FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Folgren the big, pale grey horse walked through the busy town streets at a relaxed pace, the plated parts of his armour softly scraping against parts of chain, his guardsman's cloak fluttering up to a step behind him. His mid-length black hair was secured to his scalp by his helm, although a few strands danced in front of his eyes, somewhat to his annoyance. The symbol of his city, a dagger through a coin engraved in silver, also known to some as the pierced rice cake due to how nondescript the "coin" was, mildly reflected the light off his deep blue tabard, signifying his position as a city guard.

It was a calmer day in the city of Cal Crag, as it'd past up until noon without anyone needing to call on his kind. At least not within earshot of him. It likely wouldn't last, however, as every day seemed to bring a number of trouble-makers his way, if not during the day, then at the very least during the later hours.

"Morning, Folg!", he heard a familiar male voice call out. It was a feline dealer in precious gems called Povin. His stand in the open marketplace made him a prime target for petty thieves, and as such he often called upon the guards, which in turn lead to him being on a first name basis with most of them. He also served as an informant, one of many, letting Folgren know if some deeper trouble was brewing and it'd reached his ear. His constant need of assistance abated any suspicion that might've arisen from his frequent talks. "Can I have a word?", he asked, leading the horse to believe there'd be problems that day yet.

"What is it?", Folg asked in a lowered tone.

"Had a little run in with a thieving rat today. Female, grey, wearing all brown.", Povin announced somewhat louder.

"Not very descriptive. Sounds like every other rat.", Folg said.

"How many rats do you get here?", Povin countered.

"Enough to make them protest if I pluck out the wrong one.", Folgren said.

"Just keep an eye out for a mangy looking rat with a scar on her lower lip and a sudden influx of coin. Stole some rings and earrings.", Povin said.

"Oh, alright. I'll ask around. Don't be too hopeful, though. Anything else?", the equine asked.

"Well...", the cat began, lowering his head towards the horse. "There's word going 'round that the feline gang wants to take another stab at taking over the Northern gateway market.", he said.

"Nivo's people? When?", Folg asked on.

"Maybe today, maybe tomorrow. Just heard one of them's been mouthing off about how they're gonna show everyone.", Povin said.

"Alright. I'll keep an eye out. Though I hardly imagine they'd be able to pull it off even with no guards there.", Folg countered.

"Apparently they've gotten more people and arms with the wave of refugees from Thelms.", Pov said.

"Good to know.", Folg concluded. "Anything else?", he asked.

"Not from me, no. Heggri's been complaining about something missing, but I dunno the details. Have words with her.", the cat suggested.

"Will do. Thanks for the tip.", Folg said and moved on towards Heggridian's stand.

"Just remember to look into that rat!", Pov called after him.

Folgren moved through the mild bustle of the midday marketplace with relative ease. Most were wise enough to get out of the way of a guard. The rest offered minimal resistance to someone as large as Folg.

He found the female lizard tending her weapons' stand as usual, although looking somewhat reluctant when she noticed the horse.

"How are things, Heg?", Folg asked.

"Uh, fine.", she answered dismissively.

"Oh? Pov said you were complaining about something going amiss.", he pried.

"Oh, it's nothing. Just some family matters.", she assured.

"Didn't sound like nothing from Povin's description.", he lied. "Come on, what is it?", he asked on.

"Look, I'll be honest here. I don't want family getting in trouble with the law. It's bad for my relations with them, and it's bad for my reputation. So just drop it.", she said.

"I understand. I could handle it low-key. No law. Just a slap on the wrist and maybe a return of goods, if they haven't been sold yet.", he assured.

"I don't know. You can be pretty rough from what I've heard.", she said hesitantly.

"Won't leave a mark. Promise.", he said. Although whether that would be true was up to how badly the person in question bruised.

"Oh, alright.", she sighed. "It's my nephew. He's taken one of my swords without permission. Fancies himself an adventurer or some such nonsense, but so far he hasn't left the city. Just been bragging to his pals. And my dumb sister won't do anything about it, cause 'what's one weapon to you?', as if I swam in coin in this fucking city. Maybe you could do something about it.", she explained.

"Alright. What can you tell me about him? Need to know how to find him first.", Folg asked.

"Uh, he's named Eckrod. Twenty two winters old. Wears a green ribbon around his left shoulder to stand out. He's been hanging out in taverns around the Northern quarter, from what I've heard.", she said.

"That's nearby where I need to be going. I'll be sure to take a look and do something if I find him.", he said.

"Thank you. Just leave him in one piece. Don't need his mother breathing down my neck over this.", she said.

"I'll be as gentle as he allows.", he assured as he walked off.

***

He spent the better part of the day patrolling between the Northern quarter's living area and the marketplace near the gateway, taking a peek into any tavern he came across along the way, but had little luck in finding either a female rat or a male lizard in any of them.

His luck turned for the better when, by pure chance, he noticed the brown lizard moving into a small side-road, alongside a young male ram. He followed after them.

"Hey, you.", he called out. The two turned towards him, looking apprehensive. "A word with you, lizard.", he said as he headed towards them. They didn't flee, but they seemed to be grasping at their belt sides, looking between each other.

"What is it? We're busy.", the ram said. Folg ignored him and continued moving.

"It appears you're in possession of something that isn't yours.", the horse said, now standing a couple steps before them.

"I wouldn't know anything about that.", the lizard hissed. Folg sighed.

"Give the sword back or there's gonna be trouble.", Folg warned.

"We ain't thieves. You're just shaking us down cause he's a reptile.", the ram leered.

"Stay out of this, sheep.", Folg said, gesturing him to stop.

"Screw you.", the ram said as he now moved towards the guard.

"You don't want to escalate things.", the horse warned, his fists squeezed at the ready. The ram's hand now pulled at the hilt of his weapon.

"You don't know who-", the ram began, but stopped as the horse suddenly closed the distance between them and in one movement, pushed down on his sword arm and kneed him between the legs. "Urgh!", the caprine exclaimed as he doubled over in shock. With his hands now firmly grasped around his groin, Folg easily pulled the sword out of its sheath and threw it away behind him.

For such an obvious tactic, it proved quite effective at pacifying minor law-breakers, and as a result, he'd gotten quite effective at it, at least against people who thought holding a weapon automatically made them good at fighting. Not to mention he rather enjoyed causing them pain in such a humiliating manner.

"As I said, don't-", the horse began, only to be interrupted.

"You prick!", the ram exclaimed in a cracking voice, still standing in his undignified position. Folg rolled his eyes.

"You're helping neither him nor yourself.", Folgren said impatiently.

"You're gonna regret that.", the sheep said, managing to pull his hands away, ready to fight.

"I could say the same-", Folg began, but was once more interrupted as the caprine threw a high kick from the side. Folgren easily dodged by leaning back and threw a hard kick in response, nailing the ram in the balls again, this time from behind. It was proving quite hard to steady his temper at this point.

"Augh!", the ram shrieked, this time dropping face-forward to the ground. All he did from there on out was writhe and twitch, his face contorted in agony.

"We done here?", Folg said down to the ram, to no answer. "Good. Now then...", he said and walked towards the lizard. Eckrod looked like he wanted to run, but managed only to back away a few steps before Folgren pinned him against a wall, roughly grabbing him by the balls.

"Ack! Ok, you win!", the lizard pleaded, grabbing at the unyielding arm gripping him by the genitals.

"So you gonna give back the sword?", he asked, punctuating with a sharp squeeze that made the sheep's legs buck underneath him.

"Yes! Take it! It's yours!", the lizard assured, looking quite terrified.

"And I take it you won't be stealing again?", the equine asked on, maintaining his iron grip.

"Agh, yes! Just let go!", the lizard gasped out, continually trying to free himself.

"Alright. But if I catch you again, I'll be doing more to your balls than this.", Folgren said, letting the lizard go for a moment, only to pull his arms away and plant his knee into the male's gonads. Eckrod immediately went down to his knees and then into foetal position. "And best keep this between us. If your aunt gets trouble for this, you get a club to your nuts. Understood?", he added.

"...yes!", the lizard coughed out between laboured breaths.

"Wonderful.", the horse said and pulled the stolen sword from the fallen lizard's sheath. "Not even a particularly good one.", he remarked as he walked away, picking up the ram's weapon along the way. A kind of fine for the ram's assault on a guard. Would be less trouble than bringing him in, anyway.

***

After bringing back the stolen blade, with much gratitude due to it being handled on the side, and cashing in some coin for the extra blade, Folgren decided it was time for a break and went to a local tavern. Once full on cheap pastries and light beer, he made his way back to the gateway part of the district, somewhat hoping the gang wouldn't make their move until after his shift. But the number of armed cats, lynxes and cougars hanging around the place suggested otherwise.

"Dumb cats.", he cussed under his breath as he began his rounds over the marketplace. If they wanted to make their move, they'd have to do it before the market vendors closed down for the day, and that'd be just an hour after his shift. Somehow he didn't want to leave it up to chance, as troublesome as it'd be.

He noticed a pair of the armed felines talking up some troubled looking merchant and decided to investigate. It was two males, a lynx and a lion. The lion he knew as a recidivist trouble-maker, although he never got caught doing anything explicitly illegal. It wasn't Nivo himself, but someone Folgren recognized as one of the higher ups.

"Hey there. How goes business, shop keep?", Folg called out to the unfamiliar female goat.

"Uh, good. Good.", she assured, glancing nervously towards the two felines.

"I see. And who are you two?", Folg asked, hoping to get a reaction. As much as he knew what was going on, he didn't want to be the one to start a fight. Technically he was supposed to be acting on evidence, and it'd be hard to convince everyone to ignore who started it in a public space like this. Although he had made exceptions before.

"Just browsing.", the lion said. The lynx nodded to confirm.

"Oh, alright. I think I'll join you.", Folg announced and began to stare at the stand's wares. Linens, they were browsing, apparently.

"Oi. We ain't done nothing.", the lynx protested.

"Oh? I haven't said you have.", Folg said, failing to contain his smile.

"Prick-faced lil'-", the lynx began, only to have his mouth covered by the lion.

"Shut up.", the lion said.

"What's that? Didn't catch that.", Folg said.

"Nothing.", the lion said and moved them to another stand. Folg followed. The lynx looked furious at this. He waved at some of the other felines, and they approached, their hands at their weapons.

"Would you kindly stop following us?", the lion asked, looking apprehensively at the coming trouble.

"Following? I'm just browsing.", the horse insisted, even as a cheetah and two cats, one male and one female, came up behind him.

"A'ight, enough of this.", the lynx said and began to pull at his weapon. Allowing no more than the base of the blade to see the light of day, Folg stepped in, grabbing the lynx by the arm and kneed him full force in the groin. He went down like a rag, going red in the face as he writhed on the ground.

The other felines quickly shook off the shock and, save for the lion, began to pull at their weapons. Folg quickly caught up with the cheetah, repeating the same manoeuvre as with the lynx, dropping him with ease. He then sent a wide elbow into the approaching male cat's face, downing him with a bloody nose, followed by a back-kick into the female one's lower parts, knocking her down with the sheer force of the blow. The lynx tried to crawl back up, but Folg kicked him from behind while he was on all fours, sending him crashing to the floor again, thrashing around in pain. Now all of them, save for the lion, were on the floor, rolling around in agony from their respective injuries.

"Right, you win. I don't want any- ah! Ah!", the lion began, but halted his pleading as the horse roughly grabbed him by the testicles.

"You look like the brains of this little operation, so let me put it this way. If your people cause trouble, I'll be looking for you. Understood?", Folg explained.

"Y-yes!", the lion assured.

"Good.", Folg confirmed and clamped down hard without letting up. "Then consider this a sample of what I'll do to you next time.", he whispered.

"Alright! I get it! Stop!", the lion pleaded, but the horse gave him another minute of torment before releasing him, letting the feline drop to his knees.

The now crouched cheetah among them used the moment of unawareness to pull out a thus hidden short blade. He lunged low at the horse, but Folgren both heard and saw the attack. He caught the blade between his gauntlets and wrenched it out of the cheetah's hands. Undaunted, the cheetah punched at the horse's crotch, wanting to give him a sample of his own medicine, but was shocked to find how hard a surface his fist met. He recoiled, feeling as if he might've broken something, but was halted from falling backwards by the horse grabbing his head. Too occupied with his new injury, he failed to react in time as Folgren pulled his head in and rammed him muzzle-first into his own crotch, much to everyone's shock, especially the cheetah's.

The cheetah fell onto his back, his scream muffled by his hands as he clutched his now bleeding nose. 'That kinda hurt.', the horse thought to himself, a mild blunt pain radiating into his abdomen, but he only lightly readjusted his codpiece, not wanting to show weakness. He considered whether to kick the cheetah, but the feline had wisely enough kept his legs closed even as he nursed his hurting muzzle. Besides, Folgren would need them walking in a moment.

The others were now somewhat less distressed over their recent injuries. At least besides the lynx. But they didn't dare get up, fearing further harm to their private areas.

"Right, come along now. And no tricks.", he said. They obediently got up. "Now move.", he commanded. It only took a couple steps before they began to run, save for the lion. "Oh, fuck's sake.", the horse cussed and leapt after them. He managed to elbow the female cat in the back of the head and trip up the lynx, following up with yet another boot to the groin. The other two would've required for Folg to run, a prospect he wasn't very fond of. "Bah, what a bother. Will just have to remember to bring them in next time I see them.", he said to himself. "Thanks for not running, by the way.", he said to the lion.

"As I said, I'm not looking for-", he managed, before the horse cut him off with a kick to the jewels. "Urgh!", he exclaimed.

"As I said, if they cause trouble, then I'm coming for you. So best send them my way next time you see them.", Folg explained, then looked over the other two. "What a bother.", he commented, looking over the aftermath. Someone would have to carry the unconscious cat. "You, lynx, get up.", he commanded.

"Ungh, give me a minute.", the lynx responded, still kneeling as if in prayer. The horse obliged him, and spent the couple seconds of respite dragging the cat and lion closer to the lynx.

"Both of you, up.", Folg ordered. They obeyed, although with an urgency counter-proportional to their pains. "One of you pick up the fucking cat.", he barked at them. This time the lynx obeyed, lifting the limp feline over his shoulder. "Alright. Now go.", he said.

***

It took longer then expected, and he had to spend enough time processing them to go over his shift's end. It particularly took some time waiting for the cat to wake up and confirm the name the other two had given for her. He couldn't just take their word for it. Then again, her word wasn't worth much either, but such was the procedure.

"Frigid bureaucracy.", he grumbled, handing in the forms to his desk-bound caprine colleague, a female sheep named Nillith.

"Why so cranky?", the bored looking ewe asked.

"Took me two hours just to gather their names. This is why I usually try to handle things differently.", he said.

"Would go by faster if you weren't this illiterate.", she said, looking over the writing, full of spelling errors. "Not one sentence right... oh, there's... no, that's also wrong.", she said, looking over it.

"That's another reason I prefer to just use my fists. Don't have to listen to your prattling.", he added, looking annoyed.

"Rather than act insulted, you could practice your writing.", she said.

"Don't have the time. I ain't melded to a desk all day.", he countered.

"Didn't have time to learn as a kid either, apparently.", she said. He merely looked at her scornfully. "Oh, alright, alright. I know. Farmer's kid. Not clergy-born 'like some people'. I've heard it already. Just wish we had smarter troops to counter the reputation.", she said, trying to sound apologetic in a half-hearted manner. "And your off-the-record work doesn't help our statistics.", she added.

"Gets the job done, though, doesn't it?", he said.

"I guess. Hard to judge the results without anything to report.", she said.

"Would you rather I get it done like Roviden, or like-", he said, but she was already more than dismayed at the prospect.

"Oh, gods no. Covering up for that psychotic blood-thirsty cunt is even bigger trouble.", she said. "Just don't tell her I said that, alright?", she added, looking concerned. He smirked. "Just wish you could bring in more catches like this. Helps us maintain funding.", she explained, although both of them knew the funding was a joke compared to their needs.

"Yeah, yeah. It's just a bother, is all.", he said, and turned to go out.

"Off somewhere specific?", she asked.

"Yeah, gonna pay a visit to the West Wall Brothel.", he said. She sighed.

"There's that reputation again.", she murmured. He smirked again and left. "Wait, West Wall?... huh.", she said to herself, then shrugged and returned to looking over the paper-work, the recent discovery giving her something to mull over.

***

He entered the establishment with a bounce to his step, the sounds of love-making and plain rough fucking alike filling his ears. Moving through the more public main corridor, he glanced into the open rooms, getting a couple peeks at the less bashful pairs and groups going at it to stir his imagination and something more. He slowed his step at a few sights of debauchery, wanting to get a good look at some scenes that particularly made the blood rush to his loins, when a sight stopped him in his tracks a couple seconds after he'd seen it.

"Oh, gods under.", he whispered to himself and looked back into the room he'd just glanced over. There she was, scar on the lower lip, a stolen earring blatantly pinned to her right ear. The rat he'd been told about, sat there in the nude and talking to some working girl with drinks in hand. He wondered for a moment whether to try and find a quick fuck before returning to business. The thought of just ignoring her didn't even cross his mind. He decided pleasure would have to wait. Her state of undress and apparent stupor suggested she was done and might be leaving soon.

He made his way out of the building. Not wanting to cause a scene in his favourite brothel meant having to wait outside. He hoped it wouldn't take long, both for his and the rat's sake.

***

It'd been at least an hour he'd been waiting. Either the rat went for more or plainly fell asleep. Either way, he'd been standing out in the chilly evening for too long now, and with each passing minute, his ire grew. Sometimes being a guard seemed like a shit profession. Not that great pay, long hours, paper-work, having to constantly watch your back, in this city of all places. On the other hand, he did get to live in the city and beat up on considerably weaker scum. Didn't even need weapons to do that, most of the time. As a mercenary, on the other hand, he would be-

His train of thought was broken as he noticed the rat finally leaving. About time. Dressed in cloth and studded leather that couldn't proclaim any louder she was a rogue. She took a cursory glance of her surrounding, then turned the other way, trying to pretend she hadn't noticed the guard standing two steps away. Something Folgren had grown accustomed to when dealing with people like her.

"You.", he called out, now moving towards the rat. She froze in place, clearly considering whether to flee or try and talk it out. She slowly turned to face the approaching horse, a nervous smile there to greet him. Somehow it annoyed him even more and pushed him past his brink.

"Wha-", was all she managed to speak out before he kicked her full force between the legs, sending her flying off her feet and onto her chest. "AGH!", she squealed out, rolling onto her side. "What the fuck?!", she eventually managed to gasp out.

"You're under arrest, thief.", the horse announced simply and shoved her head into the hard cobblestone pavement. She went limp in an instant. Folgren straightened out with a sigh. "Now I've gotta drag this little shit to the station.", he murmured with dissatisfaction, somewhat regretting his loss of temper. He leaned forward and pulled her up under his arm. A small crowd had gathered around the event. Some unpleasant looking types between them. "City militia business, get back to your own.", he called out and went his way. The crowd quickly dispersed with some grumbles of mild outrage.

"Militia brutality.", he heard one of them say.

***

Folg came to off-load the unconscious rat into the same group cell he'd previously put the cats in. He was rather surprised to find them looking somewhat more beaten up than previously, their fur in a disarray he wasn't responsible for. He could only guess they had a disagreement with the bovines he'd seen there earlier.

"What happened to you?", he asked, looking over the cats. They seemed reluctant to answer. The female cat just spat to the side. Folgren shrugged and let the rat drop onto the floor in front of them. They seemed somewhat interested in the new addition, although that was now beyond his concern. He closed the cell and turned to leave.

***

"You again? Wasn't your shift over?", Nillith asked as she noticed him picking through the forms to find the right ones.

"Yeah, but I ran into a thief.", Folgren said.

"I see. Normally don't bring petty thieves here, do you?", the ewe noticed.

"No. A merchant I know wanted her caught. Looked like she spent some of her haul already, though, so I couldn't just confiscate it. And I guess she'll be helping your statistics, eh?", he said.

"Heh. Guess so.", she said with a smile. "Let me help you with that.", she said, rising from her chair.

"Uh, thanks.", he said, watching her pick out a form and begin to fill it out herself. "You're normally not this helpful.", he noticed.

"Oh, just thought I'd repay the after-hour boost in arrests. It helps when I don't have to falsify reports to up the statistics.", she said with a guilty smile.

"Oh. Alright. Don't suppose you could help out like this more?", he asked hopefully.

"Eh, maybe. I would if you could provide some incentive.", she suggested, dropping a final signature on the form.

"What do you have in mind?", he asked, somewhat disappointed nothing could ever be free.

"Well... what were you looking for at the West Wall?", she asked. He was somewhat taken aback by this.

"Uh. Someone to fuck, of course.", he said.

"Male or female?", she asked with a lewd smile. He considered whether to answer truthfully. "No discount on the paper-work if it's female.", she added, giving him incentive to give a straight answer.

"Male.", he admitted with some annoyance. "How'd you guess?", he asked, feeling he'd been outwitted somehow.

