A warm welcome story (by Nomad3315)

Reload of this story written by the amazing and talented Nomad3315, who inspired his story on my old drawing Warm welcome from FA.

Synopsis: "The beginnings are exciting but can also be difficult at first, especially when you are human and your classmates are almost 100 metres taller than you. Denis was raised by a family of enormous xolos in the jungles of the mountains of central Rodderlet. When he finally came of age, his parents decided that he should continue his education at one of the co-educational universities in the capital of Rodderlet, where he would learn many things but also have to overcome several challenges.

I hope you enjoy it. Many thanks to the writer for their wonderful work. I love their stories, and it makes me happy to be able to share them with you. Give them some love; they very good at what they do :D

The city of Rodderlet.

A state that shared its name with its capital, where polished bronze towers were sculpted into the mountain cliffs. Denis had never seen anything like it before. His family lived far away from this majestic city, on a farm. Even the air seemed to shimmer with magic and curiosity.

The moment he stepped onto the campus grounds of Rodderlet University, his gaze was drawn to everything around him. Humans and Anthros were being taught in the same place. An all-size institution of science, literature, and all kinds of knowledge.

Transportation for humans was handled by elevators attached to the edges of furniture, as well as buses and trains running along the walls. Simply walking around a massive building that stretched for countless miles made it impossible for a human to reach their classes on time.

The view was fantastical for the tiny ones. The titans looked magnificent from every angle as they walked by. They were students just like he was. The only difference lay in species and size. Even though he was used to seeing titans, having lived not with one or two, but three of them as their adopted son, the sheer numbers, along with the new species beyond the Xolos was truly magnificent.

What Denis noticed most was the architecture. It was like stepping into a city of dreams, where every building was a statue and every statue a building. Massive arches lined the walkways, wide enough for a mountain to pass through comfortably.

The newest student began unpacking his things in his room. It was designed to resemble a modern human apartment building, but to the larger students, it must have seemed like a finely crafted dollhouse. From the moment he stepped inside, the interior felt warm and familiar, scaled perfectly to his proportions. Wooden floor, a small desk, shelves, and a shared kitchen and bathroom with the other students on every level.

It was cozy.

He had barely unpacked the last of his belongings when everything changed. A sudden darkness fell. Not the slow arrival of night, but a shadow with weight, descending on the building all at once. He turned toward the massive window, only to see an enormous, dark-furred head peering in.

A jackal.

Through the shimmering reflection, three massive faces stared in. Moments later, the entire room slid out of the building with a soft mechanical hiss. A design made specifically for interaction between sizes. A pair of fingers, as thick as tree trunks and covered in sleek black fur, descended from above. Denis stumbled backward, his heart thudding. Before he could react, the fingers gently pinched his pullover and lifted him into the air. Each claw was as big as his upper body. The world fell away beneath him.

"Whoa! Whoa!"

Despite being used to living with titanic beings, he had always been handled with great care, as if his tiny, fragile body might break at the slightest touch. He wasn’t prepared for rough treatment.

Denis shouted, his legs kicking slightly in the air. He was brought face to snout with a gigantic jackal. Towering, black fur and piercing azure eyes. The creature grinned with sharp curiosity.

"Hey there, little guy. You must be the new guy."

The jackal boomed, his voice deep but warm. Two more titans surrounded him from the other side. A jackal similar to the one holding him high above the floor, and a wild dog–type canine.

At the same time, all three titans leaned in. Three towering mountains of fur and muscle surrounded him. The air trembled with their breath. Warm gusts swirling his clothes and tousling his hair. Then, slowly and deliberately, all three pressed their enormous noses closer and closer. Three massive muzzles surrounded him like cliffs of black and brown fur. Their noses, slick and leathery, glistened with moisture, twitching and flaring. The nostrils widened as they inhaled deeply.

FWSSSSHHHHHH

A sudden suction pulled at him. His shirt fluttered. The giant sniffed deeply, drawing in the human’s scent with an eager rumble in his chest. Then came the other jackal, nearly identical to the one holding him. His sniff was even more powerful.

FWWOOOOOHHHH

Denis staggered back, his arms windmilling. The air surged into the nose with a wet slurp, tugging at his body like a vacuum. He almost yelped in fear as the suction nearly tore him from the pinch on his pullover.

Then, the massive wild dog approached. His nose was broader, darker, and colder.

HWWFFFSSHHHH

The new guy hung there, shaking and breathless. All he could do was hope that curiosity was all they wanted. Everyone had heard stories about titans eating little, tiny, fragile humans. The warmth of their exhale washed over Denis in a wet fog.

"I'm Hish'wa," the jackal with azure blue eyes said. "This here’s Wok'zi," pointing with a massive finger toward the other jackal. "And that goof is Mbwa."

