{
"submission_id": "18028",
"keywords": [
{
"keyword_id": "1988",
"keyword_name": "character",
"contributed": "f",
"submissions_count": "18837"
},
{
"keyword_id": "932",
"keyword_name": "death",
"contributed": "f",
"submissions_count": "12350"
},
{
"keyword_id": "9000",
"keyword_name": "development",
"contributed": "f",
"submissions_count": "422"
},
{
"keyword_id": "2193",
"keyword_name": "fantasy",
"contributed": "f",
"submissions_count": "26943"
},
{
"keyword_id": "236",
"keyword_name": "gay",
"contributed": "f",
"submissions_count": "150320"
},
{
"keyword_id": "942",
"keyword_name": "m/m",
"contributed": "f",
"submissions_count": "50838"
},
{
"keyword_id": "7521",
"keyword_name": "relationships",
"contributed": "f",
"submissions_count": "402"
},
{
"keyword_id": "909",
"keyword_name": "romance",
"contributed": "f",
"submissions_count": "9133"
},
{
"keyword_id": "164",
"keyword_name": "wolf",
"contributed": "f",
"submissions_count": "193981"
}
],
"hidden": "f",
"scraps": "f",
"favorite": "f",
"favorites_count": "0",
"create_datetime": "2010-08-24 18:17:52.759774+00",
"create_datetime_usertime": "24 Aug 2010 20:17 CEST",
"last_file_update_datetime": "2010-08-24 17:37:29.256013+00",
"last_file_update_datetime_usertime": "24 Aug 2010 19:37 CEST",
"username": "KeitaHaruka",
"user_id": "719",
"user_icon_file_name": "11753_KeitaHaruka_keita3.gif",
"user_icon_url_large": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/usericons/large/11/11753_KeitaHaruka_keita3.gif",
"user_icon_url_medium": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/usericons/medium/11/11753_KeitaHaruka_keita3.gif",
"user_icon_url_small": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/usericons/small/11/11753_KeitaHaruka_keita3.gif",
"file_name": "21083_KeitaHaruka_changes_of_heart__complete_.doc",
"file_url_full": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/full/21/21083_KeitaHaruka_changes_of_heart__complete_.doc",
"file_url_screen": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/21/21083_KeitaHaruka_changes_of_heart__complete_.doc",
"file_url_preview": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/21/21083_KeitaHaruka_changes_of_heart__complete_.doc",
"thumbnail_url_huge": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/huge/21/21083_KeitaHaruka_changes_of_heart__complete_.jpg",
"thumbnail_url_large": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/21/21083_KeitaHaruka_changes_of_heart__complete_.jpg",
"thumbnail_url_medium": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/21/21083_KeitaHaruka_changes_of_heart__complete_.jpg",
"thumb_huge_x": "100",
"thumb_huge_y": "100",
"thumb_large_x": "100",
"thumb_large_y": "100",
"thumb_medium_x": "100",
"thumb_medium_y": "100",
"files": [
{
"file_id": "21083",
"file_name": "21083_KeitaHaruka_changes_of_heart__complete_.doc",
"file_url_full": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/full/21/21083_KeitaHaruka_changes_of_heart__complete_.doc",
"file_url_screen": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/screen/21/21083_KeitaHaruka_changes_of_heart__complete_.doc",
"file_url_preview": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/files/preview/21/21083_KeitaHaruka_changes_of_heart__complete_.doc",
"mimetype": "application/msword",
"submission_id": "18028",
"user_id": "719",
"submission_file_order": "0",
"full_size_x": null,
"full_size_y": null,
"screen_size_x": null,
"screen_size_y": null,
"preview_size_x": null,
"preview_size_y": null,
"initial_file_md5": "de29bfd6e019edd9a52404621491be80",
"full_file_md5": "de29bfd6e019edd9a52404621491be80",
"large_file_md5": "",
"small_file_md5": "",
"thumbnail_md5": "91fc14a4f3f0b872064c7b7e86c2e96b",
"deleted": "f",
"create_datetime": "2010-08-24 17:37:29.256013+00",
"create_datetime_usertime": "24 Aug 2010 19:37 CEST",
"thumbnail_url_huge": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/huge/21/21083_KeitaHaruka_changes_of_heart__complete_.jpg",
"thumbnail_url_large": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/21/21083_KeitaHaruka_changes_of_heart__complete_.jpg",
"thumbnail_url_medium": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/21/21083_KeitaHaruka_changes_of_heart__complete_.jpg",
"thumb_huge_x": "100",
"thumb_huge_y": "100",
"thumb_large_x": "100",
"thumb_large_y": "100",
"thumb_medium_x": "100",
"thumb_medium_y": "100"
}
],
"pools": [],
"description": "Love has a way of happening, even though you're really, really not suited to it.\nLove has a way of happening, even though you really, really don't want it to. \nAnd it always, ALWAYS, happens at the worst possible time. \n\nJust when Khan Fuzzywolf managed to find his place in the world, Kelen Darkwolf arrives to mess it up. Or Is Khan messing up Kelen's life? Neither really knows...but they better find out very quickly. Neither can afford the distraction of dealing with personal problems when the fate of the world may just hang on their survival. Problem is...their personal problems are far more relevant that they think...\n\nChanges of Heart is a gay romance, set in a medieval fantasy world. If you enjoy stories for the sake of stories, then this one is for you. I wrote it for people who love to read and who like a bit of romance. Steer clear if you want a quick paw. This story does contain yiff, and it's very explicit too...but you have to slog through a lot of plot to get to it. Also steer clear if you don't like long stories. This one is over 30,000 words long. :p \n\nTo those of you who decide to take the time to join Khan and Kel on their dangerous journey...thank you! ",
"description_bbcode_parsed": "Love has a way of happening, even though you're really, really not suited to it.
Love has a way of happening, even though you really, really don't want it to.
And it always, ALWAYS, happens at the worst possible time.
Just when Khan Fuzzywolf managed to find his place in the world, Kelen Darkwolf arrives to mess it up. Or Is Khan messing up Kelen's life? Neither really knows...but they better find out very quickly. Neither can afford the distraction of dealing with personal problems when the fate of the world may just hang on their survival. Problem is...their personal problems are far more relevant that they think...
Changes of Heart is a gay romance, set in a medieval fantasy world. If you enjoy stories for the sake of stories, then this one is for you. I wrote it for people who love to read and who like a bit of romance. Steer clear if you want a quick paw. This story does contain yiff, and it's very explicit too...but you have to slog through a lot of plot to get to it. Also steer clear if you don't like long stories. This one is over 30,000 words long. :p
To those of you who decide to take the time to join Khan and Kel on their dangerous journey...thank you! ",
"writing": "Changes of heart\n\nPart one: Ghosts\n\nDarkness surrounded him, choking his vision. All around, the night was silent. Not a single sound dared intrude, and the dampness of the air made breathing a chore. The swamp was an unforgiving place and death stalked it this night. Even this late at night, it was warm and muggy. Moonlight flashed on cold steel. Warm blood splashed on his back…shadows in the wood! His heart pounded. The blood was not his, he knew, but that of Dehelian, the youth who’d been placed in his charge less than a month before. Amber eyes stared up at him. What happened? Khan, please? What happened? What’s going on? Then understanding. I am dying...\n\nThe young fox’s eyes cleared, and for just a moment, he looked strangely at Khan. \n\nHe is telling me something...something vital. It was there in his eyes. Khan could see it...it was right there! \n\nRage built inside and he wanted to shake the dying fox. What are you saying? What are you trying to tell me? Tell me! Tell me! \n\nBlood bubbled from the cold black nose of his former lover...and the light left his eyes, taking his secret to his grave...\n\nHis white muzzle lifted in a howl that never came. Cold sweat beaded his fur as he reared up in bed, paws desperately seeking the twin curved blades that were never far from his reach. He panted heavily in the still of the night, shivering uncontrollably. He gulped deep breaths to still his hammering heart and glanced around him. The same ferny plants and mangroves. The same stinking water and muddy soil...but no blood on his back. It had not happened today, but more than a decade before. A nightmare. One he hadn’t had in years. \n\nThe big arctic wolf shivered again and threw the threadbare blankets off him. He habitually slept naked as his thick, white fur provided sufficient warmth. He shivered as the night breeze touched his sweat-damped fur and slowly got up, careful not to disturb his sleeping companion. Kelen Darkwolf was his latest charge, and on his very first run for the Baron’s Messengers. The young wolf lay soundly asleep on the other side of the smouldering embers, his blankets drawn tightly around him. \n\nKhan smiled bitterly. No doubt all the trees and the presence of another young soul had brought the memories into his mind once more, and never mind the muggy weather and wet undergrowth. He stood in silence, watching Kel’s slender body, contrasting it to Dehelian’s. \n\nThere really was not much in common. Kel was a black wolf, slender and graceful, lightly muscled and bony. There was not a single ounce of excess fat anywhere on him, and his fur was not as long and silky as Dehelian’s had been. Ah, but there were the eyes, ever watchful, wary…luminous with intelligence and soft with gentleness. Kel’s were deep aquamarine rather than amber, but they had the same clarity. \n\nHe shook his head. Kel was nothing like Dehelian, and yet he feared for him…although not in quite the same way. Kelen was stronger than Del and could hold his own in a fight. He knew ways of defeating an enemy that seemed miraculous to Khan. Khan’s own method of fighting involved swords, mace, axe and longbow. Kel had as his entire arsenal two simple throwing knives. It was almost incomprehensible, but it was amazingly effective!\n\n Kel used his entire body as a weapon. A few simple-seeming movements was all it took for him to disarm an opponent. Deliberately, he cast his mind back to his first memory of Kel. Anything to keep his mind away from thoughts of Dehelian...especially in this place...\n\nIt was close to midday at the officers’ barracks in the city of Von Haugen six months previously. It was early spring and the new recruits were just starting their training...and as usual, Deena was arguing with Bhaz. Deena was a sleek young otter with unusually dark fur and was a master with the longbow.\n\n“I’m telling you! It’s magic!” Deena said. \n\nBhaz scoffed and spat on the dusty ground. He was a badger and had all the stubborn contrariness of his species and the pure muscle to back it up.\n\n“Nonsense! I’ve seen hundreds of puppies. They all think they’re the bee’s knees until they come to my class. This pup will be no different, you’ll see!”\n\n“Yeah. Sure. None of the pups you trained were Kiyan. He’ll disassemble you.”\n\n“Nonsense!”\n\n“Alright. It’s your funeral.” \n\nKhan pricked his ears. So! They had a Kiyan youth wanting to join up. The news surprised him. He’d visited Kiy in his youth and had even fought against them back in his mercenary days when…whichever of the city-states of the time had tried to invade Kiy. Khan could no longer remember. Old wars and old battles flowed together in his mind like quicksand. All that had mattered back then was who paid best.\n\nNo one really knew that much about Kiy besides the fact that they had superb warriors and that they were the only nation not to outlaw witchcraft. As a result, Kiyans were generally not well received on the rare occasions one of them ventured outside their borders. They were a secretive, insular people that no one really understood.\n\nDeena was correct. Whoever this Kiyan pup was...he would take old Bhaz apart. \n\nHe grinned. It would be worth seeing. The muscular old badger could use a good beating. He listened for a while longer until he overheard the bit of information he wanted: when Bhaz’s class was scheduled, then went about his business.\n\nThat afternoon, he joined most of the other instructors and a few of the students. Word spread quickly in the messenger community and no one wanted to miss this. The students all arrived in a troop from the previous class and Khan’s eyes focussed immediately on the young black wolf that stood on the sidelines of the group. \n\nHe was tall. Six feet at least, and slender – almost bony. His shoulders were of average width and his hips too appeared to be largely unpadded. Skin-tight black leather covered most of his body from his ankles to his throat. It left very little to the imagination and Khan almost drooled. \n\nThe leather shirt was buttoned in ivory and featured a number of loops that he presumed were meant for weapons – knives probably. Indeed, the silver, unadorned hilts of two knifes stuck out from the pup’s belt, one on each side. They were set for quick drawing, Khan noted with a smile. \n\nHis black trousers were unadorned and was neatly tucked into the tops of what resembled the usual boots a messenger might wear. The leather around the ankles seemed thicker, offering much-needed support for a runner.\n\nThe black-furred wolf walked lightly on his foot-paws, his gait relaxed and casual. Aquamarine eyes darted this way and that while white-tipped ears pricked alertly forward. Watchful but unwary and graceful like a dancer, he was every inch a warrior.\n\nKhan smiled and settled down to watch, his own sapphire eyes drinking in the sight of the young predator. \n\nBhaz was old and what had once been massive muscles now ran to fat. Even so, in spite of grey furs on his muzzle, he was still the best fighter in the service, and fast. He approached his students and faced them with confidence. Immediately he focussed his attention on the black furred pup as his first victim. \n\n“You! Over here. Right now.” \n\nHe indicated a spot right in front of him, didn’t raise his voice or spoke in a particularly commanding tone. It was the entirely of his presence that made the group of students shrink back and draw together. \n\nWithout hesitation, without so much as a dip of his ears, the slender young wolf stepped forward, and Khan noted the confidence in his step. This wolf knew exactly what he was capable of and saw no reason to fear the shorter, but much heavier badger. \n\nHe reached the indicated spot and stood still, waiting. \n\nBhaz was addressing the students, speaking in glowing terms about the lessons he would teach them, and how no matter what skills they thought they had, he would show up the fallacies in their training and make them the best fighters they could possibly be.\n\nNext to Khan, Shareeva, the knife expert nudged him in the ribs with her elbow. \n\n“He has no idea, has he?” She asked in her deep contralto voice. \n\n“None whatsoever!” Khan replied cheerfully, and Shareeva laughed. \n\nKhan put an arm casually around her shoulders and she snuggled in closer. Shareeva was an Indian Wolf and was one of the very few females who actively encouraged Khan’s attentions. Together, the two of them had added whole new chapters to the Sutra. \n\nWhile they cuddled, Bhaz finished his speech and turned his attention back to the black-furred pup. He stared at him for a few moments, then lashed out a paw in a right-pawed jab that he intended to connect on the pup’s shoulder. \n\nIt never connected. The pup simply wasn’t where Bhaz was sure he had to be. Thrown off-balance, his arm moved farther than he expected and in the few moments it took the old badger to reassess his situation and respond, the pup had hold of his wrist. Slender black legs collapsed under him, and he fell backwards, jerking the badger further forward, using the momentum that his opponent’s body already had to propel him even further off-balance. His collapsing body fell in a tightly controlled way, going backward and sideways at the same time. Old Bhaz went sailing overhead...but the pup was not done with him yet. His paw still held the old Badger’s wrist, and as the pup’s arm reached its fullest extension, it jerked Bhaz around so he started to flip onto his back in mid-air. The pup’s foot-paws came up and connected squarely on his thighs at the same instant his paw let go. Now carrying his own momentum as well as all of the pup’s excess motion, there was no stopping him. Like an arrow out of a bow, Bhaz flew through the air in a graceful arc. \n\nThe look on his face was priceless: surprise and panic and mortification warred on the badger’s face as he watched the sky, knowing the ground waited below. \n\nAs he flew, the pup completed a graceful roll that brought him back on his foot-paws in time to see the badger hit the ground flat on his back. A small smile played across the young wolf’s narrow muzzle as the breath whooshed out of the badger. He dusted off his leathers and returned to his classmates. \n\nThere was silence for a few moments except for the heavy groaning that came from the heap of badger on the ground, then soft clapping as someone in the crowd gave expression of their appreciation. Soon, the whole crowd was clapping. A few of the older students, those who had suffered most under Bhaz’s hard tutelage, even cheered. \n\nClearly, there was going to be no class today. \n\nKhan looked around for the pup, but he was nowhere to be seen.\n\nSimply amazing...\n\nIn the hubbub, Khan too slipped away, and thanked the gods for the existence of this place, where a warrior could still be a warrior without making excuses. The emergence of the Baron had for some reason heavily impacted on the availability of work for mercenaries such as himself. After some months of fruitless searching, he’d come here, and was assigned duty as instructor. To his surprise, the big wolf found that he actually enjoyed it, teaching cocky young warriors lessons that would one day save their lives. \n\nThe pay was good and there were plenty of furs and furres around for him to sleep with. \n\nHe wondered if the black pup’s story was similar to his own.\n\nHe wondered if he could get him into bed.\n\nKhan stretched and sighed softly. He looked at the heap of clothes he’d discarded and decided not to dress. Instead he settled down on a fallen tree trunk nearby. So many years have passed since the day Dehelion died, and yet...he could remember it with crystal clarity. Tonight seemed much like that that night had been: the same muggy air, the same low moon...the same darkness. The same swamp. \n\nHe shivered and glanced across the fire toward his young charge, deliberately trying not to think about that terrible night.\n\nKel lay sleeping not ten feet from him, stretched out flat on his belly with his tail drawn tightly over his tailhole, fully dressed and covered in blankets.\n\nKhan chuckled. None of that would stop him if he chose to take the pup. Gods know he’d done it often enough in the past. Few could resist his charms…and those that did were usually quickly persuaded otherwise. Khan always got what he wanted, one way or another.\n\nHe chuckled again. His mind never strayed too far from thoughts of his lovely young companion, and to keep his lust for him at least semi-controlled, he let his mind wander again, knowing that sleep would evade him for the rest of the night.\n\n To his chagrin, never got to teach the pup anything. \n\nAfter old Bhaz’s humiliation, the other instructors all carefully tested the pup and passed him. He’d fared worst against Khan, who was fully ambidextrous and with his twin curved blades and good balance of strength and speed, was an easy match for the pup’s sword skill.\n\nNot even Shareeva had much to add to his physical training, and so he was handed over to the ancient librarian who would see to his education. \n\nFrom that moment forward, Khan saw little of him. The old orang-utan seemed as fond of Kel as all the other instructors. The pup spend so much time with his muzzle stuffed in dusty old books that he never paid much attention to anything or anyone else. He did what everyone else did, but never in the ways they did it. \n\nWhen he trained, he did so in the peculiar way of Kiyans: slow, sinuous movements that suddenly became leaps and whirls as he gyrated and punched and kicked at the insubstantial air. Violence disguised as harmonious grace, like a dance. \n\nIt was beautiful to watch, and Khan did so as often as he could, both for the movements themselves and because the pup himself was so beautiful. \n\nWhen he studied, he did so alone in his room with dozens of small candles surrounding him, his entire attention devoted to whatever he was reading.\n\nSome nights, Khan saw him sitting quietly in repose, his paws resting on his knees, eyes closed and back straight, meditating in the moonlight.\n\nHe never took anybody to his bed, never really mixed with the others and never made any waves.\n\nFor their part, none of the other students seemed interested in befriending him either. While the ability to work alone was a valued trait in a messenger, and his seeming dedication to it was commendable, most of the instructors were concerned. It was a subject that came up regularly during the weekly meetings when the instructors reported on the progress of candidates. \n\n “The pup is simply not integrating into the group. He displays absolutely no sense of community whatsoever. I can’t see how we can pass him.” Old Bhaz groused one evening.\n\nShareeva sighed and shook her head. They’d had this argument several times in the past and it never got resolved. Khan suppressed a bored yawn and resigned himself to another boring argument.\n\n“Bhaz, it doesn’t matter.” Shareeva said. “Messengers are alone a lot of the time on the road. He functions well enough in social situations when he needs to. His isolation is more your fault than his, you know. If you hadn’t been so eager to prove a silly point and forced him to show up the other students so badly...”\n\nBAM! \n\nBhaz’s fist hit the table, making their tankards rattle. Khan imagined steam pouring from the badger’s ears. Shareeva and Bhaz fundamentally disliked each other, and almost always took opposing views. More...Shareeva had a soft spot for the pup just as obviously as Bhaz was out for his hide. Khan shook his head, trying to find a way to get them both to back off so the meeting could end. He had a nice piece of tail lined up for the night and he didn’t want to keep her waiting.\n\n“Sharee...” the old badger started again, an edge to his voice. He had the kind of presence that made it seem like he was shaking his finger in her face even though he was across the table from her and still had his paw on the table.\n\n “It’s not my fault that he knew everything already. How was I to know...”\n\n“It’s not his either! He’s better than any of the others...”\n\n“Sharee...!”\n\nJust then, a thought occurred to Khan...one that could serve all their purposes. He blurted it out before Shareeva could gather her breath to speak.\n\n“Why not hand his finishing over to me?”\n\n“...he’s made no effort whatsoever...!...Wha’?”\n\n“...at everything we try to teach...!...What?”\n\nKhan suppressed a smile and put on his most innocent expression.\n\n“Why not hand his finishing over to me?” He repeated, and had the immense satisfaction of seeing both Sharee and Bhaz gaping at him like fish.\n\n“Well, why not?” Khan forged ahead. “You lot have been debating this for months and never come up with a solution. I’m the most socially active...”\n\nShareeva snorted and covered her muzzle with a paw in a sudden fit of coughing. Bhaz’s face looked like he was sucking lemons.\n\nKhan ignored them and continued. \n\n“...and I’ve been to all the lands and most of the cities. Besides. None of you have anything better to suggest. Give him to me. I’ll fix him.”\n\nThey started at him. The silence hung like a blanket of lead over the room.\n\nFinally, old Bhaz roared with laughter.\n\n“By all the gods, why not?”\n\nKhan winced. Out of principle, Shareeva would side against Bhaz, and she was a serious adversary.\n\n“Now see here Bhaz my dear...We all know...”\n\n“Oh, get off your high horse, missy. That pup kicked my ass. If he can kick mine, he can certainly kick Khan’s. If Khan wants to risk his balls on the pup, I say let him.”\n\nAnd that settled that. He’d spent months hunting the pup, and failed. And now...now he was going to get him.\n\nThat very night, when the assignments were made, Khan lingered near the assignment board, casually sipping brandy and idly joking with whoever passed, as if he was just a friendly instructor who wanted to congratulate his students on their first assignments, curious to see Kel’s reaction.\n\nHe’d even dressed up for the occasion. Unlike Kel, Khan favoured dark greens and browns in a lighter, more baggy style. He’d never been comfortable in leather and heavy linen was cooler. His fuzzy white fur made wearing lots of clothes unnecessary. His twin swords were strapped across his back. Every inch the correct messenger garb.\n\nWhen Kel came though, he barely lifted an eyebrow when he saw who he’d been assigned. He just gave Khan a searching look, a look that for some reason knotted Khan’s belly. It wasn’t a threat, not even a warning, but a…a curiosity, a question that suddenly Khan didn’t have the answer for. Why WAS he doing this? Kel strode off to his little student’s cubicle and the moment was lost. Khan dismissed the thought and went to bed. \n\nThe next morning he rose well before dawn to pack the meagre provisions that was a messenger’s lot and headed out, fully expecting the pup to be still in bed. Instead he found him tying his packs to his back, ready to leave. He could only nod curtly when Kel raised an enquiring eyebrow, and motioned with one paw for him to take the lead. Kel did so with no hesitation and set off at a brisk pace into the early morning gloom. Not a word was said. None was necessary. They both knew what was going on: Khan was going to try and get Kel, and Kel was going to resist. \n\nKhan shivered and set off after him, watching and waiting for any chance that might come his way.\n\nKel hadn’t fallen for him that easily though. Khan smiled in the darkness. Even now, the pup remained wary, watchful. Even when soundly asleep, his ears swivelled, listening for every little sound. \n\nHis face though, was relaxed and peaceful. Not even staid young Kiyans could resist the romance of the road, the joy of the wind whipping through fur as they ran in utter freedom, going wherever, the future a blank sheet waiting to be painted. \n\nOut here, the blank mask had fallen away from Kel’s face. His eyes glittered with the fierce joy of running, face animated when he enthusiastically told Khan about his homeland, about what he’d read in his books about the villages they now passed, about how this or that person was making difficulties for the Baron in his quest for peace. \n\nKhan usually listened with just one ear. What did he care for peace? Or books? Out here though, there was no evading the pup’s chatter and almost in spite of himself, Khan found himself drawn into conversation, not only about what had happened, but about what it all meant. \n\nAs the days had worn on, he’d found himself looking inward more and more, reassessing events in his past in the light of the treasure-trove of insights Kel offered. It had belatedly occurred to him that maybe being skilled in more than just swordplay (quick grin) might not be all bad.\n\nOnce again, he glanced in Kel’s direction, wondering why he was doing this. And why the pup reminded him so much of Dehelian.\n\nHe sighed and looked off into the darkness. It was small comfort. How on earth had he gotten to this point, back where it all started?\n\nHe watched the pup carefully as they ran, looking for any sign of fatigue, of loss of concentration, of carelessness, but there was nothing. Even when talking at full tilt, the pup kept scanning his surroundings, kept tabs on his companion, watching him as carefully as Khan watched him. \n\nKhan had already concluded that simply taking the pup would fail. There was no guarantee that he could best him in a wrestling match. Khan well knew he was physically more powerful than Kel and had more stamina, but Kel was faster. Much faster. He also had his Kiyan battle skills. He could quite possibly tie Khan around a tree if he really wanted to. Old Bhaz was perfectly correct about that. No. Catching him by surprise was out of the question. Khan was quite convinced that nothing would ever surprise this lad. He would have to be more subtle. \n\nSo it was that he played the part of the professional, dutiful Messenger’s Guard, as if he’d left his designs on Kel behind when Kel graduated from student to formal Messenger. Whether he was fooling him remained to be seen. Kel maintained his watchful brief. \n\nThey ran all day, every day, from sunrise to sunset, stopping only to hunt whatever was available in the woods or on the plains. They took turns dressing the carcasses, setting up camp, building the fire and cooking their meals…when they bothered with cooking at all. By day, they hunted small game, drinking the blood for the quick energy it offered and stuffing the carcasses in their packs for later consumption. \n\nKhan was impressed with the time they were making. Kel might lack his stamina, but by the gods, he could keep up! For some reason that pleased him. Few of the puppies he’d chaperoned had really been prepared for life on the road; the sole reason veterans like Khan was always sent along for that first run. It hadn’t taken long for Khan to realize that Kel didn’t need any guidance from him.\n\nNot that this surprised him. He knew something of the Kiyan folk. Their young were trained in what was commonly referred to as the martial arts from the time they could stand up. The strange tenets of their religion were somehow connected to this. Khan had never cared enough to find out exactly how. \n\nKiyans lived their religions somehow. Their art of the body was somehow also connected to this. Theirs was a life of hardship, but also of great joy and beauty, to hear Kel tell it. No, the pup didn’t need him at all. It was refreshing and left him time to simply observe the pup for his own sake, simply because he was so beautiful! \n\nThe attack came late that afternoon. They passed between a series of hillocks; a narrow pass that some long-ago lord had carved to connect his upper and lower pastures. The hillsides immediately adjacent to the road had been cleared of trees, but further back, tiny copses of fast-growing pine remained. No city-state claimed jurisdiction over the area and thus maintenance had been neglected for decades. No maintenance…and no patrols. Wary as the two wolves were, the attack nevertheless almost caught them by surprise. With the sun in their eyes, they did not see the shadows moving at the edge of the trees at the bend in the road directly ahead. \n\nMercifully, the first shot fired went slightly wide, as if the archer were unused to shooting at a moving target. The slight mistake was warning enough. With the speed of long familiarity, the twin blades Khan carried hissed out of their leather scabbards even as one of Kel’s throwing knives whistled through the air past Khan’s left ear and into the throat of the archer above. He collapsed into a heap, gurgling as he drowned in his own blood. \n\nShouts came from the woods to their left and right and without hesitation, the two wolves took station at each other’s backs. Khan cursed under his breath, his blades held ready, eyes scanning the area. Kel stood crouched behind him, his one remaining knife gripped tightly in his left paw. Five shapes materialised, moving confidently, defiantly, waving a motley collection of weapons. Three to the left, two to the right, but no more archers. Khan gave silent thanks to the Kiyan gods for the young black wolf at his back. \n\nBehind him, Kel readied himself, positioning himself in that deceptively calm posture that spoke volumes about the violence about to be unleashed. No time to worry about the pup. The lead shape charged. Khan swung into action, twin blades flashing in the sunlight as they rushed forward to meet the blade of the fox in the lead. He beat the raised blade contemptuously out of his way and spun, letting his momentum carry him past his assailant. \n\nThe second blade drank deeply of the fox’s jugular as he swung past, just in time to meet an incoming mace. Metal screamed and twanged as the mace shattered the right hand blade. Khan cursed again, furious at himself. He let himself collapsed to the ground to evade his attacker. \n\nThe badger’s huge momentum carried him past Khan and as he turned, Khan’s heel lashed out and crunched into the badger’s knee , shattering it. The beast roared with rage and pain, but was quickly silenced by a quick stab to the heart. One more. \n\nKhan scanned his surroundings. The third assailant had rushed past him and had joined his one remaining companion in confronting the pup. Another fox lay dead, a neat slice across the belly that proclaimed Kel’s skill with his blade. It wasn’t a lethal wound, but were sufficiently distracting for Kel to crush his windpipe. \n\nVery neatly done. \n\nNevertheless, the remaining wolf and bear were armed with long-swords. Not even Kel’s prodigious speed would save him for long. Khan raised his blade and rushed into the fray, snarling fiercely. The momentary distraction he provided was enough for Kel’s deadly blade to sink into the bear’s left eye. Khan hadn’t even seen his arm sweep up to throw it. Moments later, Khan’s blade found its mark in the wolf’s back. It collapsed and died with blood bubbling from its nose and muzzle. Khan snarled in contempt and kicked the corpse hard. \n\nFool of a wolf! Fool of a robber, to take on Khan! And Kel. He turned to face the pup. Kel stood calmly by, scanning the woods on either side of them, wary for any potential reserves. He was not even breathing hard. Behind him, a sword glinted in the grass. So. He’d disarmed the fox before dispatching him. Impressive! He searched the youngling’s face, but found no signs of undue distress. Khan smiled ruefully. A warrior born.\n\nKhan took up the sword Kel had taken from the fox, noting with a wrinkled nose the spots of rust on what was otherwise a fine weapon. It wasn’t curved like the blade that had been broken, and it was a bit heavier too. Khan sneered. The hilt was overlaid with gold leaf. It might once have belonged to a nobleman and was a bit ornate for his taste, but it would serve. \n\nKel retrieved his knife, wiped it clean in the grass and replaced it in his belt. Khan shrugged and moments later, they were back on the road. Kel seemed to lag a little, so Khan slowed his pace. They were close to the city now anyway.\n\nThey reached the city of Temet just after sunset. It had not been Khan’s intention to stop there, but they were both tired. They’d pushed each other hard over the last week and both were beginning to feel a bit flea-bitten. What worried Khan more was that young Kel was beginning to show signs of a limp. He deliberately avoided thinking about his own aching back and shoulder. \n\nTemet was a fair-sized city of about 25,000 furs and humans, all mixed together. Temet sat right where the furry kingdom of Furwold and the mostly human-occupied territory of Woodsworth met. Although officially a loose collection of independent city-states, everyone in Woodsworth took their orders form the Duke of Reeve, who in turn accepted “suggestions” from the Lady Killwing of Wolfswood, who was heavily influenced by her mate, the Lord Steelheart, who…surprise, surprise, was the Baron’s second in command. \n\nKhan shook his head and grinned. The convolutions of politics had never attracted him, but now…There was something amazing about the balance of power the Baron maintained. And the Messengers were integral to that. For the first time in his life, Khan felt himself a part of something larger than himself. \n\nThey approached directly and flashed their official badges of service and were immediately admitted into the city by the gate guards. Khan watched carefully and took note of the worried looks the guards exchanged, desperate fear in their eyes.\n\nBeside him, Kel tensed and kept close without having to be prompted. Khan smiled. He had good instincts. They proceeded down the main carriageway toward an inn Khan frequented during passage through the city: The Night Owl.\n\nAll around them, people watched them with the same suspicion and fear that the guards displayed. Some looked outright hostile, but none dared interfere. The Messengers were officially acknowledged by the city’s ruler, and though they didn’t have an official chapterhouse here, they still had representation. Lady Killwing made sure of that. \n\nThey reached the inn and were ushered inside by a bustling old mousewife who mothered them outrageously. Kel meekly submitted to her ministrations, looking embarrassed, while Khan looked on, amusement twinkling in his eyes. He knew old Molla very well, how to deflect her instincts. She was the closest thing to a mother he’d ever had. So he sat back and watched as she fussed over Kel, feeling strangely warm inside. \n\nAfter supper, Molla led them upstairs to a large room with a single bed, apologising all the way. It was the only room she had available. Kel looked a bit suspicious about that though. Khan smiled. One look had been all it took to let Molla know what he wanted; one look at her…and one longing look at the pup. Molla was quick, and as always, willing to help the cause of love. \n\nShe ushered them inside, and promised to wake them before dawn with a suitable breakfast and some supplies. Khan thanked her warmly, and at the last moment impulsively caught the old mouse in a bear hug and swung her around once, startling her to a delighted laugh. She touched his cheek once with a greying paw and left, her old eyes misted over. From the corner of his eye, Khan noticed Kel looking at him with the most peculiar little smile on his face, his eyes soft and oddly surprised. He shrugged and dismissed the thought. Must be imagining things. He grinned to himself. Time to start on phase two of his master plan. \n\nMolla’s inn had the most luxurious of bathhouses deep in the basement. Water heated in the kitchen over the cooking fires was piped down to the bathhouse, where careful attendants added herbs and scented oils to revive tired bodies and drive away the fleas. After dropping their packs in their room, Khan led the pup down the stairs, where they were greeted by two silent hares who each handed them brushes, soap and scented towels. \n\nGrinning, Khan indicated Kel precede him, where an old vole imperiously demanded their clothes. Khan watched, amused, as Kel flushed scarlet under his black fur, but the old master of the bathhouse would not be evaded. Ears flattened to his skull, Kel stripped out of his tight-fitting black leathers, careful to keep his back to Khan. \n\nAt last, Khan had a sight of the pup in the nude. His leathers didn’t leave much to the imagination, but it did conceal the fact that he was not merely slender and bony. His back was straight when he stood, but also wondrously supple. Lean muscle rippled in his back as he bent over to remove his trousers. His legs too were muscular and well-toned. It was as if his muscles fitted his skeleton like his clothes fitted over his body. There was not a single ounce of fat anywhere on his body. \n\nSeconds later, he disappeared into one of the deep tubs. \n\nPrompted by the old vole, Khan too stripped. The old vole collected their clothes and headed out to have them washed, leaving the two wolves mostly alone. Khan climbed into the huge communal tub where Kel was already submerged and applied himself to scrubbing himself clean with every indication of ignoring the pup. \n\nThe attendants came to scrub and brush their backs. Unused to such personal attention, Kel squirmed uncomfortably under their ministrations. Through much fussing, brushing, scrubbing and drying, he remained stiff and tense, unlike Khan who submitted with every indication of enjoyment. \n\nOnce done, the attendants dressed them in simple white robes and let them return to their room. Kel followed Khan in silence, subdued and yawning. He limped openly now, worrying Khan somewhat. He’d noticed a number of small cuts and bruises while the attendants dried him. He’d better examine the pup and see for himself whether he was fit to continue on the morrow. If not…he grinned. He wouldn’t complain.. \n\nBack in their room, he motioned for Kel to sit down on the bed. The pup lowered his muzzle and ears with embarrassment, but did as he was told. From one of the drawers by the window, he produced soft, baggy linen nightwear, which he tossed to Kel. Like the bathing robes, it was white, and fitted loosely. \n\nWhen Kel failed to put it on, Khan turned his back to offer the pup some privacy, shaking his head as he did. It was a peculiar kind of modesty with him, this aversion to nudity of his. Damn inconvenient too. \n\nKhan himself had no compunctions; casually he tossed the simple white robe to the floor and dressed in the nightwear provided, then turned to face Kel. The pup sat uncomfortably on the edge of the bed, looking down at the floor. \n\nSomething in Khan melted at the sight of him. He was so adorably vulnerable-looking. Looking at him, one would never guess the softness inside. He had the mind and body of a warrior...and yet there was something about him that...that was looking for something.\n\nHe shook himself and knelt by his pack, searching for the jar of herbal ointment he always kept there. Once found, he rose and carefully made his way to where Kel sat, and began a meticulous examination of every inch of his body. Whenever he found a small cut or abrasion, he gently licked it clean and applied the healing unguent. \n\nKel sat, his body rigid, his face confused as his superior rendered him a service no pup of his rank dared expect: Khan was an alpha, and Kel wasn’t yet. \n\nCareful not to let his tongue linger more than necessary, nor to let his paws wander too much, Khan worked his way down from Kel’s back to his belly and hips, where he found the source of Kel’s limp: a large bruise where some fur must have kicked him, right on the joint where the thigh attached to the hip. Khan hissed. The pup was lucky that the hip wasn’t dislocated.\n\nThere was no way he could continue at any sort of pace on the morrow. He probed gently with stubby fingers and was rewarded by a sharp yelp of pain. \n\nNo. Kel was in no condition to run. How he had managed to keep pace since sustaining the wound Khan didn’t know. From pain-dulled and stricken eyes, Khan saw that the pup knew they were not going anywhere. That this wounded his pride was equally obvious when he turned away from Khan and curled up on the far side of the bed. Khan almost laughed out loud as he blew out the candle and settled on the bed next to Kel. \n\nOn an impulse, he snuggled close to the pup’s back and drew him close in a protective hold. Kel whined a weak protest, but Khan growled a slow warning and he quit complaining: a pup had no recourse in the face of an alpha’s insistence. Deciding that the pup’s pride had taken sufficient blows for one day, Khan took no further liberties that night, and, when Kel evidently came to the same conclusion, he relaxed and snuggled down to sleep. Khan smiled and with an old soldier’s discipline, fell asleep himself. \n\nEvidently, Molla had come to the same conclusion Khan himself had the previous night, for when he woke, sunlight was merrily streaming in through the tiny crack between the window shutters. Molla had not awakened them as she’d promised...but then, the old mousewife always had been good at reading people. She would have seen that Kel would not be able to run. \n\nNext to him, the young black wolf was still asleep. His slender body was pressed tightly to Khan’s stockier frame and the warmth of his body soaked the bed and Khan’s fur. The larger wolf’s heart melted. He ran one paw gently along the length of Kel’s body, caressing the soft fur. Dear gods, he was beautiful! \n\nRegretfully, he drew away from him. Instinct warned him that it would be better if he was not nearby when the pup woke. Given his usual aversion to physical contact and his constant embarrassment concerning such commonplace actions as dressing, maybe it would be better if he woke alone, his dignity intact. \n\nThe night had not gone smoothly for Khan. With the object of his desire so close to him, his body constantly ached to have him. Not used to restraining his own lust and not even sure why he was doing so, the night had passed with acute discomfort. Kel’s every movement tormented him, yet he made no move to take him, and he wished to all the gods he knew why. \n\nHe’d joined a band of mercenaries at 14, fought in a dozen battles before he turned 18, lost his virginity…well, he hadn’t had his virginity anymore when he joined up. A dozen...a score…a hundred lovers passed through his bed until he lost count completely. Now here he was, 32 years old and unable to take a pup 12 years younger.\n\nHe shook his head and opened the door. Just outside, he found his clothes, clean and neatly folded, just as he knew they would be. He smiled and got dressed, then headed down for breakfast. True to form, there was Molla, bustling about serving breakfast to the late risers. She grinned a quick greeting and swiftly delivered a platter of bacon and a bowl of porridge, then plopped down beside him and hugged him. She hadn’t done that since he turned 18. He ducked his head, suddenly embarrassed and the old mousewife’s grin broadened. Khan grinned back and applied himself to breakfast while old Molla sipped her tea and chatted, catching him up on all the latest news. \n\nKhan listened with one ear, sifting information. There was nothing important there, which was surprising, considering the town’s reaction to his and Kel’s arrival. When next Molla stopped for breath, he interrupted her, and told her about what had happened, how the people had reacted. Molla nodded, and patted his hand.\n\n“Khan dear boy…it’s not that hard to understand. People know what Messengers mean. They pass from town to town swiftly and the only reason for a Messenger to pass through Temet is when they’re heading for Shiva. Things have been strange up there lately, and strange usually means disease. Those people built their city right close to the swamp. Too close. I’d need a dozen paws to count the number of strange illnesses that swept through there in my own lifetime. Nobody wants that down here, and all it takes is one swift Messenger. Especially now, when a dozen merchants heading that way went missing and no traffic came from there in well over a fortnight. People are frightened. True, we sit on the only direct trade route going into Galweland, but who’s going to use it if word got out that Shiva is devastated by disease? The overland route past Islewigh may be perilous, but at least you can avoid the swamp with its constant pestilence, and were that to happen, Temet will die. So you see why Messengers would be unwelcome.” \n\nShe held out one paw when Khan drew breath to speak. \n\n“No. Listen. There’s more. We’ve had…sightings. Sightings of strange creatures around the edges of the swamp, things that move like shadows, hardly glimpsed…what’s wrong?” \n\nKhan had rocked back, eyes wide with remembered terror. Shadows in the woods…moving swiftly. Moonlight on drawn steel…He drew a shuddering breath and smiled.\n\n“Nothing, Mo. Just…an old memory.”\n\nShe patted his hand sympathetically and, sensing that he needed time alone, she moved off on the pretext of berating a clumsy serving girl. \n\nShadows in the wood. He shuddered. And they were going in there tomorrow. A young pup on his first run and an experienced fighter to protect him and see to his finishing…No. No, not again.\n\nRight there. Right at that instant he understood. Dehelian, the sweet little amber-eyed fox had loved him. More. He’d understood him where Khan himself didn’t. \n\nKhan sat at the table and stared into his porridge. \n\nA little while later, Kel joined him. The pup was dressed in his usual leathers, but sans his weapons. He knew as well as Khan that he would not be running today, and Khan’s heart swelled with pride. The pup was mature well beyond his years.\n\n“Come,” he said when Kel finished his porridge and bacon. “We might as well take a look around town. It might be a while before we get a chance for leisure again, so we might as well use it.”