"Well, West Wall is pretty far off where you live, and even farther from the post. And unless you're the exhibitionist type, there isn't much special to find there. Other than the men.", she said. "And I'm guessing that's where you found the rat?", she asked.

"Yes. Although I don't think it was men she was looking for.", he said.

"Pft. Poor luck on her part, then.", she chuckled.

"Poor luck on my part. I just wanted some ass.", Folgren countered. She barely stifled laughter. "So that's it? Wanted my confession?", he asked, sounding impatient. "And how exactly did you know what the West Wall's known for?", he added, realizing it wasn't exactly common knowledge.

"Oh. Well, I guess you caught me. I like to watch.", she said with a guilty smile and a blush. "Which brings me to how you could pay me back for doing your paper-work. I always wanted to watch someone I knew go at it with another guy.", she said.

"Oh. Oh no.", he stammered, backing off.

"Oh, come on. It's just watching.", she assured.

"Couldn't you just take money instead?", he suggested.

"I could, but my time costs a pretty penny. And I prefer the alternative.", she said. "So how about it? Let's say, once a week you take me to watch and you get more time to go have fun.", she suggested.

"Once a month.", he countered.

"Oh no, I'm not haggling on this.", she said with a toothy grin. She knew he wanted her services, and this was the only way that was happening.

"I don't even go that often. It ain't cheap, you know.", he countered.

"Every other week, then. Final offer.", she suggested.

"Fuck's sake. Alright.", he sighed.

"Hah. Didn't even have to blackmail you or anything.", she said, pleased with herself. "Maybe I'll use that for something else...", she teased.

"Oh, fuck you.", he grumbled, clearly pissed.

"Joking, joking.", she assured. "So when can I expect my payment for the week?", she asked.

"When does your shift even end?", he asked.

"I can take a break in a couple minutes. Think you're up for a performance?", she asked.

He rolled his eyes. "May as well be today.", he murmured. This was turning into one troublesome day. He just hoped the other guards wouldn't find out about this.

***

"So, we have an audience today?", the slender yet muscular white ram asked. Tovin was his name, Folgren had learned during his many visits.

He wasn't the only one he'd visited, but his body was the most to his tastes. A model athlete, with a gentle, unblemished face and an impressive set of low-hanging balls at that. He was currently wearing a robe of loose silk, covering the parts most desired, all the while leaving large portions of flesh uncovered to tease at the prospects of full undress. Prospects that would soon come to be.

"Wasn't my idea. But yeah.", Folg said, still in semi-disbelief he was doing this. The ewe had seated herself comfortably in one of the armchairs seemingly placed there for shows like this. There were three others like it around the room, although in less immediately obvious positions.

"Don't mind me. Just pretend I'm not here.", she said with a smirk, even as she slowly unbuttoned her vest.

Folgren gritted his teeth, standing in front of the bed. That would not be easy.

"I see you're not too thrilled about this.", Tovin whispered in his ear. Folgren nodded. "Just focus on me.", the ram whispered, starting to undo the straps of Folg's chain tunic. He allowed the ram to continue, enjoying the sensations of the ram's hands brushing against his chest and shoulders as they slowly disrobed him. Soon, he stood bare-chested, and the ram moved on to his lower parts, undoing the belt and pulling the pants down.

Folgren couldn't help but spare a momentary glance towards the ewe, but quickly turned away when he found she'd managed to undress completely already. He closed his eyes and returned to focusing on the ram's efforts, just as his leggings slid down along with his loincloth, prompting him to step out of his fallen attire.

"A bit like this.", the ram instructed, rotating him a bit to the side. Folg then realized the ram had turned them to show the ewe something more than just his backside. It annoyed the horse somewhat, but he endured. Not only was it in Tovin's showy nature, but Nillith had paid to spectate, so it was part of his job. "Eyes down here.", Tov instructed as he noticed the equine's eyes drifting towards their not so desired voyeur.

Folgren sighed gently and closed his eyes instead, trying his best to focus on the ram. He didn't have to wait long, as the sheep began to rub his hands along the horse's sides, slowly moving downwards, past the hips, down the thighs, over the shins and to his hooves, bringing himself down to his knees. He then proceeded to move upwards, this time running his hands along the insides of the horse's legs, slowing to a painful crawl as he neared the groin, then only just barely brushed against the sides of his sac, heading over his pubic tuft and then abdomen instead.

He was already semi-hard, and en route to a full erection, when Tovin lowered his head towards the horse's dick. He stopped a mere inch from the glans, placing one hand on the horse's ass, and one on the front of his thigh, and then began to sniff at the equine's slowly stiffening member, moving along its length and then down to his balls, eventually pressing his nose into Folgren's dangly pouch. It was one of the horse's kinks. 'Scent play', as the ram had defined it for him before. Folgren wasn't particularly thrilled about showing this side of himself to his colleague, but at least he wasn't on the submissive side of things. This time.

With the equine now hard, Tovin let loose his tongue, lapping at Folg's impressive testicles, making them jiggle and sway, and allowing the tip of his cock to accrue a droplet of pre. The horse's breathing became heavy as the ram then began to suckle on his gonads, switching between the left and right with mild suction, his tongue occasionally nudging their underside. He then engulfed the pair in his maw, bathing them in saliva and sporadically giving them a pull. Folg could spend all day like this, and on a few occasions he had, but for today he couldn't, as he didn't have much of the day left. And he imagined Nillith wouldn't particularly appreciate just that as payment.

The ram had finally allowed the horse's testicles to slip from his mouth. "Feel ready yet?", he asked, looking up from behind the equine's erection. Folgren nodded, prompting the ram to rise up, brushing the equine's perky stiffy with his hand. He then turned around and slid onto the bed on all fours, his legs wide apart. Folgren poured some of the slippery liquid their bedside table had been supplied with in his hand and slid it along the tip of his prick, then climbed onto the bed over the awaiting ram. Using his arm to guide his member, he slid the glans into the other male with relative ease, his rear quite well-adjusted to this sort of intrusion. He took a moment to savour the feeling of the ram's insides around his cock, then began to slowly inch his way in, gyrating his hips back and forth, his balls swinging in rhythm.

With a light slap of their two pairs of gonads, he finally managed to bury his entire length in the submissive ram. Pausing for a moment, he leaned in and breathed heavily into the sheep's neck, sending mild chills down the caprine's spine. He then began to steadily speed up, moving in and out of the slender sheep with steadily rising intensity, their balls slapping together hard with each thrust. He straightened out and grabbed at the ram's small nub of a tail, using it as a handle to aid his efforts. Within a minute more of intense, raw fucking, Folgren tensed up as he felt his climax rising. He collapsed onto the ram's back, gripping him hard as waves of intensely pleasurable release shook his entire body while his similarly tense rod spurted out the former contents of his testicles into the sheep's depths.

As the last of his orgasm died down in mild quakes and twitches, he slowly pulled his still hard member out of the ram, collapsing onto his side by the ram. Tovin gave the horse a pinch on the cheek and lied down on his side next to the equine, gently running his fingers over Folgren's steadily softening genitals. "Wasn't so bad, was it?", Tovin asked. This only reminded Folgren of the third party in the room, however.

"I suppose not.", Folg murmured, still preferring they had been alone to begin with.

***

Folgren closed the door to the guard station behind him, cursing under his breath as he came to report in for duty. He'd lost a rather important article of clothing last night, and while he didn't expect to miss it the very same day, a replacement would cost a fair amount. On the other hand, he did have a decent idea as to whom might have taken it, although that person wasn't likely to even show up before noon. Couldn't she have stolen something less useful? Like his weapon?

"Morning, Folg.", called one of the guards stationed around a card table, a brown wolf named Mikis.

"Morning.", he answered and went up to the small group. "Hard at work, I see.", he added, looking over the other two, a dog and a bull, the names of which ever escaped him. All of them wore the same uniform as the day they'd joined up - hardened leather helm and padded cloth with leather boots and gloves for armour - nothing changed nor fixed, likely because it didn't see much use. Folgren, on the other hand, had to pay dearly for the work he'd put into making himself capable of handling the day to day business of patrolling the streets without risking too much injury. Which made him all the more cross that one vital fragment of his self-purchased gear got stolen by someone who'd neither find use for it nor cared much to maintain their own equipment. Not to mention how their wages were all the same.

"Yeah, well, someone's gotta be here to keep the prisoners in place.", the wolf said, the other two looking considerably less thrilled to be berated over their work ethic in the morning. "Speaking of which, those cats you caught yesterday gave us a lead on one of the bovine higher-ups, so we're letting them off today.", he added.

"Was it one of the two we let go yesterday?", Folg asked in mild disbelief. He would get a migraine every day if he got any more enthused by such revelations at this point.

"Nah, this time it's actually kind of solid. But them's the rules.", the wolf said, chuckling.

"Gods under.", Folgren cursed at the reminder. The wolf was right. Those were the rules, and they were inane.

The rules of this city sometimes made him want to take matters into his own hands. More than he already did anyway. Somewhat like Roviden and Pahton did. He didn't like that level of violence, however. Bruising and breaking bones he was fine with, but killing and dismemberment he didn't have the stomach for. Still, sometimes it felt like guards like him and Roviden were the only thing keeping criminals from feeling untouchable. Otherwise they could find a hundred contrivances and technicalities that'd let them off within a day of being jailed. Only the very dumbest of them didn't. But even then their sentences were relatively lenient compared to what some of the Northern cities did.

There was one, quite recently instituted rule that kept their crime rates down despite the otherwise absurdly light punishments. Recidivists caught being the leaders of groups of others could be banished from the city, but only after they were caught three times doing so. It was still overly lenient by Folgren's reckoning, but it was immensely satisfying once it did happen, primarily due to the "parting gift" they'd receive from some of the guardsmen, Folg included.

Still, the next time that'd happen was a ways off, to Folgren's knowledge at least. The felines' top cat kept out of trouble and had never gotten caught yet. The bovines' boss wasn't as good at keeping himself out of sight, but he had only one warning to his name. Rodents', avians' and canines' bosses they didn't even know the names of yet. The closest they'd recently gotten was with minor lieutenants, and those tended not to stick around after the second warning. In a way it felt as though organized crime was being kept low, but the reality, he feared, was that they were simply finding ways around their already overly lenient rules.

"Couldn't we at least make it a rule they can only rat out their own?", Folg asked, already knowing the answer.

"You know how that goes. The commander asked and lord Cilis wouldn't have it.", the wolf said with a half-hearted smile.

Folgren sighed and moved towards the holding cells. Thinking too much about the way of things in this city gave him a headache. Yet still he stuck around. It'd be a blatant lie if he claimed he didn't enjoy the opportunities this city gave him.

***

"So I hear you have a lead for me. Let's have it.", Folgren said, looking into the holding cell. Only now did he get a look at the scene within, and it raised his brow somewhat. The rat from yesterday was sat huddled in the corner, her clothes in visible disarray, scratch marks visible underneath her fur. He didn't really need to guess what'd happened. But he didn't particularly care either.

"Yeah, we do.", the lion among them said, rising from the floor and approaching the horse at the bars. "A black bull, called Hibbrin. Right hand man of the bovine boss.", the lion explained.

"What about him? I need something wrong he did.", Folg asked impatiently.

"Wasn't aware that's a prerequisite for useful information. I just told you who he is and his rank.", the lion said, looking proud and confident. Folgren rolled his eyes.

"Yes, you could get out with just that. And I could make sure you get caught two more times within a week. And you do know what that means, right?", Folg asked. The lion looked a lot less cocky now.

"Alright, alright. He runs a vindication service for some shady lenders. Rather brutal results. They operate out of the bovine quarter at the souther-most point of the wall.", the lion explained.

"That's better.", Folg said and began to leave, given new purpose for the day.

***

Walking towards the Southern quarter, Folgren began to notice more and more of its kind of denizens. It was the preferred dwelling for the hoofed and heavy portion of the city's population, and where Folgren himself lived.

Walking past the many stalls, he casually slipped his hand down his pants to readjust his parts for comfort when he realized something that'd somehow escaped his mind, making him feel incredibly stupid. He was still missing a codpiece. "Gods under.", he cussed at himself. Trying to get through a normal day without a codpiece was one thing. Going after a bull who uses his fists for a living put images in his head he'd rather do without. As unlikely as it was he'd actually get hit there, it was a possibility he'd rather not test, and one that was enough to make him turn tail. Especially considering an encounter with a bovine's hoof was what'd inspired him to buy a codpiece in the first place.

He froze in place for a while, considering what to do, then decided it was time to pay a visit to a certain sheep. Thankfully enough, she did live in the Southern quarter as well.

A short walk and some asking for directions later, he found himself before the relatively quaint two-storey house. He knocked on the door. Then again. Then yet again. He went out in front of it and began to look at the windows, hoping to find signs of life. Then began to circle its perimeter.

"Damn.", he cussed to himself. Apparently she wasn't there. Or she was hiding from him. Either way, he was going to be down one codpiece for a while yet. He knew he should've gotten a spare long before, but his other expenses always seemed to take priority. Particularly the brothel. He didn't expect the reason behind his need of a spare to be robbery either.

He gave the windows one last survey before wandering off into the streets in resignation. The bovine bruisers would have to wait for another day.

***

He spent the next couple hours trying to find something to do. He asked around any merchants he came across, but the day seemed calm thus far. With a tired sigh, he made his way back to the station, stopping along the way to grab some cheap pastries to fill his stomach.

The three card players were still there, looking almost bored enough to actually do something. It only seemed that way to someone with an actual work ethic, however.

"Nillith here?", Folg asked.

"Hm? Nah.", Mikis said.

"Huh? Where is she?", Folg asked on.

"Dunno. Normally she's here by noon.", the wolf said.

"Gods under.", Folg cussed.

"What do you need her for?", the wolf asked.

"She has something of mine. And now she's vanished into thin air.", Folgren complained. "Even been around to her place. No one there either.", Folg added.

"Huh. Guess we've got an investigation on our hands.", the wolf chuckled, followed by snickers from his two companions.

"Fuck's sake. Where do I find the commander?", Folg asked, growing increasingly annoyed.

"He was here like an hour ago. Probably off strolling around the central quarter with his entourage.", the wolf said.

"Well, thanks for that.", Folg said and went back out.

"Any time!", Mikis said and went back to his cards. "Ig... we're playing 5-card. You've got 6.", the wolf said to the bull, who merely shrugged in response.

***

This day was making him increasingly frustrated. He now had to trudge through the streets of the central quarter, also known as the amber. Filled to the brim with nobles, clergy and better-off merchants, all of them constantly trying to elevate themselves above the rest, whether by the sheen of their clothes, the weight of their purses or the morals they supposedly exhibit. Folgren knew all too well not everyone living it big was like that, but this city seemed to gather up all the worst and expel any of the decent ones quite effectively. After all, with a law system that above all favoured the sly and powerful, it was no difficult task to be rid of more honest and naïve rivalry. Thankfully they seemed to remain contained within the central quarter, finding the outside either unworthy of their attention or too dangerous for people carrying wealth.

Another matter entirely was his own being in the amber quarter. As much as the locals knew not to mess with guardsmen for fear of earning a few bruises or losing some teeth, guards like Folgren had to watch their step as well, as a word from the wrong noble in the wrong ear could cause him a world of trouble. His superior had little to fear in the matter, as he had a number of nobles who would vouch for him, the high lord of the city included, usually in return for not so legal favours he had rendered them in the past. Folg had little desire to play along that way, however, and couldn't hope to find support should some better bred individual choose to look at him funny, so he usually avoided the amber quarter. Now, however, he was annoyed enough with his loss to go through, hoping to manage the hour or so without incident.

It took him a while to find the commander, but he wasn't exactly hard to find, his two personal guards, a pair of rabbit girls who doubled as his whores, making him easy to make out in the crowded plaza.

"Commander Tith!", Folgren called out as he approached. The handsome young buck turned to face him, his mid-length hair glistening in the sunlight. Were he potentially interested in men and not so openly rotten, Folg would've swooned over him in an instant. Perhaps even if he was just into men.

"Yes, guardsman?", the stag glanced at him with mild sense of curiosity. Didn't even remember Folgren's name, quite likely. "Not at your usual area today?", he asked. That he did remember.

"I'm looking for Nillith, commander. She's absent and I haven't been able to find her. Was hoping you might know where she is.", Folg explained.

"My, aren't you the tattle-tale.", Tith said with a mild smile. "Afraid I don't know.", he added before the horse could protest. "What do you need her for?", he asked.

"Uh, she has something of mine.", Folg muttered, fearing a follow-up question. Admitting she had somehow gotten a hold of his codpiece would lead to undesired implications.

"Oh? And what is that?", the stag asked, looking mildly intrigued. "On second thought, let's leave it for now.", he said with a toothy smile, apparently in response to the troubled look on Folg's face. "It's fortuitous you've approached, as I have a task that needs doing. And I think it's quite fitting if you do it.", he began to explain. Folgren wasn't sure he liked the sound of it. "That rat girl you caught yesterday. Turns out she's wanted by a rich merchant called Diffold, from the city of Nul Reugin. You know where that is? Two days on foot the West?", he asked, seemingly hoping for a glimmer of understanding from one he considered thick in the head.

"Yes, commander.", Folgren said.

"I need you to deliver her there. Very much alive, of course. Although I've heard you're quite reliable at keeping criminals alive, so I'm guessing that won't require repeating.", the buck said.

"Yes, sir.", Folgren confirmed.

"Very well, then. You have your orders.", Tith concluded. Folgren saluted, beating his right fist to his chest, and made his way towards the station.

"Piss.", Folgren cussed. He was seeking a way out of his predicament and he'd seemingly gotten himself into another, which only lengthened his current one. The best he could hope for was that Nillith would now be at the station, but that felt unlikely.

***

"Alright, rat, you're going out.", Folgren said, holding a pair of heavy cuffs in hand. The cats were now gone and she'd been sleeping when he came in.

"Don't suppose you'd care if I said you're not my type?", she asked, groggily rising off the pile of thin fabrics they called a bed.

Folg rolled his eyes. "You're not exactly my type either.", he countered as he pulled the cell door open.

"Ah, damn. You're the one that put me here.", she said, apprehensively moving towards the much taller horse.

"Yeah. Sorry it got so rough. Didn't want to risk you running off.", Folg said as he slapped the shackles on her wrists from the front.

"You don't sound sorry.", she said, looking over the cuffs, seemingly already considering how to pull them off.

"You're right. I was rather upset I encountered you in my favourite brothel.", he said, pulling her by the arm and then pushing towards the exit.

"Could've just ignored me if that's the case.", she said.

"I have a sense of duty. And I hate thieves. No telling when I'd get another chance to catch you.", he said as they moved through to the 'card room'.

"Taking your lady for a date, Folg?", the bull called out, barely able to sound excited, probably after six hours of cards.

"Try not to get too bored with the cells empty. You might actually have to go out and do something.", Folg said.

"Gotta stay and guard the place in case someone brings a prisoner.", the wolf interjected.

"Of course.", Folg said in resignation, expecting no less.

They went out of the station and into the slowly quietening streets, the city's denizens slowly making their way to their homes after a hard day's work. Or a discrete enough robbery. To Folgren it was seemingly just starting. The rat stopped in place and took a long breath, finally free of the wretched stench of bodily fluids in the cells. Her exhale was cut short, however, as Folg impatiently shoved her onwards.

"Move.", Folgren commanded.

"Prick.", she muttered, walking ahead. "So, where we going?", she asked, trying to avoid getting violently rerouted again.

"Some merchant in another city. Apparently wants something with you.", he explained, sounding disinterested.

"Huh... what's your name, anyway?", she asked.

"What do you care?", he asked back.

"Well, if we're gonna be travelling a road to another city, may as well have something to call the other. I guess I could just call you horse? Guard? Prick?", she said, getting a light slap on the head following the last one.

"Folgren.", he said dryly, as if admitting defeat.

"Kithlen.", she said, smiling mildly. "So what city is it we're going to?", Kithlen asked.

"Nul Reugin. Off to the West.", he said. She didn't answer, yet her expression gave the impression of fearful understanding.

"I see.", she said, seemingly lost in thought for a moment. "So since we're going to be on the road for a while yet, what's your story? How'd you get here and become a guard?", she asked, looking towards the horse.

"Hm? Oh, alright. Well, I was born in a farm outside of Vollagrath.", he began, gazing into the distance, slipping into memory. "Big family, rather well-UNGH!", he continued, only to be abruptly snapped back into reality by a length of heavy chain making hard contact with his groin. He doubled over in shock, his hands flailing to find the sudden offender. He caught the chain with one hand, then switched to a two-handed grip, pulling the rat in by her shackles. He was pissed, and she saw murder in his eyes as he rapidly pulled her in. In desperation, she leapt up and harshly planted both her heels in the furious equine's uncovered soft spot. With a silent shriek, his grip loosened, letting the rodent drop onto her butt on the hard, stone pavement. She had little time to hiss at the sudden influx of pain, as she had to scramble out of the way of the horse now dropping to his knees. Folg yet tried to grab at the fleeing rodent, but she narrowly managed to evade his grip, quickly breaking into a run as fast as her feet could manage.

