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CHAPTER 8

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I awoke in pain. I had been given a vial of healing water for my wounds after the fight with Garr, and the usual body racking pain had consumed my entire body well into the night. The worst was over now. There was now only a constant dull throb from, well everywhere. Every muscle in my body ached. But at least I could feel and move my legs again. Garr had broken my back; it had been a terrifying experience. In a couple of hours the lingering after-effects would wear off and I would be fine after a decent meal.

Next to me Callen lay slumbering peacefully, his arms around me. His breathing was shallow and constant, creating a soothing rhythm to listen to. His scent was comforting and I allowed myself to relax into his warmth and closed my eyes.

I had managed to drift off to sleep, because when Callen rose from our sleeping mat I was roused from my slumber. I rubbed my eyes and watched him in silence. I loved how the muscles in his back flexed and shifted as he stretched. He turned to look at me and smiled. I smiled back at him and got up myself.

Everyone else was up, or just getting up. Khaine crawled from his bed roll and looked at me. On his forehead was a rune painted in crusty, dried blood. He had opted to have the protection rune painted on him. An option I gladly passed up for the alternative of sleeping next to Callen. He turned and walked into the woods. What surprised me more was that there was no sneer of disgust, no insult, nothing...

Well at least I didn't have to put up with his attitude from the moment I woke up. I really wasn't in the mood for it. I followed him into the woods as I needed to relieve myself, the same as he was likely doing, but made sure to keep my distance so as not to antagonise him. I found a tree and sighed in relief as the bitter scent of my own urine filled the air. As I turned to return to camp Khaine was standing a few yards away. He averted his eyes to the ground when our eyes met. He glanced up at me and diverted his eyes again. He was unusually submissive, nervous, but he wasn't backing away. I walked over to him, wondering what insult he was going to throw my way. He was probably going to mock me for getting so badly beaten by Garr yesterday.

"What is it?" I asked impatiently. "I've only just woken up, I'm not really in the mood for your insults."

"I wanted to say... I'm sorry." I blinked in shock, not entirely sure I heard what he said right. "I was stubborn and didn't believe... I didn't want to believe that you were stronger than me."

"Well... thanks." I smiled. Still shocked at the sudden confession.

"After Garr knocked me down so easily, I watched you fight him. No matter how many times he knocked you down you didn't give up. I still don't like you..." He snorted. "But I can at least respect you... as a warrior."

"I appreciate that." I told him, and I truly did appreciate the gesture he was making here.

"You two love birds done?" The gruff voice of Garr asked. He was standing by the tree line. "If you're going to blow each other hurry up and get it over. Breakfast is ready and we have a long day ahead of us!

"Fucking ass-hole!" Khaine snarled under his breath before turning and stomping back towards camp.

After breakfast Callen and Jan'Zar took each of us to practice our meditation and spiritual arts. Callen went with Khaine, leaving me with the Deity of War. I can't say that I was happy with arrangement, but I would never disrespect her by openly admitting it. In terms of skill she was as good as Callen. I just preferred her brothers company. But then, that was why she was training me and not Callen. They were trying to stifle my feelings for him. But this separation only made me yearn for him all the more!

It didn't take long for me to slip into my mind-scape. I opened my eyes and was sitting in the center of camp. Jan'Zar stood a few feet away. Her scornful gaze leering down at me. She scoffed and sat down on the log next to the fire pit.

"You mortals die so quickly!" She said suddenly. I wasn't sure where she was going with this. "You live your lives, fall in love, reproduce and eventually die. More wars are started over a lovers quarrel than greed!"

"Wh-" I began to ask but she continued to speak, cutting me off before I could utter a word.

"My brother cares for you. More than he should. He has lost his objectivity when it comes to you." She snorted. "As such I will be handling the majority of your training from now on. Until you learn how to protect yourself." She was blunt with her words. Harsh, but honest. There was a surprising, yet subtle, tone of empathy in her voice.

"Don't misunderstand Runt! I don't care if the two of fuck the living daylights out of each other! But its still early in your training and you cannot defend yourself against the spirit. Our decisions will determine whether you live or die! We can't afford to play favourites, or to go easy on you! Or you will die as a result! I only realised just how far gone he was after you fought him!"

