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Sometimes you have to have a firm hand and even force people to get better.
Such things can be hard on both the one needing assistance and the one giving it.
If you want to support our work, check out our Substar here!

Art by \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSoulCentinel\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t		\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSoulCentinel\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
", "writing": "The clouds were thick that day. With the heatwaves finally fading from view the rain had started to draw in. Skies turned grey and the days became cooler and more relaxed. Most within the Commune liked rain but it did make working in the gardens a bit more difficult than usual.\n\nCookie sat on the top of the west gate. He held an apple in his hand although he had yet to take even a single bite. He was too focused on the forest stretching out in front of him. It was quiet as usual and there was a pleasant breeze but Cookie felt impatient. It had been a few hours since Brandy left to mark trees for wood cutting and Cookie was starting to worry that something had happened. Just as his worries started to grow heavy his long ears heard the sound of rustling and branches snapping. \n\nHopping down from the high gate he leaned against the wood casually and watched as the young boy, Brandy, with golden fur and silver eyes, stepped out of the forest. In his arms was a girl. She writhed against him, wriggling like a freshly caught fish and snapping at him with her beak like an angry dog. She was a young Robin around the same age as Brandy, both of them barely being teens. She wore a filthy and ragged dress that Brandy had used to bind her hands together, the fabric so worn and discoloured that it seemed like it would disintegrate at any moment. Brandy was not much better. His paws were muddy, his fur ruffled, there was a stray leaf stuck in his hair and he seemed to be quite winded. Cookie was expecting a difficult personality but Cherry looked even worse than he was picturing in his mind. \n\n“Hey friend, who is this you’ve found?” Cookie asked Brandy innocently. \n\n“Her name is… Hm, well I think it should be Cherry because of how beautiful her red feathers are. I found her in the woods digging a big hole for herself.” Brandy paused to softly laugh at himself. “She’s quite funny. When I said ‘hey’ she pushed me into a thorny bush and ran off but tripped over a stick and went flying into the river! We’ve been playing tag and chase for ages but I think I won.” Brandy said proudly as he tried to hug her struggling body. \n\n“Like worms we return to the dirt, our souls unclean, filthy and flaming!” \nCherry exclaimed with a click to her beak and twitching eyes. \n\n“Sounds… Nice.” Cookie said with a strained smile. \n\n“She’s quite the hugger, also a runner, sometimes a roller but mostly down hills.” \nBrandy then commented before giggling. \n“I’m about to take her to Home for a nice bath, she’s been playing in the woods for weeks.” \n\n“Sounds like she really needs one! Make sure to show her around too.” \nCookie said politely before waving for some of the nearby guards to come help. They tore the tattered dress from her body and tied her arms to her body using a length of rope. Brandy thanked them for the help and adjusted his grip on her now that she could not wriggle as hard. \n\nWith an understanding nod given to Cookie, Brandy then began marching through the gate and towards Home. The great tower made of apartments stood tall above the fruit gardens and small wooden huts circling around it. With wide and twitchy eyes, Cherry looked up at it in awe. \n\n“Not expecting such a lovely Home hm?”\nBrandy asked her. Cherry did not reply. \n\nOnce they passed through the front doors of Home they took a stop at the front desk to add Cherry’s name to the list. The young girl behind the desk had a few odd looks to share but otherwise welcomed her just as warmly as any other. She took a moment to write down her name on some papers before letting them carry on. Using the elevator they went up to the second floor. \n\nUnlike the other floors, the second one was built differently. It did not have four apartments but rather a single, large, communal living space that a dozen members all shared equally. It was perfect for those who did not need much space to live or did not care about privacy. Brandy began to show her around. There was the central living area with several long, comfortable, sofas and a chunky wooden table that had enough room for half a dozen people to sit around and play games or eat together. Several smaller tables and some pillows or beanbag chairs sat further out from that for even more comfortable relaxing. On the far side of the room from the elevator there was a kitchen, a sizable space with two ovens, a double door fridge and plenty of counter space. In the corners near the kitchen there are two sets of stairs that lead up to a loft with beds. The corner to the top right from the elevator was Lemon and Lime’s love nest, a tangled mess of blankets and pillows that they spent the evenings in. The top left however belonged to Grape and her Soulmate, Soda. The other two corners also had lofts and beds and there was even more space between each corner. By having this halo of bedding above the living space it allowed for private and comfortable sleeping areas while also maximising the limited space.