"Cunt!", Folgren cussed after her. He had little desire to run after her with the pain radiating from his groin, fearing the motion would incite further unpleasant sensations. He remained as he was for a second, then, despite his immediate desires, slowly lifted himself back to his hooves. He was in agony, but much more than pain he hated looking weak, especially in public. Another thing he hated at the moment was the rat that'd caused him this pain and humiliation. He strode off after her, his purpose to finish his task, if only to get the opportunity to repay her, with fist and hoof.

***

An hour of seemingly hopeless wandering and asking passers by if they'd seen a chained rat running through, he heard the tell-tale sign he was hoping for. Hammering, metal against metal, in a district that wasn't exactly known for its industry, especially at this time of day.

Swiftly following his ears, he found the thief in a small clearing where nature yet took root. Struggling to use a tool in hand against the chains attached to her wrists over a boulder, she ineptly struck at the unrelenting steel with a hammer she'd likely stolen from somewhere nearby. Luckily for Folgren, her back was turned towards the horse's route of approach. He took a step with each hammer strike, masking the sounds of his advance, until he was upon her, watching from overhead as she raised the hammer to strike at the chain once more. In an instant he plunged her head-first into the rock below, her impact somewhat cushioned by the chain.

"Thvwuck!", she gasped out, shocked and terrified, she turned and attempted to swat at him with the hammer, but he caught her arm, pulling it aside and kneeing her in the left breast. She hissed in pain, yet continued to resist, trying to grab at the horse's balls. While she failed to properly target his sac through his pants, the resulting friction to his member wasn't much more pleasant. He pulled her other hand away and stomped at her groin. She reacted more violently than he'd expected, trying to roll into a ball in an instant. He let go of her arms, allowing her to do just that. In a way it'd spared her a loss of consciousness, and Folgren a need to carry her.

"Had enough?", he asked, readjusting his genitals after the sudden intrusion to his person and looking curiously at the curled up female rat. She merely groaned out in agony. "I'll take that as a yes.", he noted and leaned in to pick up and throw the hammer further away from them, then sat down on the rock she'd recently made contact with. "Whenever you're ready.", he said, now looking bored. He dreaded what the rest of the journey would look like if she tried this while still in the city.

"Fucking prick.", she cussed, rolling onto her back, her legs spread as though ready to give birth.

"Wouldn't have happened had you not assaulted me.", he said, raising a brow. Were she not a wreck at that moment, she'd likely be testing his temper.

"How'd a sadistic prick like you end up a guard?", she asked, slowly rising to a sitting position.

"Not falling for that one again.", he said, suspecting another attempt at distracting him to leave his guard open. He got up, pulling her by the back of her pants along with him.

"Ow! Careful!", she protested, grabbing at her crotch, only to get yet another shove.

"Go. We've lost enough time for today.", he said. She was walking quite crookedly, he noted. "You gonna be walking like that the entire way? Didn't hit you that hard.", he asked impatiently.

"Hit me pretty hard yesterday.", she said, sounding angry. "Even gave me a fat lip that ain't healed up yet.", she muttered.

"Really? Don't see it on you.", he noted with genuine curiosity.

"Not a lip you'd see.", she said bitterly.

"Huh...? Oh. Huh. Didn't think that could happen.", he said, his brow raised as high as it could.

"Neither did I until yesterday.", she said, trudging along.

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, we're getting a steed. This'd take forever on foot. And we've yet to gather supplies.", he noted.

"I guess that beats walking.", she admitted.

***

"Not quite what I'd expected.", she said, her voice rhythmically vibrating with the bounce in the steed's gait. It was a Palian softstep, a hoofed, brown and white quadruped of stag-like proportions and a pair of horns protruding from its head to the sides that worked well as attachment points for the reins.

"I imagine you'd be hurting a lot more sitting like this. I'm not in paradise either.", he said. He was sitting on the saddle while she was hung over it, her abdomen and chest pressing into it, making breathing somewhat difficult.

"So. How did you become a guard?", she asked, the question beginning to sound like a bad joke to Folgren.

"How did you become such a cunt?", he asked back, not really interested in divulging his life story any more.

"A month's worth of vagrancy does that sometimes.", she said. "I merely respond to the world in kind.", she added.

"If you say so. Personally I prefer to de-escalate situations.", he said.

"Can't say it seems that way to me.", she said.

"Well, you have caught me in worse tempers.", he admitted. "But I have dealt with people who wanted to kill me, with much lesser force compared to what they used.", he said, as if trying to make up excuses for himself.

"Lucky me.", she said dryly. Folg rolled his eyes, deciding to save his breath. "We're stopping somewhere for the night, right?", she asked, sounding hopeful.

"Yes. Gonna be dark soon.", he said.

"A nice roadside inn?", she suggested.

"Don't think we'll be able to reach one today.", he said. "Might've made it had you not stalled us.", he added.

"Neh. Camping on dirt still's better than a jail cell.", she said.

***

They stopped for the night a hundred or so metres off the main road. Their fire would've been visible to anyone moving along the road, but they were hardly trying to keep a low profile. Folgren poured a helping of soup from the small pot over their fire into two small cups, handing one to the rat.

"Thanks.", she said, eagerly taking the cup of thick liquid in hand, carefully testing its heat with her lips.

"Hungry, I see.", Folgren noted, patiently waiting for his ration to cool.

"Starved. Fucking cats took my food.", she said, before taking a sip, only to hiss as it burned her tongue.

"Sorry about that. I'm guessing the three sloths didn't do anything?", he asked.

"Hm? Oh, I didn't tell. I ain't a snitch.", she said, sounding proud of herself. Folgren sighed.

"You're kind of dumb, aren't you?", Folg asked. She merely frowned, her muzzle buried in her mug. "I hate to make this more common knowledge than it already is, but everyone snitches in Cal Crag. That's how you get out the next day.", he said.

"Eh? How does that make sense?", she asked in between sips.

"Law of Cal Crag says any felon sharing information with authorities on another felon is to be released within a day, barring special cases like murderer. Why do you think it gets called the city of thieves?", he asked.

"You're kidding.", she said, looking on in honest disbelief.

"How long have you been here? Are you illiterate?", he asked on in similar disbelief.

"A week. Thought it was what it was because the militia were lazy.", she said. "Didn't think to read any rules. Those ain't for rule-breakers.", she said, sounding very sure of herself.

"Oh gods, you're an idiot.", Folg said, breaking into a laugh.

"Hey, screw you.", she said, sounding insulted, only to take a deep glug from her mug. "At least I don't serve a rotten dung-born 'noble'.", she said.

"And how's the independent life worked out for you so far?", Folgren asked, still grinning from ear to ear. "Besides, it's that dung-born noble that keeps the laws what they are, and keeps criminals like you off the gallows.", he said.

"Kept off the gallows well enough in other places.", she said.

"Still got some lashes, it seems.", he countered, gesturing to his lip.

"Suppose it is better in your city. But it wasn't exactly pleasant in that cell. Not with the cats. And the wolf afterwards.", she said, a distaste in her voice apparent.

"Mik? Huh. Well, you seemed to take it pretty well.", he said, finally taking a long gulp from his cup.

"Sorta got used to it.", she said dryly.

"Here, have the rest. I like to stay lean anyway.", he said, handing her his mug. She took it in hand with a look of mild uncertainty.

"Uh, thanks.", she said, quickly abandoning all inhibitions and beginning to chug it down. "Is it normal for you guys to turn over prisoners to other cities?", she asked.

"No. Usually the prisoners get to walk out on their own before anyone realizes they were there. I was wondering what makes you so special.", he said.

"I have somewhat of an idea what it might be.", she said, taking a sip from her mug.

"And what is that?", he asked with mild curiosity.

"Wouldn't you like to know.", she said, a cocky grin growing on her face. Folgren simply tilted his head.

"Not that I really care.", he said.

***

Back on the road the next day, they travelled long with little to pass the time. Kithlen couldn't stop complaining they'd passed the half-way inn where they could've grabbed something tastier to eat, but to compensate she'd been allowed to ride the steed side-saddle, although she was steadily finding it to be rather uncomfortable with the injuries of recent days still daunting her.

"So why a guard?", she asked. He looked back at her questioningly.

"I keep expecting you to pull something after you say that now.", he said.

"Can't blame a girl for wanting freedom.", she snickered. "Not still mad about that, are you?", she asked.

"No. I've suffered worse.", he assured. Although most such injuries hadn't occurred in the last 2 years.

"Guess I should've hit harder, then.", she snickered, he glanced back humourlessly. "Kidding, of course.", she added, fearing his ire. "So you're a farm boy, eh?", she asked.

"Oh, so you were listening?", he asked in turn, somewhat absent-mindedly, as he was now more interested in the plated figure rapidly and noisily approaching towards them on a steed of his own.

"A little. Wasn't my intent, but I'm a good listener.", she said.

"Well, you'll have to satisfy yourself with what you've heard.", he said.

"Thought you said you weren't mad any more.", she said.

"Not about the injury.", he corrected, just as the galloping knight came to a stop in front of them.

"Halt!", the knight called out, his voice reverberating heavily in the metal helm. He pulled the front of his helm open to reveal what looked like a raccoon.

"What do you want?", Folgren called out plainly.

"You're no guard.", the raccoon called out, his regular voice considerably less intimidating.

"Pardon?", Folg asked with a surprised frown.

"The crest on your chest. That's of Cal Crag.", the raccoon continued. "No guards there.", he proclaimed, raising the brows of everyone else involved.

"That... is somewhat insulting.", Folg noted. "I'm afraid you're mistaken. We do indee-", he began, only to have the knight become heated.

"Enough! I will not be mislead! Release your captive at once!", the raccoon shrieked angrily.

Folgren looked back at the rat. She seemed just as puzzled as he was, but said nothing to correct the errant knight. "Afraid I can't do that. She's bound for Nul-", he began to explain, only to be interrupted once more.

"Then face me in armed combat!", the knight demanded, getting off his reptilian beast and pulling a two-handed sword from the side of his saddle. His height was now quite visibly unimpressive.

"Do I have to?", Folg asked, tilting his head.

"Face me in combat or face away a coward, my blade will find its mark either way!", he bellowed, trying his best to sound dramatic, it seemed. Folg sighed.

"Scum of the world are nothing compared to the righteous.", Folg grumbled to himself as he got off his saddle.

"Ready your weapon!", the raccoon demanded.

"I already have.", Folgren responded, holding up his hands. He did have an iron club, but he rarely used it. And as tricky as a sword made things, he would try to handle things without resorting to potentially lethal weaponry. At least for now.

"You think this a joke?", the raccoon asked, pacing back and forth, even as the horse approached lazily.

"Don't know what drove you to these conclusions, but I think I can beat them out of you.", Folg said, holding up his plated fists.

"Then so be it!", the short knight proclaimed as he closed his helm, then leapt at the horse with a sidewards sweep. Folg darted back out of the way, deciding he'd wait for a clumsier attack, only to get his wish with an overhead swing the raccoon planted in the soil below.

Folgren quickly side-stepped towards him, grabbing the raccoon's hands and kneeing him between the legs. He was in for a rather unpleasant surprise, however, as his knee rocked back with the feeling of just having encountered something equally hard. A codpiece. The padding on his knee thankfully still kept him the more unharmed of the two, but it was not something he wanted to repeat, mostly in fear for his equipment.

Despite the stunned surprise of the raccoon, he was quick to fight back, headbutting the horse in the nose, bringing tears to Folg's eyes. He tried to break distance between them to use his sword again, but the equine wouldn't allow it. The short knight then used a tactic seemingly not very knightly, and kneed Folgren between the legs much like he'd been moments earlier.

At that moment Folgren did something he wasn't very proud of. "Nyegh!", he neighed in shock and pain, his legs bucking underneath, but he still refused to let go. The raccoon tugged hard against his grip, but Folgren simply followed, leading to them tangling and tumbling together to the floor. Folg was somewhat thankful he no longer had to remain on his hoofs, and even found himself in a seemingly advantageous position for one his size, even as he really just wanted to collapse and straddle his agonizingly hurting balls.

They began to roll on the floor, the sword discarded in favour of two free grasps. Folg found purchase underneath the short knight's helm and managed to yank it off. He was about to use it as a bludgeon, when the little rodent grabbed him by the crotch and squeezed hard. Feeling as though he was crushing his intestines, Folg punched him in the face once, then again, blood leaking out the raccoon's nostrils.

He then noticed something else of interest during their little grapple - the raccoon's armour was unusually loose around the belt. Sparing no time, Folg's hand darted down the rodent's pants, barely squeezing in but managing to grab his codpiece regardless. The raccoon panicked, but his moves were much too uncoordinated to do anything to protect himself as Folgren displaced the piece of protective wear and delivered a hard knee to the raccoon's now not as shielded testicles. He shrieked and convulsed as though struck by lightning, abandoning all attempts at fighting back in favour of folding around his aching soft spot. The equine guard used the opportunity to land a quick and decisive strike to the side of the raccoon's head, knocking him out near instantly.

Upon verifying that the knight was indeed no longer conscious, Folgren stumbled back and onto his butt, now cupping his own heavily hurting groin. Shortly after, he descended onto his back, taking the time to breathe deep.

"Wow. Well done.", he heard the rat comment.

"You still here?", Folgren asked, lifting his head mildly.

"Yeah. Last I tried running away I couldn't even get these off.", she said, flashing her shackled wrists.

"Fair enough. Though I think you could've gotten away this time.", he said, turning his sights back at the mildly cloudy sky.

"Guess I'm tired of running." she said. Folg wasn't sure what to make of that. "That looked painful.", she commented.

"It was. And still is.", he groaned, slowly rising back to a sitting position, then moving over the raccoon. He pulled off his right gauntlet and began to undo the unconscious raccoon's belt.

"Woah. Hey. Didn't think you were into guys.", she laughed, looking as he reached down the raccoon's pants, grabbing at something quite firmly. "Oh shit, you really are.", she said, her laughter only intensifying.

"Just retrieving something.", he assured, pulling out the rodent's codpiece. He looked at it closely, then threw it aside, twisting his mouth in dissatisfaction. "Too small.", he murmured, then absent mindedly reached in again.

"Why'd you put your hand there again, then?", she asked with a mild smirk. He paused for a second, dumbfounded as to why he'd done that with someone watching. There was no explaining that. Not without sounding stupid.

"To cop a feel.", he said, shaking his head in dissatisfaction.

"Gonna fuck him now?", she asked, looking on with mild curiosity.

"Uh. No.", he said, pulling his hand out and getting up.

"Oh, don't mind me. I can wait.", she said.

"I don't do the rape stuff.", he said, pulling his gauntlet back on.

"Really? Or just ashamed to admit it?", she goaded.

"Don't care all that much what you think.", he said.

"And yet you didn't want to admit the dick-handling stuff.", she said, her smile refusing to wane.

"I don't do people I fight. Nor prisoners.", he assured, getting up on the saddle. "No telling where they've been nor what I'd catch.", he said.

"Fuck's sake, the one guard too picky to fuck a prisoner and he prefers men.", she laughed.

"You're one to talk. Found you in a brothel.", he said.

"One with men.", she said. "Had a good time with a pretty white ram before you came in.", she added.

"Oh, gods under, we shared a whore.", he grumbled in realization.

"Pffha!", she chortled. "Well, you shared, I got there first.", she said, trying her best to stifle full laughter. "So much for knowing where they've been.", she said.

"Ugh. At the very least brothel whores keep clean.", he said, giving their steed a nudge to get going.

"Woah, not getting anything off him?", she asked, looking back at the raccoon knight.

"No. I only confiscate things off of criminals. This one's just an idiot.", he said.

"Or you're trying to show him what an upstanding guardsman you are.", she suggested.

"What do I care?", he asked.

"You keep saying you don't, but your actions... they speak differently.", she said. He shrugged. "Well, besides the whole grabbing at his manly parts, that is.", she added with another burst of laughter, to which Folgren rolled his eyes. They travelled on a bit in relative silence till the errant knight became a speck in their sight.

"So why a brothel?", he asked. "I'd think you could get some through normal means in a tavern or something.", he suggested.

"Have you seen the types that frequent taverns for a fuck? Not exactly prime cuts. Wouldn't even let me finish. And I'm apparently not good enough for the richer or handsomer types. The types that marry wouldn't go for a travelling thief either.", she said. "That wolf guard I wouldn't even mind were I not beat up back then.", she added.

"Huh. I'll be sure to tell him that.", he said, somewhat insincerely. "You also have a thing for public performances, don't you?", he noticed, remembering she'd chosen a public showroom of the brothel.

"Guilty.", she said with a sly smile. "I do like to show off.", she said.

***

"So this is Nul Reugin these days.", Folgren said, looking over the not so impressive wall.

"Not to your liking?", Kithlen asked.

"City's a city. Just prefer mine.", he said, directing their steed off to the side.

"Uh, where we going?", she asked, confused they weren't going through the main gate.

"Rules. Need to read up before I enter.", he said, pointing to the series of silver plaques decorating the walls on the side.

"Oh, gods under. Let's just go.", she said, stirring impatiently.

"You seem in a hurry to get there. Know something about who it is we're seeing?", he asked.

"You'll find out soon enough. Consider it a surprise.", she said.

"Then I'm in no hurry.", he said in deadpan tone, then began to look over the silver plaques. "Not the most readable text.", he noted, trying to make out the letters.

"Reads fine to me.", she said, looking where he was looking. "Are you some kind of illiterate?", she asked. He decided not to answer, focusing on the laws and regulations of the settlement instead. "Typical farm boy.", she said with a sigh.

Two hours had passed by the time he'd read through all of it. They then finally went through, handing a toll to the nearby gate keeper.

"Huh. city of thieves.", the short rat guard noted, leaning on his pike as he squinted at the horse's sigil. "Rice cake stabbers.", he snickered at the symbol. "What brings you here?", he asked.

"Prisoner delivery. To some noble called Diff... Difflon?", the horse said uncertainly.

"Diffold. You can find him going up the steps to the high quarter. Will be the white-painted estate with the two spires on either side.", the rat instructed. Folgren nodded and got them on their way. "Nice to see you back, Kith.", the rat called after them with a chuckle.

Folgren gave the rat girl a disappointed stare. "Home town, I see.", he noted.

"Or maybe a place I've lived in longer.", she said.

"Why the whole mystery? I'm gonna find out in less than an hour anyway.", he said.

"Where would be the tension in that?", she said. He sighed.

"I'm kind of guessing where this is headed.", he said.

"You sure? Why not take a few guesses.", she suggested.

"Hm. No. I'd rather keep it to myself.", he said.

"Then you'll just go 'I knew it' without anyone being able to know for sure, huh?", she asked.

"Yes.", he said with his typical disinterest.

***

They stood in a relatively large, spacious hall of the estate they'd finally arrived at. They'd been told to await the lord of the manor, and now just stood there, surrounded by 4 guards seemingly more concerned the horse would steal something rather than the rat. There were some pillowed seats available, but Folgren wasn't sure if it wouldn't be considered impolite for them to sit before the host's arrival, or if a guard such as him was even allowed to sit. These things tended to vary between houses. All the more reason he disliked being around nobles and rich merchants. The clergy at least maintained the same rules from city to city.

Finally, the owner arrived, a grey rat, middle-aged and laden in chain amulets and moderately thick rings and bracelets on both hands. A typical patrician, as far as appearances went.

"Welcome home, Kith.", he said, seemingly ignoring the bored-looking horse.

"Uncle.", Kithlen answered tentatively, apparently expecting a scolding. The rat merchant approached and hugged her close. "Not too mad, I take it?", she asked hopefully.

"Only glad to see you returned.", the gold-laden rat said, then directed his attention towards the shackles on her wrists. "Take these off.", he commanded sternly towards the horse.

Folgren obliged, then returned to looking bored with his arms crossed, trying to think of something more pleasant while the melodrama before him played out. He'd soon be gone and forgotten from their lives, so he did his best not to care.

"Come, sit.", the rat said, pulling his now free niece to a pair of seats. "How was your journey? This brute didn't harm you, did he?", he asked, looking accusingly at Folgren. The equine raised a brow. This was over-zealous, even for someone who'd been to Cal Crag and knew what the guards there were like. Kithlen, on the other hand, briefly gave the horse a mischievous smirk, apparently wanting him to realize what her very words could mean for him at that moment. Folg was all too familiar with the look. It gave him pause, but also made his blood boil.

"No, it was fine.", she assured. Folgren stifled a sigh of relief. The four guards surrounding him were rather small, but they were armed, and more would likely come into the room in case of a scuffle, giving him little chance of defence. His relief quickly gave way to annoyance, however.

"Really? I've heard nothing good of Cal Crag guards.", the older rat said, eyeing the horse with suspicion. "Don't be afraid of him, my dear.", he said, leaning in to say something in confidence. "My guards could apprehend him easily if you so wished.", he said, still not silently enough for the horse not to hear.

