“That's right, you _shit licker_! Now why don't you be a good, predictable mama's boy? Run along and tattle on me. But if you do, I’ll cut your fucking tongue out before I hit the road.” The burly bitch grinned sinisterly, her teeth speckled with his blood. “I just escaped an enemy ambush. I'm a war hero times three. What the fuck are you, Gray?” She started towards him with a mad glint in her golden glare. Slack-jawed and wide-eyed, he retreated from her. “Now you listen, you fluffy sack of snot. You don't tattle, I don't cut you. Let's keep this just another family secret, shall we?”

“Shit, Terra!”  he exclaimed, scrambling to his paws and looking her up and down, his brow deeply furrowed. “Everyone thinks you're dead! Your…” he swallowed hard before continuing, “your name was on the casualty list.” 

She blinked, taken aback for a heart beat. “Oh. Good. That'll make things easier. I don't intend to be staying.”

His eyes grew wider, if that were possible. “You're defecting?”

“Now's as good a time as any.”

With a deep breath, he turned his eyes down and muttered diffidently, “a great time. Probably the best time.”

She scoffed angrily. “Whatever that’s suppose to mean. Now fuck off. I was hoping to avoid seeing your face again, and I don't want to keep looking at it.”

Growling at her, he started to hurry off, but stopped in midstride. Turning slightly, not looking back, his voice was softer than the snarl on his face. “I hate you, but… I'm glad you're alive. I… hope you find a nice place.”

Terra took a slow, deep breath, glaring at his back. “You've had 6 long years to give a fuck. It's too late to start now. I’m dead. Now get lost before you join me.”

Once he was gone, Terra turned her piercing gaze to Nova. She cowered on the other side of the fountain. Her eyes snapped down in submission, still trembling.

Approaching her, the powerful huntress softened. “I'm not going to hurt you, little grasser. I'm glad I got here when I did. Don't need Gray ruining another good thing for my brother.”

Gathering herself, Nova stood up straight, but kept her head and eyes down. “Thank you. Thank you so much,” she breathed with relief.

Terra blinked, and Nova realized she was not supposed to speak. Looking her up and down, the woman smiled. “I knew he'd take good care of you. Well fed. Speaking of which!” 

Sniffing the air, she followed her nose to the food that had sat there since the previous day. Nova had not touched any of it yet in her upset. Now, she got to watch Terra fall upon it with the feral enthusiasm of a ravenous beast. A week ago, she would have considered Terra a savage. Now, she wondered what the woman went through to forget herself in such a manner. She was filthy and tangled, clothing torn and dried blood matting her fur here and there, but her pelt was so thick Nova couldn't tell how much of it might be her own.

After the initial face stuffing, she slowed her pace. Cracking open a bone with her teeth to get at the marrow, she glanced over at Nova. “Oh, little grasser, your people are a lot craftier than I gave them credit for. It was harder to escape them than it was to sneak into my own home!” 

Once satisfied, she sat back and yawned, her jaws opening wide enough to engulf Nova's head. Her fangs were just as abalone as her siblings.“That was nice. I probably have time to bathe and take a nap before Annie gets back.” Standing, she started towards the bathing room. Pausing, she peered at Nova. “What's your name, pet? Nova? Accompany me, Nova.”

Still trembling, her body numb and tingling all at once, she obeyed and limped after her. Terra sank into the water with a deep sigh. The filth of her fur clouded the water, swirling slowly towards the drain off as the fresh water cascaded beside her.

It wasn't until Nova knelt down to begin her task that she realized she could not move her tail. Limp and aching, she grit her teeth as she began to work at Terra’s shoulders. 

Standing out of the water, the Dire's fur clung to the curves and valleys of her body. Despite her discomfort,  Nova couldn’t help but be impressed by her dominating physic. There was a decent chance she had just as many dust-gathering trophies on her mantle as her brother.

She peered down at Nova in concern, picking up on her distress. “What's the matter? Ah, a dislocated tail. Come here. I can fix that.”

Timidly, Nova slipped into the pool and bent over the edge. She let out a yelp when Terra tugged her tail with another pop. Her pained whimper became a gasp when the Dire turned her around and pulled her close so that her head was between those ample breasts, chin resting on her plume of chest fur. Then she began to scratch and massage around her ears. Nova had started to lick her nose nervously, but once the ruffling started, her tongue forgot where her mouth was. So entranced was she that she utterly melted into the other woman, eyes rolling into her head as she relaxed and all anxiety was forgotten. 

