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"STAND WITH ME!" The voice boomed, echoing across the battlefield, there was no defeat in that voice, there was strength, nobility and determination. The young prince standing proud, sword in one paw, shield in the other, his armour glistening silver and red in the light, a purple silk cape hanging from his dashing shoulders. He pulled off his helmet to reveal a mane of jet black fur to frame his handsome face. "STAND WITH ME!" He bellowed again, ducking under the swing of an enemy soldier, turning with skill to hack his sword deep, through the rabbit's leather armour and into the soft flesh beneath.

All around him, war was raging, his men had been sent there to hold for an hour. "Just give me one hour son, and I'll turn the tide." his father's words. They had the high ground, the enemy had numbers, so many numbers he could not count. One thousand men, atop a hill, with only their prince to lead them, for an hour. That hour had passed, and another six like it. Their favourable position had been assailed again and again.

The bodies of his men littered the hillside, many he knew by name. They were good lads, brave and true. They deserved better than to die on top of some lonely hill, surrounded by their fallen brothers in arms, and their enemies. Tallian gripped his sword, his arms and legs ached with weariness, in all his years and even through this long war he could never remember feeling so tired. His armour, if weighed down on him tenfold. "STAND! HOLD THEM BACK! FOR YOU HOME, FOR YOUR FAMILY, FOR YOUR KING! STAND WITH ME, AND FIGHT!"

Another two lapines targeted him, his bellows making the prince easy to find, a captain on the battlefield. A prince of the realm, one amazing story to tell, back in the tavern. The females that could be impressed into some act of dishonour, for a man who took down the firstborn son of the lion king. One received the prince's broad shield to the face, stunned he fell back to his knees. Tallian caught the other lapine's wild swing with his sword, using his strength he pressed forward hard, holding their blades locked as he drove his shoulder into the attacker's face, blood streamed from his opponent's nose. However a nosebleed was the last thing the young soldier would worry about, as the lion swung again, cutting his head from his body, it bounced and rolled down the hill.

"FIGHT! ON YOUR FEET, SWORDS AND SHIELDS READY, STAND WITH ME!" He bellowed again defiantly and it was working, his men were taking up his cry. He saw a downed warrior pull an arrow from his chest and heave himself up, willing to use his last moments to fight the battle, to the last.

"A fresh rush, Captain," a voice called from behind him. Tallian didn't need it pointed out, he could see another wave of lapines breaking from the ranks of the horde that seemed to cover the entire world before him.

"Indeed Barrow, you'd think they would get tired of being kicked off this hill," the Prince replied with bravado and it got a chuckle from the men close enough to hear. In moments this dark any humour would get a laugh.

"They may not be tired of being kicked, but I sure could use some respite from kicking, Captain," Barrow replied. He was the son of a duke, a small lord of a port town. However, there were only half a dozen men in the kingdom who could call him something other than Prince or Mi'Lord and he was one of them. A mane as light as the sun, and a temper to match. Barrow had followed his Prince into every battle, proving himself again and again, he had earned the right to call him Captain, to call him friend. "We should have pulled out hours ago."

Taking a deep breath, Tallian knew his friend was right. They should never have been there this long, "aye Barrow, we should have, but, we are KING'S MEN!" His voice roared across the battlefield. And every ear and eye of his men were on him. "Our King commands we stand then WE STAND. He commands we fight, WE FIGHT. He commands we hold, WE HOLD. Let NO MAN, NO GOD, THINK HE CAN BREAK US!" There was a cheer, a tired cheer, a few hundred voices calling out in defiance and support. While Tallian tried not to look any of them in the face, he was no fool, all men must give to entropy, eventually.

"Nice speech," Barrow muttered softly in his ears.

"Thanks, I hope someone wrote it down, they are not bad last words," Tallian responded as he turned to face the rising tide. A huge wave rushing against the shrinking island.

"Oh, I will remember them, Captain," observed Barrow with a smile. "Repeat them at your funeral."

"Good to hear you haven't given up on surviving the day," Tallian replied as he watched the charging line, just a hundred meters. What he would have given for a full company of archers, but they had none.

"Oh, I'm going to live, Captain," Barrow stated with absolute certainty. "I went to a seer and she said that I would die surrounded by grandchildren. I'm not even married yet."

"Barrow, did she happen to say whose grandchildren?" The prince asked as he looked around him at his men, watching them dropping down into combat ready stances.

"Now that you come to mention it she... just said surrounded by grandchildren," the golden-maned lion replied.

"Ah, because you know... you are surrounded by men who are all somebody's grandchild, including myself," Tallian said with a slight chuckle.

"You think it's too late to get my shilling back?"

"Probably."

"Well, fuck!"

Tallian laughed out loud, just a for a moment, surrounded by the darkest day the world could offer, he was glad he had a friend like Barrow to watch his back. The screaming tide of lapines was just a few yards away, Talian hefted his sword into position, "CHARGE!" He screamed as he dashed forward.

The clash was brutal and bloody, the green grass of the hill was drenched with the blood. Many young lions and rabbits lay down, resting together, at peace in the afterlife. Tallian and his men were pushing them back, against all the odds they were holding once more. With a roar, he beheaded the lapine soldier in front of him, "STAND!" His voice had never been quiet, his throat was raw and bloody, he would have given a whole bag of gold for a simple goblet of water.

"FIG..." His cry was cut off by a sword, that slashed at him, he managed to catch the blow on his shield. He roared in rage at the black furred lapine in front of him. His eyes spotted the lavishness of the fur's leather armour, a golden circlet rested on his brow, he was a noblefur. With a sword in both paws, no shield, a rarity and it spoke of confidence and probably skill.

As they clashed again, Tallian found that the rabbit was indeed fast and it took all of his skill to keep his attack at bay. With a growl he stepped forward, not just blocking with his shield, striking with it suddenly, using brute force over speed and skill, to send the rabbit sprawling to the ground. The black lapine landed with a cry, blocking Tallian's killing blow desperately with both swords.

The lion was just pulling back for a second swing when an arrow caught his shoulder, the force making him stagger back. His fallen opponent leapt to his feet and the two stared into each other's eyes, the lapine nodded slowly, acknowledging his fortune. Then before they could clash again, horns rang out, their sound was simple, just two notes and yet to Tallian they were beautiful music, his ears drank them in like a man lost in the desert drinks water from an oasis.

"WITHDRAW!" The cry went up from dozens of his men. It wasn't long before another horn sounded, this one had a much higher pitch, a lapine battle horn, sounding for their men to pull back. Their king apparently willing to let the brave lion soldiers withdraw from the tactically significant hill.

Tallian saw the black lapine bow slightly and then he was gone. Looking around he could see the cost of holding, he had arrived with a full legion, he would leave with less than one-tenth of his men. "Prepare to withdraw, see to the wounded." He wanted to cry as he spoke those words, they had held. His father had hopefully made the most of their efforts and gotten the army into shape, ready to drive the invading lapines from their lands.

He looked around for his friend, he found him not far away, on his back, a paw desperately clenched to his side, his fingers looked black, though he knew they were just dark red, his friend was wounded deeply, "LEECH! I NEED A LEECH OVER HERE!" He bellowed, his sword and shield dropped to the floor forgotten, as he ran to his friend. The weariness of the day forgotten, as he grasped his friend's paw. "Barrow..." He had been shouting, bellowing all day and suddenly he had no words.

