FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

DISCLAIMER: Underaged character(s) involved.

**THE AMENI CHRONICLES, PART TWO

NEWCOMER**

THERE WAS MUCH chatter to be heard as the Kana Nehekhi and his unusual charge were escorted into the Apsiu settlement. Ameni stared with wide eyes at the city wall as it grew ever closer, and heard the sound of an alert, low and long, come from the gate. As soon as those within the settlement knew for certain who was coming, the heavy doors began to open and Kana swarmed out, coming toward them.

Ameni shrank back atop his Sha. He and Nehekhi had been provided with mounts by their greeters, although the Kana accompanying them found it odd that Nehekhi wanted the human to ride along with them. They had chattered with each other the entire time; Ameni had listened in on all of it, and continued to do so, suspecting that they did not know he could understand most of what they said. Sometimes they talked about Nehekhi and himself; then they would veer into completely different subjects, without any reason. He was surprised by their seeming indifference when they had been so shocked, before.

"I will just be happy to get back there. Do you know I have duties piling up to my ass? The general will kill me if he finds out I've been slacking. I was not even supposed to be in this search party."

"You are the one who asked for time off. Be grateful! I have to return to a mate who will nag my ear off..."

"Letting yourself be pushed around by women! Are you Moru or Kana?" The first one nudged the second in the ribs and they both laughed; Ameni blinked. How could he get away with calling his comrade a Moru, the greatest insult to one of their kind?

"Better to be pushed around by women than by HUMANS!" Ameni jerked, offguard, when the butt-end of a spear poked him in the ribs. The Kana surrounding him laughed when his face went red. Nehekhi's nostrils flared and he glowered at them, but said nothing.

"Oh, relax, Captain," the first Kana said cheerfully, and poked at Nehekhi as well. "You know I won't steal him from you, don't you?"

"That is right!" another one yelled from the back. "He has his own mate waiting to jump his bones once we get back!"

"At least I can brag that and you can't," the first retorted, and the laughter resumed. Nehekhi sighed wearily. Ameni tried to make himself look as small as he could atop the Sha, which snorted and suddenly belched. The laughter grew even more raucous and the first Kana slapped Ameni on the shoulder, nearly toppling him over.

"That was a sign! I do hope you know that, Moru-human. The gods just spoke to you."

Ameni grimaced at this blasphemy. "What are they saying?" the Kana in back asked. "I forget what THAT particular sign means!"

The first leaned back to look over his shoulder. "Do not ask," he said. "I'll tell you when you are a mite bit older! I fear that even though this human fails to understand what we speak of, he'll understand the look on your face should I explain it!"

Howls and hoots. Ameni flushed even harder. He glanced back at Nehekhi, who offered him the slightest sympathetic look before staring ahead again, seeming to ignore him. Ameni sighed miserably and slouched in his seat. The rest of the Kana left him alone now, though they did not stop talking and joking with each other.

The Kana who had been approaching from the gate reached them now, surrounding the small group and reaching up to grasp their arms. The talking grew even louder once Ameni was noticed, and many wide eyes stared at him, some of the Apsiu jostling to get a better look. The first Kana atop his Sha lifted his spear and started hitting at them, thwacking their shoulders and the tops of their wings so they winced and shuffled back.

"Like you've never seen one before? Back off and give us some room! I have half a mind to piss on one of your heads. My eyeballs are practically floating, I have not relieved myself in ages!"

"You're a dumb dog," somebody groused. "What is that thing doing with you? Did you find it along the way? What are you going to do with it?"

"You do know they make lousy Moru," somebody else insisted.

"And even worse dinner!"

"I have heard one cannot even tan their hides decently. Look, the only hair he has is on his head."

"Let me have him!" A gray Kana in black lappets pulled out his sword, licking his chops and grinning. "I can think of a few things I could do to that pretty bronze hide!"

Nehekhi's ears and wings both flared. Ameni saw his hand go for his own sword. Before he could act, however, the lead Kana brought the butt of his spear down on top of the offender's head with a solid thunk, making him grunt and drop to the ground like a sack of stones. Those around him laughed and pointed.

"Back off, dungball. Do you like the taste of urine? Because I'm just about to piss in your mouth if you get in my way again."

"It would be no different from what he lets his Moru do to him every night," somebody commented, and everybody howled and slapped their knees as the group rode through into the city. All except for the injured party, Ameni noticed; peering over his shoulder he could see two others helping him to his feet, the Kana rubbing at his head and giving Ameni the most venomous look he'd ever seen. Shaken, he turned to face ahead again and tried to shove the unpleasant exchange from his mind.

"I apologize, Captain," the lead Kana said as they passed through the gates. "You know how they get...in addition we have had a few run-ins with some strays seeking a tribe and I fear they may have had an influence on our own."

"I know you do not control them," Nehekhi sighed, rubbing at his eyes.

The lead Kana cast a look at him, then at Ameni, then ahead. "I'll take us straight to your household. The physician can see to you there. I'll speak with the general on your behalf while you get some rest."

"This is not a wise idea," the second Kana retorted. "Not with that thing with him." He sneered at Ameni. "Some explanation will be needed."

"I will go to my household first," Nehekhi said in an irritated voice. "Then I will see to the general. After we are done."

The second Kana looked ready to speak again, but the first glared at him so he shut his mouth. "A wise idea, Lord," the lead Kana said, and they spoke no more.

