Welcome Home
This is one of two big pieces I worked on for Rovest, over on FA. It's another one of my emotional pieces, which I particularly enjoy, because I love the interactions and feelings of characters in my work. This particular one is a story of a bored harehound who just "gets by" in life, before encountering a wolf from the exotic Ankar region who is lost and confused in a seemingly different world. The two of them hit it off and... well, you can read the rest. Enjoy!
Welcome Home
_ Story by Zeichwolf _
His pack sat filled and ready by the door, the leather bag filled to the brim with food and clothing that was considered "normal" for the area he was going to be visiting soon. It was already early noon, and already he was probably late leaving, but the wolf found it hard to imagine life away from his home in Ankar, the tribal nation that existed apart from the so-called "normal" world. Roka'rr scoffed at that title; normal was such a subjective term, and a world of artificial stone and metal seemed to be as foreign as could be. What Outsiders, or those who lived beyond the trees of the Ankar region, thought of as normal was anything but for the Chieftan's son, who had lived among trees and wilderness his whole life. The wolf simply shook his head at such thoughts; normal was wherever home was, wherever one had lived and grown. To call one place more normal than another was simply a flight of fancy.
"Are you ready to go then, Roka'rr?" A deep, booming voice drew the younger wolf's attention, and he turned to see his father filling the doorway at the far end of their hut. Filling the doorway was an accurate term; Krag'rr was one of the Elders now, far past his prime as a Chieftain, and it showed on his frame. The older wolf was easily broader than his son by a wide margin, pun unintended; a large belly showed his prosperity and his frequent meals among the revered heads of the village, pressing out heavily above his loincloth woven of vines and bark into something similar to what Outsiders called "cloth," which was apparently woven of various plant and animal fibers. A necklace of sparkling stones, all uneven and in various shades and shapes, hung heavily over his chest, resting in the groove between what had been thick pectorals in the past; though the older male still kept himself in decent shape, his frame had softened, and his body no longer looked nearly as defined as before.
In contrast, Roka'rr was a lean and fit specimen of his tribe, standing just under six feet and with a far more trim figure. Bushy gray fur coated his frame, unlike the salt-and-pepper gray-white mix that covered his father's. The wolf fidgeted uncomfortably in the "shirt" and "pants" that he had been told to wear when he went to the Outside, hoping to look more like one of the Outsiders as he walked among them to learn more of the rest of the world. A slightly outsized shirt of white hung loosely on his body, the buttons left undone for now in the heat of the jungle climate. The sleeves were rolled up, as they extended over his paws with ease; the clothing had belonged to some Outsider in the past, one who was far larger than the young wolf, but it was enough to blend with the Outside society. The blue pants, on the other hand, fit a bit better, though they threatened to sag slightly at the hips, forcing Roka'rr to use a bark-woven belt to keep them steady at his waist. Overall, it looked unnecessarily garish and bulky compared to the normal loincloth that the males of his tribe wore, but Roka'rr understood it was necessary for his trip.
"Yes, Chieftain. I'll be heading out shortly." In truth, the wolf had been saying that for a while; though it was part of the tradition for inheriting the mantle of Chieftain, Roka'rr was nervous about going into the Outside. There were plenty of stories from the Outside; demonic-looking animals that seemed to be made of metal and release smoke from their bodies, noise and people packed into small places, and the only trees and plants were those in small, cultivated areas rather than growing freely as they did in the Ankar culture. But tradition demanded that he go; Roka'rr was expected to spend a full month out in the Outside, to learn about the people and the greater world beyond the borders of Ankar so that he may better serve as Chieftain when he returned. A month away from home seemed like a lifetime, considering the strange world he was to be thrust into, but the wolf could not go against the tribe's traditions.
"You've been saying that for two hours now, Roka'rr." Krag'rr moved from the doorway, his steps slow and lumbering as he approached his son. "Don't worry; if a soft Chieftain like myself can survive in the Outside for a month, I'm sure my son can do far better." Roka'rr smiled at his father; the older wolf hadn't been anywhere near as big as he was now back when he had first become Chieftain, and indeed had been considered a prime specimen of their tribe back then. Roka'rr wasn't sure he could compare to his father's legacy, but he was now of age; there was no longer any time to delay or put off his duty so that his father could retire among the Elders as an advisor, rather than the tribe's leader.
"Now come on. I'll walk you to the edge of the village." Roka'rr started to protest, but his father quickly grabbed the pack that had been sitting by the leaf-woven door that blocked the entrance to their home and slung it over one shoulder. When he wanted to, Krag'rr could move surprisingly quickly, and from the arm that suddenly tugged at his son's scruff to get him moving, the former Chieftain still had plenty of strength left in him. Resisting the urge to argue as he was nearly dragged out of the house, as it would only make him look foolish in front of the rest of his tribe, Roka'rr quickly regained his feet and walked with some dignity next to his father, trying his best to smooth his ruffled fur. It seemed his decision had been made for him, and the wolf would soon find himself thrust into the Outside far sooner than he had expected.
The entire village turned out for the two of them, with many stopping in their work to watch Roka'rr go. More than once a bundle or two was thrust into his arms to be added to his ever-straining knapsack, the bag creaking around small containers of food or water. Even a twig doll from one of the younger pups was added, kept as a memory of the village he would return to in a month's time, even as the young girl smiled and waved him off. Roka'rr felt tears coming to his eyes as he was reminded once more that he was leaving and would be gone for a long time. He quickly took a deep breath to steady himself, forcing a confident smile for those around. It wouldn't do for them to see their soon-to-be Chieftain cry from homesickness!
Soon the village edge came into sight, and Roka'rr realized that this was it; once he took his first step past the boundary, he would be thrust into the Outside, and couldn't come back for a whole month. Worry began to rise up again, but a large paw on his shoulder made him look up into his father's face. Krag'rr gave him a warm, proud smile and a pat on the back before handing him the pack, saying nothing. No words were needed; father and son were so close it seemed that they shared thoughts at times. The older wolf was proud of his son, and confident that he would do well in the Outside, returning to become a great Chieftain. Roka'rr smiled back, albeit a bit nervously, and took his pack. Without another word, or even another look back at his village, the younger wolf set out into the Outside, to prepare himself for the last trial before he could become Chieftain.
"Uh-huh. Okay." The words were monotone, clipped and bored as the speaker walked behind the counter at the local store, organizing the front display even as he spoke into a phone that was held up to one of his long ears by one shoulder. Rovan let out a sigh as he maneuvered the cord around his body, wondering idly why the store hadn't bothered to upgrade to a cordless yet. Wireless phones had been around for over a decade easily, and yet the old-fashioned store in which he worked seemed like something out of an old Western film. They even had an old manual cash register, one that used paper tabs instead of an electronic display to show totals to the customers!
"Okay. I'll be sure to check when they'll be in. Okay. Okay. Yeah, business is just sorta slow, so I'm trying to organize... hey, hold on; I think I've got a customer." Rovan looked up as the bell on the front door rang, indicating a customer's presence. He could only see the figure slightly, as the shelves were awkwardly positioned, but it seemed obvious that whoever it was intended to shop. "I'll get on your order when I can." With that, the harehound hung up the phone, twisting himself free of the cord before stepping out from behind the counter and straightening his shirt, which had been knocked askew in his never-ending acrobatic battle with the phone cord. As of today, he had not won yet.
While many saw a relaxed dress code as a blessing, Rovan found it to be a bit embarrassing at times. Despite having to work two jobs, and barely able to make ends meet, the harehound had still somehow managed to put on excess weight. Combined with the fact that he couldn't afford to upgrade his wardrobe often, the hybrid often had ill-fitting clothing that showed off his chubby body. It was inaccurate to call him fat, but he was certainly pushing the far side of the term "heavy," and it was visible as a trail of white fur peeked out from under his shirt, showing off the very bottom of his soft belly as it sagged over his waistband. Atop that, the button on his jeans dug slightly into his midsection, further adding to his overweight appearance.
