FSE

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Well, here's the next chapter. Sorry it took so long from the last time to last time I posted. Had a lot on my plate but I plugged away and here's the next one. I hope everyone enjoys. As usual all characters are copyright to me. Comments, questions, suggestions you can always contact me! I do love feedback!

Oh by the heavens it hurt!

The fight, that god awful fight. I had won, but at what price? My mind focused and my vision cleared. I remember my eyes opening up to the world around me and found a large wolf carrying me. A quick flex of my nose and I knew instantly it was Avalon. A sense of comfort made me relax, at least until I tried to move.

My toes screamed at me when I tried to flex them, as did my hands, knees, shins, my whole legs. I felt a burning sensation on my chest. I felt terrible. My head also hurt. Never forget the headache that comes with intense physical pain.

I heard voices all around me, familiar ones. I could recognize who they were but not what they were saying. I heard Arch and Reyna, Avalon of course was very loud. I heard Ranz, Chance, and a cat by the sound of it. I heard another voice; Jeran. What was going on? I could feel myself being carried somewhere, but to where?

I shifted my eyes up and saw Avalon's face. He looked angry, furious really. I could see Arch quickly following on his heels, looking down at me but also talking. I couldn't see anyone else. I needed to hear what was going on, but the ringing between my ears was so intense, so deafening.

With a sigh I relaxed and just did what I could. My body was in physical pain but I remembered the trick the leopard caern had helped me perfect. It was not going to remove this level of pain but I was able to send a bit of it away for the time being. I was willing away the headache. At least enough to hear.

"--MIT AVALON! Put him down so Renin and Reyna can work on him!" Who was that? It sounded like Arch.

"I'm taking him somewhere out of prying eyes," Avalon said calmly even though he looked ready for a blood challenge. I had never seen Avalon look this angry before.

"He needs instant medical attention and if he suffers longer because of your pride I swear I'll kill you, Avalon!" Again, an angry Arch voice. Why was Arch so angry?

"Alpha," Chance said. As always the Warrior-Alpha was calm and collected. "You are letting your emotions get to you. You did order Avalon to take care of Slayn while he's under punishment."

"I can change the orders whenever I want, that's my right as Alpha Male. I want Slayn looked at right away. Reyna, get ready to work."

"I will put Slayn down in one minute. Just shut up and be quiet!"

The bright sky faded to darkness. My eyes had to adjust a little and I found myself surrounded by familiar scents and smells. Avalon had taken me to my tent, to my home. I felt comfortable here but I knew people would be following. The tent was large but with everyone following Avalon it would be terribly cramped!

I felt cold sheets press against my back as Avalon laid me down on the bed, and only then did I see the group of people I had heard. The additions to the group were the Betas of every group, except Jeran's. I was angry he was even in my home, and I tried to growl but my throat rasped. How close to death was I?

"Reyna!" Arch growled at the old wolf. "Heal him!"

"Slow down, pup," the old wolf said to our Alpha as she kneeled next to my bed. "He's not dying, I could tell that a mile away, his injuries are bad." I could feel the bed shift a bit. My eyes flicked to the side and saw Renin, the thirteen year old beta of the Mages, on my bed as well.

"Renin," Reyna said as she began to dig through her pouch on her belt. "Tell the Alpha and the group what is wrong with our strider."

Renin, complying so quickly, hovered his hands over me and closed his eyes. I could feel nothing but apparently Renin could. I watched his hands flinch and then pull away completely.

"His body is dangerously damaged, Alpha" Renin said to Reyna, not Arch. "The flow of his energy is disrupted, damaged."

"What does that mean?" Avalon asked.

"Heh," Reyna said, shaking her head. I saw she looked confident, but she always did, even when she was terrified. I couldn't tell if she was bluffing or if she was simply sure I would be fine. "It means that his organs aren't getting the proper energy to sustain themselves. It is not blood or water or food, but energy. It is what makes us different than mere wolves, of course. What else is wrong with him?"

"The bones in his hands and feet are broken in several spots. He had smaller breaks in his shins and forearms, and he is burned on the bottom of his feet. He has burns across his chest, and three broken ribs."

I didn't hear anyone speak, but I was curious to what they were going to do. I felt the eyes on me, and just wished that Reyna didn't embarrass me in some way. She had a simple knack for making even the oldest males feel tiny. With all these eyes on me, I hoped whatever she did to me did not require being naked.

"I can heal everything wrong with him. He'll need a period of recovery, a week or more. Three at the most. He is young and strong and should be on his feet quicker than anything."

"I want him moved to the temple," Arch said, growling in anger. "So I can oversee his recovery."

"No," Avalon said, his own growl heard. Even my tired eyes watched in shock. No one simply denied Arch like that!

Surprisingly, Avalon didn't burst into flames, but Arch did not look happy. Everyone caught the twitch of his tail and the flex of his muscles. Avalon was walking a very thin rope. "What did you say, whelp?"

"I'm not a whelp and I'm not letting you move Slayn," Avalon said, standing between myself and Arch. I could no longer see my friends, but I could hear them.

"On what grounds. You bringing about a challenge to my authority?" Arch asked, surprisingly calm. Everyone knew the Alpha was angry, but Arch was...well, Arch was good at hiding it when he needed to. He would probably go spar later to get the rage out of him.

