FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Nook usually woke up easily. That was the first indication that something was wrong, but he didn't notice through the groggy haze. He shivered as he drifted in and out of consciousness, giving in to the urge to keep his eyes closed and succumb to sleep. It was cold, so he pulled his knees to his chest. And that's when reality snapped back into place. Eyes shot open, but it didn't help. It was too dark to make much out. More evident was the freezing stone ground he had been sleeping on, and the cold sweat that drenched his fur. He was shaking constantly now, but not just because he was cold. He was afraid. Nook slowly sat up, fighting his numb muscles as they shook under the effort. He clutched his knees back to his chest for warmth as his breathing came in ragged, terrified shutters. Nook's mind spun as it tried to process the cascade of information. But it was too much. Nothing could ease the unrelenting terror. His heart was throbbing, almost painfully. He became lightheaded as he struggled to breath, thoughts dominated by the fear of what was to come.

The red fox had been searching for something to eat in the usual places: the backs of inns and pubs throwing out half-eaten meals, vendors tossing excess or "spoiled" stock, or even some light theft. But he had been unsuccessful that evening, so he moved to his last resort: the brothel. He wasn't a prostitute, like his mother had been, but he was still young and had learned at an early age how extract generosity with a shake of his tail at the males whose eyes lingered on him for a little too long to be a passing glance. And that's where it had happened.

He noticed the canine the moment he stepped into the building. The large male wasn't just watching him; his stare was piercing, amplified by the intense red eyes that he could almost feel on his back as he walked up to the bar. He sat down, feeling extraordinarily uncomfortable despite the familiar setting. His mother worked here, this was the closest thing he had to a home, but the atmosphere was all wrong. Nook suppressed the urge to flee, though, as the wolf sat next to him. He would be safe there, he reassured himself.

"You're hungry, little fox." Nook shivered, before nodding meekly. He was normally good at this, flirting in exchange for food, but he couldn't bring himself to meet the man's eyes. He felt a paw on his shoulder, followed by a strong, possessive squeeze as the canine leaned onto the bar. Nook could feel short, warm bursts of air on his cheek as the stranger leaned in close. But he still couldn't bring himself to meet the intimidating gaze. Food was placed before him. He didn't remember the wolf asking for anything, but there it was, and he was so hungry. And yet, he wasn't able to bring himself to pick up his fork until he heard the man speak again. "Eat." And so he did, wordlessly. Nook should have continued flirting, like he normally would have done, trying to get as much as he could scam from the presumably horny canine. His thoughts wouldn't come, though, and so no words could follow.

The red fox wasn't strong, so nobody would hire him for physical labor, and he had no gift with magic. Without the money to afford education, that left few options for the fox to feed himself. He was normally quite clever, though, and he was far from stupid or reckless. The intuition he relied on had evaporated the moment he had made eye contact with the canine, however. The instinct urging him to flee hadn't broken through to his consciousness. So when the unnamed man instructed him to follow, he had, even though Nook had never taken anyone to bed before. Nook wasn't led to a room in the brothel though. He couldn't remember much at all what had happened after leaving. Muddled memories swirled through his mind as the fox waited on the cold floor, shivering, legs and tail held close. The paw had returned to his shoulder. The moon had been out, full and illuminating overhead. There was a pond. And, of course, the man's voice. "Sleep, deeply," he had whispered, sultrily, into his ear.

That was the last he remembered, although where he had been at that point was long lost from his memories. That voice echoed through his mind, sending jabs of terror down the shivering fox's spine, and he could still feel those deep red eyes staring deep into his being. Yet, he couldn't really remember what the man had looked like. He had been taller than the fox, and the paw on his shoulder had felt strong. But the color of his fur? His build? His species? All gone, like he had forgotten some irrelevant detail about a person's clothing.

By now, Nook's eyes had adjusted well enough to the darkness that he could make out his toes. He stared blankly at them, unable to bring himself to move further than the huddled, sitting position he found himself in since waking up. The sweat that had soaked through the fur between his thighs felt like ice, but was finally beginning to dry. The shivering slowed, but the terror never receded. Why couldn't he remember? What was going to happen to him?

The loud clank of a lock opening interrupted the fox's internal panic. The wall was too far away to see the door in the darkness, but he could clearly make out those deep red eyes. They almost seemed to shimmer as the cold stare returned. Nook had never felt so vulnerable in his life. His heart pounded in his ears as the light clicking of canine claws on the stone floor drew the piercing gaze closer and closer. He was petrified, unable to breath properly as his body flushed with heat. Instinct demanded he flee, commanded him to run for his life, but he couldn't. He waited as the man approached at an agonizingly slow pace. Unlike before, though, when he couldn't bring himself to meet the man's stare, now he simply couldn't look away. He was still unable to distinguish the canine's features, even as he felt the hot breath hit his left ear as the man spoke.

"Little fox."

And with that, everything cleared. Nook fled before he realized what was happening, suddenly back in charge of himself with a screaming instinct to run. He bolted straight for where he had seen the man's glowing eyes emerge. Swiveled fox ears listened intently for the sound of pursuing footsteps, but heard none. His heart raced, legs pumping hard as he ran for his own survival. He had been ready to brace himself for impact with the door he assumed was there, hoping his weight would be enough to push it open since he hadn't heard it relock behind his captor. But he never made it to the door. Nook charged full speed into the canine, bouncing off and falling to the floor from the impact with the larger male, knocking the wind out of the fox. There was no way he could have ended up in front of him! He may not be strong, but he was fast, and his sensitive ears would have heard the pursuing footsteps. The man chuckled as Nook tried desperately to regain his breath. A strong, clawed hand grabbed him roughly by the scruff before roughly pulling him into the air. He was held before the man's face, forced to stare into those terrifying eyes as he continued trying to suck in air. Even through the tears and darkness, the fox was now close enough to the wolf make out some of his features. A sinister grin spread across the large male's muzzle as he held the wheezing fox in the air. Demonic horns emerged from his forehead, curving sinisterly back over his skull and ending in an intimidating point. Nook could only assume his fur was black, since it seemed to blend flawlessly in with the darkness around them, hiding most details of the demonic wolf's appearance.

The fox began to struggle weakly against the hold on his scruff once his breath returned, but the hold didn't waver. He reached up and grasped as the arm suspending him in the air and used what little strength he had to kick at the wolf. He felt his claws rake at the man's fur as he swung his legs as hard as he could. But, again, the grip didn't loosen a bit. The man chuckled again before suddenly tossing the fox to the floor. Nook landed straight on his back, striking the stone ground with an audible thud and once again knocking all the wind out of his lungs. Gasping for breath, he laid there on the ground, and began to cry. Tears streamed from his eyes as he struggled to breath, little whimpering cries bringing a bigger grin to the wolf's muzzle. A heavy footpaw landed firmly on Nook's chest, pinning him down. His paws reach up to grab the foot, but he was too weak and out of breath to do anything about it. Those deep red eyes continued staring down at him, taking in the entirety of Nook's form. He felt more vulnerable than he ever had in his life. But, it was the wolf's grin that was most unsettling as Nook's breath began to return. His fangs were sharp, and glistened bright white in contrast to the black fur, even in the darkness. Oh gods... He's naked... The demon's eyes began to glow brighter.

The foot was removed from his chest and the fox stood, but did not run. The fear was still there, burning knots into his stomach, but he couldn't will himself to move. He stood before the demonic wolf, his head barely reaching the taller male's chest. Nook's muzzle was forced to lean up to meet the demonic eyes. He couldn't look away, but the fear wasn't suppressed as it had been the night before. Calm puffs of warm air tickled the fox's whiskers as the wolf's chest rose and fell.

Without control, he slowly stripped the shirt from his chest, pulling it gently over his head and letting it fall to the ground as he lost himself in the red glow of the wolf's eyes. Next he felt his hands move down to his belt, trembling as he unfastened it. The fox bent over to slide his pants down, knees nearly giving out as he struggled to keep his breath. So there Nook stood, barely an adult, skinny, feminine form fully exposed for the wolf's pleasure. Well, almost fully exposed.

"I'll do this part."

