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Outpost Gamma

“Private... Private... hahn... hrggh...! P-Private Alto. Hrrggh! Nngghh! P-Private, respond! Haaah... please..."

“GUUAAAAAHAHHH!!!"

Never.

Never had he been so cold in his life.

His fingers twitched, his blood was chilled, his cheeks were blue, and whenever he breathed, a puff of white air flowed from his lips. The first spurt of life sent a fire that ruminated through his chest and stomach. It was instantly stolen by blistering air which trapped him.

Dazed eyes failed to look forward, reading back blurred images. At the same time, his mind struggled to remember what led up to this moment. He and the rest of his squad were being transferred, moving over to...

Somewhere...

He could not remember where it was, not now. It was Outpost... something. But his head was throbbing too much; something happened during their transport. A battle... an explosion...

Death...

“ACK! HUUAAAH!?"

The odor of death. It was thick and choking, clogging up his throat and causing him to hack and wheeze. The pain ruminating through his head and side, finally began kicking his engines into high gear, making him tense up, and causing his eyes to focus in. And...

Huh?

Oh!

Oh...

There were bodies everywhere. Men and women dressed in army fatigues littered the ground, alongside metal shrapnel and dancing flames. Above were the gray clouds of a chilling night, below was the cold ground of unforgiving pavement... and beyond was nothing but ice and snow.

Now he remembered. Now he remembered everything.

“Private... I knew it..."

The voice came from nearby, causing the young man to glance over. Beside him was a body, one covered in the white and gray garbs of snow camo, with the unmistakable blotches of blood staining and pooling around him. Alerted, the young man quickly rushed over for the older soldier, crouching at his side while calling out,

“Corporal Gigoon!"

He palmed his superior's chest, causing him to grunt. Even more alarmed, the young man quickly surveyed their immediate area, searching for a first aid kit or something... but finding nothing.

“No, there's got to..." whispered the private as he started rising, “Stay here, I'll--" Pat... “Huh?"

The hand of his corporal fell on his shoulder, sticking him in place and drawing his gaze back down. Even though he was dying, his superior – Gigoon – gave him a relaxed... no... accepting smile.

“Search the area for survivors, Private. That's an order," he whispered, causing the young man to flinch.

“But... Corporal... you're..."

He nodded.

“I know... but that's no excuse for you to die," he whispered back, “Haah... make sure that you survive and make it back to the mainland. That's an order, Private... haah... give me your hand..."

The young man was hesitant at first, but after swallowing his spit and nodding, he gave his superior his hand. Corporal Gigoon reached over and placed his hand into his subordinate's, giving him something. When his hand fell, the young private stared into his palm, where there laid a pair of dog tags.

“Make sure... that gets back... to my... fami... ly... I..."

His words fell, and his subordinate tensed up. The face of his corporal had suddenly become rigid and still; unflinching and unblinking. His eyes were opened but he did not stare, his mouth was wide but he did not speak, and his entire body had been rendered as cold and still as the snow around them. As if in defiance, the private shook his corporal and called out his name, thinking he could rouse him from some slumber... but he knew it was all for not. His superior was dead, and unless he began moving, he'd be dead too.

“I'm sorry, Corporal..." the young man whispered whilst closing his eyes, “I don't... I should have... done something... I should have..." he stood up and raised the dog tags in his hand, scanning them, “But I promise, I'll get this back to your family. No matter what..."

On January 27th, a convoy containing multiple units of the Dudral Kingdom was attacked in a surprise ambush by their warring enemies while transferring to a distant outpost on the Fringe. 57 men and women lost their lives that day. There was but one survivor.

His name was Private Ray Alto. This is his story.

Pulling away from Corporal Gigoon's corpse, the young private palmed at the helmet on his head. It was both dented and cracked, having suffered a blow that would have no doubt killed him if he wasn't wearing it. As it is now however both it and the shattered goggles attached too it were no longer usable. So he pulled apart and undid its straps, freeing the helm from his head, and letting it drop to the ground with an audible--

CLANK!

He was a young man; only around the age of nineteen in fact. Pale skin, messy brown hair, sharp blue eyes... but a soft disposition. A short stature as well. As in five feet one inch short. Yeah, that's pretty short.

When one thinks of a soldier, he was perhaps the last person to come to mind. He's done the training, he knows when to do what, and how to do it, but he certainly lacked the presence one expects of Dudral's Finest.

As if any of that mattered in the moment.

They gave everyone jackets to put on during the long ride through the Fringe, and even packed them with scarves to help stave off the cold. This wasn't just for show however. Out here in the blistering tundra, warfare among snow and trenches was common, making things like jackets and scarves a necessity.

Something else necessary in warfare? Weaponry.

Ray still had his pistol holstered at his hip, and after a few moments of searching, he found a rifle to arm himself with. No sign of any first aid kit... or more accurately, no sign of any first aid kit that wasn't rendered useless by an explosion. Technology in the area was also either missing or destroyed, making them ineffectual as well. Putting it lightly, out on this cold, death-ridden highway in the middle of nowhere, Ray was all alone.

Any normal man wouldn't manage it. Any normal man would have perished in that battle. Any normal man would be reduced to a weeping mess with the massive odds stacked against them. But Ray wasn't normal. He was a soldier of Dudral; one of their Finest! He was trained to endure and survive situations like this! He could do this! He could do this!

He hoped he could do this.

With a rifle slung on his shoulder, a scarf around his neck, and a hood pulled up on his head, Ray was prepared to make his way for safety. But where is safety in the Fringe? Checking his PDA, he saw that – of course – there was no connection with any civilization this far out in the forstlands. Fortunately, his PDA had enough energy in it to last him for two, maybe three days. It's cracked screen was also undamaged enough for him to read information through it. While he could not download any new information, he could scan through the information that was already inside of it.

And that information included a map. While the Fringe wasn't the most explored region in the world, it did play home and host to more than a few bases and outposts. Most were too far and few between, but they dotted the fields. And after searching through his map, he found the closest one was a place called--

“Outpost Gamma..."

Glancing up, his gaze cut over the edge of the highway he stood on, falling on the endless fields of snow and ice below. The Fringe had another name, that being 'the edge of the world'. Why? Because once one travels into this infinite tundra, they'll never come across another soul. Even if he found safety, there's no telling if anyone can even find him. There's no telling if he'll survive any of this.

But he refused to give up, not now! Even if he was walking straight towards certain doom, he wouldn't stop until he physically could not keep going on!

Outpost Gamma was to the east, specifically, 67 degrees east. If he kept walking in that direction, he'd be there before the end of the dead of night. That's good, because it was already nighttime at the moment; around 8 o'clock. If he didn't make it indoors and near a source of heat within the next several hours, he was gonna freeze to death out here.

The Fringe was an unforgiving place. For as far as the eye could see, there was nothing but the vacant void of a black night sky, and the endless whites of a frigid tundra. To think that there was a bit of excitement when he originally heard he was being stationed at an outpost on the Fringe. While the war with their enemies may not be the best, the prospects of traveling over the continent was an exciting one for Ray.

Think about it. Ray Alto! Simple little Ray, son of a magistrate and a scholar, would become a soldier of Dudral. He'd get to see so many places, meet so many people, and grow into the man he was always meant to be. How much of that was the propaganda of his kingdom talking, and how much was his own beliefs, not even he could tell you, but he felt it at some point. Fighting the good fight, and becoming a better man for it.

But now where did that bring him? Alone on some frigid wasteland with the men and women he trained with having perished behind him. Ray felt lonelier now than he had ever before in his entire life. But he refused to give up. He kept pushing and pushing, trudging through the ice and snow and slosh of the Fringe, even as his body shook and shivered.

Ssssshhhhsshshh...

“H... huh?"

SSSHSHSHSHSHSHHSSHHH!!!

“AAAH!? OOFF!?"

The ground gave way beneath Ray, dropping him down five feet into a pit. He landed on his back and butt where he groaned with pain, only to shiver as snow collapsed upon him. Forcing his way through the surface of the sludge, he gazed around and expected to see someone else there, but instead saw metal planks.

Getting up above the snow before he froze to death, Ray scanned his immediate area, where he realized this was no trap... this was a trench. It went on for a few yards before splitting off, where it no doubt spiraled into more trenches for as far as the eye could see. Pressing his palm to the wall and stroking it, the young private wondered why trenches were here.

Only for his body to tense.

This belonged to their enemies. This was the trench from which the trap was sprung. He was in enemy territory!

Ray tensed up and quickly scrambled over the edge of the trench, gazing around in a circular manner to see if there were any enemies in the area. Like before however, he saw nothing but endless ice and snow. In fact, these trenches were so covered in snow, it looked like they had been sinking under here for weeks, perhaps even months.

“What is this place...?" Ray whispered to himself before drawing his gaze up further, “Ah! S-smog...?"

Against the black night it was difficult to see, but there were embers of a fire fluttering nearby. Desperate for any source of heat, the private quickly rushed through the snow and ice, making way for the flames. He almost immediately came to a halt.

Like on the highway, the stench of death was powerful.

On the ground leading up to the fire, there were bodies in army fatigues. Furry bodies in army fatigues. Men and women of different species – canines, felines, bovines, and many more – littered the ground. All of them were immobile and silent... dead.

Their blood soaked into the snow below, turning what was once white, red. Their were pits here and there too, showing that there was some great battle that occurred here. Was it because of the trap? Ray remembered fighting briefly on the highway against their foes, but not to this degree. If they had successfully drove off their attackers to such a degree to kill so many of them, then why was he the only one alive on the highway bridge?

Perhaps it was foolish, but curiosity got the best of Ray, driving him to walk deeper into the swath of devastation. The deeper he walked in, the greater the signs of destruction. It was like on the highway, just swap out the humans with their beastkin counterparts. Even what he believed was one fire turned out to be several. A great battle happened in these trenches, one these beastkin lost.

And one that was recent...

Mouth agape, Ray wondered what could possibly have occurred here to cause this. Did his men – the army of Dudral – do this? No, he specifically remembered the battle occurring on the highway, and nowhere else. While the beastkin may have fired artillery from the frostlands instead of the road, he didn't remember doing enough damage back to them in order to cause this. In fact, he didn't remember artillery and gunfire coming from anywhere but the roads!

Though it's not like his head wasn't thumping right now. Perhaps his memories couldn't be trusted.

Discarding those thoughts for the moment, Ray instead focused on scavenging through his enemies' things. Perhaps he could locate a PDA that could get him in contact with the army... though he highly doubted that. It was best to scavenge for something more tangible, like first aid kits, maybe even rations.

Though the flames were nice...

Despite it blanketing the air with a thick smog, Ray still sat beside the flames of the battlefield, using them to heat up his frigid body. The longer this went on, the more he began doubting himself; doubting if he could manage this. Even the flames which warmed him felt distant and weak.

But again, Ray would not let himself be stopped. Outpost Gamma was just over the next ridge; he needed to get there before the temperatures dropped too low. He needed to--

“Hah...?"

Ray tensed up.

Then he looked left.

And then right.

And then he--

“Above..."

Slowly, Ray stared up, gazing upon a piece of metal debris which jutted from the ground. There was a figure standing upon it, perched like a bird of prey. He couldn't get a good look at them, for their body was clad in a black cloak which wavered in the wind. Their hood was pulled down in such a way that gazing upon their face was impossible, but Ray could see they were wearing army fatigues that belonged to their enemy.

He could also see that they were tall. Very tall. He's used to being loomed over considering his diminutive size, but there's a difference between a tall person, and a titan. And with the way this person was perched upon a piece of steel, their tattered cloak waving in the wind, and their tall stature standing over him, they very much appeared to be a titan.

And that titan was staring at him.

“Uh-oh..."

FWOOOSH!!!

Against the black of the night, the cloaked figure leaped in the heavens, and seemed to vanish against the skies behind it. But its shadow still fell upon Ray, causing his voice to get caught in his throat. In a matter of moments, he was able to just pull his pistol from its holster. But he didn't pull it out fast enough.

THWUMP!!!

“GAAH-HAAH!?"

The figure pounced upon Ray, pinning him to the snowy ground below with so much force that he was embedded within it. The frigid touch wasted no time in seeping into his flesh, but he was far more focused on the being currently holding him down.

This tall, powerful, teeth-flashing, feminine being.

She was big. Far bigger than him. Far bigger than anyone he's ever met before, really. If Ray were to make an educated guess on how tall she was in relation to him, he'd say... about three feet taller? Then she would be seven feet tall. Seven feet of pure, white-furred, wolfess rage.

Ray couldn't see much with her cloak on, but what he could see, what he could hear, and – most importantly – what he could feel wasn't very affable. This wolfess – whoever she was – hated him with every fiber of her being. The way she bore her fangs, how her claws and paws pushed down on him, and the clear malice within her blue eyes, all showed nothing but hate.

And Ray knew that hate was directed towards him.

“You bastard!" she snarled, her accent thick like steel, “I'll fucking kill you!"

The wolfess pulled back her fist, and then dropped it with enough force to split the earth in twain... but it missed. Not from lack of trying mind you; Ray knew without a doubt if that fist struck his head, it wouldn't just knock him out, it may have outright fractured his skill! But he wasn't a private for no reason! While his position may be small, his skill was not, and within a fraction of a second, Ray dodged the wolfess' punch by jerking right.

She was not amused.

With one hand still on Ray's shoulder, she clinched and lifted him up, forcing the private upon unsteady feet. He tried fighting her off by shaking himself, but her grasp was too strong, and before he knew it, she was winding back for another punch. This time, he had no choice but to bring up his arms and block the blow.

Or, well... block it as best he could.

Thwak!!!

“GAH!?"

Her punch struck Ray with so much force, that he was dislodged from her grasp and sent careening upon the snow. He groaned from the pain, but quickly recoiled and grasped or his pistol...

That wasn't there.

Gawking in surprise, Ray realized his gun had been knocked from his hand by the wolfess' punch. Not good! And now she was slowly stalking upon him, her murderous face on full display! Even worse! Ah, but he still had his rifle on his shoulder! Grasping it, Ray swung it over just in time too--

SMACK!

Have it too knocked out of his grasp... that wolfess worked fast.

