploring the curve of your ears with their curious little heads, makes your mind shut off completely. You float blindly in the endless red abyss behind your eyes, with no sense of time or place. The beast always soothes you, though. It holds you in its many legs and pins you face-down on the moss, burying its cock inside you and nibbling gently at the side of your face with its pinchers. When it leaves your arms free, which isn't often, you rub your clit furiously, clenching around the cock inside of you and drenching it with your own slick fluids. Sometimes you can't help making yourself cum before it's finished, and the following thrusts overstimulate you to the point of pain. It never listens to you, though, and you have no choice but to let it keep stretching out your cunt, pounding you mercilessly until you're full of eggs once more. Even though it's bound to lead to more of the same, just another swarm of wasps to crawl all over you until you're nothing but a shivering, fearful animal, you moan in gratitude and weakly grind your hips up toward the beast. You know you've been ruined for human lovers. You don't think you can even remember the feeling of another person's cock inside of you, nor would you be satisfied by it, not when this beast can make its utter violation of your mind and body feel //so good.// ''BAD END Extra: A Happy Family'' [[Want to meet with a different fate?|and then another...]] Or maybe you'd like to [[take your chances with the beast]] for a little while longer?

One day... or night, you can't tell in this place... the beast drags a corpse into the breeding chamber. You watch in paralyzed dread as it nibbles at their face with its mandibles, biting through their flesh in a way that it's //never// bitten you. You had almost forgotten that other humans existed, and you're reminded of what will happen to you if your captor gets bored. Maybe that wouldn't be so bad after all, you think... you'd still be part of its great hive, still used for its alien purposes, bringing new food and breeding stock into its lair. But you can't quite bring yourself to accept that fate, because if you died, //you wouldn't get to feel the beast's cock inside you anymore//. You'd be forever deprived of the pleasure it brings you, unable to touch yourself while it pumps your womb full of eggs, and that would be a fate// far// worse than death. So you do something you've never done before. When the beast is finished with its meal, you crawl slowly toward it, hardly able to support your own body but desperate to prove that you're still worth keeping. It can tell you're not trying to escape, and it cocks its head curiously as you make your way across the chamber. When you finally reach it, you slip your hand beneath its torso and begin to rub the slit that its cock comes out of, [[reaching for it.]]

Does the beast feel pleasure like you do, or does it only use you for breeding? You hope it's the former - it //must// be the former, as its slick cock presses against your palm. You grasp it in your hand - you can't quite fit your fingers around it, but you try to give it the same kind of pleasure it's always given you. The beast's cock hardens in your hand, and its wings begin to buzz with ecstasy. You draw your hand away and lick off the sweet secretion that makes your cunt burn and ache whenever it fucks you. Now that it's hard and leaking, you lie down on your back, edging closer to the beast until your head is just at the edge of its torso. You can smell the sharp, earthy scent of its cock, and you open your mouth, taking as much of it down your throat as you can. The creature lifts itself off the ground momentarily, leaving you desperate for more. It lands with its cock positioned right over your mouth, pressing it against your lips and smearing your face with precum. You suck it greedily, rubbing your cunt with one hand as you do so. It thrusts hard into your mouth, pinning your head to the ground with its body and forcing its cock the rest of the way down your throat. It only fucks your mouth harder when you begin to choke, unable to draw a breath through either your nose or mouth. It ignores your flailing, flooding your brutalized throat with cum. Then you feel the eggs. You know this is never a quick process. Your hand keeps working desperately between your legs as you struggle to breathe beneath the mass of its body, throat bruised and spasming around its thick, bulging cock. The only thought you can manage is this: //I hope I get to cum before I die.// ''BAD END Extra: you died doing what you loved'' [[Want to meet with a different fate?|and then another...]]

"Talk to me so I can find you," you shout. The response comes from the tunnel on the left: "I need help, I'm lost!" [[Go to the left and help them]] [[Something's not quite right...]]

You run down the tunnel to the left, searching for the person in need. In your haste, you trip over a large root and tumble down a steep slope, shrieking and trying to cover your face as you're bruised all over by roots and stones. You're splashed by ice-cold water as soon as you reach the bottom - it smells foul, and the thought of going back outside in your soaking wet clothes terrifies you. Hopefully it won't be so bitterly cold by the time the blizzard finally stops. There's something in your mouth, and clinging to your face as well - the water's thick with slimy algae, and you retch as you spit it back out. You scramble to your feet, nearly losing your balance in the mud. The space you're in is dimly lit with glowing green moss that drips from the ceiling. The clouds of algae in the water around you also emit a soft turquoise light, but you hardly notice it as you stare upwards, trying to make sense of what you're seeing... Not only is it covered in moss, there are //thousands// of wasps nestled within it. The smallest ones are as big as your hand. Their twitching black forms are covered in a soft greenish fuzz, and you swear you can feel all of their compound eyes turning on you at once. You begin to [[back slowly out of the water...]]

You hate the thought of leaving someone down here to die, but you can't help hesitating for just a moment. Something isn't quite right... They've been repeating the same phrase over and over again. Not only that, but the repetitions are so... quick and mindless. They're not monotone, no - their voice is full of emotion, but it's always precisely the //same// kind of emotion, with no escalation or change. At first, you wondered if they spoke a different language and were simply repeating one of the few phrases they knew, but... wouldn't there still be a slight difference every time they spoke? //Shouldn't// there be? "Can you hear me?" You call down the tunnel, and the voice responds again: "I need help, I'm lost! I need help, I'm lost! I need help -" You feel faintly sick, and you can't place why. Are they even stopping to breathe? They couldn't// possibly// be. [[You decide to run a small test]] before doing anything rash.

You take one step and then another, trying your best to remain calm. You've dealt with wasps in your garden before, and you know the best thing you can do is leave them alone. They'll ignore you as long as you ignore them, right? You're not looking at the ground behind you, eyes fixed on the wasp-covered ceiling. Suddenly your feet slide out from under you, and you go tumbling right back into the underground lake. When your head breaks the surface, you hear a deafening buzz that consumes your senses. //[[They're not ignoring you.]]//

You get to your feet once more and start scrambling up the slope, no longer trying to move slowly. The wasps are faster than you, and they descend onto your head first. You squeeze your eyes shut, covering your nose and mouth with your hands, but you can't help screaming when you feel a stinger pierce through your eyelid. They take the opportunity to crawl into your mouth then. You try to spit them out, to rip them out with your hands, //anything// to get rid of them - but there's already a wasp in your throat, stabbing through your windpipe and blocking off your airway. You clench your fists, and the wasps clinging to your palms dig into your flesh with their stingers before they collapse with a sound like eggs being crushed. You try to scream, but all that comes out is a guttural choking sound as the cloud of wasps forces you back into the water. Your limbs begin to burn as the wasps cover every inch of exposed skin. Then they go numb, and then you can't move them at all. ''BAD END: Swarm'' [[Want to meet with a different fate?|and then another...]]

You run as fast as you can down the tunnel to the right, away from the echoing voice. You don't look behind you. Finally, when you're too tired to run anymore, you drop to your knees in exhaustion. You listen carefully to your surroundings, but it seems like you've truly left the voice behind. After you've caught your breath, you notice something - the unmistakable smell of fresh air and greenery. Elated at the thought of finally escaping, you follow the scent until you come to the end of the tunnel. There's a rope ladder that leads up to the surface, where you can see a circle of bright blue sky. [[You begin climbing up to the surface.]]

You emerge into a grassy field. It's not the one you wandered into when you originally got lost, but it's a welcome relief nonetheless. The grass is knee-high, and the sun is sweltering hot. You're surrounded by the chirping of insects and the singing of birds. To your right, there's a [[lush forest.]] To your left, there's a [[rushing stream.]] Straight in front of you, [[the meadow stretches on into the distance.]] Which way will you go?

The forest seems like your safest bet - it makes you nervous, being out in the open like this. And you were wandering the woods when you originally got lost, so maybe you'll be able to find your way back. The ground beneath your feet is spongy and vibrant, and the thick old trees are widely spaced apart, as if they grew with the intention of giving explorers a comfortable place to walk. Despite everything that's happened, the peaceful scenery is starting to help you relax. You feel like nothing bad could happen to you here. There are copious places for a weary traveler to rest, and your eye is especially drawn to a large mossy log flanked by honeysuckle bushes. [[Your feet could use a break.]]

The sight of the rushing stream reminds you of just how thirsty you are... You don't even remember the last time you had a drink of water, and dashing madly through an impossible tunnel system tends to make one sweat. You [[take off running.]]

You decide to start by exploring the field. Maybe you'll see some familiar landmarks if you stick to wide-open spaces. You don't know where you are, but the birdsong and fresh air soothe you nonetheless. If you're still dreaming, as you suspected back in the impossible tunnels, the dream seems to have taken a turn for the better. After traversing the grass for quite a while with no sign of your way home, you're beginning to get tired. You consider going back to the stream for a drink of water. As soon as you turn around, though, you're sent sprawling onto the ground with a shriek. You look for the culprit and find that you've stepped into a small, deep hole in the ground - probably just a rabbit burrow. [[You gingerly pull out your leg, examining it for damage.]]

Darts of pain travel up your shin as soon as you flex your foot. You're not sure you should put any pressure on it, but what other choice do you have? At a loss, you decide to call for help. "Hello?" You shout into the surrounding field. "Please help me!" You hear nothing but the buzzing of insects, and your mouth begins to tremble. "Please help me, I'm hurt!" You shout as loud as you can, hoping that some kind soul will come find you. You only have to wait a few more seconds before you hear [[quick, heavy footsteps approaching...]]

Your savior - at least, you certainly hope so - is a massive bipedal beast covered in thick white fur. He has the face of a rabbit, but his eyes shine with intelligence and understanding. He's also completely naked, and you try to politely avert your eyes from the huge, half-hard cock swinging between his legs. This //must// be a dream, then - a creature like this couldn't possibly exist in the real world. He crouches down in front of you and, blessedly, speaks words that you can understand. [["Are you hurt? I'm sure I can help."]]

His voice is sharp in a way you can't quite place, but he seems friendly enough - and besides, it's not like you have any other options. "It's my ankle - I stepped in a hole." He grins at that, turning his head to fix one of his side-facing pink eyes on you. Even crouched down like this, he's still //huge// - several heads taller than you, with broad and muscular shoulders. He reaches out a furry hand. "Well, you sure are lucky you didn't step in one of //our// holes. Would've hurt more than just your ankle." You give him an uneasy look, and he clarifies: "Our holes are bigger, that's all I mean. You could've fallen a long way down. I'm glad I found you before that happened." Tentatively, you reach out and [[take his hand.]]

With the strange rabbit's arm around your waist, you limp across the field. After a few unsteady steps, he stops moving and shakes his head at you: "That just won't do! We're getting nowhere fast." In one swift movement, he hooks his arm behind your thighs and tosses you over his shoulder, legs dangling in front of him as he walks. "Isn't that much better? Won't be long now." You stutter out your thanks, although the sudden movement did make your ankle throb. Something about this position feels inappropriate, but you don't think you could escape from his grasp if you tried. True to his word, it's not very long at all before you [[hear the thundering of several more rabbit-men who've come to greet you.]]

"Well, well, what do we have here?" You feel a large hand lifting your hair, and one of the creatures takes a long sniff. "Can you// please// put me down?" The one who's carrying you laughs and obliges, gently setting you down in the tall grass. You flush as you fix your skirt, hoping nobody noticed how far it had ridden up. You take stock of your surroundings - there are at least ten rabbits surrounding the two of you now. They're just as naked as your savior, and your whole body tenses when you notice that the rabbit who just sniffed your hair is fully erect. They're not human, so maybe you shouldn't be //too// harsh with them for not following human standards of decency... but they've been touching you// far// too freely, and something about this whole situation sets your hair on end. "Can you... can you help me? I twisted my ankle, and I can't walk." The rabbit who saved you claps a hand onto your shoulder. "Sure, sure! But there's no rush. After all, [[you're not going anywhere,]] are you?"

"W-what do you mean by that?" You look around at your... saviors? Are they //really //that, or are they your captors? You're starting to suspect the latter - especially now that they're standing in a very deliberate circle around you, as if to block off any possible means of escape. The rabbit who sniffed your hair earlier walks up to you, his hard cock swaying as he moves. It's as thick as your forearm, with blue veins showing through its shiny pink skin. He plants his hand firmly in your hair, and you suddenly regret heading in this direction with every fiber of your being. "Well, we can't just help you for free, of course! We've got plenty of herbs that'll do the trick, but you need to give us something in return." "Like what?" You think you know what he means, but you hope you're wrong. He laughs, sweet and jovial despite your obvious fear. "You can't be //that //stupid." His hand tightens in your hair to the point of pain. You don't have much time to decide... [[Reluctantly obey]] [[Resist]]

Well, maybe it won't be// that// bad. You don't know if you can fit the whole thing in your mouth, but if the other option is trying to fight them all off... you might as well try. As long as he's true to his word, you'll at least get a healed ankle out of it. "Aw, what's wrong? Do you need a little convincing?" He jerks his hand upward, and you hiss in pain. "No, I don't! I'll do it!" He lets you go with a smile. "Good, you're a smart one! Go ahead, then." He slides his cock against your cheek, and you open your mouth reluctantly, taking in the tip. It doesn't taste anywhere near as bad as you were afraid it might - the musky smell is unpleasant, but the sharp and faintly salty flavor is surprisingly bearable. You suck on the tip, using your hand to stroke the rest of it. "That's not quite what I had in mind. Looks like you// do// need some convincing after all." He grabs the back of your head and forces it down your throat, making you gag. You try to hold your breath as your nose is forced down into his thick, pungent fur. It smells like an unwashed animal. He lets out a sharp trilling sound as you choke on his cock, using his grip on your hair to [[drag your mouth up and down.]]

If this goes on much longer, you think you're going to have a sprained jaw on top of your sprained ankle. The rabbit seems to be enjoying the tight fit, so hopefully it won't be long until he finishes. That hope is dashed, however, when [[a second cock starts nudging at your mouth.]]

There's absolutely //no way// this is going to fit. You're overextending yourself as it is. The other rabbit clearly knows that too, and you hear an argument brewing above you. "I brought them home, I should get to go first! You// know// the rules!" The one who saved you - or rather, kidnapped you - starts shoving at the rabbit with his cock down your throat, and a guttural snarl comes from the latter. The cock slips out of your mouth as they start clawing at each other. Soon the two of them are rolling on the ground in a [[flurry of blood and flying fur.]]

You're so stunned by the brutal display that running doesn't even occur to you until it's// far //too late. One of the beasts pushes you down before you can try hobbling to your feet, grasping both of your wrists in his huge hands. He sits on your back, and you squirm in disgust as a stream of hot piss soaks your hair. The other rabbit's cock wasn't so bad, but this smells// rancid//, like stagnant water full of dead things on a blazing hot day. You press your lips shut and close your eyes as the creature laughs above you. "Those two just don't know how to wait their turn, do they? Lucky me. I bet they'll be too busy fucking each other to bother with you." Is //that// what's happening? Sure enough, the sounds of the nearby fight have transformed into rhythmic moans as, presumably, one of the rabbits exerts his dominance over the other. It sounds like more than just the two of them are joining in the fray, as well - it's getting hard to tell the moans of pain from ones of pleasure, and the sound of fucking from the sound of rending flesh. Your new captor starts tying your hands behind your back with a length of coarse rope. You think it's overkill, considering the state you're in... but [[you're in no position to complain.]]

After your hands are tied, you hear the sound of tearing cloth as he rips your skirt to shreds effortlessly, followed by your shirt. You// liked// that shirt. The rabbit pulls down your underclothes, exposing your ass to the air. He squeezes it //hard//, digging his sharp claws into your flesh and no doubt drawing blood. The sharp squeal that comes out of your mouth is right at home in the cacophany of feverish grunts and moans. He shreds your underclothes along with the last of your dignity, and you shriek as he lands a sudden, bruising blow on your ass, and then //another//. It makes the fresh wounds sting, and you can feel blood trickling down your hips. "Don't you worry, I can take care of all that along with your ankle later. I don't like breaking my toys //too// soon." Before you can contemplate what that means, [[your world turns upside down]] as he hoists you over his strong shoulders, taking off at a brisk pace.

There's no way you could fit that thing into your mouth, even if you wanted to - but you doubt he's going to listen to reason. At a loss for other options, you reach up and dig your nails into his arm //hard,// scraping away ribbons of fur as he yowls in pain. Your ankle threatens to buckle as you leap to your feet, but you force yourself to run despite the pain. It feels like you're running in a dream, unable to make it more than a couple of steps before [[two of the rabbits tackle you at once.]]

All this jostling isn't helping your ankle, but that's the very last thing on your mind as the rabbit-man carries you off to whatever fate he's chosen. The fields are a nauseating blur from where you're perched, but he keeps pace tirelessly until he's reached his destination. Then, finally, he sets you down in front of a hole the size of a large tree trunk and begins untying your hands. He's careful to keep a solid grip on your wrists after he's done, making absolutely// sure// you can't run away. "Here's what you're going to do now: I'll let you go for just a second, and you'll climb on my back and hold on tight. You can't run far with that leg, and even if you could, I'd catch you. Understood?" "Y-yes," you manage weakly. He ruffles your hair like you're a pet that's just done a trick. "Great! Hop on, then." He crouches down in front of you, and you hiss in pain as you move to wrap your legs around his waist. As instructed, you bury your hands in his thick fur to avoid falling off. The rabbit crouches down on all fours and [[starts descending down the hole]], taking you with him.

This tunnel is noticeably different from the one that led you here - as your captor crawls further down, it grows wider and more comfortable. You notice that the light comes from small insects that are jostled out of their slumber by your arrival, spreading out into the tunnel before you and illuminating your surroundings. After several twists and turns, he deposits you on a surprisingly clean straw-stuffed mattress. You pull your knees up to your chest, trying to cover everything you can. It's not much comfort, though, since the puncture wounds on your ass are no doubt staining the bed. "Aw, don't be like that. I need to see you if I'm going to help, don't I?" He takes both of your ankles in his hands and extends your legs for you, then pushes you down on your back and produces the rope again. "Can't have you trying anything funny - I'd have to punish you, and it's a touch early for that." He laughs at your terrified expression. "You'll be just fine as long as you [[do everything I say,]] so don't worry."

You decide that's probably your best bet, all things considered, and opt to lie still while he //hopefully// treats your injuries. That hope seems to be a vain one, though, as you hear him rummaging around in a large leather sack off to your side, from which he produces a heavy iron mallet. [[The rabbit approaches you, grinning.]]

"H-hey, that's not what - " You're cut off when he takes the dangling ends of the rope in one hand and shoves them into your mouth. "Bite down, 'cause this is gonna //hurt."// The rope falls out of your mouth in a guttural scream. He swings the mallet down on your bad ankle with a wet crunch that reverberates through your body, and then readies it above the other. "Wait,// no//! Please,// please don't!"// You try to roll off the mattress, but he straddles your leg firmly and holds you in place. "I've heard that line before, and believe me, it's //not// going to work." Your fingernails draw blood from your palms as he crushes your other ankle, and you retch through your tears. Every tiny movement, even the slight vibrations produced by your sobbing, makes the pulverized shards of bone slide against one another at unnatural angles. The faint, wet sound of it feels like a mockery of your searing pain - so immense that you'd swear you could// hear// it roaring in your ears. //"Help! Someone help me -"// You stop abruptly as he turns around, still brandishing the mallet - but this time, over your head. "Shh, shh, there you go. It's all over. If it's any consolation, I really //do //have herbs - I just won't use them to help you walk again." He sets the weapon aside, rummaging through the bag again. To your immense relief, he only [[pulls out a small fabric pouch.]]

