This is something I did a while back and forgot about. I touched it up recently and I'm really proud of it, actually. Hope you enjoy.
PS: _word_ is italics. Please comment if you know how to post in description in italics.
Edit: Thanks to Inkanyamba for filling me in on how to put italics!

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“Almost there, Cassie,” the small teenager assured his hungry companion.

I’m far past famished, Bonded, she complained, fidgeting uncomfortably in his arms.

“King's grace, Cass. You say it like it’s a rare occurrence,” Benjamin quipped after rolling his eyes.

Cassie only gave him a lightly annoyed look. She was too hungry to really respond effectively.

Dressed in a dull colored wool shirt and leggings, Ben was nearly running as he turned a corner, almost at his destination. He could feel Cass’ hunger pangs oozing over into his mind, and as much as he’d liked to, or at least acted as if he did, he couldn’t ignore her pain. Just as his pain was hers, her pain was his.

The boy ran to one of the college's two butcheries, a brick building on the fringe of campus placed near a small field of cattle. Ben had been told that the man working there had been ordered beforehand to give Ben’s unusual friend several extra servings than what he’d normally give to his other consumers, and the most efficient way to do this was to take her to the meat rather than the other way around.

He came to the side door and knocked urgently, aching to have Cassandra fed. He was earlier than he usually was, and there was no certainty that the man would be in right now. There was no immediate answer to his knock, so he knocked again. A minute passed, and still no answer. Ben tapped his foot impatiently, feeling Cass’ restraint wearing thin. Still, the man didn’t show. Ben peered around the side of the building, hoping to find the man there, but with no luck.

“Shit,” he muttered. He unfortunately knew what he'd have to do, that he’d have to let Cass feed from the herd of cattle, but she was not one to easily stop, and if she wasn’t careful he feared she might decimate half the college’s supply of beef. With the way the Union had been rationing it to the people in order to also feed its armies, they might not be resupplied in that area for months.

To some extent, Cassandra already knew what he was thinking, and as Ben came back to himself he could see her eyeing him intently, waiting for his approval.

He fidgeted and then shrugged. “As if I’m not in enough trouble with the dean already,” Ben sighed, begrudgingly ignoring the voice in his mind telling him he’d regret this, mostly because he had no choice. “Go.”

The snake-like Cassie leapt off of his shoulders to the dirt, her length swiftly growing until she spanned longer than some of the trees on campus were tall. She gracefully maneuvered her enormous bulk over the field’s fence, not leaving even a scratch, and made straight for the first of the herd of already-frightened cows.

The poor cattle had little chance against their hungry adversary, and within seconds Cass was already swallowing the first, alive and kicking.

Feeling the aching hunger already beginning to subside with the splashing of the unfortunate cow into her belly, Ben walked around the side of the brick building once more to check for the butcher, nearly running headfirst into the man in the process.

“You?...no no no!” The butcher ran around him before Ben could block, but he stopped quickly when he saw the field. “Bloody…fuck!” The man raised both arms chest high in alarm, then put his hands to his face, groaning unhappily.

Ben only stood where he was, feeling too embarrassed to say a word either of apology or of excuse.

The butcher finally spoke again as he turned to face the boy. “You bloody urchin! You’re early! You’re far earlier than you told me!” he cried in his low-class, northern accent, clearly exasperated. “Our deal was afternoon, not long after your schoolin' ends!”

Benjamin sighed sorrowfully, struggling to face the man. “Cassie…she’s been getting less and less to eat, you know. I…I’m really sorry, but I warned this might happen.” He had. Multiple times.

Both figures turned again toward Cassandra, who was finishing with her third cow. Despite his distress, Ben still had to admit how impressed he was at the speed with which she could eat.

The butcher watched on with horrified helplessness. Ben knew the man’s job was on the line right now, and both of them knew that Cassandra could not be easily persuaded to stop when she’d begun on a meal like this. The only solution was to watch and wait.

Thankfully, after the fifth cow, it seemed Cassie felt satisfied enough to stop. The trouble she'd caused now fully dawning on her, she slowly turned toward her audience, a chagrinned look on her face.

“She's done,” Benjamin declared flatly, eyes lidded.

The butcher only frowned hatefully at Ben, then at the remaining ten terrified cattle in one corner of the field. He muttered something under his breath and stepped inside his station, too angry to be near Benjamin or his deep-stomached companion.

Cassandra took this as a cue and, the weight of her meal slowing her progress, slithered to the fence closest to Ben, hanging her head. Benjamin, I...I'm so very sorry. He could tell she genuinely felt it.

