FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The fine faint glow of an arrowhead pendant imbued with strong magic dissipated as it was successfully used. A startled bird flew away towards the nearest tree. A male canine figure stood in the once empty field of tall grass. The modest breeze caused the grasses to gently sway and bend around him. An ear flickered from the rustling sounds as a black nose breathed in the fresh countryside air. A happy grin formed on his face. There were no cars, tall concrete buildings, or sidewalks to see. Gentle hills extended far beyond to his right and a few trees bordered his left. The only evidence of anything manmade was a dirt cart path in the distant.

"Another successful travel back in time." Seth, coyote and Belgian malinois shepherd mix, tucked the pendant he wore under his shirt. The dark facial fur was due to his Belgian shepherd heritage, but his slim build was inherited from his coyote side. He took a moment to calmly observe the pleasant untouched countryside. It had been this way for the past few months, ever since he discovered the mysterious arrowhead pendant in the antique shop that stormy afternoon. Using the pendant allowed him to travel back and forth from his time in the present, and that of medieval England. His first trips and journeys were almost frightening as he learned to use the newfound power responsibly. However, he had become fond of the villages, market towns, and castles he had explored over the past few months.

Seth stepped forward and headed towards the cart path ahead. Towards the north was a little village he had frequented several times and made acquaintances with the inhabitants. To the southeast was a small market town, but it was a longer distance away. He decided to go to the village less than one mile away.

'I wonder how everyone is doing?' He thought quietly to himself and strolled along the pathway. After a short distance of walking through the gentle rolling hills, a wooden fence and building with a thatch roof came into view first. Two grazing cows were a short distance from the home, but as Seth approached, most of the entire village came into view. Several houses with thatched roofs were visible with a well located in the center. Nestled close together, little gardens were commonly used and a few hen houses were also seen. The farmlands were located on the other side of the town, adjacent to the grazing fields and where hay was typically grown.

Many of the villagers were gathered together inside the village alongside a red wolf mounted on a horse.

'Something is happening.' He noticed something wasn't right. There was never a military presence or even a visit to the surrounding villages that he knew of. At this time of day everyone was usually busy, not gathered together for some sort of summons. By the time Seth reached the village, the mounted wolf had already ridden off down another country road through the eastern fields. The nearest castle was more than three miles away. Many of the villagers were slowly dispersing back to their homes or daily chores.

"Hello Thomas." Seth greeted a male grey wolf dressed in rugged plain clothes. Thomas was a middle aged man and he owned a few cows and plot of land that his family tended to beside the village. Lighthearted and kind, the wolf was one of the first friends he had made during his travels into the era.

"Hey there Seth! How have your travels been?" He happily smiled.

"I have been well, and my travels have been safe." The coyote hybrid happily declared. His travels and pendant's magical properties were a well kept secret that no one needed to know about.

"That's wonderful to hear." The wolf nodded.

"How has your wife Eleanor been? And what about little George?"

"George is always finding himself in trouble." The wolf chuckled. "He's still too young to help a lot in the field, but I'm trying to teach him everything that I know." The father proudly spoke. "And Eleanor is well. She's pregnant." He beamed a smile.

"Congratulations!" Seth slapped the wolf's shoulder.

"Hello Seth!" Abel, an amiable young ferret who labored in the fields and farms regularly approached them. His clothes were regularly stained with dirt like many peasants, or a piece of straw. "Has life and fortune delivered well to you?"

"My health is good, so I couldn't complain about fate." The coyote joked. "I saw someone riding on horseback when I was walking up the cart path just now. Is something happening?" He asked. Their cheerful moods dampened somewhat at the question.

"Yes, and it isn't the best of news either." Abel mentioned.

"We have asked a sheriff for his assistance, but he refused our request." Thomas explained. "He cited too many other issues at hand to give us any help."

"What assistance did you need the sheriff for? Is there a feud? Are taxes due?" Seth guessed. The other two chuckled at his second guess.

"No, if the issue was about taxes, then the sheriff would be collecting his due." Abel chuckled.

"Then what happened?"

"There was another left in our village." An older lady badger balked just a short distance away. "By her no doubt!"

"There's no need to fuss so loudly Abigail." Thomas told her.

"Her?" Seth frowned in confusion as his eyes darted between the two.

"It's that witch." The wolf growled disdainfully as he spoke.

"A witch?" Seth looked at them with surprise but managed to hold back a grin.

"Yes! It's the witch from the forest." Abel insisted as everyone else nodded in agreement.

"Now hold on." Seth interjected. "There's a witch who's stealing from the village?" He found the idea utterly ridiculous, but kept a steady face.

"She has stolen from other villages as well, not just ours." Thomas explained. Seth didn't know what to make of the growing allegations as the others nodded.

"Has anyone seen this witch before?" Seth looked at everyone.

"Mildred, haven't you seen the witch before?" Abigail the badger called out to a nearby border collie pulling clothes from a line.

"Aye, I have." She affirmed.

"I don't think I have." Thomas rubbed his chin. "At least not in broad daylight. "What about you, Abel?" He asked the ferret.

"My wife has." He insisted.

"What does this witch look like?" Seth asked out of curiosity.

"Oh, she's a wily looking one." Abigail approached him with a serious gaze in her brown eyes. "She wears a hood to hide her face, but you can see her long snout poking straight ahead!" She nearly barked as she thrust a finger at Seth.

"She's a canine of average height with dark fur." Abel said only to pause and scratch his ear. "I believe she's a jackal... or maybe a Doberman."

"Couldn't she shape shift into different people?" Thomas questioned.

'This is ridiculous.' Seth quietly kept his thoughts private while the villagers discuss the potential witch thief. "What has she stolen from all of you?" He interrupted their superstitions.

"She will sneak into homes and steal money and food." Thomas told him. The others nodded firmly in agreement. Seth didn't find the theft odd, but was it really due to a witch?

"She always managed to break through any lock we use, and they're expensive to buy." Abigail added as Matilda approached them.

"It's true." The border collie spoke as she folded a sheet in hand. "If you bake a lot of bread one night, and put it in the storage house or leave it out, then she will likely take it."

"She's like a hungry animal on the prowl." Abel added.

"You could help catch her for us!" Abigail suddenly spoke out.

"Huh? Me?" Seth blinked.

"You are a skilled trapper, and you hunt!" Another one of the villagers cried out.

"That's right. You captured the boar eating and rooting through our crops."

"That is with animals, not people." He humbly downplayed his talents.

"She might as well be a hungry animal since she steals from us all!" Abigail insisted.

"It would be a tremendous help if you could capture her." Thomas spoke up. "We can pay for all of her crimes in silver." He offered. Seth was surprised at the bold reward.

"Yes, of course we can pay you. She steals so much from us anyway." The others agreed.

"That is tempting..." He looked away and thought about the offer. It was almost too good to be true. Seth was not concerned nor scared despite wearing a pendant with the power to time travel from his world to this medieval one. What were the odds a medieval village was actually plagued by a witch engaged in robbery? At worst, maybe he would spend a few days looking for someone who didn't exist.

"I accept." He declared much to the villagers' approval.

"Thank you!" Seth was given a round of gracious praise and relieved smiles.

"You have been a true blessing to this village ever since we first met you." Abel proudly declared.

"We will prepare all of the food and any necessities that you will need." Abigail added.

"We will call for the priest as well for when you return." Thomas stated. "He will know what to do with the witch. Go tell everyone else and prepare everything Seth will need." The wolf directed the others. They gladly complied and scattered leaving the two alone as the news spread. Thomas walked with Seth along the outskirts of the village to talk more personally.

"I can't thank you enough for readily accepting to help us." Thomas was a little surprised. "I didn't think anyone would ask you, but I'm glad that they did!" There was a hint of relief on the wolf's happy grin.

"I guess the offer of silver enticed me." Seth admitted and rubbed his head. "I never expected this to happen when I set foot in the village today."

"I will see to it that you get paid." Thomas promised.

"Thank you. I'll appreciate any reward, no matter how modest."

"I won't let anyone pay you short." The wolf mentioned. "You'll become a folk hero of sorts if you manage to capture her." He added.

"I should have asked, but here does this witch live?" Seth inquired.

"She lives in the great forest."

"Ah, that is a good place to hide."

"It will not be easy to find her." Thomas warned. "And there are rumors she has bewitched the forest with various traps and dark magic."

"I'll be on my best guard while I search the woods." Seth wasn't too bothered from the warning. Tall tales could run wild in a short period of time, especially if unanswered questions lingered. The wolf seemed to detect Seth's suspicions.

"Do you know about that empty little plot of land where carts are usually left?" Thomas asked him.

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Rumor has it that was once the witch's house where she concocted evil spells. It was set ablaze once she was chased out of the village."

"Wow." Seth had never heard that before despite visiting the village several times. 'They take this seriously.' He took a moment to ponder how he should handle his new job.

The following early morning was bright and sunny, but clouds were encroaching from the horizon. Seth had stayed in one of the villager's homes for the night as all of the preparations were made for his journey into the large forest across the fields. He was given countless advice on what to expect and what to look for, although much of it was contradictory. The coyote hybrid was focused on the task at hand, capturing a witch in the woods.

"Is it too heavy?" Thomas helped Seth don a large pack that contained material to set up a tent as well as some food.

"Nope. I can carry it." He huffed and adjusted his shoulders.

"There should be more than enough food for you to last many days. As you know, the weather in this region can become muggy and rainy for stretches of days. So you won't need to worry about running around for food."

"Thank you. I really appreciate it."

"The fabric for the tent is good quality." He added. "Everyone pitched in to help."

"I will be sure to return it as good as new." Seth promised.

"And if you change your mind about this-"

"I'm not." Seth waved a hand. "I accepted an offer to help, but if I can't capture her then I will return."

"You're very honorable. Thank you." Thomas smiled and bade his friend farewell. Seth waved goodbye and began walking down a short path that entered the fields. He glanced over his shoulder and noticed the rest of the villagers waking up and leaving their homes to start a day's worth of work.

'They will be doing a lot more work than I will.' Seth acknowledged the villagers' hard work ethic in order to survive. Farming and herding were tasks that he wouldn't have been able to do for his entire life. The coyote hybrid lumbered along slowly due to the extra weight on his back, but gradually made progress along the path. After a little more than a mile, the edge of the forest became visible up ahead. He stepped off the dirt path and marched through the grass with a determined look on his face. There trees appeared small at first, but the closer he approached, the wider the span of trees seemed to grow.

The canine stopped just before passing by the first towering oak. His eyes scanned the dark forest, only able to see a short distance ahead due to the thick woods. The faint tweeting of birds reached his ears, but there were no other sounds to detect.

'I wonder just how deep this forest goes.' He thought to himself and straightened his shoulders before taking his first step into a few dead leaves. His trek deep into the neighboring forests had officially started...

***

The forest was dark despite the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves and canopy above. The sounds of the forest, vast and great, were also concealed. The constant trills of crickets were nothing new to the canine's ears, but he couldn't see a single one in the open. The insects were prevalent in meadows, fields, farms, and villages. However, their unending chorus reminded him of how truly alone he was in the great forest. There were no people within sight or earshot, and this was likely true for miles. Not even an eccentric traveler would make up a reason to travel through the thick ancient forest.

