# Journey's Beginning

Author: Nightflurry
Tags: Fox, M/M, Raccoon, Suggestive

#2 of Heaven's Son

Standard disclaimer. You should be over 18 (Possibly 21) as  
this story contains some implied homosexual intercourse. I  
have put labeled it as M/M even though it contains no actual  
sex.  If not comfortable with that, you might want to  
consider not reading this. Use common discretion. The  
characters and places are my creations, I'd be very unhappy  
if anyone used them without asking. If you want to  
distribute this then ask my permission, chances are I'll say  
yes assuming it's unaltered. Feel free to contact me at  
nightflurry(at)yahoo.com for comments.  I highly recommend  
reading the previous chapter(s).  
  
I'm not sure I'm really happy how this chapter turned out,  
but I can't seem to alter it without making it worse. It's a  
bit dull, but necessary filler. I honestly didn't expect  
there to be any 'action' nearly this early, but it just sort  
of came as I was writing. The hot and heavy stuff will have  
to wait though. Enjoy.  
                                
               Chapter II. Journey's Beginning  
  

      Alexi let out an 'oof' as the badger pulled the straps  
on the armour taut. "Too tight m'lord?" The raccoon nodded  
and sighed. He'd been fitted and measured and hassled for  
hours now, he felt like he was being taking shopping as a  
kid.  
   
    The armoury was delighted to fulfill the special order  
for an Enforcer's battle gear. The basic bit really wasn't  
much different than the Lorica Hamata style armour that any  
imperial soldier wore. Only to top if off they fitted a  
large (soon to be dulled down) silver Musculata type  
breastplate over the mail. Alexi had to admit it was a very  
impressive piece of armour. Had the Imperial Standard on it  
and the Enforcer's insignia as well. Tough leather straps  
tightened it up over the hamata, and a purple cloak dangled  
from the nape of the neck.  
      
 The unprepared raccoon nearly buckled under the weight  
at first, he had no idea the armour could weigh so much.  
This new line of work would defiantly take some getting in  
shape. The short and pudgy badger looked up at him, "How's  
that? Try walking around"  
   
   Alexi took a few heavy steps and tried shrugging the  
armour into a better fit, but it didn't seem to get any  
better. He could walk though, he tried kneeling and getting  
back up, and to his surprise succeeded. Maybe it wasn't so  
bad after all once it all got on properly. The blacksmith  
grinned and nodded, more to himself than to Alexi.  
  

      Next came the silver greaves, the sporran, leather  
pteruges on the waist and sholders, and a helmet with a  
purple plume. Alexi quietly wondered how much this  
outfitting cost. The last item handed to him was a sword in  
the gladius fashion. It was newly, and rapidly, made just  
for his paw size. The grip was corrugated ivory, the hilt  
itself was more silver, and at the end was a sapphire.  
  
     A suppressed chuckle emanated from the doorway, and  
when Alexi turned his head to determine it's owner he was  
greeted by the sight of Naorume leaning against the  
doorframe. The disarmoured fox smirked and advanced. It was  
the first time the raccoon had seen him sans guard getup.  
The vulpine looked a lot shorter in his linen casual wear,  
not to mention he looked much younger and less intimidating.  
He was a prime specimen of his species. Perfectly textbook  
fox features, fur extremely well groomed and obviously in  
top physical condition. "Well well, you almost look  
convincing. almost."  
  
     Alexi cocked a brow. "Thank you. Your confidence is  
appreciated." He glanced at the badger inquisitively. The  
badger gave him a look saying it was alright to leave. The  
raccoon nodded and trudged over to Naorume. Gods this  
equipment was heavy.  
  

      Naorume started. "For all intents and purposes, I'm  
your personal bodyguard. I choose the other forty-nine  
guards as you requested. There's a good mix in age and  
experience." Alexi nodded approvingly.  
  
