# Sanctuary

Author: Neiko
Tags: Human, No-Yiff, Wolf

#2 of The Prisoner

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WARNING - This chapter contains mild references to homosexuality and  
love between a sentient, intelligent wolf and a human. Any who would  
be insulted by this, or any children under 18 years of age (or 21 in  
certain areas) should NOT read this story, and by reading past this  
point, you afirm that you are legally mature and able to handle the  
subjects mentioned above. Also, the writer is not responsible for any  
problems which arise by not complying with this warning. Thank you for  
your patience, and I hope you enjoy.  
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Chapter 2 - Sanctuary  
  
  
"Come, we cannot rest here any longer, or we will surely be  
found."  
I stand up, reluctantly, as my Mazuku friend urges me onward.  
How far will we be walking, I wonder? His people's land can't be close  
to here, or they'd have been found long ago. I brush off my trousers  
and shirt, a bit less than stable on my feet. I stumble forward on  
shaky legs, still feeling weak, dizzy...  
I don't remember anything, after that, but my eyes open to  
stare directly into his. "Wha..."  
"You fainted again... it appears as though I pushed you too  
hard. I am sorry."  
I shake my head, letting him know it's not his fault. He had  
been right, if we don't move from here, we'll be hunted down and found.  
And there would be far worse in store for him if that were to happen.  
I can't stand to see him hurt anymore.  
"L... leave... m-me..." I manage to whisper.  
"Leave you?!" He yells, quite loud and gutteral to my ears, it  
shocks me to hear it. The rest of his words are quieter, though  
whether to settle me, or to keep our position secret, I cannot tell.  
"I cannot leave you here, after you risked your very life to allow me  
passage from that abominable prison. I will not leave you behind, and  
that is final."  
I feel... relieved, somewhat, to know that he cares for me  
still. Yet, for how long would we both have to wait in fear of being  
captured before we are safe, if we are ever even to be safe. Without  
any warning to him, I sit up, and stand, balancing myself against a  
tree, and walking forward.  
"Stop!" He yells at me.  
I don't listen to him, I just keep going. "W... we have to....  
move on..." I strain to get the words from my lips, yet, as his hand  
touches my shoulder, I lose my will, and stop as he says.  
"You should know, you were heading back to the beach." I look  
to him, confused, then back, and though I cannot see it, by the  
direction of the sun I know he is right. I break down laughing,  
falling backwards in my enthusiasm. He seems to smile again, and sets  
himself down next to me. "Come, you need your strength, I've still a  
few fruits left." He takes the sachel of leaves from his back, untying  
it and handing me two bananas, and a coconut. "Eat well, then we shall  
continue on. I have no more wish to be in this forest any longer than  
you."  
I nod to him, gratefully peeling and feeding upon the  
bananas... then wondering how to unlock the secrets of this coconut  
he's given to me. I see him pound his over a wooden log, then tip it  
over his lips, watching the white milk of the coconut flow down his  
throat... which gives me a few ideas to say the least, but none of them  
having to do with food. I put it past my thoughts, concentrating on  
how to get my own drink from this forbidden meal. He looks over as the  
last few drops of sweet coconut milk flow into his mouth, and smiles at  
me. "Here, you must do it this way." And with that, he takes my  
coconut, and shows me the log he had used. It has a large notch on it,  
sticking out from the log to a point. After displaying this to me, he  
takes my coconut, and slams it down over the top of the notch. I hear  
a splintering, and as he removes the coconut, he flips it over. "Drink  
from it." I smile, and do as he says, drinking every last bit of the  
juice from this fine gift. I see him with the coconut pressed to his  
lips, watching as his tongue delves deep inside it, finding all the  
nourishment hidden inside... and again my mind goes places it probably  
shouldn't. I glance down, seeing his wolf-like maleness, not quite  
hard, yet not quite soft either, yet as I watch, I see it rising,  
lengthening. Sometimes I WISH he wore clothing, because now my  
maleness was starting to mimic his.  
