FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

After breakfast, Nova rushed to clean up all the dishes, practically shooing stragglers off their plates so she could get her chores done in time. Fern had left her with the distinct impression that he would leave her behind because he only needed Anubis, daring her to call his bluff before sauntering away to get his own business handled.

Watching her slop water all over in a near panic, Anubis peered around, noticing a broom leaned in a corner. He had never had to do any sort of cleaning in his life. In fact, the slaves had gotten very anxious when he had tried to imitate them as a young pup. He hadn't known it then, but they were the ones punished if any adult had seen him cleaning, even in play, and yet, they had not been allowed to reprimand him for anything.

When Nova came back, her fur soaked, she glanced around in astonishment. She wasn't entirely sure, but she could have sworn she saw a black tail vanish out the door from the corner of her eye, but Anubis was nowhere to be seen when she glanced around outside.

Meeting with Fern by the truck, Anubis had just begun rolling the barrels filled with biofuel up a wood plank ramp when Nova went running by, yelling to Fern to not even consider leaving without her. Perking, he sniffed the air and glanced about in confusion. “Now, I swear I coulda heard somethin'? Almost sounded like the echo o' someone left behind in the distance?"

“Must've been a breeze," Anubis agreed when Fern glanced at him.

Finished with the barrels, he began lifting the crates of hundreds of prerolled smokes, stacking them up perfectly. Spying Nova running to another task, he smirked and complained that his rib was giving him a bit of trouble. Fern's brow raised slowly, his mouth screwing tight as he struggled with the amusement that gleamed in his eyes.

“Big godly beast like yerself brought low by some boxes o' grass? What'll the legends say? What'll the bards sing o' ye? 'Big ol' pup were he, Anubis o' the prairie!'"

Blinking, Anubis put his hand on his chest and blushed. “Why, Fern. Would that be love poetry you're reciting me?"

A creeping, hungry grin bared Fern's very sharp teeth, and it caused sensations in his body that Anubis was not accustomed to. “Oh, I got feelin's for ye, hot stuff, but I wouldn't call 'em love."

With three crates to spare, Nova ran up to them, her tongue practically dragging the ground. Leaning against the truck, she could only glare and growl breathlessly between pants as Fern and Anubis pretended they had no idea she was there.

Finally ready, Anubis and Nova sat in the back while Iron Gale sat in the front with Fern. Hanging over the edge, Nova let her tongue waggle in the wind as they bumped along the well maintained road at a decent pace. It made Anubis laugh. When she looked back at him over her shoulder, the predator she had always seen in his gaze was gone. He watched her with a gentle fondness, his idle smile still difficult to discern even in the bright daylight. Blushing, she giggled and sat facing him.

“Oh! Yer gonna love Mother Meadow!"

“Who?" he tilted his head.

“Mother Meadow! She's the oldest wolf in all the prairie! She had a whole lot o' litters, so most of us are related to 'er. She's even got great great great grand pups! She runs the library when she's not teachin' school. Ye'll love 'er!"

“If you say so," he muttered.

As they came to a stand of trees between two packs, they noticed a log in the road. Fern leaned over to Iron Gale before calling back, “both o' ye hunker down back there."

Rolling to a stop, the two Betas peered about with suspicion. The engine growled and shuddered as they deliberated whether this was a natural break from one of the trees that hung over the road or something done on purpose.

Glaring around again, Fern opened the door. Sure enough, they had suspected correctly. At the click of the latch, five wolves appeared from the brush, two on one side and three on the other. They were thin, almost scrawny, but they had a rough look to them with hardly an intact ear or unmarred muzzle. One was missing an eye while another had only half a tail. A feature they all shared was at least one ugly, puckered scar in the shape of an X on some part of their faces, and none carried a societal braid.

They approached cautiously, trying to peek into the truck bed before they got too close. Fern immediately wrinkled his snout, but carefully kept his teeth covered. "Well, if it ain't Red Paw an' his lackeys. Looked like somethin' ye'd do."

"Ah, g'day, Fern, ol' boy," drawled one of the men cheerfully, a reddish tan, gray and white. He grinned with disingenuous affability while his friends continued to spread out around the truck. "Lovely day ta be out 'n' 'bout. How ye been?"

