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This is my kingdom.

The lion surveyed his land from his perch, a vast emptiness of ever-ranging plains and rolling hills, interspaced with shrub and the occasional tree. The range was a brilliant hue of yellow and gold, the sky a deep orange that signified the coming dusk. All around, there was grass, far as the eye could see. The soil was dry, yet supported life, and a calm brook ran through the ground, pooling into a waterhole that dominated his kingdom. The water streamed cool and clear, running to and fro and giving refreshment to all who required it.

And then there were the animals that roamed.

There are my people.

And so they were, animals that stood on four legs, or two. Animals that had fur, or scales, animals of a vast myriad of colours, yellow and brown and black, spotted or striped, animals that consumed grass, or meat, or both. They were all his people. And as he scanned, he watched as some of them pulled grass from the ground and into their mouths, or chased down another and tore into their flesh, pink and moist, blood soaking into the sand.

And then there were the two-legs, like him, a higher evolution of the animal, who knew how to harness fire, to make tools, to sing songs and tell tales. He watched as one of them, a gazelle, rubbed two dry twigs together to create heat and flame, bringing the sparks to dry tinder and watching as the flames caught, a beacon of light and warmth against the coming night. Another turned a chunk of meat on a spit over an already roaring bonfire, and some others who were sewing pieces of leather together to form blankets.

It seemed only fitting that the King of the Plains should be the apex predator, unchallenged and undominated, the epitome of the hunter. And what better member of the top predator to be the king than a two-leg?

Me. Leo. King of the Plains, Guardian of the Beasts. That does sound nice. Always has.

As usual, Leo had to fight to keep a sense of egoism from suffusing his body. He was a top predator, yes, and one who knew how to use tools, at that. But he had a duty, to his people. No matter how intelligent he was, how fast, how strong, at heart he was always a beast of the savannah. Just like all the rest below.

He rubbed his paws together as a chilly wind blew in from the north. Night was falling, and with it the darkness and the cold wind. But his people had nothing to fear. With all the animals united under one ruler there was no danger of unauthorized hunts and as a result, premature deaths. There was food aplenty, and the brook and waterhole ensured that they would always have a supply of refreshment available. He had chosen the location for his kingdom well. His people were happy and satisfied, and they loved their ruler with all their heart. His duty was done. A sense of satisfaction enveloped him as he watched the peaceful coexistence of beasts on the plains below, two-legged or not.

He scanned the land, his sharp eyes picking out any disharmony or unrest that he could quickly rectify. There were none.

And then he saw the forest.

Damn. That thing again.

The forest was a massive gathering of trees that bordered the edge of his kingdom, far as the eye could see. The tree were an odd species, more suited to the colder lands far north that Leo had heard of, but never been.

So what were they doing here?

Even the King of the Plains could not answer that.

When he had come to this savannah with his people several years ago, the forest had already been here. The space between the trees was gloomy and dark, almost gelatinous, with only several spaced spots of sunshine where the light from the sun had penetrated the canopy. The ground within was moist and muddy, soil mixed with dead leaves fallen from the trees, along with pinecones and acorns scattered here and there, in stark contrast to the dry, arid soil that made up the plains. Where the forest got it's moisture, Leo did not know. But it seemed to have an everlasting supply, the water evaporating and humidifying the forest. Stepping from the plains and into the trees could produce a noticeable change in temperature and humidity that could be starkly felt. Not that Leo had any desire to feel it. He was happy with the air here.

And then there were the stories.

Leo shivered when he turned his thoughts to that. When he had first arrived, he had sent fifteen scouts running into the trees, all fast and agile gazelles or zebras that could quickly gather information and retreat, in an attempt to find out what lay within.

Only one had returned.

The lone scout had stumbled into the camp two days after Leo had given them all up for dead. He had no wounds, but he was exhausted, his fur matted and crusted with dried mud. All his equipment was missing, and he was babbling almost incoherently. But the tales he told!

He spoke of a mysterious people who lived among the trees, in houses high up on the branches. They were a gathering of species, like his people, and they were masters of pits and booby traps. They knew how to make tools and tan leather, again, like his people, and they were supernaturally skilled with the bow. But that was not all.

The scout told of how these people could harness terrifying energies, to call forth fire from their hands and pull ice out of the nothing, to bend light so that they could turn invisible, to solidify the air and mould water like clay. And as he spoke of these sights, he had babbled and stuttered, but when Leo listened to him he could tell that there was no lie in his eyes.

That was why Leo hated the forest. After the loss of fourteen of his best scouts, he had commanded that his people stay a safe distance away from it, and they had obeyed gladly. To this day, his people told tales of the fourteen, about how they were now wraiths, slaves in spirit to the People of the Trees. Children and madmen talked about how they had seen figures wandering through the trees, some that looked just like the scouts, and about how they gazed with deep eyes that spoke of terror and mysteries. But as much as he hated it, Leo needed the forest, now more than ever. Or at least, the land on which it stood on.

Years of peace and prosperity had swelled the ranks of his people, and with the number of newborns and cubs roaming about in-between their feet, Leo knew he needed more space for his people. But where to get it?

They couldn't go any further into the savannah. The further they expanded, the further they got away from the brook and waterhole, and that was bad news, so it was not an option. The only choice was to clear the trees of the forest to make more land, or move to another savannah.

But Leo liked it here.

So there was only one option. He admitted to himself, and sometimes his most trusted confidants, that he was afraid of what he would find when work began to cut down the trees. Would he find monstrous creatures never seen before that would devour his people? Or would the People of the Trees simply come out and turn them all to cinders? These were the questions he asked himself when he tried to sleep in his tent on most nights. But there was no choice. So he had given the order, and hoped it would not mean their damnation.

Which was why tonight was special. For tomorrow morning would be when the work officially started on the land clearing. And as Leo walked back to his tent he thought to himself; who knew? Perhaps he would find that the People were welcoming, and with the extra land he could watch his people grow, maybe finally get a wife and settle down and have a few cubs of his own. He had concubines of course, and enjoyed their company when he got amorous, but the kisses of the lionesses and other species that acted as such felt of duty rather than love, and Leo hated that. He wanted a person that he could truly love, with whom he could have cubs and start a family.

As Leo lay down on his cot and blew out the candle, he knew he could only wait, and hope.

The work advanced quickly.

Three days into the land clearing campaign, and they had already cleared enough land for several more families to live on. And even better, there had been no sign of the People of the Trees. But his workers complained of strange sights and feelings as they swung their flint and bronze axes against the unyielding wood, of odd figures and bright lights that floated amongst the trunks. And so Leo had swallowed his fears and set down towards the worksite, hoping that the sight of him amongst his workers might give them the encouragement to keep going.

"Leo! Our King! Leo! Our King!" The cheers resounded all across the site as the workers, made up of various species, caught sight of the mighty lion stepping towards them. And it was a regal sight indeed, with his smooth golden fur, reflecting the sunlight to such a degree he almost looked like a star come to earth. And with his leather loincloth and mighty spear, he gave an image of complete and utter invincibility. Of course, that was encouraging the workers. Already, he could see some of them, attacking the trees with a fervor noticeably absent when he was simply watching from a distance.

