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Chapter One- A Wolf Thrown To The Wolves

Keece was in and out. The concussion he had, hinged on mild, but the ache of his body made it more than uncomfortable to stay in one position as the anesthetic only helped so much.

It felt like a painful hallucination. The odor of the place he rested had a sterile quality to it; except for a scent that did not match any stereotypical medical facility he recognized. The sounds of small machines pulsed and pinged followed by a stomach growling, but not his. Even with as low the lighting was, his eyes strained to deal with it.

Keece knew he was in a bed by the feel of the material, and the support of the pillow his head rested. It did not make sense; not from what he remembered before collapsing in a soggy field after impacting the ground several times.

The feeling of a warm presence moved about the room followed by a soft voice.

"You probably cannot hear me." she explained. "Please know you are safe. Let me check your vitals, all right?”

She; the voice he had heard, thought about his fingers before gathering her fortitude to touch his face. Keece’s forehead was damp from perspiration. His scent was nothing like she had experience before.

For a moment, she could not hear him breathe. Looking to see if any one was watching, Sahvina bought her nose close to his. At first, nothing; then a long push of warm air flowed towards her. Keece’s left hand was fast, completely catching her off guard. She felt his fingers caress her right cheek.

“You are so soft and warm.” he barely whispered.

Sahvina could see his eyes peering barely open at her.

“Your eyes…” Keece said in another whisper.

“How do you feel?“ she asked.

His hand started to slowly fall away from her face. Sahvina caught it in both of hers as she stood up. She knew the risk, his talons could spring to life as they did when he first came in. The reaction was violent, but unintentional. His injured state forced a Fight or Flight response.

“Your beautiful eyes…”

He could feel the warm contours of her fingers and palms as she placed his hand gently by his side. His right eye’s halo glowed green intermittently as her body impeded the overhead light.

Sahvina pressed her fingers against his neck, Keece’s pulse was slow and steady. Gently placing the stethoscope to his chest, she listened to his breathing through his left lung first; then the right.

“You have beautiful eyes to” she told him while adjusting his covers.

“I won’t ask for forgiveness, I would not be so foolish. Take me where I must go.” he whispered.

“You need to rest, here is where you will stay until you are better. When you are feeling up to it, perhaps we will go outside for a little while.” she said softly to him wondering why he said that to her.

A few seconds later, Keece was unconscious once more. Sahvina, as she exited the room; looked at him again before pulling the door partially shut.

‘Who are you?’ she thought.

Sahvina knew of what their people referred to as Stragglers, but he was the first she had seen. The presence of different beings coming and going had been so intermittent; that it was more like an urban legend. The last documented case Sahvina could recall was from around forty-two yeas ago.

They had found Keece collapsed in field where people were foraging the tree line for walnuts. The Foragers who brought him to the Infirmary said it looked like he had been ejected with quite a bit of force from the gouges he left in the soft ground for forty yards after bouncing, and sliding to a stop. There was an immediate alert triggered when the Foragers got Keece through the doors. It was from radiation contamination. Sahvina wasn’t the first to respond, but had suited up to enter the decontamination bay. The Foragers had to under go decontamination protocol for five days to ensure they were not at risk from dangerous exposure and the health complications that would follow.

The Medical Staff referred to him as ‘The Straggler'. His helmet was smeared in mud and scrapes. After the Medics rinsed him off, they realized the undamaged optical port had a light blue illumination. The helmet resembled a Lupakkerithain head with no pelt. It was colored in the same fashion as unburned parts of his clothing and pack. The portions that were not pock marks or gouges gave the appearance of pelt color lines from the nose, brow line, and the ears. He looked like some kind of Lupine cyborg. That was until Sahvina released him from it. She had been feeling around the collar and accidentally pressed a node. There were a few clicks, and whirring noise of micro-motors releasing the faceplate panels; then the rest of the collaring system.

The medical team stood in momentary shock at his appearance, his face was so flat except for his nose. The removal of his gear and clothes revealed that Keece was not all that different anatomically. His body was beaten, burned, scarred, and only pelted in certain areas. His right hand had fragments of melted composite from the charred glove remnants.

The armor was barely intact, but the areas that the armor did not cover, his clothes were almost completely discolored or charred from exposure to high heat.

When a nurse was removing the fused composite from his right hand, Keece had an involuntary response to the procedure. His retractable talons sprang out from his fingers and thumbs. The poor nurse jumped back panicked, little striations of blood sprayed from the force.

The realization of the danger this presented was taken in careful thought, he did not attack; the reflex was the cause. After the barely conscious Keece faded out again, the talons retracted. Sahvina, and the other Medical Staff quickly taped alloy finger splints on every digit. It was the only sure way that they could rest easy as the Medical Staff continued to work on the strange patient.

“Why would any one do this?” Sahvina questioned the scan charts as she and Lyla went over and over them.

‘Whatever these are, I can assure you that they are not natural.’ the off white and grey Female Medical Technician explained. ‘We know what those are in the hands, but the knee looks like repaired bone structure with a material we are still doing our best to identify.’

“And his right eye?” Sahvina asked.

'The eye is a prosthetic. Closer examination revealed that it is tied into the muscle tissue and uses blood pressure to power it. Part of the skull was remove around the eye to fit the suspension cradle for the unit. It is made of a light weight alloy; then something that resembles a coupling that tethers the optic bundle, and the original control muscles are somehow bonded to the prosthesis. Going into his images further has revealed both of his hands have synthetic tethering to the prosthetic eye. The really strange anomaly is the nanotech that repairs the skin on his finger tips when his talons deploy and retract.’ Lyla told her going over her findings.

“It strikes me as odd that they are isolated to just his digits.” Sahvina said with curiosity.

‘Well, we thought that at first, but that was because of the initial concentration of them repairing his breached skin where the talons are. It seems the radiation he was saturated with has caused them to spread through out his body and start repairs until the accidental deployment of those blades.’ Lyla replied. ‘With that, they were absorbing the radiations like it is fuel, and multiplying by dividing into smaller components. It’s the reason the decontamination process was almost cut by a third’

“You’re kidding…” Sahvina said as she looked his blood sample through the scope at Lyla’s station. The truth was there in front of her; there they were, hard at work reducing themselves to smaller facets.

‘This is advance’ Sahvina thought.

“What about his physiology?” she asked Lyla.

‘He is very much like us; it seems that his people developed from something different; at first, but these genetic markers show signs of manipulation from I think was the original format, which indicate his species had been tampered with by something. It could have also been a forced evolution to a planetary change, but there is a couple of unfamiliar anomalies. That being said, he shares a good concentration DNA with a species very similar to our own, we also have to take in account that part of the manipulation could be unique to this particular entity.’

“Are they the same manipulation markers in our DNA?” Sahvina asked.

“Surprisingly enough, very similar; except for the other three.”

Sahvina was mildly shocked. They had discovered their people's tampering only eighty years ago. Now here, was a being that showed similar manipulation, and more.

“I appreciate your thoroughness.” she said thanking Lyla. She walked out of the diagnostic room with thick printed files and two clip boards.

‘You’re very welcome.’ Sahvina heard in her head halfway down the hall to her office.

She sat in thought of Lyla’s report on strange patient. The amount of radiation and types he was subjected to, the DNA markers, with the added fact he was very similar to them genetically; although his appearance said otherwise.

Sahvina started to write the report draft based on these findings, while adding in they had to keep him in a decontamination chamber for almost six months, which was less time than anticipated.

None of them knew if he was going to survive. Learning about the Nanotech burning the radiations like fuel, she was now beginning to understand how they were able to repair the heavily damaged cellular tissue, and keep Keece alive. Even with as advanced as the Lupakkeritha people were; they had nothing like this.

‘We might have thought about something like it in another fifty years, but there has not been a reason for this type of technology for our people currently.’ she thought continuing to draft her report.

When Keece was cleared to be released from decontamination, he was in a state of being that was coma like with little to no coherence. Some of the Staff had thought Keece’s brain might be to damaged to ever regain consciousness.

Sahvina made it her routine to check in on him through the next few months. Most of the time he was in and out lacking any visible awareness other than a few word here and there. Sometimes Keece would ramble about an entity taking him to his end, which eluded her in why he seem ready to pay a debt she had no inkling of to give comfort in this notion. It almost seemed like the ranting of a mad individual. They had no idea where this Straggler came from, let alone what he had experienced before making entry to this world. Everything they had collated on this being started to spell out ‘Weapon’.

One early afternoon as Sahvina was making rounds, she noticed Keece was sitting more upright in this bed sleeping. He had put his pillows behind his back and rested his head on the cool wall. Sahvina quietly peered in to see if he was awake. Seeing Keece had propped himself up, she came into the room and started to check the charts and decided to sit on the end of his bed since there were no rolling stools available.

Keece stirred and mumble something like the times before, so Sahvina paid no mind. His eyes opened slightly to see someone in lavender scrubs with a thick, single braid of black hair. It was close to the middle of the back in length. As his eyes traveled up, he saw tall, plush, almost triangle shaped ears on top of the head starting to fold back in his direction.

Sahvina turned to looked at Keece’s barely open eyes looking at her.

“Oh, hello. Sorry, no stools in the room.” she said to him softly. “Are you feeling better?”

He did not say anything at first, Keece was doing his best to make sense of who he was seeing. As she finished turning towards him, her long fluffy tail slid across his blanketed feet.

Keece could see her better now that his vision was becoming clearer. She was missing the tip of her left ear.

Sahvina’s big, rose yellow eyes gave a warm concerned expression. He could see her smiling.

She put her hand on his left leg. “Are you all right?”

“I remember you… Is it time to go…?” he asked in an exhausted tone.

“Where would I take you?” Sahvina inquired with a certain curiosity.

“Where the dead go when they have failed… To the dark place”

“I see… Well, good news; you are still alive.” she said as she gently patted his leg.

He had a look of disbelief, everything felt surreal. As his eyes widen, Sahvina could see the green halo in his right eye fully, she noticed his gaze going over her.

“Do you remember your name?” Sahvina asked.

“Keece.” he said after drawing a breath.

"Hello Keece, my name is Sahvina. Do you feel well enough to talk?”

He nodded slightly.

“Where did you come from?”

“Unfortunately, a world I am sure is dead.”

“How do you mean?”

“There was great machine built that could open doors into other places… Something went wrong, we tried to stop it.” he said as his eyes looked up and away from her.

She saw him fighting back tears as he bit down on the right side of his bottom lip. He was thinking of his only friend Mikelys; the other that was there when it all ended.

“I am so sorry Keece, you don’t have to continue.” Sahvina said as she slid closer to him.

“No.. It’s necessary; someone has to know.” Keece said clearing his throat.

He began to briefly explain to her of the hard fought battles that he was in for almost twenty years as a mercenary. Sahvina listen intently. Keece began with his enlistment to the military and how he was force into being augmented.

“How can they do that?” she asked

“When you enlist, they own you. You basically become expendable to the will of the highest paying client. They wanted a mercenary team with weaponized abilities; this client had the technology that gave me these.” he said while raising his left hand.

“Oh, please don’t.” Sahvina asked as she clasped both her hands over his before he could straighten his fingers. “We already know about those.”

The look on his face was fearful.

“It is all right, no one got hurt; bit surprised, but not hurt.”

Sahvina watched his tensed expression relax.

Keece continued explaining that he helped commit many abominable acts while in service.

“I did what I was told to do, but in no way does that exonerate me from any of it. I finally realized that the mission information we were being given was wrong. We weren’t fighting other factions that were attacking us. We were killing people fighting back against the Autocratic system that left them to starve and die.”

“I don’t understand; why would a people do this to themselves?” Sahvina asked with a look of disbelief.

“Greed, plain and simple. Everything had an attached monitory value to it. If it didn’t, it was disposed of. If it cause aggravation, it was disposed of. The increasing problem was that the resources in my world were almost completely depleted, and the most dangerous commodity are a people with nothing left to lose.”

Sahvina nodded in acknowledgement as he continued.

“The last mission I ever did on behalf of the Benefactors was an extermination.

I killed innocent people; Women, Children, and Men fighting to just have something to eat. I could’t do it anymore after that. I defected and went rogue.”

“You mean you stopped killing?” she asked being unfamiliar with those terms.

“No, I kept killing. It became a matter of going after those who used to employ me. That is how Mikelys found me. He helped me hone my purpose, we started hitting High Asset Targets.”

Keece continued telling Sahvina about some of those targets being Food Depots, Munition Dumps, and everything else they could do to hurt the Controlling Infrastructure.

Then one day, information came down about a machine that was being used to open doors to other places outside their realm of existence. It was rumored that people were being sent through these doorways, but none ever returned.

Another rumor surfaced about why the machine had been built, the Autocratic Elite were trying to escape the inevitable by making their way to another world and leaving the dying one behind.

The experiments became more frequent and strange things would happen. Weird sounds everywhere, spinning spirals of light in the skies that would turn into rippling black pools of nothing; then something fell out of one.

There had been a lot of blood shed over obtaining the object.

Keece and Mikelys found out through various channels that the alien material was going to be used to increase the machine’s ability to open a stable portal.

“How did they know that the material would allow for their escape if others died going through before?”

“We didn’t know. That is one of many parts that didn’t make sense.” Keece told her. “Supposedly there was a leak of information about it, but we never got more than the name they called it. ’Salvation’s Tear’.”

“That is an odd name for such an item. Why do you think they called it that?”

“Maybe it was only for their salvation, other than that, I don’t know. Later on, we found out about the mass grave from a reconnaissance team Mikelys and I worked with on a few missions. It seems those people who weren’t supposed to return, had either come back, or never left to begin with. None of it was adding up; until one of the Facility Staff had been captured. Parts of those people were being fed to something as payment to pave the way for those who wanted to leave.” Keece did his best to explain.

Sahvina shivered with a look of being sick for a moment digesting what he just told her.

Continuing from that morbid vision, Keece told her of the plan to destroy the machine completely by blow out the particle beam tube in three sections to keep them from generating the energy to create the portal, then high incendiaries to melt a good portion of the massive machine into the ground before wrecking the main control center.

The idea was to keep the Elitists from leaving and make them face inevitable end they perpetuate. It would be revenge for the rest of the people they used for their own means. No one was going to get out alive, least of all, them.

Keece and his accomplice got caught and almost killed by the Mercenary Team he used to work with. They did not get to destroy the machine before someone else decided to. The last thing he remembered was the machine was near fruition generating the doorway; then a nuclear detonation happen three miles from the facility.

“A nuclear device?” Sahvina asked sounding unsure of what it was.

“A diabolical weapon that can vaporize anything within two miles of it.” Keece explained. “Those who parish instantly are the lucky ones. The rest will suffer painful deaths in weeks, months, and even years from radiation poisoning from fallout.”

“I see. So you and your friend had gotten caught up in the detonation at that place”

“After that, it was a soggy field; then I saw you.” Keece told her.

"And you were a bit shocked?” she said smiling.

“Not shocked, finally at peace. I was sure that I was finally at my end, and you were the spirit that was going to take me to my final place.”

“Now I understand what you said to me, and why. I am not the spirit who is to take you away, I am your physician.” Sahvina said assuringly.

“Where am I?” Keece asked.

“With us in our world, safe.” Sahvina replied.

“What are you?”

“I assume you are asking who we are; we call ourselves Lupakkeritha; the people of this world” she replied. “Rest now, I will be back in a little while to check on you.”.

Keece nodded as Sahvina gently patted his leg again and got up to finish her rounds. He watched the tall, dark grey Lupakkeritha Female walk out the door. Keece was convinced he was still dreaming. Even with as strange as it felt, it was better here than what he remembered coming from.

Sahvina walked into her office to make a cup of tea before sitting down. Once comfortable, she started to enter more data on their guest. Sahvina compiled everything on his physical make up, blood work, and the technological augmentations that they discovered in the scans.

She also sub noted the gene markers they found that were very similar to theirs. After that, Sahvina typed in the entire story he told her; then submitted the main edit of Keece’s file into the system for review. Who ever read that report was going to have their ears blown back by the bizarre account.

Sahvina decided to do her rounds again early so she could break for lunch, it occurred to her that their strange patient might be hungry too, even though he was hooked up to an I.V. feed.

She selected a variety of different items, venison, bone meal biscuits, different leafy greens, steamed carrots, and some green apple pie with a buckwheat crust. Sahvina made her way back to Keece’s room with the tray. Peeking in, she seen he was resting with his eyes closed.

Sahvina decided to find a stool and small rolling stand to set their meals on; when she returned, she quietly crept in and rolled everything up to the side of his bed. Keece looked like he was napping again.

Sahvina approached him gently touching his shoulder. Keece jumped for a moment, blinking his eyes; then looking up at her.

“Sorry, I did not mean to startle you.” she said.

“It’s all right, but please be careful; I really do not want you to get injured by accident.” he said articulating his fingers.

Sahvina smiled and nodded as she presented their meal.

Keece sat up and adjusted himself to look at what she brought, everything smelled wonderful. He noticed the meat portions were large, and the other portions were smaller.

“I hope you’re hungry, I figured your dietary requirements are much like ours.”

“I appreciate your generosity.” Keece replied.

Sahvina kept smiling as she situated her food and began to eat. Keece looked at the biscuits, then took a bite of one, the flavor was spiced with something like basil and rosemary; the texture was different.

“What are these made of?” Keece asked after he swallowed a bite.

“They’re made of bonemeal.”

“Really; You do not use grains?” he asked.

“A few, but we are very selective about our intake of certain things, and the bonemeal fills in our calcium requirements.” she said.