"Sure were a lovely day, 'fore ye showed yer ugly faces," Fern growled, his eyes darting between them. Iron Gale was growling at the two on his side. "Ye lot're like the clouds. When ye disappear, it's a nicer day."

"Tsk, tsk," Red Paw clicked his tongue with feigned disappointment, shaking his head. "Rude. Here I were bein' pleasant 'n' ye actin' like a ass. What're ya'll takin' into town wit' ye?"

"Nothin' that's yer business," Fern retorted with disdain.

"Oh hey, it's Nova!"

One of the wolves on Iron Gale's side spotted her bright silver fluff curled up in the bed against the wall. Her heart leapt in her throat with a fearful whine when a crimson hand grabbed the side of the truck, his snout appearing over the edge with a loud sniff.

"Hmm, smells like gas, grass an' ass." He grinned down at her wickedly, leaning on his elbow. "Well, hey, Nova! Why ye hidin'? I ain't seen ye in a long while. Why don't ye hop on out 'n' let's... catch up?"

Whimpering, she tucked her tail between her legs and curled up tighter, shaking her head just as Fern snarled and snapped his jaws at the hand that was touching his truck.

"Ye can fuck right off!" he snarled, standing out of the vehicle, bristling.

Red Paw backed away with a dry chuckle, holding up his hands as his friends eagerly surrounded Fern. The ones on the other side rushed to the door to prevent Iron Gale from getting out, baring their teeth at him through the window.

"Hey, hey! No need fer blood on such a fine day! She ain't in heat. Just a bit o' fun 'n' ye guys kin be on yer way."

"Over my dead body!" Fern snapped his teeth dangerously at the one nearest him, his back against the truck.

Again Red Paw chuckled, waving his hand dismissively while the others edged closer, teeth bared in cruel grins. "Now, now, let's not get ta that! Why be fightin' when we could be fuckin'?"

"Because she doesn't want to fuck you!"

None of the Banished had expected to hear the roll of thunder coming from the back. So intent had they been on Nova that they hadn't taken notice of the immense void that had melded so well with the shadow of the tailgate and the crates. Standing up tall first, Anubis leaned over to put his hands on the edge, causing the truck to rock heavily on its shocks, nearly nose to nose with Red Paw over Fern's shoulder, and bared his brilliant teeth in a sinister grin. "But I do!"

Startling, tripping all over themselves with yelps, all 5 backed away before Red Paw tried to save some face and growled, pointing at him. "Hey, he-he ain't s'posed ta threaten us! There was rules! I read 'em in the paper!"

Fern's face changed, his snarl replaced by dramatic astonishment. "Threaten ye? Who's threatenin' ye?" He glanced about. "I don't see no one threatenin' ye." Placing his hand on his chest, he looked up at the sky. "But, I must admit, sure feels like the presence o' a god watchin' over us, don't it, Iron Gale?"

Iron Gale's snarl twisted up into a frigid grin. "Like plot armor," he agreed.

His own grin growing more dreadful, Anubis stood tall again and pulled down his kilt to show off his sheath and balls. The bright pink tip protruding from the top was shiny and vivid against the lustrous black background. "Which of you would like to be first?" His predatory gaze focused on Red Paw. "Because I know which one I want first...."

Ears laid down, the men took off. Fern and Iron Gale burst into laughter. "Damn, Anubis! Didn't think yer dick could be quite so useful, but s'pose the cock o' a god would have ta come in handy somehow!"

Smirking, Anubis tucked himself back in and hopped out to help move the large branch from the road. Once they started up again, Nova smiled slyly and leaned forward, her tail wagging. “I'll go first."

Anubis had to struggle to sour the lecherous grin on his face. It was a difficult battle, especially when she squirmed over to snuggle up against him. He could have sat that way the whole day, despite the bumps that made his rump hurt.

Once they reached town, everything looked very different. From lazy farmland and soft curves of the earth to dusty roads and rigid structures. Some parts of the town were orderly and neat in wide open rows with houses and shops lushly planted with flowers and vines, while others seemed to be placed haphazardly and forced roads to maneuver around them, but the Great Lodge was hard to miss. Nova told Anubis the enormous building where all the country roads led to was meant to house as many wolves as possible along with enough food and supplies to survive a harsh winter. It was built so all the packs in the area had a place to combine and share what they could so everyone could survive if things ever got that thin. It hadn't been used for that purpose for as long as she had been alive, or even anyone she knew. When it wasn't a shelter, it was a place of commerce and socializing.

