Secret Krampus
 
 
Xera sat on the soft, well worn couch of her apartment, grinning broadly as she took in the sight of her girlfriend's new, seasonal outfit. The drake was practically drunk on estrogen, as her scaly tail waved slowly at her side.
 
 
"Are you sure it looks good?" Haddie asked. "It feels super tight, and I think it actually shows a bit too much…"
 
 
"Of course it looks good. You look amazing! You're amazing!" Xera leaned forward, cupping her hands to either side of her snout to hide the impish expression on her face. The candy cane pattern top wasn't even remotely enough to cover the fawn's hefty bosom, revealing more than just a little underboob, and though she already had plenty of natural, deerlike fur on her lower half, she'd worn a similarly patterned thong to cover her lady bits below. This, in all honesty, only called the silly thing's bottom even more to attention than it already was. Topping it all off however, was the battery operated red clown nose and antler extensions which transformed the chil of pan into an alluring female Rudolph that Xera would love to see in front of her sleigh any time.
 
 
The demi-dragon herself however, saw herself as far too stylish to risk such an outfit. She'd landed on her usual pair of jean shorts, and leather jacket to wear over her bra. Despite Haddie's protests, Xera had already decided that the two would travel light down the road. No purses, or even jackets for the trek. Both would certainly be a bit chilly on the short walk to their friend Mira's house, but that was the price they paid to look good. They had to arrive with some oomph, and that was worth a few goosebumps.
 
 
—
 
 
Or so Xera had convinced herself at any rate. In truth, without fur at least on her lower half, like her lover had, she was the one most trembling out of the two of them as they made their way to Mira's manor. Still, she stubbornly remained, shivering at the door as she rang the bell at least two or three times. The moment it finally creaked open, the drake practically leapt inside without saying a word to the disparaged butler. At the very least Haddie managed a polite, if notably nervous smile as she followed Xera in.
 
 
By now the party was already in full swing. There was the unmistakable scent of fruity cocktails in the air, and a local rock band was playing holiday tunes they were no doubt sick of at the top of the stair balcony. At the moment, a large group of sycophants had accumulated in one corner of the foyer, telling the girls exactly where their wealthy host was mingling. Though the three had known each other for decades now, Mira never seemed to have outgrown them alongside her wealth. There was… some sting when she described them as fun in their… exoticness, but neither the drake nor the fawn were eager to show open offense to the millionaire. It was, after all, all in who you know these days.
 
 
Some time later, there was a call from the landing above as the music stopped. "Last call for the party raffle!" Somehow the butler had managed to sound bored even while shouting out. In his hands was a rather decadently ornamented box, on which a small pad of official looking paper forms rested.
 
 
By the looks of things the small box was practically overflowing with entries already, but that didn't stop Xera from having stars in her eyes. "Haddie!" She quickly grabbed the girl's wrist and tugged her away. "Here's our chance! What if the prize is money? Or hell, even if it's just a dumb knickknack, I bet it'll sell for thousands!"
 
 
The much more meek fawn seemed a good deal less convinced. Get-rich-quick schemes were nothing new to Xera, and honestly this was far from surprise behavior... but Haddie knew Mira. If there was a game of chance being played, the stakes were much higher than a simple prize. Still, she wasn't exactly able to resist as her girlfriend pulled her along up the stares. Only when the two arrived did she finally voice her concerns, or at least attempt to. "Xera. I don't know if…"
 
 
"Oh don't be such a baby. Look. I've already signed one for each of us." In the span of only a few seconds, to Haddie's blinking surprise, the drake had filled out two of the forms, and was in the process of folding and depositing them.
 
 
Haddie gave a bewildered and somewhat shocked stare."Xera! We didn't even talk about this."
 
 
The butler replied before the drake, his tone just as unamused as ever. "Safety in numbers you see. I can't blame her, when you seem so easily led."
 
 
Veggie either of the girls could ask what the man went, he was off. Back downstairs towards the kitchen. No doubt to prevent any outside influence from interfering with the drawing. Just like that, he was gone, and the band was picking up their routine once more.
 