\n\nHe smiled warmly, and Kel smiled back, his eyes still guarded, but less wary than the night before. \n\nThey got up, and Khan signalled Molla. She nodded, and the two wolves made their way outside into the bustle of the city. \n\n\tKhan stayed close by Kel’s side as they made their way slowly down the crowded streets. He watched carefully to be sure that he didn’t strain the muscles, but got enough exercise to prevent them stiffening. It was a fine balancing act, but one he was well accustomed to. They could not afford to stay more than a day or two. \n\nKel chattered animatedly as they more or less strolled along. Pained his hip may be, but there was nothing wrong with his spirits. He seemed recovered from whatever had disturbed him the night before. \n\nThey stopped at various stalls to examine the goods on offer. Khan watched with some amusement as the young wolf haggled with an ancient seller of charms for a blue crystal pendant set in brass. It wasn’t a stylish piece in Khan’s opinion, being a bit crudely fashioned from inferior metals, but Kel claimed that the crystal itself had certain spiritual properties that were apparently quite important. Khan didn’t argue with him, and they moved on. \n\nAt a booth three stalls over in between a vegetable seller and a street cobbler, Kel got two leather-bound books, to which Khan objected strenuously. He also bought a curious implement that Khan didn’t recognise. Khan gave up completely at that point.\n\nFor himself, Khan got a name tag made of polished steel, and Kel paid to have his name engraved on it. It wasn’t standard messenger practice, but he’d always liked the idea of having a tiny bit of identification on himself. Just in case. A lot of the older soldiers in Khan’s old band had had such tags. While the blacksmith’s apprentice took care of inscribing Khan’s name on the metal disk, the smith himself, a massive Friesian bull with a missing horn, took care of polishing the sword Khan had taken as a replacement. \n\nA stop at the tanner saw them walking off with a new scabbard for the fixed blade since the old one was curved and didn’t fit the new sword too well. They also got a new collar for Kel, one made of soft black leather into which Khan paid to have the crystal from the pendant set. It looked much more stylish, in Khan’s opinion, and Kel seemed to agree. The translucent blue crystal set off the young wolf’s aquamarine eyes perfectly and the silver clasp of the collar itself contrasted sharply with the midnight black of his fur. Enchanting!\n\nKhan got them lunch at one of the better food stalls – stuffed mushrooms on sticks and mystery meat pie that neither of them enquired about too closely. Still, it was perfectly spiced and went down well with ginger beer. \n\nKhan still wanted to replace his tattered work clothes, so they went to the tailors where his taste in clothes apparently horrified his young companion. Careful to hide his smile, he let Kel choose the colours. Still, Khan did insist on anything other than leather. He refused to wear leather. In the end, they compromised on sturdy cottons in softer shades of brown and green than Khan normally wore. All in all, Khan thought it was rather unfair of Kel to stuff him into such frippery, but he didn’t complain. \n\nKel got nothing there, and they moved on, more or less strolling through the wide streets, chatting idly. \n\nThis was new territory for Khan, not just such idle conversation, but also shopping. He’d never had anyone to shop with before, and certainly not one that talked as much as Kel. Not that he minded. His talk was soothing. Once he caught sight of the pup’s eye and noted the confusion; tender concern warring with cynical disbelief, and suddenly he knew, without knowing how he knew, that the pup had been hurt in the past. That he wanted very much to believe what he saw in Khan was obvious, but he just couldn’t.\n\nWell. He’d better do something about it.\n\n\tBack at Molla’s that night, he signalled expansively for her to bring them her best and the old mouse enthusiastically obeyed: tender cutlets of lamb, dumplings in vegetable stew thickened with blood and a dessert of such sweet delicacy - Mo flatly refused to name – it melted in their muzzles, all served with rich ale for Khan and cider for Kel. \n\nKhan’s eyes misted lightly when old Mo joined them at the table and regaled the youngster with tales from Khan’s mercenary days, when Temet was his company’s headquarters and The Night Owl the only place he felt safe. Embarrassing events: drunken nights and fights going bad. Gradually, Kel warmed to her and Khan faded into the background, leaving the room to make his preparations. Molla knew Khan well enough to know what he planned…and believed in him enough to have faith that maybe this time, Khan would stick with it. He prayed to Kel’s Kiyan gods that he wasn’t wrong. \n\nKel came up to their room later, his eyes shining brightly. Khan was waiting, sitting on the bed brushing himself. He glanced up when Kel entered and smiled when the pup paused in the doorway. Khan motioned for him to enter and began brushing his legs, leaving Kel with nowhere to go and no other choice but to do as he was told. \n\nPredictably, his ears went flat, but he entered and closed the door behind him. Khan held the brush out to him, a plain request that Kel groom him as Khan had done for him the night before, a request Kel dared not ignore. He took the brush and climbed onto the bed, settling in behind him. Khan kept perfectly still, leaving Kel to his own devices. \n\nEvidently unsure how to proceed, Kel tentatively started on Khan’s left shoulder. The brush immediately encountered a snarl. Khan stiffened with the sudden pain of pulled fur and Kel immediately stopped pulling. Instead, he started probing at Khan’s fur, searching for snarls before drawing the brush through Khan’s fuzzy white fur. When Khan failed to show any response to this, he continued with more confidence, probing and brushing. \n\nKhan stretched and leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees and murred softly. Behind him, Kel finished his back and moved closer so he could reach around Khan’s stocky body to his chest and belly. \n\nThis was the moment Khan had been waiting for. When Kel reached around him, he caught him by one arm and swiftly pulled him around and into his lap. Kel yelped with surprise, eyes wide with fright, but Khan’s paws gentled instantly, cradling his body in his arms. \n\nHe grinned and deliberately tickled his side, as if he’d done it on impulse. The pup giggled and squirmed, but Khan had him pinned. With a laugh, he tickled harder and soon he had Kel laughing helplessly and howling loudly for him to stop it. Soon, the two of them were rolling around on the floor, tickling each other and laughing helplessly. Kel put up a spirited defence, and was well on his way to victory when Khan cheated. At a moment carefully chosen, he licked Kel’s cheek gently and hugged him close. \n\nThis brought their play immediately to an end. Pinned beneath Khan’s greater weight, Kel stared at him in utter shock. Khan grinned at him and licked him again, right on his shiny black nose. Something akin to a murr escaped his lips, but changed to yips of laughter. Khan grinned broadly and let him up.\n\n\t“C’mon. We should get some sleep.” He jerked his head toward the bed and held out his paw toward Kel.\n\n\tKel blushed under his black fur, but came willingly enough. Khan threw back the covers and lay down, arms held out for Kel to join him. The pup did so without comment or complaint, and when Khan enfolded him in his arms, he snuggled close. They wriggled a bit to get comfortable, and eventually, Kel settled his muzzle and forehead against Khan’s chest. Before Khan could settle down properly himself though, Kel jerked his head up and licked him once on the side of his muzzle before settling back down. \n\n\tWith that single little gesture, and without fully realising that he’d done so, he stole Khan’s heart. The second awakening, and one much more precious because it was so unexpected. \n\n\t \n\n\tKhan sighed where he sat alone in the moonlight. Now was or wasn’t Kel interested in him? That second revelation had shown him that he wanted much more than he set out to get. He wanted the pup to be his mate. But did Kel think of him that way? True, they shared their blankets these days, but thus far, he’d shown not one hint of sexual interest. Was it just friendship, friendliness, that brought him to Khan’s bed? A simple need for comfort, or just a preference not to sleep alone? Was it simple obedience to an alpha’s will? He glanced at Kel to where he lay peacefully sleeping and relaxed. Ah, but he was worth it! If he could have Kel by his side for the remainder of his days, it would all be worth it. \n\n\tIf they ever made it out of the swamp alive. \n\nPart 2: Demons\n\nKel woke when Khan got up. As usual, the big arctic wolf was barely audible in his movements, but over the last few days, the young black wolf had grown accustomed to his ways. \n\nOut here in the hinterlands, he was barely recognisable as the erotic force he was back at the training facility. Kel had been warned about Khan by all and sundry…usually in the same breath as the fur or furre involved tried to seduce him into THEIR bed. It was incomprehensible. Was there no such thing as loyalty in this land? The Grand Masters back home had warned about that when he announced his intention to explore the lands beyond Kiy. No one had been happy about his decision, but as usual, he’d made up his own mind and no one argued once he made he made the official announcement. It was not the Kiyan way. \n\nIt was one of two rites of passage a young Kiyan might undertake: submission to a Grand Master for 3 months...or to spend a year beyond the borders of the homeland. Kel had chosen the latter.\n\n\tBack home, the kind of relationship Kel wanted was not possible. Furs mated with furres, not with other furs. His sexuality had caused him some heartache while growing up, and when he failed to change himself, he’d thrown his full weight and attention behind the advanced training program offered by the local masters. It was designed to change the flaw in him that wanted something so unnatural. \n\nThis too failed, and when his improbable love for a friend became too much to bear, he left to seek a quick death in a foreign land. \n\nInstead, he found a land where he could be himself…and against all probability, also somebody who wanted him, who was willing to take him. Yet...there was something inside of him that refused to accept it. \n\nHe just wasn’t sure what Khan wanted. The alpha was a hunter, a ravager and Kel…well, wasn’t. He was nobody’s bitch...and Khan only had bitches.\n\n\tKel feigned sleep as Khan moved away to sit on a stump. Out here, it was as if he was a completely different person. Back at the training facility Khan showed no signs of introspection, but out here when he thought Kel didn’t see, he sat and stared at the sand, or the stars, or the leaves of a tree, apparently just thinking. Out here, he had people who loved him, like old Molla the innkeeper. He had thoughts and feelings that he shared when Kel asked, and displayed an unexpectedly tender and playful side of him that Kel had never even suspected was there. \n\nHe shivered at the memory of Khan’s tender paws seeking his hurts, his rough tongue gently licking them clean…and that night when he’d caught Kel by surprise and just played a silly tickling game. What had prompted it, Kel didn’t know, but it had done wonders for his spirits. They’d sunk quite low since the battle. He’d never had to kill before, and it gnawed at him. \n\nHe dared to open one eye when Khan’s scent drifted to him on the evening breeze: hot fear-sweat, despair and pain. Heartache. Khan no doubt had his share of pain, just like Kel did. On an impulse, he rose and padded over to where the alpha sat in repose and laid a soft paw on his shoulder. Khan barked and jerked around, his eyes flashing. Kel yelped and jumped back from the murderous look in Khan’s eyes. \n\nThe second he recognised Kel, the white wolf’s eyed cleared to a look of apology. \n\n“I’m sorry, Kel,” he murmured softly and held out a paw toward him\n\nKel approached warily and took the offered paw in his, didn’t resist when Khan drew him gently into his lap. \n\n“I …had a bit of trouble sleeping,” the big wolf continued in a gentle tone of voice, and Kel relaxed. He let Khan hold him for a while, not daring to speak. This had been happening more and more often lately, Khan seeking opportunities to touch and hold him, and Kel had no idea what it meant. There was no doubt in his mind that Khan would take him to bed if he could - but he hadn’t tried. He’d had plenty of opportunities, but he hadn’t even hinted that he still wanted to. What did he really want?\n\nKhan was the puzzle that Kel understood least of all. The big wolf had tried everything he could to get Kel in bed back at the training facility, like it was some sort of game he was playing. Kel found that he rather enjoyed it. The attention was flattering, and the game itself was exciting. Khan was nothing if not consistent and predictable in his efforts. They must have worked for him before, but Kel had no intention of getting caught. He didn’t want to be somebody’s plaything. \n\nStill…he’d be lying if he didn’t admit he wished Khan would look at him with something other than pure, animal lust in his eyes. Looking dispassionately at him, Kel had to admit he was quite something: fuzzy white fur that fluffed out at the slightest suggestion of a breeze, that tangled when he slept and snarled when the air turned muggy. Stocky, muscular body with bunched, hard muscle artfully hidden by his fuzzy fur...No doubt it was the fur that added to his bulk more than pure muscle. Stubby, powerful limbs and a classically elegant head completed the picture. There was no doubt that Khan was an attractive male, especially when he levelled those darkly luminous eyes at you, his thin black lips quirked into a suggestive little leer...\n\nIt was the eyes more than anything that drew Kel’s attention. Luminous, well-shaped and shining like sapphire…yet they were dead and as empty as a bear’s belly at the start of spring. \n\nWhy would a male such as Khan be so empty? Kel never could find a reason, and getting close enough to Khan to get the answer directly from him would not be a good idea. So Kel avoided him whenever possible, playing the game, half hoping, half fearing that the big, sexy wolf would lose interest. But he did not. \n\nAnd now here they were, together…and yet Kel sensed a chasm between them, one that he was not sure he wanted to cross. The risk was just too great, and for what potential reward? Khan’s had lovers beyond counting.\n\nDoes he see me that way too? Kel wondered. Am I just another toy, a diversion? Do I want him to look at me differently? It was an unanswerable question. He wanted a mate, it was true, but could Khan be that mate? He just didn’t know.\n\nAt one time he’d thought Siba would be that mate…but it hadn’t happened. Siba liked females. He was also a bit…domineering, a bit too quick to step in and take charge, to protect what he perceived to be the weaker fur, an aspect that both attracted and repulsed Kel. He had his own strength, didn’t he? But some part of him had enjoyed it, letting Siba take charge of things. It had been that way through all their years growing up together and it would have been that way had they been mated…And, he finally admitted to himself, I would have hated it. \n\nStubborn, headstrong, self-reliant, proud and wilful. Those were the words his masters used to describe him. They were true, but they still caused rebellion to bloom darkly in his heart. That’s the way I am, and I’m not going to change! He grinned. That particular refrain had crossed his lips quite often when a Master criticised him. Balance, boy! They said. They’d also called him out on other matters: he was too empathic, too emotional, too guarded…always too much of everything! Goddess, he’d bitten back so many words back then. \n\nPoint was, Siba taking charge all the time would have grated on his nerves, would have rubbed them raw. He would have bitten back his words, following the advice of a Master to seek the flaw in himself that resented good advice and refused to obey any will but his own. Yet he’d wanted Siba to be in charge.\n\nJust not in charge of everything. You may lead me, but you can never own me, never dictate to my heart! \n\nAnd there it was! Such a simple thing: Lead me, but never own me. Respect me, don’t dictate to me. That was the reason he could never find peace in his own land. That was why he found Khan attractive. In spite of being senior in position and in years, the older wolf had never looked down on him. When he criticised, he gave detailed explanations for his reasoning, and allowed Kel to give his own reasons for his actions, even when he disagreed with them. With Khan, he could discuss things and really learn something. \n\nBut it was more than that. Khan understands! He lives it too, just like I do. It was true: Khan used his mind to get what his heart wanted, not what his head told him he could…or should want. The dictates of the outside world had never mattered to Khan as far as Kel could tell. His heart told him what was right and true, and he followed that, no matter what anybody else said. To find such a soul-deep similarity with somebody after so long…\n\nHe glanced up at the older wolf and was surprised to find him staring intently at him. Kel blushed, inexplicably embarrassed at the penetrating gaze Khan levelled at him. The older wolf grinned. For some reason, Kel’s heart leapt when he saw it; his own lips stretched into an answering grin. Khan responded with a chuckle, and soon they were both laughing. \n\nHeld tightly in Khan’s arms and laughing with him for no good reason, for the first time since leaving home, Kel felt good, really good. The comfort, acceptance and security he found in Khan’s embrace was unlike anything he’d ever encountered. Khan Fuzzywolf was suddenly, and for a single moment of clarity, the only thing in the world that had any meaning for Kel. His closeness answered a need he hadn’t known he had. His heart pounded, and when Khan licked his nose softly, his mind surrendered to the yearnings of his heart.\n\nI am here with him. He is touching me…holding me like he might a lover, a mate…do I want him to? Do I want it to be him? And from deep within him, an answer came from a heart that had known all along: yes! \n\nTrembling slightly and paralysed, he barely noticed when Khan swept him up and after a few steps, deposited him back in his rumpled blankets before settling himself down next to Kel. For a wild instant, Kel hoped he might take him right then…but he didn’t Instead, he covered the young black wolf in blankets and tucked him in, then drew his own bedding over him and only then did he consent to holding Kel against him. \n\nKel trembled. What was wrong with him? With both of them? Surely Khan must realise what had happened? Surely he must have caught the scent of Kel’s sudden desire…if it was at all possible that he’d missed the more physical evidence. He blushed. \n\nDesire was nothing new for him, but the fierceness of his need had overwhelmed him, the sudden desire to have Khan lie with him, skin to skin, to have him brush his paw lightly over his belly and down to his sheath…He shivered and tried in vain to suppress those thoughts. The speed with which his body had overridden his careful control frightened him. \n\nAt this point in time, he wasn’t sure he had the capacity to distinguish between love and pure, animal lust. He wanted Khan. He desired him. His heart said yes! His mind said...maybe. He knew what his people would say. He didn’t know what Khan wanted...\n\nSleep took its time in coming that night.\n\nNext to Kel, Khan too struggled to sleep for exactly the same reason. The scent of Kel’s arousal and the sight of his wolfhood straining against his tight-fitting pants nearly drove him wild with desire. It took a supreme effort of will not to take him right then...but the look of fear in Kel’s eyes, the confusion and the tension in his young body...All of that told Khan to wait. Ah, but it was hard! Gods, it was hard! \n\nHe chuckled, and looked down at himself, his own throbbing member painful with lust. \n\nWhy would Kel be so fearful of attention? There was a battle in him, a battle that Khan had no idea how to diffuse. That he wanted it was beyond doubt, but at the same time, there was this strange hesitation, this fear that kept him from acting on what he felt. Why he would feel that way, Khan didn’t understand. What he did know was that taking Kel now would damage any chance he had of having him as a mate.\n\nLike Kel, he spent the night in silent torment.\n\nLate the following day, roughly halfway through the swamp and close to the edge of the mountains bordering it, they came across the Shack. Some time ago, old Molla had established the Shack as a place for Messengers to dry out and rest. In Khan’s opinion, it was a godsent necessity rather than a luxury. The muggy swamp air and near-constant rain made travelling through this part of the swamp most unpleasant. \n\nThis late in the season, the temperature also plummeted. Heat by day, cold by night and everything constantly wet ensured that either wolf had any desire to linger here in this place. \n\nThe trail that led to the shack was covered in moss and slime and offered little traction for scrabbling paws. Vanis, the lone reptilian member of the Messengers had made Mo’s Shack his home several years previously and had never felt the need to improve it. Like Khan, the gecko had once been a mercenary, but now he served the Messengers in a different capacity.\n\nHis medicines were legendary for their efficacy…and he had this way with swamp-fish and spices that made any visit worthwhile, although few dared ask exactly how he managed to make it all edible. Vanis himself never touched it, preferring his food raw and swallowed whole. \n\nKhan smiled. This was always his favourite part of the whole ‘initiation run’. A visit to Vanis was an eye-opener to any new runner. The shack stood on sturdy stilts directly over the swamp water with a hang bridge connecting the front porch to the narrow pathway on dry – well, in a manner of speaking – ground. Round the back, a second, larger porch had been added. Here, Vanis spent hours molesting the various swamp denizens that went into the preparation of his odious medical concoctions – as well as his marvellous stews. \n\nA second hang bridge led deeper into the swamp and was lost in the mist. Back there, Vanis had built a second shack where he conducted all sorts of experiments. Khan had seen it once. Row upon row of sparkling clean glassware and other curious implements lined neatly constructed cabinets against the walls and several tables stood in precisely arranged patterns. Very clean and neat; the precise antithesis of the interior of his home. \n\nKhan smiled and kept his mouth shut as he led Kel toward the Shack with its invitingly smoking chimney. His tummy rumbled in anticipation. They rounded a corner and there it was!\n\n“Who would live here?” Kel exclaimed when the shack came into view. He blushed. “I mean…who would live here?” \n\nKhan grinned and watched his surprise with some pleasure. Gods, he was beautiful! Just adorable! Khan smiled broadly and bowed courtier style, from the waist, and indicated the entrance. \n\n“Welcome to the humble abode of Vanis, sneakiest of sneakers, and the best cook of whatever-it-is this side of yours truly. Super-scientist and the only Scaly in the Service. It’s his mission in life to study this place…and to make it safe for the rest of us to travel through. There’s not a disease in this swamp that he cannot cure, given sufficient time. Good friend too.” \n\nHe led the way toward the bridge, leaving Kel no choice but to follow. When he reached the bridge, he bellowed toward the strange house. “Vanis! Open your stupid door! Can’t you see there are weary travellers just dying for a taste of your soup?” With that, he pounded across the bridge. Kel followed cringingly while Khan hammered on the door. There was no answer. Khan waited a decent amount of time, then called again.\n\n “Vanis? C’mon lizard-face! It’s not THAT cold. Move that snaky ass of yours!” When he still got no answer, he shrugged and turned to Kel.\n\n“The old boy must be out on his island. Either that, or he’s out hunting. Either way, he’ll be back soon.” Turning back to the door, he pushed against it and nodded with relief when it opened without resistance. \n\n“He leaves his door open when he’s out?” Kel asked, eyes wide.\n\nKhan nodded. “Usually yes. He doesn’t keep anything of value in here. Just his pots and his bedding. Which is always available to anybody who asks. He never did have any use for locks.”\n\nThey entered, Khan in the lead. Inside, a fire burned cheerily in the fireplace, entertaining a happily bubbling pot on a tripod. Rumpled blankets lay strewn all over the place, mixed indiscriminately with equally rumpled rugs. In one corner stood what looked like an abandoned bird’s nest, but large enough to fit a furry body. It was lined with feathers and a mismatch of torn blankets and leaves and other soft things. Khan shuddered. Even after all these years, Vanis still flatly refused to use a proper bed. Still, back there a ways was the entry to the guest room. It was the only place in the whole house that was always kept scrupulously clean. Vanis himself might not much care for neatness, but he didn’t expect his guests to share his fascination with dirt, something Khan was intensely grateful for. He was tired of the dirt and sleeping next to Kel on a real, soft bed…ahhhh no! \n\nBetter not think of that. The mere thought tugged at his wolfhood, and Vanis would be merciless once he sensed it. It was one of his favourite pastimes, making fun of Khan’s rampant libido. Molla embarrassing him was one thing, but Vanis was something else. They were in different leagues entirely, although the teasing was no less affectionate. It was just that the Gecko’s sense of humour could best be described as…odd. Not to mention crude. He sighed happily and looked around. Kel was still outside, staring intently at something on the far side of the bridge and down the trail. \n\n“Kel!” he called. “Come on, love! It’s cold out!” Oh gods...\n\nThe moment the word left his muzzle he regretted it. \n\nKel jerked around, surprise writ large in his luminous eyes. Surprise and…just maybe, a hint of joy? Of hope? Khan shook his head as Kel came inside and closed the door behind him. The pup’s expression was thoughtful, far away. \n\nKhan shook himself, grateful for Kel’s distraction. \n\n“Listen, I’m going out to fetch Vanis. I see his back door is also unlocked. Means he’s out there in his lab. The old fool sometimes forgets he has food on the fire when his mind latches on to something. He even forgets that this cold is not good for him. Make yourself at home. I’ll be back soon.”\n\nKel nodded distractedly and absentmindedly began cleaning up the messy room. \n\nKhan smiled and watched him affectionately for a while. It was so like his young love to automatically applying himself to one problem while handling another. Khan had noticed that whenever Kel needed time to think, his paws searched for something to do. \n\nHe chuckled. Well, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to have Vanis ream him for packing his stuff away. Vanis had a SYSTEM…or so he always insisted. \n\nHe turned away and left, closing the door behind him, and trudged his way carefully over the rotting timber of the bridge toward Vanis’s island retreat.\n\nKel watched from the single window in the back of the shack until Khan disappeared in the mist, then resumed cleaning up the messy room. Simple physical labour helped him to relax and focus his mind on other, more pressing problems. If it wasn’t so cold out, he’d do a training routine. The fluid movement of his body never failed to release his mind from the mundane world, and Goddess knew he needed to focus. \n\nThere was something strange going on here, something on the breeze…the scent of death, a feeling of cold that had nothing to do with the temperature. It had been tugging on his mind ever since entering the swamp. There was something…a presence…an awareness of evil…not of darkness, but the complete absence of anything good. Something that craved chaos, control…something with an insatiable need, a hunger that could result only in suffering. \n\nKel’s heart wrenched inside him. Whatever it was was hopelessly insane. It was driven beyond hope, beyond even despair until it was only a slavering thing forever looking to satisfy a hunger that could never be sated. Its overpowering will was all it had left, and it fed on its own rage and hatred, forever looking for release that it no longer even understood. A spirit-being, tormented and torn to shreds, had made its home here, and its presence infected every creature, every stone in the swamp.\n\nWas this the reason Khan feared the swamp? Ever since they left Molla’s inn, Khan seemed withdrawn, jumpy, worried. He’d certainly been reluctant to enter the swamp. His forced cheer proclaimed far louder than words that something was wrong; evasion and deception were not skills that that Khan was an adept of. The very fact that he had tried worried Kel more than anything. Worse, it had hurt. \n\nWhy would Khan not tell him the reason the swamp frightened him? It certainly frightened Kel! And if there was a reason to be afraid, then he certainly had the right to be told. He was in the swamp too. His own life was also threatened.\n\nHe glanced at the door Khan had left through. It was so transparently obvious. Khan was out there not just to look for his friend, but also to once again face his fear…and he’d left Kel at the safest place he could think of. That protectiveness was something new, something Khan had never done before…and something that made Kel want to shout with joy…as well as rage. \n\nHe’d proven himself. There was no need for Khan to protect him…indeed, by going out there alone he proved that his judgement was shot: one simply did NOT go out into an unknown situation when one had a partner, especially if said partner didn’t know what they were up against. The whole situation just felt wrong to Kel. What Khan faced was obviously an old fear…but considering what Kel felt about this place, he wasn’t so sure that it was unjustified. There was definitely something here, something menacing and hostile to…to life itself!\n\nKhan should have told him…should have trusted him! Khan’s lack of trust in him hurt. It hurt unexpectedly badly. \n\nKel sat back and watched the flames flickering under the pot, rose to stir the stew and pottered about aimlessly, straightening rugs, folding blankets. The evil he felt pressed down heavily on him. Finally, when his brooding and the pervading sense of doom grew too much, he sought sanctuary in ritual. Communing with the gods never failed to refresh his soul. \n\nHe sat down cross-legged on the floor and touched the blue crystal that Khan had had set in his collar. Instantly its energy flowed through him, strengthening him. Years of practice let him slip into his trance quickly and without undue difficulty. Drawing heavily on the crystal, he threw up a personal barrier; a protective shield of energy to keep evil at bay, a place where he could commune with the gods. \n\nIt took an unexpectedly long time for him to establish contact with his guide, an ancient goddess once worshipped by a race of humans that had long since moved on. Kel had found her while searching for his first guide. The tranquillity of her spirit was a balm to his own turbulent soul, and the path she walked never failed to inspire: Benzai-Ten, protector-spirit of her people…of anybody who chose to honour her. \n\nKel cast his call forth into sacred space and waited for her to respond. It took a while and he was beginning to tire before he felt the gentle brush of her awareness enter the sphere of energy he’d created. Kel smiled and opened his eyes…and there she was, sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of him, as real as any other object in the room.\n\nShe smiled her greeting, and Kel lowered his eyes and ears with respect and exhaustion. \n\nExotically slanted eyes regarded him frankly, concern shining in their black depths as she reached out one hand and tilted his head up to meet her gaze. Once more Kel was struck by her alienness. Her features were human, yet not. Strange. Stranger still that a human goddess should accept furry worship, yet she did. Her acceptance meant a lot to the young fur. Her lips quirked to a smile, as if reading his thoughts. \n\nKel relaxed. \n\n“That’s better, “ she said, and Kel smiled. As always, her perceptions were spot on. \n\n“You look tired, young wolf, “ she continued, sympathy brimming in her eyes.\n\nHe nodded. “I am. This place…there is evil here. I…felt the need for sanctuary.” He blushed at the half-truth and the goddess laughed and touched his muzzle. Of course she could see the other reason for his call.\n\n“Ah, dear Kelen! There is evil here yes, and it will bring you much grief. But this evil you can handle. Your power is sufficient. That hulk of a wolf you run with knows enough to get you through…if you work together.” \n\nShe tilted her head mischievously to one side and grinned wickedly. \n\n“But you already know that. Don’t worry. You’ll do fine! What you really called me for was some advice about that Fuzzywolf, yes?” \n\nShe laughed when he blushed, but sobered quickly. More seriously, she continued. \n\n“Kel…he must tell you. You must get him to tell you what he knows about this place. It is but one part of a much larger puzzle, but one which will be instrumental to…something else. Without it, you will never survive…and the future will be bleak.”\n\n She regarded him levelly, and her eyes softened. \n\n“Kel…it will be hard for you…and for him. Especially for him. You cannot know the demons he faces. He will need you. Much sooner than you think. The threat you face is also far greater than you know, greater than one mad spirit and a few of Khan’s demons. If I could, I’d tell you more, but even for one such as I much of the future remains clouded. Occasionally though…a person may be born with such strength of purpose that the way narrows to only a few possibilities, and spirits such as I may act to secure the future we most want to see.” \n\nKel drew breath to speak, but she forestalled him by commandingly holding up one hand, demanding silence. Kel obeyed, and subsided. \n\n“Other spirits will do the same, try and push events down a certain tine in the fork, and others will resist, often by killing those who are important to a certain future occurring. I tell you this because you have a part to play in it. Your actions will help to secure a future for your kind.”\n\nKel shook his head confusedly. \n\n“But…what future? If there are so many tines the future can go to…how can you know which of them will be the right one for us? How far can you travel down the path? How….” He swallowed hard. “I mean…if you want one future and another seeks some other outcome…then…what do you require of us? You’ve never told me what you wanted of me.” \n\nHe flushed, ears plastered to his head with embarrassment. \n\nFor the first time since he encountered her, the goddess lowered her eyes in sadness. When she looked at him again, pain clouded her eyes, and etched her face with deep lines. \n\n“I will you tell you a secret: I have wandered far down the paths of the future, and in very few of them do your kind exist. In fewer still do you live in peace with humanity. I found maybe a dozen in which this peace was lasting, and only one that did not achieve this peace without the loss of billions of lives, and the sacrifice of millions of souls. Only one future in which Islewigh did not prevail at some point. One of the futures I saw showed Islewigh’s dominance endure forever. That path lies before us now. If you do not survive, and if some others fail, we will face a future in which Islewigh will come to dominate not only this world, but the whole of creation. However, if it can be averted now, then at least there is a chance it can be defeated later.”\n\nKel stared at her in horror. The implications were more than his mind could cope with. He…and a few others were all that stood in the way of Islewigh forever controlling the fate of the universe? The goddess also implied that sacrifices would need to be made…and that he, Kel, would be one of those from whom it would be extracted! \n\nHe looked her straight in the eye, and saw the truth reflected there: loss will be yours, and pain and horror. He saw the regret there…and the steely determination to do what was needed, whatever the cost. His heart clenched within him as dread certainly settled over him. He yipped and jerked around, but froze as the goddess seized his paw in her hand and held him rooted to the floor. \n\n“No!” her voice snapped, crackling with power. “What is happening now must happen if your kind is to survive!”\n\n“No! No!” Kel cried, struggling to rise, to run to Khan’s aid. “Let me go! I must go!” But the goddess would not let him go. Ancient pain wept from her eyes as she held him down, a grief that warred openly with the pain of what her actions were doing to her young worshipper. \n\nKel struggled violently, his trust in the goddess overridden by an overwhelming need to be with Khan right now, by the certain knowledge that he would not care to live if Khan was dead. He screamed and shouted and wept and cursed the goddess that held him in her power, and eventually she let go. \n\nWeeping, and knowing it was already too late, he stumbled out the back door and onto the rickety bridge. Tears blurred his eyes and he struggled to breathe through grief-stricken sobs. Three…and then four paces brought him face to face with eyes every bit as dead as he’d feared. \n\nBlood lay pooled on the floor inside the shack, darkened and clotted. No amount of scrubbing would ever remove it from where it had soaked into the wood. Bloodied blankets lay strewn everywhere and bottle after bottle stood uncorked on the single remaining table, evidence of their efforts to save Vanis. Now the lizard lay curled up in his messy bed, neatly arranged by gentle paws.\n\nKel watched sadly as Khan stood forlornly over his dead friend, vainly holding on to a lifeless paw. Dead eyes saw nothing of his surroundings. Shock. Kel knew the signs. A shudder ran through Khan’s body as he collapsed to his knees and wept. \n\nThere was nothing he could do, no words he could speak to comfort Khan. Truth be told, one was never as alone as when faced with pain. To avoid his own helplessness, Kel ran over his memories of the past several hours. \n\nFour steps out the door, he’d run into Khan as he carried Vanis’s bleeding body toward the house. He had no idea how long he’d struggled against Benzai-Ten, except that it was full dark outside when Khan brushed past him and deposited Vanis’s lacerated body on the table. \n\nThe cuts were deep and expertly delivered to ensure a slow and painful death. One glance was enough to realise that Vanis was beyond help but he’d nevertheless struggled right there beside his distraught partner to try and save his life. There was nothing else to do. The despair in Khan’s eyes forced Kel to work just as hard as he could, but inexorably, Vanis’s life had ebbed away with every slow beat of his heart, and when, with his last breath, he drew Khan to him and whispered in his ear, the despair turned to insane rage. Smashed tables and chairs offered plain evidence of his pain. Afterward, Khan had driven him from the house with vile imprecations, and proceeded to arrange Vanis’s body on the bed, in neat repose. Now he stood there, a lit torch in one hand and a pale, dead paw in the other. \n\nKel turned away. His own fur was matted with blood and tears, but it hardly registered with him. Instead he saw the wounds the unfortunate gecko had suffered. No sword had made those cuts. They were far too clean, too precisely delivered. Not even a suicidal fur would stand perfectly still to allow himself to be butchered. No, Vanis had put up a fight, judging from the number of small cuts and bruises on his hands and face. Nothing alive could move fast enough to deliver those cuts with such exacting precision, not with the scaly defending himself.\n\nWhatever had killed Vanis, it was neither human nor furry. This meant but one thing. Benzai-Ten had told him that they were up against Islewigh. If that was true, then it meant that the sorcerer-priests of that accursed land had revived the black arts, and were once again forging beasts from the shredded souls of living victims. More…that they had sent these creatures into the lands occupied by human and furry alike. \n\nBenzai-Ten was right. They HAD to survive. The Baron had to be warned. \n\nHe glanced back inside. Khan too had suffered a number of cuts, and had flatly refused to let Kel tend them. Some were still oozing blood, causing Kel some concern about blood loss. Khan was already in shock. Add battle lust and exhaustion to that and you had trouble. He’d have to watch him very carefully. \n\nFinally, Khan got up and tossed the torch onto the bed, and watched as the fire greedily spread itself over the dried twigs and blankets. Within seconds, the entire bed was engulfed in flame, and within minutes, the fire had spread to one wall. Black smoke rose in clouds, finally driving Khan from the shack. \n\nHe came to stand beside Kel and watched. First, the roof caved in, leaving only the skeletal remains of the roof supports. As the walls weakened, these too crumbled. Sparks hissed as they hit the water, until at last, the floor could no longer support the weight of the ashes and collapsed into the water. Great clouds of steam erupted in hissing clouds as the swamp claimed another victim and swallowed its remains into its murky depths. Only the stilts remained, and with no one to care for them, soon they too would rot and fall away, leaving nothing...\n\nKhan watched until the last bit of steam evaporated, and the sounds of the swamp returned to normal. Without a word, he picked up his pack. and set off at a steady lope down the path that would eventually lead them out of the swamp. \n\nKel felt like crying as Khan sped past him. He didn’t look left, or right, and didn’t acknowledge his young partner in any way. \n\nNever in his life had Kel felt more alone, abandoned. \n\nIt didn’t take long for the tension and blood loss to get to Khan. He knew it was a bad idea to run in his condition, and he knew that young Kel deserved a bit more compassion from him, but right at that moment, the only thing he could see was the face of Vanis. Eyes dull with death, his vitality forever locked up in a husk of decay. It was too much to bear. Besides Molla, Vanis was the only person that Khan had ever cared about. Vanis was the brother of his heart…the only other surviving member of his old band. Besides himself, Vanis was the only other who had seen what had happened that night. They were the only two who still remembered young Dehelion. \n\n He glanced at Kel. The pup was in bad shape. He looked exhausted and frantic with worry for his partner. Much like Khan himself, Kel was covered in gore. Yet his eyes remained alert, watching both the trees and his partner with equal attention. Khan dismissed him from his mind…and a moment later, his overwrought mind and body called a halt and he collapsed.\n\nGrey eyes turned toward him as he stepped inside the shack. Just for an instant, the gecko looked toward the door, and three shadows flitted from where they had been hidden. The scaly brown and green mottled muzzle opened to shout a warning, but Khan had already seen the sick horror in the grey depths. He’d seen the warning in the gecko’s eyes and his swords were out of their sheaths before the shadows had time to close the distance. Beside him, Dehelian too drew his sword. Kel’s quick paws already had his knives poised for throwing. Silvery blades whipped forward. It was too late. They were too late! \n\nVanis died even as he shouted for Khan to stay away. Three creatures. Three deadly, efficient strokes, and the lizard lay bleeding on the floor. \n\nThe shadows disappeared. Khan knew what was coming next. He shouted frantically for Dehelian and Kel to form a circle. They had to have each other’s backs. Kel answered his call, his voice calm. In an instant, Khan had the comforting presence of the quick black wolf at his back. Dehelian too answered, but his voice quivered. Excitement always got the better of him. It was his one great flaw as a warrior. Khan barked for him to pay attention.\n\nThe shadows circled, their thin blades whirling around them at blinding speed. As one, they rushed at them. Kel’s blades flashed out and missed. The shadows were too fast. He turned toward Khan... \n\nTime slowed. A single blade came out of nowhere. There were four of them! Four! Kel! \n\nToo late. The blade drank deeply of the young wolf’s blood and his guts spilled from the gash in his belly. His lovely eyes clouded over with pain and horror…and reproach. \n\nWhy, Khan? They asked. Why didn’t you love me? \n\nBut I do love you! He begged, and cradled the dying body of his young love in his arms. Gods, please! Let me die! But instead of him, Dehelian died. \n\nHe’d forgotton! He’d forgotten the fox he was supposed to protect. He should have looked after him, should not have let his mind wander...\n\nHe howled. Blind rage erased all thought from his mind. Loss and pain burned every thought of survival from his soul. His sword flashed and sliced into flesh and bone, but there was nothing there! Nothing visible! On the ground, Vanis gurgled. \n\nNo...no...it didn’t happen that way...it didn’t...it...couldn’t...\n\nThe flash of a sword alerted Khan and he ducked, just in time, but not quite fast enough. A sword glanced off his shoulder. He howled and struck out madly but the creatures were gone again, disappeared into thin air. There was no fighting them! \n\nFrom out of nowhere, a kick struck him in the gut and he collapsed, and several more rained down on his back and ribs. His sword claimed at least one more invisible life, and the one remaining creature fled. Khan tried to rise, his vision red with rage, but he was too weak. He retched violently as his abused stomach rebelled and collapsed. He howled…and back at the shack he heard the enraged shrieks of...Kel?\n\nGoddess no! Kel! Vanis! Oh,gods! \n\nHe howled again in pure frustration, and dragged himself to his paws, hauled Vanis onto his shoulder and made his way as best he could toward the hut. Kel…oh no! Kel! He collapsed again and nearly lost Vanis over the edge of the bridge but managed to hold on. When he could no longer walk, he crawled, dragging Vanis behind him. The shrieks from the shack grew more and more frenzied, then changed to sobbing and begging incoherently. What were they doing to him? KEL! Khan tried to call, but found that he didn’t have the strength. He bled and must have passed out. When he came to, Vanis was at death’s door, and the hut was silent. He gnashed his teeth and hauled Vanis to his shoulder, moments before the door burst outward and there was Kel, his face ravaged by grief. Their eyes met and in an instant, grief turned to joy. Vanis…Oh no… \n\nHe jerked awake. Night had fallen, and his shoulder was stiff. Stiff as in almost completely immobile. It was warm and…and there were no green eyes watching him. Kel…?\n\nHe looked around and spotted Kel standing watch at the edge of the clearing. The fire had burned low, and like a good sentry, Kel was facing away from the smouldering embers into the dark, preserving his night vision. Ah, poor pup! This would be his second night awake. \n\nKel. He’d stood beside him knowing that Vanis would die, set aside his own needs and looked after Khan’s…when Khan should have looked after him. \n\nI should have told him…\n\nHe sat up and called softly. Kel turned and with eyes all wary, stepped gingerly toward him. Khan winced and held out a paw like he had that first night when Kel came to comfort him. An offering of peace, a silent apology. A tentative smile tugged at the pup’s lips and he grinned back. Yes, Kel. I’m back…\n\nKel took his outstretched paw and, like last time, Khan drew him into his lap and nuzzled him. There was much to be said between them, and even more to be decided. It did not take a genius to figure out that tonight would be a reckoning between them, and suddenly Khan was nervous. If he was going to win his prize, it would have to be now, tonight. But I’m not ready for this, dammit! There was so much more I’d planned to do first…\n\n“Khan…?” Kel murmured tentatively when Khan made no moves, and stirred restlessly in his arms, worried. Khan tightened his embrace briefly, hugging Kel to him. Heartsick and torn, he steeled himself, and murred softly. It had to come sooner or later. Might as well be now. \n\n“Mmm?” He loosened his grip on Kel, wishing with all his heart that this moment had not come. Maybe it hadn’t…maybe…\n\n“Khan…what happened? Back there, I mean. With Vanis?”