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CHAPTER 14

Atonement for the Innocent

The table was set, two bottles of wine sat in the center waiting for the patriarch of the household to return from the High Court. Samantha was preparing an elaborate meal in celebration of Rishi finally moving past his offering of sex for peaceful living. She wore a nice dress, wool on the inside, cotton on the outside, maroon with blue stripes going up the side. A loaf of bread had just been placed in the wood-burning oven and Sam anticipated it would be finished by the time her love returned home. It had been about two and a half hours since the male mouse went off to pay his tribute and it would take about an hour longer for him to return. The gray mouse was bubbly, humming to herself and the children as she passed by them, racing around the table to get all the ingredients she needed.

She was ready to begin preparing the main course when a knock came to the door. Slightly startled, the female rodent walked quickly over to the entrance and opened the door, only to meet with a rather short leopard in full body armor. Sam's heart rate increased for a moment, thinking that something had happened to her husband. Off to the corner she saw several other soldiers and Jarai whom she recognized as one of the royal guards.

She stared back at the feline, nervousness in her voice as she spoke. "Yes, good sir."

"Mrs. Samantha Winslow?" The leopard's voice was cold and harsh.

Sam felt butterflies fluttering around inside her stomach. "Yes."

"Ma'am, I'm gonna need you and your children to come with me."

Sam's eyes went wide at the suggestion that they were there for her and her children. "Excuse me. May I ask what this is about?"

"I don't know. My orders are to bring you and your kids with me back to the High Court."

Sam stood there a few seconds, thinking to herself, before speaking again. "Alright, I'll go with you. But I'd like my kids to stay here. If something's happened with my husband, I'd rather find out first and then tell my kids myself. They don't need to find out directly."

"That's not possible, ma'am," he responded with apathy in his voice. "My orders are to bring you and your children with me."

Sam's heart beat faster and her breathing intensified. "Excuse me, but what do you need with my children?"

"As I said, I don't know. I was given orders. I don't question my orders, I merely follow them. Now come along."

"I have no intention of letting you or anyone else tell me what to do with my children." The deception of her words echoed in her tone and her expression, her brow furrowed in anger despite her high nerves.

"Ma'am, if you don't come along peacefully, we'll take you by force."

"OK, then. I will come along peacefully, but you're not taking my children."

"And I've already said, that's not an option."

Sam only got more and more defiant. "The only way you're getting my children is over my cold, dead corpse."

The leopard stared back at her as the right side of his muzzle curled into a devilish grin. "That can be arranged."

Sam's heart pounded at that point and the mouse wasted no time slamming the door and locking it. She turned to her kids and shouted at them. "Run! Run!"

The kids, absolutely terrified, ran upstairs as a loud banging on the door was heard as the Felis soldier attempted to break it in. Sam reached onto the table and grabbed one of the bottles of wine, full and corked, and held it behind her back, standing at the base of the stairs. After a few more bangs, the door flung open, slamming into the wall as the leopard soldier now stood inside her home. He slowly approached her with a female civet and a female ocelot following after.

"It didn't have to be this hard. You should've made it easier on yourself." Sam said nothing. She stood there, shaking, one paw behind her back, wide-eyed and terrified for her kids. The leopard turned to his fellow soldiers. "Search for the kids." The leopard walked towards Samantha quickly. "Alright honey, time to go."

As he reached for her, she revealed the large glass bottle she'd been hiding behind her as she swung it across his face, smashing it to pieces. He stumbled back and cried out in pain as he lost his footing. The other two soldiers stopped and watched as their comrade was attacked by a Darreen native. They responded immediately, chasing after the mouse who dropped the handle of the bottle and began running upstairs. The leopard hissed and growled in rage as he got back to his feet, reaching out haphazardly for the mouse. He managed to grab her foot as she raced upstairs and in a fit of panic she began kicking at his arm trying to free herself. It did no good, however, as he was able to maintain his grip long enough for the other soldiers to race up and grab her, thrusting her down towards the base of the stairs. She landed with a thud, slamming into the wall and knocking the wind out of her.

The leopard soldier grabbed her pulled her out onto the floor. "Hold her!" There was a haunting expression in his eyes that scared the mouse to death. She attempted to struggle, but the civet and ocelot took hold of her, bringing her to her knees to face the man she just assaulted. She looked up at the leopard soldier who held his face where she'd hit him, blood trickling through his fur, red mixing in with yellow and black. He checked his paw, confirming the presence of blood, and looked back at Sam with eyes full of hate and anger. As Sam caught her breath, she was shaking uncontrollably, the fear of reciprocity from the Felis officer she just assaulted.

The leopard leaned forward, bringing his face within inches of Sam's. "Do you know what you just did, mouse?" His voice was quiet, but sinister. Sam said nothing in response. "You just assaulted a member of the Felis Army. For that, you're going to be punished and I assure you, little woman, that I will make you suffer for what you did." Sam continued to shake, the soldier's threats burning right into her core.

"What is going on in here?" Jarai asked as he crossed the threshold into Samantha's home. The three officers looked up at the lynx as he arrived in the house, the leopard coming to attention once he saw his superior. Jarai immediately noticed the large bloody splotch on the feline's face. "Oh, goddammit!" he yelled, quickly crossing the room to the small group. He spotted Sam being held on her knees, her arms held behind her back. "What happened?" he asked, turning to the leopard.

