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CHAPTER 13

Interlude

Winter dragged on through the following couple of months leading up to the thaw. Flowers began to pollinate, the temperature rose, and the ice and snow melted as winter made way for spring. The flowers began to bloom, the farmers tended to their livestock, collecting eggs, milk, and breeding the next generation. They mended their fields, sowing seeds, enriching the soil, preparing for another long, hard season of backbreaking work. Spring flew by in a flash, paving the way for summer. The days became longer, the sun wore on the land leading to more comfortable weather, lots of rain, and the growth of crops, the livelihood of many denizens of the Darreen Plains.

The offerings continued as they had in the past, returning to a state of normality with the Royal Court personally accepting each citizen's tribute. And once again, Rishi found himself at the tail end of the tributes, offering himself to all five members to ravish his body. His discomfort following the unfortunate incident after the Court's return to Darreen persisted in the small rodent, making the first couple of offerings rather uncomfortable. Each member took their turn in alternating fashion and showed a certain lack of interest compared to their conduct with the mouse prior to their trip back to Gellikor. That passed over time, their enthusiasm during their sexual escapades with Rishi returning to its previously elevated levels. Something similar could be said about Rishi's discomfort with sharing a bed with the court members.

Though the memory of that night persisted like a granite mural in his mind, the feeling of antipathy towards the felines slowly dwindled. It never fully faded, but he felt more relaxed as time went on. The guards showed more respect towards him, at least as much respect as could be expected towards someone forced into having sex, and Lord Allon always seemed to glow whenever Rishi was with him. They never tied him up, there was much less pain, and, much to the mouse's gratification, they rarely asked him for his seed. They were always so felicitous in the mouse's company and it was enough to calm Rishi's nerves.

Week after week, the rodent endured his erotic tribute as every other anthro in the Plains paid their own. That is, of course, save for the first week of spring. It was a time when the denizens of Darreen paid their respects to the god and goddess of springtime, to give thanks for fruitful years in the past and to ask for another fruitful season to come. And although he didn't practice the same religious customs as the rest of the plains people, he did celebrate this time of year and made a particular effort to show respect, honor, and ask for help from the springtime gods. As such, it was the one week of the year when the Darreen locals were granted a free pass from paying tribute to the Identine Nation.

Lord Allon once stated that he didn't want to interfere with the local's customs, which might anger the gods that look out for Darreen and risk punishment for such arrogance. Everyone figured it was a joke, but they took it to heart and were grateful that the lord was being so kind. Rishi, on the other hand, was not so lucky. Given the three weeks he missed a tribute entirely, the week after his first tribute where he offered his body, the week prior to their leave for Gellikor, the three weeks during their absence, and the week after their return, the Royal Court agreed he'd already missed enough days without a tribute. Rishi, somewhat heartbroken, felt he'd paid with more than just his body over the last several months, but it wasn't his place to argue. Fortunately, his session was considerably short and didn't interfere with his prayers. But as bad luck flows into one's life, good luck is often right behind.

As springtime came around, Rishi did as all other farmers in the land did, sowing the seeds, mending the fields, irrigating the land, and fertilizing the soil. And as spring turned to summer, the hapless mouse, ill-fated for the last three years, saw his prayers to the spring gods come to fruition. His land was healing and previously where crops couldn't grow he saw new growth. Wheat, barley, potato tubers, different species of grass; his farm was finally turning into a profitable enterprise. He was even planning on taking up raising goats, both for their meat and for their milk. Fate had thrown him many unfortunate events to stall his life ambitions, but now it appears that fate has finally turned in his favor.

His wife was healthy, having mended quite nicely from the birth of their twins, who were also healthy, though noisy as they'd ever known a pair of twins to be. Both Dax and Tessa were growing nicely and Tessa was beginning to take an interest in the farm. They'd spent days out on the beach, enjoying the waves with Tessa getting quite good at swimming and Dax enjoying just stepping into the water. As the one year anniversary was coming about when Rishi first offered his body to the Royal Court, the mouse's farm had become extremely prolific. All output was exceeding his expectation and he and his wife had remembered what it was like to not skate by on the skin of their teeth. Rishi even figured out that soon he'd be able to begin offering his crops as tribute again, a prospect that filled the mouse with a sense of joy he hadn't felt since before the Ferochen canines invaded. He smiled with glee, enjoying the comfort of his wife, his kids, his home, and a future where his body was once again his own.

The Next First Tribute

Rishi brimmed with excitement, the unfortunate circumstances leading him to suffer through the last year seemed to have paid off. Now, as he stood at the back of the line, behind his fellow plains people, he was, for once, thrilled to be giving his tribute. This was a turning point in his life, moving beyond the stage in which he was tested to determine how resolute he was in protecting that which he loves. What would he do to protect his loved ones and was it worth his reputation and humility? He passed the test, he showed his resolve, and now he was being rewarded for it.

