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Hey everyone! Yeah, it's been a while...but good things are worth the wait? ;P Lol, anyway, here is Chapter Three of Tales of a Wounded Soul. I hope it doesn't disappoint!

Disclaimer: you've heard it before.

Enjoy!

* * *

The sun sparkled across the surface of the lake, adding a shimmering sheen to the slowly waning light of the summer afternoon. The heat had finally come to a welcome end, the relentless rays of the burning star having finally surrendered to the slow, steady march of the coming autumn. A gentle breeze rustled through the woods, adding a quiet refrain to the calm passing of the summer. The cool air had brought furs out by the droves, and happy laughter once more echoed across the park, filling every wooded niche and rocky crag with the vibrant chorus of unending and pervasive life.

An air of bliss crept through the city, smoothly caressing even the most dejected hearts and teasing smiles from the most weary of faces. Despair and regret had, it seemed, relinquished their hold on life, and all was settled in the world. Mouths which had for so long held frowns were turning subtly up at the corners, and laughter escaped from once sob-haunted throats.

Even the early evening sky seemed to reflect the unremitting joviality of the land, its brilliant hues of purple, fiery orange, and bitter red casting a rainbow of splendor across the otherwise bleak canvas of the urban jungle. The canyons of glass were aflame with the symphony of radiance, bounding and reflecting off each other until the streets themselves seemed to be awash in light. Hearts of stone melted under the moment's brilliance, and the cold darkness of night was for a moment held at bay.

The air was heavily laden with the rich aromas of a coming fall; the scent of coffee wafted from the ever-open cafes, mingling interminably with the crisp smell of the freshly-mowed park and the heavier perfume of an end-summer barbeque. The rich bouquet teased every nostril, eliciting a strange mix of hunger and peace in the mind of all who breathed it.

There was a calm here now, a steady and ageless peace that swelled under the gentle strains of August. Life's pain, the ever-growing exhaustion of an existence without direction and meaning, was forgotten. Like a chastised and wild-eyed demon, it contented itself with watching and waiting, silently allowing weary-worn existence to breathe a sigh of relief. The storms of unrest were held at the horizon, pushed back by the warm summer wind in its dying days.

Happiness bubbled in the fox's heart as he walked, and his bounding steps possessed a bounce they had not held in ages. His eyes no longer cast themselves down towards the pavement, and joy shouted in his mind as he gazed up at the living painting around him. Life oozed out of every corner, enthused with the well-being that emanated from above and tickling the spirits of all those who stopped to see it. He closed his eyes as he breathed in the heavy air, letting the aroma fill his nose with heady pleasure.

"Well that's certainly a change of pace for you," the warm voice came from his side, crashing in on his blissful meditation.

The vulpine's attention returned to the present moment, and he turned to smile at Ryan, energy twinkling in his eyes as his grin broadened. Warm, amber eyes stared back, meeting his twinkle with a placid strength and caring smile. For his part, the lupine's steps were steadier and more reserved than those of his vulpine companion. He walked with a quiet determination, occasionally slipping coy glances at Zack as they journeyed through the park together. His hands were in his pockets, and his tail wagged slowly from side to side in stark contrast to the fox's infectious enthusiasm.

"Well, I guess I have you to thank for that, don't I?" Zack replied with a smile, leaning in to nudge Ryan's chest playfully. A small arm deftly wrapped itself around the larger figure, and he leaned bodily into the still-walking form, earning a surprised sound and stagger from the wolf.

"Yes," Ryan chuckled in reply, "I guess you could say you do." His arm, in turn, wrapped itself around the small animal, pulling him close with dominant strength. He quickly regained his upset footing, looking down at the fox with mock anger in his eyes. Zack merely looked back up, mischief written across his face and long-unknown energy dancing across his body.

This was his nirvana; he was for once at one with the world and happy with existence. He had been pulled from the void, rescued from the long dark of his own slow destruction. Every movement - every small breath - was enthused with a zeal for life, one that had very nearly been drowned in his despair. He clung now to his savior, the one fur who had shown him compassion; his head rested upon the chest, and the very arm that had pulled him from the muck scratched caringly between his ears. There was naught in his life besides Ryan; the wolf had become his meaning, his purpose.

That same wolf was lost in thought as they walked together to nowhere. His body responded instinctively to the affection oozing out from Zack's body, smiles greeting the fox's in polite appreciation. Though warm and strong, those amber eyes hid a mind that was lost in tumbling thought, swimming in the dark deep of a troubled bliss. Even as he breathed the poignant summer air, his thoughts turned to the autumn that fast approached.

