Taming the Wilds Chapter 16

Story by Dani Drake on SoFurry

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Russell declares war on Prilia and pursues a new romance.


It was nice to be home. Russell breathed in the familiar scent of the forest with a smile and shed his clothing in the crisp air, walking hand in hand with Lope. There was always a special thrill in walking around nude, and Lopestown was one of the few places where he could indulge himself. Castle Mimid was comfortable enough, but the draft within its walls necessitated wearing layers when he couldn't sandwich himself between Lope and the others in their massive bed.

After the short battle, Russell stayed to supervise the integration of orcish troops into the Mimid army. They got along surprisingly well with Mimid's citizens, and the last time he saw them, the mixed army was engrossed in teaching each other curse words from their respective languages.

Russell was about to visit Brigirth in his forge when a commotion drew his attention to the edge of town. Guards gathered around a limp figure, their combined efforts bearing him towards Ko's infirmary. White chest fur, stained pink with blood, and the flash of a pair of stag's horns revealed the injured man to be Buck.

Grom was inconsolable, cradling Buck's limp form to his chest with tears streaming down his face. "Help him. Someone. Please. I can't- Without him." Russell had never seen the usually easygoing mercenary this frightened. Confidence had drained from his face, replaced by desperation, and his whole body shook with hyperventilating breaths.

Arms streaked with blood tried to staunch a deep wound on the rabbitman's chest, and blood leaked from the corner of Buck's mouth with each weak, wheezing breath. Hazel colored eyes were glassy, dull, and barely open. His head lolled listlessly with each of his rescuers' movements.

Russell sent Lope to bring Ko to them and immediately brought his hands to Buck's ravaged chest. Superficial wounds covered Buck's chest and stomach, but the most worrying was a gushing puncture in the center of one of his pecs. Air bubbling through the crimson ichor was worrying. Was his lung punctured as well? Russell could only hope that the powers that saved Hugh's life would retain their potency.

A warm glow radiated from his palms, and Buck's wounds started to close. Russell breathed a sigh of relief as Buck's labored breathing slowed to deeper, more even breaths, and the faint, fluttering heartbeat under his fingers steadied. Energy drained from the human's body, but he kept his concentration until Buck's face slackened, and he seemed to be asleep rather than fading into the cold embrace of death. Still, the rabbit's breath gurgled in his chest, and it was clear that Russell couldn't heal him fully.

Grom broke down with wracking sobs, cradling his lover and rocking back and forth. Russell could barely understand him through his tears, but he understood gratitude when he saw it. His face pressed into Buck's neck, and he squeezed him so tightly that Russell worried that the mercenary would further injure the rabbit man.

Puffing with exertion and sweating, Ko arrived on Lope's heels, and Russell moved aside to let him through. Gentle hands explored Buck's bloodied body, and he pressed one rounded ear to the rabbitman's chest, listening intently. "Fluid in his lungs. Keep his head elevated and bring him to the infirmary. I need to drain them." His voice had taken on its no-nonsense, fatherly tone, and none of the gathered men were willing to disobey his orders.

Russell slumped with fatigue, staring at the blood on his hands. He was glad that he was able to help his friends once again, but he couldn't help feeling responsible for the injury. This place was his idea. If he hadn't been so overly idealistic, would his friends have had to go through so much pain and heartache? How much more could he rely on dumb luck and outside forces to protect those he cared about?

Lope's comforting hand on his shoulder drew him from his self-pity. Clawed fingers tilted Russell's head up, and as if the wolf could read his mind, he spoke. "You help. Make better. Make happy." Strong arms gathered his human mate to his chest, and his firm hug allowed no argument. For someone so inarticulate, he always knew what to say. Bloodied hands wrapped around Lope's waist, and Russell leaned heavily against him, allowing him to guide him to their bed.

When Ko finally allowed Buck to receive visitors, Russell was one of his first. Flowers decorated Buck's bedside, alongside a few golden and orange feathers that Russell recognized as Luminos's. Blankets reached the bottom of Buck's chest, and a bandage dotted with crimson covered one of his pecs, likely the result of Ko draining his lungs of accumulated blood.

Grom had never left Buck's side and his haggard appearance, along with the dark circles under his eyes, spoke of a lack of sleep. Calloused hands gripped Buck's, and fingers entwined. Russell felt for him. If something happened to Lope, he would be beside himself with worry.

