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Eberris entered the command bridge of the Brutal Mercy and took stock of the scene before him. The claustrophobic chamber was made of dark gray stone shaped so that it resembled the outer layer of a trilliant cut gemstone. Along the rim robed acolytes waved paws over panels lit with a series of golden characters, the patterns changing in response to their input. Above them more smoothed panels wrought from dreamstone flickered through a variety of images taken from outside the phaseship. Tiny angular lines, pulsing and hued a pale gold, rose from above each. The lines zigzagged across the low ceiling until they gathered at the center.

Facing away from him toward the ship's bow and seated in a chair that could more appropriately be called a throne, Captain Dubeyr oversaw the chaotic activity of the bridge. Behind her, on a slightly raised dais, a cylinder went from floor to ceiling and it was here that all of the golden lines converged. Though it was impossible to tell with the naked eye Eberris knew that the cylinder was filled entirely with crystalline fluid, a holy gel-like concoction that would help form a barrier against the material world.

Submerged within was a beautiful fox, nude as the day she was born. Her light golden fur was silken, unmarred by the fluid she was suspended in. A lighter shade of white swept down the crease of her buttocks, continuing under between her thighs and would continue up across her belly, over her pawful-sized breasts, and end up beneath her muzzle. Currently the fox seemed asleep, her body relaxed and left floating in the substance, her tail and ears waving ever within the crystalline fluid.

"Arbiter."

Eberris snapped out of his reverie, turning his gaze a fraction to gaze at the back of the captain's head. "Captain?"

"If you're done gawking at our esteemed Dreamwalker I'd appreciate you coming over here."

Flicking his lupine tail, Eberris moved down a short set of steps and around the circular pathway leading to the front of the bridge. Other figures continued on with their duties, squeezing around and beneath his considerable bulk without concern, as was proper. Whatever his status in the eyes of the Dreaming Mother the tight confines of the bridge forced a necessary lapse in courtesy and standard.

He paused in front of the ornate captain's chair, his eyes still on Vuel, the ship's Dreamwalker. The front of the cylinder was covered in glazed etchings that conveniently concealed her from the waist down, and her arms were crossed over her breasts, but Eberris knew well that it was not because of any shyness on her part. Perhaps it was simply the design, or, more likely, it was to help keep the bridge crew from becoming distracted by such divine beauty. Ah, and how that beauty radiates today, Vuel. Though I do not think there has ever been a day your heart does not shine. That was more than a metaphor, for in truth the cylinder emanated a rich pale-gold light and was the source of most of the illumination within the bridge. In fact, a phaseship and its Dreamwalker were more or less one while in operation. It was Vuel that allowed the phaseship to soar through the skies, she that powered all of its many components and instruments. The Dreamwalker was also both navigator and pilot, though the crew still maintained both skill sets in order to take over the ship when its Dreamwalker was required to focus elsewhere and could spare no more effort than to power the vessel.

Captain Dubeyr sighed. "That's quite the look you're giving her."

He smiled, then turned his gaze down at the white ursine. She wore tight fitting leathers, the material at her bosom just barely containing its ample contents, though of course that was intentional. Markings at her collar indicated her rank and command and was sufficient enough to pale most folk she addressed, but their friendship was almost as old as this miserable Crusade and so rank had come to mean little between them.

"I assure you that I am the victim in this," he replied. Eberris shook his head. "Unfortunately, she has a way of getting whatever she desires regardless of what I think."

Captain Dubeyr raised an eyebrow. "Others are beginning to talk. Just thought you might want to know."

"That does not seem to perturb her in the slightest--not even when I have the praetors pacing around me like flustered hens." He eyed the good captain, wondering. "Jealous, my friend?"

She grinned up at him. "More than just a little."

He let out a short laugh and stepped beside her, turning to face the two largest dreamstone panels set against the far end of the bridge. "How fares the battle?"

A grunt was her only reply, but it told him enough. Frowning, he focused his attention on the panels. Images were superimposed upon them, projected by not only their Dreamwalker but that of the other four phaseships that had accompanied them. Five phaseships, a full Sheltering Claw, had been sent to deal with the threat below and that should have been more than enough. The panels, however, showed a far different reality.

The worldshard they currently occupied, which the locals had named Vileen, was a land of nothing but rolling deserts and high plateaus. Not unlike our own origin worldshard, he mused. Perhaps they were a whole back before the world was shattered. Their soldiers were fighting blade against blade with the reptilian natives of Worldshard Vileen, a bloody battle that was unfolding over a wide region.

War was a constant lover to the trained legions of the Conclave, thus theirs was a force comprised primarily of hardened veterans. Yet he saw that the legions were being halted in their advance. Yes, the nomadic reptiles might have a minor advantage in a ground battle, but their people bore no true soldiers. The battle had begun as a slaughter in their favor--odd now that he saw so many of the Conclave's forces being routed.

"Sorcery." Eberris said. It was not a question.

Sighing, Captain Dubeyr nodded. "Unsanctioned sorcery was turned against our legions."

Eberris' eyes narrowed as he continued to examine the panels, watching the swirling patterns of battle show the growing slaughter of the Conclave's warriors. "Their invokers show some degree of skill and control. Their crime must be an old one."

Beside him the captain shrugged.

"Unfortunate that we must cleanse them..." Eberris said.

He felt the captain's gaze shift from the panels and knew that her face was written with surprise. "They're using unsanctioned sorcery and you're pitying them?"

