The Miami Broncos

Chapter 18: Another Night

Written by Francois Guint-Riel (FGR)

-Catherine, I want my panties back, I called as I ran after the Russian Blue queen. I bought those!
-I like them too, replied the cat as she bounded over the sofa. Hey, they fit me too!
-Fine, I said as I stopped on my heel, but don’t be surprised another pair pop up, and those’ll be mine.
-All right by me, grinned Cat as she took the underwear off and tossed them at me. Oh Jesse, you pup, you know I don’t wear these!
-I know, I said as I caught my panties with one hand and took her into a kiss with the other. Damn, that phone never stays quiet long…
-Doesn’t it, shrugged the queen as she took the receiver and answered. Just a second, Ulrich, I’ll put you on the speaker…
-Ulrich? Is it now, I called as she put the phone down and the indicating light turned on for the speaker.
-It sure is, ladies, replied the heavy feline voice at the other end. I take it that you’re still doing well these days?
-As always, stated Catherine. Yourself?
-Nothing wrong at all, not in the least. However, I’m something of a messenger for a friend right now. You see, back in my time in Malta, I met a stallion that took over the resort that I set up, eventually buying it from Rockwell-Sheppard, the company I worked for. To do that, he went to England and coincidentally fell in love with the daughter of the vice-president of the board of directors.
-That sounds like a beautiful story to date, I sighed.
-Well, the wind of tragedy blew in hard yesterday. His love’s father disappeared with his plane in the mountains of China last night, and there hasn’t been word from them since. I wouldn’t put the possibility of a crash beyond the boundary of the possible, and the region in question was quite remote.
-Oh, mouthed Cat, seeming hard hit by the news. Well, that’s not an easy thing to do, Ulrich. Without more to go on, it’s not going to be a simple task, not with being so far away!
-I could arrange for you to go there if you could, the panther immediately offered. The sooner the better, of course, you understand.
-Even if we’d go, I underlined, without knowing exactly were to look, we’d lose more time. Catherine, are you certain that there’s no way to get a better reading?
-It takes a stronger energy then ours combined, grunted the queen, shaking her head. I only know a rare few who even come close, let alone surpass us. Nonetheless, we have to try. Book us, Ulrich, and we’ll get going.
-Thank you both, you’re angels from on high, sighed the Don. Go to the Pacific Airlines desk at your airport, and tell them you have reservation under the name Attila. I’ll see you in China as soon as I can make it myself.
-This isn’t the stroll through the roses that I would have hoped for today, I muttered. So there are people even closer to the spirits then us?
-Oh yes, there’s-
Catherine didn’t finish her words as a knock came at the door, rapping a few times in a fade-out. We looked at each other with the fur at the back of our necks standing on end, as if the very fact we’d started talking about someone could have summoned them somehow. Striding to the door, I look a quick look through the bulls-eye before opening, revealing a tall, thin-built arctic fox dog with the palest blue eyes I’d ever seen in my life, wearing an open silver-colored robe with nothing underneath but a pair of matching silver pants tucked into black leather boots. He looked tired-out, positively wasted from exhaustion, and the paper cup of coffee in his off paw was the only thing keeping him up. He glanced past me to Catherine and raised his cup in a comedic toast before talking.
-I was tuning in to the Western winds yesterday and I was told by my guide that it would be a good idea to take a plane here.
-Ice, it’s been years! Where have you been?
-Finland and northern Germany, groaned the fox, wiping his eyes a bit.
-Come in, Ice, come in. Jesse, this is Ice. I met Ice years ago when he visited Lithuania almost what, ten years ago?
-Ten, on the mark, nodded the pale canine as he accepted my invitation to take a load off his paws. I’m a roving traveler and scholar of the world, if it doesn’t sound too much like a fairy tale.
-Have you found any more principal vortices, asked Cat, or have all of them been located?
-That was one of the reasons I was over in the cold lands, half-smiled Ice as he took out a roll of paper from his robes and spread it out on the table, showing us both a map of Finland with lay-lines traced though the country. You see, that far north, you have to compensate for the curvature of the energies. If you used the conventional methods, there were very few intersections. But if you do, like on this map, can you see the ten-line crossing?
-Wow, I gasped, that’s a serious well right there! You investigated it?
-It took me a few days just to get there, but it was most certainly worth it! There was as much activity there as on the Isle of Man and in El Dorado. I was able to channel more souls then you would possibly believe; a veritable blizzard of spirits. Bah, enough with my fairytales; I always seem to lose focus when I find myself in good company.
-Oh come now, Ice, you sell yourself short as a storyteller, waved Cat. You do look tired though. I take it that all that was a strain on you?
-Not as much as the half day’s worth of flight and then a few more before getting to your door, corrected the fox. There was an urgency attached to this message from beyond, however, and I never take that lightly.
-Oh! I see, I nodded. Well, if it’s more then a coincidence, a friend of ours has an acquaintance that vanished from the face of the earth with a private aircraft. We’re not quite in the right league to be much help at the present moment.
-An airplane, eh? I should be able to get something, at least some general read, pondered the vulpine, closing his eyes and becoming immobile for an instant. He’s another canine?
-A wolf, insisted my gypsy, a gray wolf.
-Yes, moaned Ice, he came down from the skies. His plane was not destroyed, but it was severely damaged in the way it landed. There is death about it, but not his. He is alive, but he requires aid to find his way again.
-Can you see more, asked Cat, can you?
-Not at the moment, grunted the fox as he opened his pale eyes again and yawned wide. This coffee isn’t doing it for me, whew!
-Well, I asked, would something else help?
-I don’t think so, stated Ice. Do you have a map of China by any chance?
-I think we do, said the queen as she got up to look for the item.
-Do you usual do anything to focus, I questioned, like meditation or something?
-Once in a while, just to calm down, replied the fox as he stretched out, but right now I suppose I’m too relaxed. Yourself?
-Oh, Cat and I sort of let some tension out, you know, that way. It does wonders, to be very honest.
-Does it now? It’s been far too long, I can’t say I remember, laughed Ice.
-Maybe I’m too forwards, but the situation being what it is and us being open, how about a quick relief? I used to do it for a living, so you can trust my professional experience.
-You are quite forwards indeed, grinned the fox, but I have to admit that I’ve been on a mean nut for quite a while. I’ll just go take a powder…
-No, no, you just sit back down, I motioned as I walked over. Kick back, take it easy…
I didn’t have to insist more then a few further comments before opening Ice’s pants and pulling them down, getting quite well acquainted with his dark black penis, quite obviously not very often a stranger to the snow white coat about it. From my time way back when, I could tell he had a lot of sexual tension built up, probably not something that he gave much thought to during his explorations. As such, he dribbled a good deal of pre cum as I gave him a gentle blowjob, and not too long after I’d felt him firmed up, he started to ejaculate with a long whine and chirp. I swallowed hard and continued to pleasure him until he ran dry, turning to his scrotum instead. By that time, Cat had found the map Ice had requested and she was looking at us with an very entertained smile, the sight of her partner on his knees giving our guest a quicky with one hand groping his ass and the other fingering his rear more then enough to soon send her in a spiraling laughing fit.
-Don’t laugh, he chirped as I put my finger deeper in him still, this feels great.
-Then let’s see how you like this, I giggled as I quickly retreated to pull off everything from the waist down before propping him up in the chair and sodomizing him. There, right in the foxhole…
-You rascal, moaned Ice reaching out to hold me while I did the deed, his eyes rolled back as far as they’d go.
I finally gave the fox his peace after a few minutes of ass-pumping, which he appeared to love in a way that I’d rarely seen in most males, not to say that I’d only seen a few who had needed a good time as much as this poor creature. Ice straightened himself out quickly, looking at Cat with a laugh and a shrug. The queen didn’t bother saying anything, giving both of us a smile as she put the map on the table in front of us. As soon as the vulpine had regained his bearings, he took a small medallion from his pocket and calmly held it over the paper. It wasn’t long before it started to be pulled towards a small range of mountains to the North, a few hundred kilometers from the Mongolian border, but far from anything vaguely resembling a town.
-That’s remote, grunted Cat as she marked the area.
-Just a second, whispered Ice as he quickly put away the medallion and took out a fine-looking box from the same pocket as the item, opening it to take out a small piece of obsidian needle on a thread and repeating the exercise around the area his previous exercise had indicated, further refining his divination to a smaller zone. There, that’s better. We should hurry, of course.
-On the minute, I nodded. The same friend who called us also made arrangements for us to have a ride overseas, if you’re ready to go.
-I am, smiled the fox as he gave me a slam in the back and got up. I’m wearing my entire luggage on my person, so don’t be concerned about being overburdened by my baggage.
-Perfect, said Cat as we fetched our overnight bags, plus Samantha’s box, careful that the ex-feline would be as safe for the trip as possible. Jesse, is Finger aware of our move?
-He is, I muttered as I closed my eyes and concentrated on my guide, who I felt right aside me, as usual.
With all the preparations taken care of, we were soon out the door, the tall fox obviously slowing down his usual pace for us to be able to keep up. He took in the city as much as he could from our path, which saw us pass through some of the nicer parts of the old quarter. He didn’t talk much, but I knew that inside, he was so used to being on his own out there that conversation wasn’t really one of his strong points, not as much as he apparently infinite knowledge of the occult, outdoing both of us effortlessly. A few blocks from the airport shuttle’s closest stops, I discretely brought forth an observation I had made during our little encounter back home.
-Ice, can I ask you something a bit touchy? I don’t want for you to take it the wrong way.
-I don’t get enough questions from people to really mind answering them, said the vulpine with a smile as he gave my shoulder a pat. What’s on you mind?
-Well, I said with a bit of a lower voice, when I sort of gulped your tapioca back there, it bought me back to another guy I’d serviced once. Thing is, he was aspermic, so I was sort of wondering…
