Minds That Think Alike
Minds that Think AlikeBy Azelis DeLano
Originally written May 2004
Disclaimer
Okay, this story contains adult situations including consensual sex and violent swordplay. Don't read it if you don't like the sound of that! It's not my fault if you read something you don't like, keep this in mind.
Our Feature Presentation
Diyan sat in the corner of a bar, polishing his sword. The wolf was just under 6 feet tall with silvery overfur and snowy underfur. He wore a simple white chemise and tan slacks with a black leather belt from which three pouches hung. He also wore a forest green cape and a likewise green archer's cap.
He closely inspected the steel as he pulled it gently through a cloth doused in oil. It would prevent rusting to keep a coat of the oil on the blade and the sword was his life. It was a little more than three feet long in total, a single paw straight double edged blade of a 1" width with a slight taper. Gold was inlaid on both sides of the blade near the hilt; a dragon on one side and a phoenix on the other. On the table sat a glossy black scabbard with brass fittings at the bottom, 2/3 up, and at the top with a chain between the top two. The guard was the same brass, a visage of a lion head. It was a fine weapon and he was a fine swordswolf. Likewise, he took fine care of his sword.
The door to the tavern burst open admitting a lithe feline, a calico with orange/black overfur and peach underfur wearing a large brimmed hat complete with white feather and a black cape hiding his other clothing save for his black boots. From his side hung a rapier from a leather loophole. It was a fine rapier and the feline was a fine swordscat. He surveyed the tavern with a critical eye and a premonition of a duel.
"I seek the one they call the Quicksilver Wolf."
Diyan studied his own eyes in the blade as he continued to polish and oil it. "And what business has the Puss in Boots with me?"
The Puss in Boots stood yet in the doorway, eyes fixed before he spoke and still now on the wolf in the corner. "There are rumors spreading that you are a better swordsfur than me," he accused.
"I am not the one spreading them, be assured."
The feline marched over to the table and leaned over it slightly, paws planted on the gloss surface. "Then you admit I'm better."
Diyan still did not look up. "I didn't say that. I just said I'm not spreading the rumors."
The Puss in Boots' eyes narrowed slightly. "Do you deny the rumors?"
Diyan responded quite simply, "no."
The Puss in Boots loosed his sword, backed a pawstep and pointed at the wolf's neck. "Then I challenge you to a duel."
For the first time Diyan looked up and sized up his challenger. A slight smile crept over his muzzle; he liked what he saw. "The stakes?"
"Title of best swordsfur of course."
The Quicksilver Wolf, as was Diyan's title, stood and placed the cloth and bottle of oil into his rightmost pouch. He sheathed his sword and attached the chain to his belt via leather strap. From his center pouch he produced a red silk ribbon and tied it to the pommel of his sword. "You shall have your duel."
Out in the dusty street bordering a forest with a modest crowd spectating is where the duel was to be held. Puss in Boots was down on one knee, sword in the ground, head bowed. Diyan, a good 3 leaps' distance away, sat on both knees with his sword on the ground in front. In tandem, both stood on some unwitnessed cue. Puss in Boots removed his cape to reveal identical attire to Diyan save for the belt pouches. Diyan himself opted to wear his cloak. He ran his tongue from the right to the left and back across his lips. Puss in Boots narrowed his eyes.
Both charged forward at the same time in a melodic clang of steel on steel. They swung right, left, over, turn and jab in unison.
"How can anyone say you are better than me? You're at least a half a step behind," chided the feline.
"I have to make sure you get the footing right or someone could get hurt," taunted the canine.
Puss in Boots let loose a furry of stabbing attacks, all of which Quicksilver Wolf dodged.
"Could you go a bit faster? I'm hardly feeling a draft here," Diyan teased.
Clang, clang, woosh, clang, woosh, shlik. Puss in Boots found his sword trapped, stabbed through Diyan's cloak and the canine twirled locking it there. With a hard shoulder the feline was then weaponless. Quicksilver Wolf unfastened the cape and tossed it purposefully into the woods before advancing.
Woosh, woosh, woosh. Three near hits dodged by the agile Puss in Boots. The feline made for the woods and Diyan caught his left flank as he maneuvered. Not deep enough to hinder the swordscat but deep enough to be felt. Pursuit was given.
The sword had not gone far in but Puss in Boots was not to be seen immediately. Diyan had to track him down a barely visible path of crushed vegetation. The crowd had not followed, thinking Diyan the victor.
"You are very good, I'll grant, but I don't think you're as good as me," the voice teased from within green arms.
Diyan scanned the foliage but found no sign of the elusive feline. "Not as good at hiding surely. Why do you not fight me? Do you concede the duel?"
"Not at all, I merely wanted a word. What say we up the stakes?"
"What terms?"
There was an amused chuckle. "I set the original terms, it is your choice."
Diyan smiled a triumphant smile to himself. He has been holding back, hoping for just such an offer. "The victor gets to be on top."
There was a silent pause before a cold line and a sharp kick caught Diyan's back. He turned on the ground to find the Puss in Boots standing over him smirking. "I really enjoy the way you think."
The swordswolf smiled, wondering if he'd underestimated his opponent; the consequence of which case gave him thoughts of a lustful nature.
"Giving up?" the feline offered.
"Not at all." Diyan vaulted to his footpaws and renewed his position. "En garde."
Again they found each other a match for themselves in footwork, in precision, in speed. They upped their respective games.
With each swing now fabric was being torn to shreds. The competition began to be more about luck than outright skill as Puss in Boots got caught in his own chemise at one point and Diyan tripped up in his slacks. Soon the fight proceeded sans clothing.
Diyan was showing pink in his arousal as the fight went on, for three reasons. The first reason is that swordplay in general turned him on. The second was that his opponent was so well matched in skill. The third was that Puss in Boots was showing his arousal as well.
Almost conversationally they chatted over the clanging.
"You are very skilled at the blade, but you are still a half a step behind me."
"Your paws are moving more than they need to, I'm conserving my motion."
"A conservative wolf is rarely a victorious one, and certainly not a dashing one."
"An overzealous cat can find himself on the receiving end of well-placed stabs if he doesn't watch himself."
"Why is it you're called Quicksilver anyway?"
And with that question the fight ended. Diyan had still been holding back ever so slightly and then crossed the border. His speed in the final move made him appear more liquid than wolf as a full across slash was not even registered by the cat until his sword was lodged in a tree out of paw.
A cat of his word, Puss in Boots bowed and got down on all fours, tail swaying lazily. He was looking forward to this, turned on as much by combat as the wolf. From the rightmost pouch, Diyan produced an unmarked glass bottle. Smiling both in victory and anticipation, he coaxed his canine member out of his warm sheath, knelt down near, and popped the cork off the vial.
Puss in Boots' ear twitched at the pop. He swept a footpaw hard catching Diyan with enough force to spin him the other way. He caught the vial's contents on his groin just as Diyan landed on the same. Two expressions, first of surprise, second of pleasure spread over the wolf's face as Puss in Boots started a rhythmic movement beneath him.
"I don't- ooh- think you're playing by- ah- the rules."
Puss in Boots reached around a paw and stroked the throbbing wolf lightly while he moved. "Au contraire. You won, and you're on top."