"You seem to be having quite an effect on the peasants, my king." Leo's ever-present hyena advisor, Ervon, observed with a wink.

"I'm not blind, Erv." Leo muttered irritably.

"Well, you're certainly blinding me, your highness. Your fur looks magnificent today. I wish I knew your secret. Mine is just simply dull." He pulled at his coarse brown fur.

Leo sighed. Ervon gave excellent advice without fail, but his bootlicking left much to be desired. It was bad, sometimes blindingly transparent, and almost always annoying.

"Stop rolling about in the mud with your male friend for one day, and you might notice a difference." Leo scratched the wood of his spear with a pointed claw.

"I wouldn't say we're rolling, your highness, it's more like-"

Leo held up a hand. "It involves things that should not be done in public. Do you know how many cubs saw your little escapade yesterday? I could hear your screams from all the way in my tent."

"Well, it's very enjoyable, your highness. You've done it before, why shouldn't you know?"

"You have a tent for a reason, Ervon. If you don't like to use it I could give it to someone else, and hopefully they appreciate it more than you do."

That served to shut the hyena up, and Leo couldn't resist letting a self-satisfied smirk spread across his face as he strode on, the hyena trailing behind. As he walked, he occasionally stopped to offer a few words of advice, or encouragement, or sometimes even blessings to the people that asked for them. The ground was churned up with the hooves and paws that incessantly stamped about, and a few forlorn tree stumps dotted the area, the trunks being dragged away to be cut up for firewood.

And at the forefront, a row of trees, still standing and untouched, watching them like sentinels in the gloom.

Leo felt a shiver run down his spine as he watched. He hated the tall trees, towering over him. It made him feel small. He was the King of the Plains. He was not supposed to feel small!

Ervon sidled up next to him. "Are you feeling all right, my king?"

Leo took a breath. "Yes. Yes, I'm fine. It's the trees, Erv. I don't like them."

"Them, or what hides inside them?"

"Both. You've heard the stories, I presume?"

"I hear everything, your highness. I also know of several families who think you are mad for disturbing the trees."

"Let them think as they please. They'll change their tune when they see their cubs with large fields to play in."

"As you wish." Ervon turned back to the worksite.

Leo squinted, his sharp feline eyes scanning the gloom. Odd. He fancied he could see an odd ball of light floating amongst the trees. He rubbed his eyes with a paw and blinked.

It disappeared.

Leo shivered again despite the heat. Perhaps there was some credibility to the tales after all. But he knew he was being ridiculous. Such powers did not exist on this earth. The gods had not seen fit to give any of them such gifts, so why should the People of the Trees be any different?

He swung around, and made back for the worksite, until a sight gave him pause.

There it was again.

"I must be dreaming, or mad..." Leo scratched his head, his mane waving luxuriantly in the wind. But if the lights were simply a figment of madness, was he saying that the dozens of workers who had seen the other lights were also insane?

It was a definite impossibility.

But then again, it could simply be some idiots from amongst his people who were running around within the gloom with lanterns. He knew some teenaged younglings who would do stupid things like that. And there were others who would do that just because they could.

The more Leo thought about that, the more convinced he became that that was the real reason behind the strange phenomenon that all his workers and overseers were reporting. He became determined to catch the miscreants that were pulling such an idiotic stunt. But he would have to do it alone. It wasn't that he did not trust in the capabilities of his soldiers and scouts, but he did not want to risk any more lives than were necessary. It was probably nothing anyway, and he promised himself he would not go any deeper than two-tree deep into the forest. Glancing around to make sure that Ervon was not nearby (the hyena would make a big fuss), he creeped towards the treeline, spear held at the ready.

Leo felt strange.

The second he had entered the treeline, he felt the dramatic drop in temperature many of the workers spoke about. The cool air wasn't uncomfortable, but it was chilly enough that his loincloth seemed woefully inadequate. The air was also rather humid, and Leo could see water beading on his fur and the spear he held in his hands, the bronze point aimed at the little ball of light he saw floating a couple of meters away. Even from this distance, the mist made it difficult to see anything beyond, and he couldn't make out any figures standing nearby. He felt a tremor shoot down his spine, then suppressed it with a growl. He was a lion, not some field mouse to run squeaking from a predator.

"Who are you?!" He shot the words out, then immediately felt ridiculous for talking to a light. As expected, there was no response.

"Stop fucking about!" Oddly enough, this seemed to catch the light's attention, and it floated closer to him, bobbing up and down.

From this distance, Leo could see that there was nothing holding the light aloft. It was simply floating on it's own, hovering in the air. Leo swallowed. What was he getting into?

Suddenly, the light seemed to glow brighter than ever, blindingly so, and a strange feeling took hold of his limbs. He tried to raise an arm against the glow, but it felt leaden.

"What..." His mouth tried to form words, but couldn't. His muscles twitched, and his tongue seemed too big for his mouth.

"I've got to...I..." He tried to shout for help, but his throat constricted, and the word came out as a strangled gasp. What was he trying to do? Yell for help?

He couldn't remember.

All he could think of now, all he could seem to focus on, was following the ball as it bobbed about and slowly peeled off into the trees. Yes. The light would show him the way out, and he would escape from this nightmare. That was all. The light only wanted him out.

He tried his best to keep up with the infernal thing as it zipped through the trees, his legs pumping, muscles and cords in his neck bulging with the strain. It seemed supernaturally fast, and Leo opened his mouth to yell at it to slow down.

Then he was floating.

Or more specifically, hanging.

Leo let out a roar as he hung, helpless, tangled in a net that enclosed all around him. His spear flew out of his reach, skittering across the ground and into the tangled undergrowth. He slashed at the net frantically with his claws, but the fiber was made of some sort of tough material, and it resisted his cuts. He then tried to rip it apart by brute force alone, his muscles trembling as he pulled with all his might.

No such luck. The net remained as firmly ensconced around himself as ever.

Exhausted, Leo flopped down onto the bottom. Here he was, caught like a rat in a trap. He should have known the ball of light would lead him here, instead of out like it was supposed to. It was supposed to do that, wasn't it?

"Ha-haaah! Look what we have here!" A high pitched, female voice enemated from the shrubbery below.

"Where the hell are you?" Leo yelled back.

The bush parted with a flourish, and a lithe, slim figure jumped out and did a little jig, feet pattering on the ground. "Well here I ammmmm!"

Leo gasped as he took in the figure. It was female, and she was a two-legs like him. On closer inspection (though it was hard to with all her dancing about), she resembled the wild dogs that were part of his kingdom, except smaller and slimmer. Her fur was a rich, dark red, almost orange in some places, and a white patch covered her chest and stomach. A piece of armor was strapped to her left shoulder, the straps running down across her chest and onto her hip. A skirt like piece of leather covered her upper legs. Other than that she wore nothing else.