She could feel Terra's deep chuckle under her chin. “You are an adorable little grasser! I can see why Annie likes you.”

Terra had sunk back down into the delightfully warm water, letting Nova lay against her and turn into a puddle of fluff. Though she still ached, the terror of earlier was soothed away by the continuous and gentle ear massage. Her eyes were tucked up inside her skull so long she was surprised she didn't have a map of her brain.

“You really are very cute, little grasser,” Terra said after giving Nova a moment to be a primordial ooze, “but you've not finished your task.” 

As her eyes struggled to focus, Nova realized the other woman had a wry and lusty smirk on her face. Before she knew what to make of it with her befuddled mind, she felt Terra's fingers slip behind her and among her folds. Entranced by the huntress' captivating eyes, Nova had little resistance to her expert touch. 

“But, first, I'll give you a little encouragement,” she said seductively while her other hand spread Nova’s flesh so she had better access.

Within a moment, she had Nova a moaning mess on her chest. “Oh, now I really get why Annie likes you!” she snickered. “You just let yourself go.” As Nova panted, the Dire rubbed snouts with her affectionately. “You have an adorable orgasm face, and what a moan! That made me hot!” 

Terra's grip was solid and she used it to set Nova on the edge of the pool. Slipping between her legs, her cool nose hovered near her spade for a moment so she could sniff deeply before grinning up at her. “Do it again,” she encouraged before spreading Nova wide and her blanket of a tongue licked over the full length of her slit. 

Attempting to stammer a protest, she was as helpless as she had ever been with Anubis, and all she could do was lay back and surrender. Drawing near the throes of climax, she lost herself entirely when the Dire's large fingers slipped inside her and pounded her. Her claws scratched the stone while her toes splayed over Terra's shoulders.

Coming back to her senses, Nova peeked down and met Terra's sultry gaze from between her quivering legs. Rising out of the water, the Dire straddled her so that she had no choice but to return the favor. “Be a good pet,” she insisted sweetly. 

With a submissive sigh, Nova obeyed. After all, this was a whole lot better than how her day could have gone. Without Terra's intervention, she would most certainly not be feeling this good right now. 

Despite herself, Nova grew more eager with her task when she heard Terra panting. The Dire encouraged and instructed until she was moaning and clenching Nova's fingers so tight she could hardly wiggle them. 

Panting, Terra grinned down at her. “You are an excellent pet! I think we should move to somewhere more comfortable because I'm not done with you!” Getting to her paws, she hauled Nova up as well and hurried to the nearest bed. 

Nova let out a yip when she was tossed down with the ease of a stuffed toy. Then Terra was upon her, holding her down. Her panicked whimper melted into a soft moan when the Dire set her deadly jaws at the base of her neck. With her legs helplessly spread around the other woman's wide hips, she could not resist Terra's knowledgeable fingers. 

Hardly did Nova have a moment to recover. Terra maneuvered them so that she could press her wet spade against Nova's. She gulped down a whimper, but she wasn't able to stay quiet for long. The hot, moist friction of their joining overwhelmed her. Gripping the fur pelt under her, Terra's moans were just as encouraging to her as hers were to the dominating Dire. 

After bringing them both to climax again, Terra slumped over onto the bed. Catching her breath, she flipped over and drew Nova close, rustling her ears. “If I were staying, I would steal you from Annie.”

Nova’s head popped up, figuring it would be safe to speak. “He’s gonna be so happy to see you! He… he was so sad last night.”

Terra tilted her head, peering at her curiously before smiling. “It's why I snuck in here instead of my own room. I wanted him to know I'm alright. I had no idea they thought I was dead, Ha! I gave them quite the slip, I suppose. I just figured Annie’d be worried. Once he's back, he can get my stuff, and he can let the only ones that matter know any different than the rest.” She bared a fang with a bitter growl. “Pisses me off that Gray knows. I figured he'd be glad I was gone. No more reminder to his cowardice.”

“I can’t imagine a reason to hate my brothers so much,” Nova said softly. Terra scowled at her and she cringed, stammering “I-I’m sorry, uh, M-Mistress.”

“He _watched_!” she snarled bitterly. Sitting up and turning away, she shook her head. “Tell me, little grasser, would your brothers just stand in the doorway and watch as your uncle raped you?” Her voice grew softer, but no less angry while she stared at the wall. “I was 13. I was in heat. And Mustava treated me just like any _Aroogar_ he was training.” Her gums shone as she snarled. “He called me a _freak_, and Gray just stood there and watched it. I… I cried to him and he-- just-- _watched_. He even stepped out of the way when it was over. Anubis told me that Mustava walked by him in the hall and smiled like nothing had happened. Gray was running away by the time he got to my door and heard me crying.” Taking a deep breath, she continued softly. “Annie's the only one who’s been by my side when I needed it.”

