{"sf1_id":1663702,"sf2_id":"AnK2RpPm","title":"The Pits","author":"Oliver_Hart","words":9092,"posted_at":"2020-12-21T23:59:45.000Z","tags":["Amazon","Gray Wolf","Greentext","HMOFA","Muscles"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1663702-the-pits","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/AnK2RpPm","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/b2/e5/b2e5e4a7-1d3c-41a8-9dbf-5635fd83f37a","description":"Scared, but not alone, you wake up to find that you're being used as a desperate Wolf's collateral in an underground fighting ring for carnivores. To the victor: the spoils, a cash prize, and the life of both the loser and their collateral. To the loser: the butcher's knife. You better hope your champion, a fresh face she-wolf in The Pits, has what it takes to save her fur — and your skin.  \n  \n(This used to be on pastebin, but has been moved here since the purge)  \n  \nCover image is from: [https://e926.net/posts/1801474?q=Gray\\_wolf+female+muscular](https://e926.net/posts/1801474?q=Gray_wolf+female+muscular)","content":"\\\u003eThe first thing you do when you wake up in a dimly lit room that smells like copper is puke  \n\\\u003eNaturally, when you see the blood soaked into the walls, the scraps of flesh illuminated by fading bulbs, you puke a little more and try to yell, but it all comes out in a lazy slur, the force of sedatives pressing down like a weight on your entire body  \n\\\u003eThat's when the door to that tiny room opens, and the splitting headache sets in, and you see the silhouette of something freakishly large blocking out the pale light from behind  \n\\\u003eA vaguely human looking profile, with an elongated muzzle, dangling arms and toned legs  \n\\\u003eYou shrink to the back of the room, not caring if you're getting flakes of dried blood in your hair  \n\\\u003eThe silhouette steps forward, and with a gruff voice, says:  \n\\\u003e\"Please stop yelling. You're going to get me in trouble.\"  \n\\\u003eA she-wolf comes into glow of the lights, her broad, athletic body bent down over you  \n\\\u003eYou look up and see rows of glittering fangs, light yellow eyes, and gray fur towering over you  \n\\\u003eAnd that's when you start screaming again  \n“PLEASE DON'T HURT ME!\" You cry, and that only gets a paw clamped over your face  \n\\\u003e\"Be quiet! They said they don't like it when the spoils are loud…\" she growls, her voice decidedly more feminine than you would have thought given her Amazonian appearance  \n\\\u003eYou notice that she's dressed in tight fitting black spats that stretch around her narrow hips and rounded butt  \n\\\u003eHer midriff is left entirely bare, and through the shortness of her coat, you can see the ridges and crevices of a toned sixpack  \n\\\u003eHer breasts are obscured by both a well-fitted sports bra and a tuft of hair that spills over her cleavage  \n\\\u003eShe is young, and could not be older than 20 with the way she looks  \n\\\u003eYet despite all of this, you cannot help but start to tremble when she grabs you by your tattered shirt collar and begins to drag you out of the room  \n\\\u003eShe's decidely more gentle than you thought she'd be, and as you are brought into the light of the narrow hallway, things begin to click  \n\\\u003eYou know where you are, and it's not at the park anymore  \n\\\u003eYou've heard of The Pits before, but only on the news  \n\\\u003eUnderground fighting rings of anthros, where humans are used as collateral. The loser forfeits both a cash prize, and their collateral, who is usually carved up and sold on the black market  \n\\\u003eSo basically, what you are going to be, considering only carnivores participate in Pit Fights  \n\\\u003eHerbivores and humans were scrawny and good collateral  \n\\\u003e\"You know if you put up more of a fight, you might help me warm up a bit,\" she says. “It might improve my chances a bit more. Err, I mean, your chances. I'm going to be fine. I promise.\"  \n\\\u003eYou don't have it in you to speak coherently The sedative she must have hit you with at the park is still wearing off  \n\\\u003e\"Right. Sedative. Maybe I used too much,\" she says to herself as she drags you down a long, poorly lit hallway  \n\\\u003eDespite your blunted senses, more details begin to take shape  \n\\\u003eThe screams of other captives  \n\\\u003eThe pounding drum beat of what must be a decent sized crowd  \n\\\u003eThe smell of blood and wet fur  \n\\\u003eThe feel of the dirty floor against your legs  \n\\\u003eAnd… the gentleness with which she seems to be dragging you to the arena, if being dragged somewhere can be gentle  \n\\\u003eOdd  \n  \n\\\u003eShe brings you to the end of the hall, where are a pair of two-way double doors remain closed  \n\\\u003eA fox in a pair of bloody scrubs opens the door  \n\\\u003eHe cranes his wiry neck around the wolf girl's large frame and sees you helplessly splayed out on your back  \n\\\u003eLooking pleased, he retrieves a clipboard  \n\\\u003e\"Name?\"  \n\\\u003e\"For me, or for the human?\"  \n\\\u003e\"The human,\" he says  \n\\\u003eShe nudges you with the back of her leg  \n\\\u003e\"Give him your name,\" she says  \n\\\u003eYou do not speak  \n\\\u003eWhat's the point  \n\\\u003eShe nudges you again  \n\\\u003e\"Please.\"  \n\\\u003eDid she just say please after kidnapping you and using you as collateral in an illegal fighting ring?  \n\\\u003e\"Anonymous,\" you say without even thinking. “But most people call me Anon.\"  \n\\\u003eThe fox jots down your name  \n\\\u003e\"Okay, Anon… And the fighters name?\"  \n\\\u003e\"Koda Malcaine\"  \n\\\u003e\"Koda Malcaine…\" the fox clicks back. He flips over the clipboard  \n\\\u003e\"Ah, here you are! Koda Malcaine. You're new huh?\"  \n\\\u003e\"I hope that's not a problem?\" Koda replies  \n\\\u003e\"No, no, won't be a problem at all. If you'll follow me, we'll do a quick inspection of yourself and your human. Then I'll give the green light, and up you'll go!\"  \n  \n\\\u003eThe room Koda drags you into looks like a dentist's office fused witha a torture room  \n\\\u003eThere's a table full of bloody metal instruments next to a bench and two elongated chairs  \n\\\u003eYou are sat on the bench by Koda while the old fox scrambles about with rubbing alcohol and a wad of bloody bandages  \n\\\u003eKoda kneels down to your height and looks you in the eyes  \n\\\u003eHer ears go flat against her skull, and there's a look in her yellow eyes that gives you pause  \n\\\u003eIt almost looks like regret  \n\\\u003e\"Listen. I'm really sorry about this. I'll do my best, okay? If you remain calm it won't hurt a bit.\"  \n\\\u003eYou try to speak, but the old fox interrupts  \n\\\u003e\"Mrs. Malcaine? Would you please undress the meat- Err, I mean, Mr. Anon over there?\"  \n\\\u003eShe sets her jaw hard, ears going even flatter against her skull, and turns away from you  \n\\\u003eYou think you almost catch a hint of color in her cheeks  \n  \n\\\u003eSoon you're down to your underwear, made to stand, shivering the cold doctor's office, while an old fox pokes at you, takes blood samples and chit-chats with Koda, who is stretching by the exit, keeping her eyes on the door  \n\\\u003e\"So, who are you up against for your first match?