Ray watched his rifle roll a few feet away, just far enough out of his reach to tell him that it was impossible to grab it. Making matters worse, the wolfess was above him now, casting her deathly shadow upon his smaller frame. He stared back, seeing nothing but the piercing blue glow of her eyes as she glared down upon him. And in response...

“Heh..."

Ray grinned.

“Is there... anything I can say to get out of this?" her hand grabbed his shoulder, “Heh... guess not..."

She lifted him up... with one arm mind you. Even for his smaller size, that's impressive. It's not like Ray's clothes weigh nothing! But with great ease and a flexing arm, she held him in the air, even while he thrashed and kicked against her in a failed attempt at escape. And with how he had been walking for so long, having his energy sapped by the cold air and the colder winds, Ray felt his struggles start to wane.

His body grew limp in her grasp, with only his panting echoing out... and her panting as well. Gazing beneath her hood, Ray could still see the raw intensity within her blue eyes, and the clinched teeth which could no doubt tear into him with ease. But she was panting so hard; her chest heaving as if every breath she took wore her ragged. She sounded more exhausted than he was! And Ray could see why...

His gaze traveled down towards the wolfess' stomach, noticing her white and black clothes were stained red with blood. With how heavily she was breathing, Ray figured that wasn't just anyone's blood, but her own. And with how much blood was seeping through, the injury was a profuse one. If she didn't get it dealt with soon, she'd die.

And so would he if he didn't get out of her grasp. So Ray swung back, and he...

“Haah!"

Kwack!

“Arf!?"

His foot struck the wolfess in her side where her injury was, sending this jolt which coursed through her form. Her once murderous blue eyes suddenly became as wide as lights, and her entire body grew loose. It was like a switch had been flipped inside of her, causing the wolfess to fall back and release her hold on Ray as well.

“Oof!?"

He landed on the snow, but quickly got to his feet. The wolfess meanwhile kept stepping back, putting distance between herself and Ray while her palms seized upon her injury. She was barely standing now, and the private could see it. But she was still a threat; he should grab his rifle or pistol and take her down.

He should but...

“Ahh...?"

Looking up, Ray realized what he once thought was smog from fire, were instead clouds. Stormy clouds. The wind was picking up, snow was falling on his face and cheeks, and the temperatures were dropping even further. Screw these fires; if they didn't get inside a place that could contain heat, then they were dead!

“You're injured, aren't you?" Ray said, garnering a snarl from the wolfess who began perking up again.

“Silence!" she shouted as she began marching up towards him again, “Now die!"

Again she rose her fist, but this time the wolfess' movements were slow and sluggish... telegraphed. Ray may have been smaller than her by three feet, may have weighed a feather compared to her monstrous weight, but he was till a soldier, one who trained for many grueling hours to obtain the skills he had.

So when she threw a fist, he blocked and parried the move, much to her surprise. The wolfess' eyes grew wide as she was suddenly knocked off balanced, and when Ray put his foot between her feet, he easily knocked her over upon her face.

Rolling over upon her back, the wolfess stared up to Ray, who gazed back down as he panted for breath. She snarled again, even raised up to her elbows, but a sudden smattering of snow silenced her. Looking up, the wolfess gazed towards the gray clouds overhead,, and felt the wind starting to stir. It grew so strong, that her cloak was forced off of her face, revealing it to Ray.

And he gasped.

She looked... beautiful?

The wolfess' expression was intense and furious, but Ray saw none of that. He saw blue eyes that glowed like crystal's, a slender snout with a pointed nose, wavy white hair that came only to her chin, and this noble, handsome scar that ran horizontally along her snout. It was a faded scar too, one that she's no doubt had for many years.

But she was a beastkin, one from the opposing army. He should hate her.

And yet...

“Haah... l-look... it's getting... haah... it's getting colder out here. We'll both freeze to death if we don't... don't... brrrr! If we don't get into a safe, closed off place!" Ray said as he pointed forward, “There's an abandoned outpost just a little north-east from here. If we book it, we can make it there before the storm gets worse... hopefully."

“Fuck you!" the wolfess shouted, “I'd rather freeze to death than trust a human like you!"

“Then kill me later!" he replied, “But there's no point in the both of us dying out here!" he pointed at her stomach, “You're bleeding out as we speak! Look, I can stop the bleeding when we get to the outpost; I can mend your wound! But we'll both die out here if we don't work together!"

The wolfess wasn't buying it though, and slowly rose up on her feet. Again she cast a looming shadow over Ray with her towering size, and again she bore her fangs towards him in a malicious manner. But for the second time that night, she felt her legs and back grow weak, and her eyes grow wide. The wolfess fell forward... right into Ray...

“Mmff!?"

But he was strong for his size, and held firm against the wolfess. Keeping her propped up, Ray refused to let the wolfess drop... though with his stature and her position, his face and cheeks were pressed up against her chest. And the puffy jacket she wore... didn't do a good enough job of hiding her bust.

Ray blushed... but he didn't comment on this.

“S-see?" he said, “You can barely stand... there's no point in fighting each other; we'll both die."

“Grrrgghg! Then why are you helping me!?" the wolfess roared back, attempting to push herself back... and failing to do so, “Are you trying to capture me? Why don't you just put a bullet in my head!?"

“Didn't you hear what I said? We'll die if we don't work together!" he answered, “There's strength in numbers, and if we work together, we can solve this issue! So... haah... l-let's... hghnn! L-let's stop f-f-fighting one another... and... and... a-and... hggh! And get moving!"

He nudged into the wolfess, pushing her back up onto her feet. She staggered for a few moments, even raised up like she was about to strike him again, but a sudden jolt of pain made her hand drop to her side. All of this movement and fighting had agitated her injury, making her realize that Ray was right. If they didn't work together, they'd be dead.

But the alternative was much worse. The alternative was that she would have to work with him; work with a human! Such a thought made her blood boil more than anything else! But...

She couldn't die here. She made a promise to someone that she wouldn't die here. And she always kept her promises.

“Hrrgghh! H-how can I t-t-trust you!?" the wolfess snarled as she palmed her injury, to which Ray shook his head.

“Here..."

He raised his hand. She looked down. Her eyes grew wide.

In Ray's hand was his pistol. When he knocked her upon her face, he quickly procured his pistol, ready to defend himself against her. But now he was handing the pistol to her, his face serious and stern.

“I-i-if at any moment you d-distrust me! Th-then j-just shoot me," he said, “I-I p-promise I w-w-won't try anything! I-I-I..." he closed his eyes, “I've... m-made a... p-p-promise to s-someone!"

The wolfess stared at the pistol, astonished that this little human soldier was just giving it to him. Was this a trick? No... the pistol was fully loaded; there was nothing fake about it. He was giving her his gun, and if she felt that he was betraying her at any moment, then she could just kill him!

But that would lead to them both dying, wouldn't it?

She couldn't believe it, but... she was genuinely considering this! This little human seemed to know what he was talking about. If here was an outpost to the east, then they could hide out in it. It was better than her plan... that being she had none.

Dammit! But he was a human! She'd be betraying her country to even think about aiding him!

“L-l-look! W-w-we can't keep... s-s-standing out here and d-d-doing nothing!" Ray said as he started walking away, “I-i-if you're not g-g-gonna help me, th-then just shoot me already! I'd r-r-rather d-d-die quickly th-than... f-freeze to death!'

For a small guy, he sure had big balls.

The wolfess glared at Ray, watching him march off towards the distance. The wind had grown even stronger now, picking up in speed and blowing snow, fire, debris, and even bodies with its strength. Even with her fur and jacket, the chill from the wind was enough to freeze the wolfess down to her core. The human was right; if she stuck around out here for even a few more moments, she'd drop dead from the cold.

She couldn't believe it... she had no choice...

“D-dammit!" she snarled, “You! Human! Wait there!"

Ray stopped and looked over, watching as the wolfess forced herself over to his side. She was still indignant, still frustrated, still hateful... but she relented. Even she knew that dying out there was no way to die at all, so even if she really, really didn't want to, she had no choice but to trust him.

She didn't expect him to get so close though...

Grab!

“Huh?"

“W-w-we need to stick together!" Ray explained, “Our b-b-b-body heat! We'll sh-share it!" he hugged her even tighter, “H-h-hold me close! I-I'll keep you s-supported! A-and I'll h-hold on to y-your wound! K-keep the pressure on i-it and t-try to s-slow the b-bleeding!" he pointed forward, “N-now move! Move!"

His voice wasn't the strongest, but it had this conviction in it! Even the wolfess felt spurned to move forward, not just by the fear of death, but by his words. So as they held upon one another for dear life, they began marching through the field of snow and ice.

The two were shivering messes, but they both supported one another. Ray refused to let the wolfess drop, and she kept him moving forward with her superior size. For what felt like an eternity, all the two could hear was the sounds of their own shivering and breathing, as well as the whipping winds and snow that struck them. Even their vision was obscured by the blizzard, making it outright impossible to see more than a few feet in front of them!

It was so dark... yet so white! And so cold! If they were alone, they would have fallen over and succumbed to the elements by now! But together, they were juuuuuuust strong enough to--

“There! I-I-I see it!"

The Fringe was a cruel, desolate wasteland. A place so callous, so hopeless, that no living creature would dare call this place home. Deserts – no matter how vast – pale in comparison to the Fringe. Only the void of space would come close to matching its deadliness.

So here of all places, the cold, unfeeling exterior of a military wall, would appear to be a beacon of hope.

Outpost Gamma was one of many outposts that Dudral has placed within the Fringe. It is also one of many abandoned outposts that Dudral has placed within the Fringe. There was a point where the tundra was considered a prime location for battle, drawing the kingdom to hastily place many pointless outposts upon the land. But when the Fringe proved itself too uncaring to host any sane battle upon, these outposts were steadily stripped back, and reduced in number. Now there were only two important outposts on the Fringe. Outpost Alpha, where you enter the Fringe from, and Outpost Omega, where the Dudral controlled territories of the Fringe ends.

As if anyone wants to control anything in the Fringe...

“H-h-how are we going to get i-i-inside!?" the wolfess asked, causing Ray to scan the area.

It was difficult with the snow blinding them still, but he saw a pair of shutter doors in the distant, and above them there were frost covered windows. If he could reach up to them, he could get inside and open up the door from the opposite end.

“Y-your name!" Ray suddenly shouted, “What is your name?"

“W-what!? W-why a-ask now!?" she shouted back.

“J-just tell me your name!"

“Haaaah! It's Brunhilde! Brunhilde!" she answered, causing him to stare up at her.

For a few moments, Ray said not a word, instead smiling at her in a manner that she found quite disarming. He had really cute features for a soldier... she'd never seen a human quite like him.

“Well, Brunhilde. Heh... my name's Ray. Do you trust me?" he whispered, before pointing to the windows up above, “If you let me stand on your shoulders, I can get up to those windows and slip inside. I'll open the door up for you. Promise."

“Hgmm...!"

No! She did not trust him! And this sounded waaayyy too shady! She was just gonna let him sneak in there? He gave her his pistol, yeah, but if he's on the other side of a wall, what good would that do!? He could just hide out in there while she froze to death!

But thus far, Ray had done nothing nor said anything to garner her distrust. In fact, he had been nothing but forthcoming with the wolfess, even aiding her when he really had no reason to. The most distrustful thing about him was his species as a human, and the fact that he was on the opposing army! Was that enough to make him untrustworthy however?

Well... surprisingly... no...

“Grrrggh! R-Ray? That's your name...!? Hmmmgghh!!! F-fine! Just... hurry it up! I'm dying out here!"

With Ray's guidance, Brunhilde pressed up against the wall, its cold surface almost making her want to pull back. But he quickly climbed upon her back, placing his feet on her shoulders and standing up tall. He was as light as a feather; this was easy.

What wasn't easy was getting through the window.

This was a military base, so the windows weren't going to break easily. Palming at his person, Ray pulled out his combat knife, and began stabbing at the windows in front of him. Strike after strike would create only scratches and dents, much to Brunhilde's frustration... and growing weakness.

“H-hurry up, d-dammit!" she snarled, “I-I-I c-c-can't k-k-keep this g-g-g-going!" KRRAAASSHHH! “Aah!?"

Around her, glass fell, just barely missing the wolfess. When she looked up, Ray was already ambling into the window after having created a hole big enough for him to fit his way into. This was the moment; either he left her to die and she lived her last moments in life cursing him and herself, or he actually stayed true to his word.

Only time would tell.

Ray vanished through the window, with Brunhilde leaning up against the wall as she panted for breath. Between the chilling atmosphere and her still bleeding injury, she wondered how she survived this long. But now she was feeling the cold creep of death, coming closer and closer and closer. Her eyes were starting to grow weak, and she fell to her knees.

“D-dammit, R-Ray..." she whispered, her eyes closing shut, “D-don't... don't you... leave me... o-out... heeerrree..."

Brunhilde couldn't hear anything. Brunhilde couldn't see anything. It was like she was sinking into darkness...

…

…

…

…

EEEEEARRRRRKK!!!

“Brunhilde!"

…

She was heavy. She was very heavy. Ray's met his fair share of tall, strong women before – it was expected considering his small height, and his training in the army – but the wolfess in his arms was still the tallest, biggest, heaviest woman he had ever met.

He meant no disrespect by any of this, but damn did it take all of his strength to drag her in here! He knows artillery that weighs less than her!

But somehow he managed it. Despite her greater size in relation to his, he flexed every inch of his muscles to drag the unconscious wolfess out of the snow storm, and into the dark, gray halls of the abandoned outpost.

It was cold in here, but Ray would take 10 degree temperatures over -40 degrees wind chill any day!

The halls of the outpost were dark and empty, having no objects left in them. This made it easy for Ray, who could focus on dragging Brunhilde's body without fear of hitting anything...

Clang!!!

“Gah! Fuck! Dammit!"

Okay... maybe he hit a few things...

He didn't know the outpost's layout all too well, instead going mostly off of memory of what Outpost Alpha was like. They were both located on the Fringe, so they should share some common elements. The hall he entered in through was beside the docking bay, so if he kept going down for a few more hallways, he should enter the--

“Rec-Room! Yes! Thank the gods!"

As expected of a place that was abandoned years ago, it was spacious, covered and dust, and mostly empty. Key word being 'mostly'. Not only was the floor still covered in a rug, but there were a few couches and chairs still laying about. What Ray was most focused on however, was the abandoned potted plants that sat in the corners, and the fireplace embedded within the wall.