"Because they had no other choice. The Conclave was slow in reaching this distant worldshard, thus one would assume that they became desperate in their efforts to ward off--"

"I know what they were fucking trying to ward off," Captain Dubeyr snapped. "Sure, maybe their sorceresses and witch-men probably took up sorcery for more noble reasons than most, but it doesn't matter how good the intent is. The end result of unregulated sorcery is--" She paused to laugh. "--well, we got worldshards now and life is miserable on each and every one of them. Enough said."

He gave a grim smile. "Well, from what I see it is obvious that we Arbiters will be set upon them. It is only a matter of time."

As he voiced those very thoughts the runic engravings on his blackened armor flared to life, the light the same pale-gold that emanated from Vuel. A powerful thrill thundered through him at the same moment, his muscles warming and his heart beginning to pound. Bloodlust began to flicker awake, but it was bent to his will, an ember with the potential of an inferno locked into a lantern of flesh.

"We will not wait, Eberris." Vuel's melodic voice echoed from his dreamstone earring, sounding ghostly and distorted. The earring dangled from a golden loop punched through his left ear and matched the ones every Arbiter and commanding entity--like Captain Dubeyr--possessed. "The Dreaming Mother's will is made manifest. With all the regret we can muster the Arbiters are Unchained. Descend upon the people of this worldshard and cleanse them before the situation grows out of control."

"As the Dreamwalkers command," Eberris said, bowing low to the unmoving figure floating in the cylinder. "We go to do the Dreaming Mother's will."

"Arbiter Eberris."

He paused, turning his head to glance at the captain.

"I've learned it's pointless to tell you to keep the heroics to a minimum, and fuck if I care, but--" The captain leaned forward and nodded towards back over her shoulder. "Don't forget about her, yeah?"

He nodded. How could I ever? Still, our work must come first. He sighed as he retraced his steps back around and exited the bridge, then made his way through equally claustrophobic interior of the phaseship. It must.

He reached the lowest level, a particular section where drop chutes that regular soldiers used to quickly enter combat were located. Already the other six Arbiters assigned to the _Brutal Mercy_were gathered, the runes on their own armor flaring gold. All of them were black wolves like Eberris himself, though that was not by intent. The birthplace of the Conclave had simply contained his people, known as horati, and so their kind was a common sight in the worldshards the Conclave ruled.

Each of the Arbiters wore armor that was a replica of his own, sectioned and smooth, form fitting and appearing chitinous. The emblem of the Conclave and the feather-across-sword that was the emblem of the Arbiters was clearly visible upon their conservative pauldrons.

Arbiter Valamine, a younger Arbiter who had spent most of his last campaign alongside Eberris, threw him his closed helm, made entirely of precious dreamstone. He caught it and pulled it down over his head, then accepted his gigantic, ornate halberd from Valamine before nodding at the others. "Let us be off, battle-brothers. We hunt!"

"We hunt!" they echoed, raising their own ornate halberds.

Together they gripped the heavy covers of the chutes and then slid them open. Below the ground was a distant smattering of gold and brown, the dunes shifting beneath the wind. Normally the phaseship would levitate just above the ground in order to dispense its forces, either through the landing arms surrounding the deck or through chutes like these beneath the phaseship. With a flick of his tail and a wild grin, Eberris stepped through.

Radiant light engulfed him as he fell, trailing his body like the tail of a shooting star. Around him from the other phaseships similar lights burst to life and began their speedy descent. He cried out in exhilaration from behind his helm, the air whipping around him, the bloodlust surging in strength. It was not that he thrived in killing and war, but he enjoyed the baser, more natural sensations between such sentient thoughts.

They crashed into the desert below, sending torrents of sand up and away. The light engulfing them erupted into a spray of golden motes, dispersing the impact of their fall. The Arbiters rose smoothly, back to back in the shape of a circle, their halberds at the ready. Eberris scanned before him, his helm appearing transparent while underneath the influence of the Dreaming Mother and thus no hindrance to his vision. Patches of violet erupted in the distance, like the light of lightning just before the clash of thunder.

"Sorcery to the northwest," Arbiter Valamine observed, his voice coming through Eberris' dreamstone earring.

He nodded. "I have picked up its scent as well. I suggest we engage directly so that we may rally our warriors."

"We are in agreement?" Arbiter Karn, their battlemaster, asked. The others voiced an affirmation. "This is Arbiter Karn of the Brutal Mercy, designation alpha squad. We have detected sorcery and are moving to engage."

"This is bravo squad. We acknowledge and are en route to your position."

"This is Arbiter Felcrum of charlie squad. I am here with Arbiter Terdos of delta squad. Both squads have been ordered to assist the warriors."

"Echo squad and delta squad have landed without issue. We are operating in tangent and will continue to sweep for other sources of sorcery."

Satisfied, they took off wordlessly, shifting into a wedge formation and moving at an inhuman pace. Eberris ran towards the rear of the left side, his breathing unlabored as he sprinted through the simmering air. That was in part due to his own physical fitness, but it further enhanced by various sanctioned spells that had been infused into his body and supported by the goddess' own touch on his armor. The Unchaining had seen their unique weapons and armor awakened, the latent powers brought forth. The golden arcs that danced across the surface of his armor, the shaft of his halberd, and the scabbard of his sword sidearm were all proof of this to any who observed their passing. The result was a rush of power that seeped into his very bones and thundered through his pumping blood. Let the enemy show itself and I will teach them fear.

They came upon the battlefield and saw their warriors struggling to disengage from the reptilian natives. Eberris joined his fellow Arbiters in a counter assault, their arrival like a fist smashing down on a porcelain cup. His halberd left trails of golden light as it spun around him, blood and flesh scattering to the sands. The reptilian natives fell in droves, their thin greatswords battered aside like twigs by the holy strength of the Arbiters. Cheers rose from the Conclave's warriors and it was not long before they regrouped and again joined the battle.

