Chapter 5

The stars twinkled in a cloudless sky, bright and radiant, as were the twin moons, for one was full and large; and together they bathed the land below in soft light, lengthening shadows and lighting the path of two exhausted rodents. They did not walk long into the night.

In the roots of a large tree, under an arch covered in hanging moss, a fire snapped and crackled. Uesstii placed a bundle of dry sticks to the fire and took great delight in watching it blaze up; the fire light flickered in her silver eyes. The warmth was much appreciated by Faylo. He sat as close to the fire as it would allow.

‘I didn’t know it would be this cold.’ Faylo said. ‘I should have packed a tail-sock.’

The little mouse was shivering, and he kept his nearly furless forepaws and feet close to the fire; and he flexed and wiggled his long, rodent toes over the flames. Uesstii sat with him, shoulder to shoulder, and she grabbed his tail and stroked it gently in her paws.

‘That feels nice...’ Faylo practically purred.

‘I didn’t realize the cold would nip at your tail so horribly.’ Uesstii said.

‘And my ears,’ He said, giving them a rub. His ears were red and sore. ‘You’re so lucky to have big, fluffy feet, tufted ears, and a beautiful tail.’

‘All the better for keeping you warm, squeaks.’ She said, as she gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek. That kiss was the warmest he had ever felt, as if the squirrel herself heated her lips with magic. ‘I won’t let you freeze.’

‘That is very appreciated.’ Faylo held her paw tightly, stealing as much warmth from her fur as possible. ‘I hope for warmer days ahead of us.’ He said, with a sniffle.

‘We can get a quick feed in and then go straight to bed, if you would like. It’s a little early, but for the health of your tail, I can make an exception.’

‘That would be wonderful.’

Uesstii got up, much to Faylo’s dismay, and he watched her as she prepared supper. His eyes went to her tail that bounced with each step, those beautiful footpaws, long, fluffy toes, her soft fur, and her eyes that seemed to glitter and glow in the light of the moons. His heart raced and he practically melted and he almost forgot all about being cold. She placed day old bread next to the coals, scrounged up some nuts, and when it was all ready, she brought some over for Faylo on a leaf.

‘We have to eat light.’ Uesstii said, between mouthfuls of nuts. ‘No telling how far the Ulyphyn has wandered.’

‘I can fish for us.’ Faylo said, as he took a bite of the warm bread. ‘If we follow the river long enough, that is.’

‘I hope so.’ Uesstii sat back down, bit into her bread, and chewed loudly, the complete opposite of Faylo, who seemed to have more table manners than three squirrels combined. ‘There’s plenty of tucker to be had in the bush, I promise.’

‘Hm, yeah. I would collect wild onion this time of year, though, it might be a tad too late now. The leaves are green and the ferns have grown tall.’

Uesstii took a drink from her canteen. ‘Mushrooms. Plenty of those, if we happen upon them. I like the swirly kind that you see in April and early May, you know, the one that kinda looks like a brain.’

Faylo did not want to ask how or why Uesstii would know what a brain looked like, but he managed to find an alternative description to suggest.

‘The one that looks like a walnut?’

‘Yeah! That’s the one. Golden and soft.’

‘Morels.’ Faylo said. ‘I find them from time to time.’

‘Oh, I hope we find some. I haven’t had a feed of morels in many spring seasons.’

Faylo made a mental note of that. He would be sure to look for some, especially if it meant making his squirrel happy. While the squirrel was distracted by her supper, Faylo reached up behind her head and parted her hair. The wound was mostly healed, astonishingly, and the stitches were inside a ridge of scarred flesh.

‘We’ll have to take these out soon.’

‘Hm? Oh, yeah, I forgot about those.’

‘Does it still hurt?’ Faylo asked. ‘What about your ribs?’ He poked her, she winced.

‘Some healer you are. Always poking what hurts the most!’

Faylo wiggled his nose. ‘That’s because you’re a stubborn squirrel.’

‘I’m fine, Faylo, really. Save for these blasted ribs.’ She rubbed at them with a paw. ‘Ever since you pulled me out of that dark hole, I have felt...’ She trailed off for a moment and thought hard on her words. ‘It’s hard to explain, but I feel, good, really good. As if I am suddenly ten years younger.’

‘You always seemed quite youthful to me.’

‘Squirrels are high energy.’

‘I noticed.’ Faylo squeaked.

‘What about mice?’ Uesstii asked, as she popped another nut in her mouth. ‘You seem to scurry a lot.’

‘I’ve been doing that a lot lately with you around.’

‘Tending to your maiden, er, fair lady, I should say, is quite the chore, huh?’

‘The rewards have been worth it.’ Faylo squeaked, as he leaned in and kissed at her whiskers. ‘The last few days of my life have been the best I have ever had.’

Uesstii nuzzled at him, tangling their whiskers, and accidentally sharing a piece of peanut between them. ‘Yes, I suppose, despite the hardship and horrors, falling in love with someone as sweet and kindhearted as you has been the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me.’ She kissed him, and he eagerly returned it, their lips meshing, smooching, and he heated up so fiercely in that moment that the cold was easily forgotten.

Faylo broke the kiss and stared into her eyes. ‘When I first saw you in the woods, so joyous and free, I knew in my heart that you were special; and when I finally saw into your eyes, I felt it then, love at first sight.’