"No, no, uncle, it's fine.", she said, smiling mildly. "This one was actually rather upstanding.", she said. To Folg that sounded greatly insincere.

"I see you've scarred.", he noted, touching her lower lip. At this her mood seemed to darken a bit. "Don't give me that look. Had you stayed and let it heal, it wouldn't be visible now. Could still use some ointments to diminish it.", he suggested.

"It's fine.", she said, moving his hand aside.

"I'm still sorry I had to do that, Kith. But theft is theft.", he said. Folg couldn't help but wonder what exactly had happened here. And it annoyed him that he did.

"It's alright.", she assured, although begrudgingly. "I've suffered much worse since.", she added.

"I trust you won't be running off again?", he asked, sounding somewhat less cordial.

"Most likely not.", she said, crossing her arms.

"Honest as ever.", said the middle-aged rat. "Now, then. You must be tired after your journey. How's a bath and dinner sound?", he suggested.

"Sure.", she said, rising to her feet.

Folgren felt all but forgotten at this point. He was about to turn and leave by himself when the merchant seemed to have remembered him.

"You there.", he began, approaching the horse. "My niece speaks relatively well of you. At least compared to her usual opinion of strangers.", he began, lowering his voice enough not to carry after Kith. "This isn't some romantic fling, is it?", he asked. Folg felt somewhat taken aback by this, but he felt that perhaps it wasn't that far fetched an assumption from the rat's perspective.

"No.", Folg answered plainly.

"Well, I still appreciate your conduct. Especially considering where you're from. So here, a little bonus.", he said, handing the horse a small but weighty bag of jingling contents. Folgren was somewhat surprised. It was a first for him.

"Uh. Thanks.", Folgren said, still eyeing the pouch as though expecting venomous spiders to erupt from it.

"I also invite you to stay the night. It's getting dark and your journey will be long.", the rat added. "You may take up bedding in the guest quarters. And maybe take a bath. Once Kith is done, of course.", he added.

Folg felt somewhat stunned by the sudden influx of hospitality, considering how recently he'd been spoken of with distrust. It made him highly suspicious himself. Dumbfounded, he nodded regardless. "Very well. Thank you.", he said, trying to speak in a manner to his host's liking.

"Good.", the merchant rat said with a smile. "Holis here will show you around.", he added, pointing to one of the rodent guards. The squirrel in question seemed somewhat perturbed by the sudden development, but never the less obeyed, gesturing the horse to follow.

***

They'd walked around the estate for what felt like an hour. Folgren got to learn of the pantry, kitchen, dining room, sparring hall, trophy room, 2 offices of different purpose, 4 different bed rooms and whom they did or did not belong to. As they neared the bathing room, however, they encountered Kith, standing near the door, leaning against a wall next to yet another rodent guard.

"I'll take it from here. I want to speak to our guest.", she said at the squirrel. He saluted and turned tail, leaving the area with one less guard. "Come, we'll speak inside.", she said, pushing the door open. The female raccoon guard raised a brow at this, as did Folgren, but other than that, no protests were raised. Folgren entered, allowing Kith to close the door after them, then proceed to move towards the tub in the middle of the room.

"I don't have to remind you you're not my type, right?", he asked, even as she began to pull her clothes off. She gave him a bemused look.

"Neither are you mine.", she assured as her top came off, although Folg wasn't entirely convinced. "Prefer my men not smacking me around prior.", she added as the rest of her garments dropped to the floor. Folg rolled his eyes, although the bruises still clearly visible underneath her fur did help drive the point. "I just wanted to talk. In private.", she said as she stepped into the tub. "Get closer. Don't want our conversation echoing outside.", she said.

He hesitantly obliged, standing at the side of her tub, but facing the other way. "So what is it? Couldn't have told me before we came here?", he asked in a quieter tone.

"Didn't know how my uncle would react. Could've wanted me back just to officially disown me. Didn't even know if it was actually my uncle that wanted me brought here. I can think of a couple persons of import I'd wronged before.", she said thoughtfully. "Would've been troubling to explain all the what ifs.", she concluded, then began to run a wash cloth through her fur.

"Very well. But what of now?", Folg asked.

"Well, uncle's a petty, proud and vengeful rat. I think he's trying to find an excuse to do something to you.", she said.

"What? Why?", Folgren asked, suddenly sounding somewhat distressed.

"It'd be bad for his reputation to allow mistreatment of his family to go unpunished. Also bad if family were in a relationship with someone low-born.", she explained.

"And you have us talk like this?", he asked critically, gesturing over her nude form.

"Only way to keep the guards from hearing. Unless you'd prefer I sneak into your bed room at night.", she suggested.

"At very least there'd be a chance no one would notice. You're a thief.", he said.

"I never said I was a particularly good thief. At least not in that regard.", she said with a guilty smile. "Turn around, it's awkward talking to your back like this.", she said.

"This isn't your exhibitionist tendencies speaking, is it?", he asked, glancing backwards.

"Maybe. But either way I'd rather we talk face to face.", she said. He turned around with a sigh and crossed his arms.

"So what am I supposed to do to keep your uncle happy?", Folg asked.

"No mentioning of how I got bruised. Best no mention of how you normally treat criminals either. He'd find it unlikely if you beat on others and magically spared me.", she said.

"I'm not dumb. Well, not that dumb.", Folg said. "Why exactly do you care what happens to me, though?", he asked.

"I... don't know. Guess I've taken enough of a liking to you to not want to see him doing to you what he did to Littic.", she said, thinking back to something troubling.

"Who's Littic?", Folg asked.

"A servant. Squirrel. Used to work for my uncle. Me and him had a relationship.", she explained.

"And what did your uncle do?", the horse asked.

"Well, this part you might not want to know.", she suggested.

"May as well.", he said.

"How does being made a gelding sound to you?", she asked. Folgren was somewhat taken aback by the implication. "Uncle had Littic put in a stockade. Naked. Then made me watch as they put a knife to his balls.", she said with a face burdened with resurfaced memories. "Either way, you get the point.", she said, looking more troubled of the two.

For a while they remained in silence, Folgren considering whether to just flee the premises immediately, and Kithlen just sitting there, morose. "Anything else I should take care not to mention?", Folg asked.

"Well, any implication that we might be romantically involved, obviously. If he gets paranoid in that regard I can always say you're a cock handler, but best not leave any reason to doubt that. Best leave out questions concerning the house and family. This has been a noble house for all of one generation, with my uncle making a fortune selling arms during the last couple wars in the North.", she said, considering what else could incite her uncle's ire.

"And what do you intend to do?", he asked, sounding somewhat resigned. He didn't need nor want to care, yet here he was doing something other than leaving immediately.

"I'll be fine. If it comes to it, I can always run away again. But he's more a danger to everyone around me than myself.", she said, a mild smile on her lips at his concern.

"What about the lash marks?", Folg asked.

"Well, that's from when I took to thievery. After Littic. I wanted to damage the family name, and he decided to protect it by showing even his relatives weren't above justice. Or other such shit.", she said. "I won't let it come to that again.", she assured.

"If you say so.", he concluded dryly, keeping whatever objections he might've had to himself, as much as it pained him. "So how do we proceed from here not to arouse suspicion?", he asked, looking towards the door.

"Hand me a towel. I'm done with my bath.", she said. He did as she asked, looking away as she rose from the metallic tub. "If I heard correctly, you're due a bath.", she said, wiping herself down as she stepped out.

"I guess. I'm guessing you're about to awe me with some kind of indoor waterworks.", he said, looking around the room.

"Suppose I will. Though I don't find it all that impressive myself.", she said, even as she turned a valve near the tub that sent its contents slowly flowing down a drain to places unknown. "Can't deny I've missed this, though. It'll take a while to fill and heat up, so take a seat. Get undressed if you want.", she added, her sly smile returned. Folgren rolled his eyes.

"Fine.", Folgren said and began to unstrap his garments. "This would make for a very strange scene were someone to walk in on us, though.", he noted.

"I see nothing strange about it.", she said, eyeing the undressing horse. "Huh. Thought horses came bigger.", she commented with a smirk.

"Oh, fuck off.", Folg barked at her.

"Pft, sorry!", she said, stifling laughter. "Struck a nerve, have I?", she asked. "I mean, it's not bad. Just seen bigger on horses.", she added, giggling at the equine's reaction. Folgren did not look amused.

"I didn't comment on your boyish chest.", he retorted, only to ignite Kith's amusement further.

***

After an embarrassment-laden bath in front of the onlooking rat, Folgren was finally ready for bed. He'd decided to skip supper, not feeling particularly welcome among rich people in such an environment. Also because he didn't want any additional chances of provoking his host to get the wrong ideas about him. Nor did he wish to speak with Kith for the moment either.

The guest room he'd been assigned was rather spacious for what it was supposed to be, and the bed seemed quite soft and luxurious as well. Better than the lumpy, cotton-filled mattress he called a bed back home, anyway. He'd come from the bath rather unclothed, with only his loincloth to cover his modesty. He found it'd be a shame to waste a good cleaning by wearing dirty clothing immediately afterwards, even if he had to put them on the next day anyway. He should've brought a spare set, he thought. At the very least he did have a couple spare loincloths to keep himself feeling relatively fresh.

He slipped off his lone article of clothing and sat down on the bed, taking in how good it felt to finally rest his bones after the arduous journey. A full-length mirror opposite him gave him a decent look of himself. 'Not bad.', he thought, looking over his reflection. While no longer an over-excitable teen, he still enjoyed looking at himself in the nude. He spread his legs and leaned back, getting a better look at his flaccid dick and low-hanging balls, resting on the cushy mattress. It was vain and narcissistic of him, he realized that, yet he couldn't resist, not with a mirror this large and so conveniently placed.

A sense of annoyance came across him as he remembered the rat's remarks on his length. He shouldn't have cared, and it further aggravated him that he let it get to him more than anything else about the spoilt noble girl. True, he was somewhat lacking proportionately to his body size, but he considered it normal for one of his muscle mass. Tovin never complained, for one. Although that was part of his job. Others before him hadn't complained either, although that might've been on account of it having to go down their throats.

His displeasing train of thought was broken when the door suddenly swung open without the courtesy warning of a knock. A single guardsman, a white mouse, walked through. He closed the door behind him.

"What brings you here?", Folgren asked with a mild sense of uncertainty. After Kithlen's tales of the rules governing this house, he felt quite unnerved by the sudden intrusion. Although he figured they'd have sent more than one undersized guard were that the case.

The guard himself seemed somewhat troubled with the situation as well, then began to unstrap parts of his armour, starting from the top. Folgren looked on, mesmerized yet confused by the event. The more paranoid part of his mind told him this was likely a trick or ruse of some sort. But that wasn't the part of his mind currently in control. The mouse was now bare-chested, showing off his not very sizeable but well-toned torso. He didn't stop there either, as he continued to slip off his boots, pants, and finally loincloth, till he was completely naked before the horse.

"Compliments of lord Diffold.", the mouse said, moving towards the horse. Apparently news of his preferences had made way across the dinner table.

"Huh. Well, you're not quite my type, but you'll do.", Folgren said, continuing to pierce the mouse with his gaze. He had quite a sizeable pouch between his legs, quite typically for a rodent. "Please, sit.", he offered, tapping the space on the bed next to him. The mouse obeyed. "So what do they call you?", Folg asked, pulling the mouse in towards himself with one arm and feeling up the musculature of his chest with the other.

"Padliff.", he answered, sounding quite fearful.

"Is this your first time, Pad?", Folg asked, running his hands down the mouse's outer thigh.

"W-with a man yes.", the mouse stammered, shivering and breathing heavily, yet remaining flaccid.

"Not into men, are you?", Folgren asked, pausing in his ministrations.

"It... it doesn't matter.", the mouse assured, looking quite distraught despite his words.

"Why do it, then?", Folgren asked on.

"What lord Diffold orders, I obey. There is no greater honour than to serve a great house. I dare not disappoint.", the mouse proclaimed, suddenly sounding more confident. Folgren sighed.

"Very well.", Folg said, resuming his petting. He would've preferred someone who enjoyed his touch. But he could hardly complain about a free fuck. Didn't feel quite right, but on the other hand, this may as well have been a test to see if Kith wasn't lying. Or maybe that was just Folgren telling himself that. "How do you want it?", he asked, abruptly groping the rodent's flaccid genitals, making him jump.

"Uh. I don't know.", he said meekly.

"I hate to be blunt, but do you prefer my cock in your mouth or in your rump? The rump is gonna hurt more.", Folgren asked.

"M-mouth.", Padliff said, his ears red with shame.

"Alright, then. On your knees.", Folgren said, spreading his legs and directing the mouse to the floor before him.

The mouse obeyed, shivering as he braced himself against the horse's thighs with his hands. He stared at the flaccid cock and balls with a fear in his eyes more appropriate to staring down a wild bull. Slowly he leaned in, the smell of masculine arousal steadily overcoming his nose, his senses and base instincts telling him to flee.

Folgren stared down at the mouse between his legs with a morbid fascination and a certain sense of excitement. He certainly imagined that were he in a similar role, he would be having a similar look on his face. But then he would never allow himself to be put in the same position as this poor sod. Wanting to help him along with his hesitation, Folgren grabbed him behind the ears and slowly guided him downwards, pressing the rodent's nose against his testicles. Pad let his tongue slip out and began to tentatively nudge the heavy orbs with his tongue, the expression on his face still reflecting distress.

Despite the mouse's less than admirable performance, Folgren was slowly getting hard. He redirected Pad's muzzle slightly higher, getting him to lick at the horse's now semi-hard member. It was still a rather slow and time-consuming process to Folg.

"Come on, rodent. Do what you'd want a girl to do to you.", Folg instructed, releasing the mouse's head.

Padliff paused for a moment, hesitantly looking over the now hard length slumped over the horse's right thigh. He seemed to take Folg's advice to heart, as he leaned in and used his hands to direct the equine's prick into his maw, enveloping the head, then trying his best to take in as much as he could. With the rigid member securely in his mouth, he began to knead and tug at the horse's balls with his hands, occasionally moving one over to massage the base of his cock.

Folgren was surprised at how sudden an improvement the mouse had undergone, and leaned back on his arms, taking in the feelings radiating from his loins. The mouse was moving his head faster and faster, his eyes closed as he strove to get his task done with as soon as possible, Folg's grunts and groans making his ears flatten in shame further. Folg looked down on the mouse when he noticed something peculiar. There, underneath his bobbing muzzle, he noticed a small blur of bouncing flesh. A side-leaning look down confirmed his suspicions - he was getting hard.

"Hold on.", Folg said, bracing the little rodent's head.

"Yes?", he said, letting the equine's penis drop out of his maw.

"Come here.", Folgren said, pulling the mouse up by the shoulders till he was lying on the bed. "I've noticed you've gotten excited.", he said, looking at the rodent's member.

"It's... it's not like that.", he said, blushing profusely.

"Hush. I understand. Can still have some enjoyment out of this.", Folg said, lowering his head towards the mouse's nethers. He began to nudge and lick at the rodent's genitals, enjoying his male scent. "Feels good, doesn't it?", he asked.

"I guess.", the mouse admitted, although sounding ashamed of it.

Folgren then decided to position himself slightly differently. He turned himself opposite to the mouse, bringing his groin to the obedient rodent's face. He lowered himself, contorting awkwardly to compensate for their height difference. Pad didn't need further instructions, and pulled the horse's cock into his mouth. Folg began to lick at the mouse's prick, then moved down to the balls. Feeling his orgasm nearing, he began to suckle on Pad's sac, engulfing it in his mouth one by one. The combined sensation of Pad's ministrations and the feeling of the mouse's balls on his tongue finally sent him over the edge.

"Mh!", he gasped into the rodent's scrotum, not wanting to part with it despite the lack of warning it meant. All his lower region muscles tensed up tight, then began to rhythmically pulse around his insides, sending spurt after spurt of milky spunk into the unprepared mouse's maw. Somehow he managed to take it all regardless, quickly gulping everything down. Once the flow of spunk came to a halt, Folg released Pad's balls and pulled his dick away, moving over to get a better look at the rodent's face. The mouse immediately began to gag, his distaste at the other male's seed all too apparent. Folg couldn't help but find it entertaining. Even kind of arousing.

"I hope you don't mind me saying that tasted terrible.", Pad said, his tongue hanging out in revulsion.

"It's an acquired taste.", Folgren said with an evil smile.

Now, however, he rearranged himself to face Pad's cock. He was still hard, maybe even more so than before. He engulfed it in full in a single plunge, the rodent's length not much of a challenge for his equine muzzle. He busied his hands by massaging Padliff's testicles, rolling and stroking them around. It didn't take long for Folg's expert treatment to bring the mouse over the edge, whatever his actual preferences were. Padliff gasped out in pleasure as his orgasm hit, waves of pleasure racking his body, each followed by a spurt of his seed. Folgren took it all in without effort.

With the both of them sated, Folgren brought himself up to the panting rodent's face, putting a hand over his chest. "Did you like it?", Folg asked.

"I. Suppose.", Padliff panted out. "Still. Feel the taste.", he complained. Folgren smiled.

"Want to spend the night?", Folg asked.

"I'm here to serve. What do you want?", Pad asked.

"Stay.", Folg said with a smile.

***

The following morning he'd been invited to breakfast, and this time there was no avoiding it. He was hungry, and to deny them a second time after an invitation could possibly be seen as an affront to the host. Now he sat at a moderately large table with the host, his niece and some aloof-looking, younger male relative Folgren didn't know, yet no one bothered to introduce. The table, whilst large, paled in comparison to the impractical behemoths he'd seen some other nobles employ, even for the very plainest occasion. For all the faults of being a buy-in noble, Folgren could appreciate the rat's pragmatism taking charge over opulence.

Less than pragmatic, however, was their choice of silverware. 3 forks, 2 knives and 3 spoons, and before him lay a cheese salad. The idea of rodents succumbing to stereotypes would've been funny to him were he not in his current situation. Shrugging to himself, he took the mid-sized of 3 forks and began to pick at the salad, trying to gauge if he'd just committed some sort of faux pas, but found no reaction in any of them, despite his choice apparently not being the optimal one. Single-generation noble houses were quickly becoming his favourite, yet still not something he'd willingly revisit.

"So, sir...?", the middle-aged rat began, seeking hints as to his name.

"Folgren. Not a sir.", Folgren said, hoping he wasn't being overly blunt.

"Mister Folgren.", Diffold corrected himself with a smile. "What is your city actually like? I've heard the tales, but I'm curious as to your opinion.", he asked. There was the fault-seeking Kith had warned him of. The look she gave him at the table only confirmed it.

"Oh. Well, some of the rumours are certainly true. Its populace is not a particularly orderly one, mostly on account of its lenient laws.", Folgren said, trying to sound polite and avoid using cuss words in describing the city he loved to hate. He wasn't a particularly good liar, and he felt cold sweat run down his back as his mind raced to come up with believable answers for what were likely going to be inquisitive questions.

"And how does it stay afloat if it is so?", the rat asked curiously.

"Well, the gangs tend to keep their illegal activity down to extortion, and they otherwise engage in their own more lawful trades.", he said. Although it was only half-true. Extortion didn't work without fear, and there wasn't much fear without probable threat of violence. But then the only way to fight violence was with violence, and he didn't exactly feel like heading towards such subjects.

"So these gangs essentially rule your city?", the rat asked in mild disbelief.

"Not exactly. While guards exist, there are other forms of enforcement in place. The lord of the city maintains a personal band of fighters that enforce his will through more absolute means.", Folgren explained. "He maintains hold of the central, most valuable district.", Folgren added. This much was true.

"A gang lord the lord of your city. How do you tolerate this?", Diffold asked, dabbing into his salad.

"He is the lord of the city. I am but a guard.", Folg said plainly.

"Yes, but why not leave? Seek out a place less vile?", Diffold asked on vigorously. At this point Folgren wanted to sarcastically ask if this city would be one such place, but held his tongue.

"Its laws are a double-edged sword. They allow criminal elements greater leniency, but they also give everyone a second chance. And they spare the lash for petty crimes.", he said, trying his best to avoid alluding to what'd happened to his niece. He also forfeited mentioning they allowed him to make money beating on scum and taking what was theirs. And permitted a lenient work ethic, although that wasn't an aspect he was particularly fond of.

"I see. So you have a fondness for it.", the rat noted.

"I do think it's where men like me are needed most. It's easiest to bring some sense of improvement to the worst places.", the horse said.

"The way you describe it, you sound powerless to actually do anything about it.", Diffold said.

"Through diligence even there something can be accomplished.", Folgren said. A blatant lie coming from someone as cynical as himself.

"Commendable. But naïve, I fear.", Diffold said, finishing up the rest of his salad. In that regard they were in agreement. Both Kith and her kinsman had remained silent throughout the morning.

***

He was finally free of that house and the tension within. Not to say it was over quite yet, what with the law of the place apparently being dictated by whatever noble house decided on it, even more so than in Cal Crag, but it felt like the worst of it was over.

"Market's this way.", Kithlen said, leading him down a narrow alleyway. In their tracks followed two guards. Apparently Kithlen wouldn't be left to wander alone for quite a while. "So what do you think of this city?", she asked, wanting to strike up a conversation.

