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File Name: Fostering Pride

Owner: Pokégirl

File Location: www.patreon.com/SomeonesPC

File Type: Story:Adult:M/F: Litleo x Mightyena (Variant)

Caption Text: Support us on Patreon for special art, stories, and more!

Details: The Choose Your Own Adventure group got a look at my “black book" of ideas and decided to have me write this for the month. Wanted to try out some fem-dom, younger male, and, well, something else that I'll leave as a surprise. ;)

Drawing in a soft breath, Anwar tucked himself as far down in the mix of dry and green grasses as he could. His younger pride sisters, Zola and Zura, were playing together, one darting a short distance before the other would pounce, they'd tumble and bat or bite at each other, then break off to do the whole thing over. Soon enough, they'd have to get close enough to his hiding spot and then Anwar would take both of them with one mighty pounce!

The pleased rumble in his throat almost gave himself away and he pressed his paws momentarily against his muzzle, trying to stifle the sound. Zola and Zura didn't seem to notice but Momma Makenna did look his way from the fallen tree she was lounging on. Momma Makenna was the eldest of the three Pyroar females and, as such, took on more of the cubsitting duties than Mommas Fana and Ife. The other two hunted, instead, usually with Pappa Kgoshi there to either help or to protect the hunting Mommas. Anwar had never seen the actual hunt but he'd eaten the Blitzle, Zebstrika, and Girafarig that the Pyroar had fallen and heard them share tales of the hunt. He was almost old enough to join in and he wanted to be ready!

With a wiggle of his hips, Anwar kept his focus on his tumbling sisters. This time, when they broke apart, Zura went running right towards his hiding spot. When her head was turning, trying to gauge how far Zola was from her, Anwar almost lunged. As Zura came racing closer, Anwar was worried that he'd have to dive to the side less his pride sister ran right over him. Thankfully, Zura shied away, keeping to the flatter and more visible areas of mud and dirt than darting into his taller, grassier hiding spot.

That hesitation before her turn cost her, though. Zola tackled her sister with a pleased growl, sending both rolling. Before they broke off from their play, Anwar sprang forward, joining the fray. His two sisters let out sounds of confusion as he slapped the side of one and kicked at the other. When teeth dug into his back, he gave a startled yowl of his own before realizing he was being lifted into the air.

Twisting his head, he found Momma Fana holding him. He started to purr, welcoming her back, when Momma Ife rushed out of the taller grasses.

“Get Anwar out of here!" Ife said, her body turning as though preparing to fight.

Zola and Zura were hunched in on themselves, no longer playing, as Fana began to run. Makenna joined Ife, Anwar saw, the two of them blocking the path of a male Pyroar that wasn't Pappa Kgoshi. After that, his vision became filled with the tall grass and he had to shut his eyes to keep the blades from striking them.

“What's happening, Momma Fana?" he asked, his words sounding as jostled as he felt.

The growl that she gave him was sharp, telling him to be silent and still. Tucking his tail up, Anwar did his best to be quiet while Fana's pants beat hotly against his fur and her teeth dug against his sides. Only when her breaths became shuddering gasps did she put him down, her limbs shaking.

Even though he wanted to ask, Anwar didn't speak. He waited for Momma Fana to catch her breath, looking around to see if he recognized where she'd taken him. It was a watering hole, one he didn't think they'd been to before. Thick, dark mud coated the edges of the water with a rock half sunk along the edge, rounded in a way it wouldn't make for a good sunning spot. The water hole itself, while large, didn't seem deep and was unlikely to have any Water dwellers in it.

A tender warmth brushed against Anwar's side, almost knocking him over as he'd not been expecting Momma Fana to start grooming him.

“I can't stay long," she said, the ends of her words still ragged from her run. “I have to double back, lay a false trail…" Fana rubbed her head against his, giving another lick along his cheek. “I'm so sorry, my cub."

“What happened, Momma Fana?" Anwar asked again, his voice soft, unsure that he really wanted to know.

“Two males came," Fana answered, speaking quickly. “They fought Kgoshi and drove him off. Ife and I ran to get to you before they did." Touching her forehead to Anwar's, she drew in a deep breath through her nose, his fur trembling from the force. “Makenna and Ife will try and delay them but you need to run."

“Run where?" he asked, pulling his head back so he could look at her.

Rubbing her cheek along his once more, she gave him a sad smile. “To wherever the pride is not."

“But…" Anwar put his small paws on Momma Fana's larger one. “What about Zola and Zura? And you and the other Mommas?"

Fana nudded Anwar's chest, gently pushing him from her.

“We females will be fine, cub, but if the males find you," Fana broke off, shaking her head. “We can't let them find you so you must stay away, do you understand?"

“Yes, Momma Fana," Anwar answered, even though he really didn't.

“I have to go," she said, rubbing one side of his cheeks then the other. “Follow the sun's path, stay hidden, and, whatever you do, do not come back."

“Okay, Momma Fana," Anwar answered, trying his best to keep the wobble out of his voice.

Wrapping a paw around him, Fana pulled Anwar close to her. “Be safe, my light."

Anwar rubbed his face against the thicker fur of her chest, trying to get as close to her as he could. Just as he started to feel her warmth, Momma Fana pulled back. Before he could say her name, ask her to stay, she was gone. Anwar took a single step forward before remembering her words. Instead, he remained still and listened until the rustling of grass of her departure and that of the breeze became indistinguishable.

*****

After having drank his fill from the watering hole, Anwar started on the path Momma Fana had wanted. Following the sun's path, he would walk until his paws ached or darkness came. Where he could, he foraged for berries to sate both his thirst and hunger. The sweet ones made him almost as thirsty as the sour ones did and the bitter ones he choked down if only to keep his stomach from hurting.

While he knew better than to press his luck with a Zebstrika or Girafarig, Anwar thought he could have at least caught something like an Ekans or a Patrat by now but both seemed more inclined to dive into their burrows than to let him eat them.

Ears drooping, Anwar kept walking forward, trying to ignore the soft throbbing of his paws when he stopped mid-step. Catching something moving to the right, he turned his head ever so slowly so as to avoid being noticed and crouched down. Crawling forward, keeping himself hidden within the tall grasses that he left only rarely for water or berries, Anwar made it just to the edge where he could get a better view.

There, on a berry tree that Anwar would have passed by if not for the sudden movement, was a Starly. The little bird was perched on the trunk, pecking at what looked to be a Nanab a little further up in the branches. Opening its beak, it grabbed the bottom and yanked. The branch shook as the berry refused to give, the Starly too focused on what it was doing to notice Anwar. It was too high up for him to get to, before it would notice him, so Anwar remained still.

The Starly let go of the berry and gave a sharp note of displeasure before releasing its talons from the tree. Cicling, it flapped its wings forward in a swift motion towards the direction of the berry, sending a burst of energy its way. The Wing Attack severed the berry from the branch sending it, several small branches, and a cascade of leaves fell to the ground. Singing happily to itself, the Starly glided towards the Nanab berry.

Just as its claws touched the dirt, Anwar sprang forward.

The Starly gave a squawk and flapped its wings, trying to get back into the air, but it was too late; Anwar's Tackle had knocked it off balance. Before it could right itself, Anwar drew in a breath, gathering the Fire energy he needed so he could let loose with an Ember attack.

The flames streamed forward from his mouth but something struck his side, causing the fire to spiral uselessly to the left and upward until they dispersed. Crouching, turning to protect his injured side, Anwar sprang forward just in time to avoid a Tackle from a second, dive-bombing Starly. Whether it'd been in the tree or nearby, he wasn't sure but it and its flock were all screaming at him.

Flattening his ears, trying to muffle the high pitched shrieking, Anwar sent his Ember forward in a sweeping motion before diving back towards the high grass. The furious beating of wings gave just enough warning for him to swerve before the grass to his right was cleaved, a stream of Starly swooping and raking the remaining strands with their claws.

There wasn't anything Anwar could do to muffle the sounds of his movements so he just kept running, dodging to keep them guessing. He hoped they'd grow tired or feel like they'd driven him far enough but the sounds of their anger grew only louder. His plan to outrun them was steadily becoming unlikely as he was choking on his own breaths, unable to get enough air.

A solid smack into something made him cry out, tears forming in his eyes.

Putting his paws to his head, giving a soft whimper as he squinted past his blurry vision, Anwar was just able to make out the form of a large boulder. Pushing past the newer, more immediate ache of his head, he raced along the boulder and several various rocks grouped along it.

There! One of the rocks had split, the crevice just wide enough a Litleo could push his way through.

Pressing himself forward, face first, his cheeks were squished and he had to wiggle while pushing firmly against the earth to make any headway. The tight gap gave way to a space just wide enough for him to turn and hunch into a tight ball. The crack he'd squeezed in went from the base of the stone along the side and all the way to the top of it, growing narrower the higher it went. He could hear the chattering calls of the Starly, the light that was shining down on him covered again and again by their shadows as they swarmed the rocks like ants on a fresh drop of honey.

The scrapes of their claws along the stone sounded loud to his ears and he tried to make himself smaller, tried to muffle his breathing even as his lungs cried out for more air. Unable to keep himself from shaking, Anwar closed his eyes and flattened his ears, trying to will the flock away.

At some point, fear gave way to exhaustion and the cub passed out.

*****

Thirst woke him but the aches along his body kept him from falling asleep again. Anwar didn't hear any flaps of wings or sounds of birds, even when he strained to listen. The sun no longer flowed into the crevice, brightening his hiding spot, so he decided to see if he could sneak away without being chased.

It was harder getting out than it had getting in. The two halves of the stone pressed tightly against his sides, making it hard to take full breaths. Sinking his claws down, he raked the ground, trying to give himself any extra help he could to get out.

