FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Some days later after welcoming Kovu into the pride, Leo and Johnny lay next to each other looking up at the stars. "Johnny? Do you miss being around other humans?" asked Leo.

Johnny hummed softly. "Sometimes. But a lot more often, I'm glad I get to be around you." He looked from the starry sky to his mate's face, smiling.

"Well, what's it like? Your world? I've only seen those noisy beasts that you can bring to life with the Key," said Leo, "But I've never seen anything good of your world. Isn't there anything good?"

"There's plenty, yeah. Plenty of bad, but there's also plenty of good. The sights of the city... walking into a coffee shop and sitting down with a good book... Interacting with people..." He looked to Leo, gently stroking his mate's belly. "Are you curious?"

"Coughing shop? Who would want a cough?" asked Leo, "And what's a book?"

"Not 'coughing' shop. 'Coffee'". Johnny chuckled, ruffling Leo's hair.

"What's coffee?" asked Leo feeling even more confused.

"It's..." Johnny chuckled, a bit sheepish. "Kinda hard to describe to someone who's never seen it." He hummed. "Would you... want to see it? And everything else the world outside the Pride Lands has to offer sometime?"

"Well... I would, yes," said Leo, "Maybe learn more about the outside world... But then can we return home to the Pride Lands?"

"Of course we can. Anytime." Johnny nodded. "If you want, I could arrange things with Jane. See if we can't give you a full tour of what the human world's like."

"Yes please... But, it's gonna be hard to leave my family behind," said Leo looking to the other sleeping lions, "They're my whole world."

"We can come back." The other man wrapped his arms around Leo, holding his mate close and tight. "Once you've seen what the outside world has to offer, we can come right back home to them once more."

"I hope so," said Leo nuzzling Johnny and kissing his lips.

Johnny kissed his mate in return, long and slow as they settled in together. He stroked Leo's stomach and chest, gentle and tender, and let out a soft, contented sigh.

"And Johnny? If it were possible, would you want to raise a family of our own?" asked Leo as he was nibbling at Johnny's ear.

"Of course." He moaned, both smiling and blushing at the ear nibbling. "I'd love that, Leo."

Leo smiled and kissed Johnny deeply and then reached down to finger his mate's hole.

"Mmngh..." Johnny chuckled, clamping his back passage around the other male's probing digit. "And yes, if it was possible... I'd want us to carry each other's children."

The other male smiled and purred as he rubbed his face against Johnny's chest.

And Johnny pressed a gentle, tender kiss to his mate's temple, sighing with contentment.

"You ready for a breeding?" asked Leo grinning as he held Johnny's legs far apart and his cock at the ready.

"Yes." He chuckled as he was put onto his back, and smiled up to Leo while bucking his hips upward. "Come on, Leo. Let's see if you really can put a kid in me..."

Leo leaned down to kiss Johnny deeply as his long cock pushed deep inside making the city man cry out in a whimper.

"Fuck...!" Panting. Groaning. Crying out in bliss as he was filled. "Come on, Leo... Breed me...!"

The lion man grunted and humped harder and faster and then bit down on Johnny's neck as he came in deep.

"Mmmmf!" Johnny moaned, his cock jumping and splattering his belly with precum as he felt the other man's hot seed deep within him.

Leo reached down to stroke Johnny's cock hoping to make him cum as well.

It only took a few strokes before Johnny reached orgasm as well; bucking, groaning, and thrusting into his mate's fist as he came.

Leo held his mate close kissing him deeply.

And Johnny kissed Leo in return, wrapping his arms and legs around Leo as the other man stayed buried inside him.

The two humans lay together nude and so much in love.

They drifted off in one another's arms, the warm night air and the sounds of purring and murmuring from the lions around them lulling the pair to sleep.

The next morning, Leo got up yawning and went down to the watering hole for a good morning drink and wash. He took his loincloth off and sighed as the cool water felt fresh and crisp against his bare skin.

The brush rustled, and then Simba stepped through as he made his way towards the watering hole as well. "Looking good, Leo." The lion smirked, running his gaze all over his brother's nude body, and then moved to take a drink.