"Sir, I asked her to come with us. When she refused, I attempted to grab her. She then pulled a wine bottle out and hit me across the face with it." He spoke fast and professionally, as an officer should speak to a superior.

"Why didn't you try to stop her when she grabbed the bottle?"

"She was hiding it behind her back, sir. I didn't know she had it until she was swinging it at me."

Jarai merely cocked his brow and 'hmphed' at him. "Then I guess you need to work on your reflexes, soldier."

The leopard clearly wanted to respond derisively, but instead swallowed his pride and his tongue. "Yes, sir."

Jarai looked down at Sam, tears streaming down her eyes as she looked up pleadingly at the lynx. "Bind her paws behind her back and bring her."

He turned to leave as the leopard spoke up. "Sir, what about her punishment?"

"Not now. Lord Allon wants her back at the High Court. We'll deal with what to do with her then."

"But sir, she assaulted an officer of the Felis Army. She needs to be punished."

"And she will, but such a punishment will be treated as it should be: an official judgment made at the appropriate place and that's not here in her home with her children. Speaking of which, where are her kids?" he asked turning to the ocelot.

"Upstairs, Sir Jarai," she responded.

"You two go get them. And you have your orders, soldier. Carry them out. I want her back at the High Court without a scratch on her, understood?"

"Yes, sir." The leopard stood proudly at attention as he addressed the royal guard.

Jarai turned to leave as his exit was interrupted. "Please, Sir Jarai. Please don't take my children," she pleaded, holding back sobs. "I will go with you willingly and accept any punishment you give, but please leave my children here. They're just kids. They have nothing to do with this. Please, I beg of you."

Jarai stared back at her a moment, seemingly contemplating her request. "That's not my decision to make."

At that, he turned and made his way for the door where a short, male jaguar stood with the guard's halberd. Sam let the tears flow freely as the leopard took hold of Samantha, grabbing binds from a pouch on his belt and locking her paws behind her. The ocelot and civet did as commanded, running up the stairs to grab the young mice. After a moment, Sam could hear her children screaming 'No!' and 'Mom!' as they were carried downstairs. Sam tried to comfort them as they were carried out of the house with the leopard lifting Sam up and guiding her out as well. There was a cart outside waiting for them and once Sam, Tessa, and Dax were securely tied to the cart, the soldiers went back in for the twins. They were kind enough to let Tessa and Dax hold them as they made their way back toward the High Court.

******

They arrived roughly twenty minutes later, several soldiers having gathered around the great meeting hall to act as guards in case any locals attempted to get involved. Unlikely, but still a possibility. Several natives lined the sides of the road a bit of a distance from the High Court, interested in what was going on, but unconcerned at the moment. As the cart carrying the murine passengers arrived, it stopped short of the front entrance, Jarai jumping out with his jaguar escort and the other soldiers untying Sam and her children and helping them dismount the carriage.

"Take the kids to the cages. Bring Samantha here," Jarai ordered his men.

The ocelot and civet took the kids away towards a couple of large, metal cages set alongside the western side of the outside wall of the great hall. They began to cry and scream as they were taken away from their mother, panicked and scared.

Sam called out to them, "Don't worry kids. I won't be far. Mommy will take of this, OK?" She couldn't keep her voice from shaking, her own fear obvious in her words.

As the kids were locked away, Sam was brought forward. Amarro was standing outside the entrance, Tony and Matt standing at attention next to him in full armor. As Jarai stepped next to him, the lion noticed the large blood stain on the leopard's face. Sam's eyes were glued to the ground, unable to look the intimidating predator in the eyes. Her whole body was shaking, fearful of what they would do to her and, more importantly, her children.

Amarro furrowed his brow in confusion. "What happened?"

The leopard was about to explain when Jarai spoke up. "Apparently, Rishi's wife was less than cooperative in bringing her children to accompany us back here, so she broke a bottle of wine across his face."

The leopard stood silent and at attention while Sam sulked and brooded, still unable to meet the lion's, or anyone else's, eyes. Amarro sighed with discontent, unhappy with the turn of events and shaking his head disapprovingly at the frightened mouse. "What the hell were you thinking?" Sam remained silent. "Huh? What made you think we were going to harm your children? And even if we were going to, what makes you think you could've stopped us, huh? Why- why didn't you just come along with us? Why do you have to be so difficult?"

The fear in Sam remained, but at the royal guard's incessant questioning, she gained a small amount of her defiance back and regained the nerve to look the lion in the eyes. He was unphased by the mouse's defiant expression. He continued to glare back at her, waiting for a response. Finally, she gave him one. "I would do anything to protect my children, even if it meant my death... even if it turned out futile. What kind of mother would I be if I didn't?"

The lion's look of disappointment faultered and became replaced with one of surprise and impressiveness. Now, as he stared down at the rodent, he saw in her the same honorable quality that he saw in her male counterpart. It was noble indeed, if not, as she put it, futile. She continued to stare at him a moment until her pride wavered and her depression took over, leaving her to droop her head and continue to sulk in helplessness.

Jarai nodded with a similar sense of admiration for the mouse's willpower. "Very honorable indeed," he said to no one in particular before turning to face the lion. "However, we still have to deal with issue. What she did cannot be forgiven and requires retribution."