The big wolf startled when Nova got closer and took her hand. “Mistress, I'm- I'm so sorry. Did ye not tell yer mother?”

Her surprise became bitterness as she looked down at their hands for a long moment. “You know those fingers he's missing? That was no slave or accident or predator. It was my mother when he tried the same thing with her. She told me that right before she told me that if I was so weak to let it happen, I deserved it.”

Nova's ears drooped, whimpering. “That… that is so awful. None of that would happen in my pack. I'm so sorry, Te... er, Mistress.”

Terra fixed her with a suspicious sidelong stare. “Clearly he's done a good job keeping you safe.”

“What?”

“You’re a slave, I just had my way with you, and now you are feeling sorry for me. That’s a first.”

Nova sighed and shook her head. “But it… it's different. It's yer family, the people ye should rely on. I, uh, I may be a slave here but at home I'm an omega and they aren’t that much different when it comes to being told what to do, but my omma'd rip apart anyone with her bare teeth if I was... well, if I were forced. My brothers wouldn't stand for it. Fern's one of my oldest brothers, and he’s always protectin' me. And my uncles, they'd hang any wolf who harmed any of us. I… I can understand why ye want to leave, uh, Mistress.”

Terra stared at her for a long moment. Nova wasn't sure if she was sad, angry, or unbelieving and hoped she hadn't overstepped herself. Then she turned away and her voice was soft. “You know, you’re the first slave I’ve ever had a normal conversation with. Mustava uses brainwashing and mind tricks to make the slaves forget their pasts, or at least, to never speak of it. ‘There is no life before the Maker.’” She made a sound of disgust. “Are all the _Aroogar_ packs like that?”

Caught off guard, she blinked rapidly and stammered “W-well, um, all the packs 'round my farm do. There, uh, there’s no reason to, um, well, to force. I-If a woman doesn't want to mate, there's usually another that does. A-And if someone does force, the pack holds council to decide what to do.”

Terra shook her head. “I’m definitely getting the fuck out of here.”

A tiny but happy whimper at the doorway made Terra leap to her paws. “Oh Veka!” She looked Veka over before pulling her close and tousled her ears. The slave's tail twitched as though she wished to wag but did not dare. “Those jerks bred you while I was gone! Where was Caesar? He was supposed to be watching out for you! Oh, my poor Veka.” She licked her pet affectionately before lifting her into her powerful arms. “You look too weak to be standing here, pet. Let's go see your pups.”

Carrying the sickly slave, they went to the room as her pup was beginning to fuss, his plump tummy mewling loud enough for them to hear. Laying her pet on the bed, Terra smiled down at him. “Of course you would make just the cutest little pup I’ve ever seen. Annie’s not gonna let them take this one. He's just too adorable!” 

The front door slammed open, causing a trophy to crash to the ground, then another when the door slammed shut. By the time Terra had turned and stepped into the hallway, Anubis had sprinted around the corner and froze in front of her, his eyes wide and slack jawed. “He wasn’t lying,” he whispered breathlessly. “You’re alive!” Before she could give some sassy response, he wrapped his arms around her and held her so tight she squeaked for air.

Releasing her, he stepped back and his eyes had a panic to them that made Terra concerned. “Annie, what….?”

He took her hands. “You have to go, Terra. The _Aroogar_ made their demands. They’ll return all their prisoners alive if we return all the slaves and… the heads of the Zaroff pack.”

Terra’s eyes grew wide and her mouth hung open. “Oh my god,” she whispered, tightening her grip on his hands. “Annie, come with me. Mother won’t accept that and….”

Anubis was shaking his head. “It’s too late, Ter-Ter. The guards are already revolting. Mother made the announcement this morning that she didn’t care if all the prisoners were killed, she wasn't going to bargain with ‘lesser beings'. The guards and their packs were outraged that she would sacrifice them all like that. They were making threats all day and then they started rounding up the slaves. The Warden tried to protest and the guards attacked him. Mother and the rest've locked themselves in the council hall. I had to sneak through the trees just to get over here. But no one knows you’re alive. If you leave now, you can get out of here before they start tearing the walls down to get to us.”

“No! No, Annie, come with me! We can both get out of here!”