Leo smiled as he swam over to the lion. "Listen, Simba, I need to ask you something," he said, "How would you feel if I went somewhere and... Well... I was alone with Johnny?" He wasn't sure how Simba was going to take the news about him leaving his family behind for a while since he would be traveling with Johnny to the human world.

"Hmm..." Simba's brow furrowed. "Well, as long as you're with Johnny, I can trust that you'll be safe and sound. Where were you thinking of going? To the Elephant Graveyard? Back to the human village?"

"Well... I was planning to go to Johnny's home land," said Leo, "New York I think it was called. But I'm nervous. What if I like it there? What if I don't? What if I have to stay away from you forever?" He hugged Simba whimpering and curling up in a ball.

Simba nuzzled Leo, purring and setting a paw on the human's back to sooth him. "I see... Well, no matter what, you'll always be my brother. And you'll always have a home to come back to, here with us."

"Thanks, Simba," said Leo nuzzling his lion brother, "I don't know what I'd do without you."

Simba chuckled, and gave his brother a grin.

"Simba... Will you mate with me for a while?" asked Leo softly as he nestled his face into the soft, red mane.

"Of course. You only have to ask for it, Leo." He licked Leo's temple, purring softly and gently." You want me to mount you, or you wanna try mounting me?"

"I want you to mount me," said Leo softly, "I don't think they have many lions in New York... Or so Johnny tells me."

"So you want something to remember, huh?" The lion laughed, and rubbed his nose on Leo's own before giving it a lick. "Well then, go on and present yourself, Leo. I'll make sure you want to come back for more..."

Leo smiled as he got on all fours and raised his rear up in the air.

And Simba moved around behind the human, nuzzling the human's rump. Giving it a few sniffs up and down the cleft, and in the hollow behind Leo's balls. Flicking his tongue out to lick his brother's rim, getting it nice and wet, and then hopping up to mount Leo. He growled, soft and lustful, as his cocktup pushed on the center of the human's ring. "Ready for it?"

Leo moaned as he felt his brother on top of him. He looked up and smiled nodding his head.

With that, the lion thrusted forward; and then both of them groaned, long and low, as Simba's erection sank to the hilt in his brother's hole. He began to rock his hips, back and forth, grinding his balls and sheath on the human's backside with every slam forward.

The human whimpered and moaned as he felt Simba pump his cock in and out with the barbs rubbing along his inner walls.

Simba gently licked at his brother's nape with every thrust, slowly going faster and harder and he rocked in and then out. In, and then out. In, pumping that passage full of his slick precum, and then out.

"Yeah... Give it to me!" moaned Leo looking up at Simba, "Give it to me hard like a real lion."

Simba let out another growl, hunching over further to really pound into Leo. Bucking. Rutting the human, his velvety ballsack smacking against Leo's own as they both grew closer to their respective orgasms.

Leo whimpered and stroked himself panting as he winced and cried out when his cum came out flying.

Harder. Faster. Deeper. Simba rocked into the clamping, clenching passage until--with a loud roar--he came as well. His cock throbbed and pulsed and erupted into Leo, filling the human with his thick, hot seed. "Mmm... love you, Leo."

"I love you too," moaned Leo turning his head and kissing the lion.

The pair settled down into the grass, Simba lying atop of his brother; and then, when his shaft slipped free, he shifted to curl around the human and lick his face and neck.

Leo purred and lay still. He loved it whenever Simba would groom him after a mating.

Down to the human's shoulders, and the up his nape to his temples, purring all the while.

"I always love this part," panted Leo as his hole was leaking lion seed.

"Mmm, I know you do." Simba smiled to Leo, purring and rubbing their noses together once more.

They both kissed each other as they lay there for a few minutes before returning to Pride Rock.

The rest of the pride was just starting their day as well, Nala convening with the other lionesses while Kion and Kovu made plans for a jaunt out into the Savannah with Kiara. Johnny greeted Simba and Leo as they approached, hugging his mate and pressing a kiss to his lips.

"I told Simba about where we were going," said Leo, "So, when do we start?"

Johnny hummed, looking up to the sky. "Well, we can probably set out to the village, and I can call Jane from there. She'll be able to arrange something for us, and we should be able to get a flight to New York by the afternoon."

