Dragon's Howl: Offer
The third chapter of my Skyrim-based series, commissioned by Loboron!
Sirroc and Lobo have evaded the Thalmor so far, thanks to the help of a Khajiit with aspirations of becoming a mage. Safe for the time being, their new companion has an offer for them; but before then, they aim to express their gratitude in very intimate ways...
(The character Jo'reko was renamed to Sylas and his appearance changed from a snow-leopard to a white-haired, sandy-furred cougar.)
The view from Cloud Ruler Temple was nothing short of breathtaking. On a clear night one could see the entirety of Cyrodiil; to the Abecean Sea in the west, beyond Anvil, to the Topal Bay beyond Leyawiin in the south, nestled between the borders of Elsweyr and Black Marsh. The pinpricks of light across the land were not unlike the light of the stars overhead, save for the moons above casting a potent light across the country. Some of those pinpricks were moving, tracing along the barely-visible paths of the Orange and Silver Roads, but for the most part it was calm and peaceful. It was little wonder that it was the hideout of the Emperor at multiple points in history.
And now it still served as a hideout- for two Lykaios and a Khajiit.
"He plays well," Sylas remarked, leaning against the bed and regarding Lobo with a look on interest. The younger wolf had finished eating earlier and had taken to playing his flute, a gentle tune dancing through the air. "It must have taken years to be so skilled."
"Since he was a pup," Sirroc agreed, before taking another bite out of his piece of mutton. "It keeps him calm when things are stressful- it keeps me calm too."
"I can't imagine it's been used often, what with current events," Sylas said solemnly.
"If we could, though..." Sirroc sighed, before looking around. "You're sure this bubble will cease the sound?"
"Oh yes," Sylas assured him with a warm smile. "And the light from the fire, too. Spells like these are expensive outside of Valenwood and the Summerset Isles. The Thalmor enjoy their secrets- and their comforts."
"I noticed," Sirroc chuckled, looking around once more at their unusual surroundings. The interior of the temple was lacking in most respects, much of it caved it and its walls ruined, yet the second floor was sturdy enough that it served well as a habitable platform. What made it more unusual were the pristine comforts that Sylas had spirited into Nirn, having taken a scroll from his pouch and spoken some manner of incantation; a warm hearth in the middle, surrounded by a wide bed, a small table for enchanting and alchemy, and a clearly elven-made rug.
"Where did you get the scroll, by the way?" Sirroc asked.
"One of our Thalmor friends donated it to me, as recompense for harassing the caravan I was traveling with," he replied with a grin.
"I guess cutting him down wasn't a fair price," Sirroc scoffed. "Good riddance, a few less of those bastards won't cause the world to weep."
"I agree. On that note... thank you." The wolf cocked his head- to which the Khajiit smirked. "... Come off it, we both saw each other, and I found your handiwork in the bushes. I know you and your brother were the ones who intervened."
Sirroc relaxed, managing a smile in return- there seemed to be no sense hiding it. "It was risky, but we both agreed it was worth it. Still, if anything had gone wrong, one of the caravaneers could have been hurt or killed."
The Khajiit sighed, shaking his head. "My friend, I thank the gods you've never had to visit Elsweyr, that you would have a different perspective. I think it's reasonable to assume that you were nearby while my caravan and are were talking, so whatever you heard from Ri'saad and the others about the state of our country was a severe understatement." He shifted and set his plate aside. "There's a reason the Renrijra Krin have been fighting so hard to liberate the country from the Thalmor, when not two hundred years prior they were simply thugs and smugglers."
"What does the name mean?" Sirroc asked.
"Many things at once, actually: The Mercenary's Grin, The Smiling Scum, The Laugh of the Landless- it can mean any of them, or none of them. But two things have been constant with them. The first is that they are criminals, of that there is no question."
"And the other?"
"That they represent courage, the richness of life, and allegiance to no ruler." He leaned back against the bed frame, looking wistful and solemn. "They see the Thalmor occupation as an affront to all it means to be a Khajiit. To many, that means being what one wishes to be, independent from the manipulations or motivations of others." A pause, then a quiet chuckle. "I apologize- I don't wish to go on a political or social tangent. I only wish to say that I appreciate you took that risk to help us. My caravan would thank you if they could be here, but Ri'saad felt it would be best to camp out at the foot of the path leading up here to be a lookout, as thanks."
"And we appreciate that, in turn," Sirroc replied. "Not to mention the cushy surroundings."
"Think nothing of it." He turned to a nearby chest at the foot of the bed, rummaging through it. "So, maybe you'd like to share a drink with me while we talk? I doubt you're in any hurry to get to sleep tonight."
At that Lobo's flute stopped, the younger wolf looking up with eyebrows raised. The sight caused Sirroc to stifle a chuckle, nodding. "Y'know what, yeah. I think we could both use some spirits."
The first round passed, all three drinking straight from the bottle; to Sirroc the wine seemed to have a pleasant spice in it, a trait he'd not experienced in the cheaper bottles his tribes sometimes traded for. It was not Colovian, though it was about as sweet, but something in its bouquet gave his senses a nice tingle. He passed it to Lobo, just as Sylas started speaking again.
"You do not have to tell me anything specific," he began, "and it would be safer if you didn't. The less I know about where your people are, the less risk they're in, should I be captured." He looked up to the older wolf, concern in his features. "But are they at least okay?"
"We think most of them are," Sirroc replied, glad that someone was expressing concern for his tribe. "Lobo and I were out on a hunt near the Imperial City when some of the southern tribe members came upon us and told us we had to leave, that the Thalmor were conducting raids. They ran ahead but we got waylaid by a few trolls and ended up having to take shelter in an Ayleid ruin when the pogroms got close." He looked to Lobo, the younger wolf having passed the bottle back to the Khajiit with a subdued look. "There were... a few of our friends there, dead. But most of the camp had been packed up, and it looks as if only a few of our warriors had stayed behind to give us more of a head start."
"I'm sure they gave their lives valiantly," the Khajiit offered solemnly. "I only wish they didn't have to give them up at all. Still, if the rest of your pack is alright, then that is reason for hope." He cocked his head. "Are they headed into Skyrim, then?"
It was Lobo who answered this time. "The tracks we saw say no. We only followed a mile just to be sure before breaking off to lead the Thalmor astray; but we do know they didn't head directly north."