By the time he was able to slip his way back through the crack, he was panting steadily, more thirsty than before. The light chill that came from the sun having set was soothing on his dry tongue and his sore body but not so much as a drink of water or a berry would have been.

With no sun to guide him, Anwar chose the direction that he thought was the opposite way of the Starly flock and started to walk.

The more than half sliver of moon gave just enough light for Anwar to see by, the songs of Kricketot and Politoed following him as he went. At some point, he began stumbling, ready to sleep again, but still he kept putting one paw in front of the other.

When something wet and sticky clung to his paw, Anwar shook it without a thought, taking another step only to have his other paw sink in. It took a moment for Anwar to realize he'd stumbled upon a mud hole, a bathing spot for Dunsparce and Phanpy based on the scents he hadn't paid attention to.

Sinking further into the mud, he walked far enough to where the water formed a shallow puddle. With no one having disturbed it recently, it was almost clear.

Bending his head, Anwar closed his eyes as his tongue sank into the liquid. Lapping, he drank and drank until his sides felt stretched out, unable to hold any more. Limping his way out of the mud, Anwar left the muk on his paws, finding it oddly soothing to his tender pads. A stray thick bush, one of many, was as good a place as any to stay the rest of the night. Pushing his way into the center of it, Anwar rested his head on his paws before slipping into slumber once more.

*****

Anwar batted his paw, trying to silence whatever was making that noise. When he only hit the thin branches of the bush and the noise went on, he opened his eyes with a low whine. The bush could only do so much to keep the sun out, its tiny leaves in tight clusters still letting in bright rays.

Squirming on his belly, staying low and hidden, Anwar peeked just outside of his bush to see what was making the odd gutteral noise that rose and fell, vibrating along his bones.

At the mud hole's center, a Feraligator stood, thinner than Anwar thought it should have been and more hunched over, with a thick stick in its right paw that it leaned heavily on. Around it, there were at least three Crocnaw and maybe six Totodile forming a circle along the edges of the mud hole.

The Feraligator seemed to be the one making the noise. Its mouth wasn't open but its throat flexed when the sounds rose or fell. Anwar thought the others might join in, like a pride's song at twilight, but they all remained silent and watched.

Lifting his head slightly, still remaining under the protection of the bush but wanting a better view, Anwar saw all three Crocnaw suddenly lift their paws in unison, bringing them down on their rounded bellies. They struck it not just the one time but a multitude of times, a steady bum-bum-bum that fell into rhythm with the Feraligator's gravelly tones.

Not long after, the Totodile moved as one. Circling around the mud hole, kicking their legs up with each step, they went around the still beating Crocnaw. As they went, they spun, throwing their arms up as they faced outward then putting them down when they faced the Feraligator.

Putting one paw over the other, Anwar puzzled over their antics while the Feraligator droned on and the Crocnaw beat their bellies and the Totodile twirled. They didn't slow down nor speed up, moving at the same steady pace that the Ferlaigator had set at the begining, yet, somehow, Anwar felt the fur along the back of his neck and back rising.

The Totodile faced outward once more, lifting their paws up at the exact moment the Crocnaw slapped their belly and the Feraligator opened its maw, letting out a loud shout that echoed in Anwar's ears and across the plain. The Totodile stopped. The Crocnaw stopped. And the Feraligator sang no more.

Flicking an ear back, thinking he'd heard something, Anwar blinked as something struck the dirt in front of his hiding spot. Then another. And another.

Rain?

In the same way that the bush he was under could only do so much for the sun, it did even less for the rain. Crawling out from under his now useless shelter, Anwar kept his motions slow so as not to draw the attention of the Water Pokemon. For the moment, they were too absorbed in celebrating the rain to notice him.

Glancing skyward, blinking back the rain that tried to blind him, Anwar couldn't tell through the now dark clouds which way the sun was rising or setting. The best he could do was make a guess, one that pointed him in the opposite direction of the frolicking Water tribe.

Tail tucked, body low, Anwar moved slowly until he could confirm none of the Big Jaw family could see him. Shaking himself, trying to throw the water off his fur, there was little point in the action when the rain just kept coming down. Trying to scent the air, all he could make out was water and mud, any other scents too obscured.

Taking off at a trot, Anwar still kept himself as small as possible, checking for shelter along the way.

A loud rumble made him drop to the ground. The sound echoed along the plains, dying out only for a sharper, sudden clap to cut over the noise of the rain. Lights danced in the sky, jagged snakes that dove under the clouds then above them, before one struck down towards the earth.

Anwar jumped and took off running.

The cascading roars and clashes of the storm with the continuous fall of rain left him half deaf to his surroundings. Some of the flashes were so bright they covered the whole area with a quick blink of white that left Anwar stumbling, his vision unable to adjust fast enough. Senses dulled, if not for the vibrations he felt through his paws, he would have been taken completely unaware.

With no immediate rocks or bushes to hide behind, Anwar once more pressed himself tightly to the ground. The dry land was only able to drink so fast, the puddle he found himself in a testament to that. With his belly to the ground, he could feel the vibrations growing stronger as whatever it was approached. Curling himself up into a tight ball, he hoped it might run by, thinking he was a rock or uninteresting lump of dirt.

The next flash stung his eyes and he shut them, waiting for the spots behind his eyelids to fade. As he opened them, he realized that the vibrations had stopped.

A large bird of some kind, bigger than any Dodrio he'd seen but with only one head, stood before him. Golden feathers as jagged as the lights in the sky jutted out around its head, wings, and tail. Black legs and feathers blended almost seamlessly into the darkness, making it almost seem like a part of the storm.

Its golden head rose higher and higher, its beak tucking down as if it'd touch its own neck as its yellowed eyes glowed in a stark contrast to the storm clouds overhead. Its beak opened and it lifted a foot, its claws almost the same color of its eyes. Anwar tensed, ready to back away, reminded of the Starly flock's sharp beak and claws. The bird lowered its foot after a moment, raking its talons along the dirt and leaving three deep scratches in the ground that soon filled with water.

It closed its beak with a clack, making a sort of clicking sound in its throat. With no warning, it sank its body down and pushed off, running. Anwar remained still, only able to watch as the golden bird streaked through the grass. The jagged lights in the sky raced after it, the roar of the storm echoing as if to encourage the lights and bird to go faster. Soon, the bird, lights, and crashes were out of sight, leaving only the pelting rain.

*****

“Hey, are you okay?"

Anwar struggled to open his eyes. After the encounter with the bird, he hadn't dared to move in case it came back or something worse showed up. He'd thought to get going, once the sun was up, but from the heat he felt along his still slightly damp fur, he'd slept through the sunrise and some of the morning.

“Yeah," he just barely croaked out, finally getting his eyes to focus.

Bright blue eyes stared back at him, the other mon's nose almost touching his.

Startling back, Anwar tucked his tail and flattened his ears. He'd never seen one but knew enough from Pappa Kgoshi that this was a Mightyena, stealer of food and harasser of Pyroars. Its shaggy brown fur and darker spots marked it as easily as if it had stepped out of one of Pappa Kgoshi's stories. Stories where, if their numbers were great enough, the Mightyena could overpower and kill a Pyroar.

And Anwar was nowhere near as strong as a Pyroar.

The Mightyena cocked its head but otherwise remained seated. Sliding another step back, Anwar hissed and spun, having bumped into something. Ears and body flattening, he let his fur arch while preparing to swipe whatever he'd bumped into.

Another Mightyena, this one larger and with eyes almost as golden as the bird's feathers from the night before, stood before him.

“What have I told you about playing with your food, Nimeesha?" the new Mightyena said, barely glancing at Anwar.

“But mooooom," the blue eyed Mightyena whined, lifting a paw towards Anwar, causing him to flinch. “Look how cute and little he is!"

The larger female drew in a similar breath to the kind Momma Makenna did when she thought he and his sisters were being a pawful. Meeting her daughter's eyes, the larger Mightyena dipped her head and looked at him.

Sinking even lower to the ground, Anwar readied himself to make a run for it when the heavy gaze of the Mightyena lifted and she went back to talking to her daughter.

“It's a Pyroar cub, Nimeesha." The Mightyena waited before sighing, not only failing to get the correct response she was looking for from her offspring but also failing to get any response besides the steady wagging of her daughter's tail and the hopeful look in her eyes. “Either kill and eat it or leave the poor thing alone."

“I'm not a cub!" Anwar said, keeping himself from hissing as he liked the second option better than the first but couldn't stand quiet at the term. “I'm old enough to hunt!"

The Mighteyna with the golden eyes dipped her muzzle down, canting her head to give a closer look before giving it a shake that ruffled her mane.

“You're unevolved," she said, in a tired tone as if it wasn't worth the breath to speak to him. “Which makes you still a cub." She huffed a breath through her nose. “Barely worth the effort for the snack you'd make."

“But he would make such an adorable little brother," Nimeesha insisted, standing on all fours and shuffling from side to side while still remaining mostly in one place. “I don't have a baby brother yet."

“You have Hidi," the Mightyena said, her tone even but with a trace of exasperation. “A younger sister is good enough."

“Hidi is practically my age," Nimeesha said, giving a series of short whimpering barks as she leaned her front half of the body on the ground, lifting her bottom high in the air and wagging her tail. “Please, mom? I'll take good care of him!"

The large Mightyena drew in a larger, deeper breath, closing her eyes. Anwa sprung forward the moment her eyes were shut, racing passed her. Only, something yanked him back. Pressure along the back of his neck made him instinctively go limp, his paws dangling in the air while he tried to process what happened.

Somehow, the large Mightyena had caught him.

Placing him down between her forepaws, the Mightyena gave a commanding growl for him to stay before releasing his scruff.

Remaining in place, head hung, Anwar did.

“I suppose he's obedient enough," the Mightyena said, lifting her head to look once more towards her daughter. “You can keep him-" A sharp bark cut off Nimeesha's eager squeals. “Until we find his pride."

