FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The green hills were bright with sunshine despite large fluffy white clouds rolling across the blue sky. A subtle breeze blew the wild grasses, carrying the aromas of pine and wildflowers across the landscape. A human emerged from the pine forest of one hill carrying a modest pack of supplies and belongings. Merely nineteen years of age, Margo was a young man who had yet to find his place in the world. However, at the moment, he was searching for the quickest possible route that bypassed the meandering roads. Map in hand, he wandered across the grassy hillside.

“If I go across these hills and descend into the little river valley, then I can follow it upstream to the road." He looked at his map with a clear destination in mind. “Coritani." His finger traced over to the trading town towards the north. That was the next stop he needed to make. The human was far off the traditional main road that led north, and deep into territory that belonged to the Sagumbri.

He knew little about the local tribe other than the fact that they were predominantly feline and weren't under direct control of the regional feudal lords. However, the off-road trek was justified in his eyes to avoid the possibility of bandits along the main road; avoid a few expensive tolls; and save time traveling. As an added bonus, the scenery was breathtaking at times. During the early morning, mist would linger in the lowlands and make lone hills resemble floating islands.

Trespassing wasn't on Margo's thoughts as a flat faced stele stone sticking out of the ground ahead of him caught his attention.

“Is this a local mile marker?" He thought aloud and crouched down to take a closer look. The dark stone was only a foot or so tall, but the front surface was very flat and had a few red swirl markings.

“That's paint." He touched the marking. The paint wasn't fresh, but it wasn't very old and retained its original brightness and rich color. Glancing back at his map, there was no indication of anything special around him. There were plenty of blank spots on his rudimentary map, but who needed to know details about the woodlands and wild places away from the towns and roads?

“It must've been hand carved." He gazed over the entire surface. “But why is it here?" The mysterious stone offered few clues. A chirping bird from nearby distracted him, but also reminded Margo to keep going.

'I don't have time to waste looking at dumb rocks.' He concluded. Standing up, he walked a short distance only to come across something even more bizarre. Numerous standing stones with similar painted markings dotted the grassy landscape across from him. The rocky structures varied in size as well as their designs from small to the height of two grown men. Margo almost didn't notice at first, but in the midst of the strange steles there were two figures. An older adult cougar was seated before a younger figure in the grass.

The young grey wolf was holding up antlers decorated with streamers, paint, and plants.

'What are they doing?' He watched them curiously. The older figure seemed very calm and collected while chanting something unintelligible. The younger figure appeared nervous but didn't move an inch while the old cougar continued the chant. It appeared to be an odd ritual of some sort, but he had never seen anything remotely like it before.

'I have no idea what kind of people live out here anyway.' Disinterested, Margo looked around to see if there was a better route to take around the wolf and cougar. 'I don't want to bother them.' He wasn't sure if hiking up to the top of the forest was a good idea or if descending to the lowland forest would be better. Turning around, he noticed a distant figure had emerged from the forest in the adjacent hills he had just passed through.

“Who is that?" He asked himself as a second figure emerged. Both were small in the distance, but he could tell that they wore concealing cloaks. The thought that someone had been following him crossed his mind, but he hadn't come across a single soul since leaving the main road the previous day. Maybe they were locals? They could've been related to the two on the hill. Margo stared at the two dots on the hillside by the forest when all of a sudden the first cloaked figure suddenly and swiftly ran towards him.

'Maybe that person is hunting?' He didn't feel any sense of urgency as the person disappeared down the hill only to reappear once again. The possibility that the person was looking for a lost sheep also briefly crossed his mind. However, it quickly became evident that the figure wasn't veering off in another direction. The mysterious person was running straight at him with their cloak flowing behind. Margo looked around, but there was nothing else nearby of interest.

'Is that person running after me?' The thought crossed his mind and sent a chill down his back. His heart began to race as panic forced him to make a choice. Each second that passed, the figure was closing distance between him. The moment he decided to run, the gap between them had diminished immensely, and the second figure wasn't much farther behind.

'This isn't good!' He kept a tight grip on the pack he carried and raced down the sloping hill towards the forest. His supplies rattled and bounced as they were jumbled together. A quick glance over his shoulder revealed the cloaked figure was already a few mere strides behind him.

'They're too fast!' The human realized as he reached the lower tree line, but it was too late. In mid stride a hand forcefully pushed his back enough to throw him off balance. A lucky step managed to save him for another second but then a body collided head on with him.

“Aaahhh-!" He final yelp for help was cut short. Tumbling to the ground, he slid over fallen pine needles as the forest around him turned upside down. Rolling onto his back, Margo attempted to sit up only for the full weight of another body to pin him. His eyes popped open and found the cloaked figure sitting atop him triumphantly after the brief struggle.

The face of a cougar became visible once his vision cleared. The menacing snarl across the feline's face was anything but friendly. She was breathing heavily but showed no other signs of exhaustion. A second feline ran up to them but stopped short of intervening. The fluffy furred cheeks and short feline muzzle revealed a lynx. Outnumbered, the human sensed the urgent need to do something.

“Get off me!" He balked angrily at the cougar sitting on top of him.

“Don't move." The feline warned, but he was surprised to hear a female voice. Before Margo had a chance to even speak, he felt the cold metal of a sharp blade resting at his neck. A sudden sense of dread chilled every inch of his skin resulting in each hair standing up. The beating of his heart suddenly became very audible in his ears.

“Wh-what do y-you want from me?" His voice wavered from the adrenaline still rushing through his veins. However, neither stoic faced feline directly answered him.

“You're coming with us." She spoke in a dark tone before gradually rising up with her knife still in hand. He took a deep breath once her weight lifted off him. Margo hastily hopped to his feet as bits of dirt, moss, and dry pine needles fell from his clothes and hair. A lack of weight in his back made him realize that something important of his was now missing. He had lost his bag during his tumble to the ground with the cougar.

“Where's my-“ The lynx took his bag as soon as he spotted the item resting at the base of a pine tree.

“That's my-“

“No more talking!" The lynx snapped at him. Margo nearly jumped from the sharpness of her words and remained silent. The cougar and lynx whispered to one another for a moment. His eyes darted between the two feline females until one of them spoke directly to him.

“You will follow me." The mountain lioness ordered and turned her back before calmly walking into the pine forest. A little dazed and confused, he followed the feline while the lynx stayed close behind him.

'Are they bandits?' He feared being taken to a camp to be held for ransom. The possibility of being sold as a servant or slave disturbed him. Both ladies wore long cloaks, which was common for travelers, but the concealing other garments were completely closed. Only the cougar's long tail, lower legs, forearms, and head were visible. The appearance gave him an ominous feeling as he was led deeper into the unending forest.

'Where are they taking me?' Glancing around, Margo hoped to remember the way back to the hills in case he could escape. However, the endless twists and turns they took through the pine trees left the human without a proper sense of direction. Glancing over over his shoulder, he received an unpleasant glare from the lynx who carried his bag, which contained his map of the area.

The subtle sound of flowing water eventually reached his ears after what felt like an endless series of twists and turns through the trees. He was brought to the edge of a wide creek where several stepping stones lined up to cross. The cougar lifted her nose and smelled the peaty air before hopping across the stones with graceful ease. She landed on the other side with a single misstep.

“Go." The lynx pushed Margo from behind. He human leapt forward and made a less than perfect landing on the first stone, but hobbled his way across with only minor splashes. Once in the other side, he found that they had arrived onto a dirt pathway leading further ahead. It was a frequented path with large adult paw prints visible in the mud and dirt along the creek.

'I don't think these two are bandits.' He wondered who exactly they might be. If that was the case, then where would he be taken?

“Let's keep walking." The cougar waved a hand and followed the dirt trail through the forest. The lynx behind him gave a little nudge to move. With the less rugged path, their pace increased with ease.

***

After what felt like over an hour's walk through the forest, Margo's view began to open up. The tree parted and a palisade wall became visible on a nearby hilltop that overlooked pastures and small farms. He could see one lynx farmer in the distance manning a plow being drawn by an ox through a plot. Younger figures, likely children, were playing behind him in the freshly tilled dirt while others were tending to nearby crops. Some cows, goats, and sheep were grazing along a section of a large field bordered by half a dozen small dwellings and a wide stream. It was a scene he had grown up with some familiarity too.

