Leroy was hiking along the steep mountain trail, getting some fantastic panoramic footage for his travel blog. He was traveling up some isolated, poorly maintained trails of the Anhui province, eager to be the first Western influencer to get footage of the unique terrain. The skilled social media personality was sure his audience would love the exotic locale's misty peaks. "Hey there, my Lerpers! It's your boy, Leroy here, up in the misty peaks of Mordor! Haha, nah bro. I'm actually up in China, at a fucking gorgeous formation of 'tains called 'Haungshan range'. Just look at this shit, can you believe it?" To emphasize his emphatic words, Leroy swung his SloMo camera about, capturing footage of fantastical peaks that had an odd, rocky, geometric shape to them.
Leroy happily sauntered down the trail, the skilled solo-explorer narrating his every step and action. He was up his regular shtick, speculating about the geographic history of the region to his loyal fanbase, "So like, I think these rocks are dolomite, can you believe it? Fucking ancient man, ancient. They were surrounded by like, 'limestones', and it all got washed away over the years, and now it's 'Karst.'" He was happy with the footage and explanation, the third take really nailing the pronunciation of the unfamiliar words.
When the hiker approached a particularly breathtaking and scenic view of the rolling, picturesque landscape, he set his camera up for a long take. Tripod steadied by a nearby rock, Leroy carefully lined up the angle to capture himself in handsome profile among the great vista. He was hoping to land the critical thumbnail shot for his upcoming video about the trip, and needed everything to be perfect. "I feel like a bird up here! The air's thin, but I feel like I'm up in heaven, my Lerpers! Just look all around me, check out that fuckin--Oh jeez!" Leroy's sweeping movements and passionate delivery ceased, as his valuable camera started toppling over, it's supportive rock tumbling down the trail.
When Leroy began to sprint towards his falling device, he pressed his weight down hard on the back of his left foot. It was precariously perched on the cliff's perimeter, and the sudden kick sent the loose terrain crumbling down, and the fit social media star went tumbling with the debris. An echoing shriek marked Leroy's rapid plunge, as he tried to grab at the steep cliff face to slow his descent. His hands and body were instantly scraped bloody, and the desperate maneuver barely succeeded. When Leroy slammed down the steep ravine into the cliff's bottom, his fall was miraculously cushioned. Though he was bruised and battered, the scared man noticed the ground underneath felt unnaturally bouncy against his backside. He quickly shielded his head and face, as more rocks and dirt clumps rained down upon where he landed, pelting him violently and sending the injured man into a coughing fit.
It took several minutes for the panicked man to get his bearings. Leroy was afraid to move quickly, in case any of his limbs were seriously broken in the fall. Again, seemingly by divine providence, he was relatively unscathed from the tumultuous fall. He looked up, realizing just how far he had fallen to land in the steep pit he currently occupied. It took him a while to adjust into a sitting position, but he slowly became disquieted by the irregularities of his immediate surroundings.
The circumstances didn't add up right; the ground felt giving and rubbery underneath him. It was warm too, and constantly shifted about, like a firm waterbed. When several wide, dusty trunks began unearthing themselves and moving around him, Leroy broke out into a frantic bout of screaming and shouting. Eventually, they settled against the steep, rocky walls of the hollow, and Leroy slowly realized the strange objects for what they were. Somehow, he was seated between two great, scaly legs and a thick, wriggling tail. It was difficult to discern their true nature at first, as they were crusted in an obscuring layer of dirt. While they moved about, the crimson scales underneath slowly revealed themselves, and the increasingly terrified travel blogger realized he was perched on a living, breathing, reptilian creature of incredible size.
Leroy tried to get stable footing on the moving, uneven surface. Then, somehow, the inexplicable situation grew even more mysterious. <Be not afraid, good human! I felt you land on me, and I promise you're perfectly safe! Well, uh, considering where we're stuck, 'safe' might not be the right word... but rest assured, I shan't harm thee!> the inhuman voice resonated within Leroy's head, like he was picking up a perfect-clarity radio broadcast straight into his mind. After everything he'd been through, Leroy simply fainted in terror on the spot after receiving the psychic communication.