\n\nOn the left wall were two doors that led to two different bathrooms. One was bigger, with a shower and a bathtub while the other was smaller and dedicated to just being a toilet. After finishing his tour of the large room he took her to the bathroom and began to run some hot water. As soon as Cherry saw the steaming water however she began to struggle again with renewed vigour. Brandy’s own grip did not relent and he held her tight until her stamina waned. \n\n“Don’t worry, a good bath can be quite enjoyable.” He said playfully to her. \nBrandy kicked off his shorts and underwear before tearing the T-shirt from his chest. Now naked he stepped into the shower besides the main bath. With a twist of the tap he blasted her with cold water. She squawked and hissed like a cat but her complaints did nothing to stop the cold torrent raining down on her. \n\n“You needed a good rinse too.” Brandy mused as the dirt and mud peeled from her body.\n\nOnce the bath had filled with bubbles and fragrant hot water, he turned off the shower and moved over to the side. Brandy stepped over the side and slowly began to sink down into the water. Cherry once again attempted to struggle but thankfully the bath was bigger than most in the Commune and her flailing legs could not strike out against the sides. \n\nSlowly the heat and minerals of the water soaked into Cherry and soon she began to stop shaking and twitching. She relaxed and let the hot water carry her weight while Brandy stroked her back. \n\n“There we go. Now that we have a minute, I would like to talk to you about Jelai.”\nBrandy said softly to her as he held her close to his body. \n\n“Jelai you see is our Father. He sees all that happens in the Commune because he is one with the world. He is in the ground, and the air we breathe, and the water we drink. Jelai is the warmth keeping us safe at night and Jelai is within each member of the Commune, for we are all his children. With his love and guidance we have never gone hungry, never felt lacking, and also never felt lost in life. Jelai can help you too, he accepts anyone who will take his hand.” \n\n“Love won’t save you.”\nCherry said with a scratchy voice. \n“The Rapture will come. From the Fathoms where the dead dwell a great wave will overtake the land and drag us back to the depths from where we were made. We will be blinded by salt and darkness, we will drown forever without the mercy of death, and we will never again feel the warmth of the sun. It will come for us all. Because we are all filthy. Because I am filthy.” \n\n“Don’t be silly, even if such a wave comes Jelai can still protect us. He does not heed the natural order of this world after all. He defies it, curing sickness where no cure can be found and fixing those who don’t have the pieces left to be put back together. His hands shield us from the sun and cold alike. Jelai allows all to become his children. After they are Baptised they no longer find pain and confusion in any path they walk. We become perfect!”\n\n“Baptism? To be reborn, to remake, to destroy…”\nCherry asked more softly than before. \n\n“That is right. Jelai is merciful and does not just extend his guidance to his children. He allows anyone to be reborn as one of us, and in doing so wipes away all sin and pain. Jelai can make anyone as clean and as pure as the day they were born.” Brandy said with love in his eyes. \n\n“Too costly. Too much. Such things would be beyond us.” \nCherry muttered with a click of her beak. \n\n“Jelai does not need much. You have to accept his love into your heart and learn his stories. You must find a Purpose within the Commune, some have more than one but one is enough to start. And you must find your Soulmate and bond with them, to make love, for Jelai feeds on love. It sustains him. I feel you have already started to accept his love, and you are learning his words through me. Once we bond as Soulmates that will be another task completed.”\n\n“Unclean souls can only make others filthy. There is no purpose in such actions.” \nCherry said as he let her turn around to face him, with her now sitting on his lap. \n\n“Purpose? Ah yes, a Purpose is something you must do and practise. All the members of the commune have one Purpose in the job they do. Wood cutting, cooking, sewing, cleaning, guarding. You can also have other Purposes too. Mine for the time being is to guide and protect you. And once that is done, my Purpose will be to love and make love to my Soulmate.” Brandy said warmly. \n\n“Purpose on purpose, tedious, to clean and clean until the basin turns red and filthy.” \n\n“You’ll get the hang of it. I’m new to the Commune too but my job is going to be a builder. I’m studying stone and pipes currently and want to one day add a lovely fountain to the gardens. Oh and get the paths paved in nice smooth stones instead of just flattened dirt.” Brandy said to her. \n\n“To create is to promise damnation, to build only invites the ruin that will come from the passage of time. You would invite such ruin?” Cherry asked as she tensed her arms against the wet ropes. \n\n“Of course! Jelai is patient and we all learn at our own pace. I have other Purposes too to do in the meantime but the excitement of learning new skills is a joy all to itself.” Brandy replied. \n\n“You will build, and invite ruin, and you will claim me as a piece of yourself…” \nCherry muttered as her eyes rolled in a daze. \n\n“Mmm, I think you need some more of Jelai’s stories. They have great wisdom.” \n\n“No, no more tales and talk and promises. I understand.” \nCherry said as she slipped free from the ropes and grabbed Brandy’s neck. \n“You’re more filthy than I am.” \n\nShe pushed him down, sliding his body against the smooth surface of the bathtub until his head hit the bottom of it. She then sat on his chest, and held him down with as tight of a grip as her hands could hold. She stared coldly as she watched his breath slowly escape as many little bubbles. And yet Brandy did not resist her. He did not push her away or scratch her or even wince. No matter how hard she held him he continued to look up to her with a smile. His face, blurred by water, was a picture of serenity. And as his breath came to an end he opened his mouth to speak.