Monsters and Maidens (232 to 234)(Volume 3 END)

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[232] [Rick]

Rick tended to the flames of the small campfire, poking the coals with a stick. Lying on the ground in front of him was a glass orb, black as night, and tingling so intensely to the touch that there were no doubts, the thing was magical. Just looking at it gave Rick shudders. Dia had found the thing in the backpack. It was something Rick had taken from his attackers by accident. He’d forgotten entirely about it until they found it in his back while trekking down the road.

“That is a very dangerous thing you’ve found. A Curse of Eve is nothing to scoff at.”

The voice came as a purr, soft and silky, smooth beyond measure. There was an amused lilt about it. The figure that spoke emerged out of the darkness, naked save a cloak, the piece of cloth looking like a sin upon the beauty of the curves held beneath. The woman herself was sin personified as well.

Her long blue hair flowed freely as she made a show to look around. “You knew I was coming.”

“Monica caught your scent days ago.” Rick shook his head.

“And yet you did not hide.” She stepped closer, foregoing the cloak, revealing the pink skin underneath, plump and sculpted straight out of a master-sculptor’s very dreams. “I see you sent your girls off as well. Should I call you brave or wise?”

He tore his eyes away from her body, looking up into the sky. The mantle of stars hung overhead. “Back in my world, the stars were never this bright.” His words and deflection of attention gave her pause, the Succubus stopped next to the fire, looking at him as he sighed. “The cities are so large, with so much artificial light, and the pollution so thick, it even reaches out into the furthest corners of the wilderness.”

With barely a kick of her foot, she doused the flames with a small spray of dirt. The darkness of the forest swept across the camp, leaving in their wake the pale shadows of the maiden’s curves, a soft red glow illuminating her from underneath. Rick glanced at her, feeling a wave of heat from her that was both natural and not.

“I don’t care what world you come from.” She proclaimed, silky red lips cooing as she took another step closer. “You will be mine. Whether you make this bearable or not is your choice.”

Rick shrugged. “Everyone seems to want a piece of me.” Nonchalantly, he picked up the glass orb, the Curse of Eve. “I am curious as to why you’re on that list.”

“Power.”

“I have little of that.”

Gold eyes looked at him, glowing as they pierced the darkness more brightly than even the stars above. “I seek to shift into my genus. A Succubus only has so much power, I am to become a Dark Queen.” There was a severity to her words, her tone, a finality and determination. Like it wasn’t just a foregone conclusion but also the culmination of some great effort.

And Rick shrugged.

“Sure.”

Kiara nearly stumbled. Her eyes widened ever so slightly at him, a gesture of surprise she was quick to suppress back into smooth determination. “I take it you don’t even know what that means.”

“There’s little about Succubi or charmers in general, even in the Duke’s library. But it is easy to piece together what’s there.” He glanced at her. “The conditions for shifting aren’t well known, and vary from one maiden breed to another. Maidens that shift always do so into more powerful forms, until they reach the cusp of their genus… if they ever actually get that far. Charmers have abilities that let them manipulate those around them. ” His gaze locked onto hers. “You seem certain that I am, somehow, the key to you becoming stronger.”

“Not just stronger, I-.”

“More super powers, so long as it doesn’t involve me getting squished, then it doesn’t really matter to me.” He waved her off, almost enjoying the look of shock followed by irritation. “I want to make a deal.”

She scoffed, crossing her arms under her hefty bust. “You aren’t in a negotiating position.”

“Then consider it a request, I don’t care. You want my collaboration, I want yours. You don’t want me being complicated, I’d rather not have to go through the effort. It’s a simple enough concept.” He rolled his eyes, sighing as he picked up the glass orb. “The ones that attacked me were carrying this with them.”

“It is occupied, probably feral by now.” Kiara scowled. “What about it?”

Now it was Rick’s turn to be surprised. His eyes fell back on to the sphere, and was instantly reminded of the pokeballs. Someone was inside this thing? That certainly changed matters. But his attempt to keep a calm exterior was perturbed just enough.

And the Succubus had picked up on it.

“Ah, I see.” She cooed, stepping closer, hand darting out and snatching the glass orb from his grip. “You want me to break her in, make her into a tool for your revenge. Here I thought you’d ask for something actually complicated.”

Rick looked at her and frowned. “What? No. What I want is knowledge.”

