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Catching a Break

"Oh jeez, not again?!"

"Dude!"

Poor Frankie forlornly plodded into the apartment, his ears droopy and his usually perky mohawk soaked. His friends had heard his heavy thudding footpaws coming up the steps and were eager to present him dinner from the little kitchenette; but the hyena was in no mood.

He'd been beaten-up for probably the fifth time this week. One for every pawsdamned day of this horrible, terrible week! The mathematics didn't make the physical and emotional pain any less though, Frankie having grown tired of being subjected to opinions that stated the bloody obvious!

James was the first to make over to the hunched hyena, ushering him in like a tender matriarch; but Frankie wasn't having any of it.

"Leave me alone, will ya'!?" He swiped away at his friend, a feeble growl all he was able to muster from a muzzle that was trembling with upset. Frankie was desperate not to show weakness in front of the only two tails he'd ever trusted.

"Jeez, alright?! I was only tryin' to help."

James was admittedly the 'cuddlier' of the two, Campbell being a little more macho so as not to bely his upbringing; although everyone knew that was bullshit! He was a soppy, soft sod. The wolf was just trying to placate his parents and keep up with the image that the other wolves on campus exuded.

There was an awkward silence as Frankie slumped to the sofa and wiped the blood from his maw, trying desperately to keep the tears from flowing.

James and Campbell wouldn't leave him be, and soon came padding over to sit either side of their 'fallen' friend.

"What this time?" Campbell soothed.

"You know precisely what!"

No sooner has he said, heavy sighs came from both of his long-suffering friends.

"Listen... we need to do something about this."

"We can't." Frankie got back to his paws, kicking his backpack halfway across the apartment. "If we do, he'll find out and'll make my life even worse than it is now."

"Oh hey, come on..." James got up and followed; he wasn't one for giving up. Before turning to Campbell as he placed a comforting paw on the hyena's shoulder, squeezing gently. "Are we talking about you know who?"

"What?"

"You know!"

"No. Who? What are you talki...?"

"Quit whisperin' behind my back, guys!"

And Frankie turned, leaning against the sideboard as he shrugged a little more gently away from his friend's touch.

"Jim's talkin' about Kyle. So yes, you got me! It was Kyle. Again." He huffed sadly.

"Fuckin' savannah-dwellin', zebra-muncher." James joined the convo again, elaborating a little too much.

"Wow, I uh... wow that's quite a picture!" Cam' almost spat out his beer.

"Well yeah, remember. He was datin' that stripey horse for a while. I think he went down on her a few times. I..."

"OK gross, TMI dude!"

"Well, I mean, hence zebra munch..."

"Yes ok!! Alright! Paws above can we change the subject already!?"

"Please." Frankie murmured in agreement, his ears droopy, eyes downward and gazing non-plussed at the grey carpet.

Their awkward pause was not something that was totally out of the ordinary. Each of this usually happy trio were used to consolation, tears and pain. They lived in the shadow of a single lion, Kyle Manning, a highly self-absorbed and cruel bully whose name was carved into many students' minds; and sometimes quite literally into their pelts. Yep, he was _that_evil and horrible.

You'd be right in thinking about the whys behind the fact that this douche got away with it every single time. Soft and sweet guys like Frankie were proponents of the teachers being as scared of him as they were. Others figured it must be something to do with his species. They were afraid of not necessarily the inner, rather the outer... that is, those claws and those fangs. He could hurt you, nay kill you without even really meaning to.

Kyle was pawsdamned dangerous!

Despite their troubles, James, Campbell and Frankie still managed to live near campus without much issue. They lived at the student apartments on Leyco Avenue, just off NC20. A smart if rather sterile looking set of buildings, the trio liked it for its convenience and the fact that it backed out onto fields and forests. The beauty was an escape for them all.

Hadn't always lived together though. They had first met at registration, that very initial and nervy intro to college life. Surrounded by so very many unusual personalities, pelts and tail aromas, Frankie, James and Campbell just happened to be one after the other in the line; and the talkative Calico was the one that braved that first, if rather cryptic and nigh petrified pawshake.

"Wonder if cream comes outta' those?"

"Heheh, what?!" Frankie turned, frowning but smiling at the same time. He didn't want to judge. His consternation was joined by Campbell who was stood behind James, the kitty the filling to this carnivore sandwich.

"Well, ya' know... those!" James wafted a paw in the direction of the water fountains on the opposite wall, gleaming stainless-steel spouts that couldn't quite shine for the crowds and shadows today.

"I'd like 'em more if beer came outta' them, heh!" Campbell ventured, the wolf braving a smile and clutching his intro book and pamphlet to his chest.

"Oh I dunno. I'd pay to see it spurt hot cream! Gotta' love me some nozzles that shoot so willingly." The yeen laughed.

This observation turned up some noses, especially from some of the girls, but that didn't bother the lads.

"Didn't know you guys were like comedians!"

"Heh, I... well I... I dunno'." Frankie blushed and made to turn back.

"Hey dude, I wasn't being a bullshitter or anythin'."

"Hey!!" Another guy - this huge horned bull with a shirt that barely stretched across his barrel-like chest - turned with a frown, disturbed at the insinuation that his creed was to be made fun of! Poor sod had to deal with that a lot.

"Sorry Vince!"

The unlucky bovine grunted, a snort that made his silver nose ring bounce, before swishing back with his books clutched to that magnificent muscle. Holy paws, this was a struggle! Frankie didn't know where to look with all this gorgeous male tail!

"But anyway... yeah, you're cool, man!" He smiled. "What's ya' name?"

"Frankie"

"I'm James."

It was a delicate paw, classic cat. But that smile was irresistible. Half sincere, half naughty, it embodied the Calico's very nature both inner and readily exuded. He was the smallest of the group by far at probably five-nine, but that roundish face and muzzle made him all the more adorable! Sure Frankie had to lean and look down when he spoke to James or helped him with something, but it never felt like he was being demeaning or anythin'. Paws alive, the 'yeen didn't want to be thought of as being rude or anythin'. That would crush him.

"Campbell." Out came a paw to shake.

Speaking of tall, holy paws this wolf was a pawsdamned skyscraper! If Frankie had to lean down to James, he was looking upwards to greet his next friend. Good paws above, Cam' musta' been seven-feet and more. All the girls were swooning, but he was so laid back and nonchalant that it never phased him; and that was something he still admired to this day.

So, from a simple chit chat in the line that led them to being officially college students, the trio became fast friends. The convo evolved and they soon learned a lot, not least of all the fact that they were all doing the same degree. So freakin' cool!

"Man, you really do look like the cat that got the cream now!" The wolf laughed, nudging James as they padded away together. Fuel was needed for their first adventure and the café was in their sights.

James would later confide that the smiling and the staring into space was happiness, that he'd found some salvation in his very first day. As for Frankie, well... he remained a little quiet and reserved. This was still a very nerve-wracking experience; and these tails, as happy and carefree as they seemed, were still strangers. He wasn't keen on exposing himself too soon or perhaps even at all. These were the days when he had his mohawk at full peak, a midnight-charcoal shock like a charred sharkfin that struck proudly across his head. Frankie tried not to hunch as he padded anywhere to save him from any stereotypes. It was hard enough being a hyena in this world. Didn't need anyone pointing out anything obvious or insulting or that was patently not true.

Speaking of truths, there was another thing that Frankie had on his mind that he couldn't or rather shied from telling others. He was gay. Now as much as others would probably assume that this was just something run-o-the-mill, it was a struggle for a lad who was tall, built and with a heritage that tied him to rough, tough tails. James and Campbell knew right away. They could smell it from him. But Frankie tried to hide it, even though his eyes and nose wandered even on that very first walk together towards the cafeteria.

His weren't the only senses on a scouting mission. Others checked him out too. He sorta' felt proud, perhaps even confident; but it became more of a focus of his sadness as his poor, sensitive and kind head changed all of these well-intentioned attentions into negatives. He placed scents and words where there hadn't been any forthcoming. Frankie thought ill where there was nothing but kindness. The poor 'yeen didn't mean it. He just struggled. His shyness was always gonna be a huge hurdle to overcome.

Even as he took his tray over towards his two new friends, the girls had their eyes on him. There was an admittedly very pretty young vixen with round glasses and a gorgeous pale auburn pelt that blushed when he smiled at her. There were others who just watched with interest and bit lips; but Frankie couldn't help but think they were just staring at him, wanting to pick on his flaws.

"Holy paws, if we wanted to score some pussy, I think we'd be in!" Campbell laughed as he nommed on a venison burger.

It was only then that James looked up from his clam chowder, thick white deliciousness dripping from his maw and whiskers; and Campbell laughed.

"Heh, present company accepted. Different pussy."

It'd only been a matter of months to decide that their personalities gelled nicely, cos' after all it was a mix of the very basics, of liking each other and enjoying similar interests. Another reason at the forefront of their minds was to get far far away from the other dorms and halls where Kyle and his cronies hung around and caused general mayhem. The now happy trio heard all about the chaos those fuckers caused, all for the sake of chaos itself. There was clearly something lacking in the brain department, so said a very eloquent and rather comical James. He was always prone to opening his maw. Most of the time you'd laugh your tail off, likewise with Frankie's cracks; but it didn't always serve him well.

Their little three-bed apartment was on the second floor, overlooking the lake out back. It was your usual set-up... kitchenette, lounge and a balcony where they could all swoon over the hot guys swimming. This was a place to gather especially when the weather grew hotter... which was pretty much all the time in the Carolinas.

Man, they'd had some fun out there. The trio may've been into stuff that might've been seen as 'less than cool', but they still knew how to enjoy one another's company. There was one particular night last year that stood out for all the right reasons. James had been leant on the railing, his vodka and orange propped precariously in a ribbed plastic cup to his right. Frankie and Campbell were likewise stood, either side of their friend and beverage of choice in-paw. It must've been something that Jim really wanted to get into with either of his two buddies cos' he wasn't usually _this_animated about... well, anything really.

Must've been about cooking or chef stuff or somethin'! Silly ol' cat!

He went to gesture or gesticulate or somethin', but didn't see his drink was in the way; so it went for a burton, knocked from the railing before soaking a poor guy who was sat paddling his bare footpaws, poolside.

"What the fuck?!" The fox got up from the pool's edge, striking his paws down his barechest fur before looking upward with this anger cutting across a dark-red and white muzzle.

Both Campbell and Frankie comically backed slowly into the apartment, leaving their kitty friend to face the music he'd accidentally turned up! But to the surprise of many, the young cat pushed aside his nerves and went full throttle with what looked up at him from below.

"Well, now you have to let me lick you clean!"

Let's put it this way... that observation didn't go down well. The yet unnamed vulpine victim immediately made strides from the pool area and was obviously heading up the stairwell, on his way to confront his ballsy neighbour. The smell of his thick red brush was definitely one of anger and frustration, a musk that rose above the light airs of chlorine, damp concrete and alcohol.

"Oh shit, shit!" James hurriedly retired from the balcony and dashed back inside, his pipe-cleaner tail curling with fright. "Paws alive guys, hide me!

Campbell brokered a peace when the young fox came padding up wanting a fight. He just so happened to know him.

"Hey! Hey pussy boy!" Came a distinctly benign call.

"Just wait here. Kinda crouch down on the sofa. I've got an idea." Cam' had an evil idea.

"Is he gone?" James nervously emerged from the closet.

"Oh uh... sure!" Campbell nudged Frankie and tried to stifle a giggle.

"Phew, I thought he was gonna tear me a new taaaaaagghhhhhhhh!" The poor cat almost jumped full force behind the loveseat.

He'd gone to sit on the sofa and there was the stranger.

"Well, that's where you'd got to! Thought you were tryin' to hide from me."

"Heh, me? Hide? Pffft, nah! Just..."

And that's when the fox got up and padded across to him. There was no escape now; and maybe that was gonna' be a good thing.

"Why do you dorks always think the worst'll happen?!"

"I... I uh... I really don't know how to take that."

"Well..." And he spread his footpaws a little and his right paw slowly unzipped the fly of his jeans, letting them drop to the floor and a stiff, fat sheath awkwardly flop to the rather tense air. "Why don't you _take_this?!"

"Ohhhh shit! It's really gonna' happen!" Campbell clapped his paws and laughed, buckling over as he saw James get to work; and yep, you heard right! Jim was left with hearts in his eyes as he realized that the dude was seriously up for this, jumping at the chance to service... or apologize... or give back for this transgression... or, well... who cared?! This was as hot as all get-out!

Frankie in the meantime had gone completely tomato-red in the muzzle but couldn't help but stare at what his friend had been able to convince, fenagle or dare he said encouraged outta' this rather handsome fox.

"Jeez, it seems like the cat really did get the cream after all!"

"Oh wow, how long did it take you to think o' that one?!" James rolled his eyes and swished his tail as he wiped his chops of deliciously salty fox juice.

Let me backtrack from the naughtiness for just a sec to tell you a little more about this happy if rather eccentric trio.

So, it was just the three of them and the happy trio were precisely that; happy. No one came between them. They each had the other's 'back'. Well, as much as they could physically manage of course, cos' when it came to huge, hulkin' lions and wolves at school who towered over them (even Campbell) there'd never been much they could do.

_Take the beatin's then get to the eatins!_As James would say

Not that this most eloquent pep-talk would make any of their issues at school, especially Frankie's, any less painful. But James was always the cat with the last word. Usually got him into a heap of trouble. Once he'd run for home, chased by paws-only knows who, the kitty would get to makin' dinner for the three of them, hence the "eatins". He fancied himself a bit of a chef, whereas he was more like a shortorder cook with no penchant for timekeeping. Yep, that meant that a lot of stuff, most stuff... heck, all of it came out rather, uh... crispy!

But at least he was doing what he loved; and he had no qualms in being him, despite the jibes and the injuries. Oh yeah, they all had their scars.

James had always swooned after the hunky leopards, panthers and jaguars at school. The poor kitty had initially never had the ounce to approach any of them, although this was gradually changing with the support of his two friends. Asking anyone out was a whole other world though. He hadn't got quite that far... yet. Away from his shell, that confident and handsome exterior, the kitty usually binged on cream, milks and custards. Tough days were aplenty so he had his down periods, which of course meant he was a little on the heavy side.

The Calico had always been into culinary arts. He'd grown up helping his mum in the kitchen whilst his father worked long shifts at a fish processing plant. James's kithood heroes included goddess of the kitchen, Moolia Child, along with expressive and loud - but exceptionally talented - Gopheron Ramsey. He longed for a little exposure and some experience but recognized that for him it may well remain just something fun.

Campbell on the other paw was a little more laidback (if one could imagine such a thing). Amazingly, he liked the bigger guys which - considering his already formidable height, posturing and pretense - was all too much of a surprise for Frankie and James to grasp. They already looked up to Campbell - quite literally! But he always seemed so much more level-headed than he gave himself credit for. He was a gamer at heart, and the guys'd usually find him immersed in any of his favourite racing games... oh, and swearing at the TV at the same time, earphones plugging those pert, triangle ears. Cam' was pretty 'boss' at Benzene 1 thru' 5 and had a soft spot for Classix Rally. His father was a mechanic and he'd grown up in a den where weekends were spent tinkering with pipes, controls, wiring and oil. But with that came a not-so-unspoken expectation of the harmless and supremely intelligent young wuff to take up the profession - to be a lady's wolf, to raise a family and build a den worthy of a true Wolven Union.

He'd been through several controllers, mostly cos their lab at school kept getting broken into and nothing apparently amused the bullies more than to break others' possessions.

"Freakin Kyle! Pussy ass bitch!"

It was only then that he realized what had come out of his muzzle, turning rather sheepishly and hissing through grit teeth with pinned ears a very distinct.

"Sorry."

But James being James was totally cool with it, cos' they were all as thick as thieves. They were all of the same wag and mind.

"No no, I think he's a douchenozel too!"

And then there was Frankie.

Standing at six-three, one would see the slightly chunky 'yena as pretty pawsdamned imposing; but you couldn't be further from the truth. His dark red fur and soot-black mohawk certainly added to this smartly domineering presence, along with elongated fangs that stood out like whittled piano keys. Frankie was indeed the epitome of everything that everyone was thinking, but none of it was accurate.

He was heartfelt to a fault. The 'yena was still that funny, soppy big ol' teddy bear that he'd been on day one; and now as a college senior, none of these cute traits still fit the macho nature of everyone who padded past or milled about in the halls. He sought solace in those who understood him, didn't slice into his soft nature or take advantage of him. Having said this, he could be confident when he felt the urge. Shit, the dude could bring the walls down with the driest and funniest, most spontaneous wit ever!

When Frankie was there, other tails felt comfortable, not threatened... safe, for want of a better word.

Yet Hyenas weren't exactly known for their subtlety, gentleness or compliance. Perhaps after all was said and done that this was an image that Frankie longed for. He actually wanted to be that big, muscly guy who no one messed with, yet could be equally as passionate, wild and romantic with the right guy. Perhaps he was fed up with being taken advantage of, spat on, bullied, rallying against the ever-tide of abuse at school.

Perhaps it was time to change.

School was both a blessing and a curse for these exact reasons. Only James and Campbell had brought him back to the light. Without them... well, he didn't know where he'd be!

The three besties had kept up (academically) with each other throughout college and were still at the same stage of completing their degrees in History from Fayetteville State, a huge centre of learning located on the Murrison Road.

Although having followed pretty much the same path, James was sticking to specifically US history, whereas Campbell and Frankie were specializing on a state level. All three had different tastes after all - one entertainment, one culinary and the other folklore. Frankie was the latter and you can guess the rest!