-If I am too? Yes, nodded Ice with a totally neutral air, actually I am. You might have noticed how pale my eyes are and that my nose is pink rather then the usual black, right?
-The eyes, of course, but I hadn’t spotted out the nose, I admitted. Is there something behind that?
-My genes, continued the fox. You see, I’m an albino, which for arctic foxes is really an extremely rare thing, the main reason being that we’re sterile.
-I’m sorry, I blurted.
-Oh, I’ve come to sort of accept it. After all, there isn’t much short of cloning myself that could see me have a family or anything. Instead, I fuel myself with that eternal search for the supernatural.
-It’s a valiant quest!
-Yes and who knows, grinned the fox with a shrug, maybe I’ll find the secret to immortality or something of the like? Still, I really have to thank you for that bit of pleasure you gave me. It really, really felt good!
-Hey, I know what I’m doing, I smiled with a giggle.
-Catherine, your friend here is a slut, laughed Ice.
-I know, but he’s my slut, mused the queen, reaching out to grab my rear.
We didn’t stop talking for the rest of the walk, and the fox lost his habit of impenetrable silence bit by bit. By the time we reached the airport, the three of us were holding hands and getting along like three peas in a pod. Just as Ulrich had indicated, as soon as we asked at the company’s service counter, we were handed a trio of first-class tickets for China with an open return date before being invited to the panoramic lounge to wait for our flight, due in two more hours. The view from the 200 degree glass was just wonderful, with the planes landing so close that we could feel the wind from their engines shaking the place as they passed by. The greatest surprise possible in the chain of events came a few minutes after our arrival in the lounge, as we had picked up a few free Clamato cans and discretely spiked them with a small bottle of vodka that I’d charmed out of the barman, who was a flagrant enough homosexual that I didn’t even doubt I could seduce with my female persona. That said, we were sitting down in some of the best sofas, looking at a few Air Transat charters getting set up in the nearby gantries when I felt someone, a familiar presence, in the room. I turned my head and gave a little bark as I saw nothing else then the solid mortal frame of our newest benefactor Ulrich with Tracks, his point, and another one of his best, a ram who had taken the surname Helix instead of his real name, Chris. I hopped up to give him an handshake and quick hug, then as Cat had roused Ice from his roofie stupor, introduced the new arrivals to him. Ulrich seemed mesmerized with the fox, which was quite understandable, after all.
-So, asked Cat, how did you get here so fast, Ulrich? Did you buy a fast jet recently?
-No, but I sort of guessed that you would accept my plea, so I was already in the air inbound from Miami when I gave you the call. Sorry if I’m staring, Ice, but I have this strange feeling that I’ve seen you before somehow, or that we’ve met.
-Well, I think that this may sound much stranger then you want to hear, replied the fox.
-Ice, you don’t even have a chance of guessing how strange my life has gotten in the last few years, laughed the Don. Where and when could I have been?
-In the past, looking into the future, stated Ice. I was in Mexico a few years ago, investigating a chain of hauntings in a small village in Chiapas. Broke as I usually am, I gave palm readings and simple séances for a few coins or a square meal. A fruit bat came with her daughter and offered me a stay in one of the worker’s residences in a coffee plantation that they owned, which was wonderfully close to the village where I was going to be working. I accepted and gave them full séances, contacting the woman’s parents and departed brother, then reading into the younger one’s future. Her biggest question was if she would ever see more of the world then the coffee farm. I was superimposing myself on her a few times in the future to see what was there, and three of those times, you were there, Ulrich. I think by now you know who that was?
-Cherry LaVerda, grinned the panther. You know she’s here in town, don’t you?
-Yes, nodded Ice, I know. I’m glad things worked out for her, but I’ll be even happier if this business can come to as good an outcome, and quickly.
The fox’s words sent a chill down my spine, as it did to everyone who had heard it, mostly because of the ghostly tone that the last phrase had taken. Still, we waited until the boarding call for our flight sounded on the intercom, hurrying with a purpose to take our seats, which by the oddest chance or perhaps Ulrich’s foresight, were all grouped together on the right side of the plane. The panther turned to apologize to Ice for the aisle seat, but he’d only really picked it for me and Cat to put their luggage or spread our paws I we’d felt like it. The fox waved it off, insisting that it was great to be with us, regardless were he had to sit. Half an hour later, we were in the air for the long, long flight, but Ice had just so many stories to tell that it seemed like only a few minutes rather then the actual hours it took to reach Shanghai. There, Ulrich had arranged for a private plane to ferry us wherever we needed to go, and the moment Ice had showed the pilot the map that we’d divined with, we were strapped in and in the air again, shooting over land and water like a comet. The view out the window spoke volumes as to how we were leaving the more inhabited regions and entered more and more arid territory, with the biome changing from forests to a harsher rocky landscape which I wouldn’t have thought anyone but the stoutest hearts would consider calling home. As we neared the location we’d singled out, Ulrich asked for the pilot to start losing some altitude and sweep in a serpentine fashion to give us the best chance in spotting anything out of place. So barren a place didn’t really hide anything from sharp eyes, but it still took well over three hours to finally sight the remains of the plane, though the long skid marks on the ground and the debris alongside it had made our task easier. The soil around it was well compacted, and in the pilot’s opinion, it was quite feasible to land aside the wreck if we wanted to take a closer look.
-I’m surprised the aviation authorities didn’t look into this, I stated as we were bouncing on the ground, slowly braking with a cloud of dust kicking up behind us. After all, a flight is a flight, no matter how many people were onboard.
-That was my first reaction too, nodded Ulrich, but my friend, Aquarius, the son-in-law of our missing wolf, told me that they had just ignored it and just hadn’t pursued the matter further then broadcasting the news of its disappearance.
-Admit the fact that without a one-of-a-kind master sightseer it would have been nearly impossible to single out even the most general area to look in, commented Helix, nodding to a humble Ice who shrugged at the compliment.
I was the second to get off the plane, behind Tracks, who was quick to do a once-over of the site with his trained sight for any sign of life, but just as soon signed a thumbs-down. I found the cockpit burned out, as if a fire had burned it out in an infernal blaze, with the pilot inside, charred to a crisp. There didn’t seem to be anyone else on the craft and a summary search of the interior didn’t seem to point to anything to say that the wolf had company on his trip.
-This is odd, I muttered as I stood inside what would have been the lounge of the jet with Cat and Ice aside me. If there was a fire, why wouldn’t it have spread back to this place?
-The door’s fireproof, noted Ulrich, kicking in the panel, which tipped forwards and gave way with a screech of protest, popping out of its hinges. Not much to help us on our search, but the one thing I can say is that our missing comrade took some things from here to make it out there a bit longer. I can’t find any food at the back of the plane, which meant that he avoided the smoke to get it, and that takes some presence of mind.
-So he had some supplies and a sound mind, nodded Helix. That’s always a good start towards survival, I suppose.
-I must be going mad, chuckled Ulrich, but I have this feeling that someone else is around here. Is it really just me and my feverish imagination?
-No, I think there is too, seconded the deer. Jesse, a hand?
-Yep, I stated as I circled around the opposite direction with Tracks while Helix and Ulrich did the other side of the plane, overall tracing a 8-shaped double-encirclement to make certain that if our observer was anywhere on either side of the plane, we would be sure to find him. I crept more slowly then Tracks, which almost insured that if the visitor was on our side, he would come towards me rather then the deer. Plus, a five-foot-eight effeminate German Sheppard is less intimidating then a solid deer with an implacable air on his face. Seconds later, I heard a squeak before a shape came flying at me, though I was just as fast to reach out and grab it in a blind bear hug, tumbling to the ground with a small outcry. Before I knew it, I was on to of the shape and Tracks was standing off to a side of me with his pistol drawn, trying to get a glimpse at the intruder. When I stepped back, I almost felt ashamed for my rough intervention, seeing a young civet cat girl, looking at us with a totally terrified air. Tracks immediately withdrew his weapon from his mark and put it away, apologizing first for the response.
-I’m deeply sorry, madam, said the deer.
-I'm extremely sorry as well, I said as I gave the civet a few steps of free room. I... well, we didn't know who was watching us, and we're sort of paranoid, you must understand.
-I think I do, nodded our intruder. You come here to find what?
-Someone we know was on this plane, stated Tracks as the rest of the group reformed behind us, trying not to seem too intimidating to the already quite nervous girl. Would you know what happened?
-No, I don't, replied the civet. This is land of our ancestors, and we try to protect it. A days ago, I come here and find this here, like this.
-Was it still burning?
-It was like this, repeated the girl. I look around, then I go. There nothing to see but dead person, so I pray for him and leave.
-I see, grunted Ice as he came closer. Who are you exactly?
-I ask the same, frowned the civet.
-Understandable, called Ulrich as we introduced ourselves. We really mean for nothing but to find our friend and leave, if you can tolerate just that.
-We have nothing against people that come here, but those that hurt here, yes.
-Someone you don't find is welcome is hurting the land, I asked, trying to understand her declaration.
-Yes, nodded the civet, adjusting her almost religious-looking garb, they dig mines in the land, and disturb our ancestors. I am Marquee, daughter of Master Rama, of the Tao Ch'iin Sa. We watch the land, and keep ancestors at peace.
-Ah, an order, I said, suddenly understanding her state of dress and her presence in the isolated region. So you have a temple close by?
-We do, that way, pointed Marquee. Maybe if you want, you can know more from my father about the land.
-We'd be honored, smiled Ulrich.
-Then come, I show you there. Don't worry about your plane, I know where this is. Also, at the temple you give all weapons or things that can hurt, because of our rules.