Just like that, the half-step she’d been taking in his direction hesitated once more, she was glaring now, but there was an edge of caution.

“You’re old.” He broke the moment of silence.

“What.”

“You’re old. Succubi have extremely prolonged lives, and every source I could look on the matter claims the youngest maiden to become one ever recorded was eighty. That means you’re at least double my age if not far more than that.” He leaned back, hands laying on the dirt for balance so he could more comfortably look up at her. “And it’s years spent outside this kingdom. I want to know more.”

Kiara’s tone became more guarded, contemplative. “More about… what?”

“Maidens. Humans. The bond.”

After the fight, it had been clear as day to Rick. The bond was not what the locals thought it was. It’d been the second time he’d been drawing in pain from her, he’d even felt as if she’d lent him knowledge in some way. And all he could find about the matter was that maidens were restrained and bound, made subservient by the bond.

The maiden looked at him, slowly bouncing the dark sphere from one hand to the other, considering his words. She decided with little fanfare. Her movement was smooth, practiced to perfection, her plump thighs caressing his legs as she came to occupy his lap. With a flick of her wrist, the glass orb was tossed aside, forgotten, her golden eyes consuming the entirety of Rick’s vision.

“You do not seem to comprehend what I can offer.” Her husky whisper brushed against his ear, it sent delicious spicy shivers up and down, all over his body. She reached down, pulling his hand up to her breast.

The skin was pliant, inviting his hand to sink into it, her nipple the only hardness therein, pressing against his palm like a little nub of texture within the pillowy embrace. The effects were easy enough to predict, his pants had been strained for a while already, and now they felt like he’d rather tear them off.

“All the pleasure you could ever want or need. For yourself, and your girls. Addicting pleasure, none would tell you no.” Kiara reached to his chest, a single finger tracing a line down his chest, burning the shirt, but leaving his skin unblemished, unhurt.

She lingered over his lips, close enough for her warm breath to brush against his cheeks. There was something spicy in the air, the temptation burned hotter, his mouth growing dry as his body urged him to seek moisture from her mouth.

“No.”

The word took more out of him than he thought it would. Like a parched man having crossed the desert and refusing the fountain of cool refreshing water.

“If you need sex to live, I’ll provide.” He swallowed, prying his hand off of her breast, glaring into her gaze. “But that’s as far as it goes.”

“Really now.” Her hand pressed against his chest, slamming him against the dirt, forcing him to lay on his back as her hands pressured his shoulders tightly. “And what’s stopping me from taking what I want?”

“Nothing, really. I’m just human, after all.” He laughed, Monica had been rougher than this even when she’d been gentle.

This time her glare was serious, lips drawing thin. It took her a second to look away, glancing around the camp-site, clearly searching for something. Rather than wait for her to comment, he laughed harder, feeling as if the spell had broken. Laying on the ground, pinned, darkness all around, his every nerve screamed he should be running, that there were so many things in the shadows that could get to him.

“That’s right, I’m alone, defenseless. Feel free to prove how capable you are by overpowering me with those superpowers of yours.” And what a challenge it’d been to get Dia and Monica to leave him alone. Even now he could feel their concern, nearby but not enough to be easily detectable, definitely not close enough to be able to stop anything.

“I could kill you.”

“Big whoop. Every maiden on this planet can do that, hell, a well motivated child could do it.” Snarling, he didn’t even struggle, glaring right back up at her. “I sleep with one who can kill me with a sneeze. You don’t scare me.”

She reacted brusquely. “Really now.” Her hand reached down, burning away a hole through his pants, her fingers reaching for his crotch. “Let’s see how long that courage lasts you.”

It was on.

[233] [Rick]

“I’m going to make a meal out of you.”

Her proclamation brought a sharp gasp out of Rick. He was not going to deny the appeal of her body, she was sexy, and the sensation of her touch was a rush of layered sensations. His body relaxed under her caress, not from any power or magical ability but because she appeared to know exactly where to touch and how. Muscles melted under the silk of her fingertips. At the same time, her soothing touch brought heat and tension, pooling it away from his limbs and bringing it into a singular point in his groin.

Within barely seconds of starting, Rick knew he was harder than he ever remembered being.

If Monica was designed to fight, Kiara clearly was meant to fuck.