     The raccoon and the fox stepped out of the armoury. The  
others were waiting. Naorume and Alexi mounted their horses  
and nodded to each other. There would be no time for  
goodbyes. It was time to leave. Alexi wondered what the  
journey would bring. It would take around a month's travel  
to reach their destination. The trip wouldn't be easy  
either. The young coon could look forward to endless days of  
riding and swordplay.  
  
     Turning the corner onto the Via Arverius Alexi halted  
his horse. Lining the sides of the street was a mass mob of  
curious onlookers. More guards formed a line in front of the  
now pointing and whispering people. Alexi looked over at  
Naorume nervously. "Who told them?" The fox shrugged and  
started his steed walking again, the coon followed  
apprehensively.  
  
     Alexi wasn't really sure what to do. He supposed he  
should get used to such things though. As the group of  
riders neared the crowd the cheering started. At first a few  
shouts and blessings, then a drowning mass of noise and  
motion. The raccoon winced and waved meekly. As they  
approached the first triumph arch he was a bit surprised to  
see women on the top tossing flower petals down upon the  
riders. There was some commotion over to the left side and a  
little girl broke though the barrier of street guards. She  
ran up to the stunned Alexi, kissed his horse and handed him  
a bouquet of roses before being hauled away.  
  

      The party neared the gates now. As they passed through  
the din started to die down. There were more throngs outside  
the city walls. These people had been stuck waiting outside  
by the garrison until after the little procession. Upon  
seeing the purple cloak and plume and the Imperial Guards  
the crowd stopped their complaining and promptly bowed or  
kneeled reverently. All except for one that is.  
  
    An old squirrel woman walked defiantly towards Alexi,  
prompting him to stop. He wasn't exactly sure what to say.  
She didn't have to bow after all; it was merely a sign of  
respect for high officials. Naorume watched carefully as the  
woman took Alexi's paw into hers and looked up at him. "I  
traveled far to come to Doria. My grandson was killed in  
battle. but the army won't grant me his pension, I'm all the  
family the boy had." Alexi shifted a bit and nodded, this  
kind of thing he would have to get used to for sure. He  
thought a moment; a few bystanders looked and listened  
curiously to see what the enforcer would dictate.  
  
    Alexi pointed to a nearby city guard and motioned him  
to come near, the guard complied and awaited instruction.  
"Guard, escort this woman to the army headquarters and  
recover her grandson's pension. If they raise any questions  
it's on my authority."  
  

      The woman started crying softly and kissed Alexi's paw.  
"Thank you, my lord. your name will always be welcome in my  
village."  
  
     As the group again started moving, Naorume leaned close  
to Alexi and spoke softly. "Be careful Alexi. Today the  
people love you. Tomorrow they may curse the very ground you  
walk on."  
     The young enforcer nodded to his guard, then smiled  
broadly as he thought on what his father had told him about  
serving the people. "It's alright Naorume. I intend to live  
forever." The fox gave a confused look for a moment; his  
silent question was quickly answered. "We only live once,  
but if we live that life in selfless service to the people  
we'll live forever in their hearts."  
  
     Naorume's face became less confused and he returned the  
earlier nod, understanding now. His face now assumed a  
somber and serious expression. "You realize Alexi, that all  
our great heroes were forced to make great sacrifice to  
become what they became." He paused a moment, drew a breath,  
and continued. "There is no greatness without suffering,  
Alexi. If you seek everlasting fame you'll have to accept  
the gods payment; misery and suffering on your own part.  
They take away what you love to give you the fame you  
desired. and then when you have it you'll do anything to  
take it back."  
  

      The young raccoon stared straight ahead and digested  
the thought. He had never thought of it in those terms. What  
kind of suffering did the gods have in store for him? He  
needed to change the subject. "Will you teach me how to use  
a sword? I know the basics, but I'm not the best." The fox  
frowned, obviously annoyed at the subject change, and then  
nodded.  
  