"Sorry, Captain, d...didn't see the bastard," the golden-furred lion muttered.

"It's ok. LEECH!!!" He roared, spitting blood as he put everything into it. A young male approached, he wore simple robes that identified him as a non-combatant, a healer. It was an unwritten rule of war, you never attack a leech, because someday you might need one.

The young male grasped the bloody paw and looked under, " a deep wound.... He.... sorry Mi'lord, he won't ma...." the young man's words ended in a squeak as a paw gripped his throat, with enough pent-up rage and fear to almost crush it in an instant.

Yet Tallian held back, "heal him," the words were growled with menace, unwritten rules be damned there was a deadly threat in the prince's eyes.

"Captain! It's ok... the men... you need to withdraw, now." Barrow called out, his voice weak and yet somehow thunderous to Tallian.

The young leech took a step backwards, obviously fearful of the news he had to impart and more importantly of the person who was to hear it. "He...won't survive a journey, if you want him to have a chance to live, leave him."

Tallian hated that young man more than he had hated anyone in his life, mostly because he knew the little bastard was right. He ignored the annoying whelp and knelt down beside his friend and took his paw," Barrow, this young idiot says you are going to die. I say you are not." The prince looked into pained eyes of his friend, and he could see tears, as well as feel his own on his cheeks. "No good soldier would make his captain a liar."

Through gritted teeth, Barrow nodded his head weakly, "you... you will see me again, Captain."

Tallian leant over his friend, pressing his forehead against Barrow's, his eyes closed, tears falling onto his friend's face. "I will hold you to that promise."

Standing up the prince wiped tears away and he gave the young leech a nod, it was as much of an apology as he would ever give someone who wasn't nobly born. The young man nodded a little in return, he didn't say anything but returned to Barrow's side. Tallian didn't look back as he led his men away from the hill, there was almost nobody without a wound or two.

At the bottom of the hill, Tallian turned and looked back up. He could see a half dozen leeches moving from body to body, tending to those they could. They had held, a victory but a costly one. The price; so many lives, so much blood for a stupid pile of earth. He hoped his father had made good use of the time he had bought, it had cost enough.

<<<<<>>>>>

With a moan, Tallian opened his eyes, he could feel the warmth of a naked body laying against his. His new husband was still asleep against his side, the prince's right arm around him. The night before had been one of the strangest of his life, and yet as he thought back on it he did have to smile. He looked at the face of his sleeping mate and studied it carefully, Zu was handsome, his black fur glossy and well kept, although somewhat messy after their night together.

Tallian had appreciated his husband's honest and straightforward nature. Their marriage was a stipulation of the peace treaty, the only way to seal the pact, according to ancient lapine custom. The eldest daughter of the loser to wed the least son of the victor. The lion gave a moment's thought to where he would be had he a sister. Eldest son of King Zal, lands and titles aplenty, a great mansion to live in and a host of servants, ruler of three major cities. All gone now, no doubt his lands would be divided up between his brothers and any lords his father wanted to gain the favour of. As a king losing a humiliating war he would need every bit of goodwill he could buy.

The lion got to his feet, he looked at the robe he had worn for his wedding, he had no other clothing. In fact, he had almost no possessions at all. He opened the flap to their tent and stood naked in the early morning, watching it as it rose over the glowing seas. Without a hint of shame, Tallian walked naked through the lapine camp, ignoring the looks of the soldiers and nobles as they stared at the nude feline in shock.

With a grace surprising for his size, he leapt up a small cannock of boulders and perched atop. There he sat and watched the sunrise for the second time in two days, twenty-four hours earlier he had wept and roared with rage and loss. This time he sat, quietly reflecting on the day and night. Zu had been a wonder, strong and confident. He had stood up to Tallian, he was a soldier and a skilled one, it was he that Tallian had fought with at the hill at the battle of Tarna.

His fingers played with his ring, a small golden circle with his family crest. It was all he had left in the world, save for a loincloth so well used it could knock out a pig at a hundred paces. It had also disappeared after his bath, Tallian assumed some servant had been given orders to clean it, most likely with fire.

He closed his eyes, as the warm rays of the new sun-kissed his body, and took a deep soothing breath. Tallian was there for just a few minutes before he heard the sound of someone approaching. Opening his eyes he looked down behind him to see Zu beginning to climb the pile of rocks. The rabbit was wearing just a small pair of leather shorts, they reminded Tallian of the shorts he would wear while hunting in the summer, though their style was different, they were much shorter in the leg for one thing, most likely due to the rabbit's powerful thighs needing free movement.

"How goes the morning," Zu asked cheerily as he reached the top and found a comfortable perch close to the lion.

"It... it... well it goes, I suppose," the lion eventually replied. He could see an earnest curiosity in Zu's expression. The rabbit was clearly wanting to press for more and yet holding back. Normally Tallian would let unspoken questions go unanswered, however, he felt he owed Zu more. The rabbit had been far more kind than any other noble, Tallian had known, would have been in his stead. "For the last year and more I have woken each morning with my mind on war, the men, the order of battle, marching, food, logistics. Before that I had three cities to run, an estate to manage and dozens of nobles to meet with. Every day of my life, for as long as I can remember, I have woken knowing what the day held, what was expected of me and what I could expect of others."

Zu listened carefully, his head nodding slightly, his eyes held a soft and kind look, but not too kind, he knew the one thing Tallian wanted from no man was pity. "Is it a bad thing, to wake when the day is an unread book?"

"It is... different," Tallian said simply, Zu nodded in response, his life had never been that set. As the youngest child, he had the least power or responsibility, his father had no time for him and his mother... had not been in good enough health to deal with a child. The idea of waking up every day knowing what he was doing seemed like a strange and alien notion, his responsibilities were few and his day was often left to his own whims.

"You will grow accustomed to it, to many things," he said softly putting a reassuring paw on the lion's shoulder. "Eventually they will not seem so different."

Tallian nodded and took a deep breath, closing his eyes. He was a warrior and one of the things he had learned was that once a fight was over you could not go back and change the outcome. His eyes opened as he let out the deep breath, his mind resolved to learn from his losses and move forward, "I need some clothing."

The rabbit gave a soft sigh of relief, feeling tension he had not noticed building slipping away from his muscles, then he grinned. "I suppose we can't make the two-week ride to my home with you in nought but your fur. You would draw far too many jealous looks from the females, and males, in our kingdom. I will arrange for some clothing to be brought to our tent. A selection for you to choose, and when we get home I will have the tailors craft a wardrobe of fitting clothes."

Hearing the complimentary words Tallian found himself smiling. It did his wounded pride no harm to hear that his new husband thought so highly of his appearance. The two climbed down off the rock together and walked back through the camp, as they reached their tent Zu said he was going to find a servant. As he left Tallian called out suddenly, "and get me a sword and shield." For so long had he lived with those as his companions his paws missed them, he even missed the feel of the scabbard against his leg.

Zu was true to his word, bringing a wide range of clothing, however, most of it sadly was too small for the well-built feline. The lion eventually chose a hempen pair of pants and shirt, it wasn't comfortable, but it made up for this by looking dreadful as well. Cheap, brown and looking about as far from regal garb as it was possible to get. Tallian bore this without a single word of complaint, or with many words of complaint but said aloud only in his mind.

