FSE

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formerly SoFurry search engine

Hey there all you Furrs and Furrets! (not sure if that's even the right term) I know it has been a while since my last posted story, and i should apologise about that; I'm still kinda holding out hope to hear that you, my loyal fans and readers, even still remember what was going on in my story last he left my characters..hehe. But yeah, long story short there was some family drama...some personal strife...and a whole lot of those sleepless nights, but I'm hoping that i've gotten over enough of it to continue writing, I can't let my dreams vanish that easily. Which brings us to this moment where you are all reading my next chapter in the installment, and where i get to recheck up on all the stories, people, and other things i have missed out over the last few months. Now don't worry that it's going to be another few months till my next posting, I certainly don't want to make a habit of making all of you people wait, so I'll be sure to speed things along for the future chapters and stories...just for you, my fans!

Anyways, I'm sure I really don't have to say it, but all my characters are copywrited to me, Cyan Spirt, and all of that legal jaron we know and love so much.

As I mentioned before, this long break will hopefully not be pattern forming, and by the end of next month I'm hopeing once again to grace your pixals with another story or chapter from my collection. I can't really explain how it feels to be back in the writer's seat after so long, and i'm hoping that that alone will give me a big boost to get a jump start on the next story, but till then, i don't want to hold you back from reading my story any longer.

Sincerly your writer,

Cyan Spirt

p.s. and of course, all votes, comments, questions, concerns, etc, will be glady accepted either here, by message, or by email at [email protected]

p.p.s. and now that that's done with....on with the show!

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A few minutes after leaving the cabin and the memories of last night behind them, the pair was pulling on to the main highway again, Jason taking that moment to check the road for any passing cars. "Road is clear," the canine announced; flooring the gas as he pulled into the center lane and sped back in the direction he had come from, deciding to head back towards canine controlled lands.

Maxi on the other hand was concentrating on the road ahead of them, keeping his eyes peeled just incase a certain familiar black motorcycle should happen to cross their path. But none came; so the lion was more then happy to simply bask in the company of his friend, grunting slightly to acknowledge that he had heard the comment . He treasured the time that he spent in the dog's company after having been without his companionship for just over a day and realizing how much he had missed everything about Jason; his scent, that look in his eyes, the way he yawned, heck, even the simple waging of his curly brown tail brought an ever present smile to face. All while being content at saying nothing at all, remaining silent and yet still feeling as though he was having the best conversation of his entire life. Resting his head against the back of his seat, he turned to face the brown canine next to him, watching that soft pink tongue, which less then an hour before had been lapping inside his own muzzle, lick along those furry whiskers.

"So, how did you finally escape from the hotel Jason?" Maxi asked, feeling compelled by his innate feline curiosity to find out, as he watched the driver whose face was still occupied by the road, direct their car into the far left lane. His tail wrapped around his wait snuggly as he absentmindedly began to toy with the clump of coarse brown hair at the tip while he waited for his answer.

The dog blinked several times, having long ago repressed the memories about his rape in the hotel room, and coughed a moment before offering the sweetest smile he could manage. "Aww...you don't want to hear about that. All I did was knock the bear unconscious with the table lamp, take his keys, swiped some supplies, and stole his car. Nothing exciting really," as he gave a soft chuckle, pretending as if to remember fonder times.

The lion took a moment to watch the dog return his attention back to the road before letting a soft sigh leave his lips. "Is there something on your mind that you want to tell me?" the male trying his best to smile while thoughts began to nag on his curiosity.

Of course there were things that he wanted to tell Maxi; all about his organization's plan to ruin the feline empire, how he was the tool that they needed, and how the one he loved had been assigned to take him down. But his oath to his canine brethren wouldn't let him betray his secrets; so with a simple shake of his head and a soft, "Nope...nothing at all," he remained facing towards the paved road ahead and the dawning new day.

"You know..." Maxi persisted, "You can talk to me about anything...anything at all...and nothing will change between us." His face wrought with worry as he reached out with his left paw to gently grip the canine's right bicep in a reassuring manor only to be stopped by Jason's left paw, the brown fingers taking a tight hold of the cat's wrist before the paw could touch his body.

"There's nothing to tell," The dog responded firmly once having intercepted the touch as he slowly lowered the other's arm to his side before returning his fingers to the steering wheel and set about keeping his eyes on the road. He could, however, see the cat's reaction by his reflection on the windshield; noticing the disappointment slowly sink in before the boy turned to glance out the passenger side window.

The passenger nodded slightly, trying his best to conceal his fears and instead focus on the fact that he escaped his father and was now heading into to parts unknown with the only male who seemed to give a damn about him. "Oh...I understand," he said solemnly as the ride fell into a heavy silence, neither traveler wanting to start a conversation that they knew would either end awkwardly or with having to reveal information neither wanted to admit.

Jason getting the sense that he was pushing the lion away; finally removing his left paw from the wheel and reaching over to gently caress the silky golden pelt of the angel next to him. "I'm sorry I snapped at you kitten...the stress has just been getting out of hand recently," he apologized, his eyes leaving the road as he watched Maxi turn to face him; "you being kidnapped...the wedding fiasco...it's starting to take a toll on me, you know?" his soft fingers continuing to rub the warm cheeks till he saw a smile make its way to the feline's muzzle.

"No need to apologize...I see what you mean," Maxi responded happily, leaning in to kiss the canine's black nose with a small peck as he felt the male close his eyes. "I'm always grateful for everything you d-" he said, glancing back as he spoke to see the car begin to drift into the oncoming lane; "Jason, the car!" he hollered as the dog snapped to attention and swerved the vehicle back onto the correct side of the road with a hard rightward yank to the steering wheel, the wheels sputtering against the asphalt atop the highway.

Coming down off the high of nearly having killed both himself and his passenger had there been traffic, Jason just tossed his head back and laughed as things quieted down. Watching the feline slowly run his paws through his fur as he smoothed his pelt out, he spoke softly "I think that that was a perfect signal that we had better get something to eat before I zone out and do that again, hmmm?" gently nudging the lion before pulling off the road and onto the nearest exit ramp to find sustenance.

"Yeah...perfect," Maxi repeated, settling back into his seat and waiting till his heart got back to a normal pace before talking again; yet there was nothing to say, the gears of his mind turning, wondering that if the coincidence was simply 'too' perfect for an accident. But the cat's absolute trust, and his complete faith in his friend, told him that the dog wouldn't risk death just to get out of talking to him; besides, he couldn't imagine the stress that Jason had been under so his explanation was completely plausible.

The couple passed a couple of fast food joints along the way, each time Jason dismissing them with how they "weren't a secure location for their meal" till at long last they pulled up to a white brick diner with green awnings over the windows. The sign on the front declared the establishment to be the 'Barnyard Inn', the white pick up truck drove around to the service entrance behind the restaurant before Jason parked it and shoved the keys into his pocket. "We should be safe from anyone spotting us here," he mumbled before unbuckling himself, taking a roll of bills from the brown paper bag in his backpack, and stepping out of the vehicle.

"Are you sure we are even allowed to park here?" Maxi asked hesitantly, the last thing they needed was a ticket or a court summons to contend with. But slowly he too stepped from the car, stretching his legs and arms as he let the light of day dance across his golden pelt; a soft purr escaping his lips as he walked around the front of the truck to stand next to the dog and leaned on his shoulder.

Jason just shrugged, "nope...but I don't think it will be bad. The most they'd do is ask me to 'move it' anyways." And with that he started walking towards the entrance which they passed when driving in, his movement halted however as he felt a soft grip on his wrist. Turning around to see what the lion wanted, he was greeted with a passionate kiss as the feline lunged at him and planted his lips firmly against his own muzzle. Golden arms wrapping around his neck, the boy on the tips of his toes, and golden eyes closed as he felt the cat trying to worm his tongue into his brown muzzle, which after the shock wore off he slowly granted entrance. Murring loudly, he placed his arms around the male's waist, holding him tightly while the yellow fingers went about massaging the back of his neck and making his tail wag fiercely behind him, Maxi's own tail already a golden blur. They stayed this way for several seconds, their tongues mingling in Jason's warm muzzle till finally the boy opened his eyes and let his arms fall from the larger male's shoulder before taking a step back.

"I...I just had...t-to make sure it was real...that what I was feeling was...was real," his eyes looking downcast for a moment before glancing back up into the curly brown face.

"And...did you get your answer?" Jason asked, hoping that he had done enough to convince the lion of his sincerity and he could begin to settle into the role he had been chosen to play before having to worry about his next step. The male slowly reached out a placed a paw on the cub's shoulder, slowly guiding them both towards the entrance as he walked with confidence.

