FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Nora learns more about Casey's motivations.

---

Refuge

by TypicalFloof

Chapter 5: Closure

Chapter Theme: Gunship - Fly For Your Life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv1ZN8c4\_Gs

---

Casey sat atop a moss-covered log in the dappled evening sunlight. The sun's warming rays fell gently on his face, and he closed his eyes, soaking them in. He inhaled the pleasant autumn air and relished the sensation of just existing in the moment. Feeling a presence at his side, Casey opened his eyes and turned. He was surprised to see Nora sitting next to him, smiling calmly.

“Did you say something," he asked. Nora's eyes sparkled.

“No," she said, staring back at him. Those wonderful eyes! A puff of wind blew, sending a few strands of Nora's unbound hair in front of her face. She grinned and brushed the stray hairs back.

Casey looked down at his hands. This was a dream. He knew it. He exhaled. Might as well enjoy it. Lord knows I've had my share of—

His thought was interrupted by a pain in his upper arm. Casey pressed a hand to the area, wincing slightly.

He looked up and saw Nora gliding along the trail in front of him.

“Hey, let me catch up!" Casey got to his feet and started after her. He stepped onto the trail. The trees on either side diffused the sunlight, trunks arcing high above like a bucolic cathedral.

Casey strolled at a comfortable pace at first. His brows lowered a little. Why wasn't Nora waiting for him?

Casey increased his speed, but he couldn't seem to close the gap. Frowning, he picked up the pace to a light jog, but that still didn't help. Finally, he broke into a dead sprint.

“Hey!" He panted, unable to catch her. The vixen pranced ahead of him, maddeningly out of reach.

Out of nowhere, a freezing wind buffeted Casey. Snow whipped around him in a white cloud and he struggled through the ankle deep powder. Casey craned his neck upward at the stone stairway that stretched above him. Through the blowing snow, he could make out an orange blur at the top.

Casey started to climb, determined to reach Nora. His foot slipped on the slick ice and he windmilled, bracing his hands on the stairway walls. Looking back, his breath caught as he saw the trail far below him. Carefully, Casey lifted one foot in front of the other and finally reached the top.

Panting, Casey waded through fresh snow. This place had an eerie calm. Snowflakes traced lazy paths as they fluttered to the ground. Clouds of steam puffed from his lips as he drew closer to Nora. She was clothed in a white robe, facing away from him. Casey's eye flicked to her fluffy orange tail. It was strangely still. Crunching snow was the only audible sound as he paused a dozen feet behind the fox.

“Nora?"

As she turned to face him, Casey recoiled in horror. A stab wound marred the left side of her torso, dripping blood that stained her robe crimson. That side of the garment was so saturated that trickles of blood began splashing onto the snow where she stood. Even worse was the patch of red splotched in-between her legs. Casey's body went rigid. He could only move his eyes upward to her face.

“Nora," he breathed.

Casey met her gaze and gasped. The eyes that had once captivated him by their brilliant shade of blue were now lurid and pale.

“You were too late," she whispered.

“What?"

“Too late."

Nora's lips moved, but her voice was replaced with the mocking tone of Travis.

“She bled for me," came the cackling taunt.

“That's not true!" Casey interjected.

With a jerk, Nora took a step toward Casey. He tried to shuffle backwards, but his feet were firmly planted and wouldn't obey him.

Nora held a wrought iron poker in her paw. The tip glowed brightly, and Casey felt its blistering heat as it moved closer. He could only watch as the reddish tip continued inexorably toward his arm.

“What are you—" his words were cut off as the searing end of the poker made contact with his arm. He screamed as it scorched his skin. The wind picked up and howled against his back. He was burning and freezing at the same time.

Casey's eyes flew open and he gasped, clutching his bicep. Slowly, the pulsing burn faded into a dull throb. He shivered, pulling the blanket tighter around him.

“Casey?"

With a groan Casey rose to his feet. Heavily, he plonked beside Nora and looked at her.

“You were mumbling in your sleep again," she remarked. “Is that a regular thing for you, or just whenever you happen to be sleeping outdoors?"

Casey was glad to laugh. He tilted his head.

