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The Last Shemale Queen

A sequel to The Seduction of Seleste

The Gates of Vi'sune

Chapter 24

The next morning, the three white frost wolves had changed. Tala was glad to see her mother back to normal and finally looking just the way she remembered her: warm gray eyes, pale brown fur, long straight pale brown mane. She was delighted to see Achai looked just like herself: his fur was pale brown and his eyes a bright and vibrant green. His long pale mane slapped him in the eyes as he stared agape at his paws. Zyanya, meanwhile - the boy who kept glowering at her and Nizhoni - had turned into a beautiful dark gray, with rich black eyes that seemed to suit his perpetual glare perfectly. His mane, however, was black and danced around him in the wind when Achai touched his face in silent admiration.

"Zy," Achai whispered happily, "you're beautiful!"

Tala smiled to see the affection between her brother and the other boy. She thought it was all very sweet, but she was careful not to stare or say a word. Anytime he caught her looking, Zyanya made a face as if he would hit her! Achai, on the other paw, was shameless and unapologetic. He often touched Zyanya, wound his tail around his, and took his paw as if no one else was there.

Nizhoni did not pause to let the frost wolves stare at each other long. She did not even let them stop to eat - which made no difference, Tala thought, since none of them knew how to hunt. Females of the summer tribe were not permitted to hunt, and so Tala had never learned to use a bow. Neither had Seleste, who had lived the life of a spoilt princess up until the time she married Keme, and then after that, she had lived as a frost wolf, still not allowed to wield weapons of any sort. The boys had never learned for the same reason, and Nizhoni also lacked practical skills outside her lactating tits.

Tala swallowed hard. The only one who knew how to hunt was Yatokya. And he was . . . No. Not dead! Nizhoni had told her that - technically - Yatokya was dead. But he could be revived as if he had momentarily stopped breathing.

They set off at once through the high trails of the mountains. Nizhoni traveled stealthily and cautioned them to follow her lead. They walked not on the trails but in the undergrowth and trees, ducking and hiding at the slightest sounds. Tala knew why: Nizhoni was frightened of encountering mountain wolves.

It was a story Tala knew well after having eavesdropped on the occasional council meeting. Some years ago, a fox came to the mountain village, claiming that he'd had a vision: a new king and queen would come, and it would mark the beginning of the Golden Age, a time of peace, where wolves could love who and how they wanted, and there would be no stonings for it. The ruling queen at the time believed the story and stepped down at the behest of her son, the prince. Later, it was discovered that the fox had tricked the mountain wolves and had ruled them for years, living off their blind hospitality. When the new king and queen came as prophesied, there was no Golden Age, but rather, they were stoned. The mountain wolves, realizing they had been deceived, vowed eternal hatred for the foxes.

The only part Tala could not explain was how it got out that Kitari - the Old Trickster - was, in fact, a fox. As the stories went, he often went about in the guise of a wolf. Who had been the one to break the news to the mountain wolves?

"Not far now," Nizhoni said when night had fallen.

It was the third day. They made camp off the trail again - this time very far back in the trees, for they had come very close to running headlong into mountain wolves. A small group of mountain wolves were spotted at the last minute by Seleste. They were herding sheep up through the greener passes, and Seleste heard the baaing before anyone else. They had quickly backtracked into the trees, and Seleste had covered Achai's mouth when he tripped and cursed. Fortunately after that, they did not see any mountain wolves but for two hunters, one a female with a pup strapped in a carrier on her back.

Seleste and Zyanya built a small fire as the stars winked overhead. Nizhoni stood slightly apart from the others, staring at the stars. Tala thought she looked a little sad.

"I'm starving," Achai moaned and hugged himself. "If only there was a lake or a pond up here! I can fish! Zy can too!"

"Mm," grunted Zyanya, "some fish. That's does sound good." His belly rumbled.

"I'm tired of acorns." Achai scowled. "And bird eggs!"

"Stop complaining," Seleste scolded. "And be glad for your life! Honestly, Achai, you sound like a spoilt princess." She smiled to herself.

Achai glowered. It was clear he didn't get the joke, but Tala did. She smiled too. Looking at her mother, she had to wonder if she had really been so bad. She couldn't imagine Seleste complaining and whining the way Achai did.

"The two of you start gathering leaves," Seleste added. "And go to sleep."

Achai rolled his eyes. "That means you want to talk to Tala alone! Come on, Zy."

Achai and Zyanya got up. They started rummaging in the bushes for leaves, and Seleste watched them a moment before smiling sadly at Tala. Tala knew exactly why her mother looked so sad.

