{"sf1_id":57953,"sf2_id":"ynZL4abe","title":"Chapter Eleven: Betrayal","author":"The Roseblack Dragon","words":3937,"posted_at":"2008-08-08T22:54:00.000Z","tags":["Character Development","Cuddling","Feudal Japan","Fox","Lizard","Plot Development","Violence (Not In Yiff)"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/57953-chapter-eleven-betrayal","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/ynZL4abe","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/fa/14/fa14fbba-649e-4c1f-8494-e9a1e8bd00c2","description":"#12 of Tales of Ippon","content":"  \n  \n_If a fire dies, one just needs to rekindle it._  \n  \n  \n\"See that guy, the one with the spear?\"  \n  \n\"Yeah, what about him?\"  \n  \n\"The say he killed ten bandits in the village near here. They were going to kill the  \nheadman's daughter because they wouldn't give them any rice.\"  \n  \n\"And he killed all the bandits?\"  \n  \n\"Yep, Every last one of them. They say there was only four in the village, and he  \ntracked down the other six and killed them too.\"  \n  \n\"He's probably some kind of bandit himself.\"  \n  \n\"I don't know, the headman offer him his daughter's hand in marriage for saving  \nthe village, but he just walked away they say.\"  \n  \nThe young boy chimed in, \"I want to know who 'They' are. The villagers? I say he  \nonly killed seven of the bandits.\"  \n  \nThe gossiping men looked down at the younger jirajin, \"Boy, you better stay away  \nfrom that guy, he's mean as they get!\"  \n  \n\"Yeah, don't let him hear you say something like that!\"  \n  \nThe young boy smiled, hefting his pack, and the handle of a sword peeked  \nout, \"He can hear me any time. I was the one that killed the other three.\" He looked at the  \nsamurai buying rice, \"isn't that Right, Yarimoto-sama?\"  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"Eh?\" Shuji turned and blinked, \"Rihatsu, there you are! Come on, you know we  \ndon't have time for gossip!\"  \n  \nThe two men quailed and ran back to their shops. The market at Rosuro was  \nbustling people hurrying everywhere to buy what they needed to survive, as rumors of another  \nwar were sweeping the land. Most paid little attention to the rumors though, as life would  \nalways carry on, even amidst the war and strife. Rihatsu sighed and watched a young shop  \ngirl dash past him, her long hair flowing behind her as she hurried with a package under her  \narm, her tail and hips swaying as she ran.  \n  \n\"Ow!\" he griped as Shuji bonked him on the crest of his skull, \"what was that for?!\"  \n  \n\"For not paying attention. We don't have time for that sort of thing, and you well  \nknow it,\" Shuji scolded him softly, pushing a bundle into the boy's hands, \"here's enough  \nprovisions to see you to Nizuru. Remember how I showed you to walk?\"  \n  \n\"Yes...\" Rihatsu sighed.  \n  \nShuji thwapped him again, \"Tell me.\"  \n  \n\"if I carry myself as a farmer, I'll be less likely to get attacked by bandits.\"  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; Shuji nodded, \"Right. Stay alert, and never be ashamed to run if you feel a battle  \nisn't worth dying over. Right now, your objective is to get to the Citadel. Nothing is more  \nimportant, not your honor, or anyone else's.\"  \n  \nRihatsu nodded, \"what about justice and protecting innocents?\"  \n  \nShuji smiled and sighed. For the weeks of their journey, they had stopped four  \ndifferent conflicts where innocent people were in danger, the last of which was the village just  \nsouth of Rosuro. He nodded, \"if it is something you can handle quickly, and without much  \ndanger, then yes, by all means.\"  \n  \nRihatsu nodded, \"I hear rumors that Garasu's youngest daughter is beautiful  \nbeyond measure. They say her breasts are like-\"  \n  \n\"Rihatsu!\" Shuji barked at him, \"Get going.\"  \n  \nThe boy grumbled, \"Fine, fine... I bet Usuyami-sama is having lots of fun.\"  \n  \n===================================  \n  \nArrows rained down thicker than the morning mists of Tetsumo, sticking into the  \nhull and deck of the boat as Usuyami hissed, \"They just never give up!\" she turned and  \nlooked at the steering deck, \"Captain-san!\"  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"Yes! I know!