A smudge of cold appeared just behind the falling reptilian natives. Eberris spotted it and began to cleave his way towards it, his fellow battle-brothers at either side. The enemy line began to waver, then began an outright desperate retreat. The violet colors and cold grew stronger, assaulting his senses as it drew near. Three reptilian natives appeared over a sand dune, their patterned hides orange and black like a tiger, their pupils dilated to extremity. They wore dun colored robes, silver rings clanking on their wrists. Violet color swirled around their limbs, shrouding them like a cloak.

The natives' witch-men. Eberris narrowed his gaze behind his helm. And so the true battle begins.

The leading witch-man smiled as his gaze fell on the Arbiters. "Ah, finally the whore's whelps come."

Eberris frowned. What is this?

The witch-men snarled, their sharp teeth gleaming in the sun. They threw out their arms and suddenly the air became frigid. The violet color flared, engulfing all three mages. A sickening crunching sound followed that reminded him of snapping bones. A terrifying roar sounded from the black and purple miasma. The natives turned, their eyes widening at what they saw, what they felt. There was nothing glorious in it, nothing right. Certainly the lizard folk had always been frightened or at least wary of their empowered kin--ever the response to that which should not be within the grasp mortals. Even so, magic was at its core bland and flavorless, masterless even, but there was a power that sought to rape it and all those who would use it, to make it all its own. Its touch left no doubt and these poor fools felt that.

The once resilient battle lines crumbled, the lizard folk throwing down their weapons and scattering as they saw that their greatest weapon had become corrupted. Perhaps they had suspected all along and this was merely their fears made real.

Gigantic claws reached out from the black miasma, followed by an angular head crowned by ram horns. A giant reptile, its skin as black as obsidian, eyes seething and aglow with violet light. A tail swung back and forth behind it, razor-sharp blades protruding from it in sets of three all the way down.

"Ahro-ra!" one of the natives screeched, pointing up at the monstrosity. That was several moments before one of the abomination's claws crashed down and crushed the fool in a spray of sand and blood.

"No! It is not whatever you believe it to be!" cried Arbiter Valamine.

"Hold," Eberris whispered. "There is no point in telling them, battle-brother."

"But--"

"Look at it!" he cried. "Can you not feel the cold surging forth? Taste the foulness in the air? Those sorcerers have long fallen to Nightmare and its grip over the witch-mens' souls is as absolute as its grip over the fear of these people."

He understood well Valamine's attempt, however. Wisdom was the greatest weapon against the Eternal Foe, Nightmare, for just as with the Dream belief and disbelief were as nourishment and poison. After all, neither Dream nor Nightmare could manifest in the physical world without being made real--either by faith or fear. Here Nightmare had taken the form of some dark legend or myth of the natives and their ancient beliefs would only feed it strength.

The abomination laughed as it rose to stand four or five bodies high. "Long have I waited."

Then take joy, for we are here. Eberris raised his halberd, the golden glyphs flaring bright.

"Retreat."

He froze at Vuel's single, softly spoken word. Retreat?

"Madness--" His battle-brother's retort was cut short as the skies shone with the brightness of five suns. He craned his neck above as the five phaseships floated into position over the desert, spreading out. The glyphs along the hulls were glowing, condensing at spiraling horn-like protrusion at the bow of each ship.

"They ready the Sword of Stars?" Eberris whispered in disbelief.

Arbiter Karn growled, tail flicking behind him. "Dreamwalkers, what is the meaning of this? If all five phaseships fire the Sword of Stars you will slay our own men!"

Eberris shook his head. It will not even be close. All of them--and all of us--will become dust.

"We have not asked for this," Vuel said through the dreamstone earring. "The Dreaming Mother's will acts of its own accord. She has deemed it a worthwhile sacrifice in order to slay the abomination before you."

"We have faced worse!"

The abomination stood unmoving as they spoke, its tail whipping back and forth. It glanced up at the illuminated phaseships with benign curiosity and little more, but made no effort to attack the Arbiters.

"It is not what it seems, Arbiter." Vuel's voice was hesitant, uncertain.

No time to think about that. He charged forward, halberd swinging.

Karn's helmet snapped toward him. "Arbiter Eberris, what are you doing? You were given a direct order!"

"Tell the others to retreat," he shouted even though he knew his earring would pick up his voice without issue. "We, on the other paw, are too close to escape now even with our armor quickening our pace."

The others hesitated for but a moment before joining him, realizing that he only spoke truth. They attacked the towering abomination, their halberds cutting through the air. The abomination roared as they closed and drew blood, but already the wounds were closing, the flow of foul violet ichor slowing. It swung at them with its oversized claws, but found only sand and air.

Eberris rolled out of the way of a rebounding swipe, cutting across the back of the beast's paw as the claw swept by. Despite their precise attacks the beast was not slowed by its wounds, but this he had expected. The abomination was deeply entrenched within Nightmare and so, more so than most battles he had fought, that would be its only true weakness. Very well, then.

He rushed forward, weapon at the ready. "Valamine, dual pounce!"

Scarcely any time for the other Arbiter to acknowledge or react, but they were the Conclave's finest warriors and so thrived on the thin edge of battle. The abomination regarded him with glowing eyes, bringing down its massive claw-arm to swipe at him. He halted, using his halberd to still his momentum, then pushed back. Arbiter Valamine shoved him the rest of the way back, grabbing the beast's arm with both of his own. Glyphs flared bright as Arbiter Valamine struggled to hold back that terrifying strength, the beast's other claw rising.

