Chapter 4

Uesstii dreamed of sunlight, flowers, and of petrichor. She slept with no fear, for she felt Faylo, even in her dreams. He was soft and warm, and he snored ever gently. She did not know when they had fallen asleep, but it was nearing mid-day now; so said the large pendulum clock. It ticked ever on. A rhythmic sound, tick-tock, and with it Uesstii's whiskers bounced. She hated it.

The passage of time, a day so wretchedly divided. So tiresome. She yawned, stretched her arms above her head, and nuzzled against Faylo’s soft ears. He was still there against her, unfaltering and true to his word. He held her, even now, to keep her close to him, a soft and gentle grasp of little paws. It was very soothing, and for a short time, she forgot all the terrible things that had happened.

That scent again, of male mouse, and each breath of it had her wiggle; not just of lust and desire, but of a light feeling in her stomach, butterflies. She sniffed his head, right between his ears, an audible, invasive sniff. She exhaled hotly. Her heart was going crazy! Beating so rapidly she thought it would beat out of her chest.

It was her heat rearing its ugly head. She felt it, a desperate desire creeping over her; made worse by a new smell, a strange smell, one she was almost certain she had smelled before. Then, she felt it, a poke against her high. She wiggled her nose and looked between them; and what she saw made her eyes widen and her cheeks flush red.

‘By the divines...’ Uesstii whispered.

Faylo was rubbing against her in his sleep. His cock was hard and throbbing, leaky, and eagerly looking for a warm, wet place to bury itself in. It was long, tapered to a point, and was quite thick, impressively so to Uesstii, but it was the first cock she had ever seen fully erect. It dripped a clear liquid at the tip and smeared it across her fur with every thrust of his little hips. She bit her lower lip. It was all she could manage to do. She watched it, nearly transfixed, and that smell, oh that glorious smell of his! It was so intoxicating to the squirrel.

‘F-faylo...’ Uesstii squeaked, a very pathetic sound that barely came out at all.

Uesstii felt light and hot, as if on a cloud, and she was wet, very wet, and no doubt the smell of her arousal and heat was driving this poor mouse to hump her in his sleep. And each thrust of his drew closer to her cunt. He held her so tightly, so lovingly, and so jealously, that even if she were to pull away, she could not, and to her surprise, she would not even try. She was at his mercy, and if he was to take her here and now, well, he deserved it, was her rationale; earned it in that horrid dungeon.

That cock was dangerously close to her cunt, teasingly so, as his thrusts were eager and desperate, but he could not reach what was sought. Uesstii moved herself unbidden, a subtle and short wiggle that had her hips meet his, and with it, his cock slid across her wet folds. She gasped! Squeaked! Pleasure instantly jolted through her heated body. She grabbed him, pulled his face tightly to her breasts, and held him there to let his hips do all the work.

Faylo had tensed up as soon as his cock touched her fluffy, wet folds. It was subtle, undetectable by the lust drunk squirrel. So heavenly was her silky soft heat that he squeaked, huffed hotly against her breasts, and nibbled at her, held her tight again, tighter than ever before, and thrust his hips with reckless abandon. His cock glided across her wet cunt, spread her folds so pleasurably, and with such impressive length, it poked up to her navel, smearing her with pre-cum and squirrel arousal with every pass.

All she needed to do was raise her hips. It nagged at her mind. He was so close to entering her. So close to dealing with this horrible heat. She was panting now, driven by a pleasure that built, but could not build all the way, for her itch was deep, and only one thing could itch it. He was so eager! Those fluffy hips of his humped against her, their messy, thick pubic fur meshed together, and his large rodent balls slapped against her with each thrust.

As if in a trance, she lifted her mound ever slightly toward him; and his tip jabbed and poked at her folds, desperate to find that glorious, wet heat that he so desired, and when his tip was snug on all sides, he shoved himself forward, burying his cock deep inside her. Uesstii barked! An embarrassing sound only a squirrel would make during love making. Time seemed to stop just long enough for her to realize what had just happened. He was inside her, as deep as he could go, and was paralyzed in that moment by the intense heat and pleasure.

‘He’s inside... Oh, divines, he’s actually inside me...’ She whimpered, so lightly it was, for she was afraid to wake the mouse.