He stood there, behind Priesto, of all people, as the line shortened quickly. At his feet was a satchel of various breads, spices, and tied to the side were a few bottles of spirits and wine. He wore a nice leather tunic, wool undershirt, and a mixture of wool and cotton pants, a nice set for a nice occasion. Every time the line moved, Rishi gently lifted the satchel and took a step forward, then lowered the satchel again to the ground. He'd forgotten what it was like to carry one of these to tribute, not to be waiting to strip naked and take a feline's barbed meat straight into his rectum. The very thought of never having to bear that task again was filling him with joy. Of course, Rishi thought back to those times and remembered that they weren't all bad. Save for a select few moments in his history of sleeping with the court members, it wasn't unbearable, or even really unpleasant. Though he never got used to the taste or the smell, there was a closeness with the Royal Guards and to Lord Allon that if he did harbor sexual attraction towards them, he might actually have found it endearing. Still, if he had to bury his muzzle in another person's crotch and spend the night smelling their scent, he'd much rather be doing it with Samantha.

"So, you have a change of heart?" Priesto asked of the mouse.

Rishi looked back at the rat, a sarcastic smile plastered on his face as he turned his neck to look back at his fellow rodent. "What do you mean?"

"You decide finally that you no longer want that sweet royal cum in your ass anymore?"

Priesto had become much more friendly with Rishi over the last year, even though he still spoke to him with a bit of condescension. His sense of humor was a bit ascerbic as well, having no problem joking about how the mouse had been acting as the Royal Court's personal slut fuzzy. Rishi didn't really appreciate it, but considering how far the two rodents had come to build a friendship, he decided not to make such a big deal about it. After all, Priesto never really started cracking such jokes until they had been on friendly terms, so he knew the rat didn't really mean any harm by it.

Rishi let out a disgruntled sigh, fuming a little, but in an amicable manner, before smiling back at the rat. "Well, I figured it's about time someone else took that task and I was thinking of recommending you."

"Ha! No thanks, mouse. Unlike you, I never faked a lack of harvest just so the court would proposition me. You keep doing what you're doing. I don't mind." He wore a wicked grin the entire time and spoke with a mischievous tone as he mocked his friend.

Rishi shook his head. "Trust me, knowing the good lord and his men, I wouldn't have to fake low harvest to get in bed with them."

Priesto dropped the facetious act and upped the sincerity. "So, your farm's finally back to what it was then?"

"Eh, it's gettin' there. Some of the area is still dead, or it's just producing outright crap, but everything I learned about how to grow better crops is definitely paying off. The land that's fertile is really fertile. I've never seen wheat growing that tall or thick. And it's still growing."

"Well, I'm happy for you. And if I were you, I'd want to celebrate." Priesto paused a moment. "Why don't you?"

"Hm?"

"Come over to my place. Bring some wine, I've got some of my own, bring Sam, we'll get together and celebrate your freedom from agony of the Royal Court's bedroom."

Rishi's ears splayed back a little against the back of his head, nervous about the rat's choice of words.

"Rat!" Priesto jumped a little as he turned to look at the cougar standing guard outside the door to the High Court, looking displeased by what the rat had said. "Choose your words more carefully. Don't you let me hear you talk about our great lord in that manner ever again."

Priesto gulped and nodded his head apologetically. "I- I'm sorry, Sir Tony. Please forgive me."

Tony gave a mere shake of his head and went back to being bored. Priesto looked back at Rishi who just gave him a sympathetic look. Feeling embarrassed and ashamed, the rat just lowered his head and sulked.

"Yes." Priesto looked back at Rishi as the mouse spoke. "I am ready to be done with it. And yes, I would like to celebrate." The rat returned a satisfied smile as they continued to wait their turn.

After several more minutes of watching anthro after anthro enter and leave the High Court, Priesto finally made his way in. Now alone, save for the two guards standing next to the door, Rishi stood restless, bouncing a little in anticipation for his first 'normal' tribute in a year. His excitement was beyond obvious as he began to hum a childhood melody under his breath.

Tony chuckled at the happy mouse. "So now you're able to make your tribute and be happy about it at the same time, huh?" Rishi looked back at the cougar and nodded emphatically. "Heh! Well, I'd ask if you were excited, but I think if you were any more excited, it'd be written into your fur." Rishi chuckled. "Seriously, I'm happy for you. I'm glad things are going good for you."

Rishi blushed a little under his fur. "Thanks, Sir Tony. I've always appreciated what you've done for me."

"Well, I'm here to serve the people of the Plains as well as the Identine Nation."

They smiled at each other as Matt leaned against the wall, indifferent to the conversation and the topic being discussed. The door to the High Court opened and Priesto stepped out, empty handed as expected. He turned to Rishi and smiled. "You're up."