"Alright," said Leo his heart pounding in anticipation of the trip. Finally the day arrived when they would set back out to the world of men. Leo hugged his lion family one last time before departing with his mate.

The pair hiked across the savannah, Johnny in his old clothes, as they made their way back to the human village. Once there, Johnny made a call to New York; to his sister.

Leo was still in his loincloth for he was still in his native land.

Once Johnny was done, he turned to Leo with a smile. "Someone'll be coming to pick us up and take us to our flight in just a bit."

"Really? Who?" asked Leo as he was giving some clothes, "Do I really need to wear these?"

"Yes, you do." Johnny nodded, helping Leo to put them on. "People are a lot less okay with going around nearly naked in the outside world. And as for the guy, it's an old friend of Jane's."

"When you say 'old friend', do you mean 'childhood friend' or 'mate' friend?" asked Leo as he was trying hard to put some shorts on his legs.

"Childhood friend." Johnny chuckled. "She's more focused on her career than on finding a mate right now."

"And has he found a mate of his own?" asked Leo as he finally slipped on a T-shirt... Backwards.

"I... don't know." Johnny hummed, gently pulling the shirt back off of Leo and turning it around the right way. "Been a while since I've spoken to him, hehe..."

"Well, I guess we'll see," said Leo, "Do you think they can understand lion?"

"I doubt it." Johnny let out a laugh, and ruffled his mates hair. They heard the sound of a jeep approaching, and the city man perked up. "That's probably him. Come on."

Leo stepped out feeling itchy in his new clothes but he felt comfortable going barefoot.

They were greeted by a tan-skinned man stepping out of a jeep, grinning as he waved. "Johnny, hey! How goes it?" "Pretty alright, Dan!" Johnny shook the man's hand, a smile on his own face. "And this is the wild boy Jane talked about?" Dan looked Leo up and down, and then smiled. "Good to meet you!" He held his hand out to the wild man.

Leo leaned in sniffing Dan's hand and then opened his mouth expecting him to not understand when a warm wind blew against him and he said, "N-Nice to meet you."

Dan blinked as Leo sniffed his hand, glancing to Johnny. Johnny laughed softly. "He's, uh... not used to talking to other humans." "I see." Dan nodded. "Well, hop on in, boys. It's a bit of the drive to the airport, so we've got time to catch up.

"Airport?" asked Leo, "What's an airport?"

Johnny set a hand on Leo shoulder, gentle. "You'll see when we get there, babe."

"Well, alright," said Leo. "Seriously? Your boyfriend doesn't know what an airport is?" asked Dan.

"Hey, he was raised by lions. Cut him some slack." Johnny gave Dan a look as they got into the jeep, Johnny and Leo getting in back together as Dan got in the driver's seat.

"And yet how did he learn English?" asked Dan surprised and confused.

"He..." Johnny blinked, and looked to Leo. "Hey, Leo, you're still just speaking normally, right?”

"Must've been the great kings again," said Leo looking out the window and he could see Rafiki waving to them. Leo smiled and gave a small wave back.

"Great who now?" Dan blinked, craning his neck to glance back at them, and Johnny just waved a hand to him." "Don't worry about it, man. Anyway, everything set up for our flight?" "Yeah! Everything should be ready for you guys.”

"Are we given a pair of wings to fly there?" asked Leo looking between the two men.

"Nope, we're flying in an airplane." Johnny patted his mate's knee. "It's, well... it's kind of like this jeep, only it flies through the air. You'll see." And indeed, when the group reached the airport, Leo was able to see the airplanes as they drove to a parking spot.

"Wow! Those are the biggest birds I've ever seen!" he gasped in wonder.

Johnny chuckled, giving his mate a kiss before they got out of the backseat. "Not birds, Leo. Airplanes. Come on, once we get our luggage checked and our tickets squared away... You'll get to ride in one of them."

"Why would we want ticks?" asked Leo confused and Dan was was finding it hard not to burst out laughing.

"Tickets, babe." Johnny just sighed, and shot Dan a look as they led Leo into the airport.

Dan stayed silent but he found it hard not to laugh as Leo was looking around him and he was even sniffing the rear of a patrol dog.