He wanted to run, to fight, to do anything but let those claws slip into the waistband of his underwear. Nook hadn't noticed the wolf move, and yet his muzzle was nearly buried in the demon's black furred chest now. The fox took a deep breath as the demon's fingers slipped deeper into his underwear, knuckles caressing his inner thighs as the sharp points of his claws made the lightest of contact with his sheath. It was then that he noticed the wolf's scent. It was overpowering, potent, but not like his own musk. It smelled... wrong... One sniff of the wolf should have sent the entire brothel running. And yet, they hadn't, and now he was here, unable to do anything as the terrifying creature toyed with his most intimate of places. Without warning, the clawtips left his sheath entirely and shredded his underwear right off his body. Nook yelped loudly, but didn't move. The wolf chuckled at the fox's surprise.

Nook continued to remain still as the demon looked him over, circling him once and running his claws through the the fox's fur. He stopped behind him and leaned in, whispering into the fox's ear. "Get yourself hard." Tears formed in Nook's eyes, now sure of what was about to happen to him. But he could do nothing to stop it. Without consent, his own hands reached down to his sheath and gently teased at the sensitive skin, stroking up and down softly. The demonic claws wrapped themselves around Nook's hips, grasping roughly as the wolf leaned in and sent a long, wet lick deep into the fox's large, fluffy ear. It was not an affectionate touch; the wolf seemed to be tasting him. The fox shivered and began to whimper softly as the appendage retreated, leaving a cold trail of saliva behind. The next lick came to his neck, starting from the back and leaving a wet trail over his clavicle before tasting his throat. Tears were flowing more steadily now as the tongue was replaced with the wolf's teeth, the strong jaw wrapping around his throat as fangs threatened to pierce into his skin. But the worst part, by far, was the shudder of pleasure Nook felt as his sheath began to swell up.

The threatening bite was removed as Nook's whimpers turned to faint sobbing. He could practically feel the demonic grin as he pushed his sheath back, finally swollen enough to allow his cock to emerge. The wolf licked away the fox's tears as Nook's length quickly filled out in his paw. He stroked gently along it with his fingertips, careful to avoid his claws as he always did with himself, making sure he reached his full six inches. His task completed, the fox felt his hands return to his sides, standing up straight for the demon as he continued to tremble and cry. The wolf circled around again and stood back, examining the fox. Several long moments passed in silence. Nook's cock throbbed in anxious, terrified anticipation.

"Have you had sex before?" The fox nearly jumped out of his fur when the wolf finally spoke. He shook his head meekly in response. The demonic grin turned into a full-fanged smile at that. "Then you can have full control for this."

The moment he could, Nook turned to run, but the wolf was already on top of him. The fox was tackled to the ground, landing awkwardly on his side and bruising his elbow on the hard ground. He tried to struggle but a claw dug into his shoulder, piercing through the skin roughly and dragging him onto his stomach. The other claw dug into the flesh of his hips, pulling them up roughly as the fox was immersed in pain on all sides. He screamed. Pleaded with the wolf to stop. But the assault continued as the scruff of his neck was bitten roughly. Fangs dug into his skin, holding him until his screaming softened to whimpers and quiet begging. The jaw loosened enough to relieve some of the pain. The wolf shuffled closer, pinning the fox's legs together beneath his strong thighs as he hunched over the fox. His scruff was eventually released from the wolf's jaws, only to be replaced by a paw pinning him to the floor. The claws digging into Nook's ass reached for the base of his tail, yanking it up roughly to hoist his hips into the air. And that's when he finally felt it: the wolf's swollen sheath pressing up against the back of his testicles.

With regained vigor and terror, Nook began to struggle again, trying to reach behind his head and remove the paw from his neck. He could hear the monster over him laugh at his attempt before reaching under them both and squeezing the fox's exposed cock. The fox froze in place as he felt the demon's claw tips tease his length, threatening to pierce through. With the threat made clear, the wolf removed his hand and reached down to his own sheath. Nook could do nothing but lay there sobbing gently, chest pinned to the ground with his ass raised as high as it could go. The wolf's hips ground against him from behind as he put pressure on his sheath to release his own cock from confinement. "Please don't." The fox let out a final desperate plea as he felt the wolf swell between his voluptuous ass cheeks. The demon leaned down and licked away his tears in response. Nook couldn't see behind him, pinned underneath the wolf, but he could feel the cock against him. It was enormous. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the demonic wolf pour the contents of a saucière onto his lower back. The warm, viscous fluid sent a shiver of pleasure down the fox's spine as it slickened the contact between the wolf's length and his sensitive tailhole. Despite his whimpers, he couldn't resist but gasp in pleasure.

"Enjoy this little fox. This is the last time you'll ever cum."

Nook screeched out in panic, his struggles renewed as he felt the thick tip of the the canine's cock find his virgin tailhole. The demon wolf grabbed both of his wrists firmly and swiftly, stretching him forwards with his superior reach and rendering him further immobile. The larger male's muscular thighs pinned the fox's knees together, forcing his hips to remain high and exposed. No matter how he tried, the demon had him pinned. One final lick of the canine's tongue reached over his cheek and extracted afinal virgin tear, before he firmly pushed in.

Nook wailed in pain and terror as his virginity was stripped from him with a single thrust of the monstrous demon-wolf's strong hips. And there it remained, only a fraction of his rapist's length buried into his virginity, as the fox struggled in vain against his captivity. Despite himself, the fractionally buried wolf had just the right pressure against his prostate that the fox began to leak precum. He could feel the urge knot, although it hadn't even begun to form yet. Tears continued to flow as the demon-wolf let loose a single coveted kiss across his newest conquests' muzzle. The only kiss he would ever receive from the monster who robbed the fox of his virginity.

Musk filled his nostrils, even as he struggled to breath amongst the panic of losing his virginity to the monstrous demon hovering above him. It was strange; he knew he should panic at the scent instinctually, it made him want to gag, but the fox couldn't. The only effect it had was to make him throb harder. But, like the torment of forcing the fox to remain immobile upon the freezing stone ground, there was nothing Nook could do but struggle mentally, internally, but of course it was in vain. The wolf had already demonstrated that he could subjugate him mentally, so now he wanted to do it physically. He resisted, with everything he had, right until the wolf drew his hips back and thrust forwards with all his might. Nook could no longer draw upon his voice as the pain of the demon sinking half his substantial length into the smaller fox's virgin tailhole strained his throat to its last. All that remained of Nook's terror, all he could muster, were his tears, as he was held firmly in place by the dominant man. A loud growled echoed through his ear. He felt the sinister source's vibrations reach the interior of his inner-most being.

The wolf seemed to be toying with the fox. He clearly knew how to pleasure a male lover. Slowly withdrawing his hips, the wolf pulled back until the tip of his thick cock was wedged firmly against Nook's prostate. He couldn't help but draw in a single, subtle, breath of pleasure as his rapist thrust forward. Slowly but firmly, the demon-wolf wedged his thick, lubricated length into the significantly smaller fox, reaching farther than had ever been explored. Again, the wolf remain buried there. Every time the immense cock throbbed with the enormous demon-wolf's heart-beat, Nook could feel it pulse through him. His rapist was now just as excited as he, as the rapid breathing across the back of his neck confirmed. Although this was for entirely different reasons.

Without warning, the entirety of the wolf's substantial might was placed behind a single forceful thrust. He wanted to howl and bite, to claw and scratch, but Nook could do nothing as the mightier wolf pinned him firmly in place and took his pleasure from the fox's body. Hips drew back and thrust forwards, continuously gyrating. Ridges along the bottom of the demon-wolf's length forced undesirable moans of pleasure between the fox's silent cries. Despite everything, the small pools of blood forming around his neck, the forceful mental domination, the threat of claws piercing through his cock, Nook's own cock continued to throb. He could feel precum dripping onto his thighs as his body was rocked. Hefty balls slapped against the fox's taint as the demon bottomed out with a loud growl of pleasure. The grip on his wrists hadn't subsided in the least. No matter how he struggled, there was nothing Nook could do but accept his torment. Despite everything, the pressure against his prostate had caused his knot to begin forming. Nook wanted to die.

But no relief came to the tortured fox. Despite trying to escape reality, he could do nothing but accept his fate. The immense pain beneath his tailhole kept him from ignoring the events occurring. The thrusts burned, stretching his virginal ring of flesh out further than he imagined possible. Yet, it refused to end. After an eternity of prolonged, forcefully pleasurable suffering, Nook finally felt it: the wolf's knot. There was no warning. A slight bulge at the base of the wolf's cock had suddenly ballooned into the most agonizingly pleasurable experience Nook ever felt. A paw reached around and squeezed the fox's knot, forcing him to climax as the pressure grew against his prostate dramatically. It was the most painful yet pleasurable thing the young fox had ever experienced. Cum and musk flooded Nook's senses as his reached his climax for the final time beneath his Master's command.