\n\n“Do you feel better now?” \n\nTears streamed down Cherry's face as her expression became rapturous and twisted. \nWith shaking hands she let go of Brandy’s neck, and there she paused for just a moment before suddenly flicking her eyes to the door and bolting out of the water. Before her feet could even touch the ground however, Brandy snatched from the air and pulled her back into the water. He held her with even greater strength and squeezed her so tight that she could barely breathe.\n\n“No jumping around in the bath, that’s dangerous!”\nBrandy said as he squeezed Cherry so hard all her joints made a popping noise. \n\nWith the wind knocked out of her and all the tension of her body squeezed dry, Brandy loosed his grip and placed her back down on his lap. He then took a breath of fresh air and let out a pleasant little sigh. \n\n“Love and a good Purpose, you will see. I’ll do everything I can to make you happy.” \nBrandy said to her gently as he patted her back. \n“So, what do you love doing? I’m super curious.” \n\n“I’m… G-good with wood. My daddy showed me how to use my hands for many things.”\nCherry replied quietly, her words struggling to come out. \n\n“Oh wonderful, what did you used to make?” \nBrandy asked nicely as he placed his hands on her hips. \n\n“Caskets.” Cherry replied.\n\n“How exotic! And quite practical, you must know a wide range of woods and the lacquer needed to give them a strong, beautiful and durable finish. Would be lovely to swap some info later.”\nBrandy said excitedly. \n\nCherry did not reply to him. Her eyes were turned to the wall near the bath. \n\n“We could both study to be builders together. A noble Purpose that sounds really fun!”\n\n“Fun…” Cherry muttered. \n\n“Mhm, we just have to bond. The Baptism will be held later this evening.”\nBrandy said sweetly. He then took hold of her and lifted her out of the bath with ease. Brandy placed her down and this time Cherry did not run or struggle against him. He took a moment to rub her down with a towel before doing the same quickly to himself. With a firm grip on her wrist, he led her out into the living area with neither of them wearing a thing. \n\nAs she made staggered steps behind Brandy, she noticed that there were two other people here. \n\nOne of them was Coco who was studying a book in the kitchen and slowly getting some ingredients together for something. She wore nothing but a black apron that was tied loosely around her hips. The other one was Rum. A young, black furred, guy who was a few years older than Brandy. He was currently sitting away in a corner with a book and quiet music. Despite his young age he carried himself with a mature elegance.\n\nBrandy led his new Soulmate over to one of the corner stairs before dragging her to the loft. \n“You’ll love bonding, it’s fun and sticky and there is always something new to find!” \nBrandy said to her as she pulled against his unrelenting hand. \n\nAfter ducking his head down to avoid the low ceiling, he led Cherry over to where his bunk was located. It looked new with there being nothing but a single book and some candles on the shelf nearby. The bed had already been made up with two pillows and a freshly laundered blanket as well. Brandy took a moment to light the candles. The smell that wafted around them was warm and it made Cherry’s tired body feel even heavier than before. Although she looked relaxed there was still a nervous twitch to her eyes. \n\n“Just breathe, and think of how wonderful your life will be in Jelai’s care. I’ll do the rest.” \nBrandy whispered to her before sticking his tongue out and licking her beak. \n\n“Filthy…” Cherry muttered as her heavy body refused to struggle any further. \n\nBelow them, Cookie stood near the elevator with watchful eyes. \nAfter letting slip a small sigh of relief he ducked back into the elevator and rode it down to the bottom where the church was waiting. The lamps were burning and several Messengers were preparing themselves for the Baptism. One was reading over his notes for the upcoming speech, while two more were slowly unscrewing the great metal plate from the floor. \n\nCookie approached Azafran and gave him a polite half bow. \n“Brandy and Cherry have started to bond. She should be ready within a few hours.” \n\n“Excellent. Was there any trouble?” \n\n“Some hesitation but Brandy has her under control.” \nCookie explained. \n\n“Wonderful, has Rum been informed yet?” \n\n“No need. He was observing and I believe as we speak is putting together the newest tale for our blessed book. The girl born of death and fed on misery finding love and peace in the one place where life flourishes above all else. Quite romantic with some fairytale themes I imagine.” \n\n“Good. Can you go check the festival grounds and inform people to come to the church when the sun begins to set? We are almost ready here ourselves.” Azafran said as he turned his head towards the metal plate being freed from the floor. \n\nCookie gave him another polite bow before leaving to do his tasks. \n\nAbove them, Brandy and Cherry continued their bonding. Dazed and distracted by the pleasurable fog created by the candles she could do little other than let Brandy lead her through a lengthy exploration of each other’s bodies. He gave her more intimacy and love than she knew what to do with but eventually this turned into indulging all of his carnal desires. Hours was barely enough time as Brandy’s unusual amounts of stamina mixed with the fragrances of the candles to create a hazy and pleasurable high. It was only as the sun began to set and it was time for them to leave that they finally descended from the loft. \n\nThey departed to the bathroom once more for a short shower although Cherry was now so exhausted that Brandy had to carry her. He did not mind this, and in fact, found it quite pleasant. Like a husband carrying his new wife across the doorway. \n\nOnce they were clean and dry they took to the stairs near the lofts and got dressed. Both of their formal robes were fresh and new, and completely unused. He gave Cherry a look over with pride and love in his eyes. She looked tired, with barely enough strength to even stand, but she was still beautiful in his eyes. To make sure she did not slip away he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. \n\nCookie met them at the elevator and welcomed them warmly. \nHe noticed that Cherry looked far more clean but also much more worn out.