A Path Forward

Story by Talon Drago on SoFurry

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The next chapter of Journeymen! I hope you enjoy, as always comments are welcome!


Mark yawned and stretched as he slowly opened his eyes. He looked around the room slowly, Lucas was not beside him as he should have been. Was it all a dream? He yawned as he looked at the time and sighed softly. It was nearly seven in the morning, he had overslept. He slowly got out of bed and made his way into the living room. The aroma of coffee and breakfast met his nose. He inhaled it deeply as Sebastian walked out from the kitchen and smiled at him. “Good morning Mark, I’ve got coffee and breakfast ready for you.” Mark nodded, “thank you hun but you didn’t have to do that.” The cheetah chuckled, “you really don’t get the concept of servants do you?”

Mark shook his head, “but your not servents here.” The cheetah smiled, “and we know that dear. However if somebody inspected they would need to see us in those roles. Like it or not its the role we have regardless of your views on it.” Mark nodded, “I suppose your right but I still don’t like it. Your not possessions your people.” The cheetah chuckled as he brought Mark his breakfast and coffee. “We thank you for that. For once we are working because we want to not because we have to. The others are out in the fields doing morning chores. Jeremy came in this morning and handed in his resignation. He said he wouldn’t work with us “filthy furs.” Mark sighed and rolled his eyes, “then good riddance. He’s been with us for a long time but I won’t tolerate that ideology being expressed around me.”

Sebastian nodded and smiled as he took a seat and turned the television on. “In my last position I was a house servant. It was decided that I would take care of the house and the cooking. The others decided they wanted to work in the fields so they appointed Lucas their foreman and went off.” Mark nodded, “I need to look at the bills today and make sure everything has been paid.” The cheetah chuckled, “its already taken care of. I handled it this morning after the others went off on their duties.” Mark blushed slightly, “you didn’t have to do that.” The cheetah chuckled, “perhaps but I wanted to. I looked at the financial’s for the farm for the past year. I believe that with some adjustment we can make it even more profitable. I think we can file for heritage status and cut the taxes significantly. This farm has been in your family for many generations and as such I believe you qualify for it.”

Mark nodded, “that’s wonderful. I wonder why father never did that.” The cheetah chuckled, “because it requires a significant amount of paperwork. However, I think we will benefit from it. With more money we can make some investments that I believe will pay for themselves.” Mark nodded, “what did you have in mind?” The cheetah chuckled, “I’m still getting used to humans listening to my idea’s. We can invest in a turbine system to generate our own power. You have several streams that are on the property that can work with the system I have in mind. It will allow us to be self sufficient if the situation gets any worse.”

Mark nodded, “that’s actually a really good idea. The power bill for the farm is really high. We would be able to save the investment back in a short time.” The cheetah nodded, “agreed we would also want to look at some security measures to secure the farm.” Mark nodded, “that would also be a good idea. Do you have any suggestions on whats best?” Sebastian nodded, “I can use my connections with the resistance to get a security system delivered and installed. You have been kind enough to offer us shelter its the least we can do.” Mark nodded, “I don’t want you to trouble yourself though.” The cheetah shook his head, “its no trouble at all. You know I’m still amazed at you. You are truly special.”

Mark chuckled, “I don’t feel special, I never have.” The cheetah nodded, “the reason you fit in so well with us is because you have never really fit in with society. You grew up in conditions very similar to us. In a lot of ways you are a fur, you just don’t have fur.” Mark nodded, “well I suppose your right. Father never even sent me to school. I have no formal education, everything I learned I taught myself.” The cheetah blinked, “he didn’t even get you an education? How did he get away with that, there are laws demanding he do so.” Mark chuckled, “father was never one to follow a law he didn’t have to. He filed paperwork to have me listed as home schooled. He said sending me for an education would take time away from work I could be doing here on the farm. So he faked the tests showing any progress and put me to work. He even built the rooms in the barn so I could live out there. He always said I needed to be close to my work.”

