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Bonds Lost

Ooooo

Hesitantly, Sam released the wolf from his hold. Nothing more was said as he watched the tense muscled shoulders of the canine leave the room. Walking back to Cara's bedside Sam leaned over and sniffed at canine's fur. There was something faint there, hidden under the antiseptic and medicine, but familiar. Sam couldn't place it, but Thorn clearly had. "You better come back to me." Sam whispered softly. "Both of you."

For a moment Sam just stood there and watched Caragan's face, hoping the wolf would open his eyes and tell him everything would be ok. The canine remained silent though, save for the raspy, uneven breathes. "What did he say to you?" Sam asked quietly as he pulled the chair closer to sit beside Cara. "Did he just tell you to come back safely? Did he promise you something if you did? Was it some old Wolven prayer to protect you?" The rabbit reached out and took Cara's paw, rubbing the fur lightly, as he recalled the look on Thorn's face when he'd seen the damage. "Or did he tell you to escape the pain and move to a better place?"

The thought hung in the air for mere seconds before Sam roughly shook his head. "No, Thorn is a stubborn pain the tail. He wouldn't tell someone to give up." He squeezed Cara's paw again. "You have to come back you know. He thinks this is his fault, nothing I say will change his mind so you're going to have to do it for this one." The lapine's head leaned down and rested against his free paw, propped up against the bed. "And...I need your help too."

Sam shifted in his seat as he let out a heavy sigh. "He lied for you." The bunny stroked his cheek fur absentmindedly. "Not that that is a big deal by itself but, I can't help but think it means something." His hazel eyes moved up to the wolf's sleeping face. "You two just met, but I can feel it. You know a whole side of him that he keeps hidden from me. I don't even know what questions to ask him and it's...it hurts."

The rabbit pulled back into his seat, his legs folding up tight against his chest. "I know what kind of video games he likes and what his favorite foods are, but I don't know about his history. I didn't even know what a lone wolf was until you mentioned it." A small smile curled his lips in spite of painful twinge in his heart. "And how embarrassing was it when I screwed up the whole mate marking interpretation the morning after at Val's? Here I was thinking it was cute how flustered he'd get if I saw him peeing, but marking me by accident was apparently a big deal in his mind." He wrung his paws before him, nervous energy looking for any means of escape it could find. "And...I think he wants to mark me, but it's hard to tell. He so against talking about Wolven heritage, I don't know if he just doesn't want to follow some rule or...I just don't know."

Time continued to move, indicated only by the steady tick of the second hand on the wall clock, as Sam fell silent again. The sun began sink and the room started to darken as the light from the window diminished. Neither of the occupants moved preventing the lights on the motion sensor from triggering. "You have to come back Cara." Sam's whisper was choked and broken, his throat tight as he cried. "I want to know more about him and I need your help. So, please come back."

"Samuel."

Sam jerked up in attention as his name was called, causing the light to switch over and momentarily blind the young rabbit. Not that it mattered though, he didn't need to see who it was. The voice was one that would never be mistaken for anyone else's, nor would the tone ever be misinterpreted. "M-mom..."

Caramel, matriarch of the Bushman family, stood in the door of the hospital room without actually leaving the hallway to enter the room. "Your brother said you ran off to the hospital. Why are you here?" It wasn't quite a demand, but it was very clear that an answer was necessary quickly.

"My friend was really hurt. He got jumped by a bunch of guys." Sam explained truthfully, at least as far as he knew. "I wanted to make sure he was ok, try and be a friendly face for when he woke up."

Caramel took a deep breath and narrowed here eyes on the wolf. "There were some police outside. Has his attack been reported?"

"Yeah, long time ago." Sam nodded. "I don't think it would be the same group of police from before."

"Good, let go then." Caramel turned and made to walk down the hallway, but stopped as she realized her son was not following her. "Did you hear me? I said let's go."

Sam looked between Cara and his mother. "There's still some time left for visiting hours, I want to stay a bit longer. In case Cara wakes up. I'll take the bus home later."

"No, you won't." There was a bare hint of anger in the older Bushman's voice now. "You will come home with me right now. I will not have a cub of mine associating with some pervert deviant."

For a moment the world stopped as Sam processed the statement that came forth from his mother. "W-what did you...Why would you say something liked that?"

"The police downstairs are holding a press conference over some gay bashing." Caramel looked over at Caragan, and her nose turned up ever so slightly. "And now I find you with a Furre beaten half to death. It's not hard to put together Sam, and I don't want you associating yourself with such individuals." She turned and took a step down the hall. "Now, let's go home."

"That's all it takes, isn't it?" Sam's head lowered, his ears falling forward to hide his face. "You know nothing about him, but the smallest hint of homosexuality and you turn off any sense of decency or compassion towards him." He swallowed hard as his stomach tried to rebel against him, as if warning of what was to come. "What happened to all those morals you taught me growing up? Is a gay Furre really that much less of a Furre in your eyes?"

"If he's a deviant he will be judged accordingly." Caramel replied sternly. "Look to those lessons you just tried to throw in my face, you know such act and the individuals who perpetrate them are evil."

"Deviant...you say it like its the worst thing in the world." Sam's shoulders shook, equal parts fear and rage threatening to break his body apart at the joints, as anger began to creep slowly into his voice. The self-preservation instinct screamed for Sam to stop, but all he could think about was his words to Cara earlier. It wasn't fair to expect Thorn to tell everything, when Sam himself hid so much of himself away as well.

