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The Soulflower Festival

Part Three

• By Kichigai Kitsune, 2016

Disclaimer: this story contains graphic scenes of "semi non-consensual" eroticism and sexual activity between young furry creatures (cubs). If you are not legally allowed to read such material, or find this material distasteful, do not proceed beyond this disclaimer.

If you do proceed, you agree to not hold the author or the hosting site responsible for any consequences or complain to anybody about your offended sensibilities after you made the informed choice to read on.

Note: It is absolutely worth reading the previous instalments before tackling this one, if you haven't. They are much smaller than this finale, and help establish exactly what's going on. Otherwise, you'll be jumping right into the middle of things. :3

Part Three.

The candlelight fluttered gently, and the heavy shadows in the warm room danced their reply. A pungent, yet pleasant, smell suffused the still air.

All Lachlan could see in the sleepy dim lighting cast by those oddly colored flames was soft shapes. Normally, it would be relaxing. Even lulling.

But Lachlan was chained to a bed, spread-eagled, naked and exposed, with no idea what fate awaited him. Relaxing was the last thing on his mind.

The arctic fox kit had only recently turned eleven, and he had never in his short life imagined the bizarre, surreal events that had led to this unlikely predicament. It seemed like only hours ago, he was complaining bitterly of seasickness. Sleepily bemoaning a wasted summer holiday as he slumped in a departure lounge chair.

"This isn't right," Lachlan moaned to himself, blinking his wet eyes. He looked down the length of his cloudy-furred body, head supported by his thick pillow. The ruddy lighting had cast his white fur a warm orange, the color of gently burning embers.

Pointlessly, Lachlan squirmed. Tugging on the chains with a sharp grunt, testing them. He had already tried, and knew from the start they wouldn't give. The leather fasted tight around his wrists and ankles was far too thick and strong to snap, and locked in place with metal padlocks.

It was an unusual feeling. Being tied up like this. Lachlan had seen it in movies, often wondered what it felt like to be kidnapped. Once or twice, he had even tried to tie himself up, just for fun. This was entirely different, and he was definitely, really, truly helpless.

Somehow, hopelessness had drained him too much to even panic.

Lachlan was staring at it for several seconds before he registered what it even was: below his downy-furred belly, he could see his furless member standing straight.

His aunt was right. Lachlan had always had a bit of a problem with_that_thing. It would stand up easily, and wouldn't go back down in a hurry at all.

Absently, he tensed, watching his dick twitch in reply.

"Oh, screw you..." he muttered at it sourly.

The truth was, Lachlan's fantasies had sometimes drifted this way. Some of them were really silly. Dwelling on fantastical elements he found erotic; sometimes he would daydream about kidnapping, sometimes magic, sometimes about being tied up just like this. The reality was different. He really couldn't get free. The uncertainty and anxiety made him want to burst into tears. Somehow, he didn't. Somehow, he just didn't have the energy.

A heavy sorrow settled over him, and he knew that even if he escaped or they let him go, things would never be the same again. Would anything be left for him now? Where could he even run to? There was no denying it; his mom and dad did this to him. His dad had pushed him towards the stage. He'd known that he was giving Lachlan a drugged drink.

... What had he done wrong? He wasn't a bad kid, was he? He loved his parents, and he thought they loved him. He thought they were all happy. What had he done to deserve this? Did they secretly hate him?

What could he do now?

It was some time since his aunt had left him that he heard a soft, polite knock on the door. His gray-blue eyes locked onto it immediately, and he dared not speak. Was it Ruth again? His mom or dad? Someone who would help everything make sense?!

The door swung open. The candles flickered in protest as the air was disturbed, and a small form slipped into the room. Lachlan stared in incredulity.

The girl cat, the one with the fur like a summer night's sky, slowly padded over to the foot of the bed, a gentle smile on her features. She once more wore the white ensemble in which Lachlan had seen her begin that fateful dance. Her bare paws made almost no sound as she moved, and her dark head-fur was like liquid night.

"Hello, Lachlan," she said, stepping around the bed. Her expression was comforting, and yet somewhat teasing. "Do you feel any better?"

Lachlan fought to keep his voice from trembling. He failed. "Wh-what-?" Suddenly, everything his aunt said came rushing back, and his eyes widened.

The kitten giggled, reaching out with a surprisingly tender paw, which she merely placed on Lachlan's slender chest. "What's the matter?" she asked, raising one eyebrow archly. "Cat got your tongue? Not yet I don't."

Lachlan just gawked at her. "Who are you?" he finally whispered.

She tossed her head-fur idly, starting to run that paw through Lachlan's soft fur. "Oh, I'm sorry. My name is Kaylee, and I'm a priestess." The feline shrugged. "Hmm."

"P-priestess?" the boy repeated, confused. Surely this girl, his own age, wouldn't really be a priestess - wouldn't be important. Not even in this crazy place.

Kaylee just nodded. The paw started to venture down Lachlan's body, and he squirmed slightly, the intimate touch making him nervous. Kaylee, however, paid no attention to him; she looked him over appraisingly, eyes lingering on his stomach, his face, before alighting on his stubborn erection. She smirked.

"What are you gonna do to me?" Lachlan whispered, feeling the girl's amber eyes crawl all over him. He felt his cheeks begin to flush.

"Didn't Ruth explain?" The girl sighed. "Ugh. You know, you're really -what do you say again? Hot? You shouldn't be all squirmy like this." She paused. "I guess it makes sense though, if she never explained anything to you."

"What are you talking about?"

Kaylee fixed him with another sultry smile, leaning over him. The helpless boy couldn't help but stare as she moved with exquisite grace, her exposed belly tensing as she did. He felt his heart swoop, swinging down to the very bottom of his chest.

"I'm going to make you feel really nice, Lachlan," she murmured, inching closer to his face. The arctic's nose twitched from her mild breath. "That's all you need to know."

Lachlan whimpered, his pulse starting to pick up. Was it the candles? The scent of the powerful drug that they had been suffused with? Or was this girl just incredibly cute? Lachlan, a boy on the cusp of adolescence, wasn't sure he could tell the difference. "Why are you doin' this to me?" he whined, unable to keep the fear from cracking his voice.

Strangely, Kaylee gave a small_harrumph_. "She really didn't tell you?" the kitten grumped. Slowly, she shook her head. "Okay, how about we start from the beginning? Every thirteen moons, we hold the Soulflower Festival in honor of the Great Mother. It's just like what you already saw, normally, but every thirteenth passing of the festival, it's the time of The Offering."

Lachlan swallowed. He remembered hearing that term. The_Offering of Innocence_. It struck him as singularly ominous. It was definitely not the most reassuring phrase he had heard.

"We don't like it." Kaylee's large, expressive eyes turned sad. "I don't like it. This is my first time doing it since I became a priestess." She sighed. Then that arch, predatory expression returned with a vengeance. "Only two of us were chosen," she breathed, placing a second paw on Lachlan's bare chest. "The others say they aren't jealous. I don't know about that..."

Lachlan blinked, staring. Oddly entranced. The feline girl was cute, yes, but everything about her was amazing - a tribute to youthful beauty. Her voice, high and fluting, tinged by a mellifluous accent he could not name, was that of a girl's, though she spoke with an almost stately, mature confidence. Her paws crawled through his fur, and Lachlan was vaguely aware he was arching his back, pushing into them.

Her expression, one moment so adult and serious, had become playful, even teasing.

As Lachlan watched, shakily breathing through an open muzzle, the young priestess placed a knee on the bed, and hoisted herself up easily. Behind her, her black tail twisted in the air. She began to purr.

"Th-the others?" Lachlan asked inanely, gulping. His stomach fluttering like a million, million butterflies had taken flight within.

Kaylee grinned, posting her paws on his chest, then slipping one strong, supple leg over his hips. Straddling him. "The moon," she breathed, lowering her chest. Pressing against her victim. Exploring his helpless torso with audacious paws. "The light of the darkened sky. There is also the glorious sun, which brings us spring. The earthy soils that brings us life; and the warming, passionate fire of our hearts."

Her words sent a strange thrill through the bound arctic. Involuntarily, his toes curled, his fingers clutched restively at the mattress. He felt his exposed member stiffen and twitch, especially when the seductive kitten pushed her still-clothed buttocks against it, grinding mercilessly.

He couldn't believe this was happening... he wasn't sure he wanted it to stop either.

Sitting up, Kaylee easily reached behind her own back with both paws. A second later, the strip of cloth over her chest had come loose, and she merely tossed it negligently to the floor by the bed.

Lachlan's heart thumped so loud he could feel his entire chest vibrating. "W-wait, wait!" he gasped, eyes dinner-plate wide.

Kaylee smirked at him, once more pressing her paws into the helpless boy's chest. Running her fingers through the soft fur. "Wait for what?" she asked, feigning an innocence her expression belied. After a second, her fingers started to crawl, spider-like, over Lachlan's torso.

The boy yelped and arched his back, eyes slamming even wider in shock. "No-no!" he squealed, threshing hopelessly. He started to giggle. "No! That tickles!!"

Ruthlessly, Kaylee continued, narrowing her eyes. "Does it really?" After a moment, she pressed down upon her 'victim' pressing belly to belly. Slowly grinding against him. The crawling fingers flattened and once more started to explore Lachlan's chest and sides. "You need to relax..."

Lachlan shook his head, fighting the urge to laugh in spite of his nervousness, or maybe because of it. Every movement of the warm, feline body atop his own was sending a warm, comfortable thrill straight through his body.

The arctic boy shivered as a curious whimper escaped him. His little member throbbed, stiffening until it was like a metal spike, as if jealously crying for the attention it was being deprived. The girl's paws caressed his chest, boldly stroking his nipples, eliciting a surprised gasp from him.

"You like that?" whispered Kaylee, circling the sensitive nodes with her thumbs. "Good boy..."

A hot blush crept to Lachlan's cheeks - the result of his unquestionable arousal as well as embarrassment.

"Now, sit still or else I'll have to tickle you some more!" Kaylee teased softly. With a fluid grace, she sat back, settling her weight onto Lachlan's pelvis. When her panty-covered backside grazed his stiff, sensitive erection, Lachlan couldn't hold back yet another gasp.

Still with that sultry smirk, Kaylee leaned back and stretched upwards, her spine arching and pushing her still flat chest outward. She swept out her hair with her paws, reaching towards the ceiling briefly. Watching in satisfaction as Lachlan's eyes danced over her exposed body.

Slowly, her paws returned to her waist.

All moisture abandoned Lachlan's muzzle when he saw her take her white underwear in her fingertips. Drawing them downward.

He couldn't look away - he didn't even want to try. Kaylee pulled her simple panties down to her thighs, then started to work her left leg through, knee first. Shuffling forwards. Lachlan stared in disbelief at the exposed nexus of her lithe, youthfully muscled legs. He could see now, a pair of soft, puffy, skin-colored lips, where the fur thinned and gradually stopped. Neat, tidy, tight.

"Oh man..." he whispered hoarsely.

Kaylee, still somehow graceful despite the awkward position, started to pull her underwear off her other leg, staring with a cheeky smile at the hopelessly horny boy completely at her mercy. "Never seen one close before, have you?" Lachlan shook his head. "Good. Just relax, I'll do all the work, okay?"

Lachlan's mind was spinning now. He was a boy teetering on the brink of adolescence; he was a sexual being, but what was happening now outstripped even his wildest, erotic, juvenile fantasies. The detailed day-dreams that set his pulse to racing when he lay in his bed, or during long road trips, or whenever his young mind started wandering down that path. Staring now at a girl that blew away just about any other female he'd ever seen before as she teasingly disrobed, sitting right on his naked body. His plight was momentarily forgotten; breathlessly, Lachlan awaited what he knew was about to happen.

He didn't care that he was tied down and couldn't escape. He wasn't sure he wanted to right now. He felt so keyed up and dizzy with a powerful excitement, something he had felt before but never to this level of intensity. Anticipation made him squirm, restless, as he stared and panted.

Kaylee scooted back, until Lachlan's straining member was right beneath her exposed lips. Once more, she lowered herself to him. Pressing onto him. Grinding. This time, Lachlan's unblemished little dick was sandwiched between them. The sensation, skin on skin, the pressure, the electrifying jolts that wracked his nerves almost made Lachlan cry out.

He had never felt anything like this before. Another body against his like this...

Those paws started to explore again, and Kaylee lowered herself even further until again their taut, velvet covered bellies were pressed together. With expert control, she ground with her hips, short little movements.

Again, he whimpered in undisguised need, pushing his own hips upwards and into hers. There was nothing else he could, or would, do.

"Just relax..." Kaylee instructed gently, lowering her head. Carefully, she laid it on Lachlan's neck. It was then that he realized her breathing had picked up too. "You're pretty, Lockie..." As she spoke, her warm breath tickled the fur of his neck, and Lachlan shivered.

It slipped out before he could catch it. "You too..."

She merely started to grind harder. Purring.

"Still want me to stop?" she murmured after a moment.

Lachlan gasped, frowning slightly. Still pressing upwards against his tormentor.

Somewhere at the back of his mind, he knew he was in danger. But he was so aroused, and knew he was so utterly powerless against his bonds, that he could barely think about it. The intimacy, the gentle, confident touch of the girl, had brought a strange trust to him - she was going to make him feel good, that was all, at least for now, and he couldn't wait much longer!

Was it the scented candles? How much of this was his own prepubescent desire, catapulted to new heights by an erotic situation unlike anything he had experienced, and how much was due to the accursed flower they'd been drugging him with since he had arrived? He didn't know...

After a moment, Kaylee drew back, her dark eyes piercing his. Looking down on him as he panted and squirmed below her. Before he knew what was coming, she lightly touched his muzzle with her own in a tender kiss. With a squeak, the boy simply accepted it.

Kaylee smiled and started to squeeze him between her surprisingly strong legs. With a firm movement of her hips, she ground her ineffably soft privates over Lachlan's, and the boy moaned sharply as a pleasurable tingle made him shiver.

By now, Lachlan knew he had no way, or will, to fight back. He tensed, pressing his hips upwards into hers, grinding back. His eyes closed briefly, and he trembled as he felt his foreskin slide back, and his sensitive member's tip slipped over the slight, fleshy mound he felt pressed against him.

Kaylee purred aloud, nuzzling briefly at her boy's neck. "You're really fit," she said, her young voice smoky and alluring. "I can feel your tummy muscles. Do you play sports?"

It took Lachlan several seconds to muster a reply. "I-I play s-soccer," he gasped, squirming.

"Ooh. Football player!" Kaylee's voice dropped to a whisper. "Those are my favorite."

A firm finger started to tug and rub on his right nipple, and Lachlan squealed. He'd never felt that before!

The feline girl atop him pressed their chests together, resting her silken furred cheek on Lachlan's. She flattened out, until they were chest to chest, belly to belly... groin to groin. As she slowly, firmly moved into position, Lachlan gasped out increasingly quicker breaths, trying to press himself into her just as desperately.

He could feel a slick wetness now, coating his twitching, tingly member and the warm, soft flesh it was squished right against.

Kaylee's breath was no less rapid now.

What was going on?! Were they gonna-?!

The horny feline raised her hips, and put one paw between them, reaching down to their nether regions. When her fingers wrapped around his penis, Lachlan jumped slightly.

But before he could ask, she had pushed his throbbing, diminutive member down, positioning it carefully for some reason.

When he felt it, Lachlan's eyes shot right open in amazement.

His slick, stiff dick was pushed against a tight, wet opening, and Kaylee's hips slowly lowered...

Whatever the opening was, it was warm, invitingly soft. But as it suddenly engulfed his preteen member, Lachlan felt a tight musculature, squeezing his member as it went further and further into the heavenly orifice. As it slipped in, the loose, sensitive foreskin he loved to play with by himself merely slipped down too, and the moist friction against his very tip of his most sensitive part made the bewildered boy cry out!

After a stunned moment, he realized what had happened.

Kaylee giggled delightedly, slipping her arms under her 'unwilling' partner as she settled atop him into a horizontal embrace, her tail twisting in the air above them. Panting excitedly, just as Lachlan was. They huffed and gasped together, and she slowly started to move.

Clutching the bound boy tightly, she lifted her hips slowly. Lachlan cried aloud, feeling the soft wetness squeezing his little stiff member slowly pull up - the friction causing another frazzle of sensation that shuddered his entire body. With another slow and steady movement, Kaylee brought her hips down once more.

Lachlan gasped aloud, his eyes shooting wide.

He couldn't believe it! He was-! His... was inside a girl! In her, what was it called again?! Oh man! This was crazy!

Stunned, he was in no position to defend himself when Kaylee suddenly pressed her muzzle to his for another quick kiss. Instinctively, he kissed back, though his eyes widened even further.

Kaylee stopped kissing, only to nuzzle into her "unwilling" partner's neck again. "Does that feel nice?" she murmured, once more raising her slender hips. Then back down again.

Lachlan couldn't reply. Urgently, he tried to raise his hips, each movement of the slick hole squeezing his member making him gasp and squirm and pull on his bonds.

He knew what was supposed to happen. It made sense. But he had no control; he was at the girl's mercy.

"Yeeeaah, it does." The kitten pressed into him even tighter, starting to speed up her rhythmic humping. Small, tight motions, compensating perfectly for the small size of her equally youthful partner's preteen dick.

After all, she had done this before...

Lachlan moaned aloud, squeezing his eyes tight and pushing his hips up. Whimpering as his entire member was squeezed and stimulated in the tight, muscular, slick hole. Tied up or not, he wouldn't even dream of trying to stop her now.

Holy crap-!