Pulling alongside several other vehicles, Fern had Anubis unload the barrels and crates onto different flat carts. Within heart beats, most eyes had turned to him. Some were curious, some were aroused, but most were prejudice and spiteful. Intimately aware of the attention he was receiving, he heard many whispers of his size and what his family had done. Some questioned why the brutish butcher was allowed to walk among them, at all.

Hunched over to be as small as he could, he realized that his coming along might have been a poor decision. A crowd formed after Iron Gale left with the crates towards the Great Lodge. Fern was chatting with the mechanic inside the building beside the parking area. Nova gulped, her head lowering as she also noticed all the eyes that stared in their direction.

A sharp whistle caused the crowd to startle. "Oi! The lot o' ya! What'cha all starin' at? No one here seen a wolf before?"

Quickly dispersing, the only one left standing after the crowd was a sleek, muscular stag. His antlers were currently short, fuzzy knobs, but he was no less intimidating. The splotchy crimson red and black patterns were so finely painted onto a dazzling white pelt that it could have been done by an idle artist. His clothes were much finer than the wolves that scurried away. Taller than any of them besides Anubis, he had no hint of a slouch, his head held high on a long, powerful neck.

“Rude lot!" Snorting indignantly after them, his face softened immediately into a friendly smile. “Nova!"

“Baxter!" Rushing to him, her tail wagged while they embraced. “I'm so happy to see ye! What're ye doin' in town?"

“Gosh, Nova, it's so good to see ya!" Baxter stroked her between the ears affectionately. “I was so worried for ya. Poor Fern was a bit of a wreck. Never seen 'im so dysphoric. But, here ya are!" He hugged her tight again. “Funny I'd run into ya today. I wasn't even suppose to be here, but my brother told me he needed my help with the shop. Lots of orders to fill for the war. Hey, speakin' of brothers, if yer here, that must mean.... Eeeoww!"

Jumping with a yowl, Baxter spun on a hoof as Fern bounded away with a tuft of his white tail fur between his fingers, cackling madly. “I survived! I'll live another day!"

“Son of a bitch!" Baxter bellowed, lowering his head to charge after him. “I'll chop ya up an' make wolf stew!"

“Never gonna eat me!" Fern cackled as he danced around several other wolves who snickered with delight, probably having seen this happen before. Baxter continued chasing after him with more threats of eating him.

Anubis tilted his head first one way, then the other, confused as to what he was watching, though it was amusing. Nova was laughing, encouraging the stag to wear her brother as a pelt for his misdeeds against her earlier in the day. Hearing of her mistreatment, Baxter got more personal with his threats, and Fern took off down the street with renewed vigor.

Having to gather herself, Nova shook her head and wiped at her eyes. “Those two're gonna go find someplace to play together." Glancing up at Anubis, she tittered at his befuddled expression. “When Fern were my age, he told me Baxter stole a tuft o' his fur cuz that's how the deer folk gain their rank. Gotta go out an' survive gettin' a piece of a predator. Fern caught 'im an' threatened to eat 'im, but they figured out they were both gay an' now Fern always tries sneakin' up on 'im to steal his fur!"

Iron Gale was rolling the cart full of crates with various supplies back towards them, glancing around. “Where'd Fern go?"

“I'll boil yer testicles in oil, pretty boy!"

“Oh." Iron Gale paused at the yell several streets over, then shook his head. “Dunno why I asked."

Giggling, Nova gasped and rushed over to her uncle. "Kin we go see Grinder? Please?"

Glaring at her sweet expression with a lack of any sternness, he gave her permission to go a street over towards a strange, crooked little building with too many wires running to it from the power grid. Pausing to look it over with wonder at how the place didn't burn down, Anubis' curiosity followed after her.

The place was a mess. Strewn all about on every surface were various bits and types of technology. A walkway almost too small for him was the only clear space. He even had to duck under objects that hung from the ceiling.