"Deviant just means outside the normal, not bad...not evil..." The young lapine shifted his footpaws as he straightened his back. "Homosexuality is not evil. Cara is not evil." He moved his ears and head fur away from his face, locking his eyes with his mother. "I am not evil."

Caramel's mouth opened for a moment, reflexively about to assure her son that she knew he wasn't evil, but the words wouldn't issue forth as she saw the pain in Sam's eyes. Doubt and uncertainty ran rampant through her mind as she stared at her oldest son. "You...you're not..." She turned her head aside unable to ask the question.

"Yes, I am." Sam answered as he watched his mother. He could see the same confusion on her face as he'd seen on his own so many years ago in the mirror. There was an intense wish to tell her the truth about everything, to try and make her understand his choice so she wouldn't be disappointed as she looked now. A tennis ball sized lump formed in his throat as he watched her turn away to walk briskly down the hall. Fear gripped him as he raced to the door of Caragan's room. "Mom?"

"I don't have a gay son." Caramel bit off, her voice hard and cold. "You are not my son."

Sam's paw managed to grab the doorframe in time as his knees lost their strength, preventing him from falling to the floor completely. He watched her go without so much as curious glance over her shoulder as she rounded the corner out of his sight, seemingly out of his life. He never felt the paws of the nurses who rushed to him after seeing him fall, nor did he hear their questions as numbness took his mind.

Then there was the sound of foot paws scuffing on tiled floor, and a familiar scent carried in the air. Sam lifted his head from his arms against his knees as he heard someone approaching him. His facial fur was wet with tears and what little control was left seemed to fall away as he saw his boyfriend. Scrambling to his footpaws Sam raced toward the wolf and buried his face into the canine's chest as he cried.

The wolf's arms wrapped around him and Sam felt feeling come back to him. The numbness continued to recede as the wolf held him and spoke to him. It was a sensation that was a double-edged sword though. The bunny loved the feeling of warmth and protection, but regaining feeling meant feeling everything, including the pain. Thorn continued to talk to him as he lead them into his apartment, but it was like one of those old cartoons where the voices were unintelligible and all Sam could do was continue to cry.

After some time Thorn left his side and terror once again gripped his soul. Relief returned as the wolf came back from the kitchen carrying a familiar green glass bottle and a small glass. The shot was half filled and handed to rabbit who swallowed it trustingly. Fire burned his already raw throat and settled in his empty belly. Sam wondered why his body didn't reject the measly offering for a moment, but his mind turned to other, more important, thoughts as the heat radiate out to the rest of his body.

Thorn stroked at Sam's whiskers as the tears began to lessen. "Feel a little better?" He asked softly, a weak smile crossing his face as saw Sam nod. "Want to talk?"

A nod was all the lapine could manage at first. He held the glass out to Thorn, silently asking for a refill, but the canine simply took the shot away. There was a frown of momentary betrayal, but he sighed understandingly as the gin was pushed out of sight. "I always knew that I'd have to tell her someday." Slowly, Sam told his boyfriend of his confrontation with Caramel. "I've thought this day over a million times." He didn't think he had any tears left at this point, but he began to cry again. "I was ready for her to yell, to scream, to...to...I don't know...try to pull me back even."

The wolf caught the smaller male as he leaned over, holding him tight as Sam cried. He tried to think of something to say, but there was nothing. There was nothing he could say that would lessen the pain or make the situation better. There was nothing he could do but gently massage Sam's heaving back and nuzzle against him lovingly, praying it would be enough.

"She just walked away Thorn..." Sam's voice returned a bit between sobs. "Said I wasn't her son, and walked away." His paws came up and wiped futilely at his eyes. "I think it would have been easier if she called me sinner or a demon or whatever, but she just turned her back and left me there." He looked up at Thorn. "I didn't think it would hurt so badly, but it does."

Thorn took a deep breath as Sam's head found the wolf's shoulder. "I wish I could tell you it will go away, but it won't. It'll become smaller, little by little. You'll find things to replace the pain." He stood, taking Sam with him. "Something that will give you joy. A hobby, a career..." He smiled warmly, his voice soft. "Maybe the love of someone close to you." Gently he guided Sam towards the bathroom. "Take a shower, you'll feel better once the tears are off you." He bumped his muzzle against Sam's. "I'll make us something to eat. It's been a rough day all around, a good meal will help get some strength back."

"I'm not hungry..." Sam tried to protest, but stopped as the wolf shook his head. The look on the bigger male's face was kind, but firm. "I'm going to need clothes..." He at last conceded.

"I'll get them." Thorn nudged the bunny towards the shower. "Go on."

Sam moved slowly, realizing his body hurt for some reason. He'd only been crying, crying wasn't supposed to hurt that much. Clothing fell to the floor and water made the pipes hiss as the shower was adjusted. Force of habit and muscle memory guided him more than conscious thought as he took up the fur shampoo to wash. The suds rams down his body as he stood there, face turned up into the shower. It wasn't until the water started to turn cold that he realized how long he'd been in there.

On the sink counter Sam found a change of clothing, a pair of oversized pajama pants and one of Thorn's tee shirts. He smiled as he picked up the shirt and pressed his face into it, breathing in the scent of the wolf that still lingered in the cloth. As the shirt came back down he could see himself in the mirror, alone. Without warning Cara's words raced to the front of his mind. "To be exiled from one's pack, or the tribe at large...it hurts." He turned and, though he could only see the door, imagined the wolf pacing about the apartment. "Is this how he's always felt?"