"No, but I'm not letting you move Slayn. Whenever you and his path cross he ends up hurt."

"I don't remember him being hurt when we met in the council chamber." Arch said, sounding surprised.

"Not always physical, Arch. You punished him." Avalon said.

"Rightfully so!" Jeran's voice echoed out. "In fact, since I have the whole council here, I propose removing this whelp from the council and--" Chance moved over and grabbed the Scout's muzzle, sealing it closed in his big palm.

"This is not the place for politics, Scout. Bring it up again and I will make it so you can't talk for a week."

"He did break the rules, Avalon." Arch admitted. "I had to punish him."

"Punishment for what? Looking into a window? He likes you a lot. You ignore him and keep him at an arms reach but you throw him tidbits of hints that you like him more than a simple tool."

"He is not a tool, he is my friend." Arch said gently, looking at the group of people looking at him.

"Funny way to treat a friend!" Avalon said again. I could hear the hint of emotion rising in him. "You never give him what he wants from you except sparingly, enough to keep him chasing you. You punish him on the idea that he is treating his position poorly when he has managed the striders better than the last two by your own records! He is liked and admired and when he crosses the line once he is stripped of his ability to command his own wolves?"

Everyone was silent. No one knew what to say, specifically me. I hadn't expected someone to defend me. I was stunned, really. Avalon was crossing those lines too, risking punishment or worse.

Before Arch could speak, I heard Raz, my beta, speak up and call out. "Freis!" The beta called one of the striders inside the tent. I managed to lift my head to see her. I saw Raz turn to her. "Until further notice, remove all striders from the outposts controlled by scouts within the woods. Tell the central tent that their messages are to be ignored until further notice, on my authority."

It was at that moment I felt a wave hit me. It was like a rush of water from my toes to my ears, but no water was anywhere near. I looked up to see the two hovering pair of hands that belonged to those mages. I flexed my jaw and stared up in surprise. I could feel the pain ebbing, but I didn't want to focus on this, I wanted to focus on what was happening in front of me.

"RAZ!" Jeran growled. "That's outside your power!"

"No, it isn't." Raz said, moving to stand near Avalon now. "I am given command of the messages and I am going to support my Alpha now. I was quiet before, but what Slayn did does not warrant punishment like this. His command shouldn't have been removed, his ability to go on missions shouldn't have been taken away, and he shouldn't have been given a warrior keeper to keep him out of trouble."

"Raz, you're walking a fine line with Avalon here," Arch said quietly.

"No one has defended Slayn in any of this but Avalon, and only within his limits!" Raz said loudly. "Slayn is one of the kindest men I've ever known, and I won't let this punishment continue. Until the Scouts repeal their vote for punishment or the Alpha Male overrule the vote then I will not let the striders run messages for the scouts."

I could see Reyna out of the corner of one eye, and Jeran the other. It was as if the bed I was laying on was some kind of table that the council was bickering over. Jeran was angry, everyone in the room could tell that. He was, for the time being, controlling him enough that he didn't outright hit Raz, or challenge him.

"REYNA!" I heard Jeran say through gritted teeth and suppressed anger. "What's the mages stance on this?"

"Well--" She was cut off.

"Any group that supports the Scouts in Slayn's punishment will carry their own messages." I heard Raz say.

My beta male was making an awful mess of things, or cleaning it up. He was drawing the battle lines that hadn't been done before simply because of minor restrictions within the council itself. No one wanted to step on the others toes. We all knew as a society that we couldn't function without one another, and what Raz was doing was effectively isolating the whole caern from the rest of the world.

"Boy," I heard Reyna continue as she lifted her old head, gazing across my body to my second in command. "If you cut me off again I will make you regret it." I watched her straighten her robe and then quietly exhale a breath. "As I was going to say, the Mages support the Striders in this. Slayn's punishment does not meet the crime, nor does the continued persecution of Jeran."

"Reyna, you know I've made my ruling. Do not lump your people in with Raz and the striders for their punishments. Everyone who refuses to run will be."

"You'll have to punish the Warriors too, Arch." While I couldn't see the man I could place the voice to Chance. "What we said around the table and the way Jeran is acting toward a fellow council member is disruptive to the whole caern. Jeran is not letting the matter rest and as such I believe the situation was escalated by his presence on the roof top."

"CHANCE!" Jeran growled, but the mighty warrior growled back.

"Hold your tongue you hybrid of warrior and strider," I heard him echo through his teeth. "I am making the motion now to remove Jeran and his beta from their posts."

"In all our history that has never been done, Chance." Arch said again, quieter now that the talk in the room had paused for the briefest of times.

"In our history we've had an alpha male whose willing to remove the person in power before it comes to a council ruling, Arch."

I could see Arch's eyes widen at the implication. Anyone other than Chance would have been challenged to an honor fight for that, but Arch and Chance went far back, back to the time of Kaudi and the invasion of the hyenas and before. They were as close to brothers could possibly be and that insulated Chance from Arch's full wrath, which was pretty violent when honor was at stake.

"I second the motion, as--" Raz said before Reyna bopped him with her staff.