The kitten started purring as she settled into her groove. She nuzzled even more ardently, running her paws through the fur on Lachlan's chest and back as she embraced him. Speeding up those controlled but urgent movements, moaning herself as the stiff pole of boy-flesh slipped and rubbed in and out of her. Her positioning so perfect that each time it would rub against the little nub of flesh there that made her shiver at even the lightest touch.

And all Lachlan could do was tense and push upwards, as a familiar sensation started to well up inside of him.

Faster still she went, and Lachlan whined as his entire body - though especially his preteen dick - started to sing with a warm bliss. As nice as it was when he played with himself, it was nothing, not even in the same universe as the feelings he was experiencing now, tied down beneath a girl who was essentially raping him.

Her hot body, pressed into his, letting him feel every movement of her muscles and the softness of her fur, clung to him in a passionate embrace; oddly loving, affectionate and comforting. The wet, hot hole clutched at his member, stimulating it in a way his own paw never, ever could.

Bringing him closer, and closer... and he tried to buck his hips too, pushing them up as much as the chains, and she herself, would allow him. He so wanted it-!

It didn't take long. The delightful sensation coursing through his body welled up, focusing more and more within his tingling dick, as though damming up. About to burst.

Then the dam broke. Exploded.

With a cry, Lachlan tensed as though electrified. Fire-like, the orgasm bloomed and surged through his body, setting every inch of him aflame with sudden pleasure. Though his eyes open, he lost focus. His slender, athletic legs twitched and kicked, held in place by the clinking chains.

She forced him onwards, her own breathing becoming ever more ragged. Just when Lachlan thought he'd lose his mind, his oversensitive member pulsating with feeling that got more and more unbearable each second the friction continued, Kaylee also gave a gasp. She clutched at him even tighter, and for a second, both with her surprisingly strong arms and with her velvet-like vagina.

The kitten rode out her orgasm, while still pushing the arctic below her onward in his. Together, they cried aloud, overwhelmed and with their senses blown away like mist before a hurricane.

Slowly, Kaylee wound down. By the time she was finished, Lachlan was squirming and clutching at the mattress sheets - unsure whether he was relieved she had stopped or if he wanted her to continue.

Kaylee posted her paws on either side of Lachlan's chest, and slowly pushed herself up. With a blissful smile, she blinked at him until focus returned to her beautiful amber eyes.

Lachlan too had force himself back into the land of sensibility. He stared in utter awe at the girl.

He was a young boy, and the orgasm hadn't deterred his tingly dick in the slightest - within her, he was still stiff.

"Was that good?" the kitten murmured dazedly. She looked down at the boy with affectionate eyes, shifting her hips some more.

Lachlan gasped and shivered - he was still sensitive, and equally dazed. "Y-yes..." he croaked.

With a satisfied sigh, Kaylee slowly pulled back. Both the kits shivered as his member slid out of her, the friction suddenly so unbearable.

Though Lachlan found himself wanting more immediately. Heck, he even liked the uncomfortable over-sensitivity; he often rubbed himself through it, though never straight to a second...

He had to wonder if that was possible.

Kaylee slipped to the side and lay alongside him. One paw lightly atop his chest. "I'm glad," she whispered. "Do you feel sleepy after?"

Lachlan swallowed. "A little," he admitted, blinking. "Y-you're... Th-that was really good. I-it, uh, felt..."

The kitten just giggled, her tail twisting leisurely in the air. "Of course." She rubbed at his chest tenderly, her expression becoming wistful. "I wish we had more time..." she rued. "You're really fit, and you're nice too. There's a lot more stuff we could do."

Lachlan flushed. "You're really hot too," he muttered. "I... um. I dunno what to say."

Kaylee just sighed. "It's okay. I'm sorry. I have to go." She pulled herself closer to him, holding him a side-on embrace. "Lachlan," she breathed. "Are you tired?"

The arctic blinked. Hadn't she just asked that? "Yeah... but, what's gonna h-happen..." He trailed off, finding himself staring into the kitten's eyes.

They were a sparkling amber, with an unusual depth to them.

She held his gaze, still rubbing at his chest. With a playful smile, she brought a foot-paw up and poked at his still hard dick. When he gasped, she simply grinned and slipped it between two of her toes, tweaking and rubbing it for a few moments before stopping.

Despite even that, Lachlan couldn't look away from her eyes...

For a short time, all was calm. They just looked at one another; one consumed by disbelief and awe, the other returning a look of warmth and affection.

"I'm sorry, Lachlan." She sighed sadly. "My turn is over. You're going to sleep now, yes?"

The arctic was puzzled. For several moments, he just stared at her face. Then a sudden wave of tiredness swept over him, causing him to blink his eyes blearily. "Wh-what-?" he murmured, before a yawn cut him off. The tiredness got... stronger. Somehow more powerful, and his eyelids slowly became heavier. "B-but..."

She touched his nose with hers, and spoke in a soft whisper. "It's time for you to sleep, Lachlan..."

"I-" he began, but he couldn't finish. His body went limp, though he continued to watch the beautiful girl's face. Suddenly so tired.

But there was so much he needed to know. So much didn't make sense. What was going to happen next? He really wanted to know...

... Don't worry? How could he not worry? That... that was silly. How... could... he...

Oh no. She did it. Somehow, she did it to him. She made him... just like that...

Slowly but surely, his eyes closed. The warm, cloying embrace of sleep started to creep over him, and before he knew it, Lachlan was fast, fast asleep...

*

Waking up was a gradual, and difficult, process. Lachlan struggled to fend off the smothering grip of somnolence, and when he did, all he saw was the same candlelit room he had mysteriously fallen asleep in.

"Unh..." he moaned, letting his airy head roll about on his pillow and giving his chains a token, sleepy tug. Hoping that, perhaps, they had unchained him after...

How long had he been asleep? There was no way of knowing. It had been a pleasant sleep, though he had not dreamed. He had been out cold ever since...

... Had Kaylee put him to sleep? Did the candles have something to do with it?

Lachlan shook his head, trying to banish the lingering sleepiness. Something was very weird here. Why did he fall asleep just because Kaylee had asked him to? He had played with himself many times - the sleepiness after was never that bad.

"Ugh." The arctic closed his eyes again. He still felt too sleepy to care; the inexplicable lethargy that had come over him so quickly seemed reluctant to go away. Once more losing track of time, the kit lay there. Half-dozing.

He was still afraid. Still wanted to know what was gonna happen - if he would be safe. But...

There was a knock on the door, and Lachlan forced his eyes open.

When the door opened this time, his stomach upended.

Poking a grinning muzzle into the room was Crevan.

Suddenly alert, Lachlan felt his chest constrict with embarrassment. He tensed, involuntarily pulling on his chains.

"Oh, crap!" he squeaked in his head. "No, no, no!"

This couldn't be happening. Oh no. Oh,shit!

Not only was it mortifying to be seen like this by another boy to begin with, Lachlan wasn't stupid. He knew immediately why the other fox boy was here.

"Hey," Crevan piped, stepping into the room and shutting the heavy door.

Lachlan took a deep breath, trying to will his heart into slowing down. "H-hey..."

"Sleep alright?" the vulpine asked, padding towards the bed. He was wearing the white shorts from earlier, and a plain white t-shirt. From the muffled sounds on the floorboards, Lachlan supposed the other boy was bare-pawed still.

Lachlan averted his gaze - he didn't even want to look at the ruddy-furred fox. "No," he lied. He felt his heart swoop down to the bottom of his stomach to join the flocking butterflies.

But Crevan chortled at him. "You and Kaylee must've had fun, huh?" He clambered onto the bed, grinning. Lachlan couldn't help but look now, and his heart went for another swoop - Crevan had a youthful, playful face, so friendly. He was slender, though athletically muscular.

The kind of look that Lachlan secretly loved - and he was trying so hard to not acknowledge that.

Crevan crawled right up to him and sat down on his heels, right beside him. The bigger fox boy slowly ran his eyes from Lachlan's flushed face down to his toes, then back. His gaze was appreciative, his expression playful; Lachlan's entire body crawled with embarrassment.

"She's really good, isn't she?" Crevan asked, taking his lingering eyes away from the arctic's face and drawing them down to his... "Hmm."

Lachlan winced and pulled on his chains. "Stop that!"

Immediately, Crevan giggled. "I'm just teasing!" His grin became huge. "Sort of."

"S-sort of?"

The bigger boy just shrugged. "You're cute," he said. "You shouldn't be getting all shy like this. I'm just playing."

Lachlan bit his lip and looked away. For some reason, Crevan's words just sucked the wind out of his sail. He squirmed slightly, unsure what to say.

... He thought he was cute?

When he finally glanced up again, he realized Crevan was looking at him sadly. "You think it's bad for boys to like boys?" he asked softly. "Is that it?"

Lachlan suddenly felt nauseous. "I... it's-.." he stammered, voice barely a whisper. "I don't know. W-we don't talk about it much back home." He paused. "Everyone talks about it like it's a bad thing."

"And it makes you sad, right?" Crevan asked gently. "Because you like boys."

The arctic closed his eyes tightly. They knew. Somehow they knew - and that meant his mom and dad knew.

They had never said anything themselves. No, his parents had never mentioned the topic. They never spoke to him about this stuff... He had been left all alone. Lost and worried.

For over a year now, Lachlan had been confused; he had tried to deny it, tried to block it out of his mind, but the truth kept sneaking into his fantasies. Into his dreams. His heart would race in changing rooms, at the beach... at sleepovers, or even in school at times.

He tried to not think about it, but even his ignorance couldn't protect him - he eventually figured it out. He was attracted to other young males. His first crush had_not_been on a girl. He knew what the word "gay" meant.

But it also meant "bad." Or "weird." It was something negative, something to be ashamed of. If any boy was caught even glancing at another or anything like that, they'd be teased for being "gaylords" or... if they wanted to be particularly vicious, "faggots."

Being gay meant being bad, being weird, being... stupid. Being something to be ashamed of. Being something you never talked about... Being gay meant...

Being Lachlan. Being him.

The young arctic had done everything he could to not think about it. After all, he fantasized about girls too! He snuck peeks at them too! Heck, hadn't he just had sex with a girl!? He'd really liked that! But... still...

"I don't want to be gay..." he squeaked aloud, his eyes suddenly watering. "I-is that why mum and dad are doing this? Don't they want me anymore?"

Crevan frowned for a moment. "Gay?" he repeated, as though baffled. "You're not gay, I think. You_can't_be." He paused. Then his ears perked. "Oh, right. They told me about this."

The arctic boy blinked.

" Don't they tell you?" Crevan shifted slightly. "Almost everyone is a little bit attracted to both boys and girls. Ruth says that they don't tell you this in America. You don't have to be gay or, uh, 'straight'." He paused, running a paw through his head-fur. "You can like both, like I do. Besides, you can't be gay. You_have_to like both."

Lachlan blinked, bewildered again. "W-why?"

Crevan shook his head slightly. "I shouldn't have said that, never mind," he said. As if telling someone in Lachlan's position to 'never mind' was remotely reasonable. After a moment of thought, he slipped forward off his heels and lay on his side next to the spread-eagled boy. "So..."

The arctic blinked, then looked away. "Why are you doing this to me?" he squeaked, suddenly realizing he was near tears. "I thought you wanted to be my friend... Why?"

Crevan froze, stunned. "What?" He scooted even closer. "I do! Lachlan... I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm not trying to make you sad. Don't cry. Please."

There was a tender catch in the bigger boy's voice, a plea, and Lockie felt it tug at his heart for some reason. Somehow he knew Crevan wasn't trying to embarrass, hurt or upset him...

But Lachlan wasn't sure he was ready to face this.

Suddenly, Crevan slipped even closer. He draped one lean leg over one of Lachlan's, and placed a paw atop the slightly smaller arctic's chest. Surprised, Lachlan looked over; the older boy was smiling kindly, playfully. His paw slowly started to rub all over Lachlan's skinny chest.

"You still really think this is wrong?" the red-furred fox said, scooting closer. "Still believe all the stuff they told you?" He settled even closer, until he held the tied-down Lachlan in a close embrace. "Is it really wrong for boys to be like this? Do we always have to be violent and rough and competitive to each other?"

A warm shiver spread from Lachlan's belly, and he found himself needing to take a deep breath.

The paw on his chest got firmer and ventured lower, rubbing tenderly at his tummy.

"Is it wrong that I wanna make you feel good?" Crevan probed, his voice just above a whisper. He rested his head on Lachlan's outstretched arm, snuggling into him with obvious affection. "... Instead of hurt you?"

Lachlan was at a loss for words. Especially when Crevan inched his muzzle closer, locking eyes with him...

"Is it bad that I wanna kiss you instead of hit you?" he pressed. "Do you really think it's wrong for boys to be together like this?"

The arctic boy could only stare and shake his head slightly - no, he didn't believe that at all. But he wasn't sure what to believe, what was right. Only that he desperately wanted Crevan to come even closer.

But Crevan simply grinned, and that gently petting paw slipped even lower... rubbing at Lachlan's tight stomach, over his navel, cheekily dipping into it for a moment, and then further down, until it grazed the slight mound of his groin.

Lachlan whimpered, anticipation coursing through him like electricity. He knew what Crevan was going to do...

At last, the paw made the final step, and Lachlan gasped when he felt fingers close around his dick again. With only mild surprise, he realized he was already stiff down there.

Once more he wondered whether it was the candles or... But then his aunt's words came floating back to him.

Slowly, Crevan started to pump, using merely two fingers and a thumb to stimulate Lachlan's two-and-a-half inch member. The arctic moaned and once more pushed his hips into the touch.

But he swallowed loudly. "B-but..." he breathed, cursing himself for daring to talk; didn't he, no matter what he said, want this anyway? He couldn't make himself believe what Crevan was doing didn't feel nice. "C-Crevan... i-it_is_wrong to do this to someone you didn't ask first..."

Crevan nodded soberly. "It is," he stated. "I wouldn't do this if I didn't have to. But..." He smiled shyly. "I think you're hot, Lachlan." Once more, he brought his muzzle closer. "Say, you had sex with Kaylee, didn't you?" He smirked, showing his sharp, white incisors. His voice became low and mischievous. "Did you know how to do it before then? Do you know how_boys_have sex?"

Lachlan shook his head, again transfixed. Boys could have sex? The way he just had with Kaylee?

"I can't really show you," Crevan admitted, staring deep into the bound kit's eyes. "Not like this. But I can show you other stuff. Like this..."

With that, he gently pushed his muzzle against Lachlan's. Once more without hesitation, Lachlan opened up in response, much as he had done atop the stage in front of the dreary isle's entire populace.

He just couldn't resist. Between the stupid candle-smoke he had been inhaling for hours and the surprising gentleness and intimacy from Crevan, another boy whose body, touch and even voice made him shiver with juvenile arousal, he felt overwhelmingly horny - beneath the layer of fear and embarrassment, a part of him was urging Lachlan on, wanting so hard to feel. The conflict threw his mind into confusion, but his body knew what it wanted, and after a second of shock, the arctic boy just gave up.

What was the point anymore? He was chained to a bed on a mysterious island, already been forced to be naked in front of hundreds of furs and have sex with a girl, unable to think clearly because of the same pleasant smelling smoke that was amplifying his already powerful arousal. When Crevan was this close to him, it was so hard to concentrate on his worries...

The kiss continued for what seemed like hours. Lachlan was surprised to realize, fully alert this time, that it felt surprisingly good. As good as it had been with Kaylee. What at first started out as a tentative kiss slowly became a full-blown snog, and every time their tongues glided over one another, the two vulpine boys moaned in pleasure and contentment. As Crevan cradled his head, kissing more firmly and passionately, Lachlan obliged him, reveling now in the fluttery feeling that had taken residence in his chest and stomach.

He never would've thought this gross stuff would be so awesome.

All too soon, though, Crevan broke free with a gasp. Lachlan whined, but the bigger boy ignored him. He scooted down the bed, and brought his muzzle to bear on the arctic's chest instead. A firm tongue glided wetly over Lachlan's nipple, and he yipped aloud. As Crevan made his way down, he lapped warmly at the slightly trembling chest, then belly... and made sure to hold Lachlan's hips firmly as he invaded the helpless boy's navel with his tongue for several seconds.

Lachlan giggled and writhed, scrunching his eyes closed. This was almost like a game his friends used to play, where they'd take turns to tickle one another and see if they could hold still. An erotic, fun little competition. Though this felt a lot weirder, and yet better.

Wasting no time, Crevan slipped yet further down the bed and off to the side, practically pinning one of Lachlan's already tied-down legs under him. Hooking one finger around the base of Lachlan's waggling penis, the fox licked it. Savoring the first taste, snickering at Lachlan's surprised gasp. Then he engulfed it entirely in his experienced muzzle.

The helpless kit squealed, his eyes shooting open. He stared down the length of his spread-eagled body in shock and confusion, taking several seconds to realize what was happening, and what he was feeling.

Crevan moved his muzzle up and down, making full use of his tongue. His paw rested at the base of Lachlan's tight coin-purse at first, but then it started to move, rubbing and kneading at the arctic's testicles and the base of his dick.

"Oh shit!" Lachlan mewled, his toes curling involuntarily. He stared in wonder as the athletic red fox went to town, but his awe and surprise could only battle the sensations for so long... within moments, he groaned, shutting his eyes and letting his head limply fall to his pillow. As Crevan continued, all he could do was whimper, moan, and squirm and wriggle his toes.

It was amazing... It wasn't the same as the tight hotness of Kaylee's body. It was something else. Something different, but equally incredible; and what little unease he had at first with Crevan's fingers firmly rubbing and toying with his nuts quickly dissipated.