"It..." I began, not entirely sure what I should say to her. But I felt like I should say something. Anything. She was waiting for my response. Her intense gaze met my eyes. "It just happened. I didn't expect him to... or that I would..."

I hadn't expected the bond between us to grow so intense. After the first time Callen had offered to help me relieve my sexual tension, I had figured we would just have sex every now and again. But it hadn't turned out that way at all! I had been attracted to him, I won't deny that. He was so kind and gentle, not to mention he had an amazing body. At night when he slept next to me, his scent became something I craved. It was so addictive! I should have known that when we started sleeping together that it was going to affect the way I felt about him; that it wouldn't, couldn't, be purely sexual. But I never expected him to feel the same way as I did about him!

"Perhaps not!" She sighed, her gaze moving to the flickering fire, burning in the fire pit before her. "But I do not blame you. He should have known better. But until you are strong enough to stand on your own, it has to stop! He knows this as well! He has always had a big heart, but his feelings for you are a mistake."

"I understand." I bowed my head. Both in submission to her will as well as to the sadness in my heart. "Until I am able to survive by my own strength I shall keep my distance from him."

"Good!" She didn't smile, but her tone told me she was pleased by my statement. "Then let us proceed with your training!"

************

The week that followed was difficult. Keeping my distance from Callen was not easy when we were living so close together. I tried to avoid talking to him unless I had to. If I was going to do this then I had to make sure this was as clean a break as possible. It was painful for me to do it, but we both understood why it had to be this way. We no longer slept next to each other at night. I still opted out of the blood runes being painted on me, it was an option I considered but I preferred not smearing the blood of our dinner on me each and every night before bed. So I slept next to Jan'Zar instead. She was not as pleasant to sleep beside, the bitter scent of her warpaint was only slightly better than the blood that would have been used to draw the rune, and she wasn't a snuggler like Callen. I received more than one sharp blow during he night when I had tried to cuddle her in my sleep.

She didn't try to fuck me. Either she wasn't interested in me, or she was keeping her distance to prevent me forming an emotional attachment to her. I knew she was still sexually active. I had come across her and Garr late one night. I had decided to go and bathe in the river before bed, to wash the stickiness of the days activities from my scales.

In the clearing by the river I had discovered them both naked. Their armour discarded on the ground next to them. Garr was leaning against the boulder Jan'Zar often sat atop while she watched us train, his forehead pressed against the rock as she took him from behind. I think that's what had surprised me the most. She was most definitely female, admittedly one with a small chest, but she also had a cock! It was nothing in comparison to the monster between Garr's legs, but it was big enough to make the giant warrior grunt as she fucked him.

They hadn't seen me, or if they had they showed no signs of it. After regaining my wits I carefully backed away. Not wanting to disturb them. I washed further down stream, taking care of my own needs before returning to camp. I returned shortly before they did. That night as I lay there I couldn't sleep. I was convinced I could smell his scent on her, even though I couldn't. My mind stuck with an image of her taking Garr so forcefully!

It was three days later when Garr and I were alone for the first time that I decided to ask him about it. We were bathing in the river, wearing nothing more than our loin clothes as we cleaned our selves in the shallow water. Khaine had finished washing off and headed back to camp, leaving me alone with Garr.

"I saw you the other night." I said aloud. Unable to look at him. "By the river."

"I know." Was all he grunted in return. It didn't surprise me that they had noticed me. I hadn't been hiding my approach. "What's your point?"

"I was just shocked." I admitted. "I know you'd told me that you'd slept with her before... but I hadn't expected..."

"That she had a cock?" He asked. I glanced at him for the first time to see him smirking.

"Yeah."

"Jealous?" I smiled now. That one word brought me back to our conversation in the woods. The time he had kissed me. The night after he had watched Callen and I sleep together, he had wanted to 'share' me with him. I had asked him if he had been jealous back then. He had said yes.

"Not really. Not of you at least."

"Oh! So your jealous that you didn't get to fuck me?" He smirked.

"Perhaps a little." I admitted with a sly smile. "But I'm terrified of that thing!" I motioned to the monster of a cock dangling between his legs, hidden behind the damp, thin fabric of his loin cloth. It's size and shape clearly visible beneath the wet fabric.