\n\n“Are you ready?” Cookie asked them. \n\nCherry did not reply to him.\n\n“She’s a bit shy.” Brandy whispered to Cookie.\n“We’re all clean and good to go.” He then said more loudly. \n\nAfter heading into the elevator, Cookie pressed the button at the bottom. \nThe ride down was short but Cookie could tell Brandy was quite excited for the ceremony. \n\nAt the bottom, they stepped out of the elevator to find the church was full. Dozens upon dozens of members lining up every seat. Each and everyone of them wore their formal robes and as the pair began to move down the aisle they would all applaud and praise them. Lemon and Lime, Grape and Soda, as well as Rum and Coco all sat at the front as they were the roommates of the new pair. A few rows down was Pudding and Rosemary, with the sleeping girl sitting on his lap. Pudding held her wrists and clapped her hands together loosely. A silly but cute sight for those who noticed. \n\nAs Brandy and Cherry continued to the front of the church Cookie stepped to the side to watch nearby a pillar. In front of the altar was a sizable pool of steaming yellow liquid. The simmering pond was vibrant and smelled deliciously sweet. Brandy took his place in front of this simmering pool, he then turned his attention to the Messenger standing at the altar above. \n\nHe raised his hands and the church grew quiet as all the applauding came to a sudden stop. \n\n“Tonight we welcome another into our Commune. They have found joy in the words of Jelai. They have discovered the meaning of their life in the Purposes they follow. And they have welcomed the love of their other half, a Soulmate that will guide, love and care for them as they do the same in return. All of their pieces have been found, and now, it is time for them to be put together. No longer an outsider, Cherry is now a Child of Jelai. May Jelai bless her.” \n\nIn unison the whole Commune repeated those words back. \n“May Jelai bless her.” \n\n“Now, step forward and let the blood of Jelai remake you anew.” \nThe Messenger said as he brought his hands together. \n\nBrandy lifted her up high and took a moment to mutter something to himself before tossing her into the simmering goo at his feet. She landed with a squelch, with her body barely sinking a few inches into the viscous liquid. Cherry looked at the goo and attempted to pull herself up right. She crawled slowly from the centre to the edge but as she raised a hand towards the edge, Brandy took hold of her wrist. \n\nHe smiled at her, and rubbed his thumb across her feathery fingers, before tightening his grip. \n\n“Do not be afraid.” Brandy said to her.\n\nSuddenly Cherry felt something grasp at her ankles and slowly she began to sink deeper into the pool. She could not move her legs and Brandy was holding her hands so tight that she could not pull them away. A creeping panic set in but her cries and shouts fell on deaf ears as the church happily watched her sink ever deeper. As she was dragged down Brandy lowered himself until he was on his knees. He continued to hold her hands and only let go once they were the last things to sink below. \n\nHe then placed his hands together in prayer. \nBrandy’s words were promises of love and loyalty but they were said so quietly that only Jelai could hear. Once he was done with his lines he reached down and plunged his hand as deep into the pool as he could reach. Far below he grasped something and began to pull it back up. \n\nCherry reemerged. And Brandy helped to drag her out of the pool. The yellow liquid did not cling to her fur and she was not wet in the slightest. Cherry filled her new lungs with the sweet smelling air of the church before letting out a giggle. \n\n“Hello friend!” She said to Brandy before nuzzling his cheek and giving him a hug. \n“It’s such a pleasant evening, do you want to go on a walk and watch the stars?” \n\nWhere there was once feathers there was now fur. No beak, but instead two long ears. Cherry was a rabbit with pale fur and vibrant red hair and eyes. She was the same age as Brandy and the same height as well. They continued to nuzzle each other, nose to nose, cheek to cheek, as the Church cheered for them. \n\nWith the baptism finished it was now time for the celebration of two new Soulmates. The Festival Grounds in the gardens was ready with a bonfire and food and comfortable blankets laid out across the grass. A dozen at a time they left the church using the elevator. With Cherry and Brandy being the last ones to go they stood in the back and basked in each other’s presence. Cherry giggled from his touch and she leaned in warmly to his kisses. \n\n“Brandy… I want to feel my hands around your neck again.”\nCherry whispered to him lovingly. \n\nBrandy giggled in reply and bit her shoulder. She moaned and shuddered from the sensation. \nBut no bite mark remained once he pulled his teeth from her flesh. \n\n“Only if I can give you lots of little bites.”\nHe whispered playfully into her new ears. \n\nThe pair continued to snicker at each other as they held themselves close and whispered promises of pleasure and pain to one another. Claws scratched lightly and teeth brushed against flesh as they gave each other little love marks to celebrate the wonderful night ahead of them. \n", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "The clouds were thick that day. With the heatwaves finally fading from view the rain had started to draw in. Skies turned grey and the days became cooler and more relaxed. Most within the Commune liked rain but it did make working in the gardens a bit more difficult than usual.