Leaves constantly crunched beneath the canine's paws. The terrain was fairly flat with only a few bumps and gentle slopes on occasion. There was no path to speak of, only untamed forest in every direction.

'Where exactly am I going?' Seth paused to scan the area, but nothing around him moved. There were only trees, no different than the hundreds and thousands he had already passed by. Becoming lost was a real possibility, but the villagers had reassured him that the large forest was bordered by villages on all sides. It had to end at some point, right?

'How am I going to catch a witch?' He wondered about his task. 'Or is this just a runaway thief?' Seth didn't believe that anyone could use magic. That was ridiculous, even though he could travel back in time with the aid of a pendant. It didn't make sense to him why someone who could in theory use magic would hide in the forest like this.

'Maybe she is a farmer's wife that couldn't get a divorce.' His thoughts were outlandish, but still possible. It certainly made more sense if the husband was embarrassed over such a fact. For a brief moment Seth wondered if it was all a lavish hoax by the villagers, but decided that scenario was just as unlikely as an actual witch existing.

"There's someone here, guilty of theft, and I have to find her." He continued on. The male canine meandered and surveyed the forest, trying to remember specific details or signs of any inhabitants. However, palisade walls, fences, thatched roofs, bundled reeds, cords of wood, and any tools were never found. The only tracks he could find were those of wild deer.

"No luck so far." Seth thought aloud and entered a small clearing where the sunlight had a somewhat better time penetrating to the forest floor. The dark earth showing the occasional gnarled tree root was littered with leaves in several spots, but the ground was flat.

'If the clouds ever lift or part then I will have a good chance of sunlight here.' The coyote hybrid peered up through the branches and leaves where dappled overcast was partly visible. Seth chose the small clearing as his campsite, and gladly dropped the large pack on his shoulder.

The following evening and night was a restless time with mediocre sleep for the coyote hybrid. Having spent the entire night in the tent, Seth was eager to leave and explore the rest of the large forest, and then find the purported "witch." The silver bounty weighed on his mind.

'Imagine coming back home to the present with silver coins several hundred years old.' Their value was something he could not overlook. Keeping them as a memento was also desirable too. The potential reward kept him hopeful for success. Not wanting to draw attention to his location, he ate a modest breakfast without using fire. After looking around the small clearing before his tent, Seth decided on a plan.

"I should search around and set a few traps today." He said to himself. "If I'm lucky, then this won't be any more difficult than trapping that boar last month." Seth reasoned to himself and set off with some rope and string slung over his shoulder. It was going to be a long day of work. He could feel it in his bones.

***

Seth laid nearly half a dozen traps through the entire morning and early afternoon as he explored the untouched forest. There were numerous game trails that crisscrossed and sprawled out of the uneven wooded terrain, but no signs of a well worn path that someone would have used. There were no signs of temporary or permanent dwellings; no fences, tools, sizeable paw prints, or any signs that someone lived here. But of course there was an endless array of trees no matter which direction he walked.

"I'm either dealing with the world's greatest thief, or a fairy tale in everyone's imagination." Seth thought aloud and stopped near a thicket of bushes and little oak saplings with leaves barely ankle height. The canine did not the like the possibility that he was sent to capture someone who didn't actually exist. The canine hybrid sighed and pulled out his arrowhead pendant that he always wore. He rubbed his thumb over the stonework and gazed around the scenic natural landscape. In the sliver of sunshine, a young sapling was devoid of its leaves, having been the morning snack of a local deer some time ago. Close by, a small fir growing at the base of a holly tree had been spared.

"This is a good place to hide." He conceded that much only to pause as his nose flared. Turning to his right, he detected a new scent.

'That's a person.' There was no mistaking it. He carefully crept forward, following the mysterious person's scent. He hadn't seen another person since entering the forest yesterday, and was curious to see who was there. Seth paused behind different trees as he paused to listen, but his ears detected no noises. Glancing around only revealed endless forest. Yet, the scent trail only grew stronger.

'Whoever's scent this is must be close by.' He crept up to a small thicket of thorn bushes that bordered a game trail. The canine laid in wait. Even though there was a clear chance his nose was deceiving him, Seth was hopeful that something or someone would grant him a clue about this mysterious witch the villagers feared so much. The occasional chattering of birds kept him enough company along with the random chirping of a cricket; but the passage of time in an idle state was very slow indeed. After what felt like more than half an hour, a quiet and distant crunching sound made his ears perk up. The noise was not a random disturbance. The subtle sounds of approaching footsteps made his heart race.

'Where?' His eyes darted around excitedly. The stillness of the forest was deceptive, but the soft sounds of leaves crunching weren't a figment of his imagination. However, the sound suddenly vanished, puzzling the canine.

'The trail.' His eyes focused on the dirt path void of any leaves merely a very short distance away. After a few silent heartbeats, Seth spotted movement. A mysterious female wearing an odd mix of clothing came into view. A hooded cloak with long sleeves extended only to her hips where a tribal style loincloth wrapped around her waist and draped down to the space between her knees. Her brown furred legs were naked down to her paws. Seth held his breath as she suddenly stopped. For a split second he wondered if he had been spotted. Triangular ears poking through holes at the top of her hood dialed around before she started walking again. Seth breathed an internal sigh of relief.

'She must be the witch.' Seth studied her closely. Who else would be walking so deep in a dark forest all alone? His theory seemed to hold up given the fact that the female was residing deep in the forest all alone, and wore unique clothes. It was difficult to see her figure completely since she wore a long sleeved hooded garment. Despite wearing a hood, he could see her long snout and black nose poking ahead. A dark furred tail primarily black and grey in color was visible at her backside, but a striking silver color covered much of the base.

'A jackal, huh?' He figured out what kind of species the witch was. 'Should I try approaching her first?' Seth needed to think of a plan quickly. 'If she figures out that I'm here, I doubt I can catch her through traps alone.' Seth clenched his teeth and muscles. Simply finding her in the vast forest was a difficult challenge enough, and finding someone actively hiding from him would be near impossible. He carefully watched her walk by towards another section of forest. The canine was ready to sprint after the mysterious jackal, but held back his impulses. Wasting the element of surprise would only make a chase more arduous.

'I'll follow her.' Seth hoped to find out if she truly lived in the woods, or was only passing through to disguise her route. He crept forward, but unfortunately stepped on a small stick. The sharp snapping sound caught the jackal's attention. Her ears perked up as she spun around and looked in his direction towards the thicket. Seth immediately froze and felt his heart pound, but it was too late. He had been spotted. Their eyes only met for a split second before she took off in a wild sprint. Seth mediately followed in pursuit. The loud occasional sound of paws crashing through leaves filled his ears with the pounding of his racing heart. Seth covered much of the distance between them only for the jackal to dive between a pair of trees. The branches then suddenly moved on their own like live snakes. They quickly moved and intertwined creating a wall of wood that became impossible to pass.

"What the-?!" Seth skittered over the fallen leaves to a hasty halt before running into the knotted branches. Befuddled at the suddenly impassable space, he ran around the two trees and chased after the jackal. She glanced over her shoulder and darted through a narrow space through a dense thicket of thorn bushes. However, when Seth approached a moment later, the thorns crawled together, sealing the narrow path from him.

'Am I hallucinating, or is this entire forest cursed?!' He quickly ducked around the thorn bushes and ran after the jackal. He barely caught sight of her darting away through the trees. The canine hybrid redoubled his efforts and ran after her steadfastly. He could barely keep sight of her tail. She wasn't running in a straight line either, but a complex arc likely meant to disorient him, or retreat back to a safe spot. Seth leapt over a fallen tree and managed to regain much of the distance he had lost to start with. All that mattered now was closing in for a dive. Once he caught up with her, the jackal veered off to a spot he recognized.

'She's heading towards-!' His eyes opened wide the instant he heard the leaves rustle loudly ahead. The trap was sprung and in the blink of an eye a hidden rope tightened, capturing the jackal by the leg. She fell face down into the forest floor and screamed just as Seth appeared behind her. Leaves flew up into the air like confetti paper. The jackal clawed at the ground and managed to stop sliding, but once she attempted to turn over and free herself, the sapling which the rope was tied to began pulling at her leg once again. The jackal was hoisted halfway up from the ground but went no further.

"Get away from me you-!" There was a old look in her eyes as she shouted profanity at Seth. The coyote hybrid approached quickly, ready to cut her down with a knife. However, the jackal thrashed and struggled to free herself. She managed to yank her paw free with a triumphant cry. Springing to her paws, there was a stumble. Seth was ready to resume the chase, but she suddenly yelped in pain only to fall onto her hands.

"What the-?"

"My paw! Ack!" She grimaced and tried jumping to her paws only to fall down a second time. The jackal groaned with a grimacing look etched onto her canine face. Seth put his knife away and started to crouch down beside her. The mysterious female quickly swatted at him despite laying on the ground.

"Stop! I'm not going to hurt you!" He jumped back to avoid her strike. The jackal cursed at him again with an enraged look in her eyes. "Let me help-"

"Why are you hunting me like an animal?!" She yelled at him.

"I've been paid to bring you back to one of the villages you stole money and food from." Seth declared. The jackal turned silent, but her heavy breathing huffed and puffed like a bull. Hers ears fell back as she looked away. "I have a camp nearby that we can stay at." Seth added.

"Why should I bother going with the person who captured me?"

"You're injured and can't even walk on your own." He pointed out. "My camp has a fire and tent set up. That's better than leaving you here in the forest, unable to move."

"Grr..." The jackal fumed at the forced choice she had to make. After nearly a full minute of silence, she held up a hand reluctantly. Seth obliged and reached down to grasp her hand. He pulled the jackal upright but kept a firm grasp on her arm so she wouldn't fall over. Balancing on one paw wasn't easy. He quickly stepped up to her side and pulled her arm over his shoulder. She tensed up and nearly hissed as Seth touched her waist.

"If your hands go anywhere else... I'll rip the fur right off your skin." She threatened. Seth didn't doubt her intentions, but kept a level head as his heart heart began to relax from the intense chase.

"Okay. Just step when I step." He told her. She nodded and took a tentative step only for a throaty growl escaped her lips.

"Unnghh!" Her eyes screwed shut.

"Can you put any weight on it?"

"I can't!" She whined in pain, and dug her claws into the back on his hand. The jackal had to hold one leg up and jump with the other.

'It's getting even darker...' He worried about the changing weather as he slowly walked alongside the hopping jackal. "Stop. You can't walk like this." Seth halted.

"No kidding, idiot!" She barked angrily and sat down and held her leg awkwardly. The pained expression over face was evident enough of her injury. It clearly wasn't fake, and the adrenaline from their chase was beginning to wear off.

"I will carry you." Seth thought aloud and crouched down beside her.

"What?" The jackal frowned at him as if she hasn't heard him. She yipped with wide eyes as he suddenly hoisted her up into his arms.

"I'll kill you if you drop me." She grabbed his throat with both hands.

"Noted..." He choked out a response but started walking ahead. The jackal released her grip only to groan in discomfort. Seth coughed and savored being able to breathe, but he was afraid that she would bite his face unprovoked. His tent couldn't come into view soon enough!

After a long walk with several stops to rest, and exchanging testy words, they finally reached the campsite. He helped the jackal lay down comfortably inside the tent.

