FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter One

A lone figure walked at ease with the supplies resting comfortably on his shoulders. The filled backpack lightly rustled with every step taken by foot. A thick forest bordered the dirt road to his right, and shrub meadows to his left. The late spring sun shone warmly with the passing clouds above. It was great weather to travel under.

'My first stop from Solstershire will be Kesslering.' Aulus reminded himself. The brown haired and eyed human, one of the many species on the world, enjoyed the calm weather for travel. A simple green overcoat covered his lighter shirt to the tops of his legs. Simple trousers were held secure with a simple leather let around his waist. The human was dressed well, but not too well to deceive his intentions. Despite having an average height and build, Aulus was ready for a long journey. He was traveling north from his cozy hometown of Solstershire to the distant city of Ambrosia, the famed center for powerful guilds, shipping companies, and lucrative trading. He stopped along the road hearing screams and barks behind him. 'What's going on?' He reached for a dagger in his clothes.

"Ah! Keep running!" Four humans ran up the dirt road towards him. The group's eyes were wide with fear as they hurried by Aulus in the wildest sprint imaginable. Some even bumped into him while scrambling away. One dropped a small necklace with brightly colored feathers and wooden beads without stopping to retrieve it. They disappeared around a bend in the road leaving Aulus puzzled. He picked up the odd form of jewelry that had little material value. The beads clacked with a wooden sound on the sinewy string. The bright feathers looked pretty though.

"What was that all about?" He looked back over his shoulder only to freeze seeing another groups running towards him. Six wolves of varying colors, male and female, were running towards him with stunning speed. He had only seen wolves a few times in his life despite living within a dozen miles of their nearest forests and village. That was largely due to their different way of living. Unlike everyone else in society, they didn't use money. They lived in small villages in the forests north and northeast of his home. Wolves never wore clothing because they simply didn't need to, nor did they want to. Nudity was proudly accepted in their society and highly encouraged to outsiders that they were friendly to. Instead of passing him, the canines surrounded the lone human much to his surprise.

"What's going on?!" He looked around at the six angry canine faces. Each had long hair descending from their thick furred manes on the backs of their necks. A spear or axe was harbored in most claw bearing hands, if not, then both. But what intimidated Aulus the most was their height. Wolves were taller than humans and most other species because of digitigrade legs, usually by a full head, and their strength matched this difference.

"Hand back the rest of what you and your pack of fools stole!" A merle coated male snarled and snatched the decorated necklace from his hand, terrifying the human.

"Wh-what?!" Aulus squeaked feeling a spear prod his back.

"Don't act stupid." A black furred female sniffed the air around him.

"You're coming with us." Another stepped closer to him.

"I didn't steal anything! A group of humans just ran past me! I swear!" He pleaded as one roughly grabbed his arm. Aulus started to resist but followed them off the path instead towards the woods. The large hand encircling his upper arm was more than a fair warning, not to mention the claws touching his skin. 'This isn't good.' He swallowed roughly and looked around the group of six. Wolves treated friends like family, and if you messed with either then it was wise to never show your face to one again. The cream and dusty brown male wolf beside him was a good head taller than him. A visible frown on his muzzle showed that he and in no mood to be fooled.

"Give us your pack and sit at the base of the tree." The black furred female pointed to a tall oak as they reached the edge of the forest.

"Please let me go! I promise that I didn't do anything." He pleaded again. The dusty brown and cream furred male pried the pack off the human's shoulders anyway. "That's mine-!" A spear poking his side silenced him.

"Why should we trust you?" He bared his teeth revealing a mighty set of canines and incisors. Goosebumps crawled over Aulus's skin. He stared into the endless forest ahead and reluctantly sat down. The wolves opened the pack.

'What can I do?' He watched as they rummaged through his belongings only to come up empty handed, other than the decorative necklace that was dropped earlier. It was either confess to a crime that he did not commit, or possibly die from telling the truth. The human looked around the group standing in front of him, desperate to think of something.

'Anything!' He could feel his heart racing. A mottled grey male to the side was scratching his shoulder, revealing a spot of thinning hair and flaky skin. 'Mange!' He recognized the early signs plaguing the wolf's skin and fur.

"Itching again, Nasunoo?" A red wolf inquired.

"Yeah." He grunted. "It's getting worse."

"The shaman will have something." Another recommended. Aulus blinked.

'I have that vial in my pack.' He remembered. A tiny vial with a powerful antiseptic for a bad cut, or in this case a parasitic rash. "I'll give you something!" The human blurted out and stood up. "So you know I am telling the truth!" The wolves turned their heads and looked at him.

"Huh?" The dusty brown and cream wolf tilted his head and lowered his weapon. Aulus dropped to his backpack on the ground and rummaged through it.

"H-Here!" He stammered furiously searching through his rucksack. The human pulled out a thin vial of liquid and held it out.

"What is this?" The wolf inquired with his nose.

"Medicine for his skin." Aulus pointed to the afflicted wolf. He immediately snatched it out of the human's shaking hand and looked at the small glass vial. "All he needs is a few drops each day until it is empty." The human explained as the bottle was passed around and smelled. The canines looked at each other.

"What do you think?" The male wolf murmured to a fawn colored she wolf, and a mottled grey and white she wolf. "Should we bring him to the village?"

"No." One of the females murmured. "We are searching for four other scents. It would be odd to find only one of them."

"Nothing in his pack smelled like those who stole the necklace. His scent is completely different."

"We can't simply let him go." The brown furred male stated.

"He offered me medicine." Nasunoo pointed out, trying not to itch his shoulder. The wolves contemplated a decision while keeping an eye on the human. Aulus couldn't hear their quiet conversation in depth, but the well aimed spears kept him pinned to the tree. The trio broke up and the male approached the human again. He waved a hand for everyone to stand down.

"Th-thanks-" A hand grabbed his shirt cutting him off.

"If this harms him in any way, we will hunt you down." He growled holding up the vial. "We can promise you that." Aulus nodded, happy to not have a dozen weapons pointing at him.

"I-I uh... understand!" The human nodded as the large clawed hand let him go.

"Let's go!" The wolf barked and the six wolves soon disappeared from sight into the trees leaving Aulus stunned but thankful to be unharmed.

***

Aulus was exhausted from walking without pause for the rest of the afternoon and entire evening. His feet throbbed numbly with each step from walking on the hard dirt road.

'I should probably sleep a little further off the road tonight." He reasoned looking over his shoulder. He didn't want to run into anyone hostile again. Aulus walked off into the brush and out of the road's sight. Sticks and leaves crunched noisily beneath his steps, only to discover something unexpected. "Huh?" He stumbled upon a tiny camp. A low fire, pack, tent, and a raccoon greeted him. "Uh... Hi." He meekly greeted the feather capped fellow. Unlike the band of ruffians, the raccoon was dressed more akin to himself with brown trousers and a thin off-white long sleeved shirt.

"Hey traveler!" The raccoon waved, welcoming the weary human. "I'm Julio from Readings Brooke. Come sit a spell if you want to sleep undisturbed for the night." He offered kindly.

"Thank you! I'm from Solstershire." Aulus sat down with a relieved exhale. 'Gods I have never been so happy to sit down in the woods!'

"You look really tired." The raccoon observed. Aulus nodded and took his backpack off.

"I ran into a pack of tribal wolves earlier."

"A pack of wolves?! Really?" The raccoon's brown eyes lit up with intrigue.

"Yeah. They wielded spears and bows, and circled me thinking that I was a robber of something. It was something out of a storybook. "I didn't expect them to have digitigrade paws though." He admitted. "I thought that was just a wild tale."

"I think I've seen one or two people with paws before, but they were definitely living on farms near the forests." Julio thought for a moment.