“Okay, okay! S-stay with me, Brunhilde," he said as he laid her body next to the silent fireplace and removed his coat, “I promise, you'll be fine!"

Laying his coat upon her body as a makeshift blanket, Ray quickly turned and rushed for the dead plants that stood in their pots. With ease they broke when he so much as grabbed them, and he turned around to toss their shreds into the dusty fireplace.

They needed a fire, and quick! Didn't matter if the inside of the outpost was 'warmer' than the outside; cold is cold, and their body temperatures had already dropped significantly. If they didn't get hot soon, this building would become their icy coffin!

But where could he find a fire starter in this place? While Ray was sure there were more items still left to rot in the outpost, he wasn't sure if Brunhilde or he would survive long enough to find any of it! He needed fire now! He needed a match or something!

“Dammit...!" Ray groaned as he hugged himself close and shivered, “Th-this is... t-too... ah..." he looked over at the wolfess, raising an eyebrow, “W-w-wait..."

On Brunhilde's person was a box of match sticks. Quickly swiping it off of her person, he opened the box up, lit a match, and tossed it inside. Steam raised, and Ray began blowing into it, praying with all his might that the flames would catch. Seconds drifted into seconds into minutes, all as Ray blew and blew and blew and blew and blew and blew until--

Ssssssssss! Ssssssss!!! SSSSSSSS!!!

Swwoooosh!!!

“Aah! Whoa!"

Ray ducked back as the flame he created billowed to life, bringing both life and warmth to the immediate area. It would take some time for the heat to grow stronger and travel through the room, but the fact that he created a fire at all was an immediate boon to Ray's morale.

Sitting on his butt, the private basked in the warmth and glory of his fire, a smile spreading out on his lips. But as the flames encroached upon him, he turned his head and focused on the other in the room. Brunhilde's unconscious body was next to the flame, but that wouldn't heal the wound on her stomach. For that, Ray would have to get his hands dirty.

But that would mean he'd have to undress her without her consent. Haah... oh well... if she wanted to yell at him for it, she could do it when she was alive!

Grabbing a hold of Brunhilde's body, Ray quickly began unzipping her jacket and fatigues. Layer after layer was undone, with the private tossing them aside as he dressed her down to nothing but her pants and black tank top.

His eyes grew wide.

Brunhilde was remarkable.

From head to toe, white fur coated her form... her Olympian form. The armies of Dudral were mostly unisex, with men and women training alongside one another often. Ray had seen more than a few women he considered amazing, be it due to their physical skill or mental strength. What he saw before him now however, was greater than all of them.

Brunhilde had a body meant for battle, meant for warfare. She was tall and built, with chiseled musculature on her arms and shoulders. Her narrow waistline gave her a somewhat curvy figure, and she had abs on her stomach comparable to full body armor.

But the rippling musculature did not ruin her femininity, not with her busty, bountiful bosom. Never had Ray seen such massive breasts before, and it made his legs clinch in. Wasn't that, ya'know, painful for women? Or, at the very least, wouldn't they get in the way during battle? He wouldn't be focusing so much on her amazing breasts, if the thin tank top she wore didn't seem to accentuate it! It came down juuuuuust enough to cover the bottom of her breasts... though it had more than just a generous cleavage.

And then there was the cold, which made her nipples... well... you know...

“D-dammit, Ray!" he growled to himself whilst shaking his head, “F-focus! Haah...!"

Rubbing his hand upon his person, he produced a first aid kit; one he had collected from the beastkin settlement. At the same time, his eyes trailed down to her side, where there was a bleeding gash. This was the wound that had been sapping her strength thus far, and was staining her pristine white fur red.

It was time to get to work.

…

RA-TA-TA-TA-TA-TA!!!

“WHAT'S GOING ON!?"

THOOM! THOOM! THOOM!

“D-DAMMIT, BRUNHILDE! KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN!!!"

“WH-WHAT? NO, SIEGFRIED! I CAN STILL FIGHT!"

THOOM! THOOM! THOOM!

“I SAID GET DOWN BRUN--"

GUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRNNN...!

“By the gods... what is that...?"

KA-THOOOOOOOOMMM!!!

“AH! SIEGFRIED!"

Blue eyes snapped open.

Her blood was pumping, her heart was beating, and without a moments hesitation, she sprung up.

“Nnnngghhh!!!"

Only to instantly double back in pain.

Clinching in and closing her eyes, Brunhilde winced as a surge of pain roared through her body. To subdue the pain, she reached down and hugged her stomach close, hoping the pressure would numb what she felt. It did to some degree... but she ultimately laid back down on the ground, her mouth opening as a gasp left her lips.

“Haaah... gods... oh... huh?" she raised an eyebrow, “What is...?"

Palming her stomach, she felt the touch of gauze and coils press back. When she looked down to her stomach, she saw she had been wrapped around in medical coils. Not only that, but she wasn't a freezing mess. Her eyes glanced over and she saw why.

A softly burning fire was just a few feet away, not only illuminating her, but giving her warmth. It was then that Brunhilde realized that she wasn't outside in the cold, nor was she in some mysterious death void. She was inside of a building, next to a fireplace. Her jacket and uniform had been removed down to her tank top, and her injuries had already been dealt with. Not just the major one on her side, but various little band-aids had been placed on her arms and even her face to help patch her up.

“What is... going on...?" Brunhilde whispered to herself as she got up to her knees, “I'm... hnngghh!!!"

“E-easy there! You're still a bit banged up!"

Her ears perked up and eyes grew wide. Looking over, Brunhilde's gaze fell upon a chair, and the young man sitting in it. He was like her, having dressed down to just his pants, a tank top, and nothing else. But this smile laid on his cute lips, one which disarmed and calmed her... even if she remained abrasive.

“You... Ray..." said Brunhilde as she averted her gaze briefly, “You... kept your word..."

“What? You thought I was gonna leave you out there in the snow to die? I wouldn't do that to my worse enemy," he replied, to which the wolfess shook her head.

“I am your enemy," she stated, “You're from Dudral. I'm from Yggdrasil. We are mortal enemies," she cocked her head, “Which makes it all the more baffling that you'd help me. Even if it was for our mutual survival, you should have left me in the snow when you got in here. But..." she looked down and patted the coils that wrapped around her, “You've gone through all of this for me... why?"

“Uh... well..." he shrugged his shoulders and chuckled, “I don't have it in me to leave someone to die. Especially when I can save them, no matter who they are."

His answer bewildered Brunhilde, who looked at him as if he had grown a second head. He did realize he was a soldier, right? And she was his enemy, right? She even tried killing him the first chance she got! If anything, he had every right to leave her to her death, or just put a bullet in her head outright!

“You're... not a soldier, are you?" Brunhilde asked, causing Ray to shake his head.

“Hey! Don't say that! I'm Private Ray Alto of the Royal Dudral Army! I worked hard to get to this position! As menial as it is. I guess a private pails in comparison to a sergeant like you."

“S... sergeant...?" she repeated, “How did--"

Clang! Clang!

Ray raised his hand, revealing a pair of dog togs. Brunhilde's dog tags. Eyes growing wide, the wolfess reached out for him to snatch her tags back, but the over extension caused her to double back in pain.

“Hgnnn!"

“Hey, clam down," Ray said as he got up from his chair and came to her side, “Don't exert yourself. I admit, my skills with first aid isn't the best. I wasn't the combat medic of our squad. That went to... to..." his voice trailed off, and he eventually shook his head, “Anyway, I'm sorry for taking your dog tags. It fell out of your jacket when I was tending to your wounds. I couldn't help but to read it. Um... I wish it was under better circumstances, but... heh..." he smiled and offered her his hand, “It's nice to meet you, Sergeant Brunhilde Edda. I'm Private Ray Alto."

She stared at him, wondering why he was acting so kind and affable. But, no, this was no act; he was just being kind and affable. Should she trust him? Was this all still some ploy, some trick? If it was... then to what end? They were trapped here with no way for either of them to contact their armies! And it's not like capturing her would do anything; Brunhilde wasn't aware of her kingdom's greater plans!

So Ray gained nothing from trusting her, either than putting a target on his back! Though Brunhilde then had to wonder why she herself would try to kill the little human. She too would gain nothing for the act, aside from punishing a man who had thus far been nothing but honest with her.

It was confusing but... well... a level head prevailed.

“Um... nice to meet you too, Ray," said Brunhilde as she shook her hand, “And uh... thanks for keeping your word and helping me. So... uh..." she crossed her arms and looked around, “What now? Where are we?"

“We are in Outpost Gamma. One of Dudral's many outposts that they abandoned in the Fringe."

“The... Fringe...?" Brunhilde replied, confused, “What's the 'Fringe'?"

“Uh... that's where we are. It's called the Fringe, right?"

She shook her head.

“No, it's called Niflheim," she explained, only to shake her head, “Oh... wait... that's what you all call it. The people from Dudral."

“Oh... heh... s-sorry... we've always called it the Fringe," he replied, “The place where the world ends. Ah... um... well... Outpost Gamma is one of many outposts left abandoned in... uh... Niflheim. There's a lot of them. This was just the closest to where we were," he looked over towards the window above her, “We've been in here for two hours now, and the blizzard hasn't let up. So... um..." he stared back with a smile, “I hope you're ready to get comfortable, Brunhilde. We're gonna be together for a while... assuming we ever get out of here."

His words weighed heavily on Brunhilde's mind. Because, really, Ray had a point; there was a chance that this building became their grave anyway. Well...

“Food...?" she suddenly said, making him look up at her, “Do we have any food?"

“I didn't explore much, but the cafeteria is close by," said Ray as he pointed away, “It's just down the hall in fact. I'm sure it's still stocked with rations and food, but we won't know until we get there," he smiled, “Hey! With the base being so cold, we don't have to worry about whether or not its refrigerated!"

His cheery, jokey declaration brought a smile to Brunhilde's lips. Ray was a different kind of man than she was used to. Even among other soldiers who had a more jovial disposition, he somehow stood out from the rest. She blamed it on his size. He was so small and so cute, but clearly capable with how he got them to safety.

Huh...

“Well, Private Alto... let's try and make Outpost Gamma our home base for the time being," Brunhilde said, “We'll bring food over here and..." she stared around again, “Do you think there's a chance we can get power on in this area?"

“Maybe," he said with a shrug of his shoulders, “If I can get my hand on a generator, I can hook it up to the grid in this area, and activate the power in this vicinity. But that's only if we can find a generator... but... hey! Nothing ventured, nothing gained!"

Again his charming nature warmed Brunhilde's heart... and really, she was gonna need it. While it was warm around the fireplace, the rest of the base was still in frigid temperatures. If they were going to search for food, they'll need to stick close together.

Very close together.

“Let's not dally anymore, Ray," Brunhilde said as she grabbed her jacket and put it on, “We can heighten our chances for survival if everything we need is in close proximi-- nnghh!"

“H-hey! Don't push yourself too hard!"

Not only did she wince, but she doubled over, causing Ray to prop the wolfess up with his body. She held against him, blushing from embarrassment that she'd need someone as small as him for support. But Ray didn't perceive this as a weakness of any kind. He genuinely just wanted to help.

Ah...

“Here, I'll just," he muttered as he pressed his the back of his head up to her chest, then zipped the jacket up towards his chin, “There! We use your jacket to cover us, and share our body heat beneath it. We'll just need to keep working together to survive."

“Yeah, well... you lead the way, Ray, since you know this place better than I do."

“Gotcha! Onward!"

Under Ray's guidance, the two walked out into the hall, where the temperatures plummeted quickly. Already they breaths were visible, and as they walked further and further away, the glow from the fireplace began to subside. Fortunately, the private had a flashlight on his hip, one he used to illuminate the halls in front of them.

It was so... quiet... and so dark. The halls seemed to go on forever, and there were very few objects around. Brunhilde was enthralled, having never been in a human base before. The Dudral insignia was plastered everywhere; on the walls, the floors, and on random objects even. It made her feel sick to her stomach seeing a symbol that she associated with death and hatred.

But this human man whom she clung to for support and guidance... he didn't live up to the qualities she thought her enemies would have. He was small yes, cute of course, but he was also skilled enough to survive in a harrowing situation such as this... and he was also compassionate.

Just... who is he?

Well if they were gonna be stuck here for a while...

“You know what you're doing, Private Ray," Brunhilde whispered, “Have you done something like this before? Surviving, I mean..."

“Hey, you don't have to be so professional with me," he said with a chuckle, “Just call me 'Ray'. There's no need to call me 'private' or anything. I won't be calling you 'sergeant' even if you ask me to! But... uh... may I call you Hilde?"

“H... Hilde...?" she repeated, flummoxed.

“Yeah! If we're gonna be stuck together for a while, might as well get comfortable," he replied, “So I'll just call you 'Hilde'. I think it suits you. Umm..." he looked ahead again, “I used to go hunting with my grandfather. He taught me a lot about surviving out in the wild. You see, my parents died when I was young, so I lived with my grandparents. When I grew old enough, I joined the army to make something of my life. I wanted to see the world, and defend my country. Heh... um..." he shook his head, “But uh... it wasn't all that it was cracked up to be. The fighting and everything. But I kept it going, if not for my country, then for my squad mates. But they're all... um..."

He grew silent. Brunhilde understood why.

“But, hey! Th-that's enough outta me! What about you!" he said, “Answer a question for me! Like uh... um... hm... oh! Who's Siegfried?"

“Si... Siegfried...?" she repeated, astonished that such a name would leave his lips, “H... how do you know that name!?"

“You were whispering it to yourself in your sleep," he explained, “You kept calling out for a man named 'Siegfried'. Who is he? Your comrade? Your brother? Your lover?"

“L-lover!?" she repeated, her cheeks turning red with an embarrassed blush.

Not only that, but her entire body grew warmer, a feeling Ray basked in. Not just for the fact that it made traversing these halls easier, but also because it felt so nice.

That and Brunhilde's beating heart.

“N-no... Siegfried was not my lover, but..." she closed her eyes, “He was... very close to me," she shook her head, “Apologies for... whispering his name..."