Buck's eyes slid open when he heard the door close behind Russell, and he coughed faintly. A hoarse, wheezing voice broke the silence. "The man that did this to me wasn't alone. He fled towards Prilia's capital. We need to..." He tried to sit up, his coughing growing more pronounced until Grom forced him to lay back. "We need to prepare for war." He finished with a grimace.

"You are going to recover, is what you're going to do. I won't have you dying on me." Russell sat at Buck's side, patting his thigh sympathetically. "You're in no condition to do anything right now." He nodded towards Grom's concerned expression. "And I'm sure you'll give him a heart attack if you overexert yourself."

Buck grumbled, but Grom's hands steadied him, and when the human slipped into the bed next to him, his head settled on Grom's chest. Grom's eyes closed, and his hands stroked over Buck's shoulders with a wordless promise to never leave his side. Russell left them to their affection, careful to quiet his steps so he wouldn't disturb the couple. They deserved some peace.

Their embrace reminded Russell of his promise to make things better for his people. If Prilia wanted a war, he would make them regret it. He would use every bit of his wits and anything he learned in his old life to aid him in dismantling this world's antiquated systems. No monster would suffer and die if he had his say.

First, to create his war council. Ruri, Durz, Greg, Luminos, Trunk, Nimei, Peak, and Brigirth gathered in his cave. All of them except for Brigirth were capable fighters in their own right, and Russell would need their opinions if he wanted to strategize. Any holes in his plans could get people killed. No pressure, right?

Russell cleared his throat, addressing the gathered men with all the authority he could muster in his voice. "Our way of life is under attack. I've been stupid, thinking we could live here quietly without attracting the wrong kind of attention, and my stupidity nearly killed Buck. I apologize." His throat felt tight, but he continued. "We're fighting back. We'll tear this country down and build it up better."

A cheer met his words, and he was nearly brought to tears by his friends' support. He shook the heavy feeling off, trying to appear unshaken for their sake, and launched into discussions with his more knowledgable friends. Terrain, rumors of Noble's politics in the region, orcish war tactics, and even weather patterns across Prilia all crossed their discussions. Russell began to get a clearer picture of his options with each topic, and by the time his friends left for the night, he had a vague idea of what he would do.

Prilia's capital needed to be their first conquest. If they could depose the king, it would be easier to ferret out his loyalists. From there, it would be easy enough to convince most of the population of his intentions. Mimid was proof of monsters' ability to forgive and humanity's ability to adapt to their presence. Add in Brigirth's creature comforts and Ko's delicious recipes, and it would be easy to garner support from overworked, underfed peasants. Improving their lives would be icing on the cake.

An awkward voice broke Russell from his planning. "I- Um- Haven't had a chance to introduce myself properly, and I wanted to thank you for including me in your plans despite my community joining yours so recently." Trunk stood in front of Russell, his hands wringing themselves softly. His nose was quivering, and Russell could see a thin trail of fluids dripping down the man's thigh while he tried to appear casual, despite obviously staring at Russell's nude body with appreciative eyes. Did he have a crush on Russell? He was adorably awkward, and Russell kept catching his orange eyes staring at him whenever they were in the same room. Maybe it was time to explore the manticore's feelings.

"Need some help with that?" Cheeky fingers pointed to the spreading wet spot on Trunk's underclothes. Russell could use a break, and Trunk was one of the few men in the village that Russell hadn't seen completely nude yet. The mystery was kind of hot, honestly. "You don't have to be so reserved. We're one of the most accepting communities you'll ever find." He hooked his fingers in the manticore's waistband and tugged his pants down before he could protest, expecting the wet slap of a feline cock on his cheek.

"No, I-" The manticore began, but the breeze across his revealed nethers cut him off, and he shuddered. His fingers tried to cover his shame, but Russell had already seen the puffy glory between his legs. Rather than the leathery sheath and balls that the rest of the manticores sported, there was a distinctly canine vagina between the man's legs, glistening with arousal and drooling sticky lubricant. Dark brown and showing the barest hint of pink between its slightly parted lips, it was as cute as its owner. Despite being as aggressively gay as he was, that feminine sex intrigued Russell.