"Stay right there."

"I'm not going anywhere!" She growled at him. Seth ignored her comment and stood up at the tent's entrance. A pattering sound alerted the coyote hybrid's ears. Glancing up, he could see a few dark spots on the ground as raindrops reached the forest floor. It started with only a few but the rainfall began in earnest soon enough. The pattering and hissing sounds echoed all around them. It was the only sound his ears could detect in the forest.

"I guess we will be stuck here for a while..." He quietly remarked. The coyote hybrid dug into his pack of supplies and prepared a meal with the supplies the villagers had given him. Seth paused with a few items in hand only to think about the chase a short while ago. Images of the vines and trees moving as if they were fully alive flashed before him.

'She must really be a witch.' Seth glanced at the jackal. She was still seated with her legs stretched out. Her bad ankle appeared a little swollen, but otherwise appeared okay. It was a little unnerving being with someone who could perform mystical powers, but she didn't seem very threatening at the moment.

"How is your ankle doing?" Seth tried to kneel closer to her only to receive a provocative glare.

"Don't touch me!" She threatened him with her biting words.

"I was trying to look at your ankle."

"I don't want you to." Her scowl was every bit real.

"Fine." He stated with a huff and returned his attention to food. "If you want to eat, then take this." Seth set the bread, piece of cheese, and salted meat by her side, but far enough away to avoid a possible sudden strike. She sniffed at the offered food suspiciously before hungrily accepting it. The food was devoured in seconds rather than minutes. A prevailing silence ensued once again after she licked her clawed fingertips clean. The scowl on her face seemed to lessen.

"Will you tell me what your name is?" Seth asked.

"It's Afon." She flatly answered him.

"Afon? That's an interesting name." It was simple and elegant.

"It means River." She tersely explained.

"My name is Seth." He introduced himself. The jackal cut her eyes at him only to look away once more. 'I guess a full belly makes anyone more amiable.' Seth half grinned at the thought. 'But not very amiable.' He quietly sighed to himself.

***

The rain poured without abating much the entire night. A prevailing drizzle lingered in the early dark morning, lightly pattering onto the tent and the leaves. Thankfully, the tent held up without a single leak. The rest of the forest was otherwise silent.

Seth glanced across the tent and at the jackal seated at the opposite end. Her arms were folded, and one of her legs was tucked in tightly. However, he injured ankle was stretched out. From a glance, it still appeared swollen. The look in her eyes was anything but happy about their current circumstances. There was little else the two of them could do with the persistent rainfall. She wouldn't even let him examine her ankle too closely.

'I can't travel back with her ankle injured like this.' Seth realized the difficult situation that he was in. The weather was bad, the roads were non existent until he could escape the forest, and he couldn't carry her very far with everything else packed away on his back. The canine hybrid pursed his lips in thought about what he could do. His ears listened to the light drizzle for a moment.

'I'm glad that I have enough supplies for the two of us to last plenty of time.' He was grateful to have a wooden stove and canvas tent set up. 'All I have to do is ride out this bad weather... with her.' His gaze settled on the jackal again, but her eyes cut away from his. Seth let his thoughts wander about the villagers and then his return home for a while until he found himself dozing off. The jackal moved, stirring him from nearly falling asleep.

"What are you doing?" He watched her sit up and creep forward.

"I am going to disappear behind a tree." She half joked. "I need to relieve myself."

"Hold on. I'll help you."

"I don't need you with me!" She angrily spat at him.

"The last thing I need is for you to escape."

"Escape?" The jackal witch huffed with a feigned laugh. "Yes, I'm going to escape you idiot. First I'll wait for you to blink, and then I will fly up the tree, transform into a cloud, and then disappear. What kind of moron are you?! I can barely stand up!" She finished hurling insults with her jaws parted, lightly wanting with anger. Seth stared at her silently as the jackal didn't wait for a reply. She hastily rose to her paws, nearly stumbling onto all fours twice. He watched her hobble and hop towards a large oak tree where she managed to step around behind it. The coyote hybrid rubbed his forehead in thought. Seth had captured the witch, but he was the one stuck in the forest with her.

'I'm afraid no amount of silver will be worth this job.' He sighed and half hoped that she would disappear behind the tree.

The following morning fog was thick and clung to the forest like a heavy seaside mist. Seth gazed around from the camp and tried to see into the trees. The dense foliage and tree cover already limited his sight, but the fog made distant shapes difficult to discern.

'This forest is a perfect home for a witch.' He didn't like the eerie feeling that the scenery gave him. A rustling behind him diverted his attention away from the forest. At the tent's entrance, the jackal witch had emerged with disheveled head fur. She hoisted herself up onto one paw, nearly losing balance in the process. Seth stepped forward to help only to receive a slap to the shoulder.

"You can ask for help, you know." He frowned at Afon.

"Shut up." She lowered her injured leg and managed to touch the ground with both paws. The jackal breathed a sigh of relief that she could barely use her other paw to stand now.

"Are you here to tell me that you're fine to walk?" He have her a peculiar look.

"No." Afon said with a bitter voice. "I'd like to take a bath." She firmly told him.

"A bath?" He looked at her in surprise. "It's been raining off and on for nearly three days."

"Yes, and I don't want to smell like a rotting carcass." She rebuffed him. "Or like you." The jackal sneered. "You need a bath too." The coyote hybrid frowned and glared at her.

"I'll keep my eyes on you."

"Keep your eyes off me." Her tail flicked in annoyance.

"So you can run away?"

"I can barely walk right now." She huffed angrily. "Even with your help."

"Ugh." Seth grumbled under his tongue and looked away. The jackal pricked his nerves too easily. "Where are you going to bathe at? I only passed by one creek coming into this forest." He pointed over his shoulder.

"There's a bog near here. I'll show you where to go once the fog clears." She offered. Despite not wanting to bother with her request, there was nothing else he had to do other than wait for her ankle to heal.

"Fine..." Seth reluctantly agreed.

***

The fog lifted by mid-morning, but the forest was still dark from the thick overcast, and still very wet from the constant rainfall. Walking into a low hanging branch of green leaves would send a little shower of droplets below. Seth stayed alongside the jackal witch, helping her with each step. Their paws squished noisily in the mud as they carefully walked to the nearest body of water. The loud chorus of frogs and crickets gave their ears plenty of other sounds to listen to. Stretched out before them was a body of water where several trees stood. Water loving plants like reeds, ferns, and grasses grew along most of the muddy embankment. The bog opened up further ahead into a marshy field without any trees.

'How far does this wetland extend?' He silently wondered, but didn't have much time to dwell on it.

"This is close enough." She told him and hastily sat down on the mossy embankment. Seth stood back as Afon pulled her hooded cloak over her head revealing her backside to him. The jackal's back was darker in coloration unlike her brown arms and legs, and her lighter cream facial tones. The beautiful black and silver fur resembled the night sky to Seth. Lastly, she removed her loincloth with some difficulty, but Seth didn't dare intervene. The situation was already uncomfortable enough for them both. Her tail was practically tucked against her rear to shield herself from any prying eyes. She folded her clothes and set them aside, but not before pulling an interesting item from a pouch.

"What does that do?" He eyed the soft glowing light blue crystal pendant hanging from her hand.

"It purifies any water that it touches." She explained without looking back at him.

"How... nevermind." Seth shook his head. Afon was a witch after all, shouldn't that explain it? The jackal crouched onto her hands and knees before stretching forward with the light blue crystal in hand. It dipped beneath the water's surface for a few seconds before she pulled it up.

"Is that it?" Seth watched as she put the crystal away.

"Yes." She covered her chest with an arm and stood up on her own with a little difficulty.

"I'll be right here if you need any help." He told her, but didn't receive any response. Afon managed to hop into the water with noisy splashes, but when she reached a deep enough spot, the jackal was able to wade by putting a tiny mount of weight onto her bad paw. She stood by a tree still facing away from him and placed her hand on its trunk for support. Seth heard an audible sigh as she rested for a moment.

'At least I did not have to carry her.' He stared at the jackal's dark silvery furred backside. Although, the thought of having to carry her didn't bother him. Seth blinked and looked away.

'Don't let your guard down just because she's naked.' He reminded himself. She was a witch and there was no telling what she could do to him, but wouldn't she have done something to him by now? His gaze eventually returned to the jackal still standing by the tree.

"How long are you going to stand there?" He asked.

"My paw sunk in the mud and I can't move." She sullenly replied and slouched forward with her ears tucked back.

"I see..." He sighed and stood up. Seth disrobed and tossed his clothes aside unceremoniously beside the jackal's.

'A bath would not hurt. I do smell awful.' He thought to himself and winced when he lifted an arm. Having a bath wasn't a bad idea, albeit one with her would prove to be a challenge. Seth waded into the still water with cautious paws. The water was cool but soothing, unlike the thick mud beneath his steps. He glanced down and frowned at how the water didn't rise high enough to completely cover his manhood from view.

'I hope she doesn't look back at me.' Seth waded closer to her. The jackal's ears twitched hearing him approach, but she didn't make any sudden movements.

"Don't jump back." He reached just below the water's surface and grabbed ahold of her hips.

"Careful" She growled and folded her arms protectively across her chest.

"I know..." With a little bit of force he managed to pull the jackal up and free her from the mud.

"Thank you." She said despite gritting her teeth at the humiliation of needing his help. The coyote hybrid looked around the bog and found a solution to her problem.

"Here." Seth showed her a fallen tree that was partially submerged underwater. "You can sit there without getting stuck."

"Alright." The jackal nodded, and he helped her wade over to it. She would be able to sit on the submerged trunk better and wash herself. The coyote hybrid almost turned around to mind his own business, but decided to ask one more thing.

"Did you need any help with your back?" Seth asked.

"I only need help with my back." She warned him, and crossly folded her arms despite not even facing him.

"I know that." He sighed and cupped the purified bog water into his hands. He soaked her back before starting to rub just below her shoulders. The dark silvery fur was thick, but her body was warm underneath the thick coat. He managed to bathe her down to her lower back without a single insult or grumble from the jackal.

"There. Your back is done." He turned around and splashed water over his face. The only noise between their turned backs was the sound of splashes and hands combing through fur. Seth plunged himself under a few times and thoroughly washed under his arms as well. Wiping the water from his eyes a final time, he felt refreshed from the bath. The canine's ears perked up feeling hands touch his back. The water rippled from behind him.

"Hold still." Afon told him. The coyote hybrid didn't move but wondered why until she splashed water onto his back. He felt hands carefully wash his back next, scrubbing through the darker fur. Her hands were surprisingly gentle yet firm and pleasant to the touch. She dutifully reciprocated washing his back from shoulders down to the base of his tail, and not a word was spoke in between.

"Okay. I'm done." She told him and quickly rinsed her hands in the water with a brief splash.

"Thanks." He wasn't sure what to say at the unexpected kindness.

"Just don't mention it..." She mumbled behind him.

"I won't." He looked away into the forest. For a moment, neither said a word as the frogs and crickets said plenty around them. "I'll wade back first-" Seth started to say, but a hand caught his shoulder. Seth froze and started to glance over his shoulder, but stopped.

"I need help wading out." She meagerly spoke.