Nimeesha started to protest but stopped at her mother's expression. Deciding to take her small victory and run with it, Nimeesha crawled forward on her belly, tail wagging, until she was right in front of Anwar.

“Hello again!" Nimeesha jutted her nose forward, almost bumping it into Anwar's face. “I'm Nimeesha, your big sister!" Tongue lolling, her head bobbed up. “That's our mom, Karasi, and you have another big sister, who's not as awesome as I am, called Hidi." Whole body wiggling, Nimeesha gave a high pitched whine. “We're going to have such fun!"

Anwar tried to back away from the overeager Mightyena but only managed to push himself further into the chest and belly of the larger one.

With a grumble, Karasi bent her head and picked Anwar up by the scruff again, causing him to go limp once more. Carrying him in her mouth, Karasi led the way with Nimeesha chattering on. A growl from her mother silenced her for only a moment before Nimeesha went right back to talking.

Karasi gave a huff, the air heating Anwar's neck and back. Remaining still and silent, Anwar tried to not add to the larger Mightyena's aggravation while trying to be mindful of the path they were taking and looking for places to hide once he made his escape.

*****

When Karasi finally dropped him on his bum, Anwar was disoriented. He'd been on guard, certain the Mightyena would change her mind, but the rocking and the firm grip on his scruff had eventually caused him to nod off. Sure, he'd awoken moments after, alert, but when time passed and she still hadn't killed him the rocking won out again and he'd fall back asleep. The fitfulness left him exhausted.

“We're home!" Nimeesha all but sang, rubbing her face against his before he could retaliate.

“Home" looked dry and dusty. There were no tall grasses to hide in, no large rocks to seek shelter in. There were small hills of dirt, a little taller than Karasi and twice as long, but easy to walk around and find a hiding cub. As far as he could see was flat land and more scattered mounds of dirt, with not even a tree in the far distance. There were a series of holes dug into the ground near where they'd stopped, with only scraggly weeds sparsely spread and dirt near them.

Karasi bowed her head, making a low sound that rose and fell, a sort of “whoop." She repeated the noise once more and Nimeesha bowed her head, bobbing it as she made a similar but different sound, a “woooo-p."

Standing on all fours, Anwar was almost sent tumbling when Nimeesha bumped her head against him again.

“Come on, bro!" Nimeesha said, tail wagging. “Your turn!"

Anwar looked at Karasi, the female having a slight tilt to her head and widening of her eyes that he took to mean “well?"

Deciding trying to make the noise was only slightly less bad then being eaten, Anwar mimicked the bowing of the head he'd seen the other two do before giving a “rrrawwrrr!"

Nimeesha giggled, using a paw to pat him lightly on the head. “There you go! Now, we all know who you are."

Karasi shook her head, either at her daughter or his cry, but stopped when another, lighter brown Mightyena and two slightly smaller but darker Mightyenas emerged from some of the holes.

“Hidi," Karasi said, giving a slight nod to the lighter colored Mightyena.

“That's your other sister," Nimeesha whispered, loud enough that the three new Mightyenas looked away from Karasi and turned their way.

“Sister?" one of the slightly smaller ones asked, a light growl to his words.

Without warning, Nimeesha leapt at him, snapping at his neck and face with her sharp teeth. Rather than help, Hidi and the other Mightyena scrambled out of the way of the now tumbling bodies. Only when the male was yelping and trying to escape did Nimeesha let him go, her hackles raised.

“This," she said, voice still rough, as she walked back with her head held high. “Is my brother, Anwar."

Anwar, who'd sunk low to the ground at the fighting, remained still.

“Brother?" Hidi repeated, her attention on Karasi instead of Nimeesha.

Anwar sucked in a breath, certain Nimeesha would go after her sister as she had the male but she only gave a light laugh.

“Yeah!" Circling behind him, Nimeesha shoved her nose bellow his bottom and nudged him, forcing him to either walk or tumble closer to Hidi. “Anwar was all alone so we're going to keep him."

Hidi didn't look away from her mother, waiting.

Karasi rolled her eyes.

“We're keeping him until I can locate his pride," Karasi said, stating the same words she'd said earlier as if to remind Nimeesha of that fact. When Nimeesha kept pushing Anwar forward, all but ignoring her mother as she went on about how cute he was, Karasi gave up and looked to Hidi instead. “As a cub, he will be treated as my own."

When Anwar opened his mouth to protest being called a cub, her eyes darted to him before he could make a sound. There was a short, sharp growl as her lip curled. “He is a cub because I say he's a cub." When Anwar sullenly shut his mouth, her eyes glided over to the two males, the one of whom was licking at his front paw and the other who lowered his gaze away. “Which means there will be swift repercussions should any harm come to him."

Both males nodded so hard their ears flapped.

“Yes, Matriarch," they chimed almost in unison.

Nimeesha finally stopped pushing Anwar, leaving him semi-sprawled in front of Hidi.

“Well?" she asked, bowing the lower half of her body and wagging her tail up in the air. “Isn't he the sweetest thing?"

Hidi lowered her head, giving a delicate sniff. Lifting her head, she frowned at her sister.

“He doesn't smell sweet."

Nimeesha gave a sharp bark that made Anwar's ears flick back until he'd realized it was a laugh.

“Doesn't he look sweet?" Nimeesha tried again, nudging Anwar to take a step forward.

Hidi tilted her head in much the way her mother had, staring down her muzzle at the cub.

“A berry is sweet," Hidi finally said. “He doesn't look like a berry."

The corner of Nimeesha's lips twitched. “Well, if you kind of squint and look at his head, and imagine it's blue, it kind of looks like an Oran berry."

Hidi tipped her head the opposite way, her eyes narrowing slightly before widening. “It does!"

“So…?" Nimeesha encouraged her.

“He does look sweet," Hidi agreed, her tail giving a half wag.

Anwar looked between the two sisters then to the males, both of whom were avoiding giving him the slightest hint of attention. Karasi gave a wide yawn before moving in front of the dirt mound Anwar had noticed earlier, flopping in front of it to take advantage of what shade it offered.

“Rest for now," Karasi said, her tone that of one expecting to be obeyed. “We'll hunt when the sun begins its descent."

“Come on, Anwar," Nimeesha said, reaching to grab him by the scruff. She was less experienced than her mother, though, and grabbed too high, leaving him to squirm in protest at the sharper tugging sensation. “The den is cooler."

With little choice, Anwar was carried into one of the many holes. Only, when Nimeesha put him down, Anwar found the den didn't have a back wall. Like a Patrat tunnel, it went on, heading off somewhere that he couldn't see the end of it.

Nimeesha circled him, cutting off his path for running down the tunnel but leaving the entrance open. Before Anwar could think to head out that way, Hidi shuffled in. Soon, Anwar found himself forcibly cuddled between the two larger females.

He tried to wait for them to fall asleep, thinking he could wiggle his way free then, but the relaxed beating of their hearts and the warmth of their fur made him think of his own sisters, Zola and Zura. Somewhere, between worrying over them and hoping they were okay, his earlier exhaustion caught him unaware and his thoughts turned to sweet dreams of playing with them again.

*****

The days' routines largely mirrored that of Anwar's old pride. While the clan, as they called themselves, went to hunt, either Nimeesha or Hidi would stay to watch him. At first, he'd thought it was to make sure he didn't escape but he realized it was more like cubsitting when Nimeesha would mock fight with him by butting her nose against his sides and gently mouthing at him or when Hidi would nudge him into taking short walks near the dens. Neither prevented him from wandering but they stuck close to his side when he did, always more aware of their surroundings than any little thing he did.

Slowly, he began to ask them questions. Nimeesha was always willing to talk but the answers often got caught up in a stream of words and swept away before he could gain anything from them. Hidi's answers were like paw prints, forcing him to track them step by step for the answer he sought. The two males, who's names he learned to be Abeeku and Guban, he didn't get a chance to speak to. Nimeesha and Hidi kept them away from him, even when the clan was all together, always putting their bodies between him and them. He didn't speak to Karasi, either, not since the first day. She was hardly ever at the dens and, from what he'd overheard Nimeesha saying to Hidi, her attempts at tracking down his pride were proving fruitless. With any hope, Anwar had travelled further in his escape than Karasi was willing to go in her attempts to find his pride. He wasn't sure what the new leaders would do, but he doubted they would be willing to welcome him back.

Stretching, Anwar enjoyed the heat of the sun along his back while Nimeesha rolled on the ground near one of the den entrances. While Anwar didn't know the purpose, he did find the reason the grasses were short or non-existent by the dens had to do with the way the Mightyena flopped or rolled there, tearing up or squishing whatever tried to grow.

With a final kick of her back leg, Nimeesha rolled onto her stomach, giving a shake that caused most of the dust to fall off her. With a pant, she sauntered over before plopping beside him, thankfully not blocking the sun.

“Would you like to go to the river?" Nimeesha asked, giving a wag of her tail.

Anwar thought about it. He wasn't really thirsty but there were two berry trees there that looked like they'd have ripe Orans soon.

“Okay," he said, reluctantly leaving his warm spot.

From the sound Nimeesha was making, Anwar thought she was happy with his response. While Pyroar weren't exactly quiet, Anwar found the Mightyena to be much more vocal. If they weren't barking, growling, whooping, screaming, or otherwise making noise, the odds were they were sleeping and, even then, snoring.

With a little laugh at the thought, shaking his head when Nimeesha gave a questioning tilt of her head, Anwar let her lead the way.

The river was wide but shallow, practically a flowing lake with tiny islands of tall, green grasses scattered within it. Along the shore, the same rich color grasses grew until their hues brightened into gold the further away from the water they were. There were trees but spread out, prefering to stand tall and alone or with only one other beside them. Anwar wasn't sure if the river was the Mightyenas prefered water source or their only water source but he'd yet to be taken to another.