Maxi just giggled and beamed a large smile, "yeah...I did," his voice happy as he watched them approach their reflections on the glass door and surrounding windows. Himself, a lion no older then cub age, dressed in a pair of white tennis shoes with some blue socks peeking out of the rim, the rest of his golden and firm legs were reveled to the warm day till they were covered starting at just above the knee by a pair of frayed black jeans; a beige t-shirt covered his chest, the male pulling his brown fleece jacket closer around his body, pretending to be a model as he leaned against Jason. The dog, dressed

in a pair of green hiking boots with red socks, a pair of kaki clam diggers that hugged his waist and covered all but his ankles, and a blue sweater pulled down over his curly pelt, just chuckled and nuzzled the cat's right ear.

A white baseball cap hid Jason's bruised and battered ears from view as a pair of black leather biker gloves covered his paws. "Glad to hear it," the canine smirked, placing a soft peck on the boy's forehead as he opened the door and stepped inside the restaurant first with his companion trailing behind him.

The inside was decorated much like one would find a country cabin out on the dirt roads of the country; thick wooden beams reaching across the large expanse of the dinning room as hardwood floors and a couple area rugs created a cozy and inviting area. There was an unlit stone fireplace set against the side wall with a wrought iron gate encasing the burnt logs, the faint ashy smell drifting throughout the restaurant. Several large tables were set in the middle of the room while the walls were lined with padded booths; the only other apparent customers were an old mouse couple dressed in their work-day best sitting in the rear corner, though by the looks of things they were getting ready to pay and leave. "Quaint place," he mumbled to himself as he looked up to see the waitress approaching him, a sweet little doe no older then twenty with a rich chocolate brown pelt much like his own.

She had her long brown hair tied up a simple ponytail which was pulled through the back of a blue baseball cap. Her face was narrow, eyes a deep hazel color, while her muzzle was curled in a curious yet pleased grin; the girl gave a southern giggle, the kind where that final 'e' hits that high note in the back of your throat, as she turned and moved towards her newest customer with a skipping motion in her trot. The deer's uniform consisted of a white button-down cotton shirt, an oversized blue apron that draped past her knees, and a pair of formfitting blue jeans riding above some black sneakers. "Eating alone are we?" she asked softly, not seeming offended at his species as she gave a warm smile and courteous bow from her shoulders.

"Umm...no I-" Jason began to say as he smiled softly, trying to downplay his species so as to not seem like any threat, but he was interrupted by the sound of the door opening again which signaled that Maxi had entered the establishment. The canine watched the doe's neck snap back, taking in the sight of a lion coming into their local shop, before suddenly picking up the pace of not only her movements, but her breathing as well. Her eyes went wide as she shooed him off with a wave off her paw and quickly moved around him to stand in front of the lion, making sure to give her widest smile before bowing till she was practically in half.

Not expecting this, and having figured that Jason would have been asked to make their arrangements, Maxi looked confusingly down at the waitress and then back up at his companion. "You...err...can rise now Ms," he said softly, rubbing the back of his head out of nervousness, "umm...you do realize that there was someone in line before me...right?" he added, intrigued as to why she had suddenly ignored his friend.

"Oh! Thank you Sir," the deer said quickly as she stood up again, then turning around to look the dog straight in the face before tuning back with a shrug, "I see no one your highness...Now, may I ask the lord his name and party size before I arrange for a private room so as you can dine in peace, and away from the riffraff?"

Blinking from the obvious disregard of the dog, the lion glanced over her shoulder at Jason who, with a role of his eyes, told him to just move things along. "There will be two of us dining at your fine establishment today," he said as politely as he could, "and you can simply call me Ma-" though he watched the canine begin to shake his head and wave him arms which singled that the feline had done something wrong; coughing loudly as if something had wedged itself in his throat, "Madison...you can call me Madison," he finished.

"Very good Mr. Madison," the doe said with a smile as she looked behind Maxi with an expecting stare before glancing back to him, "and just where is your companion with whom you will be dining with?" fingers fiddling with two menus that she took from a shelf nearby.

"I'm right here...and the name's Jake," Jason said assertively with arms crossed over his chest, having gotten used to being ignored but never truly accepting it. The waitress spun around, a daunting look of confusion plastered on her face as she looked back towards the lion who only gave a warm nod that indeed the dog spoke true.

"Very well Madison...Jake," she said, suddenly taking notice of the canine as she turned tail and began to move into the restaurant, "you are welcome to pick any table that suits your tastes. I will be with you shortly as soon as I inform the cook of your arrival, so that she may break out the specialty ingredients in honor of your arrival." And with that, she handed Maxi the menus and bowed again to each male before walking into a 'staff only' door in the rear of the building.

"You can pick whatever table you want kitten," Jason said softly, watching the lion nod and meander into the dinning area, eventually settling on one of the booths against the far wall with a good view of the passing highway outside. Meanwhile, Jason studied the mouse couple as they left their tip on the table before slowly getting up and moving in his direction towards the exit; the males sizing each other up and down for a brief moment before the older gentleman accidentally bumped into Jason's shoulder with a small thud and an offered a quick 'sorry' before moving away with his wife to their car.

Maxi watched from his seat as the two males bumped shoulders, thinking he saw Jason slip something shiny from his paw into his back pocket, but figured it was just his eyes playing tricks on him. Moments later they were sitting across from each other in the green faux-leather booth with hardwood table and red lace curtains bundled on either side of the window; each boy looking over the menu they had been handed, "So what are you getting Jake?" the feline asked, snickering at the fake name.

The canine was about to answer that the eggs looked rather good, but never got the chance to because the waitress returned seconds later, slipping Maxi a large cup of coffee. "On the house sir," she said with a smile as she stood up straight, "my name's Whitney, and I'll be your server today. So Madison...and company, what can I start you off with?" as she whipped out her pad of paper and stood ready to jot down the orders.

The lion stared down at the hot cup placed before him for a moment or two before glancing over at Jason, who motioned with a flick of the paw that he should go first. "Oh...umm sure, I'll have the royal omelet, hash browns, white toast, and a large glass of warm milk...and a side of sausage links," Maxi said as he looked over the menu before closing and setting it down on the table.

"Very good choice Sir," Whitney announced, picking up the menu in one paw as she got ready to turn and head back towards the kitchen; "I'll be sure to tell the cook right away and get her started on your breakfast," as he began to walk back towards whence she came.

"Wait a moment!" Maxi said, reaching out to grab at her apron, nearly tumbling right of the booth as he did so; straitening up, he looked up to see her staring back at him, ears cocked back, tail drooped, and her large brown eyes wide in what looked like terror. Coughing a bit, he smiled softly and motioned to the canine sitting next to him, "you forgot to take my companion's order Miss."

The doe blinked a moment before bowing down in front of Jason, "my apologies Jake, please forgive my insolence and please order your meal as well..." the girl said as she retrieved her note pad, trying her best to keep her complexion as she suppressed her fears about being in trouble for having angered a lion.

Jason just nodded and glanced down at the menu for a second before giving his best smile and looking up into the nervous face of his server; "I'll have the exact same thing only instead with wheat toast and a glass of orange juice," he said with a grin, handing his menu back to the girl as he rested against the back of his booth.

The deer just nodded and was about to leave before Maxi handed her the cup of coffee back without even taking a sip. "Umm, Whitney...can I have a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream instead? I'm not a big fan of coffee...oh...and can you get one for Jake as well?" the lion asked, watching as an odd look passed over the waitresses face, but none the less she nodded and left with the cup. Once the doe was out of earshot, the feline looked back at his partner with a curious glance, "She was an odd one...Why'd she keep ignoring you?"

The dog just blinked a moment as he leaned over the table, "Because....she was acting as the implanted social structure dictates," though he could see confusion register on the cat's face. Sighing, he sat back against his seat, "You haven't been out of your compound very much, let alone your own country, have you?"

"No Jas-...I mean Jake" he corrected himself, "I've never left the estate very much. And if I did, it was with family in toe, and we'd only go to the ritziest places in town. The menus never had prices on them...father never cared much about tossing some green away to make sure we got the best. But never once did I see a waiter forget to serve one of us, or forget to take our order, or move around someone in front of us to get to us..." the boy pondering on the facts for a bit; "Think she's new?" he suggested.

The canine rubbed his forehead and sighed again, closing his eyes slightly, "you have so much to learn about the world outside your little bubble," he mumbled as he slowly rose to his feet. "And right now, I don't have the time to give you a crash course in the moral etiquette of living in a caste system...Because that is what the rest of the world lives in Madison...the reality of a caste system."

"Wait! Where are you going? What about your food?" he asked, watching the dog walk away from the table. His paws nervously drumming on the counter, what did he mean by a caste system, Maxi asked himself.

"I have to go to the bathroom to check on my bandages," he shouted back to the cat, "just tell Whitney to put my meal back in the oven to stay warm till I get back...Don't worry, she'll obey to you." Jason then vanished into a swinging wooden door at the back of the restaurant, leaving Maxi all alone at the table.