Quickly, the harehound made his way towards the front of the store, hoping to greet the customer personally. On slow days, he tended to take whatever interaction he could get, and it was no wonder that he was rushing to meet his latest customer after the store had been dead nearly all day. The entering figure was a male wolf, just above Rovan's eye level, with bushy gray fur pushing out from under the collar of the lupine's button-up shirt. Golden eyes caught the harehound's immediately, and something about the look in them, the sense of pride, of confidence and authority, immediately made the chubby hybrid blush in surprise. He wasn't sure what it was, but that gaze held him fast, and he paused to look back.
More details stood out to the harehound's eyes; for one thing, he noticed that the wolf's clothing wasn't well cared-for; the buttons on his shirt were done unevenly, exposing a bit of gray fur around his stomach, which in turn showed a fair amount of musculature as the lupine's hips curved into a strong, yet lean form. His pants were a little better off, though the belt certainly seemed odd; it was an off-brown color, but instead of leather it almost looked the same color as tree bark, down to the grainy texture atop it. The wolf must have either had it custom-made or gotten really lucky; Rovan didn't think he'd ever seen anything like it.
"Uh... excuse me...?" Rovan blinked, wondering how long he had been staring, and his blush grew worse. The wolf was addressing him, an eyebrow slightly raised at the harehound's silence. "I uh... I was looking to get some food, but I uh... don't have any..." The lupine seemed to struggle for words, and Rovan realized that the customer spoke English with a rather heavy accent; perhaps he was a foreigner? "Um, what was it... money! That was it. I was told that the... the store might have work for me to do?"
Work? The "Now hiring" sign that the store owned had been gathering dust in the back room for nearly two years now, ever since Rovan took the job; with how quiet the business was in general, the harehound alone could easily handle it all by himself, and thus the owner hadn't bothered to hire anyone else. Rovan wasn't sure who could have recommended the wolf to the store, but he knew he would have to probably turn the poor lupine down. Still, looking at the guy, the harehound had to feel a bit sorry for him; whoever he was, the wolf seemed to be nervous and uneasy, as well as uncomfortable about talking, especially with how he struggled for words. Could Rovan really turn him down so easily?
_Plus, he's sort of cute..._Rovan fought down another blush, wondering where that thought had come from, and he stammered to try and shift his thoughts away. "I, uh... I'll talk to the manager but... yeah. I don't know if we're hiring." The wolf's ears flattened slightly, though he still looked confused. "Uh... anyway, my name is Rovan. What's yours, so I can recommend you to the owner?"
"What's my...? Oh, my name... uh. My name's Roka'rr. I'm... from... well, elsewhere." It was Rovan's turn to be confused, but the harehound didn't want to make his guest uncomfortable, so began gesturing him deeper into the store, where there were a few chairs for people to sit and take a break.
"Rocker? You mean like... a musician? Certainly odd for a parent to name their kid that." Rovan realized that he could be coming off as rude, and blushed. "I-I-I mean, it's... it's an... uh, great name. Rocker, I like it!"
"Y-yeah, like the uh... musician. I guess." Both of them went silent, seemingly embarrassed for their own reasons; Roka'rr was clearly shy about being in a foreign area, while Rovan was trying his hardest not to stare at what amounted to a rather handsome and vulnerable lupine, lost in a city whose language he had difficulty speaking. After a moment, the harehound excused himself to go to the break room and grab a pair of sodas from the employee fridge so that the wolf could at least refresh himself; after all, the day was hot and muggy after a short rainfall from the night before, and the wolf's thick coat didn't seem like he could handle the heat well.
The lupine accepted the drink, albeit somewhat reluctantly. For a minute he just stared at the can, unsure what to do with it, until Rovan unintentionally showed him by popping the top off of his own, allowing Roka'rr to mimic him and then jump at the sudden pop and hiss of the soda's carbonation. The harehound laughed, though he stopped as the wolf's ears drooped in embarrassment, and silence reigned again. They both looked in opposite directions, trying hard not to act as if they were staring at one another, and fidgeted with their drinks for a few more minutes before Roka'rr stood and turned to leave.
"Thank you for the uh... sugar water... but I have to go and find some food." The wolf shook his head. "Where I'm from, you could take it from trees, or the ground, or hunt... here, you cannot do any of them. This city is so strange." With that, Roka'rr headed for the door.
Rovan acted before he thought, and caught the wolf's wrist in one of his paws. "Wait! If you don't have any money... you probably don't have a place to stay." Realizing the offer he had just made, and knowing that it was too late to take it back now, the harehound took a deep breath. Am I really asking this guy who I just met to come crash at my place? I mean, he's cute, but we just met... Still, there was no time to change his offer, and so Rovan continued anyway, hoping he didn't regret it. "Look, you're welcome to stay with me for a day or two, get back up on your feet. I'm sure I can get you a job or something here. I just need to talk to my manager, okay?"
Roka'rr had started to pull his arm free, but his ears perked up as he heard the harehound's offer, and he froze. "You... you would let me stay at your hut?" Rovan started to reply that while his apartment was small, it was no hut, but realized that the wolf was only speaking in familiar terms to him, and let it go. Clearly he was from somewhere way out in the country or something! "If... if you would not mind... I would like that. I am... lost, here in this place."
"Then it's settled! You'll stick around here until I'm done with work for the day, and then we'll go back to my place. Deal?" Roka'rr nodded, and took his seat again, leaving Rovan to get back to work. Of course, to say he did much work was an overstatement; the harehound's eyes were constantly on the wolf who sat not far away, sneaking peeks at the lupine every time Roka'rr wasn't looking. Customers were scarce, but the wolf seemed fascinated with the many and mundane items that lined the shelves, providing plenty of opportunity for Rovan to get a better look at his new roommate.
It was obvious that Roka'rr was used to a life of hard work; the wolf's body seemed lean, but at the same time had an impressive musculature to it. At one point, Roka'rr had unbuttoned his shirt completely, complaining that the city was too hot for such silly garments, but before Rovan had stopped him and indicated that the wolf should redo the buttons, he had gotten a good look at the lupine's front. Strong muscles bulged out from his frame, giving him a well-defined chest and a sturdy set of abdominal muscles that would make any gym-goer jealous. The harehound had felt his face heat up at the wolf's unintentional tease, and had gotten him to cease almost as much out of embarrassment as for propriety.
Soon the day ended as the sun started to fall, and Rovan quickly went about the store, doing one last check and turning off the last of the lights before heading out the door with Roka'rr not far behind him. The wolf seemed even more edgy in the darkness, his golden eyes glittering as he warily looked back and forth. Rovan couldn't blame him; for those new to the city, the buildings were completely different in the darkness, looming over the both of them like tall monoliths staring down at the two friends. Thankfully the walk wasn't far, as Rovan was renting an apartment only a block and a half away from the store. Soon they found themselves at the second floor, with the harehound panting only slightly from the exertion, and even sooner they were standing at his front door.
"Well, Roka'rr... welcome home."
Weeks seemed to fly by at that point, and though he was reluctant and shy at first, soon Roka'rr began to open up to his new friend. The wolf slowly began to share his story after the first week, and Rovan proved to be an attentive listener as his new roommate started to tell him of Ankar. The harehound was fascinated by stories of a tribal community from what seemed like another country, but Roka'rr insisted that it was a whole other world in itself, and that no Outsiders could find it. Rovan was a bit confused by that term until it was explained to him, at which point he couldn't resist laughing, considering he had almost used the very same term to describe Roka'rr when he had realized that the wolf was definitely not from the city.
Rovan found himself intrigued by the Ankar tribe most of all, however, and soon he was asking dozens of questions, much to Roka'rr's delight. The wolf had retrieved a pack from somewhere one day, and pulled out dozens of articles from it to explain more about his people. Within were several meals, still expertly wrapped and preserved in leaves that were only found in the area, large enough to tie around food and keep it airtight. These made up a few of their early dinners as Roka'rr explained their preparation and the ingredients involved, and Rovan dug in eagerly at the opportunity. He didn't even notice that his companion often stopped halfway through his meals and pushed the rest to the harehound, whose appetite only seemed stimulated by the exotic meals.