He laughed. A deep, rough bark of a laugh.

"You're tough. You could take it if you tried."

"Perhaps." I admitted. He was certainly bigger than anyone I had been with before. But the girth worried me more than the length. Even while soft it was about as thick as my forearm! He would know of course that I was no longer sleeping with Callen. So perhaps he was making the offer now thinking I would accept it. I was tempted to try. I'll admit. He had an amazing body, and was a surprisingly good kisser! "But I'm not going to jump in unprepared."

"Hmmm... so you 'are' interested." He smirked. He walked towards me, the sound of his powerful legs pushing through the water filled the silence as he approached. I felt tiny when he stood over me like this. He was two feet taller than me and lot bigger besides. His paw cupped the underside of my chin and lifted my muzzle up so I looked into his eyes. "Don't worry. I'll go slow."

He leant down and kissed me. I didn't resist. In fact I kissed him back. It had only been a week since I had isolated myself from Callen, but it felt so much longer since I'd had contact like this! The touch of another fur who wanted me. His other arm came to rest across my lower back, pulling me in close to him. His hard muscles pressed against my own. Damn it! I was getting hard already! But then again so was he! I could feel his arousal pressing into my stomach, but I was more focused on the thick, wet mass that was his tongue which had filled my maw. I pulled back from the kiss, gasping for air.

"Should we really be doing this now?" I asked. I was nervous about where this was going. Not to mention that someone might come looking for us. "What if Khaine comes back?!"

"Hmmm..." He gazed down at me with an amused expression. "So what?"

"Well..." Truth is I was nervous about sleeping with him. Part of me wanted to. The part of me which was currently throbbing between my legs. But there was a much bigger part of me that was nervous about having to take that massive cock of his! I doubt I'd be able to walk properly for the rest of the day!

"It's fine." He backed away. I missed his closeness already but I breathed a silent sigh of relief. "We shall do this when you're ready."

"Thank you Garr."

"Don't worry about it." He smiled. "But just so you know. You only get to fuck my ass after you beat me in a fight!"

"Great!" I said sarcastically.

"Consider it motivation to train harder!" He grinned, slapping me on the ass.

I yelped in surprise and glared at him as he walked away. Motivation... well I guess that works. But I was under no delusion that I would be beating him any time soon!

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It had been two days since my conversation with Garr at the river. The past two days had been spent with some intense spiritual training. As of tomorrow we would resume combat training. We seemed to spend three days doing spiritual training, and then the next three with combat training. Spiritual training was arduous and frustrating. I preferred actual combat training, but at the same time I did enjoy nights free of agony, as my body healed itself from the rigours of the brutal training.

Night was falling and we had just finished eating. I had spent the day getting my tail chewed out by Jan'Zar during my spiritual training. I was improving. But just not fast enough for her liking! After my meeting with Tau'ruc and Dalton in the Hall of Ancestors, my ability to conjure up the light used in the spiritual techniques had improved drastically. Memories from Dalton had helped me to understand and master the simplest of techniques quickly. If Callen had been training me he would have praised me for me sudden improvement. But the Deity of War had a very different teaching method to her brother. But at the back of my mind I wondered, was her frustration at my lack of progress for my benefit, or Callen's? Because as angry as she appeared to towards everyone, she did care for her brother. And if Callen was suffering as much as I was due to our forced separation, then I could understand her urgency.

As we sat around the fire, telling stories of our past lives Garr stood up. He looked at me with a gaze that told me he wanted to speak to me. If the others noticed they didn't make any indication. He excused himself, saying he was going to go for a walk before bed. He never went for walks after sunset. But it occurred to me that he was giving us a chance to be alone. It was up to me to take it. He said he would wait till I was ready, but this was him asking me, albeit indirectly, if I was ready to take our relationship further. Admittedly I was horny as hell!

"I'll come with you." I said as I rose from my seat.

I felt like everyone was staring at me as I walked after Garr. Judging me. No one else joined us thankfully. 'Who cares what they thought!?' I scowled to myself, still feeling slightly guilty about what Callen was feeling as I walked after Garr. I pushed my feeling aside and stared at the powerful back of Garr as he walked. Using the steady rhythm of his movements to calm myself.