"So it seems Achai has a boyfriend," Tala said in amusement. She cradled Yatokya close, trying to ignore the lifeless way in which his head rolled against her shoulder.

"Yes," said Seleste heavily. She reached over and smoothed Yatokya's mane down. "The only problem is when we return to the summer village . . ."

"He'll be in danger," Tala finished for her mother. Her face darkened. "Mom, I promise that once I'm chieftess, Yato and I will work hard to make real changes! I will make a world where wolves like my brother won't have to live in fear!"

Seleste smiled fondly at Tala. "And I admire that, my girl. But the problem is you aren't going to rule the summer village."

Tala blinked. ". . . what? But Yato is sworn as Dad's son and heir!"

"Which becomes null and void if Keme and I have a son. And we have." She glanced over at Achai, who was gathering piles of leaves in his arms as he talked quietly with Zyanya. "Keme's first son with his first wife will be - first - for everything. Even if Keme has sons with other wives, Achai is his rightful heir. He is my son and has my royal blood."

"Oh god," Tala whispered as it hit her. "Achai will have to rule! Mom - we have to teach him --"

"How to hide?" said Seleste sadly.

Tala bit her lip to see the look of regret in her mother's eyes. It had never hit her before that moment that Seleste regretted teaching Tala to hide her penis.

"I have seen with my own eyes," Seleste went on, "how desperately unhappy hiding made you, my girl." She touched Tala's face and frowned sadly.

Thinking of the night she had run from Yatokya in tears, Tala lowered her lashes miserably. "But . . . if they see that he's . . . they aren't going to accept him."

"They will learn to accept him. I am greatly loved, Tala. My entire bloodline is. Do you know why?"

Tala waited, looking at her mother.

"Your ancestor was Chief Lakoni, a wise and gentle male who, while a wolf of the sun, witnessed the violence the shemales suffered at the paws of the sun tribe. Chief Lakoni abhorred the hatred. He took a group of wolves who were willing to follow him and he came to the summer lands, where he established the summer tribe in the hope that they could start over, leave the hatred of the sun wolves behind and establish a new order, where wolves could live free to love as they pleased and be as they were born. For this reason," Seleste straightened proudly, "my bloodline has always sought to honor the shemale and the freedom your ancestor crossed the wastelands for. But those lessons were forgotten over time."

"Yes," said Tala bitterly, thinking of all the lone wolves, males who had been cast out for being tail chasers.

"With the winter tribe's brief occupation of the village, the summer wolves fell to their ways of thinking, and tolerance for same sex love was lost."

"But the summer wolves took their village back!" Tala said proudly, remembering Grandfather Kilyan's lessons.

Seleste nodded. "And now," she said happily, "a shemale has joined the same bloodline that has honored the shemale for so many centuries. I do believe my father would have been truly delighted that I fell in love with a shemale." She laughed softly. "Especially the son of Avi, who he loved and admired greatly."

Thinking of her grandmother, Tala smiled. She wondered what Avi was doing at that moment. She wondered what Keme was doing . . .

"It goes without saying," Seleste went on, "that you will tell your brother nothing of this."

Tala looked at her mother quickly. "Why?"

Seleste smiled. "Let Achai have some spare moments of ignorance and bliss. There is plenty of time for him to worry and suffer for his desires. He has the rest of his life for that."

Something sad echoed in Seleste's eyes. Tala nodded and looked down at Yatokya. She would gladly rule so that Achai could be free! But she knew life in the summer village would be just as difficult with her on the throne: while the summer wolves might accept her, the sun wolves would not. The alliance would be broken. Perhaps there would be a war. And Tala had no intention of hiding her penis. Not ever again.

Seleste clapped Tala fondly on the cheek. "Time to get some sleep, my daughter. Nizhoni thinks we will reach the gate tomorrow."

"I wonder what _else_Nizhoni thinks," Tala said darkly and glanced over at the little vixen.

Nizhoni was still perched on the rock some distance away - but not so great a distance that she could not have heard Tala. Her white ear twitched but she did not turn her head.

Seleste lifted her brows. "Tala!"

"Zyanya doesn't trust her," Tala went on, "Yatokya never did, and I'm starting to wonder if they aren't right."

"Nizhoni is my friend, Tala. She has been for years."

"She came to your house while you were gone. She was looking for Aayan. She seemed pretty sad and desperate. And then she went to the sea of ice - hours before I broke the crystals. And yet . . . she came back to save us!"

Seleste watched Tala thoughtfully, and Tala could tell her mother was slowly putting the pieces together, even if she didn't want to admit it.

Before Tala could speak again, Achai and Zyanya returned with armfuls of leaves.