None of us gave any objection as we followed the fleet-pawed girl over what must have been five kilometers, at the very least, under a harsh, unforgiving sun's rays. I was more and more glad that we had been able to talk to her the way we had instead of having to try to find her after she'd escape, because I had a pretty good suspicion that we would never have been able to. She obviously knew the place like the back of her hand, and every shortcut there was, only stopping once in a while to look for some landmark to locate herself. Furthermore, we would never in a thousand years have found the place that she showed us to. The entrance to the temple was actually concealed in the midst of a few boulders in the middle of nowhere, and only after having scaled down a few steps cut into the rock did a door greet us, a massive wooden number, ornate with painted figures of all kinds of people that lived in the region. She took out a key from her pocket and unlocked it, then waved us inside before locking it again.
-We never needed a door that locked since we started here, muttered the civet, but when the ones that dig mines come and find us, they come and try to get in without us knowing, so now we need to lock.
-How long has your order been here?
-Six hundred years, replied Marquee. My father Master fifty of our order.
-The fiftieth, I nodded, that's quite a number.
-Fiftieth, yes, grinned the civet with a bit of color in her face. I am sorry, but very few here speak English. I only take courses when I was young, and do not use it.
-Well in that case, my heartfelt congratulations, you're quite good, said Cat.

After twenty meters of the narrow passage we'd been descending into the ground with, We entered a large hall, where about fifty other souls were busy scribing at carved wooden desks scattered around the place, of all species and gender. A few raised their eyes from their work for a moment to see who had come in, but they didn't seem to mind us at all, which sort of intrigued me. Through the hall, another room was visible, almost as large but much more ornate and colorfully decorated then. Marquee didn't slow down as we continued to enter it, welcomed by two other members of the order and a middle-aged civet cat sitting at a desk at the end of the room, not dressed any differently then the others, but even calmer, almost contemplative in his demeanor. The attendants said something to us which thankfully Marquee translated for us as meaning that it was time for us to give up our weapons. I didn't have anything on me, nor did Cat or Ice, but our friends from Miami were quite well equipped. Ulrich took out a pair of pistols from the small of his back, which I haven't even noticed he was carrying, but Tracks and Helix took the cake, collectively surrendering two submachine guns, five pistols and four knives, getting an exorbited look from the attendants as they took them out. Looking almost confused as what to do with so many items, they stepped aside to go store them somewhere, allowing us passage to see the Master. As soon as we came closer to him, the older civet got up to hug his daughter and asked how her walk had gone, an almost comical way to ask who we were.
-Father, these are friends who came to try to find someone they knew on plane which fall.
-I see, nodded her father, a bit better in English then Marquee. I'm afraid that we cannot aid you in that aspect, for when my daughter first visited the wreck, it was quite devoid of life.
-So she told us as well, said Ulrich, but she also spoke of some miners who have taken up somewhere near here. Could they have taken him?
-Those... those demons can do anything, spat the civet, his eyes now filled with a newly found rage. They have even taken to hunting us like game, if you can conceive that! No one has fallen prey to them yet, but they are mad as wasps in a fire. They exploit gems near here I think, without any license, right on the site of an ancient burial ground. We try to protect the spirits, friends, but we cannot fight these devils. I remember a time when superstition and ghosts were enough to stay greed, but it seems things have become dire with the years...
-How many are they, plainly asked Tracks. Ten, twenty...?
-Fourteen, we believe, replied the older civet. By all that is holy, do you mean to say you will aid us?
-Anyone who stoops to trying to harm innocent people like yourselves deserve no mercy, said Ulrich. We will evict them on the hour, if you would tell us where they are to be found.
-Marquee, my precious one, could you show them?
-Of course, father. Do you want to go now, or rest a while?
-Beat the iron while it's red from the fire, replied Helix, stamping his right fist against his left hand.
-Then let us pray for the ancestors and the land to watch over you as you aid them, called the civet Master, standing to get a small bowl of sand which he threw pinches of at us as he repeated prayers for us. Go with the greatest of blessings, friends.
-Of course, I nodded as we turned to form on Marquee. If you would, how may we call you?
-Well, smiled the cat, officially I am Master of the Tao Ch'iin Sa, but since we are in your debt in this extraordinary situation, I think that my given name Cha Zeu would be quite good.
Ulrich gave a short wave with his off hand in acknowledgement to the civet accompanied with a grin as we turned back to follow Marquee out of the hall. Right outside the doors, the good people who had volunteered to carry the group’s respectable arsenal were all too happy to return it to us, looking all too relieved to be rid of the unfamiliar items. Helix and Tracks didn’t even bother to return their SMGs to their hiding places, instead pulling the carrying strap they bore over their good shoulders to have the weapon at their hips. The pair was obviously all business, and looked like they were psyched to get into the action right away the second Ulrich gave them the word. I admired their determination, without a doubt, but there was something uncomfortable about what we had to do in a way. Yes, the miners had trespassed and their manners with the people here were shameful, to put it mildly, but I hadn’t really expected that the Don would be so open to totally eliminate them on the hour in this way. Maybe he’d become harder, I wasn’t sure, but I didn’t feel like saying no when Tracks turned and offered a Colt pistol to me. As I would have hoped, Catherine took the same from Helix, tucking it at her side, but when the buck held a third to Ice, he shook his head and voiced his opposition to using a firearm.
-I don’t need that, said the fox as we reached our way out of the underground temple. I have other ways of defending myself if the need arises.
-What, you’ll raise the evil dead from the ground to eat their brains, prodded Helix, getting a smirk from Ice in reply. Is that it?
-Not quite so drastic, but along those lines in a way, shrugged the vulpine. Oh, maybe I’ll just take care of a single soul sometime when we’re there so you understand…
-Alright, now I’m really curious, grinned the ram.
As soon as we were in open air, Tracks and Helix took point at odd angles of the group, one hand on their sidearm at all times and their eyes scanning about cautiously. Ulrich stood right behind with matching Beretta pistols, ears pivoted straight ahead, and behind him, the rest of us closed behind Marquee, who gave friendly directions in her quirky, strongly accentuated broken English to guide us over the distance to the miner’s last known location. Our luck was such that the terrain didn’t really offer any cover from straying eyes, hence it was possible to see anyone who would threaten with great ease, and the encampment we sought was plainly visible from a few kilometers away. It was dusk by the time we found ourselves with a decent line of sight of our target, and the tension between the seven of us was quite considerable. We still had the element of surprise as Ulrich signaled for us to hunker down while Tracks took out his binoculars and started to scout out the camp, commenting his observation as he plied his trade, occasionally giving his optical instrument to Helix for the ram to confirm some doubt. The camp was a simply L-shape with six large tarp tents aligned aside a wooden building that seemed to serve as a depot for the riches they were pulling from the shafts, open to the air in the crescent’s hollow. Building materials were apparently stacked against the wall nearest us, telling of the bandits’ firm intent to make their presence a permanent one. It wasn’t to look at, but there was no indication how many people manned it, other then a rough estimation based on the visible accommodations. Ulrich took a loose branch and traced out a rough map of the camp as he listened to them, but before the panther had time to make some synopsis of the intelligence we had gathered, Ice raised his paw to ask for silence and his voice changed to a low, raspy tone.
-There is one who is hurt here, barked the fox, an innocent stolen from the sky. His life is fragile, and time is of the essence if he is to see another day.
-We have to do this now, concluded Catherine, right?
-There is also one who sees us now, continued Ice, pointing a claw to some unseen foe to our left. I will see to his demise…
Our eyes locked on the horizon which our artic dog had indicated, and a few seconds later, a figure shot to its feet fifty meters away, its hands grasping its head until it sunk to its knees and collapsed to its side. Out of morbid curiosity, or perhaps in the greater interest of being certain that we were indeed safe for the time being, we hurried over to check on Ice’s victim, though what we found was straight out of a horror movie. A male pug lay on his back on the ground, his eyes simply pushed out of their sockets by streams of blood that had apparently simply erupted from within, the splatter from which around him quite a good indication of the velocity of the jets.
-By God, I gasped as we circled the remains for a while. What was that?
-A soul torn from within, Ice simply stated. Messy, and quite painful, but the proof of this creature’s guilt, for only the most decadent and corrupt souls can be taken this way. Now, we should really hurry to rescue your friend if my guide was correct.
-So that was your guide, I asked the fox, speaking through you?
-Yes, nodded the vulpine, I let him do so whenever he needs to. Yours is quite a number too, from what I feel.
-That’s an understatement, I chuckled as we advanced on the camp.
We didn’t move that fast at first, which I didn’t quite understand, but as we picked up the pace and broke into a run within a few hundred meters of the camp, I saw exactly what Ulrich intended to do. We split up into pairs to melt on the location, arms raised at the ready, training on anything suspicious in the deepest silence until Track broke it by firing a short burst at something ahead of him, which I saw was a pair of the miners who had come out of hiding with hunting rifles, thrown back by the lead against the wall of their former abode, too shocked to actually resist gravity. From there on out, everything just went insane and the night lit up as we exchanged fire with the miners. Well, exchange is a big word, because we had total control of the situation from the get-go and simply pushed them back further and further until we had completely cleared the place. I can’t even say who did what, but all I remember is that my clip and the spare one that Helix tossed me sometime during the fight were empty and the air was thick with gun smoke by the time silence returned.
-God forgive us, muttered Marquee as Catherine handed her pistol back to Ulrich, who put an arm around her and patted her back, but these where wicked people for who the Devil craved.
-They were, nodded the panther as Helix and Tracks policed the deceased’s weapons, finding a good dozen rifles and even more smaller handguns stacked by the time they signaled all clear.
-They were ready to take the region for their own, I commented as I took a closer look at the items. Then the question begs to be asked…
-What, said Ice, is there sometime else?
-Well, there must be, I insisted. I see tents, the shack, stuff for construction and everything, but do you see any vehicles?
-And they can’t have carried all this on their backs, grunted Ulrich, I see your point, puppy. We should keep an eye out for the rest of them, then. For the moment, maybe we could dissuade them from coming back by cleaning this place off the face of the Earth.
-Even before that, corrected Catherine, where’s the wolf?
-Let’s do a sweep. Tracks, Helix, you have the shack. The rest of us will split up and do the tents.
The two point men hurried off to the wooden building to take a look around, which would probably take longer then it would for us to turn the tents upside down. I did one with Catherine, leaving Ulrich to go through one with Ice while Marquee jogged into the last on the line. Before we had time to really scour the place, the panther let out a deep roar to tell us that he’d struck gold, calling us off our work to join him. As we filed into the place, we saw a large cage in which a battered gray wolf lay bare as daylight, either unconscious or worst. Tracks knelt to make the diagnostic, commenting that we needed to get him out of the cage and start treating him before we had a better idea how badly he’d been abused. I took Helix aside to help me build a makeshift sling to carry him in to the temple, and together, we managed to make a pretty nice trolley from a mattress, a hand cart and some rope which we could tie him to with sheets. Tracks shot the lock off the cage before Ice and the panther carefully pulled our victim out of his prison and placed him on the sled, hearing a few weak grunts from the canine, at least telling that although weak, he was alive enough to complain. We rolled out of the camp before Helix doubled back and lit the place up with some petrol from a generator inside the shack and some matches, spreading joyfully to the tents as we strode off. Taking turns pulling the sling, we didn’t feel too tired by the time Marquee had shown us back to our temporary home, insisting all the while that she knew very good practitioners in the ranks of the priests who could return the wolf to health if it was at all possible.

A few hours later, we had moved the wolf who Ulrich identified as Walther Black, into one of the spare rooms in the temple, laid out on the bed after having gotten a cloth bath from one of the priests and a pair of briefs for decency’s sake, not that the man hadn’t been well equipped, mind you, but… I digress, my apologies. Ice had also taken the time to trace a few odd glyphs in the room, commenting that he knew what he was doing and it was for Walther’s greater benefit.
-Considering we took the lives of his captors, I wouldn’t want their energies to pollute this atmosphere, explained the fox as he finished up. Well, I think I’ll go take five, if it’s all the same to you.
-Ulrich and his two compadres already hit the sack, I stated. I wouldn’t mind some rest either, really.
-I hear you, moaned Ice with a muffled yawn. Where’s Catherine?
-With Marquee and her father, giving them readings, I think. The civet’s really superstitious, from what I could make out.
-And what were you thinking of doing, if I may ask?
-Ice, I laughed, you might as well just come out and say what you’re thinking at this point.
-I’m only good at dealing with those beyond, it seems, chuckled the vulpine. Well if you happen to feel like another soul’s company, I wouldn’t mind sharing a mattress.
-Poetic way to put it, I grinned. Sure thing, I’m beat. Anyway, I’m not convinced that there was enough room for us here otherwise. And furthermore…
-What?
-You a sexy foxy, Icy. C’mere…
I tailed the fox to the room a pair of priests had shown us earlier when we’d questioned them about our quarters, tossing our equipment on a bunch of cushions piled up against the right wall in the twenty-by-twenty cubical. I narrowed my eyes as Ice turned from the cushions, then gave a low, climbing growl until he turned to look at me and I jumped at him, wrapping my arms around him as I plowed us onto the bed, getting a sharp chirp from Ice as we made contact with the soft surface. A second later, I had stripped the fox down to his fur and was giving the poor guy a sloppy, hard ride, barking as I felt him in me. Boingy boing, chirpy chirp…

(Switch to Tracks)