We walked for a while without talking. I was incredibly nervous. My stomach fluttered as if a swarm of butterfly's had just hatched inside it. I felt like a damn virgin, nervous about their first time! Given what I knew about Garr's endowment, I think I had every right to be nervous.

Without a word he stopped turned to face me. I stopped dead in my tracks a few paces away. He stared at me with his intense green eyes, and I stared back at him. The sound of the river could be heard faintly, along with the buzzing of insects and the chirping of birds. Other than that there was complete silence between us. Without any words between us he began to strip off his heavy armour.

I swallowed hard as I watched him strip. The process of undoing the straps that held that mass of steel in place took several minutes to undo. Piece by piece he carefully removed the heavy metal. I felt like I should help him, but I was so nervous my maw felt like a desert! I just stood there and watched him. Once he had stripped off the last of the metal armour he began removing the thick white leather he wore beneath it. I decided to act. With shaking paws I stepped towards him and began undoing the straps that held the leather outfit he wore. Once I loosened the straps for him, he slipped free of the leather.

First his arms, bulging with muscles, the pungent scent of his musk struck me with incredible force, but it was not unpleasant. His chest fur was matted and damp with sweat. The muskiness of a hard days labour mixed with his natural scent. The scent of a predator. I could already smell his arousal before he pulled the leather down past his waist, it only intensified when he did. By the time he was completely stripped of the leather I was rock hard, my loincloth doing little to maintain my modesty. His own loin cloth was struggling as well. I stood there and took the sight of him in. The god like physic of the fur before me. Huge and powerful. Rock hard muscles clearly seen beneath the short fur that covered his body.

He walked a few paces away and sat down at the base of a tree. He patted the ground next to him, motioning for me to join him. I gulped nervously and nodded. I walked over and sat down next to him. A moment later he was leaning over me, pushing me onto the flat of my back with a single paw pressing down on my chest. He gazed into my eyes affectionately before lowering his muzzle to mine and kissed me.

His tongue filled my maw, overwhelming my own tongue with its strength. I could only submit to him. I didn't have the strength to resist. His paws roamed my body, caressing me, his powerful yet gentle fingers traced my muscles. I returned the gesture. His rock hard body a labyrinth that my fingertips could willingly lose themselves in for all eternity!

When his paw came to rest on my throbbing arousal I gasped, and was brought back to reality. I pulled away from the kiss, gasping for air. He nuzzled my neck and gently caressed me through the thin fabric which covered me. A purr like noise reverberated from his throat. I moved my own paw down to caress him. When my paw touched him, grasping him through the thin fabric of his loin cloth, I could feel the heat of him. The hot, hard flesh throbbed at my touch. His sheer size, and the thought of taking him in me, made my nervousness return.

"Relax." He purred, licking my neck. His tongue sent a shiver through me. "We will take it slow."

And to his word we did. We spent a long time there, simply touching one another. Kissing and nuzzling each other. Garr's self restraint was impressive. As nervous as I was I just wanted to cum! I sensed that he did as well. But I allowed him to control the pace. He was being so considerate and patient. And when we did eventually discard what little clothing we had remaining he never rushed. He was a slow and deliberate lover.

He shifted his position so we lay head to toe next to each other. I understood what he intended to do now. We were going to pleasure each other. With a single powerful paw he grasped my rear and pulled me to him. I couldn't have resisted his overwhelming strength if I had I wanted to. He engulfed my cock with his hot wet maw. I gasped as his powerful tongue began to caress the sensitive ridges along the length of my cock, wrapping itself around my shaft and squeezing as he sucked on me.

It took everything I had to focus on returning the gesture. But damn it he was big! The girth of his cock made it difficult to take more than a few inches into my maw, so to compensate I used both of my paws to try and pleasure him. I rubbed my body against his hot flesh, suckled and licked the crown of his cock and stroked him with both paws.

Time seemed to stop and speed up simultaneously. Lost in our mutual pleasure. The scent of our musk's mixed, mingled and hung heavily in the air around us. As the slow build of pleasure grew, threatening to overwhelm me, I suckled on him with greater ferocity, hoping to distract myself from it. But it was not to be. I came into his hot, suckling maw. I cried out in overwhelming pleasure. He swallowed my seed eagerly.