"Got enough for all of us," Achai said breathlessly and smiled. "You two done talking about me now?"

Tala laughed. "You self-centered little squirt! We weren't talking about you at all."

"Bullshit!" Achai said with a grin, but catching his mother's disapproving eye, he bowed his head and started spreading the leaves to make a nest. Seleste got on her knees and helped him.

Tala set Yatokya down and accepted an armful of leaves from Zyanya, who gave her a grudging nod. She settled in with Yatokya beside her, and in the firelight, she thought he looked as if he was merely sleeping. If only it were so. She kissed his cheek. "Goodnight, my husband. I will save you. Soon, I swear."

It was dusk when they reached the gates the next day. Nizhoni led them inside the gloom of a great cavern that opened in the mountain side. To doors loomed large before them, heavy and gleaming, carved of stone. Tala knew she was the only who could open them. Looking up at them, she got the feeling Nizhoni had brought her here for this. Exactly this.

"Everyone get back," Tala said. She set Yatokya's body down out by the trail, then entered the cavern alone. Behind her, the others were waiting anxiously. Seleste knelt beside Yatokya's body, and glancing back once, Tala saw Achai take Zyanya's paw. She also noticed that Nizhoni was very agitated. The little vixen shifted restlessly from foot to foot, winding her fingers, biting her lips. Catching Tala's eye, she lowered her head. What was all that about? Surely she wasn't biting her nails over Yatokya!

Tala reached the doors and looked up at them. There were gold handles on them, many gold handles that trailed up the center in a line - so that a creature of any height could open the doors. Tala grabbed the gold handles closest to her and gritted her teeth. Her fangs flashed as she gave a mighty heave. The doors opened, screeching terribly on their hinges. Tala coughed and backed away as the dust rose to choke her.

"You did it!" Nizhoni called behind her. She ran up, breathless and relieved.

Tala saw the others coming. Achai and Zyanya were struggling to carry Yatokya between them. She carefully took her husband's body from them, and together, they faced the darkness that lay beyond the doors.

"There's a stair," Nizhoni whispered. "Though it's difficult to see it . . ." She waved her paw and an orb of light blossomed above her shoulder. In the sudden light, a stair manifested, made of cracked stone and coated in filth. It descended down into darkness. The stale air coming from that darkness was repugnant.

Achai gulped. "That's what we came all this way for?" He stared at that darkness with frightened eyes.

"If we turn back now," Nizhoni said, "your friend will die. Do you want him to die?"

Zyanya sneered and waved his paw before Achai could answer her. "Just lead the way!"

Tala glanced at him, and it was clear he hated the condescending way in which Nizhoni always talked down to him and Achai. Tala knew Nizhoni was not doing it to be mean but simply because Achai and Zyanya - who she had watched grow up - would always be pups in her eyes, pups that could not understand what was happening around them. Tala knew better: Achai and Zyanya were the most mature twelve-year-olds she had ever known. She thought of her ten-year-old sister back home and smiled: Moema would have had a meltdown if she'd been told to step in that darkness.

"Please, Nizhoni," Seleste said wearily, "let us go."

Nizhoni looked a little hurt as she turned away. She went down the stone stair with the orb hovering over her shoulder. Tala and the others followed. Seleste went first, then Achai and Zyanya. Tala entered last, carrying Yatokya close in her arms.

They traveled down and down, as behind them, the square of light cast by the open doors grew smaller and smaller. The walls either side the stairs were very close - so close, in fact, that Tala had to be careful to mind Yatokya's dangling head and feet.

As they went, Nizhoni's orb of light illuminated the colorful illustrations on the walls: fish swimming in schools, dolphins, then birds, then . . . unicorns. Tala almost halted when she saw the unicorns. They were no simple beasts. They sat on thrones, clad in long gowns and skirts, sparkling in crowns, sipping goblets, smirking. Their long faces seemed noble, wise, gentle . . . even flirtatious. The unicorns came in all colors, from dappled gray to white to tawny gold. Their spiraled horns were white and almost transparent . . . like the crystals.

"Did you see, Tala?" Achai said, breaking the silence with his hushed voice.

"Yes - mind your feet, goof!" Tala cried when her brother tripped.

Zyanya grunted and caught him. Seleste halted everyone to make sure Achai was alright, and peering down at Nizhoni from her higher step, Tala thought the little vixen was irritated by the delay to the point of scowling horribly. When Seleste was convinced Achai was unharmed, they continued on in silence. But Tala could not stop staring at Nizhoni's back now.

It seemed to take hours just to descend the stair. As they drew near the bottom, Tala could see light. But it was strange light. Blue light. It danced across the earthen floor below in a shimmering cascade.