Lachlan had no idea how long it continued. Slowly but surely, never ceasing, Crevan stimulated him. His tongue and lips were used to their full power, and Lachlan gave a high-pitched groan every time he felt his foreskin slipped up and down, or the squamous, hot surface of Crevan's tongue glide over his sensitive tip.

But after giving the poor, powerless boy a taste of heaven, Crevan slowed and stopped. With one last mighty suck, he pulled back, leaving Lachlan to whimper plaintively at him.

"What's wrong?" teased the fiery fox, a grin of supreme confidence and cheekiness on his muzzle. "Did you like that?"

"Oh maaan!" complained Lachlan, pulling on his chains with all four limbs. "Why d'you stop?!"

"Sooooorry," Crevan drawled. His expression didn't seem contrite in the least.

Lachlan took a deep breath and held it a few moments, trying to banish the warm tingles Crevan had been flooding his body with. "H-hey, Crevan," he asked, after he cleared his head, "you're a p-priest right?"

The other boy beamed. "Yup. Chosen at birth!" He pulled back, once more sitting on his heels. "Just like we all were."

Lachlan frowned, his head still partly stuck in the clouds. "You don't look like a priest to me."

"We do things differently here," Crevan said off-handedly.

Lachlan felt that was an understatement. At the moment, he wasn't sure if this was real life or if he'd somehow gotten lost in one of his own sexual fantasies. Though the mental image of Crevan dressed in a typical priest's outfit, with that silly collar, almost made him smile.

Still grinning, Crevan gripped his shirt hem and started to lift it. The moment the lean, eleven-year-old wrestler's navel was visible, a little dimple in his lushly furred, taut stomach, Lachlan suddenly forgot how to breathe.

Scarcely a second later, the white t-shirt flopped to the floor by the bed, and Crevan growled playfully down at him. Clearly enjoying himself.

"I know, I know," he teased. "I'm sexy. Don't have to tell me."

Lachlan couldn't exactly disagree.

Still grinning, Crevan reached into a pocket in his white shorts. "Here..." Slowly, he pulled an item out and presented it to the arctic boy.

Who could only blink in confusion. "What's that?" It was a strange object: shaped like a large, purple lozenge, similar in shape to an egg, more like an almond. It was made of sleek plastic and about maybe two and a half times as thick as Lachlan's thumb at the middle, although it was tapered down a smaller point at the front. The neon purple surface was ribbed and bumpy, but smooth, and the thick end was capped off by a metal base. A wire, like a lanyard, dangled from the metal. It looked, to Lachlan, strangely hi-tech and cool.

"What do you call it again?" Crevan murmured. "Oh, yeah. It's a vibrator." He laughed. "Since you're tied down, we can't do it the proper way, but... I think you'll like this!"

Lachlan was baffled. "Wait, what does that do? What-?"

"It just does this." Crevan shrugged and placed the tip of the object on Lachlan's belly. With the press of a button, it started to buzz with vibration, and the younger boy jumped.

The arctic squirmed. "It feels weird! Gyaah! It tickles!"

Crevan idly rubbed the tip over his victim's navel. "It goes inside you and presses against a thing inside you that feels really good."

Immediately, Lachlan stiffened. Sucking his belly in. "I-inside?! What do you mean?"

"Huh?" Crevan mumbled, running his eyes over the helpless boy beside him. "Oh, sheesh, not like that! I'm not gonna hurt you." The fox rolled his eyes.

"B-but-!"

"It goes up your butt."

Lachlan froze again. "W-what?!"

"Trust me." Crevan heaved himself to his knees, then positioned himself so he was seated Indian-style right next to Lachlan, his knees touching the slightly smaller kit's body. "I do this all the time, it's not gonna hurt. It's just another way of playing with yourself or somebody. You play with yourself, right? I bet you jack off every night."

Naturally, Lachlan opened his mouth to complain, but something twigged in his brain. He frowned. "Where are you from?!" he demanded, a suspicion coming to him suddenly.

"Huh?"

"Where are you from?" Lachlan repeated, raising an eyebrow. "The way you talk is different from the others."

Crevan paused, then snickered. "You're really sharp!" Shifting a little closer, the attractive vulpine boy ran a paw through his medium length head-fur, pushing it from his eyes. "I wasn't born here."

"Where are you from?"

The preteen priest's smile became indulgent and teasing, and he reached out with the purple object to poke his 'victim' on the nose. "Sorry. I can't tell you any more."

"Why not?"

"Not my place." Crevan shrugged exaggeratedly, his grin impossibly wide.

"You can tell me where you're from, c'mon..." Lachlan said, his tone slightly derisive. "It's not like it'll help me escape."

That grin faded. "I -! Well, no. It's not that. OK, now..."

While Lachlan watched, his new 'playmate' scooted back to the edge of the bed and hopped off. The arctic couldn't take his eyes off the other boy's lean torso as he walked over to a nearby chest of drawers, and Lachlan found himself cursing the soft cotton shorts that Crevan was yet to discard.

Lachlan bit his lip, his pulse racing again. He ran his eyes over the ruddy-furred kit's back and limbs, the mere sight of the curves beneath the fur he knew to be as soft as satin making him fidget helplessly. As attractive and smooth as Kaylee's body was, but something very different, Lachlan knew he had a major weak spot for other boys. Especially the ones that had bodies like his: athletic, kinda skinny, but lightly muscled under their fur. He had no idea why their forms would set his heart to quietly racing.

Earlier that year, he used to find himself hopelessly distracted at school swimming lessons; especially by the other boys with the confidence to wear the jammers and swim-briefs he didn't dare wear himself. Lachlan had to fight to keep himself from staring at the occasional tight stomach, bony collars and shoulders that danced whenever the other young swimmers moved.

He was glad that he had convinced his mother to buy him board-shorts instead of those other things. It wasn't like he was ever going to become a serious swimmer like the others he so admired, and he would've melted with embarrassment the first time he got a boner.

Crevan rummaged around in a drawer for a moment, humming tunelessly to himself. "Aha!" he muttered, retrieving something from the farthest corner of the drawer. Then he turned around, grinning widely at the observing arctic.

Who bit his lip harder, and found himself staring now at the front of that tapered body, the smooth, flat tummy, as it disappeared into the low-riding shorts...

"Damn it..." Lachlan whined mentally, wanting to kick himself. The candles really were amplifying it all.

The other fox seemed to love it. He slowly made his way back over to the bed, smirking at the wide-eyed captive. "Like what you see?" he teased. He put a knee on the bed and hopped up onto the mattress again.

Lachlan flushed hotly, squirming again. Then he spotted the small tube in Crevan's left paw. "What's that?"

"Oh." Crevan shrugged again. "Lube. This is all stuff we get from the mainland. You'll see. Just relax."

"Loo-what?"

Suddenly, the red fox burst out laughing. "You're cute, you know that?"

Lachlan's blush got even hotter, this time from embarrassment. But it was quickly forgotten when Crevan crawled over to him and laid a paw on his chest.

"So..." whispered Crevan, smirking. "Are you ready?"

The arctic felt his chest tighten. "R-ready for what?"

" I'm gonna show you something amazing..." the fox's voice was sultry, and he leaned in closer, slowly bringing his muzzle closer to the bound arctic's. "Something really new. It feels weird at first, but I promise you'll be asking why nobody told you about it sooner. I promise." Without waiting for a reply, Crevan unscrewed the cap on the tube he'd picked up, and he squirted a large dollop of clear, viscous liquid onto his fingers. Lachlan swallowed,hard. "Relax. Here, I'll show you what it does."

The red furred fox simply placed the tube to the side, and reached for Lachlan's attentive penis. The bound boy gasped when the fingers, thoroughly coated in a cool, slick, slimy substance, started to rub over his boner. Smearing the 'lube' over it as well as squeezing and kneading the flesh.

"Ahh!" Lachlan mewled, his eyes wide again. "What is-?!"

Crevan ignored him and focused on his task. Making sure to slip down Lachlan's foreskin to slicken up the inside and the pinkish head. Then he started to move his paw, rubbing it up and down the slippery member, pulling the slickened, easily moving foreskin up and down over Lachlan's sensitive glans. "You can use it just like this," he explained, nonchalantly. "When you're using your paw. Feels good?"

Lachlan felt his toes start to curl automatically, and he pushed his hips up into Crevan's gently pumping paw. Occasionally, the older boy would make sure to rub his thumb over the very tip of Lachlan's dick, and the lubricated contact made the arctic wince. "Shit," he breathed, involuntarily - he had to confess, the 'lube', and having someone else do it, made the classic manual 'technique' a lot nicer.

"Tsk, bad words," taunted Crevan, who stopped rubbing and reached over for the tube again. "If you liked that..."

Lachlan could only watch as Crevan applied more lube to his fingers, especially his index and ring fingers. The older fox shot him a cheeky grin. He slowly reached out towards the cotton furred groin again, and the helpless, horny arctic swallowed, expecting more of the same. But, in one smooth movement, Crevan slipped his paw under Lachlan's body.

The wet, slimy fingers quickly and accurately sought out and pressed against a part of Lachlan's body that he could never, in his whole life, remember being touched by anyone else. Crevan pushed his fingers into the arctic's tight butt-cheeks, and started massaging that slick wetness right into the wide-eyed boy's hole.

"Wh-wha-!" yelped Lachlan, tensing and trying to buck - the chains clinked as they foiled his attempt. The kit scrunched one eye closed, and let a gasp escape his muzzle as he tried to deal with the sudden, new sensation. "Ngh! What're you doing?!"

"Relax," Crevan replied clinically. "This feels awesome. Trust me."

As if Lachlan had a choice. He squirmed and bucked slightly, trying to move his backside away from the invading fingers, but he didn't have the energy or the freedom of movement to even slow Crevan down - and then the older boy laid a paw on his hips to steady him, and continued with his firm, slimy massage.

He slipped his fingers over and around Lachlan's tail-hole, moving in small circles around the shockingly sensitive pucker hidden beneath his victim. Gently but firmly. The shock and dismay faded eventually, and Lachlan started to relax, letting his body go limp.

It felt incredibly weird. It was a powerful, new feeling that was bordering on invasive, but, like with the kissing, Lachlan slowly started to realize it didn't feel too bad. In fact, as he relaxed, and untensed his backside, it felt even better.

Looking down the length of his chained body with one eye scrunched close, he tried to follow what his 'tormentor' was doing. But Crevan was just grinning to himself, appraising Lachlan's body with his eyes while his butt-massaging paw did its work. Much like any massage, Lachlan couldn't help but feel it dispel the tension in his muscles down there, including the muscles of the hole itself, leaving a gentle warmth in its place.

"Nhhnn!" he moaned, his heart pounding in his chest as he peered down at the red fox. "I-it feels weird!"

Crevan smirked. "I'm just relaxing the muscles," he said, putting words to Lachlan's observations. "I'll be pushing inside you soon, to relax it a bit more, then you'll see..." Lachlan almost responded, but his breath and words caught when he spotted the firm tent in Crevan's soft shorts.

'He's turned on by me...' the arctic realized, 'By doing this with me. I'm making_him_horny too.' His tummy swooped slightly, and a smile snuck onto his face. 'He really thinks I'm hot!"

Lachlan squirmed, from the sensations in his backside as much as the unspoken compliment. But then he gasped and jumped again when Crevan started to slip a finger inside him. Just slowly pushing his fingertip past the muscular ring that, before, had been too tight to easily push through. "C-Crevan!"

"Relax!" cooed the older boy. "It won't hurt you, I promise. I was doing stuff like this to myself every night since I was really young."

Lachlan bit his lip, trying to adjust to the feeling. Crevan's finger rubbed around his insides, pushing into his soft flesh. The kit forced himself to concentrate on how it felt, having another boy's lubricated fingers in his backside. He had to admit it felt strangely nice, but definitely unsettling at first. Not something he ever expected - was this another thing grownups did? And the kits on this island too?

Did kits back home do it? Come to think of it, how many boys did this at his school? Lachlan had to wonder.

Eventually, Crevan's finger was in up to its middle knuckle, making circles inside of him, and his other finger was prodding at Lachlan's entrance too. Would another even fit?!

The fox-priest was gentle, and slowly wiggled his second finger against Lachlan's butthole. Carefully easing it in. Lachlan gasped as his anal muscles were truly pushed and stretched apart by an outside invader for the first time ever, and within seconds the second finger was alongside the first inside him, rubbing around and massaging him deeply. The arctic mewled, uncomfortable as they were pushed even deeper.

He glanced down at his body, and was surprised to notice that he was still boned up down there; the sensations from Crevan's fingers nearly as enjoyable, just as intimate, as everything else he'd experienced this day.

"Here we are," murmured Crevan, his voice soothing and encouraging. He pushed a little further into Lachlan's body, and started to rub his finger against the muscular walls inside, as if looking for something. It didn't take him more than a second or two, and Lachlan shivered involuntarily when he felt those fingers push into a... something inside of him. Something he could feel. Something that radiated a strange, pleasant pressure straight through to the other side of his groin. He felt his young dick tingle and throb in response. "Like that, huh?"

"Nnh!" Lachlan tensed, one eye still closed. "What're you doing? C-Crevan? What is that?"

"There's something inside of you here. It feels good when you rub or push against it." Crevan's fingers inched in and out, pressing and swirling firmly against that sensitive spot. "All boys have it."

The pressure radiated into Lachlan's penis, and before he knew what he was doing, he was clenching and tensing his muscles down there, around his groin and pelvis, squeezing on Crevan's invading fingers, trying to amplify and encourage the feelings, involuntarily trying to push himself on into another climax. Helplessly aroused, he was reacting without thought. The bound kit's penis twitched and throbbed in the air.

Crevan smiled down at his grimacing victim, and slowly stopped the massage. "That should do for now..."

Instantly, Lachlan groaned. "Dude!" he protested unthinkingly.

But Crevan just laughed. Clearly enjoying the total, erotic power he held. But he wasted no time: a few seconds later, he changed position and slipped an arm under Lachlan's hips, lifting the arctic's backside up off the bed. Lachlan frowned, confused, looking down the length of his slightly raised body - then he realized Crevan had picked up the purple vibrating egg and his eyes widened.

"C-Crevan, don't put that in my butt!" he blurted. "What if it gets stuck!?"

A lubricated finger started poking and rubbing at his ring again, loosening it and making Lachlan's attempt to squeeze it shut fail. "That's what the wire here is for, it won't get lost up there," responded Crevan, casually dismissing his victim's complaint. "You're already pretty slicked up back here. I'll put some more on it though." He released the arctic and reached for the tube of slimy, slippery liquid.

"Crevan...!" Lachlan moaned plaintively.

"You know," murmured the fox, coating the already smooth plastic almond in the cool lubricant, "you can try to stop me if you want, by squeezing your butt like that. Or whatever. It won't do anything." He shifted, and Lachlan's eyes immediately went to his tented shorts. Aware that Crevan was watching him with a playful grin. "It's gonna slip right inside. Yep."

Lachlan felt his stomach do another swooping maneuver - he knew that was probably true. He couldn't stop Crevan from doing whatever he wanted to him like this, and the slippery, unsettling wetness in his butt would probably defeat even his best attempt to stop the older fox pushing something inside him. He swallowed loudly as Crevan got to his knees, slowly pushing those darn shorts down his thighs at last. His pinkish, stiff erection free at last, waggling in the air. Commanding attention.

A weird thrill ran straight through him. If he hadn't been so horny, or Crevan hadn't made it perfectly clear he didn't want to hurt him, Lachlan was sure he'd be scared. As it was now, he wanted to see where this was going...

"I like that kinda thing," continued Crevan, laying a gentle paw on Lachlan's lower tummy. "Tying someone up and making them feel good." That paw slipped down and around the arctic's hips again, and hiked them upwards. Lachlan gasped, involuntarily tensing, but he could do nothing when Crevan's black-furred paw slipped between his legs...

And slowly pushed something - and Lachlan was sure he knew what it was - against his slick, wet ring.

As expected, Lachlan tried to tense, trying to repel the invader. But his loosened, slippery anal muscles were easily parted, and he gave up almost immediately. "Ah!" He moaned, feeling the smooth object effortlessly slip inside of him. It was thicker than Crevan's two fingers at its widest point, but caused no pain, just a strange, full sensation as it bypassed his ring and slid into place. "N-nh! D-don't!"

"There we go," Crevan said comfortingly, making sure the toy was all the way inside. "It's got a string hanging from it, it won't get stuck up there. Relax."

The thought that this felt not as bad as expected crept unbidden into Lachlan's mind. Immediately, Lachlan felt that pressure again on something inside of him. That pleasurable little node.

Grunting, he tried to expel it. More to see if he could. But Crevan had pushed it in far enough that the wider end served to retain it in place. The not-so-little almond was nestled inside of him, up against his pleasure spot, and there was no way he could get it out without help. "Nngh!" Lachlan groaned. "It feels weird!"

"About to get a lot weirder!" sing-songed the older fox, letting Lachlan's hips down to the mattress and caressing the white-furred boy's legs. "It's a real buzzing time bomb..."

The second he finished saying that, the purple intruder suddenly buzzed to life. Lachlan's eyes widened as he felt a sudden, powerful vibration slam into the same sensitive place Crevan's fingers had been massaging. The vibrations became a constant tingling pleasure that ran through his butt, inside of him, and through to his stiff dick.

"Aah!" Lachlan mewled. He tugged on the chains, and the muscles in his groin and backside clenched, as if clutching at the vibrator. Enhancing the tickly, pleasant pressure. He shut his eyes tightly, even as he felt Crevan's paws start to massage his chest. He felt the bed shift, signifying that Crevan had straddled him.

"Feel good, right?" he heard the older boy say. "I don't really like forcing stuff on furs. But this is something every boy should know about anyway."

