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Radiating desire like heat from a wild fire, Dawn awaited White Paw's reply to her forthright question: "Will you grant me the honor of a mating?"

In the small cabin that Jak used as his headquarters in the camp Vaunorthoses' had recently returned to Border Pack, the expectant Wolfess faced him. They sat in roughly carved wooden chairs on opposite sides of a small, round table sawn from the trunk of an ancient oak. Unlike the lower status, ordinary workers and warriors who were excusably beneath Jak's notice, Dawn was the latest in a growing queue of elite Wolf females presenting herself to the chief of all chiefs. She held high rank in Border Pack - Bear's favorite mate if she was to be believed. Ignoring her would be an insult not only to Dawn but to Bear as well.

Where lesser females used oblique means to get Jak's attention such as trying to impress him in battle or finding ways to serve his needs, Dawn dispensed with subtlety. Flirting and shyness had no place in the presentation of her suit. With bold confidence, she stated her desire and then followed by listing her positive attributes.

"We are the same age, White Paw, both of us in the peak of health and vigor," she began.

Jak did not contradict her assertion. Though Jak had been alive for more than fifty years, Olivia's magic had reset his age to nearly half of that.

"I have produced ten healthy pups already for several chiefs, am well versed in the arts of love play, and have been told that I am very attractive. I am ready and worthy to bear pups to carry on the line of the chief of all chiefs," she declared openly, concealing nothing of her lust for this highest of honors.

Jak could not deny that she was an excellent candidate. Strong, beautiful, accomplished, high status, and abundantly fertile; he could think of no rational excuse to reject her. By rights long enshrined in Wolf culture, she was his to have. Along with those rights, came the obligation for him to spread his superior seed. Jak knew what he had to do. Only the concern he had for Airy's feelings towards this infidelity and the uncharacteristic sense of wrongness he had learned from her Rabbit morals made him hesitate at all.

It was certain that Airy would learn of this mating. Everyone would. News of the chief's breeding choices would not be kept secret. Status of individual Wolves was partially, if not largely, based on the status of the partners with whom they mated. Whomever he chose would instantly be launched to the highest level of Wolf society, and whomever he rejected would fall below those who were successful. Whatever decision he made concerning Dawn would become public knowledge instantly.

Two choices lay before him; both had consequences. If he refused Dawn and the rest of his suitors, ears would burn, tongues would wag, and doubts concerning his virility and suitability as a leader would be sown. He would be exposing himself to challenge again. Yet, if he accepted Dawn's offer or that of any other female, he would suffer Airy's wrath and risk losing her.

Like the canyon that sundered Asearth from Storfay, a similar gulf was opening between the Wolf Chief and the Rabbit queen. Even as Jak worked with Airy to unite their people, he found himself being pulled away from the Rabbit nature he had tried to adopt and back towards the Wolf he once fully was. The chasm separating his two selves grew wider every day and with each new turn of events. Did Jak have the courage to scale those canyon walls and bridge that gap to save their love? He needed to speak to Airy to overcome this daunting obstacle, but she was at River keep. Only a dozen miles, but at least several days, separated them, but the moon was already full. Delaying mating any longer was impossible without humiliating Dawn and the other willing females waiting to take her place. Relations with Border Pack and the other packs would suffer. His right to rule would come into question. The training of the new Wolf army might fail. Everything Airy wanted him to do for her cause would come to nothing if he did not do what was expected of him now.

A majority of Wolves were on the verge of accepting the Rabbit's military ways. Jak could not risk jeopardizing that progress. Yielding to this duty was for Airy's sake as much as for him and his people. The Wolves were only hers to command if Jak remained their chief. She needed Jak's people to win her war, but did she need Jak as a lover more? Jak longed to discuss it with her, but this doom was his own to decide, and he had made up his mind.

Dawn would not be the first sex partner he had taken since he met Airy. To save Airy he had made love to Cat and then to Olivia. Now he would make love to Dawn and as many other female Wolves as necessary to help Airy win back her throne. He only hoped she could see that he did not seek out these females for his pleasure. Mating with them was his duty; a duty that would not please Airy, however necessary it was for Airy's cause.

With his course resolved, Jak's full attention returned to Dawn, who patiently awaited his reply. Very much like the rosy glow of morning for which she was named, her lush, silky, russet fur was stunning and brushed to a glossy shine. Amulets and bracelets made of polished seashells and gold stones similar to the one Esseff had won from Salmon hung from her neck and encircled her wrists and ankles. More of the same were braided into the hair that cascaded from her head and over her shoulders. Her perfectly shaped ears were pierced with carved sticks of ivory. Several of the bracelets she wore were of the same material masterfully carved with images of cavorting animals. A multi-colored skirt woven of dyed fibers into geometric patterns reminiscent of mountains, trees, and running water was her only clothing. Her bare breasts retained the full ripeness of youth despite the weaning of many pups. It was evident to Jak that in preparation for this moment, she had made every effort with her appearance and was rightfully proud of the result and of herself.

"You are a worthy mate for any chief, Dawn."

She glowed brighter in response to his compliment.

"Thank you, great Chief."

"You are also a fit mate for the chief of all chiefs."