"Silence, lad. I know you are protecting Slayn but your view is just as clouded. It is my job to second the motion and I shall. The Mages vote for his removal." I saw her look to Arch, who huffed.

"I know my duty," Arch said as he came around the bed to Jeran, who I noticed backed up.

"Arch!" Jeran protested with his hands up. "I've served this caern for years and you bow to the whims of a Beta and the others? Aren't you Alpha?"

"Don't pull that with me, Jeran!" I heard Arch roared. I could see Renin's paws twitch over me, the magic trying to undo the damage of my fight wavering. "It is that kind of manipulation that had me allow this. I assumed you would be settled with Slayn's punishment but it has come to this! The caern or your vindication over an act as natural as nature itself."

"Jeran," Arch continued as he backed the scout against the wall. I had turned my head to watch. "You are removed from rank and responsibility of the Scout-Alpha, as is your Beta. You will report as Omega-Scout and obey whomever I pick to replace you and your Beta." Arch paused long enough to wrap one of those big black clawed hands around the scout's throat. Jeran's hand had come up to grip that forearm. "If you disobey even once, slack in your duty, or attack any strider I will have you banished or even killed. You will also arrange for Slayn to see the woman carrying his child."

"ARCH!" Jeran choked out, but Arch dragged him to the front of the tent and threw him out onto the ground.

"Your rank and privilege is gone, Jeran. You forced my hand one too many times in the council room and no more. You will follow orders. GO! I want your Gammas to report to the council chambers as soon as they are able!" Arch didn't even wait for a response as he strolled in and came to the bed, looking right down at me with strong eyes.

"And you," I heard him say as he reached down and grasped one of my feet, but not with the same force I had seen him hold Jeran's throat. It was almost gentle. "I am sorry it took this long to act, but Chance and Reyna know when to push me, and it was obvious I needed to be pushed. When you are able you will resume your duty as Alpha-Strider." I watched him look to Raz, letting my foot go and stepping over to him.

To my surprise I saw Avalon slip to Ranz's side. I wanted to say something but the numbing effect of the healing spell was preventing it. I could see Renin focusing and dripping sweat as he was using powers that were not natural, not tied to any of their truer arts. Renin wasn't able to call on the natures graces to heal it seemed and had to force the spirits to heal me. He would be in pain for days for this.

"You, little male," Arch said with a growl "Challenged the entirety of the council on powers that aren't technically yours to use in such a way. I could have had you killed for such a thing."

I watched Raz stare up at Arch, clenched teeth for a bit before he spoke up. "If you had done that then there would have been civil war."

The sound in the room was so quiet that I couldn't believe it. Raz was pushing all kinds of limits, things I wasn't prepared to defend in case Arch turned on him.

Arch just looked indifferent and shook his head. "I would hope the people wouldn't be so eager to fight against one another for something so trivial. Regardless, it's done. I have fixed the problem albeit a bit late. For that I'm sorry."

"You're lucky, kid," Avalon said as he squeezed Raz' shoulder. "Arch doesn't apologize. Most Alpha male don't. Probably the last time you'll hear him say that." Avalon was grinning.

Arch looked up to Avalon and snorted, shaking his head. "Shut up, Avalon. You and I will have words with Slayn and then alone."

Avalon nodded and turned to everyone, who got the cue to leave. Well, everyone but Renin. He was still kneeling on the bed and healing me with the forced power. It was causing him a lot of pain. Arch stepped up behind him and touched his back. "Leave, Renin. He is not at risk anymore obviously. Rest and if he needs more I will summon your Alpha."

The blue light around Renin's palms ended and I saw blood begin to trickle from his fingers. Avalon looked over curiously as he helped Renin to his feet and secure his robe and staff before walking him out. When he came back he asked "Why did his hands bleed?"

"He's a mage," Arch said with a wave of his hand. "And a boy. He hasn't learned the art of summoning healing nature from the woods around us to heal us. It takes a lot of training and even Reyna can't do it perfectly. He needed the practice. He forced the energy of the elements, probably earth, and they ripped his skin and caused him to bleed. He'll be fine in a day or two."

I found the ability to speak as the numbing agent wasn't taking over my whole body. I sat there and blinked my eyes forward, flexing my jaw quietly. "What...did you want to talk to me about, Arch?"

My voice was raspy and Avalon approached the bed with a small water skin. His hand went behind my head and lifted me to the nozzle, letting the cold water pour down into my needy throat. It tasted so good, and before I was done Avalon pulled it away.

"Past problems are needing to be fixed, and this is one I was putting off for awhile. I wish...well, I wish to try and see if you would make a good match for me, Slayn." I heard Arch mumble through it. It was cute, and my heart pounded in my chest.

"Wait a moment, Slayn," I heard Avalon say, looking down at me with a bit of worry in his face. "He has ignored you for a long time now. I've been here with you every step of the way..." He let himself trail off.

I looked up to Arch and frowned. "He does have a point, Arch. He has been here for me while you've kept yourself isolated. How can I be sure..." I just trailed off too, not sure how to end that statement any more than Avalon did.

"You are refusing me now, little wolf?" I saw the surprise on Arch's face and he stepped forward.

"No! I mean... it's not fair to Avalon, either. He has been trying to win me for awhile now."