“At least I don't snore," he said. He sat still for a minute, enjoying her company. With a yawn, Nora shook herself and rose to her feet. Rummaging in the rucksack, she produced two ration tins and sat down again next to Casey.

“Thanks," he said, accepting one.

“You're welcome, but I have an ulterior motive," she teased. Her expression grew serious. Casey chewed and swallowed a tasteless mouthful of eggs.

He sighed. “So you want to know why I rescued you from the convoy."

Nora blinked at him. “Yes." She hesitated. “And… last night." Casey couldn't keep from flinching. She placed a warm paw on his shoulder.

Casey measured her; he could see the conflict in her eyes. “I get it if you don't want to tell me. It's just… Why would you do that for a complete stranger? For… one of us?" she asked softly.

“No," Casey said. “It's alright." He glanced at the dark clouds hanging in the sky. “Might as well get comfortable; I don't think we'll be going anywhere this morning anyway." A peal of thunder punctuated his words. Nora's fur tickled his wrist as she scooted closer and leaned in.

“I have to explain something that happened to me a long time ago," Casey began. “Years ago; back when I was in another mercenary company.

“Our contract had us on some shithole of a planet; I don't even remember the name. My lance commander — his name was York — had a, shall we say, disagreement with the company commander. I found out later that York took a swing at the major after he tried to feel up his wife at a unit party."

“What an asshole!" Nora shook her head in disbelief.

“Tell me about it. Anyway, our employers wanted the head of some noble who was gettin' too big for his britches. Whatever; a C-bill is a C-bill, right?

“One of our lances was supposed to act as an auxiliary force that would flush out the noble and his Capellan escorts. The other lance would flank them, catching 'em between us. Guess who got stuck with the short end of the stick?"

Casey hunched his shoulders. “We were bait," he said.

“So why did you go," Nora asked.

Casey snorted. “I was younger and stupider," he said ruefully. “I felt like I had to back up York and my lancemates against our prick of a CO.

“So we deployed. And we riled up the Capellans, all right. Problem was, our assault lance never showed up. We were dangling worms without a hook." Casey scratched the stubble on his jaw.

“Were you in a Locust?"

“Huh-uh. I was in a Blackjack. The techs refitted it with two large lasers in the arms instead of the standard loadout. It was pretty sweet," Casey said with a grin. His face fell. “But it was no match for a lance of heavies."

He stared at the cave wall, dazzling laser beams and streaking missiles dancing across his view.

***

Casey snapped off a shot as his Blackjack lunged sideways. He poured bolt after bolt of laser energy into the advancing Quickdraw, but he was barely making a dent.

He heard a scream over the comm channel. Flicking his eyes downward, a trickle of ice crept into his gut. Aaron! No! His lancemate's IFF chevron was missing from the display.

Casey fired his jump jets and leapt over the enemy Quickdraw.

“Reg! Concentrate on his ankles!" Casey yelled.

“Can't, Casey!" Reg growled. His Crusader was embroiled in a fierce battle with an opposing Warhammer while dodging missiles from an Archer at the same time_._ Reg and the Warhammer traded furious missile barrages and PPC bolts. The MechWarrior heard Reg curse while Casey poured laser blasts into the weak joints in the Quickdraw's lower legs.

“Bastard took out one of my SRMs! That son of a— Argh!"

“Reg!" Casey shouted. He narrowly avoided laser fire from the Quickdraw's arm that had rotated rearward. Sweat poured down his back in rivulets as the heat inside the cockpit climbed. “Goddammit!" Casey spat.

Reg's Crusader had gone down under the withering assault from the Warhammer and the Archer. That left only him and his lance commander.

“Casey, break off son!" York transmitted.

Casey's breathing grew heavy as he danced around the Quickdraw whose pilot was desperately trying to draw a bead on him_._ The Blackjack's heat continued to rise as laser bolts sizzled away toward the heavy 'Mech. Casey's hands gripped the controls in white-knuckled rage.

The Blackjack was rocked by a missile blast from Casey's right. Armor plate popped and groaned, and Casey saw that his right shoulder actuator had been damaged. With a snarl, he stabbed the trigger for the arm-mounted laser, but it was now useless.

“Damn you!" he cried.

“Break off, Casey! That's an order," York yelled.