The cheetah sighed and shook his head, “how a man treats his own blood that way I’ll never understand. How did you not grow up with hate in your heart?” Mark laughed, “oh I did. I hated him for a long time, I hated everyone. One day I woke up and realized hating someone was like drinking poison and hoping they would die. Its totally and completely useless, so I made up my mind to not be like him. What Lucas doesn’t know though is it’s me that picked him not father.” Sabasitan raised his eyebrow, “oh?” Mark nodded, “I brought the idea up to father. To let me get a furry to work on the farm. It would help me out with what I had to do and provide extra labor he could benefit from.

I was lonely and desperate for companionship. It was a moment of weakness and I bought another living being.” The cheetah chuckled, “you know I don’t think that would bother Lucas at all. You see had you not bought him someone else would have, and they might not have been the type of master you are. How did you pick him if you don’t mind my asking?” Mark blushed slightly, “well I looked through the catalog and he seemed like he needed a good home. I could see the scars on his body in the photos. I knew he had been mistreated in the past.” Sebastian nodded, “how did you know he wouldn’t be mean and cruel from that.” Mark chuckled, “truthfully I didn’t. Honestly I expected it, its all I had ever known.”

Sabasitan nodded, “well I dare say you chose wisely. Now you have a number of friends. We all have become rather attached to you especially Foxy.” Mark blushed slightly, “oh I see you like him too.” Mark sighed softly, “I don’t know how I really feel about him. I like him don’t get me wrong. Lucas says a man can share his heart with as many as he likes. I’ve always known I was gay and I’ve always wanted a mate like Lucas. I just don’t know if I could get used to the idea of having multiple mates.” Sabasitan nodded, “as furs that concept is natural to us. However, humans have always believed in one mate for life. That concept is a luxury we have have never had. We have always had to chose a mate from whats available, and often change mates frequently. Its not uncommon for a fur to have dozens of mates but each one means as much as the others. More to love doesn’t mean the love is diminished any.”

Mark nodded, “yeah I understand. Its just a strange concept to get used to.” Sebastian nodded, “indeed I can see that it would be. However, just take your time with it. There’s nothing wrong with you playing with any of us that you want to. As we have said before, there’s very little reason to be modest with us.” Mark nodded, “I really enjoyed making love with foxy the other day. Granted I don’t have much experience but it was really good.” The cheetah chuckled, “he enjoyed it too. In fact he hasn’t stopped talking about you since then.” Mark blushed, “I can’t believe he enjoyed it that much. I’m sure he’s been with far better people than me.” The cheetah nodded, “more experienced yes, but you made love to him you didn’t just fuck him like wolf did. Oh I almost forgot, Wolf’s contact should be emailing you our papers today. It will officially make us your property so that if anybody comes to inspect everything will be legitimate and proper.”

Mark nodded, “alright. I still don’t like the idea of you as property but if that’s how it must be then so be it.” The cheetah nodded, “how large is this farm by the way?” Mark smiled, “well its a thousand acres. Lots of land, though many of the fields have fallen into disrepair. We simply haven’t had the manpower to maintain them. We even have several fish ponds. However, its always been Jeremy and myself to tend to everything and its just too much.” The Cheetah nodded, “well if we could get those fields back in use, then perhaps we could plant some crops. It wouldn’t hurt to grow our own food.” Mark nodded, “that’s a great idea. I was also thinking, what if we built a new barn to house the horses in. That way we could turn the old one into better living quarters for you guys.”

Sebastian nodded, “that should be doable. Although what we have now is already better than what we had.” Mark nodded, “to be truthful I was more thinking of the future. I know there’s a limit on what I can do and offer. But I would like to save as many fur’s as I can.” Sebastian nodded, “thats very noble of you. I think that would be a very good thing. Mind you they would have to work, but that’s nothing fur’s aren’t used to.” Mark nodded, “I want this to be a sanctuary for furs. A place they can come and live in peace and safety. A place they don’t have to fear being raped, killed, or beaten. Somewhere they can live and be happy. Hopefully one day all furs can live free without ownership papers, but for now ownership is what it takes to offer what I want to offer them.”

