Tales of Morveria: The First Encounter by Mantrid_Brizon

Tales of Morveria: The First Encounter

Mantrid_Brizon, Adventure, Anthro, Battle, Blood, Comedy, Drama, Equine, Female, Fight, Fighting, Furry, Horse, Human, Human/Furry, Human/anthro, Interracial, Interspecies, M/F, Male, Mare, Pony, Romance, Series, Stallion, Story, Tales of Morveria, Violence, Violence (Not In Yiff)

In the Tales of Morveria lore it's noted that the Korutan of the horse-kin and pony-kin are exceptionally close to humanity; they enjoy a trust and relationship that is rarely abused or broken, a bond with the humans that many other breeds of beast folk wish they had. I had long wondered why that would be and what would cause that... Well, it's a history that goes back tens of thousands of years, a history of growth in a relationship that's as close as symbiotic as two races can have.

P.S. I hate the title, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't think of something better, something more intriguing and eye-catching but that wouldn't also give away the ending! ;-;

Tales of Morveria: The First Encounter

By Mantrid Brizon

Part 1

Racing through the dead of night, Arak and Kono search for any refuge from the storm. Their path is illuminated only by the light of a waning moon and the occasional bolt of lightning that startles the already frightened Kono. She shrieks at the sight of the terrifying beams, jagged blades that surely bring death if they were to strike them. With a rough grunt, Arak drags the young adult female along, all but carrying her as he pulls her up a steep hill. This is a difficult task for the hunter, who was never the strongest nor the bravest of their kin, but when your life is on the line nearly anything is possible.

A bolt of lightning flashes across the sky, the rain falling harder than river stones from Arak's sling, but as they listen to the flood waters surrounding them, they finally see something that makes their hearts soar. A cave! Surely, this will be their sanctuary, so long as no beasts have taken shelter there. With his spear at the ready, Arak uses his sling to throw a few stones inside. Nothing happens and no creatures emerge. Though also terrified, he knows they cannot stand in the pouring rain all night. He makes his way inside and checks the cave.

“Kono. Come.” He calls out to her.

The dainty female scurries inside, only to find that this cave is very small, hardly big enough for the two of them to escape the rain. The darkness made it appear much larger and more foreboding than it really is. They sit together and share their body heat, unable to build a fire as it would be left in the downpour. As they fight to subdue their shivering, Arak grumbles to himself. Kono can hear him and doesn't say a word, knowing that this is all her fault. They aren't even friends, but in the position which she has placed them in, their very survival depends on their ability to work together.

Her mind wanders back to those fateful decisions, and she wonders if they would be safe with their kin had she done things differently. She might still be with Boru, the strong hunter whom she had hoped would be her mate. She had often sat near him when he was in camp, hoping that he would notice her amongst the other females, and he did. However, just when things seemed to be looking up, their ancestors abandoned them; the herds they depended on migrated unexpectedly, and they had no choice but to leave their homeland to follow them. As soon as they left, they were caught in one catastrophe after the other.

First, a pack of raptors swarmed them at dawn, killing several young ones and injuring a few of the hunters. Then, as they tended to their dead, a lightning storm left the sky perpetually aglow. Their shaman warned that this was the anger of their ancestors for not trusting them and for leaving their homeland so quickly. The lightning caused a wildfire which quickly surrounded their camp. The flames consumed much of their belongings and supplies, as well their pack mules, leaving them with only what they could carry on their backs. Though their chieftain tried to keep them together, many fled into the night, including Kono.

Succumbing to fear, she ran from the flames like a rabbit being chased by the fox, and soon found herself completely lost. When she finally stopped she called out for help and began to cry. She called out again and again until her voice began to strain. She was certain she would die alone in the black abyss of the wilderness. Fortunately, a distant voice called out for her. At first she thought it was Boru. Her heart soared. She called out to the voice and soon her savior came into view. It was Arak, a man she rarely thought of. Though disappointed, she would not turn away the companionship, and followed Arak as he led her back toward their people.

Wind had carried the fire which destroyed their camp, and with the winds also came the rain. Kono became deathly afraid as they were engulfed in the storm and Arak had tried to follow her when she ran, but he too was lost. As the weather turned vile, he admitted being unable to follow his own trail back to their people, many of whom were also likely scattered. Kono's heart raced, and when they stumbled upon a river that rose before their very eyes, she panicked and ran again. She ran in the opposite direction, away from the rising river. She nearly left Arak behind. The hunter was forced to give chase again, easily catching up to her and stopping her.

It was only after he pinned her to that tree and so forcefully demanded that she calm down that she felt herself trusting him, if only a little. She has followed him since then, and now they cower in this cave, fending off the cold with their shivering and wishing the fires would come just close enough to keep them warm throughout the night.

“I'm sorry...” Kono whimpers.

“Huh?”

“I'm sorry. This is my fault.”

“... I forgive you.” Arak murmurs.

“Why?”

“...”

Arak's eyes scan her features, stringy hair clinging to her round face and big, sorrowful eyes which look at him with remorse. He wants to be angry but he simply cannot. When she ran, many of their kin thought to go after her but none did, least of all Boru. He had other, more attractive females to worry about. Arak had often watched Kono from a distance, lacking both the courage and the social status to approach her, but when she fled into the night he didn't hesitate to chase her. The others simply watched as he did so. The only reason he didn't catch her right away was because of the darkness, and having looked into the flames earlier, he couldn't see her, only hearing her cries as she ran further and further away, often changing directions to avoid the inferno.

He reaches out for her, his hand hovering over her face for a moment before brushing her wet hair from her cheek and tucking it behind an ear. Resting his hand on the side of her head, he coaxes her to lay on his shoulder and turns to watch the horizon. His spear lay across his lap, just in case.

“Rest, Kono.”

“Thank you.” The shivering female replies, clinging to him.

It warms him, and not just because of her body heat. Though he tries to remain awake throughout the night, he's comforted by Kono's presence and eventually drifts off to sleep. Some time later, he opens his eyes to find the sun has risen and a warm beam of light reaches just beyond the mouth of the small cave. It caresses their thighs. Their hide moccasins radiate warmth and so he pulls his feet in, bumping Kono and making her slide back. Falling over to one side, she's jolted awake and quickly steadies herself as she yawns.

“Kono?”

“How long did we sleep?” She asks, rubbing her eyes.

“I don't know, but the sun has risen.”

Kono rests a hand on her belly as it begins to growl. She turns to Arak and looks up at him. She doesn't need to say a word, as his own stomach does it for him.

“Oh...” He pauses to allow the cramps to subside. “Let's find food.”

Normally, their people hunt in packs, chasing down prey and throwing spears at them. Sometimes, they might even startle the dumber beasts and make them race over the cliffs near their old village. Hunting alone is very, very dangerous, and females rarely participate. Their smaller bodies and weaker muscles make it a dangerous job, and few would dare suggest future mothers risk their lives when the men can do that for them. Since Arak and Kono are only two, they instead begin to forage and happen upon a collection of white sweet-berries.

They are plentiful, but not enough to sustain them for more than a day. They spend many hours feasting on the berries and picking more for later before using what time they have left to begin their journey. Unfortunately, Arak and the other hunters have never scouted this land before, and so he has no idea where to go. Running throughout the night, he doesn't recognize the landscape in the day; they choose a direction that feels like where their tribe were headed and begin to follow it. The river is their guide, and their lifeline; they lost their water bladders, so keeping to the water's edge is all but required for their survival.

Along the way, they stumble across a small deer drinking by the swollen river, whose waters move swiftly and loudly. The sounds drown out the hunter and his companion, and the wind masks their scent as well. It's almost perfect. They're able to move uncommonly close to the beast, and with a careful throw Arak's spear flies true and kills it in one strike. Kono is elated, almost as much as Arak, who has never slain anything in a single blow before. He hides it well, worried that Kono might distrust him if she thinks that this was anything other than pure skill.

They make camp then and there, and Arak begins to collect firewood while Kono butchers the deer as she'd learned from the other females in their tribe. By the time dusk has settled over them, Arak has already made a fire for them with the fire sticks, and Kono has prepared hot rocks to cook the meat that isn't drying on a scraggly branch. Stringy bits of meat and tendon sizzle, being the morsels she'd scraped from the hide which is now beginning to dry. They cook quickly and only serve to make them hungrier as they wait for the larger pieces of meat to be ready.

As they pick at the small bits and sit beside the warm fire, their backs near a simple lean-to that Arak has made, he cannot help but glance over at her again and again. She doesn't seem to notice at first, how he admires her beauty, but as she uses a stick to push a sizzling chunk of meat toward him, she catches him out of the corner of her eye.

“What?”

“Nothing.” He replies, a little smile on his face.

She feels herself blush, though she doesn't know why. She'd never noticed him before, not like she noticed Boru or even many of the other hunters. In fact, that last time she'd heard Arak's name was because the other hunters were teasing him over how the tip of his spear fell off before he could throw it. The shaft bounced harmlessly off the wildebeest they were hunting. Looking toward him a second time, their eyes lock and she can see the warmth within him.

“I'm glad...” She suddenly begins.

“Hmm?”

“I'm glad that you're here with me.”

“So am I.” He replies.

“Is it true?”

“Is what true?”

“Did the tip of your spear fall off?”

“Well... Nobody's perfect.” He blushes and lets out a nervous chuckle.

Kono giggles, and with that brief dialogue the pair find themselves enjoying a conversation that lasts well into the night. She's surprised by how entertaining he can be, and it's almost a shame when they feed the fire one last time before lying down for the night. As they prepare to sleep, Kono wriggles backward until her backside touches Arak's front. He lifts his head and looks to her, and the stringy-haired female can only blush as she averts her eyes.

“I'm cold.” She lies.

Arak smiles, though he doesn't speak a word. He merely rests a hand on her side before slithering it around her waist and clinging to her as they rest atop a bed of grass with their heads atop their own arms. Sometime during the night, something startles Kono awake. She lifts her head and looks around, seeing the fire dying down. The hairs on the back of her neck stand on end as a low, guttural growl and the heavy thumps of a savage beast seem to slowly circle their camp. She reaches back to Arak and shakes him awake.

“Arak. Wake up. Something is wrong.” She whispers to him.

“I'm sorry. I cannot help it.” Arak blushes, reaching a hand down.

“Huh? No, something else.” She replies, only now feeling him against her backside.

Sitting upright, Arak soon hears the same sounds and swiftly reaches for the wood he'd gathered. Taking some branches with dry leaves attached, he tosses them into the fire before adding several thicker branches. The flames grow strong and the camp glows brighter, illuminating the face of a hideous beast. It's a quill-bear! It stands near their drying meat with its eyes fixated on the branch!

“BACK!!!” Arak shouts.

The beast roars, terrifying Kono and causing her to curl up and back into the corner of the lean-to. Acting fast, Arak pulls out one of the leafy branches, waving the flaming branch at the quill-bear as it begins to circle the campfire, moving towards them. He is only thankful that the beast is small, likely a juvenile. If it was an adult, they wouldn't stand a chance. The quills on the beast's chest stiffen as it prepares to shoot a barb at them, a wound that would certainly kill him without the medicines of their healers. Thinking fast, Arak tosses the flaming branch toward the young quill-bear before pulling out his sling from a leather pouch on his belt.

As the quill-bear backs away from the flames, both distracted and intrigued by the fire, Arak slips a smooth river stone into the sling and stands tall. It swings in circles above his head with an intimidating whoosh, and with a careful flick of his wrist he releases the stone and sends it straight into the forehead of the young quill-bear. Thunk! It rears up and roars, but this roar is shrill and sounds pained. A second stone quickly follows and Kono finds her courage. She picks up Arak's spear and joins him, squatting beside the fire and yelling as she jabs at the air, toward the beast.

Realizing that this will not be an easy meal, the quill-bear soon departs and leaves the noisy, painful creatures alone. With their hearts racing, Arak and Kono set down their weapons and take a moment to recover. When he's gathered his wits about him, Arak builds the fire even higher than before, using most of their remaining wood. He isn't sure how much longer before dawn, but he takes no chances and sits up with Kono, who is too rattled to fall back asleep. They don't speak a word, but she clings to him the way a young girl clings to her father when she's frightened by the wind. Arak sits there, stalwart, and slowly pets her head.

“What will we do if it comes back?” She asks.

“Survive.”

Part 2

Dawn approaches just before their fire burns out. It doesn't take too long, so they must've slept through most of the night. Kono collects the deer's hide and uses it like a sack to collect the meat that has been drying for more than half a day. They eat a hearty meal of the meat that hasn't fully cured before abandoning their camp and following the river. Arak keeps his weapons handy, and when they stop for a drink and to relieve themselves he's sure to gather extra stones for his sling.