For it will always remain true that the buoyant heat of ecstatic summer must return ever to the bleak cold of winter.

* * *

Evening waned to night, and as the stars danced above the wide open spaces of the city, Zack and Ryan made their slow way back to the wolf's apartment. The fox's zest never diminished, and the wolf followed him with a reserved smile scrawled across his face. Playful jabs were always met, and affectionate nuzzles always returned. Sometimes, for the barest moment, the vulpine would see a shadow of doubt creep into the eyes of his companion, but he dismissed it as mere tricks of dim light. Twilight can do that to you.

When they finally reached Ryan's door, loud protesting grumbles could be heard from the bellies of both animals, bringing genuine smiles to the wolf's face.

"Hmmm..." he said quietly as one paw rubbed playfully at Zack's torso, letting the door swing shut behind them, "it sounds like someone's hungry."

Zack looked back with a wry grin, slowly pressing his body up against the wolf's so that the paw was wedged between them. Hearts quickened, hot breath coming in short bursts as the two animals' muzzles crept closer. Lust was palpable in the room, the raw animalistic desire that could melt all other feelings but its own.

"You have," the fox breathed, seductive tones ringing subtly in his voice, "no idea."

He moved his muzzle ever closer to the wolf's, so that his breath was hot and moist on the other's face. Their distinctive smells filled sensitive nostrils, sending a quick shiver down the embracing bodies. Zack's eyes closed, and he leaned in slowly as his heart, mind, and soul raced in anticipation.

"Then why don't I go make us some dinner," the wolf said suddenly, pulling away and leaving a very disappointed fox clinging empty air. Zack looked at him with indignant anger in his eyes, the fire mingling with the lust on his face and bringing a hearty laugh from Ryan's throat.

"Oh, foxes have such dirty minds," the wolf teased, still chuckling as he walked toward the kitchen, wagging his tail and forgetting the dark thoughts that had crept into his mind. Doubts could not persist in this place, infused as it was with the hard-fought happiness of a burgeoning relationship. His eyes shone once again as he looked at Zack, the small, indignant figure breaking once more into his heart.

"You know very well," Zack shot back, "what was on my mind, you little...mmm." He was moving surreptitiously past the couch, the raw emotions still plainly visible on his innocent face. The wolf looked back teasingly, loudly and spitefully removing cooking wares from their places. His tail swing beneath him in a steady and beguiling tempo, its playful air matching the smile on his face.

"Yeah," the wolf replied in mock confusion. "Pizza, right?"

The smile creeping slowly across his lips betrayed his intentions, but he continued to make a sham show of preparing their meal. But it was no longer doubt that drove his seeming reluctance...he wanted now simply to see how badly Zack wanted it.

A quiet growl was the fox's only response, the sound causing Ryan's eyebrows to rise in surprise. It was unlike his partner to show this sort of dominance. Putting his dishes down slyly, he turned to face the rapidly advancing animal.

"You must be hungrier than I thought, foxy."

With sudden and surprising energy, Zack leapt upon the wolf, clumsily knocking the dishes to the floor and pinning the larger animal against the refrigerator. Ryan gasped at the show of force, but the sound quickly turned into a pleased growl. The vulpine body was hot and panting against his, its desire obvious beyond question as both animals paused for the shortest of moments.

"You don't want piz..."

Ryan's joke was cut off rudely as Zack planted his lips heavily against the wolf's, the smaller animal's tongue forcing its way quickly into the surprised maw of his companion. The lupine's eyes went wide at the move, but he quickly responded with a happy moan as his own tongue danced with Zack's. Their saliva mixed quickly in the messy, panting embrace, and both furs moaned loudly as the taste filled their mouths once more. Ryan's arm quickly broke free from the fox's grasp, and his paws were soon roving wildly across the small animal's back. Zack's limbs quickly followed suit, and he earned a throaty growl as his paws slipped under the wolf's shirt to leave long furrows in the fur.

They panted when Ryan finally pulled back, a long string of sticky spit arcing from one gasping muzzle to the other. Their hearts pounded in their chests, and the thick smell of musk was already palpable in the room. Denied its target, Zack's mouth soon began kissing and gnawing at Ryan's neck, eliciting sharp gasps of pleasure from the wolf as he attempted to regain his bearings. The gasps were met with small moans and whimpers as the fox's instincts began to take over; his bites became more insistent, and his claws dug powerfully into Ryan's skin wherever they happened to land.

"Oof, foxy..." the wolf panted, his body shivering at the pleading touches, "you're incorrigible."