Evenings were always usually crammed with cram sessions and debates, but tonight was about forgetting everything (including dinner) for a sec and gettin' Frankie into the bath to relax. Guess you could call the wolf and cat very parental, although that was not by design. It just happened. They cared about each other too much not to want the very best. One could scarcely believe that none of them were with any of each other if you know what I mean.

The usually rather stubborn hyena managed to relax enough to obey his well-meaning friends and was ready to just chill when he came padding out about a couple o' hours later, towel wrapped his waist. With but a rather awkward silence reigning, Frankie changed in the living room in full view of his two friends, both of whom carried worry like a full pail of water across both shoulders.

It was only when the lumbering 'yena uncovered to show his still-damp fur that James couldn't help but voice or at least show his concern. Paws almighty, that cute, short tail was showing signs of something awful. Jammed in a door doubtlessly. It was like being back at some horrible inner city high school! Shit this was bad... again. This really had to stop. But how the fuck were three well-meaning, sensitive and rather shy friends to get over this hurdle in life; or was it surmountable in any way?

Bruised and battered, hissing and cursing beneath his breath as he touched on places beneath his mottled, dark pelt that had borne the brunt of punches and kicks, Frankie tried to turn tail to his friends. He appreciated the feeling and the emotion, the concern and the desire to help, but paws alive, he was as done with this as anyone.

"Can't we at least talk about this this time?" Campbell murmured, shaking his head with a sorrow founded in many nights that watermarked by the same tears and the phlegm of upset.

Frankie sighed, climbing back into some shorts, adjusting his tail with another aching whine - he'd caught the bruise where the door jamb had come down on the cartilage.

"Well? Can we?"

"Not really, no." He retorted with as much bravado as he wanted to exude tonight.

"Come on dude!?" The wolf got up and padded over, placing a comforting paw to the yeen's right shoulder. "Let us help y..."

"I should be able to take care of this myself, Cam!" He snapped, a faint growl simmering back over his hunched form at a friend who was only trying to help.

Campbell sighed, ears pleating at the tips as he made his way back to the sofa, shrugging at James who was near-done with his bowl of buttermilk.

"You wanna' try, butter pat?"

"I will if you quit callin' me that!" Jim looked up, licking his chops and frowning at the wannabe comedian; but he was soon over to his forlorn friend.

"Talk to me, dude!" The cat soothed, shuffling next to Frankie as the poor yeen hunched forward with his paws clasped almost in prayer between his thighs.

A deep, pained sigh shimmered through the air.

"It was Kyle and those other two idiots."

Those hangers-on, the guys who lived in Kyle's imposing shadow were Fry Tildren and Tyler Crace, a fox and ram respectively who didn't have the bollocks or scent to stand on their own two footpaws. They yucked and yelled, limply helping out whenever Kyle came running.

"Sorry we had to head out. You shoulda called us!"

"For you to do what?"

That curt and rather frank statement kind of set them aback, making the yeen realise that they were just trying to help.

"God, I'm sorry..." His smallish ears folded over in embarrassment. "I... I'm just over this."

"S'OK dude. We understand. And trust me... we're just as over it as you are. I just don't know how we're going to make it over as it were. We're not exactly ones to beat the livin' shite outta' Kyle... and that's even if we wanted to."

Frankie remained unmoved which made the calico retire from his efforts and get to his footpaws. James gazed at Cam' and shrugged as if to say 'I've done as much as I can'.

"I'm uh... gonna set the table for dinner." Jim murmured quietly, leaving his wolven friend to attend to their droopy and sad friend; but apparently Frankie was not for hanging around tonight, getting to his footpaws and stretching.

"Actually, I just wanna head out."

"Suit yourself." Campbell sat back, his paws out across the back of the sofa; but he sat forward again cos' this just wasn't right. "I mean, dude, are you sure? You don't seem all that happy and..."

"I'm fine!" Frankie growled, looking back over his left shoulder, his imposing footpaws squishing in the freshly vacuumed carpet. "I... I just need some time alone, no offence. Besides, I'm not gonna' go far. Pro'lly gonna go swimming in the pool."

Frankie had padded away to the closet, leaving his friends to look at one another with raised eyebrows and depressed scents... James from the kitchen and Cam' from the comfort of their small lounge. Oh paws alive, someone had to tell him!

"You do it!" The wolf hissed out the corner of his maw, knowing that the silly kitty was trying to pad away from the situation and bury himself in the heat of the frying pan.

"Hoo no! No way dude, you do it!"

"Nuh uh, you tell 'im!" Cam' got up and spun, grunting under his breath in the general direction of the kitchen.

"Tell me what?" Frankie emerged from having his head 'buried' in the closet, a bright blue towel slung around his broad, imposing shoulders.

No sooner had he looked back at his friends, James ducked and Campbell swiftly left to head to his bedroom.

"Hey!" The yeen came wandering over to the kitchen, looking over the low wall to see his calico friend cowering on the tile floor. "Found you! And what are you hidin' from me?"

"Uh, you might wanna' rethink." James hissed with regret, heaving himself back to his paws as his pretence was not gonna' work. "The owners had to fish a stiff outta the pool earlier this morning."

"Oh for fu... well, I guess I'm good then, pawsdamnit!" Poor Frankie turned and veritably slapped the towel back onto the spine of the sofa. "Either of you wanna go for a walk then?"

"Like where?" Cam came back in, initially and nervously looking around the door.

"I dunno. Just..." The 'yeen murmured sadly, before turning tail for the door. "Just forget it!"

And he was gone, the door nigh slammed which shook his two other friends.

"Paws above, Kyle musta' really got to 'im today." Campbell sighed, lifting his eyebrows with a strong air of tired empathy.

"I guess so." James murmured in reply, his small ears pinned and pleated almost, eyes gazing after the now closed door and that sad scent that hit every time Frankie had had a day of it.

As for their friend, Frankie had padded out and was already halfway down the road. Paws in pockets, his mohawk looking about as tired as him right now, stuck there against the dusk like a silver bar, strung out and ready to be hammered. He'd already had plenty of both today. He wanted to dig deep and find what was beneath. The poor guy was exhausted.

The smells of fuel, hot tarmac and sun-dried vegetation stuck in your sinuses. It was inescapable but actually kinda' homely to the 'yeen who had learned to adjust to the smells of his new home years before when he came to study here. There were quite a few heavy sighs heaving from his chest, eyes rather sleepy but attentive like amberous pebbles under a mountain stream. Frankie was there, but he was aching for some change, experience, adventure and... well, he wanted to be noticed and taken seriously.

It just seemed that that frickin' douchebag lion absorbed more and more of his esteem each and every day.

What beheld the young 'yeen next made his day a little better though. As those imposing footpaws met the warm grit of Leyco, a whole battalion of soldiers from nearby Fort Bragg came jogging by. They were taking Leyco as a circle back and around to NC20. Frankie stood back from the road, the head of the troupe with his eyes trained ahead whilst his dedicated supplicants followed diligently behind. There must've been at least thirty of them, maybe more. Either way, Frankie weren't countin'... he was ogling. Or at least that's what anyone who could be that fly on his shoulder would say. He'd claim 'til the end of time that he was simply gettin' out of the way so they could pass. Pft yeah, right?!

Frankie had always had a penchant for muscular, tall, handsome guys; and this was just too perfect. The only way that it coulda' been better is if it just started raining. Oh paws alive, that woulda' been amazing!

Nevertheless, the spectacle both by sight and smell was incredible. With tails swinging, chests bare and a musky sweaty aroma following their every jogged pawstep, some dared to smile at the young and blushing yeen as they jogged past. All were in perfect harmony with each other. Heck, even the leader or the sergeant or colonel or whatever he was looked buff and just about ready to have a nice relaxing shower.

Just to have one of those guys take him in his paws and take him away from all this. Just to be able to worship one of these hunks, to be their 'prisoner of war' for a single night would be unbelievable. Lots of sinful thoughts ran through his head, not least for the fact the smell lingered... grit, lanolin, sweat, musk and that distinctively proteinaceous aroma that pervaded in unwashed fur, pads and... oh boy... groins and undertails. The starry-eyed student stood there scenting the air as they passed, the wind blowing in just the right direction and at just the right speed for him to absorb every last ounce of sweaty musk to his brain. His spongey senses made a meal of the whole experience, however brief it was. It was a drift of blood in the ocean. It was that first loaf off the line at the factory.

It was heaven.

The tent in his shorts was as obvious as the furious wagging of his tail, brought to life with so much possibility and dreaming that it was completely impossible not to bend, bow or break to their most baser requests.

He had to find somewhere to explore these desires out of the reach of the noses and eyes of an admittedly nosey and kinda dangerous neighbourhood. He wasn't the most streetsmart yeen out there, but his size was always a deterrent. Frankie could risk it for tonight, surely. There'd be no harm in it; and besides, he didn't think he could make it back home without letting this load go.

Or he could take it back and take it out on James and Campbell? Had he ever thought of that? Gosh, wow... uh... maybe that wouldn't be such a bad idea. But then again, he didn't want his besties to think him some freak to want to ... well, you know... sniff them, be with them, coat their delicious pelts in his pent-up fluids.

Paws alive, was he this desperate?!

Frankie had to get out of this dusky limelight, away from the noses and the passing tails of the highway and local shops. He just had to take a break, a sinful detour. His loins were aching to have a sneaky wank, and the dark side street called Landlake was gonna be perfect for that needy feeling.

It was a dead-end street with which he was pretty familiar, although usually in the daytime. Frankie'd usually jump the fence at the very end of the road to spend time in the woods. It was an environmentally sensitive area, but the yeen was a gentle soul and respected his surroundings to the point of not treading anywhere near the wildflowers that flourished along the forest's edge and the delicate mosses that surrounded the bases of each and every tree.

But all of this rather nostalgic feeling was at home strictly when the sun was up. When night fell, this side street away from the rambling rumble of the highway became a hangout of drug dealers, a dangerous no-go area that most law-abiding tails avoided like the plague.

Despite its diurnal notoriety, Frankie wanted to be dangerous for just a night, a few minutes if that was all it took; and to be honest, it really wasn't gonna take long considering what he'd just seen and smelled.

There was gonna be plenty of things running through his head as he made his way to the end of the road and jumped the fence, shuffling into the dark woods, nose alight with moist bark, soil, greenstick and pine.

As Frankie found a cosy spot to rest, the base of three trees creating a cooped, nest-like area that was lined with moss and broken twigs, his mind turned to those amazing specimens of tail that had jogged past him but minutes prior. He wanted to pick out one of those guys to mentally undress. Perhaps that smart ram with his cute bellrope tail. Or maybe that wolf that looked like Campbell. Man oh man, did he look like his friend?! Was that weird to have such a quick crush on a wolf like that?

And then there was that yeen who seemed to have a concentrated snarl on his thick, deep muzzle.

Yeah, let's think about him!

That guy probably had wonderfully meaty breath, a sodden jockstrap, that sopping wet shirt, his groin, his fur, his pawpits... oh fuck, this was too much!

His demanding nature, his feralness and his ability to thrill Frankie with every movement. Show off for me. That muscly, armed forces body is gonna' make me wet so freakin' quick! Paws alive this was incredible. The sinful public 'theatre', the dirtiest thoughts and now he was edging to a sticky end, marking trail after snowy trail of off-white spunk over the dirt, moss and stone.

It was only when he was done and left staring at his essence as it stained the earth, the hard panting and wiping up of what he'd let go was nothing compared to the shake and shiver he felt right in what came next, almost as if he was drenched in ice-cold water. It was a voice, wandering across his fur as though someone were hugging him, hunting him, perhaps even loving him.

"Heh, you want more than this, dontcha'!?"

"Who... who's there?" Frankie stammered, frantically trying to cover himself as that misty voice swirled into his ears.

But all that Frankie was left with was the bitter smell of burnt poppy seeds, an ammonia-like and sinister aroma that concluded his evening in oodles of mystery. The voice was gone as was the feeling; but there was something special about this.

Little did Frankie know, but this - whatever this was - wasn't gonna' leave him!

**

It was only when Frankie was padding back to the flat, paws in his pockets and a weighty sigh huffing through his chest, that his nose snuffled with the acrid scent of burning. He rolled his eyes so hard he almost strained them.

There were really two reasons he did this, although he wouldn't admit to this until a lot lot later. One was for the obvious... James had fucked-up dinner... again! The second was for the lost opportunity that was rumbling like a dark and sinister freight train through his already pounding head. Why hadn't he waited until he got back home? Surely Cam wouldn't mind?! Right? Or perhaps Jim'd love another soakin'? Did he really have these feelings for his very closest companions? Paws almighty, why couldn't he be as confident and brash as that fuckin stupid lion?!

As much as he hated his bully, Frankie had to admire him in a cryptic way. This was a dude who was bad to the bone but knew what he wanted and went out and got it no matter what. This was, cryptically, the kinda' attitude and confidence that the young yeen had long yearned for. It was the kinda' thing normal and natural to his species, yet he'd never had the ounce to display it. Paws alive, he would never want to hurt anyone's feelings or, god forbid, hurt anyone physically.

If Frankie could take what Kyle had - his confidence and his strength of will and mind, minus the unnerving and suspiciously sociopathic tendency to desire hurting others - he would... 100% he would, in a tail wag!

If Kyle was any better a role model than the leonine fucktard thought he was, Frankie would willingly learn from him. He'd actually ask for guidance.

But none of this was possible. Heck, the lion was closer to killing him than tutoring him. There was nothing good about that guy. It just seemed like a combination that could attract so many youngsters suffering from shyness and lack of mental strength; but this mix was interminably set in stone, a swirl of evil that could not be pulled apart, fixed or thinned by any additions whether psychiatric or otherwise.

Frankie had to snap outta' this to put his mind back on that one track that led to his stomach and not his now satiated loins.

"Yo, can I get two extra-large with pepperoni, southwest chicken and chorizo." He murmured into his cell, stomach rumbling and tail wagging at the thought of food. Paws alive, he'd been hungry for one thing earlier, and now it was time for some proper chow.

The parking lot was bathed in a dusky light by the time he made it back, Frankie leaning against the lamppost that strung upward into the sky and kept the overhang of the car ports company. His mind was going a mile a minute. Paws above it'd been a strange day!

With the distraction of the traffic, of the comings and goings of students heading home, Frankie lost track of time and place, the pizza guy having to cough to get his attention.

"You the guy who ordered two extra-large pizzas?" He murmured as the yeen' spun 'round slowly.

"Uh yeah. Yeah, sorry, I was a million miles away, heh!" He responded, paw behind his head and ears flopped back in embarrassment.

"Fifteen fifty, dude."

"Sure, uh..." And now Frankie was rufflin' around in his right pocket for that twenty he had put his paw on earlier. He knew very well that James would screw up dinner. Paws alive, he was a mess in the kitchen. Hopefully one day he'd get better... a whole lot better, for the sake of whatever poor sod decided to marry 'im!

Frankie's eyes couldn't help but wander even as he handed over the cash, every male in his sights and sinuses but mere tasters to what he'd experienced tonight. Figments of sweat, stale and grease-soaked cotton from that stained polo and the distinctive musk of a fox who'd been working his tail off since about eleven in the morning came riding over the aroma of pizza dough and toppings. The guy was non-descript, not as exciting as what Frankie had witnessed... but boy oh boy was everything on the table right now?! He had to control himself; and now the fox was frowning at him, perturbed at the scent the yeen gave off, at that imposing look as though he were a meal.

"Heh, thanks! Keep it."

"Uh yeah... no probs." He frowned, before turning tail, adjusting his red baseball cap and padding back to his beat-up Chevy. It was almost as though he were fearful of Frankie; and the yeen knew it. Why did that feel so good? Why did the knowledge that he was daunting in this dusky light, in this rather dingy part of the lot make him tingle all over?

Perhaps this was a sign.

Frankie sighed, his paws nicely warmed by the greasy cardboard pizza box, but his heart feeling ever more confused. Even in the moment, when he finally had strangers at his beck and call - pizza and patronage aside - paws alive, why did he have to be such a coward?!

It was only in these strange moments that he would implode mentally and start to think poorly of himself, regretting his kindly nature in favour something so much stronger, forceful and... virile. Frankie longed to be bigger, more imposing and ever so much more confident; but as things stood, he was still just a victim, a tail who towed a very unfortunate line where the leader of that queue was no more interested in his 'underlings'' futures than any forgotten dewclaw.

So, after all this mindless mindfulness perhaps Kyle was right. Fuckin' douche!

To get out of this funk, he shook his head, his mohawk flopping back, forth then over towards his eyes like a true eighties spike, before turning for the apartment steps.

It was only as he padded in, balancing both generous boxes in his right paw, the left deftly opening the lock, that he had that satisfying smell and feeling rise within his nostrils. Man oh man, it wasn't as if he was clairvoyant or some shit or even took any real pleasure in knowing what Jim would do from time to time... it was just a cryptic form of support for his beleaguered and well-meaning friend.

"James has burnt it again, hasn't he?!"

"Yep!" Cam' stuck his head around the kitchenette wall, a nod and sigh rippling through his voice. Inevitability was the norm for these tails.

And it was only as Frankie had walked all the way in that James turned tail from his blackened remnants to realize what that new smell was... pizza!

"Ahhh life saver!" He bounced, curly tail flexing happily. There was certainly a modicum of both guilt and relief in Jim's aroma, especially since it was obvious by the scent in the apartment that Campbell had been pissed at his inattentive antics - the latter of course having led to the destruction of their dinner!

"Paws almighty, dude, what the fuck?!"

"What? It's not my worst effort!" The cat wafted a delicate cream-orange paw in Frankie's direction, dismissive and ultimately entranced by what lay steaming happily in these cardboard containers.