Though his isolation was short lived as moments later Whitney retuned, carrying a large tray of food which she set on a nearby table before beginning to place the dishes in front of the lion. Only once the meal was laid out before the customer did the doe notice the absence of the canine, "where did your companion go sir?" she asked respectively, giving one last check to her pad to make sure she forgot nothing and got the meals correct.

"Oh, Jake just went to the bathroom. He's going to be in there for a while, and he asked that you put his dishes back into the oven to remain warm...Will that be a problem?" the lion asked softly, eyes darting to glance over the massive meal set before him, his stomach grumbling loudly to remind him of his hunger.

"Not a problem at all Sir," Whitney said with a sweet voice, though the feline thought he could detect a tad of spite and bitterness in her tone; placing Jason's dishes back onto her tray before taking them back to the kitchen, she returned moments later and waited in silence next to the table with her arms crossed at the wrists and hanging loosely against her apron.

Staring up at her for the longest time, Maxi tried to concentrate on eating his food but couldn't help wondering what she was up to. "Umm...what are you doing Miss?" he finally asked, the cup of hot chocolate against his muzzle as a dab of the whipped cream got stuck on his nose; softly licking it off like the cub that he was, he stared back up at his server with an innocent smile.

Whitney blinked several times, slowly swiveling her head to stare down at the male before him, taking in the sight of the creature before her; he looked like a lion, sounded like a lion, but acted not with the vanity and arrogance of one. "Are you...from around these parts?" she finally asked, chuckling softly as his pink tongue licked the mess from his whiskers.

Maxi thought about the question for a moment, taking a nibble of his white toast before finally shaking his head, "No...I'm visiting here with my fellow research partner from across the seas." The lion figuring that if he wanted to know just how the world really was, he was going to have to detach himself from the problem and act as a third party in hopes of gaining knowledge.

"That would explain things..." the deer said, slowly sliding a chair from the table behind her so that she was sitting facing the window, her eyes locking on his as a comfortable and relaxed aura flowed over her. "I bet things seem really backwards and weird compared to your home country huh?" she asked with a saddened sigh.

"Yes," Maxi said softly, shoving the rest of the piece of toast into his muzzle, "it's much different here then in my home country. Though that is a good thing since, you see...we both are...uhh...anthropologists," he lied through his teeth. The cat taking several long breaths as he attempted to piece together a fake life for him and Jason out of thin air and memories of watching the 'discovery channel' on television. "So if you could possibly explain to me your social situation...that would be most helpful for my studies."

The deer seemed to think the idea over, her eyes glancing around the room while her mind worked, seconds later a small nod ensuing. "Yeah...I think I'd like to give you the lowdown on how things really are around these parts," she said proudly, looking around the empty restaurant again, "I suppose I can take my break now...at least until someone comes in."

"I'd like to hear your perspective on things around this place...Please, go ahead and start whenever you are ready, I'll fill Jake in when he get's back," the lion offered while he munched on his omelet as he waited for her to begin.

"Very well," Whitney replied, "You see we currently live in a caste system style of social set-up...You do know what a caste system is right?" asked softly.

"Yes, but...I'd like to hear your explanation of it anyways..." the lion said, finishing off his sausage links with a satisfied burp and rub of his belly; "that's some mighty fine cooking I must admit, my compliments to the chef," he added, giving a warm smile to his informant.

"I'll be sure to tell her Mr. Madison," the deer responded with a grin, her tiny tail flickering behind her. "Anyways, where were we?" she asked herself, "Oh yeah...well anyways, a caste system by these standards is when one group...or in this case, one species...is set above the rest and the others are put in layers of importance and given rights accordingly. Those rights, of course, are determined by the ruling section. It's set up like a pyramid really...the smallest and most powerful species on top, while the others are placed in the lower rungs...each category set with false floors that allow no chance for one to move to a higher position...only drop lower."

Maxi nodded slowly, so that was what Jason had been talking about, he thought as it began to sink in. "Well that makes a bit more sense. So just how many layers is your society divided in to, and who inhabits each section?" was his next question to the waitress.

"Well, if you hand me napkin over there, I can show you better then I can tell you," she offered, pulling out a pen from her apron as the lion slid a napkin across the table to her. "Thanks," Whitney said as she started drawing her diagram on the paper, capping her pen once finished before showing the feline next to her; the picture was that of a large triangle which was divided up into five sections. Reaching out, she pointed to the top of the triangle, the smallest of all sections, "and that part is you..." she announced with a slightly cold undertone.

"Me?!?" he asked confusingly, doing his best to play the apart he had assigned to himself so his lesson would continue, and he'd find out just what his father and everyone else was keeping from him.

Whitney just chuckled, "Sorry, not you personally...but your species. For dictated in myths which set lions as 'kings of the jungle', they have become the ruling class of this land and are therefore the top caste." The girl sighed, twirling her pen in her paw as she continued, "They are the presidents of every Fortune 500 company, own just about all of the property in the country...and basically permit everyone else to live there so long as they follow their rules and the rules of their underlings. It's a way of life, I'll grant you that...but not a very easy one."

"Underlings?" Maxi asked, his complete focus now on her as he learned about his own culture, "are they the occupants of the next caste section on the diagram?" he surmised.

"Yes, they consist of all other feline breeds out there," she said softly, looking down at the napkin and motioned to a slightly larger section then the first. "In there resides mountain lions, tigers, pumas, cougars, cheetahs, and all the way down to the lowest stray alley cat. Of course this also includes results from interbreeding within the species, though lions are forbidden from mating with anything other then another lion. So, basically anyone who can prove that they are a straight descendant of nothing but cats is excepted and given dominion over the rest of us," the deer spat out the last words. "Them in combination with the lions rule over us like tyrants, parading around in their wealth while the rest of us suffer on the borderline to abstract poverty...That is, unless we give up our dignity and agree to serve them as bodyguards, cooks, or other indentured servants."

The lion noticed the deer's paws balling up into shaking fists of anger, "I'm not one of them...I promise, I'm not like my fellow leonine brothers..." Maxi said barely above a whisper, reaching out to gently touch her fist.

Slowly the wrinkles of fury faded from Whitney's soft complexion as she unclenched her paws and sighed, "I know...I'm sorry," her voice tinged with regret; but none the less she removed her paws from his fingers, feeling the warmth from a species she had felt nothing but coldness and anger towards for her entire life. "And that...is where the rest of us, the remaining species, lay for the most part...under their heels is the largest group in the society," motioning to the largest section of the triangle with a soft whine as she removed her hat and undid the ponytail, allowing her hair to fall over her shoulder and down to her breast.

Looking over the female before him, Maxi couldn't help but agree that despite years of hardship, she remained quite the beautiful doe. Having let loose her hair, it reached just over her breasts, the female's cleavage still firm with the vigor of youth and in decent proportion to her size; her face a pale brown with deep set eyes that he assumed had seen more heartbreak then he could ever imagine, while her pert ears stood up from between her hair, swiveling around like small furry satellite dishes. "For the most part?" he asked softly, sensing that there was something more to the puzzle then given, "I mean there are still three sections left undefined, what species live in those?"

Sighing, she reexamined her drawing before nodding, "however, I must count my blessings that I was born the species that I am," her paws pressing together in a silent prayer as she gave a soft nod before continuing on. "For you see, the second largest group is those that are even below us...the canines; here includes all manner of wolves, dogs, coyotes, and even foxes are considered to be among their ranks. These poor souls are given no rights, no say in the world around them, and are given the worst sections of land to farm in hopes of scraping together a meager living." Her voice was full of genuine pity and sympathy; the girl had real feelings for those who are worse off then her, a true pure heart among a sea of blackness.

The lion blinked, staring down into his lap as he heard the horrors of the world around him...the horrors that his family had given to society. "And where do they reside? I haven't seen a single canine around these parts since our travels started here...besides Jake of course," his eyes glancing out the window next to him as he watched the barren highway continue on in either direction.

"Oh...the canine community?" she responded, peering out the window and motioning with a finger in the direction that Maxi and Jason had been heading in before they stopped here. "They live far from any center of commerce or even a decent hospital, though some good natured doctors and feline sergeants have been known to make secret trips into their territory to treat critically sick and injured parties for little to no cost." The female then glanced around the restaurant, making sure that no one was in ear shot, "I too have made several pilgrimages myself...each time bringing a variety of supplies to a couple friends I was fortunate enough to make. The state they live in makes my life appear as regal as any feline castle could ever be...you know?"

Maxi knew all too well the splendor of such castles, but kept that information to himself. "Just...how bad is it over there?" he asked, fingers nervously drumming on the table in fear of the info he was to be told; his interest in the conversation completely drowning out his desire to finish eating his meal.