Had it been anyone else Sirroc would have cut the pup off, but there was a budding hope in his chest that this Khajiit could be trusted, picking up where Lobo was. "It was our decision to head into Skyrim. Before this all happened I was a week away from choosing my first packmate. I was supposed to be given the right to break from the tribe and start my own with whoever I chose, and Lobo wants to be a part of that. Besides, near as I remember Skyrim is one of the only places in all Tamriel that the Thalmor haven't infested."
"Not yet," Sylas agreed cautiously, passing the bottle to Sirroc again. "But you'd still do well to watch yourselves while there. You may find the Nords are only a _bit_more hospitable the further north you go." He chuckled lightly, nodding to Lobo. "They don't look too favorably on brothers being lovers."
"And you?" Lobo asked, frowning.
"Lad, I'm like any other Khajiit," he laughed. "My preferences are whatever the wisdom of my loins deems suitable, male or female, stranger or kin. I'm no stranger to incestuous sex- just ask my mother," he grinned.
"Your own mother?" Sirroc chuckled. "I thought wrong- perhaps Lykaios and Khajiit are more alike than I knew them to be."
"I'm sure they are," Sylas laughed, shifting his position a bit- and it was here Sirroc noticed a very prominent bulge in the sandy cat's breeches. Their eyes met and it could not be clearer between them that he knew what he was doing, and that the wolf was enjoying what he saw.
"For instance," Sylas continued, "I've heard nasty rumors that the Lykaios tribes will take feral wolf mates; 'nasty' only in that they find it abominable, mind you. But I also know that there's a kernel of truth to that rumor, is there not?"
Lobo and Sirroc traded amused glances, the younger wolf speaking. "It's true, but they usually leave out the fact that we're able to sire offspring when we do. It's a gift from Hircine, a blessing to keep us closer to the natural world, and to the hunt."
"Do you find it offensive?" Sirroc asked, though he suspected the answer.
"I'd be a hypocrite to my own people if I did," Sylas scoffed, reaching into his satchel and pulling out a few scroll containers, handing one to the older wolf, another to the younger one. Curious, they both opened them and unfurled the parchment, each met with a full illustration of a Khajiit orgy beneath the moons. Almost every kind of pairing was evident in the piece, between males, between females, mounting female, tiger-like beasts or taking the full cock of a male in the same stature. In the hands of some of the younger Khajiit were creatures that looked much like housecats, being rutted with expressions of pure ecstasy.
Lobo's eyes were wide, the pup swallowing. "That's... quite a piece of artwork. All these animals and Khajiit..."
"Ah, you're mistaken, lad," Sylas wagged a finger at him playfully. "Those are _all_Khajiit." The pup cocked an eyebrow and he explained, gesturing to the moons overhead. "The form and shape our people take are tied to the moons themselves, when Masser and Secunda are in different phases. The Senche-Raht, Cathay, Cathay-Raht, Alfiq, Ohmes- their form is tied to what phases were active in the moon when they are born. The Senche and Alfiq are more bestial, but they are as intelligent as you and I, able to even speak. Other races consider them feral- they are not. It doesn't prevent us from being criticized when others learn that we enjoy intimacy with our four-footed kin."
He nodded to both of them. "As such, I don't find your cultural tradition of occasionally taking a feral wolf mate as objectionable. In fact..." He paused, taking another swig from the wine bottle, shifting a bit and pressing a paw against his bulge to adjust himself. "In fact, I find it quite interesting," he admitted with a coy smile.
Sirroc eyed the bottle in the Khajiit's paws, his gaze trailing to the bulge in his pants again- and then to the slight flicking of the Khajiit's tail, looking very much anxious. It was not in Sylas's eyes or expression, but the subtle cues in his position, the slightly bouncing of his leg, the movement of his tail, the quick flick of his eyes at both wolves in downward gazes.
Sirroc smiled and leaned forward.
"Sylas, would you like to fuck?"
The Khajiit jumped at that, the bottle jerking in his paw and slopping a bit on his shirt as his ears perked up and his eyes went wide. "I- what?" The confident expression was gone, replaced with one not unlike a deer caught in a corner by a pair of hungry wolves. "I-I don't... what do you mean?"
But Sirroc was certain of his words, getting to his knees and keeping his smile warm. A quick look to Lobo was enough to know the younger man found this abrupt change very strange, but not at all disagreeable. "It's not exactly off-topic, is it? We _are_talking about intimacy within our respective cultures, and how you don't find it offensive. It's just... you seem very interested in the topic, and you've been very kind to my brother and I. And I wonder now about your motives, passing around a wine bottle and showing us erotic pictures of Khajiit orgies."
"I... did want to steer the topic to more pleasant topics, yes," Sylas admitted, a slight bit of red in his cheeks as he looked away. "I did not want to upset you with further talk about the state of your people, especially since I came here specifically to offer you my thanks- among other things."
The wolves looked to each other, curious. "'Other things?'" Lobo repeated.
"I had... a proposition to make," the Khajiit said hesitantly. "And I did not want to make it if there was even the slightest chance that you would not trust me. You're both under enough stress as-is, without being approached by a strange Khajiit you met only hours earlier. So my plan was to come here, chat you up, show you that I can be a friend to you both, and then make my offer."
"So why show us the paintings?" Lobo asked.
"I guess I thought it would be a good starting point to build on, show that our races are not all that different," the Khajiit shrugged.
Sirroc cocked his head. "Sylas, the fact that you didn't sell me out to the Thalmor when I was in plain view is enough for me to know that my brother and I can trust you."
"If you were out to hurt us, you could have poisoned the wine or used your magic instead," Lobo added. "Sirroc's right, I think you're on the level."
Sylas looked pleased, even a little relieved, though there was an uncertain crease in his brow. "Do you really feel that way, though? You must have been around us long enough that you know that I am wanted by the Thalmor, and I've yet to even tell you why. I fully intend to tell you, if it would solidify the trust between us."
The brothers traded knowing smiles, Sirroc shaking his head and getting to his feet. "We both appreciate you trying to be as forthright as possible. But while we'll gladly hear out your story, we both think there's a better way to cultivate trust between us first, if you'll allow us." With that he held out his paw to the feline, waiting patiently.
Sylas seemed to hesitate for a few moments before laughing and shaking his head. "Normally I'd say this is too fast, even for me- but I think after today, all of us could use this to unwind." He took Sirroc's paw, allowing himself to be helped up- and, anticipating the next moment, allowed himself to be held in the wolf's arms before meeting him with a deep kiss.
