FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

This is the second half of a longer story. Until you've read the first half, it won't make much sense. This half also has fewer naughty bits and more action bits. YMMV.

For those that read the first half, but need some reminding, that chapter ended as Scherade burst into her partner Timura's quarters to report that the statue which they had stolen some days before was now missing from where Scherade had hidden it.

---Centurea

"What?!" Timura sat upright, heedless of the way her robe opened in front. "Maybe it slid under your clothes or something." "I looked everywhere. It isn't in my room." Timura sat heavily on the bed. "B-but..." After all that she'd gone through to get the statue, to have it vanish now after she thought they were safe, "th-that's not..." She couldn't finish the sentence. "Nummos." Scherade cursed. "That's why he was late. He knew we'd be in the dining room and stole it. That's why my room smells like cinnamon now, that damned islander monkey." "Him?" Timura's ears wavered. "He doesn't seem like a thief; he acts like a proper gentleman." "Don't tell me you're taking that lecherous ape seriously." Scherade's lips peeled back from her teeth. "You're just saying that because you're proud of how he looks at your tits." "That's not true." Timura denied the accusation, her ears flat against her head. "Oh, yeah? "'Do you think this blouse matches my coloring, Mr. Nummos?' 'why don't you take a closer look?'" Scherade mockingly repeated her friend's flirty language. She crossed her arms under her breasts and turned away. "Scherade--" Timura began, then stopped. For a long time neither of the two said anything. Tentatively, Timura reached a paw to touch her friend's shoulder, pulling it back as the fox turned away. "Please?" The tabby whispered to her back. "I know...I know this is all my fault...I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." Scherade stiffened. "It was so selfish of me to bring you into this." Timura continued. "I let that weasel talk me into involving my friend without even asking you. I'm so s--" Scherade whipped around, seizing Timura's hunched shoulders and forcing her back. "We'll find this thing, we'll get it back, and we'll save your dad's house." The fox bared her fangs in Timura's face. She stared into the tabby's eyes, daring her to object. "Scherade...Scherade..." Timura mewled, burying her face in the vixen's black fur. Wrapping both paws around Scherade's midsection she sobbed. "You're the best, Scherade. This is all my fault and you never complain. I--" "Later, pussycat." The fox said as her eyes took on a calculating glint. "Right now we need to plan." Timura wiped her eyes and nodded. "We need to get into his room and search it." The fox said firmly. "For that, we need a distraction." Timura knew what she meant. "O-okay. It can't be any worse than that horse back in Chamilla, I guess." "Sorry, but I don't see how else we could do it." "Tonight?" Timura asked tentatively. "We can't move yet." Scherade said, shaking her head. "If we move now he'll discover it's missing and know we took it back. He can call us thieves and it's our word against his--on his ship. The crew will turn us over to the police as soon as they dock in Maradar. Our only chance is to do this the night before we arrive. We'll have to hope that he's too busy preparing for dock to notice it's missing." "And if he does?" "Then we're screwed." "He's going to screw me either way." Timura grimaced. "What if he doesn't have it?" Scherade rested her long muzzle in her paws. "Then we'll execute Plan B." "Which is?" "I don't know. But whatever it is, it'll work." The fox said firmly. "Whatever you say, Scherade." Timura purred, leaning into her friend's warm body. "You're the best." *** The next two weeks reminded Timura of how she'd felt when she'd learned her sire hadn't boarded the airship he was expected to return on. The young tabby rode a seesaw between hope that all would turn out well in the end, and despair that all would end in disaster. She grew listless, finding it hard to do anything, and her search for the statue became a desultory look into the ship's darker corners. Even Scherade's nightly ministrations couldn't sooth her fears, leaving her staring blankly at the ceiling long after her friend's breathing settled into a gentle sleep. The others wondered about her lack of appetite, but as if the gnawing in her stomach wasn't enough to put her off eating, tropical spices that had been tolerable before