And then the wolf brought out the clothing his tribe wore, which for the males only consisted of a woven loincloth. Unaware of social norms, Roka'rr had set his roommate's face ablaze as he stripped down in the living room to change and show how it looked, even as the harehound covered his eyes and hopefully much of his blush as well, trying to explain that the act was socially indecent. Roka'rr didn't seem to understand why, as decency was a loose thing around his tribe, but he took note of it anyway, and promised not to do it again in the future. At least the change of clothes made up for it, in Rovan's eyes; when he was dressed in only the vine-and-leaf loincloth, wrapped loosely around his hips and waist, he was certainly a sight to behold. His muscular body was shown off by the loose-fitting waist wrap, which left him completely bare from the stomach up, revealing rippling, firm muscles that were all the more obvious since the wolf's fur had gotten trimmed the day before to adapt to the heat. He was no bodybuilder, but that wouldn't have suited him anyway; Roka'rr had a predatory grace about him that let his toned body speak for itself with every smooth motion he made.
The two spoke almost every night, comparing the various differences between their two lives, and slowly Roka'rr's command of English grew as he spoke with Rovan. He was a fast student who already understood most of the basic language, making it easier to pick up the rest, and soon the two were chatting freely. The wolf tried to do the same for Rovan, but the harehound was horrible at it, and most of his attempts just had his new friend rolling in laughter. The hybrid tried to glare at Roka'rr for his jibes, but Rovan just couldn't stay mad with the wolf. As the time passed, the harehound was becoming more attracted to his roommate's easy smile and his foreign wonder; something about him felt so exotic, so strange, and yet he had the innocent sincerity of a child at times, as if he was unused to the subtle evasions that filled the conversations in Rovan's world. It seemed as if the two were truly connecting on a deeper level, and the harehound didn't want it to end.
Unfortunately, all good things had to come to an end at some point. Three and a half weeks of being together had seemed to go by in moments for Roka'rr, who had expected his visit to the Outside to be an ordeal, only to find himself with a new friend and a place to stay. The wolf had become increasingly pleased by the friendly nature with which Rovan presented himself, and had also been amused by the harehound's appetite; as he didn't eat much, he had often encouraged his friend to eat the remainders of his meal, and the hybrid hadn't objected. It showed in his body, which admittedly made Roka'rr think of the transition one made from Chieftain to Elder; though he had seen a fair deal of large-bodied individuals within the city, the contrast was far more visible between himself and Rovan, and made the wolf think of home more often than not. It was funny where some trains of thought led.
In that time, Roka'rr had grown attached to his new companion. The harehound's kind nature and cheerful disposition, as well as his willingness to help, made him a very good friend. Atop that, the wolf noticed far more of the "subtle" peeks than Rovan thought he had caught onto, and admittedly he was a bit smug about getting such attention, taking a few opportunities here and there to show off, such as when he was displaying his tribe's uniform. That had been a completely intentional move on his part, and he had been rewarded watching Rovan fall over in embarrassment, stuttering and flailing about. It was cute in its own way, and over time, Roka'rr realized that he was starting to fall for the harehound.
Thankfully, it wasn't unusual for an alpha male of his tribe to take another male as a lover or mate; though it was a little strange in the Chieftain's position, as the leadership tended to be passed through the family, there was plenty of precedent in the past as well. Instead there was a completely different taboo blocking the two of them from being together; Roka'rr wasn't sure that his tribe would accept an Outsider as anyone's mate, especially the Chieftain's! Many of his people, while they weren't afraid of the Outsiders, thought them to be too different, ruining the "purity" of the tribe. Too few went out into the world, and in his time being exposed to the Outside, Roka'rr realized it wasn't nearly as bad as he had originally thought. Sure, things were far different, but the people themselves were very much the same. There were things to be wary of, but the same applied to the jungle; as long as one kept their eyes open and their mind sharp, there was nothing to be afraid of. The Outside wasn't as different as people thought.
And then, going by Rovan's calendar, it had been nearly a whole month since Roka'rr had left home. With only two days left, the wolf began to fret and pace, wondering what to do. He hadn't admitted his affections to the harehound yet, not wanting to upset him if things didn't work out due to their cultural differences, but at the same time, he didn't want to leave either. Duty tugged him towards home, to take up the mantle of Chieftain, while his heart kept him tied up at the apartment with Rovan, enjoying his days with the harehound. The worry began to show in his eyes, in his attitude, and then in his actions.
Finally, the day before Roka'rr had to leave, Rovan asked his friend what was wrong. "N-nothing..." The wolf had started to reply, but a glare from the harehound caught him fast in his tracks. Guilt surged up within him as he realized he had been unfair, not telling Rovan that he was even leaving in the first place; his friend only wanted to know what was on his mind, to try and help him selflessly without any thought of himself. Rather than denying it again, the wolf sat down heavily with a sigh of frustration. A few awkward moments of silence passed, remarkably similar to when the two had first met, and then Roka'rr began to explain.
He started with his rite of passage as a Chieftain, explaining how he had been required to go out into the Outside to better understand the people bordering Ankar and do his duties as a Chieftain better. From there he kept talking, hardly noticing his words as he spoke of his fears of the Outside, his hesitation to leave, and the home he missed terribly. And then it came to the point where he finally told Rovan the worst of it; his month would be up tomorrow, and he would simply be leaving, likely never returning to the Outside. He was facing away from the harehound at the time, and so he didn't see the look of pain that crossed his roommate's face as Rovan realized that the wolf would be leaving and never coming back.
"...a-and so... I'm leaving, and... I just... I don't want to go..." A single tear streamed down Roka'rr's muzzle as his shoulders slumped in defeat. "I-I mean... I really... I really like staying here, and you've been so nice... but I've got to go home, and... and it's my duty to be the chieftain..." He sat for a few moments, trying to breathe even as his body started to shake. Rovan, despite his own sadness, reached over to wrap an arm around the wolf's shoulder to try and comfort him. The harehound was surprised, however, when he felt Roka'rr's arms wrap around his waist and pull him close in a tight hug, the wolf pressing himself close in his sorrow.
"...A-and... and... damnit, Rovan... I love you! I don't... I don't want to leave you..." Rovan stiffened, and his whole body froze in shock at the admission. The last month had been wonderful, and he had truly grown close to the Ankar wolf in their time together, but he hadn't realized that his feelings were being reciprocated. Rovan had just assumed the looks and playful teasings were just a part of the Ankar culture, and that there had been nothing behind them, but now that he thought about it, it was so clear. All the smiles, the warm hugs, the grins and winks, all of it had been subtle advances on the wolf's part. All this time, Roka'rr had loved him, and Rovan had to admit...
"...I love you too, Roka'rr." This time it was the wolf's turn to pause, sniffling a few times to try and fight back the tears in his eyes. He opened his muzzle, to try and speak, but Rovan just grabbed the wolf and pulled him into a real hug, wrapping his arms around the taller male's waist even as Roka'rr enfolded the harehound's neck in a warm embrace. They sat there for a moment, both silent, expressing themselves through their actions rather than their words as they held one another. Rovan felt a spot of wetness on his cheeks as he held the wolf close, and realized he was crying too; it hit him just how much he'd miss Roka'rr when he was gone.
After a few minutes, Rovan broke the silence. "If... if I could, I'd go with you... it would be so empty here without you..." The harehound cleared his throat, trying his hardest to hold back a sob of frustration. "My life's just... so boring... so... quiet. I'd go with you in a heartbeat, if I could..."
"...Why couldn't you?" Rovan looked up to see Roka'rr staring at him intently, his golden eyes still wet with tears, but there was a renewed flame of hope in them. "I could take you with me... take you home. I'm Chieftain after I get home... I could make them accept you, right? Even if they didn't, I'd still have you."
"B-but..." The wolf silenced him with a finger to his lips, and smiled at Rovan, wiping at his eyes. "Rovan, hush. I've made up my mind, so no arguing. Tomorrow, we go home together again."
"Again?"