Ameni could do nothing now but watch the street pass by, lined with houses and Kana, some with their Moru, some without. The taverns were just beginning to open at this time of the day, and all those who passed gave Ameni the oddest looks. Many paused to stare at him more closely; even a few Moru carrying goods had to be prodded by their master into continuing. Ameni spotted a Kana official walking past with two small children following him; one was a boy perhaps of about ten years, the other barely a toddler, holding the older one's hand, but both wore Kana lappets and sported wings. They looked up at him with large dark eyes, and their father snapped at them before noticing what they were staring at. Then he too got much the same look. The Sha plodded along.

Ameni had never seen Apsiu children before.

Neither had he ever seen Apsiu houses...not that they were much different from human settlements. The only differences he could see were the slight roughness of the architecture--as if the Apsiu were not quite as skilled as their human counterparts, which he didn't doubt--and the scarcity of decoration. Whereas in any human settlement, one would find all sorts of paintings and reliefs of daily life upon all the walls within sight, here there was little decoration to be had. Aside from a few paintings upon the walls of some of the bigger households, depicting Kana warriors slaying their enemies and taking their slaves, he could not find any other paintings or reliefs within sight.

Still, he was surprised by how...human everything looked. Aside from the inhabitants.

His attention was diverted when a large group of Kana suddenly gathered around them, talking and shouting and waving all at once. Many hands grabbed at Nehekhi; it took Ameni a moment to realize these were friends and not enemies.

"Welcome back, Brother!" somebody shouted.

"What is it with you and the desert? How many times must you get lost before we have to tie you down?"

"You need a leash, Lord!"

"Good eve, Brother! Welcome home!"

Ameni was puzzled that Nehekhi seemed to have so many brothers. The big Kana beamed at his friends and grasped their arms each in turn as they crowed and waved at him. Ameni was nearly forgotten in the press, until the first Kana, who had descended from his mount, grasped Ameni's arm and pulled him down as well. He and the second Kana kept Ameni between them as they walked toward one of the houses on the right; Ameni craned his neck to see if he could find Nehekhi, but the Kana had been absorbed by the crowd.

"Come now, stop dragging your heels, human," the first Kana grumbled, tugging him along. "I told you I have to go relieve myself!"

"We should just let them all mob him too," the second groused, but Ameni stopped resisting and was led inside.

The inside of the household was little different from most Kemeti houses he had seen. There was more decoration in here, in the form of riverscapes painted upon the walls, and colored tiles beneath their feet. He was led into a room toward what he assumed must be the back of the household, and here a few more Kana were waiting. Ameni was relieved to notice that Nehekhi was one of them; somehow this group had gotten ahead of him. Nehekhi's face lit up on seeing Ameni, but he just nodded curtly at the two flanking him.

"Thank you, friends. We can handle everything now."

The two Kana gave Ameni a final look before turning away, nostrils flaring. "Call if he causes any trouble," the first said, and they and the others--aside from one thin Kana--left the room in silence.

Nehekhi turned to the thin Kana and murmured something to him. The other Kana glared at Ameni but turned away and started digging around in a box sitting on the table. Nehekhi gestured at Ameni to sit down in a chair that stood behind him, and Ameni did, although the other Kana gave him a dirty look.

"Where are we?" Ameni whispered in his own tongue.

"To be in my household," Nehehki replied. The thin Kana eyed them with suspicion but didn't interrupt. Nehekhi noticed Ameni's attention and shook his head. "To not understand us. To be safe here."

"What are we doing?"

"To take medicine. Lost in desert long; need food, and medicine. Medicine first, then sleep, then food. To stay here now." He glanced up when the other Kana handed him a small cup, and nodded. The Kana turned away and Nehekhi looked at Ameni again, leaning forward.

"Ameni to be all right?"

Ameni nodded, staring down at his hands. "Yes," he sighed, though in truth he felt miserable. He'd never been very close to anyone in his village, not even Kahef...but he found himself missing it something terrible by now. "It's strange here," he murmured.

Nehekhi's brow furrowed in worry. "To take care of you, Ameni-human. No need to worry." He paused, then said, "To let Ameni-human know all need to know, if want. Just to ask. Clear things up, take away worry, yes?"

Ameni lifted his head. The look on Nehekhi's face was so hopeful that he had to sigh and try to push his sadness away. "I know you mean well...I'm sorry I do not appreciate it yet. I think I need a little time."

Nehekhi nodded. "To give plenty of time. Rest, then food...Ameni to be fine." He took a drink from his cup and Ameni finally noticed the red lappets he wore, dangling down in front of his ears. It wasn't as if he'd never seen them, for they had been rather hard to miss whenever the two of them had made love; the odd things always dangled from Nehekhi's skullcap, even when the rest of his clothing had been abandoned. Ameni had never seen him take the cap off once, not even when they had coupled under the stars.

"Nehekhi-Master," he said, and Nehekhi nodded again to show he was listening. Ameni tentatively pointed at his skullcap. "I've been wanting to ask you...what is that you wear upon your head? I saw that all of your people wear them...all of the Kana, at least. One of those escorting us had blue ones, and another had black ones." He glanced at the thin Kana, still fiddling around with his box, and nodded at him. "He wears white ones. What do they mean? Why do you never take them off?"

Nehekhi reached up to touch his head, as if not having known the cap was even there. His fingers traced a lappet. "Oh. To mean these?" Ameni nodded. "To be difficult to explain in Kemeti," Nehekhi admitted. "To try, though...humm...Ameni's people to wear decorations? Amulets, necklaces, signs of rank? Esteem?"