An unknowable amount of time later, Leroy awoke, feeling incredibly sore, but otherwise glad to be rid of that strange dream. However, when he looked back and realized he was reclining on a dragon's girthy, wavering tail, he set about shrieking in alarm. <Leroy, Leroy please... we've been over this. I can feel your psychic distress from here, and it's really damn annoying to experience, so please calm thyself. We have to work together to get out of this situation,> on cue, the legs and tail protruding from the loose soil beneath the human stopped moving. <My name is Rakothan, human, and I can read thine mind. I am a benevolent dragon of the ancient times, and I have existed well before your people walked upright. Though it pains me to admit to this humiliation, I have accidentally lodged myself in place while trying to clamber down through a cavern, situated below where you and I sit stuck.>
Leroy's mind swam and his heart hammered as he tried to process this assault of inexplicable information. He reasoned he must be severely addled from the fall, and worried about the extent of his mental and physical injuries to experience such madness. But as time passed, and the stark reality of his surroundings became increasingly apparent, Leroy finally began to accept the strange mental message, or at least humor it. "Um, uh, so, if we're both stuck here, then, Mr. Raki... uh, Dragon, then what do you suggest we do now?"
<I'm glad you asked! I've been stuck here for quite some time, longer than a human such as yourself might find reasonable. I have discovered no capacity to wriggle out of my own volition. The ground heaved around me with such weight and force, you could not be expected to dig me free either. You could try to clamber out yourself... but I remember how steep these cliff sides were, I don't think you'll be able. Are you following me so far, son of Adam?> the dragons train of mental messages blared into Leroy's panicked mind. Though it was not painful or disturbing a sensation, Rakothan's message overpowered his panicked train of thought.
"Y-Yeah, I guess. Um, so you've been here a while? Nobody's come here to rescue you or anything, even if you like, beam psychic messages, or whatever? That doesn't sound good..." Leroy's voice was whining and plaintive as he clutched his knocking knees for emotional support. The sun was setting now, and a chill was settling over the mountainous region.
<Yes! Exactly, smart human! We're both in quite a situation, but luckily, we can help each other! I've had some time to think it over, and there's really only one way for a creature your size to escape this troubling pitfall; you'll have to escape to the cavern below... through me. Are you following, Leroy?> Rakothan's projected voice was booming in Leroy's mind, but also calming and comforting simultaneously.
However, when Leroy thought about the strange request for a moment, he sputtered out indignantly, "Wait, through you? 'Through you'? What the fuck do you mean, 'through you'? W-What are you getting at? R-Rakothan? Mr. Dragon?"
<I know you're not going to want to hear this, but it is much as thou suspects. I am buried into and obstructing the only passage out from this steep crater. But my interior anatomy is, ah, rather spacious. Spacious enough, that is, for you to wriggle through. I'll guide you through everything, every inch of the way. I am quite familiar with my own anatomy,> Leroy could tell the dragon was trying to speak as soothingly as possible. But he simply couldn't accept what he was hearing, or mentally receiving... whatever this all was.
"You can't be serious... like, through you, through you? From... one end to the other? You're saying I'd survive that, that it'd work? This has gotta be a trick... I must be dead or something. Can't my ghost just move on, or whatever the fuck is happening right now? Is this hell?" Leroy was close to hysteria at this point. The dragon's tail pressed up against his back, as if in a comforting gesture, but it just alarmed Leroy more than anything.
<You must be brave, Leroy, for both of our sakes. I wish there was another way... but alas, I am aware of absolutely no alternatives. Take your time, let me know when you are ready to, ah, accept the limitations of your circumstances and options.> the dragon's tone was empathetic, but it did little to calm Leroy.
The human got up, and began desperately scrabbling at the crumbling, rocky walls of the steep pit surrounding him. He leapt about, trying to find hand and footholds wherever he could, but the terrain simply wouldn't support his weight. He realized he truly was sunk at the bottom of an imposing gulf, and would have to somehow rise many stories to escape to more traversable land above. "No no no no, this can't be real... you can't be serious. Through you? Really? Reaallly!?" Leroy yelled aloud, to Rakothan, but also to the heavens above for their stinging mockery.
After some time had passed, Rakothan's psychic voice intoned inside his head again, <I am truly sorry, innocent human, but this must be done. It will not be as bad as you imagine, but we should begin soon. You will dehydrate if we tarry too long. Dig out the soil from under my tail, it's not too deep to reach my... my entrance. Your entrance, to freedom, Leroy. Stay focused on that fact as you proceed. And please, try to dig out as much sand and soil from behind there as possible before your proceed farther. I'm sure you can imagine why,> Leroy visibly cringed at that last statement. But after a moments contemplation, began his unsavory task in a desperate fervor, heaving the loose soil aside from underneath Rakothan's partially submerged tail.