"Worse then any war-torn nation then you can possibly imagine," the girl said frankly as she clasped her fingers across her lap. "Poverty is a staple by their standards...having enough supplies to last a family for half a month is considered a luxury. Their towns, save for a couple that are on the border to feline country and manage to receive some run-off of goods, are filthy, poor, and crime-infested...Rouge bands of wolves and other such packs have formed to raid nearby villages, sometimes even venturing into our lands for supplies. While the daring...or stupid, take on raiding feline towns even farther in. Children go hungry, people die of common and curable diseases, and the leaders of this country do nothing but set even higher taxes on their already bankrupt economy." Her voice was strained, "I haven't heard from one of my friends in several months...I think he was taken by the S.F.E..." she said softly.

"That sounds absolutely...horrible and atrocious," the feline said, his voice drifting off as he could understand why everyone hated him as such, why Jason had his reasons for disliking his family, Maxi was only thankful that they had met under the circumstances that they had. "So...who are the S.F.E. anyways?" the lion questioned, another aspect his father had never told him about.

"The S.F.E. stands for 'Secret Feline Enforcers', it's the cats' own personal military for taking down dissidents, quashing rebellions, and other such things that need to be taken care of fast and with a...delicate touch," Whitney added. The doe sighed, looking out of the window again, "that boy was an outspoken one he was...always shooting his muzzle off about the hardships of his canine brethren...I warned him that if he didn't stop it, they were going to take him out, I guess...he didn't listen." Tears started to build up in her eyes before Maxi reached out and offered her a second napkin from the dispenser to his right.

"I'm sorry for your loss," he said softly, giving a warm smile as he watched her dry her face before settle back into her chair. "Well...moving on down your caste system," he said, trying to get off of this depressing topic, "it seems there are still two sections left and I believe that we have run out of species...So, who or what inhabit those places?"

"'What' is correct. You see it's true that I have run out of pure species, which is why the next section is devoted to the ones even less fortunate then the dogs if you thought that was even possible...the half-breeds. These furrs are considered beneath a caste, undeserving of any mention in the government documentation...most don't even have a form of identification other then a name tag they can get with a simple ten-digit number if they can afford it." The girl could see the confusion evident on the lion's face, his mane blowing over his soft features; "You see, a half-breed occurs when a parent of one species has sexual relations with that of another, get's pregnant, and decides to bear the child. Should they keep the child themselves, the entire family would be exiled to no-furs land, but should they simply disown him or her, then only the child would be given away without a care for its safety...It's a cruel world out there," she added at the end.

"No kidding..." the cat replied with a downcast glance, looking positively distraught at the realization that the bubble he was born and raised in had been only to shield him from the horrible legacy of his own species. "Do you have any idea how they survive in that condition? It...would be helpful to my research to know, Miss Whitney," Maxi asked politely.

"None what so ever," the female replied, "you see, should anyone be caught entering or leaving those restricted areas...they are instantly either killed or forced to return, never permitted to revisit their families or their lives again." The deer softly began running her fingers through her long brown locks, a sign that this conversation was taking a toll on her memories, "It's almost like...an unsaid war against these people...One that is never mentioned in any paper unless it is to be used for some political gain, never brought to any court for trial...at least not a public one anyways, and yet we pay the taxes that fund this terror."

At this point, Maxi's conscience was so loaded down with the deeds of his forefathers that he wasn't sure he could go on listening; his chest felt heavy, his mind covered in a mental fog, his entire world crumbling down around him only to be rebuilt into a wasteland of a nightmare that he couldn't awake from. Slowly he put his head into his paws, tightly closing his eyes to lock in the tears as he tried to continue his charade just long enough till he could talk to Jason, and break down in those comforting brown arms. "Oh God..." he whispered under his breath, so light a sound even the deer did not hear it; the boy then sat up straight, coughed a bit, mumbled a half-hearted apology about something in his eye, and asked, "so then...who inhabits the final layer in your culture? I see there is still one left."

This time Whitney fell quiet, her eyes cast downwards into her lap as her fingers resorted to a sort of white knuckled death-grip on the edge of the table; she remained this way for almost two minutes before finally speaking, "they come from what is considered by many to be one of the most...unholy alliance this civilization can offer its inhabitants." Her voice so deep that when she looked back into the feline's eyes her face seemed pale, almost ashen white, at the mere mention of this seemingly demonic group. "These creatures...creatures we call them because that is how they are depicted to us...are known simply as 'The Forsaken'. They come from only one type of union...a union so blasphemous in the government's eyes that should one even speak of it, they can be jailed, practice it...and be put to death!"

"Wh-what is it?" Maxi asked, his voice creaking at being let in on such illicit acts as he could feel the color draining from his face. The girl motioned for him to lean in close to her, which he did very slowly with his ears cocked forwards and his eyes wide as he partook of a secret that had sent people to that gallows. "What...is this union?" he asked again once he was closer, his natural feline curiosity damning him to find out.

"It is a mating between any feline and a canine in which a child is produced...that child is a 'Forsaken One' and is doomed to a life of pain, suffering, and hardship." The doe's voice vacant of emotion as she spoke almost directly into the cat's ear; "if they are not found out quick enough, the parents and child may be able to flee to Half-Breed territory before they are captured. However should they be discovered...well, they will face dire circumstances. The mother will almost always be killed no matter which species she was to serve as warning and deterrent for others; her death done in a public forum in front of not only the city, but her mate and child as well. The father will be most likely jailed for an indeterminate sentence, severally beaten and tortured while imprisoned, and made to surrender all of their belongings to the government. And as for the child...the poor innocent child who knew not what he was born into...chances are they will become someone's sex slave, concubine, or slave laborer unless the father is able to pull some strings and send his offspring away to be looked after before they can be taken, and until he is released." With that the girl leaned back in her seat, fingers no longer trembling as the transfer of knowledge was complete, and calmly put her hair back into a pony-tail.

Maxi on the other hand was completely numb, all the feeling in his upper body seemed to have been sucked out as he remained in that hunched over position long after the female had stopped talking. Forcefully, he got himself to return to a normal sitting position, his body moving like a rusty metal machine as he received the last piece of information about just how bleak the world was outside his little bubble. The boy tried to talk, opening his mouth to speak, but only stale air and a wheezing gasp escaped before he closed it again and remained sunk into his cushion.

Though the awkward silence between customer and sever was broken as the sound of a swinging wooden door relocking echoed across the empty restaurant. Both parties looking up to see Jason reappear, his paws nervously rubbing his thighs through his jeans before glancing to the two furs now sitting around his table. "I'll go get your food Mr. Jake..." Whitney said before the dog even reached his seat, pushing her chair back to the table she stole it from, as she bowed respectively to the lion and his friend before quickly turning and heading off into the kitchen.

"What was that about?" the canine asked, taking his seat on the cushioned bench as he looked over at the lion who had already finished his meal and was now barely sipping on his hot chocolate when he sat down.

Glancing over, the cat noticed that Jason looked rather disheveled, his hair ruffled, his clothes wrinkled, and a distraught look set into his eyes. "She just came by to keep me company..." he said softly, not wanting to let on that he had gotten a heavy dose of reality in his absence. "You okay there pup? You seem bothered, are all of your wounds healing nicely?" he asked, gently sliding his arm over to gently grasp that brown paw resting on the table.

"Yeah...everything is healing just fine," Jason said quickly, his mind replaying the events of moments prior as they rang clear in his temple; but luckily enough he found a way to distract himself as the waitress returned with his meal. Quickly he pulled his paw out from underneath Maxi's, watching her set down the large platters in front of him as he was graced with a warm smile that was most unbecoming of anyone confronting one of his breed. "Thank you Miss..." he said softly, avoiding eye contact as he had learned to do from an early age.

"Nonsense, it's Whitney," she said, repeating the name for the dog as she watched his ears perk up before he slowly turned to look up at her, their mutual brown eyes staring into each other. "Your friend there has a very inquisitive mind...Take good care of him, his innocence is your paws..." she said confidently, patting Jason on the shoulder before taking the tray back to the kitchen and leaving the two boys to dine alone.

The dog just sat there, muzzle left agape before looking over at Maxi whose gaze was focused out the window, not even registering what was said, which made him wonder if the exchange of words even took place. His mind wrapping around those words 'his innocence is in your paws', how true that was more then that deer realized as felt his chest tighten. Gently tugging at his wool sweater, "what...was that about Madison?" he asked, keeping their aliases as he readjusted to being back in the restaurant and started eating his newly arrived meal.

"Nothing, I just know my place now..." the lion said regretfully, unsure what more he could say to the boy who had his entire life ruined by his species; the boy who had stolen not only his body, but his heart as well. His golden eyes glancing over to watch the vague answer register on the canine, who in turn, gave a solemn nod before continuing to devour his meal.