A good sword was given to him, it was of lapine style, the blade lighter than he was used to and shorter. The shield was small and round as well, however, they were close enough to make him feel somewhat closer to normal, his paws no longer felt lonely. The servant held out a small silver tray for him to check his reflection in, the lion just nodded. Though inside he felt he had looked better just after he slew the dread wyrm of Canlon, even though he had been dripping head to toe in the beast's bile.

Zu gave him a nod, "looks good."

"I would expect my husband to speak no falsehoods, especially not directly to my face," Tallian replied flatly as he scratched his chest, the coarse fabric was quite itchy, he wondered for a moment about going to get his armour off the beach. However, the carrion had been out for two days, such metal would have been harvested and on the way to a blacksmith or market. Many a fallen soldier was taken home naked, unattended metalwork as fine as his armour would no doubt have been taken.

The rabbit gave a grin and surprised the lion by stepping forward and placing a quick kiss on his cheek, "true, however, I suspect my husband would look good in any garb, he certainly looks good without any."

A warmth flushed to the lion's cheeks, something he was definitely uncustomed to. Flattery was highly common, but this felt different and he wasn't sure why. "I... thank you, my husband." For a moment he stood there awkwardly silent and he wondered what he was supposed to do, what a husband should do. Just as Zu made to step back he leant down and gave him a light peck on the cheek in return. A few awkward and shocked seconds passed in absolute silence, Zu's expression going from shocked to smiling in stages so subtle Tallian did not notice until the smile was fully formed.

Sensing that mentioning the moment, was not something either one of them wanted Zu finally took his step and then broke the silence, "I have horses prepared, along with some provisions for the next day or so. We will resupply at one of the towns along the way."

"Are there many men in our escort?" Tallian asked as he adjusted his sword belt, trying to find a position where it didn't push so much of the hempen material did not itch so much.

"Our escort?" Zu asked a little confused, he was sure he had told the lion they would be travelling alone. As he watched the noble beast try and adjust his uncomfortable clothing he realised when he had said travelling alone, the lion had assumed no other noblemen, people of note. As a firstborn and heir apparent, he may have never travelled without a bodyguard and entourage of servants. "Our escort... is fully prepared." He finished and then left.

Tallian gave a grunt of annoyance and then gave up, it was uncomfortable, but he had endured the discomfort of plate mail on many long journeys. He looked at his reflection one last time and then up at the servant holding the shield, the rabbit had a slightly worried look on his face, to be left alone with such a huge and important lord, who was clearly unhappy with the selection of clothing he had been offered. The lion bowed his head slightly, "thank you, my good man, for your assistance."

The servant gave a soft sigh of relief and bowed deeply, "it is an honour to serve, mi'lord." He squeaked, his mastery of the common tongue far less than perfect, but even through the thick accent, he could be understood. Then he left, as quickly as he dared, lest he anger the huge feline beast.

People, especially servants, rushing away from him in mild fear was hardly a new thing to Tallian. A noble was able to order many punishments for servants who failed their lords, beatings, whippings, shavings (a humiliation his elder brother Erriac had favoured, the mane of a male lion was cut off to render him equal to the females) and those were just the most common. In his life Tallian had only ordered a pawful of punishments, mostly he left such matters to the head of his servants Garrack, an old tough lion who had been a servant all his life and thus knew when a punishment was truly in order.

Stepping out into the warm morning sun he found another servant just outside, holding a horse's reins. It was a lapine favoured breed, a full paw shorter than what he would have considered a good size, a little fatter too. A chestnut fur, that looked well groomed, it shone in the sun and the animal turned to give him a look. Tallian locked eyes with the beast and there was the traditional unspoken battle of wills. 'I will ride you' the lion's eyes said and the beast seemed to laugh back 'you will try'. There was a definite arrogance to the animal, enough that the feline questioned if it had been properly broken, or if this was some joke or trick, give the fallen lion prince some unbroken, fat nag and watch him be bucked off.

"I can bring a mounting step if his lordship requires one," the servant holding the reigns said and Tallian's mane fluffed out in mild annoyance. He gave the servant a look that said as clearly as he could without words "I have killed greater men for lesser insults, and I have got a sword, ask me again, whelp." The rabbit's eyes dipped low, he bowed his head and Tallian could hear a slight whimper, he grinned a particularly toothy grin and then leapt onto the beast.

The horse gave no move, nor sound, acting as if the lion was nothing to it. Tallian snatched the reins from the servant, "where is Prince Zu?"

"H... he awaits your lordship's pleasure, at the edge of the camp, that way," the servant replied, keeping his head and eyes down, but gesturing with one paw.

The lion spurred the horse, bracing himself for a bucking, but to his surprise, the creature followed his instructions and trotted at a brisk pace through the camp. Tallian felt slightly uneasy, maybe it was because everyone in the camp seemed to be watching him, or maybe it was just because he was riding a horse a good foot closer to the ground than he was accustomed.

Zu was, indeed, waiting for him at the edge of the camp, and Tallian noticed that he was waiting alone. He was smart enough to realise that in his arrogance he had assumed he would have a guard and that Zu had left him to figure it out on his own. His husband was kind, but not willing to do everything for him. "Greetings again, my husband." The lion said, and nodded at the rabbit's horse, a good half a paw taller than his own and clearly a far finer breed. "I see you found our escort."

"Indeed, Talia has been my escort on many an adventure," Zu replied with a grin, and a stroke of his horse's mane.

"A handsome beast," Tallian replied and there were two whinnies that suddenly split the air. Both indignant, one from each horse.

The rabbit laughed," Talia does not like being called a beast and Fyon does not appreciate that you complimented her and not him."

Tallian's brow creased in honest confusion, "you understand the tongue of these be... horses?"

His answer was a laugh from the rabbit and then Zu spurred Talia to a light trot. Tallian glanced around to make sure there was nobody close enough to hear him, he placed a paw on Fyon's mane and said in a voice low enough for only the horse to hear, "you are a handsome horse, too." The reply was almost instantaneous, a toss of the equine's head and a soft neigh as the creature broke into a trot after the other animal.

Fyon clearly was no follower, he didn't just catch up to Zu, he trotted passed the other horse, getting half a length ahead before slowing down. Tallian glanced back at Zu, who gave a smile and a shrug, Talia didn't seem to mind.

The four made good time as they crossed the beautiful meadowland of Tallian's country. In the early summer, there were flowers aplenty and the air was soon heavy with their sweet fragrance. The summer sun beat down relentlessly, the lion was glad to find a waterskin had been filled and attached to his saddle. He quenched his thirst often, neither of the two spoke much. Maybe because they knew that at the end of the day there would be a time to talk more easily than while riding so far apart, or because the heat made their tongues and mouths feel dry, or just because they were comfortable in silence.

For Tallian the silence was wonderful, Fyon's gentle and smooth gait made the ride as comfortable as it could be. However, as noon approached something in his mind sparked and he turned to Zu. "I know this land, I have been here before, many years ago. That copse of trees over there is hiding a small lake, we could let the horses cool and refresh ourselves while we wait for the heat of the midday sun to abate."

Zu could see the logic in the suggestion, the heat of the sun was making the journey far less comfortable, especially for someone born with dark fur. The rabbit steered his horse towards the trees, "what were you doing here, so far from any town or city of your kingdom?"