They stood at the same height, yet neither competed for dominance in that single act, both content to hold each other close as their lips and tongues traded the sweet taste of wine between them. A sufficient-enough gap was between them, enough for Lobo to get in behind the Khajiit and work at unbuckling the belt to his trousers, which the feline did nothing to stop. His pants finally fell to his ankles and the kiss broke, and he moved to the bed.
Sirroc followed, giving the furniture a spare glance. Whichever Thalmor had been carrying the scroll, they were used to lavish living- though likely intended for one High Elf desiring uneeded bedspace, the bed was easily large enough to hold three lovers on it, more than comfortable enough for the task. The Khajiit sat on one end, kicking his trousers off and giving the wolf a good look at his prick, as alien as it was beautiful. It was ebony, much like Sirroc's, and nearly as long at a full ten inches and nearly as much girth. Along the shaft, however, were soft protrusions that might have once been barbs to the feline's ancestors, yet were flexible instead of rigid. It was certainly enough to give Lobo pause, the younger wolf nosing at the length curiously before pressing the flat of his tongue along the underside. Sylas tensed and groaned, leaning back on his paws and watching the pup go to work.
"You're quite gifted, I'm sure you've seen plenty of action with that handsome cock," Sirroc teased, leaning in and nipping his neck affectionately, all while peeling his own trousers off. "Have you done this with Lykaios before?"
"Never," the Khajiit purred, placing a paw on Lobo's head and petting behind his ears. Lobo seemed to make it a point to put his best effort into giving oral attention to their new friend, his tongue lashing across each barb and slathering the underside. It did not take long for a bead of precum to form at the tip, which the younger wolf lapped up eagerly. "Mmf... Khajiit tongues can be pleasantly rough, just enough friction to make you tingle; but your brother's tongue is... so strong, and soft."
"Let him work it on his own," the wolf told him, pulling off the Khajiit's shirt and running a paw up his chest; his other paw cupped his own balls, giving them a nice heft for the feline to see. "And let him know if you want him to stop and swap places."
"N-not yet," Sylas groaned, a visible shiver causing his fur to fluff slightly. Both he and the older wolf watched as Lobo worked the shaft with a level of skill that clearly required years of constant practice, and it was a good enough reason for Sirroc to smile- the pup was eager to show that he was a skilled lover. Even looking at the turgid shaft was enough to cause the older sibling to consider having a taste.
By now Lobo was bobbing his muzzle along the studded ebony shaft with pleasant moans, the younger wolf having managed to slide his own pants off. A reluctant pause in his oral efforts gave him enough time for him to pull off his shirt, by which point his arousal had clearly gotten overwhelming, the lad throwing himself back onto Sylas's cock, his lips kissing the feline's sheath. Sirroc watched the Khajiit lean back on his paws, his handsome musculature trembling as the pup drained his stamina; the little flexes of his abs beneath the thin fur and skin looking perfect to the wolf. In many ways it matched his own, albeit a little slimmer and more agile.
Wouldn't mind adding this sexy kitty to our pack, he thought to himself; though as he did, he kept his paw away from his shaft and kept rubbing his balls. Best to keep himself primed instead of wearing away his own sexual endurance- he knew what he wanted, and he was more than happy to wait to get it. It was at least enough for the first two inches of his proud cock to slip out of his sheath, a bead of precum growing on its apex; and before too long he was aroused enough that he got on the bed next to the feline, rubbing his chest again and giving him another deep kiss.
In their culture it was not uncommon for one who was not Lykaios to earn a tribe's deepest trust, whether by kinship or by action, and so Sirroc felt nothing but genuine affection for the feline as their lips and tongues met, moaning into each others' muzzles and sharing the feel of their maws. Sylas had not been lying, his tongue was in fact pleasantly rough, a trait he had missed during their first kiss- it was impossible not to be curious how that tongue would feel against his own cock, a thought that caused another few inches of his cock to eject from his sheath.
The kiss broke and the feline looked up at him with a confused but pleased look. "You're... serious about this, aren't you?" He swallowed. "I mean... about how you're acting."
"I like you," the wolf admitted with a blushing smile. "You're handsome and sexy. If you're not spoken for, I would gladly invite you to my pack."
"You should consider it," Lobo panted, nuzzling the studded cock with a playful smile. "Maybe it would be nice for us all to go into Skyrim together."
"Mmff... it's tempting," the feline groaned, half in pleasure and half in uncertainty. "But... I've my own reasons for going. I'll speak on them later- I don't want to mar this experience, not with a pair of sweet wolf boys." He looked up to Sirroc and leaned in, nuzzling the wolf with an audible purr. "I will say, though... in any other circumstance, I would probably say yes."
"Then let's just focus for tonight," the wolf suggested, nuzzling back. "We're repaying you; how would you like to do this?"
"Nng..." He shook his head to clear it, looking between them with an expression that made it clear he was having great difficulty choosing. "I would... like to fuck your brother first, if you would allow me to borrow him."
The two wolves traded looks of agreement and nodded. "However you would like me," Lobo grinned, climbing onto the bed and laying in an enticing pose that showed off his butt- one that had never once failed to get Sirroc to bed him.
"Mmm... you're a lucky wolf," the feline murmured to Sirroc, taking only a moment to grab his satchel and fish out a small bottle. "Not that I'm unfamiliar with the intimacy of family, but none of them as talented and affectionate as your brother."
"Treat him well," the older wolf cautioned, getting up off the bed and pulling Lobo in front of him, the younger wolf on his back with his legs spread. "And give it to him hard near the end, he loves getting it like that."
A pop sounded as Sylas pulled the cork from the bottle with his teeth, spitting it aside and pouring a few drops against the young wolf's exposed pucker, then a few drops along the length of his shaft. Sirroc reached down and gave the feline's cock a few healthy strokes, marveling as the drops seemed to cause his paw to glide smoothly across the surface. The two shared another kiss, Sirroc aiding the Khajiit in guiding the tip of his cock against the quivering tailstar, a second of silence passing between them before the Khajiit reached down, grabbed Lobo's legs, and rolled his hips into the pup's ass.
Two moans rose in tandem as the Khajiit's soft-barbed cock glided into Lobo's ass, disappearing to the root. A shiver passed through Sylas, which almost seemed to pass into Lobo as they each savored the connection between their bodies.