That left her breasts conspicuously exposed.

Leo swallowed as he admired those wonderful mammary glands, large but not grotesquely so, with soft fur and ridged, pink nipples, hard with the cold.

The woman noticed his attentions and stuck her chest out, baring those twin mountains at him. "What? Never seen these before?!"

"Not as beautiful as those, dear lady. Might I ask if they are fake or real?"

She poked him with the point of an arrow and he yelped. "You trying to be funny?!"

"No, no. Just, there are so many herbs out there which could give a man breasts, if he is so inclined. I was just thinking..."

The woman bared her fangs. "You want proof?" She grasped the edge of the leather skirt.

Leo recoiled. "Don't you think you're going a bit fast? We only just met!"

"And that's fine, because I wasn't going to show you anyway." She smiled and danced a little dance, making a little circle around Leo in his ignominious position. "I was hoping I would get a catch today. I just didn't think it would be you!" She squealed.

"And who am I?" Leo smirked.

"Why, the great and mighty King of the Plains himself! I thought you'd know that, seeing as you're him, and all that. Are your people stupid to such a degree?"

The lion bristled. " Of course not!"

"Good, because it's no fun hunting stupid prey." She continued her little victory jig.

Leo scowled. "Will you stop that? It's really annoying."

The woman put on a babyish voice as she poked him with the arrow again. "Awww, is my little fudgy-wudgy getting all miffed that I'm celebrating?" She smiled. "Well I don't care."

Leo decided to try a different tack. "And who might you be?"

"I live in this forest."

Leo couldn't suppress a gasp. "You're a member of the People of the Trees!"

"Is that what your people are calling mine these days? My, my. How awe-inspiring and..." She glanced at him. "Unoriginal."

That was the last straw. "Fuck you and fuck your people!" He shouted hotly, his teeth bared.

"Temper temper, young man. And for your information, I'm not just a member of the, what was it, 'People of the Trees'?" She made apostrophes with her fingers.

"Then who are you, huh?!"

The woman continued on, unperturbed. "Well, again, for your information, I am in fact..." She paused for effect. "Their queen."

Leo went limp. "You."

"Yeah?"

"Their queen."

"Yup."

Leo winced. "I don't suppose now would be a bad time to open diplomatic negotiations, would it? You know, just between monarchs?"

The woman smiled. "Maybe. What did you have in mind?"

"You let me down, and I promise not to bite your head off and shit down your neck when I'm back on the ground."

The woman laughed. "Oh indeed. I'd like to see you try that. Oh wait, you can't, because you're stuck up there."

"So? What's your decision? It's a great deal, isn't it?"

"Let me think...no." She showed him a thumbs down with both hands whislt grinning madly.

"Maybe if I only bite your head off? No excrement involved?"

"Still no."

"Oh fuck off." Leo flicked a hand.

They stared at each other in silence for several more minutes, until she finally tired of the staring contest. Motioning at other, concealed figures all around him, she watched as they cut the rope attaching him to the tree. He collapsed on the ground with a grunt, the net still tangled around him. Leaping up, he gripped the ropes and pulled with all the strength he could muster, until he finally collapsed back on the soil with a sigh of exhaustion.

All through that the woman looked unconcernedly at him. "I wouldn't bother with that. The rope had withstood animals far stronger than you, lion or not."

They tied the cut end of the rope around a thick branch, and two burly (and disturbingly identical) People hefted it on their shoulders and trotted off, Leo dangling between them. He was rather heavy, with his big bones and thick muscle attained from years of running and other, more amorous, exercises. But the two People seemed to carry him without a problem. Leo stared glumly ahead, as the woman walked beside him.

"So, you haven't told me what species you are." Leo resolutely looked straight ahead as he said it.

The woman looked flattered. "Me? Little old me?" She patted her generous chest. "Well I'll have you know, I'm a fox."

"A what?"

"Fox."

Leo laughed. "And I thought I had seen it all. I was never more wrong."

"Never heard of a fox?"

"No. Although you bear a startling resemblance to the wild dogs among my people. They never were much for intelligence either. Always fighting to be alpha male and peeing on trees."

"Ah yes. The old territory marking instinct. Have a bit of that too I'm afraid."

"Do not demonstrate it to me."

"Wasn't going to."

"So what's your name?" Leo was eager to change the subject.

The fox looked at him. "I didn't think you cared."

"I usually don't. When I hunt I don't bother finding the names of those who I kill. But I'd be glad to make an exception for you."

"I'm looking forward to that. And my name's Meridin."

"Pleased to meet you. Any children?"

"One. Michelle. Adopted. Really shy, likes to keep to herself."

"At least she's not insane, like her mother."

"Frankly, I find her rather boring, actually. She's only ever interested in helping all the poor people who get minor cuts and bruises. It would be sweet if she didn't spend all day doing it."

"She's innocent, I presume."

"Excuse me?"

"She has never known a man, has she? Or dare I say, a woman?"

"No, although I wish she would. Goodness knows she's old enough."

Leo tried to get comfortable in the net. The two carriers were not interested in his comfort, only in bringing him to whatever nefarious location they wanted to. Shifting, he grasped on to the rope and tried to make his butt rest on the net. It ached.

"So what are you going to do with me?"

Meridin smiled a truly feral smile. "You'll see. It's...interesting."

They continued in silence for what seemed like an age, the carriers jostling him about and Meridin striding along beside with the smooth and well-practiced gait of an experienced hunter. Leo got steadily more worried as they marched deeper and deeper into the gloom. How much further was it? The longer they walked, the less likely someone would rescue him. They all probably knew he was missing by now, back home, and Ervon had more likely than not whipped them all up into a mad frenzy to find him. But even so, it would take them a while to find their way here, in territory they were unused to, unlike the People.

"Look around. You'll like this." Meridin's voice whispered in his ear.

Perking up, he turned his head, taking in what he could see. The volume of people had increased, and they all pressed around his net, examining him with large eyes. They were all of many strange species he couldn't recognize, although he saw many more of the 'foxes'. Occasionally, someone would poke him, causing him to jump, or point and whisper. Sometimes, they laughed. And why wouldn't they? Leo, the proud King of the Plains, reduced to being carried about in a net like some common prey. Leo bared his fangs and growled, causing some of them to recoil. He was a king, and he would not go down like this!

Meridin rolled her eyes. "And are you only going to look around and not." She pointed a finger upwards. "Up?"

Up?

Leo looked up and gaped, his mouth hanging open.

Sunlight pierced through the canopy of the trees, blinding him, producing a beautiful pattern that defied imagination. But that was not it at all. Rather it was the dozens, if not hundreds, of houses, attached to the branches and tree trunks, with bridges and walkways leading from one to the other. Round houses, square houses, houses with pointed roofs...Leo had never seen a proper house before beyond the tents of his people. It was a veritable city of sorts, high up amongst the trees.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yeah..." Leo's eyes were slightly glazed.

"Funny. Your scouts had the same reaction."