The fluttering of her eyes and the stiffening of her posture laid bare her understanding that she had been successful. Only one last, pathetic idea occurred to Jak to try to discourage her and let her back out on her own. Fear and superstition were the only weapons he had left to defend himself.

If only he had thought ahead to this inevitable moment and laid the groundwork for some excuse for why Olivia's champion could not mate with mortals. He wished Olivia had sent in her dreams that Jak was hers for mating and hers alone. No one would dare try to take what the Maker had claimed for herself, but Jak knew Olivia would never do that. Forcing him to make this choice was what she wanted - another wedge to sunder his relationship with Airy. Olivia's true reasons for making Jak a chief again were less petty perhaps, but Jak did not underestimate the power of her spite and malice to influence her schemes and actions.

"When I was with the Maker, we made love."

Dawn's brow rose, but Jak could not tell if she was astonished or intrigued.

"She is a jealous god. It may be dangerous for anyone else to mate with me now."

Undeterred, Dawn replied, "Will you allow me to take this risk?"

The scent of her anticipation was palpable. Jak's head swam from its narcotic effect. How long had it been? A lifetime it seemed since he had embraced one of his own. His heart ached for Moon and the seemingly simple yet wondrously loving times they had spent together. His life was no longer simple nor did there seem to be time or a place for pleasant concepts like love and affection. Duty and responsibility to his people constrained his every action.

Duty personified stared at him with undisguised eagerness. For Airy's sake, he should neither love nor enjoy the company of another, but that was a Rabbit cultural affectation. Jak was Wolf, and Dawn was one of his subjects. That made her deserving of his love and affection. To treat this as a chore before moving on to the next necessary task would be cruel and contrary to his nature. Jak would give Dawn his love as fully and tenderly as he could.

Jak held out his paw. Dawn rose and came to him without hesitation. Pulling at a leather tie, the simple skirt she wore fell to her hindpaws and was kicked aside as she crossed the short distance that had separated her from White Paw. The Wolf inside of Jak emerged fully victorious as evidenced by the growing bulge under his loincloth.

"You did not say no," she said with a voice full of the promise of pleasures to come.

"I did not," Jak replied surrendering to his instincts.

Since being promoted to the rank of general, Jak appeared in public dressed in the military style of the Rabbits: trousers, boots, shirt, and a surcoat they had made for him with his own symbol of power sewn on the front - a blood red paw outlined in black; but for this encounter, he dressed traditionally as a Wolf chief in a loin cloth. His only ornamentation was his necklace totem of authority. The white and red bone paws Moon had made for him rested against his chest in the middle of Olivia's bold, crimson mark. Dawn placed her right paw so that it covered the mark and the talismans. She inhaled and exhaled deep and slow as if drawing power from them, her breasts rising and falling with each breath.

"Did the Maker touch you here as you spent your seed inside her? Did the fire in her womb travel through her paw to burn this mark indelibly upon you?"

It was a fantastical notion and an excellent fable that would augment his already exaggerated reputation. He could see no reason to discourage it. How Olivia gave him the mark, Jak did not know, so there was no lie in his voice for Dawn to detect when he answered.

"I filled her with my seed as you say. In the throes of passion with a god, anything can happen. The mark is definitely hers."

Jak placed his paw over Dawn's.

"By what power or magic it came to be there, I cannot say. I awoke with it upon me."

Dawn smiled with feral pleasure. Her scent intensified in the confines of Jak's quarters making his head swim, narrowing his focus so that she dominated all of his senses. The dim candlelight caught a bead of moisture between her legs. It sparkled briefly like a shooting star as it fell to earth leaving a small, wet mark on the wooden floor.

"Soon, you shall fill my womb; the first cradle of life to be so blessed after the Maker herself. You honor me, Great Chief, beyond any honor I have known in my life. Let me in turn please you."

Squatting to the floor with her knees spread, she lovingly untied White Paw's only covering and removed it, revealing the most holy tools of procreation her people possessed. Despite the reverential awe they inspired, her longing to experience their manna overcame any hesitation.

All of Jak's resistance similarly dissolved like sugar in water. He was powerless before this Wolfess at the height of her heat. The first small drop of moisture that had made the delicate circle beneath her on the floor was joined by others expanding like a pond growing in a sudden cloudburst. Its scent was a drug that markedly altered Jak's perception, forcibly reminding him that he was a Wolf.

Dawn was pleased with the visceral reaction she induced in White Paw. All of her anxiety regarding his decision to bed her was consumed by the flames in the furnace that was her body and turned to ash to nurture the blooming of her garden. He was hers and she was his. Already, the tip of his penis was emerging from its sheath with a tiny drop of pre-cum forming at its end. Among female Wolves, she would soon be second only to the Maker herself.

Leaning in and inhaling deeply of his musk, her tongue darted out to capture the clear drop. Another glistening bead of dew followed and then more in series. She caught each before they could escape and worked at pleasing her chief for as long as she could. No subsequent moment in her life would compare to this one. Dawn wanted her time with White Paw to last and not be just a perfunctory mating before he moved on to the next female.