Firmly tied, the demonic wolf let loose a few short but brutal thrusts before he too climaxed. The small fox was so incredibly tight. The demon was surprised his knot had even been able to form with all the pressure around it. But it had, of course, before releasing a torrent of cum into the little bitch. The wolf's excited pants fell on the back of Nook's bruised and bleeding neck before plunging into the fox's soft shoulder flesh. Jaws and knot held the fox firm as the demon rode out his orgasm. Tears continued to fall, but the struggling and whining had ceased. With a contented sigh, the wolf released his grip on the fox's neck and wrists, sitting upright and tugging gently at his cock to test the strength of his tie.

Nook whimpered at the painful pulling under his tail, but remained still as he was released. The firm grip around his knot remained, keeping the fox under the afterglow of his orgasm. He could feel his cum soaking into the fur around his knees. Cautiously, the fox pulled his paws back under his chest, trying his best to huddle up, wishing to disappear from existence. But, nothing could distract from the agonizing knot buried within him. As the pleasure from his climax faded, Nook was left with nothing to distract himself from the pain. He thought the enormous cock was slowly splitting him in two, painfully wedging his tailhole apart. His throat was sore as his ragged breathing finally began to calm down. The fox wasn't sure he'd ever be able to speak again after all the screaming. Claw and bite marks covered his body, the initial piercing pain now replaced with a dull, constant reminder of the wounds. The worst part was the cum the wolf had deposited deep inside him, though. It was the affirmation of his total violation, not physically painful but the reason tears continued to fall down his cheeks.

Cum was smeared onto his hips as the wolf wiped his hands clean on the fox's fur. Nook was groped possesively as he was forced to remain exposed to his rapist. He didn't dare try lowering his tail. All the fox could do was remain as still as he could, hoping desperately that the wolf wouldn't try to force his knot out, worried it might truly rip in in half. And yet, he would have done anything to escape the demon's presence. The choice wasn't his though, and the lupine seemed content watching his new toy squirm in extreme discomfort. Nothing felt better around the wolf's knot than a newly captured little toy. Nothing the fox had ever experienced was as painful as his forced lover's cock.

"You will call me Master, little fox. You belong to me now."

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Garbage pickup was every seven days. The farms made rounds of the produce stalls every four days to buy excess stock. So every four weeks, the anonymous fox made an appearance. But he hadn't this evening, and he found that suspicious. That was the raven's biggest flaw: he just couldn't ignore his instincts. It tended to get him into trouble. They had met several months before but he had never learned his name. The fox was shorter than he was, and far less muscular, although with his hollow bones they likely weighed about the same. He was pretty sure they were about the same age, although most had trouble guessing at how old the avian was. In fact, most people avoided him altogether. He was unsettling, he had been told. But the fox certainly hadn't been unsettled.

It was the bar of his inn where they had met. His stare must have been evident because the fox approached him immediately. He was friendly, and he was talkative. And cute, which made him particularly nervous. When the raven introduced himself as Dusk, the fox had given him a sly smile. He never got a name in return. "Buy me dinner and I'll tell you," was followed by "buy me a drink first." Dusk knew he was being taken advantage of, but he didn't care. The red fox was clearly struggling to get by. His clothes were torn, dirt coated his fur, and he was skinny, so the raven was happy to feed him. It was rare to meet anyone who was kind to him in this city, so he had enjoyed the company, even if the encounter had made him anxious.

Four weeks later he met the fox again, once again at the inn. Dusk tried to tell the fox he didn't have to flirt with him to get fed, but it only brought a tantalizing shake of the fox's tail as they ate together. The raven felt his blood warming his cloacal vent, signaling the beginning of his arousal. He couldn't help but stare at the fox, and he was sure the little male could tell how he felt. He can probably smell my arousal, he realized eventually. They spent longer together this time, eating and drinking. But once again, the vulpine refused to give his name. He only stared as the fox left, watching the subtle waving of his hips and tail. A final glance over his shoulder at the raven with a wide smirk sent shivers down the avian's spine. And then he was gone again.

Dusk wasn't stupid. He knew he was being played for food. But every four weeks to the day, his friend would return. The last time he saw the red fox, he had taken his talon in his paw. For the first time, they had sat in silence together. Eventually, he was asked why he never tried to lure the fox up to his room. Dusk had to consider carefully for a few moments before replying. He told the fox his friendship meant too much to him. It was the first time he had seen the fox visibly surprised. The flirtatious smirk faded, and the rest of the evening was spent without their usual banter. Or rather, the fox's usual talkative nature was suppressed. Dusk rarely said much, regardless. Before leaving, his friend had leaned in and kissed the side of his beak. The memory still made the raven flush in embarrassment. "Thank you," the fox had whispered softly, voice trying to hide a slight tremble, before he had turned and left with his usual final glance. His smile back seemed more sincere this time. Softer. But those were the last words he had heard from the fox.

Anxiety had filled the raven as he waited at the bar for his friend. Nobody had ever kissed him before. He was nervous and excited. But the fox never showed up. Dusk waited until midnight before leaving the inn. He had been going through all the possibilities he could think of. It would not have surprised the raven to find out the fox never really liked him. Perhaps he had been scared off by the prospect of friendship; Dusk had seriously considered switching to a different inn to avoid the potential rejection from the fox. His only friend, and he didn't even know his name. But, he just couldn't shake the constant thought in the back of his mind that something was amiss. If he assumed the fox was in danger, when really he was avoiding the raven, he would be heartbroken, but that's it. If he assumed the fox was fine, when really he was in danger, or worse... well... that was something Dusk could not live with. And so he left, without even a name of the fox he was searching for. Anxiety and adrenaline flowed for an entirely different reason now. Thoughts of abandonment were pushed aside as the raven focused on other possibilities: arrested, kidnapped, or murdered. He needed a place to start.

It was windy that night. Dusk pulled up the collar of his knee-length coat and folded his wings over his shoulders for protection from the chill. The full moon illuminated his path through the streets of Odvynn City. His strides were long and purposeful. The narrow dirt roads of the residential district gave way to cobblestone as he made his way to the market. At this hour, he only encountered drunks and guards. The drunks ignored him while the guards eyed him suspiciously, but ultimately didn't approach. The city was filled with a variety of species. There were even a few other avian races here. But there was a cultural disdain for ravens here. His people were spread across the land and generally lived a nomadic life, at least as much as one could in these times. However, a few particularly conniving Ravens had unleashed a reign of chaos in this nation. It was recent enough that Odvynn's people remembered, but long enough ago that tales were turning to legend, and details were likely exaggerated or lost. Very few people would speak to him willingly. And just about everyone eyed him with suspicion. Perhaps that's why the fox had made such an impression on him.

He would have left the city months ago if it hadn't been for the fox. Dusk had been unable to resist his curiosity. Ravens had a reputation in most places. His people were associated with death in many cultures. Many races would avoid associating with his. But this place was different. To most, Dusk was the only raven they had ever seen. They weren't a numerous race, but he had met another raven in most cities he had visited, at least. Dusk needed to see how people would react to his presence. He had his answer now, though. Most were afraid. Few could resist staring the first time they saw him. And many would actively avoid him, shielding their children or ushering them quickly inside. Except for one. He had to find the red fox. A fountain occupied the center of an enormous plaza as Dusk reached the heart of the market district. Cobblestone covered the streets. Permanent stores surrounded the plaza with empty stalls covering any occupiable space between the buildings and the fountain. Makeshift streets wove between the stalls in a random fashion. Navigating amongst the city crowd during the day was near impossible, yet the people of Odvynn managed. Even without other people and under the full moonlight, Dusk struggled to find his destination.

Several months back, the largest produce shop in the city had been broken into. The glass storefront window had been shattered. But the owner wouldn't report the breakin to the Odvynn Guard. Dusk had overheard the old raccoon actually scold a passing guard who inquired about the broken glass, piquing his curiosity. So the raven stuck his beak where it didn't belong, and the old raccoon named Belatois now owed him a favor. Finally able to navigate the empty stalls and reach Belatois' shop, Dusk promptly began pounding on the front door. He brought his wings up higher as he waited in the cold wind, huddling and shivering slightly. The raven waited a minute before banging on the door again. And then again. Damnit, Belatois, I know you're awake. After several minutes a shadow finally crossed the store's new front window and the door creaked open slowly. Dusk promptly pushed in, eager to reach the warmth of the shop's hearth.

