FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The Cry of Sodom

Book II: Scroll V

Standing on the step of the inn that she had, briefly, learned to call home, Esther sighed, breath gentler than the flutter of a butterfly. No one paid attention to the little sandy-furred Corsac fox, though furs hurried past on the street to her rear - it was a busy thoroughfare, after all. Strangely, considering her natural disposition, she felt safest in crowds, knowing there were too many eyes and bodies for anyone to single her out from the heaving mass.

Seconds ticked by as she dallied outside, dancing from hind paw to paw as she fought to summon the courage to enter the inn. Her cousin should be within. Malachi. Did she even want to see him? Was it the right thing to do? She did not know if she would be more relieved if he was otherwise disposed or if he was busying himself within.

She took a deep breath: she had to be strong. It would not be that hard to go in. But what would Malachi say to her? What if she'd disappointed him by running away? Her lips twisted into a frown. She had not meant to, but that was a ridiculous thing to say. How could one unconsciously flee a city? Tucking her tail between her legs, she raised a paw and tapped twice on the door, willing her legs not to tremble. She had to face him.

Clothing ruffled on the other side of the door and she held her breath as it swung open, revealing the taller Corsac fox. The bags beneath his eyes had deepened and he stared at Esther for longer than was polite, gears turning slowly in his brain as Esther's ears slanted back bashfully. She had never seen Malachi so surprised and it took a great effort of will for the vixen to not let out a crazed little chuckle. At least, at last, she was home.

"Esther?" Malachi blinked, jaw hanging slack and one paw half-raised as if he had forgotten what action it was supposed to complete. "What are you... Esther!"

Lunging for her, he dragged the vixen into his arms, squeezing her to his broader chest. Crushed, the vixen squirmed but good-naturedly endured the hug, relaxing into it the best she could. The contact came more easily than it had prior to her liaison with Lot and his daughters and she felt a flash of pride momentarily, though it was swept away as quickly as it appeared as Malachi pulled her closer, betraying emotion. Esther took a shuddering breath and closed her eyes, a wave of shame crashing over her.

"I'm sorry," she whined into his neck. "I didn't mean -"

"Shush, it is all well, I know, I understand," Malachi babbled, eyes moist. "I'm just so happy you've returned, my dear! You would not believe what we've been doing to try to find you!"

He held her away from his body suddenly, looking her up and down as if to check the vixen for any sign of harm. Thus satisfied, he smiled warmly. The vixen tilted her head, confusion dancing in her gaze.

"To find...me?" Esther repeated uncertainly. "Why would you expend so much energy to find me, cousin?"

"I only have one cousin like you," Malachi said, steering her inside and closing the door. "Come, come! Much has happened in your absence. You have a story to tell me indeed, I am confident of it."

The beaming fox latched on to her paw and towed her gently into the reception room where a duo gaped in surprise akin to Malachi's upon setting eyes upon Esther. The Nile crocodile turned his blocky muzzle from side to side and clapped the fire salamander - black with wicked orange blotches all over his body - upon the shoulder, sending the smaller reptile stumbling forward, though both their grins were perpetual.

"Well, who would have guessed it?" The crocodile flashed an exceptionally toothy grin. "Esther, the lady of the moment."

Shrinking into her cousin's side, the vixen tried to appear as small and insignificant as possible. Malachi wrapped a reassuring arm around her waist and held her, letting the vixen shift as close to him as needed, even if the crocodile and salamander were nothing to be afraid of. On the contrary, he no longer had need of their assistance in one particular matter, or so it seemed.

"All this and she turns up outside the inn!" Malachi declared. "I couldn't believe it."

"We are having a difficult time believing it also," the salamander said with a broad, genial smile, his eyes soft. "I cannot say how glad we are to see you well and home again, Esther."

"Oh...thank you."

Esther ducked her muzzle, unable to halt the flush that crept up her neck, rising crimson beneath her pale fur.

"Please, all of us," Malachi waved his paws. "Please, be seated, there is no need to stand around. Our search is over!"

"At least in part," the crocodile commented as he folded into a crouch, choosing not to utilise the padded cushions around the low table. "We have three bodies unaccounted for."