\"  \n\\\u003eKoda cracks her neck  \n\\\u003e\"A tiger. Goes by the name of Shiva, God of Death, but I think that's just his ring name.\"  \n\\\u003e\"Shiva?\" The fox freezes, a needle halfway in your arm  \n\\\u003eYou want to reach out and wring him by the neck, but are afraid he'll just stab you some more in the process  \n\\\u003e\"For your first match? Wow. That's a doozy.\"  \n\\\u003eThe fox turns his neck away from Koda and up at you  \n\\\u003e\"Sorry son. Hope you've made peace with your god.\"  \n\\\u003e\"Why?\" Koda interrupts. “I'm strong. I've been training for months. And I have something to fight for.\"  \n\\\u003eThe doctor hums  \n\\\u003e\"And what's that deary? A nice bone?\"  \n\\\u003eKoda steps forward  \n\\\u003e\"No. A liter. Three brothers and three sisters back home. I've got mouths to feed.\"  \n\\\u003e\"Oh god, you're a mother? You didn't declare that on your form,\" the fox says as he wraps a bandage around your arm  \n\\\u003e\"A mother?!\" Koda goes rigid and red in the face. “N-No! I'm just the eldest! Don't foxes have tons of kits?\"  \n\\\u003e\"We do, we do.\" The fox pushes you forward. “We just make sure we can afford to.\"  \n\\\u003eYou stumble towards Koda, feet padding on the cold tile  \n\\\u003eYou collide with the wolf girl  \n\\\u003e\"Not me, though. I never married,\" he continues  \n\\\u003e\"Shame,\" Koda says sarcastically, but if he heard it, the Fox doesn't acknowledge  \n\\\u003e\"Your human is in good condition. I'm going to call up and let them know that you're ready.\"  \n\\\u003eHe presses a button on his shoddy desk  \n\\\u003eThere's a loud buzz as the door next to Koda swings open  \n\\\u003eKoda takes a few long breaths, bends down, and throws you over her shoulders  \n“Woah, wait, wait, can't I just pay you!? I have money! Please, don't do this!\" You cry  \n\\\u003eAll of this is a lie, of course  \n\\\u003eYou have approximately no money, but you hope your captor will believe you  \n\\\u003e\"Not anywhere near as much as I could make from winning this fight,\" she says, and begins ascending the stairs, with you in tow  \n  \n\\\u003eThe arena is blisteringly loud, though a lot smaller than you expected so Koda ends up carrying you into the fray slung over her shoulders like a sack of potatoes  \n\\\u003eYou're in an old warehouse near the docks, you can tell by the smell of salt and brine in the air  \n\\\u003eThere are five-tiers of bleachers assembled in a rectangle, with the center of the pit closed off by shipping containers  \n\\\u003eTwo Bears stand by the entrance to the stands, clearly guarding the upper-echelons of the pit  \n\\\u003eWhat catches your eyes is the well-dressed buck sitting isolated on a chair  \n\\\u003eHis cold eyes gloss over you without interest  \n\\\u003eTwo more black bears in suits stand at his side  \n\\\u003eKoda sets you down onto the dirty floor  \n\\\u003eYou quickly cling to her legs like a frightened child, only earning gales of laughter and approval from the crowd  \n\\\u003eIt's all anthros — and carnivores at that  \n\\\u003eYou see all manner of them in the bleachers, their faces rough and hard from a life of struggle, jaws wide and jagged with laughter  \n“Fucking shifty predators!\" You cry, despite the fact that you are currently hiding behind a rather large gray wolf who could snap you in half like a human twig  \n“This is sick!\" You look up at Koda, who peers down at you with a stone face. “You're sick, you know that!?\"  \n\\\u003eYou have to shout to be heard above the roar of the crowd  \n\\\u003eShe peels you away from her tail with relative ease  \n\\\u003e\"Again — I'm sorry, but this is something I have to do. I'll try my best.\"  \n“F-Fucking better!\" You cry, tears welling up in your eyes as the two bears drag you away from Koda and into a shipping crate with metal bars for windows  \n\\\u003eThe crate is separated in two by more metal bars  \n\\\u003eYour cratemate, as it were, is anxiously moving about, their feet tapping on the cold metal floors  \n\\\u003eYou see a golden retriever pacing back and forth on the other-side, her clothes well tarnished and coat appropriately filthy  \n\\\u003eYou didn't think that carnivores were ever used as collateral  \n\\\u003eWell, being a retriever, she probably did this willingly — stupid, loyal dogs  \n\\\u003eWhen she sees you, she presses her face into the bars  \n\\\u003e\"So, you're the meat?\" She says with a sneer. “They say human meat is the sweetest. I hope Shiva lets me have a thigh. He's such a good and kind master.\"  \n“What the fuck is wrong with you?\" You yell, still fighting off the sedatives. “We should be working on a way to get out of this!\"  \n\\\u003eThe golden laughs maniacally  \n\\\u003e\"Get out? There's no getting out of here! You best hope your fighter is any good, because Shiva's on a four-game winning streak, and I'm feeling itchy in my teeth.\"  \n\\\u003eFour-game streak?  \n\\\u003eOh god  \n\\\u003eYou're gonna get eaten  \n\\\u003eYou feel your stomach drop  \n\\\u003eAs do you  \n\\\u003eYou slump agains the bars of the window and watch as Koda jogs in place  \n\\\u003eOn the other side of the arena a tiger adorned in golden jewelry is pacing  \n\\\u003eThere is a certain elegance to his steps, a kind of calculated grace and air to his movements that gives the impression that he is light on his feet  \n\\\u003eKoda, who towers above both you and Shiva, moves more like she has tree trunks for arms and legs  \n\\\u003eShe almost did — She was pretty strong looking. Had a body carved out of granite  \n\\\u003eAnd despite her feral appearance and hardened limbs, there was also a kindness there, at least, it didn't feel like you were her slave. She seemed like she genuinely felt sorry for dragging you through all this  \n\\\u003eKoda swipes at the air, her claws searing through empty space  \n\\\u003eShe could probably cleave into a car like it were a tin can  \n\\\u003eGray wolves were, of course, the largest and strongest canine species, putting males at 7 feet, and females around 6'5\"  \n\\\u003eKoda has enough body mass to be at least 250 pounds,  \n\\\u003eAnd you'd put her at 6'10\". A freak of a woman  \n\\\u003eYet 'Shiva' looks as tall as you, putting him roughly at 6'  \n\\\u003eThis fight would be brute strength versus darting ferocity, the age old struggle between cat and dog  \n\\\u003eAnd given that Koda's never fought before (as far as you know), you're pretty sure that Shiva's darting ferocity is going to win the day  \n\\\u003eBasically, you're already preparing to be a hunk of meat  \n\\\u003eAs if she could sense your nerves, the retriever hops up and down excitedly  \n\\\u003e\"EAT HER HEART!\" She throws herself against the cage window. “EAT IT WHILE IT'S STILL BEATING!\"  \n\\\u003eSomething also tells you that your almost-cell mate isn't 'all there'  \n\\\u003eSo what kind of fighter does that make Shiva?  \n  \n\\\u003eThe buck walks into the center of the 'ring', a mic in hand  \n\\\u003e\"Welcome, ladies and gentleman, to Monday's pit match!