“You are very good with the sling.” Kono remarks, walking beside her companion, who carries the sack with one hand and holds his spear in the other.

“Thank you. I practice a lot.” Arak remarks, his eyes scanning the horizon for the quill-bear, and any other threats that may be lurking about.

“Do you use the sling often in the hunt?”

“No. It is not considered a strong weapon, like the spear. I'm... It's not a weapon one should be proficient in.” He rather shamefully admits.

This perplexes Kono, who cannot understand why such a useful tool would go to waste. Arak is certainly skilled with it!

“Will you teach me?” She suddenly asks.

Arak pauses and turns to her, a surprised look on his face. His lips curl into a little smile and he cannot help but chuckle as he nods his head.

“Okay... You might as well become more useful.” He teases her.

“I held the spear!” She retorts with a little giggle.

“And you hold spears very well.” He winks.

“How would you know? Do you hold spears often?” She quips, sticking out her tongue at him.

They share a laugh and find that the tension has suddenly faded. They resume their journey without fear, telling crude jokes and enjoying pointless banter even after night falls. They build a new camp much like the first and enjoy each other's company, confident that the quill-bear isn't following them. With food to spare, they take a day to hunt and Arak shows Kono the use of the sling. Her first attempt sends the stone flying far to the left, while the other sends it right back at him. He ducks just in time, and though many would be frustrated with her, Arak seems to possess a deep well of patience.

By the end of their session she has greatly improved, though she is nowhere near as proficient as him. That would take her years. Returning to camp, Arak takes a portion of the deer's hide, cutting it away with his small stone dagger before fashioning a matching sling for her to use. He finishes just as it's time to sleep. The following day they continue their journey, both of them now armed with slings while Arak continues to carry his spear. They stop to forage and hunt when they can, but they are never as lucky as they were when they stumbled upon the young deer. Thankfully, the deer's bladder can store more water, which they also carry with them. Drinking water helps keep hunger at bay.

When their food begins to run out and the river becomes a thin stream, Kono begins to worry. Arak never shies away from sharing his food with her. She never takes food from him though, knowing he needs his strength to hunt and to protect her, but the fact that he would even consider it is a startling display. Would Boru have done the same? Late one night, after a meager meal containing foraged berries and the last of their dried venison, Kono lay beside the fire with her back against Arak's chest. Her fingertips gently caress his forearm as she looks into the flames, her mind wandering.

“Arak?” She suddenly begins, turning her head and looking back at him.

“Hmm?” He grunts a reply, his eyes closed as he holds her.

“Would you-?” She pauses.

Arak opens his eyes and looks to her, perplexed by what she might ask of him so late in the night. Kono begins to tremble, a nervous knot forming in the pit of her stomach. To her knowledge, no female of their tribe has ever asked a male to mate. She'd be the first. If he is truly interested, he should be asking her! However, Kono has waited several days and Arak hasn't made the overture; she's becoming impatient. Rolling onto her back, she rests a hand on her chest as her eyes look him up and down.

“Would you like to m-”

“AAAAGGHH!!!” A shriek in the night causes them to jolt.

Arak bolts up and grabs his spear, shaking his head to banish the grogginess as he looks around the flames and toward the source of the sound. Kono moves much slower, more frustrated about the interruption than anything. A vicious growl precedes another shriek, which is suddenly and violently muffled. That wasn't an animal; it sounded like two people fighting! Are they close to their kin? Are they in trouble?! Rising to her feet, Kono picks up her sling and a small handful of stones, eager to do her part, while Arak leads them into the night, abandoning their camp.

“Shh. Move quietly.” He whispers to her, taking her deeper into the woods.

Kono's heart races as she feels the anxiety and the excitement. If they find their people, they might save them from whatever is attacking them, and then perhaps she and Arak can resume their moment in the comfort and safety of a villain hut.

“We're getting closer. Look.” Arak whispers, pointing to a faint glow in the distance.

It's the unmistakable light of a fire, though not a raging inferno; the uniformity and size of the glow tells them that this is a well-maintained campfire. Moving closer and closer, they can hear the savage grunts, and also the faint whimpers. Peeking over a minuscule hill, their eyes widen at the shocking sight. This is not their kin! They have no idea what these creatures are!

“A-Arak?” A terrified Kono whispers.

He holds up a hand to silence her, unsure of how strong their hearing is. Though he does his best to appear strong, for her sake as much as his own, he can feel himself fighting back a tremble. Two hulking beasts sit curled into a ball, right before a small and crackling fire. The light just barely illuminates them, washing over one side while the side which faces them is cloaked in darkness. It soon becomes apparent that these strange creatures share their form, possessing two arms and two legs, with a torso and a head, and even hair. However, that's where the similarities end...

They can see ears, which stand atop their heads like the beasts of the forest! One clearly has a snout. This same creature also has a tail that swishes and sways. It has many strands of hair, like those of the wild horse, the four-legged beasts that are most difficult to tame. The sturdy looking creature has long and strong legs with unusual ankles that lead to a pair of large hooves. They are not split like goats or sheep. What are these creatures?! At first, neither Kono nor Arak are certain what they're witnessing, until one of the two creatures straightens its body. No longer looming over the other, they can see that the submissive creature has a sleeker form, with two breasts in the same position as Kono's; the male was clinging to them.

“Mm-mmhmmph!” The female whimpers, pushed forward by the other.

As the male straightens his back and lets out a peculiar groan, they begin to see the sturdy reeds, which are too strong for them to tear and often difficult to even cut; they're being used as cordage to bind the female! Forced onto her forearms and knees, the green stalks are bent and tied around her wrists, ankles and also her muzzle, keeping her mouth shut. Her ears fold back like a submissive wolf and her head is bowed, resting atop her hands which squeeze clumps of dirt. Kneeling behind her, the male grunts and snorts like a beast would when enjoying the splendor of mating, holding tightly to her hips as he repeatedly rams his manhood deep inside of her with no consideration for her body.

Now realizing that they're witnessing the brutal sexual assault of a female of some strange and potentially dangerous race, Arak begins to back away slowly. Kono, however, feels an anger rising within her. Males can be aggressive, and the strongest should mate instead of the weakest, but to go to these lengths?! Perhaps the female would've lost the fight and endured mating anyway, but to tie her up like a hunter's kill... This seems wrong, and a part of her wishes to defend the strange female, even if she is not one of her kin.

“STOP!!!”

Part 3

“STOP!!!” Kono shouts again, standing tall.

Arak's heart sinks. What is she doing?! Does she not see how big and muscular these creatures are?! The male ceases mid-thrust and his head swiftly turns toward the voice. His eyes glow eerily in the darkness, like the predators that stalk in the dead of night. He places his hands onto the female's buttocks and pushes her forward and down to the ground as he pulls his manhood out of her, coldly shoving the female and making her lie flat as he rises to his hooves. Kono is briefly stunned by his sheer size, as well as his glistening organ which stands proudly between his legs. She has seen the wild horses mate, and his is similar in both size and shape.

“S-stop, now!” A frightened Kono once again demands, her voice already quivering.

The towering, two-legged beast tilts his head to one side as he examines the strange creature who has so rudely interrupted his mating. With a squeaky voice and a slender frame, the bizarre creature, who is obviously female, is not very physically imposing. Suddenly, a second creature springs out of the darkness! This one is a male, but he also isn't very large. Though he stands atop a little hill and holds a pointy stick, the top of his head is barely level with his shoulders! When standing on even ground, these furless creatures with no snouts or tails or ears atop their head might not even be capable of reaching up to slap his cheek!

“What are you doing, Kono?! Have you lost your mind?!” Arak quietly scolds her, holding his spear at the ready.

“I'm sorry, but I could not let him use her body when she cannot even fight back. Using cordage to bind her is unfair.” Kono retorts, without a hint of remorse in her voice.

“Fair?! Who cares about fair! This thing looks like it could blow us away with one sneeze!”

“We can manage.”

“WE?!?!” A stunned Arak briefly glances back at her.

The two-legged beast's ears twitch as he looks between them. Their language is so strange and sounds quite complex! Who are these little creatures that wear the skins of animals? Why do they even bother to cover themselves at all, and not simply walk the land in only their own skin, as his kin do? The beast's eyes scan the two creatures before focusing on the female. His curiosity is piqued. Is she like the females of his own kin or does she lay eggs like the birds? She is almost as small as a bird, but she has breasts, so probably not. Surely, her companion, as small as he is, could not put up much of a fight. He begins to approach, his hooves making heavy thumps as he steps closer and closer...

“What did you get me into...” Arak mutters, moving between Kono and the two-legged beast. “BACK!!! STAY BACK!!!”

The beast man doesn't flinch or even slow his pace. As Arak takes a jab with his spear, the beast man reaches out for it and finds a shard of stone at the end. It cuts his palm. He recoils in pain, looks at his hand and then the diminutive male who has the audacity to injure him. With a savage grunt, he lunges at Arak, who tries to thrust once again. Seeing this coming, the beast man pushes the shaft of the spear aside, turning Arak's whole body with the force. He then tackles him to the ground with such ease that it almost makes him laugh. Arak can hardly move under the bulk of the creature! He's so strong!

“Stop! Let him go!” Kono cries out.

The towering horse-man rises to his hooves, picking Arak up like a child before heaving him into the darkness with little effort. Arak cries out as he flies backward before landing into a thorny bush. Kono stands in terror. It takes her a moment to remember her sling. She tries to ready the weapon but before she can even swing it once, the beast man has grabbed her! He picks her up by the armpits as though she were a child and brings her closer. Her feet swing in the air as he gazes into her eyes before looking her up and down. He stares at her chest which is covered by her animal skin tunic, then drops her to the ground.

She rolls back under momentum and tries to find her sling, though she knows in the back of her mind that it won't be of any use if she doesn't have enough distance between them. Before she can grab the strings, the two-legged horse man grabs her tunic but not her flesh. He yanks, lifting it off her head and exposing her body. He's so strong; her whole body is moved like a young child being carried by their father! She shrieks and tries to crawl away, only to be grabbed by her legs and dragged back toward the beast man. He pushes her face into the ground while lifting up her hips. She cannot hope to fight back, pinned down by his arms as if they were the trunks of fallen trees.

Kono jolts as something warm and heavy suddenly slaps her lower back before slithering down and resting atop her buttocks. It feels a little wet, and her eyes grow wide when she realizes what it is. It's his penis! She turns her head and looks toward the beast woman lying beside her, a little more than arm's reach away. She looks back at Kono and fidgets, twisting her bindings but failing to escape. She is equally helpless, and will not be able to save her. The look in her eyes is almost apologetic, and conveys a simple message: “I'm sorry. You should've ran...”

“PLEASE!!! STOP!!!” Kono screams.

The beast man chuckles as he drags his flesh against her behind, and the young woman can only close her eyes and wince, knowing that she will not only endure the pain of losing her precious virginity, but also the pain of being violated by the two-legged beast with his frighteningly large endowment. She feels his tip caressing her womanhood. He begins to push. Her folds spread apart.

“NOOO!!!”

As Kono fails to even wriggle away, she feels the horse-man's penis pressing against her nether lips and easing its way inside. His tip feels the warmth of her loins. However, before it can push any deeper, a whoosh and a thunk makes the beast man stop. Kono looks to the left and to the right and sees a bloodied stone rolling across the ground. She turns her head to glance back at her assailant and sees a trickle of blood running down from his forehead and over his equine muzzle. With a pained groan, his hands release her hips and he flops backward, landing atop the ground with a hard thud. She looks around to see where the stone came from, only to find a bloodied Arak, covered in thorns and holding his sling as he stands at the edge of the fire's light.

“Yeah... Not so tough now, are you?!” He croaks before stumbling toward her.

PART 4

Kono jumps to her feet and races toward him, the blood from the beast man's cut palm smeared on one hip and buttocks. She throws her arms around Arak, clinging to him and shivering. She's so thankful for his help that she doesn't even care that she's nearly naked, only wearing her moccasins and hide leggings. Arak first comforts Kono, whispering to her that she is okay. As she gives him a squeeze, Arak turns to the beast woman and pauses, but it only takes him a moment to wrestle with his conscience before deciding to act. He pulls away from Kono and heads for the two-legged mare, drops to his knees and pulls off the reeds that hold her jaw shut, then begins to untie her wrists.

“Yii pa'zhii! Yii pa'zhii uch!” She proclaims in a language he doesn't comprehend.

“What now?” Kono asks, wiping off the beast man's blood before pulling on her tunic.

“I don't know. This was your quest...” Arak looks to the beast man who lies motionless on the ground, his manhood hanging to one side and swaying like an arm that has fallen asleep. “Is he dead?”

“I don't know.”

“Check.”

“WHA-?!