"That is very true."

The male Corsac fox hesitated with one leg curled beneath him, half-sitting but not quite there.

"Did you return with Lot, Pheine and Thamma?" He asked of his cousin.

Swallowing hard, Esther nodded, hoping against hope that he wouldn't pry further. It was inevitable, of course, even if she forestalled what she could with the aversion of her eyes. Could she not simply go to sleep? She was oh so very tired. The vixen shivered, eyelids drooping. The salamander, as yet a stranger to her, leaned forward, pale eyes shining as a black tongue flicked out to moisten his lips.

"That is one relief to be had at the very least," he said slowly, choosing each word with great care. "And all are well?"

Esther's nod was slower coming the second time but she nodded all the same, alleviating the trio's concerns. Malachi beamed. Edith would be thrilled to have her daughters back, he thought, though perhaps not so much her husband, from what she had imparted to him.

"What happened out there?" Malachi probed, pouring Esther a cup of wine that she gladly took, to his surprise - she had not been much of one for liquor previously. "You were indeed with Lot and his daughters, were you not?"

"Yes, I was." Esther turned her muzzle away, wondering if her blush was to become a permanent feature: it had surely seared into her skin and fur by now.

"And?" Malachi bit his tongue, desperate for answers but knowing Esther too well to shake them from her. "Why did you leave, dear? I missed you. I know there was a lot of confusion around the time of the festival. Was it too much for you?"

Esther shook her head.

"No, the festival was fine," she reassured. "You were letting me stay here, I didn't have to go out in it if I did not wish to. I'm not sure why I left, if I may be frank with you, cousin. Something came over me. I did not think... I went along with the others."

Malachi raised an eyebrow. She was never frank. Esther hugged her arms around her torso, licking her lips as if for something to occupy herself with.

"I'm not sure if this is something I should say here," she shivered. "A lot happened. A lot."

"You're in safe company, my dear," Malachi smiled. "It cannot be all that bad."

"You..." Esther growled, surprising them all. "You have no idea."

Eyes wide, Malachi reached out to his cousin, fearing absurdly that she had been possessed by some malign spirit. Esther never growled either. The fox swallowed, hackles partly raised. What had come of his sweet, quiet cousin?

"Esther," the reptile narrowed his eyes, the black pupil slits sharp. "It cannot be so bad that you cannot speak of it to us. We were part of the teams searching for you. You must trust us."

"I trust you as much as I can," she sighed. "But there was a... There was..." How could she say it aloud? "...An orgy."

The room dropped into stone dead silence, each rasping breath sounding louder than the last. Outside, a young cub shrieked in joy, providing an awkward juxtaposition to the tension inside, the pure and utter shock encompassing the amphibian and reptile. Had they not been told how shy and reserved the vixen was? The lady Malachi described to them originally, in commencing the search and quest for information, was far from the admittedly shy but steely vixen sitting before them now. Esther peeked beneath her lashes, glancing at each in turn until her gaze finally rested upon Malachi. Her cousin lifted a paw and dropped it again, a shiver making his fur fluff up though not from cold.

"I must have misheard," Malachi gulped. "You mean the other furs, don't you Esther?"

"Yes," Esther closed her eyes, unwilling to look her cousin in the eye. "I was with them. Lot, Pheine and Thamma. We were the only ones involved in the...orgy. I was involved."

It was nothing shameful in the time of Sodom but it felt like it in hindsight. If she had not been so enamoured in the cave by the thought of Lot and dizzy with wine, perhaps she would have told a different story on her return. It had been so hard to resist after going so long denied, without even an orgasm by her paw. She could not deny her sexual needs, regardless of her requirement to subdue that need due to the gender her physical body displayed.

Hanging her head, the vixen awaited judgement. Malachi coughed into his paw, straining not to breathe as his pulse jumped in his neck. The corner of his eyes twitched but, with his companions in the same room, he could say nothing about Esther's true identity. To them, she was a natural female with nothing unusual about her, besides her reserved demeanour if that could be counted as strange.