He pulls a handful of long, pale leaves out of the pouch and puts them in his mouth, chewing rapidly. You watch in disgust as he spits the chewed leaf mush out onto his hand and prepares to rub it into your skin. At first, the mere act of someone touching your shattered ankles is agonizing. You feel tears and drool streaming down your face as you hyperventilate. Is this really going to help you, or will it just be another [[underhanded trick to make you compliant?]]

Against all odds, the paste //does// ease your pain to almost nothing. Your ankles are still visibly crushed, but it doesn't hurt when the rabbit touches them anymore. Ugh, //why// couldn't he have just held up his end of the bargain and healed your sprained ankle this way? "Time to roll over," the rabbit tells you, and you oblige. Your ankles still twinge when you try to move them, and you're sure they'd buckle under you if you tried to walk at all. You gasp when you feel yet another stream of piss flowing over your ass. He laughs at your surprise and gives you a good-natured swat. "Beggars can't be choosers, cunt. Either I wash your wounds like this or they don't get washed at all." He sits on your thighs and spreads more of the medicine over your puncture wounds. As he's doing so, he [[fills you in on what's expected of you.]]

"Here's the deal," the rabbit tells you while he treats your wounds. "I'm not like the rest of my clan in one //very// important way - I don't share my toys with the others, //ever.//" He leans over to sniff your hair again, apparently satisfied with the mark he left on you earlier. "I normally wouldn't even look twice at someone they've already fucked, but it's been a long time since we've had such a pretty piece of meat down here. You're lucky I'm so desperate, little cunt." His fingers slip between your legs, rubbing your pussy. You try to squirm away from his touch, but all you can really do is grind against his hand in your futile attempts to escape. "You're not going to leave my little hideout until I get bored, and I //don't// get bored quickly." He drags his claws over your hips, [[making you twitch involuntarily.]]

"You only have one job while you're here: do absolutely //everything// I tell you to do without complaint. If you're a good enough pet, I'll let you go eventually - and that's a promise." You feel his cock hardening against your ass, and you hope he's not going to try anything while you're still recovering. "Will you really let me go?" It comes out as a whimper, and he laughs at you, stroking your piss-drenched hair. "Of course I will. I'm a man of my word, after all." You don't think that's quite right, but what are you going to do - //argue// with him? He spreads your asscheeks with his massive hands, and you feel his cock pressing against your hole. Despite everything, you can't help protesting the intrusion. "Wait, it's not ready! You can't just - " In one swift movement, he pins your head to the mattress and tears out a large chunk of your hair with his other hand, as easily as you'd rip a fistful of weeds out of your garden. [[You howl at that,]] loud and shrill enough to drown out his cold laughter.

"Lesson number one," he tells you, rubbing his slick cock between your cheeks. "You don't tell me what to do, //ever//." You choke back a sob as he starts to force his cock inside, [[stretching your unprepared ass]] far past the point of comfort.

"If you can just take this like a good pet, I'll give you a reward later." You don't have any option// but// to take it like a good pet, not with your hands tightly bound and your ankles reduced to loose bags of bone shards. You don't think you want whatever "reward" he has in mind, but you doubt you'll get a choice in the matter, so you can only hope it's something good. "Oh, that's// so// tight. I'm glad I got to it before the others - they don't know how to treat a toy. Would've shredded all your holes 'till they were useless." He moves more slowly than you were expecting, letting you feel every inch of his cock as it slides in and out of your hole. He's slick with precum, but that doesn't do much to ease your pain. [[You pray that it'll be over soon.]]

He pulls your hair as he fucks you, lifting your head up off the now-soiled mattress. In horror, you realize that your cunt is leaking all over the bed - no, there's no way this feels //good//. The force of his thrusts means you're basically humping the mattress now, rubbing your slick cunt against it and leaving embarrassingly sizable stains. You're panting and drooling from the pain, wishing desperately that he'd let go of your hair so you could hide your face in shame, but he seems to be enjoying it. Suddenly, as if he's read your mind, he forces your head down onto the mattress and starts to pound your ass at a violent pace, ignoring your muffled screams. You've never felt pain like this before, and the thought that he's inflicted it on other people too makes you despair at your chances of escaping. You body //screams// at you to tell him to stop - but you remember what he said about giving him orders, so you [[bite your tongue]] as he continues to brutalize your ass.

You're starting to have a hard time breathing through the mattress when he finally fills you up, clawing at your hips and flooding your bruised asshole with an impossible amount of cum. When he pulls out, a thick river of cum flows down your ass and over your cunt, soaking the bed completely. He reaches a hand underneath you to rub your clit, and you buck against him despite it all. "Oh, you //liked// that, didn't you? I'll have to be more creative with my punishments, then. Can't have you getting this wet when you're supposed to be learning a lesson." He keeps fondling your cunt, and you realize in utter horror that [[you're on the edge of orgasm.]]

"Then wh-why - " He pinches your clit// far// too hard betwen two fingers, cutting off your protest and making you squeal in pain. "Ahh, that //hurts!"// "Good, it's supposed to. You don't talk back to me, because I'll hurt you if you do." He squeezes even harder, crushing your clit until tears start pooling in your eyes again. "Repeat after me: I won't talk back, //ever.//" Desperate for him to stop, you do as you're told: "I won't talk back, ever! Please..." "Please what? Please hurt me more? Is that what you're saying?" [[He twists your clit harshly,]] making you sob into the drool-soaked mattress.

"N-no..." You shake your head, praying he won't decide to follow through on that. "Then don't say anything I didn't// tell// you to say. Understood?" "Yes, I understand!" You choke out through your tears, and he finally [[releases your clit from his grip.]]

//"Good// cunt," he tells you, as if praising a dog. You sniffle, turning your face into the mattress so he can't see your tears. "Now, what did I say about talking back? Do you remember?" You flinch as he slips his hand under your cunt again, but his touch is gentle this time. "I'll never talk back, ever," you tell him, and you //absolutely mean it// this time. "Very good. Now put your ass in the air," he tells you, and you [[obey without question.]]

It's hard to shift into the right position - your ankles aren't especially happy with you, and neither is your neck, sore from the force of having your hair torn out. But you know what's going to happen if you disobey. You gasp when you his tongue slides between the folds of your cunt. This doesn't //feel //like a punishment, so you must've made the right choice. He dedicates himself to cleaning out all the cum that spilled from your ass onto your cunt, gently rubbing your clit with his fingers from time to time as he does so. You wish you could pretend you weren't enjoying it - but in this moment, your fear is utterly consumed by the desperate hope that he'll //[[just let you cum.]]//

You whine in distress when he stops, but he's only positioning his face beneath your cunt. He grabs your hips and forces you down onto his face, and - oh, your ankles //really// aren't taking this well at all, leaf paste or no leaf paste, but you can't imagine that he cares about letting them heal properly. You tremble with pain and arousal as he drags his teeth over your clit. Oh,// god,// is he going to - no, he doesn't bite you, instead replacing his teeth with his hot, wet tongue. You look down at what he's doing and [[see your juices dripping down his face.]]

He stops for just a moment, holding you barely an inch above his mouth with his strong hands. "You're going to have to earn it, you know. Like you heard before, we don't just give things away for free around here." "I'll do //anything,"// you tell him, and he laughs, digging his claws deep into your hips. The squelching sound of tearing flesh makes you cringe - you can't decide what's worse, having his claws or his cock inside your body. "Of course you will. So be a good pet and touch your cunt for me." "What?" You stare down at him, [[wondering if you heard him correctly.]] His grip tightens further, and you moan in pain.

"You can cum, but I won't help you do it. You'll have to rub your little cunt all by yourself. And you //will, //because I //said so.//" "Y-yes!" You twist your hands in the ropes that still bind them, struggling to get good leverage. You're acutely aware that you'd be forced to drop //all //of your weight onto your shattered ankles if he let go of you, so you ignore the raw rope burns that are starting to form and [[rub your clit as hard as you can.]]

It feels// so good.// You can't believe it, but it does. You can't get quite as much pressure on your clit as you'd like, but it's so sensitive from the rabbit's abuse that every little touch makes you squirm and moan. Your face burns with shame as you feel your orgasm pressing closer, and tears start to spill down your cheeks again at the indignity of it all. Lucky for you, that doesn't make it feel any less good when you finally cum, bucking pitifully into your own bound hands while your captor buries his claws deep into your flesh. Maybe if you're very,// very// good, this won't be the last time he lets you cum. ''BAD END: Favorite Toy'' [[Want to meet with a different fate?|You begin climbing up to the surface.]] Or maybe... you'd like to [[see what happens next?|bad end extra: a piece of meat]]

The stream is just as clear and cold as you hoped, and you splash your face with water once your thirst is quenched. You feel refreshed, but there's still one problem... You're horrendously sweaty after your ordeal, and the thought of bathing in the stream is very tempting. Should you... [[Strip and bathe]] [[No, just follow the stream and see where it takes you]]

That's it, you just //can't// go another moment without bathing - and you should probably wash your clothes too, or at least shake off the dirt. After all, what's the worst that could happen? It seems like a fairly secluded area, and there's ample coverage from the surrounding rocks and shrubs. You strip off your clothes and shake them vigorously, sending clouds of dirt and dust flying into the air. Afterward, you fold them and tuck them beneath a small rock overhang for safe-keeping. You yelp slightly as you step into the water - the icy chill is a pleasant shock to your senses. Hoping nobody heard that, you crouch down and begin to [[scrub off the sweat]] as best you can with just your hands.

No, you don't know who or what might be roaming the wilderness alongside you. Better to just follow the stream and try to find your way home. The stream widens as you walk alongside it, opening into the mouth of a larger river. As you follow along, you pick up on the faint sound of laughter downstream - varied and natural, unlike the voice that tried to lure you down into the tunnels. Hoping to find someone who can tell you where you are, you [[hurry along to find the source.]]

Ahh, that's// so //much better. You turn around to grab your clothes, but gasp in shock when you find the rock overhang empty! There's no way anyone could've snuck in behind you// that// quickly or quietly... right? You start swishing your hands around in the water, wondering if maybe your clothes fell out of the overhang while you were bathing. When you try to stand up, your hands don't follow you, and you struggle for a moment - are they stuck between the rocks somehow? Did you get tangled in the reeds? The more you struggle to get away, the clearer it becomes that your hands are trapped in the water itself, which has stopped flowing downstream as it [[creeps slowly up your wrists.]]

It didn't take very long for the rabbit to frighten you into compliance, but the true love and soul-deep obedience you harbor now were a different beast altogether. At first, you were terrified of him, desperate to earn your freedom by doing whatever he asked - but your body could only take so much pain. You slowly began to forget about freedom and reach desperately for pleasure instead, quietly submitting to whatever tortures he chose in order to earn the brief respite of orgasm. That's what you're doing right now... but unlike the other times, you don't know if you'll be able to succeed. Your thighs burn and tremble as you struggle to stay upright, not letting the wooden stake in your cunt pierce any deeper. It's sharp enough that you can't even bear to think about that possibility, and any pleasure you might have felt when the rabbit left you here initially has long since faded. Your desperation to survive is the only thing that matters, and the feeling of your kneecaps sliding out of place on the hard-packed dirt floor is the last thing on your mind. You know better than to scream for help, of course - and not only that, but [[you wouldn't try]] even if help was promised beyond a shadow of a doubt.

In your panic, your feet slip on the stones, and whatever force is keeping your hands pinned wraps itself around them too. The water... if it// is// water... feels gelatinous and thick as it forms precisely to your wrists and ankles, leaving no room for you to slip away. //"Hel - " //You can't finish your scream before the clear, wet mass encloses your head, and you thrash wildly for a moment, sure that you're going to drown. But... as the desperation for air forces you to [[open your mouth,]] you realize that you can //breathe.//

After all, where would you go? Back to the coarse and violent rabbitfolk that he saved you from? Back to a life where your suffering is only rewarded with more of the same? No, you know what you'll recieve after this is all over, and you'll be damned if anything can stop you from getting it. You moan in pain as the sharp point of the stake pushes against your cervix, struggling to force yourself upright. It feels like a white-hot wire being forced deep inside your womb, searing your body with the mark of your captor forever. You think your stomach muscles are starting to tear from the strain, [[but you've managed it for now]] - the point is just barely at a tolerable depth.

You strain to listen as the familiar sound of his footsteps begins to echo down the tunnel - and not only that, but there's a second voice sobbing alongside him. You lean toward the sound, and shriek as one of your knees begins to slip. Your cunt spasms in agonizing pain as you force all your weight onto one knee, hearing the low grind of bone against bone. "Well, well, look who made it all night!" Your captor's praise is the only thing you can hear anymore, and your gratitude pours out of you endlessly as he tosses aside the hogtied figure he's been dragging in order to lift you from your perch. The roughly hewn wood scrapes against your inner walls as he does so, [[leaving splinters embedded deep into your flesh.]]

"Thank you, I love you," you mumble into the soft fur of his chest. He strokes your dirty hair and holds you tightly as the other thing sobs quietly in the corner. "You did such a good job, little cunt. There's hardly any blood on the tip at all!" You can feel your own tears welling up as he slips his hand between your legs, forcing two thick fingers into your tender, swollen hole. "Aw, does your pussy hurt?" You nod, choking back tears, and then a scream tears its way out of your chest as he starts thrusting his fingers in and out of you, pushing the splinters even deeper. "It hurts, it //hurts!"// He fucks you faster, scratching the inside of your hole with his sharp claws, and you squirm in pain, [[straining your wrists against their bonds.]]

"It hurts so// bad,"// you moan. The pain drowns out any noise from his other prize. He doesn't slow down, shredding your cunt until it's slick with blood. "You're so wet," he whispers against your hair. You hold back bile when he finally pulls out his blood-drenched fingers and strokes your face with them. "It h-hurts." You shudder as he drags his nails across your cheek. Every breath makes your throbbing cunt ache more, forcing the lacerated ribbons of flesh to rub against each other. [["I'll tell you how to make it better,"]] he promises.

"Thank you," you gasp as the tears begin to fall. "Thank you so much." "You know I'd never really hurt you, right? I'll hurt you, but I'll never //hurt// you." He combs his bloody fingers through your hair, and you know you'd do anything for him. "Yes, you're right." You lean into his gentle hand. "How can I make it better, please?" He chuckles softly, the sound like a cool stream drenching your blood-soaked mind. "Do you see that thing over there?" He gestures toward the new person, and you nod, unsure. He's never brought anyone else down here, not in all the time he's had you... but it's //your// blood dripping from his fingers,// your// flesh ground under his claws, not theirs. He won't replace you. [[He can't.]]

"Good. Now I need you to listen to me, cunt." He grabs your tear-stained face in one massive hand, forcing you to look at him - as if he needed to use any force. He turns his head to stare at you intently, one large pink eye just centimeters from your face. You hold your breath. "If you can make that thing feel good, I'll heal your wounds... and since you were so very good today, you'll also get a nice //long// rest. That's a promise." His breath tickles your ear as he grips your face hard. "M-make it feel good?" He nods, [[releasing his grip and letting you tumble gracelessly to the dirt.]]

You try to crawl, but your overextended knees buckle, and you drag yourself forward on your elbows instead. The other thing's breaths grow labored as you inch closer, leaving a trail of dark blood from your ruined cunt. It starts rocking back and forth, struggling to roll away from you, but all it can manage is tipping over and writhing in the soil like an insect. [["Let me help,"]] your captor says.

He positions himself behind the new toy - no, no, //not// the new toy, it won't be, it //can't //be. He shushes it gently as he gathers the sweating, trembling mass of its limbs to his massive chest. With two swipes of his claws, he releases it from the ropes, swiftly catching its wrists in his hands immediatley afterward. You remember that feeling - the realization that there's no way out. The thought of somebody else passing through that veil into your private world with him makes your blood boil, and you crawl with renewed determination. [[It draws its knees up to its chest,]] and the rabbit shakes his head with a gentle smile.

"Now now, you don't want to find out what'll happen if you make a scene." His hands constrict around its wrists even harder, and the scent of fresh piss fills your nostrils as it soaks the dirt in terror. "How rude. My toy doesn't like the taste of piss, you know." He meets your eyes and frowns apologetically. "I'm sorry about that, cunt. I promise I'll give you a little something extra once you're all finished." He turns his attention back to the thing in his arms. "Don't you worry, I won't let you leave without a reward of your very own. If you spread your legs and let my toy put its mouth on you..." He nuzzles into its hair, and you consider biting down //hard// - but no, you were ordered to [[make it feel good.]]

"If you let my toy put its mouth on you, I'll let you go. You'll be free." Your heart leaps in ecstatic joy - he's going to throw the damn thing away, of //course// he is. You're his one and only toy, and he's only testing your resolve. No, not just your resolve - your love. He needs to know that you love him just as much as he loves you, and you're more than happy to prove it. [[You press your face between its closed legs,]] trying to nuzzle in deep.

The pathetic sound it makes as it opens its thighs for you just cements the firm knowledge that this thing could// never// be his new toy. There will never, ever,// ever //be a new toy, and you'll make sure of that. "P-please..." It gasps sharply, even though you've hardly started. You know the difference between moans of pain and moans of pleasure, and you imagine that he's crushing its flimsy wrists with his tight grip. The knowledge that he doesn't care about this thing spurs you onward, and you force yourself to open your mouth against its slick cunt. Is it really wet?// How dare it get wet?// How dare this thing feel good when you're his favorite toy? It won't last long, though - you're determined not to let it, sucking hard on the thing's clit as you hold your breath. The stench of piss and sweat disgusts you, as does the very thought of [[pleasuring anyone other than him.]]

You're starting to feel lightheaded - you can't do this much longer without stopping to breathe, and you surely won't be rewarded if you pass out. The thing's juices are overflowing into your mouth, and you want to spit them out - but it's so close, you can't give in just yet. Determined to drive this inferior cunt to the point of orgasm, you draw in a deep breath, accepting the hot, invasive stench of its piss and pleasure into your lungs. //"Don't - "// Its thighs tremble around your head, and you can hear it suck in a shuddering breath. It's leaking and throbbing in your mouth the way no one other than //him// ever should. "Oh, you don't want me to let you go? That's fine by me. Stop licking it, cunt." A faint sob leaks out of its mouth as the rabbit speaks. You wipe your mouth and [[glare up at the impudent thing,]] seething with hatred.

"No, I want you to let me go - please, please let me go." Its exposed cunt twitches, drooling onto the dirt. Another stream of piss leaks out, and the rabbit digs his claws into the meat of its wrist, drawing blood. "Then you should accept my very generous offer," he tells it icily. "This is a well-trained cunt, and you're being ungrateful." Even through the aching pain, you feel a twinge of pleasure between your legs at his praise. "I'm sorry," the thing sobs. "I'm sorry." "Are you going to let my cunt lick you now?" As you look up at its naked form, you see trails of drool that it can't wipe away running down its heaving chest. "Yes," it whispers. [["I'll let your cunt lick me. I'm sorry."]]

"What are you sorry for?" He asks it. You feel like you can taste the fear leaking out of its cunt as it answers shakily. "For... for..." You can tell you're doing a good job when it's interrupted by a moan, and you channel every ounce of your love and disgust into the suction of your lips. "For being ungrateful," the rabbit supplies, and the thing sighs in pleasure despite itself. "I'm sorry for being ungrateful. //Ah - " //Its breathing speeds up, and the hot rush of slick fluid in your mouth signals the end of your trial. "Very good. Now stay where you are, both of you. Cunt, clean it up. It's dirty." Ugh, do you really have to keep going? You don't know how much more of this rancid smell you can take, [[but if it's for him...]]

You focus hard on the task at hand as the rabbit carefully disentangles himself from the two of you. The thing instinctively tries to close its legs again, and you force them open with your hands as you lick up the piss and cum. You're so intent on securing your reward that you don't hear him rustling around in the leather sack behind you. You don't look back to see what's making your competition hyperventilate in fear. You don't notice the whistling of the iron mallet as it swings down on the back of your head. You don't even get to wash the new toy's piss out of your mouth before you die. ''BAD END Extra: A Piece of Meat'' [[Want to meet with a different fate?|You begin climbing up to the surface.]]