Ameni paused. "Yes...some of them. Our soldiers wear signs of rank, and I suppose our priests wear insignia, to tell what order they are from. Is that what your lappets are? A badge of your rank?"

Nehekhi nodded. "Each Kana to wear. Moru too. To be sign of pride. Like wings." He flared his wings as if to illustrate. "Different colors, to show rank, occupation."

"I heard them call you 'Captain.' Is this what red means?"

A nod. "Red for captain. Blue for lieutenant, black for sergeant, lesser soldier. Other colors, not in army."

Ameni glanced at the thin Kana again. "What is white?"

"White to be physician, priest, healer." He leaned toward Ameni again and traced a claw along some markings on one lappet. "To see these? Markings of tribe, which master served. Name of tribe here--Red Tribe--name of general here. My name here. See?"

Ameni nodded. "So your lappets tell all about you. They tell your name and rank, your profession, where you are from, and who you serve."

Nehekhi nodded and smiled. "To also tell if Kana or Moru. Very important. To always wear." He looked up when the physician--for Ameni realized that was who the thin Kana must be--returned, holding another cup. He looked at Ameni with obvious distaste, then back at Nehekhi, who nodded. Nehekhi gestured at Ameni.

"To drink? Medicine, to help feel better. Rest, and then eat."

Ameni accepted the cup, trying to avoid the physician's malevolent stare. He took a sip, then a drink, downing the cup's contents in almost one swallow. Nehekhi stared at him as he wiped his mouth and let out his breath. He met the Kana's eyes again.

"I have yet to thank you, Nehekhi, for bringing me here. I know I will grow used to it, it will only take me some time."

"To not worry, Ameni-human. To have as much time as needed. To take you to see my Moru; they to tell Ameni what need to know."

Ameni would have thanked him again, had not his eyelids suddenly begun to droop. He rubbed at them, then yawned, then rubbed at them again. He couldn't believe the sudden feeling of drowsiness that descended upon him, seeming to drag his weight down into the chair. He struggled simply to hold his head aloft and his eyes open, when it hit him--

My drink! Poppy!

He peered down into his cup, but saw nothing but the dregs of the beer he'd been given. He dragged his gaze up to meet Nehekhi's, and he could tell from the look on the Kana's face that he knew what had happened.

"You...drugged...me," he mumbled, his words slurring together.

Nehekhi gave him a sympathetic look. "To be best," he said softly; then, "Rest, Ameni-human," were the last words Ameni heard, before his head slumped to the side, his body going limp and the room going black.

* * * * *

Murmuring noises. Where only silence had been before. Ameni shifted and felt something prickly beneath him...straw? In the desert? Had Nehekhi made him a bed of it?

_Nehekhi-Master.

I'm not in the desert anymore..._

Ameni fell still and slowly opened his eyes...to find at least four or six other eyes staring at him. With a gasp he came fully awake and jumped back. The few creatures crouching before him did likewise, staring. He looked around him to see he was lying on a tiled floor with straw beneath him, surrounded by the wingless Apsiu. He suddenly remembered where he was.

_Nehekhi-Kana.

Moru quarters._

He sat up slowly, so as not to startle them, peering around. He had nothing to fear from these Apsiu...they were merely Moru, slaves. Peaceful creatures, from what little he knew. They stared back at him curiously, and he tried to count them. Seven males. Three females. Two adolescent females, and a young boy. Followed by several children, barely more than toddlers. One of the females held a baby to her breast. Some others--adults, aged ones, children--sat and stood around the walls, also looking at him. Their noses twitched as they caught his scent. He had no idea how long they had been staring at him, nor how long he'd even been here.

Ameni drew himself up completely. He could tell they were curious about him. They all wore the same sort of metal collar around their necks, with the symbol of what he assumed to be Nehekhi's house. These were Nehekhi's slaves.

He paused a moment, before venturing, "Do...do any of you know my tongue?"

The Moru cocked their heads, looking at each other. Then they started parting, forming a path. One of the males who had been closer to the back pushed his way forward to look down at him. Ameni noticed his wings and started to cower back, before realizing that he would never fly again...the bottom of one wing hung in pathetic tatters. An old wound, but effective in crippling him. He was no longer a Kana.

"I speak Kemeti," he said, in Ameni's tongue. He paused, then said, "You are human."

Ameni let out his breath in relief. Although he could basically understand the Kana tongue, he found it difficult to speak, and he had no clue how to speak or understand the Moru tongue. "Yes," he said.

The winged Moru's wings relaxed slightly, and he bobbed his head. He spoke in an oddly soft voice. "I am Thi'usa, formerly of the Kana."

"Yes, I saw...you were wounded?"

"Yes, in a raid, upon..." he trailed off, looking uncomfortable "...upon one of your villages."

Ameni held up his hands, feeling suddenly embarrassed for the slave, though he didn't know why. "Please, do not be ashamed of it...it was in the past. I doubt I will ever return to that world." He looked around him, then felt a weight around his own neck and touched his hands to the cold metal surrounding it.

"You must wear that," Thi'usa said, a bit sheepishly. He indicated his own collar. "We all must. To keep us safe. As long as we wear them, the other Kana will think twice about starting trouble with any of us. They show that we belong to Nehekhi-Master."

"How did I get in here?"

"This is our living space. It is much better than those of many other Moru. The master cares for us greatly. He brought you in himself."

"I can't remember..."

"You were very tired. You slept even as he carried you in in his arms. He put the collar on you as well. He does not usually do this himself, but the other Kana in this tribe can be...troublesome."

