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Kiss

Chapter 54

By the time they reached the Summer Valley, they were all too bitter, too angry, and too sad to really appreciate its beauty. The valley was a piece of the ancient fox empire, preserved from war and time, sitting cloaked away in its own little world. Crystal palaces white and pink raised their towers to the azure sky, and birds flew in and out of the arched windows, singing a song that sent a soothing peace over the perturbed group. Ancient fountains and courtyards, paved streets and walkways, shops, houses, stables where horses fed no more - all of it was standing in perfect condition, as if it had simply been abandoned. There were no signs of inhabitants: no skeletons, no well-persevered corpses, not even a surviving tribe of ancient foxes. Just beauty and silence overrun by weeds, tall grass, and an endless forest of encroaching trees.

"It's like S'pru," Kayya whispered in awe, and beside her, Ettoras nodded sadly.

Zeinara peered through the high green canopy of leaves, her mouth slightly open. The trees were endlessly tall, so tall that one could climb one and touch the clouds. The tallest spires were likewise wreathed in cloud. Zeinara swallowed hard, digesting it all.

"My father has a portal to this place under Wandourg," whispered Florian, his voice hushed with awe. "All this time . . . the portal led here?"

Motsumi cleared his throat, and Zeinara knew he was trying to shake off his slack-jawed wonder. "Let's stay focused. The journey will be long, but we must find the temple to Hildrith'el. It has the stair leading to Skkye."

"Couldn't we make camp right here?" Florian complained. "My feet are killing me. Never walked so far in my life. These boots are for the aesthetic, damn it all, not walking."

Zeinara hated to admit it, but Florian was right: she was ready to collapse. And sleeping on a proper bed or even the soft ground would be welcome after the hard floors of the tunnel. "Maybe we should take a peek into one of these houses," she suggested and hated it when Yeneneshe glared at her.

Since Hawkeye's death, Yeneneshe's resent toward Zeinara seemed to have doubled. She hadn't spoken a word since the incident and had been keeping her distance from everyone, even Ettoras. She folded her arms and hunched her shoulders, and if anyone looked her way, they were met with a hateful glare. Even now, she stood on the edge of the group, apart from everyone, her face streaked with dry tears, her long white mane a tousled mess. It made Zeinara feel guilty for loving Nkwe, and it made her feel guilty that Nkwe loved her like his child. She wanted more than anything to talk with him about Mogethis and everything that had happened, but she was afraid to even look at him because of Yeneneshe's hurt and anger.

"That's a good idea," Palesa agreed. She looked at her mentor. "Motsumi . . . I know returning the artifacts is important, but I think we could all use a little rest. And it would be too dangerous to continue after nightfall anyway." So saying, she discreetly jerked her head at Yeneneshe, who noticed the gesture anyway and scowled.

"So be it," Motsumi said. "Come, everyone. Let us find some place that is suitable."

They stepped into the tangle of streets, where great trees had burst through the pavement and ravished it with their roots. Bushes and vines and flowers had overgrown everything, to the point that the kingdom's statues and buildings were all but obscured.

Zeinara had never guessed that the Summer Valley was actually a kingdom, but she also wasn't sure exactly what she'd expected. She glanced at Pili to see how her father's magic-hating assassin was taking it all in. Pili was hushed, even reverent, and Zeinara had to remind herself that Pili likely viewed the valley as proof that the foxes had been conquered by dogs at the will of the Creator.

The first house they came to was overrun by bushes, and they had to fight their way through to the door. Inside, a magical blue fire was still roaring in the hearth. Chairs stood empty around a table, and cooking utensils hung from the rafters, glistening silver and gently swaying from the breeze the intruders brought with them. Flowered vines had covered the windows of the living room, in which stood a few couches made of wicker. A thousand years, and the furniture had not decayed. The place truly was magical.

Florian collapsed on one of the couches. "Go and see if there is a bed, Shakir, will you, love?" he said, and Shakir went off at once.

Zeinara rolled her eyes. "What, is he your slave now?"

Florian smiled. "My _willing_slave."

Motsumi sat wearily at the kitchen table, and Zeinara saw him take off his furry boot and massage his foot. She almost laughed: Motsumi had very tiny feet. Palesa sat with him at the table, and Wilmer hovered just over her shoulder.

