MEOWDRAGON

In a Vine's Embrace

That was my first encounter with the strangeness of this place. I have gone a couple months living here without experiencing anything peculiar. I suppose an encounter with one of the forest’s curiosities was bound to happen at some point, me living so close to it.

About a week has passed since the incident. I haven’t really told anyone. I don’t know why. It’s maybe because I have… very weird feelings about it.

I’m sitting in bed, having just woken up. Suddenly, I notice a… foreign presence in my mind.

Is it… No. How?…

“Can you hear me?”

How am I to reply? Yes, I can hear you, voice in my head. Are you?…

“…” “So we are still connected, I see.”

Hm. So I just need to… willingly think “towards” it, maybe.

“Why… Why are you talking to me again?”

“I can tell you have many questions about our… encounter.” “If you would be willing to meet again… I can explain everything.” “I have to say, though… I am curious about you, too.” “I can’t tell you everything like this… remotely… As our link may fade away soon.”

“…” “Well, if you want to talk, rather than whatever that was…”

“I, um, apologise for earlier. I made a mistake. Yes, there will be no more surprise mouth attacks.”

“Right, okay. Then… Stand near the border of the forest, so that I can see you from my garden. I’ll be there shortly.”

“Okay, I will be waiting.”

I got out of bed and got ready to leave. I stepped out into my garden, and sure enough… there it was. Waiting for me.

“I can see you. Can you see me?” - I asked.

“Not really. You’re too far away.”

“I’m coming.”

I start walking towards the forest’s border. It takes a little while to get there from my house. Finally, I wind up pretty close, about a couple meters away from the plant creature.

“Ah, there you are.” “I suppose… I should at least tell you my name. It’s Gargul.”

“Paju. I’d say ‘pleased to meet you’, but, well… Um, it’s nice to be talking to you.”

“I’m really sorry for last time. I can explain…”

“To be honest with you, Gargul… The… the whole thing wasn’t… unpleasant to me.” “Even if I was taken by surprise.” “I must admit I am curious about it, though.”

“I did not realise you were a thinking creature like myself. I’ve never encountered an animal that could actually communicate with me.” “My… saliva establishes a sort of link between me and whatever sbsorbs it into its skin. It’s to do with… pollination…” “I suppose with thinking creatures like you, Paju, it allows for telepathic communication.” “The effect… wears away after some… time…”

I notice Gargul’s presence fading away from my mind. I want to keep talking with it!…

I reach out to touch the bulb with both my paws. “Gargul, let’s renew the link.” His head leans back a little, seemingly surprised at my willingness.

“Okay. I’m… happy you… want talk more…”

He opens up his mouth, inviting me inside.

With little hesitation, I slide myself in. I made myself comfortable, curling up in the creature’s mouth as its multiple tentacle-like tongues start wrapping around my body, worming under my feathered coat and onto my skin. As Gargul starts massaging in the saliva, I started to hear him again…

“Is this alright for you? I’m doing my best to be… gentle.”

“More than alright. To be honest… This feels… Kind of g-great…”

I feel my face burning up even more than it already was at this admission.

“In fact… if you wish… C-could you, hold me, um, tighter? Be… less gentle?” I gulp down the saliva building up in my mouth. “L-like you intend to squeeze the life out of me… Just an idea…”

“Oh, ohoho~” - I hear his mind-voice chuckle. “You like it like that, do you?” Its demeanor changes, now knowing I am not opposed to this situation. “You truly must be one-of-a-kind. While I am not carnivorous, I will try my best to pretend…”

Gargul’s appendages are surprisingly strong. Even as he fulfills my request, and his tongues and vines and even the walls of the bulb press tightly against my body, I can feel he is holding back, taking care to not harm me. Just how powerful can a plant’s muscles be?…

The bulb compresses vertically, as if trying to push me further inside, trap me in the stem of the plant, to dissolve me into food… But the stinging acid never comes. As Gargul said, his body does not have the capability to break down my body. There is no destruction, only intense, intense pleasure, as my flesh is kneaded like dough under the powerful, slimey tentacles, and on the surface caressed by many tiny, squishy appendages on the walls of this mouth-chamber. I am soaked in his saliva, I feel him in my mind, and I think I have entered his as well. Both our bodies and minds have little between them, in this moment. I want to be with him… I want to dissolve into him…

A climax, and release. All muscles in my body become completely relaxed. Gargul’s appendages let up a bit as well. I gently reorient myself so that I am upright. The bulb tilts forward a bit, and the creature rests it on the ground. It kind of feels like being in a wet, warm, leathery sleeping bag.

I shake my head, snapping myself out of the stupor of bliss, and start slowly crawling out of his maw. His bulb opens up gently, allowing me to exit comfortably. He slowly untangles me from the embrace of his vine-tentacles as well. We are seperate again, in body. In mind, we have become connected once again.

As I come to my senses, I sit up and turn to face him again. “How… how does that feel for… for you?”

“It’s nothing like I’ve ever felt before.” “I enjoyed it just as much as you did.” A vine reaches out to cup one of my cheeks.

“I want to be with you. I want to learn more.”

“So do I…” I lean into the plant’s hold, nuzzling the vine. “What fascinating discoveries we are making.”

I stand up, and Gargul lifts its bulb in response, tilting it to the side in curiousity. I slide my hands over its walls, just like that first time, when he took me by surprise. With my hands on both sides of his, well, head, I look at this strange being, and ask. “Would you come home with me?”

Gargul gives me a playful nibble with the tip of its bulb, licking me with a flick of one of its tongues.

“I can’t pass up such an offer. You are the most curious and most wonderful thing to happen to me in my whole life so far, Paju.”

I try to estimate how heavy the whole creature is, lifting its head gently. “May I carry you there?”

The bulb opens up slightly in delight. “I’ve never been carried by anything or anyone before. I would be delighted.”

I lay down with my back turned to him, allowing him to climb onto me. He crawls out of the grass, and wraps most of his tendrils around me, securing himself.

I walk us to my home, echoes of pleasure and the start of some strange connection bouncing around in our shared thoughts.