A VERY happy wedding...

[Sgt. Howard]

Two weeks after the wedding-

Arania, Dreyali and Morbidia were all in human, chained to a wall in the lower regions of the Library- along with a handful of others that were in on the gaff. Finding the chain of command of the mutiny was quite easy once Ariana was apprehended- held by the iron, she HAD to tell the truth... the others seemed only too eager to grass on each other in hopes of leniancy.
Neil came into the room with Phix, Nudge and Nicodemus right behind- he held several papers. Reading from the top of the pile, he addressed Arania-
"Arania... you are found guilty of subversion... mutiny... attempted murder... ethnic clensing... have you anything to say for yourself?"
"Your human laws have no bearing here," she sneered, "it's rule of the strongest- I have no regrets over my actions... kill me if that makes you feel better... then use your laws to justify doing the very thing I was about to do to you- HYPOCRIT!!!"
"Death sentence? No... you will be turned free. You will not be harmed by myself or by Phix... or by Nudge or Nicodemus, for that matter- you will be banned from the library, however,"
She looked at him with a wry smile- "YOU cannot keep out an Apotropaic Sphinx- we are BORN part of the library! How can you stop us?"
Neil calmly walked over and unlocked the chain around her neck- "I don't intend to." he replied.
He then undid Dreyali and Morbidia- "You are free to go... but you are not allowed back here,"
"I BELONG HERE! I HAVE BEEN HERE LONGER THAN YOU HAVE BEEN ALIVE! YOU CANNOT... I... I cannot... how did you do that? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!?"
"I ... have done nothing- the library has turned you three mortal. You are now human females- with the knowledge that you ONCE knew magic... but no knowledge as to HOW to do it or WHERE you can learn. You will be escorted to the exit, and left to your own devices,"
The three looked totally shocked, as they were given rudimentary clothes and shuffled to the exit. The rest looked on in horror. Neil addressed them-
"I assume the rest of you get the point?"

There was no further argument.

[GlytchMeister]

I was wondering how you were going to deal with them. That's certainly a better solution than any I came up with.

[jwhouk]

The three of them all emerged onto Stevens Avenue South, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

They had each been handed, before their exit, an over-sized envelope - featuring birth certificates, drivers licenses, one credit card and one key.

Arania's envelope had a note:

Third floor, apartment 315. It was the only three bedroom unit available.
One of them was the very room where I had Brian.
Rent info is on the table.
Enjoy!
Phix

[jwhouk]

Monica set back in her chair, enjoying her lemon press with zest.

She was in such a zen state from the events of the past few weeks that she only barely noticed the bell chime as someone entered the shop.

She perked up - and saw a very familiar face walking up to her.

"You were lying your ass off to those two," Jin stated with a smile.

"I learned from the best," M replied, toasting her with Tina's finest in her hand.

"Nice touch, actually," she replied, walking over to the counter. "I've managed to convince my mom that we're not going to go full Lanthian wedding. Good thing, too - I don't think we could find the type of wood we'd need for the wedding pyre."

Monica picked up a slip of paper.

"Did you get one of these?" she waved at Jin.

Jin scrunched up he face, shaking her head as Monica reached over and handed it to her.

It was a simple note:

Conspirators now powerless, but live in Abbott Apartments. Please use annex with caution. - Phix

---

I looked around on both sides of the envelope - which was just addressed to me - and considered the message again.

Apotropaic Sphinxes, probably - hopefully - reduced of their powers, and forced to live in an apartment located right on top of a portal to the Library.

And never allowed to enter said Portal, ever again.

"I hope they like cold Minnesota winters," I said with a chuckle as I closed my mailbox and walked into my apartment complex.

[Sgt. Howard]

Three weeks after the wedding-

"Too much sunlight will give you skin cancer, you know," Lilly scolded at Daisy as the latter hoofed into the main kitchen of the estate in her usual state of nudity.
"Horsehide has a higher melanin count for that very reason- why are you concerned? Now that you're regular with your blood, sunshine poses YOU no threat whatsoever,"
"No, but now I require more blood than usual... I'll limit my outdoor activity to night hours, thank you very much... How are the children?"
"Buck will not allow your daughter to get hurt, you know that- besides, Neil and Phix are out there as well... quit cher worry, longtooth- they'll be fine,"
"I'm still getting used to having family, I'll worry if I want to- nag,"
Daisy immediatly threw a dish towel at Lilly who caught it and threw it back, catching her in the face.