Never had she felt such pleasure, not even while masturbating. Her legs shook as she trembled in the throes of a sudden and powerful orgasm. Her cunt tightened and relaxed rapidly, soaking his buried cock and mess of pubic fur in squirrel nectar. His cock spread her perfectly, pressed against all the good spots, filled her so possessively, and scratched that terrible itch. She held him tight, squeaked and chittered, as the last of her orgasm tore through her body, and while it faded, she savoured the feeling of having a cock inside her for the first time.

Faylo squeaked! A restless squeak. And he tensed suddenly and thrust his hips against her, trying to fuck her deeper, rougher; and just before his large, fluffy nuts began to unload, she squeaked, a panicked, pleasured squeak, one of sudden clarity, and pulled her hips away from him.

That cock slipped from her, and she watched as it did. It dragged and tugged across her inner walls as she squeezed down on him. It was if her body was begging to keep it inside her, but it was far too surprising, and a little painful; it slipped out of her with a wet pop, and as it was freed from her cunt, Faylo tensed, squeaked! And thrust his hips as a powerful orgasm took him as well. His cock splattered hot, wet mouse cum all over her fluffy, wet folds.

Uesstii watched dumbly as his cock jumped, twitched, and drooled with cum. His balls tensed, and with it came a shot of cum larger than the last, and it splattered across her cunt, painted her tight folds, and made a mess of her dense pubic fur. She could feel the heat, that sticky wetness that dripped across her cunt, and the shots that landed across her belly.

There was so much of it! So much cum. She had never seen it before, and now, she looked between them with a flustered squeak. The smell! So potent and raw. She shivered and shook against him, a trembling mess of intense pleasure, rocked by her first orgasm given to her by another. Her head was light and her thoughts were of him, his beautiful cock, and the mess they shared between them. She reached a paw to her belly, slathered her paw with his cum, and brought it back to her snout, where she sniffed it. The smell sent a jolt through her and she squeaked! A tense, wiggling squeak that had her thrust her hips against his softening cock.

Realization dawned. She was sniffing his cum, felt his cock against her bare pussy, and felt the last of her pleasure dwindle away. She was a blushing, panting mess, but that smell, so intoxicating was his cum, that her body quickly heated up again and it drove her thoughts to far naughtier things, and compelled she was, for she cleaned her paw with slow, delicate licks of her tongue. The salty taste was strange, not at all unpleasant, and all it did was fuel her desire to new heights, even in the midst of post orgasm clarity.

A female in heat was insatiable, no amount of sex, masturbation, or sexual pleasure could quell it, only dispel it for a short time. Husbands prepared for it and tried their best to keep up. Very few ever complained, but for such a little mouse to pleasure a big, aggressive squirrel? It would hardly be possible, and that was all she could think of now, how small he was, but he was strong and his cock was big; but she was stronger than he, bigger than he, and she would not be gentle.

Uesstii nuzzled against Faylo. Their whiskers tangled, breath mixed, and he kissed at her instinctively. Although asleep, he was very eager to be close to her, smell her, taste her. She met his lips, a passionate kiss, of growing affection. She pawed gently against his creamy stomach, dragged her climbing claws through his fur, down to his crotch, where she pawed gently at his sheath and messy pubic fur.

‘That feels nice...’ Faylo whispered.

Uesstii squeaked! And pulled her paw away from his wet sheath. ‘F-faylo! I was just, I mean...’ She was a blushing, flustered mess; and her tail whipped wildly behind her.

‘It’s okay.’ Faylo nuzzled her cheek. ‘I don’t mind.’

Caught in the act! She thought she would die of embarrassment. She gave in to her temptation, his insistence, and his charm; and while he slept, she took advantage of his enthusiasm. ‘Oh, divines!’ She wailed in her mind. Was she even a maiden any longer? All these thoughts made her head spin!

‘I was having the most wonderful dream...’ Faylo yawned. ‘It was about you and I.’ He squeaked and wiggled. ‘We were hugging, closer and closer, and then there was this tension and a flood of good feelings.’

Uesstii squeaked and mumbled something inaudible. The smell between them, of sex and sweat, and the ever present scent of Uesstii’s heat wiggled Faylo’s nose. He gave her an inquisitive look, then he looked to her cum covered stomach, wet crotch, and his messy sheath and still peeking cock, then back to Uesstii, and they both blushed furiously.