Everyone else did likewise, spreading into the living room, finding comfortable corners to rest in. Yeneneshe went to the blue fire, knelt down, and warmed her paws at the hearth. Nkwe and Pili followed her, and she rigidly ignored them as they knelt beside her and warmed their paws in the azure glow. Nkwe looked as if he wanted to say something to his sister, but she was determined not to look at him.

Azrian went to the living room and sat on the couch opposite Florian. She opened her coat, looking tired and hot, and she smiled when she noticed Florian watching her with quiet curiosity.

"So . . ." Florian said and cleared his throat. "You're her."

"And you are a son of Fire," Azrian said politely. "Prince Florian of Curith."

Florian smiled and stuck out his chest, and Zeinara knew he was just tickled to have finally been properly recognized. "That's right, darling, the only one. Nice work with Hellene, by the way."

Azrian's lips twisted in a smirk. "Thanks."

"I can't believe it," Ettoras muttered resentfully. He was standing beside Zeinara and folded his arms as he watched the exchange. "Why is she talking to him - I mean, why is he talking to her! Didn't she kill his aunt or something? And his god tried to kill us!"

Zeinara shrugged, suddenly feeling very tired. "I dunno," she said, "the same reason you tolerate Florian, perhaps? He's a harmless boob."

Kayya laughed softly. "Couldn't have put it better myself."

Ettoras darkly shook his head. "No. No one should be talking to her!"

"Why?" Zeinara demanded. "Because you don't want to talk to her? You and Yeneneshe are a right pair of brats, aren't you? You deserve each other!" Zeinara waved a paw at Yeneneshe, who scowled to hear her words. "She's your mother, Ettoras. She's not perfect, but she loves you, and everything she did - whatever she did - was to protect you." Zeinara was satisfied when Ettoras blinked and had nothing to say.

"God, I'd give anything to have the privilege of hating my mother right now," Zeinara went on bitterly. "But, of course, mine is dead." She felt a flinch of guilt when Nkwe's eyes glittered sadness, but it was the truth.

Ettoras stared at his mother with new eyes, and Zeinara was glad she had gotten through to him. Thankfully, Azrian and Florian were out of earshot and didn't appear to have heard either of them. Their conversation continued, even as Shakir returned and announced that there were two bedrooms at the back of the house, each containing two narrow beds.

"Great," Florian moaned. "That means only four of us can sleep at a time."

"Or we could also make use of the couches," Palesa pointed out.

Florian snorted and got to his feet. "Speak for yourself, Palesa. I'm grabbing one of those bloody beds before any of you lot get any ideas."

"No," said Motsumi heavily. "We have to cast lots for first watch. The Summer Valley may be breathtaking, but make no mistake, it is a dangerous place. There are wild beasts here, I can feel them."

"And if we could get here through a portal," added Palesa grimly, "chances are someone else could as well."

Motsumi nodded. "So before anyone rushes off to bed, I want Palesa, Pili, and myself to cast lots for watch --"

"As if it mattered to me. A monkey could take watch and I'd feel safer," snorted Florian. He shrugged when everyone looked at him. "You did all try to kill me, after all!"

Zeinara looked away guiltily and so did the others. That was true.

Nkwe got to his feet. "I'll cast a lot for watch as well." He looked at Florian. "I have never tried to kill you. Does that make you feel better?" he asked sarcastically.

Florian snorted again. "Hardly. You look as if you'd killed your fair share of dogs. Those eyes! Don't know if I should be scared or hard as a rock."

Nkwe grimly turned away.

"I won't sit on watch with the likes of you," Palesa said to Nkwe and got to her feet in protest.

The room went still as Nkwe and Palesa glared at each other. Not this again! Zeinara marched to Nkwe's side, startling Palesa when she said darkly, "Look, I don't know what you have against Mogethis and Nkwe and Yeneneshe, but put it aside. We're in danger here and we need to work together!"

"Spoken like a true princess," said Pili with approval.

Palesa glared at Pili, but she looked at Zeinara again and said coldly through her pretty fangs, "Fine."

Zeinara turned away. She didn't like angering Palesa, not because she was afraid of her, but because she liked her. She also pitied her. Wilmer was standing just behind Palesa's shoulder and looked as if he wanted to touch her. Zeinara would have given anything to tell Palesa that Wilmer was there.