Cookie sat on the top of the west gate. He held an apple in his hand although he had yet to take even a single bite. He was too focused on the forest stretching out in front of him. It was quiet as usual and there was a  pleasant breeze but Cookie felt impatient. It had been a few hours since Brandy left to mark trees for wood cutting and Cookie was starting to worry that something had happened. Just as his worries started to grow heavy his long ears heard the sound of rustling and branches snapping.

Hopping down from the high gate he leaned against the wood casually and watched as the young boy, Brandy, with golden fur and silver eyes, stepped out of the forest. In his arms was a girl. She writhed against him, wriggling like a freshly caught fish and snapping at him with her beak like an angry dog. She was a young Robin around the same age as Brandy, both of them barely being teens. She wore a filthy and ragged dress that Brandy had used to bind her hands together, the fabric so worn and discoloured that it seemed like it would disintegrate at any moment. Brandy was not much better. His paws were muddy, his fur ruffled, there was a stray leaf stuck in his hair and he seemed to be quite winded. Cookie was expecting a difficult personality but Cherry looked even worse than he was picturing in his mind.

“Hey friend, who is this you’ve found?” Cookie asked Brandy innocently.

“Her name is… Hm, well I think it should be Cherry because of how beautiful her red feathers are. I found her in the woods digging a big hole for herself.” Brandy paused to softly laugh at himself. “She’s quite funny. When I said ‘hey’ she pushed me into a thorny bush and ran off but tripped over a stick and went flying into the river! We’ve been playing tag and chase for ages but I think I won.” Brandy said proudly as he tried to hug her struggling body.

“Like worms we return to the dirt, our souls unclean, filthy and flaming!”
Cherry exclaimed with a click to her beak and twitching eyes.

“Sounds… Nice.” Cookie said with a strained smile.

“She’s quite the hugger, also a runner, sometimes a roller but mostly down hills.”
Brandy then commented before giggling.
“I’m about to take her to Home for a nice bath, she’s been playing in the woods for weeks.”

“Sounds like she really needs one! Make sure to show her around too.”
Cookie said politely before waving for some of the nearby guards to come help. They tore the tattered dress from her body and tied her arms to her body using a length of rope. Brandy thanked them for the help and adjusted his grip on her now that she could not wriggle as hard.

With an understanding nod given to Cookie, Brandy then began marching through the gate and towards Home. The great tower made of apartments stood tall above the fruit gardens and small wooden huts circling around it. With wide and twitchy eyes, Cherry looked up at it in awe.

“Not expecting such a lovely Home hm?”
Brandy asked her. Cherry did not reply.

Once they passed through the front doors of Home they took a stop at the front desk to add Cherry’s name to the list. The young girl behind the desk had a few odd looks to share but otherwise welcomed her just as warmly as any other. She took a moment to write down her name on some papers before letting them carry on. Using the elevator they went up to the second floor.

Unlike the other floors, the second one was built differently. It did not have four apartments but rather a single, large, communal living space that a dozen members all shared equally. It was perfect for those who did not need much space to live or did not care about privacy. Brandy began to show her around. There was the central living area with several long, comfortable, sofas and a chunky wooden table that had enough room for half a dozen people to sit around and play games or eat together. Several smaller tables and some pillows or beanbag chairs sat further out from that for even more comfortable relaxing. On the far side of the room from the elevator there was a kitchen, a sizable space with two ovens, a double door fridge and plenty of counter space. In the corners near the kitchen there are two sets of stairs that lead up to a loft with beds. The corner to the top right from the elevator was Lemon and Lime’s love nest, a tangled mess of blankets and pillows that they spent the evenings in. The top left however belonged to Grape and her Soulmate, Soda. The other two corners also had lofts and beds and there was even more space between each corner. By having this halo of bedding above the living space it allowed for private and comfortable sleeping areas while also maximising the limited space.

On the left wall were two doors that led to two different bathrooms. One was bigger, with a shower and a bathtub while the other was smaller and dedicated to just being a toilet. After finishing his tour of the large room he took her to the bathroom and began to run some hot water. As soon as Cherry saw the steaming water however she began to struggle again with renewed vigour. Brandy’s own grip did not relent and he held her tight until her stamina waned.