Arak looks to her and nods, holding up his sling which already carries another stone. He begins to swing it slowly, keeping the stone nestled in the flap.

“… Fine...” A stunned Kono begrudgingly agrees.

She sheepishly approaches the beast man and pokes his face with her foot. Nothing happens. She does it again, this time with more force. His head rolls like his neck was broken. She squats down and rests three fingers along the side of his thick neck and feels a strong pulse.

“He's alive.”

“Hmm... Fine. Let's go.”

“Go?!” Kono turns to him.

“Yes. As in walk away.” Arak turns to her and glares, visibly upset by this whole turn-of-events.

“What if he follows us?”

“Then maybe we should- Ouch!” He stops mid-sentence and turns to the beast woman, who stands beside him and gently plucks thorny branches from his arm. She looks to him and bows her head as if to apologize, then continues. “Maybe we should tie him up?”

“With those reeds?! Will they hold him?!”

“They held her.” Arak looks at the towering horse woman, who continues to gingerly remove the thorns from his skin.

“But how did he use the reeds? They are too strong to rip and so hard to cut, but he used them as cord!” Kono points out.

“Look. I see roots. He didn't tear the reed, he pulled them from the riverbed.” Arak points out. “Or we could kill him right now, while he's asleep.”

“Okay!” Kono chirps.

Kono approaches Arak and he hands her his stone dagger. She returns to the unconscious beast man and kneels beside his head, rests a hand atop his snout and then raises the knife high. Realizing that they are about to murder the wounded and unconscious horse man, the female suddenly rushes Kono and swipes the blade away.

“What the-?!”

“Na! Na u'va! Ohn moy brah'va!” The beast woman sternly commands.

“... Never mind, then.” Arak remarks, as a stunned Kono turns to him.

He approaches the beast woman and holds out his hand, silently demanding his knife. Though she stands more than two heads taller than him, so tall that his head could nestle comfortably between her ample chest, she surrenders the knife without hesitation or complaint. He sheaths the blade in the hide pouch and looks at the beast man, then turns back to the female. She tilts her head to one side, trying to discern his meaning. It isn't until Arak holds up the reed stalks and points to a particularly slender tree that she finally understands.

With little options left, Arak and a frustrated Kono bind the beast man, after the female helps drag his bulky body over to the slender tree. She's remarkably strong! If the mare is this strong, how much stronger could the stallion be?! With his hands pulled behind his back and his hooves bound at the ankles, they can only hope he is no longer a threat to anyone. To be safe, they used two reeds to bind his wrists and leave his muzzle untied. For some reason, the mare took a patch of moss and a leaf, and pressed it into her assailant's palm; she tends to his wound. Arak was eager to leave, but the moment he and Kono began walking away the horse woman followed.

“Is she a pet now? Like the village wolves?” Kono asks as she glances to Arak.

“I don't know, but she's certainly useful.”

“Could we figure out a way to make her put on clothes?” Kono winces, glancing back at the beast woman's bouncing chest.

“We could give her yours.” Arak teases.

Though she wants to feel insulted, Kono cannot help but blush. Despite what she's just been through, her interest in Arak hasn't faded, and his most recent act of heroism only makes her burn for him even more. Upon returning to their camp, they prepare to sleep for the night but the beast woman seems anxious. She sits with them but looks toward the stallion's camp again and again.

“Pas'niya” She suddenly says.

“What?”

“Ohn ahd'nii. Uch lii'neda. Pas'niya.”

“I wonder if we can teach her to speak our language?” Kono remarks.

“I think she wants us to go back.” Arak taps a finger against his chin, watching the beast woman.

“Why?!”

“I don't know. Why don't you ask her.” He quips.

“...”

“Hmm... Maybe we should.”

“Are you serious?!”

“He's tied up, Kono. He won't hurt you again. I'll kill him if he tries.” Arak assures her.

“Fine...” Kono crosses her arms and pouts. “Lead the way...”

They pack up their camp and make their way back with what little supplies they have. By the time they return to the other camp, the beast man's fire has nearly burned out; the female quickly drops down to her hands and knees and blows the embers into small flames. As soon as the fire is revived, she adds dried leaves and twigs to it, giving it strength so that it can consume one of the many large logs the male had collected ahead of time. As the fire grows bigger, Arak glances over to her and pauses, finding himself staring at her backside as her tail sways over it. Kono turns to ask Arak a question but sees his intense gaze.

“Grr...” She glares at both Arak and the two-legged mare.

“HMM?! Did you say something?!” He turns to her, his eyes still wide.

“No...”

“Oh... Uhm... Let's make camp.” He quickly instructs, snapping out of his little trance.

“Right...” Kono grumbles.

“Sa'diit!” The beast woman turns to them.

“What did she say?” Arak asks.

“I don't know! Stop asking me that!” Kono growls.

“Are you okay?” Arak furls his brow.

“... Yeah...” Kono mutters, leaning against a tree and watching the fire.

“Sa'diit! Sa'diit! Ye'da!” The beast woman urges him.

She grabs Arak's wrist and tugs. She's so strong that she nearly sweeps him off his feet and pulls his arm from the socket!

“Ahh!”

“Prot'siya” She bashfully bows her head, letting him go.

“Ahem... Lead the way.” Arak motions with his head, a hand rubbing his shoulder.

He follows the beast woman into the forest for a short distance before coming across a cache buried in the ground. Wrapped in many leaves, it is many pounds of berries and edible plants. Perhaps it's merely a snack to these creatures, as big and strong as they are, but for he and Kono it's several days worth of food! With the beast woman's help, they bring the cache back to camp and lay it out by the fire. The sight of the food makes Kono soften, though she still dislikes the two-legged mare and resents her presence more with every passing moment.

The beast man remains unconscious, leaning against the tree trunk with his arms behind his back and his head leaning backward and to one side. With his mouth agape, he snores and drools a little. Arak sits near Kono with his recovered spear across his lap and dealing with the occasional bump as the beast woman leans against him. She remains very close to him ever since he released her and whenever he looks at her she gazes into his eyes and sometimes bats her big eyelashes at him. It makes him blush every time. Suddenly, he has a thought.

“What's your name?” He asks her.

“Do you think they have names?” Kono raises an eyebrow and glances at the unconscious beast man.

“We do... What's your name?” He asks the mare again.

“Ka'yiit?” The beast woman replies.

“That sounded like a question... I don't think she understands me.” Arak thinks aloud.

“Wow! What a surprise!” Kono feigns shock and rolls her eyes.

“Arak... Arak.” He rests a hand on his chest. “Kono...” He points to her.

“Koh-no?” The beast woman slowly repeats, to their surprise.

“Yes!”

“Ah-rahk?” She looks to him.

“Yes! Yes! Arak!” He rests his hand on his chest, then reaches out and pokes hers.

“... Lo-kah.” She finally replies, staring down at his hand.

“Loka?!”

“Zhe” She nods.

“Zhe. That must mean 'yes.'” Arak thinks aloud again. “Hmm... Let's try something... Loka?” He points to the unconscious male.

“Na.” The horse woman shakes her head. “Loka.” She rests a hand on her chest. “Miiro.” She then points to the male.

“Mee-row?”

“Zhe.” She smiles and nods.

“'Zhe' and 'Na.' That's a good start.” He murmurs. “I wish I knew how to say 'thanks!'” He chuckles.

Arak points between himself and Kono.

“Human... Human...”

Loka tilts her head and her eyes follow his hand. It seems to take her a moment to comprehend his meaning.

“Hoo-mahn?” Loka asks, imitating his hand gesture.

“Na. Hew-mahn.”

“Hew-mahn?” Loka tries again.

“Zhe!” Arak nods his head, to Loka's visible surprise.

“Korutan.” She motions between herself and Miiro.

“Koh-roo-tahn?”

“Zhe.”

Eager to learn more, Arak points to the fire. Loka remains in a moment of shock, surprised by how swiftly these “humans” learn. She then speaks the word for “fire.”

“Po'zhar.”

“'Po'zhar' means fire. Good!”

“What are you doing?” Kono grumbles.

“Learning.” Arak replies, staring at Loka with curiosity.

“Why?”

“How do you think we learned to make fire if our ancestors didn't try rubbing two sticks together? These creatures are intelligent enough to speak. We shouldn't disregard them. They could be useful.” He replies.

“I see...” Kono murmurs, staring jealously at Loka's plump breasts.

As Arak scoffs at the mere question, Kono cannot help but feel slighted and turns her back on him while Arak and Loka spend the next several hours feeding the fire and sharing words. Loka never seems to grasp the concept of their language, as if something was preventing her from retaining the information. She remembers their names but forgets words shortly after he teaches her, however, Arak and a mostly disinterested Kono are able to learn her language with relative ease. It leaves Loka stunned and even a bit nervous being around such cunning and dangerous creatures. Suddenly, Miiro grumbles and stirs. He closes his mouth, sucks in the drool alongside his mouth and blinks as he looks around.

“Ka'yiit pru'hodos?” He asks.

Loka doesn't answer him and neither Arak nor Kono understand the second word. Realizing his state, Miiro fidgets with his bindings, trying to break free.

“Ot'sa'na, Miiro.” Arak warns him, swiftly gaining his attention.

The two-legged stallion stops and looks down at the puny little creature who so rudely interrupted his mating with a rock to the skull. He furls his brow and then tries to use brute force to tear the reeds, even though he knows they are fresh and strong. He can feel two reeds around his wrists, but that doesn't deter him. He is the tallest, the strongest, and certainly the most endowed! His two stones are filled with the better seed, and so much more of it; he should pour it inside of both females to start his new tribe! He grunts and grits his teeth as he strains against the strong reeds, trying to break his bindings so that he can assert his dominance.

“Ot'sa'na, brah'va.” Loka warns.

“'Brah'va.' I wonder what that word means.” Kono remarks, looking to Arak.

“Ah'nikh na zihl'niiy na'ko ah'nikh umii. Tii na donih'sa.” Loka assures him.

“Yii donih'sa... Nngh. Yii zihl'niiy! Yii stahl'viit'sya bei'gai, nngh, il za'tem. Yii rav'niiya tii oda!” Miiro fights with his bindings, looking between Loka and Kono.

Hearing a little crunch, Arak acts fast. He takes up his spear, leans back and throws it at Miiro's face, pinning it to the trunk of the tree right beside his head in a stunning display of accuracy. It was meant for Kono as much as Miiro, who's wide eyes look at the swaying shaft and the intricately chipped stone right beside his head. Rising from his place beside the fire, Arak approaches Miiro, grabs the shaft and pulls, snapping off the tip of his spear.

“HAH! Zlo'nat.” Miiro snickers.

Unwilling to take what he thinks is an insult from the beast man, Arak bonks him on the head with the shaft of his spear before casually returning to his spot and sitting down. Loka cozies up to him all over again, to Kono's quiet frustration. Miiro is left shocked when Arak retrieves a spare stone from a hide satchel and repairs his spear within moments, tying it with a little cord he's never seen before! Now even more desperate to escape, he fights even harder. Arak sighs in growing frustration and takes up his sling.

“Vi'gaht” He motions to Loka, who moves back as instructed.

Miiro pauses, his eyes wide as he watches the stone in the hide flap spinning above the little creature's head. It makes a terrifying whoosh! Arak lets the stone fly, not putting much power behind it, and sends the rock flying right into one of Miiro's large testicles.

“OOF!!! Nnnnnhh...” Miiro winces and pulls in his legs, bulging his testicles over his thighs and making them even easier targets.

“Ot'sa'na.” Arak warns him again to stop, putting another rock in his sling.

Unable to speak through the pain, Miiro merely nods his head.

“Good.” Arak grins, glancing over to Kono. “I think we're getting somewhere!”

“I hope so...” She murmurs, staring apprehensively at the two-legged stallion.

Bound and helpless, Miiro is forced to sit and watch as Loka teaches the two humans their language. “Arak” and “Kono” are indeed clever, but it isn't until they begin to reveal their skills that Miiro is truly impressed. Sometime during the night, Kono uses a stick coated in resin to carry fire! She uses this “torch” to retrieve water from the nearby stream, carrying it in an animal's bladder! Meanwhile, Arak uses carefully selected rocks to shape other rocks into blades, chipping them against his own leg. He then produces a tool that he claims can make fire without lightning! It's nothing more than a short stick and a flat board, but Arak is very confident. It makes Miiro believe him.

Miiro has been keeping the fire ever since lightning struck the branches; he's fed it for days. If they can create it then these creatures are very clever, indeed. Mid-way through the night he has decided to do as Loka has done and stops fighting. She is right; Arak and Kono are not big or strong like them, but they are very smart, and intelligence is also a strength. As soon as he begins to cooperate, Arak shows mercy and rewards him with food and water. Though Loka had asked, and Arak understood, she was unwilling to feed him herself after what Miiro had done to her, nor was Kono up to the task. Arak did it himself.