They cast lots for first watch, using the straws of grass that pushed through the open windows. Nkwe found himself on first watch with Palesa, and the two looked at each other irritably. Motsumi suggested a recast, but the moment he did, both Nkwe and Palesa shouted against it. They seemed determined to prove something, and if anything, this worried Motsumi even more. For this reason, Motsumi volunteered to sleep on one of the couches, and Azrian - as if she was worried for Nkwe - did likewise.

"You will take one of the four beds," Pili told Zeinara, her paw on the dagger in her belt. "I can keep a better eye on you that way. Take Ettoras, Kayya, and the girl with the long name with you."

Zeinara smiled: by the time Pili had finished saying "the girl with the long name," she might as well have said Yeneneshe's actual name.

"What about me?" Florian demanded of Pili. He came over, Shakir following behind. "I say we double up on the beds so no one has to sleep on the floor!" he cried, as if sleeping on the floor again were now his greatest and deepest fear. "Ettoras and the little white one can take a bed, Shakir and I will take a bed, then Zeinara and Kayya --"

"No! Not happening!" Pili said at once, her face twisted.

Zeinara rolled her eyes. "It's entirely possible that Kayya and I could share a bed without having sex," she assured Pili wearily. She paused, glanced at Kayya's big breasts, and added, "Okay . . . kinda possible."

Kayya blushed.

Pili glowered. "Kayya will share a bed with me." She looked Kayya in the eye. "The princess sleeps alone. Understand, girl?"

"Leave Kayya alone!" Zeinara snapped. "She can sleep wherever the hell she wants. And if she wants to sleep with me --!"

"No, Zeinara, it's okay!" Kayya cried, her eyes widening when she saw the anger in Pili's face. Kayya placed a paw on Zeinara's arm to calm her, and Zeinara blinked herself silent, remembering how Kayya hated confrontation.

"It's okay," Kayya repeated. "I'll share a bed with Pili."

"Actually, I would recommend that Ettoras and Zeinara share a bed," Pili went on, her eyes tracing over Yeneneshe suspiciously. "It is the only way to ensure the royal siblings stay pure."

Yeneneshe rolled her eyes.

Zeinara and Ettoras exchanged disgusted glances.

"Now that's going too far!" Zeinara protested and laughed in spite of herself. "Honestly, you really think anyone is going to have sex tonight? If Uncle Nkwe weren't taking first watch, I'd be more suspicious of_you._"

Pili scowled, but Zeinara's words seemed to shut her up. Behind her, Zeinara noticed the light of realization that came to Palesa's eyes. Palesa was standing in the kitchen doorway with her arms folded, and when she heard Zeinara's words, she glanced in amusement at Nkwe, who was in the kitchen behind her, grimly making a light snap on and off in his paw and completely unaware of what was being said in the next room.

"Get to bed, your majesty," Pili said, looking away. "It has been a long day . . . and I do not feel like arguing."

"That feeling? It's mutual," Zeinara muttered and marched down the hall.

The bedrooms at the back of the house were elegantly decorated, with white lacey curtains still intact over the windows and a beautiful golden mirror standing in one corner of each room. The sheets on each bed were also immaculate and not rumpled in the slightest, white sheets with little pink flowers across them. A brush was on the nightstand in one room, while a glass of unspoiled milk was on the nightstand in the other room. The windows in each room were covered by a tangle of flowered vines, which obscured the sunlight outside, but Zeinara could tell the sun was already going down. It was getting colder and would be dark soon.

Zeinara, Kayya, and Pili took one room, while Ettoras, Yeneneshe, Florian, and Shakir took the other room. Everyone paired up on the beds, while Zeinara took a bed by herself.

"And no fondling each other before the prince," Pili warned Florian, who flipped her his middle finger as he walked away. "And keep your paws off each other!" she warned Ettoras and Yeneneshe, who likewise ignored her.

Zeinara thought Yeneneshe looked tired and sad and wanted to say something to her. But what could she say? And was it really her place to dictate how Yeneneshe should feel toward her brother? She wanted to defend Nkwe, but she realized she really could not. For all she knew, Nkwe truly had abandoned his little sister in order to raise Zeinara. At the end of the day, it was basically up to Nkwe to make things right with Yeneneshe, and Zeinara hated that she could do nothing to help them.