"Alright. Give me your arm." He lowered his shoulder. The witch shuffled over to his side and placed an arm over his shoulders. Standing up fully, Seth kept his gaze steady despite their naked bodies being sandwiched together at the hip. He hoped that she was doing the same. The dark water quietly sloshed around them with every step they took through the bog's water and mucky bottom.

"Slow down." Afon quietly barked as their paws reached the muddy and mossy land. The jackal could barely put any weight on her paw. She slipped her arm off his shoulders, but held onto Seth's arm to steady herself.

"You didn't bring a towel or rag to dry our fur?"

"I don't have any towels." He stared at the ground as water dripped off their soaked bodies. The jackal witch gripped his arm, but didn't say anything. She gave a bemoaning sigh and shook her head. Seth hasn't expected the need to take a bath while capturing a witch, or being stranded in the woods for several days, so no towels or rags had been packed by the villagers. They had to dry their fur out the old fashioned way by sitting around a fire...

***

It was the late evening and nightfall was almost upon them. The crackling and popping sounds of a small fire brought warmth and light to the dark untouched forest. The crickets and frogs blared their sounds around them too. Seth and Afon were huddled around opposite ends of the fire, basking in its flames. Their walk back to his camp didn't take long, but drying their fur seemed to take an eternity. Given the lack of sunlight or wind in the forest, dampness lingered like a humid fog. Seth's fur was still a little damp, but wasn't entirely naked anymore. A cloak the villagers had provided him for the journey was draped loosely over his shoulder to help stave off a chill. He didn't care too much about it. There was no taboo about seeing one's manhood the same way it was to see a woman naked, or even half naked.

Afon was partially dressed, only wearing her loincloth. The rest of their clothes were hanging on a line of string they hung up between two branches. The steam from the covered tin pot wafted up into the air, emitting a pleasant smell. Oatmeal, peas, and bread crusts didn't sound very appetizing to someone from the modern world, but spending a lot of time in a rural landscape, especially an ancient forest, made Seth appreciate having any food at all.

Their eyes were focused on the cooking food while their stomachs occasionally growled. However, Seth couldn't help but look at her naked front when given the chance. Her front was a very light cream color all the way from her chin down to her nether region where the loincloth was tied securely around her waist once more. He was surprised that she had forgone covering herself after being so modest about it. Her breasts were nicely rounded in a beautiful feminine shape, and her nipples were a light pink. There was something about how she sat there topless with one hand resting on a knee that was pleasant to his eyes. The way her lovely round breasts hung so naturally and beautifully while she looked away indifferently had caught his eye. Seth failed to notice an eye glare at him.

"What are you looking at?" She lightly scoffed at him. "Haven't you seen a woman before?" Afon muttered and looked away, but didn't cover herself up completely.

"No. You're beautiful." He admitted.

"Haha!" The jackal laughed after a brief silence. "You're too funny." She mentioned but Seth remained silent as he looked away. He checked the tin pot and silently wished their food would hurry up and finish cooking. Seth tilted the lid to watch everything bubble more closely.

"It's great that your crystal can purify water." He broke the odd silence and returned his gaze towards hers.

"It's come in handy a lot, especially when I live near a bog." Afon mentioned.

"Any body of water could become your home." He quietly nodded. A brief silence passed again only for the jackal witch to keep the talk going.

"One time I was chased by a sheriff through a field into this forest, and I had nowhere to get water, except for a small pond. Without having the crystal, I would not have been able to drink from it."

"I was going to say that a forest is the perfect place for a witch like yourself to hide."

"There's plenty of places to hide, but at least no one else can bother me here." She agreed. "Until you showed up." The jackal cut her eyes towards him. Seth rubbed the back of his head and neck.

"I think my fur is dry." He rose to his paws and tended to the clothesline. "Is your fur dry?" He touched her hooded cloak, but looked over his shoulder to ask first. The jackal looked herself over and comb her hands along her naked front and back.

"Yeah, I think so." She looked up at him. Seth pulled her cloak off the clothesline and handed it over to her before retrieving his own garments. Their clothes were finally dry, but noticeably cooler than the fire on their bare fur. The fire was providing more than enough warmth for them. Seth placed his clothes inside the tent for tomorrow morning.

"I think the food is finally done." He checked the fire and readied two small bowls. Afon donned her cloak once more, and thanked him for the food. It wasn't a lot to eat, or very flavorful, abut it was more than enough to fill his belly after another long day. They ate in silence together.

Seth scanned through the trees of dark forest, looking as far ahead as he could see. The trees resembled an inescapable maze in his eyes. There wasn't much else to say or do as the fire dwindled between them. Once it was put out, they retired into the tent to sleep. Seth laid down in his usual spot, but Afon didn't isolate herself by the corner or side of the tent like she had the past few days. Instead, the jackal laid to rest towards the back of the tent, but kept some distance from him. He went to sleep faintly hearing her snore a short distance away from him.

"Is it tender here?" Seth asked and gently pressed around Afon's ankle with his thumbs.

"Yes, you idiot!" She growled through clenched teeth, wishing she could kick him. The jackal was seated on a fallen moss covered tree trunk and had her injured leg in Seth's lap. The coyote hybrid was doing his best to figure out the extent of her injuries. Her ankle was swollen, but nothing felt broken or fractured.

"I think you sprained your ankle."

"So nothing is broken?"

"No, I doubt it." Seth felt confident in his answer. "Your ankle is very warm too." He could practically feel the heat radiating from it.

"It throbs and aches if I put too much weight on it."

"How much weight can you put on your paw?"

"Very little." She mumbled unhappily.

"It's good that you can walk at all." Seth mentioned. He turned his attention to her paw and began rubbing the main pad with a steady firm pressure. With a little tender treatment the jackal's tune quickly changed from grumbling anger to a peaceful quiet. Her digitigrade toes curled once he finished.

"The sooner your ankle heals, the sooner we can leave this forest." Seth explained and helped her up from the fallen tree. Afon didn't say anything in response, but her facial expression didn't appear very pleased at the news. Seth walked alongside her back to the tent where she sat down by the dormant fire pit. His eyes suddenly opened side as an idea came to mind.

"I can just return home. Why didn't I think of that earlier?" He realized. The jackal gave him a peculiar look, but Seth didn't pay any attention to it. He pulled out the leather stringed necklace from under his shirt, revealing the stone arrowhead.

'It will be much easier to return home for a short time and then reappear in the village with her.' His reasoning sounded golden, and he felt his troubles start to melt away at the easier route. Holding the pendant firmly in hand, he concentrated on the stone arrowhead. The crickets around them chirped and sang, but nothing happened. Seth blinked and glanced to his sides before focusing on the pendant once again, like he normally would. The seconds ticked by but nothing happened.

"Why isn't it working?" He held up his pendant with frustration in his voice. His brow furrowed, but his heart started to best faster. The canine hybrid worried something was wrong.

'Does this mean I can't go back home?' An odd fear gripped him that he hadn't felt since he was a little child afraid of the dark. Becoming stranded in an old forest in medieval England's countryside sounded like an odd twist of fate for the modern coyote hybrid.

'Do not panic. Something must be wrong with it.' He silently hoped.

"Are you alright?" A female voice seemed to ask from nowhere.

"Yes! I'm fine!" He almost barked at the jackal. Her ears fell back as she looked at him with suspicion.

"Pf. Yeah right..." She quietly muttered under her tongue. Seth started pacing.

'Alright. Calm down. It's always worked before.' He told himself and tried to keep a level head to figure out why it wasn't working. 'Is it the forest?' Seth wondered. He had never been to the forest before. The only place he had ever appeared was the field outside of the nearest village.

'Is she casting a spell or something?' Seth was almost ready to accuse Afon of wrongdoing, but bit his tongue wisely. 'Maybe I have been wearing it too long.' He guessed and removed the pendant from around his neck before placing it with his belongings.

"I'm going to relieve myself." Seth waved.

"Okay." Afon watched him suspiciously but didn't say anything as the coyote hybrid walked to the other side of a large tree. Once Seth relieved himself, he took several deep breaths to calm himself.

"Everything will be okay." He muttered under his breath. "First, I have to take care of Afon and return her to the village." The coyote hybrid walked around the large oak tree and approached the tent. His eyes widened in shock as found the jackal holding up his pendant.

"Hey! Put that down!" Seth quickly ran up to her.

"I didn't think you possessed a magical item like this." She remarked as he snatched it from her.

"Excuse me?" Seth was baffled that she instantly knew, and started thinking of lies to explain himself.

"Don't bother trying to twist your tongue. I know about this type of magic."

"Oh. Eh. Really? How did you figure that out?"

"I can look at the design and tell." Afon told him. "Yours is linked to the time it was made. The witch who helped teach me how to properly use magic wore one, but it could only move forward in time. One day the village she stayed at suspected her of wielding magic so they tried burning her house down. She was able to use the pendant to travel to the future, but I have no idea how far into the future." The jackal sullenly remarked.

"That's incredible." Seth didn't know what to say. There was more than one pendant like his own, and there were different kinds as well.

"I didn't know that you could perform magic." Afon was genuinely surprised at the fact.

"Well, I don't think that I can perform anything of the sort." Seth tried to explain. "I don't really do anything, but the pendant is able to work on its own. I bought it at a shop one day and played around with it one stormy night. That's how I ended up here for the first time..." He thought back to the fateful day he acquired the pendant, located deep inside an old antique shop.

"It still takes someone of a certain nature to correctly use them." She pointed out. "The average person or a peasant can't effectively utilize magical objects on their own."

"No one ever explained how all of this works to me." Seth was glad to have her expertise. "Do you know why it isn't working?"

"I haven't used anything like it before." She looked at the pendant with curiosity. "It likely won't react to me anyway."

"Why not?" Seth didn't understand. "You're a witch. You should be able to make anything magical work, right?"

"Not exactly." She looked away unhappily. "You wouldn't exactly understand."

"I'd like to." He earnestly spoke. The jackal's tail swished once as she looked away in thought for a moment. Her brief silence made him wonder what she was thinking about.

"Aren't you curious to know why the villagers hate me so much?" She looked back at him and asked.

"All I know is that you stole some money and food from different villages around this large forest and bog." Seth stated. "Is there something else I should know about?"

"The villagers banished me because they found out I was a witch." She lifted her cloak and revealed a peculiar marking just below her navel. It appeared like a simple dark blue ink mark, easy to wash away, but it appeared brand new despite them taking a bath the other day. Seth blinked in surprise. He hadn't noticed the mark on her during the day they bathed and sat at the fire together. Then again, he was a little distracted by the rest of her naked body that evening.

"A village priest created the powerful mark." She explained before lowering her cloak. "I was also branded here." She lifted the sleeve to her left wrist and revealed a different marking in dark blue ink on the underside.

"The mark of a thief..." Seth murmured.

"Yep." She lowered the sleeve. "One day a woman saw me create ice from a river one early morning. I tried using bad magic to erase her memory, but it didn't work and caused her to scream in agony. Bad magic can kill people very easily, and I was careless to use it like that." The sadness in her voice was full of regret at her own folly. "A mob caught me later that day and I was brought to a priest. He's the one who cursed me with with mark below my navel. Then the villagers branded my wrist before banishing me. Because of the curse the village priest put on me, I have been unable to perform magic."