 
The party was lively, particularly now that the music was rolling again, but there was something of an air of anticipation. As if the real party hadn't actually begun, and everyone were waiting for it. It took some time, but Xera and Haddie noticed that the crowd seemed to have split into two groups. Those who had entered, and those who had not. Naturally, Xera ensured that she and her lover remained in the correct herd, and soon enough they noticed their wealthy host approaching them, her entourage not far behind. The violetette wasn't shy about showing off her assets, and truthfully the crowd would part like the red sea around her if only to get a good look at her perfect bosom…
 
 
"Looking to liven up your evening?" asked the rich girl. "I can't blame you. Your lives must be dreadfully boring on their own." She gave a toothy grin, looking almost like a coyote seeing opportunity. "Xera dear. Would you follow me?" she then asked, pulling the lizard aside and wordlessly commanding her followers to stay put. Only when she was certain they obeyed, did she speak again. "I've known you two for a long time… and I appreciate that you've always played in my little games. But… you've always been a bridesmaid. Never a bride." The tycoon looked around conspiratorially. "This one's a little different. Everyone who entered will get a little something, but only two will be really… chosen. If you like, since you've been so loyal all this time… I might be persuaded to… weight the odds a little bit in your favor…"
 
 
If Xera's excitement were a vehicle it would be a rocket blessing up into the atmosphere. This was her chance. She was finally going to shoot past the mediocre. Despite her best efforts, the drake couldn't help but let her excitement show in a wide-eyed, goofy grin. "Th-that would be great!"
 
 
Mira smiled back, much more subtly than her guest. "I think you two will be quite surprised with the results. You've made a lot of people very happy." With that, before Xera could even ask what she meant, the affluent woman turned about, her fur coat lifting a bit from the spin, and walked off…
 
 
—
 
 
The rest of the party dragged on exactly as one might expect it to. Most of the snobs present were quite skilled at holding their liquor. Their billiards games might have suffered and their lips might have bin a touch looser, but they managed to avoid making an absolute fool of themselves, at the very least. The same could not be said for Xera, who became increasingly, playfully combative with every ounce of wine she consumed. Even Haddie, normally so shy and evasive, managed to open up a bit more than she would be comfortable to find out the next day. She blew a few kisses to patrons intrigued by her outfit, and when she was really given to drink, even flashed a bit of fawn titty on request.
 
 
 
 
Their games ended when there was yet another announcement from the balcony. The butler's voice rang out from above with all the ceremony of a wet noodle hitting the floor. "Attention! Attention all present! We are ready to announce the results of the evening's drawing." He received an envelope from a nearby aide before continuing. "Tonight's display will be…" There was a brief drumroll. "Xera Amiri!" He squinted at the paper for a moment. "And… Haddie Winters!"
 
 
There was a brief bout of silence, followed by a wave of applause.
 
 
"We ask that the two entrees report too the kitchen. Please note that only those who participated in the drawing will be allowed to partake in the meal. That is all."
 
 
Haddie felt a gnawing uncertainty growing in the pit of her stomach. What were the odds that they would both win? And… what did the old man mean by "entrees"? Something wasn't right. She immediately began stumbling around, looking for her girlfriend in the crowd.
 
 
It didn't take long for the drake to find her however, as was the norm. Before Haddie could get a single word in, Xera, in predictably impetuous fashion, had taken her by the hand and started towards the kitchen.
 
 
"W-wait Xera! Why d-don't we just… mingle a little bit longer. I'm not sure if…" Xera silenced with a long kiss, before barging through the doors to claim their prize.
 
 
Awaiting the two of them was a sizeable staff of cooks, who sized the girls up like hunters determining how best to tackle their quarry. They all seemed to smirk in unison, and then proceeded to surround the "lucky" winners like a pack of blue sharks encompassing a school of fish. This even threw the optimistic Xera off, as her previously ecstatic expression shifted to one of concern instead.
 
 
"Huh. We didn't have to run after you two." One chef, bearing a considerably larger hat than the others, stepped forward. He had a considerably sized beard, which Haddie quietly considered to be a bit of a nono in his life of work, but he also had an air of elitism that wordlessly said "Let me preen the way I want to, or I walk." The type of confidence that Mira respected. He pondered for a moment. "That means one of two things. Either you're into it, or you didn't know what you were getting into. Either way…" There was another long pause of consideration. "Drop the clothes…"
 
 
Xera and Haddie exchanged glances. "Wh-what?" they both asked in unison.
 
 
"Ignorant it is, I see.” He furrowed his brow before continuing. “You heard me."
 
 
Haddie was the first to obey, never one to question authority. Not that she was wearing much to begin with. The peppermint top was the first to go loose. Not even had it hit the ground before it was snatched up by a kitchen hand and tossed into a nearby bin.
 
