Birch was nervous about this expedition, although Fir seemed very excited.  They’d been dating for about 3 months at this point.  Things seemed to be going well.  One of the issues that Birch did not expect going into the relationship was dealing with all of Fir’s self hate.  Literally any way that a normal person validate themselves he seemed to avoid.  Filling the emptiness with sex and alcohol seemed to be the only way to keep the deprecation of his own character at bay.

 

Birch started a conversation trying to bring a lighthearted energy to all the walking they were doing through the forest jungle.  Trying to in some way reassure Fir’s confidence Birch thought to bring up a specific topic.

 

“So did you know that in ancient times men used to assert dominance by fucking another man in the ass.  At least that’s what Fir told me.”  Birch thought to himself, then blindly realized how bad of a conversation topic this was to bring up to Fir and Hydrangea.  Especially because they dated at one point.

Hydrangea looked at Fir with an odd expression.  “So that’s what he said, Really?”  Hydrangea was a jaguar.  Her relationship with Fir lasted about a week but after then on they decided they would be better as fuck buddies, given that they both hated each other after that hell week of moving in together.  

Fir seemed to gain a bit of confidence.  He smirked.  “Yes..”  *cough* “Topping definitely makes someone dominant right?  I’ve personally never taken it up the ass before.  So I think that technically makes me still straight.”  Fir turned to Birch fully aroused.

“So that’s what you're doing these days now, Fir.”  Hydrangea said with a condescending voice.  Although she was obviously very intrigued by the conversation topic.

“Whaddya mean by that Hydrangea?”  Birch stammered trying to understand what Pandora's box he had opened by even bringing it up.

“Yes, what's that supposed to mean?”  Fir replied, trying to gain some understanding.

Hydrangea finally got to her point after cackling like a mad woman.  “What, you're not gonna try bottoming even once?”  

Birch really didn’t like that question.  “I-I-I mean he said he wasn’t into that.”  Birch stammered completely embarrassed.

Fir felt completely exposed.  In some way he knew that Hydrangea wouldn’t care either way.  In some way he knew that he shouldn’t care about sub dom, whatever people were into nowadays but for some reason.  “Birch I did not say that!”  Is how Fir responded.

“He did.”  Birch admitted to Hydrangea about Fir’s past response.

Honestly Birch was happy about their dynamic.  Fir could be intense and aggressive when he wanted to be.  It was completely out of character sure but it was all part of the performance.  Being pinned up against a wall felt great especially when someone was touching every part of your body that you don’t want violated saying things like.  “Yea you like that don’t you, you little whore”  Or “You’re gonna take all of this dick bitch.”  Honestly ever since Birch had moved in Fir had been getting more and more into the dominating aspect of the sex they were having which got Birch worried sometime.  I mean what they were doing now was great, but what if it got too physical?  What would Birch do…

“You know what, I’m happy for you,” Hydrangea replied completely having fun with the fact that it was easy to see both of them seemed very embarrassed and aroused by the conversation.

Hydrangea stopped them both with a lift of her hand.  They had been tracking the creature named the chimera for about 6 miles now.  And right in front of them was the beast in all of its winged glory. 

“Get back, I got this fucker.”  Hydrangea aid pulling out her bow.  Attached to the bow was poison made from a mushroom that Hydrangea had fashioned but as Hydrangea shot it phased right through the monster and did nothing.

“Oh shit that’s the wrong poison.”  Birch exclaimed, panicking just as Fir was also panicking.  

In that moment Hydrangea stood completely motionless, unable to look away.  Birch grabbed Hydrangea’s head and stared into her eyes until she came back to reality.

“Hydrangea what was that?!”

“I don’t know?”  Hydrangea replied.  “I was so scared and I felt this uneasiness”

“There’s only one text written about this creature.  It’s name is the chimera.  “Don’t stare”

In that moment FIr saw a spear.  It was right next to his eye, so close that he couldn’t even move just like Hydrangea.  He felt this deep eerie feeling.  Behind the chimera was a hunter.  The fear of the chimera dissipated and in its place was this feeling of murderous intent.  But as Fir gathered Birch and Hydrangea to leave and run away the hunter turned and left as well.