"Nng... by Hircine, he feels big," Lobo panted, reaching up and gripping the Khajiit's arms, the only thing to keep him in place while his feline lover began a slow but strong pace that slid into the pup. Lobo seemed to flinch and writhe with pleasure each time one of the Khajiit's barbs disappeared inside him or slid out of his tailhole. From his position Sirroc could see most of it, staring at the studded black cock nailing his brother and left to imagine how strange and incredible it must feel, for those pliable yet sturdy barbs to pluck against his tailhole, caressing against his prostate; it was enough for him to begin working his paw over his cock, enjoying the show.
Within a minute of Sylas beginning his rhythm it was clear he was a skilled lover, working most of his body into the act of fucking the younger wolf beneath him in one form or another. His hips rolled with a mix of strength and grace, flexing and loosening in a trained pattern that Sirroc recognized as being effective for any male or female, his aim to grind against Lobo's prostate obvious. But his hips were not the only thing he utilized; his paws slid up and down the younger man's body, massaging his chest and shoulders, or giving his unguarded nipples teasing little pinches. His muzzle busied itself with intentional moans and growls meant to entice the pup, when it wasn't nipping into his neck or pressed against Lobo's lips in sweet, erotic kisses.
Yet his full attention wasn't on Lobo. Every so often the Khajiit would pause, his eyes flicking over to Sirroc as if beginning to ask for advice, only to stop short and look away with a growing blush and a shy smile. It happened three times, the third marked with a slight shiver as his eyes lingered a second too long on the wolf's massive, ebony cock; eyes that seemed to hold a growing hunger. After this he seemed to increase his efforts, working his hips hard enough for the audible, repetitive swatting sound of hips breeding an ass to increase in pace.
His stamina was nothing shameful, either, holding out long enough that he took time to pull back, panting and leaving the pup a shivering, warm mess. "He's... he feels incredible," he groaned, while Lobo gave a little yip when the feline's still-hard, still-throbbing cock was pulled free from his ass. "He keeps clamping down around me even when I go faster, it's like feeling a tight pussy wrapped around my cock..."
"It sometimes makes me think I might get him pregnant," Sirroc agreed with a grin. "You didn't finish, though."
"Flip over, I'd like to finish like this," Sylas told Lobo, and the pup quickly obliged, climbing onto the center of the bed with his head down and his ass up, giving it a little enticing wiggle as his glistening pucker seemed to wink at them both. Sylas jumped onto the bed next, Sirroc sliding up beside the pair and keeping watch patiently. In any other situation he would have intervened and made his own demands, but even now the Khajiit was looking his way with that same hunger in his eyes, gaze lingering on his cock- his time would come, he knew. The wolf merely smiled and nodded, content to wait as long as the feline was willing to submit.
"If you're going for a strong finish, best do it hard," Sirroc suggested, before leaning back and giving Lobo a grin. "How are you enjoying it, little brother?"
"It's so strange, but it feels so good," the younger man panted, looking up with a smile on his face and tears of exertion in his eyes as his tail wagged. "I... I can't even begin to describe his cock..."
"Mine's still the best, isn't it?" Sirroc teased, leaning in to nuzzle.
"Always," Lobo answered without a beat, accepting his brother's kiss- there was just the barest trace of sweetness, the flavor of another male's cock lingering on his lips and tongue. "But our new friend should be proud."
"I appreciate it," Sylas grinned, grabbing the pup's hips and pulling him back as his rod speared between his asscheeks. "Now, allow me to thank you properly, pup."
Perhaps the Khajiit had taken Sirroc's suggestion to heart, or perhaps something in the situation spurred a sharper reaction in him; whatever it was, it had brought out a new level of passion and vigor in his lovemaking, his hips and thighs flexing as his thick cock pounded into Lobo's ass repeatedly. In seconds the wolf's moaning had filled the air, accompanied by the heavy slaps of Sylas's hips battering his ass with fast, powerful strokes. Sirroc couldn't help but appreciate the sight of the Khajiit's heavy balls bouncing against Lobo's smaller yet still-respectable pair, the slick excess of cocklube dripping off both their twitching sets and staining the fine elven bedding. In the brief glimpses Sirroc could steal of the Khajiit's swollen member, he could see a thin film of milky-white lubricant, the slickness making it easier to rut his lover.
Lobo was not idle, though in his position he could do little more than moan and push his ass back into the feline's lap. Despite both his paws clinging into the pillow in front of him the rough fucking had been enough to keep his cock hard and twitching, which to anyone else but Sirroc looked seconds away from blowing its load. Yet he knew his little brother better than anyone, had in many ways trained him to be a perfect lover, though rarely shared to other wolves; the pup could hold back until the end of Mundus, unless he was good and bred first.
Sylas looked eager to get him there in other ways, though, the Khajiit leaning over his shoulder and purring into his ear, nuzzling and licking his neck as if tending to his mate, even as his hips kept their vigorous pace. He looked to Sirroc, panting.
"May I... scruff him?" he breathed.
The wolf grinned. "Only if you allow me to scruff you."
The Khajiit managed a shaky grin. "You... want to--"
"I intend to breed you as if you're a bitch in heat, so I can thank you properly," the wolf growled playfully, leaning in and licking Sylas's nose. "I'm only allowing you to borrow my brother- but not for nothing." He nodded to Lobo. "Now focus- give my pup a good rutting, like he deserves. And be kind enough to not pull out of him, he deserves every drop you can offer. Whatever you want to get from me, you have to give to him first."
"Is... is that what you want?" Sylas moaned, his hips starting to tremble violently. It was clear that the words were getting to him. "Do you want me to cum inside you, Lobo?"
"Y-yes!" Lobo howled. "Cum in me, please!"
At that Sylas slid his arms around the young wolf, clinging to him tight while his athletic body flexed and curled, jerking his hips against Lobo's ass. The thrusts were slower in pace, but only so he could grind his hips hard, burying his proud cock into his lover. Sirroc sat up with a smile, getting a clear view of the Khajiit's butt flexing, his heavy balls twitching as they neared climax. Suddenly, Sylas's body seized up and he gasped, his muzzle buried into the back of Lobo's neck as he bit into the younger wolf's scruff and claimed his prize.
The wolf howled at the stimulation, and in moments it became clear that his new, foreign lover had performed perfectly, enough to drive the pup over the edge first- something only Sirroc had been able to do before. With his ass in the air and legs spread wide, Sirroc could clearly see his little brother's cock twitch and throb powerfully, before blasting the elven sheets beneath him with no fewer than five thick shots of hot cum. When at last it had tapered into a gentle leak, the Khajiit let out a muffled snarl, the fur on his back shivering and raising.