The lynx and cougar shared a private word before leading him along a pathway along the grass towards the village.

'This place isn't even on my map.' Margo was surprised to find a fortified village in the middle of the large forest. His fascination helped tamper down the uneasiness that had formed inside his stomach. A lone cougar farmer paused from his work to watch Margo being marched along the pathway to the base of the hill. Margo glanced at the farmer feline's curious stare, but the individual soon went back to work as normal.

“Huh?! Who is that?" One lynx passerby carrying a basket to the farmer stopped to ask Margo's two captors. However, the cougar waved a hand without pausing to speak. Margo soon ascended the hillside and was brought through an opening in the palisade wall, and entered a world very alien to him.

Small homes and longhouses with enough room for extended families sporadically dotted the space inside the palisade walls. Some had enough large patches of grass where one or two goats were kept to graze alongside chickens. The Sagumbrian village was populated mostly with cougars; but grey wolves and lynxes were also prevalent.

Having grown up in a predominately human town, Margo had very little interactions with anthropomorphic peoples. Some species like bears and wolves were normally taller and stronger than humans, but others like foxes or ferrets were typically more modest in size and stature. However, their culture and way of life was completely unknown to him.

Few of the hill fort's inhabitants wore concealing capes like the cougar and lynx leading him. Instead, some of the males only wore loose buckskin trousers with tassels that draped from just below the knee to a digitigrade ankle. Iron armbands were rare, but worn frequently enough alongside more common leather. Women appeared to wear similar styles of dress, but with loose shirt with very short sleeves.

From the corner of his eye, Margo caught sight of a bare breasted lynx mother carrying a sleeping infant in her arms. Anthropomorphic peoples tended to wear less clothing than their human counterparts, and Margo was no stranger to this fact. This was primarily due how fur kept the body very warm even during the bitter cold of winter. However, in human settlements, laws were usually enacted to prevent public nudity.

Simply walking by was enough to capture the attention of every villager in sight. Adolescents and kids watched him from a distance. However, the adults weren't so shy about the strange human walking in their midst. All of the different faces curiously watching him only fueled his anxiety. He felt like a captured deer waiting to be slaughtered.

'I shouldn't be here.' The realization that he was now a prisoner of some kind made him feel sick. Margo was taken by both females to a tall private palisade wall that adjoined a modest building whose foundation was made with stone. Cornered, he could no longer see very much of the village.

“You will stay here until someone else comes to get you." The cougar turned to face him with a steely eyed expression. Margo didn't say anything as she held up a piece of rope.

“Hold your hands out." The lynx told him. Margo had no choice but to oblige as the cougar tied his wrists together.

“Stay here." The cougar warned him before quickly departing with the female lynx. As soon as they left his sight, the thought of running crossed his mind several times, but it took willpower to calm down. There was nowhere for him to run. He was in a village far from the main roads. There was no help he could rely upon other than himself. His mind raced for an answer that he didn't have.

'Maybe this is a mistake.' Margo silently hoped. 'Maybe they're looking for another human who looks like me.' He prayed. A few children peeked around the corner of an adjacent longhouse only to dart away once the human's gaze met theirs.

'At least I'm not being held by bandits.' Margo hoped that was the truth even as a cougar carrying an armload of firewood walked by him. He turned back to face the palisade wall only to hear paw steps approaching him through the little patches of grass close by. Glancing over his shoulder, Margo found a male grey wolf carrying a spear in hand standing before him.

“What have you done to be taken here like that?" The wolf plainly asked the human and looked at the rope tied around his wrists.

“I-I… I don't know. I-" Margo worriedly spoke only to glance down and realize the spear wielding male was starkly naked. The strongly built male canine wore a leather belt around his naked waist that did absolutely nothing to cover his manhood. That was all the grey wolf wore save for a pair of iron armbands. Glancing around, no one else observing him from close by or afar seemed bother by the fact. Not even those who were completely dressed seemed to care.

“I…" Margo gathered his thoughts once again from the shock of seeing a naked wolf standing before him. “I don't know. A cougar woman chased me with a lynx and brought me here. They never explained anything to me." He quickly spoke. The wolf thought for a moment before answering.

“Is that so?" The male sounded distrusting of the human, but not in a cold or callous manner.

“Who is he?" A female cougar dressed with what appeared to be a small version of a rain cape asked the wolf.

“I'm not sure." He casually looked over his shoulder at the cougar and shrugged. “What is your name, human?" The wolf turned back to ask.

“It's Margo." He answered.

“Are you a trader or a robber?" The female cougar asked him suspiciously.

“No!" Margo emphatically shook his head at the accusation. “I'm neither of those! I'm a traveler."

“Where are you traveling to?" The wolf curiously asked.

“The town of Coritani." His voice trailed off as two different people suddenly approached him through the growing crowd. A pair of male cougars looked at the bound human intently.

“What's going on?" The naked male wolf asked one of the cougars.

“We're taking him to elder Echino." The cougar explained.

“Who is that?" Margo looked at all of them worriedly, but no one elaborated any further. The male cougars each took the human by an arm, and walked him past several homes to a large domed building with a thatched rooftop. The caped female lynx was standing outside.

'That's the lynx who chased after me with the cougar.' He recognized her, but the lynx ducked inside as soon as she spotted him. Margo was taken to the entrance where one of the cougars quickly went inside before waving them to enter.

The sweet and earthy smells of lavender with basil greeted his nose; but those aromas only partially hid an underlying mustiness that cling to the stuffy air. Margo's eyes had to adjust to the the modestly lit interior, but he could plainly see several figures inside. Each one was seated with their backs to the wall, and the lynx was among them. Two of the males were starkly naked like the male grey wolf who had spoken to him earlier.

An old male cougar was seated stoically in the center of the large room. He wore loose tunic styled clothes that covered himself conservatively. He wore finely twined clean rope around his waist with a belt buckle made from silver. Compared to the villagers, the elder had an appearance of nobility. The hall itself was more akin to a large round room with smaller entryways for storage. Painted ceremonial drums decorated the walls along with a few oddly shaped shields and weapons.

“Sit here." One of the cougar's instructed, and pointed at a floor mat made from woven reeds. Margo quickly followed suit and received a stern gaze from the elder cougar that nearly petrified him on the spot.

“Were you sent to spy on our village?" The cougar elder inquired without any introductions or formalities. Margo blinked partly out of fear as well as disbelief.

“Wh-I'm not a spy!" He blurted out. “I'm traveling to the town of Coritani." The human's sudden outburst was met with serious silence from the villagers.

“Ahem." One of the cougar's behind him coughed.

'I should shut up.' Margo clenched his teeth nervously as the elder exchanged glances with another villager. A brief whisper was made before he spoke aloud again.

“There is a main road that people travel from town to town." The old cougar calmly pointed out. “Why did you cross into our village's territory?"

“Yes, I took a shortcut, but I didn't know people lived here in the forests and hills."

“We typically have border guards near the small trading town of Iceni to prevent those seeking shortcuts from entering our lands." The elder stated.

“I didn't do anything wrong! You have to understand. I'm traveling from Turons in the south to the town of Coritani in the north. I was only going across the hills to reach the forest and then the river to follow it upstream."

“You traveled through the sacred hills dotted with stone, didn't you?" The elder looked at him knowingly.

“Y-yes, but-“ Margo was cut off as the elder male cougar looked away.

“Can you tell me what happened, Koneto?" He asked the cape wearing lynx's who had chased Margo.

“Yes, elder Echino." The lynx gave a little bow out of respect. “I was walking along the trails in the forest to the northeast with Bagako. She was tracking down the scent and trail of an intruder; but I was accompanying her for any assistance. Others were also searching in the lowland forests. Neither of us recognized the foreign person's scent. We grew closer and closer until we finally emerged from the forest at the edge of the hills. Bagako first spotted him standing in the sacred hills." The lynx informed the elder.

A brief murmur was shared between some of the observers in the meeting hall. Margo wasn't sure who the "Bagako" person was, but he was trying to piece together the lynx's story.

“He crossed into the sacred hills before we could catch up with him." The lynx stated.

'Sacred?' Margo couldn't believe his ears, but thought about the standing stone stelae and their unknown significance.