‘Did we? I mean, did I?’ Faylo squeaked.

‘Y-yes...’

It took Faylo several moments of intense computations to understand what just happened. His eyes widened as it dawn on him. He squeaked, wiggled in place, and his face went as red as a tomato! He felt faint! His dream wasn’t a dream at all. She stayed close to him, and he to her. He could feel the mess between them, their wet fur, and the sudden shame in the air; but, he did not feel as though they did wrong, for he smelled her, and she was so sweet, and her beauty captured his heart; and when he looked her in the eyes, those beautiful, silver eyes, he felt nothing but love and affection. He leaned in and kissed her, held her close, and made her feel warm and safe again.

‘I think...’ Faylo said, between a barrage of kisses from Uesstii. ‘We need a bath now.’

Uesstii wiped tears from her eyes. ‘Yes.’ She gave him a smile. ‘We did make a bit of a mess.’

‘We?’ Faylo gave her a sly grin. ‘I was asleep for that.’

Uesstii giggled! ‘You definitely enjoyed it. I’m just glad you’re not upset.’

‘Upset?’ Faylo wiggled his nose. ‘Never. Just disappointed I was asleep for it.’

‘What do you remember?’ She asked, looking away with a blush.

‘About what we did? Well, not much, really. In my dream we...’ He choked back a cough and he blushed furiously again, his ears even turned red! ‘We got very intimate.’

Uesstii smacked her paw against her face and pulled at her whiskers. ‘I owe you a great deal, Faylo, and...’ She swallowed nervously. ‘And if you were to want to claim me as your own, properly this time, I would not say no.’

‘I thought you were already mine.’

‘Yes, I mean, maybe?’ Uesstii huffed. ‘You really are hopeless. Yes, I suppose I am your fair maiden, though... A maiden no longer, perhaps, for in your sleep you... I mean, I let you...’

Faylo was blushing furiously, but he listened intently, and just there mere thought of having been inside, albeit asleep while, was still enough to excite him; and Uesstii felt him again against her thigh. She reached down between them and teased his cock with a finger, making him squeak!

‘As a token of my love, and to make up for my weakness and haste, I shall grant you one thing you desire now.’

‘Anything?’

Uesstii nodded and kissed his nose. ‘Anything.’ Her paw glided across his cock, up and down, making him wiggle with pleasure.

‘May I lick you clean?’ He asked with a huff.

Uesstii laughed! So loud and sudden, it made him jump! ‘That’s all?’ She giggled and pulled his face against her bare breasts. ‘I thought surely you would want more than that.’

Faylo wiggled free of her paws. ‘I have plenty of time to take you properly, my lady.’ He gave her a nervous smile. ‘It’s just...’ He sniffed the air. ‘That smell! Oh, Uesstii, it has been nagging horribly at my mind, ever since I laid you here on my bed.’

Uesstii, not being one to allow a moments rest, nor could she remain silent about things that gnawed ceaselessly at her mind.

‘Did you really sniff me while I was unconscious?’

Faylo erupted into a blush! ‘I... uhhh...’

‘You little pervert!’

‘I’m sorry!’ He squeaked! ‘I couldn’t help it! I really tried to resist...’

Uesstii rolled her eyes. ‘I forgive you.’ She pulled away from her mouse and lay herself flat on her back. ‘But only because my knight has earned his special favour...’

Faylo nodded dumbly and took to her eagerly, but at a slow pace, for he enjoyed everything the squirrel had to offer. Her beautiful breasts, those perky nipples, and creamy belly. She was an impressive female, strong and fair, and now she was his, or to be his, and the thought was just as exciting to him as it was to be face to face with her pouting pussy. He had seen it several times already, much to his delight, but this time was different. She gave herself to him, spread her legs, and waited for him to do as he wished, like any good female would for her husband, but they were not wed, not yet, and the thought of being such a thing made him wiggle and blush. He would surely ask for her hand in marriage someday, but for now, he wanted to sate his lust.

That pussy drooled with sweet nectar. He admired the view, long enough to make Uesstii blush and squeak, her paw going to her face, to hide from his adoring eyes. Her vulva was perfect, ringed by a bush of pubic fur, just as fiery red as her hair, and it grew down to her tailhole, and that he stared at with a blush of his own, but that beautiful pussy was his prize, and he got closer now, till his breath and whiskers tickled her, and that smell filled his nose and tingled his senses. His cum had not yet dried and was still wet and dripping across her heated folds.