"I don't even have a single wolf village on my maps, only the forests eastward."

"Not too much is known about them other than their frugal nude living, other than silly fables." He chuckled. "How did you escape when they circled you?"

"One wolf had a flaky bald patch on his shoulder that he constantly itched. Do you think it was mange?"

"That sounds like mange, and it is a pain to have without any medicine." The raccoon noted from personal experience. "Why do you ask?"

"I gave them a bottle of a strong medicine that should heal him as a token of goodwill. They passed it around and smelled it before letting me go."

"Wolves rely on their noses too much." The raccoon mused. "Why did you have medicine for mange with you?"

"I'm traveling a long distance to Ambrosia and if a bed at an inn carried something or someone sick then at least I wouldn't have that problem plaguing me."

"As unlikely as that is!" The raccoon chuckled. "But Ambrosia is far away. Why are you traveling there?"

"Well..." The human stalled for a moment. "I have relatives who traveled there years ago, and I wish to meet them." Aulus imagined a plausible story for such a long travel.

"Goodness! Your family must be a bunch of merchants. My entire family, including my four sibling, all live in one town." He paused a moment to reminisce. "Ah, but my family doesn't concern you. Are you heading north towards Kesslering on your journey?" It was the nearest town north close to the river.

"Of course! It's on the fastest road for going that far north."

"My hometown of Readings Brooke is a few miles east from there. Plenty of fields full of wheat and other cereals surround the town. It isn't a wealthy place, but very homely like the towns down south where you're from."

"Is there anything I should know about Kesslering before I reach it?"

"Hmm..." Julio stretched his legs out to the fire. "The Colfalgar Company's headquarters is located there. They specialize in selling iron ore and iron smelting."

"Oh. I didn't know that." Aulus seamlessly lied. It was better that no one he could trust know his true intentions about his long journey.

"Ah, they do." The raccoon nodded and stirred the ashes of the low fire. The remnants of a meal were already burnt to dust. "Other than that, it's a small town on the north-south route." Julio yawned.

"I won't keep you up. I need to sleep myself." Aulus reclined to the ground.

"You can sleep under my tent if you want." The raccoon offered the small abode. The human took one glance at the tiny shelter that served as little more than a deterrent for rain.

"I appreciate the offer, but I could never use your own dwelling unless you had something else to use."

"If you say so." The raccoon kicked his boots off and bid Aulus goodnight before crawling into the small structure. Aulus rolled onto his back and stared up at the dark treetops.

'Gold, silver, bronze, copper...' He thought of the four main metals of payment, by no means the rarest. Their glittering hues danced before his eyes. Aulus wanted to dream of them all.

Aulus walked along a winding path in the brush. Trees and tall grasses surrounded him on all sides with only windows of space to see a field towards the west. He had been bogged down by rain for two days before taking a lesser used road that circled the wolf inhabited forest northwest to northeast before straggling north again in a wide bend. There was another road that went due north alongside the main river, but the rains probably flooded it.

'I am probably going to arrive at Kesslering four days late now." Aulus muttered along the unkept dirt road, but he had more immediate concerns. His brown eyes preened across the surrounding tall grass fields to his left, and the more distant forests to his right. Few birds were out, and he hadn't even seen a single deer. Both signs of quietness this far out in the countryside bothered Aulus a great deal. Luckily there wasn't a sign of furry ears in the tall grass or signs of a wolf in general. He had no idea what happened between the canines and four humans, but he didn't want to become involved in any possible way. A breeze rustled the grass around him, but the sharp snapping of a stick froze him. Aulus whipped his head and spotted three humans following him not too far behind. Their rags for clothes unsettled him. They were nothing more than good for nothing ruffians.

'They're the ones who ran from the wolves!' He remembered only to realize the fourth one wasn't with them. He looked around and caught movement to his side. The fourth human jumped out of the tall grasses at him with a battle cry. Aulus jumped to the side and broke into a wild sprint with the four thugs in pursuit. Footsteps rasped against the grainy dirt kicking up dry dust. A glance over his shoulder alarmed him of their closing gap. Aulus was slower wearing the backpack, but he would never let that go. 'My bag is the whole reason I'm traveling-!' He was swiftly tackled to the ground where the other three quickly caught up. He yelled for help but the four pummeled him mercilessly into submission. Bruised and beaten, two roughly pinned him up against the tree.

"Let's see..." One held up the backpack and fumbled with the secure strap. "This heavy weight sounds like there could be a lot of gold inside." The human crudely shook the bag.

"Hey! Don't mess with that-!" A punch to the gut winded Aulus, drawing a few laughs from the muggers.

"If he's that desperate to save this, then there must be something of value inside." This time the air was void of sinister laughter. Aulus winced taking in a gulp of air and opened an eye. The mugger's smug faces had dropped into expressions of terror. He was immediately released much to his surprise.

'Huh?' He looked over and his eyes widened. 'Wolves!' A pack of the tribal canines had them surrounded.

"Drop the bag." A mottled grey and white wolfess warned the human holding Aulus's pack. A spear pointing at him served plenty of warning. The human quickly admonished the pack. "You four, run." She ordered cooly in her deeper canine voice, but they were petrified in place. "Run!" The wolfess barked and they quickly scurried up the road where they came from. Little clouds of dust settled when they disappeared beyond the bend southward. Aulus looked around uneasily at his canine saviors.

'What will they do to me?' He glanced at their weapons in hand. He gulped seeing one wearing a necklace with a hawk's talon. A female set her spear aside and stepped forward.

"We haven't forgotten about our first encounter and the medicine you offered." Her muzzle surprisingly sprouted a grin. A male held out his hand with a tiny empty glass bottle. The mottled grey female took it and handed it over to Aulus with his backpack.

"Uh. Thank you." The human was shocked that they were helping him. He hastily exhaled and turned to face the wolves properly. His eyes instantly locked onto the main she wolf standing in front of him. Maybe it was the soft smile on her elegant muzzle, vivacious amber eyes, long grey hair to match her fur, or everything combined that drew him to her. Aulus had never considered anthros as particularly attractive, but the canine was a lovely eyeful!

"Thank you for helping my brother." The wolfess held out her hand. Aulus found himself staring at the female grey wolf's breasts. The furry mammaries weren't larger than a B-cup, but the large soft pink teats poking free from the lighter grey and white fluff were enough to draw attention away from her fellow female wolves. Above that, she was athletic and feminine with a sweet smile.

"He seems taken back by your beauty Akul." One male slyly smiled.

'Ah-cool.' Aulus ran the name through his head. Akul's grin widened and her tail swayed with intrigue. "Oh! Uh. You're welcome." He finally noticed her outstretched hand and shook it. Her larger hands were gentle despite their size. The pads were warm and leathery, plus, her white fur was as soft as it looked.

"Come follow us to our village... If you so desire." She offered before turning away and giving a hand signal for everyone to go back. Her tail brushed over his leg as the pack walked back into the woods. He blinked and watched her and the pack walk away at a slow pace. An earthy scent whisked through his olfactory. Aulus looked back at the off beaten path for a moment before hurrying after the alluring wolfess.

***

Patches of sunlight reached the shady forest floor. More than one dozen paws walked in virtual silence with a single pair of shoes. Birds, crickets, and plenty of other little inhabitants gave the forest lively sounds to listen to. Aulus clung to his backpack and followed the wolves along invisible paths and trails as they penetrated deeper into the forest. The human didn't have a clue where he exactly was, and stuck close to the pack of tribal wolves. Even though he was neck deep in the middle of nowhere, Aulus was content walking beside the mottled grey wolfess Akul. He glanced to his side watching her easily stride through the dense terrain with subtle grace. He just as quickly averted his gaze seeing a thin black-lipped grin etched along her furry muzzle. Little was spoken through the afternoon trek in the woods.