It did not seem like a moment of weakness, as Arak remained steadfast and looked upon Miiro with caution the entire time, even as the bipedal stallion cooperated. Perhaps if he remains good, these smart little creatures can benefit them? Miiro becomes increasingly curious. As they all begin to sleep, the well-fed and tall fire keep the beasts at bay. Arak lies down near Kono. However, Loka also wishes to sleep beside him, and so Arak finds himself with Kono on one side and Loka pressed firmly against the other. She even tries to cuddle with him, as he had been doing with Kono.

It culminates in Kono being wrapped in Arak's embrace, while Arak and Kono are both wrapped in Loka's embrace. The mare's long arms and large hands hang over Kono's body, making her feel very uncomfortable. Meanwhile, Arak also feels odd being enveloped in the mare's arms, and so he gently moves her arm away. Loka doesn't appear to be offended, though she does lift her head and looks him up and down. Arak rolls away from Kono, curious as to what Loka is doing, worried that he may have upset her. As big as she is, that could prove to be a fatal mistake. The mare sits up and looks past Arak and right at Kono, who has only just begun to sleep. Suddenly, she says a word.

“So'vo?”

“So'vo? I haven't heard that one yet.” He murmurs to himself, trying not to disturb the sleeping Kono.

“Zhe. Tii il yii, so'vo?” She quietly asks again.

Loka rolls over, presenting him with her back. Arak gently pulls away from Kono, who doesn't awaken; her ordeal has left her even more exhausted then their already arduous journey. He sits up and scratches his head, thoroughly confused. He looks the two-legged mare up and down, wondering what this Korutan intends for him. After a brief but awkward moment of quiet, Loka peers over her shoulder at him. She realizes that he doesn't understand and so her tail suddenly moves aside; she flings the hairs over her thigh and reveals her loins to him. Arak's eyes widen as a particular through creeps in from the depths of his mind. He quickly shakes his head. This cannot mean what he thinks it means.

“So'vo.” She speaks softly, resting a hand on her buttocks and spreading herself for him, showing him her womanhood in all it's splendor. “Mmm, so'vo.”

Arak gulps and slowly turns his head to look back at the sleeping Kono. He has been so protective of her and yet she has not made such an overture, though it also isn't common practice among their people for females to be the sexual aggressor. Clearly, these “Korutan” are different in more ways than one. He returns his attention to the large and powerful horse woman, thinking of a way to extricate himself from this very intriguing but also unsettling predicament he's found himself in.

“... Spei'ta?” He chokes out, hoping a mistranslation will save him.

Now appearing somewhat frustrated, Loka sits up and turns to him. She shakes her head, then leans over and reaches down. Before he realizes it, she has lifted his tunic, exposed his manhood, and pushed it into her mouth! He gasps and falls back, catching himself with both hands as he feels her tasting his flesh. Loka's lips and tongue make wet sounds as the air slips past her lips as she bobs her head up and down. Her wriggling tongue awakens him faster than he could've ever imagined possible. Within seconds, his manhood is ready to perform. He reaches down to stop her, but a shaking hand merely pats her head. He's too fearful of her strength to try shoving her off him.

Arak is paralyzed. He's frozen in place, partly from shock and disbelief, partly from fear of Loka's size and strength, and partly with a growing desire... The latter feels so unnatural to him, watching this humanoid beast tending to his genitalia, and yet the beast within him demands he conquer her, as he would a prospective female of his own tribe. After taking the time to awaken him, Loka takes her mouth from his member and pushes him gently onto his back. His elbows buckle from the force. She throws a leg over him, her hoof nearly kicking Kono is the backside. As the two-legged mare straddles him, he can feel the heat of her loins touching his masculine organ!

“Mmm, so'vo. Zhu'sa.” Loka begs him.

“N-na, so'vo. Spei'ta!” He exclaims, asking her to sleep as he becomes increasingly afraid of her brute strength.

Kono grumbles, awoken by their volume.

“So'vo!” Loka whimpers, grinding her flesh against his and waiting for permission. “Zhu'sa, so'vo!”

“Ot'sa'na...” Arak chokes out, his willpower waning like the sun at dusk.

“Are you okay?” Kono groggily begins, lifting her head and rubbing her tired eyes. “What's going o-? … Oh...” She looks back, only to see a most disturbing sight.

“This isn't what you think!” Arak exclaims, looking to the stunned Kono.

“Na so'vo?!” Loka whimpers, obviously disappointed as she finally climbs off him, revealing his firm manhood and her glistening loins for Kono to see.

“Uh-huh...” Kono blinks, her eyebrows furled as her eyes narrow in anger.

“Sh-she was teaching me and-!”

“Teaching you what? How to mate?!” Kono snaps.

Miiro awakens, lifting up his head and blinking at the startling sight. Why does Arak's manhood look wet and why is it firm? Why is Kono scooting away from him? Why does she sound so angry, and why does Loka look upset?

“No, she was just-!”

“I don't care! You aren't my mate!” Kono shouts, fighting back the quiver in her voice. “You can breed her for all I care!!!”

“It's not like that... I didn't want to, but she-!”

“Do what you want! Good night...” Kono grumbles, rolling over and closing her eyes as she tries to ignore the pain in her heart.

“... Kono?” He sheepishly calls out to her.

“GOOD! NIGHT!”

Arak sits in stunned silence, his mind trying to wrap itself around all that's just happened in the last few hours. He glances over at Miiro who raises an eyebrow, equally confused. A large and strong arm slithers around Arak's waist like a boa constrictor. It pulls at him. It's Loka, eager to cuddle in spite of his rejection. The moment Arak looks down at her and their eyes meet, a little smile spreads across the mare's face, curling at the corners of her muzzle. Miiro sees this and suddenly appears to understand everything. His eyebrows raise in surprise as a little smirk spreads across the stallion's face.

“Spei'ta.” Loka whimpers, tugging at him and begging for cuddles.

“Great...”

Arak lies back and is swiftly ensnared by the bipedal mare. She holds him tight; he couldn't escape from her even if he wanted to. As she rests her chin atop his head, clinging to him like a child clings to their straw doll, he turns his head to look at Kono. He cannot see her face, but he can tell she isn't sleeping... What was that sound? … Is she crying?!

PART 5

The next morning is as uncomfortable and confusing as Arak was expecting. He awakens to find Kono sitting upright and tending to the fire. He tries to sit up but Loka still clings to him. She snores faintly, and when he tries to wriggle free her arms instinctively tighten, keeping him trapped. Kono looks back and glares. They don't speak much; Arak merely asks Kono to wake Loka so that he can be freed. However, Kono is convinced that he intends to mate with Loka and says as much.

“Wake your new mate yourself...” She grumbles. “Why would you even want my help? You obviously don't desire me anymore, if you ever did at all.” She pouts.

Arak is stunned, as neither of those accusations are true. He turns to Miiro, who remains bound to the tree. He's already awake, watching as Arak first tries to slither from Loka's grasp before finally turning around in her arms and trying to wake her up. Loka fidgets as he tickles her waist. It's all he can do as she clings to him and keeps his arms pinned to his sides. With a very feminine giggle, Loka awakens and releases the smaller male, before tending to her duties. Meanwhile, Arak hastily tries to console Kono before doing the same for Loka.

“It isn't what you think, Kono...” He says, kneeling beside her as she cooks their food over the fire. “She said a word and I wanted to know what it meant.”

“And is that why your manhood was inside of her when I woke up?”

“It wasn't insi-”

“It was awake and wet when I woke up! I saw! Did I not see that?!” She snaps at him.

“No! … Yes... I mean-! … I tried to learn the word, and when I didn't understand she showed me.”

“And I'm sure you were very eager to learn, weren't you?!” Kono growls as she glares at him.

“No. She is very large and powerful.”

“Yes, her breasts are very big and her vagina probably felt very nice!” Kono shouts.

“She's very strong, Kono! I couldn't fight her!” He retorts.

“Would you have even wanted to?”

“I don't want her! I want you, Kono! I want you to be my mate!”

“Well... You're just a hunter, and not a very good one...” Kono snaps back. “I hope that Boru is still alive when you finally take me back to our people! I would rather give him my virtue!”

“... Kono...”

“Try to claim me like a real man, like Boru, and I will kill you...” Kono sternly warns, a hand squeezing the handle of her small, bone utility knife.

Leaving Kono to tend to the camp, Arak turns to Loka, who tends to Miiro. He's thankful that she hasn't understood a word of what he and Kono just said, though he worries she could feel the tone. She gives Miiro the last of the water from the deer's bladder before seeing Arak. Their eyes lock and she suddenly looks very sad. Loka stands to her hooves and turns away. Though she held him throughout the night, now it seems that she wants to be as far away from his as possible, not from anger or disgust but from the shame of his rejection. It's increasingly clear to him that these creatures have feelings, and not just the most basic, like fear and hunger and tiredness; her heart was hurt, and Arak can see it.

He makes his way toward her but Loka is eager to leave, walking away from him and toward the stream. Arak stops at the edge of their camp, standing beside Miiro as Loka heads for the stream to refill the water bladder. It's within eyesight of the camp, but a part of him still worries for her; even though she's so strong, she's already like another of the village females to him. Feeling eyes on him, Arak looks down at Miiro, who stares up at him.

“What are you looking at?” He growls.

“Ka'yiit?” Miiro doesn't understand him.

Making his way toward Loka, Arak catches up to her at the stream. Though he hadn't heard them before, likely because he was too distracted, Miiro can hear them now and gleefully eavesdrops on Loka and the tiny man.

“Please, Loka... I [am] sorry. I [am] not mad.” Arak speaks their language quiet well, even after only one day. “I like Kono, and I [do] not know you well.”

“[Is] Kono your mate?” Loka asks.

“No.”

“[Do] your kin only take one mate?”

“Yes and no.” Arak admits, recalling the greatest hunters who have several wives. “Strong males [can] have more.”

“Oh! And you must keep your mate, or [are] you allowed to breed and leave?” She asks.

“... I, uhm...” Arak struggles to understand several new words she's just used.

“May I become your mate?!” Loka begins to sound excited.

“Uhh...”

“We [can] only have sex! [Is] that okay?!”

“I [do] not know you!”

“And?”

“...”

“I know you. I know all I must know.” Loka coos.

Miiro almost chuckles as Arak sounds very uncomfortable. He has never known a male to be so nervous around females before, especially when they offer themselves as eagerly as Loka. If Miiro was in his position, he would bend her over and breed her then and there!

“Please...” Arak begins. He struggles to put together the words, wishing he knew their language better. He wants to tell her to stop so that he can figure things out, to see who she is and come to terms with the strangeness of the situation, but all he can say is, “Move slow.”

“Yes, I [will] move slow.” Loka replies before kissing him.

“Good...”

“What of Miiro?”

Miiro's ears perk up.

“Miiro?”

“Yes. What of Miiro?” She asks again.

“[Will] Miiro [be] good?” Arak asks, a hint of worry in his voice.

“I believe [so].” Loka nods. “He [will] not harm us.”

“... Okay. We [will be] good to Miiro.”

“Okay!” Loka chirps.

Arak returns from the stream with Loka walking a short distance behind him. As a sign of respect she never outpaces him, always walking just behind him, even though her legs are much longer. She stops and glances at Miiro, who looks innocently up at her. She peers down at him, past her left breast, and growls.

“Tii vla'dei nu'vii piim'ya. Arak nazh vozhd. Arak sko'ro dai'tei yii la'den. Sko'ro mii'ya prah'vem, il yii lezh'nosh ohn u'va tii.”

There isn't an ounce of deception in her voice, and Miiro knows he must be on his best behavior. Loka will no longer protect him, and now that Arak has found her, she has no reason to. After sharing a light breakfast, Arak decides that he must go on a hunt. Though Loka promises to guard the camp, Kono still stays behind. As much as she dislikes Miiro for what he did, she is more upset with Arak. Miiro remains firmly planted, waiting patiently while Arak searches for food to sustain them on their journey.

“I must relieve myself.” Miiro remarks.

“You [will] wait...” Loka coldly retorts, to Kono's surprise. “I tell our Chieftain when he returns.”

Right around noon, Arak returns to camp with a proud grin and proclaims to have slain a truly might beast. Unfortunately, he cannot bring the creature back by himself. Seeing an opportunity to redeem himself to his new tribe, Miiro clears his throat.

“I [can] help?”

“... No...”

“Aww!” Miiro's equine ears fold down. “But I want [to] help you!”

“He [will] not 'bo'ra.'” Loka assures him.

“Bo'ra?” Arak asks.

Loka balls up two fists as if she was about to punch him.