He stepped forward and slipped through the space between two posts to reach the other side, sighing softly. He knew she had little control when she got that hungry, and it was true when he'd said she'd been steadily getting less food when, growing as fast as she had been, it should've been the opposite.

Remaining painfully silent, Ben strode over to her midsection, which normally would have appeared sleek and agile but now looked bloated and cumbersome. Standing beside her, he realized she was nearly taller than he at her thickest.

"You've grown...a lot," he finally began slowly, turning to look her in the eyes. She looked confused that he wasn't reprimanding her, but listened without speaking. "It was naive to think these meager portions could sustain you for long." He sighed and looked down at his feet, frustrated by his own foolishness. “It’s my fault.”

Seeing her companion blaming himself for a problem she’d clearly created, Cassie bent her neck until her head was almost underneath him, meeting his gaze as she looked up at him with a tiny smile. You are no fool, Bonded, and in no way are you at fault. The circumstances involved were never under your control, she tried to convince him, now more concerned for his emotional wellbeing than her own. If you ask me, your only mistake was taking me into your charge, she said with a weak grin, mostly joking.

Benjamin was surprised she'd say something so negative, and his response was immediate. "Come, don't say that, Cassandra! I've never regretted saving you," he assured her lovingly, kneeling down and moving her head with his arms until her snout was against his nose and they were face to face. "You're my only true friend," he admitted softly, smiling amicably and looking into his reflection in her huge eyes.

Cass tried to match his smile despite her fading guilt. And you mine. Her tongue left her mouth as she pitched her head back slightly, dragging it across a sizeable part of his body.

Ben chuckled a little, finding his chest nearly drenched with her saliva, which he then realized smelled horrible. "Oh God, it stinks!" he winced.

Rather than get offended or insecure, Cassandra chuckled and dragged her body in a small circle around him, closing him off from the rest of the world.

Such is the result of a diet of cattle, she explained simply, smirking. With a mischievous grin, she assaulted him with another wet lick, this stroke from his belly to his face.

“Hey, Cassie!” Benjamin giggled, struggling to shrink away from her but finding his retreat cut off.

The serpent’s smile widened as she peered down at him. She clearly was enjoying this. Just a few more… With that, she continued to give her tokens of affection as her companion playfully shrieked and tried to escape. Each of them had already quickly forgotten their guilt and insecurities.

The butcher, deciding to step out from his station and look over at the two at the wrong time, was horrified as he saw what he could only assume was a hunger-mad beast preparing to devour her companion for the final course. If he didn’t run, he might be next, he realized. He sprinted off, yelling, "Call the guard! The beast is eating its master!"

Cassie paused her game with Ben when she heard the commotion and glanced toward the butcher, a demeanor of confusion on her face. She had an idea of what he might be thinking she was doing, but looked down at her companion for approval to go catch him.

The boy had barely recovered from the stifling he'd gotten when he noticed her look. He rolled his eyes, as he usually did when he saw the face that meant she was going to do something foolish.

"He can't hate me any more than he already does," he thought out loud, shrugging.

Cassie smirked and gave his face a warm last lick that bent him back before unfurling from about him and racing off at a pace that should have been untenable for a meal the size she'd had; even on a full stomach, Cassandra was still the fastest creature around. Ben stood after having fallen to the ground, watching her skillfully glide over the fence but nearly smash it with the end of her flailing tail. He chuckled; watching her go was quite a sight.

The butcher, when he noticed the enormous serpent nearly upon him, doubled his previous rate, the tone of his shouting rising an octave as the fear got to him. As Ben watched him charge through the open portcullis leading to the main square, past the two confused sentries on either side with Cassandra in pursuit, he could tell she was holding back, letting him get somewhere more public before humiliating him. After quick consideration, part of him was glad she liked him more than most.

The two passed several pairs of guards, each of which the butcher attempted to hail as he sped by. Alarmed, they tried to defend him, moving in Cassandra's path, but she softly bowled them over and kept after her prize. When she noticed the final opening into the square coming upon them, however, she thought better of it, slowing her pursuit.

Running out into the crowded square, the butcher sprinted to the center, shrieking about the giant snake who was about to eat him to keep him quiet. He kept pointing toward the south entrance he'd come out of, swearing she'd come to swallow him any moment now. A couple guards came over and tried to reason with him, but he was too hysterical to listen, instead glaring at the gate. Seconds passed as all attention was on him. The butcher's eyes squinted fearfully at the second portcullis. The long hesitation made his certainty that she'd appear begin to waver. But perhaps she was just being wily, or finding another way in. Half a minute passed, and still no serpent. He was growing nervous, noticing all the people who had stopped in place and were now staring at him. Teachers. Mages in training. Even the dean, in his dramatic robe. All with their eyes on the crazy young man standing in the center of the square. Another minute confirmed the fact that Cassandra wouldn't show.