The group came to the bottom of the stair and gasped: they had come to a glass tunnel, along the sides of which swam little fish and squids. Jellyfish drifted by and a stingray glided low through the coral. Tala stared with her mouth open: they were under the sea!

"We're under the Bleu Sea," Nizhoni said in a hushed voice. She was as in awe as everyone else, though Tala could tell she was trying not to show it. She led the way down into the shifting light, and as they passed through, Tala thought the light seemed to wobble as it reached through the water.

"Under the sea!" Achai squeaked. He was clinging to Zyanya's arm and staring at the fish that swam by with wide eyes.

Zyanya, as usual, said nothing, just stared solemnly at his surroundings. Like Nizhoni, he was in awe but was trying not to show it. Tala smiled: Zyanya was always trying not to show something.

"This tunnel," Seleste said as they walked, "how far does it go?"

"I've never been down here a day in my life," Nizhoni returned.

"What!" Achai cried. "Zhoni! For all we know, this thing could go on forever!"

". . . and you wanted to trust her," Zyanya muttered.

"I know the tunnel goes on for days. From what I read in the book," Nizhoni said stiffly.

"The book," Seleste repeated. "So you always meant to come here?"

"What? No!" Nizhoni said nervously. "I simply enjoy reading. What's with all the questions!" She frowned. "Did I or did I not save your tails out there on the ice! If I hadn't come along, you'd be dead!"

There was silence as they continued on. Tala saw her mother's ears flatten guiltily, as did Achai's. Zyanya, however, looked cold and resolved not to trust Nizhoni a lick. He glanced at Achai pointedly, as if to say, "See? She's hiding something."

The tunnel did indeed go on for days. It went on for so long, Tala became convinced they were not going to save Yatokya in time. One morning when the others awoke, they found her holding Yatokya's body and crying wretchedly. Seleste knelt beside Tala and stroked her mane, coaxed her to get up, but Tala wept and held on to Yatokya.

Through the blurry veil of her tears, Tala could see Seleste's concerned face, Achai's worried frown, and even Zyanya watched her sympathetically.

"You gotta get up, Tala," Achai said miserably. "Please."

"Listen to him," Seleste whispered. She laid her cheek on Tala's and squeezed her eyes shut, as if Tala's pain was her pain.

Tala closed her eyes. She didn't think she could do it. She was surprised when Nizhoni knelt beside her, and touching the back of her fingers to her face, she whispered, "Tala . . . you have to get up. Yatokya's life depends on it!"

Hearing the trembling in Nizhoni's voice, Tala came back to herself. She sniffed and sat up with a tumble of her long straight mane. Seleste got to her feet, and the others watched as Tala gathered Yatokya in her arms again and nodded.

Another set of stairs was at the end of the glass tunnel, and at the top of it, another set of giant doors. They were surprised to find the doors open . . . open on the vibrant greens and yellows, pinks and reds of pressing trees and flowers and vines and sunlight - and fruit!

Seeing the fruit, Achai and Zyanya ran into the sunlight before Seleste could stop them. The group entered the tropical forest together, listening to the colorful birds that wheeled overhead. Achai strained to snatch a fruit from a tree. Tall Zyanya plucked it for him and gave it to him with soft eyes. Tala was surprised when he politely passed her some fruit as well. She carefully set Yatokya down, took the offered fruit, and ate ravenously.

"Where . . . are we?" Seleste said in amazement. She put her fingers to her lips and peered off.

Tala followed her mother's gaze. A building loomed over the trees in the distance. It was clear at a glance that the building was ancient. It was carved of colorless gray stone and swept over with vines. Looking at the structure more closely, Tala realized that it was not a building . . . but a naked archway. The press of trees lent it the illusion of seeming much larger than it was at a glance.

"It is called the Island of Iszel," Nizhoni answered. She had gathered some fruit - small yellow bulbs - from a bush and was eating it. Her eyes were fixed on the distant structure as well. "Come - we've no time to lose!" She started off.

The others followed.

As they made their way for the structure, Tala's heart beat hard. Finally! They were going to save Yatokya! He was going to come back to her! He would wake and look at her with his pretty brown eyes. She would kiss him. And everything would be alright again!

They entered the clearing where the archway stood, and Tala halted, nearly causing Achai to smack into her back. She stared. The archway soared away to the blue sky and was carved with the shapes of caressing paws. Many stone alcoves stood in rows either side the archway, and standing in the alcoves, arms crossed, eyes closed . . . were statues of Greater Foxes. Their arms were folded over their breasts and their penises were soft above stone pussy lips. But unlike the statues back in the Old Kingdom, Tala got the feeling these Great Foxes were . . . alive. There were at least nine of them. The tenth alcove was missing its statue.