"Still playing with fire, Belatois?" the raven inquired as he stepped past the raccoon. An irksome stare was his response. The old man was cranky and rude, but was particularly offended when anyone was cranky or rude back. Dusk found it amusing to push his buttons.

"I should have just left you out in the cold," Belatois eventually grumbled under his breath.

"Safer out there, anyway," Dusk responded. He couldn't smile with his beak, but the raccoon could still pick up on the smartass grin most would have accompanied the comment with. Belatois certainly had things to hide.

"What do you want, demon?" Belatois had never been afraid of Dusk. The raven was fairly certain the raccoon treated everybody with equal levels of contempt. He chuckled at the insult leveled at him.

"I'm looking for a fox," Dusk stated.

"This is a produce shop" Belatois interrupted before the raven could continue.

"He may have..." the raven started again.

"Although I can check the basement. You want him living or stuffed?"

"Do you have dementia, or have you always an asshole?"

"I'm not afraid of you bird. I'll burn my whole shop down around you to see you smothered."

"That doesn't make any fucking sense."

"Sense doesn't matter if I kill you."

"You're insane, old man."

"And yet here you are. Bothering me."

Dusk sighed. After a few moments he tried again. "I'm..."

"What do you want a fox for? Souvenier?"

"Shut the fuck up Belatois, it's important." The raven was getting annoyed now.

"You're the one banging on my door like a maniac in the middle of the night. What if I had dropped something?" So that's why the raccoon was even crankier than normal tonight. He had been playing with his fire again, and the raven was interrupting.

"If you dropped something, you would die and I could steal your equipment. You know the sooner you answer my question, the sooner I'll leave."

"Fine," Belatois stated flatly.

"I'm looking for a red fox. Young. Maybe 18. He may have asked you for food before, maybe spoiled stock or things that aren't selling. He would have been persistent and chatty. I'm sure you'd have been thrilled." Dusk finally managed to spit out, not letting the opportunity to ask his question slip away again.

The old raccoon glared at him, hands planted firmly on his hips. "What do you want with him?"

"Do you know him?"

"You answer first demon."

Dusk sighed. "I think he might be in trouble."

"You think he might be in trouble?" Sarcasm ebbed off the raccoon's voice.

"Gods be damned you old rodent. Tell me what you know."

The slightest of grins formed at the corner of Belatois' muzzle. The arrogant child of a bird had held the upper hand over the raccoon since they had met. Dusk had never threatened blackmail, but it still bothered the senior raccoon immensely. He was going to savor holding this over the raven. "If you work downstairs for me."

Dusk scoffed. Asshole. He crossed his arms over his chest and tried to stare the old man down. He knew the raccoon wouldn't give in though. He was stubborn and fearless. Probably why the two of them got along, as strange as their interactions were. "For a day."

"For a week you little shit or I'm not telling you anything." There was no bluff there. Dusk could get the raccoon arrested, easily. Or just rob the basement himself. And yet, the old man would watch his entire existence burn down around him with a grin out of pure stubborn will. The raven sighed.

"Fine. I'll help you for a week."

"You'll work for me for a week."

"I'll work for you. After I find the fox."

Belatois grunted. After a moment he appeared satisfied, although Dusk was sure the raccoon had been considering whether he could get away with taunting the raven some more. Finally, he nodded in affirmation.

"I don't know the fox."

Dusk eyes widened in rage. Maybe he should report the raccoon to the guards after all. Belatois couldn't hold back his laugh for long, though. An exasperated sigh left the raven's beak. "Seriously Belatois, I need to get moving."

The raccoon's laughter subsided as Dusk glared at him. "Alright, alright. Don't get so offended."

That's rich coming from you, the raven thought to himself, but he bit his tongue so he could get on with his search. Any more comments would just delay him further. Dusk just waited now, arms still crossed as the raccoon's eyes looked up in thought, a paw stroking his chinfur.

"Hmmm... He was here... probably a week ago. He's like you. Only shows up to bother me. I tell him to never come back. That I'm not giving him any food. But he helps himself."

"That sounds like him." Dusk affirmed. "Piercings in his ears, kind of small, even for a fox. He likes apples... and he wags his hips when he walks."

"Your lover?" the raccoon teased.

"I don't even know his name." Dusk sighed, burying the feeling of hopelessness as he tried to focus.

Belatois grunted before continuing. "Anyway he shows up every few days. Won't stay away no matter what I try."

"Do you know where I could find him?"

"Nope."

Silence spread as Dusk thought. "Is he a thief?" the raven asked.

"Not that I've seen. Couldn't say for sure."

"What about prostitution?"

"The only way anyone would willingly talk to you is if you paid them. Or blackmail."

An accusing scowl crossed the raccoon's brow, but Dusk paid it no mind as he thought. "He knew I prefered males the moment we met," the raven thought aloud. "But, he never struck me as a whore. Flirtatious, certainly. I think he was good at reading people. Taking advantage of them. Knowing what he could get away with. Knew you liked scolding him."

"Well you got me there kid. You really think something happened to him?" Belatois asked, sincerely.

"I've never met anyone who could read me like he could. It worries me, what it would take for him to get in trouble." Dusk sighed. Hubris was always a likely culprit. Stealing from the wrong person, maybe. Or denying the wrong man sex despite his tail-shaking. The fox didn't seem the type, though. He had always seemed so... content... with enjoying the moments they had together. There was no way the fox had just been a beggar. What did he have? Family? Money? Where did the fox sleep?

Belatois grumbled loudly, drawing an angry glare from the raven for shaking him out of his train of thought. But his expression softened as he extended a talon to the raccoon.

"Thank you Belatois. If he shows up here, send a message."

The old raccoon shook his talon firmly, grinning. "Of course. You'll be owing me that week of work."

The raven turned and braced himself for the impending cold, pulling his wings up over his shoulders to shield him.

"Wait. Your nose isn't as good as mine. He smelled of a strange musk. Like soil and stone, but not the kind you would find around here. Just like... well... I think you can guess who." Belatois paused. The raven continued to walk. "Good luck, son. If he really is in trouble, I'm not sure what you can do," Dusk heard as he reached the door. With a grunt, he pushed it open against the resistance of the wind. He turned back to Belatois.

"Simple. I'll save him," he stated before leaving. The wind slammed the door shut behind him.

Dusk huddled against the wind as he stepped from the Belatois' deck and headed out of the market, towards the city center. This would be easier for the raven than finding the shop again. He could navigate straight towards the enormous tower that market the Odvynn's heart: a tall spire known as the citadel, where the upper classes ruled from. It was late, but he knew of one patrol guard who certainly would speak with him. Animosity could be a powerful tool. Dusk held to the shadows as he navigated the alleys. The park was where they had met the first time, so it was as good a place as any to start looking for Garavier. It took the raven about an hour to reach the city center proper.

Eventually, there were no alleys to sneak through. The streets were extraordinarily well maintained in this part of the city. Apartments and shops gave way to lavish estates and truly magnificent shrines and statues. Real electricity-powered lamps lined the roads. It really was impressive, but it made the raven's life more difficult. Anyone could tell he didn't belong here. The trick would be getting caught by the right guard. Crouching down next to a fence beneath a streetlight, Dusk grabbed his tobacco pouch and rolled a cigarette. He wiped a couple stray strands from his talons on his coat before standing and grabbing the matches from his coat pocket. Down the street, the unmistakable clanking of steel boots on cobblestone echoed through the air. The feet were heavy. The raven felt confident, and lit his cigarette. It had taken some time to learn how to hold one in his beak securely. Sure enough, a familiar shadow emerged beneath the streetlamps. He placed his talons in his coat pockets and stepped into the street, turning towards the approaching figure. Puffs of smoke escaped around the edges of his beak.

As details of the approaching guard came into focus, the raven folded his wings back behind him. Adrenaline tended to keep him warm enough. He remained still as the enormous lion marched forward intently. Garavier wore his uniform proudly. Not a single thread was out of place on the red cloak that rustled about in the wind behind him. His mane was perfectly groomed, armor was perfectly shined. The electric streetlamps reflected brightly off the lion's armored chest as he drew close. Garavier stopped within ten paces of the raven.