With that, the rat began home as Rishi lifted up his satchel and made his way inside, eager to get in and out in record time. Tony closed the door behind him as Rishi quickly walked to the base of the steps, the four Royal Guards in their natural position as Allon sat in his seat, loincloth draped between his legs, sitting with his head propped up onto his paw which sat upright on the arm rest, looking bored. Rishi then proceeded to do something he hadn't done since he last offered his crops to the court, roughly a year and a month ago. He got down on one knee, bowed with respect to the cougar lord and his men, and spoke in a respectful, confident voice.

"My lord, as tribute for this cycle I have brought you a bushel of fresh baked bread, three cups of spices, and several bottles of wine and spirits for his lordship's men to lift their own."

He had to remind himself several times to refer to Allon as 'my lord' and not 'Lord Allon' as he would not be getting as personal with the cougar anymore. His voice was still somewhat soft, but he was enthusiastic enough that he was clear, concise, and his voice still reverberated off the walls. He kept his head low, honoring the great lord, waiting for his response. The cougar stared blankly at the offering, a twitch in his tail and steady breathing his only form of movement. After a long moment, he took a deep breath and spoke.

"What the fuck is this?!"

Rishi's eyes went wide as he felt a frog jump into his throat. He looked up at the puma, his gaze meeting the feline's. "My lord?"

"I said, 'What the fuck is this?!'" Rishi waited a moment, suddenly feeling his nerves spike as the lord just glared back at him, eyebrows furrowed in an expression of anger.

Rishi gulped nervously. "Um... what do you mean, my lord?"

"What the fuck do you mean 'what do I mean?' I mean, why the fuck are you trying to hock off this shit as tribute. You know damn well that wasn't the deal you agreed to you ungrateful rodent."

He pointed at the satchel, Rishi looking down at it and realizing what was happening. Allon wasn't willing to accept his offering. Rishi's heart sunk then, confused and scared, remembering the options given to him a year ago, offer his life, his body, or come up with the crops to give. He had the crops to give, so he couldn't understand why the cougar wouldn't accept them.

"My lord, I- I don't understand. You- you said that I had the option of bringing you my crops..."

"Back when you were delinquent in your offerings." Allon was extremely agitated and Rishi heard it in his voice. His upper lip curled back into a snarl as he spoke. "If you could bring me your crops as offerings, I would accept them, but you couldn't, so you offered me your body. That was the deal. Just because things have changed for you now doesn't mean you get to go back on your deal. You made the offer, I accepted it. I have not given you a new option, so don't think for one second that you get to choose one for yourself. I don't want your bread or booze. I get enough of that from the rest of your people. What I do want is that tail of yours. So strip, get up here, and let's begin your offering."

It was clear now to Rishi what Allon was expecting, but that just made his heart sink deeper. He thought back and realized that was Allon's intention all along. He was trapped and had only one way out and by accepting it in the first place, Allon had all the power he needed to keep him underneath him, literally. Rishi's eyes began to tear up and his lower lip began to quiver at the prospect of spending the rest of his days being used by the Royal Court with no sign of relief. He'd gotten his hopes up, he was so excited to finally be finished with this unsettling task, but those hopes were dashed much faster than he could've built them up.

The four royal guards had various reactions to the scene. Amarro and Jarai seemed to share Allon's point of view. Amarro looked down at the mouse with disappointment and derision while Jarai looked back with annoyance. Kish looked down with pity on the poor mouse, slightly dazed by the lord's decision, but nevertheless understanding it. The most telling expression, however, came from Dubois, who looked on the whole scene with confusion and disbelief. He looked around at the other guards hoping they would share his bewilderment at the lord's treatment of the plainsman, but none betrayed a sense of disagreement with the cougar, so the cheetah said nothing.

Rishi stood up slowly, his legs shaking and his eyes shrink-wrapped in tears. "My lord, I have done everything you wanted of me and more. I have humiliated myself-"

"Enough!" the cougar yelled, garnering surprise from everyone in the hall. Rishi stopped speaking, the terror raising in him and his heart falling into pieces. "I am not going to sit here and listen to anymore pleading about how much you've sacrificed or how miserable you are. I'm done with that you little shit. I don't want to hear it. Now undress and get your skinny ass up here. I'm starting to lose my patience."

Rishi was trembling, having lost all sense of joy and happiness. In that moment, he felt he'd finally had enough. He clenched his small paws into fists, curled his face into an expression of defiance, and let the tears flow down his cheeks.

"No."

Everyone stopped and stared in absolute shock at the tiny rodent. Allon gazed back at the defiant mouse, his ears standing upright and his body still and stiff. "What did you say?"

"I said, 'No.' I'm not doing this anymore. I've given as much as I can give. Now I'm done. So I'm taking my family and I'm leaving."