Uesstii wiggled and blushed. It was too much like a fairy tale! She calmed herself quickly, but her tail was still a wild frenzy behind her.

‘A love that you earned.’ Uesstii said. ‘By being the bravest mouse I have ever met.’ She kissed his forehead, and for good measure, she nuzzled against his ears. ‘These are freezing!’

‘Y-yes.’ Faylo said, through chattering teeth.

‘This will not do!’ Uesstii squeaked. ‘I won’t have my knight freeze to death on his first adventure.’

Uesstii grabbed the sleeping rolls, which were just rolled blankets, and placed one on the ground, in a dry and cleared spot, nearest the fire, but far enough away to be safe. She placed the other on top, and built two pillows out of their spare clothing. That was not all, for she began to undress, right in front of him, making sure he could see everything as she did. First came her cuirass, up and over her tufted ears, then her shirt, and with that her breasts bounced free.

‘Are you just going to sit there and watch, or are you going to join me?’ Uesstii teased.

‘Coming!’ Faylo squeaked.

Faylo pulled his own armour off, unbuckled his scabbard, and quickly pulled his shirt off. The cold was shocking against his fur and extremities, but he persevered long enough to watch dumbly as Uesstii untied her loincloth. The fabric slipped away from her waist, and that fiery bush of pubic hair, one he so admired, was on full display, and that wet, pouting pussy, no doubt in heat driven agony.

‘Faylo?’

Faylo snapped out of his daze. ‘Yes?’

‘Your turn.’ Uesstii grinned.

Faylo blushed so hotly that it seemed to banish all the cold around him. His cock tented the loincloth, no doubt aroused by her display, and as his cock grew, the cloth fell to the side around the shaft, exposing it to the cool, crisp air. His thumbs hooked under the band of his loincloth, and without even bothering to untie it, he pushed it down, over his tail, and to his ankles, where he kicked it away with minor disgust. His pubic hair was messy, and his sheath was wet with heavy arousal; and that musk of his, so sweet and strong, steamed and wafted in the cold air and tickled her nose, so pleasantly, so intoxicating, that she smelled it unbidden, and a terrible desire flooded over her, and she knew exactly what she wanted.

The bed was soft, dry, and far warmer once they both wiggled under the covers. Faylo was shivering, and she could feel him doing so against her. She pulled him close, kissed his forehead, and squeezed him tight.

‘How’s that?’ Uesstii purred.

‘S-so much better.’

Faylo snuggled against her fluffy chest, took in her scent, and exhaled hotly against her. His paws wandered, how could they not, for she smelled so sweet and inviting. They travelled along her sore ribs, careful around those, and then down to her hip, where he gave it a good squeeze. His arousal was very apparent, and the proof of which was poking her thigh, as it had done that same morning. He could feel the warmth radiating between them, mostly from between her legs, and the air felt wet and moist.

‘Watch where you aim that thing.’ Uesstii giggled.

‘Sorry.’

Faylo was only sorry that he had missed. His cock poked at her, desperately so, and when he felt his shaft glide across the warmth of her pussy, he gasped and she squeaked! He was so close to entering her, and that was all he could think about, and his hips obeyed, thrusting back and forth, a little too eagerly, for Uesstii grabbed his tail before he could stab her with that cock.

‘Needy little mouse.’ Uesstii teased. ‘I have an idea that I am desperate to try, if you can bear the cold for a little while longer.’

Faylo was light headed. ‘Hm?’

Uesstii kissed his nose and pushed him on his back. He squeaked! Surprised at first, but he made no attempt to move away from her. She was strong, stronger than he, and she was forceful in her movements. Those paws pinned him to the blanket, kept him still while she stared at him, lust drunk and panting. She kissed him firstly, their whiskers tangling, breath mixing, then she kissed along his chest, where she disappeared under the blanket, and would have been totally invisible if it were not for the squirrel shaped lump and her giant tail sticking out the back.

The smell under the blanket was intense, thick, and a bit moist; it smelled mostly of her and her heat, but there was that scent of his, of male mouse, so intoxicating and alluring that it brought her sniffing down his chest, belly, and then right up against his bush of pubic fur. She sniffed him, rapidly, moaning, squeaking, barking! So happy she was that he tail whipped into a frenzy. Her nose fit perfectly at the tip of his sheath, between his cock and the wet fold, and just below that, under his cock, where his balls and sheath met, was the most potent of places. She shoved her snout there, sniffed loudly, and trembled with pleasure; and her paws went to those balls and squeezed them possessively. Those were hers now, full and virile, and they would undoubtedly make her a proud mother of healthy pups!

Uesstii squeaked! Chittered, barked, and sniffed, such a happy squirrel she was, and Faylo couldn’t help but lift the blanket to watch her work. He was a leaky mess, and each of her heated touches had his cock twitching. All of this was, until recently, reserved to the realm of his dreams and fantasies. Many a lonely nice was spent masturbating, thinking about what a female would look like, feel like, smell like; and now here he was, at the mercy of an eager female. All of his dreams were of mice, but ever since Uesstii arrived, his dreams were of her. He admired her enthusiasm, her strength, that beautiful tail, and her fair and kind features. She was perfect.