"Ah...so it is a game, then?" I heard Arch ask, honestly curious. It was hard to forget Arch had never had a meaningful relationship; he had a lot of sex but a couple in his position was risky for him, whomever he had would have the direct ear of the alpha male, which could lead to potential changes in the caern.

"My heart isn't a game, Arch." I said sternly, then huffed. I then looked to Avalon. "How about a contest then?"

"Contest?" I heard Avalon ask, a bit more excited than a moment before. "What kind of contest?"

"You will both have attempts to prove yourself to me, if you aren't...well, up to the challenge then I will have my answer for the both of you."

"What kind of contest?" I heard Arch growl as he approached Avalon, watching the fur on the back of his neck stand on end. Not the idea I had in mind!

"NO!" I said, sitting up and wincing as I did, getting the two big men to turn toward me. "You can't fight each other, or indirectly either. I know you're both good warriors. You will have to be inventive, but if the attempt is to ruin the image of the other then you instantly lose. I don't want you fighting. Whomever I pick I want them to be friends with."

"You realize that this will make me look silly, right Slayn?" I heard Arch ask, arms crossed over his massive chest.

"So?" Avalon said again, handing me the water skin so I could drink more of the icy liquid. "If it embarrasses you then just don't participate."

I watched Arch huff and turn toward Avalon. "Oh, I don't think so. I'll win this. Him. I'll win Slayn. No one's ever denied me before."

"I'm not a prize," I told Arch, huffing myself. "This may be a contest but the moment you two fight over me like food I'll end it."

I watched the two large wolves exchange a glance, and then looked at me. I held a hand up and coughed. To my pleasure I saw both of them look momentarily worried.

"I need to sleep. When I'm better we'll see where everything goes, okay? Arch, I need you to watch the striders. If Jeran tries something he could target Raz or the others and--"

"Relax, pup." I heard Arch say with a casual grin. "If that's what you want from me then so be it. I'll make sure no one gets hurt. You need to focus on getting better."

I saw Avalon approach the bed. "I'm going to sit outside. I'm still on guard duty until you're better or Chance reassigns me."

That made me feel a bit better. Avalon guarding me would detract from anyone trying to hurt me, and no one would dare try to poison my food or hurt me from afar. Arch would take time in spreading his influence to keep me safe, Avalon was like a large wall that would do it almost instantly.

The two large brutes left me alone, and I signed contently. For the time being my problems were all washed away except getting better. Arch and Avalon were both interested and Jeran was removed from power. I hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time. That was why the moment my head laid back down onto those plush white pillows my eyes instantly shut. Rest was finally mine.

It took two weeks for me to get better. Renin had been in a few times every week but no more magic. I'd seen the way it had hurt him. His hands were cut and his dexterity with his fingers were terrible for that first week. He had told me it was because he had disgraced the spirits and he had to bear some of the pain he'd taken from me. The mages were always respected in the caern but I saw first hand what one of them endured when they used magic to heal over natural regeneration. Whomever said mages didn't have mettle were wrong.

During those two weeks Avalon, Arch, and Raz had been many times. All three of them conveniently changed the subject whenever I asked about Jeran and the new Scout. I knew nothing politically and that was on purpose. Raz knew that if I got back into the saddle of command I would dictate from my bed and run the striders while hurt, and worse, even be on my feet trying to do the job. Everyone wanted to see me relax and get better.

Apollo had remained, only because Eros' injuries were severe. I had sent Raz to formally apologize for me with an offer of one of the jewels I had in my tent. It was a large sapphire that I had kept from a trip to the very north to the Snow Tail caern. It had been a gift from their alpha strider. I figured an apology and a gift, even from my own bed, would heal some of the internal damage. I owed Apollo for his advice and Eros was as innocent as I was, pitted against one another by our respective alphas. The only difference was Arch had told me to use a power that could cause me serious harm. I was lucky my heart didn't stop.

I was finally allowed out of bed, but on light duty and Avalon was to be by my side, Renin's orders as my healer until I was perfectly better. I had needed Renin's help getting up and stretching, but on my feet again, I felt relieved. The process of getting ready to go outside was always a long one, even when I was fine and healthy. I wrapped my feet and hands in the fresh linen bandages, hiding the scars I'd collected over the years. I had bathed earlier and was fresh and clean, so when I put on a loincloth I felt refreshed. Over that I pulled on a long, sleeveless robe that I didn't tie closed. It was an off gray color with the hem in red and a hood to match. It could rain and I wanted to be prepared.

When I stepped outside the day was overcast with darker clouds on the horizon. No crowd waited for me, everyone went on their business. A strider or two did look my way when they saw me standing at the mouth of my tent, favoring my right leg a little bit.

Avalon and Arch were there.

Arch had his orderly. To be Arch's orderly was a respectable spot among the boys and girls of our caern. They did Arch's leg work around the caern and took his messages and delivered them, etc. It was a position that was granted by the council once a year to someone who was more than likely entering the strider or mages, as it helped learn the caern dynamics and how the messages worked. The lad at Arch's side was a white wolf wearing an odd loincloth, a kilt really, and held a tablet in his hand. His eyes were hazel and his grin wide as he looked up to Arch, who held something under his arm.

