FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Kiria awoke to the feeling of movement, nudging and stirring her out a sleep already restless and unpleasant. She felt so tired and in pain, she would've preferred to remain there forever.

"Wake up.", she heard an unfamiliar female voice beckon. "They'll soon be wishing to inspect us.", the voice urged.

Kiria opened her eyes and rolled over to find a vixen crouched over her, the first strands of dawn just barely able to illuminate the fox girl's features. She'd been granted some clothing, in the form of a loose ragged blouse that hardly covered anything, and a wrap of similarly overused-looking cloth to cover her nethers. Neither article would've done much to stop unwanted advances, though Kiria still wished she herself had as much. The hair upon her scalp was a short tuft of dark orange, complementary to her paler orange fur. One of her ears was decorated with a pair of silver earrings. She looked to be yet unburdened by child, though Kiria couldn't be certain if that was the case.

"Come. They'll punish you if you remain like that.", the vixen urged on.

"Leave her. The pampered bitch can learn the proper way.", the black lupine called Coal chimed in. That, more than anything, motivated Kiria to rise.

Against all will, and in pain only worsened by movement, she climbed to her feet, still holding onto her blanket for cover.

"Leave it, they'll not let you wear it.", the vixen said.

With a sigh of displeasure, Kiria permitted the plain blue and grey blanket to drop to the floor. She very much hoped she would later recognize it among the dishevelled pile of others upon the floor.

"My name is Astia.", the vixen said.

Kiria nodded. "Kiria.", she said in answer.

"Tends to go by Assia.", Coal once more chimed in. Astia looked displeased to have that particular information brought up, but did not argue.

"Cohis here is something of a leader.", Astia said, gesturing towards the black wolfess.

Kiria nodded groggily in acknowledgement and began to scan her surroundings. Past the string of slave girls standing on attention, she caught sight of one in particular, placed in a cage much too small to permit her to stand. A white mare, huddled and sat at the edge of her little enclosure.

"Best you remember that.", Coal said, momentarily bringing Kiria back to her surroundings.

"Who's the one in the small cage?", Kiria asked.

"Hm? Oh. That's Nissuth.", Astia said.

"What happened to get her put there?", Kiria asked.

"Apparently she fought over something she shouldn't have.", Astia said.

"Used to be one of them.", Coal added.

"One of them?", Kiria asked in confusion. "I thought they don't accept women among their ranks.", she said.

"Apparently Nissuth's big enough to classify as male in their eyes.", Coal said with a shrug. "Not sure how she fucked up to end up there, but she's been there for over a week now.", she said.

"So you've not spoken to her?", Kiria asked.

"We have. Just not very talkative. Gets escorted elsewhere for the day.", Coal said with another shrug. "Knows not to talk shit at me, so I like her.", she added.

Kiria frowned. Coal was getting on her nerves.

"I suppose a fall from grace is something you've in common.", Astia suggested with a half-hearted giggle.

Kiria rolled her eyes and continued to look around their cage, as well as towards the others. She herself, Coal, and the mare were seemingly the only strong ones. All others were visibly soft. An armed rebellion seemed rather ill-advised.

"Greetings.", another new face suddenly neared, that of a grey and white rat girl. Upon her head was a rather long set of straight hair, dark grey in colour and reaching down to her shoulder blades. Hers was a set of clothes perhaps finest currently among them - a long red skirt of silky semi-translucent material, and a wrap of similar cloth upon her breasts. Around her neck hung two necklaces, upon her ears a number of earrings, and at her wrists and ankles bracelets, all of them shimmering golden. Even her tail held a series of rings and some subtle colourful bows.

"This is Teklis.", Atia introduced.

"Otherwise known as Tongue, greatest whore within the Imperium.", Coal chimed in.

"Much envied for my ability to make good use of our present situation.", Teklis said with a smug smile.

"Envy is not the word I would use.", Coal said in disgruntlement.

Teklis merely smirked in response. Apparently annoying Coal was a pastime for her.

There was movement around the outside of the cages, Kiria noticed. A number of men had gathered, most of them strong soldiers, a few others seemingly more frail bearing the white aprons and pouches of learned healers. At their helm stood the caretaker to the slaves - the great white horse Grip.

"Line up!", Grip called out, at which every girl within the cages took up a spot with their backs against the walls. Kiria followed by example.

The physicians soon entered their cage in a manner that suggested this was a regular part of their routine. They ventured along the line up, some of them occasionally stopping to take a closer look at something they found amiss, though their exact ministrations were obscured to Kiria. As they neared her, however, the eldest among them, a pudgy greying brown goat, took a particular interest.

"You're the new one, aren't you?", the goat asked, already placing hands upon her face and taking closer looks at the bruises she'd accumulated the last two days.