\"  \n\\\u003eElectricity runs through the crowd  \n\\\u003eA cry goes up  \n\\\u003eYour heart clenches  \n\\\u003eKoda looks focused, but you can see her breathing hard  \n\\\u003eThat look on her face does not inspire a lot of confidence  \n\\\u003eIt's restrained nerves, whipped up into lazer focus  \n\\\u003eBut the cracks do show  \n\\\u003e\"Tonight's entertainment is brought to you by Shiva, God of Death!\" He gestures towards the tiger who raises his paws, gold chains dangling from his wrists  \n\\\u003eHis face looks like it's got more jewelry on it than the entire crowd has on their personage  \n\\\u003eThe golden next to you shrieks and sticks her arms out between the bars  \n\\\u003e\"I LOVE YOU SHIVVVVVVIAAAAA!\"  \n\\\u003eYou feel sick to your stomach  \n\\\u003eDoesn't she know she's basically being held in purgatory? The people out there would fucking eat her if they had the chance  \n\\\u003eThe buck turns and gestures at Koda  \n\\\u003e\"And his challenger, Koda, the gray wolf, hopes to end his winning streak here tonight!\"  \n\\\u003eKoda gives a small wave, and a faint cheer goes up from the crowd, some people pulling for the literal underdog  \n\\\u003eShe breathes deep and focuses her attention on her opponent  \n  \n\\\u003eThe buck retreats up the stairs  \n\\\u003e\"At the sound of the bell, you will begin. The fight will not end until either one of you forfeits, or is dead,\" he says. “Now…\"  \n\\\u003e\\*DING\\*  \n\\\u003e\"LET'S SEE SOME BLOOD!\"  \n  \n\\\u003eShiva hits the ground on all fours, bounding forward with unbelievable feral speed  \n\\\u003eKoda barely has time to brace her arms across her body as the tiger opens his arms wide and bares his claws, tackling the wolf  \n\\\u003ePhased, but sturdy, Koda pushes hard with her shoulder and knocks Shiva in the chin, stunning him and sending him stumbling backwards onto two feet  \n\\\u003eYou wrap two hands anxiously around the bars  \n\\\u003eThat was a good first move on Koda's part — She gained some distance and even got a sizeable hit in  \n\\\u003eBut Shiva's speed and ferociousness have you worried  \n\\\u003eYou're not the only one  \n\\\u003eThe retriever throws herself at the small port  \n\\\u003e\"GOD SHIVA GET HER OVER HERE I'LL DRINK HER BLOOD FOR YOU!\" She screams  \n\\\u003eYou step away from the bars separating you from her side of the container  \n\\\u003eShould you cheer?  \n\\\u003eI mean, Koda did kidnap you  \n\\\u003eYou keep your enthusiasm to yourself and turn your focus back on to the match  \n  \n\\\u003e\"Sly, sly wolf. You are big, but you have an buffalo's grace,\" Shiva growls, spitting blood from his maw.  \n\\\u003e\"How like a tiger,\" Koda scowls. “All talk of pride, bur no bite.\"  \n\\\u003eShe follows up with a swipe with her claws, but Shiva is quickly out of her reach, dancing easily out of distance on two feet  \n\\\u003eKoda steps forward, trying again, swinging her massive forearms in from the sides like the jaws of a steel trap  \n\\\u003eThe tiger ducks beneath the swipes, coils his body, and launches his hands upwards, black claws extended like five little daggers  \n\\\u003eThey find Koda's exposed midsection with swift aggression  \n\\\u003eShiva let's loose a satisfied growl and digs in with his claws, squeezing as much sinew and muscle as he can  \n\\\u003eKoda yelps like he'd just stepped on her tail  \n\\\u003eShe bends forward to the demands of the tiger's puncturing push until she is practically shadowing the feline's body, crooked with pain  \n\\\u003eYou watch in horror as drops of blood splatter beneath her  \n\\\u003eThe crowd screams for more, like addicts chasing a fix  \n“FUCK!\" You shout, banging on the walls of the crate  \n\\\u003eYour fists pound metal  \n\\\u003eHow could she loose so easily!? SHE'S ALMOST A FOOT TALLER THAN THIS GUY!  \n\\\u003eShiva stamps his feet down and pushes up, bending Koda inward into a crescent shape  \n\\\u003eThe wolf yelps even louder, squealing as her feet dig into the floor  \n\\\u003eYou can see the sheer anguish on her face, the way her eyes are squeezed shut, how her mouth is open in a silent scream  \n\\\u003eThe crowd falls over itself with excitement  \n\\\u003eSomeone calls out to Shiva to 'KILL THAT BITCH!'  \n\\\u003eSurprisingly it's not your cratemate  \n\\\u003eShe's gnawing at the bars that separate you two  \n\\\u003eThis is not getting off to a good start  \n\\\u003eShiva smirks and digs in to her stomach even harder  \n\\\u003eYour eyes slam shut  \n\\\u003eYou can't watch what happens next  \n  \n\\\u003eCollectively, the meat-starved crowd gasps  \n\\\u003eAnd then break into uproarious cheers  \n\\\u003eYou peek out between squinted eyelids to see Koda wrapping her hands around Shiva's midsection  \n\\\u003eThe wolf grits her teeth, digs in deep, and begins pounding into the tiger with her formidable legs  \n\\\u003eHer knees make contact with Shiva's chest  \n\\\u003eA few blows and the tiger uncoils, crumpling like a forgotten marionette  \n\\\u003eIn the fire between heartbeats, Shiva skitters away just as the wolf stomps at where his head used to rest  \n\\\u003eKoda returns the gesture by stumbling backwards with a hand across her bleeding abdomen  \n\\\u003eAny distance she can put between her and the tiger is welcome  \n\\\u003eShe lifts her hand, and you can see four gashes leaking blood into her fur  \n\\\u003eIt makes you physically clasp your own midsection in sympathy  \n\\\u003eCoughing, still sucking air back into his lungs, Shiva stands back on to two feet  \n\\\u003e\"You are too large for your own good. Too much to rip into!\" He coughs, still recovering from the beating he'd been dealt  \n\\\u003eIt sounds like Koda's knee strikes knocked the wind completely out of him  \n\\\u003eYou try to focus on Koda and keep your eyes off the retriever who keeps trying to grab at you through the bars  \n\\\u003eShe wipes the blood onto her thigh  \n\\\u003e\"Keep talking, stripes. Keep talking!\" She starts forward with a limp  \n\\\u003eThe crowd roars  \n  \n\\\u003eA pair of claws rip at your skin  \n\\\u003eYou shriek for someone  \n\\\u003eShe can almost reach you in the crate, even backed against the opposite wall  \n\\\u003eLike a cornered rat  \n\\\u003eThe golden, now frothing at the mouth, draws back  \n\\\u003e\"See, when I get a hold of you, I'm gonna bite your ears off first and drink- hehehe- drink your ear blood first! I'm gonna drink your ear blood!\" she leaps at the bars  \n\\\u003eHer bloodshot eyes go wide with excitement  \n\\\u003eFoam drips from her mouth like a fountain as she speaks,  \n\\\u003e\"JUST COME A LITTLE CLOSER YOU SKINFUCK!\"  \n\\\u003eHoly shit  \n\\\u003eShe's rabid  \n\\\u003eThings have just gone from bad to worse  \n\\\u003eYou flatten your body against the back of the crate and try to sneak glances out the windows while keeping out of her reach  \n  \n\\\u003eYou can see Koda has easily cleared the distance between her and Shiva  \n\\\u003eAnd now Shiva, with air back in his lungs, is on the offensive, bending his body with a distinct anger  \n\\\u003eThe last thing you see before you clamp your eyes shut is the tiger going airborne, his arms wide, claws extended  \n\\\u003eWhen they open, they open to a roaring crowd and a distracted retriever   \n\\\u003eKoda has the tiger suspended in the air by his midsection  \n\\\u003eThey look like two ballerinas frozen in an Olympic pose  \n\\\u003eBut you can see Shiva's arms wheeling around, grasping for any part of Koda's face  \n\\\u003eWhich she keeps just barely out of reach  \n\\\u003e\"SET ME DOWN AND FIGHT ME LIKE A PREDATOR!