Tallian's mind slipped back to his childhood, he had been a boy of fourteen summers when he had last been here. His father and several lords were to inspect some of the border forts, the king had decided to avoid the normal routes leading through the more populous areas, for reasons he could not recall, some political thing, he suspected it was a deliberate slight to the lord who owned those lands. "Just passing through, on our way to inspect the border, I was young and my father did not explain his reasoning to his children."

"He took you all?"

"No, just me and my eldest two brothers Erriac and Calder." The lion replied and then added, "there was a large entourage with us, including Duke Cair, and his son Barrow, he was my age."

"A friend?" Zu asked, there had been something in the tone of his husband that made him note the name of that lion.

"Eventually, but not at the time," the lion replied as they entered the shade of the trees. Tallian turned and gave a smile, "he was my rival on the trip. My brothers they were younger and weaker, I could best them at anything I pleased. Barrow... he was difficult to best. I remember on our fourth night I decided to go out hunting, to bring back some fresh meat for my father."

"And did you?" The rabbit asked, Zu was eager to learn all he could of his husband.

"My hunt was successful, I returned with three fat pheasants," Tallian stopped his horse as he thought back on that day and a dark shadow passed over his face. "Only, I found I was not the only one who had gone hunting. Barrow had and he had brought back a small deer, it was roasting on a spit as I arrived, and Barrow was sitting beside my father, as my father lavished him with praise."

The rabbit said nothing, though he badly wanted to say something. From the few stories the lion had told he knew the respect of his father had meant everything to him, especially as a cub. Tallian had worked his entire life to be worthy of his birthright, to earn his father's love. Zu could understand that, his own father had been little more than a stranger to him, he had no time for the least of his sons and Zu could remember every single time the old king had called him such. There was something else though, in the lion's eyes, something that told him that Tallian did not want his pity, certainly not for that.

"I... am ashamed of what happened that day, more ashamed than I am of almost anything I have ever done," he admitted and then he looked at Zu, the rabbit had seemed so open and welcoming. The man he would have to spend his life with.

"To be beaten at hunting is often more a statement of a person's luck than ability," observed the rabbit quietly, he could see the look in Tallian's eye and knew in an odd way he was being judged., though he wasn't sure why.

"My shame comes not from being beaten at the hunt, but by what I did to get even," the lion admitted, taking a deep breath. "If we are to be... together, I suppose I owe you this story. So you might know and judge your husband for who he is, at his worst."

"You do not need..." Zu began to say, but the look in Tallian's eye made him still his tongue. It was clear, the lion very much did need to tell and he damned well needed to listen to it.

"As you have said, this place is far from the towns and villages of my people, my father is a man of great...appetite and he is used to his desires being met. I had heard that we were down to the last flagon of his favourite wine. So I stole it, poured most of its contents out in the forest and splashed the dregs on Barrow's clothing, left the empty flagon in his tent." Tallian hung his head, "my father is a stupid man, had it been me I would know a boy of fourteen could not drink so much wine without being so drunk he could barely open his eyes. He didn't think, didn't care to think, he had a thirst for that wine and that damned boy had stolen it."

With a gentle nudge, Tallian brought his horse back to Zu's, so that the rabbit could see the true horror on his face, "I watched Barrow get the beating I richly deserved until he could barely stand. I watched and... and I smiled because I had won!" His huge head huge suddenly limp, as if all the strength from his mighty shoulder had vanished. "I am lucky he was not killed for my crimes, for my arrogant need to be first in my father's eyes. I am ashamed to say, it was years before I realised what I had done to that poor innocent boy, and when I did it took many, many nights before I could sleep without seeing his beating in my dreams. So, there you have it, I have seen darker times and darker days, but I have never committed any crime more ill-fitting a man of noble blood than that act of cowardice."

Zu knew that Tallian was expecting something of him, that he had to say something. He had seen beatings in his time and he knew the horror that his husband had inflicted upon a young boy. "You were raised by a man who would beat a child, almost to death, because he had to settle for his second favourite wine a day early." Tallian's breath caught in his throat, he had never heard anyone insult his father before. "Yet you have the compassion to look back and be haunted by guilt. The crime here, was on your father, to not see through such a simple trick or to care enough. You are a better man than he, and certainly good enough for me." As he spoke Zu reached out and placed his paw over Tallian's large paws and squeezed for a moment.

Tallian breathed slowly for a moment and then nodded, he did not trust his voice to speak.

"Now, let's get our horses a cooling drink before they lose patience with us," Zu said and with that, the mood got so much lighter. Tallian felt more relief than he thought he would, his feelings for Zu were growing stronger the longer he spent with him. It seemed insane to think it was a little over a day since their first, official, introduction and yet he had shared more with the rabbit than he had with almost anybody in his life.

They rode on through the trees until they entered a huge clearing, an oval circle of calm water, a small stream feeding it from one side and draining from the other. It wasn't much more than a pond, not really enough to be called a lake. It could not be more than thirty yards across at its widest part. The two rode their horses forward until they were both ankle deep in the water. Then they dismounted, the cool water was most welcome.

The lion bent over and scooped some water up to quench his thirst. While, Zu waded to Talia's front, stripping off her reins, he stroked her face and placed his forehead gently against hers for a moment. Tallian watched this display curiously, no lion noble would have seen to their animal first and the strangely close connection between the two was something he had never seen before. As Zu began to strip off his clothes, Tallian moved to remove the gear from Fyon, hoping the fiery chestnut stallion would not be angry with him.

As soon as he had stripped the reins off, Fyon let out a soft whinny of thanks, before diving his head down into the water, headbutting Tallian's chest as he did so. Tallian was thrown backwards by the force of the blow, landing on his back in the lake. The cool water surrounded him, while his chest ached a little from the blow. He resurfaced a few moments later to the sound of Zu laughing heavily. The rabbit was standing beside Talia, using his shield to scoop water up and onto her back, he was only wearing his leather shorts.

Tallian found his feet and stood in the lake almost shoulder deep, he dove forward towards the shore. The water was cooling and soothing against his much irritated skin, his shirt was pulled up over his head and thrown, with a distinct amount of bile, onto the shore where it landed with a wet splat. Then he turned to the horses and rabbit, they were all laughing at him, only Zu was laughing out loud, but he could see the mirth in the eyes of the equines.

With a roar of mock anger, the lion grabbed his own shield in both paws, driving it into the water with all his strength he sent a wave of water over the beasts and Zu. Zu stood there motionless, dripping with water a look of pure shock on his face, neither of the horses did more than flick the excess water from their ears and mane. While Tallian paused, shocked at his own actions, it had been a long time since he had done something that immature. A smile spread across the lion's face and he started to laugh.

Zu, shook the water from his own ears and began to smile, "is this the refined, and dignified, behaviour I can expect from the firstborn son of King Zal?"

Tallian shrugged his shoulders, his powerful muscles flexing in the sunlight, "apparently so, my husband."

"Excellent!" The rabbit moved faster than the blink of an eye, sending his own wave of water back at his husband. Tallian closed his eyes as he was soaked for a second time, only to feel Zu's paws on his chest pushing. The lion was a soldier and well trained in the arts of wrestling. They struggled together for dominance, Zu managing to trip Tallian, only, as the feline tumbled, he pulled the rabbit with him, both landing in the water with a splash.