"Cleaner. But also rotten.", Folg said, the latter whispered beyond the hearing of their entourage.

"Elaborate?", Kith asked.

"I can tell some are exempt from the laws. None of the laws I've seen on those walls permit the things you've described.", he said, keeping his voice low.

"I suppose. Still better for the commoners than the city of thieves, though.", she said.

"Until some noble has a bad day.", Folg murmured.

"Guess you won't be sad to go, then.", she noted, as they finally entered the marketplace.

"Not likely, no.", he confirmed. "Blacksmith?", he asked.

"Cheap or good?", Kith asked.

"Middle-ground.", Folg said.

"This way, then. Hig's talented, but still mostly learning.", she explained.

"I'll take my chances, then.", Folgren said.

"What exactly are you looking to get?", Kith asked.

"Codpiece.", he said plainly.

"Inspired by recent events?", she asked with a guilty smile.

"Inspired by a bag of coin.", he corrected. "Normally I never leave home without one, but it got... stolen.", he said, realizing he was admitting something potentially embarrassing.

"Stolen?", Kith asked, intrigued by his hesitation.

"Colleague took it. For some reason unknown to me.", he said, purposefully trying to avoid mentioning the gender of said colleague.

"What a strange thing to steal.", she observed. "Though I suppose you were looking to take one off that knight.", she added with a toothy grin.

"Yes. Though I doubt my codpiece found a good use.", he said.

"Following my little adventure in Cal Crag, I might get something of the sort myself.", she said. "Wonder if they make something of the sort for tits.", she added, looking down over her not so sizeable chest bumps.

"Sure, just buy two codpieces. Would make them look bigger.", he said.

"Very funny.", she said glumly. "There's the blacksmith.", she said, pointing to a young badger, currently sitting in rest, drinking something.

"Well, well, Kithlen.", the badger said once they'd walked up to him. "Hadn't heard you were back in town. Not still thieving, are you?", he asked, eyeing her suspiciously.

"Careful, Hig. My uncle wouldn't want mention of my past going around.", she said with a half-hearted smile.

"I'll take that as a no.", the badger said. "So what brings you here?", he asked.

"Friend here wants a codpiece.", she said, gesturing towards the horse.

"Big guy.", the badger noted, looking over the horse. "Might have something your size lying around.", he said, moving towards the back of his workshop. "Gonna want a measurement?", he asked.

"Yes. Would prefer a good fit.", Folgren conceded.

"Alright. Get back here and out of sight, pants off.", the badger said. "Woah there, Kith. This is a private showing.", he said, noticing her coming with.

"Folg doesn't mind, right?", she said, eyeing the horse with an innocent smile. The look Folgren gave in response, however, dispelled that theory. "Oh, fine.", she said and turned back towards the market.

With the minor disturbance gone, Folgren was finally free to unstrap and let his pants drop below his knees. He pulled his tunic and tabard aside to give the badger a look. It was rare for him to be in this position with another male without sex being involved, and he was hoping the association in his mind wouldn't give him an inappropriately timed erection. Hig leaned in and placed a tape-measurer horizontally against his balls. Then vertically.

"Low-hangers. Gonna take a bigger one indeed.", the badger noted, writing something down on a scribbled-up piece of paper. "As much as I don't like losing business, have you considered thick linen padding instead? Seems to suffice for most. Not as showy either.", he asked.

"Maybe as something underneath the codpiece, but in the last 3 days I've suffered 3 reasons for it to be a codpiece, and 2 out of those 3 times I wasn't wearing one.", he said, pulling his pants back up.

"What happened to your last one, then?", the badger asked mildly curious.

"Stolen. Don't ask.", the horse grumbled. The badger smirked.

"How much surplus do you want?", Hig asked.

"Surplus?", Folg asked.

"Extra space. Make yourself look more impressive. It's what the nobles here do.", the badger said.

"Just enough to fit in some padding. I don't care how it looks.", Folg said, rolling his eyes.

"Well, I think I'll be needing to hammer one out. Rodents here are big, but most ain't that big. 10 in advance, 20 on delivery in 2 hours.", Hig said.

"Very well.", Folgren said, digging out the coin from his pouch. He'd still have 20 to spare afterwards. The unintentional mention of how big he was put him in a better mood as well.

***

"Got 2 hours to spare.", Folgren said, now back in the marketplace alongside Kith.

"What was that about?", Kith asked, looking annoyed.

"What do you mean?", Folg asked in turn.

"Wouldn't let me watch.", she said.

"So? That's generally a normal thing.", Folg said dryly.

"Thought you were more blasé about letting others oogle you.", Kith said, raising a brow.

"Not sure what gave you that impression. And I thought I wasn't your type.", he said, looking over the marketplace for something that might help pass the time.

"You still undressed in front of me.", she noted.

"Well, I couldn't exactly kick you out in your own house. I didn't ask for your company yesterday. Nor the comments.", he said.

"Pf, so that's what this is about!", Kith exclaimed, chortling at the look on the horse's face. "You're still upset about that?", she asked in disbelief.

"Look, you can go home now. I'll find something to do by myself.", Folg said sternly.

"Oh, gods under. A big bad brute that deals with criminals every day and you can't take some words about a small dong?", she asked, to the apparent amusement of their two bodyguards.

He rolled his eyes and began to walk off, hoping she'd take the hint and stay behind. Yet she quickly followed behind.

"Hey, slow down!", she called after him, having trouble keeping up with his pace.

"Why are you even still following?", he asked in annoyance.

"I'll stop with the teasing, just slow down.", she assured, although the refusal for her smile to wane only made Folg's ire grow. He stopped in place and turned around, looking ready to strike someone.

"We've concluded our business, so why not part ways while we're on amicable terms?", he asked, doing his best to maintain his composure.

"This isn't just about hurtful comments, is it?", she asked, no longer smiling and instead surprised at the horse's apparent choler.

"It's part of it. Maybe even the tipping point.", he admitted, slowly calming himself. "But I can hardly discuss more right now.", he said, gesturing towards the two guards with a sidewards glance. "So if you'll excuse me.", he said, then turned and marched off again, this time to no notable sounds of pursuit.

It was hardly the most pleasant goodbye they could've had, but Folgren's tolerance of spoilt nobility was slowly draining away and near an end, especially with the inability to speak his mind freely without fear of some kind of retaliation he'd be powerless to oppose. And whatever the rat girl's impressions of him were, he did not consider them friends. Not after he saw the house she'd left and her reasons for taking up theft. Either way, he would soon be clear of this city, and there was little chance he'd ever again see Kithlen, nor her dung-born noble uncle.

***

He spent the next hour or so wandering from market to market, trying to maintain his bearings in the unfamiliar city. One thing he had to note was that the commoners were certainly more pleasant looking than those of Cal Crag. Almost felt like he didn't have to walk around armed, although the looks he was getting from the occasional noble-looking individual did give him some pause. All in all wandering about merely wore him out, as he wasn't very interested in what the city had to offer, at least as far as he could find. No public baths to at least oogle some of the men, no brothel that'd advertise itself with a male, and no temple to the god-thing of fertility either. More than likely such things would be nestled in the richer parts, and if Cal Crag's central quarter was anything to go by, this one's would likely be much, much worse.

He sat himself on a stone bench in front of a pleasant looking fountain, the wind sweeping a gentle haze of moisture that occasionally cooled the uncovered parts of his face. It likely wasn't good for the metal parts of his armour, but he figured this much would hurt. If he became too damp, he figured he'd just buy some oils. It actually seemed like a decent enough spending idea, especially compared to his usual tendency to spend it all in a brothel.

"Hey, you there.", Folg heard someone call out sternly from his side. Sure enough, as he turned his head, he found trouble heading his way. Three city guards. He tilted his head and awaited what they had to say. "What's a guard from the city of thieves doing here?", the apparent lead among them asked, a rather bulky hare.

"Sitting. Waiting for a blacksmith to hammer out an order.", he said plainly.

"Why here, though?", the hare asked, eyeing the horse with suspicion. Folgren looked around himself.

"The bench? The fountain?", Folg asked, at this point intentionally attempting to annoy the other guard.

"This city.", the hare said briskly.

"Was escorting someone here. Now I'm done and about to leave. Just want my order done.", Folg explained. He figured he may as well try saying the truth. Although he had little hope of being believed. Seemingly nobody ever believed a Cal Crag guard.

"And who's this blacksmith?", the hare continued his interrogation.

"Some badger named Hig.", the horse said.

"And what is it you're getting made?", the hare asked. At this point the horse sighed.

"A none of your business.", Folg said.

"I beg to differ. What is it?", the hare pressed on. Folg shrugged. "You're asking for trouble, you know that?", the lapine asked, trying to sound intimidating.

"How so?", Folgren asked in turn.

"Well, outside of your little den of thieves, people abide by the law. And it just so happens we are the law.", the hare said, gesturing to his compatriots.

"No law in your city says I gotta tell you everything.", Folg said plainly.

"And what would you know of our laws?", the hare countered, an air of arrogance in his voice.

"I can read.", Folg said. "And unless there's some laws you keep in your pants instead of on the walls, I've looked them over very carefully. Slow reader, you see.", he added. The hare looked between his companions with dissatisfaction, to which one shrugged and the other gestured the horse might be right. "You do know your own laws, right?", Folgren asked, raising a brow.

"Fucking lawless Cal Crag vermin.", the hare growled.

"Not a very diplomatic thing to say in a city of mostly rodents.", Folg noted, glancing at the other two guards, who were indeed just that. "And not quite lawless. Just very good at moving around laws.", Folg admitted.

"And yet you continue to serve as guardsman there. Must be tough sitting on your backside all day while the scum rob the innocent.", the hare said, now apparently trying to instigate something.

"Oh, it's certainly nothing compared to wiping the ass of any dung-born noble you come across.", Folg countered. The hare now looked rather enraged. "Look, you're not gonna provoke me into breaking the law, so why not find some local noble house to grovel at.", Folgren added.

"I think we'll stay, and provide escort until you leave the city.", the hare said, somewhat to Folgren's confusion.

"Fine by me.", he said and went back to idly looking into space. "Nice fountain.", he noted, to no amusement from the three guards now standing over him.

***

"These your friends?", Hig asked, seeing the three followers Folgren had gathered.

"Yes.", Folg said with no hint of irony. "Is my order ready?", he asked.

"Sure. Your friends gonna watch you try it on?", he asked, pushing the piece of metal over a table. Folgren shrugged.

"A codpiece?", the hare asked, sounding irritated. "That's what you kept from us?", the hare asked in disbelief.

"Well, I did say it's none of your business.", Folg said as he unstrapped his belt, wanting easier access to his region of interest. He then slid the metal shell in, readjusting a couple times for comfort and making sure there would be no skin pinching. "Seems about right.", he said to the badger, pulling his pants up and moving his legs to make sure it stayed in place right. He pulled his belt tight and gave his crotch a testing knock before deciding he was satisfied with a nod to Hig.

"Alright. I'll have that 20, then.", Hig said, holding his palm out. Folgren dug out the coin and obliged him. "Nice doing business with you.", the badger said.

"Take care.", Folg said and left, the escort still in tail. "Not bored of this yet?", he asked towards the hare.

"Not until I see you leave.", the hare said sternly.

"And what if I return after?", Folg asked.

"Then we'll just have to stand sentry by the gate.", the hare decided, not wanting to give in.

"Gods, you're dumb.", Folg said with a snicker.

"Oi, you don't talk down to guardsmen here.", the hare growled.

"No laws against that. I can talk shit about your city all day long.", Folgren said, a smug smile over his face.

"As if I care what some Cal Crag scum thinks.", the lapine countered.

"Apparently you do.", Folg said with a sigh. This back and forth was getting tiresome.

***

He left the way he'd come, taking his city-issued steed from the stables along the way. As he slowly strode off, he glanced back towards the gate. He looked at it in disbelief and laughed to himself. The hare and his two companions were true to their word. They were just standing there, and would likely remain so for quite a while. Perhaps till night. Or the next day. Whatever their intent, Folgren found their blind conviction greatly entertaining for some reason. It hardly helped the reputation of guardsmen like him in general, but he seldom cared about such things.

As he strode off beyond earshot from the city gates, he noticed something odd near the edge of the road. Someone standing behind one of the roadside trees. He couldn't help but roll his eyes when he realized who it was.

"What are you doing here?", Folgren asked at the rat girl, who was now dressed in not very clean looking rags.

"I wanted to talk to you again, so I ditched my escort.", Kithlen said, looking to see if anyone had followed the horse.

"Running away again?", he asked, looking over the attire that looked as though stolen off a dead beggar.

"No. At least not yet, anyway.", she said. "Just wanted to talk.", she added. With a sigh, Folgren slid off his steed and pulled it aside towards the rat girl.

"So what is it?", he asked.

"I wanted to know why you blew up like that. And you said spoilt nobles, as if meaning me as well.", she said, looking as though she feared the answer.

"That's because I meant you as well.", he said.

"Me? I've lived the life of a thief for 3 months. I've known poverty and hunger. I've been beaten and raped.", she said, looking insulted.

"You chose that life. Of all you could've done to free yourself of your rotten uncle, you chose thievery. Not a trade nor some strenuous profession. Theft.", Folgren said, punctuating his words very deliberately.

"Wouldn't have hit at his reputation if I'd just become a farmer or merchant.", she said, crossing her arms.

"Oh yes, I'm certain damaging your dung-born uncle's reputation makes all the property you've stolen from honest citizens worth it.", Folgren countered. "I've known people who took up theft for actual sensible reasons - hunger, plagues, a family. What you did was nothing more than the whim of a spoilt child.", he added.

"Look, I wasn't thinking very straight. I just wanted to hurt him somehow after what he'd done to Littic. I wanted revenge for him as well.", she said, looking down.

"For three months? And what good did that do for Littic?", Folgren asked accusingly, making the rat girl flinch. "He's still alive from what you've said. Does he know what 'damage' you've been doing to the man who'd wronged him?", Folgren asked on. "Seems to me you wanted revenge for yourself.", he added.

"It's not like that. I didn't know what else to do.", she said.

"You're part of a noble house in a city that worships ones like you. You could've used your position in a number of ways. Instead you ran away like a petulant little girl.", he said.

"I wasn't exactly in a position of anything resembling power after my uncle did what he did.", she said, now getting defensive.

"Still could've done a lot with just money. I imagine your allowance didn't wane much. And if it did you could've stolen directly from your uncle at the very least.", Folgren said.

"Well, you talk a lot about options considering what you do for a living.", she countered.

"I do what I do because I enjoy it, and it's about the best one of my upbringing and thick head could hope for.", he said. "What you did you were neither particularly good at, nor does it seem like you were enjoying yourself.", he added.

"Yes, well, I didn't want to enjoy it.", she said, looking angry yet averting her eyes. Folgren furrowed his brow.

"So that's what it was about? Punishing yourself?", he asked. He took her lack of answer as confirmation. He sighed, trying his best to cool his temper. "Still not a good enough reason to steal from honest people.", he said, although with a somewhat lightened tone.

"I know. And I did end up actually enjoying it.", she said quietly, prompting a moment of awkward silence between them.

"You know...", Folgren broke the silence. "True reason I'm a guard... a guard in Cal Crag, and this I didn't even intend to tell you, but... reason is nobles.", he said.

"Nobles?", she asked, patiently awaiting for Folg to gather his thoughts.

"I never really intended to leave the family farm. Not until I had a farm of my own, at least.", Folgren began. "We raised and tamed solflights. The kinda fast reptilian steeds on two legs, with feathers. Got to serve a number of nobles that wanted one of their own, especially when they didn't have a place to keep it.", he said. "This one lady, equine like us, visited often. Some spoilt councilman's daughter. It was always tense around the high born people. Them fumbling and falling off their saddle could mean you got sent to the stocks. Especially if you laughed.", he reminisced.

"Not all are like that.", Kith said, once again trying to defend herself.

"No. But it hardly mattered when you had to deal with multiple a day, and the clumsy one might've turned out to be a petty cunt.", Folgren said. "Anyway, this one mare. She apparently took a fancy to me.", he said, gauging the rat's reaction. "I know, I know. Me of all people.", he added.

"I said nothing.", Kith insisted with a mild smirk.

"So... me being a cock-handler wasn't a new thing to me back then, so I wasn't exactly eager to entertain her whims. And when I rejected her advances, she took it as an affront. And next time she came around she brought her hot-headed brother.", Folg said.

"Oh.", Kith remarked, seeing where this was going.

"So he demanded to duel me, because apparently I had raped his sister, by her account.", Folgren said, making Kithlen raise a brow. "At that moment I saw a look in her eyes that said everything. That her word held power over me. That her mere whim meant my life.", he said, eyeing the rat. "I did my best to dissuade her brother, but then he drew a blade on me. Some kind of rapier. Thin little thing. He'd managed to cut me a few times and stab me in the side, but miraculously missed anything important. I managed to punch him out and then... well, I strangled him to death.", he said, pausing for a while. "When I realized what I'd done, I considered my life at an end. His sister was just standing there, in disbelief that I'd come out on top while her brother laid dead. The thought that she'd caused all this... and that I could've died over some shit-born noble's sense of insult... it drove me mad. She tried to call for help and claim it was murder. I took her dead brother's sword and ran it through her throat.", he said, his sights peering off into the distance.

"Well... they sound like they deserved it.", Kith said.

"I don't know. It just seems like something that could've been avoided somehow.", Folgren said. "I still dream about that day sometimes.", he added.

"So that's why you're a guardsman?", Kith asked.

"No. Not quite. Wasn't my first instinct to become a guard. It was to fucking run. I half expected to die of my injuries. Then at least my family wouldn't have to deal with too much shit. But since that didn't happen, I just moved from city to city seeking employ.", Folgren said.

"Why not a farm?", Kith asked.

"Thought it'd be the obvious place for them to look.", Folg said. "I know, I know. Wasn't the smartest idea.", he added, seeing Kith furrow her brow. "Anyway, I did find the occasional hauling job for one of my stature, but I still kept moving. Kept feeling as though this was the day some group of guards was gonna come up and take me away, so I never stayed in one place for too long. Until I came to Cal Crag, where it seemed as though the guards wouldn't care until I stole something directly from them.", he said.

"So you favour the idea of second chances because of your own little double murder?", Kithlen asked.

"You could say that. I didn't really care much for being a guard at first. Wasn't actually my first instinct in Cal Crag either. But after I lost a couple wages worth of gold to some muggers holding a knife to my throat or privates, I figured it was the best way to atone for what I'd done - by fighting crime and injustice where it seemed thickest to me. And while I quickly became disillusioned with the impact I could make on the city with the laws in place, I eventually realized I actually like this line of work.", Folg said.

"'Atone', huh? So you feel guilty over those two shits?", Kith asked.

"Not any more, no. But I did. Still wouldn't want to kill anyone.", Folg said.

"That why you don't even use a club?", Kith asked.

"Sometimes I do. But yeah.", Folgren said.

"So... you don't even go by your real name, do you?", Kith asked with a smirk.

"No. My real one's not a name I share with anyone. And this isn't even the story I normally give.", Folg said.

"So why tell me?", she asked.

"Basically a long-winded way of saying there's better ways of coping with guilt.", Folgren said, making the rat furrow her brow.

"There's better ways of getting that across than telling your life story.", Kith said after a moment of stunned pause.

"Oh, fuck you.", Folgren said, and turned towards his saddle.

"Oh, come on.", Kith called after him.

"I thought it'd help you be less of a shit.", Folg barked at her.

"I just don't see how it applies here. I didn't murder anyone.", she said.

"Yes, well, I didn't get anyone mutilated over my own whims.", he said, pulling himself onto his saddle. "The tale had two purposes. For one, you needn't be a shit while punishing yourself. You can be something useful.", Folg said.

"Like 2-metre tall horse guard?", Kith asked.

"Or a whore.", Folg suggested humourlessly.

"Right...", Kith said, not feeling like continuing the argument. "And the other purpose?", she asked, sounding resigned already.

"To perhaps steer you away from being like those nobles.", Folg said.

"I'm not like them at all. Not from the way you described them.", Kith insisted.

"The other day, when I was standing around like a lamp post, looking at your reunion, and your uncle started asking if I'd mistreated you. You gave me the kind of look that reminded me of her. The kind of look she gave me before her brother tried to kill me.", Folg said.

"Oh. Sorry. Just thought it was funny how the tables had turned.", she assured.

"Hilarious.", Folgren remarked dryly. Kith rolled her eyes.

"You take offence to this, yet you're hardly the most empathetic guy yourself.", Kith said.

"Not towards thieves and nobles, no.", Folgren admitted. Although he knew he wasn't very empathetic in general these days.

"How convenient.", Kith said, looking somewhat annoyed.

"So what do you plan now?", Folgren asked, beginning to look impatient.

"I... don't know yet. I need to think this through.", Kithlen said, looking contemplative.

"Well, best of luck with whatever it is you decide on.", Folg said with a shrug.