Russell smirked, brushing the embarrassed manticore's fingers away from his attempts to cover himself. His fingers gently spread those puffy lips, and he could hear a gentle gasp from above while he watched wetness drool down his fingers, silky strings connecting the gaped hole's rim. Trunk was a natural-born intersex man. Russell had only heard of them in erotic stories, and the exotic nature of the sight in front of him made his cock bounce. "Oh, is this what you've been hiding?" He leaned in to slowly roll his tongue over the pink hole, sliding his tongue up to flick over the little bulb of flesh at the top of its gently rounded tip. Russell hadn't experienced pussy before, but the shudder that rolled through the feline's body when he lapped at that bulb encouraged him to lavish it with care. It couldn't be that different from a man's endowment, right?

Trunk's protests died with the first touch of Russell's tongue to his drooling sex, and he whimpered softly, his stance widening and one leg raised to allow better access to his juicy inner walls. "It's embarrassing. Men are supposed to have cocks. They're- Oh gods." The manticore's voice was low and mournful, but the clench of his entrance against Russell's exploring tongue betrayed his arousal. "If the others knew, they wouldn't respect me as their leader."

Russell's tonguing became more insistent. The tight, pulsing hole tasted sweet and musky, with a hint of citrus, and the human couldn't get enough of the soft groans his delving tongue drew from the manticore's chest. Fingers delved deep into that quivering hole to replace his tongue, and he softly nibbled at its lips, teeth tugging ever so softly. "You've seen my status here? Most of the men here have fucked my ass at least once." He varied his fingering, kissing up over Trunk's abdominals with sensual slowness. Masculine physique, juxtaposed with that soft little fortune cookie, was one of the most arousing sights that Russell had ever seen.

"It's not... Weakness?" The manticore seemed unconvinced, but each plunging thrust into his needy cavern drew soft growls and sighs from his heaving chest, bouncing his deliciously toned pecs. He grew wetter by the second, and his eyes fixed on Russell's dripping cock with a hunger that Russell knew well. Before long, he was straddling Russell's hips and grinding those puffed lips along his shaft, his heavy, muscular body pinning Russell to the hard stone floor.

"It's up to you to create your image. Before I came here, I was shy and would have never even thought to pursue what I wanted." Soft thrusts spread the manticore's pussy, rolling the underside of the human's cock against the soft, pink wetness in a slow grind. That exotic pussy begged for hard and fast breeding, but Russell wouldn't force himself on Trunk. It was the lion man's choice to give in to his desires, not Russell's. He was simply an outlet for the manticore's lusts.

Orange eyes stared down at Russell, then at the sight of the human cock grinding so wetly against his entrance, and Trunk seemed to make his decision. With agonizing slowness, he spread himself on Russell's cock, high-pitched whimpers filling the air as he stretched himself for the first time. Russell's cock was swallowed by slick, heated wetness until that needy cookie smeared itself against his groin, surrounding him with molten, clenching wetness right to his base. While less tight than the asses he was used to, the syrupy moisture and sweet musk were just as pleasant, and Russell had to fight back the urge to thrust himself deeply into those juicy depths. Watching the manticore fuck himself would be far better.

Russell encouraged the manticore's efforts with gentle caresses of those puffy pussy lips. Russell rewarded him for taking the entire length with his thumb, smearing slippery juices over his pleasure bulb with gentle strokes. "Feels good to let yourself go, doesn't it?" He licked a drool of the manticore's wetness from his finger, prompting a shudder from the deflowered man and a needy clench that embraced his cock from all sides.

Trunk controlled the pace, and his tentative, grinding pushes soon turned into groin bruising, testicle slapping bounces that threatened to grind Russell's pelvis into dust. "So good. You're so warm and- Oh fuck." His eyes closed, and a purring growl vibrated through his chest while Russell felt his inner walls coiling around his shaft, and a small trickle of sticky wetness stained his balls, drooling down his shaft. Shaking and desperate, the manticore rode out his first-ever cock-induced orgasm, and the needy, milking clench of his pussy set Russell off to join him, squirting deep in that clutching tunnel.

"Feels good to accept yourself, doesn't it?" Russell looked up at the manticore's serene expression, and he felt a clench around his cock at his words. That gooey spade seemed to want him to stay, but his half-hard cock slipped from its depths, resting comfortably against its plush lips. The sight of that cookie pulsing against his spent cock made him drool, and he wondered if the manticore would let him lick up his mess. Purring words broke through the fog of lust.