“The human also witnessed a sacred initiation rite between an elder Druid and an apprentice." She added to the elder's surprise. “We chased him as quickly as possible."

'An elder Druid?!' Margo was surprised to hear the lynx say that. The human had heard of them before as wild mysterious people who attempted magic, but always thought they were nothing more than strange myths or loners.

'This looks and sounds really bad.' He started sweating fearfully. The elder's face didn't look amused by the lynx's story.

“Is all of this true, human?" The elder cougar turned to look at Margo directly.

“Please listen. This must be a big misunderstanding." He spoke cautiously, hoping to explain his innocence a final time. “I didn't know the hills I walked across were sacred. I had no idea what the two people I saw were doing either. I didn't disturb anyone, or move anything. I had no idea anyone there was a Druid or not. I barely saw them before I was chased and tackled in the woods. Please, I just want to resume my journey and go to Coritani." He pled his case.

The elder looked at the human with a thoughtful gaze and took a few moments to pause and think over the situation. Margo felt himself sweating under the pressure as everyone else watched with great concern and interest.

“You will need to cleanse yourself of your sin from bringing impurity to the sacred hills." The elder finally decided.

“My sin?" He blinked fearfully as a few murmurs and nods of approval were given between the others seated around them.

“Bagako will accompany you since the Druid you saw is not here at this time." He decided. “You must go now." The elder sternly spoke and pointed at the meeting hall's entrance. “Ruma, Wimmani, please take him away to Bagako. Begone!" The two male cougars seated behind him immediately stood up. Margo looked around worriedly, but all eyes silently watched him.

“No, please don't! I-" He was suddenly picked up by his arms and dragged away. His eyes squinted once he was brought back out into the sunlight. A few villagers were excitedly chattering around him.

“That's the human?" A female voice asked.

“Yes, this is the human who entered the sacred hills."

“Humans are a short species like ferrets…"

“And they smell."

“What's going on…?" Margo looked around only to find himself outside the meeting hall with several villagers standing around him in a semi circle. All of their gazes were a mixture of curiosity and disapproval. Male, female, young and old, the human could feel the scorn from their eyes.

“What's going to happen to him?" One asked.

“He will be taken by Bagako to cleanse his sin."

“Hmm… Bagako was standing here with us a moment ago." They talked about Margo as if he wasn't standing in front of them.

One of the male cougars pulled out a knife and approached Margo. The human winced but was pleasantly surprised as the knot on the rope was cut. Hands now freed, he wondered what would happen to him next.

“What did he mean by punishment?" Margo asked aloud. “Will I be freed?" Everything was happening so fast.

“We are waiting on Bagako to take you." The male cougar explained.

“Take me where?" Margo asked. “And who is Bagako?"

“She is here. You will see." He nodded in a different direction.

“She-?" Margo turned around only to feel his eyes widen and nearly jump out of his head. Standing before him was the same female cougar who had initially chased him. However, the female feline who had forcefully taken him looked stunningly different from before. Margo almost didn't recognize her. Her concealing cape had been changed for something far different. She wore a plaid green and red blanket around her neck that draped behind her back like a modest cape.

A leather fur lined belt with a bronze buckle was worn around her waist to carry a sword at her naked hip. A little cloth to wipe one's hands draped from the side of her waist to just above her knee. A little leather pouch was also tied in securely to the belt. The feline wore leather wrist gauntlets and leather braided armbands on both arms; but she also had leather shin guards as well

However, the cougar didn't “wear" anything else, much like the male wolf from earlier. Her knees and legs were impressively toned; and her slender arms possessed a slender strength. He could see the cougar's toned abs as well as the full lips of her naked womanhood. Both full breasts were in plain sight as well. To put it plainly; she was naked where it counted.

Margo felt his face redden from merely looking at the feline Sagumbrian beauty. However, the large bearded axe she carried behind her had a sobering effect on him. The feline wasn't a defenseless damsel in distress. She was smart, cunning, and deadly. The chained sword along her hip subtly jingled in time with her strides as she approached them. Once the cougar stood before him, face to face, all hopes of an easy release were dashed.

“Are you ready?" Her golden eyed stare petrified him. Surrounded by wolves, lynxes, and cougars, the human had no choice but to oblige.

***

Margo and the Sagumbrian cougar left the village with the waning evening sunlight at their backs. The human's legs felt heavy with every step from the distance he had already covered, but he lumbered along steadfastly. Margo was given a meal and water before leaving, but he had difficulty eating with so much anxiety. The tense knots in his stomach wouldn't abate easily either. His mind was full of worry as to what he may have to endure, but the unknown worried him the most.

Walking along the pathway though the fields, he glanced over his shoulder a few times towards the hilltop village. Several people were watching but didn't interfere with them.

'I wonder if everyone knows what is going to happen.' Margo's eyes watched the mostly naked cougar walking calmly in front of him. He was afraid of speaking to her as they left the flat fields and entered the quiet forest through the same pathway as before. However, the cougar soon led him off the traveled path and deeper into the forest.

The dead leaves crunched noisily beneath their steps as they wove around trees and fallen logs. In a short amount of time, Margo was unsure which direction they had originally come from. Bagako brought the human to a small gap in the trees where the ground was partially visible, and small patches of grass grew.

“It's already late in the evening." The cougar stopped noted the fading sunlight. “We will sleep outside for the night and continue in the morning." She told him.

“I-Okay." He quietly agreed. The cougar paused to take a moment to gather some sticks for a fire. Standing idly, Margo watched as she briefly disappeared behind a small bush and a tree.

'I could try running.' He thought to himself, but recognized the truth. His bag was back in the village and the flashing memory of her chasing after him removed any chance of fleeing.

'She would catch me even faster than before.' He waited as she returned with a small armful of wood. Sitting down, the Sagumbrian feline created a small fire between them. Margo took a seat across from her as the light around them quickly faded into the early night. Stars began to faintly glitter from above and the air felt cooler. Crickets began to chirp as a peaceful quietness enveloped the forest like a blanket.

The low fire sputtered occasionally between their silence, popping above the constant crackles. Margo kept his gaze towards the little flames, but caught himself looking up at the virtually naked cougar. Her body was illuminated by the fiery orange hues, giving an otherworldly impression. Oddly enough, the human felt a conflicting series of emotions wrestling inside of him. He was terrified of what may happen, grateful to be alive, but oddly distracted by the feline beauty before him.

'This would be a lot easier if she wasn't so…' His thought trailed off as his eyes roamed over her naked feline body. Her breasts were fully feminine in their curves, but below her slim abs… Margo bashfully looked away and pursed his lips to distract himself.

'I guess fur means you don't need clothes.' He silently noted. Margo froze once her powerful golden gaze met his eyes. The human felt just like a deer being hunted.

“You're silent." Her voice spoke in a low tone that made an icy chill run up his spine. Margo held his breath but didn't respond.

“What is your name, human?" She asked.

“My name is Margo." He answered with a dry mouth.

“I'm Bagako, a warrior of my village." She introduced herself. Margo wasn't at all surprised to hear that she was a warrior. He would've been surprised if she was anything else! He cleared his throat, unsure of what to talk about with her.

“Eh. Why are you naked?" Margo asked, but did his best not to stare at her womanly figure.

“Naked? Only warriors can dress this way." She gave him a peculiar stare.

'You're not exactly dressed.' Margo thought to himself. “I haven't heard of anything like that before." He admitted.

“Only warriors have earned the right to display their bodies in public. It's a clear sign of bravery." Her explanation only further confused him.

“But why would you do that?"

“We aren't afraid of death."

“Don't the men stare at you?"

“Stare?" The cougar gave him a peculiar glare in turn.

“Because you're… naked." It felt weird to point out.

“Humans must hide their bodies out of shame or fear then." She crudely responded. Margo didn't know how to answer the slight insult, and remained quiet.

“I wasn't expecting any of this to happen to me." He stated after a brief silence.

“Why are you traveling to Coritani?" Bagako leaned back onto her hands and asked.

“Did the elders tell you?" Margo was surprised that she knew.

“I overheard your loud voice from outside the meeting hall." She pointed to her round feline ear.

“I guess it does not matter… I am supposed to meet a friend of my family there and continue north to Chasuari."