Why do you come here, shemale? rang a voice.

Tala's ears pricked forward, and glancing around at the others, she got the feeling they had heard the voice as well. She saw Nizhoni fall to her knees as if they had given out. The little fox fell forward and caught herself on her paws. Her white mane tumbled around her face.

"Get down, you fools!" Nizhoni hissed when the others did not move.

Seleste slowly knelt beside Nizhoni. Achai stayed close to his mother and knelt beside her. Zyanya knelt close behind Achai.

Tala was going to kneel - but she froze again when she saw one of the statues move.

One of the statues nearest the archway stepped down from its alcove, and as it did, its body was flushed with fur and life, until it was no longer stone but living flesh, rusty red and white. The Greater that now stood before Tala was beautiful, a tall creature with long white lashes, round hips, and high breasts. Her red mane cascaded down her narrow back as she walked slowly . . . until she was standing before the archway. She stared at Tala with her pitiless blue eyes. Tala stared back.

Answer me.

"My husband," Tala managed, suddenly breathless. "Please . . . he's dying . . ."

And what am I to do about it?

Tala blinked. "But - Niz - the fox there told me. . ."

The Greater's eyes narrowed. You trust that creature? You might as well ask a snake to keep your throat warm.

Kneeling down in the grass and mud, Nizhoni winced miserably.

Tala stiffened and tried to keep her lip from trembling. No! She had not come all this way for nothing! "So you won't help Yatokya?"

The Greater's face darkened. What do I look like? Do I sleep here on this island, waiting hopefully for greedy mortals to come with their three wishes? No. I will not help one meaningless wolf. It is immaterial whether or not he lives or dies.

Tala scowled. "He isn't meaningless! He means everything to me!" She was surprised when the Greater eyed her curiously. "I came all this way - please!"

The Greater stared at Tala. After a long pause, she said in a softer voice, I could let you through the gateway . . . do you understand what it is? I am certain you do not. I am also certain the fox there told you nothing.

Tala darted a glare at Nizhoni, whose arms were trembling as she held herself up. She glanced behind the Greater at the archway, then looked at the Greater again. "Someone beyond the gateway will help him?"

Yes. But first, you must help me.

". . . how?" Tala replied uncertainly.

The Greater's brows pressed together, and for the first time, her face showed something besides anger or arrogance. Her face was sad. Shockingly so. Where is Iko? Tell her to come back.

Tala glanced at the empty alcove. Ah . . . so Iko had left the other Greater. She could feel the creature picking it up from her mind, those weeks she had spent with Aayan and Iko in the Old Kingdom.

She should be here, with us, sleeping. Not out in the world with its corruption and greed. Not among the lesser foxes, who have strayed so far from our wisdom and care. She should come back. She should sleep.

Tala stiffened angrily. Now she saw what Aayan and Iko had in common. "You complain and complain," she almost shouted, "and yet you are content to turn yourselves to stone and sleep! At least Iko is out in the world trying to change it for the better! What do you do? You sneer and refuse to help, and for this reason you are no better than the foxes you so hate - my husband is dying!"

The Greater's blue eyes were suddenly vibrant with tears. Tala blinked at her, astonished. She had not expected to evoke such an emotional response.

This gateway, the Greater said at length, will take you to the Kingdom of Vi'sune, where the Endless One lives. He will help your . . . Yatokya.

Tala nodded stiffly and tried not to smile. She thought the Greater Fox sounded very humble: Tala had taken her arrogance down a peg.

Tell Iko to come back if you see her again, shemale. We miss her - I miss her.

"I will," Tala answered quietly.

The Greater nodded. She glided with switching hips and tail to the great stone archway. Tala watched as she placed her slender paw on it. The stone lit up, glowing with a soft ethereal light. Then light fizzled in the mouth of the archway and solidified, buttery white and pulsing.

"Thank you," Tala said.

The Greater nodded. She looked at Tala, then at Yatokya, and her blue eyes softened. It was as if Tala's angry yelling had snapped her out of a spell and revived her emotions: she actually pitied them. She was about to step back into her alcove when Tala called for her to stop.

"Wait - please!"

The Greater waited.

"What's your name?"

The Great smiled. For the first time. You would not be able to pronounce it.

Tala rolled her eyes. Where had she heard that before? "A nickname then?"

Nastaswaeuuelle Nu.

". . . I said a nickname," Tala said, baffled.

The Greater's smile widened the tiniest bit. That is a nickname. So saying, she stepped backward into her alcove, folded her arms across her chest, and turned to stone.