"We're here." Akul smiled taking a deep inhale.

"We are?" Aulus looked around the forest. Trees were the only sight greeting him. The wolfess looked back at him with a knowing grin. In a few steps, through an overhanging branch of leaves, Aulus found himself in a tribal village of simple tent structures, fire pits, and obviously wolves. Short clotheslines held up deerskins, hides, and other little pelts along with a blanket or two. Baskets, poles, and a few small trinkets rested beside the huts. The sound of pups yapping and playing echoed around the homely center. The wolf village was small with only one hundred individuals or so, and it smelled canine. Faces, young and old of various coat patterns, stared curiously at the human in their village. Every wolf true to their nature was nude no matter their age, except for a leather belt or strap of sorts to help carry small items on their person. A knife or leather pouch was common if present at all. Their hair flowed uncut and long with an occasional braid or feather. Necklaces or anklets weren't uncommon either.

"Is that a human?!" Aulus heard a loud pup yelp. A few barks and curious looks were given as he was led through the small wooded village of tents until they arrived at a large tent. The two in front of him and Akul entered the large tent. Aulus started to follow, but was halted. "Wait a moment human." She placed a padded hand on his shoulder. The claw tips touching his skin made goosebumps form on his skin. "Our chief will allow you to enter. Be patient." The wolfess grinned. He nodded and stood back. For some reason that Aulus couldn't place, Akul's toothy and thin black lipped grin made him feel a little better.

"Hey... Akul right?"

"Yes." The wolfess nodded.

"How did you find me?"

"We've been on those thieves' trail since they robbed us, and their scents were always close to yours. So we stayed close until we heard a scream for help. I thought they might try to rob someone else, but I never would have guessed they would rob you."

"Thank you for saving me."

"You're welcome." She grinned kindly back at him. The two wolves exited from the tent. A brown and grey male approached him.

"You can go inside now." He pointed to the door flap before standing aside. The human looked over at Akul and the wolfess nodded. Aulus crouched down and crawled inside with the wolfess behind him. He was greeted with an interior that was surprisingly well lit from the thin material of the tent, but by no means empty. It was also easy to hear other wolves and the wildlife from outside. Oddly crafted tribal ornaments, weapons, along with plenty of deerskins and blankets decorated the home. A little bundle of rosemary hung from the middle of the roof adding a more pleasant smell to the canine home. Aulus looked over to his left. There was an old mottled grey wolfess closer to the entrance by a dormant fire, but Akul nudged him to the male sitting stoically at the other end of the rectangular home. Aulus set his pack down and crawled to him. The brown male wolf with a creamy front sat well defined like a stone statue on a large deerskin. The only item on his person was a plain leather necklace with a few colored beads in his long brown hair. Other than that he was completely naked like every other wolf in the village.

"Are you the human Aulus?" The tall wolf asked. His dark amber eyes seemed to pierce through his clothes.

"Uh. Yes." Aulus nodded.

"You may sit before me." The wolf grinned and patted the deerskin directly in front of him. He complied and sat down with their knees almost touching. "I am Nattuk, chieftain of the Tomasaganti village." He spoke in a deep proud voice. The wolfess behind Aulus lightly shook her head at the grand introduction that was given. Nattuk craned his neck towards the human. His damp black nose touched the human's forehead sending a chill throughout his skin. "Ack-!" Aulus coughed as strong arms suddenly hugged him tightly.

"Thank you for helping my son! I am grateful to your act of kindness!" He exclaimed clutching the startled human to his body.

'I can't move!' Aulus tried squirming out of the naked wolf's lap. He could hear Akul chuckling somewhere behind him.

"You will always be welcome in this village Aulus." The human tried to make sense of everything as he was tightly hugged by the chieftain.

"Ah... Thank you." Aulus gasped for air when he was finally released. Akul chuckled at his humorous expression.

"We should celebrate! Ginmei, please tend to his wounds while I gather everyone to prepare for a feast and dance." The male quickly left the tent in a jovial mood.

"Who?" Aulus turned to Akul.

"My mother." She pointed to the old wolfess that had been silently prodding at the fire. Her mother had saggy breasts and a fatty pouch around her midsection, typical of any lady her age. However, as a canine she had plenty of muscle readily available underneath. The older she wolf looked up with a warm smile on her graying muzzle.

"Here. Let me tend to your bruises." The softer voiced Ginmei offered crawling to the human on all fours. Her light layer of fat and aged breasts rippled and jiggled with every motion. "Hand me my medicine rack please, Akul." She pointed towards the home's side. Aulus couldn't see it as he was turned around, but his nose could definitely smell it. Ginmei sat facing the human's side and quickly mixed an ointment together. Two long soft grey braids rested over her chest leaving the rest of the canine's hair to drape freely over her back. "Take his shirt off please, Akul, so his skin may breathe."

"Yes ma'am." Akul pulled the fabric off Aulus's shoulders. Ginmei quickly inspected the human's skin, noting any damage he had taken.

"Ah!" He winced feeling a greasy fingertip rub over a sore spot over his eyebrow. Akul chuckled.

"Tch. You have a cut there." Ginmei playfully chided him.

"I do?" He stood still for the older wolfess as she dabbed her finger into a healing ointment again. Her padded hands were softer than anything he had felt before, but the sharp claws liberally grazed over his skin.

"Chew on this." She handed him two green leaves. "Sage is good for a rough day." Aulus skeptically looked at the leave before popping them into his mouth. A vague peppery taste filled his taste buds. He managed a few chews before spitting the mess into an offered empty bowl.

"Bitter?" Akul mused.

"Yeah." He grimaced making her chuckle.

"Any other bruise that my old eyes cannot see?" She inquired placing a gentle hand on his waist.

"No. The rest of me made it out unscathed." Aulus reassured her and held the older she wolf's hand. He didn't want to lose his pants next!

"That's good." She hummed.

"Thank you." He winced feeling her hands move to carefully inspect a bruise.

"Thank you for your kindness in helping my son." She smiled and switched to massaging his tired shoulders.

'Mm! That's nice...' Aulus could've fallen asleep under Ginmei's ministrations had it not been for a sudden interruption.

"We are preparing a festival in your honor Aulus!" The chieftain burst into the tent. "Everyone in the village will participate!" The excitement in his voice made the human's skin tingle.

"Mm. I smell venison." Akul raised her nose. "Let's go out and help, mom." She suggested. The older mottled grey wolfess nodded in agreement.

"Thank you again for helping my son." The mother gave Aulus a tight hug that wasn't as suffocating as Nattuk's.

"Ah, you're welcome." He patted her back feeling large breasts squish against him. A large tongue swiped over his forehead before the wolfess left.

"I'll be waiting for you." Akul brushed by him wearing a warm smile. Aulus watched Akul crawl out of the tent until her tail tip disappeared from view.

"I'd like to talk to you before we join the festivities." Nattuk sat down in front of the human, drawing his attention away from Akul.

"That's fine!" Aulus nodded and straightened his hair. He wasn't expecting to be celebrating anything when the day started.

"I know that shamans do not exist beyond these forests. Are you a man of medicine by chance?" Nattuk indicated about the human's possession of the medicine vial.

"No. I purchased it in another town prior of my journey."

"Ah. I see." He deeply nodded. "Why were you traveling on an abandoned road? It's rare for anyone not familiar with these forests to use it."

"There was heavy raining for a few days and I was afraid that the lowland road due north would be flooded."

"May I ask where you are going to and what for?" The chieftain asked next. Aulus felt it was safe to tell the chief the details. Tribal wolves didn't value gems or coins like other species did. The only items they were materialistic towards were those that could provide some practical use, but even that was limited.