"As I feared." Ameni tried to keep the distress out of his voice as he thought again of their reception at the gate.

Thi'usa shook his head. "Oh...please do not fear too much, human...the master is well known and respected, it takes much for one to cause trouble for him." He peered at Ameni, now seeming curious himself. "If it is not too rude for me to ask...what is your name, and how did the master come to choose you as one of us? I have never seen one of your kind so close before."

"Oh...my name is Ameni. We were lost in a sandstorm. When it departed, we were the only ones left. We traveled through the desert on our way home. But the way was so long. Your master..." He trailed off, wondering how indepth he should go. Would it even be wise to let Nehekhi's slaves know that the two of them had done more than merely travel through the desert together? "...Your master...was kind to me on the journey," he finally said. Thi'usa noticed the pause but said nothing. "And I was kind to him. By the time we came across his camp, he did not wish for me to leave."

"Were...were you then forced to come here?" Thi'usa's face grew tense.

Ameni shook his head quickly. "Oh--no. I came willingly. You were right in that your master is kind." Another look around. "This is nothing like what I have heard about Moru dwelling places..."

"No, it most likely is not. I am supposing you have heard many cruel things about the Kana, but they are not all like that. We are allowed to stay within the house proper itself. Most of the others keep their Moru outside, in stalls. Master is good to us."

"How did you end up here?"

"Oh." Thi'usa got another sheepish look. For a moment Ameni was tempted to tell him he didn't have to answer, but the Moru spoke up anyway. "After I was wounded...I was no longer Kana to the rest of my men. I was made Moru. Nehekhi--the master--bid on me, and won me. I expected him to have great fun tearing me apart, or some other torture."

"Why?" The question slipped out before Ameni could stop it.

Thi'usa reddened a little. "Well...it is dishonorable for a Kana to become Moru. Surely you have heard this?" Ameni nodded. Thi'usa paused, then shrugged. "But he did not torture me. He brought me here to live, with the rest of his Moru. He never tried to beat or humiliate me the way the rest of the others would have. He treats us very well. I have become...used to it here."

He fell silent, and Ameni nodded thoughtfully. "Well...it seems that I am placed with the best master possible, if I must stay here..."

"Oh, yes, human...you have nothing to fear from him. He's good to us," Thi'usa said quickly. Another pause, then he cocked his head to the side. "You must still be quite tired, Ameni-human."

Ameni had not even noticed how he was rubbing his eyes and yawning, until the Moru brought it up. Though he'd awakened with a start, the effects of the poppy were still clouding his mind. He disliked the thought of telling Thi'usa that their master had drugged him...from the sound of it, the Moru held Nehekhi in high esteem. "Yes...we walked a long time," he murmured. "And I have yet to eat, though I'm too tired at the moment...tell me, Thi'usa, can you also speak the language of the Kana? I'm assuming you can..."

"Yes, of course. That and the Moru tongue. I know all three. Why? You wish for me to teach you?"

"Yes...I would appreciate this, if I'm to live among the Moru...you see, I understand much of the language of the Kana, but it's difficult for me to pronounce properly...your words were not meant for my tongue, I suppose."

"Of course, of course...it is not as difficult as it seems. Of course I will teach you. You will speak Apsi as well as any of us, and very quickly, too."

"Thank you, Thi'usa...you are most thoughtful."

The Kana flushed and averted his eyes, but Ameni could tell he was pleased with himself. There must be very little to do that was of use, living in slave quarters day in and day out. Perhaps learning a new language would be a good diversion for both of them.

"Where should I sleep tonight?" he asked, rubbing at one bloodshot eye and glancing around the room. The other Moru all still stared at him, tilting their heads curiously and murmuring to themselves.

"Oh." Thi'usa started. "Apologies. That straw is not very welcoming...please allow me to make you a bed." The Apsiu rose and nudged his companions out of the way, as they still stood staring at him. For the first time Ameni noticed that many of them were preparing bedding--straw with cloth coverlets and small pillows--upon the floor, several snuggling in already for a long night's sleep. He watched them longingly, his eyelids drooping. No matter how long he had already slept, he still needed more. Thankfully, Thi'usa was not long in returning with a blanket and pillow; he nodded Ameni to his feet and led him to a spot by the wall which had not been taken yet. Ameni gave a huge yawn as a family of Moru settled nearby.

"Here...you will be able to find your way to the toilet easily from here, without waking anyone, should you wish," Thi'usa said. "If there is anything you need during the night, I will be not far."

"Thank you, Thi'usa."

"You are welcome, Ameni-human."

He spread out some straw on the floor, draping the blanket over it. Ameni accepted the pillow and settled down on the loose bed, patting down the covering and sighing. He burrowed his head into the pillow and yawned. No matter how bare the surroundings, he was grateful now for what little he had. It was certainly much more than he had ever expected. His stomach growled, but he reminded himself that food should be waiting when he awoke...Nehekhi had yet to break his word on anything. The growling settled, and his eyes fluttered shut.

He heard Thi'usa and the other Moru move away from him, giving him privacy, and drifted back into a deep slumber...

* * * * *

Dreams came back to Ameni, though they were nothing like those nightmares he had first had on being stranded in the desert with Nehekhi. Firstly he dreamed he came to the gate of the northern village, finding it intact, and feeling relief that the people had not been slaughtered as they had in his earlier dream. On the other hand, he was puzzled as to why they paid him no attention whatsoever, no matter how long he walked amongst them. He waved his hands in their faces, and shouted hellos, but they continued weaving their clothing and pounding their grain as if he were not even there.