The rabbit dried himself the rest of the way and completed only the very basics of his grooming before dressing quickly. It wasn't quite a run, but he moved quickly to the kitchen and saw Thorn still at the stove. The table was already set and fresh salad was waiting at his spot, the vegetables cut the way he liked. The smell of fresh spices and minced vegetables also hung in the air, making the rabbit's mouth water as he realized what Thorn was making. He went to the wolf's side and watched as the canine cooked off the fresh veggie burgers.

"Appetite come back at all?"

Sam looked up as Thorn spoke. He could see that the lupine understood, even though he was trying to hide it. "You didn't have to do all this." His arm wrapped around his boyfriend's waist and pulled them closer together. "You didn't exactly have an easy day either." His free paw came up and turned off the flame, shaking his head as the wolf looked as him quizzically. "There's something I want more than food right now..."

Thorn intertwined his digits with Sam's as the rabbit pulled him gently toward the bedroom. "Sam..." He started to protest as he got an idea of what Sam wanted.

"It's not that." The smaller male turned to face the wolf at the door to the bedroom. "I just want to be close to you. I want you close to me." Sam pulled the covers of the bed back and sat down at the edge. "Please?"

Thorn released a slow breath, but smiled and nodded. "Like I could really refuse a request like that?" He moved to the bed and sat beside Sam, rubbing his muzzle against the bunny's as he did so.

Sam let out a relaxed sigh as he felt the contact, pressing in to return the nuzzle. Easy caresses gave way slowly to more focused exploration and the bunny gasped as he felt warm breath drifted over his neck. The lapine's paws rose to wrap behind the wolf's neck only moments before Sam leaned back to take them both to the bed.

Thorn used one paw to support himself over Sam, while the other paw went to stroke along the rabbit's cheek. Light kisses began to shower down on the smaller male, falling on his brow, his nose, and finally his lips. Shifting himself to lay beside Sam on the bed, the wolf's previously supporting paw began to trail along the bunny's side and belly.

A low purr came from deep within Sam as he felt the wolf's touch. It wasn't the sound heard in the throes of pleasure, or the rumble of happiness. It was something that was difficult to describe except for the idea that he wanted more of it.

Thorn paused for only a heart beat as he felt Sam's paws sliding beneath his shirt. His eyes met Sam's and he mirrored the lapine's advance. It was slow, and more than a little cumbersome in their positions, as they undressed one another. Sam's shirt was the first to go, tossed haphazardly to the floor, and the wolf could not prevent himself from leaning in to kiss at the rabbit's breastbone.

Sam's breathing hitched a little at the cold canine nose that bumped his chest, but did not stop from his task of removing Thorn's shirt as well. The wolf's jeans proved a bit more troublesome, neither happy with giving up contact with their partner to remove the cloth, but the garment soon ended on the bedroom floor as well.

An amused chuckle came from the wolf as Sam guided the gray furred paws to the waistline of the pajama pants. The rabbit had known he would try to stop, and refused him without so much as a word. Thorn curled himself down the bed, kissing his way down Sam's legs as he exposed them to the air. Only after kissing each toe did he let the sleeping pants fall away and return to lie beside Sam.

They rubbed each other's fur slowly as they watched each other. Down along the arms, over one another's sides, then returning back up over the belly and chest. Sam scooted closer to his boyfriend, crème furred paw resting at the elastic line of the wolf's boxers. He could feel Thorn's paw at his own final piece of clothing, a simple pair of black panties that had been left behind from a previous night over. Together, they bared one another's flesh to each other.

It was not the first time he'd seen Sam naked, and yet it was a new experience. This was not for sex, be it passionate lovemaking or the simple act of physical rutting. It was something else, something he knew but still could not put a word to. Thorn pulled the rabbit close and held him, feeling Sam tremble as he did so.

The sound of Thorn's heart thumped steadily in Sam's ear as he lay against the wolf. Lightening lines were drawn along his back as the wolf rubbed through his fur. Another sound joined the heartbeat and Sam closed his eyes as he heard it. A low whisper from the wolf, a whisper in the old tongue. Although Sam could not identify the words he recognized the tone as the wolf made him a promise Sam could not understand. Silent tears fell from Sam's eyes once again until sleep finally took him.

OOOOO

The sun came both too quickly, and not soon enough as light made Thorn stir. He suppressed his yawn as much as possible to keep from waking Sam and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. At some point in the night Sam had turned around, spooning back against the larger male. It made moving without bothering Sam unlikely, but it did give Thorn a chance check on the bunny without calling attention to the act itself.

Looking over the lapine beside him he could see the matted down cheek fur, but it seemed that the rabbit was no longer crying in his sleep. For that, the wolf breathed a sigh of relief. "You shouldn't have to deal with so much." He whispered sadly as he just barely rubbed the rabbit's long head fur. Thorn lay there for some time, thoughts of things that should and must be done running through his head, but he couldn't bring himself to leave Sam's side.

"Go to work Thorn." Sam's voice was quiet, but regained some of its strength. "I'm ok."

"Kameg can cover the lessons." Thorn bent his head down and kissed at Sam's shoulder. "The class won't miss me for a day." He nuzzled into the rabbit's fur at the neck. "Sorry I woke you."

"I've been up a while." Sam reached back and gently poked at Thorn's sheath. "I knew you'd been awake for a while when I felt your morning wood calm down." He turned to face the wolf and smiled as he caught the tail end of Thorn's embarrassed expression. Stretching lightly he kissed the wolf on the nose. "Go to work." He smiled, but fixed Thorn with a knowing look. "You're going to be stubborn about this aren't you?"