Nimeesha turned slightly, blocking him from continuing forward as she bent her head. She gave a few sniffs, her head swaying to the right, then the left, then back again before she gave a bob, apparently satisfied with whatever she did or didn't smell.

“Last one in the water is a rotten Tropius carcass!" she barked, rushing through the grass towards the water.

Anwar had no desire to be a “rotten Tropius carcass" but even less desire to get wet, so he opted for heading towards the Oran trees, just to the right of the route Nimeesha was taking.

A loud splash signaled her victory, Nimeesha laughing as she spun around, the water barely halfway up her legs at the deepest.

“Come on, Anwar!" she raced back towards him, the water flying on either side of her. She came just short of getting out of the water, mud swirling around her paws. “It feels great!"

“No, thank you," he said, politely, as he had the last dozen or more so times she'd asked.

“Come oooooooon," she whined, bowing her front half as her back half swayed, her tail wagging hard enough to cause the grasses near it to move. “I bet there's some Stunfisk or Goldeen in here!" Nimeesha snapped her teeth, as if biting into them.

The idea of getting shocked or stung didn't really appeal to him.

“That's really okay," he answered back, stopping just in front of the first Oran tree.

Nimeesha gave a grunt but went back to her splashing, making Anwar wonder how she thought she'd find anything in the water like that. With a slight shake of his head, he stretched up on his back legs, his front paws resting on the bark of the tree as he peered upward. Between the light of the sun and the thickness of the leaves, he couldn't really see if there were any ripe fruit though he could smell the sweet scent of flowers.

Crouching down, giving a wiggle, he sprung upward, his claws scraping against the trunk as he dug them in, getting enough traction to climb.

He didn't have far to go before reaching a branch large enough to support his weight. With a slight twist, he crawled along it, pausing to peer amongst the leaves for any berry shape. A little further up, he spotted two Oran berries amidst a cluster of flowers.

Carefully turning himself around, he shimmied up the trunk, trying to keep the berries location in view. Another thick branch made it an easy walk to the two but trying to pick them proved challenging. At this height, if he pulled them off, they stood a good chance of falling and splattering on the ground. Ember could burn them free but didn't seem a particularly good choice.

With a huff, ears flattening with displeasure, Anwar decided to try chewing on the branch the berries were clinging to, thinking he could carry them down easier that way.

Stretching himself carefully outwards, sinking his claws in to help keep his balance, Anwar dug his teeth in and tried to make sure not to swallow any of the wooden pieces that broke off as he ground his teeth into one side of the branch. It was thin but still took a few moments to work this way through. When the branch snapped free, he sank the other side of his teeth into the wood, keeping it and the berries from falling.

Pulling backwards, easing his way back on to the branch, he gave a pleased flick of his tail. Making his way back to the trunk, he turned his head in such a way the berries wouldn't be bruised then gripped his nails in and slowly began to work his way back down. It took longer, going down, but his back paw finally hit the ground and he let go, safely back on all fours.

With a relieved sigh, he gently placed his prizes on the ground, trying to work the rest of the splinters out of his mouth before he started on one of the ripe berries.

A movement out of the corner of his eye made him turn, his fur bristling when he realized it wasn't Nimeesha (who was still splashing and rolling in the river). The swaying grass tricked him into looking too high, as nothing came through when it stopped moving. Once he looked down, he saw a small orange bug of some kind pushing its way past the grass. It had dark, oval-shaped eyes that were on twin orange stalks atop its head. It also had two large front legs ending in a sharp looking point and two smaller back legs with a similar styled tail.

Anwar thought it might be a Dwebble but, from what he'd been told, it was missing the rock on its back that made it identifiable. Either way, experience with the Starly left him wary of trying to attack something that looked weaker than himself.

As its eyes swayed, appearing to be looking for something, Anwar pulled one of the Oran berries off the branch. The movement or the sound caught the Pokemon's attention as its eyes swivelled to focus on him. Slowly, so as not to invite an attack, Anwar used his paw to roll the berry its way.

His fear over rolling it too hard abated when the Pokemon used one of its front limbs to stop the berry, the sharp tip halting it. The Pokemon made a series of noises that Anwar could only shake his head at, not understanding what it was saying, before the Bug made an exaggerated expression of pleasure and bobbed its head, picking up the berry and jamming it behind itself, on its tail.

Confused, Anwar just watched as it turned, going on its way and dripping berry juice after itself.

With a final small frown, Anwar gave a slight shake of his head before sinking his teeth into his Oran berry. Pulling at the branch with his paw, he got the second one free and gave a pleased growl.

Just about to lay down and enjoy himself, a sharp yelp made his head jerk.

Racing towards the sound of it and the now frantic sounds of splashing accompanying it, Anwar found Nimeesha running along the water's edge, her tail tucked beneath her. Behind her, a black Hippowdon with mud on its face bellowed.

Mouth open, showing off her blunt but huge teeth, the Hippowdon slammed her front foot down, the ground shaking as an Earthquake spread out from the impact. Nimeesha almost lost her footing but caught herself, though that little slip was enough time for the Hippowdon to catch up to her.

Lunging forward, the Hippowdon's mouth covered in flames, the Fire Fang move missed as Nimeesha darted to the side.

“I'm sorry!" she yelped, still dancing out of the way. “I didn't mean to splash you!"

The Hippowdon didn't care for the apology, sand spilling from the ports on its back, billowing outward as she snorted a Sand Attack out of her nostrils.

Nimeesha gave a pained cry, wiping at her eyes with her paw and shaking her head. In her distraction, she made a perfect target for the Hippowdon who was funneling more sand out, the granules forming into a whirlwind that encircled both of them.

Dropping his Oran berry, Anwar raced to the edge of the sandstorm. He could just make out the Hippowdon and Nimeesha's forms through the thick streams of sand, the Hippowdon still lunging for Nimeesha.

Drawing in a breath, Anwar gave a roar, trying to distract the Hippowdon away from Nimeesha. While his noble attempt did seem to make the Hippowdon distracted, her attack power dropping, she didn't stop her focus on Nimeesha.

Staying along the outer edge of the storm, Anwar gave it another try while Nimeesha answered with her own Roar. The Hippowdon took a step back, grunting, before shaking her head and charging forward, lowering her head as she slammed into Nimeesha with a Take Down.

Nimeesha was flung back, landing with a splash in the water. The Hippowdon shook herself, not entirely unscathed from her own attack, before steadying herself and stampeding forward again.

Turning his head, Anwar leapt into the storm.

The sand buffeted him, trying to blow him aside. While it hurt, Anwar pushed his way forward, placing himself between the Hippowdon and Nimeesha. While the Mightyena got herself back on her feet, Anwar let loose with a series of Ember attacks.

The first two died before hitting the Hippowdon, the sandstorm brushing them aside. The last one grazed the Hippowdon's face but did little to stop her charge.

The earth shook around him and Anwar braced for impact, closing his eyes against the pain that would be coming.

The sound of wind cut through the storm and Anwar felt the presence of another before him. Squinting, daring to open his eyes, he saw Karasi between him and the Hippowdon. Not only that but, when he turned his head, he saw Hidi beside Nimeesha, helping her up, and Abeeku and Guban on either side of Karasi.

The Hippowdon slowed her charge, stopping just a snout away from Karasi. Snorting out another puff of sand, the Hippowdon pawed the water, eying the new arrivals.

“You could, certainly," Karasi said, speaking softly, “continue this fight. But would it be worth the cost?"

The Hippowdon gave a low bellow, her head dipping down as if it would charge.

Karasi sank into a crouch, Abeeku and Guban doing the same.

A soft cry rose over the sounds of the wind and sand.

Turning its head, as if unconcerned with the Mightyena clan, the Hippowdon's ports stopped billowing sand and the storm died down. At the shoreline, berry still on its back, the little orange Bug raised a pointed tip and chattered, motioning at Anwar and the berry then to the Hippowdon.

Giving a glance at the clan, snorting a big huff of sand their way, the Hippowdon turned her back on them, walking to the shore. Bending her head down, the little orange Bug crawled up along her head, making its way along her back and into one of the larger ports. Head held high, the Hippowdon kept walking, the grass either parting or being crushed along her way as her tail flipped up in an insult to the clan behind her.

Just now realizing how very wet and sandy he was, Anwar moved towards the shore, shaking his paws as he went, when a shadow moved in front of him, blocking his path. Ears lowering, he looked up, shrinking a little when he saw it was Karasi.

“Why did you do that?" she asked, a growl along the edge of her words.

Nimeesha limped up to them, starting to say something but a cutting glance from her mother made her mouth click closed.

“I will speak to you later," Karasi said, the growl deepening, before easing up as her eyes looked back down on Anwar.

“I gave the Bug a berry so it'd be less likely to attack," Anwar answered, ashamed to meet her gaze. “Because there might have been other Bugs, like Starly have flocks."

The growling grew quieter until it ceased. The silence made him reluctantly look towards her, almost startling back when he found Karasi's face just whiskers away from his.

“No, cub," she said. “I meant, why did you stand between the Hippowdon and my daughter."

Anwar swallowed, glancing towards Nimeesha before back to Karasi.

“You had to know you stood no chance against her," Karasi's tail swung from right to left then back again, less of a wag and more of a slow stroke. “Yet you did so anyway."

“Nimeesha's been nice to me," Anwar mumbled, tucking closer into himself. “So has Hidi."

“So you would not just have done it for my clumsy daughter?" Karasi asked, her face now uncomfortably close. “But for any of the clan?"

“P-probably?" Anwar said, wanting to pull back but not wanting to insult Karasi by doing so.

The Mightyena Matriarch drew in a breath, her nose right by his cheek so that his fur fluttered on her inhale. When she pulled back, she turned her head to the shore, speaking to the clan.

“Come. Let's head back."