“Don’t worry, a good bath can be quite enjoyable.” He said playfully to her.
Brandy kicked off his shorts and underwear before tearing the T-shirt from his chest. Now naked he stepped into the shower besides the main bath. With a twist of the tap he blasted her with cold water. She squawked and hissed like a cat but her complaints did nothing to stop the cold torrent raining down on her.

“You needed a good rinse too.” Brandy mused as the dirt and mud peeled from her body.

Once the bath had filled with bubbles and fragrant hot water, he turned off the shower and moved over to the side. Brandy stepped over the side and slowly began to sink down into the water. Cherry once again attempted to struggle but thankfully the bath was bigger than most in the Commune and her flailing legs could not strike out against the sides.

Slowly the heat and minerals of the water soaked into Cherry and soon she began to stop shaking and twitching. She relaxed and let the hot water carry her weight while Brandy stroked her back.

“There we go. Now that we have a minute, I would like to talk to you about Jelai.”
Brandy said softly to her as he held her close to his body.

“Jelai you see is our Father. He sees all that happens in the Commune because he is one with the world. He is in the ground, and the air we breathe, and the water we drink. Jelai is the warmth keeping us safe at night and Jelai is within each member of the Commune, for we are all his children. With his love and guidance we have never gone hungry, never felt lacking, and also never felt lost in life. Jelai can help you too, he accepts anyone who will take his hand.”

“Love won’t save you.”
Cherry said with a scratchy voice.
“The Rapture will come. From the Fathoms where the dead dwell a great wave will overtake the land and drag us back to the depths from where we were made. We will be blinded by salt and darkness, we will drown forever without the mercy of death, and we will never again feel the warmth of the sun. It will come for us all. Because we are all filthy. Because I am filthy.”

“Don’t be silly, even if such a wave comes Jelai can still protect us. He does not heed the natural order of this world after all. He defies it, curing sickness where no cure can be found and fixing those who don’t have the pieces left to be put back together. His hands shield us from the sun and cold alike. Jelai allows all to become his children. After they are Baptised they no longer find pain and confusion in any path they walk. We become perfect!”

“Baptism? To be reborn, to remake, to destroy…”
Cherry asked more softly than before.

“That is right. Jelai is merciful and does not just extend his guidance to his children. He allows anyone to be reborn as one of us, and in doing so wipes away all sin and pain. Jelai can make anyone as clean and as pure as the day they were born.” Brandy said with love in his eyes.

“Too costly. Too much. Such things would be beyond us.”
Cherry muttered with a click of her beak.

“Jelai does not need much. You have to accept his love into your heart and learn his stories. You must find a Purpose within the Commune, some have more than one but one is enough to start. And you must find your Soulmate and bond with them, to make love, for Jelai feeds on love. It sustains him. I feel you have already started to accept his love, and you are learning his words through me. Once we bond as Soulmates that will be another task completed.”

“Unclean souls can only make others filthy. There is no purpose in such actions.”
Cherry said as he let her turn around to face him, with her now sitting on his lap.

“Purpose? Ah yes, a Purpose is something you must do and practise. All the members of the commune have one Purpose in the job they do. Wood cutting, cooking, sewing, cleaning, guarding. You can also have other Purposes too. Mine for the time being is to guide and protect you. And once that is done, my Purpose will be to love and make love to my Soulmate.” Brandy said warmly.

“Purpose on purpose, tedious, to clean and clean until the basin turns red and filthy.”

“You’ll get the hang of it. I’m new to the Commune too but my job is going to be a builder. I’m studying stone and pipes currently and want to one day add a lovely fountain to the gardens. Oh and get the paths paved in nice smooth stones instead of just flattened dirt.” Brandy said to her.

“To create is to promise damnation, to build only invites the ruin that will come from the passage of time. You would invite such ruin?” Cherry asked as she tensed her arms against the wet ropes.

“Of course! Jelai is patient and we all learn at our own pace. I have other Purposes too to do in the meantime but the excitement of learning new skills is a joy all to itself.” Brandy replied.

“You will build, and invite ruin, and you will claim me as a piece of yourself…”
Cherry muttered as her eyes rolled in a daze.

“Mmm, I think you need some more of Jelai’s stories. They have great wisdom.”

“No, no more tales and talk and promises. I understand.”
Cherry said as she slipped free from the ropes and grabbed Brandy’s neck.
“You’re more filthy than I am.”

She pushed him down, sliding his body against the smooth surface of the bathtub until his head hit the bottom of it. She then sat on his chest, and held him down with as tight of a grip as her hands could hold. She stared coldly as she watched his breath slowly escape as many little bubbles. And yet Brandy did not resist her. He did not push her away or scratch her or even wince. No matter how hard she held him he continued to look up to her with a smile. His face, blurred by water, was a picture of serenity. And as his breath came to an end he opened his mouth to speak.