The cold was quickly forgotten when Faylo felt his cock slip inside Uesstii mouth. He was far too busy admiring her, thinking of her, to realize where her lips were taking her. She did it so fast, so suddenly, that he grunted, trembled, and thrust his hips, and squeaked! A shrill, surprised squeak, that had him blushing and stammering out apologies. She was so warm, so wet! Just like his dream when he was inside her pussy, oh how he wished he was awake when that happened for real. All he managed to do with that thrust was shove his cock against her cheek, just shy of her large front teeth; and she was quick to regain control after that. She pressed her paws to his hips and kept him still.

Oral sex with rodents was hard, but not uncommon to do. Uesstii was undeterred. She kept her buckteeth away from his cock, as was physically possible, but she struggle terribly, and each graze of her sharp teeth had him wince.

‘T-teeth!’

Uesstii nodded and readjusted. She figured it out quickly, and to her delight, his cock slid down her throat with relative ease. He felt that! She took his tapered tip down to his thick base, where her nose pressed to his sheath again. Faylo struggled to keep any sort of composure. He was panting, wiggling his hips against her, rather, he wiggled what he could, for she kept him pinned. That unimaginable heat soaked into his very being, and when he felt that tongue drag across his shaft, he squeaked again! His paws squeezing at her ears. She pulled back very slow, enough to drive him absolutely wild, and then when his tip was at her lips, she sank back down on him, deep throating him one quick motion.

That was far too much for such a little mouse! Faylo tensed, squeaked, and tried desperately to hilt her face, as if he was inside a snug pussy, and he came, so ridiculously hard, that he was a squeaking, trembling mess; his toes curled and he pulled on her ears. Uesstii felt it first. The way he tensed up just before orgasm, his breathing, and those little squeaks of pleasure that escaped his lips. She was not prepared, however, for the impressive volume and the incredible power behind each shot. She could feel it. The shots against her throat and the heat of his cum. She was quickly overwhelmed. She tried to pull away, but found herself trapped, held tight by Faylo’s paws. He kept her there, possessively, as any male would to ensure a successful breeding, and only when he started to relax was she able to pull away and breathe.

That impressive cock slipped from her muzzle with a wet pop! Uesstii gasped for breath, coughing and sputtering, only to have her eyes and whiskers glazed by the last of his orgasm. She squeaked and opened her mouth and tried to catch the last of his cum, but most of it fell short. There was so much of it! The corner of her lips dribbled with a mix of saliva and cum, her face was soaked in it, and it was all she could smell now, that potent, virile, musky scent of mouse, and it made her shiver, bark, and huff hotly; her eyes were half-lidded and she was unresponsive and uncaring to the whole world around her.

Faylo lay panting against his pillow. He was hot, horribly so, a sweaty mess, and the blanket had long since been tossed to the side, and now his cum soaked cock was steaming in the cool night air. The cold was easily forgotten, even now, more so when that insatiable and insistent squirrel began to lick his shaft clean. He squeaked and wiggled, but let her do as she wished, and in the air he could smell her arousal and hear the soft sounds of masturbation. Uesstii fingered herself, played with her clit, and practically humped her own hand. She licked that cock clean as if it were the sweetest piece of candy in all the kingdoms.

Uesstii practically pouted when that cock began to retreat. She kept up her licking, kissing, and sniffing, up until it disappeared in his messy, cum soaked sheath. Faylo was in heaven, but the cold was quickly nipping at him again once the bliss began to subside. The blanket was quickly pulled back over him, and Uesstii crawled to his side, where she gave him a loving kiss. Her face was covered in his cum and it dripped from her whiskers, and did not seem to bother her at all.

‘Feel better?’ Uesstii cooed.

‘Much better.’ Faylo huffed.

Faylo pulled her in close, a possessive hug, and peppered her face with kisses, and as he did so, he cleaned her whiskers with gentle licks. She was very appreciate of the bath, and let him do as he wished, but she was mischievous, and her paw was wet with arousal, but she had not had an orgasm of her own. She brought her paw to his snout and smeared his nose with her sweet and intoxicating nectar, just to watch him wiggle and squeak. And he did, that smell, that glorious smell, so potent and strong, had him sniffing her scent deeply. She did this to tease him, as if to dare him to do something about it, and it worked, for his cock was hard again and leaking against her thigh.

‘We should sleep.’ Uesstii yawned.

‘Y-yeah...’

Faylo did not want to sleep. He was worked up, horribly so, even after a powerful orgasm. Frustrations were rising. He needed inside her, needed to breed her, but when he tried to ask, he found her snoring softly. How infuriating! He wiggled his whiskers and huffed. The cold quickly set in again, his arousal subsided, and he snuggled as close to the fluffy squirrel as he could. She was so warm, smelled sweetly, and her breath was soft and delicate. He realized how tired the squirrel must have been to fall asleep so easily, even after saying it was far too early for bed. He felt a pang of guilt. She did all that for him, despite her lingering pain and exhaustion. He gave her a kiss on the nose and nuzzled softly against her.

‘Thank you.’ Faylo whispered.

The morning came far too soon. Faylo woke up alone. The fire was coals, red and hot, and near it were two pieces of bread, and a pot set to boil some water. Uesstii sat on a log opposite him, her hair was wet, and she leaned over and wrung it out with her paws and then she shook herself dry. He stayed silent under the blankets, hoping the squirrel would leave him to sleep, but it was not to be.

‘Are you finally awake?’ Uesstii asked.

Faylo sighed. ‘Yes.’

‘It’s warm enough now. I promise.’

