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Ch8 Moderato

**

Rick stood in front of Dal's mirror. Dal laid asleep in the bed in the room beyond. He stared at the horseshoe imprint on his shoulder and turned to see the mirror on his back.

"Oh hell!"

Oh he knew he loved Dal, how could he not!? But this? A true marking??? A marking of being true mates? Or as they said in the old says, Soul Mates? He frowned and padded back into the room and spied Dal.

Dal never slept in anything but a sprawl. His huge frame was all over the place. One arm under his head, the other spread wide, both legs akimbo, with his sheath spread open, his equine cock languidly leaning down his leg at half mast. The bright black brand of his own paw mark belied what had happened the night before

Oh Hell! Rick echoed mentally. Sure that had "mated" as lovers, but Mated as Lovers? There was a huge difference. No one knew really where the marks came from or why, but it was known that the marks bound the two for life. As the old vows had said "for better or for worse." It was rare to be worse. Only if one personality was too strong, or there was a mental deficiency. Only then would there be an absolution and one of the marks would disappear in a light of blue flame. Only to happen twice in fifty years.

Currently there were 25 marked couples. No hybrids, and no humans. Rick sighed. What was he to do now?

**

Dal awoke. The canine muzzle was on his chest. A copious amount of drool marked him, as did the paw print. He quickly disengaged himself from Rick, clopping to a side mirror on his room. He eyed the mark. Sure it was rare, but it was sacred. The mark of true souls. Dal sighed. He had a lot to learn. He thought deeply, like his father, and knew what this marking meant. A soul bonding. Only dealth would separate them. To separate early was easy, but to do so would mean death. And it had to be agreed by both. Not just one. Dal sighed. Well there was incapacitation as well, but that was not a voluntary situation

His road ahead would be difficult.

He turned his mind to his brother for the first time in a week. _I wonder how he is?_Dal thought. He clopped over to his computer and checked his messages.

!!!!To:Dalton S. Taylor!!!From: Kelten F. Taylor.:: Re: The Future!

Hey Dal! I'm kicked out. I'm sorry, by the way, about Andrew. I bet you've heard. Anyway, I'm finding myself, and I Think I've decided to join the navy.!

Give my love to Rick and Mom.

Hugs,

Ken

!!!!

Dal sighed and groaned. The Navy???? What was the dumb Dappled thinking? He closed his messaging system and went back to his bedroom. A quick prod awoke Rick enough to get him to curl back up on Dal's chest. He relished the drool on his paw mark and slept.

**

Ken was relieved. He had someone to tell him what to do. He was in basic training. He was doing exercises. He'd messaged his dad and had gotten a return message of "Whatever you want son." He hefted huge loads, pulled ropes, and even was finding cleaning floors a mind-clearing activity. He wasn't the only equine stationed in training, but he was bar far the biggest.

The biggest of all the recruits was a Bull named Jacob. He had about as much brain power as a dim light bulb. He'd be put to a task, and he'd do it. You had to watch him or he'd keep doing it long after it was done. He'd mopped the mess hall floor once all night. The head cook was pleased at the cleanliness, but the supply Sargent was outraged at the amount of soap used.

Finally after several months they would graduate into their respective units. Ken would be "Gunner's Mate" something about artillery. He was fine with that. It meant lifting munitions, and making certain the gunnery department was fully stocked. He'd lightly befriended the bull Jacob. They ate together, slept near each other, and both spoke rarely.

On one occasion Ken asked what made Jacob join.

"Make me? I joined on my own." Jacob replied deeply from his bunk near Ken.

"Yah, but why?"

"I had nothing better to do. I figured I'd do something here on earth, help people, and pull my weight."

Ken liked the simple answer.

"What about you?" The bull rumbled in inquiry.

"About the same. I got a girl knocked up, got jealous of my brother, didn't like my road, and decided to do something physical."

The bull snorted.

"So?" Ken asked indignantly.

"Seems to me you just picked 'a' road and didn't give it much thought. You do know this is a choice you can't easily back out of?"

Ken laid his ears flat.

"I know."

The bull snorted.

"Sounds like you may know what you need after all?"

Ken perked his ears...."wa-what?" He asked swallowing.

The big bull turned and stared at him....

"Someone to tell you what to do....."

**

Rick absently scratched the horse-shoe mark on his chest as he awaited his critique from Dal. He's been practicing Cello, but wasn't as good as he was on Violin. "Passable, very passable. You have the fingering, and the tone. Now...."

"Dal?"

Rick interrupted Dal. It was rare for him to do so. "Uh.....yes?"

Dal blinked.

"How come you never play organ around me?" Rick cocked his head in inquiry. He'd had a long talk with Seth about relationships and he knew where he wanted to go. Dal was always trying to make the path, but they'd both have to do so together, someday. The cheetah had been flummoxed at the horse-shoe mark Rick wore but had continued.

***

"You know that's sacred right? You have a duty to each other now. You uplift him, he uplifts you. You compliment each other as much as possible. Always striving to be better...

**

Seth was not known to be religious but in this he seemed genuine.

Dal hesitated, "Well for one I don't have a pipe organ in here, they're a little big. For another, you never really asked!"