Someone touched his arm, and he turned around, grateful to be noticed by at least one lowly person.

He blinked in surprise to find it was Thi'usa. "Come, Ameni-human," he said. "You do not belong here anymore. These are not your people."

"Yes, they are," Ameni stammered. "This is where I was born, where I lived my entire life."

"But it is your home no longer. See? Already they no longer know your name." Thi'usa nodded at the women and men and children as they made their way to and from their homes. Thi'usa touched Ameni's collar, drawing his attention to it. Ameni looked down at the same symbols he had seen upon Nehekhi's lappets. Nehekhi's name.

"This is where you belong now. With the master."

Ameni's heart began to sink--I am a slave now, nothing but a slave--but Thi'usa took his arm and turned him away from the village, the two of them approaching the path that led out toward the river on the one side, and the desert on the other.

"Do not grieve, Ameni-friend. You are welcome with us."

Ameni lifted his head and saw with surprise that he was not alone with Thi'usa. The rest of the Moru from Nehekhi's quarters had gathered on the path, and they stretched out their arms to him. He saw them smile at him, and felt an odd feeling he had never felt before. He felt as if he truly were welcome among them. Almost as if...he belonged with them. Something he had never quite felt, even in his own village.

His pace picked up, and he allowed Thi'usa to lead him toward the other Moru.

"Please do not be afraid to come with us, Ameni-friend," Thi'usa said.

The others chorused their agreement. He didn't know how he understood what they said, but he did. "Please come with us, Ameni-friend! Please do not fear. Come with us. Be with us."

One of the girls stretched out her arms and smiled, dimples forming in her cheeks. "Please do not be afraid, Ameni-mate," she said, and though he started at the name--did she just call him her mate?--his step did not falter. If anything, it picked up now, and his fingertips reached out to touch hers as her voice began to fade and echo, growing distant, breaking apart.

"Please do not be afraid...please...not...please..."

* * * * *

"...please...no..."

Ameni's senses drifted gradually out of sleep and he frowned, attempting to steal back into his private darkness. The dream had been so pleasant, even now that he recognized it as such; and poppy still tugged at his brain, luring him back toward sleep. He sighed and burrowed his head into the pillow.

"...no...please...please!..."

His frown only grew. The voice cut into his consciousness, keeping him awake. He growled silently and burrowed his head deeper but the action served no point.

"...please, no...oh gods...please...no...no!..."

The voice was a female one, and it sounded young...and afraid. Still struggling, against sleep now, Ameni's eyes dragged open. The room was dark, so he assumed it must be night, and the lamps had been extinguished. He could hear the other Moru around him breathing softly in sleep, but above them all the terrified voice came, soft, yet its fear managing to carry all the way to him from wherever it was.

"...oh gods...please...don't...no, oh, don't!..."

And now, he was fully awake. He sat up abruptly, all senses alert. He recognized the sound now. A girl...the same voice he had heard in his dream. He still wasn't sure how he knew, but he could understand her speech; perhaps Kana and Moru were not so different after all? Whatever the case, she was definitely in distress.

Thi'usa said the other Kana have caused trouble with the Moru before...is one doing so now? These collars, do they mean nothing when a Kana has his mind set on something?

He remembered he had seen at least two adolescent females when he'd perused the room. He felt certain the victim must be one of them. She sounded so young, so afraid...

The cry broke into a quiet sob now. "Oh gods, please...no, don't do this...no, please...no..."

And along with it, he was certain he could hear what he'd most dreaded to hear, a soft, thick, rhythmic panting...

Lit up with alarm, he rose to his feet, scanning the dark room. He knew he had a clear path to the toilet, but didn't know where the cry was coming from. His eyes slowly became accustomed to the dark, and he damned them for not being able to see faster. It was obvious that whoever was behind it had started their attack already, perhaps even as he slept. He couldn't stop them. But perhaps he could end it before it reached its completion. It was the very least he could do...

"Gods no...please--!"

A very soft grunt.

Panic rising in his chest, Ameni started picking his way quickly across the room, careful to avoid stepping upon anyone, hoping not to startle the attacker. He had to catch him. He could now make out the forms of the sleeping Moru all around him--Why have none of them woken up and stopped this?--and finally noticed that at the very far side of the room, behind a sort of partition, one of the lamps had not been completely extinguished, but still flickered feebly. It was toward this that he headed--perhaps the assailant had decided on bringing a light, the better to select his victim.

He knew that he'd seen the young girls head in that direction before going to sleep...

Oh gods, please don't let me be too late...

He wondered where Thi'usa was, why he wasn't awake...

"Oh my gods, please, NO--!"

He nearly tripped over someone on hearing a muffled groan of lust. Oh, gods. It was what he'd feared. He could clearly hear the girl sobbing quietly now, and knew he was far too late to save her dignity, but perhaps he could still save her life, if her attacker planned on killing her to keep her quiet. He wondered why she didn't scream; perhaps she was too afraid, or ashamed. He started forward again, then stopped himself.

Fool! I cannot barge in this way! Unarmed, and giving him plenty of warning!

He would just have to move stealthily, sneak up on the attacker. Damn this. Why could he have no weapon on hand; who was supposed to be guarding these people...?

His anxiety only increased when the girl sobbed again, and instead of one sound of response, he heard two--very clearly, a low growl, at the same time that someone else groaned. He dropped to the floor now, filled with dread.

Gods! TWO attackers!