“That makes sense.” Keece said thinking the they probably do not drink or eat any dairy.

Sahvina chewed away at the venison as she watched him move onto the leafy greens and carrots.

It was remarkable to her that he consumed them before eating his meat portions. She could not help herself watching him. A couple times Sahvina had to catch herself looking too much.

Keece ate the bonemeal biscuits then started in on small bites of the meat.

“Is the food to your liking?” she asked.

“Yes, thank you. Truth be known, this is the best I have had in very long time.”

“How so?”

“I have had to live on somethings most people would never eat.” Keece told her.

Sahvina had to ask, but found out that she should have left it alone after he told her about eating insects, grubs, worms, tree bark, and at times moldy discarded food when sneaking through controlled cities. He did tell her about some of the other things that were not so bad; like clovers, certain mushrooms, raw fish at times he could not cook, pine nuts, white pine needles, cedar nuts if he could find them, and dandelions.

Keece seemed to be pretty resourceful and a bit crazy. On the off chance he did not disappear like all the other Stragglers in their history, and decided not to move on; he might fit in reasonably well with her people. It would depend on his interactions with everyone, and whether or not he was going to cause trouble. The invitation to stay with the Lupakkeritha might be open.

Sahvina noticed he did not consume all of his meat portion.

“Are you not satisfied with your protein?”

“I apologize, the portion is much larger than I expected; plus, this is the most I have eaten in one sitting. As for the satisfaction, I am gracious, thank you.” he said. “Perhaps saving it for later?”

“Of course.” Sahvina replied as she pulled containers out for the pie and meat from a drawer and put the portions in and sealed them.

Keece watched her walk to a wall panel and press an illuminated icon. A small door opened to reveal a refrigeration unit; after Sahvina placed the containers in the unit, she shut the door.

“If you get hungry later, just press the yellow icon to open the panel.” she said explaining the function.

Keece nodded in responce. She sat back down and continued with her meal.

“It must be rough not being able to eat regularly, rest assured you will be well fed here.” she said.

“I do not mean to burden you; after I am well, I would like to find a way to repay my debt.”

“My friend, there is no debt. It is our duty and privilege to care for those in need. If you choose to work, then you will reap the benefits of your tasks.” she said in a genuine and prideful manner.

“I will choose to work, and put back into what ever community I serve. It is only fair.” he replied.

“Good, I am sure that you will be successful in gaining employment once you are full recovered.” Sahvina said finishing her last bite.

He managed to crack a slight smile. It felt strange not hearing a negative word, genuine encouragement was given.

“Perhaps you would like to go outside for a little while and talk more?” she asked him.

“If you really do not mind, it would be wonderful to get some real fresh air.”

“Of course, let me get the utensils back to the cafeteria, and find you a wheelchair.” Sahvina said with a smile.

Keece watched her walk out to locate the item, she had a cute swagger with the semi-curled sway of her tail.

Sahvina returned ten minutes later and disconnected the monitoring devices; then helped him off the bed and into the chair. Keece notice how strong and stable she was. Sahvina pushed him down a couple of corridors to a huge atrium like room; then out into a place that looked like a park.

The air was sweet and flowed in a light breeze. The feeling of the sun on his face had his galvanic responses rolling all over. It was interesting to her, watching his reactions to stimuli her people took for granted as she pushed him along.

Keece looked around at everything they passed, this should have been what his world still looked like. Unfortunately Affluenzic notions and warfare destroyed a good portion of the natural beauty that once filled it.

The grass was natural. It varied in tone, texture; at four inches tall. Various wild flowers poked up through the green and gently fluttered in the breeze. There were a few different types of trees; all of them were tall, and well kept. She kept a slow pace happily pushing Keece down the path noticing his continued gaze taking in everything they passed.

“It is very beautiful here… Is the rest of your world like this?” he asked.

“Yes, it’s much fuller out there, but definitely beautiful.” she replied.

“My world was like this at one point, I have only seem photos and video periodicals of it. Never experienced it for myself other than the remaining small nature preserves.”

Sahvina thought about what he had told her earlier; she was having some trouble grasping why they would intentionally kill everything off knowing it would bring about their own end.

She guessed that some peoples would not be harmonious with their Mother. Keece seemed to have a good grasp of his peoples failings, and did not want to continue inflicting harm on anything, or any one. He could see and recognize the beauty of every thing around them. The way he breathed the air; it seem like his first time.

They returned to his room an hour later; Keece noticed his bedding had been changed while they were away. Sahvina gently helped him back into bed; then checked all of his vitals as she reconnected his monitoring devices back up.

“Do you mind if I visit with you more so we can talk?” she asked pulling his covers up to his chin, then folding them a quarter back.

“No, not at all; it would be pleasant to see a familiar face regularly.”

“Even if I am the spirit that is to take to your final place?” Sahvina jested.

“Yes, I can ‘live' with that.”

“You have a sense of humor; I like it.” she said with a light chuckle before getting up to take her leave. “I’ll see you tomorrow; oh, and remember, you have the rest of your meal in there incase you get hungry.”

“Thank you, I look forward to tomorrow.” Keece replied.

He watched her walk away wondering what Sahvina’s home was like, with a curious thought of her social life.

‘Conversations for tomorrow I suppose… MAK would have loved this.’ he thought with the feeling of stabbing guilt.

Weeks went by while continued Keece healed. Sahvina was checking in on him through her rounds, it was becoming a routine for her. There were times she would stay after shift and talk with Keece while sharing meals with him. There were others that came to check on him during the day if she was busy on extended rounds, meetings, or days off. They were always kind and very helpful when Keece would ask questions.

He did enjoy the company of the dark grey Lupine as much as she started to enjoy his. Sahvina learned a great deal from his stories, and cataloged each one as an additional reference to his people. Not an absolution of truth with the negative things he had told her, but a record and warning that not all of them were friendly, or inherently good.

Taking a personal charge, Sahvina started to work with Keece during his physical therapy. He was still impress with her strength. Keece always followed through with the therapy program no matter how painful, or weak he felt. Sahvina gained a veneration for his continued efforts with no excuses.

After another couple of months, he got out of the Medical Facility. Keece had been granted a small Den to dwell in. The Lupakkeritha built their dwellings under mounds. From the outside, the Dens looked like small grass covered hills. The fronts showed the brick and mortar construction, and had all the windows. The front door was in-between the kitchen and front room. For extra light other than powered ceiling lamps, there were a series of skylight tubes placed strategically through out the Den for optimized illumination during the day. The interior was cozy with furnishings provided. As he entered, Keece noticed the kitchen to his immediate left. On the right was small front room with a couple of upholstered chairs and coffee table arranged to look out the larger of the two windows. Behind that arrangement was the dining table and four well crafted wood chairs. In the kitchen, the sink and countertops with underside storage shelves were placed in front of the smaller window. A small range and oven made the corner to go further in to the divided room with some over head cupboards and an added counter top that tucked the three foot wide refrigeration unit under it. The rest of the space was occupied by pantry shelves from the back wall to the one that divided the space from the front room. Down the small hallway, the bedroom was to the right, and the bathroom was to the left. The first thing Keece noticed was the big bathtub. Across from the bedroom door was a nook where the double stack washer and dryer resided. The bedroom was small, as bed was reasonably big and took up a lot of the room. The closet space was on the same wall the end of the dining portion for the front room.

Sahvina had dropped by a bit later with a care package of linen and some food. They conversed for a little while.

“How much in rent am I going to owe each month?” keece asked.

“Rent; I’m not sure what you mean.” she replied.

“The cost of occupying this dwelling.” he said.

“There is no cost, you have been granted a home, and it is yours until you decide to leave.” Sahvina explained.

“Does every one get a Den?”

“Yes, and every one gets help in maintenance as needed. I get the feeling that your way of doing things was very different. As Lupakkeritha, everything is provided by everyone in the community. You receive help, you give help. You can work if you choose, or be self sufficient. As a community, we are all one.”

“You said the if I chose employment, I would reap the benefits. What did you mean by that?” Keece asked.

“You would make a wage to use as you saw fit. The currency works a bit different with us from what you described to me about your world. We use an electronic ledger system for all places that sell and buy goods. So, if you want to buy something, you sign your name and it is deducted from your ledger account.” Sahvina explained.

“Interesting; then what if I don’t have enough to pay for the items upon purchase?”

“If it is food or other Den related items; there is a deduction from the next pay cycle at fifteen percent continuing with the fifteen percent on each following cycle, unless you choose to pay the amount in full on a particular cycle. Everything outside of the means of necessity would not be allowed.”

Keece seemed to understand how it worked. Until put into practice, the finer details of the transaction system wouldn’t be fully understood.

That night, Keece laid thinking he could not wait to give back to the community that saved his life. To just work hard and have the basic necessities was more than anyone in his world ever had.

He went through another three months of physical therapy before she cleared him for employment. Sahvina did her best for him every step of the way to help with his transition.

Finding work was not difficult, Sahvina had gotten Keece a job working construction with a friend. Originally, they were a crew of six, but with the new addition; became seven.

The jobs were based on full construction, renovations, and landscaping.

The crew he worked with ranged from black to red and everything in between. Most of them were six and a half to seven feet tall, and very strong.

Sahvina had helped Keece find some clothes since his uniform was pretty much useless from the battle damage and having cut it off when he came to the hospital. His battle armor only covered so much, might as well had been running around half naked in ass-less chaps.

Some of the humor came from the fact he had to wear adolescent sized clothes due to his height of five foot seven inches.

It took them a little while to get used to Keece’s scarred body when he did not wear his shirt working for the first week, let alone being pelt less. Every one showed up to work with shirts on, but no one wore shirts during those nice hot days. The Red pelted twins Males would often stare at him, not out of disrespect or disgust. Curiosity and wonderment when they noticed his pigment changed with exposure to the sunlight. The Black pelted Male was quiet and hard working like Keece. He was not above casting the occasional glance at his new co-worker. The white and grey pelted Female wore a black sports top; she, for some reason took to Keece, and liked to feed him treats she made for lunch. Then Brown pelted Female, the foreman of the group; acted more as a co-ordinator and planner for the work being done to the Dens. Easy going, but she liked to see progress. The Timber male, seven feet tall, was as jolly as any mountain of a Lupine could be.

The first day of work Keece helped move lumber and other provisions to their places. The rest of the team was caught by surprise when he dragged two, sixteen foot twelve by twelves on his own.

Hard working for sure, he did a lot of grunt work moving bricks, dirt, and debris clean up. He always seemed to be happy to help no matter the task he was given, which was very intriguing to them. Their Coordinator had a little background on Keece that Sahvina provided. She had come to the conclusion that his willingness to do what ever they asked of him was of no consequence in comparison to what he had survived, and committed where he came from.

Keece was digging out a cellar for more room adjacent to a Den being remodeled on a particularly beautiful afternoon as Jett (quiet black Male with auburn eyes, and long black hair) had made an observation of him having no light under the den.

“Have you fellows noticed our browning co-worker is without light under there?”

“He never complained, so I really did not take noticed” Ylva (brown Female with long braided blond hair, and dark grey eyes) replied.

“Are you joking?” asked Otsanda(white and grey pelted Female with shoulder length burgundy hair, and sapphire yellow eyes)

Jett shook his head ‘no’.

Otsanda sighed as she proceeded into the dark of the cellar. She could hear Keece chipping away at the ground with a pick axe. Her vision was impeccable in the dark like all of her people, but the further down the stairs; the harder it was to see.

“Keece?”

“Yes?” he answered.

“Where are you?”

“Right here.” Keece said as he turned around to see Otsanda standing nine feet from him.

She was startled for a second by a floating green ring that would shift its angle rapidly.

“I think something is in here with us.”

“No, just us.” he replied.

“What is that light, do you see it?

“No.” he said as he put his hand on her soft pelted shoulder.

Otsanda jumped as soon as he touched her. As a reflex, she swiped. Her strike came to a dead stop against Keece’s right forearm blocking her. There was a lot of power in Otsanda’s swing.

Keece backed away quickly yielding.

“I did not mean to startle you, apologies Miss.”

Jett walked into the cellar with a lantern to see both of them facing each other. The closer the light got to where Keece was standing, the dimmer the illumination of his right eye became. Otsanda tilted her head with curiosity.

“Your eye glows?” she asked.

“Yes, sorry… I should have been more forthcoming with that information.” Keece said looking down at the floor for a few seconds.

It was funny to him that he startled her; after all, she and Jett’s eyes reflected the lamps light intensely.

“All right you two, let’s take a break.” Jett told them as he turned away with he lamp and walked out.

Otsanda and Keece were in the dark again.

“Great, now I can’t see.” she said with the spotty light blotching from the lamp still in her vision.

“Please do not hit me Miss.” Keece said as he gently took her left hand in his right guiding her out of the cellar.

“How is it you can see in absolute darkness?” she asked him.

“My right eye is a prosthetic, a fake.”

Everyone on the crew sat in their lunch circle listening to Keece explaining how his right eye allowed him to see in ways his left eye could not.

Convey(the timber with short grey hair, and sky blue eyes) leaned over to Keece to take a closer look at his right eye.

“Curious. Why does it not glow now like Otsanda saw in the cellar?”

“It self adjusts for differences in ambient light.” Keece replied.

Convey nodded and leaned back as he scooped up another bite of salad greens.

“Looks like our Faolan (Little Wolf) is full of surprises.” Convey remarked after he swallowed his food.

Russell and Peter(the red pelted twins with brown hair, and leaf green eyes) were only interested for a moment, then started arguing over one having the others lunch.

“Something tells me that you might suffer a bit when using the eye too much. Use a lantern, please Faolan?” Ylva stated, then asked.

“Absolutely Ma’am.” Keece responded respectfully to her request.

Otsanda presented Keece with a new dish to see if she was able to create to what he referred to as spicy meatballs. To her delight, he ate every one of them that had been turned down by the rest for being too hot.

After lunch, they provided four lanterns for him. As Keece kept digging, his mind was focused on how Ylva knew that he had head aches.

The light did make it better; either way, Keece would have never complained. ‘You have no right complain… Discipline…’ he told himself in thought

Even though Keece really did not talk much, his co-workers had taken a liking to him.

They continued to work on the project until completion; then moved on to the next. Ylva was happy with everyones progress, they had manage to finish in three weeks which was a week and a half ahead of schedule. It meant they could get a jump on a smaller work detail, after that; the crew did a local Family a good solid while waiting for the word on the biggest one of the season. They did work helping the Farming Family haul a lot of compost dirt and manure to their field, roofing their barn, including siding with painting. The Family decided to reward the crew with a small banquette meal for all the enduring effort. It was a nice quiet affair with everything set up outside. Two makeshift benches covered all kinds of delectable dishes to eat with beautiful red lace table cloths.

The Patriarch was manning a brick and mortar rotisserie with something that looked like a hog skewered to it. During the small celebration, Keece got asked to participate in an archery game with the eldest child.

He was looking to decline, but did not want to seem ungrateful.

Sahvina had shown up to join in the merriment, with her presence, Keece thought he might have an out; that was until she decided to participate in the game as well.

“Are you going to take your turn?” Sahvina asked him.

“It wouldn’t be fair because of my comba… Some of my previous experience.”

“Who do you think made the kill to provide the meat for our meal?” the Father asked Keece pointing to a light grey and black Female with long silver hair, dressed in a blue long skirt, and matching blouse. “That’s my eldest child Laeda, and she is a dead eye.”

“Come on, it’s just for fun.” Laeda said handing Keece the bow.

“As you wish.” he said.

Everyone watched as he drew the bow back waiting to see the release. He had the shot lined up but was hesitating for a few second as a breeze picked up. Watching the tips of the grass being pushed to the right, Keece turned slightly to his left and let it fly.

Right as Laeda’s Father was going to say he might have aimed too wide, the arrow curved right; then hit the third ring from the center.

“Nice hit, let me try.” Russell said waiting to receive the bow.

He took his shot and hit high on the outside right.

“I really thought I had it.” he said handing the bow to Sahvina.

“That breeze seems to be a bit tricky.” she said drawing.

They watched to see if her shot would make the center mark.

Her ears started to move a little as the breeze picked up. After another second she released and hit a few inches closer to the center than Keece did.

Sahvina turned and handed the bow to Laeda; then gave Keece a little smile that said ‘follow me’.

Laeda made the first bullseye, then handed the bow to Peter.

They sat together in a couple of chairs back from the group a few strides away.

“How are you feeling?” she asked.

“Glad to be of service, I go home tired, and that is good.” Keece replied.

Cheers sounded and Peter got his shot to the second ring from the center.

“I know you enjoy having purpose, but how do you feel? Are you happy, sad, scared, maybe uncomfortable?” Sahvina asked coaxing him to open up.

“Still a bit uneasy. Even now, I am adapting to everything around me. Please don’t think I don’t enjoy each day, but this is the peaceful existence that my friend and I always talked about. One would have to earn the right for this, which I don’t feel I have.” Keece did his best to explain.

Otsanda let her’s fly and hit the separation line between the bullseye and inner second ring; praises of good judgement were given to her.

His turn came up again. Keece decided to quit sand bagging and deal in brass tacks.

“You told me that you did a lot of harmful deeds in the place before here; is that why you don’t feel you deserve peace?”

He pulled back and let his augmentation do the work while judging the shift in air flow. The telemetry feed from his right eye had the center pinned. Feeling a sudden gust to the left side, he slightly turned and let it fly again. Bullseye.

The murmured discussions of his shot could be heard.