“Do you feel better now?”

Tears streamed down Cherry's face as her expression became rapturous and twisted.
With shaking hands she let go of Brandy’s neck, and there she paused for just a moment before suddenly flicking her eyes to the door and bolting out of the water. Before her feet could even touch the ground however, Brandy snatched from the air and pulled her back into the water. He held her with even greater strength and squeezed her so tight that she could barely breathe.

“No jumping around in the bath, that’s dangerous!”
Brandy said as he squeezed Cherry so hard all her joints made a popping noise.

With the wind knocked out of her and all the tension of her body squeezed dry, Brandy loosed his grip and placed her back down on his lap. He then took a breath of fresh air and let out a pleasant little sigh.

“Love and a good Purpose, you will see. I’ll do everything I can to make you happy.”
Brandy said to her gently as he patted her back.
“So, what do you love doing? I’m super curious.”

“I’m… G-good with wood. My daddy showed me how to use my hands for many things.”
Cherry replied quietly, her words struggling to come out.

“Oh wonderful, what did you used to make?”
Brandy asked nicely as he placed his hands on her hips.

“Caskets.” Cherry replied.

“How exotic! And quite practical, you must know a wide range of woods and the lacquer needed to give them a strong, beautiful and durable finish. Would be lovely to swap some info later.”
Brandy said excitedly.

Cherry did not reply to him. Her eyes were turned to the wall near the bath.

“We could both study to be builders together. A noble Purpose that sounds really fun!”

“Fun…” Cherry muttered.

“Mhm, we just have to bond. The Baptism will be held later this evening.”
Brandy said sweetly. He then took hold of her and lifted her out of the bath with ease. Brandy placed her down and this time Cherry did not run or struggle against him. He took a moment to rub her down with a towel before doing the same quickly to himself. With a firm grip on her wrist, he led her out into the living area with neither of them wearing a thing.

As she made staggered steps behind Brandy, she noticed that there were two other people here.

One of them was Coco who was studying a book in the kitchen and slowly getting some ingredients together for something. She wore nothing but a black apron that was tied loosely around her hips. The other one was Rum. A young, black furred, guy who was a few years older than Brandy. He was currently sitting away in a corner with a book and quiet music. Despite his young age he carried himself with a mature elegance.

Brandy led his new Soulmate over to one of the corner stairs before dragging her to the loft.
“You’ll love bonding, it’s fun and sticky and there is always something new to find!”
Brandy said to her as she pulled against his unrelenting hand.

After ducking his head down to avoid the low ceiling, he led Cherry over to where his bunk was located. It looked new with there being nothing but a single book and some candles on the shelf nearby. The bed had already been made up with two pillows and a freshly laundered blanket as well. Brandy took a moment to light the candles. The smell that wafted around them was warm and it made Cherry’s tired body feel even heavier than before. Although she looked relaxed there was still a nervous twitch to her eyes.

“Just breathe, and think of how wonderful your life will be in Jelai’s care. I’ll do the rest.”
Brandy whispered to her before sticking his tongue out and licking her beak.

“Filthy…” Cherry muttered as her heavy body refused to struggle any further.

Below them, Cookie stood near the elevator with watchful eyes.
After letting slip a small sigh of relief he ducked back into the elevator and rode it down to the bottom where the church was waiting. The lamps were burning and several Messengers were preparing themselves for the Baptism. One was reading over his notes for the upcoming speech, while two more were slowly unscrewing the great metal plate from the floor.

Cookie approached Azafran and gave him a polite half bow.
“Brandy and Cherry have started to bond. She should be ready within a few hours.”

“Excellent. Was there any trouble?”

“Some hesitation but Brandy has her under control.”
Cookie explained.

“Wonderful, has Rum been informed yet?”

“No need. He was observing and I believe as we speak is putting together the newest tale for our blessed book. The girl born of death and fed on misery finding love and peace in the one place where life flourishes above all else. Quite romantic with some fairytale themes I imagine.”

“Good. Can you go check the festival grounds and inform people to come to the church when the sun begins to set? We are almost ready here ourselves.” Azafran said as he turned his head towards the metal plate being freed from the floor.

Cookie gave him another polite bow before leaving to do his tasks.

Above them, Brandy and Cherry continued their bonding. Dazed and distracted by the pleasurable fog created by the candles she could do little other than let Brandy lead her through a lengthy exploration of each other’s bodies. He gave her more intimacy and love than she knew what to do with but eventually this turned into indulging all of his carnal desires. Hours was barely enough time as Brandy’s unusual amounts of stamina mixed with the fragrances of the candles to create a hazy and pleasurable high. It was only as the sun began to set and it was time for them to leave that they finally descended from the loft.

They departed to the bathroom once more for a short shower although Cherry was now so exhausted that Brandy had to carry her. He did not mind this, and in fact, found it quite pleasant. Like a husband carrying his new wife across the doorway.