Lachlan couldn't disagree. The arctic panted, squirming helplessly on the bed. "Nngh!" he complained, the vibrator inside of him edging him closer to a familiar bliss. But he knew immediately it would be hard to get there like this... if it was even possible.

"I'm a tease, I know," Crevan murmured in a sultry tone. He caressed his gasping captive, massaging every warm, shivering muscle he could touch. "It must be so horrible, being tied down like that and you really want to rub yourself. For someone else to rub you. Make you cum, and feel that amazing, warm feeling." He leaned closer, until his muzzle was almost touching Lachlan's. "Is that how you feel? You want me to help you out?"

"C-Crevan!" Lachlan moaned, cracking open an eye. "D-don't-!"

But the older boy silenced him in the most effective way imaginable. The ruddy-furred fox turned his head slightly and pressed his muzzle to Lachlan's, cutting off his complaints with a tender kiss. Crevan shifted, slipping one paw under Lachlan's shoulderblades, holding him as they kissed. As if on instinct, Lachlan kissed back, but he still mewled his hopeless distress, pushing his hips upward desperately.

He felt Crevan settle atop his waist, letting their stiff dicks press together and pressing him back down to the mattress. He moaned as the older boy reached down with his other paw, and took both of their throbbing, smooth little members, squeezing and kneading them together. Slowly, agonizingly slowly, rubbing up and down, massaging the preteen shafts, allowing the foreskins to slip up and down the sandwiched-together tips. A slow, deliberate pace. Overwhelming Lachlan, who tried in vain to grind against his paw, with pleasure, the younger kit feeling his climax approaching.

But, again, Crevan stopped, breaking the kiss too. Lachlan almost cried.

"Do you want me to suck you off?" Crevan whispered, looming over the distressed kit. Letting his paw roam the cloudy white fluff on his belly. "Show you how boys can make other boys feel great?"

Lachlan nodded slightly, still trying to squirm. The muscles in his legs and tummy taut under his fur. "Yes," he exhaled, pleading with his eyes.

"I will." Crevan leaned closer, letting Lachlan feel his breath on his neck. Reaching up to caress his collarbone. "If you suck me too. Are you brave enough and ready to try it?"

Lachlan slowly opened his other eye. "S-suck your dick?"

"That's right. You just have to not let your teeth scrape or bite me. It's something you've wanted to try for a long time, right?"

The arctic tried to think through the haze his arousal and the sensations in his backside and dick. He knew that was true, but the remains of his fear, of his shyness, left Lachlan unsure if he was ready. But Crevan, a cute, no,_sexy_older boy was right here, touching him, telling him it was okay... openly turned on by him and his body, tied down and hopelessly horny.

"Okay," he said in a quavering tone. More from the relentless vibration tickling his prostate than fear. "H-how? I've never done it before..."

"I'll show you how..." Crevan slipped off of him. He slowly turned around before throwing his leg over Lachlan's restrained form again. This time, his backside, downy coin-purse and stiff young boner were right above Lachlan's wide, appreciative eyes. "At the same time. The way we feel now, you'll do just fine..."

Again, Lachlan's tummy swooped. He could hear Crevan's own deep, quick breathing matching his own. He was about to suck another boy's penis. This was crazy, but it was happening.

Slowly, Crevan lowered his hips, shuffling his knees back, until his stiff shaft hovered an inch above Lachlan's muzzle. Lachlan just looked at it, transfixed. It was like his own. Slightly thicker and longer, of course, probably because Crevan was around a year older. The skin of the furless member was soft and smooth and it was uncut, like Lachlan's - an unusual thing in Lachlan's school. Beneath the skin, Lachlan could see the subtle roadmap of veins. It looked nice and warm, probably at maximum stiffness.

A featherlike caress on his own penis made Lachlan jump and remember his exquisite, intolerable horniness. "Go on, it's okay..." Crevan murmured his encouragement. He lightly manipulated the arctic's dick with his fingertips. "If you want me to start, you gotta go first."

Lachlan, chained spreadeagle as he was, tried to lean up and get his muzzle over the prize dangling above. "B-bring it down. A little."

And the older boy did. After just a second's pause, banishing the last remnants of hesitation, Lachlan forced himself to do it. He licked his muzzle, then leaned up and engulfed Crevan's waiting erection.

He heard fox-priest give a quiet moan as he felt his muzzle close around the hot, stiff dick. The older boy's stiffy was paradoxically soft yet rubbery hard, certain living, sensitive flesh and not some mere object, and it twitched responsively when his tongue first pressed to it. Any concerns he had about the taste vanished instantly - it tasted strangely nice, nothing gross was even faintly detectable. Curious and excited, Lachlan suckled experimentally on it, pulling futilely on his chains, tense because of the powerful buzzing in his backside.

Crevan shuddered as he lowered himself down. Letting Lachlan's head rest comfortably on the mattress again. With little ceremony, he gave the arctic's dick a few quick strokes with one paw, before eagerly slipping it into his own muzzle.

Lachlan almost squealed this time. The combination of sensations nearly overwhelming. The vibrating pressure flowing through his backside to his cock. The hot moistness that enveloped it too. The feel of Crevan's trim body atop his. The warm, throbbing spike in his muzzle that he suckled and pressed his tongue too, feeling its unique, smooth texture.

Crevan started to suck harder and move his head up and down as he did before. He slipped his arms under Lachlan's tense buttocks, and one paw reached up to gently touch his playmate's balls. Swirling his tongue firmly over the arctic's sensitive head and enjoying how it twitched in response.

Almost lost in the powerful feelings, Lachlan tried to copy what he felt Crevan do. But he was tied down, and couldn't move well or comfortably with Crevan atop him. But then the older fox boy started to move his hips, much like Kaylee had done.

Lachlan groaned when he felt Crevan's dick start to move in his muzzle. He used his tongue, he suckled firmly, all while trying to urge his own body towards the promised ecstasy. He felt Crevan use one paw to knead and squeeze his butt muscles, and all he could think in that moment was how much he wished he weren't chained down so he could truly repay the older boy's attentions.

After only a few short moments, he could feel Crevan moving his hips quicker, firmer. Could hear his breathing come more shakily, and his own became much the same, as the pressure in his dick that radiated throughout that whole area started to reach a pinnacle. It was hard to notice, but Lachlan could feel both of their bodies shaking, shivering against one another. It was too much...

It happened suddenly. Lachlan cried aloud, once again yanking his chains, body wracked by an abrupt powerful spasm. His eyes scrunched shut, his pelvic muscles tightened, trembling as the medley of sensations reached a boiling point and flared out from his stimulated dick being suckled and manipulated so expertly by the experienced fox-priest. Vainly, involuntarily, his back tried to arch, the weight of the boy on top of him denying even that movement. Crevan simply pushed him onwards, forcing Lachlan to endure his most incredible orgasm ever with no break, pressing him onward into the overly sensitive phase.

After several seconds, somehow, Lachlan managed to regain some focus. Without even thinking, he tightened his muzzle's seal on Crevan's throbbing, saliva-slick member and distractedly suckled. As Crevan forced him onward in his bliss, leaving Lachlan's mind a haze of pleasure and his body tensing uncontrollably, he still tried to return the favor. He wanted to.

Almost immediately he heard Crevan gasp and shiver above him, and the warm spike in his muzzle twitched. The older boy almost collapsed, groaning as his own orgasm hit at last. Lachlan was only mildly surprised to taste something slightly hot and salty in his muzzle, squirting onto his tongue in time with several strong pulsations of the sensitive flesh pressed against it.

Rocked by powerful climaxes, the two boys slowed and stopped their ministrations, their ability to concentrate shattered by what they'd just felt. Too blown away to take one another's penis from their mouths. Crevan finally did slump on top of Lachlan, letting their bodies press together. Neither cared at this point.

Lachlan panted and groaned softly, his dick crawling with sensation still. Remnants of his climax or because the vibrating toy in his behind was still drilling into his preteen prostate, he was not sure. He felt drained and tired, but not in an unpleasant way. Like he was clad in the wooly, comforting sleepiness before drifting off to sleep.

After a moment, Crevan groaned and started to lift himself up. He swiped a teasing lick over Lachlan's still twitching penis, delighting in the immediate squeak of discomfort. He pulled himself around and collapsed at Lachlan's side, cuddling the slightly smaller boy gently. Affectionately. He locked soft, dreamy eyes with the stunned arctic. "How was that?"

Lachlan blinked slowly. He had no idea how to reply. He couldn't stop a smile from coming to his muzzle, though, as Crevan started to massage and caress his chest and belly again.

As he did, the vibrator inside the arctic boy continued to buzz away, tickling insidiously at the base of his still stiff penis from the other side.

"You're still dry," Crevan mused aloud. "That's cool. You won't be for long though, I bet." Lachlan had no idea what he was talking about. He just let his eyes droop. "You're sleepy, aren't you, Lachlan?" cooed the ruddy-furred fox. Snuggling up close to his bound victim. "You always get tired after that. Don't you?"

Lachlan found his voice. "You're gonna do it too," he whispered, "aren't you? Put me to sleep."

"Yeah." The caressing paw reached up to stroke his cheek. "It's time to sleep, Lachlan. Just embrace it. Let it happen. Let everything happen."

"I-I..." mewled the arctic.

"It's time to sleep."

Lachlan's eyes fluttered, and it suddenly felt like his mind was being swaddled in the thickest, softest cotton. Fuzzy and cloud-like. "Nnh. Shit..."

"Shh..."

A wave of exhaustion crashed over him, and Lachlan's eyes closed. Too tired to even feel frustration or despair. The buzzing in his backside persisted, sending pleasant pulses through his whole body. Warm, comforting sleep closed in on him, and he was defenseless to stop it, yet again.

*

They'd done it again.

When consciousness returned to him, Lachlan could only lie there - without even the will to open his eyes at first. There was no question now, it was obvious his captors had control of his mind somehow. Some sort of hypnotism, mind control, he wasn't sure; it was like stuff he'd seen in movies and cartoons, he'd never thought it could be done.

"Shit," he managed to murmur.

He couldn't escape. The very idea was just stupid. All thoughts of him breaking free or fighting back when he got the chance, he knew one-hundred-percent now would just not work - they probably had some kind of other trigger for if he tried to run, to put him to sleep the moment he tried. Just say a word and bang, he'd lie down and go to sleep on command. He was a complete and total prisoner, with no way to even fight back in his mind.

They were gonna keep doing this to him, forever. They were just gonna keep him on this bed, arms and legs chained, constantly with these other boys and girls coming in and doing these things to him.

Touching him, making him feel like that.

The arctic moaned aloud. He couldn't help but feel strange. Remembering what had happened today already, at the expert paws of Crevan and Kaylee. What else did they have in mind for him?

Would he be like this until they finally... did whatever they were gonna do to him? What were they going to do with him eventually?

Groaning, Lachlan tugged on his chains. The soft clinking indicated he was still chained to the bed, his wrists and ankles enclosed in snug fitting cuffs, unable to be opened by him. He still felt like he was floating on clouds, still could smell the scented smoke from the candles.

Finally he opened his eyes. The now familiar wooden ceiling was still above him, though it was darker. The same room, the same soft mattress; the comfortable pillow had been placed behind his head again. It was still warm, warm enough that it wasn't uncomfortable being nude and uncovered, but there was still no way to tell the time outside - it was only darker because the candles had finally burned out, the only illumination coming from gently flickering lamps in the corners opposite the door. The room still smelled pleasant and floral, but it had significantly dissipated. They'd probably replace the candles soon enough, keeping him hopelessly horny and woozy; so they could drive him wild with a touch. Almost totally willing to let them do want they wanted to him, constantly forgetting his predicament.

Lachlan tilted his head to watch the door. Half expecting at any moment that the heavy latch would clunk open, and the door would swing in to reveal the next girl that'd have sex with him. The next boy who'd suck on his dick. Who'd cuddle up to him and make him feel good, and show him their bodies and privates like -!

Damn it! Even just waking up, he was already thinking about -! Those damn candles! ... were out. Lachlan had to admit it: this was normal for him, it had been for some time. Stronger now, maybe, with a better idea of what it all meant, but he'd woken up with these kinds of thoughts before. He had always been dirty. Always wanted this stuff to happen, with his friends and peers.

Maybe that was what this was. Punishment. But that didn't seem right at all. They hadn't tried to make him feel bad about this stuff. Quite the opposite.

Suddenly, there was a quiet knocking on the door, and Lachlan's ears perked. The door clunked and started to swing open, without a sound.

The short, shy figure that crept in was not one Lachlan expected. "C-Cameron?!" he hissed. He sniffed loudly to clear his nose.

"Lachlan...?" murmured the smaller, equally white-furred vulpine.

Lachlan felt numb. "You too?"

"No!" Cameron slinked past the doorway, shutting it slowly behind him. He was clad in his white t-shirt and machine-made cargo shorts, and was still bare-pawed. "Listen!" He looked nervous as he snuck over to the bed. "They don't know I'm here. I'm gonna get you out of here. I have the key!"

Lachlan blinked. Relief was tainted by disbelief. "Y-you will?" he asked, lifting his head up. "C-Cameron... what'll they do to you?!"

"No one saw me come in here," the bespectacled kit said, his face gravely serious. "Look, they're not like that here. Really. Even if they find out, I'll be fine. This is really hard to explain, but trust me." He hesitated, his eyes flicking downward. "Besides. It's kinda my fault you're like this."

"_Your_fault?!" demanded Lachlan. "How?"

Cameron closed his eyes, shoulders drooping. "I told you before."

"What?"

"I've got a hole in my heart."

Spoken so softly, Lachlan felt the words come down with a crashing, subtle weight. Although no doctor, he knew what it probably meant. "Y-you mean-?"

Cameron managed a weak, but strangely sincere, smile. "Yeah. Well. I'm gonna die." He shuffled his paws a little, then came even closer to the bed. "I don't like to talk about it, but I was born with it. It's been getting worse and worse, and everything the doctors gave me just slowed it down." He shrugged. "I don't care about it anymore. I know I'm gonna go soon. They had to tell me a few years ago."

Lachlan felt sickened. The very idea of growing up knowing something like that? "C-Cameron..."

"Don't worry about it." Another shrug. He was still smiling, though only just. "But we came here. My family is from here like yours is. The Goddess was our last chance."

"The Goddess?"

Cameron nodded. "It's a ritual. To ask Her to heal me." He bit his lip. "B-but they had to... to do this to you. For it to work. If it does."

Lachlan froze. "What?"

"I'm sorry." The younger boy hung his head. "I wouldn't've wanted to do it if I knew they'd hurt you."

"Cameron," Lachlan asked gently. "Do you really think there's some Goddess up there that'd fix you if they sacrificed me or whatever?"

"I don't know. I did at first. I only have maybe half a year left, the doctors back home said. There's a lot of fantastic stuff here, so I wondered if maybe She really did exist. But I think it won't work." Another shrug. "That's why I'm here."

"D-dude." Lachlan had to fight back tears. "That's not fair."

"It never is," Cameron muttered. "But that's not your problem, okay?" He pulled a key out of pocket and reached for the leather cuffs on Lachlan's left wrist. "Listen. The boatmen down at the docks on the South, on the bottom of the island where you got off here, they're from Wales, not from here! They'll take you back to land, you can tell them everything." He inserted the key into the small padlock and twisted - and with a soft snap, he started to unfasten the cuffs around Lachlan's wrists. "You can get out of here."

Lachlan blinked, trying to focus on his own survival. "I-I'll need clothes..." he said dubiously.

"You don't really, it'll make them more likely to believe you." He rushed down to the nearest ankle. "You can take mine if you're really shy! Just c'mon."

"What about my m-mom and dad?" squeaked Lachlan, pulling an arm to his chest for the first time in what felt like ages. It felt a little sore and stiff, but it quickly dissipated. "What'll happen to them?"

"I don't know - you should worry about escaping first."

"I can't tell if I wanna even see them ever again..."

Cameron shot him a sad, sympathetic look. "I guess you'll come back here when the Mainlanders invade," he said softly. "If you tell them about what happened here, I bet that's what will happen."

A leaden weight settled into Lachlan's stomach. "I-I -!"

"Don't worry!" huffed the younger boy, tired already. "I can't let them hurt you for me."

"They'll..." Lachlan hesitated, trying to phrase what he thought, slowly flexing and stretching his freed limbs. "They won't let you do the things you do here. They might even..." He blinked - if he got this place invaded, they'd destroy everything about the peaceful island. Maybe even kill everyone!

They'd tried to hurt him, but did they_all_deserve that? Even the boys and girls he saw playing together, nude or clothed? All of the grownups? Crevan, Kaylee?

... His mom? His dad?

"It's up to you." Finally, Cameron unlocked and pulled away all of the cuffs. He blinked owlishly and leaned on the bed. "Are you okay?"

"Am I okay?!" Lachlan winced as he tried to sit up. "I-I'm fine, I'm just a bit stiff. Are you?"

Nodding, Cameron shot him a smile. "I get really tired easily."

Slowly, Lachlan pulled himself to the edge of the bed, his muscles and limbs somewhat unwieldy after hours of bondage. "Be careful." He hopped off the bed and stood, albeit on wobbly paws. "Whoa." After a second, he realized Cameron was looking at him, a sad expression on his face as he appraised him. "What's wrong?"

"I, um." Cameron broke into a slightly embarrassed half-smile. "I guess I won't be doing anything with you after all," he murmured wistfully, shuffling his paws. "You're cute, you know?"

Lachlan hadn't expected_that_. He squirmed slightly, almost covering up but realizing it was not only silly to do so, but probably even counted as_selfish_at this point. "W-we were supposed to?"

