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Typical Disclaimer

This story is a work of erotic fiction, featuring anthropomorphic (furry) characters. If that disturbs you, don't read it. Any resemblance between characters portrayed here and people or characters elsewhere is both unintentional and coincidental - unless that resemblance happens to be to other characters of my own.

The naturally curious may find illustrations of characters and events herein at http://www.foxwoodstudios.co.uk, along with other stories and unrelated artwork.

If you have comments, or suggestions, by all means email me. I don't bite unless provoked.

Specifics

The observant will notice that this story contains a (light) spanking scene. A personal first, it was included as a start at broadening the horizons of my work, since my other story lines had been feeling a little stale. Hopefully the scene is both justified and gentle enough to be inoffensive, but don't say you weren't warned!

The even more observant may notice that this story glances across characters from earlier pieces [Just Friends](%5C) and [New Beginnings](%5C), and may be considered to fall somewhere between the two.

A Matter of Faith was conceived as a result of this picture; [My Cleric](%5C) - although I have rather missed my expected deadline as posted in the comments there. Sorry for the wait, hope you enjoy!

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A Matter of Faith

"Rise and shine, sinners, it's a beautiful day!"

Alyssa groaned softly, turning over and burying her head in the pillow, but it was no use; the inevitable clanging of a wooden spoon against the side of a hollow pot burrowed its way through the light cloth and feathers, battering at her ears and seeming to echo there, as if an entire army of drummers were demanding her attention. Did nobody have sympathy with the hungover any more?

The spoon paused, blessed silence falling for a moment.

"Well, if nobody's getting up, I hope you don't mind if I read a little?" the voice from outside Alyssa's tent said in a tone altogether too cheery for what was almost certainly a stupid time of day to be waking. After a moment with no apparent response, there came a slightly exaggerated clearing of a feminine throat, and a rustle of paper. "Book of Vulpara, chapter seven, verse thirteen; Blessed shall be those who forsake their worldly pleasures to embrace Her light. Blessed shall be those who - good morning, Amethyst, would you like some breakfast?" the voice changed direction and tone, evidently having managed to rouse one of the sleepers in the row of tents.

"Shall be those who partake not to excess," Alyssa mouthed the all-too-familiar words along with those damnable cheery and well-meaning tones as they hammered painfully at her skull. "Taking greatest refreshment and joy in Her presence and Her love, for they shall need no other pleasures," there was definitely more emphasis than usual on these words, Alyssa thought.

"Good morning, Leoric," the voice beamed happily. "Verse fourteen; For what greatness and good may not be accomplished by one who has forsaken the pleasures of the flesh to focus in entirety upon Her? What deeds may be wrought in history by one who has only room for Her grace in their heart and her will in their mind? Verse fifteen; And yea, sorrowful shall be those who turn away from Her light in the pursuit of worldly attractions for they shall cry in vain to Her, unrepentant..."

Enough, Alyssa decided, crawling towards the end of her tent, nearly tearing off one of the stubborn buttons.

"River... shut... up!"

It was an impressive shout, the kind which can only really be carried off by a sturdy female hyena of some six and a half feet in height, and it was immediately regretted as Alyssa's aching head reminded her that silence was clearly the order of the day. Wincing, she nevertheless stood up straight, squinting in the bright sunlight, one hand raised to shade her face from the monstrous thing just heaving itself over the horizon. The sun, indeed. What fool invented that?

The white furred vixen by the camp fire didn't even pause to look at her. In one hand, she held a ladle, with which she was apportioning breakfast onto a quartet of metal plates set on a small collapsible table. In the other, the book that she had been reading from, bound in expensive red leather and trimmed with gold leaf. Around her neck, the simple white symbol of the New Church of Light, suspended on an equally simple white cord, that matched perfectly with the simple white robes of a cleric.

It wasn't that Alyssa disliked followers of the church; by and large they were good people, the sort of people who might be trusted with the safety of others, the sort who would always take time to help those who needed it, and would never take advantage of the vulnerable. Nor was it that she disliked the vixen herself - she was, in many ways, a model cleric, imbued with all the kindness and caring that the church smiled upon. River was gentle, and warm, and giving, and - when she wasn't wearing robes that covered her from ankle to neck - really quite attractive.

"Unrepentant and furious, as their heathen empires fall around them. Sinning again last night were we?"

She could also be a self-righteous brat. To her credit though, even as the hyena towered over her - the vixen being shorter by some eighteen inches - she didn't so much as flinch, let alone back away. Probably because she knew Alyssa would never actually harm her, despite the hand that was raised as if to land a heavy blow upon that delicate face. Checking herself, as the vixen knew she would, Alyssa dropped her arm as the cleric studied her.

"You smell," she stated, and Alyssa frowned, glancing down at herself.

She had slept in her boots again, the hyena realised. It wasn't a great surprise to discover that she was wearing the same clothes she had ventured into town in the previous night, creased and rumpled from sleep and... other activities. Ah yes, there was the memory. Oh, it had been one of those nights.

"Why do you do it?"

"What?"

"These... acts," the vixen said, looking up at her, a frown marring her otherwise attractive features. "These foolish moments you have, they waste your potential and seem to bring you nothing but discomfort." Alyssa's head throbbed and she raised a hand to it. "It is never too late to repent," the vixen continued.

Alyssa just looked at her in silence.

"Yes, repent," the vixen continued unabashed. "Atone. Accept the sins that you have committed and move on from them, clean and forgiven. Repentance of our sins, is the first step on the road to salva..."

"I don't need your salvation," Alyssa spat, somewhat more harshly that she quite meant. "What I need is some occasional relief from trudging around the kingdom playing knight in shining armour with you three kids!" she snapped, gesturing to where their companions were sitting on the grass at the side of the camp site. Leoric and Amethyst both eight years younger, River herself at only nineteen, and all three of them making Alyssa feel far older than she actually was.

"The work we do," River stated coolly. "Is important and noble, and I would have expected you to treat it as such, rather than jeopardise it with your sinful habits."

"My habits," Alyssa growled, "are entirely personal do not interfere with our job."

"But they are destroying your soul!" the vixen said, her voice losing some of its coldness. "Alyssa, please, don't you see that this can only lead to your eventual destruction? If only you would open yourself to the gods, repent of your ways..." The hyena drew herself up to her full height. Broad of build, with the physique of a trained warrior, her shadow fell across the short, slender vixen. "...and, and see the l-light," she stumbled over the last few words.

"I have seen the light," Alyssa rumbled ominously. "I've seen high priests ride past in fine gold carriages while families starve in the gutters they pass. I've seen church men bless weapons to be used in unjust wars. I've seen the ordained accuse innocents of witchcraft and order them burned alive, as you should be well aware! I have seen the light, River, and I do not repent. Not now, not ever."

