Four: Rabidus' Gift

Rabidus did not like the smirk on the tiger's face, he kept the blade to his throat and curled his lips, showing off the nasty fangs to show his intentions. He had every desire to slaughter this cat, to rip him up to pieces and prove that what he'd done to his companion was unforgiveable. But for some reason, as the blade was ready to wet itself in blood, the great aquiline governor was still just sitting back judging the mood of the crowd. He was looking proud and noble and yet drinking in the way the crowd called to him to allow the death.

Drool began to form in the leopard's mouth, his hands were almost trembling with the resolve to hold back over the resolve to just stab the blade down. He could feel the tiger recovering his strength below and smiling all the more, knowing he was secure and that he would not be slaughtered. It made the leopard hiss violently at him, almost willing to forego protocol and just kill him outright! But he had to wait... he had to play by the rules or he would incur upset form the crowd and his master.

Domitius was trembling in anticipation and horror beside his uncle... his eyes on the verge of tears as the overwhelming terror and joy mingled into one unbearable sensation of panic. He wanted revenge, he wanted this beast dead, he needed the justice and the vengeance and yet... he could feel that something was going to snatch it form his grasp. Fury bit into him, his teeth champed and clamped down violently as he seemed to vibrate with rage within his seat. The rest of the household was the same, knowing the Caspian's past assault and roaring for the leopard to be allowed to kill him, yet the uncle was sneering towards the steers that were not even looking phased as he hissed beneath his breath.

"They won't even bat an eyelid... this does not bode well... this has been little more than a joke!" Livius sneered, in disgust, his eyes locked onto that damn bird who was now holding out his thumb and letting it wobble in the air. He was purposefully baiting the crowd and it was clear that no matter what, the lions had lost and that bastard of a tiger was still to go unpunished as he had done in the past. Livius gave a spitting motion as he eyed up his shaking nephew and grasped his arm, leaning in with a sneer. "I can pay for someone to assassinate him at some brothel if you wish..."

"No... no..." Domitius growled then seemed to whisper... he would never be able to have his revenge just like that... but Rabidus had done well. When the inevitable thumbs down came to state that the leopard must toss aside his blade, he almost hesitated but stepped aside. He kicked his tail in the dust, making sure it splattered the tiger who gave out a boom chortle of amusement as he pulled himself up from the ground with a sneer. They then gathered their weapons, stood before the primary box, bowed, saluted and were then permitted to leave as the crowd cheered all the same and the two schools hadn't lost a good fighter... though both had their pride dented in some form.

Domitius stood up, insisting he'd have to go to his friend, if only because he feared that the leopard might just turn and launch after the tiger. He waved his paw form the crowd towards the spotted cat, Rabidus lifted his hear, but there were obvious tears on his face that almost soothed his master as he beckoned them to meet below. Livius and the others would take care of the praise and the fuss towards the governor as well as the party details... Domitius and Rabidus would be permitted to escape and avoid any shame in being around that striped bastard for more than a minute longer!

Domitius waved the servants away from the corridor beneath the stadium, leading Rabidus over to the showering spot and then bringing him over an undiluted cask of wine. Rabidus thanked him then drank down a large gulp, only for his master to do the very same as both swore and hissed in upset over the battle. But then Domitius wrapped his paws around his sweaty and bloodied companion, glad that none were present to see this unmasculine moment as he smacked his broad muzzle to the leopard's shoulder and thanked him graciously.

"You may not have killed him but you still defeated him and in an art you had little training or confidence in." Domitius stated, holding onto his companion in thanks but also in relief. Yet he could see that Rabidus still looked as if he'd been hit in the gut as he'd shaken his head in dismay and then heaved a sigh of frustration. He grasped hold of the lion in a hug again, surprising them both for a moment before he seemed to suddenly start sobbing against his shoulder. Domitius could not help but hold him gently, patting his back and reassuring him that he had done well and he had done enough, but Rabidus then pulled away with a miserable expression.

"But I was so... so close to just presenting you his hide to rub you feet or arse on... to really taking that smug look off his face! I failed you... I don't want to fail you!" Rabidus growled, it was not about that fact that Domitius was technically the owner of this leopard, but that he truly wished to be a great friend as much as a servant. Domitius had to dab his paws against his eyes, startled that the words would make him want to cry in such a way, but then he shook the leopard's shoulders gently and heaved a sigh of frustration.

"Anyway... I owe you a reward of some kind for this, let us discuss it on our way home, I'll have the litter prepared to have you carried back as a victor..." Domitius began with a bob of his head, turning about to march onwards when he felt the leopard's paw grip his own gently. It was a very soft and familiar action, the kind he used to as a child when he'd had something on his mind and needed to pass it on. Indeed, Domitius turned around to look towards his friend and gave a soft chuckle, thankful to leave this place as soon as possible. "Something on your mind already?"