I heard the big wolf clear his throat and step up. "Slayn, I know my time is short as I have to go to the outposts now, but I--"

"we," Avalon said.

"...We, felt like we should give you something. You did fight very well and while I've visited you I noticed you had no real weapon of your own."

"I just get something from the warriors," I admitted, my mind wandering to what the two had done.

"Regardless, you are an alpha and you need something to show your skill. You fight best with short blades. Here." Arch held forward the velvet pouch and began to undo it. Inside, to my amazement, were two daggers and a leather belt. The daggers were interesting because they were a set but did not quite match. One was black and the other was red. The grips were their respective colors, the pommel a simple wolf's head with a black and red jewel in the opposite color. The guards were held close to the shaft of the weapon and made of some kind of dark metal that had somehow been made these interesting colors. The blades themselves were also colored, black and red. I touched one and lifted it up.

A flick of my wrist and the blade went spinning into the air at an amazing speed, my hand out to catch it. Amazing! It was balanced so well, and the metal was so light! These were not ornamental, these were real! I lifted the second and flicked it, letting the curve of the guard catch a finger as it spun along and then stopped in my palm.

"These are expertly made."

"We had Apollo and his cats make them." Avalon said, grinning as he pulled the belt and stepped behind me. "He loved being our debt, and he's been working in our forges for the whole time on these."

I flushed as Avalon slipped the belt around my waist, letting it hang loosely. The sheaths for the daggers were at my back, and crossed. I watched Arch take the blades from my palms and hand them to Avalon who began to slide them home.

"I really...don't know what to say." I was still amazed. I had never been given such a gift before. No one had ever cared so much!

"You don't have to say anything," Arch said, grinning as he stepped close, leaning down and giving me a kiss on the top of my head. I noticed the moment was a bit clumsy. Was he struggling to be close? Probably not, but Arch never showed these kinds of emotions before. At least in public. "Just tell us you like them."

"Are you kidding? Of course I do! These must have cost a fortune."

"We're not getting into what it cost us," Avalon said with a grunt and a look away. His discomforted expression made me grin. It was not so serious but the idea that it could make the usually unbreakable man squirm mildly amused me!

"I have to go, Slayn. Dinner tonight." Arch said with his commanding voice. He turned and began to jog right to the tree lines where the hidden paths were, his orderly following close behind.

That left me alone with Avalon.

My eyes traveled up to his face and I was greeted with a welcoming grin. Avalon had really been there for me. He had helped me with Jeran on the roof of the temple and been my personal guard to make sure no one attacked me. While I was punished and disgraced he had been at my side. I barely knew the man but Avalon had put his honor on the line for me. Was I really that important to him?

"So, what would you like to do?" I asked him, a smile returning the grin.

"You're the one finally allowed out of bed. You pick."

"Well," I thought for a moment and then remembered something I liked to do. On cool days like this it was hard to find warmth. It was still not the season to bring out the winter clothing and even then few wolves wore them. Arch would typically go around in pants and the mages robes would be thicker but little else changed. "How about a nap?"

"A...nap?" Avalon asked, looking a little baffled and disapointed.

"Not inside. Come on." I began to lead Avalon to the side of the temple. It wasn't until I left the strider's section that I noticed how slow I was. My legs were stiff and my stride shorter. I still had pain in my feet and my lower back. Renin had told me that would be normal and I was to take it easy. I couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed as I passed at my slower speed. I was known for my swiftness. Who was I when it was gone?

I began to move around the back of the temple and found the stone steps that led to the raised lower roof. The roof I had been caught on was the high peak level where the Alpha's windows were. The secondary roof was flat and had no windows looking out to it. Whomever had built this temple before us had probably done something with this flat level in the back of the temple but none of us today cared.

I was taking my time with the steps when Avalon began to speak. "No one is going to make fun of you of your injuries, Slayn. You shouldn't push yourself too hard."

"Avalon," I said, looking over my shoulder at him as I was bending over and rubbing my knee to relax it. "This is what I am."

"What? A strider?"

"Yes. Fast. Quick. Who am I without it?" I asked as I began to near the top step.

"All that you are is Slayn. What you can do only makes being Slayn all the more special."

I stopped at the top of the steps, Avalon's words having hit me head on. I turned to look back at the warrior on my heels and just stared. "That was...insightful."

He smiled. "I'm well read for a warrior."

"So it seems," I returned as I touched the roof of the temple. "It meant a lot to hear that. You wouldn't care if I wasn't the fastest or the best at my job?"

"No, not many people would care either. You're not going to be the fastest your whole life, Slayn. The people around you who...love you, they wouldn't care if you were making food all day as long as you were happy."

"Arch would be upset to lose a fast strider," I commented, knowing Arch would. I knew Arch for years. I still couldn't tell the big black wolf's whole intent on this competition.

"Well, all the better for me then. But even he wouldn't care I think. He's your friend."

"He is. One of the best men I've ever known." I admitted quietly as I turned to the expanse of the roof. There was a large flat rock on the top, wide enough for four and being warmed by the sun.

"I didn't know this place existed. You have a sunning rock?" Avalon asked with a smirk.