Allon said nothing for a moment, his eyes fixed on the rodent's in a focused glare. After a moment, his brow furrowed in annoyance, he stood up tall and proud and intimidatingly over the minuscule mouse. "I don't believe I gave you that option either." His voice was calm, but the undertone was menacing, almost diabolical.

Rishi's defiant features suddenly and rapidly switched to fear and regret. It was suddenly clear to him that he was right about Allon. The cougar wasn't just simply giving the mouse a way to keep his position in the Plains, he was trying to control him, and this confirmed it. Whenever he was in doubt about going through with his tribute, Allon always gave him the option of taking his chances beyond the borders. He knew the risks were far too great and he'd have to stay. Now that he's showing defiance towards the high lord and threatening to leave, the puma is taking away his only other option, leaving him helpless to refuse.

Amarro, Jarai, and Kish all looked on the rodent with similar expressions, knowing full well the mistake he just made. Dubois, however, showed nothing but empathy, feeling the rodent's pain and openly evincing his concern. Allon's breathing increased, a fire having lit up in his eyes in a show of fury towards the recalcitrant mouse. It burned a hole into Rishi's emotional core, devastation written in face and body movement. He'd realized his mistake, but too late now. The large feline glared at the rodent like an angry predator and Rishi's instincts took over. His first notion was to freeze and hope the threat would go away, but every thought racing through his brain at that moment was the same: RUN!

"You disobeyed an order from the high lord, rodent," explained Amarro standing closest to Rishi. "That's a punishable offense."

Rishi was visibly shaking and terrified of what the cougar lord would do, despite the fact that he just stood there, staring coldly back at the mouse. With little hope left, Rishi gathered up what little courage he had left and quickly turned and bolted for the door. A few quick steps and he was right at the exit, paw outstretched reaching for the handle, but it was for naught. Amarro had reached him first, grabbing him by the arm and tossing him back, throwing him to the ground as Rishi slid back bumping hard against the stairs.

Rishi grimaced in pain as his back collided with the lowest step. He slowly moved onto his stomach, attempting to lift himself onto his feet, but the pain making the task a laborious one. Before he could think properly, Kish grabbed the mouse roughly by the arm and lifted him up, causing a groan of pain from the murine mammal. Once he was on his knees, Kish let go, leaving Rishi to reach around and hold his back as tears continued to flow from both sadness and now pain. He heard two loud, resounding thuds as Kish and Amarro slammed the butt of their halberds against the stone floor, standing just a step behind the rodent. Rishi turned to look at them, terror in his eyes and every movement, their faces cold and emotionless.

The movement in front of Rishi caused him to dart around and stare upwards at the hulking giant of gold-brown fur and muscle standing before him. His arms were crossed and his face contorted into pure anger as he glowered down at the insubordinate rodent. Rishi continued to shake, barely able to hold himself up, keeping a single paw on the ground to hold himself as steady as he could. Besides that, he made no movement, instinctively worried that any movement might set off the felid predator and cause him to attack. Jarai and Dubois had changed positions, moving forward, their own halberds in hand. Jarai had the same stoic expression as the other two, but Dubois couldn't hide his sympathetic feelings toward Rishi.

"Where do you get the gall to behave this way to me?" Rishi said nothing, but knelt there and continued to tremble. "I gave you multiple chances to back out of this deal if it was uncomfortable for you, but you kept coming back. You took my offer and you've lived a happy life with your wife and kids, comfortable in the home you've known your entire life. Now, when your crops start growing again and you stand to make a profit, you think it's appropriate to expect me to let you out of this deal just because you don't like being fucked by me and my men. Worse yet, you refuse a direct order from your lord and additionally you have the nerve to say 'no' to me when I give that order. I guess screwing mice is what gives them their balls." The comment garnered a chuckle from Amarro and Jarai, but Allon was stoned-faced.

"I'm so disappointed in you, Rishi. This is unacceptable behavior. You made your decision and you will honor that choice, whether you like it or not."

The tears continued to flow as Rishi's world collapsed around him. "My lord, please. I meant no offense. I just thought that since I have something more substantive to offer you, that it would please you to receive it."

"More substantive? Do you think we don't need sexual release like anyone else?" No response. "And I don't know what morals your parents taught you, but in Identine when you tell a superior 'no' when they give you a command, there's no mistake; it's meant as an offense."

Rishi's hopes had completely dwindled, leaving the poor, white rodent distraught. "Lord Allon, please, I can't keep doing this. I have a wife and children. How can I call myself a good husband and father if I allow myself to be used like this when there's another way I can contribute to my lord and his men?"