The yeen hovered his muzzle over what was left of... well, he wasn't sure what the hell it had been! Casserole perhaps? Or maybe it was a lasagne?

"Any ideas?" He chuckled, turning and leaning back against the kitchen counter, his tail aside and head nodding in the direction of the charcoal mess.

"Screw it! Dinner's served!" Cam' rubbed his paws together.

"Toss for it!" The wolf came padding out into the lounge with three paper plates, his next move flipping both pizza boxes open. Eyes and noses were eying up the variety of meats, cheese and delicious sauce; and of course one was bigger than the other. S'why he was rummaging in his shorts pocket to find a quarter to flip.

Whoever came up trumps would win the slices from the biggest pie. Paws alive, this lot were so much like cubs sometimes it was untrue; but then again, that was why they had so much fun.

Much to Campbell's surprise, his yeen friend got to his paws and unzipped, letting his shorts drop. Frankie grinned as he grasped his fat sheath and looked at both aghast chums.

"No, not toss!" The wolf laughed, a distinct pinkness overcoming his usually staunch and rather dark black, raspberry-red muzzle. "Toss a coi... never mind, I'll do it!"

But that sudden and rather unusual burst of confidence had garnered some amorous attention from James, more than pleasantly surprised at Frankie's musky sex.

"Mmm well, now there's a thing." James mewed with hearts in his eyes, chewing on the very tip of a pizza triangle he'd 'stolen'. "Dinner and a show."

"T'ch yeah." Cam' scoffed. "What's gotten into you?"

"Heh, nothin'. Just figured I owed you guys somethin'. Somethin' fun since I was such a douche earlier." Frankie smiled, pulling up his shorts and flumping to the sofa, before reaching forward and trying to get to the food; but 'smack paw'!

"Ah ah ah!" Campbell grinned back, beholding the coin atop the back of his right paw. "Heads or tails."

"Mmm I want both." James purred with a sly grin. "That tail and that head. Didn't realize you were that thic..."

"Jim!"

"Sorry." The calico murmured sheepishly, but still unable to resist a cubbish giggle.

Much impromptu excitement aside, the happy trio settled into a night in front of the TV; and as always, it was a decision between documentaries... folklore or rock n roll. As Frankie was the first one to dive his paw to the remote and murmur 'show me supernatural' into the mic, the soft ol' yeen had won that battle.

"Pawsdamnit!" Campbell muttered shaking his head and slumping back, before licking his paws clean of delicious tomato sauce and chicken remnants. "Can we at least have somethin' that won't keep me up at night?!"

"OK grandpa!"

It was as they settled and the screen flashed with choices through which Frankie was avidly scrolling to find something suitably mysterious, that Campbell looked sideward at him, halting his avid cleaning of pizza-soaked paws.

And now there was a streak of concern across his muzzle.

"Say bro, I..." He murmured, sitting forward and nudging his friend with an elbow.

"Hm?"

"You uh... you had a date tonight?"

Frankie frowned and paused, reaching for that last slice and gazing back at his friend.

"Heh, no." He scoffed before chomping on the triangular peak of the dough. "A guy lookin' like me?"

"Oh give it a rest, dude!" James laughed, getting back to his footpaws and ruffling his friend's headfur as he made his way towards the fridge. "So freakin' modest it hurts! You're a sexy bitch!"

"Uh... thanks. I think." The yeen half-laughed, half murmured.

"Well s'just that..." Campbell sat sideward, resting his right paw and tail over the pawrest, his tall frame awkwardly scrunched to the corner of their sofa. "I... well... I noticed the smell from when you... well, you know."

Frankie suddenly realized what he was getting at. He had to head off Cam', cos' there was really no foolin' a wolf of his... calibre. He had to be honest lest his tail gave him away.

"Oh uh... I... well, I took care of myself when I... well I saw the army guys and..."

"Ooooooo, do tell!" James was back, bounding back and landing with a smile on his muzzle

"Jeez you're such a lech!" Frankie laughed, shaking his head as he chowed on more pizza, licking his chops of delicious tomato, spice and dough crumbs.

It was only then that the yeen realized that Jim wasn't kiddin'.

"Oh, paws above, alright!"

"Ooo goody! Storytime!"

"You want me to grab the lube?" Cam' laughed, heaving to his footpaws and wandering away to the kitchen.

"Oh phooey! I just wanna' hear what they were like!"

"Suuuuuuuure you do!" The wolf waved a paw in the air to dismiss his friend's honest to goodness lie. "And that's why you're tentin' your pants, idiot?!"

The blush on James's muzzle was deliciously cute, shimmering clouds of red that rumbled through his calico colours like liquid Mars crossing the stars and suns in the daytime sky. To avoid elaborating any further and to skirt any embarrassment, Frankie quickly changed the subject to what they were gonna' watch tonight. There was always competition over the TV, but Frankie was cute, funny and quick-witted much to the disgruntlement of his easygoing friends. He got his way more often than not, and that usually meant spooky documentaries and non-fiction studies were their tube-food throughout any one week... and today was no different!

"God, you're such a nerd!" The calico murmured not-so-quietly, smiling as he sat back on the couch with his curly, pipe-cleaner-tail switching and twitching as though disembodied.

"Shit, well at least put the tivo to work!" Cam' murmured.

"Tivo? Paws alive, you're like fifty in a twenty-year old's body!

"Well, whatever... you guys are the techies!"

"Nuh uh."

Argument aside, the show started with their classic theme tune and awesomely ominous narrator-cum-presenter.

Welcome to Drifting Mists, I'm Bobcat Stack. Tonight, we focus on the story of Delaney Red, a young waif who lost his life to the rigours of drugs...

"Wow, that's a cheerful start!" Cam' laughed incredulously, tucking his footpaws closer and hugging them to his body; but Frankie was too keen on what he'd heard from the intro.

"Shhh!"

James and Campbell both looked at one another, stifling a rather juvenile giggle as Frankie crept closer to the TV.

The nineteen-year-old Delaney was from Moore County, North Carolina. He was looking for work and, being where he was, the coal mining industry seemed a natural move. The young wuff travelled southeast to the big city to find opportunity, but only found street life and drugs.

"Paws alive." The yeen murmured, gazing wide-eyed at the reenactment, filmed just down the street. It was literally where he'd just been. Could this really be who he heard and smelled?

The destitute teen was found at twelve minutes past midnight on December the twelfth, nineteen-twelve. Some say he can still be seen wandering around the area that is now occupied by student accommodations for the nearby university and...

"Wow, that's weird. Like too close and divisible by six." Frankie got back to his footpaws and slumped to the sofa, right next to a rather perplexed James.

"Huh?" The cat turned and frowned, his body already bounced by the huge frame of his friend positively 'landing' on the sofa cushions. He was used to being bobbed around like a ragdoll by his two chunky, imposing buddies.

"Well, ya' know... six six six. Devil stuff."

"Oh paws alive, I don't think that's gonna be an issue!"

"Ah, don't be so sure!"

Both James and Campbell had again laughed this off.

Frankie had been prone to exaggerate a little, although even this was a strange way of expressing it. One had to catch Frankie at the right time to delve beneath that superbly funny and longingly-cubbish exterior... not that any of the latter was bad. Just that others thought he put up a tough front and needed to let out his true feelings. Little did they know but that was precisely what the poor sod wanted, but he'd never had the impetus to do so; and the happenings at school just made things creep back from whence they came... the bravery, the butch and brash attitude and the longing to be out there, big, bold and ready to take on anything and anyone.

But Frankie did take lore seriously. Myths and legends were neither to him; they were stories that were to be proven false. Until then, these tales were all too scary to be exactly that. They were too real. He wanted to believe.

Those interviewed have told that Delaney is said to walk near the forest's edge, lingering in an opium-scented smoke before disappearing into thin air. No one has dared approach and those we talked to said that his eyes are bright red and his fangs sharper than any normal wuff. There are thoughts that he is a possession of the devil...

The programme continued with theories and interviews surrounding this unusual and rather sad story, about ghosts and the hellhound who was supposed to haunt the streets. It all struck Frankie as oh-so-similar to who he just met... or saw... or just smelled. It was difficult to work out what exactly his encounter could be classified as.

It was only as they finally showed a photo and then the spot where this guy was murdered that Frankie sat forward again on the sofa before crawling slowly, almost incredulously towards their TV. He sat in its fifty-five inch glow, looking up at the images at an angle

"Ha, looks like you've just seen a ghost!" Jim chuckled, knocking back a root beer and cuddling his bare footpaws closer, lain across the sofa.

"I... well... oh my god!" And again Frankie spun on his haunches, a guilty, almost frightened look across his deep muzzle. "You guys ever walked down that dead end near the Rovermart?"

He guessed he just didn't want to watch James and Campbell's maws drop in consternation, cos' they 100% did instantly. The wolf and cat looked at each other, their bottles simultaneously coming away from their maws as the seriousness of their friend's obsession became apparent in an instant.

"Wouldn't catch me dead down there, why?" And Campbell was serious. He was a huge, imposing guy too, and yet even he would avoid that area like the plague.

It was only now that the two found themselves detecting scents from Frankie that confirmed their friend's straying. It was a sickly, metallic aroma that told all who cared to get close to the yeen's deep and velvety fur that he'd been with someone; and this someone wasn't a scent you wanted to mess with. They were not superstitious, but this smell could easily convert the non-believer. There was something supremely dangerous and risky about it... deep, hurt, bloody and spiked with something so acidic and intoxicating that it was hard to turn one's nose away.

You wanted to, trust me! But for whatever reason, neither could.

"If my ol' nose is to go by..." Jim started, looking first at Cam', before turning to Frankie. "Well... dude, you're gonna get hurt just by wandering down that way, let alone getting away with jackin' off in public in such a stupid dangerous place! A lot more hurt than Kyle could ever dare do!"

But the yeen was still fixated, hearing his roommates but probably not taking in like he should've been.

"Don't get me wrong... I loved hearing about you beatin' off. Super-duper hot by the way!" James flailed a paw in as flamboyant a manner as he could, making Cam' laugh and shake his head. "But seriously?! Down there? We thought you'd have more sense than that, especially knowing what kinds of tails linger and hang out and fuck around down there!"

But their yeeny friend was absolutely transfixed. He was listening, smelling, moving slowly, almost in a trance as he got to his footpaws again and padded towards the front window that overlooked the street below.

"That voice." He murmured, his hot, nervous breath panting against the pane, struck with the orange and white lights of traffic, industry and lampposts - it was a fog of condensation that faded and grew stronger, faded again and back it came, like watery royal icing spotted with liqueur. "That strange, young voice."

"Hoo boy!" Cam' mumbled as the wolf shook his head, getting his thirst maw back to his beer and wandering away to the kitchen to grab another. All this worrying was thirsty work!

"Frankie, dude... you've been reading too many of your supernatural books again!" James ventured with a brave smile, trying desperately to believe that the friendly ol' soul was pulling their tails with all this; and now the Calico was up at Frankie's back, hugging him from behind. "Listen, you silly poofball! Get to bed will ya'!? You need some sleep cos' this is quite clearly killin' ya'. Both Cam and I can smell it."

"Yes mom!" The yeen turned in his friend's grip, feeling that soft, velvety feline fur rub against his comparatively deep and rough pelt.

"Well I guess I've been called worse." James smiled and shrugged, before turning and wandering back to his cosy spot on the sofa. "Although if you wanna' whip it out again, I'm up to give you a nightcap so that you can forget allllllllllllll about silly fuckin' spirits and ghosts and strange druggie weirdos."

The joking aside, Frankie could smell that his friends were worried. In his mind he had this in control. In theirs, all they could think and try to convince themselves was that surely this big friendly hyena wasn't_this_ obsessed. As obsessed as to put himself at risk, just to get a rise out of Kyle or worse yet, some drug addict who wouldn't care if he killed him.

To avoid any more questions, Frankie was soon heading to bed. It wasn't that he didn't like his friends' company... it was just that it was time for some relaxation with one of his favourite books - 'Ghostly Carolina'. There had been something really special about today. As weird as it had started, it had ended really well. That alley remained in his head... the smells, the feelings and the neverending sensation of being watched. He'd never felt so surrounded. It was an amazing feeling for all the wrong (but most sinful) reasons. It was only as he laid down, his fur snuggled under the duvet, his mohawk rather squashed as he rested his head back against the wall, that the next page in his book after the well-worn bookmark was that story all over again.

It was about Delaney, that poor sod. Man, he looked cute! That coal dust on his muzzle, a classic early century flat-cap and those triangle ears that struck from the cheap checkered cloth. Why was a creature so tortured so much of an attraction? Frankie knew there was something dangerous about him, but he just couldn't help himself. He wanted him, but he just wasn't sure how or why. Perhaps Kyle put him up to this. Through the bullying and torment, the lion was inadvertently directing this lost soul to a solution so dark and dirty, that the thrill of the unknown was too tempting to ignore.

Paws alive, Frankie wanted to know! He wanted to know, bad!

The book detailed his death in the late nineteenth, a black and white photo of the wolf the last known picture of the youngster before he made his way into an underground he couldn't control. It was almost like his own struggles.

University, friends, bullying, career, money... Frankie was suffering the same identity crisis. The yeen was alone but wanted. He was dedicated but lost. He was loved but wanted to give love more. What made all this somehow worse was that Delaney had been his age when he met his end, a lost canine who - by the rather unsubtle newspaper detail - was an opioid addict and killed by the dealer he'd only just met. Delaney never knew what he was getting himself into; but it was danger, sordid and baser. There was something amazingly arousing about it all; and that was why his sheets were tenting and Frankie was reaching a paw down to his broken sheath, fondling the tip and dreaming about his sinful day.

They never found the wolf's murderer, but Frankie could see why this poor young soul was absorbed by this strange, evil aroma. Delaney was looking still. The wolf was seeking solace in someone... and Frankie was his target. There was nothing frightening about that. The yeen wanted it!

There was something strangely arousing about thinking about him. Delaney looked so cute and smart. The smell of his fur combined with that fiery char of his ever-burning innards made it only ever more irresistible. Why was this devilish, nigh-demonic feeling so fucking good?! Why in paws' name did he find this sorta' thing attractive?!

"So, this is what happens when you sell your soul?!" He murmured with a cheeky, sinful smile, murring as he felt himself grow hard and wet.

Out of Frankie's sight, the photo suddenly shifted to a smile, a sly burning smile full of blood and teeth; and that wolven slyness would follow the sensitive yeen to bed. There was no escaping him once he'd been 'released'.

The yeen plodded off to bed, flumping his tired head to the deep pillow and allowing his mohawk to flop happily over his prominent brow. It was only now in his sleep that Frankie subconsciously realized how powerful this guy really was.

In his vivid imagination, swirling about in his head as he slept, Frankie padded out the apartment building and 'round to the pool. The sunshine was hot on his bare fur, and... oh paws alive, he was naked!? But unlike his usual shyness, his epiphany was not one to make him turn tail and run. Far from it! He padded onwards, shrugging his shoulders and swaying his tail as he was led by that smell to the water's edge.

For some reason, the pool was so very much more extensive, almost like a lake.

"Hello my friend." Came a soft, young voice, emanating from across the rippling clear aqua.

It was Delaney... barefurred, relaxing in the sun and staring up to the bright blue sky. He was soaking up the attention, the anticipation and the irrepressible rays.

Without thinking anything of it, Frankie swam up to him, placing his paws on the pool's tiled surround and shaking his head, his mohawk a little floppy but draping handsomely across the right side of his face.

"Fancy being mine forever?" The young wolf murred, spreading his footpaws and leaning down to almost touch his nose to Frankie's

"Forever?"

"Yes. You won't regret it."

It was then that the big yeen looked into those mesmerizing, gold-red eyes - swimming stones that seemed more like miniature planets spinning in a coal-black sky.

"You want me." Delaney grinned, his voice deep and slow and soothing.

"I want you!" Murmured Frankie in reply, hypnotized by that body and that smell.

It was only that they kissed, before Delaney slipped into the water, the pool boiling around them, although it never had an effect on the eager horny canines. Now Frankie knew only the puckered tailhole of his impromptu demonic lover resting with anticipation on the head of his throbbing hard cock. As Delaney rested his fiery grey-red paws on either of the hyena's shoulders and slowly, agonisingly pierced himself on Frankie's sex, growling with a long-repressed pleasure, the yeen' moaned and... pawsdamnit, he woke up!

He shot up in bed, panting heavily and feeling the sodden end of his dick caressing against the underside of the sheets. Holy paws, that was some dream! Why the fuck did it have to finish before the real good stuff?!

Without cleaning up, he clambered out into the pale, dusky light of the lounge, following the cooing gurgle of the fridge and the soft light of the dawn leaching through the blinds. As much as Frankie wanted to be alone in this rather awkward moment, James was chillin' in the kitchen dressed in a pair of fish-bone boxer shorts, his cute calico cauda curling as he drank deeply from some dairy-rich midnight snack.

"Uuhhh... you need privacy?" Jim smiled wryly, raising his eyebrows as he gulped on the last of the half-n-half whilst spying the very obvious sodden hard-on that Frankie was boasting. Well, not so much boasting, but desperately trying to hide.

"Oh uh... nah, I..."

"Musta' been quite some dream!"

"It... it was that demon."

"What?" The cat withdrew the cardboard lip and frowned with not a small amount of incredulity. "Oh, come on!?

"No, really!" Frankie replied, padding over to the fondant light of the fridge and perusing what was left of their beverages... milk, cream, soda, buttermilk. Nothing looked great.

"It was unreal, like he was right there."

"Heh, that's a wet dream dude."

"No. There was something different about it."

"Different?"

"Something almost like... meaningful."