 
“Hey!” The ever-dense lizard shouted in frustration. “I paid good money for that!”
 
 
The cooks didn't even answer her grievance. In fact many of them had already dispersed back to their stations, leaving only a few impatient looking cooks to keep an eye on them. The whole thing felt strangely surreal, particularly to the fawn, as though it were all just another bad… wet… dream. Of course the alcohol loosening her helped, just a bit.
 
 
Initially, Xera stood, dumbfounded, as her lover followed the instruction, but a quick jab to her own rear with the dull side of a knife quickly deflated her resistance. Begrudgingly, she removed her jacket and handed it off, followed by her shorts, and finally her “tough gal” bra. All the while, her eyes remained fixed on her now nude girlfriend, who's blush now rivaled the plastic nose she'd been made to wear.
 
 
“We know Mira!” The words blurted out more like a burp than language in that she looked surprised at her own exclamation. It had just… come out. Ordinarily she would have been far too proud to pull a name like that. “When she finds out what you all are doing…”
 
 
“She'll ask what's taking so long.” interrupted the chef. “And I'll have to say you two were being difficult. Now chop chop. Let's go.”
 
 
“I-I don't even know what's going on! I… Eek!” Xera was surprised as her shorts were suddenly dropped to her ankles alongside her underwear. Her knees bent inward in a futile effort to hide her exposed nethers, as one of the cooks lifted her feet out of her stipped apparel.
 
 
“I can't ever tell if I like the stupid ones or not. It's fun, but it's a lot more work.” said the kitchen-hand, teasing the lizard by shaking her clothing in front of her.
 
 
The head-chef gave a restrained laugh. “A little of both for me. Annoying yet satisfying.”
 
 
Xera watched, increasingly pink-faced, as Haddie was lifted in a princess carry up onto a preparation table in front of her. Simultaneously, she felt her wrists being tied tightly in front of her, just before her tail was also added to a knot between her shoulders. Slowly, the reality of what was really happening occurred to the drake. Her eyes widened, staring on while Haddie was forcefully posed on her knees and elbows. The poor fawn's ankles were quickly bound, as braces were placed between her arms and legs to forcefully keep her in the same position.
 
 
It wasn't long before she herself was lifted up, squirming and kicking lightly, and carried over to the table. Her struggles were utterly impotent in the end however. These men were professionals, and were quite versed in dealing with recalcitrant pigs. Within moments the drake was tossed onto her back, with her ankles and wrists bound together above her. Shortly afterwards, she too found a metal brace placed on her calves, forcibly keeping them spaced, until she looked every bit the part of a Thanksgiving turkey, with her legs raised at opposing angles, putting her most vulnerable bits on easy display.
 
 
“W-wait… You guys aren't really going to…”
 
 
“Eat you? Unfortunately no.”
 
 
Xera practically fainted with relief, though that feeling was short-lived.
 
 
“All of them out there will though.” continued the cook. “You two say you knew Mira. How in the hell did you guys not know what was going on? Did you not eat at any of her banquets?”
 
 
Xera said nothing yet in return, instead looking over to her girlfriend, who she swore was squinting annoyedly back at her. All the drake could reply with was a sheepishly apologetic shrug, before turning her attention back to the cook.
 
 
Xera shivered slightly as one of the cooks lifted her head. “Okay… I knew… something was going on…” she began. “B-but come on… Isn't this like… entrapment or… somethMMPH!?” She looked down her snout at the thick red gag that was placed firmly between her jaws, then winced at the snapping sound of its straps clasping behind her.
 
 
“Shutting them up is always satisfying.” one of the cooks at Haddie's table said absently, as he did the same for the fawn. “No. It's not entrapment. You had every opportunity to read the fine print, silly girl.”
 
 
Xera simply whined softly, feeling her chest heave up and down as she grew anxious. It was becoming more and more difficult to keep an eye on Haddie as the cooks shifted their pans constantly, checking the ropes and rods before continuing. She could make out that Haddie was having some sort of oil rubbed into her furry deer legs. No doubt something to keep them from being singed in the oven. Mira and her ilk were hoity toity, pompous folk after all. The kind who would complain about ruining the display by shaving her, and boast about enjoying the exotic texture or something like that.
 
 
The fawn's own anxiety was beginning to show as well. In fact it grew even faster than Xera's. Nothing sobers a girl up quite like knowing that she's about to become dinner after all.
 