"Can't expect help from you, eh?", she asked, sounding worried.

"In your city? I'd be the one needing help.", he said and turned the other way, his steed slowly beginning to pick up pace. He heard no farewell after him and gave none himself. Only once he was a long ways out did he glance back to find her going back into the city.

His journey would be troubling, mostly on account of yet another example of severe injustice in the world he had little control over to cloud his thoughts. He was just one big horse that'd taken a few too many knocks to the head in his life. All he could do was try and keep his little corner of the world slightly more orderly, and try not to think about everywhere else.

It frustrated him that he'd learned this much of the troubles surrounding the rat girl's family. It served no purpose to know of this. Not only was the worst of the damage already done, but the party most guilty would never face justice. And the most the horse could do in their city was get himself in trouble with the local guards and nobles, which would hardly help the situation. This was why he never wanted to get involved in things other than enforcing the laws of his own city.

He needed a drink. He hadn't done any serious drinking in over a month, and having to remember his more troubling days made him feel like losing some memories for a while. Additionally, the only time it was safe to do so was outside Cal Crag. The city was a death trap for the inebriated with anything valuable on them, and he wasn't about to go walking through the city without his armour on. The roadside inn he'd seen before would have to do.

***

He woke to the unpleasant feeling of the morning sun beating down on his eyes through a misty window. He rolled over in a hazy stupor, the very creaking of the bed he was on bringing pain to his skull. Not yet feeling ready to tackle the day, he closed his eyes and pulled the covers over his nude body in an effort to return to a state of unconscious, when a sound in the room made his eyes shoot open. It'd been a subtle sound, a far away creaking, accompanied by heavy breathing. A cursory glance around himself revealed it wasn't a bed mate.

Feeling displeased at having to give up sleep for this, he sat up and looked around where he was. It was a typical inn room - cramped, barely decorated, equipped with some rudimentary furnishings and utilities, in this case a chest of drawers and an oil lamp. Yet Folgren still couldn't find the source of the sound that continued to faintly echo through the room. He leaned over to either side of the bed, but found nothing there, yet near the foot of the bed he did indeed notice something - a pair of plated-armoured legs, of someone apparently lying on their back.

He slowly rose to all fours and looked over the foot of the bed, realization hazily seeping into his mind. It was a raccoon. One he'd seen before. Wearing full plate save for his head. With a two-handed sword lying next to him. He knew where he'd seen him and remembered their encounter well, but what was he doing there now? Folgren remained as he was for a while, straining his mind to try and remember what'd lead him and the raccoon to this point. He hardly imagined they'd slept together, particularly considering their current configuration, but he couldn't exactly discount that possibility either. He did remember going into the inn and purchasing a room, before buying two bottles of the strongest brew they had available. The raccoon must've become an element of his night some time after he'd blacked out, as all he could recall was a relatively empty main room.

With a sigh he decided he couldn't just go back to sleep in this situation. A quick search of the room revealed a jug of water near his bed. He took three big gulps before putting it away and donning a loincloth. Before he woke the raccoon, he wanted to be prepared, either to fight or fuck him, whichever it turned out to be.

He wandered out of the room sway-stepped, seeking a way out of the unfamiliar building. He soon learned he was on the second floor. Making his way down to the main room, he found the inn keep, an old female goat, sitting bored behind a counter, at least until he came down.

"Oi, don't prance about half-naked like that.", she called after the horse. Folgren ignored her, at least for now. His headache and urinary needs took precedence.

As he stood out by the edge of the main road and began to shamelessly relieve himself, he struggled to think of how they'd gotten there. He couldn't imagine they'd fucked. It wasn't even the improbability of finding another man-handler through sheer coincidence like this, but rather the fact that their first encounter had been rather violent. Not to mention he'd found the raccoon still in his armour, and he imagined that'd be difficult to have sex in.

He realized his thoughts of sex were rather far fetched, yet of all the possibilities that was the one most on his mind. He needed to return to the city and pay a visit to his favourite brothel. That or give his meat a good tugging in private. Right now, however, he needed to find out how they'd ended up together. Possible they'd somehow just turned into drinking buddies. Or got into a fist fight. Although for either scenario it seemed strange that they'd ended up in the same room.

He came back into the common room and approached the counter.

"You're gonna scare off the other tenants.", the goat complained, still hung up about his attire. It only brought a mild ache to Folgren's head.

"I have some questions about last night.", he began, his voice surprisingly dry and croaky.

"Boozed out, did you?", she asked. "Don't know about last night, though. My husband tends the place then. Now he sleeps.", she said.

"Well, I guess that'll have to wait.", Folgren said, soon after realizing he'd probably find out from the raccoon either way. "Have anything for the after-ache?", he asked.

"Got some numbing salts.", she said, pulling a small bottle from under the table. "Take a whiff.", she said. Folgren pulled the cork off and took a sniff through one nostril. A wave of cooling like a hard draft ran through his nostrils, pulling the sensations of ache away in favour of chills spreading through his head. He wasn't sure what this was, but it was quite potent.

"Strong stuff.", he noted, corking the flask closed again.

"Indeed. Got it off some passing guildmen. Helps get the drunks sober enough to pay up.", she said.

"Don't suppose you'd be willing to sell some?", Folgren asked.

"Not really. Guildmen don't come by here often. No telling when I could get some again.", the goat said, putting the bottle away again. He sighed to himself in resignation.

"Well, thanks anyway.", he said and went back towards his room.

Within he found the raccoon still sleeping as he'd been. He took a quick chug from the jug of water before approaching his guest. Crouching down in front of the raccoon, he gently slapped the armoured male's cheeks. Then more firmly when that didn't work. That was enough to get his eyes to creak open.

"Wh- what is it?", the fallen knight mumbled.

"Morning. Was hoping you could explain some things about last night.", Folgren said.

"Uh. I suppose.", the raccoon said, then closed and rubbed his eyes. "Oh gods, my back.", he murmured, rolling onto his side.

"So how did we end up like this?", Folgren asked.

"In this room? I don't know.", the knight said, rising to a sitting position and looking around.

"I mean together.", Folgren said with some impatience.

"Oh. Well, we started off drinking separately in the inn. Then I walked up to you and we talked.", the raccoon said.

"Huh. What did we talk about?", Folgren asked.

"Blacked out really hard, did you?", the raccoon asked.

"Yes. Don't even remember your name, to be honest.", Folgren admitted.

"Ah well. Name's Sir Kohten of Tok.", the raccoon said, holding out a hand in greeting.

"Folgren. Of Cal Crag, I suppose.", the horse said, his hand meeting the raccoon's. "So what did we even speak of?", Folgren asked, now moving to gather up his clothes from around the room.

"Oh, various matters. Life, honour, justice, love.", Kohten enumerated. Folgren wasn't sure he believed him when he mentioned love. That wasn't a thing he freely discussed with anyone. Then again, he'd been drunk. "I believe I've come to admire your way of life. Never seeking combat, but merely fulfilling a role that welcomed it.", he said.

"That's one way of looking at it.", Folgren said, suspecting he may've explained his motives in half-truths even under the effects of alcohol. "And what got you drinking again?", he asked.

"Shame and failure.", the raccoon said, his mood visible worsening in an instant, before brightening back again just as quickly, albeit with a dim half-drunk look to him. "But I've found new purpose.", he announced.

"Oh?", Folgren grunted, pulling on his trousers.

"I wish to accompany you to Cal Crag. To assist you.", Kohten said, looking determined.

"Huh? And I agreed to this?", Folgren asked, pausing in pulling on his tunic.

"Accept or not, I will follow you regardless.", the raccoon said.

"Alright.", Folgren shrugged, pulling his tunic on before ducking down to pick through his other clothes. "Wait, why do you want to do this? Aren't you a knight?", Folgren asked.

"I am. But I am landless. The title is from my father, and my older brothers had whatever landed titles divided between them. I was granted a sum of money to compensate.", the raccoon explained.

"Didn't really need your life story. I mean as a knight, don't you have better things to do? No lords or ladies that'd want your services?", the horse asked, fumbling with his chain shirt and leggings.

"Not particularly. One of my age and inexperience wouldn't be granted worthwhile pursuits, armour and sword or not.", Kohten said.

"And following a Cal Crag guard is a worthwhile pursuit?", Folgren asked questioningly, wondering just what he had told the raccoon while inebriated.

"At the very least it'll help my combat skills. But truly I wish to help bring justice to the world, and where better to start than a den of thieves?", Kohten asked.

"Perhaps somewhere less dangerous?", Folgren suggested, now gathering up the plated parts of his armour.

"Doesn't sound too bad from what you've described the other day.", Kohten noted.

"I'm not sure what I described, but it's most certainly not peaceful.", Folgren said.

"Not a lot of murder, you said.", Kohten noted.

"True enough. Most prefer to leave injuries rather than kill. Mostly because the lenient laws don't apply to confirmed murderers. Specially if they kill a guard.", Folgren admitted. "And a corpse pays only once.", he noted after a moment of thought. "Still, you can end up with a broken leg if you cross the wrong person.", he added, struggling with the straps of his armour.

"Here, let me.", the raccoon said, moving in to help with the horse's bindings. Folgren let the raccoon do his thing, prompting a moment of silence.

"We haven't fucked, have we?", Folgren asked, the thought having returned to him.

"Huh? Gods, I hope not.", Kohten said, looking somewhat concerned now.

***

As they rode down the road on their steeds, Folgren's mind drifted, every kilometre bringing a new reason to his mind why taking the raccoon knight along was a poor idea.

"Are you truly certain you wish to come along?", Folgren asked, hoping for an answer contrary to Kohten's previous decision.

"I've already said that, haven't I?", the raccoon countered. Folgren sighed.

"Very well. I just don't think it's a particularly good place for one of your... fervour.", Folgren said.

"I can adapt.", Kohten assured. "I realize a place such as Cal Crag works differently, and I'm not about to throw my life away.", he said. Folgren raised a brow.

"Didn't seem that way when you decided to pull a sword on me.", Folgren noted.

"That was hotheaded of me, true.", the raccoon said. "But it seemed a situation clear as day to me.", he explained.

"What if I were not as skilled? Or fumbled and got cut down?", Folgren asked.

"I know. I know. We've been over this. I was desperate to prove myself after a year's worth of nothing but futile search.", Kohten said, looking quite ashamed. "I swear I will consider my actions much more carefully from now on.", he said. "I have no desire to repeat an assault on an innocent.", he added.

"Well, good to know.", Folgren said doubtfully. "Still, you didn't even stop to consider how I didn't take out a weapon?", he asked on.

"Gods under. I know. We've discussed this.", Kohten said. "And it did give me pause. I normally wouldn't have let you get the best of me that way.", he said.

"Oh? Now you make excuses for your failure?", Folgren asked with a smirk.

"Say what you like. It is the truth.", Kohten assured.

"If you say so.", Folgren said, now considering how best to keep the raccoon out of trouble. "There'll have to be some rules if you're going to follow me, however.", he said.

"Very well. I expected as much.", Kohten said.

"Well, first of all, the sword. It remains sheathed.", Folgren said.

"You expect me to defend myself with my fists?", Kohten asked with some concern.

"No. Just to keep your sword in its sheath. You can still swing it around without it being a lethal weapon.", Folgren explained. Kohten didn't seem particularly pleased with this either, but nodded none the less. "Next, never fight a guard. Especially a certain grey female dog with a sword. Or a certain elephant with a voulge. Best just never get into fights with guards.", he said.

"That seems simple enough.", Kohten noted.

"That depends on how you'll react to what they do. And you do seem the type to object to their way of doing things.", Folgren said.

"I'll keep that in mind.", Kohten said.

"Next, read the city laws. It'll keep you out of all sorts of trouble, and help you get out of trouble.", Folgren explained.

"Seems obvious.", Kohten said.

"Criminals abuse the gaps in the rules to get greatly lenient sentencing. I hope you'll do the same if you get into trouble.", Folgren said. Kohten seemed somewhat uneasy at the prospect of doing things like a criminal, but nodded in understanding. "Next, avoid nobles like the plague. Just avoid the rich quarter. They're trouble.", Folgren said.

"That seems in line with what you've said the other day.", Kohten noted.

"Good. Then we're at an understanding.", Folgren said. "One other thing. Where do you intend to stay?", Folgren asked.

"Oh. Well, you did offer to accommodate me yesterday.", Kohten said.

"I did? Huh.", Folgren murmured. Must've been thinking with the wrong head.

***

They reached the city gates by late afternoon, the final few beams of sunlight illuminating the clouds above from beyond the horizon. It looked to be raining soon, hopefully only after they'd found shelter. They put away their steeds at the gate-side stables and went in. Somewhat unusually the gate guard was absent. Folgren would have to bring this up with someone, provided he even remembered by the next day.

"Suppose you'd want something warm to eat, eh?", Folgren asked once they'd gone through the gate.

"I could just finish off my rations if you prefer.", Kohten said.

"Well, I'm going for something in a nearby tavern.", Folgren said.

"I... don't exactly have a choice considering I don't know where you live.", Kohten remarked.

"You don't.", Folgren confirmed with a smirk.

They went into a tavern in the bovine quarter, Folgren's eatery of choice, not by the quality of what they offered, but more so by the vicinity to his home and acceptable prices. Its name was somewhat exceptional among taverns, in that it didn't have a name. All that was written upon its plaque was "tavern". The owner figured no one would come seeking a tavern of this quality in Cal Crag either way, and he didn't feel like thinking up some clever name he'd have to explain to nosy tavern goers. He did end up having to explain the absence of a name, however.

The atmosphere within was somewhat morose. Random people of ill-repute seemed to be eyeing the horse and his companion. It wasn't exactly uncommon, but it seemed rather intense this time around. Folgren figured he must've grown unused to Cal Crag's specific atmosphere during his little trip and shrugged it off. They sat at a corner of the establishment and awaited their host.

"Is it always this cheerful?", Kohten asked, looking around the less than welcoming room, seeing some of the clientele leave.

"Sort of. Not this much, though. I guess there's some people here with resentments towards me.", Folgren said, throwing glances around their surroundings.

"Not going to be trouble right away, is there?", Kohten asked, looking almost eager.

"No, likely not. They know better than to start shit with a guard. All the more against a guard and an armoured knight.", Folgren said.

"What'll it be today, Folg?", a short shrew asked, making the raccoon flinch at how he appeared next to them unnoticed. "And your friend here...?", the shrew added, looking over the raccoon.

"Kohten. Sir Kohten.", the raccoon introduced himself with some uncertainty.

"Yeggri. Just Yeg.", the shrew said, giving a curt insincere bow before the knight. "So what'll it be, gentlemen?", Yeg asked.

"Whatever dinner you've got. Some beer too.", Folgren said.

"Carrot soup and cheese noodles. Sound good?", Yeg asked.

"Good enough.", Folgren said.

"And you?", Yeg asked, directing his attention to the raccoon.

"Same.", Kohten said.

"Right, give me a couple minutes or so.", the shrew said and slinked away, as silently as he'd approached.

"Kind of a suspect character.", Kohten noted once he was sure the shrew had left the room.

"Oh, I know. Former thief. Good one, too.", Folgren said.

"Huh. Is everyone in this city a former something or other?", Kohten asked.

"Of course not. Most are a current something or others.", Folgren joked.

"I'd be willing to believe that.", Kohten said humourlessly.

"You're quick to judge.", Folgren noted.

"Only when it seems clear.", Kohten said and crossed his arms.

"You mean like when you encountered a bandit posing as a Cal Crag guard?", Folgren countered with a malicious smile.

"Alright, alright.", Kohten grumbled, looking off to the side. "I'm usually a good judge of character.", he assured. Folgren merely raised a brow at this, deciding not to mention how the raccoon now considered him some kind of moral authority. It wasn't an argument he felt like pursuing. "So, any lady in your life?", Kohten asked, apparently trying to change the subject.

"Huh? Oh, no. I prefer to seek companionship in a local brothel.", he said plainly.

"That seems a bit... questionable.", Kohten said, quite obviously trying to be diplomatic in the face of less reputable habits he was discovering. He likely would've been somewhat less diplomatic had he learned the horse had taken some liberties with his unconscious body after their first encounter.

"Yeah, well, don't really have the desire to start a family.", Folgren explained, trying to avoid mentioning the main motivation behind that. "And what about you?", he asked, wanting to turn the subject away from himself.

"Nothing concrete yet. Just some suitresses, mostly low-born merchants seeking a title.", Kohten said.

"Nothing non-arranged, then?", Folgren asked.

"No. Haven't met one of my own kind that'd strike my fancy.", Kohten said.

"What about others, then?", Folg asked.

"There have been some, I suppose. But no use investing in a relationship that wouldn't bear fruit.", Kohten said.

"That's... rather pragmatic of you.", Folgren noted.

"If you say so. Just seems appropriate for a man to want a family to carry on the name.", Kohten said.

"Can't say I have much of a family name to care for. All I care about is the present.", Folgren said.

"And you call me the pragmatic.", Kohten smirked. Folgren rolled his eyes.

"Well, you seem the more chivalrous type. I'd imagine you'd be more concerned with finding love or something.", Folgren said.

"That seems a futile pursuit.", Kohten said. "Even to me.", he added after a moment's thought. Just then their shrew host slipped in between them with their order, then slid back out of sight without a word. "That was... somewhat concerning.", Kohten noted in whisper.

"Old habits.", Folgren said with a smirk, pulling in a bowl of soup off the tray. "So how long do you plan on staying here?", Folg asked, somewhat concerned this would become a prolonged state of affairs.

"I honestly don't know yet. I've yet to see the true state of this city.", Kohten said, mirroring the horse's actions. Folgren stifled a sigh. He'd have to grow used to this. And keep the short knight out of trouble. Or find a way to dissuade the raccoon from staying.

***

Folgren sat down on his bed, finally able to truly feel at ease after the rather exhausting journey. And the midway drunken black-out. The bed within the rats' household may've been more comfortable, but the atmosphere surrounding that place made him sleep uneasy. He wasn't exactly at complete ease right now either, however, as the raccoon guest he was having to accommodate didn't so much cause suspicion as hesitation to act naturally. Then again, maybe that was something he would have to do if he was to scare off the errant knight.

He was down to his loincloth, awaiting the raccoon to finish removing his own armour. He didn't have a second bed to loan out to Kohten either, although he assumed the knight came prepared with a sleeping bag to use in lieu of an actual bed. Folgren considered providing bedding in a somewhat different way. He wasn't exactly happy with the idea, not wanting to give hints as to his preferences to one who might spread rumour of his likings onwards, not to mention the idea of molesting someone unwillingly didn't seem all too appealing to him, perhaps in part due to his own recent experiences in such matters. Still, he was quite determined to convince the raccoon to leave, and while it may've been the cheap beer talking, this seemed like a good way to go about it.

The raccoon entered the room, carrying a roll of cloth he likely intended to sleep upon. His slender yet muscular half-naked body gleamed in the candlelight, its contours quite appealing to Folgren's tastes, causing a pleasant stir between his legs. Kohten began to set himself up on the floor at the opposite end of the room when Folgren waved him over.

"Come, we can share a bed.", Folgren said.

"Oh. Uh. That's unnecessary. I can just sleep here.", Kohten stammered, pointing to the roll on the floor.

"I insist.", Folgren said, tapping the bed's surface.

"Isn't it strange to share a bed with another man?", Kohten asked.

"Not if you care for warmth.", Folgren lied. It was strange. Even for him. Although the added warmth in the relative chill of his poorly heated house seemed a decent enough excuse. But that might've been the cheap beer talking again.

"Very well.", the raccoon conceded, now looking rather nervous as he approached the other side of the bed. Folgren was somewhat hoping he'd have fled the city at that point, but the night was still young.

As Kohten slipped under the covers on the opposite side of the bed, Folgren snuffed out the candle and likewise lied down next to the raccoon. At first they just lied there, Folgren facing the ceiling and the raccoon facing away from him. Then the horse turned and moved up to the raccoon, abruptly pressing himself against the small male and putting a hand over his abdomen.

"Wh-! What are you doing?", Kohten asked, flustered.

"Getting close. That's how you get warm.", Folgren assured, even as his hand slid dangerously low along the raccoon's abdomen.

"I... I find this unnecessary. I can get warm on my own.", Kohten assured, his features glowing red even in the dark of night.

"Shush. I know what I'm doing.", Folgren said and hugged the raccoon close. They stayed like that for a while, the raccoon no longer protesting against Folg's odd "customs". Folgren didn't want to proceed any further, but soon realized he didn't have to, as his manhood began to stiffen. Now prodding between the raccoon's legs, it stirred his bedmate's worries once ore.

"I... this... you're-", the raccoon stammered, struggling to properly question the situation.

"Pardon the rod. Just some dirty thoughts.", Folg said.

"I trust you don't intend to put it anywhere we'd both regret?", Kohten asked, his voice quivering.

"What ever gave you that idea?", Folgren asked, feigning surprise.

"Just... not used to being this close with a man. Especially not undressed like this.", Kohten said.

"Worry not. Let's just go to sleep.", Folg said.