Once I had regained my wits he was kneeling over me, naked and erect, staring down at me with an amused smile. I had passed out, at least for a couple of moments. I smiled up at him, my body was heavy with the afterglow of my climax, but I slowly rolled over onto all fours and presented myself to him. I raised my tail and looked over my shoulder at him.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"No." I chuckled nervously. "So if you're going to do it... do it before I change my mind."

He purred softly and moved behind me. His large powerful paws caressed my back and my hips. I was nervous. And considering the huge size of his cock I don't think anyone would blame me. I was relieved when he began to prepare me, licking me and fingering me, stretching my sphincter in readiness. I moaned like a bitch in heat, my cock rock hard and throbbing despite having just cum moments before. I tried not to think about what was coming in case I backed out, I just focused on the sensations of him stretching me.

Eventually the time came. I could feel the head of his cock spread my ass cheeks and press up against my tail-hole. My heart was pounding so hard I could count each and every beat. I tried to relax but it wasn't easy, especially when he began pushing into me. I grunted but bit back the cry of pain that wanted to escape my maw as I was stretched painfully wide. Garr was relentless in pressing into me, and only stopped when I finally reached my breaking point and let a cry of pain escape.

"Are you okay?"

I just shook my head, not trusting myself to speak without crying. My breathing was heavy and laboured as I tried to bear the searing pain in my tail-hole. His paws rubbed my back softly, an appreciated gesture but it was not helping me feel any better. Thankfully Garr didn't try and sink any further into me for the moment, he seemed to be waiting for me to adjust. I'm sure he was used to helping his lovers adjust to his massive girth.

Once I had adjusted and the stabbing pain was nothing more than a constant dull throb I nodded to him, signalling him to continue. I had no idea how much of his length I had taken so far. A few inches? Half? It felt like a mile so far. Once again he grasped my hips and pushed forwards, sinking more of his length into me. The pain returned but it was not as severe. I gritted my teeth and endured it. The constant, relentless pain, mixed with the pleasure as I was stretched to my limits. When I felt his hips meet mine I knew it was over. I had taken the full extent of the monstrous cock he bore between his legs, and felt like at any moment would be split in two!

"Impressive to be able to take me on your first attempt." He said before licking my neck with his broad, wet tongue. "You have to have had some well endowed lovers in the past, you slutty little drake!" He chuckled. "I'm going to enjoy breaking you in! And I know you'll keep coming back for more! Because you're my slutty, little, bitch now!"

His tone was aggressive, dominating and demeaning. And yet some part of me way down deep seemed to enjoy that. I'm not sure I would ever like that part about myself... but right now it made my cock harden and throb in need. I moaned like a bitch in heat, My muzzle flushed with embarrassment.

Garr was now, for all intents my superior, my alpha. He was stronger, faster... even his scent was that of a predator; instilling fear within me. And right now in this moment I was his prey! I was just grateful he was being as gentle as he was. If he had wanted to hurt me he could do so easily. He could seriously injure me, if not kill me with that cock of his!

"I'm going to breed you like the whore you are. And when I'm done you'll come back to me, begging for more!"

He started pulling out of me. It wasn't much, an inch or two, but that slight motion was enough to make me cry out in pained pleasure! He kept his thrusts short but constant. I couldn't help but moan in pleasure with each motion of his hips. Somehow he managed to be a rough yet gentle lover. I felt as much pain as I did pleasure, Without touching myself I eventually sprayed another load all over the ground beneath me. Shortly after cumming for the second time Garr's thrusts became quicker and more aggressive, his breathing heavier and more laboured. He was getting close to cumming himself. I felt the intense warmth of his seed flood my insides! I felt his seed fill me up and begin to leak down the back of my thighs.

Once he was done Garr rolled over onto side, pulling me with him. He held me close, his hard shaft still firmly wedged within me. His large paw caressed my belly and his deep purr reverberated through me. He held me like that for a while until his shaft soften and slipped from my rear. I didn't resist, it was nice to be held like that. It was unexpected as well. I hadn't expected Garr to give me this kind of intimacy, and with Callen now trying to keep his distance I hadn't expected to have any at all for a long time.