now disgusted her, tainting her mouth for hours. Knowing that the cook was a bull didn't help, either. As nervous as Scherade's scheme made Timura, the evening before the Lucky made landfall at Maradar came as a relief. By the next day it would be over, one way or the other. The pair reviewed their plan together. The young lynx would seduce Nummos and take him to her cabin, where she would keep him entertained until she heard a rap on her door, which would be Scherade coming back from searching Nummos' cabin. A short time later Timura was leaning on the ship's stern rail, watching their wake fade into the distance behind them. As expected, Nummos left his position at the wheel to a crewmonkey and came to stand beside her. "Why does it glow?" Timura asked curiously, still staring at the wake. "Beautiful, isn't it." Like all males, Nummos was happy to show off his knowledge to a female listener. "You know how if you leave pudding out overnight the surface hardens into a film? Then if you cut it the softer inside comes out a little? Well, the sea is an enormous storehouse of energy, but the air-water boundary acts like the film on top of a pudding, see? When we disturb the surface of the water by sailing it's like we're cutting the pudding film, and some of that energy leaks out. Our eyes see it as that glow." "Hmmm." Timura said. Her teachers at school made everything seem so boring, but out here in the world there were so many fascinating things to learn. Maybe it was time she graduated, she mused. Reminding herself that there would be time for such speculation later, she turned to the matter at hand. "I...um...was wondering about something else." She said coquettishly. "Yes?" The ape replied, just a little too eager, and Timura knew she'd hooked her fish. "They say...about fingers...you know..." She said, holding her stubby paw against his hand, with its long, dexterous digits. "What do they say?" He clasped her paw in one hand and slid the other arm around her waist. "You know..." In for a penny, in for a pound, she thought, leaning into his chest. It wouldn't be the first trick she'd turned on this trip, and she was curious. "You can do...things...with them...inside." "Ah." He said with a broad smile. She turned to face him, pressing her breasts against him. Pulling his hand up she nuzzled it gently. "Perhaps you could show me?" "Anything to keep a passenger happy, madam." She jerked as he grabbed a furry butt-cheek through her sarong and squeezed. "Mmmm." She said, rubbing her chest against him so he could feel the stiff points of her nipples through the thin fabric. "I hope you can do more than that?" He gave her another squeeze and spoke tersely to the monkeys at the wheel. Then he bowed low. "May I show you to my cabin?" He asked her. "Ah. Perhaps you would come to mine?" She said innocently. "I'd...feel more comfortable there." "As the gentlefur wishes." The two made their way below-decks. Feeling the monkeys' eyes on her made Timura self-conscious, but it gave her a perverse thrill as well. If she was turning into jack-off material she might as well do it right, she thought. For the monkeys in front she thrust out her chest to show off her nipples and for those behind she rotated her hips to give them an eyeful of ass. As soon as he had shut the door behind him Timura was in his arms. The lynx pressed against his body, rubbing herself against him. The ape responded encircling her in his arms and squeezing her breasts against his chest. The thin silk of her blouse did nothing to conceal how hard her nipples had grown. Timura's heat grew as she felt him unfasten her sarong, letting it drop to the floor. She pulled her body away to give him room to pull off her blouse, leaving her naked before him except the lacy triangle of her thong. Nummos dropped to one knee, placing his cheek against the soft fur of her belly. "So soft..." He whispered, caressing her legs with his hands. Her muscles tensed in graceful curves at his touch, and she leaned into him, wanting contact. Timura had never felt fingers before, and delighted in the sensation of the agile strokes against her flesh. First they moved together along her legs like a paw, then they spread apart to tickle the sensitive flesh of her inner thigh. Her breath came in pants as she waited for him to pull her thong aside and touch her pussy but the touch didn't come. As his caresses moved higher, swimming in her belly fur, the hungry ache moved to her breasts. They felt swollen, every nerve ending on fire as she waited. His