"This one's gonna be fun!" crows the first of the rabbits as he locks your head between his thighs. The stench of animal musk invades your senses, and you struggle to breathe through his thick white fur. The second one takes a blow from your flailing legs, but it doesn't stop him for long. You feel both of his huge hands enclosing your good ankle, and then a second set of hands crushes the other in their strong grip. You hiss in pain, struggling to free your nose and suck in a breath. You magnify your efforts tenfold when you hear thundering footsteps behind you, and a thick cock forces itself unceremoniously between your folds. You're starting to see flashes of red behind your eyes, still unable to free yourself from the rabbit's headlock, and [[the last thing you feel before your consciousness fades]] is the burning pain of your cunt being torn.

You blink rapidly, trying to make your eyes adjust to your surroundings. The light is so dim that you can barely make out what's in front of you, and your neck aches. When you try to move your head to relieve the strain, you begin to panic. You're locked firmly into a wooden pillory that encloses both your head and hands, and no matter how hard you struggle, you only succeed in getting splinters beneath your skin. Your legs are spread apart, tied to something rigid - and you're not alone in your predicament, either. A cacophony of moans and screams drowns out your thoughts. You can't tell if they're noises of pleasure or pain, nor can you make out any words in the animalistic swell of noise. [[It's not just the voices of the rabbits.]] There are other people like you down here.

A shrill scream forces its way past your eardrum, far too close for comfort. You can barely turn your head to look, but the voice next to your ear has started to hyperventilate wordlessly as the wet slapping sound of what must be a rabbit ruthlessly pounding them from behind grows louder. The vibrations of their increasingly panicked howling are crawling beneath your skull, invading your mind and displacing any thoughts you might try to have. It's impossible to focus on anything but the searing pain of the cock that thrusts into your aching cunt and the claws penetrating your flesh. "Let me out! Let me out!// Let me out - "// You chant it like a spell or a prayer despite the obvious futility, scraping your wrists raw as the rabbit pounds into you feverishly. //"Let me out let me out let me out let me out - "// "It's still talking! You'd better give that one some more attention," a rabbit's voice says. You scream as its muzzle brushes against your ear, [[nibbling a little too hard while it's there.]]

"Aw, does it not feel //good// yet?" The rabbit pulls out, but you're given no time to rest before its hot tongue replaces its cock. You struggle to kick it away, but its muscular arms hold your thighs in place easily as it nuzzles deep between your legs, moaning as it licks up the mixture of unwanted arousal and blood. Your clit throbs and twitches in its mouth, and it lets out a growl that reverberates throughout your body. "Don't touch me - " Your breath begins to pick up pace, matching the howling victim beside you. The rabbit's tongue is large enough to cover your cunt entirely, and no amount of squirming can get you any further away from its ministrations. You shudder in disgust at the loud slurping sound as it sucks hard on your clit, [[making you leak shamefully despite yourself.]]

"Please stop," you whisper, knowing full well that there's nothing you can do. "Please stop." You can't even hear yourself over the cacophony, and your futile struggling only increases the unwanted friction against your soaking wet cunt. "Are you going to //cum?"// The other rabbit breathes gleefully, right next next to your ear. You sob, watching your drool fall to the ground as your attacker laughs into your folds. "It'll feel so good when you finally break," the rabbit tells you. "Just let it happen. You don't want it to hurt anymore, right?" //"N-no,"// you moan as your cunt betrays you, drenching the rabbit's tongue with your pleasure. At least, you think that's what you're saying - it's hard to tell. You don't get to say anything after that, because your mouth is occupied. ''Bad End: Fucking Like Rabbits'' [[Want to meet with a different fate?|You begin climbing up to the surface.]] Or maybe... you'd like to [[see what happens next?|because your mouth is occupied.]]

Your jaw aches, and you're starting to forget what it felt like for your holes to be empty. There's no way to measure time in this place, and you don't remember the last time you spoke. You're not sure you remember how to speak at all anymore. There's a brutal efficiency to the rabbits' abuse. They stopped caring about your pleasure as soon as you'd been sufficently broken by it - now you're just a set of holes, constantly in use, and rarely filled by less than two of the rabbits. You can no longer tell the difference between an orgasm and the agony of your flesh tearing. All you can hear is the desperate moans of your fellow captives and the animalistic ecstasy of the rabbits. Here in the near-dark, immobilized and blanketed in the constant noise of violation, your body is reduced to what's inside of it. You begin to crave the frantic, violent mating, because without it there is nothing but the dirt and the noise and the pain of your restraints. It feels good. It feels //good. // Or maybe it just feels like //something.// Whatever the truth may be, you find yourself desperately grinding back onto the rabbits, weeping in fear and despair when they stop. You just want //more.// It's a dark blessing that you're already in this mindless state when [[your face is splattered with hot blood.]]

At first you think it's cum, but the taste is too metallic, and then the source of the blood settles any doubt by rolling to a slow stop right in front of your eyes. The raw flesh of the captive's severed head trembles and spurts out blood like it's still coming, even now - and it isn't left to rest for very long, as one of the rabbits crouches down in front of you and slides its cock into the twitching pulp. You can hear the rabbit's sharp moans reaching a crescendo as the blank face of the corpse stares back at you. It's close enough to kiss. You reach out with your tongue - you're not sure why, but the instinct surges through you, and you feel almost powerful for half a second as you thrust your tongue into their stiff mouth, tasting something other than cock for the first time in... When have you //ever //tasted anything else? Isn't this the very first time? ''BAD END Extra: Last Kiss'' [[Want to meet with a different fate?|You begin climbing up to the surface.]]

Not only can you breathe, but the sweet mist flooding your senses makes you feel more alive than you've ever been before. It rushes suddenly to your head, and your body feels too heavy and limp to move... But you don't mind. What is there to be upset about, anyway? Each breath feels like a rush of pure spring water that reaches down to your aching bones. You're so, so //tired// after everything you've been through, [[and you deserve a rest.]] Why fight it?

As the mist gently blankets your mind, you feel something slick probing the folds of your cunt, slipping past every little crevice and touching you more deeply than you've ever touched yourself. The sudden rush of cool water into your cunt makes you yelp - or try to, anyway - but all you manage to do is breathe in more of the sweet mist. Your vision bursts into a shower of white sparks as the water fills you, and the gelatinous mass constantly shifts against your sensitive cunt. You don't have the strength to grind against it, so you simply hang limp while the world around you vanishes, consumed by pleasure and white light. Everything is fine, after all - everything feels so, //so good. // [[Why would you ever want this to stop?]]

The slime creeps over the rest of your body, encasing your limbs, and then your torso, and then your neck. Then there's no separation between you and the source of your pleasure, and your muffled gasps push you deeper into bliss as your cunt throbs with the beginnings of an orgasm. Have you ever been anywhere else? Have you ever felt anything else? You don't think so. You don't think at all. That's okay, because the only thing that's ever existed is this nearly unbearable ecstasy. If you could think, perhaps you'd feel your skin dissolving. Perhaps you'd scream and scratch and try to get away - but that would hurt, wouldn't it? And you don't want to hurt. You want to keep feeling good. And you //will // keep feeling good, for the rest of your life. ''BAD (?) END: A Nice Long Bath'' [[Want to meet with a different fate?|You begin climbing up to the surface.]]

You decide to rest for a while - the soft moss is a welcome relief, and the sun streaming through the canopy of leaves is far more gentle than the baking heat of the fields. You breathe in the fresh air, basking in the comforting sound of wind through the trees and small animals rustling in the underbrush. You're so relieved that it takes you several minutes to notice [[when the telltale signs of wildlife fall silent.]]

You startle out of your reverie once the silence finally catches up to you. The lively forest sounds utterly desolate now, and you don't want to stick around to find out what caused it... but wouldn't running away just make you a target? [[Book it]] [[Stay where you are and hide]]

Maybe if you'd waited just a little bit longer, it would have occured to you that making all this noise was a bad idea. But you're so disoriented from your experience in the tunnels that you can't stand the thought of coming across yet //another// mysterious being - after all, what if the thing that called for you underground isn't the only anomaly in this place? The panic consumes you, and you leap up from your comfortable spot, [[sprinting off into the woods.]]

You don't know what's coming, but it can't be good - and making a racket by trying to leave sounds like the worst possible option. As quietly as you can, you slide your legs down from the log and wedge yourself between it and one of the honeysuckle bushes. It's not perfect cover, but what else are you going to do? You press your face against the soft moss and try to breathe quietly. There are small rocks and pieces of splintered wood beneath your knees, but shifting your weight at all would make [[far too much noise.]]

You don't hear anything for so long that you start to consider leaving your hiding spot - it's as if the silence itself scared the animals away, and now it's filtering between the honeysuckle branches to make its way toward you. You're just about to make good on that impulse when you feel the ground vibrate beneath your feet. The tremor hits you long before the noise does - slow and heavy footsteps cushioned by the deep moss, leisurely exploring the woods before they stop right in front of you. They're easily ten times larger than your own feet, wide-set and wrapped in heavy leather boots with a carefully stamped filigree pattern of leaves. The gleaming brass capping the ends of the laces clinks against itself [[as their substantial momentum comes to a halt.]]

You're no longer trying to breathe quietly - instead, you're holding your breath altogether, praying that they won't see you. The figure crouches down, and you see through the leaves that the rest of their body is just as broad. They block out the sun with their torso as they look down on your hiding spot, [[and you know you've been discovered.]]

"Well, well, what do we have here? A rabbitfolk captive? You're covered in dirt," the figure says, sounding calmly amused. A large leather-gloved hand reaches out to pat your head, and you reflexively squirm away - but there's nowhere to go, and you just hit your head on a dead branch sticking out of the fallen log. "Ah..." You reach up to feel the damage - it's tender and sore, but hopefully nothing too severe. The figure laughs, still a generous arm's length above your head despite crouching down. The sound is gentle, and almost puts you at ease... [[but the birds still aren't singing.]]

"I'm sorry..." You don't know what you're apologizing for, but the words rush out of your mouth instinctively. This time, you don't pull away from the large hand cupping the back of your head - it almost feels exploratory, like they're examining a curious stone. "No need to be sorry, little thing. You can't be comfortable in there, so why not let me get a better look at you?" You're not given the chance to climb out yourself - the stranger grips you beneath your arms and [[hoists you firmly into the air.]] You shriek as they enclose your torso, their fingers nearly meeting around your back - even if they're not trying to grope you, it's impossible for their huge hands not to touch your breasts in this position.

"Wh - hey - " your protests fall silent when you finally catch a glimpse of your... captor's...? face. Their skin is the color of a fresh holly leaf, and it's far too uniform to be painted on - but that's not the most surprising thing. Two prominent white tusks sprout up between their lips, and despite everything, you're put in mind of a flower's pale stamen. "Who..." You squirm in their grip, but it doesn't do any good. Maybe you could scratch at their hands in an escape attempt, but one glance at the gleaming sword scabbard hanging from their belt makes you think better of it. "Who am I? Well..." They hold your gaze just as firmly as they're holding the rest of you, [[and you don't even consider looking away.]]

"If I'm right about what kind of creature //you// are, I think I'm your best shot at surviving this place." Their golden eyes narrow in contemplation as they take in your panicked features. "Well... I suppose there's other ways you could survive, but you wouldn't like it very much." They set you down gently, and you [[take off running]] out of sheer survival instinct.

You don't stick around to hear the rest of their pitch, instead kicking up clumps of dirt and moss in your haste to //get away. // The forest doesn't seem quite as comforting anymore - the gaps between the trees feel smaller, and you can only hope that your panic won't send you careening straight into one. You don't know what kind of fate you're running from, but the dead silence pressing in on all sides tells you unmistakably that it wouldn't be a good one. There's no noise except your labored breathing and the sound of your feet pounding the ground... [[Your feet, and no one else's.]]

After several minutes of desperate running, you foot slides out from under you and you go tumbling into a shallow pool of mud. You scramble to get up, looking behind you for... //whatever// that was, but there are no thundering footsteps to be heard, and there's nothing but peaceful trees and the blossoming carpet of moss in whichever direction you look. Panting, you pull yourself carefully out of the mud - [[maybe you should head back to that stream, after all.]]

You're completely covered in mud, and your journey back to the stream is a cold and uncomfortable one. Every gust of wind chills you and helps the mud dry faster on your skin. You don't think you want to undress completely after what just happened... but maybe you could just splash some water on your face. It'd be better than nothing. After wandering for what feels like hours, you finally hear the telltale babbling of the stream and [[run toward it with the very last of your energy.]]

You fall to your knees in the dirt, thrusting both hands into the clear, cool water and watching as clouds of muck escape your skin. You can't help lingering there long after your hands are perfectly clean, reveling in the touch of water after your ordeal. Your ears are still pricked for any sign of your pursuer, but the birdsong has returned, giving you reason to hope that you've lost them for good. You swirl your hands around, running them along the smooth mossy stones of the riverbed, then cup as much water as you can between them and start rinsing off your face. It's such a welcome relief that you don't notice the thick, clear tendrils connecting your hands to the water [[until they've started to constrict.]]

It takes a long moment for you to register what's happening, and when you do, a piercing scream escapes your lips. You try to back away, but the water - or whatever's inside the water - pulls you back in with a vice grip, and soon enough, [[your head's been completely immersed,]] silencing your screams.

You can't even thrash your limbs anymore - they've been encased in thick, clear slime, forced into a truly humiliating position. It pushes your head deep underwater, deeper than what you thought was the bottom of the stream. The slime holds your legs firmly apart, and you try desperately to move// anything// as a thick, cold mass begins pressing at the entrance of your cunt. As it prods at your hole, seemingly deciding on the best way to violate you, it also slides through your folds to encompass your clit. The slime starts to tighten until there's no air between its surface and your skin, sucking and rubbing at your clit until you're slick and twitching with unwanted pleasure. You can hear your heartbeat hammering like a rabbit's, and you'd swear you're making the slime vibrate in your utter panic as you [[struggle to keep holding your breath.]]

It molds to the shape of your inner walls as it invades your body, pushing deeper than anybody you've ever slept with. Your lungs are burning, and you can see faint white sparks behind your closed eyelids. You aren't even strong enough to open them with your head fully encased in the slime. It takes all your energy not to open your mouth and gasp when it starts swelling inside of you, pressing almost painfully against your cervix and shifting so quickly that you can't ever get used to the size. Just before you're forced to inhale, a vibrating burst of yellow light shatters the slime's grip on your body, making it shrink and recede back into the water. You tumble back in as well with a splash, and [[scramble to get out]] as soon as you notice you're free.

You haven't even taken a single step toward freedom when your flailing hand lands on a tough leather boot. Shocked into stillness, you look up and see your strange captor from before. "I - did you..." The towering figure offers you a hand, and you're too stunned to do anything but accept it. They pull you out of the stream with ease, and you crawl away from the water's edge as soon as you possibly can. "It's not going to attack you again," they tell you with a faint smile. "Not for a good few minutes, at the very least. Believe me, I've tested this spell many times." [["Spell?"]]

"Of course. Ordinary weapons wouldn't stand a chance against such a creature, now, would they?" They're not trying to grab you again, and you hope that means they'll be sensitive to your fragile state - but there's a teasing edge to their voice that makes you blush, as if you should've known. "I... I guess not. But can you really do magic?" "Most certainly. But we shouldn't stand around talking, little thing." They offer you a hand again, and you hesitantly take it. "Are you going to hurt me?" They squeeze your hand gently, looking into your eyes with an intense, searching stare. It makes you feel undressed. [["No, I won't. You have my word."]]

"I know how sudden this must seem. But now that you've seen firsthand how //dangerous// this place is for a frail little thing like yourself - wouldn't you rather come with me? I'll keep you safe." With your hand firmly clasped in theirs, you can't do much but agree. If you can't even trust the water, you probably //are// better off following someone who has the power to save you from it. "Where are you taking me?" You ask as they pull you along like a puppy on a leash. Their face is framed by the setting sun as they look back, and the light glints sharply off their formidable tusks. Still, their expression is open and kind. "Somewhere you can rest," they promise. [[You can only hope they're telling the truth.]]

Once the stream has disappeared over the horizon, your savior stops and unclasps their woolen cloak, draping it over your shoulders. "Thank you..." You're sure you'll get it dirty, but it's a welcome relief from the deepening chill. They wrap their arm around your shoulders, and as you follow their lead, you see that you're approaching the treeline once more. "Is it safe in there?" You're a little bit afraid to ask them needless questions, but after your experience with the water spirit, you can't imagine that the forest is any safer. "No, it's not safe." Their tone is firm, and they tug you along despite your growing unease. [["But that doesn't matter anymore, because I'm here."]]

You lean into their side, exhausted from your ordeal. You're too tired to argue, and you know you couldn't put up a fight against them either way, so you decide to choose your battles wisely. They //are// the only being who's shown you anything but cruelty so far, after all, and you can't stand the thought of wandering around by yourself after such a horrible shock. You can still feel the dull, stinging ache of your hole being violated - it's almost like the thing is still //inside// you, still stretching you past your limits, and taking even one more step on your own like this sounds far too stressful. They must notice how tired you are, because they stop just before the treeline and let go of your shoulders. Swiftly and fluidly, they hook a muscular arm behind your knees, and before you know it you're cradled to their chest. "What - what are you -" They pick up their pace, ignoring your weak protests as they [[stride purposefully toward some mysterious destination.]]

"I apologize if I startled you." You can feel their voice rumbling through your body, and despite your misgivings, something about it soothes your fraying nerves. "No, it's alright. I //am// pretty tired." That's a significant understatement - even though your survival instinct screams at you to stay awake, the gentle rhythm of your savior's steps is making the thought of just resting your eyes for a moment incredibly tempting. You won't fall asleep, of course - not in this state. You're just so //very// tired, and you haven't had the chance to rest in so long that it's nearly //impossible// to fight your closing eyelids as they [[carry you deeper and deeper into the woods.]]

Your vision is hazy at first, but as you blink the sleep from your eyes, your surroundings come into focus. You're curled up amid a nest of pillows in a padded window alcove. As you push yourself up on your elbows, you notice the sunlight streaming down through the sizable window - just how long have you been asleep? The pillowcases are soft and cool beneath your fingers, made of much finer cloth than you've ever seen before, and you realize with a start that your shoes have left streaks of dirt on them. In fact, your whole body is still caked in the sweat and grime from your journey. It's uncomfortable, but it //does// mean you haven't been undressed - so that's a point in this strange figure's favor. [["Hello?" You call out]] as you swing your legs off the edge of the alcove, pushing your fingers down into the soft white pelt beneath the copious pillows. It feels like rabbit fur, but it can't be - it's //far// too large.

You're so desperate to escape from //whatever// it is that you don't even follow the stream, instead making your way deeper and deeper into the woods. You haven't paced yourself at all, and you get worn out quickly, dropping to your knees after several seconds of sprinting at full speed. As you catch your breath, you notice the humming of crickets, and it slowly dawns on you that you must have outpaced the mysterious threat. You're sweaty and exhausted, but at least the forest sounds normal again. After picking yourself up off the ground, you [[start taking stock of your surroundings.]]

The forest is thicker here, with the trees leaning closer to one another and blocking out more of the sun. It's cool and dim, which would be a relief if you weren't so very tired and so very //lost.// You kick yourself for not following the stream on your way out, and decide that your best bet is probably wandering slowly back in the direction you came from, hoping that whatever scared away the animals is gone. The thought makes you nervous, but you have no idea how deep these woods are, and you can't risk totally losing your way. [[You trudge onward,]] hoping it won't be too difficult to find the stream again.