\n\n…but it had. Khan lowered his ears and drew back his lips, searching for words and knowing that there was nothing he could say that would make them sound in any way rational…or even sane. What he’d seen could not possibly exist, and telling Kel would not make it real. But it was real. He’d seen it twice now. Gods in heaven, he wished he hadn’t! \n\nThe oppressive silence grew agonising. Kel stirred restlessly in his embrace, trying to meet his eyes, but Khan avoided them. He knew what they’d show: concern, doubt…maybe even pity. For the first time in his life, his courage was insufficient for the task ahead of him.\n\n“Khan…please. Talk to me. I got a good look at those wounds. You and I both know there was no way they were inflicted by anything natural. Not with the defensive wounds he had. Those cuts were too clean, too precisely delivered. You know what it’s like in battle. When you’re attacked, you strike back anywhere you find an opening, not so precisely, with such finesse. You know what happened, don’t you? You saw it before. Ever since we entered the swamp, you’ve…acted differently.” He paused, and stroked Khan’s arm where it was wrapped around him.\n\nKhan started. Kel had never touched him before…except for that one night, when he’d reached for him, offering comfort. He’d snarled at him then…but that hadn’t deterred the pup one little bit. He’d stood his ground, placed his trust in his partner and accepted an evasive explanation. He’d been patient, waiting for him to open up...to return that trust…Gods, I should have told him before now! \n\n“Please, Khan. Talk to me. Don’t shut me out!” \n\nAh Kel! Khan squeezed his eyes shut. The pup was actually pleading with him, begging to be let in. The weight of years settled into his bones, turning them to lead. He sagged under the weight of conflicting needs and years of struggle. With Vanis dead, there was no way to prove his words. He wasn’t sure he had the strength to face any more doubt. \n\nAnd yet…Kel had the right to know…and there was the added weight that shutting him out now would irreparably harm their developing relationship…That was the one thing Khan desperately did not want to happen. He smiled ruefully. Kel had him caught. He sighed and shifted position, dislodging Kel from his lap. The pup yipped with surprise…and hurt; expecting rejection. Ah! So THAT was the problem…! He fears his own feelings! With this new insight into Kel’s behaviour, Khan planned his next move…\n\nHe drew himself to his knees, and helped Kel up, indicating for him to sit opposite. Eyes wide, Kel did as he was bid. From the corner of one eye, Khan watched him but refused to meet his eyes, and started to talk. Tonight, he would bare his soul in ways that no one had ever seen…not even Molla. Not even Vanis. \n\n “Ten years ago. We were working a war for some city up on the other side of the swamp. They’d sent my company and me out to camp in the swamp. We were to hold ourselves in reserve. Their army was supposedly going to drive the opposing force into the swamp where we were to destroy them.” \n\nHe laughed harshly. “We told them it wouldn’t work. No right-thinking general would lead his force into the swamp if he could possibly help it. He’d rather take his troops to the plains east of Shiva where it would take overwhelming numbers to win a decisive victory. You’d also need overwhelming numbers to force an army into the swamp. So either way...there would be no battle in the swamp. But we were getting paid in gold, so we did as we were told. We made camp in this gods-forsaken place and waited. \n\n“Dehelion…he was a youngster still in training…I…I was assigned as his chaperone, as it were, his big brother. My job was to keep him out of trouble while he was still in training. Back then, there was no shortage of young furs with a taste for adventure…who thought that war was adventurous. Goddess! Such fools. But Dehelion was a quick study. He picked things up remarkably fast…”\n\n“You slept with him.” Amused outrage dripped from the pup’s voice. Khan glanced up, eyes glinting mischievously. A smile tugged at Kel’s lips, helpless amusement at Khan’s antics. He took Kel’s paw in his, and nodded.\n\n“Yes. I did. More than once. Basically every night for three weeks. He…He was a sweet boy Kel, just two years younger than I at the time. One night, he was out keeping watch. I’d left him by then of course, taken another lover. He never complained, never tried to revive things between us. Anyway, that night, he was keeping watch. The captain warned us about some kind of creature circling the camp, but none of us took him seriously. Animals just didn’t do that. \n\n“We assumed it was enemy spies…or our employer checking up on us. Wouldn’t have been the first time they did it, and…most of the night had been quiet anyway. We weren’t expecting any kind of attack. Why would we? Only an idiot would try attacking in the swamp at night. There was no room to move and only the one path in or out.” \n\nHe grinned. \n\n“Many of us saw sentry duty as a chance for some romances. I’d traded duties with another, exactly for that reason. Dehelion…we were no longer an item but I figured we could have some fun. I remember…it was a full moon. He looked so pretty there in the moonlight, sitting on a stump, brushing his fur. But then, foxes always look pretty, don’t they? I remember thanking him for some small courtesy he’d performed earlier and offered to walk him back, but he declined, joked he didn’t need looking after anymore.”\n\nKel stirred uncomfortably at that, and Khan grinned. Oh, the pup was proud! Khan well knew that his pride had been wounded by his earlier protectiveness. Kel didn’t like the idea that he might need to be looked after and protected. And of course, he didn’t, Khan had to concede. It really had been a bad mistake to leave him behind, and not one he was sure he understood the motive of. Perhaps it was just instinct. Heavens knew he’d acted on that often enough!\n\n“He was just like that, “ he continued, still smiling, “…always joking, laughing, making everybody around him feel good. I’d been with him for longer than with anyone before him, but that badger…she was something else! Anyway…\n\n“He reported seeing some sort of animal moving in the undergrowth, just circling. That was the first time I took the reports seriously. I’d trained him myself after all, so I knew he wasn’t starting at shadows. He told me that no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn’t seem to focus on it. I asked him to show me where he’d heard it and he showed me an area maybe twenty feet away. We looked, really looked for some sign but there was nothing, so we assumed it was something small, maybe an otter or a jackal. Something large enough to be a threat would be seen if it came that close, so we assumed we’d simply missed the tracks.”\n\nHe paused and looked at Kel. The pup sat where Khan had indicated, on his knees with his butt resting on his calves. Ears pricked and alert, he looked the image of a studious youngling focused on what the teacher was saying. There was no hint of disbelief, condemnation or pity; he was simply listening. The trust in his green eyes very nearly undid Khan. Involuntarily, his wolfhood responded to the rush of affection he felt for Kel at that moment. He shifted uncomfortably and continued. \n\n“I told him to report directly to the captain, along with my recommendation that we increase the number of sentries and light fires to keep the animals…whatever they were…at bay. Dehelion agreed instantly and sprinted away, but seconds later he returned. He’d spotted some of the shadow things behind our lines. I went with him. Didn’t take long to spot them. They were all around us, beings moving like shadows, flitting here and there, appearing and disappearing at will. It was impossible to track their movements. I knew then that we were in trouble. They kept circling close by, but we could never see them. Just the flashes of their blades in the moonlight. We made a dash for it…but didn’t get far. I don’t know how they did it, but somehow we kept ending up where we started.” \n\nKhan stopped, lost in memory. The moon was out but hung too low in the sky to be much use as a navigation beacon. The paths in the swamp that their trackers had marked were all clearly visible. There was no reason for getting lost, and yet they had. Both of them had memorised the sequence of beacons, and they’d both unhesitatingly taken the correct path, yet each time they ended up at the stump where Del had been grooming. He always made sure that he had a couple of landmarks of his own, just to be sure but even that had failed him. He knew fear for the first time in his life; real, gut-wrenching fear. \n\n“Khan…?”\n\nKhan took the paw that Kel offered him in his own and stroked the soft fur, watched Kel’s wary eyes soften slightly. \n\n“Sorry, love.” He squeezed the paw, but kept holding it as he continued. \n\n“I knew then that we would never get out alive. I remember…I was terrified but as the same time so angry, that these creatures, whatever they were, could herd us like animals. At that point…I guess I lost my head a bit. I decided to stand my ground and Dehelion…he opted to join me. I told him to keep close, keep his back to me so we could at least see them coming…but I never did. They were all around us, I have no idea how many. Shadows flicked through the trees and undergrowth. There was no way to focus on just one. I tried my best to find a target, but…I never did. Behind me, Del was trying just as hard. I could smell his fear. \n\n“Finally…I guess we just got too tired…we lost focus. Just for a moment, a single instant. I turned slightly too far, lost sight of Del and he…he turned toward me, maybe to remind me to pay attention, I don’t know. I lost sight of him for maybe a second, but it was enough. The next moment, he was gutted from behind, sliced across the belly and stabbed twice in the back. Quick, efficient killing blows that I never even saw coming. I felt his warmth at my back disappear…and the spray of his blood on my fur. He never so much as cried out…never had the chance to. I turned back…but it was too late. They were gone. The shadows were gone as if they’d never been, and there was Del, struggling to rise. I remember his eyes…so wide and so very blue, just staring at me. So strange, so…so vulnerable, as if asking me what the hell had happened? So soft…He…he reached out once and I knelt by his side, tried to look over his wound. His guts lay spilled around his feet. Guess he saw his death in my eyes. He gave me that look…I took him in my arms and he smiled. He smiled. And died. Right there, still looking at me, as if…as if…” \n\nHe foundered to a stop, and suddenly Kel was there, right there next to him, skin to skin, holding him tightly. Like a drowning fur, Khan clung to him. \n\n“He loved you, “ the pup said, and Khan nodded.\n\n“Yes. Yes, he did. And I never saw it. I never really cared. But his face…the look in his eyes…it haunted me, for years until I understood. Until you made me understand.” He relaxed his grip as Kel drew away, his green eyes wide with surprise and fear. Khan smiled reassuringly and let him go. Ah! So I was right! He doesn’t believe I could love him. Ah, pup! How wrong you are! Kel retreated back into his pose of intent concentration and Khan continued, telling Kel about the aftermath, his mad dash through the swamp, how he made it back only by chance, how he made his report, time and again, to a dozen different people about what had happened that night, about the death of Dehelion. \n\nSo had a score of others like him. Del had not been the only casualty that night. Twenty three others had shared his fate, in exactly the same way: two furs together, one died, and one survived. Terror had swept through the camp when the survivors came stumbling in, some insane with fear and disbelief and sheer horror. Some recovered…most didn’t. Desertion became rampant and the Captain took strict action against the remainder…The fool had actually tried to hold them at their posts when so many of their own had died just like that, for no reason, and in such a bizarre fashion. Fighting furs could take anything. Anything except the unknown. They were pragmatic folk: they’d seen it all and never expected to see anything new. There was no death that they did not know intimately, and had spat on countless times, dared to take them; but this…It was one thing to die by the blade, by fire or by arrow, but to be cut down by some unseen force…that was more than many could accept. \n\nIn the end, they’d killed the Captain, and the company broke apart, never to reform. Many, like Khan, returned to the ways of the blade, and fought bloody battles, daring death, indulging themselves at every opportunity. Others never touched the sword again. Even Vanis, the untouchable one, the pillar of stability, could not distance himself from it. To him, the swamp became an irresistible lure to which he constantly returned, and eventually made his home. Khan understood his need, and had visited him to help him in his search when he found the courage to do so. So few believed them when they related their tale, and many mercenary companies refused to take on those who had once been known as the Red Devils. And then…then the Baron came, and everything changed.\n\n“Last night…I’d told Vanis so many times to get out of the swamp, that whatever had killed our friends could still be out there, but he refused. I guess in some obscure way he wished he’d been one of the dead ones. Vanis was strong…but of us all, he was the least well-equipped to deal with this. Survivors’ guilt, you know. He spent his life studying the swamp and all the ways it could kill you, and beat it every time, when what he really wanted was for it to kill him. I doubt even he knew that this was his goal. It never showed, this black depression of his. All of us…those of us who’d seen the attack and remained sane…tried to get him out, but he refused.” \n\nHe sighed. “Kel…I’m the last one. The others…they all died, fell in battle, jumped off buildings…or just plain disappeared. With Vanis gone...there is no one else to remember the twenty four furs who died that day. The sad thing is that no one knows why they died…or believed how they died. And now…now Vanis joined them, cut down in the same way the others were…and I was spared a second time. If only I knew why, or what, or how…just something! Why do they emerge now, after all these years? Molla told me that over the last few months, no traffic had made it out of the swamp. People fear disease, but…well, I know it was not. It was them, these shadow beings….Kel? What’s wrong?”\n\nThe young black wolf looked down, hiding his eyes from Khan. He knew that the big wolf would see his terror. His feelings for the big wolf couldn’t be denied. The developing closeness would soon demand its due. He wanted Khan. But there was still another fear...\n\nFrom where he sat across from Khan, Kel could feel the life pulsing inside the other male. He could see the darkness, and the stifled light that was just beginning to emerge within him. He could see the roiling coils of potential that snaked through his spirit. The goddess’s words echoed in his head: “If you work together”. One option. One chance. All or nothing.\n\nTrust him or die. Trust him and die. \n\nPart 3: Battle\n\n“Kel?”\n\nKel flinched and almost jerked back when Khan’s paw touched his muzzle and gently tilted his head up. Terrified, but unable to resist the tender, even loving touch that he’d wanted for so long, the young wolf clenched his eyes shut.\n\nSomehow sensing his distress, Khan only draws him close and held him.\n\n“Hey...talk to me. It’s okay.”\n\nKel shook his head. His body remained rigid against Khan’s. He felt his back being caressed and smiled at the irony, that Khan of all furs would be so unselfishly trying to comfort him, when Khan himself was the source of his distress. \n\nHe was so warm...so soft...\n\n...I’m so tired...\n\nTrust him or die. Trust him and die...maybe. Probably...\n\nThe turmoil in his mind was nothing to the desire in his heart. \n\nKhan’s arms wrapped around him. Strong but gentle...\n\nHe could kill you. If he knew.\n\n...protective and comforting...\n\nHe loves me.\n\nHe didn’t trust you.\n\nHe had his own demons. “If you work together”\n\nHe could kill you. \n\n...I love him...he loves me...\n\nFool...\n\n“Kel...”\n\nKel leaned his head against Khan’s broad, fuzzy chest and nuzzled. Truly told...he was tired. Tired of fighting. Tired of being afraid. He had a chance, here and now, to have what he’d always wanted. He could let it pass him by, or he could risk it all. What did he have to lose? \n\nHe smiled. All or nothing. Alright...\n\n“My...guide. She paid me a visit while...while you were...\n\nKhan nodded, and tightened his arms around the younger wolf. He had no idea what Kel was talking about, but he sensed Kel’s distress, so he said nothing, just encouraged him gently by saying nothing and holding him. \n\n“She told me there was evil here. I’d known that already of course. That’s why I called her. I...wanted to know what we faced.”\n\nKhan winced as Kel’s words stung him. He nodded and kissed the top of Kel’s head, silent apology. I was stupid. Forgive me. \n\nHe felt Kel smiling, and the slight shift in his body as he lay a soft dark paw on Khan’s chest. Acceptance. Yes, you were. But it’s okay.\n\n“She told me that the Shadowbeings you described...they were created in Islewigh. She didn’t tell me how or why...only that they were, and that if we wanted to survive...we had to...work together.”\n\nHere, Kel paused. Khan could feel the tension building in the young wolf. His fear hung thick in the air. Never particularly fast on the uptake, it took Khan a while to work though all the implications of what Kel had just said. He spoke of a guide who had revealed things to him that he couldn’t know. He spoke of Islewigh, the cursed land where their kind had once been created, and where Tiaan had won recognition for them in the eyes of the gods. The sorcerers had at one time waged war on those humans and furries that had turned their backs on the old ways of magic. It had only been the intervention of Tiaan and her mate Caleigh that had turned the tide by having the gods grant them the right to live. Since then, the practice of magic had been outlawed in all the lands save in Islewigh itself. \n\nAnd in Kiy. \n\nOh gods...oh gods, it couldn’t be...\n\nKill the sorcerer wherever you encounter him.\n\nIt was the oldest law on the books, and one that had been adhered to religiously in all the lands. \n\nExcept Kiy. \n\nKiy still had wizards, who called on magic, and spoke to the spirits. It was the main reason why there had been so many wars over the years. Kiy refused to give up their practice of magic, and no one wanted to live with that threat on their own borders. For reasons of his own, the Baron had seen fit not to enforce the law of killing wizards....but even he had commanded that any wizard found be brought to him. \n\nKel was Kiyan. \n\nNo...oh gods...Kel...\n\nKel. His soft, beautiful pup, the first and only person to ever break through his self-absorption to touch his soul and make him feel alive...was also a wizard, and therefore a wanted criminal under sentence of death. \n\nHis mind reeled, but recovered quickly. His warrior instincts hadn’t detected the least amount of ill intent in Kel, and it was usually a dead warrior who didn’t quickly develop this instinctive skill. In that contest, Kel’ magic became simply another weapon in in arsenal, and one didn’t judge a fellow warrior on the type of weapons he carried...only on how he used them. \n\nHe looked down at the young wolf he still held in is arms.\n\nSo that’s why you were so afraid to let me love you...\n\nI cannot blame you, pup...I understand.\n\nWhat he did not understand was how the fuck he’d gotten himself involved in this. Gods! Barons and witches and apocalyptic wars and wizards...? Monsters out of Islewigh, the accursed land...\n\nKhan shuddered and mumbled a quick ward against evil. Instantly Kel pinned back his ears and started to draw away, his green eyes stricken. Khan tightened his arms around him, refusing to let go, and nuzzled Kel gently in reassurance.\n\n“Shhh, Ash’Kel-te” he whispered, the loving endearment coming unbidden to his lips. “It’s no matter to me that you’re a wizard...sorcerer...whatever. I don’t care about that. What matters now is getting out of this. Work together. Okay. We can do that. Now tell me what exactly this...guide of yours had to say? Believe me, if her suggestions can get us out of this, I’m all ears.” \n\nHis tone held just the right balance of gentle humour and resolve in it to reassure Kel, who couldn’t help smiling. He hugged the younger wolf close, both to reassure him and to indicate that he really didn’t mind what he’d just been told. He knew just how much courage and trust it had taken for Kel to tell him this, and he wanted him to know that it wasn’t misplaced. \n\n“Tell me,” Khan said, gently nuzzling the pup.\n\nKel nodded and sighed as he relaxed. He wriggled a bit, apparently trying to find a comfortable position, then settled down, his head leaning against Khan’s chest.\n\n“Khan...would you be able to fight these creatures if...I made them visible to you? One of the things I can do is see life. I don’t mean see it with my physical sight. I mean looking at something using magic...what we call mage-sight, or astral sight. Every living thing that lives and breathes has a life-line that connects them to Wakata-Geah...the Source-of-Life. By using mage-sight, I can see them as clearly as I can see you. If...you allow me...and if you trust me, I could allow you to see them too. I could give you that sight...if we link.”\n\nHis confusion must have showed, for Kel continued without prompting. \n\n“A link. It’s a…psychic connection that would, for a short while, allow you to share my abilities. You could sense the creatures in the same way I could. You won’t see them with your physical vision, but within yourself, you would sense them, sense their movements. Depending on how strongly we link, and how much spirit power you yourself have, you could even anticipate their movements.”\n\nAnticipate their movements? He looked sharply at Kel. Could this be the source of Kel’s prodigious speed? He could sense what you’d do before you did it? Abruptly he blushed. Gods above! How many times had he had to restrain himself from raping Kel? He knew that…and was still here? Dear goddess! He looked up and met Kel’s laughing eyes. Oh yes! He knew all right! Khan shook his head and grinned sheepishly at his young love, feeling better for some inexplicable reason. Still…this required exploration. \n\n“How do you mean ‘inside myself’? And…um…spirit power? I don’t have any spirit power - I think. I’ve never spent much time in Kiy…”\n\n“No no,” Kel interrupted. “The power is latent in everyone. Anyone can learn to use it. If we had the time, I could teach you to do almost everything I could do. The power grows within you the more you use it. Some people are born with a head-start, but…we can all use it. Everyone has spirit power. All the link really does is allow you to draw on my…knowledge. Your own power will…do all the work, but you’ll draw on my training.” \n\nHe blushed then, and sobered. “But Khan…I must tell you. If we do this…there will be no hiding. I would be able to see some of your thoughts, your feelings, and you would see mine. In battle, I won’t be able to concentrate on giving you the sight you need, so you will be able to draw on my other…abilities as well. You may even retain some of them afterward. Khan…think carefully here. Right now, you have a way to fight that works for you. You’ve developed the skills over the years. What you draw from me…might interfere with that. A link such as the one I propose occurs very deep within the mind. The abilities you draw from me will become as instinctive as those you learned through your own experience. You’ll draw on them without thought…but you’ll have no memory of gaining the skills, or even what the skills are. In the middle of battle…that can be dangerous as you yourself won’t know what move you’re going to make next. You’ll lose your ability to plan ahead. Think of that. Can you live with it? There is another factor…Once I awaken your spirit power…it may manifest.”\n\nKhan blinked. \n\n“I’m... not too sure what you mean by that. Didn’t you just say that...this magic thing is something everyone has? How...?”\n\nKel nodded. \n\n“Everyone has it, yes, but we don’t all have equal power. And some people lock theirs away instinctively. That’s what you did with yours. It’s locked up so tight you barely have access to it. But...if I let you link with me...you’ll know how to access it. You may not be able to lock it back up again once that door is opened. I can’t be sure. Think about that too, Khan. You...could become a wizard yourself...”\n\nKhan blinked. Him, possibly become a wizard? One of those robed individuals he’d seen in Kiy, or the fancy-armoured warriors from that land with the weird face-paintings and stuff. A wise one that everyone bowed to... The idea seemed absurd. Magic? What would he do with it? The gods knew he’d never done much thinking in his life. He’d acted on impulse. I want, I take. His impulse now was to take whatever advantage he could get. He’d need very edge to fight his way out of this. \n\nAnd yet...he was no longer alone. He couldn’t just act anymore. The young black wolf beside him deserved consideration. Whatever he chose now would affect them both, and for the first time in his life, that mattered. Someone else mattered. His choice now would determine their whole future. His. Kel’s. Theirs. He’d no longer be just a simple mercenary. He’d be leaving his simple, unthinking, instinctive life behind, and he’d never get it back. But that was a false start. Kel had already changed him. There was already no way to go back. No matter what he chose, the changes Kel had wrought would remain. He could choose to end all that, or he could choose to continue to grow. Kel had changed too, he thought. They’d influenced each other and learned from each other. They’d made each other better, more complete, simply by being together. He didn’t want that to end. He couldn’t imagine being without Kel anymore, and that was the single truth that decided him. \n\n“Kel...this is...very far beyond my experience. I don’t know anything about magic, or guides, or even Islewigh. I don’t know anything about...any of this stuff. I just know how to fight. So I’ll fight. If what you propose to do will let me fight better, then I’ll do it. I trust you. Do what you must to...do this link thing. We’ll get out together, or not at all. I promise you that.”\n\nKel was still for a moment, then he nodded once. With soft, slow movements, he untangled himself from Khan. Khan let him go, but not without a feeling of loss. It had been remarkably comforting and pleasurable to hold Kel, and the feel of the cool night air against his sweaty belly and chest was most unwelcome. His eyes stayed focussed on Kel, following his every move as the black wolf removed an obsidian carving from his pack. He held it up. Even in the dim light of the moon, Khan could see that it was a rough, finger-length carving of a wolf, \n\n“This is a representation of me,” the black pup explained, and offered it to Khan. “I’ve infused it with my own essence. Hold it tightly in your paw.”\n\nKhan took it, and examined it quickly. The surface was smooth and polished, but the carving itself didn’t seem to be of the same standard as some arty things he’d seen on sale at various bazaars. It seemed exactly what it was: a representation, a symbolic image. It had green eyes though, like Kel’s. He looked questioningly at Kel. \n\n“Look at the fetish, Khan,” Kel commanded. Khan bit back a laugh. The pup’s voice held such authority...something he’d never displayed before. Secretly, it pleased Khan to see it. He did as he was told, trusting Kel to know his craft as well as he knew his own. \n\n“Focus on it. Feel its every curve in you paw. Become aware of it...know it on as many levels as you can.”\n\nKhan closed his eyes, ignoring the fact that his mind yelled at him that he didn’t know what Kel was saying, that it didn’t make any sense. His warrior training took over, and he did what he was commanded to do as best he could. He fixed an image of the fetish in his mind and slowly started turning it over and over in his paw, letting his sense of touch direct him, matching the image he held to the curves he felt. \n\n“Think of it as me. You’re holding me in your paw. You want me inside of you. You want me to explore you as you’re exploring me. You want me to know you as you know me...I am in your paw, Khan...think of me...focus on me...hear me...feel me...I am there..with you...You’re holding me...I am with you...let me inside you...”\n\nThe pup’s voice caressed his ears. It soothed him, speaking of things he longed for with all his heart. Rhythmic...chanting. He felt Kel in his paw...his warmth...Kel...\n\nYes...I have you...I want you inside...know me...I feel you...you’re...here...I trust you...inside...come...come inside...inside me...inside me...me...\n\nThe world fell away. There was only him and Kel. There was no world. There was only them...inside the wonderful darkness. Warm...intimate...\n\nI feel you Kel...come to me...I am here...here...come to me...\n\nOut of the darkness, he felt Kel draw close, deeper. No sight. Just the steady blaze of Kel beside him...No fear...nothing...\n\nHe felt Kel’s body...the power in his limbs. Kel was there beside him...his body...their body...do I know this...? Yes...that’s how...yes...\n\nHe found that he could see more...here in this darkness he could see everything...A young pup, with a sister...\n\n...what was Kel looking at...? I feel you looking at me...its...okay...I feel you...mine...mine...yours...oh...yes...\n\n...small house...and there...a face...not a wolf...not a...oh yes...I understand...he was a...bad man...no...just...no understanding of you...the other one did...yes...he understood...not everything...not all of you...\n\n...you fled...you...died...\n\n...you...love so much...oh Kel...\n\nMemories flooded through Khan’s mind, fleeting images that explained Kel in ways words never could. He felt Kel inside him...the deeply loving presence that saw without judging, that soothed without demanding. Loved without reservation. Kel loved everything, and so his life was a mess of pain in the harsh reality of death, murder...blood...\n\nPainfully aware of the monster he was, Khan would have shut the door on Kel right then if not for the pup’s complete lack of horror. \n\nEven you can be loved...\n\n...love me...love me...\n\n...please...\n\nTheir souls reached for each other, and in that instant, the link was forged. It rang through their bodies and souls with the clarity of a smith’s hammer on steel, and spat them out of the trance state they’d been locked in, deep inside each other. \n\nLocked together by ties so deep that the knots could never be found, they woke, clutching each other, clinging, their tears soaking their fur. Khan could feel Kel’s heart beating. He was aware of every motion he made, the feel of his arms around the young wolf. He felt the depths of Kel’s pain, and his fierce desire. He cherished this...the deep trust and faith Kel had. \n\nHe was also aware of a darker roiling within himself, that Kel’s knowledge identified as Spirit Power. It was awake...aware that gates had been opened. It wanted out, and knowledge rose instinctively inside of Khan. He curbed the rising power as easily as he’d subdue a weak woman. There wasn’t anything he wanted to do with his power now. Right now...right now he wanted to explore this link...the wonder of such total awareness of another...\n\nHe wanted to kiss Kel and feel the dual touch the link provided, feeling his own pleasure as well a Kel’s...\n\nA hard shove to his chest sent him reeling backward and with the feel of ice water dousing hot metal, he came back into himself. The loss of his closeness with Kel nearly made him howl in anguish. His body tensed to pounce forward, to repossess that wonderful security...but a soft paw restrained him, pressed gently against his chest.\n\n“Khan! Focus! I’m here. Here! Look at me. Look! Look at me!” \n\nSoft paws forced his muzzle up and green eyes bore into his soul.\n\n“I’m here. Feel my touch.” \n\nThose wonderful paw caressed his face. Trembling, Khan raised his own paws and lay then over Kel’s as the younger wolf gently stroked back his face fur. He swallowed hard. His heart hammered in his chest and his eyes focused and unfocused randomly. His head felt like it was filled with dandelion fluff. Kel took hold of his paws and placed them on his own face.\n\n“Feel me, Khan. I’m here with you. Are you alright? Khan?”\n\nKhan shook his head. There was a slight note of panic in Kel’s voice. He shuddered and made an effort to clear his head, get control of his own body again.\n\nHad...had they really been one? He’d spent an eternity in that dark place with just Kel there. They’d...he remembered so much...and the feeling was still there. Kel was...inside him...but also not. He was there before him...and inside...\n\nAm I inside you too? Yes...yes...there...\n\nHere and...there...\n\n“Khan...?”\n\nHe shivered as Kel’s voice echoed inside and out...but things were clearing now. Kel-outside was gaining clarity now.\n\n“I’m...yes, I’m...fine. Just...what the...fuck just happened? I’m...you’re...where...”\n\nHe focused on Kel’s eyes, felt the pup’s fear...but the physical vision of him was enough to bring back perspective. He’d spent forever with Kel...but he knew this world too. He’d lived here all his life. But that other place was still available. He was starting to get the knack of keeping it separated from this reality. \n\nDear gods...love is such an insanity...existing in two bodies at once.\n\nHe grinned. Maybe an old wolf could learn new tricks after all. This link...mmm! The possibilities inherent in it! \n\nHis shivering eased away until his paws were steady once more. He took Kel’s paws in his and squeezed. Kel’s eyes were still wide with fright. Khan smiled.\n\n“I’m...okay now. This is...so weird. Like...oh, fuck it. You know what I mean. You felt it too. I know you did.” Khan tilted his head to one side and smiled, still receiving emotional impressions from Kel.\n\n“I’m fine, Kel. Don’t worry so much.”\n\nHe grinned, elated for some reason. \n\n“Are you...sure?” Anxious green eyes clouded with worry looked solemnly at him.\n\n“I’m sure, Ash’Kel-te. So...what now?”\n\nKel smiled.\n\n“Well...the link went a bit deeper than I anticipated. But I don’t suppose that matters now. I know it’s confusing right now. You’ve had no training at all, but I did my best to give you proper shielding abilities. There are ways to dampen the link so we don’t intrude on each other so much.” He giggled. “And no. We can’t lock each other out completely. All it means is that your awareness would remain focussed on your own sense-impressions...but I think we’ll always be aware of each other. I think you’ll find that you’ll always know where I am, and what I’m feeling. Just like I will know. Like I said...it went deeper than I though. I’m sorry, Khan. I...couldn’t stop it. I tried to limit it...but...”\n\n“But I wouldn’t let you.” Khan nodded. He remembered that. He’d let Kel in unconditionally, without limits...and that had forced Kel to open as completely. Neither of them had wanted limits on how close they could get. It was as much his fault as Kel’s. Not that he minded. It was what he wanted, and he didn’t regret it. \n\n“So what does it mean? For us, and for getting out of here, I mean?”\n\n“Well...we’ll have to test that. There’s no way to know. The link is there, and it works.”\n\nWithout warning, Kel lashed out at Khan. Quick as lightning, his arm flashed forward. \n\nWarning rang inside Khan’s mind. It was like a thunderclap inside his head. Aware of Kel’s move, recognising what he was doing, it took him no time at all to react and block. His own arm lashed up in a movement he knew would counter this attack. He sensed no malice from Kel...only playful mischief, and so his soul searched for a manoeuvre that would match his own intent. His vision hazed, and suddenly he was looking at the world in colours he’d never seen before. There was Kel. His soul blazed bright greenish-blue against a black backdrop. Every tree, every animal, even the groundcover...their life force shone. He could tell which was plant, and which animal. Plants were...dull, like unpolished stone glowing from within. Animals were more shiny, but opaque. Kel though...Khan could see right through him. He was multiple colours. His every though made the life in the fibrey stings of his muscles pulse different colours against the bright green-blue of his soul. Yes...there...a streak of black running along the little fibres of his arm. He was going to stay the blow. It would not connect very hard against his instinctive block. Now if he could catch that arm, and pull just so...\n\nKel’s blow connected. It was feather-light, just the baret touch against Khan’s. He grinned...and yelped when Khan’s other paw caught hold of his free arm and pulled him in close. He twisted around and rolled. Caught unawares, Kel fell forward and down, and an instant later was pinned underneath Khan. \n\nKhan grinned toothily. \n\n“Saw that coming a mile off, pup. Surely you can do better?” \n\nKel laughed. \n\n“See what I mean? You saw it all with astral sight...saw what I would do, and drew the knowledge of how to counter it straight from me without even thinking about it. That’s how it will be when we fight those beings. You’ll see them the same way. Your reflexes are quick enough, although you do lack a certain...finesse. You’ll need to train those muscles, Khan. If you want to fight like me, you’ll need more than just strength.”\n\n“Ha!” Khan grinned. “I was quick enough to catch you, wasn’t I?”\n\nHe never saw it coming. The pup’s left paw struck out and connected just under his chin. His head snapped back and before he could even recover from surprise, Kel had pushed him off and onto his back. One of his knives slid easily from its sheath and was poised at Khan’s throat in an instant, all in one smooth, silent motion.\n\nKhan blinked as Kel grinned down at him.\n\n“Not nearly as fast as you think...pup. And you let your guard down. Don’t get cocky.”\n\nKhan smiled back, rubbing his chin where Kel had hit him. He knew Kel had used just enough force to get his point across. The attack Kel had used was now clear in his mind, and he knew how to use it himself. This was going to be...strange.\n\n“Right. Point taken.” He wiggled his nose. “Did you have to hit so hard?”\n\nKel only grinned as he got up.\n\n“Come on. Let’s get out of here.”\n\nThey struck camp quickly and efficiently. For the moment, both wolves were lost in their own private introspection. Intimately aware of each other through the link, they moved in silent unison. Once they had everything, Khan sat down on a nearby rock and slid his right-hand blade from its sheath across his back. He inspected it minutely, hefting it in his paw to feel its weight. The weapon felt both familiar and a profound mystery.\n\nKel watched him in silence, his eyes soft. His ears swivelled this way and that, listening. Both could sense evil approaching. Kel could feel Khan’s hot rage through the link. It was tightly controlled, but it would consume anything in its path. It fuelled his spirit-power and lent him strength beyond the usual. His enemies were approaching, and he had years of wrath to pay them back with for the loss of Dehelian, Vanis and all the others he had lost. \n\nIt fascinated Kel. Khan’s magic seemed turned entirely inward. Where Kel used his to sense the world around him and affect it in subtle ways, Khan used his to enhance his own natural abilities. He’d never seen anything like it before. Perhaps it was just the way Khan was. He didn’t really want to know what was going on in the world. He just wanted every edge with which to fight it. Khan was and always would be a warrior, no matter what other abilities he gained, or how he changed. \n\nIt was something of a relief for the young wolf. They’d so nearly lost themselves in each other in that ecstatic moment when their souls recognised each other. There had been no stopping it...and neither wanted to. They both knew how deep the attachment went...but neither was quite ready to acknowledge it. It would be acknowledged...but not now. \n\nNot now. \n\nFor now, it was enough to feel safe, with his partner beside him, knowing that he could be relied on. It was a wonderful feeling. \n\nA soft snarl on the night breeze alerted them. The two wolves slowly rose. Khan unsheathed his second blade, and Kel sent his senses roaming. \n\nThere. They were coming from the north, through the swamp. The path they were on led due west. \n\n“Come on.” Khan barked. “Time to go.”\n\nThe path was easy enough. Kel’s constant attention to the location of their attackers allowed Khan to lead them confidently through the undergrowth along firm ground, evading the first wave of the Shadowbeings. They didn’t run, and showed no hint of fear. Their faith in each other was complete. \n\nTheir souls blazed in combined glory, lighting their way with spirit-light. \n\nIt didn’t take long for the Shadowbeings to find them. Khan could hear them, scuttling along the edges of their light. This time, he saw them. \n\nHe shuddered. \n\nThey looked like puppies. Perfectly formed little wolf pups, with the cutest little ears, huge eyes and sad little muzzles. He saw all that reflected in their life-lines...lines that didn’t connect to earth and sky like his and Kel’s...but that led into darkness without touching either. Their life-force was dull red, like a forest fire seen through thick smoke. Quick pulses of blood red flashed along their limbs. They were ridiculously easy to read. Created with but one purpose, there was no way for them to hide their intent. \n\nThe little muzzles howled and snarled at them, revealing fangs that were far larger than normal. Thin and silvery-transparent, they dripped saliva, and hungry red eyes glared at them with insane hunger. They carried no weapons. Their claws were their weapons. Long, like swords, and sharp, they resembled the hideous fangs. One slice from those claws was death. They moved like smoke, darting here and there, but not impossible to follow. \n\nHis rage darkened. Pups. These monsters from Islewigh used pups to create their minions. \n\nKhan had no illusions about his life and the evils he’d committed, but he’d never, ever harmed a cub. No wolf would. Like most wolves, he’d been popular among the cubs at the training facility. He never turned one away, and spend inordinate amounts of time playing with them, or teaching them. Like any wolf would. \n\nHow could they do that to...cubs? \n\nThey would pay...Oh, how Islewigh would pay for this outrage...\n\nThe snarls came closer, and Khan quickened his pace. He wanted to be as far along the path as possible before the creatures attacked. The path remained relatively flat and easy to run, but the undergrowth grew thicker. It occurred to him that they were being herded. Not that it mattered. These creatures couldn’t know about Kel’s ability to see them. Nothing could obscure mage-sight. Chasing them into thick vegetation wouldn’t provide any cover for the creatures at all, and wouldn’t really be an impediment to the wolves’ weapons. \n\nHe grinned. This time, all the advantages were with him. Last time, he’d been young, terrified, unprepared, ignorant and blind in the dark. This time, he could see. He was superbly trained with a new set of skills, he had a partner at his back who could follow his every move and needed absolutely no looking after, and he knew exactly what he faced. \n\nThere creatures were going to die. \n\nThere.\n\nThere was a natural clearing up ahead. They’d stop there, catch their breath for a bit. He almost laughed as the snarls turned to triumphant yips. The creatures actually thought that they were tired and scared. Well, they were wrong. Just behind him, he felt Kel’s excitement. The pup was looking forward to this as much as he was. \n\nNow the creatures were circling them, exactly like they’d done ten years earlier. They darted in and out, feinting and retreating. \n\nThe two wolves remained still in the centre of the clearing, back to back. Khan held his twin blades casually ready. Kel held a knife in each paw, and had loosened the scabbards of eight others, ready to draw. \n\nOne of the creatures leapt in, straight toward Kel. Khan followed the pup’s movements through the link. The little cub snarled and slashed with his claws. They would have cut Kel to ribbons had he not been able to see them. His left arm rose and fell, and a black hilt was buried in the cub’s chest. Not waiting to see if others attacked, Kel leapt to retrieve his knife. The second he knelt, Khan was there. A curved blade whistled over Kel’s head and decapitated the second shadow that sprang forward. Kel’s arm snapped forward and stabbed a third creature in the belly where Khan had stood a second previously. They both jumped to their paws, once again standing ready, back to back. Five seconds, and three shadowbeings lay dead and twitching on the ground. \n\n“Nice work, Ash’Kel-te,” Khan grinned. \n\n“Thanks!” Khan could feel the blush, and Kel’s pleasure at the compliment. He smiled. \n\n“Watch out. A pair approaching at your east.”\n\n“I see them. Thanks.”\n\nA knife streaked up and thudded into another cub, who screamed as he fell. \n\n“Persistent, aren’t they.”\n\n“Mmm. Not too bright though. Climbing trees aren’t too effective when you’re armed with throwing knives. Would you be so kind?”\n\n“Of course.”\n\nKhan’s blades whirled in a complicated arc that took off arms and heads as a small group of creatures attacked all at once. They crowded each other, barely leaving room to make effective use of their claws. Khan’s whirlwind of blades made short work of them. Blood sprayed and soaked into their fur. Little bodies lay twitching, whimpering pathetically. Khan steeled his heart. \n\nNot cubs. Not cubs...\n\nA soothing flood of reassurance and calm came rushing through the link, and stilled his thudding heart. \n\n“You’re right. They’re not too bright.”\n\nThe ghost of a kiss touched his cheek.\n\nThey inched their way toward the carcass of the creature that had tried an aerial attack. Kel quickly retrieved his knife while Khan guarded him. \n\nTen down. How many more...?\n\nKel scanned quickly and reported back.\n\nSixteen. Five to your west. Six to your east. The others circle. I suspect they will rush us in a pack while the individual circlers will try for a lucky strike. Here...let me show you...\n\nThe image appeared clearly in Khan’s mind, and he nodded. \n\nBetter not let them form up. I’ll take my west. \n\nWith a mad howl that echoed in curious unison, the two wolves separated and rushed their respective groups. Kel’s knives went flying in quick succession. Three thumped home. Three creatures dead. The remaining three scattered, howling. Khan dove, his blades extended. Right before him, five of the creatures were ready. His dive took them completely by surprise and he cut the legs out from under another three before they could react. Two more knives thudded home. \n\nEight more down. Eight to go. Three knives left...\n\nKhan completed a roll. Where were they? \n\nThere...\n\nTwo of the creatures were stalking Kel. Khan’s heart clenched, and instantly he got the mental equivalent of a shake.\n\nFocus, Khan! \n\nHe grinned. Yes, Master. \n\nThis earned him a mental slap, and a feeling of amusement. \n\nThis time Kel didn’t even bother with his knives. He let the creatures approach, and when they were close enough to rush him, he leapt at them. The dance of death, as Khan thought of it. Those beautiful leaps and kicks and punches he’d watched back at the training facility were now fully revealed as the deadly weapon they were. Kel’s lead connected solidly to the creature’s chest. Khan heard bone crush, and the surprised wheeze of the creature. It was slammed backward and down. Before it even hit ground Kel had whirled around and drove the base of his paw into the second one’s nose. The little muzzle shattered. But Kel wasn’t done yet. He whirled on one leg. The other swung in a deadly arc toward and struck the creature’s head as it staggered back, still dazed from Kel’s earlier blow. The neck snapped with a sickening crunch and blood sprayed from its nose and broken muzzle. The little body collapsed. A knife flashed over Khan’s shoulder to thud home in a creature that had been sneaking up on Khan. \n\nPay attention, Khan!