James was very doubtful, not least for the fact that he figured Frankie for the shy type especially when it came to spontaneous opportunities to get his rocks off. And this was one such occasion right? Surely he'd jump 'im tonight. So sue 'im, James had a crush on both his roommates. There was something about this big soft hyena tonight that had him goin'. He couldn't help but feel himself grow hard in a strange reciprocity to Frankie's very obvious arousal; and this was regardless as to whether the 'yeen was gonna' do anything about it.

It was too strong and aromatic to be ignored.

"Well, like I said earlier... if you need seconds, just let me know, devilish boy!"

Wow, he'd never been this insistent before; but there was something in the air tonight that gave all those still awake an extra dose of confidence for some reason. Frankie needed to know, and he suddenly caught a hold of James's wrist just before the cat padded back to bed.

"Did... did you mean it?"

"Mean what?" The calico murmured with a smile, turning with a warm glow in his muzzle.

"That... well, ya' know... you'd mess around with me?"

"'course dude!"

"I uh... I dunno'"

"Well hey, silly, it wasn't meant to throw you for a loop. There's no pressure ya' know." Jim caught the yeen's paw back in his own, resisting any semblance of a Cheshire grin.

"I know but... oh paws alive!" Frankie withdrew and padded back into the lounge, leaving the cat to flop his ears and sadly cast a glance after his friend.

"Listen..." James came to sit beside him, a paw on his left shoulder. "You can or you don't have to. Either way ya' big dawg, I'm not gonna leave ya'. I'll always be here for you."

The smells, the taste of his maw... it was all combining, turning on Frankie's innermost desires; but for some reason, he just couldn't bring himself to take this opportunity... yet.

"I know." The yeen smiled, his mohawk flopped at the peak's head like the turning of a page against the moon and its ceiling of stars. "I... I really appreciate you puttin' up with all my shit."

"Heh, we don't put up with you, silly!" James smiled wryly, cupping his right paw beneath his friend's imposing jaw... so warm, damp with drips of saliva and fragrant with a light spritz of both pizza crumbs and that distinctive savannah scent. "We love you."

Frankie blushed, the red flying through his muzzle like a shock of roses floating beneath an iced river.

"Goodnight." He murmured and, getting back to his footpaws, padded away to bed.

Jim had to admit that he was kinda' disappointed when the yeen didn't stay, but Frankie had other stuff on his mind. The larger hyena was determined to find where this scent was coming from. It wasn't him and it wasn't either of James or Campbell. It kept floating between them, through the apartment and lingering around his whole being; and this had only started after his walk that night.

Even as he clambered into those now dried covers, his broad snout was sniffin' around. There it was again! It wasn't feline. It wasn't wolven. It wasn't him either. The friends all had very distinctive aromas, and this... this was so different. The smell was complex but bitter, acrid almost.

Drifting over from the street, a glow of red fire emanated from the dead-end street and a vague form appeared on their balcony, beckoning him with the aroma and the arousal.

"Who... who are you really? What are you?"

The form turned, a fiery, red-furred fox with glowing yellow eyes. His grin bore bloody teeth and a forked tongue that slithered and licked like a snake slithering through burnt grass.

"I'm what you need."

** ****

"Man, this sucks!" James murmured with a very tired sigh, his head rested sulkily to his right paw, elbow propped to his lecture-hall seat.

"You've got like two more minutes before he finishes up, dude!" Cam' looked at his watch, wryly smiling at his cubbish friend who sat to his left.

Frankie in the meanwhile was kinda' distracted too, but for a different reason. The lecture was OK... as OK as the very last remnants of his degree could ever be that interesting. He was ready to start his career and be done with school; but there was more to this malaise than just time.

It was that ghostly feeling, that there was no escaping Delaney's inimitable soul; and as much as Jim and Campbell couldn't convince him otherwise, the yeen was adamant that the wolf was quite literally following him around. It was like he'd been absorbed. It was like his rough pelt was teeming with the smells of a sad but remarkably evil and vengeful canine.

"Can't you smell that?!" He'd say, nudging Cam as they padded to their next class.

"Quit it, ya' silly sod!"

Once the talking was done and the teasing over, the friends were ready for some lunch. The trio padded towards the cafeteria, the college halls as crammed as ever. Graduation day was getting closer and closer, the nervousness and excitement starting to combine in everybody's minds and tails. With all this hustle and bustle and frantic preparation needed for the school's seniors to graduate, few paid much attention to Kyle and his cronies; and this was never going to end well, especially for their prime target... Frankie.

The bully had plans and they had absolutely nothing at all to do with celebrating matriculation.

Amidst the drifting smells of smoked meats, fried vegetables and baking breads, the line of happy hungry tails were patiently waiting and gazing at the glass covers, hot with steam and beautiful misty aromas. Frankie, Cam and James were three of these eager students, the yeen leading the way with his paws almost clamped on his yet empty tray.

It was only as they all made their way from the cashier towards the table nearest the sunshine, a glossy and smart plastic 4-tail spot that allowed one's fur to be caressed by the summer rays, that Frankie caught sight of something taped to one of the columns closest the window. He needn't have dwelled all that long. It was obvious from a distance what it was and who had perpetrated it!

With a pseudo-penis on display, the makeshift poster was cut from some cheesy porno, Frankie's head photoshopped over a female yeen being fucked silly, all emblazoned with the words...

Gigling imbaseel - watch out for that fake dick!

All were nervously quiet as Frankie's muzzle trembled at seeing this unbelievably hurtful jest... this all until Jim opened his big maw!

"Jeez, his spellin' sucks!" James murmured, shaking his head and trying to make light of the whole situation; but Campbell instantly growled him, nudging him harshly with his elbow.

"Knock it off!" He hissed between grit teeth, reaching forward and fairly ripping the horrible material from the wall.

"Ow! Cut it out!"

"You cut it out! S'not somethin' to make fun of, dumbass!"

"I'm... I'm just tryin' to find some..."

"Yeah, well don't!"

"Alright alright!" He sulked, before shrugging away to nurse his side. "Thhhhh, ow!"

"You deserved it!" Cam' looked as stern as he ever had, crossing his paws after screwing up the poster and throwing it to the can near the door. "Suck it up ya' big pussy baby!"

In all this not-so-friendly jostling, the pair had inadvertently distracted themselves from Frankie; and he was hurtin'! Hurting bad! The tears were definitely there, his eyes lingered at the wall where the poster - now ripped and thrown away - once glared for all to gawk and laugh at.

"Dude? You OK?"

"N... n... no." Frankie responded with a half-blub, half-growl, wiping his eyes and nose with his right wrist, trying desperately not to be seen by anyone else. He wanted to crawl into a corner. The yeen wanted the earth to open up and swallow him whole. How could he move from this spot? How could he possibly show his tail or muzzle or anything around campus now that this... this... abomination had been allowed to happen?!

Oh cos' this was only one of many. That fuckhead Kyle and his minions had plastered these horrid things all over the place - lampposts, lecture halls, on seats in the theatres, even on some of the teachers' desks. This was just the last fuckin' straw! Paws alive this was just the worst! Although Frankie was absolutely mortified and on the verge of honestly walking out completely, far away from this place, he wanted to confront the lion responsible.

"Dude, it's not worth it!" Jim pushed both paws against his friend's broad chest, trying to stop him doing something even more stupid.

"It very much is!" Frankie snarled through the tears, pushing back and ploughing onward. He could see and smell Kyle over by the drinking fountain, yuckin' it up with his pals.

With more confidence than he'd ever felt, bubbling up inside him.

"Oh hey, it's the local freakazoid!"

"What the fuck is your problem?!" Frankie growled, feeling his eyes heat up and his hackles rise.

"Man oh man, I'm cool! Thanks for thinkin' o' me."

And the others laughed, almost at Kyle's direction... or was it cos' they feared not doing so when Kyle's antics were to be considered funny? Who knew?!

"I mean... what the hell?! What have... ha... have I do... done to deserve this?!"

"Heh, by being alive?" Kyle crossed his paws and smirked, standing with his feet slightly apart and nothing but contempt reigning through his acidic scent.

"Paws al... ali... alive, you're so fuckin' cruel!"

"And what you gonna' do about it?" The bully growled, his duster tail whipping around out back. "You gonna cry about it?!"

All his fellow bullies were just repeating like parrots, hunched and hollering... but all were careful to keep their evil traps shut when Kyle was quiet and vice versa. Paws alive they were such pricks!

Campbell faced off with the larger lion, and the sounds of angry growling and the smell of posturing males soared down the corridor as Frankie dashed away. He was difficult to miss, this fallen lumbering student who only meant well was noticed by everyone; and again he felt that he'd failed.

He'd had at least some ounce to stand up for himself - finally - but had been rebuffed and beaten in the scent and argument stakes; so now he was running away like a cub. Now he was both a joke and a wuss. Now he was perhaps hated, looked-down-upon and almost pitied by more than just a bunch of idiotic bullies.

Why did this have to be this way?

The yeen had headed to the restrooms to escape the jibes, away from the smell of conceit lifting from that annoying duster tail and that prissy preening mane that the females fawned over! Oooo he was so freakin' annoying!

Frankie leant over the sink, letting his rucksack drop from his right shoulder and slump to the floor. With both paws either side of the bowl and his head hung, the very tip of his mohawk brushed the mirror, taking out what little condensation there was to be had in this dry and sterile atmosphere.

But there he was again, shimmering in the mirror. Sometimes formed, sometimes not. Sometimes grinning, sometimes growling. Frankie spun quickly, his paws propped behind him... but there was no one there. The smell was strong, rising above the clinical aroma of bleach and disinfectant, but there was no sign of Delaney.

"Go to the library, boy." The voice echoed, making the young yeen look about trying to nail down where he was hiding. "Let me share my secrets with you."

"Your... secrets?"

"Heh, you're a good listener." The swirling adjectives shimmered against the white tile like vocal condensation, breathed from a gullet that one could not see or feel. "Be there my friend, and I will show you that life doesn't have to be this hard for you."

There was something both sinister and weirdly... friendly about him today. It was almost as though Delaney was going out of his way to perhaps help the sometimes wayward yeen. That was not something he wanted to share with anyone. Oh sure, tell his doctor that the ghost of an early twentieth century drug addict was his guiding light.

That wouldn't end well. Be fun though!

The strength of obedience in Frankie was somehow different today, and he made a very quick decision to follow along with these strange goings-on. With the horrible morning forgotten, he padded out into the hallway and towards the quad. The library was on the other side, the fresh smell of mown grass, hot concrete and delicious pastries wafting from the cafeteria combining to cuddle him from all sides. Perusing the rather stuffy and dark shelves was a relief for Frankie, away from the bullying, the eyes and the attention, somewhere quiet; but his mind was actually not on his studies, rather revenge. He'd never had this feeling before and couldn't help but wonder if Delaney was more than just a lost soul. Frankie guessed it was a veiled message of peace from a disturbing and frightening vision of that young wuff murdered so long ago. It was surely just a mirage; but why was he suddenly on this kick? Why did this feel so right?

There was a book that came to mind as his brain cooked these thoughts, prepared the results and served it to his tastebuds. It struck him no sooner had he remembered why he was here... the wolf who had guided him to this place.

Hidden Secrets of Fayetteville: Myth and Magic in the Carolinas

He'd often flicked through it, wishing that he could not only borrow it but actually buy it; but now was the time. He could feel Delaney's hot breath on his right shoulder, a smouldering, lava-hot grin searing behind him.

"You'll find lots to do in that." Came a rather mischievous chuckle, shimmering through the stuffy air.

This time Frankie didn't move. He didn't flinch at hearing it, nor did he turn in fright. This was actually becoming exciting, a modicum and mode of freedom that he had scarcely had the chance to enjoy in his young life. However, whilst he had no issue finding the book he was drawn to, the determination to buy instead of borrow this time was tempered somewhat by the price tag. Dayum, it was a hundred bucks?! Amidst the disappointment - cos' that was like two weeks' worth of groceries - and his paws feeling heavy his heart likewise, Frankie looked rather misty-eyed again at the book's cover as the price seemed to smudge and shift. It mysteriously switched to only ten dollars. The yeen frowned and gazed closer. Nope...it was definitely ten bucks!

Holy paws, what the hell was goin' on?! Not that he was complainin' far from it. It was just that this whole thing was too weird. It seemed like he was almost destined to do something for Delaney. It was almost as though this strange entity, this waif and stray that whispered and wandered about him was speaking to him in the deepest and most... most... dare he say it?

This is crazy, he murmured to himself with a smile.

And what Frankie was thinking was love. The spirit seemed so loving and caring... and this was despite Delaney's strange and chilling appearance. There was something about his smell and his whisper, a breath that came fresh from the passing clouds high above whilst being mixed with hellfire. He made Frankie feel safe. He made Frankie feel loved and guided and... and then there was another feeling inside.

A hot internal mercury that was deep and profound. The way his fur shivered and his tail tensed when he felt Delaney nearby. The way that he flushed red in the muzzle every time he thought about their next encounter. The fear was almost completely gone. This was lust... hefty, musky, leaden lust that was bubbling to the surface in the very best ways.

So why was everyone afraid of Delaney to start with? Why the fear at all? Frankie found him comforting and nothing but a support. He'd never let on with this kind of feeling, lest Campbell and James commit him to the nearest mental hospital. Despite his romanticism around local lore, Frankie never wanted to lose his mortal friends. Cam and Jim were too important to alienate in any way. They put up with him so well and the yeen was constantly walking around with a guilt strung about his tall shoulders. It was time to perhaps pay them back for all their kindness, to give them the confidence and freedom that he felt in the here and now.

He just wasn't sure how he could possibly pass on this feelgood factor. Frankie knew exactly what his friends wanted to be, how much they longed to shed their images and bodies to some degree. Perhaps there'd be something in this book that would allow him to dabble and give back to the tails that meant the most to him.

It was then that he looked at the dark, leather-bound book in his paws, feeling its warmth and weight, the smells of ages wafting up to him... damp, musty paper and old inks. His nose snuffled with the contents. It was exciting to have this at last, to finally have the chance to take it home and call it his own and...

"Are you just gonna' stand there, or are you going to buy it?"

"I'm... I'm just..."

"Boy, we have little time." And now there were his eyes, hovering before him in the dark and dingy bookstore. Between the high shelves and towards the end of the narrow walkway that split these tomes in two was the distinctively thin, haggard but frightening figure of Delaney. His tail ragged and wafting to the side, his clothing barely discernible in the restricted light. It was tattered, coal-spattered and black, showing his dark grey fur beneath, the only brightness being his sharp, dripping teeth and those eyes. Paws alive, those red, flaming eyes that didn't blink; but one could see that his eyebrows arched in anger. He was frustrated at waiting. The wolf was ready to move on, to drift away from this place and make progress with this lost soul of a student.

"I... I..." Frankie stammered, clutching the book to his chest and pinning his ears. His fangs were big. Shit, he was really proud of them... probably the only thing right now about which he could say that. But the façade he beheld today staring him down with footpaws apart almost ready to charge him was equally the most unsettling yet... oh shit, there was that feeling again.

The wolf had already noticed, his nose snuffling whilst his form remaining at the end of the carpeted pathway.

"Standing here with me and getting hard isn't going to help either of us." Delaney grunted through an evil smile, noticing also that Frankie's tented crotch, the distinctive aroma of aroused canine piquing his interest. It also brought the spirit away from his usually impatient and frankly angry nature. "There'll be time for that... I promise."

The way the wolf ended that sentence sent hot chills through the usually open-minded yeen, unable to resist inhaling everything that Delaney had as the apparition vanished in a whisp of coke-like smoke... fly-ash and slag, burning poppies and singed earth.

He was heavenly.

He was... oh fuck, he was so sexy. The danger, the uncertainty, the feeling that Delaney gave off was one of nothing more than supreme confidence and power... the power to do whatever he wanted whenever the mood took him. It was one of the main reasons why Frankie obeyed the wolf's every word and wag. He wanted to see how much of this he could learn and perhaps... well, who knew... maybe, just maybe Delaney would endow him with something like this when he left this mortal coil.

Man oh man, that'd be freaking awesome! The yeen murmured to himself, fondling his crotch and thinking about all the unachieved and the unaccomplished. He freely admitted to being one of them, but now he had this eerie and intelligent spirit at his side. How could he go wrong?! How could he not take this opportunity?!

Kyle would be his first target. There was no way that he would let Delaney concentrate on selfish ends. This entity, whoever he truly was, was the door he'd longed for; and the young canine would do anything to at last have things his way.

"Get... going!" Came another whisper, deep to the very longest fur of his inner ears.

"Oh! Uh, yeah... right." Frankie snapped himself out of it, shaking off the daydreamin' and finally padding over to the clerk's desk. He could be so ditzy sometimes, but he was unimaginably cute with it.

"Heh." Delaney murmured, lain across the top of the bookshelf below the ceiling, paddling his footpaws behind him, a paw smudging to nothing like a fast-disappearing stick of charcoal to the dusty wood. "He's too cute for this. Gonna' blow his mind."

And he was gone again, fading into the ether as his eyes lingered last to watch Frankie's tail wag as he went for his wallet. It had not gone unnoticed by the bookstore clerk, a young dalmatian who was left bemused by Frankie's conversation with what seemed to be thin air. There was little discussion over the price of the book that the yeen wanted, even though the clerk hesitated when he saw the size, age and quality of the tome compared to the tag.

_Meh, whatever!_He murmured with a smile, shrugging and taking Frankie's patient before returning to wishing he was somewhere else right now.

Seemed like this rather geeky hyena was having the time of his life, especially going by his distinctly musky scent. Even without what was spoken, Frankie was making an impression. He just needed to finish this.