“Ooh! 'Bo'ra' means fight!” He remarks to himself. “Okay... He [will] come.” Arak replies to the beast folk.

“Are you sure about this?!” Kono protests. “What if he waits until we're distracted and then forces me to mate, like he almost did?! Except this time you will be dead with a tree branch through your guts!”

“You couldn't have imagined a quicker death?”

“Perhaps...”

“Well, she said he won't fight. I trust her.” Arak replies, kneeling behind Miiro to remove his bindings.

“Do you trust me?” Kono whimpers.

“Yes.”

“More than her?” Kono doesn't even want to say Loka's name.

“Kono, this isn't about trust. The truth is we need him.”

“WHY?!?!”

“Do you know how else we'll get an elk back here?”

“... ELK!?!” Kono's eyes nearly pop out of her head.

With his proud grin returning, Arak nods his head. Once his wrists are freed, Miiro unties his ankles but does not run or fight. He looks to Arak, and after a tense stare the human nods his head. Miiro takes a moment to relieve himself, as he'd asked to hours earlier, then all four of them make their way into the woods. An excited Arak tries to explain in both languages how he killed an elk by himself, but even Kono struggles to comprehend it. Could he have just found a fresh elk carcass and is making up a story to sound better than he is? After all, she now knows that he wants to impress her. As it turns out, seeing is believing.

Arak had found elk tracks that appeared to be fresh. At some point, it had wandered near their camp during the night. Perhaps the two-legged beasts didn't think it a threat, or perhaps their hearing isn't as good as he thought. In any case, the creature was nearby, and so Arak followed the tracks to a small gulch. It appeared to be the remnants of an ancient river that once attached to the small stream were they collect their water and which Arak and Kono had been following. This ravine was steep, deep enough that two or three Miiros standing atop each other's shoulders couldn't reach the edge.

The tracks led to a very large tree that had fallen over to form a bridge across, and it was obvious that it had been there for a very long time. Arak crossed the bridge, following chips and scuff marks in the bark from all the game that have walked across it. Thinking fast, Arak worked feverishly to dig away at the dirt at the thinnest end, then when it appeared unstable, he walked around until he could climb down into the gulch and stuck dozens of sharp sticks and jagged branches into the ground, directly beneath the bridge. He didn't have to wait long before the elk came back, and with a bloodcurdling cry, the log shifted, throwing the elk off it and onto the spikes below.

Standing in the gulch with blood at their feet, the tribe of four marvel at the massive creature lying dead atop the spikes. It takes both Miiro and Loka to lift the beast enough just to drag it, and even with Arak's and Kono's help it's a chore to pull it over all the rocks and sticks that litter the forest floor as they make their way back to camp. Still, they manage the task and then work for hours butchering the animal and saving all of the parts they can. Kono is so excited for their prospects that she forgets her jealous anger and teaches Loka their methods of butchering and preserving meat.

Meanwhile, Arak teaches Miiro what parts to save and how they can be used for tools. Though the horse-kin don't seem to favor meat like the humans do, they're eager to learn. As they'd suspected, these little creatures are far more advanced than they are, and it would benefit the Korutan greatly to work with these humans. Size and strength and endowment are certainly important, but when Arak can make weapons to dispatch Miiro from a distance, when his sheer intelligence can slay an elk without a fight, and when his strength of character can attract Loka to him as though he was a chieftain, Miiro's brute strength and size don't really mean much.

As darkness falls and Kono sets out much of the meat to dry, she cannot help but notice how Loka cozies up to Arak, sitting with him and touching him as if she was already his mate. Despite being visibly nervous around her and the obvious advances that leave him paralyzed with a mixture of fear and embarrassment, Kono still cannot help but feel jealous. The more she sees of Arak, the more she realizes she and the other females of their tribe had greatly underestimated him; she wants him more and more. When Arak tries to get closer to her, being the true object of his affection, she cannot help herself and lashes out, once again giving him the cold shoulder.

“I want to hold you tonight. I enjoyed that.”

“Hold your horse. I'm sure she'll enjoy it.” Kono turns away.

“I don't doubt that... But I would rather hold you.” He speaks in a very sweet and affectionate tone.

“Why are you even asking?” Kono peers over her shoulder with a disinterested expression. “Boru wouldn't...”

With a frustrated growl, a part of Arak thinks to do what many of the other hunters do when they want to claim a mate. He should just pin her down and take her! After all, her main complaint with Miiro's treatment of Loka was that she was bound and couldn't fight back; even if she would've lost, losing fairly would've made it better. Unfortunately, Arak is not that kind of male. He never was, and that's why he has only mated once before, to a meek and nervous female who unfortunately lost her life many seasons ago. No one else wanted her so Arak took her, and he didn't even have to force her.

“Fine... Have it your way.”

“Huh?!”

To Kono's surprise, Arak doesn't pounce on her at all, but instead walks around to the other side of the fire, sticks a couple of logs into it and sits beside Loka! With a frustrated grumble, Kono rolls over and puts her back to the fire. After laying there for some time, she cannot help but feel someone's eyes staring at her. She lifts her head and looks around to see the wilderness. There are no predators peering out of the darkness. She twists her body and gazes over her shoulder to see Arak and Loka lying down. The beast woman has an arm draped over him, just as she did the night before. It's the way Arak should have his arm over Kono!

She finally discovers the source of the eerie sensation. Looking down, she can see Miiro staring at her, his eye moving between her face and her behind. He looks with obvious curiosity and lust, though he doesn't appear hostile or the least bit aggressive. It leaves Kono feeling uneasy. After staring at her for a moment, Miiro looks toward Loka and Arak, who he can tell are not yet sleeping. He watches them for a moment before returning his attention to Kono, then with one leg raised and blocking their view, he moves the other aside and coaxes his equine endowment from the sheath.

Kono's eyes grow wide as he presents his flaccid manhood for her, a silent offering as his hand reaches down to caress his testicles. She stares at it for a moment, more afraid of it than aroused, then looks him in the eyes. He smiles and nods, assuring her of the sincerity of his offer. She slowly shakes her head before uttering one word, “na.” Rejected, Miiro's eyes widen but he doesn't speak or approach her. Instead, he leaves his manhood dangling there for it to slowly retreat at it's leisure. With a shrug of his shoulders, he lies down and turns away from her. He seems oddly calm about that, and she cannot help but wonder why.

Meanwhile, Miiro's own mind is racing. He's quickly discovering his place in this new tribe. He left his people to form a new tribe but one found him instead. Arak is clearly the chieftain, and with both Kono and Loka not interested in him, that leaves Miiro without prospects. Perhaps that's the way the humans behave? The alpha rules and the alpha mates; the rest must serve. It isn't unknown to him, as another tribe of beast folk practice this, the ones with paws and claws. However, this doesn't appeal to him at all. Perhaps he should leave and return to his and Loka's old tribe? Would they even take him back? As he dwells on these thoughts, he hears a faint sound and glances toward Arak and Loka.

Arak has rolled over and put an arm around Loka, though as tall and large as she is he can't easily grip her. He finds his head very close to her breasts, but this intrigues Loka who takes a moment to make sure that no one else is awake. Though neither Kono nor Miiro were asleep, she was too caught up in the moment to care anymore; they weren't looking, anyway. Arak huffs as Loka fondles him, teasing his erection and whispering that now familiar word into his ear. “So'vo. zhu'sa, so'vo.” It's increasingly difficult for him to deny, and with Kono so coldly rejecting him even after all he's done for her, all Arak wants right now is a release. He looks up at Loka, stares into her eyes and then nods his head.

Her heart skips a beat, but she cannot be certain that it's really what he wants, despite holding his erection in her hand. She waits for Arak to do something. He doesn't disappoint. He first entertains himself with her chest, playing with her breasts the way Loka has often seen males do. None wear coverings in her tribe, and as they sleep in the open atop beds of grass, it's quiet common to witness couples mating. Oftentimes, her kin will mate solely for pleasure and then change partners the next day, seeking out the best match. As Arak becomes emboldened, she allows him to guide her onto her back, and then the diminutive creature places himself between her legs.

He doesn't hesitate for long, and Loka gasps when she realizes that he isn't as small as his stature would lead one to believe. Miiro's eyes widen as he watches, a twinge of jealousy creeping in as he glimpses Arak's behind moving, gently swaying back and forth. The human finds a carnal rhythm and allows nature to take its course...

PART 6

Waking up the following day, Kono is frustrated to see Loka cuddling up to Arak even more than usual. Turning to Miiro, she finds him sitting upright and looking a little distressed. He didn't appear to be so upset when she refused him last night, but in her defense she cannot imagine taking such a large manhood inside of her, especially when she has never even mated with one of her own kin before. Suddenly, Arak stands tall and proud, and speaks with a bellow in his voice that wasn't there before.

“We need to find our people. We should pack the food and leave soon.” He first addresses Kono. “We want [to] see our kin. We [will] carry [the] food, and we [will] leave.” He reiterates in the tongue of Miiro and Loka.

“I want [to] see my kin.” Miiro speaks up, a sorrow in his voice.

“Help us.” Loka turns to the two-legged stallion. “Follow our new chieftain.”

“No. I [do] not belong here. I want [to] return home.”

Loka first looks to Arak, waiting for his response. It's quite the feeling, being able to dictate what these powerful creatures can do. Is this how all chieftains feel? He looks to Miiro and their eyes lock, and for a brief moment Arak empathizes with him. He then turns to Loka and nods his head, granting the stallion's request.

“Okay...” She returns her attention to Miiro. “We [will] lead you home, 'brah'va.'”

“I really want to know what 'brah'va' means...” Arak remarks. “Okay. We [will] go there now. Lead us, Miiro.” He commands.

Miiro does exactly that, and after packing up the food and using the elk's tattered hide as a makeshift sack, as well as the deer's much smaller hide-sack, they dismantle the camp and begin their journey. It's not very long, though it takes them all morning and a fraction of the afternoon. Neither Miiro nor Arak seem to think in advance about what will happen when they meet the rest of the Korutan; the other horse-kin have never seen the furless humans before and have no reason to trust them. It isn't until they crest the hill and look down upon the valley of bipedal horses that Kono and Loka stop them. It takes some time for Miiro and Loka to explain their situation, but with the aid of a stick to draw in the dirt, Arak and Kono begin to understand.

“You're siblings?!” Kono gasps, looking at the poorly drawn family and recalling how viciously Miiro assaulted Loka. “Ew...”

“I think she's his half-sister. See? One father, two mothers, and they're here, with all the other children.” Arak points at the dirt-etched family tree.

“That's still disgusting.” Kono shuts her eyes and shakes her head.

“So, you left to start a new tribe because you were unhappy... That sounds familiar.” Arak murmurs.

He thinks back to other families who did the same. They were never seen again, so who knows if they survived.

“What [will] happen when you return alone?” Kono asks Miiro.

Miiro merely shrugs.

“Perhaps they [will] not believe my words. Perhaps they [will] accuse me of killing you, sister.”

“Then I [will] also return and tell [them]. I [will] say [that] I want [to] leave. I [will] say [that] I found [a] new tribe.” Loka replies.

Though very uncertain and nervous about this plan, Arak allows both Miiro and Loka to return to their people with the promise that Loka will soon return to him. As he watches her leave, he feels a twinge of guilt and even anxiety. A part of him fears that she won't return. He hasn't had sex since his previous mate died almost three seasons ago, and after all they've been through, the towering two-legged mare has already claimed a place in his heart. After mating last night, she doesn't even seem so strange to him. Arak and Kono sit in the shade and watch as the two horse-kin make their way into the valley, where their kin immediately see and swarm them.

“Maybe we should go.” Kono suddenly remarks.

“Huh? Why?”

“I have a bad feeling.”

“I don't.” Arak murmurs, watching Loka's distant figure and anxiously fidgeting.

“You should...” Kono murmurs, pacing nervously behind him.

“I get it. You don't trust Loka, but I do.”

“That isn't it, Arak!” Kono becomes frustrated. “I admit it; I don't like her... I'm... Somewhat jealous of her...”

Hearing these words, Arak peers over his shoulder to find Kono averting her eyes and blushing. She looks uncharacteristically shy.

“But I don't trust their people... Remember what Miiro tried to do before you stopped him? What if the others try it? What if they don't believe their story? What if they think their strength can conquer us? You can't fight them all. Let's be honest here, Arak; you got lucky with Miiro. Now that they know of the sling, that might not work.”

“Thanks for all your confidence...” Arak grumbles, disregarding Kono's pleas.

“That's not what I meant! It's just that-”

“Shh! Something's happening...”

Watching the crowd down below, which numbers at least one-hundred, they see more than a dozen break off and race toward the forest. They move so fast that it's frightening! They easily run three or four times faster than the humans can! Kono steps back and pulls at Arak but he points out the obvious.