Eberris moved forward into the creature's guard, leaping onto the restrained arm, then scrambling up it. The beast's snarled, eyes widening with confusion and surprise.

"Damn it, Eberris!" Arbiter Karn brought his weapon to his side in a two-pawed grip. "Come, Arbiters. Distract it with starfire! Full barrage!"

He heard the crack of thunder behind him and saw tiny orbs of golden light smash into the beast, leaving smoldering patches of burnt flesh. Those wounds began to heal as soon as they opened, but the creature roared in pain and brought its other arm to shield itself. Eberris continued up the arm, his balance teetering as the creature struggled to free itself from Arbiter Valamine. When he reached the elbow Eberris braced himself, gathering his muscles taut, and launched off the creature with empowered strength that left his armor blazing. He grasped the spear in a two handed grip and plunged it deep into the beast's chest, then swung himself around to the beast's neck, twisting his grip to keep the halberd in place. The runes along it began to writhe and shimmer, gold light pulsing from them.

"Now!" he cried. "I've made a Breach, Dreamwalkers!"

The next instant five foxes blinked into existence in a circle around the abomination, their bodies hazy and opaque, eyes a font of golden light. They raised their arms and tails flourished behind then like plumes of flame. They all held a varying number of phantom-tails, denoting their degree of sorcerous power. Few ever surpassed four total tails and only two had ever reached seven in the Conclave's history. Vuel stood before him as one of the pawful of five-tails currently serving the Conclave.

With a powerful pulse of stillness the world froze.

Gold streaked through the air like tiny veins and was matched by a sickly mixture of black and violet. They entwined and spread throughout the battlefield moments before a shrouded, shadowy figure rose from the center of the now translucent reptilian beast. The puppet master, a Chosen of Nightmare.

Eberris felt himself unable to move, frozen in that singular moment that could stretch for an eternity within the Dream. His affinity for the Dream allowed his mind to perceive the battle between the Chosen and the Dreamwalkers however and so he saw them flare into blazing streaks of golden light then swirl around another made of purple and blacks. Powerful sorcery was unleashed in a world made of nothing but potential, a battle where one's weapon was the land itself.

The battle stretched on in a show of flashes and streaking lights, powerful waves of raw power that seeped through the veil itself. Eberris could not tell how they faired--he never could--and so this became the most heart wrenching moment of his work of an Arbiter. Helpless to aid, powerless to intervene, he was forced instead to watch.

That was, at times, more painful than one could imagine.

One golden light struck against the swirling mass of black and violet then careened down towards the hazy outline superimposed over the desert sand. A Dreamwalker rose unsteadily to her feet, tails and ears drooping, her light waning. The Chosen snapped to position just before her, shadows wreathing him. The outline of a blade formed in his paw as he thrust forward, impossibly quick. The Dreamwalker grew rigid, then still for a long moment.

The Dreamwalker's light vanished and at that same moment one of the phaseships also dimmed. Another Dreamwalker--Vuel he realized--flashed from light-shape form to fox-shape, one arm reaching out. The Chosen tensed in surprise, then staggered back. He raised both arms and Vuel's posture changed, looking as if she were bearing a great weight and just barely keeping it from crushing her. The violet and black flared in a swirling storm, met by Vuel's radiant golden light. The other Dreamwalkers crashed down, shifting from a form of light to their usual multiple-tailed fox forms. As one the remaining three raised their paws, a ball of light collecting in each, then they flourished with a sweeping, cutting motion. The churning balls of energy dispersed and the Chosen fell to a knee.

The world snapped back into focus, the hazy, outlined realm of the Dream vanishing, the vein-like tendrils of power dissipating like smoke. The Dreamwalkers and Chosen vanished in the blink of an eye, their forms melting away into the sudden clarity of the world around them. Senses rushed at Eberris, the dryness in his muzzle, the ruthless heat, the strain of muscles holding his halberd in place.

Powerful grating sounded above them and Eberris risked a quick glance upward. One of the phaseships had drifted apart from the rest, falling with fearsome quickness towards the desert. Tiny eruptions and arcs of golden light thundered across the hull, the phaseship breaking apart into various chunks of dreamstone and metal. The fading sorcery within was slowly losing its grip, but as of yet it struggled to hold the crumbling pieces together. There will be so much death.

"They're flying banners of white and gold," Captain Dubeyr's shaky voice said as it came over his earring. "Their Dreamwalker is dead, but they pass on without regrets. Focus on your objectives!"

She is right. It time we bring this to an end. Eberris yanked his halberd free from the flailing abomination.

"He is cut from Nightmare," Vuel said in a tired, pained voice. "The master trapped in his fleshy puppet. Slay him, Arbiters, and the Dreaming Mother may call off the Sword of Stars."

The abomination roared as the Arbiters closed with grim determination, their halberds aglow with righteous light. Eberris regarded the creature. Guide me in your name, Dreaming mother.

The abomination flailed its arms, backing away, its eyes wild with rage. Sand filled the air as it struck without aim, its desperate swipes wide and unguided. The Arbiters engaged it with the precision and fearlessness they were known for and this time it did not regenerate. It was not long before the abomination fell before their faith and discipline and the abomination toppled down onto the sand, its black blood spilling.

Chest heaving, armored body drenched in sweat, Eberris glanced at the fallen creature. The natives turned to unsanctioned sorcery in order to protect themselves from the servants of Nightmare. I see it again and again, yet most tiring of all is the bitter irony of this dark cycle.

"The honor of the kill is yours, Eberris," Arbiter Karn said, nodding at him. "I oblige my right as battlemaster to pass it to you."

"And so I accept the honor with unbound gratitude, Karn," Eberris said, nodding. This Chosen was somewhat of a challenge, yes, but hardly the worst we have battled. Five firings of the Sword of Stars for this? No, something is not right.