Some chiefs saw the full moon as a time to find pleasure for themselves among fertile females without care or regard for those who briefly shared his bed. Though Jak was now the highest-ranking Wolf ever, he was content to let Dawn set the pace and to rule over this small dominion they shared tonight. The power to command her to do whatever he wanted was his, and she would happily obey to receive the gift she sought from him, but that was not Jak's way, nor was it White Paw's. Dawn was a part of his pack now, and thus worthy of his love and protection, but more importantly, she would carry and bear his pup. He would love her and allow her to love him in return.

Swirling her tongue over the tip, coaxing him out further with her mouth, she took more inside as his cock expanded. Her paws rubbed and massaged up and down his thighs gently and then more aggressively as she licked and nibbled him. Using tongue and teeth together, Dawn was experienced and knew how to find the limits of ecstasy in a male and knew when to hesitate before he crossed the shuddering boundary of climax. She did not want her chief to cum just yet and certainly not in her mouth. There was only one place she wanted his seed, and she hoped he would fill her womb many times before they were done.

Jak growled his appreciation for her attentions as he reached out to scratch behind her ears. Growling contentedly in reply, she pressed her head into his paw. The tip of her snout moved down until the black tip of her nose pressed against the base of his shaft.

Most of her fear and anxiety vanished. Though she would never let White Paw know it, she had been intimidated to discover he was the Maker's lover, but nothing her new chief could do or say to her would have dissuaded her from this task and the resultant honor, not even if he beat or abused her. White Paw's tenderness was a bonus that went beyond her hopes for this mating. Keeping him happy became a powerful secondary goal to impregnation. To preclude offending him or overstepping her bounds she pulled her head back letting his red, swollen organ slip from her mouth so she could speak.

"How shall I address you while we are alone together?"

"'Chief' is unnecessary; 'White Paw' is appropriate. I am a warrior first, same as you. In this room, for this time together, we are equals."

As he spoke, Jak idly fingered the finely carved bone piercings in her left ear and gazed into her hazel eyes. Dawn was patient and respectful but clearly not fully at ease.

"We are partners intent on a common goal. We are also lovers. You cannot offend me by being yourself and treating me as you have treated any chief in bed."

Despite his words, their disparate postures only served to emphasize the difference in their status. More importantly, it robbed Jak of the freedom to explore her as she was exploring him.

"Would you like move to the bed? It will be easier for us to explore each other and become much more intimate there."

"Yes," she answered without hesitation, the excitement evident in her voice and on her face.

Encouraged by White Paw's offer, eagerness overcame her concerns about propriety. Dawn took his paw and led him to the narrow bunk against the far wall. Though spartan by Rabbit standards, it was an extravagance for the needs of two Wolves used to sleeping on piles of animal furs and rough blankets.

Dawn lay on the bed first with her back against the wall. Her wagging tail playing peek-a-boo from behind her ample hips as it brushed against the rough wooden wall. There was just enough room on the small bed for Jak to lay beside her with the tip of his snout nearly touching hers.

They began with a kiss accompanied by paws exploring the less sensitive parts of each other's body, but their prowling digits became restless and soon trespassed into more intimate regions. Her nipples were fully erect, and she shivered with pleasure each time Jak's thumb paused to caress them. With his other paw, Jak discovered that moisture had noticeably gathered between Dawn's legs.

Her chief's invitation to lie together affected her more than she thought possible. With pupils dilated, her breathing became shallow and almost panting with each light brush of Jak's paws across her sex. An uncontrollable low growl in her throat betrayed her lust. The urge to grind her pelvis against his was becoming irresistible, and she hoped his desire was as urgent as hers was becoming.

The scent of her sex and the touch of her claws were her secret agents stalking and toying with the feral part of Jak's brain to unleash his primal instincts. Being with his own kind again was different from sex with Airy, Olivia, or even Cat. Higher thoughts were subsumed to his feral passion. Nothing else in his world mattered but Dawn and the source of her allure. Playful licks by Dawn of Jak's exposed canine teeth, accompanied by her paws stroking his cock, soon had his knot fully engorged.

Like a starving, feral wolf who suddenly finds a feast before him, Jak was ready to dine upon her flesh. Sitting up and leaning over her, he licked the side of her snout before letting his nose lead his tongue down past her breasts and across her stomach to stop between her thighs where he indulged himself in a fragrance long denied. As if endowed with an independent will, his long, muscular tongue made a tentative touch on the round nub at the top of her sex. Satisfied that the taste was equal to the smell, it darted forth again to encompass the entire length of her bare flesh.

Surprised by White Paw's attention to her pleasure, Dawn alternately scratched and pulled at his ears with delirious abandon as he nibbled, licked, and delved deep within her as if seeking some hidden, internal source of her wetness. Whimpering like a hungry pup denied its mother's teat; Dawn clutched the back of White Paw's head as she spread her thighs to make his task easier. The rational, imprisoned corner of her mind tried to warn her against abusing her privilege with her chief, but the feral wolf jailer in charge snarled and did as its carnal wants pleased.