That served to snap him out of his reverie. "What."

"Indeed."

"They're here?" Leo looked around at the crowd, trying to look for the familiar muzzle and hooves of his trusted men. But the milling crowd revealed nothing, only more unfamiliar faces and smells.

"Of course they're not here, idiot. They're being." She licked her lips. "Well taken care of."

"That sounds vaguely disturbing."

"They're still alive, if you must know."

"That's a relief. What are they doing?"

"You'll see." Meridin smiled mysteriously.

The whole crowds and city was really getting to Leo. He could see people talking, eating, laughing and bartering. He noticed that they used odd round pieces of metal when they bought or sold, and carried many around in their pockets. There were carpets placed all over the ground and hung all around, fabrics with beautiful patterns sewn onto their faces. The air was thick with the smell of incense and the musk of thousands of different people gathered together. A group of men and women marched by, unsmiling. They wore armor made out of some strange, silvery metal, and their swords and spears were made out of the same. Curious, Leo resolved to ask his host what it was. As he watched, one of the soldiers, a woman, pointed at him and whispered something to her friend. Leo gave a little wave.

The woman lifted her armored skirt and thrust her hips at him, whislt licking her lips flirtatiously. Leo caught a glimpse of...something. He gave a weak smile as the female soldier blew him a kiss.

"I noticed the people around here are really...enthusiastic...about certain things."

"Took you long enough. We are a free people, and what better place to show it than in the bed?" Meridin smiled.

"I'm starting to like this place more and more already."

Pushing their way through the crowd, they finally made their way to their destination, a gigantic beast of wood attached to a tree of it's own. From below Leo could see corridors, large rooms, a hall, bridges and towers. Every few feet was interspaced by a flame standing in a scone attached to the wall (which seemed like a safety hazard in such a place) which lent the place an eerie air, with the glow casting stark shadows, gigantic representations of the forms they cast against. Leo swallowed nervously, his tail flicking side to side in worry. He felt the first vestiges of fear creep into his belly.

Meridin seemed to notice his agitation. "Oh, is my little lion all worried now?" She grinned maniacally.

"I must confess so. It doesn't seem like you're simply going to serve me a hot meal and wine, and have a nice chat, does it?"

"It most certainly doesn't." Signaling to the carriers, Meridin watched as Leo was hoisted up to the bastion by way of a winch and pulley lift. The lion gulped as he watched himself soar off the ground, the shrubbery below becoming smaller and smaller. Meridin grabbed on to the net, causally letting herself be hoisted off the ground. Leo was tempted to swipe at her exposed hand,which would cause her to fall, then thought better of it. Such an act would probably doom him to a painful death, her being their queen and all.

Once they were safely on wooden flooring, the carriers picked up the net and carried him through a maze of corridors and rooms, all starkly lit by flaming scones, until they reached a large wooden door, painted an ominous red. Throwing the door open, they dumped him unceremoniously on the ground and watched him mutely. Meridin pranced in with a flourish of limbs, generous breasts jiggling. She pointed at the carriers.

"Well, you boys know what to do. I'll just watch." She folded her arms and smiled widely.

The two carriers nodded. Without a word they untangled the net from around Leo. As soon as he was free, the lion leaped up with a deafening roar, and took a swing at the nearest carrier. He almost contemptuously caught it.

Leo was stunned. The man had grabbed on to his wrist with an almost supernatural speed. His fingers closed, and the lion could feel his bones creak. He let out a moan.

"Ah, okay, okay, I'll do as you say, I'll do as you say. Really, could you stop that? It hurts."

The carrier smirked slightly. Silently, the both of them hauled Leo over to a bed in the middle of the room. Attached to all four posts was a chain and manacle made out of the same silvery metal he had seen earlier. Leo let his body go limp as they chained his hands and feet to the restraints, leaving him stretched, but not uncomfortably so, in an X position.

Meridin motioned casually with a finger. "Leave us."

As the two brutes left through the door, Leo took in what he could see about the room. The candles weren't lit, so it was relatively dark, but apart from the bed there was also a window overlooking the rest of the city, from which Leo could see and hear the bustling crowds, unconscious of his position. The walls were lined with various little pieces of apparatus, mostly leather whips, rods, and gags, as well as a few phallic looking objects. Leo breathed a sigh of relief. At least it wasn't the horrifying torture devices he had previously imagined. They just looked...kinky.

Meridin sashayed over to him, hips swaying and breasts bouncing. She walked over to a candle stuck on the table. Oddly enough, she did not produce a flint and knife as he expected. Instead, she brought her lips close to the wick and breathed.

The candle caught alight with a pop.

Leo jumped. "What the hell...How...How did you do that?"

"You never heard of the Energies?"

"I only heard what my one surviving scout told me. They said your people could breathe fire and mould water, to control the winds and the air!" Leo realized he was babbling.

Meridin laughed. "A bit of an exaggeration, but not entirely untrue." Snapping her fingers, a light breeze blew over the trapped lion. He felt his loincloth lift up from the wind, exposing his generous sheath and balls.

Meridin gaped as Leo hissed in annoyance. "Stop that! Sheesh! I'm a king, have some diplomatic respect!"

A glazed look entered Meridin's eyes. "You're a lot bigger than I imagined."

Leo was flattered. "Well, thank you." Looking around, he pulled at the unyielding chains, causing them to rattle and clank. Much as he pulled, there was no give in it, and he let up before the metal began to chafe him. "May I ask what this metal is? I've never seen it before."

Meridin started. "Hmmm? Oh yes, that's steel. Same stuff that makes this." She tapped the armor plate on her shoulder.

"Steel?"

"Yeah. You've never heard of it? We use it for everything."

"No. We only have bronze and sometimes iron. How do you make it?"

"Oh, um." She tried to find words. "When a mommy iron and a daddy carbon love each other very much, they go down to the local smelter and get, er, hot." She winced at the bad joke. "Then they get a baby steel."

"That's very descriptive. Why, I feel vastly more intelligent already."

Meridin scowled. "It's called alloying, okay? You have bronze, so you must have heard of it!"

"I have, but it's a wonder we never thought of putting iron and carbon together. When I get back, some blacksmiths are getting fired."

Meridin gave him a contemptuous look. "You people are so primitive."

"Well I'm sorry that our land is not as rich as yours." Leo snapped indignantly.

Meridin grinned. Prancing around, she pulled a whip from the wall and snapped it, releasing a solid crack. Leo winced.

Meridin's smile grew wider. Continuing her dance, she let the lion try several licks of the leather. She didn't use much force, so it didn't hurt much beyond a slight sting. But it was extremely annoying. Leo rolled his eyes as Meridin continued dancing and snapping the whip. Finally, he lost patience.

"Can we get on with the show? You're making me feel stupid."

"Just warming you up." Meridin came close, her generous breasts inches away from his face. Leo resisted the temptation to lick those delicious nipples. She brought her muzzle to his neck, her sultry breath riffling his flesh. Dropping the whip, she pulled a knife out from her belt.