"That's obscene!" The salamander broke the silence, finding his tongue and slamming his fist on to the table, knocking over two cups of wine. "Lot had his daughters! Why, he should already be judged and begging forgiveness!"

"Heavens know what will happen to him," the crocodile agreed solemnly. "He will stand trial for his sins."

"Oh, I think we know well enough."

The rolling, dripping cups cast a purple stain over the small table, but Malachi's stomach was in knots, too wound up to care for his possessions and that of the inn.

"What...will happen to Lot?" Esther looked up, misunderstanding; they were less concerned with what she had done than what Lot had done.

"Esther," Malachi wrapped an arm around her shoulders, half pulling her off the cushions. "I'm so sorry this happened. You seem to be taking it rather well. Are you okay? Do you need anything?"

"Why would I need anything?"

"After your ordeal," Malachi tried to phrase it as delicately as possible.

Esther's eyes widened and a wild bubble of laughter threatened to burst from her lips, surely ensuring they deemed her crazy if she let it into the open air. Calm, calm, she had to be calm.

"What?" Her voice shook with suppressed, dry amusement. "No, no, you have me wrong, cousin. Lot did not rape me or his daughters. If anything, Pheine was the instigator. I was a little too far gone on wine to want to stop things as they, um, progressed."

"Pheine?" Malachi's pitch rose. "You're telling me that Pheine was responsible for this?"

"Well, Thamma played a large part too. Lot hardly any," Esther added as an afterthought, tracing a finger across the line of her jaw. "Really he was too drunk to even consider such a thing. He ranted on about sex being this abhorrent thing for such a long time, it was strange to wake up in the morning and find that he had, well, done it."

The Corsac fox made a strangled noise and slapped the flat of his paw down on the table, sending one of the fallen wine cups tumbling to the floor.

"I_cannot_ believe that," Malachi opened and closed his mouth several times. "The Pheine I know... Well, I don't really know her, but I know enough about her! The fact is that Pheine would never do that, I simply can't believe you, Esther. How could you say such a thing?"

"But it's true!"

Esther sat bolt upright, skin tingling as her fur stood on end. What did he mean he couldn't believe her? It was the truth and nothing but the truth! Glaring at Malachi like she had never done before, the little vixen crossed her arms firmly across her chest, ears pinned back defiantly. The salamander held out his paws, calming the snarling foxes.

"Why would she lie, Malachi?" He said softly. "Are you trying to protect Lot, my dear?"

Feeling sillier by the second, Esther tried to understand what she was being asked, the tip of her tail flicking rapidly in subtle distress. She suddenly found that she disliked feeling stupid, something that she had never noticed prior. Then again, she had rarely asked questions in the past. Taking heed of fresh boldness, she steadied her nerve.

"Why would I need to protect Lot?" Esther tilted her head, a cute trait that the salamander tried to ignore, lest he become uncomfortably distracted.

The salamander coughed lightly, looking between Malachi and his other male companion.

"Because he had sex with his daughters," the crocodile interjected, rolling his eyes as if tired of the others incompetence. "You should know as well as us that all other furs will see that as rape, non-consent, however you wish to phrase it."

"But...it wasn't," Esther muttered lamely, twisting her paws in her lap. "It wasn't him, he didn't rape them. No one did. They wanted to do it, I know. Does that mean I raped Pheine and Thamma? They dragged me into them!"

Pitch rising tremulously, Esther shrank back, mind throwing up awful images before her frightened eyes. Dark cells, dirty fur, gleaming eyes in the shadows and something that scuttled over her hind paws. A rat? She shivered, forgetting where she was until Malachi shook her shoulder roughly, yanking her from the horrifying vision. Gratefully, she shot him a quick smile, though her lips could not remain quirked for long.

"Why would you be accused of rape?" The salamander questioned, slowly and carefully choosing his words as he slid his gaze to the left, thinking. "There is no reason why you should not enjoy yourself with other female furs. I'm sure it's more comfortable for you."

Esther's eyebrows shot up. She had forgotten for a moment that neither of those furs, strangers to her, knew her true gender and she swiftly backtracked. Malachi clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth disapprovingly.