Waiting until she'd walked enough of a distance away, Anwar trailed behind Karasi, pausing only long enough to pick up his Oran berry from the ground. While Hidi spoke softly to Karasi, Anwar trailed back behind Abeeku and Guban, slowing his pace to walk alongside Nimeesha who was favoring her front left paw. Head hung low, Nimeesha was unusually quiet. Anwar couldn't say much, with the berry in his mouth, so he just brushed his tail lightly against her side to reassure her he was there. She gave him a tight smile before looking back ahead.

Once to the dens, the group split off. Abeeku and Guban didn't stay, instead heading back out into the grasslands. Hidi seemed as if she would stay before a slight snap in her direction from Karasi had her sending an apologetic look towards her sister and taking off after the two males.

Karasi stood, waiting for Nimeesha to cross the rest of the way to her.

Anwar kept by her side until Nimeesha turned her head, giving him a light nudge towards one of the dens.

Not wanting to leave her side but sensing he had little choice in the matter, Anwar dipped his head down. Sinking his fangs deep into the Oran berry, he cleaved it. The half in his mouth, he stubbornly worked on chewing and not choking on while moving the remaining half towards Nimeesha.

With a quiet breath of air, a whisper of a laugh, Nimeesha obliged him by scooping up the other half in her maw and chomping down on it.

Bumping her head against his in thanks, Anwar watched Nimeesha walk the rest of the way towards her mother, her front leg not appearing to trouble her as much. Anwar thought he might be able to sit and listen, so long as he sat at a distance, but Karasi's narrowed gaze had him scampering into the den. From there, he could only tell they were talking, their words too soft to make out exactly what was being said.

When their voices died down to nothing, it was Karasi and not Nimeesha who joined him in the den.

Wanting to ask what they talked about but too afraid to do so, Anwar remained silent. Karasi looked him over, from the tip of his tail to the top of his mane, her head tilted as if she'd never seen him before. When she moved closer, Anwar held absolutely still. As she stood directly in front of him, Anwar flattened himself as much as he could to the ground, looking away from her.

Warmth brushed against his side, a sudden sense of presence engulfing him. Daring to glance over, he found Karasi laying in a circle around him, her tail closing the gap by touching her nose. She said nothing, her eyelid half open as if to gauge his reaction before it shut. Her breathing began to grow slow and steady and, over time, the tension in his body slipped away.

Resting his head against her side, the rise and fall of her chest rocked him. He tried to keep his eyes open but the beating of her heart and the warmth of her body pulled him into sleep.

*****

Following the trouble with the Hippowdon, Hidi became Anwar's primary watcher. The Mightyena didn't seem to mind her increased time with him, from what Anwar could tell, but Nimeesha did. Even days after, Nimeesha lacked the energy she once had, her tail almost in a perpetual droop.

The only time she really seemed to perk up was when Anwar visited her, apparently not barred from spending time with him so long as Hidi was with them. Soon, instead of staying at the dens, Anwar and Hidi would accompany Nimeesha in her hunting. While Anwar wasn't much help with attacking, he was able to stay quiet and keep hidden and was more successful at getting to berries than the Mightyena were.

This particular day, Nimeesha and Hidi were laying in the shade of a Magost tree that Anwar had found. While he climbed up the branches, checking for fresh berries, the two kept watch.

“Anything interesting, Anwar?" Nimeesha asked, her voice having a forced sort of cheer in it.

“I think there's some berries up here," Anwar answered, having spied several round and pink looking shapes further up. “I'll let you know in a bit."

At Nimeesha's sound of acknowledgement, Anwar kept climbing, half listening to the conversation the sisters were having below him.

“Do you think Mother will have luck today?" Nimeesha asked, keeping her voice soft.

Anwar clung to the trunk, not wanting the sound of his claws to mask Hidi's answer.

“She hasn't found them so far," Hidi replied.

“But she could." Nimeesha shifted, as if she would rise. “You know how she gets. Once she starts something."

Hidi made a non-committal sound that made Nimeesha rest her head on her paws.

“I don't want her to," Nimeesha said, quiet enough that a stray breeze would have made it impossible to hear her. “I want Anwar to stay with us."

Anwar's tail flicked, a little surprised. Nimeesha was the whole reason he was with the clan and he did get that she liked him but he hadn't realized it was quite that much. Then again, Nimeesha wasn't exactly one to hide her feelings. Still, while the clan had kept him safe so far and he knew he couldn't go back to his old pride, he felt a little uncertain of staying.

“He'd probably be happier with a pride," Hidi said, keeping her tone light. “You know how the Pyroars are. The male is the leader and the females all cater to him. Not like our clans, where the males are lower ranked."

“Anwar isn't!" Nimeesha growled, loud enough that Anwar didn't have to strain his hearing to listen.

A warning glance from her sister was enough to silence her. “Only because Anwar is still a cub and mother's. Once he's grown, he'd be the same as Abeeku and Guban, probably lower because he's younger and newer to the clan."

Nimeesha's growl returned, even louder.

“I don't know why you're so upset," Hidi said, standing and shaking herself. “That's the way it is. A Pyroar male to lead the females and a Mightyena female to rule males and females." Plopping on her bottom, Hidi lifted a leg to scratch at her neck. “I'd much rather be a Mightyena, female, at any rate. Could you imagine? Only having sex with one male?"

Nimeesha's growl faltered. “Only one male?"

“Well, whichever male is leading the pride so, basically," Hidi gave a nod. “At least we can choose."

Nimeesha grew quiet, mulling that over.

“But, if Anwar is the pride leader, then he'd get all the females he'd want, you know?" Hidi went on. “So, it'd really be a good deal for him, having a pride. He wouldn't have to suck up to anyone or get stuck with only scraps. He'd have the best of everything."

“Really?" Nimeesha asked, her voice almost breaking around her words.

Hidi must have nodded because Anwar strained his hearing yet couldn't make anything out until Hidi's voice rose up.

“Hey, Anwar?"

Anwar almost lost his grip on the trunk, realizing he'd been still for too long. “Y-yes, Hidi?"

“Did you find any fruit?"

“Still looking!" he called down, scrambling upward into the branches, past the point where he could hear them talking.

When he came down with five ripe berries, Nimeesha and Hidi had changed topics to wondering when it might rain. Anwar wanted to ask about if it was true, what they'd been talking about, but he couldn't think of a way to do so without making it apparent he'd been listening the whole time.

Keeping one berry for himself, leaving the others for Nimeesha and Hidi, he bit into the side. Using his paws to hold it steady, he tugged, the skin finally breaking free. There was a lot of chewing involved but the tangy flavor made it bearable until he could swallow it and get to the white insides. Mild sweetness gushed into his mouth, mingling then vanishing the tangy taste once he swallowed.

“Anwar…?"

He stopped, about to have another bite. “Yeah?"

Nimeesha reached a paw, pulling one of the berries off the branch he'd brought down. Rolling the pink fruit one way then the other, Nimeesha stared down at it as if it was moving on its own without her help.

“I… wanted to say thank you, for helping with the Hippowdon," Nimeesha glanced up only a moment before looking back down at the berry. “And, I'm sorry. I-" She cleared her throat, quieting the almost pained growl that was starting to rise. “I should have paid better attention, to the Hippowdon... and to you."

Anwar wasn't quite sure what to say to that but he did know that he didn't like the way she still had her head hung down.

Abandoning his fruit for a moment, Anwar walked closer to her. Butting his head lightly under her chin, he helped lift her head up before rubbing his cheek against her neck. As he had with his sisters, when they were upset, Anwar began to groom her fur while giving a raspy purr. Nimeesha remained so still that Anwar almost stopped, uncertain if she liked it or if it was something he wasn't supposed to do when Nimeesha's own tongue pressed against his cheek and licked upward, dragging his fur the wrong way. Claws digging into the dirt, he managed to tolerate Nimeesha enthusiastically licking him and running his fur every which way. By the time she was done, he felt like he needed an actual bath in the river, his fur already damp enough that the water wouldn't make a difference.

Still, when after they'd finished the berries and headed back to the dens, Anwar couldn't help but smile to see Nimeesha's tail raised and wagging.

*****

The next day, it was Karasi and not Hidi who came to watch him.

Sitting just outside the den, Karasi waited for him to come out, giving a slow blink when he took a seat beside her.

“So," she started, looking from him out towards the grasslands. “I have visited every pride within a respectable distance from our dens… it seems none of them are missing a male cub."

Anwar didn't say anything.

“Yet," she went on, “I have a male cub here, so, I have to assume someone, somewhere is looking for you." When he still remained silent, her voice became softer as she turned to him. “Someone is looking for you, aren't they?"

Anwar felt his throat grow tight and he pawed at it, keeping his head down, blinking back against the stinging sensation of his eyes.

“Ah," Karasi said, her tail moving to curl around his side. “I wondered if it was something like that."

The harder he tried to keep the feelings within himself, the harder they fought to get out until he was choking on the very air he needed to breathe.

“You're okay, cub," Karasi whispered, brushing her muzzle against his cheek. “It's okay."

“It's," he sucked a breath in, the words wrenched out in a sob. “It's not okay!"

Like stones tumbling down a hill, he told Karasi about his family and the day he'd been made to flee. Sometimes, he got stuck, unable to keep going. Other times, he spoke so quickly he wasn't sure Karasi could make sense of it. He kept talking, until his throat was sore and the weight he'd carried had eased but left him fatigued.

“S-so," he said, just barely able to squeeze out the words. “There isn't a pride looking for me."

Karasi rested her head atop his, her muzzle lying along the back of his neck while he tried to slow his sniffling. She made stroking motions, smoothing his fur in a way that reminded him of his Mommas.

When he had finally calmed down, Karasi stood.

“Wait here a moment," she said, giving him a look just long enough to make sure he'd listened before dipping into one of the dens.