"Are you alright?" I hear... I close my eyes, and freeze on  
the spot. Great, now he's caught me staring at him... I keep my eyes  
closed, I can just imagine the look of disgust on his face... if he can  
even show disgust for me to see.  
I open my mouth to say something, but find it covered before I  
can. Opening my eyes in surprise, I see him, looking off in different  
directions at the jungle around us. I look around myself, afraid to  
find out what he's looking for. Without warning, I'm lifted into his  
arms, the sachel of leaves set in my lap, which I hold on to as he  
begins running at full speed through the thick, constraining trees  
around us. His grace is outstanding for a creature his size. I don't  
realize until we were some ways away that we are being chased. Rather,  
we are being hunted.  
I see them behind me, giving chase, climbing over and under low  
branches to get to their prey, us. It's a little unsettling to be  
prey, to be chased by one of your own kind. Though now, I am the enemy  
of my own kind, my race. I have no more time to think, within a few  
moments, I lose track of the hunters chasing us, and quite suddenly,  
the sun is at least three times as bright as usual. The Mazuku stops  
fast, and we quickly both realize what's been played out.  
"How could I not see this?" We both look across the wide open  
field of grass, and I'm sure his finely tuned ears can ear every  
footfall from every soldier surrounding the encircling tree-line. He  
growls a moment, then looks to his right, and bolts, with me in arms.  
I'm again surprised by his grace, as I feel hardly any jolting or  
bumping all through his run, and as he reaches the trees, I see his  
reasoning. Two other Mazuku! They look distinctly like him, but after  
the close look I've had at my rescuer and rescuee, I'll never forget  
his own, personal appearance. I barely notice the near hundred human  
soldiers rushing at us, along with the nearly ten Mazuku giving us a  
grand escort out of the area. I focus my eyes on the Mazuku carrying  
me. Does he actually care if I live or die? Or is this just repayment  
for my saving him?  
I don't get time to think further, before I know where I am,  
it's dark beyond belief. I can't see an inch in front of my face,  
though judging by the pace this Mazuku is running, he can see rather  
well. I'm surprised by a pair of glowing eyes staring out of where his  
face must be. No wonder he could see so well, I should have known from  
the start. I don't hear anymore humans, only the ten or so Mazuku  
rushing around and beside me and my escort. A sudden, blinding flash  
of light forces my eyes shut, and a few moments later, I open them to  
see a lush forest.  
The beauty of this place makes it seem almost primal. All  
around, there are trees tall and strong, many of them with ferns  
growing at their feet. The smell is enchanting, a mixture of herbs and  
of bare, untouched nature.  
"This is my home." Says my rescuer.  
I look around again, yet find no houses, no tents, not even a  
hollowed out log or a hole in the ground. I am about to ask him where  
he lives among this forest, when another of the Mazuku walks forward  
and speaks to him.  
It's a language I can't understand, a language completely alien  
to me, most likely alien to all human kind. When they finish their  
discussion, I decide to intervene.  
"What were you saying?" I ask.  
"Oh, he simply asked if I am alright. Thanks to you, I am."  
I blush slightly, not expecting such a complement. "Well, this  
seems quite an escort for you, especially because they didn't know you  
would be there."  
"Oh, they knew." He remarks crypticly. Before I have a chance  
to ask what he meant, I'm released, set on the ground, and brushed off  
by his hands/paws.  
  

  After my friend speaks to the rest of the Mazuku assembled  
there, they leave, and he shows me around the forest. It's perfect.  
Not a single blemish on any tree, not a blade of grass out of place.  
It's as if this were a place of magic. I resolve to ask him further  
about this place tonight. Soon enough, I can hear the hooting of an  
owl, a sure sign that the sun will be setting soon. I had taken the  
time to walk through the forest, looking at everything with a sense of  
awe, but soon, night would come. I certainly did not want to be left  
out here at night, God only knows what foul creatures could hide in a  
forest of such bounty.  
