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Arcadia: Exiled

349:11:03:10:20:40

Carver had left Hammerhorn's command because he didn't like how he was being treated. To the leader of the Rammers, he had just been another bag of meat to be thrown at the walls until they collapsed. He resented that.

He thought he'd find freedom amongst the Builders. Then the Collectors welcomed him and he saw a whole new universe of possibilities. But things had a way of coming back around and suddenly, Carver was again at the mercy of someone far stronger than him, someone who commanded him to throw himself at the walls but this time he was the tip of the spear instead of just another grunt throwing his weight in with the masses.

Just a glorified puppet.

"Fuck," he rumbled to himself.

On either side of him, the two rhinos decked out in arms and armour from Camp Draco exchanged glances.

"Is something wrong, sir?" one asked.

'Sir' they called him. It was meant to be a sign of respect, an acknowledgement of seniority or authority. But to Carver it just reminded him of this falsehood that his 'leadership' was built upon. He didn't earn his place. He didn't rise to become the leader of the High Horns because he won some election or he was the strongest. It was because Kevin let him.

"Head back to Gateway," he growled.

Again, the two rhinos quickly exchanged glances. "But sir -"

"I said head back!" he snapped. Realising that these two really didn't deserve to be the subject of his ire, he threw a bucket of cold water over his temper. With a less rash tone, he said, "I'll follow. I know my way around. None of those Rammers will get the jump on me."

Both men gave each other one more worried glance before nodding at him. They turned and headed back down the ruined street. Carver watched them go just to make sure that they didn't decide to follow him just in case. Once he was satisfied with their distance, he began aimlessly wandering the street, his mind elsewhere.

The streets were empty save for the occasional overturned car and shattered home. Some buildings had fallen prey to the Wreckers, having collapsed entirely. There was evidence of some Builder intervention here and there but it didn't last. It was strange that there weren't any rats, cats or other small creature within the city. He wondered what happened to them all. How did the Haze affect them? What happened to the birds? The bugs?

Searching in the deep recesses of his mind, he vaguely recalled rats and cockroaches were a problem in the city so much so that there was a whole industry built around pest control. Now it wasn't a problem. Gateway didn't need to worry about infestation or food going bad. The Haze just maintained their bodies and their sources of nourishment regardless of how long it sat out in the sun.

Thinking of the sun, Carver turned his gaze towards the sky. Still blue, still clear and still with that ominous satellite hovering over their source of heat and light. Sifting through his memories, he couldn't recall a single rainy day in Hornton though he remembered days when the streets were packed with snow and his daughter built a snowman in the front yard.

"Catherine," he murmured softly. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to remember her face, the sound of her voice, the way she smell or even the colour of her goddamn eyes. Anything. But no matter how hard he concentrated, all he could remember was a name. A cruel side-effect of the Haze. He could remember he had a daughter but he couldn't even remember how old she was. It hurt like a rusty spoon had been stabbed into his chest and was slowly carving out his heart.

"Fuck!" he snarled. His fist lashed out, colliding with a nearby wall. The bricks shattered upon impact and he pulled his arm free before the wall could collapse. Thankfully, it didn't get that far but he had to remember that he was far stronger now especially after having returned from Camp Draco. He doubted Catherine or Cecilia would recognise him.

Would he even recognise them?

Were they even alive?

Though he knew it would burden his heart all the more, he followed the faint memories he had of the city's layout. Sadly, what little he could remember was blurred and mixed together with the wild rage and lust of a Wrecker. Landmarks were burned into his mind based on which rhino he fucked, which Builder he had turned into a mad Wrecker or which wall he had toppled just for shits and giggles.

He could barely remember the way to his home anymore.

In the ruined city, one apartment building was just as good as the other.

Carver stopped his wandering in front of one large, red brick building. It was five storeys tall. An apartment building. He was pretty sure his former home had only three floors. Or was it four? He really could not remember. It had been three and a half hundred years and most of that time was filled in wild orgies with his cock up another guy's ass.

His cheeks burned with shame.

What would Cecilia think of him?

What would Catherine say?

The burning was soothed by his tears as he turned to look up at the apartment complex.

"Why the fuck did I even come here?" he asked himself. "They're probably dead. They're human. They don't live for three hundred years."

An immense weight fell on his shoulders, the ghosts of his family cursing him for living his unnaturally prolonged life in a sexual haze. He dropped to his knees. The shame of falling for Kevin and enjoying being dominated cut him deep.

And there was something else there that turned that guilt into a hot, burning stake that sapped the energy from his body. It was something he dared not entertain, not in the presence of these phantoms that haunted him.

He felt to his hands and knees, his hot tears dropping down to the asphalt like rain.

"I'm sorry," he pleaded. "I'm so sorry..."

He should've been stronger.

He should've been faster.

He should've been better.

But he was proud. He was blind. He was weak.

And they suffered for it.

His wife and daughter were likely lost somewhere in Hornton, either a High Horn, a Rammer or one of the other two subspecies. Carver didn't even entertain the hope of finding them again. He didn't want them to see him like this. Not as the father that failed to protect them and took three hundred and fifty years to come to his senses while loving being butt-fucked by a smaller but dominant rhino.

"Forgive me..." he wept.

"There's nothing to forgive."

Carver straightened but found an actual physical pressure fall on his shoulder. Kevin stood beside him, a hand on his shoulder. Rage burned behind his eyes and he immediately shrugged the other High Horn's hand away with a snarl.

"What do you want?" he growled.

Kevin seemed surprised but then his features softened, his eyebrows rising in apology. "I came here to apologise."

Carver wiped the tears from his cheeks. He wanted to get up but couldn't find the strength to rise to his feet. "For what?"

"For being a poor leader," Kevin responded. "And an ever worse partner."

Carver scoffed loudly and got up on one knee. "You made it clear you have no intentions of being partners with me."

"And that's the problem." Kevin shoved his hands into the pockets of his tight, torn, denim shorts. "I pushed you into a situation that hurt you because I was afraid of making a change." He offered a wry smile to Carver. "It was the same before the apocalypse. I was a scrawny kid that was scared of everything and just hid from my problems."

Carver's eyes widened. "You remember?"

"When I stopped bullshitting myself, I did," answered Kevin. He gave Carver a smile and stepped towards him. "I guess that's something you beat me to. You began to remember first. Me... I was steering myself back to becoming a Builder whether I liked it or not. Back into complacency." He pulled out a hand and held it towards Carver. "Well, I'm done with that. I want to grow stronger. I want to move on. But I need someone strong who's been there and who isn't afraid to venture into the unknown." He smiled delicately towards Carver. "Will you help me?"

The temptation was there to blow Kevin off but... there was just something so sincere in the High Horn's plea. Carver took the offered hand and let Kevin haul him to his feet. "So what? I'm not your fucktoy and puppet anymore?"

"You never were," Kevin said with a shake of his head. "But you were my meat shield. You were the guy that I was going to send to all the other regions, transform into other Beasts while I got to remain a pure High Horn." He shook his head. "But that was stupid of me. That was selfish and terrible. I would've turned you into what the Collectors are to Arcadia."

Carver pulled his head back in surprise. "But the Collectors are revered in Arcadia."

"If you look past what the Collectors bring and the joy the humans get from the gifts, you can see the fear and resentment they hold in their eyes." Kevin let go of Carver's hand and turned towards the east, towards Gateway. "I spoke with Anodyne today. He told me about what he saw in Arcadia and I went there myself." He gave Carver a lopsided grin. "You know none of the High Horns have talked to another human except perhaps the human ambassador?"

His eyes narrowed, Carver said, "I find that hard to believe especially since they built that fucking embassy."

"I know but it's true. When I tried talking to one of the humans, he squeaked and ran off like I was some monster come to eat him." Kevin shook his head. "Collectors and their allies are tolerated at arm's reach. Once their usefulness or once Arcadia's reliance on them is nullified..."

A frown crossed Carver's face. He drew the comparison between himself and the Collectors. Part of him wanted to be angry at Kevin for trying to make him into a hated but essential tool for his own purposes. But the fact that Kevin confessed and clearly wanted to change the direction he was going... It softened his heart, filling the gaps that had been gouged by his loss.

"So what now?" he grunted.

"Now," Kevin responded with a deep breath. "Now we work together. We're the strongest personalities in Gateway. We can lead our people in a way that won't have us constantly competing against one another for dominance."

"That kind of talk makes you sound soft," Carver growled.

Kevin grinned and puffed out his chest. "Hey, just remember who was on top last time."

"Doesn't mean you'll be on top next time."

It was a weak threat. Carver's heart was still too wounded to be filled with anger. But to his surprise, Kevin pressed himself against the bigger High Horn, hands wrapped around Carver's waist.

"Just as long as I'm on top the time after that," Kevin whispered.

Carver wasn't sure what was happening but some powerful force began to pull his lips closer and closer to Kevin's. Likewise, Kevin was gravitating towards him. His eyelids became heavy and he shut out the world, only focusing on the heat emanating from his groin as it rubbed against Kevin's own growing bulge.

When their lips meat, it was electric. Like a defibrillator to his heart, his entire body sprang with life and the burden of his ghostly wife and daughter vanished into the Haze. He pulled Kevin closer to himself, cupping the back of Kevin's neck and leaning forward, almost tipping Kevin back. Their tongues danced madly against one another, their lips smacking and wrapping around one another in a passionate embrace that neither man had experienced in a long while.

But when Carver let out the first moan, both of them instantly remembered who they had in their embrace and where they were. They both pulled away from one another, their cheeks afire with a blush.

"Shit... I uh... I don't know what came over me..." Carver admitted.

"Must've been the Haze," Kevin reasoned. "Been a while since I... uhm... got some relief..."

"Me too, I suppose," Carver lied. He had made it a habit to jack off before venturing past Gateway. That way, if he encountered a patrol of Rammers, he wouldn't be tempted to offer his ass so that he could cum. "You... You kiss good though."

"You use a little too much tongue."

He bristled at that but upon hearing Kevin's laughter, any anger he felt died before it could start a spark. "Asshole."

"You love it," Kevin countered. He turned his back to Carver, waving for the other to follow. "Come on. Apparently there's some big news from Burheim. Finn is holding an emergency meeting of all the regional representatives."

Carver was glad Kevin wasn't looking at him. The goofy smile on his face remained despite how hard he tried to wipe it off.

In the end, he just gave up and let it stay. Still, he managed to sound serious when he spoke.

"Sounds serious."

******

349:11:03:12:02:11

The embassy was filled to the brim. Humans, High Horns and dragons had piled into the upper seats in three separate groups. Though the High Horns and dragons sat relatively close to one another, there was a distinct gap between them and the humans of Arcadia.

On the floor, several of the seats had been occupied. Each of the leaders of the Collector teams occupied a seat. Cody took up another, sitting right next to Finn while Gavin and Carver sat opposite to them. Sitting at the head of the table, flanked by his two brothers, was Antony. As the person whose interests were being addressed in the meeting, Finn could think of no one else to occupy the head of the table.

All murmurings in the embassy hall died away as the last door was shut. The central stage where the ambassadors sat was illuminated by a few overhead lamps. The rest of the hall was plunged into near darkness.

Finn glanced around the room, waiting for someone to speak. He saw Antony starting to fidget so he decided if no one was going to speak, he would. He stood from his seat, his rounded belly rubbing against the table's edge. Finding a chair and table fit for his ursine form bear was still somewhat challenging. His thick, fluffy fur still stank of sweat from having to rush back to Arcadia to spread the word of the meeting.

"Everyone," he began, "as you may or may not have heard a village in Burheim has been attacked. Based on what we've seen, it was from the Maximus of Burheim." He paused, glancing towards Antony. "With dragons on their backs."

The gathered audience began to break out into murmurs.

"We have evidence of Maximus presence," he continued, lifting his voice over the whispers. "And the extensive use of fire. The village in question never used fire in such a manner and we very much doubt that the Maximus learned how to use the flames as well."

"Traitors!"

Finn jerked towards the human portion of the audience. A man he didn't recognise was on his feet, pointing directly across the hall towards the dragons.

"Turncoats! Backstabbers! A rogue platoon!"

"Do you even know what you're talking about!?" Cody snapped, slamming his hands against the table. Though still a rhino, he was very imposing nonetheless. "Every man in Camp Draco has been accounted for. No one was lost to the Rammers!"

"We can't trust these Beasts! They aren't human!"

Finn held up his hands, demanding silence. He had anticipated some sort of paranoia from the humans but not at this level. But he was nonetheless prepared.

"As the Commander said, there are no traitors amongst the dragons and certainly not amongst the High Horns. Our best guess is that these fire-wielding foes came from when the Rammers took on dragon shape while they invaded Camp Draco. They likely preserved the shape by sharing it just as Collectors used to do when the previous Gate closed and the new one opened or maybe they used some of the weapons from Camp Draco that they stole during their raids. We don't know."

The vocal human sat back down. Finn could feel his stewing hatred from where he stood.

"This, of course, begs the question of what should be done next. There were no bodies amongst the ruins of Honey Hill meaning that the Rammers have taken prisoners. We don't know what will be done to them but we can be sure that the Rammers will be taking on bear shape, increasing their strength and power. Worse, Honey Hill had abundant supplies, now all gone. The Rammers now have enough to feed an entire army."

"That's not true," Dimitri piped up. "We bears never make more than we need to nor do we take more than we need. If we do, we turn into Maximus."

"Then what the fuck are those Maximus doing being ridden by dragons!?" shouted another human. "If you're all so picky about how much you make and take, why the hell are there even Maximus in the first place!?"

Dimitri's eyes flared up in rage. "Maximus are a constant reminder of those that fell before us and those of us who have fallen into temptation! We live far better lives than they do! Which is more than I can say from men who would _steal_from others to live in luxury!"

Finn slammed his paw against the table, causing it to shake. Though his muscles were far less defined as he was covered in his thick and - he begrudgingly admitted - fluffy fur, he was still plenty strong. He had three regions under his belt plus Arcadia. That made him stronger than any bear or and much more powerful than any human.

"Enough!" he barked. "We aren't here to argue about people's lifestyles or the choices they made with or without the Haze. We're here to discuss what is to be done!" His eyes went to Lobo. "Lobo, any suggestions?"

Lobo stood, a signal for Finn to sit down. "From a Collector's point of view and keeping Arcadia's best interests at heart, I believe we should send out Team Pathfinder to find the encampment of the Rammers in Burheim. At the same time, I suggest we deploy some dragons and High Horns to the nearest villages. We need to secure them, fortify them."

"There are dozens of villages," Antony exclaimed. "You can't expect to defend them all with so few numbers! If the rest of the humans were to join -"

"Fuck no!" another human shouted. "We ain't turnin' into no Beasts!"

Finn was surprised at the outburst. He thought more people would be eager to become a big, buff and sexy Collector...

"But there just aren't enough dragons!" pleaded Antony, clasping his paws together. "Even the High Horns need to defend multiple fronts. We simply do not have the numbers especially when we do not know when and where they will attack!"

"I don't suppose evacuating the bears to a central location is an option, is it?" Gavin suggested. Finn was glad to have at least one human speaking sensibly and not offering outbursts.

Anodyne shook his head, plumes of smoke rising from his nostrils. "Too many bears. Too spread out. Bears also have their own specialties and the land around them is geared towards allowing them to harvest and mine from it to make more for trade. If we threw them all into one place, there would bears that wouldn't produce anything and just take. They'd risk going Maximus and that'd be a problem."

"We have maps of known Maximus locations," Ruin said. "We can scout them out by the end of the day and see if we can find those bastards. But I can't guarantee what'll happen between then. I don't know Hammerhorn's plans."

"In Hornton, he was out for blind conquest," Cody mused loudly. "Camp Draco, he played with tactics. He caught us off guard and he got a hell of a lot out of the engagement even if we gave him as much as we got." He shook his head. "He's too hard to predict... We also don't know what he's after. Does he want resources? More men? More land?"

"I don't think it'd be land," Ruin said. "We've seen his troops expanding into the suburbs of Hornton away from the city itself. There are plenty of Builders and Wreckers there. More than are in the city itself."

"Resources then," Lobo concluded. "The bears are an industrious people."

"But why would they ally themselves with the Maximus of all people?" Antony demanded. "They're nothing but consumers_._ They wouldn't give back any anything."

The Collectors all exchanged glances. Their meaningful looks were enough to cast the shadow of worry across Antony's face. In the end, it was Anodyne who took the initiative.

"I suppose we should explain," murmured the leader of Team Vanguard. "I doubt it has ever crossed your mind being subject to the Haze but have you ever wondered how despite your large population, the rate of your consumption and the fact that Maximus come and destroy your villages time and again, you've never run out of resources once in the past three and a half hundred years?"

Antony frowned and shook his head. "We have always regulated our consumption. It is our way. We simply never take more than we need."

"That's not it," Anodyne responded gently. "When you think about it in comparison to the rest of the world, Burheim is a relatively small place and has a very dense population. Individual villages may not tax the land much but combined, your rate of consumption of natural resources is monumental."

Antony's paws balled into fists. "What are you saying?" he growled viciously.

"I'm saying that the Maximus play a very important role in the maintenance of Burheim. They destroy your villages so that they can resupply it. Their cum is what replenishes the land thanks to the power of the Haze. Whether you noticed it or not, whenever you returned to the destroyed villages and set up shop again, your resources have been replenished."

Antony slammed the table with his paws and instantly shot to his feet. For someone so big and burly, he moved with surprising quickness. "That is insane!"

"No it isn't," Finn replied quietly.

He nodded towards where he knew Skip was sitting amongst the audience. His fellow Trailblazer emerged from the crowd and dropped down into the lit stage. Skip placed a document in front of Antony.