"Yes... Varinia... the young ewe from the brothel..." Rabidus stated, looking utter embarrassed to be asking not for a female but for something that was actually more male. It made Domitius' face scrunch up for a moment before he recalled the sheep that the leopard had been around and it's... oddness. He gave a soft grunt, wanting to know more as Rabidus' ears flattened and he turned to the side looking awkward. "I've never had a personal attendant and... after what trouble I've caused for you all with your anxieties and the youngsters... if I had Varinia, you'd know that was the only person that I would ever need to be with. I'd have someone who could help massage me, feed me and get me prepared for battles without having to pass around some of the more tired slaves at home. Plus..."

"Heh... plus..." Domitius interrupted him, patting Rabidus' shoulder with a smirk upon his face and a look of total confidence as he nodded his head knowingly. Rabidus was right, if he had his own personal she-male to keep him company, then there would not be any risk of his behaviour being caught out and making them a laughing stock and there would be no chance Domitius would ever have the fear that someone else would endure what the Caspian had done to him. He also thought it was actually a very appropriate gift as he chuckled softly. "...it's the most appropriate gift to show your status around the others and give them something to aim for. But you've got another match coming soon, it won't be a death match because we know that governor doesn't like death matches on his birthday... but you'd better perform with more speed and grace than today!"

"Of course... Master... I'll be in my usual sport and I will not let you down ever again!" Rabidus stated, but his heart seemed to be swooning at the thought that he would be able not only to free that little sheep from the dangerous world of the brothel, but that he would have someone on hand he genuinely wanted. He would not have to be worried about his fancies for the lithe males, he'd have the perfect in between and more than that... something about that little Varinia had just spoken to him and he could not wait to see them again.

Domitius was talking to the brothel owner and her eyes were wide in disbelief at what was being offered to her. Domitius had requested to see her in the backroom to discuss business and she'd obviously assumed it was all to do with the lion wanting something very particular from her girls, but she had not expected this. The figure remained dumbfounded, silent and just staring up at the lion as if he were the biggest idiot she had ever met. But then she had to give out a chortle of disbelief as she pointed at him with a sharp eye.

"There's something rotten about a male that requests to buy a curiosity like Varinia for me... but your price is considerable and more than the little pipsqueak is worth. To be fair, he's been little more than a trap for most of his clients, as soon as they see what was not properly dealt with, they tend to beat him a little and then request a refund!" The brothel owner cackled softly in amusement, still utterly entertained by this whole situation, if only because she never would have expected such a reaction from someone she believed to have a little more sense than this lion!

"Clearly he's losing money for you... so this should be easier and it would not reduce my visits or indeed those of my fighters. Its merely a gift to my fighter who needs a personal assistant that can do... just a little extra for them." Domitius had stated, picking up the bag of coins and then throwing them onto the table again to get that resounding clunk to tell her it was well filled. She already knew he was paying her a lot, but there was still something about it she did not quite want to lose from having Varinia around.

After-all, it only took one high paying client with a fetish for such oddities to rake back all the money she had lost and Varinia's type were the kind many liked to draw as well as... explore. Certainly, the hermaphrodites were a gift from the gods as much as they were a shock to those not prepared for the unexpected perils of courtship with them. But Domitius heaved a sigh, she was taking too long and so he grasped the bag and stood up, ready to leave without another word. The female panicked, giving a yelp and grasping at his wrist, holding him back though he was clearly letting her do so.

"There will be conditions..." The brothel mistress growled, having to think on the fly despite the fact she clearly wanted to have the upper paw in this discussion and was losing because her target was not a fool. She would usually be much more persuasive but she knew that any fooling around with the gladiator school would lose her a steady stream of good males that paid handsomely and that her girls rather enjoyed servicing. With a soft sigh the lion sat himself back down and then the owner turned to her mute eunuch and beckoned them to fetch the sheep whilst she seemed to seethe. "He's a rare one... the conditions for selling him to you are very strict... he still owes me a certain amount as per his contract... within that contract is that if a client requests him in particular for his... attributes... he must serve them. I bought him knowing who might want to use him... but they haven't visited in some time so..."

"I see... well, I suppose its reasonable as long as they are made aware that any injury made to the personal assistant to Rabidus the Gladiator, may result in a reprimand..." Domitius grinned, dropping the coins firmly back onto the table as the brothel owner heaved a sigh but also growled. She knew she had lost here but, that purse would set her well for a while. When Varinia was bought into the room, the new agreement was discussed before they were instructed to follow the lion and of course, the little lamb followed eagerly.

Rabidus was joyfully scrubbing himself down with oil, his pelt feeling sweaty and harsh but after having had a firm massage, he was getting ready for his full bath. He'd been giving private use of the bathhouse as part of his reward and the master had even granted him the best of the masseurs in the entire school to work on him. It had been a harsh but well-deserved work, he'd had his muscles beaten, his back crunched and various parts of him given such a thorough seeing to that he'd almost felt himself beaten into the cool stone marble after his heavy steaming. Then one of the other slaves, an aardvark, had come in with the oil and coated his fur, using a scraper with slight teeth in it to comb the excess skin and dirt out of his fur and down into the waiting bowl for the excess oil below.

It had been a thorough clean too, the servant had even brought out the crushed stone paste to rub onto his teeth, which tasted foul but was thought to be a way to strengthen them from breaking. He had to keep his teeth clenched for a good deal of time before it was gently washed off and dirt picked out from the fangs by the skills of the insectivore. With that done, feeling ridiculously refreshed, he'd been given scented oils to rub into his furs and then prepare to step into the steaming pool of pleasure.