     The two lead the group onward down the road. The riding  
on the first day was notably uneventful. There was little  
discussion and very few passersby. As night started to fall,  
the party decided to make spend the night in a small  
village.  
  
    Alexi pointed out a lighted tavern. The guards and he  
dismounted and secured their horses. The raccoon lead the  
way into the building, finding it surprisingly empty. Only a  
middle aged, pudgy porcupine barkeep and a handful of  
patrons were present. All eyes in the tavern turned on the  
newcomers. The barkeep cleared his throat and adjusted his  
clothes in order to look a bit more presentable. "Evenin'  
m'lord, and gents. What can I do ye for?"  
  

      The enforcer smiled and took a seat at the bar, Naorume  
next to him. The other guards found spots and settled in.  
Alexi unfastened his coin bag and produced two gold talents;  
probably as much as the barkeep's yearly profit. "Give us  
your finest stock, and something to eat."  
  
    The porcupine's eyes went wide and he tried his best  
not to salivate. "Y-Yes, o'course m'lord." He quickly  
vanished into the back room.  
  
     While the tavern owner went to fix the order, Alexi  
stood up and turned to face the Imperial Guards. "I'm sure  
I'll get to know all of you soon enough. For now, let's have  
the going away party we didn't get at home, and drink to  
this new adventure."  The guards nodded their approval and  
grinned happily. There was nothing more in line with the  
Dorian tradition than soldiers using any excuse to get  
slobbering drunk.  
  
     The porcupines returned hastily with a basket full of  
opened wine bottles. He distributed them among the imperials  
and hurried back to cook the food. Alexi poured himself then  
Naorume a glass. Setting the bottle down and raising the  
goblet he nodded to the guards. "To the trip!" The tavern  
resounded in a cheer as they all tilted heads back and  
chugged the wine down, slamming the empty goblets on the  
table; another classic Dorian drinking tradition.  
  

     This process was repeated many times. Toasts to gods,  
families, lovers, causes, cities, and anything worth  
toasting to. By the time the food was brought out, the group  
was already pretty inebriated. Nobody even really cared what  
the food was, and most didn't even bother eating at that  
point.  
  
     Naorume stood up, slowly and unevenly. He ruffled  
Alexi's hair playfully and raised his goblet. His speech was  
a bit slurred but clear enough to comprehend. "And here is  
to the cutest Imperial Enforcer that I think has ever  
lived."  
  
     Giggles and laughs and a few wolf whistles burst out  
from the crowded room, and Alexi himself blushed after his  
brain computed what had been said. He squinted his eyes into  
focus and looked up at the widely grinning fox. They locked  
eyes momentarily and Alexi smiled back, well, he thought he  
did. Was hard to be sure exactly what he was doing.  
  
     The barkeep and other guests had conveniently  
disappeared at some point it seemed. Naorume winked and  
shoved a large bowl filled with wine in front of the  
raccoon. Alexi stared at it doubtfully. Someone in the back  
settled that doubt. "Aw, c'mon, drink it all!" The crowd  
again cheered and then gasped and wooed as Alexi grinned and  
lifted the bowl, chugging for several long moments then  
tossing the bowl, wiping his muzzle on his paw.  
  

      His eyelids were heavy but they opened, albeit slowly.  
The world came into focus and he heard the patter of rain  
outside. He groaned at his stomach, already turning slightly  
and.felt something on his leg, and on his chest, and his  
arm. It only took him an instant before he knew. He knew  
before he looked in fact. Alexi lifted his head slowly and  
looked down. What he found was Naorume's head upon his  
shoulder, the fox's legs were entwined with his own, and  
Alexi's arm ran behind the vulpine's neck. He whimpered to  
himself quietly.what had happened?  
  