His swollen balls drew up into his loins before relaxing, and even beneath the moaning and growling Sirroc fancied he could hear the churning of his balls as they surged and channeled spunk through his cock, pumping into the pup and splashing against his anal walls. It was certainly enough to have a healthy excessive churn out from around his ebony cock, coating it in a thick veneer of Khajiit seed.
Their bodies relaxed and Sylas flopped onto his side, his body curling up and vibrating with a loud, rumbling purr, a contented smile on his face. "That... by Azura, I don't think I've felt a finer body wrapped around my cock. You're very good, Lobo."
The pup rolled onto his side, panting and teary-eyed, smiling back. "So are you. I'm sure the ladies and lads love you back where you're from."
"I do my best," Sylas purred.
"You both look like you need a break," Sirroc noted pleasantly. "I can wait my turn for this."
"N... no, I think I can go right now," the Khajiit said uncertainly.
"Maybe, but I want you to get your strength back," the wolf insisted, giving him a seductive grin. "I want you to have the energy to yowl and scream for me."
"In that case... I could use some snuggling," Sylas suggested. The older wolf gladly obliged, pulling him into a hug and lying beside him.
"You really tuckered him out," Sirroc noted quietly, running a paw through Lobo's hair. The pup did not wake, only stirring slightly with a tired whine as Sylas continued to nuzzle him. "I'm usually able to do it in one shot, but maybe the stress and traveling has gotten to him."
"Or perhaps I'm just as good as you are," the Khajiit suggested playfully, wrapping his tail around the wolf's leg. "I bet I could make you cum if I fucked you."
"I may take you up on that," Sirroc chuckled, licking his cheek. "But only after I've had my way with you."
"Mmm... anytime you're ready, Alpha..." the feline teased, pushing his ass against the wolf's lap and sheath.
By Sirroc's reckoning it was only the middle of the night, though the ethereal fire in the center had died down to a mere flicker. They had settled down for the rest and almost immediately after being snuggled Lobo had fallen asleep. Not much was said between them, though it was impossible for Sirroc to deny that he'd taken a liking to their new friend and lover. Enough time had gone by that the desire to know more about him finally became too much.
"I'm almost ready," Sirroc admitted, as he slid an arm around Sylas's waist. The more his paws explored the Khajiit's body, the more he found himself admiring it. Other wolves in his pack were either much bulkier or more lithe than he was, none fitting his own build; this feline was the first to have such a form- and he was hungering for it. It was only the desire to know his new lover better that stayed his lust. "Though I hope you'd be up to talk a little before then."
"Of course," Sylas offered.
The wolf rolled him around and he did not struggle, shifting sides to face him. Both seemed to nearly speak at the same time, only to stop short as they found each other staring into the other's eyes. The pause seemed to linger between them, Sirroc feeling his heart beating fast. On instinct he moved closer, intercepting the Khajiit's muzzle and kissing him deeply; Sylas had moved at the same moment, letting out a moan as he melted into the wolf's arms. They held it for nearly a minute before breaking, the Khajiit panting slightly.
"That... was an interesting discussion," he purred.
"I'm sorry, I just..." The wolf hesitated. "I'm usually not so forward, but I feel like I can relax around you. Like I can trust you."
"You can," the feline told him solemnly. "I'm putting myself at risk being around you both, but... I feel like you're more than worth the risk. Not just for what I came to ask but... as maybe something... more?" he said hopefully.
"I hope so," Sirroc replied with a warm smile. "Because I want to know more about you. You've done much to keep and my brother safe, and we've told you enough about ourselves that you could use to compromise our safety. I don't believe for a moment that you would. I want you to be able to trust me."
"You want to know why the Thalmor were after me," Sylas sighed, nodding.
"If there's any way we can protect you..."
The Khajiit looked away and let out a laugh- one that lacked mirth, one that was almost sad. "You are... sweet, Sirroc. And I think you could protect me. I just don't want you to take that risk." He paused, then looked back up at him. "But I will tell you." He rolled onto his back snuggling against the wolf and purring quietly as a paw rubbed at his chest.
"My mother and father were province guards in Anequina, in the norther deserts of Elsweyr, working to keep our borders and lands safe- something that's next to impossible when you're working in a kingdom that's under the control of the Aldmeri Dominion," he sighed. "But they did their work well, and kept their reservations to themselves so as to avoid being targeted. It was the things I did that made things... risky. Both my parents were adept at magic, and it was something I yearned to learn, quite unlike my siblings. My parents supported my educational goals- but forbid me from learning within the province."
"Controlled by the Thalmor?" Sirroc guessed.
"In most respects. The best I could do within my own country was seek knowledge from old Khajiit masters who had to hide their abilities. I traveled as far as I could with the coin I could scrape up, hungry for arcane knowledge. I ended up meeting a caravan leader whose wife was adept at magic of the school of Alteration, and took on a job as a guard within the borders while I learned. My parents approved, but my siblings... they were split."
"My eldest brother and sister were the source of fracturing among our family; my brother felt that declaring loyalty to the Aldmeri Dominion was integral, an obligation we were expected to keep. My sister resisted, believing that our people should have come first and that our lives shouldn't be dictated by Dominion law."
"That must have been hard," Sirroc said softly.
"It was. My goal to study magic became a point of contention for my brother. He insisted I join one of the Thalmor colleges and become an agent, so I could prove loyalty and reach my dream of studying magic at the same time. That was the moment I had to make a stand of my own- I chose to refuse Thalmor tutelage." He paused. "Do you know of the Void Nights, my friend?"
Sirroc thought for a moment. "I've heard of it. Something about the moons Masser and Secunda disappearing for a few years."
"I told you not two hours ago that the form of the Khajiit is dependent on the moons, as well," Sylas reminded him. "Culturally, they are central to most of Khajiit life. It represents Azura and Sheogorath the Skooma-Cat, the ever-changing forms and lives of the Khajiit people. To my people, the disappearance of the moons may as well have been the end of Nirn itself. For two whole years there was unrest and chaos. Cubs born in those years were either considered cursed and murdered shortly after birth, or hidden away to conceal that shame. And then, suddenly, in the summer of 100 of the Fourth Era... they returned."