“That was well placed” Laeda told Keece.

He smiled and thanked her before handing the bow to Russel.

“Whether I do or don’t isn’t really the concern I have, it’s more of the knowing that there were others that did more than I, and yet they are not here.” He said.

“I can see how that would weigh anyone down. It takes a conscience to feel like you do, but you should move forward with life. It’s not like you can go back and make another attempt at redemption. Keece… You have a chance to take what has been given and make the absolute best of it; If you want.” Sahvina told him. “I think it is my turn to shoot.”

They both got up to take their turns again. After another thirty minutes, the lunch bell rang, and everyone lined up to load their plates with the fine food provided by the Family they work for. Conversations sparked as they ate and passed other dishes and drinks around.

As everything came to a close, the youngest child; their Son asked Keece a question while everyone helped gather up dirty dishes and extra food.

“What’s it like to be a Straggler?”

Keece gave the young Male a strange look while he thought about it listening to his Mother shushing him for the rude question. The answer everyone heard was not what they expected.

“I don’t know, I’ve never been one before.”

Afterwards, during the walk towards home; Ylva told everyone that they had a couple of days to relax before the next project started. Cheers went up as they all talked about how they would spend the time.

Keece never said a word as they continued. Everybody bid each other a good evening before parting ways to head to their Dens.

He walked Sahvina back to her’s.

“I was thinking; that is if you didn’t have anything else to do tomorrow, you might like to join me, and go to the river for a little while.”

“I have no plans due to the down time other than studying more of the literature you let me barrow.” he replied.

“Is that a yes?” she asked smiling.

“Yes, I will join you.” he said smiling back.

“Good, I will come by your Den tomorrow to pick you up.”

“Should I bring anything?” he asked as they walked up to her door.

“Just yourself, a towel, and an appetite.” she said smiling back. “Good evening Keece, I will see you in the morning.”

“Good evening Sahvina, rest well.” he said as she entered her Den.

Before Sahvina shut the door, she watched Keece walk away thinking about the answer he gave about being a Straggler. It felt strangely optimistic.

Keece was sipping a fresh cup of lavender and chamomile tea thinking of what he, and Sahvina had spoken of; one deserving peace.

‘Maybe if I had saved my world I might deserve this.’ he thought looking out the small front room window with flashes of the meal he ate, then all the starving people left behind. ‘I couldn’t even save my friend.’

Memories started to flash again. Keece could recall the wake of death he helped create feeling confident he was doing right. Then the point that led to his defection. After that, Keece wandered aimlessly looking for any fight against the controlling Elite hoping to redeem himself.

Mikelys, the smooth talking ladies man came across Keece knowing full well what he was.

‘Oh, the trouble we caused.’ he thought smiling for a moment.

Mikelys Alexi Kyrpenko, or MAK as everyone would call him in short, helped Keece hone his revenge into some hard hitting redemption. Eventually, the people they worked with started calling him KEV, which was short for Keece Escher Volkov. There was also the name patch on his uniform; ‘FENRIR’. Keece was given the codename for his unbridled ferocity in combat. Another reason existed for the name given, but neither knew what it was.

Although MAK never saw his face under the Wolf’s head helmet he wore when the end finally came for them both. Keece had shed tears watching the shockwave coming for them seconds after the detonation of the nuclear weapon. Not for him self, but for his friend facing what he felt he should have alone.

“See you on the other side my Brother.” were the last words he heard Mikelys speak before the facility was nothing more than charred remains.

“You have a chance to take what has been given and make the absolute best of it… If you want.” Sahvina’s voice whispered in his head.

“And even though I could still argue the point MAK, I know you would have said the same thing.” Keece said aloud just to hear something outside his own head.

Sleep did not come easy that night. It was the reason he liked working the way they did with no downtime; coming home tired, bathing, eating, reading a little, preparation for the new day, then sleep. It did not give Keece much time to dwell on things.

Sahvina lightly knocked on Keece’s door to see if he was ready to go to the river. Oddly enough he didn’t answer. She knocked a little louder, and still no answer.

Sahvina was not only confused, but getting concerned. Keece had a very punctual nature. Right as she was going to knock harder, she almost shed her pelt.

“Ready to go?” he said with a really big smile from behind.

“Oh my spirits you startled the shit out of me!” she exclaimed with a less than pleased look. “That was intentional.”

“Yes, and I apologize for scaring you.”

“No, you startled me.” Sahvina told him.

“All right, we’ll go with that.” Keece said still smirking.

Sahvina narrowed her eye at him for a moment, then smiled.

Keece noticed the basket she was carrying and offer the take it.

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“It would be un-gentlemen like if I didn’t.” he said taking a cue from MAK.

Sahvina smiled and handed it to him, then lead the way to the spot she adored the most at the river.

After stepping off the last paver stone walk way in the town, she led him through a tall grass field. The trail was cut in well from use by others. Keece thought the grass and thistles being three feet tall made it feel like a maze. As they casually strode, he noticed that there were many paths other than the one they followed.

Thinking about inquiring where all the others led, he kept it to himself. This was Sahvina’s day, a day were he got invited to share in a place special to her.

The field ended at a tree line sixty yards from the river. The trail continued through and had become more packed in from the clay content as it started down.

There was a lot of space between the trees, but the thick canopy of leaves kept the shade. It looked like the water level rose up to a particular point through the lower part they now ambled though. They continued past bark-less snagged trees on their sides and a few spots of bramble. Keece could smell the earthy damp scent of soft ground as they walked past spots with reeds and cat tails growing in the water was either trapped or tabled.

The shore of Sahvina’s favorite spot was beautiful. It had a partial canopy cover over a narrow bed of river rocks that gave way to a silt sand beach. The best part was the huge fallen tree that went from the beach to the rock flats past the first rapids before the water got deeper.

“Let me see the basket.” she said.

Keece handed it to her and watched as she pulled out a strap with a cinch buckle.

“I am curious as to what that is for.” he said.

“Let’s find some wood to make a fire.” Sahvina replied.

Keece smiled and nodded, then gave a hand in the effort. It took only fifteen minutes to get a satisfying bundle put together. Sahvina showed Keece what the strap was for as she bundled the roll of small branches and sticks together and pulled it tight.

“Here, you carry these, and I’ll carry the basket.”

Smiling, he nodded watching her climb up the huge fallen tree and start crossing. It did not take Keece long to follow, nothing like this existed in his world that he knew of, but the fact this natural bridge cross almost two hundred feet to the rock flats in the middle of the river was very breath taking.

He followed Sahvina up and looked around before making his way across. The river glittered in the morning sun as the breeze shifted. Keece was wishing for a pair sunglasses with how bright the reflection was off the water was. He noticed that a path had been worn into the old wood.

’Sahvina must come here a lot if the tree is this broke in.’ he joked to himself knowing that she probably wasn’t the only one who came out to such a beautiful place.

After walking to the end of the tree bridge, they both climbed down to rock the flats. The stone was an orange color with a little bit of grey streaking lines. Keece noticed the smooth, but uneven surface in area where the water had eroded it away over the years. There was a large bowl shaped indentation that was close to forty inches in diameter and roughly twelve inches deep at the center.

Sahvina set down the basket and offered to take the bundle of branches and sticks from Keece; then started breaking them to fit the depression.

“Natural fire pit.” he said watching her.

“That’s what I like using it for. After a while we can cook lunch.” said rolling out a towel to lay on.

He smiled a little, then started to look around. Keece noticed a pocket of water in a part of the rock flats that looked calm and inviting.

Sahvina started to pull off her layers to bathe in the increasing sun light.

Keece was a bit shocked and taken by her; Like Otsanda, she had a sports top in black which was deceptive due to her pelts darker persuasion, then the reasonably tight fitting purple shorts. Unlike Otsanda’s more athletic build, Sahvina was fuller, built thicker in her legs and hips. What the sports bra hid had become very noticeable even with the thick lighter grey mane almost concealing the top of her covered breasts.

He never expected to see his attending physician like this. He settled the terms with the fact that she wasn’t different that a lot of the Women in his world when it came to sunning. In kine, Keece undressed to his shorts and no shirt.

She looked at him smiling handing Keece his towel.

“I find it interesting that you continue to get darker with exposure.”

‘I find it interesting that you would reveal yourself like this.’ he thought.

“I don’t have the blessing of a beautiful coat.” Keece said. “It’s a reaction for protection, but allows for absorption of a particular resource, and it just feels nice to be free like this.”

“I agree, I love the feeling of the breeze through my pelt with the heat of the sun.” she said thinking about his observation of her pelt.

"A sensation I won’t be able to know. Thank you for inviting me along.”

“Otsanda tells me that you have performed well working with them.” Sahvina said to continue the conversation.

“That is kind of her to say, for a while I thought they were convinced I was going a bit slow.”

“You can only go so fast, besides Ylva expects quality over quantity. Are you feeling any fatigue or discomfort after a days work?”

“None more than usual.” he replied. “It is nice to go home tired; I do like the fact that the projects are constant with little to no downtime.”

“So you would rather be working that being here?” she asked sounding like she might be a little offended.

“It’s just; I mean it is routine, and I do appreciate you taking the time to allow me in sharing this beautiful place with you. The work being constant, and going home tired keeps my mind from dwelling on things.”

“I see. It’s your way of moving forward.” Sahvina said. “You openly admitted to your failings, and misdeeds, but is that who you really are?”

“I really don’t know. I don’t want to be that person, but with all of the blood on my hands, I cannot just dismiss it, and pretend that I am good.” he replied.

“If given the opportunity, would you ever cause harm to us, using your training to continue the bloodshed here in our world?” she asked him in all seriousness sitting up to look at him.

“No; Never again, I would not under any circumstances.” he told her.

“Even if your friend was here and told you to do it.”

“Not even then would I commit those atrocities.”

“You deal with you ghosts how you see fit.” Sahvina told Keece as she laid back down. “I believe that you will find your worth again even if you don’t feel you deserve it.”

There was that encouragement again. Sahvina had a way of shining light on things.

“Well, I feel I have to do something right now.” Keece said giving her a funny look as he stood there.

“What might that be?” she said sitting up again and tilting her head with a smile.

He turned and took a forty foot sprint to the calm pool of river water and jumped right as Sahvina was going to warn him.

“Keece!” is all she got out before she seen him impact the water.

“Wholey shit!” Keece exclaimed when he surfaced.

Sahvina started to laugh watching him splash about with the shock of the ice cold water.

“You were too quick before I could warn you.” she said getting up to see if he needed help with a big smile.

Keece crawled out of the water and laid on his back wide eyed and breathing heavy absorbing the heat from the rock surface.

“Are you going to be all right?”

Keece looked up for a couple of seconds before closing his eyes with a smile feeling the sun.

“That has to be the coldest water I have ever been in.”

“Was it worth it?” she asked.

“Sure.” he said standing up dripping wet. “Did you notice there was something down there?”

“What?” Sahvina asked.

“It is the strangest thing, I thought you should see this.”

“What’s in there?” she asked walking to the edge of the pool.

They both stood there as she waited for a better description.

“See, right there.” Keece said pointing.

It took a moment before she realized it was her reflection. Before Sahvina could do anything, Keece managed to get her by the waist and take her down.

“You Jerk!!!” she yelled before going into the pool with him.

As they both swam up to edge, Keece could hear her mumbling growls of discontent. Right as he started to push himself up and got his left knee on the flat, Sahvina still crouched planted her right foot on his chest and shoved him back in.

Keece was smiling getting back out as she was setting fire to wood they collected.

“Feeling better?” Sahvina asked.

“Are you angry with me?”

“I should be, but no. It’s nice to know you really do have a sense of humor.” she said. “Although, I wouldn’t try that with any other Female, or you might end up in the Infirmary again.”

Keece smiled and nodded with a bit of a shiver.

Their lunch was delicious. Sahvina had made twelve skewers of marinated meat and vegetables. Keece was intrigued by the folding stand that she pulled out that sat over the coals cradling the skewers as they cooked. With their meal, she also provided a medium bottle of burgundy wine to share.

The mid morning turned into afternoon with the sun making it nice and hot.

The walk home was fun for both Sahvina and Keece, they were heavily buzzing with little giggles between them trying to walk straight on the uneven parts of the trail.

As the beginning of the paver stones began again, the small journey continued with a good feeling. Coming back to Keece’s Den, he offered to walk her home, and carry the basket. Sahvina declined with a big smile, then told Keece that she hoped to share more meals with him. Smiling back, Keece told her that he would cook the next one when she was ready.

They parted ways, this time Keece watched the six foot tall, dark grey Lupine Female walk away before closing the door to his Den.

After the two days off, they had been enlisted to fully reroof and paint a storage building. The twins took to playing what Keece would have called “Chicken Fighting” from the rafters. The condition was that you hung by your hands and kicked at each other to make the other let go. Peter challenged Keece to a rip if he dared. He accepted. Ylva happen to come around when they were getting their grips down before engagement. Jett thought for sure they were in trouble.

“Let them continue; I know something about Keece you have yet to discover.” she said.

“So, you think you have it in you not to let go?” Peter asked comfortably hanging from a beam adjacent to Keece.

“I’m familiar with this game, I get the fundamentals.”

Watching Peter closely while noticing him digging his unusually thick nails into the lumber told Keece, under normal circumstances he would lose.

“What do you know, Ma’am?” Jett asked.

“Watch his fingers.” she said smiling.

They all looked up at the words of there Mistress and watched them go at it.

Peter managed to land a few good shots to the ribs and thought they witnessed Keece slip.

“If he falls Ylva, he might be severely injured.” Otsanda warned.

She just turned and smiled at her, the pointed up; with that, Otsanda continued to watch the match.

“How are you holding on after that?” Peter asked breathing heavy seeing Keece sucking it up.

“The same way you are.”

That couldn’t be right, Keece’s fingernails were flimsy at best. The visual thought of how he managed to move the twelve by twelves on his own while taking noticing his fingertips weren’t the only thing contacting the specified surfaces for their game.

“Really..? All right Faolan, this isn’t personal; right?” Peter asked seeing the black protrusions from Keece’s bloody finger tips.

“Not at all, little Brother.” Keece told him.

It was like a blur; Keece, and Peter work their way through the barn’s rafter framework exchanging blows with their feet, which was mostly heals. Russell was the only one who offered up any type of opposition, but not like this. Keece felt like he was a two hundred pound punching bag that hit with same force that he was being struck with.

It looked like they were going to kill each other. They managed to move away from the loft, which was a seven foot drop. The main floor by the entrance on the other hand; this was a twenty-two foot drop to the hard dirt.

Peter started to hang by one hand and throw punches. Russell cheered his Brother on hoping he was going to still be the champion of this game. Then it happened; Peter slipped while laying into Keece. Right as he thought he was going to pay for his mistake, Keece caught him hanging from one hand with his talons dug into a tress beam while he held a stunned Peter. His pelt was flush with exhilaration and a bit of fear. Jett, and everyone else looked up really besides themselves; their pelt less co-worker was more than he let on. First the eye, then his fingers…. What else was he going to show them?

“Are you all right?” Keece asked.

“Uh, yeah; I uhm… Just swing me over there.” Peter said.

Keece complied helping him get to a tress support.

After they climbed down, both of them expected a verbal lashing from their Mistress, and sat on their knees with heads down. Ylva approached them laughing a bit shaking her head.

“So Faolan, are you going to be able to work tomorrow with your ribs starting to bruise? With that Peter, you have no excuses for not come in tomorrow.” before she turned away walking to sit down for lunch.

As they approached the lunch circle, Jett carefully advanced Keece inquiring about his fingertips. Keece told him not to be offended if he got a bit of blood on him. Very little spatted out when they deployed again due to his skin being already open. Jett looked at his nails, then observed Keece’s talons. All ten of them looked painful the way they sat in the nail beds; the hinging was designed to roll the talons out at eleven-sixteenth’s of an inch at the apex of the more than razor sharp exterior curve. The augmentations were no joke, they were instruments designed to kill. Keece showed signs of discomfort retracted them.

“I really do not want to show them again, it takes a bit of time to heal my fingertips.”

“Now I see how you moved that lumber on your own. Let’s eat and rest Brother.” Jett said to him making the gesture to join them with his left hand.

He had shown something that was very renowned in the Lupakkeritha culture, Humbleness and Fair Play. He took a beating from a six foot six inch, two hundred and seventy pound twenty-three year old, and made Peter almost meet the floor, but got the awnry red Male by his forearm without injuring him. Keece never bragged about winning the match or saving Peter.

“No more games, any of you. Will not afford more injured children to work this season.” Ylva told them pointing at the lunch circle as to tell them to sit as she continued her lecture.

After the work day ended, Ylva had Sahvina take Keece to the Medical Facility to look his injuries over before clearing him for work.

“So, you decide to play games with Peter?” she asked knowing the answer waiting for him to reply while getting a look at his ribs, and arm joints.

Sahvina moved the hand held device over them before activating the grey ring.

“To refuse would have been an insult.” Keece said as the scanning machine’s ring went over him.

“What if you would have slipped?” she asked.

“I would have to deal with my choice; then you would have had to put me back together.”

“What if I couldn’t?” Sahvina inquired.

“If I am useless, it would require you to euthanize me.” he replied with a thousand yard stare at the ceiling.

“What? Quit being ridiculous Keece.” she said pressing into the ribs Peter struck the most.

“Sorry… Old habits.”

Sahvina looked into his eyes with a stern expression.

“I understand, but this isn’t your old life anymore. Your worth does not have to be proven through ridiculous posturing.” she told him watching Keece wince from the pain.