\n\nBut there didn’t seem to be anything left to fight. The remaining five creatures fled, howling as they did so. \n\nKel scanned quickly, but didn’t detect anything more. They leapt to retrieve Kel’s knives. Kel quickly cleaned and sheathed them. \n\nThe two wolves stood panting, trembling as battle tension ebbed away. They didn’t wait long, but took off again immediately when they felt ready. For all the advantages they had, neither had unlimited energy. \n\nThey loped easily, Khan’s unerring sense of direction leading them toward the exit. They knew that it wouldn’t be long before they were attacked again. \n\nKel was exhausted. He hadn’t slept in two days and the constant vigilance was starting to take its toll. He still ran tirelessly and maintained mental discipline, but Khan knew he couldn’t maintain it much longer. \n\nAbruptly Kel stopped as if he’d run into a wall. \n\nKhan skidded to a halt and trotted back. Kel was staring straight ahead, his eyes wide, body rigid. A cold wind blew up Khan’s spine.\n\n“Kel...?”\n\nA soft breeze moaned through the trees, bringing the scent of death. \n\n“Oh, no...” Kel whimpered. \n\n“What is it? Kel?”\n\n“Run. Run, Khan! Now!”\n\nKhan didn’t bother to argue. He turned and ran with no regard to energy use. He sprinted as fast as he could. Kel ran behind him, his fear driving him on.\n\nThe moaning on the wind grew louder. \n\n“How...far...before we get there?” Kel panted.\n\n“Another mile.”\n\nKel shook his head in defeat. “We’ll never make it.”\n\n“What?”\n\nKel stopped, and shook Khan off when he made a grab for Kel’s paw, intending to drag him along. \n\n“Khan! That’s a spirit out there! I sensed it when we came in here. It’s...insane, Khan. It’s nothing but need. It kills with no regard to what it kills. We can’t outrun it. But...maybe it can be driven off. Trust me Khan.” \n\nKhan blinked as if slapped and let go of Kel’s paw. \n\n“Right. Anything I can do?”\n\n“Yes...Please...just...be close to me. Hold me if you would. I will...need support. For now just...stand there. I need to prepare.”\n\nKhan did as he was told as Kel quickly drew a wide circle in the wet ground and stepped inside. He sat down in the exact centre and motioned for Khan to join him. \n\n“Put you arms around me and hold on. I may need to draw spirit-power from you. Open the link as wide as you can.”\n\nKhan nodded. Kel closed his eyes and began to chant. He touched the blue stone in his collar. The fur rose on Khan’s neck as he became aware of a vortex of power that quickly surrounded them, forming a barrier around them. Kel called a strange name. With each call he made, Khan felt him grow wearier. He threw open the link as wide as he could, offering Kel every ounce of power he had. The shield solidified, and moments later, a human shape appeared. It was female, with oddly pointed ears. Khan had never seen her like. \n\nKel slumped in his arms and the weird apparition turned its attention to Khan, who shrugged helplessly.\n\n“Don’t look at me, lady. He only told me that some insane spirit was on the hunt, and we’re on the menu. We have a mile still to run, and we won’t make it with this thing chasing us. Would you mind...uh...lending a paw...hand...um...”\n\nThe human woman clapped a hand over her lips to hide a smile.\n\n“I can see why he likes you.” She laughed. “Sure. I’ll help. You stay put, now. And look after him, will you? Oh! By the way...that shield of his will only keep unsummoned spirits away. It’ll be no barrier against shadowcreatures. Be vigilant. I’ll be very put out with you if you let anything happen to him, Khan Fuzzywolf.”\n\nAs abruptly as she’d appeared, she disappeared. \n\nKhan looked around. Okay...here we go again...\n\n“Kel...? Kel? Can you stand?”\n\nKel nodded and groaned. \n\n“Yes...just...give me a second...”\n\n“Kel...I need you to give me that sight thing...”\n\nThe black wolf nodded tiredly. Khan’s vision fuzzed as Kel scanned their surroundings. \n\nThere they were. Six of them. They were...fleeing. Fleeing?\n\nStraight toward them, away from a dark mass of energy that was rolling toward them at an impressive pace. Kel was right. They’d never outrun that. Good gods...\n\nKhan glanced back. No way Kel was fighting this round. He had enough on his plate keeping evil spirits away. \n\nVery well. My party then. \n\nHe unsheathed his blades and whirled them around in his paws a few times, feeling once again the weird familiar/alien feeling that he’d grown used to over the last few hours. His skill and Kel’s had met in uneasy balance in his skull. Hopefully he could make it into a harmonious whole. \n\nThe creatures didn’t wait. They yowled in panic as they rushed him in one single melee. Khan leaped straight up in the air, to his own vast surprise. What the...? Guided by instinct, his body vaulted end over end, earth sky, earth sky, earth...until he hit the ground standing, swords ready. He’d leapt right over them...Of course...\n\nHe screamed a battle cry and flew into the creatures. His swords flashed in the moonlight. He was grimly reminded of the way the creatures’ claws had glinted ten years earlier...\n\nKel’s ability to read and anticipate their moves made it easy. His blades struck flesh much more often than not. Fuelled by his anger and his magic, Khan became a killing machine. He no longer thought or planned his moves. His enhanced senses took in their every move and familiar and unfamiliar battle skills fused together. He leapt like he’d seen Kel do, crushing the windpipe of one hapless pup at the same moment his sword sliced through the neck of another. His fists, clenched around the hilts of his blades as they were, also came in handy as he smashed faces. He screamed and screamed his rage, raining down death on his enemies until there were none left. Six bodies lay broken and beaten on the ground. Abruptly coming back into himself, Khan sank to his knees, exhausted. He raised his left blade to the sky and howled his triumph. \n\nA soft breeze blew through his mind, gently dissipating the clouds of rage, and he turned to face Kel. The young wolf sat smiling on the ground. His ears flagged with exhaustion, but there was pride in his eyes. Khan approached wearily and sank down next to him. He let his swords fall where they would and put his arms around his partner.\n\n“You could have lent a guy a paw you know,” he teased and licked Kel’s cheek. \n\nThe pup giggled.\n\n“You didn’t seem to need much help.” A gentle paw touched Khan’s cheek. “You did well. I’ve never seen anyone learn so quickly.”\n\nThey leaned against each other, too weary to move...and yet they had to. There was an insane spirit still to be dealt with. Khan got up first.\n\n“That lady spirit of yours...she going to lend a hand or something?”\n\n“Indeed I am.” \n\nThe wolves turned to face the ancient goddess. \n\n“Run. Run and don’t stop. I’ll maintain a shield around you until you’re clear of the swamp, but you have to run as fast as you can. Kel, you must keep your shield up. I’ll send you the strength you need, but that’s the best I can do. Damn Islewigh. I didn’t count of an escaped spirit...Why are you still here? Run!”\n\nThey ran. \n\nAll around them, dark clouds rose up from the earth. The wind picked up as the vengeful spirit called forth its power. All around them, trees withered and died.\n\n“The spirit is sucking the life-force from everything it touches. I’ll keep it away from you,” the goddess yelled above the sound of the breaking storm that spun down out of the clear sky. “Keep running.”\n\nExhaused as they were, they kept running.\n\nAbruptly, they ran into the open. Golden grassland greeted them where moments before it had been green swamp. \n\n“Now, Kel!” the goddess commanded, her voice like a whip. \n\nKel whirled around and raised his paw in a “stay” gesture. Without even thinking about it, Khan joined him and wrapped his arms around him from behind.\n\n“In the name of Benzai-Ten, mistress of Water, I command you: stay. In the name of Wakata-Geah, earth and sky, I say to you: be free. Return to the sky, and be renewed. Stay your evil.”\n\nThe spirit howled. It sobbed and gibbered insanely. Power blazed forth from Kel, from Khan, and from the goddess beside them. With each blow, they drove back the poor, insane spirit. It fought them for just a moment...but it was tired. So tired, and so infinitely sad and broken. Abruptly, it faded away. Instantly, the clouds rolled back and the wind stopped. All that remained were dead trees and animals all around that had been emptied of all life.\n\nIt was over.\n\nKahn turned to thank the weird lady, but she was already gone. He hugged Kel close and held him for a moment, his head spinning. How he managed to remain upright was beyond him. Remaining upright seemed somewhat beyond Kel at the moment.\n\n“Come. Let’s set up camp, then we can sleep. It’s been a long day” He said, and licked Kel’s cheek softly.\n\nKel laughed and shook his head in wonder. A long day indeed. \n\n“Yeah. Let’s...do that.”\n\nThey set off, into the night.\n\nPart three: Into the fire\n\nIt didn’t take them long to reach the edge of the swamp, but by the end of it, Kel was exhausted. They hadn’t slept in two days. Constant vigilance and periodic battles took a heavy toll on the slender young wolf. Khan fared somewhat better. His superior stamina and white hot rage against the shadow beings kept him going, yet even for him, the trip had been frightening. Time and again, he found himself reaching for weapons he didn’t have, didn’t even know the names of, fought using techniques he’d never seen and…saw his adversaries deep in his mind, even with his eyes tightly shut. Even when the beings retreated, they dared not relax. Neither of them could hope to face them alone, and so they made their slow way down the path, never resting, never giving up. \n\nFor whatever reason, the creatures refused to move beyond the boundaries of the swamp, so the moment they reached the edge, Khan called a halt, and Kel didn’t object. He was completely spent, and he knew it. He didn’t even have the energy to help Khan start a fire or prepare their dinner. Briefly, he wondered at the energy his love still exuded. The last half-mile, Khan had practically carried him. He shook his head in wonder and lay back in the snug little den Khan had made him, thinking of the link he’d forged between them. Khan had not spoken of what he’d seen of his memories, but whenever he caught his eye, they softened with tenderness. Kel ducked his head, suddenly embarrassed. His own heart had softened considerably after sharing Khan’s memories. He’d seen the ramshackle inn where he’d grown up, a lone son among whoring sisters. He’d lost his father early on, and though his mother had tried her best to raise her children, she just did not have the time to run her inn all alone AND devote attention to them. Hunger and need had been his constant companions, and he’d been just 11 when an evil looking sailor propositioned him. He got away with his promised payment…but not before learning far more than he wanted to know. Three years later, he joined a band of mercenaries, and…eight years later lost a friend. Now here he was. A more complex man than anyone thought. \n\nThere was no more time to wonder…or to unravel just how deep the link went. Kel fell asleep from one moment to the next. He didn’t even wake when Khan slipped under the blankets next to him and drew him close. \n\nThe unfamiliar feeling of heat on his skin woke Kel late the next day. They’d been in the cold, wet swamp so long he’d almost forgotten what it felt like to have the sun warming him. Not that the sun was the only thing warming him. Cradling his body in his strong arms was Khan, body pressed right close to his own. The big arctic wolf grinned when his younger companion woke, his blue eyes for once unshadowed. \n\n“Morning.” He said cheerfully, and Kel smiled shyly back. He’d never woken up with anybody before, and although he’d slept with Khan next to him before now, this was the first time they’d done so as…what exactly? He still didn’t know, but whatever they were now, it definitely felt good! He snuggled closer, and Khan chuckled. Above them, the sun had risen as high as it would go this late in the season. As feeble as its rays were, still it felt like heaven. As loathe as he was to leave the warmth and comfort of Khan’s embrace, they’d wasted enough time. Guiltily, he thought about the road ahead. The city of Shiva was less than four hours away at the best speed he could manage. Really, he aught to have insisted they continue on last night instead of sacking out. He hadn’t even helped set up camp…\n\nNext to him, Khan drew himself up onto one elbow and looked down at him, his paw tracing the invisible line from Kel’s throat downward, over the white star on his chest to the silky fur of his belly and back up…a caress as gentle and loving as a breeze across a pond in the mountains. The softness in his blue eyes so thoroughly distracted him he lost his train of thought and shivered as the tension that had been building in him eased, and his body went limp. Well…not completely limp. Within the confines of his sheath, something else was stirring…He blushed, and prayed fervently that Khan would not notice the slow awakening of his desire. \n\n “What’s that face, love?”\n\nThis face? What face? There was no face there…He rolled and ducked his face away from Khan’s sight, buried his muzzle in the thick white fur of his chest. \n\nThis time though. Khan would not be so easily evaded. Instead of simply holding him like he’d done at other times, he gently pushed him away and when Kel still sought to look away, he tilted his head up, forced him to meet his eye. There was no evading that look.\n\n“We’ve been through so much together, seen so much of each other. Hell…we even share some of each other’s memories now. Why still hide from me? Kel, I…I can’t lie to you. We both know what I set out to do. You know very well that I’ve wanted you since before we started out…and I know that you want me. After all we’ve shared…why do you still push me away? Kel…”\n\nNo. No! Goddess Khan, I’m not pushing you away…But Khan was not done with him. He flexed the paw that was still gently pressing down on Kel’s chest where he’d pushed him away and kneaded the soft white fur there. Paralysed, once again completely and utterly defenceless before this big, sexy wolf, Kel stared up at him, unable to utter a single word as Khan’s paw worked upwards from his chest and came to rest on the side of his neck.\n\n“Kel…I love you. I want to make love to you. I’ve wanted you to be my lover. Kel…”\n\nIt was becoming hard to think…hard to comprehend what was happening. The words failed to make any sense to the young black wolf…but the meaning was abundantly clear, and became clearer still when the big white wolf leaned over him. Sensitive whiskers twitched slightly when the soft fur of his muzzle brushed the shiny blackness of his nose. Unable to stop himself, Kel drew Khan’s scent deep into himself…and at once knew the truth of Khan’s words. The alpha’s dominance, his strength and resolve clung to him…but threaded though that was something Kel had never scented on him before: submission. His eyes widened, and he moaned softly as Khan’s pink, and exceedingly wet tongue lapped tenderly around his muzzle and nose. Kel knew what he was saying…and it was incredible! Furry they may be…but the ancient instinct of the wolf was still very much a part of them…and so was the ancient message Khan was silently giving him: You are my equal, maybe my superior, and I pay homage to you as my leader! You are of my pack, of my family. We belong together. Whatever scent Khan drew from him…he seemed to enjoy. Bit my bit, his resistance was being eroded away. The heat he’d felt earlier moved inward, away from his skin and blazed outward until his entire skin was tingling. Khan’s licking of his face continued for some time, until the mysterious burning reached back inside and found utterance in the soft moans of pleasure that escaped his lips. Goddess, Khan…!\n\nLost in feelings that were at once familiar and an utter mystery, he didn’t immediately notice when Khan stopped touching him, but once he did, he opened his eyes to look accusingly at his lover: who told you to stop?\n\nAmusement twinkled in Khan’s blue eyes as he gazed deeply into the stormy depths of his love, a tender, quizzical smile tugged at the corners of the thin black lines of his lips. \n\n“You’ve never done this before, have you. You’ve never been with anyone.”\n\nA statement of fact. Kel’s ears went flat, and once again, his flushing face found sanctuary in thick white fur. This time though, Khan did draw him close, his free paw holding him tightly, caressing the small of his back. \n\n“Hey…love?” His muzzle too found its mark, the soft cold nose traced a path down the side of his throat to his exposed shoulder (when had he lost his shirt? Dear heavens…did he have anything on at all…?) where he lingered. His lips parted and as gently as he might a pup, his fore-fangs nibbled, grooming the sleep-tangled black fur. His voice, so huskily low, vibrated against Kel’s skin as he murred. \n\n“That’s it isn’t it? Why you…never acted on it?”\n\nKel just shivered, lost between fear and desire, fear that his inexperience would drive Khan away, that Khan would grow bored with him…when what he most wanted in all the world was to have Khan forever by his side as his mate. Hope and love warred openly with his lack of confidence in his own desirability. Fear of rejection, of returning to his previous state of loveless indifference to life kept him rooted in place, unable to move forward or back, even with Khan pressed so close to him. He didn’t want to be just a toy. He wanted Khan to need him…as he knew he needed Khan. Anguished eyes sought understanding in Khan’s…hope and trust begging acceptance.\n\nKhan did not disappoint him.\n\nPlayfully, he kissed his petrified lover, and whispered, “You want to be a good bitch and have no idea how to be one?”\n\nIt was outrageous, an affront, an insult…! From somewhere deep within, his pride reasserted itself and green eyes blazed. His lips drew back as an angry snarl escaped clenched fangs. He surged up from where he’d lain flat on his back with Khan hovering over him and launched himself onto his grinning partner, pinning him to the ground, his shining fangs snapping inches from his nose. \n\n“I’m no one’s bitch!” he growled savagely, only half in play. No one’s bitch! Not ever! \n\nKhan just grinned up at him. Oh yes! Finally! Kel was his!\n\nThe pup straddled him, his knees level with Khan’s hips, his paws resting on Khan’s chest, holding him down. Apparently, Kel had not yet realised that he was naked. Khan licked his lips, openly admiring his young lover’s thick glossy black fur, his flat stomach and slightly flared hips. Many would say that his shoulders and chest were underdeveloped from a warrior’s perspective…but having seen Kel in action, and having touched him, Khan knew what lay under the silky fur. Kel was a wolf more suited to speed than power, a look that Khan had to admit lent him a beauty that was unmatched anywhere. He’d only had that one, brief glimpse of Kel’s naked body that time in Molla’s inn…and that had been from behind. Now…the full frontal aspect of him left Khan breathless. His legs, though as slender as the rest of him, was nevertheless beautifully shaped, not overly muscular like so many other runners’ were. There was a delicacy to him that bespoke refinement and yet, one could not miss the toughness. He would never be mistaken for anything other than a male, although many might underestimate him to their cost. Not classically beautiful the way many said Khan was, but to his eyes, a lovelier creature had never bestrode the world…and straddling him as he was, there was no missing his most….definitive feature. In fighting mould as Kel was at the moment, the twin orbs that defined him as a male was drawn tightly against his body…but the slight fullness in his sheath told an entirely different tale. The reddened tip of his shaft peeked shyly from where it had been hiding in the silky depths. \n\nKhan’s body was responding in the predictable fashion as his own length slipped effortlessly from the confines of his sheath. \n\nAs if only just then realising what was going on, Kel blushed crimson under his fur, but by then it was far too late. His pride would not allow him to retreat, and Khan was fully prepared to take advantage of that. \n\nWithout hesitation, as an alpha laying claim to what he perceived belonged to him, he took hold of Kel by the hips, and slipped his paws upward over his sides and over his chest, stroking tenderly downward, slowly over his belly and past his loins to caress the insides of his thighs. Kel’s angry growling subsided to soft murrs as Khan devoted his full attention to him. He leaned back slightly, although he didn’t let go of Khan’s chest. Unable to fully claim the role of superior, Khan’s paws too softened. The tips of his claws brushed through Kel’s tangled fur, the barest of touches that didn’t penetrate to his skin. As much as he longed to sit up and hug his naked lover to him, he kept to his current role as more and more of Kel’s cock slipped free from where it had been hiding. His conquest of Kel had to be kept to a pace the pup would not find frightening, as frustrating as it was. \n\nFinally, as the hardening shaft reached its fullest extension, Khan left off his tender caresses and took hold of it. Kel gasped, eyes wide, but Khan calmed him with a quick lap of his pink tongue to the arm that was still holding him down…and finally, the fear drained from him as evidently he accepted their mutual attraction…and the love that had lain dormant in them both. He murred, and slowly his paws shifted from Khan’s chest to his shoulders, a tentative caress. Khan smiled, overjoyed by the tiny little gesture of acceptance and renewed his efforts to make his lover’s first time a worthwhile experience. Slowly, he ran the tip of his thumb over the glistening tip of Kel’s cock, rubbing gently before letting his paw slide down the extended length of him to where his knot was yet hiding in the fullness of his sheath, and further down to stroke the silky smoothness that contained his orbs. \n\nKel moaned softly, his paws twitching convulsively where they rested on Khan’s shoulders. His claws pricked the skin, just enough to bruise, but not enough to draw blood. Khan grinned. Poor pup, to respond so strongly to so little! Well, he’d show him more. Still…Kel’s awakening enthusiasm had underscored his own need: his own erection was now painfully demanding attention and Kel was in no position to offer him any…Ah…but that would come later. Kel’s lovely eyes were clouded with the sensation that Khan’s paw was producing. Indeed, he’d begun to grind gently against Khan’s paw, demanding more. Ah, lover…!\n\nWith a single, practised move of hip, leg and arm, Khan rolled Kel off of him and equally swiftly he moved to cover him, pinning him beneath his larger weight. Before shock could even register on Kel’s face, Khan had him locked in a deep kiss, his muzzle fitting perfectly over Kel’s and his tongue had his well and truly subdued. His paws held Kel’s arms pinned to his sides and his thigh…his thigh nestled neatly between his lover’s legs, pressing down on the hardness there. Kel struggled weakly, eyes wide with fright, but Khan did no more than kiss him and it didn’t take long for his own lust to reassert itself and he kissed back with an intensity that took Khan’s breath away. Far from ready to be a spectator during their lovemaking, Kel tried his best to manoeuvre Khan to where he could lock his legs around his waist, but the older wolf resisted. Laughing, he broke the kiss and grinned down at his lover. Clouded eyes cleared and as Khan let his pinned arms go, Kel slid them around his shoulders to caress his back. Never in his life had such a simple gesture brought the big wolf such pleasure, spoke to him of such deep need and desire. Startled by the feeling, he looked at Kel, met his eyes…and saw the acceptance, the excitement and love there. No more fear. Just desire. Overcome by deep tenderness for this young wolf, Khan stroked his face with one paw, and grinned mischievously at him.\n\n“No one’s bitch, huh? You are mine, pup! And I’m never letting you go!” He kissed him then, more gently this time in spite of Kel’s attempts to protest…protests that dwindled when Khan’s free paw touched his belly, and lingered there while they kissed. With his love temporarily under control, Khan broke the kiss and smiled, much more seriously.\n\n“If a bitch was all I wanted. But I want more, Kel. I don’t want just a bitch. If I did…I would have taken you long before now. Lover…I…I…”\n\nThe words seized in his throat, and he looked helplessly down at Kel. What he wanted to ask was something he never thought he’d say, had scoffed at so often when others asked. He’d been asked this question a number of times, and had never understood the pain they caused others when they were thrown back at them, discarded in the dust. The utter vulnerability that the question would create in him was almost too much to bear. He tried to look away from Kel…but found that he couldn’t. His gaze was locked with Kel’s as the link Kel had forged between them snapped into effect, and he felt…really felt Kel’s response deep within him; the wild hope of what the young wolf felt the question should be, what he desperately wanted it to be, and it gave Khan the courage he needed to ask it. \n\n“Kel…I love you. I’ve never loved…but I know that I love you. I want you. I…sometimes I…I even need you. But mostly I love you. Kel…lover…please…will you be my mate?” \n\nA slight tremor ran through Khan’s body as at long last, the longing he’d felt and had hidden for so long was acknowledged and expressed. Stormy green softened with love, brightened with joy and suddenly Khan was the startled recipient of a sloppy wet kiss as Kel licked his nose and muzzle in the self-same gesture Khan had used earlier to express what he felt: you are my pack, my partner, my mate, my equal. I am yours…and I lay claim to you! Just as suddenly he felt his head pulled down and soft words were whispered in his ear…”Yes! Yes, oh yes! I’ll be your mate! I love you!” \n\nAhhhh….An inadvertent exclamation of joy that intensified into a howl…and moments later, a second voice joined in as the two lovers howled their love for all the world to hear. Their eyes met again, and eyes glinted mischievously as sudden desire swept over them, renewed by their acceptance of each other. The hardness of Khan’s erection was still pressed against Kel’s hip…but that was not where it desperately wanted to be. Under him, Kel seemed just as desperate to have something done to him…and Khan remembered that this was his lover’s very first time. As much as he wanted his mate’s tailhole…he knew that he might not be able to restrain himself from tying with him at this point…and he had no desire to hurt Kel, as tying with him surely would. The size of his knot might stretch him beyond his limits. No. Best to start him out slowly, get him used to making love to another male. Desire was one thing, but the realities of gay sex were something else. Gently, with as much tenderness as he could, he pressed down on Kel, gaining leverage to shift himself fully onto him, and slightly upward so their loins were pressed firmly together. Already, the first drops of precum was glistening at the tip of Khan’s cock, lubricating them. He would have to move carefully as without it, the experience could be painful…Under him, Kel moaned and spread his legs to allow Khan to better fit to him. His paws on Khan’s back tracked up and down along the hard muscle, a clear invitation for Khan to get on with it. Amused by his mate’s impatience, Khan opted to tease him. His muzzle found a tender spot near Kel’s shoulder blade where he nibbled gently, his fangs just barely touching the skin beneath. Kel squirmed and bucked under him, but Khan refused to be hurried. He nibbled gently, moving from Kel’s shoulder to his neck, then lapped at his ears, his cheek and muzzle with his wet tongue. Breathing hard, Kel finally surrendered, and relaxed under him, content at last to let Khan lead him through their first lovemaking. Signalling his submission in the ancient way of the wolf, he threw back his head, exposing his throat to Khan. Immediately, Khan focussed his attention there, accepting his mate’s offering with tender licks to his most vulnerable part, and was rewarded by low moans of need. \n\nEyes closed, Kel waited for Khan to do as he wished with him…a submission he never though he would enjoy, but he did. The big wolf who’d claimed him as his own offered him so much more than just his companionship for the rest of their lives, he’d also made him his equal, elevated him to a position he never thought he’d have: the mate of an alpha…ah, but that was not how Khan was behaving. With every touch, every lap of his tongue, Khan showed him just exactly how the two of them would work. Kel knew through the link they shared just how badly his mate wanted to ravage him…and yet there he was, acting like every individual strand of fur was precious to him. From the depths of the link, Khan’s pleasure came to him: the big wolf was actually enjoying pleasuring him! Joy once more burst within Kel. Khan was still tenderly licking his exposed throat, but now Kel had had enough of gentle. He wanted all Khan could give him, and he was going to get it, going to return what his mate so lovingly gave him! Turning his head to one side, he nuzzled the paw Khan braced himself with, then moved his paws from Khan’s back to his shoulders and levered himself up so he could nuzzle his chest and throat…the last hurry-up call he would give his lover before taking things into his own paws. Fortunately this time Khan answered his silent call and flexed his flanks, driving his loins hard against Kel’s. Sensation exploded as the hardness of him rubbed against his own extended member. Precum erupted from his tip in quick spurts, mixing with Khan’s as the big wolf thrust harder. He yipped with surprise, claws digging deep into Khan’s shoulders.\n\nKhan grunted, but the sudden pain of Kel’s claws ripping into him didn’t distract him for a second. He was used to far worse from unwilling partners in his dark past. His spirit soared at Kel’s sudden show of spirit, and he grinned. Maybe…just maybe he could tie with him after all…but not right away. What he was doing now was not something he’d done often, driving himself directly against a partner. It had never really worked for him, but with Kel it was…different. His young mate thrust back hard with as much force as he was able to with Khan’s weight pressing down on him. Almost instinctively, he angled his body slightly upward to allow their cocks the maximum amount of friction without pulling painfully at their fur…or their dangling orbs. With each drop of precum they spilled between them, the friction decreased slightly, preventing the sensitive skin from desensitising…or pleasure from turning to pain. As it was, his need to cum was throbbing painfully in his loins. He’d long since lost track of where his body began and Kel’s ended as each thrust brought him closer to the inevitable eruption of pleasure that he he’d never shared so abundantly with any other. Under him, Kel too seemed lost. He’d stopped yipping and was now just moaning, licking and nibbling at any part of his mate he could reach. Time to stop…time to show him more…\n\nSlowly, Khan shifted slightly and cupped Kel’s head in his paws, kissed him. Kel’s own arms left their hold on his shoulders and took Khan’s paws in his, broke the kiss to lick at the paws that had tantalised him earlier. Still…deep within his eyes, a stormy discontent was brewing. He most certainly did not want to stop, and Khan bit back a laugh, nuzzled his throat to appease him. Wasting no time, Khan slid back, ignoring Kel’s protests. Instead he licked tenderly at his chest and belly, like he’d done that night at Molla’s. His tongue lingered on Kel’s belly-button, his paws resting gently on his hips, holding him down. \n\n“Khan…” he moaned. “Please…”\n\nOnly too happy to oblige, the big wolf let his muzzle descend further down his lover’s body. One paw gripped the base of his erection where his knot was swelling. The size of it perturbed Khan not at all. The thought of Kel tied to him, of his knot swelling up inside him, made him shiver with longing, but for now, he had other plans. The musky scent of Kel grew stronger the closer his muzzle moved to his throbbing wolfhood. Keeping careful watch on his lover’s reactions, he noticed his paws convulsively clawing at the ground, trembling slightly under Khan’s gentle ministrations. Yes…Kel was more than ready. Grinning, he lifted his muzzle over the red hardness of his mate’s erection and let his tongue lap lightly against the glistening tip. His reward was a loud, shuddering moan and a gasp that he presumed was his name being called. Hehe! Poor pup! His tongue circled the swollen tip, lapping up the drops of salty-sweet precum that spurted in tiny burst from his mate’s body. Kel’s shivering became more intense, a prequel to writhing in pleasure. Gratified by his reaction, Khan intensified his efforts, running his rough tongue along the entire length of Kel, down to where his paw still gripped the expanding knot and up to his tip, where he allowed his muzzle to close over the red hardness. \n\n“Khan…Khan…” Shivering from head to bushy tail, his young mate writhed, his paws thrashed wildly, scrabbling in the grass. Even his hind paws would not be still. \n\n“Shhh, love…” Khan whispered and stroked the insides of his thighs soothingly, lovingly letting the tips of his fingers linger. Once he quieted a little, Khan resumed licking up and down the exposed shaft before once more closing his muzzle over his spurting tip, and began gently to suck on him.\n\nNothing in his short life could have prepared Kel for what was now happening. Many times in his youth, he’d imagined how it might feel with this or that fur, but not even his vivid imagination could have provided this feast of ecstasy that Khan’s tender affections were producing. With each lap of his tongue, the warmth in him spread until his whole body was tingling with need. Surely…surely it could not get better! But it did. The moment Khan’s muzzle closed over him, something new and immensely more pleasurable started happening. Gasping, he tried to call out to Khan, but all that could escape his lips were moans. Tiny pinpricks of pressure touched him as Khan’s teeth gently took hold of him, slid down the entire length of him, the sensitive skin overloading his mind with ecstasy. Dear goddess! What was Khan doing to him? Whatever it was…he wished it never to stop. In his life, he’d never imagined it could be like this. The warmth of Khan’s muzzle only added to the intense pleasure as his head bobbed slowly up and down. There was no way he’d survive the climax…goddess! “Khan…!”\n\nWhen Kel’s voice took on a slight hysterical note, Khan judged it time to stop teasing him. Still…if he reacted this strongly to just a simple muzzle-job, how might he react when Khan took him in the most pleasurable of ways? He shivered with anticipation, and squeezed down hard on Kel’s fully formed knot with his paw. His fangs gripped the sensitive member gently, just hard enough to indent lightly and his tongue rubbed hard against it. Khan well knew just how powerful the sensation could be, and grinned. The salty-sweetness of Kel’s pre dried up in preparation for something far more delicious, something Khan was quite eager to taste. Moments later, a thick sticky wetness erupted from his tip, filling Khan’s muzzle with the taste of his lover: slightly musky-sweet, slightly bitter. He swallowed eagerly, and sucked down hard, longing for every last drop Kel could give him. Kel cried out and reared up, his paws grabbing hold of Khan’s shoulders. Fire settled like a halo around him as Kel pulled involuntarily at his fur, desperately searching for something to bite into, as was the way of the wolf during…or rather after…mating. Next time, love, Khan silently promised him. This was exactly the reason he’d taken this approach. Knowing Kel, he’d be disturbed by his instinctive reaction. The last few drops of seed spurted fast into Khan’s waiting muzzle, which he swallowed as eagerly as the first rapid flood. He eased back on his sucking, and returned to gently lapping at Kel’s wolfhood, letting him down easy from where Khan knew he was. Soft whimpers of pleasure let him know when to stop. He let go of Kel’s knot and slid his body up along Kel’s like he’d done earlier until they were once more face to face, loin against loin. As expected, Kel would not meet his eyes, so he settled for licking his face, his neck….until instinct took over and he once more exposed his throat to his lover. This time, Khan gently took his throat in his muzzle and bit down lightly, then drew his fangs along his windpipe downward, letting his fangs groom him, a gesture of such intimacy Kel went utterly still under him. \n\nKhan shifted one paw and stroked gently at Kel’s cheek, the nuzzled him, just the barest touch of his muzzle to Kel’s.\n\n“I love you,” he murred, and kissed him. “Will you still be my mate?”\n\nShocked to sudden laughter, Kel threw his arms around him and hugged him close.\n\nKhan smiled. “That’s a yes, I take it?” and laughed when Kel launched himself onto him again and licked his face. He took hold of his young mate’s hips and held him close, just enjoying the moment. His heart was throbbing with joy with the same intensity his wolfhood was for love of Kel. They were mated. A matched pair. Mated. The idea still seemed incredible to him. Him. Mated. To Kel. A young fur that was wise beyond his years, that loved life with an intensity that dragged all who knew him behind him. That he would settle for a damaged old campaigner like him with more scars in his soul than fur on his body amazed him. And yet there he was resting on top of him, his paws gently kneading his shoulders, his pink tongue lapping at the thick fur on his chest. How could he not love this young fur? How could anyone fail to be enchanted by him…He shook his head and brushed his fingers lightly up over the side of Kel’s neck toward his face until his fingers came to rest against the side of his muzzle and his thumb supported his chin, tilted his head up so their eyes met. Green eyes, totally unclouded, self-satisfied and secure regarded him, shining with belonging and love.\n\n“We should go,” Kel murred, his voice edged with darker timbres that had not been there previously, a special tone that Khan had never heard from him before, but which he knew was meant for no one but him. His young mate however, seemed in no hurry to go anywhere, judging by the way he snuggled down. Khan smiled. \n\n“In a moment,” he said, and was surprised to hear a similar tone creep into his own voice. Indeed…they belonged to each other; but there was one last thing he wanted to do. His own wolfhood was still painfully hard from lack of attention. Unfair of Kel to have all the fun.... \n\nHe gently pushed Kel off him and as luck would have it, Kel remained on his belly. They’d both need a proper grooming before going into Shiva. It would never do to have two male messengers run into the city smelling of each other…and of sex. The Shivans were strange folk. Khan took a moment to once again admire his lover’s sleek body as he drew himself to his knees and tried without much success to get his mussed fur straightened. Such a fastidious pup he was! Carefully judging his moment, Khan too got to his knees as if to help. He took the brush that Kel had miraculously produced from somewhere in the bedding and positioned himself behind Kel. Kel eyed him suspiciously, smelling a rat in the quirk of Khan’s lips. This too Khan treasured. Once he was positioned to his satisfaction, he wrapped his arms around Kel and drew him close into a tight embrace and nuzzled him. This earned him a laugh and a half-hearted protest about his foolishness and a lack of time to play, but Khan paid no heed whatsoever. His hips were busy probing around Kel’s rump. Kel playfully swished his tail, laughingly trying to thwart his lustful mate. Amused excitement twinkled in his eyes, and suddenly Khan knew that he’d been set up. The sneaky pup had provoked this in the hope he might take the time to make love to him properly. They’d had designs on each other since…heh…well. Since they’d met, he now guessed. Crafty pup. Just who had hunted who? No time to think. Kel leaned forward in Khan’s embrace, leaving him the choice of either letting him go or falling forward onto him. He laughed, delighted at his lover’s sudden change in behaviour, from sweetly hesitant to wantonly eager. Still…maybe he should not be surprised. Quiet rivers usually ran deep…\n\nHe collapsed onto Kel, but drew back slightly just to be sure, and Kel encouraged him further by lifting his tail out of the way. That was all the invitation Khan needed. He leaned forward and pressed the pointed tip of his erected member against Kel’s tight tailhole, rubbing it against him in slow, circular motions to lubricate him with clear, sticky precum. \n\nKel squirmed at the unfamiliar sensation but soon enough relaxed when the expected discomfort failed to materialise. He knew Khan would never deliberately hurt him, but still…he’d been warned that this would hurt. A lot. First times always did, no matter how tender you lover. He relaxed as much as he could as Khan prepared him as best he could. \n\nWhen Khan judged that he was ready, he pressed against Kel’s hole, felt the tight ring expand reluctantly. His tip popped inside and was immediately squeezed tightly as the muscle instinctively constricting to keep the unfamiliar object of Khan’s wolfhood out. Khan gritted his fangs to keep from moaning. Kel was so warm…so marvellously willing and…and…\n\nKel hissed as his tailhole was invaded. No matter how he tried, he couldn’t relax. With every move Khan made, it puckered and tried to expel him, causing him intense discomfort. It wasn’t quite pain…but the burning sensation came close...too close. He gulped and lay still, hoping things would improve soon…\n\nBrought sharply back to reality and embarrassed at his momentary loss of concentration, Khan stopped and drew back slightly, not enough to slip out entirely but sufficient to give Kel some relief. In the past, he would simply have rammed in, not caring how much pain he caused or what kind of damage he left behind. Now he stroked his lover’s back gently, and flexed his flanks, pushing his tip slowly back in. Kel growled softly and once again Khan stopped.\n\n“Shh love. Just relax. It does get better.”\n\nUnder him, Kel nodded and tried to relax as Khan continued to stroke his back and shoulders. Gradually, his muscles went limp and the burning subsided.\n\nKhan took immediate advantage of this by pressing himself in deeper, a tiny bit at a time. This time Kel didn’t tense up, although Khan well knew there would still be some discomfort until he got used to it. Slowly, ever so slowly he slid in deeper, withdrew and lowered himself back down, deeper each time.\n\nWith each slow stroke Khan made, the discomfort lessened as his tailhole was stretched to accommodate him and gradually, the slow friction of the slippery hardness of Khan’s wolfhood stroking his insides turned to reluctant pleasure. The gentleness of his paws eased his fears and the warm weight of his body was oddly reassuring. For some inexplicable reason, Kel felt safer than he ever had before with Khan filling him…like he really belonged to him now...Without realising it, he murred.\n\nEncouraged by this sign of submission, Khan slipped all the way in until his swelling knot pressed tightly against Kel’s tailhole. The until-recently untstretched muscle gripped his wolfhood tightly on all sides, the silken smoothness and warmth of Kel bringing him close the edge. He groaned in pleasure and then, unable to hold back any longer, he gripped Kel tightly to him and increased the pace. Little bursts of precum burst from his tip, slicking up Kel’s insides and easing the friction. Under him, Kel was now murring loudly and yipping occasionally as Khan’s cock caressed his prostate. \n\nEcstasy such as he’d never known before gripped Kel as Khan pounded on him. The huge wolf’s motion within him and the powerful grip he held him with disarmed him completely and within this state of bliss, he could feel Khan’s cock nudging things inside of him, exciting him to new heights of pleasure. His own cock expanded once more with the need to ejaculate. He moaned, and tried to reach behind him, to grip some part of his lover, but Khan’s huge weight pressed him down and rendered him helpless. For some reason, this helplessness under his mate excited him all the more even as Khan’s voice soothed him and his scent told him the full story of Khan’s regard for him. Gripped by the sudden desire to be tied to Khan, Kel tried to get to all fours. Khan responded immediately by easing up on the pressure, but by no means let up on the incredibly pleasurable speed with which he plunged deeply into him and back out. He gripped Kel around the waist and pulled him back up to his knees, his rough pink tongue immediately seeking Kel’s shoulder and his paws…\n\nAll thought stopped as Khan’s paw closed around his wolfhood and gripped it tightly…oh so much more tightly than his muzzle had earlier and stroked it in time with his nudging from behind. Kel threw back his head, instinctively longing for his mate’s jaws on his throat. His back arched as he pushed back against Khan, trying to force a tie, to get Khan’s knot into him, but Khan foiled his efforts and chuckled tenderly in his ear, then licked it gently. \n\n“My sweet Kel…” his deep voice murred, and the next moment Kel found Khan’s arm crushing him to him and a stab of horrible pain assailed his tailhole as Khan rammed his knot inside and continued to pound on him. Kel yelped and instinctively struggled to get away from the violent pain but the internal pressure of Khan’s knot swelling up inside him calmed him even as Khan whispered sweetly in his ear. His pounding heart slowed and Khan’s movements became more languid, more gentle as Kel’s tight passage around the huge knot made him work hard to keep moving. The pain faded, to be replaced by a dull ache…until Khan’s cock again brushed against his prostate and the pleasure returned. Behind him, Khan grunted and bit into his neck as he finally reached his own climax and filled Kel with a warm flood of sperm. With his insides now well and truly slicked, Khan was once again able to move freely within and moments later, the combination of Khan’s tender touch, the feel of his knot plugging his tailhole and the length of him stroking him inside and his own hardness being stroked with such expert attention caused shot after shot of warm cum to erupt from him, covering Khan’s paw in white stickiness. \n\nFor a moment, neither wolf moved, content to just remain as they were. Khan recovered first and let go of Kel’s neck and carefully examined him. It had not been his intention to bite, but somewhere long the way his instincts had taken over, such was the pleasure he found in Kel. Kel murred softly, his arms folded tightly over Khan’s where they held him. His young mate leaned against him, exhausted but murring happily as Khan kissed him. Carefully, ever so carefully, Khan shifted their positions so they lay on their sides, his tummy still pressed to Kel’s back and his cock still very much inside him, irrevocably tied for the time being. \n\nThe sun still beat down on them, but neither wolf was much bothered. They had found each other, and nothing was ever going to separate them. \n\n",
"writing_bbcode_parsed": "Changes of heart
Part one: Ghosts
Darkness surrounded him, choking his vision. All around, the night was silent. Not a single sound dared intrude, and the dampness of the air made breathing a chore. The swamp was an unforgiving place and death stalked it this night. Even this late at night, it was warm and muggy. Moonlight flashed on cold steel. Warm blood splashed on his back…shadows in the wood! His heart pounded. The blood was not his, he knew, but that of Dehelian, the youth who’d been placed in his charge less than a month before. Amber eyes stared up at him. What happened? Khan, please? What happened? What’s going on? Then understanding. I am dying...