For the lion, the world was suddenly silent, wet and then he felt warmth against his lips. The rabbit's arms were no longer trying to grapple with him, they were just embracing. With no time to think he reacted on pure instinct, returning the kiss with a passion that surprised himself more than his husband. His paws curling around the rabbit's waist to hold him as they both floated in the silence beneath the waves, titles, duties, responsibilities all washed away and Tallian began to not only wonder if this was what he could expect from his new life, he began to hope that it was.

The need for breath tore their lips and embrace apart, the two returned to the surface. The moment having passed, leaving Tallian feeling awkward, he wanted more and yet, he did not know the right way to ask for it. For Zu, he didn't want to press Tallian, he had known what he was doing and was delighted to feel the lion respond, but as he saw the shy look on the lion's face he did not press for more. On the previous night, it had been duty that drove them together, when they came together again he wanted it to be for passion, want and romance.

"The heat of the day does not look like it will abate quickly and this place is pleasant, we should make camp early and hope that tomorrow the sun shines more gently," the rabbit said, as the two splashed their way to shore.

"The sun is only just reached its zenith and you wish to rest?" The lion asked with a raised eyebrow.

"We are travelling home, but there is no urgent need for me to get there," Zu replied with a shrug, as he pulled off his leather shorts placing the leather garment on a small rock to dry in the sun. Tallian was doing likewise, pulling off the hated hemp cloth pants and laying them on a rock to dry. "Tomorrow may be a better day for travelling, here we have fresh water to drink, wood for a fire and I bet there are fish in this lake that we could roast for a good meal, to save our travel rations."

"Do you have a net or spear, with which to fish?" The lion asked stretching in the sunlight. He enjoyed the feeling of sun on his exposed fur, also the absence of itchy cloth.

"No, I have neither," answered the rabbit and then added with a smile. "If you gather wood and build us a fire, I will take care of catching us something to cook."

"Very well, but remember I warned you, I am not a good cook," Tallian said with a smile and he wandered off into the woods naked. Zu just laughed as he walked around the lake shore to the mouth of the stream leading out of the lake.

Tallian wandered slowly through the woods, there was plenty of dry wood and kindling and he could easily have filled his arms and had a fire started. Yet, he found himself just lingering, thinking back on things. Memories of Barrow, as he first saw him and as he last saw him. Zu probably could find out what had happened to him. However, that would mean asking for help, for more help.

So far their relationship, whatever it was, felt strange and ill-fitting. They were travelling with Zu's horses, Zu's weapons, equipment and even clothing. They would live in the rabbit's house and lands, where Zu's servants would look after them. To take all of that and then ask for a favour... Tallian was surprised to find that he still had some pride left. He could ask for no more of Zu, not even something that might be simple and mean so much.

He wandered for more than an hour, before emerging at the lake with his arms heavily laden with dry wood and kindling. Zu was standing in the lake by the stream, in water a couple of foot deep and splashing. The lion said nothing, just watched curiously and then returned to where their clothes were now sitting on a warm rock, fully dry.

It didn't take him long to build a fire and he found a flint in one of their packs, with which he was able to light it. After the dry weather, the wood crackled, burning quickly and easily. It was satisfying to watch the fire growing, he built it up as much as he could, knowing they would need some embers to cook the fish over. Assuming, Zu was able to catch some.

The rabbit answered that question as the afternoon was starting to blend into evening, returning with a half dozen decent sized trout, all properly gutted and ready to cook. "A good catch," the rabbit observed with a slightly smug smile.

His curiosity on the rabbit's method had been eating away at him. From the spot by the fire, he had watched as Zu seemed to spend hours splashing around in the lake. "Impressive, without a net, rod or spear." He acknowledged.

"It's a very old method of fishing, you use rocks to form a trap, in the stream and then you splash around, driving the fish towards the trap, once they swim in, most can't swim out." The rabbit explained, he could see the curiosity on the feline's face. "There's a pan in one of the packs, or we could rig up a spit if you prefer."

Tallian shrugged his huge shoulders, he was able to burn meat until it was slightly more edible than raw flesh and that was the whole extent of his culinary exploits. Taking the hint Zu stopped asking questions and grabbed the pan. Some water was fetched from the lake and Zu spent a little time in the forest foraging while the water in the pan began to boil. He filleted the fish with the practised paws of an expert and the chopped meat was added to the pot. Next, he added some herbs he found in the forest, ending with a few wild vegetables he had dug up and cleaned.

It wasn't long before the air was filled with the rather enticing scent of fish stew, Tallian was in awe. "Where did a nobleman learn to cook?" He asked, as his stomach told him it wished to sample the stew.

Zu shrugged, "there are fewer demands placed on the tenth child of a king, than on the first. My lessons were few, I learned the sword and bow, my letters and numbers. For the rest of the time, I was able to do as I wished. I spent much time in the kitchens of the palace, at first just looking for treats. Then later learning to make my own."

The rabbit went strangely quiet and Tallian sensed there was a little more to that story, he could almost guess what the results of such lessons had been. His own childhood had been full of training, he had been taught dozens of forms of armed and unarmed combat, politics, tactics, letters, numbers and a great deal of history. However, he could imagine the look on his own father's face if he had learnt a female skill such as cooking, or needlepoint.

Two light wooden bowls were produced, Tallian's stomach was satisfied, and his tongue was delighted. The stew was delicious, he went back for a second helping. "This doesn't make me your wife," Zu told him pointedly as he helped himself to a second bowlful.

A smile came to Tallian's face, though he made sure to hide it behind his bowl. "I understand, my husband." He stressed the word husband just a little as he took a third and final helping of the stew. "I am sorry that I have no similar skills, with which to repay your kindness. Unless you badly need a soldier to help defend your lands there is little I can do, for my part."

"I do not ask for anything," the rabbit replied softly and Zu saw Tallian shift, he noted the lion's eyes looking down. Trying to change the subject he added, "When I was a cub I used to steal into my father's study. I used to like to look over the maps he had there, to see and learn of places far away. My father was never happy when he caught me, the least of the king's sons should not be in that room. Guests may be met in the throne room, but it was in his study that the real business of ruling was conducted, away from prying eyes and ears" The lion cocked his head in curiosity at the unasked for story, however, he said nothing and just sipped on his soup with his eyes fixed on Zu.

"Whenever I got caught I was punished, I'd lose some trinket, take lashes of the strap, or both. However, my brother, Tazu, always seemed to find a way to bring back what was taken or replace them with one of his own. The strap was never that bad, my father never did it himself, his manservant did and he seemed to know to make each lash more noise and less pain. So it wasn't enough to stop me, truth be told I would have kept going even if they took away everything I owned, just to make my father yell at me.

One day, while I was in there, I knocked over a goblet on his desk, it was filled with red wine and soaked many parchments. I have never seen my father so angry, I took his yelling and then I took my ten lashes of the strap, I won't say I didn't cry. Afterwards, I was expecting him to talk to me, as was usual, to tell me that I should not be in his study or to tell me that he was ordering further punishments, hard work or loss of some privilege or other. However, this time he didn't say anything, he just turned to my mother and said 'the least of my sons should not be the greatest of my woes, woman'.