fingers approached her breasts slowly, no rough pawing like another cat or a canine. Each finger traced a different circle around her chest, some climbing partway up the slope of her breasts, but none reaching the summit. "Touch me!" She groaned. His fingers never changed course, refusing to leave the lower altitudes no matter how she twisted her body to bring them to her nipples. "Is this what the stories tell?" He teased her, his breath hot against her belly. "Please..." She could only moan. "Never let it be said that I refused a lady." He took her nipples between his fingers at last, sending an electric shock through Timura's body. She stiffened as a small orgasm swept over her. Unseen, Nummos smiled at her reaction, and continued his gentle ministrations as she recovered. "Ohhh..." She let her breath out with a long sigh. "Come now, gentlefur." Nummos said as he rose. A lingering kiss on each breast from his dexterous mouth left her knees weak, and he caught her in his strong arms. "That was just by way of warming up. Perhaps we should commence the real demonstration." Nummos said, lowering her to the bunk and dropping to kneel between her thighs. Timura offered no resistance, laying slack against the bunk. Her thong had worked its way into her wet slit, and the way he jiggled the strap out felt delicious. His magic-working fingers pulled off her thong, and she lay naked before him, reveling the lewd sensation of knowing she was past the point of no return--he was going to have his way with her now no matter what. Head lolling, Timura caught a flash of movement at the porthole. Two monkeys were hanging upside down by their tails, watching Nummos eat her pussy, and each was masturbating the other as they watched. "Oh! They're watching us!" Timura cried, pointing at the two. She hurriedly pulled the bed sheet over her body. "It's a small ship." Nummos shrugged, returning his attention to her crotch. "And they see few enough females, as it is." "But..." She protested, but her heart wasn't in it. When Nummos tugged on the sheet she let it slip out of her fingers, revealing her full breasts and erect nipples. Leaning back on her pillows she watched the two out of slitted eyes. They cheeped excitedly and pointed as they yanked on each other's tiny penises. As the delicious sensations from her crotch filled her body again her nervousness receded, and she felt a new excitement at the way they were watching. She'd played in groups before, but never put on a show for strangers like this. Seeing them erect and jacking off for her, it gave her a feeling of sexual power. When she felt Nummos' hands on her she closed her eyes and leaned back, giving herself over to the yearning that emanated from between her open legs. He moved slowly, brushing his fingers over the downy fur of her inner thighs, and petting the patch of salt-and-pepper fur growing above her clit. Finally! She thought when his fingers reached her slit. He took her pussy lips between his fingers, rubbing them gently. The action sent a new sensation through Timura's body.

She spread her legs more widely, as if inviting more. Unseen, the monkeys in the window hooted at her display. His nimble fingers played her pussy like a piano, sounding notes that ran out from her crotch to electrify her whole body. They faded, only to sound a crescendo as he peeled back her clitoral hood to expose her sensitive nub. Twirling it between his fingers was enough to make her gasp. She panted as he manipulated her clit, pulling and twisting and pressing. The pleasure was so strong she didn't notice his other hand moving until it was half buried in her hole. "Oh!" She said, surprised by the length of his finger as he inserted it fully. "It's like a little cock." The lynx exclaimed. Nummos laughed. "Oh, it's much better than that." He said. With a chuckle he returned his attention to her pussy. Timura's breath caught. Inside of her...it was...moving! She squirmed under his grasp, as if her body couldn't decide whether to escape or pull him closer. One hand on her clit, the other corkscrewing in her pussy, together they left her helpless, flopping against the bed in delight as her sopping pussy overflowed onto his hands. Suddenly she felt it press against something inside, just under where her clit must be. It sent a jolt through her, and a sudden need to pee. "Wait!" She tensed, but he refused to stop. She could feel the place swelling up as he squeezed it with his fingertip. The feeling of having to pee grew stronger, but so did her pleasure. Her