Faylo was no stranger to masturbation, himself, and often would he cum on his face and tongue, taste himself, and take great enjoyment doing so, and he did this more often than not. His own essence would not deter him from having a taste of her, his squirrel. He pushed his snout to her wet cunt and sniffed so deeply Uesstii could hear him do it! She squeaked and muttered something about him being a dirty mouse.

That intoxicating scent sent a shiver of pleasure that tensed his body. He pulled away with a snort and a dreamy look upon his face. Nectar dripped from his nose, which he cleaned with his tongue. The taste was of the sweetest ambrosia to him. He was desperate for more. He pushed his face between her legs, and with a gentle tongue, he licked at her cum covered fur, the fiery pubic fur around her cunt, and cleaned it of his cum and her delicious nectar. Then, she felt his tongue glide from the bottom of her cunt, sink inside her, as deep as his tongue would allow, and then back up her folds to her sensitive, little clit, and there he licked it, just as a book told him to do so, for he wished to pleasure his soon-to-be wife.

Stars flooded Uesstii's vision and she barked and thrust her hips against his face! Her cunt plapped against his nose and chin, and she rubbed against him, huffing, panting, moaning. Faylo did not slow. He sucked on her clit, gently, and so delicately, that she barely felt his lips, but she felt that tongue, and the pleasure that jolted her entire body. She felt another orgasm on the horizon, and it was coming fast! She had little warning, no time to cry out or to stop him. Her pussy tensed and she barked and chittered and squeaked! She locked her legs on his head and squeezed him between her thighs and kept his face planted to her cunt, as she splattered his muzzle with hot squirrel arousal!

Faylo swallowed what he could of her orgasm, and never did he stop licking her, not till she fell limp against the pillows. Her legs let him go, and when they did, he kissed along her sensitive cunt, up her now very clean, albeit wet, pubic fur, and up her belly, where he cleaned her of his cum with gentle licks, and as he did so, she pet between his ears so lovingly. He was on top of her now, although, he was so light, she could barely feel him at all, even against her sore ribs, and his face was to those perfect breasts. He took a nipple in his mouth, to nibble and suck, and she squeaked!

‘W-watch the teeth!’

‘Heh, sorry...’

Faylo was not sorry. He gave her a smirk and clamped his teeth on her nipple and tugged! Playfully, but enough to make her know he was there.

‘Ow! You little...’

Faylo leaned up and kissed her, effectively making the squirrel forget all about punishing him. She could taste his cum, saliva, and her own arousal. It was not unpleasant at all and she found herself leaning into the kiss far more eagerly because of it. He was still very aroused, and the way he lay upon her was very telling, for his shaft pressed against her very warm pussy.

‘Do you feel better?’ Faylo asked, between kisses.

‘Much better.’ Uesstii huffed. ‘You have no idea how much I needed that.’

‘What about your wounds?’ He kissed her again. ‘Your ribs? Your head?’

‘Such a worrisome mouse.’

‘You mean a lot to me.’

Uesstii combed her claws through his soft, golden hair and she played with his big ears. ‘Falling for a squirrel?’ She teased.

‘Yes.’

‘We might get odd looks.’

‘I don’t care.’

Uesstii relaxed against her pillow with a sigh. ‘A mouse and a squirrel. I have a heard of it happening in the capital, mice and rats especially, but never had I thought it would happen to me.’

‘Does it bother you?’ Faylo squeaked, some worry in his voice.

Uesstii squished his face into her boobs. ‘Does it look like I have a problem with it?’

‘I suppose not.’

Faylo nuzzled against her and went silent, almost as if he wanted to sleep again, but Uesstii pulled on his ear.

‘We can’t stay here, Faylo.’

‘But I’m so tired.’ He yawned and stretched. ‘And you’re so soft...’

‘I know...’ She whispered. ‘We’ll find a nice tree to sleep in tonight.’

‘I’m not a squirrel.’

‘No, but if you’re going to be my knight.’ She looked at him with a grin. ‘You’ll need to learn how to climb a tree.’

‘But I’m afraid of heights!’