Leo jumped. "This is where it gets painful, isn't it?"

Meridin smiled a faintly evil smile. Bringing the steel blade to his loincloth, she gave a little jerk with her wrist, the leather parting like air against the razor-sharp edge. His loincloth flopped off him, exposing his large member, now up midway. Slowly taking it with her fingers, she caressed it's length, bringing it teasingly close to her mouth.

The door banged open with a crash.

Meridin shot back, arms flailing. Spinning around, she caught sight of the fox standing in the doorway.

"Michelle!" She sounded annoyed.

"Mother! What are you doing?"

"Just interrogating a prisoner of value." She adjusted her armor irritably where it had shifted in the fracas.

Leo looked to where Michelle stood. His jaw dropped.

She was slim and lithe, almost sinuous, with arms and legs that spoke of a person used to running and climbing. Slightly shorter than her mother, her fur was a rich red, with a patch of white, smooth and well-cared for. Her breasts were of average size, as was her butt, but the way she handled them could set any male or female with lesbian desires afire. She wore a blouse and skirt of silk that was almost translucent, and her nipples were very visible raised points through the thin material. Seeing this, Leo felt a throb of arousal in his loins.

Suddenly, Meridin flicked his erection, now a very large bulge between his legs. The slab of flesh stuck starkly out of it's sheath, throbbing with his every heartbeat. "You get horny faster for her than for me?" She pouted.

"She didn't trap me in an unbreakable net, carry me halfway across the world, stick me in a room full of...'things', and let Herb Junkie A and Herb Junkie B manhandle me like a bag of stones and stick me on this weird bed."

Meridin looked hurt. "You make me sound like a criminal."

"You're certainly straddling the border."

Michelle giggled. "You're talking about the Layon brothers, aren't you? Don't worry, they're really nice in truth."

Leo glanced at her. "Do they ever talk?"

"Only to each other. And mostly, it's groans and moans and screams of pleasure, usually heard behind their room door on some nights."

Leo gaped. "Wow."

Michelle giggled again. "True story."

Meridin huffed and folded her arms, resolutely not meeting the eyes of anyone.

Michelle pointed at Leo. "You haven't hurt him, have you?"

"I wish I could, but-"

"Actually, she hurt me a lot." Leo pretended to wince. "I'm aching all over and I've got bruises everywhere. The chains have chafed me badly, and I've got rope burns from the net. Wooo, your mother sure is handy with that whip." He tried to point at the abandoned leather implement, but the chain stopped him short.

Michelle brightened at the opportunity to test her skills. "Can I try and heal him, mother?"

Meridin rolled her eyes. "Daughter, the King of the Plains and I are trying to engage in diplomatic negotiations..."

"That's some very diplomatic negotiation!" Leo yelled from behind, jerking the chains that held him to the bed.

"...And do not want to be interrupted." She continued resolutely, a determined look on her face.

"Oh please, please, please mother? Look, he's in so much pain!"

Leo gave an agreeable moan of agony from behind.

Michelle put on a pair of cute puppy eyes, her eyes widening and a cute grin splitting her muzzle. Meridin resisted it's influence for a while, but her face finally fell. "All right, fine! But only until that candle burns down! I'll be watching from below, and the second I see the light go out I'm coming in!" She turned to Leo, who grinned innocently.

"You'll pay for this." She hissed, then turned and strode out of the room, breasts bouncing, armor clanking. Michelle waited until the sound of her footballs could not be heard before shutting the door, pulling the bolt across with a clack. Turning, she gave Leo the thumbs up as he began to laugh. "She falls for it every time."

Spinning on her heel, she crouched before the candle, now flickering, with less than half it's length left. Slowly, she brought her mouth to it and gave a breath, before circling her finger around it. Instead of going out as he expected, the flame flared brighter than ever, the tip of the flickering light following her fingertip. After several seconds of this, she abruptly stood up. The flame stopped moving.

Leo looked confused. "The candle doesn't look any different."

Michelle smiled. "My mother is a huge one for honor. She always keeps her promises. And I mean ALWAYS. She will never enter this room as long as that candle stays lit. If it kept burning to the End of Days, she will stay out there all the while. And." She extended a hand towards the candle. "You know how a flame always needs fuel to keep going, right? Well, fuel is actually just energy. And I'm making this flame take it's energy from the light and heat it emits."

Leo's eyes widened as his brain got the fact. "The flame will burn forever!"

Michelle nodded. "Or at least until I release my hold on it. That's just a test of will. And I've got a very strong will." She winked. "We have as much time as we need. In actuality, the more this flame burns, the longer it lasts."

Leo couldn't resist a smile cutting his face in two. A laugh wellowed up from his throat.

Michelle rubbed her hands together. "So, shall we begin?"

Leo tried to hold up a hand, but found that the chains, annoying as ever, yanked him back down onto the soft bed. He scowled frustratedly. "Don't suppose you could unlock these?"

The beautiful fox shook her head, her braids swirling. "Can't. Keys are with mother and the Layon brothers."

"You know all that fancy Energy doodads. You could try something. Break the metal, or at least, weaken it. I'll do the rest."

"Still a negative, my dear lion. It's enchanted, by my mother personally, what's more. She's one of the strongest among us, so I'll never overwhelm her hold. Also, it's still tethered to her, so if I mess around with it she'll know."

"Well, that's inconvenient." His shoulders slumped, as Michelle shrugged helplessly. Then he looked up. "Well, there is something else you could do for me before you start looking at my wounds." He motioned her closer, and as she leaned down he whispered. "Do you know what happened to my scouts? The ones that were brought here a few years ago? Your mother said they were still alive."

Michelle straightened. In that time, Leo had copped a sneaky peek at her cleavage. She wasn't wearing any sort of undergarment, and he caught a glimpse of her round breasts and pointy, pert nipples. He felt his erection flare again.

Michelle was oblivious. "Certainly! That much I can do, at least. Hold still. I've got to do something. Try not to be too surprised."

"Wait-" Leo jumped as he felt the bed shift beneath him. Michelle made an odd gesture with her hands, and the bed scooted over to the open window with a shuddering creak.

Leo looked out the window, at the bustling crowds that milled about below, talking and chattering, at the stalls and stands selling goods and other wares, as well as skewers of meat and chunks of vegetables cooking over grilles. The smell made his stomach rumble. It seemed about midday, going on to dusk, and the sun shone through the gaps in the canopy.

Michelle climbed onto the bed and crouched beside him, thighs resting on his member. Leo exhaled as the contact sent sparks of arousal up his spine.

Pointing, she motioned for Leo to follow her finger. It seemed to lead to a balcony jutting out the side of one of the towers.

Leo stared confusedly at the people rolling about on matresses and pillows, making jumping motions and generally flailing about. He noticed that there were several figures attending to about a half dozen reclining men and women of various species, licking their members and female parts, stroking them, rubbing themselves sinuously against their flesh, dancing seductively, clad in nothing but jewelry and beads.