It was only as he got home and placed the book on his bed that he realized Delaney was less from above, rather than from below. The instant it hit those musk-infused covers and almost as though it could smell its occupant's desire, the atmosphere was lit like a match... a very icy match at that! The chill wasn't the cold, fresh breeze of the outside, rather the weirdly vicious heat from the caverns of the canine devil; but Frankie was far from being afraid. This was precisely what he - cryptically and secretly - had wished for. In fact, the yeen was left so gobsmacked, caught in the irrepressible aura of this beautiful ghost that he just couldn't help but be turned on by the demon.

"Wow, dude calm down! I'm flattered, but jeez!"

"Heh, sorry." Frankie mumbled, huddled in on himself as he beheld this eloquent spirit.

"Well, your distinct libido aside, I've not really ever introduced myself properly have I?!"

"Uh I guess not. But I know who you were."

"Well... either way, I'm Bleed. In my mortal life my name was indeed Delaney. You've known the latter but not the former. When my soul was taken by the Lupic Devil, he used me and tortured me. Little did he know at the start that I actually enjoyed it. He cottoned-on pretty quick and I... well, let's say... became his aide. At his right paw. Those claws were magic. Never knew how deep you could get to someone's soul through simply coursing it across your fur as it burrrrrrrrrrrrrns."

As disturbing as this was, Frankie gulped and stood strong, Delaney's voice vibrating through the air, lighting it aflame and wafting into his ears like a tuning fork constantly moving.

"Heh, you don't mind hearing this huh?!"

"N... N... no." The yeen replied in as brave and determined a way as possible. "Um, I mean, I... I think you're a lot sweeter than you let on. Ya' know, caring for me and looking out for me."

"I'm used to it, boy. I started with looking out for myself. I only cared about that. Me, no one else. And look where it got me. I came from the north in search of my fortune but found nothing but evil. So, I sank to it, gave in, became one with the beautiful redness of my evil lord."

"You really are... I mean... the wolf who..."

"Died at the end of that lane, out of my tail on the seed of the poppy? Yes, my exotic friend. It is I."

"But what drove you to become this?"

"A demon?" He grinned, reaching closer and passing a fiery paw beneath Frankie's jaw, singeing the very tips but not making the yeen flinch. He liked it.

The dumbfounded and sweet-hearted canine was left entranced by that warmth and smell as Bleed retired and drifted to the sofa. Afraid that the wolf would burn the covers, Frankie dashed after him, but he had no reason to fear for Bleed sat cross-footpawed and beckoned him to join him.

The sofa remained intact. How was he able to do this? Why was it so attractive, to desire this semi-life before him? Frankie was hooked.

"I was fed up with helping those who could help themselves. It grew tiring to watch others be frightened, take their own lives. I drove tails to distraction. I drove them to kill others and themselves. But there was no fun in it. I had made them like that. My very presence was nothing but a parasitic cloud. I realized that my evil could be good. My nature could bring out something in others that was for the good of all. If I can give to alleviate pain, whilst increasing my own pleasure, I will."

"Really? that's uh... complicated."

"Uh huh. I want the attention; I don't want others to run or destroy. It's counterproductive to my... needs." He grinned. "And all this...assistance... comes at a price of course. This padding, breathing contradiction in terms stood before you is not a cheap wolf, my friend. So, for now, let us begin with what you truly want, savannah boy. What is it that you desire? Since you haven't offed-yourself or run screaming or cut down a bunch of other tails in a hail of flashing swords, it would seem that I have found my... pet."

"I'm not a pet." Frankie mumbled discontentedly.

"Oh, come now." And Delaney stroked a boney paw across the yeen's head, a reaching spindle of black char, burning cartilage and smouldering fur that almost looked like it was going to fall away from his body at any second. "You love that touch, that smell, that feeling. But others hurt you. And I am here to make it alllllllll go away."

"I... I don't want to... ya' know... physically hurt anyone."

Delaney rolled his eyes in disappointment, those deep-maroon cue balls spinning in their sockets like orbiting Jupiters.

"Very well." He sighed. "But tell me. Who is it that does this to you and what do you want of them?"

"And no hurting them, ri...?"

"Yes, no hurting them. Paws alive! Mortals are so concerned about others and how they may come to harm, yet they hurt and endure so much. Listen boy, I promise that whomever you tell me about will not come to harm... much."

"What?"

"Nothing." The wolf murred through an unmistakable slyness.

"Hmmm." Frankie frowned; but that soon evolved to a confident grin, eager to tell his own story. He wasn't going to get any further compliance from this ghost than he already had. Guarantees were never a guarantee in the otherworlds.

"Ok, I... well..."

It was only then that Frankie paused, gazing at his favourite folklore book... solemnly, wistfully, sorrowful for what it contained; and Bleed knew instantly.

"You know a lot about me, don't you?!" The spirit murmured, a confidence gone although his burning fur acrid on the air was yet so warm and comforting. Why could any of this be so?

"Maybe." Frankie tried his best to be as confident as possible, even though the sight of the demon was as distracting as it was arousing. The aura was penetrating his soul, soaring across his pelt like caressing paws. It felt so fucking good!

Bleed's demeanour seemed to smoulder as if a living remnant of the embers of a bonfire caught in the rain, eyes cast sideward and his form slumped as much as a ghost's could ever possibly be.

"All I ever wanted was acceptance." The spirit grumbled, almost angry, clenching his paws to fists with his eyes screwed up and leaching bloody tears. "I turned to the poppy's juices to ease my pain and my disturbance at life. Your pain, my hyena friend, is indeed mine. I understand."

"But..." Frankie padded closer as Bleed relaxed a little more. He even seemed to smile as the big ol' canine came to sit beside him. "What's it really like being a... well... whatever you are?"

"A whole lotta fun." The wolf grinned, now turning his fiery paw in the air before him in awe at his own power. "But enough of this. What is it you want from me, Frankie?"

"I... I need you to help me."

"With what exactly?"

And it was now that his ears pinned in embarrassment.

"Kyle. He... he likes to make my life a misery."

"I see no misery in you, dear boy. What or who is this_Kyle_?"

"He's a lion, a stupid fuckin' bully!"

"Cats are indeed an interesting species." Delaney murmured with a deep sigh, his chest visibly lifting out then in with a great deal of doubt and exhaustion. "They are self-absorbed and supremely touchy."

Bleed had a knowing smile on his muzzle, playing with the fire that leapt from the tips of his claws before turning back to Frankie.

"But what does this have to do with a favour?"

"I... I kinda want him... well, ya' know... out of the picture?"

"You want me to kill him?"

"Oh paws above, no!" Frankie's demeanour switched in fright and concern, making to almost plead with this strange entity. "No no no! Please don't!"

"Alright, alright, heheheh!" The wolf laughed, shaking his head with the vision of this tall and imposing yeen down at his every whim. "It's just my go-to, my friend. I have no intention of harming him... much."

"Phew! I... wait! Much? What do you mean much?"

"Well listen! You're gonna' have to make your mind up about what you want from me, cos' I don't have time to hang around if you aren't what I'm looking for."

"Looking for? Who are you looking for?"

"I've been seeking a tail like you for some time. Decades in fact. And here you are, practically on your knees before a stranger than stranger. There's no telling what I may have asked you to do in return, but I've had something in mind for a long time. As long as you're up for it."

"Well, that depends."

"For sure, I agree." Bleed grinned. "Let's start with what you want my sensitive soft friend. What do you really want me to do for you and this Kyle?"

"I want revenge on him. I want... I finally want to laud it over him. I want everyone to see him for the pussy he is."

"You have desire to defeat him at his own game?"

"Precisely!"

"Doesn't that make you a bully too?"

And Frankie paused. He'd never thought of it like that.

"But I... but I don't want to go on living with his abuse." He murmured, unable to look back at Bleed.

"You have thought about walking away though?"

"I've padded away before, yeah... but it..." A heavy sigh misted from the poor yeen's maw. He was exhausted. "It just gets worse."

"And this abuse... has he hurt you physically?"

"Yes, he has. Kyle loves to see me hurt. I swear, he does it cos' he enjoys it. Sick fuck!"

Bleed paused.

"Show me." The wolf muttered with a straight face, staring back at his mortal friend, deadly serious and eager to see what pain this hyena was suffering.

And the yeen, almost stuck in a trance and that fire in those eyes, slipped out of his clothes, the soft and vaguely sweaty material pooling at his mightily broad footpaws. The wolf bit his lip. The yeen was big but could probably stand to be bigger. In fact, he was on the brink of sharing this.

"You know... you could stand to be bigger to stand up to this leonine felon."

"I... I've always kinda wanted to be." Frankie shyly replied, almost pigeoning his footpaws in his amorous company.

"Hmmm." Bleed wandered about his caller, looking at the yeen's rump and that cute, rough tail. His mottles and spots were coursed with black and beige, whilst that underlying pelt was a carpet of caramels and subtle auburn. The wolf could see and smell where Frankie had been hurt and indeed how badly. This was enough to convince him as to a course of action. Actually, scratch that! No course of action... a deal!

"Ok, my hyena friend." He murmured, wandering away before turning over his shoulder and slinging a grin at the still barefurred Frankie. "How do you feel about cutting an... agreement with me? A little... contract if you will?"

"Well... what... what am I gonna' get?"

"Heh, you're a clever boy." Bleed turned fully, panning his paws before him and casting a flame-born picture between them. "This, Frankie. I can give you this."

That burning image grew clearer as Frankie stared at it; and what he beheld was unreal, totally unbelievable.

"Like what you see?" The wolf murmured, leaning around his 'creation' and smirking, knowing full well that the tumescence in his friend's sheath was enough to let him know.

The yeen didn't say a thing, just staring wide-eyed at himself, a hung and supremely well-built leviathan of a canine.

"This is how much stronger in both mind and body I can make you. This is how imposing you can be. You'd be able to laud it over everyone, screw with anyone you want, and fuck until your lovers beg for you to never leave."

"Ahem, wow!" Frankie gawped, a soft gasp of excitement smoking between them just like the wisp of excited musk emanating from his groins. "And what about Kyle? Cos it's no good me being so big yet Kyle still wandering around thinking he's the king of every pawsdamned thing!"

Bleed sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Jeez, you cut a hard bargain. I will make it so that you can... change him."

"And not hurt him?"

"Not at all my friend." Bleed smirked. "For the last time, far from it. And I will endow you with not just the body, but the powers to make him uh... half the lion he is now."

"And no pain?"

"Oh for paws sake, no! No pain!" Bleed laughed incredulously. "Since when did mortals play the pain card so often and so emotionally?! You'd all make lousy demons."

"I don't want to be a demon."

"You sure about that?"

It was then that Frankie was struck with a realization that was all too close to being a potential, a certainty or even a guarantee. He truly loathed the thought of eternal damnation, but Bleed seemed to like it. Paws alive, was he really contemplating this?!

"So, I'm guessing you're finally gonna' tell me what you want in return."

"A minor thing, my boy."

"Minor?"

"Yes... trivial, minute, a mere nothing in the whole grand scheme of things."

"Well?"

"Heh, impatient too!" The spirit huffed angrily, rolling his eyes. "Anyway, in return for me giving you this ability and a stunning body after your next encounter with Kyle, I want you to follow me to the afterlife and be my personal bodyguard. And with a body like I can give you, you'll be perfect for all my... needs."

Bleed's paws ran through Frankie's chest ruff, eagerly ruffling the yeen's fragrant floof, he wolf's warm aroma - hot ash, burning elm and greenstick - surrounding them both. One was keen on what he could see, the other very unsure. It wasn't very difficult to work out who felt what.

"Huh?! What? You mean... leave this and...?"

"Leave this all and be with me... physically, emotionally, sexually. I need relief and you will both protect me and serve me at all times, for all time."

It was then that it struck the yeen square in the heart and mind. This is what Bleed really wanted in return. He was fucking serious! How could the poor yeen leave all this behind for a mere change in his stature and confidence?! Was it really that important?

"Remember..." Delaney murmured softly, a convincing devilish saleswolf who wanted nothing more than to have companionship; but his harsh nature couldn't bring him to that realization or confession. "This is what you'll get."

And there again was that vision of a ripped, muscular body with a bulky, thick sheath and formidable eyes.

"This is too fuckin' much!" Frankie laughed nervously, rubbing a paw to the back of his head and backing away a little.

"Well... you were the one who summoned me."

The yeen couldn't deny it. This was all he ever wanted; and if dealing with Delaney was the only way, then he was finally feeling as confident as one could ever be given the circumstances.

"You know if you want all this, you will be mine forever." Ever the saleswolf, the demon murmured and toyed with the lad's emotions. He was immensely clever. There was no escaping his power.

Frankie swallowed hard but braved a reply in as determined a way as possible.

"Y... ye... yes."

"Good!" Bleed grinned. "I will provide you all that you need to seek your revenge, and in exchange you will need to forfeit all of your future plans in favour of a life with me. You will be my personal security, my toy, my daunting but friendly and frisky fuckbuddy."

The way the wolf described almost made Frankie laugh, but perhaps that was intentional since the yeen was more than happy to tell him 'yes'. His eloquence was hypnotic and there was no wonder that Delaney had been such a sly and successful young demon. It only sank in when the yeen paused and met eyes with his bizarre supernatural friend.

"I..."

"You want this, right?"

"Well yeah, I... but..."

"You're not getting cold footpaws now, are you?" The wolf smiled, twizzling his right paw across the coffee table, watching the smoke and fire play with the wood varnish like caramel burning in a pan.

Frankie remained very thoughtful, pondering Bleed's disconcerting but rather exciting terms. Wasn't this the kind of thing he'd always wanted? Wasn't this his chance to finally get the eyes and noses of the world on him? And he'd finally have revenge on that fuckin' leonine douche!

"You've got a deal!" He murmured with the most confidence he'd had for a long time.

His wolven friend grinned and got back to his footpaws.

"I'm glad!" Bleed murmured, his whole being seemingly brighter and more vivid. It was almost thankful that this mere mortal had accepted his conditions for taking care of an issue.

**

"Head out on the town?" James turned and looked at Cam who was just as bemused by the suggestion.

Frankie had been so much more bouncy and somehow confident over the past couple of days and was ready to explore his new hedonistic future in the here and now. His encounter and connection to the afterlife were not to be forgotten, but it was easy to simple push it aside for a while to enjoy this mortal coil. He wouldn't forget his commitment to Delaney... would he? Well, he better not, cos' that wolf was not one to mess with! Pleasure in the depths of a fiery otherworld were not to be sniffed at, but he didn't want to get on the young demon's bad side straight away!

"Yeah, why not?" Frankie murmured, paws slipped to the pockets of his jeans and a cheeky grin streaking across that broad muzzle. Those fangs seemed so much whiter, his mohawk spiked and preened.

"Are you serious?! What's wrong with you?" James couldn't help but laugh incredulously, unsure as to why his usually shy friend was ready to break out and head out.

"Why? You don't want to?"

"Well, it's not that, s'just that... you never really want to go out."

"Well, I'm changin'. I've been talking about it all with another close friend and..."

"Who?"

"Who what?"

"Who was the friend?"

"Oh, he's uh... just a friend."

Campbell was rather perturbed but let that question die. There was no point in reigning Frankie any more than already had been attempted. There was no reason to stop the yeen from finally having some confidence and esteem.

_The Fenix Club_on the west side of town was their destination, the friends clambering into James's beat-up Chevy Nova. Paws alive, it was less forlorn than an actual classic! It was made before any of these kindly tails were even born.

Plenty of attention was what Frankie craved, leaving his friends yet more bemused.

"Just you wait and see!

And that wasn't their only stop. After the drinks and the mingling which were all totally out of character, they wandered over and through Lake Rim Park. It was now that Frankie's motive became very obvious very quickly.

"Take 'em off!" Frankie nigh-demanded from James as he looked about and noticed the little group were alone. The grin on his muzzle was irresistible, as were the hearts in his friend's eyes. The licking of his chops as he smelled the mix of horniness and utter confusion rising from his friends' tails let everybody know that he craved what his loving companions could offer... tight, musky, sweaty bodies.

"Huh?!"

"You heard me, kitty!"

Who was he to deny this new Frankie?! Who was he to question this amazing change in the yeen's deepest, yet undiscovered feelings. Campbell watched on in pleasant disbelief, his own usually rather nervous demeanour fading as he saw his two friends got busy, Frankie pushing James up against the nearest tree. With the soft greenstick aromas of wet grass, leaves and detritus, Cam found himself pawing off as the two usually shy pals got down n' dirty in a relatively public venue.

"Oh fuck, that's hot!" He murred, first rubbing his hardening knot through his underwear, before slipping them down and breakin' it out for a full-on hedonism.

Meanwhile...

"Mmm, tasty too!" Frankie grinned as he withdrew his chunky muzzle from a fair stuffing of that tempting tight ass.

James didn't, or rather couldn't, say anything. He was stood propped to the tree, flopped around its trunk with a satisfied smile on his muzzle and a distinctly chloric drip of off-white spunk splashed before him. It was all across the bark, the resulting spurt of a very eager eatin', Frankie sendin' shivers through his friend, the latter not able to believe that any of these being possible.

With the deliciously musky smell, the dry heat and the give of his pucker, Frankie dug in like he'd always wanted to. He couldn't deny that he'd fantasized about this. The soft marshy lawn on his ample knees and footpaws, his own desperate grip to part his friend's ass, the eagerness of the other friend to drop his fly and spurt precum everywhere... it was a perfect storm of pleasure! No one was complaining that was for pawsdamned sure! So OK, initially it was weird to see Frankie - of all tails - do this, to skillfully perform this filthy and baser gift of anal pleasure; but this was so many levels of sexy, it was hard to resist the rising liquids and strong stench of masculine scent.