“What are you doing there?"

“Becoming an apprentice, I think." He stated.

“An apprentice of what?"

“I don't know yet." Margo admitted.

“You are nineteen and yet you have no skills or talents?" She looked at him skeptically.

“You sound like my parents." He looked away into the night. The cougar was quiet while Margo thought.

“Are your mother or father warriors?" Bagako asked.

“I'm kind of useless where I am from." He quietly spoke with his chin tucked. “I never showed any signs of talent growing up. I would get into a lot of trouble too." He guiltily rubbed the back of his head. “Rather than becoming a wandering laborer for hire, they told me to meet up with a family friend who could take me to my uncle. He would be able to teach me something useful."

“Something useful? What do you plan on doing?"

“I don't know." He shrugged. “Hopefully learn a skill set and make a living for myself." There was a clear lack of enthusiasm in the human's voice.

“What would you rather do?"

“I don't know…" Margo shied away from the direct question and stared into the dark forest with uncertainty. He could not see very far in any direction, just like his own future.

“There are things I enjoy doing." He half mumbled, not keen on fully revealing his interests to her. “I was eager to leave my hometown because I wanted to visit new places."

“So you like to travel?" The cougar guessed.

“Well… yeah." He gave a nod. “I like the idea of seeing new places, but I've never done it before." Margo admitted. “I can't travel for fun anyway." He found the idea ridiculous on its face. “Who would pay me to walk up to a family's home and ask them about their customs and life?"

“Wouldn't that have been better than trespassing through another people's land?" She questioned causing the human to fall silent.

“I suppose…" He watched the fire dance. “But there's too many dangers with traveling. I could be mugged, held for ransom, fall ill, become lost, or even be killed." He counted off several very real possibilities.

“There is danger with every decision one could make." The cougar calmly pointed out. “For instance, trespassing in sacred lands you are unfamiliar with." Her golden eyes cut through him. “But that shouldn't keep you planted in one place like a tree. You're living life purely out of fear." She wisely spoke. Margo looked away and mulled over her words. The human had lived in his hometown nearly his entire life, but the uncertainty of doing something new scared him. The fire crackled softly as the flames reached a low. The shadows stretched long towards the encroaching darkness.

A yawn broke the silence.

“It's completely dark. We can go to sleep." She unfastened her plaid cape and spread it out onto the ground. “You can sleep here." Bagako said before laying onto her back. Margo didn't hesitate to accept her kind offer. The last place he wanted to sleep was on the cool ground.

The human laid down on the soft material and with a single sigh his entire body relaxed for the first time since noon. It had been a rough and stressful day for the human. Being chased down a hill and tackled in a forest was only the beginning of what had turned into an odd day of repentance. In a way, Margo was glad to have escaped severe punishment so far. It was common to face imprisonment over crimes of theft or burglary.

However, he needed to allay a new problem. Margo couldn't sleep despite how tired he had become. The chilly nighttime air nipped at his exposed skin, and the human found himself starting to shiver. Rolling over, he tried scooting towards the all but burnt out fire for a little extra warmth.

'I don't have my blanket with me…' He hugged himself tightly.

“What's wrong?" Bagako's voice made his eyes open up fully.

“I'm c-cold." He shivered. An irritated sigh broke through the darkness. He heard a patch of grass rustle beside him only to feel a warm furred body press snugly against his backside. Margo held his breath for a complete moment before exhaling.

“Buh-Bag-!"

“Shh!" The cougar hushed him. “Now go to sleep." Blinking a few times, Margo was suddenly reminded about how little clothing she wore. The warm fur of her bare front was pressed hotly against his back, with only a shirt between them. The same was true of her legs brushed up against his own, and an arm resting on his side. Margo could even feel a not so subtle softness touching his upper back.

'Fall asleep as fast as you can.' He told himself and closed his eyes as he forgot about the chilly air entirely.

“Wake up." A voice spoke through the human's peaceful slumber, but he initially refused to fully wake up. Margo tried rolling onto his side only to bump into something.

“Huh?" He blinked and opened his eyes and found a paw resting beside his face. Margo focused and looked up only to gawk at the sight that greeted him. The feline warrior was standing tall, looming over him. She was “dressed" the same way as the previous day. Her naked womanhood was directly above his head, and just above the curves of her bare breasts, the gaze of her golden eyed glare stared intently at him.

“Uh…"

“Get up! It's time to go." She briskly told him and took a half step back. The human wiped his face, and quickly sat up. He felt the subtle chill in the morning air, and rubbed his arms to help gather himself. Out of habit, Margo reached for his bag only to remember it was no longer in his possession.

'They have it.' He recalled and took a deep breath. Yesterday's memories felt like a jolting blur in his mind, and very much like a living nightmare. The human stood up and gathered her plaid blanket before handing it over.

“Thank you for sharing your blanket with me and uh…" Margo felt his cheeks not so subtly warm as his voice tapered off.

“You're welcome." Bagako replied. “I couldn't sleep with you shivering beside me anyway." She tied it back on after shaking it a few times.

“Sorry about that." He ruffled his hair. Bagako offered a brief feline grin before looking in another direction through the forest.

“We can continue now." She pointed ahead. “There isn't much ground left to cover."

“Okay." Margo followed her through the forest once again. A faint fog had enveloped the surrounding forest, giving a surreal feeling to the entire landscape. A tree in the distance almost resembled a pillar from a large villa, or even a monster hiding in plain sight. The occasional chirping of a bird echoed through the mist, but Margo could never tell which direction it had come from.

“It still feels creepy even though it is morning." Margo murmured above the soft crunching of damp leaves.

“What? Are you afraid of the morning fog?" Bagako asked with a hint of amusement in her voice.

“I never like being in a place where I can't see very far." He glanced around only to trip over a tree root tucked underneath a thick layer of soft moss. In a flash, a light brown furred arm caught him from falling face first into the ground.

“Uh…" Margo quickly balanced himself using her sturdy arm. “Thanks…" He backed off her arm.

“Of course." Bagako simply spoke and resumed guiding him through the forest.

'That was embarrassing.' He scolded himself and kept a better eye on the ground. After a short distance of walking, the most had cleared and rays of light began to break through the canopy above. He could hear the crickets chirping in the nearby grass as they reached the edge of the forest. Once they emerged, Margo was surprised to find that they were at the bottom of a clear grassy hill; but another mysterious structure had his attention.

Two tall wooden posts stood at the base of the hill acting as an entryway to the higher level shrouded in golden sunlight. They were spaced close together, allowing only one person to pass through at a time. Both had their bark completely shaven leaving only a smooth white wood behind, save for a section painted in bright red. Intricately carved spiral patterns circled their way down to the bottom of each pole.

“Wait." She suddenly stopped before the twin posts. Margo looked around and wondered why they couldn't simply walk around the posts, but decided to keep his mouth shut. Bagako began mumbling something that he couldn't hear.

“What?" He leaned closer to the cougar but couldn't decipher what she was saying. She didn't answer and then suddenly walked through.

“Alright, you can come through now." She looked over her shoulder at him. Perplexed, the human followed her once again. They slowly hiked their way up the grassy slope to the crest of the hill. Once they reached the top, Margo found himself in the same area as the previous day. Large standing stones dotted the hilly landscape all the way to the forests leading up to the higher mountains.

'What are we doing back here?' Margo looked around nervously, and followed Bagako closely. “Aren't the hills themselves sacred?"

“Yes." She stated. “But this is where I need to take you." The cougar cryptically explained. Margo looked at the large stone stelae as they passed by. Their different swirl patterns were painted using blue, red, yellow, or green paint. It was one of the strangest sights the human had seen, but he didn't dare question their significance considering the ordeal he had put himself into.

The view from atop the largest hill was very scenic. The lingering morning fog clung to a few sections of the lowland forest. It gave the sensation that they had climbed a mountain that touched the sky itself. Margo looked at the view only to realize that the feline warrior was leading him to the large stone in the center of a large green hill. A bad feeling immediately overcame him.

“Okay… this looks bad." He said aloud and halted before venturing any further. Bagako's ear flickered.

“What are you doing?" The cougar paused and looked back at the hesitant man.

“Are you going to kill me?" Margo asked seriously and pointed at the stone.