‘It’s brisk.’

Uesstii rolled her eyes. ‘Come on, get dressed. Tea is on.’

Faylo groaned, wiggled, and flipped the blanket off, and immediately squeaked when the cold air hit him! He scrambled for his shirt and armour, even the loincloth was sought after. He felt far warmer with all of that on, and he kept himself close to the fire. Uesstii gave him some warm bread, and as he nibbled on that, she poured him a cup of black tea. He graciously accepted the cup. The smells were exotic, sweet and tangy, and was of excellent and agreeable taste. Uesstii sat next to him, shoulder to shoulder, and she sipped carefully at her own cup of tea.

‘How are you feeling?’ Uesstii asked.

‘I’m okay.’

‘It can be pretty daunting to go on your first adventure.’

‘I suppose it is a little intimidating, even a little sad.’ Faylo took a sip of his tea. ‘I haven’t been away from home before.’

‘I can’t promise things will be easy, but I’ll be there for you.’

‘Thanks.’

Uesstii lay her head against his. ‘It’s strange, really, to be with someone else in these woods. I have always been alone, travelled alone.’

‘Did you like being alone?’

Uesstii thought about that for a moment, and her thumb traced the rim of her cup. ‘Sometimes, I think. Solitude is fine, but there was always a longing, if you know what I mean.’

Faylo nodded. ‘I think so.’

Uesstii nibbled at his large, round ear and tugged it playfully; he squeaked! ‘And I think I found what I was longing for.’

They drank their tea in shared warmth and company. The sun was still low in the sky, steadily rising, and with it came a warm breeze. Faylo was reinvigorated with each sip of his tea, more so with her warm fur against him, and the barrage of kisses he received for ‘being unbearably cute’ so she said. He resigned himself to this fate, happily so.

The morning chill was completely gone by the time they broke camp. Uesstii kicked dirt on the fire, packed her sleeping roll, and helped Faylo into his rucksack. She was careful to pack the pots and pans in a way they would not rattle. She tightened his straps, checked his armour, and nodded in satisfaction. Her own pack was much heavier than his, secretly, for he was very insistent on holding more, but she would not have him weighed down on his first day.

‘All set!’ Uesstii squeaked.

‘Are we still following the river?’ Faylo asked.

‘Yes. To the very foot of the mountains, I hope. I do not want to stray too far. It is easy to lose yourself in this great expanse.’

‘How far away is that?’

‘Hard to say.’ Uesstii began to walk to the river and Faylo quickly fell in step beside her. ‘Could be a few days or more. I’ll know better when I climb a tree.’

Faylo paled slightly at the thought. ‘Do I have to come up with you?’

‘Not this time. I’ll be up and down before you can say peanut.’

‘Peanut.’

Uesstii rolled her eyes. ‘I wasn’t ready.’

Uesstii chose a good, tall tree near the banks of the river. It was a mighty sycamore, white and fair, with hardly a leaf on it, and the branches and boughs were strong and thick. She left her bag in the roots, unbuckled her sword, and stretched her arms dramatically above her head.

‘Been awhile since I climbed a tree.’

‘But you’re a squirrel?’

‘Astute.’

Faylo wiggled his nose and made to reply, but she took off with brilliant, lightning fast speeds! Her claws tore into the bark, her muscles rippled, and her tail kept her balanced as she hefted herself up with grace and skill. She found hold where others would not, between bark, in knot holes, and found footing with her clawed feet even on the weakest of branches. He watched her disappear in the gnarled mess of branches, then, he realized he was all alone. It was eerie, unlike his solitude on the river at home. He felt vulnerable and small for the first time in his life.

It did not take long for Uesstii to return. She climbed down as fast as she went up and appeared next to him in a shower of broken bark. He squeaked! He was far too absorbed in watching the woods to realize her swift return.

‘Why so squeaky?’ Uesstii asked.

‘You scared me!’

Uesstii smirked. ‘I didn’t know I was scary.’

Faylo huffed. ‘I was getting nervous.’

‘You could come up with me next time.’

Faylo paled. ‘There’s going to be a next time?’

‘Navigating the woods is much easier when you climb a tree.’

Faylo sighed. ‘How far are the mountains?’

‘We’re in an ancient part of the forest. The trees have grown tall and thick, but I could see far, all the way to the mountains. They are nearer than I thought.’

‘That sounds like good news.’

‘Yes, and no, for I saw what I feared the most. There is a great marsh land, where the river begins, and we near it now. I can smell the bog. It’ll be treacherous and rife with danger.’

Faylo pawed nervously at his sword. ‘I’ll keep you safe.’

‘Even when the giant mosquitoes carry me away?’ Uesstii teased.

‘Yes!’

‘My hero!’ Uesstii battered her eyelashes at him. ‘I’ll be sure to let you handle the leeches, too.’

‘Leeches?’

Uesstii shivered. ‘Horrible, worm-like creatures that feast on the blood of any prey foolish enough to travel through marshlands.’

‘That sounds very unpleasant.’

‘It is. A bite is not fatal, but they are a pain to remove.’ Uesstii made a gesture with her paws at either side of her mouth, emulating fangs with all of her fingers. ‘It’s the teeth.’

Faylo laughed! ‘You’ll blend right in with those wretched creatures.’