"I'm traveling to the town of Ambrosia to the north along the main river. I'll be passing by a few other towns along the way with plenty of rural areas to cover."

"What business do you have there? Trading?" He grinned at the educated guess.

"I'm going to sell some valuable gems." Aulus plucked out a large sapphire from the hidden depths of his bag. The deep blue rock seemed to glow in the tent's dim lighting. "It should fetch a lot of gold." Nattuk's ears could hear the lust for wealth in the human's voice.

"Supply and demand. Isn't that what all traders say?" He chuckled warmly.

"Basically, yes." He scratched his head. "I'd appreciate if no one learned that I have these gems with me." The sapphire was delicately placed back into the bag.

"I understand." The chieftain nodded.

"Can I ask you a question?" Aulus asked.

"Of course!"

"The wolfess Akul. She's from this village right?"

"Yes." The chieftain chuckled at the human's fascination with her. "She's my daughter."

"Your daughter!" Akul was the chieftain's daughter! "Um I didn't mean to sound nosy or anything." He quickly retracted and looked away shyly.

"I can see that you like her." Nattuk gave a toothy grin. The human's face lightly blushed.

"Uhh, where is your son? The one that had mange." Aulus changed the subject.

"Ah, Nasunoo is visiting a nearby village to the east. He complained that his skin crawled at night until he took that elixir you gave him." Nattuk explained. "I give you his personal thanks." The brown wolf deeply nodded. A head appeared through the tent's entrance.

"We are ready!" The wolf barked catching the two's attention. Aulus turned back to the chieftain but found himself face to face with a large set of furry canine genitals. The chief looked down at him wearing a grand smile.

"Eh?" He leaned back only for a pair of strong hands to grasp his shoulders.

"Come! Dance and enjoy the evening and night!" The wolf boisterously proclaimed and hauled the human outside. Nothing but fur greeted him in the village's waning minutes of daylight. Drums and flutes blared loudly and festively throughout the village. The smell of food enticed his nose. Nattuk and the wolves led him through the village to its center. Some offered him various foods, exotic smelling drinks, necklaces to wear, and a few tugged at his clothes to discard them. Aulus kindly rescinded their offers as he was brought to a large bonfire. By the flames a few canines were dancing with rhythmic hops causing genitals and breasts of all ages, shapes, and sizes to bounce freely. The sight was enough to bewilder the human. Beads and necklaces clacked merrily in tune to the drums and singing flutes.

'What in the world-?' A hand tugged his arm, shaking the human from his stupor.

"Come dance! Dance with us!" A few urged him to the fire.

A loud chirping stirred Aulus awake from a long slumber.

'Wolves sure can party...' Aulus yawned and stretched. After rubbing his eyes, he blinked and found himself inside the chief's hut. 'Huh?' He felt the deerskin underneath his hands, and a blanket over his body. Surrounding him were the inner tent-like walls of a tribal hut. "How did I end up back in here?" He sat up and looked around the empty tribal home puzzled. The late night partying was a lot of excitement and fun. He danced beside Akul through most of the night, played a drum, and drank a potent drink. Aulus barely remembered falling asleep, but not inside a home. 'At least my pants are still on.' He felt the garment underneath the blanket. A quick glance revealed his shirt and backpack were in the same place they had been discarded at. He checked the pack's contents and accounted for everything.

'Nothing out of place.' The human sat back wondering what he should do. The smell of food enticed him to leave the spacious tent. He followed his nose around the quaint village. Despite their lack of wealth, the wolves seemed to be enjoying the morning contently. Two pups had the end of a piece of rope in each mouth, tugging incessantly while trying to hold back giggles. An adolescent was busily sharpening a stone bladed spear. One female passing by held back a laugh seeing how disheveled the human's hair was. After a few turns Aulus found the central fire pit, or what remained of the large bonfire. The chief was sitting by a small fire pit outside with a few others, including his daughter. Noses sniffed the air, detecting the human's approaching scent. "Good morning." Aulus quietly waved.

"Waking up by the late morning I see?" Nattuk boasted in a happy voice. "Come join us and eat, Aulus." The human was quickly offered a seat and freshly cooked meat. He glanced across the semicircle of wolves and instantly spotted the mottled grey wolfess, Akul. She watched him eat wearing a little smile.

'Akul.' The human replayed the strange name in his head like a folk song. He grinned back at the wild beauty and finished the filling meal. There was something about her that he fancied, and it wasn't because she was naked. A mother beside him was breastfeeding her son, but what mystified the human was the son's size. "How old is he?" Aulus asked the cream furred she wolf.

"Five." She answered with a grin as he suckled.

"Isn't that too old?"

"Not until their teeth hurt." Another mother replied causing the first to giggle.

"Let's discuss something Aulus." The chieftain placed an arm around the human's shoulders, seeing that he was finished eating. "You did say last night that you were going to Ambrosia, correct?" The brown wolf inquired.

"Yes." Aulus wanted to ask the chief a favor. Extra provisions wouldn't hurt, however, he didn't exactly have anything the tribal wolves would want. Money, coins, and gems, were useless in their culture.

"My daughter wishes to accompany you and see the outside world." Nattuk stated. Beside him, Akul nodded with clear excitement in her amber eyes.

"Pardon me?" Aulus's eyes widemed in mild shock.

"Do you have drink in your ears?" The chief mused and the other wolves chuckled to themselves. "Akul wishes to travel with you to Ambrosia and it will be good for her to see the lands beyond our village and the forests here." The human was about to object but stopped himself.

'She did save me.' Aulus thought to himself. Plus, the wolfess would be a very effective bodyguard from any would be robbers. The cost of feeding her would be minuscule to the benefits. Practically speaking, two are better at surviving a difficult journey than one.

"I hope you agree." Akul added. "We will make a great pair." The pretty naked she wolf's smile was hard to argue against. He couldn't say no to her.

"Alright. You can travel with me if you want, Akul." Aulus agreed. The wolfess jumped up and wagged her tail. A few cheerful barks sounded off, most proudly by Nattuk which startled the human.

"Can we leave soon?" Akul eagerly asked.

"Whenever you're ready." He offered. The wolfess quickly dashed into the large hut he had slept in.

"How long will you two be gone? Is it a long journey?" Ginmei inquired with clasped hands as any worried mother would do.

"It may take a four or five weeks to reach the town I wish to trade at, and another four or five weeks to travel back here."

"So you'll be back during the first weeks of summer, correct?"

"Yes." Aulus nodded. The mottled grey mother wolf's tail wagged. Akul ran back to them from the hut.

"I'm ready!" She barked holding a small satchel in hand. "Should I bring my bow and quiver?"

"That'll be unnecessary." Aulus half grinned. "We shouldn't need to hunt for food during the journey." Akul's head tilted in surprise.

"I'll pack some for you two anyway." Nattuk offered.

"You two look out for each other." Akul's mom gave Aulus a large hug, smothering the human into her shoulder. He returned the embrace and patted her back.

"Don't worry, we will." He reassured her and took a deep breath when she finally let go. Nattuk offered a gentler pat on the back to the, both. The chieftain came back with a fair amount of jerky and cured meats. "Thank you."

"When you return to this area I want you both to visit." He grinned looking at Aulus too.

"You know that we will dad." Akul licked her father's muzzle lovingly.

"I look forward to it, and the many tales you both will bring back." Nattuk smiled and patted her back. "Yahuno, Hextli, and Washanu will accompany you to the forest's edge." He motioned to three young wolves standing by.

"Alright! Let's go." Akul grasped the human's hand and pulled him out of the village.

"Wait! I need my backpack and shirt!" His feet skidded over the ground.