Sebastian nodded, “indeed ownership is all that protects us truthfully. A fur without an owner is vulnerable. They can easily be made to vanish if one owns them. However, ownership is treated differently. A fur, even by himself, with the proper papers is typically left alone.” Mark nodded, “I understand, I don’t like it but I understand.” After finishing his meal, Mark got dressed for the day and walked out to the barn. He smiled as he entered at seeing Foxy changing the hay out.

“Good morning Foxy, I would have gladly done that you didn’t have to.” The fox smiled, “good morning Mark, Lucas put me in charge of the Barn. The others are out feeding the cattle and checking the fences.” Mark nodded as he walked over to the fox and rapped his arms around him from behind. “I just can’t seem to keep my hands off you Foxy.” The fox blushed, “I really don’t see the problem with that.” Mark buried his face into the fox’s fur and inhaled deeply. The aroma of sweat mixed with the fox’s natural musk instantly made him hard.

The fox chuckled, “someone likes the way I smell.” Mark blushed as he took a step back, “I’m sorry I really don’t know why.” Foxy smiled, “its not a problem. You like what you like, there’s no shame in that.” Mark walked up to the fox, wrapped his arms around him, and pulled him into a passionate kiss. Foxy moaned into the kiss as Mark ground his crotch into the fox’s. Foxy made quick work of freeing the human from his pants. He stroked Mark’s member causing the human to shudder with pleasure. Foxy picked mark up and walked into a bedroom stall. He lay Mark on a bed of hay as he removed his shorts. Mark quickly removed his shirt as Foxy lay on top of Mark.

Mark moaned at the sensation of fur rubbing on his skin, he pulled Foxy into a passionate kiss as their members rubbed against each other. Foxy kissed Marks neck as he reached back with one paw to slide Marks cock into his needy hole. Mark moaned as Foxy’s hole enveloped his member inch by inch. Foxy moaned with pleasure as he impaled himself on Mark’s throbbing meat. He wanted, no he needed this. He needed the human and didn’t understand why. He began riding Marks cock softly at first but quickly picked up the pace. Mark moaned as he met the fox’s efforts thrusting savagely into his needy hole. Mark wrapped his arms around Foxy and clung to him as pleasure ripped through his body. He buried his face into the fox’s fur and inhaled deeply.

Mark clung to the fox as his body shook, he tensed up as his orgasm ripped through him. Foxy howled with pleasure as he felt the human pumping his seed into him. He held the human with all his might as an orgasm ripped through him, his meat spewing seed onto Marks stomach and chest. They both breathed heavily exhausted from the effort. Mark held the fox tightly moaning as he milked Marks member for all it could give. He kissed the fox once more as his member slipped free of the fox’s now satisfied hole. They lay there holding each other, no words needed to be shared right now.

Foxy smiled as he looked at the human, Mark blushed as he rubbed the fox’s back. “F..foxy I think I love you.” The fox smiled brightly, “I think I love you too.” Mark smiled brightly, “Foxy would you be my mate?” Tears welled up in the fox’s eyes as he kissed the human. “That would make me very happy, if Lucas doesn’t mind sharing you.” Mark chuckled, “he’s been lecturing me on how people can have more than one mate. Sebastian helped reinforce that this morning.” Lucas chuckled from the doorway, “its about damn time you two made it official. I’m happy for you both and no Foxy I don’t mind sharing him, so long as he doesn’t mind sharing me.” Mark blushed, “of course not.”

Lucas chuckled as he watched the two, it was obvious to everyone they loved each other. That didn’t mean that the love between Lucas and Mark was diminished in any way. In fact just the opposite. Their love was strengthened because it was being shared. Lucas chuckled to himself as he watched the two cuddling. “Mark I came to tell you that the cattle are all doing well. We also fixed a few of the fences around their area to make sure they can’t get out.” Mark nodded, “very good. What all do you want to do today?”