Zack didn't reply. Instead, his arms wrapped around the lupine waist, grinding their groins together and eliciting shuddering moans from the larger animal. He looked up at the wolf with begging in his eyes and longing on his face, and his ears were pulled down tightly against his head. Ryan needed only one look at the piteous face before his heart was melted once more.

"Mmmm...how can I say no to that?" he chuckled, scooping the fox up in his arms with a gentle kiss to the top of his head. Zack murmured in happiness as the wolf pulled him tight against the grey-furred chest, folding his arms against his own torso and allowing himself to be carried without protest. His eyes closed as if in sleep, and his tongue licked slowly in an affectionate show of thanks for what was to come.

Ryan sighed happily at the fox's actions, repaying them with a gentle squeeze as he wedged the bedroom door open with his foot. He felt Zack's body shiver in anticipation, driven by the now-familiar scent of the wolf's bedroom, and he chuckled warmly at the feeling. The baritone laugh vibrated down into the vulpine frame, teasing away the worldly concerns that had been lingering in the darkest corners of his mind. He was with his rock now, and that was all that mattered.

With utmost care, Ryan deposited the curled-up animal on the soft bedsheets, grinning as the body immediately unfolded itself. Zack looked up at him with deepest longing, unspoken love twinkling in his bright and happy eyes. A quiet moan escaped his lips, and the sound dripped with a lust and desire that belied the animal's small body.

With a happy murmur, Ryan slowly lowered himself onto the fox's trembling body, wrapping his arms once more around him as their muzzles came together. His tongue lapped eagerly at the entrance to Zack's maw, the wolf trembling as he took in the sweet and salty taste of his lover. The vulpine whimpered, his lips parting to allow the eager tongue to enter, and Ryan growled quietly as he explored the newly opened territory with surprising urgency.

In response, Zack's arms snaked around the wolf's waist, clawing impatiently at his lower back and earning increasingly feral growls. Ryan suddenly back away, panting wildly as he felt his erection beginning to struggle against his boxers. He felt a spot of wetness, and he could smell the sharp tang of their musk mingling into a furious and maddening aroma. He growled again, roughly this time, before suddenly sinking his teeth into the fox's already-sweaty neckfur. The action was matched by a rough grind from his hips, and Zack could only whimper in submission, shivering as he felt the wolf's hard-on rub against his own.

"These clothes are just getting in the way, aren't they?" the larger animal asked with a playful chuckle, his fingers already working clumsily at the fox's pants. Zack responded by pulling Ryan's muzzle hard against his own, moaning loudly as his free hand began to fight its own struggle against the wolf's zipper. The embrace entirely derailed Ryan's thoughts, and both arms were soon clawing furiously at Zack's back. Finally, he pulled away once more, leaving both animals panting and swimming in the lingering smell of sweat and sex.

They took the moment to return their complete attention to the task at hand, and they gasped simultaneously as both pairs of pants and boxers were swept quickly away. Ryan looked down to note happily that both of them were already primed for action, their quivering cocks slick with pre. An insistent growl from the fox regained the lupine's attention, and he had to chuckle when he looked upon the pleading animal's face.

For a moment, their wild passion was forgotten, and Ryan slowly shifted his weight back onto the reclining vulpine. He stared deep into those green eyes, and all time seemed to freeze around them. The room melted away, and only the panting, whimpering animal remained in his sight. No words were exchanged, but a silent bond of trust was wordlessly affirmed. With a smile, the wolf kissed the fox one last time, one hand sliding slowly up the fox's leg and stroking his cock with inarguable authority.

The small animal gasped at the sudden touch, bringing a mischievous smile to the lupine face. He stroked once more, gently caressing the shaking rod with a single clawed finger. Zack whimpered as slivers of white ecstacy teased at his senses, unconsciously bucking against the finger and begging him to do more. A spurt of pre shot out, coating Ryan's finger with the milky, off-white substance.

"My, my, aren't we eager?" Ryan laughed, slowly running his tongue up Zack's neck before unhurriedly kissing his way down the fox's gasping body. The vulpine moaned at each embrace, his hips pushing once more against the wolf's teasing hand. His body shook, and his need for release was almost palpable in the air. With another evil chuckle, Ryan gently nuzzled the fox's balls, licking his lips as his motion was rewarded with a thick gob of pre.

Suddenly and without warning, the wolf licked up the quivering fox cock, eliciting a shuddering moan as he took the length into his mouth in one gulp. He suckled at it loudly, making the fox arc his back as his now-sticky hand roughly squeezed the vulpine sack.