The moment of silence was followed by labored laughing. She was a little frustrated with Keece’s display of disregard.

“Peter had to know; I feel they all had to know.” he told her.

“You Males… All right, no more. You have show your worth Keece. Please think of your health and well being before acting foolish… Please?”

He sat up looking down at the floor for a moment, then looked into her beautiful, rose yellow eyes nodding. Sahvina rested hand on his left shoulder and smiled as she waited for him to stand up.

“Do you want me to request light duty for you?” she asked.

“No, Peter isn’t getting it easy, and neither should I.” Keece said pulling his shirt on after he stood up.

“Fare enough. Did you want to share a late meal?”

“I would enjoy that, Sahvina.” he said as they both exited the examination room.

She took him to a little place that served small, but rich meals. It reminded Keece of a pastry cafe. Although he had never been to one, Keece had read old tattered magazine articles, and stories that had them as a place to be.

He let Sahvina order for both them; his way of figuring out her tastes in flavor for the promised home cooked meal on his end.

They both received what Keece would have referred to as a Pot Pie with a couple of rounds of dark beer.

The light flakey bonemeal and buckwheat crust was to die for, but the contents hidden by the light golden brown barrier was thick. Carrots, cabbage, broccoli, pees, potatoes, and venison with the gravy from the medley stew encased in a heavenly delight.

It felt like she kept spoiling him, but Keece was starting to get a really good idea on how to return her favors in the culinary fashion.

Sahvina and Keece departed feeling close to drunk after the initial rounds turned into six. When she wasn’t looking, he put his name on the ledger for a tip very closed to the amount of their meal.

The walk home was quiet. Sahvina was feeling pretty good with an in inebriated vigor, Keece kept pace with her even though he was five inches shorter lacking the long legs of the Lupine Female in his company.

Offering to walk him back to his Den, Keece declined saying that he would rather make sure she make it to her’s. The term ‘Gentlemen’ rolled around in Sahvina’s mind. Chivalry, like gentlemen wasn’t something in the Lupakkeritha vocabulary. This was due to the fact the Females were as strong as the Males.

There was no taking advantage in either direction with her people. Keece’s way of offering a protective guidance to her home was intriguing, even though it was completely unnecessary. Certain attitudes of a Mated life were different with the Lupakkeritha when it came to gender that would be familiar to Keece, but she being an Unmated, everything was to be equal.

Sahvina still like the sentiment being given; it gave a strange, and special insight to Keece that could very well be a glimpse into the best of his people.

Standing in front of her Den, they both wished each other a good evening.

Keece turned and walked away as soon as he heard the latch click of Sahvina’s door.

The next day, both Peter and Keece were paying for their foolery while hauling the new laminated sheets of material up to the roof.

This had turned into a new game between them to see who would complain of the pain first. The rest kept and eye on them knowing of the unspoken competition. Ylva watched them shaking her head; still, the roof was completed before the end of the day.

“How are your injuries feeling, Faolan?” Ylva asked with a curious smirk.

Keece looked at her, then Peter.

“One moment please.” he said. “Peter, are we still playing?”

“Maybe, why?” Peter replied.

“I’ve been asked a question by Ylva that requires an honest answer.”

“So, you mean I am about to win?”

Ylva looked at both of them being incorrigible about it.

“Peter, how are your injuries?” Ylva asked to end their charade in pretending they weren’t sore.

“Ah dammit.” Peter said knowing neither were going to be the victor.

“Game over little Brother.” Keece winced as he chuckled. “To answer your question, Ma’am; I am ready to soak in my tub to relax the soreness away.”

“Same here.” Peter answered her with discomfort on his face.

“We are painting the building tomorrow, so it will be a light day for you tough Males.” Ylva told them. “Let’s finish up.”

They all picked up tools and left over material before leaving the work site, talking about the next job. Come to find out, they were to build a complex of eight connected cellars to expand a brewery’s fermentation barrel storage.

“Ready to dig some more, Keece?” Convey asked smiling.

“Of course.”

“This time it won’t be in the dark.” Otsanda said sweeping the ground with a pole mounted magnet looking for nails and other left over metal fragments.

“Well.. That’s a shame.” Keece sighed.

“Why’s that?” Russell asked in a puzzled tone.

“I won’t have an excuse to hold Otsanda’s hand again.” Keece replied.

She shot him a smiling glare for his answer. Convey just started laughing.

“Careful Faolan, Sahvina might not like the shift in your attention to another.” Otsanda fired back with a slightly amorous look.

“Are you implying that you wouldn’t mind more of my attention?” he said returning the amorous look to Otsanda.

Ylva was laughing heartily at the exchange; Jett just shook his head rolling his eyes.

“I might.” she said walking up to Keece and resting her hands on his shoulders. “That’s if I wasn’t… More into Females.”

“Oh; I uh.. I apologize.” he said giving the sadden eyes of a crushing blow by rejection. “I thought we really had something that day in the cellar.”

“Come on, please don’t take it like that. I think you are a very nice Male, and I like you, but not in…”

Keece gave her a narrow eyed smirk.

“You little shit!” Otsanda exclaimed punching him in the shoulder.

Everyone was laughing at this point. She wanted to be angry with him, but started laughing to.

Ylva knew at that moment, Keece was going to be a fine fit with all of them.

Later that evening, Keece heard a knock at the door while he was making a couple of sandwiches for supper.

“I’m not bothering you; am I?” Sahvina asked as Keece motioned for her to come in.

“No, never; please make yourself comfortable.” he said going back into the kitchen. “Would you like to have some sandwiches with me?”

“I appreciate the offer, but I already ate. Late shift and all.” she said.

“Oh, no worries. So what brings you by this evening?” Keece asked.

“Wanted to check in and see how you are feeling.”

“It was hard working today, but I got through it. Ylva said we are painting tomorrow, so light duty for us ’Tough Males’ as she put it.” he told her. “Oh, did you hear? We got a big job for digging out eight cellars for the brewery.”

“I had heard something about the expansion. You must be happy for such a long stint of work.”

“My increased contribution to your community will be beneficial.” he replied.

“I suppose it would lessen your emotional dwelling on the past with good productivity.” she said empathizing with him with a tone.

“Are you sure you don’t want a sandwich?” Keece asked as he finished making his two.

Sahvina took in account his gesture; Keece waited for an answer before putting the fixings away.

“Sure, I would like that.” she told him

“One or two?” Keece asked while filling up the kettle.

“One, Please.” Sahvina said.

“Any particular way?”

“Surprise me.” she replied.

Knowing her intake, Keece doubled the meat and then through his own flare into sandwich. This would not make the meal he promised her, but it would show Sahvina that he paid attention to her being.

Chilled tea and sandwiches for both; she was taken with the attention to her tastes.

“Satisfactory?” Keece asked watching Sahvin swallow the first bite.

“You remembered the tarragon.” she said. “Did you cook the meat yourself?”

“No, I picked it up from a place Otsanda suggested.”

“She speaks highly of you.” Sahvina told him.

“You had mentioned that before.”

“I know, but it may be that she might see you as… A potential Mate.”

Keece gave her a discerning look to the statement.

“It strikes me as odd with that notion; she was concerned about my attention deviating from you.”

Sahvina started to laugh, not just any laugh, but a burst out loud one.

Keece let her settle down.

“I apologize for that. The way you got her this afternoon was to say; priceless.” Sahvina told him.

“So much, she punched me.” Keece said watching her still snickering a little.

“I know, again, I apologize.”

“Are all Women of your people like this?”

“No, most definitely not. It’s just…” Sahvina tried to explain. “A joke that backfired. Otsanda thought that we could get you like you got her today. That’s all.”

“Sure, I get it.” he said looking a bit hurt. “I mean… Red haired Women are pretty for the most part. I didn’t know that it was a different persuasion Otsanda followed.”

“Oh my; you really do feel for her.” Sahvina said starting to feel bad.

Her melancholy jumped to frustration as soon as she saw the same narrow eyed smirk Otsanda described that got her pissed. “Oh you…”

“Little shit?” Keece asked knowing the answer.

She just smiled taking a bite of the quartered sandwich he made for her.

It backfired, and she had a different light on Keece. He was just as capable of playing games back and not flinching. It was a strange learning curve, but Sahvina should have known; Keece was very forthcoming about his past.

Deception had been part of the game with higher stakes in the world he came from.

As they continued to converse, he apologized for his masquerade, but asked that they refrained from jokes of that nature. The reason being, it was of his old life; this was to be new, and different. If there was ever potential for a relationship with a Woman of their people, more play like this might have him not willing to give that one Female a chance for his heart. He never told Sahvina that last thirty-three words as his voice tapered into thoughts after ’this was to be new, and different’.

Sahvina agreed knowing that Keece was having a somewhat difficult time adjusting.

They ate together with a couple of refills on chilled tea.

Before she left to go home, they stood on the stoop of Keece’s Den. Sahvina ask him if he felt less of her under the circumstance.

“No, I couldn’t.” he told her. “You have given me a foundation in this new life that I will never be able to fully repay you for.”

She smiled with his notion, then told Keece to just live outside his past and become better than he was before. That would be payment enough. After both bidding good evening to each other, he stood and watched her walk away. Sahvina and her alluring swagger. Going back into the kitchen, he noticed she had only eaten two of the sandwich quarters. Keece decided to save the others for part of tomorrows lunch.

Painting the storage building only took half a day. All of them worked together to get every aspect covered in no less than five coats to ensure the longevity.

Otsanda watched Keece for signs of his interaction with Sahvina, but he never let on. Ylva surveyed the site after all their tools were cleaned and put away in the transport. Satisfied, she told her crew to be on site at the next job in the morning to set up and get parameter markers laid out.

Sahvina had been routinely coming by after her shifts were over to meet with Keece after he got done with the days work. Sometimes, she would show up with a picnic basket and want to relax to talk at her favorite spot on the river. On one of those particular evenings, instead of going to the river, Keece talked her into spending time at his Den so he cooked her the promised meal. He made a sausage and vegetable stir fry with buckwheat noodles. Keece carefully crafted a citrus sauce to go with the dish. Sahvina was pleasantly surprised with their meal and complimented him several times on the blend of flavors.

A few afternoons later, Sahvina got a message delivered from Ylva. It read- ‘We are taking our Faolan out for a night.’

It was decided that they should do something special to initiate him into their Family helping him fully transition in to his new life with all of them.

Sahvina knew exactly what that meant; bonding, and was happy that Keece was being fully accepted by them. The first stop was at a pub that served full course meals. A place was out of some medieval fantasy novel. The architecture was polished copper and brass with dark wood coated in thick lacquer. Everything was well crafted, placed, and beautiful with the wooden wagon wheel crystal chandeliers.

Food and drink for all of them as their merriment carried on. Their Service Maidens all wore black skirts with white lace trim with embroidered suspenders over white silken blouses, and pleated aprons that reflected craftsmanship. The service was exemplary, Keece wanted to provide a healthy tip, their party already had reservations, and he could not seem to locate the ledger. After everyone had their fill of food and drink, the group departed for a special place to sit and congregate after Convey shouldered his large leather cinch top bag.

The walk took them in the opposite direction of the river; then up a winding dirt path wide enough to walk five side by side. In spots, they climbed stone stairs as the incline became steeper. With the sun setting lower, the tall pillared lamps started to softly illuminate the way. Once all of them cleared the tree line at the top, Keece saw the entire town from the lookout of the butte, and the circle of large rocks that encompassed an old fire pit.

Otsanda had pulled out a dark green half gallon bottle from her shoulder pack and handed it to Convey after she took the first pull. He took his; then sat the leather bag down, and started to pull pieces of split wood out filling the staple fire pit.

Like in their lunch circles, everyone got together and chose a rock to sit; then started to take small pulls from the bottle as they sat and looked out across the town, and all the woodland areas around them.

The bottle reached Keece. He looked at it, then smelled the contents.

“Drink.” Jett told him.

Keece looked at Jett and nodded, then took a pull. The liquid tasted familiar, fennely; much stronger though. Everyone cheered him on and gave Keece encouraging pats on the back with finger tips, it was like a high five, but their version. Ylva had asked Keece where he came from. He looked down at the ground for a moment.

The twins had gotten the fire started and sat back down to listen.

Otsanda passed the bottle to Convey and pointed at Keece, he handed the bottle to Him. Keece took a big pull this time. The buzz was really starting to get warm past the nice feeling of the libations they shared at the pub. Handing the bottle to Jett, he cleared his throat.

“A place fraught with death and suffering. It wasn’t always like that, but my people have a tendency to be self destructive.”

His story unfolded with how his world used to be before everything turned dark. Not exactly exceptional, but somewhat livable… It was all in flashes, but it was all he had; Keece explained how both their worlds were similar, with the exception of the fact that the Lupakkeritha people did not destroy their home with super industrialized things, and pollution. The newly established Autocratic entity wanted power over wealth and commodities so badly that they would kill for it. Hence; becoming a mercenary. If you are wealthy, you are safe. If you are poor, you either die of starvation working for them, against them, or fight the wars created by the Elite to keep them safe just for a bit of pay and food. It was all about acquisition and control for the Elite.

Keece noticed that his co-workers would look at each other as if communicating secretly. Perhaps judging him; which would have been fare for all of the atrocities he helped commit.

Continuing on, Keece told them about the long tours of combat he managed to survive; then the defection. They looked at each other again in their silent communication.

Somehow the bottle ended up in Keece’s hand again, another long pull.

He did not say anything for a moment. The buzz was heavier as it became more of a pre-drunken state.

“How is it you came here?” Ylva asked.

“I do not really know.” he said. “All I have is a theory of how it might have happened.”

Keece did his best to explain the concept of paralleled worlds and the barriers that separate all of the realities.

He then explained that the experiment that he and another were going to destroy had been in the processed of building energy up to bridge their world with another so the Autocratic Elitists could escape the world they where killing. The problem was the instability of the machine they were using to create the bridge. If something went wrong, every one on the planet would be at risk of a catastrophe, more contamination by and unknown material, or the consuming void; it, being a black hole.

Something went horribly wrong, unknown someones detonated a nuclear device near the machine. The electro magnetic pulse could have forced a containment field breach causing all of the safety control systems to fail, while simultaneously creating an energy surge feeding the great machine more power. The force of the blast could have been the caused in creating a wrinkle that bridged their worlds for a few seconds pushing him through. Still, it was all a theory.

“I failed, and a billion people were left behind to die.” Keece finished.

“That is rough going with no doubt.” Convey said as he stirred the fire. “A very heavy weight.”

“It is obvious that you did what you could, your heart is scarred. Learn from your mistakes.” Ylva told him.

“The holes we dig ourselves often get so deep you fall out to the other side. New start perhaps? It seems to me, you are done digging.” Jett said as he rested his hand on Keece’s left shoulder.

“Except for cellars.” Keece replied.

At that moment, they all started laughing. Every one was getting good and drunk. The night carried on in conversation as Otsanda started to pull out containers of various cured, and smoked meats with thin buckwheat bone meal crackers. As they ate the decadent treats, the bottle made several more passes to everyone. Laughter and jokes were in abundance, especially when they all decided to stand up; then decide to sit as they poked fun at each other light heartedly.

“Nobody works tomorrow, I did not want any of the complaint with hangovers…” Ylva said doing her best to keep a straight face after realizing how she just spoke. Laughter erupted again from all of them.

The walk down the path from the butte’s top was more of a stagger. Everyone was giggling because none of them could walk straight. Keece ended up tripping over a rock in the path they walked trying to avoid one of the twins running into him after Russell decided to trip Peter. Keece fell down a flight of stone steps rolling, he started laughing after coming to a stop. Otsanda offered her hand to help get him up, he almost pulled her down with him.

When they finally reached the bottom to a town walkway, Jett noticed that Keece was bleeding from his right knee as they passed the first of the brighter street lamps.

Keece looked down and realized his long shorts had been ripped.

‘Oh no, Sahvina gave these to me.’ he thought feeling disappointed.

Sahvina had just drifted off to sleep when she heard a gentle knock at her door.

Jett, Ylva, and Keece were waiting as the door opened.

She was dressed in a dark blue robe with her raven black hair down.

Keece had a big, stupid smile on his face.

“I apologize for the late call, the boys were playing rough on our walk back and it seems that our Faolan is in need of your expertise” Ylva explained.

“It’s alright.” Sahvina said as she yawned. “Come in.”

Ylva and the rest hung around long enough to see Keece was all right, then they staggered off home. He started to nod off in the chair he sat in; his inebriation worked to her advantage having him stay still during the procedure. After she cleaned his gash and stitched it up; Sahvina put her hand on the right side of his face. It was a little cooler than normal. He looked up at her with his glossy eyes. “Sorry about the shorts, I’d not meant for them to get tore.” Keece apologized to her slightly slurred as she finished putting a breathable material over his stitches.

“They can be fixed.” she said. “Come, get some rest.”

She guided him from the chair to her bed. As soon as Keece felt the cushion of the mattress, he flopped on his back and stayed motionless. After pulling his shorts off; Sahvina opened a couple of drawers and pulled out a shirt and a pair of bloomers before proceeding the bathroom. Generally, she slept in the nude during the summer months. Thinking of how Keece might react to waking up being in bed with a naked Female made her smile a bit; it would be kind of humorous to see the look on his face as a bit of payback for dunking her in the river.

’No, it’s going to be awkward enough being clothed with him in bed.’ she though straightening the white vee cut collared shirt while looking in the mirror puling her thick mane free.