Leo was about to ask why Michelle was pointing at aristocrats enjoying time with their concubines, until he took a closer look at one of the dancing figures.

It had hooves.

"Gods! What has your mother done?!" Leo looked frantically at Michelle, who laughed lightly.

"Oh, you poor lion. My mother didn't do anything. They did it of their own volition. Once they came here and tasted the pleasures of this place, they never wanted to leave, and my mother didn't bother stopping them. My mother simply just sort of shared them among her friends, and they spend their time savoring the comforts of this city as well as giving." She coughed. "'Entertainment' to their masters from time to time. All fourteen of them."

Leo mouth was agape. "Yeah, one came back... You captured the rest?"

"My mother and her Hunters did, actually. They're very good at this sort of thing."

"Is this what Meridin intends to do to me? Keep me here permanently as some kind of sex slave?"

Michelle shook her head. "For you, no. You're the King of the Plains. To keep you here permanently would risk all out war among our people. We may have the Energies and fairly superior technology, but that doesn't count for much against numbers like yours. Your people would overrun ours in weeks, maybe days. All it'll take is for them to find this place."

Leo breathed a sigh of relief. "She'll release me soon, then?"

"Likely tomorrow. There's nothing to stop her from having her way with you tonight, though, if you know what I mean." Michelle gave a wink.

"Does she do this to everyone she captures?"

"Only the important ones."

Leo collapsed back on the bed as Michelle moved it back to the center of the room. "Right, so you wanted to take a look at my wounds, don't you?"

Michelle nodded hungrily.

"No medical equipment?"

"Just the Energies, and my fingers. And don't worry, I just washed them."

The lion relaxed, reclining back on the soft fabric of the bed, still helplessly stretched in the X position. He closed his eyes and allowed Michelle to softly touch his body, examining it, fingers running over his soft fur and skin.

In truth, Leo did have a few minor cuts from where the ropes of the net had chafed him, as well as several bruises simply from being jostled about by the brothers. He sighed as he felt Michelle's soft fingertips running over his sensitive parts, probing the wounds and bruises.

Michelle smiled. "You've got some minor rents in your skin. Nothing I can't fix up in a jiffy." Placing two fingers against the largest of the cuts, she slowly brought them away. Leo noticed a thin filament of light connecting her fingers to his body as she withdrew them. A sudden sensation of tightness, and a slight itch filled that area of his body as the skin knitted back together and the fur grew back. He hissed and strained against his bonds.

Michelle placed a tender hand against his cheek. "Shhh. Just relax. I know it itches, but that's just it healing. You'll be fine."

Leo murmured his assent.

Tracing the line where the cut had been several seconds ago, she smiled slightly. "That's a good job done then." Turning to look for the another cut, she saw where it was.

Conveniently located in his groin.

Both Leo and Michelle blushed simultaneously, the fox giggling slightly and Leo grinning in embarrassment.

"Well, a doctor's gotta do what a doctor's gotta do." Leaning, she traced a finger over the wound near his member. Her touch caused his traitorous rod to stick up starkly, engorged with blood as his heart beat faster at the contact. Looking at Michelle, he could also hear her breathing with heavier breaths, her tongue slightly out of her mouth as she panted. Scooting close to him, she leaned in close, her round breasts exposed through the neck of her blouse, nipples perky and erect with her arousal.

Leo glanced at the wonderful sight and swallowed. "Um-"

Michelle rested a hand on his chest, letting him soak in the silence between them for several more minutes. Reaching out a hand, she slowly rubbed his thigh, causing Leo to inhale a breath.

"You're quite big, Leo."

"It gets lots of exercise."

Michelle giggled slightly. She slowly brought her hand over to his throbbing rod, fingers trembling. "Can...Can I touch it?"

"Why, by all means."

The innocent fox slowly brought her fingers up and down the pulsating length, veins sticking out of the slab of flesh. Her soft pawpads gave no end of pleasure to the restrained Leo, who could not resist a moan escaping his lungs.

"Rub harder."

Michelle complied, rubbing her fingers up and down with slightly more fervor than before. Leo thrust his hips in sync with her rubs, sparks of pleasure flying up and down his spine. Michelle was trembling with arousal, her nipples now fully erect and sticking starkly out from beneath the material of her blouse. Looking at them, Leo wanted to lick those wonderful perky twin breasts, to give back as good as he was getting.

"Do...do you mind if I...tasted you? Just, quickly?" Michelle glanced nervously at him. Leo nodded his agreement, and watched as the fox slowly brought her trembling muzzle to his erect member and gave it a tentative lick.

Leo groaned. "Oh...yes, that's good."

Emboldened, Michelle gave him another few, solid licks with her moist tongue. He tasted musky, of arousal and lust. She polished his trembling flesh, licking up and down his shaft, before giving a quick lap at the sensitive tip of his penis. A dribble of pre emerged, which Michelle hungrily lapped up. Licking her lips, she looked up at Leo, at his rapidly rising and falling chest as he panted.

Suddenly, she gripped the edge of her blouse and pulled it off her body in one smooth motion. Her well-rounded breasts came into view, pink nipples standing erect. She was smaller than her mother, but Leo could see that they were obviously firmer. She was slim, her abdomen hard with muscle, her fur soft and smooth. Leaning in, she nuzzled his neck, warm breath running through his fur. Looking up, he took one of her delicious nipples into his hot and waiting maw, licking and tasting those beautiful, ridged and sensitive spots, savoring the taste, laughing slightly as she gasped with pleasure, her eyelids fluttering. He sucked and licked for several more minutes as she panted into his neck, her heart beating fast against his chest.

She withdrew, and crouched beneath the end of the bed. Arching her back, she took his entire length into his mouth, no mean feat considering his length. She gagged slightly as she felt his tip hit the back of her throat. Swallowing it down, she brought her muzzle up and down his member, her moist and warm recesses of her mouth enveloping him. He gasped and moaned at the sensations that sparked throughout his body. This was one of the best blowjobs he had ever received in his life, and it had only just begun!

An idea suddenly hit Leo.

"Wait...stop for a minute...I want to try something."

Michelle looked up at him confusedly, her mouth still wrapped around his girth.

"Take off your skirt."

Still staring at him, she released his member and stood up. Undoing the metal clasp that wrapped the silk skirt around her waist, she slowly unwrapped it, going round and round, until, the strip of silk finally fell from her thighs.

Leo gasped as her wonderful pink slit came into view, glistening with juices from her arousal. A strip of velvety fur enclosed her parts, of a slightly darker colour than the rest of her fur. She smiled embarrassedly.

"Um..."

Leo smiled. "You look beautiful."

Michelle smiled at him, now completely naked like he was. "You really think so? I-"

Leo cut her off. "Yes. I think so. Come here."

She came slowly, hips swaying from side to side in an unconsciously seductive posture that made Leo drool. Her bare feet pattered on the wooden flow with soft thumps, her fur swaying slightly in the cool breeze that drifted in through the window. It made for a beautiful sight, and caused Leo's erection to abandon annoying and emerge on painful. As Michelle reached the bed, Leo gestured with a hand (still attached to the manacle), a smile on his face. "Lie down on me."

