FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

**

Dal let out a huge sigh as they entered their apartment. It had been weeks ago, but at this point, Dal had really no energy left. He and Rick would be off in a few days for some type of photoshoot, and fame and glory.

Pah! Some thing to have, Fame and Glory! As if people could hear the capital letters! It's nothing more than pictures!

Three huge boxes held envelopes. Rick stepped forward grabbing a note from the back of the front door:

"Dal / Rick

We took the liberty of trying to sort this stuff. I bet you get a lot more on your vid-screen. The left one is for "Yay" the second is for "Boo" and third is normal mail."

Hugs/Kisses

Seth/Val

Rick handed the note to Dal who only nodded. Rick noticed that the furthest left box was full to brimming with mail. The old style kind. Letters. The second, was only a quarter full at best. Only a few letters remained in the other box. Dal bent down, his long mane and frelocks (feathers) falling down. Rick had to catch his breath at that....

_Oh my - is he beautiful this way!_Rick tried to keep his mind clean, and found he couldn't so he went in, and found his guitar, the gift from Dal, 'beauty', and began practicing scales.

**

Dal opened the first letter. It had some drivel about how handsome he was, strong, courageous, loving, yadda yadda. He tossed it in the trash, and pulled out another. It was of the same ilk. Around the thirtieth letter it dawned on him.

Holy crap. They aren't kidding. I - we - did inspire people....what does that say --- about us ---- about --- them? What are we going to do? What does this all mean? Where do I fit in this?

Dal took in a deep breath. He heard the guitar stop.

* *

Rick was practicing trying to keep his mind off of the letters, and Dal's form, when intense worry filled him. A sense of overwhelming doom. He looked up. Dal stood there, shirtless, wearing jeans, and hoof coverings, his long mane shining down in increasingly golden color the lower it got....Rick caught himself and realized....

Oh crap....he's stuck.

Rick quickly stood up and walked over and hugged Dal. Dal seemed to shake himself out of his reverie. "Rick?"

Rick nodded into the thick equine chest. "Yes Dal, I'm here. You got overwhelmed. What was it your dad always said? One day at a time? Well, one day Dal, one day at a time...."

**

Dal looked down....Rick had his eyes closed, and almost angelic look on his face. Dal reached down and stroked Rick's muzzle. Rick leaned into it. "You're right Rick. I'm sorry, I got, well scared. Big thoughts can scare me, I can't deny that around you. Like when you went all guitar hound on me and wouldn't think about keyboards, or winds, or anything. I just sort of go into a mode to deal with situations like that. It isn't right."

Dal sighed and looked down. "Rick, I can be such an ass. You're in this with me, and you didn't even ask for it. Here I am, thrust into the limelight, and you're my shadow. I don't want you to be my shadow, I want you to be my light!"

Rick's eyes teared up. He'd been denying his deepest feelings for a long time, despite the bond, but only now did he even think It was entirely possible. Its one thing to say you never want to be alone when 'in the moment' it's another when it's said truly....

Rick held his breath, very silent, and stood stock still....

Dal's voice dropped deeply. The poor equine dropped his head, and looked so forlorn. "Rick, be with me, forever, please. I'm.....I'm sorry if I'm an idiot, or an ass, You may even deserve better than me....but I will give you my all, my last breath......that concert....the music......everything I did was for you."

Rick let his breath out slowly. It was one thing to say passionately what one wanted, it was another thing entirely to say it unreservedly while bearing you soul. Rick took a deep breath, and whined lightly.

Rick lifted one spotted paw to his mates (yes - HIS mate's) chest, where he had marked him earlier. No lust drove him this time, only love. He stared for a moment as his paw meshed perfectly with the mark. He leaned in and touched his nose directly between the pecs, his other arm reaching down to Dal's hand.....he spoke the words --- the traditional words....

There is no going back now....

"Dalten Samuel Taylor, please me by mate? I submit to you, I will be yours. My love is never ending, my soul would not live without you. Take me to be yours, forever?"

Rick held his breath....

**

Dalten took a quick intake of breath. He'd heard the words, not only in his equine ears, but in his soul as well......something was burning deep within him. It had little to do with lust or even love. There was something deeper. He felt the mark where Rick had put his paw so long ago burn deeply, hotly.

"Rick Wells, I take you. You need not submit to me. I will be yours. Our love is never ending. My soul would not live without yours. I do take you to be mine....always...."

In that one perfect moment, something exchanged between the two. The energies before had nothing compared to the warmth that spread between them. They both suddenly knew why they had been Soul Touched. Rick had been right, it was simply to be together. The echoes of their lives may reverberate like a harp string, and bring happiness or change, but in the end, it didn't matter. To them, their lives were now so intertwined there was no separating them, and they accepted that, fully.

Both filled with a slow warmth, and headed to the bed. Dalten lay down in his usual sprawl, sighing and nickering softly Already his huge arm wide, as he took in his dalmatian MATE and held him close. Rick laid his muzzle down on Rick's chest and closed his eyes. Drool seemed to seep for a second from between his lips.

Dalton didn't care in the least. He'd be lost without it....

**