"Everyone can use it but not many know its here. It's too dark in the winter and way too hot in the summer. It's usually left alone. I used to come up here and play when I was a boy and found the rock to be very nice to lay in during the spring and fall months."

"It is a bit cold out because of the wind. This would be perfect!" I heard Avalon say with a hint of boyish excitement. I watched a wolf almost as large as Arch bound his way over to the rock and sat down, feeling the warmth of the stone under him. He was grinning ear to ear.

I smiled and began to undo my robe, folding it up and draping it over the ledge and then stretched, holding my bandaged shoulder. It was still tender and felt like it could bleed again, but I knew better. I was tougher than that. I looked to Avalon with a sheepish smile as I removed my daggers and laid them gently down on the robe and stood in my loincloth, looking down at it.

"What's wrong?" Avalon asked as he laid on the rock, sprawled out on his side with his cheek against his fist.

"I just realized I've never really seen you naked before."

"Why's that make you blush?"

"I heard from the warriors you never take your bandanna off. You even sleep with it on. Why?" I asked. Curious as I undid the tie to my loincloth and laid it flat. I was naked for Avalon to see. The fight had used up some of my bodies energy and resources, making what remained of body fat vanish. I was leaner than before. I could feel my stomach flex tighter every day and right now I was more exposed than I was used to in front of Avalon. My stomach clenched in a mild sense of nervous energy. Was I really going to see Avalon naked?

"I like it. There's no reason other than that. It makes me look different." Avalon said as he sat up and undid his loincloth and tossed it to the ground with a careless toss. He was handsome with his meager clothes on but the view of his groin...well, it was cute. His testicles were white but it looked to be lightly covered with a faint sheen of red fur. As if the tips were red. I smiled.

"Will you take it off for me?" I asked as I moved over to the rock and crawled onto it, smiling at Avalon. Before the other male could respond my hands touched his neck and slid up to the back of his head.

"You really want to see me without it on?" I heard him ask. We were nose to nose now, and I was smiling.

"I do," I said as I found the knot and undid it. Gently, I took the bandanna off from the top of his head and put it aside. There were no scars, no marks. Just perfect red fur. I blinked.

"See? Plain. I don't really like being plain." I heard him admit, still looking right at me.

"You aren't plain. You're...special." I said. I was surprised to find myself leaning in until our lips touched gently.

It was neither of us who made the kiss go beyond that. It simply happened. Without hesitation my lips parted and allowed Avalon's warm tongue to slip in. He tasted of sweet berries and wonderful sweeteners, honey, sugar, you name it! The hands on the back of his head had slid back down to curl into the red fur along his neck, feeling his pulse against the tips of my fingers.

Avalon's hands had touched my waist and slid up along my sides, feeling against my ribs and holding me securely, but not tightly, against him. I shuddered at the thought of being held like this. I liked it! I was a small man, and while I was a man part of me sought comfort from those bigger than me.

I felt a little silly as I just realized I had called Avalon special. Was he? He was to me, that was for sure. I had been resisting Avalon's minor advances because of Arch, but now I had to pick and that was new to me. I didn't have to push Avalon away and I didn't have to hide within the thoughts of potentialities. Here was someone who had put his neck out on the line for me on more than one occasion, and he was pretty sweet on top of it all.

I felt myself being rolled onto my back and Avalon slipping over me. His knees slid over my waist and straddled my hips. I had brought my hands up to touch his shoulders as he was hovering over me. I looked up and he looked down, both of us grinning.

"I'm sorry," Avalon said.

"Sorry?" I was puzzled. "Why?"

"Look down."

I did. My eyes widened and my ears turned a dark shade of pink. What I saw was what the back of my mind had been expecting.

Avalon was aroused.

He wasn't like Arch. Arch had been born with a body that had those perfect proportions, his arms and legs were always the correct length and his muscles fit his bone structure so well that he was pleasing to the eye and it was hard NOT to be attracted to him. Avalon was not so perfect, but he was giving Arch a close second.

Avalon's bare flesh was crimson red, much like my own. While Arch was the biggest male I'd ever seen in the caern, Avalon seemed to be quite on par with Arch, if not bigger. I didn't want to think about it or try to measure, but it looked larger. The flesh was glossy and shiny, Avalon must have been releasing his pre fluid in his sheath, so when he'd slid out over me he was slippery and ready to mate. Not too surprising. A lot of male wolves left their sheath like that, especially the ones who didn't masturbate daily, or have sex constantly. It spoke highly of Avalon to me because it showed while he had been perusing me he wasn't sleeping around, nor was he furiously masturbating behind the temples walls. He knew his body and he knew his desires. I didn't think Avalon had totally abstained from anything sexual but he was not addicted to the needy release so many men desired.

Seeing was one thing, but to a wolf the scent was very much the catalyst for a lot of situations. Our sense of smell was so extreme, so powerful, that it spoke highly of our emotions beyond words and sounds and thought. I could smell Avalon for the first time so clearly. His scent was more than just the masculine warrior wolf that so many men smelled like.

Avalon merely grinned as he must have watched my head swim in the scent. He smelled like the woods, fresh cut trees and the first smells of spring after a cold winter when the forest was all but dead. I could smell his desire and knew that I had done this to him. I was still hot in the face for realizing I had this effect on someone who was growing more and more close to me. I had to speak.