‘Not anymore,’ She giggled maniacally and squished his face between her boobs. ‘I’ll keep you safe.’

Between her breasts was, indeed, the safest place in the whole world to Faylo. She was so soft, and she smelled amazing, and she was warm to the touch. He could stay like that forever, and wanted to, if not for needing to breathe properly.

‘Fine, but I get to teach you something in return.’

‘Oh?’ She chittered. ‘What would that be?’

‘Maybe something to do with your paws?’ He trailed a claw along her side, down to her fluffy hip, where he squeezed her playfully. ‘Smithing?’

Uesstii snorted a laugh! ‘Me, a delicate female? What would those gruff, old rats have to say?’

‘I wouldn’t know. I haven’t met one.’

‘Don’t tell them that!’ Uesstii snorted. ‘They’ll be grovelling at your paws, tending to your every need, and begging to be the protectors of a Mauslin family. How terrible.’

‘That doesn’t sound so terrible.’

Uesstii rolled her eyes. ‘I was being sarcastic.’ She smooched his nose. ‘Sometimes I forget you haven’t stepped foot out of these woods.’

‘Are rats really like that?’

‘Yes.’ Uesstii combed her fingers through his soft, golden hair. ‘They’re all lunatics, in my opinion. Mice won’t go anywhere without their rat, and rats won’t go anywhere without their mouse.’

‘I didn’t know I was supposed to have a rat.’

Uesstii shrugged. ‘As far as I know, you don’t.’

Faylo thought about it for a while, then he wiggled his nose. ‘I don’t even know what a rat looks like, beyond some paintings.’

‘They look like a mouse, but different.’

‘You’re very creative with your descriptions.’

Uesstii playfully punched his arm, which turned out to be way stronger than the she intended.

‘Ow!’ Faylo squeaked and rubbed his now very sore arm.

Sorry!’ She laughed. ‘I’m not used to playing with little mice.’

‘I’m not much smaller than you.’

‘You’re lucky reds are so small, otherwise it’d be really hard to kiss you.’

Faylo gave her a quizzical look. ‘Reds?’

‘Red squirrels. Hence the red fur.’ She puffed her chest out proudly. ‘And the iconic creamy chest.’

Iconic, indeed, for he felt that chest fur against his snout.

‘Are there other squirrels?’ He asked, through a muzzle full of fur.

‘Greys, mostly. Though, I have heard of other squirrels in the jungles.’

Uesstii gently pushed Faylo to the side. He squeaked his displeasure. She slipped off the bed and stretched her arms above her head. She winced! Her sore ribs made it hard to move, let alone breathe properly. All she could feel was pain, a terrible throb that left her feeling faint, but she dared not show it, not in front of Faylo, who would insist they not leave before she rested.

‘We mustn’t linger any longer, Faylo.’ She looked over her shoulder with a smirk. She could feel his eyes on her, roaming, lusting. ‘Come on.’

Faylo could see everything. The curves of her fluffy hips, her beautiful bottom, and just a tease of her fluffy cunt. She lifted her tail for him, so sensual the act, that it made him squeak! He did nothing to hide his arousal, they were far beyond the point of modesty, not that he had ever cared to begin with. She ignored that for another time and began to rummage through his wardrobe.

‘Do you have anything that will fit me?’ She mused.

Faylo shook his head clear of any intrusive thoughts, at least for now. ‘Y-yes.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Yes.’

Uesstii pulled out several articles of clothing, including some for him, and placed them in a pile on the floor. She stretched a shirt along her arm and judged the size before putting it on. A perfect fit.

‘Take only what you can afford to carry.’ Uesstii found a bag, a leather rucksack, the kind with straps that hung from both shoulders, and pushed it into Faylo’s paws. ‘We have a long journey ahead of us.’

‘Where are we going?’

‘To the great drey city of Ulyphus.’ She stuffed a fancy shirt into Faylo’s bag, and with a wiggle of her nose, she also shoved two clean loincloths inside. ‘We’ll head north-east, along the river, toward the mountains.’

Faylo perked right up! ‘Where you were born?’

‘Sort of.’ Uesstii inspected a loincloth for herself and held it in front of her crotch. ‘It’s hard to say. It was so long ago, and the city keeps moving.’ She tied the loincloth to her waist.

‘I would love to see it.’