With that, she turned on her heel and stalked away, heading for her tent again.

"Well if... if you won't repent, then... then at least take a bath!" the young cleric called after her.

River didn't talk to Alyssa for the rest of the day. It wasn't until they had broken camp, travelled some fifteen miles along the road, and settled again that the vixen would even look at her. Alyssa felt quite content with this state of affairs, being in no mood to be lectured again. Sinner, indeed!

The hyena did take a bath, however, finding herself forced to admit that her activities the previous night had left a funk of smoke, alcohol, and... well... men, about her. Having pressured the group onwards until they could set up camp by the side of a small lake, she retreated around a small rise in the ground, sinking into the water as the setting sun lit the sky red.

Looking up as she heard footsteps, she found River looking at her, a bundle of cloth under her arm, and a lantern in the other hand.

"I didn't see you take a towel," she said, setting the bundle down by the side of the little lake.

"Warm night," Alyssa shrugged, the water up to her armpits. "Probably dry easy enough."

"As you wish," the vixen returned the shrug with apparent indifference, and retreated, though Alyssa noticed she left both towel and lantern anyway.

Well meaning, was River, Alyssa had to admit it. Occasionally insufferably self righteous, but well meaning, and she wouldn't let her annoyance get in the way of looking out for folk. She also had a very graceful walk, the gentle sway of her hips not really hidden by her robe.

Alyssa stirred in her sleep. Something was different; a change, a warmth pressed against her flank... ah. She breathed slowly for a few moments, letting her eyes accustom to the dim confines of the tent, the white canvas lit faintly from outside by a nearly full moon. Raising her left hand, she let it stray across her body to her right side, encountering a soft shoulder.

"All right, Riv, it's all right," she murmured quietly, feeling the girl tense as she gently stroked that soft white fur through the thin cotton night dress. No, not really a girl, she reminded herself, but moments like these, she did have a fragile, childlike quality about her, and in all honesty, Alyssa did find that very appealing. "Couldn't sleep?"

She felt the change in pressure as the vixen shook her head ever so slightly, her muzzle resting on Alyssa's strong arm.

"You're angry about last night, aren't you?" Alyssa asked. Silence followed the question, and she sighed. "Yes you are, you're always angry when I sleep with a man." The vixen's arm, draped lightly across her middle, tightened a little, and Alyssa smiled. "You really don't have to worry about me you know. I can take care of myself." Slightly tighter still.

It was no great wonder that the vixen was afraid, the hyena thought ruefully. She knew full well that the girl had grown up with an abusive father, and a deceased mother. The poor girl had been frequently beaten, neglected, assaulted, half starved... and yet somehow, every morning, every mark inflicted upon her the previous night had gone. Every cut, every bruise, every patch of fur torn out would, by morning have vanished, leaving nothing but a clean, healthy little girl.

Perhaps it was this that spurred the cruel treatment, the apparent inability to permanently hurt the young vixen may have fed his anger - or maybe it just made him think his treatment of her wouldn't be noticed. After all, River wouldn't speak about it, she was too frightened of further hurt, and there were no tell tale marks to alert anyone. The perfect subject for abuse. A fresh canvas every day.

How River had kept her sanity could be credited to to a single lifeline. A book of the New Church, kept hidden from her father, which she must have read over and over again until she knew the words by heart, reading again and again the stories of ancient kingdoms, of great deeds, of terrible cruelties, of sacrifice and of love. How many times must she have repeated to herself that the gods were gentle, that they looked after everyone, that the key to salvation was in faith? Read over and over the protective mantra that to a true believer in the light, there was always hope.

The irony was that the one place her father would take her was the temple. He would sit her down upon the hard wooden seats once a week, with a demand for silence and a show of anger, as if all his misdeeds had been committed by the small vixen. Small wonder that most of the town thought her a troubled child, kept in check by a diligent parent.

Mindful of the need to keep up appearances, her father found it difficult to refuse his daughter the right to speak with the clergy, so he waited silently at the back of the temple hall, each passing minute earning her further punishment.

Bound by faith and their own good natures to listen, the clerics soon learned that the child was no harm or trouble, and they spoke with her whenever she approached, passing on their teachings, pleased to find such an attentive young student. Each minute with the clerics was a minute where she learned how the light always conquers, how no test or burden is too great for one with faith, a minute where, for a moment, she felt that she would one day be free and safe and happy.

When River was ten, that day came... sort of. Her father returning home at midnight, drunk as usual - more so; the door hammering back against the wall as he fell through it, loud enough to wake and alert the little girl that something was different. As she crept down the stairs, ready to dart up again should she see him, the girl realised he was unconscious - whether through alcohol or impact didn't matter; he was on the ground, unmoving, and the door to the outside, the world she longed for, stood open.

Aimless, knowing only that she had to get away from her father, away from the townsfolk who would unwittingly return her to him, she fled along the road into the darkness of the night.

Turning onto her side, Alyssa hugged the vixen tightly to her, craning her neck to rest her chin atop the girl's snow white head, feeling her tremble in the embrace. What manner of man could drive such a harmless piece of fluff to a midnight flight with nothing but ragged clothes and a tattered doll? What ill fate must befall someone, what demands imposed that they would seek revenge on such an innocent?

"Would it make you feel better if I said he was a professional that I've known for a while and that I trust him? Not all that much bigger than you, good looking lad, name of Oliquandro Goldstone - kind of a mouthful, so we call him Ollie. He's really quite harmless. His sister's quite the cutie too, you should come meet her and see for yourself."

Wrapped up in Alyssa's embrace, the girl shook her head.

No, of course not. It would, in River's mind, be quite unthinkable to set foot in such a place; a house where sins were bought and sold, where damnation had a price in coin.

"Well I'm sorry," Alyssa sighed. "But whatever you may say, and whatever anyone may preach, I just don't feel that there's anything wrong with it. It's a personal service, that's all, no different to having your fur styled or your nails trimmed, and don't you try to tell me otherwise."

River would, of course, try to tell her otherwise, most likely tomorrow morning at sunrise, but that was something to deal with at the time. Not that the girl meant any harm by it, she never did, it was just in her nature - and to a degree, her training. It had been some testament to the fiery spirit that burned inside her that a girl of ten had survived three days alone in the wild before reaching the next town along the way. Further testament was made that she had entered with awareness, and with purpose. heading for the only place she thought would be able to help; the temple of the New Church.

Finding the child shivering in the rain on the temple steps, a kindly old cleric led her inside, found clean clothes, fed her, and showed her to a bed where she could rest until morning. It wasn't the first time they had heard such a story, but with snowy white fur, and wide, innocent eyes, she swiftly found a place in the hearts of the clerics, and somehow wasn't turned over to the orphanage quite as quickly as would be normal.