“What? I'm not going to kill you." She huffed with more than a hint of irritation in her voice.

“Then explain why you're carrying that large bearded axe." He pointed out the weapon in her hand.

“It's ceremonial." She didn't understand his sudden fear.

“That doesn't answer my-“ To his surprise, Bagako began removing what little she wore. Margo watched as her sword and belt fell to the grass next giving him a full view of her naked torso. Her cream furred belly and breasts appeared heavenly in the pure morning light. The cougar noticed his idleness.

“Take your clothes off." She ordered. Margo's heart nearly stopped. His hand touched the hem of his shirt only to nervously hesitate. He watched her discard the plaid cape next before untying her gauntlets.

“Out here?" He looked around. “In the open?" The field was wide and spacious, but empty of people at the moment.

“Yes." She sounded annoyed as removed her final wrist gauntlet. “Take them off yourself or I'll rip them off for you." She warned. Margo slowly turned around and began gradually pulling up his shirt only to feel a pair of strong hands yank at his pants.

“Hey! Be careful!" He nearly stumbled forward from her force, but Bagako had already stripped his pants down to his knees. He barely managed to step out of them before she 'helped' pull off his shirt. She had stripped him in mere seconds. Margo awkwardly faced the naked feline who wasn't fazed in the slightest.

The human had a slim build, but the cougar's athleticism was far more obvious at first glance. The feline's cream fur didn't hide her toned abs nor her breasts in the slightest. He had a difficult time keeping his gaze up towards her glowing golden eyes, highlighted by the sun itself.

“Hurry up." She broke his stupor and grabbed ahold of his arm. Margo was half pulled and half led him along the grass to the large stone.

“W-what do you need me to do?" He touched the stone. It's surface was smooth but not slippery save for the subtle morning dew.

“Lay down on your back." She instructed. At first Margo simply sat down on the large rock only to wince as his naked rear touched its surface. The stone was cold from the nighttime, and hadn't warmed up in the sunlight yet.

“It's cold." He stood up. The cougar huffed with disappointment and walked back to her discarded clothes and fetched her plaid cape.

“You should wear this more than me." She half joked and teased before laying it out across the upper half of the rock's surface for him. Margo looked at the rock, but hesitated.

“And you're not going to harm me?" He looked at the cougar warily.

“Just lay down already." She rolled her eyes and gave a gentle push. Margo yielded and laid back down once again. This time, her plaid blanket made the rock much more comfortable. Bagako immediately climbed onto the rock, and hovered over the human in a crouching stance. The human had a far more intimate view of the feline beauty than before. Her lovely white furred breasts dangled over him temptingly, and her naked womanhood was just above his naked groin. Face to face with the naked feline warrior beauty, he felt an immediate and uncontrollable pulse of arousal.

Margo's front rose and fell quickly as he struggled to do something; but the cougar was quick to notice and act.

“Oh?" Bagako glanced down. The human's face burned a rosy red as her gaze settled on his growing manhood.

“Wh-what are you-?!" Margo started to say only to hold back a gasp. She took his growing length and rubbed it across her downy white fur. Margo held his breath and tensed only to hiss out a sigh. His back arched as the sensation of soft fur registered along his sensitive underside. It only took seconds for the human to reach full arousal. He breathed a sigh of relief once she released his stiff member.

“You're ready." Bagako murmured and sat up. Margo remembered that the large bearded axe was resting just above him; but the cougar warrior made no move for the weapon. Her gaze briefly met his own only to return to his groin. The intention was clear.

“W-wait-!" Everything was happening so quickly, but there was no stopping her. His hands clenched into tight fists and his entire body tensed as she lowered herself onto him. First, his tip parted her full lips and disappeared between them. Her slick velvety heat enveloped his hard flesh inch by inch.

“Ohh… oh my…" His senses were overloaded from the sudden source of body heat. The morning chill dissipated from his body like melting snow. She blew a soft hearted sigh and eased down to the hilt. They were now intimately connected, and he vividly felt every subtle movement she made atop him.

His mind raced to find some sort of understanding through the new aching pleasure he found himself in; but the cougar didn't give Margo time to ask questions. Her hips began a smooth grinding rhythm that instantly drew a beleaguered moan from his quivering chest.

“Ooohh!" He grabbed onto her legs only to feel clawed fingertips pin his shoulders. Nearly driven to madness, Margo began thrusting with wild abandon.

“Grraahh!" Bagako released a prolonged pent up growl that mimicked a mighty roar. A subtle pain streaked across Margo's upper arm as the cougar's claws dig into his skin. Surging past the pain, he thrusted his hips up and suddenly came with a ferocious grunt. Her walls gripped his pulsating member, coaxing every drop out. The searing seconds of a mutual spike in pleasure left him breathless, and nearly senseless.

A padded hand rested over his heart, still pounding passionately within him. Clear claws peeked out of her fuzzy fingertips, but didn't scratch him. Margo silently looked up into her half lidded golden eyes that stared back at him. The pleasured look on her face matched his own: mouth parted and panting feverishly. For the first time, she looked happy and vulnerable. A strange thought entered his mind. Margo didn't want the moment to end no matter how brief. His softening slick member slipped out of her warm entrance, and with it came a snap back to reality.

Bagako rose off the limp human's lap and sat down beside him on the large rock. They continued breathing audibly, and were only interrupted by the occasional chattering bird or droning grasshopper. Margo basked in the warm golden rays of the morning sun warming his naked skin. He didn't even notice the cougar hop off the boulder and sit in the grass.

'Wow.' His thoughts were fuzzy from the lingering afterglow. Staring up at the bright blue morning sky, he had nothing else to say while admiring the beautiful scene. Everything had happened so fast. He was expecting to be harmed only to find himself in a state of heavenly bliss! The whole act may have lasted no more than a minute or two, but it felt as if the world had stopped for them to mate.

Glancing over at his shoulder, a red freshly cut line was visible on his skin. However, the subtle stinging pain was dulled from the euphoria coursing through his veins. Margo sat up after several moments and scooted off the boulder. He looked at the two wet spots that had oozed onto the rock's surface, and felt a sense of embarrassment. Bagako seemed oblivious to it all as she sat in the grass naked.

“Bagako…"

“Hmm?"

“Can you explain all of this to me?"

“What's there to explain?" She turned her head to look at him, almost dumbfounding the human.

“Why did you take me here to… to have sex on a rock?!" He didn't know what to make of everything. “I thought you were going to kill me at some point."

“Hahahaha!" The cougar suddenly laughed with force, catching him completely off guard.

“Why is this funny to you?" He frowned. “You at least owe me an explanation!" Margo exclaimed, but the feline continued laughing for a moment until she collected herself.

“Your trespassing through these sacred fields without passing through the proper gates after giving a prayer; or being accompanied by a Druid was a great offense to all of the Sagumbrians who dwell here." Bagako told him. “A man must give up what is most valuable to him in order to cleanse himself of this type of sin."

“Most valuable?" He looked at her curiously.

“Typically for a young unmarried man this means the essence of his manhood."

“The essence of my…" Margo's eyes fell to his naked lap and found the phrasing peculiar to say the least.

“For a married man a blood offering is enough." That option made the human shudder as he glanced back at the ceremonial axe still resting on the boulder's surface.

“For a warrior, bequeathing your weapons is considered an equal exchange. For wealthy people it can be a large sum of money, or something valuable like a herd of cattle. Those are the typical methods of cleansing yourself of this specific sin." Bagako explained the different standards to him. Margo looked at her with a blank expression that bordered on bewilderment and apathy.

“I don't know what to say." He blew a sigh of relief, but felt utterly confused. “Since we had sex, won't you get-“

“No, I'm not in heat." She calmly dismissed his fears of suddenly becoming a father.

“Heat?" Margo wasn't entirely sure what she meant, but didn't question her.

“Am I free to go now?" He couldn't help but ask.

“No, not yet." She plainly spoke. “You will need to physical cleanse yourself in the stream outside the village."

“What does that mean?"

“You will have to be bathed."

“Oh." He realized how obvious that was. They were interrupted by a rumbling growl from the human's stomach.

“I haven't eaten anything all morning." He realized. “I'm pretty hungry."