It wasn't until he heard Nova sweetly sing out a name that he peered down the aisle and noticed an otter pop his head out of a back room where there had been bright flashes a moment ago. Pulling up the dark goggles, his black, shiny eyes narrowed at her.

"Nova," he drawled, making a wet sound under all the thick whiskers that covered his mouth.

"Hi, Grinder!" She gave him the sweetest smile she could muster, wagging her tail and swaying herself in coy innocence. "How ye been?"

Practically slithering to the counter, he glowered up at her. The brutality of his youth long ago was etched all over his face, giving him a permanent sneer that suited his surly demeanor. "Yer back. Good fer ya. Now, make yer offer quick, bitch. I got a lotta work ta git back ta."

"Aww, Grinder. No time ta catch up?" She leaned against the counter with a flirty little smile. "Is grass all I am to ye?"

The otter barked a laugh cold enough to pop out ice cubes, and his dickish grin wasn't any warmer. "Better have 'nough to tempt me, bitch. Maybe I don't got parts this time."

Pursing her lips, she reached in the front pocket of her overalls and pulled out two thick rolls to present him. "I know ye've gotta have somethin' back there."

Raising a brow, the otter again made a wet noise, wrinkling his nose. "My spares box been real empty lately."

Pulling a third roll out, she gave him round, sweet puppy eyes with a whine. "Tell me it ain't true, Grinder! If ye got nothin' for me, then I might gotta do chores!"

The otter nearly smirked, eyeing her pocket eagerly. "Perhaps it be so, 'less I kin recall 'nother box I might've stashed."

After a moment of trying to budge him with her cuteness, which he sullenly refuted with a cross of his arms, she let out a defeated sigh and presented him with a fourth roll. "That were a whole week o' rations, dick."

Baring his small, sharp teeth with a triumphant grin, Grinder snatched the rolls from her hand before she could try to take them back. Slipping away, there was much chaos in the back room before he returned with a small box heaping with parts and wires. Nova's eyes lit up, looking through the stuff on the top. The fond little smile the otter had watching her expression quickly soured when she looked back at him.

"Thanks, Grinder!" she exclaimed with excitement, hugging the box to her as though it were a treasure chest, beaming with joy. "Yer amazin'!"

"Bah!" The old otter waved his webbed hand dismissively. “Take yer trash an' git, pup!" Lighting up a roll, he smirked fondly as he watched her hurry away. He only then noticed Anubis' dark mass at the doorway, but he was already walking outside with her to better see what she had gotten.

Giddy about her acquisition, her tail wagged all the way back to the truck so she could stash her prize while they waited for Fern to get back.

“Oh! I bet ye'll love this!" She smiled at Anubis then turned to Iron Gale. “Can we go to the library?"

Glancing at the truck that now had boxes of tools and other valuables, he shook his head. “Well, I can't go with ye. Bring me somethin' to eat an' ye can go on yer own."

Doing just that, and getting some for themselves, Nova enthusiastically led Anubis to another large, long building off the side of the great lodge. Along the way, he kept his eyes down as much as he could, not caring for the hate he saw in the eyes of those who gave them a wide berth.

Once they entered the library, Anubis was able to sigh in relief. Dark, cool and quiet, the building smelled of old books. Even better, there were only a few others inside, who whispered to each other with rude glares and quickly left.

Nova hurried off to the manuals to find another gadget she could try. Losing himself in the aisles, he had trouble reading some of the old spines, having to open a few to find out what they were.

“So yer the reason it got empty in 'ere."

Perking at the elderly female voice, he turned to find a tiny silver Aroogar hunched over a cane, squinting up at him with a sharp glint to her foggy gaze.

Slouching over further, he glanced about nervously. “I'm... sorry?"

“Eh? Sorry? Sorry fer what? Fer bein' so black I walked past ye 3 times? Kin't help that anymore than the prejudice o' idiots." Before he could respond, she smacked his shoulder with her cane. “Stand up straight, boy! Yer a Dire, ain't cha? Supposed to be big! Towerin', even! Oh, see, there ya are. Now that's better. Bet yer spine'll thank ya."

“Uh, I was trying not to scare anyone," he muttered softly, peering at her curiously with a cocked head.