Allon let out an exasperated sigh. "You still don't get it, do you rodent? There is no other way for you." Rishi's lip quivered, realizing that big cat wasn't going to relent or give him any room to breathe. "Since you don't seem to be grasping that concept, it seems you need to be punished. For your insubordination, you will be locked away, shut out from everyone else including your wife and children until you learn your place as a subject of Identine." Rishi's eyes went wide with fear as his instinctive inclination to flee began to take over. "Amarro, take him to the basement cells. Check on him every day until he's come to his senses and offers his proper tribute to this court."

Amarro nodded and stepped forward, as did Kish. Allon turned around and began to walk away with Jarai standing down as the lord returned to his seat. Dubois kept his gaze on the mouse kneeling despondently at the base of the steps, feelings of disheartened sympathy for the murine individual. Rishi's heart began to beat wildly in his chest, every intelligent thought leaving him as the only conceivable action on the rodent's mind was escape.

As Amarro leaned forward to grab the rodent, instinct took over and he shot back, bumping into the lion and causing the large feline to stumble in surprise. Kish moved forward as Rishi picked himself up, bolting right into Kish, bumping into his halberd and forcing the bladed end to slice into the tiger's temple. He yelled in pain, getting the attention of the cougar who turned to see the commotion, watching as Rishi had managed to get to his feet. With very little options and strictly guided by his reactions, he ran for a door that was slightly ajar off to the right of the building as Amarro collected himself and chased after him. Rishi reached the door and managed to push open enough to snake his way through as the lion reached through the crack in the door, claws extended and snagging on the mouse's tunic. Rishi didn't have to think long before he discarded the garment and ran away.

Amarro roared in anger as Kish held his paw to the wound on his head. He lowered it to reveal the blood stain in his palm causing the tiger to seethe with anger. Allon raced down to check on the striped guard, Jarai and Dubois following suit.

"Are you OK?" Allon asked of his subordinate.

"Sss, I'm alright," he responded. "But I am gonna kill that fucking vermin."

"Not if I get to him first," Amarro retorted with a growl as he shoved the door open preparing to pursue the frightened anthro.

"Stop!" Allon yelled, getting Amarro to halt his pursuit as Amarro looked on with surprise. Jarai and Dubois were close by, looking on with equal confusion.

"Sire, what are you doing?" Amarro asked, wrought with indignation. "He attacked one of the royal guards. That's death."

"There's no way out of that room. He's stuck. I'll handle this myself."

With that, the large cougar removed his royal sash, allowing it to fall to the floor, and then proceeded to remove his loincloth, dropping that as well. He was left now in only the golden-brown fur that covered his body, his glorious sheath proud and exposed, his tail twitching behind him like a wild feline on the hunt for its prey. Allon's expression had changed as he walked over to the mysterious room Rishi had fled to. Where once was a look of anger of annoyance now was nothing but the glare of a natural killer, absent of any thought save for the slaughter of his victim. Amarro saw the cougar's expression as he lumbered over and stepped aside. He'd rarely glimpsed the lord in this state, but he knew full well what the puma was capable of and actually felt a tinge of sympathy for Rishi and what Allon had in store for him.

Inside the room, Rishi ran for his life, breathing heavily as he stumbled around in the dark. There was almost no light and what little there was came from small openings in the ceiling and the walls. After a moment, the rodent's eyes started to adjust and as he looked around he saw countless trees, ditches, canopies, and a couple large, wooden structures. After a moment of taking in the surprising indoor flora, Rishi heard the irate shouts of the felines outside and quickly ran behind a large tree. As he took a moment to catch his breath, he began to sob, realizing what he'd done and what it meant. Attacking a member of the Royal Court for any reason was an offense punishable solely and immediately by death. The only way to avoid the sentence was for a member of the royal family or high lord, such as Allon, to lower the sentence. Given, however, that the mouse just insulted the cougar and showed insubordination, he saw little chance of that happening.

So that's it then. I'm going to die, he thought to himself. He placed his head in his paws, crying into them as he thought about his wife and children and the happy looks on their faces the last time he saw them. It occurred to him that he might not get the chance to see them again. If he was lucky, he might get Allon to give him a chance to say goodbye. It would be worth it to ask and at that point he had nothing to lose.

He heard paw pads outside the door and as he peeked around the large tree trunk he saw the lord, standing there naked and hungry for blood. The cougar surveyed the area, turning towards Rishi's direction and the mouse pulled back behind the tree, pure dread overtaking him. He wanted to try to run, to find a way out, but with the puma standing there, he was too afraid to move, worried he'd be spotted and chased.

"Master Rishi. Little rodent. Do you know where you are?" Of course he didn't know since he'd never been in there, but he perked his ears up and listened intently. "This is our hunting ground. It's like a playground of sorts, if you will. This is where we practice our skills as feline hunters, stalkers, and killers. We use hunting grounds like this to hone our skills as predators, tapping into a feral part of us that allows us to lose control. And you, little mouse, have just voluntarily become my prey."