"Oh...oh Ryan!" he whimpered loudly, his breath coming in ragged breaths as his orgasm threatened already. His hips bucked, and the wolf had to stifle a gag as the cock thrust unexpectedly deeply into his throat. But he soon regained his composure, and he growled loudly, the sound reverberating down the base of Zack's member and making the fox writhe in agonizing pleasure. A strange mixture of whimpers and growls came from the small animal's throat, and his eyes shut as his head rolled back onto the bed. His hips thrust evenly now, in rough time with Ryan's suckling, and the wolf moaned appreciatively as salty spurts of pre oozed down his eager throat.

Suddenly, Zack's whimpers became more urgent, and his entire body shook as his balls tensed up against his torso. Ryan, however, felt this happen just in time, and with a pop he removed his muzzle from the fox' member, letting it shiver in midair. The coming orgasm retreated into nothing more than a long spurt of pre, and Zack let out a loud whimper as he felt his body calm itself. He lay gasping on the bed, his fur standing on end in anticipation of the denied release. His mouth opened to speak, but was interrupted by a wolf's finger suddenly and rudely inserting itself into his tailhole. The unexpected invasion made him gasp, and his back arced again, unconsciously pushing the finger against his prostate and blurring his vision with pleasure.

Smiling at the reaction he had earned, Ryan pumped the finger a few times, rubbing gently against the prostate and eliciting a series of lustful groans. Zack's cock pumped in time with the finger-thrusts, and he started to shake as his orgasm threatened once more. His lips pulled back, and a stifled whimper gathered in his throat. The vulpine head left the bed, and his hips once more began to thrust, unintentionally throwing his cock against his partner's face. The motion left a string of sticky cum across Ryan's cheek, and with a throaty growl, the wolf suddenly began lapping at the shaking rod.

"Oh...oh gaw...ungh," the fox panted, barely able to form even those incoherent words as his body shook. His hips thrust once, twice, three more times against Ryan's face, and with a happy groan, the wolf continued to lick at the pulsing cock. Finally, the wolf's hand clasped at the swollen knot, and with a loud moan, Zack's head dropped hard onto the bed. His cock shook and spasmed, and a long line of fox cum shot out across Ryan's face, landing squarely between his eyes in messy spurts. His body shook again, and a second string shot over the wolf's head, the very end of it catching one twitching ear.

For a bare moment, both animals lay there panting, Zack growling as his orgasm swept over him in mind-shattering waves. His vision went white in the sensory overload, and his entire frame shook in pleasure. He opened his mouth to speak, but another lick from Ryan resulted in only a moan escaping his throat.

His work complete, the wolf suddenly rose, roughly kissing the fox one more time before quickly turning his body. The small animal had no time to even respond before he felt the warm wolf cock pushing up against his tailhole, begging for entry, longing to spear deep into the vulpine body. Zack could only push back eagerly, and he gasped as he felt the tip slide into his welcoming tailhole. A panting Ryan leaned down over his lover, removing and reinserting the tip teasingly and earning a pant with each thrust.

Suddenly, the wolf's jaws clasped down on the fox's neck, accompanied by a deep growl from the lupine throat. A moan escaped between his teeth as his cock slid into the tailhole with one coarse motion, and his fingers tensed into the fox's hips as the warmth surrounded him. Zack whimpered loudly as he felt himself being bred, shivering in response to the teeth bearing down hard on his nape. He tightened his tailhole in response, the clasping muscles eliciting a shuddering groan from the wolf as his member trembled. Never releasing his hold, the wolf slowly pulled back out before throwing his weight roughly into Zack's rear. The fox gasped at the hard thrust, his vision once more blurring as the cock brushed up against his prostate. Ryan repeated the motion, earning another gasp as his hands began to grasp tightly at the fox's hips.

After a few more of the animalistic thrusts, the wolf settled into a steady rhythm, panting as his cock slid slowly in and out of the fox's writhing body. His fingers pushed into the red-orange fur with each thrust, his claws digging in and adding a new layer of sensation to every movement of his body. The vulpine's warm insides teased at the slippery intruder, earning growling moans every time they clamped down upon the shaft. Pre issued forth in sticky squirts, slicking up the intruder's insides and allowing ever faster, rougher movements.