She was only gone a few moments, returning with something in her mouth. Placing the item on the ground before him, Anwar wasn't sure what to make of it. There was a round, gray stone with a black shell around it that was held by something similar to but not a black vine. The way it was shaped, it almost looked like it could slip over his neck.

“This was… given to us," Karasi said, placing her paw lightly on the stone. “By a Pokemon that valued their life more than this."

Anwar gave a slight nod, not sure what he was supposed to say.

“I would like to give it to you, Anwar," Karasi said. “To extend to you my protection and for you to be one with our clan."

Anwar closed his eyes, trying to subdue the stinging before he opened them and asked, voice wavering, “R-really?"

Karasi gave a slow nod, lowering her head to look into his eyes. “So long as you wear this, yes."

Anwar looked back down at the stone before giving a nod.

Karasi dipped her head, catching the not-vine in her teeth before lifting it and the stone into the air. Leaning his head forward, Karasi slipped it over his head before releasing the not-vine. The weight of the stone wasn't as heavy as he'd thought it'd be, though it did feel odd considering he was used to wearing nothing.

With a pleased rumble, Karasi touched her muzzle against his cheek.

“Welcome to the Lemala Clan."

*****

A few nights after Anwar was gifted the stone, rain rolled through the grasslands. It lacked the ferocity of the storm the Water Pokemon had summoned, merely pattering through then dispersing.

Karasi had the clan wait by the dens the morning after, giving little explanation as she took off. Nimeesha and Hidi didn't seem alarmed by Karasi's behavior so Anwar didn't worry about it until the ground had already dried and she'd still not come back. Before he could ask Hidi or Nimeesha where she'd gone, Karasi returned, the fur along her neck on end and a low growl reverberating in her throat.

“The scent markings along our territory borders isn't as strong as it needs to be," Karasi looked to Guban and Abeeku, both who ducked their heads and turned their gaze enough to not meet her stare directly. Hidi inclined her head slightly, in understanding, but didn't bow it completely. “You three and I will go and reassure anyone wandering close enough that this is our home and they are," her gaze flicked down to Anwar for a brief moment, “typically very unwelcome."

Anwar backed up a step, bumping into Nimeesha who was right behind him. Tilting his head back far enough that he could look up to her, he whispered, “They're not going to fight, are they?"

Nimeesha gave him a long lick from the back of his neck towards the top of his head, ruffling his mane the wrong way.

“Probably not," she answered, her voice cheery enough that he believed her. “So long as they're not already in or near our territory, it'll just be re-marking the boundaries, you know?"

Anwar was about to ask if that was the same way the Pyroar marked theirs when Nimeesha cocked her head, her upper ear flopping.

“Wait…" Nimeesha turned her head, her ear jumping back up right at the sudden motion. “If Hidi, Abeeku, and Guban are going with you to do that, what am I doing?"

Karasi gave a very slow blink, as if to say she didn't see why she had to spell this out but would humor Nimeesha in doing so.

“You'll be watching Anwar," Karasi said, speaking slowly. “Here. At the dens. You are not to leave." Her lip curled with each inflection until she sighed. “Except for going to the small pool." Here, her eyes narrowed. “Only. Then, right back."

Nimeesha held very still. Anwar poked her right leg gently with his paw, when she didn't move and Karasi seemed to expect some sort of response. At first, there was nothing. Just the same slack jawed expression that had slid on her face when Karasi had started speaking. Then, Nimeesha's tail began to wag and her tongue slipped out. Pulling it immediately back in, Nimeesha tried to get her tail to stop but it didn't really work, just jerked a little more sporadically.

“Yes, mom!" she finally yapped, sitting up right a little taller.

Karasi closed her eyes a moment, shaking her head, and muttered something about wondering who was watching who before giving a wordless bark that still managed to come across as a command. At it, Hidi, Abeeku, and Guban all raced off in seperate directions. Waiting just a moment to make sure her order was obeyed, Karasi spared Nimeesha one last look that told her daughter to not blow this chance before she headed off a different way.

As the four grew smaller in the distance, Nimeesha's body began to shake almost as hard as her tail. Pulling back, Anwar watched as Nimeesha gave a sudden chortle, spinning almost entirely in place before sliding into a play bow and letting her bottom wiggle in full swing with her tail.

“What should we do?" she asked, her body squirming. “Head to the pool? Stay and play?"

Anwar's ears leaned back, not sure he liked being the focus of so much barely restrained energy.

“Play what?" he asked, hoping to distract her.

Nimeesha bounced up onto all fours, half circling him. Anwar followed her movement, making sure not to let her directly behind him.

“We could play Chase," she said, tongue hanging out again. “Or Play Fight."

“Anything else?" he asked, certain he wouldn't have a chance at either of those two with Nimeesha's larger size.

“Who Can Make the Largest Dust Cloud?" she offered, stopping her circling to cock her head.

Anwar's ears flattened further in thought before lifting. “How do you play?"

Nimeesha opened her mouth in a wide grin.

“First!" she said, circling in place while twisting her head this way and that, staring at the ground. “You gotta find a good spot."

Anwar remained still but looked down as well, unsure what he was supposed to be searching for.

“Oh, there!" Nimeesha stopped her circling to gallop towards a nearly patch of earth that was mostly dirt and short shoots of brown grass and weeds. Scratching at the ground with her paw, she seemed pleased by whatever it was she saw.

Anwar followed, picking a spot just next to hers, figuring it was as good as any.

“Alright, then. Next!" Nimeesha flopped backwards, grinning and waiting for him to do the same.

Rather than throwing himself backwards, Anwar lay on his belly then rolled over, watching Nimeesha for the next step.

“Okay, so, now we roll and roll and see who can make the largest dust cloud!"

Rather than going into more details, Nimeesha began to twist and flail, rubbing her back this way and that as dust began to rise up around her. Anwar didn't see how this counted as a game but, from the pleased curl of her lips and the grunts she was making, Nimeesha was fully enjoying herself.

Reluctantly, Anwar shifted his shoulders against the ground. It felt… nice. A bit hard but not entirely unpleasant.

“You're going to have to do better than that!" Nimeesha laughed, picking up her speed and increasing the spread of her dust cloud.

With a slight growl, Anwar began to really rock his shoulders. Up and down, right and left, which made the dust around him begin to stir. It was nowhere near as impressive as Nimeesha's, though, so he began to kick out his back paws as he rocked his butt, swiping his tail around the ground for good measure. Dust began to lift, growing as he put more and more energy into his motions. When he thought he had a good size plume, he spared a glance at Nimeesha, trying to see if he was ahead.

Nimeesha's eyes were shut, likely to keep the dust out, while she grinned to herself. Her front paws were pushed out and upward, almost between her thighs. A sudden tilt of her hips nearly made her cock slap against her front paws as her back leg gave a kick. Her hindlegs spread wider as she kept rocking, her own tail beating the ground in broad swipes as it threw up the dust. Anwar tried to move faster, to make his own dust cloud larger, but Nimeesha's was at least triple the size of hi-

Anwar blinked, glancing from Nimeesha's cloud to between her legs where a cock the size of his forearm waved proudly.

Anwar tried to rationalize what he was seeing. Nimeesha was a girl and, from what he knew about from his sisters and mommas, girls didn't have cocks like he and Pappa did. Yet, the thing between her legs didn't look like a second tail, a stick, or a fifth leg so what else could it be?

He was so focused on figuring things out that Nimeesha's voice made him jump, just now realizing he'd stopped rocking.

“I win!" Nimeesha rolled over, standing up and giving herself a shake, the dust from her coat drifted down to join the impressive cloud of dirt she'd made. Panting happily, she sat and gave a laugh. “You'll have to do better than that next time, Anwar!"

Twisting to get back on all fours, Anwar found himself glancing at the still massive whatever-it-was between Nimeesha's legs.

“Nimeesha?"

“Yeah?" she asked, giving an eager whine. “Are you ready for round two already?"

“No," he said, amending his answer when her whine dropped into a whimper. “I mean, not just yet."

“Okay," she said, perking up at the implied promise of playing again soon. “What's up?"

Anwar's eyes darted down then up again. “You… are a girl, right?"

Nimeesha barked out a laugh. “Yeah. Of course I am!"

Anwar flicked his tail, not understanding. “But you have a cock?"

“Yup!" Nimeesha answered, not even taking a moment to think about the question or her response.

“You're a girl but you have a cock?" Anwar repeated.

“Yup!" she said again, bobbing her head this time before she stood on all fours, her cock still jutting impressively between her legs. “Ready to go again?"

Anwar nodded absently and jerked back, startled, when Nimeesha suddenly shouted in a rush, “Ready-set-go!" then threw herself back on the ground, stirring up all the newly settled dirt.

Anwar didn't even try to compete, still too confused as to how Nimeesha could be a girl but have a cock.

“You're not even trying, Anwar," Nimeesha whined, her wiggling slowing to a stop when she realized he wasn't playing. Putting her chin on her chest, she gave a huff. “You have to at least try."

Anwar moved closer, mindful not to step on her tail, before reaching a paw out. It really wasn't a stick, the texture smoother than bark and warm against his pads. There was no fur on it, like her tail had, and there were no pads on the end of it that would have made it a fifth foot.

Nimeesha really did have a cock.

Not only that but, with her body still for once and her tail out of the way, it also appeared that she had balls, too. A furry pair that were as speckled and spotted as her coat.

Plopping down on his butt, utterly confused, Anwar moved a paw to gently touch one of the soft pair, finding it just as real and warm under his pads as her cock had been.

“You have a cock and balls?" he questioned again, still unable to believe what his eyes and paws were telling him.

“Yeah?" Nimeesha was squinting at him, as though he were the odd one. “All girls have them."