"We should get washed up and get back." Garr rumbled softly behind me.

"I don't care." I countered. "Just a little while longer."

"Heh!" He chuckled and licked my neck. "Afraid not. Can't have you falling for me like you did your precious Callen!"

Suddenly any intimacy I felt was washed away by a cold realisation of reality. Garr knew about my situation! But of course he did! I scowled at myself at my own stupidity. Why wouldn't he know about something as serious as that! With the atmosphere of intimacy now ruined, we bathed in the nearby river before heading back to camp. My tail-hole was extremely tender, but I felt extremely satisfied. Garr was an impressive lover, and I was sure I would be sleeping with him again in the future. Unlike Callen though I don't think Garr had any feelings for me beyond physical lust, and he had no intention of allowing it to progress further than that. Which was a good thing in retrospect.

************

"HRRGAAAH!" Khaine roared furiously as he charged me with his sword and shield raised.

We had been training since dawn, and now in the late afternoon sun Garr had us fighting one another. Khaine had grown as a fighter during our time training together, but he was not at my level. So long as I kept my focus I was able to defeat him without too much difficulty.

I saw the intensity of his gaze each time we fought. At first the intensity of his gaze had been filled with hatred, but over time it had changed. I had seen that same look in the eyes of several warriors back in Zangar. The look of rivalry. He viewed me as his rival now, not as the detestable half-breed he had always claimed I was.

I readied my spear for his attack. I leapt to the right to avoid his blade and blocked his shield with my spear as he attempted to hit me with it. I pushed his shield back and forced him back two steps. That was when I took the offensive. Khaine had a habit of going on the defensive after a failed assault, which gave me ample opportunity to plan my attack without having to focus on how to defend myself against his next attack.

I thrust my spear towards his chest and as predicted he moved his shield to intercept my attack. That left his left side open for a brief moment. I quickly stepped to his left, he was aware of his vulnerability and immediately attempted to fortify his defence by moving his shield back into position, the moment his shield arm moved I quickly stepped to his right, spun round to drive a reverse round house kick to his gut. He grunted as the air was forced from his lungs, staggered back and fell down to one knee. After a moment though he stood up and readied himself. I had won the first exchange. That always affected how he would approach the fight, but I would not allow myself to get over confident, I raised my spear defensively and waited for his next attack.

"Good job Malakye!" Garr praised. "Khaine! Be more aggressive! Don't retreat into your shell because of one failed attempt!"

Garr had been working on drilling Khaine's habit of being overly cautious out of the wolf. Playing defence was fine, but Khaine seemed to be afraid of being seriously hurt, as a result he had a habit of being overly cautious. As a survival technique it was not a bad thing to have, but in a fight it could be a weakness. Garr had driven that fear out of me during my first weeks here in Aaru.

With a growl of frustration Khaine lunged at me with his sword. He attacked with a series of short strokes, using his shield to attack as well, focusing on a continuous, fast attacks rather than outright power. I was easily able to chain together a lengthy combination of attacks which I managed to block with the shaft of my spear, but after the twelfth stroke of his sword his attacks slowed. I seized my moment to attack!

I spun to my left, twirled my spear and struck his forearm with the heavy steel shaft of my my spear. He yelped in pain and lost the grip on his sword. He leapt back and raised his shield, but without his sword he was a far less fearsome opponent. I got up close and personal, forgoing the range my spear offered, and instead discarded my weapon in order to use my martial arts to take down the wolf.

He swung his shield at me, but I easily dodged it and he left himself open as a result. I landed a fast series of punches to his muzzle, grabbed his sword arm and then tripped him. As he stumbled I stepped to the side and used the grip on his arm to toss him, head over heels, onto his back. He landed on the soft grass with a thud and before he could do anything pressed my knee into his throat, grasping his other arm with my other paw.

He tried to wrestle his arms free from my grip, but even without using my nen enhanced strength he stood little chance of overpowering me from his current position. The more he struggled, the more difficult it was for him to breath as my knee restricted his airway. All I had to do was press a little harder and I would start to suffocate him.