ass shifted urgently against his hand as the sensation transported her, and her tail slapped against the bunk agitatedly. Drool dripped from her open mouth, leaving a wet spot on the bunk to match the one under her ass. She couldn't hold it much longer...she was going to come..she was going to pee..she was going to... "Yearrr!" She howled as she peaked. The lynx's body quaked uncontrollably as her pussy spurted over his arm. The ape still didn't stop, making her delirious with pleasure as her body jerked and spasmed in orgasm. As her spasms became quivers he slowed, matching her speed until she returned to sanity to find him hands gently caressing her legs. "Nummos--" She said suddenly, feeling the sopping bunk under her ass. "Did I--?" "Pee?" Nummos asked, looking up at her from between her legs. "No, it just felt like it, didn't it. You've probably never felt that, have you. Now do you believe the stories?" He waggled his fingers at her. "Oh, Nummos. That was wonderful." She sighed contentedly. "Now it's your turn." She purred, slipping off the bunk to kneel at his feet. While he fumbled for the shift buttons hidden under layers of lace, she reached for his belt. Neither the buckle nor his button fasteners offered resistance, and she dropped his pants to the floor, exposing his upright dick. Her eyes widened. "It's so..." She stopped herself but the damage was done. "Small?" He said placidly as his shirt finally dropped to the floor. "There is a story about that too, you know. Pavarati is the mother of Justice as surely as she is the mother of Creation, and when she saw the gift she had given the Apes forming in her womb she understood that she must enact a suitable price. Has my gift disappointed you?" "As if you didn't already know the answer." Timura growled playfully. "But now it's time to show you mine." She pounced, driving him back. Pinning him against the wall of the cabin she sunk lower, sliding her erect nipples down his shaggy chest. His whole length fit in her mouth, and she sucked it as deep as she could, burying her muzzle in his hairy crotch. She coiled her tongue around it, surrounding it with a tube of soft, wet muscle, prompting him to piston his hips like he was fucking her mouth. Her head never stopped moving, delivering a steam of ever-changing stimulation and gentle bites sent a shiver through his body. When she felt he might be near the edge she released his cock. Tilting her head to take his balls into her mouth she could see the two monkeys yanking excitedly. Knowing what they wanted she spread her legs farther, angling her hips so they could see the wetness on her slit. She glowed as the two cheeped and high-fived each other. Her long tongue slid to the base of his sac as one paw clasped his asscheek, holding his crack open. She teased him, almost tonguing his asshole, but not quite. "Uhhh..." Her other paw found its way to her own crotch, roughly massaging herself. The ape's cock strained to the limits of its erectness, and she felt his hands under her arms pulling her up. "That's enough." He said, licking her muzzle and lowering his hands to cup her ass. With easy strength he picked her up and laid her down on the bunk again. Timura closed her eyes and relaxed, letting him push her legs up to her chest, exposing her spread pussy lips. Nummos settled into her with a sigh. She felt a pang of disappointment at how shallow he went, but that soon faded as his motion brushed against her sensitive pussy lips. Lowering his body to hers, his hips grated against her clit with each stroke, giving her delight an extra charge. It wasn't long before he had found a rhythm, plumbing her depths as best he could. Over the sound of their bodies Timura heard a small rapping at her cabin door. Scherade had finished her mission. For a moment she stiffened, desperate to hear that her friend had found the statue. Then she remembered how important it was to keep the ape from suspecting anything. Pulling off his body and lowering herself to the deck, she knelt on all fours. Facing the porthole she arched her back, offering Nummos her pussy and displaying her erect nipples to the monkeys. The ape didn't need a written invitation and he slipped behind her, pressing down on her back as he slid in easily. Her hips bucked against his thrusts, as if trying to get every last bit of him inside. He fucked her in short spurts, not enough to bring her off, but enjoyable nevertheless. His pleasure was undeniable, and his breaths came in heavy pants as his thrusts grew more intense. The soft