\" he hauled on the tiller and the boat lurched to the side, the grind of  \nwood against wood as the two boats collided, throwing the Gasaran archers off balance.  \nUsuyami stood and loosed three flaming arrows into the boat's hull, high enough sot eh  \nwater wouldn't put the fire out, but low enough for the ones on deck to not be able to reach  \nit. \"Aoi!\" she shouted, and Aoi gave Kazou a wide swipe, the entire Gasaran vessel bursting  \ninto flames as even the lanterns on the quarterdeck exploded with the force of the fan's  \nmagic. As the besieged boat pulled away, Usuyami Sighed, and Aoi relaxed, the farmers  \nand merchants below deck giving a riotous cheer at their salvation.  \n  \n\"Well it is good to be traveling in safe hands again, Shidomori-sama,\" a familiar  \nvoice cheered.  \n  \n\"Kibotani-san!\" Usuyami smiled and shook the merchant's hand, \"What are you  \ndoing here?\"  \n  \n\"Well I heard there was War coming, and that Ikito was first to be attacked. It  \nseems I was right, wasn't I?\"  \n  \n\"Sadly, yes.\"  \n  \nMagura smiled and nodded, \"Well, with you here, I'm sure the entire army of our  \nenemy will flee in terror of the Great Archer of Akanti. But tell me, how is the Lord Rokkotsu?  \nAfter the Inn, we separated ways, and I've so wondered about his new spear and his lady  \nfriend.\"  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; Usuyami hung her head, \"Natsumi has died, Kibotani-san. Yarimoto-san... he's  \nchanged, I think...\"  \n  \n\"Oh dear... The enemy?\"  \n  \n\"We think so... the thing that attacked up seemed to be her husband, changed  \nsomehow.\"  \n  \n\"Goodness! That's a terrible thought... and he was the one who...?\"  \n  \n\"Yes.\" Usuyami sighed.  \n  \nAoi nodded in reverence, and Magura did the same.  \n  \n\"Treacherous are the deeds of those we face in these dark days. Well if either of  \nyou ladies needs anything, let me know. I'm heading to Ikito to purchase a thousand  \nkimonos to save and hide for after this terrible ordeal, hopefully the sea silks of Ikito will be  \npreserved should the worst happen.\" Magura nodded.  \n  \n\"A Sea Silk Kimono...\" Aoi beamed, \"that's definitely a treasure.\"  \n  \nUsuyami nodded in agreement, and the trio conversed a while about the Ikito  \nprovinces.  \n  \n\"You see, the Ikito people are at one with the sea, so much so that many of their  \ncities are not actually on the land, but they float atop the sea!\"  \n  \n\"What about storms?\"  \n  \n\"Oh they are some of the best seafarers around. Even the Captain is from  \nUzumira.\" Magura nodded.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"What's it like?\" Aoi nodded.  \n  \n\"Well you'll see tomorrow when we make port, but it's much like standing on this  \nboat. It takes some getting used to.\"  \n  \n\"It's rare to see suikajin in Sufai,\" Usuyami mused.  \n  \n\"Yes, they have strong ties to the ocean, and without water to swim in they tend  \nto become lethargic and easily irritated,\" Magura agreed.  \n  \n\"I wonder what will happen when we get there.\"  \n  \n\"We'll just have to see, Aoi-chan,\" Usuyami smiled and nodded, the sun setting  \nover the boat as night rose over the sky.  \n\n* * *\n  \nAs the boat was offloading passengers and cargo, an armored suikajin female  \nstepped up to the trio who had been conversing about the large flotilla of roving archer ships  \nthey had passed approaching the city.  \n  \n\"You are the Lady Shidomori of Tetsumo, are you not?\" The samurai bowed  \npolitely.  \n  \nUsuyami nodded and bowed back, \"Yes, is there something I may do for you?\"  \n  \nShe nodded, \"I am Kasuri Hongo. My lord wished me guide you to an audience  \nwith him.\"  \n  \n\"Ah, Toromatsu-san knew we were coming?\" Usuyami looked to Aoi, who  \nshrugged. They had not given their real names aboard the ship, except to the merchant  \nKibotani.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"Lady Tsuyangi saw your bravery against the Gasaran fleet; she informed Lord  \nToromatsu that you were coming,\" the samurai nodded, \"Please, follow me if you would.\"  \n  \nUsuyami shrugged and hefted her things, following the samurai over the plank  \nways and tethered boats, already having earned a good sense of walking on floating things.  \nIt didn't take long to get to the keep of the city, essentially a battleship that could be  \nundocked from the city when needed the 'castle' was quite impressive, easily as big as the  \nmain forge at Tetsumo, it set the standard of oceanic warfare. Stationed everywhere were  \nnumerous samurai, bows, swords spears, harpoons, and even the local version of the  \nforeigners' 'cannons'. Moving through the ship's interior, the sheer number of warriors and  \nsamurai astounded the pair. As the samurai knelt and opened the door to the audience  \nchamber, Usuyami and Aoi both bowed low.  \n  \nUsuyami started, \"Thank you for inviting us into your home, lord-\"  \n  \n\"SHIDOMORI-CHAN!\" the large suikajin roared jovially, making both women  \nstraightened up in shock.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"Ah... Toromatsu-san?\" Usuyami blushed at the -very- informal greeting.  \n  \nJobi Toromatsu was a large man, in every sense of the word. Marginally taller  \nthan his girth, he was always portrayed as an overly friendly, almost lazy lord, sitting  \ncomfortably in his floating island. Unlike the three other clans of the Twilight Seas,  \nToromatsu's Jisetsu Clan wore oranges and purples, favoring them over the greens and blues  \nof the ocean. He smacked his taut paunch as he rose to his feet, waddling across the room  \nand laughing up at Usuyami, \"My dear, the last time I saw you, you were far too young to  \nremember... still a chirping babe in your mother's arms, gods watch over her honorable soul.\"  \nHe bowed his head in reverence for a moment, as did every other samurai under his  \ncommand. \"I hear you've come to warn me about an attack by those Gasaran sludge.\"  \n  \n\"Yes Sire. We have reason to believe all the Gasaran Clans have been united  \nsomehow, becoming a much more dangerous army. We also know they have the backing of  \nothers who have skill not native to these lands,\" Usuyami nodded.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"Aye... we've seen these monsters they've started bringing... black, hairy sea  \ncreatures that devour anything in their path. Tsuyangi's Water Mirror told me you'd be  \ncoming,\" he nodded and chuckled, \"She also warned us about the ramshackle navy these  \nvermin have assembled to attack us. We are well prepared, but I think you for your concern  \nin coming... rest assured, I have already spoken with the Kujati and Rusumi Clans. We will  \nbeat these fools back into their bleeding mountain.\" He smiled and nodded, \"But Tonight! We  \nwill have a meal such as you have never experienced!\" he put his stubby arms around the  \nwaists of the women, guiding them to the side of the chamber where the doors opened onto  \nless formal rooms, \"your father, Gods watch over him, was one of the best ambassadors I'd  \never had the joy of knowing. Wise beyond his years, and sharper than a devilrock's most  \npoisonous barb! And the fuss he made when his little baby girl reached out and rubbed my  \nbelly!\" he laughed, that same belly shaking with the effort.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; Usuyami blushed and nodded, \"I must have been very young, Sire.\"  \n  \n\"Oh aye! But you were old enough to mention to everyone in the court that you  \nthought I was Sufai's lucky aspect,\" another laugh echoed in the room, as the maids brought  \nsmall cakes and tea. \"So, I'm assuming you have a plan to chop these milksop rats down to  \nsize?\"  \n  \n\"Well... yes... it's a bit hastily thought of, but we have one of our allies heading  \nnorth to the Rakari provinces, and hopefully the Hodai of the Gatari Highlands will listen to-\"  \n  \n=================================================  \n  \n\"Yarimoto-san! What is the meaning of this?\" the Lord Kutaku Hodai hissed  \nangrily as Shuji strode over four of his guards who had just been knocked senseless. Shuji  \nfrowned and shoved a thin Kyujin with dark fur and wiry features to the floor in front of him.  \n  \n\"This is your vassal, Lord Hodai. He has been assisting the Gasaran army in  \nmonitoring your troop strength and deployments,\" Shuji hissed. \"I caught him making a  \nreport, but the contact escaped me.