After putting Keece’s shorts in the wash and setting it on a cold cycle, she entered the bedroom and pulled the covers back.

When Sahvina got the covers over them both, she realized Keece’s skin on his arms felt cold. Feeling a bit uneasy at first, she decided to cuddle him. Sahvina pulled him to his left side and moved his right arm around her waist; then did the same to him with her left. Keece could feel himself being moved around, but really could do nothing about it. He was at the stage of inebriation that was the precursor to passing out. Keece could feel the material of her bloomers and the contour of Sahvina’s side and hip. Keece drew in her sweet scent while feeling the rhythm of her breathing. Sahvina’s warmth enveloped him. She ran her fingers through his short, growing grey hair. Keece stirred a little feeling the gentle stimulation.

‘What an odd creature.’ she thought of the displaced being. ‘A whole other world filled with his kind gone. I wonder what he thinks about other than guilt, now that his life isn’t filled with death?’

Sahvina could not help but to feel for him, she had an idea with what he been through with the fact her world was not exactly home. Still, he managed to adapt, and become a part of their community in a small way that met with no resistance. Perhaps Keece would be able to find away to put that horrible life behind him and continue to live a peaceably in this one. It would be a peculiar notion for someone who carried the code name FENRIR.

Sahvina started to hear Keece mumbling in his sleep. She could feel his fingers twitch and his body jerked. She got her right arm under him and pulled him closer. The side of his face rested against her chest where her thick, slightly lighter grey mane that spilled out from the collar above her breasts. Sahvina could feel his breathing change pace.

“Keece, you are safe here.” she whispered.

He seemed to relax with the sound of her voice, exhaling slowly; Keece buried his face in the thick fluff of Sahvina’s mane. Laying her head fully down, Sahvina rested her chin on the top of his head. She drifted off.

A sudden rush of intensity filled her, they were at the pub eating and drinking while carrying on with tapping crystal pint glasses repeatedly creating a continuous chiming rhythm. This was a good feeling; then it shifted to the flashing, and popping of gun fire that startled her. Sahvina could see shapes, and lines as they followed things. It was Keece’s heads up display; then the loud echoing bang of an explosive. Ducking around corners at the slightest sound of foot steps, always slipping in and out of the shadows. She could smell things burning, but it wasn’t wood, more chemical, and acrid.

Sahvina heard Keece’s voice speaking quick and clearly. The urgency was overwhelming, she was moving again, but not through her own will. Everything was fast, almost a blur. Keece’s voice again.

“Keece? What’s going on?”

“Who is that? Keep the line clear.” she heard him reply.

Sahvina felt the rush of moving fast again, the digital lines and shapes shifted quickly in her vision.

Around corners, through destroyed building, under debris, and over barriers. She could see the muzzle flash from a weapon in front of her. Then the heavy shell strike through the corner of the building he had just ducked around followed by the sound of heavy, rock like objects hitting the ground as if they were thrown from up high.

“Keece, where are you?” she said panicked.

“Who are you?” he asked the voice.

“Sahvina…”

As soon as he heard Sahvina speak her name, everything slowed down. A wave of realization swept over him. Sahvina stood in front of him wearing her dark blue robe, both arms down with arms down, hands on over the other resting on her navel . She was looking at Keece wearing his full battle gear with the Lupine head helmet. Its eyes went from red to blue with the crimson glow of massive fires behind him as Sahvina heard the agonizing screams everywhere; it was a hell like apocalypse filling her vision.

Sahvina was seeing him as he was before he crossed over to her world.

“What is all of this?” she asked him as she looked around.

“Memories.” he replied. “How are you here?"

“I do not know.” Sahvina answered feeling a bit unnerved.

Everything shifted, the dark world melted away. They stood on a catwalk in some place that had a lot of machinery. There was one other person with them. For a moment, Sahvina felt like Keece did not see her anymore. She watched as he conversed with the other person in a language she had only heard in bits and pieces when Keece was in and out consciousness in the Infirmary.

He turned and motioned to Sahvina to follow them. She was no longer in her robe, but dressed in a similar uniform to his. They went down stairs into concrete tunnels that had huge tubes of metal and wires. The sounds of the machines were almost overwhelming to her as she watched Keece and the other Male were placing rectangular items under the tube’s support. Sahvina noticed numbers reducing in value on the each of them.

“What’s happening?” she asked.

“We have to stop their machine, they’re going to finish killing everything.” Keece told her.

Sahvina remembered what he had said about the great machine that they did their best to destroy. The realization struck her, she was about to witness to their final act to save this world from complete destruction.

There was a lot of yelling and foot fall on metal grating, this is where Keece and his companion got caught. Sahvina seemed invisible once more.

Everything shifted again, another room filled with humming consoles, flashing lights, and monitors displaying telemetry. Through ballistics grade plastic windows, Sahvina could see the bottom of the massive machine that Keece had tried to explain to her.

’Oh Spirits…’ she thought taking it all in.

A much larger individual had an assault rifle under Keece’s chin telling him how he was going to enjoy finally killing the little defector, then something horrible happen that lead up to blood everywhere. Keece unfurled his rage fighting their captors. She watched as he took the barrel of the rifle in his left hand forcing it away as five rounds were spent in the struggle. Keece ripped the throat out of the other soldier with his talons; then gutted another coming to stop him. The other three retreated quickly before they got torn to pieces. The blackness that painted the room they were just in made Sahvina sick watching Keece step over the two twitching bodies. Time sped up, the feeling changed again. At this moment, it was just the three of them in a room that was even bigger filled with more machine consoles. Looking out the row of windows outside the catwalk, she could see the top of the portal Machine as parts of it rotated at various speeds. The sounds of all the internal and external mechanisms moving increased to the point of almost deafening.

She turned to see Keece with his helmet open, he was looking at a monitor.

“This is it.” he said to Sahvina.

"What do you mean?” she asked.

Keece motioned to her to come and see what was about to take place while looking out another series of windows overlooking the facility courtyard. The bright flash was intense, she saw a mushroom cloud glowing as the ground started to move like it was a tsunami. His helmet snapped shut as he grabbed Sahvina and pulled her down in front of the largest console. He was behind her doing his best wrapping himself around Sahvina.

“I am sorry, it’s going to hurt.” he said as his gloved hand covered her eyes. She could feel his tight hold as Keece was trying to protecting her from what was coming.

Another flash; then nothing.

“Keece.” she called out floating in the cool, and strangely calming dark expanse.

Slowly, a soft illumination started to fill the space. Her point of view changed again; the sensation of falling then the blurred continuous impacts into the soft and mucky ground. Everything went black again for a moment until Sahvina saw herself standing above her as the familiar scent of the hospital filled every breath. The moment skipped to when Keece touched the side of her face. He was right, she did feel soft and warm.

‘I am seeing through your eyes again.'

Sahvina could see the differences in his vision, Keece’s prosthetic eye was a bit much for her to handle. The feeling of peace rushed over her as she stared back into her own eyes. Memories of some Deity he had read about flashed through his mind, the one to take him to the other side. It is finally over… The memory faded.

She awoke to a stirring feeling that beckon her to the bathroom. Sahvina gently rolled Keece on his back. She notice the he had perspired quite a bit, where his face had been resting in her mane was very damp. Quietly proceeding to relieve herself; Sahvina pondered the experience she had while urinating, and brushing the dampness from her mane. Remembering his shorts were in the wash, she put them into dry before crawling back into bed. Sahvina rolled Keece back over to his side. Resting her chin on top of his head again, she drifted off to sleep once more.

His dreams flooded her again, she started to see fragmented flashes of young adulthood, people he knew, and some foolish situations. Keece’s awkward interactions with other Females flashed a few times. When they would be present, Sahvina could feel a flood of warmth and anxiety. Keece seemed to really like them but felt an unexplained distance. Flashes of his military training started to become more prevalent with the addition of a strange yellow thing on wheels. The dreams tapered off as he was starting to wake up. His face was buried in her mane still. Sahvina yawned as she stretched out, he stirred when she moved; his right hand gripped her side above her hip.

She ran her fingers through his hair to coax him awake.

“Keece, time to get up.”

He nuzzled her mane firmly.

“Come on, I will make breakfast.”

He still resisted.

“I’m going to tickle you, if you do not get up.” she told him as she lifted his shirt and started to run her well manicured, purple finger nails lightly up and down his bare side. Sahvina could see the galvanic response of his skin as she playfully tickled him.

Keece was doing his best to fight it by playing possum. He finally drew his face back from her, which had almost been buried in those plump breasts below Sahvina’s plush mane. Her beautiful yellow eyes met his strange blues, she had her head propped up on the right hand with a smile.

He smiled back at Sahvina.

“How do you feel?” she asked.

“A little hung over, knee is stiff. Other than that… confused.”

She started to feel a bit panicky; was he referring to why he was in her bed?

“I can explain. You cut your knee last night, and you were falling asle….”

Keece caught her off guard, Sahvina felt flush. Her ears had laid down close to the sides of her head.

Keece had kissed her on the lips.

“I was not referring to that.” he said with their noses two inches apart.

“What are you… Oooh, you mean the dreams… You kissed me!”

“Yes, I did.” he replied smoothly.

“Why?” she asked in a confused, yet intrigued tone.

“Your kindness.” Keece said not breaking eye contact.

Sahvina had gotten lost in his eyes for a moment watching how they moved after he made that statement.

“The things I saw, was that how it was for you? I remember everything you told me, but that was crazy.” she asked sitting up and adjusting her shirt.

Keece sat up as well.

“Dreams can be distorted, for the most part; it was as you witnessed.” he said.

“I saw so many things.”

“I know. You were very brave.” he told her.

“No, I feel that you are the one who is brave. I have seen only a glimpse of what you have survived and yet, I have also seen times that you had happiness. I know you meant to make good on your transgressions before you came here, and I also know in some aspect how you see the world; then how you looked at me for the first time thinking you had finally reached your end. You are brave.” Sahvina said as she put her hands on his.

“I will be in your debt forever, a kiss for you as a token of my appreciation.”

“I think you have wanted to steal that kiss for a while now.” she said grinning.

“Does it frighten you to know you maybe right?” Keece said.

Sahvina’s smile turned to a puzzled look, it was obvious that she was really thinking about what he had just stated.

Keece, still not breaking eye contact; watched as her eyes focused on his. Running her left hand through her raven black hair, Sahvina’s ears had straighten back up.

“I should make breakfast.”, Sahvina said leaning forward to gently grip Keece’s hands before getting up.

He nodded smiling at her. She let go of his hands and stood up to put her robe on before starting to the kitchen. Keece needed to use the restroom badly. Getting up, he noticed the his morning stiffness was pretty obvious.

‘Oh boy.’ he thought as he looked around for her bathroom noticing an extra door. The morning had been a bit awkward already, Keece really did not want to add to it with his protrusion. The first door he opened was odd, it was filled with boxes and very dark; at least he knew the next would be the bathroom. It should have been obvious that the bathroom was directly across from the bedroom like his Den. Keece accounted the mistake from being hungover.

He decided that sitting down on the toilet was the best, no need for random dispersal.

As thoughts ran through his head, the one that dominated his focus was ‘How was she able to walk in my dreams?’. Was this something her people could do, or was it deeper than that?

Sahvina felt his feelings achieving a glimpse into his heart. Keece also felt a little bit of hers. He already thought Sahvina was an alluring Lupakkerithain Female, but after sharing what they did; she became the most beautiful being he had ever been graced by.

‘I wonder if she knows that?’ he thought as he finished using the restroom.

Keece put the toilet lid down as he flushed, then proceeded into the kitchen where he could smell the wonderful meal Sahvina was making for both of them. Her Den was a lot like his, but double the size with the extra bedroom and large front room area. On the wall that was the opposite of the kitchen in the front to dining area were shelves filled with books. Sahvina’s couch and coffee table face her collection of literature placed to allow a wide birth to enter the Den without congestion. The dining area was just like Keece’s, but had a sliding door closet on the dividing wall from the storage bedroom.

Sahvina was still thinking about Keece’s kiss as she cooked. She knew he was genuine in what he had said too her. But why the kiss? Maybe that was all he had to give that was precious. Her heart fluttered as she continued to prepare their meal.

Keece approached her.

“Did you want any help?” he asked entering the kitchen.

“Oh no, it’s all right. You should sit so you do not pull your stitches anymore.” Sahvina replied.

Keece took a seat at the table as he watched her finish. Sahvina turned to him and offered him tea. He smiled and accepted.

A couple of minutes later, she served up their meal.

Keece thanked her, then started eating.

“So,” she started, then took a sip of tea. “tell me about the Carrera.”

Keece was surprised. ‘How does she know about that?'

“How do you know about my Carrera?”

“It was a brief thing, but I remember seeing a yellow odd shaped thing on wheels, and how you felt. Then the feeling of going really fast through roads. It just stuck in my mind, the word ‘Carrera’ is so strange. Sahvina said as she tilted her head in anticipation to his response.

Oh, how he could remember the trouble that brought.

“The Porsche Carrera is a vehicle, a mode of transportation that was a luxury. However, this luxury was very fast.” Keece explained. “Because of the social identity, people found ways to buy their own; used most of the time.”

He told her that he happen to come across a vintage one for sale. It was an odd deal, but the Husband wanted to sell it off so his soon to be Ex Wife would not end up with it or sell it out from underneath him.

“Wife?”

“It is a term for a Female that is married, or in a union; just as a married Male is referred to as a Husband.” Keece explained.

“Why would his Mate decide to do this?” Sahvina asked.

“Some unions stop working and it turns into a fight for who gets what out of all the accumulated assets. It’s another quirk in my people’s nature.” Keece explained.

“Is that what you would do; I mean if you were separating from your Mate?”

“No, I would feel very sad if my Wife did not want me anymore, but even with that being said… I would just let her have everything and just go without any conflict; start over again.” he said.

She nodded acknowledging his statement, and asked him to continue the story about the vehicle.

“So, I got lucky and ended up with this Carrera for cheap. Usually these are not without their problems from being abused and age, but this one was really nice. The owner had taken the time to put better brakes, other things in it to increase the performance, and speed.” Keece explained. “Which, it was actually designed to be better.”

“How so?”

“Lighter, more powerful engine with a roll bar and reinforced cockpit. It was what we called a panty dropper.” he said.

“So… I would want to drop my undergarment in audience of this Carrera?” Sahvina asked giving him a strange and humorous look.

“I know, it is an incredibly bad term, but I had offers of coital favors for a fast ride in it; hence the term for dropping one’s undergarment.” Keece said as he continued. “Anyway, after having the Carrera for a couple of months, I started getting challenges to race it against other vehicles for cash.”

“Cash? That was the monetary means of paying for things in your world, correct?” she asked to clarify her notion.

“Yes, and all the extra anyone could make fast was better than working for it where I came from. So, I started racing for cash and other vehicles to sell for more monetary gains; also started getting in trouble with the authorities because not everyone owned a bright yellow Carrera. On my last race, I put a lot of cash down for a big pay out and ended up wrecking.”

“That’s horrible, I mean you are obviously all right, but what happened?”

“I got cocky, took a corner way too fast and before I could recover, I put the car into a building.” Keece said. “That is why my left knee is reconstructed.”

“I thought it would be exciting to be with you in that machine, but knowing what you knee looks like in your chart…”

“Those days are gone, a mistake of my late youth. I was lucky that I had not been killed, and had the machine been any less than it was; I would not be here.” Keece told her.

“No more foolishness from you, Physicians orders.”

Both of them laughed a bit when he told her “No promises”.

After they finished with breakfast, Keece excused himself to use the bathroom. A few moments later, he returned. Sahvina declared she wanted to bathe.

She told Keece that she would fix his shorts after she washed, and he should relax and wait.

While drawing her bath, she noticed that he put the toilet seat and lid were down.

He took the opportunity to wash the dishes she set in to soak, running the rinse water at a low pressure so he would not take away from her bath; then Keece wiped off at the counters and table.

Sahvina eased herself into the tub and relaxed for a few moments before shampooing her hair.

Keece decided to sit in the sun light that radiated the front of her Den. With a belly full of the great meal Sahvina made. Keece laid down on the grass and closed his eyes to relax as requested by his attending physician.

She was drying off with his kiss still on her mind. Sahvina brushed her hair as she looked her self over in the mirror, when finished; she picked up another brush and groomed her pelt.

‘What does he see when he looks at me?’ she asked herself in thought while looking in the mirror at her left ear. Sahvina put her robe on and left the bathroom to find Keece missing. As she looked around her Den for him, Sahvina noticed that the dishes were done and the rest of the kitchen was clean along with the dining table wiped off.

‘You are so full of surprises.’ she thought smiling to herself.

No other Male had ever done this for her. Of course, somethings are the way they are. The Males usually worked and provided in a relationship; generally Females kept house, and raised the children. Some of these roles were constantly being challenged since the Matriarchs had become the Social Shapers. Even though she wasn’t mated, Sahvina was used to cleaning up after the Males she had occasionally entertained.

She started to go through her bedroom closet to find something to wear still curious as to where Keece had wandered off to.

While laying in the grass in front of Sahvina’s den, he was starting to nap. The rich breakfast had hit the point of coma.

She walked into the kitchen and looked out the window above the sink seeing Keece sunning himself.

Sahvina walked outside as her stretching shadow started to block the light he bathed in. Keece sheilded his eyes as he looked up.

She stood above him with a big smile as he got and eye full of her thick lavender shirt that had a wide neck that went almost out to her shoulder, then half sleeved. It clung to the shapely contours of her torso and hips pronouncing her breasts. Her leggings were white and also gave a more revealing view of her shapely lower figure.