“None of the females in my old pride did," Anwar argued, still unable to look away. “Especially not my sisters, I would have noticed!" Ignoring how large it was, it didn't look anything like his or his Pappa's. It was entirely smooth, not a single nub on it, and almost serpent like. “Is that why it looks funny? Because it's a girl cock?"

Nimeesha rolled to her side, rising into a sitting position so she could lift her leg and bend her head to take a better look.

“What do you mean?" she finally asked, pulling her head away. “It looks normal to me, same as always." Seeing his fixed gaze, she gave a grin. “I know a different game we can play, if you're tired of Who Can Make the Largest Dust Cloud already."

Anwar lifted his head, still unsure about the whole “girls having cocks" thing but willing to move on. “Okay," he answered. “What game?"

Nimeesha rose, giving a wag of her tail as she almost hopped over to him. “Mom's showed us some things we can play with the males. It'll be lots of fun, promise!"

Sitting beside him, Nimeesha lifted her hindleg, showing her cock off to Anwar.

When Anwar remained still, Nimeesha slowly began to lower her leg. “I mean," she said, her eyes looking away. “You don't have to play, if you don't want to… it just seemed like, you might be interested… since you were looking."

Figuring this might be the best way for him to figure out the differences between his cock and Nimeesha's, Anwar hesitantly took a step forward. At his movement, Nimeesha glanced back at him, a smile forming as she lifted her leg back up for him. With her coaxing, he took up a similar position to hers, only his hindquarters were by her face and his face was by hers. This close, he could smell not only her scent buried under the dust she'd rolled in but an enticingly spicy aroma that came from between her legs.

Not really knowing what else to do, he scooted himself until he was side by side with Nimeesha, his own leg lifted in mimicry of her own. Being larger, Nimeesha had to curl herself closer to him. Resting her head almost between his legs, Anwar could feel her warm breath along his own, smaller balls, and his concealed shaft.

“We don't have all day," she teased, wiggling her bottom hips in a way that made her cock jut forward towards his face.

Bringing a paw up, Anwar gave it a light bap that made her shaft jump in response.

“Nice," she said, giving a giggle. “But you won't win that way."

Resting his paw just below the head of her cock, Anwar puzzled over what to do. Deciding he might as well explore, he ran his paw lightly over her skin from the top to the bottom. While the texture was still the same, smooth, there was a large vein that ran along underneath, from the bottom almost all the way to the top, with smaller ones he couldn't feel as he ran his paw along her shaft. A small bead of moisture glistened from the tip and Anwar was certain it hadn't been there at the start.

Nimeesha, meanwhile, was still between his legs, holding still save for the movements her body made while she breathed.

“Do you want a hint?" she asked, not waiting for his answer. “I'll give you one. You could try your mouth."

Anwar flicked an ear back, unsure of that but he'd licked himself before and figured it wouldn't be all that different.

Wiggling just a smidge closer, Anwar flicked his tongue along the underside of Nimeesha's shaft, the Mightyena sucking in a breath when he did so. Her reaction was so amusing, Anwar did it again, a little harder and a little longer. Her deep groan made him flex his front paws against her belly, pleased with himself as more of the liquid squeezed from her tip. Her cock felt different under his tongue than his own did but the tastes were fairly similar, salty with a slight spice, but there was a difference he couldn't quite put his tongue on.

He was so absorbed in comparing the two flavors that he jumped when Nimeesha's tongue poured heat and wetness between his thighs. Squirming, he couldn't escape as her front paws moved around his rump, holding him steady while she kept lapping at him like he was a lake to drink from. Rather than feeling unpleasant, it was too much of a good thing, his bottom half wriggling as he mewled.

“Better keep going," she only growled around her licking. “Or I'm going to win."

The last stroke of her tongue exposed his small cock, something that was evident when she repeated the motion, catching the head of his shaft and almost dazing him with an overload of sensations.

“What cute little nubbies," she said, flicking her tongue against two of them, making his hips jerk and his cock push further out. “Is that why you thought my cock looked funny? Because I don't have any?"

“A little?" he answered, gasping when her tongue enveloped his cock, the warmth of it squeezing around him. “But more so because you have one."

Nimeesha gave an indistinguishable mumble while her muzzle lowered over both her tongue and his cock. The warmth from before was a pale comparison to the wet heat surrounding him now. When she sucked, he gave a shocked hiss through his teeth, the pressure becoming almost unbearable.

Her soft laughter, made just under her breath, reminded him that the game was still going on.

Stretching his head forward, he used his own tongue to trace along her cock but each small lick he did was met with an answering suck from her and a matching pulse of warmth along his groin. All but dazed, he recalled her words of “trying his mouth" but she was so much larger than him he doubted he could even fit her in. Still, if he did nothing he would lose so he figured he'd give it a shot.

Anwar tried his best to fit the head of her cock into his mouth. It took some doing but he just barely managed. Unfortunately, that was all he could fit.

Using his tongue to groom what it could reach, Anwar moved his paws from her belly to her cock. He couldn't get a good grip around but was able to squeeze her length between his paws, stroking it while he sucked and licked. From the way her pace faltered, Anwar thought he must either be doing really good or really bad but, since she didn't say stop, he kept going.

Anwar was just starting to get the hang of using his paws at the same time he bobbed his head when Nimeesha suddenly shifted, her cock popping out from his mouth while the air cooled his. Anwar was about to ask what was going on when she nudged him with her head, putting him fully on his back. With only a growl for a warning, Nimeesha was standing over him, her cock hanging back in front of his face.

“Nimeessshha..." Her name became a yowl as her tongue stroked him from his sack to his tip, repeating the motion again and again.

Hips rising to meet the contact, he found his mouth suddenly filled with cock as Nimeesha shoved herself down and in. All Anwar could do was focus on continuing to breathe as she rocked her hips, her cock pushed right to the back of his mouth. Lifting his head, trying not to gag, he inadvertently gave Nimeesha a clear path towards his throat. Struggling, Anwar couldn't escape from the way she held him beneath her body. He just had to adapt to breathing when she pulled back, holding his breath when she blocked his airway.

Through it all, Nimeesha matched her rhythm with her mouth on his cock. Every thrust she forced into his mouth, she enveloped him fully. Each time she pulled her shaft back from his throat, her own lips pulled up almost off his cock. Soon, Anwar welcomed the suffocating fullness her cock brought because it meant that his own would be squeezed just as tightly. It was on one such thrust that her tongue swirled in just the right way that Anwar felt the building heat near his balls clench. He tried to twist away but Nimeesha's mouth followed him and the pulse that pushed through his body also spread along her tongue.

He felt the pressure of her mouth leaving his cock, an audible smacking sound heard as Nimeesha licked her chops and swallowed. Anwar waited for her to pull her cock out of his mouth but a roll of her hips pressed her cock further into his mouth.

“I won," she said, a low whine hanging in the air. “But it's not fair, Anwar. I don't feel like I won."

Unable to speak around the fullness in his mouth, Anwar did the best he could, lapping at the sticky droplets leaking from her tip. From the moan and eager rock she gave, he figured she liked it and kept doing it. Her tail started wagging, the rhythm uneven, brushing against his belly in one of the passes as she kept trying to push more of herself in his mouth. Anwar did his best to help, moving his paws almost as if he was holding a berry in front of his mouth. Wrapped around her cock, they kept her from going too far into his mouth but had the adverse reaction of making her speed up her thrusts until she gave a sudden yelp. The abrupt stillness of her body didn't prepare Anwar at all as an almost thick and bitter warmth flooded into his mouth. He swallowed rather than choke, though some of it got on his chest fur as her softening cock slipped past his lips.

Left panting, his throat feeling slightly sore but otherwise fine, Anwar blinked up at the blue sky as Nimeesha moved off of him. Her own breath was ragged sounding, as though she'd been running, but it soon trailed into a pleased sigh as she turned and stretched.

“You did much better at this game than Who Can Make the Largest Dust Cloud," she said, giving a slow wag of her tail. “If you practice, one day, you might even beat me!"

*****

After their game, Nimeesha and Anwar headed to the small pool. Really, it was just a step above a mudhole but there was at least enough water for the two to drink before Nimeesha worked on bathing her cum out of Anwar's fur with her tongue. He'd tried to dissuade her but Nimeesha was adamant about “cleaning up her own mess" and Anwar finally just gave in and let her.

Once done, Anwar scaled up the lone berry tree by the pool and found a ripe fruit he'd never tried before. It was a light green with a taste that made him more thirsty than he was before biting into it but still held a shyly sweet aftertaste that blossomed only after he had a sip of water. He gave some to Nimeesha but, while she ate what was given to her, her expressions clearly showed she was only eating it because Anwar was sharing it with her and not because she particularly enjoyed it. Then, they obediently made their way back to the den just as the rest of the clan began to make their way in.

Hidi got back first, her “wooo-oo-p" reaching their ears before they saw her. Abeeku's “whoo-whop" and Guban's “whop-whoo" both came at about the same time with Karasi's “whoop" sounding last. Sniffing over each other, reassuring themselves the clan was all back and safe, they grouped up for an evening hunt that ended successfully with a fallen Girafarig that managed to feed the whole group successfully, even Abeeku and Guban who ate last.

With full stomachs, the clan returned back just as the sun was setting in the horizon, the trees mere silhouettes against the fading colors of the sky. Nimeesha invited Anwar to sleep with her and Hidi in one of the dens but Anwar shook his head, instead picking the largest of the dens to sleep in.

The one Karasi had already claimed for the night.

Gold eyes gleamed from the dark and Anwar paused midstep.

“Hello, cub." Karasi was laying down, her head just shy of touching the den's ceiling. “It's unusual for you to bed with me."

“I… had some questions," Anwar said, going on when Karasi inclined her head for him to continue. “Do all girls have cocks?"

A chuckle escaped Karasi, the sound oddly light compared to the Mightyenas' usual barking laughter.