"Yeah, last." The smaller boy's ears flattened slightly. "Um. Here, y-you can have my clothes, they'll keep you warm until you get to the boat." With that, he slowly undid his shorts and let them fall to the ground.

As Cameron pulled off his shirt and draped it on the bed, Lachlan watched quite carefully - to his surprise, the other arctic boy was_adorable_. Skinny, almost bony, certainly not the same as the leanly muscular and athletic boys and girls of the island, but not worryingly so. He wasn't sickly looking, but it was clear he was no wrestler - though Lachlan had seen similar builds on his friends who liked to run around a lot back home. Just a normal, lean boy in a wonderful snowy pelt.

Lachlan felt his heart skip a beat. 'Damn it, not now,' he thought to himself, as he appraised Cameron's body and soft pelt.

"Do you want my underwear too?" asked Cameron, looking up, his fingers lingering on the waistband of his plain white bikini briefs.

"I d-don't think those'll make a big difference, thanks," Lachlan declined. He hesitated. "You look kinda cute too, you know."

The English kit smiled broadly and reached up to poke his glasses back on his snout. "R-really?"

"Sure." Lachlan flushed under his fur, his freed tail swishing once behind his back. There was no point lying about or hiding this stuff now.

Cameron's huge grin slowly faded, and he sat next to his discarded clothes on the bed. "Y-you're not the first to say that," he admitted. "But, um, well. Because of the ritual I've never done anything with any of the boys or girls here." He looked up. "I was meant to save myself for you. M-my first, uh, orgasm was meant to be with you."

Surprised, Lachlan frowned. "You were here for years but they never let you join in with the others?"

" Yeah. Sex and love are a big thing here, you could probably tell." Cameron chuckled, but averted his eyes. "Part of the ritual was to - Uh. Ever heard the French words,le petit mort? The little death?" Lachlan shook his head. "I-it means orgasm, that really nice burst of feeling you get during sex, because for a moment you get sleepy and go out of your mind. I've never felt it before, I guess you have. We were supposed to die together, but only a little death." He sighed.

Lachlan didn't understand, but he didn't need to. "That's not fair," he mumbled. "All for some stupid ritual, they don't let you feel that?"

"It's okay."

"No it isn't." Lachlan's heart sunk. "They won't let you, will they? Is it the same hypnotism thing they did to me?"

Cameron nodded. "I think so."

"They won't let you after I escape, either." Lachlan frowned. "They'll let you... without ever feeling it. Because you let me escape." He swallowed. "C-Cameron, I don't think you're right. They might hurt you for letting me go." But Cameron just shrugged, staring at the floorboards. "Come with me, c'mon!"

"I can't," murmured the younger arctic. "I want to stay with my mum and dad until I have to go." He paused. "B'sides, what're they gonna do to me?"

Unable to stop himself, Lachlan sniffed. Hot tears pooled at the corners of his eyes. There was something about the English boy's demeanor that cut him to the very bone - mature far beyond his years, intelligent and resigned to his fate. "Cameron... you can't..."

" It's the one thing I really_can_do." Cameron shrugged. After just a second, however, he looked up. "There's, um, something, though. That you can, um, do for me."

Lachlan sniffled again, unashamed now. This was all so unfair. "What is it, dude?" he asked.

"I waited until it was late at night. Everyone's asleep." The younger arctic's face suddenly burned with embarrassment. "L-Lachlan?"

"What?"

"Th-they won't be in here for hours. We have lots of time." Cameron locked gazes with him imploringly. "Please. I-I don't even know how to ask this." He swallowed. "C-Can we please do it?"

There was a hiatus, and then Lachlan gawped comically. "You want to? L-like what?"

"Um. Of course I want to." Cameron slouched over, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed shyly. "I fancied you the moment I saw you. This will be the first time ever, and m-maybe my last ever chance." Another pause. "I-it's just that, well, I've been here for a few years with everyone, all my friends, and always getting to do things with each other. I-I've had to be alone and I just want to know what it feels like. I was the only one. I don't even have to, um, h-have an orgasm, I just want-! I just wanted-" The arctic sighed, letting his head droop. "Oh, never mind. You need to go."

Lachlan only hesitated a second. He reached out to touch the other boy's shoulder. "What did you want to do?" he breathed.

Slowly, Cameron raised his head. His expression incredulous. "Really?"

"If you're sure I've got time." Lachlan grinned.

Cameron's jaw dropped, then his entire face lit up with delight.

"C'mon, what do you wanna do?" Lachlan thought quickly, trying to figure out his own answer to that. After all, he was practically even newer to this than Cameron. He sat down next to the smaller boy.

Years of conditioning to keep away from others, to respect if not fear their personal space, to be ashamed of bare bodies, his or another's, was hard to combat, but after all that'd happened today, all he'd learned, and the situation he was in now? Heck, it all seemed so silly now.

He laid an arm over Cameron's shoulders, gently pulling himself to the other boy's side. He gripped the bony shoulder in his paw, squeezing Cameron's upper arm. Letting their thighs touch. His heart, already beating faster, started to race. An intense urge to touch and feel the other boy coursed through him, thrilling him. Even after all he'd been through, he wanted to be close to Cameron.

"I don't really know what to do," Lachlan confessed, looking vaguely down at Cameron's bare paws. They were dainty and soft at the end of his shapely legs. "You probably still know more about this than me."

Cameron scooted closer, slipping an arm around Lachlan's waist. His other paw reached over to touch his nearest knee. "I've seen them doing things," he admitted. He let his paw roam up and down Lachlan's thigh. "Here..." That paw slipped up Lachlan's thigh once more, and gentle fingers closed around the older arctic's little member.

Lachlan inhaled sharply. It was definitely not new anymore, though. He looked down, watching Cameron's fingers coax his responsive dick into stiffness once more - even without the scented candles, being close to another boy like this, being touched down there, Lachlan felt his penis twitch and start to fill, and his pulse quicken.

After only a few moments, Lachlan was sporting a stiffy again, jutting out from his seated thighs into Cameron's inexperienced paw. Swallowing, Lachlan reached over with his opposite paw, still holding Cameron's warm body close, and reached for the conspicuous tent between the other boy's legs. He could hear Cameron's breathing get heavier. It twitched the instant he touched it through the thin briefs.

Without hesitation, Cameron shifted his hips and lifted himself off the mattress, using his free paw to work his waistband down until the briefs were around his upper thighs. They exchanged nervous smiles, and Lachlan reached in once more...

It was just the same as it had been when he let Crevan's dick into his muzzle: surprisingly warm and soft to the touch. Curiously, Lachlan inspected the hardening little rod of sensitivity, feeling it, toying with it gently, tugging on the skin and rubbing a fingertip over the hole at the tip.

"Nngh!" Cameron quavered, likewise focusing on the penis in his own paw. "Th-that feels good!" The skinny fox squirmed, but tried his best to remain seated on the edge of the bed. "L-Lachlan, c-careful, the tip is-!"

"Really sensitive," murmured the arctic kit, rubbing his thumb around the edge of the pinkish helmet. "I know."

Cameron snuggled even closer, bringing their sides together, and Lachlan felt a rush of both affection and arousal towards the smaller fox - he was so sweet, so small and gentle, so warm and delicate. Their white furred bodies pressed together so comfortably, and he could feel Cameron's desperation for his touch. Something in the way he clung to Lachlan, the way his head inclined to rest on his shoulder, and the gentle but ardent attention given to his dick - the first one aside from his own that Cameron had ever touched.

At an unspoken cue, they both spread their legs, letting the other have better access and view of their privates. Cameron's grip changed from lightly fondling and stroking with fingers to a firm, four-fingered grip, and he started to pump. Not particularly fast or hard, but enough to making Lachlan shiver from the feeling before doing likewise.

"I've seen the others do this," muttered Cameron.

Lachlan nodded, also pausing to give a bit of attention to the younger male's glans, quietly delighting in how it made those skinny thighs shake for a second. "Did you wanna just do this?" he asked, finally letting his own head rest atop his playmate's - the first one he had chosen himself.

"I wanna feel it all," Cameron responded after a brief pause. "I know we don't have a lot of time."

"I can suck you?" offered Lachlan, surprising himself at how easily he said it. It was true too, he knew he wouldn't have a problem doing it now. Definitely not for Cameron. "If you want?"

Cameron swallowed. "I-I wanna feel that, yeah." But he hesitated again. "But, I really want - I wanted to have, you know, m-make love. Sex."

"I don't know how boys have sex."

"I can tell you."

"Okay, but..." Lachlan slid to his paws, standing up, not relinquishing the smaller kit's dick. He stood in front of Cameron, who looked up at him with worried eyes, but Lachlan had no intention of stopping or leaving. "First, lie back."

Slowly, Cameron shuffled back towards the middle of the unmade bed and lay back, his legs bent at the knees so his calves and foot-paws dangled off the edge. He looked down the length of his own body at Lachlan, bemused.

Lachlan just grinned. He leaned over the bed, between Cameron's legs, and placed his paws on the smaller kit's torso, stroking it all over slowly. Firmly pressing into the white fluff to feel the flesh below. "If I'm gonna do this, I'm gonna do it right," he said, leaning in close to hover over Cameron's panting muzzle.

Immediately, however, Cameron reached up and gently tugged him down. The moment their muzzles were within range, Cameron kissed him. A gentle, tender, momentary one, before drawing away to look at him with hopeful eyes, keeping his gentle paws on the bigger boy's back.

Lachlan leaned down again to touch noses with his new friend. After just a moment of closeness, Lachlan started to make his way down Cameron's shivering body. He made a special point to rub and tickle the smaller boy's nipples, concealed by his thick autumn pelt; he slid further down, holding Cameron's hips and gently licking at the tight navel. All the while letting his paws squeeze and caress the sick kit's side, listening to his panting.

'Oh, jeez,' thought Lachlan, feeling almost dizzily aroused himself - and this time he definitely couldn't blame it on any candles! Excitement, all his own now, charged through his being. 'This is awesome!'

For a moment, the possibility that this was still part of the ritual, or a trick of some kind, entered Lachlan's thoughts. But he was free now, unchained, and he was a lot stronger than Cameron - though he hoped that wouldn't matter. It had to be alright now. He wanted to do this, and he wanted to make Cameron happy too.

There were so many things he wanted to do, and now he had a chance to do them. At least some of them. He was taking the chance to do them. He could really explore another boy's body, and do all the kinky things he wanted, and the things the others had introduced him to as well. Well. Some of the things, anyway!

It was his turn now.

He stroked Cameron's concave belly as he slipped lower, rubbing it in gentle circles. Starting to shake in anticipation and nervousness.

To Lachlan's surprise, Cameron gripped one of his paws firmly, twining their fingers. With one paw, Lachlan firmly stroked the fluff-covered thighs and groin, eyeing the none-too-large boner that poked up from between them. At last, he slipped the smaller kit's member into his muzzle, recalling everything he'd learned from his experience with Crevan. His roaming paw slipped down to Cameron's skinny thighs, pulling those briefs down until they slipped from the furry limbs to the floor. Out of the way at last.

Cameron gasped, squirming and jolting in surprise. But Lachlan's arm on his hips held him still enough, and he lay back as still as he could -he started clutching Lachlan's spare paw with both of his own, shaking slightly. "Oh!" the English kit groaned, squirming slightly. "That feels--! Nghn!" He curled his toes, lifting one leg to rest on Lachlan's shoulder.

Lachlan almost laughed. He'd heard that strained little groan come from his own muzzle a lot recently. For several more minutes, his own heart-rate thumping, inhaling deeply and quickly through his nose, Lachlan suckled and licked Cameron's cock with a curious enthusiasm. Visiting attention on every part of the little, neglected member. He enjoyed the feel and taste of the responsive flesh, somewhat smaller than Crevan's in its dimensions. Listening to Cameron's moans and shaky gasps made his own dick twitch with every vocalization. Feeling him shiver and squeeze his paw...

Slowly, he stopped, letting the kit's dick slip out of his muzzle. "How do we do it?" he whispered, looking up along Cameron's trembling, tensed body. The younger kit had scrunched his eyes closed as he tried to endure the new sensations, much as Lachlan had done earlier. "What you wanna do?"

Cameron whined, wriggling his toes again. Understanding, Lachlan slipped the younger boy's erection into his muzzle again. "Oh!" moaned Cameron. "Y-you do it in the - the backside. You put your willy in their tailhole like it was a girl's v-vagina."

That was new. Lachlan mused on that, continuing to suckle thoughtfully on the stiffy like it was a fleshy lollipop - listening to Cameron's breathing as he did. Come to think of it, he'd heard comments and jokes and whispers about 'butt-sex' before, but now that he thought about it, it made sense. After all, the stuff Crevan had done to him was probably something like it. But how was it done?

Once more, after thinking, he stopped sucking. "You want me to stop so we can do that?"

"Y-yeah," Cameron managed to say. "Please. This is a-awesome but I want to..."

"What do I have to do?" Lachlan idly stroked the wet dick with his free paw. "Tell me. C'mon."

"I-in the chest-of-drawers over there," Cameron said, pointing. "There's some lube. Lubricant. We should use that."

Lachlan nodded and swallowed. He stood up. "I know. Crevan used it on me."

"I-I want you to do me." Cameron bit his lip, looking with watery eyes at Lachlan. "I won't be able to. I-I'll get too tired. Are you okay with-?"

"I'll do my best, I promise." Lachlan smiled.

He walked over to the drawer he'd seen Crevan get the lubricant from before. Aside from some clothing, there were other esoteric plastic things in the drawer, including the tiny buzzing almond that had proven so effective earlier. Lachlan ignored them and retrieved the tube, unscrewing the cap as he padded back to Cameron.

Cameron sat up slightly, his smile both expectant and friendly. "That's it."

But Lachlan was looking down at his own eager boner. It jutted out in front of him as he stood there between Cameron's legs, straining for attention, stiff as a spike, but... it was not even a three-inch spike. Sensitive, sure, but definitely not large. "I don't know if I'm big enough," he mumbled dejectedly. "I don't know if this will work the way that thing Crevan used on me did."

"It makes a difference," admitted the supine arctic, propping himself up on his elbows. His smile turned a little wry. "But that's not what's important."

"But you said you wanted that feeling." Lachlan cocked his head. "I don't think I'll be able to do it as well, uh, with my dick as Crevan could with his finger or that thing. Heck, I could probably do better with my fingers, even." Absently, Lachlan realized he was talking almost casually about sticking things in another boy's butt, and that this didn't bother him somehow.

Wow, that was a trip...

Cameron giggled softly. "Yeah, probably. But I wanna, you know, be close as we do it, and you can get the feeling. Like a cuddle." He scooted back a little on the bed, lifting his heels up and posting them on the very edge of the mattress. His fluffy tail pinned behind his back. "You'll get it, and one of us can use a paw to give it to me." He paused. "Nobody's ever done this sort of thing with me before..."

"I haven't got any other boys or girls to properly cuddle either back home." Lachlan stepped closer, reaching out to fondle Cameron's stiffy again. "Okay, I'll try. It's not dirty, is it?"

Cameron shook his head. "No. We all got washed, as part of the ritual. Even you. When you were sleeping, they gave you a bath."

"Oh. Okay." Best not to think about that, Lachlan reasoned. He unscrewed the cap, squirting a dollop of the cool, slick liquid onto his fingers. After looking at the clear liquid for a moment, feeling it seep between his fingers and slowly ooze down towards his palm, he took his erect dick in his other paw and held it steady as he coated it with the lube. Unsatisfied, he squirted some more onto its tip and started to slip his foreskin up and down - spreading the lubricant, but also making his penis tingle.

"You should put some in me, too." The younger arctic suddenly declared, lifting his feet-paws and tapping them on the mattress. Excited. "Don't be scared. I'm clean. There's nothing wrong with doing stuff like this if everyone's clean. I know, I've seen it done hundreds of times here!"

With a mental shrug, Lachlan got closer still. His thighs now against the smaller arctic's legs. Squirting some more of the liquid on his fingers, he pressed two fingers, much as Crevan had done to him, between Cameron's butt-cheeks.

Lachlan was oddly calm. There wasn't much time, and if he was being honest, Crevan had already shown him not to be afraid of this stuff. There was no time for fretting.

Cameron jumped slightly when he felt the slick fingers slip between his cheeks, and quickly seek out his pucker. He winced, screwing up his features due to the strange new sensation, as Lachlan started to rub and massage the sensitive muscle.

"It feels weird, but good, right?" Lachlan murmured, concentrating on his task. He tried to recall how long it took Crevan to get him to relax down there, with his gentle, persistent fingers. To the point he had no way to resist a buzzing toy that was thicker than merely his own fingers.

Cameron took a shaky breath, visibly relaxing. "Yeah, it's not bad..." His tailhole relaxed too, yielding to Lachlan's ministrations. "It f-feels really nice."

Looking down at their bodies close together, Lachlan wasn't surprised anymore to see they were both rock-hard. His fingers disappearing into the crevice of Cameron's tight backside, the hole he was rubbing not visible as Cameron's lower back was still on the mattress. The profound eroticism of the situation made his heart skip a beat, and his stiffy throbbed. As if demanding he get on with it.

Cameron mewled when those rubbing fingers finally penetrated him. Just slightly pushing past the slick ring. He clutched at the mattress cover, scrunching it up in his paws. "Oh, man."

"Lift up so I can see..." Lachlan gently used his other paw to push one of Cameron's thighs towards the supine boy's chest. Cameron understood, pulling his knees to his chest and lifting his backside off the bed. Awarding Lachlan full view of the wet, pink, muscular flesh he was slowly loosening. Letting him start to slip one of his slippery fingers in and out now.