"What?" Seth looked at her incredulously. "Are you saying that you haven't been able to perform magic since you were ousted?"

"That's correct." She nodded, but he didn't believe her.

"What about the trees moving when tried running through the thicket?" He pointed out. "Or the uh-"

"I created all of those spells before I was cursed." She waved a hand and explained. "It's the same with the water purifying necklace, or even your pendant. The magic is within the item."

"I had no idea..." Seth shrugged, still surprised about everything Afon had told him.

"The priest was especially cruel. He said that I will be unable to bear a child with this mark." She gritted her teeth. "What is a woman without being able to create and provide life?" The jackal angrily muttered, and looked away for a long moment. Seth felt a little nervous as he tried to read her focused expression.

"I'm surprised that you're not afraid of me." She rubbed an ear and looked back at him. "Just about everyone else becomes afraid when they know someone can perform magic."

"It's really fascinating, but I'm more terrified of you when you're feisty." He half grinned causing her to laugh.

"An angry bark can't kill someone." She chuckled and wiped her nose.

"That's true..." Seth's grin quickly fell at the fact. "I don't have any problem helping you with your ankle regardless of you're a witch or not."

"You're not helping me if you take me back to that village." She flatly told him

"Well, I was hired to bring you back for a large payment of silver." Seth rubbed his neck. The jackal huffed in annoyance, and crossly muttered something inaudible under her breath.

"No one ever mentioned your full backstory to me. To be frank, some of what the villagers said was outlandish." He remembered one accusing her of turning another into a newt.

"I am not surprised about that." She rubbed the top of her muzzle. "A tale grows longer after every passing year."

"How did you end up stealing money and food to survive?"

"Everyone shunned me from their villages!" She snapped at him. "How can I survive living in the woods by myself? There's very little food that I can forage out here. I have to steal money to hopefully barter with a passing merchant! No one will hire me, and if I set foot in a village in broad daylight then I will certainly be killed!" She fumed.

"I'm not going to hand you off to them like an animal." Seth frowned. "But I will take you back as I promised."

"You're going to take me back even after I told you everything?" She glared at him. "Those villagers will be eager to kill me."

"I will not let anyone kill you over accidental magic, or petty theft." He promised. "I'm good friends with several villagers in this area. They'll listen to me."

"You better think carefully about what you're saying." She pointed a finger and warned him. "You're acting as if witchcraft is commonplace and accepted. It isn't, and every common man fears its power. If you even offer to help me in front of someone then they could just as easily turn on you as they did to me." She said before leaving to relieve herself.

Afon's pointed remark gave Seth a heavy dilemma to weigh in his mind, and making a choice would be difficult. If the coyote hybrid turned her over to the villagers for a reward, they could still seek further retribution from her. However, he could "let" her escape once she recovered, but she would turn to stealing once again to survive. Seth could even run away with her and reside in the woods; but that would be at the high cost of abandoning all of the friends he had made along the way without a single coin to his name. On top of all that, his pendant was mysteriously not working. Seth was effectively stuck in the area with no way to return home.

"What do I do?" He stared at his empty hands and asked himself.

A warmth and softness accompanied his waking mind like that of a comfortable dream. The sensation of warm fur and cozy body heat wasn't something Seth was accustomed to waking up with.

"Hmm?" He softly grumbled in confusion. Looking to his side, the canine hybrid found the jackal's silvery black back directly beside him. Seth blinked a few times and realized that he was snuggled up to the jackal witch. He didn't know how it happened during the night, but there they were laying side by side. His eyes blinked without any particular thoughts, but his gaze gradually turned above. The canine hybrid's thoughts began to churn as he stared up at the canvas tent.

'How am I going to get back to the present if my pendant isn't working?' He worried. Various thoughts crossed his mind, each one full of worry and concern. Would he have to do something to make the pendant work again? Was it sensitive to how many times it is used? Even Afon, a true witch, wasn't entirely sure about the item's properties. Seth did his best to dispel his worries.

'At least I'm not completely alone...' He found a little solace being with someone who at the very least didn't hate him at the moment. After a few moments in silence, he hoped to drift back to sleep.

"Are you awake?" A voice quietly asked.

"Yes." Seth blinked his eyes open despite wanting to keep them closed.

"I thought so..." Afon hummed as she stretched. Seth listened to her dress before forcing himself to sit up. He rubbed his eyes and smoothed his dark facial fur.

"You look sick. Did you sleep last night?" She curiosity studied his tired eyes.

"I'm just worrying." He brushed it off.

"About your pendant?"

"Yeah." His voice drifted off like a passing breeze. Afon looked outside before coming up with an idea.

"I know a spot with wild blueberries that we can eat." She offered. "It will be nice tasting something sweet for a change."

"Blueberries out here? Okay." Seth was eager to take his mind off more troubling matters. The two dressed themselves before exiting the tent. The sky was cloudy yet again, casting the forest in a dark shaded background. Afon stretched her leg several times for good measure before walking alongside Seth. The jackal walked at a slow yet steady pace, only able to put some weight on her paw. It was a remarkable improvement from when her ankle was first injured.

"So how do you know this forest so well?" Seth tried striking up some idle chatter.

"Because I live here." She glanced at him with a knowing look.

"Ah, I should've figured that out before I asked." He bashfully rubbed his head. The jackal chuckled as they walked.

"I used to play in the forest when I was a kid." She humored him. "You would always hear rumors about staying out of the forest because of monsters or ghosts, but I never cared." She shrugged. "And when I was an adolescent, I used the forest to practice magic."

"This is a nice secluded area to do something taboo." He agreed and helped her step over a large fallen tree.

"Thank you. Yeah, it is quiet for privacy, but a little lonely too." She sadly added.

"At least an angry mob can't find you easily in here." Seth acknowledged. "I am surprised that I found you on my second day here. I wasn't prepared for a long hunt in such a vast forest."

"You were very lucky to hunt and catch me so quickly." Afon admitted and swished her tail.

"I'm very good at hunting and setting traps." He grinned. "But I don't like to think that I hunted you. Instead I imagine that I found and captured you." The jackal wiggled her nose in thought but didn't say anything in return. The pair eventually arrived at a small open space in the woods revealing a few matured blueberry bushes. A small creek nearby was partially hidden by a thicket of ferns. It was a quiet little section of the forest where only a few chattering birds were heard alongside the water of the creek.

"I see a few from here!" Afon's voice was tinged with excitement as she walked over to dark blue orbs. Seth stepped up to her side and looked at the berries ripe for picking.

"There's quite a few." He plucked one and stared at the star shaped end of one berry.

"Mmm." Afon hummed and popped two into her mouth. "These are sweet..." She quickly ate a third only to squint an eye. "Uh. That ones a little sour."

"I see..." Seth chuckled and ate one. The canine pair combed through in search of berries and found a nice little bounty to enjoy for themselves. But a subtle flash of light caught their attention. Moments later the rumble of thunder soon followed. Its cascading deep echo made his fur stand up.

"Are we getting another storm?" The jackal looked up at the canopy above with a depressed look. Seth looked around the dark forest before gazing up above. A rustling wind passed, but a familiar pattering sound caused his ears to fall back. A raindrop landed on his nose, but several more landed on leaves and the ground too.

"I'm tired of the rain!" Seth couldn't believe their luck. "C'mon, let's go!" He wanted to hurry and avoid getting wet, but the jackal was extremely slow as she walked on her own. The sparse droplets were scattered, but they were quickly growing in number. Not wanting to get soaked again, he scooped Afon into his arms.

"Put me down, you oaf!" She barked and grabbed fistfuls of his shirt. "I can walk!"

"We'll get back to camp a lot faster if you just hold on!" Seth hurried through the forest.

"I will bite your leg off if you drop me!" Afon clung onto him just in case he lost his grip.

"I'll try not to!" Seth agilely ducked under branches and wove between narrow trees as the rain poured. The leaves covering much of the forest floor were slippery as they became wet, and Seth nearly fell only to make a swift recovery. By the time Seth and Afon reached the camp, their clothes were soaked, and they hadn't fared much better.

"Are you alright?" He carefully set her down onto the ground inside the tent.

"Yeah, just wet." She removed her hooded cloak while he stripped his pants off. "I guess we didn't need to take a bath after all." She huffed and removed her soaked loincloth last.

"I'm damp, but not soaked." Seth ruffled his fur as he stripped off his shirt, and then undergarment. "What about you?" He collected their clothes.

"Same." Afon stated as he strung them up. The coyote hybrid took a moment to catch his breath and rest his arms.

"I didn't expect it to cool down either." He folded his arms to stave off a chill. "Where did I put the blanket?" He looked around the little dwelling before finding it folded up where they slept. "Here." He draped the blanket around Afon's shoulders before sitting beside her.

"You don't have to catch a cold either." The jackal slipped half the blanket around his back, and snuggled up to his side. Both canines sat together and watched the rain fall past the dormant fire pit. They were too tired to start a fire for breakfast, and most of the sticks around them were already wet.

"I guess we will be stuck here for another day..." Seth sighed and stared out at the wet forest.

"I'm surprised it's rained so much. I must have bad luck." Afon forced herself to grin.

"If anything, I am the one with bad luck right now." He stated. "I thought about what you said yesterday." He softly spoke.

"About turning me in for a reward?" She guessed.

"Sort of." He said, but thought for a moment. "I could leave and let you stay here in the forest." He suggested causing her ears to perk up. "If I ever visited you again then I would have to come all the way out here in the forest. I would have to do it in secret as well... Do you want to live in the forest and bog for the rest of your life, constantly fearing other people for knowing who you really are?" His question made her turn silent for a change. "You can't keep stealing and hiding the rest of your life," Seth continued, "because at some point you're going to get too old or get caught. It won't last forever."

"No." She answered barely above a whisper. "I know it won't last forever." Her ears fell back. "I'm scared." She quietly admitted. "But I'm angry too. I didn't want any of this to happen to me, but my life has been ruined from one accidental mistake." She rested her cheek on his shoulder. "A witch without magic might as well die." Her harsh assessment chilled Seth.

"Don't say that." He whispered. "That's not true."

"I'll go back with you." She suddenly agreed to his surprise. "But do you trust me?"

"I trust you." He found her hand and gently grasped it. "Even if you're a witch who can or can't perform magic."

"I trust you too." Afon said before pursing her lips. Seth didn't need to hear anything else as he felt her hand squeeze him in return. The hissing sound of a morning shower echoed around them.

Seth's ear flickered as the barking of a squirrel stirred him from a restful sleep. He wanted to move, but felt a body warmly pressed up against his front. He realized that the cozy heat wasn't entirely from the blanket. His arms were loosely holding onto Afon, in a sleepy embrace. Their limbs were tangled together like tree roots. He even felt one of his hands curled up, nuzzled under the bottom of her breast. His ears perked up detecting her soft breathing. She was still asleep. Waking up with someone in his arms was different, but very pleasant. He closed his eyes for a moment to savor the intimate moment, even if it was accidental.

The squirrel outside stopped barking and several lazy minutes passes until Afon gently moved one of his arms.

"Hmm?"