Rishi shut his eyes as more tears flowed and he gripped the ground, trying to take hold of something and finding nothing but dirt. Allon continued to survey the room, his naturally keen eyesight affected little by the dimished light. He sniffed the air, the mouse's musk subtle and hard to detect, but present nonetheless and it filled the cougar with pleasure.

"You attacked one of my men. You hit his halberd and sliced part of his face. You know what that means, don't you. It means your execution is imminent. If you come out now and face it like a man, it'll be a lot less painful than if I have to come and get you myself. So, what's it gonna be... Master Rishi?"

Rishi, frozen by fear and thoughts of death and pain, held a flicker of hope that he might still be able to get out of this with his life. Allon was upset because he refused the cougar's order. In that case, he might be able to soften his punishment if he submits to his lordship's desires. It won't make up for what he did to Kish, but if he gets to live, it might not matter.

"I'm sorry, my lord," he said, extreme panic in his voice. Allon's head darted in the direction of the mouse's voice. "I didn't mean it. I was just trying to run. I never intended to hurt anyone, especially Sir Kish. Please believe me. I'm sorry I disobeyed you. I'll do anything you ask of me. Please... anything."

Allon's gaze had turned towards a large tree off to the side. He grew a nasty, sinister grin on his muzzle, fairly certain that he knew where the mouse was hiding.

"Really?" he asked somewhat redundantly.

"Yes, my lord." He sounded desperate to do anything to escape his fate.

Allon turned back towards the door and the feline guards standing ready to take the rodent into custody. "All of you, stand back. Keep the door clear." They all stared in confusion. "Dubois, go stand guard by the door. Make sure he doesn't leave the building." Dubois nodded hesitantly and then walked over to the front entrance. Kish was standing with the others, a large trail of blood seeping down the side of his face, coming dangerously close to leaking into his eye. They did as instructed, stepping back and giving room for the mouse to escape the 'hunting grounds.'

Allon turned his attention back to Rishi's hiding spot and slowly got down on all fours like a feral cat. "Very well, I'll make you a deal, mouse. I'll chase you around the room and you run away. If you manage to evade me and reach the door before I manage to catch you, I'll forget this whole incident - you disobeying my command, accidentally striking one of my guards - all of it. You will be given a second chance to properly offer yourself as tribute." He began to stalk forward, slowly approaching the tree. "However, if I catch you before you make it, then you will pay for your crime. You will suffer at my hand and I swear to you you will wish that you left the Plains at the same time as the filthy mongrels from Feroche."

Rishi was in shock, the clarity of the situation revealing itself to him. There was no analogy here. Lord Allon was hunting him. To what extent did the lord mean he'd make him suffer, Rishi didn't know, but what he did know was that he didn't want to find out. All he had to do was keep the feline off of him long enough to escape and in his current state, he was driven by the will to survive.

"So if I were you..." Allon continued. He was closer now and Rishi's heart was ready to pop out of his chest. Every part of his body trembled. He wanted to run, but he couldn't, terror pumping through his veins. "... I... would start... RUNNING!!!"

A large, golden paw appeared from around the trunk, claws extended and digging into Rishi's face. The mouse screamed in a mixture of pain and fright as his body naturally sprung into action. As he moved, the cougar's claws scraped through the rodent's skin, slicing into him and leaving four large gashes as Rishi ran off. Blood sprayed out and a new level of terror filled the mouse as he darted off. Allon leered at the rodent as he ran, his claws now digging deep into the bark of the tree, a subtle glistening of light bouncing off his teeth which shown among the feline's wicked grin.

The cougar gave the mouse a short head start before taking off, running along the ground on all fours, a chase of primeval intent. Rishi ducked and dodged various flora, moving through the foliage of large trees and dense bushes in a zig-zag pattern, doing everything he can to avoid being victimized by the sadistic ruler. His heart pounded as he brushed up against the rough surface of tree bark and sharp, spiked twigs trying to make every move he made as efficient as possible. He heard the high-pitched growls and patters of clawed foot pads of his pursuer who quickly closed the distance between them.

In an instance, the puma lunged forward towards Rishi, arms outstretched, claws extended, ready to pounce and claim his victory over the rodent. Rishi, his primitive instincts at peak levels, noticed as the feline attempted to end this challenge quickly. Without thinking, he dodged forward towards the cougar, throwing off Allon's aim and causing him to grab nothing but dirt and grass. In the confusion, Rishi attempted to turn back and head towards the door, but Allon regained his composure, swiping down hard attempting to strike at the mouse. Rishi managed to avoid getting sliced again and ran off, forced to tread deeper into the training grounds.

Allon watched for a few seconds as the mouse ran away, an impressed smile on his muzzle. "That was a good move, rodent." Allon then continued his pursuit of the small, frightened mouse.