When he'd finally uncovered the dragon's huge, puckering tailhole, Leroy balked. He couldn't go through with this, he couldn't... go in there, could he? After trying to submerge a hand into the slightly-gaping orifice, he recoiled in disgust, suddenly deciding death was the superior option. After a few hours had passed, and Rakothan did not press the issue, but simply waited with his wavering tail, Leroy finally built up his nerve to proceed. As he stared with grim determination at his awaiting 'passage', Rakothan's sphincter flared open, prepared to receive the reluctant human.
Leroy plunged himself in all at once, arms stretched forward like he was diving into a pool. Though Rakothan tried to keep himself relaxed for the timid human, the slippery, pink flesh immediately seized about Leroy's frame from all sides. Knowing reluctance would only prolong the horror, he steeled his will and wriggled forward, unsure of how to continue, except that he simply must. Horrid, squelching noises erupted from all around, and wet warmth instantly enveloped Leroy's entire frame as he continued onward.
<You are braver than many dragons I have known, human. Press forward as such, and worry not. You have passed my colon and gotten through my cecum. My dragon intestinal tract is relatively shorter than a humans. You are making progress. Do not relent, and remember, you struggle for both our lives!> Rakothan's words of encouragement were little comfort in Leroy's wretched circumstances. It actually wasn't quite as bad as he'd imagined. The slimy, clinging passage was conspicuously devoid of any overwhelming smells, besides a spicy muskiness. He was grateful to find little obstacle barring his advance through the huge dragon's winding guts, though they were a tight fight for him. He could actually feel the muscles in the dragon's body helping him forward, his writhing progress aided by the enveloping, undulating motions.
<Gird yourself manfully, stalwart trekker. You approach the next section of your journey. I can feel that you're about to spill forth into my stomach confines, but do not fear. Move down the chamber quickly, to the very bottom. You'll find a closed passage, I'll flex my stomach sphincter open upon feeling your proximity, and you can enter the last phase of your journey through me.> Leroy grew alarmed at the idea of entering the dragon's belly, worrying about getting burned by stomach acid, or fiery breath, or... something. However, realizing he was quite literally in too deep to back out now, Leroy passed forward through the pyloric sphincter, which cinched tightly to his frame as he passed through from the dragon's duodenum.
The dragon's spacious stomach was actually quite a relief for Leroy, compared to Rakothan's disturbingly snug and winding intestinal coils. A syrupy slime oozed over his limbs and lower body, but the strong smell was the most offensive part of the experience. He couldn't see much, but noticed how Rakothan was very carefully controlling his inner musculature, helping the human's forward progress at very turn of the journey. He'd actually become slightly turned about in the stomach, but eventually found the tight sphincter leading to the esophageal passage. Problematically, the exit was at the bottom of a deep pool of stomach slime, which collected there from the dragon's upside-down position within the earth.
<Get ready, Leroy. Place your feet upon the sphincter controlling access to my gullet and throat, and I'll try to let you through all at once. Make thyself slim, and move quickly, I don't want stomach acid leaking down with you. I fucking hate heartburn, I mean really, it just ruins my day,> Leroy was actually slightly alarmed by Rakothan's seemingly casual mentally projected tone, though he supposed he could oblige the dragon. At the last moment, the human wondered how the dragon even knew about what would happen next, but the cinched flesh below him flexed open, and he squirted down suddenly into a tighter tunnel of warm flesh. The dragon's throat was a far quicker journey for him, the muscles effortlessly carrying him forward down the drake's winding neck.
As he was whisked down, the scared hiker could scarcely believe it. He was actually going to make it, and survive the unlikely, seemingly treacherous journey through Rakothan. His heart skipped a beat when he saw a dull glow of light ahead, slightly illuminating the dragon's pearly white fangs. When Leroy progressed further down the sinuous neck, the dragon's tongue suddenly slapped up into his face and cinched about his neck and body. <Careful, mind the teeth, my tongue shall guide you out safely.> Leroy just relaxed, allowing the dragon's sticky, dexterous tongue to help ease him from his long, wide muzzle. He gripped about the drake's conical teeth, keeping himself spaced between Rakothan's jaws as he finally spilled out to freedom.