"Here," whispered Lachlan after a few moments. Shaking in nervous anticipation. "I-I think."

"Go on," Cameron exhaled. "Please."

Placing one paw on Cameron's lower stomach to brace himself, and the other gently gripping his throbbing boner to guide it, Lachlan came even closer still and pushed forward.

His aim was true. He shuddered as he felt the tight, slick muscle part around his member. Once more, hot, yielding, yet muscularly firm flesh encircled his dick. The friction as he pushed his hips closer made his legs go weak, and he had to grit his teeth. His lube-slicked foreskin was pulled back, exposing his glans to the friction too, and Lachlan had to moan. A shiver ran through him as he finally pushed his hips up against Cameron's buttocks and thighs.

Cameron gave a quiet gasp, watching with ardent interest. Feeling another boy's warm dick inside him for the first time ever - he'd never had_anything_up there before. Stretching his ring from the outside... A pressure on the inside.

"I go in-and-out, right?" Lachlan asked, leaning forward so his chest was slightly above Cameron's belly. He scrunched his toes on the wooden floor as he waited for the answer, feeling Cameron's muscles clamping down on his cock. Cameron nodded. "Okay." He slowly started to move his hips. Pulling his dick out slowly, the strange slippery-friction from the lubricant making him shake as he did.

As he felt his tip approaching the outer ring, Lachlan slowly pushed back in.

The two boys moaned simultaneously. Lachlan felt his knees go weak, and his tail shook behind him.

"Ungh!" he groaned, starting the outward motion again. It reminded him a lot of Kaylee's tight vagina, clinging to his whole dick and wringing nearly unbearable sensation from it. Except then, she was in control. Now he had to do it.

Slowly, with tight movement, Lachlan started to do something he never thought he'd ever do. He panted aloud, leaning forward over Cameron's body, resting both paws on the bottom of the other boy's rapidly rising and falling chest. After a few more slow, rhythmic, movements, Lachlan's right paw slipped down Cameron's furry body, as if it had a mind of its own. Still slicked up with lubricant.

The younger arctic exhaled sharply when he felt Lachlan's fingers grip his erection, the sudden pleasure surprising him. His ears instantly flattened, and his eyes fluttered closed for just a second...

Matching the speed of his paw to the rhythm of his hips, Lachlan went to work. Managing to endure the feeling as he did. Confidence came to him as he learned just how far to move back and forth, and he started to speed up. His spare paw clutched at Cameron's warm, velvet-covered flank as he looked his slender playmate over - appraising the boy he was inside, feeling his radiating warmth body. Noting how, even lying there, just enduring what Lachlan was doing to him, he panted and gasped, as helplessly aroused as Lachlan had been earlier. Cute and youthful, as he liked. His dick throbbing in Lachlan's paw...

He started to pump more firmly, using his fingers mostly, gliding along the twitching member's entire length. Recalling things he knew he liked himself; tugging so the foreskin would slip up and down the smaller arctic's sensitive head, taking a moment to rub and massage the purplish tip with his fingers, the warm shaft, not neglecting a single part of it. Relishing the younger boy's twitches and shivers as he fought the urge to jump and squirm.

Sensitive, just like Lachlan was.

" L-Lach-!" groaned Cameron, grimacing slightly. "I-I think I'm going to-!Nngh!"

Lachlan didn't respond. He moved faster still, starting to thrust in and out of Cameron's hole as quickly as he good with such short movements. A few times, his preteen dick slipped out, but went back in easily as he pushed his hips forward again, sliding through Cameron's lubricate entrance with minimal resistance and making his knees turn to jelly each time. He even squeaked once or twice, a brief interruption to his sharp panting.

The younger arctic started to tense up, his insides clinging even more firmly to Lachlan. His paws clinging more firmly to the mattress, as he felt his body, his prickling little cock, edge towards something. Something powerful.

It didn't take long. It was upon Lachlan before he could recognize it and slow down.

The arctic cried out, a powerful orgasm inexorably rushing from his stimulated nerves and through his body. With a grimace, Lachlan felt his entire body tense, then spasm and lose all strength. He slumped forward, scarcely managing to not collapse entirely onto the smaller kit, his tail jerking and flicking behind him. Somehow, his paw, shaking and slowing down, continued its work. Tweaking and tugging on Cameron's now totally rigid member.

But that was enough. Still reeling from his own climax, Lachlan felt Cameron's body shiver, heard the younger kit's strangled cry. The dick in his paw jolted, thickening even more somehow for just a split second, quivering against his fingers as it pulsed with ineffable pleasure. Giving Cameron his first taste of bliss. Fighting through the haze of pleasure, Lachlan kept kneading and massaging the twitching length.

Until the pleasure made his knees buckle and eyes shudder closed for a long moment.

Lachlan managed to look up first, noting the dreamy face and rolled-back eyes of his partner before Cameron reached up and weakly pulled him into an embrace - with Lachlan's hard, trembling dick still inside of him. Lachlan obliged, letting himself lie atop the younger boy, suddenly overwhelmed with affection and a desire to cuddle.

"L-Lachlan," croaked Cameron eventually. "That was-!"

Lachlan exhaled unsteadily. "Y-yeah."

"I-I feel all shaky..."

"I think that's normal..."

Reeling from the climax and lost in the pleasant disorientation, the two boys embraced, burying their muzzles into the crooks of the other's neck. Letting paws gently roam and caress the firm, warm, furry surface of the other's backs and sides.

As strength returned to him, Lachlan started to push himself up right. He winced, moving his hips so his dick - somehow still relatively stiff - could slip out. "Sh-shit," he swore quietly.

"D-do you have to go now?" murmured Cameron. Blinking owlishly. "Well, I guess you have to."

Lachlan nodded, trying to focus. "Uh, yeah." He shook his head, clearing the orgasmic fog as best he could. "I have to get away from here."

"Does everyone get tired after that feeling?" Cameron flopped out spread-eagle, his legs dangling off the bed again.

"I dunno... but I always get a little tired for maybe a minute." Lachlan straightened, looking for the clothes Cameron had laid out for him. Forcing himself to think about the escape to the boat instead of the much nicer prospect of curling up with his newfound friend. "It goes away though."

There was a moment of quiet while Lachlan reached out to grab the white t-shirt. The only sound was their breathing.

"Lachlan..." Cameron finally whispered.

Lachlan paused, looking down at him. "Hm?" The younger arctic's face was sad. Even pained. "What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry. This is so wrong."

"What is?"

Cameron averted his eyes for a second, before bringing them back up to meet Lachlan's. Watery and filled with sadness. "Thank you. I-I'm sorry. I know you'll forgive me though."

"For what?"

"... Lachlan, do you feel tired?"

Lachlan felt a chill swept over him. His body suddenly unwilling to move. "C-Cameron?!"

"I'm sorry." Cameron's lower lip quivered. "Thank you so much. But it's time for you to sleep, Lockie."

Almost immediately, it felt like a warm, woolen blanket had swaddled his mind. An inexorable tsunami of tiredness crashed over him. He staggered, posting against the soft mattress just to stay upright.

"W-why?" he whined, struggling to hold open his suddenly heavy eyelids. The shirt he'd picked up slid from his weak fingers. He started to fall to the crumpled sheets. "I..."

Cameron sat up, reaching out to pull him towards the bed gently. "P-please don't hate me."

As he collapsed onto the mattress once more, Lachlan only had time for one last thought before sleep claimed him. It was a thought of no words.

*

It was warm. And bright - he could feel the light through his eyelids, like a gentle pressure.

Like dew on a warm morning, sleep melted away from him, and Lachlan groaned and he stirred. Shifting under the covers, stretching.

His sleepy brain took a while to register it.

He wasn't restrained. He wasn't in a dark or candle-lit room. He was under bed sheets.

With a gasp, the arctic boy threw his eyelids open and glanced around. Still indoors, he had been moved somewhere else. There was a window, shut, but uncurtained to allow warm morning sunshine through, affording a view of a flowering garden outside.

It was a small room. With simple wooden furnishings and... it was his bedroom in his Auntie Ruth's house. Where he had slept that first night. Above him was a simple wooden roof held up by a buttress, and a single ceiling light, one that used electricity.

He pushed back the covers and sat up, checking his wrists. No cuffs or manacles were around them. He was dressed too - not in his clothes or own pajamas, but in a simple white sleeping gown. An old fashioned one that was like a dress, draped over his shoulders. He felt no pants or shorts, but he was sure it went down to his knees.

He lifted the covers now, looking down. He kicked his legs, confirming they weren't bound either. He dropped the blankets on top of himself.

"What's going on?!" he breathed to himself, lost. If there was one thing he was sure of, and nothing could ever convince him otherwise, everything had NOT been a dream.

Bewildered, he sat there, staring at the soft white blanket. Blinking in confusion.

Why would they release him? Why was he here? Sure, this didn't mean they were letting him go, but... well, what did it mean?! What happened now?

There was a knock on the door. Lachlan's ears perked, and his heart froze, then started to beat double-time. He didn't respond.

After a moment, there was a call. "Lockie?" he heard his mom's voice. "Are you awake?"

"M-mom?" whispered the kit, uneasy.

The door cracked open, and the familiar face of his mother pushed past the door jamb. "Oh, thank goodness," she exhaled, wilting from what seemed to be relief. With that, she pushed aside the door and rushed at him, arms outstretched. Enveloping him in a firm hug.

But Lachlan froze. He slowly reached up to push his own mother away; thankfully, she got the hint. Looking up, Lachlan met his mother's sad gaze with neutral eyes. "What's going on?" he asked, voice strangely even.

His mom looked down. Lidding her eyes in what seemed like genuine pain. "I'm sorry, Lockie... I understand if you don't want to talk me right now." She stepped away. "I just wanted to know you were safe. It's over now."

"_What's_over?" Lachlan demanded, scooting backwards. Holding the sheets to his body. "What's happening?"

A new voice interjected. A soft, matronly voice from just outside the door. "It's not your mother's fault, Lachlan," it cooed. Then, the figure of Ruth, the island's enigmatic High Priestess walked into the room - her face was just as somber as her sister's.

Lachlan blinked, still lost. He was confused, not knowing what to feel. Things seemed safe at the moment, but part of him wanted to be angry, to be scared. To throw aside the covers and try to run from the adults, as if they wouldn't capture him easily. Finally, it got to him. "What's going on?!" he demanded, his vision suddenly blurring. "What've you been doing to me?!"

The adults traded glances. "Lachlan," his aunt murmured. "I'm sorry. I know this is scary and confusing. Listen, you're not a captive. Nobody is going to hurt you. They never were. Try to relax so we can explain; you're safe, I promise."

Lachlan narrowed his eyes, blurring his vision even more. "I don't care what you promise!" he said, though his tone was nowhere near as angry as he wanted it to be.

"It was a ritual," his mother blurted. "There was a reason. Let us explain, please!"

The kit sighed, letting his head drop. "What do I even care?" he murmured. "Whatever. I don't care anymore, I guess. You're gonna do whatever you want to me anyway."

He noted with satisfaction that his mom started to tear up.

"Lachlan," Ruth suddenly interjected. "We never said we were going to hurt you."

"No," grumbled the kit. "You just let me think that, huh?"

"It was necessary. Rather, we couldn't correct you." The priestess clasped her paws. "Lachlan. We're so sorry about what we did. But you might be interested to know what the ritual was, and why we do it, before you hate us all for it."

"Why?" Lachlan sighed, going limp under the sheet. Feeling heavy all over. "Why did you chain me to a bed and make me think you were gonna kill me? What kinda stupid reason is there?"

"It was to choose the leader of our people," Ruth answered. "In short." She sighed. "Lachlan, we never intended to sacrifice your life. We never said that, not once. The ceremony doesn't ask for a virgin sacrifice. We sacrifice your virginity itself. I will explain, if you just give me the chance to do so."

"I...?" Lachlan blinked, looking up at last. "What do you mean?"

"It's a test, Lockie," his mother explained. Her expression was downright pleading, but Lachlan wasn't quite in a forgiving mood yet. "One I knew you'd pass. Because y-you're my wonderful son."

"You satisfied all the facets of the ceremony." Ruth spread her paws. "The moon was high on solstice. You laid with the sun and the fire, indulged in the throes of passion with others for the first time, and when time came to choose compassion or selfishness, you chose compassion. You chose love and justice over yourself."

"What does this mean?" Lachlan glanced from one vixen to the other.

Ruth touched her chest. "It means, Lachlan, if you choose, you will take my position when the time is right. You've been ordained by the Goddess from birth, and you've proven your heart is true." She paused, regarding him. "I think it's time to explain everything from the beginning, Caroline?"

His mother nodded. "Lachlan, this is where you were born." She smiled faintly. "I was too. I met your father back in, well, America, and we came back here to have you. You've been chosen for this since the day you opened your eyes. But we had to raise you away from here. You had to grow up without knowing another's touch."

"You knew," Lachlan whispered, ears drooping. "You knew I liked boys."

"No, I knew there were no limits to your love and attraction, Lockie. We all did." His mother gave him an uncertain smile. "Kaylee said you enjoyed yourself."

"MOM!" Lachlan immediately flushed, scowling.

"We had no idea if you had a preference," Ruth interjected. "But it was ordained from your birth that you wouldn't be exclusive. Do you know what I mean?"

The kit folded his arms and frowned even more. "No, I don't know. I don't believe any of this crap. You can't do this to me and act like I'll just get over it! You gave me drugs, chained me to a bed, did things to me, then tricked me again! All for some stupid religion! Screw you, and screw this shitty island!"

The room fell silent. The only sound was the chirping of birds outside the window, bathing in the dew upon the great tree's boughs. Lachlan knew his mother and aunt were looking at one another, injured. Good, as far as he was concerned. He was angry, and he was embarrassed. Not only had they lied to him for all this time, they'd done all of those things to him, and they'd known what he had thought to be his biggest, most painful secret all along.

And they'd practically watched him go through all of this.

There was a quiet knock on the door.

Lachlan only flicked a glance up long enough to realize it was Cameron. "What do you want?" he growled venomously.

The younger arctic, the fourth in the room now, froze, then cast his eyes to the carpet.

"What is it, Cameron, sweetie?" prompted Ruth, reaching out to touch the kit's arm.

Cameron shuffled slightly. "L-Lachlan," he mumbled, "I just wanted to tell you. Your dad is down at the docks. He- he said for me to tell you he wants to say sorry." He shuffled. "Me too."

"Hrmf."

"I-I'll get out of your way," Cameron whispered, turning to go.

"There's nothing wrong with you, is there?" Lachlan accused, glaring. "You're just a liar like the rest of them."

The younger boy visibly recoiled, his ears flattening. Then he vanished around the corner as quickly as he could.

"Lachlan." His aunt looked crushed. "Cameron didn't lie about his condition. He told the truth about almost everything. He really wanted to be with you before he... Well."

Lachlan felt his blood run cold. He stared into middle-distance for a moment, then tossed aside his blankets ferociously. With one fluid movement, he bounded to this bare paws and darted out the room and down the corridor. Right past the adults.

"Cameron!" he called, stopping at the rustic house's front porch. But the younger kit had disappeared completely, and the street was empty.

*

"So," Lachlan muttered, leaning forward on the soft armchair. His paws clasped around a glass of clear liquid - he refused to accept any other drink aside from water, straight from the tap. Poured himself. "How did you keep making me fall asleep?"

The entire family was seated in the living room, around the gently crackling fireplace. Lachlan had taken the seat away from everyone else - his anger had cooled by now, but he was still wary. Try though he might, he couldn't bring himself to hate or fear his parents. He had to admit he understood how and why Cameron would feel the way he did, or said he did; leaving his parents was a devastating idea. Over a decade of love and bonding could overcome a lot, and Lachlan had to at least consider that they really were contrite, never wanted to hurt him, and never would do this again.

The alternative was too horrible to contemplate.

His parents had known what was in his head. They understood. They said they wouldn't stop him if he wanted to run away to the mainland and get a new family, and would even furnish him with money and everything else he'd need. Or, they could go home as if this never happened.

Lachlan was totally lost.

"One particular potion," his aunt replied, "puts the drinker into a state where they can be given suggestions, and then asked to forget afterwards. It can be used to set triggers for those suggestions."

"Hypnotism, I knew it." Lachlan grumbled.

"Similar. However, the Soulflower's effect is far more potent." Ruth smiled. "A hypnotist can't really make you do anything you don't want to do. But you can go a little further with our... methods. We're not scientists, but we know it works, for a few weeks at least if done right."

Lachlan froze. "Y-you mean, it's still-?"

His parents exchanged a wary look.

"Yes." His auntie lidded her eyes. "You'd still fall asleep if we said the right words in that situation. But that's the trick. I would never have left you with such a powerful geas without protecting you - it wouldn't be fair if your parents could just put you to sleep every time you talked back. That wouldn't be fair at all."

"What do you mean?"

"It only works after you climax, little one. While you're already sleepy and dreamy, a gentle nudge in that direction." Ruth chortled. "I don't think anyone is going to abuse that unless you let them. Or, well, if you are under other effects from the flower."

"What the heck does this flower do?!" Lachlan asked, his voice tremulous. He'd felt the various effects of the white-and-violet petals, and even he had to cede it some respect.

" Many years ago, when our clan was first worshipping the Goddess," his aunt explained, reaching out to the table for her cup of pungent tea, "we came to this island and discovered the flowers. The Goddess's ways were always as they are now. Love. Pleasure. Romance. Family. The joy of parenthood and childhood. Being free, unashamed and one with nature." She drank deeply, keeping her warm eyes on Lachlan. "Once we established here, and others came to join us, we discovered the effects of the flowers. Not just the one we call the Soulflower, the_bláth anam_. Several. Different mixtures, as a drink, as incense, as food, all had different effects. You've felt some yourself, of course."