"We found that report in Burheim," Finn continued. "It outlines how the Nexus Conglomerate created the Maximus to balance out the wanton consumption of Burheim's natural inhabitants. You guys would've torn up the land and left nothing to grow if you had been left unchecked. The Maximus is a way to maintain the balance."

Antony shook his head and slammed the folder onto the table. "This is fake! It must be!"

"I know what it's like to have your eyes wrenched open," Carver muttered. "It's painful. The fucking light burns. But there's a reason it's bright. Now you can start seeing the world for what it is. Starting seeing that the way you lived wasn't perfect and it can get better."

The big bear shook his head and swept his arm across the table, scattering the folder and its contents to the side. "I refuse to believe this! You are claiming that our entire way of life was engineered to subdue who we truly are!"

"Join the club," Carver growled. "We were all human once. The Haze supressed who we were and made us into Beasts."

The three bears exchanged glances and then turned towards the Collectors.

"Is this the lie you have been telling others?" Antony demanded. "That everyone was once human and that we all turned into this as a curse?" He gestured at his rippling, muscular body. "What proof do you have? Who told you that you were all human?"

"The Conglomerate!" shouted someone from the stands.

"The Director himself!" cried another.

"It's the truth!" echoed a third.

"The Nexus Conglomerate?" Antony countered. "The same group that purportedly engineered an entire people so that they wouldn't suck the world dry?" He pointed an accusing finger at the humans. "Who is to say that you weren't all Beasts once and they just made you human for something _they_thought was right?"

"We were all Beasts! We were turned back!"

"We were saved!"

"They are our salvation! Arcadia forever!"

"But who gave them the right!?" demanded the bear. "So what if you were once human? What if you were happy as a Beast? Look at us!" He gestured at his chest and t hen at his brothers. "We were happy just pulling out wagon across Burheim until you came along and complicated matters. We were happy. You nor the Conglomerate have the right to take that away from us!"

Finn hated to admit it but Antony did have a point. Who was he before? Was he happy? What right did the _Conglomerate_have to take them away from their homes as Beasts and forcefully change them into humans? Why should they cling onto relics of the past when the future seemed so much brighter?

Looking around the room, he instantly came to his answer.

"We have every right because it is the life we chose," he responded. Antony stared at him, his eyes wide with confusion and fear. "The _Conglomerate_may have changed us into Beasts but we had the choice to go back to being a Beast if we wanted. The Gates were open to us. We could've just stepped through and went right back to being one of you. But we didn't. We made the choice to accept our humanity. For some of us, that humanity wasn't just as superficial as our physical bodies."

He stood up, feeling inspired.

"We never meant to introduce all this turmoil into your lives but like it or not, it's here. But you now have the choice to ignore it and go back to being just another caravan group or you can stand up and fight with us. We're willing to help in any way we can. But the choice is yours. We aren't going to force you. We aren't the Conglomerate and we certainly aren't Hammerhorn."

Antony fell silent. A few short minutes later he sat back down and held his head in his massive paws. A loud sigh left his muzzle. "What do we do?"

Relieved, he turned to Lobo to continue with the planning.

The Collector Leader nodded at him and turned to the rest of the group. "It seems that we really only have one course of action in front of us. Fortify and find." He turned towards Ruin. "Pathfinder, I want you to find where Hammerhorn is holed up. Do not engage. Just report back." Then he turned towards Anodyne. "Vanguard, take your team and secure our base of operations in Burheim. We need to make it big and strong enough to withstand attacks from Hammerhorn's dragons _and_Maximus if they ever grow the balls to face us."

Lastly, Lobo turned to Finn. "Trailblazer, we need to go to the other villages and make sure they're aware of the threat. We need to make them aware that there is some place that they can run to if they encounter Hammerhorn's troops. Spread the word." He then hiked a thumb towards his chest. "Commando will help."

Carver stood. "Hornton will send as many as we can to Burheim so that you can built a fort there."

"Camp Draco will send who we can to help secure the fort and help spread the word," Cody responded. "Word can travel faster on wing than on foot."

"Just be careful," Antony warned grimly. "Word may have spread about your forms but many may not believe. They might see you as a threat."

"We'll be careful," assured Cody.

Lobo clapped his big hands. "It's getting late, though. The sun is almost setting. Hammerhorn is in unknown territory and I doubt he'll attack at night despite all the advantages." He looked towards Antony. "Do you have someplace to stay?"

"The only home we ever really knew was Honey Hills," answered the bear mournfully.

"Then you're welcome to stay here. Just be warned..." Lobo gave him a lopsided smile. "By morning, you'll probably have the most powerful orgasm in your life... and end up human."

******

349:11:03:21:44:07

The meeting had gone on longer than Marv had thought and when he finally emerged from the embassy, the sun was well on its way to setting. There was a bitterness left in his mouth from seeing Finn up there, giving his commanding speech and helping lead the Arcadian Alliance. It was another step away from putting his fellow Collector another step ahead while Marv continued to languish far behind.

A far more impatient man would've done something drastic to catch up but that was more Finn's style. He was really a runner while Marv approached life and the tasks in front of him at a calm, gentle stride. But by moving at a slower pace, he got to see people's back and the secrets they hid behind them away from their smiling faces.

As he left the embassy, all of the humans were gathered around Travis, baleful looks tossed in the direction of the Beasts who now far outnumbered them. Most of them were clutching tools like weapons and they were pressed so closely together that they might as well have merged into one, amorphous blob. The heated words in the embassy sparked fear in Marv's heart.

Gavin was one of the last to leave the embassy hall and the rest of the humans had already started for the Collective. Marv quickly caught up with him and called his name.

"Um... which one are you again?" Gavin confessed.

"It's me, Marv."

Gavin looked tired and gave him an apologetic but half-assed smile. "Right. Sorry. I'm still getting used to identifying each of you. You go by... Rush now, right?"

"Sorta," Marv answered with a shrug. "Hey, 'ave ya been sleepin' well? Ya look bushed."

The human laughed softly and rubbed his eyes. "That obvious huh? Let's just say that things aren't that... peaceful in the Collective."

"Whatdya mean?"

Gavin glanced over his shoulder, particularly to the broad back of Travis who disappeared into the Collective. Poor Josh was left outside. No one helped him into the building so he had to wheel himself up the ramp into the futuristic home.

"We humans are sort of... divided. Some see the Collectors and the Beasts as the start of a new age. Others are scared that we'd all end up turning back into Beasts and losing ourselves. Travis is one of those guys that keeps holding meetings in the middle of the night and reminding everyone about the rocks we've thrown into the lake."

Marv's eyebrows rose. "The rocks?"

"Yeah. The one with names on them. He keeps reminding us that all those people down either went full Beast or died because of Beasts. We shouldn't forget about them." Gavin lowered his voice in a mocking baritone of Travis' voice. "Arcadia is for humans. We're the last bastion of humans in the world."

Gavin deflated, his shoulders sagging. "I keep trying to tell people that we're the last bastion of humanity, not humans. And humanity isn't about what you look like but how you treat people."

"How ya treat...?" Marv's eyes narrowed. "What's he been doin'?"

"Nothing yet..." Gavin admitted with a shaky smile. "But you can feel it in the air. Well, I can anyway." He hugged himself, trying to protect himself from some imaginary chill. "Someone is going to get hurt. He's going to make an example of someone. I'm kind of afraid that it'll be me because... well..."

"Yer ambassador..." Marv suddenly understood the sleepless nights. Poor Gavin was constantly watching his back.

"You know what's funny?" Gavin chuckled. "I thought making a flag for Arcadia would help unite people under the Alliance. But turns out, they start seeing our flag as this rallying call. We came from SOL. We humans are the 'chosen race' or something. We're pure." He shook his head sadly. "At least that's what I get from talking to people. Everyone has their own interpretation of the flag but the message is the same."

"All human or none at all..."

The ambassador nodded sadly. "I don't know what'll happen, Marv... erm, Rush. But I'm scared that one of these days, there will be a war between Arcadia and the rest. And Arcadia isn't exactly the best equipped."

Marv crossed his arms thoughtfully. "Wud it make 'em feel safer if they wus armed?"

"You want to give weapons to them?" laughed Gavin.

"C'mon, Gav. Ya gotta see they're jus' scared. They're outnumbered an' outgunned. They're barkin' but they ain't bitin' cuz they know they'll lose. Maybe if we give 'em somethin' that'll protect 'em, make 'em feel safer, they might jus' back off a little."

The human took a deep breath and shut his eyes. He shrugged in a defeated manner. "Sure. I suppose. But what do you have in mind? I don't think they'll accept any guns from Camp Draco. They won't trust any walls erected by the High Horns either. They barely take what you guys bring back anymore."

Marv let out a thoughtful noise. "Well... would they trust 'em if they wus human?"

Gavin lifted his gaze, surprised. "What?"

"Ev'ryone is focused on Burheim. But there're plenty o' rhinos an' I'm sure suma the dragons wanna try out bein' human. If we get 'em to come 'round an' help 'round the place, maybe Travis and 'em wud feel more comfortable with 'em."

Gavin rubbed his chin thoughtful noise. "Huh... It's certainly help build relations... The Beasts would get the chance to turn human and increase their own strength... and Travis will get some comfort that walls are being built by human hands. Some of them might even want to stay human."

"I dunno 'bout that," Marv chuckled. "But it's worth a shot, right?"

"I'll bring it up to Finn and the others," Gavin replied with a smile. He looked so much more energetic than he had just a few moments ago. "I'm sure Finn would be proud that the suggestion came from you."

Hearing Finn's name slipped a dagger in between Marv's ribs. He found it hard to breathe. "Whatdya say we leave me outta this fer now?" he suggested. "Jus' say it came from ya."

The human ambassador looked about to argue but then he shut his mouth. "Alright. Your choice."

Marv reached out to clap Gavin on the shoulder but then stopped, remember how 'infectious' Beasts and Collectors were. He turned the gesture into a wave and bid the ambassador a good night. Gavin returned the gesture and added a small smile along with it. They parted ways, one heading towards the Collective and the other heading towards the Collector Camp.

Striding alone down the stone path from the embassy to the forest line was very lonely. He couldn't recall a moment when he had taken this path with just Finn before. The few times they had actually been alone together was in their - his - hut and that was usually because they were either too tired or too horny. In retrospect, he understood that their relationship hadn't started very well.

But he was still determined to make it work.

If only Finn were more receptive.

"Help!"

His big, rounded ears perked up and he lifted his ursine muzzle. The cry had come from somewhere in the forest. Was it just some Collectors playing some sexy game or a genuine cry for help?

"Help me! Please!"

The desperation in the cry definitely convinced him it was genuine and he hurried towards the sound. Being a Collector afforded him some heightened senses. Lobo and Cross had taught him how to use these senses to his advantage and how to 'switch them off' whenever he needed. It was easier in the Haze-filled worlds beyond the Gates as he can let the Haze dull his sense but here in Arcadia, it was a little harder not to smell what someone had for breakfast based on their breath halfway across the room.

At the moment, Marv was grateful for it as he heard another cry which guided him away from the congregation of scents on the main path and led him deeper into the forest. He recognised the sweet, sweaty and musty smell as one of the bears. The unique blend of freshly cut grass and wet earth identified it as Mikhail.

"Mikhail?" he shouted. "Mickey? Ya there?"

"Rush!?" Relief mixed with the shout. "Rush! Over here! Over here!"

"Jus' keep on talkin'! I'm on mah way!"

"Help! I just... I just wandered off for a bit and got lost!"

Marv followed the cry and the scent and found the big bear standing between two large trees, his eyes wide in fear. When Mickey saw him, the native of Burheim nearly broke into tears and rushed towards him. Marv had some trouble keeping his footing as the massive, lean ursine slammed into him, huge arms wrapping around his shoulder and hugging him tightly.

"I was so scared!"

Marv tried to fight down a laugh. The Collector forest wasn't scary to him but then again, he had lived on Arcadia for years and always had the forest there during the entire time. For someone who was new to the experience, new to Arcadia, it must really have bene frightful.

He wrapped his arms around Mikhail in return. "It's okay," he said gently. "Yer okay."

"I wandered from the trail because I saw something..." Mikhail sighed. He shook his head with regret. "Dimitri and Antony always told me not to wander off from the caravan trail..."

"Don't worry. This place is pretty safe." Marv pointed to the sky. "Here's a little hint if ya get lost again. See 'ow the sun is settin'? Ya can tell which way is da Collective by where it is." He also cupped a paw over his ear. "An' if ya listen, ya can hear da river. If ya follow it, ya end up at da Collector Camp."

Mikhail beamed. "I guess we never really had to rely on navigation skills before. We just... followed the trail."

A common symptom amongst the Beasts. Their minds were twisted towards a particular template. Deviation from that mental state prevented them from experiencing anything new, learning or growing as a person. Marv wanted to tell Mikhail that but he just wasn't as eloquent as Finn. He didn't know how to say it without sounding insulting.

"Then c'mon. I'll bring ya back to yer brothers."

Mikhail's smile was quite adorable as he clung onto Marv's arm and followed him back to the trail. Along the way, he taught Mikhail how to use his senses. To smell the air, the listen to the river. It was almost like teaching someone to walk. The bear had the tools for the task but just had never used them. Pretty soon, Mikhail picked it up thanks to instincts.

"You smell like mud and..." He sniffed at Marv, going so far as to poke his nose into Marv's armpit. "Kind of musky as well. But I smell apples and spice. And wood."

Marv wasn't sure what to say. He hadn't smelled himself before except when he had just had a round if vigorous sex and even then, it was mostly the sex and cum that he smelled. "Thanks... I guess..."

Then a pensive look crossed Mickey's features as they continued following the river. "So this is what is meant by teaching someone... In Burheim, no one every taught anyone. We fit into our roles, did as we were told and never thought to teach one another our craft. It was automatic for us. So strange."

"I know. I mean, learnin' new stuff is a bit weird an' -"

"No, it is not that," answered the bear, shaking his head. "It is that we never thought to teach one another." Mikhail crossed his arms thoughtfully. "There were times when some bears had a hard time grinding flour or mining for ore or growing fruit. No one ever helped them. Not really. They doubled their production to compensate for the lack of produce but never really assisted those in need. Sometimes a tool would be broken beyond one person's repair and they would have to wait until the caravan came in with a new tool."

He turned towards Marv, brow furrowed. "What if someone in our village had been taught how to make tools or fix them? There would not be a need to wait. They can repair the tools there and then."

"Well, I suppose..."

"And this is what Arcadia is doing, right?" Mickey continued. "You benefit from the building prowess of the High Horns, the military experience and strength of the dragons and the knowledge and accessibility of Arcadia all as one. You're sharing your knowledge. Teaching one another."

Marv felt a blush rising to his cheeks. It sounded all so flattering. "Yeah... It's kinda what we've been goin' fer."

They stopped just at outskirts of the Collector Camp, the huts hanging or sitting amongst the trees just a few metres away. Mikhail glanced at them, eyes wide.

"There is so much to learn about the world," Mikhail whispered distantly.

Marv placed a paw on his shoulder. "And ya can learn 'em all with time." Mikhail turned towards him, eyes shining. "I can't promise ta teach ya everythin'. I'm still learnin' mahself. But if ya want, I can teach ya 'bout farmin'."

"Farming?" Mikhail asked excitedly. "I have always wanted to know what it takes for someone to grow a tiny seed into something much bigger and can produce more!" He began bouncing in place. "Oh! Oh! Then I can teach you about baking!"

Marv recalled the kitchen that Cross maintained. It was well past dinner time and they had all eaten before the embassy meeting. Finn had the event catered, after all. Mower of the dragons had come in specially to use the embassy's kitchen to make some food for everyone. That likely meant that Cross wasn't at the mess hall.

His fellow Commando wouldn't mind them using the kitchen for a little while.

"I know just the place. Come on."

He took Mikhail's paw and pulled him through camp. Some lights were still and he could see shapes moving through the light. Either some Collectors were working on their hobbies or engaged in some carnal pleasures. He couldn't help but wonder what Finn was doing but pushed the thought out of his mind.

As he suspected, the mess hall was completely devoid of life except perhaps the yeast from Hornton that Cross kept in packets in a secure area. Mikhail eagerly moved into the kitchen and began taking out some flour, eggs, water and milk. When asked what kind of bread he'd like to make, Marv just said that he'd eat anything. Judging by the almonds and honey that Mikhail also took out, it was going to be a loaf encrusted with almonds and drizzled with honey.

Mikhail grabbed some of the yeast and poured it into a bowl. He asked Marv to boil some water which involved starting a little fire and pouring water into a saucepan and hanging it over the little fireplace that Cross used to roast their food. It didn't take too long and when he handed it over, Mikhail poured just a tiny bit of it into the yeast.

"What're ya doin?" Marv asked.

"Making bread!" Mikhail answered with a smile. "See? The yeast helps it rise!"

"That's what yeast does?" He regarded the strange, brown slush. "Why is it bubbling?"

Mikhail frowned. "Uummm..."

A third voice cut through their exercise. "That's the yeast activating."

Both bears froze and turned towards the front of the kitchen. Cross stood there, arms cross and with his eyes narrowed.

"What're ya two doin'?"

Marv just grinned sheepishly. "Erm... baking?"

Cross eyed the ingredients that they had set out. "Almond honey bread huh? Ya ain't gonna make much with this much stuff."

Confused, Marv could only mirror Mikhail by saying, "Uummm..."

Cross waved a big paw at them and moved towards his ingredients cabinet. "If yer gonna use my kitchen ya might as well make 'nuff fer ev'ryone. Here, I'll help ya kids."

Though the privacy of the lesson had been spoiled, Marv was still glad for the company and the knowledge that he didn't have to worry about being skinned by Cross.