Laughter sounded in his head and it took a few moments before Eberris realized that it came from the Chosen within the abomination.

"Your own death amuses you, slave of Nightmare?"

The scent is ours and it will not be lost.

Eberris frowned. _No, do not let it wound your resolve, scathe your mind with doubt. It is fallen and will soon be no more._He raised his halberd, then plunged it into the reptilian abomination's head, then twisted. As he did so the gathering power on the remaining phaseships slowed, then dimmed and dissipated, returning the phaseships to their original states.

"It pleases me that Her faith in us was not misplaced," Arbiter Valamine said.

He nodded. "In that I agree, battle-brother." He glanced around him, saw the expanse of desert and the scattered weapons. "I suggest you report our success to the rest of our brothers, battlemaster, while we join the warriors in completing the cleansing."

Arbiter Valamine snorted. "Easy work, that."

Eberris shook his head. "Beware the blade that becomes lighter with each life it takes."

The other arbiter hesitated, then bowed his head. "A worthwhile warning, battle-brother."

"And in heeding it you lose no respect in my eyes, Valamine." He sighed. "Now come. There is grim work to be done."

Eberris entered his private chambers on the Brutal Mercy, a suite made up of simple sleeping quarters and an armory. His armor lay on its racks before him, the tedious process of its removal and cleaning having taken the better part of the last few hours. He had aids available to him, of course, armorers who he trusted to remove and clean his precious dreamforged gear for him. Eberris still preferred doing it himself however and rather enjoyed using the time to think.

A dangerous hobby for many in this age, he had come to realize. Thoughts of what he had done today crowded his mind, turmoil over the losses they had sustained, the lives they had taken with the apathetic necessity of a Reaper.

Enough of that, now. Time for peace of mind and a good night's rest. He sighed, rolling his shoulders and working the kinks out of his muscles. He turned--and froze, tail and ears jerking rigid.

Vuel stood at his doorway yet again, naked, her posture confident. A smile lit up her face, her satisfied expression telling that she was pleased to see him drink her beauty like a drunkard and his ale, guilt be damned.

Her timing was, of course, ever perfect. He had no excuse to offer and was already clothed in little more than a loincloth. Still he rose, paws raised, his mind steeling itself. "Vuel, we can not."

She walked forward, the door sliding shut behind her with a casual wave of her paw. Her smile widening, she continued toward him, her hips swaying, her lithe, fit body moving through his protest as if it were made of gossamer. She stopped before him and looked up with her soft golden eyes, then lay her paws on his chest. Her fingers brushed against his fur, traced the countless scars, and Eberris swore that the Dreaming Mother herself could not have had a softer touch. Her tail swayed enticingly, giving him a view of her tight bottom in spurts before it was again hidden by the fluffy, silken appendage. Eberris doubted its timing was accidental.

"Vuel," he breathed, trying to get his mind away from her intoxicating scent, the thrill of her touch. "I am serious. Aside from the fact that I am tired of speaking with the praetors about this it is far from proper. You and I have duties we must--"

He warm mouth bit on one of his nipples, drawing a surprised growl from him. She giggled, then began gently sucking, her tongue pressing hot and hard. Her other fingers moved like the legs of a spider towards his other nipple, then began pinching and twisting it. Clenching his teeth, he glanced down at her with a frown and was not surprised to see a mischievous glint in her eyes. This is... different. He sighed. Vuel enjoyed surprising him, keeping him off his feet. Oh well. It is not... unpleasant.

His determination crumbling, Eberris reached out to gently push her away. She caught his arm in a light grip, a grip that would be easy to tear free from, but somehow he seemed drained of the resolve to do so. She led him to her own chest, cupped his paw around her soft, full breast. His breath caught as she let out a lusty moan, her eyelids growing heavy.

Mother forgive, I barely touched you. He narrowed his gaze. "Stop teasing me, Vuel."

She cocked her head and grinned, but still held his paw against her breast, squeezing gently. Mute she was, but so much was said in that gaze of hers, in her posture: You want me? Well, you are more than welcome to have me.

"No," he said, shaking his head. He parted from her, moving her back to an arm's length, then sat on the edge of his bed with a heavy sigh. She frowned and put her paws on her hips. He could not help but think that she was beautiful even while pouting. "It is not that I do not enjoy whatever this is that we have, Vuel. Quite the opposite, in fact, though I am sure you know that. Still, I am an Arbiter and you a Dreamwalker. We each have work that endangers our lives and must tend to that work without hesitation. We cannot become attached."

She glared at him, arms crossing.

"I know, Vuel," he replied. "I am sure that in part you do this to forget. Forget the strict path our lives must take, forget the comrades we have lost walking alongside it. And why not with another who understands those commitments, who knows we cannot make another?"

Vuel raised an eyebrow and Eberris coughed. "Er, my mind has crossed similar thoughts while I was digesting the results of our, uh, first time. But however much it makes sense it is not proper and that is just not simply because the praetors insist so."

Vuel gave a shrug, a smile returning to her face.

"Vuel," he warned. "I am serious."

She dropped down to her knees, tail waving back and forth, one ear bent forward and her tongue passing over the bottom of her muzzle. She played with her breasts, kneading them, her clawed thumbs toying with her nipples. She gave another exaggerated moan, but the sound perked his ears. Mother forgive, what this female does to me!

He felt himself becoming even more aroused. Her eyes descended to the proof of that excitement, a satisfied gleam in her eyes. He sighed. How easily my body betrays me.