It was almost a week after her arrival that the clerics' fondness for the girl transformed into awe. One of the townsfolk had been brought to the temple from the fields, a gaping wound in his leg where a scythe blade had cut, the sharp metal ripping through muscle, tendon and bone. Peering curiously into the infirmary, River had seen the man lying there as the healers discussed his situation, seen him pale as they concluded that there was no saving his leg, and that the only option was a clean amputation of the foot to prevent infection.

That wasn't right, River decided, tiptoeing forwards behind the clerics, unnoticed by all but the injured man. He took her hand as she held it out to him, his lower lip trembling with pain and fear. When River clamped her hand over the wound he shouted so loudly that it echoed around the stone walls, his fingers tightening around hers with bruising strength before the clerics could pry them apart. It was only when the man's shout of pain trailed off in confusion that they understood.

The girl could heal.

A true healer, a healer on touch, needing no herbs nor medicines nor bandages.

And she looked up at them, the afternoon sun shining in through the window, haloing her in white, and asked how she could become a cleric of the New Church of Light.

No wonder those at the temple had rejoiced that day, Alyssa thought, pulling back a little to look at her face. She had been their golden girl, their angel, their icon and idol, gifted by the gods, sent as a gift to the Church.

"What do you want, Riv?" she whispered softly, her lips touching between the vixen's closed eyes. "You know it's bad manners to disturb people without asking, especially when it's hot and they're sleeping nude."

Breathing quickened a little, the vixen's head head dipped in a tiny nod.

"You know I don't stand for that kind of bad manners."

Another tiny nod, those wide eyes flickering open, the girl's expression imploring as Alyssa sat up, her strong body cast into highlight and shadow by the full moon as she looked down at her. Without hesitation, knowing that it was largely expected, she reached down, taking a hold of the back of her night dress, pulling the vixen across her lap, the hyena's left hand firm across her shoulders, pinning her chest to the canvas mat and the soft grass underneath it.

"Now I know they may have spoiled you rotten back at the temple," Alyssa told her matter of factly, her tones hushed but firm. "But to me you're still that dumb little fourteen year old girl you were when I met you, and if you think you can prance around my ranger team spouting your doctrine and preaching your beliefs without any thought for the others," as she spoke, Alyssa's right hand was busy tugging up the back of the vixen's night robes - as plain and white and boring as the cotton pants underneath, "then you got a few things to learn. Now, are you going to be a good girl and lift up your tail for me?"

There was a moment of hesitation - there always was. It was a time of choice, a time of decision, and one which Alyssa had made very plain she would always respect, no matter her own feelings. River could keep her tail tucked between her legs, receive a single swat across the backside, and be sent out, and no more would ever be said of the incident. Or she could send that snow white length of fluff arching high over her back, and accept whatever it was that Alyssa felt she deserved.

The moment ended, the young cleric made her choice.

"Good girl," the hyena smiled broadly. "Well now, I'm glad that you've decided to see things my way," she went on softly, her left hand gently sliding up the back of the vixen's head to caress her ears rewardingly. "You always have a choice, Riv," she whispered, leaning down and waiting for the little nod that signalled understanding - and permission.

"Now then, where were we?" Alyssa pondered aloud, left hand returning to between the girl's shoulder blades, pinning her without real pressure, but quite immobile nonetheless. "I guess we don't want these in the way," she went on calmly, unhooking the button above the vixen's tail, tugging the back of her pants down sharply, revealing that oh-so-soft little bottom to the cool night air. "Yes, much better. Discipline is important, as you know, and one cannot truly reflect upon one's repentance unless one is exposed to it fully."

The girl trembled, her back arching slightly as Alyssa's fingers drummed lightly against her rear.

"And you do have things to repent, don't you?" the hyena went on. "Such as getting me up at the crack of dawn this morning?"

A small gasp sounded in the tent as Alyssa's firm hand landed sharply upon that soft white bottom so neatly presented to her.

"Thinking that you're better than the rest of us."

Another soft thwack sounded. It could hardly even be called a slap, Alyssa thought, barely enough to make the girl's bottom tremble - but that wasn't the important part.

"Not thinking that just maybe we have a right to live as we please."

No, the symbolism was what counted, not the power of the strike - although this one was just a fraction firmer, experience telling her what the girl needed, grinning as the vixen's breath caught in her throat, fingers clenching against the canvas sheet.

"Isn't there a rule in there that says something about letting others live by their own standards, if no harm is done? About not interfering where you aren't wanted?"

It was a fine art, Alyssa always thought, taking proper care of the girl, letting her have her moment of discipline and atonement, making her feel chastised without being frightened, dominated but not at risk.

"And that's not to mention what a little inconvenience you can be. Right from day one you've been a pain in the butt."

She paused a half beat, making sure the girl wouldn't guess the timing of the next strike, catching her right as she was about to take a breath, forcing a small squeak out of her.

"Little miss high and mighty fourteen year old cleric thinks the temple doesn't really need her."

Never allow yourself to dispense 'discipline' while angry, that was the vital thing, the key that Alyssa must never, ever forget. Only once had she stepped past that line. Just once did she vent real frustration on that white little backside, bringing her hand down with stinging force, extracting cries of significant pain.

"Takes a wander out into the world, refusing all escorts or assistance, thinking she's immortal and blessed and protected by the gods."

The results of that day had been... impressive. Still, impressive as they were, the realisation that the next morning her young cleric was bruised and limping - apparently having declined to heal herself - had resulted in Alyssa on her knees, arms about the vixen's waist, sobbing into the front of her robes and begging her forgiveness.

"Walking around without thought, picking any old township she feels like."

Of course, River had forgiven her without thought or question, stroking Alyssa's ears gently as the taller woman clung to her, bawling like a child as she apologised over and over again.

"Never thinking where she was," thwack, "out in the wilds towards the mountains," whack, "where the New Church doesn't have any influence," smack, "where the old ways still abound! Stupid girl, wandering into town, picking the first person who seemed injured and healing them without so much as a by your leave!"

The vixen whimpered softly, squirming in Alyssa's lap and she paused, looking down to where the faintest red blush spread across that round little bottom.

"And did they thank you?" she asked quietly, her hand at rest upon the snowy fur. "Did they call you cleric? Priestess? Healer?"

Even gentler this time, Alyssa allowed her words to carry the moment, drilling the lesson about ignorant pride into her young cleric.