Mikhail began telling Marv what to do while Cross provided the why, explaining why they did things in a particular order. Why they waited for the bread to rise after kneading it. Why they kept the kitchen rather warm. Why they didn't just mix in all the almonds and honey straight away. Marv absorbed all the knowledge like a sponge.

He was a willing student but just not someone who constant sought out something new like Finn. Thinking of Renegade left him feeling a little glum but he pushed it aside and decided to enjoy the moment he had right then and there.

"Where'd ya learn how ta bake?" Marv asked. "I thought as a caravan guy, you wouldn't have had the time."

Mikhail made a face as he began kneading another bun. He was careful to wear the gloves that Cross had provided him to avoid any of his fur being infused into the bun. "I really do not know. For as long as I remember, I knew how to brake. It was just something we needed on the road. Sometimes some of the food we had bought was not enough so I would be tasked with baking us some bread."

"It's common in Beasts," Cross grunted softly as he checked on one of the risen loafs. He held it up for Marv to see. The latter was surprised at just how the loaf had doubled in size. "If ya take the roos in the Badlands, fer instance. None of 'em knows how der machines work but they do an'way. They dun know how they know. They jus' do."

"And none of them have ever asked why?" Mikhail asked.

"Did you?"

The bear lowered his gaze and shook his head sadly. "I wish I had..."

"Dunno if that'd been the best fer ya," Cross murmured. "If ya had met Cody befer, he asked those same questions. But he never got answers. So he kinda lost hope. Three hundred and fifty years of gettin' nowhere will do that to ya."

Marv shuddered at the thought of nearly four hundred years of searching with no results. Who could've lasted that long? It really spoke a lot about Cody's character that he was able to actually stay sane through it all. Maybe someone as eager to find answers was fit for someone like Finn who could provide them.

After an hour of baking more loaves, it was time to put them in the oven. First, Mikhail drizzled it with honey and then threw on the chopped almonds so that they stuck onto the loaf. It was a wood fire oven and one that both Cross and Mikhail were quite used to. They set the loves on a tray and placed them inside. Marv watched the risen dough quickly rise a little more, turn brown and obtain that pleasant, crisp, golden colour.

Watching the transformation was fascinating and he wondered if it was akin to who he changed forms. Thinking of transforming actually got him getting hard. It had only been a few hours since he had left Burheim but he could already feel Arcadia starting to push him to becoming a human again. These lewd thoughts made him wonder what the Mikhail would look like as a human.

The honey brown fur all over Mikhail looked quite soft and thick. The white crest on his chest highlighted his chest muscles quite well and trailed all the way down to his crotch. Marv couldn't help but wonder what the bear's pubic fur looked like but such a sight was hidden from him by thick, denim work pants. He tried to push the thoughts free of his head but watching Mikhail's thick arm muscles moving like a well-oiled machine as they kneaded the dough got his loins stirring again.

Marv growled to himself and tore his gaze from Mikhail but not before indulging in the thought of what those fluffy cheek ruffs would feel like against his cheek. He turned back to watching the bread change and cursed how Arcadia was always so eager to turn him back into a human. It felt wrong getting off in any way with another guy if it wasn't Finn. He had sworn to follow Finn and try to win him back and bedding another man seemed like a step back in his ultimate goal.

"These done?" he asked impatiently.

"It takes time, Rush," chuckled Cross. "Like all good things."

"How did you get the name 'Cross' anyway?" asked Mikhail. "I heard that you guys have other names. The names you use were given to you?"

The Collector cook chuckled and nodded. "Well, do you remember that village in Burheim? Avencross?"

Mikhail frowned. "I have heard of it. I think it is one of the places where caravans go to rest. It sits to the west. Nowhere near where my caravan goes. It does not produce anything but lodgings. Caravans trade their goods for a place to stay. It is so named because it is only made of two avenues that intersect to make a cross intersection."

"That's tha one," Cross said, nodding in Mikhail's direction. "Do ya know the Bear Claw Inn?"

There, Mikhail's eyes widened. "Oh yes! I have heard of them! They make these delicious pastries that have puffy, crisp, sweet almond pastries that have this sweet, custard-like filling and almonds! They call them -"

"Bear claws," Cross finished with a grin.

"Yes!" Mikhail turned towards the dough he was kneading. "I've had a few whenever we met with another caravan that went out that way. I've actually been trying to replicate the recipe but I could never get it just right."

Marv inclined his head to the side at Cross. There was something about the senior Collector's grin that didn't sit with him.

"I cud teach ya," offered Cross.

"You could?" asked Mikhail, once again bouncing on his feet. "Even the way the make it into a semi-circle and have these little edges that you can pull apart? And that white frosting?"

"Of course."

Then it hit Marv. "Ya own the Bear Claw Inn!?"

Cross beamed at him. "Pretty much." Mikhail's eyes widened and he fell back in shock, falling on his firm, muscled rump. Laughing, Cross helped him to his feet while explaining. "Tha owner o' tha inn wus a good friend." A touch of sadness crossed his features. "A really good friend. But then he w'nt Maximus, leavin' tha inn in mah care. I cud only open tha inn ev'ry ten weeks cuz of bein' a Collector but I'd always make lotsa bear claws to hand out."

"I remember!" Mikhail shouted, his face so full of life and active. It reminded Marv a lot of Finn whenever his fellow Collector found something new. "Caravans in the west would scramble to the Bear Claw Inn's opening every ten weeks! They'd try and get as many bear claws as they can!" Then he frowned. "Oh... but you've been spending this time with us..."

"Yeah, I know..." Cross responded. He patted Mikhail's shoulder comfortingly. "I gots more important stuff ta do."

"Maybe we can sell 'em at the outpost?" Marv suggested. "Ya know. Spread word by caravan that ya moved ta the outpost or sumthin' and yer selling yer bear claws there all the time now."

Cross gave him a smirk and a lift of one, bushy eyebrow. "An' what'd that do?"

"Tell Burheim where ya are? Tell 'em 'bout Arcadia so we can spread the word 'bout Hammerhorn."

Cross got a thoughtful look on his face and he popped his jaw from left to right. "Huh... ya know what? That ain't a bad idea, Rush." He beamed at them. "I'll bring it ta Lobo in the mornin'. Right now, let's get those loaves out."

Marv pulled open the oven and the sweet aroma of freshly baked bread filled his nostrils. His knees felt weak just by smelling it. With a pair of gloves, he pulled out the rack and set the loaves on the cooling rack. Mikhail and Cross added the next few loaves and put them into the oven.

"So ya got yer name cuz of Avencross?" asked Marv.

"Yep," answered the Collector. "An' I guess I'm the expert in Burheim now that Josh couldn't cut it an'more." He shrugged and let out a sad sigh. "It's kinda sad, ya know. Gantry sidin' with Hammerhorn just cuz of Josh..."

Marv straightened and blinked. "Whut?"

Cross stared back at him with similar confusion. Then that confusion washed away, replaced with a soft 'ah'. "Ya prolly know that Josh used ta be a Collector. Only one o' us that ever stopped bein' one. He and Gantry used ta be an item." Cross leaned against the table, sighing softly. "An' we all know that if Josh ever went back ta being behind a Gate, his legs would heal up cuz of the Haze. But we dun wanna take the risk of him goin' full Beast cuz he turned into a Maximus last time."

"You have a former Maximus here!?" exclaimed Mikhail. "But - but -"

Cross waved him down. "It's okay, kiddo. Josh is fine." Then he made a face and added bitterly, "Sorta..." Turning his gaze back to Marv, Cross continued. "I guess no one really said it out loud cuz we mostly knew but Gantry prolly betrayed us so he can get Josh back through a Gate."

Marv's eyes widened. "Lobo and the others won't let 'im though...So if Gantry works with Hammerhorn and takes over Arcadia..."

"Josh will get ta walk again," finished Cross with a nod.

Stunned by the revelation, Marv sat back and smacked his forehead in surprise. "Fuck me... I dinna know..."

"Gantry was on' o' us fer a long time," Cross murmured miserably. "Him turnin' on us willingly really hurts. We jus' dun wanna talk 'bout it..."

Marv nodded in understanding. "Thanks fer tellin' me, Cross. Really 'preciate it."

"We both do," added Mikhail with a smile.

"Yeah, yeah," answered the senior Collector with a wave of his big paw. "Dun get all mushy on me. Ya boys go get sum sleep. Imma gunna finish up here."

"Dun you need help?" Marv asked.

Cross gave him a grin and a light punch on the shoulder. "Fuck kid, I feed twelve Beasts ev'ryday an' still get the time ta run 'round with 'em fuckin' other Beasts. Dun treat me like some fragile old man."

Marv and Mikhail laughed as Cross shoed them out of his kitchen.

They were still giggling by the time they reached Marv's hut. Marv opened the door instinctively for Mikhail then froze. This was the first time someone had been in his hut since Finn left. Mikhail didn't seem to sense his hesitation and immediately stepped inside, not giving him a moment to protest.

"Wow! You have a lot of plants!"

"Um... yeah..." Marv murmured softly, stepping inside. He kept the door open, wondering if he should let Mikhail just sleep in his hut and he'll sleep elsewhere or if he had the right to kick Mikhail out. "It's... kinda my hobby. I like growing things."

Mikhail regarded the plants that Marv had sitting on his table and around the rest of the hut. "I've never seen these kinds of plants before..."

"They're from other regions."

"Amazing! I'd like to visit them some time." Mikhail straightened, stretched and yawned. Marv's groin stirred at the sight of Mikhail's big, broad, muscular back muscles bunching and then smoothening into a canvass of gentle slopes and hills. "But perhaps another time. I am tired."

He looked at the bed and kicked off his boots. Without waiting for another word, he jumped into the bed and began wiggling beneath the sheets.

"This is quite soft!" He sniffed the air. "A little rank though."

"Sorry," Marv responded, a faint blush touching his dark brown fur. "I... sort of jack off a lot here."

"That's fine. My brothers and I do so all the time as well. Sometimes with each other."

For some reason, the image of all three bears sitting around in a circle, a paw on another brother's cock made Marv very horny. He gulped down his arousal, hoping his erection wasn't evident through his cargo pants.

"Well, feel free ta jack off in 'ere. Night." He turned, a paw on his doorknob.

"Where are you going?"

He froze and turned back towards Mikhail, a cheesy grin on his features. "Ta find 'nother hut."

"Why don't you sleep here?" The cute bear with the thick cheek ruffs inclined his head to the side. Then he frowned and started to emerge from the bed. "I am not... imposing am I?"

"No! Course not! Jus'..."

Mikhail approached him tentatively. "What? There is enough room on the bed for us both with room to spare. Do I smell?" His ears drooped down. "Do I... offend you?"

"No!" For the second time that day, Marv wished he had Finn's eloquence or Lobo's way with words. "Jus'... I'm... kinda... into someone an'... it feels kinda weird ta be in bed with 'nother guy even if nuffin' happens..."

Mikhail smiled at him softly. "I understand. I will find my brothers then."

Recalling how Mikhail had gotten so easily lost in the woods earlier, Marv quickly seized the bear's paw before he could leave. "Wait!" He grimaced and shut his eyes. "I dun want ya to go..." He took a deep breath and sighed softly. "Jus'... let's cuddle, okay?"

The bear smiled softly at him. "I would like that."

******

349:11:04:07:01:00

Burheim was a very different environment to the concrete jungle of Hornton. Normally, the big, burly rhinos would be ill-suited traverse the thick foliage, dense underbrush and closely packed trees. The advantage the bears had was their knowledge of the area and that they were far more at home in the forests. Tactically speaking, the rhinos would be confined to the roads the caravans travelled on while the bears were free to move around as they saw fit. Even their charging would have been restricted as the ground was uneven on the roads.

But for Team Pathfinder, that was a different story entirely.

Though they remained in rhino form, they had far more armaments than just brute strength and their horns. Some would've said that it would be far more prudent to go in as dragons as they could take to the air and adapt to the forest. But as Ruin had decided, if they were going to infiltrate Hammerhorn's Rammers, they best do so as rhinos.

He in fact 'surfed' on a moving wave of concrete. Through his intense training, he had discovered that summoning concrete was far more taxing than merely moving it. As such, once he was out of sight from the Collector outpost, he summoned some concrete, stood on it and then mentally moved it through the forest. It made him silent and swift despite his bulky, shape.

But he was far from the most agile of the group.

Just ahead of him, he caught sight of Vale swinging from branch to branch using two, massive concrete arms jutting from his shoulders. The other Collector's fleshy arms remained free to move and help balance himself but the concrete ones were the ones that propelled him easily from branch to branch like a four hundred pound monkey wrapped in thick, leathery hide and with horns sticking out of his face. The level of concentration and quick reflexes that Vale displayed was truly astounding and Ruin couldn't be more proud of him.

Not that Crash was anything to laugh about either. The idea of Ruin's floating platform had actually come from Crash's technique of throwing a ball of concrete some distance and riding it a certain distance. The rhino and fellow Collector shot forth between the trees, zooming past Ruin. He clutched a ball of concrete as big as his chest ahead of him. When a tree came up in front of him, the ball would hit the trunk but instead of shattering, it would instantly wrap around the wooden frame like it was made out of liquid then instantly solidify to absorb the shock of Crash's impact. Crash would then aim himself in another direction and launch off immediately, using the same concrete that he had created. The youngest Collector really had learned how to manipulate concrete to the point where he could liquefy it and solidify it in the blink of an eye.

Looking at the three of them, Ruin couldn't believe the level of power they all had. Combined with their experience as Collectors and the power that affording, they could very well be the three most powerful Collectors in history. It was a pity they had to keep their abilities a secret but there would come a day when every Collector would wield this kind of power.

He caught movement off in the distance and quickly held up his hand, indicating that they stop. Crash immediately guided his bullet of concrete to the ground, crouching amongst the dense underbrush to hide amongst the leaves. Vale stopped swinging from branch to branch and instead lowered himself onto one branch in particular that would support his weight. For Ruin, he lowered his platform to the ground, landing beside Crash.

Ahead of them was the hulking form of a Maximus.

The enormous bear was hunched over on all fours at ten feet. When it was on its hind legs, it could easily rise to double that. Every muscle in its body was high pronounced, not a trace of fat on their rippling hide. They were truly amazing creatures and for Ruin, he couldn't understand how the bears could deny or shun such beasts when they held such raw power and potential.

But there was something different about this Maximus.

Thick metal plates had been strapped to its shoulders and chest. Vicious metal spikes jutted out of those spikes and there was a helmet slapped onto it head, horns like a rhino jutting from its muzzle. On its back was a saddle where a brown-scaled dragon sat, wings folded behind his back.

"How the hell did they get wings, tails and fire breath?" Crash whispered softly. "Only the Commander can promote people. Even if they turn into dragons, they should be little more than recruits!"

Ruin shrugged in response. "Maybe they found another Commander, another 'Alpha dragon'. Maybe that's what Hammerhorn is. Gantry did hint that Hammerhorn had been turned."

"Shit... I bet that bastard has been turning everyone into fucking captain level dragons."

"That wouldn't surprise me."

That thought did give Ruin pause. Captains were very strong and had incredible skills beyond their elemental breath, wings and tails. They were all mostly unique as well with each captain having some different trait that set them apart from the others. Savage had those pretty six wings, Lobo had four legs and stood like a quadruped. If Hammerhorn had his numerous Rammers transform to such a level...

"Psst, hey guys," Vale whispered, dropping silently from above. "Did you see what was around that Maximus' cock?"

Ruin was about to give his teammate some harsh words about keeping his mind on the job but he decided to look first. What he saw made him frown.

"Is that... a cock ring...?" he asked.

"It makes sense," Vale continued. "Maximus tend to turn back as soon as they cum and 'reseed' the land. If Hammerhorn wants mounts, he wouldn't want them changing back halfway through a battle."

Ruin narrowed his eyes. "I'm not sure if I should be horrified, impressed or aroused." He slowly rose off the ground as the Maximus and his rider began drop out of sight, crashing through the trees recklessly. "Come on, hopefully he'll lead us to their hideout."

They followed the Maximus, keeping at a respectful distance. The dragon and the mount remained silent though occasionally, the bear would let out an uncomfortable grunt which the dragon would return with a swift kick. A fait electrical buzz fill the air and the bear returned to being obedient. Ruin wasn't sure what was happening but it almost seemed like the bear was a captive.

At their pace, they managed to reach the mountains of Burheim rather quickly. The massive, snowy peaks loomed over them like watchful titans. Ruin could not help but be in awe. Especially as the Maximus and several other mounted bears began piling into a wood and concrete fortress built into the very base of the mountain. There was a vast swathe of deforested area between them and the fortress with giant plumes of black smoke rising from the fortress.

"Wait..." Crash murmured. "I know this place..." He looked to the left and right before sniffing the air. "This should be where a mining town known as New Quarry stands."

Ruin told his teammates to stay where they were amongst the trees and quickly began to rise slowly into the air on his disc of concrete. As he rose, he began to see the faint trails of the caravan roads leading to the town. He swore quietly at the sight of several bear buildings being rapidly converted into factories and workshops for Hammerhorn. The red banner of the Rammers stood proudly over the concrete walls.

He quickly dropped back to his teammates. "It definitely used to be a bear town."

"But how'd they find it?" asked Vale. "How'd we miss it? We were patrolling the Gates almost every day!"

"But we weren't keeping an eye on it every hour," Crash responded glumly. "They could've slipped in any time and if they were dragons, they wouldn't need to make tracks on the ground. They could've flown through and maybe even carried some rhinos between them to avoid detection."

Ruin imagined Hammerhorn's dragons flying through the Gates, carrying their fellow rhinos as they soared through the trees. They would fly a short distance away from the Gate to avoid detection and then drop back down and quickly search for some place to attack.