Once they were clean and dry they took to the stairs near the lofts and got dressed. Both of their formal robes were fresh and new, and completely unused. He gave Cherry a look over with pride and love in his eyes. She looked tired, with barely enough strength to even stand, but she was still beautiful in his eyes. To make sure she did not slip away he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.

Cookie met them at the elevator and welcomed them warmly.
He noticed that Cherry looked far more clean but also much more worn out.

“Are you ready?” Cookie asked them.

Cherry did not reply to him.

“She’s a bit shy.” Brandy whispered to Cookie.
“We’re all clean and good to go.” He then said more loudly.

After heading into the elevator, Cookie pressed the button at the bottom.
The ride down was short but Cookie could tell Brandy was quite excited for the ceremony.

At the bottom, they stepped out of the elevator to find the church was full. Dozens upon dozens of members lining up every seat. Each and everyone of them wore their formal robes and as the pair began to move down the aisle they would all applaud and praise them. Lemon and Lime, Grape and Soda, as well as Rum and Coco all sat at the front as they were the roommates of the new pair. A few rows down was Pudding and Rosemary, with the sleeping girl sitting on his lap. Pudding held her wrists and clapped her hands together loosely. A silly but cute sight for those who noticed.

As Brandy and Cherry continued to the front of the church Cookie stepped to the side to watch nearby a pillar. In front of the altar was a sizable pool of steaming yellow liquid. The simmering pond was vibrant and smelled deliciously sweet. Brandy took his place in front of this simmering pool, he then turned his attention to the Messenger standing at the altar above.

He raised his hands and the church grew quiet as all the applauding came to a sudden stop.

“Tonight we welcome another into our Commune. They have found joy in the words of Jelai. They have discovered the meaning of their life in the Purposes they follow. And they have welcomed the love of their other half, a Soulmate that will guide, love and care for them as they do the same in return. All of their pieces have been found, and now, it is time for them to be put together. No longer an outsider, Cherry is now a Child of Jelai. May Jelai bless her.”

In unison the whole Commune repeated those words back.
“May Jelai bless her.”

“Now, step forward and let the blood of Jelai remake you anew.”
The Messenger said as he brought his hands together.

Brandy lifted her up high and took a moment to mutter something to himself before tossing her into the simmering goo at his feet. She landed with a squelch, with her body barely sinking a few inches into the viscous liquid. Cherry looked at the goo and attempted to pull herself up right. She crawled slowly from the centre to the edge but as she raised a hand towards the edge, Brandy took hold of her wrist.

He smiled at her, and rubbed his thumb across her feathery fingers, before tightening his grip.

“Do not be afraid.” Brandy said to her.

Suddenly Cherry felt something grasp at her ankles and slowly she began to sink deeper into the pool. She could not move her legs and Brandy was holding her hands so tight that she could not pull them away. A creeping panic set in but her cries and shouts fell on deaf ears as the church happily watched her sink ever deeper. As she was dragged down Brandy lowered himself until he was on his knees. He continued to hold her hands and only let go once they were the last things to sink below.

He then placed his hands together in prayer.
Brandy’s words were promises of love and loyalty but they were said so quietly that only Jelai could hear. Once he was done with his lines he reached down and plunged his hand as deep into the pool as he could reach. Far below he grasped something and began to pull it back up.

Cherry reemerged. And Brandy helped to drag her out of the pool. The yellow liquid did not cling to her fur and she was not wet in the slightest. Cherry filled her new lungs with the sweet smelling air of the church before letting out a giggle.

“Hello friend!” She said to Brandy before nuzzling his cheek and giving him a hug.
“It’s such a pleasant evening, do you want to go on a walk and watch the stars?”

Where there was once feathers there was now fur. No beak, but instead two long ears. Cherry was a rabbit with pale fur and vibrant red hair and eyes. She was the same age as Brandy and the same height as well. They continued to nuzzle each other, nose to nose, cheek to cheek, as the Church cheered for them.

With the baptism finished it was now time for the celebration of two new Soulmates. The Festival Grounds in the gardens was ready with a bonfire and food and comfortable blankets laid out across the grass. A dozen at a time they left the church using the elevator. With Cherry and Brandy being the last ones to go they stood in the back and basked in each other’s presence. Cherry giggled from his touch and she leaned in warmly to his kisses.

“Brandy… I want to feel my hands around your neck again.”
Cherry whispered to him lovingly.

Brandy giggled in reply and bit her shoulder. She moaned and shuddered from the sensation.
But no bite mark remained once he pulled his teeth from her flesh.

“Only if I can give you lots of little bites.”
He whispered playfully into her new ears.

The pair continued to snicker at each other as they held themselves close and whispered promises of pleasure and pain to one another. Claws scratched lightly and teeth brushed against flesh as they gave each other little love marks to celebrate the wonderful night ahead of them.
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