"Though there was great relief, there was little celebration. Most of my people were bewildered, confused. They wanted answers- and the Aldmeri Dominion gave them answers. It was they who had 'returned' the moons, using 'forgotten knowledge' they called Dawn Magics to restore them. In less than a month, support for the Empire dwindled into nothing and the Thalmor were proclaimed to be saviors. A coup followed, and when it was over Elsweyr was divided into two elven nations, under the rule of the Aldmeri Dominion."
"That sounds convenient enough to be bullshit," Sirroc frowned, stroking Sylas's belly- the act seemed to calm him down.
"Most of my family thinks so too. But my point is that they are excellent manipulators, more than anything. There's a reason why High Elves are known to be the masters of Illusion magic." He paused again. "Most of the powerful families of among Khajiit fractured from within and crumbled into nothing. My family was not powerful nor rich, but they were respected guards all the same, and most of my siblings sought to serve as guards as well. So... when it was 'revealed' that my eldest sister was a high-ranking member of the Renrijra Krin, it came as quite a shock."
"The criminal organization you told us about?"
"The same. It put my family in a precarious situation- respected patrol guards with a respected daughter climbing the ranks of province security, only for her to be part of a criminal organization." He smiled. "But like I said, the Khajiit are ever-changing. They were once criminals, to be sure- and now they were a resistance group, aiming to fight the Thalmor in their own way. My sister would have been smart to join them."
Sirroc blinked, cocking his head. "But... you just said--"
"She was 'revealed' to be a member, when she actually was not," Sylas clarified. "The short version is that she had a lover who was, and the Thalmor attempted to abuse that connection. My family went into hiding and joined the Renrijra Krin when it became apparent that they were our best chance for survival."
"So they're safe- but what about you?" Sirroc asked.
"I might have joined, but I had the means to leave and learn magic in other places, something that might be useful if I were to return. So I left for the north and tried to join the Synod of Cyrodiil." He scoffed, bearing a somewhat hard look. "A bunch of tired old men arguing politics and guarding secrets. I soon learned that the College of Whispers were no better, and much harder to find. I still managed to learn from anyone who would teach me, but eventually decided that I had to head much farther north."
"What is there?"
"The only magical institution not mired in politics nor the intrigues of the Thalmor," he replied. "The College of Winterhold, in Skyrim. That is where I'm headed, and that is why I'm traveling with the caravans." He shook his head. "But I ran into trouble with the Thalmor in the process. They must have noticed my attempts to learn from the other two factions, and so they tried to intimidate me into joining them. I resisted and they tried to arrest me. I ended up killing three of them, then making a break for the nearest caravan. Ri'saad hides his hatred well, so he was more than happy to allow me to accompany him and his merchants as a guard."
He sighed, looking to Sirroc with a smile. "So... now you know about me, and what I intend to do. I think that about matches with what you both told me about yourselves."
"It does," Sirroc assured him. "But you still haven't told me what your offer is."
"I talked with Ri'saad and the rest of the caravaneers. Once we're in Skyrim, we won't have to worry about the Thalmor stopping us every time we meet on the road; but until that point, we're all at risk. The hidden path into Skyrim is likely to be dangerous, even for a well-armed caravan, unless we have an escort who knows how to deal with threats from the wilderness." He put a paw on the wolf's chest. "In return for protection, food, and company, we would like you to be our ranger escorts. Would you be willing to help us make the journey?"
It was an offer that hardly needed much thought to have an answer. "I don't even need to ask Lobo- we would be glad to."
The Khajiit grinned up at him, his chest rumbling with a purr. The wolf inhaled softly, feeling Sylas' paw slide around his half-limp cock. "Good. Because I'm sure it'll get colder every night without some warm bodies to bed next to."
They kissed, the wolf feeling Sylas' purr against his body, ears twitching at the sound of his soft moan. The taste of wine lingered on his lips, but there was nothing clouding the wolf's mind save for a growing affection and lust- they had waited long enough. A tense growl escaped the gap between their lips as Sylas ran his paw along his canine member, massaging the spire of flesh back to its most potent state. A firmness against the wolf's thigh could be felt, the Khajiit's cock reaching full mast as they held each other.
Sylas was the first to break off, straddling the wolf's lap and letting out a moan as he allowed his balls and cock to rest on his lover's. A shiver passed through the both, the pair looking down at the pair of ebony shafts; save for shape, they were nearly the same in length and girth. A pause grew between them, and within it Sirroc could feel Sylas' heartbeat through the throbbing of his cock, a rhythm that matched his own even as the seconds wore on. He raised his gaze with a word on his lips, only to remain silent at the look in the feline's eyes. Neither of them needed to say anything to know they had both noticed each others' pulses.
Their paws reached out in unison, one of each wrapping around their cocks, the other clasping palms together as their lips met again. Their strong bodies pressed against each other as they stroked and caressed their turgid shafts, trickles of pre-cum oozing from the tips and staining the ebony surface; the warm feeling of Sylas' heavy balls nestled against the aching and churning pair of an aroused Lykaios made Sirroc let out a hith-pitched whine of need, though the pang of sincere affection and growing love for the Khajiit was sharper.
It would be too soon, he decided. They would have time for them to build up on it.
The intensity shifted and Sylas let out a gasp, arching his back as a gout of precum spat from his cock and splattered both their dripping tools. With Sylas off-balance and exposed the wolf attacked, grabbing the Khajiit in his and nipping and nuzzling into his neck, his paws stroking up his back. Sylas' purr escalated, powerful enough for a pleasant hum to be felt in the wolf's chest; still in the wolf's arms his hips started to move, grinding their shafts together. Both moaned as they began to move in tandem, a pair of young men writhing against each other as the urge to rut strengthened, the heat and musk of their balls powerful enough to throw them into a haze of mental ecstasy.
"I... need to taste you, pup," Sylas mewled.
"Anything you want, kitten," Sirroc panted.
It was with no shortage of reluctance that the wolf let him go, leaning back against the headboard and watching Sylas dip low, nuzzling his stomach, moving lower to his sheath, and then sliding his tongue up his throbbing maleness. The sensation was as alien as it was erotic, a roughness to the texture of his tongue that gently scraped against the tender, sensitive nerves along the underside of his cock; a gasp tore through him as it flicked against the tip, a pleasant tingle left in its wake as Sylas worked his lips and tongue against the subtle swell at the base. In only a minute the Khajiit had removed any doubt from Sirroc's mind that he was a novice as a lover, his muzzle and tongue touching on the perfect, sensitive spots on his shaft, cleaning the growing trickle of precum flowing from his tip. Sylas' eyes flicked up, met Sirroc's for the breadth of two seconds, then raised up and slid his muzzle around half his length in a single movement.