Amarro nodded in agreement. "That is true." The lion continued to stare at Sam, contemplating the best way to handle the situation. The leopard looked over at Amarro, awaiting a just response from the oldest member of the Royal Guard.

"We could wait until after Roland meets with her," Jarai suggested.

"No, we can't." Jarai nodded in agreement, understanding the implication of what Sam's meeting with the high lord could mean for the poor mouse. "Jarai... remove her dress and tie her to the post." Samantha stared back at Amarro, total fear in her eyes, her punishment a potential reminder of what she experienced three years ago. What Amarro said next seemed unexpected, though. "Matt!" he said, turning to other lion.

Matt stood to taught at attention. "Sir!"

Amarro looked back at Sam, regret in his eyes. "Bring me my whip."

Samantha's eyes grew wide, no chance for a moment of relief as the anticipation of being welted by a feline royal guard sent shivers through her spine. Her breathing increased, her heart beat increased, and her body trembled at her forthcoming sentence.

Jarai stepped forward, speaking to the leopard. "Let's go."

He led the way as the leopard followed, dragging Samantha with him. She struggled a little, but not so much as to incur any further discipline. They carried her around to the east side of the building, the opposite side from where her children were being held and the only good thing about this outcome. A little less than halfway down stood a t-shaped post with ropes attached at either end. Upon seeing it, a renewed sense of dread filled Samantha and she struggled a bit more.

"Oh my God! Please, no!" she pleaded and cried, but the leopard was becoming impatient with her.

"If you don't stop struggling you little-"

"Soldier!" He stopped when Jarai spoke up again. The lynx turned his attention towards the terrified mouse. "Don't cause yourself anymore unnecessary hardship. It'll be over a lot faster if you just submit."

Sam, tears continuing to stream from her blood-shot eyes, relented and let the leopard lead her to the post. He stopped her right in front of it and began untying the laces in the back. After loosening up the dressy garment, he forcefully shoved it off her torso, the rest of the dress hanging down from her waist, leaving her torso exposed. Her breasts hung openly in the air, her shame multiplying as numerous natives began to stop nearby and gather around, witnessing the horrifying spectacle. Jarai signaled for a few soldiers to stand guard around the post, even though every native of Darreen was keeping their distance.

Exposed and humiliated, the leopard pushed Sam down onto her knees and grabbed her left arm, threading a paw through the ropes and tightening them around her wrists. He proceeded to do the same with the right paw, leaving her tied and helpless and a new victim to the whipping post. She continued to cry as the leopard stepped around and forward, posting himself about a dozen feet in front of her where she'd have the perfect view of the man she assaulted. In that sense, she would constantly be reminded of her crime while being whipped. Worse, though, was the fact that the leopard was smiling a sadistic grin, obviously amused by what she was going through. It only exacerbated her feelings of fear and embarrassment.

Jarai stepped beside the leopard, slightly ahead of him, his expression one of regret and disapproval. He surveyed the area, taking note of the numerous locals as they stopped to view the scene. Samantha's ears perked up at the sound of foot falls padding their way towards her. Heavy feet under a heavy frame on the hard, summer's ground. Sam craned her neck to look behind her and she saw the large, decorated lion stalking towards her, a curled up whip held tightly in one paw. She turned back around, the mere sight of the instrument of her punishment instilling terror of immeasurable levels. Amarro stopped several feet behind the mouse, pausing a moment to look down at her sorry, disgraced state. She continued to shake as the tears continued to flow, staining her cheeks as her painful penance was imminent.

Amarro let out a very loud sigh. "Samantha Winslow, for striking one of our soldiers, an act condemned by the Lord of Identine as treasonous, I, Amarro Halford, Royal Guard to Lord Allon of Darreen, will carry out your punishment. Do you have anything to say?"

Sam just shook, not looking back and making no attempt to speak. Amarro released the whip, letting the end fall to the ground. Sam still didn't look back, fearing to set eyes on the torturous tool. Amarro waved his hand back and forth a few times, steadying his form, before beginning to draw his paw back.

"Why?" Amarro stopped himself as Jarai began to speak to Sam. "Why can't you just do what your told?" Sam looked up at the lynx regretfully. "Why can't you just behave yourself?"

With nothing left to say, she merely sobbed as she knelt there. Jarai and Amarro exchanged glances, the former telling the latter to go ahead, and so the lion pulled his paw back, bringing the end behind him and quickly flinging it forward and connecting with Sam as it cracked along her back. Sam threw her head back as her eyes went wide and she wailed a horrifying cry of sheer agony. Small strands of spit flew aimlessly out of her gaping maw, careless as to what it did to her image. Her back opened up into a long, deep welt. The majority of the surrounding crowd turned away at the display, unable to watch as one of their own was tortured by a member of the Royal Court.

It wasn't long before Amarro pulled his paw back a second time, cracking his whip on her back in the opposite direction, striking the mouse's back and forming a welt that started at the midsection of the first welt. Sam cried just as loud and just as agonizingly at the sensation, unable to control her emotions. Another few seconds and Amarro repeated the stroke, striking her again and garnering another blood-curdling scream from the female rodent and forming another red stripe. Jarai looked on stone-faced while the leopard was smiling, getting a sort of sadistic pleasure out of this.