My father did not use my name again until I was an adult," Zu sighed softly. "A father does not need to beat, lock up, or take away his son's possessions to punish him. I did not go back into his study, and I realised I could not lower myself in his eyes." For a few moments, they sat there in silence staring at the glowing embers of the fire. The sun was waning and the shadows from the trees were growing, Tallian could not think of what to say in response. Eventually, Zu broke the silence, "you shared a story from your childhood and I wanted to share with you something of myself, so you can know be better. However, as my husband, you should know that I care not for lands, or titles or money. I have given little thought to the value of your possessions, or skills or pleasures of the flesh."

Tallian sat in shocked silence, part of him whispered that it was easy for Zu to overlook the value of those things as he owned almost nothing. Then he felt a paw land on his, and looked up into Zu's eyes, "I value the character of a man above all else, from what I have seen of you in just two days, I know your worth is beyond measure."

With a strange feeling growing in the pit of his stomach, Tallian found himself unable to stop himself smiling. He put his bowl down and suddenly Zu was in his arms, he pulled the rabbit close and soaked in the return of his embrace. The fit was no longer ill or strange, it felt right again, he knew that there were many more questions and much more to learn. However, he cared little for them while in Zu's arms. The rabbit was covering his neck and shoulder with light kisses, and he rained down kisses in return.

Eventually, their lips met and they kissed, softly and slowly. Neither one in any rush, or great need. There was no press on time, or any plan to achieve, it was not for duty or honour. It was because they wanted each other, their lips belonged together. The sun grew dim as their lips danced, eyes half closed, the gloaming light mixing with the firelight and the air seemed to be filled with magic. The scent of burning oak and the blossoms of summer mixing into a sweet cocktail.

Neither one spoke a word, nor needed to. They had shared all the words they wanted to, this was a time of actions. Of softly whispered moans of pleasure and gasps of excitement. Tallian's paws wandered over Zu's naked form, while Zu's black paws stroked through the golden wheatfields of the lion's chest. Neither one knew at what point they had lain down, they were too lost in the gentle warmth of the other's loving touch.

At last, a black paw slipped down lower and Tallian cried out as strong fingers grasped his firm sword. It was like blowing onto the embers of a great bonfire and feeding it fresh kindling. The lion's passion blazed and he kissed his love with desperate desire, his tongue dominant in Zu's maw. He tasted his love and was tasted in return.

Zu was lost to the bliss of the moment, his paw stroked the lion's member lovingly. It felt wonderful in his paw, warm and hard, yet soft and giving. Their first time, he had business he needed to attend to, an end to meet, he made sure Tallian felt as much pleasure as he could. However, now there was no duty and no obligation. While he suckled on warm lion tongue, he felt something he did not expect a hand stroking up his shaft, strong and thick fingers exploring his maleness.

The rabbit moaned out in bliss, while Tallian broke the kiss to look down. He had taken his lover's manhood into his paw without thinking, now he looked at it, slick with the rabbit's juices it glistened in the firelight. Tallian remembered how it had felt, the pain and the far greater pleasure. Part of him yearned to roll over, to lay under the rabbit once more and feel the fullness he had the previous night.

However, as much as Tallian was wanting to repeat the pleasures of the previous night, Zu wanted to explore new ones. He knew there were many more experiences that his love had not yet tried and he wanted to show him them all. With a push, he rolled the lion onto his back, Tallian went willingly letting the more experienced male lead, Zu enjoyed the feel of the powerful creature under him, much like he had enjoyed it last night.

Panting, eyes aglow with lust, Zu raised himself up, straddling Tallian's waist. The lion trembled under him as the rabbit slid his rear back, until the lion's achingly hard cock nestled snugly between his buttocks. Tallian's entire body trembled with pent-up desire and lust, the feel of his manhood between those pert furry cheeks was almost too much to bear. However, with Zu sitting in such a position he realised he had a chance to explore the rabbit with both paws.

One huge golden paw wrapped around the rabbit's impressive length, Tallian still could hardly believe how much bigger his husband's gift was than his own. The other paw slipped under a warm, moist nutsack, feeling the heavy weight of his husband's virility. Zu was looking down, just watching Tallian's face, seeing the joy in it as he felt the pleasure of the lion's inexpert, yet eager, touch.

His green eyes locked on the lion's face, Zu reached behind him grasping the erect and drooling lion cock. Zu's thumb stroked up and down the length, feeling soft bards tugging on his paw pads, he wondered how they would feel inside him. It was only a matter of moments before his curiosity had to be sated, along with many other desires. The rabbit lifted himself up a little, his paw guiding the lion's cock to his bud, beneath him he heard Tallian gasp with shock.

Zu could not help but smile at his partner's innocence, he knew from the sounds he gave that it wasn't until that moment that the feline had truly realised what was going to happen. With Tallian's maleness at his entrance, he reached down, cupping and stroking his lover's cheek reassuringly. Then, his legs drove his body down, their voices both cried out in pleasure, as Tallian found his maleness buried in a wonderfully warm heaven, and Zu felt those spines tickling his ring as it was stretched open.

He didn't stop pressing down until he felt his ass press to Tallian's nuts. His own ample nuts lay on the lion's well-trained stomach, his cock, suddenly unattended, dribbled pre out onto the lion's chest. He recognised the look on his husband's face, the lion was utterly lost to the pleasure he had just felt. Zu remembered his own first time, a little romp with one of his father's gardeners, a young local boy impressed and thrilled that a prince would actually talk to him.

With the pleasure flowing down his cock, Tallian felt light as a feather, his muscles were suddenly bursting with energy like he could run all a thousand leagues in a night. His hips bucked upwards, making Zu moan with pleasure as his cock pushed deeper into the rabbit. His huge paws reached out, grabbing Zu's hips desperately. His mind was filled with nothing but pleasure, he could scarcely put any thought together.

The rabbit moaned deeply as the lover under him took control. The lion's powerful paws grasped him desperately tightly. He squeaked softly and blushed, his paws covering his face, but Tallian didn't hear it, or didn't acknowledge it. All he did was thrust, using his powerful hips to drive himself over and over into the rabbit. Zu's paws landed on his chest, the rabbit looking to balance himself on the bucking stallion he was being bred by.

Gasping and crying out with pleasure the lion held nothing back, hammering himself into his lover with everything he had. His tan hips smacked heavily against black buttocks, he could feel something building inside him. However, he had no ability, no experience to use to hold back. He was an animal lost to his pure bestial lusts. Tallian drove himself home, over and over and as his peak arrived he roared out, in pure uncontrolled pleasure, as he fucked a thick and heavy load of lion seed deep into his husband.

All too soon he stopped, panting heavily as he looked up at his lover with eyes glazed, his fur soaked in sweat as if he had just been in an hour-long sparring session. He lay his head back and looked up, noticing that the stars were out. At some point, the sun had slipped below the horizon and he hadn't noticed.

It wasn't until he felt Zu moving in his lap that he realised his lover had not came. He flushed with embarrassment, knowing that he had lasted only a tiny fraction of the time that Zu had taken breeding him to a powerful orgasm. His eyes looked up, only to find Zu smiling down at him, no disappointment only love in those wonderful orbs.