“So, you clean my kitchen and sneak off while I bathe?”

“I am doing as you asked.” he replied.

“I asked you to lay on the grass in your underwear?”

“You never said how I should relax.”

“Please, come back in. I will fix your shorts.” Sahvina giggled shaking her head.

They both sat at the kitchen table after she pulled a wicker tote out that contained all of her sewing supplies.

“It may not look that great with the blood stain, but I will double stitch it to make it stronger.”

They started conversing as Sahvina stitched away more casually than they had before. After sharing the dream, it felt as if there was no conscientious

barrier between them. When she finished repairing his shorts, Sahvina walked with Keece back to his Den on her way to the Medical Facility to get a small care package put together for his wound and file the report of Extra Curricular Medical Assistance. A couple of days later, Keece returned to work. Sahvina never wavered from meeting him afterwards; unless she had to work longer. Little did Keece realize how infectious the kiss he gave her was. Some of those later evenings, Sahvina would knock on his Den door, and coax him for evening walks with her.

Over the span of a couple of months; Jett, and a few others started to notice that she was dressing differently; like she was ready to go on dates everyday she came to visit.

On a particular afternoon, she showed up in a yellow sun dress and had her thick raven hair pulled back with a yellow ribbon; even her nails had been done to match.

Keece was always happy to see her, but seem inept. Jett, on the day she wore the sun dress, decided to addressed Keece on the subject.

“Your Mate is here.” he said to Keece.

He gave Jett a funny look.

“What do you mean, Mate?”

“Faolan, are you blind?” He asked Keece.

“How do you mean, Jett?”

“How I mean is, she is yours. Do you not see?” Jett pointed out.

Otsanda overheard the conversation and decided to interject. Keece had an expression of confusion, but his look was obvious of critical thought on what Jett had presented him with.

“Keece, she dresses for you.” Otsanda told him. “The only time a Female does this is when her heart has been touched.”

“No, that couldn’t be right; I mean, she and I are not of the same people. Sahvina could not possibly feel for me like that.” Keece said doubtingly.

“Faolan, what ever it is that you did to have Sahvina’s heart like this is not a mistake.” Jett told him. “If who you are doesn’t matter to her; should who she is matter to you?”

“No, It doesn’t, but..” Keece replied thinking of the kiss he gave her that morning, it could not possibly be that simple.

It was not that simple, however it was the smallest of things that caused Sahvina’s heart to follow him.

“It wouldn’t be appropriate; would it?” Keece asked thinking it would not be socially accepted.

“When you see her, what is the first thought you have?” Otsanda asked him.

Without even a thought he turned and looked at Sahvina.

“The most beautiful Woman that I could have ever been graced by…”

Both Jett and Otsanda tilted their heads looking at him as he looked at her while she spoke to Ylva.

“Do you have feelings for her?” Jett asked even though by Keece’s expression and words told the answer. Still, hearing it from him was what he and Otsanda waited for.

“Y… yes.” Keece said as he looked down.

“Go on.” Otsanda said, “Tell her.”

“I don’t know if I should; I do not want to ruin our friendship.”

“Stop being foolish Faolan. Her heart is yours." Jett told him.

“Give your heart to Sahvina, she's waiting.” Otsanda said as she gently pushed him in Sahvina’s direction.

Keece approached her a bit timidly.

“Hello Keece.” Sahvina said with a big smile. “Those two giving you a hard time?”

“Nothing I do not deserve… I like your dress.”

“Really?” Sahvina said as she turned in a circle to show him.

“Very beautiful.” he replied as he smiled. “Matches your eyes.”

Again, her heart fluttered.

“Are you finished for the day?” she asked.

“Uhm, give me a moment.” Keese said as he turned around to find Ylva talking with Otsanda. In less than a second, he had eye contact. Ylva was shooing him away.

He turned back to Sahvina and said, “I am finished for the day.”

“Would you want to share dinner with me?” Sahvina asked.

“Sure, that would be nice.” He replied. “I should really bathe though.”

“You could bathe at my Den.” she offered.

“That is very kind of you, but a change of clothes it definitely in order.” he said looking at his dirt and sweat ridden shirt and trousers.

“Do you want to have dinner some other evening?” she asked with a less cheerful tone.

“Oh, no. I really would like to share dinner with you.” he said almost pleading a case. “How about this, I will head home after I walk you to your Den; you start cooking. I will bathe, change clothes, and meet you to help with finishing dinner?”

“Are you sure?” she asked. “You seem to be preoccupied with something.”

‘Still easy to read. She is really keen.’ he thought knowing what they shared in the dreams.

“I will be quick; promise.” he told her as he laced his fingers with Sahvina’s and finished walking her home. Another small gesture.

Keece moved like he had a fire lit under his posterior. Still flooded with the after thoughts of his conversation with Jett and Otsanda. He jumped in the tub as it filled and started scrubbing.

‘Your Mate is here.’ he thought hearing Jett’s voice in his head.

‘Give Sahvina your heart.’ Otsanda’s voice ran out as he thought about what she told him.

Don’t be foolish.

Keece knocked on her door. Sahvina greeted him with a hug, she had a firm grip on him like he was missed. He noticed that they were not alone. Her co-worker Lyla, and his co-worker Otsanda were talking at the dining table.

They walked into the kitchen area together.

“Did you need any help?” he asked.

“It is all right, almost done.” Sahvina replied.

Keece set the table as the ladies conversed and carried on in their own antics. The food was beyond exquisite, Sahvina remembered Keece ate more plant matter than protein; she counter balanced the portion more in his favor. Surprisingly, he took seconds on the meat portion with a bit of greens. The night progressed with conversation and drink. Otsanda brought another bottle of the fennel flavored liquor. Sahvina’s co-worker Lyla kept coaxing Keece for stories of his life. He would talk about some of ridiculous things he had done in his early adulthood. It was good for a laugh. Sahvina was getting more bubbly and flirty as she started to get drunk. Everybody was feeling the intoxicating effects of the liquor. With a few more hours of laughter and stories, Sahvina’s guests pitched in to clean the kitchen. Afterwards, Otsanda and Lyla decided to call it an evening and headed out to their Dens to get some rest.

Keece and Sahvina alone with each other, sat on her couch together. She scooted closer to him and rested her head on his left shoulder with a sigh.

“Are you feeling alright?” He asked her.

“How are you feeling?” she asked him slightly slurred.

Keece ran his left arm in-between the couch cushion and her back; he gently pulled her closer feeling the contour of Sahvina’s pronounced hip.

“Good.” he replied.

“Me to.” she said leaning against him.

His right hand met with her left’s fingers. They laced.

After sitting in silence for fifteen or so minutes, she nuzzled his neck and kissed it.

Keece was not exactly shocked, but not sure where to go from there. The sensation of her soft whiskered kiss had him flush.

He turned to look at her, he unlaced his fingers from hers and cupped his right hand on her cheek. She closed her eyes, leaned into his caress. Sahvina open her eyes as Keece ran his hand up to her ear that was missing the tip.

She watched his eyes as he traced the contours of her ear. Gentle grasping his hand away, Sahvina nuzzled him under his chin again. Keece started to rub her side down to her hip slowly. She shivered from the sensation.

“Are you cold?”

“No, that felt really good.” she said as she sat up. “ I need to go use the bathroom.”

He smiled and nodded.

She returned to the couch a few minutes later dressed in her dark blue robe.

Keece thought that might be his cue to take his leave. He stood up and adjusted his shirt.

Sahvina stood in front of him with a very amorous look. Before he could say anything, her robe fell to the ground. She was, save for her dark grey pelt, nude.

Keece was a bit shocked that he was standing in what was her entire glory.

“I want you.” she told him.

“I can see that.” he replied keeping as much eye contact as he could. It was hard not to look, her figure was exquisite. Even though Sahvina’s lighter grey mane cover the majority of her upper breasts, he could still see sizable erect nipples protruding from her large brown with white freckled areola.

“Come to bed.” she told Keece in a sensuous tone.

“Um, maybe we should talk about this?”

“Why?” she asked.

“Morning regrets.” he offered.

“Do you not want me?”

“That is a complicated answer.” he said.

The expression on her face changed; she looked sad, and disappointed as he picked up her robe and offered it too her.

Keece sat down on the couch thinking Sahvina would put her robe back on and sit with him to talk. Instead, she walked away, and dropped her robe in front of the bed room door as she went in.

All he could hear in his head was Jett telling him not to be foolish.

Sniffling sounds came from her bedroom.

Keece got up from the couch and carefully entered the room. She was curled up on her bed feeling foolish and rejected. Tears slowly welled up in her eyes.

He kneeled down to her.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to make you to cry.”

She rolled over to look at Keece, seeing the green halo of his right eye glowing with the black silhouette of him contrasted from the illumination coming from the hall light.

Sahvina was conflicted as much as he was. Keece showed her a great deal of affection a little while ago, but why the apprehension?

“Would you regret being with me?” she asked.

“Do you mean tonight or something more permanent?”

“Does it matter?"

“Yes.” he said

“Why?”

“Because we are both drunk and I want something more than a night of vacuous regrets.”

Sahvina sniffled as she sighed and rolled on to her back as she stretched out.

“Please don’t go home. I want you to stay with me.” she asked of him.

“I would love to.” he told her.

Keece undressed to his boxers; then got under the covers with Sahvina.

Keece laid on his side facing Sahvina, she rolled over on her left facing him.

“Take your underwear off and be naked with me.” she said placing her hand on his left cheek.

Keece complied; he wanted to give her the sense of comfort and unity in the many moments to follow.

He ran his fingers through her raven black hair before they embraced each other. The feeling of Sahvina’s pelted body against his bare skin was nothing short of heavenly.

“Keece, do you have feelings for me?” she asked him as they were nose to nose.

“Yes, very much so.” he replied softly.

She kissed him. He kissed her back.

“I have feelings for you to.” she said.

She pulled to him tighter, her curvy pelted body pressed against him. The sensation of Sahvina’s lips pressed into his felt like velvet with the sweeping of her whiskers moving in response. He coaxed for something deeper as Keece slightly open his mouth. Sahvina followed his lead and their tongues touched; the slow passionate exploration began while they gripped each other. She was flush with how it felt, but decided to take what Keece had said about them being drunk. If they did go further, it would probably be a fumbly experience; whereas she also desired much more than that at this moment. They kissed more for a while longer before their lips separated.

Sahvina started yawned as she rolled putting her back to Keece, and scooted to him.

“Please hold me.” she asked.

They cuddled tightly. His left hand rubbed her soft, curved navel very gently.

“Would you want to be Mates with me?” she asked

“Is that what you want?” he asked her.

“Yes, very much.”

“I would love to be your Mate.” he replied.

“Forever?"

“Until the day I draw my last breath.” he said continuing to rub her belly.

They both drifted off to sleep happy, content, and no longer alone.

Keece started to get up out of bed in an unfamiliar place. It looked like the room of a young Female. Getting up and rubbing his eyes, he noticed Sahvina sitting in front of a vanity naked brushing her thick raven hair into strands to braid it.

“Sahvina, did you want me to make you breakfast?” Keece asked feeling the urge to go urinate.

“No, it’s all right. Mother prepared breakfast already.” she said.

As he was going to inquire about her Mother, Keece noticed he was naked and faced with the problem of a urination base erection.

“Did you see where I put my clothes?”

“You didn’t wear any silly.” she replied turning around to see his morning stiffness. “Thought you were going to hide that?”

Sahvina looked really young, almost late teens. At least that was what he felt.

“I apologize, I just need to use the bathroom.”

“Careful, Mother gets a bit angry when she catches naked Males in the house.” she told him looking in the mirror again.

Keece started to pay attention to the reflection in the vanity mirror looking back at him as Sahvina continued to complete her braid. He started to see disfiguring scars on her face, then a few other areas on her body that the reflection caught when she moved.

“Are you all right?” he asked. “Did something happen?”

She paused for a moment, the mirror rippled like a pool of water in a breeze for a second before the reflection returned to what it was supposed to be; then Sahvina turned around.

“What do you mean?”

“I thought I saw something in the mirror, it looked like you were hurt; that’s all. I just wanted to know if you were all right.” he said.

“Would you rescue me if I was?” she asked.

“Yes, of course. I would hope you would know that.”

“If I am not perfect, would you still want me?”

“I don’t understand the relevance to your question Sahvina, none of us are perfect; least of all, me.” Keece said.

The dream broke into a tangent. Sahvina looked older with the scars Keece saw in the mirror’s reflection just a moment ago.

She was in a corner sitting on her knees crying. The room was dark and cold.

“What’s wrong?” Keece asked.

“I’m ugly.” she sobbed.

“No, that’s not true.” he told her.

“It is, that’s why no one wants me.” she cried out trying to huddle in the corner turning away from him.

“You know that’s not true, I am here because I want you.” Keece proclaimed getting on his knees next to Sahvina. “Look at me.”

“No, it will make everything worse.”

“You think being ugly on the outside is horrible, be ugly on the inside when you do terrible things. Then try living with yourself.” he told her.

Sahvina kept shying away from him as he touched her.

“My feelings won’t change for you, please just look at me.” Keece implored as he gently took her into his arms. Sahvina started to shiver; then her right arm fell off at the shoulder. He picked it up and tried to put it back on. She started to fall apart and no matter how hard Keece did his best to hold her together, she started to melted into nothing. Keece desperately did what he could to keep her from slipping through his fingers.

“Please don’t do this to me, please don’t… I’m yours; I don’t care what you look like.” Keece pleaded.

Then another shift happen as Keece felt compelled to walk through a door feeling anxiety from the experience he just had.

She was laying on the couch reading a book in her robe, Keece stood there looking at her. Sahvina sat up and looked at him as she laid he book on the coffee table.

‘There you are my beautiful Mate.’ he thought.

She smiled as she opened her arms to him. Keece walked to her and sat down on his knees in front of the couch.

“I want to show you something.” she said.

Sahvina rubbed her belly, it was very round. Her breasts were larger, and her pelt was very shiny.

“Your pregnant…”

“Yes, we are having twins.” Sahvina told him.

She saw the look on his face. The surprise and wonderment in his eyes brought her joy.

Keece parted her robe and kissed her belly as he rubbed it gently with both hands.

He could feel her caress his hair as he kissed her belly again. Sahvina giggle.

Keece got up and took his place next to her on the couch.

“Are you ready to be a father?” she asked him.

“I am ready to be the best I can be for you and our children.” Keece said with a loving gaze.

They kissed deeply. The peace and joy they both felt was intoxicating.

Their dream shifted in fragments, both of them going with the flow but never losing sight of each other. Another shift.

They both stood facing each other divided by a sheet of thick transparent material. They saw their reflections, but not their own. Keece’s reflection was of a silver Lupakkeritha with his odd crystal blue eyes. The reflection was five inches taller and bigger. He put his hand on the lens, it began to hum.

Sahvina’s reflection was of Human Woman with rose yellow eyes and raven black hair. The reflection had fair skin, the same figure, but was eight inches shorter.

She smiled as the reflection smiled back. Sahvina placed her hand on the lens, the hum change tone. At the same moment, the reflections flipped. Keece saw a Human Female standing in front of him. Sahvina saw a Lupakkeritha Male standing in front of her.

“Sahvina?” Keece asked.

She nodded. Keece held his hand out for her. Sahvina stepped forward and took it.

They looked at each other’s eyes smiling.

She looked beautiful, and he looked majestic.

Keece kneeled down a bit to be eye level with Sahvina.

“This is what you would look like as one of my people.” she said as she rubbed her arms; then feeling her face. Sahvina was intrigued at the sensation of not having a pelt.

“And this is what you look like as one of my people.” Keece said.

Sahvina and Keece embraced each other, she rubbed her face in his pelted chest.

‘This must be how I feel to him.’ she thought.

Things shifted again; both Keece and Sahvina were laying on the grass in front of her Den. An infant cried, then another. Keece jumped up and hurried into the Den to the bassinet in their room. He saw two white pelted Lupakkeritain infants crying.

The jarring of his body woke both of the up. In the dream, Sahvina was right behind him. Keece jumped out of bed pulling the blankets off of both of them as he started looking for something in the room.

"Keece, what are you doing?” Sahvina asked still feeling a bit drunk.

“Our children were crying.” he said in a hurried tone. “Where is the bassinet, where did they go..?”

Sahvina got up as she came up behind Keece, wrapping her arms around him, and kissing the back of his neck. He could feel her soft pelted breast pressing into him.

“Sweetheart, it was the dream.” she told him.

Keece relaxed. She loosened her arms around him as he turned facing her to returned the embrace.

“Come back to bed, love.” Sahvina said.

He nodded. They both remade the bed before slipping back in returning to holding each other more intently.

‘Wow, his maternal instinct is strong.’ she sleepily thought.

“Sorry about that.” He apologized in a quieted voice.

“It’s alright.” she said.

He was laying on his back with his fingers laced behind his head and sighed. Sahvina wrapped her left arm around his waist and placed her head on his chest. Keece pulled his hand free of his head and started to gently rub her back, then work his way to running his fingers through her hair.

“Keece.”

“Yes?” he asked.

“That was freakishly fast.”

“Uhmm, I guess.” he said nonchalant.

“To modest…” Sahvina said as she drifted off again.

Keece continued running his fingers through her thick, soft hair. ‘I am not that fast.’ he thought before pulling the covers over them further and closing his eyes.

Morning came, then noon. Sahvina woke up feeling slightly off. After a night of drinking like that, she was lucky not to feel any worse.