"I came home the very first time you led me to these apartment doors. My home is with you, Rovan."
The next day, both of them were up bright and early, packing up Rovan's house and taking whatever they thought they'd need. The harehound kept finding his packing interrupted by Roka'rr, who insisted that they only needed to take a few things, such as food and water. Material possessions or money could be left behind; Rovan would be leaving the Outside for a long time, and so none of it would be necessary in the new life he would live. That didn't stop the harehound from trying, and exasperating his lover, who tugged him away from a few pictures with a slight pull at one of his floppy ears, earning a glare that was met by a stuck-out tongue. Clearly, it was obvious that Roka'rr was determined to be dominant in their relationship, and wouldn't take no for an answer.
After about two hours, the two had scavenged two backpacks filled with food, two canteens of water each, and a few other possessions. Rovan insisted on bringing a few changes of clothes out of habit, though Roka'rr had insisted he would look just fine in tribal wear, stating he would look a lot like one of the Elders even as he poked at the harehound's round belly. Flustered, the hybrid had grabbed the clothing anyway, along with a few books that he could use for memories of the Outside, one of which was "A Map of the Stars" that was very dear to him. At that point he had declared himself ready. Roka'rr's pack was far lighter, as it contained only his old tribal wear and the few gifts he had been sent with as he had left for the Outside. The two were soon ready to head off to Ankar.
Roka'rr had come all the way to the city on foot, and when Rovan suggested they take a bus to get back to where he had come out, the wolf shook his head. "Ankar is... strange. It's not in any particular place. It's... sort of hard to find. I can find it, because I'm from there, but you'll have to make sure to hold onto my paw when I cross, so that you don't get left behind. I don't know how it works for Outsiders." Rovan simply smiled and took the wolf's paw, squeezing it tightly despite still being within the city. It wouldn't require much prompting to get him to hold on at this rate!
The two hiked out of the city and towards a mountain range that was visible about twenty miles to the west. As they walked, Roka'rr would occasionally stop and sniff the air, as if he could smell his way back to Ankar, but often the only time he would change direction was after those stops. Rovan followed him as he did so, and the two spoke between stops, talking about Ankar and reminding the harehound what it was like, particularly the heat and the culture. The wolf playfully teased Rovan, telling him that his heavy clothing would be unbearable in the jungle humidity, suggesting that he could lend his lover the loincloth to make him a bit more comfortable. Rovan's face simply went crimson, but he went for the bait as he asked Roka'rr what he'd be wearing. The wolf teasingly put on a semi-serious face and replied, "I'm not sure what you mean," leaving the harehound to nearly faint from the mental image.
The trip was slow going, as Rovan's heavier frame wasn't as suited to outdoor travel as Roka'rr's was. The wolf slowed his pace often to match his lover's, but it was obvious he was impatient, yearning for home; Rovan did his best to keep up, but soon his ears drooped with exhaustion, and he had to rest. Roka'rr did his best to be patient with the harehound; after all, he had only encouraged the hybrid's wide frame during their meals, pushing him to eat extra portions and such, but it was starting to wear on him. Rovan did his best to keep up the pace, however, and they continued to travel for another two days.
Time passed slowly for Roka'rr, whose stride suggested that he was getting tired of the slow going, and he often ended up pacing when they stopped. While it hadn't bothered him as much during the month he had been away, as he had enjoyed his time with Rovan, now that the hour was so close at hand, he was becoming more and more eager. He didn't know how long it would take to get home, as he had never been Outside before, but the wolf was becoming more and more edgy as they made more frequent rest stops to accommodate Rovan's lower stamina. The harehound gave his lover apologetic looks every time they stopped, knowing that it was his fault that their pace was easily halved, but Roka'rr melted under the look every time and returned a reassuring smile; he could wait a little longer.
Finally Roka'rr stopped, his ears perking up suddenly, and a grin spread across his face. "We're here!" Rovan took a moment to catch his breath, as they had been walking up a rising slope the whole time, and looked around. He was a little disappointed; there was no forest or village anywhere in sight. Yet despite seeing nothing like what he had expected, the harehound could definitely see the eager smile on his lover's face; perhaps the wolf could see something he could not. Willing to believe, rather than giving into the doubt that Roka'rr was starting to hallucinate from the hot weather, Rovan just nodded and said nothing, waiting to see what the wolf planned to do next.
"Let's go!" Suddenly the harehound found his wrist caught in a powerful grab, and he was tugged forward as Roka'rr started down the hill, running as fast as he could. The wolf had his eyes set on something ahead, and at the pace he was running, Rovan was hard-pressed to keep up. Yet despite that, the two made startlingly good progress as they raced down the slope, heading towards some destination that apparently only Roka'rr could see. Rovan hoped they reached it soon, though; he was quickly becoming winded, and a stitch was forming in his side, causing small, jabbing pains as he tried his hardest to keep up with his eager lover, who wouldn't slow his pace in the least.
Suddenly the scenery changed; it was almost like blinking, where everything changed in a moment. One moment they were running through a hilly plains-like area, moving downwards, and then the next they were level and surrounded by thick brush and wildlife. Dry, broken grass was replaced by a thick green carpet of plantlife that easily reached up to mid-thigh, while the mountain that had been looming in the distance had vanished completely despite the horizon being somewhat visible. It was like stepping into another world, Rovan mused as they started to slow their pace, the harehound gasping for breath even as Roka'rr broke into a happy laugh, marveling at being home after a whole month of being away from it. His cheer was infectious, and Rovan couldn't help but grin as they stopped to rest after their mad dash.
"Welcome to Ankar, Rovan! Welcome to my... no, our home."
The two of them had stopped for a while, giving Rovan time to rest and catch his breath while Roka'rr went to gather some food. They had a bit left over from the supplies they had brought, but the wolf wanted to save it, since he could easily forage in the jungle. The harehound took the time to seat himself upon a large rock that rose from the grass like an island in a sea of green, rubbing at his sore feet; Rovan was hardly one for long walks, and the two of them had been hiking for nearly two days, meaning that he was incredibly footsore. It would be something he would have to adapt to over time, if they were going to be living in the jungle. Thankfully being part hare made him genetically disposed towards large feet, and it would help with the adaptation process in the long run.
Roka'rr returned after about a half hour, bearing a full pack of fruits and nuts he had foraged, as well as a few wild carrots he had found and a few potatoes. It wasn't much, as he didn't have time to hunt for meat to add to the flavor, but it was enough; using some water from a nearby river that ran through the forest, he managed to make a nice stew out of the few strips of preserved beef they still had in their packs, mixing in the carrots to further flavor it, and added the rest as side dishes to nibble on and contrast the flavors. It was a surprisingly nice meal for something that, from Rovan's perspective, seemed so primitive, and he found himself finishing off three bowls of the thick stew compared to Roka'rr's single one, much to the wolf's amusement.
From there, Roka'rr declared that it would be a good opportunity to stop for the night, camping within the Ankar jungle. When Rovan asked why they didn't press forward, considering how eager the wolf had been to get home, his lover winked and grinned. "Oh, I am in a hurry, but I'm giving our scouts enough time to spot us. They'll go ahead and announce us to the Elders, and the whole village will prepare a proper welcome. There will be feasting, and games, and dancing... but if you really want, we can hurry in and surprise them. But think of all the food you'll miss out on!" That was enough to convince Rovan, who admittedly did enjoy the thought of being welcomed into his new home, and the harehound agreed that it would be alright to spend one more night alone before they reached the village.
Night fell quickly, and the two of them took shelter within an unusual tree that Roka'rr pointed out, whose lower trunk was hollowed out, curving upwards around the inside and leaving a small hole near the top, allowing for air filtration. The wolf explained that this was one of the shelter trees his kind set up in the jungle, hollowing them out carefully while caring for and tending them, so that despite the openings they survived to be healthy and last for many, many years. They were able to have a small fire in the firepit at the center of the tree, though Roka'rr kept careful watch on it to make sure it didn't get too large. Large leaves, almost like palm fronds, were placed before the entrance of the tree to keep most of the heat in; it wasn't a perfect system, with a few gaps here and there, but it was enough to keep them comfortable and warm throughout the night as the temperatures dropped.