I looked over my book to see if there was any activity from Walther, lying comfortably on the bed under a thick woolen cover. I had brought along a half-dozen novels for the flight over from home, but I had been too busy playing magnetic checkers against Helix to bother with them. The situation being was it was, the ram had gambled off to try to find a latrine to answer nature’s call at day’s first light, and I decided to go and relieve the priest that had been taking care of the wolf. After all, I had been point for long enough that I had stitched a good number of nicks and cuts through the years, at the very least, so I knew my way around medicine and I was sort of eager to get some take on Walther’s injuries that could maybe give me an idea as to how the plane could have possibly crashed so far off track and simply burned to a crisp rather then crash. Furthermore, why would the miners have taken Walther in rather then simply put him out for the vultures? As morbid a thought as it might be, I would have been less shocked to find that rather then to see him au naturel in a cage. Ransom, maybe? Then that would imply that they knew who he was, which adds to the mystery. I put down the book with a bill from the plane’s onboard service as a bookmark before getting to my hooves and striding over to get a better look at the wolf. My hands tested his sides for any injuries that we might have missed, finding nothing but a few minor bruises that would go away with a few day’s rest, then moved on to do something that I was glad he was sleeping during. Unbuttoning the tail hole strap of his underwear, I pulled them down to be able to raise his tail and get a better look under it, finding myself looking at some very characteristic irritation from having gotten an unwelcome visitor in his rear. I put his clothes back and rolled him on his back to continue resting, though as I had finished the movement, I felt his hand grip my arm and looking down, caught his stare as he managed a smile.
-Welcome back, Walther, I stated as he let me go to prop himself up in a comfortable position to stretch a bit. How do you feel?
-Better then I have in a few days, replied the canine with a heavy British accent. Thank you very much for your care! I really don’t know what to say other then that, but there it is.
-Are you still thirsty for water?
-A bit, thank you, replied Walther as he licked his lips before taking down the glass I held out to him. I still don’t understand what happened to me. I remember looking out the window and seeing the right engine on fire, which the pilot tried to put out, but it had spread too far and he had no choice but to land to keep from losing the plane. He landed quite hard, and I was knocked out in my seat shortly after we started bumping along. Next thing I know, I’m in the cage you found me, just as well dressed as well.
-Did they know who you were?
-They seemed to, from my things on the plane, nodded the wolf, passing me back the glass. They took me out to sign a ransom letter to send to RS, my employers, but I refused to cooperate. In reply, they slung me over a table and well, let’s say I felt like less of a man for a while afterwards. They threatened to do worst if I didn’t sign, but at that point, I was no longer in my right senses and obeyed, only to be put back in the cage. To be honest, I feel that treatment more then anything else I received right now. I was a bit of a reckless pup and I know bruises and cuts, but this is quite something else to contend with.
-Well, if I may offer some help, I’m actually homosexual, and let’s say that this sort of discomfort isn’t a stranger to me, I commented. I have a few miracle cures for that sort of thing, if you want to try one.
-We of course have doctor-patient confidentiality?
-We’re all civilized souls here, I answered. I have something right here that might help…
-Am I hallucinating, gasped the wolf, or am I seeing you holding a tube of sexual lubricant!?
-You are, but I’m going to mix it with a dose of hemorrhoid unguent. Together, you’ll have some worthy relief from the pain, and you’ll be able to visit the WC without screaming for God’s sweet mercy.
-I haven’t yet… will it hurt that badly?
-I’m not sure, I shrugged. I didn’t get a very good look during my examination.
-I suppose that I’ll surrender my briefs once more, grinned Walther as he reached back to undo the button. I hope that you aren’t uncomfortable with this…
-To be blunt and not to brag of my exploits and conquests, I chuckled, I’ve seen plenty of penises in my time and one more or less won’t affect the tally very considerably.
-I’ve been married twenty-two years, laughed the wolf, and I’m taking it off for a gay. No offence, but the coincidence is quite humorous if taken apart from the rest.
I nodded with a smile as he took off his briefs and I maneuvered him into a crouch on his elbows and knees, taking out a hair elastic to bunch his fluffy tail fur at the root to make my job easier. Taking some of my mix on two fingers, I started applying it on Walther’s anus, getting a dry gasp from him because of the cold feeling, though as I worked it on, I could hear him humming in relief as the medication took effect. While I was there, I had him bite his lip while I put a finger in him to see if he was irritated deeper inside, though the reply was to the negative.
-You’re fortunate your captors had very small equipment, I jested as continued.
-Like the view?
-Come now, I respect your orientation, I laughed as I looked at the wolf’s respectable ballsack and neighboring half-soft member. Be that as it may, your wife must be quite a happy woman, Walther.
-Thanks, smiled the canine as I finished up. On an odd note, you’re a deer buck.
-Did the antlers give it away?
-Mostly, said Walther. Well, the being the case, your partner must be quite… how can I say it… flexible?
-Oh, I can’t do it with anyone, save for a few rare exceptions, I replied. It’s ironic that some guys wish to be bigger, and I who am, can hardly do anything of interest with it, eh?
-I don’t mean to be insulting, but you have to exaggerating, frowned the wolf.
-I most certainly am not, I retorted as I unzipped my pants and took out my cock in my hand, presenting it to him before putting it back, sort of oddly folded to the side.
-Heavens above! Was that real? Poor mares, they must be in worst shape then me still!
-Ah, our gifts, I bellowed. For one who seemed inhibited about exposition, you seem to be much more comfortable now, Walther.
-I - oh, yelped the canine as he stared down to see his cock red with blood, hard as a steel rail. Oh bother, it takes forever to drop again…
-Even after..?
-Well no, of course not, but to ease my suffering would require a nearby facility…
-Not really, just an open mind, I replied as I took some of the water from a small jug on the bedside table to wash my hands. Just lie back, and we’ll see what we’ll see.
-I think I get where you’re going with this, grinned Walther, and though I’m curious…
-Curiosity is a good start, I stated as I thumped down aside the wolf and pushed him back down. Oh it’s hot, hmm…
Before the canine had formulated another doubt about the experiment, I had leaned on my side to get his cock in my mouth and started to bob around joyfully, ignoring the ripe bouquet I first got. A moment later, I felt Walther put his hands on my head and stroke my antlers and ears while whines escaped from him and a quiet smile decorated his lips. I let his wand go for short breather, turning to suck on his sack instead until I could feel his tension become just unbearable, and I switched back to feel his smooth flesh on my tongue, exploding with cum instantly as he reached his apex with a deafened howl. Still panting, he looked at me with a stunned expression, closing his eyes and laughing like mad.
-I’ll be, he said between two bursts. I suppose it would be common courtesy to return the favor, if you would assume a comfortable position?
-I suppose so… just wait a second, I stated, taking off my pants and getting one of my specialty condoms from my bag, one which had already vanished after a little quicky with Helix. Here we go…
-This brings me back to my bachelor years, sighed Walther as I lay down for him to start masturbating me. Just casually observing, Tracks, you seem to be quite in good shape down there albeit I suppose you sometimes…
-Take it like a girl? Say, are you still in good shape..?
-Yes, I… are you saying you’d like me to bugger you?
-Well, it would sure make the snake-beating funnier, if you’re consenting.
The wolf raised and eyebrow with a smirk as he put down my cock to try and sodomize me, though he was surprised as to how easy it was to do (it wasn’t like I wasn’t used to it). I leaned my head back and moaned as he started riding me, though his manner was obviously that of someone caught in routine more then a player. I wasn’t a complainer though, because it sure beat nothing for the time being. By the oddest coincidence, everything just happened all at once; I shot off in the rubber, getting a yelp from Walther as he reinforced the bottom in fear that it would yield; he came in my ass, cutting short his call with a gasp, for Helix opened the door and walked in, closing it almost instantly though I could hear him double over in laughter on the other side. I was just done taking off the rubber and we were wiping clean with a few tissues I had in my bag when Ulrich stepped into the room, his jaw dropping and his eyes almost crossing in confusion, just sealing the total mayhem. Before I said anything, Walther cut in and reassured the panther with a calm, composed air that I knew was something he pulled from his work.
-Come now, Ulrich, I can’t say I’d believe you if you said that you don’t think this was right. As Freud once said, the only odd sexual behavior is none at all, and then it’s all about preference and opportunity.
-And we had an opportunity, I seconded. Lucky she-wolf, you’re a handful!
-Digressing, I doubt you came to hear our pillow talk, continued Walther. What’s on your black-furred mind?
-First, I was wondering how you were, though that question seems to have been answered quite completely. Second, I have some bad news about our ride back…
-The likes of?
-While we were gone to take out the miner camp, our pilot split and I’m sure you can read into his intentions just as clearly as Ice would if he was to ask his spirits.
-So we’re stranded here, I started, putting my pants back on, and there isn’t a vehicle for miles, is there?
-Not as far as I know. Cha Zeu says that his fellow templar walk for three days before getting to a village from where they get their supplies.
-I guess we’re short on options other then to try that plan for ourselves, I grunted. Then again, splitting up while there’s still the possibility that the miners’ associates return isn’t something I’m all that happy about either.
-As unbelievable as it may sound, Ice actually took off with Jesse and Catherine to try and contact someone back home to send help. After all, we are in China, and I know some of our friends up North, formerly the Urchins of Tijuana, had some dealings with the Triads. With any luck, we might have friendly visitors soon.
-Right, I nodded, but in the meantime, I suppose that we should start our own search for the missing miners. Had we been a bit more careful, we might have captured one to interrogate him on their whereabouts.
-I had that on my mind too, sighed the panther. Also, we might have been wiser to take a look at what they were digging for. I suppose it’s not too late, but weed have to make it a very quick expedition, for safety’s sake.
-Helix can stay here with so we could go together with Marquee’s guidance, I offered. I doubt there’s anything that the ram can’t handle for a few hours. Heck, if that filth decide to come take a gander here, the carrion eaters will be picking their bones by the time we come back with him around.
-There’s a show of confidence, commented Walther. Would you mind if I came along as well? I think I’m in decent shape for a long walk, if you don’t mind me tailing you.
-On the condition that if I say the word, you hit the deck, said Ulrich. The last thing I’d like is to have is as many able fighters in the group then liabilities, not meaning to sound anything but realistic.
-I know where you’re coming from, waved the wolf. I’ll be in your shadow, good panther.
As I finished getting prepped with Walther, Ulrich opened the door, only to find the civet girl waiting for us, as if she’d heard the conversation. The panther asked her if she had been told by one of our staff mind readers that we were going to look for her, of if she had been listening at the door, getting the latter in response with a sharp grin. With full water cantinas, we headed out again, though this time the stress wasn’t the same as when we’d gone out. After all, if we were going to find anyone, they were most probably in smaller numbers then the camp’s inhabitants, and we knew what to expect from them in both tactics and firepower. The lack of good equipment in their possession was as much a comfort as it was a sign that it was unlikely that they were linked to a serious, self-respecting organization. Between ganging up to try and muscle out a religious order from their ancestral lands and facing a severe threat like us were two very different things, after all. With a bolder attitude and Walther pushing for us to pick up the pace and not hold back for his sake, we cut the time to reach the now charred miner encampment. What we saw was little more then the remains of the wooden shack standing in charcoal beams, the damp chill of the night having put out the brazier after it had gone through the bulk of its fuel and the tents having simply been eaten up by the flames. We didn’t bother with them though, instead going right for the chimney of the pit they had been digging, looking down to see how deep they had gotten. I evaluated fifty feet, just a few into the bedrock, though. Walther suggested the classic depth test of dropping a rock down and listening close, which Ulrich took care of, though the noise was sort of odd, almost hollow.
-That’s strange, I grunted, dropping a second stone, which made the same sound. Marquee, do you know of anything that might be buried here?
-I don’t, shrugged the civet. I think you can look, if you like.
-Right, said Ulrich. The pulley’s rope looks strong enough for someone to go down there, which I suspect is how they got to the bottom to work. If there are no protests, I’ll do the honors.
The panther was quick to straddle the rope and start repelling down the hole, calling out as soon as he had made contact with the bottom. Once by one, we followed suit, finally finding ourselves in a circle with a long tunnel of soil retained by solid wood panels rising above us, merging outwards to form a shape much like an upright Erlenmeyer bottle. The miners had apparently stopped digging once they had reached the stone, and hadn’t even drilled blasting holes to start attacking it. Instead, they had dug outwards, as if they were looking for something at its surface or actually attempting to excavate some immense boulder. The last was a ridiculous concept, certainly, but the other option implied they knew enough about the location to have a precise idea what to find, if with a bit of inaccuracy.
-I suppose that we don’t have any option but to continue what the miners started if we’re to know what this is all about, stated Walther.
-To do that, we have to know what they were doing, commented Marquee.
-Between moving more soil and breaking through this, I started, I say that we try to break through. That rock’s strike sounded hollow enough that there can’t be that much between us and whatever’s under our paws. I’ll see if I can find something topside so we can start working it over and get a better picture of what we’re up against.