 
Suddenly the poor girl gave a loud yelp, even from behind her gag. One of the cooks had forcefully pulled her nether lips apart, and hadn't even given her a chance to understand what was happening before jamming a fistful of… something, between them.
 
 
Most likely by design, at this moment Xera could see clearly what was happening. Her own plan had been turned once again to give her an easy view of the other table. The tan mush that was being forced into her lover was interspersed with sprigs of green, and there was a lot of it. A positively painful amount judging by the size of the bowl.
 
 
Haddie gave her pleading “rescue me” eyes, but both knew there was no help coming. Glob after glob of the mixture was forced into her helpless front door, and each time the fawn reacted with another muffled cry. She soon felt as though her stomach was about to burst, and given her pose, slightly elevated on her elbows and knees, Xera was inclined to agree. Once the stuffing had penetrated her womb, it quickly grew in volume until she outwardly appeared to be pregnant into a mid term with an almost literal food baby.
 
 
“You didn't think we'd leave you out, did you?” Xera's attention was snapped back to look down her bosom at the head chef. In his hands was another bowl of the same size as that at Haddie's table.
 
 
The drake's eyes widened, and she shook her head “no” emphatically, but it was pointless. Two aides reached between her legs and proceeded to stretch her folds rather harshly. All the while their leader looked on with a certain smug job satisfaction that humiliated the lizard in a brand new way she'd never felt before. Still, she had more pressing concerns than her pride at the moment, such as the reddish substance that he was grabbing from the bowl. Even from this distance Xera could smell its sweet and tart scent. Some kind of cranberry sauce mix?
 
 
The goop might have been strangely pleasant in texture… were it not so absolutely frigid. Each handful was like a refrigerated water balloon stretching out her uterus, which was none to pleasant for the saurian, not that the cook seemed to mind. In fact he reveled in feeling the little twitches the drake responded with every time he re-entered her. Mira might have been a bit of a classist bitch, but working for her certainly had its perks. Every twitch of the drake's legs… Every undulating jolt she made was emerald eye candy to him.
 
 
Soon enough Xera's once flat, firm belly had developed a painful swell to it. One which the kitchen-hand couldn't resist giving a firm slap. Xera's muffled cry of protest caused her to toss her head to one side, just in time to see a goggle-eyed Haddie being wheeled up to one of the imposing ovens, ass first. There was more than a twinge of guilt as the door was opened, and Xera could see the fawn flinch in fear. She'd done this. She'd entered them in the drawing. She'd accepted Mira's offer. Now her girlfriend was suffering for it.
 
 
Seconds later, two cooks armed with mitts pushed the half-human's plate into the device's. Haddie immediately reacted with a pathetic squeal and a series of twitching motions, as if she could somehow shake off the heat. Xera had a perfect view of it all, and this was almost certainly orchestrated by the staff.
 
 
“Don't worry sweety, you'll be joining her soon enough.” one told the drake.
 
 
“Oh don't be such a cliche.” another responded.
 
 
Xera was only partially listening. For now she was focused on the vision of Haddie, helplessly writhing as much as her bindings would allow. If it were anyone other than her girlfriend she might have found the scene humorous, sext even. She would have chuckled at the meat's plight and tried to reserve certain cuts for herself.
 
 
A quick shake of her metal “bed” stopped her from thinking about the irony of it all. Instead she was forced to consider the currentness of her own fate. Her head bounced side to side, as she tried to get a good view of the men and women that were carrying her. Nothing. All she could make out is that all but one of them were brunettes. How helpful…
 
 
With a jarring thud she found herself placed on the same oven lip that her lover had briefly rested on. Just the other side. Her mind raced to find any possible out. Any offer she could make. Of course… in the time it took her to attempt that, it was her turn to slide in. Though the heat was considerable initially, the wall of calefaction that she was pushed through was ten times worse. Much like Haddie, Xera instinctively proceeded to bob her body up and down erratically. Maybe… she'd been a bit too hard on doomed meat. It was… in fact, excruciating.
 
 
—
 
 
Xera couldn't be sure how much time had passed. She'd spent most of her time in the oven looking over at Haddie. The two exchanged a wordless conversation through facial expression alone that went something like:
 
 
I told you! I told you you should have looked into it a bit more!
 
 
What do you want from me? An apology? I think we have more pressing concerns!
 
 
Yes! I want an apology! I want to get out of this oven, go home and watch Sharptooth together!
 