After what feels like an hour of walking, there's still no sign of the stream, and you're starting to grow worried. The forest was pleasantly well-lit at first, but now that the afternoon sunlight is beginning to fade, you're struck with the terrifying thought that you might have to spend the night here. It wouldn't feel like the end of the world if you were back home, in the familiar forest that you'd spent countless nights camping in - but you have no idea what the local fauna are like here, nor the faintest clue about how to avoid them. Not to mention the fact that you aren't dressed for the impending cold - your scarf was lost somewhere in the underground caverns, and it was a clear summer day when you first left home. You're not just lost, either - you're //hungry.// You've been too terrified to take stock of it up until now, [[but the gnawing pain in your stomach has become impossible to ignore.]]

You're a fair enough forager, but the thought of trying to eat anything in this strange place makes you nervous. Hopefully it won't come to that, and you'll either find your way back or happen upon a kindly soul who's willing to feed you. Maybe there //is// someone living in these woods, or at the very least traveling through. A hunter, a logger, somebody gathering herbs... you comfort yourself with the possibilities, refusing to entertain the thought that you're completely alone here. What's gotten into you, anyway - assuming you're in some kind of otherworld just because you came across //one// creepy anomaly? When you finally see another person - //when,// not //if,// you tell yourself firmly, you're sure they'll just laugh at your tale and tell you an urban legend about the ghost of a bandit who hid down in those caverns, or... something. Surely you're being ridiculous, and you can't wait to have that suspicion corroborated by another human being. You've run through an exhaustive list of possibilities by the time the light starts going blue, but none of them have materialized to ease your worries. //That's it, //you tell yourself firmly. Like it or not, [[you're going to have to forage]] before it gets truly dark, and hopefully find some shelter while you're at it.

The first promising bit of food you come across is a patch of dandelions, growing thickly around the trunk of an old tree. The patch is oddly circular, and the heads of the flowers are surprisingly large - did somebody plant them on purpose? Surely not. You've never known anyone who planted dandelions. You've never eaten them raw - and you don't even want to //think// about the fact that they haven't been washed - but you're starting to grow faint, so you pluck a leaf from one of the plants and taste it. Whatever your anxious suspicions might have told you about this place, it's just a regular dandelion, and you promptly start stuffing your mouth with the rest of them - roots and all. You're lucky that you found something so familiar and safe in short order. It's not much, but you won't starve. The next order of business, [[finding shelter,]] is much more daunting, but at least you won't be doing it while weak from hunger.

You decide to look around for branches - perhaps you can lean them against a fallen tree and huddle in the crevice. That, too, is quicker and easier than you expected, and you carry your armful of sticks out into a small clearing where there's still enough light to see by. Luckily for you, there's a long, slender fallen tree just at the far edge of the clearing, and you get to work piling up your branches. It's getting cold, and you're not looking forward to the impending night - but at least you have a campsite now, and finding sticks and kindling for a fire shouldn't be too difficult. You traverse the borders of the clearing [[in search of warmth,]] trying not to think too hard about what animals might be attracted to all the commotion you've been making.

You've found just about everything you need when a dry branch snaps behind you, and you drop all the kindling you've gathered in your skirt with a shriek. You turn to see what made the noise, and you're relieved to find a woman standing there instead of a curious predator. She's wearing sturdy canvas trousers covered in grass and mud stains, making you wonder if perhaps she's also gotten lost, but you can't quite make out her facial features until she steps out of the shade toward you. You take an instinctive step back as she moves into the faint gray light, but she doesn't follow you, instead standing as still as a tree with her hands in her pockets. The faint light illuminates a stern brow that's just as sweaty as yours, and a pair of deep green eyes that narrow in concern as she takes in your sorry state. [["Are you lost? It's been a while since I've seen a new arrival out this far."]]

"O-out this far?" You ask, hoping she's familiar enough with the landscape to guide you back home. She sighs and looks you over with resignation. "This far from the gate, I mean. You know what I'm talking about, don't you?" You nod, feeling the relief surge through you in a cleansing wave. If she means the strange iron gate you passed through at the start, then maybe you can tell her the whole truth without being branded a lunatic. "Yes, I - I think I do. The iron one with the tunnel." She nods and holds out a hand to you. Her fingernails are dirty, as if she's been digging in the earth with her bare hands, but you couldn't care less about the state of your savior's nails. [[You clasp her hand gratefully]] and begin to explain your story.

It all pours out of you at once, despite your reservations about being believed - the raging blizzard, the strange thing in the tunnel, and the desperate escape from some mysterious threat that got you so terribly lost. She wraps her other hand around yours, patting it reassuringly. "I know, I know. It's a harsh hand to be dealt, isn't it? But you don't need to worry about all that anymore. Just follow me." "Follow you where?" You ask. She keeps your hand in her own, pulling you away from your makeshift shelter and deeper into the woods. "Somewhere safe, if you don't mind. I'm sure you need to rest and get cleaned up." [[She pauses and looks back at you.]]

"Oh, of course! Thank you so much." There's a prickle of anxiety in your gut at the suddenness of it all, and the unexpected physicality of this stranger - but you're in no position to argue with her, so you follow along patiently. Her hand is large and rough, and it grips yours firmly. You're not sure you could pull yours away if you tried. "Do you live here?" You ask, trying to fill the awkward space between the two of you. She laughs, and the word //loamy// comes to your mind unbidden - it's a deep, dark sound, but somehow soft, like the spongy soil beneath your feet. "In the forest? Yes, I've lived here my whole life. Never left, as a matter of fact." "Really? I'm - I'm not much for traveling myself." You try to dredge up something interesting to say, [[but your exhausted mind just turns in circles,]] producing nothing but pleasantries.

She's still holding your hand firmly, and she laughs that dark laugh again, as if you've said something worth laughing at. "Well, you're certainly getting out of your comfort zone now, aren't you?" You respond with a weak chuckle, although it's hard for you to find the humor in your situation. "I suppose I am. I would've liked a bit more warning, though." A thought pierces through the weary fog that's started to envelop your senses, and you blurt it out before you can forget. "Can you tell me where I am, please? I'm just... I'm //so// lost. I know the woods by my house like the back of my hand, but I have no idea how to get home from here." "Of course you don't." She says it matter-of-factly before falling silent again, and [[you wonder if she's planning on answering your question.]]

"Well..." You try to start up the conversation again, hesitantly moving to pull your hand away from her grip. Just as you'd surmised, it doesn't budge. Maybe you weren't forceful enough for her to even notice. "I'd like to get a sense of the geography, you know? Is that... is that something you can help me with?" She sighs sharply, and you notice that you're coming up on a well-worn dirt path. It's the first sign of civilization you've seen since the gate, and you should be relieved, but something about this strange woman's manner is beginning to set you on edge. "I can try my best, but it won't do much. Frankly, you're better off forgetting about the whole thing." You want to argue, but you're more afraid of losing this stranger's sudden goodwill than anything else, so you fall silent. The sound of crickets and footsteps muffled by moss fills the air, and you wonder if you've offended her somehow. She picks up her pace, and you hurry along behind her as she [[approaches a cabin made of stone]] nestled into a small, cozy clearing.

The closer you come to the cabin, the stronger its unusual smell becomes - it reminds you of your own compost bins back at home, but with an unfamiliar, almost sickeningly sweet undertone. You try to shake off your unease, and return to the matter at hand. "Do you know why I'm here? I mean - the blizzard, the tunnels - it can't be normal. I thought I was dreaming, but I've just been here for so long now, I - " She ignores you, placing her hand on the center of the door. You hover behind her, straining to see in the dimming light. The door seems to be absent of any handle or latch, instead covered thickly in crawling weeds. They're not like any vines you've ever seen, and as you inspect the overgrowth, you realize that the door is actually held shut by dozens of unnaturally long dandelion stems, braided together into ropes that end with clusters of yellow flowers. They begin to unravel under the stranger's touch, and soon enough, [[the door swings open.]]

The flies and the sudden intensity of the smell are the first things you notice - you'd almost swear they were one and the same, with the crescendo of frantic buzzing delivering a fresh wave of the disgusting fruity scent. Now that you're closer, you can identify something like spoiled pork in the bouquet of rot as well. The next thing you notice is all the dandelions covering the dirt floor - there's hardly a bare spot for you to step on, and it certainly hasn't been well maintained. Almost every inch is covered in dandelions, many of them the size of a human palm. The larger flowers emit a soft yellow light, but it's barely enough for you to see by. You're afraid that you'll step on them if you try to enter, so you hesitate outside the cottage as your host steps confidently over the threshold. Just like the stalks on the door, the flowers carpeting the dirt shift fluidly around her feet, making room for her. You realize suddenly that they're bare, and just as dirt-encrusted as her hands. [[She turns to face you,]] and her expression is no longer kind and concerned.

"What are you waiting for?" She reaches out a hand, but this time you don't take it. "I thought you loved dandelions." "You thought I..." You tilt your head, unsure what she's getting at. You //do// love dandelions, as a matter of fact, but how could she possibly know that? "I... well, I just..." You take a step backward, but instead of hitting the dirt path, your heel lands on something soft. You look down to see a rope of dandelion stems coiling around and under your feet, pushing you toward the cottage. "You ate so many of them. Don't try to deny it." She makes her way toward you, and the dandelions clear a path as she does so. Her smile is far too sharp, and takes up too much of her face - it's the most expressive you've ever seen her. It's as if she's finally shed the mask that convinced you to follow her here. You try to turn and run, but your foot catches on a bundle of stems, and you're sent [[crashing down into a pile of flowers.]] She reaches to help you up with that same threatening smile.

"Come on now, there's no denying the consequences of your actions." She grabs both of your wrists firmly, and the stems snake down her arms to bind the two of you together. You should be able to snap them - after all, they're //dandelion// stems - but they hold firm as you struggle. In desperation, you drop all of your weight, but she only laughs and pulls you along into the cabin. Her nails are short, but they dig painfully into the flesh of your wrists, tearing crude gashes that she presses her dirty fingertips into. The shock of the sensation makes you dizzy - you're sure that if her grip tightens any more, your bones will snap under her strength. "I didn't know they were yours! I was starving! I just - " She ignores you as you're dragged kicking and screaming across the dirt floor. Now that you're inside, you can see the large, glowing dandelions more clearly, and you notice that they're clustered over what seems like... stones, perhaps, or round clumps of dirt? Your flailing feet knock over one of the myserious shapes, and as it rolls into the light, you see that [[it's not a stone after all.]]

It's a head. Emaciated and crawling with maggots, but recognizably human nonetheless. Their upper lip is long gone, revealing a fleshy red triangle of congealed fat and naked teeth. Where the head once sat among the glowing dandelions, you can see the faintly illuminated shapes of their vertebrae, wrapped in stems like wire around a precious stone. You scream, doubling down on your efforts to escape the unnaturally strong flower stems, but they only constrict tighter and tighter as you thrash around. It isn't long before they cut off blood flow to your hands. You try to scramble to your feet, but the carpet of stems trips you at every turn, eventually winding around your ankles to keep you in place. Your captor laughs, nonplussed. "Oh, don't be like that. It's only fair, isn't it?" She disentangles herself from the flowers and crosses the room, crouching over a patch of earth and beginning to dig like an animal with her bare hands. "I didn't mean to! I didn't know!" You want to keep protesting, to explain yourself, but suddenly your mouth is full of flowers yet again, swelling to block off your throat. You hyperventilate through your nose, struggling to bite down and lessen the mass of dandelions choking you. The woman doesn't say anything. She just keeps digging, and it isn't long before the shock of your predicament [[makes you faint.]]

Your eyes flutter open slowly, but there isn't much to see. You're at eye level with the dandelion-covered floor. Everything aside from the faint circle of light cast by the flowers right next to your head is swallowed up by darkness, and as you try to move, you notice a strange, cold heaviness surrounding your limbs. Even the smallest twitch of your fingers is met with resistance - have you been paralyzed? You turn your head to the side, and then it dawns on you. Your head is the only part of your body sticking out of the dirt. You try to twist your torso violently, hoping to loosen the earth and break free, but it's no use - the soil has been packed down hard around you, and you can't get any leverage. As you tense your muscles fruitlessly, you can feel the open wounds on your wrists stinging and aching from their exposure to the soil. You scream for help, but nobody answers. It's so dark that you can't tell if your captor has truly disappeared, or if she's just ignoring you. You're not sure which one would be worse. The taste of dandelions floods your mouth again. In lieu of help, your frenzied mind clings to the promise of swift suffocation - at least you'll get to escape whatever plans she might have in store for you when she returns. ''BAD END: Growing Like Weeds'' [[Want to meet with a different fate?|You begin climbing up to the surface.]]

You kick your shoes off and leave them by the alcove, so as not to track dirt all over the pale wood floor. You can't quite believe how lovely your surroundings are - it's a shock to go from being chewed up by the brutal landscape outside to reclining in such a peaceful home. You notice multiple pelts of the same size and softness as the one you just woke up on as you explore - there's one in front of the fireplace, a deep chocolate brown color, and another draped over the plush couch in the sitting room. Upon closer examination of the pelt before the fireplace, you notice that it's accompanied by a gigantic rabbit head mounted on the wall. It //must// be a skilled imitation, because you've never seen a rabbit that massive - but as you tentatively stroke its fur, you see that it's exactly the same as the pelt. You're so lost in your disbelief that you don't hear the [[footsteps approaching]] until your host is standing right behind you.

"Well, I - " You take a step back, unsure how to answer that question. Shouldn't it go without saying? "Aren't you happy here? I'm sure I could do something to change that." Is she... flirting with you? Right now, of all times? Her eyes are fixed sharply on your face, and she's not the only one staring - all of her companions have fallen silent as well, as if they're waiting for you to do something. But what? "Please don't joke around, I really need help." She laughs at that, and the sound blends in perfectly with the gentle splashing of the water as she moves closer. Her movements are... strange, somehow, but you can't quite place what's wrong [[until she reaches the edge of the riverbank.]]

She doesn't have legs - instead, a rippling black tail crests the water behind her. It's smooth and streamlined, ending in a narrow point that's dotted with bright white markings. You can see now that the dark thing isn't a piece of clothing, but rather a sinuous membrane attached to her waist that disappears beneath the water, along with the upper part of the tail. It does put you in mind of rippling fabric, but it's clearly organic. Swiftly, before you can pull away, she reaches a hand underneath your skirt to clasp your bare shin. Her touch is light, but you shriek at the sensation of several fine, sharp points extending into your flesh. You kick her down into the water reflexively, but upon further examination, there's a stinging red handprint on your skin where she touched you. The burn intensifies to a fever pitch until you've collapsed on the riverbank, unable to move from the pain. And then, as suddenly as the sun breaking through the clouds... [[it all goes away.]]

As the sound gets closer, you find that it's coming from within a pocket of overhanging trees that obscure part of the river. Carefully making your way between them, you call out for help: "Excuse me, I'm lost! Can you please tell me where I am?" You gasp as you catch sight of the voices' source - several nude figures are bathing in the river, and the sound of their conversation fades as they notice you. At least, you //think// they're nude - before you turn away, you catch a glimpse of //something// dark and wet shifting against their bare torsos. You can't be sure if it's a garment in the process of being shed, or... maybe plant matter that's gotten caught on their bodies? Whatever it is, your embarrassment supersedes the desire to look any closer. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to - I just - " One of them laughs, a woman whose dark hair falls in an interrupted braid down her shoulder and into the clear water below. Well, this still isn't ideal, but at least she's not screaming. [["Tell you where you are? Now, why would you want to know that?"]]

The pain immediately folds to a blissful numbness reminiscent of being drunk. You pick yourself up off the ground, confused and disoriented. Were you... trying to go somewhere? Where was it, exactly? You decide to ask the women in the water. "Where was... I mean, wasn't I...." You stumble through your words, sure that you're making a fool of yourself. As you shift into a sitting position, your bare shin presses against cold stone, and you hiss in pain, checking to see what's the matter. "Oh no..." You pull back your skirt, looking at the mysterious hand-shaped welt. Where could you possibly have gotten this? "Are you hurt?" One of the women asks, making her way towards you. You nod gratefully, extending your wounded leg. "I have no idea what happened, I just..." You just //what?// You can't remember. There's a faint prickle of panic pulling at your consciousness like a child yanking their mother's skirts, [[but it slips away]] whenever you try to focus your thoughts.

"Why don't you come into the water? I'm sure it'll help with your wound." One of the women is holding out her hand. You hesitantly take it... something about the thought of immersing your wound feels slightly unwise, but you can't remember why. And what on Earth would you do without her help? You lose your balance as she pulls you in, but you're swiftly gathered to her chest before you can sink. She holds you tightly, leaving no room between your bodies, and the smooth, rippling membrane at her sides wraps around your hips. "Does it feel better now?" She asks. You nod - you're unsure what's happening, but the wound doesn't sting anymore, so she must have been right about the water. "I... I, uh..." You weakly push her shoulders, trying to wriggle out of her arms, but your muscles just aren't up to the task, and it takes no effort at all for one of the other women to [[encircle you from behind,]] blocking off any means of escape.

"You can't leave yet," the second woman whispers in your ear. Her thick tail slides between your legs, holding them apart, and you realize that you'd fall into the river's depths if she ever let go. You know how to swim... you think... but your legs don't seem to be responding, so you're not sure you want to risk it. Your head feels fuzzy, and little black spots are beginning to fill the edges of your vision, so you lean against the first woman's ample chest for support. You can't pinpoint when it starts, but eventually you begin to hear faint, high-pitched moans filling the air as their tails undulate against you. When you raise your head to see what's making the noise, one of them kisses you before you can get very far, pulling at your bottom lip with her sharp teeth. "W-wait..." You protest weakly as a strong hand pushes your sodden skirt out of the way, slipping between your legs to rub your cunt directly. [[Try to resist]] [[Give in]]

"No, wait - " The undercurrent of gnawing panic tugs at the threads of your sanity again, and this time it takes hold. You try to turn your face away, to end the kiss, but before you know what's happening, there's a burst of hot fluid sluicing down your chin. "Huh?" It's hard to form the words, but you're not sure why. Your mouth feels... weird, looser than it should be, somehow, but that doesn't stop her from kissing you again. The taste of iron nearly makes you retch, and you try to twist out of their grip with the very last ounce of your strength, but the women are //far// too strong, and you feel two hands encircling your waist as dozens of fine, sharp points penetrate your flesh. "No!" You're not sure you actually said it, but the sudden tidal wave of agony that floods back over your blissfully numb mind makes it impossible to tell the difference between speech and thought. You're //bleeding,// your lip is //gone,// and you slip into the depths of the cloudy red water as the pain takes hold. You're too far gone to hold your breath, but that's probably a mercy. You inhale water and blood as the women swarm you, biting chunks out of your flesh. You can't see through the thick blanket of tails and hands and teeth, and you don't have the strength to resist as they devour what's left of you. ''Bad End: Freshwater Folly (A Bad Death)'' [[Want to meet with a different fate?|You begin climbing up to the surface.]] Or maybe... you'd like to see what happens if you [[play along?|encircle you from behind,]]

"Ah..." Why were you trying to get away again? The thought seems so ridiculous when there's a hand gently rubbing your clit, and a hot mouth nibbling at the junction of your neck and shoulder. You try to buck into the sensation, but you're too weak to move, so all you can do is let pitiful noises leak out of your mouth. There's something warm flowing down your chest now, and it feels so nice. You moan in discontent when the hand disappears from between your legs, but it's quickly replaced by a tongue that's surprisingly cool to the touch. Your vision swims as you sink into the arms of the woman who's still holding you from behind, and the suction against your clit consumes your senses. Why would you ever want to feel anything else? You hardly notice when there's a loud, wet //crunch// between your thighs. It can't be anything //too// bad, because it makes you cum so hard that your vision goes black... and little by little, your other senses begin to follow. ''BAD END: Freshwater Folly (A Good Death)'' [[Want to meet with a different fate?|You begin climbing up to the surface.]] Or maybe... you'd like to see what happens if you [[try to resist?|encircle you from behind,]]

You yank your hands away from the rabbit head, mortified that you were caught touching their things. "I'm sorry, I just - !" They chuckle understandingly, shaking their head. "Not to worry, my dear. I'm sure he doesn't mind." "Oh, well..." You fold your arms awkwardly, unsure what to say. They're being so kind, but... you're still in a strange creature's home, lost in an unfamiliar place. And even barefoot, your host is at least four heads taller than you. "Are you thirsty?" They ask, and you nod vehemently. "Yes, thank you... I've had a very long day." That's putting it mildly, but you don't even know where to begin. You follow your host into the spacious kitchen and hover behind them as they rattle around in the cupboard, [[producing a silver teapot.]] "Hungry too, I'd wager. I can do something about that as well."