More blood was soaking into Rishi's fur, partially blinding the rodent as his veins pumped blood vigorously to his wound, worsening the effect. Rishi spotted a small ditch and just next to it was an artificial structure of wood, large and tall with several small openings big enough for small anthros to fit through, but too small for any of the Royal Court members to fit, save for maybe Dubois. At the base of the ditch, there was a small hole that led inside the structure and if he could fit through, he might be safe long enough to figure a way out of this. His ears twitched back and caught the sound of Allon returning to the chase and he made quickly for the hole.

He dove head first into the ditch, scrambling through the hole, scraping his clothes along the edges of the wood. He had almost his entire body inside when he suddenly felt the pain of claws digging in his left leg. He screamed in shock and terror as Allon gripped harder, digging his claws deep past the fur and into the mouse's skin, drawing even more blood. He yelled in agony as the cougar pulled back on the mouse's leg, attempting to remove him from the structure. Rishi grabbed whatever he could, holding onto whatever he could grab to prevent the feline from ravaging his body. The pain was getting worse and Rishi realized that he was grabbing him with only his claws, no paw pads were touching his leg. In addition, his right leg was exposed, but Allon made no attempt to grab it to attain additional leverage.

"I've got you rodent," Allon teased. "What are you gonna do? Is your freedom worth a little more pain? Would you endure a little pain now to avoid lots of pain later?"

He had little recourse. The cougar lord was obviously testing him and he had to pass the test in order to avoid losing this challenge. Driven solely by fear and adrenaline, he swallowed his pride and tried his best to ignore the pain and pulled with all his might on his left leg, trying to loosen it from the lord's grasp. At the mouse's reaction, Allon gripped harder on Rishi's leg, digging his claws deeper in, providing a more difficult task for him to overcome. With every ounce of willpower he could muster, Rishi pulled his leg away, the cougar's claws raking through the mouse's skin, leaving gashes as the rodent was free of the puma's grasp.

He cried in pure pain and agony, his body "safe" in the confines of the wooden structure, but the cost to reach it may have been too high. His leg was bleeding profusely and all he could focus on was the sheer agony his body was experiencing. Even if he found a way to get out, he was far too weak to run from the large feline anymore. He was trapped.

"Hehehe, good job Rishi," the cougar chuckled as he spoke maniacally. "I'm impressed. I didn't think you had it in you. You might as well give up now. With that kind of wound, you're not likely to last much longer and you certainly won't be able to outrun me. The sun has set on the wounded animal being hunted. Surrender now, Rishi, and end this pointless pursuit. There's no reason you have to suffer anymore than you already have."

Rishi was beginning to see the lord's point of view, but he just couldn't bring himself to give up just yet. He still had a chance, but he had to think quickly. He looked through a small opening on the other side of the structure and saw the foliage was quite dense and there was another small alcove that he could hide in. He had his chance, but he had to be quick and precise. He swallowed the pain as best he could and crawled up onto his feet.

Allon stood back, staring at the wooden structure, the hiding place of his prey, and waited. He expected the mouse to beg for his life or crawl out with defeat given the state he was in. He was heavily wounded and losing a lot of blood and it wouldn't take long before he couldn't move any longer. And knowing Rishi, Allon didn't think the mouse had it in him to put up anymore of a fight. He heard some rustling inside, but decided to give the mouse an opportunity to figure out what he was going to do. It took a minute, but his ears perked up at the sound of bushes moving on the opposite side of the structure. He realized the mouse still wanted to try and escape.

He smiled with honest intrigue. "Truly mouse, you are surprising. I honestly didn't think you had such a strong will to survive."

The cougar slowly climbed the wooden structure until he was resting on top of it. He stared out over the dense brush and tree branches, overlooking the area for his prey. He saw no movement and as he tilted his ears, he heard nothing. He became a bit confused, wondering what the mouse was doing and even considering the possibility that he might have actually passed out. It was then that his eyes passed over the alcove that Rishi had spotted earlier and saw a small patch of blood-stained trousers. The alcove was similar to the structure he was sitting on in the fact that it was too small for Allon to fit into. He smiled to himself as he jumped down and stalked over to Rishi.

He crept over, making as little noise as possible, figuring that he'd give the mouse one last fright before delivering on his punishment. Once he reached the alcove, with lightning speed, he reached in with a paw, claws extended, and snatched the mouse's leg. However, this time, all he caught was cloth. He furrowed his brow in confusion as he pulled on the cloth, lifting it up and realizing he got nothing but Rishi's pants. He peaked into the alcove and also saw his undershirt.

The cougar realized then that he'd been duped. The mouse had stripped himself, leaving his clothes in an attempt to draw his attention away giving him a chance to flee. It was a very basic tactic and he, a high lord of Identine, fell for it. He crumpled the pants in his giant paws and his brow curled into an expression of anger.