“Yeah, I am hungry too." Bagako stood up and smoothed over her fur. “We can go back to the village now." She bent over and gathered his clothes.

“Uh huh." Margo caught himself staring at her naked rear before his clothes were thrown at him.

Their return to the hill fort settlement was much more lighthearted than before. They shared some pemmican that Bagako had packed to stave off their hunger till later. They emerged from the forest not too far from the pathway they had originally taken the previous evening. The village settlement loomed on the nearby hilltop. Smoke trailed out of a few hidden homes beyond the concealing palisade walls. Bagako led him along the winding stream through the outskirts of the cultivated fields until they reached fallow sections of land. They were far away from those working in the fields, but a stray sheep was grazing nearby.

“This is a good spot." Bagako stopped at a wider section in the stream.

“Can I splash a little water on my face?" Margo asked.

“No, of course not." The cougar gave him a perplexed look. “You have to go in the water."

“So… are you bathing me then?" He bashfully asked. A little grin half curled onto the feline's muzzle.

“No. A Druid will come down here and help you." She told him.

“A Druid?"

“Yes. Only a Druid can cleanse you with water." She informed him.

“What's the special reason for bathing?" He asked.

“Water naturally cleanses what it touches and brings life to those even on the brink of death." Bagako explained. “Get in the stream. I'll find someone to come here." She said before crossing the water and quickly waking to the village.

“I wonder if it will be the same Druid I saw the other day before being chased." He watched her walk away before removing his clothes. Thankfully there was less of chill in the air now that it was late morning, and the smell of pine still lingered in his nose. The sun was very warm and welcoming on his skin as he cautiously tiptoed to the water.

'I hope no one else can see me.' He glanced over his shoulders at the villagers working in the fields. Margo stepped into the cool flowing water and shivered before wading into the knee deep middle. The human stood idly, unsure what to expect.

'What are druids like?' He thought of the old figure he saw in the sacred hills before Bagako initially chased him. The tales Margo had heard before from locals in his town were more akin to nighttime stories than anything based on truth. Still, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous and anxious about having one “cleanse" him with water.

'Uh oh.' His brow rose as someone approached him from across the fields. Margo instinctively sat down in the water to cover his nakedness, but a sudden chill ran up his spine.

“Cold!" He tensed and adjusted himself to the water's temperature. A somewhat heavyset female wolf walking through the field calmly approached him. She wore a lengthy cape that barely revealed her paws and hands, but it was evident from her face that she was a mottled grey furred wolf. There was a reassuring softness in her brown eyed gaze that was wildly different from the striking golden eyes Bagako possessed.

“Hello." Her voice spoke sweetly with subtle aging. She opened up her cape and removed it, revealing that she wasn't wearing anything underneath. The grey wolf had a typical husky canine build that was hearty and thick but matronly all the same. She possessed a pudgy white furred belly with breasts that sagged with age. However, her arms and legs still possessed strength even in her age.

“My name is Anatla, and I am a Druid." The wolf introduced herself. “You must be the human that Bagako captured yesterday."

“Y-yes." He nodded. “My name is Margo."

“Margo? That's an interesting human name." She approached him. There was a subtle swagger of authority in her step that made her heavy breasts gently sway. Paws quietly splashed into the cool water as she joined him. Margo kept his composure even as the naked mature wolf stood directly before him. Anatla looked at him with a calm expression. The wide areolae on both breasts appeared to look down at him like another set of eyes. Unlike Bagako, Anatla's thick groin fur created an impenetrable bush to see through.

“You already know why I am here, correct?" The sound of her voice drew his eyes back up to her face.

“Yes." He gave a curt nod.

“You don't have to be nervous." Her lips opened up into a kind toothy smile. “It will only take a moment." Anatla waded around to the human's backside. From the corner of his eye, Margo saw her bend forward and wet her hands in the stream. When she rose up, her large breasts brushed the back of his shoulder. The human silently thanked the fact that he was sitting in the chilly stream, and patiently waited. The mature wolf softly chanted something under her breath that Margo couldn't quite hear. She then sprinkled some water over his hair causing droplets to descend down the sides of his face.

“We haven't had a trespasser in ages." She suddenly chuckled to his surprise. “Humans normally stay very close to the main roads, and rarely venture from the safety of a paved path." She mentioned while smoothing his hair with her wet hands.

“Roads aren't always safe." Margo told the Druid. “I was hoping to take a shortcut."

“Ah, yes, I heard that." She hummed and nodded. “You know there is a saying that taking a shortcut only leads to a different path being taken."

“I believe it." He murmured causing her to chuckle. The older wolf knelt down again and cupped water into her hands before pouring it down his back. Margo felt her gentle hands rub his neck tenderly.

“So you really are a Druid?" He asked.

“Yes. Did you think I wasn't one?"

“Well… I don't know. What are druids? I have heard a few tales about them as witches, but is any of that true?"

“A witch?" The mature wolf laughed behind him. “No, we are not witches. Druids are knowledgeable about the pattern of the moon and stars for important dates and soothsaying. We are also responsible for memorizing our laws and customs through oral tradition." She spoke calmly to him.

“Oh." Margo felt oddly relieved to hear that there was nothing nefarious associated with the druids.

“I see that you have a small fresh cut." A clawed fingertip traced parallel to a spot on his upper arm.

“Oh! Yeah…" Margo glanced at the small cut. “Bagako accidentally scratched me." He didn't mention how he was accidentally scratched.

“Speaking of her, it seems like we have a visitor." Anatla said while rubbing the human's shoulders.

“Bagako?" Margo was surprised to see the cougar approach them. She was only wearing the thick leather belt around her waist as well as both armbands. She no longer had her cape, gauntlets, and weapons, but she carried folded garments in her hands. Oddly enough, the cougar warrior appeared more feminine and graceful with less clothing. Bagako approached them to the edge of the stream.

“You already performed the cleansing ritual, Anatla?" She asked.

“Yes." The Druid answered.

“You can leave if you want. I'll bathe him." The cougar calmly spoke and removed her leather belt.

“Of course." She gave a nod, but Margo caught the hint of a grin in the older wolf's eyes before she turned and waded back onto the grass. Bagako waded into the stream with brisk steps.

“Do you want me to take these and wash them now?" Anatla gestured to the human's clothes discarded in the grass.

“Yes, please." Bagako approved.

“Wait. My clothes? What will I wear?" Margo worriedly watched the Druid gathering up his clothes.

“Don't worry. I brought clothes for you to wear." The cougar reassured him.

“As long as I'm not walking around naked like you…" Margo heard Anatla humming as she departed, leaving them both alone.

“Pf. You do not have that warrior's privilege." Bagako knelt down beside him and began pouring water onto his arm. Margo grimaced as the water washed over his scratch.

“Mm. Careful."

“Does it sting?" She looked at him.

“Yes. It does." He nodded.

“Sorry about that. I didn't mean to get carried away." She apologized with her round feline ears folding back briefly.

“It's fine." Margo didn't complain and started washing himself. “Why did you come back so quickly? I thought the Druid would bathe me."

“Well… Anatla took care of the spiritual cleansing, so I can finish bathing you." She spoke, but it felt like an excuse to Margo. “I told elder Echino what happened and he is fine with you leaving with your belongings in peace."

“And not pieces." Margo couldn't help but feel elation at the outcome of his ordeal.

“You're welcome to spend the rest of the day in the village and eat." Bagako offered to his surprise.

“I can stay for a while?" His legs shifted in the water as he curiously looked at the cougar washing his back.

“It's your decision." She didn't bat an eye. Margo sat there for a moment and thought it over while her leathery palms rubbed him. Despite her aloof nature, there was a tenderness to her touch that he liked.

“I guess I can stay since I don't have my belongings with me yet." He reasoned. “Where am I staying for the night in the village?" Margo thought about the longhouses in the village. “Is there a place for guests-?"

“You will be staying with me for the night of course." Bagako nearly scolded him for suggesting otherwise.

“Oh. Well, uh, thank you." Margo felt his skin warm as she quickly washed his sides. He stood up causing water to noisily drip. Bagako was quick to rise behind him.

“Finished?"

“Yes." He covered himself as she walked to the grass.

“I don't know you feel ashamed to cover yourself." Her tail flicked causing his face to redden.