He again shook his head. “If I run, they'll know that a Zaroff has escaped. They’ll just track me down. Go, Ter-Ter. Get out, now! Go… find some place that’s not like here. Some place you’ll be happy.”

Swallowing hard, Terra placed her hand on his face, her voice barely above a whisper. “How can I ever be happy knowing I walked away and left my brother to die?”

He placed his hand over hers, his response soft and strained. “This was all going to end only one way, Ter. Either we faced the _Aroogar_ or we faced the _Angar’rai_, but the result was going to be the same. At least this way, there’s some justice to it all.”

As the two embraced, Nova locked eyes with Veka. Her expression was just as shocked as Nova felt, barely breathing. Nova then helped Anubis get a pack stuffed with supplies for Terra as the Dire sweetly licked and nuzzled her pet, who whimpered and squeezed her hand so tight as though she could somehow make her mistress stay by her waning strength alone. Nova watched the siblings embrace once again before Terra climbed back up and out through the courtyard roof.

After a long minute of staring after his sister, Anubis took a deep breath. “Go, Nova. Take Veka with you. The guards are going to take all of you back to your people. Just as you wanted.”

She stepped closer to him, reaching out to take his hand. “But… but they’re gonna kill you!”

He shook his head. “Not yet. They’re going to hand us over to your people for justice. And then I’ll be killed.” A little melancholy smirk tugged his lip. “At least I’ll die knowing Ter-Ter’s going to be okay.”

“Anubis…” Nova whispered sadly.

His massive hand was so warm against her face as he stroked her lovingly. Standing tall, he let his hand fall away as he walked past her. “Come, pet. Help me get Veka outside. It’s time you both get to go home to your own packs.” 

Gathering both the mother and her dozing pup into his arms, he started toward the door. Stepping out into the hall, there were sounds of cries and snarls, commands being barked and things crashing to the ground. Nova could only stare up at his glossy back, conflicted about how she felt. 

As they came out to the foyer, Anubis stopped suddenly. “What the…?” Peeking around him, she gulped dryly as her stomach churned. In the middle of a growing lake of vibrant blood, the Slave Maker lay sprawled on his back, the flesh of his throat on the stairs. Gaping sockets pooled with blood and eye fluid stared up at the smoky canopy, his mouth hanging open as though he were gasping for air. Following the bloody trail up the stairs, Anubis let out his breath in a word. “Gray.”

“Oh, Ah-Nu-Nu,” Gray casually acknowledged his brother as he slipped the loop of a rope over his head, blood all over his hands and face. Nonchalantly,  getting blood and bits of eye goop on everything he touched, he tightened the other end of the rope to the banister as he spoke, eerily cheerful, sputtering more blood from his mouth. “You know, I always thought someone who could make me feel so scared was someone I should be like.” He giggled with more than a hint of hysteria. “Turns out, he was a pussy.” Stepping up onto the banister, his eyes turned to the sculptures of his pack members etched into the tree trunks. “Just like me.”

Setting Veka down quickly, Anubis started toward the stairs, slipping in the blood as he attempted to bound up to his brother. “Gray! No! Wait! Wait!”

“It’s too late, Nu-Nu. Six years too late. Tell the dirt lickers I… I denied them justice because Terra’s came first!”

Nova was frozen, her whole body encased in ice. She couldn’t tear her eyes away. It wouldn’t have stopped the sound, one she knew she’d never forget. Veka had sunk to her knees and buried her face against her pup so that she did not watch the body jerk and sway in the air.

Anubis stood there, partway up the steps, mouth agape, ears laid back. “Oh, Gray,” he breathed. 

A loud crash came from the upstairs hall. A half dozen massive guards rounded the corner, their eyes first locking onto Anubis standing in the open. They barked demands at him as they came down the stairs, but he didn’t move. Then they looked around, realizing what had occurred.

“Fack!” one snarled, looking down at the eyeless corpse. “Ah-roog'r wanted ‘im the most. Load ‘im up ‘n' send it wit ‘em, I guess.”

“Eh, take a gand'r!” another snickered as the others began to cuff Anubis who did not resist. “Coward took care of ‘imself! ‘bout bloody time!”

“Well, guess load ‘im up, too. First, get ‘em bitches to the yard. Wagons ‘r' leavin'.”

Sucking in a shuddering breath, the terror of looking up at the 3 towering Dires marching toward her was greater than her shock. Quickly she knelt beside Veka when one growled at her to get the weak mother to her paws. Herded past the ever creeping pool, Nova’s last glance of Anubis was being scruffed and forced up the stairs.