Michelle hesitated. "What-"

"Just trust me. Put your legs near my head, and your head near my legs."

"But that would make us the wrong way round."

"That's the beauty of it. Come on. You won't regret it."

"Okay..." Michelle looked uncertain, but she did as she was asked. Clambering onto him, she placed her moist honey-pot close to his face, trying to position herself comfortably as she did so. Leo inhaled her musky scent. She smelt of arousal, and of berries and the tangy scents of river water and soil. Leo guessed she wasn't lying when she said she had just washed. He watched her juices drip out of her tender slit, and couldn't resist a taste, sticking out his spiky feline tongue and giving her feminine parts a tentative lick.

Michelle squealed as she felt his moist, rough tongue touch her in an area she had never let anyone except herself touch before. Leo licked up and down her trembling pussy, feeling her shake against him as sensations pulsed through her body. He teased her with the tip of his tongue, slowly letting it touch her sensitive folds.

Michelle's eyes were half closed with pleasure. "I...Don't stop, Leo! Keep going! Try going harder!"

Leo grinned. With his versatile feline tongue, he pushed the tip into her nether folds, laughing silently as she shuddered. He kept on going, pushing his tongue deeper in, the spikes on it's surface giving Michelle no end of pleasure. Placing her hands on his waist, she pushed herself up, causing her slit to come closer to his face. She began unconsciously humping him, her hips thrusting up and down as she tried to get as much pleasure out of it as she could. He teased her swollen clit, and she let out a near squeal of pleasure.

With this sort of treatment, Michelle soon came close to a climax, but Leo wasn't done with her yet. Grinning, he withdrew his tongue, and smiled at her groan of disappointment. She continued humping weakly, her nerves still tingling from their treatment. Eventually, she stopped. Shuffling around, she crept up to him, her muzzle close to his. Leo could feel her warm breath against his face. It smelled faintly fruity, with a slight tone of forest air. He inhaled deeply, and sighed.

A slow grin spread across Michelle's face. "Now it's my turn to have an idea." She pushed herself off him and strode to the wall, pulling one of the phallic looking objects he had seen earlier off a shelf. It was thick and relatively long, and looked to be made of some smooth dark wood, presumably ebony.

"This is what we call Desoon, which means self-pleasure in our native tongue."

"Looking at it, I can probably guess what it's used for."

"My mother is especially fond of these. And not for herself." Michelle grinned as Leo examined the dark length, briefly wondering how many 'important' prisoners like him had been given treatment with that object.

"So...who's getting self-pleasured today?"

"Me."

"Of course. I mustn't forget that I'm a prisoner."

"But you can participate too, of course."

Leo showed her the manacles that still attached him to the bed, unyielding as ever. "How? My hands are occupied."

"You don't need your hands to participate in what I have in mind." Michelle's grin grew wider as she stood there, naked, slit dripping her tangy juices and nipples erect, the dildo in one hand and the other on her slim hip.

Leo's eyes widened as he caught her meaning. "You're not possibly thinking of..."

She just stood there smiling at him, an affirmation that needed no words.

Leo resisted the urge to laugh madly. "Gods! And your mother told me you were innocent! Innocents don't think of such things."

"I am! It's my first time. I want to make it..." She giggled. "Memorable."

Leo giggled himself too, then stopped himself. He wasn't some youngling to laugh at such things. Then again, the thought of doing it with this beautiful young vixen standing before him naked was almost more than he could bear, especially since he could annoy her mother at the same time. Two birds with one stone.

"Then let's get to it." He bared his teeth, his member now erect to such a degree every throb sent a jolt of pain through his groin.

Michelle smiled. Climbing onto the bed, she crouched down above his legs and lifted up her tail, exposing her tight tail-hole. Slowly, teasingly, letting Leo enjoy the show, she brought the tip of the wooden phallus to her pulsing ring, pushing it in. She grimaced, teeth bared, as her sphincter sent mixed signals of pleasure and pain through her from the stretching it was unused to. Her knees trembled as the pushed the phallus in deeper and deeper, her moist interior taking the dildo admirably, enclosing around it. Finally, with a grunt, she pushed the entire thing in, leaving only the base out to prevent it slipping in.

She looked at him, panting from the pleasure and the effort. "Your turn."

Leo stared at the dildo sticking out from her tail-hole, and at her moist slit, dripping with her juices, clit engorged, so tantalizingly close to his own, large member, and at her puffy, erect nipples, sticking starkly into the air like twin points. His eyes were glazed. He had never seen a finer sight.

"I didn't know you were capable of such things."

"Well, the more you know." Michelle closed a hand around his spiky feline member and rubbed it softly.

Leo trembled and exhaled. "If it's your first time it's going to hurt, I hope you understand that."

Michelle nodded. "I know. It's my first time doing anything like this, but I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else. You're the best person in this place for me to give myself to, for the first time." She smiled a tender smile at him, and he felt a wave of affection wash over him for her.

Angling herself, she brought her moist pussy close to his trembling member. Slowly, carefully, she placed the tip slightly within her folds, shuddering at the contact. Using her legs, she settled herself down on his penis, gasping as she felt him penetrate deeper and deeper, the spikes on his member causing the walls of her pussy to tingle with sensations.

Suddenly, she gave a short scream, and Leo felt something give within her. He tried to reach out a hand to comfort her, but the infernal chain stopped him. Pulling at it helplessly, he had to settle for whispering comfortingly to her.

Slowly, the grimace on her face changed to a small, dreamy smile as the pain changed to pleasure. Leo's veritable size pressed against her walls, setting her nerve endings afire. Her eyes were half closed, her mouth hanging open slightly, tongue sticking out as she panted. As they went deeper, Leo fancied he could feel the dildo pressing on him through her walls, a slight, odd pressure on his member that showed just how deeply she had inserted the phallus into her tail-hole.

She shook, her legs vibrating, and pushed herself up, then back down again. Leo could see her juices leaking out all over his thighs, matting his fur and hers.

Steadily, she increased the tempo, riding the chained lion, her thighs slapping up and down on his with a hypnotic slap slap slap . Her mouth was hanging open, her breath coming in ragged gasps interposed with groans and squeals of pleasure. Her eyes were closed and her body trembled with the exertion. Occasionally, Leo could hear a squelch as their fur stuck to each other from his pre and her juices leaking out all over each other. He could already feel himself getting close, his muscles tingling and his nerves afire from their treatment. He found himself unable to speak, only to gasp, as her pussy tightened around his member. Every time a wave of pleasure swept over her, she would tighten her muscles, and that would drive him nuts as the pressure caused sparks to run up and down his spine.