"Fuck..." he muttered softly. He put aside his disappointment at himself for focusing more on Caesar's training than the safety of Arcadia and the rest of the Collectors. Hammerhorn had a strong base now and a mounted army. They needed more intelligence.

"We need to get in there. Learn about what's going on," he announced. Pointing at the wall, he said, "The wall goes mostly all around except for where it meets the mountainside. There's a sheer wall there. We can probably make it past there."

They all agreed and quickly hurried to where the forest met the mountain. No longer worried about tracking a Maximus, they hit it at full speed and quickly swept up the mountain side. The forest grew thinner as their altitude increased but they made swift progress up the mountain. In less than half an hour, they had made it around the fortress walls and just behind the fortress itself.

Nodding towards one another, Ruin summoned some concrete and let his two teammates stand on them. Slowly, he lifted them off the ground and lowered them down into the fortress itself.

As they drew closer, he got a closer look at the massive construction. The massive semi-circular quarry still dominated most of the fortress. It met the mountain side and dozens of rhinos and dragons were working the stone. What they were hoping to use it for was still up for debate but it could not be good. Enormous workshops churched out menacing war machines from catapults and battering rams. They were preparing for war. Or perhaps they were securing their position.

The most prominent feature of the fortress, however, was the large pit right beside the quarry. There were dozens of black shapes within the pit and as they drew closer, Ruin realised that they were bears. Ruin's brow furrowed as a group of dragons shoved a bear into the pit, the poor guy looking all beaten and exhausted. Another bear was pulled from them into a nearby warehouse of sorts. Tremendous roars erupted from the warehouse and from its double doors, an enormous Maximus emerged, fully armoured and already mounted by a dragon.

"Fuck... they're prisoners!" Crash whispered.

"Worse... Slaves," Ruin murmured.

They landed within the fortress, amongst several of the buildings. The smell of smoke, burning wood and smelting metal was thick in the air that it made Ruin's nose sting. He saw very few rhinos amongst the group, mostly dragons. That just cemented Crash's theory on how they had managed to make it through to here.

Gesturing for silence and caution, he swept through the fortress, making straight for the pit. Entrance to the prison seemed to be through a building heavily guarded by many Rammers of both the rhino and the dragon variety. The pit itself, however, was not blocked by any sort of roof. The jailers probably assumed that the bears wouldn't be able to climb out.

Ruin quietly reached the edge of the pit and peered in. All of the bears, though still retaining their bulk and physical fitness, had this dead, dejected look in their eyes. They were beaten, broken. How long had they been subject to this kind of treatment?

Quietly, he summoned more concrete and lowered himself and his team amongst them. As they approached, the bears took notice. There was only mild curiosity in their eyes probably in the unusual method of arrival. Once they landed, one of the bears spoke.

"Please... for fuck's sake... You just took Viktor! Why do you need another one!?"

The cursing was definitely not something he had heard from any other bear. "We're not here with the Rammers," he said gently, pressing a hand against his chest. "My name is Ruin. This is Crash and Vale. We're here scouting the area of Arcadia. We're here to help?"

"Help?" repeated the bear. He rose to his feet, standing at an impressive eight feet tall of muscle. The thick grey fur around his muzzle almost looked like a moustache and he had silvery hair growing between his ears. "Help? That's what you said the last time you came to us!? You told us that you would bring us back to our friends and family! That you'd cure us of being a Maximus! But all you did was turn everyone else into a Maximus!"

Crash stepped forward, his jaw slack in shock. "You guys are Maximus?"

The big bear's eyes narrowed at him. Then his features softened. "There is... innocence in your eyes." He cast his cornflower blue eyes to the other two Collectors. "You really do not know, do you?"

Along with the others, Ruin shook their head.

"Then you are here to liberate us?"

"Tell us what's going on first," Crash insisted. "You're Maximus but...?"

The big bear sat back down, his thick legs stretched out in front of him. Other bears began gathering around, curious now at the newcomers. "We Maximus used to live out in the wilds, just making do with what we could. We felt the power of becoming a Maximus and... we loved it. But deep in our hearts, we yearn for that the peace, surety and comfort of being with a community. Some of us drown our sorrows in food and resources, turning into the beasts that most of the world see." He glanced around sadly. "We are shunned by our fellows and that, in turn, drives us almost mad...

"But then, these scaly men with wings met us. We heard stories of them raiding our caravans when we were living amongst the rest but it was so strange seeing them in person." The bear looked up at the pit's lips. "They promised that we would be reunited with our community if we helped them. They told us to embrace the Maximus for it was nothing to be ashamed of. But when we are those... those beasts... we cannot control ourselves. We are animals."

The bear rubbed his temples. "All I remember is charging into New Quarry and the scaled ones taking every bear prisoner. When I next came to... a man looking like yourself who called himself 'Bulldozer' was telling the captives to embrace being a Maximus. But no one would willingly do that... at least no _sane_bear. So he started _force feeding_them..."

"That's sick!" Vale exclaimed.

The bear nodded grimly towards the lip of the pit. "They threw us all in here. Those unwilling to help, that is. They feed us until we turn in a warehouse and then they strap these devices around our cocks so we do not orgasm. They ride us around like beasts to conquer other villages. Only when they are done with us do they let us feel the bliss of orgasm and return us here, broken and beaten..." His massive shoulder sagged. "The guilt of doing this... That we helped bring this plague upon the land..."

"Wait," Ruin said. "You said only those unwilling to help were thrown in here. Does that mean...?"

The storyteller lifted his gaze and stared at them darkly. "Yes. Sergei. He and a few others of the Maximus serve willingly. They have 'embraced the Maximus' as Bulldozer has suggested. They willingly go with the hunting groups, scouting out villages and searching for Maximus to turn." He looked around glumly at the pit. "I hear they need to build a new, bigger pit soon to house us all..."

"That must be what they're doing with the quarry," Crash murmured.

Ruin couldn't believe what he was hearing. He knew that Hammerhorn was ambitious but to use bears like cattle? It was beyond appalling. His heart burned with anger and he turned to the rest of his team, giving them all a nod.

"We're only the scouting team," he told the bear. "We can't do much but we promise to get out of here and tell the rest of our people where you are. We'll get you out of here. We promise." He held out his hand.

"Thank you, Ruin," answered the bear. "Thank -"

A loud shout suddenly erupted from behind them and they spun. The iron gates leading out of the pit suddenly sprang open and two big dragons came storming out, both of them silver in colour.

"You there! Stop!" shouted one of the dragons.

"Time to go!" Crash shouted he lifted his arms but froze when the dragons opened their jaws and exhaled. Molten metal came shooting out of their jaws, shooting straight towards him. "Holy shit!"

Ruin acted quickly and swept his arms upwards. A wall of concrete erupted from the ground and intercepted the flying stream of metal. The two dragons stared at the grey wall suddenly in front of them. It was enough for Ruin to sweep his arms towards the reptiles and sent the wall flying straight at them. The dragons were thrown back into the tunnels leading out of the bit, the concrete wall barring their passage.

"We'll be back!" he promised the bears, creating a disc of concrete for himself. "I promise!"

The light of hope shone in the bears' eyes as Ruin floated into the air.

Vale grew his two arms of concrete once more and used them to climb straight out of the pit. Crash crouched as concrete gathered around his feet. A pillar of grey shot up from underneath him with enough force to send him hurtling out of the pit. Ruin drifted out of the pit just as a large group of dragons and rhinos surrounded them.

A large rhino stepped forward. He wore a torn, plaid shirt and rather tight, denim shorts. What really set him apart from the rest was the presence of a nose ring and the streams of tattoos all over his arms. Ruin guessed that this particular Rammer had been through to Camp Draco and Burheim.

"Well this is new," the Rammer said, a strange calm in his voice. "I've never seen a rhino manipulate stone in such a way. Did Arcadia finally get that silver spoon out of their ass and finally start experimenting and embracing the Haze or are you some sort of splinter group?"

Ruin held up his hands, stopping any of his team from speaking.

"Loyalty," the Rammer chuckled. "Impressive. If only you could trust those that you are loyal to." When no reply came from the Collectors, the Rammer continued. "My name is Bulldozer. I am Hammerhorn's right hand man. Ever since Gantry cocked up in Camp Draco, anyway. Though I have no delusions that this will last. Not after what's happened here."

Ruin decided to break his silence. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

"Ah! So it speaks!" Bulldozer laughed. "Suffice to say that Hammerhorn has proven himself somewhat... soft." A snarl touched his lips. "He cares about the identity of his people. After what happened in Camp Draco, he's now all about securing his homeland. He's gone running back into Hornton with his tail tucked between his legs!"

That explained why the Rammers were expanding to the suburbs. Hammerhorn was trying to consolidate his forces. That meant that this group was the splinter group.

"Conquest still runs in his blood," Bulldozer said. "That is why he gave me free reign of this place but I have no doubt Gantry will come up with some _other_scheme that'll put him back on top." He waved his hand absently through the air. "Whatever. I really don't care. All I care about is getting bears, dragons and rhinos to Regulus."

"Who is Regulus?"

The Rammer lifted an eyebrow at him. A sinister smile slowly crossed his features. "So... Skip still hasn't told you. Even in the face of all that is happening, he still keeps his muzzle shut. Fine. I'll play his game." He began to pace in front of the trio of Collectors. "You won't get anything from me, Collectors. But like I said, loyalty is admirable if only you could trust those you are loyal to."

He pressed a hand against his chest. "I thought I could trust Hammerhorn to bring an army to Regulus but it seems that my faith was misplaced. Now I will have to do it myself. Under his banner, of course."

"And Hammerhorn's troops are letting you do this!?" Crash exclaimed.

"Of sorts." Bulldozer shrugged and grinned. "Let's just say that I have the moniker 'The Nose'." He narrowed his gaze at them. "You know how the Haze manipulates people's minds, right? And how the Haze is an airborne agent that has a distinct smell? Well, then use those clues to piece things together. Actually..." He laughed and stared at them directly. "Don't bother. Pretty soon, you won't have to worry about that at all."

Alarm bells began ringing in Ruin's mind especially an overwhelmingly sweet, flowery stench filled his nostrils. It was so strong that it made him dizzy and gave him a throbbing headache. Despite that, he felt heat began building in his groin and his cock starting to stir.

"Hold your breath!" he shouted. "Don't breathe the shit in!"

"It's no use!" laughed Bulldozer. "Can you truly keep holding your breath while you're being attacked by my army!?"

On some unspoken cue, the dragons and rhinos charged. Ruin immediately swung his arms upwards, a barrier of concrete exploding from the ground and barring their attacks. He exchanged glances with his teammates and all three of them nodded in unison, perfectly in synch. Just as they had practised so many times before.

Vale let out a roar and slammed his might concrete fists into the barrier Ruin had erected. The impact sent enormous shards flying straight at their attackers. The audacity of the blow was enough to stun them all even the formerly calm and collected Bulldozer. Through chaos, Crash shot forward and began hurling blocks of liquid concrete in at the confused Rammers. Concrete would wrap around a rhino's wrists with enough force to carry him fifty metres to the closest wall where it would solidify and hold him there. Dragons hoping to breathe their elemental weapons suddenly found a ring of concrete wrapped tightly around their muzzles, weighing them down and preventing them from breathing flames, electricity or the bizarre molten metal.

Then it was Ruin's turn. He flung his hands up, lifting himself and his teammates off the ground on three pillars of grey stone. With a shout, more concrete erupted from the ground in front of him, forming the easily distinguishable features of a massive rhino's head. He thrust his hands forward and the head suddenly went charging right through the fortress, cleaving right through the horrified crowds and tearing right through any building that got in their way. It continued unopposed, carrying the three Collectors within its protected folds like a speeding car. Even through the thick folds of the concrete rhino's head, they could hear the cheers of the bears as they made their escape.

As last 'present' to Bulldozer, Crash gathered a ball of concrete into his hands and tossed it into the midst of the fortress.

For Bulldozer, he could only lie stunned on the ground at the immense power that these Collectors held. He began running through all the possibilities in his mind. Did Skip, as someone closer to the core company than him, know something about the Haze that he did not? Did he somehow train the Collectors to be these _powered_supermen? Who else had these powers?

It was just as he was thinking this that the concrete ball Crash left behind rolled into view. It was about as big as a bowling ball but its surface bubbled and rippled like water.

"Get down!" he roared and immediately dove behind a nearby building.

There was no boom.

No tremendous explosion or thunderous eruption.

Still, Bulldozer's heart skipped a beat with a spear of concrete shot right through the wooden wall he had been hiding behind and came within an inch of his face. He dared a look around the corner and saw many of the Rammers heavily injured by what could only be considered a fragmentation grenade. The Haze would eventually heal them up but the damage was done.

The bears were cheering. Their morale was back up.

And his troops were heavily damaged. Nothing the Haze couldn't cure.

If those Collectors came back with more men...

"We need to leave," he murmured softly. "We need to get back to Hammerhorn."

******

349:11:04:08:44:44

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Marv started awake. He sat up immediately, feeling somewhat... lighter and a little colder. He stole a quick glance at his hands. It took him a moment to register that he no longer had leathery paw pads on his palms or dagger like claws on the tips of his fingers.

The dark brown fur was gone instead replaced by the thick black hairs that ran all over his arms with an emphasis of thickness on his forearms. As he shuffled in the bed, he felt the evidence of nightly activities across his chest. He grimaced at the thick patches of dried semen infused into the thick matt of black hairs all over his chest.

A second scream cut through the morning.

"That sounds familiar," he grunted. Kevin's and the other High Horn's own shouts and the cries the day he first changed brought back memories of scrambling across the camp in search for the sources of the panicked screams.

He just wondered if Mikhail -

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

Marv grit his teeth together - his normal, human teeth - with the cry coming from right beside him. Right beside him, a young human man with bright, brown eyes and platinum blonde hair had a finger pointed at him. He had rather thick sideburns reminiscent of the cheek ruffs he possessed as a bear. His large, muscular form was covered in a light dusting of the same platinum blonde, almost invisible against his tanned skin. It was most visible on his chest where it formed a little crest on his chest leaving a golden colour on between his pectorals.

"Who are you!?" Mikhail cried. "What are you doing here!? Where is Rush!?"

Marv immediately lunged at him before he could topple off the bed. "Whoa! Slow down there, lil' buddy! It's me! Rush! This is what I look like human."

Mikhail blinked a couple of times and then regarded his own body. Panic began creeping into his features again as he quickly touched his own face, feeling the smooth skin, the distinct lack of a muzzle or whiskers and fur on his body. He began hyperventilating but Marv quickly wrapped his big arms around the poor guy, holding him tightly around his hairy chest. Perhaps it was the presence of such thick, almost fur-like chest hair but Mikhail began to calm down.

After a few minutes, Mikhail calmed and he had gotten out of the bed to examine himself in the mirror.

"I look so small..." he murmured. He had to hold up his pants as there was no way they could fit him anymore. "And where is my tail?" He turned around, wiggling his bubble butt.

"Ya look jus' like any human," Marv chuckled softly, coming up beside Mikhail. It was amazing that he now stood at a few inches taller than the bear. Judging by the mirror alone, he had put on some extra muscle, definitely more hair and a few more inches of height. To most other humans, he would definitely be above average.

"And I feel so cold," Mikhail murmured, shivering and hugging himself. "How do you humans live without fur?"

"Clothes," Marv answered simply. "That and we tend to stay close to one another." To prove his point he wrapped his arms around Mikhail's waist, pulling him close. Mikhail let out a soft purring as he rubbed his back against Marv's thick chest hair.

"Better?" asked Marv.

"Much better," Mikhail responded with a content sigh. He relaxed so much that his grip around his pants slacked and the denim garment fell to the ground. It wasn't just his pants either but also his underwear. It revealed his impressive eight inch flaccid cock which was slowly starting to rise. It was perfectly thick and long uncut sausage that had Marv's mouth watering. He could feel the former bear's body hear rising with a blush.

"I am sorry," said Mikhail, reaching down for his pants. "I guess I need to find some better fitting clothing."

"Ya dun need ta apologise," Marv said gently. "Jus' go nude like the rest o' us. Ain't no shame innit."

Mikhail lowered his gaze and blushed deeply. "I... I might expose myself."

"Uh... yeah. That's the point o' goin' 'round nude. Ya dun need ta worry 'bout hurtin' yerself though. 'Round 'ere, stuff generally ain't gunna hurt ya 'less ya purposefully get yerself hurt."

"That's not the... 'exposed' I meant."

Marv took a while five second to get what Mikhail was talking about. "Oh!" He laughed and clapped Mikhail on the shoulder. "Well, ya dun need ta worry 'bound that. We're all guys 'ere an' we go 'round butt naked. We get hard all the time. Fuck, it's an invitation ta fuck."

Mikhail gave him a puzzled look. "I do not understand."

"What? Ya never fucked?"

The former bear shook his head in confusion. "I always took 'fuck' to be a meaningless expletive. Something you say when you are angry. I did not know it could be used as a verb to describe an activity of sorts."

That went right over Marv's head. "I dun know 'bout verbs an' expletives but ya seriously never fucked? I mean, jus' last night ya told me you an' yer brothers jerk each other off."

"Yes..." Mikhail responded, seemingly even more confused. "We masturbate with one another. We are men and we need sexual release. It is considered selfish and a step towards becoming a Maximus if you just pleasure yourself. Pleasuring another is fine and encouraged."

"So ya never went further than that? Like, ya never got down on all fours an' stuck yer dick up yer brother's ass or sucked yer brother's cock or sumthin?"

Mikhail jerked back in surprise. "Why would I want to do that!?"

A broad grin crossed his features as he pulled Mikhail towards himself. "Ya got a lot ta learn 'bout Arcadia, Mickey." He patted Mikhail's head comfortingly. "But fer now, bet yer brothers are still freakin' out. Let's go see 'em."