It's so finely crafted compared to the simple tin teapot you have back at home, solid and clearly polished with careful regularity. There's an intricate row of small hearts etched around the lid, and you can't help feeling a little bit comforted by that small detail. "I'm sure you must have a lot of questions for me," your host offers as they set the teapot down on the counter and produce a covered dish of what looks like potted meat from a drawer. They spread it generously over a thick slice of dark bread, and you smell it hesitantly before taking a bite. It's gamey, almost like rabbit... something about that makes you nervous. But you're in no position to refuse a free meal, so you finish it gratefully. Your host takes a pitcher of water from the kitchen with them and makes their way to the fireplace, walking deliberately so it doesn't spill. "Well, I do have questions, but..." You sigh, unsure how to phrase your concerns. "There's a part of me that just... can't quite accept that any of this is real. The blizzard, the voice in the tunnels... you..." Suddenly conscious of how that might sound, you backtrack and try to clarify: "I mean, not that there's anything wrong with you! I've just never seen someone like you before. [[You seem like something out of a fairytale, almost. Frankly, this whole place does."]]

"Well, I think I'll take that as a compliment - whether it was meant to be or not." They don't seem //too// angry with you, at least, and they motion for you to sit by the fireplace once they've set the kettle over the flames. You follow their suggestion, sitting crosslegged next to them. The firelight casts moving shadows across their face, making them look even more like a creature of dreams... or of nightmares. "It might be better for your sanity to stay with that line of reasoning, all things considered." They pause, staring into the fire as if searching for their next words. "It's always... difficult, explaining the nuances of the situation to newcomers. This place is nowhere in relation to your home, and I am nothing like any creature you might have met there." "N-nowhere? That can't be true, though..." You start trying to explain where you live, rattling off notable landmarks that they might recognize, [[but they stop you with a gentle hand on your arm.]]

"It matters not. Tell me, how exactly did you get here? Do you remember?" "Well, yes... like I said before, there was a snowstorm. In the middle of July, too - I got turned around after a walk in the woods near my house, and I had to find shelter. There was this..." You're unsure how to describe it. Even now, sitting next to this impossible person in this impossible place, there's a small, instinctive part of you that's afraid of sounding ridiculous. Talking to them might be your only hope of finding the truth, though, so you soldier on past your fear. "There was this iron gate, and a dirt path behind it... someone had left a lantern out, too, and it was still lit, even with all the wind." Your companion nods as if this all makes perfect sense, encouraging you to continue. "I went through the gate, of course, because there wasn't any snow past it, and I didn't want to freeze. Then I heard a voice calling for help in the tunnel - and it was a //tunnel,// not just a path - but there was something //wrong// with it, and when I tried to get up and run away..." [["The gate was gone," your companion supplies.]]

"That's right. How did you know?" They withdraw their hand from your arm, as if they'd forgotten it was there, and give you a searching look. "Because the gate always vanishes - and it never appears for the same person twice." They lean closer, and the gleam of the firelight on their tusks pulls on something deep in your gut... fear, perhaps? But no, not quite. "Surely you've sensed it. This place... it wants to consume you. It wants the highest and purest of all your emotions - both the dark //and// the light." "But what on Earth is it going to //do// with them?" "What do you do with a plant that gives you delightful food? You eat the parts you like, and sequester the rest of it in your garden for later." [["No one's... actually going to eat me, are they?"]]

They take just a //bit// too long answering that for your comfort, and when they finally get around to it, their answer isn't exactly comforting either: "Not all of them, no. And even the ones that might... they have //other// motivations as well, at times, so you may very well meet with a different fate." "Like what the water spirit tried to do?" "Yes, just like what the water spirit tried to do. Unfortunately." The boiling kettle is a welcome distraction, and you nearly lunge to stop your companion from touching it bare-handed - but they're too fast, and there's no resulting scream or smell of burning flesh as they grasp it firmly, not letting go [[until they're done filling the teapot.]]

"I... I don't think I want to be in anyone's garden. But it sounds like I might not have much of a choice." You stare into the fire, and the urge to lean on your companion's arm hits you all at once... but surely that would be too forward. You've only just met, and you're still not entirely sure you can trust them. "There are ways to enjoy it," they tell you. "But many people don't live long enough to discover them." Amid the contemplative silence, your eyes are drawn back to the rabbit head mounted on the wall, and you decide to ask about it. "Can I ask you something?" "Anything you wish." They turn their gaze back toward you, and their eyes are the same glowing bronze color as the fire. [["That trophy on your wall... is it real?"]]

They laugh at that - a warm, booming sound that makes you vibrate where you're sitting. "It's very real, my dear. But it's nothing to worry about. There's no such thing as an innocent bunny in this place." "You did ask me if I was a rabbitfolk captive..." "Yes, and I can't tell you how glad I am to find out otherwise." The rabbit head's large glass eyes gleam in the firelight as it looks down on the two of you, and something about its dead gaze makes you shudder. "But that's a dark path to go down, and you've already had such a hard day. I won't burden your mind." They look into your eyes then, their gaze focused. "I will only tell you this: being killed by the rabbitfolk after they've captured you is a rare mercy." You shrink back from the intensity of their gaze, and nod to show them you understand. If the rabbitfolk are really as bad as they say... [[perhaps it's a good thing that you're staying with someone who knows how to defeat them.]]

"Will I... really be alright if I stay here?" A large hand clasps your shoulder gently, and you find nothing but sincerity when you look into their eyes. "Nothing will ever harm you here. You're..." They look away abruptly, as if they've thought better of whatever they meant to say. "You're safe here. But look at me, frightening you with tales of the other beasts. You must be exhausted, and the tea is ready." They stand up and make their way to the kitchen, [[returning with two heavy-bottomed stoneware cups. ]]

"They're so beautiful," you say, mostly as a way to lighten the mood - but you also mean it. The cup feels solid and warm, curved like it was made to fit in your hand, and the indigo glaze is exactly the same color as the sky at dusk. "I made them myself," your host says with a smile. "I make a lot of my own things." "I do, too... I mean, I used to." You stare into the mouth of the cup, trying to forget all the humble belongings you'll never see again... your tomatoes, the trellis you built for them by hand, the spindle you whittled from a dead branch of your apple tree. They weren't just objects, but proof of your existence - dozens of little ways you'd touched and changed the world around you, and now they're gone. You didn't have many friends, and none of your family is alive to miss you... but you'd built a small life for yourself, and you loved it all the same. "Will I ever get to go home?" You ask. They look into the fire for a long moment before answering. [["If you can learn to view this place as your home, despite all its faults... then yes, you will. Otherwise, no."]]

"...I guess I can try, but..." They gently touch your hand, eclipsing it with their own. "It will take time, that's true. But it can be done." "Well, thank you for all your help, either way." You take a sip of the tea - it's got a sharp fruity flavor that's unfamiliar to you. After your thirst is quenched, you grow more and more conscious of the sweat and grime coating your body, and you begin to shift uncomfortably. Your host notices, and they begin guiding you through the house toward what you hope is an ordinary washroom. When you find yourself approaching the back door, you waver, looking up at them. [["Do I... have to bathe outside?"]]

"Not quite, my dear. Let me show you." They stride confidently past you, opening the door and letting the afternoon sunlight flood their home. You exit into a walled garden, flanked by towering stone walls and lined with overflowing flower boxes. In the center, there's a clear, shallow pool with a stack of folded white towels beside it. "Well... I'm very grateful, but the thought of getting in the water..." You hope you won't have to explain yourself, and that seems to be the case as they nod understandingly. "I could carry a bucket of water indoors for you. Or..." They glance away, seeming unsure for the first time since you've met them. [["If it wouldn't be too much of an imposition, I could stand guard for you."]]

They've already proven their prowess against magical creatures, and you'd hate to make them carry water for you like a servant, so you hesitantly accept the second offer. "If you wouldn't mind... it does look like a lovely place to bathe, but I don't know if I could do it alone." "And you won't have to. I promise I won't do anything untoward." They take a seat on one of the stone benches flanking the pool, and turn away politely. "I'll be right here. Nothing ever gets past my defenses." "I can't thank you enough." You start undressing, and the thought of doing laundry crosses your mind - but no, one thing at a time. [["Do you... do you have soap on hand, by any chance?"]]

"You'll find it next to the towels," they call from where they're seated. You thank them, and as promised, you find the soap - but not on any normal dish. Instead, it's cupped in the divot of a thick, dark green leaf whose stem extends into a lush patch of moss at the pool's edge. It's tempting to get things over with as quickly as possible, so as not to irritate your host, but now that you've found a safe place to bathe, you just can't help lingering and basking in the cool, clear water. A cursory glance in their direction tells you that they're keeping their word, so you let yourself relax for just a moment, sinking into the pool and leaning your head against the mossy stones. As you look at their distant reflection in the water, you contemplate your situation. You could make a point of demanding that they get you back home, but... [[deep down inside, there's a part of you that doesn't want to leave just yet.]]

"Is everything alright?" Your host asks, and you realize you've been lost in thought for a while. "Y-yes, I'm sorry! I got distracted." You start scrambling out of the bath, promptly wrapping yourself in a towel. "I'm... decent." You look at the pile of dirty clothes on the ground, trying to formulate your request - but it seems they've beat you to the punch. "Do you need those washed? I doubt my clothes would fit you well, but... it would be better than nothing in the meantime. You could just wear one of my tunics." You nod tentatively, sure you'll just look like a child borrowing their father's dress shirts... [[but what other choice is there, really?]]

"Say, I was wondering..." You try to change the subject as you're guided back into the house. "You haven't told me your name yet, have you?" Your host sighs, as if you've failed to understand yet another truth of this strange place. "The people and creatures here... we don't need names. Not the same way that you do." They shut the door behind them and promptly disappear into what must be their bedroom, rummaging around for clean clothes. The tunic they come out with hangs to your ankles, and even after cinching up the laces as tight as they can go, it still starts to fall down your shoulders when you're not paying attention. [["Thank you... I'm sorry for all the trouble."]] You hope you didn't offend them too much by asking for their name.

"It's nothing at all," they assure you. Their fixed gaze makes you worry that they're not as unbothered as they claim, but then they reach out to fix the drooping collar of your borrowed shirt. "Where can I do my laundry?" They shake their head firmly at that, scooping up your pile of dirty clothes from the floor and tucking them under an arm. "You don't need to do anything. That's my job as your host, isn't it?" Something about the look in their eyes makes you nervous. Maybe they're just not accustomed to having guests, and that's why they seem so... //focused// on you. "I can do it myself, really - I don't want to be a burden, so..." It seems that it's no use arguing with them, since they've already opened a small hallway closet to retrieve a bucket and washboard. [["It won't take long at all. I'll do it."]] //And that's final,// they don't say - but they don't have to.

"May I ask, uh..." You hurry after them as they head for the back door, resisting the urge to tug on their sleeve. "Anything," they tell you. You're sure you'll just make a fool of yourself, but you //have// to know - "The water in your garden... where does it come from? I didn't see a spring or a fountain, or anything like that..." "Come with me, and I'll show you." You trail after them, and you're struck by the perfectly clear water in the pool when it comes into view. There's no sign of dirt or sweat clouding the surface, as if you'd never bathed in it at all. "I'm very familiar with water magic, you see. You could even say it's my specialty." [[They kneel to fill their bucket,]] and the water level of the pool rises again the instant they're done.

"I see... what I would've given to have that magic back home." They look up at you then, and you get the distinct feeling that they're witholding something. There's a peculiar depth to their eyes, and the calm line of their mouth seems far too deliberate. After a few moments of silent contemplation, they speak: "You could have it now. And as I said before... this could be your home." "That's... a bit sudden, to be honest." They break their intense gaze at that, returning studiously to the task at hand. "My apologies. It's just that... ever since I first saw you in the forest, I've wanted to protect you." They make their way across the garden to retrieve a wooden wash basin, keeping their eyes on it as they prepare to wash your clothes. "This is a dangerous place, I'm sure you've realized. I fear that if I don't do everything I can to elicit bliss, you'll be taken away by something with more nefarious intentions." [["Well, I'm not planning on leaving just yet... so you don't need to worry."]]

"Just yet?" They look up from their task then, and you feel reprimanded somehow. Embarrassed, you scramble to explain yourself. "Well, I... I don't know of anywhere else that's safe, but I'm sure //you// must. It might be nice to explore a little bit, don't you think? Eventually..." They sigh as they wring out your clothes, and you hope you haven't offended them. "I understand. I'm sorry if I caused you any distress. But it's important to keep in mind that the outside world //isn't// safe - not here, not ever." "If I have you with me, though..." Their expression softens, and you know you've said the right thing. "Yes. As long as I'm here, you'll be alright, no matter how dangerous the world is." They begin rinsing your clothes in the stone pool, and [[you watch in fascination]] as the film of soap evaporates in a shower of soft yellow sparks - almost like the sun glittering on the ocean's surface.

"Do you think you could teach me how to do that?" You ask. If you ever do return home - a prospect you're less inclined to believe in with each passing second - it really would be a spectacular help around the house. They laugh, a warm sound that puts you in mind of a resonant church bell. "It would take years and years and //years.// I could, perhaps - but in the meantime, I'm happy to handle everything myself." "I - I really can't thank you enough." You follow them inside as they prepare to lay your clothes out by the fire, clutching the drooping neck of your borrowed tunic to avoid any unfortunate exposure. "You must be exhausted," they tell you. "If you'd like to take my bed for the night, I can sleep on the floor." "Oh, I... if you're sure. I don't want to impose." You're sure it'll be just as ridiculously massive as their clothes, and you worry about whether they'll be comfortable... but they seem keen on being a generous host, and you haven't gotten very far in trying to argue with them about it. "I insist." They spread your clothes out on the sofa, and start preparing a pile of soft rabbit pelts to sleep on. [["I'll sleep more soundly knowing you're comfortable."]]

After everything you've been through, you're just relieved to have a safe place to sleep - and you hope that once you've rested, you'll be able to shake this nagging anxiety about your host's intentions. As you're nestled in their bed atop another rabbit pelt (just how many do they //have,// anyway?), you feel the ghost of their huge hands enclosing your body, and you can't quite tell if the twinge in your gut is from arousal or fear. They've been so incredibly kind, but the fact that they could lift you like a doll is impossible to forget. You've never been an athletic person, and in this strange place, there's also your lack of magical skill to contend with. They're more powerful than you in every way, and you don't even know their name. Still, though, you find yourself intrigued and hesitant to even //consider// leaving. At least... not yet. [[The last thought in your mind as you drift off to sleep]] is of their formidable tusks shining in the firelight.

You're jolted out of your sleep by a shrill scream from just outside the window. //"Help me!"// Frozen in shock, you think back to your experience in the tunnels - this could be another mimic, something trying to lure you back into the dangerous outside world. But as you listen closely, you hear the jagged breaths underpinning the scream and the shift in tone as it starts up again. No, this is a real person. Your head swirls with nightmarish possibilities. Who could it be at this hour, this close to your host's place of residence? And what should you do? [[Crawl through the window and try to help]] [[No, you should wake them up first]]

Despite what a terrible idea this is, despite how kind and reliable your host has been... you can't deny that you're a little bit afraid of them. There's something //off// about the way they've been treating you - in the solitary darkness, with all your fears and anxieties rushing to the forefront unfettered, you can't deny that any longer. The outside world //is// dangerous, you know that. Your experience with the water spirit is proof of that. But why would a stranger be so singlemindedly obsessed with catering to your every desire? Why would they be so physical with you, so uncommonly tender? You wouldn't dream of bringing this up to them - you know you'd only sound ungrateful. But in this moment, you're more afraid of waking them up than you are of whatever's outside. Some deep animal instinct in your mind whispers that despite all your fears of being rude to this kind stranger, //they// might somehow be the cause of those screams. As though you're passively watching yourself in a nightmare, you unlatch the window as quietly as possible [[and slip outside.]]

There's no way you can face whatever's outside on your own. If they're running from something, your mysterious savior is much better equipped to face it. Pushing down your fearful reservations, you pad down the hallway into the living room, where they're already sitting upright on the couch. The full moon streams through the small crack in the heavy curtains, and the wall-mounted lantern by the fireplace is filled with a soft blue glow. It seems they heard the screams as well, and they give you an apologetic look as you approach. "I'm sorry about that, dear. Whatever it is, I'll take care of it. You can just stay indoors." "Please be careful," you tell them, knowing how ridiculous it sounds - but the thought of losing them //now// is just harrowing. They're already halfway out the front door, and you consider peeking through the window to see what they're doing as it slams shut. But no, you wouldn't want any other dangerous creatures to see you. [[It's better to stay where you are and wait.]]

The grass is wet beneath your feet, and you struggle not to slip as you squint into the darkness. The moon is nearly full, and the stars above are vibrant, but it still isn't nearly enough to see properly. You stick close to the side of the house, following the faint sound of rustling leaves and panicked breathing. It's not long before a hand seizes your ankle from the bushes, and you shriek in response. "Please help me! The rabbits - " They claw their way up your leg, and you try to calm them down by clasping their frantic hands in your own. "The rabbitfolk? Are they after you?" The stranger sobs in response, clutching your borrowed shirt in their fists. "Let me inside! They're still out there!" You're about to agree when [[you feel an immense presence looming over your back.]]

"You shouldn't have gone outside," your host says. Their tone is calm, almost //too// calm. You try to explain the situation, hoping that they'll treat this desperate stranger as kindly as they've treated you, but instead you're unceremoniously bundled into their strong arms like a child. The rabbitfolk captive screams for you to come back, and you hear their footsteps hammering behind the two of you - but your host is faster, and the back door slams shut before they can reach it. [[They set you down then,]] promptly bolting the door and leaving without a word to shut and latch the bedroom window.

"Please, you //have// to help them - " They're clearly trying to silence you with a //look,// but you're determined not to let this stranger suffer the horrible fate your host alluded to. If they were telling the truth about rabbitfolk earlier, they should be just as eager to help. "They're a rabbitfolk captive! They need //help!// If you care about me as much as you say you do, //then go help them!// We shouldn't be wasting time like this." They sigh at that, and their stony face softens slightly. "If you're going to be so insistent, I'll take care of it. Just stay in the house and don't come back until I'm done." "Thank you..." You're not entirely happy with the situation, but it's better than leaving them out in the cold. You had your suspicions, but you're truly shocked by your seemingly kind host's unwillingness to help. At least you were able to leverage whatever strange influence you have over them for the stranger's good... you hope. [[You fetch your clothes from the living room]] before sequestering yourself back in their bed, just waiting for something to happen and hoping it won't be bad.

It's nice to be back in your old clothes again - you feel slightly less depowered, even if the change is mostly cosmetic. You hover near the window, listening closely for any sounds of movement. You're too afraid to open it again, so everything you hear is slightly muffled - there's a distant conversation, and then the sound of thundering footsteps followed by a loud, resonant //thud// that makes the window's panes vibrate. The captive stranger's voice rises in panic, and then they abruptly fall silent too. All you hear after that is the faint sound of rustling leaves and cracking branches, then nothing at all... [[and then the back door creaks open.]]