     Alexi ran the night through his head. The last thing he  
could recall was the massive wine bowl. He concentrated. the  
images slowly started coming back. After the large wine dose  
he remembered seeing someone making out with a fox. Wait,  
was that himself? He drew a blank on anything else, whatever  
happened after the wine was simply not recorded in his mind.  
Alexi gave the fox a slight nudge.  
  
    Naorume stirred slightly and opened his eyes. Looking  
back up at Alexi he smiled and murred softly. His smile  
turned when he noticed the look on the raccoons face. The  
fox rolled his eyes and gave Alexi's chin a quick lick. "You  
were too drunk to do anything. don't worry." The fox flicked  
his tail and murred again. "Great kisser though."  
  

      Alexi crinkled his nose and sighed. He wasn't mad or  
disgusted, but yet he was at the same time. He was mad not  
at the fact that he was lying in bed with a male he barely  
knew after a wild night of drinking. What he was upset about  
was that he'd let himself go so easily.and the fact that he  
didn't remember any of it.  
  
     The fox could clearly see this in the other's eyes, and  
he untangled himself from Alexi carefully. Naorume stood up  
slowly, revealing his nude backside. Alexi's eyes widened.  
The vulpine's body was beautiful.  
  
     Alexi had never really examined his bodyguard's body.  
Now he wasted not a precious moment in doing so. Naorume had  
dark hair that came down just above eye level. His fox  
features were picture perfect. Perfect black socks on his  
forearms and lower legs, perfect black tipped tail and ears,  
and perfect coloration: Vivid rusty red all down the back,  
inside of the legs milky white. His build was just right.  
Obviously in peak physical shape, his muscles were clearly  
visible yet not bulging. The fox turned his head to look  
back before turning him self fully around. Oh, those eyes,  
big and bright sapphire blue in color. By the gods how did  
Alexi not notice this all before? The raccoon's gaze fell  
lower, down to the fox's chest. Again, perfect build, not  
too lean, not too muscular. The vulpine looked more like a  
piece of art than a living being. Down the cream colored  
chest where the fox's sheath should be was instead his tail  
tucked up between his legs, covering the region. Alexi  
immediately looked back up at Naorume's face.  
  

      The fox smirked widely, he knew exactly what was going  
on in those brief moments, and Alexi knew that the fox knew,  
but it didn't matter. He winked and licked his chops. "So  
anxious to see what you hoped you didn't last night?"  
  
    Alexi didn't get a chance to defend himself. Naorume  
turned back around and flicked his tail, providing the  
raccoon an instant's glimpse at the fur beneath it. If it  
was possible, Alexi's eyes shot open even wider and he  
suppressed a gasp. The white fur under the vulpine's tail  
was matted. As Naorume dressed, Alexi got himself up as  
well. The fox lied, they had done more than simply kiss. He  
said nothing though. was probably best he feigned ignorance.  
  
     The little revelation was on Alexi's mind all that  
morning as the group prepared to disembark. He thanked the  
barkeep and asked if the two talents would be enough to  
cover all the expenses. The porcupine was honest, and said  
it was more than enough. As he went to exit the tavern he  
halted by the door. He could hear muffled and quiet  
murmuring between the guards. As he exited the gossiping  
stopped and the soldiers all quietly mounted their horses.  
  

      Alexi patted Matthias and climbed up. A young otter  
solder next to him was obviously biting his lip. The  
enforcer grinned and winked. "Would you like to sit next to  
me at the next tavern?" A few snorts and snickers were heard  
as the otter beat a hasty retreat to the other end of the  
procession.  
  
     Naorume shrugged. "His loss." He and Alexi looked at  
each other a few moments before the coon shook his head and  
turned his horse onto the road.  
  
"Enough for now. What's the next major stop on the way."  
     "Well, there's a major city about a days ride north,  
Varuspe, we'll stop there tonight. Tomorrow, we begin your  
training."  
  
     Alexi nodded as the pair led the cavalry. Tomorrow and  
on it was down to business.

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/RnoEbWAe
Part of the series Heaven's Son
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