No longer self-conscious or shy, the Wolfess moaned and yipped as the pace of White Paw's aggression quickened. The tipping point of orgasm drew ever nearer with each lick and greater delving of his tongue. Pushing up with her hips while clutching the back of White Paw's head to hold his snout firmly against her, she howled as she came. The rolling erotic pulses of her body were almost beyond her endurance. To mitigate the intense euphoria, Dawn tried to push White Paw and his tongue away, but he held tight to her hips unrelenting with his attention. Wriggling, thrashing and helpless to resist, bliss conquered Dawn and tore her senses pleasantly apart.

Jak stubbornly held tight, nuzzling her and slurping every drop of her cum as if it were a life-giving potion. Only when he was sated did he pull away and reposition himself so he could kiss her fiercely on her mouth. Still shaking from the violence of her orgasm, Dawn wrapped herself around her chief as he bit at her neck and shoulder with abandon.

All resistance to delay the mating evaporated. Both partners shared the same regression to their primal instincts. Consummation was all that mattered to their feral selves. Dawn guided her chief's engorged plow into her well-prepared garden and felt the delightful contact as he delved deeply into her moist, fertile soil. There was a fleeting pause as the large, swollen bulb at the base of White Paw's cock pressed against her warm, parted, furrows. Dawn thrust hard at that moment forcing herself open wider, and the final obstacle was buried deep inside her.

Beyond her control, the muscles at the opening to her sex clamped around the narrower extension of White Paw's penis between the knot and his wrinkled sheath. They were tied, and thus inseparable, as his seed surged inside of her. Stoppered as snugly as a bottle of wine, none of the precious fluid escaped. Conception was effectively assured.

"Thank you, White Paw," breathed Dawn into his ear. Her paws absently caressed and massaged his shoulders.

"I should thank you, Dawn. It has been a while."

"Obviously. I can feel the warmth and pressure of your abundance in my womb."

Jak smiled at her with a wry sparkle in his eye.

"Does that mean you are satisfied?"

Dawn's reply was to push her chief onto his back and roll on top of him. The swollen flesh that bound their hips together ensured none of the fluid she had fought so hard to acquire leaked away. With her paws on White Paw's chest, she brought her torso upright and tucked her legs against his side.

"No and neither are you, it seems."

Her pubis ground against his.

"May I continue to take pleasure from you in this position?"

Jak's reply was to lift his hips briefly before relaxing again. Dawn cooed her delight then began subtle, yet forceful movements. Fully in control, she indulged her own pleasure until a long lasting orgasm ensued that ended only when she was too exhausted to endure the shuddering high any longer. Panting heavily, she laid her head upon White Paw's shoulder and sighed contentedly.

"I did not feel you come again, My Chief."

"No, but I was satisfied to observe and share your pleasure."

"Relieve yourself in me again, please. I want that."

"Perhaps in a more traditional position then?"

Dawn understood his intent, and rolled her eyes.

"Males always want feral style. Why is that?"

Being joined by their sex made the maneuver an athletic exercise, but they moved together like practiced dancers without difficulty. Dawn managed to get onto her forepaws and knees with White Paw snug against her rump.

"Maybe it's because you have such a lovely rear end," quipped Jak as he gripped the top of each of her firm buttocks with his paws. Her tail curved around his waist as he pushed against her. Bracing herself against the wall, she pushed back against him in tempo with his thrusts.

Silence supervened, broken only by their breathing and the creaking of the bunk. Physical contact ruled as the sole sense needed to experience the moment. Using slow and gentle strokes, Jak licked the backs of Dawn's beautifully adorned ears. A rumbling vibration not unlike a cat's purr massaged Jak's stomach where his chest pressed against her back.

After Jak found release once again inside her, another cooperative effort was required to return to their starting position, on their sides, snout to snout. There, they made love as equals one final, leisurely time.

In the lethargic aftermath of their session, Jak lay on his side pressed against Dawn. Though his eyes were open and aimed at the wooden wall, his mind wandered far away and took his sight with it on a journey of random thoughts that included the future of his people, the training of his army, the choice of which female to bed next, his love for Airy, Olivia's continued intervention in his affairs, when if ever to bed Dawn again, and even Cat's intermittent fixation on him as a potential mate. Jumbles of random concerns plagued him like gremlins in the night, but one concern dominated and united the others.

Not for the first time, Jak asked himself whether he was Wolf or Rabbit. From the moment he had met Airy, he had struggled to understand Rabbit culture and become one of them, but the Wolf within him had grown more dominant as he rose to power again among his own kind even as he accepted the battle tactics and weapons of the Rabbits. What kind of strange hybrid between the two would he become now? Could he convince his own kind to follow along on this transformative journey? Would the result of his efforts be to end forever Wolf society or to make it into something better? Would Rikifur change with his people, or would they refuse to compromise and try to bend the Wolves to their will and ways?

Elusive as birds in the briars, answers evaded him, but one thing he knew. The dual nature he had lived since his exile was shredding in the winds of change like a tattered battle flag after too many campaigns. Either he would revert wholly to his Wolf nature as he was doing now, or something new would emerge in its place. The lack of control to decide his fate worried him.