fur of her back against his chest added to the soft warmth of her pussy around his cock, filling his whole body with sensation. When it was too much for him he bared his fangs and bellowed, jerking his hips against her crotch as he shot his semen into her. He held her tight, pinning her to the deck as he quivered in post-orgasmic pleasure, and his breath came in chuffs as his body moved in ever-smaller jerks. When he was done, the two collapsed on the floor, with Timura spooned against the ape's strong chest. With one hand he idly traced the outlines of her breasts. For a time neither of the two spoke, content to rest in each other's arms. They lay there until interrupted by the bosun's whistle, announcing a shift of crew. Reluctantly the ape rolled away and began picking up his clothes. "That was quite a lesson, good sir." Timura said with a sigh as she watched the ape dress. "Like I said, anything for a passenger. Should the gentlefur wish to pursue further...education, I would be only too happy to happy to oblige." Nummos said as he fastened his lace collar around his neck. Timura lay on the bed, legs splayed to display her pussy, and gave him a lazy smile. "I'm sure I'll require another tutoring session to master this material." She said. "Until then." He said with a smile, closing the door behind him after a good long stare at her crotch to fix the sight in his memory. Timura looked out the porthole at the monkeys. "Scram." She growled with fake ferocity. They cheeped, then pulled themselves up and out of sight by their tails. Satisfied she was alone, she put on her robe and went to Scherade's room, where the fox was sitting on her bunk, looking glum. "Did you get it?" Timura asked eagerly. Scherade shook her head. "It wasn't there." She said. "Are you sure? Did you--" "I looked everywhere." Scherade insisted. "It's not there." "At least this means that Nummos wasn't guilty after all." Timura said. Scherade looked apprehensive, worried that her friend might return to the subject of their earlier fight. The tabby, though, had other ideas. Timura dropped heavily to the bed beside her. Sighing, she leaned into Scherade's shoulder, licking at her friend's fur for reassurance. The vixen wrapped both arms around her, letting the tension drain from her own body. She rubbed her nose across the bristly tufts atop Timura's ears, letting the smell fill her nostrils. "We'll find it. I'll think of something." She whispered. "I promise." "Oh, Scherade." The fox felt wetness against her fur as Timura's eyes watered. "You're the best friend ever. Ever. I'm so sorry." "Hm?" Scherade mumbled. "All this. It's my fault. I got you into this. I'm so sorry." Scherade tightened her embrace. "You aren't listening, kitten." She said. "I'm sorry." Timura repeated. "I told you that we're going to find it." She seized Timura's furry jowls and forced her to look up at the fox's bright eyes. "Don't you trust me?" Eyes wide, Timura licked the vixen's muzzle, a caress that became a kiss as she leaned into her friend. "I'll take you up on that when we're done." Scherade said with mock sternness. "Now let's go find that statue." "What about the hyena? No one knows very much about him." "Have you ever smelled cinnamon on him except after it was served in dinner?" Scherade shook her head. "No." Timura admitted reluctantly. "But maybe that's the point! Maybe it was a disguise!" "You don't think one of us would have smelled it on him later? It's not like he could have taken a bath." Timura shook her head mutely. "We need to think! That statue didn't look like much. Whoever took it knows what it is and why we have it, agreed?" The fox paced Timura's narrow cabin; three steps in each direction. "I suppose." "So who could know?" "Nobody. We came right to the ship." Timura objected. "Obviously, someone does. And not the captain, or he would have arrested us." "The old fox?" Timura asked. "I doubt it." Scherade shook his head. "He was on board ship when everything happened, probably asleep." "Wait! What if the cinnamon wasn't a disguise? Then..." Her voice trailed off. "I thought that curry tasted familiar!" "The cook..." Scherade caught on quickly. "Nummos said he was new. How new?" Timura asked eagerly. "And dinner was late because he was missing, right!? It has to be him." The two embraced excitedly. "Where would he keep it?" Timura asked when they separated. "The kitchen, don't you think? He bunks with the stewards, he wouldn't risk it there." "But how can we get in there? We can't let him catch us." Timura's brow