Rick knew he stood no chance against her in terms of skill, endurance, strength, or even capability. Even without using her powers, in any kind of direct confrontation he had little doubt she’d chew and spit him out without breaking a sweat. She expected him to be little more than a morsel. Odds were Kiara was already thinking of her ‘real’ challenge, the feline.

His better approach would be to not play the game how she expected him to.

He chuckled, inhaling sharply. “Maybe a little lower.” There was no move to restrain himself, hold back, or even fight her.

Kiara didn’t make a sound, merely a flick of her fingers, tightening against his thigh and digging slightly into the skin. The mantle of pleasure was broken by a jolt of pain that lasted but a split second.

“Kinky.” Letting out another chuckle, Rick hadn’t even flinched. “Don’t get me wrong, I can appreciate a good massage, but am I going to just lay here all night or…?”

Gold eyes pierced up at him through the darkness, brows furrowing. He could almost see how the Succubus altered her plan on the flick of a dime. A saccharine smile spread across pearly white teeth, the maiden leaning away, easing the pressure that kept him pinned to the ground. She pressed her chest out, heavy breasts jutting out proudly. “Perhaps you can return the favor.”

“Sure.”

And in the twitch of her eye did he find the flaw in her plan. She’d been expecting something else entirely. Well, that was what she got out of ignoring the kind of world Rick came from.

He took one of her nipples into his mouth, and without waiting for confirmation, bit down on it hard.

“What the-!?”

Kiara didn’t wail in pain, no, she shuddered, gasping sharply in surprise before pressing more of her tit against his face. The pillowy flesh became the entirety of his world, and the human suddenly found himself devoid of easy access to air. But he wasn’t about to lose the advantage, bringing up one hand to reach around and grasp her ass while the other mauled at her free tit.

He was not gentle. And yet, no matter how hard he grasped at her, his fingers found only pliant welcoming flesh. The Succubus's ministrations of his body had taken a momentary pause at the shift in focus, but she recovered quickly, apparently having changed her plan once more as she reached straight down to his cock and squeezed.

It wasn’t tender, but it was exactly the amount of pressure to cause him to hesitate. A simple stroke of her fingers and a tingling followed, he nearly came there and then, his spine lighting up like a christmas tree that’d been plugged into a nuclear reactor. Rick’s entire body tightened, electrified, jaw clenching shut, teeth groaning, sparks flying across his vision.

Rick was holding on to her body with a white-knuckled grip, his teeth ached around the nipple, and Kiara didn’t even flinch. She just stroked again, pushing him all the way near to the edge and leaving him there, his body wracked with jolts that curled his toes.

“Atta boy.”

Kiara cooed, using her free hand to keep his head pressed against her breast.

Lungs burned, and the need for air started to claw at his chest. His body fighting between the urge to cum and breath. The electricity of her fingers kept cramping his every muscle. The fight was impossible to keep going.

So Rick let go, allowing his body to explode and focused on pulling away for breath. Dots of light blinked around his field of vision, his body screaming at him to relax and fall onto the pulsing pleasure. An act that Kiara clearly wanted as well. And all the more reason he couldn’t let himself falter.

He leaned forward, tipping her to fall onto her back. With her falling back on to her own bat-like wings, it was the one moment that caused a sound of complaint out of her. Her curves lay on the dirt without discomfort, the underside of her left thigh stained by Rick’s release. Not that the orgasm had appeared to drain his libido any, he was still rearing to go, and seeing her lay on her back, legs open wide, his hind-brain spoke of the next move.

Rick promptly ignored that, as well as the smirk that glowed on those golden eyes of hers. He bent down, moving to bite her navel. “Huh?” Her question was spoken right as his hands reached out to caress her thick, welcoming thighs.

The sound of confusion came back, louder this time when he refused to follow the urging of both his body and her caress. No, he went down. His mouth found his target easily enough, she was drenched, hot, the scent of her sex a spicy mix of cinnamon and apple. It took effort for him to remind himself she was indestructible as far as he was concerned.

So with another bite, this time he got her to let out a squeak.

An honest to God squeak.

The maiden froze, her body shuddering, groans of surprise quickly followed as Rick tasted her. Out of all the things she’d expected out of him, this had clearly not been on the list.

“Cute.”