"You have nothing to apologize for, Avalon." I said gently as my hand lifted up and touched the bare flesh. I could feel the slippery liquid that had coated his maleness soak into the fur on my fingers. I could feel Avalon's pulse and felt him shudder. My hand worked downwards along the length, slowly with a firm but pleasurable grip. It was long enough that it took me a few moments, and I made sure to drag them out. My eyes flicked up from the red length in my hand, now trickling out that slippy liquid from that slit right onto my belly, to Avalon's face. He had clenched his jaw and held in a moan, his back bent with his tail low, covering my narrow body with his bulk as my hand slid more and more along the length, nearing his knot. I'd never seen a warrior so sensitive, but as well I've never seen another man so heavily interested in me. Maybe this was what it was like to be with someone you loved.

When my hand slid down to that knot, curling my whole palm around it I was mentally sure this was bigger than Arch. Not by much, but enough. I also knew I was the only one who knew. Had Avalon had sex with someone the word would have spread like wild fire.

I gave the knot a squeeze and my hand was moving upwards. I was also aroused at this point, almost trembling with the desire for Avalon. He was handsome, honest, powerful. What was I going to do when it came to Arch's turn? I had to remain focused and try to stay objective.

My hand slid to that head again, giving it a squeeze as Avalon moaned again. His eyes opened and looked down at my face, his muzzle moving to lick along mine in a loving, gentle way. I could feel his hands move now, still leaning over me. Those large palms slid along my thighs and hips, spreading my legs. He was going slow, and licking my face, showing me I could still back out. This was not what it was typically like in sleeping with a warrior. Usually, they went quick and got into position so the person couldn't say no.

"Slayn" I heard him whisper as he draped my legs around his waist. I hadn't fought him yet.

"You don't have to ask," I told him equally as gently. My hands slid up from his stomach to his sides, curling my arms around him, bracing myself.

He was as gentle as I could expect someone of his size to be. The pressure on my tail hole built and with an exhale of breath from my mouth he slipped into me. The inches of his body probed deep into my figure, sliding against my walls. The slippery liquid Avalon was producing poured into me, coating me, making the moment so much better.

I cried out as Avalon continued to go deeper, his hands on my sides, looking down with an expression of pleasure on his face. This was the point where most men lost control and simply drove home, but Avalon didn't. He continued to take his time until he was fully sheathed in my body, giving my muscles a chance to adapt and stretch. I could feel his swollen testicles against my bare butt, I could fell Avalon flex inside me, I could feel his heart pounding with each moment of desire.

He was still for a few moments and then pulled back. He kept a few inches of himself and then slid back into me. My body responded by my muscles flexing, clenching around his length as he slid deep and then letting go when he pulled back. He made my back arch more than once, and chuckled a few times when he made it happen.

"Does the little wolf like that?" He asked in a quiet, amused voice.

"he does," I admitted, my face clenching a bit as Avalon poked deep. It felt god but any sex was not devoid of at least a little pain.

Avalon knew what he was doing. His thrusts were always calculated and his pace rhythmic in motion. I felt my body tense and shudder as the typical movements slowed to a near screeching halt, feeling his hips glide to the side a bit and rub along walls and nerves not normally so stimulated. I cried out, hands on his shoulders as he continued to do this at different angles, at one point Avalon having to lean down and kiss me to keep myself quiet.

He pulled back as I panted. "Avalon!"

"What?" He said with an amused grin.

"Whelp," I said with a laugh, slapping his shoulder playfully. I knew he was giving me pleasure.

Avalon kept this up and my sense of time was washed away. I had been feeling so good with Avalon's gentle, pleasurable probings that I barely noticed my orgasm, nor did I feel it coming on. It was as if Avalon found a button within me that made he tremble and explode. I was shuddering the whole time during my release. I felt it pour out onto my stomach, sandwiched between our bellies, my eyes closed and my mouth open in an erotic display of panting.

Neither of us spoke and Avalon returned to his thrusting at that natural pace. He had worked endlessly to make me explode first. Never had I had a lover like that! My legs tightened around Avalon as his pace quickened, his panting loud and his ears back against his head, body tense and waiting.

The red wolf's thrusting became quicker and erratic, and when it felt Avalon was going to split me in two, he hit his peak. He didn't howl, didn't make much noise at all. I felt him clench his chest and stifle his cry so no one would hear us. I felt his seed pour down his shaft and then explode from the head, pouring right into my stomach it felt like! I shuddered and gasped at how hot it was, holding onto Avalon during the whole instance. When I felt him end, I collapsed back onto the rock, Avalon doing the same over me. He panted as I did, my arms around his neck.

"Slayn," he said into my ear, nuzzling my cheek.

"I know, I know." I said with a happy sigh.

An hour later the two of us were finally able to stand. We had found a small pool of water set into a curved stone and used it to clean ourselves up. Whoever said the temple needed perfect, sharp stones? We were able to make ourselves look presentable, and was most of the scent away. I was busy putting my clothes back on and buckling my belt as I watched Avalon do the same. He was so different in my eyes now that we had sex. Was this love? Was this simple attraction?