Sighing softly, the dog resigned himself to filling his empty stomach with the much needed meal, both males sitting in silence only perforated by Jason's munching noises; neither knowing exactly what to say, so they let their silence say everything. Their eyes mutually glancing out the window, sometimes catching the other looking in his direction, but the moment was always fleeting at best, lasting no more then a few seconds. "We should get a move on, Madison...that is if we want to beat morning traffic," Jason said sliding his utensils into his empty plate as he patted his full tummy.

"We can't run out on the check now can we?" Maxi asked, turning to face his companion, yawning slightly as he wiped the sleepiness from his eyes, having not gotten a full night's sleep due to his constant family interventions. Licking his muzzle lightly, he gently pawed at his ears and sat up straight, glancing over at their empty dishes lying strewn over the table.

"I think I can take care of that for you boys," Whitney said, waving to the pair from across the restaurant as she held a large metal platter under her arms and sauntered her way over. Placing the empty plates and glasses on the tray, she slid a small black book onto the table with a smile and chuckled, "was a pleasure having you two stop by. Hope we get to see each other again Madison...Jake."

"We will certainly keep this place in mind," the canine said with a smirk, looking over to his partner only to see a lack of energy apparent by the feline's lethargic motions. "Do you happen to know of any place around here where we can catch a decent couple hours of sleep? Though preferably not a motel," Jason added, not needing a repeat of what had happened the previous morning.

"Well..." the deer thought out loud, pondering the rather odd request given the hour of day, "the only thing that comes to mind is a camping supply store a couple miles down the road, though you'll have to make your own bed. And from there you just take the next exit and it will put you back on the main highway, that will take you to your destination." The doe thought about her directions for a moment before nodding slowly, "Yeah, that should be right," the girl added.

Looking up from his arms, Maxi gave a warm softly, "that's most appreciated Whitney," he said, voice breaking as he yawned in the middle of his words. He then rested his head against the back of the booth, eyes closing, as he waited for their business to finish so that they might continue to wherever Jason was going.

"I agree..." Jason said, taking the small black book from the table, glancing over the bill and putting an indeterminate amount of cash into the pocket before closing it and sliding it back towards her. "You won't look until we leave...or do you not trust me that I have paid the check?" he asked softly, deciding to take the opportunity to test her trust in him, get extra time to make their getaway, and grease the wheels should anyone come asking about two unusual visitors.

Hesitating at the canine's offer, she took the book and without opening it, slid it under her arms, "Yes sir, I do trust you," Whitney replied uncertainly. Then, sighing happily as she glanced over both of her customers, "it was very nice of you to stop bye. I do hope you find whatever it is you are searching for in your research." The girl then gave a small bow to both males before going back through the kitchen door, pulling out a mop and bucket, before heading into the bathroom to start her cleaning rounds.

Upon seeing the waitress leave them and head into the bathroom, Jason stood up and grabbed Maxi by the shoulder to pull him up as well; "time for us to take our leave..." he said quickly, shoving his paws into his pockets as he headed for the door, feeling the lion quickly move to his side. "The longer we remain in one place, the easier it is for them to catch wind of our trail," the canine explained, pushing open the door as he and the cat stepped out into the morning rays of light.

"I understand Jason..." the feline said, clinging to the canine's left arm as they made their way around to the back of the dinner towards their truck. "So, how much did the bill come to anyways? You certainly seemed a bit suspicious the way you paid her," the lion commented as they unlocked the doors to the cabin and got inside, Jason once again in the driver's seat as they buckled themselves in.

"It's enough to give us time to escape...that's all we needed." Turning the key of the engine, he waited for it to roar to life before peeling out of the spot and heading for the exit that would put them on the road to the camping supply store that Whitney had mentioned.

* * *

Meanwhile, back in the restaurant Whitney had just entered the bathroom and was filling her pail with water when she noticed something shiny inside the wastebasket; thinking it was a lost valuable, she leaned her mop against the wall, placed the checkbook on the counter, and reached in to pull out a very small cell phone, the design of a large brown paw print emblazoned on the cover. "I wonder whose this is..." she mumbled to herself as she looked over the small phone, opening it up to see a temporary battery that was set for a single conversation. And when she checked the call logs, the girl noticed only one number listed in the phone's memory.

Pondering the mystery for a moment, it sunk in as to the phone's owner as she quickly burst through the door, rushing outside into the parking lot as fast as she could; the sound of a car engine roaring from behind the building as she turned around to see a white pickup truck speed down the exit ramp towards the main road. Seeing that the occupants were her two former customers, Whitney pulled up her apron and bounded over the restaurant's front lawn with phone in paw, waving and trying to get the driver's attention

"Jake!" she called out repeatedly, watching the canine's eyes slowly look towards her in mild interest, "Jake, you forgot your phone in the bathroom!" she hollered again. But the doe watched as the canine didn't even bother to respond, apparently not wanting his expensive looking phone back as he quickly turned his blinker on and raced out of the restaurant as though he was a vampire and she was waving a large crucifix at him.

Slowing down to a soft walk, the deer watched the truck vanish into the rays of morning light before scratching her head out of confusion, shoving the phone into her apron as she made her way back into the restaurant. "That was odd...to say the least," she mumbled to herself, running fingers through her long locks before returning to her mop and pail in the bathroom. Then spying the small check book, she opened it up to reveal well over two hundred dollars in cash for a meal that was barely over twenty; counting her excessive tip, she noticed a small note tucked in, simple words scrawled out in fast cursive on a napkin, 'forget you ever saw us'.

* * *

"Why didn't you stop for her?" Maxi asked, watching in the rearview mirror as they pulled farther and farther away from the doe and the dinner. He then turned back towards Jason with an inquisitive look, his whiskers twitching before he settled back into his seat with a sigh.

"I'm sure she was just waving goodbye is all," the canine lied, knowing full well what the girl had wanted, but he couldn't risk even slowing down just to deny the phone was his. "Besides, we have to get a move on. I saw that yawn of yours back in the booth..." the dog said with a small nudge to the lion's shoulder, "you really should get some sleep anyways."

Yawning again, the kitten's face blushed as the boy mewed ever so softly, "I guess I'm a bit tired. You heading off to the camping store that Whitney recommended?" his golden eyes glancing out the side window as he watched the world pass him by, the world he now knew the truth about.

"Yeah," Jason responded, flashing his brown orbs on the boy next to him with a kind smile, "I figured we could get a tent or sleeping bag or something, park off to the side of some road somewhere, and set up either in the bed of the truck or on the forest floor...A little camping trip, hmm?" as he gently nudged the feline's arm playfully.

"Sounds really nice," Maxi said softly, pulling his arm away from the dog for the first time, the guilt for having destroyed countless lives weighing heavily on his soul. The conversation died for the moment as the next couple of miles were ridden in silence before the feline pointed to an exit lane on the right side of the road with a simple, "I think that's where she wanted us to turn."

"I think so too," Jason said solemnly, turning the truck down the small road as they drove once again in silence before pulling into the large parking lot of a camping warehouse and turning off the engine. Both boys sitting there for a long while before the dog finally looked at his passenger with a soft whine, "Maxi?...Maxi, what happened while I was checking my bandages?"

Slowly turning to face his companion, the feline's face seeming so pale and ashen gray, his golden eyes looking wrought with mental anguish, "I...I got that lecture you couldn't give me." He then let a long breath escape his muzzle before turning back to stare out the window, "I think you should be the one to go in, I'll draw too much attention from the customers and staff."

Glancing down at the base of the steering wheel in front of him, Jason just nodded, reached into his book bag to take out a small wad of cash before he opened his door and stepped out. "I'll be back as soon as I can with our supplies, I'll get enough to last us at least till we can find our next rest stop," the canine said softly, staring down at the pavement as he slammed the truck door and with paws in his pockets, strolled off towards the store.

Left alone in the truck, Maxi watched with a vacant stare as the canine vanished into the store's entrance before he let his head hang between his shoulders. "I'm so sorry Jason...I didn't know the true horrors of what I'm blamed for," his voice cracking as he wrapped his arms around his chest, tugging his shirt around his small body. Mane falling over his face as the ever increasing loneliness overcame him like the fog back at his father's cabin; the smog of his guilt suffocating him, blinding him to the point where he didn't even realize that he had started crying.

Eventually he felt the cold trickle of tears down his cheeks, his golden eyes shut tightly as he wished he could just wake up from the nightmare of his lineage. The lion sat in the truck for what seemed like an eternity, the encompassing bleakness along with the emptiness of realizing that the only one on his side was someone that should hate his existence turning in his very soul. In fact, even he hated his very existence at the moment, the knowledge of how his species had sapped the land of its glory with no remorse made him feel responsible for all those countless lives destroyed and millions left in suffering; his paw slowly reaching into the book bag next to him, feeling around for the handgun that Jason had used earlier in the day. Looking for the comfort that such an instrument could bring to him, "The...temptation...gets stronger with every new thing I learn..." the feline mumbled through quivering lips, his tears already drenching the collar of his shirt and matting fur.