Lucas smiled, “well I spoke with Sebastian and he told me of your plans to clear some of the unused land and farm it. I figured I would send Wolf and Sil out with the heavy equipment to cut back the grass. I’ll take the chainsaw and Blue and we will cut back some of the tree’s for firewood. Fall is almost upon us and we will need it for the fireplace in the house and the wood stoves out here to keep warm.” Mark nodded, “that’s a really good idea. What do you want me to do babe?” Lucas chuckled, “you really don’t get the concept of a master/servant relationship do you?” Mark shook his head, as Lucas continued, “you don’t have to do anything that’s what we are here for.”

Mark sighed, “I don’t care what the law says here you are NOT my slaves.” Lucas smiled as Foxy chuckled, “perhaps but we have it handled. You don’t need to do anything we will take care of it.” Mark nodded, “alright but to be clear I won’t always just sit around letting you all do the work. That’s just not how I am.” Lucas nodded, “I know that, but you’ve had a rough go of it for some time now. Our bodies are designed to handle work much harder than this. You need to take some time and rest. As your mate I insist upon it. Spend some time with Foxy and enjoy yourself. You have more than earned it.” Mark nodded, “alright since you insist. I love you Lucas.” Lucas smiled, “and I love you which is why I’m insisting you take care of yourself.”

Mark nodded as Lucas left to attend to his duties. Foxy chuckled, “you don’t do relaxing very well do you?” Mark sighed, “is it that obvious?” Foxy giggled, “it would be obvious to a blind man.” Mark rolled his eyes, “Foxy all I’ve ever known is work. I’ve lived as a servant my entire life. Growing up I never had anything even resembling a childhood. My mother died shorty after I was born. When I was old enough to lift a rake I was put to work. Now I find myself in the role of Master, even if its only on paper its difficult for me to wrap my head around. Furthermore I don’t want any of you thinking I’m trying to take advantage of you.”

The fox smiled, “Mark the difference between us is that we were born and bred for this. We were designed to work hard and our bodies heal better than yours does. Things that would break you down we can heal from in a matter of days. Remember we chose to stay here. We knew when we made that choice we would have to work. We don’t expect a free ride. We also don’t expect you to kill yourself trying to keep up with us. I agree with Lucas on this, you need to take it easy for a while. Allow your body to recover from the stress and strain its been put under for your entire life. Then we can bring you in to help if you want to.”

Mark nodded, “I know your right. Like I said I just don’t want any of you to feel used.” Foxy nodded, “believe me we don’t. If I have to belong to somebody I would want it to be you. I would make that choice every single time because of who you are. The fact that you want to get out there with us helping says volumes about you hun. My last master was a brothel owner. I was his most prized possession because out of all the furs he had I was the best at what I did. Most humans would fuck me but didn’t want to talk to me. They would fuck me as hard as they could trying to make me cry or scream or show any emotion. It all started when I was a kit. To be honest I never really felt anything. I learned to enjoy it so I learned how to make my clients cum as quickly as possible so I could move on to the next. My master used to say I had turned sex into an art form.

The others were not so lucky. I’ve seen furs killed because their clients complained too much. I’ve seen the beaten because the master felt like it. You however, when you fucked me it was something different. Something new that I had never experienced. You actually touched me. You made love to me as another living being. After being a cum dump my entire life it was something I wasn’t prepared for. Hell you gave me a name, another thing I’ve never had. You see us as people not objects. Hell even other furs see me as nothing more than a sex toy.”