\"  \n\\\u003eIn one swift motion, she cocks her arms back, and hurls the tiger against the wall of a rusted shipping container  \n\\\u003eA blur of orange and black gracelessly smacks into the metal walls of the pit with the thunderous roar of the crowd drowns out the sound of bone colliding with metal  \n\\\u003e\"NO! NO!\" The retriever hurls herself against the windows again as if she could squeeze out between the bars  \n\\\u003eYou hear someone banging on top of the crate, and then a bear opens the door on your side, a large club in his hands  \n\\\u003e\"Shut the fuck up in there! I can barely hear the boss with you yammering and yipping.\"  \n\\\u003eYou could run  \n\\\u003eOr, at least you think you might be able to. The Bear is bulky, strong, but perhaps slower than you  \n\\\u003eThat's not to say someone else wouldn't try to run you down  \n\\\u003eThe crow begins chanting something in sickening repetition, their voices swelling together to a violent crescendo  \n\\\u003e\"STAND! STAND! STAND! STAND!\" They cry  \n\\\u003eThe guard looks through the bars, following your eyes  \n\\\u003eShiva is shaking back on to his feet, body swaying slightly with the dazing blow  \n\\\u003eYou catch a glint of light in his eyes — a flash of humiliation blended with rage into a fine, hollow point  \n\\\u003eKoda inches backwards, drawing up a fighter's stance and bouncing — as best she can — on her feet  \n\\\u003e\"STAND!\" The crowd continues, their echoes chasing one another  \n\\\u003eThe tiger starts forward, his arms loose at his sides  \n\\\u003eKoda inches backwards bit by bit, raising her fists in front of her face, no longer clutching at the stripes of blood in her abdomen  \n\\\u003eShiva does not bound forward  \n\\\u003eHis steps grow bolder and more firm, and the look of rage more and more pronounced on his gnarled, shimmering face  \n\\\u003eKoda plants her right foot forward and throws her body into a solid strike, just as she'd likely been taught to do by some boxer  \n\\\u003eHer right fist coils up and explodes forward  \n\\\u003eYet Shiva ducks his shoulder with an unanticipated grace  \n\\\u003eThe strike goes wide into empty space  \n\\\u003eThe tiger fires back at her bent figure with a blow of his own — A tightened fist that explodes across Koda's jaw with such force that the gray wolf, of nearly 7 feet, stumbles backwards, her soul knocked temporarily from her body  \n\\\u003eThere's a spray of blood that goes up like a scattering of rubies into the heat of the arena's generator-powered light fixtures  \n\\\u003eKoda waddles backwards, consciously or unconsciously, but the tiger keeps his pace, matching her stunned steps with powerful strides of his own  \n\\\u003e\"You are large, she-wolf, but you are clumsy! I tell you this: You are more space to hit!\"  \n\\\u003eHis right leg bends outwards and swings with blazing speed at Koda's midsection  \n\\\u003eThe strike barely misses the softness of her hips, and instead cracks upon her upper thigh, forcing the wolf to bend and yelp with the shock of pain  \n  \n\\\u003e\"DRINK HER BLOOD! DRINK HER BLOOD! DRINK HER SOUL!\" The retriever cries, shaking the bars with emaciated strength  \n“Look at her!\" You try to get the guard to see the vulgar displays of the dog next to you  \n“She's clearly rabid. Look at how she's frothing at the mouth!\"  \n\\\u003e\"She can't be rabid,\" the guard says with a clipped and stern voice. “The doctor would have caught her early on. And besides, entering rabid spoils goes against the rules. Shiva's not stupid.\"  \n“Exactly! She's insane!\" You cry  \n\\\u003eThe bear shakes his head  \n\\\u003e\"Just keep it down in here, or I'll give you something to yell about.\"  \n\\\u003eYOU STUPID FUCKING IDIOT!   \n\\\u003e…Is what you want to say  \n\\\u003eYou are going to have to show this thickheaded moron that Shiva's been using a rabid dog as his collateral  \n\\\u003eFor your own safety  \n\\\u003eYou sneak a quick look out the bars at the fight  \n\\\u003eShiva is blasting Koda with clean punches, and though the wolf is blocking at least half of them, you can see she's losing ground quick  \n\\\u003eIt's a good thing she's built like a tank  \n\\\u003e…Though maybe she could use a bit of intervention  \n\\\u003eThe guard moves to make his leave  \n\\\u003eYou grab at the tail of his jacket  \n“Wait,\" you beg. “Watch this.\"  \n\\\u003eYou steel yourself and peel away from the back of the crate while the guard looks on impatiently  \n\\\u003eSlowly, you approach the bars that separate you from the golden retriever  \n\\\u003eShe doesn't take notice. Her focus is locked on the fight, watching with slavering hunger as Shiva pummels his opponent into submission  \n\\\u003eYou extend a finger through the bars  \n\\\u003eAll notions of specisim and racism go out the window  \n\\\u003eForming a tight 'O' with your lips, you push out a piercing whistle  \n\\\u003eBoth the bear and the dog clamp their paws over their sensitive ears  \n“Herrrreee girl, got a nice snack for you!\" You say, pushing your arm through the bars even further  \n\\\u003eThis was worse than teasing a bear trap  \n\\\u003eWhy are you even doing this?  \n\\\u003eThe retriever looks over at the source of the noise, and seeing your hand there, almost instantly she snaps towards the bars  \n\\\u003eBefore you can retract your bait, her hands shoot out and clamp around your thin arms, her unkempt claws swiftly digging into your tender flesh and pulling it taut  \n\\\u003e\"MINE! MINE! MINE!\" She shrieks, scraping at your skin as you try to pull aways  \n\\\u003eThe guard steps forward into the cage, but he's not fast enough  \n\\\u003eThe golden brings her neck around and unhinges her jaws, froth and foam spilling from the corners of her lips onto the floor—  \n\\\u003eOh fuck  \n\\\u003eYou yank back hard but she's too close to evade  \n\\\u003eFuck fuck fuck fuck  \n\\\u003eShe's going to give you rabies  \n\\\u003eWhy did you decide to do this!?  \n\\\u003eSHE'S NOT GOING TO IRABIATE YOU, GOD DAMNIT  \n\\\u003eWithout even thinking your other arm explodes forward like a bullet from a gun, threading between the bars with a fist at its tip  \n\\\u003eYour clenched fist crashes right into the retrievers snout, knocking her free in a spray of snot and hot blood  \n\\\u003eShe yelps and squeals as she stumbles backwards, crimson pouring from her nose  \n\\\u003eThe canine barely hesitates  \n\\\u003eShe lunges at the bars again, snarling like a wild beast, a testament to the true power rabies can command over a person  \n\\\u003eYou fall backwards onto your ass, hand throbbing in pain from where you blasted your opponent in the face  \n\\\u003eShe claws at you wildly, but you tuck your legs against your body and slide backwards up against the feet of the guard, who takes a giant step backwards in shock  \n\\\u003e\"Holy Jesus, you weren't kidding!