It was the one thing he managed to let out between greedy licks. He half expected her to try and choke him again, but she… didn’t. The maiden had gone still, deathly so, her hands hovered near and around his head, but never touched. He sought for the little nub of flesh hidden between her folds and her fingers moved to accompany his own on her thighs. Her grip dug into her legs, pressing them down as she shuddered.

And she stared at him every second of it, eyes wide like saucers, biting on her own lower lip, body tense like a spring. Gasps and moans betrayed she was approaching her own release fast, and that was exactly the cue for him to slow down, teasing with his fingers up her thighs, goosebumps running through her body.

“Are you insane!?” She gasped in a harsh whisper, groaning, her sharp nails digging into her skin.

It was the voice of someone caught doing something they shouldn’t, of someone about to be dragged into something dangerous. And Rick could guess the danger was not to her but himself. She was a maiden, her thighs alone, despite their plumpness, could crush his skull faster than he could pull away.“Do you want me to stop?”

“This… you…!”

“Rick.” He leaned closer, licking again, drawing a slow shuddering breath. “My name is Rick.” Her attempt to draw indignation or even anger came to an abrupt end with it, the maiden fighting not just the sensation but herself.

She couldn’t let go, because if she did, he could very well die there and then. He’d found her line. Right here, right now, she needed him alive, wanted it. But he had one more ace up his sleeve.

“You can push me away.” He continued, moving a finger into the velvet embrace of her pussy. “Or just ask me to fuck you.”

The shock turned to determination, the woman grit her teeth, lips tightening shut, challenging him to do his worst. And he did, teasing and edging her, working her up and letting her cool, never giving her an inch to spare or a second to rest. Despite his best efforts, however, he could not keep it going forever.

Within minutes she writhed and became impossibly tense, the orgasm washing over her. Once she let out a slow winding sigh and relaxed, Rick knew this was as far as he’d be able to go. The Succubus was well aware of it too, she bothered with neither teasing words or fanfare, the moment she’d regained her breath she used her unstoppable strength to push him to lay down.

“I’m the one doing the fucking here.”

A promise and one she fulfilled right away, lowering herself onto his achingly hard cock with no further wait.

Both of them moaned at the same time.

“Oh shit.” Both of them had spoken in unison.

Her pussy wrapped around him tightly, an iron grip with velvet folds. Kiara’s hands reached up to his shoulders and her nails dug into his skin, drawing blood. Her eyes were wide in shock, mouth parted, gaze locked with his own. He choked on his breath, unable to hold his body still, she dove for his lips with a ravenous kiss.

There was nothing behind it, neither of them bothered to play or maneuver or do anything other than to lay claim as much of the other’s body as they could. Hands grasped, flesh yielded, her tail wrapped around his left calf as she bounced relentlessly on his lap. They barely bothered to draw in air or to break the kiss, she mashed her tits into his chest, he pulled at her hair, she clawed at his back, they thrust into one another.

And something snapped into place.

Something unseen, but felt, felt more strongly than everything else. Their eyes opened wide in shock, meeting brown eyes with gold. He felt her, the emotions within her, brilliant and intense, surprise, fear, anxiety, lust, desire, hesitation, anger, pain, and so many other things that swirled and snapped. A realization that ran through her features in dawning horror, quickly mixed in with an overwhelming desire to hold back.

The orgasm rocked them both, breaking any such attempt.

Thunderstorms rolled down his gut and up into her eager embrace. Tension that led to exhaustion. Rick would’ve collapsed if not because she’d reached out to grab him. The move surprised her, and she let go right after, leaving the human to crumble to the ground as she sat on his lap, flushed and panting for breath.

Rick, for his part, could only barely hold consciousness. The blow had been intense, everything was swirling all around him. He barely heard Kiara speak in a worried barely audible whisper.

“The fuck was that!?”

He only chuckled, groaning and laying on the ground. “That’s the bond.” With a slow shake of his head, he closed his eyes. “I hope this was enough to feed you, I don’t think I have more in me right now.”

“What?” She shot him an ascane look. “Just what have you been reading? Sex is how I get energy, and you barely-.” There was a pause. “I’m… not… that hungry? Huh.”

“Glad I was of help.” Rick just lay there, every inch of his body aching. “It’s your turn to keep watch.”

He ignored the glare, moving on to the bedroll and collapsing onto it. Mentally, he called out for Dia and Monica. Frankly speaking, so long as they didn’t murder each other while he slept, he didn’t care. He’d handle things… tomorrow.