...and it was on...

At the north shore of the Lake, a small lagoon had been dredged out and hidden by pine trees. It extended well inland, following a native creek that provided drainage to many acres of meadow and woodlot. Atsali and Castela were at ease there without unwanted attention. Both were cavorting in the water, heedless of everything in the world- untill...
"Atsali! There's- there's something in the water!" Castela yelled, pointing to the entrance of the lagoon.
Atsali turned just in time to see a splish and ripple, as if something had just ducked beneath the surface. She went under herself- no small feat, given her boyancy- and saw as best as her blurry underwater vision could see what appeared to be a mere-folk swimming away.
Was that Jessie? No... the shape of the torso indicated male. Possibly some voyeur, attracted by the scantily-clad female bodies present. Not that Atsali was bothered over herself, but she was concerned for her sister...
She came up for air, saying "Pickle- you need to get out! That was a guy and I don't know what his deal is!"
Castela scampered up the beach and grabbed her beachtowel (the breeze made her cold) muttering, "Stupid stinky guys have- have to ruin everything!"
Atsali swam over to the shallows, climbed out and went full Siren... ready to deal with whatever other surprises were lurking in the waters... when suddenly a HUGE fish leapt out of the water, turned into a ursamorph in mid arc and tumbled gracelessly (with an assortment of "WUFF"s and "OOF"s it might be added) onto the shore. Out in the water, Daniel's blond head appeared and called out in a rather feminine male voice,
"Sooo reee to disturb you like that- but seeing as how I stole your potential date, I figured the LEAST I could do was deliver your girlfriend... I wasn't spying"
Atsali was busy looking at who had just popped out of the water in astonishment- Nadette was brushing herself off after her rough landing- upon seeing Atsali gaping at her, she twisted up in little girl fashion and shyly said, "Ummm... hi,"
"HelOOOOOO! Can I ULP!!!" the hapless lad squeaked. Looking at either side he saw a set of talons grab each arm, invoking ancient instinctive terror as he was plucked out of the water and carried to an altitude of sixty feet, whereupon he was flung tail over gills into the air and caught in Atsali's arms-
"THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU" rambled Atsali while Daniel harmonized with a terrified "PUTMEDOWNPUTMEDOWNPUTMEDOWNPUTMEMMMMMMFFFF!" as Atsali punctuated her thanks with a full-mouth kiss.
Gently gliding back to the lagoon's surface, she let the stunned merelad slide back into the water before dropping in front of Nadette and zeroing in on her lips-
"Oh brother," grumbled Castela, "here we go again,"

At another corner of the estate, Neil and Phix were enjoying a Bohemian Picnic of Italian dry sausage, provelone cheese, sourdough frenchbread and radishes- with sips of a light chianti. Parked in the middle of a meadow, the two basked in the natural glory of the landscape. Both were unconcerned by their solitude... until a wild commotion broke out in the edge of the woods. Neil was greatly concerned about this new pandemonium... at least, until he saw what it was-
Buck Alexander, in full feral, was galloping as hard and fast as he could with a shrieking, giggling, yelping Katherine, wearing jodhpurs, English boots and a tied-up 'Daisy Mae' top that showed her belly, hanging on for dear life... and she was loving every minute of it. He ran several laps around the meadow, jumping obstacles and such until he came up to the pair having lunch, reared up causing Katherine to slide to his rump, he buckled down his hindquarters and gave a jump just as his fore-hooves hit the ground, catapulting Katherine into the air- she screamed as she sailed end-over-end, only to be caught in Buck's massive arms.
She was still in a mild state of shock when Buck kissed her- then she started to speak, but Buck lifted her mid section to his face and blew a loud raspberry on her belly causing her to giggle and laugh uncontrollably.
"YOU... ARE... A... BEAST!!!!" she finally stammered out.
"You just figured that out?" he laughed as he set her feet on the ground.

[Sgt. Howard]

Buck Alexander, in full feral, was galloping as hard and fast as he could with a shrieking, giggling, yelping naked Katherine hanging on for dear life... and she was loving every minute of it.

Now THERE'S a commision that would sell unless I miss my guess!

[TazManiac]

Breathes life back into

Dah-ling, would you like to come up and see my Etchings?...