"Rahmiel," Malachi addressed the salamander with a tone as impenetrable as stone. "That is no way to speak to my cousin, refrain from such assumptions."

Huffing a light laugh, Rahmiel settled back on his rump, tucking his black tail carefully to one side, hardly dissuaded at all.

"I assume Pheine and Thamma would collude with your story?" He continued, questioning her easily. "That would not be a problem, would it? They would support that line?"

"They, um, ah..."

Esther did not know how much she was permitted to say. Did it matter? She shrugged, slumping forward.

"They desperately wanted to be pregnant," she confessed. "Thamma had some part in it but Pheine orchestrated most of the liaison. I don't know what she had in her head but somehow she thought there was no other way to have pups."

"And she told you this?" The crocodile demanded, thumping his tail on the floor.

"She didn't tell me," Esther flushed. "But she was quite vocal when speaking about it with Thamma. You could say I...overheard."

"Did you have sex with Lot too?" The reptile turned his massive head to the side. "Are you sure it was consensual?"

I didn't literally have intercourse with him...not really.

"No," Esther replied simply. "And it was consensual, if you must know. I would never do it against my will."

The truth did not ring through but Esther said it aloud anyway, knowing they would not question her. It would be inane to believe otherwise of any fur, let alone one that had grown up within the walls of Sodom. Satisfied, the three bobbed their muzzles in mutual agreement, attention shifting from the trembling Corsac fox and what sexual acts she had or had not taken part in. It was all becoming too much: boldness only lasted so long and she had much to learn still.

"May I ask how you returned to Sodom, my dear?" Malachi asked gently.

"The search party found us," Esther said quietly. "They did not pay much mind to me but near dragged Lot back to Sodom. The daughters came more quietly."

Malachi patted her shoulder gently, though even the familiar motion appeared awkward in the moment. The Nile crocodile heaved a sigh, huge chest expanding with air.

"That settles it," he said, tone unexpectedly grim. "Lot has been arrested. Do you understand the implications of this?"

"There's no other option in the matter," Malachi bobbed his muzzle. "You can imagine how it looked. Well, Esther's been quite clear about what happened. Under the normal course of events, it is against the law. Whether it is a moral wrong when the daughters desired the act... It is another case entirely."

"But they wanted it," Esther repeated flatly, shrinking back down on to her cushion. "There is no denying it."

The salamander shook his head.

"Lot will be tried," Rahmiel warned. "What will you do in that case?"

"The only right thing to do would be to speak for him at the trial."

Malachi blinked, stumped by her forthright answer. He was used to the old vixen. The others, however, had only the image of the shy vulpine painted in their minds.

"Why would you?" The crocodile swung his blocky head to face her. "Why would you defend Lot? What love do you have for him? I am not convinced that all is as you say. Perhaps it takes observance to truly believe the shocking."

Esther opened and closed her muzzle several times, fighting for the best words that would not spring wilfully to her lips. How could there be any other option? Could she allow an innocent male be convicted of something that he was no guilty of? Should Pheine and Thamma have been arrested? It was too much to think about. The vixen sat up straight, thrusting back her shoulders.

"It is the right thing to do," she insisted. "Would you not do the same in my position?"

The crocodile's lips twitched.

"We only wonder what you are hiding."

"That's enough," Malachi cut in, tail flicking against his leg. "There is nothing to hide and I certainly do not appreciate you making such accusations of my cousin."

The crocodile had the good will to appear repentant, offering a large paw to Esther, which she took timidly. Stroking a thumb over the back of her paw, he tried for a less intimidating smile - a challenge in itself with the teeth he boasted.

"My deepest apologies." He sounded sincere, something that Esther had the caution to doubt. "I intended no offence."

Esther gave a tiny nod, gently extracting her paw and folding it into the other in her lap. The room appeared to blur, voices murmuring into one as if she was hearing them from a great distance away. Oh, if only she could curl into her nice, cool blankets and sink into the sleeping mat. Seven darks of rest would be vastly appreciated.