"It's different but..." Thorn blinked in surprise as Sam pushed a finger against his muzzle to silence him. His head tilted to one side in question as Sam nodded.

"It is different, and we'll tell each other why later." Sam explained in a low voice. "We have a lot to talk about, but...later." He laughed lightly as he shook his head. "We're not in a spot to talk right now. We both have other things on our mind." Removing his finger from Thorn's lips he kissed the wolf softly. "I want us to talk with no other pressures on us." Sam kissed Thorn again as the wolf tried to protest. "Don't deny you have things to take care of. You always get tense like this when there's something you have to do but don't want to."

A wry smile curled Thorn's lips. "You know me too well." He kissed Sam in return. "You sure you'll be ok?"

"I won't be alone." Sam nodded. "I need to go talk with Val." He reached up and caressed his boyfriend's cheek as he saw the mix of confusion and hurt. "She's been my friend for a long time, we had a whole plan for when I was going to come out to my parents..." He trailed off as he saw Thorn still wasn't happy with this situation. "It's going to a train wreck mixed with a lot of girl talk. What happened last night with us..."

Thorn quieted Sam with a kiss to the forehead. "I know, I'm not thrilled that you'd rather confide in Val than I but...I understand." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "And I already promised that I wouldn't come between you and your friends."

Sam grinned impishly. "Sort of broke that promise though didn't you?"

Thorn growled playfully. "Like you were complaining at the time." He bent down as Sam stretched up and they shared a long kiss.

When it finally broke both were smiling, but Sam could see there was something just below the surface by the look on Thorn's face. "What is it?" He swallowed down a gasp as the wolf gave him a rare, truly happy grin.

"I was just thinking, that as much that has been lost over time..." Thorn trailed off and shook his head.

Sam grinned and nodded, knowing what Thorn wanted to say but didn't. He pushed the wolf back a bit. "Go to work. Go do all the stuff you have to."

Thorn pulled the rabbit back one last time and licked him on his cheek. "You too." He rolled from the bed and gathered some clean clothes, his eyes returned to Sam lounging in his bed just before he left the room. As he turned his back to the bunny the wolf's expression changed, strength and just a hint of the past tempering his happiness.

OOOOO

"Oh boy..." The falcon sighed as he felt the door swing in as he tried to unlock it. The do-jag was never left open like that. "Guess Master is in early today."

"Should I come back later?" Asked the wolfhound who followed in the smaller male's shadow. "I realize I am only a guest, if it's a bad time..." He stopped speaking as he saw the avian pick up a piece of paper.

"Go inside." Kameg motioned to the sparing room. "It's not Master, seems he's here already." He read the instructions on the note silently to himself. "This is going to be interesting." The bird whispered as he locked the main entrance.

As Boss rounded the corner to the sparing floor he stopped dead. "You?"

"Me." Thorn replied as he finished his push-ups. "Though I doubt Kameg knew of our history when he invited you here." He stood slowly, adjusting his uniform as he did so. "Dress down so you can move freely."

Boss removed his jacket and tossed it to the floor. "I'm not sure I see where this is going." His head tilted a little bit as the wolf pointed to a spot on the mat. "You intend for us to fight?"

"Does the phrase 'As you are I once was. As I am, you will become.' mean anything to you?" Thorn stretched out his arms and limbered himself a bit.

"No, I'm afraid it doesn't." Boss shook his head as he began to follow Thorn's example. "Should I?"

"I don't know." Thorn squatted to stretch his legs. "It was something my Master said to me a long time ago. I didn't get it then either." When he rose again he stood still and focused intently on Boss. "He also taught me that the spot two fighters meet upon is sacred, that such places required complete honesty. Do you understand?"

The wolfhound nodded slowly. "I understand."

"There's one thing I must ask first off." Thorn watched his opponent carefully. "Did you take part in attacking Cara?"

There were several moments of silence from Boss before he hesitantly answered. "You know I was there." His brow furrowed as he saw Thorn shake his head. "There was a second attack? How bad?"

"Bad enough I had to ask." Thorn broke his gaze from Boss and looked at the mat once more. "You know what comes next?"

"I had nothing to do with the attack on that wolf." Boss took a half step forward as he tried to make his point clear. Confusion set in again as the wolf nodded to him.

"I know, that's why you're still standing." Thorn beckoned Boss to the ready position. "Do you know what comes next?" He waited until the taller canine nodded. "Good. Attention."

Kameg watched as the two fighters bowed to one another and assumed their ready positions. Boss's stance was close at the footpaws, his arms close to his chest and fists high. "Boxing maybe?" He mused quietly as he moved over to Thorn. The wolf was wide at the footpaws, arms half opened at the chest and waist with his paws curled into loose fists. It was a stance he was familiar with, but it was they way the wolf moved that made Kameg curious. He couldn't think on that for long though as it seemed neither Boss nor Thorn was going to move. Stepping forward he brought a wing up between the fighters. "Begin!"

No sooner had Kameg's wing fallen then Thorn darted forward with a quick front kick, connecting squarely with Boss's guard, taking the wolfhound to the ground. "As hard as you fought for the Sheppard, you have to fight harder for yourself. Understand?"

Boss grunted as he rubbed his arm and pushed himself up again. "I understand." A hint of a smile creased his muzzle. "I'll get you this time."

Thorn quirked a tiny smirk. "You'll try." He bowed to the dog again and the spar resumed.