\" He says  \n\\\u003eYou want to tell him 'I told you so, you fat fucking lummox,' but the sheer terror of the moment keeps your jaw screwed shut  \n\\\u003eYou only have one thing on your mind — Freedom  \n“So does this mean the match is over? We win right? Because Shiva's collateral is spoiled. Right? RIGHT?? THE FIGHT IS OVER….RIGHT!?\"  \n\\\u003eThe guard scratches his head like a useless fucking idiot  \n\\\u003e\"I- I have no idea. I need to go check with the boss.\"  \n\\\u003eHe turns on his heels and huffs away, his heavy feet pounding into dusty floors  \n\\\u003eYou freeze  \n\\\u003eThe fight is going badly  \n\\\u003eThat nutso doggo is trying (and succeeding) to force her body in between the bars  \n\\\u003eBut there is a silver lining in all of this:  \n\\\u003eThe guard left the door open  \n\\\u003eYou glance behind you out the door  \n\\\u003eIt's tempting, that portal to freedom, that trail of inevitable tears  \n\\\u003eYou might not get far, but it'll get you away from this insane dog-girl  \n\\\u003eWhich is enough  \n\\\u003e\"I'M GONNA — \\*huff\\* I'M GONNA WEAR YOUR FACE LIKE A MASK AND DANCE IN YOUR SHOES HAHAH!\"   \n\\\u003eWell, that's enough reason to take a running start…  \n  \n\\\u003eYou burst forth into the cleansing light of generators, feeling freedom kiss your skin like-  \n\\\u003eSomeone's drink spills on your head, soaking through your clothes  \n\\\u003eIt's sticky and smells like bread  \n\\\u003eFUCK, It's not even good beer, it's stadium piss-beer  \n\\\u003eYou just keep running, eyes darting around for an exit  \n\\\u003eUntil you realize something that you should have realized a long time ago:  \n\\\u003eYou either need to cut through the bleachers to get out…  \n\\\u003eOr across the stadium  \n  \n\\\u003eThe fight was not going well for Koda  \n\\\u003eYeah, she'd beaten on Shiva like a redheaded stepchild earlier, but now SHE was the redheaded stepchild  \n\\\u003eShe squeals like a hurt pup as Shiva's leg collides with her thigh with lightning force  \n\\\u003eSo this…is the power of a feline  \n\\\u003eKoda bends her leg to brace herself, her mind frayed from the explosion of bone shattering pain now arching through her body like electricity  \n\\\u003eThis movement turns out to be a mistake  \n\\\u003eThe second her right knee hits the ground, her opponent smirks, clenches his right fist tight, and swings for the fences at towards Koda's face  \n\\\u003eThe blow again catches her on the side her mouth, but this time it brings the tanky-wolf down entirely  \n\\\u003eThere's a slight yelp of pain from Koda — Some desperate bodily reaction to the intense pain that are Shiva's fists  \n\\\u003eAnd then her vision was vertical  \n\\\u003eThe towering wolf lay on her side, drawing rasping breaths, fighting back the darkness in her vision  \n\\\u003eHer body shook like she was a fevered pup  \n\\\u003eShe certainly felt as weak as one right now  \n\\\u003eShe could take a lot of punishment, but this was beyond her  \n\\\u003eCuriously all she thought about was how she'd failed her human  \n\\\u003eShe had reluctantly captured him in an attempt to feed her family, but she knew it was wrong, no matter how she sliced it  \n\\\u003eAnd now he was about to be a slab of meat  \n\\\u003eAll because of her  \n\\\u003eShiva turns the wolf on her back and straddles her chest, a bloody, toothy smile across his face  \n\\\u003e\"You are tired, very tired. I see that now. Pretty face. Shame it is such a weak face too. And a weak body.\"  \n\\\u003eHis hands tighten around her throat  \n\\\u003eShe feels an intense pressure against her neck — in particular, her jugular vein  \n\\\u003eShiva presses a single claw against her pulsing neck  \n\\\u003eWith just a little bit of pressure, he could slice it open and bleed her out — right in front of everyone  \n\\\u003eHe bides his time, savoring his victory  \n\\\u003e\"Perhaps there is a deal to be made here, hmm?\" He says  \n\\\u003eKoda coughs, his hands around her throat  \n\\\u003e\"A deal?\"  \n\\\u003e\"Yes, a deal. You forfeit this match. I take your human. But you get to keep… say… 20% of the winnings. And you come back to my locker after this fight, hmm?\"  \n\\\u003eHe releases his grasp on her throat, still holding his claw against her jugular  \n\\\u003eHis free hand trails down to the plume of fur that covers her sculpted chest  \n\\\u003e\"And when we are there — You will show me what is underneath this. What say you?\"  \n\\\u003eThe wolf stymies a snarl  \n\\\u003e\"I am showing you mercy. Accidents do happen in this business, and I know that the commissioner will be willing to look the other way if I cut your throat right here. I bring animals through the doors and put money into his pockets. You are just a stupid, dumb, bitch, in much too over her head. Your life means nothing to me. Be thankful that I stayed my hand.\"  \n\\\u003eShe hesitates  \n\\\u003e\"And Anon? What will become of him?\"  \n\\\u003e\"Who?\" Shiva asks  \n\\\u003e\"Err, my human. What will you do with my human if I lose?\" Koda replies  \n\\\u003eShiva cocks his head in confusion  \n\\\u003eWhy would a predator care for her prey like so?  \n\\\u003e\"Your meat? I will find a suitable buyer for him. A butcher in Shax District. They are worth less than other meats to me. Human is tough and provides little medicinal use.\"  \n\\\u003eKoda scowls  \n\\\u003eA million thoughts race through her staggered mind  \n\\\u003eMostly those of Anon and her family  \n\\\u003eThe only two things that really matter  \n\\\u003e20% of the winnings isn't enough. But it would help tremendously  \n\\\u003eAnd what's a little shame for feeding her family? She already kidnapped an innocent human for their needs — why should some harmless sex be any different  \n\\\u003eThe thought presses heat into her cheeks and shame into mind  \n\\\u003eGod, now of all times her body is choosing to feel embarrassed? Why? She's had a million shameful moments in her life — Being impoverished, turned down for jobs, called snap jaw, fang mouth, pred by respectable employers — any number of these moments should have elicited waves of shock and embarrassment to this degree  \n\\\u003ePerhaps the missing variable is that now there's an innocent's life in the balance, and that she's on her back, a razor-sharp claw pinching the thickest of veins  \n\\\u003eThe impatient stirring of the crowd rouses her captor's attention  \n\\\u003e\"Do you hear that, howler? It is time to pick. Or I shall pick for you.\"  \n\\\u003eKoda clears her throat as best as she can, her mind no longer processing things with any clarity  \n\\\u003eOnly panic  \n\\\u003eIdeas and words surge forward and take shape on her tongue  \n\\\u003eNo matter what they are, she tells herself, he will win  \n\\\u003eHer brain is running in two opposite directions  \n\\\u003e\"The human is innocent. If- If you promise to let him free, I will do anything you ask.\"  \n\\\u003eThe tiger laughs  \n\\\u003e\"So you are soft on the hairless one.\"  \n\\\u003eAgain color flooded her cheeks, peeking through the mat of sweaty gray fur  \n\\\u003e\"No, I am not soft or sweet on the human. I simply feel guilty for having taken him and then losing to someone like you. Striped rat.