"Everyone as you were!" the dean commanded authoritatively, and without a moment's hesitation, the crowd dispersed. The old man then began to make straight for the butcher. "I'd like a word with you, son," the man said sternly, gesturing for him to follow to his office.

Meanwhile, Benjamin sat out in the cattle field, leaning against the scaly flank of his humored friend.

I watched him run out there, she giggled, struggling to contain her bassy laughter. The whole college must think him mad!

Ben grinned, softly scratching part of her belly behind him. He had never wanted revenge on the man since he considered most of the butcher’s reactions relatively reasonable given the circumstances, but nonetheless he had to admit it was sweet. The young man had always hated Benjamin and Cass, perhaps out of jealousy, perhaps out of fear. Whichever it was, Ben realized there was one way he could make their vengeance even sweeter.

"Cassie?" he asked after a chuckle. She ceased her laughter and looked down at him. "Have at the rest of the cattle."

She looked a bit surprised-it was unusual of him to suggest such a thing-but praised his proposal, not about to argue. It would be my pleasure.

She slithered away, leaving Benjamin without a surface to lean against as she had her way with the rest of the cattle, eliminating them one by one. She played at it like it was a game, and Ben felt pity for those poor souls. But despite his previous reservations, the college could do without some of its beef for a couple weeks, he assured his conscience.

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard someone shouting, trying to get his attention. Inevitably, the dean had sent a messenger to retrieve him, a young boy perhaps two or three years younger than himself by the looks of it. He stood ten yards back from the edge of the field closest to the college, unable to take his fearful eyes off of the monster devouring the last two cattle behind Benjamin.

“The d-dean summons you!” the young boy stuttered as Ben stood to his feet. Cassandra looked over, just to see what was going on, and this alone scared the boy half to death.

“Don’t worry, she won’t hurt you,” Benjamin shouted back, noticing how the boy looked as if he were about to bolt. As he stood to his feet, he could feel a growing feeling to do the same. It was unusual for the dean to call for him so soon after an event like this, so evidently the butcher had spilled his guts about the afternoon's events. He could even have vied for the dean to be rid of Ben and his companion. Early on, Benjamin had gotten the sense that the dean disliked him, and if that were true this was the perfect opportunity to eject him from the college.

All these thoughts swirled around in his head as he slowly walked to where the boy stood, too preoccupied to bid farewell to Cassandra. Consequently, she was picking up on some of his thoughts herself, and though she'd been gorging herself just a moment earlier, she suddenly didn't feel hungry enough to finish the last cow.

Benjamin timidly followed the boy as he led him back into the college, his nervousness steadily growing. Before long, they'd reached the dean's luxurious study.

"...No! I won't make my decision until I've heard both stories," the dean's voice thundered as Ben appeared in the doorway.

"Sir," the messenger beckoned and saluted, standing behind him.

Both the butcher, who was standing before the dean's great desk, and the dean turned to look at Benjamin.

"Thank you, Charles. You're dismissed," he said calmly, allowing the other boy to leave. Then, to Benjamin, "Come in, son."

The butcher's smoldering hate was palpable as Ben entered the room and stood beside him, his heart pounding in his ears. He looked down at the ground, too afraid to meet the dean's gaze.

"Benjamin Joyce. This...youth here claims your pet ate a third of our livestock," the dean stated evenly. "Is that true?"

Ben fumbled for words for a moment or two, even ignoring the fact Cassie had been called a "pet". "Y-yes sir...actually...she ate most of the rest as well," he admitted, wincing.

"See?" the butcher followed. "It's too dangerous to keep them here. What if-"

"Silence," the dean interrupted, giving the young man a dirty look. "Did I make the mistake of asking your opinion again?"

The butcher fell silent, looking down.

"Now...can you tell me why this happened?" the dean asked Benjamin.

Ben tried to find some way to blame the butcher, but his wit failed him. He went with the truth, sighing. "N-normally she can control herself, sir, but lately she's been getting less food. More than a couple times she's left the butcher's hungry, sir. He informed us that there wasn't enough beef to feed both her and the rest of the college." He looked at his feet, knowing he'd essentially given a reason for why they should no longer stay.

Unexpectedly, the dean scowled at the butcher. "He said that, did he? I bet he never mentioned that that cattle was for the sole purpose of feeding any unnatural creatures who might visit the college, hm?"