Amarro delivered the fourth strike, cracking the whip again, but Sam's cry was almost mute, replaced with a gasping sound. She shut her eyes and cried as saliva dribbled uncontrolled over her lip and dripped down onto the ground. Amarro flung his wrist back and delivered a fifth, painful crack to Samantha's back. She cried out again, the locals staring cautiously, some looking on with concern while others were barely able to keep their eyes focused on the scene. The soldiers standing guard were as stone-faced as the royal guard himself.

Sam was tensed up, waiting for the next strike to her tortured back, second by second going by with maddening anticipation. As she knelt there, fearing the next blow, she slowly opened her eyes to see the leopard and the smile he had on his face slowly melt away to be replaced with a look of confusion and surprise.

"That's it?" he asked of the lion behind her.

Sam didn't hear a vocal response, but considering the look of disappointment the leopard had, she guessed the lion must've given a confirming nod. Shakily, she turned her neck around, her tear-soaked eyes peering back at her tormenter, watching as he slowly began to re-wrap his whip. Her heart lifted, giving silent thanks to whoever was watching over her for making her punishment short at the very least. The leopard pouted and threw up his arms in frustration.

"Well how does that work? We've had prisoners who've been whipped for longer for much less."

"She's not our prisoner," Amarro responded. "And she's not a slave. She committed a crime and she's been punished accordingly."

"She didn't just commit a crime! She tried to break my face! That's worth at least twenty lashes!"

"If you have issue with my sentencing, you may take it up with Lord Allon later. For now, he has business with her and we've wasted enough time."

The leopard brooded angrily, but held his tongue, not even bothering to respectfully answer his superior. Jarai had stepped forward and undid her binds with Sam still sobbing quietly as he did. She was weak and shaky, her back covered in red stains where the whip cracked her skin and the blood traversed her fur. After she was free, the lynx helped her to her feet and quickly redressed her, tying the laces and watching with dismay as the maroon-colored fabric began to darken as it pressed against the mouse's back.

"Sorry, but I think your dress is ruined," Jarai said to her.

Of all the things happening at the moment, the last thing on Sam's mind was getting blood stains on her dress. Her eyes were still watery, but her crying had diminished considerably. Her legs were a bit wobbly though, and she couldn't stop her arms from shaking due to a mixture of fear, shock, and of course the agony accorded to her back.

"All right, let's get inside," said Amarro. "Lord Allon has been waiting long enough." He turned to address the leopard soldier. "Disperse the crowd. The show's over."

Amarro reached out and grabbed her under her arm and began to lead her away from the whipping post, guiding as well as assisting her in her stride. The natives who were still concentrated around the area were approached by soldiers and advised to leave and they all did without question. As they walked away, a few kept their eyes on Sam and the lion, concerned for their fellow native's well-being. Amarro and Sam rounded the corner with Jarai trailing behind. Tony was standing at the door holding it open, trying his hardest to keep a stoic expression, but unable to hide his empathy for Sam. Once the mouse and her two feline escorts were inside, the cougar shut the door and let out a long, silent, discontented sigh.

Amarro helped Sam through the great hall as Jarai followed suit. At the top of the steps, standing on either side of the door of the high lord's bedroom were Dubois and Kish. When Sam saw the last of the four royal guards, she began to quiver with terror, not as much for herself, but for her husband. Kish had a small bandage on his face that covered part of his left eye and the wound was fresh, giving Sam more reason to be as confused as she was fearful. Every step she took that brought her closer to the bedchamber of the cougar lord was a foreboding step of misfortune. Sam was ready to vomit from the experience, unable to take anymore torment.

"What's going? Where's my husband? What am I doing here?" she asked with a panicked voice.

"You'll found out in just a second," Amarro responded. They stopped just outside the door. The lion gave a nod to Dubois, who turned and rapped on the door.

"Send them in," a loud, commanding voice was heard from the other side.

Dubois and Kish then proceeded to open the doors, standing off to the side and holding it ajar for the lion and mouse to enter. Once the interior was revealed to them, Sam's eyes grew wide in horror at the sight before her. Allon was standing with his back to the door, completely naked with his tail hanging down hiding his anus and testicles. Standing in front of him, but not obscured from Sam's view, was a decrepit, beat up, dead-looking white mouse. He was also completely naked and his back was to her. His face and left leg were bandaged up and the bandages were stained red with blood. His arms were tied behind his back and a rag was tied around the back of his head. Sam's heart began to race and her stomach churned as the sight of her husband, their children's father, may lie dead before her. She lost control and once again the tears began to flow.

"Rishi! My Rishi!"

Allon turned to look at her, his face as stone-cold as ever, piercing back at the female mouse and stealing her gaze away from Rishi. The tears almost stopped immediately as the rodent became crippled by fear at the acute, penetrating glare from the lord of the Plains. She finally lost her self-control, retching loudly as she vomitted the contents of her stomach onto the stone floor at her feet. She toppled to the floor, Amarro releasing her and backing away in disgust as the mouse regurgitated all over the floor. Allon didn't even bat an eye, seemingly half-expectant of it to happen. What he did take notice of were the dark blotches on the back of her dress. He sniffed at the air and caught the scent of blood in the midst of vaporous bile emanating from the creature retching on the floor before him.