“D-don't apologize," Ray said back, “If anyone should be apologizing, it's me. I shouldn't have eavesdropped on you... I'm sorry..." his gaze cut back ahead, “You just sounded so mournful... was... was he there at the attack...?"

“He... he was... he..."

Ray could sense the trembling in her voice, and the rising emotions there in. Realizing that talking about Siegfried was doing her more mental harm than good, he decided to try and level things out with her.

“I too lost someone important to me during the attack," he said, “His name was Corporal Gigoon. He's been my corporal since I joined the army. He was older than me by, like, ten or so years. He felt like an older brother. Taught me the ropes, was patient with me when other sergeants were down my throat. Ah..." he stopped momentarily, “I can't believe he died... I..." then he tensed up, “It's why I have to survive this. I promised I would return his dog tags to his family. I can't let him down."

“Dog... tags..." Brunhilde repeated, before swallowing her spit, “I want to... return Siegfriend's dog tags to his family as well. They deserve to know that their son died honorably. Even if I'm not sure what killed him."

“You're... not?" Ray asked, “It wasn't a gun or an explosion or something?"

“N-no! You humans employed something against us! Something we've... never seen before," she stated.

“Huh...? No we didn't," the private countered, “In fact, it was you beastkin who employed something against us! I... I remember it now. We were driving, then an explosion occurred, we all got out thinking it was an ambush... and then we... we..." he closed his eyes, trying to recompile his memories, “I... dammit... I remember something coming out of the night sky, something big. And it made this... this noise... this loud, deafening noise. I have never heard something like it before."

Brunhilde pulled back, confused by his statement... because it sounded exactly like what happened to her. They were fighting after being ambushed, and then something big came out of the night sky, something she couldn't quantify, and something that made this loud noise.

Ray experienced it too? But how is that possible? Wasn't it a Dudral weapon? Yggdrasil has no access to anything like that! It's Dudral who has a stranglehold on superior technology! Only they could create something so monstrous!

There was more here than they originally believed. This wasn't some mutual battle that wiped out their platoons and reduced them to just these two. But the two also realized that they could do nothing in their current position. Right now, they needed to focus before asking any impossible questions.

And that focus brought them to the outpost's cafeteria.

More so than any other area of the outpost thus far, the mess hall was left untouched by time. Just a bunch of tables and chairs with dust laying over it all, with even a few plates and utensils still resting upon them. It seemed more as if Dudral was rushing to get out of the outpost with how much was still in here.

Focusing ahead, Ray and Brunhilde walked into the back area of the cafeteria, where it was even more clear that Dudral left the outpost in a hurry. While there were some things missing, there were more than just a few refrigerators and microwaves around, and there was even a--

“A g-generator!?"

It wasn't a massive generator, instead being akin to one a person would use to help power their house during an outage. Dudral would use smaller generators like this to help power small, outdoor bases and outposts, so seeing one here wasn't surprising... if the base was still in operation that is. Ray could understand why his kingdom would leave none essential items like tables and chairs, even refrigerators and microwaves, but a generator was damn-near invaluable!

What was going on here?

“Let's get this generator too," Ray said as he led Brunhilde over towards it, “I can power the rec-room with it, and maybe even this entire side of the base."

“I hope that includes bringing heat back..." the wolfess replied, to which Ray shrugged his shoulders.

“Maybe, but we won't know until we get it going, Hilde. Alright, let's go!"

Grabbing a hold of the generator's handle, Ray tugged and pulled it close to them. Its wheels were aged and rusty, with dust clogging between gears, but it began rolling rather quickly when Ray began tugging forcefully. With it in hand, the duo continued on, pushing into the kitchen, searching upon its shelves and cabinets to see... rations. Glorious rations!

They were collected in boxes, steel cases, in bags, all of it! And there was a wide abundance of rations too! Not only were there general purpose rations – like the kind you'd use out in the field – but there were also cafeteria rations, nicely preserved by the frigid interior of the forgotten base. And further down in the kitchen, there was even water! Everything they needed to survive in the base was in this kitchen. Sure, it was messy, like whoever came in here last was speedily trying to leave, but it was here nonetheless!

But, again... why!? Why was all of this here? Just what happened at Outpost Gamma that forced Dudral to leave in such a haste? Perhaps it was best not knowing; it was like looking a gifted horse in the mouth. They had food, water, and with this generator, they'd have power, no matter how minuscule. The 'why' behind it all just wasn't important at the moment.

With all these objects in hand, they grabbed a nearby tray to stack their things upon it. Food, lots of food. Water, lots of water. And the generator at the bottom. Having all of this was an instant boon to their morale, with Ray and Brunhilde even hugging one another tightly.

And suddenly.

It was spurned from excitement and joy, with the two not realizing what they were doing until they were doing. Ray's head was pressed up against Brunhilde's chest, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist and back. She did likewise; gleefully clutching and holding the young private close against her more muscular build.

Their embrace went on for a moment too long, and they both realized it at the same time.

Pulling away, Ray stared up to Brunhilde's face, and she did likewise. For a few seconds, the two just looked at one another as they read the shared expression the other had. This visage of...

What did we just do?

Brunhilde quickly shook her head of it and looked away.

“Let's get this back to the rec room," she said, to which Ray nodded.

“Yeah, let's..."

…

Boiling water. Brunhilde's couldn't remember the last time seeing and smelling boiling water made her feel so good.

Having returned to the rec room, the wolfess sat before the blazing flame before her, watching as the pot they brought boiled with water above the flames. She was cooking something, bringing life to the instant meals placed within their metal packages. Dudral's engineering was immaculate; these rations could easily be cooked so long as they had a pot to boil within. Seeing the meats start cooking within not only lifted Brunhilde's spirits, but it also made her stomach growl.

“Haaah... it's been so long," she whispered audibly, “My mouth is watering!"

“It's been so long since... what?" Ray chimed in from the distance, “How long has it been since you've eaten?"

“For a day or two now...?" she answered, “I've had snacks, but that was only after we left the base. So..." she rubbed her, “I'm a bit hungry."

“Well don't eat it all yet," Zrrrrt! “I want to eat too!" Bzzzzzt! “Just a few more minutes... and..." Clckckclclckclkcl! “Aaaaannndd..." Zrk! Blztz! “Ah-ha! Gotcha!"

Ggggggggnnn... gggggghghghghg... gghghghghgnnn! Ggggggghnnnn!

Grrrrnnnnnnnnn!!!

Click! Click! Click!

“Wha?"

Thoooooooooooooooonnn...!

Brunhilde looked up towards the ceiling as one by one by one, the lights came on. At first it was blinding as her vision had been engrossed in the darkness and light form the fireplace. But once her eyes settled in, a hopeful, blissful sigh left her lips.

The lights in the sector were brought to life, not only gleaming in the rec room, but in certain areas of the hall. It ran down far enough to the cafeteria, but did not stretch any further. Any rooms between these two areas were also brought to life, thought the two had yet to explore that deeply. There was also no heat coming through the base's vents. It would seem as if the heater of the outpost was on a separate grid.

But that didn't matter, not right now. The shear joy of having the lights on was greater than having heat at the moment.

“See?" said Ray as he joined Brunhilde at her side, “I told you I could get the power on!"

“You certainly did," the wolfess said with a cheeky grin, “You're a really reliable guy, Ray. Here, sit down and get comfortable. I got this food here cooked well."

“Thanks, Hilde..."

That nickname of his, 'Hilde'... hearing it kept striking a chord with the wolfess. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but it was so personal. She was used to being called sergeant, or Sergeant Edda. But just 'Hilde'? No one has ever been so personal with her in her entire life. Even friends she grew up with always called her by her full name.

And for a very important reason...

In a way, it made Brunhilde a bit jealous. She wished Ray had a longer name, so she could come up with a nickname for him! When those thoughts came into her mind, even she had to perform a double-take. Why would she want to give him a nickname? She gained nothing from it.

Hmm...

“Man, maybe its the frostbite talking, but this smells soooooo good," Ray said as he reached forward and--

Sssssssss!!!

“Ah! Ah! Hot! Hot!"

“You daft idiot!" Brunhilde shouted, “Use these tongs!"

“Heh heh...! Right! Thanks, Hilde."

Placing the rations down beside them, the two pulled open their tops to reveal beef stew. Noodles, vegetables, and meats of different kinds all swam about with a brown, gravy-like liquid. It looked simple from afar, but for the both of them, it may as well have been a five-star meal. Spoons in hand, the duo quickly began scarfing down meal, caring not for how hot it was. If anything, the scalding heat made them feel even better; burned tongues be damned!

Seconds turned into minutes as the duo ate and ate and ate, with each bite being slower than the last, and then some. What was once uproarious became casual eating, with the two stealing glances at one another every now and then, or gazing towards the windows. The blizzard outside had practically swallowed the base up in snow, making it difficult if not outright impossible to get a good look outside. They were truly trapped in here by the elements... but it didn't make them feel too bad. Not when they were here together.

“So... Ray," said Brunhilde as she scooted over a bit closer, causing their hips to touch, “You used to hunt, huh? So... why did you become a soldier? Is it some sort of draft type of thing in Dudral?"

“Draft...? N-no... nothing like that... at least, not for me," he replied with a shrug, “Uh... um... well... like I said, my parents died when I was young, and I was taken in by my grandparents. But... my parents were important people in a city called Gaurdia, which is where I was born. Hah... my father was a magistrate; he oversaw many important cases and rulings in the court. My mother meanwhile was a scholar, one who tirelessly worked through the night to investigate and learn about certain phenomena. Together, people thought they were without a doubt the wisest people in all of Dudral. Or so I've been told..." he sighed dismissively, “Like I said before... they died when I was young. I barely have any memories of them. I think..." he closed his eyes, “I think I can see my father's smile, and... I can feel my mother's hand, but..." he shook his head, “I don't know... that could just be me making things up."

“You said your parents died when you were young...? Why is that? What happened to them?" Brunhilde asked, drawing yet another sigh from Ray's lips.

“My father made more than just a few enemies in his day," he answered, “Being a magistrate – and a high official one at that – meant he presided on many controversial cases in his time. He made enemies and... one day, those enemies had enough of him. Assassins were hired to kill my father and mother both... or so the story goes."

“Oh... I... I'm sorry," Brunhilde said, “I shouldn't have asked."

“No, no! It's fine!" Ray replied with a smile, “It's fine, I swear! I've... I've already come to terms with it... anyway," he sighed and leaned against her, using her body for support, “Growing up, I was constantly compared to my parents. It would seem as if any accomplishments I made were just proving myself to others. Always seen as something they could do, so of course I should be able to do it too. At first it felt good... I was doing my parents proud. But then I grew annoyed and even frustrated with it. What was the point of doing things if everyone always saw my parents, and not me? And then one day, I got this flier to join the army. Heh... I admit, I may have been enamored with the adventurous lifestyle that war and conflict could afford me, but I also saw it as a chance to get out from under my parents' shadows. Imagine me, Ray Alto, son of a magistrate and a scholar, taking up arms to defend his country from enemies! At least, that was the idea. I trained hard, and was sent all over Dudral for my training. It was exhilarating. I felt proud of myself."

Brunhilde raised an eyebrow at the human before her size, now understanding why he was here. It wasn't for glory, or for honor, but more to prove himself his own man, one free from the shadows of his parents. It was also something that the wolfess could relate to.

“What about you, Hilde?" Ray asked whilst looking up at her, “Why did you join Yggdrasil's army? Heh..." he smiled, “Knowing a woman of your caliber, it was to prove your strength to others, wasn't it? You are... without a doubt the strongest woman I have ever met."

Was he... flattering her? No... it sounded a bit more flirtatious than that. It was in his tone and how he said it. Ray was speaking of her strength in a way a paramour would speak of a woman's beauty. It made her cheeks turn red and her heart start to thump, though she quickly dismissed it by inhaling deeply.

“I'm a duchess," Brunhilde stated, taking Ray aback, “Duchess Brunhilde Edda of Astrasia. It is a land within our nation that I and my family have presided over for centuries."

“Centuries... wow..." Ray said, “Heh.. makes my family and I seem small; Guardia's only existed since the 1800s."

“Since I was child, I have been raised like a warrior princess," Brunhilde continued, “My family have always valued physical strength, perhaps more so than our political duties, some would argue. Not to say that we aren't politicians but... I feel at times my family feels more at home in a sporting event than we do in a senate room."

“Is that why you joined the army? Because you like fighting?" Ray asked.

She leered at him, finding his question to be a bit... disrespectful. But he didn't mean to be disrespectful; not with that earnest face of his. It warmed her heart, and further disarmed the wolfess as she took a bite out of her food.

“No..." she answered, “I don't like fighting. Competition is one thing. Mindless slaughter is something else entirely. This war between Yggdrasil and Dudral has gone on for far too long, and it's long since left me feeling... hollow. We battle for what feels like scraps, and leave nothing but death in our wake. It's sickening..."

“Heh..."

“H... huh?" she looked at him, “Did you just... laugh?"

“N-no... well... not... not exactly," Ray replied, “I was more laughing at your words, not at what you said. Hilde... you have a very beautiful way of speaking. You sound unlike any one I've ever met. You're like a... warrior poet..."

Again Brunhilde flinched, and again, her cheeks turned read. Scratch what she thought before about his words coming off as flirtatious; this was far more overt. He may have been speaking of her voice instead of her physical appearance... but that didn't make her feel any less flattered. It got so bad that Brunhilde had to look away and cough into her hand in some failed attempt to brush off his affects on her.

She felt so silly, and so surprised with herself. This human was pouring honeyed words into her ears... and she actually liked it? He was unlike any male she's ever found fetching in the past. He wasn't a tall, muscular beastkin, like a horse or a fellow wolf, no. He was this small, admittedly cute human, but that made him no less skilled, no less gallant, no less... majestic.

“Hnn..."

“Is something wrong, Hilde? You're suddenly getting hotter," Ray said, to which she shook her head.

“I-I'm fine... just a bit tired..." the wolfess answered.

Ray raised an eyebrow. Could he tell that she was trying to deflect the conversation? Even if she was, she had a point.

“It... has been a long day," Ray said, “Maybe we should get some sleep. We can try and decide what to do in the morning. But..."

“But... what...?"