Kameg watched critically as the fight continued on. He'd sparred against Thorn many times, even fought all out with him on a few occasions when tempers had flared. The altercation at The Vixen yesterday was still fresh in his mind and his bruises as well. "Full speed...but half power." Kameg grimaced as Thorn swept the wolfhounds legs from under him. "Complete control, complete confidence in his movements."

"Enough." Thorn broke the standing grapple and stepped back. "I've seen enough of you to know."

"Know?" Boss stretched his neck, trying to work out a kink from landing hard to many times. "Know what?"

"You." Thorn pointed to Boss. "You had plenty of chances for a cheap shot to win the fight." He crossed his arms. "You never took them."

"You were testing me?" Shock was evident in Boss' voice. "For what purpose?"

"Not sure yet." Thorn admitted as he looked over at Kameg. "But, that seems to be how things work around here. Furre's jump into something without fully knowing why in this do-jag." He let his head fall forward a bit. "It helped me, maybe it can help you."

"I don't understand." Boss shook his head.

"Neither do I." Thorn nodded. "Come back and train with us. We'll figure it all out together."

Boss looked between Thorn and Kameg. "I...I would like that." He extended his paw out to the wolf. "Thank you."

Thorn's arms remained crossed. "I have only one more thing to ask of you." He lifted his head and looked at Boss squarely. "I know you had a debt to the Sheppard. I have a debt to Cara." He refused to let the wolfhound look away. "Where can I find him?"

"Thorn." Kameg's voice was warning. "This is not..."

"No, it's all right." Boss interrupted. There was a momentary glance to the avian before the dog looked back to Thorn. "I did owe him a debt, he saved my life. I served him faithfully, repaid my debt...but I hurt a lot of Furres in the process. I should go with you if you..."

"No, that part of your life is over." Thorn cut the hound off. "You move foreword from here on out...

"Not backwards." Kameg mouthed the words as Thorn spoke. The image of Master speaking to Thorn years ago flashed in the bird's mind. "As I am, you will become..." The phrase just barely breathed out.

Boss shifted for a moment on his foot paws, then bowed his head. "Dive bar over on Shadow Vale, between Dark Shire and Low Valley."

Thorn turned as he heard Kameg groan. "You know the place?"

"Lucifera's?" Kameg rubbed his brow as Boss nodded. "Underground club that's popular with the, uh...night crowd." He sighed as he saw the lack of understanding on Thorn's face. "Wanna-be vamps and such. Emo, goth...S&M types..."

Thorn blinked, then grinned as he saw Kameg look away. "How do you know about this place Kameg?"

"It was a one time thing! She was hot and I didn't know until it was to late!" Kameg defended loudly. "Never saw her again." He frowned as Thorn laughed. Boss at least tried not to, though he failed as a few snuck through. "Screw you guys..." He muttered, but with a hint of laughter.

"Go home Boss. We only have cub classes today." Thorn reached out and shook the hound's paw. "Tomorrow night. Be here at seven, I'll try to find a uniform in your size."

Kameg watched as Boss gathered his coat and headed for the door. As the partition shut again he spoke. "You..."

"It has to be done." Thorn shut his friend down. "Cover my classes tonight?"

"Class is canceled." Kameg crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm not letting you do this alone."

"Not your fight." Thorn frowned Kameg just stared at him. "Not. Your. Fight."

"You're not Master, you can't make me stand down with a scary look." He grinned a bit. "He's a lot better than you at that face. Besides..." He stepped forward, onyx eyes meeting the canine's brown eyes. "I still outrank you. I'm going with you."

A begrudging chuckle escaped the wolf's lips. "Had to bring the damn belt into it didn't you?"

"Only thing that'll get though that thick skull of yours sometimes." Kameg brought a paw up, his black belt resting in his palm. "Still want it?"

"Hmph." Thorn grinned. "Don't need it. I'll get my own in six months." His smile faded. "No going back if you come with me."

Kameg nodded. "I know. We'll just have to be smart about it."

A slight tip of his head was the only acknowledgment Thorn gave before they moved for the door. As they hung the cancelation notice and locked up they failed to notice the shadow that moved in the office at the back. A faint hint of red and silver becoming visible as the males drove off.

OOOOO

Sam stumbled back as the vixen rushed through the door and gripped him in a tight hug. "Thanks Val." He whispered as he returned the hug. "You mind if we take this off your front stoop though?"

"Yes, sure, of course." Val released her friend as she lead them back inside. "How you doing?" She went to the kitchen and got each of them a drink before sitting with Sam in the living room.

"I'm ok, still sorting things out." His nose wrinkled a little bit at the flavor of the beverage, but sipped at it all the same. "I did most of my crying last night."

Val smiled a bit as she saw the sad smile on Sam's face. "Thorn took good care of you?" She took a sip of her drink as Sam nodded. "Good, I thought I might have to kick his ass too."

Sam frowned. "Val..."

"No Sammy." The fox set her drink down on the table. "I'm not letting her get away with this shit. She can't just spout some...some...half-assed indoctrination garbage and kick you out like its normal!"

"Except, she can." Sam bowed his head a little bit. "She's always been in charge at home. You know that, you know what she's like. She's always been that way and it's not going to change."

"She'll change after I cram my footpaw up her ass." Val huffed as she took another long sip of her drink. She was quiet when her statement got no response. "Sammy?"

"Don't do anything like that." The bunny finally whispered. "I...I can't stand the things she said, but she's still my mom." He set the drink aside and pulled his knees to his chest. "I have to believe that...that I can convince her to come around. To see that my way of life isn't anymore evil then her way of life." His head rested on his knees as he looked over to his friend, a playful smile on his face. "And I don't think I can do that if I sic my best friend on her."