"I need to relieve myself..." She mumbled and Seth rolled back for her to sit up. He heard the witch shuffle out of the tent on her own and then silence. A few stray thoughts lazily passed through his mind for the time being, but a rustling sound at the tent's entrance kept him from falling back asleep.

"Seth..." A dissatisfied female voice called out. Seth blinked and looked up only to gawk at the jackal. She stood tall hunched over him, only leaning a little bit due to her bad ankle, with her hands on her hips. He had a perfect view of her womanhood nestled openly between her light cream furred thighs. Just a little higher was the curse mark from the priest, but up the slim slope of her abdomen was the luscious curvature of her lovely breasts hanging before him. Both pink nipples poked freely ahead, hardened from the cooler air. However, the grumpy look on her face wasn't quite as pleasurable.

"Why aren't you getting dressed?" Seth felt his cheeks warm slightly at the sight the jackal was giving him.

"You're the genius who hung up our clothes on the same clothesline." She pointed over her shoulder. Seth glanced over and his jaw dropped at the sight of their clothes on the line, and still very wet.

"Wow, that's completely my fault." He wiped his hand down his face with disappointment.

"You can't tell me you're a skilled hunter when you make that mistake." She pointed out. Seth was at a loss for words as Afon offered him a hand. The coyote hybrid was tempted to refuse to keep looking at her, but he kicked away the blanket anyway.

"You're standing on your own." He noticed once they emerged outside where the air was crisp and cooler.

"It still hurts if I bend it too much." She demonstrated. "But I can put most of my weight on it." The jackal added with a sly grin.

"That's great." Seth grinned and looked at her paws standing very well on their own.

"Did you want to finish foraging for blueberries?" She suggested.

"Sure."

"I'll walk on my own."

"Let's see how far you can go." He grinned encouragingly. Afon gladly accepted and led the way through the forest. The forest was much brighter than the previous days. Rays of sunlight were visible around them, striking through the air and creating dappled patches of gold onto any surface they reached. As they walked by the moss covered trees, Seth felt very self conscious about his manhood on full display to the forest around him. The occasional bob only reminded the coyote hybrid that he was utterly naked. However, Afon didn't seem shy about it. Her strides weren't perfectly normal due to her injury, but she wasn't defensive about her nakedness like the afternoon they bathed together. He found himself glancing at her naked rear where her tail swayed almost tantalizingly back and forth. At one point he could almost see her...

"Doesn't it feel weird to you?" Seth spoke up as they stepped over a rotted log.

"What?"

"Walking in the woods naked." He folded his arms only to unfold them so he could pry back a narrow branch in his way.

"Not really." She shrugged. "I've done it before, although no one was watching me then." Afon glanced over her shoulder and grinned at him. Seth felt his cheeks redden slightly as he averted his gaze from her rear.

"It's wet and damp out here." The jackal smelled the air and observed the leaves and trees. "My fur isn't going to lay flat." She ran a hand over her arm, showing how her coat ruffled messily.

"But at least it's not raining." Seth was glad to have a break from the miserable weather. Being stuck in the forest was one dilemma, but residing inside a tent most of the day was even more difficult.

"Thank goodness." She agreed as they walked through the sunlight dappled woods. Their walk through the woods was much faster now that Afon was able to walk on her own. They approached the small open patch within the forest where the small thicket of bushes grew. Unlike yesterday, the weather had largely cleared and a wide ray of sunlight illuminated the area. The chirping of birds echoed loudly throughout the area as well.

The canine pair didn't hesitate to search for fruit, and they began combing through the leaves together. However, the green leaves were predominantly bare of ripe berries.

"Looks like the deer finished these off before us." Afon said with disappointment.

"I think you are right." Seth scanned and searched the blueberry bush throughly, but came up empty handed. He spotted several hoof prints in the muddy ground towards the little creek.

"You know, when I was able to use magic I would prevent the deer from eating them all."

"That would've come in handy." Seth nodded and watched her ruffle a finger through her fur where the curse mark was.

"Yeah." She absentmindedly thought aloud. The jackal shifted her weight on her paws only to express discomfort. "Can you rub my paw? It's sore." Her ears fell back.

"Eh. Sure." He agreed much to her pleasure. The jackal sat down on a nearby stump and Seth plopped down onto the mossy and pine needle covered ground.

"Thank you." She smiled softly.

"How's your ankle doing?"

"It's aching..." She winced and made herself comfortable and slipped her injured leg into his naked lap.

"Don't walk on it too much. It's still healing." Lightly pressing his thumbs to her main pad, he calmly rubbed her paw first out of courtesy. A few hums of approval were heard as he tenderly cared for her. Glancing up, Seth smiled at the sight before him. The jackal, naked as could be, was leaning back onto her hands wearing a content grin across her muzzle from his affectionate touch.

"Enjoying yourself?" He softly chuckled at the sight.

"Why not?" She peeked an eye open before closing it once more. "I deserve it after you trapped me." Afon exhaled through her nose as a little triumph.

"I suppose you're right..." His eyes remained fixated on her even as his thumbs continued rubbing her paw. He couldn't help but stare at the naked jackal, and enjoy seeing her beautiful body on full display. Once her eyes opened up again, Seth glanced away only to return his gaze towards her. A warmth grew across his cheeks.

"What?" She looked at him questioningly.

"I think you're very beautiful." Seth found himself blushing at the admission. Afon tried covering a smile, but it was plainly obvious.

"You've said that before." She pointed out.

"I know, but I mean it." He bashfully grinned. The jackal stopped trying to cover her smile and simply showed it. Seth felt slightly nervous as she stared at him with a big grin.

"What?" He found her smile contagious.

"I trust you, right?" She quietly asked.

"Yeah." He nodded.

"And you trust me?"

"Uh huh." He nodded again. The jackal took a subtle deep breath before posing her next question.

"If we truly trust each other, then let me claim you as my mate." She proposed and brushed her paw over his sheath. Seth softly gasped and froze. His eyes fell down to his lap and found her paw pressed up against his manhood where his red tip was already emerging.

"I uh..." His face burned a bright red, only masked by his facial fur. He struggled to say something, but her paws gently rubbing him was a pleasant distraction. "I'm surprised this didn't happen when we were bathing that day." He bashfully rubbed his neck.

"I would've knocked a few knots into your head before yours came out." Afon softly grinned at how funny it seemed now.

"I'm glad that didn't happen, or you would be carrying me around." Seth chuckled. The jackal slipped her paws out of his lap and crept closer. Their eyes became locked together, desiring one another. Their muzzles neared until their lips met, but it was a tentative first kiss. Neither could guess where the other would tilt or move.

"Wait-"

"Hold still." She grabbed his face and turned her head correspondingly. Their jaws parted allowing their tongues better access. Hands began roaming over one another's body. One of hers ventured down low and began fondling him. His sheath began to swell and open as more of his member emerged into the cool mid-morning air. Her palm gently wrapped around his growing spire, eliciting a moan from him as they kissed. In moments he was fully erect, throbbing in time to his excited heartbeat.

The jackal and coyote backed off to catch their breath. Their eyes were half open, utterly infatuated with giddiness and love. Afon shuffled forward with both of her legs straddling his legs. Their fronts were nearly touching as she stood before him on her knees. Seth started to lay back, but a pair of hands grabbed his shoulders.

"Don't lay down yet." She told him. He looked at her quizzically, but sat upright for her. Afon lowered herself until the tip of his canine member touched her entrance. Seth watched as if entranced as the jackal witch was penetrated, inch by inch. His entire length was gradually enveloped down to the base in a hot vice like grip.

"Ooh." Both softly said in unison once she fully settled her weight into his lap. Seth had a lovely view of her front, particularly her chest at eye level. Afon wrapped her arms around him and rested her head atop his own. They fit together perfectly. The jackal rolled her hips a few times to test their position. Seth bit his lip as he felt his member jerk inside her with nowhere to go.

"I felt that." She said with a heated breath.

"You feel... perfect." His hands held her lower back tenderly, not wanting to let to for a single moment. Seth nuzzled the center of her light cream furred chest, relishing her fuzzy warmth. Drawing his nose up her neck, he kissed her jawline several times before nibbling her collarbone. His hands didn't remain idle either. Fingertips furrowed through her light cream fur until they found her chest. Afon shuddered as his palms brushed over her firm nipples. Seth breathed in her scent and tenderly massaged both breasts. Both of them were in heaven.

"I knew you wanted to grope me so badly." She cooed and arched her back to give him all of the access he desired. His nose lowered as one hand retreated.

"More than that..." He whispered and traced his cool damp nose over one pink nipple. But with every exhale, hot breath passed over her taut bud of flesh. Afon bit her lip and suppressed a groan, but he didn't stop lavishing her with attention. Seth parted his lips and began lapping at the jackal's nipple.

"Oohh. Ohh." The moans came more readily from her. She was nearly dancing in his lap from the odd mix of hot and cool. Seth was grunting as well. Every movement she made caused her walls to glide up and down, or clench pleasurably against his member deep inside her.

"Mmm..." Seth doubled his efforts as he switched to her other breast.

"Oohhh." Afon softly cooed as he licked her hard nipple with loving attention. She arched her back and gripped the scruff of his neck before slouching forward. Her entire body shuddered when a tooth grazed across her sensitive bud of flesh.

"Unff..." Seth felt her hot breath blow onto the top of his head. Her claws started digging into his shoulders, but he pressed on as she twisted her turned her hips. With a final gasp Afon pulled back, but still maintained a death grip on the hybrid's shoulders. He switched to brushing his thumbs over her nipples while gently groping both breasts. The concentrated look of pleasure etched onto her face spoke volumes.

"Lay back, please!" She opened her eyes and begged Seth. The coyote hybrid relented much to her relief. He eased back and gradually laid down on his back, but his member remained upright inside her. Afon was almost shuddering in his lap as if she had a chill. She held the breast he had been so sweetly attentive to.

"Are you okay?" He asked with concern.

"Mmhm." She hummed and nodded before blowing a heated sigh. "Just very sensitive after all that tongue work of yours." She opened her eyes. Seth felt his cheeks warm as he grinned. His hands rubbed the sides of her rear in anticipation for what was to come.

"Ready?" He held onto her legs.

"Mmhm." She nodded and started rocking her hips slowly. Seth tensed and drew in a hasty breath. Even with the slow motion, Seth found it impossible not to groan. Her walls seemed to grip his member with iron-like strength, caressing him with every squeeze and thrust. The coyote hybrid was unable to lay still and began thrusting upwards, encouraging her to increase her pace. The jackal rode him well, grinding her hips onto him like an animal in heat. Her breasts shook and rolled above him from their bouncing rhythm. The sweet friction and slick gliding sounds masked the growth of his knot just inside her entrance, locking them together. Their moans grew and intermingled into a crescendo of passionate cries.

Afon yelped as she came while Seth was still pumping below her. The jackal shuddered and moaned as she held onto the ground for support. Seth quickly came with a prolonged roar, and then they both suddenly stopped. The forest was silent for a moment, but soon the crickets, squirrels, and birds resumed talking once more. A brief moment of lightheaded dizziness overcame them before melting away into a lingering euphoric afterglow. They were both panting, trying to catch their breath, but wore the happiest grins on their faces. The minutes blissfully dragged by, but once his knot deflated, Afon started to ease off.

"Unf." She paused halfway up.