A low fire quietly crackled in the early night. The overwhelming smell of pine and oak had finally left his senses. Aulus had not been harassed since he embarked from the village with Akul two days ago. A small hunting party of three accompanied them to the edge of the forest to see them off before melting back into the trees. Since then they had walked a fair distance and set up camp along the edge of the rural road. Man and wolf were sitting across from each other, having finished a meal together.

"I'm glad that your tribe gave us plenty of food for the next few days." The human licked his lips and savored the taste of succulent venison on his lips.

"My little bag could barely fit it all." Akul grinned.

"Did you bring anything else?"

"Just a few items." She pointed. Aulus opened his backpack to see what she had brought. The wolfess had little in his mind to bring, but she evidently packed something in his belongings. He pulled out a little satchel without a strap to carry it with. "A comb..."

"For my fur."

"A knife." He held up a beautifully crafted antler handle that resembled a snarling wolf and blade made of stone.

"For just about everything." The knife was a universal tool in the tribal world, not to mention travelers in general.

'It looks valuable.' Aulus noted and pulled out a final item. "Leather lace?" He looked at the wolfess quizzically. It wasn't enough to tie up anyone, but the fact that she brought it along made him wonder.

"Oh! That broke off the satchel." She explained.

"We can have this fixed when we reach town." Aulus put it all back.

"I've heard so many tales about towns and living outside of the forests, but I always wanted to know more about them." She dreamily stared at him.

"Your father told me that you have never seen a town or anything outside the forest before. Is this true?"

"Yes. I have never been out of sight from the forests before." Akul admitted with strong hints of excitement in her voice. "I rarely get a chance to see the stars out, but all of the beautiful lights are shining like sunlight!" She looked up at the open sky.

"Wow..." Aulus felt like he was babysitting someone. "Can you manage the long journey?"

"I'm a healthy young wolfess!" She boasted and puffed her chest sitting tall. "I want to see the big world outside of the forests!" The she wolf's smile and optimism were contagious.

"I do not doubt that." He chuckled.

"How many towns will we get to see?" She asked.

"Plenty."

"Is that a lot?" She imagined one village after another along a forest.

"Yes. We have a great distance to travel, and we will see many towns." He told the imaginative wolf. Her tail wagged with excitement.

"Why are you traveling so far?" She curiously asked. Aulus paused for a moment before digging into his pack.

"I trust that you will not tell this to just anyone." He pulled out a modest sack that was clearly full. Akul's head tilted curiously hearing its insides quietly clink together. Aulus carefully pulled out a shiny rock that glistened with the faintest amount of light. "I'm trading a lot of gems where they are most valuable to make a fortune." His eyes glistened as he spoke. The she wolf blinked and wiggled her nose.

"What's so interesting about colorful rocks?" Akul stared across the fire at the human.

"They have a great value on the market."

"My father has told me about those. What can they do that is so valuable?" She curiously asked.

"Depending on where and when I sell it, I can get a lot of money for it."

"Colorful rocks and money valued on a market." Akul tried imagining the spectacle. Somehow it didn't end up in her mind as skinning a deer's hide.

"I forget that villages like yours don't use currency. Think of it as putting a value on anything where the more you want it, the higher the number."

"If you say so..." She scratched her chin in confusion, and looked around the fire for a moment. "So what do you want to do after your big exchange?"

"Hmm." Aulus paused to daydream. "First I want to return to my home in Solstershire. It's two or three days down the road from your village."

"I'd like to visit your home too if you don't mind." Her toothy grin showed a keen interest.

"We can before returning to the village if you want."

"I look forward to it." She laid down. "But what will you do after returning home from my village?"

"Hmm." He paused to think. "I'm not entirely decided yet, but I'd like to live in a large villa by the small river near my home. It's scenic and not far by boat to some lavish towns further south."

"Don't forget to visit my village after you show me your village." She chuckled.

"I won't." He didn't see how he possibly could if she was with him. "What would you like to do after you return home?" He curiously asked.

"I'd tell everyone the tales of what I saw." She smiled.

"Would you want to leave and live somewhere else?"

"Goodness, no." Akul shook her head. "I want to stay... raise a family..." The mottled grey wolfess glanced up at him. "Those things."

"You might change your mind when you see the world."

"I would never want to leave my village and live anywhere else." The wolfess reassured him. Akul reclined on the ground but still faced Aulus. "We should sleep together." She propped herself up on an arm.

"Sleep... Together?" Aulus wondered if he heard her correctly.

"Mmhm." She slowly nodded. "You don't have any fur to stay warm, but I do." She brushed a hand over her chest to her leg.

"Are you trying to seduce me?" He plainly asked. Akul snorted in surprise and nearly rolled onto her back.

"No!" She exclaimed. "I have fur and you don't. We'll be warmer together." Her tender smile didn't lie. Aulus looked at her suspiciously.

'Is she really this impudent?' He thought to himself. "Well, uh. No thanks." He declined and laid down. The wolf's ears fell back briefly.

"Sleep well." She softly spoke.

'Remember Aulus, you're on a journey to make a fortune, not mess around.' The human soberingly told himself as he stared across the dying flames at the beautiful mottled grey wolfess. Her amber eyes watched him closely, even after his eyes closed.

Chapter Two

The afternoon sun shined brightly in the partly cloudy sky above.

"It's very beautiful here." Akul stared out into the rolling meadows bordered by wheat farms. After walking all morning they were almost at Kesslering. Farms and fields gradually replaced the dense deciduous forest bordering the dirt road. Small thatch roofed farmhouses could be seen in the distance too. There would be plenty of wooded areas to cover as they traveled north to Ambrosia though. The country was fairly underdeveloped, but you wouldn't imagine it while visiting a big town or port city.

"Yeah, and it's a lot more open than the forest." Aulus added as they passed a pair of German shepherd farmers. The farmers waved at the pair, but eyed the naked grey wolfess for a moment before returning to work. 'At least they've seen someone from the forests before.' Aulus wondered how regular townspeople would react to seeing a naked female from the tribal forests, especially in the northern towns. "We'll be sleeping under a roof tonight." He grinned seeing a sign ahead.

"Are we near a town?" Akul asked.

"Yes. That sign by the road says that we're one mile from Kesselring." Aulus pointed at the wooden sign as they passed it next. She frowned and wiggled her nose. "What's wrong?"

"I can't read." The wolf pinned her ears back wearing a grumpy look.

"You can't?" It didn't surprise the human the more he thought about it. "I can read for you." He offered. The canine's ears perked back up happily. Another person walked by along the road from town. The skunk farmer stared peculiarly at Akul as they crossed paths. The tribal canine didn't take much notice, but Aulus began to worry.

"He looked like the two we saw in the field." Akul observed. The excitement in her voice certainly found it interesting.

"Yeah. They're all farmers." Aulus explained. "Hey. Do you mind putting something on before we enter town?" He asked.

"Clothes?" She snorted. "What for?"

"To cover yourself up." He looked up at her wearing a frown.

"Of course I mind! I'm a wolf." She proudly declared.

"But it's a town! You know, full of people."

"And I'm a she wolf from a village full of wolves." Akul didn't see any difference.

'Okay. Just act normal, and maybe no one will notice.' Aulus nervously approached the flagstaff and passed through the low palisade styled walls at the edge of town.

"Wow! Look at those tall huts!" She pointed to a three story building and the two story ones nearby.

"They aren't exactly huts Akul. Most are shops with small rooms on the top level, or possibly an inn."

"Small rooms? So there aren't any tents inside?"

"No." Aulus shook his head. 'Oh boy.' He noticed quite a few gawking stares from some of locals they passed.

"Hi!" Akul kindly waved to a leopardess and her son.