“Being naked is different for humans!" He frowned bashfully.

“Here. Use this to dry." She retrieved a medium sized cloth and tossed it to him.

“Thanks." He quickly wiped his face and hair first; but was quick to hop onto the grass and dry the rest of his body.

“So what clothes did you bring for me to wear?" He looked at the ground suspiciously.

“Traditional clothes." Bagako handed them over. Margo felt the smooth buckskin and dressed himself.

“How do they feel? Comfortable?" Bagako asked.

“Yeah, they feel pretty good." Margo looked himself over. “The shirt is a little loose around the waist and the sleeves." He felt the tasseled hem at the bottom, but he looked like a local now.

“That's why they're comfortable. You don't want to wear something that's tight and restrictive."

'Anything other than a cape would be restrictive for you.' He mused to himself.

“Are you ready to head back?" She pointed to the hill.

“Sure." Margo gave a quick nod. They started walking back through the field together. “Can I ask you something, Bagako?"

“Of course." She said.

“What would've happened to me had I refused your advance?"

“If you refused to offer yourself and clear your sin?" The cougar looked at him questioningly.

“Yeah." He nodded.

“You could've been taken into servitude for however long the elders demanded." Her answer made him shudder.

“Servitude…" Margo didn't want to think of what labor he would be assigned, but at the very least, he wouldn't have lost his life as he had originally feared.

“I would've helped in some way." Bagako mentioned as her long tail swayed lazily behind her.

“How?"

“If your labor was cheap, then I could've purchased you for your allotted time." She told him. “But you told me last night that you didn't have many skills." She teased.

“You're funny…" He sarcastically mumbled as a little figure dashed up towards them.

“A human! A human!" The cream furred wolf pup squealed with a stick in his tiny paw.

“Come back Kanki!" A female voice called out from nearby in the wheat field. The wolf pup glanced back at Margo a final time before trotting back.

“He's feisty and brace for his age." Bagako mentioned.

“I can see." He watched the young wolf pup reunite with the working mother. “Is this village prominent because of the sacred hills?" Margo guessed.

“This is the main village in the area." She nodded. “All of the smaller villages in the low forest rely on this place to seek work and trade closer to the main road where humans and other species live."

“I know there's a trading village where some wild anthro peoples live and interact with humans and other species." Margo recalled. “I passed by it on my way here."

“That's close to where we have a small encampment to make sure no one trespasses into our lands." Bagako explained as a guilty look appeared on Margo's face.

'That's the one I avoided.' He thought to himself. They reached the base of the slope leading up to the palisade, and passed a couple of villagers while ascending to the top. The human didn't envy a male lynx carrying a bundle of firewood uphill ahead of them. Once they reached the top, Bagako took him past the first few houses and buildings where a pair of goats were grazing.

“Do large families live inside the longhouses?" Margo asked.

“Yes, including extended families." She told him, although the human couldn't imagine living with so many people under a single roof.

“You can wait here for me while I get your bag." Bagako stopped by one longhouse. “I won't tie your hands this time." The cougar added with a whimsical grin.

“I appreciate it." He smiled as Bagako quickly left. Without yesterday's fears, the human observed his surroundings with a free mind. The buildings appeared humble and rustic like the place he had grown up in; and the general atmosphere was slow and peaceful. Far away someone was roasting a large pig over an open fire with others tending to the flames. Outside of a longhouse, an older female wolf was scraping a stretched deerskin while a little lamb played at her paws.

From around the adjacent building's corner, Margo saw a mother cougar sitting on the ground with an playful infant in her lap. The happy little feline's playful squeals erupted as the mother held little field flowers to play with. Another female cougar was sitting beside her, watching them contently while washing something in a bucket of water. Behind them a male lynx and an older male cougar were quietly talking to themselves. Both were nude and only wore leather belts like the one Bagako possessed, likely identifying them as relatives who were warriors.

“Ah, you've returned so soon." A deep canine voice caught Margo's attention. Turning around he found a mottled grey male wolf standing behind him wearing nothing more than a leather strap over his shoulder and a pair of metal armbands.

“You're the wolf from before." Margo recognized the naked grey wolf.

“Yes." He nodded. “My name is Eruro, and yours must be Margo."

“Yes, I am Margo." The human nodded. “Are you a warrior?" He guessed.

“I am!" He calmly nodded with a hint of pride. “From what I understand, you have very different customs than us."

“Yes, that's true." The human blurted out. “I was terrified yesterday, and I saw a lot since yesterday." Margo didn't know where to begin recollecting his thoughts.

“I understand. I also saw Anatla washing your clothes a moment ago." Eruro mentioned. “I believe she mentioned something about Bagako wanting to be with you."

“Yes, she was with me at the stream." Margo nodded. “Did Anatla say that my clothes will be ready for tomorrow?" He asked.

“I suppose they will." The wolf shrugged indifferently. “Do you plan on leaving to resume your journey in the morning?"

“Yes. I wanted to leave today but Bagako offered for me to sleep overnight."

“Oh. She did?" The wolf was surprised.

“I've got your things." Bagako reappeared carrying the human's bag in hand.

“Thank you!" Margo's face lit up as she handed his belongings back to him.

“How did everything go at the sacred hills?" The wolf warrior asked.

“Everything went… well." She chose her words carefully. “Margo has been cleansed of his sin and Anatla purified him with water earlier."

“It must have went well since he is staying with you for the night." The wolf smartly pointed out. Bagako shot a quick glare at the nude male before placing a hand on Margo's shoulder.

“I will show you my home." Bagako led him past the longhouse and bid the grey wolf a good day. “And then we can eat soon."

“Thank you." He was eager to see how the cougar lived. Eruro watched them with a faint grin on his muzzle.

“This is my home." Bagako stated. To Margo's surprise, the cougar's residence was a small single home instead of belonging to a longhouse. The cougar opened a wooden door for him to enter. The home was humble but overwhelming with strange foreign decorations and objects. The house also had a distinct smell that belonged to her. It wasn't unpleasant, but the naturally wild earthiness was distinct. There was the normal presence of a bed made from animal pelts; and a small kettle resting by a dormant hearth. But the similarities ended there.

A shield richly decorated with a sun pattern was hung above the hearth with a spear hanging just above it. Two more spears were leaning against a wall where a pair of buckskin bags rested. Knives were plentiful as well; some decorative, and others more basic in design. A small hand drum with swirling patterns similar to the stone stelae in the hills was hanging beside her sword. In place of incense or herbs, a pine needle branch was resting in one bare corner close to her bed. A few necklaces with pendants hung above the head of the bed. The floor was clean with a few deer pelts acting as warm carpets. Hand carved shelves held more basic items like utensils, small pretty stones, jars, or small baskets.

Bagako knelt down and tended to the dormant hearth while the human curiously looked around her home.

“Wow. This is a very… interesting house." Margo remarked. “I like the weapons you have." The cougar made a quick fire and the flames came to life while he talked. The soft crackling and illuminating orange glow became the source of light

“Thank you. I like displaying my favorite things, but I'm most proud that it's my home." She stood up and looked around.

“I would be too if I owned a lot of nice things." He understood. “You don't live with anyone else?" Margo noticed that only Bagako's personal belongings were inside.

“No. Why should I?" She gave him a peculiar look.

“Oh. Well, I thought you would live with a sibling or extended family. Where I am from it is rare for women to live alone. They're always married." He explained. “I didn't know if someone already wanted you as a wife."

“I am part of the warrior class." She reminded him. “I can choose my own mate."

“I didn't mean…" Margo paused and thought about the fact that she wasn't married. The feline didn't take any offense and walked over to the wall beside the crackling heath.

“You know, I wasn't given this sword." She pulled the sheathed weapon from where it hung in the wall. “I had to earn it and pay for the iron to make it." She handed the weapon over to Margo who looked at the weapon respectfully. The handle and sheath were well made. The pommel had a small dual swirl design, a common symbol with the local artwork.

“Swords aren't cheap." He added. The blade would've fetched a good price, probably the same value as a laborer's half year wage or more. He pulled a sliver of the blade out and stared at the sharp gleaming edges. The scary thought of the cougar using it on someone crossed his mind. Margo sheathed the blade and handed it back over.