[234] [Mark]

They’d come in the middle of the night. Noah and Brye had almost sounded the alarm, Shery prepared for a fight, and Mark had already been prepared to sprint out one of the windows. But it turned out the visitors were exactly the people they were supposed to meet with. In a flurry of hushed secrecy, the group was taken away through the empty streets of the city.

Dragged out of the wall, down the road.

Not a word was spoken, and it was clear the guards did not expect any either. The group of four moved quietly, urgently, and nervously. Noah stuck to Mark’s arm, Brye led the way, and Shery closed in behind them. All in all, it was the walk of a group that expected things to turn violent very quickly. The twelve other escorts did not provide any sense of protection.

They felt like jailors, taking them to the execution block.

By now Mark had brought himself to not care much. This was exactly what he needed to survive. It was futile to ignore the tools and opportunities presented to him. And this was no more than the next step, the next shit-show to adapt to. So whatever it was that was coming his way, he’d do everything in his power to survive it, like all the shit that came before this.

After what felt like two hours worth of walking, the darkness of the road came to an abrupt halt.

There, parked right in the middle of the road, was a coach wagon. The wheels were made of rubber and steel, the walls and roof were wrapped in black silk, ornately decorated with lines of gold that pulsed under their own light. There were no windows on the box, and only one door, outlined by silver threads.

The coach was surrounded by maidens wearing large black cloaks, hoods hiding some of their features. But Mark could see glints of metal armor underneath, the shapes of the hoods themselves altered by horns or strange ears.

“Only the human.”

The tallest of the ‘guards’ spoke, blocking the way and peering at them from under the hood’s shadows. None of the three maidens accompanying Mark dared to speak, their faces were stuck to the ground, unmoving, pale, trembling.

Whatever pressure was keeping them in place had not been aimed at him, however. “I’m bringing Brye.” He stated, as much of a fact as the words the hooded figure had spoken with.

Red eyes poured into him, daggers of flickering flames, piercing the darkness. The maiden needed neither to move or speak; her glare alone was as good as placing a blade to his throat. A silent promise that he could instantly find himself surrounded by hellfire if she so felt the whim for it.

And though Mark hesitated, he did not move.

“Let him.”

The voice came from inside the coach, the door slightly ajar. The demeanor changed, the figure bowed and gestured for Mark to step forward. He did, though not without noticing the half-glare he got from Brye, the two tailed-fox maiden looking paler with every step. They quietly approached.

Inside the coach was just one man.

A man that barely was contained within a suit, his body rippling with the kind of musculature you’d see from an Adonis. He occupied half of the coach by himself, his face masked in shifting shadows, making it entirely impossible to see any actual discerning features other than his sculpted body.

The moment Mark and Brye were inside the coach, the door closed, yet the illumination did not change, dark leather seats and shadowy corners. It was a place of luxury, yet not meant for comfort, a meeting place of some sort.

Brye sat on the floor of the coach. Her head bowed deep, almost touching the large man’s shoe with her forehead. “Boss.” She declared the word in cold reverence, almost fear and admiration in equal measure.

The move shocked Mark, but he hid it, lips drawing thin, eyes peering into the darkness that was the man’s face. “What do you want?” He stated at the man who apparently currently held control over his circumstances.

“Direct, I like that. You picked well, Brye.”

The fox did not speak, did not move, she remained frozen on the spot, tails limp behind her.

“I read the reports. With the prize you’ve brought, the matters of your transgressions will be overlooked, no need for theatrics, little fox. You may leave.”

“She stays.”

Mark would’ve shot to his feet if there was the room for it. His glare did not leave the man for an instant, fists clenching tightly.

“Brye?”

The question was simple, spoken without inflection or emotion.

And it made the Nogitsune shudder and pale.

“Yes, Boss.”

She was gone without so much as a sound, not a puff of smoke, not even opening the door. Just teleported, vanished, and left Mark alone. The human was left clenching his fists and glaring all the harder, lips curling into half a snarl.

“You can try to hit me, if that would make you feel any better.” The man, Boss, taunted, goading with a rumbling chuckle that shook the coach cabin.

Mark did not respond, remaining where he was, too aware this was some game for the other guy. “What. Do. You. Want.” He snarled through gritted teeth.

The man leaned back into his seat, spreading his arms wide. “Humanity needs a champion, and sadly you’re not the best candidate available. But you will have to do.”