"I should kill you for showing up here again. Nobody would miss a demon." There was a strong tone of disdain in the lion's voice.

Don't let naivety get to you, Dusk reminded himself. He took a deep breath and let out a large cloud of smoke before flicking his beak quickly to the side, tossing the cigarette away. The small flame burst on impact with the street, bursting into several small cinders that quickly faded away. "Hello to you too, Garavier."

"Sergeant. Or Sir," the lion corrected.

The guard was fingering the pistol on his hip. The raven was tall, and stood above most, but the lion made him look absolutely miniscule. Dusk wasn't sure his beak could even reach the base of the lion's mane. And Garavier was pure muscle. He held his pistol, ready to draw, because he knew what the raven carried. The warhammer on the lion's back was far more intimidating, though. It was plain, but well maintained, like the rest of the guard. Pure steel with leather wrapped around the grips. Far too heavy for the raven to even lift.

"Just how badly do you want to kill me, Garavier?" Dusk laughed.

"Last warning, demon. Address me with respect," the imposing lion growled.

"I need your help. Sir," the raven slurred the title with contempt. He couldn't grin with a beak, but the lion visibly shook at the implied insult, so he knew he was pushing the right buttons. Dusk was close.

"Leave. Before I arrest you. Or worse."

"I'm looking for someone. Sir. A friend of mine has gone missing. Sir. He's a street urchin. An orphan, too." Dusk tilted his head inquisitively at the lion. "Wait, that sounds just like you, doesn't it, Garavier?"

That was enough. The lion drew his pistol, but not to shoot, so the raven kept his talons rested firmly in his coat pockets. The gun rested in his right hand as the humongous guard marched towards him. Dusk knew the lion had wanted to do this since they had first met. He was actually surprised at Garavier's restraint until now. The raven tried to roll with the blow, but it came surprisingly fast from the enormous lion. In one swift motion, Garavier had shifted forwards, raising the pistol high above his and swinging it down with shocking agility. Dusk's upper body went limp as his core braced, swinging his head down as the overwhelming might of Garavier's strength was brought down on his face. The raven would be lucky if his beak wasn't cracked.

Dusk grunted in pain, but with a shift of his right foot and a tensing of his core muscles, he managed to remain on his feet. They both remained still for a moment, Dusk leaning over with his hands buried in his pockets, and Garavier looming over him, shaky right hand clutching the pistol down and away from them both. Heavy breathing was all that could be heard in the otherwise abandoned streets. After composing himself, the raven righted himself, taking a deep breath and tilting his beak straight up in the air. He closed his eyes as he took a deep breath. The handle of the gun hadn't made direct contact. It hit Dusk's forehead pretty hard, but had glanced off and dragged its way down across his cheekbone and along his beak. It all hurt, but nothing felt broken. He was going to feel this for a long while.

Finally catching his breath, the raven squared off with the lion again. They were now within striking distance. Garavier was panting. Dusk was surprised at the wide eyed stare he was met with.

"I'm... sorry Sergeant. I've misunderstood you," Dusk stated, sincerely. "I assume those with power will abuse it. You clearly are not comfortable striking someone out of anger. And I was provoking it, so don't feel guilty," the raven chuckled.

"How do you know about me?" the lion panted, barely able to contain the distraught undercurrent in his voice. He had barely moved since hitting the raven. For a seasoned veteran, Garavier's reaction was percurlier.

"I will tell you Sergeant, but I have no desire to fight you and I think I'd rather sit down after all that," Dusk said, letting a slight pleading tone escape his voice.

After a few moments, the lion righted himself and holstered his firearm. Garavier nodded, still wearing a blank expression, probably trying to determine the raven's intent. Dusk slowly walked back to the fence and sat with a thud and a groan. He rolled another cigarette, allowing the lion to collect himself before speaking. "Would you like one?" Dusk was met with a continued blank stare. "Sergeant. Sorry," he corrected himself. That seemed to shake Garavier out of it.

"No."

Good enough, Dusk thought. He removed his matches, slowly, of course. He didn't want to startle the giant and get shot, or worse, obliterated into nothingness by that fucking hammer. The raven lit his cigarette and sighed before looking up at the lion.

"Sometimes avenging the people who nobody else will look after... means you have to blackmail those in power." Dusk watched the lion carefully as he spoke. "In truth, I just stumbled upon your past. Belatois, you know, has a soft spot for people like you and me. And, like the fox I'm looking for. Kids who are going through what he went through. First time we met, he threatened me with a gigantic lion guard who owed him a favor"

The lion visibly relaxed when he heard Belatois' name, although he continued to hold his holstered pistol. "Is he ok?"

"I just spoke with him, actually."

"What did you do to him?" the lioned snarled, angrily. The gun wasn't drawn, but it was raised out of the holster again. The guard may feel guilt over hitting someone out of pure suspicion, be he probably wouldn't hold back if he thought the old raccoon was in danger.

Dusk chuckled, averting his gaze, trying to remain calm. "You mean what do I owe him now? I'm sure you'll believe this, since you think I'm a demon. I have to work for him in his lab for a week if he helps me find the fox." Garavier sighed and relaxed again. He still held his pistol and loomed intimidatingly over the raven, but his grip on the firearm relaxed. Dusk continued, cautiously. "I... Need to find him... No one else will..." A tear unintentionally streaked across the raven's cheek and down his beak.

The lion grunted but didn't otherwise respond. Dusk looked up to meet his eyes.

"You could set me up, frame me, so you could finally be rid of me. I would let you. Just... please... help me find him..."

Several long, silent moments passed. "What would you have me do?"

"I would just like to know if you find his body, Sergeant. Your or any of the guards, that is. He's about 18, small, even for a red fox. From behind, he could be mistaken for a woman. He had four piercings in his left ear and two in his right. Do you, maybe, want to write this down?"

Garavier shook his head. "I'll remember."

Dusk nodded, puffing on his smoke. "Belatois said he smelled of soil and stone, but not like the kind you find around the city. More musky, strangely musky."

The lion took a deep breath and released his hand from his gun. He pulled a notepad from a satchel beneath his flowing red cloak and wrote a quick note before tearing the paper from the pad. He stared harshely at the raven. "I am on patrol demon. You have wasted enough of my time. I will escort you to the edge of the Citadel and you will never show your face here again."

Dusk nodded and stood. He flicked the cigarette aside with a twitch of his beak and placed his talons back in his coat pockets. He walked ahead of the lion.

"Left here. Do you not remember how you got here?" Dusk shifted course after giving the lion a swift nod. Lucky his black feathers concealed his blush of embarrassment. Upon reaching the front arch marking the entrance to the grand Odvynn City Center, Dusk felt a not-too-subtle paw slip into his coat pocket, passing the note to the raven's talon.

The raven heard the unmistakable clank of steel-plated boots marching away. Dusk walked in the opposite direction in turn, making sure the claws on his bare feet-talons clicked on the stone. It would be dawn by the time he reached his destination. Too much time was passing. He had to be swift if he was going to find the fox alive. Although, panic wouldn't serve anyone. After walking a fair distance away, Dusk lit a match and read the note Garavier had slipped him. It was an address. Dusk began circling around towards the merchant-class residential district. It stood on the opposite side of the Citadel from the direction he came, away from the slums. Dusk trembled slightly as he tossed the match aside and stuffed the note back into his pocket. The wind had only picked up, and once again he was freezing. He was also acutely in pain. But neither compared to the emotional strain. Who would have thought, sincerity was the best path with a damn guard, the raven thought to himself. He struggled to hold back the tears as he thought of the fox. Dusk needed to understand his friend. It was the only chance he had to figure this out. And, yet, he didn't even have a name.

There was one thing he had lied about. The raven had implied to Garavier that he, too, was an orphan. And for that, Dusk felt guilty. He wished he could empathize with the lion, and on some level he could. Be he knew he could never understand growing up without a parent. The raven had been raised by his mother. They had bonded upon his emergence from his egg, and she had taught him just about everything he knew.