[lake_wrangler]

Buck Alexander, in full feral, was galloping as hard and fast as he could with a shrieking, giggling, yelping naked Katherine hanging on for dear life... and she was loving every minute of it.

Now THERE'S a commision that would sell unless I miss my guess!

So let me get this straight:

She's riding bareback, bareback?
She's riding naked Buck, naked?
She's riding Buck, naked, buck-naked?

[TazManiac]

This thread is one short step away from a Literotica entry...

[Jharris16-17]

This thread is one short step away from a Literotica entry...

That does have that feel to it. (Shrug) Its not quite R-rated yet, but close.

[jwhouk]

The editor has encouraged the author to be mindful of the YA-13 rating Paul has placed upon the comic... but it couldn't quite be helped with Dr. Gilchrist's "examination" of Mr. Alexander.

By the way - a special prize for someone who notices something that was missing from the narrative.

[Sgt. Howard]

consider this a nudist colony.. which for all practical purposes, it is... besides, Katherine's comment is about the fellow's wild nature.

[Dave]

By the way - a special prize for someone who notices something that was missing from the narrative.

There was no mention at all of the role played by the Abyssinian gecko. I thought that was a very significant omission... almost a dead giveaway, in fact.

[GlytchMeister]

By the way - a special prize for someone who notices something that was missing from the narrative.

There was no mention at all of the role played by the Abyssinian gecko. I thought that was a very significant omission... almost a dead giveaway, in fact.

...yup. I'm lost. Somebody get me a map and a compass, because I've got no hope on this one.
*narrows eyes*
Unless you're being deliberately nonsensical.

[Sgt. Howard]

Buck Alexander, in full feral, was galloping as hard and fast as he could with a shrieking, giggling, yelping naked Katherine hanging on for dear life... and she was loving every minute of it.

Now THERE'S a commision that would sell unless I miss my guess!

So let me get this straight:

She's riding bareback, bareback?
She's riding naked Buck, naked?
She's riding Buck, naked, buck-naked?

What's more-
A buck naked buck BUCKED a buck naked Kathy who was riding bare back while bare in the air and he barely caught her

[Sgt. Howard]

I guess I could put clothes on all the non- centaurs- that really wouldn't affect the plotline greatly...

There- that better?

[Hansontoons]

By the way - a special prize for someone who notices something that was missing from the narrative.

There was no mention at all of the role played by the Abyssinian gecko. I thought that was a very significant omission... almost a dead giveaway, in fact.

Albino or Eclipse?

[Sgt. Howard]

By the way - a special prize for someone who notices something that was missing from the narrative.

There was no mention at all of the role played by the Abyssinian gecko. I thought that was a very significant omission... almost a dead giveaway, in fact.

Albino or Eclipse?

I'll see your eclipse and raise you a Saturn!

[Dave]

By the way - a special prize for someone who notices something that was missing from the narrative.

There was no mention at all of the role played by the Abyssinian gecko. I thought that was a very significant omission... almost a dead giveaway, in fact.

...yup. I'm lost. Somebody get me a map and a compass, because I've got no hope on this one.
*narrows eyes*
Unless you're being deliberately nonsensical.

More whimsical and witty (or perhaps half-witty), and pulling jwhouk's chain just the least little bit.

He asked a completely wide-open question... what was missing from the narrative? Well, almost every possible topic in the universe is missing from that narrative... or from any narrative... how else could it be? They didn't discuss President Lincoln's valet's gout, they didn't recite Proust in Swahili or proto-Indo-Hittite, they completely ignored the question of whether Donald Trump or William Shatner has the better hair stylist, and so forth.

He didn't ask "What relevant thing is missing?" although I'm sure that's what he meant.

So, I pulled an absurdity out of the hat... the possibility that a lizard was involved in the events of the story. Since the Wapsiverse has been shown to be filled with Hidden Powers, manipulating events from out of sight, I thought it worth implying that this was taking place... that the very fact that no gecko had been mentioned, was proof that such a gecko did exist and was powerful enough to conceal its activities (classic Internet conspiracy-theory thinking). The gecko's greatest victory was convincing jwhouk that there is no gecko.

So, since I have successfully identified something missing from the narrative, I expect that jwhouk will award me a special prize (probably a cream pie, right in the face )

[jwhouk]

Be careful, or I'll tell Nudge to make YOU her next "plaything"...

I've mentioned this to the Sarge, and I'll just innocently drop this right here.