It doesn't take me long to find my companion. He is sitting  
beside a large fire, with nearly fifty other Mazuku, some sitting and  
speaking in the odd tongue which I have yet to understand, and others  
up and dancing. From the looks of it, I would say that they are having  
some kind of celebration. I look on for a few moments, at the singing  
Mazuku, not a stitch of clothing on any of them. That explains why my  
friend has no clothing either. Soon, he notices me watching, stands,  
and begins walking my way. He seems to have an enchanting way of  
moving, his swaying tail catching my attention for a moment before I  
look up to his eyes.  
"I see you've found your way to our common area." He says to  
me, over the singing and talking I hear from nearer to the fire. All  
in that same language I've never heard before.  
"Yes, I'm glad I did before it got too late." I remark.  
"Oh, there's no danger for you around here. All of my people  
know of your presence here, and none will do anything to harm you."  
I'm pleased by this, at least I know I'm safe.  
"Where do you live, in this forest?" I skip ahead to my  
questions, so I can make sure they get answered.  
"My territory is in that direction," he says, pointing off into  
the distance somewhere, "you'll be stayign with me while you are here."  
"Alright." I reply. "I've also noticed that none are speaking  
English, as you are... why is that?"  
"Ah, you mean your language? My status is such that I am  
taught to speak fluently in the languages of humans. Not many of my  
kind are able to, even fewer are willing."  
I realize just now how difficult it must be for some of them to  
allow me into this place. I look down, and he must sense my  
uneasiness. "Do not be alarmed. You will not be harmed here, you have  
saved me, and I give you my deepest gratitude." The Mazuku bows before  
me, and I straighten uneasily at being paid such an honor, bowing back  
to him.  
"Um... what may I call you?" I ask him, to avoid a long,  
nervous pause on my part.  
"Hmmm... I doubt my name could be pronounced by your tongue..."  
He looks down, as though trying to decipher a horendous puzzle.  
"I'm willing to try, I have plenty of time." I offer to him,  
and he nods his approval.  
"Alright. I'll give you my name, to start," and after a short  
pause, he makes out a few syllables I've never heard, combinations of  
letters and sounds I probably could never reproduce, and a few growls  
that are probably too difficult for me to figure out how to say. The  
name isn't incredibly long, but it is a bit daunting to hear at once.  
He smiles to me, and simply states, "Just refer to me as 'Crvesh', it  
is the shortest recognizable form of my name."  
"Alright then.. Keravesh..." I still have to sound it out, and  
it's probably a horrible pronunciation to his ears, but he gives me a  
gentle smile anyway.  
"That is excellent, now, what may I call you by?" He asks me.  
"My name is Xavier."  
"Zavir?" He says, as though in question, I nod, and realize  
that he probably doesn't know my language as well as it has seemed up  
until now. All he has to go on is what his culture knows from before  
they were forced away. The long silence passes without my knowing,  
until a soft hand... or paw, I've yet to decide which it is more  
like... comes to rest on my shoulder, and snaps me back to reality. "I  
understand that we are safe now, but if you continue to drift off like  
that, I will wonder about your health."  
To these words, I laugh hysterically, and Crvesh joins me,  
seeming more light-hearted now than before, though it is probably  
because he's in his own land. Which reminds me of my reason for  
finding him. "Um, about tonight, you live... in that direction?" I  
point off into the wilderness, and he nods to me.  
"Yes, that way. Would you like to turn in for the night?" I  
nod to him, and he smiles. "Alright. I will join you, the day has  
been long for myself as well."  
Soon enough, he says his goodbyes to his friends and... perhaps  
relatives... by the campfire, and walks along beside me. I wonder to  
myself, as I look around... where do these Mazuku live? I see no  
houses, no buildings, nothing but trees all around. Their land could  
not be THAT large and still remain hidden so long, at least not by my  
reconning, so I decide to ask Crvesh.  
"Where exactly is it, that you live? I don't see any  
structures here." I remark.  