The young fox’s eyes cleared, and for just a moment, he looked strangely at Khan.
He is telling me something...something vital. It was there in his eyes. Khan could see it...it was right there!
Rage built inside and he wanted to shake the dying fox. What are you saying? What are you trying to tell me? Tell me! Tell me!
Blood bubbled from the cold black nose of his former lover...and the light left his eyes, taking his secret to his grave...
His white muzzle lifted in a howl that never came. Cold sweat beaded his fur as he reared up in bed, paws desperately seeking the twin curved blades that were never far from his reach. He panted heavily in the still of the night, shivering uncontrollably. He gulped deep breaths to still his hammering heart and glanced around him. The same ferny plants and mangroves. The same stinking water and muddy soil...but no blood on his back. It had not happened today, but more than a decade before. A nightmare. One he hadn’t had in years.
The big arctic wolf shivered again and threw the threadbare blankets off him. He habitually slept naked as his thick, white fur provided sufficient warmth. He shivered as the night breeze touched his sweat-damped fur and slowly got up, careful not to disturb his sleeping companion. Kelen Darkwolf was his latest charge, and on his very first run for the Baron’s Messengers. The young wolf lay soundly asleep on the other side of the smouldering embers, his blankets drawn tightly around him.
Khan smiled bitterly. No doubt all the trees and the presence of another young soul had brought the memories into his mind once more, and never mind the muggy weather and wet undergrowth. He stood in silence, watching Kel’s slender body, contrasting it to Dehelian’s.
There really was not much in common. Kel was a black wolf, slender and graceful, lightly muscled and bony. There was not a single ounce of excess fat anywhere on him, and his fur was not as long and silky as Dehelian’s had been. Ah, but there were the eyes, ever watchful, wary…luminous with intelligence and soft with gentleness. Kel’s were deep aquamarine rather than amber, but they had the same clarity.
He shook his head. Kel was nothing like Dehelian, and yet he feared for him…although not in quite the same way. Kelen was stronger than Del and could hold his own in a fight. He knew ways of defeating an enemy that seemed miraculous to Khan. Khan’s own method of fighting involved swords, mace, axe and longbow. Kel had as his entire arsenal two simple throwing knives. It was almost incomprehensible, but it was amazingly effective!
Kel used his entire body as a weapon. A few simple-seeming movements was all it took for him to disarm an opponent. Deliberately, he cast his mind back to his first memory of Kel. Anything to keep his mind away from thoughts of Dehelian...especially in this place...
It was close to midday at the officers’ barracks in the city of Von Haugen six months previously. It was early spring and the new recruits were just starting their training...and as usual, Deena was arguing with Bhaz. Deena was a sleek young otter with unusually dark fur and was a master with the longbow.
“I’m telling you! It’s magic!” Deena said.
Bhaz scoffed and spat on the dusty ground. He was a badger and had all the stubborn contrariness of his species and the pure muscle to back it up.
“Nonsense! I’ve seen hundreds of puppies. They all think they’re the bee’s knees until they come to my class. This pup will be no different, you’ll see!”
“Yeah. Sure. None of the pups you trained were Kiyan. He’ll disassemble you.”
“Nonsense!”
“Alright. It’s your funeral.”
Khan pricked his ears. So! They had a Kiyan youth wanting to join up. The news surprised him. He’d visited Kiy in his youth and had even fought against them back in his mercenary days when…whichever of the city-states of the time had tried to invade Kiy. Khan could no longer remember. Old wars and old battles flowed together in his mind like quicksand. All that had mattered back then was who paid best.
No one really knew that much about Kiy besides the fact that they had superb warriors and that they were the only nation not to outlaw witchcraft. As a result, Kiyans were generally not well received on the rare occasions one of them ventured outside their borders. They were a secretive, insular people that no one really understood.
Deena was correct. Whoever this Kiyan pup was...he would take old Bhaz apart.
He grinned. It would be worth seeing. The muscular old badger could use a good beating. He listened for a while longer until he overheard the bit of information he wanted: when Bhaz’s class was scheduled, then went about his business.
That afternoon, he joined most of the other instructors and a few of the students. Word spread quickly in the messenger community and no one wanted to miss this. The students all arrived in a troop from the previous class and Khan’s eyes focussed immediately on the young black wolf that stood on the sidelines of the group.
He was tall. Six feet at least, and slender – almost bony. His shoulders were of average width and his hips too appeared to be largely unpadded. Skin-tight black leather covered most of his body from his ankles to his throat. It left very little to the imagination and Khan almost drooled.
The leather shirt was buttoned in ivory and featured a number of loops that he presumed were meant for weapons – knives probably. Indeed, the silver, unadorned hilts of two knifes stuck out from the pup’s belt, one on each side. They were set for quick drawing, Khan noted with a smile.
His black trousers were unadorned and was neatly tucked into the tops of what resembled the usual boots a messenger might wear. The leather around the ankles seemed thicker, offering much-needed support for a runner.
The black-furred wolf walked lightly on his foot-paws, his gait relaxed and casual. Aquamarine eyes darted this way and that while white-tipped ears pricked alertly forward. Watchful but unwary and graceful like a dancer, he was every inch a warrior.
Khan smiled and settled down to watch, his own sapphire eyes drinking in the sight of the young predator.
Bhaz was old and what had once been massive muscles now ran to fat. Even so, in spite of grey furs on his muzzle, he was still the best fighter in the service, and fast. He approached his students and faced them with confidence. Immediately he focussed his attention on the black furred pup as his first victim.
“You! Over here. Right now.”
He indicated a spot right in front of him, didn’t raise his voice or spoke in a particularly commanding tone. It was the entirely of his presence that made the group of students shrink back and draw together.
Without hesitation, without so much as a dip of his ears, the slender young wolf stepped forward, and Khan noted the confidence in his step. This wolf knew exactly what he was capable of and saw no reason to fear the shorter, but much heavier badger.
He reached the indicated spot and stood still, waiting.
Bhaz was addressing the students, speaking in glowing terms about the lessons he would teach them, and how no matter what skills they thought they had, he would show up the fallacies in their training and make them the best fighters they could possibly be.
Next to Khan, Shareeva, the knife expert nudged him in the ribs with her elbow.
“He has no idea, has he?” She asked in her deep contralto voice.
“None whatsoever!” Khan replied cheerfully, and Shareeva laughed.
Khan put an arm casually around her shoulders and she snuggled in closer. Shareeva was an Indian Wolf and was one of the very few females who actively encouraged Khan’s attentions. Together, the two of them had added whole new chapters to the Sutra.
While they cuddled, Bhaz finished his speech and turned his attention back to the black-furred pup. He stared at him for a few moments, then lashed out a paw in a right-pawed jab that he intended to connect on the pup’s shoulder.
It never connected. The pup simply wasn’t where Bhaz was sure he had to be. Thrown off-balance, his arm moved farther than he expected and in the few moments it took the old badger to reassess his situation and respond, the pup had hold of his wrist. Slender black legs collapsed under him, and he fell backwards, jerking the badger further forward, using the momentum that his opponent’s body already had to propel him even further off-balance. His collapsing body fell in a tightly controlled way, going backward and sideways at the same time. Old Bhaz went sailing overhead...but the pup was not done with him yet. His paw still held the old Badger’s wrist, and as the pup’s arm reached its fullest extension, it jerked Bhaz around so he started to flip onto his back in mid-air. The pup’s foot-paws came up and connected squarely on his thighs at the same instant his paw let go. Now carrying his own momentum as well as all of the pup’s excess motion, there was no stopping him. Like an arrow out of a bow, Bhaz flew through the air in a graceful arc.
The look on his face was priceless: surprise and panic and mortification warred on the badger’s face as he watched the sky, knowing the ground waited below.
As he flew, the pup completed a graceful roll that brought him back on his foot-paws in time to see the badger hit the ground flat on his back. A small smile played across the young wolf’s narrow muzzle as the breath whooshed out of the badger. He dusted off his leathers and returned to his classmates.
There was silence for a few moments except for the heavy groaning that came from the heap of badger on the ground, then soft clapping as someone in the crowd gave expression of their appreciation. Soon, the whole crowd was clapping. A few of the older students, those who had suffered most under Bhaz’s hard tutelage, even cheered.
Clearly, there was going to be no class today.
Khan looked around for the pup, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Simply amazing...
In the hubbub, Khan too slipped away, and thanked the gods for the existence of this place, where a warrior could still be a warrior without making excuses. The emergence of the Baron had for some reason heavily impacted on the availability of work for mercenaries such as himself. After some months of fruitless searching, he’d come here, and was assigned duty as instructor. To his surprise, the big wolf found that he actually enjoyed it, teaching cocky young warriors lessons that would one day save their lives.
The pay was good and there were plenty of furs and furres around for him to sleep with.
He wondered if the black pup’s story was similar to his own.
He wondered if he could get him into bed.
Khan stretched and sighed softly. He looked at the heap of clothes he’d discarded and decided not to dress. Instead he settled down on a fallen tree trunk nearby. So many years have passed since the day Dehelion died, and yet...he could remember it with crystal clarity. Tonight seemed much like that that night had been: the same muggy air, the same low moon...the same darkness. The same swamp.
He shivered and glanced across the fire toward his young charge, deliberately trying not to think about that terrible night.
Kel lay sleeping not ten feet from him, stretched out flat on his belly with his tail drawn tightly over his tailhole, fully dressed and covered in blankets.
Khan chuckled. None of that would stop him if he chose to take the pup. Gods know he’d done it often enough in the past. Few could resist his charms…and those that did were usually quickly persuaded otherwise. Khan always got what he wanted, one way or another.
He chuckled again. His mind never strayed too far from thoughts of his lovely young companion, and to keep his lust for him at least semi-controlled, he let his mind wander again, knowing that sleep would evade him for the rest of the night.
To his chagrin, never got to teach the pup anything.
After old Bhaz’s humiliation, the other instructors all carefully tested the pup and passed him. He’d fared worst against Khan, who was fully ambidextrous and with his twin curved blades and good balance of strength and speed, was an easy match for the pup’s sword skill.
Not even Shareeva had much to add to his physical training, and so he was handed over to the ancient librarian who would see to his education.
From that moment forward, Khan saw little of him. The old orang-utan seemed as fond of Kel as all the other instructors. The pup spend so much time with his muzzle stuffed in dusty old books that he never paid much attention to anything or anyone else. He did what everyone else did, but never in the ways they did it.
When he trained, he did so in the peculiar way of Kiyans: slow, sinuous movements that suddenly became leaps and whirls as he gyrated and punched and kicked at the insubstantial air. Violence disguised as harmonious grace, like a dance.
It was beautiful to watch, and Khan did so as often as he could, both for the movements themselves and because the pup himself was so beautiful.
When he studied, he did so alone in his room with dozens of small candles surrounding him, his entire attention devoted to whatever he was reading.
Some nights, Khan saw him sitting quietly in repose, his paws resting on his knees, eyes closed and back straight, meditating in the moonlight.
He never took anybody to his bed, never really mixed with the others and never made any waves.
For their part, none of the other students seemed interested in befriending him either. While the ability to work alone was a valued trait in a messenger, and his seeming dedication to it was commendable, most of the instructors were concerned. It was a subject that came up regularly during the weekly meetings when the instructors reported on the progress of candidates.
“The pup is simply not integrating into the group. He displays absolutely no sense of community whatsoever. I can’t see how we can pass him.” Old Bhaz groused one evening.
Shareeva sighed and shook her head. They’d had this argument several times in the past and it never got resolved. Khan suppressed a bored yawn and resigned himself to another boring argument.
“Bhaz, it doesn’t matter.” Shareeva said. “Messengers are alone a lot of the time on the road. He functions well enough in social situations when he needs to. His isolation is more your fault than his, you know. If you hadn’t been so eager to prove a silly point and forced him to show up the other students so badly...”
BAM!
Bhaz’s fist hit the table, making their tankards rattle. Khan imagined steam pouring from the badger’s ears. Shareeva and Bhaz fundamentally disliked each other, and almost always took opposing views. More...Shareeva had a soft spot for the pup just as obviously as Bhaz was out for his hide. Khan shook his head, trying to find a way to get them both to back off so the meeting could end. He had a nice piece of tail lined up for the night and he didn’t want to keep her waiting.
“Sharee...” the old badger started again, an edge to his voice. He had the kind of presence that made it seem like he was shaking his finger in her face even though he was across the table from her and still had his paw on the table.
“It’s not my fault that he knew everything already. How was I to know...”
“It’s not his either! He’s better than any of the others...”
“Sharee...!”
Just then, a thought occurred to Khan...one that could serve all their purposes. He blurted it out before Shareeva could gather her breath to speak.
“Why not hand his finishing over to me?”
“...he’s made no effort whatsoever...!...Wha’?”
“...at everything we try to teach...!...What?”
Khan suppressed a smile and put on his most innocent expression.
“Why not hand his finishing over to me?” He repeated, and had the immense satisfaction of seeing both Sharee and Bhaz gaping at him like fish.
“Well, why not?” Khan forged ahead. “You lot have been debating this for months and never come up with a solution. I’m the most socially active...”
Shareeva snorted and covered her muzzle with a paw in a sudden fit of coughing. Bhaz’s face looked like he was sucking lemons.
Khan ignored them and continued.
“...and I’ve been to all the lands and most of the cities. Besides. None of you have anything better to suggest. Give him to me. I’ll fix him.”
They started at him. The silence hung like a blanket of lead over the room.
Finally, old Bhaz roared with laughter.
“By all the gods, why not?”
Khan winced. Out of principle, Shareeva would side against Bhaz, and she was a serious adversary.
“Now see here Bhaz my dear...We all know...”
“Oh, get off your high horse, missy. That pup kicked my ass. If he can kick mine, he can certainly kick Khan’s. If Khan wants to risk his balls on the pup, I say let him.”
And that settled that. He’d spent months hunting the pup, and failed. And now...now he was going to get him.
That very night, when the assignments were made, Khan lingered near the assignment board, casually sipping brandy and idly joking with whoever passed, as if he was just a friendly instructor who wanted to congratulate his students on their first assignments, curious to see Kel’s reaction.
He’d even dressed up for the occasion. Unlike Kel, Khan favoured dark greens and browns in a lighter, more baggy style. He’d never been comfortable in leather and heavy linen was cooler. His fuzzy white fur made wearing lots of clothes unnecessary. His twin swords were strapped across his back. Every inch the correct messenger garb.
When Kel came though, he barely lifted an eyebrow when he saw who he’d been assigned. He just gave Khan a searching look, a look that for some reason knotted Khan’s belly. It wasn’t a threat, not even a warning, but a…a curiosity, a question that suddenly Khan didn’t have the answer for. Why WAS he doing this? Kel strode off to his little student’s cubicle and the moment was lost. Khan dismissed the thought and went to bed.
The next morning he rose well before dawn to pack the meagre provisions that was a messenger’s lot and headed out, fully expecting the pup to be still in bed. Instead he found him tying his packs to his back, ready to leave. He could only nod curtly when Kel raised an enquiring eyebrow, and motioned with one paw for him to take the lead. Kel did so with no hesitation and set off at a brisk pace into the early morning gloom. Not a word was said. None was necessary. They both knew what was going on: Khan was going to try and get Kel, and Kel was going to resist.
Khan shivered and set off after him, watching and waiting for any chance that might come his way.
Kel hadn’t fallen for him that easily though. Khan smiled in the darkness. Even now, the pup remained wary, watchful. Even when soundly asleep, his ears swivelled, listening for every little sound.
His face though, was relaxed and peaceful. Not even staid young Kiyans could resist the romance of the road, the joy of the wind whipping through fur as they ran in utter freedom, going wherever, the future a blank sheet waiting to be painted.
Out here, the blank mask had fallen away from Kel’s face. His eyes glittered with the fierce joy of running, face animated when he enthusiastically told Khan about his homeland, about what he’d read in his books about the villages they now passed, about how this or that person was making difficulties for the Baron in his quest for peace.
Khan usually listened with just one ear. What did he care for peace? Or books? Out here though, there was no evading the pup’s chatter and almost in spite of himself, Khan found himself drawn into conversation, not only about what had happened, but about what it all meant.
As the days had worn on, he’d found himself looking inward more and more, reassessing events in his past in the light of the treasure-trove of insights Kel offered. It had belatedly occurred to him that maybe being skilled in more than just swordplay (quick grin) might not be all bad.
Once again, he glanced in Kel’s direction, wondering why he was doing this. And why the pup reminded him so much of Dehelian.
He sighed and looked off into the darkness. It was small comfort. How on earth had he gotten to this point, back where it all started?
He watched the pup carefully as they ran, looking for any sign of fatigue, of loss of concentration, of carelessness, but there was nothing. Even when talking at full tilt, the pup kept scanning his surroundings, kept tabs on his companion, watching him as carefully as Khan watched him.
Khan had already concluded that simply taking the pup would fail. There was no guarantee that he could best him in a wrestling match. Khan well knew he was physically more powerful than Kel and had more stamina, but Kel was faster. Much faster. He also had his Kiyan battle skills. He could quite possibly tie Khan around a tree if he really wanted to. Old Bhaz was perfectly correct about that. No. Catching him by surprise was out of the question. Khan was quite convinced that nothing would ever surprise this lad. He would have to be more subtle.
So it was that he played the part of the professional, dutiful Messenger’s Guard, as if he’d left his designs on Kel behind when Kel graduated from student to formal Messenger. Whether he was fooling him remained to be seen. Kel maintained his watchful brief.
They ran all day, every day, from sunrise to sunset, stopping only to hunt whatever was available in the woods or on the plains. They took turns dressing the carcasses, setting up camp, building the fire and cooking their meals…when they bothered with cooking at all. By day, they hunted small game, drinking the blood for the quick energy it offered and stuffing the carcasses in their packs for later consumption.
Khan was impressed with the time they were making. Kel might lack his stamina, but by the gods, he could keep up! For some reason that pleased him. Few of the puppies he’d chaperoned had really been prepared for life on the road; the sole reason veterans like Khan was always sent along for that first run. It hadn’t taken long for Khan to realize that Kel didn’t need any guidance from him.
Not that this surprised him. He knew something of the Kiyan folk. Their young were trained in what was commonly referred to as the martial arts from the time they could stand up. The strange tenets of their religion were somehow connected to this. Khan had never cared enough to find out exactly how.
Kiyans lived their religions somehow. Their art of the body was somehow also connected to this. Theirs was a life of hardship, but also of great joy and beauty, to hear Kel tell it. No, the pup didn’t need him at all. It was refreshing and left him time to simply observe the pup for his own sake, simply because he was so beautiful!
The attack came late that afternoon. They passed between a series of hillocks; a narrow pass that some long-ago lord had carved to connect his upper and lower pastures. The hillsides immediately adjacent to the road had been cleared of trees, but further back, tiny copses of fast-growing pine remained. No city-state claimed jurisdiction over the area and thus maintenance had been neglected for decades. No maintenance…and no patrols. Wary as the two wolves were, the attack nevertheless almost caught them by surprise. With the sun in their eyes, they did not see the shadows moving at the edge of the trees at the bend in the road directly ahead.
Mercifully, the first shot fired went slightly wide, as if the archer were unused to shooting at a moving target. The slight mistake was warning enough. With the speed of long familiarity, the twin blades Khan carried hissed out of their leather scabbards even as one of Kel’s throwing knives whistled through the air past Khan’s left ear and into the throat of the archer above. He collapsed into a heap, gurgling as he drowned in his own blood.
Shouts came from the woods to their left and right and without hesitation, the two wolves took station at each other’s backs. Khan cursed under his breath, his blades held ready, eyes scanning the area. Kel stood crouched behind him, his one remaining knife gripped tightly in his left paw. Five shapes materialised, moving confidently, defiantly, waving a motley collection of weapons. Three to the left, two to the right, but no more archers. Khan gave silent thanks to the Kiyan gods for the young black wolf at his back.
Behind him, Kel readied himself, positioning himself in that deceptively calm posture that spoke volumes about the violence about to be unleashed. No time to worry about the pup. The lead shape charged. Khan swung into action, twin blades flashing in the sunlight as they rushed forward to meet the blade of the fox in the lead. He beat the raised blade contemptuously out of his way and spun, letting his momentum carry him past his assailant.
The second blade drank deeply of the fox’s jugular as he swung past, just in time to meet an incoming mace. Metal screamed and twanged as the mace shattered the right hand blade. Khan cursed again, furious at himself. He let himself collapsed to the ground to evade his attacker.
The badger’s huge momentum carried him past Khan and as he turned, Khan’s heel lashed out and crunched into the badger’s knee , shattering it. The beast roared with rage and pain, but was quickly silenced by a quick stab to the heart. One more.
Khan scanned his surroundings. The third assailant had rushed past him and had joined his one remaining companion in confronting the pup. Another fox lay dead, a neat slice across the belly that proclaimed Kel’s skill with his blade. It wasn’t a lethal wound, but were sufficiently distracting for Kel to crush his windpipe.
Very neatly done.
Nevertheless, the remaining wolf and bear were armed with long-swords. Not even Kel’s prodigious speed would save him for long. Khan raised his blade and rushed into the fray, snarling fiercely. The momentary distraction he provided was enough for Kel’s deadly blade to sink into the bear’s left eye. Khan hadn’t even seen his arm sweep up to throw it. Moments later, Khan’s blade found its mark in the wolf’s back. It collapsed and died with blood bubbling from its nose and muzzle. Khan snarled in contempt and kicked the corpse hard.
Fool of a wolf! Fool of a robber, to take on Khan! And Kel. He turned to face the pup. Kel stood calmly by, scanning the woods on either side of them, wary for any potential reserves. He was not even breathing hard. Behind him, a sword glinted in the grass. So. He’d disarmed the fox before dispatching him. Impressive! He searched the youngling’s face, but found no signs of undue distress. Khan smiled ruefully. A warrior born.
Khan took up the sword Kel had taken from the fox, noting with a wrinkled nose the spots of rust on what was otherwise a fine weapon. It wasn’t curved like the blade that had been broken, and it was a bit heavier too. Khan sneered. The hilt was overlaid with gold leaf. It might once have belonged to a nobleman and was a bit ornate for his taste, but it would serve.
Kel retrieved his knife, wiped it clean in the grass and replaced it in his belt. Khan shrugged and moments later, they were back on the road. Kel seemed to lag a little, so Khan slowed his pace. They were close to the city now anyway.
They reached the city of Temet just after sunset. It had not been Khan’s intention to stop there, but they were both tired. They’d pushed each other hard over the last week and both were beginning to feel a bit flea-bitten. What worried Khan more was that young Kel was beginning to show signs of a limp. He deliberately avoided thinking about his own aching back and shoulder.
Temet was a fair-sized city of about 25,000 furs and humans, all mixed together. Temet sat right where the furry kingdom of Furwold and the mostly human-occupied territory of Woodsworth met. Although officially a loose collection of independent city-states, everyone in Woodsworth took their orders form the Duke of Reeve, who in turn accepted “suggestions” from the Lady Killwing of Wolfswood, who was heavily influenced by her mate, the Lord Steelheart, who…surprise, surprise, was the Baron’s second in command.
Khan shook his head and grinned. The convolutions of politics had never attracted him, but now…There was something amazing about the balance of power the Baron maintained. And the Messengers were integral to that. For the first time in his life, Khan felt himself a part of something larger than himself.
They approached directly and flashed their official badges of service and were immediately admitted into the city by the gate guards. Khan watched carefully and took note of the worried looks the guards exchanged, desperate fear in their eyes.
Beside him, Kel tensed and kept close without having to be prompted. Khan smiled. He had good instincts. They proceeded down the main carriageway toward an inn Khan frequented during passage through the city: The Night Owl.
All around them, people watched them with the same suspicion and fear that the guards displayed. Some looked outright hostile, but none dared interfere. The Messengers were officially acknowledged by the city’s ruler, and though they didn’t have an official chapterhouse here, they still had representation. Lady Killwing made sure of that.
They reached the inn and were ushered inside by a bustling old mousewife who mothered them outrageously. Kel meekly submitted to her ministrations, looking embarrassed, while Khan looked on, amusement twinkling in his eyes. He knew old Molla very well, how to deflect her instincts. She was the closest thing to a mother he’d ever had. So he sat back and watched as she fussed over Kel, feeling strangely warm inside.
After supper, Molla led them upstairs to a large room with a single bed, apologising all the way. It was the only room she had available. Kel looked a bit suspicious about that though. Khan smiled. One look had been all it took to let Molla know what he wanted; one look at her…and one longing look at the pup. Molla was quick, and as always, willing to help the cause of love.
She ushered them inside, and promised to wake them before dawn with a suitable breakfast and some supplies. Khan thanked her warmly, and at the last moment impulsively caught the old mouse in a bear hug and swung her around once, startling her to a delighted laugh. She touched his cheek once with a greying paw and left, her old eyes misted over. From the corner of his eye, Khan noticed Kel looking at him with the most peculiar little smile on his face, his eyes soft and oddly surprised. He shrugged and dismissed the thought. Must be imagining things. He grinned to himself. Time to start on phase two of his master plan.
Molla’s inn had the most luxurious of bathhouses deep in the basement. Water heated in the kitchen over the cooking fires was piped down to the bathhouse, where careful attendants added herbs and scented oils to revive tired bodies and drive away the fleas. After dropping their packs in their room, Khan led the pup down the stairs, where they were greeted by two silent hares who each handed them brushes, soap and scented towels.
Grinning, Khan indicated Kel precede him, where an old vole imperiously demanded their clothes. Khan watched, amused, as Kel flushed scarlet under his black fur, but the old master of the bathhouse would not be evaded. Ears flattened to his skull, Kel stripped out of his tight-fitting black leathers, careful to keep his back to Khan.
At last, Khan had a sight of the pup in the nude. His leathers didn’t leave much to the imagination, but it did conceal the fact that he was not merely slender and bony. His back was straight when he stood, but also wondrously supple. Lean muscle rippled in his back as he bent over to remove his trousers. His legs too were muscular and well-toned. It was as if his muscles fitted his skeleton like his clothes fitted over his body. There was not a single ounce of fat anywhere on his body.
Seconds later, he disappeared into one of the deep tubs.
Prompted by the old vole, Khan too stripped. The old vole collected their clothes and headed out to have them washed, leaving the two wolves mostly alone. Khan climbed into the huge communal tub where Kel was already submerged and applied himself to scrubbing himself clean with every indication of ignoring the pup.
The attendants came to scrub and brush their backs. Unused to such personal attention, Kel squirmed uncomfortably under their ministrations. Through much fussing, brushing, scrubbing and drying, he remained stiff and tense, unlike Khan who submitted with every indication of enjoyment.
Once done, the attendants dressed them in simple white robes and let them return to their room. Kel followed Khan in silence, subdued and yawning. He limped openly now, worrying Khan somewhat. He’d noticed a number of small cuts and bruises while the attendants dried him. He’d better examine the pup and see for himself whether he was fit to continue on the morrow. If not…he grinned. He wouldn’t complain..
Back in their room, he motioned for Kel to sit down on the bed. The pup lowered his muzzle and ears with embarrassment, but did as he was told. From one of the drawers by the window, he produced soft, baggy linen nightwear, which he tossed to Kel. Like the bathing robes, it was white, and fitted loosely.
When Kel failed to put it on, Khan turned his back to offer the pup some privacy, shaking his head as he did. It was a peculiar kind of modesty with him, this aversion to nudity of his. Damn inconvenient too.
Khan himself had no compunctions; casually he tossed the simple white robe to the floor and dressed in the nightwear provided, then turned to face Kel. The pup sat uncomfortably on the edge of the bed, looking down at the floor.
Something in Khan melted at the sight of him. He was so adorably vulnerable-looking. Looking at him, one would never guess the softness inside. He had the mind and body of a warrior...and yet there was something about him that...that was looking for something.
He shook himself and knelt by his pack, searching for the jar of herbal ointment he always kept there. Once found, he rose and carefully made his way to where Kel sat, and began a meticulous examination of every inch of his body. Whenever he found a small cut or abrasion, he gently licked it clean and applied the healing unguent.
Kel sat, his body rigid, his face confused as his superior rendered him a service no pup of his rank dared expect: Khan was an alpha, and Kel wasn’t yet.
Careful not to let his tongue linger more than necessary, nor to let his paws wander too much, Khan worked his way down from Kel’s back to his belly and hips, where he found the source of Kel’s limp: a large bruise where some fur must have kicked him, right on the joint where the thigh attached to the hip. Khan hissed. The pup was lucky that the hip wasn’t dislocated.
There was no way he could continue at any sort of pace on the morrow. He probed gently with stubby fingers and was rewarded by a sharp yelp of pain.
No. Kel was in no condition to run. How he had managed to keep pace since sustaining the wound Khan didn’t know. From pain-dulled and stricken eyes, Khan saw that the pup knew they were not going anywhere. That this wounded his pride was equally obvious when he turned away from Khan and curled up on the far side of the bed. Khan almost laughed out loud as he blew out the candle and settled on the bed next to Kel.
On an impulse, he snuggled close to the pup’s back and drew him close in a protective hold. Kel whined a weak protest, but Khan growled a slow warning and he quit complaining: a pup had no recourse in the face of an alpha’s insistence. Deciding that the pup’s pride had taken sufficient blows for one day, Khan took no further liberties that night, and, when Kel evidently came to the same conclusion, he relaxed and snuggled down to sleep. Khan smiled and with an old soldier’s discipline, fell asleep himself.
Evidently, Molla had come to the same conclusion Khan himself had the previous night, for when he woke, sunlight was merrily streaming in through the tiny crack between the window shutters. Molla had not awakened them as she’d promised...but then, the old mousewife always had been good at reading people. She would have seen that Kel would not be able to run.
Next to him, the young black wolf was still asleep. His slender body was pressed tightly to Khan’s stockier frame and the warmth of his body soaked the bed and Khan’s fur. The larger wolf’s heart melted. He ran one paw gently along the length of Kel’s body, caressing the soft fur. Dear gods, he was beautiful!
Regretfully, he drew away from him. Instinct warned him that it would be better if he was not nearby when the pup woke. Given his usual aversion to physical contact and his constant embarrassment concerning such commonplace actions as dressing, maybe it would be better if he woke alone, his dignity intact.
The night had not gone smoothly for Khan. With the object of his desire so close to him, his body constantly ached to have him. Not used to restraining his own lust and not even sure why he was doing so, the night had passed with acute discomfort. Kel’s every movement tormented him, yet he made no move to take him, and he wished to all the gods he knew why.
He’d joined a band of mercenaries at 14, fought in a dozen battles before he turned 18, lost his virginity…well, he hadn’t had his virginity anymore when he joined up. A dozen...a score…a hundred lovers passed through his bed until he lost count completely. Now here he was, 32 years old and unable to take a pup 12 years younger.
He shook his head and opened the door. Just outside, he found his clothes, clean and neatly folded, just as he knew they would be. He smiled and got dressed, then headed down for breakfast. True to form, there was Molla, bustling about serving breakfast to the late risers. She grinned a quick greeting and swiftly delivered a platter of bacon and a bowl of porridge, then plopped down beside him and hugged him. She hadn’t done that since he turned 18. He ducked his head, suddenly embarrassed and the old mousewife’s grin broadened. Khan grinned back and applied himself to breakfast while old Molla sipped her tea and chatted, catching him up on all the latest news.
Khan listened with one ear, sifting information. There was nothing important there, which was surprising, considering the town’s reaction to his and Kel’s arrival. When next Molla stopped for breath, he interrupted her, and told her about what had happened, how the people had reacted. Molla nodded, and patted his hand.
“Khan dear boy…it’s not that hard to understand. People know what Messengers mean. They pass from town to town swiftly and the only reason for a Messenger to pass through Temet is when they’re heading for Shiva. Things have been strange up there lately, and strange usually means disease. Those people built their city right close to the swamp. Too close. I’d need a dozen paws to count the number of strange illnesses that swept through there in my own lifetime. Nobody wants that down here, and all it takes is one swift Messenger. Especially now, when a dozen merchants heading that way went missing and no traffic came from there in well over a fortnight. People are frightened. True, we sit on the only direct trade route going into Galweland, but who’s going to use it if word got out that Shiva is devastated by disease? The overland route past Islewigh may be perilous, but at least you can avoid the swamp with its constant pestilence, and were that to happen, Temet will die. So you see why Messengers would be unwelcome.”
She held out one paw when Khan drew breath to speak.
“No. Listen. There’s more. We’ve had…sightings. Sightings of strange creatures around the edges of the swamp, things that move like shadows, hardly glimpsed…what’s wrong?”
Khan had rocked back, eyes wide with remembered terror. Shadows in the woods…moving swiftly. Moonlight on drawn steel…He drew a shuddering breath and smiled.
“Nothing, Mo. Just…an old memory.”
She patted his hand sympathetically and, sensing that he needed time alone, she moved off on the pretext of berating a clumsy serving girl.
Shadows in the wood. He shuddered. And they were going in there tomorrow. A young pup on his first run and an experienced fighter to protect him and see to his finishing…No. No, not again.
Right there. Right at that instant he understood. Dehelian, the sweet little amber-eyed fox had loved him. More. He’d understood him where Khan himself didn’t.
Khan sat at the table and stared into his porridge.
A little while later, Kel joined him. The pup was dressed in his usual leathers, but sans his weapons. He knew as well as Khan that he would not be running today, and Khan’s heart swelled with pride. The pup was mature well beyond his years.
“Come,” he said when Kel finished his porridge and bacon. “We might as well take a look around town. It might be a while before we get a chance for leisure again, so we might as well use it.”
He smiled warmly, and Kel smiled back, his eyes still guarded, but less wary than the night before.
They got up, and Khan signalled Molla. She nodded, and the two wolves made their way outside into the bustle of the city.
\tKhan stayed close by Kel’s side as they made their way slowly down the crowded streets. He watched carefully to be sure that he didn’t strain the muscles, but got enough exercise to prevent them stiffening. It was a fine balancing act, but one he was well accustomed to. They could not afford to stay more than a day or two.
Kel chattered animatedly as they more or less strolled along. Pained his hip may be, but there was nothing wrong with his spirits. He seemed recovered from whatever had disturbed him the night before.
They stopped at various stalls to examine the goods on offer. Khan watched with some amusement as the young wolf haggled with an ancient seller of charms for a blue crystal pendant set in brass. It wasn’t a stylish piece in Khan’s opinion, being a bit crudely fashioned from inferior metals, but Kel claimed that the crystal itself had certain spiritual properties that were apparently quite important. Khan didn’t argue with him, and they moved on.