“We'll need to conserve body heat. So we should sleep together," Ray said, “The fire can keep us warm for but so much; the temperatures are still low in here."

Brunhilde closed her eyes and groaned, annoyed... but understanding. Ray was right; if they wanted to not freeze to death, they should sleep together. Even with her fur, the temperatures were so low that she could easily freeze to death. Worse still, she could possibly get sick, which would make surviving this even harder.

It was embarrassing, frustrating, and felt even more like a smear against her people. This little human had already helped her enough by getting them into this base; now she was going to willfully sleep with him to share body heat? He could have been the one who killed Siegfried for all she knew!

But she could have been the one who killed Corporal Gigoon. Even with this knowledge, Ray still aided her, even beyond what was necessary. He kept his word too by bringing her into the base, and even tended to her wounds. They adventured into this base together, gathered food, and he used his knowledge of Dudral technology to power this side of the base. They even spoke with one another.

He wasn't some private, wasn't some human... he was Ray Alto, a young man trying to get himself out from under his parents' shadow. She felt a kinship with him, even if it felt wrong to do so.

“Ssshnn... alright..." Brunhilde whispered, before facing Ray with a serious face, “Come here."

“Wh-what? Al... already?" Ray said, now being the one with a flustered face.

“Yes, now! I said I was tired, so let's get some sleep!" the wolfess shouted, causing him to jolt in place.

This wasn't a command, it was an outright howl, one that showed Brunhilde's strength through voice alone. The sound of it reverberating into his ears made Ray shake in place... and then melt. Her voice truly was amazing, even when barking orders.

“Well... if you say so..." he said, though it wasn't like Brunhilde was going to wait for his approval, because once he put down his finished ration of food...

Grab!

“Ah? Mmmmm!?"

He was pulled in like a doll against her. His head laid upon her chest, while her strong, burly, furry arms wrapped cradled and hugged him in close. He was hesitant at first, mostly because his face was resting against her breasts. Her lovely, curvy, soft, breasts. With this tank top on, there was nothing to defend him from her.

And really... he preferred it.

Closing his eyes, Ray began snuggling in close against Brunhilde, his face stuffed into her cleavage. She could feel him growing hot beneath her hold, which in turn caused her to do likewise. They said nothing, with only the sound of their breathing echoing out. But Brunhilde's ears began twitching.

“Haaah..."

Reaching over, the wolfess grabbed their jackets and draped them upon their bodies, using them as a makeshift blanket. She didn't know what tomorrow would bring, if they'd try to make an escape from this place, or if they could even survive any of this! For now, she would rest with this tiny human, rest with Ray...

Just for now...

“You smell nice..." he whispered, causing her to snarl.

“Hgh... d... don't say such stupid things..."

Brunhilde's heart began beating faster.

…

She was so warm.

She was so remarkable.

She was so beautiful.

She was so sexy.

His head was resting on her breasts.

Her breasts.

Her lovely...

Warm...

Soft...

Breasts...

“Haaah... Hilde... H... huah...?"

Blue eyes opened up, gazing towards a softly burning fire. How long had he been asleep? When he drew his eyes over towards the windows, he saw that they had been covered up completely with snow and ice. Great... there were no answers to be gleamed from that.

Shaking his head and groaning audibly, Ray pulled away from Brunhilde's body, where he took a quick gander at her form. The coils he wrapped around her waist were still holding strong and firm, with the noticeable red stain of blood having dried. Good... that's good. His gaze traveled up.

By the heavens were Brunhilde's breasts so large. They were like a great pillow, with her furry form being an even better blanket. If he could snuggle up against her for nights and nights on end, huh, he'd never complain about a bad rest ever again.

Ray didn't mean to... but he kept drinking in the illustrious form of Brunhilde's amazonian figure. The power, the shapeliness, the bountiful chest, and... her face. When she was sleeping like this, she looked like some blissful angel. No, wait, she's a warrior; calling her an 'angel' is far too soft. So... Brunhilde was more like a sleeping valkyrie.

Ray was so enthralled with Brunhilde's body, that he didn't realize the power had gone out until now. He needed to go and pull the generator's ripcord to bring life back to this area. So standing up, he turned around and grabbed his jacket, prepared to do so, only for...

“Ray...?"

“Hmm...?"

He looked over his shoulder, his eyes meeting the blue eyes of the wolfess he was with.

“Where are you going, Ray?" Brunhilde asked as he pointed to the distance.

“The generator turned off," he answered, “I need to turn it back on."

“Hmm..." begrudgingly, the wolfess sat up on her butt, “Ray... how long do you think we'll be in here? C'mon... be honest with me."

“Hmm... well... with how high the snow has gotten..." he shrugged his shoulders, “We might die in here regardless."

“Hm... I was afraid you'd say something like that," Brunhilde muttered as she stared over to the flame, “We have plenty of food and water to survive for what seems like weeks if we ration things... but..." she shrugged her shoulders, “We'll probably go mad being stuck with one another for so long."

“I... I don't think so," Ray answered, “With you here, I can't imagine going crazy. Heh... but..." he sighed, “Even if we do survive in here for weeks, we'll just die afterwards. We need to find a way to get in contact with the outside world. And I think I have a way to do so."

Brunhilde's ears perked up and she looked over.

“You do?" she said, to which he nodded.

“It's important for soldiers to know the general layout of a base, and what these locations contain," he answered, “If we can locate Outpost Gamma's command center, I should be able to activate it with our generator, and turn on its communications array. We'll be able to contact the outside world with it."

“This place is so derelict though... wouldn't it be down?" Brunhilde asked, though Ray shook his head.

“Major Dudral bases like this one typically have an emergency array," he explained, “They're stuck inside the building and only extend once activated. This is just in case an array has already been destroyed."

“So Dudral bases have two towers," Brunhilde said, “Aaah... makes since now..." she leaned in, “So... we just have to find this command tower? Do you have an idea of where it can be?"

“Actually, I do!"

“Huh? Then where is it?"

He didn't answer her directly, instead pointing directly behind her. Brunhilde looked over her shoulder, where her eyes fell upon the wall... and the map hanging on it. It was covered in dust thanks to its plastic casing, but a map of the outpost had been sitting there all along.

Standing up, Brunhilde walked over to the map and pulled it from its casing, which wasn't too hard thanks to its aged screws breaking easily. Bringing the map over, she illuminated it with the fire so that the two could see it. This Dudral map made little since to Brunhilde, but Ray easily read it, locating the command center as he said,

“There... it's right there," he tapped the map, “Ah... but that's not good..."

“Huh? What's wrong?"

“The command center is over here," he said, “Which means we'll have to go outside in order to get to it."

“Ah! That's impossible!" Brunhilde replied, “We're snowed in; how are we going to get through the doors?"

“Weeeell..." he muttered as he tapped the map, “If we take this path, we can get there. It looks like Outpost Gamma was once a base used to hold jets and other airborne vehicles, so it has an underground carrier. We can travel through it to get to the command center, then use our generator to bring it back online."

“Hm..."

Brunhilde looked up to Ray, reading his expression. Again, she had to wonder how such a cute human man could be so affirmative. His appearance certainly belied his true skill. She understood now why she couldn't so easily kill him in the frostlands.

“Well then, let's not fuck around," Brunhilde said as she stood up, “Let's get ready for our trip to the command center. We'll take the generator and some food with us just in case, and of course, the fire. I can take apart one of these couches and use its leg as a torch, so we can bring the fire with us!"

“Heh! I'm all for it, sergeant!"

Sergeant? He called her sergeant? Hm... hearing that sent a tingle down Brunhilde's spine. But ya'know what? She preferred it when he called her Hilde.

“C'mon... let's have breakfast."

…

Dudral bases were truly a strange place. Just a bunch of cold, unfeeling grays, and whites, and blacks. There was almost no life here outside of the rec-room... and even that place had a certain lifelessness to it. Dudral bases were not about honor or glory or anything like that. Hell, it wasn't even about proving their country's superiority through military might! No, Dudral bases were about business. Cold, cruel, unfeeling, business.

It bewildered Brunhilde. Ray wasn't too bothered.

Having collected themselves and their things, the duo pushed through the halls in their trek towards the base's command center. Their jackets were on and they stuck close to one another, all while the temperatures around them just dropped and dropped and dropped. Ray had a flashlight on his hip, and a torch in hand, both illuminating the area in front of them and keeping the atmosphere warm. Brunhilde meanwhile was pushing their cart of things through the hall; their generator, their food, their water, and whatever other random tools the duo thought was important.

“Ray..." said the wolfess as they pushed through the halls, “What is... Dudral like...?"

“Hm? What's Dudral like?" he repeated.

“Yes. I've only heard horror stories about your country from fellow beastkin," she shook her head, “But I know it's not like that..." looking over, their eyes met, “So... what is Dudral like?"

“Weelll... it rains a lot," he answered, “At least in Gaurdia where I live. It rains a lot. The clouds tend to be gray all the time, and everyone walks around with umbrellas. But..." he shrugged his shoulders, “I like the rain. I find it calming and soothing. When you're in a mansion and the rain falls on your window... you feel at peace," he smiled at her, “Wouldn't you agree?"

Huh...

She never related to something more than that.

“Yeah... yeah I agree," she whispered, thinking back to days at her own estate where the rain fell down at her window seal.

They were from different worlds and were of different species: Dudral and Yggdrasil, human and wolf. But they shared so much in common. A desire to survive this situation for people important to them, fighting in this war to get out from under someone else's shadow, and now, the simple joy of hearing rain against their window.

“Haah... you're such an interesting person, Ray," Brunhilde whispered, “I don't know what to say..."

“Well... you can say it when we get to the command center," he replied, “There's the door to the carrier. Let's get through it."

Brunhilde nodded, and then moved in towards the door, where she used her immaculate strength to force it open. It wasn't too hard thanks to how aged and disused the hinges were, and when it fell over--

KA-THUUUNNNGGGG!!!

Its deathly rattle echoed through the base.

Ray and Brunhilde stepped through the doorway, entering upon a suspended catwalk that hung over a frozen, underground landing bay. The ceiling of the massive carrier room – which would be ground floor outside – was open, allowing snow and wind to cascade down upon them. The briefest glimmers of sunlight could also be seen, bringing life to an otherwise cold, if not outright dead chamber.

“There," said Ray as he pointed to the opposite side of the landing bay, “That's the door we need to take. All we have to do is..." he looked down, “Take this massive bridge over there. Heh... uh..." his gaze traveled over towards Brunhilde, “Don't look down."

Easier said than done. The drop below was maddening! If they fell down from up here, forget about it; they'd be dead! And if they didn't die from the impact, then they'd be far too broken to keep going! All they needed to do was make it over this catwalk quickly and safely.

Oh well... they just had to keep on pushing...

But before either of them took a step forward, Ray grabbed a hold of Brunhilde's hand. She looked at him in a surprised manner, but said nothing as she read his apprehensive face. He was courageous, but not fearless: brave enough to fight for his survival, but not foolish enough to ignore the dangers of it all.

Brunhilde felt likewise. For as tall and as strong as she was, this whole venture had been trying on her nerves. But with Ray here, she felt a certain boon to her spirits. She wasn't doing this alone, nor was she doing this with someone she considered an enemy! She was doing this with an ally. She was doing this with a friend.

They both stepped forward at the same time.

Clank...

They took another step forward.

Clank... Clank...

And another step forward...

Clank... Clank... Clank...!

This was heart-attack inducing. Every step they took made the catwalk rattle, drawing their attentions down to the massive drop beneath them. Even Ray – who said not to look down – couldn't help but to steal glances at his supposed death every now and then.

It was just so long... and the air was so cold... and the sound was so...

Clank! Clank! Clclclckaaannk!

“Hmm...!"

The sound was so creepy.

Clutching closer upon Brunhilde's hand, Ray further sought her safety against the massive plummet that was just over this catwalk's banister. He leaned up against her, making the wolfess also tense up in a protective manner.

Damn this small human and his antics. Why did being so close to him make her feel so warm?

Brunhilde clinched back, gripping tightly upon Ray's hand, and causing their fingers to intertwine. She was... holding hands with this human. She was tightly holding hands with this human. This wasn't some soft grip, some gentle clutch, no...

Their fingers were interlocked.

“Ray..." Brunhilde whispered, drawing over his gaze, “Back in Dudral... did you ever have a lover?"

“Glk...? A... a lover...?" he muttered back.

“Yes, a lover," the wolfess repeated, “Someone you were romantically intertwined with. Did you have one in Dudral?"

“I... hah... w-well..." she blushed and looked away, then shook his head, “N-not really, no. I've had friends before who are girls. I went to an academy in Guardia, so I had plenty of female friends. But... I don't know any who I'd consider romantic partners. Uh..." he shook his head, “I've been attracted to more than a few of them... but that's all."

“Hmm..."

“Wh-what about you?" Ray asked in an almost excited manner, “Did you... n-no... do you have a lover?"

Brunhilde flinched, her cheeks turning red with embarrassment. She was the one who brought it up, so naturally it would be put back on her. She's had a few lovers in the past, some passionate, some only flights of fancy. Never before had she felt like this was too much, but never before had she been with someone like Ray. Even though they were closer in age than she knew, his soft features and short height made him feel somewhat childlike, making her previous experience in love make her feel a bit...

What is the word? Dirty? Lewd? Sullied?

These were thoughts that never trailed through Brunhilde's mind before, but now she suddenly felt embarrassed. Just what was this tiny human doing to her? His kindness was breaking every convention she knew about humans, and his appearance made her heart race. She couldn't remember a time where she felt so embarrassed, felt so flustered!

Just what was Ray doing to her?

And why did she like it?

She just had to ask...

“If you did have a lover... what would she be like?" Brunhilde looked over, “Do you have a type?"

Ray's lips moved, mouthing out 'why would you ask'... only to internally answer the question himself. Whether or not he was jumping to conclusions, it mattered not; Brunhilde asked a question, and he had already proven how weak he was to her wiles.

Even if she didn't realize it.