No more then twenty minutes later, Ulrich and me were attacking the shale with picks, pausing for Marquee and Walther to clean up a bit and rest our backs. I felt lucky for us that we’d been on a thicker section of the stone, for Ulrich broke through a mere meter from where we’d first gathered, and kept at the spot until the ground was fractured enough we could take the shale up with the rope as slabs and really open up the hole. After some honest effort, we lowered the rope a few meters to be able to repel lower into the new orifice, though we had to readjust the length of it four times before our paws hit the ground beneath. It was dark as night down there, not that there was that much light left outside either, and only by feeling along the walls were we able to get some sort of impression as to the size of the cavern we’d broken into.
-You know, I’d sure love to see where we are, I said to Walther, who was following close behind me.
-Did someone just move, suddenly asked Ulrich, at the left of me?
-Swing your tail, I asked, getting batted in the leg by the panther.
-No, you’re behind me. What the…
I looked over to where the panther had indicated, and though I couldn’t see anything for the moment, I could hear something moving, as if it was getting up. Then, as I was taking a step closer, I felt something else like a tail swat the side of my shin. My first reflex would have been to draw steel and train on the position of the form, but something wasn’t right about that either, as if I knew it didn’t mean any harm and taking up arms would be unnecessary. Still, I had my hand ready to jump as I called out to see if I was losing my mind or if there was really another soul with us.
-Hello, who is it that I just felt right there? I know it wasn’t anyone who came down with me.
-Indeed, it was not, replied a liquid voice with a lisp to it that I couldn’t link to any racial trait I knew. If we would leave this place, I would be pleased to show you who exactly I am, for describing who I am is rather futile.
-All right, replied Ulrich as I felt the creature turn to face the Don, then we’ll climb back up and wait for you. Is that all right with you?
-As you wish, said the voice, almost hissing the last syllable. I will wait for your call, if you are so honorable as to give it, for I place a certain trust in your actions when you have left here.
-Walther, Marquee, you go first, Tracks and I will follow, stated Ulrich.
I waited until everyone but me and our new acquaintance remained, then as planned, I shimmied up the rope, calling down to it that we were ready for it to come out as well. At first, I thought I heard the swooping of wings and the remains of a few gusts rose from the hole, but then the rope became tense and slowly, the last rays of daylight washing into the void of the mine shaft betrayed the shadows that had hidden the creature we had met. What we saw I can’t say we all accepted as being anything but a figment of our imaginations until it had scaled the edge of the hole and stood before us, wiping the dirt from its scales. Nowadays, I suppose I know him better, but at the time, what I thought I was seeing was a seven-foot tall dragon, though not like those of fairy tales, but rather resembling what a Earthly reptile would have evolved into should it have ever required flight and further armament through a trio of horns raised from his head and a further three on each side of its face. He looked at us just as closely as we did him, but I doubt he could have been as surprised as we were, each party admiring the situation until I decided to break the silence and made the introductions.
-Good evening, I started. This is Ulrich, Don of the Miami Broncos, that’s Walther, Marquee and I’m Tracks, Ulrich’s lieutenant. By what name do you go?
-I have no name to go by, for no one has ever spoken to me, replied the drake. Since eons ago, when the Second Genesis had yet to come, I lay in a dreamlike stasis to be awoken should my creator ever decide the day was right for me to return to the light of day. This must sound like the ravings of a madman, but also why I insisted to show myself to you, to support my claim with my very being.
-I suppose that there’s nothing we could possibly say to refute you anyway, I commented. After all, I suppose that there can’t be that many like you anywhere, not that I’ve ever met any dragons in my life. Now that you have someone to talk to though, would you like to select a name for yourself?
-As this evening I have at long last risen from the stone where I lay and see the light for the first time in many a year, I believe that ‘Eclipse’ would honor this magical time.
-Eclipse it is, said Ulrich as he reached his hand out to shake the drake’s who took it and gave the panther a solid handshake with a smile. I’m afraid that our present residences are quite a ways away, however, but they are more then decent, if you’d like to come with us.
-I see little else then cold wastes otherwise, chuckled Eclipse, and furthermore, your company is very enjoyable to date, I must say.
-Yours as well, drake!
This time, we had a hard time keeping up with Eclipse, whose long strides carried him just slightly faster then our usual pace. The conversation was a bit hesitant, mostly small talk to kill the time as we retraced our way back to the temple, once more setting a record time which I don’t think we could ever beat unless we simply dashed all the way. We got more then a few looks as we entered the main hall, but just as when we had first arrived, there wasn’t any hostility or fear, just innocent curiosity. Walther didn’t have to be persuaded very much to take it easy and get some more rest, for I had observed that he had been sort of kicking himself along for the last leg of our walk, hence the four of us that remained could fit quite comfortably into the room I had occupied along which Helix, who froze in his tracks and bleated loudly before he saw us behind Eclipse.
-Sorry, said the ram, natural reflex. Name’s Helix, amigo! What’s your?
-Eclipse, hissed the dragon, shaking the ram’s hand. Sorry for the start, sincerely.
-Oh, I’m a cheap scare when I’m not expecting it, waved Helix as we sat down anywhere there was room. One of the priests brought a kettle of tea over there, if you want a cup. I might be a bit cold, but its better then drying out.
-As you might have guessed, I started, putting an arm across the ovine’s shoulders, we found who the miners were digging for. Who tipped them off is a mystery, but at least I think good Eclipse ended up in better company then he would have found himself should they have broken the seal that kept him in stasis.
-That was a question forming in my mind, started Walther.
-The question being how I got there, grinned the drake, accepting a cup of tea from Ulrich.
-The spirits here sometimes tell that there are things here we cannot see, started Marquee, and you being there since the Second Genesis, you call it, I believe very much. But who make you be there?
-As hard as it may be for you all to believe, it was none else then the Archangel Satan, stated Eclipse. You see, right before the Second Genesis, after man was returned to the Garden of Eden and before the Second Genesis actually took place and ‘those of four paws had now but two touch the ground’, many of us, prototypes of those who would hold stake on the world, saw the light of day. It wasn’t meant to be however, and with the Second Genesis, we were enclosed in the land that brought us forth, to wait until the day we would be found. It may seem empty, childish mysticism, but to me it’s nothing short of the story of my birth.
-No one really knows how were came to be, I started, and we keep finding ancient relics of a people that would have lived here before us that were of a single species. I’m not here to preach the faith here, but I know that there’s enough proof to at least raise a serious doubt as to the story of the Second Genesis to be just ‘childish mysticism’. As far as I’m concerned, you’re living proof of its truth.
-Thank you, smiled Eclipse, reaching to pat my shoulder. But, all these facts aside, I’m here now and nothing but another creature of flesh and blood like you, just different in appearance, perhaps. Now, if I may ask, what is this place, precisely?
Marquee stepped in to explain the faith of the Tao Ch'iin Sa, waving and signing with energy as she told all the legends and myth behind the formation of the religion, which was too old to date with any precision. Though her father was, by name, the fiftieth Master of the order, every hundred they would start again at one, so there was no help to be had from that as to how many there had really been. As far as the old sayings and tales that Marquee recited, it seemed that the first of the order would have seen beings enter the land, which they called ‘the ancestors’, and since, have stayed to watch over the land with the belief that they powerful spirits that wished to be left to their eternal rest. Eclipse himself commented that it sounded a lot like his account, but he didn’t know about any other of his kind anywhere. As he was finishing, Ice came in with Catherine and Jesse to announce that they had made contact with someone they knew back in the United States, and that help was to arrive soon. It simply laughable how Ice and Eclipse both looked at each other with the most curious airs, each as perplexed with the other’s appearance. Well, that and then some, I suppose, for shortly after his arrival, Ice whispered something to the dragon, who looked at him with a questioning glance that turned into a devious smile with narrowing eyes as they got up an excused themselves under some garbled pretext that didn’t even veil their real intentions.
-Well, wouldn’t you know, I chuckled as the room closed, opposite elements attract like magnets!
-Fire and Ice, laughed Ulrich, I suppose so. I’ll take the opportunity of this hiatus to comment that first, the night isn’t getting any younger, and my eyes aren’t staying open anymore.
-It’s one in the morning, voiced Helix as he consulted his watch. Suppose we’ll call it a morning?
-Too late to call it a night, anyway, waved Ulrich. Catherine, Jesse, did your contact tell you when he’d be here?
-We only informed him that we needed help and received a positive response, said Jesse with a shrug, it wasn’t a conversation on a satellite phone. Still, Hermann’s good as gold, he’ll make good on his word, I’m certain.
-As long as I can get a night’s sleep before he pops up, I’ve got no objection, half-yawned, half-growled the panther. I’m off, kids.
-So are we, groaned Jesse, talking Catherine into a walking hug as they veered off behind Ulrich. G’night!
-Same, to you, called Helix before turning to look at me. Tracks my man, did all that really just happen, or have I been dropping acid like gumdrops?
-Not if you didn’t slip me some without my knowing, I replied, quickly taking him into an arm lock. Oh, he’s too slow!
-Am I, retorted the ram, breaking my grip on his wrists and turning me on my back by my antlers. Looks like you were being autobiographical, dear deer!
-I sure wasn’t, I called as I curled my legs back to take Helix by the sides and shoved him on the pile of cushions behind him instants before I spun and jumped on him to catch him in a full-body hug. Ah, there’s my cashmere blanket.
-I’m not a mountain sheep, but my father was a Mouflon, kidded Helix, burying his face into my chest until his horns poked at me.
-You aren’t a cryptorchid either, I giggled as I reached down to fondle the ram, are you?
-You tell me, buck; you seem to be in a good position to tell.
-Let me see now, I whispered as I popped the ovine’s fly. If you are, you got good prosthetics!
-Rightly I do!
I felt Helix’s body get hotter as I unbuttoned his now trademark Hawaiian-patterned shirt and ran my black muzzle on his chest, careful as always not to catch anything with my antlers. It was a question of experience to know what the ram liked the most, and I’d snuck away from my mate Jumpy just enough times to have all the charnel knowledge I needed to get the poor sheep to loose his mind. It was simple: he had two ticklish spots, just below his armpits, and the front of his throat, and he didn’t like to laugh when he was in the sack, something I joked to him was a sign he took sex too seriously. Nonetheless, if by chance you would lick his nipples or right at the root of his scrotum, it was a question of second before the most hilarious bleat of ecstasy would leave him and he’s be begging for cock (or clit, all depending or the partner, I suppose). Under the cold plain, we weren’t in anything of a hurry, and I held back playing those cards for the time being, instead straddling my knees to his sides to drag myself on him until he took my muzzle and kissed me, his eyes closed but his tongue shooting right in to feel mine, which I was all too happy to oblige to while he took off my safari shirt, grunting in annoyance as he felt a camisole underneath. I pulled back for a second with a grin to take it off, always a bit of a tricky process that required for both the garment to have a stretchy neck and to know the right maneuvers to pass it through my antlers.
-God, why do you make it so hard for yourself, commented Helix as he took a handful of my ass and pulled me back down. Just wear that shirt, sort of half-open, with some bling, you know? Now there, neither me or Jumpy would ever let you out of bed!
-That’s my concern, I laughed as I made more room for us to make out properly. Now for you, you could sort of let your coat grow, and just leave it open. I’d love your poor little ass long time, love it big!
-You’d tear the damn thing apart if I did that, replied the ram. Speaking of which, why the hell are you still wearing pants?
-A whim, I said as I pulled everything down, my dick thumping down on Helix’s chest, instantly grabbed to be molested with appetite and energy. Oh, that’s my boy…
-Uh-huh, hummed the ram as he took my cock in his mouth to free his hands to strip. Hmm… hmm… cvock…
-I get it, just get back to your work, I smiled as I masturbated him up until I could ride him. Oh, that’s a nice wooly boy!
Helix’s grip on my member fluctuated as his emotions rose and fall with my knees’ flexing, which in turn accelerated whenever I felt he wasn’t putting his back into it, figuratively speaking. I didn’t like going bareback without some good lubrication, but since I’d used up my reserve on Walther, I didn’t have that much of a choice, though I didn’t feel anything of concern for the time being, not that it was my first concern anyway. The ram took over the steering wheel halfway through, and kept going faster and faster, tonguing my dick with a playful air right to the point where I could just feel I’d shoot off, then suddenly cut it out completely or scaled back to just the most subtle stroking, keeping my pressure at a simply unmanageable level, not that I couldn’t feel his own heartbeat though his skin as I grasped his shoulders. He passed the ever-nearing point of no return at long last who knows how long after we’d started our encounter (giving the Devil his due, Helix had record-breaking long erections I could never hope to match), and I gave him a fait warning that a Tsunami was about to hit the coastline, which he reacted to twofold, first coming in my ass with a moan then locking his lips around my prepuce perfectly on time to quench his thirst on several mouthfuls’ worth of deer cum. I dismounted while he pushed through the last of his ambrosia and threw his head back with a chuckle, settling down in the cushions with him to cuddle with our exhausted cocks meddling freely as I wrapped a leg over his.
-Baah, he softly bleated as he thumped his face on the pillow that fate had place under his head. We’re two horny guys.
-As literal as it gets, I grinned. You like bleating, bah-bah?
-‘Cause you like hearing it, replied Helix, giving another call. You never call, why not?
-Yours is easy to miss, mine is just obnoxiously loud. Remember when you walked in on me and Jumpy last week? That’s as low as I can do it.
-Point taken, sighed the ram, closing his eyes. Snuggle into me, I’m sleepy…

(Switch to Ulrich)