He turned and stepped towards her, Sam catching her breath from leasing her stomach contents for the entire Royal Court to see. She spotted Allon's feet and as she espied the monstrous paws she saw her husband lying motionless on the floor. She could've retched again until she noticed the faintest of breathing from her husband. At the clarification that her husband was still alive, she found newfound vigor and happiness at a time of great despair. Allon looked over the gray mouse's back, seeing no hints of what was causing Samantha's back to bleed so profusely. He then looked up at Amarro who looked back at his lord and friend with regretful eyes.

"I heard cries and screams coming from outside. What happened here?" the cougar asked of his guardian.

"Sire, she resisted when we tried to collect her children and she wound up attacking and injuring one of our soldiers. I decided to take it upon myself to issue her punishment."

"Even though I asked you to bring her directly to me?"

"Sire, I felt that, given the circumstances, it was pertinent for me to administer the punishment now and provide justice for the offended soldier. If I've overstepped my bounds, I apologize and take full responsibility for my actions."

Allon merely took a deep breath and let out a long sigh as he looked back down towards the mouse on the floor, her eyes still glued to her husband. He leaned forward and grabbed her chin, coating his digits in the sample of vomit that still clung to her fur. He pulled her gaze away from Rishi and towards him, a desperate and disparaged look on her face.

"You need to learn to behave yourself." His voice was calm, less threatening and more cautionary. She looked back at him, her initial fear having waned to give room to a mild dose of anger and resentment, though her desire to avoid anymore pain, emotional or physical, kept her from looking back towards the puma with any sense of disobedience. Instead, she let her eyes fall to the side, avoiding eye contact and submitting to her lord. Allon then let go of her chin and tried to fling off whatever he could of the vile substance that came out of Sam's muzzle.

"Oh well. When we've concluded our business, you can go home and rest and tend to your wounds. But before that, we have an issue that needs to be discussed and resolved."

Allon stepped to the dresser by the door and grabbed a pitcher of watcher and then proceeded to move over to Rishi. He tipped the pitcher over a little and a small cascade of water fell out and doused the unconscious rodent on the head. It didn't take much for Rishi to stir, snuffing out the water that flooded his nostrils and moaning in confusion. He tried to move his paws, but realized he couldn't. He then tried to speak, but discovered he was also unable. He tried to move, but as he did he cried out in pain from the wounds on his face and leg.

Allon reached down and grabbed the mouse by the scruff, garnering another loud cry of pain from Rishi, and pull him around to face his wife. At that point, Sam could see now the rag that had been tied around his head was used to gag her husband with some sort of cloth stuff into his muzzle. After looking closely, she could tell then that it was his own braies and she felt more and more resentment towards the despicable treatment. Upon seeing his wife's face and the state she was in, the pile of vomit lying on the cold stone floor before her, Rishi couldn't help but panic, flailing wildly trying to free his arms and speak, but it did no good. After a short moment, he stopped and just began to sob, a pitiful sight for the pitiable creature.

Allon knelt down right behind Rishi and grabbed his neck, claws extended and digging into the mouse's throat. Though his grip was relatively loose, Rishi could feel the pin-prick sensation of the tips of the cougar's claws dig into his flesh under the fur and he felt his death was imminent. In his mind, the only reason his wife was there was to watch his execution, carried out by the lord's paws himself, making the inevitable moment all the more unbearable. Tears slowly began to trickle out of his eyes and down the side of his face, hitting and wetting the floor below.

The cougar began to rake his claws through Rishi's fur, teasing the frightened mouse and his horrified wife. Sam knelt helpless and speechless as she watched her injured husband getting assaulted by the large feline, her contempt building quickly inside of her. Rishi shut his eyes as he felt the puma's claws scrape along his skin, prepared for the claws to pierce it. This treatment continued for some time without a word being spoken and no other movement from the lord was made. Eventually, Allon moaned and enveloped Rishi's neck in his paw, holding it tight, but still allowing Rishi enough leeway to breathe. He then addressed Sam while looking between her and the bound mouse naked on the floor.

"Hmmm, your husband has committed a crime, Mrs. Winslow. Actually, more accurately he has committed multiple crimes. First, he insulted the high lord of Darren by ignoring the agreement he made with me a year ago that he would offer his body as tribute, an agreement that I never gave him permission to diverge from. Second, when ordered by the high lord to honor the agreement, he refused and tried to weasel his way out by leaving the Plains, another aspect of the agreement that I never let him alter. Third, and most egregious, when my men attempted to detain him, he fought back, resulting in the injury of a member of the Royal Guard and a close, personal friend of mine."

Sam shakily turned her head to look back at the bandaged tiger, figuring out now what it meant, for Kish and for Rishi. She knew it was bad, but not this bad. Any hope she may have had was gone and she knew this wouldn't end well - not for her and not for Rishi.