"Mommy. She's naked." He pointed a little finger. The mother glared at the tribal she wolf and covered her son's eyes. Nearly everyone's eyes granted a second look at the naked female boldly walking alongside Aulus. The downy white and grey fur helped cover her sex, but that clearly wouldn't be enough for a town.

'Akul would have to be sheared like a sheep to see anything.' He couldn't help but think.

"What are we going to do here?" Akul eagerly looked around the tall buildings. "Are we going inside one to visit a family?"

"Er... Not exactly." Aulus tried calming the bouncy she wolf down. "We're going to an inn."

"What's that?"

"It's a place where you can rent a room to stay at."

"Rent?" Her head tilted in question. The human rubbed his forehead.

"Using something in return for a payment. You don't have to worry about that. I have that taken care of." He led Akul to a one story building. It had a typical stone foundation and a few windows with shutters, but the tribal wolf had never seen anything like it in her life.

"Where's the entrance?" She searched for an opening or a door flap. "All I see is a wall."

"The huts-er buildings don't have open entrances. Most have doors that you open." Aulus demonstrated by grabbing the handle and pulling.

"Wow..." Akul's eyes widened seeing the self created portal reveal a large interior. The front had a desk but beyond that was a modest room with a fireplace and tables for eating.

"Excuse me. We'd like a room for two please." Aulus asked the human behind the desk. Akul patiently stood behind him and gawked at all the furnishings and interior.

"Err um... Two." He tried keeping his gaze down at the books away from the wolfess facing him.

'He's definitely not from around here.' Aulus watched the man fumble with a key.

"Here." He cleared his throat. "Second room on the right." He pointed towards a hall. Akul continued looking around the lobby.

"Come on." He tugged her by the arm. "We have a key."

"This hut is so big!" Akul whispered loudly in Aulus's ear. "And it smells so strange."

"All inns smell strange." He murmured. They passed by two sitting at a table and went down the hallway that connected to over a dozen rooms. Aulus went to their designated room and unlocked the door. The inside was plain and boring to the human, exactly what he paid for, but the wolf didn't seem to think so.

"Wow! It's all wood." Akul traced her hand over the wall and the floor. Her claws clacked over the hard surface. There was a single window, a small nightstand, but one feature caught his attention for the worse.

"One bed." Aulus muttered noticing the single small fixture against the wall. He quickly unpacked a few things while Akul eagerly examined every inch of the meager space. "You can settle in. I'm going to have a word with the desk man." Aulus went back into the hall to the dining room and lobby.

"Is he marrying someone from a tribe?"

"He does not seem to mind showing her off." A murmur from the nearby table about him and Akul caught his ear, but he ignored them. The desk man was lazily looking over a document when he looked up and found Aulus standing in front of him again.

"Is there anything I can do for you sir?" He hastily asked.

"I thought you gave us a room for two? There's one bed." Aulus pointed over his shoulder.

"I'm sorry sir, but our inn isn't very big. I can offer you the room next door so your lady friend may have some proper privacy." He quickly tried striking a deal with the apology.

"Thanks for the offer, but I can't accept." Aulus left the podium in dismay. 'It's just one night Aulus.' He went back down the hall to their room. He opened the old door knob and found the naked backside of a wolfess a few feet away. The human stepped back and held up a hand. "I'm sorry miss-!" Aulus relaxed seeing that it was Akul in their room.

"What?" She turned her head from the window seeing Aulus in the doorway. The human wiped his forehead and held a curse under his tongue.

"Nothing. I thought I was in the wrong room because you looked like you were undressed."

"I'm always undressed." She turned around and reminded him.

"I know." Aulus found the whole situation confusing. "What have you been doing?"

"Looking through the window at all the buildings." Akul sat on the bedside and crossed a leg. "Your kind are very strange about wearing clothing." She tapped her foot paw in the air. "Everyone stares at me as if I was barking mad."

"It's definitely expected."

"Why does everyone wear clothes? I understand you need them for warmth, but except for humans everyone else has fur like me."

"Everyone wears them to be modest." Aulus wasn't sure how to explain something so normal in his life.

"What's so modest about hiding your body? I can't tell if someone is a male or female as easily, and I have an odd feeling that they're hiding something."

"They're hiding their naked bodies."

"Then why do they stare at my body as of they have never seen a female?"

"If you don't want anyone staring at you then wear something." He reasoned.

"I am a wolf and I do not wear clothes. I'm happy with my body." She replied wearing a content grin.

"Then get used to people staring at you. It's only going to get worse the farther north we travel." The wolfess sighed.

"Can we go do something then?"

"Well... What do you want to do?" Aulus hoped that he wouldn't regret asking that question.

"Let's look around the town!" The wolfess jumped to her paws and startled the human.

"We only have the evening to walk around. Do you know of a place that you want to see." He walked into the hall with his half filled pack. Akul thought as she followed him through the lobby.

"You said someone could mend my satchel, correct?" She held up the aforementioned item.

"We will find out." He opened door and led her outside. Aulus led her through town in search of a tanner. Those who spotted them gave second glances to Akul, but otherwise didn't say anything. Thankfully the town was small and not too many of its residents were outside to see the tribal she wolf. Akul was less interested in their reactions, and intrigued with all of the wooden buildings around her.

"What is the building for?"

"This is the Colfalgar Company's headquarters." He pointed to the wide one story building. The doors were closed, indicating that they were closed for business.

"What does that even mean?" Her brow knitted in confusion.

"They're a guild."

"What does that mean?" She didn't understand that either.

"They're a group that specializes in black smithing and acquiring iron ore. A guild doesn't tell their trade secrets or other personal information to the average person."

"Won't someone find out?"

"As long as they do t tell anyone, then they won't lose money." Akul wiggled her nose at the explanation, but resumed looking at buildings.

"What about this one?" She pointed at the next big building.

"This is a courier's office. A courier delivers messages, letters, or small items to wherever you want for a fee."

"Can the courier deliver something back to the village?"

"Not exactly." He scratched his head. "Your village is deep in the woods... Wait. Can your father even read a written message?"

"No."

"Can anyone in your village?"

"No."

"I don't see how this can work." Aulus pointed out.

"The messenger could just tell them what we want to tell them!" She reasoned and walked down the dirt street. The wolfess reminded him of an overly excited kid as she led him around the little town. "What are those?" She pointed over a holding pen. Aulus peered over the wooden railing beside her.

"They're pigs." The large animals were resting in the cooler mud.

"They look tasty." Akul licked her chops. "What's that big hut?" The she wolf looked at the large red building beside them.

"That's a barn. They're used to hold animals." He explained. Akul didn't waste a second to enter the large hay filled space. Aulus followed after hearing a sneeze.

"It smells musty in here." She wrinkled her nose and looked around the area.

"It is a barn." Aulus shrugged. From the appearance, it was probably a place to auction animals or tend to them before butchering. Akul cautiously approached an open stall.

"What about that?" She looked over at the large black and white bovine idly standing, waiting to be milked.

"That's a cow."

"That's a cow?" Akul's amber eyes widened. "I've heard about cows, but I've never seen one!" She approached the large animal. "Eh. I can smell it." She looked over her shoulder and held her nose with a hand.

"Hello." A male's voice from a side entrance greeted the pair. "Is there anything I can help you with?" A thin country cougar walked up to them. The feline's clothes were basic and dirty, and the sandals on his planting race feet were worn. His golden eyes widened noticeably at Akul.

"Hey. Akul just wanted to see your cow if that's alright." Aulus nodded to the she wolf.

"That's fine. Say, you're from one of those hidden villages in the forests aren't you?" The cougar couldn't help himself from looking over her body.

"I am!" She wagged her tail.

"I've seen a few tribal wolves from a distance on my fields a few miles south." He chuckled nervously and waved a hand down towards the road. "But I have never actually met one."