Uesstii scoffed dramatically and placed a paw to her chest. ‘Me? That’s absurd! I’m a beautiful young maid-, er, young lady! Full of youth and vigour!’

‘Very beautiful.’ Faylo agreed. ‘The most beautiful, surely.’

‘A little charmer, you are.’

The river was calmer now, far from the rapids of the waterfall, and it had widened considerably. The water was deep, green, and flowed unhindered toward the sea. Trees with gnarled and snaking roots grew along the banks. These were small trees and the roots were easily jumped across. The trunks were thin and spindly, and the moss that grew upon the rough bark was green, almost glowing in the shade.

Uesstii turned from the bank of the river and led Faylo to easier footing. The river was fine, but it was beginning to wear her down, especially with her sore ribs. He was thankful for it. The ground was firm and dry, and the path ahead was fairly straightforward. Wild things grew here. Ferns, flowers, and glowing mushrooms that twinkled in the dark shadows of the forest. Not a sound could be heard, but many a slug could be seen on a the trunks of fallen trees. These were giant slugs, larger than a mouse, and were slick and slimy.

Faylo had seen a few, but none had ever wandered close to his home. He was distracted by a yellow one. It was large, shimmered in the sunlight, and was spotted with dark purple splotches. He reached a paw to touch it, but it shrank away from him and began to wiggle in a ball of ooze.

‘Best not touch that one.’ Uesstii said. ‘Could numb your paw for a whole day.’

Faylo pulled away sharply. ‘Sounds unpleasant.’

‘Certainly is. I like to poke them with a stick instead.’ As if to emphasize her point, she poked it with a stick. The slug did not like that. ‘See?’

‘Fascinating.’

‘I thought you were well read.’

Faylo wiggled his nose. ‘I am!’

‘Just romances?’ Uesstii teased.

Faylo blushed, of course. ‘I recall one book talked of slugs, but only because the princess didn’t like them.’

Uesstii poked the slug again. It wiggled defensively. ‘I guess I wouldn’t make for a good princess.’

‘Your book would be titled ‘Uesstii, poker of slugs.’ and all would read it and weep.’

Uesstii lost interest in the slug and tossed the goopy stick aside. ‘They would come to the point in the story where a handsome mouse saved the day.’ She gave him a smirk. ‘The hero of her story.’

‘And they got married and lived happily ever after.’

Uesstii smiled. ‘To the end of their days.’

The forest was fair and light. The undergrowth was sparse, but it was growing fast, and would choke the forest floor soon enough. Faylo was surprised to see how easy going it was. He had expected a gruelling hike, but Uesstii was quick to assure him there would be plenty of that ahead. The ground here was rocky, full of roots that snaked up from the earth and then back down again, and between those spaces between root and earth, mushrooms grew and insects skittered, crawled, and waited. Faylo could see the eyes of many a gaze, all of which reflected in the light, a dim red, and many had multiple eyes, too many eyes, for everywhere he looked, to branch, root, and muck, there was something that looked back at him.

‘I never did like bugs.’ Faylo said.

‘I like them cooked, salted, and crispy.’

‘Is that all you can think of?’

‘Think of what?’ Uesstii asked, as she hopped up on a root.

‘Food.’

‘I’m hungry.’

‘We could stop to eat, you know.’

Uesstii leaned down and grabbed Faylo’s paw and tugged him up with her. She patted his cloak clean, fussy as she was, and he squeaked his displeasure.

‘Stop squeaking.’ Uesstii squeaked.

‘Stop worrying.’ Faylo wiggled his nose.

Uesstii huffed. ‘I am just trying to keep you clean. Divines knows it was tough enough getting you in those clothes, and to lose them so soon in our travels would be a travesty! You’re so handsome.’

Faylo pressed his paws to his face wiggled in place, his ears hot, and his cheeks a blushing mess.

‘And absolutely adorable when you do things like that.’ Uesstii said. ‘You mice! I swear. Everything you do is cute.’

‘Must you emasculate me so?’

‘Oh? You don’t want to be cute for your mate?’

‘Mate now, is it?’

‘What would you call us?’

Uesstii walked the length of the big root and Faylo followed.

‘Hm, well, if it were up to me,’ Faylo squeaked. ‘Husband and wife.’

Uesstii snorted a laugh! Her tail bounced and whipped, already worked into a frenzy, and he was directly in the path of destruction. It smacked him, and he had to catch it and hold on tight, less he fall off the root to his doom.

‘As nice as that sounds.’ Uesstii said. ‘And don’t get me wrong, I love the idea, but perhaps, we should get married before we use those titles, yeah?’

‘Do you want to get married?’

‘Every young girl in the drey dreamed of marrying one day.’ Uesstii jumped off the root and held her paw out for him to follow. He did. ‘I must admit that the thought is exciting, agreeable, in fact.’

‘I have no intentions of marrying anyone else.’ Faylo squeaked.

‘I would hope not. I am quite attached to you.’

Faylo took her paw and squeezed it. ‘Mate now, wife later.’

‘We have to make it out of these woods first, you know. There are horrible, foul things here, and all of them would be more than happy to eat a mouse.’

Faylo squeaked! ‘Why mice?’

‘You’re smaller than me.’

‘You wouldn’t let anything eat me!’

Uesstii gave him a teasing look.

‘Right?’

‘The only thing eating you in these woods is me.’ Uesstii gave him a very sly grin.