Seconds later the wolf's head was thrown back with a sound halfway between a groan and a feral whine, gripping at the sheets and watching as his Khajiit lover began to service his cock with smooth bobbing motions, running his rough tongue along the sides and slicking him up, smearing precum along the shaft. Panting, and with little to do but thrust up into his lover's muzzle, Sirroc places a paw on the Khajiit's head, running his fingers through his white locks and against his ears. Sylas stopped for but a moment, the corners of his muzzle curling upwards around his cock, then resumed- only this time, he began to purr deeply, the vibrations coursing through the wolf's throbbing flesh and down to his balls.
Sirroc's eyes went wide and he moaned long and loud, the aching in his balls reaching an apex before reducing, as a weak jet of hot cum channeled through his cock and into the Khajiit's mouth. At once Sylas jerked back, catching the considerable load in his muzzle and leaving the wolf winded and dazed. It was only the movement next to them that roused him out of his stupor, realizing his voice had awakened Lobo first, the younger wolf laying on his side with his cock in his paw.
"I'm the only other person I know who can get my brother worked up so fast," Lobo panted. "You must be amazing."
"He... is amazing," Sirroc managed to say, as the Khajiit crawled up to him. "You... wait, what are y--"
He was cut off by yet another kiss, this one laced with his own sweet cum as Sylas forced his tongue and the load of spunk into his muzzle. It was an act that spurred the wolf to pull him back into his arms again, lust and affection overflowing as he committed everything he was feeling and thinking into memory. The desire to claim the Khajiit as a packmate was sharp, clear, a liquid-hot bloom in his chest as he held the strong feline close, town between tearing himself away to proclaim the feline as his own, and keeping his lips locked with him to ensure he would never get away. Sylas did not pull away at any point, seeming to have immersed himself in the deep affections the wolf was giving him- until the wolf finally pulled his muzzle back, with no shortage of reluctance.
Sylas' breathing was fast, strained, but his eyes were bright and alert, staring into the wolf's as his paw cupped his face. "Sirroc... are you okay?"
"Come with us. Both of us."
It was abrupt, said almost instinctively- and it was all Sirroc needed to know to be certain that it was genuine. Sylas looked stunned, uncertain- but not at all displeased.
"Come... with you...?"
"I think he's in love with you," Lobo said quietly, giving the older wolf a knowing look. "I won't speak for him, but I wouldn't be surprised if he wants you to be in our pack."
Sylas kept staring into his eyes. "... Is that true?"
Sirroc did not turn his gaze away, but his ears did pin back. It was too fast, too abrupt and out of nowhere. He'd known the Khajiit for less than a day and now he was acting like a pup with puppy love- and yet he still nodded.
The awkwardness dissipated in seconds under the Khajiit's warm smile, pressing his nose again Sirroc's. "If I didn't have a college to go to and an education in magic to gain, I would gladly take you up on that, my friend. I know you understand why."
"I do," the wolf sighed.
"But it's not a 'no,'" he continued. "My answer is, 'not yet.'"
"Then... there will always be a spot for you," Sirroc told him, sitting up and holding the Khjaiit before rolling him onto his back. "Whenever you're ready."
"Till then, let's make the best of our time spent together now," Sylas suggested, running his paws up the wolf's chest and allowing himself to be moved into position. "Like this, then? I thought you might've taken me from behind."
"The thought did occur to me, but I want to see your face while this happens," the wolf admitted. "Commit it to memory- I don't want to forget this."
Sylas treated him to a gentle smile, reaching to the nightstand and grabbing the corked vial he had used earlier. "I doubt either of us will." He handed it to Sirroc. "Just a few drops for you and me- you don't need much."
He worked quickly, applying two drops on his shaft and two drops against the feline's upturned pucker before handing it off to Lobo. The contents were warm, feeling like a pair of heated pebbles on the spot Sirroc had trickled it onto, though it almost seemed to wick away in the sheen of saliva and precum still slathered around his cock; in moments it felt like the whole of his shaft was already buried in a warm hole, a pleasant heat that seemed to relax his whole body. With his tip to the Khajiit's pucker he leaned in and thrust.
There was virtually no resistance, his cock gliding into Sylas with all the smoothness of a hot knife through butter, yet there was enough friction there to cause both of them to moan in unison as Sirroc buried his half his length in the feline's tight tailhole. The sudden intrusion brought a cry out from the Khajiit, his eyes wide and watering, and for a moment Sirroc feared he had injured his lover, yet before he could say a word Sylas had pulled him in close, cupping his face and wrapping his legs around the wolf's waist. A subtle nod and smile was all it took to reassure him, and he hilted the rest of his cock in the feline.
They held the position for a few moments, each savoring the feel of being joined physically and intimately. The clenching around his girth rippled around his base before squeezing up along the shaft, though it was already tight and warm enough without the Khajiit bearing down around him. He savored it a few seconds longer before drawing his hips away and beginning his pace, the urge to rut building once more. Beneath him, Sylas' face had gone almost completely red, tears streaking down his face, panting as he endured the steady fucking he was getting, yet he did not look away- not even to hide his moans or face in embarrassment. It was enough to spike Sirroc's arousal, pausing long enough to take the feline's paws from his face and pinning them down to the bed.
Now in a position where his lover could do nothing, Sirroc started to pour as much focus and energy into his hips, jerking into Sylas' ass with enough force to make his balls clap against his backside. The Khajiit writhed beneath him, legs locked around the wolf's waist as he moaned and yowled, helpless to stop the rutting. Between them his cock bounced, still rock hard even while unattended, a pool of musky precum having formed on his abs. With a slight change Sylas folded even more beneath him, reduced to sharp gasps of bliss as he was bred like a bitch.
"Sylas... talk to me," Sirroc panted.
"... Gods... I think I'm in love, too," the Khajiit mewled with a heavy blush. "Please don't stop..."
Intense as the thought of knotting the feline was, Sirroc was not keen on shocking his lover. "If you don't know... what a tie is..." he managed to grunt through his thrusts.
"I know what it is," came the reply with a nod.
"Do you know what it means?" the wolf pressed, easing up his hips.
"Tell me," he moaned, and the wolf leaned in.