"Well it's nice to meet you." Akul stepped forward and touched noses with him in tribal fashion. "I'm Akul, and he is Aulus." The cougar was clearly flustered as she stepped back.

"My name is Roland. It's certainly a pleasure to meet you both." He sheepishly giggled and approached the cow. Aulus couldn't help but feel a little twinge of jealousy.

"Roland, do you know of a tanner or draper that can mend a leather satchel?" He asked. Roland sat down on a stool beside the cow and paused to think.

"There is an old Border Collie by the name of Cornelius Luck who tans and works leather. His shop is across from the little inn towards the road leading south."

'That's across from where we are staying.' Aulus couldn't believe that he missed it.

"What are you doing?" Akul watched Roland reach under the large bovine.

"Milking the cow." The cougar gently pulled two at a time and milk shot out into the metal pan with a loud hiss. Akul knelt down beside him. "Wow! So you just keep pulling?" The wolfess watched the feline milk the cow.

"Yep." The cougar nodded.

"My friend's mother, Nawaru, used to do the same thing when I was a pup."

"Ah, so the villages in the forests have cows." The farmer presumed.

"No, we don't have cows." Akul surprised him. "Nawaru squeezed her breast here, and a stream would spray out." The wolfess demonstrated by pinching her nipple. The farmer did his best to hide a disturbed expression and continued milking the cow.

'Oh my...' Aulus couldn't even think of a reply to cover her, and rubbed his face with a hand. "Okay Akul, we should leave him to do his work undisturbed." He patted her shoulder. "Thanks for the help Roland."

"Thank you for showing me!" Akul thanked Roland as they left. The feline grinned before returning to his work.

"He was nice." Akul cheerfully thought aloud.

"Yeah. Nice at staring." His comment went right over the she wolf's head. They arrived at the specific building across from the inn. "How did I miss this?" He scratched his head and looked at the large sign with the word 'Tanner' in large painted letters.

"Miss what?" Akul looked around.

"The uh... Sign." He shrugged. The she wolf wrinkled her nose at the letters that she couldn't read. "Let's go in." He opened the door. Inside was a small dusty shop and an old border collie hanging up an apron. Akul's nose wrinkled at the smell before sneezing. "Hello. Are you Cornelius Luck the tanner?"

"We're closed." He answered.

"I'll pay in advance."

"How may I help you sir?" The canine immediately perked up with a smile.

"She needs this mended by tomorrow." Aulus handed over the small bag and lace.

"Sure." Cornelius quickly looked over the item. "I can have it ready early morning for to copper pieces." The border collie's jaws slackened somewhat when he looked up at the naked wolfess.

"Thank you. We will be by to pick it up then." Aulus paid the tiny sum and left with Akul.

"Thanks!" The tribal wolf managed before sneezing again. The tanner watched her grey furred butt exit the store.

"It's just about dark." Aulus said as they reached the front door to the inn. 'Hopefully most will be in bed.' He silently wished. They entered the joined lobby and dining room. There were half a dozen males eating, a typical sight for most inns. Females rarely traveled as far, or as often by themselves. The mix of canines, felines, humans, and others didn't bother lifting their heads at the human and wolfess pair entering. Most were not phased from the sight of a naked wolf in their midst. After all, those staying at the inn were likely readying themselves for fur trapping rabbits and other small prey where contact with tribes was very likely. Aulus motioned to the man behind the desk for something to eat. "Where would you like to sit?" He motioned to Akul. The wolfess scanned the room.

"Over there." She led him to a table near the fireplace. Aulus pulled out a chair for her only to watch her sit on the stone floor surrounding the fire.

"Akul! You don't sit on the floor here. You sit in a chair at a table." He said in a hushed voice. The wolf looked at Aulus peculiarly.

"There?" She pointed at the piece of furniture.

"Yes! This isn't a hut in the forest." He urged her to move. Akul stood up and sat down in the wooden chair. The wolfess clung to the sides at first, fearing that she would slip out.

"It's... Uncomfortable." She admitted with a less than enthusiastic expression. Her nose turned as two hot bowls were delivered to their table.

"Here's dinner."

"What is it?" She sniffed the steaming bowl curiously.

"It's oatmeal. The peasants' delicacy." Aulus half joked and licked up his spoon. The wolfess watched him blow on the hot food before eating a spoonful. She lowered her head and slurped up half of the oatmeal with her tongue alone, like a wild animal. Aulus watched in mild shock as some dripped off her chin. He had to hold back a laugh at the adorable scenario. "Wipe your muzzle." He tossed her a square cloth.

"Why is everyone else here?" She asked. "Are they traveling?"

"More or less, yes." Aulus nodded. "Inns act like temporary homes for people who don't live in the area."

"Oh. So they don't stay in someone else's home?"

"It would be a little odd sleeping under the same roof with a stranger to say the least, not to mention the chance of a robbery occurring."

"That does not happen in my village."

"It can happen in the towns." He stated. The wolfess finished her meal with less enthusiasm. Two coins were paid for the meal, and they retired to their room for the night.

"What an exciting day!" The wolf immediately jumped onto the bed and rolled around several times before resting her head on a pillow.

"You like the bed?" He grinned in amusement.

"It's very nice." Akul laid on her side, clearly enjoying the bed. Aulus kicked his footwear off and partially disrobed. The wolfess expectedly watched him, waiting for the human to join her. "Aren't you sleeping with me?" Akul asked.

"No."

"What's wrong? It's very warm over here." She opened the covers invitingly.

"I know, but there's only one bed."

"Then why aren't you sleeping in it?" The answer seemed obvious to her.

"I... I don't know." He looked away in frustration. He knew Akul was being friendly, but it was having a different effect. "It's just-"

"Just what?" She interrupted. "Just like sitting on that chair while we ate."

"That's not at all the same. Sleeping in bed together is like... having sex." His answer only confused the tribal wolfess.

"What are you talking about? Since when has nudity meant sex?"

"Never." He mumbled the answer that she wanted.

"Right! Never. So come over here and lay down with me." She opened the covers again.

"But... I don't know..." It didn't feel right to the human. Akul's head lowered and her ears fell back at his hesitation. The sad look she gave him changed his mind. "Alright. Just this once so you don't feel lonely." Her ears perked up and tail wagged. Aulus didn't want to argue with her all night, and he certainly didn't want to fork over more funds to sleep in another room. He begrudgingly approached and slid in beside her. The cover draped over his lower body, and his back was immediately greeted by Akul's front. The wolfess scooted forward and pressed against him. The bed was full sized, but with an adult canine by his side it resembled a twin bed. Her bulky furry leg hooked over his own as she snuggled even closer to him. His eyes widened slightly seeing how thick and strong the she wolf's leg was despite being covered in fur. 'She is from the wild forests.' He reminded himself. An arm draped carelessly over his mid section and a paw from down below rubbed against his heel. Aulus found himself wrapped up snugly with the wolfess.

"So, do you like sleeping with me?" She contently smiled at him.

"There's only one bed Akul." He deflected her statement.

"My parents and I sleep on two deerskins together."

"I doubt it's this close." Aulus had a hard time believing that she slept with her parents, entangled limbs and all. The she wolf merely grinned.

"You're a hairy human." She traced over the back of his leg.

"You're the one covered in fur." He moved his leg only for hers to fill the gap. His skin shivered feeling something hard and sharp brush over his side. "Your claws are huge." He cringed seeing a few sharp tips resting on his skin. The wolf didn't say anything and settled in. Aulus stared across the darkening room for a minute. 'Akul is very clingy.' He crossly closed his eyes, but the human's expression softened. 'She is warm.' The cozy heat along his backside and midsection was great in a place with a draft. 'And soft.' He rested a hand on top of hers. Sleep came unexpectedly fast for the human.