He looks to me bemusedly, and stops in his tracks, holding me  
back as well. I become afraid, as though he may have heard something,  
but soon he faces me and smiles, still just visible under the full moon  
light. He turns back to the space in front of him, and before my eyes,  
the entrance to a large cavern appears in front of me. I stare on in  
shock, though soon I feel his arm again nudging me forward. I comply,  
still in my state of disbelief, looking all around at the torch-lit  
pathway deeper into the cavern. As we head in deeper, I look back,  
only to find that no light from the moon even reaches here, despite the  
fact that we've walked only about 20 yards by now. Looking back ahead  
of me, I notice a room with many torches, and a large fire burning at  
the center of one wall, though oddly, no smoke rises from any of this.  
I take a moment to capture all that this room holds.  
It isn't very large, a humble room, with a fire burning off to  
one side, torches lining the walls, all of the walls made of very well  
carved out granite rock, I note. There is a pile of skins off to one  
side, his bed, I assume, and a path that heads off from one corner. It  
is also lit, and I get the feeling as I look on that it is where he  
keeps his food, probably freezing cold to keep it fresh. All this  
while, though I don't notice, he keeps his eyes locked on me, watching  
as I take in his home, smiling calmly, and again, before I realize, his  
hand/paw brings me back to reality.  
"What do you think of it? After seeing the kinds of structures  
you humans live in, I'm afraid I can't offer much more for comfort, but  
this will be where you will live." He seems concerned that I won't  
like it, though, in truth, the simplicity is, at once, entirely  
welcome.  
"Oh, no, actually, I don't mind at all. It will be nice to  
relax with you for a change." I realize too late what I've said, and  
turn bright red, trying to cover up my words by continuing. "Er, how  
am I to get in here? I mean, how did you find the cave?"  
"Ah, that. I have forgotten that your kind no longer has ties  
with our world." He must have noticed the slight look of hurt on my  
face after his words sunk in. "Sorry. Human-kind. I did not mean to  
offend you. What we do is very simple, we are taught from youth to use  
the powers the earth gives us. I could teach you to use the cave  
entrance in time, and probably to do other things as well, though your  
human heritage may not sit well with the earth."  
I nod to him, glad that he's at least willing to give me a  
chance. I look again to the pile of skins, and he gives me a gentle  
push in that direction. "By all means, you must be tired. We shall  
sleep for now." As he makes his way over, I notice again his swaying  
tail, following just a couple steps behind him. I try my best to take  
my eyes away from the sight, and manage to just barely before he turns  
to me. "Do you mind sharing my bed? I could sleep on the ground, it  
is little trouble."  
  

  "No, don't go out of your way just for me." I reply to him,  
then yawn softly. I'm more tired than I'd originally thought. "I'll  
be fine." I see him looking down along my body, then back up to my  
face, and look at him in ponderance, "What..."  
"Your skins..." He says to me. I put the word through my  
mind. Skins? Ah! My clothing. I yawn involuntarily, and he smiles  
to me, "Nevermind, I will ask in the morning."  
I shake my head, as much to disagree as to wake myself up a  
bit. "I'm not too tired yet, what did you want to know?"  
He nods, and smiles to me, beginning to speak slowly. "My  
people only wear skins during the cold winter months, yet... I have  
never seen a human without his skins. Are you truly in such need of  
warmth?"  
I find myself again remembering my previous findings. It's  
true, they have no modesty about their bodies, and why should they?  
Even naked, they have a layer of fur covering them. Nothing to be  
embarassed about. Still, as I look over his body, my eyes are drawn to  
his sheath. It doesn't particularly stand out, but it is there, in  
plain sight. I blush, unable to control the reddened cheeks, and speak  
to him. "We have... um..." I pause here, uncomfortably, taking my eyes  
from his sheath, to see his smile just the same as always. I decide to  
relax, maybe there's less pressure in his culture about this kind of  
thing. "We have insecurities... about being without skins..." I smile  
at my use of his word, trying to make it understandable.  