"Please. Let me be your mate." The manticore breathed, his soft lips enfolding Russell's with a tenderness that made Russell's stomach clench. For the second time, a man had professed their love for him in this world, and he sensed that the manticore meant it as much as Lope had, despite only meeting Russell a few days before. "I've struggled for so long with this burden, and you've melted it away as if it were nothing. I won't let you slip through my fingers. I must have you." Confidence saturated the smitten man's words, and Russell felt his heart melt with the sincerity he could hear in his tone.

Russell had to admit, the lion's well-toned body was certainly his type, with its bouncing muscular pecs and toned stomach. Sweet forbidden fruit pulsing against his spent shaft was certainly another draw, slowly drooling his seed from its puffy, steaming depths.

As the doting lion pressed soft kisses to his cheek, he decided to accept the man's desires. It's not like he was particularly monogamous with Lope anyway, and he was sure his werewolf wouldn't mind sharing his affections. He just hoped that Lope would get along with Trunk.

His nod brought a smile to the manticore's face, and the man's purr became more pronounced. Rough licks trailed over Russell's chest, and he luxuriated in its exploration of his glistening cock. Such a greedy kitty. Before they could lapse into another sweaty breeding session, he heard light footsteps on the stone floor.

A familiar body sat next to his, and he felt Lope rest against him. Grey eyes watched the manticore's dutiful licks, and he questioned his human mate. "Felt good?" Possessive arms wrapped around Russell's waist, clawed fingers teasing along his chubby stomach. Russell felt pampered, with two smitten men tending to him.

"Yes, Lope. He's a fantastic fuck." Russell returned the affection, pressing a kiss to the werewolf's cheek. "Would you like him as our mate?" He tested the waters without bringing up the promise he made moments ago. He was sure Lope would accept, but he didn't want to be rude. After all, Lope was his rock, his everything. Respect was the least Russell could give him.

Lope thought for a moment, then his tail wagged behind him, stirring dust from the cave floor. "Lope Pack?" He seemed excited by the idea, and it was clear that he would accept the manticore's inclusion in their relationship. Thank goodness for lupine social politics.

Hopefully, Trunk would be as willing to share. Slow, purr-filled licks vibrating against his awakening cock dispelled any notion of argument from the lust-drunk kitty, and in fact, he was already eyeing Lope's cock, as if he craved another round.

Trunk's initiation into their relationship was far gentler than Lope's usual fare, and Russell felt his manhood reach a diamond-like hardness at the sensual sight. Lope pinned Trunk with his legs in the air, and his thick cockhead rolled against the manticore's needy, seed-glazed spade with slow purpose. With aching patience, despite the obscene tightness clutching at him, he slid himself into those clutching depths. Russell knew from experience just how big the lupine felt inside him, and he felt his ass clench sympathetically. Lucky cat.

Trunk clung to Russell desperately, his purrs vibrating through the cave, and his legs shook with desire. "He's too big." The manticore groaned against Russell's neck, his tongue lapping indulgently at the human's sweat-coated skin. Still, he endured the penetration, and the gooey lubricant oozing out around Lope's cock signaled his desire. His lush lips sought out Russell's again, and the human indulged him with a passionate oral embrace, leaving the manticore quaking with desire. Affection oozed from every inch of the needy feline, and Russell could feel his chest tighten while their tongues dueled.

"You'll be fine." Fingers trailed over the manticore's muscled chest, tweaking his nipples with practiced hands. "He'll be breeding you just as often as I will, so you'll have to get used to his size." He leaned into the manticore's ear and whispered, giving its rim a nip. "And just wait till you feel his knot next full moon." His lips meandered down to Trunk's neck, and the manticore's head tilted to expose himself to soft kisses. Still, Russell noticed those hungry eyes watching every move Lope made.

Trunk squirmed under Russell's teasing, and Lope's plunging thrusts sounded wetter, his shaft slickening with the manticore's arousal. Clutching at Lope's cock with desperate, clinging clenches, his spade squished against the werewolf's crotch with each grinding hilt, and sticky strings of his arousal connected his soft lips to Lope's shaft in glistening excess. Half-lidded eyes stared up at Russell, and the human felt his cock surge at the desperation he saw within their depths. Could males go into heat?

Offering his shaft to the purring feline, Russell gently slid it into his mouth, rubbing behind the manticore's ears. Purrs vibrated through his cock, and he had to resist shoving himself deep into the trembling splendor. Sandpapery licks gently rolled along the underside of the human's cock, and before long, Russell was straddling the manticore's face, feeding him his shaft in slow, rolling thrusts. Inexperienced as the feline was, his vibrating mouth felt incredible, and Russell could already feel his balls boiling with the desire to spill into Trunk's maw despite the slight scrape of teeth along his shaft.