Val laughed lightly as she considered the rabbit's words. "Yeah, I guess that's true." She ran a paw through her head fur as she collected her thoughts. "I just...I remember high school, you know? The plans we laid out?"

Sam smiled and nodded. "How I was going to finally come out to my parents and siblings. We had it all set up didn't we?" He laughed a little bit. "A public place..."

"Me as your back up." Val grinned. "Ready to fight Pepper if she got loud and stupid about it."

"And to pick of the pieces of me when it all went belly up." Sam's voice trailed off. "The best laid plans of foxes and rabbits huh?"

Val's ears splayed flat as she heard the hurt in Sam's voice. "I'm sorry Sammy. I wish I could have been there for you."

"You're here now Val, that's more than enough." The lapine shook his head. "It's not even that I was alone really." He stopped and picked up his drink again. "All the things we planed for though, how did we never consider her just walking away?"

"Cause all we had for reference were crappy made for TV movies." The vixen shrugged as Sam shot her a dirty look. "What? It's true. All those movies had yelling and screaming and all kinds of hysterical accusations." She sipped at her drink. "Hell, I think one of them had the mother perform an exorcism right then and there."

"Yeah, I think I remember that one actually." Sam was forced to agree. "At least if she'd hit me with a prayer book I'd have an excuse to why I don't remember leaving the hospital."

"You were at the hospital?" She sat quietly as Sam filled her in on the events that had transpired since the last time she'd seen him. "Well sweetie it's no wonder you don't remember. For that much to happen so quickly..."

"I know..." Sam nodded. "Mental break down or whatever..." He smiled softly. "But, I saw him and everything just kind of..."

"It kind of fell to the background." Val finished as Sam couldn't find the words. "It's a good thing you two found each other then." She waited as Sam again fell silent, nursing her drink slowly. "What is it?"

"I don't know what to do next." Sam admitted. "I just, what do I do now?"

"Well..." Val leaned forward in her seat a little. "You've got your place with Thorn, so you don't have to worry about a place to stay." She scratched at her cheek. "And if you guys need some space from each other you're always welcome here Sammy. You know that right?"

Sam nodded. "I might take you up on that actually." He sighed as Val's head cocked questioningly. "I don't want him to feel like he has to take me in. It's not like we made a decision to live together or something I just..."

The vixen shook her head as her friend went silent again. "Listen, he loves you." She rose from her seat and moved to the couch to sit beside Sam. "He may not say it but..."

"He has said it." Sam interrupted. "I think, he's said it more than I have actually."

Val blinked at this and scratched behind her ear. "Then why so panicked?"

"Cause it'll go to fast this way. Something will happen and we'll fight and..." Sam pulled at his ears, his nose twitching nervously. "I don't want to screw everything up."

"Guys like Thorn..." The fox paused to choose her words. "He wouldn't say something if he didn't mean it. I don't think you could do anything to drive him away. If he says he loves you, believe him."

Sam nodded slowly, comforted by the vixens words as he realized the hit pretty close to what he already suspected. "I think you're right." He finally spoke as he stopped playing with his ears.

"Course I'm right!" Val smirked as she lifted her bottle. "I'm an all knowing fox!"

Sam laughed and raised his own bottle to tap the glass against Val's. "Yes, how could I forget that?" He sipped his drink slowly, ignoring the sickeningly sweet after taste of the mixed booze. "Thanks Val."

"Hey, what are friends for?" The fox smiled. "You two come by and help me scratch an itch every once and a while and we'll call it even." She giggled and nearly choked on her drink as Sam gave her a disapproving glare. "Kidding!" She insisted. "Only kidding!"

Sam's lips curled a little in a smile despite trying to maintain his miffed expression. "Yeah, I bet." He reached over and poked Val in the shoulder with a finger. "We might be able to work something out. You did promise Thorn a shot at the back door after all, I'm sure he won't object." His grin widened as he saw Val's eyes light a bit at the idea. "See? I knew you weren't kidding!"

Val stuck her tongue out at the rabbit. "I like who I like, and you two were fun." She smiled. "Can't blame a vixen for that."

Sam shook his head. "No, I suppose I can't." He finished his drink and set the empty bottle on the table. "And I don't think I'd ever be able to either."

Val's ears perked a little at the resigned tone of Sam's voice, knowing he meant much more than what he said. "Help me make something to eat." She jumped to her footpaws, startling the bunny from his thoughts. "I don't want your wolf thinking I got you all liquored up and took advantage of you." Her grin could have lit the room as she saw Sam blushing, the interiors of his ears bright red, as she tried to fill the rabbit's mind with happier thoughts.

oooooo

"So, what exactly do you have planned?" Kameg asked as the car rolled to a stop several blocks away from the club. "Since, we're going to want stories straight and all."

"Going to go in." Thorn stared out into the distance in the general direction of the club even though it was blocked from sight. "Find the Sheppard, and we'll see what happens after that."

"Right..." The avian sat in silence with his friend for bit longer before the thoughts on his mind got the better of him. "You know that this won't change anything though right? Not for Cara. Not for Salena..." He stopped as he saw the wolf's lips quiver in a barely suppressed snarl. "All I'm saying is, I'll back whatever play you make, but are you sure? Your bunny is at home waiting for you, how's she going to..."

"He understands." Was all Thorn replied with as he stepped out of the car. "He knows."

Kameg blinked as he hurriedly exited the car. "He?" The bird asked as he rounded the front of the vehicle. "You mean?"