“I've uh... well..." he took in a deep breath, “At my academy, I spent a lot of time studying both in academics, but also participating in sports. Though my short height didn't really make me all too good at the latter. Um... when I went to the gym, there was this girl there. I'd never seen someone as tall and as graceful as she was. Most women in the upper-crust are very dainty and feminine, with a regal attitude. But she wasn't. If all the other girls were like a graceful rapier, she was like a metal bat. She was boisterous and strong, and she was always in the gym leaving everyone in the dust. I had never been so enamored before with a girl. I've had crushes yes, but in terms of physicality..." he shook his head, “I didn't even know her name. I think she was from House Banneker, but I'm not sure."

“So... you like... tall girls...?" Brunhilde asked, “Do you like bea--"

Ka-thung-a-thung!

Eyes growing wide, they gazed away from each other's face to instead stare forward. Just a few yards away was the maintenance door which lead to the command center. Damn... and they were sooooo close...

GA-THUNG!!!

“SHIT! HILDE, MOVE!!!"

“WH-WHAT!?" PUSH! “AH!?"

No warning! Ray just shoved Brunhilde forward, causing her and their cart to stumble through the open doorway into the command center, while the catwalk they were on suddenly gave way. Wires snapped and tore, causing the already spindly bridge to finally break and fall apart... along with Ray.

He plummeted through the air, dropping their torch, while his eyes fell on the ground floor that was so, so, so far below. Ray's life flashed before his eyes, seeing everything from his father's face to Brunhilde's chest. There was no denying it; he was about to die.

But...

“Aahh!"

He reached his hand out just in time to grab a hold of the catwalk's guardrail. There was little friction – it was covered in ice – but he got enough of a hold upon it to stop his deadly free-fall. But for how long? His grip was already loosening, and the catwalk was too weak to keep itself up. Either he gave way, or it gave way; there was no in between.

“RAY!" Brunhilde shouted as she stared over the edge, “RAAAAYY!"

“Heh heh... H-Hilde...!" he replied meekly, this forced, sheepish smile on his face, “This doesn't look too good, does it?"

“Hrrgh! J-just stay there! I'll get you! Somehow..."

'Somehow' indeed. Ray was hanging fourteen feet away at the end of the catwalk. Any mistake – no matter how light – could result in him falling to his death. If Brunhilde messed up too bad, she could also fall to her death along with him. But she had to do something! She couldn't just stand up here while Ray's grip grew looser and looser!

Without him, she'd be dead. Worse still, without him, she'd be lost.

Brunhilde refused to let that happen.

Ga-gun!!!

“Huh? H-Hilde!? What are you doing!?" Ray shouted as she wolfess began climbing down the catwalk.

“Sh-shut up!" she shouted back, “That's an order, Private! I'm not letting you drop!"

“B-but! The catwalk! It might give way!"

“Then so be it! I'd rather die together than die alone!"

Her words stunned Ray, who couldn't speak back as the wolfess climbed down rung by rung by rung of the catwalk. So far, so good; it was shaking, but it had yet to break apart. The sound of splitting metal rung out like a ticking time bomb, but Brunhilde wasn't discouraged. She just kept climbing down... down... doooown... until she couldn't go down any further.

Ray stared up, gazing upon the wolfess who was just a few inches above him. She looked back, her face worried and frightened... but that didn't stop her from reaching out her hand. She didn't need to say another word; he got it the point.

Ray pulled his arm up, using all of his mental and physical strength to climb up one extra rung. Just a little bit closer! Just a little bit closer!

Just...

A...

Little...

Bit...

Clo...

Ser...!

The air was silent save for their excited panting, and the occasional sound of bending steel.

“Haah, haah hhaah hah...!"

“Hooh... hoooohh...! Hoooh...!"

Gngnngngnggngng...! Ggggngngngngn...!

And...

Grab!

“Gotcha!"

Brunhilde's powerful palm grabbed tightly upon Ray's hand, taking him aback. Before he could even speak, she used her superior strength to lift and picking him up, holding the private close to her breasts. He gripped back tightly, relying on the wolfess entirely as she pulled back...

And leaped up!

“HAAH!"

Every inch of Brunhilde's powerful body was used to propel them up, consequences be damned! Her first leap cleared several feet, and made the catwalk quiver. The second leap did likewise, shaking the catwalk down and triggering more monstrous metallic noises. But before it could break apart...

“HAAAH!!!"

Brunhilde leaped again, clearing more distance, and slamming her hand upon platform's edge. It all could have only occurred in a few seconds; no more than that. But those few seconds would forever be ingrained in them for the rest of their lives.

Galung.... glaaanng... GRRUUUUNNNNN!!!!

Wires snapped and broke apart, causing the precarious catwalk to break to pieces and fall and fall and fall and fall and faaaaaaaalll...

Straight to the cold, unfeeling ground below.

KRRRAAASSSSHHHH!!!

Panting for breath, Brunhilde and Ray stared over the edge of their platform towards the deadly drop that laid just over the edge. Somehow they did it. They got to the command central's main spire, and were safely inside... save for their racing hearts.

Their torch was gone, but their bodies were hot. Blood was pumping, voices were ragged as breathing grew hard and hoarse. And then they stared away from their would-be death to instead look at one another.

And their eyes met.

Neither said a word, instead being far too focused on one another's faces and their mixing breaths as they panted and panted and panted. This feeling... what was it? They were experiencing something they've never experienced before. The near-death experienced started the flame, the adrenaline fueled the two, and a roaring fire was triggered. Passions, desires, lusts; they all mixed together to cause...

This...

“Mmmmff!"

“Mmmm!"

No warning, no hesitation! It happened at the same time in the both of them, and they wouldn't deny themselves. Their lips – human and wolfess – met against one another in a sudden, hungry, frenetic kiss that threatened to steal their already ragged breathes. But they didn't care, not now, Not as their tongues twisted and turned around one another, and their hands grabbed hungrily at the other's body.

By the gods, they were fucking feasting!

And this feast wasn't going to stop any time soon.

When they pulled back, a sliver of spit hung from their puffy, panting lips. The two said nothing, nor could they would they say nothing. They just breathed. And...

“Haaah..."

…

When did they get up here? He didn't remember. It all happened in a blur. Climbing stairs while hungrily panting. Bringing their tray with them without saying a word. Forcing open the door. Gazing upon the sky as the clouds and blizzard whirled outside.

And then...

And then...

And then...

“Mmmff!"

She was hungrier now than she had been before with their meal.

The command center of Outpost Gamma was like a lot of command centers. It was wide, spacious, and circular room with various control consoles resting about to perform specific duties. Of course, since it had been many years since this place was last in use, they were all covered with dust, and didn't seem to look like they worked anymore. The tower itself offered a full 360 degree view of the area around them, allowing those inside to gaze upon the full breadth of the outpost.

But they weren't really focusing on any of that.

Laid down on the floor, Ray's jacket and various layered shirts was now acting like a makeshift bed for him. Already he had been dressed down to his tank top, revealing the fact that while his face and features may be soft and cute, his body certainly wasn't. While the private was small, its clear that his time training in the Dudral army had borne fruit. He was a little dynamo, with the musculature that ran on his arms, chest, shoulders and stomach.

Though nowhere near as great as Brunhilde was.

With his back resting against his jacket, the wolfess stood tall above him. She was illuminated by the silver light peering through their window, which in turn caused her white body to shimmer like an idol worth praising. The amazonian power in her form, the olympian grace in her figure, and the divine eroticism of it all.

It was cold in this room – just over 20 degrees in fact – but Ray couldn't remember a time he's felt so hot before.

Ziiiiiiiiiiipp...!

Flinching, the young private watched as Brunhilde stood before him, unzipping the multiple articles of her jacket and fatigues. More and more of her illustrious form was revealed to him, as layer after layer of clothing was pulled off. Soon enough, the wolfess was much like Ray; dressed down to her pants and tank top. Even though he had seen it before – even though he had slept with her like this just the previous night – the private felt himself stirring beneath Brunhilde.

She was just so damn beautiful.

“Is something wrong, Ray...?" Brunhilde's whispered as she straddled his lap, trapping him beneath her amazonian form, “You're not talking anymore. That's weird for you."

He swallowed his spit.

“I'm sorry, you're just so... so beautiful, Hilde..."

Her ears twitched.

“Tch... don't try flattery now, It will get you nowhere," she leaned forward, “Now come here, Ray... mmmfff!"

“Mmmm!"

Her hand clutched the back of his head, pulling him in as their lips met for the umpteenth time since arriving. They both lacked style, lacked finesse, but they more than made up for it in shear voraciousness and hunger for one another. The way their tongues whipped and lashed at the others' mouth, tasting at one another to satiate their desires, only grew with each passing moment.

And their hands – their hands! – they did not remain idle either. They gripped, and they clung, and they grabbed at one another as if they'd slip through the cracks of their fingers. Ray explored Brunhilde's body, guiding his hands upon her broad, powerful shoulders.

Amazing; Brunhilde's body was sculpted by the hands of a true artisan. Never had he touched a woman as marvelous as her, and he doubted he'd ever get the chance to experience something this impressive again. So he took his time to thoroughly explore every inch of this form that he could touch. Not just her shoulders, but her sides, her arms, the abs on her stomach, the olympian waistline, the curvature of her butt, and of course, these lofty, bouncy, busty, tits.

As they shared kiss after kiss after kiss, Ray reached up to grab upon Brunhilde's bust, pushing and squeezing his fingers into her bosom. For such a strong woman, she had such soft tits... to a certain point. They had this flawless combination of firmness and pliability, like pushing into quicksand. Soft at the top, but gripping at the bottom.

If this is quicksand, then he never wanted to be free.

Amid their kiss, Ray gave hungry groans, and clinched in upon Brunhilde's bosom. She matched his growls with ones of her own, if not doubled down harder. His every grab, grope and clinch, was matched by her, but only harder. Brunhilde didn't just grab, she outright clawed at him. Her hands groped and kneaded at the small of his back, scratching lines into his flesh. Did it hurt? If it did...

“Nmmmmph!"

Ray didn't seem to care, not as he kept moaning straight into her mouth.

The taste Brunhilde pulled from his lips was greater than ambrosia, and the feeling of his body against hers was ever so unique. He didn't have fur but flesh. Soft, smooth, spongy flesh. Drawing her palm against him, was like learning about a new texture she was thus far unaware of.

Brunhilde liked it... she liked it a lot...

Pulling back, their lips parted from one another as they panted for breath. Ray looked so dazed, so cute, as his chest heaved up and down for air. Brunhilde licked her lips, wanting to capture this moment of ecstasy on his face. It was so beautiful.

He felt likewise.

Having this goddess of a wolfess straddle his hips, made Ray wonder what he'd done in life to be blessed in such a way. He wasn't lying when he said he found her beautiful, if not more so. To be so strong and so sexy at the same time... he'd never seen a woman who could manage such a thing in his life until now.

And now...

Now...

Now Brunhilde was gripping the bottom of her tank top... and pulling it up... and up... and up. Ray tensed, knowing what was coming next. And...

Fwump...

Brunhilde's breast bounced free from her top. Large. Lovely. Luscious. Ray was entranced, enthralled even, and incapable of looking anywhere but at her glorious bust. How could he not when it was so clearly on display. Brunhilde even placed her hands on her hips and pushed out her chest, purposefully flaunting it towards him.

“You like big breasts, dontcha, Private?" the wolfess asked, watching as his face turned guilty.

“Heh... um... is it obvious?" he replied, a sheepish smile appearing on his lips.

“Yeah, a little," she teased, a wry grin appearing on her lips, “You were snuggling so close last night. Like a babe to his mother. So..." she pushed up her chest again, causing her breasts to bounce, “Go ahead. Touch 'em."

Was it an offering or an order? Honestly, Ray read it as both. And if there's one thing he's learned since joining the army, it's that you never disobey your commanding officer. So he reached up, tentatively at first... before grabbing a hold of Brunhilde's breasts; one in each hand!

“Ahh~"

Brunhilde panted, her voice getting higher in pitch for a moment. Had Ray noticed it? When she looked down at his face, she saw he was so engrossed with her breasts that he probably didn't. That's good; she would have been embarrassed if he heard such a shameful sound.

To think, a human was making her feel this way. She laid hands on a human, not as an enemy, but as a lover. She kissed this human, not just with a simple peck on the cheek, but with a deep, longing tongue that showed randy desire. She groped this human, not to overpowering him, but to pleasure him.

And in return, he did likewise.

She felt a mixture of emotions, one of them being shame. She should hate Ray by principal of him being a human. The things his race and Dudral as a whole have done to her and her people cannot be forgiven! She had been raised to view them as her foes, and for good reason! To purposefully lay with a human of any kind, no matter the reasoning behind it, was an affront to her kingdom!

And she was a duchess! Not some lowly soldier from some backwater village! One day, she would make executive decisions that could affect all Yggdrasil.

But who would listen to her now? Who would trust her now knowing that she was letting this human grope and knead her breasts? Who would believe her knowing that this human was pleasuring her? She couldn't even believe herself!

But she didn't want it to stop.

There was this virginity to Ray's movements. He's never had the chance to grope a woman's breasts, and if he has, he certainly hadn't done so with a woman of her caliber. She could read it on his face; the curiosity, the lust, the arousal, all of which he wore without hesitation. And it made Brunhilde feel so good.

This tiny human man with skills beyond his station, was outright mesmerized with her body! He stroked his palms upon her breasts, exploring their curvature, then coming from the bottom to cup up. Brunhilde had this weight, this heftiness to her chest that made him wonder how she could move so easily with such great things weighing her down. She was just that strong, wasn't she? Oh, it was glorious!

The way the fur bent from his fingers, how her chest raised up and down with her every breasts, and her nipples. So hard and pink, standing from silver-white fur without shame. Gazing upon them made Ray hunger, and he was never good at pacing his meals...

“Nomph! Mmmfff!"

“Aah~! Ray~!"

Without warning, he dove his face into Brunhilde's bosom and captured one of her nipples into his mouth. No hesitation; he began suck and pulling on her teat like he could actually draw milk from her. The wolfess shuddered, her eyes closing shut as ecstasy ruminated throughout her form. He hungrily dined on her body, sloppily slurping and sucking on her nipple, and drawing more of it into his hot and moist mouth. But he wasn't pleased with one nipple, and quickly switched to the other. And when he did, he sucked on her other nipple just as hard as he did the first!