Neither of the two slept very well that night, instead staying up and talking among themselves about what they'd be doing after they settled back in. Roka'rr would naturally be the Chieftain of the tribe after arriving successfully, meaning that he made any major decisions, as well as settling disputes. He also was in charge of blessing the union of mates for others, which prompted an embarrassed question from Rovan; would he be handling theirs, too? The wolf just laughed and said that his father, the former Chieftain, would handle that; there was some tradition about it, though most Chieftains took their mate before they left to go Outside for a month, so it could be handled by their predecessor as one of the last acts as a Chieftain.
The night ran long as they once more ran over the basics of the tribe's cultures, though Roka'rr agreed they'd either need to get a translator for Rovan, or someone who could teach him better, as the wolf was having no luck in getting his lover to learn the tribe's language. It wouldn't be a major barrier right away, as many of the Elders spoke English with varying amounts of skill, but if Rovan wanted to get to know and mingle with the other villagers, he was going to have to learn at some point.
Eventually the two drifted to sleep in the late evening, with Roka'rr resting his head atop his lover's soft belly, much to the harehound's embarrassment the next morning. Still, it looked as if the wolf had slept comfortably, and despite his blush, Rovan had to admit he had enjoyed it as well. Still, it was time they got up, and he reluctantly shook Roka'rr awake before the two of them started cleaning up their temporary shelter. They forewent breakfast that morning, as the wolf assured his lover that the two of them would have more than enough to eat when they got to the village, and they set off before the sun was even halfway to its zenith, heading through the forest in the direction Roka'rr indicated. It seemed he knew this area well, and that they were not far from his home.
Indeed the trip didn't take long; within roughly an hour, at Rovan's best guess, the trees started to thin and the grass was more neatly tended; though it was far taller than average back where the harehound had come from, it was only shin-high at best as compared to the much higher brush outside the area. Structures soon came into sight, created from wood that had been lashed together with stripped, braided vines and roofed with dried thatch grass that was plentiful in the area. None of them were particularly large, roughly the size of Rovest's living room, and he wondered how the villagers found them to be comfortable homes. Still, Roka'rr had assured him that his people had built their homes the same way for as long as he could remember, and there had never been problems in the past.
As they got closer, Rovan started to spot more people; a few wolves were starting to leave their homes, exiting and staring at the two who had just entered the village. Far more were visible around a large wooden platform that stood roughly at the center of the village, and even from halfway across the area from it the harehound could smell food, enough to make his mouth water. He could smell all sorts of things cooking, and assumed that the platform was being used as some kind of feasting area. A nudge from Roka'rr was accompanied by a quick note that the table was a communal dining area that was regularly used, though particularly so whenever there were celebrations to be had. The best dishes were served at the celebrations, he slyly mentioned, noticing the look in Rovan's eyes.
The number of wolves, while not as large of a population as Rovan was used to, was still pretty intimidating as they all turned to greet the two arrivals. The harehound felt two things as the crowd's attention swung to him; the first was that he was exceptionally large. Among all the male wolves present, not one of them had an ounce of fat on them, and instead they all sported the same sleek, muscular frames that Roka'rr had, some even more exceptionally built than the Chieftain-to-be. The females were much the same, fit and with more subtle figures than their male counterparts. Rovan had always been on the heavy side, but in a city that was far closer to the average than he felt here; here, in the village, he had to be easily twice as wide as the average wolf.
The second impression that Rovan got was the sense of being prey in the eyes of the predatory gathering around him. Though Roka'rr's eyes were much the same in their expression, but the harehound had become accustomed to them over time. Getting the same stare from nearly two-score adult wolves, as well as a slightly less intense one from a handful of pups, was enough to make Rovan feel small and weak despite his first impression of being oversized. It was a weird mix of feelings that assaulted him, and the harehound's long ears drooped slightly as he swallowed, trying not to show how intimidated he felt. A squeeze on his paw from Roka'rr's, thankfully, helped reassure him somewhat.
"The Elders aren't here yet," the wolf murmured, "so I'm sure you're probably feeling a bit weird. Just relax, this is probably the worst of the introductions you'll have to deal with. It'll get easier." With that he gave his lover a pat on the back, and strode forward confidently, forcing Rovan to hurry to keep up. Smiles and friendly growls greeted Roka'rr from many of the wolves, and though their eyes never lost that predatory, confident glow, they seemed content and happy to have their new Chieftain back from his trip to the Outside. Right behind him, Rovan found smiles slipping and looks of curiosity and confusion greeting him, and he tried his best to keep close to Roka'rr, giving a shy wave only once before the look of unfamiliarity caused him to stop and keep to himself.
Roka'rr spoke comfortably with the other wolves, his language a series of growls and strange syllables that Rovan didn't understand, but the others seemed pleased to hear him speak so fluently despite a month in the Outside, and the conversations only picked up in pace and intensity. Soon Rovan was left completely out as Roka'rr got caught up in half a dozen conversations at once, the wolf becoming surrounded by his tribesmen. Rovan actually ended up getting jostled aside by accident, and found himself sitting outside the growing crowd as they nearly mobbed Roka'rr, forced to back up while the wolf dealt with the mob around him. Realizing that it may be best to let the villagers greet their Chieftain properly, the harehound backed up and sat at a rough bench carved of a single log, waiting patiently for them to finish.
As he waited, however, a pack of four particularly large wolves came over to Rovan. Where Roka'rr and many of the other village males had been well built, they were also lithe and slim, with subtle strength rather than bulging muscles. These four were far different, however, and were larger than the average by a fair deal. Not a one of them was without an easy fifty-pound advantage over Roka'rr's size, and it was all muscle. Rovan admittedly stared as they approached, as they were dressed in nothing but loincloths, as was the tribe's custom, but the harehound's attention soon turned to their faces as he noticed that they had more than just the confused, unsure look that the other villagers had towards Rovan; instead, these ones looked almost upset, angry even.
The leader, who was obviously the biggest of the pack and quite clearly considered himself an alpha, moved up to Rovan and spoke to the harehound in the tribe's language, a mixture of grunts and growls that the hybrid didn't understand. He tried to explain that he didn't speak the same way they did, but the first words out of his mouth were met by a growl from the leader that needed no translation; there were no words in that sound, only a threat that suggested Rovan wasn't welcome. The leader spoke again, and his followers laughed before moving in, surrounding the harehound like predators encircling their prey, smirks on their muzzles that suggested this group was anything but friendly.
As they drew close, another snarl from behind the group caused the leader to whirl. Roka'rr stood behind the pack, his arms crossed, and the same predatory look mingled with anger in his gaze as he stared down the largest of the group. The leader spoke back to the Chieftain, the two exchanging words that Rovan didn't understand even as a crowd started to form. Clearly the large bully was not pleased with Roka'rr, and their words grew more heated and angry, the argument building up to a head. Finally, the larger wolf pointed at Rovan and made a sneering sound of distaste, speaking something that sounded like he was mocking the harehound.
Roka'rr acted suddenly, his fist coming up to meet the larger wolf's muzzle with a loud crack that echoed in the clearing, causing the bully to fall over onto his back. The wolf's followers stood around him, their hackled raised, but it was obvious they didn't have a chance to cause trouble as the rest of the village stood near Roka'rr, supporting their Chieftain. Grabbing their own leader, the bullies simply skulked away from the scene, glaring at Roka'rr as they retreated into the distance. The Chieftain said nothing, glaring back at them, his eyes full of anger that suggested he would do far more than knock someone out if they tested him again.
Once they were gone, Roka'rr moved over to Rovan, who was still confused and a little afraid after that short bout of violence. "Are you alright?" He asked in English, clearly worried. At Rovan's nod, he gave a relieved sigh and shook his head in the direction of the retreating bullies. "Sorry about that. Kare'st has always been trouble, and you just happened to be an easy target for him. He doesn't like Outsiders, especially since I brought you in; his family's been sort of... uh..." He searched for the word, "Well, fighting, I guess, with mine for about three generations. They're the head of the warriors in the village, and think that we should lead with strength, and... well, you get the idea."