"The temptation to do what?" Jason asked, having tossed his bundles into the truck bed and slipped into his seat while the feline was too distraught with his own grief. The canine then noticed his passenger's tears and pained body language, instantly knowing that something was up as he reached into the bag, and just as he felt the cat grab the holster of his gun, he took the hold of the golden paw. Pulling both out of the bag, he finally got the lion to look at him as he got his first glimpse into the pained soul that this privileged cat withheld deep inside his body; wrenching the weapon from the weak grasp and tossing it between the seats, he could feel himself get emotional over such a broken boy. "What's wrong?" the dog demanded, "what sorts of things are plaguing your mind Maxi? Please talk to me." The brown pelted male placing his fingers on the lion's shoulder and giving a reassuring squeeze.

The feline gasped as he felt the fingers around his own, throwing his head back to glance into the worried face of his lover, the world traveling in slow motion as his hair flew from in face while their eyes met for that briefest moments. But once the gun was gone from his paws and the initial shock left his body, the cat pulled back against his door; face pushed against the glass, unable to look back in Jason's direction even though he was the only person who could realign him. "I...I just wanted to see what it looked like up close," the feline lied, keeping his eyes plastered on the nearly empty parking lot outside as his tears slid down the glass.

Jason looked over at his passenger for a long time before deciding not to press the issue any further. "Very well," he said as he shoved the key into the ignition slot and pulled out of the parking lot to continue down the road. "I managed to find some simple supplies, spent as little money as possible so I would make as little a scene as I could," he said, motioning to the bed of the truck, "got ourselves a tent, two sleeping bags, and a couple packages of different flavored trail mixes and energy bars. I'm hoping that that will hold us off until we reach our destination...Sound good to you Maxi?" his eyes never leaving the road in front of them.

"Yeah..." the boy responded, his voice eerily empty as he sat there in otherwise silence, eyes closed and concentrating simply on his breathing. Eventually the two males managed to pull back onto the highway, still heading in the direction of canine controlled territory to a destination that Maxi knew not of. But at the moment, any place was better then the one he had left, the world of his father and his kin was not something he wanted to be a part of any more. "Where are we going to pull off?" the lion finally asked, after having watched several exits pass them by on this travels.

Slowly the curly pelted boy turned to face the lion, "I got a special camping grounds that I used when I was a pup...I feel we'll be secure from your father's trackers there." He then returned his attention to the road but continued talking, "I was thinking that we could set up the tent in the bed of the truck for privacy, as well as a quick get-a-way, roll out our sleeping bags inside, and have a small feast of trail mix before drifting off to sleep...But I understand if your family rules prohibit you from being that close to another male."

Maxi internally winced at the mention of his family, but merely grunted as he pressed his head against the window, his find floating back to thoughts about how things have progressed between him and Jason. "And after we have our nap...what then?" the male questioned, just wanting to keep hearing the soothing tones of the dog's voice, the only sound he seemed to hear resounding in his head besides his own.

The driver just shrugged, "I figured I'd play it by ear, hoping that someone above would give us a push in the right direction...that's how I've been going so far anyways." Though Jason had to stop himself from his rambling, fearing that he might reveal more then he intended as he closed his muzzle and kept an eye out for the next exit; since after the conversation he had had on the cell phone, which the informant had covertly slipped to him, he knew exactly where to go in order to make sure that his movements could be logged till they finally enter safe lands. "Well, here we are," the canine finally announced, giving the truck a quick twist to the right as they took a small wooded path marked only by a post staked into the ground.

"Quaint..." Maxi mumbled, his eyes taking in the lush scenery as they drove up several dirt paths before taking a poorly marked trail and arriving at a small clearing of low grass. Not even bothering to get out of his seat, he stared on through the fogged up glass at the wilderness around him, the serenity and peace it brought to his soul as he thought he could hear a babbling brook over a not-so-distant hill. His ears picked up the sound of a door opening and closing before the next thing he knew, he was staring into the face of Jason just on the other side of his door; too distracted to feel his seatbelt being undone, as soon as the door was opened he unexpectedly tumbled right into the waiting arms of the dog.

"Guess you were leaning a bit too hard against the glass," the canine joked, holding the cat in his arm as he moved a few steps back, kissing the boy's forehead before setting him down. Jason took in deep breaths of forest air, filling his lungs to the brim with the wonderful scents of nature, letting a bit of the pent up stress be taken away by the warm winds of the day. "I always like coming out here," he said, looking up at the sun hanging just overhead, its rays just breaching the green treetops as it filtered below to the forest floor below in a kaleidoscope of shapes.

Maxi just nodded, eyes perceiving not the tops of the trees, but rather the roots of the trunks as he scanned the moss covered ground under his sneakers. "Guess so..." the boy mumbled to himself as he shuffled his feat around, kicking clouds of dirt and crunchy leaves into the air. He didn't even realize he had strayed away as his random urges to kick this pebble, or stomp on that weed took him further and further from the dog till at last he looked up to see he was already past the end of the truck. Doing his best to not lose the soft, wishful quality to his vocals, he allowed his whisper to dance upon the air, reaching his companion's ears as he stuttered out. "It... it's really beautiful... out here."

"You know..." Jason started as he began to take slow hesitant steps towards the cat, his boots crunching the dried out leaves under paw, "the trees aren't the only things that are beautiful out here, at least in my eyes." With that, he put his paw on the lion's shoulder and spun him around so they could stare into each other's face as a small gust of wind blew the lion's mane across his face. With steady yet soft fingers, the boy reached over to fish the golden strands from his cheek, his pads gently brushing against the cold nose of the feline; his other paw still resting on the clothed shoulder of the lion, fingers giving a soft squeeze to the cloth under his grip.

The cat slowly closed his eyes as he felt those warm fingers glide over his muzzle, a shiver traveling up his spine as he revealed his golden orbs again to the face before him. He wanted to flee from the canine's grip on, his legs trembling as he tried to move away, but only backing up enough so that the boy's arm on his shoulder was fully extended and no farther. "I'm...not beautiful..." Maxi said through clenched teeth, throwing his gaze to the earth below rather then into the deep sensual umber eyes of his only friend.

"What the heck are you talking about kitten?" Jason asked, though moving no closer to his companion who obviously had a heavy load on his mind; taking a deep breath, he let his arms drop to his sides, staring up into the blue mid-day sky for a brief second before refocusing on the feline before him. "I can't take it any more, ever since I came back from the bathroom you've been acting different, I don't know what to do to snap you out of it, and it's obvious that my presence here isn't making things any easier for you...so I'm going to sleep." And with that he turned and was about to climb into the truck and set up the tent, but the sound of approaching footsteps stopped him in his tracks.

Maxi looked up and mewed softly, his tail slowly shifting back and forth behind him as his ears fell against the sides of his head. "Wait...Jason..." the boy cried before rushing the final couple of feet between them; wrapping his arms tightly around the canine's waist, Maxi interlocked his fingers just over the boy's tail, his head pressing tightly into the center of Jason's torso. He could feel the dog's shock, but soon enough those warm furry arms embraced him as with a pained face, he looked into Jason's eyes; "I...know all about the legacy of my species and...I'm so sorry," was all he said, his grip tightening around the canine's body.

The curly pelted boy softly nuzzled the back of the feline's neck with his cold nose, gently nipping at the sensitive pelt as he held the purring lion close to him; both teens could feel the warm winds glide around them like invisible pieces of silk, their fingers winding themselves into each other's clothing, neither wanting to let the other go. "Oh Maxi...is that what all of this is about?" he asked softly, reaching under the feline's chin as he tilted his face to look at him.

"Is that all?" Maxi shouted back, his eyes dripping with tears before he could stop them. "I know about everything," he said softly, taking a deep breath and creating a bit of distance inside the embrace, "the destruction, the dominance, the segregation, the murders, the secret police, the castes, the...the...the..." his voice speeding up so that by the end he was tripping over his own words, struggling to collect his thoughts while his own tears got in the way of his voice.

But Jason silenced all of that complaining in single move as he pulled the cat against his body and pushed their lips together in a warm kiss; his ears picking up the muffled gasp of the lion before his tongue slipped into the gap in the feline's maw and completed their embrace. He held Maxi to his body for a good three minutes, the entire time keeping their muzzles locked together as they breathed through their noses, taking in the smells of nature as well as the intoxicating scent of the other male. Slowly the canine let their mouths slip apart, leaning over to gently lick the trails of saliva that had dripped down the feline's lips before offering a warm smile, "none of that matters to me."