“We can't outrun them... Maybe you were right.”

“Arak?!”

“Let's hope they're willing to talk.” He turns to her, unable to hide the terror in his eyes.

Before they know it, they're surrounded by towering warriors with the features of horses. These strong and muscular males hold clubs made of unfinished tree branches. Many are torn straight from the trunks! They're perplexed by the sight of these small creatures who wear the hides of animals, and are intrigued by their clothing and tools. Miiro and Loka spoke of their skill and cunning, but these “humans” don't look so impressive. Still, the warriors don't act aggressively, fearing that the humans might conceal hidden strengths the Korutan cannot combat. They've never seen these creatures before and are afraid.

After finding his courage, Arak begins to speak. He greets them the way Loka had taught him and waits to see how they'll react. Hearing the humans speak their language, albeit poorly, is a shock to the horse-kin, but it adds validity to Miiro's and Loka's testimonies. After looking amongst each other for a moment, one of the stallions turns to Arak, nods his head once and then calmly insist they return with them to their tribe. Arak and Kono do not fight them, and soon find themselves in the midst of the horse-kin village. It's little more than a field of trampled grass. They don't even make huts. The Korutan merely place old boughs against toppled trees as a form of primitive lean-to, not even covering them with leafy branches. Most opt to sleep in the open on beds of bent grass, like animals.

Miiro and Loka stand before an older male who wears a wreath of dead branches twisted together. It sits atop his head like a crown. He is the only one with any form of garment or jewelry; no other Korutan cover themselves, though some have painted markings on their bodies with the juice of berries and roots. He appears to be the leader, as the others look to him and bow their heads upon approach. He introduces himself as “Dahnko” and commands the humans to speak. The horse-kin gasp and chatter amongst themselves when Arak greets Dahnko in their tongue. Before he can explain himself in his admittedly limited way, Dahnko looks to Miiro and demands answers. He demands to know why he stole his own half-sister and then returned with these bizarre little creatures who wield frightening weapons and wear the clothes of slain animals.

They speak back and forth and talk so fast that neither Arak nor Kono can keep up with them, and things do not appear to be going well. In the end it's Loka who saves their lives. She stands between Arak and the angry chieftain, who is clearly distrustful of the strangers. Just as he holds up his club, as if he was about to strike Arak over the head with it, she steps between them, holds up her hands and shouts at him.

“Please, listen! They [are] many! They know much! They [are] not strong but they [are] wise! They [can] help us, and we [can] help them! We [can] use our strength and they [can] use [the] mind!” She begins, compelling Dahnko to lower his club whilst commanding the attention of all her kin. “We [are] not very different... They think, and we think. They feel, and we feel. They bleed, and we bleed... Our bodies also connect!” She suddenly exclaims, resting a hand on Arak's shoulder as the other rests on her own belly. This revelation shocks the others, and though they begin to chatter, Dahnko allows her to finish. “I think we [should] accept them, and then we [would] become wise. They [will] make us stronger. We [will] make each other stronger.”

Dahnko glares at these short little things, these humans, but he cannot deny the siblings' story, nor can he deny the evidence he has seen with his own eyes. After a brief but tense pause, he nods his head once and everyone seems to relax. Loka turns to Arak and embraces him, pulling him against her and smooshing his head between her bosoms.

“I agree, Loka. [The] humans [can] help us become more strong... This land [is] not very good. We [will] join you, and we [will] meet their kin.” Dahnko proclaims, to Arak's and Kono's delight. “We [must] see how useful you [will] become for us...” He speaks directly to Arak, his eyes narrowed with cautious optimism.

With the entire tribe of horse-kin now sworn to help them, Arak and Kono explain why their tribe has left their homeland. Thankfully, the horse-kin have already encountered the herds moving through their own lands. They do not hunt the way humans do, and merely watched the four-legged beasts passing by. Without a village to pack up, it was simple enough to travel toward the game trail and follow it. The tribe marches throughout the afternoon and into the evening. Arak and Kono are confident that with the horse-kin's protection they can continue well into the night. However, the two races quickly learn something surprising. Humans have a remarkable amount of endurance: the horse-kin grow tired and their legs become sore long before Arak and Kono are ready to stop.

Being careful not to usurp the chieftain's authority, Arak avoids issuing any commands and asks Dahnko for help. Hearing him humble himself and eager to see what these little creatures can do for them, the other horse-kin never shy away from helping the humans, even if their chieftain hasn't yet given them permission to do so. They gather wood and brush and watch in awe as Arak uses the short stick and flat board with a notch cut into it to spin a fire. It takes him a while, but it doesn't matter. To them it might as well have been magic and that's how long it takes to cast the spell. Fire is all they needed to trust Arak and Kono, and the humans quickly find themselves revered by many of the horse-kin.

The females began looking to Kono and take ques from her, while the males watch Arak closely and try, in their own way, to emulate him. They begin to fashion spears of long and twisted branches torn from trees with points made from the jagged breaks. As strong as they are, it wouldn't matter; their “spears” will easily rend or impale flesh. It's all quite flattering, the way the horse-kin begin to follow the humans like their tribe's pet wolves. Kono teaches the females how to maintain the camp and prepare food for storage, as well as how to make important tools. At these times, she often losses track of Arak, but she's certain to cling to him every night. He's the only face truly familiar to her.

This is fine by Loka, who wants more time with her new mate. She follows Arak and never once loses sight of him, watching him teach the males how to fashion weapons and traps, how to build a proper lean-to, and how to create fire. In those moments when Kono loses track of them, Loka makes sure to take advantage of it. Whenever Arak isn't teaching or guiding her horse-kin brethren, she'll often seduce him. During the next six days of their journey, Loka is able to mate with him no less than four more times. At least one of these happened in view of other females, who were both amused and yet intrigued by Arak's smaller but exotic manhood. Loka's obvious enjoyment of it left many of them curious.

Meanwhile, Miiro, who had initially left to start his own tribe with his half-sister as the unaware and unwilling mother, finds himself much more respected by his peers. They didn't think much of him, not even his own father, who thought him to be weak and relatively useless. After all, the only female he was able to dominate was his younger half-sister, and he hadn't attracted any others. However, as his rebellion was what brought Arak and Kono to them, they are glad to have him back and revere him as a highly valued scout. Even a few females seek him out, and Miiro quickly finds himself with two loyal mates by the week's end. Unlike Arak, he doesn't hesitate to lay claim to them and plant his seed.

Their journey continues with few delays or distractions, and Arak teaches them to hunt along the way. Though the horse-kin can eat meat, they don't do it with the frequency of the humans, whose appetite for flesh leave many Korutan more than a little unsettled. They nonetheless feel empowered by their newfound capabilities, and safer among their wise little companions. The Korutan are increasingly eager to meld with the humans, and many wonder what living amongst the hunters will be like. Despite his best efforts, Dahnko's grip on the tribe quickly begins to wane and Arak soon finds himself serving as the de facto leader of the horse-kin.

As he witnesses this, Arak cannot help fearing that Dahnko will try to take his power back, as any chieftain would. Loka, Miiro, and the rest of the horse-kin do not seem at all concerned, and this is when Arak and Kono discover another peculiar thing about the Korutan. There seems to be some tribal rule in place that they don't understand: with everyone following Arak's lead, the chieftain, though disturbed by his sudden fall from power, quiets himself and doesn't challenge him. On several occasions, he looks to the rest of his people before obeying Arak's commands. They all follow each other, and Arak, almost like a herd...

PART 7

They travel for two weeks, following the game trail through one forest, exiting into a field, and then entering into another even denser forest. They seem to be very far behind, and their casual pace leaves Arak frustrated. His anxiousness increases to almost unbearable levels when they begin to find signs of other humans nearby. The horse-kin warriors, who have begun to learn fighting and tracking techniques from their human chieftain, discover the faint etchings into the sides of the trees. Arak and Kono recognize it as the markings of their kin, signs for their ancestors so that their spirits may follow them. It also serves to guide any stragglers. Though he wants to race along the trail, Arak knows he cannot abandon the horse-kin; they look to him and trust him. Returning with them is more important than simply returning.

Kono can see the change in Arak, as do Loka and Miiro. He has begun to think like a leader, caring deeply for those who follow him. It's just another trait that makes Kono yearn for him. It didn't take long before she realizes that Arak and Loka are not simply an experiment of bestial passion; they are truly mates, but Arak is the chieftain and chieftains are strong. Though still somewhat soft-spoken and not quite as forceful as she would like, Kono's desire to have him overrides her own instincts to be claimed. It also doesn't help that she has witnessed many of the horse-kin mating, indulging in the one thing that she has yet to experience. She's made up her mind. All she needs is the opportunity...

One night, Arak lies down to sleep in a large lean-to that shields him from the wind. He has taught the horse-kin to build better shelters, but hesitates to share the construction of the huts, as he doesn't want them to think that they will never find his people. He lay in the darkness, enjoying the brief moment of quiet. Loka is not there. It's a rare moment when they are apart. She's busy checking on the rest of the camp and ensuring that the other horse-kin are gathering enough supplies for the night; firewood, berries, and water must be kept close at hand. As the mate of her tribe's new chieftain, she holds great power among her people. She never abuses it. Loka cares for her people, and is a surprisingly gentle soul. It's really quite endearing, and Arak often takes great comfort in her presence.

He looks to the empty space beside him and begins to miss the tall and imposing bipedal mare. He rolls over and rests his head on an arm, and just as he begins to drift off to sleep he hears a voice calling out to him.

“Arak?”

He lifts his head and his eyes slowly adjust. He cannot make out their features but only Kono is that small. She steps inside, her head bowed as she kneels down beside him. Arak rolls over and sits upright, looking to Kono and noting her features. She's as beautiful as ever, even in the darkness; the glimmer of her emerald eyes makes his heart beat faster.

“Are you okay?” He asks in a soft and gentle voice, reaching out to caress her cheek.

“I have been waiting...” Kono begins. “And I keep waiting...”

“Waiting for what?”

She lifts her head and looks into his eyes. They're glossy with tears.

“You are of my tribe, and you understand how things have always been... And yet you never laid claim to me!”

“Oh...” Arak pauses, his hand slowly drifting away from her face.

“I have been waiting for you to do what males do, to take my body and claim me as your mate! I want to feel that, to know what it is to become a woman, but I don't know if I can wait any longer...”

“Kono...” He sighs, scooting closer to her and resting a hand on her thigh. “I have never been like our kin. I am not bold, and I am not strong. I made a spear with a tip that fell off. I want you and I care for you, but I am not the kind of mate I think you want. I am not good.”

“Yes, you are...” She leans closer, resting a hand on his cheek and looking him in the eyes. “You lead the strongest beings we have ever known. You lead the horse-kin. You claimed the whole tribe and became chieftain, and you never had to harm anyone. You are smart, and you are strong. You are the strongest male I have ever known...”

Arak can feel his cheeks burning. He has never experienced this before, and to his knowledge, he doesn't know of a single hunter in his tribe who ever has; females don't approach males like this, offering themselves in what he can only describe as desperation.

“I don't want Boru. I don't want any other male. I want you! Please, Arak... Don't make me beg.”

He stares into her eyes and sees her sincerity, her pain. Realizing that this is the right moment, he leans in and kisses her lips as passionately as he has ever kissed anyone, even Loka. Kono is taken aback by the sensation. She had long hoped a good male would claim her, and for a long time she thought it would be Boru. As her lips feel Arak's, she knows now that this is the man she has always desired, this is the man who will claim her. Perhaps he needed a push, but for all he's done to prove himself, it's a sacrifice she's willing to make.

“Please. Take me, Arak. Take my body.” She huffs in between their kisses while pulling up her hide tunic.

Arak needs no further instruction and finally takes charge. He strips Kono of her clothing and pulls her down, rolling them over and laying her on her back with startling forcefulness. After a brief pause, their passion resumes. It isn't long before he has poised himself, and Kono feels Arak's manhood pressing against her loins the same way Miiro's did when he tried to claim her. This time, however, she is anything but afraid, though Arak's size does make her nervous. When he penetrates her, she gasps and clings to him, enduring the pain of her first time rather well. It isn't long before the pain becomes pleasure, and Kono quickly finds herself gleefully mating with Arak as if it was their last day on this world.

Making her way back home, Loka soon hears strange noises. Her keen eyes see fairly well in the darkness, though she knows the other beast folk, the ones who walk on paws, can see far better at night. She creeps closer, moving surprisingly quietly on her large hooves, and peers into the lean-to where her mate is waiting for her. Her sapphire eyes widen in shock as she glimpses the two humans together. Though she feels the growing flame of anger, Loka had already been told by her mate that the strongest males may have several partners. Though she cannot claim to be pleased to share her human lover with Kono, she remembers her own previous encounters. She's felt males inside her before Arak, and she is not pure as Kono was.