Moon was her name, and she was a detective and an expert swordsman. Plus, she was clever beyond belief. No raven had any connection to the aether that fueled magic. In fact, legend spoke of a severance between ravens and their "deity." They were infamous nonetheless, or, maybe, it was because of that very legend that they held their renown. After all, what kind of species would murder their own God? Dusk didn't concern himself with lore much, but it helped him maintain perspective, helped him understand why he was eyed with such suspicion wherever he went. Some people took their relationships with the gods very seriously. Regardless of how it happened, their lack of connection to the aether had fueled their ingenuity. They could accomplish more without magic than most could with. Ravens were generally intelligent and educated beyond compare once their apprenticeship was completed. Dusk had seen more of the world and read more books from all those places than most aged scholars in Odvynn. His Mother had made sure of it.

Omni, the blade concealed beneath his coat on his left hip, had been his mother's, a parting gift once he completed his first case. The nomadic nature of his people meant it was likely he would never see Moon again. Dusk had never met his father, which was normal for his species. The gun concealed on his right hip was the only memento he had. Nova was the pistol's name. Moon told him his father was a gunsmith named Forger. He had made the weapon specifically for his first offspring, apparently the best he had ever crafted. Most guns required extensive magic treatment to function, and only fired once. Ravens had no need for magic. Metal was projected by a chemical mixture self-contained in individual cylinders. Dusk's pistol could be fired five times before it required cleaning and reloading. It had taken him years to learn from the books his father had left with the weapon, but he could replicate it well enough, now. It had cost him many singed feathers, and he still got it wrong occasionally. There was always the special cartridge his father had left him, though, in case of emergency. Those five shots were guaranteed to work, although he wasn't exactly sure what they did. "Good against bad things." The gunsmith wasn't the most eloquent writer.

Stars in the sky began to fade away as the full moon crept closer to the horizon. It would be morning soon. The wind only seemed to pick up, wisping garbage and dried leaves around the streets and chilling the raven to the bone. It would be winter soon. He could only hope the fox would survive to see the season change, that he could find him in time. Once again, the raven could move about inconspicuously. Gas lanterns dotted the streets occasionally, but back streets and alleys allowed him to avoid the subtle glow of the flames here amongst middle-class residences. The sky was illuminating with impending dawn by the time the raven found the street on the note Garavier passed him. He had accidentally circled around it several times by mistake. Tightly-packed four-to-five story brick buildings dominated the area. He risked walking the main street to find the address as quickly as he could. Lamps began illuminating the windows around him as Dusk marched on with urgency. Bare talons clicked softly. No other noise could be heard down the dark street.

It was a shop. The brick building stood only two stories tall and had a subtle sign above the door: Dungrath's Goods. It looked like a house had been converted to a convenience shop. No light came from the windows. After a moment facing the shop, the raven turned and moved to the back alley. He made his way between two nearby houses, flying, or rather using his wings to help him jump, over a fence between them. The alley was dark, but not entirely quiet. Movement could be heard from behind Dungrath's. Dusk crept closer. A wooden staircase connected the upper floor of the shop to the ground. A cellar rested at the base of the stairs, next to the back entrance to the shop. The raven approached and listened. The noise was coming from the cellar. It was indistinct, mostly shuffling-like sounds accompanied by the occasional voice. He couldn't make out what they were saying. Dusk drew Nova and opened the cellar doors.

Wooden steps led down to darkness. The raven closed the cellar door as quietly as he could behind him before creeping on. The short staircase opened to an open, dark and dank storage room filled with shelves. The shuffling noise clarified into footsteps and grunts. Large objects being lifted, maybe, but still a distance off. Dusk stalked along the walls, pistol raised up next to his beak. His right talons rested comfortably in the grip, trigger-finger held along the metallic side of the gun and his left claw supporting the base, ready to absorb the recoil should he be forced to fire twice. In one of the corners, the raven discovered a ladder heading down a narrow, person-sized hole. A pulley stood above it and a torch illuminated the path below, flickering about as the raven knelt and listened. The voices were distinguishable from here. Dusk holstered Nova and waited. Eventually, he heard what he was hoping for.

"It g'na be lit soon," a gruff voice could be heard saying, faintly, echoing off the tunnel walls. The raven fell back, hiding amongst darkness of the shop's stock. Soon, one by one, five men of different species and sizes moved past. They exited the cellar and lingered on the street for a moment, chatting, before dispersing. Dusk waited, listening for anyone else, before heading back to the ladder down. He stepped over the edge and dropped, fanning his wings out at the last second to push down on the air, absorbing the impact. He landed and tucked in his wings, rolling to take the momentum of the impact off his feet. The torches had been extinguished, but the embers remained. He grabbed one and blew on it, fanning the flame until it reemerged. The path ahead seemed well worn, but probably hand dug. He moved on, forced to crouch to navigate the small tunnel. After several minutes, he finally reached a wooden door, which pushed inwards.

The narrow cave opened into an immense structure. It took the raven a moment to realize where he was. It appeared to be a cathedral. The small wooden door opened up directly behind an alter. The platform was large and contained an elaborate sculpture of a feral raven that stood nearly the entire height of the sprawling stone building. He couldn't make out the sculpture's head with just the torchlight. Each feather was engraved with a unique pattern, wonderfully detailed with hypnotizing patterns full of never ending swirling motions. A lectern stood at the edge of the altar, beyond which a sea of pews rested. Dusk hopped down and walked down the aisle between the seats, torch held high. At the end sat two elaborate 40 foot tall door, decorated with intricate black metal carvings of ravens flyings about. Several small, wooden boxes sat near the base. He extinguished his torch on the stone floor and waited, resting on a pew near the door. He stretched out his wings and sat back, closing his eyes.

Edges of a forming dream lingered as a loud creaking stirred Dusk from sleep. He twitched his head back and forth as he took several deep breaths. He was already full of adrenaline and excitement but had to contend with the cobwebs of drowsiness. The raven remained still as several torches flickered in. Most were extinguished, but a couple remained to illuminate the path forward for the rest as the small crates were lifted. Dusk silently stood. He stepped onto the backrest of the bench and walked towards the group. Crouching down at the edge of the pew, perched on top the backrest, he spread his wings out before leaping forwards, landing in the doorway. It was only then that the oblivious group realized something was amiss.

"Do you understand where you are?" Dusk asked, adding extra bass to his voice.

There were four of them. A young mouse clutched his torch in the back, shaking in surprise as he turned towards the raven. Next to the mouse, lifting the crates, were a rat and a raccoon. Both looked strong and had pistols resting on their hips. They seemed surprised and hadn't drawn them yet. Nearest him was a huge, ripped bull, who wasn't close to being intimidated by the raven's antics. He charged, an enormous right hooved hand swinging in wildly. Dusk took a deep breath and braced himself. He rested his weight over his right leg while extending his other leg forwards and to the left, adjusting his hips. Just before impact, he moved, shifting to the left, narrowly avoiding the tremendous blow. He gripped the bull's wrist with his right talon, digging his claws into flesh as he swung about. The raven allowed the bull to follow through for a moment before using the enormous creature's momentum against him. He gripped the bull's elbow with his left hand and pulled as hard as he could. The awkward motion pulled the bull's shoulder from it's socket. At the same time, he kicked the bull's left foot out from under him, causing a catastrophic stumble and fall upon the already injured shoulder. Dusk drew Nova and held her next to his beak, standing over the fallen bull.

"This all belongs to us now. One warning. Get out. Now." The rat and the raccoon glanced at each other before promptly dropping their crates and fleeing, hands in the air. The raven stood aside. "You too." He pointed the gun down at the bull, who began crawling with a whimper before getting to his feet and hobbling away in pain. Dusk turned to the mouse, who was still shaking and clutching the torch. The raven holstered his gun.

"What's your name?" Dusk asked as he knelt next to one of the dropped crates and examined the contents. Inside were several small vials, still fully intact despite the fall. He couldn't make out much. They were filled with fluid but unmarked. The raven stood and faced the mouse, holding his hands out to the side. "I'm not going to hurt you. What's your name?"

"C..." The wide-eyed mouse was breathing quickly. "C... Um... Caradyn."

Dusk took a step closer before kneeling down, folding his wings in. He wasn't quite within reach, but he was close. "Do you know what is in these crates, Caradyn?"

The mouse closed his eyes and sniffled. He continued to clutch the torch. Dusk was worried he may set himself on fire, but he didn't want to scare the boy. Eventually Caradyn managed to shake his head side-to-side slowly.

"How old are you, Caradyn?" Dusk asked, softly. The mouse was pure white. His ears were large for a mouse. He was young.