"Witchcraft, was the word, if I remember right. Demon. Devil." Without really meaning to, she was stroking the girls ears gently as the vixen trembled under her hands. "Burn the witch," Alyssa whispered. "Burn her." Warm fingers caressed the girl's backside as a tear spilled down her snowy white cheek.

"And who pulled your pert little ass out of that one? Who dragged you up onto her horse and got you out of there?"

River's eyes opened to look up at the hyena, her lower lip trembling as she lay sprawled across Alyssa's legs.

"That's right. Alyssa Stoutwood, mageranger on sabbatical, and not looking for trouble, and who did not that day manage to buy supplies for the next leg of her journey, and who you have continued to pester for five years since!"

One final, gentle whack, that would be sufficient, Alyssa decided.

"And who forgives you completely, and who loves you very much," she finished, smiling as the girl blushed, her large eyes closing.

"Now then," she went on, allowing her hand to slip down into the rift between the girl's thighs, feeling her tremble with the contact as she lightly scratched into the soft fur. "I think that's quite enough of that, hmm? Point made, eh? And since I'm now well and truly awake, I guess I might as well see what else I can find to do tonight. Let's see if we're thinking the same thing..." she grinned, allowing one finger to trace up between those slender legs, dancing over furless skin. "Oh, look at that, I do believe we are," she went on smugly, feeling the tell tale slipperiness between those delicate pink folds.

"See now, if you'd only learn to quiet down and behave yourself with the dignity according a cleric," Alyssa continued softly, her left hand finding the girl's back again, pinning her in place. "Then you could expect much kinder treatment. We wouldn't have to go through all the unpleasantness, we could just move on to the fun part."

Not that that would have the same effect, of course. The whole act was supposed to start as punishment. Five years ago, with the girl a new arrival on the team, a stuck up and self-righteous fourteen year old who was permanently berating the other rangers for their godless ways, Alyssa had found herself feeling more like a long suffering mother than a group leader. Always believing it good to act on one's feelings, she had followed centuries of parental practise, and had bent the girl over her knee, explaining firmly that further calls of heretic and repent would not be tolerated, and that arrogance was, according to the book of the New Church, a sin.

The girl had, as expected, been mortally aggrieved, and Alyssa had sat outside River's tent all night long to ensure she didn't up and leave before dawn. Although angry the next day, the girl's temper had abated somewhat on realisation that the whole affair was to remain quite private and unknown to the rest of the party, and indeed, two days later she had thanked Alyssa for teaching her a lesson in humility. And then, three weeks later, after some particularly righteous and unwanted advice, the night repeated itself.

It became an almost predictable occurrence. Somewhere between twenty and thirty days would elapse, and then another disciplinary reminder would need to be issued with the girl winding up pink-of-bum and threatening to run away.

The threats finally diminished, but somehow even as the years passed, and as River came of age and blossomed into an attractive young woman, Alyssa found herself administering the customary disciplinary reminders with no less frequency. Over time she came to realise, odd as it seemed, that her young cleric actually enjoyed the act. Maybe it was the sense of atonement for her sins that came with it, the feeling that in accepting the punishment, she might relieve herself of her own sins - although quite when Alyssa had become qualified to forgive sins was unclear. Or maybe it was a more worldly reason, the feeling of submission possibly, or that it made her feel in some way wanted. Or perhaps she just liked to be told she was an arrogant brat while having her arse spanked. Whatever the case, River would invariably deny any such thing next morning, and generally act as though such nights never happened - but within the month, she'd be back for more.

And the fact remained that such treatment pressed a lot of her buttons. In fact, it did so a little more than Alyssa was comfortable with; her one slip of control had, at the time, resulted in the girl climaxing right there across her knee with naught but her cotton pants between her legs. Alyssa took it as a compliment, of sorts, but knew she would never be able to do it again; it simply wasn't in her, she couldn't put a mark on that soft little bum, not intentionally. River was totally undeserving of harm, and Alyssa would never, ever cross the line a second time.

Stroking the base of the vixen's tail with her left hand, Alyssa smiled, realising that while she had been reminiscing, the girl had become relaxed and floppy, draped over the hyena's thighs, apparently content that she had atoned for her behaviour and quite unconcerned. Time to wake her up a little, Alyssa thought with a wicked grin, nudging the tip of her finger right up between the girl's legs, easily sinking in to the second knuckle as the little vixen's breath stopped for a moment, her hands tightening on the sheet under her.

"C'mon, Riv, let's have you over now - my legs are going to sleep," Alyssa told her as the girl gradually relaxed, her body squeezing warmly around the invading digits. With only slight reluctance, the young cleric did as asked, scooting over until she lay against the larger woman's left flank, the hyena settling flat to match her.

"Now then, where were we?" Alyssa murmured softly. "Hmm, was it here?" she asked, sliding her hand gently up inside the girl's night dress, warm palm caressing that wonderful white fur, resting lightly between her breasts. "No, that doesn't seem right, maybe... here?"

The vixen giggled quietly as Alyssa's fingertips brushed under her arm where she knew the girl was ticklish. "No, that wasn't it either. Here perhaps?" River bit her lip as soft fingers found her left nipple, pinching lightly, tugging and rolling. "No, that's an outie, we were definitely at an innie..."

Alyssa had to smother a laugh at the vixen's expression as she pushed her hand all the way up that cotton night shirt and out the neck, fingertips resting against the girl's lips. "Wrong innie, huh? Ok..."

Oh, it was cute the way the vixen shivered as Alyssa's hand traced down her front, brushing lightly across the edges of her breasts, finally resting with her fingertip at the girl's navel. "Closer, but not quite what we wanted I think." Gently, the hyena pressed her lips to the girl's forehead. She was trembling quite badly now, her eyes pleading a combination of tension and repressed giggles as Alyssa's fingers drummed gently and unpredictably across her stomach.

"Maybe just a little lower then... ah, yes, that feels more like it, hmm?" Nuzzling the vixen's nose brought her head up a little, just enough for Alyssa to press her lips against the girl's invitingly soft ones, her tongue pressing possessively into the vixen's mouth as her fingers pushed up between her legs. Wrapped around Alyssa's waist, the young vixen's arm tensed, her eyes closing as the hyena seemed content to hold them together like that, quite motionless but for the play of soft tongue against soft tongue.

"Mmm," Alyssa sighed softly as she pulled her head back, amused to see the girl blush and dip her nose, nuzzling under the hyena's chin. "Just look at you, Riv," she murmured gently. "Aren't you amazing? You're so beautiful. Such a good girl, so ready and so warm." With her palm flat against the top of the vixen's entrance, pressed tight down against the little centre of pleasure there, Alyssa curled her fingers inside her warm body. Whimpering softly, the girl rolled onto her back, her knees tight together, holding Alyssa's hand firmly in place, hips arching up to meet her.