Her smile became a sly grin as she moved forward on all fours, her butt waving in the air. He tried to protest again, but she ignored him, reaching his legs and without a care burying her head between them.

"Vuel, damn it! I said--"

He let out a growl as he felt her warm, wet tongue trace the inside of his sheathe. Her paws clutched at his sizable balls possessively, kneading and lifting. Her warm breath sent lightning through his body. He placed a paw on her head, but she placed her own paw on top of his, reaching for his other and doing the same. With a final mischievous look she took the peeking tip of his red cock in to her mouth, sucking while her muzzle warmed his waking member. Eberris tensed, but she continued sucking without hesitation, brushing her tongue against the opening at the tip. His cock twitched inside her muzzle, hardening and growing out of its sheathe and into the wet, warm one she was providing. He grabbed down on her head without realizing it, clutching her ears in the process, he felt her shiver. Her tail raised and swept to the side, her butt rising high to give him a clear view.

Hungrily she ate his cock, wet sounds escaping her muzzle as she took more and more of his growing meat. Eberris was at a loss for words--it was obvious Vuel would not take "no" for an answer, but he admitted that seeing her between his legs, his cock in her mouth, sent a powerful thrill rushing through him. She must have sensed it, because at that moment she gave him a knowing look before closing her eyes and swalling him whole.

"Mother forgive," he breathed, clutching harder on her head.

She buried her muzzle deep into his crotch, sweeping her head side to side, swallowing and gulping and brushing his cock underneath with her tongue. His knot began to swell, the bulge teased by the tip of her tongue as she pleased him. The tip of his cock began to hit the back of he throat as she thrust him into her muzzle, each sending white hot pleasure through him that left his toes curled. His cock began to outgrow her muzzle, but she seemed heedless of the fact and the tightening sensation only pleasured him more.

"Vuel, I, I am close--" Unable to bear it no longer, he tore her head back until only his tip was inside her muzzle. She gave him an encouraging look while she sucked on the tip of his cock and flicked her tongue along the opening.

He rose, slamming his cock all the way back in, then out, and in, roughly and with need. Her paws flew between her legs and he heard squelching sounds as she played with her pussy as if it were some musical instrument.

Mind clouded by lust, Eberris' resolve had long since broken, and so he thrust into her mouth as if it were her pussy instead, growling and breathing in deep spurts. He felt his arousal reach a powerful peak, then slammed hard inside her. Somewhere in the back of his mind a warning sounded about his knot, but it was too late heed it. He felt the bulge stop for but a moment then felt it pop into her muzzle. He came hard then, his knot swelling, and heard her hungrily swallow and drink his cum as each sticky spurt shot down her throat.

She made a sound that was half growl and half purr, both paws working at a quick pace between her legs. His cock twitched as he continued cuming, a low growl escaping him, then in a hot rush it was all over and the world returned to focus in a rush of colors, smells, and sounds. Panting, he relaxed his grip on her head and ears, realizing to his horror that he had been tugging on them. Her beautiful ears were already bruising, but Vuel didn't seem to care in the slightest. She continued to drink his cum, suckling on his cock like a babe while watching him with half closed eyes.

"Vuel," he breathed, feeling guilty. "Forgive me." He helped her open her muzzle and began to tug out his knot before she began suffocating. It did not want to budge, so he pulled a little harder. She closed her eyes and forced her jaw open wider. With a wet plop his knot popped out of her muzzle, but she reached up with a sticky paw and caught his cock at its base, letting it slowly slip free while sucking hard on it.

When it finally slipped out of her muzzle she swallowed a final time then opened her muzzle wide to show him that nothing remained. That had never been one of his pleasures, or so at least he had thought, but she had done so every time and he had to admit there was something alluring about seeing that she had swallowed everything he had given her.

Panting, Vuel nuzzled his cock and made a small sound, the wet on his cock marring her perfect fur. She licked him clean with quick, short licks then turned to her own paws and licked them clean, all while maintaining a smug look on her face. When she was finished she stretched, arms raised high in the air, then she leaned back and spread her thighs. One of her paws slid down the white of her stomach and pulled open her pussy. Sticky strands crossed across the opening, the white fur around the mound gleaming wetly.

"Vuel, I think have done enough," he said between heavy breaths. His conviction sounded weak even to him. Worse, though he had just finished climaxing his softening cock already began to harden at the thought of mounting her.

She cocked her head, then pointed at herself and gave him a look of exaggerated disappointment.

"I know it is not fair, but neither did I ask you to do... what you did."

More gestures and a pouting face. A question, though he found he could read her surprisingly well even without pawspeak.

"Annoy me?" He frowned. "No, of course not. It is just that--"

More gestures before she twisted twin fists beneath her eyes as if rubbing away tears.

"Stop that. It will not work on me." He sighed, ears flat, and flicked his tail. "I think I have spoiled you too much by giving into your demands."

She nodded in agreement, surprising him. Then made another gesture, one he knew well in quite a different context.

Eberris frowned. "Punish you?"

She clapped her paws together and nodded again, then gestured once more.

"Teach you a soldier's discipline? What are--" Eberris groaned. "I should have guessed where this was going."

More gestures and a mischievous glance.

"I promised nothing!"

In one fluid motion she turned over onto her paws and knees, then faced away from him. Her tail rose high and out of the way. She wiggled her bottom at him, her pussy still wet and gleaming. One of her paws patted against a round butt cheek as she glanced back at him.

"You are no child," he said hesitantly, though he found that he could not tear his eyes away from that perfect rump of hers. "I am not going to spank you. This whole conversation is ridiculous."

She gave a soft laugh while remaining in that position, then made some more gestures while raising an eyebrow.