As it turns out, Antony and Dimitri had both stayed with a few other Collectors who were experienced with their transformations. Antony had stayed with Finn and Cody while Dimitri had spent the night with Savage and Lobo. Both Savage and Lobo remained as bears leaving Dimitri to look so small and human between them. There was a smug look on Savage's face that suggested that he had been the most satisfied of the experience, likely having been fucked by Dimitri as a bear and with Lobo receiving his cum. That would explain why Dimitri was the only human.

Seeing Finn still as a bear left a bitter taste in Marv's mouth. Having Antony fuck him just didn't seem right to Marv even if it was just the Haze. But something else didn't quite sit well with him. Cody was human as well, showing of his bright, red chest hair and the confident swagger of a military man. He was smoking hot especially with his permanent five o'clock shadow.

The cogs began ticking away in Marv's mind.

Neither he nor Mikhail did anything last night which was why they were both human.

Dimitri likely fucked Savage who in turn spilled his seed into Lobo, explaining while Dimitri was the only human in the trio.

But how did that work with Finn, Antony and Cody?

If Finn was a bear, that would mean that Antony fucked Finn. But where did Cody fit into the equation? Did he just sit there and masturbate? He didn't seem like the kind of person that would be left out of the fun especially how he considered Finn cuddly. Maybe they just frotted? No consumption of cum?

This continued to bother him as Collectors gathered in the Mess Hall for some of the almond and honey bread that Cross had baked. Lobo held up his big paws as the gathered group began to take their seat.

"Team Pathfinder is already in Burheim and scouting the area for Hammerhorn's forces," he announced. "I expect to hear from them fairly soon. But for the rest of us, we need to start acting. Team Commando and Team Trailblazer will head to the villages and spread the word. Vanguard will head to Burheim and secure our outpost. I've spoken to your team leaders for your individual missions. Let's push Hammerhorn out of Burheim just like we pushed him out of Camp Draco!"

A cheer rang out through the crowd and as it died, Marv made his way towards Lobo for his assignment. The Collector was leading against the kitchen tabletop with Cross.

"Rush, good. You're here." Lobo nodded towards him. "I want you take Mikhail, Dimitri and Antony to Burheim first. Change them back into bears and then get them and their caravan down their route to spread the word as fast as possible."

"What're ya gonna do?" Marv asked.

"Dere are other villages west an' south o' our outpost," Cross grunted. "Places Antony dun take his caravan. We gonna team up with Pathfinder ta get word to 'em."

"Oh. 'Kay." Marv wasn't sure if he should be relieved that he won't be working with Finn or not but he kept himself tight lipped on the subject.

"Just be careful around the bears," Lobo warned. "They're still new to this stuff and being in Arcadia can be a bit of a culture shock. Changing back into bears might just be very... surprising to them. Especially considering how they're not used to the concept of... um..."

"Fucking?" Marv finished with a grin. "Dun worry, Lobo. I'll try an' get 'em ta change naturally first. If that dun work, I'll ease 'em into it."

Lobo clapped his shoulder. "Good man." Before he returned to breakfast, however, Finn's constant bestial shape returned with a terrible nagging sensation. "Hey Lobo, Cross, did either of ya ever see Renegade in 'is human form lately?"

The two senior Collectors exchanged glances then grinned at one another.

"Curious what he looks like now as a human?" Lobo asked.

"Jus' like when we wus goin' through the Gates," Cross laughed. "More body hair, bigger dicks, bigger muscles, taller. Maybe even sum tats." He shook his head and nodded towards where Finn had gathered his team with Antony. "Dun worry 'bout it, Rush. Ya'll get ta see 'im human again."

"Just don't go thinking that being human is somehow synonymous with him being with you," Lobo warned.

Some of those words were lost on Marv. "Huh?"

"I mean," said his leader patiently, "just remember that Finn chose Cody. Being human again won't change that."

Marv's eyes widened and he shook his head. "What? Oh! Naw! It ain't 'bout that! Jus'..." He cut himself off at the two Collectors began to laugh.

Cross leaned forward with a grin. "Trust me on this, kiddo. Ya can't rush love. It jus' happens."

"And he's one to talk from experience," added Lobo, giving the Collector cook a nudge with his elbow.

Marv didn't feel like constantly being ridiculed so he excused himself and began to head towards Mikhail who was eagerly eating the food offered to him. Dimitri was sitting beside him and the two were comparing their bodies between each spoonful of honeyed oats. They were particularly awed at their sensitive, smooth skin, shamelessly rubbing their big hands against one another. They would pause when one or the other began to get aroused though which was a shame.

"'ey guys," Marv greeted as he approached them. "Finish yer breakfast. We're gunna head to Burheim an' change ya back ta bears."

"So soon?" Dimitri asked, clearly far more accepting of his new form than either of his brothers. "I was hoping to explore this body for a little longer."

Marv chuckled and brought his own bowl of porridge onto the table, causing the other two to shuffle aside a little to give him room. "We still got Hammerhorn in yer home ta deal with. Gotta spread the news of 'im, right?"

Dimitri groaned and conceded. He began shovelling the porridge into his mouth and chewing on the almond and honey bread recklessly. Mikhail had a little more restraint but he was just as hungry. Looking at them both shovel through their food, Marv realised just how hungry he was and before he knew it, he was taking their bowls to the kitchen for a second helping. He returned with more porridge and bread. His food consumption really had gone through the roof since his transformation.

As he headed back, he flagged down Antony and sat down with all three brothers. He told them all the plan, omitting the part where he would have to stick his dick up their asses or down their throats to get them to change if they couldn't just by exposure to the Haze. But he was sure that as natives of Burheim, they would have no problem changing by just being in the region.

Of the three, Antony seemed the most eager to change back and the one that was most uncomfortable in his human form. He was wearing the most clothing while both Dimitri and Mikhail went about nude. He had borrowed some clothes from Finn, apparently, because he wore a red plaid shirt. Every once in a while, he would shuffle uncomfortably inside the confines of the fabric which was two or three sizes too big for him. He ate the slowest out of them all.

Marv decided that he needed to talk to Antony privately first before they stepped into Burheim. If the poor guy couldn't change into a bear by just being there, then the fucking would be a culture shock. Enough that it'd probably break his brain.

Marv remembered his first time learning that the guys in the Collective just fucked whenever they wanted. He had always been an outgoing guy but when he was hit on and invited to bed with another man, he had been dumbstruck and unsure of what to do. Somewhere in the deep recesses of his memories, his body knew exactly what to do but his mind was constantly overthinking everything even when the pleasure became unbearable and he cummed.

Just thinking that the guys he had lived with for a month fucked each other relentlessly behind closed doors... He reeled from the experience for a whole week.

Once they were finished with breakfast, he told Dimitri and Mikhail to get cleaned up before they headed out. Antony stood as well but Marv quickly gripped his wrist and pulled him back down to the seat opposite to him.

"Is something the matter?" Antony asked.

"Ya just seemed freaked out 'bout all this," Marv answered. "Did Renegade and Cody do sumthin' to ya last night?"

Antony frowned and opened his lips to say something. He stopped himself thrice before letting out a sigh of resignation. "Last night, Renegade... erm... Finn, introduced me to the concept of sex."

Marv mentally sighed with relief but at the same time, his heart felt heavy at the thought of someone else fucking Finn.

"He told me how a man's penis can be inserted into... another man's anal cavity," Antony murmured softly. There was a deep blush on his cheek hidden by the thick but well maintained beard he wore. The edges of his facial hair were well trimmed and hugged his face tightly but so thick that they didn't show a single patch of skin. "I was... tempted. Like I've never been tempted before."

"What's wrong with that?"

Antony's eyes blazed with conflict and fear. "Don't you see? I am from Burheim! If I indulge in such acts, who is to say I will not turn into a Maximus!? As far as I see it, I am the one gaining from the experience as I am using my partner's ass as a stimulus! What does my partner get out of it!?"

Marv was just... stunned. Antony's fear of fucking was alien to him. Where the dynamics of being a bear or a Maximus fit into the equation only complicated matters all the more. He wasn't sure if he should be the one to lead these bears back into becoming bears. But a look towards the kitchen revealed that Cross and Lobo had already left. He noticed that Finn and Team Trailblazer had also departed. Most of the other Collectors and their teams had left.

"Look," he told Antony, "havin' sex ain't jus' bout you getting' yer rocks off. The guy yer fuckin' has to let ya. If they don't an' ya still go at it, well... that's wrong. That's when yer bein' selfish. But if they guy lets ya, it's okay. But ya gotta stop if they tell ya to."

"But what if I cannot?" pleaded Antony, his eyes wide with concern. "Last night... watching those two pleasure one another... having them invite me into their folds and pleasuring me... I could not get the image of my cock up one of their asses or down their throats!" He grimaced, gripping the sides of his head and shaking it. "It is taking everything I can not to get hard right now!"

That level of self-control truly was admirable but Marv couldn't let such a poor, sweet guy go on being tormented. He got up from his seat and sat down next to Antony, wrapping his arms around the big guy comfortingly. Antony leaned in to him, shaking and quivering. It was clear the poor guy was getting hard from the large lump in his pants.

Marv reached down and seized the growing tent, making Antony tense. The former bear looked up and the moment he did, Marv pressed his lips against Antony's. The eldest of the brothers gasped... before letting out a soft moan. His eyes shut and he leaned against Marv, his hands running across Marv's hairy chest, feeling the plump muscles beneath his pectorals.

After a few seconds, Marv pulled away from the kiss, leaving Antony chasing him. But as he tore away, Antony seemed to snap out of his trance and blink several times. A blush touched his cheeks again and he turned away. Though he still didn't object to the hand Marv had over his crotch.

"Ya dun need ta worry 'bout goin' Maximus 'round me," Marv said gently. "Believe me, whatev'r ya do, I'll love it."

"You... will?" Antony inclined his head to the side. "Why?"

It was Marv's turn to blush. "Let's jus' say that I really haven't had a good fuck in a while." He hugged Antony against himself. "So I'll make ya a deal. If ya every feel tempted, ya can always come ta me. 'kay?"

He wasn't sure if Antony would ever make good on that promise and he wasn't even really that sure if he could follow through but he had to say something to calm the man down. His heart still belonged to Finn and he had abstained from fucking or getting fucked by anyone up to that point. All his transformations had been based entirely on being exposed to the Haze. He had become ridiculously proficient in it, in fact, so much so that he didn't even get an erection anymore when he changed.

He was getting a serious case of blue balls.

If that offer had been brought out by hormones, it was too late to take it back.

He could see there was a flash in Antony's eyes hinting that he may have wanted to take Marv up on that offer at that moment. Thankfully, Antony pushed himself away from Marv, using both hands to rest against Marv's hairy chest.

"Thank you, Rush," he said gently. "I appreciate the offer." He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "I think I am fine now."

"Great."

With that issue put to rest, Marv brought Antony to the river where Dimitri and Mikhail were just finishing their baths. The two had obtained some clothes from the other Collectors and said that they would meet them at the Gates. Marv nodded in acknowledgement and lowered himself into the warm waters of the river. Antony was a little hesitant.

Yet again.

"What's wrong?"

"I have never bathed in a river before."

Marv gave him an exasperated stare. "Do ya think maybe yer givin' this whole 'turnin' inta a Maximus' thin' too much thought?"

"How could I not?" Antony exclaimed. "It is the centre of our lifestyle! It is what defines us!"

"Does it still?" Marv asked. "I mean, now ya know Maximus turn back, right? An' even if ya do go Maximus, ya know Arcadia will be here ta help ya. We all will. Do ya really need ta be accepted by assholes that won't let go o' one mistake?"

"But it's a big mistake..."

"People make mistakes." Marv got out of the water, shivering as the winds brushed against his wet flesh. He stepped behind Antony and unbuckled the bear's belt from behind. "Ya jus' gotta live with 'em an' move on."

"I suppose..."

"Only way yer gonna have fun."

Had Antony turned around, he would've seen Marv's devilish grin and it would have been enough warning. As it stood, it came as a total surprise when the bigger human gave him a hard shove and sent him toppling into the river. Antony let out a startled cry and flailed about. His right foot caught the edge of the stream and the sudden change of temperature instinctively made him lift his right leg, further tearing down his balance.

He fell face first into the river, arms waving madly about. Marv crossed his arms and watched with a smirk on his face as Antony continued to flail about like he was drowning. The river was only about thigh deep and Antony was spluttering and gurgling with the desperation of a man lost at sea. Eventually, Antony found that he wasn't drowning and sat up, the water just barely rising up to his shoulders.

"It's... It's shallow..." he whispered. Then, he spun towards Marv, shooting him a ferocious stare. "I could have died!"

"Yer bein' dramatic," Marv replied with an absent wave. He waded into the waters next to Antony and bent down, cupping some water in his big hands and then splashing his face with it. The cool touch of the river was quite relaxing and cleansing. "Now get outta yer clothes. Yer not gunna bathe like that."

"I am done bathing," Antony grumbled, making for the shore. His water soaked pants and shirt, however, made movement hard. Marv just watched with a smirk as the former bear tried not to meet his gaze as he struggled to the shore. Eventually, Antony just let out a loud snarl and tore off his shirt and pants. He tossed them onto the shore, spinning towards Marv to reveal his naked form.

"There!? Happy!?" he demanded.

"Sorta," Marv said, wading over. He made to move behind Antony but the eldest of the brother just spun back around, not trusting him with his back. With a shrug, Marv reached over to the slightly shorter man's shoulders and began to kneed his thumbs against the hard muscles.

For a second, Antony's eyes widened and he tensed all the more. As Marv pressed against the rigid muscles, however, and began tenderising them, Antony began to relax. The blonde haired man even let out a soft moan.

Momentarily caught off guard, Marv took the opportunity to move behind Antony so that he could start fully rubbing his charge's broad shoulders from an easier angle. The gentle massage further relaxed Antony. Slowly, Marv began to apply pressure downwards, guiding Antony to his knees. The big blonde-haired man knelt in the waters, letting his legs stretch out in front of him. Marv positioned himself just behind Antony, seating himself just on the shore and stretching out his legs as well to cradle Antony's thighs. That his crotch was pressed up against Antony's muscular back was not an issue.

Slowly, he began to move this roving hands lower across his friend's back, bringing more moans from the former bear. He noticed the light dusting of blonde hair across the muscular hills, nearly invisible in the daylight. As he continued to ease Antony down, he caught sight of the little wooden box filled with bath products that the Collectors had set up on the shore for their baths. He took some soap and a loofa from the container, lathered it all up and gently applied it onto Antony's back.

"That feels... very nice," Antony admitted.

"Wanna take over, champ?" Marv asked, handing him the loofa. "I'll work on yer hair."

Without a word, Antony took the offered sponge and began rubbing it across his arms and chest. That gave time for Marv to squirt some shampoo into his big hands and apply it to Antony's short, blonde hair. He massaged the formula deep down into the blonde roots. The shampoo smelled vaguely of grapefruit, mixing well with the faint, musky smell of the soap.

"Okay, rinse off," Marv instructed.

Antony nodded and sat up at a kneeling position. He dunked his head quickly beneath the surface of the river, running his hands through his hair before emerging once again, free of soap and suds. A loud gasp escaped him as he shook his head free of the remaining droplets.

"That ain't so bad, right?"

The eldest of the bear brothers gave him a smirk. "After the initial shock of you pushing me under the water, no it was not." He lifted the wet loofa. "Your turn?"

"Naw, ya go on ahead an' find yerself some new clothes."

"I cannot do that," answered Antony, heading over to the box of bathing soaps and oils. "I am from Burheim. We must give as much as we take."

"Dun ya ever jus' take a gift?" Marv asked, knowing full well what the answer was.

"Perhaps I can learn but for today, I will scrub you down as well."

Marv didn't get to protest as Antony quickly approached and began running the soapy loofa all over his body in gentle circles. The gentle tugging against his chest hair was quite pleasant. Tension that he never knew he had began to seep away with the river. A bolt of arousal shot through his body the moment the sponge rubbed against his nipple and it was instantly diamond hard. He fought to keep his features still however as Antony began scrubbing down his abdomen.

"You do not like it? Am I doing it wrong?" Antony asked suddenly, regarding him with a concerned look.

"Wha? No. It's cool."

"You do not smile."

"Am I supposta?" Marv laughed, raising his arm and absently rubbing the back of his head. He did offer Antony a lopsided, awkward smile though. "I jus' never had an'one scrub me down befer."

"Never? Not even by your friends?"

"Been kinda keepin' ta myself since Renegade chose Cody."

"Ah," Antony responded with a nod. He purposefully avoided Marv's crotch and began scrubbing down his thick legs. "So you were pining for Renegade as well then? And he chose the Commander over you. He is the poorer for it."

"Thanks man," Marv chuckled. "But I ain't givin' up. I can still win Renegade over. I jus' needta smarten up an' get my shit inta gear."

Antony moved behind Marv and began scrubbing his back. The gentle strokes of the loofa against his skin was heaven. He didn't think he'd have such sensations as a rhino, bear or dragon. There were advantages to being human.

"But why must you change yourself to fit his standards?" Antony asked. "Is he truly worth changing yourself completely for? Should he not change for you as well?"

Marv snickered. "When ya put it like that, ya make it sound like I'm chasin' a dead end."

"Renegade is charming and very brave. I can understand how one would feel attracted to him."

"Dun tell me yer thinkin' 'bout goin' after him too," Marv laughed, only half-jokingly.

"He is not my type," Antony responded. "Though he is rather skilled with his tongue." A soft grunt from Antony betrayed the bear's arousal.

Glancing over his shoulder, Marv said, "What is yer type?"