\"  \n\\\u003eAgain the tiger laughs as he withdraws his claw from Koda's throbbing vein  \n\\\u003e\"It was inevitable, darling. I have not lost to a howler once, and I do not intend to. All I intend to discover is who the apex predator is. And today, I have learned what species sits beneath me,\" he says with a satisfied snarl  \n\\\u003eThe gray wolf suppresses a growl, her legs anxiously stirring beneath her. It takes a considerable amount of effort not to draw her legs around his body and capture him  \n\\\u003eBut she is a woman of integrity — if she could help it. She agreed to the deal, and intends to follow through with it  \n\\\u003e\"Now, I will stand up. You will do the same. And when we are both standing, you will raise your hand to the commissioner and declare your worth.\"  \n\\\u003eThe tiger dismounts her and stood up on shaking legs, a victorious smirk played out across his face  \n\\\u003eKoda follows suit, eyes never leaving his, glaring with such hatred that she might have been able to stop his heart with enough effort  \n\\\u003eHer hand slowly goes up  \n\\\u003eHer heart sinks in her chest, deflating with each stomp of the crowd's anxious feet  \n\\\u003eHer mouth falls open, and the words start to assemble themselves  \n\\\u003eSomeone is shouting something  \n  \n\\\u003eYou are past the point of reasoning with the guards  \n\\\u003eIn fact the minute they saw you at the bottom of the bleachers, they started shouting and drawing their clubs  \n\\\u003eAnd then you heard a familiar shrieking and saw a flash of golden-yellow fur streaking towards you, a comet's tail of foam and froth pulling behind her mouth  \n\\\u003eShe must have finally squeezed her body through the bars…  \n\\\u003e…Without any of her clothes on, for some reason  \n\\\u003eThe only logical course of action you were left with was to run  \n\\\u003eAnd so now run, to the only place you think you might be safe  \n\\\u003eInto the center of the pit  \n“KODAAA! KODAAAAA!!!! HELP!\" You shriek, the words torn from your throat as you struggle to overpower the crowd's confused howls  \n“Oh God help! She's rabid! Somebody get this crazy bitch away from me!\"  \n\\\u003eYou plot an immediate course towards the towering figure that is Koda, hoping that she'll perhaps sweep you off your feet and keep you out of reach from that psychotic retriever  \n\\\u003eYou glance back behind you  \n\\\u003eThe retriever is gaining ground, her tail excitedly wagging at the prospect of a chase  \n\\\u003eAnd directly behind her two Bear's hoof it, clubs drawn  \n“KODA!\" You call again  \n\\\u003eThe wolf turns her head  \n\\\u003eHer jaw drops  \n\\\u003e\"Anon?\" She says  \n\\\u003eYou don' even know why, but you throw yourself at her, leaping towards her soaring figure  \nYou cling to her mid-section like a squirrel (despite being only a near-foot shorter than her) and clamber, not caring if you're crawling over her boobs or not  \n\\\u003eShe pries you and holds you above the retriever  \n\\\u003eShiva looks just as confused as she is  \n\\\u003eAnd then rage swells within him  \n\\\u003e\"What is the meaning of this!?\" He cries  \n\\\u003eThe guards, seeing you in Koda's hands and the retriever jumping and clawing at empty air, take a few steps back  \n\\\u003eThe crowd starts to boo  \n“SHE'S RABID!\" You jab a finger at the golden, who snaps madly at it. “SHE'S RABID AND WANTS TO WEAR MY SKIN LIKE A HALLOWEEN MASK!\"  \n\\\u003eHaving come to some kind of decision, the two bear's lunge forward and subdue the retriever, holding her away with some considerable effort by pulling her arms back   \n\\\u003eThe rabid dog is single-minded, however, and strives only to consume your delicious face  \n  \n\\\u003e\"Is this true?\" A voice booms on the mic  \n\\\u003eThe buck is down in the pit, the microphone in his had  \n\\\u003eThere's a strange glint in his eye  \n\\\u003eYour heart sinks when you see him barely restraining a smile  \n\\\u003eThis can't be good  \n\\\u003e\"Shiva, if what this human says is true, then this is a serious infraction.\"  \n\\\u003eThe crowd boos Shiva's name  \n\\\u003eHe silences them with a raised hoof  \n\\\u003e\"But, you did defeat your opponent in single combat. And that does stand.\"  \n\\\u003eThe tiger starts forward  \n\\\u003e\"Commissioner, I- I assure you, this is a mistake-“  \n\\\u003eThe commissioner silences Shiva  \n\\\u003eThe tiger stops in his tracks, his jaw screwing shut with unbelievable speed  \n\\\u003eFor a small buck, he wields impressive character and power  \n\\\u003e\"Your victory here, and over the past four matches, with your…spoiled…entry, are suspect. But I am a reasonable man. And our wonderful audience deserves a good show, am I right?\"  \n\\\u003eAt those words the audience explodes, whipped up into a frenzy, shaking their seats and threatening their integrity  \n\\\u003eThe buck smiles, intensely satisfied at how willing his crowd is  \n\\\u003e\"So, in the spirit of fairness, I will rescind your victory here tonight, and you will face your challenger now in a five minute death-match.\"  \n\\\u003eKoda's jaw drops  \n\\\u003eThe buck continues  \n\\\u003e\"And to the winner - The spoils. To the loser: shame. And should the victor decide it: Death.\"  \n\\\u003eYou can't hear yourself think over the din and noise  \n\\\u003eShiva is swearing profusely, or at least you think he is, given how fast his mouth is moving and how hard he's stomping the ground  \n\\\u003eKoda sets you down gingerly, and lowers herself to eye level  \n\\\u003e\"Anon…\" she says, drawing in close so she can be heard  \n\\\u003e\"Please, forgive me for everything.\"  \n\\\u003eYou don't know what to say  \n\\\u003eSo you say nothing  \n\\\u003eYou just nod your head and listen to her speak, her voice drifting from her tired body like the trickle of a stream  \n\\\u003e\"I promise I will make this up to you. I won't let you down.\"  \n  \n\\\u003eYou are seated beside the commissioner, two guards at your flanks  \n\\\u003eThe retriever is back in the shipping crate, guarded by an additional guard  \n\\\u003eYou can see her shape crawling anxiously on the ground from between the barred windows  \n\\\u003eShiva and Koda are at opposite sides of the arena, pacing like they themselves were caged  \n\\\u003eShiva looks positively furious, his face twisted up into a horrible scowl  \n\\\u003eKoda's face is hard and determined, her jaw set and eyes locked on her opponent  \n\\\u003eThe commissioner raises the microphone to his mouth  \n\\\u003e\"The sound of the bell will begin the fight. And the sound of the bell will end the fight. You will have five minutes to decide who is the winner. In the event that your duel comes to a draw, you will both forfeit your prizes and your collateral. Nothing is off-limits. Your time begins…\"  \n\\\u003eA bell clangs over the loudspeakers  \n\\\u003e\"NOW!