The lupine's body slipped slowly out of conscious control, and the grinding movements began to take on a wild urgency. Ryan's hips pushed hard against Zack's, his knot slapping loudly against the ever-receptive tailhole. The fox whimpered and moaned with each movement, unconsciously pressing down against the invading cock, urging the wolf to take him deeper and faster. The wolf groaned above him, his paws pressing hard into the small animal's back as a sliver of ecstacy snaked teasingly across his body. The slick member shook and trembled within Zack's body, and Ryan's tongue licked roughly into the fox's neck fur, slurping in odd syncopation with the fevered thrusts.

"Ungh...tie...tie..." Zack breathed in clipped, staccato words, "tie me."

The wolf responded simply with a nuzzle to the small animal's neck, the affectionate motion quickly gaining a hint of aggression as Ryan's jaws closed gently in his characteristically assertive mating bite. The fox moaned in lustful bliss as the teeth pressed again into his neck, his body going limp in ritualistic acknowledgement of his rightful place. Ryan's moans and grunts gained quickly in volume, his sharp breaths leaving spots of moisture as they escaped between his clenched teeth. The lupine knot was pressing relentlessly against the small animal's tailhole, and Zack whimpered loudly every time it pressed against him, almost begging for the swollen organ to enter and claim him.

Finally, and with a plop that was nearly drowned out by Zack's ecstatic "yes!", the knot slipped in, its entry earning an unrestrained growl from the wolf. His thrusts abandoned all semblance of regularity, and his feet pressed against the baseboard as his body pushed to claim the fox as his own. His balls tensed up against his body, and the first shreds of his orgasm began to wash over his sweating body. Through his throbbing member, he could feel the fox's body tensing as well, and pre was leaking from the foxhood as another load sought to escape from its furry body.

He thrust once more, this time with enough force to push the small animal bodily off of the bed. An ecstatic gasp met the motion, but in the rush of hormones and frenzied movement, it was impossible to tell from whose mouth the sound had come. Another thrust was met with a squeal from the bottom animal, and he felt the first strings of hot fluid oozing out of the shaking wolf cock. In response, the fox instinctively clamped down on the invading member, forcing a series of shuddering half-thrusts from the beast above him.

"Ugh...oh...ughgawd."

Ryan's paws suddenly planted on the top of Zack's shoulders, pushing him down on his erection as he released the neck to let his head swing back wildly. His cock spasmed with unexopected force, and he howled with all his force as his orgasm washed over his body in shimmering waves. His body shook in time as hot strings of wolf cum coated the fox's insides, the sticky substance leaking out past his knot and oozing onto the sheets. The unexpected warmth on his knot quickly brought him back to climax, and he writhed and growled as his body bred once more into the fox.

Zack whimpered happily as he felt the release within him, his ears pulled back tight against his head as the mating was completed. The double load took him quickly and decisively past his threshold, and his own body shook as cum issued forth in hot strings across their furry chests. His body shook with every spasm, the motion echoing through the wolf's body with another growling tremble.

"Oh gawd, Michael, yes" the fox panted, not realizing in his bliss what he had said. He whimpered, however, when he heard the panting stop entirely. He looked down in confusion past his cum-stained fur, only to see Ryan looking down at him with utter terror written on his face, confusion furrowing the wolf's brow as well.

"Wha..." the wolf breathed, still fighting through the curtain of pleasure, "what did you say?"

The question hung for a moment, the unwelcome silence thickening to an unbearable stew of uncertainty. As his breathing slowly returned, it finally registered in the fox's mind what had just happened.

"Oh...oh god...honey," he said in quick whimpers, noticing that tears were quickly forming in his partner's eyes, "I'm so sorry...I," he gulped. Nothing had ever prepared him for this sort of situation, no one had warned him that a simple misspoken word could so easily tear asunder a world of bliss. "I'm so sorry."

The fox slowly reached up a paw to caress his lover, as if he could somehow wipe the wet tears from his eyes. Ryan, however, simply growled and moved away, ignorant of the tie still joining them together. The rough motion earned a gasp from the fox, and his back arced as the still-throbbing cock rubbed once more against his gut.

"Oh honey, gawd," he gasped as his body tensed again, an unwelcome string of cum shooting across his chest and making the fox turn beet-red in mortification. "I'm so sorry."

This was all he could say as they lay there, tied together in a sick perversion of their fragile bond. The wolf could not stand to make eye contact right now, and he turned towards the wall in a pathetic attempt to hide the angry tears streaming down his face. Each motion of the fox sent unsolicited shivers down his spine, threatening to keep them joined even longer.

Finally, after too many moments of awkward silence, Ryan guessed that he was calm enough to uncouple the two animals. He pulled out roughly, sending a sliver of pleasure wafting across Zack's body. The fox, though, could feel only guilt at the sensation, and bitter tears were forming in his eyes as well.