Johnny quickly grabbed Leo, pulling him back up. "Okay, first rule of being human... don't do that." He gave Leo a gentle pat on the shoulder, holding the wild man's hand as he led Leo around.

"Why?" asked Leo confused, "Don't most animals and humans greet each other like that?"

"No, we don't." Johnny sighed, pausing. "Here, let me show you how human's greet each other real quick, so you know for the future." He moved to stand in front of Leo, smiled, and held out his hand. "Hey! My name is Johnny. It's nice to meet you." He paused. "...Now you grab my hand, and then we shake. Like you saw me doing with Dan earlier."

Leo looked at Johnny's hand and shook it up and down like Johnny requested. "I think I got it," he said.

Johnny nodded with an approving smile. "Good. Now, let's go." Johnny led Leo by the hand towards the gate and through it. Soon enough, they'd boarded the plane and were on their way.

Just then, they heard a little boy screaming for his mother and was trying to get to the plane. "KEVIN!" screamed a woman's voice in panic.

Johnny winced. "Man, it's really hectic around here, huh...?"

But when Johnny looked to the side, Leo was gone. Outside, Leo picked up the kid and ran back into the plane and delivered the boy to his mother.

"Oh thank you! Thank you!" The woman grabbed her son up, holding him close and tight while he clung onto her.

Leo smiled as he returned to his seat beside Johnny.

"Wow, babe." Johnny was staring at Leo, and finally let out a soft chuckle. "Should've guessed you'd wanna help the kid, hehe."

"Well, a child deserves a mother," said Leo.

Johnny nodded, a smile on his face as he wrapped an arm around Leo's shoulders.

The flight was long and Leo had a hard time resting with all the noise and new sights. He almost drank out of a toilet before Johnny stopped him.

He was quick to ask for a bottle of water for Leo; and then had to show the wild man how to open and drink from it.

When they arrived at New York, Leo felt overwhelmed by the number of humans around him. "There's so many," he said, "How do you tell each other apart? Which prides do they go to?"

"It's... complicated." Johnny shared a look with Dan. "Come on, Jane's waiting on us. We'll get set up in the hotel room, first."

"What's a hotel room?" asked Leo confused even more.

"You'll see." Johnny chuckled, patting Leo's back, and led him over so they could collect their luggage.

Leo was led to a taxi and at first he thought it was a metal cheetah.

"Don't worry, babe, it's just a car. Like the jeep, remember?" Johnny guided his boyfriend along, patient and tender in reassuring the wild man.

"Oh yeah," said Leo blushing when a Jack Russell terrier zoomed by with a mouth full of hot dogs.

They could hear someone behind screaming 'Catch that dog!' Johnny lifted an eyebrow, looking to Leo. “Uh... what was that?”

Leo looked at the dog and then took off in hot pursuit with expertise not knowing that there was also an orange kitten after that same dog.

"Leo, wait!" He ran after his boyfriend as well; and blinked as he noticed the orange kitten chasing after the terrier. "What in the...?"

Luckily, the gift of the Great Kings allowed both Leo and Johnny to understand all animals, so it wouldn't be a surprise for Johnny to hear the kitten shouting, "Dodger! Wait! I can't keep up!"

"Sorry, kiddo!" The Jack Russel called back over his shoulder, a grin on his face. "You gotta learn to keep up if you wanna survive on the streets!" "Hmph." Johnny's eyes narrowed, and he reached down to pick Oliver up. "You trying to catch that dog, little guy?" "Y-you can understand me?" The kitten blinked at Johnny, eyes wide. "Y-yeah..." "Right, then let's go!"

Leo, meanwhile was running fast when he noticed a fire escape and started climbing. Till he spotted Dodger turn the corner into an alleyway. "Lost 'em," panted the canine. "Don't bet on it," said Leo as he then landed on top of the dog, "Gotcha! And I don't think those belong to you... What are they?"

"Hey, hey! What's the idea?" Dodger tried to shake off his attacker in vain, and then froze in bewilderment when he saw it was a human. "You... uh..." He cleared his throat, a confident expression settling back on his face. "Never heard a human speak dog before. Listen, I got these hot dogs fair and square, no worries. So why don't'cha get on off me and we can chat all civil like, yeah?"