"Hi!"

Mbwa waved.

This kind of interaction was something he had tried to prepare for. He had been told that these titans were often so excited about new faces that they just couldn’t hold themselves back from grabbing them.

"Denis. Nice to meet you."

Hish'wa leaned in a bit more and asked.

"Denis, would come with us and party tonight?"

Denis didn’t answer right away. The word "party" buzzed in his head like an alarm. Sure, he was there to integrate, to meet new people and species. But what did a party look like when your classmates could use you as a keychain? He wasn’t even sure if the invitation was meant as kindness or a joke.

Hish'wa noticed his hesitation and tilted his head slightly.

"You don’t have to stay long. Just … come say hi. We set up a platform for you. Safety first"

"We don’t bite."

Wok'zi said with a toothy grin. Mbwa chuckled and added.

"Unless you offer youself."

"You’re not helping with this. We want to invite him, not scare him."

Hish'wa scolded him. Then the jackal continued trying to convince the tiny one in his grip.

"Come on, Denis. Come out and party with us. You can meet real men and ladies."

Denis’s heart raced. Could he trust them? What if they got drunk and forgot he was there? What if one of them thought it’d be funny to toss him? Or even worse.

But what if they were genuine? What if he could make these three his friends right away, since he had just arrived? He had to try trusting them. After all, he would be studying in that building for some time.

"Okay … I’ll go."

The party had just begun.

The sun was about to go down, but the life around them was far from fading. The guests were giants compared to the only human who had been invited.

Denis dressed in his best and took a deep breath as Hish'wa gently carried him in his palm. Lights flashed in the distance, and the thump of music made Denis’s teeth rattle. The party was bigger than he had imagined. Dozens of anthros filled the space, laughing, drinking, dancing. A table was set up with snacks and drinks, and an elevated platform with little barriers was prepared for Denis.

Spotlights darted around the enormous space, catching flashes of fur, fangs, and claws. It was like watching a godly festival from the edge of a cliff.

Beneath him, the table stretched like a city block, crowded with punch bowls like ponds, plastic cups as wide as small ponds, and half-devoured platters of meat and sweets.

From his vantage point, he saw a crowd of anthro students packed tight on all sides—manly jackals, hyenas, and wild dogs. Among them was a massive hyena girl with golden fur and stripes like charcoal brushstrokes. She was already deep into her drinks, giggling at things Denis didn’t understand.

Wok'zi had shown a visible interest in that girl. Hish'wa and Mbwa were a bit away from him, talking to others. All three had left Denis on that platform. Though the boy tried to give them some slack, the feeling of neglect hadn’t abated in his chest.

Denis was a bit tipsy himself, his cheeks pink with the warmth of liquor diluted for his size. But even so, he still felt that he should leave. Not because he was drunk, but because he was left alone.

"Alright. Time for bed."

He muttered, gripping the railing as a wave of laughter erupted nearby.

He turned, wanting to shout for Hish'wa, when the table suddenly shuddered. A wild dog behind him had bumped the edge of the table while mock-sparring with someone. Denis staggered.

Crack

The railing snapped.

Time slowed.

"Aaaaah!"

He reached for the edge but missed and tumbled off the platform. Air roared past him as he fell, twisting, arms flailing. His scream was lost in the thunder of the music.

Splash

He fell into the liquid beneath the platform. The impact knocked the wind out of him. He surfaced, coughing and spitting out fruit punch mixed with the sharp scent of rum. All around him, the curved transparent walls of the cup towered like a fortress. He swam toward the inner rim, but it was slick to climb.

"HELP ME!"

He screamed, his voice shrill and useless.

No one heard.

Then, above him, a shadow appeared. His heart dropped. Panic surged through his tiny body for the second time. A golden-furred hyena girl, her eyes half-lidded and cheeks rosy from drink, leaned toward the cup. Her pupils barely focused. She hiccupped, then giggled to herself.

"Ohhh ... cherry punch."

She said, reaching down with one massive paw. Her fingers closed around the cup.

"Stop! I’m in here!"

The cup lifted. His stomach dropped with it. He slammed into the back wall of the cup, fruit mix flooding over his head again. The world tilted. Her voice echoed all around him.

"CHEERS!"

She tipped the cup.

"No... no, no, no!"

His prison tilted with terrifying grace. Fruit punch surged like a red tide. Denis thrashed, limbs waving in panic, but the current swept him toward the lips. The slick walls offered no grip. Ahead, the hyena girl’s lips parted in a lazy grin, her tongue peeking out, ready to welcome the rush of booze.

And him.

Her breath washed over him. Hot, sour, and sweet with anticipation. Her massive jaws opened wider. A world of pink and wet flesh yawned before him. Her teeth gleamed in the light. Sharp, damp with saliva. The cup tilted further.