“And what makes you think I care about humanity?”

The chuckle returned. “Maybe you care for Barry Dodson?”

Mark’s mind stilled, a sudden lack of emotion followed with a lack of thought, his eyes widened and suddenly there were a thousand different things he wanted to say, to ask, to claim. With it came indignation, anger, and with a snap decision, he flung at the man.

And exactly nothing happened other than him slamming against the wall opposite in the coach. He’d gone right through the man, finding no resistance to his fists nor anything to arrest his inertia. The impact caused him to crumble and spin, but he recovered just as fast, bouncing away and raising his fists out of sheer aggression if nothing else. “A fucking illusion?”

“I have several of these coaches, they’re meant to address the simple matter of wishing for a private face-to-face without really needing to travel. Convenient, are they not?” The man laughed again, clapping his hands just once. “I will allow this little… outburst, to slide, it is family we are talking about. Would you think the same for your aunt, I wonder?”

“Fuck her. And fuck you too.”

“Shame.” The Boss shook his head. “Oh well, that’s that, I suppose. You may leave.” The door opened without a sound, the figure made a gesture towards it. “You may take the mouse with you if you’d like. I will give you… say, two months worth of a head-start.”

He did not move. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“You are valuable, willing or otherwise.” He shrugged simply. “If I am going to take you by force and leave you as little more than a breeding stallion, I’d rather give you the chance to run. I am nothing if not curious as to how far you would make it, will you manage to escape my reach? Would you find a way to fend off your pursuers? Would you, perhaps, even manage to turn the tables on me?”

Mark looked out the open door, into the darkness of the road outside. Just a handful of meters further out were three maidens. Shery, Brye, and Noah. The three he was bonded to, the only three he’d had any prolonged contact with, the ones that had taught him that not just ferals were monsters.

“I want my cousin.”

Slowly, he turned away, glaring at the man whose head was wreathed in shadows. There was a strange coldness inside of him.

“I do not have him under my care, unfortunately.” There was a dismissive wave of his hand as he spoke. “I will, however, tell you this: if you prove to be the champion I seek, I will give you the tools to save him by your own hand.”

“Save him… save him from what?”

“The Court you escaped from. My sources have informed me that the wildlings apparently found and… ah… ‘acquired’ your dear cousin.” There was that chuckle again.

Mark growled, his brows knitted together, hands clenched into fists. He remembered the meeting with the crone whose skin was midnight black. How could he forget? The threat, the words, the total lack of…

“What’s your proof.”

“A little over a week ago there was a group of offworlders that were being escorted to Balet. They were attacked by the Court. The knights won, in the end, and captured several of the wildlings. During interrogation, two of them kept talking about Barry, the young boy with flaming red hair and glasses. This information was further corroborated from a report by Miss Dodson, claiming she saw her nephew and that he’d been brainwashed into helping the Court.”

The words brought back the memory of the crone, her promise of influencing his thoughts to force the bond onto him. His blood boiled and his lips thinned. “How soon.”

The man that called himself the Boss shrugged easily. “The sooner you prove yourself capable of the tasks that must be done to save humanity, the better.” Though his face was shrouded, there was a distinct manic undertone to his words.

Mark’s anger gained a hint of caution, of apprehension, he could not see the man’s eyes but the tone and body-language spoke to him of something far more dangerous than either thing should have been able to.

It reminded him of the crazy bitch that had shown up to draw some blood from him, and the words she’d spoken before she had left.

The young man did not care about humanity’s supposed fate, but deep inside, he knew that he did not want to stay within this man’s reach an instant longer than it took him to get to his cousin.

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Aaaand that's the end of Volume 3! Felt more like a preparatory/transient volume.

Definitely feel like I could've done better, but some of the "spoiled" beats felt apt in some sense. Rick laughing his ass off rather than allow to hot cat-babes to duke it out felt fitting.

As mentioned earlier, the goal for Volume 4 onwards is to tighten the narrative and keep things closer to Rick's perspective and plotline. The issue of character bloat is kind of dangerous and I'd started slipping back there.

PoV's from other characters might pop in from time to time or be some bonus stuff entirely (depends on how much extra time I end up in my hands).

Will try to get Vol4 to start next week, but might need an extra week. We'll see.

Hope you guys enjoyed so far!