He could barely take on one Apsiu...but two? What kind of vile beasts had captured a young girl and decided to take her both at once?

He finally reached the small partition; he assumed this must be near the toilet, to afford them some privacy. He clearly heard the sound of their bodies shifting, the air reeking with their musk, filled with their thick panting, mixed with the poor girl's pathetic whimpers. He wished he had a knife to cut out their eyes. He put his hand upon the partition, found a crack in the wood, and peered through, trying to judge the situation. His heart clenched in his chest.

It was much worse than he'd feared.

He had been right about the girl...it was one of the young ones, just barely past puberty, from the looks of it. She lay upon her belly--upon a Moru male. He held her to him tightly, leaning back upon a wooden slat, moving his hips against her. His eyes were closed tightly; it was he who groaned. A second male stood above them, and Ameni realized the reason she no longer cried out loud--he had his member in her mouth, and held her head in his hands, pushing into her throat, his own head back, eyes shut, murmuring with pleasure. And there was a third male--upon her, atop her, inside her--riding upon her as the first male's motions caused her to move, her legs hanging over his sides, splayed wide, the third male gripping her shoulders tightly and thrusting into her anus slowly but firmly, head back, chest heaving, a look of intense ecstasy on his face, buttocks bunching and releasing, tail raised high...and it was he who grunted, pushing deep, trembling lustfully.

And...it was Thi'usa.

Ameni's eyes went wide. The poor girl was unable now to even voice her pain and terror, the second male's penis filling her throat. He groaned and shifted, pushing her face against his crotch. All Ameni could see of her face was her eyes, squinched shut tight, tears streaming from them. Her own body shook, terribly, as the three males used her, each of them making sounds of obvious pleasure. They panted, and their hips just moved, moved, rocking damnably.

The male forcing her to perform hakh'tua groaned and shuddered, and she let out a choked sound, swallowing his seed. He pulled from her mouth and left her gasping--and this time Thi'usa grunted heavily, pushed, and she shook again as his buttocks quivered in orgasm. He too pulled from her, getting to his feet, stumbling slightly. As Ameni watched, petrified, Thi'usa approached her mouth, the first male throwing his leg over her body, kneading and parting her buttocks. Thi'usa took her by the chin and she sobbed softly.

"Please...no...don't...gods, please..."

Not heeding her cry, Thi'usa stepped up to her, forcing her mouth open, pushing his fleshy, only partly flaccid rod deep, deep inside, tossing his head back with a shuddering groan. The girl jerked; the first male had pressed himself into her anus and was now moving, panting hard. The second male, the one beneath her, taking her in front, groaned loudly, not even finished with her yet.

Ameni couldn't take it anymore. With a growing cry of rage, he leapt over the partition, prying free a loose board and swinging it through the air as he charged. The reaction he got would have been comical if not for the severity of the situation. The first male, on top of the girl, squawked and leapt from her prone body, member wobbling out in front of him but shrinking rapidly back into its sheath as he lost his mood. The second male, beneath her, opened his eyes with astonishment and let her go. The girl nearly fell off of him, gasping with surprise and clutching at her attacker in an attempt to regain her balance, stumbling to the floor and unable to walk, evidently in too much pain; Ameni saw the blood upon her. Which made his eyes burn with even greater fury when her mouth left Thi'usa, hakh'tua incomplete, but the startled Moru, gaping at him, sprayed ribbons of seed upon the ground anyway. That would have gone down her throat if Ameni had interrupted a moment later. Still screaming, he swung the board forward at Thi'usa's head, connecting instead with his arm and sending him sprawling to the floor.

By now, the rest of the Moru had awakened, the lamps had been lit, and they were crowding around the scene, chattering excitedly at the unusual scene. They stood on tiptoes and craned their necks to see what was going on on the other side of the partition.

"Rapist! Bastard!" Ameni spat, hitting Thi'usa with the board again. The Moru yelped; the other two defilers, as well as the girl, crouched around him, eyes goggling. "You still have her blood upon you, and you take her in the mouth! What sort of beasts are you! Moru filth!"

"She--she was not forced!" Thi'usa cried, still warding off the human's blows. "We did not force her--she came willing!"

"Willing?" Ameni's voice came out as pure venom and he flung a hand in the girl's direction. "Look at her! She's just a girl! What else would she have done if the three of you all decided to take her at once? She feared for her life, you bastard! To think I was beginning to trust you when this is what you do at night!"

Thi'usa managed to stumble to his feet, and yanked the board from Ameni's hand. "She is of child-bearing age," he retorted, anger in his own eyes now. "I wished--I had hoped--to get her with child for myself--to have a pup of my own!"

"Child-bearing!" Ameni couldn't contain his rage. "She must be around thirteen, fourteen in my years. You are almost as old as I! Perhaps older! Did you even notice you were taking her in the wrong end? From behind and in her mouth is no way to get her with child!"

Thi'usa scowled. "We were taking turns."

Ameni's eyes grew round. An instant later he was at the Apsiu's throat, hands squeezing into his windpipe. Thi'usa gagged and choked, flailing at him to get him off. The other two males got to their feet and grabbed Ameni's arms, forcing him away and holding him as still as they could while Thi'usa started coughing harshly.

"You've gone mad!" he sputtered. "She was willing. She has been my friend for a long time. She has been the friend of all of us. I have spoken with her of this before. I told her I desired her, wanted her to give me pups. So did the others! She decided not to choose from among us! We all love one another! She wished to give us children!"

"This warrants the three of you doing that to her at once?" Ameni screamed.