"Th-the flower is just growing everywhere?"

"It's fairly common here, yes. Even just growing wild, it has a powerful effect on arousal. We try not to abuse it excessively, but it's a part of our lives." Ruth gestured towards the potted flowers on the dinner-table. "I like to keep some around the house. Some find it distracting. Particularly if you loiter around them too long." She smirked in Lachlan's dad's direction, who promptly looked embarrassed. "You probably didn't notice because you were already effected by the root beer. It's quite common to leave some flowers in a cub's room, and that root beer is a nice way to distract a nervous young boy, wouldn't you think?"

Lachlan flushed. "Th-that still wasn't cool."

"I know. But you didn't seem to mind. You snuck off to bed early for some reason, I recall." She continued, ignoring the kit's furious blushing. "You've probably guessed that boys and girls are introduced to these things early here. There's no excuse for what I did, I should have told you what it would do, even if it was something so natural and pleasant. There's no fear or shame here, dear. That said, it's adorable to see you blushing over something so innocent and normal." She burst out laughing.

Squirming, Lachlan tried to banish the awkward smile that crept onto his features.

"I know it won't be easy to change your feelings, or at least it won't take just one day. I understand if you're embarrassed, Lockie, I'm just letting you know that we truly don't mind these things here. I'm sure it'll take some time to get over your shyness. I can understand if you don't forgive what was done to you. I swear it isn't our way here."

"D-do kits and grownups...?" he managed to ask, trying his damnedest to not even glance at his parents. "H-here?"

Ruth's smile grew broad. "Oh yes. If it's consensual. However, any abuse that'd cause physical or emotional harm is punished. Severely." She cocked her head. "Why? Has someone caught your eye, sweetie?"

"N-no! I was just wondering!"

"I'm sure you were," sing-songed Ruth mirthfully. Enjoying herself openly now. "Many kits do. You know, experience counts for something. You should always take the chance to learn from an elder."

Lachlan looked away resolutely. Face flushed hot.

However, the vixens shared another glance, then both took on a sober expression.

"Lachlan," his mother began, her voice mild. "We have a decision to make."

The kit glanced over. "What is it?"

His mom thought briefly, tapping her fingers together in silence. "I know you haven't had the best introduction to this place," she eventually said. "But did you hear what we said earlier? What this ritual was for?"

"To choose the leader of..." His muzzle went dry. "So, one of us...?"

"You, Lachlan." Ruth folded her paws. "The ordeal we put you through is a ritual we don't completely understand anymore, but it has been a tradition for centuries. Or even longer. It tests your character as well as your spiritual energies, testing your compatibility to our ways despite being raised away from the rest of us; it returns you home spiritually, awakens you and your awakening is a tithe to the Goddess Herself. You are the best possible choice to be my replacement when I retire in the coming years."

"Me?!" Lachlan swallowed. "You want me to be a priest or whatever and be in charge of this place?"

"I know it sounds strange at first, Lockie," his dad finally spoke up. He'd barely said a word to his son since he'd surrendered him to the dancers on that fateful stage. "I thought everything about this place was insane at first."

"Sounds strange?" Lachlan shook his head. He was starting to feel numb. "It's crazy. It doesn't sound anything."

"Give this place a chance, son." His father nodded slowly. "We can stay here until the end of the festival. Please, I know how hard it must be after what you went through, but give it a chance. Everyone is happy, it's beautiful and you'll never be alone. No school, no bullying allowed. I'm telling you, Lachlan, you will never, ever go through anything like the last few days again. I promise that."

The adult's tone and expression left no doubt in Lachlan's head about that.

"This isn't a backwoods village stuck millennia in the past, Lachlan." Ruth gestured at her television. "Your friends might not be here, but I guarantee you'll make new ones, and you'll still have all the entertainment you're used to. Though I promise you won't want to just sit indoors around here, either. You needn't stay here to take my place; I just ask, and recommend, and would be glad to see you give my island a chance, Lachlan. There are no obligations from here on."

Lachlan mulled it over. Despite it all, it was hard to remain angry at his parents. They seemed truly devastated by his distrust when he woke up, and very ashamed. He had to believe they were telling the truth.

The island didn't seem that bad. He had to admit he made friends easily, and... well. He wasn't sure about any of that other stuff.

"Alright," he mumbled. "For now." He sighed, letting his shoulders drop. "But you have to promise me you won't give me anything funny without asking. I wanna pick my own food and drinks. I'll starve to death if I gotta. Don't do anything like that to me again. I mean it."

They exchanged glances. His parents especially looked upset that he wouldn't trust them, but what could they expect?

"Alright," the trio of grownups agreed in unison.

"Where's Cameron?" Lachlan tried to make himself sound angry, but the truth was he felt terrible. The nastiest and most vicious thing he'd heard on the island had come from his own mouth, and to a sick, sweet boy like Cameron.

"Don't worry about him," Ruth replied, holding up a gentle paw in reassurance. "He understands what you're feeling. It hurt him a lot to do what he did, but he isn't upset about what you said. He's gone back to the mainland to visit their doctors."

"Is... is he okay?"

"I'm sorry, Lachlan. I don't know. If all goes well, he should be back in a few days at most."

"Okay."

"It's alright. You don't even have to apologize, he knows."

"One last question." Lachlan looked right at his aunt. "For now."

She cocked her head. "Yes, dear?"

"Do you have internet here? Otherwise, no way. Forget it."

* Four Days Later... *

"Mooom," Lachlan groaned, dropping his book in his lap. It was a short fantasy novella he'd been reading the last few weeks before the trip. He'd finally worked up the will to finish it, got himself seated on the soft couch in front of the fireplace, dressed his winter pajama top and pants to combat the morning chill, ready to read, when his mother came in and flicked on the kettle for the tea. The living room was right next to the darn kitchen...

She smiled at him tolerantly. "You're the one who decided to read on the couch this morning!" she chided, pulling open a drawer and reaching for a cup. The clinking and clanking of the porcelain and glass set Lachlan's teeth on edge. "We can't be all silent just for you."

Lachlan rolled his eyes. "I was just gonna ask you to please not bang all the cups like that!"

"Oh, sorry. I'm in a hurry." His mother withdrew more cups, placing them on the small kitchen's counter. "I'm making a cup for everyone. Do you want one?"

"You do it all the time - I keep thinking you're gonna break everything." The kit shook his head. "And no thanks."

"It's normal tea. You can watch me make it."

Lachlan sighed. "I just don't want to hold it right now."

"Have you had your bath?" The vixen stopped and folded her arms. She was wearing her flowing, light cotton dress, the one she'd worn that first day. "Remember that the boys are coming over to play."

A little trill of excitement flared up in Lachlan's chest. "I remember," he replied, trying to play it off. It wasn't the first time that he'd seen Crevan and Brendan since the night of the ritual - which he discovered to be only one night long, even though it felt like his captivity had been longer than that.

The other kits had apologized, profusely. They literally begged him to forgive him. The only one who didn't start tearing up was Crevan, and he wasn't far off. As angry as he had been at it all, Lachlan could tell they all believed they had to do what they did, and had tried their best to make it as fun for him as possible - an impossible thing, but there was no question they had tried.

But even after that, they hadn't done much aside from play in the grass outside the house. Lachlan had discovered pretty quickly that, while he was no match for them in grappling, he was one of the best young soccer players on the island.

Today would be different, though. Probably.

"We've got some snacks and a few movies for later. You can all snuggle up on the couch if you like, or go to your room."

Lachlan flushed. "I-I didn't say we were gonna do anything like that!"

"I mean for just watching the movies." His mother smiled.

Lachlan snatched up his book and started pretending to read. He swiveled around on the couch, lying on his back with his head on the armrest.

Suddenly, a shocking, electrifying sensation on his bare feet-paws made him yelp. He glared at his grinning mother, whose paws were suspiciously near his feet. "M-mom!" he complained, unable to keep a grin away. "What?!"

"You've got to get out of your jammies, love," she told him gently. "I'm putting on a wash, and you can't sit around in them when guests are coming to play with you."

Something about her wording made him flush again - after all, they probably were going to play. With one another. He just wished his mom wouldn't say it like that.

"I... uh." Lachlan fidgeted, and his mother was clearly holding back a giggle.

"What's wrong?" she asked. "You can take them off in front of me, it's okay."

Lachlan squirmed. "It's not that," he mumbled. "It's just that my other clothes are on the line outside except for my jeans and black shirt."

"That's what you get for playing in the dirt yesterday. You could answer the door for Brendan and Crevan buck naked. They won't care. Is that what you're asking?" His mother reached out to ruffle his head-fur, and she beamed as he accepted the touch. It was a major milestone. "C'mon, soldier. Down to your tighty-whities."

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Lachlan grumbled, shaking his head. "You're picking on me."

"Only a little. It's cute how you're so shy." She rubbed his ear for a second before turning back to the kitchen. "Lachlan, seriously, you could walk down the main street in the village in nothing but your fur and nobody will even think it's unusual, and you certainly don't have any reason to be shy, you look fine. If you don't believe me, just ask the boys."

Lachlan almost complained again, but something made him drop it. Probably that his mother was probably right, and being told he looked good made him struggle not to smile. Also, she was definitely doing this on purpose. After a sigh, he pulled his pajama t-shirt off his head, and lifted his hips to push down his cotton pants. With a sigh, he flopped down in his plain gray briefs. His plaid boxers were in the wash too. He didn't even have dignified underwear to be seen in.

He managed to smile at his mom when she looked over at him, spooning loose-leaf tea into the simple cups. "You'll give them a nice surprise like that."

"Come on, mom..." He sighed, picking his book up again, this time balancing it on his cloudy-furred chest. Acting annoyed and frustrated was a lot better than openly showing his mother how embarrassed she was getting him.

She winked at him, picking up the steaming kettle. "There'll be some more root beer in the fridge. Don't worry, it won't be quite like what you had the first night you were here."

Suddenly, there was a soft knock on the door.

"Hm?" his mother asked, frowning. "The boys aren't coming over for a few hours. Lachlan, can you please go answer that? I'm in the middle of pouring here."

Lachlan stared for a moment, his ears flattening. Then he sighed and put his book down again. "You just want me to answer the door in my underwear so you can laugh!"

"I really don't, Lachlan, nobody wants to make you do anything here. You can get dressed again if you want."

"No, it's fine, I'll get it." He swiftly hopped to his feet and marched around the couch to the door. "It's not like everyone on the freakin' island hasn't seen everything already."

The front door was light and unlocked, so Lachlan simply tugged it open. The morning sun was bright, and he winced as it poured in from outside. He blinked a few times, until the visitor came into view.

It was the lapin girl, with her long blonde headfur and large ears, dressed a simple white sundress. "Morning, Lachlan," she said, her voice as bright and clear as the sky itself.

"Oh... hi!" Lachlan squinted. "Uh, I didn't expect, um..." A pang of self-consciousness hit him, but he was surprised at how easily he brushed it away: even a girl seeing him in the doorway in just his briefs didn't faze him much anymore.

The lapin chortled melodically. "It's okay," she told him, reaching up to brush her headfur slowly. "I saw a lot more."

"Oh, yeah, I guess you did." The fox managed a wry smirk. Although he had seen and spoken with the others in the days since his ordeal, Lachlan hadn't really had the chance to speak with the dainty, cheerful rabbit-girl.

"Crevan said you wanted to speak to me?"

"Oh, yeah. Uh. I need to ask you something."

She raised an eyebrow encouragingly. "Sure." She had the strange ability to seem enthusiastic while also reserved and mature.

"But it has to be a secret," Lachlan added, lowering his voice. "Um. Is there anywhere we can talk?"

The girl blinked in surprise. "Oh. Perhaps your room?

"This house is way too small. I don't want anyone to hear us." Lachlan glanced over his shoulder. "Um. I have to ask you a favor."

She thought for a second, biting her lower lip with her oversized teeth. "This way," she whispered, starting off through the garden and around side of his aunt's rustic home. With only a moment's hesitation, Lachlan hopped onto the warm stone path, and followed the rabbit-girl through the wet grass and soil.

He still wasn't used to feeling those surfaces on the soles of his paws.

Eventually, she came to a stop by a small wooden hut - more a small, wooden toolshed of dark oak. Unopened, Lachlan could peer in and see gardening tools, still marked with wet soil, and not a few potted flowers. The sweet smell belated registered with him, and he looked around. He hadn't been in his aunt's garden yet. To no surprise, he was surrounded by those darn flowers. They nestled at the base of trees and bushes, and a wild flower-bed stretched from the shed to a scant few feet from the house itself, where a narrow flagstone path provided the only way to walk around the garden without getting one's paws dirty...

The lapin casually slipped behind the shed, beckoning him with a paw, and he followed. Finally hidden from from view, at least from the house and the main street, they faced each other.

"What is it?" she asked, clasping her paws in front of herself.

Lachlan composed himself. He had to ask this just right. "Um...Aine?" he began. "Awn-ye? Did I say it right?"

"Yeah!" Her near-permanent smile grew wider. "Ahhwwn-yeh!" she drawled playfully.

"Sweet." Lachlan narrowed his eyes. "Crevan told me that you're the expert with the potions and stuff, right?"

Aine cocked her head, and one ear perked slightly. "I studied herbalism under your aunt ever since I was five. Why?"

"Because I need a favor." The arctic folded his arms in front of his bare chest. "I need to get someone back for something."

She glanced at him, puzzled. Then gasped. "Oh! I-I can't do that! It isn't right!"

"But doing to me was?" Lachlan scowled. "That wasn't very fair. Nobody asked me for permission."

The lapin almost wilted from his gaze alone. "I don't know..."

"Fair is fair - and you were part of it. I'm just asking you to do what's right. Think about it, if we were back where I come from, you'd all go to jail forever."

Aine bit her lip again, staring at the ground between her bare paws. "Wh-what are you thinking? You don't want to hurt anyone, do you?"

"Don't worry. I just want to teach my mom and dad a lesson, that's all." Lachlan grinned. "One they won't forget in a hurry. I swear. I'm not like that."

"A-alright, I guess..." The lapin shuffled. "If you swear you're not trying to hurt anyone. When?"

"Well." Lachlan frowned pensively. Back home, it would seem strange to invite a girl to his house at the same time as boys; that suddenly struck him as very stupid. "I'm having Brendan and Crevan over tonight. Um. Probably a sleepover. If you wanted to come too?"

After a moment, the lapin's demeanor brightened. "Oh definitely!" she beamed at him. "That's a good idea, we can all hang out together! After all, we never got really introduced, did we?"

"I guess. Well, not really."

She stepped closer. "I'd love to stay the night, too," she whispered, reaching out to lightly brush the center of Lachlan's chest. "I think we'll be friends."

And just like that, Lachlan was blushing again.

... Why was it that when everything seem to go his way, and he was in control, it never seemed to last long?

* Later than evening... *

The afternoon had flown by, and the sky had tinged purplish black as night edged closer. As far as sleepovers went, Lachlan had to admit this was a fun one.

His parents had retreated to their rooms and his aunt had excused herself for the night, leaving the boys and Aine to their own devices in the living room. They'd watched movies, ate snacks - albeit healthier snacks than Lachlan was used to; a bowl of potato chips wouldn't have gone amiss - and been silly together on the couch and carpet, under a few thick blankets to combat the chilliness.

As darkness swept the sky outside, they hadn't bothered with turning on the lights, and the rustic, cozy living room was lit only by the (old, but still functioning) television and a few candles as they watched a recent movie. Sharing the heat from their bodies beneath those blankets.

The movie was interesting, but as it started to wind down and start tying up the loose ends, Lachlan had much more important things on his mind. He pondered his observations over the last few days. This island was incredible.

Aside from a few interesting things, Lachlan realized that tonight was just like any other sleepover he'd had with his best friends back home. They'd played and joked together, eaten pizza, and done everything he'd've expected back home. Sure, normally they were a single-gender thing, but, here, Aine fit right in with the others; they'd practically grown up together, and her relationship with the two boys was... very close.

As affectionate as some of his friends back home could be, Lachlan immediately noticed how close the kits of the isle really were, and how quickly they accepted him, sharing their boundless friendliness with him. The four of them were practically snuggling in front of the television, without a shred of self-consciousness. Lachlan was only vaguely aware of it by now.

Only a few days ago, they'd put him through a very scary ordeal. But many apologies later - very profuse apologies, with both Kaylee and Brendan bursting into tears - here they were, cuddling in front of a movie together.

He'd also confirmed his theory. Crevan was from New York. Brendan, the earthy-furred raccoon boy, was born in Wales, in a town he couldn't pronounce. Kaylee, who had come down with a cold and couldn't join them tonight, moved here from Scotland. Although their accents had softened, there had been little hints. They hadn't lived here all their lives. Although, apparently Aine had. Which probably explained her open, bright attitude.

The four of them had been brought here at a young age and various omens and signs had resulted in them gaining a prominence amongst the island's inhabitance. In certain situations, they outranked most of the grownups on the island, and they took part in rituals occasionally. Lachlan was still trying to understand it, but for now all that mattered was that they were all snuggled up under a mess of blankets, watching the latest animated blockbuster in their pajamas. Idly caressing and petting one another, just affectionately touching.

As the credits started to roll, Brendan stretched languorously while Lachlan gently kicked away the blankets. "Anybody want anything from the kitchen?" he asked, standing.

"Got any of your aunt's root beer?" Crevan asked hopefully.

"Uh. I think so." Lachlan frowned. "Um, but, you know..." He nervously scratched at the front of his t-shirt clad chest. "It's pretty strong stuff."