Rovan nodded, still somewhat shaky, but he was helped to his feet with a smile as Roka'rr started leading him back towards the platform where he had been speaking with the other wolves a few minute before. "I've got some bad news, though." The news couldn't be too bad at least; the Chieftain was still smiling as he spoke. "You're going to have to hold off on the feast just a little longer. The Elders have arrived, and want to meet you, particularly my father. He's wondering why his son has brought an Outsider who looks more like an Elder than a warrior, and I wanted you to see the look in his face when I tell him that you're my soon-to-be mate. Think you can wait just a few more minutes to eat?"
The harehound's jaw nearly dropped; they had just arrived in the village, and already he was meeting his lover's father? So many things could go wrong, and immediately Rovan's nerves began to act up as he tried to stutter out an excuse to avoid doing so. Roka'rr's grin only grew, and he tugged Rovan forward despite the harehound's complaints. Soon they were before the wooden platform, and Rovan got a better look at it. Atop the platform was a long table made of wood as well (what in the village wasn't?) that was practically groaning under the weight of a large number of dishes. The wooden bowls were filled with various stews and meats, while plates formed of tree fronds that had been cleaned and carefully laid out were covered with various breads, several of which smelled strongly of honey or had hints of fruit in them.
At the far end of the table sat five more wolves that had not been present before; Rovan would have recognized them right away, had they been there before. Each of them was far larger than the average villager, though not in the same way the bullies had been. Instead these wolves were softer, rounder and heavier, showing the signs of a life lived in relaxation despite the vigilance in their eyes. Every one of them was larger than Rovan by a fair deal, probably weighing at least four hundred pounds at the smallest, and they were dressed in the same tribal garb as the rest of the village, albeit re-sized to fit far more substantial girths. Most wore decorative accessories as well, which was unusual among the tribe; necklaces or bracelets of stones, as well as the occasional precious gem, were present on the majority.
"The Elders," Roka'rr murmured into Rovan's ears, causing the harehound to stop staring at the amazingly large wolves before him. "My father, Krag'rr, is at the far left. Across from him is Kore'st, the former head of the warriors. They always sit apart from each other, and never seem to get along." He gave a few more introductions before pushing Rovan forward, assuring him that he'd translate as necessary to make the conversation go smoothly. The harehound was too surprised to resist, and soon found himself standing before Elders, feeling small once more in their eyes. What was it with these wolves and that feral, predatory stare that made his knees go weak at a glance?
"I, uh... hi." Not Rovan's best start, but he tried to make a proper greeting of it. "Uh... Roka'rr, do I need to like... bow, or something?" The wolf grinned and started to reply, but all five of the Elders broke into laughter at the harehound's question, causing his face to go completely crimson. What did they find so funny?
"No need to worry, little one. We understand your language." Krag'rr spoke warmly, and he had the same easy grin as his son did. His accent was heavy, and his words were halting, but despite that, he spoke fairly comprehendible language. "Many of us Elders have gone into the Outside and learned your language, though we do not get much chance to use it. Please be seated. Oh, and you don't have to bow, don't worry." The Elder waved a large paw to indicate that they sit to his right even over the explosion of laughter that followed, and Roka'rr politely allowed his lover to be seated next to Krag'rr, while the younger wolf was just to Rovan's right, leaving him feeling surrounded again. At least this time it wasn't an uncomfortable feeling; at this point it felt welcome, rather than like being hunted.
Sitting closer to Krag'rr, Rovan got a better chance to get a look at his lover's father. Krag'rr had obviously been retired for some time, despite being one of the smaller Elders; easily at four hundred and fifty pounds or more, the wolf looked a lot like his son in the shape of his face and his eyes. However, a lot of the definition was lost in the wolf's face; the cheeks were far rounder, squishing up against the Elder's muzzle, while three chins pressed into a soft tire of fat that wrapped around the neck. The wolf was forced to sit back from the table slightly, but even so his gut pressed up against the table's edge, squishing against it so that a roll of his mighty gut rested atop the surface. His soft chest seemed to flow down onto his large midsection, and a wide spare tire pressed over the sides of his loincloth, making it seem like part of him rather than clothing. Arms were easily as wide as the harehound's own thick thighs, and Krag'rr's fingers were easily thicker than sausages. Clearly, the Elders lived well!
Rovan couldn't help but lean in near Roka'rr to murmur quietly. "Do I have this to look forward to when you retire?" This drew a chuckle of laughter from the wolf, who grinned and said nothing, giving an enigmatic smirk at his lover before elbowing him lightly in the side, indicating that his father was waiting on them to finish before speaking. Blushing, Rovan turned towards the Elder.
"So, Roka'rr," Krag'rr's booming voice was like a deeper version of his son's; the resemblance between the two was uncanny, even if the older wolf's look was buried under an excess of extra weight. "Who is this Outsider, and why have you brought him? I'm sure you had good reason, but it would help if the rest of us knew it too, my son." The other Elders looked serious as well, though none of them seemed angry or upset; they merely seemed curious, wanting to understand what was going on. Several eyes moved to Rovan, who cleared his throat embarrassedly as he looked away.
Roka'rr didn't seem fazed in the least, raised among such a political environment, and he leaned back in his seat with a smile, speaking casually. "Who, Rovan? Oh, he's just going to be my mate." The announcement, spoken so calmly, still drew an uproar from the crowd around the bench. The meeting wasn't private, and so the rest of the village had gathered around to listen to the Elders speak to Roka'rr. Many of the words seemed either disapproving or confused, and Rovan's ears fell slightly. Was his being an Outsider a bad thing? He didn't want to get Roka'rr in trouble, yet the wolf seemed confident with his announcement. Maybe he had a plan in mind; Rovan could only hope so.
"Roka'rr." Krag'rr spoke again, clearly the voice of the Elders for now. "You know that, while it is not explicitly forbidden, it is considered almost taboo to bring an Outsider to Ankar. And then to make things worse, you want him to be your mate? He looks soft, not strong like the village expects the Chieftain's mate to be." The older wolf's stare fixed on Rovan now, and the harehound tried not to shrink beneath that gaze. "And you... Rovan, was it? Did my son explain to you about our feelings towards Outsiders, and the problems you would face coming here, let alone becoming his mate? Are you aware of the consequences?"
Roka'rr didn't answer, which meant that Rovan was expected to answer now. Swallowing, the harehound tried to think, wanting to make a good impression on his lover's father. As he stumbled for words, however, Roka'rr placed a paw on his shoulder and leaned forward, smiling and speaking loudly enough to be heard easily by the Elders, confidence filling his words. "Don't worry about your answer, Rovan. Just be yourself, say what you think. All you need to worry about is just being you."
The harehound nodded and took a deep breath before turning back to Krag'rr, his answer firmly in his mind. "He did tell me how you feel about Outsiders, and I remember how wary he was when we first met; I know how your tribe seems to dislike and distrust us. I know that it'll be hard to accept me here, if you can at all, but I'm not scared... well, okay, I'm a little scared. But even so, I'm willing to stay and accept whatever consequences come to me. If it causes problems for Roka'rr, though... I can go. I mean, I don't want to ruin his position as Chieftain, or anything..."
Rovan was cut off by a raised paw, and Krag'rr let out a loud, booming laugh at the look of confusion on his face. "Rovan! Relax, it was just a simple question. Yes, you are an oddity, and you are an Outsider, but the Chieftain's word is law here. There was no risk of Roka'rr getting in trouble, and what he wants to do is what is going to be." The older wolf gave a wink to his son, who grinned back at him with that same, easy smile. "I was just asking as his father; if I had thought you would waver just because of a little prejudice, I would have chased you out of the village myself." That drew another wave of laughter from most of the Elders, though the head of the warriors did not seem as amused.