Kiria nodded uncertainly.

"Not cold or warm, are you?", the goat then asked.

"Somewhat cold.", Kiria admitted, though with her lacking attire that seemed a given.

"Hm.", the goat said as he placed a hand over her forehead. He then looked deep into her eye, into her ear, and then opened her jaw with his hands as though he handled livestock. "Say ah.", he ordered.

"Aaagh.", Kiria said in compliance.

Seemingly satisfied, the goat released her and wiped his hands. "Turn around and bend over.", he then ordered in a matter-of-fact way. Compared to others who'd asked this, he seemed rather disinterested, but it still felt greatly off-putting.

Kiria complied, the motion quite humiliating with all the other slave girls looking. She then felt digits spread her lips, a cold breeze running in between. Her face felt the reddest it had since yesterday.

"Hmpf. Bruises already.", the goat said with some displeasure. "Ointment for this one.", he called out to one of the other physicians and moved off to look at one of the others.

She soon felt someone rudely slick her sex with some oily substance. Though it would likely serve her well, the feeling was distasteful, and reminded her of other liquids that'd invaded her in recent days. It likewise frustrated her that this was all she could dwell on anymore.

"Done.", she heard a masculine voice say as the intrusion ended.

Kiria stood up straight once more, the remains of her dignity thoroughly stomped into the dirt. She wasn't some common slave, she kept repeating in her mind, and as she did, a defiant anger grew in her anew.

As the physicians streamed out of the cages, two among the slave girls got taken with. Kiria felt a sense of unease for but a moment, thinking some disease might've spread amongst them, but simply frowned when she noted the way the young physicians groped the two girls as they walked. They would likely be receiving more 'thorough' an examination.

With a frustrated sigh, Kiria crossed her arms and leaned against the cage wall. At the very least it was now less cramped with everyone sitting or standing. Once more she turned her sights towards the smaller cage and its lone occupant, the occasional guard walking up to taunt her. She grew particularly alarmed when she saw one loosen his pants and whip out his member, only to release a foul stream of piss. The poor mare could only close her eyes and shield herself as urine splashed over her face and body. Once concluded, the guard walked off, looking pleased with himself and leaving the equine soaked in contempt and stench.

"Can you tell me more about the mare?", Kiria then asked towards Coal.

"Piss off.", Coal said in response, at which Kiria's eyes widened in shock. "First day here and you already act like you own the place.", she said as she approached uncomfortably close. "Think being some pampered high born makes you better?", she then asked, her unclean breath quite irritating to take in.

Though surprised by the sudden hostility, Kiria met her gaze with a spiteful calm. This was some form of posturing, and she would not be intimidated. "Do you believe yourself my superior, farm hand?", she asked.

"In here, the strong rule.", Coal said. "And you don't look that strong.", she added.

Kiria raised a brow. This was one place she could not permit herself to be subjugated. "Stand down, farm girl. You'll get yourself hurt.", she said, her nose raised at the other wolfess. She was fairly certain a physical confrontation was inevitable, but she decided she wouldn't be the one to throw the first punch. If they came to blows, she wanted her domination to be all the more apparent.

It was at that moment that Coal grabbed her by the shoulders, and before Kiria could even try to break free, the black wolfess's bony knee made hard contact between the nude officer's legs.

For a second Kiria felt as though she might fall over then and there, but found herself held up by the other lupine. Every instinct told her to cower and protect herself, but there was no surrender at that moment. She would either fight back or suffer a beating most severe.

As the black wolfess reared back for a punch, Kiria threw a jab into her left breast from below. With the lapse in Coal's focus, she easily caught her opponent's strike and countered with a harder punch, this time to her nose.

"Uh!", Coal yelped. Reeling, she stumbled back and tripped over one of the blankets, landing on her rear with blood flowing profusely from both nostrils.

At that moment, Kiria would've wanted nothing more but to lie down and nurse her hurting groin. The hit she'd taken somehow felt worse than even the time Dekkon struck her there. It led her to fear something might've been damaged, and yet she had no time to dwell on this. She had to make certain her opponent wouldn't rise up again to cause her further harm

With a short leap, Kiria swung her curled up toes right between the prone wolfess's own legs.

"Urgh!", Coal blurted out in shock. Though she seemingly no longer fought back, preferring to lie on her side and nurse her hurting areas, Kiria had to make sure. "Ooph!", the dark wolfess gasped out as a kick struck her in the abdomen.

Kiria continued to snipe at Coal's less defended areas, hitting her abdomen, chest and lower back a dozen more times, until finally she let up and backed off, panting in exertion from the sheer beating she'd just delivered, but satisfied she'd secured a victory.