Thi'usa's scowl grew. He wiped a drip of blood away from his cheek. "She wished for it. How to choose which of us to take her first? She could not! She preferred us all at once!" His fists clenched and he came forward. Ameni struggled, expecting to be hit, but the Moru didn't touch him. "Yes. She is young. You woke up late. I took her, properly, before the others. Her maidenhead was mine. I was her first." Ameni let out a gurgling shriek and fought even harder. Thi'usa raised his voice. "Yes, it did hurt. But she begged us. Begged us to continue. I thought we should stop, but she wanted to go further."

"All damn three of you? Like THAT?"

"Yes! Each of us! To give hakh'tua, and nesakh'ai from in front and behind! This she wanted! We wanted pups. She wanted to please us!"

"You selfish bastards." Ameni bared his teeth. "Did you ever stop to consider she was afraid of all three of you? Who would refuse? Certainly not a little girl!"

"She is hardly 'little,'" Thi'usa protested. "See, her breasts grow already."

Against his wishes, Ameni did glance back at her. The young Moru flushed and covered her budding breasts with her arms, looking at the floor. He turned back to Thi'usa.

"She still has blood upon her. From where you took her maidenhead, and from where you forced yourself into her like a dog. A Moru dog!" He spat at Thi'usa's feet. "And I hardly bet she much enjoyed the taste of her own blood in her mouth when you did that, too!"

Thi'usa hissed, though he did seem mortified. "This was my mistake! My only mistake! I should have cleaned myself first, for this I apologize!"

"I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT YOUR DAMN UNCLEANLINESS!" Ameni roared, breaking free and sending his fist flying into Thi'usa's face. The Moru crashed back into the opposite partition, striking the floor. Immediately the girl let out a shriek and rose to her feet, stumbling over toward him despite her obvious pain. Ameni gaped at her as she bent down beside her assailant to lift his head, touching her fingers to his bleeding cheek.

"Thi'usa, Thi'usa!" she cried, helping him sit up. He groaned, now from pain and dizziness; she tried wiping the blood away. "Dear Thi'usa!"

Ameni dropped his arms to his sides even as the other two came up to grab him. "But..." he whispered, confused. "He was...attacking you. How can...how can you feel pity for him?..."

"I...told you..." Thi'usa spat blood and coughed weakly, grabbing onto the girl's arm as she helped him to his feet. "We did not...force her."

"But...all three of you...all at once, like that..."

"This is common among us. I thought you..." he coughed "...I thought you understood our kind better. Two, three, four, so long as it's pleasurable, we will have no problem with it, like your kind seems to have." Thi'usa gave him a dark look. "Merely because there were more than two of us...does not mean we do not love each other."

Ameni shook his head, baffled. "But...I heard her...she was saying no. 'Please, no,' repeatedly...how do you explain that off?"

Thi'usa glanced at him, reproach in his unswollen eye. "To moan things in the throes of desire--is this so unknown to your kind? She did not wish us to stop. And so she told us 'No.'"

"She told you 'Don't."

"Yes. She did not wish me to stop when I found she was bleeding, when I took her maidenhood from her. She wanted us to go faster, harder. She wanted all three of us at once. Yet I refrained from hurting her. I did not go as quickly as I could have, as I wished to. I know she is still young. If I had wanted to go hard, I would have mated with one of them." He waved his hand in the direction of the mature females who stood behind Ameni, peering at him curiously.

Ameni scowled. "So--so you wanted children. What good is that? Am I really to believe you just wanted some brat to care for, another mouth to feed?"

Thi'usa's look grew pained. "They are not brats...they are mine."

"You speak as if you've knocked her up already!"

"Perhaps I have! Hopefully!"

"Bastard!" Ameni spat again.

Thi'usa lifted his head and bellowed, wings flaring. The two Moru with Ameni backed away, as did everyone else--but the girl. She burrowed her face to his breast and whined aloud.

"You curse me," Thi'usa shouted. "You call me vile names. You accuse me of assaulting she whom I love more than anything. This I can tolerate. For I know you are only confused." He bared his teeth and snarled. "But to call my children brats--to call me a bastard for wishing for more of my own--this is intolerable!"

Even as he screamed this, another one of the females--the one with the pup suckling at her breast--approached him, placing her hand upon his chest and murmuring softly. At the same time the young girl pressed her face to him and continued whimpering, now saying something herself. The two seemed to speak to him about something, and as they did so his rage seemed to diminish, until his wings lowered and the fire left his eyes, though he still looked unhappy.

Ameni stared at the three of them. "What...what is this about? What are they saying to you?" he demanded, feeling as if he were being left out of something important.

Thi'usa scowled. "They are trying to calm me down. I should tear your head from your shoulders for what you have said to me this night. Yet I will refrain, for them. I will not kill another in the presence of my child."

Ameni blinked. "Your...your child...?"

"Yes, human." He placed his hand upon the head of the small pup the older woman held, her eyes now on Ameni's. "He is mine. I fathered him. The master kindly allowed me to keep him, to raise him, as he is Moru like the rest of us. I am proud of him, as Nehekhi-Master is proud of his sons. A child should not grow up alone. I wished to give him brothers, sisters. His mother is growing too old to bear many more pups. And I love Ki'amit as well, as much as I love Tai'ihet." He placed one hand upon the girl, his other rising from the baby to touch the woman. "There is nothing among my people that says I must love only one woman. I love them both, and I wish for both to give me children. Tai'ihet already has. I had hoped, perhaps Ki'amit would as well." His look darkened. "If you did not interrupt us too soon."