"What's wrong?"

"My ankle..." She winced.

"Hold on." Seth grabbed her waist and helped her off. Once she rose up enough, his red member slipped out. A mix of fluids oozed out of her womanhood and onto his flagging spire.

"Thanks." The jackal slipped her leg over and sat beside him. Seth remained on his back wearing a pleasant grin across his muzzle. The warm feelings coursing through his body were indescribable. His vision focused enough where he could see the canopy clearly above. A hand suddenly rested on his chest, stirring Seth from his blank thoughts. He looked up, but the jackal was quietly smiling at him in silence. She didn't need to say anything though. Seth understood exactly how she felt. He placed his hand over top her hand and felt his heart beat underneath. If possible, he would've laid there with her for the remainder of the day.

"We need to clean up unless we want gross matted fur." Afon didn't have to point out what she meant.

"You're right." Seth steadied himself as he stood up with her. "I'll clean you, if you clean me." He offered with a little grin.

"Gentleman." She slyly smiled and walked with him to the creek. They crouched down together by the water's edge. The jackal was first to cup water into her hands.

"Hey! It's cold!" He barked as she splashed his crotch with the creek water.

"I'm dousing the wild flame of arousal." She half joked and gently rubbed his manhood with careful hands.

"Ooh. Hey, be careful." He tensed and wanted to pry away. "Be gentle with them!"

"Alright! I am!" Afon huffed and washed him as carefully as possible. "Sheesh. You weren't this sensitive or scared a while ago." She finished and waved her hands to dry them.

"A man's privates are delicate, especially what hangs low." He thankfully held them. "I wasn't screwing your hands either."

"I don't exactly have much experience with that." She rolled her eyes and widened her stance for him to return the kind gesture. Seth sat forward and cupped the creek water into his hands and doused her womanhood with it.

"Ack!" The jackal nearly leapt as her hackles rose. "That is cold down there!" She briefly shuddered.

"I told you." Seth rubbed her womanhood and washed away any mess from before.

"Thanks." Afon stepped aside and used her hands to help air dry her fur. Seth found it comical but withheld a laugh.

"So uh... Does this mean we are mates?" He rose to his paws and asked. Her eyes looked at him with a little seriousness.

"Not quite." She told him.

"Not quite?" Seth looked at her questioningly. "But we just mated."

"I'll have to gather a few things first. It's a Druidic tradition." She mentioned.

"Can you show me?"

"I'd love to." The jackal witch grinned and led him on with the mere flick of a tail. Seth wasn't sure what she had waiting for him, but he could only wait to find out. At first, Afon simply meandered around the leaf littered forest floor, scrounging around for something. She searched at the base of a few trees before finding something she wanted.

"Aha!" The jackal bent over and picked up something.

"What is it?" Seth curiously looked at her.

"These." She showed him a simple pair of feathers in between her fingers. He wasn't sure what species they were from, but the grey and white pattern matched one another.

"What are you going to do with those?"

"Just hold still..." Afon stepped around to his side. He obliged while she reached up and fumbled around with his head fur. "There we are." She finally stepped back and Seth felt something hanging behind his eye.

"I was wondering what you would do with the feather." He found it a little silly that she had tied it to his head fur with some string.

"Well, I'm not going to tie it to your tail." Afon giggled and tied the second feather to her head fur.

"Now we are matching." Seth grinned. "Does this mean we are mates now?"

"No." She shook her head causing her feather to bob and dance. "There's something else that I will need to do." She told him.

"And what might that be?"

"Follow me." She led the way back to camp. Once they returned, the jackal didn't hesitate to dig through her hooded cloak and find what she sought. Seth couldn't tell what it was as she dug into his belongings before finding a bowl. Afon sat down with her back turned towards him and began grinding something. He was eager to find out what she was doing, but the jackal was being secretive. She kept her back turned and shooed him away if he pried too close.

"Okay..." Afon set the bowl in her lap and turned her head towards him. "I need you to sit down and hold your arm out." She requested. Seth held his arm out and she brought it into her lap. He had to shuffle over and lean a certain way, but didn't complain. There was a special significance to the moment. Seth kept still as something repeatedly furrowed into the fur on his wrist. It felt like a pen or narrow stick. Whatever she was doing to him, it lasted close to half an hour.

She blew onto his wrist several times before releasing him. Seth lifted his arm and stretched before seeing what she had done. His upper wrist, just below his hand, now had a unique finely detailed marking made from woad. The center was a hatch pattern with small swirls on the bottom and sides.

"Wow." He looked at his wrist in a few different angles. "You could be an artist." He commended her.

"We're matching." Afon cheerfully grinned, and showed him her wrist next; revealing that she had painted the pattern on herself as well.

"Now are we-?" Seth was cut off as Afon stepped forward and kissed him squarely on his lips. Seth closed his eyes as they melted into each other for a beautifully divine moment. The jackal stepped back and licked her nose and lips.

"Yes, you big oaf." She grinned and held his arms. "We're mates." Seth smiled and pulled her closer for another, longer, kiss. Their tongues danced slowly with passion as their arms encircled one another, bonding themselves together with their passionate love.

"I think I've rested long enough." He spoke in a low voice, and edged forward just enough to press their fronts together. Afon grinned and felt his sheath against her lower belly.

"You have? I see..." She glimpsed down and caught a hint of his red tip emerging.

"This time, I want to be on top."

"Hmm..." She pretended to hesitate. "Just this once." The jackal agreed with a mischievous wink.

"I'll make it worth your while." Seth dropped to his knees before she could and held onto her hips. Afon nibbled her lip with a giddy grin as his hot breath teased her furry folds. Her downy fur had dried from being washing earlier, but it was unkempt. Without much foreplay or romantics, he drew his tongue over the line of her beautiful sex. He wasn't entirely sure how to satisfy a woman this way, but a pleasant sigh from above told him all he needed to know. His tongue trailed up her sex in a steady rhythm. The jackal above him relaxed and sighed every other moment, but her hand continued rubbing the back of his head. Seth suddenly eased back.

"Am I doing this right?" He barely asked the question before receiving a prompt answer.

"Yes! Keep going! Don't stop." She moaned and gently nudged the back of his head closer into her thighs. Seth obliged and pressed forward, brushing his nose into her furry mound and dipping his tongue into her wet hot entrance. Her legs began to tense and the moans gradually became more pronounced. The jackal above shuddered and groaned, twisting her head to one side with every hot lick. His hands held onto her quivering legs to keep steady. Seth felt his sheath becoming heavier, slightly wagging below as more of his manhood emerged through the loving act of performing oral sex. But he loved every moment of it.

"Oh, Seth! Oh my... Oh! OH!!" Her cries echoed throughout the forest like a wild banshee. Seth had to hold tight and follow her sudden jerks and movements. A few more tense moments passed in silence before she gasped and stared up at the canopy. Seth eased back, but not after giving her a few kisses. The wetness on his furry lips was a strong indication of how much she had enjoyed herself.

"Uhhh. Oh my..." She groaned and lavishly rubbed his head appreciatively.

"I couldn't quite tell if I was getting the right spots." He admitted with a grin, and gazed up at her.

"It takes a while for a woman to warm up." She huffed a satisfied breath. "But once she's warm, she stays hot." The jackal added in a feisty tone as she gazed back down at him between her breasts.

"I like that." Her smiled from between her legs and reached up to tease a firm nipple. Afon stuck her tongue out at him playfully. She eased down and shared a kiss with Seth before laying on her back, and spreading her legs. The coyote hybrid gazed at the beauty laying before him. The jackal witch's sex was damp from his tongue and wet inside. Seeing her so hot and aroused made more of his member emerge from his sheath. Seth didn't hesitate to crawl overtop her. Their noses were almost touching as they breathed onto one another. Their eyes half open, entirely entranced by the other's gaze.

"Do you want me to make love to you?" He whispered.

"You better." She whispered back. The coyote hybrid gleefully lowered his head. Seth licked the witch's neck, nibbling at her shoulders and clavicle, eliciting a few groans and soft moans from her. Below, the tip of his half emerged erection gently nudged and brushed up against her wet entrance down below, further stimulating her. There was something about making love to the beautiful jackal lady in the middle of the forest that aroused him so much. Seth gradually backed off after teasing her nipples and rubbing her breasts before sitting up once more.

He looked at her with a sense of pride. Afon's front rose and fell excitedly from the foreplay. Her spouts of flesh were nearly shining from his saliva. Lastly, his gaze rested on the final prize. He looked at her cursed marking above her sex, and drew his fingers over its design. Seth didn't care that Afon was a branded witch anymore. He wanted to make love to her again. His erection throbbed in agreement.

Seth rolled his hips forward, and Afon helped guide him inside. A moan escaped both of their lips as he pushed forward into the snug heat of her womanhood. Seth didn't hesitate like before and he dictated a slow and steady rhythm to make the moment last. A slick wet sound erupted as he pumped in and out of her. Passions blurred with cries of ecstasy as caution was thrown away. The feather in Seth's hair bobbed in unison with his motions. Afon's breasts bounced in the same way. A triumphal cry erupted as he emptied his seed into her. Seth slouched forward as the final twitches and pulses faded.

Both were left breathlessly panting again. Their lusts had been satisfied once more. Northern spoke for a moment, choosing instead to simply bask in a combined afterglow.

"Twice before noon?" She breathed and looked up at him with a tired, yet satisfied expression.

"As many times as you want." Seth offered and loomed over her. Afon squealed and giggled as he suddenly planted kisses and rapid licks all along her face and neck.

The rustic sound of crickets blared like triumphant trumpets as two figures emerged from the depths of the forest together during the early morning hours.

"Bright sunshine..." Seth found himself smiling at the commonplace fact despite the light stinging his eyes. "I've missed it so much." He paused and held his arms out thankfully as the golden rays warmed him. He had spent two weeks in the large forest attempting to find and capture the witch only to reside with her in a tent while her ankle healed from being pulled by one of his traps. They spent the previous day hiking out of the forest only to camp out for one more night. Their progress was hindered by a brief rain shower, but more importantly, a little soreness from rolling around on the ground together.

Beside him, Afon softly grinned but remained quiet. She was wearing her hooded garment and loincloth, but left the hood itself draping down her backside. Both still wore the matching feathers in their hair, gently bobbing in time with their steps.

"There are deer over there." Afon pointed across the field where a trio of does and a fawn were grazing.

"Do you think those are the deer who ate the blueberries?"

"It's likely." The jackal guessed only to shrug. They watched the animals pass by before looking ahead through the grass and gentle slopes of the rolling hills.

"That's the right path." Seth grinned. They walked through the grass and set foot on the narrow lane of bare dirt. The coyote hybrid felt a sense of pride as he walked. He had never stayed so long in the area without using his pendant to return home. The long task of capturing her was not as easy as he had imagined, but it was far more fulfilling than anything else he had done with his life. They caught sight of a few cattle grazing in a pasture.

'We must be close...' He thought as they walked. In just a short distance, the first buildings became visible. Afon suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?" Seth glanced at her. The jackal's gaze was long and distant as she looked at the buildings ahead.

"I haven't been in this village during daylight for years." She murmured. "Not since I was... chased out." Seth hadn't realized how significant this was for the jackal witch. Getting her to leave the forest and make amends one way or another was a big leap for her. "Stay close to me. I'm afraid." Afon whispered.