Frankie's hard cock was tenting his shorts, a damp spot testament to how much of a turn on this was. The excitement of being so spontaneous combined with the dreamy aroma of James's sweaty cleft. The cat's twitching perineum coupled with the vibrations of his ever-quickening heartbeat made the flexing and jerking thrusting that came last all the more satisfying. James almost snarled - something he never did! It had had so much of an impact on his very insides, that he rubbed his muzzle against the bark, feeling that long canine tongue soar up his ass, touching the right buttons to make it all end in a stream of fluid.

"Mleh, your ass is a freakin delicacy!" Frankie grinned as he wiped his hungry chops, sure to sniff his wrist to get that last fetid aroma... a final kick and thrill that shook his body, even though he hadn't climaxed himself.

James didn't speak, rather leaning against the tree, tongue lolled and a soft, happy pant misting through the air. Cam had just blown his load across the cat's dark calico footpaws, knees shaking and as eager to go again as anyone had ever seen or smelled him; but Frankie got to his feet and put a paw on his shoulder.

"Let's save some." He murred. "For later."

"Awwww, how much later?" The wolf whimpered with a sly but understanding smile, licking his lips at the saliva-soaked tail-high ass of his feline friend.

"Heheh, I never knew you were so pawsdamned horny all the time."

"Best get to know me more, Frankie."

Temptation aside, the day was closing and the scents of others was strengthening. No one wanted to get into trouble, so a long stroll around Glenville Lake and Mazarick Park just across the road from class was enough to quiet that worry and consternation. It was only when they got back to the apartment that this bemusement turned into honest, well-meaning questions.

"You gonna tell us who you are and what you've done with the real Frankie?!" Campbell laughed as he put his key to the lock and padded on in, followed by a very satisfied James who was cuddled to his big yeen's side.

"Heh, I dunno... I just feel so much better about... stuff."

"Stuff? Really? You were inches from stuffin' that silly pussy full o' cock, for paws sake! You've never been this frisky... I mean, at least... I don't remember you ever being... wow this is just crazy!"

The calico withdrew after nuzzling Frankie gently, loving the warmth of his big lover.

"Mmmm and you know, I... I don't want to come across as ungrateful, but Cam's right." Jim smiled wryly, tweaking the yeen's nose teasingly. "How come? Cos' you still haven't let us in on the reasons for this feelgood factor?"

Frankie shrugged, paws to the loops of his jeans whilst his tail swished happily behind him.

"I guess I figured I wanted to give back where I had taken so much."

"Dude, you know we don't feel like that about you!" The red wolf spluttered on the lip of his soda can, eyes watering as he held down the fluid.

"I know, but... well... I just wanted to have some fun with you guys. I've been seeing this other dude and..."

"There 'e goes with that other guy!" James murmured slyly. "Someone's gettin' some action on the side and not lettin' us in on that hot fuckin'!"

"Nuh uh, I just..."

"Frankie! Mate, I'm just kiddin'." James stood on the tips of his footpaw claws and took his friend's muzzle in both paws, smooching that delicious wet nose and making the newly-confident canine blush. "Relax! We're both happy for you. Just want you to stay safe!"

"Yes, dad!"

"Hehehehe! You're right. I'm acting waaaaaaay too parental."

"You are ya' know!" Cam' spoke up as he put his footpaws up on the coffee table. "Gonna put you in a dress and make you wield a rolling pin!"

And this right here... this was why Frankie felt so comfy around Cam' and James. They were funny, easygoing and really, truly cared about what was going on in his life. They indulged him when he was feeling frisky. They entertained him when he was feeling low. They both stood by him when faced with the torrid bullying he'd had to face for years.

He owed them so much. Perhaps they wanted the same as what Bleed could offer, but how could he ever drag them into this weird-ass shit?! It was best left in mirth and the whispers and scents of mutual friendship. When he padded off to bed, lying on the mattress and staring up at the ceiling, his huge footpaws crossed at the hocks, Frankie just couldn't help but think about the wolf behind this strange set of circumstances.

"You rang?"

"Oh paws alive, don't do that!" Frankie shot up out of bed, covering his modesty with his pillow, blushing furiously as the eerie outline of Delaney stood in the middle of his bedroom.

"Heh, you're funny!"

"I... yeah, real funny!" Frankie growled beneath his breath.

"Soooo... what do you want? And enough with the hiding yourself! Paws alive, I've seen so much more than you can imagine. One more sheath is not gonna' burn out my eyeballs!"

"Alright alright!" The yeen murmured, tossing the feather-filled covering aside and sitting with his footpaws apart on the edge of his bed, paws either side of himself, a sweaty, tired musk drifting from his matted fur; and now his deeply thoughtful eyes glared up at the wolf before him. "Well actually, since you're here... when are we gonna' do this?"

"This?"

"Kyle? Remember? The guy who stills stalks and prowls around like a beige bitch!"

"Heh, that's funny."

"Ain't for me."

"Calm now, my pet, I..."

"I'm not your pet!"

"Heh, OK... Frankie, it will come soon. I promise." He paused, growling. Delaney wasn't angry... just pondering. "And you may not be my pet right now, but soon enough... soon enough."

This was all whispered vaguely out of sight, a deep guttural, hell-born murmur that was barely audible; but it was a reminder that there was no escaping this deal.

There was something that made him nervous still. Delaney's presence was ever-ready and swirling around him. It made him shiver. It made him excited, but paws alive he hoped that, by dealing with this distraught demon, he had made the right decision. Frankie wanted this to be over as soon as possible, cos' if he was gonna' become immortal, a hunk of canine that drifted around in heavenly swirls of hedonism, he wanted it to come down about him now.

Waiting was hell.

Little did he know that the wolf was about to enact his plans. The surprise was part of Delaney's pleasure, delaying until Frankie would burst with frustration. It had been long enough. It was time to show him that he was serious, that the depths of an opium-soaked afterlife had a soft and empathic side too. Kyle would bear his brunt so very soon.

Lo and behold, the following week came 'round and there was revenge in the air. Bleed swirled about the halls and the apartments, the quad and the café, realizing that now was the time. His mortal friend had committed, and now the wolf's otherworldly power would prove to those that padded the earth that nothing was to ever be forgotten... like him. Like his family. Like his torment and pain.

Delaney was truly a youngster who never got to live and love because of the exact same kind of guy that Kyle was. There was something sinful and wonderfully apt about him choosing Frankie. It was destined, written in the lava and the fire of his immortal home, that this yeen would pad into this ethereal life.

Humiliation was his job. Embarrassing this son of a bitch was written in the thick, tense air.

He watched Frankie wander to the cafeteria, eager to partake of lunch; and no sooner had he appeared, then that idiot lion made good on his predictable schedule of making others' lives hell!

Kyle was showing off to his girlfriends, the vixens and lionesses swooning over his muscles in that silly fuckin' cut-off shirt. Man, he was so fucked up! So up himself it was untrue!

"Say, what do you think, ya fag!?"

Frankie shrugged and shuffled further down the line, rushing his tray away from this unwanted attention.

"Heh, thought as much, gay boy!"

And still the yeen ignored him. That was apparently not what Kyle wanted.

"Hey, don't pad away from me! I'm not done with you!"

The lion tried to turn his victim by the shoulder, but Frankie growled, his fangs shining and mohawk shivering as he felt his hackles rise.

"Leave me alone, Kyle!"

"Fat chance, buddy boy! I want you to check this body out. Somethin' you'll never get."

It was only now that Frankie found himself staring. He didn't want to, but he just couldn't help it... just like he couldn't help but feel his sheath stiffen and fill out.

"Ha! You got a fuckin' hard-on. Ewwwww!" The lion jibed and just had to do this all out loud! Such a prick!

Kyle cubbishly pointed and laughed, and now the girls were giggling and others were stifling a horrid mirth... not that anyone had much of a choice. If they wanted to stay on the right side of this devil, they had to obey his every disturbed whim and indulge his perverse and sociopathic personality. But with all this leonine masculinity and pride on display for everyone to see and smell, no matter if they wanted to or not, came a distinct aroma that seemingly only Frankie could smell; so much so that he turned and frowned, lifting his deep, chiselled muzzle to the stuffy air and scenting.

"Heh, look at 'im!" Kyle laughed. "Can't get enough of me! So freakin' gay!"

Still the yeen looked about and now only realized what or who it was... Delaney. Maybe now was crunch time?!

The lion scoffed and threw his paws in dismissal at his victim, letting Frankie have his space before turning tail and padding back to his fawning posse.

"Touch him, boy!" The demon's voice whispered through Frankie's head.

"Huh?"

"Reach out and touch him. I promise it will be worth it."

Shrugging on the inside but shaking on the outside, the yeen stepped forward and tapped Kyle on the shoulder as the feline had made away from his latest 'victory'. All this garnered was a glare back at the nervous yeen, Kyle's mane swirling and swishing like a swathe of corn, his tail tensing.

"What gives you the fuckin' right to touch me, faggot?!"

"Uhh, I..."

"Heh, you really are fucked up and..."

The lion paused, almost stunned. He seemed suddenly perturbed, looking about himself, down his body to the floor as though something were brewing in his very insides.

"What the fuck is going on! What the fuckin' hell did you infect me with you lousy, motheaten, mohawk bitch, I..."

This was freakin' hilarious, although most of his group scarpered, two of the girls screaming as they watched him change. Kyle's voice had trailed off as his stature literally shrank right before everybody's eyes.

"Oh fuck!" Frankie stepped backwards as his one-time bully practically disappeared, along with his usually pristine pelt and imposing height.

Off came that luscious savannah pelt, an invisible shaver dealing the lion a comprehensive trim to the skin. This bizarre turn of events made Frankie irresistible to the females who were left stood in awe; and with every attempt from Kyle to fight back, the male's pelt thinned and fell away, along with his voice. It was getting squeakier by the second as he lost everything that was imposing about him.

"Freakin fag!" He yelled like a mouse squealing for his life. "You don't even wantpussy. Leave my girls alone!"

And now everyone just collapsed in laughter, mostly tinged with a distinct element of unease. How was any of this possible? How had this seemingly meek and geeky yeen been able to do this crazy shit to an imposing lion?

As Kyle dashed away down the corridor, his claws now mere pins falling and scratching to the tile as he made his way to the medic, Frankie had all eyes and noses on him.

"Heh, I guess his insults finally fell short."

"Ohhhh snap!"

It was one of those moments that he held dear to this day. Just the right thing to say at just the right time. It was rare to come up with it on the spot, but he made it happen; and it sure garnered plenty more nervous laughs as he padded away with girls swooning over him. The rampant blushing made Frankie look all the cuter, the red flushing through his muzzle like crushed strawberries floating and bleeding beneath a stream's current; and this all as his imposing paws were held by the soft pads of some admittedly beautiful lionesses.

They weren't the only ones who'd taken notice either. Tyler had always held a torch for the hyena, but he had been roped into this by the stronger lion

He hurried to catch up to Frankie as he padded out into the sunshine with James and Campbell, both back-slapping him in victory; but the poor ram was left behind pretty quickly. Pawsdamnit, he had to catch up! He just had to! This was too much for everyone, but for him... paws alive, there was nothing more he wanted than to be at the yeen's side.

"Holy paws, man! Holy crap... I mean, wow!"

"You the yeen, Frankie!"

"That was frickin' awesome!"

All of the celebrating and the yuckin' and the congregation attracted eyes and noses across campus, none moreso than one of Kyle's now-former lackies. He didn't want to be associated with that fuckin' lion anymore. Frankie had shown everyone his true colours, and indeed the horrid spectra that Kyle had spread like a mental manure. He was done. Followers would always follow; and they wanted to trail that spotted, dark coffee and beige pelt.

Frankie was the dude to be seen with.

"Frankie?! Frankie?"

And the group stopped, a soft wave of pelt and fragrant, high musk simmering into the warm sunshine... smiles, wags and relaxation.

"I... I..." He panted, Tyler's wool not exactly helping him in the stuffy weather. "I ju... just wanted to say... sa... say I'm sorry. I... I was only doing what I was told and I never..."

The yeen was surprised but pleased, eager not to hold grudges.

"Heh, we're cool." He bumped his paw with Tyler's hoof, their eyes meeting and the blushing rumbling through his new friend's roman muzzle.

In this tide of high-feeling, Frankie and his friends were swept away into the sunshine.

"Man oh man, not even a pussy can get that much pussy, get it? Get it?" James giggled.

"Jeez o' Pete's, cram it, Jim!" Campbell laughed, shaking his head at his quipping friend. Paws alive, James couldn't help himself!

All anyone saw was this once formidable bully dashing away to the nurse's office, laughed down the corridor by all those who had fallen victim to him over the years; and this included several of his puny underlings. They'd realized what he was really like.

"He was simply mortal, as we all are."

"Wow that's sorta'... dark." Campbell frowned as he sucked on his soda. "Are you... are you ok?"

"Who? Me? Oh paws alive, I'm better than ever."

"Uh ok. I mean..." And now the red wolf turned to look bemused at the aftermath of the situation that had just gone down. "How was any of this even possible? What would make someone... well... you know... shrink?"

"Perhaps his luck ran out." Frankie shrugged with a sly smile, gazing forward and not wanting to stop this feeling. The sun on his fur, the breeze across his mohawk, the delicate kiss of everyone's musky attention and admiration all over his pelt.

"You are being too cryptic today, Frankie!"

"Heh, I... I'm just glad it's over."

"What's over?"

"The Kyle thing." He replied nonchalantly.

"You... you didn't have anything to do with this did you?"

"Little ol' me? Nah. How could I possibly have the power or the connections to make something like that go down?!"

As the yeen padded away the smell of Delaney's pleasure and satisfaction soared into his nostrils, whilst Cam and James were left all rather weirded-out as they tagged along behind.

"Hey wait, what? What do you... slow down!"

**

Frankie never did give it up.

Besides, neither of his friends woulda' believed him; and again, they were too precious to let them get their teeth into a fable that truly shouldn't even have been living or allowed to live.

Delaney was his; or at least that was what he thought. Little did he or his friends know but the demon had plans besides the trifling spectacle he'd put on to appease the oppressed this morning. Oh, this was not over... not by a long shot!

Searching for jobs on his phone was a challenge, not least for the fact that he had something specific in mind for his career and one particular roomie had a soft spot for him. James wasn't keen on what he saw as the yeen perused law enforcement and security positions across the state.

"I just think it'd give me a great confidence boost, ya' know!?" Frankie murmured, seeing Jim hold his own tail, twist it like a worry 'ball' in a quiet, pensive and nearly tearful stupor.

"Well yeah, but..." James murmured, ears pleated backwards as he curled up on the loveseat, holding his footpaws to his chest for comfort. "S'just that somethin' like that is so dangerous and..."

"We think it's a great idea, dude!" Campbell interrupted and nudged his overly-sensitive friend, eking a hush out the right side of his muzzle. "Don't we?!"

"Ow!"

"I said... don't... we?!"

"Yes. Hundred-percent, yes!" The poor kitty was under the kosh but understood the wolf's insistence.

This whole thing was gonna' be honest-to-goodness amazing for Frankie, no matter the risk. It would bring him out of his shell all the more and allow him the freedom of knowing he was serving others and his own health.

It was kinda' ironic then as no sooner as they were gonna' up n' leave, that Frankie's cellphone buzzed to life.

"Oh man, I got a call back." He bounced on those big footpaws, clutching his phone like that favourite gift on Christmas Day.

"Jeez, well answer it ya' silly yeen!" Cam' laughed, sitting back to the table and cupping his paws about his empty mug.

Sure enough and through the obvious suppression of desperate excitement, Frankie had already landed an interview for a job in law enforcement. It was just downtown actually, working the beat with the local state police.

"Heh, the only risk I have when I get this position is being constantly around so many hunky dudes." Frankie laughed off Jim's nerves as they left and headed home, the feelgood factor never more prevalent than in this amazing moment.

The cat twisted his tail and kept his maw shut. He was just scared for his friend s'all.

But James's fear and genuine concern wasn't the only aroma that followed Frankie to the police station on the day of his interview; and sure, he was nervous. It was totally natural to be, but there was someone else with him... and that particular someone was with him from the moment he stepped into the office, to the time he bade farewell to the dapper vulpine patrol officer.

Delaney had been there.

Frankie could smell him, hear him even. The whispers were almost off-putting, especially as he fielded questions from his potential employer.

"Aren't we forgetting something?"

But Frankie simply ignored him. The yeen had bigger prey to stalk. Sure, he could also see and smell those ghostly grey-red swirls, those inimitable eyes and that scarily acidic scent; but he was too high on life to want for what came afterwards. Delaney however was not to be pushed aside. He could bide his time.

"Ignore me at your peril, Hyena boy!"

Still no response; but the wolf simply smirked and disappeared into a fug of vaguely ethanolic smoke.

Perhaps Frankie didn't notice his demonic friend. Perhaps he was too keen on what lay ahead than what had passed a century and more prior; or perhaps the yeen was out of his depth. Did he truly realize what he had got himself into?

Getting down to business, all other interviews paled into insignificance when compared to this. They just weren't as fun or as glamorous. Frankie knew precisely what he really wanted and hopefully - paws crossed - he would get that call and he could finally start his career. I mean, he was big enough, brave enough and had this newfound confidence borne of coming out of a shell cracked by a very special entity.

And come Saturday morning, his wish came true. The call he had waited for, dreamed of even, was one on which he could barely contain his excitement. They wanted him for the position and wanted him to start as soon as he finished school. Holy paws!

Frankie felt the luckiest young yeen in the world! This was a dream come true! He couldn't say 'yes' enough and no sooner had he dabbed his paw to the 'hang-up' button on his phone then he pulled an unsuspecting James into a huge hug!