Only once he stopped fighting did I release him. I stood up and backed away, picking up my spear as he slowly got up. He gasped for air while glaring at me. He had a long way to go before I could view him as a rival as I suspected he viewed me as.

The intensive training Aceh had given me had beaten most of my flaws out of me, and allowed me to pick up on the flaws in my opponents techniques. Khaine had not had such a perfectionist as a master back in Rengilar. By the time he was able to return I have no doubt he would be a force to be reckoned with on the battle field. And he still had to learn how to draw on his nen let alone use it in a fight effectively.

"Good!" Garr growled as he approached. "That was much better Khaine! You are willing to kill Malakye, but you lack the resolve to sacrifice yourself to overcome the shortcomings in your skill level! Until you learn to fight him as an equal you must be willing to suffer mortal wounds in order to achieve victory!"

"Easy for you to say!" Khaine growled back at him.

"It is easy for me to say!" Garr snorted. "I have faced opponents that would leave you cowering in your own shit and piss, if you so much as laid eyes upon them, let alone faced them on the battlefield! So I know what it takes to defeat an opponent far stronger than yourself!"

Garr had fought during the great demon war over two millennia ago! He had fought along side the first k'tan in order to save the mortal realm and all the furs within in from the absolute destruction that would have befallen them at the paws of Maugan Ra and his children, the Demon Lords. He had told me a few stories of his past victories, some of which I could recall through the memories of my ancestors. I had gained these memories after our souls had mingled in the Hall of Ancestors. Khaine had yet to meet Dalton, he was not yet ready for the mingling. He would first need to learn how to use his nen before he would be able to participate in that particular rite of passage.

As a result of the mingling I had gained new abilities and power, or rather, knowledge and experiences. As a result I was able to manipulate my nen to an even greater degree, and execute techniques with greater speed and far less effort than I had ever been able to before. Even my spiritual training had come on leaps and bounds as a result.

"We shall call it quits for today. Tomorrow Malakye, you will be leaving so go and get some rest."

"HUH?!?" I blinked several times in surprise. "I'm leaving?"

"You will be going to another site with Mistress Jan'Zar to get more specialised training." Garr responded.

"Why does he get special treatment!?" Khaine snapped.

"Oh trust me little wolf." Garr smiled a toothy smile at Khaine. "You are going to be getting your own special training here, with me." His toothy smile made me nervous, and it wasn't even directed at me. "I train you up to scratch! By the time I'm done with you, you will be more than a match for Malakye! That or you'll be nothing but a broken, bloody heap of fur and flesh!"

I heard Khaine gulp nervously and I couldn't blame him. I was feeling nervous myself. I was going to be trained by the Deity of War personally. She occasionally spent time training us, but those were infrequent and only lasted as long as she cared them to. Normally she would just observe us, barking orders at Garr from time to time. But this was an entirely different situation! Unless she had arranged some other fur to take Garr's place, she would be training me all day, every day!

I would either become stronger for the training, or be left a broken, bloody heap like Khaine might. Callen would likely be staying here to continue Khaine's spiritual training. Was this just another way for them to create distance between us? It had been difficult when we lived in the same camp not to think about him. We had all but stopped talking to each other except when necessary. Until I was able to defend myself from the attacks from the spirit within me I couldn't risk forming deep bonds with others, which is why Jan'Zar herself had taken over my spiritual training as I had grown too close to her brother.

But at the same time I would no longer have Garr as a source of sexual relief. It had been several weeks since since we first had sex by the river. My emotions towards Garr had not changed much. As far as I could tell at least. Somehow we had two different relationships. The one we currently shared, that of student and master. The other, which existed only during the time we slept together. It was quite surreal. It was like we were both different furs when we met out in the woods, where he would dominate me; body and mind.

I was not upset about not being able to sleep with Garr anymore, it was more akin to losing an item of clothing than that of a lover. Not like the loss I still felt at the distance between myself and Callen. I still felt as if an irreparable hole had been torn out of my chest ever since then. A hole, a wound, which refused to heal and remained as raw as the day it was inflicted due to Callen's constant presence. Would I ever be able to lay eyes upon the wolf and not feel that loss? Maybe one day...