"Such a good girl," Alyssa murmured affectionately, nuzzling her cheek. "So beautiful. I can't believe anyone so beautiful would want to spend time with someone like me. I'm so lucky to have you, Riv." Catching the vixen's muzzle as she turned her head, Alyssa locked her into another kiss. She could feel the irregularity in the girl's breathing, the tension in her stomach muscles, the rise and fall of her hips as she ground up against the hyena's palm.

"Are you gonna give me a nice squeeze, Riv? Nice big squeeze down there?"

Alyssa's timing was, as ever, faultless. For a moment, the girl's breath stopped... and then rushed out as her back arched, head tilting back, eyes screwed tight shut, clamping down around Alyssa's fingers inside her with velvet softness and steely strength, her hands falling to clutch at the hyena's arm as if her life depended on keeping that hand where it was.

"Such a good girl," Alyssa murmured into her ear as she felt each strong wave flooding through the little vixen. "That's right, that's it now."

Slowly, breathlessly, the girl relaxed, settling back onto the blanket, her head pillowed comfortably on Alyssa's strong arm. As the tight grip of her thighs slackened, knees falling to either side, Alyssa slowly withdrew her hand, patting the soft pink skin gently before lifting her arm.

"Open up for me," she whispered softly, fingers brushing the vixen's slender muzzle. The girl hesitated, but did as asked, the hyena slipping her moist fingers into her mouth, loving the pink blush that flooded across her cheeks. "You always taste so good, don't you, Riv?" There was no answer in words, but the girl's hands both lifted to hold Alyssa's wrist as her tongue worked over the hyena's captive fingers, licking along and between, over fur and soft pads, sucking at those strong digits as if they were the last nourishment in the world.

Times like this, Alyssa almost regretted not being male so that she could properly take advantage of the girl's oral instincts - although she doubted that they would be sharing such an experience if she were. When one knew River well enough, they would soon come to realise that the girl distanced herself from men just a little more than from women. Always standing just a few inches further away, speaking a little more firmly, showing a little less trust, it was nothing major unless one watched for it, but noticeable if one did.

Alyssa let her continue for perhaps half a minute before withdrawing her hand, encouraging the vixen to turn onto her flank for a hug, tongues gently touching within the warm confines of a kiss. She felt the girl sigh contentedly through her nose, and smiled, holding her in the kiss, not wanting to let go, almost purring as she felt the touch of a soft little hand against her flank. The delicate contact ran up her side, lightly brushing under her arm, slipped around the front, squeezing in between the girl's nightshirt and Alyssa's chest.

"Mmm," she hummed gently, shifting a little so the girl had more room for manoeuvre, soft little fingers tracing the edges of the hyena's modest bosom. "What are you thinking, Riv?" she asked softly. The girl didn't answer. Instead, she dipped her head, nuzzling softly at Alyssa's collar bone, shifting herself downwards until her lips centred in on their goal.

"Good girl," Alyssa whispered as the vixen's little tongue lapped warmly over her right nipple, circling that pink bump several times before her mouth latched over it, sucking, tugging lightly with her teeth. So distractingly good at it was the girl that Alyssa didn't notice where her hand was going until it pressed up between her thighs.

Gasping as the delicate digits traced the skin between her legs, Alyssa pressed her nose against the top of her snowy white head, softly moaning her pleasure into the girl's fur. Clumsy, less confident than Alyssa's own touch, it showed that the girl wasn't nearly as familiar with a female body as Alyssa. Indeed, she suspected that the girl barely even knew her own body, that she likely never touched herself like this, her head full of teachings of virtue and chastity. It seemed such a shame that a girl who could be so passionate and responsive should repress her desires so - not that she was always flawless at the whole repression part, but nobody else except Alyssa and herself needed to know about that.

"You're so beautiful, Riv," Alyssa murmured, her lips pressed to the girl's soft fur. "Come... come here. Roll with me..."

Unerringly obedient, the girl did so, landing lightly upon Alyssa's chest as the hyena rolled onto her back. Pulling the vixen down into a kiss, Alyssa let her hands run down the back of the girl's cotton nightshirt, tugging it upwards, revealing her snow white body to the air. The girl took the hint as Alyssa's hands reached her shoulders, sitting back on her haunches and allowing the garment to be tugged off over her head, blushing as she knelt there, naked but for the little collar with the symbol of the New Church upon it.

"So beautiful," Alyssa repeated, her hands running up the girl's flanks, caressing her, stroking her, exulting in the feel of her soft fur, the heat of her body, the gentle give of her breasts. Smiling as the girl's eyes closed, Alyssa brushed her fingers over those invitingly pink nipples, ever so gently tugging and twisting as the vixen's small hands pressed down onto her sternum.

A trembling breath passed the girl's lips, her eyes closed as her hands rose to hold Alyssa's wrists, holding tightly for several long seconds before gently nudging the hyena away.

"You ok, Riv?"

Nodding, the girl opened her eyes and smiled shyly, graceful in her nudity, beautiful in her purity - and pure she still conspired to be. Despite everything, it seemed to radiate from her, an overwhelming sense of peace, and serenity. Touched by the gods? Alyssa suspected she may never know for sure, but the girl was definitely touched by something, and it was gentle, and loving, and pure, and Alyssa enfolded her in her arms as the girl came down to her, lying against her chest.

"You're so warm..." The girl kissed the side of her neck by way of answer, nuzzling softly at her fur. "I love you," Alyssa murmured, feeling those slender arms press in against her flanks in a gentle hug. "Although you know," she went on, her tone shifting just slightly. "My time doesn't come for free. I think you've paid for your behaviour earlier, but you do still owe me a small favour... and I could really use a back rub."

Nodding against her shoulder, the girl sat up as Alyssa released her, raising herself until the hyena could turn over underneath her, resting her head on her folded arms. "You're always so good at that..." Alyssa murmured as she felt small hands alight upon her shoulders. Gentle, yet firm, the girl seemed to naturally know just how much pressure to apply.

"Unf!" She even knew about that tense spot between her shoulder blades that often ached when she was tired, Alyssa reflected, wincing a little as a small elbow dug hard into her back. Oh, gods, that was exactly what she needed, the initial discomfort fading as her muscles unwound.

"Mmm," Alyssa stifled a giggle as the girl's hands slipped around to her flanks, fingers scratching lightly through her fur, brushing over the nearest things to ticklish places the hyena had. A soft nose nuzzled against the back of her neck, warm breasts pressed to her back as the girl lay flat out upon her.