Perhaps some bond other than the physical tie of their sex linked him to Dawn mentally, because she shared his disquiet and remained awake. Jak had thought she was asleep, content with the certainty of conception. The swelling of his knot had lessened enough that his flaccid cock slid out of her relaxed vagina. Her left paw moved to clutch tightly against her sex to trap his valuable seed. Her breathing remained steady, and her eyes stayed closed, yet she spoke as lucidly as if she were wide-awake.

"I know now why the Maker chose you as her champion. Not only are you a wonderful lover and the strongest and fiercest of all Wolves, mightier even than Bear, but you also bring great change and the promise of a better future to our people. Your pups will be many, and the life we created tonight shall be the first descendant of the first chief of all chiefs. If it is a son, he is destined to become a mighty leader in his own right to continue your legacy and lead us to glory."

"What if the pup is a daughter instead?"

"Then she will be a great warrior and bear many chiefs of her own. The sex does not matter. Olivia's magic still lingers in you. I can sense it. Our pups will be extraordinary no matter what."

Jak was pleased that Dawn saw only a prosperous future for their get. He was less certain of what lay ahead for Wolf society. If Rabbits, Wolves, and even the Foxes merged under one nation, would the concept of Wolf chiefs survive? The thought plagued his mind lately, and not only his. Dawn had a similar notion troubling her.

Attracted by their voices, Ebusika padded over from her place by the fire and crawled onto the small bed to join them. Creaking from the added weight of the large, white wolf, Jak feared that the bed might collapse. He considered pushing his wolf guardian away, but Dawn welcomed his feral companion by scratching her shaggy chin and behind her ears encouraging the curious animal to wedge her bulk in the narrow gap between Dawn and Jak. Like a jealous lover, the beast seemed intent on separating her master from his new mate, and Jak was forced to hold on to her white coat or fall off the bunk.

"She is a beautiful creature and is devoted to you," said Dawn cautiously. "Many say it is a sign of Olivia's favor, but keeping ferals as pets or beasts of burden is unusual if not expressly forbidden. Is she another gift from Olivia; a familiar created to be your guardian?"

"She is my guardian, but no; Olivia did not gift her to me. During my travels, I met a Bear named Isven, who had rescued Ebusika and her pups from death. They became loyal to him in return, but he gave them to me."

Dawn's countenance turned brooding. Her concern only grew with this explanation.

"A Bear taming feral wolves? What's next, White Paw, Rabbits taming us?"

Jak was surprised by her leap of logic and by how closely it matched his own concerns. A deep growl was his instinctive response.

"Never! Not while I am chief."

Dawn was not intimidated by his response.

"You dress like them and train our warriors to fight like them. We make love in a bed as they do. These things are not necessarily bad, but we are becoming like them, and they don't become at all like us in return, so who is the master and who is the pet?"

"No one is any one's pet. Rabbits are better at war than we are, and war is the overriding concern of the moment. Therefore, we must yield and become like them in battle to have any hope of being equals."

"That is true. Their weapons are better and so are their methods. I can't deny that their armor makes us stronger. I understand its utility, but they insist the female warriors wear it at all times. They want us covered like their own little does. Do we yield to their queer aversion to the sight of our bodies? Do we only take one Wolf as mate and allow only one female to have access to the chief?"

"No. I will not allow them to force any of their customs upon us that are harmful or against our wishes. The queen understands and supports me on this issue. She wants the same equality between the Rabbit sexes that Wolves enjoy."

"That is good to hear, but your people are worried about their traditions and their freedom."

"They need not worry. Our future with the Rabbits can only be better than what lay ahead of us before this alliance. This is our opportunity to reunite with the rest of our kind east of the mountains and become stronger than ever. We will need the Rabbits, and they will need us to defeat the real enemy, Storfay. We must stay focused on that goal."

Dawn seemed content with his response. Closing her eyes again, she seemed finally on the verge of sleep, but one lingering thought kept her from slumber.

"I would not mind you having only one mate, White Paw, if that mate were me."

Her paw abandoned its idle scratching of Ebusika's ruff and found rest on White Paw's chest where it covered the mark of the Maker. Jak had no suitable response to her wish before she slipped into restful dreams.

Tired beyond endurance, sleep still eluded Jak. Too many gremlins continued to scamper through his troubled mind. The most vexing of them was the one that repeated Airy's name relentlessly.

Airy reminisced over the capture of River Keep as she sat in the central tower of her first battle prize. Riding through the breach in the wall at the head of her army had been a moment of pure glory that Airy longed to relive. Danger lent a thrill to life that little else could, but for the young queen, opportunities to experience that exhilaration were receding like a flock of geese flying south for the winter.

Had only a fortnight elapsed since the battle? A seemingly endless succession of planning and strategy sessions similar to the one she was mired in now made it seem like months. Knowing that the meetings were critical did not ameliorate the boredom. Airy had not thought it possible, but she was longing for her days in exile when it was just her and Jak traveling together. Though peril and hardship had haunted their every step, she felt more alive and in control than now that she was queen.

She let her mind wander among the pleasant memories while her officers and advisors covered the accounting of the weapons, armor, horses, sundry supplies, and new recruits they had acquired with the castle. It was important for her to understand in general what assets she possessed so she could gage her army's capabilities, but the details were irrelevant and boring.

