Chapter 2.

He watched Aviy approach, blue eyes cold and narrowed. Something in that look was familiar, even if the color was wrong. 

Aviy reacted instinctively and he dropped his eyes, crouching slowly. He dipped the rag in the water and mimed washing himself. 

"For washing." He hissed, even though the slave couldn't understand him. 

He dipped the cloth in again and wrung it out. He had boiled the water earlier and the temperature was just right. He tentatively crawled closer, pausing when the slave tensed, skin rippling beneath the blood. 

Aviy crooned soothingly and extended the cloth. As soon as it touched the slave's arm, the creature exploded into motion. A fist slammed into Aviy's cheek and sent him crashing to the floor. 

He shrieked and curled up tight, tail wrapping around his neck as pain tore through his face. He whimpered and unfurled to back away blindly, then he fled out the door. 

He ran straight for the kitchen and would have continued outside, if he hadn't bumped into Sepri and his entourage; a lounge of five young tothaw from different clusters. 

"What's this?" Sepri caught Aviy's shoulders and examined the bruise on his cheek. "Did my slave do this?" 

Aviy turned his palm up in confirmation and shuffled closer, whimpering pitifully. He savoured the rare hug Sepri pulled him into. 

His brother nuzzled the top of Aviy's head and then gripped his neck to stir him back towards the room. 

The tothaws opened the roof lining to let in cool evening air and settled down on rugs and mats. Lamps were lit and flasks of fermented Kepri were passed around. Aviy brought them dried fruits and roasted gii worms, but soon he was the one being passed around. 

This was one of his least favorite tasks. He would much rather enjoy the night with other onus, or his family, or just by himself. 

His ass grew sore from the number of cocks that pounded into him and his jaw started to ache from holding it open. 

The slave was huddled in the corner, watching the tothaw covertly through his dark hair. The rag lay next to him, stained with blood, which meant he had used it at some point. 

When Sepri had drunk more than enough, he decided to showcase his new toy. He dragged the sorry creature into the center of the room and fucked him hard. The slave howled, blue eyes so wide, whites were showing all around them. 

The tothaw that had been holding Aviy loosened his grip and slammed his palms against the floor. Other's joined in and started a drumming beat in time with Sepri's thrusts. Aviy backed away and averted his eyes. 

The covering in the doorway fluttered and Aviy looked up to see Roka standing there. He looked around, taking in the scene with a disapproving snort. His eyes connected with Aviy's and he beckoned. Aviy ran to him in relief and practically leapt into his brother's arms. 

Roka had a soft spot for him, Aviy knew, even if he was only an onus. 

He spent the rest of the night as he had hoped, lying in the cool grass with Roka, sharing long kisses and comfort. He was able to relax, knowing Sepri wouldn't punish him for leaving, when he was serving another tothaw. 

He tried to forget about the slave and enjoy himself. He didn't approve of what Sepri was doing, but his brother didn't need Aviy's approval or permission to do anything. He could only hope the poor thing survived tonight. 

The next morning, they received an unexpected visit from their father, who was livid when he saw the state of the slave. 

He dragged Sepri out of his room and beat him thoroughly, as if he was a misbehaving hatchling. 

Their clutch gathered to watch, bearing witness to Sepri's punishment, as they were meant to.

By the end of it, father pressed a clawed foot to Sepri's windpipe, and lectured him on expenses, duty and reputation; A tothaw did not destroy their possessions, a tothaw did not spend their savings on drink, a tothaw did not sleep past sunup and miss their training! 

Their father eventually stalked off, leaving the clutch in stunned silence. Sepri climbed painfully to his feet and massaged his bruised throat, spines lifting with anger. 

They all scattered, even Roka. Aviy had just made it to the doorflap, when Sepri snarled his name. 

Slumping in defeat, he turned around and was shoved against the wall. He kept his eyes down meekly and trembled as Sepri breathed fast and hard above him. 

His brother's rage was palpable. His pride was wounded and every instinct in him was screaming to rip someone apart and prove his worth. If he chose to take his anger out on Aviy, there was nothing Aviy could do about it. 

"Make sure it lives." Sepri spat and released Aviy to storm outside. 

Aviy remained frozen for a moment, still scenting a tothaw's oppressive fury all around him. He chirped quietly, to comfort himself, and went to see the slave. 

The poor thing lay very still, perhaps dead, in a pool of urine and blood. 

Aviy approached it cautiously and was relieved when he saw its ribs rise and fall, beneath the bruises. 

He poked it on the hip with the tip of his tail and retracted it quickly. There wasn't even a flicker of awareness. 

He tried again, this time on the side of its neck, where its sensitive venom sacks should be. Still nothing. 

Reassured, Aviy pulled it away from the mess on the floor. He washed its face first and made his way down. The slave's skin was soft and defenceless, like the hide of a newborn and it was warm. Unnaturally so. No wonder it bled so easily. 

Aviy's heart twinged and he absently started crooning under his breath, as he would have done for a hatchling. 

When he was halfway done, he left to fetch bandages and change the soiled water. He returned quickly and wrapped the wounds on the slave's neck and shoulders. 

He wondered how young this creature was. The muscles under his fingers didn't look like they belonged to a hatchling, or the wrinkled member lying vulnerable between its legs. 

It was darker than the rest of the slave's body and partially covered by a patch of coarse brown hair. It seemed small in proportion to the male's size and it looked too soft to penetrate a mate. Aviy lifted it carefully and wiped it clean.

A loose hood of skin rolled over a glossy pink tip, that was rounded in shape, with a small piss-slit in its center. It exuded a strong musk, not unpleasant, and it was wonderfully warm. 

There were also two wrinkled pouches beneath it that felt even softer. Perhaps this species had several venom sacks. Aviy handled them with the gentlest care, just in case.  

He hissed in a shocked breath when he reached the creature's opening. It was a torn and bloody mess. 

He dabbed at it with a growing sense of horror, only slightly relieved when most of the blood flaked away. The slave might heal from this. He might. 

"Well?" Sepri demanded from the doorway. 

Aviy jumped and dropped the cloth. "He needs a temple healer." 

"A healer for a slave?" Sepri flashed his fangs at the absurdity, spines still partially lifted. 

"But fath..." too late, Aviy clamped his jaw shut. 

His brother went deathly still.  "Yesss?" 

"Nothing." Aviy knelt and pressed his browridge to the floor. "I'm sorry." 

"What did father say?" Sepri snarled and pounced.  

Aviy shrieked and jumped to his feet. He ducked under his brother's swinging arm, heart pounding as he flung himself at the door covering.

His tail was seized and he was ripped backwards. He whimpered as Sepri flipped him onto his front, forced his legs apart, and penetrated him in one cruel thrust. 

Claws dug into Aviy's scalp, pulling his head back at a painful angle, as Sepri thrust, cock stabbing deep. Breathing became difficult and the world started to blur and darken. When fingers crushed into his venom sacks, he screeched thinly and passed out.