At a booth three stalls over in between a vegetable seller and a street cobbler, Kel got two leather-bound books, to which Khan objected strenuously. He also bought a curious implement that Khan didn’t recognise. Khan gave up completely at that point.
For himself, Khan got a name tag made of polished steel, and Kel paid to have his name engraved on it. It wasn’t standard messenger practice, but he’d always liked the idea of having a tiny bit of identification on himself. Just in case. A lot of the older soldiers in Khan’s old band had had such tags. While the blacksmith’s apprentice took care of inscribing Khan’s name on the metal disk, the smith himself, a massive Friesian bull with a missing horn, took care of polishing the sword Khan had taken as a replacement.
A stop at the tanner saw them walking off with a new scabbard for the fixed blade since the old one was curved and didn’t fit the new sword too well. They also got a new collar for Kel, one made of soft black leather into which Khan paid to have the crystal from the pendant set. It looked much more stylish, in Khan’s opinion, and Kel seemed to agree. The translucent blue crystal set off the young wolf’s aquamarine eyes perfectly and the silver clasp of the collar itself contrasted sharply with the midnight black of his fur. Enchanting!
Khan got them lunch at one of the better food stalls – stuffed mushrooms on sticks and mystery meat pie that neither of them enquired about too closely. Still, it was perfectly spiced and went down well with ginger beer.
Khan still wanted to replace his tattered work clothes, so they went to the tailors where his taste in clothes apparently horrified his young companion. Careful to hide his smile, he let Kel choose the colours. Still, Khan did insist on anything other than leather. He refused to wear leather. In the end, they compromised on sturdy cottons in softer shades of brown and green than Khan normally wore. All in all, Khan thought it was rather unfair of Kel to stuff him into such frippery, but he didn’t complain.
Kel got nothing there, and they moved on, more or less strolling through the wide streets, chatting idly.
This was new territory for Khan, not just such idle conversation, but also shopping. He’d never had anyone to shop with before, and certainly not one that talked as much as Kel. Not that he minded. His talk was soothing. Once he caught sight of the pup’s eye and noted the confusion; tender concern warring with cynical disbelief, and suddenly he knew, without knowing how he knew, that the pup had been hurt in the past. That he wanted very much to believe what he saw in Khan was obvious, but he just couldn’t.
Well. He’d better do something about it.
\tBack at Molla’s that night, he signalled expansively for her to bring them her best and the old mouse enthusiastically obeyed: tender cutlets of lamb, dumplings in vegetable stew thickened with blood and a dessert of such sweet delicacy - Mo flatly refused to name – it melted in their muzzles, all served with rich ale for Khan and cider for Kel.
Khan’s eyes misted lightly when old Mo joined them at the table and regaled the youngster with tales from Khan’s mercenary days, when Temet was his company’s headquarters and The Night Owl the only place he felt safe. Embarrassing events: drunken nights and fights going bad. Gradually, Kel warmed to her and Khan faded into the background, leaving the room to make his preparations. Molla knew Khan well enough to know what he planned…and believed in him enough to have faith that maybe this time, Khan would stick with it. He prayed to Kel’s Kiyan gods that he wasn’t wrong.
Kel came up to their room later, his eyes shining brightly. Khan was waiting, sitting on the bed brushing himself. He glanced up when Kel entered and smiled when the pup paused in the doorway. Khan motioned for him to enter and began brushing his legs, leaving Kel with nowhere to go and no other choice but to do as he was told.
Predictably, his ears went flat, but he entered and closed the door behind him. Khan held the brush out to him, a plain request that Kel groom him as Khan had done for him the night before, a request Kel dared not ignore. He took the brush and climbed onto the bed, settling in behind him. Khan kept perfectly still, leaving Kel to his own devices.
Evidently unsure how to proceed, Kel tentatively started on Khan’s left shoulder. The brush immediately encountered a snarl. Khan stiffened with the sudden pain of pulled fur and Kel immediately stopped pulling. Instead, he started probing at Khan’s fur, searching for snarls before drawing the brush through Khan’s fuzzy white fur. When Khan failed to show any response to this, he continued with more confidence, probing and brushing.
Khan stretched and leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees and murred softly. Behind him, Kel finished his back and moved closer so he could reach around Khan’s stocky body to his chest and belly.
This was the moment Khan had been waiting for. When Kel reached around him, he caught him by one arm and swiftly pulled him around and into his lap. Kel yelped with surprise, eyes wide with fright, but Khan’s paws gentled instantly, cradling his body in his arms.
He grinned and deliberately tickled his side, as if he’d done it on impulse. The pup giggled and squirmed, but Khan had him pinned. With a laugh, he tickled harder and soon he had Kel laughing helplessly and howling loudly for him to stop it. Soon, the two of them were rolling around on the floor, tickling each other and laughing helplessly. Kel put up a spirited defence, and was well on his way to victory when Khan cheated. At a moment carefully chosen, he licked Kel’s cheek gently and hugged him close.
This brought their play immediately to an end. Pinned beneath Khan’s greater weight, Kel stared at him in utter shock. Khan grinned at him and licked him again, right on his shiny black nose. Something akin to a murr escaped his lips, but changed to yips of laughter. Khan grinned broadly and let him up.
\t“C’mon. We should get some sleep.” He jerked his head toward the bed and held out his paw toward Kel.
\tKel blushed under his black fur, but came willingly enough. Khan threw back the covers and lay down, arms held out for Kel to join him. The pup did so without comment or complaint, and when Khan enfolded him in his arms, he snuggled close. They wriggled a bit to get comfortable, and eventually, Kel settled his muzzle and forehead against Khan’s chest. Before Khan could settle down properly himself though, Kel jerked his head up and licked him once on the side of his muzzle before settling back down.
\tWith that single little gesture, and without fully realising that he’d done so, he stole Khan’s heart. The second awakening, and one much more precious because it was so unexpected.
\t
\tKhan sighed where he sat alone in the moonlight. Now was or wasn’t Kel interested in him? That second revelation had shown him that he wanted much more than he set out to get. He wanted the pup to be his mate. But did Kel think of him that way? True, they shared their blankets these days, but thus far, he’d shown not one hint of sexual interest. Was it just friendship, friendliness, that brought him to Khan’s bed? A simple need for comfort, or just a preference not to sleep alone? Was it simple obedience to an alpha’s will? He glanced at Kel to where he lay peacefully sleeping and relaxed. Ah, but he was worth it! If he could have Kel by his side for the remainder of his days, it would all be worth it.
\tIf they ever made it out of the swamp alive.
Part 2: Demons
Kel woke when Khan got up. As usual, the big arctic wolf was barely audible in his movements, but over the last few days, the young black wolf had grown accustomed to his ways.
Out here in the hinterlands, he was barely recognisable as the erotic force he was back at the training facility. Kel had been warned about Khan by all and sundry…usually in the same breath as the fur or furre involved tried to seduce him into THEIR bed. It was incomprehensible. Was there no such thing as loyalty in this land? The Grand Masters back home had warned about that when he announced his intention to explore the lands beyond Kiy. No one had been happy about his decision, but as usual, he’d made up his own mind and no one argued once he made he made the official announcement. It was not the Kiyan way.
It was one of two rites of passage a young Kiyan might undertake: submission to a Grand Master for 3 months...or to spend a year beyond the borders of the homeland. Kel had chosen the latter.
\tBack home, the kind of relationship Kel wanted was not possible. Furs mated with furres, not with other furs. His sexuality had caused him some heartache while growing up, and when he failed to change himself, he’d thrown his full weight and attention behind the advanced training program offered by the local masters. It was designed to change the flaw in him that wanted something so unnatural.
This too failed, and when his improbable love for a friend became too much to bear, he left to seek a quick death in a foreign land.
Instead, he found a land where he could be himself…and against all probability, also somebody who wanted him, who was willing to take him. Yet...there was something inside of him that refused to accept it.
He just wasn’t sure what Khan wanted. The alpha was a hunter, a ravager and Kel…well, wasn’t. He was nobody’s bitch...and Khan only had bitches.
\tKel feigned sleep as Khan moved away to sit on a stump. Out here, it was as if he was a completely different person. Back at the training facility Khan showed no signs of introspection, but out here when he thought Kel didn’t see, he sat and stared at the sand, or the stars, or the leaves of a tree, apparently just thinking. Out here, he had people who loved him, like old Molla the innkeeper. He had thoughts and feelings that he shared when Kel asked, and displayed an unexpectedly tender and playful side of him that Kel had never even suspected was there.
He shivered at the memory of Khan’s tender paws seeking his hurts, his rough tongue gently licking them clean…and that night when he’d caught Kel by surprise and just played a silly tickling game. What had prompted it, Kel didn’t know, but it had done wonders for his spirits. They’d sunk quite low since the battle. He’d never had to kill before, and it gnawed at him.
He dared to open one eye when Khan’s scent drifted to him on the evening breeze: hot fear-sweat, despair and pain. Heartache. Khan no doubt had his share of pain, just like Kel did. On an impulse, he rose and padded over to where the alpha sat in repose and laid a soft paw on his shoulder. Khan barked and jerked around, his eyes flashing. Kel yelped and jumped back from the murderous look in Khan’s eyes.
The second he recognised Kel, the white wolf’s eyed cleared to a look of apology.
“I’m sorry, Kel,” he murmured softly and held out a paw toward him
Kel approached warily and took the offered paw in his, didn’t resist when Khan drew him gently into his lap.
“I …had a bit of trouble sleeping,” the big wolf continued in a gentle tone of voice, and Kel relaxed. He let Khan hold him for a while, not daring to speak. This had been happening more and more often lately, Khan seeking opportunities to touch and hold him, and Kel had no idea what it meant. There was no doubt in his mind that Khan would take him to bed if he could - but he hadn’t tried. He’d had plenty of opportunities, but he hadn’t even hinted that he still wanted to. What did he really want?
Khan was the puzzle that Kel understood least of all. The big wolf had tried everything he could to get Kel in bed back at the training facility, like it was some sort of game he was playing. Kel found that he rather enjoyed it. The attention was flattering, and the game itself was exciting. Khan was nothing if not consistent and predictable in his efforts. They must have worked for him before, but Kel had no intention of getting caught. He didn’t want to be somebody’s plaything.
Still…he’d be lying if he didn’t admit he wished Khan would look at him with something other than pure, animal lust in his eyes. Looking dispassionately at him, Kel had to admit he was quite something: fuzzy white fur that fluffed out at the slightest suggestion of a breeze, that tangled when he slept and snarled when the air turned muggy. Stocky, muscular body with bunched, hard muscle artfully hidden by his fuzzy fur...No doubt it was the fur that added to his bulk more than pure muscle. Stubby, powerful limbs and a classically elegant head completed the picture. There was no doubt that Khan was an attractive male, especially when he levelled those darkly luminous eyes at you, his thin black lips quirked into a suggestive little leer...
It was the eyes more than anything that drew Kel’s attention. Luminous, well-shaped and shining like sapphire…yet they were dead and as empty as a bear’s belly at the start of spring.
Why would a male such as Khan be so empty? Kel never could find a reason, and getting close enough to Khan to get the answer directly from him would not be a good idea. So Kel avoided him whenever possible, playing the game, half hoping, half fearing that the big, sexy wolf would lose interest. But he did not.
And now here they were, together…and yet Kel sensed a chasm between them, one that he was not sure he wanted to cross. The risk was just too great, and for what potential reward? Khan’s had lovers beyond counting.
Does he see me that way too? Kel wondered. Am I just another toy, a diversion? Do I want him to look at me differently? It was an unanswerable question. He wanted a mate, it was true, but could Khan be that mate? He just didn’t know.
At one time he’d thought Siba would be that mate…but it hadn’t happened. Siba liked females. He was also a bit…domineering, a bit too quick to step in and take charge, to protect what he perceived to be the weaker fur, an aspect that both attracted and repulsed Kel. He had his own strength, didn’t he? But some part of him had enjoyed it, letting Siba take charge of things. It had been that way through all their years growing up together and it would have been that way had they been mated…And, he finally admitted to himself, I would have hated it.
Stubborn, headstrong, self-reliant, proud and wilful. Those were the words his masters used to describe him. They were true, but they still caused rebellion to bloom darkly in his heart. That’s the way I am, and I’m not going to change! He grinned. That particular refrain had crossed his lips quite often when a Master criticised him. Balance, boy! They said. They’d also called him out on other matters: he was too empathic, too emotional, too guarded…always too much of everything! Goddess, he’d bitten back so many words back then.
Point was, Siba taking charge all the time would have grated on his nerves, would have rubbed them raw. He would have bitten back his words, following the advice of a Master to seek the flaw in himself that resented good advice and refused to obey any will but his own. Yet he’d wanted Siba to be in charge.
Just not in charge of everything. You may lead me, but you can never own me, never dictate to my heart!
And there it was! Such a simple thing: Lead me, but never own me. Respect me, don’t dictate to me. That was the reason he could never find peace in his own land. That was why he found Khan attractive. In spite of being senior in position and in years, the older wolf had never looked down on him. When he criticised, he gave detailed explanations for his reasoning, and allowed Kel to give his own reasons for his actions, even when he disagreed with them. With Khan, he could discuss things and really learn something.
But it was more than that. Khan understands! He lives it too, just like I do. It was true: Khan used his mind to get what his heart wanted, not what his head told him he could…or should want. The dictates of the outside world had never mattered to Khan as far as Kel could tell. His heart told him what was right and true, and he followed that, no matter what anybody else said. To find such a soul-deep similarity with somebody after so long…
He glanced up at the older wolf and was surprised to find him staring intently at him. Kel blushed, inexplicably embarrassed at the penetrating gaze Khan levelled at him. The older wolf grinned. For some reason, Kel’s heart leapt when he saw it; his own lips stretched into an answering grin. Khan responded with a chuckle, and soon they were both laughing.
Held tightly in Khan’s arms and laughing with him for no good reason, for the first time since leaving home, Kel felt good, really good. The comfort, acceptance and security he found in Khan’s embrace was unlike anything he’d ever encountered. Khan Fuzzywolf was suddenly, and for a single moment of clarity, the only thing in the world that had any meaning for Kel. His closeness answered a need he hadn’t known he had. His heart pounded, and when Khan licked his nose softly, his mind surrendered to the yearnings of his heart.
I am here with him. He is touching me…holding me like he might a lover, a mate…do I want him to? Do I want it to be him? And from deep within him, an answer came from a heart that had known all along: yes!
Trembling slightly and paralysed, he barely noticed when Khan swept him up and after a few steps, deposited him back in his rumpled blankets before settling himself down next to Kel. For a wild instant, Kel hoped he might take him right then…but he didn’t Instead, he covered the young black wolf in blankets and tucked him in, then drew his own bedding over him and only then did he consent to holding Kel against him.
Kel trembled. What was wrong with him? With both of them? Surely Khan must realise what had happened? Surely he must have caught the scent of Kel’s sudden desire…if it was at all possible that he’d missed the more physical evidence. He blushed.
Desire was nothing new for him, but the fierceness of his need had overwhelmed him, the sudden desire to have Khan lie with him, skin to skin, to have him brush his paw lightly over his belly and down to his sheath…He shivered and tried in vain to suppress those thoughts. The speed with which his body had overridden his careful control frightened him.
At this point in time, he wasn’t sure he had the capacity to distinguish between love and pure, animal lust. He wanted Khan. He desired him. His heart said yes! His mind said...maybe. He knew what his people would say. He didn’t know what Khan wanted...
Sleep took its time in coming that night.
Next to Kel, Khan too struggled to sleep for exactly the same reason. The scent of Kel’s arousal and the sight of his wolfhood straining against his tight-fitting pants nearly drove him wild with desire. It took a supreme effort of will not to take him right then...but the look of fear in Kel’s eyes, the confusion and the tension in his young body...All of that told Khan to wait. Ah, but it was hard! Gods, it was hard!
He chuckled, and looked down at himself, his own throbbing member painful with lust.
Why would Kel be so fearful of attention? There was a battle in him, a battle that Khan had no idea how to diffuse. That he wanted it was beyond doubt, but at the same time, there was this strange hesitation, this fear that kept him from acting on what he felt. Why he would feel that way, Khan didn’t understand. What he did know was that taking Kel now would damage any chance he had of having him as a mate.
Like Kel, he spent the night in silent torment.
Late the following day, roughly halfway through the swamp and close to the edge of the mountains bordering it, they came across the Shack. Some time ago, old Molla had established the Shack as a place for Messengers to dry out and rest. In Khan’s opinion, it was a godsent necessity rather than a luxury. The muggy swamp air and near-constant rain made travelling through this part of the swamp most unpleasant.
This late in the season, the temperature also plummeted. Heat by day, cold by night and everything constantly wet ensured that either wolf had any desire to linger here in this place.
The trail that led to the shack was covered in moss and slime and offered little traction for scrabbling paws. Vanis, the lone reptilian member of the Messengers had made Mo’s Shack his home several years previously and had never felt the need to improve it. Like Khan, the gecko had once been a mercenary, but now he served the Messengers in a different capacity.
His medicines were legendary for their efficacy…and he had this way with swamp-fish and spices that made any visit worthwhile, although few dared ask exactly how he managed to make it all edible. Vanis himself never touched it, preferring his food raw and swallowed whole.
Khan smiled. This was always his favourite part of the whole ‘initiation run’. A visit to Vanis was an eye-opener to any new runner. The shack stood on sturdy stilts directly over the swamp water with a hang bridge connecting the front porch to the narrow pathway on dry – well, in a manner of speaking – ground. Round the back, a second, larger porch had been added. Here, Vanis spent hours molesting the various swamp denizens that went into the preparation of his odious medical concoctions – as well as his marvellous stews.
A second hang bridge led deeper into the swamp and was lost in the mist. Back there, Vanis had built a second shack where he conducted all sorts of experiments. Khan had seen it once. Row upon row of sparkling clean glassware and other curious implements lined neatly constructed cabinets against the walls and several tables stood in precisely arranged patterns. Very clean and neat; the precise antithesis of the interior of his home.
Khan smiled and kept his mouth shut as he led Kel toward the Shack with its invitingly smoking chimney. His tummy rumbled in anticipation. They rounded a corner and there it was!
“Who would live here?” Kel exclaimed when the shack came into view. He blushed. “I mean…who would live here?”
Khan grinned and watched his surprise with some pleasure. Gods, he was beautiful! Just adorable! Khan smiled broadly and bowed courtier style, from the waist, and indicated the entrance.
“Welcome to the humble abode of Vanis, sneakiest of sneakers, and the best cook of whatever-it-is this side of yours truly. Super-scientist and the only Scaly in the Service. It’s his mission in life to study this place…and to make it safe for the rest of us to travel through. There’s not a disease in this swamp that he cannot cure, given sufficient time. Good friend too.”
He led the way toward the bridge, leaving Kel no choice but to follow. When he reached the bridge, he bellowed toward the strange house. “Vanis! Open your stupid door! Can’t you see there are weary travellers just dying for a taste of your soup?” With that, he pounded across the bridge. Kel followed cringingly while Khan hammered on the door. There was no answer. Khan waited a decent amount of time, then called again.
“Vanis? C’mon lizard-face! It’s not THAT cold. Move that snaky ass of yours!” When he still got no answer, he shrugged and turned to Kel.
“The old boy must be out on his island. Either that, or he’s out hunting. Either way, he’ll be back soon.” Turning back to the door, he pushed against it and nodded with relief when it opened without resistance.
“He leaves his door open when he’s out?” Kel asked, eyes wide.
Khan nodded. “Usually yes. He doesn’t keep anything of value in here. Just his pots and his bedding. Which is always available to anybody who asks. He never did have any use for locks.”
They entered, Khan in the lead. Inside, a fire burned cheerily in the fireplace, entertaining a happily bubbling pot on a tripod. Rumpled blankets lay strewn all over the place, mixed indiscriminately with equally rumpled rugs. In one corner stood what looked like an abandoned bird’s nest, but large enough to fit a furry body. It was lined with feathers and a mismatch of torn blankets and leaves and other soft things. Khan shuddered. Even after all these years, Vanis still flatly refused to use a proper bed. Still, back there a ways was the entry to the guest room. It was the only place in the whole house that was always kept scrupulously clean. Vanis himself might not much care for neatness, but he didn’t expect his guests to share his fascination with dirt, something Khan was intensely grateful for. He was tired of the dirt and sleeping next to Kel on a real, soft bed…ahhhh no!
Better not think of that. The mere thought tugged at his wolfhood, and Vanis would be merciless once he sensed it. It was one of his favourite pastimes, making fun of Khan’s rampant libido. Molla embarrassing him was one thing, but Vanis was something else. They were in different leagues entirely, although the teasing was no less affectionate. It was just that the Gecko’s sense of humour could best be described as…odd. Not to mention crude. He sighed happily and looked around. Kel was still outside, staring intently at something on the far side of the bridge and down the trail.
“Kel!” he called. “Come on, love! It’s cold out!” Oh gods...
The moment the word left his muzzle he regretted it.
Kel jerked around, surprise writ large in his luminous eyes. Surprise and…just maybe, a hint of joy? Of hope? Khan shook his head as Kel came inside and closed the door behind him. The pup’s expression was thoughtful, far away.
Khan shook himself, grateful for Kel’s distraction.
“Listen, I’m going out to fetch Vanis. I see his back door is also unlocked. Means he’s out there in his lab. The old fool sometimes forgets he has food on the fire when his mind latches on to something. He even forgets that this cold is not good for him. Make yourself at home. I’ll be back soon.”
Kel nodded distractedly and absentmindedly began cleaning up the messy room.
Khan smiled and watched him affectionately for a while. It was so like his young love to automatically applying himself to one problem while handling another. Khan had noticed that whenever Kel needed time to think, his paws searched for something to do.
He chuckled. Well, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to have Vanis ream him for packing his stuff away. Vanis had a SYSTEM…or so he always insisted.
He turned away and left, closing the door behind him, and trudged his way carefully over the rotting timber of the bridge toward Vanis’s island retreat.
Kel watched from the single window in the back of the shack until Khan disappeared in the mist, then resumed cleaning up the messy room. Simple physical labour helped him to relax and focus his mind on other, more pressing problems. If it wasn’t so cold out, he’d do a training routine. The fluid movement of his body never failed to release his mind from the mundane world, and Goddess knew he needed to focus.
There was something strange going on here, something on the breeze…the scent of death, a feeling of cold that had nothing to do with the temperature. It had been tugging on his mind ever since entering the swamp. There was something…a presence…an awareness of evil…not of darkness, but the complete absence of anything good. Something that craved chaos, control…something with an insatiable need, a hunger that could result only in suffering.
Kel’s heart wrenched inside him. Whatever it was was hopelessly insane. It was driven beyond hope, beyond even despair until it was only a slavering thing forever looking to satisfy a hunger that could never be sated. Its overpowering will was all it had left, and it fed on its own rage and hatred, forever looking for release that it no longer even understood. A spirit-being, tormented and torn to shreds, had made its home here, and its presence infected every creature, every stone in the swamp.
Was this the reason Khan feared the swamp? Ever since they left Molla’s inn, Khan seemed withdrawn, jumpy, worried. He’d certainly been reluctant to enter the swamp. His forced cheer proclaimed far louder than words that something was wrong; evasion and deception were not skills that that Khan was an adept of. The very fact that he had tried worried Kel more than anything. Worse, it had hurt.
Why would Khan not tell him the reason the swamp frightened him? It certainly frightened Kel! And if there was a reason to be afraid, then he certainly had the right to be told. He was in the swamp too. His own life was also threatened.
He glanced at the door Khan had left through. It was so transparently obvious. Khan was out there not just to look for his friend, but also to once again face his fear…and he’d left Kel at the safest place he could think of. That protectiveness was something new, something Khan had never done before…and something that made Kel want to shout with joy…as well as rage.
He’d proven himself. There was no need for Khan to protect him…indeed, by going out there alone he proved that his judgement was shot: one simply did NOT go out into an unknown situation when one had a partner, especially if said partner didn’t know what they were up against. The whole situation just felt wrong to Kel. What Khan faced was obviously an old fear…but considering what Kel felt about this place, he wasn’t so sure that it was unjustified. There was definitely something here, something menacing and hostile to…to life itself!
Khan should have told him…should have trusted him! Khan’s lack of trust in him hurt. It hurt unexpectedly badly.
Kel sat back and watched the flames flickering under the pot, rose to stir the stew and pottered about aimlessly, straightening rugs, folding blankets. The evil he felt pressed down heavily on him. Finally, when his brooding and the pervading sense of doom grew too much, he sought sanctuary in ritual. Communing with the gods never failed to refresh his soul.
He sat down cross-legged on the floor and touched the blue crystal that Khan had had set in his collar. Instantly its energy flowed through him, strengthening him. Years of practice let him slip into his trance quickly and without undue difficulty. Drawing heavily on the crystal, he threw up a personal barrier; a protective shield of energy to keep evil at bay, a place where he could commune with the gods.
It took an unexpectedly long time for him to establish contact with his guide, an ancient goddess once worshipped by a race of humans that had long since moved on. Kel had found her while searching for his first guide. The tranquillity of her spirit was a balm to his own turbulent soul, and the path she walked never failed to inspire: Benzai-Ten, protector-spirit of her people…of anybody who chose to honour her.
Kel cast his call forth into sacred space and waited for her to respond. It took a while and he was beginning to tire before he felt the gentle brush of her awareness enter the sphere of energy he’d created. Kel smiled and opened his eyes…and there she was, sitting cross-legged on the floor in front of him, as real as any other object in the room.
She smiled her greeting, and Kel lowered his eyes and ears with respect and exhaustion.
Exotically slanted eyes regarded him frankly, concern shining in their black depths as she reached out one hand and tilted his head up to meet her gaze. Once more Kel was struck by her alienness. Her features were human, yet not. Strange. Stranger still that a human goddess should accept furry worship, yet she did. Her acceptance meant a lot to the young fur. Her lips quirked to a smile, as if reading his thoughts.
Kel relaxed.
“That’s better, “ she said, and Kel smiled. As always, her perceptions were spot on.
“You look tired, young wolf, “ she continued, sympathy brimming in her eyes.
He nodded. “I am. This place…there is evil here. I…felt the need for sanctuary.” He blushed at the half-truth and the goddess laughed and touched his muzzle. Of course she could see the other reason for his call.
“Ah, dear Kelen! There is evil here yes, and it will bring you much grief. But this evil you can handle. Your power is sufficient. That hulk of a wolf you run with knows enough to get you through…if you work together.”
She tilted her head mischievously to one side and grinned wickedly.
“But you already know that. Don’t worry. You’ll do fine! What you really called me for was some advice about that Fuzzywolf, yes?”
She laughed when he blushed, but sobered quickly. More seriously, she continued.
“Kel…he must tell you. You must get him to tell you what he knows about this place. It is but one part of a much larger puzzle, but one which will be instrumental to…something else. Without it, you will never survive…and the future will be bleak.”
She regarded him levelly, and her eyes softened.
“Kel…it will be hard for you…and for him. Especially for him. You cannot know the demons he faces. He will need you. Much sooner than you think. The threat you face is also far greater than you know, greater than one mad spirit and a few of Khan’s demons. If I could, I’d tell you more, but even for one such as I much of the future remains clouded. Occasionally though…a person may be born with such strength of purpose that the way narrows to only a few possibilities, and spirits such as I may act to secure the future we most want to see.”
Kel drew breath to speak, but she forestalled him by commandingly holding up one hand, demanding silence. Kel obeyed, and subsided.
“Other spirits will do the same, try and push events down a certain tine in the fork, and others will resist, often by killing those who are important to a certain future occurring. I tell you this because you have a part to play in it. Your actions will help to secure a future for your kind.”
Kel shook his head confusedly.
“But…what future? If there are so many tines the future can go to…how can you know which of them will be the right one for us? How far can you travel down the path? How….” He swallowed hard. “I mean…if you want one future and another seeks some other outcome…then…what do you require of us? You’ve never told me what you wanted of me.”
He flushed, ears plastered to his head with embarrassment.
For the first time since he encountered her, the goddess lowered her eyes in sadness. When she looked at him again, pain clouded her eyes, and etched her face with deep lines.
“I will you tell you a secret: I have wandered far down the paths of the future, and in very few of them do your kind exist. In fewer still do you live in peace with humanity. I found maybe a dozen in which this peace was lasting, and only one that did not achieve this peace without the loss of billions of lives, and the sacrifice of millions of souls. Only one future in which Islewigh did not prevail at some point. One of the futures I saw showed Islewigh’s dominance endure forever. That path lies before us now. If you do not survive, and if some others fail, we will face a future in which Islewigh will come to dominate not only this world, but the whole of creation. However, if it can be averted now, then at least there is a chance it can be defeated later.”
Kel stared at her in horror. The implications were more than his mind could cope with. He…and a few others were all that stood in the way of Islewigh forever controlling the fate of the universe? The goddess also implied that sacrifices would need to be made…and that he, Kel, would be one of those from whom it would be extracted!
He looked her straight in the eye, and saw the truth reflected there: loss will be yours, and pain and horror. He saw the regret there…and the steely determination to do what was needed, whatever the cost. His heart clenched within him as dread certainly settled over him. He yipped and jerked around, but froze as the goddess seized his paw in her hand and held him rooted to the floor.
“No!” her voice snapped, crackling with power. “What is happening now must happen if your kind is to survive!”
“No! No!” Kel cried, struggling to rise, to run to Khan’s aid. “Let me go! I must go!” But the goddess would not let him go. Ancient pain wept from her eyes as she held him down, a grief that warred openly with the pain of what her actions were doing to her young worshipper.
Kel struggled violently, his trust in the goddess overridden by an overwhelming need to be with Khan right now, by the certain knowledge that he would not care to live if Khan was dead. He screamed and shouted and wept and cursed the goddess that held him in her power, and eventually she let go.
Weeping, and knowing it was already too late, he stumbled out the back door and onto the rickety bridge. Tears blurred his eyes and he struggled to breathe through grief-stricken sobs. Three…and then four paces brought him face to face with eyes every bit as dead as he’d feared.
Blood lay pooled on the floor inside the shack, darkened and clotted. No amount of scrubbing would ever remove it from where it had soaked into the wood. Bloodied blankets lay strewn everywhere and bottle after bottle stood uncorked on the single remaining table, evidence of their efforts to save Vanis. Now the lizard lay curled up in his messy bed, neatly arranged by gentle paws.
Kel watched sadly as Khan stood forlornly over his dead friend, vainly holding on to a lifeless paw. Dead eyes saw nothing of his surroundings. Shock. Kel knew the signs. A shudder ran through Khan’s body as he collapsed to his knees and wept.
There was nothing he could do, no words he could speak to comfort Khan. Truth be told, one was never as alone as when faced with pain. To avoid his own helplessness, Kel ran over his memories of the past several hours.
Four steps out the door, he’d run into Khan as he carried Vanis’s bleeding body toward the house. He had no idea how long he’d struggled against Benzai-Ten, except that it was full dark outside when Khan brushed past him and deposited Vanis’s lacerated body on the table.
The cuts were deep and expertly delivered to ensure a slow and painful death. One glance was enough to realise that Vanis was beyond help but he’d nevertheless struggled right there beside his distraught partner to try and save his life. There was nothing else to do. The despair in Khan’s eyes forced Kel to work just as hard as he could, but inexorably, Vanis’s life had ebbed away with every slow beat of his heart, and when, with his last breath, he drew Khan to him and whispered in his ear, the despair turned to insane rage. Smashed tables and chairs offered plain evidence of his pain. Afterward, Khan had driven him from the house with vile imprecations, and proceeded to arrange Vanis’s body on the bed, in neat repose. Now he stood there, a lit torch in one hand and a pale, dead paw in the other.
Kel turned away. His own fur was matted with blood and tears, but it hardly registered with him. Instead he saw the wounds the unfortunate gecko had suffered. No sword had made those cuts. They were far too clean, too precisely delivered. Not even a suicidal fur would stand perfectly still to allow himself to be butchered. No, Vanis had put up a fight, judging from the number of small cuts and bruises on his hands and face. Nothing alive could move fast enough to deliver those cuts with such exacting precision, not with the scaly defending himself.
Whatever had killed Vanis, it was neither human nor furry. This meant but one thing. Benzai-Ten had told him that they were up against Islewigh. If that was true, then it meant that the sorcerer-priests of that accursed land had revived the black arts, and were once again forging beasts from the shredded souls of living victims. More…that they had sent these creatures into the lands occupied by human and furry alike.
Benzai-Ten was right. They HAD to survive. The Baron had to be warned.
He glanced back inside. Khan too had suffered a number of cuts, and had flatly refused to let Kel tend them. Some were still oozing blood, causing Kel some concern about blood loss. Khan was already in shock. Add battle lust and exhaustion to that and you had trouble. He’d have to watch him very carefully.
Finally, Khan got up and tossed the torch onto the bed, and watched as the fire greedily spread itself over the dried twigs and blankets. Within seconds, the entire bed was engulfed in flame, and within minutes, the fire had spread to one wall. Black smoke rose in clouds, finally driving Khan from the shack.
He came to stand beside Kel and watched. First, the roof caved in, leaving only the skeletal remains of the roof supports. As the walls weakened, these too crumbled. Sparks hissed as they hit the water, until at last, the floor could no longer support the weight of the ashes and collapsed into the water. Great clouds of steam erupted in hissing clouds as the swamp claimed another victim and swallowed its remains into its murky depths. Only the stilts remained, and with no one to care for them, soon they too would rot and fall away, leaving nothing...
Khan watched until the last bit of steam evaporated, and the sounds of the swamp returned to normal. Without a word, he picked up his pack. and set off at a steady lope down the path that would eventually lead them out of the swamp.
Kel felt like crying as Khan sped past him. He didn’t look left, or right, and didn’t acknowledge his young partner in any way.
Never in his life had Kel felt more alone, abandoned.
It didn’t take long for the tension and blood loss to get to Khan. He knew it was a bad idea to run in his condition, and he knew that young Kel deserved a bit more compassion from him, but right at that moment, the only thing he could see was the face of Vanis. Eyes dull with death, his vitality forever locked up in a husk of decay. It was too much to bear. Besides Molla, Vanis was the only person that Khan had ever cared about. Vanis was the brother of his heart…the only other surviving member of his old band. Besides himself, Vanis was the only other who had seen what had happened that night. They were the only two who still remembered young Dehelion.
He glanced at Kel. The pup was in bad shape. He looked exhausted and frantic with worry for his partner. Much like Khan himself, Kel was covered in gore. Yet his eyes remained alert, watching both the trees and his partner with equal attention. Khan dismissed him from his mind…and a moment later, his overwrought mind and body called a halt and he collapsed.
Grey eyes turned toward him as he stepped inside the shack. Just for an instant, the gecko looked toward the door, and three shadows flitted from where they had been hidden. The scaly brown and green mottled muzzle opened to shout a warning, but Khan had already seen the sick horror in the grey depths. He’d seen the warning in the gecko’s eyes and his swords were out of their sheaths before the shadows had time to close the distance. Beside him, Dehelian too drew his sword. Kel’s quick paws already had his knives poised for throwing. Silvery blades whipped forward. It was too late. They were too late!
Vanis died even as he shouted for Khan to stay away. Three creatures. Three deadly, efficient strokes, and the lizard lay bleeding on the floor.
The shadows disappeared. Khan knew what was coming next. He shouted frantically for Dehelian and Kel to form a circle. They had to have each other’s backs. Kel answered his call, his voice calm. In an instant, Khan had the comforting presence of the quick black wolf at his back. Dehelian too answered, but his voice quivered. Excitement always got the better of him. It was his one great flaw as a warrior. Khan barked for him to pay attention.
The shadows circled, their thin blades whirling around them at blinding speed. As one, they rushed at them. Kel’s blades flashed out and missed. The shadows were too fast. He turned toward Khan...
Time slowed. A single blade came out of nowhere. There were four of them! Four! Kel!
Too late. The blade drank deeply of the young wolf’s blood and his guts spilled from the gash in his belly. His lovely eyes clouded over with pain and horror…and reproach.
Why, Khan? They asked. Why didn’t you love me?
But I do love you! He begged, and cradled the dying body of his young love in his arms. Gods, please! Let me die! But instead of him, Dehelian died.
He’d forgotton! He’d forgotten the fox he was supposed to protect. He should have looked after him, should not have let his mind wander...
He howled. Blind rage erased all thought from his mind. Loss and pain burned every thought of survival from his soul. His sword flashed and sliced into flesh and bone, but there was nothing there! Nothing visible! On the ground, Vanis gurgled.
No...no...it didn’t happen that way...it didn’t...it...couldn’t...
The flash of a sword alerted Khan and he ducked, just in time, but not quite fast enough. A sword glanced off his shoulder. He howled and struck out madly but the creatures were gone again, disappeared into thin air. There was no fighting them!
From out of nowhere, a kick struck him in the gut and he collapsed, and several more rained down on his back and ribs. His sword claimed at least one more invisible life, and the one remaining creature fled. Khan tried to rise, his vision red with rage, but he was too weak. He retched violently as his abused stomach rebelled and collapsed. He howled…and back at the shack he heard the enraged shrieks of...Kel?
Goddess no! Kel! Vanis! Oh,gods!
He howled again in pure frustration, and dragged himself to his paws, hauled Vanis onto his shoulder and made his way as best he could toward the hut. Kel…oh no! Kel! He collapsed again and nearly lost Vanis over the edge of the bridge but managed to hold on. When he could no longer walk, he crawled, dragging Vanis behind him. The shrieks from the shack grew more and more frenzied, then changed to sobbing and begging incoherently. What were they doing to him? KEL! Khan tried to call, but found that he didn’t have the strength. He bled and must have passed out. When he came to, Vanis was at death’s door, and the hut was silent. He gnashed his teeth and hauled Vanis to his shoulder, moments before the door burst outward and there was Kel, his face ravaged by grief. Their eyes met and in an instant, grief turned to joy. Vanis…Oh no…
He jerked awake. Night had fallen, and his shoulder was stiff. Stiff as in almost completely immobile. It was warm and…and there were no green eyes watching him. Kel…?
He looked around and spotted Kel standing watch at the edge of the clearing. The fire had burned low, and like a good sentry, Kel was facing away from the smouldering embers into the dark, preserving his night vision. Ah, poor pup! This would be his second night awake.
Kel. He’d stood beside him knowing that Vanis would die, set aside his own needs and looked after Khan’s…when Khan should have looked after him.
I should have told him…
He sat up and called softly. Kel turned and with eyes all wary, stepped gingerly toward him. Khan winced and held out a paw like he had that first night when Kel came to comfort him. An offering of peace, a silent apology. A tentative smile tugged at the pup’s lips and he grinned back. Yes, Kel. I’m back…
Kel took his outstretched paw and, like last time, Khan drew him into his lap and nuzzled him. There was much to be said between them, and even more to be decided. It did not take a genius to figure out that tonight would be a reckoning between them, and suddenly Khan was nervous. If he was going to win his prize, it would have to be now, tonight. But I’m not ready for this, dammit! There was so much more I’d planned to do first…
“Khan…?” Kel murmured tentatively when Khan made no moves, and stirred restlessly in his arms, worried. Khan tightened his embrace briefly, hugging Kel to him. Heartsick and torn, he steeled himself, and murred softly. It had to come sooner or later. Might as well be now.
“Mmm?” He loosened his grip on Kel, wishing with all his heart that this moment had not come. Maybe it hadn’t…maybe…
“Khan…what happened? Back there, I mean. With Vanis?”
…but it had. Khan lowered his ears and drew back his lips, searching for words and knowing that there was nothing he could say that would make them sound in any way rational…or even sane. What he’d seen could not possibly exist, and telling Kel would not make it real. But it was real. He’d seen it twice now. Gods in heaven, he wished he hadn’t!
The oppressive silence grew agonising. Kel stirred restlessly in his embrace, trying to meet his eyes, but Khan avoided them. He knew what they’d show: concern, doubt…maybe even pity. For the first time in his life, his courage was insufficient for the task ahead of him.
“Khan…please. Talk to me. I got a good look at those wounds. You and I both know there was no way they were inflicted by anything natural. Not with the defensive wounds he had. Those cuts were too clean, too precisely delivered. You know what it’s like in battle. When you’re attacked, you strike back anywhere you find an opening, not so precisely, with such finesse. You know what happened, don’t you? You saw it before. Ever since we entered the swamp, you’ve…acted differently.” He paused, and stroked Khan’s arm where it was wrapped around him.