Eberris frowned. "That is not true! If anything you abuse my kindness!"

More gestures, including pointing at herself then at him.

"I do not act like a female." He huffed. "I am simply in better control of my desires. You, on the other paw, are--"

She made a quick set of gestures.

"--a manipulative bitch?" Her eyes widened as a paw flew to her muzzle. Though he knew her surprise was feigned he felt his blood rushing beneath his fur. "Vuel!"

A more complicated array of gestures and a shrug. If you ever want to me listen to a word you say then you should put me in my place and teach me a lesson.

"No, Vuel. This is utterly improper and I blame myself for even letting it get this far, but--"

Again she gestured, then tossed her head. Not listening to you, lady-paws.

He growled in frustration, his anger rising. "Fine! If this is what you want then I will oblige!"

Eberris moved forward onto his knees, then grabbed the base of her tail in a tight fist. She flinched, but his paw was already coming down on her bottom. The slap filled the room and sounded too harsh to his ears, but he steeled himself. Next time she would be careful about what she asked for and would certainly take more care not to test his patience.

Vuel squealed and jumped up, but his shoved her head back down against the floor. "No. This is what you wanted so just sit there and enjoy it!"

His paw slammed down again against her bottom. He felt her tense, her muscles tightening, and another little squeal escaped her. Again he spanked her, this time on the other side, the soft roundness of her bottom giving beneath his palm, the light gold fur and strip of white along the crease reddening. He kept her butt in place with his grip on her tail, his palm relentless as he spanked her again and again, the room filling with the sound of his paw slapping against her flesh and the squeals she gave as a result. Eberris found the raw sense of dominance and power arousing, his cock hardening enough that it hurt. That both surprised and frightened him, but those thoughts were softened when he noticed the slickness between Vuel's thighs, the matted fur clumped and catching the sticky rivulets of wet from her arousal.

Eberris shook her head. Mother forgive, she is enjoying this! He let out a resigned sigh. No one else can toy with my emotions as acutely as you, Vuel, let alone make me seem a dullard and a fool at the same time.

Deciding he might as well finish what she started, he continued spanking her until all of her fur along her plump, rotund bottom was tinged red. Vuel lay with her head turned and pressed against the ground, panting, her tongue hanging from her mouth.

Eberris picked her up with ease and set her on her feet. She frowned, her paws rising to gesture, but she froze when he reached out and clutched her neck at her breastbone. Her eyes widened in surprise, but his only response was to grin and shove her back against the wall.

"This is what you wanted, is it now?" he asked, growling. "Now be quiet like a good little bitch and let me use you."

Vuel's eyes widened further, her face reddening as much as her bottom. She gave him a meek nod and he could feel her pulse quickening beneath his grip. He reached down and lifted her, pressing her against the wall to hold her up. He forced her legs open, then brought his throbbing cock to her dripping opening. Without waiting or asking he shoved himself inside. She let out a cry and threw her arms around his neck as he sank deep inside, but she was so wet that despite her tightness he had no difficulty slipping down to his knot. Without waiting he pulled out, then slammed back in, pressing her into the wall. He mated her roughly, her pussy making loud, wet, noisy sounds as it swallowed his girth again and again.

"Is this what you wanted, bitch?" he asked her. Eberris almost came then and there at the seductive look and smile she gave him.

Their mating took on a desperate, feral twist full of lust and dominance, need and surrender. Her claws dug into his fur and flesh, her tail wrapping around his waist. Her ears were flat against her skull, her tongue hanging out as she panted, grunting each time his massive slick cock forced itself inside her tight, squeezing pussy. He licked along her muzzle and around her eyes, matting her perfect fear, then brushed his tongue along the inside of an ear. She shivered and flicked it, prompting him to catch it in his muzzle and nip her. She whimpered, then grunted as he pressed into her. He felt her tense and arch her back. Eberris could feel a warm, sticky wetness coursing down his thighs. Goodness, Vuel!

Her orgasm brought a tightening of her pussy that brought him straight to the edge. He began to pull out, but she wrapped her legs around him. He glanced down at her and watched her shake her head, a tongue brushing across her muzzle. Damn it, Vuel!

Eberris growled, then slammed himself back into her and held himself inside by pressing against her. She grunted, his oversized knot fighting to enter that tiny opening. Again she whimpered, but he did not relent, and soon his knot popped inside with a rush of warmth and intense pleasure. She let out a lusty squeal, then came again, squeezing so hard on his knot that he climaxed alongside her. He came in heavy, hot streams directly into her womb, her slender hips grinding against his as she was mated, his knot tugging at her entrance and ensuring she took all of his seed.

The fox shuddered, claws sinking deeper into him, and she buried her head in his broad chest. As he finished squirting his seed both of them gasped. He brought them both toward his bed and fall back into it, panting. Vuel sat up, straddling him, and played with her breasts while glancing down at him with a smug look.

"Spoiled..." he muttered between gulps of air.

She did not refute him, instead spreading her slit open and lifting her hips. His knot popped out of her at almost full size, a brief but intense moment of pain and pleasure on both their faces as his meaty cock followed and slipped free with a wet splurt. She then straddled him again with a look of utter contentment, one paw fingering herself and spreading his oozing seed along the inside of her thighs while the other became slick stroking his cock. She gave him an impatient whimper and a look full of desire.

Eberris shook his head in disbelief, but what was perhaps even more surprising was that his cock was hardening.

Vuel licked her muzzle at seeing it, glanced at him and winked, then took her cum-slicked paws and gestured while indicating his growing member. See? Champions really do come in all shapes and sizes.

Eberris laughed.