"The Sheppard knows his scent." Thorn nodded at the half asked question, looking to the avian slowly to try and gauge his reaction. "I won't let him be hurt. I won't lose him too."

The falcon's beak opened, then shut again. "All right then." He finally spoke, extending a fist out towards Thorn. "Let's make sure your bunny stays safe."

A breath of relief left Thorn's lips as he made a fist of his own and bumped it against Kameg's. "Thanks." He turned, but didn't start walking. "I'm thinking I'll let you lead since you know the club. You'll probably have better luck getting us in there."

"Makes sense." Kameg agreed as he popped his collar. "Though you won't have much trouble getting in." He chuckled as Thorn gave him a questioning look. "Vamp club remember? Converting a werewolf would be great for their business."

Thorn chuckled despite himself. "If you say so."

Kameg watched the wolf as Thorn continued to look off to the distance. "We don't have to do this you know." Something in the wolf's eyes bothered the avian, he simply could nail it down.

"Yeah, I do." Thorn's ears flattened a bit. "You remember Zaggs?"

The question caught the bird by surprise. "The old pizza dive? How could I forget it?" Kameg smirked. "It was the first place I ever kicked you ass."

Thorn smirked. "Interesting how you rewrite history." He shook his head. "I just had flash of that old video game we used to play."

"Twin Drakes?" Kameg nodded. "Was a good game. I think that was the first time you told me you wanted to learn to fight properly."

"When we swore an oath to each other." Thorn recalled softly. "To watch each other's back."

"Cool, we get our own real life bad ass moment." Kameg reached over and hit Thorn lightly in the arm. "Ready?" He asked as he took a few steps forward to lead the way.

"Yeah..." Thorn fell in step directly behind the avian. "Thank you...and sorry."

"Sorry for wha..." Kameg's feathers puffed out as fight intuition tried to warn him, but it was to late. He ground his beak as the arm circled his neck from behind. "Thorn..." He gasped. "What are you..."

As the bird's body went limp Thorn released the sleeper lock, checking quickly for a pulse to make sure he hadn't really hurt him. "Sorry Kameg." He spoke quietly as he dragged the bird to the back seat of the car and rolled his friend inside. "You're already a black belt, registered and printed. I won't let this come back to you." He closed and locked the doors before walking away.

The neon sign for Lucifera's lit the street fire red for a half a block in all directions as Thorn approached the club. He stopped several paces away from the edge of the lighting as the fur at the back of his neck rose in alarm. His intuition screamed warning at him, but not danger. When he added that to the fact that he did not see, hear, or smell anything he knew what, or rather who, it was. "You can't sneak up on me this time Master." His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it as well. "You can't stop me either."

"The hell I can't pup." The dragon stepped from the shadows, leaving one to wonder how his silver scales could be hidden so completely. "Don't let your one victory over me go to your head." He turned his head, searching the street. "Kameg?"

"Sleeper lock." Thorn nodded back in the direction he'd left the bird. "He wasn't a part of this."

The reptile snorted, but nodded. "Seems you're not completely lost yet, that's good." He let out a slow breath as he saw his student's ears flatten against his head. "I know that look in your eyes pup, the same as when we first met...after Salena."

"Then you know why you can't stop me." The tone of Thorn's voice broke just a little. It wasn't confidence that he could beat his teacher, it was the belief that the dragon would not challenge his decision in the first place. "You of all Furres should understand. This is my night to breath fire."

The dragon's scales glowed red hot, and not from the reflection of the club lights. "It is not!" It took several moments for the reptile to recompose himself, and he paused as he realized Thorn had not shirked away from the near outburst. "I know you think it is, but it is not the same Thorn. Look with clear eyes and you would realize it." He waited patiently as some of the defiance drained away from the wolf's face. "I lost myself for a time when I lost my mate." He took a few steps forward and grasped his student's shoulder. "Just as you did when you lost Salena."

"But I haven't lost Sam." Thorn finished as he lowered his head. "Even though the thought of losing him terrifies me...this is not why you taught me. It's not why I pushed myself to learn all I have." He lifted his head as he took a shaky breath. "I want to hurt that damn Sheppard so damn bad for what he did...and what he might do...but I can't."

"You could." The elder Furre corrected. "The difference is you won't." Removing his clawed paw from the wolf he walked away from the club. "We will have much to discuss. Be prepared to stay late tomorrow after practice. Go home to Sam."

Thorn frowned as his eyes followed the Master's retreating back. As the wolf lost sight of his instructor he turned to look at the club one last time. With a frustrated snarl he trudged slowly back to his car.

As the vehicle began to move Kameg began to stir. "Wha hapin?" The haze in his mind affecting his speech momentarily. "We win?" He shook his head as he recalled what Thorn had done." You bastard! Why did you..."

"To try and protect you." Thorn replied calmly as he drove. "Same as Master protected me." He smiled, a bit ruefully. "We've never been the sharpest kama in the weapon case."

Kameg continued to glare for a few minutes, but it dissipated as he studied his friend. "Yeah, I guess that's a bit true." He leaned over the back seat, staring into traffic as the silence grew. "You ok?"

"No." Thorn admitted. "But I will be. The things that Sam will want to know about, I've either run from them or used them as an excuse for too long. Time to stop all that."

The avian nodded, but said nothing until the car came to a stop in front of his home. As he stepped out onto the sidewalk he motioned for Thorn to roll down the window to poke his head back inside. "You made a good call."

Thorn blinked as his friend walked away, considering the solemn tone that Kameg had used. "Beers this weekend?" He called after the avian.