“Have you ever fought and killed anyone with your sword?" He quietly asked and sat down.

“Killing isn't something I would ever want to do." She briefly frowned and hung the weapon once again. “But I will do everything in my power to protect my home and the ones I care for." The gleaming fire in her eyes briefly rivaled the flames dancing in the hearth behind her. That initial image of Bagako being a fierce killer melted away as Margo realized the Sagumbrian cougar was very protective and loyal.

“I'm kind of relieved to hear that." He sheepishly grinned. “I have never wielded a sword."

“You don't know how to fight?" She questioned.

“I know how to fight." He quickly sat up straight. “But uh… not the way you do."

“So you fight like a kid?" Bagako guessed.

“What? I'm not a kid!" Margo insisted only causing the feline to giggle.

“You ran away from me out of fear when I charged at you on the hills." She pointed out with a grin. “You didn't retreat, you were completely terrified."

“Well, I never had any proper training like that." He looked away dejectedly only for his gaze to fall back onto her naked body. Margo couldn't seem to help himself from admiring her beautiful naked form accentuated by the glow of flames.

'She is beautiful.' He silently thought to himself. Bagako noticed his prolonged stare and felt an opportunity was at hand.

“Since you have no skills yet, maybe I can teach you the art of pleasuring a woman." She luridly suggested. Margo looked at the feline with wide eyes and felt his cheeks warm; but he wasn't the only one feeling excited. The cougar's ears were flat but the grin on her face remained. He could sense that there was a strong blush hiding underneath her furry cheeks.

As if acting on an instinct, Bagako rose up and walked towards him with slow steps. Margo's heart pounded as she neared him. He thought she would stop, but after two more steps the human found himself staring blankly at her womanhood inches from his face. The pretty labial cleft seems so cozy as it was nestled between her thighs and partially hidden by her white downy fur.

“You ought to give a female warrior the respect that she deserves." She proudly spoke with a little grin across her lips. Her svelte voice made the hair on his neck stand up. Glancing up, the cougar's powerful golden eyes stared at him between the beautiful cusps of her breasts. A hand gently rested on top of his head, but did not push him in any direction. Heart pointing in his chest, Margo looked back at her womanhood knowing exactly what she wanted.

He started to lean closer only for the hand to leave his head. Margo blinked as Bagako stepped back and laid down on her bed of pelts. The smiling cougar kept her legs suggestively spread apart and beckoned to him with a hand. Unable to resist her, Margo laid down between her legs where her naked sex waited. Her powerful thighs cradled his cheeks with warmth and strength. His eyes settled on the long cleft of her womanhood.

Margo leaned forward once again, but hesitated for a moment. He had never made love to another woman, let alone an anthropomorphic cougar from a wildly different village. Moreover, he had never considered making love in such a 'different' manner.

'Am I getting ahead of myself?' He briefly wondered, but the cougar's eagerness trumped his caution. Bagako subtly wiggled her hips to attract his attention.

“I would appreciate your tongue, but at least your breath feels nice and warm." She suggestively murmured. Encouraged, Margo craned his neck foreword and parted his lips. He slowly traced up the line of warm skin, but the soft downy fur caught the edges of his tongue. His tongue dipped past the soft folds of her womanhood on the next swipe, tasting something warmer inside. Bagako's intimacy on his lips was wild and unique, much like her appearance. The cougar rested a hand on his head and began ruffling his hair, a silent sign of approval.

“Mmmm. Ahhh." The warrior above him softly sighed in pleasure. Looking up, Bagako appeared completely relaxed while watching him pleasure her. A hand had wandered up and was tenderly rubbing a hard nipple. Margo's gaze returned to the tuft of white downy fur at the crest of her mound. He focused entirely on her sex.

It was a slow “dance" where his tongue struck all of the right nerves in a steady and sensual buildup. Her sighs came softly and occasionally without hurry; but gradually, the signs of pleasure were growing with her arousal. The increasing wetness of her womanhood allowed his tongue to continue gliding over her with every lick and kiss. Her legs began to tense against his face and the side of his head. At first it was hardly noticeable, but gradually her hips began to grind and lift towards his mouth. A loud wet smooching sound rose above the crackling flames as he deeply kissed and lapped at her aching sex. Her labia was practically kissing him in return.

“Ooohhh. Oh!" She groaned with fervor and twisted her head to one side. The hand on the back of his head carefully gripped his hair, acting as a barrier in case he decided to pull back. The human was steadfast even as his muscles became sore. Her sex continued wetly grinding against his mouth.

“Oohhh. Oh! Ooohh! Ah!" Her voice reached an angelic peak only for her entire body to tremble and shudder. Her thighs gently squeezed his face before suddenly released him. The hand on his head nudged him away, granting him an opportunity to breathe and rest his tired mouth.

“Ah… mmmm…" Bagako continued to murmur and moan for a few more seconds. He glanced down at her wet womanhood and found her downy fur nearly matted from his tongued lovemaking. Her sex still appeared to quiver and pulsate.

“Happy?" Margo asked.

“Mmhm." She half groaned and rubbed her face with a hand.

“My face is a little sore." He admitted and rubbed his cheeks and jawline.

“Heh." She grinned. “I haven't… let anyone do that to me before." Bagako breathed a sigh latent with pleasure. “That felt great." Margo felt a little pride swell within himself.

“Now we are even." She remarked.

“Even? Wait. I heard you growl before I.. l finished." Margo thought back to the early morning they shared on the stone. He had heard her distinct growling roar.

“That was one yowl." Bagako shrugged. “I was nowhere near the pleasure you just gave me."

“Uhhh…" Margo couldn't believe his own ears.

“I don't know how human women are, but it'll take a lot more to satisfy a cougar like me." She huffed lustily. The gleam in her eye reflected the dancing flames of the fire behind him. Margo suddenly wondered if he had awakened a fire within her.

“If you have anymore of that fighting spirit inside of you, I'd like to see it throughout the afternoon and evening." She warmly purred and pulled him closer util their noses touched. Margo felt his cheeks warm but didn't shy away as he rose to the challenge at hand…

The subtle sweet smell of grasses and honeysuckles were carried through the air by a subtle breeze. The small rolling clouds above didn't obstruct the sunshine from reaching the hills and forests of the area. Margo walked steadfastly across the grass, happy to have perfect weather to resume travel by foot. Looking over his shoulder, he had bypassed the sacred hills and was already within sight of the forested river valley that he intended to reach two days ago.

Margo had left the village in the late morning on good terms. His clothes were clean, he had been given a little bit of extra food for traveling, and he was granted safe passage through Sagumbrian territory. Despite being two days behind schedule, he was in a good mood for the most part. Escaping punishment from accidentally trespassing and leaving on good terms was one thing; but his thoughts lingered on the warrior beauty Bagako.

“I already miss her." He mumbled through a moping frown, but continued plodding along the crest of the final grassy hilltop. The trees were just a short descent away.

“Margo!!!" A voice shouted across the landscape. The human turned around only to find a figure was hurrying towards him at a breathtaking speed.

'Not again…' Margo feared the elder had changed his mind. Although, his fears dissipated once he saw who was running towards him.

“Bagako?" He was surprised by the female warrior's appearance. The cougar was dressed in a traveler's cape; but the front was wide open revealing her mostly naked body dressed in warrior's fashion. Bagako slowed down to a trot to catch her breath as she approached him.

“What are you doing out here?" He asked as she stood up straight and drew a steady breath.

“I'd like to travel with you." She stunned him.

“What?" He gawked at her. “Travel… with me?" Margo pointed at himself. “Why?"

“I'm a warrior. I have freedom of movement among my own people." She told him. And I want to see some of the human towns and people."

“You do?" Margo found himself grinning.

“Of course! Besides," she casually placed an arm around his shoulders, “I haven't finished teaching you the art of pleasuring a woman." She smiled only to leave the human dumbfounded.

“Eh-what?" Margo felt his face turn a hot shade of red.

“Don't act shy after showing me all of your talents." The cougar teased and walked alongside him down to the trees. “Now tell me more about about this town of Coritani…" She started questioning. The human suddenly wondered if he had ended up with more than he had bargained for; but deep down he couldn't be happier to have Bagako as a traveling companion.