It was hard to tell. I won't deny I've never been in love. It shames me to say that in all honesty. I want to be loved so badly, am I making sacrifices? Am I jumping into the arms of the first person who comes along willingly? I had spent years chasing Arch with subtle hints, watching him from afar and just being his friend. Now I had a male who was actively pursuing me, and wanted me as more than just someone to warm his bed at night. It felt nice but at the same time I felt as if I was on uneven ground.

"Are you okay?" I heard Avalon ask as he tied his bandanna back on his head. He approached me and smiled. I was blushing and looking down.

I felt his fingers touch the bottom of my chin and lifted my muzzle. I blinked as I found his lips right there, touching my own. I relaxed and just stepped close, curling up into his arms and laying against him, sighing with peace. I knew what I wanted.

"Yeah, I'm okay. I'm just not sure what to tell Arch. He'll be upset."

"Well, it isn't really fair. We had sex and that makes you feel different things. You should at least go and have a meal with him. He may surprise you."

"I've known Arch for a long time." I said with a laugh as I leaned back to look up at Avalon. "He's not romantic. He's very...Alpha Maleish, no offense. He's always done what he wanted and he's not going to always try to make me happy just because. He's where he is because he knows what it takes. I can't be there entirely for him with not always getting something back. Am I making sense?"

Avalon sighed and held my shoulders, nodding none the less. "You are, but he's going to be upset. You didn't even give him a chance."

"He had a lot of chances before you came along, Avalon. Part of me thinks he wants me only because you do. He wasn't like this until you started stepping in and defending me."

"So you're blaming this on Alpha mentality? 'No, this is mine, stay back'?"

"I'm blaming this on the fact that I'm not going to wait for him, and really...you've always been so sweet to me, Avalon. I'd be an idiot to just throw that aside. For the first time in a long time I feel like I don't need to run the path alone anymore."

I saw Avalon blink and smile, curling his arms around me and gave me a tight hug. I laughed.

"You seem Happy!"

"I am!" Avalon said as he hefted me up.

I was about to say something when I heard a scream from down below. And then more. I felt my body lose all sense of joy. I slipped out of Avalon's arms and pulled the two new daggers from my belt. I saw Avalon wasn't armed and handed him the black dagger.

We didn't talk as we headed down the path to the front of the temple. There was shouting, and we heard metal upon metal. Something was wrong. I was also walking too fast as I felt my foot lance with pain when the heel caught the edge of the step.

"Ah!" I said, wobbling to a stop.

"Slayn, you need to slow down." I heard Avalon say, touching my shoulder. "Rushing won't help. You need to relax or you'll hurt yourself."

"I know, I know. C'mon." I said as I just sucked up my stomach and gritted through the pain. We reached the bottom of the temple and saw what was going on.

There were two bodies on the ground, bleeding and motionless. I saw they were striders. One was a woman and the other a male, and they had been a couple. I had been there when they were wed by Arch. I felt anger surge in me and began to move forward. Avalon had my shoulder and shook his head.

"Look,"

It was Jeran. He and four of his scouts were there, armed with swords and daggers, one holding throwing knives. Avalon had tugged me behind some stones and we crouched, peering over the edge as we saw people running or milling about. Scouts were present and doing nothing of course. I was praying the two on the ground, now laying in a pool of blood, were alive. Please. Let them be alive.

I could hear warriors shouting, but they weren't at the temple square. Jeran's supporters were probably slowing them down, not knowing what was going on, and so they weren't being cut down. It was smart, but it made me terrified for my people. The scouts were right there, the avenue of our tents just a turn from Jeran. We were terribly exposed.

"Bring Slayn and Raz, this ends now." I heard Jeran say to some scouts. I was hiding, but Raz? Oh no.

I saw him being dragged forward by two scouts. He was struggling to get free, but unable. Scouts were stronger than we were. He was forced down onto his knees.

"Where's your Alpha?" Jeran asked.

"I don't know, and it's not like I'm going to tell you--"

He was cut off by a heavy punch from the former Scout Alpha. I watched Ranz's head reel to the side and a bit of blood splatter.

"Where is Slayn?" Jeran asked again, drawing his dagger from his belt.

"I told you, I don't know!" Raz was speaking the truth. Only Avalon knew where I was.

Jeran merely shook his head and backhanded my beta. I heard him cry out as he was held in place. Jeran didn't stop there. Punches came, one after another, hitting Raz in his face, left and right, left and right.

"If you had been SILENT like a good little beta, you wouldn't have cost me my seat, my rank, my honor. Now I will disgrace you, Slayn, and take as many striders as I can with me. Arch is hours away, the mages are on lock down and the warriors are being stopped. It's us, and only us, little beta."

Raz was coughing, sputtering, his eyes closed as he was bleeding from his mouth and nose. He was still up. I was proud, but terrified. Raz was being beaten badly.

"I did what was honorable, you failure." I heard him shout, coughing again.

"I suppose the beta will die before his alpha. I had intended you to watch Slayn suffer, but plans change." I watched as Jeran drew his dagger upwards, ready to slice and cut Raz's throat.

Panic and fear struck me, but it turned to anger. I stood up, lept over the rock, and shot my hand out and grabbed Jeran's fist. My speed was still my best weapon.

"This ends here, NOW!"

To be continued...