Faylo caught the innuendo faster than last time. He pondered for a moment before squeaking. ‘Shouldn’t I be the one eating you?’

‘So crass!’

‘You said it first!’ Faylo squeaked.

Uesstii laughed, lifted the bough of a young tree, and ushered Faylo under it before following close behind. Conversation was light after that. Faylo noticed a change in the forest. It was no longer the same wood near his home. The mighty trunks grew tight, the ferns were sparse, and things with many legs crawled in the darkest places between root, leaf, and mushroom. The sun was scarcely seen between the crowns of the trees far above their heads; and the new spring leaves fluttered in a warm wind, one that Faylo wished would reach them in this cold and dark place.

It was past noon when Uesstii decided it was time for a break. They camped near the river, in a patch of sand between two huge boulders. Faylo was glad to rest his aching footpaws. They were sore, dirty with muck, and they were cold to the touch. He spread his toes in the dry sand and wiggled them clean. Uesstii was preparing the fire. She collected sticks, piled them on the bank, and used her magic to light the bundle ablaze. In true housewife fashion, although she did not realize it, she put the kettle on for tea; and she aided Faylo out of his pack. So worrisome of a female she was.

‘How long are we going to stay here?’ Faylo asked.

‘We have no schedule to keep.’ Uesstii said, between bites of some bread. ‘As long as we want, I suppose.’

Faylo rummaged about his rucksack and pulled from it a coil of fishing line. All he needed now was a good stick. That was easy enough to come by. Uesstii watched him fondly. He worked so diligently, and his fingers were skilled and dexterous. His cape fluttered in the wind as he sped off towards the banks, eager to try his new toy.

‘Careful!’ Uesstii called. ‘Don’t get dragged in. I am not a good swimmer.’

‘I’ll catch a little one.’ Faylo squeaked over his shoulder.

Faylo flipped a few rocks. He found a very irate fresh water lobster, a little thing, no bigger than his thumb. He snatched it, avoided those mean pincers, and impaled the creature on his hook. It wiggled and snapped! Faylo sat on a boulder, making sure to push his scabbard to the side before doing so, and in full view of camp and Uesstii, for he had no intentions of disappearing from her sights. He tossed the line in the slow parts of the river, between some rocks, and waited.

The kettle came to a swift boil. Uesstii pulled the kettle from the coals and let it cool for a moment. Making tea was easy, and was thoroughly beaten into her as a young girl, all with the expectations of doing so for a future husband. The thought made her smile. She called it silly! She would not need to look after a male, tend to him, make tea for him, but here she was, doing exactly that and enjoying it greatly. She poured a cup of tea, one each, and walked up the bank to sit with Faylo.

‘Tea?’ Uesstii offered.

‘Thank you.’

Faylo held his makeshift rod expertly with one paw whilst he sipped delicately at his tea.

Uesstii looked dubiously into the swirling, green water. ‘Do you think you’ll catch something here?’ She asked.

‘Maybe? I don’t expect much. A few pan fish would be more than enough for dinner.’

Lots of little fish began to gather around Faylo’s hook. The crayfish was mean, snapped at everything that came near, but was no match for the gullet of a large mouth bass. Faylo felt the tug of the fish and he set the hook! The fish tried for deeper water, but Faylo was strong, and guided it back towards the bank, and with a flick of his wrist, it came flying out of the water.

Uesstii squeaked! She ducked out of the way as it sailed over her. The fish smacked against the stones, flopped a few times, and then went still. Faylo was already up. He pulled the hook from the mouth and smacked the fish against the rock, killing it instantly. Such was survival. He set the fish aside and took his place back at Uesstii's side. She had taken his tea cup and kept it safe for him, and gave it back to him once he sat. The crayfish was still alive, having survived the mouth of the little fish, and now it was sent back to relive that hell once more.

‘That was easy.’ Uesstii said.

‘A couple of those would do us, yeah?’

Uesstii nodded and sipped her tea. ‘Maybe three, if you can manage.’

‘You’re a stomach on legs, I swear.’

‘I have to maintain this figure.’ Uesstii gestured to all of herself. ‘It’s hard work!’

Faylo rolled his eyes. ‘I’m sure it is.’

Uesstii playfully nibbled at his ear. ‘You love it.’

‘I do, and I love that.’

‘Oh, yeah?’ Uesstii kissed along his ears, down his cheek, and peppered him with kisses. ‘And that?’

Faylo blushed and wiggled in place. ‘Y-yes.’

‘Hard to fish with a squirrel kissing on you, huh?’

‘You are quite distracting.’

Uesstii was pawing at his thigh now, and she squeaked with great delight when his loincloth started to tent. ‘You’re very distracted.’ She teased.

Faylo huffed. His cheeks were hot, and his ears were tomato red. ‘I can’t help it.’

‘I know.’ Uesstii exhaled hotly in his ear. ‘You are so easy to tease.’

Faylo grumbled to himself and tried to concentrate on fishing, but it was difficult, and she smelled so good, and her lips were so soft against his cheek.

‘I almost regret making you wear clothing.’ Uesstii purred.

‘I can take them off.’

‘No, no. I have to house train you. You have to impress all the high society types when we arrive.’

‘I am not a pet.’ Faylo squeaked.

‘No, but you are my mate.’ Uesstii pulled at his ear. He squeaked and smacked at her paw. ‘And with that comes some...’ She trailed off, wiggled her nose, and exhaled sharply. ‘Well, you’ll see.’