furrowed. "Nummos." Scherade said. "We'll get Nummos to keep him occupied." "I've got it!" Timura said excitedly. Finally she was the one to think of a clever plan! "I tell him that I'm really hungry, but the cook will get mad if he catches me. As long as I let him get his hand under my skirt before I ask he'll say yes." "Sorry to make you do that again, but--" "Don't worry about that." Timura said smugly. The thought of what his hands might do once they'd made their way under her skirt gave her a little tingle. Perhaps she should go without undergarments--just to make sure he took the bait, she told herself. *** In the end, a whispered promise and a curved rump left temptingly close to his hand proved more than enticing enough. While the pair waited, Nummos called the cook to the hold, ostensibly to help with checking the inventory before landfall. Scherade and Timura snuck in as soon as the sound of the bull's hooves had faded. Their first glance failed to spot anything unusual; the cook ran a tidy kitchen and everything was properly stored to protect against the ship's motion. "It's got to be in those." Scherade whispered, pointing at the racks of tins storing flour and rice tied against one wall. Trying to be quiet, the two began lifting off the tops, but nothing unusual appeared. "There are too many of these, what if he comes back?" Timura worried. "We've got to hurry." Scherade replied, burying one paw in the first tin and feeling around. Timura followed suit, gritting her teeth as she felt the weevils crawling along her fur. "Nothing here." She said, moving on to the next one. The pair searched several without success, and Timura's stomach began churn with nervousness. On the fourth one, however, she felt something hard. Her heart rose into her throat as she pulled it out, exposing the prize. "It's here!" Timura shouted. "Shhh!" Scherade hissed, but it was too late. Nummos' distraction hadn't been long enough, and the enormous bull stood silhouetted in the doorway they entered from. With a bellow, he snatched up a cleaver and started towards them. Clutching the statue, Timura launched herself against one wall, extending her claws to cling to a ceiling beam, then leap for the door. As she went she could feel the rush of air from the cook knife sweeping down where she had been. While he tugged the blade out of the wood Scherade slipped past him on the other side. "This way!" Scherade said, scampering towards the cargo hold. Blade free, the Bull turned to follow, the sound of his hooves filling the narrow passageways. The hold had just enough illumination for nocturnal eyes to see the stacks of crates filling the space and the cargo nets slung from the rafters. "Back there!" Scherade led the way to a small room to one side of the hold. Once inside, though, Timura was dismayed to find it had no other exits. From outside the door, they saw a flickering light. The bull had found a lantern and was pursuing them into the hold. "What do we do now?" "Let me think." Scherade temporized. "Maybe Nummos could--" "Maybe, but we can't get to him, not with the bull out there." The fox shook her head. "Okay, I'll distract him." Timura tensed. "No." The fox put one paw across Timura's chest and whispered harshly. "It has to be me. You're the only one that ape will listen to. You have to convince him before that bull kills me." "But how?" Timura said, anxiety squeezing her chest. "I can't exactly flash my tits and--" "Then think of something else." The fox made to stand up. "But--?" Timura asked. "I helped with the robbery, didn't I?" Scherade asked in reply. Timura's keen vision could see how the vixen's eyes were dilated and her heart beating fast. Before Timura could object further, the fox launched herself through the doorway, knocking over a case of nails as she went. The bull spun at the noise and sprinted after her, cleaver raised. By the time Scherade hit the stairs up to the deck he had closed half the distance with long, powerful strides. When he had disappeared, Timura moved cautiously. Not knowing where Nummos was, she aimed for the same stairs. What she saw when she emerged, though, made her forget about the ape. The bull stood along the ship's rail, silhouetted against the sky. He already had Scherade pinned to the deck with one forearm and his cock out with the other. She whimpered in his grasp, but none of her schemes would help her now. Crewmonkeys jumped and hooted in a circle around them. Feeling helpless, she did the only thing she knew how to do. "Scherade!" Timura yowled