"Anyway, enough serious talk for now. Today's a celebration, a welcome-home for our new Chieftain! Let's eat, be merry, dance; enjoy yourself, Rovan. You are a guest here for today, and when tomorrow comes, we'll sort out the rest." Krag'rr waved a paw before gesturing towards the food, at which point the other Elders took that as their cue to begin as well. There seemed to be no general etiquette or manners involved; if you wanted something, you took it. If you weren't fast enough, then too bad; someone else had it first, and was already feasting from it. Rovan learned that last lesson rather quickly, attempting to compete with a wolf on either side of him, the father and son duo easily beating him to a number of dishes that he tried to reach for.
The harehound managed to make his first snatch after a few attempts, though he suspected Roka'rr had allowed him to get to it, as the wolf's paw had been hovering near it first, and he had hesitated to let his lover get a bite in. Grabbing several bread rolls that smelled strongly of honey and some unknown topping that had a similarly sweet scent to them, Rovan managed to pull them in front of him so that he could at least have_something_ to eat. He also managed to grab a few pieces of smoked fish to go with them, and a small bowl of unusual red fruits, giving him quite a bit of variety before him.
There were no tools or cutlery to cut the bread, and the other wolves seemed content to make use of their teeth and claws as they were needed, so Rovan assumed he was on his own. Digging his own claws into the bread, he tore it in half and placed a few strips of the fish into them as a makeshift sandwich before digging in. The bread caused his eyes to widen at the first bite, as it was very obviously treated with a number of seasonings that made it almost as sweet as candy, melting in his mouth and contrasting the salted fish within perfectly. Before he knew it, Rovan had gone through three of those sandwiches, and had moved onto the bowl of fruits. The red-skinned fruit looked a lot like apples, though they were of a more ovular shape. Taking a bite from one, the harehound nearly fell over; calling it an apple was like comparing salt to a bag of sugar; the fruit was intensely sweetened! No wonder everyone seemed to have so much energy, if they ate such sugary sweets on a daily basis!
As they continued to eat, Krag'rr began to speak with Rovan with a practiced ease between bites of food. Obviously the Elder was used to talking and eating at the same time, and timed his words perfectly between bites to get his point across. "So, Rovan, why did you come with Roka'rr from the Outside? I understand that you two are close, but you followed him into a land the Outside has never heard of, and one that you probably didn't know existed."
"Well..." Rovan had to pace himself a bit better, as he was used to not talking with his mouth full, as it was considered rude where he was from. "Roka'rr is the biggest reason, obviously." That part was said with a blush as the younger wolf leaned over to reply with a soft kiss on the cheek and a pat on the side before he returned to his own food. Roka'rr was really putting it away, too; it was a wonder he maintained a figure as he did! Rovan hadn't seen any of this appetite in the Outside either, and wondered where it had come from. "But I mean... my life was pretty deadbeat, with me running multiple jobs and working hard just to get by. Coming here with someone I love along with the idea of getting away from that life just seemed like an obvious decision, wouldn't you say?"
"Don't think you'll get away without some sort of work here, Rovan." The admonishment was given lightly, playfully, yet Krag'rr had a stern look in his eye. "The entire tribe contributes, which is why we live so comfortably. The warriors defend us, the hunters and gatherers collect and prepare food, while the Elders retain and share wisdom with younger generations. Everyone here works in some way or form." As Rovan tried to protest and explain that it wasn't what he had meant, the older wolf let his muzzle crack into a soft smile again, and he waved off the harehound's flustered remarks. "Don't worry, we'll find a place for you, somehow. Being Chieftain's mate will make it a bit easier to place you somewhere, because they'll do it for the Chieftain. In time, though, I will expect you to earn your own respect, instead of using Roka'rr's."
With that, the Elder returned to his food, leaving Rovan to think about what he'd end up doing as part of the tribe. It didn't stop him from eating, but it certainly consumed the harehound's thoughts as he continued to fill his belly. What would he do? Maybe he could be a gatherer, or help prepare food; he wasn't the best cook, but with a bit of teaching he could pick up their recipes well enough. Certainly he wasn't cut out to be a warrior, not with his heavy body, unless they planned to work him to death over the next few months. Well, Krag'rr had said that they'd work things out, so maybe he already had something in mind, and there was nothing to worry about. Rovan hoped that was the case.
One of the Ankar women came up with a small wooden platter bearing cups that were filled with strong-smelling liquid. The Elders all looked excited as it arrived, and Roka'rr himself seemed like an eager puppy as he saw the cups. They were placed down before each of the Elders, before the Chieftain, and then, to Rovan's surprise, one was placed before him. "W-what's this?" He asked Roka'rr, who had already taken a short draw from his cup before coughing, pounding on his chest slightly. Krag'rr let out a loud laugh, joined by the other Elders as they watched the Chieftain sputter at his drink, and the older wolf explained to the confused and concerned harehound. "It's Tax'il, a very strong alcohol we brew from the honey apples you were eating earlier. It's very sweet, but has quite a kick to it, so that unless you're used to it, it's best to just sip. Only the high tribesmen drink it, and this is Roka'rr's first time, now that he's Chieftain. He has a stomach for alcohol like a pup's! Hopefully he'll adjust to it in time."
A nudge drew Rovan to his own drink, and he took the cup hesitantly, looking into it. The liquid inside was clear, yet had a very potent scent of sweet honey along with the bitter twist of the alcohol within it. Carefully the harehound took a small sip, tilting his head back slightly, and he too almost choked as the liquid touched his tongue. Saying it had a kick to it had been a severe understatement, as his head spun pleasantly even as the sweet taste assaulted his tongue. And the Elders drank this often? At least he managed to keep his drink in him, unlike Roka'rr's first attempt, though he set the cup down to steady himself with a paw on the table.
The Elders all seemed amused, even the warrior's leader, and they laughed as Rovan tried his hardest not to stagger too much from his drink. One of the others spoke up loudly, his grin causing his fat cheeks to squish around his muzzle; he was one of the larger ones by far, and had to be much closer to five hundred pounds, though he had a bit more age to him, judging by his faded fur. "Well, this one's a keeper, Roka'rr! He can certainly take his alcohol better than you, so he can come to the meetings in your place!" Roka'rr and Rovan both flushed, the former surprised by the playful jibe, but he growled something back in their language that had them laughing again. It seemed like the tribe's Elders were given to a very jovial and lighthearted nature, judging by their easy amusement. The harehound, on the other hand, was obviously curious about the joke, and his twitching ears betrayed his wonder at it.
The rest of the feast seemed to go by in a blur, though Rovan blamed that on the drink; as he started to become accustomed to it, he drank a bit more of it than he thought was probably good for him, and the whole area was spinning in his unsteady vision. The harehound had to be kept upright by Roka'rr until he regained his grip on the table, and though the Elders laughed again, they too agreed that Rovan had probably had too much to drink. Krag'rr suggested that it was probably time for him to retire to their home anyway, and announced to the rest of the tribe that the Chieftain was going to rest after his long journey. Roka'rr stood afterward, however, encouraging them to continue their festivities even after he retired to his hut; after all, not only were they were celebrating his return, but they were also celebrating the presence of a Chieftain in their village again. They had every reason to continue their merriment long into the night.
His announcement given, Roka'rr helped Rovan to his feet, an arm wrapped around his lover's shoulders as the two of them headed to a hut at the other end of the village. Along the way, the wolf was forced to pause and speak with a few of his other tribesmen he hadn't had a chance to address earlier, but it wasn't long before he managed to push completely through the crowd and make his way to the back of the village, towards a larger hut. This one was obviously built with the Chieftain in mind, probably four or five times larger than the average home, but it was still as simply-constructed as the others. Only its size suggested its importance, but that was more than enough as it towered over the other houses.
Inside, the first room seemed to be a living area of sorts, with woven grass mats lining the floor to soften the ground on their sensitive feet. There were two chairs, both crudely carved and of varying sizes; the first seemed average, and probably was meant for anyone to sit in, while the second was much, much larger, suggesting that it was probably Krag'rr's personal chair. A quick mental estimate of the older wolf's thick backside suggested that it was probably the case, and the image had Rovan blushing at his own thoughts. What was he doing, thinking of his mate's father like that? It didn't help that the older wolf had all of the features the harehound loved in Roka'rr, and then had a soft, warm-looking layer of fat that only made him look cuter atop that.