Antony's face scrunched up into a cute bundle of thought. "I honestly have never given it much thought. My whole world has always been about my brothers and I. This thing that Cody and Finn have. It is... alien to me."

"Ya mean the sex?"

"No. Not at all." Antony shook his head as he guided Marv to sit. "They have this genuine affection for one another. It is almost... brotherly but greater."

The word 'love' sprang into Marv's mind, burning like a beacon in his brain and nearly setting his skull on fire. He would've winced had Antony not started to massage his scalp with the gentle shampoo.

"Guess they're really inta each other," he muttered softly.

"I think that is because they work so well with one another," answered Antony. "Just like how my brothers and I work well together. That commonality is what binds us. Perhaps you should look for someone more like yourself instead of trying to change yourself to fit their template."

Marv was getting a sick feeling in his stomach not only because of the subject but also because he knew Antony was right. But the feeling he held for Finn, that strong bond he had, was like a heavy anchor deep in his chest. It hurt to hold it there and some part of him wanted to let go of it but at the same time, he clung onto it so tightly.

He took a deep breath and dunked his head into the river's waters. Peace engulfed him for the briefest moments then he emerged back into the reality he called home. He brushed the rest of the suds away from his head, taking another dip into the river just to make sure. When he emerged, he shook his head clear of the waters, drizzling Antony lightly. He realised his hair was a little longer than before. Nothing too noticeable just a little thicker.

"Thanks fer the advice," he said, offering Antony a faint smile. "But we gotta get goin' ta Burheim. We got lotsa yer people ta warn."

Antony returned the smile. "And here I was just starting to enjoy Arcadia."

******

349:11:04:10:07:11

"You have returned earlier than expected," Caesar said over the speakers. "I was not expecting you to arrive until much later if at all. As I recall, your leader had sent you on a scouting mission of this Burheim."

"We found our targets a lot sooner than expected," Ruin grunted, stepping into the broad atrium of the power plant. "Do you have anything on a Rammer known as 'Bulldozer'?"

"Checking." Caesar only took a few seconds before responding. "Bulldozer seems to be a close correspondent of Hammerhorn. Surveillance indicates that this Rammer is equivalent to a general in the army. Why do you ask?"

"Because we ran into him in Burheim," answered Vale. He leaned against the reception desk, arms crossed. "He was building some sort of army for a guy named 'Regulus'. He said Hammerhorn was just a pawn to him and he had outlived his usefulness. The big guy is still around, right?"

"Affirmative. He is gathering more and more troops in the suburban beyond the city limits. To what end, I am unsure as he is seldom seen. He seems to command by proxy through Gantry while he remains inside a large mansion."_Caesar paused for a brief moment. _"Interesting... Bulldozer has just returned to the region. He is accompanied by draconic creatures and large bear-like beasts."

"Maximus..." Crash murmured. He paced the room, his whip-like tail twitching in agitation. "Shit... If he brings those guys to Hammerhorn's base, he'll be able to churn out shit like crazy."

"I am afraid I do not understand."

"The Maximus is what happens to the bears of Burheim if they consume too much or lose their self-control," Ruin said gravely. "They apparently offset the consumption of the bears. Their cum replenishes the natural resources of an area."

"Adding profile of Maximus into databanks."

"We can't think of attacking them," Vale said. "He's got troops around him at all times and he seems to have some sort of power like us. Except it affects smells."

"I sense a great disturbance and variation in the Haze around Bulldozer. Perhaps he has some control over the Haze. While your powers are dependent on your own physical attributes, he clearly uses the Haze to manipulate those around him. From my preliminary analysis, the Haze has obtained an almost mind-controlling like property forcing those that breathe it in to become subjugated by him."

"Fucker..." Vale slammed his fist against the desk, creating a reverberating _wham_across the power plant. "So what do we do then? We can't attack him. He might make us his fuck slaves!"

"We shouldn't attack," Ruin agreed with a grim nod. "We do not know who this 'Regulus' is that he is working for and we risk invoking his ire if we take down his agent." He turned towards Vale, a concerned look on his normally stoic features. "I mean if Bulldozer can control people's mind subtly, what can this Regulus do? What can others under him do? We don't have enough information and we've already shown too much as it is."

WHAM!

"So what do we do then?" Vale shouted, pulling his fist from the dent he made in the desk. "I don't want to just sit here while that crazy fucker is other there doing that shit to the Maximus, building an army for whatever reason! We know there's a threat! I'm not just going to keep scouting around for Lobo!"

"That's not what I'm saying -" Ruin began.

"Sounds to me like it is!" Vale threw his hands into the air, concrete arms springing from his back and slamming into the ground on a whim. "What is the point of all this training, all this power, if we're not going to use it!?"

"We used them today."

"And look how much damage we did!" Vale swept his physical arms wide, his concrete ones spreading out behind him like a pair of grey wings. "We could've crushed that asshole's head in! Now that we know what he's capable of, we can stop him before he does more damage!"

Ruin snarled at Vale, baring his teeth. "And then what!? How are we going to explain to Lobo and the others that we have these powers and kept it from them? After all this, I would still prefer to have a home to go back to instead of being outcast like the Maximus."

Vale looked stunned by the words. His concrete arms crumbled behind him, large chunks of rock falling to the tiled floor like grey rain.

"If I may make a suggestion," Caesar_began. All three Trailblazers turned towards the ceiling, an arbitrary direction where _Caesar's voice was coming from. "I am quite self-sufficient at this stage and I have moved most of my functions to this facility away from the Rammer base. I believe it is time we expanded further into another region."

"You want us to find the facility in Burheim?" Ruin asked.

"No. That region is currently contested and we run the risk of discovery if we venture there. I was thinking of this Camp Draco that you speak of so often."

"Makes sense..." Ruin rumbled. Then his brow furrowed. "Hang on... How exactly did you exactly move your functions over here? Did you build robots or something?"

"Not exactly."

On cue, a door sprang open a short distance away. Crash gasped in horror and took several steps back. Spears of concrete sprang up around him. Even Vale summoned his arms of concrete and readied them over his shoulders. Ruin, however, remained stoic, watching as the three figures stepped out of the darkness.

Ruin recognised the Rammers as the three that they had captured a few days ago. But now they were drastically changed. The last time they had seen the Rammers, they had various sizes of dicks on them. Now...

The one on the farthest right was extremely top heavy. His massive arms were almost as tall as he was and twice as thick as his already rippling legs. His torso had to bulk up to compensate as its huge shoulders melded into pair of enormous pectorals that were big enough to crush a human between its cleft. A row of ten abdominal muscles tapered down to an obscenely narrow set of hips. The guy's head looked so ridiculously small compared to the rest of his torso, practically melting into his lats. Deadly spikes riddled the creature's arms, most notably the ivory blades that jutted from his knuckles. As the Beast moved, it used its gargantuan arms instead of its legs. A huge three foot dick dangled between its legs, permanently erect and showing off his huge, cum-producing melon-sized balls.

The central Beast was only barely recognisable as a Rammer. Its entire body was covered in this, ivory armour. Even its erect dick was encased in a full set of armour that looked like it was keeping it perfectly erect. Though he was only slightly bigger than any other Rammer, the armour made him look entirely menacing. No inch of his leathery flesh was left to be exposed. Only his eyes were revealed.

The left most was by far the most 'normal' looking though he was still bizarrely mutated. Still bigger than the average Rammer with brimming muscles all over his body, the creature seemed to have had its stance had been permanently shifted. The guy was constantly hunched, his legs thick as tree trunks and with shoulders and arms just as big. Perhaps the most prominent mutation was just how big his horns were and the extra pair that was jutting out of his temples like a bull.

"What have you done to them...?" Crash demanded, his eyes wide. "You're... you're not going to turn us into them are you!?"

"No, of course not," answered the AI. "I simply reasoned that you will require an army to support your endeavours. As you mentioned, Bulldozer and Hammerhorn still have the numerical advantage. However, if we take that from them and bolster out own numbers..."

"How did you convince them to join us?" Ruin asked, eyeing the monstrous, throbbing cocks on each of the three mutants.

"In short, I did not. You will recall that I mentioned I can integrate my mind into a living being."

"So long as they don't have minds of their own!" exclaimed Vale. "Last time I checked, those guys were screaming in orgasm and loving it! That's a fucking mind!" As if reading his mind, all three of the monsters' bodies shook and a thick stream of cum shot from their cocks, making it all the way across the atrium to Ruin's feet.

"They are. I can integrate my mind into that of another living being, mind intact, if they allow me to. I merely struck a bargain with these three. Endless pleasure for their bodies. They are still very much in there but are constantly in a state of bliss as I stimulate their bodies."

"That's sick!" Crash cried.

"How is it any different from how you Collectors constantly change your bodies in an orgasmic explosion to suit your surroundings? You constantly perform intercourse upon one another to maintain these shapes. All I am doing is simply giving them something in exchange for something I need."

Crash growled, spears of concrete over his shoulder rattling dangerously. "A body."

"No. A means of protecting all of you. I am constantly reminded of my restrictions as I remain within this facility while you endanger yourselves constantly. With these bodies, I can assist you as well as relieve you of the more menial tasks such as moving equipment from one location to the other. I will make no false claims, however. I will make every attempt to increase the size of my staff."

"You're going to kidnap more rhinos!?" Crash shouted. "Hell -"

"Yes," Ruin interrupted. "Crash, settle down." He turned towards the three mutants. "We need an army, Crash. And if that means we take men from Hammerhorn and turn them to our side, then I'm all for it. But I have a condition."

"Name it," Caesar replied.

"Give them their minds back," Ruin said. "Crash is right. They're living people and while they must love being able to cum all the time, taking over their bodies in exchange isn't fair. Let them go. Maybe you can see what they're seeing or maybe takeover only when they need it but they need to make the choice and only in the direst of situations."

Caesar didn't even pause. "As you wish. I will release my Deviants."

All three Rammers suddenly blinked and fell to their knees. They each let out a loud wail of desperation. Without exception, they reached for their dicks, furiously masturbating in front of them. Ruin narrowed his gaze and fought the arousal that was rising within him. The three Deviants ejaculated all over themselves within seconds but as the blood began rushing out of their dicks, they let out sobs and sorrowful moans.

"Why?" one of them demanded. "I was so happy!?"

"It hurts! Fuck it hurts!"

"Get hard damn it! I want more!"

Ruin turned away from them.

"Counter proposal," Caesar_said. _"Clearly, the poor creatures are suffering. Perhaps I was wrong in my actions as I seem to have ingrained an addiction into them. I will attempt to rehabilitate them but I will still require a body if I am to assist you. If you will allow me, I will grant you each a passcode. Say this code and at your command, I can take over the body of one my Deviants and grant you my expertise."

Ruin turned back towards the three Rammers who were desperately trying to maintain their erections. They were succeeding but the desperation in their eyes only broke Ruin's heart. "Fine. Just take care of them."

"I will. Now... Onto the idea of expanding into Camp Draco..."

******

349:11:04:10:29:09

The smell of baking bread filled the Marv's nostrils the moment he stepped out of the Gate and back into Burheim. It made his mouth water but his reminiscing was interrupted by the loud noises of dragons and High Horns working to set up the walls of the fortress. The colossal grey walls were nowhere near the height of the immense, towering trees of Burheim but they were still impressive.

A warehouse had been erected short distance away from the Gate where supplies from Hornton and Camp Draco were stored, all of them filing in from Arcadia. Flags from each of the members of the Arcadian Alliance flew proudly on flagpoles near the large, metal gate to the forests beyond. The Sweet Trinity caravan was already primed and ready to take more goods to the nearby villages and spread the word of this new 'village' of sorts.

Marv's heart sank a little as he noticed that Finn was standing next to the three trucks from Camp Draco that now made up the caravan. Cody was with him and it looked like the Commander was just starting to inspect the new fortress.

"I never noticed it before," Mikhail said suddenly. "But the air here smells... quite sweet." He sniffed the air again. "And very earthy. Arcadia smelled... so clean and neutral."

"That's the Haze," Marv answered.

"Everything in perspective, I suppose," Antony rumbled. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then he regarded his big hands and frowned. "Am I not meant to be changing back into a Beast?"

Marv shook his head, tearing his gaze away from where Finn and Cody had broken out into some laughter and hugged one another.

"You kinda have ta accept the Haze. Take deep long breaths an' just let it flow through ya. Dun' think 'bout bein' human or a bear. Jus' empty yer mind an' let the Haze do its thing." Remembering how arousing his first change had been, he quickly grabbed Mikhail and Dimitri's hands. "C'mon. Let's go find somewhere private. Yer gonna bust outta yer clothes if ya change now."

Antony blushed at the thought and followed Marv and his brothers to one of the many homes that had been built around the fortress. Marv peered inside but found that it was occupied by a couple of dragons playing cards on their break. He asked them if there were any spare huts around and the dragons directed them to a nearby shack with a few winks and grins.

True to their word, the little abode was empty and seemed to be newly built. It was a single room home big enough for two beds or one very big one, a desk and wardrobe or trunk. Being empty, there was plenty of space for the four of them.

Marv shut the door behind him. "'Kay, ya guys might wanta strip. Clothes ain't cheap, ya know."

Mikhail was all too eager to drop his clothes. Dimitri seemed hesitant at first but when he saw his brother take his pants off, he was far less self-conscious. Marv had already moved towards Antony who was, unsurprisingly a bit more hesitant.

The Collector wrapped his arms around Antony's waist and began unbuckling his belt. Antony's cheeks burned with embarrassment as he wiggled out of his pants. Once they dropped to the floor, he had was less hesitant to remove his plain, white shirt.

"There ya go," Marv said, taking a step back. "Now jus' like I said." He closed his eyes, slowing his breathing until it became as steady as his heartbeat. "Jus' let the Haze come into ya an' dun think 'bout it."

With every breath he took, he felt the Haze pouring into him, changing him. Every Collector he had met so far said they experienced something different whenever they changed through the Haze. Lobo said that it was like a faint tingling all over his body. Cross likened the experience to an oven burning in his gut and the warmth spreading rapidly through his body. Even Savage said that it was like every bone in his body had turned into a cock and was going through an orgasm.

For Marv, pressure was building in his veins starting from his feet. With each breath, more and more blood pumped through his veins, building to a powerful throbbing. He wiggled his toes as a sensation of pins and needles rippled through each of his digits. But that was soon replaced by the powerful throbbing that could only be mimicked by his heartbeat and rapidly rising cock. He pulled back on the moan as the same feeling began pulsing up his legs, over his chest and spreading throughout his arms, surprisingly leaving his head.

His big toe was the first to fully change. It throbbed and pulsed. The nail turned from clear, to opaque, grey and then to black. Thick, dark brown fur began to grow from where the toenail met his skin, spreading quickly all over the digit until it was fully covered save from the underside. There, the skin began to harden like a callus. Just like his nail, however, it began to darken, its texture changing to become leathery and thick. As the hair grew, so did his toe, becoming bigger and thicker as it engulfed his black toenail which also began to lengthen and sharpen into a point. Within moments, the toe had become a sharpened claw jutting from his big toe.

His other smaller toes joined in to their big brother's change. Their toenails blackened and jutted out, collapsing into narrow claws as the toes themselves grew to hold them firmly in their folds. Dark hairs began spreading all over his toes before spreading down his foot in rivers like dark snakes slithering up his flesh. Where they passed, his skin stretched as muscle and bone grew.

Marv had to lower himself onto the ground and lean against the wall as both his feet grew in anticipation of his increased weight. His focus was momentarily disrupted when the fur spread along the underside of his foot, making him giggle a little. But those sensations quickly faded when the leathery pads began to dull the ticklish spots.

A groan left him with the spread of the fur up his calves. The already thick hairs on his legs grew even darker, creating a thick mat of dark fur that grew on top of the brown that quickly began covering his entire limb. Like two black, furry shin guards, the hair was thick and spread from the base of his knee all the way across the back of his feet. Even as his calves grew to the size of hams, the dense forest of black hair still remained prominent.

Marv spread his legs wide, knowing that the growth would spread to his thighs next. He vaguely remembered a story from Lobo about when he once lost control of the change and it spread across his body too quickly. Lobo had been standing straight with his legs pressed against one another. But when his thighs exploded with new size and strength, the slammed against his balls painfully. Marv made a mental note to warn the bears of that but for the moment, he chose to enjoy the transformation.

His cock was already throbbing painfully against his abs when his thighs began to feel bigger and stronger. Rock hard muscle grew even bigger. Each muscle group was a thick teardrop shaped plate layered on top of one another that remained firm and clearly defined even as his brown fur covered them. He flexed his thighs, loving the rush of blood that filled them and the iron chords that popped against his legs with a few choice veins running across their mounds.

Next, of course, was his cock and he groaned as the massive ten inch human tool began to rise further and further up his chest. He gripped the slick member, precum drooling all over it. He ran his big hands all over its length, each stroke pulling the tool longer, adding another inch to its length. Every throb added more and more girth, squirting more of his clear precum into his hand. He groaned as it took on a familiar blunt head of a bear penis. His dick's skin grew more and more sensitive, turning a brighter pink in colour. His retracted sheath began growing around the base of his dick just as his black pubes grew even thicker, forming a musky cushion around his balls and crotch to absorb any precum that made have dropped there. He indulged in a little smile as his massive eighteen inch bear dick pulsed freely in his hands, already too thick for his human hands to grip around entirely.

He stretched his back and groaned with the change flooding his torso. He flexed his back and chest, encouraging the transformation. Each of his abdominal muscles hardened and pushed out further against his skin. Even the thick fur and dense forest of his chest hair could do nothing to hide their full shape and size. With the growth all across his back, his torso became an even more pronounced 'Y' shape with his pectorals bulging out into perfect, square shapes that sat atop a pillar of eight, solid blocks. His chest hair was like the foliage to the tree of his chest muscles.