Raising a brow, she scoffed. “Boy, don't ye worry 'bout that! People gonna be 'fraid o' what they don't know whether ye break yer back or not, so don't!"

Smirking, he glanced around. They were alone. “Aren't you afraid of me?"

With a snort and a cackle, she waved her hand without concern. “If ye were invadin', ye'd be burnin' down the buildin', not lookin' at books! Yer a Radkial, ain't cha? I kin smell 'em on ye!"

Taken aback, he had to think for a second before nodding slowly. “I suppose."

“Yeah, then I ain't got a reason ta be scared. Best damn pack in the prairie, if I do say so myself, an' not jist cuz I birthed most o' em!" Looking him up and down, she sniffed the air again, and gave him a lecherous, mostly toothless grin. “Fine addition ta the pack. Gonna make lots o' strong pups. 'tween ye an' Jack, my pack'll be mighty."

“Uhhh," was all he could muster, feeling his ears lower in a hot blush.

“Mother Meadow! There ye are!"

The old woman turned in time to be nearly toppled over when Nova threw her arms around her, holding her tight, tail wagging with such gusto that her entire body wiggled with the motion. Sniffing quickly, the old woman smiled and her tail waggled. “Oh, my sweet Nova! How wonderful it is ta see ye. I didn't think my heart could take the sadness when I heard ye were lost, an' now yer home!" Rubbing noses affectionately, Meadow glanced over at Anubis then back at Nova with a knowing little smirk. “An' brought yerself back a prize, eh?"

With a few bewildered blinks as she processed the jest, Nova blushed hotly with a sheepish little smile. “Uh, well, it... it didn't quite... happen that way."

The old woman chuckled softly at her. “Course it did! I read every article! I heard the entire radio broadcast! I heard what ye said ta Khade'grr. I were so proud o' ye, standin' up there an' talkin' ta the council. But ye kin't convince me there weren't a reason in yer head fer 'im ta be here now. Yer too much like me. I know better."

G-Granommy!" Nova gasped, her ears not sure if they were blushing or folding back.

She cackled with delight at both of their discomfort. Just then, the front door opened and a crowd of boisterous pups came piling in, shattering the quiet.

“Oh! Must be time fer lessons!" Hobbling away much faster than one would expect, the old woman stopped and glanced back at Anubis, thrusting her head with invitation. “C'mon, handsome."

Glancing at Nova with a puzzled tilt of his head, he followed after her, but hesitated in the shadows of the aisle. Nearly 2 dozen pups of various ages were excitedly looking through the many bright picture books, chattering loudly and unabashedly. They were so cute, their tails wagging without fear or worry. They were all over Mother Meadow as soon as the first pup noticed her. The older pups held the smaller ones back so they did not knock the elder over in their enthusiasm, but that was a hopeless battle once she had planted herself in the small throne next to the fireplace. Despite the racket, it wasn't difficult for the old woman to calm the pups, getting them to settle in front of her in a little group.

“I got a li'l surprise fer all o' ye!" She grinned, tittering to herself. “Well, mayhaps a big surprise!" The pups eagerly wagged their tails with a chorus of questions. “Hold on, hold on, now! I were gonna teach ye 'bout the deer folk taday, but I got a live specimen o' our cousins from the mountains."

The moment the pups turned to see what Mother Meadow was pointing at, their ears all laid back, eyes wide. The smaller ones whimpered, hiding against the older pups.

The scent of fear had been a constant stench Anubis had learned to ignore through most of his life. Swallowing hard, it had never made him feel so much like retching as it did just now. It filled the air, reminding him of all the pups he had looked down on before the other soldiers had ended their lives, knowing they had every reason to be that scared. He took a step back, holding his stance only because he felt Nova's hand slip into his, noticing his tension. Thankfully, the old woman's voice helped bring him back from the panic building in his chest.

“Now, now, settle down, pups! Settle down. Ain't nothin' scary 'bout this one," she soothed, patting the children that snuggled against her. “Listen here, my pups, listen here. All eyes, lookin' here now. Listen. What's the most important thin' to the prairie wolves?"

Glancing at each other, the pups all spoke together discordantly. “Reputation?"