Caradyn sniffled, eyes still closed and muzzle tucked down. Small scratches scarred his ears and muzzle. Dusk waited patiently for him to answer. "Eleven... I think..."

"Everything's going to be fine Caradyn. If you answer my questions, I'll pay you." The raven slowly removed a few silver pieces from a pouch on the back of his belt and held them forwards. The mouse peaked through tear filled eyes at that.

"What do you want to know...?" the mouse hesitantly inquired.

"Does it smell... strange down here, to you? Musky?" Dusk asked.

The mouse squinted and tilted his head slightly, confused at the question. He considered for a moment. "I guess... It used to... smell funny down here... but not anymore..."

Dusk nodded and placed a silver piece on the ground between them.

"Who were those men? How did they find you?"

The mouse sighed and eyed the silver before finding the courage to meet the raven's eyes. "They're Claws."

A street gang, Dusk figured. He nodded, waiting for the mouse to continue, still holding a few more silver pieces in his talon.

"Some of us sleep down here. They protected me from a wolf who was chasing me. Said they'd paid me if I helped 'em."

Dusk nodded and dropped a second silver piece on the ground. "Do you know a fox, maybe eighteen years old but small. He has two piercings in his right ear and four in his left. I'm guessing he would have been kind to you if you knew him."

Caradyn thought for a few moments before shaking his head. "I don't think so..."

The raven added another silver piece to the pile. "How did you first find the caves down here?"

"I've always known. They're all over, under the city," the mouse stated confidently.

Dusk nodded and dropped the last of the silver pieces and stood, stepping back a pace. The mouse hastily reached forwards and gathered the coins before standing back.

"Can you show me around down here? I'll pay you," Dusk asked.

"I don't know where we are here but if we go back up I can show you how I usually get in. You gotta pay me first though," the mouse stated.

Dusk chuckled. "Tell you what. I'll feed ya and pay for a room at the inn i'm staying at. You can show me tomorrow."

The mouse eyed him suspiciously before extending his paw forwards. Dusk reached out and shook.

"Deal," the kid nodded.

Kneeling, Dusk grabbed a few of the vials before heading back to the secret exit behind the alter. Caradyn followed a distance behind, shuffling the coins around in his hands. Together, they snuck out of the shop and began the long walk back to the slums. The mouse made sure to stay a good distance behind the raven as they walked. Soon, people began emerging into the streets, and be started getting uncomfortable glances and stares in the daylight. It took nearly two hours to reach the inn, but the walk had been uneventful. The scent of eggs, bread, and ham filled the air as the raven walked inside. A rather fat bear sat behind the bar, ferociously eating. He was the owner. Gershwald was his name. The black bear looked up from his meal when Dusk approached. He wiped some grease from the side of his muzzle with the back of his paw before smiling warmly. "What can I do for ya?"

"I need food and a place to sleep for the boy."

"Alright come on back here and I'll get ya settled." The friendly bear made a wide motion with his paw for the mouse to join him for breakfast. Dusk dropped a silver piece on the bar.

"I'll be back for him tonight." The raven rolled a cigarette and lit it before turning to leave. He was fatigued and his skull was throbbing, but he still had work to do.

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A single flame flickered about above Nook as he finally managed to get to his feet. It had been some time since the monster had left him there in a pool of cum, covered in welts and bruises and a little bit of blood. The fox had drifted in and out of terror-filled sleep for some time, but was now firmly awake. He grabbed the lantern from the hook above him and looked around. The room was vast but completely empty. The floor consisted of marble tiles, all pure black, which led to bare stone walls. Walls curved upwards and formed a dome. It almost felt as though someone had put flooring down inside a cavern. The fox paced around but could not find a door or passage out of the room. His heart raced nervously, dread settling in. A demon. A real demon. And no way out. With a shudder and a soft whimper, the fox sat back down with the lantern and watched the flame flicker about. There was nothing to distract him from the inevitability of the demon's return. He waited, filled with terror.

No sound was made, but the demon had entered. The scent was the first indication. Nook wrinkled his nose and panted softly in fear. It was musky and pungent, the slightest trace of the odor striking his senses with force and it only grew stronger. It wasn't revolting, unfortunately. The fox would have an easier time accepting that. No, it was worse, it was arousing. The fox could feel his sheath begin to physically react to the scent alone. Nook nearly jumped out of his skin when a claw perched itself on his shoulder. The fox yelped loudly in shock, falling over and shuffling away from the sudden touch. He looked back and up and was met by the horrifying grin of the wolf. Nook suddenly found himself unable to move. He wanted to stand and run, or at least try to stay out of the wolf's reach, but he couldn't move as the wolf walked forward, standing over him. With the lantern still glowing on the floor, Nook could make out more details of his captor. Almost everything was, in fact, pure black: the wolf's fur, his claws, even his horns. His eyes continued to glow red and his pure white teeth glistened in the torchlight. The fox could only tremble, afraid at what would come next.

The demon-wolf held a small, glass flask. Nook could just barely make out the movement of a dark liquid as he watched in fear. The bottle was uncorked and the wolf crouched down, straddling the fox's knees. It was held threateningly over his sheath.

"Hold still, little fox." The demon grinned, watching the fox's eyes as a thin trickle of liquid began flowing from the lip of the flask and directly into the fox's sheath. Nook gasped loudly but was otherwise restrained. It was warm, but not uncomfortably so. It would actually have felt pretty good if it wasn't so horrifying. The fox didn't know the demon's intentions, so the warm tingling over the tip of his cock only drew terror from the fox. Nook began to tear up as he watched. The thick, warm fluid was dark in color. It spilled slowly into his sheath, where it welled up before spilling over. It trickled down the sides of his sensitive fur and flesh, coating everything in a thick sheen. It spread over his balls, but seemed to stop there. Nook expected the fluid to begin pooling underneath him as the slow stream spilled over the edges of his sheath, but it never did. In fact, it seemed to stick only to his sheet and testicles. The fur around his stomach and thighs had remained astonishingly clean. The fox watched on in confusion as the demon continued to pour, but it seemed to only thicken the limited areas already coated in the strange substance. It never dripped past his sheath except to coat his balls. The trickle ended with a few gently taps of the demon's claws to make sure the flask had been emptied, before it was resealed and set aside. The wolf grinned menacingly down at the fox.

The warmth began to fade as the fox was forced to remain still. He watched as best he could as the substance seemed to harden. Nook's eyes went wide with fear as he realized what the wolf had done. It felt as though a boulder had fallen on his chest; Nook panted but couldn't seem to breath. His heart raced and his head spun. A million fearful thoughts swirled around Nook's mind, but one dominated: the demon hadn't been joking about his first rape being his last orgasm.

"You can move now." Nook shot up to a sitting position and stared down at his crotch. Trembling paws slowly reached down. With much trepidation, he finally touched his sheath with a single finger. It was slick and perfectly smooth. Nook could feel his skin and flesh shifting with the substance when he touched it, but the feeling was insulated. The contours of his sheath were outlined perfectly, but all evidence of his own fur or flesh was now gone. The fluid had hardened and seemed to bind to his flesh. There were no hints of an edge that could be picked away and it pulled painfully at his skin when he tried to pull it off. It perfectly hid his cock, bound within his sheath and entirely concealed.

"You'll still drip precum when I fuck you and you can urinate through it. But that'll keep you from getting hard," the wolf continued to grin as he watched the fox panic and squirm. Nook was breathing rapidly, tears dripping down his cheeks as panic spread. The demon's sheath began to swell as he watched the fox's turmoil unfold. The chastity device had solidified perfectly over the sheath, ending smoothly at the base and forming a tight ring around the back of the fox's cute, white-furred balls. A gentle sobbing resonated through the cave as an elbow was raised to wipe away the tears. Then the fox made the mistake of meeting those deep red eyes. "Those tears belong on my footpaw, little fox."

It wasn't that Nook had no control over himself. He was just overcome with the desire... the need... to use the demon-wolf's foot to wipe away his tears. The fox knew it was wrong. He felt disgusted with himself but he just couldn't resist. Mortified, he fell forwards onto his elbows and knees and crawled forwards. Overwhelmed, Nook wrapped his paws around the wolf's leg affectionately before gently resting his muzzle on the large, clawed foot. He whimpered softly and he nuzzled the wolf's paw, wiping his tears away gently on the coarse fur. Strong odors filled the fox's sensitive nostrils, unwashed feet and the demon's potent musk, along with a growing hint of arousal from both participants. Nook shifted forwards and hugged the wolf's leg tight, tears running down the demon's calve as he reached his tongue out to stroke at the digitigrade heel.