‘You will.’ Uesstii gave Faylo a loincloth.’You’ll need to wear this, certainly.’

Faylo wiggled his nose and opened his mouth to protest, but Uesstii silenced him with a paw.

‘No knight of mine will go naked.’

Faylo sighed and nodded. He took the cloth and clumsily fitted it around his waist. Uesstii rolled her eyes and reached down to help him. His beautiful scent, so thick and hazy, it made her light and filled her belly with butterflies, even after several orgasms.

‘T-there!’ She said, pulling away sharply. ‘That looks right.’

‘It’s tight...’

‘Deal with it for now, okay?’

Clothing flew about. She grabbed a cloak, a heavy, woollen thing, spun by paw, and was of one colour, a soft grey. ‘What about this?’ Uesstii asked.

‘A cloak?’ Faylo wiggled his nose. ‘I haven’t worn one in a long time.’

Uesstii gave him a sweet smile. ‘I think you would look rather dashing in it.’

Faylo snatched it from her. ‘I suppose I could give it a try.’

That was easy! She noted that for later.

‘I will have you wear a long sleeve shirt. The bugs are fierce this time of year. I’ll find us proper clothing when we make it to the city.’

The promise of more clothing did not fill Faylo with enthusiasm, but he nodded anyways, to make her happy. Uesstii stuffed the last of the clothing in the bag.

‘There, that ought to do for the journey.’

‘What else do we need?’

Uesstii thought for a moment before squeaking, ‘Food.’ Her stomach growled. ‘Lots of it.’

Faylo nodded vigorously.

‘We’ll need weapons, too.’

Now that perked Faylo up and he smiled, a devious smile. Of all the creations in a Mauslin house, the weapons were the greatest and by far the most grand and intricate. Swords, spears, shields, armour, and most recently, before they disappeared, they made guns, improving upon old designs and bringing forth destruction the likes the world had never seen. To have a Mauslin weapon was the difference between life and death; making them quite sought after in the decades following their mysterious disappearance.

The halls of the house felt lighter, warmer, and sun kissed. Uesstii relaxed as they walked together towards the workshop. In her paw, the three Primordial crystals glowed ever faintly. She held them close, and she kept Faylo closer, so close in fact, she was holding his paw. Which was quite agreeable for Faylo, whom took to the job with his usual enthusiasm. She was his now, after all; or so he thought!

‘You’re in for a real treat.’ Faylo said, as they walked down to the nearly destroyed workshop. ‘I have quite the selection just collecting dust.’

They danced around rubble of earth and pieces of metal. It served as a nasty reminded to Faylo. There was not enough apologies or life saving he could do to make up for that horrible day. He pushed those feelings to the side as he lead her to a wall at the far end.

‘Here we are.’ Faylo said, with a mischievous smirk.

The wall was blank, save for a sconce that flickered with the rhythmic pulse of electricity.

Uesstii raised a brow. ‘A wall?’

Faylo grabbed the sconce and pulled it downward. The wall began to tremble! The stones moved in a line that followed fake mortar, and on a horizontal axis, the whole wall suddenly flipped; and on it were weapons, lots of them. Revolvers, lever action rifles, swords, magic staffs, and even a single shield. All of which were of the finest make.

Uesstii’s eyes practically dazzled in the presence of such a selection. She had never seen Mauslin craft, beyond the unfinished work on Faylo’s bench. She reached a paw to a revolver and traced a claw along the grip, up the wood finish, and to the metal cylinder.

‘It’s break-action.’ Faylo said. ‘For ease of reloading.’ He picked up an odd contraption. ‘This is a speed-loader. I’m sure you’ve seen one or two in your time, but it allows for a swift reload of all six shots.’

Uesstii nodded. ‘I’ve seen a few guns, but I’m not much of a shot. I prefer a steel blade.’

Faylo placed the speed-loader on a bench and grabbed a different pistol from the wall of weapons.

‘This is a single action, higher calibre, longer barrel, but only slightly, and is quite favoured by gunslingers.’ He offered it to Uesstii.

Uesstii took the pistol and inspected it closer. It had runes etched in the metal, of the Primordials, and several depictions of the sun.

‘This is an Exorcist’s gun...’

‘Hm, yeah? Maybe. I didn’t make that one. It has been on the wall for as long as I can remember.’