"Dogs? You were gonna eat one of your own kind?" asked Leo in shock as he grabbed the hot dogs and threw them high in the air on the highest fire escape where Dodger knew he couldn't reach them. "How could you eat another dog?" asked Leo to a very perplexed Dodger.

"No, no, I don't mean a dog like me, I mean..." He growled in frustration. "Listen, those aren't actual dogs, they're just called that. Pretty sure they're all beef. Kosher, even." He shrugged. "...At least, that's what Louie says..."

"What's kosher?" asked Leo confused and Dodger's mouth just hung opened before he face palmed his forehead.

"Geez... lights are on but nobody's home, huh?" He let out a heavy sigh. "Look, everything's on the up and up, capiche? So if I could just get that food I got fair and square back, you and me can go our separate ways peaceful-like. That sounds good, yeah?"

"What's a capiche? And you stole that food," said Leo, "You have to give it back. And besides, only one piece of that is enough for you. And why did you leave behind your friend? That smaller feline?"

"I got no idea what you're talking about." The smile remained in place on Dodger's face. "I'm a lone wolf of the mean streets, you see? Don't got any friends, feline or otherwise." He shrugged. "As for the food, well, I'm still a growing boy. Need to keep my strength up, right? And 'stealing'? Now that's an ugly word." The dog let out a smooth chuckle. "I prefer the term 'borrow without intent to return'."

Leo smirked. "You know when a person knows when someone is lying?" asked the human, "They start having fleas behind their ears... And their noses wetter than usual and their tongues keep hanging out even after talking." He was going to find out the real truth from this dog if it was the last thing he did.

Dodger scratched behind an ear with a hind leg. His nose twitched. He panted, letting his tongue hang out. "Oh, we got a regular Sherlock Holmes on our paws, huh? Alright then, tell me Mister Smart Guy... what do you think the situation is, hm?"

"I'm thinking you're stealing the food to help support your pride... Or pack, isn't it?" asked Leo, "I say pride because I just came from Africa... I was raised by lions."

Dodger's smile--his entire body--stiffened. And of course, it was at that moment that Johnny arrived on the scene, carrying the kitten. "Leo, there you are!”

"Johnny," said Leo, grabbing onto Dodger by the scruff of his neck before he could make a run for it.

Dodger huffed at the sight of the other human, and then let out a long groan when he saw the kitten in Johnny's arms. "Heeeeeey, kid. There you are, I was looking for you!" "Yeah, I bet." Oliver puffed up a bit, glaring at the dog. "I helped you get those hotdogs, why'd you run off without giving me any?" "Hey, I was just testing you." The dog's smile returned to his face. "A more crafty type might take advantage, ya see? Run off with the goods without giving you a cut. Just wanted to make sure you could hold your own and keep up." "Yeah, I'm sure." Johnny gave Dodger a glare of his own, setting the kitten down.

"You're lying again," said Leo, "I can smell it on you."

"Uhhhh..." Dodger flinched under the three's combined stares, and then at last he sighed. "Alright, alright. Look, all I'll say is that you got it right." He looked to Leo, and then away. "Now, can ya let me go? I got places to be."

"Not until you tell us the whole truth, buster," said Leo, "Otherwise your feline friend will help himself to those meat logs I hung up there." He pointed to the hot dogs on the fire escape. The kitten, with expertise, easily shimmied his way up and sat next to them and started munching on one of them.

"Guh, alright, alright!" Dodger sighed. "It's for my pack, yeah. We're... in-between homes at the moment, and got more mouths to feed than just me. So I need those hotdogs to make sure no one goes hungry tonight." "So you're homeless, and you're stealing food to survive." "Yes." Johnny looked to Leo, and let out a sigh. "Well, that's... an unfortunate reality out here. I think we can probably let him go, Leo."

"Well, of course... But don't we have enough room at Jane's place? Just for a while?" asked Leo.