Upon reaching this point, he'd forgotten all his previous woes and instead climbed into the bath with a sigh of utter relief and joy as he settled down with a firm grunt of relief. As he'd let the water lift his fur and soak around him, scrubbing his chin with his paw, his ears flickered as he heard the sound of someone approaching him. No doubt he'd been given one of the attendants to help brush his fur too and aid his bathing... something he was very grateful for as he lifted a paw and beckoned them over. He sighed thankfully as he felt soft hooves gently scrubbing a warm sponge around his neck and shoulders and chest. He leant back, accepting the gently motions as the area around his eyes and he gave a soft sigh before his nose began to twitch.

He felt the figure then gently step into the water beside him and his nose was twitching like mad... he did not want to open his eyes in case he broke the spell that was settling upon him, but his whole body was singing in delight that it was the scent of someone he was so desperate to know and appreciate. He wanted to snap his eyes open and then exude his happiness to see this being, but he was terrified it might not be true until he felt those tender hooves stroking his chest with a sponge and could hear the shuddering breath and the shaking of the water to say the being in front of him was nervous.

"If I were to open my eyes... would they come to meet the gaze of one whom I adore?" The leopard growled hungrily, his words seemingly so sudden and yet so true. He could not have imagined how his heart had been screaming the moment he'd seen that little sheep and then when they had spoken and learnt of one another, his heart had been full. Was it pity, was it an infatuation? He could only care that this being must now be before him and that he would never want for anything else again as he felt his chest being rubbed and then soft, perfectly adorable little lips pecking at his own as he pressed forward, whiskers stroking at the familiar shape of a sheep before him as their lips parted. "Varinia..."

"Yes... master." The hermaphrodite sheep sighed softly, fluttering their exquisitely long lashes as he looked lovingly into the face of the ferocious fighter. The leopard took in a deep breath of relief and then brought his arms around the lithe sheep, pulling him into his grip and feeling that now soggy wool rest against his body. Varinia wound their arms around the leopard's shoulders, nuzzling into him before giving a soft moan of embarrassment. "I was told not to exhaust you too much within the bath... but that I should at least ensure you are fully dispatched..."

"Dispatched?" The leopard growled in confusion, not quite sure he liked the way someone might have phrased it to his cute little lamb, but Varinia was looking at him with a loving expression. The She-male then dropped its hoof down between the leopard's legs to the throbbing phallus below that was growing more for the attention the young slave was giving him already. Varinia's lips came to Rabidus' again, kissing him lovingly so that the leopard's concern grew to interest as the hoof reached his cock.

Varinia held him gently, bringing both paws down to gently squeeze and rub the object within his grip, the firmness of the hooves feeling oddly pleasant as they soaked in the heat of the water. The softer pad below rubbed and stroked around the pulsing vein, rubbing it swollen and urging the thickness to grow as the leopard pushed his hips forward slightly. He gave a soft groan of affection, loving the attention from the sheep before Varinia pulled away from him and then looked down to the throbbing head of the form.

"I'll make it feel good..." Varinia cooed softly, leaning down into the deep water, opening his mouth out wide and then pulling the form to his bottom teeth. The leopard hissed in, anxious that he might be about to get bitten, but Varinia let the water pool out from his mouth before then closing his lips around the form. The wide gap between his teeth at the front and the teeth at the back became a warm vacuumed tunnel, pulling it in softly and sucking on the length. The soft flesh of his inner cheeks seemed to sink in around the form, clinging to its wetness as Varinia moaned softly and began to suck steadily.

To Rabidus' embarrassment, it was obvious that the sheep had practice in this art, he took in a good deal of the shaft and his flat tongue was rolling in a seeming wave underneath the shaft. It made everything tingle and the vein pulse, the head strain and straighten as it's sensitive tip rubbed the roof of their mouth. Varinia's lips sucked in deep, pulling him in deeper and coating him in a warm glaze of spit as they moaned loudly. Within the water, their long undocked tail was waggling away, making waves in the water as Rabidus brought his big paw to the back of the being's head. He groaned and sighed as he felt that mouth drawing him in, rubbing him and making everything tingle.

The sheep then brought their hoof down to his balls, still sucking in firmly, gulping down spit and precum with an eager hunger before starting to juggle and massage the thick balls of the spotted cat. Varinia could feel their heat, feel them clench and tighten within his hooves as he could feel too how big the cock was becoming within their mouth. They could taste the salty precum and they were moaning happily before the big cat's paw pushed the sheep head downward.

He felt his cock ride deep into a tight throat as Varinia obedient sucked and let their head be pushed up and down, let the cock thrust in and out of their mouth. Rabidus had not intended to be harsh with them, but the wonderful sensation was fantastic and he could not stop himself from thrusting up again and against. He knew he was about to cum as he felt the throat tighten around his head and so, pulled out fast, making Varinia give a gag of surprise before they closed their eyes just in time. The leopard's cum roped around their face, splattering along that dark muzzle and practically marking them as the leopard's from now on.