as her legs bent and sprung, launching her at the bull's back. The flight seemed to take an eternity, as her hunter's brain took in her target's massive shoulders and muscular forearms. His stubby fingers looked as thick as her own legs. Then she slammed into his flank and it was too late for thinking. She buried her foreclaws in his hide as she raked him with her hindclaws, leaving bloody gashes along his side. With a bellow he spun around, dropping Scherade to reach for the new threat. When she felt his fingers closing on her neck ruff Timura pushed off, landing on the deck and growling. The black tip of Scherade's tail caught her eye as the fox scampered out of reach, retreating towards Nummos. Timura felt a short-lived flash of relief. Moving with surprising speed, the bull took advantage of her momentary distraction to lunge at her, grasping one forearm. No! Timura thought, as he yanked her close. She buried her fangs in his arm, tasting the metallic tang of his blood as she ripped away gobbets of flesh, but his grip was like iron. His other hand wrapped around her back, crushing her against his chest. Panicking, she flailed her hindquarters around trying to twist out of his grasp, but to no avail. Arms like bands of steel around her chest squeezed tighter, leaving her no space to breathe. Desperate, she clawed blindly with her hindlegs, and the bull spun around, trying to shift away from the painful gouging. At this angle, though, all she could do was annoy him, and if she didn't think of something else he would surely kill her. Her narrowed vision alighted on the rail. That was her chance! Gritting her teeth as he blundered around she waited until he passed by the rail. When he did, she wrapped her strong hind legs around it and pulled. The move would never have worked on a tiger of his mass, but the bull was top heavy, built for power, not for a hunter's balance. He staggered and stumbled against the rail. Another strong yank of her thigh muscles and they tumbled over the edge to the ocean below. She twisted in midair, trying to free herself from his grasp. Once in the water she would be fine--the ocean held no terror for a Shaelian lynx--but the bull faced certain death if he didn't let go and struggle to keep his head above water. The pair cannonballed into the waves and disappeared under the spray. As they sunk, the bull spasmed, salt water flowing into his open wounds. For just a moment his grasp loosened and Timura's heart leaped. Pushing him away she tried to escape, but only succeeded in shifting slightly before his implacable grip pulled her close again. The pair began to sink, and her elation turned to terror--the monster planned on taking her down with him! Whimpering, the tabby twisted desperately. The water around them was growing darker as they sunk further under water. As she squirmed, she realized that the minor shift in position that she had managed offered a new range of motion to her hind legs. She braced them on the bull's abdomen and kicked, committing every ounce of the strength that had propelled her body across eight meters of empty space. A gust of air burst out of the bull's mouth as he grunted in pain. Even a bull's thick hide has limits, and she felt it tear under her claws. The beast's abdominal wall gave way under another vicious rake from her claws. Blood spilled into the water around them, but his arms stayed locked around her neck. Timura could feel herself fading. Pulling her hind legs back one last time she churned them into the bull's stomach, whipping his intestines into a bloody froth. Finally one claw caught in the muscles under his lungs and ripped. As water rushed into his lungs his life spilled out in a cloud of red-tinted bubbles and he finally grew still. She tried to twist out of the bull's grasp as the lifeless corpse began to descend, but his arms remained locked in a death grip. Her lungs burned as she clawed frantically, trying to dig her way through the bull's corpse to freedom. By the time enough space opened for the cat to squirm out, Timura's world had narrowed to her need to breathe. Paddling for the surface with the last or her strength she burst into the light and air, sucking in huge gasps. "The rope!" Some part of her brain heard the voice calling from above. The ship was nearly past her, but someone had thrown down a line. If she had been thinking she would have held on and let the boat pull her while she caught her breath, but rational thought was beyond her. Seizing it in one claw, she pulled herself up to the