I was glad that this fumbled adventure was almost over, to put it in gentler words. I felt like an idiot to have gotten stranded in the middle of nowhere like this by some selfish mercenary that I had been so negligent as to hire on face value, then furthermore for having failed to bring along any means of communication with the outside world other then the VHF radio on the plane. It was my fault, fundamentally, that we were in this situation, with our faith solidly placed in the hands of three psychics rather then a tangible means of escape or evacuation should we find ourselves in a position where the threat level from the miner’s associates became untenable. And there, another fumble! Well, mixed fumble. Yes Walther had been my priority, but paranoia had gotten the better of me when we’d hit the camp. On the short term, we had taken care of what could pose a problem to us, but on the longer term, there was cause to believe that they would return, if there were enough of them, and the priests here were right in the line of fire. I had to place some calls after we reestablished links with civilization, and do my utmost to find out who was behind this. Not only out of compassion and concern, but also the debt we had towards them. Without their help, we would have missed the presence of the miners, most likely, and Walther would no longer be of this world. As I thought about a plan of action to follow when I had a working phone in my paws, my thousand-yard stare locked on Marquee, who looked in at me through the half-opened door with her father right behind her.
-Hello Ulrich, said the civet girl. I know you are tired, but can you talk with us?
-You needn’t even ask, this is your place before anything! Please, come in, I waved to the two, who stepped in and sat aside me, with Marquee sandwiched between us. What brings you here so late?
-A father’s worry, stated Cha Zeu. You have to realize at this point that though we did rid this land of those that caused it pain, that their masters are still free men.
-I was actually thinking about how to resolve that problem, I replied.
-Realistically, continued the man, putting his arm around her daughter, how likely is it that you will be able to find them?
-I’m sorry to say that it will be a challenge if they didn’t hire someone that has a contact with the Triads here in China or if no one is willing to talk about them. They didn’t have anything extraordinary at their camp, their weapons were civilian issue, therefore quite easily accessible, and even the cage that they kept Walther in is something that any poacher would have, so once more, little clue as to what to look for.
-So therefore, very little chance…
-I’m optimistic nonetheless, I corrected. We’ve been incredibly lucky to date, and have three of the best seers that I’ve ever met in my entire life. With their skills and our perseverance, I have the greatest confidence that we will.
-In the meantime, this place is no longer as safe is it used to be, said Cha Zeu. Ulrich, until peace has returned definitively, I would be most grateful if you could arrange for us to come with you.
-I see, I started. Well, I don’t know what our friends will be coming with at the moment.
-Then I’d like for you to bring Marquee with you, stated the civet. Please, Ulrich, I need to know, if nothing else, that my daughter is safe.
-Cha Zeu, you have my word that I won’t leave here until I know who paid these fools to come here, confirm what they sought, and either they’re behind bars for the rest of their mortal existence or they’re pushing up the grass. We’ll set up here, and we’ll make it happen, I stated reaching out to take the civet’s wrist in a ‘blood brother’ shake.
-This land needs more souls like you! If we can do anything to help, simply say so, and we’ll do our utmost.
-My priority is to keep you out of danger first and foremost, I corrected. I’m sure that when we have better company with us then the mysterious unknown of the darkness of the night, we’ll be able to get a better grasp on how to face the situation.
-Sorry for the late call, nodded Cha Zeu with a grin, I suppose I get carried away too easily. Then again, how often does this sort of siege befall us?
-We’re in your debt for the help you’ve given us already, friend, and think nothing of it.
-I’ll get some rest, said Cha Zeu, getting up to leave, good night, Ulrich.
-And to you, I answered. I suppose you’re thinking of something else, Marquee?
-I am, said the civet girl, reaching for a cover that had been brought for me to wrap in to sleep, casting it over her. Ulrich, I like it here, I grew up here with my father since my mother returned to the ancestors when I was born. But I also would like to know more then what’s here. Father knows I feel like this, but he don’t know where for me to go. School was good, but it’s no longer there now. Could you bring me with you for some time to see other places?
-I suppose when this is over, if your father doesn’t mind, we could bring you for a trip to Miami, back in America. It wouldn’t be a problem, if we have a good ride to count on.
-There’s a lot of things to see in Mihiame?
-Miami, I corrected with a bit more articulation to underline the pronunciation of the city’s name. There’s an awful lot of things, more then anyone could hope to see in a vacation, but I can show you some of the more interesting ones. I own a hotel, so I could put you up there in plenty of comfort for your stay. You like the sound of that?
-Very much, replied the civet. Can you tell me more about Miami?
-Well, first I suppose that you’ll want to hear about the waterfront and the beautiful view of the ocean you have from almost anywhere nearby that neighborhood...
Marquee came over and huddle against me as I started talking, throwing half the cover over me, eventually joined by a second layer of thick cotton to keep the chill away. The civet was and excellent listener, not saying much more then the occasional comment or encouraging thought, but very well placed. As I talked to her, I suddenly felt like I was in Brazil again, year ago now, spending time with Lua the ocelot kitten. There was the same innocence in Marquee, but the temple and her faith had already lit a fire inside her that burned much brighter, and her few years of maturity over Lua had strengthened her beliefs and sharp intellect. I only had the occasional post card or email from the ocelots now, but things had gone well, thankfully, so well that Lua now worked as a junior physicist at the university where she studied, in the last year of her doctoral program. I glanced at Marquee with thoughts of her possible future and gradually tried to turn the conversation in that direction, which seemed to be something that she didn’t mind going on either.
-So other then this place, have you ever considered another calling?
-You mean leave and do something else?
-Something like that, I said. I mean, other then a priestess?
-At school, I saw many other things to do, but since they go, I don’t really think about much else. After all, I love my father, like a good daughter should, and I would feel very bad to simply leave him to do what I feel like doing. Didn’t you think about that yourself? Did you leave home?
-I did, but the situation was much different, I stated. Before I became Don, my parents died when someone that worked for the mafia Family I now lead had hired, and I didn’t want to live every day in the house where I had spent so much time with them. It hurt too much, Marquee... I think you can understand. Anyway, I didn’t want to be part of the mafia at the time, and my only hopes were to leave everything that had to do with it behind to try and find a different life.
-You know that you parents loved you though and would have wanted for you to look for the best thing you could if you didn’t like what they were ready to give you, reminded the civet, a comment wise far beyond her years, then paused for a moment. I suppose that my father wants the same, and that for now, this is what he hopes I will be happy with. It’s not that I’m not, I believe in the ancestors and protecting the land, but it seems like something to do later, after having done something else.
-That’s sort of been my own thoughts on the religious life as well, I nodded, that it’s a second career after having seen as much of the world as you can. Sort of a time to reflect on things lived and put them in perspective.
-You seem to understand people here very well, smiled Marquee, hugging me under the cover. Most were other things and became poor or became tired of what they did, and needed something else to do to make them happy and feel like they are with good friends. Here, everyone is everyone’s friend, and they have that. But when we have the Prayer of Thanks, then the Meditation of Thanks, I don’t have anything to think about like them.
-I understand, I said as I put my arm over her and pulled her closer, stroking her head down to her garb’s hood. It’s your choice, before anyone else’s, but after your visit to Miami, if you decide that you like it there enough to stay for a while longer, I could find you somewhere to work doing something else, something that would be a good challenge for you and where you would learn new skills.
-Like what?
-Well, what do you like to do?
-I like writing, replied Marquee. Is there a job with that?
-As it would be, I have a print shop that I just bought a few months ago, and I still need more people there to edit productions before they’re printed. You’ll really get some hands-on experience, and I’m sure you’ll find it very fun. You don’t have to go there to work; you can do it at the hotel too.
-That’s great! I’d love that, Ulrich!
-I’ll make it happen as soon as we have the chance to go, if you’ll talk to your father about it.
-I will, promised the civet. For now, we should sleep until morning, or we’ll be too tired to do anything.
I was trying to find the words for a reply when I was cut short as Marquee reached to get the bottom of her garb and pull it over her head, folding it aside to leave her nothing but a loincloth. She didn’t seem to think much of it and settled back against me, her soft breasts pressing into my side, looking like she’d never really had any interest for a brassiere or top and her chest had taken the ‘Woodstock hippie goddess’ shape with time, being at the least C cups, conservatively. I felt a bit impolite to stare at her almost nude form, but my eyes hadn’t strayed when her own locked on mine and a grin appeared on her face.
-Ulrich, do you think I’m beautiful?
-What a question, of course you are!
-I think that my breasts aren’t very nice, grunted the civet as she sat up and took her left tit. Am I a bit too big too?
-I don’t think that you...
-Wait, said Marquee as she got up and took off her loincloth and put it aside, walking around a few steps. What do you think?
-I think you’re as beautiful as a young civet could possibly wish to be, I stated, feeling a massive erection threatening down below and deep purring rumbling in my throat. Sorry, I know it’s a bit impolite, but I have to readjust something immediately.
-What do you look like, asked Marquee, really? Your shirt makes it hard to tell.
-Well, this, I said as I unbuttoned my polo and took it off. I work out a lot, so I don’t have much padding.
-Wow, that’s very nice! Show me the rest. I showed you, now you show me.
-I suppose it’s fair, I shrugged, peeling off layer after layer until I was in the same state as her, tough she went pretty red in the face when she saw my cock out like a flagpole, though I quickly put a paw over it as I gave her a full panoramic. Not too bad?
-You’re strong, gaped the civet. Take your hand away, there. Wow, you’re very strong! I never see any men here like this. Just don’t move, okay?
-Right, I whimpered as she took a good look at my equipment.
-Why is there water there?
-Ah, well before a man gives his seed, some of that comes out first. I’m sorry, it’s just that you’re very beautiful, and I’m a bit... how can I say it...
-Oh, grinned Marquee, you want to have sex with me? Is that why?
-Fundamentally, it comes to that, I nodded.
-Then let’s do it, said the girl as she sat back down and motioned for me to do the same.
I kneeled in front of the civet and took her in my arms as I started caressing her again, but this time going further then her neck, down her soft back and along her thighs, following the lines of spots and stripes that lined her body. She held on to me like the last hope in the world tight as she could, running her muzzle on my face and kissing me hard, our teeth often locking while I licked at her lips and grasped her shoulder with a one-armed hug. My fur was longer then hers, but nonetheless she was simply burning, from her breath to her crotch, which I tested throughout the embrace, getting high-pitched hums in reply. I couldn’t tell if it was her first time, but my fingers reported that she hadn’t seen much, if any, visitors in her fruit, and she wasn’t all that humid. I ran my cock against it a few times, which somewhat helped, as well as widened Marquee’s eyes and stoked her hunger for us to consummate. My hand was rubbing her clit and pinching her urea’s soft tissue when I felt her starting to recline backwards, unmistakable sign that it was time for me to make good and penetrate the girl. I pushed her legs open and slung them over my shoulders to clear my way, my unspoken reply I understood and holding her channel open, I slowly entered in her until I could feel my head right inside her vagina, then in a slow, winding tempo, I kneaded her breasts and rocked my hips, not leaving any flesh untouched in the civet. Marquee could hardly keep up her breathing as we charged on, but neither of us had any intent on stopping, our tails whipping about like ribbons in the wind. For a finale, I dismounted the civet and had her turn on her stomach to penetrate her from behind and nibbled on her neck as I went at full throttle in her, her eyes rolling back as she sunk her jaws in a cushion to avoid screaming as I came in her and the warmth of my load triggered a massive orgasm I could feel tensing up every last muscle in her body. I fell aside her with the last drop of semen leaving me, though to my surprise and delight, Marquee straddled me with the cover over her and remounted me before lying down on me, apparently intent on sleeping together in penetration. I grinned and wrapped her in my arms, closing my eyes as I felt her fading away in slumber.