Mark chuckled, “well you are really good at it. However, your not a sex toy to me. Although I really can’t explain why I can’t seem to keep my hands off of you.” Foxy smiled, “well that’s probably my fault. You see I was an experimental fur. I was genetically engineered to produce a very strong pheromone that others find attractive. However I was considered a failure because it didn’t affect anyone the way they thought it would. You, however, seem to be the exception.” Mark nodded as he held his foxy. “Nobody will ever treat you like a toy or a cum dump while I have a breath left in my body!” Foxy smiled, “I know and I love you very much.” The two smiled and drifted to sleep holding each other.

Sebastian smiled as Lucas walked into the kitchen. “Good afternoon, are you hear for lunch?” Lucas shook his head, “no the others decided to finish up what they were doing and then have some dinner. We did have a big breakfast after all. I took a break and left them to their chores so I could come check on you and Mark.” The cheetah chuckled, “last I saw of him he was headed to the barn.” Lucas nodded, “he and Foxy are an item now. I came up earlier and caught them making love to each other.” Sebastian nodded, “does that bother you?”

The canine chuckled, “not at all. In fact I’m excited for them. It seems that he actually listened to what I was trying to tell him about loving multiple people.” The cheetah chuckled, “I might have talked with him about it too this morning. It was obvious that he was interested in Foxy, I only gave him the push he needed.” Lucas nodded, “thank you for that.” The cheetah chuckled, “your thanking me for encouraging your mate to sleep with someone else?”

Lucas chuckled, “well I suppose I am. Mark needs this, he needs these emotional bonds. He has never had it before. I’m glad he has it now. The only issue I’m having now is getting through to him about the difference between a master and a servant. He wants to get out there and work with us and I’m just plain against it.” The cheetah nodded, “you do realize there is very little chance on him listening to you about that right?” The canine sighed softly, “yes I know. Its just that we are designed for hard work like this, his human body isn’t. I want him to live a long happy and healthy life. As it stands if he keeps up the level of work he’s doing he will be completely worn out by the age of thirty.”

Sebastian nodded, “yeah I agree with that. In fact I’m glad your here. Mark wants to build another barn for the horses and turn this into a sanctuary for furs.” Lucas chuckled, “I’m not surprised. That’s exactly what I’ve come to expect from him.” The cheetah nodded, “I’ve decided to get the underground to pay for it. Granted war is looming but as Wolf said we have to do something. I think this is a really good way to do something meaningful. I’ve always wanted to build a sanctuary but never had the resources to do it. Now we do and Mark is willing to help.”

Lucas nodded, “any furs we rescue will have to understand this is a farm and they will have to work. There are no free rides.” The cheetah nodded, “well obviously. The only way this would work is to keep up the appearance of Mark being the owner and us his farm hands. I created a fur ledger for him showing our various responsibilities. I have you listed as foreman, myself as housekeeper, foxy as his personal servant, and the others as farmhands. Furthermore it would only be right that Mark would build facilities for us to take care of his possessions. So everything he’s wanting to do will be above board. It will withstand any scrutiny from anybody.” Lucas nodded, “thank you for that. I want to make sure that Mark is safe.” The cheetah chuckled, “have no fear. This isn’t my first rodeo, I know how to keep us below the radar. The fact that we are starting to use more of the land here will work in our favor. That way when we do bring new furs on we can show a need for it if anybody asks or inspects. The government will grow suspicious of any operations employing large numbers of furs. So long as we can show the need, the work being done, and have all documents in order than we will all be fine.”

Lucas nodded, “alright. I will trust you on this then. How did you learn all of this?” The cheetah smiled, “my last master was a government employee. When he was sleeping I read all of his books on laws governing the ownership of furs. Knowledge is our best weapon in these uncertain times. Its very unfortunate that a group of radical furs detonated that bomb. All it served to do was destabilize an already difficult situation.” Lucas nodded, “believe me Mark’s father being gone is no loss. However, I do agree with you. Hell before I met Mark I would have agreed with them. Not all humans are bad, just some.” The cheetah nodded, “unfortunately the good one’s are often crushed by the bad.” Lucas nodded as Sebastian brought Lucas a glass of water.