“That's right! An' it's rude ta judge someone on the reputation o' their people er their family. People only pick what they do, not what others do. If ye don't know their reputation, then it starts fresh fer ye, an' that's how ye treat 'em! This one's already got a reputation fer bein' friendly, though. Otherwise, he wouldn't be here. So, we gonna treat 'im like a really big wolf, a'ight, pups?"

Glancing back at him nervously, one of the older boys glared at Meadow. “They took meh sister in the war, Mother Meadow! They ain't like us. They're animals!"

Nova opened her mouth to reply, but the old woman waved her hand. “Now, now, Wagner, my boy. It's been a sad business, this whole war. There been lots o' folk who been lost an' hurt on all sides. My heart aches for Summer, an' I hope she didn't suffer. But, we don't judge folks by what their people done. This wolf ye see now, he ain't no different than ye er me. Do he look any different other than bein' big? He been made big that way by the Nature we worship, jist like us.

“After all, our books tell us we weren't always Aroogar or Wogtal. We all came from the same stock as other wolf shif'ers, though most of 'em look a bit different from us now. But, we all came from the same planet.

“Eons ago, more generations than kin be recalled, we were all humans. Monkey people! Naked, furless, no senses. Hardly got a nose! I know I shown ya'll pictures. Ain't a one o' us changed back in eons cuz there ain't been no need.

“Well, our books say a great comet hit the planet an' some poor wolf got infected with the monoshif'er virus an' went mad, bitin' a human cuz it needs two strands o' DNA ta thrive. An' that were the first werewolf. For centuries after, our folk had to be scared, hidin' from the other humans.

“Then, along came the Kara-Karu, big ol' catlsh folk. I'll have ta find a picture fur ye pups sometime. Landed on Earth an' made the humans awfully nervous. There were a big war an' the humans lost. Good thin' it were fer 'em that the Kara-Karu don't take slaves, an' they ain't interested in conquest. They got a real strong code o' honor. Makes 'em real mean ta be enemies, but real friendly when the humans gave up. Brought humans ta a new enlightenment an' gave 'em the ability ta go ta other worlds.

“The monoshif'er folk thought it were finally safe ta show 'emselves, but that jist made the humans even more nervous, knowin' all these animals were livin' 'mong 'em. So, all the shif'ers o' every type decided ta go find their own worlds. They all went off with different ideas on how ta live, an' what laws ta follow.

“Our ancestors, when they landed 'ere on Farkash af'er years o' travelin', they 'cided they was gonna live by one simple tenant ta guide us on our new home. Say it with me, pups. 'Ta not upset Nature, we sometimes gotta upset ourselves.' Very good, pups! What it means is that ev'lution takes sacrifice; that ta let Nature shape us, we sometimes gotta accept heartache, even when there may've been a way to change it. The way ta change it might upset the delicate balance that came long 'fore us an' clearly knows better than we do considerin' how many civ'l'ations fell throughout time tryin' ta conquer Nature. Mother Nature'll always win, an' as they say, ta the victor go the spoils, an' we're the spoils! That's Nature's reputation, so best 'member!

“But, that one rule's brought us ta this moment in time. Led ta the creation o' the Wogtal, the Fa'val an' Cha'huo, an' even the Angar'rai! We're all what's ta show fer lettin' Nature take its course an' shape us ta suit 'erself rather than change Nature ta suit us. Is that what ye learned, too, Dire?"

Blinking, Anubis felt a little ashamed to shake his head. "Not… exactly. But… I think you're probably more correct than what I was taught. At least the tenant is the same. We believe that, too. We just... well, I guess it got interpreted differently."

Mother Meadow nodded. "Yeah, course. An' that's why yer near 4 times my size! If ye thought like us than ye'd be a Aroogar! But ye see, pups, even the Wogtal live by the same rule. We ain't all that different, just got a different way o' thinkin. Maybe, if ya'll keep open minds, we kin all learn somethin' new from each other. Ye pups got any questions?"

Every little hand shot up and waved eagerly in the air. Nova had to gently encourage him to pick one to start with. Pursing his lips, he pointed at one of the younger pups.

“What's yer name?"

A few hands went down. Smiling, he answered and pointed to an older pup.

“Do ye live in a cave?"