Then, everything titled back suddenly.

A black blur shot in from the side. Something slammed into the cup with powerful force. Denis flew sideways from the impact, crashing against the transparent wall. The liquid sloshed violently. The cup jolted in the hyena’s paw. She blinked, confused, as a low growl tore through the air.

"You can’t drink that."

It was Wok'zi.

"What’s your problem? I can drink."

"Not with Denis inside."

The music was still pounding, but a few heads had turned. The hyena girl blinked slowly, confused and swaying, then asked.

"Why was there a human in my drink? Why?"

"I fell in!"

"I’ve got you, buddy."

Enormous clawed fingers came down into the cup, like fur-covered logs. Wok'zi gently plucked him out of the drink and raised him up, right next to his orange-brown eye. There was relief in that gigantic gaze. With the same gentleness, the jackal lowered him into an open palm. His face trembled. Not with rage, but with something heavier.

Shame.

And something closer to heartbreak. He recognized his mistake, his ears lying flat. Denis, shivering, buried his face into his palm, dazed and soaked. Hish'wa and Mbwa appeared out of the crowd seconds later, their towering silhouettes pushing others aside with a sense of urgency.

“What happened? We heard—”

Wok'zi looked up at both of them.

"He fell into the cherry punch. She almost drank him."

A long silence fell between the three giants. Hish'wa whispered, looking down.

"I’m so sorry. We shouldn’t have left you alone. We were stupid. We didn’t think—"

"We didn’t think you would be in danger. We thought place was safe. But it’s not. Not for someone your size."

Mbwa said, voice low.

"Just … take me to my dorm."

They looked at Denis with eyes full of guilt. The dog’s tail hung low, ears folded. Denis looked up at the giants around him. Every towering face enormous and alien. Even the friendly ones felt too big now. Too careless.

The party was over.

Denis couldn't sleep. He sat alone on the bed in his flat. A marvel of architecture. A gesture of inclusion. A dormitory like a dollhouse.

A display case.

His clothes were still damp with he fell in. He hadn’t even washed. The smell of the drink still lingered from him. He hadn’t decided whether he was too exhausted to move or too shaken to try. His heart beat steadily now, but his thoughts wouldn’t stop spinning.

He had almost died.

The inside of the cup still echoed in his memory. The sound of breathing from a throat that could have swallowed him whole by accident. He had nearly died, all because they weren’t paying attention. Denis buried his head in his hands. Did they even understand what it meant to be that small? To live in a world built for things that could crush you simply by not being careful enough?

His breath caught in his throat, chest tightening. Panic surged through his veins again. This was just his first day. They had said the university was a place of unity. Rodderlet University celebrated all size diversity. That he would be safe.

Protected.

But tonight, he didn’t see it that way.

And worse, he hadn’t stopped them. He hadn’t screamed loud enough. He hadn’t said no when they picked him up without asking. He hadn’t fought hard enough to be seen as a person, and not a miniature doll.

He was frozen in fear.

His instincts had failed him. His body had gone slack with shock. Now shame crawled under his skin like fire ants. Not just for what they’d done, but for how helpless he’d been. He pressed his forehead into his palms, trying to breathe, trying to shrink smaller, trying to disappear.

But he couldn’t.

He was already as small as he could get. He felt small.

Powerless.

Fragile.

Edible.

Weak.




Alternative Ending




"CHEERS!"

She tipped the cup.

"No... no, no, no!"

The sticky tide surged beneath him. Denis was caught, pulled toward the lips. He clawed at the wall, but it was useless from the start. The currents, with an unreleting force, dragged him toward the yeen’s mouth. The drink drained steadily after each heavy gulp. Denis as in completely panic. So much so that he forgot even asking for help. The drunk hyena hadn't noticed that there was something in her drink that wasn’t supposed to be there.

In the blink of an eye, he was in her mouth. The force of the drink flung him against her tongue, the sweet scent of fruit giving way instantly to the pungent warmth of her breath. It was humid. Alive. She never noticed.

Darkness.

Warmth.

Wetness.

The air reeked of alcohol, saliva, and half-chewed meat. He tried to scream, but the sound died in a fit of coughing. His fingers scraped desperately against the smooth edges of her molars, but the drunken, instinctive strength behind her movements was overwhelming.

GULP

A crushing pull seized him, yanking him headfirst into the flexing tunnel of her throat. The flesh clamped down like a living glove, slick and hot, each contraction dragging him deeper. He kicked, clawed, fought against the unyielding grip, but her swallowing muscles worked with mindless precision, hauling him down in steady, merciless waves.

He was swallowed whole and alive.