Not until the younger officers in charge of supplies departed and the meeting was opened for new topics of discussion did she end her reverie and give her subordinates her full attention.

"Before we begin our planning discussion for the approaching battle with the AR," began Vaunortheses, "I think it is important that we spare some time to give thought to the less immediate but still important future of our cause."

He hesitated as if embarrassed. Airy glanced around the table at the others for a clue as to what new subject he meant. Rhynnayth and Sunorthoses stared straight ahead not meeting her gaze. Camorra, Tigan, and Esseff waited expectantly for Vaun to continue.

"What is it that is so important to the future of our cause?" asked Airy impatient with their unusual reticence and secrecy.

"I think it is best if the Lady Camorra explains," answered Vaun in a surprisingly timid voice.

Caught off guard by Vaun's abdication of responsibility for the controversial topic, Camorra recovered quickly, composed herself, and faced the queen.

"Well, to be blunt, if I may, My Lady, it is your choice of a husband that must be discussed."

Airy had been warned by Jak that pressure to choose a king was building among her people. Thus far Airy had deflected the conversation by making it abundantly clear to whomever brought it up that she did not wish to discuss it. It was shrewd of Vaun to have raised it during an official meeting, but he showed greater canniness by having made the former Cow slave the spokesperson for this issue. Airy trusted Camorra for her impartiality and cunning diplomatic mind. If she thought this was important, then Airy would listen even if she still intended to ignore her and Vaun's advice.

"And why is that?"

"For several reasons, but preeminent among them is the continued future of our cause. You have shown a willingness to personally enter battle and take risks with your own life. Though I and the other advisors present here today have warned against it, I can't deny that your bravery and combat leadership has done much to win over converts to our side. There is clearly value in you being seen as an active part of this army. However, your death would doom us completely. Having a legitimate king, one who supports your policies and above all peace with the Wolves, available to assume command in the event of your death would ensure the perpetuation of our effort. An heir or two would be even better."

"So you want me pregnant and off the battle field?"

Tigan laughed, but she was the only one. The Rabbit officers coughed and shuffled nervously in their seats. Vaunortheses' skin turned beet red beneath the fur on his cheeks and snout. He could not bring himself to meet Airy's eye any more than his subordinate officers could.

Camorra knew better than to take that bait.

"I had not thought of those specific consequences, your majesty; only of the benefits to our cause, of which there are more. Much of your appeal to your people lies in the traditions of the past that dictate that you have the Maker ordained right to rule. Those traditions also demand that you chose a husband on your nineteenth birthday. You are past that age now. As a female, you are not allowed to rule alone. There must be a king."

Since Airy did not interrupt again, Camorra was emboldened to continue.

"We are breaking with tradition in other ways that hurt our cause. In particular, I am referring to having the Wolves as allies. Many soldiers and neutral dukes who refuse to serve you do so on that basis alone. Bolstering other traditions should help counter our laudable but nontraditional efforts at integration."

"I thought the integration of Wolves and Rabbits was going well in our army. Has that changed?"

Given a safe subject, Vaun answered.

"The initial integration went better than I thought possible. Rabbits that were with me when you were delivered to us had already been living among the Wolves in a sense. True, we kept to our own camp, but we were exiles from Rikifur with no source of supplies and food. We were forced to trade with the Wolves and work with them in ways we had never done before. Thus, the stage was set to make the next leap and ally with them when you arrived preaching peace between the races.

"Here in Rikifur, the old prejudices are stronger. There is more reluctance from AR troops and previously non-aligned citizens, who would otherwise rush to join us in support of you. This is not an insurmountable problem, but one that could be lessened perhaps by the comfort that having a king would provide."

Having strayed back to the uncomfortable topic of marriage and succession, Vaun fell silent again. Airy considered this part of her advisors' argument absurd. In her belief, a royal marriage wouldn't make a single Rabbit respect the Wolves. Respect came from working and fighting together as equals. It came from the examples of leaders like her and Jak. Airy made sure to punish and dismiss Rabbit officers who mistreated or disrespected the Wolves. Only officers who were good examples remained in positions of authority, but she also realized that mutual respect required both sides to view each other as peers. Right now, Rabbits dominated positions of leadership from where they tended to contemn the Wolves in the same way they arrogantly looked down upon the Rabbit peasants. Airy was already prepared to begin promoting outstanding Wolves as officers to counter the perceived inequality.

Her path to acceptance and integration was an obvious strategy to her, but she worried whether her authority was enough to control the opinions and beliefs of others. Would she have the option in the future to be so selective about whom she retained in her army? With each new ally that joined her cause, this same dilemma would repeat itself.

Everything would be so much simpler if she could take Jak as her king. In a sense, he already was a king. Leaving aside the impossibility of producing an heir, the match made political sense. What action would do more to unite the Rabbits and Wolves permanently in peace? Airy couldn't think of any, but the prejudices among her people were too strong.

An action so revolutionary was premature. Vaunortheses and Camorra were both right about the need to stand by tradition as much as possible. A compromise was needed, so Airy decided she would pretend to be considering a suitable mate and delay her decision until after she was securely on her throne. Perhaps then, after all the other radical changes she intended had been implemented and accepted, she would have the social stability and supremacy to do as she pleased and marry Jak.