Her tribe is no longer the same; they follow humans, and so she should be mindful of human rules. She turns back and thinks to leave, but as the anger grows stronger, she fears that she cannot trust herself to not betray Arak. Instead of running, the two-legged mare turns around once again and faces the scene. After taking a moment to collect herself, she approaches the pair. Their carnal sounds are very familiar to her, and as she takes a knee within arm's reach of their legs, she can hear Arak and Kono finishing. He does not remove himself, and spills his seed inside of Kono, just as he has done with Loka. It is done. The bipedal mare knows that this means that her human mate has now claimed responsibility for Kono; when the horse-kin mate for pleasure they do not spill their seed inside.

“[Do] you claim her, also? [Is] she now your mate?” Loka asks, startling the lovers.

Kono gasps at the sudden appearance of the towering beast woman while Arak's head spins around. They both look back as Loka rolls from a knee and sits down near their hips, her legs gently bent at the knee and stretching out to follow their bodies. Arak feels the anxiety swelling within him. A part of him wants to beg for forgiveness and assure her, as he did to Kono when she first witnessed he and Loka becoming close, that this is not what it seems. Perhaps he could say that he merely wanted to enjoy her, as the horse-kin sometimes do? However, Kono would not be pleased to hear such a thing, and it would also be a lie. Begrudgingly, he decides to own it. He nods and speaks his mind with as much strength as he can muster.

“Yes, Loka. She [is] now my mate... And you [are] also my mate!”

Loka's and Kono's heads turn in unison, focusing on the man they both so desire.

“I [will] keep you both. I [will] keep you, Loka, and you, Kono. I [will] give you both my seed, but I [will] also promise this; I [will] only ever have two mates...” He says with a strong and unshaken voice.

“A-Arak?” Kono begins, clinging to the man still between her legs.

“You [are] both mine, and I [will] only mate with [the] women I love.” He assures them, looking down at Kono with the warmest of smiles.

It's a strange situation he's found himself in. He never imagined when he chased Kono into the darkness that he would ever find himself with two mates. He never imagined the changes that would occur in his life, the changes that would manifest within him. This entire ordeal has made him a different person, and when he finishes speaking he doesn't regret a word. He slowly removes himself from Kono's loins and sits on his legs, while Kono quickly closes them and rolls onto her side to face the man and the mare. She looks to Loka and waits for her to respond, trembling deep inside. A part of her considers running into the night, though she's too sore to do that, and she could never outright the horse-kin anyway.

“Okay...” Loka finally replies, nodding her head once. “I [am] your mate, and I know humans [are] different. I [will] accept her in[to] our family, and I promise I [will] care for Kono. She [is] our family. We [are] three, and also one.”

“Thank you, Loka. You [are a] very good mate.” He coos, reaching out to caress her cheek.

Kono hears Loka's words and knows that the beast woman is truthful. She has no intention of lying to Arak, whom she adores, and as eager as she is to become part of his tribe, as all the other Korutan are, Kono is confident that Loka will not harm or reject her. She quickly pledges the same, speaking so that Loka can understand, and the two females find themselves sitting near a small fire, apologizing to each other for any mistreatment they caused through their jealousy. It's almost surreal, and Kono can hardly believe it when she lies down to sleep beside Arak. Kono takes one side, while Loka takes the other, and both hold their mate. Truly, there is no stronger male than Arak. Who else could tame both Loka and Kono?

PART 8

It takes several more weeks of travel before they finally catch up to the other humans, as the horse-kin cannot maintain their near ceaseless pace. The humans' sturdy legs and flat feet allow them to walk all day long, albeit slowly, but the horse-kin are far more accustomed to moderate bursts of swift running; though they travel very far when they run, they must rest for some time afterward. Luckily, the humans' tribe only moves as far as the game, and they eventually find Arak's and Kono's people encamped in a vast field. It's quite the sight! Many strange objects are scattered about the field, shaped like a half-moon resting on its side. Beyond these objects are the herds, who graze a comfortable distance away from their predators.

Arak and Kono are instantly elated the moment they recognize the huts of their people. Tiny figures move about; a group of hunters walk away from the village, patrolling for danger. Though the figures are very small, Kono recognizes the distinctive body paint that Boru likes to wear. The blue spirals move up his legs and around his belly. Suddenly, the human hunters stop and turn towards them. At first, Arak and Kono are perplexed as to how they can see them from so far away, but as Loka's breath ruffles Arak's hair, he finally remembers the tribe of over one-hundred horse-kin standing behind him.

The towering beasts are not only humongous but come in many colors and patterns, none of which blend in well with the trees behind them. Loka herself is a creamy yellowish color with a dark face, hands, hooves, mane and tail; her half-brother, Miiro, has the same pattern but with his primary fur color being that of red soil. It covers his body while dark fur accents it. Arak turns to Dahnko and speaks to the golden horse man with a long, white mane. His speech is much more fluent now, after weeks spent with the horse-kin.

“I must go and speak to them. I [can]not allow them to think you [are a] danger. Please, stay here. I promise, I [will] return soon.”

“You [are] our leader...” The former chieftain bows his head in reverence to the human who has usurped him. “We hear you, and [will] obey.”

The others don't need to speak. Arak and Kono have never betrayed them. If anything, they have proven to be the best thing to ever happen to the horse-kin. Arak turns to Kono and they both nod in agreement before making their way home. All the horse-kin watch as their humans walk away. Miiro steps forward and anxiously rubs his hands together, worried for his friends. He turns to his two mates, each one placing a hand on his shoulder to keep him still. He should not disobey his chieftain. Loka tries to stay back, but her breathing is hastened. When Arak and Kono are halfway to the group of hunters, their hands held high and waving to them, she can no longer hold back. The beast woman dashes toward her mate before the other horse-kin can stop her.

“Arak? Is that you?! Kono!?!” Boru exclaims in shock.

“Yes, it is.”

“We thought you were dead!” Another hunter proclaims.

“You've been gone a long time!” Boru remarks.

“Thank you for noticing.” Arak quips. “We've come a long way and have something very important to-”

“What's that!?! What's that thing doing!?!” Boru cuts him off, tossing up his spear and grabbing in from beneath as he readies to throw it. “Get ready, men!!!”

Arak whirls around to see Loka racing toward them at blistering speed. She easily clears the distance between them, charging toward them and reaching them in mere seconds. His eyes widen in horror.

“Prepare to throw!” Boru commands.

“NO!!!”

Arak lunges and grabs the spear from him, shoving Boru to the ground before he realizes what's happening. Kono also doesn't hesitate to act and raises her arms high as she places herself between the other hunters and the beast woman. She was once so jealous of Loka and spent weeks watching her and Arak from a distance, but now that they share him as a mate and live together, she has grown attached. Her jealousy has waned and has been replaced with loyalty to her family; she cannot allow anyone to harm her.

“Stop! She is not a threat! None of them are!” Kono assures the hunters.

“If you throw those spears than you will kill our whole village!” Arak roars.

He doesn't speak like a man afraid. If anything, that sounded like a promise... Thoroughly disturbed but unsure of what else they can do, the hunters lower their weapons and take a few steps back as the towering creature races toward them. Soon, however, their eyes focus on something else. More of these large and imposing creatures appear from the distant forest, gathering in a long line and watching them, waiting. There are so many!

“I [am] sorry, Arak! I [did] not want to wait!” Loka proclaims, throwing her powerful arms around him and squeezing his head between her ample breasts. “Please, [do] not become angry! I only worried for you and Kono!” She pleads.

“I [am] not angry. I fear for you. I want you safe.” He replies, speaking her tongue as if it was his own.

“You can talk to her?!” Boru gasps, pushing himself up from the ground.

“I fear for you, also! I want you both safe, my mate and my sister!” Loka replies, looking between Arak and Kono.

“We [are] okay, Loka. [Do] not become afraid.” Kono adds.

“You, too!?!” Boru looks to Kono in shock.

“It's been a long journey, and we have a lot to tell you.” Kono replies, stepping up to her mate and embracing Arak from the other side.

“Take us to Gog.” Arak demands as he slithers out from both women's grasp.

The flabbergasted hunters do as he wishes and lead the trio into their village. The others are understandably shocked by the sight of the tall, powerful, naked horse woman while their tamed wolves are quite confused. Though nudity is not especially shocking, the familiar shape of her body for such a foreign creature makes it especially jarring. None have ever seen her kin before, and marvel at her form as much as they are terrified by it. Gog, the aging chieftain of the humans, is equally stunned by the return of the unimpressive hunter and the attractive young female who had gone missing a few months ago. He sits atop a log placed before his hut, as he is growing too old to sit down on the ground without feeling pain when he rises. He even has a raised bed to sleep on.

The humans are stunned as Arak issues a command to the bipedal beast, directing her to sit on the ground before their leader. He then takes his place in front of her, and the humanoid mare scoots closer before extending her legs to frame his body and wrapping her arms around him in a loving embrace. Kono sits beside them, relaxing against the mare's side. The others are stunned by how comfortable they are together, truly comforted by this strange creature. As Arak and Kono begin their story it all becomes clear. The others sit, stand and kneel around their chieftain's hut, listening in silent awe as Arak and Kono regale them of their journey, the long and arduous path that led them to these two-legged horses and all the way back to their people.

What luck for the hunter and the lost female to happen upon two of the beast folk in the dark forest! What skill he showed with the sling, to dispatch a hostile male with one stone to the forehead! What bravery he had to stand up to such a terrifying creature for the sake of a female who was not even his mate! What compassion and guile he showed by being kind to Loka! What a clever way to kill an elk without even needing to confront it and slay it with spears! The other hunters glance between themselves, feeling foolish for discounting the seemingly unmasculine, stone-throwing weapon, and the unimpressive hunter who both invented and trained with it. As their story continues, it becomes clear that Arak was not the man they assumed him to be.

Though he and Kono do not regale them with every little detail, eager to return to the other horse-kin as quickly as possible, they do not hide the most important and more jarring aspects. More than a few express their shock at Arak's status among the horse-kin, and many females gasp when learning that he has claimed the large and powerful mare as one of two mates! Gog is especially surprised, and realizing that he is now speaking to another chieftain, he shows Arak the necessary respect by removing himself from the log and sitting on the ground despite the pain it will cause him later. When the two humans finally finish their story, they make their people an offer.

“These are very powerful creatures; intelligent, strong and loyal. I would like our two tribes to work together. I would ask that you allow us to live as one.”

The hunters cannot help but murmur, their quieted voices expressing their mistrust and fear. They haven't even seen any of the male horse-kin, but if their females are weaker then they can be assured that they would never hope to win in a fight against them.

“They may look like beasts but they are more like us than they are the primitive ones!” He proclaims, leaning over and looking past Loka's form at the men standing around them. “They see our potential and realize that we can benefit by working together. They did not make me their chieftain because I am so smart and handsome.”

A few in the crowd chuckle, and the hunters seem to settle.

“What would they do for us?” Gog asks, slowly stroking his long, full, salt-and-pepper beard.

“What wouldn't they do?!” Arak assures him.

“Besides warm our beds.” Boru quips, to the snickers of several females.

“More than a man like you could ever imagine...” Arak snaps back.

“They are strong and work hard, and they share our sense of community!” Kono begins.

“They can carry wood and water, help us build, and assist with the hunt. In fact, I have some ideas for how they could help us with the herds. And don't forget their loyalty! They would gladly fight for us, so long as they feel that we are deserving of it. If we earn their trust, we will never have a stronger partner.” Arak quickly takes over.

“And they can learn!” Kono chimes in again. “We have already taught them much of our ways!”

“Yes. They can fashion tools, and they can follow instructions, but most importantly they can understand us; they can relate.”

“How is relating to us valuable?” A hunter in the crowd asks.

“Because it proves that they are superior to the beasts. They will not follow us only because it is beneficial, but because they respect us, because they care for us.” Arak replies.

“I admit, that is all very impressive... Can they learn our language?” Gog asks.

“I do not believe so, but theirs is not terribly difficult.” Arak swiftly replies. “I think if you ponder this for even a moment, you will realize that these creatures, these 'Korutan,' are worth the effort.”

“... And if we refuse?” Gog cannot help but wonder.

“Then I will return to them and we will leave. Perhaps we will find the others who left our tribe, and they might see the horse-kin in a way you cannot.”

“You care for these Korutan that much?” Boru asks, leaning against his spear.

“They put their faith in me. They call me their chieftain and have followed me for weeks...” Arak turns his head and stares at Boru. “I have a responsibility to them, and to my mates. If you will not welcome them, then we will seek a new home elsewhere. I will not abandon them.”

“Spoken like a proper chieftain.” Gog softly chuckles. “Very well... Your horse-kin may enter our village!”