"Hoo boy! I guess you got the job!?" The cat laughed, spluttering and wincing as Frankie's paws clutched and squeezed him like a favourite toy.

"True bromance!" Campbell laughed, coming through to the lounge from the bathroom, rubbing his head fur with a towel, catching sight of the 'love-in'.

"I got it, dude!" Frankie bounced and practically slung James onto the couch, the poor pussy bouncing like a fluffy calico-coloured ball as he hit the cushions. "I got the job!"

"Aww congrats, man!" Cam' padded over and hi-fived his friend, chest-bumpin' with his buddy as the feelgood warmth of everyone's happy aroma rose to the nostrils of all concerned. "Well, this calls for a celebration!"

"Ooo ooo does that mean I get another rimj...?!"

"No!" The red wolf shook his head whilst deeply sighing and remained stood barefurred and dripping wet with bath water. "Paws above, not now, Jim!"

"Awww!"

"Heh, I'm so happy." Frankie murmured, flumping to the loveseat and unable to wipe the smile from his muzzle. "This is really happening!"

"You've deserved it."

To keep it small and cosy, they invited a couple of close friends over to celebrate the starting of a career and post-education life. This included Tyler who looked all kinds of nervous as he clopped into a den of former 'enemies' - or at least, that's what he'd been told. It was now turning into a fragrant and friendly atmosphere of nothing but companions.

Amidst the drinks and the snacks and the infectious laugh of the imposing yeen, Tyler had a sudden burst of confidence as he wandered over to his friendly host.

"Hey."

"Hey, Tyler! I'm super pleased you made it." Frankie rose his glass to the young ram's presence, relaxing back to sit on the sofa's arm, footpaws apart and tail wagging happily.

The dusky interior, the smell of cured meats and of cheap lager was as comforting as it was exciting for all concerned.

"Heh, I..." He blushed, twizzling a cloven footpaw to the lush carpet. "I just wanted to say that I am... I'm super sorry for everything and..."

"Hey, no need, dude!" Frankie smiled and put a chunky paw out to squeeze the guy's shivering and nervous shoulder. "I don't hold grudges. Besides, I may need to call on you for a favour come Winter."

"Y... yeah?"

"Yeah." And the yeen killed off his beer can before crunching it in his right paw. "I may need a new sweater to keep me all types of warm."

"Oh, heh. I... I uh..."

"Chill, dude. I'm just messin' with ya'."

"Heh." And then there was that crushed-raspberry blush shimmering through Tyler's muzzle.

But before Frankie could make strides to the kitchen and the chatter that emanated from its burgeoning 'hearth', the ram had another burst of decisiveness, reaching out and grabbing the hem of Frankie's polo.

"Hm?"

"I uh... could I perhaps... well ya' know, have a chat with you? In private?"

The yeen frowned and shrugged.

"Uh I guess, sure, hehehe!"

But it was only as they closed the door to Frankie's room to leave them alone in the stifled quiet and gorgeously spicy scent of tired canine, that Tyler slowly dropped to his knees and began unzipping the yeen's jeans.

"Woah, but I..." Frankie initially hesitated, but was backed into a literal corner, claws finding the wall behind him.

"Shhh, I've always wanted to." Tyler murmured, the rustle of those jeans falling to the floor and sending crushed aromatics to the air... sweat, stale fur and soft wisps of bitters like a connoisseur's aphrodisiac. "Besides I owe you more than just a 'sorry'."

**

Graduation day prep was always gonna' be nerve-wracking, but in the immediate hours prior Frankie held his shoulders back and his head high in so much more a confident and happy aura.

Kyle was of course there to collect his degree, not that anyone towed his line anymore. He'd grown back a little, but not a lot. No one was sure if he'd ever recover to his full stature, but health-wise he remained alive and kicking. Frankie had got to witness precisely what comeuppances looked like in real life.

He was covered up, no obvious mane and a permanent scowl across his muzzle, directed specifically at Frankie who just confidently watched on, content in knowing that the lion had got his just desserts. James and Campbell weren't so sure, nervous still at how spontaneous this had all come about. Had Frankie poisoned the dude? Had he contracted someone to do something foolish with Kyle's food or fur wash or... paws only knew?!

After walking across the stage, shaking paws with the Dean and celebrating in the audience with his friends, Frankie hung out with his friends James and Campbell at a local campus bar. Enough with the business of graduating, enough with the hollering and hooting and the endless cheering. It was time to take some time aside with the best and most reliable tails in his life; and late-night snacks at Chip on the Block was ideal for chewing this particular fat! That and their salsa, tortilla chips and frozen margaritas of course! It was an ideal spot to put the world to rights and discuss plans for what came next.

Frankie guessed that the nerves he could smell in his friends' tails as they were walked to their table was mostly of leaving each other and going separate ways; and he had to admit, that that was not a goodbye he truly ever wanted to come about. He thought about clarifying his feelings when an appropriate 'interruption' padded past.

It was Kyle, snarling at him before hobbling towards the back of the restaurant, alone for once. Served 'im right! That was not to say that his presence was any less intimidating, no matter what had passed. He'd regained most of what he'd lost, but his scent, build and general health would never be the same again. Kyle'd never lead a Pride, that was for pawsdamned sure! Bet his parents weren't too thrilled about that!

"Oh shit!" James and Campbell both 'hit the deck' when they saw him, sinking below the table at their booth, afraid of being 'clocked' by the scorned leonine bully.

Frankie on the other paw was as nonchalant as all 'get-out', simply waving and smiling conceitedly at his defeated opponent.

"Ha, I guess it was a phase he grew out of!" The yeen laughed, downing another hefty gulp of ice water, watching and acknowledging his torrid past wandering gingerly away into the distance.

"You and your mouth!" Cam' murmured with a shake to his head.

James thought it was funny, but there was no doubting that none of this had made much sense. It was just too weird. So yeah, Frankie was reveling in all this attention and conveniently completely forgetting about his deal with that wolven demon.

Frankie would enjoy his last few days of 'freedom', and tonight was just the beginning, forking happily through his fajita meat and letting the sizzle plate cook his deliciously al-dente onions and peppers.

Sure enough, he was due at their training centre on the other side of town in about a week. Shit was happening so fast that it was difficult to keep up with him. Frankie had never been slow, but he was always so timid and nigh afraid; and now it was like he was a different tail. His wag was so much more fragrant, confident and that stride... paws alive, it was like he actually wanted others to notice. It was like he didn't care what others thought anymore.

The night was young though... and young for a completely different reason. When the three friends returned to their empty apartment around midnight, they were far from alone. As lights were turned on and noses twitched, the distinct smells of poppies, tar, charcoal and musky lupine got heads fixed on the far corner of the lounge.

Delaney was back.

"Well well well! Look what we have here!?"

"Who the fuck are you?!" Campbell padded forward, a vague growl crossing his muzzle.

"Heheh, you never told them, did you?!" Bleed murmured slyly, playing with the fire that danced from the digits on his paws.

Frankie was just astounded that Delaney had revealed himself to all and sundry.

"You can't be serious?! I mean, I... I told you I had no interest in..."

"Becoming a demon? Heh, I know." The wolf murred, playing with the molten, bony structures of his claws, digits and pads, a disturbing effluence that both disgusted and mesmerized.

"I... I'm not sure what you could do. I just don't believe you're this insistent."

"For sure, my friend. Never in doubt!" He replied. "You honestly didn't think you could ever renege on our little deal, did you?"

"Deal? What de... dude, what the fuck did you do?!" It was now that Campbell spoke up, paws dragging James away from the strange scene like a father worried for his pup.

But it was far too late for questions. Frankie was in a whole heap o' trouble. The day had come when payback was due, and Bleed had no qualms about carrying out what he had long promised. In as short a time as it took for him to appear and chastise, then the demon had decided to 'punish' Frankie in as benign a way as he could possibly live with... transforming him into something that he figured the yeen would at least enjoy if not completely satisfy those deep-seated desires.

With the yeen completely silent, fiddling with his paws nervously as Delaney encroached, completely ignoring his two friends.

"So, you thought you could walk out on me?!"

"I... I..."

"Heh, you're cute when you're nervous!" The wolf crossed his paws and looked the chunky hyena up and down. "Mmm let's see how cute I can make you!"

James and Campbell had already made for the door, but they wouldn't make it out in time. Both friends would get caught in this mystical crossfire, Delaney simply reaching forward and touching Frankie between the ears; and then the floor shook and a rumble rolled through the entire apartment. No sooner had it simmered then a huge flash of light saw Frankie caught in a bubble, his head strung upward. It was as he was suspended, his body started to change; and paws alive, this was gonna be interesting.

As much as Jim and Cam were perturbed, they were left entranced by what was happening. Anywhere was surely better than here right now, but it was far too late. Delaney's power was far-reaching.

"Holeee..." Campbell started, squinting through the light, looking about himself as he too was caught in this musky magic. He turned back to watch as Frankie... paws alive, he was changing, growing, flexing in this strange power.

And then he felt it.

"Uhhh, oh man!" James murmured, looking about himself, unable to resist this, watching as fire flamed across his calico fur and the feeling of growth, transformation and sheer virility riddled his body like liquid bullets.

Frankie had apparently got his wish in more ways than one; and even though Delaney had ulterior motives, he rarely hurt anyone. This yeen and his rather gullible friends were no different. Held in the red-white light, Frankie was the first to emerge, slumped and panting, stood spread-pawed but now at a daunting seven-feet tall.

"Well... hey there, guys!" He growled confidently, stood checking himself out before flashing a cheeky, horny grin at his two friends.

"Uhhhhhhhh!" James's maw dropped through the floor, unable to stop himself drooling over the hunk of yeen stood before him; and this all whilst his own body was starting to brim and ripple with muscle.

"Hehehe!"

"Dude, what did you get us int... ahhhhhhhhh." Cam' was quick to cut off as he felt his fur shimmer and shudder to a gorgeous velvet, his footpaws grow and his sheath fill out.

"I knew you'd like it!" Delaney murmured with a sly smile, concentrating on sculpting his two other 'minions', leaving Frankie to touch himself and admire what his handy work.

This handy work was a huge tower of a yeen with red and black fur along with just the most awestriking shark tail, the 'spine' of which aligned with his own... assertive, aggressive and so damned horny it was untrue!

"Heh, you wanna' kiss me now, boys?!" Came a slithering and so much more strident voice, Frankie allowing his tongue to loll, damp and tempting around his chops.

"Fuckin' hell, is that...?"

"A cocktongue? Yeah." Frankie growled, padding forward and taking his once calico roommate into his huge paws. "Wanna' taste? Or would you want me to uh... kiss you more down there?"

"Oh my!"

"Yeah, you know you want this, dirty boi?!" Frankie growled, before turning and flexing that huge tail... and now he lifted it to reveal somethin' else. "Or maybe you want this?!"

Both Campbell and James stammered at the insistence, but also the sight that they beheld. Their usually soft and sweet friend was now a hunk o' canine hybrid with sex oozing from every strand of fur, pore and... the amazing musk rising from his dual set of genitalia. Holy paws, he was a herm!

If none of this was enough to get the maw watering, he'd also grown gills which he supposed would allow him to breathe underwater as well as on terra firma. Man, that'd make pool sex even more fun!

Woah, did he really just think that?! What magic had this ghostly wolf spun into his body and mind. This was... freakin' awesome!

Frankie wasn't the only one to fall head over paws in love with what he saw and felt. Campbell was no longer the tall, lanky red wolf with a hankerin' to be bigger and more frightening. He was a hundred-percent the latter now, a muscular red bear boasting eight-pack abs and an extra few inches to his height... and girth.

"Oh man, I could get used to this." Cam' half laughed, turning his paws over in awe, tweaking his now-rounded, velvet-soft ears.

"You have little choice, my ursine friend!" Delaney had this hooded grin on his maw, admiring his work and lovin' what this trio had become. "Mmmm you're all perfect. You're all designed to help me."

James was on as equal a narcissistic trip as his pals. He had become the imposing six-eight black leopard he'd longed to be. This wasn't turning out so bad after all! Muscular across chest, shoulders and down through his footpaws, James felt a burning inside that he'd never felt before, rumbling beneath purple-black, silky swathes of feline fur like bubbling-hot obsidian ready to erupt. The feeling was strange but good. It was as though... it was almost like... he wanted to be seen, to be out there, to experience so much. The confidence that this spirit was servin' up was a mystical concoction that all these 'victims' happily wanted to get drunk on. Shoulder length black hair rounded out his handsome look, Frankie already twizzling it softly, stroking the huge purring kitty and lingering stares down his naked fur.

"Get acquainted later!" Delaney growled, bringing all three to heel. "Heh, kneel before me as you are now mine! Mine to control and call upon!"

The initial bemusement made them all hesitate, almost freeze halfway between happiness and nerves. Bleed was tired of them admiring his handywork, of the checking themselves out, that his patience boiled dry, the black-red wolf snarling to get some attention.

"I said kneel!"

"Paws almighty, what the fuck is going on?!" Cam' laughed incredulously as they finally obeyed, all falling before their new lord. Much of this mirth was riddled with nerves but so much more excitement than ever could've been expected.

"Holy paws, I... I'm buff!" His frisky feline friend was eager to point out; and then it struck him that maybe there could be more awesomeness on the way. Trust Jim to open his maw!

"Say can you...?" James murmured curiously.

But Bleed just rolled his eyes and vanished. He'd done enough for these guys. Their paths were now their own, within a reason dictated by his infernal libido of course.

"I guess that's a no." The calico laughed and shrugged.

"What were you gonna ask him, doofus?" Cam' shook his head and crossed his paws.

"For a hunky boyfriend. He's like the furry godfather, right?"

"Isn't this enough?!" Cam laughed, panning his paws down his own body, showing off his new 'wares'.

"Something like that."

"Always wanted to go all the way with you guys."

"Feeling is more than mutual."

"Well... no time like the present!"

The trio, now left alone, were at the mercy of their transformed selves... the musk, the thick sex, the pent-up energy and the bulk. The latter was what caught everyone's attention first and foremost. Everyone was supremely relaxed with Delaney 'gone', ready and more than eager to start exploring.

The worship of one another came first, the three friends rubbing and touching each other allllllll over. Through soft swathes of deep dark brown bear fur, to the irresistibly sand-blown savannah pelt of which Frankie was so proud, all were doing it in a stunned silence, underscored perhaps by a whimper or a whine or even a moan. Sheaths were breaking, libidos stretched tight, fit to burst. Beautifully hard muscles flowed beneath, caressed by awestruck paws. All of them wanted to experience this power, and not just by touch... by a deep-seated yearning to be one with one another.

The heat between them was a mercury that was about to erupt. Frankie's tail was of admiration to all as were Cam's washboard abs. James's midnight fur was just so luxurious, both his friends rubbed their muzzles through his chest and tummy fur, before twirling that tubey cauda around their paws like a living pipecleaner.

The soft whispy aromas of fire-kissed fur was starting to get into the nostrils of both Frankie and Campbell, turning their attention to James. The grins were audible as they began to gang-up on the leopard, ensuring that the kitty was completely surrounded, gently squeezed between irresistible muscle and warm, fragrant pelts... not that this was any issue to the dark and handsome leopard boi.

"Mmmm I love being the meat in this sandwich!" James giggled softly, the blush in his muzzle a simple crush of strawberry beneath a black-forest swathe of fur.

"You're gonna love this all the more!" Frankie grinned, that thickening tongue swelling and lolling from his grinning maw; and now the young leopard's eyes lit up, seeing it out the right corner of his keen sight before Frankie sank behind him.

"Oh man!" The leopard murmured with closed eyes, his own desperate paws reaching about himself and parting his buttocks and lifting his tail and, oh fuck... "I want it, fuck I want it so bad!"

---

Frankie didn't waste a single second, kneeling behind the cat and with that gorgeously velvety tail gripped and practically 'tossed' aside, shot that tongue right up James's tailhole. Cam took care of the other side, sure to have the cat surrounded, that softly barbed cock throated in that hungry bear maw.

"Fuuucck!" James moaned, right paw caressing and gripping Campbell's left ear, whilst the other reached back and held Frankie in place, soaring dive after dive of that pulsating anomaly up his ass. "Ohhhhhh jeez, I... mmmmm, I... I'm not gonna' last!"

But his friends ignored him completely, a muzzle rallying and swirling about James's ample sex whilst a most unusual but thrilling tongue took care of the leopard's innermost and dirtiest anal desire. In every push, the yeen murring with the smell and the taste and the feeling and the... this was just the fuckin' best gift ever!

He could surely never tire of providing such beautiful pain, whilst his palette was thrilled, tantalized and coated with intimate juices and flowing, acidic essences. His own cleft dripped, wet with his own excitement, from labia that he could barely have ever dreamt of. It all felt too good to be true, but here they were... eating each other alive! Practically!

James pushed forward then back then forward, before both paws now gripped the back of Campbell's bony and chunky head, almost digging into those cheeks and across those soft ears with desperation.

"I'm gonna... I'm... fuck! I'm gonna' cum, oh god I'm..."

Sure enough and with a wince and deep-seated cry-cum-whine, the leopard blew, his teeth showing to the ceiling and his eyes screwed up as if squeezing the sun dry... cos' Cam' was sure drainin' him! His suction was delicious as was the feeling of that cocktongue up his rear, his smooth gut flexing and pulsing against that throbbing dick as he pushed a hot quart of feline cum down that eager gullet.

Phew! The rest period was brief, the panting obvious and all rather exciting, cos' none of this was over by a long shot. Frankie's withdrawal, the lapping of his chops and the scents that rose through the roof of his maw were incredible... delicacies borne of a once virgin feline ass that had been so full of charity tonight.