Michelle had her climax first, a veritable cacophony of groans and moans, finally culminating in a shrill scream of pure pleasure that always happens for someone having an orgasm for the first time. Her walls clenched around his member and she swooned, her body almost going limp as she rode on the waves of pleasure that shot up from between her legs and all over her body. The sound of her ecstasy, as well as the trembling vibrations and pressure around his cock as she orgasmed was enough to set him off as well, in a terrible roar that erupted from his lungs and echoed all around the bastion, his eyes shut furiously and his teeth bared, his muscles shaking and jerking as his nerves tingled, his legs spasming. A sort of liquid fire seemed to run through all his veins, and there was an iron fist around his heart as he tried to draw in breath. Shaking, he could only gasp as Michelle withdrew herself from him, her eyes tearing up, near sobbing from her release. Suddenly boneless, she flopped down beside him, her muzzle near his neck and her hands on his chest, feeling his warm breath against her as they both panted, their chests rising up and down from the strain.

"That was...amazing..."

Leo tried to speak, but his lungs refused to cooperate, and what came out was a squeak entirely unbefitting a proud king like him. "I'll say. None of my concubines are as good as you."

Michelle laughed at his voice. "Why, my proud lion has trouble speaking now. I didn't know I was that good."

Leo tried to smile. "You're not good."

Michelle's face fell. "Really? I thought I was-"

Leo looked up and kissed her on the forehead. "You're fabulous."

A smile spread across her face, and she leaned down on him and gave him a kiss right on the muzzle, their tongues tangling around each other. They both tasted of satisfaction and near-exhaustion, and Leo smiles as Michelle nibbled him on the cheek. They lay there for several more minutes, basking in the warm afterglow and the light of the candle, Leo near falling asleep until Michelle pushed herself off him.

"Well, I'd better get going. Mother is going to wonder what's happening, and I have some people who might need me." The sun had fully set by now, and light came in through the window from the glow of hundreds of fires and torches in the city below.

She pulled the blouse back over her head and wound the skirt back around her waist, clasping the metal brooch to her hip. Finished, they stared at each other for several minutes.

Finally, Leo broke the silence. "I have something to ask you."

"Go ahead." She smiled.

"When your mother releases me...would you...would you mind coming back with me? You've shown me your people, now I would like to show you mine. My people need someone like you. I need you."

Michelle looked at him, trying to decide. "I...don't know. You mean, you want to marry me?"

"God's willing, maybe one day." He smiled. "But for now, I just want to show you my people, and let them know the People of the Trees are not to be feared. Please? It would be an adventure, like today was for me."

She smiled and patted his chest. "The way you say it, how can I deny you?" Her smile grew wider. "I'd love to."

There was no need for words then, the both of them looking at the eyes of the other, exchanging thoughts, admiration, affection, love.

Michelle walked over to the candle, still burning and blew on it again.

This time, the flame went out.

Leo was almost falling asleep when the door banged open. A figure stomped in and looked at him.

Leo blinked. "Who-"

A ball of light suddenly sprung from the hand of the figure, casting a glow on the room, and illuminating the figure of Meridin, completely naked, her generous breasts exposed as well as the velvety slit between her legs.

Leo swallowed reflexively. "What are you trying to do?"

"Not yet." Meridin smiled. "I ran into my daughter a few minutes ago, walking down the corridor. From the way she had trouble walking and seemed to be half asleep, I think I can guess what happened in here when the candle was burning. Not to mention the smell."

Leo gulped. "You're angry, I suppose. So, what happens now?"

Meridin smiled a gigantic grin. "Me? Most certainly not." She suddenly pranced about, and did a ridiculous jig, breasts bouncing, her feet patting the wooden floor. She danced around the room, waving her arms in victory. "I was hoping that that would happen actually. She's been a maiden for so long now, it's about damn time she had a cock in that cunt of hers."

Leo winced at the crudeness of her speech.

"And not to mention that she just lost her maidenhood to none other than yooooouuuuu!" She pointed a finger at him as she jiggled about.

Leo tried to point innocently to himself. "Me?"

"Did the sex make you stupid? Yes. You. The King of the Plains, and one of the most powerful kings in this land, except for me, of course." She smiled maniacally. "I couldn't have hoped for a better match. Did she give you a good time?"

"One of the best in my life, actually. No, wait, scratch that. The best."

"Excellent. I'm glad to see my teachings have had some use." She stopped at the base of the bed and tickled one of his feet. He giggled.

"All this time I've been hoping that she would find a worthy partner for her first time. I just didn't know she would set her sights so high. I had resigned myself to her bedding some servant, or some lout out in the streets, or gods forbid, the Layon brothers." She grimaced. "I swear, those two will fuck anything. But anyway, that was the way I thought things would happen, until you came along. You're probably the best catch I've ever made while hunting out in the forest." She grinned.

"I'm flattered."

Meridin held up a finger. "But. You're not finished here yet. She had her turn with you, and now it's mine." She placed her hands on her hips and swayed seductively, baring her delicious breasts and slit.

Leo groaned. "Could you at least give me some time to recover?"

Meridin's crazed smile grew wider. She snapped her fingers, and the door crashed open again. Men and women filed in, all of various sizes and species. Dozens of them.

And they were all naked.

"Remember when I said you would pay for what you did? Well, guess what? It's payback time."

Leo was speechless, his mouth hanging open.

"Guess I won't be alone when I have my fun tonight." Meridin had a crazed look in her eyes. "Well, shall we begin? At him, people!" She grinned crazily as they all closed in, lustful looks on their faces.

Leo sighed. It was going to be a long night.

The sun rose the next day, as it always did, without pomp or splendor, it's light spreading over the tops of the trees and illuminating the savannah beyond. But it was a different sort of day. As the sunlight shone out from beyond the forest, with it came a lion, slighty bandy legged. And he was not alone.

A person unknown to the People of the Plains came with him, a petite woman with red and orange fur and pointed ears. She was holding hands with their king, their mighty lion, dressed in new robes given to him by the people who lived in the trees. And with the both of them came promise, and hope for a better future.

Following him came Meridin, the Queen of the People of the Trees, and several of her closest council. And they sat down with the King of the Plains and his council, and discussed a unification of their people, the people of the plains and of the forests, of sharing their technology and teaching the ancient magics of the Earth. And with their agreement came peace and prosperity. The people of both lands rejoiced, and a great feast was thrown for the both of them, only interrupted by the mysterious disappearance of Ervon and several of the King's most trusted associates, last seen in a net with two burly, identical twins carrying it and a cackling Meridin trailing along behind.

But the union of the people was not the only union that day.

Leo, and his new mate Michelle, held hands as they stood on a cliff overlooking the festivities below. They could hear the sound of laughter and talking, of fires warding off the darkness as the feast dragged on into night, as the People of both lands mixed amongst each other, welcoming each other, making new friends, making new mates. And more than a few cubs were made that night.

As they watched, Leo and Michelle smiled and held each other close, the stars and moonlight illuminating the both of them and the lands below.

This is not my kingdom anymore Leo thought.

This is our kingdom.

And life is good.

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19/3/2013 - 22/3/2013

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