Again and again, Ray bounced between her tits, sucking on them, biting on them, slobbering on them, until Brunhilde's nipples were hard and swollen. She panted and stared down, one hand cradling his head, while her eyes drank in the image of her pink, puffy nipples.

He was a human, but he lusted after her like he was a beast! And that made this fire in Brunhilde's womb to explode.

With Ray occupied with her breasts, the wolfess placed her hand upon her stomach, feeling her pussy throb between her legs. Her pants which were made to contain heat, suddenly felt too hot to keep on! Brunhilde wanted to just tear them off this moment, and unveil her moist womanhood to her lover.

Her lover...

N-no! She needed to retain some modicum of decency, some aspect of her dignity! She couldn't just fall back and spread her legs like some bitch in heat! And certainly not towards a human! Brunhilde was in charge, and dammit, she was gonna prove it!

“A-alright! Get up!" the wolfess ordered as she grabbed the collar of his tank top, pulling him up.

His lips audibly 'POP!'ed from her nipple as he was pulled back, his expression looking up towards her as if to say 'But why?' Seeing it made Brunhilde blush and look away; damn him and his cuteness; he was like a puppy! But she wouldn't be deterred, not by meager looks!

“I said get up! That's an order, Private!"

And she wasn't taking 'no' for an answer... as if he could defend himself against her superior strength!

Forced up onto his feet, Ray leaned back upon a command console, while Brunhilde's hands seized upon him. She grabbed his top first, pulling it off his head and tossing it somewhere random. Then her hands moved down to grab his pants, where she discovered a rather massive bulge. Oh, her little private was packing heat it would seem! Heh! She couldn't wait to see it!

But when she unbuckled and undid his belt, Ray suddenly grabbed his pants to pull them up, defending himself against her. Naturally, Brunhilde looked up, annoyed and quizzical.

“Is something wrong?" she asked, reading his rather uncharacteristic blush.

“I just... I mean... you're a beastkin and... I'm a human and... my size is... and your size and... and..." he mumbled, causing her to chuckle in a teasing manner.

“What? Embarrassed by your size?" Brunhilde asked, her taunting voice breaking way for chortles, “Heh heh heh! There's nothing to be embarrassed about, Ray! I'm not expecting a human to best a beastkin! So why don't we just..." she pulled down his pants, “Get acquainted with--" Thwap! “Ah!?"

Ray's pants fell down to his ankles... and his cock struck Brunhilde's face.

His long.

Thick.

Monstrous.

Cock.

The sergeant was expecting a 'pistol' to be sitting between the private's legs. Something small yes, but still deadly if one knows how to use it! Nothing to be ashamed of, and really something to be respected when the skill is there!

But that's not what Brunhilde got. She didn't get a pistol. She got a long-range, high-powered rifle.

Ray's long cock stood tall before her, its monolithic size casting a shadow over her face. But it wasn't just long, it was thick too! This girth that she'd honestly compare to her wrist beyond anything else! Not his wrist, but her wrist! Ray's dick had the same width as her wrist!

And he didn't seem to realize what this meant.

“Is... is this okay...?" he asked, causing Brunhilde to swallow her spit.

Now she could either play it off cool, or admit that this cock was a bit daunting. Well... there was no way in hell she was doing the latter! But there was also no way for Brunhilde to hide her blatantly curious face.

Reaching forward, the wolfess wrapped her hand around Ray's cock, causing him to grunt. She had a mighty grasp, one that knew how to handle things like guns of all shapes and sizes... and yes, even a man's penis as well. But this was different from what she was used to. This wasn't some canine's red rocket, or a feline's barbed length.

This was... skin toned, right up until it came to his smooth helmet of his penis, which itself was bright and pink... nearly red even. It was also veiny, with said veins running down the side of his cock in proud, splintering lines. Most striking of all to Brunhilde, was its lack of any extra attributes. This penis was just a straight line, with no knot, no barbs, no sheathe... no nothing to speak of! It was almost alien to the wolfess!

Like... she knows that different species have different bodies; that's a duh! But this? This was a bit... unique. Brunhilde was never taught anything about a human's body... outside of how to kill one.

“Haah! Haaah...! Haaah...! H-Hilde!" Ray groaned, his sweet, aroused voice making her knees buckle.

Why did he sound like that? Every word from his lips was like being stabbed! He just sounded so damn... hah... so damn delicious. He was her weakness; a cute young man... with a hung penis.

Oh no...!

“H-hey! Don't take that tone with me, Private!" she snarled, putting on a brave front as she began jerking off his length softly, “You're trying to sound all innocent when you're packing this thing between your legs!" her hand picked up in pace, “Come on! I bet you thump this big thing all the time when you're alone!"

“N-not really!" he groaned back through clinched teeth, “I-I never have any t-time on the base to deal with this!"

“Heh heh! Is that so?" Brunhilde replied whilst shooting him a wry grin, “You don't ask to go to the bathroom, and then just sit there beating one out to your imagination?"

“Uhghhn...? N-no?" Jerk! “Ah!?"

“Heh! I don't believe you," the wolfess said, indulging in his writhing body as her jerking hand kept getting faster and stronger, “I get it now! You sit there acting like some cute lamb, when in reality you have enough testosterone to go around!"

“I-I swear I don't!" Ray said defensively, causing Brunhilde to pull her hand back with a flick to his cock.

It bounced in the air, sending a bullet of precum straight upon her face and nose. Brunhilde was stunned at first, but then her nostrils flared... snniiiiffff taking that first whiff. Aaah... a shiver was sent roaring down her spine.

Oh... that had a mighty fine smell to it. Mmm...

Bringing her gaze back down, Brunhilde stared face-first towards Ray's penis. Fuck, that helmet was so bulbous; not like a tapered canine cock at all. This round, fat head was so red, and it was throbbing too, while from the slit of its sinful lips, there oozed his clear, glistening precum.

And that's not even getting into this smell. All that sweat they worked up during their near-death experience, had coated Ray's length in his overwhelming odor. By the gods it was delicious!

This was it, wasn't it? The pheromones of a young, inexperienced boy! Oh... she hadn't experienced a smell like this in a long, long time. For it to be coming from a human though? Huh... guess humans and beastkin have more in common than even she knew!

But enough about that...

Moving in, Brunhilde palmed Ray's hips, pinning him in place as she pressed her face up against his cock. Eyes closed, she took loud, audible whiffs of his dick, letting the smell flow into her. Then she extended her tongue, where she began dragging it upon his cock; from the shaft to the glands in one long, taunting stroke.

Ray's legs nearly broke, but Brunhilde's hold kept him up. Fuck, this pleasure was so alien to him! Not to say that he was a virgin or anything, but his first time wasn't anything like this! This was so raw! So primal! So unlike anything he could have ever dreamed of!

Brunhilde wasn't just licking his dick, she was outright tasting it! Sampling it! Savoring it! Ray's lips wobbled as his moans kept leaving him unfiltered, while the wolfess stroked her tongue up and down, up and down, up and down. Before long, his dick was glistening with her spit; from the hilt, up to those glands!

Yet Brunhilde never took the direct plunge. Was she taunting him? Yes, yes she was.

But not for long...

Having had enough of exploring Ray's cock, Brunhilde pulled back and locked her eyes upon the head of his dick. When she opened her mouth, he realized what was coming, and grew silent. The wolfess pushed her head down around his dick, and--

“Oh!?"

'Oh' indeed.

Brunhilde's mouth was glorious!

Her broad lupine tongue guided his cock straight down her maw. Her teeth plucked and ground and teased at his dick. And her spit oozed and tangled around his length like a spider's web. This massive dick which would no doubt break a normal woman, was nothing but child's play to Brunhilde!

At least... that's what she wanted Ray to think!

Not to say that she couldn't handle a dick of this length; she had her pride as a beastkin woman to think about! No self-respecting wolfess would ever admit to being unable to handle a penis like this! Though not many self-respecting wolfesses would ever go down on a human, so...

That's besides the point!

But Ray's dick was so... unique! Feeling its massive length and girth push down her mouth, along with its smooth ridges, was like pushing a thick sausage log down her throat! If that sausage log had a fat head... and if it was constantly throbbing... and if it was oozing this sweet-tasting nectar.

Okay, maybe there not so much alike...

Brunhilde took to sucking Ray's cock like she was overtaking a challenge! She was a prideful wolfess, one who came from a long line of warriors! Her family has some of the strongest blood in all of Yggdrasil! She wouldn't be bested by this cute human's big dick!

Even if it tasted good, smelled good... and felt so much better...!

“Glk! Glkg! Glp! Mgo! Mmf! Mmf! Mmf!"

“Aah! Haahh!!! Haah! H-H-Hilde! Slow down! Aaahhh!"

Eyes closed shot and mouth wide, Ray placed his hands on Brunhilde's head, holding her close while she sucked his dick like a hungry machine. Her lips dragged upon every inch of his length, and her head pushed down, pulled up, pushed down, pulled up! The force of her thrusting was enough to make his balls jiggle and churn with randy desire! Anymore of this and he would... would...

“Cumming! Haaah! H-Hilde! I'm gonna cum!"

His cry made her ears twitch and body perk up.

And then...

Brunhilde stopped.

Pop!

“Aaahh!?"

Her lips left his dick, leaving Ray wanting and babbling. Again he looked at her, giving her a face that screamed out 'Why!?'. She giggled back.

Without a word, the grinning wolfess pushed in, causing Ray to press his back up against the command console behind him. Taking her great tits, Brunhilde pressed them to the sides of his cock, sandwiching his length. The pressure drew a gasp from his lips as her firm yet malleable breasts surrounded his length on all sides. Warm tit-flesh was cradled in soft fur, and all of it was brushing and rubbing against his dick.

This was strange... but in a good way. Brunhilde's pelt was immaculate, so it was like having high-class silk rub upon his length. And when she began picking up her pace, rubbing and grinding his dick through the valley of her breasts, he began moaning from his warbling lips.

But if Ray thought this was all she could do, well, he'd be sorely mistaken. Suddenly opening her mouth, Brunhilde brought her head forward and--

“Mmff!"

“Ah!?"

The head of his dick slid into her mouth, allowing the wolfess to both suck on it while also giving him a titjob. He should be thankful; only those with penises long enough could indulge in something as amazing as this!

Brunhilde's drawn lips suckled upon the head of Ray's cock, her tongue wrapping around its helmet; around and around and around. Gripping tight upon the command console behind him, the young private tried keeping in his voice, but those moans came out regardless! And as the pleasure overwhelmed him, he started thrusting up with his hips; again and again and again and again and again, until--

“AHAH!?"

SPLURRRRRT!!!

“MMMFPHH!?"

Good thing Ray's eyes were closed; he missed the part where Brunhilde flinched.

Like a busted damn, semen flooded from his dick and straight into the wolfess' mouth. She thought she could handle it at first, having experienced a male's climax before. But Ray was different from well-endowed canines, wasn't he? And his semen was unique as well. It flooded into her mouth like goo, her tongue, her teeth, her cheeks, everything, in his white-hot spunk. It took everything in Brunhilde's power to not gag!

And it just kept coming!

One bomb of cum was followed by another, with each and every bit flooding into her mouth, and eventually her throat. The wolfess had to start swallowing quickly, less she be drowned in his seed!

That would be a pretty... well... let's say 'unique' way to die.

But with its thickness came this taste; a taste unlike any other. Brunhilde got a hit of it first from his precum, but this was different; this was a far more raw. Ray's potent cum tasted so hot, so bitter, so salty... but also with this sweet flavor to it. It's hard to explain, and honestly, she shouldn't like it.

But she did. She liked it so much in fact, that she kept sucking and licking Ray's cock, even as it got softer and softer within her mouth until...

“Mmff..."

“Aahh...!?"

He fell back on his butt, no longer being supported by Brunhilde. She pulled back as well, eyes closed shut as her tongue licked whatever residing semen off of her lips. Savoring his taste still, the wolfess wondered just how far she would take things.

Her pussy...

Her hot, throbbing pussy...

It was so wet.

Hahh...

Oh...

What was she doing?

She should have stopped this ages ago!

Why did she let it go beyond making out!?

Why did she suck his cock!?

Why did she suck his cock to climax!?

Why did she swallow his seed!?

Why did she enjoy it!?

Placing her hands on her head as she stood up, it was like Brunhilde was finally coming to her senses. But before she could scream, or howl, or say anything... Ray placed his hands on her hips and leaned forward. His head rested against her stomach, finding both safety and pleasure in her presence. When Brunhilde looked down, their blue eyes met together, and...

Fuck...

Ah...

By the gods...

Dammit...

Ray really was her enemy, and he proved it! He was killing her! But instead of killing her with guns, or knives, or torture, or anything of the sort... he was killing her with his love.

She was dying from it.

“Alright... enough, Ray," Brunhilde said as she pushed him away, causing him to give a begrudged groan.

“B-but... Hilde..." he whispered, watching as she crouched down before him, “I want to... keep going..."

A smile appeared on her lips.

“So do I..."

Leaning forward, Brunhilde pressed her lips to his. He accepted her, and wrapped his arms around her neck to hold her close. This time, their kiss was slower and softer, though no less passionate. If anything, the passions between them was even stronger now, and they could be heard audibly smacking lips and clicking tongues.

But as they kissed so tenderly with their eyes closed, Brunhilde drew her hand forward. Placing it first upon Ray's chest, she dragged her palm down towards his crouch, where she grabbed a hold of his flaccid did.

As they kissed and kissed and kissed, she fondled and stroked his cock softly at first, but got faster and faster as he grew more and more rigid. Fuck this penis; was this normal for humans? No... even she knew this wasn't true. Ray was just one of a very rare kind.

When their lips broke again, Brunhilde looked down towards his crotch. His cock had returned back to maximum length, and now stood between his legs like some big, meaty spire. Just staring at it was enough to make her shiver with anticipation.

Brunhilde pulled back and stood before Ray, her hands falling to her waist. Silently, he watched as she unbuckled her belt, unzipped her pants, and then slowly pealed the tight garment down her legs and thighs. She was wearing some sort of skin-tight spandex pants on beneath it, but all those layers were going down and down and down.

Her panties too...

“Aaah..."

Oh the smell. This powerful, feminine, erotic smell. The smell of an amazon.

That was Brunhilde's smell.