Uesstii spun the pistol on one finger, expertly, to the surprise of Faylo, who watched in awe. She twirled it, cocked it by her ear, and pulled the hammer back with a thumb and dry fired it.

‘It feels good.’

‘You can have it.’

Uesstii wiggled her nose. ‘I’m not much for guns, really.’ She left the gun on a workbench and looked at the wall again. ‘What about the swords?’

Faylo stuffed the gun in his bag while Uesstii wasn’t looking; and then he looked to the wall for a moment before squeaking. ‘Two handed or one?’

‘One and a half.’

Faylo nodded and reached for the only hand and a half blade he had. It was beautiful, not unlike what Uesstii owned before. The blade was straight, double-edged, with a groove in the middle, to reduce weight, and nearest the hilt, the blade went dull before the cruciform guard. The grip was wrapped with leather on full tang, with a decorative ruby pommel that did not feel like art, but was indeed made for the task. He pulled it off the wall, and in true knightly fashion, he knelt in front of her and presented the sword.

‘My lady.’

Uesstii politely curtsied. ‘Thank you, sir knight.’

It had been sometime since she had to play such a role. One of importance and dignity. She did not detest it, but she definitely preferred to go without such pleasantries and traditions; but, even she did have to admit how good it felt to be important again. She grabbed the sword with one paw and held it up. It was light as a feather, but with obvious weight behind even the smallest of movements. The blade itself shined in the light, and bit into her claw when she tested the sharpness. She swung it, first with one paw, then again with both. The blade buzzed like an angry hornet!

‘Very impressive. Does it have a scabbard?’

As if anticipating this question, Faylo already held one. ‘Yes.’

Uesstii sheathed the sword and tied the scabbard around her waist. ‘Is it really okay if I keep this?’

‘Of course!’ Faylo squeaked. ‘I would not have my fair lady unable to defend herself.’

Uesstii looked to the mouse with radiant fondness and admiration. He was so adorable! She felt butterflies in her stomach just looking at him, and those beautiful eyes, and that sweet, innocent smile. He really grew on her in so little time.

‘What about yourself? I know you’re powerful with magic, but surely you’ll need more than just that.’

Faylo thought for a moment, wiggled his nose, looked to the weapons, then back to her with a shrug. ‘I just make them. Never did learn how to swing them properly.’

‘Take a sword with you. I’ll teach what I can as we travel.’

‘That sounds like fun.’

Uesstii shrugged. ‘I suppose I could make it fun. My teacher was mean and fiercely determined to smack every lesson into me.’

‘Who was your teacher?’

‘My mother.’ Uesstii said, with a shiver of contempt.

‘She sounds powerful and scary.’ Faylo squeaked.

‘She is. Though, I will be gentler with you, I promise.’

Faylo sighed in relief. ‘I appreciate that. I will do what I can to be worthy of you.’

‘You show great promise, Faylo. I am happy to have you at my side.’

Faylo swelled with pride. ‘I won’t let you down.’

Uesstii gave him a soft smile. ‘Now, then.’ She clapped her paws and looked around the room. ‘I need armour.’

‘Plenty of that, but mostly for mice, I’m afraid. Though...’ Faylo wiggled his nose in thought. ‘I suspect a piece or two would be fit for squirrels and rats.’

‘Good. I will not have you travel these woods without a reliable cuirass or chain. It could mean life or death, I assure you.’

‘I didn’t know the woods were that dangerous.’ Faylo said, as he browsed a rack of armour. ‘I did see a giant thing once, like an animal, but it was as tall the very trees themselves.’ He wiggled his whiskers. ‘I believe such things are common, the giant ones, but never have they had any footfalls near the house.’

‘The leviathans.’ Uesstii said. ‘Lesser gods of the natural realms. The Ulyphyn is one of those creatures, but they are certainly the least of your worries.’ She inspected a leather cuirass that Faylo presented her. ‘This will do.’

‘The squirrels must be incredibly powerful to tame such a beast.’ Faylo squeaked, as he helped Uesstii into the armour; and he tightened the straps.

‘Tame it? No, not us, not ever. We are merely along for the ride.’

‘What do you mean?’

Uesstii smirked. ‘You’ll see.’

Faylo would have asked more questions, he had so many, but Uesstii had other plans. She looked at the armour and pulled from the rack a leather cuirass fit for a mouse.