Khan started. Kel had never touched him before…except for that one night, when he’d reached for him, offering comfort. He’d snarled at him then…but that hadn’t deterred the pup one little bit. He’d stood his ground, placed his trust in his partner and accepted an evasive explanation. He’d been patient, waiting for him to open up...to return that trust…Gods, I should have told him before now!
“Please, Khan. Talk to me. Don’t shut me out!”
Ah Kel! Khan squeezed his eyes shut. The pup was actually pleading with him, begging to be let in. The weight of years settled into his bones, turning them to lead. He sagged under the weight of conflicting needs and years of struggle. With Vanis dead, there was no way to prove his words. He wasn’t sure he had the strength to face any more doubt.
And yet…Kel had the right to know…and there was the added weight that shutting him out now would irreparably harm their developing relationship…That was the one thing Khan desperately did not want to happen. He smiled ruefully. Kel had him caught. He sighed and shifted position, dislodging Kel from his lap. The pup yipped with surprise…and hurt; expecting rejection. Ah! So THAT was the problem…! He fears his own feelings! With this new insight into Kel’s behaviour, Khan planned his next move…
He drew himself to his knees, and helped Kel up, indicating for him to sit opposite. Eyes wide, Kel did as he was bid. From the corner of one eye, Khan watched him but refused to meet his eyes, and started to talk. Tonight, he would bare his soul in ways that no one had ever seen…not even Molla. Not even Vanis.
“Ten years ago. We were working a war for some city up on the other side of the swamp. They’d sent my company and me out to camp in the swamp. We were to hold ourselves in reserve. Their army was supposedly going to drive the opposing force into the swamp where we were to destroy them.”
He laughed harshly. “We told them it wouldn’t work. No right-thinking general would lead his force into the swamp if he could possibly help it. He’d rather take his troops to the plains east of Shiva where it would take overwhelming numbers to win a decisive victory. You’d also need overwhelming numbers to force an army into the swamp. So either way...there would be no battle in the swamp. But we were getting paid in gold, so we did as we were told. We made camp in this gods-forsaken place and waited.
“Dehelion…he was a youngster still in training…I…I was assigned as his chaperone, as it were, his big brother. My job was to keep him out of trouble while he was still in training. Back then, there was no shortage of young furs with a taste for adventure…who thought that war was adventurous. Goddess! Such fools. But Dehelion was a quick study. He picked things up remarkably fast…”
“You slept with him.” Amused outrage dripped from the pup’s voice. Khan glanced up, eyes glinting mischievously. A smile tugged at Kel’s lips, helpless amusement at Khan’s antics. He took Kel’s paw in his, and nodded.
“Yes. I did. More than once. Basically every night for three weeks. He…He was a sweet boy Kel, just two years younger than I at the time. One night, he was out keeping watch. I’d left him by then of course, taken another lover. He never complained, never tried to revive things between us. Anyway, that night, he was keeping watch. The captain warned us about some kind of creature circling the camp, but none of us took him seriously. Animals just didn’t do that.
“We assumed it was enemy spies…or our employer checking up on us. Wouldn’t have been the first time they did it, and…most of the night had been quiet anyway. We weren’t expecting any kind of attack. Why would we? Only an idiot would try attacking in the swamp at night. There was no room to move and only the one path in or out.”
He grinned.
“Many of us saw sentry duty as a chance for some romances. I’d traded duties with another, exactly for that reason. Dehelion…we were no longer an item but I figured we could have some fun. I remember…it was a full moon. He looked so pretty there in the moonlight, sitting on a stump, brushing his fur. But then, foxes always look pretty, don’t they? I remember thanking him for some small courtesy he’d performed earlier and offered to walk him back, but he declined, joked he didn’t need looking after anymore.”
Kel stirred uncomfortably at that, and Khan grinned. Oh, the pup was proud! Khan well knew that his pride had been wounded by his earlier protectiveness. Kel didn’t like the idea that he might need to be looked after and protected. And of course, he didn’t, Khan had to concede. It really had been a bad mistake to leave him behind, and not one he was sure he understood the motive of. Perhaps it was just instinct. Heavens knew he’d acted on that often enough!
“He was just like that, “ he continued, still smiling, “…always joking, laughing, making everybody around him feel good. I’d been with him for longer than with anyone before him, but that badger…she was something else! Anyway…
“He reported seeing some sort of animal moving in the undergrowth, just circling. That was the first time I took the reports seriously. I’d trained him myself after all, so I knew he wasn’t starting at shadows. He told me that no matter how hard he tried, he just couldn’t seem to focus on it. I asked him to show me where he’d heard it and he showed me an area maybe twenty feet away. We looked, really looked for some sign but there was nothing, so we assumed it was something small, maybe an otter or a jackal. Something large enough to be a threat would be seen if it came that close, so we assumed we’d simply missed the tracks.”
He paused and looked at Kel. The pup sat where Khan had indicated, on his knees with his butt resting on his calves. Ears pricked and alert, he looked the image of a studious youngling focused on what the teacher was saying. There was no hint of disbelief, condemnation or pity; he was simply listening. The trust in his green eyes very nearly undid Khan. Involuntarily, his wolfhood responded to the rush of affection he felt for Kel at that moment. He shifted uncomfortably and continued.
“I told him to report directly to the captain, along with my recommendation that we increase the number of sentries and light fires to keep the animals…whatever they were…at bay. Dehelion agreed instantly and sprinted away, but seconds later he returned. He’d spotted some of the shadow things behind our lines. I went with him. Didn’t take long to spot them. They were all around us, beings moving like shadows, flitting here and there, appearing and disappearing at will. It was impossible to track their movements. I knew then that we were in trouble. They kept circling close by, but we could never see them. Just the flashes of their blades in the moonlight. We made a dash for it…but didn’t get far. I don’t know how they did it, but somehow we kept ending up where we started.”
Khan stopped, lost in memory. The moon was out but hung too low in the sky to be much use as a navigation beacon. The paths in the swamp that their trackers had marked were all clearly visible. There was no reason for getting lost, and yet they had. Both of them had memorised the sequence of beacons, and they’d both unhesitatingly taken the correct path, yet each time they ended up at the stump where Del had been grooming. He always made sure that he had a couple of landmarks of his own, just to be sure but even that had failed him. He knew fear for the first time in his life; real, gut-wrenching fear.
“Khan…?”
Khan took the paw that Kel offered him in his own and stroked the soft fur, watched Kel’s wary eyes soften slightly.
“Sorry, love.” He squeezed the paw, but kept holding it as he continued.
“I knew then that we would never get out alive. I remember…I was terrified but as the same time so angry, that these creatures, whatever they were, could herd us like animals. At that point…I guess I lost my head a bit. I decided to stand my ground and Dehelion…he opted to join me. I told him to keep close, keep his back to me so we could at least see them coming…but I never did. They were all around us, I have no idea how many. Shadows flicked through the trees and undergrowth. There was no way to focus on just one. I tried my best to find a target, but…I never did. Behind me, Del was trying just as hard. I could smell his fear.
“Finally…I guess we just got too tired…we lost focus. Just for a moment, a single instant. I turned slightly too far, lost sight of Del and he…he turned toward me, maybe to remind me to pay attention, I don’t know. I lost sight of him for maybe a second, but it was enough. The next moment, he was gutted from behind, sliced across the belly and stabbed twice in the back. Quick, efficient killing blows that I never even saw coming. I felt his warmth at my back disappear…and the spray of his blood on my fur. He never so much as cried out…never had the chance to. I turned back…but it was too late. They were gone. The shadows were gone as if they’d never been, and there was Del, struggling to rise. I remember his eyes…so wide and so very blue, just staring at me. So strange, so…so vulnerable, as if asking me what the hell had happened? So soft…He…he reached out once and I knelt by his side, tried to look over his wound. His guts lay spilled around his feet. Guess he saw his death in my eyes. He gave me that look…I took him in my arms and he smiled. He smiled. And died. Right there, still looking at me, as if…as if…”
He foundered to a stop, and suddenly Kel was there, right there next to him, skin to skin, holding him tightly. Like a drowning fur, Khan clung to him.
“He loved you, “ the pup said, and Khan nodded.
“Yes. Yes, he did. And I never saw it. I never really cared. But his face…the look in his eyes…it haunted me, for years until I understood. Until you made me understand.” He relaxed his grip as Kel drew away, his green eyes wide with surprise and fear. Khan smiled reassuringly and let him go. Ah! So I was right! He doesn’t believe I could love him. Ah, pup! How wrong you are! Kel retreated back into his pose of intent concentration and Khan continued, telling Kel about the aftermath, his mad dash through the swamp, how he made it back only by chance, how he made his report, time and again, to a dozen different people about what had happened that night, about the death of Dehelion.
So had a score of others like him. Del had not been the only casualty that night. Twenty three others had shared his fate, in exactly the same way: two furs together, one died, and one survived. Terror had swept through the camp when the survivors came stumbling in, some insane with fear and disbelief and sheer horror. Some recovered…most didn’t. Desertion became rampant and the Captain took strict action against the remainder…The fool had actually tried to hold them at their posts when so many of their own had died just like that, for no reason, and in such a bizarre fashion. Fighting furs could take anything. Anything except the unknown. They were pragmatic folk: they’d seen it all and never expected to see anything new. There was no death that they did not know intimately, and had spat on countless times, dared to take them; but this…It was one thing to die by the blade, by fire or by arrow, but to be cut down by some unseen force…that was more than many could accept.
In the end, they’d killed the Captain, and the company broke apart, never to reform. Many, like Khan, returned to the ways of the blade, and fought bloody battles, daring death, indulging themselves at every opportunity. Others never touched the sword again. Even Vanis, the untouchable one, the pillar of stability, could not distance himself from it. To him, the swamp became an irresistible lure to which he constantly returned, and eventually made his home. Khan understood his need, and had visited him to help him in his search when he found the courage to do so. So few believed them when they related their tale, and many mercenary companies refused to take on those who had once been known as the Red Devils. And then…then the Baron came, and everything changed.
“Last night…I’d told Vanis so many times to get out of the swamp, that whatever had killed our friends could still be out there, but he refused. I guess in some obscure way he wished he’d been one of the dead ones. Vanis was strong…but of us all, he was the least well-equipped to deal with this. Survivors’ guilt, you know. He spent his life studying the swamp and all the ways it could kill you, and beat it every time, when what he really wanted was for it to kill him. I doubt even he knew that this was his goal. It never showed, this black depression of his. All of us…those of us who’d seen the attack and remained sane…tried to get him out, but he refused.”
He sighed. “Kel…I’m the last one. The others…they all died, fell in battle, jumped off buildings…or just plain disappeared. With Vanis gone...there is no one else to remember the twenty four furs who died that day. The sad thing is that no one knows why they died…or believed how they died. And now…now Vanis joined them, cut down in the same way the others were…and I was spared a second time. If only I knew why, or what, or how…just something! Why do they emerge now, after all these years? Molla told me that over the last few months, no traffic had made it out of the swamp. People fear disease, but…well, I know it was not. It was them, these shadow beings….Kel? What’s wrong?”
The young black wolf looked down, hiding his eyes from Khan. He knew that the big wolf would see his terror. His feelings for the big wolf couldn’t be denied. The developing closeness would soon demand its due. He wanted Khan. But there was still another fear...
From where he sat across from Khan, Kel could feel the life pulsing inside the other male. He could see the darkness, and the stifled light that was just beginning to emerge within him. He could see the roiling coils of potential that snaked through his spirit. The goddess’s words echoed in his head: “If you work together”. One option. One chance. All or nothing.
Trust him or die. Trust him and die.
Part 3: Battle
“Kel?”
Kel flinched and almost jerked back when Khan’s paw touched his muzzle and gently tilted his head up. Terrified, but unable to resist the tender, even loving touch that he’d wanted for so long, the young wolf clenched his eyes shut.
Somehow sensing his distress, Khan only draws him close and held him.
“Hey...talk to me. It’s okay.”
Kel shook his head. His body remained rigid against Khan’s. He felt his back being caressed and smiled at the irony, that Khan of all furs would be so unselfishly trying to comfort him, when Khan himself was the source of his distress.
He was so warm...so soft...
...I’m so tired...
Trust him or die. Trust him and die...maybe. Probably...
The turmoil in his mind was nothing to the desire in his heart.
Khan’s arms wrapped around him. Strong but gentle...
He could kill you. If he knew.
...protective and comforting...
He loves me.
He didn’t trust you.
He had his own demons. “If you work together”
He could kill you.
...I love him...he loves me...
Fool...
“Kel...”
Kel leaned his head against Khan’s broad, fuzzy chest and nuzzled. Truly told...he was tired. Tired of fighting. Tired of being afraid. He had a chance, here and now, to have what he’d always wanted. He could let it pass him by, or he could risk it all. What did he have to lose?
He smiled. All or nothing. Alright...
“My...guide. She paid me a visit while...while you were...
Khan nodded, and tightened his arms around the younger wolf. He had no idea what Kel was talking about, but he sensed Kel’s distress, so he said nothing, just encouraged him gently by saying nothing and holding him.
“She told me there was evil here. I’d known that already of course. That’s why I called her. I...wanted to know what we faced.”
Khan winced as Kel’s words stung him. He nodded and kissed the top of Kel’s head, silent apology. I was stupid. Forgive me.
He felt Kel smiling, and the slight shift in his body as he lay a soft dark paw on Khan’s chest. Acceptance. Yes, you were. But it’s okay.
“She told me that the Shadowbeings you described...they were created in Islewigh. She didn’t tell me how or why...only that they were, and that if we wanted to survive...we had to...work together.”
Here, Kel paused. Khan could feel the tension building in the young wolf. His fear hung thick in the air. Never particularly fast on the uptake, it took Khan a while to work though all the implications of what Kel had just said. He spoke of a guide who had revealed things to him that he couldn’t know. He spoke of Islewigh, the cursed land where their kind had once been created, and where Tiaan had won recognition for them in the eyes of the gods. The sorcerers had at one time waged war on those humans and furries that had turned their backs on the old ways of magic. It had only been the intervention of Tiaan and her mate Caleigh that had turned the tide by having the gods grant them the right to live. Since then, the practice of magic had been outlawed in all the lands save in Islewigh itself.
And in Kiy.
Oh gods...oh gods, it couldn’t be...
Kill the sorcerer wherever you encounter him.
It was the oldest law on the books, and one that had been adhered to religiously in all the lands.
Except Kiy.
Kiy still had wizards, who called on magic, and spoke to the spirits. It was the main reason why there had been so many wars over the years. Kiy refused to give up their practice of magic, and no one wanted to live with that threat on their own borders. For reasons of his own, the Baron had seen fit not to enforce the law of killing wizards....but even he had commanded that any wizard found be brought to him.
Kel was Kiyan.
No...oh gods...Kel...
Kel. His soft, beautiful pup, the first and only person to ever break through his self-absorption to touch his soul and make him feel alive...was also a wizard, and therefore a wanted criminal under sentence of death.
His mind reeled, but recovered quickly. His warrior instincts hadn’t detected the least amount of ill intent in Kel, and it was usually a dead warrior who didn’t quickly develop this instinctive skill. In that contest, Kel’ magic became simply another weapon in in arsenal, and one didn’t judge a fellow warrior on the type of weapons he carried...only on how he used them.
He looked down at the young wolf he still held in is arms.
So that’s why you were so afraid to let me love you...
I cannot blame you, pup...I understand.
What he did not understand was how the fuck he’d gotten himself involved in this. Gods! Barons and witches and apocalyptic wars and wizards...? Monsters out of Islewigh, the accursed land...
Khan shuddered and mumbled a quick ward against evil. Instantly Kel pinned back his ears and started to draw away, his green eyes stricken. Khan tightened his arms around him, refusing to let go, and nuzzled Kel gently in reassurance.
“Shhh, Ash’Kel-te” he whispered, the loving endearment coming unbidden to his lips. “It’s no matter to me that you’re a wizard...sorcerer...whatever. I don’t care about that. What matters now is getting out of this. Work together. Okay. We can do that. Now tell me what exactly this...guide of yours had to say? Believe me, if her suggestions can get us out of this, I’m all ears.”
His tone held just the right balance of gentle humour and resolve in it to reassure Kel, who couldn’t help smiling. He hugged the younger wolf close, both to reassure him and to indicate that he really didn’t mind what he’d just been told. He knew just how much courage and trust it had taken for Kel to tell him this, and he wanted him to know that it wasn’t misplaced.
“Tell me,” Khan said, gently nuzzling the pup.
Kel nodded and sighed as he relaxed. He wriggled a bit, apparently trying to find a comfortable position, then settled down, his head leaning against Khan’s chest.
“Khan...would you be able to fight these creatures if...I made them visible to you? One of the things I can do is see life. I don’t mean see it with my physical sight. I mean looking at something using magic...what we call mage-sight, or astral sight. Every living thing that lives and breathes has a life-line that connects them to Wakata-Geah...the Source-of-Life. By using mage-sight, I can see them as clearly as I can see you. If...you allow me...and if you trust me, I could allow you to see them too. I could give you that sight...if we link.”
His confusion must have showed, for Kel continued without prompting.
“A link. It’s a…psychic connection that would, for a short while, allow you to share my abilities. You could sense the creatures in the same way I could. You won’t see them with your physical vision, but within yourself, you would sense them, sense their movements. Depending on how strongly we link, and how much spirit power you yourself have, you could even anticipate their movements.”
Anticipate their movements? He looked sharply at Kel. Could this be the source of Kel’s prodigious speed? He could sense what you’d do before you did it? Abruptly he blushed. Gods above! How many times had he had to restrain himself from raping Kel? He knew that…and was still here? Dear goddess! He looked up and met Kel’s laughing eyes. Oh yes! He knew all right! Khan shook his head and grinned sheepishly at his young love, feeling better for some inexplicable reason. Still…this required exploration.
“How do you mean ‘inside myself’? And…um…spirit power? I don’t have any spirit power - I think. I’ve never spent much time in Kiy…”
“No no,” Kel interrupted. “The power is latent in everyone. Anyone can learn to use it. If we had the time, I could teach you to do almost everything I could do. The power grows within you the more you use it. Some people are born with a head-start, but…we can all use it. Everyone has spirit power. All the link really does is allow you to draw on my…knowledge. Your own power will…do all the work, but you’ll draw on my training.”
He blushed then, and sobered. “But Khan…I must tell you. If we do this…there will be no hiding. I would be able to see some of your thoughts, your feelings, and you would see mine. In battle, I won’t be able to concentrate on giving you the sight you need, so you will be able to draw on my other…abilities as well. You may even retain some of them afterward. Khan…think carefully here. Right now, you have a way to fight that works for you. You’ve developed the skills over the years. What you draw from me…might interfere with that. A link such as the one I propose occurs very deep within the mind. The abilities you draw from me will become as instinctive as those you learned through your own experience. You’ll draw on them without thought…but you’ll have no memory of gaining the skills, or even what the skills are. In the middle of battle…that can be dangerous as you yourself won’t know what move you’re going to make next. You’ll lose your ability to plan ahead. Think of that. Can you live with it? There is another factor…Once I awaken your spirit power…it may manifest.”
Khan blinked.
“I’m... not too sure what you mean by that. Didn’t you just say that...this magic thing is something everyone has? How...?”
Kel nodded.
“Everyone has it, yes, but we don’t all have equal power. And some people lock theirs away instinctively. That’s what you did with yours. It’s locked up so tight you barely have access to it. But...if I let you link with me...you’ll know how to access it. You may not be able to lock it back up again once that door is opened. I can’t be sure. Think about that too, Khan. You...could become a wizard yourself...”
Khan blinked. Him, possibly become a wizard? One of those robed individuals he’d seen in Kiy, or the fancy-armoured warriors from that land with the weird face-paintings and stuff. A wise one that everyone bowed to... The idea seemed absurd. Magic? What would he do with it? The gods knew he’d never done much thinking in his life. He’d acted on impulse. I want, I take. His impulse now was to take whatever advantage he could get. He’d need very edge to fight his way out of this.
And yet...he was no longer alone. He couldn’t just act anymore. The young black wolf beside him deserved consideration. Whatever he chose now would affect them both, and for the first time in his life, that mattered. Someone else mattered. His choice now would determine their whole future. His. Kel’s. Theirs. He’d no longer be just a simple mercenary. He’d be leaving his simple, unthinking, instinctive life behind, and he’d never get it back. But that was a false start. Kel had already changed him. There was already no way to go back. No matter what he chose, the changes Kel had wrought would remain. He could choose to end all that, or he could choose to continue to grow. Kel had changed too, he thought. They’d influenced each other and learned from each other. They’d made each other better, more complete, simply by being together. He didn’t want that to end. He couldn’t imagine being without Kel anymore, and that was the single truth that decided him.
“Kel...this is...very far beyond my experience. I don’t know anything about magic, or guides, or even Islewigh. I don’t know anything about...any of this stuff. I just know how to fight. So I’ll fight. If what you propose to do will let me fight better, then I’ll do it. I trust you. Do what you must to...do this link thing. We’ll get out together, or not at all. I promise you that.”
Kel was still for a moment, then he nodded once. With soft, slow movements, he untangled himself from Khan. Khan let him go, but not without a feeling of loss. It had been remarkably comforting and pleasurable to hold Kel, and the feel of the cool night air against his sweaty belly and chest was most unwelcome. His eyes stayed focussed on Kel, following his every move as the black wolf removed an obsidian carving from his pack. He held it up. Even in the dim light of the moon, Khan could see that it was a rough, finger-length carving of a wolf,
“This is a representation of me,” the black pup explained, and offered it to Khan. “I’ve infused it with my own essence. Hold it tightly in your paw.”
Khan took it, and examined it quickly. The surface was smooth and polished, but the carving itself didn’t seem to be of the same standard as some arty things he’d seen on sale at various bazaars. It seemed exactly what it was: a representation, a symbolic image. It had green eyes though, like Kel’s. He looked questioningly at Kel.
“Look at the fetish, Khan,” Kel commanded. Khan bit back a laugh. The pup’s voice held such authority...something he’d never displayed before. Secretly, it pleased Khan to see it. He did as he was told, trusting Kel to know his craft as well as he knew his own.
“Focus on it. Feel its every curve in you paw. Become aware of it...know it on as many levels as you can.”
Khan closed his eyes, ignoring the fact that his mind yelled at him that he didn’t know what Kel was saying, that it didn’t make any sense. His warrior training took over, and he did what he was commanded to do as best he could. He fixed an image of the fetish in his mind and slowly started turning it over and over in his paw, letting his sense of touch direct him, matching the image he held to the curves he felt.
“Think of it as me. You’re holding me in your paw. You want me inside of you. You want me to explore you as you’re exploring me. You want me to know you as you know me...I am in your paw, Khan...think of me...focus on me...hear me...feel me...I am there..with you...You’re holding me...I am with you...let me inside you...”
The pup’s voice caressed his ears. It soothed him, speaking of things he longed for with all his heart. Rhythmic...chanting. He felt Kel in his paw...his warmth...Kel...
Yes...I have you...I want you inside...know me...I feel you...you’re...here...I trust you...inside...come...come inside...inside me...inside me...me...
The world fell away. There was only him and Kel. There was no world. There was only them...inside the wonderful darkness. Warm...intimate...
I feel you Kel...come to me...I am here...here...come to me...
Out of the darkness, he felt Kel draw close, deeper. No sight. Just the steady blaze of Kel beside him...No fear...nothing...
He felt Kel’s body...the power in his limbs. Kel was there beside him...his body...their body...do I know this...? Yes...that’s how...yes...
He found that he could see more...here in this darkness he could see everything...A young pup, with a sister...
...what was Kel looking at...? I feel you looking at me...its...okay...I feel you...mine...mine...yours...oh...yes...
...small house...and there...a face...not a wolf...not a...oh yes...I understand...he was a...bad man...no...just...no understanding of you...the other one did...yes...he understood...not everything...not all of you...
...you fled...you...died...
...you...love so much...oh Kel...
Memories flooded through Khan’s mind, fleeting images that explained Kel in ways words never could. He felt Kel inside him...the deeply loving presence that saw without judging, that soothed without demanding. Loved without reservation. Kel loved everything, and so his life was a mess of pain in the harsh reality of death, murder...blood...
Painfully aware of the monster he was, Khan would have shut the door on Kel right then if not for the pup’s complete lack of horror.
Even you can be loved...
...love me...love me...
...please...
Their souls reached for each other, and in that instant, the link was forged. It rang through their bodies and souls with the clarity of a smith’s hammer on steel, and spat them out of the trance state they’d been locked in, deep inside each other.
Locked together by ties so deep that the knots could never be found, they woke, clutching each other, clinging, their tears soaking their fur. Khan could feel Kel’s heart beating. He was aware of every motion he made, the feel of his arms around the young wolf. He felt the depths of Kel’s pain, and his fierce desire. He cherished this...the deep trust and faith Kel had.
He was also aware of a darker roiling within himself, that Kel’s knowledge identified as Spirit Power. It was awake...aware that gates had been opened. It wanted out, and knowledge rose instinctively inside of Khan. He curbed the rising power as easily as he’d subdue a weak woman. There wasn’t anything he wanted to do with his power now. Right now...right now he wanted to explore this link...the wonder of such total awareness of another...
He wanted to kiss Kel and feel the dual touch the link provided, feeling his own pleasure as well a Kel’s...
A hard shove to his chest sent him reeling backward and with the feel of ice water dousing hot metal, he came back into himself. The loss of his closeness with Kel nearly made him howl in anguish. His body tensed to pounce forward, to repossess that wonderful security...but a soft paw restrained him, pressed gently against his chest.
“Khan! Focus! I’m here. Here! Look at me. Look! Look at me!”
Soft paws forced his muzzle up and green eyes bore into his soul.
“I’m here. Feel my touch.”
Those wonderful paw caressed his face. Trembling, Khan raised his own paws and lay then over Kel’s as the younger wolf gently stroked back his face fur. He swallowed hard. His heart hammered in his chest and his eyes focused and unfocused randomly. His head felt like it was filled with dandelion fluff. Kel took hold of his paws and placed them on his own face.
“Feel me, Khan. I’m here with you. Are you alright? Khan?”
Khan shook his head. There was a slight note of panic in Kel’s voice. He shuddered and made an effort to clear his head, get control of his own body again.
Had...had they really been one? He’d spent an eternity in that dark place with just Kel there. They’d...he remembered so much...and the feeling was still there. Kel was...inside him...but also not. He was there before him...and inside...
Am I inside you too? Yes...yes...there...
Here and...there...
“Khan...?”
He shivered as Kel’s voice echoed inside and out...but things were clearing now. Kel-outside was gaining clarity now.
“I’m...yes, I’m...fine. Just...what the...fuck just happened? I’m...you’re...where...”
He focused on Kel’s eyes, felt the pup’s fear...but the physical vision of him was enough to bring back perspective. He’d spent forever with Kel...but he knew this world too. He’d lived here all his life. But that other place was still available. He was starting to get the knack of keeping it separated from this reality.
Dear gods...love is such an insanity...existing in two bodies at once.
He grinned. Maybe an old wolf could learn new tricks after all. This link...mmm! The possibilities inherent in it!
His shivering eased away until his paws were steady once more. He took Kel’s paws in his and squeezed. Kel’s eyes were still wide with fright. Khan smiled.
“I’m...okay now. This is...so weird. Like...oh, fuck it. You know what I mean. You felt it too. I know you did.” Khan tilted his head to one side and smiled, still receiving emotional impressions from Kel.
“I’m fine, Kel. Don’t worry so much.”
He grinned, elated for some reason.
“Are you...sure?” Anxious green eyes clouded with worry looked solemnly at him.
“I’m sure, Ash’Kel-te. So...what now?”
Kel smiled.
“Well...the link went a bit deeper than I anticipated. But I don’t suppose that matters now. I know it’s confusing right now. You’ve had no training at all, but I did my best to give you proper shielding abilities. There are ways to dampen the link so we don’t intrude on each other so much.” He giggled. “And no. We can’t lock each other out completely. All it means is that your awareness would remain focussed on your own sense-impressions...but I think we’ll always be aware of each other. I think you’ll find that you’ll always know where I am, and what I’m feeling. Just like I will know. Like I said...it went deeper than I though. I’m sorry, Khan. I...couldn’t stop it. I tried to limit it...but...”
“But I wouldn’t let you.” Khan nodded. He remembered that. He’d let Kel in unconditionally, without limits...and that had forced Kel to open as completely. Neither of them had wanted limits on how close they could get. It was as much his fault as Kel’s. Not that he minded. It was what he wanted, and he didn’t regret it.
“So what does it mean? For us, and for getting out of here, I mean?”
“Well...we’ll have to test that. There’s no way to know. The link is there, and it works.”
Without warning, Kel lashed out at Khan. Quick as lightning, his arm flashed forward.
Warning rang inside Khan’s mind. It was like a thunderclap inside his head. Aware of Kel’s move, recognising what he was doing, it took him no time at all to react and block. His own arm lashed up in a movement he knew would counter this attack. He sensed no malice from Kel...only playful mischief, and so his soul searched for a manoeuvre that would match his own intent. His vision hazed, and suddenly he was looking at the world in colours he’d never seen before. There was Kel. His soul blazed bright greenish-blue against a black backdrop. Every tree, every animal, even the groundcover...their life force shone. He could tell which was plant, and which animal. Plants were...dull, like unpolished stone glowing from within. Animals were more shiny, but opaque. Kel though...Khan could see right through him. He was multiple colours. His every though made the life in the fibrey stings of his muscles pulse different colours against the bright green-blue of his soul. Yes...there...a streak of black running along the little fibres of his arm. He was going to stay the blow. It would not connect very hard against his instinctive block. Now if he could catch that arm, and pull just so...
Kel’s blow connected. It was feather-light, just the baret touch against Khan’s. He grinned...and yelped when Khan’s other paw caught hold of his free arm and pulled him in close. He twisted around and rolled. Caught unawares, Kel fell forward and down, and an instant later was pinned underneath Khan.
Khan grinned toothily.
“Saw that coming a mile off, pup. Surely you can do better?”
Kel laughed.
“See what I mean? You saw it all with astral sight...saw what I would do, and drew the knowledge of how to counter it straight from me without even thinking about it. That’s how it will be when we fight those beings. You’ll see them the same way. Your reflexes are quick enough, although you do lack a certain...finesse. You’ll need to train those muscles, Khan. If you want to fight like me, you’ll need more than just strength.”
“Ha!” Khan grinned. “I was quick enough to catch you, wasn’t I?”
He never saw it coming. The pup’s left paw struck out and connected just under his chin. His head snapped back and before he could even recover from surprise, Kel had pushed him off and onto his back. One of his knives slid easily from its sheath and was poised at Khan’s throat in an instant, all in one smooth, silent motion.
Khan blinked as Kel grinned down at him.
“Not nearly as fast as you think...pup. And you let your guard down. Don’t get cocky.”
Khan smiled back, rubbing his chin where Kel had hit him. He knew Kel had used just enough force to get his point across. The attack Kel had used was now clear in his mind, and he knew how to use it himself. This was going to be...strange.
“Right. Point taken.” He wiggled his nose. “Did you have to hit so hard?”
Kel only grinned as he got up.
“Come on. Let’s get out of here.”
They struck camp quickly and efficiently. For the moment, both wolves were lost in their own private introspection. Intimately aware of each other through the link, they moved in silent unison. Once they had everything, Khan sat down on a nearby rock and slid his right-hand blade from its sheath across his back. He inspected it minutely, hefting it in his paw to feel its weight. The weapon felt both familiar and a profound mystery.
Kel watched him in silence, his eyes soft. His ears swivelled this way and that, listening. Both could sense evil approaching. Kel could feel Khan’s hot rage through the link. It was tightly controlled, but it would consume anything in its path. It fuelled his spirit-power and lent him strength beyond the usual. His enemies were approaching, and he had years of wrath to pay them back with for the loss of Dehelian, Vanis and all the others he had lost.
It fascinated Kel. Khan’s magic seemed turned entirely inward. Where Kel used his to sense the world around him and affect it in subtle ways, Khan used his to enhance his own natural abilities. He’d never seen anything like it before. Perhaps it was just the way Khan was. He didn’t really want to know what was going on in the world. He just wanted every edge with which to fight it. Khan was and always would be a warrior, no matter what other abilities he gained, or how he changed.
It was something of a relief for the young wolf. They’d so nearly lost themselves in each other in that ecstatic moment when their souls recognised each other. There had been no stopping it...and neither wanted to. They both knew how deep the attachment went...but neither was quite ready to acknowledge it. It would be acknowledged...but not now.
Not now.
For now, it was enough to feel safe, with his partner beside him, knowing that he could be relied on. It was a wonderful feeling.
A soft snarl on the night breeze alerted them. The two wolves slowly rose. Khan unsheathed his second blade, and Kel sent his senses roaming.
There. They were coming from the north, through the swamp. The path they were on led due west.
“Come on.” Khan barked. “Time to go.”
The path was easy enough. Kel’s constant attention to the location of their attackers allowed Khan to lead them confidently through the undergrowth along firm ground, evading the first wave of the Shadowbeings. They didn’t run, and showed no hint of fear. Their faith in each other was complete.
Their souls blazed in combined glory, lighting their way with spirit-light.
It didn’t take long for the Shadowbeings to find them. Khan could hear them, scuttling along the edges of their light. This time, he saw them.
He shuddered.
They looked like puppies. Perfectly formed little wolf pups, with the cutest little ears, huge eyes and sad little muzzles. He saw all that reflected in their life-lines...lines that didn’t connect to earth and sky like his and Kel’s...but that led into darkness without touching either. Their life-force was dull red, like a forest fire seen through thick smoke. Quick pulses of blood red flashed along their limbs. They were ridiculously easy to read. Created with but one purpose, there was no way for them to hide their intent.
The little muzzles howled and snarled at them, revealing fangs that were far larger than normal. Thin and silvery-transparent, they dripped saliva, and hungry red eyes glared at them with insane hunger. They carried no weapons. Their claws were their weapons. Long, like swords, and sharp, they resembled the hideous fangs. One slice from those claws was death. They moved like smoke, darting here and there, but not impossible to follow.
His rage darkened. Pups. These monsters from Islewigh used pups to create their minions.
Khan had no illusions about his life and the evils he’d committed, but he’d never, ever harmed a cub. No wolf would. Like most wolves, he’d been popular among the cubs at the training facility. He never turned one away, and spend inordinate amounts of time playing with them, or teaching them. Like any wolf would.
How could they do that to...cubs?
They would pay...Oh, how Islewigh would pay for this outrage...
The snarls came closer, and Khan quickened his pace. He wanted to be as far along the path as possible before the creatures attacked. The path remained relatively flat and easy to run, but the undergrowth grew thicker. It occurred to him that they were being herded. Not that it mattered. These creatures couldn’t know about Kel’s ability to see them. Nothing could obscure mage-sight. Chasing them into thick vegetation wouldn’t provide any cover for the creatures at all, and wouldn’t really be an impediment to the wolves’ weapons.
He grinned. This time, all the advantages were with him. Last time, he’d been young, terrified, unprepared, ignorant and blind in the dark. This time, he could see. He was superbly trained with a new set of skills, he had a partner at his back who could follow his every move and needed absolutely no looking after, and he knew exactly what he faced.
There creatures were going to die.
There.
There was a natural clearing up ahead. They’d stop there, catch their breath for a bit. He almost laughed as the snarls turned to triumphant yips. The creatures actually thought that they were tired and scared. Well, they were wrong. Just behind him, he felt Kel’s excitement. The pup was looking forward to this as much as he was.
Now the creatures were circling them, exactly like they’d done ten years earlier. They darted in and out, feinting and retreating.
The two wolves remained still in the centre of the clearing, back to back. Khan held his twin blades casually ready. Kel held a knife in each paw, and had loosened the scabbards of eight others, ready to draw.
One of the creatures leapt in, straight toward Kel. Khan followed the pup’s movements through the link. The little cub snarled and slashed with his claws. They would have cut Kel to ribbons had he not been able to see them. His left arm rose and fell, and a black hilt was buried in the cub’s chest. Not waiting to see if others attacked, Kel leapt to retrieve his knife. The second he knelt, Khan was there. A curved blade whistled over Kel’s head and decapitated the second shadow that sprang forward. Kel’s arm snapped forward and stabbed a third creature in the belly where Khan had stood a second previously. They both jumped to their paws, once again standing ready, back to back. Five seconds, and three shadowbeings lay dead and twitching on the ground.
“Nice work, Ash’Kel-te,” Khan grinned.
“Thanks!” Khan could feel the blush, and Kel’s pleasure at the compliment. He smiled.
“Watch out. A pair approaching at your east.”
“I see them. Thanks.”
A knife streaked up and thudded into another cub, who screamed as he fell.
“Persistent, aren’t they.”
“Mmm. Not too bright though. Climbing trees aren’t too effective when you’re armed with throwing knives. Would you be so kind?”
“Of course.”
Khan’s blades whirled in a complicated arc that took off arms and heads as a small group of creatures attacked all at once. They crowded each other, barely leaving room to make effective use of their claws. Khan’s whirlwind of blades made short work of them. Blood sprayed and soaked into their fur. Little bodies lay twitching, whimpering pathetically. Khan steeled his heart.
Not cubs. Not cubs...
A soothing flood of reassurance and calm came rushing through the link, and stilled his thudding heart.
“You’re right. They’re not too bright.”
The ghost of a kiss touched his cheek.
They inched their way toward the carcass of the creature that had tried an aerial attack. Kel quickly retrieved his knife while Khan guarded him.
Ten down. How many more...?
Kel scanned quickly and reported back.
Sixteen. Five to your west. Six to your east. The others circle. I suspect they will rush us in a pack while the individual circlers will try for a lucky strike. Here...let me show you...
The image appeared clearly in Khan’s mind, and he nodded.
Better not let them form up. I’ll take my west.
With a mad howl that echoed in curious unison, the two wolves separated and rushed their respective groups. Kel’s knives went flying in quick succession. Three thumped home. Three creatures dead. The remaining three scattered, howling. Khan dove, his blades extended. Right before him, five of the creatures were ready. His dive took them completely by surprise and he cut the legs out from under another three before they could react. Two more knives thudded home.
Eight more down. Eight to go. Three knives left...
Khan completed a roll. Where were they?
There...
Two of the creatures were stalking Kel. Khan’s heart clenched, and instantly he got the mental equivalent of a shake.
Focus, Khan!
He grinned. Yes, Master.
This earned him a mental slap, and a feeling of amusement.
This time Kel didn’t even bother with his knives. He let the creatures approach, and when they were close enough to rush him, he leapt at them. The dance of death, as Khan thought of it. Those beautiful leaps and kicks and punches he’d watched back at the training facility were now fully revealed as the deadly weapon they were. Kel’s lead connected solidly to the creature’s chest. Khan heard bone crush, and the surprised wheeze of the creature. It was slammed backward and down. Before it even hit ground Kel had whirled around and drove the base of his paw into the second one’s nose. The little muzzle shattered. But Kel wasn’t done yet. He whirled on one leg. The other swung in a deadly arc toward and struck the creature’s head as it staggered back, still dazed from Kel’s earlier blow. The neck snapped with a sickening crunch and blood sprayed from its nose and broken muzzle. The little body collapsed. A knife flashed over Khan’s shoulder to thud home in a creature that had been sneaking up on Khan.
Pay attention, Khan!
But there didn’t seem to be anything left to fight. The remaining five creatures fled, howling as they did so.
Kel scanned quickly, but didn’t detect anything more. They leapt to retrieve Kel’s knives. Kel quickly cleaned and sheathed them.
The two wolves stood panting, trembling as battle tension ebbed away. They didn’t wait long, but took off again immediately when they felt ready. For all the advantages they had, neither had unlimited energy.
They loped easily, Khan’s unerring sense of direction leading them toward the exit. They knew that it wouldn’t be long before they were attacked again.
Kel was exhausted. He hadn’t slept in two days and the constant vigilance was starting to take its toll. He still ran tirelessly and maintained mental discipline, but Khan knew he couldn’t maintain it much longer.
Abruptly Kel stopped as if he’d run into a wall.
Khan skidded to a halt and trotted back. Kel was staring straight ahead, his eyes wide, body rigid. A cold wind blew up Khan’s spine.
“Kel...?”
A soft breeze moaned through the trees, bringing the scent of death.