Though the lesson time was a few hours long, it seemed to fly by, and the pups weren't the only ones disappointed that their time had come to an end. Plucking the pups off his lap and setting them to their paws, he waved as they left reluctantly. The youngest ones whimpered with pouts, glancing back several times and asking when they could come back to ride his shoulders again.

“That weren't so bad, was it?"

Standing from his cross legged position on the floor, he thought a moment, then smiled down at Nova, relishing the warm shudder he sent through her. “Oh, I enjoyed the encounter immensely. In fact, I'm more eager than before for that kappa rank."

With even more disappointment, they had to say farewell to Mother Meadow and return to the truck. They found Iron Gale deeply engrossed in a newspaper, his brow furrowed. He glanced up when he sensed someone near him.

“Oh, finally. Hey, Anubis, this'll interest ye. Look here. Khade'grr's goin' after the Angar'rai! It's full on war! Humans're involved an' everythin'!"

Nearly snatching the paper from his hands, Anubis read the article carefully. Nova hopped up and down, trying to read it as well. “What's it say? What's it say?"

“Well," Iron Gale indulged her, “turns out the humans had no idea the Angar'rai were usin' slaves for their mines, an' slave labor's against the human contract. Said they had no reason to check cuz wolves never done 'em that dirty on other worlds, an' they didn't even know we ain't all the same kind o' wolves here cuz we're the only ones like that. Khade'grr called 'em up in orbit. Took a bit o' figurin out what they was sayin' but once he told 'em what the Angar'rai done, the humans set up a blockade so they can't do business with their other partners. That's what all those lights've been in the skies at night! There's been a fire fight goin' on over our heads!

“Says the humans dropped Khade'grr a whole new shipment o' weapons an' supplies an' vehicles. Armed 'im to the teeth. So, now, he's marchin through the mountains an' he's gonna take the fight to those sand lickers! He's callin' for more bodies, but he's already got a bigger Wogtal army than yer pack did! Said he won't stop 'til he's brought justice to every last one o' our peoples lost to this whole affair, an' the Angar'rai are too scared to ever fuck with us again!"

Nova's enthusiasm changed. Death was nothing to be enthusiastic about. Even just hearing the name of those Devils made her feel cold inside.

Hearing Anubis suck in an audible breath, they both looked up at him. “All the pups we sent," he murmured. “We sent them the pups we made with the slaves because they didn't fight back the way the male Aroogar did when they grew up, but they needed the strength for the mines."

Eyes wide, Iron Gale shook his head slowly. “That.... What the fuck were wrong with yer bitch mother?"

With a despondent sigh, Anubis also shook his head. “If I had ever known, I don't think things would've ended up this way."

A dark figure caught his attention from the corner of his eye. Fern was staggering back. Normally better groomed than the rest of the pack, he was entirely disheveled and dazed, the buttons on his shirt not lining up, the collar flipped up on one side, and his fur in total disarray. Iron Gale raised a brow, looking him over before reaching out to pluck a vivid red strand of fur from his shirt.

“Hey!" Snatching it back, Fern pressed it to the fur on his chest. “I need that to prove I survived!"

Iron Gale grinned and snickered, barely containing himself. “Oh, that so? Think ye just standin' here were proof 'nough."

Stroking himself idly, Fern had a starry-eyed, unfocused expression and swayed on his paws. “Are ye sure? I dunno. Think I left some o' me back there."

Iron Gale could hold it in no longer and guffawed. The others couldn't hold back after that. “Yeah, ye sure left somethin' back there!"

“Ye need a nap, Fern?" Nova teased.

His dreamy little smirk made Iron Gale roll his eyes and groan, but there was no anger in the shaking of his head. “Just get in the fuckin' truck, Fern.

Sleep was exactly what he did on the trip back, leaned up against the door. Thankfully, the return trip was less eventful than the morning, only passing another truck. Iron Gale paused a moment to catch up with the neighbor and let them know to keep their eyes open for the Banished.

Their return prompted a small celebration, but Anubis noticed Fern and Denver were nowhere to be seen before they were even done unloading. Once he was finally laying in bed, the flood of thoughts about the day could not stop his eyes from closing, and for the first time in weeks, Anubis had no nightmares.