\"  \n  \nKutaku frowned, \"And that is your reason for storming my castle?\"  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"The chittering traitor called your guards down on me,\" Shuji huffed, \"Had they  \nlistened to my warnings and explanation that I was bringing a traitor to justice, they would  \nnot be waking with headaches in a few hours.\"  \n  \nKutaku sighed, scowling as he looked to the prostrate advisor, \"Kamba... is this  \ntrue?\"  \n  \n\"No, my lord! I would not consult with those foul beasts! This one seeks to sully  \nmy name and earn your favor while advancing his plot to take over your lands!\"  \n  \nShuji calmed and laughed at the lie, \"Lord Hodai... My Clan lands are nearly a  \nweek from yours... what benefit would I have with such a long, open supply chain to maintain  \nbetween regions? Not to mention, it is far too chilly in the winters here. Despite the beauty of  \nyour homeland.\"  \n  \nKutaku nodded and held out his left hand, \"Aorishi...\" The attendant to the left of  \nthe dais stepped forward, carrying a sheathed katana and offering the handle into Kutaku's  \nhand silently. Kutaku pulled the sparkling steel from it's sheathe and scowled at the  \nadvisor, \"Kamba... you have shamed yourself. And in doing so you have shamed me for  \nallowing such treachery to exist in my clan.\" He looked over the large audience hall, \"Let this  \nserve as a warning and a reminder to all of the Hodai! Dishonor your loyalty and word, and  \nyour life will be forfeit!\" he looked at the whimpering Kamba as his blade swept around and  \ndown in a fast, almost serpentine motion... Kamba's head rolled five paces before his teeth  \nstopped chattering.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; Kutaku nodded and cleaned the blade, sheathing it and nodding to Shuji, \"I thank  \nyou for your honesty, Yarimoto-san. What can I do for you?\"  \n  \n\"Gather your forces, lord Hodai. Send word to the other six lords. The Gasaran  \narmy marches, and they mean to blot out all that is good and just in these lands,\" Shuji  \nnodded as he spoke.  \n  \nKutaku blinked and nodded, \"I will do as you suggest... word will be sent... but...  \nIf I may... what happened?\" he nodded to Shuji, a glimmer of worry in his aged eyes, \"The  \nyoung Rokkotsu I knew was not so steely and sharp. What was once a reed in the wind has  \nbecome a blade of the finest steel... What changed you so?\"  \n  \nShuji smiled sadly and nodded, \"people change, lord. Losing your heart can bring  \nsuch a thing about.\"  \n  \n\"Ah... love.\" Kutaku nodded and smiled sympathetically, \"My wife died seventeen  \nyears past, giving birth to my only son.\" He clapped a firm hand on Shuji's shoulder, \"it hurts,  \nthe grief... but given time, you will see. She is never fully gone, so long as you remember  \nher.\"  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; Shuji nodded and idly thumbed the bit of ribbon tied about his sash.  \n  \nKutaku smiled softly and nodded, \"come, you must be tired... a bath and some  \nfood for our guest!\"  \n  \n=======================================  \n  \n\"Usu-chi...\" Aoi whispered, shaking her friend, \"Usu-chi?\"  \n  \nUsuyami murmured in her sleep and groaned, \"Oh... no more fish...\"  \n  \nAoi giggled quietly and nudged her again, \"Wake up...\"  \n  \n\"Mrrrhhh? Aoi? Ugh, what is it? What time is it?\" Usuyami rubbed her sleepy  \neyes and sat up slowly.  \n  \n\"I can't sleep... the rocking and waves are just,\" Aoi trailed off, pouting tiredly.  \n  \nUsuyami groaned, \"Aoi, I can't stop the ocean...\"  \n  \n\"I know! But... maybe... if I was with you...\"  \n  \nUsuyami nodded sleepily and hefted the blanket, letting Aoi crawl into the futon  \nwith her. Aoi did just that, squirming up close against the taller woman and smiling at her.  \n  \n\"Thank you...\"  \n  \nUsuyami mumbled a response and slumped back to sleep, only to be woken by  \nAoi's soft voice again.  \n  \n\"I didn't like how Lord Toromatsu was looking at you,\" Aoi huffed softly, keeping  \nher voice low.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"Mmmhhh? I didn't notice...\" Usuyami responded grumpily, roused again from her  \nsleep.  \n  \n\"I think he's plotting something...\"  \n  \nUsuyami shook her head and smushed Aoi's head into the pillow, \"Go to sleep. If  \nhe's plotting something, then we'll deal with it when he reveals the plot.\"  \n  \nAoi huffed at the tactics. Usuyami's father had been famous for letting traps and  \nplot be sprung on him and still escaping the intended result, be it death or loss of honor.  \nUsuyami was similarly lucky... but Aoi feared her luck would run out sooner than her  \nfather's. Aoi blinked as a soft breeze ruffled her fur, and she caught a soft scent on the air...  \nbut as he went to lift her head to look, the sleep she had not gotten took hold of her,  \ndragging her back down into its dreamless embrace.  \n\n* * *\n  \nLight spilled in through a window slit near the ceiling of the small cell. Usuyami  \nwas already awake as Aoi sat up groggily, \"Ugh... morning already?\"  \n  \n\"Oh yes. It's morning.\" Usuyami said dryly, sitting against the cold steel wall,  \nstripped of her clothing and jewelry. It was then that Aoi noticed her own state of undress  \nand gasped, curling up on herself.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"Wh-what happened?\"  \n  \nUsuyami nodded, \"Remember that plot you were thinking about... We're up to our  \nnecks in it now.\"  \n  \n\"Indeed you are, miss.\" A voice purred stepping in front of the barred door; the  \nforeigner wore a heavy-looking outfit, jacket and pants both the color of dried blood, with a white collared shirt and black necktie. Feline in appearance, with dark gray and black fur, he  \nsmiled icily as his green-yellow eyes glowed in the gloom of the prison.  \n  \n\"You're the one who bought Toromatsu's honor?\" Usuyami hissed softly, not  \nmoving a muscle as she eyed the antagonist.  \n  \n\"If you must put things that way, then yes. I am.\" He bowed in the flowing,  \nsupposedly 'graceful' manner that most foreigners did, and smiled politely. Usuyami could  \nalmost see the venom in his voice dripping from his teeth. \"My name is Gulata Brekhovina. I  \nhave so dearly wished to meet you.\"  \n  \n\"Then you have met me. What do you want?\" Usuyami spoke coldly. Aoi knew  \nbetter than to speak at this point, her companion having the matter well in hand.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"To see if you can be persuaded to stop this foolish resistance. The Lands of  \nIppon are long overdue for the rightful balance to be restored. The land cannot bear the weight  \nof the lives foisted upon it, so it comes to my Lord's purpose to bring death and renew the  \ncycles of life, easing the burden on the land.\" The female smiled and made grand gestures  \nas she spoke, the words honeyed with sweetness that hid the underlying poison within.  \n  \n\"Death comes for all in due time. Some run from it, some wait for it, others run to  \nmeet it. Which are you, foreigner?\" Usuyami nodded.  \n  \nThe feline's honeyed words were tossed aside, replaced by pure malice and  \nhate, \"I am death, child. And I will be yours should you not mind your manners.\"  \n  \nUsuyami laughed and stood slowly, \"You? Kill me? I think not. Hundreds have  \ntried, all have failed. You are no more than a stone to be stepped over on the path of my life.\"  \n  \n\"Insolent bitch! I'll have your skin as a trophy!\" the feline snarled and unlatched the  \ndoor, yanking it open. He too two steps before Usuyami's arm whipped out and a small  \nchunk of metal struck him square on the forehead, making him stagger back. Two steps and  \nher elbow rammed into the base of his ribcage, but she did not stop. Another step brought  \nher around and her tail lashed across his chest, knocking him back out the door and into the  \nsteel wall on the other side of the small passage. The feline slumped to the ground and  \nUsuyami nodded to Aoi, \"Time to leave.\"  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"Yes.