Aine giggled. "It won't be as strong as the one she gave you when you got here." She ran a dainty paw through her headfur, brushing back a long, velvety ear that had slipped in front of her face.

Lachlan flushed. Even if that was true, he was pretty sure the end result would be more or less the same. "Hang on, let me go ask my parents."

With that, he padded his way to the back of the house, to the larger of the guest bedrooms. Stretching as he walked, a little woozy after cuddling up on the couch for so long.

The house was quiet now, and dark. Only a few candles - normal ones, Lachlan was pretty sure - in small sconces in the hallway and in an ornate candelabra on the sideboard in the living room provided any light. The ruddy, flickering light and swaying shadows were almost soporific.

He paused to sniff at one on the wall. It definitely smelled like an ordinary candle. So the few times his dick threatened to get stiff while they were watching the movie were probably all natural.

Lachlan knocked on his parents' bedroom door three times, then cracked the door open without waiting for a response; he knew he wouldn't get one. So he poked his head in. "Mom, dad?"

The room was humid and smelled slightly of sweat and something indefinable, even though the window was flung wide open. Up against the wall away from the door, the bed was in disarray, and pillows were strewn across the floor.

His parents were sprawled awkwardly atop the disheveled sheets, still breathing heavily. His mother had a corner of the sheets draped over her body, but his panting father was denied that dignity. Lachlan was surprised to realize he didn't really care about seeing his parents like this; he certainly wasn't "scarred" or anything, in the way his friends often joked they'd be if they saw their parents nude.

Was sort of a let down, really.

"Can we have some of the root beer Auntie Ruth made for us?" Lachlan asked sweetly.

His mom groaned. "Uh, uh-huh..." she managed.

Lachlan stepped in the room and folded his arms, leaning against the doorframe. "Soooo, we're not gonna do stuff like this to each other ever again, are we?"

Both his parents shook their heads as vigorously as they could. They sort of mumbled, unintelligibly.

"Good. Because you're my mom and dad, and I love you guys, and I don't want to be afraid that you might put something in my food again." The kit smiled. "Okay, see ya!"

And with that, Lachlan cheerily made his way back to the kitchen, gently closing the door behind him.

Aine's golden-furred head poked around the corner of the hallway, her eyes wide. "How long were they...?" she whispered. She held up one paw with her fingers making a circle, and slowly jabbed the other paw's finger in and out of it. Her face was so serious, Lachlan almost burst out laughing.

Instead, he just grinned. "Hour or two?" he murmured back. "They've stopped now."

The lapin bit her lip with her oversized teeth and slinked back to the couch.

Lachlan shrugged mentally, nonchalantly shuffling to the fridge. He could forgive his parents, but he certainly wasn't about to feel bad about giving them a taste of their own medicine. He felt they deserved that much.

The moment his bare paws touched the smooth wood of the kitchen floor there was a knock on the front door, and Lachlan froze.

He had no idea where Ruth had disappeared to, and he had to admit he felt a little suspicious about that. He wondered if she had just realized Lachlan would be out for revenge and decided to keep away tonight to avoid getting embarrassed in front of everyone. Or maybe she had just wanted to give them some privacy.

Either way, his parents were in no condition to open the door. Lachlan turned about. "Coming," he said loudly, shuffling down the corridor.

He had no idea who to expect when the door swung open with a creak. But he definitely didn't expect to see_him_.

For a dumbfounded moment, Lachlan just gawked at a diminutive white figure, a boy who just grinned back at him.

"C-Cameron?!" he exclaimed. "You're back!"

The younger boy gave him a fleeting smile. "Hi."

Lachlan blinked, lost. "I... uh. Hi."

"I'm sorry."

"Huh?"

Cameron was dressed in tan three-quarter pants and a t-shirt, though his paws were uncovered. He shifted, lightly scuffing the garden path with one of those bare paws. "I'm sorry about what I did. I didn't want to betray you like that." He looked down at the doorstep.

Lachlan sighed. "I know. I'm sorry I said all that. I know you probably didn't have much of a choice."

"Sort of. I... They probably wouldn't have forced me. But I wanted to believe it'd work."

"That's still not much of a choice." Lachlan smiled wryly. "It's okay."

"Hey, I'm glad you're more comfortable here now." Cameron looked up, grinning again.

"Huh?"

"You know you're naked, right?"

Lachlan blushed. "I know. I've got the, uh, the others are here too. Except for Kaylee. We've been naked for hours; I guess it's fine when you're used to it." He paused. "Are you okay? What happened on the mainland?"

Cameron's eyes lit up. "Do you have internet here?"

Taken aback, Lachlan took a moment to formulate a reply. "Uh, yeah? I think so. There's a laptop Ruth said we could use, I think it has internet. Why?"

"I have something to show you."

"Sure. C'mon, let's let the others know you're here." For some reason, Lachlan was sure Cameron already knew he had guests. News always seemed to get around the island fast, especially news to do with him. Stepping aside, he ushered the younger kit inside. "I'm glad you're back."

"Me too!"

When Lachlan flicked on the living room light, the sight that greeted him was only moderately chaotic. The sheets and blankets had been kicked off the sofa and now laid in a tangled mess on the floor. Crevan had draped himself backwards off the sofa, his legs on the seat but the rest of him on the floor with the sheets. Brendan had laid over the fox's legs with his head nestled on Aine's lap. The clothing situation, or lack thereof, hadn't changed.

"Cam! You're back!" Brendan was the first to react, and sat up quickly.

Seconds later, the three of them had flung themselves across the room and snared the frail arctic in a tight hug, squeezing him as if he'd been gone for months. Lachlan had learned that they were very fond of the gentle boy.

"What's the news?" Crevan asked when they finally gave him some space. Lachlan noticed the grave expressions on his face, on all their faces; they had been worried.

Had it been that serious? Why hadn't they told him?

But Cameron had a grin on his face. "Well..."

Lachlan felt something like a mental jolt. A realisation that made him tense all over, his ears flattening to his skull. "But," he murmured, before he could catch himself, "you said it's incur-"

The frail kit beamed at him.

...Oh shit. Oh shit! No way. No, no way!

Lachlan quickly stalked out the living room, rushing straight to his room.

"L-Lachlan?" he heard Cameron call, surprised. "Hold on! Wait!"

... But he couldn't. He reaaaally had to think.

* 2 Weeks Later *

Ever since that night, the little cottage had been almost unsettlingly quiet. The other kits had stayed away, and even the adults seemed to be afraid of making noise.

Lachlan barely noticed this, as he spent another day mostly in his room, flicking through his comics and books, and wasting time with pointless games on his cell phone. Volume down as low as it could go. Venturing out into the house only to use the bathroom, and refusing all invitations to do anything.

It was all far too overwhelming for Lachlan, and he just needed some space. He was no longer a captive, instead he was hiding away from it all. Everyone seemed to respect that, although Lachlan wasn't sure if they knew what had really rattled him.

Still, it was a slight surprise when, shortly after sunrise, he heard a knocking on the door of his little guest bedroom.

"Hmh?" he grunted, not looking up from his comic. He was above the covers, having not bothered to sleep under them the previous night, and clad in his warm winter pajamas to compensate.

"Lachlan?" came an unexpected voice. Similar to his mother's, only softer and yet more confident. "It's your Auntie. Can I please talk to you?"

Lachlan had to think about that. "I suppose so," he mumbled reluctantly.

The door creaked open, and the enigmatic vixen swept into the room. Her expression unreadable.

The kit closed his comic and looked up at her, keeping his own expression equally neutral. "What is it?"

She took a moment to think. "I have to talk to you," the priestess said. "I can't leave things like this. It is my fault, after all."

Lachlan blinked. "Yeah?"

"Yes. It is, and I'm sorry." Ruth shot him a wry smile. "Can I please sit down?"

"I guess..." Lachlan frowned suspiciously, but shifted away from the edge of the bed as his aunt daintily took a seat there.

Ruth hesitated, clasping her paws pensively. "Lachlan, look," she began. "The ritual, the... things we put you through. It's only done once a generation. I have been acting like I know everything, like I don't care about what we did to you." She shook her head. "It's all just that. An act, for the benefit of everyone else. I have never done this before, and everything I have been taught in my entire life tells me it was wrong. I have no idea what I'm doing."

The kit just stared.

"I'm so sorry, Lachlan. I can't stress just how disgusted I am about all of this, and I don't know what to think about this. My beliefs told me that I had to put you through all that, but also that things like that are unforgivably wrong." Ruth clutched her paws even tighter, and avoided meeting Lachlan's eyes. "I hope you don't think I'm a monster that doesn't care about what she did to you."

"... Why did you do it, then?"

"It's hard to explain. Rituals are stupid, aren't they?" She snorted. "Sometimes they don't make sense even within their own religion. I believe in many things you're only just now questioning, but it's normally a law of this land: to each, their own bodies belong. That's something I think a lot of furs believe in."

"Yeah."

Ruth sighed. "Maybe it's time to think about why we do things. Tradition isn't always a good enough reason to do them. Maybe this should be the last time."

"But what about... you know. The Goddess you believe in." Lachlan closed his comic. "If you really believe all that."

"I believe She has always wanted what's best for us, for us to be happy and free. I believe She provides, but that Her teachings may have been confused and twisted with time. After all, She cannot speak to us as we speak amongst ourselves." The vixen finally looked at him. "If you do choose to remain here, Lachlan, it will be your choice if you put another through this. If you'll make them face all that fear. To make them choose."

A cold tingle settled into Lachlan's face. It dawned on him abruptly: "You went through it as well, didn't you? When you were my age?"

The grownup nodded gravely. "I did. I was younger, in fact."

"That's terrible."

"Perhaps it was. Perhaps it is." Ruth shrugged helplessly. "Maybe, just because one generation suffered through something, that doesn't mean the next needs to. There is so much joy and wonder on this island. Maybe there's no place for things like that."

After a moment, Ruth stood.

"I'm sorry, Lachlan. But I do believe you have the selflessness and heart to lead here. I believe you, and the other children, are a strong generation that can face these things and make the right choice. When you commune with Her, I'm sure you'll decide on the right way to do things. The others will follow you as they followed me."

She smoothed out her satiny dress and walked to the door, pausing as her gentle paw laid on the handle.

"In the meantime, please forgive the others, especially your mother and father, and don't let all your questions leave you scared and alone. Everyone else is still hoping you can be happy here. It was all my fault, because I was too scared to do things differently." She pulled the door open, and smiled serenely at him as she stepped into the corridor. "I hope you can truly forgive me, Lachlan. Though, I suppose I understand if you can't. That's all."

When she shut the door, Lachlan wanted to call out. To say something. But nothing came.

The wind at the island's tiny docks was biting cold. The sea heaved and swelled to its rhythm, like a heartbeat, wonderfully hypnotic.

Lachlan had crouched down on the grass just outside the docks, staring vaguely at the little concrete pier, the tiny office, the unmanned lighthouse in the distance, and the seemingly vast expanse of sea that separated them all from the mainland. From normalcy.

He sat quietly, unperturbed by the weather despite being dressed in naught but a pair of football shorts and the jersey of his favorite team.

He'd gotten so used to facing the elements in nothing but his fur that he barely noticed the temperature or the rushing wind, even as it ruffled his fur.

Eventually he could see it. A tiny blue and white speck on the horizon, swaying to and fro with the frothy sea.

The boat was coming back again.

"Lachlan?"

He looked over his shoulder. Cameron was trudging up the grassy rise towards him; coincidentally, he was wearing the same machine-stitched cargo pants and t-shirt as when they first met. But, unlike Lachlan, a hefty jacket was tied around his waist.

"Hi, Cam." Lachlan gave a half-hearted smile.

The younger boy shuffled over and crouched down by his side, before dropping to his backside to sit cross-legged by him. "What're you doing out here?"

"Same to you." Lachlan shrugged. "I'm just thinking."

"I was looking for you." Cameron looked out at the sea, scanning where it met with the cloudy, dark sky. "Do you know what you're going to do?"

"No." Lachlan shifted slightly, bringing his knees to his chest and hugging them there.

This was it. The deadline. The boat was coming back for the week. The flight from London to New York was booked for tomorrow afternoon.

He had to choose. At least for now.

"It's a bit scary, I know."

Lachlan nodded. "I'll be leaving my friends behind, too. Leaving everything."

"Yeah."

There was a hiatus as both boys just fell silent. Cameron just watched while Lachlan held himself, staring now at the wet grass in front of him.

A small flower of purple and white, struggling to bloom, sprung from the damp soil a scant few inches from the older fox-boy's feet. Swaying in the wind. Cameron hadn't noticed it at first.

"That one's late. Spring's almost over."

A grunt. Then a sigh. "There's too much I don't get." The morose boy plucked at some nearby grass. "I kinda want to just go home and forget all about this place."

"I know."

"It's not the same for you." The older kit shook his head. "I'm s'posed to be some kind of... priest or whatever. Like Crevan and the others."

"'Priest' isn't really a good translation..." Cameron sidled closer. "And you're gonna be above them, actually. If you stay."

"What would I have to do?"

"I don't know. I think you just have to learn our customs and stuff like that." Cameron chortled. "I know, you're thinking it'll be like getting homework from church or whatever."

"Yeah."

"Well, sure, if instead of singing hymns you play in the grass and hug each other and stuff."

Lachlan snorted. "... A little more than just hugging goin' on here."

"Definitely. But I'd say that's more like our idea of prayers."

The older boy smiled, for just a split moment. "So weird." Then he met Cameron's eyes, letting a little of his fear and confusion show. "C-Cam? Do you think it's all-?"

"Does it matter?" Cameron inched a little closer. "For the first time, I think they could fix me. If they can't, I dunno. Maybe it's all a lie. Maybe it's just another religion."

"I hope not. I mean. I guess." Accepting the alternative was scary for its own reasons. But, then, what could explain what happened? With such timing, too?

Cameron's expression became wistful. "But I've been_happy_since I came here. The way we live here, it's good. It's... I mean..."

"Don't you want to know if it's all true or not?"

"Of course I do." The smaller kit laughed. "But I have to be alive to find out. So all I can do is just keep hoping, I guess."

"Right." Lachlan chuckled too.

"And, you know." Cameron's voice lowered to a whisper. "To be with you. And the others, yeah, but..."

Lachlan flushed, feeling his cheeks warm in spite of the chill. "Yeah." He paused, nonplussed. "I don't want to leave you guys. But I'm not sure what to do."

" It doesn't mean it's forever. Just because you stay for now, doesn't mean you can_never_go home. We'll all be here for you, waiting for you to come back if you do go."

"I guess."

"I left my friends too. To stay here. It sucked." Cameron slid even closer. Until his knee almost touched Lachlan's side. "I always wanted to invite my friends from back in London."

Lachlan grunted softly, but his thoughts wandered back to what Cameron said earlier.

Happy.

It was crazy. As scared and alone as he'd been for the first few nights, especially after awakening to find himself chained to a bed, Lachlan had to admit that things changed once his ordeal was over. This place was different to where he came from. Everyone was either kind, or kept to themselves; the other kids were friendly, there was no bullying tolerated. Almost everyone seemed to be comfortable with themselves, and with everyone else. Things were by no means perfect, but everyone had a warm, positive, kind outlook that Lachlan felt was just_right_.

Not to mention the other stuff. He'd be lying if he said that didn't interest him a little.

And it all seemed welcoming and genuine. Even for Lachlan, who was mostly unused to it, it long stopped seeming 'wrong' or anything like that. Now that he thought about it... Lachlan was happy here.

But that wasn't the problem. He was scared to let go. Though, knowing what he did about himself now, part of him was scared to go back.

They sat there for a long time, watching the sea. Watching the clouds. Watching the boat's inexorable approach. Letting time slip away.

Eventually, Cameron twisted around and pulled himself to his feet, walking a few steps away in the wet sod and grass.

"I'll let you think," he said, thoughtful as always. "I hope you'll stay."

"Cam?" said Lachlan, staring vaguely at the flower in front of him. "Do you ever, uh, wish you hadn't come here?"

He thought about it for a moment. "No." He shrugged. "Not really. I miss my friends from home, but I made friends here. I know I can always go back."

"Weren't you scared?"

Cameron raised an eyebrow. "Of course. I dunno what to tell you though." He shrugged. "A lot of us left home, just like you might. It was probably just as hard for Crevan as it was for me or you."

"I guess it'll be worth it to find out the truth, huh."

"Yeah." The kit snorted. "And hey, it's fun here, right?"

"Hm." Lachlan rocked forward and stood, quickly brushing wet grass off his backside. The boat was closer now, though he had to squint into the salty breeze to see. "It's not bad. Could do with a skate park."

"Actually, there's a petition to get the grownups to help build one. Remember, a lot of us come from other places."

"Really? How does that work?" With that, Lachlan fell in beside his new friend and they started to walk back down the hill.

"Well, come on, I'll tell you. You know, I don't think anyone's really given you the tour yet, huh?"

"Not yet. I guess everyone was trying to keep away from me."

"Well, you weeere a little grumpy for awhile there."

"Of course I was! You guys kinda drugged me a little, remember that?"

"Yeah. The whole village heard what you did to your mum and dad, you know. Is it true they couldn't get out of bed for two days after?!"

"Mm. Good."

"How much did you give them?!"

"Ohh, I'd say: enough."

Together the snowy-furred boys made their way back to the village under the shade of the Great Tree. To the colorful gardens and humble homes. To the wisps of smoke adorning quaint chimneys, and the muted bustling of those who lived there.

Who had lived there for centuries untold, under the Her protection.

As they left, unwatched, the sleepy flower bloomed at last.

And so the circle would continue. Though never the same again.

_ The End... _