"I… lead here now.", Kiria panted out, looking down at the fallen lupine with distaste. None of the other girls observing the spectacle seemed to protest. Some merely nodded in compliance. She shouldn't have had to assert dominance over a slave, yet it gave her a great sense of satisfaction to have triumphed at least there.

But even this one victory came with a cost. She found her blanket and sat down heavily, then soon went prone on her back, nursing her groin with her hands. It hurt, and continued to. She feared how long it might.

---

In the hours just past dawn, with the light of day steadily trickling through the leafy forest canopy, a stillness presided over the local woodlands. Only the chirping of birds and the crackling of branches swayed by winds seemed to disturb the silence. That was, until a traveller came passing through.

The packed dirt road rumbled gently beneath the wheels of a beast-pulled wooden wagon, its back loaded to the brim with wares relatively pedestrian - preserved foods, simple weapons, tools, and many barrels of booze less refined. Upon its driver's seat sat its young brown-furred feline owner, the merchant Takianis Ot Sogerhen.

War was an interesting time for ones such as her. It brought a great deal of turmoil, but also even greater opportunities. Entire mercantile empires soared and fell by the whims of armies stomping through their lands with reckless abandon. Takia intended hers to be among the former. Being a travelling merchant, there was little she couldn't flee at a moment's notice. Her stationary competition, on the other hand, could seldom pack up and leave soon enough to avoid the terrors that came with marching armies. Yet she now ventured into the very heart of one.

Though rumours surrounding this particular group hardly inspired confidence, they were just that - rumours. Takia had her own dose of infamy surrounding her person back home, ones of treachery and poison, and she wasn't about to forego some decent deals based on that alone. After all, even the worst of this world could appreciate a supplier.

The carriage slowed for a moment, the big scaled and feathered quadrupedal sehrot at its front apparently growing lazy. She smacked its rear with her riding crop, and the pace instantly picked up. Damned half-useless animal, she thought to herself. The ungelded ones were strong but stubborn, and in addition to that, this one was growing old. At the very least with the coming proceeds she could soon purchase a newer, younger one. Perhaps a strong female, if only to avoid having to stare at a pair of swinging balls throughout her travels.

---

Riding up to the edge of camp, Takia got her first look at it - much broader than expected, and littered with big, often half-naked men. They looked at her with a sense of curiosity. Perhaps annoyance in some cases.

As she came to a halt, a number of them approached.

"What do you want?", a grey bull among them asked with disinterest.

"What do I look like?", Takia asked critically, gesturing over herself. The subtly decorated robes of purple and the amount of jewelry upon her should've granted definite answer.

"An expensive whore?", the grey bull asked back humourlessly.

Takia raised a brow. At least some rumours were proving true.

"Do you want my trade or no?", Takia asked impatiently. If she was wasting her time, she would rather be elsewhere.

"Egh. Wait here.", the grey bull said and wandered off deeper into the camp.

With time to spare, Takia decided to pull out her pipe. She stuffed it with some bogreed from her pouch and lit it with a match. The first puff always calmed her the most, draining the tension from her present situation. Even the surrounding muscle couldn't unnerve her, as unpleasant as they were to behold. She would've much preferred that they wear shirts, perhaps robes.

With another blow of smoke she sighed to herself, the minutes passing by in boredom. Normally she would've taken the chance to walk around, explore the camp and meet its occupants, but under such circumstances it felt rather uncomfortable a prospect.

Finally the grey bull returned, followed by a large beige ram and black horse. She very much hoped the more slender horse was the leader of this group, though their positioning suggested otherwise.

"Hear you're a merchant.", the ram began as he approached at the helm, his voice unnervingly low yet reverberant.

"Takianis Ot Sogerhen.", Takia said as she dismounted her carriage, then bowed curtly.

"Dekkon.", the ram responded firmly.

"My wares are very much on offer. Say what interests you and we can discuss price.", Takia said as she pulled the tarp from over her cart, revealing its contents more clearly.

"Hmpf.", Dekkon said as he began to look over everything.

"There's oil, pickled vegetables, dried meats, hardtack, jams…", Takia iterated.

"If I want to know I'll ask.", Dekkon said dismissively.

Takia raised a brow, but said no more. It'd be difficult to make a decent sale without a pitch.

Dekkon then took one of the weapons in hand - an axe. "No greater arms than this?", he asked with audible dissatisfaction. Takia couldn't help but suspect they now haggled.

"My next shipment could include a custom order.", Takia suggested. "I'd also be willing to take something in trade.", she then suggested.

"We make use of everything we carry.", Dekkon said.

That seemed rather unlikely to Takia. "What of slaves? No excess?", she asked. Battered as they likely were, they would probably fetch a decent price in the city.