Keece yawned while running his fingers through her hair. Sahvina nuzzled and kissed his neck.

“Good morning, beautiful.” he said feeling her whiskered affections.

She pulled to him tighter and lapped her left leg over his right.

“Good morning, love.” Sahvina answered back.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

“All right, considering how much I drank.” she said. “I want to apologize for last night.”

“Why?”

“Because, I could have conducted myself in a better fashion.” she replied

“It’s all right, I am still here with you.”

“I know, I just feel foolish.” she said.

“You are anything but foolish, you wanted to further our intimacy.”

Sahvina sighed, Keece continued running his fingers through her hair.

She rolled on top of Keece and sat up as she pinned his arms back. The way her soft, warm fingers and palm pads felt against his skin as she gripped his forearms. He had a big smile on his face. Sahvina kissed him on his chest, then slowly worked her way to kissing his lips. Sitting up again, Sahvina released his arms. Keece’s hand migrated to her firm thighs and curvy hips. She was enjoying his massaging grip as he explored her feminine contours. He watched her take his hands and bring them to her breasts.

She guided him in rubbing and massaging them; Sahvina’s breathing changed with this sensation of his thumbs gently stimulating her large, freckled areola, and thick nipples. She felt something else change from Keece’s pelvic region.

He felt her grinding him a little. Keece could feel the increasing heat of Sahvina’s most private of areas responding to his erection. Nothing could be helped. It had been a long time since he had been aroused like this.

“Make love with me.” Sahvina said.

He nodded. Under the covers, they explored each other’s bodies more thoroughly. What was the rush? They had all day. Keece felt her hand exploring him down below. After thirty minutes, she decided to mount him again. In seconds, he felt the hot, wet sensation of slowly achieving penetration.

They made love for hours. Slow, tender, and giving.

Laying together in the afterglow content; Sahvina with her head resting on his chest while he stroking her raven hair fully relaxed as they both started to doze off. The advent of that different life had been solidified. The spirit Keece thought was going to take him to a dark place, instead brought him to a beautiful light filled one with more than he could have imagined.

They both began sharing their lives in one Den. It was easy for him to move in with her, all Keece had from his Den were the personal effects he came into their world with, and the borrowed books.

It was very nice to have someone to lay with at night. Sahvina stayed warmer than usual with Keece, he was like a furnace when slept when not inebriated.

Keece adored building their routines further.

They would get up and cook breakfast together on the days they both worked. On the days one or the other had a day off when the other worked, the one with the downtime would cook breakfast while the other would get ready for their day in the field.

Keeping the Den clean was a shared effort. She was very appreciative of all the help he gave her.

Sahvina would meet Keece after work while waiting for him to finish for the day. They both enjoyed the walk home together, which sometimes would lead to the river for a few hours.

Making dinner was shared as well, he was learning prepare meals that were common for her people. After enjoying the supper they shared in making; they would clean the kitchen, then both would sit on the couch while holding each other giving affections as they talked about dreams, aspirations, and sometime the darker aspects of the life he had before this one. Keece’s brutal honesty could be hard to take at times, but Sahvina listened as she did her best to console him afterwards.

When it was time to retire to bed, most of the time they could not keep their hands off each other. Love making became frequent. On those other nights, they just held one another.

Fall was upon them. The new cellars were built and covered for the Brewery. After that, work changed from construction to harvest. Keece actually found this to be a lot of fun. He got to meet new people in the town and would participate in dirt clod fights with the twins. It was nice to feel the continuity of the community working together. The Families of the town would set up banquet meals bringing snacks, water, or something closely resembling a porter to the working Females and Males. Keece, Jett, Otsanda, and Convey were splitting fire wood if they were not pulling produce from the ground, it was fun some days to get a good buzz going before lunch.

The mornings got colder with the frost starting to be more frequent.

This was the season for making dry stores and preserves. Everybody in the community would trade for specialty goods they made. Keece spent time with Sahvina learning how to preserve food for winter. He got really good at it, but the best part was their bond with each other grew stronger the more they shared in home activities like these.

During the morning of the first snow, Keece heard a retching noise coming from the bathroom.

“Sahvina, are you all right?” he asked lightly knocking on the door.

“Not feeling to well.” she said after spitting.

Keece opened the door to see her sitting next to the toilet. Sahvin's eyes were watering. She purged again.

He got on his knees and pulled her hair back as another purge happened.

“Is there anything that would help make you feel better; should we go to the Infirmary?”

“No, I am just gong to have to deal with it.” she said spitting again.

“I’m sorry you don’t feel good.” he said as he did his best to gently wipe her watering eyes.

She dry heaved.

“Don’t be.” she said. “I am pregnant.”

He had so many thoughts running through his mind, especially the dream.

“Are you all right?” Sahvina asked as she got up.

“I just, uhm. Wow.” Keece said as he stood up with her.

She looked at him as Keece processed what he had been told.

All Keece could do at that moment was hug his beautiful Mate and kiss her.

She hugged and kissed him back intrigued with his lack of apprehension knowing she just had been vomiting.

“I love you, Sahvina.” he said softly cupping her right cheek.

“I love you to.” she replied smiling.

Keece hugged Sahvina firmly nuzzling her neck

“Are you sure you are all right?” Sahvina said as she looked into his eyes.

Keece nodded.

She smiled and kissed his forehead before flushing the toilet.

After cooking a light breakfast for Sahvina and himself, they sat at the tabled.

Sahvina sipped her mint tea while taking her time eating to make it easier with her stomach still giving her trouble.

She remembered discussing nutrition with other expecting Mothers, telling them they needed to eat regardless of the nausea. Now she had to take her own advice.

Keece kept looking at her adoringly. All the possibilities ran through his mind of how life would be with being a new Father.

She noticed he could not stop watching her.

“So my love…” she started to ask before taking another sip of tea. “How are you going to feel if we have a Daughter?”

“I would feel fine having a little girl.”

“Really?” Sahvina asked with great curiosity.

“I find it perplexing that you would worry about the gender of our baby.”

“We have a little bit more Females in our society, and it is mostly preferred to have Male children.” she said.

“Oh…, I see. Certain cultures were like that where I am from." he said.

Keece affirmed that he was not concerned about the sex of their child. In all, Sahvina was relieved to hear it from him. She never spoke of it because of a confidentiality standpoint with patients, but her fear with having children with a Mate who would be disappointed in having Female children stood. Sahvina had heard the arguments between expecting parents during examinations. The angry Male and guilt ridden Female. It wasn’t always the case; there were the Fathers didn’t care and just wanted to love his Family regardless.

The snow continued to fall; Keece persuaded her to rest as he cleaned the Den. Sahvina watched her Mate go around sweeping, mopping, dusting, then starting laundry. He did the breakfast dishes as he prepared lunch for them.

She decided to relax in a hot bath for a little while. When she got out of the tub, Keece had their meal waiting for them.

After Sahvina dried off, she did not bother to dress before come out of the bathroom.

“Keece, can I get your help with something, please?”

“Sure.” he replied as he walked into the bedroom to find her in the nude.

Sahvina was on the bed laying on her stomach with her head resting on a bunched up pillow.

“Would you groom my back side for me?”

He noticed a brush next to her.

Happily he sat next to Sahvina moving her long, damp hair to the side, and started brushing her pelted back, He started with Sahvina’s shoulders.

She was in heaven, his firm brush strokes felt very good against her body.

Keece noticed that certain spots caused her to shiver. He worked his way to lower to her tail and legs seeing the reaction. The more he brushed her hamstrings, Keece noticed Sahvina’s calves flexing as her toes curled.

The coat he brushed hid her very stacked and powerful body. After Keece reached her feet, Sahvina rolled over and sat up.

“You are really good at that.” she said playfully.

“Only for you, beautiful.” he said. “But don’t tell Otsanda.”

Sahvina put her left hand under his chin cupping at she applied pressure to Keece’s jaw.

“Don’t you tell her, or another Female.” she said with a fierce gaze.

Keece broke free and shove Sahvina on her back, then dominated her.

“You wanted me, now you have me.” he told her.

“Then take me.” she said waiting.

“When we bed again.” Keece told her.

Sahvina smile as her strong legs wrapped around Keece’s waist.

“We are in bed, satisfy me my love.”

Keece was going to learn that a pregnant Lupakkerithain Female had insatiable urges when it came to sex. Laying in another beautiful afterglow, Sahvina expressed her appetite.

As the scent of their reheated meal filled their Den, she finished grooming herself. Sahvina came out of the bedroom in a silken purple slip that stopped right above her knees. It clung to the contour of her hips and thighs as she walked to the kitchen table to share lunch with Keece. Seeing her fitted in that garment was incredibly sexy, it made him want to chase her back in the bedroom and let their food get cold again. Another beautiful afterglow between them that led to showering together afterwards. Lunch was turning into dinner.

Winter had taken a hold on the community; Keece walked with Sahvina to her work and would show up as she was getting off to walk with her home. Sometimes, Jett or Otsanda come by and get his help to shovel snow out of the walk ways in front of the other dens and businesses. Of course, snow ball fights broke out at a moments notice between friends.

They all knew Keece was an expecting Father and were very happy for their Faolan.

Time moved at a snail’s pace during this time, but the snow came down in a record abundance. Sahvina’s belly grew rounder everyday as she began to start feeling the fatigue of being pregnant. Her body had been going through changes to accommodate the extra weight.

She was spending more time in the tub to relax after her shifts. In three more months, she would be on maternity leave.

Keece was aware his Mate dealing with the discomfort as she walked through the den caressing her belly and rubbing her lower back. Every night for two months, he never failed to massage her back before bed.

Keece had returned to their Den one evening from shoveling snow and noticed Sahvina had fallen asleep on the couch while reading. It was a familiar feeling as he hung the coat she made for him on the standing rack with his knitted cap and insulated leather gloves.

She awoke to the sensation of his hands massaging her shoulders and neck.

As he worked her, Keece heard various grunts and groans of content.

"Feel better?” he asked.

“I always do when you are home.” she replied. “It would be great if my hips and feet would quit hurting.”

He had notice her body filling out a bit more. To him, she was looking more and more desirable with radiance everyday. Sahvina’s pelt had an incredible sheen; her natural scent increased in potency, which made Keece’s desire to bury his face in her mane while sleeping more frequent.

He came around the couch and pushed the coffee table away to make room for him to sit in front of her on the floor. Putting his back against the front of the couch and draped her long legs over his shoulders, Keece began to massage her right foot.

Sahvina’s poor feet were in need of attention.

He could hear her ooing and ahhing as he worked her discomfort away.

She slowly slid towards him until her belly was resting at the back of his head.

Keece’s strong hands kneaded the bottoms then back to her toes.

After about thirty minutes, she had him stop. Sahvina’s feet felt a lot better and it was starting to feel like he was tickling her.

After a few giggles he stopped and rubbed his cheek on the inside of her thigh.

Keece felt her hands on his shoulders.

“Love, I have something to tell you.” she said.

He turned himself around and sat on his knees to face her from between her legs.

“All right.” he said waiting.

“We’re having twins.”

“Really?!” he asked excitedly. “You mean like the dream?”

“Yes, twin Females.”

Keece looked at her round belly. As he placed his hands above her hips, Keece kissed Sahvina’s soft, pelted stomach. She giggled and rubbed his head of grey hair.

He gently rested the right side of his face on her belly. Keece could feel her breath.

“Come, sit with me.”

He kissed her belly again and got up to take his place with her on the couch.

Sahvina decided to lay on her back and rest her head on Keece’s lap.

Both were looking into each other’s eyes smiling.

“Twin girls.” he said.

“Yes.” Sahvina replied as she pulled his left arm under her swelling breasts and held his left hand in both of hers.

Her eyes closed as she drifted to sleep. Keece being a little tired from shoveling snow decided to follow suit and catch up on some rest.

An hour later, Sahvina got up to use the bathroom. Keece really did not budge much.

When she came out, Sahvina took a long look at her Mate resting. Feeling like the luckiest Female in the world, she decided to make dinner and let him continue to nap.

The smell of food simmering filled the den as he slowly came out of his slumber. Keece came into the kitchen yawning while Sahvina rinsed off some utensils in the sink, he came up and hugged her from behind; then rubbed her belly.

“Did you sleep well?” she asked him.

"I think so. And you?”

“After you rubbed my feet, I could not help it. Thank you my love.” she said turning around to meet him face to face instigating a nice deep kiss.

“Did you need any help?”

“Not at all, our meal is almost ready.”

As they sat down to eat, she asked him about what to name the twins.

Keece did not know what to name them, but they were to have unique, and beautiful names.

She agreed. Conversations like this always make meals last a long time. They kept bouncing ideas off of each other.

“What about Kismet?” he asked.

“That is a pretty name. What does it mean?”

she asked.

“Kismet means ‘Destiny'.”

Sahvina was thrilled at the sound of that meaning.

“What was the other name you thought of?”

“Halya?”

“Yes, and that one means?”

“It means 'Halo around the Moon'.” Keece replied.

She was pleased that those names were very meaningful and unique.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Those names are beautiful, of course I am sure.” Sahvina said assuringly.

“All right, we still have time.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” she asked narrowing her eyes at him.

“Just in case you have a change of heart, that’s all.” he answered.

“My love, please shut up.” she said teasingly.

They finished their meal and cleaned up. Keece turned off most of the lights in the Den and moved the reclining chairs to the window in the front room. The night sky was bright with pink with orange clouds.

Fine powder flurried with the occasional gusts, some of the neighbor’s porch lights could be seen across the way. Glowing with a soft cast barely more than illuminated fuzz.

Sahvina and Keece held hands as they watched the winter season sway in its freezing dance.

She talked Keece into rubbing her feet again before going to bed. Sahvina laid down naked with a pillow under her head. He sat at the end of the bed and started to knead her feet. When he got to her frosted grey toes, she started to make all sorts of funny sounds.

Keece was spoiling her. Sahvina never brought up that he was the only Male who gave her this much physical attention. She really liked it, and wanted to return his generosity.

Sahvina sat up behind him and lifted his shirt off; then worked his shoulders, and neck as he did for her.

“Does it feel good?”

“Oh yeah…” he said as he leaned in it as she pushed into his shoulder blades with her strong, gentle hands.

After twenty minutes she finished. Keece pulled off his trousers and boxers before they laid together.

Sahvina was on her back and Keece was laying on his side facing her as he rubbed her belly.

“I feel so huge.” she said.

“Why would you say that?”

“My belly is getting huge, my breasts are getting huge, my hips are huge, and my ass is probably bigger to.”

“Hmmm…, had not noticed.” Keece said as he continued to rub her belly.

“You are so full of it.” Sahvina told him giggling.

Smiling, he got up and over her in seconds. Keece kissed her.

“You can say what ever you like, I only see the beautiful Mother of my children.”

After he said that, Keece continued to kiss her neck. He moved down through the fluff of the mane kissing her chest breathing in his Mate’s potent scent; then continued kissing Sahvina between her breasts. Many kisses were planted all over her belly. He continued lower.

“What are you….mmmmmmmhhhnu.…” His trail of kisses became something unexpected; something amazing.

Hours later, Sahvina and Keece’s sleep had been interrupted by a loud knock at the front door.

She sat up and started to slide out of bed looking for her robe as Keece was already half way through the Den naked.

He cracked opened the door to find his friends standing there.

“Could you give me four seconds, then come in and make your selves a home?”

“Yes, of course.” Ylva replied.

Ylva came in first, the rest followed. Sahvina walked into the kitchen in her robe starting to fill the tea pot with water as she turned the burner on while they waited for Keece to come out dressed. A minute later, he entered the front room.

“This is unexpected, but I am glad to see you all.” Keece told them.

“We need your help Keece.” Ylva said in an urgent tone.

She explained to him that the roof of the Pub they took him to the night he cut his knee collapsed under the weight of the snow. The urgency came from the fact that some people were trapped in it after the second level collapsed into first, and part of the cellar.

“You are the only one we know that is small enough to get into the structure that can see.”

“Am I going in alone?” Keece asked.

“No.” Ylva said. “Otsanda is going with you.”

It made sense, even though she stood at six and a half feet; Otsanda had a svelte athletic figure that would allow for her to follow Keece through the wreckage.

Sahvina followed Keece as he pulled his gear bag out in the bedroom.

“Please be careful.” she asked.

“I will do my best.”

“Keece, I am serious.”

“I know.” he said.

Keece handed her a rectangular item that looked like a piece of shiny black glass.

“What is this?”

“This will allow you to see everything I see.” he replied.

He showed her how to activate it and what icon to touch to bring his line of sight to the nine by six inch screen.

“..All right, shut it off like this to conserve power.”

“Why are you showing me this?”

“Because, I know you won’t stay home.” he said handing her an ear piece.

Obviously her ears were very different, however, the clipping system was still usable. It was not very comfortable, but in the need of the situation; she could deal with it.

He explained what it was for. Sahvina dressed quickly while Keece got Otsanda’s ear piece set up, Ylva got the last one.

Dressed in his work boots, shorts, and the jacket Sahvina had made for him; Keece snapped his PT-525 multitool in its small sheath along with his large combat knife.

“Is that all you’re going to take?” Convey asked.

“Nope.” Keece said as he walked outside and grabbed the hatchet on the porch. “Lets go.”

As they arrived, people were already hard at work clearing debris.

Keece was guided to the opening Otsanda and he were to use to find the missing individuals. After he inspected the entrance, Keece handed his coat to Sahvina.