“Thank you!” Kono exclaims over the shocked gasps of the other humans.

“But they must learn our ways! ... They join our tribe, not the other way around.” The aging chieftain sternly warns.

“We will teach them. You have my word.” Arak assures him.

“And we will teach you as well! It will not take long for you to grasp their speech!” Kono promises, looking at the nervous faces of the other females.

Arak and Kono spring to their feet, but Gog struggles through the pain in his knees. Arak is quick to help him, lifting him up in a sign of respect. However, as Gog clings to his arms he whispers in his ear.

“You are chieftain of the horse-kin, but not the humans... However, if they are as useful and as loyal as you say, then when the time comes, you may be my choice.”

Arak looks to the aging chieftain with shock only to receive a solitary nod. What an honor! He never dreamt of this, even as he led the horse-kin to his people with the hope of forging an alliance. The possibility never even occurred to him. The humans pass on authority as a gift to the best among them, the strongest and the wisest. Many thought that Boru would be chosen to replace Gog when he was finally ready to step down, but now it seems that Arak will rule the humans as well. Excited beyond words, Arak turns to Kono and embraces her.

“Wait here while I collect the rest of our tribe.” He proclaims, already certain of the horse-kin's place among their people.

Equally excited, Loka offers her back to her mate, and many take amusement as the female carries her human partner on her back the way a father would playfully carry a small child. She races through the long field with blistering speed, but Arak holds on tight. When they return to the others, he shares the good news and the horse-kin begin their march to the village. They have no need to run, and many are already weary from a full day's march. The pet wolves circle them, sniffing the air. Their humans watch in silent reverence as well as fear, but with Kono and Arak acting as liaisons and translators, they make many introductions and some tensions begin to ease. However, a few remain fearful and apprehensive. It will take time to earn their trust...

PART 9 (EPILOGUE)

The horse-kin are eager to prove themselves, greatly desiring the alliance that Arak had promised them. Many, including Boru, are impressed by the two-legged beasts. Meanwhile, Gog spends much time with Arak and learns that he is not merely a thoughtful leader concerned with the well-being of both races, but also something of a visionary. He shares many new ideas with Gog who eagerly listens. As they implement these ideas and integrate the horse-kin into their tribe, the aging chieftain quickly realizes that even Arak underestimated the value of the beast folk.

The first night they merely spoke, and the horse-kin slept atop beds of grass in the open. Few were impressed, then. By the second night, they had entered the forest and harvested more materials than the humans could've ever imagined possible before fashioning huts in the same manner as the humans' but much larger. By the fourth day, the horse-kin proved themselves as capable hunters and foragers, gathering more food in a day than the human's could harvest in a week. Even with as much as the horse-kin ate, this left the tribe with a surplus. Many had never enjoyed such security before. It was beyond endearing.

The horse-kin's willingness to work with the humans caused many to begin growing more comfortable around them and they began to learn. By the seventh day, all of the humans could speak the Korutan's language to some degree, many of them competently, and some of them fluently. Boru and several of his hunters were among those who quickly mastered their simple tongue. By the ninth day, the Korutan proved their usefulness in combat. A pack of jungle raptors emerged from the forest to chase the herd. They quickly saw several children, all of them human and playing near the wild beasts, pretending to hunt the distant creatures with unsharpened sticks.

The raptors realized that they would be a much easier meal. Thankfully, three horse-kin, one of them Miiro, were watching the children from a distance and raced into action. Their strength was indeed mighty, as one throw of Miiro's properly made spear impaled two running raptors at once! After saving the children, there was hardly a human who didn't revere the horse-kin. The Korutan children, what few of them there were, began to enjoy the care and guardianship of the humans, and many human children began to play with them with the blessing of their formerly nervous parents. It was a harmonious scene that touched the hearts of even the most stern hunters.

By the twelfth day, Arak had devised a plan to entrap the herd, fearing that another attack might send their primary food source running into the wilderness once more. At his direction, the horse-kin erected long and thick logs into a large pen, which they then chased the herd into before sealing shut. Though initially fearful and panicked, the beasts could not escape and eventually settled into their confinement. The humans were amazed. Arak admitted that he had the idea when he saw how the herds behaved, and how similarly the Korutan were when following him. The Korutan took no offense to this and saw their unity as a point of pride. Sharing it with the humans, who treat them with care and confidence, made this a very flattering compliment.

It was around this time that the other humans began to treat Arak and Kono differently. Even Loka earned respect as one of Arak's two mates, with human females bowing their heads to her as she passed them by. They saw her as no different than Kono, in race or status. Their contributions were undeniable as their quality of life was improving with each passing day. Even their young children were elated, enjoying their playtime with the young horse-kin and relishing the security that a strong tribe could provide. Though he had warned against it, Gog could not stop others from turning to Arak for guidance before him. On the fifteenth day he spoke with Arak and promised before their entire tribe that he would soon become the chieftain. Arak would not be waiting long.

By the forty-fifth day, Gog formally stepped down as chieftain, proclaiming his age as the reason. He crowned Arak their new leader. The horse-kin were especially pleased; as Arak had embraced them first and even had a horse-kin mate, they saw him as one of their own, no different than the strongest of the Korutan. Fifty-six days after their return and eleven days after becoming the leader of the blended tribes, it became obvious that both Loka and Kono were pregnant with Arak's children. Kono was no surprise, but few wanted to accept that humans could breed with the horse-kin. However, Loka's loyalty to Arak was undeniable. No one could honestly claim that she had been unfaithful with another horse-kin.

This intrigued some, and a handful of mixed couplings occurred, including the smallest and weakest of the stallions being chosen by two sisters who had not yet been claimed, nor ever known the touch of a man. Realizing that they would soon need better lands, as many females were now becoming pregnant, Arak appointed groups of scouts. He chose the best of his men from both races, pairing two humans with two horse-kin, and sent several groups out in search of a better home. It was Boru's group that found the verdant coast, and so when every scout group had returned, Arak and his tribe packed up and moved to the place Boru had discovered.

They left nothing behind, even taking their animals with them. The Korutan seemed to instinctively know how to move the herd. They found the new land was as beautiful as Boru and his men had claimed. Fertile soil grew much food that could be easily foraged, the grass was lush and good for their animals, and the long and full river held many fish. They quickly constructed stronger homes with the aid of the horse-kin, larger homes with more complex designs that would easily accommodate both races. With abundant food and water, Arak designed a wall of logs to protect them from any threats, a wall too tall for the Korutan to leap over. The first permanent settlement was born.

He ordered that every able-bodied male learn to fight and serve the tribe, and formed small groups that would compete in feats of skill, strength and speed. This not only ensured that they would always be ready for a fight, but that the humans and horse-kin would bond, as the hunters did when on the hunt back when they were still mere nomads. It was a clever tactic, and the humans and horse-kin soon grew as close as siblings. They worked together, foraged together, patrolled for dangers together, and had carved a place for themselves, a place where they would not be attacked by the wild beasts or any other hostile tribes. Arak, the first king, had carved a small paradise for them.

As he'd suspected, their population began to grow exponentially; both humans and horse-kin had many children throughout the years, and though many kept to their own kind for more intimate companionship and mating, a small population of half-breeds emerged. They were an intriguing meld of the bloodlines, and even more began to experiment with mixing it. Boru took a Korutan mate, living with a female of each race just like Arak, whom he became very loyal to. It was several years after their settlement was constructed when the other beast folk finally appeared.

The Korutan had warned of the paw-footed ones, the “Vostii,” whom they considered as cunning as they were dangerous, and whom they avoided in the past. Having thrown in with they humans, enjoying a life of harmony and thinking of them as their own kin, it was a shock when Arak proclaimed that he would like to meet and potentially ally with the Vostii. Miiro, who was now matched with Boru in both status and influence, warned Arak against this. Boru agreed, to Miiro's surprise. They had a bit of a rivalry that had begun shortly after Arak took them both into his inner circle, a council of trusted advisors that had not existed before. Arak was a rare leader, one actually willing to listen to the ideas of his people.

Despite their apprehension, Arak attempted to make peace with the group of bipedal felines and canine skulking about outside their walls. He left with a detachment of both human and Korutan warriors, and spoke to a group of Vostii in their own tongue. This shocked them and they quickly scurried away from the strange, furless beings. They returned with many, many more warriors. None had the weapons of Arak's tribe, but their claws and fangs were fearsome, and the Korutan warned them of their speed and strength and superior senses. Though eager for a peaceful solution, he was not naive and did not hesitate to lead in battle when these Vostii attacked, ignoring his offer of peace.

It was a short skirmish, as Arak's people had since adopted his sling. The humans threw stones while the horse-kin threw spears, and many Vostii fell before ever coming close to the their prey. Stones sank into chests and skulls, killing the Vostii whose bodies are not as hardy as the Korutan. Spears flew straight and true, and pierced the chests and heads of their enemies, oftentimes moving through one Vostii's body and into the Vostii behind them. They didn't back down and continued the charge, and a brief melee saw several humans and Korutan injured, though none were killed.

When a human fell back with a Vostii ready to bite his neck, his horse-kin friend kicked the feline hard enough to throw him off and also break his spine. When a Korutan was swarmed by three Vostii, humans leapt onto their backs and tore them away, breaking their necks and gouging their eyes. They fought hard and fought well, never allowing the Vostii to break their line. When they had been defeated and the wounded were brought inside, Arak called forth the rest of the males. It was a force large enough to give the remaining Vostii pause, and they soon left.

Some time later, more beast folk arrived, but these were not the Vostii. They walked on hooves, but were not like the horse-kin. Strangely, the horse-kin also called them Korutan, and it was then that the human's realized that this was a classification, not the name of their specific race. The horse-kin had no name for themselves. The human-sized goat-kin and sheep-kin fled from the band of Vostii which had tried to invade their settlement, and quickly joined them. Though primitive, as the horse-kin were when Arak and Kono found them, they were eager to learn and willing to submit, so long as it would grant them safety. Others came, too. Vostii of the rabbit-kin, and also the mouse-kin. They had also been terrorized and fled to the tall wooden wall, word of which had quickly spread among the tribes.

Without even trying, Arak became the king of a truly large settlement, protecting the beast folk who would submit and repelling the wild ones. The “untamed,” as many began to call them, quickly learned that the settlement could not be defeated. They would occasionally try to invade it, but would always be repelled and life continued as it had before. Eventually, even other feline and canine Vostii fled from the wild ones, welcomed by Arak and his people. Though small bands of beast folk of every shape and size would join them, the horse-kin never lost their place as humanity's favorite, and the humans never lost their place as the undisputed rulers, having minds far superior to any of the beast folk thus far.

This didn't bother the other beast folk; they saw how the humans favored the horse-kin, and the smaller, human-sized pony-kin who arrived later, but they were glad to live in peace with those who could protect them. Soon, they too began to mix their bloodlines, with each other and with the humans. It took several years for the growing number of half-breeds to reveal their true potential, as the humans, Korutan and Vostii eventually discovered that any child born to a human became greater than both. Whether the human was their mother or father, the child would appear more like the beast folk, and as they grew they shared their unique traits such as heightened senses and strength. And they also enjoyed the intellect of their human parent...

Fearing what would happen if this went on unchecked, the humans began selectively breeding with the beast folk, who now prized the humans as mates for the superior offspring they would provide. It was not malicious and they were never unkind, though many still kept beast folk as mates and sexual partners. It was simply to preserve the human bloodline. Arak did not need to give this order to his people, nor would he have. He likely would've compelled them to breed superior hybrids, but there are some fears that even a man as great as Arak cannot subdue. Thankfully, this fear never emerged at mistrust or mistreatment, at least not in his lifetime.

However, this did not drastically change the course of their history. The settlement grew with every passing year and the wall was repeatedly torn down and rebuilt further and further away. It became taller and thicker, the herds became larger, empty land became farms, and fishing docks became rafts which then became fishing boats. The tribe expanded, creating new settlements that Arak's sons would lead. Whether they were pure human or half-breed didn't matter; they would always take human mates, and continue to lead as he had taught them. Meanwhile, the beast folk continued to submit to the humans; so long as they were fair and not unkind, they did not mind following their lead or even wearing the cloth bands around their necks. It was a point of pride.

And so it came to pass that a new order was born, seeded in a wildfire and culminating in a chance encounter, the first of many, that would propel the sentient races to true greatness. The hunter who became the chieftain lead his settlement until it became many settlements. Many settlements eventually became a kingdom, and a kingdom eventually became an empire. It is the empire of man, which spread across the face of Morveria as the wildfire spread across the ancient field, and it was that first encounter that brought the humans and beast folk together, to forge an alliance that would reshape their world in ways that not even Arak could've ever imagined possible...

Back to search