“Sir!" Casey replied, firing his jump jets and vaulting closer to York. York's Mauler had come under the combined fire of the enemy Warhammer and Quickdraw. Casey saw the Archer pivot to put York's 'Mech in his sights.

“Casey, we have to withdraw," York said. Casey added his laser fire to York's autocannons and long-range missiles. “Make for the treeline! I'll hold them off."

“But sir—" Casey protested.

“That's an order! Go now!"

Casey clenched his jaw as he complied. He weaved his Blackjack through sparse trees as he sought the more substantial cover of the dense treeline. Hearing York's exclamation, Casey flicked an eye to his rear cameras. He was just in time to see a small explosion on the Mauler's torso. If his armor there was breached…

Casey heard York radio the DropShip. “Bluebird, this is Alpha One. Requesting emergency extraction. Repeat, Alpha One requesting emergency extraction!"

“Alpha One, Bluebird. Ah, negative, negative. It's too hot down there."

Casey continued his mad dash. An explosion of missiles to his left forced him to change direction away from the treeline and move rightward. Taking long strides, he twisted the 'Mech's torso and fired at the advancing Quickdraw. His remaining large laser was at the edge of its range, but he hoped it would give the enemy MechWarrior something to think about. Missiles streaked toward him and splintered trees to his right; shrapnel banged against Casey's 'Mech, but didn't seem to cause any damage.

The trickle of ice in Casey's gut turned into a knot. We're being herded. Punching up his map, Casey scanned it and cursed. The enemy 'Mechs were indeed herding them, toward a narrow, steep valley that funneled to the base of a towering cliff face. They would have their backs to the wall with no way out.

He saw York's Mauler continue to backpedal as he valiantly weathered the onslaught of the heavy 'Mechs.

“Casey!" York called on a private channel. He was breathing heavily.

“Sir," he replied.

“We can't keep this up. I'm running low on ammo!"

“Yessir. But we can't let them force us to the cliffs! That's a death sentence!"

“You're right," York replied amid the thump of cannon fire. “On my mark, disengage and skirt the valley! I'll hold these heavies off while I can."

“Sir, we can—"

York cut him off. “Dammit, Jenson! Listen to me!" He sounded pained over the static. “I'm not going to make it, son. I'm wounded."

Laser beams surged from Casey's 'Mech as his mind worked furiously. Surely there was something he could do! His brow furrowed as he saw the Quickdraw stumble. He had scored a hit on its leg!

A swarm of incoming missiles smashed into Casey's 'Mech. Klaxons screamed as his heat spiked. Casey pounded the emergency shutdown override. He was starting to feel dizzy in the intense heat of the cockpit. He could hear the 'Mech's structure creak and groan as the temperature caused materials to expand at different rates. Fuck! He had lost too many heat sinks.

“Jenson! Now!" York commanded.

Casey shunted his 'Mech sideways, away from the valley opening. That was when disaster struck.

Brilliant fireballs exploded from within York's Mauler. It was something all MechWarriors feared: an internal ammunition explosion. Fortunately, York's Mauler was equipped with CASE that surrounded the 'Mech's vulnerable ammunition bins. The CASE did its job and successfully redirected the explosions out the Mauler's rear. However, the internal structure in those locations was little more than decorative, and York's front armor was now nonexistent. Casey could only watch in horror as the Capellan heavies took advantage and tore the 'Mech apart. York's dying screams were cut off as his Mauler vanished in a huge, orange fireball.

Casey was the sole remaining member of his lance. Hungrily, the Warhammer and Quickdraw advanced while the Archer was content to hang back and lob the occasional missile. Casey scrambled and tried to juke away from the valley, but PPC fire to his left cut him off. The Quickdraw was circling to Casey's right and added a short volley of missiles and lasers to stop Casey from going the other direction.

Grimly, Casey fired his jump jets. He keyed his mic.

“Bluebird, this is Alpha Three. Need immediate extraction! I've got three heavies on me, my lance is destroyed, and I'm in danger of overheating!" Casey landed midway between the mouth of the valley and the cliffs. Walls of jagged rock hemmed him in on either side.

Bluebird responded. “Alpha Three, no can do. We—"

The controller was cut off by another voice. “Aye, hang tight laddie! My Leopard is inbound to ye! Give me your coordinates!"