"You sneaky little bastard." His ears perked up as they heard the soft trudging of mouse feet slowly approaching the exit. "No more games," he said softly to himself as he threw the pants on the floor and took off.

Rishi had watched from the shadows as Allon approached the alcove, seemingly having fallen for his ruse. He slowly and quietly made his way in the opposite direction, back towards the entrance, wearing nothing but his braies. By that time, the lord no doubt had figured out it was a trick and so he had to hurry. He could see the door and it was wide open. All he had to do was run as fast as he could and he'd be home free. He was still bleeding excessively, the searing pain in his leg and face, as well as the loss of blood, making him dizzy and ready to pass out, but he pushed on, unwilling to give up if it meant surviving.

The sound of tree branches crashing into each other caused Rishi to panic and turn back, staring up into the trees with alarm as he saw the speedy nightmare moving above with unreal dexterity. A mistake to be sure as it slowed his own movements and gave the cougar an extra split second that he needed to close the gap. With his feet planted firmly into the strong wood, his powerful legs pushed the feline off and towards the small prey. Rishi wanted to turn and continue running as he was so close to the door he could smell the guard's scents just past it, but it wouldn't have made a difference. The speed with which the cougar leapt through the air was supernatural and in less than a moment, he was face to face with a pair of large, sharp, glistening feline teeth.

The rest of the feline guards had crowded the door as Dubois stood at his post next to the door. Considering the smirks plastered on each of their faces, the cheetah conjectured that the mouse had failed to escape and a gloomy look of disappointment came over him. The mouse garnered no such sympathy from any of the other court members. They all looked on with satisfaction as the mouse lay flat on the ground, pure terror on his face as the large, 6 and a half foot cougar had his jaws clamped securely around the mouse's neck. A few tears fell from his eyes at his defeat.

I had it. I was almost there.

Allon, his face contorted into a scowl, gripped the rodents neck hard, his teeth digging into his fur, and stood up, picking up the mouse as he did. He stood to his full height, holding Rishi up by his neck, choking him as his jaws squeezed the life out of him. As weak and tired as he was, Rishi still tried desperately to fight back. He brought both paws up and tried to push himself out of Allon's grip, but the cougar just grabbed his arms and held them down, forcing Rishi to stare back at the lord's face as he slowly slid closer to death.

The blood that coursed from his wounds down his neck was still wet and Allon got a taste as his tongue press up against the rodent's fur. As the seconds went by, Allon stared back at Kish, who at first had looked back with a look of derisive scorn towards the mouse, but now seemed to be letting his sympathetic side through. Allon continued to stare at the tiger, almost as if considering something. As the last breath of air began to leave Rishi, the cougar released his arms and violently threw him towards the ground. Rishi took in a deep breath as best he could, but once his head hit the ground, his mind went blank as yet further pain added to his tortured body.

The guards looked on, unsure as to what the lord had planned for the mouse, but couldn't wait to find out. Allon just stood there, overshadowing the mouse with clenched fists and tail twitching behind him. Rishi collected himself somewhat, his body barely able to keep from collapsing, as he looked back up at the cougar, his naked form looking more menacing than ever before. As fear and depression took hold of him, he could no longer look Allon in the eyes and let his body fall flat.

The cougar licked his lips, the taste of blood mixing with his own meaty breath, teasing the feral, primitive nature of the Identine lord. Allon regained his senses and bent over, grabbing the mouse by the throat and picking him up. He held him tight, but didn't squeeze, trying not to choke the mouse anymore. Rishi attempted to bring his paws up, but he just relented and let the cougar do what he wanted. He knew he was going to die now, but he also knew there was nothing he could do about it. He cried a little, but was too dehydrated and too short on blood to give up anymore liquids.

"I must commend you Rishi, you put up more of a challenge than I thought you would. I especially admire that little trick with the alcove, that was something else. You almost got me and you almost won. If you hadn't turned to look back and just kept on running, you would've made it. You were right there, but you let your confusion distract you. And in the end, you lost." Rishi pouted and sobbed, but spilled no more tears. Allon turned to the lynx. "Jarai, go to Rishi's home and collect his wife and kids. Bring them here. Lock the kids up outside and bring his wife to my room."

"Yes, my lord," the lynx said as he bowed and turned to leave. As he passed Dubois, he got a look of defiance from the cheetah, a look that Jarai seemed bothered by. He ignored it and left the hall, leaving the three guards, the lord, and a tired, abused, blood-soaked mouse behind.

Rishi, shocked as much as he could be by hearing Allon summon his family, continued his effort to break free of the cougar's grasp, but he was just too weak. Allon pulled him forward till his face was mere inches away. The smell of meat could be sensed from the feline's breath.

"Now you get to find out what I mean when I say you will suffer."

He wasn't smiling and he wasn't scowling. He looked upset, but there was little anger and no pleasure from what he was saying. Instead, he looked more disappointed than anything else.

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