“Well," she said, the mirth still hovering along her words. “I suppose you're old enough for the Pidgey and the Combees talk. Though, I'm not sure how Pyroar prides do these things…"

“The Pidgey and the Combees?" Anwar asked, uncertain where Flying or Bug types fit in to this.

“Just an expression, cub," Karasi said, a smile failing to be hidden along her muzzle. “Why don't we start at the beginning, hm?"

Anwar gave a relieved nod of his head.

“Alright." Karasi gave a soft sigh before rolling on her back. Tipping her head up, she watched him while pressing her paw onto her stomach. “I am a female, right?"

Anwar held off on nodding a moment, not sure if it was a trick question, before finally giving a single bob of his head.

“Most females, like your Litleo and Pyroars, have slits." Karasi waited for a nod from Anwr before going on, wiggling her hips slightly. “But there are some females, like us Mightyena or Poochyena, that have something more…"

“Cocks?" Anwar asked, watching as Karasi's sheath began to grow.

“Mm, not quite," she answered. “Just give me a moment, cub."

Waiting, Anwar watched as Karasi began to grow. From what he could see, she was even larger than Nimeesha. When her length was just past his forearm, she gave a soft sigh and lifted her back leg so he could see better.

“Rather than a cock, this is actually my slit or, rather, my clit."

Anwar sat hard, stuck eying what Karasi called a “slit" and trying to compare it in his mind to the females of his pride. While he'd never intentionally stared, it wasn't as if anything had been blocking the view and he'd have surely remembered anything remotely looking like that.

“You look confused," Karasi said, her golden eyes gleaming.

Anwar shook his head. “It doesn't look like any of the slits I've ever seen," he finally said.

“I'm sure a typical slit is nice," she said, though her tone sounded bored. “I think my kind's are much more fun."

“Why?" Anwar asked.

Karasi gave a lazy wag of her tail, her lips pulling up in a smile. “Watch."

At first, Anwar didn't notice anything. Then, he realized it looked as though her “slit" was shrinking back down. In a short while, there was no more giant clit and, instead, a slit that was more in line with what he knew, minus the fuzzy balls just below her opening.

“See?" she asked, not really waiting for an answer. “Best of both worlds."

Anwar thought a moment before asking, “Does that mean that Abeeku and Guban can have cubs?"

The laugh Karasi gave was more of the barking kind he was familiar with, the loud sound making him wince and press his ears down.

“Abeeku a-and Guban," she wheezed, “have cubs! HA! Wouldn't that be something!" She gave a few more barks before the sound settled into a snicker. “No, cub. We females still get pregnant, not the males."

That sounded a bit more normal to Anwar.

“So you don't have a cock but you have balls?" he went on to ask, figuring now would be the best time to do so while she was in a good mood.

“No, cub," she answered. “Not balls."

Anwar frowned, giving a low growl of frustration. “But you have two of them right there!"

Karasi made a point of glancing down. “You mean my labia?" She shifted her shoulders from the right to the left. “I guess it does kind of look like a set but," she snickered again, “in the same way Abeeku and Guban can't get pregnant, I can't get anyone with cubs." She shook her head slightly. “Wrong parts for that. I can only have cubs."

Anwar felt a small ache in his head.

One part of Karasi's lips twitched, giving her a sort of half smile. “Would it help if you tried it, Anwar?" Karasi's tail gave a light thud on the den floor. “I can guide you, if you're interested?"

The memory of Nimeesha's mouth and tongue made him squirm where he was sitting, having to admit the sensations had been more than a little pleasant. If Karasi had taught Nimeesha then it was possible she was even better than Nimeesha.

“What do I do?" Anwar asked, feeling a tingling as his sheath began to swell.

Karasi smile deepened. “Just do what I tell you, cub." At his nod, Karasi gave a pleased growl. “Come closer, Anwar."

Taking a few steps forward, he stopped just along her hindquarters.

“Good boy," she said, making him feel oddly pleased with himself for having followed such a simple order. “Now," Karasi spread her back legs wider. “You can take a closer look at my slit, if you'd like."

Anwar did so, finding her slit darker in coloring and with more “wrinkles" around it then he remembered the Pyroar females having. Other than that, though, had he not seen it fully erect, he'd have not thought the two all that different. Bending his head down, he found Karasi's scent of spice similar to that of Nimeesha's and wondered if it was because they were both Mightyena or both related.

“Would you like a taste?" Karasi asked, watching as he examined her slit.

“Should I?" he asked, wondering if her slit might suddenly grow and fill his mouth the way Nimeesha's had.

“I think you should," she said, her hips flexing. “If you want to."

Thinking things over, Anwar decided it had taken both Nimeesha and Karasi some time before their clits were fully grown and it wasn't likely Karasi's would just “shoot out" into his mouth without warning.

Feeling a bit braver, Anwar put himself between Karasi's legs, giving a light sniff once more before flicking his tongue out in much the same way he had for Nimeesha's clit. While still warm, his tongue didn't rest on the surface like it had the last time. This time, it sunk in past the wrinkles, the skin clinging loosely to his tongue before sliding off.

“Mm, see?" Karasi said. “Not so bad, right?"

Anwar agreed and licked again, the flavor less salty and more spice than Nimeesha's. When Karasi's bottom bucked, Anwar stopped, only to hear her give a low moan.

“Keep going, cub," she said, her words catching on her teeth. “Just like that but deeper."

Anwar obliged, pressing his muzzle closer to her opening, pushing his tongue further within her warmth. It was still hard to wrap his mind around the fact that this slit and the enlarged form were the same but, past a certain point, he just stopped caring about the “how it worked" and became more interested in the muffled whimpers Karasi was failing to hide from him when his tongue stroked in just the right spot.

Karasi was more restrained than Nimeesha, her body tensing but never squirming more than a twitch of her tail or a jerk of her leg. It made what little motions that got away from her more impactful and Anwar would have been content to have kept licking but a barked order made him stop.

“Good, cub," Karasi said, her words broken by a pant. “Now, why don't you try mounting me?"

Anwar had a vague idea of what she was asking of him. Careful of his claws, he moved his paws to rest just above her stomach, allowing him to pull himself on his hindlegs. His cock wasn't anywhere near as large as hers or Nimeesha's, even at full size, but where their skin was smooth his had small little nubs.

“Come on, Anwar," Karasi said, her slit wet from both Anwar's tongue and her own juices. “Slide it right in…"

Trying to watch, Anwar attempted to line up his cock with her slit. The first try had him slipping past her entrance, the second had him too far to the right side.

“It's okay, cub," Karasi said, not laughing at him this time. “Take your time. That's a good boy…"

After a few more thrusts, a wetness not unlike Nimeesha's mouth rewarded his efforts, the sensation not as tight but was almost more pleasant because of it. Without the constant suction, Anwar could take his time and not feel overwhelmed. Rocking his hips at his own leisure, he almost purred when he felt Karasi's answering thrust.

“Feeling good, Anwar?" Karasi asked, giving a low whine when Anwar sank himself as far as he could within her.

At his delayed nod she smiled, flexing her inner muscles to tighten around him. His pace became more frantic with the added tightness and she made soft sounds of encouragement.

“Just like that," she murmured, flexing herself around him once more. “Just like that, Anwar."

Their mixed scents of arousal tickled at her nose and she opened her mouth in a slow but steady pant, the air of the den warm and thick on her tongue. She could hear her body welcoming him with each thrust, wetness soaking into the fur nearest her slit. Karasi thought of needing to bathe, after, with either her tongue or his, when Anwar's hips dipped and his cock sank into her at such an angle that her vision swam.

A startled sound left her lips and she bucked in answer, trying to get him to hit the same spot. Anwar repeated the same motion but something was different and the sensation failed to happen again.

Whimpering, Karasi began to more earnestly move her body, trying to work with Anwar. He responded eagerly, matching each thrust of hers with his own, but still she couldn't get that same wave of pleasure. She tried flexing her muscles tighter around him, loosening them, timing her squeezes with his thrusts, and a few other tricks that all failed to replicate the feeling she was after.

After one such attempt, where she squeezed and thrusted, Anwar gave a soft cry, his claws just barely sinking into her fur as his tiny cock pulsed, releasing his warmth into her. Before he could even register his own climax, Karasi turned, keeping him within her as she flipped so that her body now covered his.

“Almost there," she murmured, bending her head enough to lick the top of his head.

Her thighs rocked up and down, barely keeping it slow to accommodate for the sensitivity Anwar was feeling, having just cum. Rotating her hips, Karasi tried some different angles before that same jolt of pleasure struck down her spine, making her tongue fully hang from her mouth as she gave a hearty moan.

“There it is," she said, repeating the motion and getting the same sharp bliss. “Right there…"

The feeling repeated a third time but Karasi hadn't moved. Stunned, she gasped as Anwar moved again underneath her, arching his body up and pushing his cock in just the right way that made her whimper like a pup.

“Yes," she said, rocking her body to encourage him to do it again. “Good boy, yes."

Anwar answered her by making the same motion, leaving her shivering with her tail lifted high in the air. His small hips met hers, plunging his cock in before slipping out. When he connected again, burying himself fully within her and hitting that same spot in one go, Karasi gave a howl as her building need shattered, sending relief throughout her body. Anwar's thrusts lost their rhythm as her body tightened around him, forcing him to cum with her or be left behind.

Karasi settled atop Anwar, careful to keep her full weight off of him. Their heavy breathing echoed dully in the den, Karasi catching her breath before Anwar. As his cock slipped from her body, she bent her head to nuzzle along his face, placing a few licks along his fur.

“If I knew how much fun a Litleo cub would be," she teased, “I would have adopted one sooner."

His thoughts were a bit fuzzy but Anwar found himself agreeing. Snuggling into her warmth, he surrendered to the satisfied exhaustion.