"I'll try.", Kohten said, although he hesitated to even close his eyes.

***

Folgren stepped out of the public bath house, feeling refreshed. Kohten was absent, having decided he preferred a less public way of bathing, even if it did cost more and he'd have to find his way back to the horse by himself. Perhaps Folgren's unwanted attentions were at fault there.

He couldn't stop beating himself over the head as to what he was thinking last night. Fatigue and beer were a poor combination apparently, as his plan had been inane, at least in sober retrospect. Now not only did he have to come to terms with the fact that the raccoon was likely not going anywhere soon, but a mere mention to someone of their last night or the "customs" Folgren had made up would likely make his tendencies public knowledge. Although that was assuming Nillith had kept her mouth shut to begin with.

The day was not going great for him. So much so that only by peering off into an empty street did he realize he hadn't seen a single other guard since he'd gotten here. He paused for a moment to ponder if he wasn't seeing things, but the streets seemed barren of normal citizens as well, especially for the early morning hours. Something was not right, he thought.

He turned on the spot and decided to reach the guard station quicker than he'd intended, at a pace more brisk than usual for him. Keeping an eye out for anything else, he did notice some individuals peering out of windows, some looking concerned, others seemingly spying on him.

As he entered one of the wider main streets, he noticed a small group of bulky, hoofed individuals, 2 bulls, a caprine, a horse and a donkey, all sitting or standing casually around the steps of a nearby house. They immediately noticed him, his steps having carried through the echoing streets quite audibly, and waited for him to pass. They then began to move after Folgren. He threw a quick, concerned glance behind himself, before picking up his pace. He had little desire to face off against 5 bulky thugs, not with how off everything seemed.

They were still quickly catching up to him, and they were still a long ways away from the station. He would have to deal with them, one way or another. He reached down for his mace, when suddenly he felt both his arms grabbed and pulled back, followed shortly by his legs getting swept from under him. He never hit the ground however, and instead found himself suspended in the air, held by 4 of the thugs by his arms and ankles. Before he could so much as struggle, one other among them, a black bull, walked up between his legs and briskly grabbed at his groin, then unstrapped Folg's belt and slid a hand down his pants.

"Woah, what are you doing?!", Folgren protested as the bull pulled his codpiece upwards. Folg was now quite terrified, as he felt his testicles slip out from underneath the codpiece, a fact the bull verified with a firm pat at the horse's groin. He did no more than that, however.

"Pole 'im.", the bull said and moved out of the way. As they approached a bronze lantern pole, Folgren quickly realized what they meant by that.

"W-wait!", Folgren stammered out, but they seemed quite deaf to his pleas.

He neighed in shock as they ran him crotch-first into the unyielding pole, the feeling in his entire body turning to sheer pain for a split second, before giving way to a much duller ache that would soon agonizingly grow to unbearable levels for the next minute and stay there for many times that.

They weren't done with him yet, however. As they pulled back a step and then swung him back into the pole, and then again, before they finally released him, letting him drop to the ground. They walked away snickering, leaving him to writhe there in agony, clutching his horribly aching balls. For the next minute he felt like he was about to die, the gut wrenching pain radiating from his rapidly swelling testicles through his entire being. He felt as though he might puke, but managed to keep his breakfast down.

"The fuck was that?", he muttered to himself in disbelief, dragging himself through the cobblestone road towards a wooden bench. As if by mockery of fate, one of the bench's legs gave in, making it collapse as soon as he'd leaned on it. With a sigh, he simply leaned against a nearby wall in resignation. "Gods under. That hurt.", he complained to no one in particular, still holding his crotch. He remained that way another dozen minutes before pushing himself to his legs, still supported by the wall. He pushed the stray codpiece back down over his genitals and tightened his belt. Slowly but surely, he began to resume his journey to the station. He needed answers, and it seemed his best bet for that purpose.

***

Feeling in rather poor spirits after his search, and with an ache still present between his legs, he sat at the table normally occupied by the 3 cards enthusiasts. There was no one at the station. The cells were all vacant, their keys left in their places. The only thing truly looking as though it'd been raided was the armoury, although its stock was hardly worthwhile, making Folgren suspect it'd been the guards that emptied it.

He now considered what to do next, and where everyone could've possibly gone. He was due to meet his raccoon companion in some time here, although he wondered if he would make it there with the situation being what it was. Not only were there roaming bandits about, but he didn't exactly have anyone to ask for directions in the streets either. Folgren considered going out and looking for him, but decided it would be futile in a city this large. Not to mention dangerous even for him. As much as he disliked it, he was now stuck there, having to at least spare an hour or two for the short knight to try and find his way to him. He looked over the stray deck of cards on the table, hoping to mildly entertain himself with their imagery. Female nudes. He put them away.

As the minutes went by painfully slowly, he began to wonder what exactly had transpired in the last couple days of his absence. Some kind of take-over? Didn't seem likely the high lord would allow it. Perhaps the high lord himself had everyone marched off for a war with someone and left the city unattended? That didn't seem likely either, although more so due to how self-serving he was than any kind of common sense. Could be the high lord died and there was a stand-still in the supply of pay. That'd be quite rotten luck considering it meant Folgren's job would be in danger.

Next, he began to ponder their next move. The guards had no other station as such. At most there were the gatehouses, and the one they entered by seemed empty last night. The high lord's less official enforcers did have their own sort of mustering hall in the amber quarter. That'd be a fair place to look, he figured. Although he was reluctant to approach the richer parts at all.

He then heard a knock, echoing through the empty halls of the station. He got up and quickly went for the door. For a second he paused, wondering if it might be someone hostile rather than Kohten, but then figured they wouldn't be knocking if it were. He opened the door, and sure enough, there was the raccoon.

"Thank fuck, get in.", Folgren said, moving aside for the little knight.

"Hm? Is something the matter?", Kohten asked, looking mildly confused.

"Haven't you noticed? The streets are barren and there's no guards anywhere.", Folg said.

"Huh. I assumed this was normal.", Kohten said, looking around with some alarm. "So it's not normal to be accosted by two rams and a bull, is it?", he asked.

"No.", Folgren said, looking over the knight. "Didn't hurt you, did they?", he asked in turn.

"They tried. But I bested them.", Kohten said, looking somewhat pleased with himself.

"Uh? Really?", Folgren said, somewhat surprised the raccoon held his own at 3 to 1 odds.

"Of course. Using a blunt weapon made it harder than usual, but I managed.", Kohten assured.

"Somehow I find that hard to believe.", Folgren remarked, his thoughts echoing what he'd just said.

"Well, that's what happened.", the raccoon said and shrugged. Folgren shook his head.

"Right now we have bigger problems. Like where everyone is.", Folg said.

"So... no backup plan among you for when something happens? No mustering spot?", Kohten asked.

"Not that I know of.", Folgren said. "We can try the gathering place for the high lord's enforcers. Not a pleasant bunch, but they're likely to still be around, and maybe they'll know something.", he said, all the while a stray thought nagged at his mind.

"Alright. That sounds reasonable.", Kohten said.

"But first...", Folgren murmured, having just remembered something. "I need to first have a look at a colleague's place.", he said.

***

He gave the door a brisk pounding, then waited a while before performing his rounds around the building.

"You sure this is the place?", Kohten asked, peering at the windows himself. The curtains within were drawn closed, making much of an inspection quite difficult.

"Yes.", Folgren said dryly, finishing up his circle. "I'm going in there. Open door or not.", he added as he approached the door.

"Uh. You sure?", Kohten asked, eyeing the horse in question. Folgren didn't answer, and instead lunged at the door hoof-first. It withstood the first strike, but a second, more forceful blow sent splinters flying, the lock giving way to the oversized equine.

Folgren stomped inside, ready to search the premises for his stolen property, and maybe find the one who'd stolen it, when he immediately noticed something unexpected. Within stood two rams, one black, the other brown, looking in shock at the sudden intrusion.

"The fuck are you?", the black one asked, just as Kohten entered behind the horse.

"Me? I'm a city guard. Who the fuck are you?", Folgren countered, even as the two now reached down to their belt sides, ready to pull their blades on him.

"We're the fuggin' Kergo-Drung, and you're on our territory.", the brown one said. Folgren recognized 'Kergo-Drung' as the name the bovine gang used, as if it wasn't obvious enough it was them by now. He wasn't sure what it meant, but to his knowledge it had something to do with hoofs and horns.

"Territory?", Folgren asked, hoping they might explain something as to what was happening.

"Lower quarters are ours now. So you'd best turn tail and run like the rest of you before we remind you who rules here.", the black one said.

So that was it? A gang took over most of the city? Folgren found it hard to believe, but everything certainly pointed to it.

"Where's the owner of this place?", Folg asked sternly.

"You're looking at them.", the black ram said, his nose raised in arrogance.

"The ewe. Where is she?", Folg asked again.

"Not here.", the brown ram answered.

"Afraid I don't believe you.", Folg said and began to move towards them. They drew their blades in unison, as did Kohten. Folgren was too far away to intervene before they did. He would have to fight them armed.

"Last chance. Be a good mare and leave.", the black ram said, pointing his sword towards the horse.

With a sigh, Folgren began to move towards the two, when suddenly Kohten ran out in front of him, sword still in scabbard, but wildly swinging around overhead. Before Folg could so much as process what was happening, the two rams were down and unconscious following a hilt-thrust to the black one's face, and a full swing to the brown one's head.

"Uh, good job.", Folgren noted, looking at the aftermath somewhat dumbfounded.

"Was this necessary?", Kohten asked, strapping the sword to his back.

"Well, they were breaking the law.", Folgren noted, now starting to look around. "And this is our one lead right now.", he noted as he opened the door to a room.

"What are we looking for, then?", Kohten asked, now starting to look around as well.

"A captive ewe. Or my old codpiece.", Folg said.

"Codpiece...? Never mind. I'll check upstairs, then.", Kohten said and disappeared up the spiralling creaky stairs.

Folgren spent a while assessing the state of the place. It seemed not too badly disorganized considering it had been taken over by a pair of gang members. Some clothes had been displaced out of the wardrobe and littered the floor, but otherwise everything seemed fairly in order. No sign of his codpiece among the piles of fabric, however.

"Folgren!", he heard the raccoon's muffled calling from upstairs.

Folg darted up upstairs, calling back along the way, "What is it?".

"The ewe.", Kohten said, as the horse now neared him by the door of the room. He looked flustered as though he'd seen something he shouldn't have. A look inside quickly explained it.

"Oh.", Folgren said, looking at the ewe somewhat reluctantly. She was naked and bound to the bed by her hands, currently unconscious but breathing. It didn't take much imagination to realize what'd happened here. "Well, can't leave her here.", he noted and went in. Kohten stayed outside. As Folg undid the bindings on her wrists, she slowly stirred into consciousness.

"Folg?", Nillith asked, as though in disbelief, generally looking quite out of it.

"Yeah.", Folg answered as he finally untied the other binding. "You alright?", he asked.

"I... I guess. Just hurting all over.", Nillith said, rising to a sitting position. "Cold too.", she added, sounding rather shocked. Folgren looked around the piles of linens strewn around the floor and picked out a wool blanket. "Thanks.", she said, pulling the blanket close.

"What happened here? The whole city's almost barren. All the guards are gone and this gang's claiming it belongs to them.", Folgren said.

"I... I don't know. I've been tied down here for days. Didn't exactly get any information from my captors.", she said. "Where have you been?", she asked in turn.

"I got sent off to escort a prisoner to a different city. I come back and it's like this.", Folg said.

"And you came here?", she questioned.

"Guard station's abandoned. And you were missing before I'd left.", Folg said. "Don't suppose you'd know where everyone might be regrouping?", he asked.

"Ugh... let me think.", she said and closed her eyes, trying to think back. "I guess they may've gone to the amber quarter. Enforcer's barracks?", she suggested.

"Well, that was my next stop anyway.", Folgren said. "You coming?", he asked.

"I don't know. I'm not feeling well.", she said, staring ahead blankly.

"Alright. Can't really stay here, though. The two downstairs are eventually gonna come to. And I'm afraid we broke your door.", Folgren explained.

"Ugh, alright. Just give me a couple minutes.", she said.

"Alright.", Folg said as he walked out of the room and closed the door behind him. He found Kohten still waiting by the door.

"Is she going to be alright?", Kohten asked.

"Seems... mostly fine.", Folgren said. "A little stunned maybe.", he noted.

It took her somewhat longer than promised to get dressed, but finally she came out of the room, looking around apprehensively at the unknown raccoon.

"So who's this?", she asked, leaning against the wall.

"Sir Kohten of Tok.", the raccoon said, sounding proud.

"A knight? How'd you two cross?", Nilith asked.

"Oh, bit of a story. I'll tell you along the way.", Folgren said. "Come, then.", he said and moved towards the stairs.

"Hold on.", she said, slowly trudging along, her legs wobbly and shaking after the couple days worth of captivity. Folgren looked at her dolefully.

"Come, I'll carry you.", Folgren suggested, holding his hand out.

"I can walk myself.", Nilith said.

"Not fast enough.", Folgren said and took her by the arm, then hoisted her over his shoulder.

"Oh, piss, alright.", Nilith groaned, not particularly enjoying the shoulder pressing into her abdomen.

They descended the stairs and made their way for the exit.

"Wait, hold on!", Nilith called out.

"What?", Folgren asked, halting in place.

"Let me down. I want to kick 'em in the balls.", she said, staring at the two unconscious rams on the floor.

"No time for that.", Folgren said and resumed his walk.

"Oh, come on. At least me have that.", she whinged. "I think one of them knocked me up.", she added.

"Don't have time to be knocking them out again once they wake from that.", Folgren said. "Their friends could come in here any minute, and I don't want to be facing down a band of bulls with a barely mobile ewe on my shoulder.", he added. In reality he simply didn't feel like prolonging their ordeal.

"Fine.", she conceded, resigning herself to staring down at ground underneath Folgren's flapping cape.

***

They'd arrived at the enforcer's station without much trouble. It seemed it might've gotten a bit hairy when they'd spotted a group or two of rams and horses moving about, but they either didn't notice or didn't care to fight them.

The building now before them was a thing of splendour and beauty compared to their age-old station. Whereas theirs was a structure of simple dark brick and wooden doors, seemingly meant to hold off a siege of rabble, which it had apparently failed to do regardless, the enforcers' station was easier to liken to a cathedral, with decoratively barred glass windows, tall spires with a bell tower atop, and a finely engraved iron door with a visor.

Feeling some sense of mounting frustration, Folgren rammed his fist into the iron door, hollow thuds resonating quite audibly. Within a couple seconds, the visor of the door slid open, behind it a pair of eyes likely belonging to an armoured wolf.

"Who comes on what business?", the wolf asked.

"Folgren, guardsman, trying to find where the other guardsmen went.", Folgren said plainly.

"And who are your two companions?", the wolf asked on, visibly raising a brow.

"This here on my shoulder is Nilith, a guardsman. And the raccoon's a knight that's been following me around.", Folgren said. The wolf stirred around for a second, looking out if there wasn't anyone else in the area.

"Alright. Go on in.", the wolf said and shut the visor. Shortly after the doors slowly creaked open, revealing a group of halberd-wielding enforcers, adorned in their usual dark red and silver, ready to fight off any potential trickery at the hands of a dress-up guardsman.

"Not very trusting, are we?", Folgren asked, looking over their numbers.

"Served us better than whatever you lot do.", the wolf noted.

***

Within they finally found the rest of their numbers gathered around a fireplace. All in all around 30 people in total.

"Oh hey, look who it is!", Mikis, one of the chronic card players, announced as Folgren neared.

"Well, at the very least you're not playing cards again, I see.", Folgren noted, looking over them as he placed Nilth down at a seat by the fire.

"Yeah, we're taking a break to eat.", the bovine card player said, to which Folgren sighed.

"Where's the commander?", Folgren asked.

"Gone.", Mik said.

"What do you mean 'gone'?", Folgren asked in annoyance.

"Left town before this all started. Same as you. Thought you'd gone together, actually.", Mik said.

"What about Roviden?", Folg asked, squinting to try and find the psychotic dog bitch among them.

"Out and about doing her thing.", Mik said, although he threw a shifty look to the side when he did.

"And Paht?", Folgren asked, hoping at least their elephantine asset was still capable.

"Injured. Gang broke his fucking leg.", Mik said.

"Gods under. What now?", Folgren asked.

"Now? We sit and wait till the commander comes back.", Mik said. "Enforcers ain't doing anything cause it ain't their turf, and the mayor doesn't know what to do, it seems.", he added. Folgren sighed heavily.

"What a shit show. How'd this even happen?", Folgren asked.

"Well, they pretty much just raided the station in the dead of night, then the four gatehouses.", Mik said.

"Didn't do much to you during this raid, I see.", Folgren noted.

"I wasn't there. Olkh and Sovin got a black eye and bloody nose each.", he said, pointing towards an otter and cat Folgren didn't really know.

"Well, lucky you.", Folgren said, then looked around the hall. "We need to do something about this.", he said.

"Says who?", Mik asked.

"Says I.", Folgren said. "The districts have all gone to shit. There's no one in the streets besides these gangs.", he said.

"Not your job to lead, and not my job to follow.", Mik said with a smirk.

"If we don't do something, we'll be out of our jobs.", Folgren said.

"Alright.", Mik sighed. "And what do you propose we do?", Mik asked.

"Their head guy. We find and arrest him.", Folgren said.

"We don't know who that is nor where he is.", Mik said with a shrug.

"Fuck's sake.", Folgren cussed, thinking what to do next.

"So nobody know where they've been most active?", Nilith piped in, looking as though she wanted to go to sleep.

"Well, the bovine quarter, obviously.", Mik said.

"Nothing more concrete?", Nilith asked.

"Not really.", Mik said.

"Well, there goes that idea.", Nilith said, resting her cheek on her fist.

"That'll have to do.", Folgren decided, raising some brows. "We'll go into the bovine quarter and go where they're thickest.", he said.

"That's a rather large area.", Mik noted.

"And you'll likely stumble into an ambush.", Nilith said.

"With our numbers I think we'll overcome it.", Folgren said. "And the only alternative would be to sit around here and do nothing.", he added.

"Sitting around doing nothing sounds fine to me.", Mik said.

"Jobs on the line, Mik. Just keep that in mind.", Folgren said. "Help me gather the men in front of the barracks.", he said.

***

It took about an hour, but those capable were finally assembled. Some had gotten too beaten up in the last days to fight, some others refused to follow under Folgren, saying they needed to wait for their commander, and others still were simply utter cowards, obviously shirking away from combat.

"Shouldn't have been guards, then.", Folgren grumbled under his nose, looking over the 20 they'd managed to muster. Still a rather good number. Although he had no idea if it'd be sufficient. Especially considering their rather rag-tag assembly of equipment. Tower shields mixed with bucklers, weapons ranging from maces to fire-pokers and canes.

"You certain of this? We do not even know the odds.", Kohten whispered.

"No, I'm not. But what's the alternative?", Folgren asked.

"Ask for outside help?", Kohten suggested.

"Won't work if it's just some guardsman asking and not the noble in charge.", Folg said. "They'd want something in return, I ain't got anything worthwhile, and the lord mayor wouldn't care much to repay a deal he didn't ask for.", he said.

"Well, I suppose that's that, then.", Kohten said, shrugging his shoulders.

"That it is.", Folgren said, once more looking over the disorganized bunch. "Alright, move out!", he shouted and began to march, the small band of guards not so much marching as meandering clumsily, with the sounds of weapons occasionally falling out of hand before getting hastily picked up again. "Fuck's sake. Gods preserve us.", Folgren cussed under his breath.

***

As they moved through he streets towards the last location of bovine activity Folgren had been informed of, they caught sight of a few smaller gangs that immediately seemed to turn tail and wander off down alleys and smaller streets. A shame they didn't try holding up in a building, Folg thought. Would've been a good morale boost for his troops to bust in and subdue a couple strays before the bigger fight.

The sightings of smaller patrols quickly began to rise in number. They were starting to feel as though they were being watched from out of the windows, although whether it was civilian or gang spectatorship they couldn't be sure.

Just when they thought they were about to get pelted with rocks and pottery off the rooftops and windows, they turned a corner to find an awaiting band of assorted bovines, cervines, equines and caprines, all seemingly waiting for them. Folgren held his arm up to halt his own group, and they did it no less gracefully than they marched, the aft rows blundering into the rows ahead with a series of clatters. Once they got their bearings, however, they did immediately form a line through the narrow street, with 2 rows in reserve.

They stood there for a while, looking at each other, assessing, posturing. There were around 40 of them, and as much as Folgren didn't think much of any gang member individually, a group nearly twice their own number certainly posed a threat, especially considering the state they were in. Folgren stood out in front of his group, making for a rather apparent leader-figure, with Kohten seemingly an obvious right hand man. The gangs didn't seem to make their leader anywhere near as apparent, although Folgren did catch sight of one bull looking particularly cocky amongst his people.