"Only if we go somewhere other than the Vixen." Kameg's facial feathers shifted to a smile as Thorn's ears perked in surprise. "And bring your..."

This time Thorn smiled as confidence was lost in the search for the right word. "Boyfriend? You can say the word Kameg." He chided with a laugh.

"Yeah, see if he wants to come along." The falcon shivered as the wind kicked up. "I'd like to meet him."

The canine held back a smirk as he considered the fact that Kameg already knew Sam, at least in passing. "You just want to get warm." He teased as he pointed to the house. "Get inside before you freeze." With one last wave Thorn watched his friend walk away. "The more things change..." He whispered to himself as he drove for home.

Ooooo

Sam all but leapt from the couch as he heard the lock unhitch. He glanced at the TV and realized it was not the same program he'd started watching, making him wonder just how long he'd been zoned out. His nose twitched and his ears wiggled a bit as he heard the door close softly.

Thorn hung his coat at the door and smiled softly to Sam as the bunny closed the distance between them. It was an odd feeling to see the expression on Sam's face, a unique mix of worry, fear, and curiosity. The wolf was familiar with that look, just not on Sam, and so he waited for the rabbit complete his overview.

Sam breathed a bit easier as he saw no blood on the canine, nor could he smell any. He stood before Thorn and took the larger male's paws to his own. It was possible the blood had just been cleaned away, but there was no bruising to the knuckles. Nor were there tears to the pads or ripped out claws from over exertion.

The rabbit's eyes moved up and searched Thorn's face. He found no welts or broken fangs. There was no puffy eye or fat lip. Sam had seen how Thorn had fought at the mall though, it might have been possible for his fears to have still happened. "Did you find what ever it was you picked up at the hospital?"

"Yeah..." Thorn nodded as he heard the nervousness in Sam's voice. "I did, and much more." He squeezed Sam's paws gently as he watched the rabbit's face. There was a twinge of pain in the canine's chest, as the similarities seemed so much more apparent now. "Maybe... I was just ignoring it until now." He murmured to himself in the old tongue, shaking his head as Sam looked worried. "There's no blood under my claws."

Sam jerked slightly as his boyfriend spoke. "I didn't..." He stopped his denial as the wolf's head shook. "Was it that obvious?"

Thorn nodded, and smiled, at the mixture of relief and mild annoyance in Sam's voice. "Yep, to me anyway. You're not the first to look at me like that." He squeezed Sam's paws again and looked down, refusing to meet the bunny's hazel eyes.

Something was still wrong, Sam knew that much. "What is it?" He lifted the bigger male's head with soft paw at the chin. "You can tell me."

"I know." Thorn pushed his cheek against Sam's paw. "There's a lot to tell though."

An increased twitching of Sam's nose was the only indication of surprise to Thorn's willingness to talk. "I have plenty of time." He followed as Thorn lead the way to the kitchen, his head cocked to one side as ingredients and utensils were collected.

Thorn released a low chuckle as Sam leaned against one of the counter tops. "Yes, we're still going to talk. I'm just hungry."

"You don't want to think on it to much." Sam smirked as he saw Thorn stick out his tongue. "If it's to much to talk about though..."

"I promised to answer all your questions." Thorn cut Sam off. "And yes, there are some parts I don't really want to...being a bit distracted will help loosen my tongue." He pulled down a cutting board and began prepping the food. "But we need to, so, what do you want to know?"

Sam swallowed as he realized Thorn would tell him anything he wanted to know. "You said something to Cara at the hospital. What was it?"

Thorn blinked. "Not the lead off question I expected. I said I'd get the son of a bitch who hurt him." There was a moment's pause. "Guess that one will have to wait."

"I thought wolves don't fight for one another." Sam remembered from their talk with Cara. "Unless..." He crossed his arms over his chest as a chill ran down his spine. "Unless they're of the same pack. Right?" He frowned as Thorn simply nodded. "You consider him part of your pack?"

Thorn flinched visibly at the accusation in Sam's tone. "We have a lot in common, at least that's my suspicion. I think that you two have a lot in common as well. So, yes, I think of him as part of our pack."

Sam's eyes widened at the words Thorn used. "Our?" Words were slow in coming as Thorn nodded again. "No. No, no, no, no, no." The rabbit shook his head quickly. "We are not discussing that now."

"Right, sorry." Thorn smiled a bit, noting that Sam hadn't shut down the idea for future discussion. "Next question?"

Sam paced a few steps as he collected his thoughts. "Ok, this might be a guess that I'm guessing wrong on and it's probably going to one of those parts you don't really want to talk about. Still up for it?"

"I said I'd answer all your questions."

Sam swallowed and almost backed down from the question on the tip of his tongue. "Cara reminds you of someone, I can see it in the way you reacted to him. Who is she?" His ears drooped a bit in shame as he saw Thorn's shoulders tighten.

The knife was laid down on the cutting board and Thorn placed his paws on the counter, his heavy sigh echoed in the room. "Well, you're right. You guessed wrong. It's not Cara that reminds me of her." The wolf's claws tapped at the counter, and several reasons to go back on his promise ran through his mind. "Salena." He whispered at last. "Her name was Salena."

Ooooo

A/N: This chapter took a while to get right. The first incarnation was just to over the top. Like, (really bad accent) "Ahm Anald Shvasanager da hero" over the top. Geh, would have been fun under another back story, but it didn't work here. I think this fits much nicer. Anyway, sorry for lack of smut. I'll write some more of that at some point.

'Till the next, live well all.