“I talked with Mark about installing a power generator to power the farm. He liked the idea and I’ll have it done. I’m going to get the underground to pay for it too.” Lucas nodded, “is it wise to invest so much of the undergrounds money here?” Sebastian chuckled, “the reality is the undergrounds days are numbered. The word from leadership is to invest in any project like this that we can that stands a chance of surviving the undergrounds collapse.” Lucas nodded, “why is its days numbered?”

Sebastian sighed, “the situation is worse than anyone knows. We are on the verge of a full scale war. Attacks and counter attacks are happening each day. The government has stepped in to try and restore order but its only making things worse. The government has stepped up inspections of large scale businesses to ensure all paperwork is in order. Eventually someone will get lucky and find some branch of our operation. The government will then do what it always does, it will blame us for all of this and go after us as public enemy number one. Once that happens the last remaining safeguards keeping an all out war from breaking out will be gone. There are furs all over the planet that are arming themselves for an uprising. The underground is trying to ease the tensions however, there’s very little we can actually do.”

Lucas nodded, “won’t they just trace the money back here?” Sebastian shook his head, “no they can’t. I’ve applied for heritage status for the farm, once that’s approved I’ll apply for whats called a heritage grant. In reality the business it will be granted through is underground controlled. So we can transfer the funds without raising an eyebrow. Even if they did trace it they couldn’t prove anything. So we are as safe as we can be in these uncertain times.” Lucas nodded as Foxy and Mark walked through the back door.

Lucas chuckled at seeing a completely naked fox and a human in just his underwear. Mark blushed brightly, “s...sorry I didn’t know anyone would be in here.” Lucas grinned, “well obviously. What are you two upto?” Mark blushed as Foxy walked into the bedroom, Lucas chuckled as he shook his head. “I’m glad your taking my advice.” Mark chuckled, “well I figured we would get to know each other better. You said I needed to relax!” Lucas chuckled, “I’m just glad your enjoying yourself.” Mark walked up to Lucas and pulled him into a kiss, as he broke the kiss he looked into the canines eyes. “I just want to make sure that your okay with this. I love you with my heart and soul and I want to make sure that I’m not hurting you.” Lucas smiled and hugged his human, “Mark you are not and have not hurt me. Now go and enjoy your fox, make sure you fill him up properly.” Mark blushed as he walked into the bedroom. Lucas smiled as he heard moans coming from the room. Sebastian smiled, “he needs this Lucas you are a good mate.” Lucas smiled, “I don’t mind this hun. He needs this and I’m happy he has it. The cheetah smiled, “your a good mate.” Lucas blushed, “not as good as Mark has been.”

Lucas smiled as Mark emerged from the bedroom with a still naked Foxy in tow. Mark had put on shorts but nothing else. Wolf, Blue, Sil, and Sebastian were sitting around in the living room enjoying coffee. Mark sat in Lucas’ lap as the canine wrapped his arms around his mate. Lucas smiled as he looked at the time. It was five in the evening, Mark and Foxy had spent the day making love and bonding. Wolf chuckled as Foxy walked out of the kitchen with a glass of water in paw. “So are we not wearing any clothes now?” Foxy giggled and swayed his hips, “what don’t like the view? Its not like any of you haven’t seen it, hell you all have fucked it.” Wolf blushed slightly as Sil chuckled. Well I assume Mark has satisfied you. Foxy blushed brightly as Mark giggled, “he was really good. I’ve never been this satisfied before.”

Mark blushed slightly at the fox’s praises. Lucas rubbed Marks chest causing the human to shiver slightly. Lucas chuckled, “I think I like you shirtless.” Mark chuckled, “well none of you wear shirts I was starting to feel over dressed.” Sebastian smiled as he watched everyone. They were laughing and smiling. This had become their home and while he never planned for that he was okay with it. Mark wasn’t a master he was a friend. He had even taken two furs as mates, something that was unheard of. The future was uncertain but then again wasn’t it always. For now they had a home and that’s all that mattered.