"Attacking a soldier is a punishable offense and a serious offense at that, but do you know what the punishment is for attacking a member of the Royal Court?" Sam looked back at Allon. She had a pretty good idea of what it was, but she had to be sure, so she slowly shook her head. "Death." His voice was low, but menacing and the confirmation made Sam's skin crawl. Rishi merely let the tears flow knowing there was nothing he or Sam could do. "Swift and immediate death. The actual method of execution depends upon the level of suffering the royal member endured. Since Kish's injury was not that serious, your husband's death would be quick and relatively painless. After all, it wouldn't give me any pleasure to watch this little man, whom I've gotten so close to, to suffer needlessly." Rishi was too distracted with the thought of his own death and the threat of leaving his wife and children behind, but Sam could hear a 'but' coming on from the lord. However, she couldn't tell at that point whether it was a good 'but' or a bad 'but', so she prepared for the worse.

"The only way for a perpetrator to be spared the ultimate penalty is for someone of high rank and position, such as a high lord, to either delay his sentence or commute it entirely. Now," he began massaging Rishi's neck again, making the mouse extremely uncomfortable, the tears still flowing freely, "I don't like using my status to challenge the law. I feel that what's been passed by our lawmakers should be observed and followed. However, in the case of your husband I must admit I have a bit of a soft spot. We've spent so much time together and he has done his duty as a native of Darreen to its fullest up until now. It would seem wrong to end his life now when he's shown such dedication to adhering to his offering, especially since he's so good at it."

Allon leaned forward and pressed his nose against Rishi's face, sniffing away at it and taking in his scent, along with the scent of blood. "However, I can't just forgive him for what he's done. He's shown complete disregard for the ranks and proper respect afforded to the Identine citizens that watch over his land and helped free him and his fellow natives. For that, he needs to do more to show he's truly dedicated to serving the members of the Royal Court of Identine. So here's what's gonna happen." Allon licked along Rishi's face, making the mouse choke down a scream under his gag.

"If Rishi wishes me to spare his life and keep his wife and kids safe within the confines of these Plains, he is going to crawl down to the base of those steps and he is going to beg me to reinstate his agreement to take his body as tribute; not every week... but every day." Rishi's heart beat fast in his chest as he gave a muffled sob under the fabric of the underwear stuffed in his muzzle. "He will offer himself to me and my men freely, to do with as we please, and he will do everything we ask of him without question... and without hesitation." Sam looked on with shock and abhorrence at what the lord was proclaiming. However, she also felt a bit of relief at the thought of her husband being spared the death penalty for his crime. Rishi, on the other hand, felt little relief, as whatever choice he made would result in him losing something.

"But..." His voice went from cool and emotionless to dark and menacing. "If he refuses, if he stalls, if he hesitates or I sense any insincerity in his voice, then I will take you and your children and march you down to the southern borders of the Plains and hand you over to the Ferochens myself. And your husband will watch as the canines take their gift away or ravage them then and there. They will make food and fodder of you or use you for their own amusement. Or even worse, they will use your children for their own deviant pleasures. And you have both gotten a first-hand experience of what life would be like with those soulless beasts. Just imagine your daughter in place of you, your son in place of your husband, and all because Rishi felt his body and his pride were more important than his family. And your husband will spend the rest of his miserable life knowing that he could've saved his family's lives if he'd just been willing to simply suck another man's cock."

The words that sprung forth from the lord's muzzle shocked and horrified the two mice, their bodies trembling, trying desperately not to imagine the scenarios suggested by the feline. Rishi and Sam's eyes were locked on one another, pity and remorse directed from Sam with fear and a desire to protect directed from Rishi.

"There are no other options. Pray your husband does the right thing." Sam looked up at Allon, begging him with her eyes not to do this, but the cougar looked away and addressed the lion standing behind her. "Take her and lock her up with her children."

Amarro said nothing as he lifted the female rodent to her feet. She cried and screamed as she was hauled away forcefully. Rishi watched as his wife receded from his view and the image conjured up the worst thoughts he could think of if she were given back to the Ferochen canines. It was then that Rishi saw the felines equal in cruelness to the citizens from the south that for so long he has loathed and he felt nothing but resentment and a scathing abhorrence for the lord and his men. But whatever his feelings towards the royal members, nothing he could do would be worth risking the lives of Sam or the kids. He wanted nothing more than to spit in the face of Allon and sink his teeth into his large, fleshy members, but to save his wife and kids, he was resolved to swallow all his pride, all his shame, and give himself fully to Lord Allon's wanton desires.

Once Amarro was out the door with Rishi's wife, the cougar removed his paw from the mouse's throat and untied his paws and removed his gag, pulling out the rodent's braies and tossing them to the floor. He grabbed the rodent by scuff and dragged him out of his bedchamber, causing a grunt of pain from the abused mouse. Allon dropped him on the floor and stepped away while Rishi trembled as he attempted to lift himself up onto his hands, his legs too weak and damaged to stand. The puma lord stopped and turned to look at the pathetic creature lying helpless on the floor, his brow furrowed in anger and impatience.

"Now get down those steps and make your plea. And hurry up! I've haven't got all night," he said while pointing down the stairs. He then sat down as the royal guards took their respective positions. All four members looked down at the rodent with a certain hint of sympathy, but nevertheless kept their distance and made no effort to assist the mouse with his duty.