Casey tersely transmitted them and saw he had maybe a minute or two before the small DropShip would get to him. That was an eternity as far as he was concerned! The Warhammer slowly advanced into the valley, Quickdraw behind. Casey was almost out of room to maneuver.

A PPC bolt blasted wide of the Blackjack, taunting. Casey swiped the perspiration from his brow and punched up diagnostics on the enemy 'Mechs. Casey's lance had managed to knock out one of them — a Shadow Hawk. One of the Warhammer's PPCs was destroyed — probably York's doing — and the Quickdraw's leg and right arm were damaged, meaning it was down one medium laser. The Archer had remained virtually untouched.

That was little comfort to the beleaguered MechWarrior sweating in the Blackjack. His heat was too high, his front-facing armor was thin, and his lasers could do little to counter the immense firepower arrayed against him. Casey gripped the controls as a tear escaped his eye. Aaron. Reg. York. All gone.

Casey bared his teeth at the Capellans. “Bastards!" he hissed.

The Warhammer and Quickdraw fanned out, weapons raised. Did he want to concentrate on the Warhammer to the left, or Quickdraw on the right? As much as Casey wanted to fire his jump jets, he couldn't risk jumping again. The Blackjack's heat indicator was getting dangerously close to an automatic shutdown. But that didn't mean he was going to make himself an easy target.

Casey feinted left and sidestepped right, narrowly avoiding the Warhammer's PPC shot. Aiming deliberately, he took measured shots at the Quickdraw's damaged right side. The Quickdraw pivoted, shielding that side from Casey. This meant the firing arc of its lasers couldn't reach him for the moment.

A storm of lightning slammed into the Blackjack's side as the Warhammer finally connected with a PPC blast. The Blackjack's left arm and torso took the brunt of the impact, spinning the 'Mech. Casey saw with dismay that the hit had blown the left arm clean off! Worse still, he could see holes through the 'Mech's hull.

One medium laser left, Casey thought grimly, backing up until the cliff face filled his rear cameras. Something had broken loose from the PPC blast, slashing his side. He ignored the burning wetness trickling down his skin as the heavy 'Mechs marched in for the kill. Bathed in the ruby flashes of his instrument panel, Casey focused his targeting reticle on the Quickdraw.

Roaring filled Casey's ears and a storm of dust whipped around, filling his cockpit and blinding him. Choking, Casey squinted. From somewhere high and behind him, several PPC bolts and brilliant blue laser beams lanced toward his enemies. The Warhammer and Quickdraw staggered under the sudden assault and retreated several steps.

Casey's eyes widened in shock as the Leopard touched down right in front of him.

“Come on, laddie! Move yer arse!" the pilot cried. The crazy bastard had squeezed his Leopard between Casey's Blackjack and the heavy 'Mechs! The rear hatch flared open.

Missiles rained around Casey as the Archer added his fire to the mix. Casey coughed at the smoke and dust, and lunged toward the Leopard. A swarm of missiles streaked toward him in a terrible arc. He had only a short distance to cover, but his limbs felt like they were encased in molasses. Time slowed to a crawl as Casey sprinted to safety. The missiles moved faster along their path, angling downward toward the stricken Blackjack.

***

Casey fell silent, hands trembling. He felt a paw rub his back and he took a deep breath.

“That Leopard pilot was either insane, or he had a death wish," Casey said. “But he saved my life." He met Nora's rapt gaze. “That was the first time I ever met an anthro. He was a fox. An Irishman, actually.

“After I got back, I learned that the company commander, and the lieutenant in charge of the assault lance, had both been on a bender the night before. The lieutenant apparently missed his alarm, and someone found the major OD'd in his quarters in the early morning. After my lance had already deployed," he added darkly.

“What happened to the pilot?"

“I don't know," Casey admitted. “He disappeared and no one ever heard from him again. I tried tracking him down, but I never had any luck. Every once in awhile, I'll look him up, but he's long gone. The Inner Sphere's a big place." He shrugged. “Or maybe he's off in the Periphery somewhere.

“But I never got the chance to make it up to him," Casey said.

Nora's ears flicked. “What do you mean? It's not like you could rescue him from an assault lance."