"You really are a skinny thing, you know," Alyssa told her softly. "Are you sure we're feeding you enough?" The smile was audible as the girl nodded, her cheek resting against Alyssa's neck as she hugged the taller woman tightly. "Well, ok... but you would say if we weren't?" Another nod, and then a release of pressure as the girl sat up. For a moment all contact vanished, and there was only the light sensation of motion behind her until the girl straddled her again, hands now resting gently on her buttocks.

Alyssa laughed as the girl stretched herself out again, this time her nose somewhere around the hyena's ankles.

"Are you coming back?" she called out softly, her tone plaintive and extracting one of the girl's musical giggles. Soft hands ran all the way up the backs of her legs as the girl righted herself, her fingers finishing near Alyssa's tail.

"Uff..." Alyssa puffed out a breath as the girl sat down in the small of her back, shuffling her feet around until her toes were brushing the hyena's thighs. "Don't mind me," Alyssa grumbled. "I'll just lie here like furry furniture - ooo," she broke off, a tremble running all the way up her back (despite the weight of the vixen on it) as soft fingers scooped around her buttocks, pushing down into the rift between her thighs until they touched the canvas mat underneath. So close... Alyssa fought back a whine of frustration. Shifting slightly, she tried to part her legs a little, only to find the girl's feet firmly anchoring them in place. Sure, she could easily have pushed the vixen aside, but that wasn't the point; the girl wanted her like this, and Alyssa supposed she owed her that much.

"Riv..." the hyena whispered, twisting her head to catch sight of the girl's shoulders. "Please?"

For a moment, the vixen looked back, her face cast into profile, an impish grin fleeting along her slender muzzle before she turned away again. Soft little hands were back on Alyssa's bottom, stroking, kneading, massaging, and she chewed on her pillow in mild frustration. Breath catching for a moment, Alyssa regarded the far end of the tent as a fingertip slipped under the base of her tail, skirting teasingly close to the naked skin to be found there before running out all along the length of that flexible limb.

It always amused River that Alyssa had a particularly long, plush and fluffy tail - perhaps slightly too much so; certainly Alyssa suspected that her family heritage wasn't quite pure blood. Her mother had been the same, a long, expressive tail, and more slender build than the average hyena female. Where many displayed almost masculinely broad shoulders, Alyssa did not. Bigger than the generic average maybe, better trained and with a more sculpted physique, certainly, but just a touch more effeminate than might be quite normal for her race.

It was a trait that she never knew whether to approve of or be irritated by - although given present circumstances, she supposed the former more appropriate, since that was what River liked most.

"Are you... chewing my..." Alyssa looked up again, and the odd sensation at the tip of her tail vanished, to be replaced by a guilty grin over the vixen's shoulder. "You're an odd girl, Riv... very odd girl. Mmm," she sighed as delicate fingers stroked all the way down from tip to base. "But then, I doubt you'd be nearly as much fun if you weren't. Now would you mind giving me a little attention here?"

Twisting, the vixen half turned, her hand just reaching one of Alyssa's ears, stroking it softly.

"That's really not what I meant," Alyssa tried to hide her smile. "I meant something a little more satisfying than just a back rub would be appreciated... Why don't you let me turn over, hmm?"

Compliantly, the girl rose, bringing her feet under her so that Alyssa could roll over, the young vixen kneeling across her, warm little bottom pressing down on the hyena's well toned stomach, soft tail trailing up between her breasts. A wicked thought crossing her mind, Alyssa grabbed hold of it with her teeth, gently mouthing the soft fuzz. Looking over her shoulder, the girl gave her a look that seemed to ask; are you crazy? Rolling her eyes, Alyssa let go, and the girl's head turned away from her.

Soft little touches against Alyssa's inner thighs brought a soft murmur from her lips. The contact ran gently up towards her body in perfect symmetry, fingertips investigating the crease where leg met torso, stroking over soft fur just half an inch either side of naked skin in a wonderful, maddening massage.

"Uff..." Alyssa bit her lip, huffing out half a breath as a tiny graze of contact landed above her soft entrance, departing as suddenly as it arrived. The symmetry broken, only one hand remained between her legs now, stroking slowly, tenderly, as if it had all the time in the world. Which Alyssa supposed it did, although she rather wished it would show some hint of urgency.

This time, the whine of frustration was not so easy to bury, Alyssa squirming slightly as the girl's hands switched over, now stroking just to the right of the hyena's soft folds as her left hand lightly tapped pink skin for the barest moment. And another switch, fingers gliding down the left side almost to the base of her tail as the lightest little touch landed upon her little button of pleasure.

In an effort to distract herself from the girl's pleasurable yet frustrating game, Alyssa set her hands against that white little back, feeling the warmth of the young cleric's body beneath her thick fur. Her fingers splayed out in the small of the girl's back, Alyssa discovered (not for the first time) that the girl was no wider than her hand span at the waist. With the tips of her thumbs together at the vixen's spine, Alyssa estimated she could cover about two thirds of the circumference of that slender body. So small...

"Riv?"

A twitch of the girl's head indicated she was listening.

"You are ok with this, aren't you?"

There was no answer - Alyssa hadn't expected one - but the girl's hands came up to squeeze the hyena's strong fingers reassuringly.

"Good girl," she smiled. "Now then, what shall we do with you next? Hmm, why don't you scoot yourself back here for me, eh?" Hooking her hands over the vixen's hips, Alyssa tugged at her lightly until the girl took the hint, shuffling backwards, her body flattening against the taller woman's until that pert little backside was mere inches from the hyena's nose. She stiffened as Alyssa blew out hard, sending a stream of cool air over the girl's soft petals, trembling against the hyena's chest.

"Little twitchy there, Riv?" Alyssa smiled, examining the girl's bum with interest; it was still slightly pinker than usual, and she couldn't resist grazing her teeth over one buttock, just lightly, knowing it would make the girl shiver. "Very twitchy," Alyssa amended, grinning as she felt small hands gripping at her thighs, the girl stretched out full length along her body, cheek resting on her lower belly. "Let's see if there isn't something we can do to settle you down," they hyena murmured, softly nosing between the girl's legs, nuzzling at those warm pink folds.

"Mmm..."

One eyebrow twitched as Alyssa heard the girl moan softly. Oh yes, this was definitely the way to go... and quite pleasant too, she decided, letting her tongue lap softly at that delicate little entrance. The girl had quite the knack of being clean and fresh to the taste no matter what the circumstances - Alyssa wondered if she had sneaked a midnight bath before creeping into her tent - and such things were definitely on the hyena's list of turn-ons. She had to bite back a moan of her own as she pressed her muzzle against those warm folds, wrapping her arms around the girl above her, holding the small vixen quite immobile.