Rishi panted as he caught his breath, breathing once again through his mouth and crying uncontrollably. He made no attempt to wipe his tears or catch the sticky saliva that dribbled from his muzzle, his mouth drying up as his body became dehydrated. His body filthy and weak and his mind exhausted, he thought of his wife and that inspired him to finally move. He attempted to stand, but his right leg was so weak and shaky that he immediately collapsed. He gasped and moaned and grunted in pain before crawling slowly around the Lord's Seat. His progress was extremely slow and Allon was growing more impatient as time went on, but given the state the mouse was in there was no way for him to move any faster.

He finally reached the bottom of the steps, Amarro and Kish standing on either side of him as he turned back around. He looked up at Kish and saw the bandage over where his halberd sliced him, wishing he'd never tried to run before. He then looked up at the cougar in his seat and eyed the large, golden-brown sheath between his legs, thinking of what lay beneath. He barely held himself up, his hands constantly repositioning himself to maintain his balance. Once he was steady enough, he looked into Allon's eyes, the feline tapping away at the armrest with agitation.

Rishi bowed his head and spoke as quickly and as loudly as he could. "Lord Allon of the Plains of Darreen, cousin to the feline Prince of Identine, I am offering you my body as tribute and penance for my act of defiance and disobedience towards his lordship. My body is yours to do with as you please, every second of every minute of every day, it is yours. I am at your beck and call. I beg of you... please accept this offer. Please take my body. It is now and forever yours." He stared back pleadingly, hopeful that was the end of his obligate begging, but as the cougar stared back at him, he had no change in expression.

"What I have asked of you before you have shown nothing but distaste for. You have sneered, wrinkled your nose, and even gagged at my scent, my taste. When I take your body, I need your mind to be committed as well. Dislike it all you want, but I need not be reminded that my very essence repulses you. I need to be convinced that you can do that."

Rishi looked on, his mind a wreck, but his pride and dignity practically non-existent at that moment. Instead of answering right away, he slowly began to crawl back up the steps. Amarro took a step forward, but Allon held up a paw to cease his interruption and the lion retook his stance. The mouse made his way back up to the cougar lord, never locking eyes, but crawling towards one of his large footpaws. He gently grabbed it with both hands and leaned forward, slowly licking at the furry paw, matting it with his dried tongue. Though disturbed by the dirty state the mouse was in, Allon allowed the rodent to continue his attempt to persuade the lord.

"My lord, I will do anything you ask of me and I will happily do it without hesitation. I will pleasure you whenever you ask and gladly take in your scent, drink you cum, and take your member inside of me. If you wish to mark me as your property, I will gladly display myself and accept your golden liquid. If you want me seed, if you wish to tie me up, if you wish me to clean your chamber pot with my tongue, I will do it without a second thought and I will smile and moan with pleasure the whole time. Just please, I beg of you, please, please don't hurt my family. Please, please, please... don't do it."

Rishi broke down and let his muzzle fall open-mouthed into Allon's foot, his body out of his control, driven by a mind destroyed by anguish. At once, the stoic expression of all four royal guards began to break as they saw the tiny, miserable, hapless creature lying prostrate on the stone ground. Allon paused a moment, staring down at the filthy mouse, covered in blood, dirt, sweat, and tears, still trembling.

"Jarai," he said turning to the lynx. "Grab his wife and kids and escort them back home." Rishi's head popped up to stare directly at Allon, who looked back down at the mouse. Rishi's heart lifted as did the disparaged feelings. As Jarai passed by, the cougar snapped his fingers at him, haulting his stride. "Send a doctor to look her over as well. I don't want anything happening to her."

"Yes, sire." With that, Jarai was out the door and Rishi was left in the grovel position, hope rekindling inside him.

"Thank you, my lord." Allon said nothing to the mouse.

"Kish. Take him and get him cleaned up. When you're done, take him to one of the basement cells and send a doctor to look him over. He'll be staying with us for a little while."

Rishi's heart sunk a little when he heard that he'd be stuck living underneath the lord and his men, but he nevertheless felt comfort from the fact that he would be receiving treatment for his injuries. But above all else, he felt the greatest weight of his chest knowing that Sam, Tessa, Dax, Jimson, and Danson would be safe. He knew he would once again have to succumb to the sexual perversions of the Royal Court and they would probably be expecting more effort on his part. But he had no room in his heart at the moment to worry about such trifling matters. He'd protected his family and that was all the small rodent cared about.

"Thank you, my lord," he said again, this time getting a small nod from the cougar.

Kish arrived and lifted the mouse from the floor, grabbing him around the back and holding both legs in his arms as he lifted him. The act sent jolts of extreme pain through Rishi's body and he screamed and cried, but the mouse bore it as best he could as he was carried away.

After getting washed up, he was carried down a flight of stairs to a group of small prison cells directly underneath the hall. They were all empty at the moment and the halls were lined with sconces that were not lit at the moment, forcing Kish to use his impressive eyesight and what little light was coming in from upstairs. One of the cell doors was open and Kish carried the exhausted mouse inside. The interior was small, a rough stone floor with some jagged edges, a bed, a chair, and a chamber pot, but at the moment Rishi was too tired to care about the aesthetics of the cell. Kish lowered the mouse onto the bed, the rodent grimacing in pain. The bandages on his face and leg had been replaced after he was cleaned.

"I'll be back in a moment with a doctor and to light the sconces. That'll give you some light. The door to the cell will not be locked, so you can leave and wander around if you wish. However, given the state you're in now, you won't really be mobile enough to go anywhere. Before I leave, would you like anything to eat?"