You'd almost swear you can sense their physical presence in the air as they get closer, even before they crack the bedroom door. Your host is soaked through with rain, and there's something darker caked onto the collar of their shirt and running down their chest. You can't quite tell what color it is in the dim light. They seem to pick up on your fear, and kneel down in front of the bed so they're closer to eye level. You flinch away reflexively, even so. "I took care of it. They're safe now." They look pleadingly into your eyes, their expression somehow soft and vulnerable despite everything. "There was a rabbit chasing them, and I had to... dispose of him. There's nothing to worry about anymore." "Did you... let them inside?" They narrow their eyes slightly. "I did not. There's another safe place through the woods, and I decided to guide them there. We were lucky to run into the witch who owns the cottage on our way, and she's going to keep them safe. I didn't feel any need to accompany them further with her around." [["Really? I thought the whole outside world was dangerous."]]

"She //is// dangerous if you're a threat, but she's trustworthy. I assure you it's all been taken care of." They place a gentle hand on your arm, and suddenly you feel like you're being ridiculous. "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. After everything that's happened, I just... I got scared, and I didn't trust you as much as I should. That's why I didn't wake you up." They stare into your eyes for a long moment, and then, with a sudden fluid motion, they climb fully onto the bed and pull you into their arms. You lean into their chest, trying to let their heartbeat soothe your fears. You //are// a stranger in this world, after all, and you shouldn't be so quick to doubt the intentions of the first person who's been kind to you. "I don't want you to leave," they say into your hair, clutching you tightly. [[You tentatively return the embrace.]]

"I'm not going anywhere until I've really got my bearings, I promise. I know how dangerous this place is, and I appreciate how willing you are to protect me." They pull away then, cupping your face in their hands. There's a strange, sharp smell about them - sweat and dirt and rain, and something else that you can't pin down beneath it all. "I should get you some tea. You've had a very long night, and I didn't mean to scare you." You thank them, feeling genuinely grateful but also relieved that you'll get a moment to yourself. There's something... unusual about this person, about the way they treat you. An irrepressible part of you likes it, even sharing in the strange intimacy that's been forming - but deep down, you can't shake the feeling that something's off. They've known you for less than a day, and they're treating you like a precious friend - or even something //more.// No, not a precious friend, you realize - not even a lover. A precious //object.// And as frightening as that realization may be, [[you can't help wanting them to hold you again.]]

Your thoughts are interrupted by your host's return - they're bearing a tray with two steaming cups of tea, and you gratefully take one. You think about the cup as you hold it - it's something they made, an object they cherish. It might grate on your sense of freedom, but... is it really so bad to let yourself be cherished like this for a little while? You don't have many other choices, aside from making your way through the forest to see the witch they mentioned, so you might as well make the most of it. You've just about convinced yourself that things are going to be fine when your mug crashes abruptly to the floor. Surprised at your own clumsiness, you try to apologize - but your face doesn't seem to be responding the way it should, and the words come out in a vague slurry. [[The last thing you feel after slumping to the floor is their arms closing around you.]]

At first, you think you're tangled in blankets, and you groggily try to shake them off. They don't move, and you realize they're not blankets after all - your hands and feet have been tied with strips of cloth. You wonder if you're having a nightmare - you don't feel entirely //there,// with a heavy fog clouding your mind and your muscles slow to respond. As you take in the surroundings, you realize you're in an unfamiliar room. There's a hard-packed dirt floor, but you've been placed on a clean sheet that's staked to the ground. It seems like a basement, and that suspicion is verified by the small staircase leading up to a heavy wooden door above you. Did they... are you still in their house? You almost hope you're not, and that the stranger who saved you will do so again. But your hopes are dashed [[when a familiar figure opens the door.]]

They're wearing an apron and carrying a wooden tray laden with tea and bread - you almost want to laugh. "I'm sorry to cause you so much trouble, I truly am. But I hope that, with time, you'll come to understand why I did this." They make their way down the stairs and set the tray down far from your flailing bound legs, keeping a close eye on you as they carefully take a seat. You're too terrified to speak, but their features are deliberately placid as they arrange themself behind you, stopping your wriggling by wrapping you in their arms. "I know it must be difficult to trust me. After all, we haven't known each other for very long. But I saw something innocent in your eyes when I first found you." Their arms tighten, and you sit rigidly against their chest as they speak. "I refuse to let this place tarnish your beauty with its cruelty. If it needs your purest feelings, I'll make sure those feelings are beautiful and good. [[I swear it on my life."]]

"B-but what about //my// life?" They press their face into your hair, and you feel them inhale deeply. //"Your// life is going to be perfect. I know you'll appreciate my efforts someday, even if there's a bit of fear and confusion on the way there." They slowly disentangle themself, watching carefully all the while to make sure you won't start thrashing again. "I'm not going to do what the water spirit did, or what the rabbitfolk would do. I promise you that. You're just... never going to leave our home again, and that's enough for me. All I want is your safety and happiness." "But why //mine?// Wasn't that rabbitfolk captive innocent too?" They sigh, as if you're a child asking their mother for dessert before dinner, and reluctantly pull away from the embrace to look you in the eyes. "Do you truly think so little of me? I wouldn't toss you aside for another just like that." "I... well..." You're struggling not to look at them, and [[you find your eyes drawn to the tray of food.]]

It's the same teapot they served you with before, with the same hearts on the lid. The same bread and potted meat that your kind host gave you when you were starving, and the same cup that they themself drank out of by the fire. You can almost pretend this isn't happening when you look at the tray. //Almost.// "Dear, are you hungry? There won't be any underhanded tricks this time - I've already got you down here, so there's no need." "I..." Are you really going to refuse? That's what you ought to do, of course - scream and kick and make a fuss, resisting their attempts to acclimate you at every turn. But your efforts would be utterly futile, and deep down, you //know// that. [["I'm hungry."]] [["I won't take anything from you."]]

They exhale in obvious relief. "Good, I hoped you would be. You had a very hard night, after all, and you need to keep up your strength." They hold the bread up to your lips - it would feel comical if not for the clear and present danger. You take a small bite, chewing slowly and trying to discern if they were telling the truth. You can think of at least //one// reason why they might want to knock you out again. They've said all the right things about treating you with respect, of course... but if they're willing to tie you up down here, what else might they be capable of? "Eat a bit more than that," they urge you. It certainly isn't in your best interests to argue, so you judge your efforts as good enough [[and take another bite.]]

They sigh, with more consternation than offense in their eyes - like //you're// the one frightening //them.// "You can't imagine how hard it is for me to do this," they tell you. "Of course I'd rather let you run free, but... you know what it's like out there. Clearly you're determined to get yourself killed, no matter how hospitable I am. I didn't //want// to resort to this, but you left me no other choice." "What about the rabbitfolk captive? Are they really safe?" [[Your captor slams their hand onto the dirt floor,]] and you flinch away. It's the only time they've even come close to laying a hand on you in anger. "Why are you so worried about //them?// Haven't I given you enough?"

"I - " //I just wanted to keep them safe,// you almost say, but their intense yellow stare makes you think better of it. "You can't trust anyone but me in this world. Haven't you suffered enough to realize that?" "I thought... I thought there was a witch. You said -" They reach for you, enveloping you in a tight embrace before you can squirm away. Even if you tried to bite them, they'd surely overpower you. "Don't make excuses. There's no good reason to leave, you //know// that. I'm sure you do." With your face pressed into their solid chest, you can hear their rapid heartbeat. It vibrates against your cheek, and you begin to sob into their tunic as they pull you closer than you thought was possible. It's like they want to crawl into your skin. You think you might've wanted that... before all this happened. Maybe, deep down, a part of you still does. You're not confident that it can override your terror, though. [[At any rate, you no longer have the strength to argue.]]

"I'm sorry," you mumble against their chest. Maybe they'll take pity on you if you go along with this strange plot. "You have nothing to be sorry for," they tell you softly, and you can tell they're crying too. "It's all my fault. I should've protected you. I shouldn't have let you sleep alone." They did tell you their intentions were pure, but how are you to know? If every other creature in this world is violent and perverse, why should you trust that they're any different? Maybe you shouldn't have trusted them in the first place... "You'll stay with me, won't you?" You can feel their tears soaking your hair now, and you nod tentatively. If you hold very still, you can pretend you're not tied up in their basement, that your answer isn't predetermined - that you can still trust the chivalrous stranger who saved you just the other day. But you can't. Not anymore. ''"GOOD" END: A Gilded Cage (Fear Version)'' [[Want to meet with a different fate?|The last thought in your mind as you drift off to sleep]] [[Want to back up even further in the story?|You begin climbing up to the surface.]] Or maybe... you'd like to [[see what happens next?|Brainwashed timeskip]]

The first few weeks were a constant charade - your captor would talk to you as if nothing was wrong, as if they'd never drugged you and locked you up down here. But after your first and last escape attempt, they reluctantly brought out the cage. You didn't want to know why they had it just lying around. It was big enough to stand and lie down in, but not much else, with a locking metal flap through which they passed your meals. It wasn't long before you broke and started eating again, to their obvious delight - and that almost set things back to the way they'd been before, until you seized a fork and tried to stab their hand in a moment of desperation. After that, they were silent. You remained in the cage, and you never came out. Not even to use the toilet - they'd thought of that, and simply passed a bowl and a clean, damp towel through the flap for you. You had absolutely nothing to do except sit there and wait for your meals. "I can see that you need some time to sort out your feelings, dear," they'd told you gently, and that was the last thing you'd heard from them. They brought your meals in silence and never responded to anything. Maybe it's been weeks, maybe it's been months. You have no way of knowing. You half-expected them to force themself on you, and in your fevered daydreams while you curled up on the rabbit pelts in the center of the cage, trying not to touch the sides so as to forget where you were... a small and insistent part of you wished they //would.// It would give you an opportunity to hurt them, you told yourself. It would necessitate opening the cage, [[and maybe you could...]]

You put your mind to the task and finish it promptly, wanting nothing more than to stop being reminded that you can't use your hands. "I knew you'd be hungry," they say with a warm glimmer in their eyes. Even after everything they've done, their tone is that of a relieved mother whose child has finally stopped misbehaving. You're not feeling the effects of any drugs - not yet, anyway. You twist your wrists subtly in their bonds - maybe, with enough time and effort, you could manage to fray and tear the cloth, but that would surely be noticed by your captor. "Oh, I know it's uncomfortable. I wish I could let you go." They reach out as if to touch your face, withdrawing at the last second when you flinch away. "Would you like some tea?" Despite it all... you really //would// like some tea. Ideally, you'd like something stronger... but beggars can't be choosers, so [[you nod in defeat.]]

They cup your head in their huge hand and press the mug to your lips. It's warm and smooth, and their touch is tender. You hold the tea in your mouth for several seconds, trying to see if it tastes strange at all. You can't remember what the drugs that got you here tasted like, and it's not as if spitting it out is an option - but you give it your best shot regardless, wanting to at least pretend you haven't given up. After a moment of this charade, it becomes clear that you //are// terribly thirsty. Reflexively, you swallow, and then you can't stop yourself from draining the cup, trying not to look your captor in the eyes as you do so. Once you're finished, they set it down. The soft clink of the ceramic against the wooden tray makes you flinch, despite your valiant efforts to hold yourself together. You can't hold in your pooling tears anymore, and the frustration of being unable to wipe them away only makes it worse. Your captor reaches into their trouser pocket, and you track their movements warily - but they only [[pull out an embroidered handkerchief.]]

You try to pull away when they move to wipe your tears, but they hold your head in place gently. They even wipe your nose, and the humiliation sends fresh tears down your cheeks, ruining their work. "Are you missing your old home? Everyone does, but not everyone gets lucky enough to find a safe place to live in the garden. I hope that someday you'll learn to appreciate what I've done for you." Through the film of your own tears, you can see that they're starting to cry too. Despite it all, you can't help feeling a little guilty. Is it possible that they really //do// have a good reason for keeping you here? No, that couldn't be. You can't let your mind go down that path. But their eyes are as kind as ever, and it's impossible to doubt the genuine regret in their voice. If this place has living water, giant rabbit people, and magic... who's to say they aren't doing what's best for you? Could anyone blame you for hoping? ''"GOOD" END: A Gilded Cage (Hope Version)'' [[Want to meet with a different fate?|The last thought in your mind as you drift off to sleep]] [[Want to back up even further in the story?|You begin climbing up to the surface.]] Or maybe... you'd like to [[see what happens next?|Brainwashed timeskip hope]]

"Dear, do you need something?" The amusement in your beloved's voice is palpable as they watch you shift in your seat. Even after so many months, it's embarrassing... but they don't seem to mind your embarrassment, so maybe you can get used to it. "I just... well, I've had a lot of tea this morning." You don't want to specify further, but it seems they aren't going to leave you much of a choice as they lean over to pet your hair, chuckling softly. "And what does that mean? Remember, I need you to be completely honest with me, even when it's uncomfortable. This is important, sweetheart." You squirm, and the silver chain connecting you to them clinks softly. They really do mean well, and you know they're right - honesty between lovers is important. You've caused them so much trouble in the past, and you couldn't refuse them this small request in good consience, not after how kind and forgiving they've been. [["I need to pee."]]

"I'm here to help with that." They tug lightly on the chain, drawing you out of your armchair and toward the back door. You're more than comfortable in the walled garden now - it truly feels like home. You're grateful that they've sectioned off some greenery for you to enjoy, since the outside world is far too dangerous to explore. You feel their eyes on you when you crouch in the dirt near the bushes. It does feel inappropriate for you to dirty their carefully maintained garden, but you do your best to overcome that gut instinct and relieve yourself. You //would// ask them to avert their eyes, but you know they're probably still feeling sensitive about your disobedience from months ago, and you can't blame them one bit. The collar around your neck is proof of that, but it's also proof of their love - it's perfectly comfortable, even for sleep, and it's polished to a high shine that they carefully maintain. The sheer amount of urine that comes out is embarrassing - you probably shouldn't have had that third cup of tea, but it was just such a lovely blend, and they seemed so proud that you were enjoying their handiwork. It's a chilly morning, and you can see [[hot steam rising from between your legs]] as you finish up.

Your lover hands you a soft rag, and you clean yourself up before they take it back with a gentle smile. "I'm sorry you have to touch things like that, I really am. I wouldn't mind doing my own laundry." They shake their head as they deposit it into the laundry basket before dipping their hands into the pool to wash, motioning for you to do the same. "Nonsense, dear. I'm here to take care of you, so you should let me do my job." They're right, of course, and you couldn't be more grateful to have such a perfect safe haven in this otherwise merciless place. Who else could take care of all your needs so effortlessly, without asking for anything in return but your love? "Of course. And you //are// very good at it. I just wish I could do something to thank you." "Well, I'd never want you to exert yourself on my behalf. But if you insist..." You have a feeling that you know what they're implying, and you can't deny the answering throb between your legs... even though you're still spent from last night. [["I do insist."]]

You know there's nobody to see you in the walled garden, but you wouldn't care even if they could. Your faith in your lover is so unshaken that you think you'd happily do exactly this even if you were surrounded by a crowd of fevered rabbitfolk - you'd be protected, after all. You always have been, and you always will be. They don't expect you to crawl on your hands and knees, but it just feels right. You're not wearing anything today, and the thought of being tenderly bathed after crawling across the dirt and moss excites you, so you brush aside any concerns of cleanliness and cross the short distance to your savior, your lover, your //Master.// Their cock is already straining against their trousers, and you feel your cunt pulsing in response. You wouldn't dream of chasing your own pleasure first, though, so you push yourself onto your knees, mouthing at the substantial bulge. "Please... please, may I?" Their large fingers sink into your hair, holding you gently but firmly, mere centimeters away from what you need so badly. "Of course, my love... but you need to be a little more specific than that. I'm not sure what you want from me, [[and I'd never dream of hurting you."]]

You gently close the gap in the curtains, hoping no one will notice the movement, and sit frozen in fear on the large rabbit skin while a series of indistinct rustles and thumps move further and further away. Eventually, you can hear nothing but the wind and the crickets outside. You press your fingers into the plush fur beneath you, telling yourself that someone who could kill such a fearsome beast is bound to return. They //can't// just disappear. They're going to come back, because they //have// to. You're not afraid of them anymore - not in the cold light of reality, faced with the thought of being left alone again. In fact, you feel terribly guilty for doubting someone who'd willingly put themself in danger for you. However terrible the idea might be, you're considering going out to look for them by the time the door finally creaks open. You yelp and flinch, worried that someone other than your savior might enter the house - but no, their familiar silhouette appears before you, backlit by the moon. "Are you alright? What happened?" You rush over to them, instinctively grasping their hand before you realize how forward that must seem. As you draw back, your apologies slow to a halt at the sight of the dark smear all over your palm. "I promise I'm not hurt. But there was a bit of a... tussle. Rabbitfolk." They shut the door behind them and wipe their hands on their tunic. "That scream you heard must have been an escaped captive. I would have tried to help, but they were too gravely injured. Typical of those beasts." "Oh no... I'm so sorry. Did they not make it?" [[You feel the urge to embrace them]] - it must have been devastating, even for someone this strong.

"No, they did not. I was only gone that long because I had to bury them." "I... I suppose it's better than their body being left to the rabbits, at least." You do have questions - does this happen often? Did this person have family to alert to their death? Were they even from this strange realm, or were they an ordinary human like you? But you can't bring yourself to bombard your savior with them tonight, not after such an ordeal. "That is not a very high bar, my dear." A faint, exhausted smile crosses their dimly lit face as they look at you, and before you know it, you've been pulled into a tight embrace. It seems you're not the only one desperate for comfort. "I'm so glad I could keep you safe," they whisper into your hair as you grasp their tunic in your fists. You have no energy left to care about the fact that they're basically a stranger, or that their entrance into your life was so very unsettling. You're just so relieved that they came home in one piece... not least because you can't see any other option for survival in this world. "How did I get this lucky?" You ask them, voice muffled against their chest. They smell like blood, sweat, and wet leaves, but you don't mind. [[Their answering sigh reverberates through your whole body.]]

"I should be asking you the same thing." They pull away after a long moment, looking down into your upturned face. You're still standing on your tiptoes so you can get a better view of them, and they catch you as you wobble slightly. "I could always carry you instead - just say the word." You're surprised that they can joke at a time like this, but it's a welcome relief from the horror nonetheless. You can't suppress the nervous laugh that bubbles out of you. "I think... before anything else, we should get you cleaned up. You've had a rough night." The euphoria of your savior returning alive overpowers any apprehension you might've been feeling, and you're desperate to keep them by your side now - and of course, to pay them back for how kindly they've treated a total stranger. "I certainly don't plan on sleeping, so a bath is in order," they agree. There's a moment of thick silence before you gather your nerves: [["I could... stand guard for you, the way you did for me?"]]

They laugh at that, a booming sound that makes the floorboards vibrate beneath you. You feel the blood rising to your face - you're well aware that they don't need your help, but the truth is that you just don't want to be alone, even for a moment. Their eyes are warm and kind when they take your hand in their own, covering the smear of blood with their massive palm. "I would be delighted. It's a chilly night, though - would you care to join me instead? I can warm up the water with just a thought. Or, if that's too much, I'll lend you some of my furs." You don't particularly like the thought of wearing a rabbit pelt after what just happened... and a hot bath //does// sound very appealing. Soreness and exhaustion win out over embarrassment, and you [[accept their offer gratefully.]]

Are you //really// about to do this? Are you going to bathe with a near-total stranger in such a dangerous place? Only a few hours ago, such a thing would've been unthinkable, but now it's clearly the superior choice. You know you should probably be more concerned, but the intense rush of relief at their safe arrival has pushed away any rational fears. You want to get as close to them as you possibly can. "I'm sure it's dark out there, do you..." You trail off as your companion shakes their head with a faint smile. "You'll see," they promise mysteriously, before taking your hand and [[leading you to the back door.]]