Delicate fingers were stroking at her inner thighs again, seemingly too shy for anything more intimate. That was ok, Alyssa knew how to get her over that hang up. With a quick jab of her tongue she had the girl tense from toes to ears, her warm body wrapped around the intrusion, breath ragged as Alyssa held quite still. She could feel every tremor that ran through the girl, everything transmitting to her tongue, buried as deep inside that welcoming little tunnel as physiology allowed.

There was something deeply satisfying about pleasuring the girl like this. Alyssa wasn't sure if it was the delightful way she reacted, trembling and huffing her breath through clenched teeth, or the feel of her body, or just the knowledge that she had probably never felt this way because of anyone else, but it was certainly fun. Not to mention there was always a hint of vanilla - one of Alyssa's favourite flavours - that seemed to creep in as she grew more excited. Now that was a talent!

The girl whimpered softly, her fingertips dragging along Alyssa's thighs.

And of course there was the way she was so easy to bring to climax. Maybe something to do with spending the rest of each month denying there was such a thing as sex, and if there was, it certainly wasn't something River would do. No indeed.

A shiver ran up the girl's spine, her hips pressed back onto Alyssa's tongue. Alyssa could feel the girl's mouth hanging open against her lower tummy, breath panting into her fur. It wouldn't take much to send her over.

Alyssa stopped, hands on the girl's hips, lifting her easily out of range, leaving her squirming and confused, trying to look back at the hyena but defeated by the angle.

"You know the deal, Riv," Alyssa grinned smugly. The girl whimpered as Alyssa caressed her bottom, treating her as she had been treated, coming within half an inch of that desired contact without quite getting there. It was inevitable that the vixen would comply.

Alyssa practically purred as the girl shuffled down her body, warm little nose pressing into her fur. Oh, there it was. That beautiful, warm, soft little tongue that the girl kept hidden from the rest of the world. Sighing contentedly, Alyssa stroked the girl's backside as she lapped between the hyena's legs, still trembling a little.

"You're a good girl, Riv," Alyssa reminded her gently. "Why don't you turn around so I can see your face?"

For a moment, Alyssa wasn't sure whether the girl was going to move, and she bit her lip as that delicate tongue investigated the entire length of her petals. She may not be skilful, but the vixen was keen enough, once nudged into action. Applying light pressure to that white little bum finally got the girl to move, swinging herself around, nose pressed tight to the top of Alyssa's warm folds as she turned, producing all sorts of wonderful feelings until the vixen lay between her legs, applying kisses and licks to all the right places.

"Riv... mmm..." Alyssa could hear the unevenness in her own voice as she reached down to caress the girl's ears. She could feel how wet she was, and the girl knew it too, a fingertip gently pressing inside, easily pushing into Alyssa's body, twisting and turning, investigating every texture.

To give her credit, the girl knew all her hot spots, Alyssa thought, the invading finger pressing hard against the front of her warm tunnel as that soft tongue lapped over the top of her entrance, washing over that pink little button that always made the hyena squirm. Looking down at her face, Alyssa smiled as the girl's eyes flickered up to meet hers for a moment, a blush spreading across her cheeks before her gaze fell.

A second finger joined the first, then a third, Alyssa's head pressing back into her pillow as she was tenderly stretched. Oh gods, she wasn't going to last much longer; how embarrassing. Why did her control always vanish when this little vixen was involved?

Gritting her teeth, Alyssa gave in to the desire to rock her hips up against that wonderful contact. The girl stayed with her, not allowing her even a moment of respite, fingers dancing inside the hyena's body, tongue lapping again and again over her pink little bud, pushing back the skin that covered it, attacking Alyssa directly where she was most vulnerable.

"Hand..."

The girl understood the request, her free hand finding its way under Alyssa's leg as she raised her knee, and the hyena grabbed it tight, fingers lacing together. Holding the girl's slender little digits tight, other hand on one of those fluffy little ears, Alyssa felt her climax break over her, an unstoppable wave of pleasure flooding across her body. Head flung back, eyes screwed shut, she trembled under the girl's attentions, muscles tense and quivering as each thrum of pleasure resonated through her.

"Mmm..."

The girl paused, holding the contact of her tongue against Alyssa's heated skin, at rest as the hyena relaxed.

"Thank you," Alyssa whispered breathlessly, looking down at the vixen as her heart still thudded in her chest.

Eyes closing for a moment in acknowledgement, the girl nodded, her tongue sliding across hot skin, and Alyssa gasped. Evidently remembering that the hyena was frequently sensitive after climax, she carefully withdrew her contact, gathering her arms under her until she could crawl up the hyena's body, laying down against her chest. Enfolding the vixen in her embrace, Alyssa hugged her tightly, the girl's muzzle laying along her collar bone, head tucked up under her chin.

"I love you." Feeling the nod of response, Alyssa smiled, one hand idly stroking the length of the girl's back. "My flask's to your left. Be a good girl before we go on, hmm?" Another nod, and the vixen pushed herself up on her hands, momentarily granting Alyssa a very tempting view of her soft breasts before she swung herself off and located the canteen. Alyssa watched as the girl took a mouthful of water, swilling it around before swallowing, then located a towel, drying her hands and muzzle with expected courtesy.

Alyssa wondered if the girl thought it was silly that she didn't like her own fluids near her mouth. It wasn't that Alyssa thought she tasted bad - she had on occasion been caught out by a partner who didn't know her preferences - but it just didn't quite feel right to her. A harmless enough peculiarity, she supposed, and since River didn't seem to mind a quick clean up...

"Mmm, welcome back," Alyssa murmured as the vixen settled against her chest again. This time, she captured the girl's cheeks in her hands, drawing her down into a gentle kiss, feeling the girl's hands on her chest as their lips met. "Roll," she said simply as they broke apart, and was shortly looking down into the vixen's face, those slender arms around her back, snowy white legs raised until the girl's knees hugged Alyssa's flanks.

"You're so sexy," Alyssa murmured, nuzzling her nose under the girl's chin until she tilted her head back, exposing her neck to the hyena's gentle kisses. Even now, she conspired to smell fresh and clean, only the merest hint of her recent activities detectable. Pulling back to kiss the girl's nose, Alyssa noticed her gaze was upon the backpack in the corner of the tent - more specifically, upon the rear left pocket of it.

"I still have it, Riv," she whispered softly into one of those soft ears, and the girl trembled visibly. "If you want..."

The girl shook her head, ears flattening.

"Oh, Riv," she went on softly, lowering herself until their bodies bumped together, the girl's legs high around her waist. "I could do such wonderful things for you." With a gentle rock of her body, she sent soft fur brushing across the girl's warm petals, the vixen trembling in her grasp. "I'm so sure you'd enjoy it..."

Another shake of the girl's head.