He awoke to the sounds of distant shouting. The phaseship was shuddering, tossing and turning like a normal vessel caught in a storm. Frowning, Eberris rose from his bed and immediately realized that Vuel was not beside him. Clutching his sword, the sidearm more wieldy in the confines of the phaseship, he slid out of bed.

"Captain Dubeyr, status report?" Silence. His frowning deepening, tail waving back and forth at a quickened pace, he tried once more. "Arbiter Karn? Anyone?" Again, only silence.

He strode towards the entrance of his quarters, then blinked when the door did not open. Growling, he slid it open by force and walked out into the thin hallway. Others were peeking out of their own rooms.

"What is going on?" he called to them.

A squirrel-like fenn shrugged. "I don't know, Arbiter. The ship seems...dead, but that's not possible else we'd be too."

"True," he replied, nodding. "Remain in your quarters. Allow no one to roam and ensure the peace is kept. I will go seeking answers."

He returned back into his quarters and donned his armor segment by segment. The sorcery within him powered it enough to allow it to lock together, but the glyphs were dead. That did not bode well. Hastening, he finished donning his armor save for the helmet and made for the bridge. The passageways of the phaseship's interior were filled with more activity, though he realized that it was mostly runners carrying commands and delivering messages. Heart thudding, he struggled to maintain a controlled pace as he stepped onto the bridge.

Eberris felt his breath catch. Vuel's cylinder was empty.

"Where is Vuel?" he demanded.

Captain Dubeyr glanced away from the other Arbiters and frowned. "We don't know."

Eberris strode around the curving pathway, unmindful of the others he forced out of his way. "Meaning what? Tell me!"

"Calm yourself, Eberris," Arbiter Karn said, frowning and snapping his tail. "The captain means as she has said. All of the Dreamwalkers have gone missing."

"They must still remain nearby then if our phaseships remain intact."

Captain Dubeyr shook her heard. "Not necessarily." She sighed. "We reside in the Dreamscape, marooned on a bit of solidified thought."

"The Dreamscape? Was a phasing into the Dream authorized?"

"Not as far as I'm aware. Arbiter Valamine was just suggesting that the Dreamwalkers might have done it to protect us, or because they had no choice."

"No Dream," Arbiter Karn said, growling. "Nightmare touches this region. I can taste it."

"The abomination," Eberris said. "Before I killed it had mentioned that the scent had already been picked up. Could he have been referring to the Dreamwalkers?"

"Perhaps," Arbiter Karn admitted. "After all, Lady Vuel did state her unease over the Chosen. The likelihood that we have been manipulated somehow seems high."

"Thus what?" Arbiter Valamine demanded. "Some servant of Nightmare we already killed plucked them from the midst of our vessels? That would leave us as good as dead if it were true, impossible as that is."

Captain Dubeyr looked between the Arbiters. "Speculation isn't getting us anywhere, Arbiters. I can tell you we are marooned, trapped somewhere in the Dreamscape. We do not have our Dreamwalkers, thus our vessels are useless and you'll remain too distant for the Dreaming Mother to touch."

"Especially here, if Karn speaks true about Nightmare," Arbiter Valamine muttered.

Eberris glanced at each in turn, then turned away and began to make his way towards the exit.

"Eberris?"

He paused, glancing over his shoulder. "I go to seek Vuel."

The others exchanged surprised looks. Arbiter Karn growled, his tail raising. "You are a fool, then. We are without the Mother's touch, trapped in a portion of Dream that is infected with Nightmare. I can only imagine the horrors that lay in wait outside and still you would walk into it without a care?"

"Of course, Karn," he replied easily. "I remain an Arbiter with or without the aid of sorcery, Karn. More importantly, Vuel may be trapped out there."

"Your personal feelings--"

"Have much to do with my actions, yes!" he shouted, whirling around. "It would be a lie to say otherwise, but that is not all that beats within me! It is our duty, battlemaster. We do not simply give up because of a disadvantage. In either case the servants of Nightmare will not leave these phaseships be for long." He gave a grin then. "I refuse to wait for death. Instead I will go and find it and whether or not it takes me it will learn this day of fear. Just as the Dreaming Mother commands."

Arbiter Karn and Arbiter Valamine exchanged looks, then glanced at him with grins of their own. Arbiter Karn shrugged. "Just so, then. I will collect the rest of our battle-brothers and leave a few to aid in the defense of our vessels."

Valamine sighed, but his ears were perked and excitement flashed in his eyes. "Into the dark, then? Very well, Eberris. If nothing else it will be a battle and cause worthy of our deaths." He glanced at Captain Dubeyr who was looking increasingly displeased. "Imagine, even, our success. Nightmare itself will fear, for it will have loss in a game of its own making."

"Think ahead young Valamine, yet do not forget to focus on the moment," Eberris cautioned. He then smiled. "Your optimism is much appreciated, however."

"You have lead, Eberris," Karn said with a sigh. "Prepare your team while I find runners."

Eberris nodding, his eyes locking with Captain Dubeyr's worry-filled gaze. He held it for a moment, then turned away. She meant well, but this was the life he lived. A life full of dark possibilities, yet it was in such times they were trained to thrive. In the end it was a day just like any other and many an Arbiter bore tapestries of scars to tell that tale.

This story however is inked in my own blood, he thought as he turned to resume his path through the ship, Arbiter Valamine and Arbiter Karn falling in step behind him. For though I fear betraying the Dreaming Mother's faith in me, there is another whose trust I refuse to ever betray.

Eberris gave a toothy grin. Nightmare protect you, whoever you are, for I am coming for Vuel.

A haughty, perhaps even arrogant declaration considering their predicament, but he knew they need only look into her eyes to see the truth of his words.