Zeinara couldn't sleep. She was afraid she would dream of the Ravisher again. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling and thinking of Palesa. She imagined that Wilmer had come to her as she slept, that he had probably begged her forgiveness and made love to her. Palesa certainly seemed happier than she had in days.

And Azrian. Azrian was here. Zeinara wanted to apologize for everything she'd done, but she could barely bring herself to look at the Second Light. Sometimes Azrian would look at her, and her eyes would be gentle and forgiving, and she knew everything was fine. But was it? She still felt tremendously guilty. Once as they were still in the tunnels, she tried to work up the nerve to speak to Azrian but could make no words come out. Azrian just smiled at her and touched her face and she felt at ease. She looked into those bright, loving eyes and she saw her father's blue eye looking back at her. The eyepatch that had horrified her when she was a child was worn by her father because he had given Azrian his eye! Somehow, it was just one more way Azrian's actions had influenced Zeinara's entire life, as if Azrian had always been there, hidden and yet in plain sight.

"Zeinara?" whispered Kayya.

Zeinara looked over. Kayya and Pili were sharing the other bed in the room. Both were on top of the sheets, and Pili was facing the wall as she slept. Kayya lay closest to Zeinara. She was on her belly, and her cheek was on the pillow. Her white mane tumbled around her red face, and her plump backside was practically bursting from the small deerskin dress she wore. Zeinara could smell her sex and it made her a little warm.

"Can't sleep either?" Kayya whispered.

"No," Zeinara sighed. She watched with a fluttering heart as Kayya smiled and sat up.

Kayya paused to look at Pili, fearful that she had woken, and seeing voluptuous Kayya perched on paws and knees - butt jutting and breasts hanging -- made the lips in Zeinara's pants swell. Kayya was completely unaware of her appeal, however, and remained perched for several seconds, waiting in trepidation for Pili to wake and lecture her. When Pili never woke, Kayya climbed from the bed, and smiling, she climbed on top of Zeinara.

Zeinara lay there, stiff with surprise as Kayya straddled her and leaned down, laying her small, curvy body against Zeinara's. Zeinara smiled and closed her arms around Kayya, and they lay there for a time, happy and content, peering into each other's eyes and relishing in the warmth of their young bodies touching.

Kayya started unbuttoning Zeinara's shirt, and Zeinara felt her heart skip a beat.

"What are you doing?" Zeinara whispered and glanced anxiously at Pili.

Kayya smiled at her from the hanging wreath of her white mane. "I want to feel your breasts against mine . . . not through your clothes this time . . ."

Zeinara took a breath as her shirt was pushed open, and her naked breasts heaved slightly. They were high and small, black with swirls of gold running over the curves. Her nipples were black and sharp. Kayya sat up, and after hesitating, she touched one of Zeinara's breasts, squeezing it gently in her slender fingers.

Zeinara sat up on her elbow, her golden mane tumbling around one side of her black face. Her blue eyes were smiling and warm. "Have you ever been with a girl before?"

"I-I've been with Ettoras," Kayya joked shyly.

Zeinara laughed. She drew Kayya down close. "Then you're still a virgin, darling," she whispered against her lips, and she kissed her warmly.

Kayya melted into the kiss, and she was trembling all over. She was nervous. Zeinara stroked her mane to sooth her, and her tongue was gentle as it slipped against hers. She gently pulled Kayya's deerskin dress down around her naked shoulders, and then she was kissing the flexing flesh where shoulder met neck. Kayya clung to her, her head tilted to accept the warm and gentle kisses that traveled down her naked collarbone to her cleavage. Zeinara pushed Kayya's long white mane back over her shoulder and pulled the dress down over Kayya's big, soft breasts. She sucked one with gentle lips and tongue, and Kayya stroked her mane.

"Z-Zeinara," Kayya whispered breathlessly. "Z-Zeinara, I'm afraid!"

Zeinara pulled back to look at Kayya. They were sitting up and facing each other. Kayya's eyes were round with fear, and her warm thighs were around Zeinara's waist.