Ben was shocked. He looked up, staring the dean in the face. "What?"

"He was supposed to make sure she never ate too much at once, or else the beef wouldn't last the month."

Evidently, this had been part of the butcher's plan. But it seemed to be backfiring now. He stuttered, trying to come up with an excuse. "B-but sir-"

"I don't wanna hear it, son. Get out." The man tried a moment more to placate the master, but finally realized it was useless and sauntered out the door. The dean glared at him, waiting until he was gone. He then took a moment to compose his thoughts.

"Now...I don't blame you for this one," he began in a nicer, yet still stern tone. "I once took care of a dragon hatchling that would scarf down any food you put near him if he was underfed twice in a row. It isn't uncommon for creatures of magic, what with the energy they produce." He paused for a moment of thought, stroking his beard. "When I first saw your friend, I could tell one day she'd outgrow this college, and the beef we provided her wouldn't be enough. Now that she has no meal for next week, I see that day has been forced upon us early. So I ask you, what can I do to help?"

Benjamin was flabbergasted. The dean asking how he could help? Ben had never thought the man would even offer him dry clothes if he found him in the rain sopping wet. Now he was offering to do Ben a favor?

Thankfully, Ben had been thinking about a solution to this problem for some time, and so once he recovered his wit, he began to explain. "W-well, sir, I noticed there's a large swath of forest to the south. I've seen deer trails through and around it, and so I can o-only assume it's populated with game..."

"Go on," the man encouraged, intrigued.

"Well...under the law, the Society can confiscate land provided there are no claims to it. I was thinking, sir, that they could, maybe, annex the whole forest and then give it to the college. Then Cassandra could have grounds to hunt for her food."

The dean thought long and hard about Ben's innovative idea. "Interesting. I had thought you were going to suggest using magic to generate more food," he chuckled, holding his stout belly as he laughed. "But your plan works nicely, too. You never know when you'll need your magic on short notice." He paused, smiling. "You'll have the land available to you and all students by the end of the week," he promised.

Benjamin was overjoyed. "Sir...I don't know how I can thank you..." he said, flustered.

"Thank me by taking good care of your treasure out there," he replied simply, giving the boy an unexpected wink. "You are dismissed."

Ben left the room and entered the hallway, unable to contain his excitement. He ran out to the square and made straight for the southern field.

As he left the portcullis in the outer south wall he could see Cassandra curled tight upon herself, a position she sometimes took in extreme anxiety. Her mind was mostly closed off to him, because she couldn't bear hearing they were going to take her away from him.

"Cassie!" Ben called, coming within ten feet of her bulky pile. She freed her head from the bottom slowly, turning anxiously to look at the boy.

Bonded? she asked slowly, expecting the worst.

"The dean offered to get you a hunting ground!" Ben shouted, too excited to contain the news any longer.

Cass' eyes widened, and she became speechless for a few moments. You're telling the truth? she finally gasped. She had tested his mind to make certain.

Benjamin was grinning from ear to ear as he ran up to her and jumped on her bulgy stomach in a hug. She coiled about him warmly, showing him a hug of her own as she smiled down upon him.

I’m going to be given a place to hunt, she declared with glee, closing her eyes and waggling her tail happily.

Ben looked up at her, still smiling. “I was afraid this was the last straw, and that they'd finally take you away, but it turned out just the opposite. The dean said he’d have the college take possession of those forests down to the south,” he explained giddily. “If all goes well, you won’t ever have to go hungry!”

Cassandra was immensely excited. She’d finally get her chance to learn to hunt, and on her own terms nonetheless. The idea itself felt perfect. She’d occasionally noticed urges and yearnings that she found hard to explain, like a sort of restlessness arising within her to hunt and eat products of her own kills rather than those fed to her; perhaps that was part of the reason why she felt so compelled to feed at times.

The forest would also give the two of them a new space to explore and spend time within, apart from others, which Cass admitted she often longed for. For her, this was certainly a dream come true.

The same was true for Ben, for a different reason. He’d spent sleepless nights thinking about the fact that he had no idea how large Cassie could grow to be. She couldn’t stay in her shrunken form for very long at a time, especially since she couldn’t when she needed to feed, and he’d come to the same conclusion the dean had: that before long she’d outgrow the college. With so much land soon to be available to them, Cassandra could grow to monumental proportions and still be safe and sustained. The weight off of Benjamin’s chest made his conscience feel light as a feather.

This will be the start of great things, Bonded, Cass prophesied contentedly, setting her head upon her flank to daydream about the gift they’d been given.