"Oh..." As the door opens, you take in the soft blue glow of the pool. It radiates out into the rest of the garden, blending with the light of the full moon to dye all of your surroundings a radiant silver. "I like to spend time in my garden at night," your companion explains. Their face looks lit from within as they turn to you with an intense expression. "Did you... do all this? With magic?" You feel ridiculous for asking, but you're still having a hard time adjusting to the laws of this strange place. "I did. I hope you're pleased with my work." You wait for more of an explanation, but instead they reach for your hand. Their movements are careful and deliberate, as if they're holding themself back, and you shiver as your small hand disappears into theirs. "I'm sorry, my dear. If you're cold, we should start warming you up." They break away from your gaze, but they keep a gentle grip on your hand as they guide you toward the pool. [[You don't know if you're really shivering from the cold.]]

You're hesitant to undress, but the promise of hot water is more than enough to help you push through the embarrassment. You shed your clothes and fold them, not wanting to make a mess in your host's beautiful garden. You can't help staring as they begin to lift their bloodstained tunic. Perhaps the way their smooth skin glows an iridescent blue-green in the light shouldn't be the first thing on your mind - not after everything you've both just gone through. You wouldn't want to make them feel uncomfortable after such an ordeal, but... They meet your gaze before you can politely turn away, and your frantic apology is interrupted by a velvety laugh and the feeling of their large body displacing the water around you. "There's no need to be shy. Any modesty on my part is only for your comfort, after all." They don't move any closer to you, instead watching you carefully to gauge your reaction. "Oh, well... I'm glad I haven't made //you// uncomfortable, especially after everything you've done for me." Your cheeks are burning, and you hope they'll write it off as a side effect of the [[slowly warming water.]]

They aren't moving any closer to you, clearly trying to ensure that you don't feel threatened. It's a far cry from your initial meeting, when they lifted you off the ground without a second thought - it seems you're not the only one who's rapidly come to feel something far deeper than you should for a stranger. Are they truly a stranger, though? They've saved your life, they've taken you in and fed you, and most importantly in your eyes, they've given you something approximating a straight answer about where you are and how you got here. No, it wasn't perfect, and it did raise several new questions - not the least of which was the burning assumption that this all might be some kind of strange dream. This place did seem to operate based on dream logic, but you could sense a beating heart beneath all the hazy strangeness, a visceral pulse that told you the ground you were standing on was solid and had its own identity. It was confusing, certainly - but you were confused by the answers you'd been given, not frantically searching for any scrap of truth in a world bound and determined to tear you to shreds without explaining a single thing. That was worth more than your companion would ever know, and you want to [[show them as much gratitude as you possibly can.]]

You're too shy to actually wash yourself, but you're not the one who got covered in blood tonight. Instead, you seize the instant of boldness that flashes across your mind before it can vanish, and take the bar of soap into your hands. You can't quite make eye contact with them, but you shift a little closer to your savior, hoping they won't move away, that you haven't completely misread the situaton. "I could... help you, if you'd like? W-with your bath, I mean. I don't really need one." Your hand trembles around the soap, and you try to brace yourself against the slick stones, willing your racing heartbeat to slow down. Instead, you slip and tumble into their side, finding a strong arm around your shoulders before you even know what's happening. "I would //love// your help, dear." They pull you closer, gently enclosing your hand with their own and guiding it to their chest. The soap glides along their skin, and you feel certain you'd collapse if they weren't holding you steady. They've been so very resistant to any help from you in other areas, so you couldn't dream of letting this opportunity pass you by. As they release their grip on your hand, seemingly asking without words whether you're sure, you withdraw the soap only to lather both of your hands and start [[caressing the smooth divot between their neck and shoulder.]]

//"Please// let me suck your cock," you moan, straining against their grip to reach it. They acquiesce, pushing their covered bulge against your open mouth and humping it for a moment. You press your thighs together, slick with a familiar wetness, and reach up to undo their belt. "I wish I could fit the whole thing in my mouth," you lament as their sizable cock springs free from its bindings. "You're so kind to me... you're so good. You deserve so much better." Nevertheless, you stretch your lips to take in the tip, sucking greedily on your prize. This beautiful cock is worth everything you went through to get here, and then some. You feel unworthy of it, and that just makes you wetter. They taste the way fresh summer greenery smells. You struggle to take in another inch, flattening your tongue against the veiny underside. It pulses in your mouth, and you raise both hands to stroke its full length where your mouth is inadequate. [[You moan around their cock,]] your mouth stuffed to bursting and your heart aching with love.

"I'd never force you to do that," they reassure you, stroking your hair as you struggle to push it down your throat. You know they wouldn't, and you have no idea what you did to deserve such sweetness - but you'll be damned if you aren't going to prove your gratitude and then some. "Do you know who //would,// though?" You nod as best you can, knowing exactly what's coming next. They tug gently on your chain, as if you needed any more convincing, and give you the same speech they've given daily ever since they decided to keep you - the one that eventually helped you see the light with enough repetition. "The rabbitfolk would." Their breath hitches as you choke slightly, but they continue: "They'd tear your throat to shreds. Your pretty little cunt, too. You'd be a ruined corpse in no time at all if you ever tried to leave me." You suck harder, and the ache between your thighs becomes impossible to ignore. "I'd do //anything// to keep you safe, my love. But nobody else would lift a finger in this cruel place. The water spirit, the rabbits, the thing in the tunnels, and so much more... I have to keep you here, because if you left, they'd brutalize you. I love you so much." And you //are// safe. Day in and day out, you devote yourself to your protector, taking whatever they give you and showing your gratitude every step of the way. You know they're right - there isn't anywhere else you could possibly hide from the dangers of the outside world. [[Perhaps you were brought here just for them.]]

The old, //ungrateful// you might've found that concept jarring, uncomfortable, perhaps even in violation of your free will. But you don't //need// free will anymore, not here - and the only violation you've ever experienced was at the hands of the water spirit, which you'll never have to see again as long as you live. Now that you're so thoroughly removed from the danger, you can look back on it and accept how the memory makes your cunt ache. The truth is that you're weak, and these creatures know exactly how to prey on that weakness. You're lucky you were saved before it could take what your Master so rightfully deserves. The creature did you a favor in the grand scheme of things - if you hadn't needed saving, you might not be where you are right now, fighting to get your mouth around this perfect cock. The chain clinks, falling cold against your naked body as you stroke them with your hands, moaning around the tip as if you're the one being pleasured. You might as well be - you're sinking like a stone into the ecstasy of giving them pleasure. They deserve it, after all - a sincere apology for all the times you've ever asked about going home or seeing the outside world, a token of thanks for their dedicated efforts to keeping you safe and comfortable whether you liked it or not. You're grateful. So //very// grateful. It's as if all your common sense was replaced with that one word - you don't need to escape, you don't need to understand what's going on, you don't need to know anything your Master hasn't chosen to tell you. No, you just need to show Master how grateful you are, and everything will be alright. ''"GOOD" END (Hope Version) Extra: Domesticated'' [[Want to meet with a different fate?|The last thought in your mind as you drift off to sleep]] [[Want to back up even further in the story?|You begin climbing up to the surface.]]

The blood falls away under your touch, and soon you move down their chest, heartbeat threatening to punch through your own as they pull you flush against them. "I - I can't wash you like this," you say tentatively, but the complaint vanishes from your mind as you feel their hard cock pressing against your naked torso. It reaches from your hips to your breasts, and the mere thought of trying to fit this thing inside you in //any// way makes you dizzy - or perhaps it's just the rising steam. Face flushed, you crane your neck upward to look at them as their hand travels down your waist, stopping just before... "You're safe," they tell you, voice rumbling through your body as their cock twitches against you. "If you want to refuse me, by all means, do so." There isn't much you could do to stop them if they failed to keep their word, and despite your harrowing experience earlier, your exhausted and heat-addled mind finds something about that prospect alluring. You shake your head, pressing back against them in response. "No, I... I want to make you feel good, I do. But I'm worried I won't be able to do anything for you..." The soft laughter they breathe out in response makes you press your thighs together, but it's not long before [[they're pushed apart again]] by your companion's own leg.

"What on earth makes you say that?" They grasp your ass in one large hand, effortlessly moving your body against their cock as if you're just a pillow they're humping. You bury your face in their chest, trying to hide how flushed you've gotten, but you can't hold back a whimper as your cunt presses against their thigh. "It's just so... big. I don't think it'll fit //anywhere."// "It fits between us like this, doesn't it?" You can't argue with that, nor with the hand that moves your hips against them, taking control so thoroughly that even the act of seeking pleasure is no longer in your hands. All you can do is lean against them and pant as they manipulate your body, head spinning and cunt throbbing. "Ah... well, if you say so-" You're cut off by the sudden rush of cool air as they lift you out of the water, setting you down on the edge of the pool. It's not cold enough to be uncomfortable, especially with the steaming water just below you, but you still shiver in anticipation as they lift your thighs easily over their shoulders. "That's more than enough of my selfishness, though, don't you think?" You don't have time to think //anything// before their tongue envelops your pussy, making you [[bite your hand to stifle a moan.]]

The gentle pressure of their tusks against the junction of your hips and thighs does make you nervous, but surely they wouldn't hurt you after everything you've been through together... right? That assumption is bolstered as they work their hands under your ass once again, maneuvering you so the sharp ends of their tusks aren't anywhere near your sensitive cunt. You lean back onto the soft grass, exposed and at the mercy of their relentless tongue as it drives any discontent with this strange world thoroughly out of your hazy mind. Had you really considered leaving before? What was so great about your former home that you'd wanted to abandon them for it, anyway? This nameless savior who cared for nothing but your wellbeing, who - "Ah, I'm - " You don't have the presence of mind to finish your thought or to worry about whether anyone outside the stone walls might hear you moaning for them. Your thighs clench around their head, but the pressure from your comparatively frail body hardly fazes them. They bury their face deeper into your pussy as you cum, [[licking up every trace of wetness]] until you're shivering with overstimulation and instinctively squirming away.

"I don't want to stop," they murmur against your cunt, making you gasp as their voice vibrates through your folds. "But if you'd like me to..." They begin raising their head, and the sight of their mouth shining with your cum is enough to send another pulse of heat through to your core. You can't stand the stimulation anymore, but you feel like you'd //die// if they stopped. "I... I don't want you to stop," you reassure them through your gasps. "It's just - ah!" They don't wait for you to finish speaking, instead making you squeal with a mixture of pleasure and pain that you've never felt before. Their gentle tongue leaves no crevice untouched, delving into your trembling hole before it turns to your clit yet again. The direct pressure makes your thighs spasm and your voice rise to a pitch you didn't know it could achieve, and they pull your hips flush against their mouth as their tongue takes you apart piece by piece. "I //can't,"// you moan, but your cunt seems to disagree, driving you to grind against their face in senseless need. [[You're going to cum again,]] whether you feel like you //can// or not.

Something snaps inside your mind as they ravenously lick you through your second orgasm and well past it, holding your hips firmly against their mouth as a stream of incoherent moans and sighs escapes you. You can't feel the chill of the air, or the grass under your naked body, or your feet in the steaming water of the pool. You can't remember how you got here or what you were planning on doing next. It //hurts,// you can't stand it anymore, but grinding against them and desperately pushing to get away from the stimulation are one and the same now. If their tusks did pierce you at this point, you're certain you'd just keep moaning and begging them for more, but they maintain a safe distance as they torment you with their tongue. You instinctively try to pull them back with your thighs when they finally stop, but it makes no difference. They hold your hips in place, just close enough to let you feel their breath on your overused cunt. It twitches and drools onto the ground, desperate for more. "Promise me you'll never leave this place." Their soft voice penetrates the fog of desire, but you can barely understand what they're saying. You beg them weakly not to stop, but their mouth remains a breath away from where you need it the most. "I can't let go of you. Promise me you'll stay here in our home forever, and I'll let you cum again. [[Does that sound fair?"]]

"I promise, I promise, please, I //need// it - " You don't know if it sounds fair or not. You wouldn't care if it was the most irrational request in the world. You'd do anything at all to feel their mouth on your aching pussy again, and your vision goes white with ecstasy as they return to rubbing your clit raw with their tongue. "Please, please, please, I'll stay, I'll stay, I love you, I //love you - "// Your orgasm steals the capacity for speech, saturating your mind in bliss until your whole existence seems whittled down to your trembling cunt. Nothing has ever made you feel this way before - none of your comparatively pitiful masturbation sessions, and certainly none of the other human beings you've slept with. As always, they don't stop after you're done, and this time the wet friction of their tongue against your abused clit tears a shrill scream from your lips. "Oh god, I - I'll die," you manage to force out with tremendous effort, and that's when they finally stop, leaving you a senseless mess of twitching limbs and drooling cunt on the ground. [[They climb out of the water, caging you in with their massive body.]] You shiver in exhaustion and anticipation as they lean over you, mouth smeared with your fluids.

"Are you alright, dear?" They nuzzle against your ear, making you twitch. You shakily nod, far too out of breath to speak, only dimly aware of their rock-hard erection that can't help dripping precum against your torso in this position. Part of you wishes they'd chase their own pleasure, humping your helpless body and drowning you in their cum, but instead they lean back, scooping you into their arms like they did immediatley after saving you. It already feels like a lifetime ago. They don't bother to take care of themself, though, instead lowering you back into the water and cradling you against their broad chest. You can feel their heartbeat hammering against your cheek as the water embraces you both, and the knowledge of just how much //larger// they are spins around in your tired mind until you're too dizzy to think. You just want them to hold you. You just want them to keep you safe. All they want in return is your love, and that's a deal you can't imagine refusing. They gently wash the sweat from your trembling body, only slipping their hand between your legs for as long as it takes to clean you. You're so relaxed that you'd slip bonelessly into the water if they weren't holding you up, but they //are,// [[and you're far too drunk on pleasure and relief to doubt them.]]

//Run away,// the fading shreds of your conscious mind supplied. //Make it to the door, go for their eyes, stab them with a fork -// //Or melt under their inescapable weight as a cock so big you couldn't fit your hands around it forced its way past -// //Stab them, stab them with a fork, stab them with a fork,// you reminded yourself, chanting it inside your mind like a prayer. //Stab them with a fork, stab them with a fork, stab them with a fork and it won't even matter, not to someone of their titanic size, not when they could pull it out like an annoying thorn and ''punish you -''// But as the days turned into weeks and the weeks turned into months, it became clear to you that they would never, ever touch you like that without your [[explicit consent.]]

"Tell me, do you truly want to stay here?" They ask once you're clean and dry through no efforts of your own, wrapped in a soft towel as they hold you carefully in their lap on the edge of the pool. "Mhm..." You can't move, and you can barely think. All the exhaustion of your adventure hits you at once, knocked out of wherever you'd been holding it by the relentless onslaught of pleasure. "Yes." What else could you possibly say? They're so warm, and the air is so cold, and you want them to touch you more. Nothing else matters. "I'll hold you to that," they murmur against your hair before your world tilts, and they begin carrying you indoors. You're not sure what they'll hold you to, but you can't imagine they'd ever do you any harm... surely it won't be anything bad. Before you know it, you're nestled into a pile of soft rabbit pelts, and the towel has started to unwind itself from your naked body. You mumble a question into your companion's chest, wondering where your clothes are, only for them to shush you and cover you with a warm, heavy blanket. You don't argue, only nuzzling closer. ''GOOD END: Cherished'' [[Want to meet with a different fate?|The last thought in your mind as you drift off to sleep]] [[Want to back up even further in the story?|You begin climbing up to the surface.]] Or maybe... you'd like to [[find out what happens next?|Cherished extra]]

You were relieved, of course - at least that's what you told yourself. You didn't wake up every morning aching and dripping from feverish dreams of being ravaged by them. You didn't cling to the bars of your cage and stare at the bulge in their pants, significant even while soft, whenever they came to give you your food. No, you'd dodged a bullet. That was all. But didn't you want to know what it felt like to embrace that bullet with open arms? Could you really live the rest of your mortal life down here and never find out? Wouldn't it be so much worse to let the days scrape by slowly with nothing of consequence ever happening again, no new stimulation to soothe your senses, no interesting deviations from the routine they'd established? You didn't consciously decide that was the case, but deep down, you must have, because this morning, you're [[furiously rubbing your clit in your cage.]]

Something in your mind shudders loose as the wet sounds of your frantic rubbing reach your ears. You're not here, no, you're not here. You're in your own bed, imagining a fantastical creature who doesn't //really// exist, who could never //really// hurt you - so it's safe to buck against your hand as you imagine a thick green cock splitting you open, pushing your organs out of the way and claiming every inch of your fragile body as its own. It's safe to bite your other hand and writhe on the rabbit pelts - no, the //sheets,// your sheets, //your sheets// - no, they're too soft, you've never owned sheets this soft - Yes, you do. You do. You //must,// and so you do. It's safe to clench down on nothing with tears in your eyes, imagining how it would feel for that inhumanly huge cock to slide between your thighs, rubbing against your wet cunt, large enough for you to stroke it with your hands as your captor rubs your wetness all over themself to ease their passage. It's safe to cum harder than you ever have before at the thought of being lifted like a little doll and used to stroke their cock until - "Dear, you could've just //asked// me to take care of you," their voice purrs from behind you. There's a soft thump as they set aside your food on the ground. [[You don't want to open your eyes.]]

"You're not real," you choke out through gritted teeth, rolling onto one side with your hand still clenched between your legs. "Not real, not real, not real." "Does it matter if I'm real or not? All I want is to make you feel safe, and welcome, and //good.// That's all I've ever wanted." If this was real, it'd be unbearable - but it's //not.// You're eased slowly out of the cage and into their strong arms. They hardly have to try to restrain you - your wrists are grasped securely in each hand as they hold you in their lap, and your legs are too unsteady to make a break for it after months of barely walking. This must just be a wet dream, because their cock is rock-hard and pressed against your ass. You squirm in place, unsure whether you want to get away or grind against them. They're clearly taking it as the latter, since you feel yourself tipping over slowly until your face is pressed against the dirt floor and their large hands are reaching under the shirt they've given you. It's more than long enough to cover your ass, but they grasp your hips and [[lift you until you're fully exposed.]]

"Are you going to run?" They ask you gently, rubbing your calf as if to comfort you. "If you still want to run, I'll put you back in the cage and I won't return until you scream for me. I promise I'll be listening closely all the while." "No, no, no, //please,"// you whine as tears begin to fall, turning the dirt into mud. "Not the cage, I don't want the cage." "Then would you rather wed me and come live like a person? I know that's what //I'd// prefer, but I won't force your hand. I won't do anything you're uncomfortable with." You're not comfortable with //anything// anymore. What's more, you don't know if you ever will be again. If this really is just a wet dream... perhaps making yourself cum again will wake you up? You don't normally cum in your dreams. This one must have been uniquely powerful. And you don't think you have it in you to refuse them, not when you're faced with the choice between a dream and a nightmare. [["I want you."]] You spread your legs wider, showing them your slick cunt.

"I know you do. I've always known." They palm your cunt, gently rubbing your swollen clit with two large fingers until you're dripping onto the dirt, and then they move up to your hole, pressing in slowly. Their fingers are as thick as a human cock, and you moan at the deep ache as they stretch you out. They don't start moving right away, instead waiting for you to fuck yourself on their fingers in desperation. "There you go, sweet thing. I'm so glad you've come to your senses." You can hear them stroking their cock with their other hand, and their breath catches as they crook their fingers inside you. "Just let me please you like this, and everything will be fine. No more cage, no more dirt floor. I'll let you sleep in my bed with me, and I'll make you feel so very //good."// You sniffle, pushing yourself back onto their fingers despite yourself. You want it, you //love// it, you //need// it, but - would you really dream about this sort of thing? Do you really want to be kidnapped and... Well, of course you do. Because it's just a dream, and it's //your// dream, and [[you're going to cum.]]