‘Keeping secrets from me still?’

‘Yes.’ Uesstii squeaked. ‘I am not fond of this one, and, well... You might not take it well.’

‘Ominous.’

‘Nothing bad.’ Uesstii assured him. ‘Just a family issue. And to be clear, if you dislike it, I’ll choose you over it. I promise.’

‘That sounds really ominous.’

Uesstii rolled her eyes. ‘Based on the books you read, you might really like it.’

‘I hope so.’

Faylo pulled his line from the water, and with it came another fish, twice as big as the last.

‘Oh, that’s a good one!’ Uesstii squeaked. ‘Do you think these two will do?’

‘They would do me the rest of the day.’ Faylo squeaked, as he dispatched the fish. ‘But for you?’ He poked her belly. ‘I think we need another.’

Uesstii giggled. ‘I think you’re right.’

Faylo was quick to catch another fish. Uesstii was up and preparing a pan. She roasted some peanuts for good measure. The fish were scaled, gutted, and stuffed with lemon slices. Faylo lay them on the pan and Uesstii tended to them with a stick. She was practically salivating as she did so.

‘Travelling like this isn’t so bad.’ Faylo said, as he poured himself more tea. ‘I felt faint earlier, but this break has really revitalized me.’

‘You’ll feel better after a hot meal. It can be rare to come by in the woods, but today we are fortunate.’ Uesstii squeaked. She flipped the fish with her stick. The smell wafted, tickled their whiskers, and promised a good feed. ‘Food will be scarce on the mountains.’ She said. ‘I imagine the marshland will be much the same. I hope we can avoid the bog entirely. Move around the edge, away from the river, to the rocky foothills to the south-east.’

‘Could you see it from the tree?’ Faylo asked.

‘Yes, though, I have been near it before, even within a few days of your home more than once.’ Uesstii sighed. ‘To think you were within reach all along. I also wish we met under better circumstances, but perhaps meeting in this way was meant to be. It certainly strengthened a bond we might not have otherwise had.’

‘It is strange to think about.’ Faylo sipped his tea. ‘Had I known you were out there, I would have moved the earth, sun, and stars to find you.’

‘Hopelessly romantic!’ Uesstii blushed and wiggled. ‘Though, if you had, I would have thought you some dirty forest mouse.’ She wiggled her nose. ‘I suppose that was the case.’

‘You thought I was a dirty forest mouse?’

‘You were definitely dirty.’ Uesstii said. ‘In a handsome, dishevelled way. Your nudity was the nail in that coffin, surely. I was a lone travelling female, and such a situation was very dangerous.’

‘That explains why you were so defensive.’

Uesstii nodded. ‘Had I known you as you are now, and all that we have been through, I would have treated you fairly and with much kindness.’

Uesstii pulled the pan from the fire, and in true housewife fashion, she portioned the fish to a giant, flat leaf each and handed one to Faylo, who thanked her graciously. She felt pride in doing so, fluffed herself up, and wiggled next to him to eat, as any good wife would. That was all she could think of! Her mind was a mess. She thought of him constantly, what she would wear at their wedding, and how he’ll be as a husband, and how many pups they would have. He was her knight in shining armour.

‘How is it?’ Uesstii asked.

‘Very good.’ Faylo squeaked. ‘I haven’t had a bad fish from this river.’

Uesstii had not taken a bite yet, for she eyed him suspiciously. It was her first time cooking for him, after all.

‘I was hoping I wouldn’t ruin it.’

‘Why would you?’

‘I was never permitted in the kitchens, much less cook in them, and divines forbid I cook for anyone else. What I know is what I learned travelling alone.’

‘Your childhood sounds strange.’

‘It was not usual, no.’ Uesstii said, as she finally began to eat her own fish, but she was not enthusiastic about it, only taking a small nibble. ‘It was very good, all said, for I was given education, training, and the ability to do as I wished.’

Faylo stripped the bones clean of his fish, having finished his before she did her own, much to his surprise.

‘Are you okay?’ Faylo asked. ‘You’re talking more than you eat.’

‘I am nervous, I must admit.’

‘About what?’

Uesstii sighed, placed her fish to the side, and leaned back to stare at the clouds. ‘Everything.’ She confessed. ‘I don’t say this lightly. I... I am not one to show weakness, but for you, I guess I must.’ She looked to him now, to those beautiful golden eyes. ‘I am scared.’ She choked back a squeak when she said it, as if saying so was offensive; even her tail fell flat and lifeless. ‘I felt fear for the first time in that horrible dungeon. I can still see it and those horrors when I close my eyes.’ She started to cry now, an ugly, sobbing cry, as if her body was relieved to finally be able to, and in that moment all of her emotions came flooding out. ‘I am sick to my stomach with worry and doubt. What good would I be as a wife, if I am nothing but a failure? I have tried so hard to be brave again, but all I can feel is a crawling, disgusting fear.’ She held her paw in front of her, and it was shaking, and Faylo had not noticed till now, for it was subtle. ‘I failed as an Exorcist. I failed as a warrior. And I failed you, my dearest mouse.’

Faylo was stunned. He felt such heartbreak seeing her so distraught. Emotion came to him, as hard as it was to her, and he took her paw and squeezed it; his own eyes, soft and golden, were wet with tears.