Johnny hummed in thought. "For a few stray dogs? I'd have to ask her, but yeah, I'm pretty sure there should be room. How many of you are there?" "Uh..." Dodger looked from Leo to Johnny and back again, brow furrowed as he seemed to consider whether to answer that. "...Six." "Six dogs, plus our little feline friend up there." Johnny nodded. "...I think we can manage." "Wait... you... you're gonna take me in...?" The kitten stared down at the pair of human's, wide-eyed, and Johnny smiled. "Sure. At least, give you a better place to stay than out on the street." Dodger, too, was looking at the human pair, his stiff stance starting to relax. "And what's the catch? You don't ever get something for nothing, so I'm guessing the two of you want something."

"The only catch I've had was you in my arms," said Leo smirking.

"Alright, wise guy, alright." Dodger rolled his eyes. "...Say, uh... What if one the six I mentioned wasn't really... a dog, per se?" One of Johnny's brows perked upward. "What do you mean?" Dodger's brow furrowed. He looked away, considering long an hard. Finally, he sighed. "...I'll show you. You just follow me, alright?"

“Lead the way,” said Leo while still keeping a close eye on the canine while Johnny held onto the kitten, who was already satisfied with his hot dog.

Johnny also kept a hold of the rest of the hot dogs, making sure that Dodger wouldn't run off with them. The canine led the group out of the city and towards the docks; towards an old and rusted boat that looked like it had been abandoned and forgotten. They could hear lively music drifting from the lower decks, and the sound of an old, staticky tv set. Dodger nodded to Leo, Johnny, and the kitten, and then led them inside.

"Who else is here? I've seen places better than this floating rock," said Leo, "How is it above the water and not sinking to the bottom?"

"It's a boat, babe. It's hollow inside, so it floats." Johnny nodded to Leo. Dodger, meanwhile, was strolling into what appeared to be the main room of the boat. "'Eeeeey, guys, I'm back!" "Dodger, man! We been waitin' on you!" A chihuahua ran up to Dodger. "Frankie 'ere didn't get no food like he was supposed to, mang!" "Francis, you insufferable little..." A bulldog lumbered over as well, still grumbling under his breath. A Great Dane followed, sniffing at Dodger. "Did you get hot dogs? You smell like hot dogs!" "Calm down, Einstein, you're slobbering." "Sorry, Rita..." The Great Dane, Einstein, ducked his head while looking over to a female saluki lounging off to the side. "Ehhhh, well..." Dodger chuckled, looking around to the gathered dogs. "There was a little complication..."

"What complication?" asked another voice, this one belonging to a boy who was no more than 13. He gave Dodger a hug. "What could the Artful Dodger get himself into?" he asked.

Dodger licked the boy's cheek. "Well..." He looked over to the stairs, where Leo and Johnny were standing. "Humans!" The bulldog gasped, while the saluki snorted and made her way over. "Guess the Artful Dodger couldn't dodge getting caught forever, huh?" Dodger snorted, and shook himself. "Relax, guys, they're cool. And they can understand us like you can, Charlie."

"They can?" asked the boy hugging Dodger for protection and looked up at the two adults.

"That's right." Johnny nodded, giving Charlie a gentle smile before looking around. "Are you living here with Dodger and everyone?"

"I've always lived here," said Charlie feeling unsure around Johnny. Leo sniffed. "He's only been here for six months," he said. Charlie looked at Leo and then at Dodger.

Dodger nodded to Charlie and the group, then looked to Leo and Johnny. "Kid was wandering around the docs, practically skin and bones. So we took him in, and let him join the gang." "How can you understand us, mang?" The Chihuahua had bounced forward, sniffing at Johnny and Leo's shoes." "Tito, be careful." "Relax, Frankie, if Dodger thinks these guys are cool, they're probably cool." "You aren't just trying to stay on their good side cuz they got one over on you, are you, Dodge?" Dodger huffed and glared at Rita. "No." The saluki bumped her hip against the terrier's, and then padded over towards the humans. "Sorry about the rough state of things around here. I'm Rita, and you already met Dodger. The little one's Tito, and that's Frankie and Einstein over there." "Good to meet you all." Johnny nodded to Rita, and then looked down when the kitten poked his head up from his arms." "Wow, I've never seen so many dogs before..." "'Ey mang, is that a cat?!" "Uh, yeah." Dodger chuckled sheepishly. "Ran into the kid up there while I was swiping those 'dogs-" He could feel Johnny and Leo giving him a glare, and cleared his throat. "I mean, he helped while I was swiping those 'dogs, and so I thought why not bring him in to meet the crew?"