Maxi let those words hang in the air, unable to dignify it with a worthy response that could add anything new to the conversation; so instead he opted for the silent path and rested his head back against the canine's chest and let his tail bind them together as he blindly felt around with the tip before softly entwining it in the base of Jason's curly counterpart. "Want help setting up the tent?" he said softly after a few minutes, lifting his golden orbs up to the smiling brown complexion staring back at him.

"I wouldn't ask anyone else!" the dog yipped happily as he licked the big cat's nose once more before letting him go and walking over to undo the end of the truck bed before climbing in. Turning around, he offered a paw out to help the feline up, and with a small grunt he pulled Maxi up next to him before they both kneeled down and started working on constructing the tent. Jason had gone and bought the smallest tent that he could find, but one which still had enough room for two separate sleeping bags; the end result being a large hunter green and beige tent with a rather large zippered flap in the front and a waterproof floor and roof, or at least that's what the box depicted.

The two boys labored on the contraption for at least an hour, trying their best to figure out how to actually set it up before they confronted the problem of how to attach it to the truck incase a storm made itself known while they slept. They settled on strapping it down to the diamond platted strong box before they opened the flap and dragged both sleeping bags inside along with their new provisions before getting in themselves and closing the outside world out from their little community. "Seems we didn't do such a bad job after all..." Maxi said softly, running his pads along the synthetic material as he looked back to see Jason slowly rolling out both sleeping bags, situating them with a bit of a gap between them.

Jason looked up, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of a paw as he spoke, "not bad at all..." he said in agreement before sitting back on his haunches and smiling. The two boys stared at each other in silence for a moment before the dog managed a rather large yawn, raising his arms over his head as he licked his lips softly; "I'm going to turn in for the day. We can wake once darkness falls and continue driving, we'll be harder to spot then," Jason said before slipping off his shoes and sliding into his sleeping bag.

Maxi looked on for a moment before taking off his own shoes and socks as he unzippered the side of the sac before clamoring inside, his head resting on the small plush pillow that came with his insulated cocoon of a bed. By the time he got himself comfortable with the arrangement, the canine was already out like a light, leaving him to contemplate their fate alone and with the sounds of nature as his background. After a couple minutes of restless turning and toiling, he stared up at the green plastic ceiling, a soft sigh escaping his lips before he turned over to stare at Jason's form next to him. "Jason...you up?" he whispered softly, barely resisting the urge to reach out and nudge the sleeping puppy besides him.

The dog made no reply, only rolling over to face the wall of the tent mumbling uninterpretable gibberish in his sleep, but not giving up, the cat tried again only to get the same muffled answer. Keeping his resolve, the feline began to constantly mew and purr as he shuffled his sleeping bag closer towards Jason's bag; Maxi's noises started out softly, though by the end he was considering just making a loud moan till at long last the noises finally roused the other boy from his sleep. His heart skipping a beat as he saw Jason roll over and rub his eyes weakly, "Are...you still awake?" he asked softly, a long yawn escaping his lips as he rubbed his muzzle of aches.

The lion nodded slowly, looking around the tent once more before chattering his teeth together and wrapping his arms around his torso as he simulated shivering; "It's a bit c-...co-cold in here for me pup," he said in a soft whimper, his paws just peeking over the rim of his sleeping bag as he wiggled even closer to the other occupant.

"If you want, I can take off my sweater for you to use as a blanket," Jason offered since he himself felt a bit hot under the collar, "...or I can give you my sleeping bag to put on...top..." though as he watched the formally mature cat give him soft whines, purrs, and the eyes of a small cub, it was obvious there was an underlying reason to the statement. Shaking his head softly and chuckling, the canine scooted back in his bag to make as much room as he could inside the snug sleeve, "I think we could both squeeze in here if you want to try and fit," he said in a gesturing smile.

"Never even crossed my mind that you'd offer," he lied through his teeth as he rocketed out of his bag and crawled over to Jason, giving him a soft kiss on the nose before sliding in. Indeed it was a tight fit, but the two made it work as the feline positioned himself facing the warm torso of the dog, who quickly embraced him as soon as he was comfortable. Jason romantically licked the insides of his kitten's ears as well as across his cheeks and upper neck, his own ears picking up the comforting sounds of affectionate purring; "Are we warmer now?" he teasingly asked, gently poking the soft shoulder next to him.

"Much..." came the response as the feline slowly turned around to face the side of the tent, a smirk plastered on his muzzle as he closed his eyes; though the next thing he knew, two warm arms were wrapping themselves around his waist and pulling his rear back into the crotch of the dog, a warm presence nestled against the back of his left shoulder informed him of the dog's muzzle pressed firmly into his back. Eyes glancing off to the side as he saw the furry forehead in his peripheral vision before feeling that was enough and placing his head on the pillow; tail wrapping itself around their waists as they spooned and he let himself fall into the throws of sleep.

The two tent-mates slept on and off for the next couple of hours, each one waking up every so often to readjust themselves before drifting back off into the land of dreams. Periodically the lion was awakened by the subtle movements of the male behind him, having slept alone for all his life till that moment, he wasn't used to the constant shifting of another so close; at times there were soft nudges against his shoulder and back with the canine's cold nose, other times even receiving gentle nibbles along the scruff of his neck. The first gentle kneading of his pelt by the sharp teeth was a bit of scare, but slowly he got into it and by the end, he was purring like a newborn kitten.

However, Jason's muzzle wasn't the only thing shifting along Maxi's body, for his paws were also on a trail of discovery that was all their own; his warm pads sliding from where they held the boy around the torso to holding him down by the waist, fingers sheepishly slipping under the waist of those black shorts as they groped his stiffening lionhood. The cat could almost see the smile on the dog's sleepy face as those warm fingers gently felt him up through the soft material of his thong; his purring getting ever louder as he swallowed hard and gently moved the dogs arms back up to right under his arms before trying to drift back to sleep again.

Though over the course of the napping period, the cat would awake to find that the paws had moved back, and by the end he was wondering if they weren't the product of a more conscious effort. So in retaliation, he shifted his wait back against the other male and pressed his own fingers tightly against the firm jean-clad doggy rear not even a foot behind him and gave it a nice healthy squeeze. His ears picking up the sounds of a stifled moan as the canine's muzzle pushed into his neck, that cold nose and quivering whiskers invoking a shiver down his spine as he felt his own sheath thicken and bulge in his shorts. Praying that he didn't bust a seam right then and there knowing that Jason would instantly smell the ripe scent of a male's sexual musk; and so reaching down with the paw that wasn't groping his friend, he quickly reworked himself in his thong, doing his best to hide his ever present erection before drifting off into sleep once more.

At times over the course of their nap, one would reach over for the bag of goodies Jason had purchased earlier, unwrapping a granola bar or opening a bag of trail mix to happily munch on; though most of the time they would just end up feeding each other, slipping small berries or pretzels into each other's muzzle with little giggles as one might surprise the other with a erotic suckle of their fingertips. While there was still enough sunlight outside to see, Jason unwrapped a granola bar and began to eat it, though before he could object, Maxi had grappled onto the other end so that slowly they ate their way to the center where their lips met in a fierce kiss. The quick snack long forgotten as their arms and legs entwined inside the constricting sleeping bag, and in this way they fell into their deepest slumber for the rest of the daylight hours.

They finally stirred again as the last of the sunset's red and orange rays dipped behind the horizon and the land was covered in a blanket of warm darkness, for even the sun's absence had not diminished the warm winds that whipped through the trees and into the tent. Jason was the first to open his eyes, casting his brown orbs around the familiar surroundings before slowly unwrapping his arms from around the boy next to him and stretching out; the canine feeling his joints crack with an audible pop as he leaned forward and kissed the cat on the nose to rouse him as well. "Wake up kitty cat..." Jason cooed softly as he slowly wormed his way out of the sleeping bag, crawling on all fours to the other side of the tent.

"Time to get up already?" Maxi asked softly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he watched his friend slip free from the sleeping bag. He did a bit of stretching himself before following Jason's lead and kicked himself free as he reached down to rub the sleep from his legs, rotating his limbs to get the blood flowing once again. "Do we have to get moving so soon?" the lion asked, moving over next to his companion and resting his head on the furry shoulder, arms draping around the other boy's waist, "I'd like...to spend just a little time with you."

Jason sighed softly and shock his head to collect his scattered thoughts while he stared off into space, "I'm afraid so," he mumbled as he removed himself from the feline's paws and went about slipping his socks on and lacing up his shoes. "We'll be driving by moonlight only...for once dawn hits we can be spotted easily by your father or any of the mercenaries he might have sent after us by now." And with that the boy shot Maxi a halfhearted smile as he listened intently at the tent's flap before determining that it was safe to leave and unzippered to welcome the night inside.