‘You are not a failure.’ Faylo squeaked. ‘I owe you my life, as you owe me yours, and only together could we have prevailed against such evil.’ He sniffed back tears and wiped his face with his forearm. ‘Seeing you like this pains me to my soul.’ He pulled her into a hug, and let her cry upon his shoulder. ‘I will be your light in the dark, and I will never let those things touch you ever again.’

Uesstii cried for a very long time. Faylo held her and would not let go. He was so gentle, but was firmly there, and his scent was soothing and his words were calming. She cried till she could not cry any longer, and she hugged him, whimpering softly.

‘Do you really think I would make a good wife?’ Uesstii asked.

‘Yes.’

That was enough to calm her completely. Her tail revived and she squeezed him tightly, whiskers touching, meshing, and after a moment of serenity looking in his eyes, she kissed him again. He tasted like fish.

‘Oh, right.’ Uesstii sniffled. ‘The fish.’

Faylo handed her the leaf of fish. ‘It’s still warm.’

‘I haven’t the appetite, really.’

‘I don’t believe you.’

Uesstii smiled and wiped the tears from her eyes. ‘You’re right, of course.’ She took it from him and picked at the white flesh. ‘I am starving.’

Faylo took to rubbing her shoulders as she ate. It was much appreciated, for she was practically purring and moaning between bites.

‘That feels nice...’ Uesstii chittered.

‘I thought it might help you relax.’

‘It is, and it isn’t. This blasted heat... My mind is all over the place. I feel unbalanced and emotional all the time.’

‘Am I making it worse?’ Faylo asked.

‘Honestly, yes, you have no idea how much self control I need around you. Your scent and touch drive me wild.’

‘Should I stop?’

‘No.’

Faylo squished, squeezed, and stroked her shoulders, fur, and up her neck, to her cheeks, where he squeezed those and earned himself an annoyed chitter, only to silence her with a tug on her ear. She huffed and leaned into his paws. He played with her tufted ears. They were sensitive, like a mouse, and it felt great for them to be squished and squeezed. She melted against his touch, chittered, squeaked, and wiggled. It was a miracle that she ate her fish at all.

‘Those little fish really hit the spot.’ Uesstii sighed.

‘I’m glad you like them.’ Faylo said. ‘That’s usually all that comes to the hook, most days.’

‘I never could tell the difference between fish.’ Uesstii shrugged. ‘But, I have yet to taste a fish from the ocean.’

Faylo thought for a moment. ‘I read that they’re salty.’

‘I like salt.’

Faylo blushed. ‘I know.’

‘And what is that supposed to mean?’ Uesstii huffed.

‘Nothing.’

Uesstii wiggled her nose and stood up, suddenly, in such a way that her tail smacked against Faylo’s nose. It was a playful gesture, but he found himself wrestling with it, like a big snake. He won that fight and tamed the tail.

‘You’re going to lose me inside this tail one day.’

‘At least you’ll be warm.’ Uesstii giggled.

They broke camp quickly enough. The fire had burned to flickering coals. Uesstii kicked dirt on it, being a responsible squirrel. There was still many miles to travel before nightfall. She led him back into the forest. Faylo kept up considerably better. A good meal was all it took to get him back on his feet.

The going was easy. The forest was growing sparse. The trees became short and scraggly, but were still many hundreds of feet tall, and their roots were spindly, like ropes, and each end of them disappeared into the ground. All around them there was signs of flooding. The river was high only a month before, and the trees were well adapted to it, as well as the wildlife. There were many pools of stagnant water, and all of them buzzed with flying insects, and inside them swam tadpoles, and a few small frogs.

‘Have you ever seen a giant bullfrog?’ Faylo asked.

‘I do not want to.’ Uesstii shivered and squeaked. ‘I hope we do not see one.’

‘How big do you think they get?’

Uesstii shrugged. ‘Big enough to eat a mouse.’

‘Why is it always a mouse?’

‘They aren’t going to eat a squirrel, surely.’

‘You’re not much bigger than me, you know.’

Uesstii slowed down and walked in step next to him, and measured herself to him with a paw. Her chin came to the very tips of his giant ears. Faylo watched her do so with a huff. He wiggled his whiskers at her. She stuck her tongue out at him.

‘I win.’

‘It wasn’t a competition!’

‘But if it was,’ Uesstii began. ‘I would have won.’

‘Is there a prize for winning?’

‘There certainly isn’t one for losing.’

Uesstii took the lead again. She was long legged compared to him, and he could not keep to that stride, but that was no matter, for his eyes wandered to the real prize of being short and slow. He loved her ass. How could he not? She wore a one-sided loincloth, as if she wanted to show off how perfect, supple, and thick it was, and it was of perfect shape, and when he last had his paws on it, she felt softer than silk and was easily malleable. He would never tire of that view.

The ground was quickly becoming wet and mossy, and to their north, the river widened considerably, far too vast to cross, and the trees thinned, and the water slowed to a crawl and supported many stalky water plants. Uesstii kept them far away from all of that, to the driest parts of the forest, where it was still hilly and thick with trees.

The air was becoming rank and stale as they walked, and a smell of decay and death came. Uesstii found it quickly, a dead slug, torn apart, half eaten and covered in many bites. The undergrowth was flattened, and the dirt was disturbed, rutted by many legs.

‘Ants.’ Uesstii growled.