Leaves crunched softly underneath a pair of shoes and paws. The sky was thick with grey clouds, promising rain shortly.

"That bed was so soft!" Akul smiled and stretched as they walked through the woods. The pair was more than a mile away from Kesselring in the dense cluster of trees. Branches were constantly pulled aside. The little forest bordered the main river but was separated from the tribal great forest by the town and fields.

"You practically slept on top of me." Aulus pointed out, clearly remembering half of the bed on her side being empty.

"You didn't mind!" She yapped happily. "Besides, the bed was so soft!" The wolfess couldn't keep her muzzle shut about how comfortable the bed was while they walked. "Why are you so glum Aulus? Didn't you sleep well?" The wolfess grinned. It was evident that she slept well!

"We're in a jungle now." He smacked a bunch of leaves out of his path. "It's like we circled back to your forest."

"Hey. The forests I grew up in weren't this dense." She followed him through the thicket. "And best of all, my little pouch is fixed thanks to you." Akul patted the small bag resting alongside her hip with the long leather string hanging on her shoulder.

"Don't thank me. Someone had to fix it."

"Thanks to you! Uh oh." Akul stopped.

"What?" Aulus turned to face the she wolf.

"It's raining. Let's find a large tree." Akul tugged the human along. Within seconds he could hear the sound of raindrops falling through the treetops. The wolf brought him under a big oak tree just as the rain began to pour.

"Thanks. I forget how sensitive everyone's ears are compared to humans." Akul set her little bag aside and shook her body. "I'll have to show you what an umbrella is." He held up a hand as she shook her body free of water.

"What's that?" She asked.

"It's something you hold over your head that's lightweight so rain doesn't fall on you."

"Like a giant leaf?"

"More or less." He nodded and watched the rain fall around them, soaking the ground.

"Why aren't we traveling by road?" Akul asked.

"The road from Kesselring to the next town winds out to the east and then curves back west." Aulus pulled out a rolled piece of paper and showed the wolfess his map. Her amber eyes curiously scanned the funny inked markings and letters.

"Where is it?"

"Here." He pointed. "We're taking this shortcut to go north, all the way to this spot." Aulus traced up to a larger dot towards the top of the map.

"What are the spots?" The canine scanned the paper.

"The dots represent a town or village. A dot with a ring means a city." He pointed at several examples.

"Where is my village on the map?" She looked at the piece of paper for a special kind of dot.

"Right around here." Aulus pointed to a blank space near his home.

"But there's nothing there." She looked at the blank spot on the map denoted solely by the word 'forest' in bold letters.

"That's because so few visit the forests where tribes like yours reside."

"But it still exists." She insisted.

"Many little towns are not placed on maps like these because the entire paper would be covered in dots. Then no one could use it." He explained. "How many tribes are there in the woods?" Aulus asked. "Are they all wolves?"

"Oh there's plenty! The Ahkamsantee, Ketsenma, Arakanhwa..." Akul sounded off a bunch of odd sounding names. "The forests span out very far to the east, southeast, and north." She drew a claw across the parchment. "And the forests around my village are mostly home to wolves, but there are raccoons and mountain lions nearby."

"But I've seen a raccoon before who was definitely not from tribal origin."

"You can tell if they're legs are digitigrade, and someone who is tribal won't be wearing any clothing either."

'I figured that much.' Aulus thought to himself.

"You could be the first person to put all of the villages on a map." She suggested.

"Me?" He looked at her quizzically. "I would need a new blank piece of paper then."

"I trust that you can do it." She grinned and sat down. Aulus looked at his map and wondered if it would be worth making another map. Making a map took time, effort, and especially money. Plus, if he wanted to make an accurate one then it would require some travel through the great forest.

'Maybe if I'm filthy rich.' He stared out into the forest.

"The sound of rain is nice. Relax and enjoy it." Akul interrupted his train of thought and patted the tree trunk's side. Aulus looked down at the ground for a moment before sitting beside her.

There was plenty to listen to as the shower continued for another hour. The human's mind dully wandered. Aulus wished they were back at the inn for the moment. It was dry there despite the occasional lingering eye given to Akul. The wolfess didn't seem to mind their position though, in fact, she appeared to like the rain shower. The more he thought about her, the more a particular question came to mind.

"Okay. I have to ask you something, Akul." Aulus looked over at the wolfess.

"What is it?"

"What happens in your village if a male wolf develops an... erection?" He asked with obvious hesitation.

"Then he has an erection." The naked wolfess shrugged. "It's more common in male wolves when they start maturing, but they go away." Her answer seemed too easy to solve such an embarrassing problem.

"Can't he hide it?"

"It isn't in anyone's way."

"Not in the way? Imagine holding an umbrella out with your arm."

"An umbrella!" She barked a funny laugh. "They're not that big! Everyone else knows to give him a little space. It's not a problem. Why would a wolf hide something that happens naturally?"

"Isn't sex natural?" He challenged.

"That's between two people in a private setting." She calmly answered and leaned back against the tree trunk. "It's not a problem." Akul reiterated.

"Not a problem, huh?" He softly spoke to himself. "So if that happened to me, you wouldn't laugh?" He held up his hand.

"Of course not. You're a male. It's going to happen." She took ahold of his hand and brought it to her knee. The warmth her pads and fur provided reassured him. The human's ensuing silence piqued Akul's curiosity. "Don't tell me everyone outside my village treats it differently."

"Polar opposite." Aulus informed her. "If that happens to a male in public then it's very shameful."

"That's so ridiculous." Akul shook her head. "You didn't act like some of the others in town when you visited the village."

"That's because I know you now," he looked down at their hands with a grin, "and besides, your village saved me from that gang of thugs."

"You saved my brother from a lot of suffering." She warmly smiled. Aulus nodded quietly to himself. The more he thought about it, the more strange it seemed that he was traveling together with a tribal she wolf who held him at spear point. And it was all because he helped someone. His eyes dropped to Akul's white furred front. The snowy white was disheveled and two small breasts on her chest bore thick pink spouts peaking through the furry coat.

"I'll admit that I do stare at you from time to time." He half grinned guiltily.

"I know that." She gave a toothy smile. "But I don't mind if you stare." Her grey ears folded back for a brief moment. Aulus looked away feeling a fuzzy sensation form inside. The mottled grey wolfess returned her content gaze to the rainy wilderness. The human peeked over to his right. It was hard to imagine someone from a completely different lifestyle like Akul living only a few days travel from his hometown of Solstershire. The town even bordered the great forest that hid the tribal wolf village, but there was so little contact despite the distance. Yet, here she was beside him. "It's so beautiful out here." She softly spoke in awe at the forest around them singing with rainfall. Akul clutched his hand tightly.

"Yeah... I guess so." He liked the affectionate gesture. Aulus looked at the naked wolfess sitting beside him. Akul seemed to belong in the forest. Her manner was relaxed and perfectly content among the trees even though it was raining. "Why did you want to travel the world when you enjoy the forests so much?" Aulus asked.

"I wanted to explore the world outside of the forests and villages. I heard so much about towns and other people who lived elsewhere."

"What stopped you from leaving before?"

"No one else wanted to go with me, and I knew people outside of the great forests were very different from us."

"Why did you go with me then?"

"Because you're from outside the woods and visited our village. Besides, you're a nice person who helped my brother." She grinned and rubbed the back of his hand with her thumb. His body warmed at the compliment. Their eyes were locked for an unwavering moment, but the human's ears picked up a rather odd silence.

"It's quiet." He noticed and looked around. A few droplets continued to fall from the branches and leaves, but the humid air was clear of rain.

"The rain stopped." Akul jumped to her paws and held a hand out for her human companion. "Let's keep moving." He gladly grasped her hand and stood up.