Rick let himself a canine grin. "Well then teacher mine, instead of making me suffer through yet more fingerings on an instrument I cannot for the life of me 'get' why don't YOU play for me and show me your performance talent?"

Dal stammered for a second.

**

Rick was right. He'd been pushing the canine for a week now, getting him to do things outside of his comfort zone. Why shouldn't he play for the canine? Rick deserved to see his limits and to realize that Dal was as falable as the next person. He nodded. He walked over next to the door and picked up a key from a bowel...."Follow me...."

The two walked to the college campus. It was quiet on this Wednesday night. They finally made their way to the 'School of Music' and the hall that held the organ, 'Eustatious Hall' it had been named after a benefactor. Dal made his way to the back, and opened a locked door. He reached a huge eletrical box, and flipped several switched. Soon the hall was alight and there was a faint hissing from deep within the back stage area....

"What?" Rick stood near Dal.

"She's waking up Rick, give her a second or two." Dal patted the dalmatian on the shoulder, making his way to the stage. The back of the stage was a massive facade of pipes. Huge trunks stretched up a hundred feet tall. Dal started his speech:

"This organ was commissioned a hundred years ago. It has three sets of 64 foot pipes, three 32 foot ranks, and over a hundred normal ranks ranging from 16 feet to 1 foot. The console was dedicated in 2110. It has four keyboards, a pedal board, and an electronic interface...."

Rick gulped...."Um...where should I????"

Dal smiled down. "Row four, seat 18 is best. Any requests?"

Rick smirked, looking confident. "Improvise for me?"

Dal nodded and sat on the huge bench which squeaked under his weight. Dal pulled some knobs, pushed a few things. There was a faint thump from backstage as some device closed.

So he wants ME to improvise....well he's had guitar, and piano. Now for an instrument of instruments. There is a reason the organ is known as the 'king'

Dal chucked to himself setting stop after stop. Finally he had an arrangement suited to his needs.

Choir is soft. Vox humana, diapasons, the great is standard organ, choir is all reeds with couplings to the pedals later....now....

**

Rick heard a small tune start. It was like an old accordion. It hummed in his brain. Bright blue, and greens...suddenly a reed matched it...then....

The heavens opened....thundering down.....the counterpoint hit him like a smack across the face. He was inundated with sound, and music, and joy. The instrument rumbled. The hall filled with sound. He concentrated trying to follow the tune, and found he couldn't.

Sometime later the music stopped.

**

"Well? Dal asked?"

Rick could see him deflate as he shook his head. "No Dal, too much. I don't know but the beginning was perfect, the reeds worked well but then you drowned everything out...."

Dal went slack jawed.

Rick walked smartly up to the organ rubbing his shoulder. That damned mark itched.

He looked at the stop pistons, the knobs jutting out. He could read them and make out most of them. He shoved several in. "Trombone" was out, as was "Trompette" then gave Mix IV and Mix III a press in, leaving Mix I and a few Diapasons marked I, II, and III. Then he selected 'Bourdon 8' on the main leaving the choir alone'

Now....try again....

Rick went back to his seat....his heart in his throat. Did he just rebuke his teacher?

**

Dal fumed, but sat down. That damned spotted dog. How dare he contradict him! But his pride was too wounded not to prove a point. He'd play it exactly as he had before with the new registration. As he began he had a sinking feeling.....

Rick was right....

He'd overblown the registration on the main. The new registration sounded so much better. It allowed for the choir melody to shine through. Suddenly he had inspiration and mixed the choir melody into the main - and then the swell as well, operating the swell pedal allowed him some thematic control. All too soon it ended.

**

Rick nodded. THAT is the Dal I know and love..... He stood up and walked to the stage. "Not everything is squall and bluster Dal, remember the melody carries the piece. You're better than I am, I may pass you one day, but not yet."

Dal rested his hand on Ricks shoulder, the itching subsided on his mark. "No you were right, I was wrong. I needed that....and well....thanks...." The equine kissed him gently.

"Now...back to that cello...."

**

Dal shifted in his sleep. Rick's muzzle rested on his chest as usual. It was becoming habit over the last few days that Rick would sleep with Dal at night. He was only in his dorm for a minute or two each day. They were contemplating moving in together. It was a little fast for Dal.

He fingered the paw print on his chest though. What is fast really? It's a construct of time. Who says this wouldn't happen eventually? Who knows what the future holds? I'd rather have him here with me every night than miss one night of bliss.

He reached down and rubbed the canine neck absently.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Rick asked sleepily.

Dal chucked, trying not to jar the canine too much.

"Just thinking about whether or not we should become roommates." Rick's ears went flat as he yawned. "Isn't that a little fast?" Dal chuckled. "Not with my mark on you and your mark on me I think. We have to face this sooner than later.

Rick raised his head and licked his chops sleepily.

"Hrm, you are right. I'm finding the more time I spend with you, the more calm my thoughts become."

Dal nickered and shook his huge head.

"And I find myself thinking of other possibilities to solutions rather than sticking to the road in front of me. This could be a very good thing. Lets at least sleep on it ok?"

Rick grinned hugely and yawned in the middle. "Ok."

They both fell asleep.