From the main room, there were three branches, and the two side ones led to bedrooms blocked off by the same entrance leaves, while the back room was a kitchen that was let open, probably to allow the heat to circulate somewhat. Rovan noted that he didn't see a female anywhere, and wondered where Roka'rr's mother was, though guessed she was probably at the party like everyone else. Rather than ask, however, the harehound figured he'd meet her later, and just followed his lover towards one of the two bedrooms, pushing aside the leaves with some difficulty thanks to his intoxicated state before staggering into the room itself.
The bedroom was simple, with a small wooden stand carved out of a small log sitting to the side of a padded mat formed of rush grasses woven together and tied to a frame of branches. There was also a rush-grass blanket atop it, and the pillows seemed to be woven of vines and leaves into bags stuffed with more leaves. It didn't look as comfortable as a feather bed would be, but it was better than sleeping on the bare ground too. The room wasn't particularly large, as there wasn't much else in it but the bed and the nightstand, and the only light source came from a hole in the wall that could be covered by moving several frond leaves in front of the "window." It was a simple room, yet easily made private or dark for sleeping.
A rustle drew Rovan's attention, and he turned... only to have his face go crimson as he spotted Roka'rr bent over and facing away from him, removing his loincloth by slipping it down around his legs and stepping out of it. The harehound had seen his lover nude once, back when the wolf hadn't understood conventions in the Outside, but he had covered his eyes in embarrassment and hadn't gotten a good look. Now that they were mates, however, he supposed he had to get to know his lover's body sooner than later. Swallowing, Rovan stopped himself from averting his eyes, and instead got a real look at Roka'rr's body.
The wolf's firm body was as well-muscled as ever, though his belly protruded slightly now from the amount he had eaten, giving a slight roundness to his slim frame. His lithe frame curved down into modestly thick hips, and from the view, Rovan was treated to a firm yet rounded rump, giving Roka'rr a "bubble butt," so to speak, which looked cutely soft and padded as compared to his fit and firm body. His hips and waist flowed smoothly into his muscled legs however, providing a continuous and natural shape to his frame, his soft gray fur only improving further on the image.
And then he turned further, revealing himself fully in his nudity. Rovan's blush went from half-heat to a full flame as the wolf's package was exposed before him, and what a pair it was! The wolf's shaft was larger than Rovan would have guessed, probably one of the larger ones he had ever seen, and the harehound wondered if that was a tribal thing or if he had just gotten lucky. The thick length lay halfway down his lover's thigh while soft, and the image of it swelling to full arousal had Rovan's own pants tightening quickly as he pictured the size. The wolf's shaft was thicker than the average as well, pleasantly plump to go with its length, and the size added to Roka'rr's already visible masculinity only confirmed that he was indeed an alpha among his tribe. Idly, Rovan found his thoughts roaming to Krag'rr, and wondered if his son's "size" was inherited, but he quickly snapped himself out of it; that was no way to think!
"Well? What are you waiting for, Rovan?" The harehound blushed as the wolf stood there, completely nonchalant about being nude with his lover for the first time; clearly nudity was nothing to the tribe, another cultural difference Rovan would have to adapt to. "C'mon, big guy, you're not sleeping in your clothes, are you? You've seen me, so now it's my turn to see you, whether you're ready or not." The sly look on the wolf's face suggested he wouldn't take no for an answer, and Rovan's face went further red. "I'll give you to the count of ten to start stripping, or I'll start stripping you myself."
Hard as a rock and embarrassed about it, Rovan tried to take a deep breath to calm himself, but his blush only got worse. Figuring it was best to just get it over with, like jumping into a pool head-first to get used to the icy cold, the harehound reached down for the waistband of his shirt and tugged it up, only to pause as Roka'rr gave a playful wolf-whistle, just making the embarrassment of the situation that much worse. Swallowing, the harehound pulled it all the way off, revealing his large belly that sagged heavily over his waistband, the curves of his brown fur melting into a softer cream color that coated his extensive belly as it wobbled free from its confines. Above his belly sat a pair of soft male breasts, the padded masses squishing softly against the top of his ample midsection, further accenting his weight. After his shirt was off, Rovan caught his lover staring, an eyebrow raised, and his blush grew worse. "W-what?"
"Your belly." The comment made Rovan flush worse, but Roka'rr shook his head and pointed. "I mean, that star on it. I never noticed it before, since you're always wearing a shirt." The wolf was motioning to a star-shaped patch of green fur that rested just above Rovan's navel, about as big as the harehound's palm. The hybrid pressed a paw to it, smiling softly, before shaking his head. "It was a gift, some time ago, from a good friend of mine. I just like to say it's natural, that I've always been that way, but it's hard to simply write off green fur on a patch that's normally closer to white. Don't worry about it, it's just a marking."
"Well, if it's nothing, then I guess we can get back to business." Rovan let out a yelp as he found a pair of arms clasped about his waist from behind; when had Roka'rr snuck around him? The wolf's paws were insistent though, playfully squeezing at the rolls of the harehound's belly, squishing his ample spare tire between his padded fingers, before they moved down to his lover's groin, grasping for the button. Rovan let out a soft, embarrassed moan at having his body fondled so, and bit his lip to keep back another gasp as the button popped free, letting his belly sag down and hang even further, no longer held up by his waistband. It sagged softly to his groin, filling his lap if he sat down, and jiggled slightly at the smallest motion.
"Mm... you look more like an Elder than I thought you did." Roka'rr grinned, leaning forward and nipping at his lover's neck, his sharp teeth gently digging into a fold of fat. "It's quite a good look... almost making me look forward to my retirement, if I can look half as good with as much weight..." Rovan's blush only grew worse, and he thought it was a wonder he hadn't burst into flames by this point. He hardly noticed the wolf's fingers pulling at the zipper on his pants, nor the cloth settling around his legs; he was too enraptured by the lupine's body pressed against his, that firm, muscled chest and smooth stomach rubbing against his soft back. Roka'rr's teeth continued to gently nip at his neck and occasionally he'd lean up to playfully nibble at one of the harehound's floppy ears, teasing him further.
Standing in just a pair of boxers that were a size too small on him, clinging to his own ample posterior and tenting out visibly in front, Rovan found himself in a heaven of sorts as his lover continued to caress and love on him. Paws gently gripped at that soft, warm belly, the padded fingers kneading into the rolls of blubber as kisses were lavished on the harehound's neck and head. One paw moved up to squeeze and squish one of Rovan's soft moobs, which was pleasantly plump in Roka'rr's paw, and the hybrid could soon feel something firm pressing up against his backside, squishing against one of his generous rump cheeks as the wolf started to give in to his excitement.
Rather than waiting for his lover, Rovan took the last step, reaching down for his boxers and tugging them down, letting them pool around his ankles once they were past his wide hips. Roka'rr took the opportunity given to him immediately, and pressed himself closer, one paw venturing low to cup at his lover's own privates warmly and tenderly. Fingers pressed against a completely aroused member that bulged out a fair distance, not quite as large as Roka'rr's but certainly well-equipped in its own way. The wolf gave a few soft strokes, his breath hot on Rovan's neck before he let go and pulled the harehound down towards the bed, easing him down onto the mat.
Once Rovan was laying down, Roka'rr adjusted his body to be laying on its side, and them moved in close as well. The wolf was still completely aroused, his thick shaft pressing up firmly against the harehound's wide rump and lower back, but he contained himself as he pulled his body in close, his muzzle resting right by one of his lover's ears. Strong arms wrapped around Rovan's bulky frame, holding the harehound tight, and Roka'rr softly whispered to his lover as they settled in for the night, laying comfortably side-by-side, his voice the only sound in the silence of the night. Even the celebration outside seemed muted by this moment.
"Welcome home, Rovan. Welcome home, my mate."