deck, sprawling in a pile of wet fur, panting and coughing. Crewmonkeys gathered around her, hooting and jumping. She tried to tell them to back off, but her throat wouldn't form proper words. What started off as a rumbling growl grew into the roar of a carnivore spirit that no amount of civilization would ever erase. She bellowed her challenge to the world, casting about randomly with her claws. The watching monkeys scattered in all directions; some fled up the masts, others scampered below decks. Even the big ape backed away. Only Scherade held her ground, stepping slowly towards the enraged lynx. "It's okay, pussycat. We've won." She said. Timura spun towards her, claws raised, but Scherade kept moving, praying her voice would penetrate to the rational part of Timura's brain. "We've won." Slowly the howl lost volume, fading to a rumbling in Timura's throat as she staggered in exhaustion. Before she could fall Scherade lunged forward and held her. Timura fell silent in the embrace, head lolling against Scherade's chest as her claws retracted. Then her knees gave way and she collapsed against her friend and lover, exhausted, letting Scherade hold her as the world went dark. "We've won. We've won." The fox repeated softly, and for a long time Scherade cradled her, just listening to Timura's shuddering breaths. *** The bar had not changed since she had visited before, and once again, Nikolai sat alone at the far table. The same buxom koala bowed as the two thieves made their way to the back table and sat down. Timura drank deeply, but Scherade only sipped, keeping her eyes on the primly dressed ferret. "It is good to see you both." He opened. Neither of the females smiled. "Your planning needs work, ferret." Scherade said accusingly. To Nikolai's doe-eyed stare she continued. "The damn horse caught Timura in the act." "And yet here you are. With the statue, no less." He looked at Timura and chuckled, making an odd clicking sound deep in his throat. "A testament to you and to your beautiful friend." He nodded to Scherade, who did not return the gesture. "If you had any idea..." Timura forced her vision to widen out of a hunter's focus. "No, but I would very much like to hear it." Nikolai replied soothingly. He listened carefully to the tale, making noises of encouragement and dismay as the story progressed. When she was finished, she gestured to Scherade, who drew the ivory case out of her rucksack and placed it on the table. Nikolai eased off the straps and opened it, revealing a small statue of a rabbit. "My goodness. It is exactly as described." Nikolai said, holding it up to his face and peering at it from every angle. "We've done what you asked." Timura reminded him, tail whipping back and forth behind her stool. "Hm?" Nikolai mumbled absentmindedly, still staring at the statue. "They won't take the villa now?" Timura repeated. Her ears were folded uncertainly. "I am a creature of my word, Miss Nelaji. If your sire were here he would tell you the same. I will take this to the fur I know on the Board of Adjustment and explain that your sire brought it back and left it at the villa with a note for you." He explained, putting the statue down and looking Timura in the eyes. "Sire..." Timura's voice trailed off. "You won't tell him about this, will you?" She asked. "On the contrary, dear tabbycat," Nikolai pressed his paws together and leaned across the table. "I suspect that your sire will be rather proud of his little Snowbell." Timura's mouth dropped open in surprise. "Will they believe your story?" Scherade interjected, not catching the reference. "Ah." Nikolai began, turning his attention to the skeptical fox. "Members of the Board of Adjustment are chosen for their...attention to rules, not for their creativity. Were someone to suggest that a young tabby--little more than a decadent kitten, according to their own reports--travelled halfway across the world and stole this from under the owner's nose, I doubt he would make headway against the other members of the Board." Nikolai placed the ivory object into his valise and snapped it shut. "No, they will accept our explanation and retract the declaration of your sire's death, thereby saving your ownership of the villa." Speech concluded, he took a drink of his rakija and peered at Timura over the rims of his spectacles. "And now, Miss Nelaji, and you, Miss Khoren," he said with another nod to the vixen. "I think it is time we discussed your future..."

A special thanks to Beowulf1990 for helping get this story ready for prime time!