"Honey..."

Ryan cut him off, lifting him forcefully from the bed. But behind the force lurked caring gentle-ness, a fact which the fox didn't fail to notice. There was something else here, another memory stirring the tears that now matted the grey fur. The realization hit Zack with terrible strength, and he could only stare dumbfounded at the wolf. The larger animal simply stood staring back at him, lips trembling in pain.

"Go get dressed," Ryan said finally, urging him towards the door with that same inarguable force. His voice was stifled, as if choked through tears that threatened to burst once more in sad, doleful waves. But the words did not have the anger he had expected; they were not dripping with the contempt and shame that had to be filling the lupine's body. They were said simply with the learned and practiced timbre of a counselor who had something yet to say. Something lurked in the shadows of the wolf's being, rudely and unexpectedly awakened by what had just happened.

"Honey?" Zack repeated the word, pained curiosity written all over his tear-ridden face. He needed to know what was going on here. His one source of stability stood before him with wet eyes, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he was responsible.

"We'll talk."

* * *

Ryan was sitting stolidly on the apartment couch when Zack reemerged from his room, nursing a cup of freshly brewed coffee while his eyes stared off into vast emptiness. He made hardly a sound, and the once-familiar warmth of the room and its occupant had withered away. In its place stood the unwanted chill of doubt, of an uncertainty that could not find words. In the shadows seemed to lurk new, terrible emotions, all threatening to make felt their presence in one fell swoop.

The fox's steps were slow and hesitant, as if he were afraid his very presence would be the catalyst for some new, catastrophic meltdown. Not since their first day together had the bond seemed so fragile, so utterly delicate and unbalanced. Yet now he had no choice but to realize how utterly wrong the entire situation felt. There was a void within him, a swirling whirlpool of half-truths and sudden stark realizations. He felt now, more than ever, like a shell, an empty vestige of a happy fur. His old life had returned to haunt him once more.

"I owe you an apology," Ryan said without moving, his voice coming in monotonous and empty tones.

Zack's face furrowed in guilt at the words, and he shuffled quickly to the wolf's side. Much to his relief, the lupine made no move to scoot away.

"Oh no..." the fox breathed, his plaintive tones a sharp contrast to Ryan's more stoic pitch "no, honey. I'm the one who..."

The wolf cut him off, finally showing some sign of life as his head turned to face his companion. When his eyes fell on Zack, they were cold and lifeless, glazed over as if his mind was not truly present behind them. His face wore a doleful and melancholic expression, the scars of past mistakes coming at last to light.

"No, Zack," Ryan's voice continued, devoid of expression, utterly lacking of the life with which it had once brimmed, "I knew what would happen. I...I..." His voice trailed off, and he looked away as guilt flooded his body. Tears threatened once more, and he sniffled pathetically as he struggled to find his words. When the wolf looked back, his cheeks were once more covered in salty wetness.

"I knew this would happen!" His flat tone was gone now, and in its stead was a voice rent with pain, burdened under the unyielding weight of guilt. "Part of me knew that you weren't ready! But I still..."

Suddenly, Zack put a finger on the wolf's lips, shushing him quietly. Their odd role reversal was not lost on them, and Ryan merely looked up with pain in his eyes. The sight threatened to destabilize Zack even more, and his own words were halting when they came.

"You...saved me, honey," he repeated his usual platitude. "You gave me strength. I love you."

Ryan suddenly growled at the words, standing with unexpected vigor. But the growl was oddly mixed with a whimper, and his ears were pressed flat against his head in submission. Submission to whom, however, was another question.

"You think you do!" he shot back, panting as his fury poured out from him, "I thought you did! And..." he gulped, "I loved you...I still do." His burst of anger had died back, and his mournful calm returned.

"I let it happen again."

A dejected silence followed his words, during which the only sounds were the slow, quiet hum of the apartment accented with their quick, ragged breaths. The fox opened his mouth a few times to respond, but words escaped him. Ryan, for his part, merely stood there, silently brooding.

"Honey," Zack finally said slowly, "everyone falls in love when they least expect it."

The wolf's attention fixed suddenly on the smaller animal, his hackles raised in anger. He opened his mouth to spew a rebuttal, but thought better of it before it was too late. When he finally spoke, his words held an unbecoming calm.

"Foxy, there's something you need to see."