"I will." He held her hand tightly as they approached the village. Someone quickly spotted them, and soon others began gathering outside to greet them. In moments many of the village's residents were eagerly waiting for them.

"Seth has returned!" They heard someone call out, attracting more attention. However, their eyes were soon wide with surprise at the figure walking alongside him.

"He's captured her!" One shouted and they all descended upon them. Seth dropped the pack of supplies and kept Afon close to his side. A few murmured insults but kept their distance despite nearly surrounding them.

"Everyone stop!" Seth held up a hand seeking order. "Let me speak for a moment-."

"He is bewitched by her mark!" One of the villagers yelled. "There! It's on his wrist!" Several gasped in shock as Seth looked at his wrist.

'Dammit.' He lowered his hand.

"He's been claimed by the witch!" The crowd quickly descended into an uproar beyond the coyote's control.

"Don't think you can curse the rest of us!" One of the villagers lunged towards Seth. The coyote hybrid blinked in disbelief and froze as Afon jumped forward. The jackal intercepted the villager, grabbing him by the wrist before he could connect with Seth. Seth's jaw dropped and everyone gasped as ice encapsulated the man's hand.

'She really is a witch!!' All of his doubts had been erased.

"I can perform magic again?!" The jackal was astonished too.

"C-c-cold!" The villager backed away only to fall down onto his rear causing the ice to shatter. He grasped his freed hand and stared with disbelief on his gaping mouth. No one else was able to utter a single sound for a lengthy moment. The shock of seeing the jackal perform magic in broad daylight was a lot for everyone, including Seth, to comprehend.

"Everyone listen!" Seth suddenly commanded. The villagers all looked towards the canine hybrid. "I will marry Afon the witch." Everyone gawked and gasped at his proclamation, but none more than Afon herself.

"That's insane even if you are bewitched!" Someone yelled.

"Look. I'll buy her burdens and past thefts with the silver you would've paid me." Seth offered calmly. "You can keep your money, and no one will steal from you again. Isn't that the justice you wanted all along?" He looked at all of the villagers. They looked amongst themselves for a while, pondering what to do.

"We should ask the priest what should be done." Abigail spoke up. The others murmured in agreement.

"That seems fair." Thomas reasoned.

"Wait behind my house until the priest is ready to see you." Abel told them. Seth and Afon quietly nodded and quickly walked around the village through the grass to wait. Several faces constantly peeked at them from around building corners, but they were out of earshot. The coyote and jackal had plenty of questions that they needed answered.

"I thought you were no longer able to use magic?" Seth had no idea what was going on. It felt more like a dream than reality.

"I don't know!" The jackal admitted, but was giddy with excitement.

"You still have the marking on you, correct?" He glanced at her loincloth.

"Can you check for me?" Afon whispered.

"Sure." Seth knelt down. She lifted her shirt and lowered her loincloth just enough to reveal some of the downy light cream colored fur above her groin. Seth gazed below her navel and searched the soft fur for the marking. His brow knitted into surprise as he brushed his fingers through the fur, unable to understand why the dark blue marking was no longer there.

"I don't see anything." Seth was baffled and touched the spot repeatedly. The mark had completely vanished.

"What?" The jackal bent over and looked for herself only to see the same thing he had. Nothing. "Holy... Wow." She covered her muzzle. The marking was indeed gone. Seth stood up and touched her shoulder, stirring Afon from her dazed state. However, the jackal was pointing behind him. He turned around and found an old badger dressed in robes with rosary around his neck. Many of the villagers were peering from around the sides of their homes to watch everything unfold, but neither of them cared. The robed badger slowly approached them with an unwavering gaze.

"It's you!" Afon pointed at the priest in shock.

"I never thought I would see you alive again after what you did to that poor woman." He spoke calmly.

"I never meant to harm that lady. You know that!" She growled.

"After listening to eye witnesses, I had more than enough reason to place that curse on you." He warned.

"Stop!" Seth stepped forward. Their eyes fell on him. "I don't know what you plan on doing, but listen to me. Her curse mark has disappeared." The badger looked at Seth in disbelief, and then the jackal.

"It's true." Afon quietly spoke. She lifted the hem of her cloak and showed him. The priest keenly examined below her navel, where the mark was originally placed. After a very brief moment, his shoulders slumped forward.

"It is completely gone." He told them with a hint of disbelief in his voice.

"Does this mean she can use magic again?" Seth asked.

"Yes." He nodded and stood up. "Anyone around her can now use magic."

"What do you mean?" Seth didn't understand.

"The curse mark I placed not only prevented the cursed person from performing magic, but it also prevented the use of magic around them as well." He elaborated.

"That's why my pendant wouldn't work!" Seth realized. "I was with you most of the time in the forest."

"If a magical item requires someone to use it, then it will not work." The priest nodded. Seth turned to Afon, but found the jackal covering her eyes and muzzle, threatening to sob.

"Hey. Are you okay?" He softly asked.

"Y-yes!" She sniffed. "I just... I can't believe it." She wiped an eye. "It was as if... part of me had been ripped away..." The jackal started to cry. "But now I'm a-an actual witch again!" She hugged him and buried her face into his shoulder. Seth didn't know what to say but embraced her tightly. He rubbed her back and kept her close, but noticed past her shoulder that the priest appeared happy for them both. Afon soon gathered herself and backed off, but was otherwise a little emotional.

"You're not going to harm her, are you?" Seth looked at the priest skeptically.

"No." He shook his head. "She has endured her punishment for using black magic."

"How did the curse mark vanish?" Seth asked. "I'm not a witch, and we haven't seen anyone else since this happened."

"The curse is only meant to fade once the person consensually mates with someone of a pure heart." He told them and eyed Seth. The coyote hybrid's ears burned red.

"Oh... Heh." He bashfully smiled at Afon.

"Don't be shy about it." She nudged his wide with an elbow to the priest's amusement.

"I used this condition with the curse because if her use of black magic was truly accidental then she would be able to redeem herself."

"I still don't understand." Seth admitted. The jackal shrugged as well.

"Neither of you are children." The priest sighed and shook his head. "When you make love to someone, you are putting all of your trust in another's hands. If you have gained the utmost trust of someone with no malice, then the curse is broken. That's the easiest way to explain it." The badger kept his words as simple as possible.

"What about my thief mark?" Afon raised her wrist.

"Unfortunately, that mark was branded by the villagers without any magical properties. That mark will stay for the thefts that you have committed. There's nothing I can do to remove it."

"I see..." Her ears fell back flatly for a moment, but Seth held her hand closely so that their wrists with the ancient marriage marking touched. There were more important inks on the jackal, and coyote now. Their eyes met and her smile grew until it became as wide as a river.

"I will let everyone know what has happened." The badger priest informed them. "I will not allow any ill will or violence to be taken against you two." He promised before walking over to the houses. They watched the priest talk to several of the villagers. Neither could hear what was said, but it didn't matter. Afon was no longer a branded witch. She wouldn't have to live a life hiding away in the woods anymore.

After several minutes, Abel approached them from the house. He stopped a short distance from the duo, and there was a look of confusion written across his face.

"We listened to what the priest told us." He began. "We accept that you paid for her thefts, and that she is no longer branded for being a witch. We are not going to run either of you two out of the village, but this is a lot of news to take in." He admitted. "Several villagers are still suspicious, but I'm confident that everything will be fine in due time."

"Thank you." Seth said with relief.

The following early morning sunlight revealed a familiar standing tent located on the edge of the village. No one in the village had offered Seth or Afon a temporary place to stay. There was still an air of suspicion around the duo, but no one had shown them any malice since the priest explained everything that had happened. Neither minded the temporary quarters though. If anything, it was a continuation of their stay in the forest.

A soft rustling within the canvas layer went unheard from the constant thrumming chirps of crickets in the grasses surrounding them. Seth felt bare fur brush up to his front.

"Cold?" He mumbled sleepily without opening an eye.

"Mmhm." A soft hum replied. They were naked under the blanket together, more than happy to be beside one another despite the circumstances. After savoring their body heat for several more minutes, Seth opened an eye and found her looking at him, nose to nose. The coyote hybrid found himself grinning.

"It's early..." Seth closed his eyes but still smiled.

"We'll have to get up at some point." Afon touched noses with him before rising. Seth hummed an objection to her amusement. She sat up beside him and stretched her arms up, gracefully arching her back. Seth lifted a sneaky hand and supped on her breasts. The jackal paused and looked at him with one eye open.

"They'll hear anything we might do." She warned him.

"Yeah, I know..." Seth blew a pleasant, yet defeated sigh. He rubbed her breast before snaking his hand down to her leg to rest. After a moment the coyote hybrid rolled onto his back and looked up at her. The jackal was looking at her wrist with the new ink marking defining their mated status.

"Hey, when you said that you would marry me..." Afon started to say. "Did you really mean that?" She asked.

"Of course." He grinned. "That would make this official." He pointed to his wrist where she gave him the blue ink marking.

"Thank you!" She laid on top of him and gave him a big fat kiss.

"H-Hey! You said they could hear us..." He managed to say and keep his voice down despite the onslaught of kisses and snuggled.

"Sorry!" She giggled with a happy grin and settled down on top of him. Seth placed his hands on her back and rubbed noses with the jackal.

"I wish the early morning would never end." He whispered. With some reluctance, Afon slipped off the canine and sat up once more.

"Get dressed before you leave the tent this morning, okay?" She teased and tossed him his clothes. "We're not in the woods anymore."

"Sure." Seth grinned and sat up before getting dressed beside her.

"About staying in this village..." Afon mentioned while tying on her loincloth. "I don't think the villagers will accept either of us for quite a while."

"That's true..." Seth admitted with a slow nod. "I could take you somewhere else." He offered.

"All of the surrounding villages already know who I am." She answered dejected and put on her hooded cloak.

"I meant a different place." He alluded with a content voice.

"What?" She gave him a curious look. "A castle?"

"I wanted to take you to visit my world." Seth proposed. "The present."

"Y-your world?" Afon looked at him with a humorous and confused expression. "Well... Um. What's that like?" Her brash and first nature seemed to recede to shyness at the prospect.

"I can show you... if you'd like." He offered and pulled the pendant from under his shirt. The glistening green aura had returned once again, as its power was fully enabled once more. Her eyes stared at the pendant with uncertainty.

"I trust you." She grinned. The pair quickly gathered their things and exited the tent. The cool morning air chilled their noses briefly, but neither cared. The crickets were still chirping, and many of the villagers had yet to wake up this early.

"This way." Seth headed towards the south. Afon eagerly followed him into a nearby field where no one could see them. Seth wasn't worried about leaving the tent behind, after all, everyone would be forever suspicious of him due to his relationship with the jackal witch. They stopped in the middle of the field and faced each other.

"Hold my hands." Seth held up the pendant. Afon nodded and did so. Eagerness and excitement filled them both. The glow of the pendant radiated with a glistening green light that washed over their bodies. In an instant the flash was over and the two figures had vanished from the field. The crickets resumed chirping after a moment, but there was the subtlest sound of grass rising up in four small spots. On the ground, only two vaguely outlined pairs of paw prints were scarcely visible...

END