Immense heat pressed in from all sides, the walls rippling with every beat of a gigantic heart pounding somewhere close. The slick tunnel gripped him relentlessly, carrying him along with the sloshing tide of punch toward a place Denis had always dreaded.

Crushed under a paw, at least that would have been quick. One moment alive, the next gone. But this… being swallowed alive… that was the nightmare that had haunted him since the first day he’d stepped into a world of giants. And now it was no longer a fear. It was happening.

He slid faster. And the walls opened.

A sudden drop.

He fell, landing with a wet splat in the churning stew of liquor and half-digested food. The impact drove him under. The liquid burned his eyes, his nose, his whole body. When he burst back to the surface, gasping, the air was barely breathable. A wave of stench hit him so hard he nearly went under again. Rot, sour alcohol, acid, and meat. The fumes clawed at his lungs, acidic and hot, each breath was a struggle. All around, the walls flexed and groaned. The churning liquid surged, slapping against him as the stomach swayed with the movements of its owner. From far above, muffled and distorted, came the deep rumble of the hyena girl’s drunken laughter.

Denis sobbed.

"I’m in her stomach. I’m actually... inside her."

The chamber groaned in answer, a wet, rolling gurgle that rattled through the walls. Panic surged like fire in his veins. The air was thick and damp, each breath a labor as heat and acid fumes coated his throat.

The owner of the fleshy prison reached for another drink.

The world around Denis was nothing but chaos, heat, noise, and liquid. A churning tomb of alcohol and bile pressed in from every direction. He wasn’t a student anymore, not a human with ambitions or plans.

He was food.

Swallowed.

Helpless.

The heat was unbearable. Denis floated in the wet, twitching dark, his limbs no longer fully his own as they go numb. The stomach walls convulsed slowly around him, slick with bile and the shredded remains of food. The hyena’s gut groaned above and around him, like some enormous, living boiler room. Each pulse brought fresh pain, acid sloshing against his already raw skin. Then he heard it. The glug-glug of liquor pouring down her gullet, on its way to join him.

Barrels.

Pools.

Rivers.

The alcohol came rushing into the stomach like a tsunami, churning the bile into a vicious cocktail of ethanol and acid. Denis coughed and gagged. There was no air, only fire. The liquid seared his eyes and scalded his skin like boiling oil. His nerves sparked in agony, either shutting down or firing all at once. The pool of acid began to claim him, nerve by nerve, cell by cell. Panic crept in like a cold tide, scrambling his thoughts and leaving him desperate for any sense of control.

This isn’t real. It can’t be real. It’s impossible … it has to be a nightmare.

The dread clung to him tighter than the slick walls around his body. Every instinct screamed for escape, but every kick and push sank him deeper into the viscous, unyielding tide. His mind raced, trying to find some sliver of reason, some plan, but panic clouded thought. Each heartbeat of the hyena above vibrated through the stomach like a hammer against bone, reminding him how small and powerless he truly was. The air was thick, hot, and nearly unbreathable. His lungs burned with each shallow gasp, and his skin prickled under the constant pressure and friction of the undulating, living walls. He was trapped, swallowed, utterly at the mercy of a body that didn’t even notice his existence as more than a passing, squirming morsel.

Denis was tossed helplessly with every convulsion. Each contraction pressed him against the slick, pulsing walls, grinding him slightly as if to remind him he was entirely at the mercy of the hyena. The liquid churned with a nauseating intensity, waves of alcohol and digestive juices battering him from all sides. He tried to cling to anything solid, anything to arrest the constant motion, but his hands slipped uselessly over the slick surfaces. The rhythmic pulse of her stomach became a terrifying metronome, counting down some unseen inevitability.

The taste of alcohol and bile coated every inch of his mouth, making each breath a battle. He tried to shout, to scream, to fight, but his voice was lost in the thick, pulsing darkness. Every heartbeat of the hyena reverberated through him, each thud a hammer striking his fragile body, reminding him just how utterly powerless he was. Time stretched on, each moment an eternity of suffocating warmth, unbearable pressure, and a terror that seemed endless.

Denis’s limbs thrashed weakly, but each movement only gave him a fleeting moment above the churning waves. The depths below seemed to call to him, pulling him back into their relentless, suffocating embrace. The heat pressed down on him from all sides, a suffocating, living weight that made every breath a struggle. The acidic slurry burned at his skin and weakened him.

This is it? This is how it ends?

The tiny, trapped human clenched his fists, summoning every ounce of strength to push against the unyielding walls. He thrashed, kicked, tried to fight for air, but there was nothing he could do. No escape. No help.

He had lost.

And then he finally gave up.

No fight left. No escape. No victory.

Only the relentless, inescapable rhythm of digestion.

He was no longer a student.

Only food.