(this story was made via polls on my Patreon Discord. participants choosing what direction the story goes in. You are seeing the results of the polls as the story unfolds)

link to Part 1




You relax as much as you can, letting it carry you. surely, if it was going to eat you, it would have done so by now.
The Demon lifts you from the water, as much as it can. your legs and tail still trail in the lake as it carries you surprisingly gently, not too the shore you jumped in from, but to the other side of the lake.
you choose to ignore the blood and feathers stuck in its teeth from the raptors it just ate.
You expect, hope, that you will be let go once it reaches land but to your surprise it leaves the water entirely with you still in its jaws. walking on short thick legs to an overhanging of rock.
its not much of a shelter, but its the best this lake has to offer and it sets you down, waiting for you to find your feet and remove yourself from its teeth and you do with somewhat of a tremble.
your hurt, but the cuts are not too deep. you will heal this so long as you avoid danger for the next day or so. your more tired than anything.
you sit, taking the weight off your tired legs and curling in on yourself. some rest will do you good.
you expect your Demon to return to its water and vanish into its depths again. but it doesn't. it moves to lay in front of you, its massive bulk turning the overhanging of rock into what almost resembles a cave. there is room enough you could leave if you choose. you could return to your usual place to sleep.

to stay or go, little struthi?