Vaunortheses wore an odd but unreadable expression on his face. Airy wondered why he seemed reluctant to discuss the concept of her marriage. She held out hope that her old friend was on her side and wished as much as she did to forestall a royal marriage. Camorra, however, was not ready to table the discussion.

"Finally, you must consider the short term military advantage that a marriage will bring. If, for example, you were to marry a noble who commands a large army within the AR, we would gain many troops while reducing the strength of our enemy."

Airy's disgusted expression left no doubt considering her opinion of that option. Her bovine diplomat tried another tack.

"There are also many nobles who control armies who are currently neutral. Some have influence over other dukes such that a union with one could bring additional allies."

That suggestion was harder for Airy to dismiss, so she made the first move of her game of delay.

"I think it makes more sense to await responses to our call to all the nobles to join our cause and see who comes to our side out of loyalty to me first. Why waste my choice on someone already pledged to me?"

Deceived into thinking that her queen was open to considering choosing a king, Camorra agreed.

"Well, certainly that is wise. We would not want to waste this option on someone who is already willing to commit to us."

"And those already on my side? What do they say?"

"For the moment, none question your authority, but even the few we have tentatively recruited to join us have already been asking who you shall choose and how and when suitors may approach you. Thus far, we have responded that you are too busy consolidating your victory and organizing a defense. The novelty of you returning from the dead is an excellent distraction, but it won't last forever."

"Perhaps not, but the courtship process can be drawn out for months or years if necessary. Let anyone who has the bravado come and offer his paw to me. I shall string each of them along like pearls on a necklace until I am ready, preferably after I have won this war."

Airy had outmaneuvered Camorra and the Cow knew it. By pretending to agree, but requiring more time, Airy deferred the decision without leaving room for further argument and discussion. Camorra wasn't pleased with her queen's obstinacy, but she was wise enough not to press her any further. The discussion was over, for the moment.

While monitoring the conversation, but not participating, Sunorthoses had found humor in it and the nerve to speak.

"Yes, my Queen. I agree we should wait, but not too long. Your counterpart among the Wolves, King White Paw, understands the importance of standing traditions and the strategic value that spreading his royal seed brings."

A smoldering ember of dread flared inside of her. The sarcastic smirk on the auburn furred Rabbit's wry face did nothing to lessen her distress. She didn't like the direction he was steering the conversation, but she had to know exactly what he meant by that remark.

"What are you talking about?"

Thinking the answer was obvious, Sunorthoses chuckled briefly.

"Why, the Wolves' barbaric custom where the chiefs mate with whatever available females they desire, of course. The lucky chosen females gain status, but you know this already having been among Wolves for so long. White Paw has begun the...uhm...process and elevated one Wolfess higher than all the others by choosing her first. A flood should follow since there is plenty of prestige in being any number on his list..."

Shocked by this news, Airy blurted "Who? What is her name?"

Sunorthoses seemed surprised by her question.

"Name? I have no idea. Something connected to her appearance or an object in nature, I suppose, like most of them. What does it matter?"

Airy wanted to scream that it mattered more than anything else did, more than her crown. Jak was hers and hers alone. Airy wanted to kill any wolf bitch that touched him. Instead, she had to contain her rage and hide her hurt. No one could know of her secret. She fumed in silence for a minute, then stood up and pointed to the door.

"Out! Now! All of you. I have had enough talk of marriages and mating."

"But, you Majesty, planning for the upcoming battle...," stammered Vaunortheses.

"Can and should wait until tomorrow when White Paw arrives with his army. It makes no sense to strategize without him here. Besides, I'm tired. We've been working too hard. Everyone needs to rest and celebrate our victory. I hereby declare the remainder of today a day of festivity. Let the troops have some well-earned fun. Break out the wine...in reasonable portions. Starting tomorrow, there will not be a respite again for some time. Go! Leave me alone."

Airy reached down, found the comforting presence of Thayir, and patted his head. Rewarded with a lick of her paw, Airy felt some of the tension and distress drain away as if by magic.

"That includes the guards. I have this wolf to protect me. I will be quite safe in his company."

Vaun and his subordinates saluted and retreated out the door. Camorra and Tigan followed but stopped when they realized Esseff was not leaving. His steadfast impertinence provoked Airy's ire.

"What part of _'go'_don't you understand, Fox?"

"I will leave, after I have my say on the matter of your marriage."

Airy growled, and then sighed in defeat.

"Fine. Say your peace then get out. My patience has expired, so be warned. You are treading on dangerous ground."

"As am I ever, my Queen, but I will be brief as you request. The ruling lords of Feneval will also share Rikifur's proclivity to deal with a male sovereign. They will take you less seriously than you deserve. You will be viewed by them as not much more than a vessel to produce heirs. Without a king, they cannot imagine how you would rule. It is an irrational prejudice, but there it is."

It was a mild surprise for Airy to learn that the Foxes were more akin to the Rabbits in this matter than to their cousins, the Wolves, but she did not care.

"Do you have anything else to say?"