It wasn’t dawn just yet when I heard a humming sound from above, loud enough to wake the dead. I had to do a double take to remember what had actually transpired during the night, though seeing Marquee sleeping rolled up in a cover aside me and the massive backache I had was enough to confirm that everything I remembered was pretty accurate, for better of worst. I pulled my life back together and hitched up everything I could find, save for my polo, which seemed to have taken to the wilds ands had no intent to return to my back. I’d have to do without, I grunted, not that I looked all that bad without it like Marquee had commented, I smirked. With everything back in place and deep breath, I took a quick look both ways to make sure that no one was the wiser that the civet had spent the wee hours with me, and scrambled off to try and rouse Tracks and Helix to back me us as we check who was making a house call at this hour. As I half expected, the deer and ram were together in the sack, but were already awake, wasting a few minutes cuddling.
-Alright kids, I said with a grin, time to see who’s hovering out there. Grab your socks and wrap your cocks, like the old sarge once said.
-That sergeant got shot, yawned Tracks with a smile. We’re right behind you, if you’ll give us a moment to find our stuff.
-You seen my underwear, asked Helix, getting his undergarment from the deer as he spotted it under some of the cushions. Ah, the old ball sack’s back home.
-You two are insane, I commented.
-And who were you with, asked Tracks, eh? I thought I heard a very familiar growl late in the night.
-Never you mind, I chuckled. All right, let’s get under way.
The three of us checked our pistols and started up the steps as soon as we were out the temple’s main chambers, finding the sound louder and louder until we finally reached the surface. I unlocked and opened the door a crack to get a look around, but the moment I saw who it was, I pushed the thing wide open and ran out roaring. A Sikorsky twin rotor was idling on the ground with its cargo doors open, and standing at the top of the ramp was no one else then Hermann Vitter, my ex-schoolmate okapi, who ran down to pick me up in a hug the moment his mind registered who it was that was running at the vehicle.
-Hermann, I called as I hugged the beast, you got Catherine and Jesse’s voicemail?
-Yeah, but usually I press a button to hear voicemail, laughed the okapi. This time, I just heard some voice telling me where I should be and that it was more important then what I was doing. Well, who I was doing, I should say.
-Estrela?
-In his striped butt, nodded Hermann with his tongue hanging out. Never mind that, how are you, and how did you get here?
-I’d say the same! Who did you borrow this from?
-Oh, a contact our don has over here in the People’s Army from way back when. We only have it for a week, but I think it should be more then enough to pull your black tail out of here along with our friends.
-Actually, I need to talk to you about that. See, this is how the situation sits at the moment.
I talked with Hermann as the four of us walked into the cargo hold and the chopper’s blades immobilized, the aircrew ready to obey our commands diligently, all appearing quite giddy to be participating in such an unconventional mission. The idea of tracking down the miner’s buddies back in civilization really lit the okapi’s eyes up, who was adamant that it wasn’t a reasonable thing to do to leave without a definite resolution to the matter.
-I say that we set up surveillance at the mining camp, I stated. Obviously, there had to be a regular supply schedule to maintain the camp and when they lost contact, I’m certain that they’ll eventually come to take a look why they’re silent as a tomb.
-Sounds like you had time to think about it, said Hermann. All right, let’s set up here for the moment and get communication gear set up so we can maintain contact. I have portable radios for five people here...
The crew was very diligent in their work, and while I took out the map of the region I’d borrowed from Ice, putting it down on a crate in the bay and pointing out where the miner’s place had been. There weren’t that many roads into the region, all of them turning to dirt and sand long before getting even close.
-If they drove in, we’ll se tracks, said Hermann.
-I’m right here, commented the deer, waving his arms.
-Car tracks, I giggled, poking my point man in the ribs. Sure thing! Bright and early, as soon as that radio post is up and running.
We sat back as the post was assembled from a few sections strapped down in the bay with long cables tethering it to auger hooks screwed into the ground to keep it steady. Standard equipment on the heli, to our great delight, was a little four-wheel ATV we piled up on for the ride out to the miner camp, this time not requiring Marquee since we had constant info streaming in from the aircrew on our ride home and thank God, saving us from having to walk it again. Not that I wasn’t all for health and fitness, but I didn’t feel in any condition for perform any acts of acrobatic prowess, and from Helix and Track’s tired eyes, nor where they. As we came into sight of the site, I could make out something moving in the wreckage, and furthermore, as soon as my binoculars had hit my eyes, as plain as the ears on my head, two jeeps were parked aside the old wood shack. I called for an all stop and weapons check as we formulated a plan to take them on, but this time, I ordered for the four of us to shoot to wound rather then kill, seeing as how this might be our last chance at getting some answers from these creeps. We stopped the ATV and closed on foot, down on our hands and knees to give as little evidence of our presence, Helix and me on one side and Tracks with Hermann on the other. I got the best resolution for a first shot, seeing one of the visitors with his back turned to us, picking something up off the ground near the mineshaft, giving him a single shot to the back of the knee, which sent him jerking forwards, and to my disappointment, diving into the shaft headlong. I motioned ‘oops’ to Helix, who seemed to be holding back a laugh as he took his own target, which had turned to see what the bellowing scream behind him could possibly be, snapping him in both shoulders with amazing precision. On the opposite side, I heard seven shots sound out, then Track’s unmistakable call to signal his all-clear, which I replied to with a deep, hearty roar. Not wanting to give our new friends time to get their ideas together, we rushed in and policed their weapons before gathering them near the mineshaft. I didn’t feel like giving them too many options, so I chose my words and threat carefully as I addressed them after a few minutes of silence to let them stew a bit.
-Now, this is the way things are going to work. You tell me who pays your bills, and you go back on your jeeps. You don’t, and you go down with your buddy down the shaft. I think it’s simple, don’t you?
-We will not talk, called one of the four prisoners. We have no reason to talk to you.
-I just gave you a good reason, I shrugged, signing to Tracks to drag him to the hole. Now, if you have anything to say, it would be the right time.
-Someone sends us money, screamed the soul Helix had hit in the shoulders, looking pale. We were to dig here and find a creature we had to kill and take the blood from, and send it back. When we did so, we would get much more money. If we were bothered by anyone here, we were to kill them as well.
-Who sent this money?
-We have no idea, said another of our guests. We only know him as Wai Piong.
-He’s one of the priests back at the temple, Helix whispered to me. He was the second guy who took our guns the day we arrived. I heard the other guy call him by name afterwards.
-Which explains his knowledge of the area and Eclipse’s presence.
-Speaking of which...
I turned just in time to see a form come down from the sky and land aside me, but I didn’t expect a wave of searing flame to flow from it towards the prisoners, turning them into human torches as their flesh was scorched from their bones. I took a better look and saw it was Eclipse, a positively infuriated air on his face as he shot three more gusts at the immobile bodies, calling harsh reprimands with language I could hardly summon on a horrible day myself.
-Eclipse my man, I said as the dragon turned to look at me, I didn’t know you could do that!
-I... I apologize, but the thought that one would market my remains for their own profit or exploit them for their own ends was too great an insult to bear! The scruples! Ulrich, I demand justice upon their employer!
-We were going to head back anyway, I commented, though I was convinced we’d have a few people to bring with us... In any case, I don’t think we have any further business here. Let’s mount, people! Hermann, you’ve got the ATV. Tracks, Helix, you get the first jeep closest to us. I’m taking the other one. Eclipse, do you want a free ride?
-Your goodwill is appreciated, nodded the drake, taking the time to make himself comfortable in the passenger seat of the car as I turned the ignition. How does this tool work, exactly..?
-Well see, you have these two pedals down at my paws, and this wheel I’m holding...
The return trip was much less tense then our psyched departure, mostly based on the fact that we only had a single target to worry about now, and the threat he could represent was pretty limited. I personally enjoyed a heart to heart with Eclipse, who seemed to welcome the idea of entering the Bronco family as a means of integrating the world of today, offering accommodations at the mansion until he thought he could deal with living outside the controlled environment of the family.
-I don’t see what I can offer in return, admitted the dragon. After all, I don’t really have any practical knowledge of the world as it is now.
-Can you count, I asked, and do basic mathematics?
-Mathematics? I’m sorry, but I don’t think I know that word. What does it mean?
-That you’ll be getting private tutoring at the mansion, I said as I took his shoulder and gave it a short shake. I’ll set you up at a casino we have when you’re ready.
-Casino?
-A place where people go to play games of chance to gamble for money, I explained. I think you’ll get the hang of it quickly.
-Ah, more mortal pleasures, laughed Eclipse. Things never seem to change.

We acted like we had found nothing as we walked down into the temple, but my directions were to spread out through its halls as to find and neutralize the priest who had bought and paid for Eclipse’s slaying. We received more then a few strange looks as we paced around, but minutes into our search, I caught a glance of the goat that we were looking for and circled around to force him into a corridor I knew Helix and Tracks were scouring. Like clockwork, he jogged with his head turned to me right into the pair, who took him down and searched him before tying his hands behind his back and placing a cloth over his mouth to gag him. The intervention hadn’t made that much of a disturbance, and only as we walked Wai out of the temple did Eclipse and Hermann make their appearance. The drake had as terrible an expression as when he’d torched the miners, but there was something of a smile behind it at the same time. He stroke right up to us and stated that he wanted to have the pleasure of fighting the goat man-to-man topside.
-You wanted my blood, said Eclipse, then you’ll have to get it yourself!
-I can’t! You’ll slaughter me!
-You were ready to do the opposite, weren’t you? Come, tasty treat, and you’ll see what would have walked the land if the scheme of things had taken a different turn.
We followed Eclipse back up the stairs to the door, guarded by some of the aircrew for the moment, which Hermann had told them to as to kill the time and give them something to do other then wait around for us. They were in for a grand show though, for Eclipse drew a cross on the ground where he wanted for us to untie Wai, himself standing twenty paces away in wait, his claws twitching and wings flexing, as if mentally preparing for the combat. I cut his binds, took five steps back, and as some referee in a gladiatorial bout, called for them to start. Wai started pacing towards Eclipse wearily, his fists up in a good stance, should this have been a fair-play boxing match. Eclipse didn’t have that in mind, apparently, charging to finish in a glide right at the goat, screeching as he readied his talons that soon sunk into Wai’s shoulder blades, giving him enough grip to lift the fallen priest off the ground and toss him like a rag doll as he released him. The shock of the assault seemed to be the trigger the goat needed to be exposed to for his ‘fight or flight’ reflexes to kick in at their best, and rather then cower from his wounds, he ran screaming at Eclipse as he dragon landed, diving at him hard. The drake spun to avoid him, striking him a sounding blow with his tail before taking him by the shin and slamming him to the dusty soil. No mercy was offered, and in a split second, Eclipse had closed his jaws on the goat’s neck and even from meters away, we could hear the crunching sound as his spine shattered into calcium shrapnel.
-Usually, I’d consider this barbaric, I commented to Tracks as we watched the dragon start tearing the flesh from his prey and devouring him. But in these circumstances, I suppose that it’s called for.
-Seeing how Eclipse’s buffet there wanted to bleed him out and use his bodily fluids for probably less then tasteful ends, my vote’s with the blue lizard.
-I just hope that he loses this habit when we’re back in Miami, I laughed. It’s sort of the worst fear for herbivores, I think.
-No, shivered Tracks, really? I used to have nightmares about getting brought down when I was a kid!
-And here comes Cha Zeu, I grunted. Hello, Cha Zeu! How are you this fine morning?
-Is there a reason why our friend Eclipse over there is presently eating one of my acolytes, or is it a random occurrence?
-He was the one responsible for your siege, with firm intent on finding the dragon and peddling his remains, I explained. Eclipse took it rather badly, as you could imagine.
-I’ll be... even the most immaculate sky has a rain cloud singing it’s terrible song of thunder and anger. Truth is, I had my doubts when that one joined us. He was a farmer from the North, from what he told me, and his lands became so drained that he could no longer exploit them. Something told me that he wasn’t perfectly honest about that though, but I loathe calling anyone a liar without just cause and a nagging doubt isn’t much to base my judgment on.
-I could offer some remedy to that, said Ice as the fox came forwards from the doors of the temple, rubbing some cramps from his neck. After this little vacation, I don’t really have any plans, and I wouldn’t mind taking the time to investigate the existence of more ‘ancestors’ like Eclipse here, if you’d allow me to stay, Cha Zeu.
-Absolutely! Someone with your skills would certainly be an invaluable soul to have in our midst. Perhaps even more mysteries from our legends and myths could be solved or clarified with your help?
-I’ll do whatever I can to earn my keep, swore the fox.
-Speaking of keep, Ulrich, said the civet, Marquee spoke to me this morning at breakfast about the idea of traveling back with you for a sojourn in your homeland. I personally have nothing against it, quite the opposite! Considering the miracles you have performed to date, I place my utmost faith in your honor and integrity to keep my daughter out of trouble.
-I’ll strive to prove that such faith is well deserved, I smiled, taking the Cha Zeu’s paw in a firm handshake.
-In the meantime, you’re more then welcome to stay for as long as you wish, said the civet. We’ll have to go for supplies from the nearby town soon though, so a number of our order might be absent for a while.
-Then we’ll pay for our room and board in advance, stated Hermann. After all, this is a cargo helicopter, and I doubt that whatever you may need wouldn’t fit in its hold. If you want to come with us with a few of your people, I’m sure we could make short work of it in a few hours.
-We hardly have enough strong back to bring back enough for a few weeks at best during the majority of our visits, chuckled Cha Zeu. The hands of such a Titan could certainly carry the bulk of a hundred! Anytime you’re willing, I’d be grateful for the gesture.
-No time like the present, voiced Helix, clapping with a bleat. Is there anyone else with me?
-I’ll find a few souls to help, motioned the civet.
-Don’t bother, we have equipment that’ll do the same, corrected Hermann, pointing to a few hand trolleys hitched up near the cargo bay doors. We’ll get that loot loaded in no time.
All able hands about us boarded the Sikorsky, save for a small contingent of the aircrew who insisted to remain at the temple with the radio equipment. Even Eclipse, now well content with his fresh repast of wicked flesh, hurried to come along, trying to lick his maw clean until Ice handed him a handkerchief to finish the job, otherwise quite desperate.
-Don’t you fly, I joked to the dragon as he buckled the belt of his simple cargo bay seat, hence the wings?
-I was created by Satan, smiled Eclipse, hence I have every sin, including sloth.
-Quite obvious, I smirked, discretely indicating to the drake he’d still been sporting a bit of dried precum below his cloacae. On that subject, I’ll give you something when we get back, and maybe we’ll have a talk then.
-Regarding what?
-It’s a bit of a delicate issue, I sighed, but one worth discussing before you start down a wretched path I had to walk myself.
-Can’t we talk about it now, asked Eclipse, putting an arm around me, eh Ulrich? I mean, we have time to kill before we land.
-Why not, let it be a mea culpa, I said with a deep breath, seeing that most of the group was listening in at this point. You see, Eclipse, there’s something sacred to love that you mar every time that you have a relation that you didn’t mean to happen, or did with nothing else then yourself in mind. Even when you mean it, remember that the heart that you feel beating with passion in your lover will be broken if you ever let them down from your arms. Though I’ve had luck in life, thank God for that, believe me when I say I’ve massacred my heart and cried it back to life more often then I want to remember because of the carelessness that this sweetest of addictions brings about. I know I’ve hurt, and have hurt, and I have trouble thinking about it sometimes because it opens wounds cut deep into me that no amount of time or care can ever heal again.
-But you…
-Now I make love like a drunk calls for another bottle of gin when he realizes he’s hammered after having failed his 12 steps yet again and doesn’t feel he has the strength to pick up the torch again, I bellowed, tears streaming from my eyes like hurricane rain.
-Ulrich…
-For the love of God, Eclipse, I cried as I fell on the dragon and hugged him, prove to us that you were made a wiser creature that me and save your heart this torture. Take a look at me and look well! I may be Don of a now famous clan and have friends abound, but I have no children to come home to, I’m cuckold as a man gets and suffer to slate my lust whenever I can find an oasis, no matter how shallow it may be or bitter it’s waters.
-Attila, started Tracks, using my Don nickname, you mean Mist…
-As if I deserve her loyalty, I called to the deer, hardly able to hold my eyelids open. Sorry, I just have to go take a leak…