Zu smiled, looking at the spent lion, knowing that feeling of spending yourself all too quickly in your first lover. He could see a little worry in Tallian's eyes, his paws stroked the feline's cheeks letting him know that it didn't matter to him. He slipped forward feeling the softening shaft pull from inside him. However, before he could stand or roll off Tallian, the feline's paws grabbed his ass.

Tallian had nuzzled against those soft paws happily, however, his golden eyes caught sight of Zu's erect maleness, unattended and unsatisfied. He remembered the previous night and how Zu had used his mouth to bring him to a peak of pleasure. As Zu began to move, he saw his opportunity to return the pleasure to his lover. Ever a soldier willing to press an advantage, he reached out quickly his paws grabbing hold of the rabbit's pert buttocks and holding him still.

A deep and wonderful cry of pleasure echoed from above him, as his lips engulfed the thick maleness. The warm length slid between his lips wonderfully, the hard cock filling his muzzle easily. The taste was strange, highly potent, musky and earthy, with a hint of sweet grass. His nose huffed breath from his lover's crotch, the smell of arousal male, so strong and potent, like a mature vintage port.

He kept his paws on the rabbit's buttocks, lest Zu try and slip away. Tallian wasn't sure exactly what to do, his tongue squirmed under the pressure of the hard maleness and he glanced up. Zu was looking down, a broad and happy grin on his face, it looked sweet, almost dopey with the overwhelming pleasure. Two black paws caressed his cheeks softly and lovingly. Tallian wanted to please him so badly, he sucked harder until he felt a gasp coming from above.

"Easy, easy, not so hard," Zu whispered down to him, why he should whisper when they were many miles from the nearest person, he didn't know. Yet, to speak loudly felt wrong, especially while correcting. Tallian responded, his suction lessoned, "that's better, my husband. Now slowly move your head back, keep your lips tight around and just feel as I slip free."

The lion did as he was instructed, his head pulling back slowly, his lips tingled as inch after inch of thick maleness pulled from them. When just the cockhead remained, Zu's paws grabbed his head and the rabbit head him still, "there, now let me feel that tongue, just hold the tip in your mouth and stroke your tongue over." The words were spoken softly and yet they felt like commands, the trained soldier inside Tallian followed obediently. His tongue stroking over the smooth flesh, he enjoyed the texture, the sensation of his tongue against his lover's maleness.

What his father would say, or the nobles of the court, if they heard their former heir apparent was laying beneath their enemy giving him pleasure with his mouth and enjoying it, would definitely not be complimentary. Yet, that was one of the least thoughts in Tallian's mind, he wondered at the taste, and the feeling, but more the emotions and desire inside him. This was no ill-fitting moment, he was where he belonged, where he wanted to be and doing what he wanted to do. His eyes closed and he drank it all in, the taste, the feel, the warmth and the soft happy moans of pleasure from above.

"Oh... my husband, my love," Zu whispered as the lion lapped over his cock, he could feel the tenderness in that touch and more, the eagerness. He knew Tallian was doing what he wanted and that knowledge made the moment sweeter than pure honey from the comb. His cock leaked drops of pre and they were lapped away instantly. "N..now, slid your head forward again, let me feel the warmth of your full maw."

Tallian's head moved forward, quickly, he felt the thickness pressing and sliding over his tongue, his muzzle being filled with it. Drops of bitter pre added a wonderful tang to the flavour and his nose was buried once more in his lover's musky crotch. The thickness throbbed against his tongue and he felt his own cock throbbing in reply. "Oh...fuck." Zu whispered as the lion prince seemed to surround him.

The lion moaned softly, the weight of Zu on his chest was warming and welcome. Feeling so close to the rabbit, connected even. This was all so new, each moment and movement was a new world of exploration. His fingers stroked and roamed through the soft fur on Zu's buttocks and back, he played with the little fluffy tail. Zu squirmed on his chest, the wiggling butt making him chuckle a little. His contentment was announced to the world, with a deep and rumbling purr.

Zu cried out in surprise at his husband's rumbling contentment, the vibrations on his buttocks were pleasant. However, he barely noticed them, because the rumbling purr was kissed into his member by the lion's mighty maw and tongue. It was a pleasure unlike any the rabbit had felt before. His hips moved on their own, stuffing his cock into that vibrating warmth. He heard a strangled gasp of surprise from below him, for a moment he wondered if he had pushed too far too fast.

With a moan of delight, Tallian confirmed to his love that everything was ok. The feeling of his mate thrusting into his maw had been a surprise and yet a wonderful one. He closed his eyes and lay his head back, letting most of the rabbit's shaft slip from his lips, his tongue swirled and teased the lapine's glans, poking at his sensitive meatus. He could feel Zu trembling above him, and with each motion of his tongue the rabbit sang out in pleasure.

The teasing was a wonderful torture, the lion seemed to be enjoying sucking far more than Zu had expected. However, as more and more sensations flooded down his cock, Zu couldn't hold back much longer. When Tallian's tongue stroked over his frenulum, a shudder of pleasure ran from his cocktip right to his very toes. His hips worked on their own, thrusting his cock deep into that wonderful purring depths.

Tallian accepted the thrust, his purring growing loaded and louder as the rabbit began to fuck his face. The feeling of bringing pleasure, of being needed filled Tallian's heart with warmth and made his cock engorge with aching need. At that moment he knew what he wanted, to be Zu's lover and husband. The lion pledged himself to his new mate, to his love, he felt a bond far stronger than he had to any man.

Crying out again, Zu was trembling, his hips moving like a blur. He was surprised by how eagerly the lion prince was taking him, he looked down only to find golden eyes looking back up at him, shining with joy. Something inside him told him, he would always be first in Tallian's heart. The joy of this feeling overtook him, he could feel a tear of joy running down his cheek and he was too lost to the beauty of the moment to wipe it clear.

The rabbit cried out louder and louder, as his pleasure grew by the second. His balls tingled as they smacked lewdly against the wet chin of his mate. He stuffed his cock into that maw desperately, wishing he could get more inside him. Then with a shudder, he felt himself pass the point of no return, a fleeting thought that he should warn Tallian, or pull out, passed into his mind and was subsequently beaten into submission. While he cried out the lion's name, so loudly his throat hurt him as his cock throbbed and he began to spray a thick and heavy load of rabbit seed into his husband's gulping maw.

A sudden flood of seed was just one new wonderful experience to the lion. The taste was bitter, yet not unpleasant and he gulped it down quickly as his purring grew louder and louder. He had proved he could do it, he could make his husband feel the same joy and pleasure Zu had brought to him. He knew so many men would have felt lesser for being the one fucked, for being the one giving pleasure. The man takes pleasure, the woman's role is to give. He didn't care, at that moment he had the clarity to see that for the insane rubbish it was.

With a moan, Zu's spent cock was pulled from his lips and Tallian's mouth felt strangely empty, like his sword paw, when it was not holding a sword. Zu flopped down on him with a sigh of contentment and the lion wrapped his arms around his love, holding him tightly, protectively, while the rabbit recovered his strength. Zu, nuzzled against his broad chest, wetting his fur with kisses.

The two lay there under the starlight, naked and in each other's arms. Eventually slipping into a peaceful and contented slumber.