It was Campbell's turn. Away from the creaminess of his friend's climax, he relaxed on his haunches with his paws atop his bare thighs. That briefly flacid dick dangled between those powerful loins, a relaxed but intent bear that had eyes only on the shark-tailed yeen stood before him.

"You want me next, huh?!"

"Well, uh..."

"Don't be so modest!" Cam' murmured, getting to his feet and wrapping his paws about Frankie's waist to grip and spread that tempting ass. "I can smell you a mile away!"

"I always wanted to." The yeen murmured shyly, probably the most vulnerable he'd seemed for hours nigh days. It was a heartfelt declaration. Perhaps it was love.

If there'd been any nerves before, there sure wasn't now! Campbell took control, the huge red-beige furred hyena forced back against the counter by his imposing, muscular body. Cam's tongue was practically down Frankie's throat, the pair indulging in a passionate kiss as their leopard friend watched on cross-pawed from the loveseat. It was sinful to stare, but Jim loved it, along with the ability to lick himself clean... thrill himself, pleasure himself, seeing how limber and nimble he was compared to how he used to be. He loved the taste of his velvety fur on his rough black-pink tongue, the flavours of feline heat, excess and physical love tantalizing every single sense in his sinuses; and still he stared like a welcome voyeur.

And now, the bear had his paws beneath Frankie's thighs, showing his strength by lifting his friend onto the counter, parting those huge footpaws and feeling the bat and flex of that distinctively marine tail. Before Frankie could shift or move any more, Campbell clambered atop him before spitting heftily onto that pulsing sex, eager to pierce himself on it, to feel it rocket up his backside.

Wasting no time, the bear inched down onto him, feeling it stretch him, touch him where he'd never been touched. And now his hips started to grind and run away, away into a distant rhythm that made Frankie whine at first, before an instinctive growl brought his paws to dig into the bear's thick, muscled thighs. So much muscled flesh, so tempting and ample. It was too good. The feeling was indulgent and paradisical, the bear's innards hugging the yeen's sex and not letting go. Campbell's fur was soaked with sweat, the bear throwing his head back and slamming back down onto his friend's prone and edged sex.

Showing that he wasn't a selfish lover, Campbell reached back and down to finger the yeen hybrid's sodden cunt, wandering and rubbing skilled paws between the yeen's spread legs to caress his tight bollocks and damp dual sex.

And that wasn't all!

"Hey, get over here and help a bro out!" Cam huffed, turning over his right shoulder and summoning James to suckle and lick at their join, perhaps even eat some of that pussy.

"Heh, pussy munchin' pussy!" The bear laughed, watching as the leopard made his presence known, sending shivers and jolts of pleasure through both larger males. Frankie could barely believe his luck.

James wasn't intent on dwelling on that so-called joke, stuck to sniffing, licking and teasing his once-shy friend's sex to a sticky oblivion.

"Rrrrrrr, fuck yeah!" Frankie grunted, flexing and tensing as he took both the feeling around him and in him, the deft touch of his friend thrilling all ends and fraying all nerves.

As he came, he scrunched his clawed paws into Frankie's chest fur, almost drawing blood. The bear's soaring prostate-powered spunk pulsed in ropes out across the yeen's body, whilst Frankie's body seeded that tempting ass, sure to bury his fluids where he'd longed to. That dream was done, and the pleasure was no less than he could ever have fantasized.

Climbing back down, it was now James who was in Campbell's sights, eager to let loose on the cat's admittedly ready and aching tailhole. The bear got in James's muzzle and snarled, before manhandling him up to his footpaws and then up into his strong arms. It was a true hug, a readying and steadying touch that made the leopard realize that something special was imminent.

"We got any honey?" Cam' murred without turning his eyes away from the cat who now had his footpaws wrapped around his waist. He would only relinquish that hold when Frankie could be heard padding away to try to find it. The bear put him back to the floor and pushed a hefty paw to the middle of the leopard's back shoving him flush to the loungeroom wall.

"Uh, sure! I think!" Frankie replied, frowning rather with his teeth dripping with saliva... man oh man, he couldn't help but think about satiating this appetite; and we weren't talkin' about food!

"Well then... break it out over this tight ass!"

When Frankie padded back from the kitchen with the two-thirds full pot of honey, Campbell unscrewed it and slowly, agonizingly drizzled it over the James's pert ass.

"You're my cute little sugar thief!" He murred, before putting the now empty pot aside and leaning in to flush his front with James's velvety back. "And now it's time to show you what we bears think o' that. What we do to tails who steal our nectar."

"Ohhhh man." James moaned, rubbing his muzzle against the plaster of the wall.

"That's right, beg! Cos' I'm gonna get my honey back. Gonna make you spurt your own nectar all over the fucking floor!"

---

Campbell wasted absolutely zero time and squeezed that thick bear dick up James's ass, making the cat wince and throw his hair aside like a model tired of the exposure. Fuck it, he wanted to be exposed to this sublime punishment, this fantastic treatment where he got mistreated in the best ways.

"Use me!" He moaned. "Make me yours, big boy!"

The supple leopard would quickly surrender to the pleasure, that deep dive holding him in stitches... oodles of ecstasy. Cam relentlessly and rhythmically took his lover, spreading his footpaws and gripping into both carpet and wall, even reverting instinctively to gently clamp his jaw into the leopard's shoulder, making the feline whine out loud.

---

The smell between them, the angst and the unfing, the amazing sound of feral fucking that held your eyes to their glued hips and loins... it was far too much of the good stuff. No one could believe that this is what had become of them. Not that that was an issue, far from it!

Frankie watched on, unable to resist what he saw, pawing off over the cat's fur as Campbell bore his teeth, peeled gums that showed the world that he was finishing off this cute and willing feline. Like an echo, a deep thud, that seminal fluid flowed and pulsed, James reaching back and grasping the bear's buttocks close, wanting him as deep as possible. The yeen on the other paw had spread his load across the car's irresistible fur.

The pearly-white astral spunk painted a galactic white-on-black mortal night sky. The image wasn't enough, nor were the smells or the sounds emanating from exhausted lovers in the afterglow of spontaneous fucking. The yeen reached down and started to rub his lukewarm cum into the tufting fur of his prone friend, loving the feeling as it faded and absorbed, becoming transparent at his paw tips.

The sheer feralness of it all. The redundant fertility that was lost in a swimming drunkenness of mutual pleasure. But this damp feeling, the chloric spurts... it was just too much for the eastern feline. Being touched and taken care of was amazing, enough to bring out the wild beast at his heart. It was time to have some of the control for once! Once Frankie had hesitated or even backed off just slightly, the leopard could smell it; and now it was his chance! James turned and pounced, bowling Frankie over to land on the lush carpet, his prehensile tail flopping sideward and his sex prone to 'attack'. But he needn't have feared, even though it was exciting to think of being hunted. It was only as he saw Frankie fall than he prowled over him, running that long feline tongue up that tempting belly and chest, worshipping what this demonic yeen had to offer.

After teasing that thick, vinegary cockhead, slurping and sucking briefly on its tempting tip, he resisted that ride to opt to sit right on Frankie's face. Campbell wasn't to be left out, his dick re-hardening in a flash, before breaking his own rule and knelt to the yeen's footpaws. He reached forward after he saw James stifle the huge canine and then stuck his hungry muzzle right against Frankie's sopping wet pussy.

"Best ever!" The bear moaned, eating sloppily, tonguing those folds like the sweet, tepid and coppery-fragrant virgin that the yeen-hybrid truly had become.

Meanwhile, the leopard was keen on talkin' dirty and encouraging as much spunk out of that knotted dick as liquids dripping from that cunt. He also wanted to feel that cocktongue again, that slithering, thick member that was so unearthly and unexpected, it was a unique feeling that only Frankie could apparently gift.

"This is what you caused, you naughty boy! All that sweat, all that playing with fire without letting us in on all this."

"Heh, I figured you wouldn't believe me."

"Maybe." James shrugged with a rare pragmatism... but it didn't last, and he ground that delicious ass back down onto the yeen's face all the more. "Mmmmm but I'm sure glad you gambled the way you did. Unfff... Mmmm ... so fucking worth it!"

The leopard wanted to see this big hunk of hybrid come. He wanted to see that dick fountain and that pussy spurt. He longed to see Frankie have the release he deserved... and it wasn't long before the smell of his sweaty backside made the yeen blow. The dampness preceded the precum which preceded the soft whimpers of a guy roaring into ecstasy. With those claws digging into his buttocks, James felt the huff and pant and hefty growl of his friend as the liquids blew outward.

The flexing and almost airborne thrusts were a sight to behold, Frankie fountaining all he had to the stuffy atmosphere. For his friends, especially the leopard who had 'caused' all this, seeing was not enough. Tasting it would be sublime!

No sooner had he subsided, Frankie was brought to his footpaws before James practically snogged his muzzle off, if only to get a taste of his own hot musky ass, sodden and rich on that chiseled muzzle; but that wasn't all. The leopard wanted to lick, experience and almost suck on the yeen hybrid's irrepressible cocktongue. Holy paws, it made 'im hard again! just to think about the filthy pleasure this yeen could cause on any vulnerable lover, to think about into what this quite literal 'oral sex' could delve was maddening.

This was fucking incredible!

"Heh, is all this sweat a sign to wash off, huh? I mean, what in paws' name are we supposed to be lookin' like this?!"

"Envied, that's what! Wanted. Noticed. Gods or demons, I don't mind." Frankie confidently struck out with his irresistible new confidence, a try-out of a new 'system' so beloved that it was like a new lease of life for him... even in this strange limbo, it was still a life worth living to the max! "So long as I get to do two things... fun and fuck!"

Neither the imposing ursine nor James could disagree.

"Speaking of washing off... let's test these out!" The yeen' pointed to the gills on either side of his neck.

"Huh?! Where?"

"The pool of course!"

"But others may see!"

"And?" Frankie growled with a horny baritone, a moderately questioning tone but one that never waivered from the potential for mischief.

"Uhhhh."

"I want others to see us. I want them to envy this. I want them to join in or just spill their loads from the balconies." It was then that Frankie gripped and fondled his throbbing, cum-sodden cock. "Let's put on a show."

"Man oh man, I love what he did to you!"

"Feeling is mutual!" He giggled, gently placing their heads together. "You uh... you wanna' get freaky down there?"

"You know me too well." Cam' murred.

"I used to." Frankie replied.

"And is that a bad thing?" James interrupted the love-in with a smile, paws about the broad shoulders of his bros, his lovers, his very best friends. Man this was awesome!

"Not at all!" Came a reply in tandem, before the big ol' bear caught James by surprise.

He'd grabbed a hold of Jim's curly tail before practically dragging him towards the door, that delicious knoppy rope slung over Cam's ample right shoulder like the neck of a large sack. The black leopard was a prize, but one to be given pleasure rather than to be used.

"Come along, toy!" The bear grunted, followed by Frankie, both with eyesight keen on the outside and the anticipation of the water.

"Where we goin'?"

"Gonna show you another good time!"

"Mmm, but... can I grab my drink before we go?"

"You're still a cutie ya know that?!" The big sweaty bear sighed, paws on his hips and his nubby tail ticking contentedly.

James on the other paw shrugged with a smile, his yellow eyes like suns buried in pits of tar showing nothing but happiness, despite their daunting and haunting nature. He suckled happily on his stripey straw as he padded out the door and onto the walkway, a good smack across the rump nothing more than playful admiration from his friends. The squeal was for show... for now. Later it would become yet more pleasure to eke into this amazing night.

By the time they made it poolside, Frankie was eager on testing out his new body's abilities. He dived in almost at a run-up, splashing heavily but clearly loving the submarine time as he clearly swam expertly, sidling through the currentless aqua with ease.

Following him was Campbell, edging closer to the lukewarm water and loving the dampness on his new fur, seeping towards his skin but resisted by a thick hide that scarcely felt pain or discomfort. He sat at the pool's edge, as James joined Frankie in the chlorinated water, diving in with a hush and swash, echoing about the walls of the complex. None of them knew about who was watching. None of them cared. This was too awesome to care!

Rising out of the water and slinging his head back, his mohawk slashing dampness everywhere, Frankie sidled romantically between the bear's smooth-pelted thighs, leaning up to kiss him, rolling licks and laps that had Cam hard as rock all over again. With Frankie side biting at the ursine's prone throat before licking and kissing his sternum, this contretemps of sorts was a concentration that would break. It was only as he felt it.

"Ohhhhh fuck!" He moaned, suddenly rubbing his muzzle against Campbell's chest, the leopard grinning and feeling positively wonderful at how he could make this big hunk reel.

"Heh, quite something' huh?!" The feline murmured naughtily, petting his horny friend from behind as that rippling length of cat dick fell to the hilt up Frankie's in-heat pussy.

Below the water line and rippled in the vision of the supine and easygoing cat, one could see the formidable outline of Frankie's lower half, a beautiful vision just below the surface that had James flush to that special spot beneath his tail.

In the thrusting and the moaning, Frankie doubled-down on his attention, on his dedication to worshipping that huge bear cock. The yeen's heavy and vascular cocktongue was at work, offering delicate, skillful and unimaginably pleasurable thrusts driven by the strong muscles of a hungry yeen's throat and muzzle. Sinful tongue on cock frottage was all that Campbell could stare at, his white-hot sex teased to distraction by the yeen's incredible touch. It was gagging in so many more ways than one, a desperate and nearly coughing attention that would yield his seed in copious, generous lava flows.

As the broad bear neared his end, shuffling on the damp tile and feeling his tail twitch with every agonizing rub of Frankie's literally oral sex against his, James concentrated on skewering and getting his end away up that pussy. He was so nonchalant about the whole situation that the silly kitty was able to grab Franklie's tail with one paw, whilst holding his drink with the other, still suckling on his straw. He was falling in love with this feeling and this whole situation, that delightfully eager entrance beneath the water... the heat, the cold, the submarine sex. The effort and thrusting gradually made the water choppier, exclamations and eager grunts signalling the end of what had been an amazingly sinful evening.

"Ohh fuck, I... mmmmm, man, you're tight!" The cat growled, now tossing his empty aside to let it float with the loose fur that had sketched paths across the pool like water insects.

Frankie could just murr, moan and leave Cam' at a precipice of pleasure as the vibration shook his member from base to tip... this was it! The yeen sure wanted to feel and smell the ropes of cum soar from Campbell's body, to float and gooefy down into the swimming pool water like the fecund little fuck he was!

Just as the bear 'broke', James took two paws to Frankie's hips and almost clambered atop dat' ass, digging his claws in and mounting that desirable demonic hulk.

"Rrrrrrrr you're... you're gonna get it! I... I've always wanted to... to do... unnnhhhhh... do this to you."

"Fill me, kitty boi!" Frankie growled, leaning over his shoulder as Cam' spurted, the spasms mid-flow as the others spoke and encouraged one another to climax.

"You're... you can't get pregnant... pregnant, can you?" James whined, eyes closed and head down, concentrating on how Frankie was spurting over his richly purple cockhead buried deep up his cunt.

"Who cares?!"

And that was that! Jim yelped and held his body flush, the water now a mere froth and foam of their rampant coupling... acidic, stained and gloriously reminiscent of flotsam and jetsam. The huge leopard let his jet black headfur hang like most symbolic curtains of his lover's former virginity and closet nature, running a stream of thick liquid into that sweaty cavity. The smell rose and spiked the chlorine with vinegar, meaty breaths and an effervescent glow that yielded a burning, molten stone aroma... their home in the depths of each other.

The shivers through Frankie's hips were unlike anything he'd ever felt, reaching down to barely touch his own pre-cum soaked cock to let go into the pool water. It was enough to hear and smell James's ass pound him, to feel that angry, anxious climb over his loins, to blow a load worthy of a dam breaking!

Everyone was getting their end away. Each and every tail was having the time of their life... or was that death?

Who knew?!

**

The feeling of the dusky breeze was amazing on fiery fur, their sweat cooling and musk smoking out to the moon. The satisfied trio simply left their water side playground and wandered out into the night, their master padding ahead to lead the way.

"Dude, like... where are we goin'?"

"Does it matter?" Frankie grinned, his huge tail wagging and flexing, those daunting teeth flashing in the moon and lamplight.

It was only when they decided on the undecided destination that all their activities and richly sexed scents caught eyes and noses alike. None moreso than Tyler, who happened to be out at the same time. He was clopping around with the remnants of a grass smoothie as he ruffled for his apartment keys; and it was only then that he let the straw slip loosely in his dropped jaw.

"Holy hooves!" He murmured disbelievingly, choking as he almost inhaled the straw. "Hey, Frankie? Frankie!"

The yeen figured Tyler'd be frightened by what he'd become - but the ram was more than enamoured once he'd caught up to their group. Frankie grinned, loving the confidence that he and his entourage could generate, flashing those fangs and allowing his tongue to flop and swirl around his imposing chops; and that certainly had Tyler's eyes lighting up!

"You wanna hang out?"

"Hell the fuck yes!"

Frankie knew that this was what Tyler wanted, grinning again as he reached out and touched the ram's shoulder, before pulling him in for a sloppy but passionate kiss. No sooner had their muzzles met and the smoking post-sex musk mingled with the ram's eager and excited lanolin, Tyler backed away a little and everyone beheld his transformation... his horns bigger, his body more muscular, his eyes so much brighter and that thick-ass sheath groaning, weighty and pent-up.

This was gonna' be one hell of an eternity!

And a whisper rose, a looming gloom of both red and grey, a wolf's outline murmuring the most apt and loving response.

Breathe life into this feeble heart; lift this mortal veil of fear...

***