 
I… I know babe. Me too. I… I'm sorry…
 
 
I'm sorry too… I should have been more vocal…
 
 
At least… that's how one of them thought the discussion went. Not being telepathic, it was impossible for either to know for sure. In truth they both wanted such a talk…
 
 
—
 
 
Xera felt another tug at her platter. Weakly, she managed to open her eyes to see Haddie pathetically shivering in front of her. It seemed the sudden transition to open air was a bit shocking after so long in the intense heat of the oven. The two of them couldn't have been inside for terribly long. The fawn's upper torso was nothing more than a light pink hue. It almost looked as though she'd been out for a good amount of time compared to the drake herself, judging from the lack of any steam. As Xera blinked away the dryness in her eye, she slowly managed to make out a certain, violet-haired figure, new to the kitchen, approaching the two of them.
 
 
“And what seems to be taking so long?” Mira's voice rang out. Not quite as angry as her choice of words might initially suggest. In fact, she almost seemed pleasantly surprised. “Something holding you up?”
 
 
“Both were a bit stiff in the beginning.” answered the head chef. “And drakes are naturally heat resistant. If you still want them done at the same time…”
 
 
“Actually I'm glad they've only been… dried so to speak. There's been a last minute change of plan…”
 
 
Both Xera and Haddie felt a spark of hope jolt in their chest, but it was quickly dashed when the rich woman pulled out a switch knife.
 
 
“You see, I've known these two for some time. It's always been fun having such specimens around, and the more I considered it… the more I thought I'd like to keep some mementos…” With that, she slowly approached the two helpless, trembling women, with a broad, toothy grin crossing her face… “I love being a part of the process. It's delightful to feel… involved like this. I want to be involved in the art. When I'm done here, send the pelts to the east wing study. I've called an expert and he should have a finished product before the end of the evening. The rest can go to the tables…”
 
 
Xera and Haddie first looked terrifiedly into each other's eyes, then into Mira's. They weren't perfectly sure what she was talking about, but they knew it couldn't be good for them at all…
 
 
—
 
 
Hours later, Mira's feast once again turned into a massive hit. The volunteers who'd dared to enter the drawing were treated to a positively delicious spread of meat that would have been nigh impossible to obtain anywhere else. Xera's tail had been carefully sliced into thin medallions, and arranged in an eye pleasing circle surrounding a smaller platter of mixed ribs. To one side Xera's slow roasted hams were perfectly peeled just below a display of her severed breasts, which were the only dish still baring her emerald and golden scales. The drake's drumsticks were folded in a strangely titillating interlocked pattern, as were her now-furless lover's legs on another dish at the opposite end of the carnivorous buffet.
 
 
Distinct from the lizard, Haddie's headless torso arrived to the table still whole, with her voluptuous proportions more easy to pick out by anyone nearby. A trained carver stood at the ready to take requests, though everyone knew those delightfully creamy udders would be gone within a single pass. Her tail along with the tip of Xera's were given to the hostess to enjoy. They were, after all, symbols of the rare, wild game that went into the night's meal. She'd earned a bit of luxury in the eyes of everyone present.
 
 
Lastly, both poor animals heads were mounted at the center of the banquet table, affixed to small pikes and posed in one final, intense kiss. Some might have found the display macabre, but most… particularly those who wished to remain in Mira's good graces as well as members who understood the art of it all, instead found it romantic however.
 
 
Not one to be outdone by a meal, Mira herself enjoyed a chorus of attention from every attendee, thanks to the new drakeskin jacket and fawn fur leggings that she'd recently acquired. The verdant hue of the former popped intensely, commanding every gaze, before they then were drawn to the luxuriousness of the latter. It was certainly an unusual combination, but Mira had long been known for her daring fashion statements. She didn't follow trends. She created them.
 
 
That winter, the local fawn and drake population took a strange dip, for reasons that weren't entirely understood. Eventually the world of wealthy attire moved on from the non-conservational fad, but one thing that enjoyed a long term place was the new, double-headed trophy plaque that adorned Mira's ballroom. It reminded her of a story, of two foolish lovers who failed to understand their best use… and jumped at an opportunity to skip a few steps on the road to wealth, only to find their true calling as items in her wardrobe.
 
 
It was nice to feel close like this to two of her old “friends” now and again. Xera's jacket always remained near the Xera jacket in the hanging dresser, and Haddie's cute faux Rudolph nose was fun to pass around at holiday story time…