* * *

Their time in the car was silent. Ryan's eyes fixed firmly on the road ahead of them, not entirely sure whether his blurry vision was the result of rain or his own tears. Zack, for his part, sat curled up in the passenger seat, silently longing to reach out and caress his lover, to slowly ease away whatever pain was tormenting him. He whimpered fitfully a few times, but the wolf remained unresponsive. A pall had descended upon the car by the time they reached their destination, and both furs were more than happy to exit the seemingly decrepit vehicle.

The fox murred in confusion when he looked up at the lumbering building before him, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he was standing in front of a place of despair. This was a godforsaken place, to be sure, one that had seen more than its fair share of tragedy. The windows were dark and lifeless, placed high as they were in the foreboding facade, and the light tan bricks themselves seemed to breathe their own prayer of hopelessness.

"Ryan, why..." the fox began, unable to comprehend what they were doing at a location so long ago abandoned by happiness. But the wolf cut him off with a raised finger, taking his own moment to absorb this building he had sworn so many times never to see again.

"Follow me," he commanded, the imperious force in his voice immediately disallowing any protests the fox might have had. With a trembling gulp, the small vulpine fell into lockstep behind his partner, his heart sinking slowly into his belly as they trod forward. Ryan's steps were long, determined, and made with the confidence of a fur who had traveled this path many times.

When they reached the doors, Ryan paused, finally turning to regard his companion. For the first time, a shred of feeling was sneaking back into those yellow orbs, like light streaming through half-shuttered blinds.

"Foxy," he said stolidly, the pet name lacking much of its usual affection, "I..." He paused. He hadn't thought far enough ahead, and he had no idea how best to brace Zack for what he was going to see. "I'm doing this for you," he finally uttered, the words half-swallowed in embarrassed remorse.

The confident stride resumed once more, and the wolf moved purposefully through the wide double doors into the large lobby beyond. The familiar smile of recognition greeted him from across the room, and the receptionist quietly folded away her papers to give the wolf her full attention.

"Well hey there, wolfy, how..." she began in a playful voice, smile brimming from one side of her face to the other. Ryan, however, cut her off quickly, and her expression faded when he saw the pained anger in his eyes.

"Not today, Jenn," he sighed. "Is Luke seeing anyone?"

The smile returned, as lopsided as the glasses on her face. Her eyes flashed briefly, an unseen energy sneaking out from under the cover of professional detachment.

"Sweetie, you know he's always seeing visitors."

The wolf simply responded with a nod, rubbing his paws surreptitiously on the worn, wooden desk. So many memories still lingered here, memories of happier days before the descent of darkness. The shards of a forgotten life seemed to lay scattered in the corner, so long ignored and neglected in the turmoil of wild passions.

"Thanks, I know the way."

She nodded at him as he turned towards another hallway, resuming her habit of straightening the never-diminishing pile of outgoing paperwork. Her eyes fell briefly on Zack, and the fox thought for a moment that he saw a look of shock in her eyes. It was gone in a moment, however, and she simply smiled at him as the small animal passed the desk. But lurking behind the smile was a spark of doubt, an ember of unspoken concern. Then realization flooded across her, and she barely managed to stifle a gasp. When Zack turned to look at the noise, however, he was greeted once more by nothing more than a simpering smile.

Silence had descended upon Ryan as he moved with studied poise down the long hall. His face, however, was undeniably changed; a warmth had come upon it, and a wry smile pulled up at his lips. His eyes darted across the clinically clean surfaces, noting every familiar nail and rivet with a happy surge of recognition. A bounce came little by little to his step, and his familiar warmth was seeping slowly back into him.

"I used to work here, you know," he said suddenly, his voice's rich timbre making the fox yip in surprise. The small animal had been letting his mind wander, and the earthy baritone had come crashing through his automatic footfalls.

"There are lots of memories in this hallway," he went on, sighing loudly. The sound almost felt as if it were the physical exhalation of hushed uncertainty, as if there was a calming energy to these halls.

"Why," Zack began softly, his feeble voice sounding even smaller against Ryan's, "why did you stop?"

Another sigh followed the question, and the wolf came slowly to a stop without answering. They had paused in front of a door, though there was nothing particularly remarkable about it. Its pale green surface, interrupted by small glass panes, was identical to the rows of such doors lining the hallway. But when Ryan reached out a paw to grasp the handle, it lingered on every surface, almost physically begging the empty piece of wood for entry. Zack could tell, as he looked upon the wolf's face, that there was a special significance to this room.

Finally, Ryan pulled the door open with grudging resignation. A cold draft flowed gently from the room, and scents of freshly cut flowers wafted upon the breeze.

"Zack, meet Luke."