“I’m sure it will,” Ben replied, smiling softly at her. He never thought of her as anything besides a sister, albeit a much larger, scalier sister, but he had to admit Cassandra looked especially beautiful when she was happy and content.

It didn’t take long for something to ruin the moment, however. Cass’ gluttony was just now catching up with her, and without warning she felt a strange bloated sensation, abruptly lifting her head from her side, eyes widened, before-

BUUUURRRAAP! The heavy bass roar seemed to shake the ground and split the air. She sustained the tone for a full second and a half before it died out, leaving behind an uncanny stillness.

Ben was at a loss for words until the smell hit him like a loaded wagon. It took everything within him to keep from vomiting. "God...Cassie!" he coughed, having some trouble breathing.

A part embarrassed and the other part humored, Cassandra blushed faintly. Pardon me, she apologized, struggling to resist chuckling.

Ben ignored her amusement, fighting free of her loose embrace to reach fresh air a few feet away. He took a few panting breaths before turning back toward Cass, who smirked mischievously at him.

"My God! How is your body so good at making such awful stenches?" he exclaimed, to which Cassie only blushed slightly redder, chortling. "Your insides must be rotten!"

She kept laughing. Maybe they are. Lowering her head near the ground, she opened her maw so he could see deep down into her throat. Would you like to check for me? Her maw yawned open was something sure to frighten any sane man, but Benjamin was not afraid. Instead, he chuckled.

"I don't think I need to know that badly," Ben responded with a smile. Cass snorted, pleased she'd made her point.

Are you sure, Bonded? she scoffed, coaxing him with maw still open. I could enjoy a nice dessert. She giggled a little as she gently shoved him with her snout, giving his neck a short lick before shutting her maw again. She seemed to have humored herself.

He rolled his eyes with a chuckle. “You can always enjoy a dessert, Cassie,” he pointed out.

Cass's jaw slackened a little in offense. I cannot! she retorted, not thinking herself the glutton.

“Cassandra, I just saw you eat fifteen cows when you were content with just five. Fifteen! That’s three times what you were happy with, and you still could follow it up with me as dessert!”

I’ve only been…underfed, as of late, she excused. You know my appetite isn’t normally so expansive.

“Oh come on now, Cass. I’ve seen you eat things almost as big as you. For fun.”

Cassandra felt a bit cornered, now. A growing serpent needs her food, she finally responded sheepishly, still refusing to admit she overate at times.

Ben groaned a little. “Fine. Whatever. Don’t complain to me when you finally stop growing and turn into a big blubbery mess.”

She turned toward him with eyebrows raised, finding the notion preposterous. Me? Blubbery? She snorted again, steam shooting out her nostrils in the chill air. I haven’t a pound of fat in me, she gloated proudly.

“Your scales will wrinkle into rolls. You’ll be slower than horses-“

Ha! It will never come to pass.

“-I won’t even be able to carry you in your shrunken form!” Ben added finally.

Cass bluntly shook her head. More likely because my true form will dwarf small cities and still remain lean, she scoffed with a smile.

“You think you’ll get that big?” Benjamin asked hesitantly, a little disquieted by the prospect.

It is a possibility, she replied, slithering to the right a little.

“I’m not sure what you’d even eat for breakfast,” Ben said softly, lost in disturbed thought as he imagined her that big.

She tried to imagine herself. Perhaps a village’s worth of cattle, she postulated.

Benjamin gulped audibly, praying that day never came. A silence grew between them, but it was broken by the noticeable gurglings emanating from Cassandra’s swollen stomach. Her efficient digestive system had evidently fully set in motion.

“A day and a half,” Ben said abruptly.

Confused, Cass lightly read his thoughts, then understood his meaning. It was a game they played whenever she had a meal. A day, she responded with her own optimistic guess of how long the full digestion would take.

Benjamin shook his head, looking at her belly. “No way! A day and a half at least.”

Cassie smiled and glanced at him. What are you willing to wager? she challenged.

He thought for a moment, turning away to consider as he put his hand to his chin. “An hour of levitation per day for a week,” he replied, pretty confident in himself. “And if I win, I ride you about the college for a week.”

Cassandra considered his terms with a small smirk. Add a belly massage every other day and I accept, she countered, sure she was going to win.

Ben hesitated, but agreed. “Alright. I’m looking forward to seeing who’s right,” he said with a smirk.

As am I, Bonded. As am I. The two eyed eachother competitively for a few moments more before breaking into soft laughter. They then realized simultaneously that it was getting late, and the sun was setting on an eventful day of studies at the College.

THE END.