“Oh, no...” Kel whimpered.
“What is it? Kel?”
“Run. Run, Khan! Now!”
Khan didn’t bother to argue. He turned and ran with no regard to energy use. He sprinted as fast as he could. Kel ran behind him, his fear driving him on.
The moaning on the wind grew louder.
“How...far...before we get there?” Kel panted.
“Another mile.”
Kel shook his head in defeat. “We’ll never make it.”
“What?”
Kel stopped, and shook Khan off when he made a grab for Kel’s paw, intending to drag him along.
“Khan! That’s a spirit out there! I sensed it when we came in here. It’s...insane, Khan. It’s nothing but need. It kills with no regard to what it kills. We can’t outrun it. But...maybe it can be driven off. Trust me Khan.”
Khan blinked as if slapped and let go of Kel’s paw.
“Right. Anything I can do?”
“Yes...Please...just...be close to me. Hold me if you would. I will...need support. For now just...stand there. I need to prepare.”
Khan did as he was told as Kel quickly drew a wide circle in the wet ground and stepped inside. He sat down in the exact centre and motioned for Khan to join him.
“Put you arms around me and hold on. I may need to draw spirit-power from you. Open the link as wide as you can.”
Khan nodded. Kel closed his eyes and began to chant. He touched the blue stone in his collar. The fur rose on Khan’s neck as he became aware of a vortex of power that quickly surrounded them, forming a barrier around them. Kel called a strange name. With each call he made, Khan felt him grow wearier. He threw open the link as wide as he could, offering Kel every ounce of power he had. The shield solidified, and moments later, a human shape appeared. It was female, with oddly pointed ears. Khan had never seen her like.
Kel slumped in his arms and the weird apparition turned its attention to Khan, who shrugged helplessly.
“Don’t look at me, lady. He only told me that some insane spirit was on the hunt, and we’re on the menu. We have a mile still to run, and we won’t make it with this thing chasing us. Would you mind...uh...lending a paw...hand...um...”
The human woman clapped a hand over her lips to hide a smile.
“I can see why he likes you.” She laughed. “Sure. I’ll help. You stay put, now. And look after him, will you? Oh! By the way...that shield of his will only keep unsummoned spirits away. It’ll be no barrier against shadowcreatures. Be vigilant. I’ll be very put out with you if you let anything happen to him, Khan Fuzzywolf.”
As abruptly as she’d appeared, she disappeared.
Khan looked around. Okay...here we go again...
“Kel...? Kel? Can you stand?”
Kel nodded and groaned.
“Yes...just...give me a second...”
“Kel...I need you to give me that sight thing...”
The black wolf nodded tiredly. Khan’s vision fuzzed as Kel scanned their surroundings.
There they were. Six of them. They were...fleeing. Fleeing?
Straight toward them, away from a dark mass of energy that was rolling toward them at an impressive pace. Kel was right. They’d never outrun that. Good gods...
Khan glanced back. No way Kel was fighting this round. He had enough on his plate keeping evil spirits away.
Very well. My party then.
He unsheathed his blades and whirled them around in his paws a few times, feeling once again the weird familiar/alien feeling that he’d grown used to over the last few hours. His skill and Kel’s had met in uneasy balance in his skull. Hopefully he could make it into a harmonious whole.
The creatures didn’t wait. They yowled in panic as they rushed him in one single melee. Khan leaped straight up in the air, to his own vast surprise. What the...? Guided by instinct, his body vaulted end over end, earth sky, earth sky, earth...until he hit the ground standing, swords ready. He’d leapt right over them...Of course...
He screamed a battle cry and flew into the creatures. His swords flashed in the moonlight. He was grimly reminded of the way the creatures’ claws had glinted ten years earlier...
Kel’s ability to read and anticipate their moves made it easy. His blades struck flesh much more often than not. Fuelled by his anger and his magic, Khan became a killing machine. He no longer thought or planned his moves. His enhanced senses took in their every move and familiar and unfamiliar battle skills fused together. He leapt like he’d seen Kel do, crushing the windpipe of one hapless pup at the same moment his sword sliced through the neck of another. His fists, clenched around the hilts of his blades as they were, also came in handy as he smashed faces. He screamed and screamed his rage, raining down death on his enemies until there were none left. Six bodies lay broken and beaten on the ground. Abruptly coming back into himself, Khan sank to his knees, exhausted. He raised his left blade to the sky and howled his triumph.
A soft breeze blew through his mind, gently dissipating the clouds of rage, and he turned to face Kel. The young wolf sat smiling on the ground. His ears flagged with exhaustion, but there was pride in his eyes. Khan approached wearily and sank down next to him. He let his swords fall where they would and put his arms around his partner.
“You could have lent a guy a paw you know,” he teased and licked Kel’s cheek.
The pup giggled.
“You didn’t seem to need much help.” A gentle paw touched Khan’s cheek. “You did well. I’ve never seen anyone learn so quickly.”
They leaned against each other, too weary to move...and yet they had to. There was an insane spirit still to be dealt with. Khan got up first.
“That lady spirit of yours...she going to lend a hand or something?”
“Indeed I am.”
The wolves turned to face the ancient goddess.
“Run. Run and don’t stop. I’ll maintain a shield around you until you’re clear of the swamp, but you have to run as fast as you can. Kel, you must keep your shield up. I’ll send you the strength you need, but that’s the best I can do. Damn Islewigh. I didn’t count of an escaped spirit...Why are you still here? Run!”
They ran.
All around them, dark clouds rose up from the earth. The wind picked up as the vengeful spirit called forth its power. All around them, trees withered and died.
“The spirit is sucking the life-force from everything it touches. I’ll keep it away from you,” the goddess yelled above the sound of the breaking storm that spun down out of the clear sky. “Keep running.”
Exhaused as they were, they kept running.
Abruptly, they ran into the open. Golden grassland greeted them where moments before it had been green swamp.
“Now, Kel!” the goddess commanded, her voice like a whip.
Kel whirled around and raised his paw in a “stay” gesture. Without even thinking about it, Khan joined him and wrapped his arms around him from behind.
“In the name of Benzai-Ten, mistress of Water, I command you: stay. In the name of Wakata-Geah, earth and sky, I say to you: be free. Return to the sky, and be renewed. Stay your evil.”
The spirit howled. It sobbed and gibbered insanely. Power blazed forth from Kel, from Khan, and from the goddess beside them. With each blow, they drove back the poor, insane spirit. It fought them for just a moment...but it was tired. So tired, and so infinitely sad and broken. Abruptly, it faded away. Instantly, the clouds rolled back and the wind stopped. All that remained were dead trees and animals all around that had been emptied of all life.
It was over.
Kahn turned to thank the weird lady, but she was already gone. He hugged Kel close and held him for a moment, his head spinning. How he managed to remain upright was beyond him. Remaining upright seemed somewhat beyond Kel at the moment.
“Come. Let’s set up camp, then we can sleep. It’s been a long day” He said, and licked Kel’s cheek softly.
Kel laughed and shook his head in wonder. A long day indeed.
“Yeah. Let’s...do that.”
They set off, into the night.
Part three: Into the fire
It didn’t take them long to reach the edge of the swamp, but by the end of it, Kel was exhausted. They hadn’t slept in two days. Constant vigilance and periodic battles took a heavy toll on the slender young wolf. Khan fared somewhat better. His superior stamina and white hot rage against the shadow beings kept him going, yet even for him, the trip had been frightening. Time and again, he found himself reaching for weapons he didn’t have, didn’t even know the names of, fought using techniques he’d never seen and…saw his adversaries deep in his mind, even with his eyes tightly shut. Even when the beings retreated, they dared not relax. Neither of them could hope to face them alone, and so they made their slow way down the path, never resting, never giving up.
For whatever reason, the creatures refused to move beyond the boundaries of the swamp, so the moment they reached the edge, Khan called a halt, and Kel didn’t object. He was completely spent, and he knew it. He didn’t even have the energy to help Khan start a fire or prepare their dinner. Briefly, he wondered at the energy his love still exuded. The last half-mile, Khan had practically carried him. He shook his head in wonder and lay back in the snug little den Khan had made him, thinking of the link he’d forged between them. Khan had not spoken of what he’d seen of his memories, but whenever he caught his eye, they softened with tenderness. Kel ducked his head, suddenly embarrassed. His own heart had softened considerably after sharing Khan’s memories. He’d seen the ramshackle inn where he’d grown up, a lone son among whoring sisters. He’d lost his father early on, and though his mother had tried her best to raise her children, she just did not have the time to run her inn all alone AND devote attention to them. Hunger and need had been his constant companions, and he’d been just 11 when an evil looking sailor propositioned him. He got away with his promised payment…but not before learning far more than he wanted to know. Three years later, he joined a band of mercenaries, and…eight years later lost a friend. Now here he was. A more complex man than anyone thought.
There was no more time to wonder…or to unravel just how deep the link went. Kel fell asleep from one moment to the next. He didn’t even wake when Khan slipped under the blankets next to him and drew him close.
The unfamiliar feeling of heat on his skin woke Kel late the next day. They’d been in the cold, wet swamp so long he’d almost forgotten what it felt like to have the sun warming him. Not that the sun was the only thing warming him. Cradling his body in his strong arms was Khan, body pressed right close to his own. The big arctic wolf grinned when his younger companion woke, his blue eyes for once unshadowed.
“Morning.” He said cheerfully, and Kel smiled shyly back. He’d never woken up with anybody before, and although he’d slept with Khan next to him before now, this was the first time they’d done so as…what exactly? He still didn’t know, but whatever they were now, it definitely felt good! He snuggled closer, and Khan chuckled. Above them, the sun had risen as high as it would go this late in the season. As feeble as its rays were, still it felt like heaven. As loathe as he was to leave the warmth and comfort of Khan’s embrace, they’d wasted enough time. Guiltily, he thought about the road ahead. The city of Shiva was less than four hours away at the best speed he could manage. Really, he aught to have insisted they continue on last night instead of sacking out. He hadn’t even helped set up camp…
Next to him, Khan drew himself up onto one elbow and looked down at him, his paw tracing the invisible line from Kel’s throat downward, over the white star on his chest to the silky fur of his belly and back up…a caress as gentle and loving as a breeze across a pond in the mountains. The softness in his blue eyes so thoroughly distracted him he lost his train of thought and shivered as the tension that had been building in him eased, and his body went limp. Well…not completely limp. Within the confines of his sheath, something else was stirring…He blushed, and prayed fervently that Khan would not notice the slow awakening of his desire.
“What’s that face, love?”
This face? What face? There was no face there…He rolled and ducked his face away from Khan’s sight, buried his muzzle in the thick white fur of his chest.
This time though. Khan would not be so easily evaded. Instead of simply holding him like he’d done at other times, he gently pushed him away and when Kel still sought to look away, he tilted his head up, forced him to meet his eye. There was no evading that look.
“We’ve been through so much together, seen so much of each other. Hell…we even share some of each other’s memories now. Why still hide from me? Kel, I…I can’t lie to you. We both know what I set out to do. You know very well that I’ve wanted you since before we started out…and I know that you want me. After all we’ve shared…why do you still push me away? Kel…”
No. No! Goddess Khan, I’m not pushing you away…But Khan was not done with him. He flexed the paw that was still gently pressing down on Kel’s chest where he’d pushed him away and kneaded the soft white fur there. Paralysed, once again completely and utterly defenceless before this big, sexy wolf, Kel stared up at him, unable to utter a single word as Khan’s paw worked upwards from his chest and came to rest on the side of his neck.
“Kel…I love you. I want to make love to you. I’ve wanted you to be my lover. Kel…”
It was becoming hard to think…hard to comprehend what was happening. The words failed to make any sense to the young black wolf…but the meaning was abundantly clear, and became clearer still when the big white wolf leaned over him. Sensitive whiskers twitched slightly when the soft fur of his muzzle brushed the shiny blackness of his nose. Unable to stop himself, Kel drew Khan’s scent deep into himself…and at once knew the truth of Khan’s words. The alpha’s dominance, his strength and resolve clung to him…but threaded though that was something Kel had never scented on him before: submission. His eyes widened, and he moaned softly as Khan’s pink, and exceedingly wet tongue lapped tenderly around his muzzle and nose. Kel knew what he was saying…and it was incredible! Furry they may be…but the ancient instinct of the wolf was still very much a part of them…and so was the ancient message Khan was silently giving him: You are my equal, maybe my superior, and I pay homage to you as my leader! You are of my pack, of my family. We belong together. Whatever scent Khan drew from him…he seemed to enjoy. Bit my bit, his resistance was being eroded away. The heat he’d felt earlier moved inward, away from his skin and blazed outward until his entire skin was tingling. Khan’s licking of his face continued for some time, until the mysterious burning reached back inside and found utterance in the soft moans of pleasure that escaped his lips. Goddess, Khan…!
Lost in feelings that were at once familiar and an utter mystery, he didn’t immediately notice when Khan stopped touching him, but once he did, he opened his eyes to look accusingly at his lover: who told you to stop?
Amusement twinkled in Khan’s blue eyes as he gazed deeply into the stormy depths of his love, a tender, quizzical smile tugged at the corners of the thin black lines of his lips.
“You’ve never done this before, have you. You’ve never been with anyone.”
A statement of fact. Kel’s ears went flat, and once again, his flushing face found sanctuary in thick white fur. This time though, Khan did draw him close, his free paw holding him tightly, caressing the small of his back.
“Hey…love?” His muzzle too found its mark, the soft cold nose traced a path down the side of his throat to his exposed shoulder (when had he lost his shirt? Dear heavens…did he have anything on at all…?) where he lingered. His lips parted and as gently as he might a pup, his fore-fangs nibbled, grooming the sleep-tangled black fur. His voice, so huskily low, vibrated against Kel’s skin as he murred.
“That’s it isn’t it? Why you…never acted on it?”
Kel just shivered, lost between fear and desire, fear that his inexperience would drive Khan away, that Khan would grow bored with him…when what he most wanted in all the world was to have Khan forever by his side as his mate. Hope and love warred openly with his lack of confidence in his own desirability. Fear of rejection, of returning to his previous state of loveless indifference to life kept him rooted in place, unable to move forward or back, even with Khan pressed so close to him. He didn’t want to be just a toy. He wanted Khan to need him…as he knew he needed Khan. Anguished eyes sought understanding in Khan’s…hope and trust begging acceptance.
Khan did not disappoint him.
Playfully, he kissed his petrified lover, and whispered, “You want to be a good bitch and have no idea how to be one?”
It was outrageous, an affront, an insult…! From somewhere deep within, his pride reasserted itself and green eyes blazed. His lips drew back as an angry snarl escaped clenched fangs. He surged up from where he’d lain flat on his back with Khan hovering over him and launched himself onto his grinning partner, pinning him to the ground, his shining fangs snapping inches from his nose.
“I’m no one’s bitch!” he growled savagely, only half in play. No one’s bitch! Not ever!
Khan just grinned up at him. Oh yes! Finally! Kel was his!
The pup straddled him, his knees level with Khan’s hips, his paws resting on Khan’s chest, holding him down. Apparently, Kel had not yet realised that he was naked. Khan licked his lips, openly admiring his young lover’s thick glossy black fur, his flat stomach and slightly flared hips. Many would say that his shoulders and chest were underdeveloped from a warrior’s perspective…but having seen Kel in action, and having touched him, Khan knew what lay under the silky fur. Kel was a wolf more suited to speed than power, a look that Khan had to admit lent him a beauty that was unmatched anywhere. He’d only had that one, brief glimpse of Kel’s naked body that time in Molla’s inn…and that had been from behind. Now…the full frontal aspect of him left Khan breathless. His legs, though as slender as the rest of him, was nevertheless beautifully shaped, not overly muscular like so many other runners’ were. There was a delicacy to him that bespoke refinement and yet, one could not miss the toughness. He would never be mistaken for anything other than a male, although many might underestimate him to their cost. Not classically beautiful the way many said Khan was, but to his eyes, a lovelier creature had never bestrode the world…and straddling him as he was, there was no missing his most….definitive feature. In fighting mould as Kel was at the moment, the twin orbs that defined him as a male was drawn tightly against his body…but the slight fullness in his sheath told an entirely different tale. The reddened tip of his shaft peeked shyly from where it had been hiding in the silky depths.
Khan’s body was responding in the predictable fashion as his own length slipped effortlessly from the confines of his sheath.
As if only just then realising what was going on, Kel blushed crimson under his fur, but by then it was far too late. His pride would not allow him to retreat, and Khan was fully prepared to take advantage of that.
Without hesitation, as an alpha laying claim to what he perceived belonged to him, he took hold of Kel by the hips, and slipped his paws upward over his sides and over his chest, stroking tenderly downward, slowly over his belly and past his loins to caress the insides of his thighs. Kel’s angry growling subsided to soft murrs as Khan devoted his full attention to him. He leaned back slightly, although he didn’t let go of Khan’s chest. Unable to fully claim the role of superior, Khan’s paws too softened. The tips of his claws brushed through Kel’s tangled fur, the barest of touches that didn’t penetrate to his skin. As much as he longed to sit up and hug his naked lover to him, he kept to his current role as more and more of Kel’s cock slipped free from where it had been hiding. His conquest of Kel had to be kept to a pace the pup would not find frightening, as frustrating as it was.
Finally, as the hardening shaft reached its fullest extension, Khan left off his tender caresses and took hold of it. Kel gasped, eyes wide, but Khan calmed him with a quick lap of his pink tongue to the arm that was still holding him down…and finally, the fear drained from him as evidently he accepted their mutual attraction…and the love that had lain dormant in them both. He murred, and slowly his paws shifted from Khan’s chest to his shoulders, a tentative caress. Khan smiled, overjoyed by the tiny little gesture of acceptance and renewed his efforts to make his lover’s first time a worthwhile experience. Slowly, he ran the tip of his thumb over the glistening tip of Kel’s cock, rubbing gently before letting his paw slide down the extended length of him to where his knot was yet hiding in the fullness of his sheath, and further down to stroke the silky smoothness that contained his orbs.
Kel moaned softly, his paws twitching convulsively where they rested on Khan’s shoulders. His claws pricked the skin, just enough to bruise, but not enough to draw blood. Khan grinned. Poor pup, to respond so strongly to so little! Well, he’d show him more. Still…Kel’s awakening enthusiasm had underscored his own need: his own erection was now painfully demanding attention and Kel was in no position to offer him any…Ah…but that would come later. Kel’s lovely eyes were clouded with the sensation that Khan’s paw was producing. Indeed, he’d begun to grind gently against Khan’s paw, demanding more. Ah, lover…!
With a single, practised move of hip, leg and arm, Khan rolled Kel off of him and equally swiftly he moved to cover him, pinning him beneath his larger weight. Before shock could even register on Kel’s face, Khan had him locked in a deep kiss, his muzzle fitting perfectly over Kel’s and his tongue had his well and truly subdued. His paws held Kel’s arms pinned to his sides and his thigh…his thigh nestled neatly between his lover’s legs, pressing down on the hardness there. Kel struggled weakly, eyes wide with fright, but Khan did no more than kiss him and it didn’t take long for his own lust to reassert itself and he kissed back with an intensity that took Khan’s breath away. Far from ready to be a spectator during their lovemaking, Kel tried his best to manoeuvre Khan to where he could lock his legs around his waist, but the older wolf resisted. Laughing, he broke the kiss and grinned down at his lover. Clouded eyes cleared and as Khan let his pinned arms go, Kel slid them around his shoulders to caress his back. Never in his life had such a simple gesture brought the big wolf such pleasure, spoke to him of such deep need and desire. Startled by the feeling, he looked at Kel, met his eyes…and saw the acceptance, the excitement and love there. No more fear. Just desire. Overcome by deep tenderness for this young wolf, Khan stroked his face with one paw, and grinned mischievously at him.
“No one’s bitch, huh? You are mine, pup! And I’m never letting you go!” He kissed him then, more gently this time in spite of Kel’s attempts to protest…protests that dwindled when Khan’s free paw touched his belly, and lingered there while they kissed. With his love temporarily under control, Khan broke the kiss and smiled, much more seriously.
“If a bitch was all I wanted. But I want more, Kel. I don’t want just a bitch. If I did…I would have taken you long before now. Lover…I…I…”
The words seized in his throat, and he looked helplessly down at Kel. What he wanted to ask was something he never thought he’d say, had scoffed at so often when others asked. He’d been asked this question a number of times, and had never understood the pain they caused others when they were thrown back at them, discarded in the dust. The utter vulnerability that the question would create in him was almost too much to bear. He tried to look away from Kel…but found that he couldn’t. His gaze was locked with Kel’s as the link Kel had forged between them snapped into effect, and he felt…really felt Kel’s response deep within him; the wild hope of what the young wolf felt the question should be, what he desperately wanted it to be, and it gave Khan the courage he needed to ask it.
“Kel…I love you. I’ve never loved…but I know that I love you. I want you. I…sometimes I…I even need you. But mostly I love you. Kel…lover…please…will you be my mate?”
A slight tremor ran through Khan’s body as at long last, the longing he’d felt and had hidden for so long was acknowledged and expressed. Stormy green softened with love, brightened with joy and suddenly Khan was the startled recipient of a sloppy wet kiss as Kel licked his nose and muzzle in the self-same gesture Khan had used earlier to express what he felt: you are my pack, my partner, my mate, my equal. I am yours…and I lay claim to you! Just as suddenly he felt his head pulled down and soft words were whispered in his ear…”Yes! Yes, oh yes! I’ll be your mate! I love you!”
Ahhhh….An inadvertent exclamation of joy that intensified into a howl…and moments later, a second voice joined in as the two lovers howled their love for all the world to hear. Their eyes met again, and eyes glinted mischievously as sudden desire swept over them, renewed by their acceptance of each other. The hardness of Khan’s erection was still pressed against Kel’s hip…but that was not where it desperately wanted to be. Under him, Kel seemed just as desperate to have something done to him…and Khan remembered that this was his lover’s very first time. As much as he wanted his mate’s tailhole…he knew that he might not be able to restrain himself from tying with him at this point…and he had no desire to hurt Kel, as tying with him surely would. The size of his knot might stretch him beyond his limits. No. Best to start him out slowly, get him used to making love to another male. Desire was one thing, but the realities of gay sex were something else. Gently, with as much tenderness as he could, he pressed down on Kel, gaining leverage to shift himself fully onto him, and slightly upward so their loins were pressed firmly together. Already, the first drops of precum was glistening at the tip of Khan’s cock, lubricating them. He would have to move carefully as without it, the experience could be painful…Under him, Kel moaned and spread his legs to allow Khan to better fit to him. His paws on Khan’s back tracked up and down along the hard muscle, a clear invitation for Khan to get on with it. Amused by his mate’s impatience, Khan opted to tease him. His muzzle found a tender spot near Kel’s shoulder blade where he nibbled gently, his fangs just barely touching the skin beneath. Kel squirmed and bucked under him, but Khan refused to be hurried. He nibbled gently, moving from Kel’s shoulder to his neck, then lapped at his ears, his cheek and muzzle with his wet tongue. Breathing hard, Kel finally surrendered, and relaxed under him, content at last to let Khan lead him through their first lovemaking. Signalling his submission in the ancient way of the wolf, he threw back his head, exposing his throat to Khan. Immediately, Khan focussed his attention there, accepting his mate’s offering with tender licks to his most vulnerable part, and was rewarded by low moans of need.
Eyes closed, Kel waited for Khan to do as he wished with him…a submission he never though he would enjoy, but he did. The big wolf who’d claimed him as his own offered him so much more than just his companionship for the rest of their lives, he’d also made him his equal, elevated him to a position he never thought he’d have: the mate of an alpha…ah, but that was not how Khan was behaving. With every touch, every lap of his tongue, Khan showed him just exactly how the two of them would work. Kel knew through the link they shared just how badly his mate wanted to ravage him…and yet there he was, acting like every individual strand of fur was precious to him. From the depths of the link, Khan’s pleasure came to him: the big wolf was actually enjoying pleasuring him! Joy once more burst within Kel. Khan was still tenderly licking his exposed throat, but now Kel had had enough of gentle. He wanted all Khan could give him, and he was going to get it, going to return what his mate so lovingly gave him! Turning his head to one side, he nuzzled the paw Khan braced himself with, then moved his paws from Khan’s back to his shoulders and levered himself up so he could nuzzle his chest and throat…the last hurry-up call he would give his lover before taking things into his own paws. Fortunately this time Khan answered his silent call and flexed his flanks, driving his loins hard against Kel’s. Sensation exploded as the hardness of him rubbed against his own extended member. Precum erupted from his tip in quick spurts, mixing with Khan’s as the big wolf thrust harder. He yipped with surprise, claws digging deep into Khan’s shoulders.
Khan grunted, but the sudden pain of Kel’s claws ripping into him didn’t distract him for a second. He was used to far worse from unwilling partners in his dark past. His spirit soared at Kel’s sudden show of spirit, and he grinned. Maybe…just maybe he could tie with him after all…but not right away. What he was doing now was not something he’d done often, driving himself directly against a partner. It had never really worked for him, but with Kel it was…different. His young mate thrust back hard with as much force as he was able to with Khan’s weight pressing down on him. Almost instinctively, he angled his body slightly upward to allow their cocks the maximum amount of friction without pulling painfully at their fur…or their dangling orbs. With each drop of precum they spilled between them, the friction decreased slightly, preventing the sensitive skin from desensitising…or pleasure from turning to pain. As it was, his need to cum was throbbing painfully in his loins. He’d long since lost track of where his body began and Kel’s ended as each thrust brought him closer to the inevitable eruption of pleasure that he he’d never shared so abundantly with any other. Under him, Kel too seemed lost. He’d stopped yipping and was now just moaning, licking and nibbling at any part of his mate he could reach. Time to stop…time to show him more…
Slowly, Khan shifted slightly and cupped Kel’s head in his paws, kissed him. Kel’s own arms left their hold on his shoulders and took Khan’s paws in his, broke the kiss to lick at the paws that had tantalised him earlier. Still…deep within his eyes, a stormy discontent was brewing. He most certainly did not want to stop, and Khan bit back a laugh, nuzzled his throat to appease him. Wasting no time, Khan slid back, ignoring Kel’s protests. Instead he licked tenderly at his chest and belly, like he’d done that night at Molla’s. His tongue lingered on Kel’s belly-button, his paws resting gently on his hips, holding him down.
“Khan…” he moaned. “Please…”
Only too happy to oblige, the big wolf let his muzzle descend further down his lover’s body. One paw gripped the base of his erection where his knot was swelling. The size of it perturbed Khan not at all. The thought of Kel tied to him, of his knot swelling up inside him, made him shiver with longing, but for now, he had other plans. The musky scent of Kel grew stronger the closer his muzzle moved to his throbbing wolfhood. Keeping careful watch on his lover’s reactions, he noticed his paws convulsively clawing at the ground, trembling slightly under Khan’s gentle ministrations. Yes…Kel was more than ready. Grinning, he lifted his muzzle over the red hardness of his mate’s erection and let his tongue lap lightly against the glistening tip. His reward was a loud, shuddering moan and a gasp that he presumed was his name being called. Hehe! Poor pup! His tongue circled the swollen tip, lapping up the drops of salty-sweet precum that spurted in tiny burst from his mate’s body. Kel’s shivering became more intense, a prequel to writhing in pleasure. Gratified by his reaction, Khan intensified his efforts, running his rough tongue along the entire length of Kel, down to where his paw still gripped the expanding knot and up to his tip, where he allowed his muzzle to close over the red hardness.
“Khan…Khan…” Shivering from head to bushy tail, his young mate writhed, his paws thrashed wildly, scrabbling in the grass. Even his hind paws would not be still.
“Shhh, love…” Khan whispered and stroked the insides of his thighs soothingly, lovingly letting the tips of his fingers linger. Once he quieted a little, Khan resumed licking up and down the exposed shaft before once more closing his muzzle over his spurting tip, and began gently to suck on him.
Nothing in his short life could have prepared Kel for what was now happening. Many times in his youth, he’d imagined how it might feel with this or that fur, but not even his vivid imagination could have provided this feast of ecstasy that Khan’s tender affections were producing. With each lap of his tongue, the warmth in him spread until his whole body was tingling with need. Surely…surely it could not get better! But it did. The moment Khan’s muzzle closed over him, something new and immensely more pleasurable started happening. Gasping, he tried to call out to Khan, but all that could escape his lips were moans. Tiny pinpricks of pressure touched him as Khan’s teeth gently took hold of him, slid down the entire length of him, the sensitive skin overloading his mind with ecstasy. Dear goddess! What was Khan doing to him? Whatever it was…he wished it never to stop. In his life, he’d never imagined it could be like this. The warmth of Khan’s muzzle only added to the intense pleasure as his head bobbed slowly up and down. There was no way he’d survive the climax…goddess! “Khan…!”
When Kel’s voice took on a slight hysterical note, Khan judged it time to stop teasing him. Still…if he reacted this strongly to just a simple muzzle-job, how might he react when Khan took him in the most pleasurable of ways? He shivered with anticipation, and squeezed down hard on Kel’s fully formed knot with his paw. His fangs gripped the sensitive member gently, just hard enough to indent lightly and his tongue rubbed hard against it. Khan well knew just how powerful the sensation could be, and grinned. The salty-sweetness of Kel’s pre dried up in preparation for something far more delicious, something Khan was quite eager to taste. Moments later, a thick sticky wetness erupted from his tip, filling Khan’s muzzle with the taste of his lover: slightly musky-sweet, slightly bitter. He swallowed eagerly, and sucked down hard, longing for every last drop Kel could give him. Kel cried out and reared up, his paws grabbing hold of Khan’s shoulders. Fire settled like a halo around him as Kel pulled involuntarily at his fur, desperately searching for something to bite into, as was the way of the wolf during…or rather after…mating. Next time, love, Khan silently promised him. This was exactly the reason he’d taken this approach. Knowing Kel, he’d be disturbed by his instinctive reaction. The last few drops of seed spurted fast into Khan’s waiting muzzle, which he swallowed as eagerly as the first rapid flood. He eased back on his sucking, and returned to gently lapping at Kel’s wolfhood, letting him down easy from where Khan knew he was. Soft whimpers of pleasure let him know when to stop. He let go of Kel’s knot and slid his body up along Kel’s like he’d done earlier until they were once more face to face, loin against loin. As expected, Kel would not meet his eyes, so he settled for licking his face, his neck….until instinct took over and he once more exposed his throat to his lover. This time, Khan gently took his throat in his muzzle and bit down lightly, then drew his fangs along his windpipe downward, letting his fangs groom him, a gesture of such intimacy Kel went utterly still under him.
Khan shifted one paw and stroked gently at Kel’s cheek, the nuzzled him, just the barest touch of his muzzle to Kel’s.
“I love you,” he murred, and kissed him. “Will you still be my mate?”
Shocked to sudden laughter, Kel threw his arms around him and hugged him close.
Khan smiled. “That’s a yes, I take it?” and laughed when Kel launched himself onto him again and licked his face. He took hold of his young mate’s hips and held him close, just enjoying the moment. His heart was throbbing with joy with the same intensity his wolfhood was for love of Kel. They were mated. A matched pair. Mated. The idea still seemed incredible to him. Him. Mated. To Kel. A young fur that was wise beyond his years, that loved life with an intensity that dragged all who knew him behind him. That he would settle for a damaged old campaigner like him with more scars in his soul than fur on his body amazed him. And yet there he was resting on top of him, his paws gently kneading his shoulders, his pink tongue lapping at the thick fur on his chest. How could he not love this young fur? How could anyone fail to be enchanted by him…He shook his head and brushed his fingers lightly up over the side of Kel’s neck toward his face until his fingers came to rest against the side of his muzzle and his thumb supported his chin, tilted his head up so their eyes met. Green eyes, totally unclouded, self-satisfied and secure regarded him, shining with belonging and love.
“We should go,” Kel murred, his voice edged with darker timbres that had not been there previously, a special tone that Khan had never heard from him before, but which he knew was meant for no one but him. His young mate however, seemed in no hurry to go anywhere, judging by the way he snuggled down. Khan smiled.
“In a moment,” he said, and was surprised to hear a similar tone creep into his own voice. Indeed…they belonged to each other; but there was one last thing he wanted to do. His own wolfhood was still painfully hard from lack of attention. Unfair of Kel to have all the fun....
He gently pushed Kel off him and as luck would have it, Kel remained on his belly. They’d both need a proper grooming before going into Shiva. It would never do to have two male messengers run into the city smelling of each other…and of sex. The Shivans were strange folk. Khan took a moment to once again admire his lover’s sleek body as he drew himself to his knees and tried without much success to get his mussed fur straightened. Such a fastidious pup he was! Carefully judging his moment, Khan too got to his knees as if to help. He took the brush that Kel had miraculously produced from somewhere in the bedding and positioned himself behind Kel. Kel eyed him suspiciously, smelling a rat in the quirk of Khan’s lips. This too Khan treasured. Once he was positioned to his satisfaction, he wrapped his arms around Kel and drew him close into a tight embrace and nuzzled him. This earned him a laugh and a half-hearted protest about his foolishness and a lack of time to play, but Khan paid no heed whatsoever. His hips were busy probing around Kel’s rump. Kel playfully swished his tail, laughingly trying to thwart his lustful mate. Amused excitement twinkled in his eyes, and suddenly Khan knew that he’d been set up. The sneaky pup had provoked this in the hope he might take the time to make love to him properly. They’d had designs on each other since…heh…well. Since they’d met, he now guessed. Crafty pup. Just who had hunted who? No time to think. Kel leaned forward in Khan’s embrace, leaving him the choice of either letting him go or falling forward onto him. He laughed, delighted at his lover’s sudden change in behaviour, from sweetly hesitant to wantonly eager. Still…maybe he should not be surprised. Quiet rivers usually ran deep…
He collapsed onto Kel, but drew back slightly just to be sure, and Kel encouraged him further by lifting his tail out of the way. That was all the invitation Khan needed. He leaned forward and pressed the pointed tip of his erected member against Kel’s tight tailhole, rubbing it against him in slow, circular motions to lubricate him with clear, sticky precum.
Kel squirmed at the unfamiliar sensation but soon enough relaxed when the expected discomfort failed to materialise. He knew Khan would never deliberately hurt him, but still…he’d been warned that this would hurt. A lot. First times always did, no matter how tender you lover. He relaxed as much as he could as Khan prepared him as best he could.
When Khan judged that he was ready, he pressed against Kel’s hole, felt the tight ring expand reluctantly. His tip popped inside and was immediately squeezed tightly as the muscle instinctively constricting to keep the unfamiliar object of Khan’s wolfhood out. Khan gritted his fangs to keep from moaning. Kel was so warm…so marvellously willing and…and…
Kel hissed as his tailhole was invaded. No matter how he tried, he couldn’t relax. With every move Khan made, it puckered and tried to expel him, causing him intense discomfort. It wasn’t quite pain…but the burning sensation came close...too close. He gulped and lay still, hoping things would improve soon…
Brought sharply back to reality and embarrassed at his momentary loss of concentration, Khan stopped and drew back slightly, not enough to slip out entirely but sufficient to give Kel some relief. In the past, he would simply have rammed in, not caring how much pain he caused or what kind of damage he left behind. Now he stroked his lover’s back gently, and flexed his flanks, pushing his tip slowly back in. Kel growled softly and once again Khan stopped.
“Shh love. Just relax. It does get better.”
Under him, Kel nodded and tried to relax as Khan continued to stroke his back and shoulders. Gradually, his muscles went limp and the burning subsided.
Khan took immediate advantage of this by pressing himself in deeper, a tiny bit at a time. This time Kel didn’t tense up, although Khan well knew there would still be some discomfort until he got used to it. Slowly, ever so slowly he slid in deeper, withdrew and lowered himself back down, deeper each time.
With each slow stroke Khan made, the discomfort lessened as his tailhole was stretched to accommodate him and gradually, the slow friction of the slippery hardness of Khan’s wolfhood stroking his insides turned to reluctant pleasure. The gentleness of his paws eased his fears and the warm weight of his body was oddly reassuring. For some inexplicable reason, Kel felt safer than he ever had before with Khan filling him…like he really belonged to him now...Without realising it, he murred.
Encouraged by this sign of submission, Khan slipped all the way in until his swelling knot pressed tightly against Kel’s tailhole. The until-recently untstretched muscle gripped his wolfhood tightly on all sides, the silken smoothness and warmth of Kel bringing him close the edge. He groaned in pleasure and then, unable to hold back any longer, he gripped Kel tightly to him and increased the pace. Little bursts of precum burst from his tip, slicking up Kel’s insides and easing the friction. Under him, Kel was now murring loudly and yipping occasionally as Khan’s cock caressed his prostate.
Ecstasy such as he’d never known before gripped Kel as Khan pounded on him. The huge wolf’s motion within him and the powerful grip he held him with disarmed him completely and within this state of bliss, he could feel Khan’s cock nudging things inside of him, exciting him to new heights of pleasure. His own cock expanded once more with the need to ejaculate. He moaned, and tried to reach behind him, to grip some part of his lover, but Khan’s huge weight pressed him down and rendered him helpless. For some reason, this helplessness under his mate excited him all the more even as Khan’s voice soothed him and his scent told him the full story of Khan’s regard for him. Gripped by the sudden desire to be tied to Khan, Kel tried to get to all fours. Khan responded immediately by easing up on the pressure, but by no means let up on the incredibly pleasurable speed with which he plunged deeply into him and back out. He gripped Kel around the waist and pulled him back up to his knees, his rough pink tongue immediately seeking Kel’s shoulder and his paws…
All thought stopped as Khan’s paw closed around his wolfhood and gripped it tightly…oh so much more tightly than his muzzle had earlier and stroked it in time with his nudging from behind. Kel threw back his head, instinctively longing for his mate’s jaws on his throat. His back arched as he pushed back against Khan, trying to force a tie, to get Khan’s knot into him, but Khan foiled his efforts and chuckled tenderly in his ear, then licked it gently.
“My sweet Kel…” his deep voice murred, and the next moment Kel found Khan’s arm crushing him to him and a stab of horrible pain assailed his tailhole as Khan rammed his knot inside and continued to pound on him. Kel yelped and instinctively struggled to get away from the violent pain but the internal pressure of Khan’s knot swelling up inside him calmed him even as Khan whispered sweetly in his ear. His pounding heart slowed and Khan’s movements became more languid, more gentle as Kel’s tight passage around the huge knot made him work hard to keep moving. The pain faded, to be replaced by a dull ache…until Khan’s cock again brushed against his prostate and the pleasure returned. Behind him, Khan grunted and bit into his neck as he finally reached his own climax and filled Kel with a warm flood of sperm. With his insides now well and truly slicked, Khan was once again able to move freely within and moments later, the combination of Khan’s tender touch, the feel of his knot plugging his tailhole and the length of him stroking him inside and his own hardness being stroked with such expert attention caused shot after shot of warm cum to erupt from him, covering Khan’s paw in white stickiness.
For a moment, neither wolf moved, content to just remain as they were. Khan recovered first and let go of Kel’s neck and carefully examined him. It had not been his intention to bite, but somewhere long the way his instincts had taken over, such was the pleasure he found in Kel. Kel murred softly, his arms folded tightly over Khan’s where they held him. His young mate leaned against him, exhausted but murring happily as Khan kissed him. Carefully, ever so carefully, Khan shifted their positions so they lay on their sides, his tummy still pressed to Kel’s back and his cock still very much inside him, irrevocably tied for the time being.
The sun still beat down on them, but neither wolf was much bothered. They had found each other, and nothing was ever going to separate them.
",
"pools_count": 0,
"title": "Changes of heart",
"deleted": "f",
"public": "t",
"mimetype": "application/msword",
"pagecount": "1",
"rating_id": "2",
"rating_name": "Adult",
"ratings": [
{
"content_tag_id": "2",
"name": "Nudity",
"description": "Nonsexual nudity exposing breasts or genitals (must not show arousal)",
"rating_id": "1"
},
{
"content_tag_id": "3",
"name": "Violence",
"description": "Mild violence",
"rating_id": "1"
},
{
"content_tag_id": "4",
"name": "Sexual Themes",
"description": "Erotic imagery, sexual activity or arousal",
"rating_id": "2"
},
{
"content_tag_id": "5",
"name": "Strong Violence",
"description": "Strong violence, blood, serious injury or death",
"rating_id": "2"
}
],
"submission_type_id": "12",
"type_name": "Writing - Document",
"guest_block": "t",
"friends_only": "f",
"comments_count": "5",
"views": "165"
}