The travel blogger landed with a wet plop on the cavern floor below, the winding, rough-hewn chamber illuminated by a series of burning torches. He looked up, and fought a pang of fear as he saw the dragon's huge, smiling face above. <You've done it, human! You're safe and free, go forth, the exit is not far beyond.>
Leroy looked between the grinning dragon, and the cave's continuing depths. "Wow, I... I can't believe that actually worked. But Rakothan, how should I rescue you? Do I... like, contact the Chinese government, or something? Should I tell them to come back here with some back-hoes, or something?"
The dragon hanging above him blinked several times in surprise, before psychically replying, <Wait, you're really serious about the rescuing me thing? You even remembered? Most people just run off at this point.>
Leroy felt surprised, responding, "What? Of course I'd be willing to help you, it's the least I can do considering you... well, I don't know if 'helped' is the right word, but we definitely worked together on that one... Wait, other people? Other people have fallen down here before, and done this? Why didn't you tell me?"
The dragon's psionic tone was worried, and rushed, <Fear not, human, I shall be fine. Go forth, enjoy your freedom. If you happen to find any gold coins on your walk out, feel free to take them. Safe journeys! Oh, and don't tell the Chinese government I'm here, seriously. Or any eastern dragons you encounter, they're territorial.>
Leroy was feeling increasingly suspicious, as he started mentally piecing together the various inconsistencies, Rakothan able to follow his train of thought as it progressed. Leroy asked in an incredulous tone, "Wait, torches? Why are there torches just... waiting for me in here? You said you've been stuck in this spot for ages... And if you're stuck, why aren't you even concerned about getting out? What the fuck is going on, why is this day just getting weirder, somehow?"
The dragon's eyes nervously scanned back and forth, their crimson sclera and slit pupils betraying a slight look of panic, <I, ah, well... y'see... Look, I'm going to be honest with you, Leroy. You're smarter than I gave you credit for. This... this isn't all what it seems. I'm perfectly fine where I am, I can wriggle out of this dirty pit whenever I like, and frequently do. I'm, well... I get lonely, and what we just shared... that was a very intimate experience, wasn't it? It's something I'll treasure for the rest of my almost limitless days... I mean that, sincerely.>
Leroy angrily paced back in forth in the spacious cavern path, glaring up at Rakothan occasionally, "So wait, you're saying you just wait for people to fall down here, so you can trick them into climbing into your ass? Like, some kinda perverted scheme? W-What the fuck?" Rakothan look too shame-faced to respond, allowing Leroy to angrily continue, "How much of this bullshit did you have a hand in? How safe was that trip, really? How many people have you done this to!? Were you responsible for me falling off the cliff!?!"
As the human's voice rose to an indignant roar, Rakothan's psionic voice pleadingly tried to assuage him, <No, please, it's not like that at all... You have to understand, I'm just going through all this trouble because I'm very ethical about the whole thing. I staked out this spot because it's such a treacherous path, you would've likely died if not for my feather-fall magic safely bringing you down to my rump. I've saved numerous lives and asked... little in compensation. To be truthful, most people refuse to... go on an intimate journey with me, and I eventually just relent and let them out the normal way... But Leroy, I'm so glad I didn't have to do that with you! I mean it, take as much gold as you want. I've been hoarding it for ages. At some point, I realized it's not about the money... it's about the experiences, y'know?>
"Wait, you're saying you would've just fucking let me out normally if I'd held out longer? W-What the fuck, man? That's not cool... You owe me, more than gold," Leroy added, stamping his feet with a hurt look in his blue eyes.
The dragon looked around the cave, avoiding looking at Leroy square-on. Rakothan had a very human-like expression of bashful remorse on his red-scaled face, <What? I want to make this right. Please understand, I do this all out of love, truly.>
"I want footage, of a dragon! A real dragon... and an interview! And the 'full tour' thing we just did? I wanna do it again, with my SloMo camera! I'm going to be... the most famous person ever! Evidence of dragons, can you fucking imagine? Well, I guess you can, but it's a big deal for humanity!"
Rakothan's face cringed, and his voice oozed reluctance, <Oh no, we're not supposed to reveal ourselves, under any circumstances. I'm going to get into so much trouble because of you. Wait, you want to... You want to go through again? R-Really?>
Leroy nodded affirmatively, "You better fucking bet, with my camera livestreaming the whole thing to my subscribers. We're blowing the whole goddamn lid on this dragon thing, get ready, Rakothan, you're about to become an internet sensation! Now, tell me how to get out of here... and the shortest path back to the trail."