Lope's thrusts grew in intensity, and wet, squishing shoves forced him deep into the manticore's slippery cookie until his tail stiffened behind him, and Russell heard him whine out his satisfaction. Hard, rhythmic pushes pulsed gooey seed deep into the manticore's depths, and a glance behind the human showed a gentle bulge in the manticore's muscled stomach where their cream combined. Fuck, that was hot.

Gentle laps set off Russell's climax, and he caressed the manticore's cheeks while the blissed-out feline nursed at the fountaining tip. Care went into every lick, and Russell could feel Trunk tasting every bit of his seed, rolling it around in his mouth as if to savor it. When he pulled out, he felt one last little lick roll over his head, then the feline's mouth was empty, and he gulped his gooey prize.

Sticky and satisfied, the manticore rested his head against Russell's stomach, and his gentle purrs radiated comfort. "Gods, I love you." The manticore murmured, rubbing his cheek against Russell's slightly chubby waistline, reminding the human of a housecat demanding love.

Russell felt his heart swell, and he realized that he was beginning to feel the same way. He wasn't sure if he was affected by the crystalline feelings pulsing through him from his cock, the cat's needy caresses, or Trunk's honest words, but he felt the desire to care for the man.

While they planned their assault on Prilia's capital, Russell explored his newfound relationship. Trunk walked around openly nude now, but he seemed to glue himself to Russell's side. His fingers always demanded Russell's, thriving on any touch and doting on his favorite human in any way possible. With the aggressive affection he lavished on Russell, one would think he'd been with Russell for years.

Trunk would affectionately bathe his naked body in soft, rasping licks until the lovestruck feline received enough attention, providing a welcome distraction during Russell's downtime. Soft, lingering kisses never seemed enough for the manticore, and he took Russell's breath away with his passionate tongue, his large paws coaxing the human to please him.

Lope received less attention from the feline, but they acted like old friends. Despite the rough treatment that the manticore's pretty pussy received when a rare kiss awoke Lope's ardor, there was still a gentleness to Lope's treatment of the cat, and they got along well.

The only time Russell ever felt tension between the two was when they laid down to sleep, and they competed over who would be closest to him. Usually, this resulted in Russell's head trapped between two sets of snoring pecs, and he certainly didn't mind their plush magnificence cradling him, his arms around his mates.

Unfortunately, Buck didn't fully recover from his injuries. Walking was hard for him, and he was breathless within seconds. The damage to his lungs wouldn't heal, no matter how long Russell spent channeling energy into him, and Ko was at a loss. The best anyone could do for the poor rabbit was to rig up a sturdy wheelchair for him to get around. Grumpy and stubborn, the rabbit begrudgingly accepted his changed circumstances with Grom's patient care, and the two seemed to grow closer in adversity.

Grom was an angel. He bathed Buck, helped him relieve himself, and wheeled him around without complaint. Even when Buck would become frustrated, the patient human would kneel and embrace him. He even abandoned any fun with others, and he only had eyes for Buck. They reminded Russell of an old married couple, except when Russell saw Grom with the rabbit wrapped around him, testing the chair's sturdiness with passionate lovemaking. Hopefully, the wood was waterproof.

Brigirth's manufacturing sped up, and day by day, more of Greg's militia equipped themselves with magically infused armor and weapons. He'd taken Buck's injury personally when he realized that the rabbit man was without his protection on that fateful day, and he blamed himself. Vowing that every Lopestown citizen would have his handiwork within the month, he worked his apprentices to the bone, and so far, it looked as if he would deliver on his promise.

The Niix were instrumental in Brigirth's breakneck pace. Strong wings bore volunteers to the abandoned mines that once housed many of Lopestown's residents and carried home sacks of gems and ore for Brigirth to convert. Reportedly, the wasp men also took it upon themselves to relieve the miners between shifts, taking advantage of their newfound sexuality and milking the men for everything they had. Honestly, Russell wouldn't expect anything less. Every creature he ran into seemed to turn into a slut sooner or later. Not that there was anything wrong with that.

Looking out over his people from Lope's cave, he couldn't help feeling proud of their hard work. Everything looked to be in order, and Russell was sure that they'd be able to march on Prilia within the year. Everything was going to work out. He would make sure of it.