\"  \n  \n\\\u003eLike last time, the match begins with Shiva in a dead sprint on all fours, building tension and energy in his hind legs  \n\\\u003eKoda remains rooted in place  \n\\\u003eYou dig your nails into the seat as you watch Shiva cover the short distance between himself and your champion  \n\\\u003eHe digs in deep and pounces, letting slip a horrible, crowd hushing roar, his arms extended to rend flesh from bone  \n\\\u003eThe gray wolf extends her own wingspan  \n\\\u003eLeans backwards  \n\\\u003eBends her knees  \n\\\u003eWraps her arms around Shiva's misplaced abdomen  \n\\\u003eAnd allows the tiger's explosive momentum to carry her backwards into a tight roll  \n\\\u003eEven you start cheering when you witness this feat — this blur of gray and orange melding together, until the orange separates from the gray and goes flying into the wall at the back end of the arena  \n\\\u003eThere's a loud crash as Shiva's body collides into the raw metal  \n\\\u003eHe struggles to gain footing, his legs slipping out from beneath him, trembling with a cocktail of adrenaline and pain  \n\\\u003eKoda, however, is quickly on her own feet, sprinting with a certain kind of violence in her stride  \n\\\u003eThat violence is rebuffed by Shiva, who lunges desperately at her from a sitting position  \n\\\u003eThe two catch each other, their fingers lacing together, arms outstretched, muscles bulging with the strain and weight of another  \n\\\u003eThe tiger begins sliding backwards, though he still keeps Koda at arm's length  \n\\\u003eThe wolf grunts and growls, and digs her legs into the earth, pounding forward as if she were struggling through high-waisted snow  \n\\\u003e\"Consider my offer expired!\" Shiva cries. “When your body is spent, and your life extinguished, I will not sell your human. NO! I will skin him alive!\"  \n\\\u003eThe tiger's eye's clamp shut  \n\\\u003eHe sets his jaw and grits his teeth in strain  \n\\\u003e\"You…\" Koda says on a gasp of air  \n\\\u003e\"…Talk too much.\" She throws her arms up and to the side  \n\\\u003eShiva's arms go wide as well, and then slacken against his exhausted body  \n\\\u003eIt all seems to happen in slow motion  \n\\\u003eKoda's right arm goes back, muscles rippling with adrenaline stoked strength  \n\\\u003eA fine mist of sweat goes up into the heat of the lights  \n\\\u003eHer fingers clench together into a strained fist, arm erupting forwards like a cannon-blast  \n\\\u003eThe strike lands at the tip of Shiva's already twisted nose  \n\\\u003eThe tiger does not fall or crumple like a lifeless doll  \n\\\u003eThe hit actually lifts him off his feet, propelling him backwards with such force and speed that the trail of blood he drags from his nose struggles to catch up to his falling body  \n\\\u003eIt spatters on the floor like a trail leading to Shiva's crumpled and unconscious body  \n\\\u003eThe explosion of noise from the crowd is enough to force your palms against your ears  \n\\\u003eThe commissioner doesn't look too thrilled that Koda knocked out Shiva so fast  \n\\\u003eKoda shakes her fingers out  \n\\\u003eThey glow red with blood  \n\\\u003eYou clap  \n\\\u003eAnd then cheer, though your voice is a whisper in the storm of other voices, howls, screeches and calls  \n\\\u003eThe commissioner is escorted down into the pit, and as he descends the stairs, his expression quickly changes from displeasure to excitement  \n\\\u003eWhich you suspect is forced  \n\\\u003eHe approaches Shiva with his right arm extended, the left clutching the microphone  \n\\\u003eShe seems confused, and then, with a trembling body, takes his hand  \n\\\u003eHe lifts it into the air, or as best as he can given their size difference  \n\\\u003e\"Your winner of tonight's fight: KODA!\"   \n\\\u003eThe audience roars  \n\\\u003e\"So Koda, now the fate of two lives are in your hands. Shiva, the defeated,\" he gestures towards the crumpled body of the tiger  \n\\\u003e\"And the spoils of tonight's match.\"  \n\\\u003eThe guards bring a trembling/muzzled retriever out from the crate and into the middle of the pit  \n\\\u003eKoda glances between the two as the crowd falls into a hush  \n\\\u003eShe seems to recognize the gravity of her next words  \n\\\u003eHer face twists up with something like anguish  \n\\\u003eShiva was not a good person  \n\\\u003eHe hurt her, attempted to control her, and cheated his way into the ring with a rabid token of entry  \n\\\u003eAnd speaking of  \n\\\u003eIt's not like anyone would want her. She was rabid, perhaps beyond the help of a doctor or vet  \n\\\u003eOr maybe she was still in the early stages, and there was hope for her with modern medicine?  \n\\\u003eThe her eyes fall onto you, seated in the top row, leaning forward  \n\\\u003eShe stares at you, as if her soft yellow eyes could whisper a novel's worth of apologies in silence  \n\\\u003eShe turns to the commissioner, bends down to the mic and says:  \n\\\u003e\"I would like to spare Shiva.\"  \n\\\u003eThe crowd gasps, and the buck's face screws up in frustration  \n\\\u003eKoda continues, nervously glancing around her  \n\\\u003e\"And if possible, I will be using a portion of my earnings to fund treatment for my spoils. Both the human and the retriever.\"  \n\\\u003eThis time the crowd starts to hiss and boo  \n\\\u003eAnd the commissioner, not sure what to do with his lack of bloodshed, tears the mic from Koda's mouth  \n\\\u003e\"WELLLLL THAT sure is a noble decision (you bitch). We applaud your courage and thank you for your participation.\"  \n\\\u003eHe shoots a deadly glare over his shoulders at the wolf as he stomps back towards the stairs  \n  \n\\\u003eYou're sitting across from Koda in a dirty locker room which smells sour with sweat  \n\\\u003eThe bruises on her face have inflated and swollen up, drawing your focus as she wipes the sweat from her body  \n\\\u003eShe has a towel draped over her shoulders as she shakes  \n\\\u003eYou suspect she's only being kept vertical by adrenaline at this point   \n\\\u003eThe way her head hangs, the way her stomach contracts sharply with every breath — She's exhausted beyond measure  \n\\\u003eShe could barely stand up when the commissioner came out into the pit to declare her the winner and asked her what she planned to do with the spoils  \n\\\u003eAnd when they practically threw a bag of money at her, you had to help pick it up  \n\\\u003eBut even with her bowed head, you can see how wide she's grinning from ear to ear, intensely satisfied  \n\\\u003eEverything she needs and her family needs can be taken care of, at least for a few months  \n\\\u003eAnd the retriever could get the needed treatment for her rabies (if it wasn't too late)  \n\\\u003eHer smile, pulling her face back, says it all, flattening her ears against her skull, putting her tail in fits  \n\\\u003eAnd you actually start to smile too, despite the circumstances  \n“Congratulations,\" you say. It still feels weird to congratulate her. You don't know if you should be  \n\\\u003eMaybe the intensity of the situation is overtaking your ability to logic   \n\\\u003eEh  \n\\\u003eShe raises her head slowly  \n\\\u003e\"Thank you. I… I guess I owe you an apology, don't I?\" She says  \n“Wellllll, maybe. You did kidnap me and use me as collateral in an underground fighting ring so you could win money…\"  \n\\\u003eShe bows her head  \n“Butttttt, I did watch you get pummeled. And you won. And more importantly—\"  \n\\\u003eYou scoot closer to her  \n“When I first met you, I thought you were lowlife scum who killed humans for sport. But you've shown me that you've got a good heart under all that sweaty fur.