Zeinara frowned and smoothed a soothing paw up Kayya's thigh. "What are you afraid of, baby?" Her face darkened. "Are you afraid of me?"

"No," Kayya whispered sadly. She bit her lip. "I'm afraid you won't like being with me . . . I-I've never been with a girl before . . . I wouldn't know . . . I-I . . ." Kayya babbled herself silent and looked at Zeinara miserably.

Oh. Was that it? Zeinara smiled, looking at Kayya with gentle blue eyes. "You just leave that up to me."

Kayya's lashes fluttered. Zeinara carefully laid her on the bed. She pushed Kayya's legs up and apart, revealing her pink sex. Kayya peered breathlessly at Zeinara between her heaving breasts and shapely thighs. God. Kayya had no idea how gorgeous she was. Zeinara felt her lips getting thick in her panties. She pulled her pants down and slipped a paw in her panties, and as she leaned down to taste Kayya, she fingered herself.

Kayya moaned, growing wetter, swelling thicker with every flick and lick of Zeinara's skilled tongue. Even though Zeinara was only half-dog, she had the flexible tongue of one -- a tongue that was very prone to drooling and heavy slapping -- and she took full advantage of the fact, until Kayya's moisture had left a puddle on the bed sheets.

Zeinara's own moisture was dripping down her thighs when she sat up and inched her panties down. Kayya watched her with warm brown eyes, and she wondered how she must have looked to her. Her breasts were poking from her open shirt and her pants and panties were around her boots; her golden mane was likely a mess, and her eyes were probably blazing with want of Kayya. She surely felt blazing.

Kayya glanced fearfully at Pili as Zeinara leaned down on top of her.

"What are you going to do?" Kayya whispered. "We might wake her!"

"Shh," Zeinara whispered, rubbing her nose against Kayya's. "Just kiss me. . . ."

They kissed, and Zeinara could feel the hunger, the sweetness in Kayya's kiss. Their lips pealed apart and they smiled at each other. Zeinara's eyes drifted down to Kayya's breasts, and she pulled on Kayya's nipple with wet lips, hunching her back, rubbing her soft, moist sex against Kayya's. Kayya gasped, surprised by the pleasure as their throbbing clits touched, as their softness and wetness moved together. Their young, curvy bodies twisted in fluid motion, and as Zeinara moved her hips, making tender love to Kayya, she wondered what Kayya would think if she knew Zeinara was a virgin too. She had never done this with another girl, not even Axel, though she'd thought about doing it with Robin constantly.

"Oh . . . oh, Zeinara," Kayya moaned, lifting her chin, clinging tight to the princess as their breasts jiggled, as their sexes caressed. Kayya moved her hips, her slender belly flexing. She grabbed Zeinara's backside in fistfuls and arched her back in sudden desperation, trying to keep their sexes touching. Zeinara put Kayya's pretty leg on her shoulder and thrust her hips slower, deeper. They kissed again and moaned through the kiss.

A shudder went through Zeinara and she knew she was going to come. Kayya was going to come as well, Zeinara could see it in the helplessness of her eyes. Kayya seemed baffled by the pleasure, her white mane a tangled mess around her, her greats breasts rubbing soft and warm against Zeinara's. Zeinara held her close and buried her face in her sweet-smelling softness. She closed her eyes and frowned, as a choked gasp escaped her lips, Kayya's mouth touched hers in a hard kiss. Their heads twisted through the kiss and they came together, squirting against each other in a wonderfully wet mess of heat.

In the silence that followed, they panted with riding breasts, and Zeinara settled on the bed beside Kayya. Kayya snuggled into Zeinara's arms, and she held her in the silence, thinking that there was no place she'd rather be. If she had to become queen of Varimore, she would talk Kayya into staying with her. She had to. She didn't think she could be without her. She never wanted to cry alone in her room again.

"Zeinara, I . . . I love you," Kayya whispered happily.

"God, I love your tits," Zeinara answered breathlessly.

"Zeinara!" Kayya cried, playfully indignant.

Zeinara laughed and rubbed her nose against Kayya's. "I love you too, Kayya. . . . and I love when our pussies kiss."

"Zeinara!" Kayya cried again. But she dropped her cheek near Zeinara's breasts and closed her eyes happily. "I love it too," she whispered contently, and Zeinara kissed her head.