They stop just before you can find relief, and you sob into the mud like you've just been punched. "N-noooo, //no,// I //can't// go back to the cage." If they don't let you do this, that's //exactly// what will happen. That's what they said, after all. And you can't. You //won't.// You scramble around to face them, and you finally open your eyes despite yourself. They're real, and they're here, and they're right in front of you, hard and throbbing. Your knees are really pressed into the cold dirt floor of their basement, and you really fucked yourself to the brink of orgasm on your captor's fingers. The only choice you have left is to crawl desperately toward them and start mouthing their cock. If you show them how committed you are, how much you want to make love to them, they'll take you back upstairs and you can just pretend none of this ever happened. And you want to do that so, //so// badly. You've never wanted anything more in your life. There's no room in your bruised and fragile mind anymore for thoughts of escape or complaints about being held captive. You just want your savior instead of your captor, [[and you know exactly how to get them back.]]

You can barely fit the head in your mouth, so you settle for licking sloppily around its ridge as you stroke them with both hands. Their skin is smooth and clean, and you can't help remembering the bath you took before everything went wrong. You haven't been given anything other than damp cloths and a bucket in who knows how long - maybe you can just pretend you're still filthy from your adventure once they let you out. And they will. They must. "D-does that feel good?" You ask, your voice trembling. They pet your head gently, brushing your dirty hair away from your face, and give you a soft smile. "Anything at all would feel good coming from you, my love. I'm so very, very proud of you for choosing freedom and happiness." "Thank you," you mumble against their cock before straining your mouth to suck on the head, moaning at the painful stretch. They're slick with precum, and your small hands slide easily along their shaft as you try your hardest to convince them of your love. "My dear... I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I'd rather give //you// the pleasure you've been missing all this time. I know how badly you want it." They lift your chin, and you gasp as your mouth [[slides off their cock.]] "I think it's time for you to come upstairs and feel the full force of my love."

The smell of frying meat wakes you up, and you drift sleepily toward it. It's not the first time you've done this, nor will it be the last. You nuzzle into your spouse's arm as they work on breakfast, breathing in their familiar scent. You could pass out again right there, and you're about to when the hot grease from the pan hits you in the face. You yelp and jump backward, startled fully awake, and before you know it there's a cool, wet towel being pressed against the spot. "Oh, honey... it's not that bad, I promise. You always worry too much." They shake their head and move the towel slightly, kissing the tiny burn. "No such thing. You're so very fragile, I just can't help it." "A little grease won't hurt me, though." You turn your head to meet their lips, and it's not long before their tongue slides into your mouth. You're both sitting in front of the fireplace, and they have to lift you into their lap to properly reach your lips. You settle in comfortably, clenching their nightshirt in your fists and sighing into their mouth as you tug them closer. It's unbelievably hard to pull away, but you have to put your foot down when their warm hand starts creeping up your shirt. [["Dear! The food!"]]

"R-really? Thank you, thank you, oh God. I can't thank you enough." You throw yourself into their arms, and they snuggle you close, ignoring the overpowering smell of sweat. You kiss their neck sloppily, grinding your wet cunt against their cock as you do so. "I'll need to take one simple precaution, however. Will you let me leave for just one moment? I swear on my life that I will come back immediatley. I'm not going to leave you down here." "I - alright, I - I guess that makes sense. Thank you." The terror of being left alone again travels straight to your cunt, and it pulses and drips as if readying itself to save you from that fate. "Please, //please// don't leave me, I can't be without you anymore. I //can't."// You let out a wet sob against their neck, clenching your arms even tighter around them. "Would I ever lie to you?" They grip your ass in one large hand and slide their other into your hair, holding your head gently but firmly. They tug it to the side and breathe against your ear, making you shudder. "I've been waiting for this moment for so long. I promise I'll come back and show you how just good it feels to be mine." They give your ear a gentle kiss, and you whimper, bucking involuntarily against their cock. "There's nothing you can do to stop me. Your life //will// be beautiful." They press you harder against them for just a moment, taking all control away from you and moving your hips as they see fit, before they [[gently untangle themself from the embrace.]]

"Please, //please,// you //have// to come back," you beg, kneeling on the cold dirt floor as you look up at their towering form. "I'll do anything you want. I'll do it forever. Just let things go back to the way they were." You wipe the tears and snot away from your face and reach out again, clinging to their leg. "Dearest, you must let go. I promise I'll return." They gently shake you off and turn to leave, keeping a close eye on you and locking the door firmly behind them. They don't put you back into the cage. You cry and scream into the darkness, wordless and mindless. You don't know if you want to be free. You don't know if you want to escape. You can't see anything beyond the immediate, desperate desire for a bath and a proper meal at a table and a warm, loving protector to share your bed with. If they're willing to give you those things, then you'll take them with no reservations. And your cunt is still throbbing, made no less distracting by the intensity of your choking sobs. You can't help touching it, bucking pitifully into your hand as you lie on the ground with your face in the mud. You're just a hair's breath away from coming again [[when you hear the telltale creaking of the door.]]

"My love, I have something for you." They're positively beaming with a spring in their step, carrying a pile of gleaming silver chains in their arms. You sit up at their arrival, hastily cleaning the dirt off your face. As soon as they reach you, they set their burden down and reveal a key hidden beneath their tunic. "I promise these will be perfectly comfortable, and you'll be able to walk around in them. As I said, I won't leave you down here. I just need to make sure you're safe, so this will never have to happen again. Doesn't that sound nice?" You nod and sniffle, although the prospect of being constantly chained sounds like it'll make it hard for you to pretend things are back to normal. You're in no position to refuse them either way, so you hold out your wrists obediently and let them lock the carefully rounded silver cuffs in place with a chain between them, and then you let them push you down so they can link your ankles together. The very last item is a collar, and you shiver as they lock the cold, heavy metal around your neck before looping a rope underneath it as a leash. There's no clip for you to undo and no way for you to wiggle out of it - but you're far past the point of trying. "I would do //anything// for you," they say softly as you lie there, stroking the back of your thigh. "I'm so glad you've finally realized that. I never wanted to hurt you. I never wanted to make you cry." They gather you into their arms, holding you just like they did after saving you from the water spirit, and start making their way up the steps. The only thought in your mind is how desperate you are to start your new life. ''"GOOD" END (Fear Version) Extra: Out of the Darkness'' [[Want to meet with a different fate?|The last thought in your mind as you drift off to sleep]] [[Want to back up even further in the story?|You begin climbing up to the surface.]]

//''Italic and bold''// indicates clickable text. For the noncon monster breeding end (''Bad End: The Breeding Chamber''): The voice jolts you out of your half-asleep state. Before you can write it off as a hypnagogic hallucination, it comes back louder than before: "I need help, I'm lost!” ''//Try to help//'' //''Wait a minute, something's off…''// (Choose this option to (text-style:"underline")[proceed] to the breeding scenes.) … After choosing //''Wait a minute, something’s off...''// You can't place why, but something about the voice unsettles you. Despite how terribly guilty you feel, a pang of anxiety pulls at you from deep in your gut, keeping you tethered to the mouth of the cavern. You decide to //''wait just a bit longer''// before risking a deeper venture. After this point, you are on track for the monster breeding end. Congrats!

They reluctantly disentangle themself and turn to check on the meat, shifting their large body in front of you to protect you from the spitting grease. "It's just about finished, my love. But you should wait for it to cool. We wouldn't want you burning your pretty mouth." That's a fair point - the last time you burned your mouth, they wouldn't let you use it on them until it healed properly. You're pretty sure that didn't take more than a day and a half, but they were insistent on making sure there was absolutley no chance //whatsoever// that they'd cause you any pain. Those three days had been agony, and you're in no hurry to repeat them. "You're so good to me... I don't know if I deserve you." They finish plating up the food and give you an affronted look before scooping you back into their lap, enclosing you in their muscular arms. "Dear, you wouldn't //be// here unless you deserved it, I've told you time and time again." They nuzzle into your hair sweetly, but their hand is already creeping up your thigh and under the hem of your borrowed tunic. [[There won't be any escaping them]] before your breakfast has cooled down sufficently, it seems.

"I - mmm, I'm sure you're right," you manage as they grip your ass and hold you tightly against their hardening cock, making you squirm. You're not wearing anything underneath their tunic, and you're already oversensitive from last night, but they waste no time before tipping you slowly and gently onto your back. You still don't understand how any of this works - you know you used to live somewhere else, and now you're here. You know you're //terrified// of the outside world, but that's alright when your lover can drive every negative thought out of your mind with ease. Perhaps that's why the rest of the world is so frightening - to make sure you were driven to them, kept by them, given a chance to find out how wonderfully protective they are. They're certainly never going to fit all the way inside you, no matter how hard you try - but they rub the head of their cock against your slick cunt all the same, pressing against your hole like they're about to push inside. Sometimes you wish they'd do it anyway - just fill you up until there's nothing left but them, no space between the two of you at all. But they love you far too much to wound you like that, so you have to content yourself with leaking all over the soft, wet tip of their cock, covering it with your wetness as you move your hips as if they're really inside you. "Pretty thing," they whisper against your chest, making you shiver at the gentle touch of their tusks on your bare skin. "My little flower, what would you do without me?" [[It's a question you can't bear to contemplate.]]

"I - I don't know," you whimper as your orgasm builds. You try to grind harder and harder on their cock, but they hold you down while rubbing it between your legs, and you're powerless to chase them any further than they want you to. "I //do," //they whisper before kissing you just over your heart. It's beating so fast, they can probably feel it vibrating against their tongue. "I know, and I'll never let it happen." It's been a long time since they felt the need to remind you of this fact. Perhaps it's because you got burned, or perhaps they're just in a //mood// today. Either way, you shiver, feeling fragile underneath them as they remind you just how dangerous the outside world is. Your memories of it are strangely blurry now - you know //something// must have happened to you, for all that your lover talks about rescuing you. When you try to reach back into your memories for it, though, it's as if you're pushed back by a thin membrane, one you're afraid to break. What if you hurt yourself? What if they can't fix you this time, because the wound isn't physical? No, it's better to stay here and be happy with them. And maybe after enough lovingly brewed cups of tea, enough breakfasts made by your loving spouse, enough nights spent cocooned in their strong arms... [[you won't even care about remembering anymore.]] Wouldn't that be wonderful?

You can hear them stroking their cock as they rub it against you, pressing hard enough that the very tip starts stretching out your hole, if only barely. It's almost painful, but you try to push even harder against them, and they acquiesce, ever so shallowly fucking into your too-tight cunt with the head of their cock. "I don't know if you could take being filled with my cum," they murmur. "You're so //small.// So //fragile."// But they don't stop stroking themself, and they don't stop pushing inside of you. "But... wasn't I made for you?" You think you're going to cry if they don't cum inside, and they press open-mouthed kisses against your throat as if to soothe you. "Of course I can take it, I'm //yours."// Your eyes widen suddenly, and you let out a sharp squeal as an inch or two of their shaft slides inside of you. "Oh, oh God, oh God, oh, it's-" "I can't stop," they tell you, grazing your skin with their tusks. "I need to //own// you." "Y-you //do// own me," you whimper as you struggle to adjust to their massive girth. You're so wet that you're dripping onto the rabbit pelts, and you've taken their large fingers several times, so this isn't impossible - but you don't really want them to thrust in up to the root; your cunt is far too shallow to take it all. Even their fingers have bordered on fucking you too deep at times. But you can't bring yourself to stop pushing aginst their cock regardless. //"Yes,"// they breathe, [[pinning your arms firmly above your head]] when you try to touch yourself. "My most precious belonging, my love. I'm not sure I deserve to own such a perfect little hole."

"You //do,"// you moan, trembling under their strong grip as they stretch you beyond what you thought you could take. "I'm yours, I'm yours, I'm-" //"Take it,"// they whisper right against your ear, in a desperate tone that sounds more like begging than anything else. "Take me, I'm //yours.// I swear I'll never own another." Tears start to roll down your cheeks from the intense stretch, and the instinctive fear that they'll push too far, despite knowing in your heart of hearts that your beloved spouse would never hurt you that way. They kiss them away and tighten their grip on your wrists, pulsing inside of you as your cunt throbs and cums around them. //"Mine,"// they whisper one last time before filling you. It spills out over your ass and onto the floor, flooding every little crevice of your cunt. You tremble with overstimulation as they ride out the aftershocks inside you, helplessly twitching and clenching around their cock. You've never felt complete before now. You've never felt //alive// before now. The way your cunt milks them so greedily, the way their too-large size makes you shiver and melt beneath their touch, the way they're reaching down to gently stroke your exposed clit, rubbing their hot cum all over it - you must have truly been made for them, in a much more literal way than you could possibly understand. "A-aa //aah,"// you whine as they tease your clit, making your mind nearly shut off from the overstimulation. You feel so empty when they pull out of you, but they [[rub your soaking cunt relentlessly]] as if to apologize.

"This -" they punctuate their words by slipping two fingers inside of you, gently stroking your inner walls - "Belongs to me. And it's mine to do with as I please, is it not?" You nod, starting to drool from how //good// it all feels, and they swallow your moans with a deep, feverish kiss as they pump their thick fingers slowly in and out of you. Your throbbing clit is desperate to be touched, and you squirm in a futile attempt to get //any// more stimulation there, but they only shush your pitiful whining and gently ease a third finger inside. "So tight," they murmur against your mouth. "You'd //ruin// your pretty hole if I wasn't around to stop you from going too far. You just don't know how to take care of yourself. Poor little thing." They stroke your clit lightly with their thumb, pushing you to the edge of a second orgasm but pulling back as soon as you're about to tip over. "Th-//thank you,"// you gasp as they reach deep inside of you, deeper than you'd ever be able to manage on your own. "Thank you, thank you, //thank you, th-"// You let out a garbled moan as you cum around their fingers, nearly sobbing from the way your neglected clit twitches throughout it. It's unsatisfying, and it renders you incapable of doing anything but seeking more pleasure however you possibly can. They don't leave you wanting for long, though, as they take their fingers out and lick their way down your stomach until they're [[breathing hot air against your dripping cunt.]]

The food entirely forgotten, you tremble beneath them, too weak and overstimulated to so much as wrap your legs around their head. They grip your thighs tightly, groping and rubbing them as they lick deep into your hole, encompass every fold of your cunt, and finally suck your clit into their mouth. You're gasping as if you've just run miles and miles without a break, bucking helplessly into their mouth as they devour you. When they slip a hand under your ass and start stroking and rubbing the rim, still sensitive from last night, you choke out a sobbing moan and cum all over their tongue. You haven't so much as thought about going home in... well, however long it's been. Time seems to move differently here. It's just like your lover told you - all you needed to do was learn how to see this place as your home. But were you really learning something new, or were you struggling to accept what's //always// been true - what you've always known //must// be true deep down? There's no place you'd rather be - no place you can even concieve of being - but right here, taking whatever your monstrous lover gives you and begging for more. Even the nebulous horrors outside feel like they were //meant// for you in some way, meant to keep you penned in where you belong and ensure that you'll never ruin your own happiness by trying to leave. And you're weak, so you very well might have stumbled into danger [[if not for...]]

If not for the person who'd rescued you so thoroughly from those dangers that you could no longer remember any fear or pain or sadness. If not for the person who had seemingly emerged from your subconscious mind and pulled out the hopes and dreams and desires that lay there old and worn and unraveling, and lovingly stitched them back together until they surpassed their former glory tenfold. If not for the person who will //always// be there to protect you, body and soul. You know more clearly and sharply than you've ever known anything else that they will feed you after they're done pushing you to the brink of blissful madness, and then they'll take you on a little walk around the garden with a collar and leash that proclaim you as untouchable, and then they'll bathe you tenderly with their own two hands. And you //are// untouchable, as long as your lover is by your side. You're the most precious of all their possessions. You've begun to drool senselessly from the relentless pleasure, and they gently wipe your mouth with a napkin, shifting your warm, limp body between their legs and cradling you against their chest. Overstimulation has left you shivering and exhausted, but it's a blessing to need their kindness and their care so //very// badly. Their large hand nearly encompasses your head as they stroke your hair, and you mumble your thanks into their chest. You will never want anything you can't have, not ever again. Not while they're here. ''GOOD END Extra: Blissful Ignorance'' [[Want to meet with a different fate?|The last thought in your mind as you drift off to sleep]] [[Want to back up even further in the story?|You begin climbing up to the surface.]]

'' * Bad End: The Breeding Chamber. * Bad End: Swarm. * “Good” End: Gilded Cage (Fear Version) * “Good” End: Gilded Cage (Hope Version) * Good End: Cherished * Bad End: Favorite Toy. * Bad End: Fucking Like Rabbits. * Bad (?) End: A Nice Long Bath. * Bad End: Growing Like Weeds. * Bad End: Freshwater Folly – A Bad Death * Bad End: Freshwater Folly – A Good Death''

''//Italic and bold//'' indicates clickable text. For the first sexless death ending (''Bad End: Swarm''): The voice jolts you out of your half-asleep state. Before you can write it off as a hypnagogic hallucination, it comes back louder than before: "I need help, I'm lost!” ''//Try to help//'' (choose this option to (text-style:"underline")[proceed] to the sexless death ending) //''Wait a minute, something's off…''// … After choosing //''Try to help:''// "Talk to me so I can find you," you shout. The response comes from the tunnel on the left: "I need help, I'm lost!” //''Go to the left and help them''// (choose this option to (text-style:"underline")[proceed] to the sexless death ending) //''Something's not quite right…''// After this point, you are on track for the first sexless death ending. Congrats! ... For the second (''Bad End: Growing Like Weeds''): The voice jolts you out of your half-asleep state. Before you can write it off as a hypnagogic hallucination, it comes back louder than before: "I need help, I'm lost!” //''Try to help''// (choose this option to (text-style:"underline")[proceed] to the sexless death ending) //''Wait a minute, something's off…''// … After choosing //''Try to help:''// "Talk to me so I can find you," you shout. The response comes from the tunnel on the left: "I need help, I'm lost!” ''//Go to the left and help them//'' //''Something's not quite right…''// (choose this option to (text-style:"underline")[proceed] to the sexless death ending) … After choosing //''Something's not quite right...''// You emerge into a grassy field. It's not the one you wandered into when you originally got lost, but it's a welcome relief nonetheless. The grass is knee-high, and the sun is sweltering hot. You're surrounded by the chirping of insects and the singing of birds. To your right, there's a //''lush forest.''// To your left, there's a ''//rushing stream.//'' Straight in front of you, //''the meadow stretches on into the distance. ''//Which way will you go? Choose the ''//lush forest to//'' (text-style:"underline")[proceed] to the sexless death ending. … After choosing the ''//lush forest://'' You startle out of your reverie once the silence finally catches up to you. The lively forest sounds utterly desolate now, and you don't want to stick around to find out what caused it... but wouldn't running away just make you a target? //''Book it''// (choose this option to (text-style:"underline")[proceed] to the sexless death ending) //''Stay where you are and hide''// After this point, you are on track for the second sexless death ending. Congrats!

''Content Warning'' //The Twilight Garden// includes depictions of: * Rape, molestation, and dubious consent (sometimes taking place under the influence of magic drugs). * Claustrophobic environments, drowning, and suffocation. * Insects utilized for horror. * Piss kink. * Blood and gore, often sexualized. * Kidnapping and manipulation. * The threat of death, both by natural phenomena and by violence. * Actual death in certain bad endings, including hard vore. (There are only two sexless death endings, [[click here]] for instructions on how to achieve or avoid them.) * Prominent elements of horror and unreality. * Nonconsensual monster breeding & monster birth. [[Click here]] for instructions on how to achieve or avoid this ending. * Graphic sex with fantastical nonhuman creatures, both penetrative and non-penetrative. * Strict micro-management and overprotective behavior from a sexual partner. ''Author's Note'' Remember: real rape is indefensible, and rape culture should be eradicated. Fantasy monster rape, however - that shit //rules.// The only real-world thing that this story promotes is masturbation. If you don't want to read extensively about the above topics, //''this story is not for you.''// If you do, however, I wrote it //especially// for you, so have fun. [[Start your journey]]

"Please say something different! //Anything!"// There's a long pause. "Please say something different!" The voice calls. "Anything!" You decide to [[head down the tunnel to the right.]] You can't imagine what awaits you down the other route, but you know it isn't good.