“No. But … it's hard to explain. Maybe survivor's guilt has something to do with it. Pretty soon after I learned the pilot was gone, I left. I drifted a while before winding up in Baker Company. I thought the change would let me put it all behind me, but my conscience wouldn't let it go. I felt indebted to him somehow."

“He was the first anthro you'd ever seen?" Nora asked.

“Yeah. Anthros are a rare sight where I come from." Casey shrugged. “Not too many sign up to be mercenaries.

“When I had to bail out of my Locust and I reached your transport, even after…" He paused. He didn't want Nora to feel guilt over defending herself.

“After that, I couldn't just leave you there to die. And last night…" Casey choked, blinking as his eyes welled up. “I was too late." Casey stared at the floor. “Forgive me!" he pleaded in a whisper.

He tensed as Nora wrapped her arms around him, leaning close. Her cold nose and soft lips brushed his cheek. Casey turned in shock but didn't pull away from Nora's embrace. Frozen, Casey was surprised to feel a spark of warmth radiating in his chest. Her eyes were focused intently on his.

“There's nothing to forgive, Casey," she assured.

Casey stared back at her numbly.

“But I saw them go into the tent with you! And the bobcat said he—" Casey dropped his voice— “made you bleed!" His face burned.

“No," Nora said, shaking her head. “If he said that, he was lying! None of them— You got there before anything happened," she finished, eyes glistening.

Casey felt a dam burst inside him. Guilt, anger, and finally relief washed over him in a split second. He put his arm around Nora's shoulders and let the tears fall. She leaned against him, sobbing. Thunder rumbled in the distance as they held each other.

Casey's mind was in a whirl. He could barely make sense of the last few days. Goosebumps ran up Casey's arms as his fingers brushed the fur on Nora's arm.

Was he actually starting to fall for her? Casey took a few deep breaths. Survival had been his only priority upon leaving his downed 'Mech. Even when he'd saved Nora after the ambush, his immediate focus had still been reaching safety. But his realization of her capture had cracked open walled-off emotions he thought had been buried long ago.

How long had it been since he'd held someone like this? His heart ached as he felt Nora's rhythmic breathing against him.

Casey wiped his eyes. He was just emotional. He was being stupid; imagining what wasn't really there. After what Nora had been through, of course she'd be looking for comfort.

A nudge brought him back to reality.

“Hm?" Casey said.

“I think the storm is letting up." Nora pulled away and stretched. Casey felt a pang of disappointment and wondered if she felt the same. He savagely stuffed that impulse down. Get a grip! It's all in your head.

He rose to join her. “Let's get moving."

The pair packed in solemn silence. It didn't take long. Casey let Nora have the rifle, but he insisted on shouldering the rucksack. Making their way to the mare, they found her contentedly munching on a leafy plant at the base of the pine tree, none the worse for wear from the brief storm. Nora untied the horse's reins and helped Casey boost himself onto the animal's back. She swung up in front of him and turned the horse.

“There." She pointed to the mountains looming nearby. “The village is that way. We're heading toward a small trail." Nora eased the horse into a trot.

Low clouds still covered the sky by the time the pair had covered the interval to the base of the mountains. Casey guessed it was late in the day. Nora led the horse through a tangle of brush and stopped before a large boulder. Casey craned his neck up at the sheer wall of rock. He squinted, and could just make out a narrow track that curved back on itself in a series of switchbacks up the mountain. Nora guided the horse around the boulder and they began their climb.

Their progress slowed as they gained in elevation. When they were above the treeline, Casey tapped Nora on the shoulder and she reined in the mare.

“I just wanted to take in the view," he said, gazing at the forest beneath them. The slate gray clouds cast the landscape in muted greens and browns. The gentle valley spread below them; sweeping forest stretched in every direction. “It's beautiful," he breathed.

Casey felt Nora's warmth as she leaned back against him. This prompted a stirring south of his belt, and Casey felt his ears heat up. He bit the inside of his cheek, hoping Nora hadn't noticed. Not now you idiot!

The fox's fluffy tail flicked the side of his face as she turned back to look at him.

“Even after seeing it so often, I never get tired of it," she said. Nora nudged the horse and they resumed their climb.