A Princely Gift The warm springtime sun helped ease the chill of the morning as the small fox stepped out to the garden path. A pair of adult guards dwarfed the young boy further as he walked with all the grace his small stature gave him. Even royalty wasn't beneath the gods, and sacrifice could be required by anyone. It was his job to now prove his courage before just a simple block of wood. Of course, it wasn't the heavy block of wood he should really be worried about, but the heavy muscled rhinoceros awaiting near it. Holding a gleaming axe that towered above the small todd's height. One axe that he would be getting a very intimate knowledge of in a few minutes. His parents watched stern but concern showing on their faces as their young son walked steadily towards the block he had polished. A massive basket full of soft silk sheets and rose petals had been placed on the other side of the block; awaiting him to rest his head in luxury one final time. The young boy found his next requirement a little more embarrassing with the need to strip down to his undergarments. He was just at that age to feel uncomfortable taking his clothes off before others, let alone his parents. His coat was carefully pulled off, unbuttoning and unbuckling his regal clothes with careful, controlled motions to show no fear for what would be next. He must willingly let the gods take him. At least he'd be left with his underwear before the small crowd. The feel of cool air on his fur making him shiver, black fur puffing some in response. It didn't help all the guards and attendants were in tow along with a group of courtiers. It was now certain that his behavior would be judged long after the gods had judged him. He wouldn't have to worry about their finicking over details like whether his dying jerks were pleasing or not to the deities. As he looked over the large, muscular man awaiting to kill him he was very glad he could at least keep his loincloth like underwear on. The simple fabric looped around his lap and waist, and thinking of his state of undress he felt a weird flush and realized he had an erection. The snug silk wrapped about his lap was hiding little and was sure to get a few tut tuts to his parents about getting aroused for the block. Not that he could think of another boy or girl who wasn't didn’t show obvious arousal to their fate in the few shows he had watched. The lack of clothing just showing this off more to his delight when he was in the audience. It could be worse of course, he could have had to strip fully nude for everyone. His clothes were removed one by one, given to the attendant besides him. Each one carefully folded by a gazelle butler, careful and precisely kept even though he won't be wearing them after this day. That detail amusing the boy as he walked up to the block through the soft grass. Dewy petals cool on his paw pads, reminding of lazy days running about in his underwear like a little boy again. Not that these days were far behind him or that the little boy was running up to get beheaded back then either. He kneeled slow and reverently before the altar to lay his neck on the chopping block. The wood was a little warmed from the sun and had a large groove in the front of lay his muzzle on. The opening tilted down to the basket below to guide his head to it while he set his hands on the grass on each side of the wooden block. No bindings were used here to show he was fully committed, not a prisoner to be executed. He took huge breaths of the sweet scented silks in front of his nose to try and calm him from shaking. Amidst that fear he also felt an amazing tenseness in his loins, knowing his little life was at his end. Taking all his concentration to keep from wagging like some pup in a carnival game as he closed his eyes. He knew the wait was never long, and he had always wondered what the cute boy or girl was thinking with their neck exposed like this. Rather mundane thoughts it seemed, and just a struggle to remain cutely serene all presented and butt upturned. He could sense the stiff tenseness of the large executioner’s body besides him. His paws clenched the dirt just a touch tighter. Glad the grass would mostly hide his finger's subtle digging into the dirt as he awaited the blade’s cold kiss on his exposed neck. *CRUNCH!* the sound was unbearably loud and sudden. The massive blade easily slicing through the cub’s fur, skin, muscles and bone to sink an inch into the wood, a final mark the boy will make. There was a dizzying fall into soft pads as his muzzle slid down polished wood the few inches to rest in his basket. The sun beating down warmth on his exposed spine. A strange sensation to feel warmth in his throat. The pain was incredible but soothing in its finality. Barely a moment to blink and everything was fading away with curious peacefulness. Just a strip of warm light in front of his nose amidst the shadows of the basket, and that lovely scent of roses as the darkness claimed him. While his consciousness quickly faded to nothingness, the rest of him jerked up in surprise for a moment. Neck pouring out his young life blood all over that wooden altar he had laid his throat upon. Tail lashing and arms lifting to his chest in reflex, muscles lacking a purpose without his head to guide them. His small body slumped forward just as sudden, and he wriggled his butt back and forth on his knees in spasming shakes. A rather indecent and silly pose if he wasn’t missing his head. The gentle jerking spasms didn't last long, his heart stilled after pouring most of his crimson blood onto the grass around the wooden block. His tail relaxed while his bladder spills into the white silk of his under garment. Soaking into it with the strong scent of piss as his body relaxed completely in death. Some very unprince-like behavior he was glad he wouldn’t hear the comments about, even if it wasn’t his choice in the matter of what his body did without his head. His final thought was hoping they all enjoyed the sight of his final little ‘dance’ as much as he had enjoyed the few other boys and girls he got to watch kiss their baskets.