"I see...Well I hope that later we might be able to..." the lion started as he watched the canine leave the tent, "...cuddle some more," he finished to himself. Taking a deep breath of the night air, he too slipped on his socks and shoes before joining Jason outside as they both stood on the dusty earth, each looking back at the green tent which stood out of the truck like a hump on a camel's back. "So, what are we going to do with it?" Maxi asked, holding the bag of trail snacks in his paw as he looked over to his leader for his answer.

"Leave it here," he responded bluntly as he moved over and began unlacing the straps that held it to the truck, his fingers working quickly and soon taking care of the first corner. "It will be a dead giveaway to our position on the road..." he explained as he began working on the second corner, his mind wondering just why it seemed so hard to build something up, yet so easy to tear it down. This line of thinking, like a snake eating its own tail, brought him full circle to his relationship with the cat before him; looking up from his tedious work, he watched the boy fidget slightly as he stared around the dark forest around them, the trees illuminated only by the ever decreasing lines of moonlight. The dog reminded himself that he had no choice in the matter, that his route was set in the stars, predetermined by the powers greater then himself, and with that last thought he had managed to finish taking unlatching the tent. So with a hurl of strength, Jason tossed the contraption over the side of the truck along with the two sleeping bags and the small covers that they came wrapped in, the heap of metal rods and synthetic fabric scattering dust into the dark air as both boys watched the particles slowly settle to the floor.

Maxi moved over and helped the driver down off the truck, pleasantly whipping the sweat from the dog's head before brushing the dust from his own clothes. "And what if we need another place to sleep?" he asked softly as the canine guided him to the passenger side door. Not getting his answer right away, the teen slowly unlatched the door and slid himself into place, putting the bag of snacks of the floor of the cabin before closing the door and buckling his seat belt to await further instructions.

"We won't," Jason replied dully as he strapped himself as well before shoving the key into the engine, revving the motor, and speeding off down the country dirt road that they had come up. Looking away from the path in front of him for a moment, he stole a glance into the rear view mirror to watch the campsite vanish into obscurity before turning back to the road ahead.

The cat just nodded as he rested his head against the seat, his eyes lazily scanning the driver's face for no reason other then it brought him comfort to know that the dog was here for him. "And why's that?" Maxi asked, watching small lines of frustration or anxiety...he couldn't be sure, etch themselves into Jason's usually pristine complexion; a clear...if not worrying sign that something was brewing up inside his head, or rather a seed that had been planted was now rearing its tainted flower, that's one thing be noticed about the dog, he could never be sure what was on his mind at any given time.

"Because" Jason said louder then he intended, watching the hairs on the back of Maxi's neck stand up as he took a deep breath to calm his strained nerves, "If we don't get to our destination by dawn...we won't last another day on the run before someone finds us."

The boy's voice was blunt enough that the feline opened and closed his muzzle without saying anything, the truthfulness something more then he was willing to admit. "And...just where are we going?" the cat asked after several minutes of pure silence had passed, the pair now far from the campground and speeding down along a barren stretch of highway.

The canine looked over at his companion for a moment, though the instant seemed to last for an eternity as their eyes locked into each others', the air in the moving truck coming to a stand still as they rushed along the darkened road. Then with a dismissing wave of his paw and a twirl of his head as his hair swept across his face....he spoke, "that's for me to know and for you to....for you to...trust me on."

Maxi thought about it before issuing a soft grunt and settling back into his seat while he absentmindedly munched on trail mix and stared out the window as the blanket of pavement passed under the hood of the pick-up.

Minutes passed, and soon hours came to follow, as the pair of teens continued to ride the ribbon of moonlight, a path unknown to one and dreaded by the other, till eventually Jason made a turn onto some off-ramp, its sign hidden by the darkness. Still no one said a word as they zoomed on in utter silence, the absence of noise reminding the cat of that night two days ago when they were fleeing from his father and ended up at that awful motel; he could feel the same tension in the air, the same fear in his body of the unknown that preceded him, yet also a calming sensation in knowing that at least this time, both he and his companion were healthy and that Jason was in control.

Soon they were whizzing down streets that resembled the housing districts the cat would pass whenever his family left their compound, small family dwellings lined up one after another down a single street with small lamp posts casting orbs of light over them. He always wondered how an entire family could fit in something so small, how someone could make a life out of such a place, and yet now he saw them as small slices of heaven for their occupants...at least they had something to call their own, unlike him. Continuing down the residential area, the cat soon lost his sense of direction amongst the curving roads and swifts turns down every side street they ran across, but looking over at Jason, his sheer determination that showed through his face told him that he knew where he was going.

Eventually they left the sleeping houses and moved onto the industrial and cultural center of whatever town they were currently passing through, a sprawling landscape of high-rise buildings, expensive marketplaces, and lush parks all draped in the night. Unsure of whose territory he was even in, Maxi couldn't help but take in the vacant surroundings, the lack of traffic on the streets or sidewalks was a bit relaxing to know that there was none watching them as they drove into the depths of the city. Their little trip winding them by closed office buildings, sold out concert halls, and darkened school buildings, each one showing no signs of life in the late hours of the night. But as all trips must end, so did this one; the truck continuing into the farthest bounds inside the city limits before stopping in front of a rather plain building, "here...we are," Jason announced and motioned to the structure before them.

"And just where is...here?" the cat responded as he peered out of his window at the dimly lit structure set far back against the surrounding hills, green trees lush with foliage obscuring his view for the most part. Looking back at Jason, he watched the dog unbuckle himself before stepping from the vehicle and walking around to his side to open the door for him. So slowly he freed himself as well, stepping from their truck to take a few steps onto the curb as they just stared at the silent tomb of a building.

"Here is...well..." he said softly, pondering the question, "well...here is here," he said with a shrug as he took a moment to survey it as well. Standing on the edge of the property line, all the two teens could see was a plain, white-washed, one story building that other then its drab choice of colors, seemed no more out of place then anything else; the side that faced them consisted of a long brick pathway that lead from the sidewalk up to a front stoop and a small overhang under which was a strikingly plain steel door. There seemed to be no mail slot, no doorbell, or even any windows on this side that Maxi could see as they pair slowly made their way up the path laid out before them.

When they were about ten feet from the door, the lion stopped and gently tapped the canine's shoulder as he watched Jason turn around to face him and move closer, their fingers intertwining as they stood face to face. "Jason, before we go in...I need to...to ask you something," he said softly as he squeezed the dog's paw firmly, "I know my answer, but...d-do you really...love me?"

Taken aback by the question, the dog waited several seconds before letting go of the lion's paws so that he can hug him tightly and pull the boy closer against his body. His own burnt umber orbs staring into those golden counterparts as neither boy said anything for at least a minute before he leaned down and gave the feline a small kiss on the nose, "Yes...I love you Maximillion." And with those words the pair met in a long kiss, his lips pressing against his lovers as they made out on the front lawn of this vacant building in the wee hours of the night to an audience of no one.

Content with the response, as soon as the kiss was over they began walking towards the gray steel door before them; arriving within seconds to the riveted panel of steel with only a handle on the right side, three hinges on the left, and not a doorbell or knocker in sight. "Should we knock to let them know we are here?" the cat asked, balling his paw into a loose fist as he readied himself to strike.

Jason took a moment to look around the perimeter of the building for as far as he could see before shaking his head slightly and putting his paw on the handle of the door. "No...it's late and we might wake them up," as he got ready to enter, "that wouldn't be nice now would it?"

"Guess not, now that you mention it," he feline responded with a giggle as he moved behind the dog, ready to enter as soon as Jason let themselves inside. He watched the dog look back at him as if asking for permission, but he just nodded and placed his paw on the canine's shoulder as hinges creaked open and they stepped inside.

Maxi heard the door close behind them, but he couldn't see anything as the light vanish and they stood in a pitch black room, even his feline visionary adaptations couldn't make things better. He felt around before his paws clutched Jason's shoulder and he held him tightly, not wanting to loose his way in the darkness as all he could hear was the sound of their collective breathing, the rhythmic intake and release of air seeming almost deafening in the otherwise sensory deprived chamber.

Suddenly, the collective sound of several dozen loud clicking noises, the sound of guns cocking their magazines he recognized, nearly frightened the hell out of the poor cat; the hairs on the nape of his neck sticking straight up as he felt himself instinctually cling to the dog in front of him. Maxi got the feeling that no longer were they alone inside the building as he tried to peer through the emptiness at whatever had made those startling noises. Suddenly a deep voice broke though the remaining silence, he took the owner to be a male; the vocals sounding much older then his own father as the formless figure spoke only four words, words that suddenly had him questioning what he had really gotten himself into, "Welcome home...my son."