Ameni let out his breath. "And...these other two?" He gestured at the two remaining Apsiu, disgust in his voice.

Thi'usa sighed. "Do you not listen, human? They love Ki'amit as well. They are brothers." Ameni looked at them, finally noticing that they were twins. "I had claimed Ki'amit first. But she loves me, and them as well. And so this is the way it is."

"If all of you are taking her at once, how do you tell if the child is yours?"

Thi'usa snorted with exasperation. "Your kind...you are so ignorant! For one, the child may resemble one of us. If not, then she may choose which of us to be the father. If not, we are all its father. It matters little to me. We are family here. My pup would have a sibling to play with, someone to keep him company. There are few children among us as it is." He waved at the toddlers and the young boy, off to Ameni's left. "Many have died of the illness already. We cherish all those that we have, who survive. Those two, the very young ones, they are the master's himself. He comes to see them whenever he's able. He cherishes them, as much as he cherishes his Kana sons, but he must let us raise them as a Kana does not raise Moru. That boy, he belongs to Ikua." He pointed out one of the males behind Ameni. "His mother is also Tai'ihet. I consider him my son as well. Whose blood really flows in his veins is of little consequence, once he is brought into the world. The children belong to each of us."

Ameni's muscles relaxed and he let out his breath. The explanation Thi'usa had given him was a bizarre one...but it made sense. With as little as he did know of the private lives of the Apsiu, it did. He felt his earlier dread, and then anger, give way to embarrassment. He rubbed his neck and glanced around at the gathered Apsiu. If they had been Kana, they would have torn him to shreds with the first blow that had struck Thi'usa. As they were Moru, they simply stared at him, like cows. The only one who appeared genuinely angry was Thi'usa himself...and perhaps only because he had been raised Kana and they had not.

"Then I apologize," Ameni said quietly, knowing it wasn't anywhere near good enough, considering the bruises now showing on Thi'usa's face and arms. "I...you were right...I did not understand. I still do not. And I disagree. But I realize things are different among you. I should have realized this sooner, before attacking you...I meant only to spare her all the pain I could. I am sorry."

As he spoke, the anger slowly left Thi'usa's eyes until the Moru peered at him as curiously as the others did. "You...planned to defend her?" he questioned. "You thought she was being attacked, raped, and you wished to help her?"

"Yes. This was exactly what I thought." He shrugged, with a bitter look. "What else would I have expected? I heard her crying out. I saw the three of you...in her like that. I thought she needed help."

Thi'usa's wings finally relaxed. "You had good intentions in your heart," he murmured. The girl--Ki'amit--still snuggled against him, but was looking back at Ameni now, eyes large. "You attacked me without understanding...but you did not mean it. If I had thought someone were hurting my little Ki'amit, or my Tai'ihet, I would have attacked them as well." He let go of the women and moved toward Ameni, who felt like shrinking away but stood his ground. The Moru placed his hands upon his shoulders, eyes glimmering.

"You are not an ignorant human...an ignorant human would not have tried to understand," he exclaimed. "You wanted to help my Ki'amit. I thank you for this, Ameni-human. Though I will bear the bruises you gave me for a while, I will consider them the signs of your willingness to protect my little Moru."

Ameni peered up at him, disbelieving. Apparently this one had been with the Moru a long time, for his violent Kana nature to be so subdued. He knew no real Kana would ever react as kindly as this one did.

Still, he nodded, accepting the thanks. "Thank you also...Thi'usa-Moru. Your kindness rivals your master's...our master's. I cannot apologize enough for how I hurt you."

"Nonsense. Bruises will heal. I will be fine. So will we all." He smiled at Ameni, then paused and glanced back at Ki'amit for a moment. His gaze returned to Ameni as the other Moru started to disperse. He leaned forward.

"Ameni-human..." Ameni leaned toward him to hear better, as he spoke so quietly, his tone confidential. "We...had not finished all we wished to do, when you interrupted us. I hope you do not mind...if we decide to continue where we left off. I feel I am still quite full of seed, and Ki'amit...well, I feel she is still quite willing to play for an hour or so more." He looked at the girl, who shifted from foot to foot, hands balled at her stomach, large eyes staring. From the way she stood with her legs pressed together, it was obvious she either had to use the toilet, or did indeed have something else in mind.

Ameni blinked, then started laughing. He had to wipe his eyes, he laughed so hard.

"Well..." he managed to choke out, "...perhaps you would best play with her alone, just the two of you this time...and perhaps you had best try taking her the proper way, for as I said, I doubt you would end up with children taking her from behind or in the mouth."

Thi'usa blinked at him this time, also disbelieving, before breaking into laughter himself. "Yes...I suppose you are right," he admitted. "Still, we enjoyed it so much, I suppose we forgot what we were intending to accomplish." He gently hit Ameni's shoulder. "Take care, Ameni-human, and try to get some more sleep...we will be more quiet this time, I promise, though I cannot guarantee we will be silent, with how wonderful I feel inside her...I hope you understand!"

"I do, I do," Ameni chuckled, turning to leave the partitioned section, making his way back to his own bed. He continued laughing softly and wiping his eyes all the way back, sniffling and smiling to himself as his head hit the pillow to the gentle sounds of Thi'usa murmuring and Ki'amit giggling; and the next time their soft pleasured grunting and moaning awoke him he didn't bother rising to his feet, but merely smiled again, and wished them a healthy child.

Continued...