Marv had to hunch forward a little, his lips brushing against the top of his cock as his back muscles absorbed the strength of Burheim. His deltoids and lats bulged out, thick veins running all over their mounds. His spine was a clear divide across the rippling muscles across his back. Even covered in the dark brown hair, it was impossible to miss every crest and division between every muscle.

With his back and torso changed, the transformation spread into three directions, his arms and his head. Marv eagerly lapped up the precum slobbering out of his ursine dick just as his neck began to thicken and widen, almost merging with his shoulder. His cheeks widened while his lips pushed out forward, their corners held back while their tips being dragged further from his face with his growing muzzle. He squeezed his eyes shut as his face skull and facial features began to change, his forehead becoming bigger and broader. He wiggled his ears, tracing their movement from the sides of his head to the top where they sat as small, rounded discs. As his teeth lengthened and sharpened, dark fur began spreading all over his face, completing his facial transformations.

At the same time, his already large arms were pumped with more and more iron, building their size and mass into sizes any human would've been green with envy for. Thick cords of muscle ripped across his forearms only interrupted by rivers of veins. The watermelon biceps and triceps tensed and pushed up against his skin, almost looking like they would break the flesh. His fur quickly soothed the trained surface, transforming it into a leathery hide covered in soft brown fur. Marv clenched and unclenched his hands as massive claws took the place of his fingers and his hands once again took the shape of a bear's.

Tempted as he was to finished, Marv once again took control of his body and pulled his lips away from his cock. Though he still kept his paw wrapped around the base of his dick, he smiled up at the three bears who just stared at him in awe.

"See?" he said. "Easy. Now you try."

The members of the Sweet Trinity caravan exchanged glances. They shrugged at one another and began taking in deep breaths. Marv waited patiently, resisting the urge to rub his rock hard cock. It wasn't going down despite the time that passed. Having three naked, hot brothers standing in front of him just moments away from changing could do that to a guy. Especially when they sort of looked like Finn as a human...

After a few minutes, though, Antony let out a defeated sigh.

"I do not think I can do it..." he admitted, defeated. "Perhaps if we just slept here like we did in Arcadia?"

"Ya think ya got the time for that?" Marv answered, slowly rising to his feet with a grunt. His weight as a bear was far greater than when he was a human and it took a bit more strength to get up.

"It's hard," agreed Mikhail. "Isn't there another way?"

"There is but..." Marv began. He wondered if the bears were ready for a good fucking. Or, if he was ready to fuck. He still had feelings for Finn and sticking his dick up one of the bears' asses... It felt like cheating. But then again, he was sure Finn had fucked or been fucked by Cody multiple times.

But this was business. Finn would understand.

"Mickey, come over here," he said, beckoning for the youngest of the bears to come over.

He was sure Mikhail knew what was coming and with every step the he took, Mikhail's dick began to fill with blood. Even though the native of Burheim didn't know what was going to happen, his body sure did.

"Stand 'ere an' bend over," Marv said, pointing at the nearby wall. Pride had him position Mikhail against the wall so that his side was in full view of his brothers. Marv reasoned that it was to show the bears how fucking and indeed the transformation worked but he guiltily admitted to himself that he liked the idea of guys watching as he fucked someone else. "Put yer hands up 'gainst the wall. Yer gunna need the support."

Mikhail was a little shaky now as he pressed his hands against the wall and bent over, exposing his bare rump to Marv. "I'm ready..."

"Hope so." Marv seized his throbbing cock and squeezed more precum out of it like it was a tube of lube. He rubbed the slick, clear fluids all over his fingers, making sure they were nice and slick. He looked at Mikhail's tight, virgin ass and his cock squirted in anticipation. Nothing would've made him happier than to pounce on the youngest brother's ass and fuck him like a wild animal.

But he had to take it slow.

Still, that didn't stop his cock from constantly squirting precum all over Mikhail's back and legs. The little clear shower made Mikhail giggle.

"It's warm."

"Then hope ya like this."

With his lube covered hand, Marv gently pressed his fingers between Mikhail's ass cheeks. Mickey instantly straightened with a yelp. Marv pressed a paw against the young man's shoulder and gently guided him back to the bent position. At the same time, he slowly and sensually rubbed his finger against Mikhail's tight ring. The sensations were clearly working as Mikhail began to relax and his cock quickly rose to full attention.

"Oooh... what is happening...?" the young man moaned. "What is this... feeling...?"

"Easy, easy," Marv soothed. "Jus' go with it." He felt Mikhail relax. There, he slowly pushed his finger into that virgin ass. The ring of muscle instantly tightened around his finger with just barely the tip through. Taking that as a cue, Marv began to slowly pull his finger out. He gently guided it back in before he was fully out, making a little more progress into Mikhail. That one gesture alone made Mikhail moan.

"That feels... so nice..." said Mikhail.

"I know..."

Slowly, Marv made more and more progress into Mikhail, being sure to go slowly to avoid any tearing due to his claws. Mikhail began leaning back and arching his body with every slow thrust. His cock was fully erect and dripping precum like a faucet all over the floor. The stench of his need was thick in the air. Marv kept his eyes open for any signs of transformation. Perhaps the lowered inhibitions would help him transform.

No such luck.

A loud moan left Mikhail as Marv's finger pushed completely through into his ass. "This... this is fucking...?" he asked. "It feels so nice..."

"This is foreplay," Marv snickered. "We ain't fuckin' yet." He pulled his finger out almost completely before pressing a second finger against the tight ring. As he pushed it through, Mikhail let out a rising whine. The guy was panting uncontrollably, his arms and legs barely able to support his weight.

He let Mikhail get used to the size and girth of two fingers for a little longer before pulling his digits out completely. Mikhail let out a sigh. Whether that was out of relief or not was debatable. Marv then seized his own cock and gently pressed the blunt head against the prepared ass. Mikhail's eyes widened and he glanced over his shoulder. A moment of clarity flashed across his eyes as he realised what Marv intended. He then nodded and lowered his head, bracing himself for the experience.

Marv gently guided his cock into Mikhail, the feeling of a tight ass around his cock making him quiver. Mikhail instinctively clenched around his dick, making him moan and squirt more precum into him.

"So... warm..." Mikhail grunted. His voice was a tad deeper than before.

Slowly, Marv pushed more and more of himself into Mikhail and when he was a good inch or two in, he began pulling out and starting his rhythmic thrusting. He let out grunts which were mirrored by Mikhail's moans. With each thrust, more and more of his cock wormed its way into Mikhail's ass.

His cravings and animalistic urges began to take over. He no longer needed to seize his dick. It already had a firm foothold. But he needed to keep Mikhail steady. He grabbed the former bear's thighs with his big paws, pulling them against his crotch with every thrust. His powerful gyrations pushed Mikhail against the wall, the young man's cheeks pressed up against the wooden walls, his expression caught in a look of utter ecstasy.

Marv was only vaguely aware that his audience were sporting boners themselves. Dimitri was staring wide-eyed at the show, his hands twitching and eager to join in. Antony was blushing deeply and trying not to look but the grunts and moans were too loud for him to ignore.

Then the changes began to set in.

It started with the point of contact between bear and human. Honey brown fur began sprouting up all over Mikhail's firm rump. It spread rapidly out from between his ass cheeks like wave of fire. Those round glutes began expanding, growing bigger and stronger. It almost seemed like the bare, pink flesh of the human was trying to pull away from the rapid growth of the bear but ultimately, the bear would win.

As the hairs spread across Mikhail's ass, a fleshy nub began growing just from the base of the young man's spine. It began wiggling as it grew and grew, wagging excitedly with every thrust from Marv. The fur quickly overtook it on its way up Mikhail's spine, forming a cute, fluffy tail.

A sound like a thick, bubbling stew began emitting from Mikhail's legs. The already firm muscles hardened into steel chords. Despite this, they wavered as they were overtaken by the immeasurable pleasure of the transformation. Marv quickly seized Mikhail's legs and lifted them off the ground. Out of pure instinct, Mikhail curled his legs around the Collector's waist, keeping him suspended off the ground even as Marv continued to fuck him with the force of a jackhammer.

A wave of orgasmic sensations washed down Mikhail's legs. It was just like the toe-curling build up just before orgasm. He could feel the pressure building in his thighs, pumping down every muscle group and building the size and strength of his thighs. His hamstrings bulged out with strength, guiding the sensations further down his legs. He moaned in aggravation as the change also lengthened his limbs, making that moment before bliss seem all the longer. As the pressure passed halfway down his thighs, his thick fur began to spread over the transformed flesh.

His legs shook with anticipation as the growth reached his knees and pumped new mass into his thighs. A cry built into his throat, starting off as a soft whine, turning into a constant moan. He could feel the veins pressing up against his skin as they pumped his new muscles with nutrients and oxygen. In the moments before the change flooded into his feet, he felt like time had stopped. Then, he let out a loud howl and his cock squirted precum erratically. His feet exploded into their new shape, shaking his entire body as his big, furry legs completely their transformations.

There was little time to bask in the lingering sensations of transformation, however, as Marv hilted into him, completing that feeling of warmth and wholeness as the big Collector's dick pumped him full of precum. He instinctively tightened his ass around that huge dick and from the contact, heat radiated. Heat that quickly spread into the rest of his body, fuelling the transformation.

Mikhail groaned loudly, ever note of his song of ecstasy dropping an octave as his neck grew thicker and thicker. Thick corded muscles flexed against his chest, veins pulsing and growing until they were clearly visible against his skin. His back heaved up and down with each of Marv's thrusts, muscles expanding rapidly. His lats grew and stretched, becoming thick, plump and firm 'wings' that formed the stem and branches of his 'Y' shaped back. They compressed his spine between them, the force of them pressing against one another seemingly stretching the rod of bone, adding a whole foot and a half to his already impressive height. With the growth in his back, his fur pounced on the newly carved path, spreading across the muscles and filling every valley and crevasse only to accentuate each one.

The emerging bear groaned with need, unable to reach down towards his aching cock as he had to cling onto the wall for dear life. Marv seemed to detect his desires, however, and reached over with one massive paw. The touch of that bear's paw was electric and the catalyst to his dick's change. Mikhail arched his expanding back, tilting his head back and let out a cry of ecstasy. His member surged out from between Marv's fingers, forcing the thick sausages apart. The big, pink prick squirted gallons of precum all over the floor as soon as it reached its impressive sixteen inch length, pulsing veins throbbing. Marv ran his already slick paw all over the hot tool, bringing Mikhail closer and closer to climax.

The pumping and thrusting pushed Mikhail further and further to his eventual orgasm. His deltoids surged outwards, bones growing to support the muscles that would wrap around them. His arms quickly followed, biceps becoming bowling balls and triceps bundles of thick muscle that could bend iron. His forearms clenched, hands tightening into fists. Thick teardrop muscles bulged across his forearms looking like they had been painfully maintained. His hands abruptly unclenched and with them, his fingers and palms exploded with size and mass. Black claws jutted out of his fingertips almost immediately. The dark fur sprang from his fingertips and rushed up his arms. At the same time, the growth of fur cascaded down from his shoulders. The two met perfectly at his elbows.

Mikhail suddenly pressed himself against the wall. The sudden collapse brought Marv's chest pressing up against the bear's broad back. Mikhail twisted his head backwards, his lips grasping for something his mind couldn't comprehend but his body knew he wanted. Marv immediately picked up on it and leaned against the growing bear, pressing their lips together. Mikhail barely knew what was going on but his tongue was suddenly dancing against Marv's.

The touch sparked the change in his facial features even as his fur began spreading up against his neck. Mikhail's jaw stretched forward, adding more volume to his moans. His angular human nose became a blunt, black nub at the end of his muzzle, brushing up against Marv's. His moans grew even more desperate and urgent as the fur spread across his cheeks. His sideburns grew wild and long, becoming his trademark cheek ruffs only now they were just as blonde as his hair.

Mikhail could barely contain it anymore and with a cry, he pulled his lips from Marv's and let out a loud, earth-shattering cry. His hips bucked madly. His cock was rocked with spasms, hot cum pumping straight out of his balls and up the length of his sixteen inch dick. Every blast was another hit of ecstasy that turned Mikhail's cry into a series of out, powerful groans.

Marv grunted as every shot of cum caused Mikhail's ass to tighten around his cock. He slowed his thrusting to a crawl though he was loathed to do so. The pressure was building in his balls but it was nowhere near explosive. But Mikhail was clearly enjoying himself so he continued to give the young bear's cock a nice squeeze, milking him for every drop of cum he was worth.

The strength left Mikhail and his legs loosened around Marv's thighs. He began sliding across the already cum-covered walls. Marv had to catch him before he collapsed fully. Pulling out his erect cock caused the youngest of the brothers to moan. Marv had to rest Mikhail in a pool of cum as the bear lay upwards, his cock still spewing cum all over his chiselled chest.

Marv stood and sighed.

He glanced over his shoulder to where Antony and Dimitri stood. Both men had their cocks erect and were positively drooling.

"That... That was astounding..." Dimitri whispered. "Can it be my turn next?"

Marv wasn't sure if he could fuck Dimitri and Antony afterwards but he still had a job to do. "Okay. Get up 'gainst the wall an' -"

"No." He started as Mikhail stood, a big grin on his ursine features. He stood a few inches taller than Marv now where before, they had been the same height. "I want to fuck him."

Dimitri's eyes widened. "Y - Y - You do?"

"Yes Dimi," Mikhail growled, approaching his brother. He wrapped his huge arms around Dimitri's smaller frame, his cock still spewing cum. "I want you to feel just how good I felt."

"Oh..." Dimitri gave Mikhail a dazzling smile. "Okay."

Before Marv could protest, the two brothers were passionately making out. They had collapsed onto the floor, Dimitri's hands exploring Mikhail's body eagerly as the younger brother humped him, working towards a second orgasm.

Marv just stared at the display of brotherly love in awe. For some reason, watching the brother-on-brother action was ridiculously arousing. There was something... forbidden about it and that just made it so much more sexy.

A gentle touch on his shoulder brought his attention away from the scene and he found himself looking down upon Antony.

"I suppose I will be your partner then," Antony said in all but a whisper.

"'less ya want Dimi ta fuck ya after Mickey's done with 'im."

Antony turned away, his cheeks burning with the cutest blush. "N - N - No... I would prefer it if it were you..." He gave Marv a shaky smile. "I guess I would like my first... erm... fuck to be someone other than my brothers."

Marv wasn't sure he understood but his aching dick was demanding attention and the sounds of Mikhail and Dimitri's session was starting to knock out his inhibitions. "Right. Jus' get up on the wall."

"Actually..." Antony began, pressing his hands against Marv's chest. "I want to be facing you."

"Ya do?" Marv asked, puzzled.

Antony suddenly stood on the tips of his toes and pressed his lips against Marv's. Warmth swelled up in Marv's chest and the throbbing in his cock took on a new meaning. He felt his knees go weak and he lowered himself onto the floor, his back up against the cum-stained wall. Antony never broke their kiss as he slowly sat on Marv's chest.

Their tongues continued to dance against once another's even as Marv collected some of the cum on the floor and began smearing it all over Antony's ass. The still warm fluids made for surprisingly good lube and he was able to slip a finger into the eager man. Antony began grinding against Marv's cock, squeezing the throbbing, needy member between his ass cheeks. Whether he was consciously doing it or not, the effect was the same. Marv guided his dick straight into the eager hole. It slipped in surprisingly well and the moment contact was made, Antony gasped as the change began.

For Antony, the experience was unlike anything he had ever experienced before. The floodgates had been shattered. A rush of new sensations came shooting out from his rear. For the first time, he actually felt the muscles in his butt as it clenched and unclenched rapidly, each time growing bigger and bigger. Every single strand of fur that sprouted from his flesh was a prickle that sent pleasurable tingles up his spine. Having a dick inside of him was a whole new experience and it filled him with both fear and excitement.

Some part of him wanted to make it all stop. But the moment his tail burst out to freedom, he straightened, tearing his kiss from Marv and gasped. He never felt so much closer to anyone than that moment. He could _feel_Marv's heartbeat through the dick in his ass and with each pulse, his entire body grew. It felt like the Collector was giving him something truly incredible and at the same time, the look of pleasure on Marv's face, those ursine features scrunched in pleasure, was like he was giving something back. It was the perfect embodiment of what it meant to be a bear.

And he didn't want it to ever end.

With his ass now changed to fit Marv's colossal dick, he took in the entire length and squeezed down as much as he could. The reaction from Marv was amazing. The Collector bit down on his lower lip, letting out a moan and arching his back. Antony's mind began to realise just how good sex could be and how good it could be to make someone else feel just as good.

He began panting, begging for more. Thick globules of drool dripped from the corners of his lips, dripping all over his chest. As his mouth watered, those very same lips began to blacken, taking on a rubbery texture. He threw his head back, letting out a groan. The rumbling in his throat grew deeper and deeper, his neck thickening greatly.

Dark fur began sprouting from his cheeks, spreading all over the smooth surface. They closed in around the rest of his features, covering his entire face in dark brown fur. His beard went from a darker shade to a bright blonde, patching his hair. It outlined his strong jaw even as his chin jutted forward, dragging his lips and nose with it. He licked his lips, his long, flat tongue brushing across his new sharper fangs. He lapped at his blunt, black nose, glad to have it back.

But his there was still something missing in his mouth. And he knew exactly what it was.

He pressed his lips back against Marv's, shoving his tongue deep into the stunned Collector's muzzle. Marv's big paw reached behind Antony's head, seizing his hair in passion while pushing them closer together. Antony's ears moved to the top of his head, desperately trying to escape the rush of fur that spread through the rest of his head. They could not escape fast enough and were consumed by the fur, changing them into a round discs that poke out of his shaggy, blonde hair.