(Switch to Tracks)

Jumpy had told me about the night that he’d visited Ulrich and found him at his apartment a few weeks after his father’s passing and how he’d fallen apart at the seams, but I’d personally never seen the panther like this, never. His knees shook as he walked to the back of the hold to the John’s, still sobbing hard. I didn’t want to seem too forwards and run right up to him to give him a big hug like a wet nurse. If I wanted to become alienated with him, that would be the perfect decision to do it in a big fat hurry. I didn’t even look at the others, though I could hear nothing but dead silence, as if the Don’s words had struck us harder then we’d ever think they could have. I felt Helix look at me a few times as he unconsciously played with his wedding band before bending over and holding his chin with a heavy sigh. As Ulrich closed the door of the WC, I undid my seatbelt and got to my hooves to stride over to listen if it was the right time to knock at the door. Before I could, probably because the clicking of my hooves gave me away, I heard Ulrich ask for me to open the door and come in if I wanted to talk. Maybe it was a bit awkward, but his story had applied to him and I a few rare times, and I was desensitized enough at this point to take a breath and walk in, finding the panther sitting on the seat of the toilet with his legs pulled in.
-I figured you’d want to talk after that, said Ulrich. I needed to say it, whatever happened. The more people heard it, the better.
-Ulrich, you’re the closest thing I have to a brother outside my own family, I said as I took a seat on the low bassinet of the sink. I’d do anything to help, anything.
-First, you’ll help me with my divorce when we get back to Miami. These days, I feel like I’m sleeping with a stranger when I’m with Mist, a stranger that would rather be with another woman, and that I’m just a cock to ride when she feels like something fleshier then a vibrator. We’ll set her up right though, and make sure she doesn’t need anything. Anyway, I think she was going in the same direction last time we talked.
-Okay, consider that done. Then what’s next?
-Help me regain some self control, said Ulrich. I’m addicted to sex, and I just can’t seem to draw the line anymore. I went too far year ago when I was in the dying breaths of college, and I’ve never seemed to be able to get a hold of myself.
-What happened then, Ulrich?
-First, I had sex with another man, for the first time. I would never have thought I’d do it, but I did, then I did it with him for a long time after that. It was the first line I crossed.
-Who?
-Hermann, said the panther, almost instantly hearing a dull honk outside. I knew he’d be listening, don’t worry. Then, I did it with Lua, the ocelot…
-The girl you sent to college in Brazil, I commented, trying to keep myself from turning white as a ghost.
-Which I wonder if I did because I was a good soul, or if it was out of guilt, nodded Ulrich. That was the second line, which I should never have crossed. After that, I did it with Cassa, which simply tore away the line between friendship and love, probably the worst I ever transgressed. After that, it was simply a landslide that’s been pushing me for years now. Tracks, can I have a hug?
-Sure, I said, giving the panther a tight embrace, patting his back. You okay?
-It feels good to talk about it, said the cat with a half-smile that grew to a full one. I’d like to be as faithful to my love as you are to Jumpy, at least, I think you are.
-I’d never cast the first stone, I grunted, but it’s one in a million times. Hey, maybe you can try to work it out with Mist before calling it quits, eh? I mean, you could talk to her about it and who knows, it might be all right after. You’re both sort of in the same situation, so together you’d be stronger, so you could get through it easier then if you only talk to me. Real love is strong, you know? I mean, Jumpy and I were pretty close to snapping at one point. Both of us were going out with other people, both sexes, and rarely had any time together then. It sort of came down to a talk we had over some hamburgers I’d brought back one night, and we just started talking about our days and then realized that we’d been so busy with everything and everyone else that we hadn’t even said ‘bye’ before leaving in the morning, not even a handshake. It was hard to admit, but we both realized where we were at, and we got back in the right direction in a heartbeat.
-Hug, said Ulrich, giving me another embrace. All right, then we’re good, eh?
-We’re good, I nodded, messing up the panther’s hair. Now, maybe we should go somewhere more comfortable then a cargo chopper’s washroom?
Ulrich gave a good, heartfelt laugh as he followed me out, but I didn’t have time to say anything before seeing Helix standing right aside me, looking totally bummed out.
-Tracks, man, I’m so sorry about…
-Oh Helix, I giggled, giving the ram a good hug, switching to a whisper. Think about Cassa and Gevaudan, that’ll take your mind off me.
-Right, smiled the ovine. Not that you’re anything but a hunk, but Jumpy’s got your number.
-Wow, what happens on a helicopter, I said as we sat back down. Another night here and no one will recognize us when we’ll get home!

It only took one hour for Cha Zeu to visit the townspeople in the village that we landed next to and collect their donations for the temple. After all, his order did procure a stopping point for travelers in the region, and were some of the best healers available for some distance, and the locals had plenty of reverence for those gifts, if not complete faith in them. We shuttled half a ton of things back to the temple in no time, but the conversation this time was incredibly joyous, as if a load had been cast aside from us through the explosion inbound. Another interesting side effect that it caused was a sudden attitude of admiration from Cha Zeu towards Ulrich, somehow both puzzled and delighted by the Don’s strength to come out with the reality he’d fought to deal with and try and help another to avoid the pitfalls he’d fallen prey to. We had a welcoming committee waiting for us as we landed again as Catherine and Jesse had been taking in the sun with Marquee, watching us curiously as our dust cloud formed and subsided. As easy as it had been to get around with the hand carts in the village, I was glad that they hurried over to greet us, because we needed their help as well as a few others from the temple to haul the supplies down the stone steps to their new home for none of us could steer the metal frames of the carts down the corridor without scratching loudly against the walls. That fact aside, after an hour’s toil, the doors of the storage room near the entrance of the hall closed to protect a completely packed expanse, for a healthy change. While we were busy with that project, the aircrew had taken apart the radio tower under Hermann’s recommendation, who advised us that everything was set whenever we wanted to call it quits. There wasn’t much for us to do in the region now that our mission was over and done with, and Ice hinted at his eagerness with regards to starting more in depth work at the temple ‘once he had the time’, which I took as an indication his mind was dead set on the subject. Just as if to seal our departure time once and for all, Cha Zeu took his daughter aside and told her that it would be a good idea if she’d have her things ready to go sometime tomorrow. He turned to look at us as if to seek confirmation that it was actually what we had in mind, and got a firm nod from Ulrich in reply who sort of gave us the eye to say ‘Hear that? We’re going home!’

With so much packed into our day and the prospect of leaving behind what had almost been the most humiliating failure we’d ever lived to see, there wasn’t a single creature who entertained the thought of staying up any longer then necessary, including myself and Helix. Actually, we took some quality time to play a game of poker, which Gevaudan had started to seriously train Helix at, a fact I noticed right off the start, as he ram was completely impossible to read and didn’t make any mistakes he couldn’t cover for. I eventually bankrupted my pen-and-paper account and conceded the game to him, giving him a laughing hug as I quickly frisked him for cards, but as I’d thought, found nothing but giggles as I hit his ticklish spots. The atmosphere was different too, very noticeably, and our conversation was exactly what could have been expected from two married guys, talking about our old ladies and what we were planning to do with our places when we had the time.
-The mansion sort of needs some work, I stated. I don’t want to tell Ulrich, because he’ll go nuts and have it remodeled beyond recognition, but the backyard is sort of getting out of control.
-Remember when you taught me to shoot there?
-You rocked! I couldn’t believe that you hadn’t tried it before. Yeah, that was fun. Do you ever regret it?
-What, joining you and Ulrich? Never! I remember walking from my dorm wondering where I was going to rest my head the next day with an empty wallet in my pocket. It may have been a bit out of despair, but I couldn’t have hoped for a better chapter to be written in my life. You? I know you’ve been made longer then anyone in the gang save for Jumpy, but does it ever bug you?
-I never told you how why I became a contractor, did I?
-Come to think of it, no! Jeeze, I forgot that!
-You’ll laugh, but I had just been kicked out of school for the second time after the principal had caught me smoking grass with a bud of mine during class. I took it badly, and threatened to go to the police and tell them about how he had been accepting favors from students for passing grades, if you understand in what way.
-Mother of God!
-He turned against me and said that if I ever crossed him again, it was my last mistake. Before he had a chance to, I jumped on him and punched him out…
-Ow, but he had it coming.
-…right into the way of an 18-wheeler. I was in trouble, big time. I went into hiding from the police, but there hadn’t been any witnesses and even the driver wasn’t too sure what had happened and as far as he knew, the guy had jumped in his way. While I was keeping on the down low, I ran into a guy that ran counterfeit bills for the Broncos. He offered me a smoke and we got talking, and he sort of accidentally but not too accidentally talked about his real job, then asked me what I thought. Before I knew it, I was out on contracts for Don Badger.
-I still can’t believe he committed suicide, sighed Helix. Man, that was a rock of a leader!
-Sure was, from start to finish… Hey, we’d better get some rest, we’re flying tomorrow.
-Oh, we’ll sleep on the bird, if you want to give another crack at beating me at cards…
-All right, let’s do it! A Royal Flush is impossible, right..?
-Not really; let me demonstrate…