"My friends." Malachi spread his arms wide, a faint smile brightening his muzzle; he was a master of social situations and Esther could not have been more grateful for that fact. "It is late in the afternoon and my cousin needs to rest. If there is more to discuss, perhaps we could convene on the morrow?"

"Of course." Rahmiel rose to his hind paws. "We would not want to tire you, Esther."

The crocodile swiftly followed in his actions, lumbering to his hind paws in a far less delicate manner. Esther noticed, fascinated, that he used his tail for balance. A stray thought darted through the forefront of her mind and she wondered how he used that tail in the water. Under different circumstances, she would have enquired after a demonstration.

"We will arrange another meeting," the crocodile agreed, snapping her from her musings. "Once we have determined Lot's whereabouts, we will meet again. First we must determine the location and time of his trial and then we may have more to talk on."

"Lot should not be difficult to locate at this stage," the salamander commented. "He is under arrest, after all. Surely you cannot think that will take a time."

"No," the crocodile rolled his eyes, the only symptom of aggravation he had displayed throughout the entire interview. "I was considering the matter of the trial and how our city makes a deal of them. It will hardly be a private affair. Everyone will want to have their say on the matter."

He met Esther's eyes, the vulpine quietly drinking in every drop of information he offered.

"Guilty or innocent, that canine will not slink through this ordeal without everything becoming painfully public, mark my words."

Choosing not to answer, the vixen looked away, instead turning to her cousin.

"My friends," Malachi gently regained their attention. "Is there anything I may fetch for you?"

"No, nothing at all," the salamander smiled; he had an easy smile, lips curving readily. "Forgive my companion his lack of diplomacy. I fear he has never been weary a day in his life, dragging me about the city as he does on one mission or another."

"I trust you are very busy." Malachi's lips twisted sympathetically.

"If you please," Rahmiel nodded his muzzle to Esther, polite in his retreat. "My dear, I hope you recover your strength quickly and feel more like yourself."

I'm better than myself.

Ushering the others ahead of him, Malachi wagged his tail, his relief palatable. It went without saying that there had been some close calls in that meeting and he would be counting his lucky stars later that night.

What am I doing? Esther thought, remaining upon her cushion as the threesome filed out, Malachi at the tail end. There is evidence to convict Lot, just not for laying with his daughters. Maybe that is a crime, yet Lot is anything but the perpetrator.

An image flashed unbidden before her eyes. She saw Lot with the wine skin pressed to his lips, throat bulging and narrowing alternately as the nectar disappeared down his gullet. Perhaps he had not wanted anything to do with sexual activity but food and wine had been his vices, evidenced by his large belly and swollen demeanour. Everything about him was bloated past the point of recognition, of life. All too vividly, she recalled how his daughters shrunk away from him when he was in one of his spats of anger, paws stomping and fists swinging. He had not laid a paw on either of them - not that she had seen - but Esther had not dismissed the notion that it was a distinct possibility. Had it once happened? She could not rule it out.

And, if Lot was such a fur to abuse his daughters, should she defend him at his trial? Ears twitching, Esther half-listened to Malachi sending off his companions, voices murmuring at the inn door. Their return would be something hardly anticipated.

The vixen shook herself. Enough of such thoughts! What good would over thinking do? What could would running over and over events do her mind? She knew that answer well enough for herself. She was suddenly uncomfortably aware of how her shoulders ached, the road resting heavy upon them.

Time to retire for the evening, Esther mused, shifting her weight as weariness set in to her hind paws. It could not hurt to relax for one night.

Malachi remained at the door, voice rising in a bubble of laughter. All tension woven within the room had been forgotten as he joked with his companions, a lighter individual than he had been. Malachi would not miss her for a time: he knew where to find her now. Demonstrating surprising agility in her tiredness, Esther sprung upright, tail waving gently for balance. Was everything still as it was? There was only one way to find out. Padding softly to the pantry, Esther rifled through several clay pots, soon rediscovering her stash of herbs. Bringing the leafy greens - bleached from sun and dryness - to her muzzle, she inhaled deeply. More than any cushions, stout walls or a roof over her head, the soft, comforting aroma of the herbs told her that she was indeed home.

And about time too.