"No thank you, good sir," he said while shaking his head, not even looking up at the tiger. He was still trembling a little, his mind and body tired and needing rest.

"Very well. You'll be staying here until you're good enough to leave. Get your rest. The sooner you get better, the sooner you can start making the lord happy. And when he's happy, he's more receptive, which means the happier you'll be."

After Kish didn't get a response, he turned and began to leave. Rishi then sat up as best he could to look at the tiger. "Wait!" Kish stopped and turned around. "Sir Kish, I- I'm truly sorry about what I did. I didn't mean to do it. I- I was just scared. It was an accident. I am truly... truly sorry."

Kish was a professional. He knew how to act and how to look and how to behave. Nevertheless, he had to fight hard to keep from showing his feelings of sympathy towards the mouse. "I know," was all he said.

They stared back at each other a moment before Kish walked away, leaving Rishi to lie back down on the pillow. The fear and agony he'd suffered throughout the day lingered on in him, but fatigue had its own pull on him. At the knowledge that his wife and kids were safe and secure for the moment, fatigue won out and in very little time the mouse drifted off to sleep.

Kish reached the top of the stairs, shutting the door behind him as he headed off to find their best doctor. As he rounded the corner, Dubois was standing there, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Kish gave the cheetah a look of exasperation with the whole incident.

"Is he OK?" asked the cheetah.

"Is he OK? You never even bothered to ask if I was OK. So, you care more about some rodent than a brother in arms?"

"Oh please! We've done far worse to each other than that scratch on your face. That rodent down in the basement can't walk right now. Yeah, I do care more about some rodent than the bigger tiger that couldn't even subdue him."

Kish furrowed his eyebrows in mock annoyance at his cohort and than chuckled. "So, where's Roland?"

"He went to his bedchamber. He'll be out soon. He needs to go speak with the generals about what happened."

"Yep. Where's Amarro?"

"Hunter grounds. He and I were sent to collect Rishi's clothes and clean up a little."

"Then... what are you doing here?"

"I was worried about the mouse. I thought that was apparent. I feel sorry for the little guy."

"You do? Dubois, you seem to be forgetting that he disobeyed an order from the high lord and attacked a member of the Royal Guard."

"I didn't forget anything, but come on. He was just scared. And besides, you know as well as I do that this was not part of the original agreement. Roland never made any claim that once Rishi agreed to this it would be a permanent thing."

Kish looked around, uncertain about whether or not he should continue this conversation. After a moment, he responded. "Maybe not, but that's not our call to make and it's certainly not Rishi's."

"If it was, would you have made that call?"

"Don't ask me that question," he said with a harsh tone and pointing a finger at Dubois' face. He then proceeded to walk past the cheetah.

"Kish."

"What?" he said with exasperation as he turned to face Dubois.

"He wouldn't have really done it, would he?"

"What?"

"Given his family over to the Ferochen canines."

Kish laughed a bit at the question as he shook his head. "Of course not! I know Roland very well and he'd rather slit his own throat than give a Ferochen a slice of bread, never mind handing over subjects. Trust me, if he had any intention of doing anything to Sam or their kids, he would've done it himself. Don't tell Rishi though. That's not for any of us to say."

"But then, what's the point of any of this? I may not know Roland as well as you guys, but I think I know him well enough and this just doesn't seem like our great lord."

Kish shrugged. "What can I say. But I mean... even I felt a little insulted when the little guy came in with a satchel of food and drinks for tribute. Didn't you?"

Dubois pondered a moment, almost unwilling to answer the question, but ultimately admitting his shared feelings. "Alright, yes. I did feel a bit insulted. We've spent so much time together and I thought something more was building between us. But come on, the guy's married, he's straight, and he only did this in the first place because he had no choice and just wanted to protect his family. And, like I said before, it was not part of Roland's original deal to keep him on a leash like this."

Kish sighed and faced Dubois directly. "Dubois, I can't speak for Roland and why he decided not to let Rishi off the hook, but there's something you need to keep in mind. Whatever his reasons, the mouse assaulted and struck a member of the Royal Guard, causing injury. If that had been anyone else, even a member of our own army, they'd be dead. I'd say Roland is showing great mercy by keeping him alive."

With that, Kish turned around and walked away towards the exit, leaving Dubois by himself to ponder the legitimacy of Allon's actions. "Great restraint?" he asked to no one. "Yeah, Rishi's the lucky one. He just has to live in fear that his wife and kids will be fed to wolves. Real lucky."

He shook his head and pondered whether or not to go down and speak with the rodent, deciding better of it. He knew his status as a royal guard meant a certain conduct he had to employ, which meant not countermanding his lord's decision. Nevertheless, he couldn't help but question the lord's actions and the decisions he's made. Kish was right about one thing though, and anyone else would've been hung without question. So why leave alive this insignificant rodent when he could just find another one for free? It didn't make any sense to the cheetah. He pondered the implications as he made his way back towards the hunting grounds to finish what he'd been ordered to do. He had no intention of speaking about this with the lion or lynx. He knew that out of the three of them, Kish was the most receptive member and thought more similarly to him. If he wasn't going to humor him, there was no point in speaking to anyone else.

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