Antony and Marv were so caught up in their passions that they barely paid attention to Antony's prick pumping full of blood and growing into an enormous log of pink flesh pushing increasingly thickening precum all over Marv's chest. Antony leaned in against Marv, pressing his dick against the washboard abs covered in dense, black chest hair. Each gyration from both of them sent thrills and tingles all over Antony's body, fuelling the change across his legs and back.

Rubbing his cock against Marv's abs was yet another sensation that he was all too eager stimulate. He could feel the pressure building in his big, round balls. That feeling he was all too familiar with and he knew what was coming. The bliss of orgasm only encouraged him further and he made his desperation known through his passionate kisses.

Marv was just as desperate, both men having discarded the pretence of transformation and just caught up in the moment. Their grunts grew louder and louder, Marv's heavy balls slapping hard against Antony's ass and his thrusts growing stronger and stronger. Antony's grinding became short and hurried, anxious to get the hot, bubbling cum boiling in his balls out as explosively as possible.

Antony found himself on the precipice of orgasm and he pulled away from Marv to give him warning. Their eyes met but it was only for a brief instant. They both threw their heads back, letting out a tremendous roar in unison. Immense spasms wracked Antony's body as his balls pumped his cum through his dick. He could feel the hot bodily fluids travelling up every inch of his prick before finally erupting in a violent blast. At the same time, Marv slammed his dick all the way into Antony's ass. Molten semen poured out of the dick, filling Antony with a rush of warmth that made him both lightheaded and comforted.

Antony's cry was reduced to a series of grunts, each noise heralding another cumshot. Marv was lost in the seemingly endless orgasm. He barely noticed the warm splashes of cum on his face. His sweat mixed with cum, making a rather strong, musky brew that filled him with a sense of... belonging. It just smelled... right.

It took him a second to realise that he was letting his control slip and he quickly wrenched it back before the Haze turned him completely into a bear. His heart was racing madly even as his cock pulsed at the same pace. His fear, however, was placated when Antony collapsed against him, panting heavily and exhausted.

Marv blinked a couple of times, a little surprised at the closeness with the bear. He absently tried to brush Antony away, if only to make sure the poor guy didn't get cum all over his cheeks. But Antony wrapped his big arms around the Collector and held him tightly, his cheeks rubbing against Marv's cum-soaked fur. The brush of the bear's strong, blonde beard was quite... comforting that it made Marv smile.

The rest of the world began to come back into focus. It was only when he noticed that both Mikhail and Dimitri had long finished and where cuddling in the corner, covered in cum that he realised just how focused he was on Antony. His entire world revolved around the bear in his arms and the moment they shared together.

Despite how good it felt, he still wondered how it affected his standing with Finn... and how he felt...

"That... was amazing..." Antony murmured, rubbing his cheek affectionately against Marv's. "Was it good for you too?"

Marv took a second to respond. "Amazin'..."

Antony opened one eye at him. "You don't seem so sure...?"

"Jus'... I still 'ave feelin's fer another guy an'... what we jus' did now... It's the best I ever felt. I jus' dun know what it means..."

Antony gently cupped Marv's chin and pulled him into another kiss. It was just a light peck but it still sent chills down Marv's spine. "How about we forget about that for now? I would not want to spoil this moment."

Marv returned a smile.

"Yeah, sounds good."

******

349:11:04:11:14:15

"You seem to be enjoying yourself," Finn chuckled as he drove one of the trucks.

Mikhail grinned at him as he flexed his arm for the hundredth time since they left the outpost. The youngest of the brothers was constantly flexing his biceps, running a finger down the big vein across his arm.

"How could I not?" Mikhail responded. "I have never felt like this before."

The changes in the bear brothers were subtle but something that was still quite noticeable. Finn noticed that each of them were slightly larger now. Their pectorals were so pronounced that even with the shirts they borrowed, those muscular mounds strained the fabric. The shirt that Dimitri wore actually had a slight tear around the collar. Most of the change was in their facial hair. Mikhail's cheek ruffs were now bright blonde, giving the impression of sideburns. Antony's beard framed his features perfectly, giving him an older but still very sexy look. Dimitri benefitted from a goatee that he constantly rubbed and each stroke seemed to arouse him all the more.

"Like what?" Finn asked.

"Aware." Mikhail ran his paws down his pectorals. "I know they aren't much bigger but for the first time in my life, I can really move these and want to know what I can do with them." He began flexing his pecs playfully, watching as they bounced one at a time. "Everything feels... new to me. I want to explore more of myself."

Finn snickered. "Well take it easy. I can see you getting hard."

Mikhail shrugged and ran his paws over his abdominals.

They rolled up into Hardstone a few moments later, the people of the village eagerly crowding around their caravan. Finn shut off the engine and hopped out. As he did so, he caught sight of Marv similarly jumping out of the other truck. A lump formed in his throat. It hadn't been hard to figure out that the bears had been transformed through sex. They wore it like a cologne and they were proud of it. Finn wasn't even sure if they had washed the cum from their fur but it had been a torture smelling Marv on Mikhail through the entire ride.

He was just glad it didn't take too long to get to Hardstone via truck.

Marv didn't seem too burdened by his presence, though. The big, handsome, hairy bear grinned brightly away from Finn as Antony squeezed out of the truck cabin. As the biggest of the brothers, Antony had some trouble getting out. Marv made a joke and Antony stuck out his tongue at the Collector before proceeding to start unpacking.

Finn shook it off. He was with Cody now. There was no point in lingering on that relationship especially if Marv had moved on.

"What have you brought for us today?" asked a nearby bear.

"New things from Arcadia," he answered brightly. "And some news." Growing sombre, he said, "Honey Hill was attacked yesterday. It's completely devastated."

A hushed silence fell on the gathered miners.

"Maximus?" one asked.

"Worse," Finn responded. "There is an army building somewhere. An army of dragons and Maximus. They are under the banner of one known as Hammerhorn and they -"

He never got to finish.

A loud roar erupted from the forest behind them, just down the path that they had arrived. Everyone turned. The sounds of trees falling reached their ears. A steady thumping followed, the ground shaking ominously.

"Oh no..." Mikhail whispered. "Oh no!"

A dark shadow rose from the dense forest, two eyes blazing. The monstrous creature came charging right out of the tree line, letting loose another deafening roar. The creature stood at an incredible twenty feet tall, his entire being rippling with muscles. Even though its hunched position forced it onto all fours it still possessed a clearly defined chest, abdominal muscles and biceps as big as the truck cabins.

"Maximus!" Antony shouted. "Everyone run!"

Two more of the creatures came bursting out of the trees. Each of them had large, metal plates slapped onto their bodies. On their backs rode dragons wearing crude, metal armour clearly not from Camp Draco. As one of the Maximus reared, it revealed its huge, pulsing cock at full mast. A metal ring was slapped right against the base of the creature's dick. Its balls seemed about ready to burst.

A cock ring.

The three Maximus charged straight into Hardstone. One of them collided with a truck, sending it spiralling into the sky and crashing into a nearby house. Bears scattered, screaming. Some braver bears seized pick axes, shovels and whatever tools they could find and stood their ground. But the dragons riding the Maximus spat some sort of molten metal straight at them. The silvery, steaming goo struck the makeshift weapons, melting them instantly or even setting them on fire entirely.

"Oh shit!" Finn cried. He turned and seized Mikhail's shoulder. They bolted away from the truck just as another Maximus came rushing towards them. The huge bear barrelled right past them, knocking the truck over on its way to the centre of town.

"Fuck!"

He turned at the cry, remembering that Dimitri had been sitting in the back of his truck. His fears were proven right when he found the middle brother buried beneath a stack of heavy, wooden crates filled with food and supplies. Dimitri's upper torso was free but he was in no position to shove the containers away.

Finn snapped to help, grabbing one of the boxes and tossing it aside. His superior Collector strength proved useful but there was just so many of them. Mikhail came up beside him, lending his assistance.

"Look out!" Dimitri cried.

Behind them, another of the mounted Maximus came charging towards them, roaring like a wild beast. Finn knew he wouldn't abandon Dimitri but he wasn't sure what he could do. He seized one of the crates and threw it straight at the charging beast. The container contained bottles of jam and it shattered on impact, smearing the giant bear's face in sticky, red goo. But that didn't stop the charge. The bear veered to the right and smashed into a nearby building. The dragon on his back screamed as he was hurled off his saddle.

The bear groaned loudly while its comrades split up into Hardstone. An idea sprang into Finn's mind and he immediately rushed towards the Maximus.

"Renegade!" cried Mikhail. "What are you doing!? Get back here!"

Finn ignored the cry and reached the Maximus, particularly aiming for the big bear's balls. The scent of sex, need and bear musk was so overpowering that it almost knocked him out. However, he wrested control of himself, forcing his paws to seized the large, metal wring wrapped around the Maximus' balls. His muscles bunched, showing through the fluffy fur and straining against his shirt. With a cry, the metal bent in his paws and it -

SNAP!

Broke completely.

Finn staggered back as the Maximus' entire body shuddered. A loud cry erupted from the huge bear, muffled with its head buried in the layers of rubble. Its entire body suddenly tensed. Finn scrambled back in a hurry just as that gargantuan cock exploded, huge balls as big as he was pumping the restrained seed straight out without delay.

He dared a glance over his shoulder and gawked at the flood of semen pouring out of the Maximus. It came out with such force that it shattered a stone wall entirely and sprayed across the street like a beam. The stench was incredible and it triggered the Beast within him. Finn instinctively licked his lips, his cock springing erect and thoughts of bathing in that seed filling his mind. He growled at himself and staggered back to a shocked Mikhail and Dimitri.

The big bear continued to shoot cum into Hardstone. With each shot, however, his entire body began to shrink. All three of them watched, muzzles agape as the twenty foot monster's form began to collapsed onto itself like all that muscle, strength and size was being liquefied into cum and shot out in a torrent.

The Maximus tried to pry itself out from the building but with his waning strength and the waves of orgasm that hit him, all he could do was lie there, body quaking. With each second that passed, more of his mass faded into a river of cum. The metal plates strapped to him could no longer fit and they dropped off, splashing into the lake of semen he had made. A solid five minutes passed before the Maximus was little more than another bear, his cock back to normal size and squirting the last bits of what it meant to be a Maximus out.

The bear turned towards them, a look of... relief on his face.

Then the guy collapsed into a puddle of cum, unconscious.

"Get the cock rings," Finn concluded. "Rush! Antony!"

A short distance away, the two were helping a few bears onto their feet.

"The cock rings!" he shouted, holding up the remnants of the ring he had liberated in his paws. "Pull them off! They cum and they go back to being just normal bears!"

Hearing this, both Antony and Marv began relating instructions to the other bears. They immediately scrambled into the rest of the village, spreading the word and hope. Finn then turned to Dimitri and yanked the crates off. He almost had Dimitri freed when he realised that Mikhail wasn't helping. He couldn't focus on that, at least not until he pulled Dimitri out of from under the crates. He threw aside the last of the crates and pulled Dimitri to his feet.

The middle brother grimaced and staggered forward into Finn's arms.

"Can you stand?" Finn asked.

"I will be fine," answered Dimitri. "Where's Mikhail?"

Finn glanced around.

Mikhail was gone.

"Crap!" he rested Dimitri against the truck. "Stay here. I'll go find him."

"No!" The bear reached out for him. "I can -" But Dimitri winced and lowered his arm against his ribs.

"I'll get him back, I promise."

Finn immediately turned and bolted into the city. He sniffed the air, trying to use his superior senses as a Collector to find the wayward brother. But he wasn't too sure what Mikhail smelled like. With the thick scent of Maximus in the air, it was also difficult to smell anything else. He growled at himself for having lost a brother and kept running between the houses, his speed carrying him faster than any normal bear his size would've been able to manage.

His luck turned around, however as he found Mikhail hunched over a collapsed building.

"Mikhail! There you are!" he sighed with relief.

A Maximus was rampaging not too far away.

"I... I couldn't save them..." Mikhail whispered, his shoulders slumped.

"What are you talking about?" Finn asked. "Save you?"

The youngest brother lifted a paw towards the building in front of them. "There were two guys in there. They were screaming for help. I tried to get to them but then the Maximus charged right through... I couldn't save them..."

Finn felt fear grip his chest. "Maybe they're still alive. We can -"

"No... That is not the point." Mikhail's paws formed into fists. "I am not strong enough. I could do nothing for Dimitri... and I could do nothing to stop the Maximus..." His eyes narrowed, squeezing out tears. "I... I'm useless..."

"No you're not," Finn said gently. "Come on, we can still -"

Another tremendous roar rippled through the village. Finn recognised it as the cry of orgasm and he guessed one of the remaining two Maximus was going down.

"You're not weak," Finn soothed. "We can still save them. Come on." He pulled a defeated Mikhail into the house. "If there's anything I've learned about you bears, it's that you're hardy. You won't go down that easily even if a whole house fell on you."

Mikhail let out a faint whimper as he knelt in the rubble. "But what if..."

"Don't ask that!" Finn snapped, spinning back around to face him. "There is no 'what if'. There's only 'what is'. And if you don't like it, we change it!" He knelt in front of Mikhail, softening his tone. "We need to bring the change to this world that we want. We can't wait for everyone else to do it for us. And we can't do that unless we try."

"But -"

"No," he said firmly again. "Get up and help me with this rubble."

Finn stood and used his big paws to dig through the bricks and wood. A second pair of paws joined his a second later and he beamed at Mikhail. Their efforts were not in vain. As soon as enough weight was taken off, a large pile of wood shifted. The two bears tore the rubble off revealing two bears hunched over one another, holding each other tightly.

"See?" Finn said. "What did I tell you? We can save everyone. We just have to try."

Another roar cut through the village.

"And that'd be the last of them," he concluded. "The last -"

BOOM!

The ground shook and before he knew what was happening, a Maximus came charging right through the nearby building. Unlike the others though, it wasn't armoured nor did it have a rider and its dick didn't have a cock ring.

"What...?" Finn began.

A large, hairy figure came rushing past them, chasing after the Maximus.

"Antony! Wait!"

Finn's heart froze.

"Antony...? No..." He bolted after Marv, leaving Mikhail behind. "Rush!? What did you say!?" He seized Marv's shoulder and turned him around. Tears were streaking down Marv's cheeks. "Why did you call that Maximus 'Antony'? Did he -"

BOOM!

For what must've seemed like the hundredth time that day, he was interrupted.

The two remaining Maximus came barrelling out from a nearby two storey building, one on top of the other. The unarmed one possessed a distinct blonde mane tore the armour right off the bottom on. The feral look in its eyes still sparked with intelligence as it shoved its huge dick right into the other bear's ass. Finn watched, frightened and slightly aroused as the two huge bears fucked, rutting wildly in the street. What happened to the rider was unknown.

The villagers came charging at the two but froze when they saw the scene unfolding in front of them. They were all stunned to see a Maximus fighting another and also slightly aroused.

Some spark of Antony must've remained because the top Maximus reached for the other bear's cock and tore off the cock ring. Within moments, both males were roared as their seed poured all over the street. Their bodies shuddered, shaken by their orgasm. Huge shoulders shrunk, massive chests and legs compressing back into the size most bears had.

Hammerhorn's Maximus collapsed into the lake of cum he had made, a dazed content look on his face.

But for Antony... he remained standing, panting heavily and smeared with his cum.

He looked towards the villagers, fears in his eyes.

His gaze met with Marv's.

Finn realised what was going to happen next even before the first villager shouted, 'Get him!'

"No..." he whispered.

"Antony..." Marv wept.

Antony took a few steps back. Shovels, rocks and other tools were thrown in his direction. He slipped in the lake of cum but quickly staggered back to his feet. As the villagers gave chase, he ran. Having been in Arcadia, he was slightly faster than them and easily reached the woods before they could catch him.

The poor bear stole one last glance over his shoulder before disappearing into the forest completely.

"ANTOOOOOOONYYYYYYYYYYY!"

******

Director's Report

Building Bridges By Bears

******

In the previous report, I posed the question on what the purpose of balance could be. Why maintain a balance when you do not know what the balance is for? In our society, we simply understand that we need this balance to continue living. It's simple fact. It is trade. Equivalent exchange. But why? Why is this the rule of the world? Why can't we have more than we give? Why must every reaction have an opposite and equal reaction?

Some would say it's just physics. Others common sense. Others still just fair treatment.

But the fact is, the world is not fair. People grow fat and rich on the suffering of others. People wither and die for no reason at all. The kind and generous are killed pointlessly while the cruel and evil are given second chances they clearly do not deserve.

The world is not fair.

And this is exemplified by Burheim.

The Maximus made one choice that did not conform with the perceived balance of the majority. But this choice leads them to ultimately repair what the other bears have broken. They are exiled for all the good they do. The regular bears give each other equal shares of their profits even though some resources take more time and effort to produce than others.

We saw the lack of ingenuity or deviation caused stagnation in Hornton. Lack of purpose caused repetition and degradation of will in Camp Draco. Here, in Burheim, lack of perspective developed a skewed standpoint to the true meaning of exchange and empathy. The bears are so bent on equivalency that they see no profit in themselves to restore someone that has gone Maximus to their previous status simply because it is more effort than what they think they'll get out of it. This has made them incapable of doing something for someone else just out of the goodness of their hearts.

Truly, despite its peace and serenity, Burheim is a wretched world.

But it is not beyond saving.

All that was really needed is for someone with empathy to step in and spark the change. To light the fire deep within every person's soul to help them understand that it isn't always about what you get in return that defines an exchange.

I truly believe that Arcadia is this catalyst and the stage has already been set for the change to come to Burheim.

All that truly remains to be seen is which direction the winds of change will blow.