No, well, that was no surprise, Alyssa thought, feeling rather sad as she lowered her nose to nuzzle the vixen's neck again. A little toy that would let her play the male in bed, that was all it was - at least to her other partners. Something to laugh about and have fun with. To River, it seemed to be a source of both curiosity, and anxiety. Alyssa well remembered the girl's first reaction.

Told to close her eyes, the little vixen had of course done so, sitting quietly while Alyssa unpacked the leather harness, strapping it securely about her hips, the girl opening her eyes only when told to. River had blinked, almost screamed, and burst into tears, huddling into the furthest corner of the tent with her face hidden in her hands.

Quickly divesting herself of the ill-fated idea, Alyssa had gone to her, soothed her, questioned her, and eventually ascertained that yes, the source of this particular reaction was the same as most of her other problems. Son of a bitch.

Alyssa had hugged her, cried with her, cried for her, and told her that she would never, ever again suggest she play a male role.

There were times though, such as this, when Alyssa could tell what was going through the girl's head; half her mind telling her that Alyssa was good and kind and gentle and would only ever suggest things that she would enjoy - the other half reminding her about nights of fear and pain.

"Not this time then, Riv," Alyssa whispered, working her arms under the girl's back even as she continued to hold herself against the vixen's body, hugging her. Nodding against her shoulder, the girl hugged her back, her breath panting down Alyssa's ear as she locked her legs around the hyena's back, hunching her hips up to drag pink skin across soft fur.

"Do you want some proper attention, Riv?" Alyssa murmured, and was surprised when the girl shook her head, arms tightening about her, clearly determined not to lose the hug. "Hmm, well, then maybe we can..." shifting a little, Alyssa managed to get her knees under her, the vixen's sleight weight no obstruction as she sat back.

Now kneeling, Alyssa smiled as she heard the vixen whimper softly, her weight now on the hyena's thighs, the front of that soft little entrance buried in Alyssa's fur. Dropping a hand to the girl's bum, Alyssa pulled the vixen tight against her, one fingertip lightly probing under that soft white tail.

Breasts rolling against Alyssa's, arms and legs locked firmly around her, the girl's climax blossomed.

"That's it, Riv, that's it," Alyssa whispered into the girl's ear as she trembled in her embrace. "Oh you need this, don't you? You need this, you funny, silly, beautiful, wonderful girl." Smiling, she kissed the side of the young cleric's face, nuzzling her as she settled.

Alyssa held her for several minutes as the girl slowly relaxed, arms and legs losing their tight grip around her. Kissing her softly between those beautiful eyes, Alyssa encouraged her to lie down beside her, snuggling herself against the vixen's back, arm around the girl's middle.

"You ok now, Riv?" she asked softly, and the girl nodded, pressing back tightly against her. "Good." Yawning, Alyssa closed her eyes, warm contentment stealing through her.

"No," Alyssa murmured sleepily, feeling the attempt to move her arm, and tightening it about the girl instead. Another push, futile against the hyena's far greater strength.

"I want you to stay," Alyssa told her, kissing between her ears. "I want to wake up with you tomorrow."

Silence. A half-hearted shove against her arm.

"I said no. I want you to admit to what we are."

Not that admission was the problem, Alyssa thought wearily. The girl had admitted it - to herself at least - and that was the problem.

"Please don't cry," she whispered softly, feeling the girl tremble, hugging her. "Riv, please... can't you see you've done nothing wrong?"

No, she couldn't, and Alyssa knew it. As far as the girl was concerned, she had committed one of the fourteen major sins, and she wasn't about to brush it under the rug.

"Riv, I forgive you," she tried, but it didn't help; the girl was shaking, her breathing irregular. It wasn't Alyssa's forgiveness she wanted.

Alyssa sighed, feeling tears of her own prickle at the corners of her eyes. She held still for the space of a few breaths, then relaxed her arm, moving it enough for the vixen to get the point.

"I love you," she said, but the girl had already sat up. Alyssa kept her eyes closed as she listened to her dress. "Riv?"

The girl paused at the end of the tent, not looking back but obviously listening.

"You know, the day you stay, is the day I won't have to go elsewhere for fun any more. You might want to work out which is the smaller sin."

For a moment, Alyssa almost thought the young cleric was going to turn around, but... no. A moment later, she had gone, the tent flaps closing behind her.

"Wakey wakey, sinners, the sun's shining, the birds are singing, and they're saying it's time to get up, up, up!"

Alyssa groaned into her pillow, trying to ignore those damnably cheerful singsong tones. Did the girl never feel fatigue, or could she pray that away too?

"Good morning, Leoric, Amethyst," the happy voice enthused.

Well, at least she was back to her cheery little-miss-morning self, Alyssa thought. If she knew anything about the cleric, she'd have spent half the night in prayer, finally concluded that she had been forgiven, and decided that she would never do such a thing again. That she almost certainly would was something River herself would be blissfully unaware of.

Odd girl.

"Good morning, Alyssa," the vixen enthused, smiling at her as she crawled out of her tent.

Yes, there she was; clean and pristine, looking well groomed and immaculate, River was back to her usual self, as she always was the morning after... well, anything. Alyssa sighed, then stood up as Amethyst and Leoric made their ways away from the table, plates in hands.

"Breakfast?" River was looking up at her with a disarmingly innocent smile and a plate of eggs, bacon, and bread. Alyssa suddenly realised that the young vixen had yet to quote a line from the book of the New Church - although it was resting on the end of the table in case it should be needed.

"Thank you," she nodded, accepting the offered plate with a cautious smile. Turning, she let her gaze stray over the camp, the four tents, the wagon, the horse roped to it (but with reasonable freedom), Amethyst and Leoric sitting on a soft patch of grass, facing each other and not looking her way.

It occurred to Alyssa that they seemed to be sitting somewhat closer together than usual, eye contact between them lasting slightly longer, words exchanged a little more softly. Smiling, the lioness reached out and removed a fragment of egg from the cheetah's cheek, and Alyssa wondered for a moment whether they actually needed four tents for their quartet after all.

Oh well, it didn't matter. If there was something between them, that was their business. Alyssa, as team leader, would not get involved unless it began to affect their work. Not to mention it would be terribly bad form to berate them when she herself... she jumped as a light contact brushed against her bottom, her head turning to the vixen behind her, only to find the young cleric looking the other way, her hand at her side, but a flutter of motion in the fabric of her white robes.

"Everything ok?" River asked, apparently catching Alyssa looking at her from the corner of her eye and glancing up at her.

"Fine," Alyssa nodded, watching the girl pick up her own plate, and the book of the New Church. "Just fine," A lopsided smile made its way across the hyena's face as the young vixen wandered off to find somewhere to sit.

Odd girl.