“Ready?” he asked her.

“No.” she replied putting the garment in her side bag.

“All right. Keep the line clear, do not panic, and use the pad to show Ylva what I see.”

Sahvina’s expression was filled with anxiety as she nodded.

Keece hugged and kissed his Mate that was getting a light dusting of snow. She powered the pad up and touched the icon that linked Keece’s right eye to it. He was handed a pouch of six one inch diameter spheres with very stiff wire ties poking out. When you tied them to an object or pretty much anything; the spheres illuminate after the separate wires make contact creating a circuit. They were generally used at festivities for night time engagements.

Otsanda shed her long coat. She was dressed in a black tank top, tight blue long shorts, and work boots.

Otsanda cautiously followed Keece into the opening that the other workers had cut into the roof. They were going to have to work their way down and around to get to the lower sections. Keece tied the first sphere ten feet in from the opening with his multitool pliers.

Ylva, Sahvina, Convey, and Jett watched the pad. Sahvina already knew what it looked like through his right eye, the other four were experiencing it for the first time. Those who did not know, got to see the heads up targeting telemetry.

Keece could feel the jagged texture of what they were crawling through, he felt minor cuts on his hands and knees.

“Are you getting a visual?” Keece asked as he tied the second one through a peg hole.

“Yes.” Ylva replied. "How is Otsanda doing?”

He looked behind him, they could see her working her way through with a flashlight in her mouth.

“Looking good.” Keece replied as he continued forward through the makeshift debris cave that was once a hallway.

After getting pass broken tress beams of the main roof, they found the attic ceiling hatch. Keece married the hatchet in it to pull it up. Dropping down, they both realized the top shifted at an angle. The long hallway was filled with buckled and splintered parts of walls, doors, and ceiling slats. Ostend and Keece crawled through the broken obstacles before they came to a stairwell. They examined the barrier made of more collapsed beams that blocked the rest of the steps. He handed the multitool and a sphere to Otsanda before pulling the hatchet out and started to cut chunks out of the steps they could get to.

“Faolan, what in hell are you doing?”

“Cutting through Ylva, it’s the only way down.” Keece replied.

Sahvina wanted to scold him.

“The Den is unstable, be careful.” Ylva told him.

Otsanda was reasonably calm, even thought she really was not thrilled about the situation.

After clearing enough of the steps to get both of them through together. Keece dropped into the next space to take a look before Otsanda entered.

On the outside of the collapsed structure, Sahvina and the rest of them watched the pad intently. He saw a bunch of crushed furniture and dividing wall shelves for the dish carts in the dining area with parts of the destroyed chandlers. The items somehow managed to support the weigh of the debris due to good quality and craftsmanship.

Keece continued to crawl through the tunnels made of pieces of the destroyed chandeliers, dividing walls and ceiling pieces. His hands and knees started getting cut worse by shattered debris of crystal, candle jars, tankards, and tumblers.

Otsanda dropped through the steps and did her best to catch up. He turned around to check on his friend.

“Are you holding up?”

“This is not an ideal situation, but I am good.” she replied handing the tool back to him.

“Are you getting cut?” he asked.

Otsanda showed him the red all over her palms and a little grey of her pelted fingers.

“My knees are as well.” she said

“I know, come on.” he said showing he was vulnerable to.

His bloody hands made it a task to tie another sphere up.

Keece came upon what used to be the bar, after shoving broken stools, a dish cart, and other things out of what little path there was. He worked his way around the end of the bar and saw two Females dressed in their Bar Maiden outfits scared out of their minds.

They could not really see him. The smell of liquor was rich from all the broken bottles, a couple of the beer kegs had been leaking.

“Are you two alright?” Keece asked them.

“Who’s there?” the one on the left asked.

“We’re here to get you out. Is there any one else trapped?” he asked.

“Camille is still down in the cellar in her office.” the one on the right told him.

Otsanda came up behind him with the flashlight.

After making sure the two females could move on their own, Keece asked Otsanda to guide them out. He was going to continue the search for Camille.

Sahvina wanted to protest his decision, they could see it in her expression.

“Faolan, your ‘Wife’ as you say, needs to speak.” Ylva told him.

“Keece, please think about what you are doing.”

“I have. Please listen, then say what ever you need to say.” he replied.

“All right.” she answered.

He continued to work his way through.

“We needed to get the other two out now. Otsanda knows the way back. I need to find Camille, and Otsanda will be on her way back in. If we had the other two wait, and tried to get out with all of us at once; it would make moving too slow, which would bring the risk of getting trapped greater.” Keece explained.

“I wish to talk about this when we are home my love.” Sahvina replied knowing there was not a lot to say during this time crucial moment that was going to stop him from the task at hand.

As she finished the broken structure shifted; six minutes later, Otsanda and the two bar maidens came out of the barely stable entrance with Peter and Russell helping them up.

After getting her hands and knees cleaned, Otsanda got cinching leather gloves, and knee pads. She was handed another flashlight before proceeding to crawl back in after Keece.

Keece had found a hole in the floor on the other side of the bar. It was caused by something heavy hitting it, most likely a busted load bearing support. After tying two spheres up, he realized the hole was too small for him to get through.

“Well, fuck..” he said thinking there might be a possibility of fire with what he was about to do.

Keece proceeded to twist open the hilt of his combat knife revealing a fine filament with a light blue glow. They watched as he dangled the other half of the hilt with the blade attach through the opening and slowly moved the glowing blue line through the flooring to cut his way though with. They could hear a high pitched tone emanating from the filament; he cut away at the floor’s thick slats.

Through the pad, they watched him work. Convey, Jett, and the twins had been helping with pulling pieces of the pub off of its collapsed structure.

Otsanda had come through the bar area and following the unfamiliar sound cutting through a thick piece of wood with a shaft of steel under it after passing the fourth sphere. He had started to finish the last of the circumference. When she approached Keece, the structure shifted again with a loud groan.

He did not stop cutting, just did his best to move faster.

“Are they all right?” Convey yelled out to Ylva.

“I think so, hold on. Are you all right? We heard the something move.”

“Yes, so far. Keece is almost done cutting through.” Otsanda replied trying not to look at the bright blue light.

Ylva yelled back to Convey, “They are all right.”

Like the stairs, the hole was big enough for both of them to fit through simultaneously, Keece had retracted the cutting element in the hilt, and was the first in again.

The basement was a wreck, but much more manageable than the levels above save for the small buckled wood stove with glowing red embers spilling out two to three at a time almost every few seconds. The only saving grace was that the large brass plate the stove stood on was catching the escaping coals with a toppled desk lamp still illuminating the crushed in room.

Otsanda slipped down next. Camille was dazed, she had been struck in the head behind her right ear. There was a small cut and a lot of swelling.

“Camille, right?” Keece asked.

She nodded carefully feeling the injury behind her ear.

“Lets get her out of here.” Otsanda implored.

“Hold on. Camille, can you focus on my finger?”

Her emerald green eyes widen and slowly aligned to his finger.

“Good; can you move?”

Camille slowly got up and crouched. She was black pelted with black hair which made her green eyes more gravitating, and was by no means a small Female like Sahvina.

Camille was dressed in a white blouse with a black suede cropped vest and a maroon pleated long skirt.

“I feel odd about this, but you are going to need to lose the skirt.” Keece told her. "It’s going to snag on everything we have to get through.”

“I can’t…” Camille said with an embarrassed look. “Nothing underneath, if you get my meaning.”

“Oh, I apologize. Let’s cut the front and sides short enough to allow you to crawl unhindered.”

“What about all the glass cutting her hands and knees?” Otsanda asked.

“Do you have snow gloves?” Keece asked Camille.

“No, I just carried my hand muff today.” she replied. “But I am wearing my thigh high boots, so at least that is one thing out of the way.”

“Let’s trim your skirt, i got an idea.” he said.

Five minutes later, Keece sacrificed his shirt while using parts of the skirt material to create palm pads thick enough to protect Camille’s hands.

“This is the deal. Otsanda, you take the lead. Camille, you’re in the middle, and I will bring up the rear.” Keece informed them.

At that moment, the smell of things burning started to fill the air.

“The structure is on fire.” Ylva sounded off.

“We know, we are on out way out.” he said right as a huge groan came from above the office.

Camille was not very co-ordinated and needed help getting up through the hole in the bar room floor. Keece pushed against the bottoms of her boots as Otsanda helped in pulling her up. The next sound was of the whining creak followed by the cracking of failing timber. He watched as the kitchen’s flat top cooking stove came crashing through. Embers were everywhere from the toppled basement stove. The red hot coals burned the floor and the ignited carpeted surface. The flames started to dance with intense flickering light, and was getting brighter by the second.

“Otsanda! We have got to get out now!” His muffled yelling came up as the flames and the coals continued a cascading slide towards a liquor soaked rug.

They got her up. Camille’s adrenalin surging was helping her becoming more alert and mobile. Crawling through, pass the bar, shattered crystal, and broken stools; a crackling sound arose from behind the bar. Keece had just gotten three feet from the hole when the flame got high enough to catch where the liquor had leaked though.

Sahvina and Ylva could see the brightness of light through the pad.

He could feel the heat building as he caught up with Camille and Otsanda.

She was helping Camille figure out the steps Keece had to cut through.

His adrenaline was now surging with the danger of the fire was getting worse. Keece got up behind Camille, wrapped his arms around her knees from behind, and boosted her through. Otsanda proceeded forward to give Keece space to get up into the next level.

As he got up and through; the structure shifted more violently. Smoke was starting to fill the debris tunnel. Moving as quickly as possible; they were coughing while doing their best to navigate the obstacles in the slowly collapsing route.

“Keece, Camille cannot get through this.” Otsanda said.

He came up to see what the obstruction was. Otsanda barely made it through. Parts of the wall’s lumber had crushed down further during the last shift.

Keece deployed his talons and started to tear out material and lumber to make opening wide enough for the big Lupine Female to get through. It was becoming harder to see and breath for both of them. Keece told Camille to push through.

Ylva and Sahvina were having a hard time seeing anything on the pad.

Keece’s other co-workers were still hard at work with the other towns folk clearing debris and getting the fire put out.

Camille got though with Keece right behind her. Water started to come down from everywhere, causing the structure to buckle further as they hurried. Otsanda and Keece worked together to help Camille through the attic hatch. While traversing the last of the treacherous obstacles to freedom, they could hear the tresses whine and crack as their failure was becoming imminent. Otsanda emerged first, then Camille as the structure shifted violently. Keece barely got out before the opening caved in. He stood up with the help of Convey. Keece looked down at his hands, they were caked with dirt and blood. Sahvina jogged to him, he was wobbling.

“Are you all right?” she asked wondering why he was shirtless.

He turned and looked at his Mate with a half cocked grin, his head was split open on the left, above his temple.

“I just want to go to the snow bank.”

“Keece, you’re injured. Convey, can I get your help?” she called out.

He kept walking to the mounded snow, Sahvina went for his right hand; Keece jerked away from her.

“Don’t, they’re sharp.” he told her.

Convey approached him noticing the cuts on his shoulders and back.

“Faolan, you need some attention to you wounds.”

“Please; just give me a moment.” Keece replied as he showed Convey his dirty, razor sharp hands.

He put his hands in the snow and dug in cleaning them off having a difficult time staying upright. When finished, he turned around to them showing his hands and talons were clean.

“See, all better.” Keece said as the blades retracted back into his bloody finger tips. Convey caught him by his right arm before he hit the ground like a sack of potatoes.

A day later, Keece woke up with a pounding head ache. Next to him was his very pregnant Mate sleeping on another bed pushed up along side his.

His fingers and thumbs had the alloy splints taped to each one. Sahvina’s left hand was gripping his left arm. Keece move a little, slowly she opened her eyes.

Sahvina scooted closer to him.

“How do you feel?” she asked him.

“Hurt a lot.” he replied with his head pounding away. “Every one made it out?”

“Yes.” she said softly. “They are safe.”

“Good.”

“Keece?”

“Yes.”

“That scared me.”

“I know, I’m sorry…”

He spent four days in the hospital. Sahvina never left overseeing his care, and bring him meals. When Keece got released, she was given early maternity leave.

He was instructed to take it easy for a week before going back to work.

Sahvina enjoyed sleeping in late with him, eating late breakfast, going back to bed and cuddling until one or the other had to use the bathroom. That usually led to late lunch, or early dinner; then more intimate resting.

She also happily checked on his wounds and changed the dressings every morning after Keece showered.

He was getting more mobile after day five.

They were finishing a late lunch when Keece heard a knock at the door. Sahvina was just settling in on the couch to read as she had started to get up to answer, but Keece motioned that he would.

As the door opened, he saw Camille with a big smile on her face. She was standing at six feet nine inches tall. Camille towered in her white parka and black leggings with a hot pink stripe that ran up from her ankles above those shapely hips. They reminded Keece of skin tight ski pants that the ladies wore in various modeling catalogs he ogled in his early years.

He showed her the way in. Camille removed her parka, Keece offered to take it to hang it up.

She had a hot pink shirt that also fit tightly to her curves, it did very little to hide her large breasts.

Sahvina got up to greet their guest with a big hug. Keece got a hug to, with his face buried in Camille’s cleavage; which could not be helped because of their height difference even when she leaned over.

They decided to sit at the dining room table.

“First, I want to thank you for saving my girls and me.” she told Keece noticing the stitched split on the side of his head.

“I am glad I could be of service. How’s your head wound doing?”

She tilted her head down to show them the shaved part of her head with stitches right above her ear.

“It is a lot better, took me a little bit to get over the head aches.” she said.

“Let me know when you need your stitches removed, I would be more than happy to accommodate you.” Sahvina told her.

“Thank you, I really appreciate that.”

Savhina decided to make some tea as they talked. The discussion changed from injuries to the early morning that Camille’s business collapsed. They went over the details of the rescue.

As Keece filled her in, Camille’s green eyes were fixated on him. She had seen Keece around with Ylva and the crew, but never really got the chance to have a conversation with him until now. She knew that from time to time it was not unheard of that Stragglers would appear in their world, but most of them would disappear after a short stay. Keece was the first their people had seen since the last came through forty plus years ago.

Then the conversation moved on to Sahvina’s pregnancy. Camille was interested in the differences in having Keece as a Mate. Sahvina told her that she was very happy with him feeling lucky that he was in her life as the Father of her children. She explained the differences in his mentality versus the average Male; primarily that Keece put no precedence on the fact she was going to give birth to twin Females, and was very helpful in domestic matters. It was not that Sahvina was saying that the Males of their people were not appealing, but Keece was really different in how he thought and acted in day to day life.

The biggest thing that separated him from the other Males was their connection in sharing dreams as they slept. Sahvina said that she had getting to know him almost thoroughly, as she had witnessed his darker moments, and had seen at his best via memories; including the time they spent in the waking world.

It was a rare occurrence to actually see some one’s heart in the raw.

Camille was really taken by this. To her, it was one of the most romantic thing she had heard of.

“You both are very blessed to have each other.” Camille told them. “I feel very lucky that you chose to stay and share life with all of us.”

“Thank you, your kind words mean a lot Camille.” he replied.

“Please, call me Cami.”

The afternoon gave way into the evening, they were talking of plans to rebuild Camille’s business.

Even though Keece suggested speaking Ylva about the project, Camille asked his opinion on how to avoid the problem of snow weight. He told her about places he had been that used different roof top designs to defend against the snow load.

“Basically it comes down to the angle, if it steep enough; it will shed the snow off on its own, but some maintenance will be required.” Keece explained.

Camille was getting excited thinking about a whole new structure that would look unique.

He went into their room and pulled his tablet from his pack and brought it out to the table.

After activating the device, Keece opened the paint application and started to draw a structure with steep, angular roof using his left fingertip.

Both Sahvina and Camille watched as he recreated the upper portions of the Pub. With in minutes, Keece had a rough diagram of the pub with it’s newly designed roof.

Camille looked pleased with his design. She wanted him to work with her on a final plans for the rebuild it in the summer to come. Keece started to feel strange. Breathing became difficult as the scent of the air had a strange chemical presence. Keece’s perception had minor distortions at first. The room they sat in was pixilating. He stood up suddenly.

“Keece, what's wrong?” Sahvina asked in a distorted voice that started to echo like it was on a repeating loop that degraded into odd decimated digital tones

“I do not know, everything is breaking up. I feel…”

Keece felt sick in the blackness he felt shoved into, then the abrupt blinding light with suffocation. His throat hurt after the sensation of having tubes pulled out. He kept trying to move, but was defeated by fatiguing in seconds. He could hear voices around him. Then the sensation of being lifted then moving. His eyes hurt every time he opened them. What ever he was on glided around every corner.

He felt the jostling of being carried a short distance then set down again on a softer surface. The last thing he heard before going black was ‘Sedated him and wrap all of his finger tips.’

He was in the black until it eventually shifted into dreams. Rapid flashes, things were hard to hold on to. After feeling the hits of a defibrillator; his thought amassed to a point. Sahvina… Our babies… I feel sick…

Days later Keece slowly opened his eyes, the room was dim. It was good, easier to adjust to.

He still felt weak, getting his muscle to respond felt almost impossible.

Three medics came into the room and started to examine him. Keece did not recognize their uniforms. When the lights were brought up to full intensity, he could not see anything but a bright blur.

Keece did his best to speak.

“Wha ‘appe n”

‘Do not speak, you need to let you throat heal.’ a familiar Female voice told him.

It was odd, he did not actually hear her voice, it was in his head.

He listened to the three run diagnostics while communicating data on him.