The sallow figure of a world-weary cougar looked up from his bed at the words, blinking in confusion at the two figures standing in his doorway. His face was gaunt, pulled tight under too many years set adrift in the world, but a deeper beauty remained hidden beneath the unnaturally aged lines. His sharp features betrayed a natural ruggedness lost long ago, though smiles had ceased to grace the dismal visage. His blue eyes were dull and distant, but even still there was the shadow of a youthful flame, however dimmed it may be. His light hospital clothes failed to hide a lithe, powerful body, but the toll of atrophy had already left its mark, leaving him small and utterly powerless.

"Who..." his voice was frail and shaky, racked with a tone aged far beyond his years. "...who...is that you, Josh?"

The voice had an unexpectedly sharp effect on Ryan, and the wolf visibly jerked when the cursed name issued forth. The simple appellation landed like a hammerfall upon his heart, and Zack murmured quietly as he saw his partner's lower lip beginning to tremble.

"No, Luke," the lupine replied calmly, belying the storm that raged within him. "Josh isn't in today," he lied, knowing all too well that he was the sole repository of the awful truth. "It's me, Ryan, remember?" The last word was plaintive, almost begging, as if he needed the cougar to acknowledge his existence.

The cougar took in a sharp breath, slowly leaning back as a wave of realization swept across his lifeless eyes. "Oh yeah," he answered feebly, a quiet chuckle working into the words, "I remember. So you're here to empty the wastebaskets?" His face was split into a grin, as if he had unlocked the secrets of the universe.

"Yes, Luke," Ryan answered him, still using that same warm tone. "I will in just a moment. I just wanted to make sure you were alright."

The cougar nodded emphatically, then returned his attention to the paper that lay open at his feet. It was clear from the date, however, that this was no more than an idle diversion. Ryan watched him carefully for a while, and a sad, pathetic smile tugged gently at the corners of his lips. The tedious and steady pain of long-ignored guilt lowered a veil of gloom across his features, until the warmth mingled curiously with bitter tears. Zack watched the exchange with curious interest, his own mind struggling to gasp what he was seeing. The look of pallid despair shook him to his very core, but he knew in the deepest corners of his soul that Ryan had brought him here for a reason.

And then it hit him. With a startled gasp, he looked quickly between the grief-torn wolf and the utterly mad cougar, then back again. It was all suddenly so clear, and the vulpine knew that it was not a feline that the wolf imagined on that bed, lost in the whirling maelstrom of insanity.

It was a fox.

Suddenly, Zack could look upon his partner with a new light; it was all so frightfully clear. Ryan had let it happen again, indeed; he had risked Zack's own sanity and identify by allowing him to fall in love. And how could the wolf bear to see that happen, when the tragedy of the past lay blinking unfeelingly on the bed? The fox's demon lay dead and in the past; the wolf's lived still, tormenting him with the terrible and inarguable palpability of flesh.

Quietly, slowly, with utmost care in every step, Zack inched over to his wolf. Delicately, he snaked his arm around the lupine's, giving it a gentle tug.

"You loved him, didn't you?" he asked in a hushed whisper, almost afraid of the answer.

Ryan nodded slowly, his mead moving in quick jerks. His lip still trembled, and it was painfully clear that his psyche had been almost as damaged as Luke's.

"I can't help but think," he sniffled, wiping his nose dolefully with his free hand, "that I was responsible for this."

Zack's own voice cracked when he replied, his own sympathetic heart breaking under the shared weight of their pain. He had to fight the urge to nuzzle into the larger animal. That was likely the last thing he needed now.

"Honey," his voice sounded so small in this room of shattered hearts, "you can't let yourself think that. It'll destroy you."

Ryan turned away, staring into a corner as he tried -again - to hide the tears that were now coming down his face.

"It almost did," he said through clenched teeth, his voice dripping with the same tortured ache that he felt. "And what happens when I do it again?" he asked as his head whipped back around, his eyes staring straight into Zack's. "I'm dying because of this, Zack."

For the first time, Zack looked upon the wolf and saw not the strong, confident animal that had offered his hand in the cemetery, nor the mysterious lupine that had pulled him down from the bridge. He saw the lost face, swimming in a sea of uncaring people, reaching across a dingy coffee table to touch another soul.

And for the first time, his hand traveled slowly down the wolf's arm, coming to rest in his open palm. His fingers interlaced with Ryan's and he squeezed them hard, earning a surprised yip from the wolf. He looked down at him with bleary eyes, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"I trust you, Ryan," Zack said gently, looking up with a determined gaze.

"Now let me help you."