"To the Lykaios, it means... we're joined," Sirroc whispered into his ear. "That we belong to each other, no matter where we go and who we're with. My brother and I... have that bond. Do you- "
"- Want to share in it?" Sylas finished for him, his smile wide. "Yes. I want you... to knot me."
The absurdity of the situation, to have bonded so quickly to a handsome walker of the desert less than a day after knowing he even existed at all, did not matter- it did not change what he was feeling now. The smoldering emotions in Sirroc's chest bloomed into a blaze once more, fanned by the Khajiit's request. In moments he reacted, returning to the same level of passion and energy, bucking into his current mate's ass. Before Sylas could voice his ecstasy the wolf intercepted him, catching his muzzle in another kiss as he pounded his lover's ass with powerful thrusts, hips battering against thighs. With their bodies close their abs ground against the feline's soft-barbed cock, the throbbing tool twitching as their stomachs frotted the tool. The wolf's knot had only started to swell when Sylas seized up and cried out into his muzzle, arching his back as an explosion of sticky ribbons of cum splattered against their abs and chest, one shot powerful enough to reach the Khajiit's neck.
Erotic as it was, Sirroc did not ignore that he was close to finishing, slamming his knot into his mate and locking in quickly before it could become too big to handle. Almost immediate Sylas started to squeeze around the tough, narrow base of his knot, massaging the bulb like a bitch in heat, forcing him to break the kiss and throw his head back. The gnawing sensation just above his sheath was too much, too intense to withstand. "Oh gods, I..."
"Claim me!" Sylas chirped.
It was as if every sense but physical sensation had gone numb, and it surprised him that he somehow remained upright. The churning of spunk in his balls and core of his loins felt like a roiling heat, a pressure that built in size until it could no longer be contained. The bulb swelled and throbbed, a thick gout of pressure expanding and distending the cum-vein running the length of the underside of his shaft. A howl heralded the return of his hearing, pouring out of his own muzzle as he began to flood the Khajiit's belly, channeling several powerful blasts of potent cum deep in his ass. The pair clung to each other, nuzzling, kissing, moaning wordless tones of affection to each other as the torrent died down, leaving the pleasant pain of exhaustion in its wake.
Sound had returned first, but his other senses gradually came back as the seconds wore on. The musk of hot sex between young men hung in the air, the warmth of their bodies rising off of them; the sweet taste of wine and salty taste of cum lingered on their tongues as Sirroc cleaned his feline lover, savoring the exotic flavor of Khajiit seed.
"This... is crazy," Sirroc admitted through panting breaths.
"Perhaps," Sylas agreed, smiling up at him. "I see it... as opposite the Thalmor. Better, obviously."
Sirroc cocked his head. "What do you mean?"
"They hate us for no reason; we found love for no reason."
The wolf matched his smile, nuzzling the Khajiit. "I guess so."
"If that's the case," Lobo said, drawing their attention, "am I a part of that, too?" He grinned up at them, tail wagging, a dollop of his own cum on his nose- evidently he had tended to his own needs while they were so absorbed in each other.
"Absolutely," Sylas told him, reaching out and ruffling his hair. "No sense in breaking up a pair of cute brothers like you two."
They savored the afterglow in silence, Lobo snuggling up with them and placing his snout in the crook of Sylas' neck as he purred. Sirroc tousled his hair, still nuzzling the feline. "Sylas has an offer for us," he told Lobo. "Want to play guard detail on our way up into Skyrim?" he asked.
"Do we get to do more of this?" Lobo replied.
"It's a requirement for the job," Sylas teased. "You'll need to guard the caravan from threats, and then my body from the cold."
The pup nodded. "I'm in."
"Good- we'll head back down to the caravan at first light," Sirroc said, drawing up a sheet to cover them. "But for now... let's just sleep." He kissed his brother on the nose, then paused to see Sylas staring at him with a smirk.
"... Don't I get a good-night kiss?"
The wolf chuckled and obliged, trading a moment of simple, sweet affection with his new friend, before holding him close and beginning to doze away.
It should have been as easy as starting a fire and shooting the stampede.
A tall high-elf, adorned in the black and gold robes of the Aldmeri Dominion, scanned the burnt remnants of the camp with a critical eye. The scouts had told him this tribal camp had numbered no fewer than a hundred, and yet what remained of the camp would only have sheltered a few dozen at best. The bodies of dead, mutilated Lykaios around him only numbered around twenty. Virtually nothing remained of the food stocks, and what weapons could be found were only in the hands of the tribal mutts.
"It's a disgrace," Justiciar Thramire sighed.
"Sir?" the young elven aide beside him queried.
He shook his head. "It's as if our own soldiers knew nothing about slaughtering animals. Perhaps we should have enlisted the Bosmer to deal with these dogs. Then, at least, there'd be less waste to clean up after." He paused, then turned to her. "Have the scouts returned yet."
"One trio just came back," the aide nodded, gesturing to the approaching troops.
He glared at them as they bowed. "Report."
"We tracked a small group twelve miles north along the Silver Road," the scout at the front told him. "Numbers are unknown, they are adept at hiding their true strength, but it was enough to completely wipe out an inquisitor and his guard detail. They hid the bodies well enough that two soldiers are unaccounted for, but the inquisitor himself seems to have been killed via magic."
Thramire's brow raised fractionally. "Cause of death?"
"The wound showed signs of deep freeze tissue damage; likely an ice spike through the mouth and spine."
"The mutts are not known for relying on the school of Destruction," Thramire muttered, stroking his chin. "Assuming they haven't been hiding it up their sleeves all these years, they either acted in desperation, used a scroll, or had help from the locals. Given how oft-used the Silver Road is, I'd wager they had help."
"Rebels from Skyrim, maybe?" the aide suggested.
"Not likely. They would find no reason to aid the empire that they think abandoned them. No... it would need to be someone local, or someone moving from the south." He glanced up at the camp once again. "If there is a group heading north into Skyrim, it must have been a small one. Given the advantage of an ambush they would have only needed to match the inquisitor's numbers to win, but if they needed magic to dispatch him then they almost certainly had help they didn't initially have."
"Shall we continue to track them?" the scout leader asked.
Thramire dwelt on the question for a few moments. Time was of the essence- and Skyrim was too close. To risk losing the target would be to risk losing.
"... Continue to track them," he finally said. "No matter what road they take... the Fang of the North must not learn to howl."