"Who leads here?", Folgren called out, to no reply. "Present yourself or remain a coward.", he goaded, that worked well enough, as the bull he'd been eyeing confirmed his role as lead among them. "Are you the leader of the bovine gangs?", Folgren asked.

"Yes. I am Drogrin.", the bull called back. Now in front of his men, the bull presented himself in full - pale grey in fur, a myriad of black tattoos over his bare right shoulder, clad in merely a vest, pants and boots, a mace strapped to his belt.

"Surrender your arms and you will be spared. Resist and face exile.", Folg called. The one thing their laws didn't tolerate so well was attempting to overthrow the governing liege. And as much it was a stretch to consider this an attempt, there was precedent for it from about 10 years ago when their commander at the time lead the guardsmen against a mercenary company that was trying to become the new peacekeeping force. Right now it was the best deterrent they had, and Folgren doubted even that would work.

Sure enough, the bull spat and pulled the mace from his belt. "You'll be the ones needing sparing. And the Kergo-Drung spare none!", he roared and began to stomp his right hoof against the cobblestone ground. His men began to do likewise, their beat rhythmic and synchronized, creating a deafening tremor.

Folgren took his club in hand and considered how to respond in kind. Best they could do was beat their shields, although Folgren wasn't sure how one would signal this. Not really knowing what he was doing, he raised his club and began to smack it against the side of his left gauntlet, hoping his men would read the invisible shield beating as a sign. Thankfully they did, although with the rhythm and grace of a deaf bard, limiting whatever effect it might've had.

"Oh, fuck this.", Folgren cussed and waved them to follow. Slowly they proceeded down the street towards the eager rabble. A couple among the bovines darted out of the comfort of their band and charged the guards head on. Folgren halted his men and braced against the oncoming ram, his jumping kick grabbed underarm and rewarded with a club between the legs. The caprine hit the floor with a terrified bleat, but didn't get to experience the worst hit to the gonads he'd ever suffered for long, as Folgren smacked him in the back of the head with his hoof, just hard enough to knock him out. "So far so good.", he murmured, looking around to see his troops had dealt with the other chargers without loss.

They began to advance once more, and as they did, so too did the opposite group begin, initially slowly, but quickly gaining pace until they were all in a full run.

"Brace!", Folgren called and prepared to face the full charge. He was somewhat regretting standing at the very front right now, even if it was the one way he saw to maintain morale, but none the less he didn't falter. The last thing he managed to perceive with any kind of clarity was that Drogrin the bull had stayed behind the charge.

The following few minutes became a pandemic whirlwind of flying fists, boots and weapons, whatever dodge or block Folg had narrowly managed to pull off followed by a swing, kick or punch of his own that usually met a target, yet didn't permit a moment to see how damaging it'd been, as one face replaced another just as suddenly. His men had managed to hold ground to his sides, making sure he was never surrounded, yet that seemed to be slowly changing.

As the not so dignified battle raged on, Folgren became more and more entranced in frenzy, every grazing hit causing him pain that merely further fuelled his choler. A wild mace swing had scraped his nose hard, splitting the skin between his nostrils. A dagger thrust had gotten past his chain tunic, but managed only to leave a shallow cut in his side. A kick to the groin shook him less than it would've had he not been wearing a codpiece, but the pain still reminded him of events earlier in the day. This one he repaid by putting a club to the offending deer's knee-cap.

Even though he thought he was putting more and more of them down, the battle only seemed to become more hectic, blows now coming at him from all sides. Only after getting dropped to one knee by a hit to the side of his leg did he briefly glance behind to find his troops were now a couple meters away, fighting their own battle while he'd drifted off within enemy ranks.

He returned his focus to his surroundings, swinging wildly to drive off the encroaching fighters like a swarm of locusts and trying to rise back up, when the bull he'd sought to pursue grabbed his arm. Their eyes met for the briefest of moments, then Folg uppercut Drogrin in the balls with his free hand, much to the bull's shock. It only gave him a momentary sense of satisfaction, as someone soon knocked him on the back of the head.

***

"Folgren! Folgren!", Folg heard from beyond a ringing haze.

"Wh-... wha?", Folgren groggily answered.

"Can you understand me?", he heard again. He opened his eyes and struggled to focus on the greyish figure, a light next to him causing him pain.

"Yes.", Folg said, trying to shield his eyes from a daunting light.

"We won, Folg.", he heard another voice say, this one coming from a somewhat brighter figure.

"Great.", Folgren said, his eyes finally allowing him to see it was Kohten and Mikis talking to him. Only now did he realize he was sat upright against a wall. "My head is splitting.", he complained.

"You did great!", Kohten said. "You pulled the brunt of their forces away from your troops. You're basically a hero.", he added.

"I'm a fucking idiot.", Folgren groaned, closing his eyes. He'd basically almost gotten himself killed fighting a battle he shouldn't have cared so much for.

"That's closer to what I'd call it.", Mik said.

"Come now, the day is won.", Kohten assured. Folgren reopened his eyes to see the raccoon was quite battered himself, his armour dented in multiple places, and a cut over his neck that might've been deadly had it been any deeper.

"What exactly happened?", Folgren asked.

"Well, I got my fucking arm broken.", Mikis began, raising his now bandaged and splinted arm for show. "This lil' guy brought down their lead bull.", he said, pointing at Kohten. "And then Roviden surprised everyone and showed up, sending what was left of them at that point running.", he added. "You've got more balls and luck than brains, that's for sure.", Mik said with a chuckle.

"How's our numbers?", Folg asked, trying to look around.

"Not great. Just about everyone's injured to some extent. Only one casualty, though. Ol' Terth suffered a stroke after getting his leg broken.", Mikis said.

"Shit luck.", Folg said with a somewhat confused frown. Not the kind of death he'd expected to happen in battle.

"Ah, commander of the hour.", Folgren heard Roviden's somewhat low yet still largely feminine voice. "Heard you organized this bunch.", she said, looking down with crossed arms. Now in view, Folg could see her eyes were as pissed looking as ever.

"Apparently. Or at least that's how I remember it after a blow to the head.", Folg said jokingly.

"Didn't think you'd be the leading type.", she said.

"Neither did I. Was hoping someone else would've been. Like you.", Folgren said.

"I tried. Couldn't get 10 men to follow.", Roviden said, sounding somewhat resentful.

"Picked a bad time, I guess?", Folgren shrugged.

"Or they don't like someone who gets their hands bloody.", Roviden said, rubbing her chin. "You up for seeing the send off?", she asked, now that she was on the subject of blood.

"Not sure.", Folg said, looking over himself. He was hurting all over. There was some bits of bandage stuck on his nose, the smell of blood filling his nostrils from within. His legs were hurting particularly badly, likely on account of the strikes he'd taken during the fight, and he ached all over in general. "Can't it wait till tomorrow?", Folgren asked.

"Not really.", Mik piped in. "There's still some stragglers around the city. They might try regrouping and strike back to liberate their boss.", he explained, although at this Roviden made a face that suggested she knew something Mikis did not.

With a long groan, Folgren pushed himself against the wall, slowly rising to a leaning stand. His head was pulsing with pain really badly now, and his left leg ached immensely. He could only hope that most of it he could simply sleep off.

"Think I'm just gonna go to bed. Before I pass out.", Folgren said, swaying mildly from side to side.

"Very well. We'll keep something as a trophy.", Roviden said, an evil grin giving Folgren an idea as to what it might be. She walked off vigorously, looking excited.

"I find it somewhat unnerving how much she enjoys this.", Mikis noted.

"Not every day you get to rid the city of a bandit.", Folgren noted.

"Sure. Sure. Just that most of us don't spill blood with a smile.", Mikis said.

"Suppose not.", Folgren admitted and began to unsteadily limp towards where his home likely was. Kohten quickly leapt in and took him by the shoulder, providing support.

"Well, take care.", Mikis called after him and went about his business.

"I still say you're a hero.", Kohten said as they waddled into the night.

"Oh, shut up.", Folgren snickered.

***

After a couple days worth of rest and treating himself to more expensive baths, Folgren was back on his hoofs, still sporting a nasty gash on his nose and walking with a limp, but moving about none the less. Several days worth of hearing Kohten talk and gossip about royal families, their heraldries, titles and relations made Folg more than happy to ignore the pain in his leg. Not to mention it'd been somewhat awkward since he'd admitted there was no bed-warming custom. Although he still insisted he made it up because he was feeling cold that night.

"I think your companions wouldn't mind if you took some more time off to recuperate.", Kohten said, following after the horse.

"Maybe, but the streets need cleaning.", Folgren said.

"And you're going to do that?", Kohten smirked.

"Yes. Well, maybe. I can't run, so I'm somewhat limited in my capabilities.", Folgren admitted. "But at the very least I can patrol the area and maybe dissuade some thieves regardless.", he added.

"If you say so.", Kohten said.

As they went through the main door of the station and then past the antechamber, when Folg realized something slapped him in the forehead on the way in. The three card players were there, sat at the table as ever, now snickering at the horse. Folgren looked behind himself to find something hanging off the top of the archway - a pair of large, disembodied testicles dangling by the cords off a plaque pinned above the door frame.

"Gods under, is that...?", Folg cussed, looking at the rather macabre trophy.

"Yup, it's Drogrin. Of the great Kergo-Drung.", Mikis chuckled.

"Tell me that's stuffed, at least.", Folg said, looking towards Kohten to find him standing with jaw agape.

"Oh yeah. Roviden took them to the taxidermist.", Mikis assured. "Give 'em a swing whenever you feel like punching something.", he added.

"Won't last long then.", Folgren noted and moved on into the room. "How's things?", he asked.

"Good enough. Most of us are back to where we were. Still have 5 guys bed-ridden, 12 others nursing lesser injuries.", Mikis said.

"I see your arm hasn't kept you in bed.", Folgren noted, looking at the bandaged limb.

"Nah. Can do my job just fine with one hand.", Mik said, waving the set of cards in his other hand around. Folgren sighed.

"Well, at least you were there when it got tough.", Folgren noted. "Any news of Tith?", he asked.

"Supposedly he's coming back tomorrow.", Mik said.

"Oh? Any news where or why he was gone?", Folg asked.

"Nope.", Mik said, now looking more interested in his cards again.

"Brilliant.", Folgren said with no effort of trying to hide his frustration.

"You off on patrol already?", Mik asked, looking as the limping horse readied to leave again.

"Well, someone's got to.", Folg said.

"I don't imagine that'll be you after someone knocks your leg in again.", Mik remarked.

"Maybe. But for now I've got backup.", Folgren said, gesturing towards the armoured raccoon.

"Well, whatever makes you happy.", Mik said with a smirk and returned to looking at his cards.

***

The day went by strangely without incident, and it wasn't due to Folg's lack of trying to find it. Things had become oddly quiet following the big brawl between the guards and the bovine gangs. Anyone Folg had asked on the matter shrugged and said they didn't know but wouldn't complain about the peace times either.

"To think I always imagined this to be a lawless hole.", Kohten remarked, looking bored.

"It's usually a lot worse. I'm not sure what happened.", Folgren said. "It's actually kind of concerning.", he noted.

"Well, no point in worrying. Enjoy the peace while it lasts.", Kohten said.

"Easy for you to say. Last it was this quiet I got poled.", Folg said.

"Poled?", Koht asked, raising a brow.

"Never mind.", Folg said, not wanting to describe the event in embarrassment. Koht shrugged.

***

Nothing of note had happened the whole day, and as the night steadily neared, Folgren's thoughts shifted from the less pleasant suspicions to more loin-stirring ones. He'd been absent a good bedside tumble for over a week now, and he'd noticed himself being more and more tempted to try and seduce Kohten, as poor an idea as that would've been. Thankfully, being mobile again meant he could go to his favourite brothel after work and relieve some built up tension. He just needed to persuade Kohten into returning without him.

As much as he'd grown to like, or at least respect the short knight, he trusted him with his secrets no more than anyone in Cal Crag. Whether he would prove resentful towards Folg for his preferences or not, much more importantly Folgren didn't want rumours spreading to others within the city.

"Right. It's about the end of my shift.", Folg said. "Best step into the station just to make sure nothing of import has happened.", he said.

"It's been running fine these last couple days without you.", Kohten said with a smile.

"I know. I'm hoping to find Nilith there, though.", Folg said. "Still want my other codpiece back.", he added, making the raccoon raise a brow, then start snickering.

Moving through the steadily emptying late afternoon streets, as they finally neared the station, Folgren noticed something that told him he would likely not get to enjoy a whore that day. Before the station stood a single enforcer, a young looking, beige-feathered avian with a short beak, likely a messenger.

"Gods under.", Folgren cursed, fearing the enforcer was there to give him orders. The way he began to stare once he'd caught sight of the equine only seemed to confirm this. "What is it that you want?", Folgren asked as they neared, with no effort to hide his irritation.

"You are Folgren?", the avian asked.

"Yes.", Folg answered begrudgingly.

"You are summoned to the town hall. Your commander demands your presence at a meeting.", the avian said, quite emotionlessly.

"Uh? Thought he was to return tomorrow.", Folgren noted.

"It appears not.", the avian said plainly, now looking impatient.

"Very well, then.", Folgren said with a sigh and moved to follow the avian.

"The raccoon comes with?", the avian enforcer asked, eyeing Kohten.

"He treads where he wants.", Folgren said.

"Not to the meeting.", the avian said briskly.

"He'll wait outside, then.", Folg said, rolling his eyes. Enforcers sometimes acted like everyone in the town guard was mentally challenged. Then again, a lot of them likely fit that description.

***

Folgren entered a dimly lit yet spacious, octagonal chamber, at its centre a round table underneath an iron chandelier. Around the table sat 3 figures, any enforcer guards standing well away at the edges of the room. They turned their attention towards Folg.

"Ah, the one capable guardsman finally arrives.", one among them, a male lion commented. Folgren recognized him as the commander of their lord's enforcers, Holoth Row. He was dressed in armour covered with cloth adornments of dark red and silver, common to Cal Crag enforcers.

"No need to get crass, Hol.", a lavishly dressed thin, brown cat among them commented in a bored tone. Clad in thin chains of gold, a medallion upon his chest with the relatively simple looking emblem of Cal Crag. This was unmistakably the lord of their fair city, Celion Cilis. He wasn't sitting in his chair so much as lounging lazily upon it, looking quite displeased.

"Come closer, guardsman. Introduce yourself.", Tith spoke up, gesturing the horse to near. Folgren obeyed, continuing to eye the assorted 'nobility'. Commander Tith looked quite pleased, Holoth's face beheld an unwavering smirk, and lord Cilis looked to be somewhere between annoyed and tired more than anything.

"I am Folgren, guardsman of Cal Crag.", he said aloud, trying to sound confident in the face of uncertainty.

"Oh good, it speaks.", Holoth said, smiling mildly.

"Hol.", Celion said warningly, although without enthusiasm. "I understand I have you to thank for bringing the lower quarters under control while Tith here was away?", he asked. Folgren wasn't sure how to answer properly.

"I suppose. Me and the other guardsmen.", Folgren said, trying to sound modest.

"Right. The guardsmen that let a bunch of rabble raid their post.", Celion said. "And where were you while this took place?", he asked.

"Escorting a prisoner to Nul Reugin. Then returning.", Folg said.

"Escorting a prisoner?", Celion asked, looking towards Tith for answers.

"A nobleman's lost niece. Wealthy merchant by the name of Diffold.", Tith said.

"Oh, that.", Cel said, waving his hand to gesture he now remembered. "Somewhat lost track of that after the fucking uprising in my streets.", he added. "So you came back, rallied the men, and took back the lower quarter.", he summarized.

"Yes, my lord.", Folgren said, only now remembering about something like proper address.

"Well, Tith, you have my blessing.", Cel said and leaned back. Tith nodded in response.

"Folkren.", Tith began as he rose to his hoofs, mispronouncing the horse's name. "I hereby promote you to captain.", he said, walking up to the horse. "For displaying bravery and leadership in the face of adversity. Do you accept?", he asked, placing a hand on the stunned horse's shoulder.

"Uh. What does being a captain mean?", Folgren asked, only to have Holoth burst into a chuckle. It wasn't a particularly inane question, as all they had as long as Folgren remembered were recruits and a disorganized bunch of guardsmen. Nothing between them and their commander. Not even Tith's twin entourage enjoyed a rank greater than any other.

"Why, to take charge and handle problems that require an organized force, much like you did recently.", Tith said with a pleasant smile. Folg wasn't sure he liked the idea of becoming the one expected to handle such problems whenever they arose. He still regretted having to be the one assume leadership in the first place. But he could think of one thing that'd persuade him to accept.

"Will this mean a pay boost?", Folgren asked, inciting further snickering from Holoth.

"Everyone in the guard is getting a pay rise. Some more than others, of course.", lord Cilis said, sounding particularly displeased.

"Then I accept.", Folg said.

"Then it is so.", Tith said with a smile and clapped his fist to his chest. Folgren did likewise.

***

"So how'd it go?", Kohten asked.

"Apparently I'm a captain now.", Folgren said with a shrug.

"That's good...! Right?", Kohten asked uncertainly.

"I think. Haven't had a captain as long as I've been here. Not sure what the downsides might be.", Folg said.

"Means you'll have more power to change things for the better, though, doesn't it?", Koht asked.

"I'm not so sure of my leadership skills. Assuming I actually get to do anything with this.", Folgren said.

"So where we off to now?", the raccoon asked.

"Back to the station.", Folg said.

***

They entered the station to a rather strange sight. Besides Folgren knocking his head on the hanging disembodied male parts of the former leader of the Kergo-Drung once more, an unusual thing they found was the company at the cards table. Mikis and his 2 companions were still there despite the hours, but more surprisingly they also found Roviden and Nilith there, though only the ewe among them was holding cards.

"Hey there, Folg.", Roviden said, waving a hand and looking quite bored.

"What are all you doing here?", Folg asked, brow raised as high as it could go.

"Same as always. Playing cards. Besides Roviden.", Mikis said.

"Thought your shift would be over by now.", Folgren noted.

"With all the injured guardsmen, we've been doing double shifts.", Mikis said.

"How courageous of you.", Folgren noted, remembering they were still just spending both shifts playing cards. "And you, Nil?", he asked, turning his attention to the ewe.

"Well, things have been quiet, so not much to do for me lately. Thought I may as well take up cards.", she said.

"Huh. And nobody find it odd it's been this peaceful since the take-over attempt?", Folgren asked.

"Well, I may've had a hand in that.", Roviden spoke up. "Promised the feline gangs I'd keep my blade stowed for a year if they gave us a month to recuperate. And that includes keeping the other gangs' operations discreet.", she said.

"They can do that?", Folgren asked, not entirely convinced the feline gangs held this much power.

"Since they've gotten all the refugee-recruits, they've gotten the biggest. And with the bovine gang decimated, also the strongest.", Roviden said.

"Can't help but feel this is gonna bite us in the ass eventually.", Folgren said.

"Well, I promised to keep my blade sheathed, nothing about not putting a warhammer to their kneecaps.", Roviden said with a devilish smile. "Plus there's always Paht, once his leg heals. Never promised he'd keep his voulge stowed.", she added.

"All the more I suspect this'll bite us in the ass. Gangs don't like getting tricked.", Folgren said.

"That may be, but they've yet to get me even when they tried.", Roviden said with a smile.

"Cheer up, Folg. Enjoy the calm. Think we've earned it.", Nilith said.

"Don't know if I can. I just got promoted to captain, whatever that means exactly.", Folgren said.

"Well, congratulations!", Mikis said. "Although I hope you don't start being a hard-ass in charge.", Mikis said.

"Yeah, congrats.", Roviden echoed the thought, although sounding somewhat less sincere.

"I honestly don't know if anything will actually change. Not like all our problems thus far hadn't been a result of lord Cilis' or Tith's orders.", Folgren said. "Although speaking of which, we're apparently getting a boost in funding.", he added.

"Sounds like nothing but good news, yet you're glum like you just got gelded.", Nilith said.

"Speaking of which, I still want my old codpiece back, Nil.", Folg said, having remembered why he actually came here.

"Oh. Right. I'll bring it over tomorrow.", Nilith said with a toothy grin.

"Codpiece?", Roviden asked. "How'd-"

"Don't ask.", Folgren quickly cut her off, not wanting to try and explain how it'd gotten in the ewe's possession.

"Well, now that we've had an influx of good news, what do you say we go celebrate?", Mikis suggested.

"Celebrate what exactly?", Folgren asked, not very eager to cancel his brothel-related plans.

"Everything. Your promotion, our pay-rise, and the whole damn battle we won. Haven't had the chance to really celebrate since you were out.", Mikis said.

"Sounds good to me.", Nilith said.

"May as well.", Roviden threw in.

"Oh, fine.", Folgren said, crossing his arms.

"Not much of a drinker?", Mikis asked.

"Had plans.", Folgren said. "Though I guess that'll have to wait.", he added begrudgingly.

"Very well, then.", Mikis said, dumping his hand of cards onto the table.

"Just no getting wasted.", Folgren said as they all made their way past Drogrin.

"No promises.", Mikis said with a grin.