‘This should do you well. Light and manoeuvrable.’

‘It’s a good piece.’ Faylo squeaked. ‘I think I made that a few winter’s ago.’ He wiggled into the armour and Uesstii helped tighten the straps.

‘You strike a very imposing figure, sir mouse.’

Faylo twirled. ‘You think so?’

‘And very handsome.’ Uesstii said, as she leaned down to kiss him between the ears. ‘The more armoured you are, the better, but I would have us travel light in these woods.’

‘When do you want to leave?’

‘Immediately.’

Faylo sighed and seemed to deflate. ‘Why did this have to happen?’ A sudden wave of emotion took hold of the mouse and he began to cry. ‘I wish we had met under better circumstances.’

‘I think some things happen for a reason.’ Uesstii pulled him into a tight hug. ‘We can’t choose when or why, and those that live to see such times wish they had not, but there are forces at work here, Faylo, far greater than any evil, and I believe you have a part to play.’

‘Will you be there with me?’

‘Always.’

The workshop went quiet for the first time. Faylo strapped his goggles to his head, at the request of Uesstii who deemed it imperative to hide his eyes, and he chose a sword. He snuffed out the fire, turned the engines off, and climbed the stairs without looking back. The house was dark and eerie. Uesstii stayed close, closer when they went to the kitchen. They packed what they could and left through the greenhouse door. It was late afternoon. The sun was low and the shadows were long.

‘Couldn’t we stay another night?’ Faylo asked.

‘We must be away from here before sunset.’ Uesstii said. ‘I fear the ruinous powers will gain enough strength to free themselves tonight.’

Uesstii headed north-east, along the waterfall, up river and towards the mountains. Faylo squeaked and hurried to catch up to her.

‘Are we going to sleep in a tree?’

Uesstii laughed! ‘Is that what you’re worried about?’

‘I am! What if I fall?’

‘I’ll have you snug in my arms.’

‘As nice as that sounds, I would still prefer a bed.’

‘And I would prefer a pint of cold ale.’ Uesstii smacked him playfully with her tail. ‘You’ll have to learn quick to like dirt and leaves, little mouse.’

Faylo spit fur from his mouth. ‘Hey!’

‘What? I thought you liked my tail.’

‘I do!’

Uesstii rolled her eyes. ‘Come along.’

Come along, indeed! Faylo stayed close to her as they travelled along the river. The greenhouse faded in the distance and he looked behind him one last time. Uesstii placed a reassuring paw on his shoulder.

‘It’s not goodbye forever.’

Faylo believed it in his heart that they would return someday. He steeled his nerves and followed Uesstii, along the banks of the river, across mossy stone, treacherous footing, and hanging vines. The water was fast and strong, plowing through jagged rocks, and spraying water high into the air. It did not take long for them to reach the bubble of magic. It shimmered in the low light, sparkled and rippled with all the colours of the rainbow.

Uesstii poked it with a claw. ‘How did you get me through this?’

Faylo grabbed her paw and simply walked through it. Uesstii felt herself tugged through quickly, as if the shield itself wanted her gone. The magic was jarring, a jolting shot of displeasure, and it tickled her whiskers, she hated that!

‘Ta-daa.’ Faylo squeaked.

Uesstii sneezed! ‘That was weird.’ She sniffled. ‘Like walking through a wet soap bubble.’

‘You would have acclimated, had you stayed here longer, I am sure of that.’

Uesstii shivered. ‘I’m not sure I would have wanted to.’

Faylo kept hold of her paw and refused to let go. That was no bother to Uesstii. She welcomed the comfort in the growing shadows of the dense forest. He squeezed her paw and gave her a sweet smile. He was so adorable and radiated love and affection. Her heart fluttered just looking him in the eyes.

‘Are you ready?’ Uesstii asked.

Faylo nodded. ‘As long as I am with you, my lady, I will be ready for anything.’

So cheesy! She snorted back a laugh, but she was a blushing, wiggling mess, of course, and she chittered so happily and her tail was a whipping frenzy behind her, as it often was. They really did read too many romances. To think one would happen in the most unlikely of places.

And so began their long journey. Through forest, fern, and over stone and fallen tree, into the darkening unknown, paw in paw, ready to take on the whole world together.