However, the night was not as peaceful as the two lovers deserved. While they snored softly a shadow moved in the woods, creeping ever closer to their exposed forms. Soft rustles of leaves, a bush moved, without a whisper of wind. Gradually one of the shadows slipped from the trees, taller than even Tallian, the shadow moved across the grass. Not a sound could be heard, blades of grass bending under the weight of the shadow, as it crept closer and closer.

Tallian moaned in his sleep as the shadow was less than a yard from him. The darkness froze and the lion mumbled something in his slumber. Content that the lion was sleeping the shadow continued on its way, a paw grasping the pan of fish stew. It was lifted to some golden velvet lips and without a sound, the cold remnants of the stew were drained.

The creature put the pan down carefully, not a sound was made. Then he moved on, the moon coming out from behind a cloud illuminated him more. Shaggy, long golden fur, a huge horn on the right side of his head, a broken stump on the left. He was wearing just a loincloth, from a distance he looked huge, powerful muscles and yet anyone brave enough to get close would see the scars down his back and chest, deep and painful, maybe a few weeks old.

Reaching the pile of their gear the bull began to rummage, opening the sacks one at a time. An apple was pulled from one and in three bites it was gone. A second was pulled out and devoured just as quickly. The young bull lifted the sack, standing up with their provisions for the next two days. However, as he took a step backwards, eager to get away for he knew the longer he stayed the greater the chance of discovery, his hoof knocked into the empty pan, kicking it against a rock, where it landed with a clang.

The slumbering pair was awake in an instant. The lion saw the golden-furred bull, the sack in his paw and he roared with rage. The bull was fast, dashing into the dark, but Tallian was faster. His sword was snatched up and he charged after the beast, Zu was a few strides behind him. Naked the lion pursued his prey, feeling the slap and sting of plants as they grabbed at him, the prickle of a bramble as it wrapped around his leg and was torn up, the thorns biting into his flesh. All of it served as fuel for the fires of the prince's anger.

Tripping on a hidden log, the bull stumbled and he was on the creature. His foot catching the young bovine on the chin and sending him sprawling, Tallian's sword flashed in the moonlight as rage flashed in his eyes. He leapt onto the fallen creature, ready to kill the dirty thief. For a moment his eyes looked into the bull's, terror he could see it, he had seen it many times in battle. However, there was something else, youth, desperation, and hopelessness. He felt the animal go limp under him and let out of soft defeated whimper.

By inches, his sword was lowered and he stood up, taking his naked body off the fallen whimpering foe. "Who are you?" The lion asked, a whimper was the only reply. "Speak, give me a name, you thieving cur!"

"He won't speak and he has no name," Zu said from behind him, the rabbit had a strange look in his eyes.

"You know him?" The lion asked, looking back at his husband, who was picking up the sack of their provisions, returning a few scattered items to it.

"No, but I know of his people and their customs," the rabbit replied, stepping closer he looked over the bull, his eyes spotting the wounds and reaching out to lightly touch the broken horn. "Got caught, didn't you?"

The bull nodded his head gently, his long hair almost covering his eyes. Tallian could see more than just wounds now that he was looking, he could see brands, someone had used a red-hot iron to draw on him, that was beyond savage, or had the creature done it to itself? He wondered. "An explanation would be appreciated."

"His people are the Tao, there are many tribes of them. They live in the frozen lands north of my kingdom," Zu replied as he pulled an apple from the sack and offered it to the trembling lump of golden fur. "It is a hard land and they are a hard people, when a child reached eighteen summers they must prove their worth, they are sent into the wilderness, they are not allowed to return unless they can bring back some trinket from one of their rival tribes. If they get caught... they are considered unworthy, his broken horn, that was done by the tribe who caught him."

The rabbit gave the lion a sad look, "no tribe will take him now, he is an outcast an exile. Every year our border patrols pick up a few of these poor souls. The frozen lands are not an easy place to survive, more so alone." The rabbit gave a long pause, while Tallian absorbed those details. "A few are taken in to a family, but this is frowned upon using our own resources to save the rejects of the wilds, others... beg for death and are given it quickly, mercifully. It is often considered the kindest action, for they must live with the knowledge that they lack worth. With the war, the borders are far more open, he must have made his way through and all the way here."

"My people will kill him, if they catch him," Tallian observed. "Especially now, the war has left many men dangerously desperate. Food is in short supply and an outsider thief would be hanged. Is there no way back for him?"

"I have never heard of one such as he ever being accepted by a tribe," the rabbit replied, the bull was sitting staring at them both. His brown soulful eyes seemed to shine with the tears he was holding back. "He can't speak, not until he is given a name, that is part of their custom, once he starts the challenge he cannot speak until given a name, until he becomes a man and earns the right."

"Well, we could..."

Tallian's words were stopped by a black paw grabbing his muzzle, the rabbit leaned close and muttered, "if we name him, in his eyes, we are accepting him into our tribe. My husband, this is not a decision to make on a whim, in the early hours of the morn, in the middle of the wilderness, in nought but your fur. Taking responsibility for him will cause problems, my father would not approve and he has a way of making his disapproval felt far and wide."

The lion looked over at the poor wretch, the more he looked the more he could see the signs of hunger. His stomach was gaunt, and even through the muscle and shaggy fur bone was sticking through in places. Eighteen years old, and cast out to die. The lion swallowed softly and asked Zu, "what action does your heart say to take? Take him with us, let him go, or... show him a swift merciful ending."

"I don't know," the rabbit replied his eyes suddenly looking anywhere but at his husband.

"Yes, you do," Tallian whispered, his paws stroking Zu's shoulders and then hugging him.

"Damn it, you're right. Do you want me to do it?" Zu asked glancing back at the bull, he hadn't moved. Maybe it was in Zu's mind, but the bull looked slightly more hopeful and much more pathetic, even the slightest hint that he would be given a name had been enough to keep him still.

"No, I can do it," the lion replied, he let his arms pull from around his lover. With his sword still in paw he approached the young male, getting down on his haunches he looked into those hopeful eyes, " I am Prince Tallian, that is Prince Zu." He said and the beast nodded it's head slowly as if the title of prince meant nothing at all to it, he was merely acknowledging their existence.

The lion looked around, it wasn't far from the spot he had watched his father beat Barrow, he shuddered at the memory. Then he reached out a paw, "you are welcome to join us on our travels, and share our food." The bull looked at the paw and then up at first Tallian and then Zu, who nodded his agreement.

"I am given to understand you are in need of a name," the lion said and he smiled to see the look of hopeful joy spreading across the bull's face. At that moment a name came to him, one to remind him that he was different from his father. "I think Bar is a good name, it is short for Barrow, a dear friend of mine. He has golden fur, much like yours."

The glossy eyes became wet and he watched as the creature wept for joy and then he heard, in a curiously deep voice, a softly whispered, "thank you, father." He whispered as he reached out and took the offered paw and Tallian pulled him to his feet.

All the while, the lion mused, one day with Zu and he was married, the second day he was in love and on the dawn of his third day he had become a father of sorts, to what had to be the biggest child. He hoped he wouldn't be a grandfather by the end of the week. However, as he looked into the days ahead, they seemed far brighter than he had imagined they would. His feelings for Zu were a hundredfold stronger than when he woke the previous morning, and he was now certain they would only continue to grow. As for Bar, they may face troubles for taking him in, but Tallian had never ran from troubles before, he felt in his heart that he had made the right choice. No doubt they would learn much more of their new ward in their journey.

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