\" Aoi stood and marveled at the controlled fury she had witnessed, always  \nastounded by her love's ability to rein in her temper after such a display. The pair stepped  \nover the unconscious feline and dashed down the hall. The two guards never knew what hit  \nthem, as Usuyami drove the side of her hand into the back of one's neck, as her heel  \nsmacked the other Suikajin's sensitive forehead, knocking him down to his knees before he  \nblacked out. Their swords were surrendered to the women, who also took a moment to pull  \noff the upper clothing of the male guards, covering themselves for the sake of modesty.  \nUsuyami led the way, katana in hand as they worked through the corridors of the floating  \ncastle. Twice the surprised a guard, knocking him out before an alarm could be raised. \"This  \nway,\" Usuyami hissed at Aoi, her fury starting to bubble through as she dashed up the main  \nstairwell, the large door at the top, leading to Toromatsu's chambers was made short work of  \nby a heavy, tail-assisted kick, and the enraged jirajin woman crashed through the five  \nscreens that barred the way. The Last screen obliterated under her shoulders and she stood  \nthere, glaring at Toromatsu as his female companion screamed in fright and scrambled away  \nfrom the stunned lord.  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; \"Wh-What is the meaning of this?!\" he blubbered, trying to pull his loincloth back  \nover his now-flaccid manhood.  \n  \n\"that would be MY question, Toromatsu,\" Usuyami snarled, gripping the blade as  \nshe strode forward, \"When did you lose your honor and your sanity?\"  \n  \nThe lord quailed and chirped, \"Y-you don't understand... Gul'brekh... he has  \nmonsters... creatures that devour and destroy...\"  \n  \n\"And in your cowardice, you sold your honor for a glimpse of safety?!\" she roared  \nand lashed her tail against the tatami, \"As soon as these fanatics have ruined the lands,  \nwhat makes you think they won't turn back to finish you?\" she stepped again, \"These thing  \nknow nothing of honor or decency. They enlist foreigners to fight for them because they know  \ntheir own cowardice and fear hinders their ability.\"  \n  \nToromatsu was in tears now, screaming at her, \"You don't have anything to be  \nafraid of! You have no children! You don't love anyone! You're as free as you can be, and  \nthat's how you can say things like that!\"  \n  \nUsuyami's fury simmered, \"I have no children, that is true. But if you think for one  \nsecond that I love nothing... you are not only a fool, but you are blind.\" She sighed and  \nleaned down to Toromatsu, her rage controlled and refocused at the ones she knew were to  \nblame. \"Toromatsu-sama... You are strong. My father believed that you were a strong man,  \nand a wise and great leader. Yes, if we fight these fanatics, many will die. But if we do  \nnothing... than it is an assurance that ALL will die. I Love my home. I love my people. And  \nmost of all I love the one who came here with me to show you that these things are evil.\" She  \nnodded, \"and it is from that love that I draw courage to strike at the darkness that now raises  \nits head to harm them. Help us. Help us destroy this evil and guarantee a peace that will last  \nfor your children, and their children.\"  \n  \n\n\u0026nbsp; Toromatsu shook and shuddered, \"you... you believe they can be stopped.\"  \n  \n\"No,\" she responded firmly, standing back up and offering her hand, \"I know they  \nwill be stopped.\"  \n  \nToromatsu looked at the hand and nodded, gritting his jaw and taking Usuyami's  \nhand in his as she pulled him to his feet. \"Very well. I will put my trust in you then. And hope  \nthat in doing so, my honor may be regained somewhat.\"  \n  \n\"I will not fault you for a momentary lapse of judgment, my friend.\" Usuyami  \nsmiled, \"but, we still have evil in our midst.\"  \n  \n\"Yes, you are right... guards!\" Toromatsu shouted as several guards thundered  \ninto the room, swords drawn, \"no, no... find that foreigner... and Arrest him!\" The guards all  \nblinked in confusion, and Toromatsu bellowed, \"NOW, damn you!\" The guards all hopped and  \nran out.  \n  \nUsuyami nodded, \"now, I must ask.... Where are our clothes?\" she nodded and  \nset the sword down.  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"Tales of Ippon","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/52660-chapter-ten-mourning.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/69863-chapter-twelve-family.json"}}