"To be honest, I was raised by lions," replied Leo and the kitten looked up surprised, "Really? No wonder you caught Dodger so easily."

"Raised by lions?" Rita perked a brow upward, and Johnny nodded. "It's... kind of a long story. Like Charlie's, I'm assuming." "Yeah."

"I sort of ran away from home after my parents were killed in a car crash... I survived," said Charlie looking down at his feet.

"He's been staying with us since!" Einstein moved over, nuzzling Charlie. "He's a good pack member!" "Yeah! Really helps when we're snagging some- mmf!" Dodger chuckled, grinning to Leo and Johnny while keeping his paw firmly on Tito's snout. "Anyway, guys... these two have so generously offered to let us all crash at their place for a while."

"Great," said the kitten, "Can I come too? My name's Oliver."

"Of course." Johnny nodded, reaching down to scratch behind Oliver's ear with a finger. "We've got plenty of room for all of you." He chuckled, and then sighed. "We'll see how the old 'they followed me home' line works on Jane, I guess."

"Line? I didn't know there was a line," said Leo looking around them. Charlie looked at Dodger. "Is he for real?" he asked softly.

"Hey, you don't look a gift horse in the mouth, kiddo. And the other seems to have his head on straight." Johnny, meanwhile, was sighing and patting Leo, shoulder. "Nevermind, babe. Anyway!" He looked to the pack, and nodded. "All of you are welcome to stay. We'll got some good food for all of you." "Alright, sound good to me, mang!" "Truly, this is a fortuitous change of fate." "This is gonna be fun! Sleepover!"

"Wait!" said Charlie, "What about... Him?" All were silent and had a worried look. "Him who?" asked Oliver. "Charlie's uncle, Sykes," said Rita. "He never really cared much for me when my parents were alive," he said, "I don't want to be found by him. Please."

Johnny looked to Leo, and then nodded. "Don't you worry, Charlie. We won't let him find you." His brow furrowed. 'Sykes'; that name sounded familiar.

Meanwhile, in the office of a warehouse on the far side of the docks, a man was reading his news paper and smoking a cigar.

A pair of dobermans were lying next to the desk curled up; but not resting. One of the dogs' ears twitched, and both looked up and growled as the office door swung open. "M-Mr. Sykes?" A thin, harried looking man poked his head in, flinching when he caught sight of the snarling dobermans. "Uh, you, uh... w-wanted me to make my report, sir?"

"Down boys," said Sykes softly, "Yes, Smythe. Come forth. Have you found my nephew yet?"

Smythe trotted into the room, trembling and stuttering as he made his was over to stand in front of Sykes' desk. "Well, uh, no, not specifically found him, sir, but there's some very good leads!" He gave the man a shaky, fearful smile. "Just a little longer, sir, and I'm sure I'll be able to get his location pinned down for you."

"Smythe, I don't pay you for leads and I don't pay you longer time," he snapped, "I pay you to find my nephew NOW! Or do my dogs have to make you see my point? Besides, they crave some action."

The pair of doberman's growled, snarling grins on their face as they looked to the trembling man. "Y-yes sir, Mr. Sykes! I-I mean no, sir! I mean, I'll find him, sir, I swear!"

"See that you do," said Sykes, "Or next time, my dogs will be looking for a new bitch to breed."

Smythe gulped, glancing down to the doberman pair's crotches, and trembled. "I-I'll find him right away, s-sir!"

"See that you do," said Sykes, "Go!" When Smythe left, the man smiled at his two dogs. "You boys have been eyeing him for a while, haven't you? Well, I promise if he messes up again, you may have your fun with him, but not before."

Roscoe, the red-collared doberman, licked his chops. DeSoto, the blue-collared one, shifted his hinds in anticipation. Both of them had allowed their angry-red cocktips to slide out of their sheaths, pulsing and twitching.

"But in the meantime, you two had better get your urges under control... hump each other if you must," growled Sykes as he went back to his newspaper.

The pair huffed, glanced at each other, and settled back into their spots by the desk.