He tilts his head... a very odd likeness to a tame dog tilting  
his... a way of portraying confusion, I decide. "Insecurities? I do  
not understand." I realize now that I should have listened to him when  
he suggested we talk about this in the morning. This conversation  
could get very long.  
I think for a moment about how to explain it to him. How do  
you explain an insecurity about being naked to someone who's standing  
in front of you in the nude? I decide to try anyway. "Well, it's an  
insecurity about being naked... without skins, I mean. It has to do  
with..." I blush again, unable to hide my embarassment about  
explaining this to someone who doesn't care what state of dress, or  
lack thereof, that you're in. "...with our genitals. Humans are  
insecure about showing them to others." That's probably the best  
explanation I can give. I just hope he understands.  
He just gives me another quizzical look. "Genitals?" It  
appears that word hadn't been introduced to him. I look down at his  
sheath again, then back up, to see him glancing down that way as well.  
His right hand points to his sheath, and he asks, "Your reproductive  
organs?" I nod, again, blushing like mad. He seems to be processing  
the statement I made, showing many forms of confusion as he stares down  
at his sheath, then at my crotch, back and forth. "I simply do not  
understand..."  
I sigh lightly, it doesn't seem like there's any way to fully  
explain the way I and most of the human race feel. "Well, it's not  
that important, I'm sure I'll survive while I'm here."  
He seems to straighten up after hearing that. "Well, I do not  
wish for you to feel uncomfortable. I could wear my skins while you  
are around, though I do not think it will be possible for the entire  
pack to act in that way, however..."  
I smile at his effort to make me feel at home. He certainly is  
willing to go through a lot to make me feel welcome. I interrupt his  
thoughts before he finishes them. "No, that's not necessary. I'll  
already be a burden on you as it is, you have a right to your own  
comfort." He still looks unsure, but I just smile to him. "Let's go  
to sleep, I'm really tired."  
He nods, and smiles back to me, probably thinking the same  
thing in his head. I'd neglected to ask how in the world we got here  
from the other forest in the first place, but it must have been  
something like how we got into his cave just a little while ago. That  
'magic of the earth', or whatever he called it. No humans possess any  
magic that I know of, all of our magic is done by machines.  
A hand/paw on my shoulder awakens me from my thoughts. Crvesh  
seems to smile at me, and says, "You really must find some way to  
control that." I chuckle lightly, and he joins in for a bit, then we  
both quiet down, and he settles onto the pile of skins by one wall of  
the room. The fire in this room actually has me feeling quite warm,  
and I ponder joining him in his ways tonight. My decision is made  
before I even think about it. It's just too hot in here to sleep like  
this. I remove my shirt first, realizing I'm still somewhat nervous  
about being naked in front of Crvesh, despite that he's never worn  
clothes in front of me before. After the shirt is off, dropped  
haphazardly next to his bed, I begin to remove my pants. These I  
remove quicker than before. I just realize that if I get this over  
with, it won't be so bad.  
I'm not worried too much, after all, he's seen me like this  
before. But I also realize, I'm gonna have to get used to being nude,  
if I want to even vaguely fit in around here. Not to mention that I'm  
still a little warm. I slip the white shorts down my thighs, and let  
them fall to the floor, kicking them on top of the small pile of  
clothes by his make-shift bed. That taken care of, I lay atop the pile  
of skins, all too soon feeling the pull of sleep at my eyes.  
  

   
copyright 2002 - Neiko Mitaki  
Feel free to e-mail me with any comments you might have, I  
would love to hear from anyone at all. Send comments to  
[[email protected]](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection) Again, comments and criticisms are graciously  
accepted. Flames will be ignored.  
That's all for this installment in the series. I'll probably  
continue it from now on, since there seem to be at least a few who like  
it. Not much else to say for now. Oh yeah, don't forget, you're one  
chapter closer to the yiffy stuff. I won't tell you when, but it's  
coming soon.

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/dePyBN7m
Part of the series The Prisoner
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