As she had been with his musk, he was with her; Ray found the wolfess' odor to be erotic. It quickly filtered into the bedroom, drugging him down, and making him gasp in a needy manner. Yes. He didn't just want Brunhilde, he didn't just desire her... he needed her.

But she turned around, flaunting her sculpted back towards him, letting Ray drink in every finite detail of her powerful body. And oh yeah, did he drink it in; like a starving man in a desert. He gazed upon her from her shoulders down to her waist, marveling at the erotic detail of her toned musculature. And then his gaze dropped further down to her hips and ass, gasping at the arousing beauty of her curvy butt.

He wanted to say something, anything, but Brunhilde silenced him by getting down on her knees and hands. Pulling back, Ray gazed at her in a confused manner, wondering what she was doing, but again she silenced him by merely sticking up her tail. When she did, he saw all of her. Her tight anus, her drooling pussy; it was all beckoning to him.

Oh.

He understood now.

She was presenting.

“Ah... Hilde... I--"

“D-don't take this as an invitation to do whatever you want," she said with a dismissive shake of her head, “I'm not some bitch, you know," Grab, “Aah...?"

His hands fell on her waist and hips, gripping them... kneading them...

“You're right," Ray said, “You're not some bitch. Hmm..." his head leaned over, planting kisses upon her back and ass, “You're better than that. Mmmf... chu... you're amazing and... mmfff... chu... you're beautiful, and... mmmff... chu... you're sexy... mmf... chu..."

His words kept stabbing her, making her heart pick up in place. Dammit. He wasn't going to make this easy, was he?

“Just..." Brunhilde reached down, grabbing his cock between her legs, and pressing the head of it up to her pussy, “Fuck me already..."

Ray nodded.

And then he puuuuuussshhhheeedd!!!

“AAHH~!?"

And Brunhilde saw stars.

Whatever bravado the wolfess had at the moment was instantly stolen when his dick carved its way into her pussy. This equipment he had was unlike anything she's experienced before. That smooth, round head, pushed deep into her trained, tight, toned pussy. Vaginal walls were forcibly spread apart, allowing Ray and his gifted cock to push deeper and deeper and deeper inside of her cunt.

Fuck it was such a tight fit! But it wasn't an impossible one. For a moment, Brunhilde thought it would be difficult, if not painful to take a human's dick inside of her. But Ray – for all of his size and width – didn't cause any discomfort. Her pussy was so wet that he slid in with ease, guiding his cock straight towards her core.

And her core craved it!

She clinched and squeezed upon his dick, suckling him down to his hilt as he pushed inside of her. This muscular, powerful pussy, gripped and held upon Ray's dick, refusing to let go as he sank in, inch by inch by inch. And with how long and thick his cock was, he had a loooooot of inches.

Pushing and pushing and pushing, sinking and sinking and sinking. Biting into his bottom lip, Ray felt a pressure unlike any other as he sank inside of her cunt. This was different from his hand, and this was way different from his first time! Brunhilde's pussy was just so damn... strong! He wasn't sleeping with a woman, that's for sure...

He was sleeping with a warrior!

His hands gripped at her waist, clinching tightly as her chiseled body barely broke, barely bent. And this ass of hers, so strong and firm, held strong against him as his pelvis ground against her. And grind he did, shifting and sliding his cock inside of her cunt to help build their pleasure more and more.

As if he needed to...

Brunhilde was happy Ray couldn't see her face, and the outright shameful expressions she was making. The squinting eyes, the clinched teeth, how her gaze shifted up; this cock of his was making her express things she never expressed before! It wasn't the size of his cock that did this to her, but the fact that its ridges stroked and plucked at her secret spots.

Every last one of them was punched, or rubbed against, or toyed with, in some way with his thick cock. And for Brunhilde, it sent her into sensory overload! She almost couldn't keep up with it all!It's size and shape was unique compared to what she was used too. This bulbous head pushed in deep, unlike the tapered tip of a canine's dick. But like before, this didn't hurt her, nor was it discomforting. It was... it was...

Dammit, he was fucking her!

His hips pressed to her ass, there was nowhere left for Ray to go. So he just sat there, basking in the feeling of Brunhilde's tight, muscular pussy as it held his dick hostage. The pussy juices which tangled around his cock, the powerful grasp of her cunt as a whole; the wolfess' was utterly immaculate.

As she sat there impaled on his cock, their heavy and hungry breathing filling the air, Ray took the time to again explore Brunhilde's body. His fingers traced and traveled down her back, stroking upon features and muscles, and getting a feel for her lovely fur. Then his hand came down to her buttocks, pushing in where its firm texture held strong against him.

Seeing it here made him so damn hard!

If that wasn't obvious.

This big, white, furry, firm, ass! It ground against his pelvis, drawing him to raise his hand up, and bring it down with a cackling--

SMAAAACKK!!!

“AARF!?"

Brunhilde's eyes widened, her head pulling back. Did he just... spank her? And did she just yip from it? Oh, by the gods, she did! How embarrassing! She could only pray he didn't hear it! Even though that was impossible.

Fortunately for her, Ray didn't hear it. How could he hear anything when he was so overwhelmed with lust?

Biting into his bottom lip, the young private pulled back with his hips, drawing his cock through every inch of Brunhilde's pussy. She twitched and groaned, her tongue hanging out and eyes straining, all as her pussy was toyed with by his burly member. With the war and her being busy more often than not, she forgot about the pleasures of the body.

But Ray was reteaching her this.

Back and forth, he began thrusting into Brunhilde's pussy. No, wait, not thrust; thrusting is far too weak a word. No, he was outright ramming into her cunt, pushing into her body with enough force that her breasts clapped against one another. Head pointing to the sky, the wolfess let loose howling moans of intense pleasure, while her hands gripped upon the edge of a command console in front of her. His dick! His big, glorious dick! It reduced her mind and her pussy to mush! Brunhilde's was turning numb!

Whatever thoughts about power and superiority, were flung out the window by now. Even their races as human and beastkin was nothing but words. Right now, Ray and Brunhilde were nothing better than animals. Wild, passionate, hungry, lustful, animals! They fucked in this command center to bring pleasure for themselves and one another, and dammit, were they good at it.

It was supposed to be 20 or so degrees in here, but the duo quickly changed that. All the heat and sweat that flowed off their body, transformed the command center into a damn sauna! Steam clung to the windows, making it difficult to see outside. As if they cared for any of that, not with how they were fucking so deep, so strong!

Placing her sweaty palm upon her sweaty head, Brunhilde let loose panting moans from her lips, while her pussy twitched and throbbed around his dick. It was coming, oooooh, it was coming! She was about to clamp down on is cock so damn hard!

Biting down upon her teeth, growls began laving Brunhilde's lips, one she left fly unfiltered throughout the room. Her head then dropped down, and her hands did likewise, planted firmly upon the floor while Ray's cock kept penetrating her. Again, and again, and again!

Her big, firm ass, clapped against his lean hips and waist, not only sending a sinful sound throughout the command center, but also straight to his brain. Ray couldn't focus on anything but the valkyrie of a wolfess beneath him, and the primal fucking they indulged in.

Ramming his thick, long, burly, cock, into her tight, toned, muscular pussy. Again...

And again!

AND AGAIN!!!

“HAAAOOOUUUHHHH!!!"

Brunhilde's howling moans were the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. But you know what was better?

CRAACK!

“ARF!?"

Those sudden yips!

Ray's hand rained down upon Brunhilde's ass, striking what might as well have been smooth, solid rock! It was so damn firm, but he still sent a quake that ran throughout her form. And not only did those powerful smacks make Brunhilde yip, but they also made her pussy tighten!

Those animals in there fucked without a care in the world. The war that trapped them, the storm that trapped them, the outpost they were trapped in? None of that mattered, not in this moment. No, in this moment there was... fucking... there was moaning... there was thrusting... and then there was an explosion.

A big, strong, mighty, explosion.

THWAP!

“MGOO~!?"

SPLUUUUURRRRRRRT!!!

Those big, heavy balls of his weren't just for show.

Straight through his dick and into Brunhilde's pussy, Ray launched a torrent of his spunk inside of her. No warning this time, there wasn't even an attempt made at pulling out. Like a true animal, he tanked cum inside of her pussy. The wolfess thought there would be less. After all, hadn't he just came in her mouth not even a few minutes ago?

But no.

No, no, no.

If anything – and her mind may be playing tricks on her here – it seemed as if Ray had even more cum than before. And all of that cum – every little bit stored within his hefty balls – was coating every inch of Brunhilde's pussy. She felt it splurge and surge within her, making her womb feel like a damn oven with how hot it was! And when she thought it was over – when she thought his climax was finally petering out into something softer – it would pick back up again with another--

SPLURRRT!!!

At some point in time, she couldn't take it anymore. At some point in time, Brunhilde just--

“HOOOOOUUUUUUWWWW!!!"

The wolfess tipped her head up, her back arching, while from her lips came a roaring howl. And even though Ray couldn't see it, oh, her face was one of pure, erotic, bliss. She was smiling, her eyes were closed as tears swelled from within, and her white-furred cheeks were red with blush. All of this as she endured this earth-shattering, soul-shaking, orgasm.

Brunhilde's pussy clinched hard around Ray's cock like she was expecting a knot to tie them down. And I do mean hard. 'Vice-like' wasn't even a good enough comparison. It was more like having his dick clamped upon by an industrial press!

A moist... hot... throbbing... industrial press.

Whatever thoughts there were to be had about sleeping with one's enemy, did not matter to Brunhilde's body. Her pussy undulated, milking his dick for all it was worth. It was like her cunt – her body – wanted his seed, outright craved it. And whatever would happen following such a tryst? Well...

So be it...

“Nghhn... mmfff... H-Hilde..." Ray whispered as he pulled back with his hips, his long, thick cock stroking through every fold of her pussy before retreating with an audible--

Schwap!

“Aah~"

Brunhilde fell forward, face first in the floor as she was reducing to a panting mess. Her pussy was still quivering and twitching, as a few phantom climaxes flowed from her cunt. It was a sight that – in Ray's eyes – was both incredibly erotic and lewd, while also being something he'd want to see on a portrait somewhere.

This image of her ass raised up high, her pussy gaping slightly, and his seed pool oozing from her folds like some sordid river... ahh... oh... Ray would remember it forever. In fact, gazing upon this glorious white ass and pink pussy in such a presenting manner, caused blood to again start circulating through his loins. Before he knew it, his cock which was supposed to be softening, was instead growing hard again. Returning to being twelve or so inches, Ray brought his length over and--

Pat!

“Mmg!?"

Brunhilde's eyes widened and she looked over her shoulder, staring towards the crack of her ass, and the thick dick which was sandwiched between it. W-wait, that's not normal! When she sleeps with canines, they knot her and – condom or not – they'd be stuck together for a while! It always gave her a chance to catch her breath and breathe! But now...

“Um... R-Ray...?" she muttered, her body shivering as if she was truly staring down the barrel of a gun, “A-aren't you supposed to... g-go down or something?"

“I uh... c-can keep going..." causing her eyes to grow wide.

She looked away, wondering how he had so much energy. What, did human's just not give up? Haahah!

Brunhilde had a choice to make. Either ask for a few moments to catch her breath and regain her energy, which would be the equivalent of admitting defeat, or suck it up and take another pounding in her pussy.

Her lips trembled.

“Okay... I-I can keep going too!" she said as she raised her tail and shook her hips, “So come here! We'll keep going until your legs give out!"

Ray smiled.

“Yes ma'am."

This...

Puuushh!

“Hnngnggnmm!!!

This was gonna be a long night...

…

“It looks nice tonight."

“Yeah... it does..."

Snow. For one lifetime, she's had enough of snow. She never wanted to experience snow, ever again. No more cold winds, no more weak visibility, none of that. She didn't even want to see a damn snowman ever again!

Once again, she's had enough snow for one lifetime.

But sights like this? She could enjoy sights like this.

Colors. Vibrant, beautiful, luscious colors. Aurora borealis shined above them, painting the skies a myriad of beautiful colors. They quivered, they shimmered, and they danced, all for the two sitting in a lonely command tower,within an abandoned base.

Together, Ray and Brunhilde sat, their backs to a command console as a makeshift seat, while they leaned against one another. The private couldn't help but to snuggle against the wolfess' furry form, and despite her hard edges, she graciously hugged him back, not just for the warmth his body brought, but for the companionship he gave her.

Behind, their portable generator could be heard thumping and grinding, powering the control tower as a whole. This allowed lights to glow above them, but more importantly, it brought heat. It would seem as if the command center had a heater installed, and one that still worked, despite having not been turned on for years. Hey, Dudral made things to last.

But even if the two didn't have heat, they had each other. And the heat they derived from one another, was more than necessary.

“How much energy is in that generator?" Brunhilde asked, causing Ray to look over his shoulder towards it, before staring back at her.

“About a week," he answered, making her nod.

“Ah... thought so," she replied, “And... how much food and water did we bring from the lower levels?"

“If we ration it to just a meal a day... about a week," he answered, again making her nod.

“Heh... yeah... thought so, too..."

It was daunting even thinking about it. Stuck up here in this tower for a week? Sure, if things really got bad, they could theoretically make way back to the main base by taking a different path from the bridge that fell... but that was the absolute worse case scenario.

“So... what now...?" Brunhilde asked as she looked away from the northern lights to instead gaze at Ray.

“I... activated the tower's SOS signal," he explained, “It's that console right... there..." he pointed at one such machine, its light beeping, “It's sending out a message of emergency on all frequencies. Since both of our platoons were devastated in a battle, I'm sure both Dudral and Yggdrasil forces are looking for survivors. Which means..."

“We won't know who'll find us first. Your army, or mine," Brunhilde said, to which Ray nodded.

“Yeah... pretty much," he replied, “If they find us... hm..."

For a few moments, the two grew silent as the reality of their daunting situation settled in. Stuck up here, just the two of them, with a week's worth of food, water, and energy. If they get found, it'll be by one of their enemies, no matter what.

Assuming they get found at all...

But Brunhilde wasn't worried. In fact, she reached her arms over, grabbing Ray by his shoulders and pulling him in. Smiling, the wolfess nuzzled their cheeks together, causing him to do likewise.

“You better not leave me, Ray..."

“I wouldn't even think about it..."