\"  \n\\\u003eShe grins  \n\\\u003eYou can see her tail excitedly swinging from side to side  \n“I guess what I'm trying to say is: You made the right decisions tonight, and that means a lot.\"  \n\\\u003e\"So…You forgive me for kidnapping you?\" She nervously puts forward  \n“No. Not unless I get to bandage you,\" you say, a wicked smile playing across your face. “I still want to hear you apologize.\"  \n\\\u003eYour hands find a bottle of rubbing alcohol  \n\\\u003eShe shrinks away from you  \n\\\u003eYou shake your head and set the bottle down  \n“I'm only fooling around. Here. Let me see your cheek.\"  \n\\\u003eYou soak a cotton ball in the acrid liquor   \n\\\u003eKoda's nose wrinkle  \n\\\u003e\"That's human medicine,\" she says, grimacing. “I don't think it's going to work on me.\"  \n“What? Of course it's going to work on you. You're just scared because it smells like markers.\"  \n\\\u003eShe scoots a little further down the bench, eyes nervously locked on the cotton ball  \n\\\u003e\"I'm not scared… I just…\"  \n\\\u003eYou slide up next to her  \n\\\u003eShe tries to stand up, but her body protests and forces her back down  \n\\\u003eYou grab her by the tail and yank hard  \n\\\u003eShe yips pathetically and plants her body back on the bench  \n\\\u003e\"Don't grab me there!\" She chirps in an airy squeal  \n“Oh?\" You tug her tail a little harder, earning another yip from her  \n\\\u003eMan this feels good  \n“I'll stop if you bring your face over here.\"  \n\\\u003eYour vice on the base of her tail presses her ears against her skull. She bows her head somewhat submissively and brings her neck around  \n\\\u003eYou dab her bloodied cheek with the cotton ball  \n\\\u003e\"Ow!\" She barks, trying to pull away  \n\\\u003eYou have her bound by the tail though, so she quickly swings her head back for more  \n\\\u003eShe must not be an alpha in her pack  \n\\\u003eThough she fights you, you manage to swab as much blood off as you can, clean her wound, and then apply a few bandages  \n  \n\\\u003eBy the time you're done she's able to stand on her own with only a little shaking  \n\\\u003eThere's a bandage across her forehead, a few feet of gauze wrapped around her exposed midsection, and several across her nose to stymie the blood loss  \n\\\u003eShe looks like a shitty mummy  \n\\\u003e\"God I hate that stuff. I don't know why humans use it,\" she licks at the wounds on her fists  \n“We use it because it works for us. And it works for you too.\"  \n\\\u003e\"It better. I suffered for this.\"   \n“Oh boo hoo. You're still technically a criminal.\"   \n\\\u003e\"Right,\" she breathes an exhausted sigh and leans up against the wall next to the exit, pressing her hot cheeks against the cool tile  \n\\\u003e\"I feel dizzy.\"   \n“It's probably from getting your ass beaten so badly,\" you say with a slight snicker  \n\\\u003eA small, almost pathetic growl escapes her chest  \n\\\u003e\"You're lucky I'm so woozy or I'd take a bite out of your neck.\"  \n“Well, you or Shiva up there,\" you jab a thumb upwards  \n\\\u003eThe tiger was likely still fuming up there with the commissioner, demanding he get a rematch, or some of his money back, or something  \n\\\u003eYou were glad to be down in the catacombs beneath the pit  \n\\\u003eFor once, deeper underground felt safer  \n\\\u003eShe points her chin upwards, ears twitching as she listens  \n\\\u003e\"I can hear a few footsteps up there, but I think I hear the ocean more than anything.\"  \n\\\u003eYou place yourself next to her  \n“Rather see the ocean than hear it right now. C'mon. Let's go.\"  \n\\\u003eShe nods and starts forward  \n\\\u003eOnly to stumble  \n\\\u003eShe braces herself against a wall for support  \n\\\u003e\"Damnit!\" she hisses, putting her weight against the wall again  \n“What's up?\"  \n\\\u003eShe points at her trembling leg  \n\\\u003eWhere Shiva had hit her with a wild kick  \n\\\u003e\"Bum leg.\"  \n\\\u003eYou stare at her wounded appendage for a minute and feel something tight pulling at your heart  \n\\\u003eSomething warm wrapping itself around your innards, and a little voice in your head that's telling you to do the right thing  \n\\\u003eWhat is this… this feeling?  \n\\\u003eSympathy?  \n\\\u003eShe did kidnap you, so why are you feeling sympathetic towards her?   \n\\\u003eShe's staring at you, and when your eyes meet she flicks her gaze away down the hall  \n\\\u003eIt's almost like she's waiting for you to make up your mind  \n\\\u003eYou slip under her frame, throwing her arm around your shoulder  \n\\\u003e“The hell are you doing?\" She says with some manner of aggression, though she puts up no resistance. “We're going to look stupid.\"  \n“You look stupid,\" you say, pushing upwards against the limp weight of her arm  \n\\\u003eDamn she's heavy  \n\\\u003eAnd her tail wiggling is going to throw you off balance  \n  \n\\\u003eYou don't bother to hide your amusement as the nearly seven foot tall wolf girl leans on you for support on your way from the warehouse that kept the pits like a secret  \n\\\u003eYou taste fresh, salty air for the first time in a long time, relishing in the smell of all things that live near the ocean's reach, and the smell of the city — an amalgamation of trash and seawater  \n\\\u003eIt smells like flowers to you right now  \n\\\u003eThe sun is just beginning to glow in the sky as you and Koda make your way back onto more populated roads, eyes scanning for a bus  \n\\\u003e\"So,\" she says, looking down an empty road. “What are your plans now?\"  \n\\\u003eYou really didn't have anything thought out  \n\\\u003eYou had missed sleep, so you were feeling a bit wired, and more than that, you were starved  \n“I guess…Hmmm, breakfast? It's like 4 a.m.\"  \n\\\u003eHer ears go stiff atop her head at the mention of the word  \n\\\u003e\"Breakfast? Is there a breakfast place around here?\" She says  \n\\\u003eFuck, you have no idea. You've never been to this part of town  \n\\\u003e\"Actually— Never mind. We can find one.\"  \n“WE?\" You repeat with an air of incredulity  \n\\\u003eKoda's spine straightens and she shakes the confusion from her head  \n\\\u003eThough you notice her tail is unable to stop wagging  \n\\\u003e\"S-Sorry. I guess I'm confused-“  \n“No, you're not confused. I think you're trying to say something.\"  \n\\\u003eHer face glows red behind her bandages  \n\\\u003e\"I-“  \n“The answer is yes, by the way,\" you cut in. “I will go to breakfast with you. You owe me an expensive, hot meal.\"  \n\\\u003eYou can't restrain your smile anymore  \n\\\u003eHer tail threatens to sweep you off your feet — and not in the romantic sense  \n\\\u003eIt's fanning so quickly that you actually start to feel cold walking behind her  \n\\\u003eSo you you decide to walk next to her, and talk along the way, until you find a place to settle down and grab a bite to eat  \n  \nhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfRq8KhLM\\_M","series":{"name":"The /trash/ files","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1663142-s-t-a-l-k-e-r-making-new-friends.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1664333-a-long-way-from-home.json"}}