"Yes. A great deal. There are numerous security concerns and preliminary responses from potential allies to discuss, but they can wait. The upcoming battle is the most important concern right now, and I agree with you that planning for that can begin tomorrow. My last words, therefore, are only what are essential. I have just today learned that the AR forces dispatched to retake this castle are two days away. They are nearly ten thousand strong and bring siege machines with them. I will have a more thorough accounting of their strength at tomorrow's meeting."

True to his word, Esseff went silent and looked to Camorra and Tigan. Airy followed his gaze. The two females seemed anxious to have their own say. Airy wanted them to disappear, but was mature enough to recognize that she should not ignore their advice.

"My orders for peace and rest go unheeded even by my friends, but I've learned to trust your judgment as equal to my own. You may each speak your mind briefly in turn. Camorra first."

The Cow curtsied.

"Thank you, your Majesty. Though I agree with those who insist that you must take a husband and argued on their behalf, you are wise to postpone your choice as long as possible."

Airy's mood improved hearing those words from her political counselor.

"Now you are on my side. Why?"

"I am always on your side, Great Lady. In this instance, my reasoning is that there is the danger that a king's authority could in time come to exceed yours. I advise that you avoid selecting a mate - if possible - until after you are securely on the throne, lest the king be able to thwart the changes we are planning. Having said that, I caution that we may not have the luxury of waiting so long depending on the winds of politics, so please don't take that as an absolute. You must remain open to the possibility of marriage and take advantage of it when the time is right."

"I hadn't thought of it that way, but I see your point. Thank you."

Camorra bowed and yielded to Tigan.

"T'ese times are unusual and so hard to predict. I cannot say wit' great accuracy how t'e timing of choosing a king will affect t'e future, but if you recover t'e t'rone and try to rule alone, t'en all will fail and Rikifur will fall into anarchy."

"Are you certain of that?"

"As certain as I can be of anyt'in'."

"Does my choice of husband matter? What if I married for love instead of advantage?"

Airy was, of course, thinking of Jak, but Tigan and Camorra did not know this. Esseff understood her meaning, and his ears twitched nervously in response. Otherwise, he betrayed no outward reaction.

"It might, but I would have to know who t'e lucky fella is."

A crooked smile lit up the old Skunk's face.

"T'at Vaunort'eses seems interested for sure."

"What? Vaun? Has he told you this?"

Tigan's bawdy laugh made Camorra blush and Esseff crack a sly smile. Airy was left gaping in confusion.

"He don't have to say anyt'in' to make his intentions plain. T'e way he follows you around, looks at you, longs for you...it's obvious. In t'e meetin', I t'ought he was goin' to burst at t'e seams if you had agreed to consider someone else. It weren't until you decided to postpone t'e inevitable t'at he relaxed."

Attempting to reconcile Tigan's revelation left Airy's thoughts muddled and confused. Vaun always appeared so stiff, formal, and proper. Even as teenagers in the royal court, he never once showed any open affection towards her, or had he? So many of her suitors were bold and unafraid to express their intent directly towards her. Had that made her oblivious to a more subtle form of courtship? Had Vaun been wooing her in a manner beneath her notice? Was he still doing it? The looks on the faces of her friends and advisors said yes.

The notion was sweet, evoking distant memories of her life at court and simpler times when she was a princess and not a queen. How pleasant it would be to reclaim those days when romance was encouraged and she was free to marry whomever she came to love. How easy it would be to find acceptance for love with one of her kind instead of a Wolf. If she had not met Jak, what feelings would she have for Vaun? She had never seriously considered him or anybody else as her king, but his role in her return had definitely earned him consideration.

"What future do you see if Vaunortheses were king?"

Tigan closed her eyes and hummed as if in a trance. When she opened them, mischief sparkled at their dark centers.

"I see a stable and prosperous future for Rikifur."

"Is that all?"

"T'at's all my gift tells me, but if you want love advice, I'm no better t'an anyone else, t'ough I'll still give it freely. Shall I spin a lyrical tale of royal romance for you?"

"No. Please don't. I don't need your ribaldry right now."

Undeterred by Airy's refusal, Tigan laughed in her characteristically maniacal fashion and began muttering and humming to herself as she left.

"Airiphryone and Vaunortheses to battle t'ey did ride, yet off t'e field a love long hidden cannot be denied..."

"Don't start spreading rumors you old gossip!" shouted Airy at the twin white stripes of Tigan's long, bushy tail as it disappeared through the door.

"That raconteur will have you married in everyone's minds with a week," observed Esseff as he did his best to suppress a laugh.

Airy turned to Camorra pleading with her eyes.

"Please convince her to not create myths about my love life. These are private matters for me alone."

"Yes, my Lady. I will try."

"Nothing you do is private anymore, your Majesty," said Esseff gravely. "You surrendered that when you donned the crown."

Right or wrong, Airy had no further desire to discuss the subject. She needed time to process her feelings. She needed Jak.

"Maybe so, but I am done discussing this today. I have let you all have your say. Obey my orders this time and depart. Have Jak...White Paw...sent to me as soon as he arrives tomorrow and before our battle planning meeting. I must speak to him in person."

[End of Chapter]