The demon grit his teeth and growled at the unexpected pleasure. Nook let out an uncontrollable moan of satisfaction. He couldn't quite understand it. The fox knew he was revolted by the demon who had robbed him of his virginity. Those thoughts felt distant, though. He felt his tongue extend again, more confident now, and wrap around the base of the wolf's foot and lick upwards, along the tendon and up along the muscular calf muscle. Nook tilted his head and glanced up at the wolf, his eyes filled with a combination of pure lust and absolute terror. The fox experienced both equally, but he couldn't resist, as desire dominated. He felt as though his actions were his own, but only because of a desperate need for the wolf. Trembling paws clutched the wolf's leg tight as the two stared at each other.

A single tear streaked down Nook's muzzle as he finally understood. He had only felt this way once before: the time he had taken Dusk's talon in his paw and kissed his beak. The demon was going to force him to love. His tears would be harvested as the monster made him enjoy every moment of his torment, never able to forget, and always unable to resist. Nook was forced to give into his desire as he loosened his hug on the wolf's leg and leaned down, taking one of the clawed toes into his muzzle carefully and suckling gently. Sensitive ears twitched upwards, scanning for sounds of approval.

Nook yelped loudly as one of his ears was snatched roughly, claws creating small droplets of blood as the fox was pulled off the foot. A second paw rested firmly behind the base of Nook's skull and pulled him forwards. The fox convulsed and inhaled to let out a second yelp before his vision began to fade and he nearly collapsed, further straining the sharp tug against his ear. Excruciatingly lightheaded, Nook could do nothing but pant and try to regain his bearings, his senses overwhelmed. Upon coming out of his minor fainting, the first thing he noticed was the straining against his sheath.

Throbbing in the fox's sheath was no longer met with a satisfying swelling. It was worse than being at full arousal without pulling his sheath back. That only contained his thick cock within his expandable sheath. This was far worse. The black substance coating his sheath refused to allow even a little swelling, despite all the blood flooding to his groin in arousal. Nook moaned deeply as he tried desperately to even feel his restricted cock throb, just a single pulse to relieve the growing desire, but he couldn't. Second to his restricted arousal was the realization that his sensitive muzzle was now firmly buried beneath the demon-wolf's hefty, furry balls. He nearly passed out again as he was forced to breath in the overwhelming musk, over and over again. It only made the inability of his sheath to swell more unbearable.

Wordlessly, without needing commanding, Nook's tongue extended and began lapping at whatever musky flesh was within reach. He heard the wolf grunt and the hold on his ear and scruff tighten. The fox felt his own precum begin dripping down his sensitive balls as he worshipped the far larger pair below the wolf. Despite the obvious evidence of his own arousal, the fox's sheath refused any relief whatsoever. The fur and skin was unbelievable musky, tasting of sweat and fur, but there was also something else. It was something unexplainable, and he just needed more. As the grip around his head slowly relaxed, Nook took the increasing freedom to further worship the wonderful taste on his tongue. He wanted nothing more than to bite down as hard as he possibly could, but he found those thoughts suppressed as his gaze once again met the demon's intense red, glowing eyes.

"Stop, little fox, and pull my sheath back."

Nook felt the claws around his head and ear release him as he eagerly shifted back and felt his paws reach up towards the dark crotch. The only resistance he offered was a slight tremble as the fox's paws reached up trepidatiously. Using the tips of his fingers and thumbs, the fox drew the sensitive flesh of the wolf's sheath back. Within seconds, the demon swelled to nearly full arousal. Again, all Nook wanted to do was bite down so he could enjoy the rapist's cries of pain, but he simply couldn't. The enormous cock suddenly presented to him dominated his thoughts, so all resistance was forced to the corners of his consciousness. Nook understood that the restriction of his own pleasure had been forced upon him by the demon, but it didn't seem to matter. He needed more. The stream of precum increased in flow beneath the fox, through the chastity device keeping the sheath from swelling even the slightest bit, as he extended his tongue and took his first taste of the wolf.

Precum dripped from the blunted tip as the fox lapped with his tongue, slowly and affectionately. Nook whimpered as the salty, musky taste of wolf-cock forced its way upon him. Soon he found himself forming a seal around the thick tip with his lips. He suckled strongly before leaning forwards, taking the demoncock deep into his muzzle. Nook's tongue massaged over the protruding ridges on the underside of the throbbing flesh as he sucked as hard as he could. The fox salivated over the cock embedded in his muzzle, desiring more of the overwhelming taste as he coaxed more and more of the wolf's precum down his throat. Nook sat there on his knees, doing his absolute best to pleasure the portion of the demon's cock that was already throbbing along his tongue. He began bobbing his head back and forth slowly, savoring each and every protrusion along the demon's flesh with his tongue and lips, making sure to suckle with each breath.

Panting could be heard from both males as the demon began growing impatient. Nook felt sharp claws grip around both of his sensitive ears before they pulled down harshly. The only way to relieve the sharp pain was to plunge the wolf's enormous cock into his throat. He wanted to gasp and flail but he was breathless and helpless. The cock slipped deep within the fox, and he could feel every part of the enormous flesh throb as his nose was tickled by the wolf's pubic fur. A loud moan of pleasure could be heard above him. Despite himself, Nook's own cock tried desperately to swell and throb, but it could only leak precum futily on the stone floor. The painful grip help the fox in the excruciating position for several long moments before relaxing. Nook gasped and panted in relief. He couldn't help himself, though. As soon as he began to recover, he instantly went back to work, tongue thrashing below the demon's sensitive cock-ridges and suckling intensely.

The demon began rocking his hips against the fox's muzzle. At random, he would grip the fox's ears again and force the little creature to deepthroat the enormous cock. Nook could offer no resistance as his muzzle was thoroughly abused. He couldn't contain the tears, knowing full and well how much he despised the demon raping his muzzle, but unable to do anything but pleasure the wolf as best he could. After what felt like an eternity of soft hip gyrations interrupted by vicious throat-fucking, Nook began feeling the wolf's knot forming against his lips. At first, it was only a subtle swelling against his lips when the rough grip returned and his throat was impaled. Soon, though, it became a bludgeoning threat against his lips and tongue. If the knot wedged itself within the fox's jaw, he would suffocate to death with a demon's dick in his throat. It was enough panic to break through the forced facade. Nook's eyes went wide as he tried desperately to pull away. Tears filled his eyes as he placed his paws on the wolf's thighs and pressed away firmly. He sobbed before the wolf grabbed him firmly and thrust forwards with all his might.

Pain was the trigger. Cum filled Nook's throat as paws threatened to wedge the enormous knot into his muzzle. Tears continued to flow as he tried desperately to avoid a muzzle tie. The demon got off on his fears and panic. Knowing he was outmatched in strength, Nook went to desperate work. His tongue and throat provided as much pressure as possible to allow the the demon to ride out his orgasm without killing the fox. He swallowed as swiftly as possible, but the torrent of seed was overwhelming and soon began spilling out of the edges of his muzzle. The sharp grip on his ears refused to relent, like the flood of cum filling his throat and muzzle. The demon showed mercy, however, once the fox's struggling curtailed to soft paw batting. With a gasp, Nook pulled back and collapsed. He coughed the cum wedged to his throat up as the wolf above him continued to drip onto the back of his neck. The panicked fox was able to regain his breath after a long while, the taste of demon cum firmly affixed to his senses. His fur was coated in the warm marking.

"Good night, little fox."

Suddenly, his tormenter was gone, without a trace. Nook was left with demon cum soaking into his muzzle and fur. His throat was sore, and he still shivered at the threat of suffocation that knot had implied. The fox sobbed softly as he could think of nothing to do now but lay down. Surrounded by demon-wolf cum, both within and around him, Nook tried his best to sleep. The absolute worst part of the whole thing, though, was his own unfulfilled desire. The fox would give anything to be rid of the desire for his cock to swell from his sheath. A knot would have formed instantly, he was sure. Instead, Nook was left to contemplate his arousal alone, surrounded by scent of his rapist, and unable to resist wondering what it would take to be free of the damning chastity.

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