Dekkon seemingly considered this for a while. "Perhaps in another month. They've still use to us.", he said.

Takia nodded and went back to observing the ram's own inspection of her wares. He made sure to carefully look over every kind of merchandise, seemingly seeking fault with her offer.

"We'll take the whole cart.", Dekkon then said.

"Everything?", Takia asked with a raised brow. She didn't think she'd picked her wares this carefully.

"1330 pieces.", Dekkon then said, crossing his arms.

Takia froze up at this. That was very close to the price she'd paid to acquire all of this in the first place. For all his brutish visage, the ram apparently knew how to appraise merchant wares quite well. But that was just the initial offer.

"That wouldn't even cover the cost of my travels.", Takia said critically. "This is all worth 2500, at the very least!", she said, well aware that this was far too great a markup. All good trades started with a high asking price.

Dekkon said nothing in response, and simply continued to stare down at her. It did little to unnerve Takia, however. Intimidation was a favourite tactic among soldiers, and she would not give in so easily. Yet this silence was getting a bit disquieting.

"Come now. If we make a more even-handed deal here, my next shipment will be more tailored to your liking. Perhaps cheaper than it's worth.", Takia suggested, though that last part would likely prove a lie.

"I'll not pay 2500 for this.", Dekkon said plainly.

"Then perhaps suggest a price more suitable.", Takia urged.

"I already have. 1330.", Dekkon said.

"Something in between our offers. Such as 2000.", Takia said, though it truly pained her to have to haggle with herself like this. She wasn't sure whether the ram was simple or stubborn, but either way he exemplified the typical traits of an overgrown male.

"Very well. 1440.", Dekkon offered, his tone suggesting the sum had just been torn out of him like a bad tooth.

"Still somewhat steep.", Takia said, palming her forehead. This was not going well. She would either leave here without a deal, or without significant profit.

"I'm not here to grant bargains. Suggest something acceptable or leave.", Dekkon said.

Takia considered her options for a while. She could hardly offer free extras with everything she had on the line, and she wasn't about to part with her cart and beast either.

Looking over her surroundings, consisting primarily of seldom washed brutes, her mind drifted towards sights she considered more pleasant. And in that, she found a potential arrangement they could agree to.

"Can you show me your slaves?", Takia asked.

"Thought I made it clear they're not for sale.", Dekkon said.

"Actually, I was considering certain accommodations in lieu of more monetary means.", Takia said.

Dekkon looked at her with a sense of curiosity. "We do not hold male slaves if it's a bedding you seek. But some of the men could help you there.", he suggested.

"It is bedding I seek, but with one of your slaves.", Takia said with a lewd smile. It always gave her a sense of excitement to see how people would react to this revelation.

Dekkon's brow rose at this somewhat, but just as quickly diminished. "I do not think any of ours are into that kind of bedding.", he said.

"Does it matter?", Takia asked.

Dekkon shrugged. "Suppose not.", he admitted. "Backser, show her to the kennels. The good ones.", he instructed towards the black horse.

"Yes, Pick.", Backser said, then gestured for Takia to follow.

---

"Line up!", Kiria suddenly heard Grip call out. Though her ache had died down, she still hardly felt like moving.

Against all desire, she got up and joined the rest of the girls by the cage wall. Briefly she exchanged bitter looks with Coal. The black lupine walked with a limp and gripped her side, visibly still in pain after their altercation from just an hour ago. Her wrap had become bloodied, and bits of dried red still clung to her face. It gave Kiria a mild sense of satisfaction to see her in such dishevelment.

Kiria's attention returned to matters more immediate as she noticed a beige-furred feline woman enter their enclosure. She was dressed too finely to be a new slave, she thought. The multitude of golden earrings, bracelets and gemmed rings rivaled those of Teklis. A merchant or noble, likely seeking to buy off slaves, as her inspection of the girls in line suggested. Her center-parted brown hair reached down to her shoulders, the brilliant emerald green of her eyes seemingly shining from beneath its shade.

Kiria couldn't help but wonder what made someone qualify as viable for enslavement in the eyes of the company, and how this one had evaded such classification. More than that, she wondered if perhaps this one could help her somehow, though she very much doubted it.

"What of this one?", the feline asked as she approached Kiria.

"This one's off-limits.", Backser said dismissively.

"And why's that?", the merchant asked on.

"Boss says so.", Backser said plainly. "If you want someone without a belly, there's Tongue and Coal. Infertile both.", he said, gesturing towards the two.

The merchant frowned as she beheld them. Apparently they weren't up to her standards. "I've no fondness for rats or freshly battered ones.", she said. "I insist upon this one. Whatever her use to you, I assure you she'll be returned no more harmed than she is already.", she said.

Backser crossed his arms and sighed, visibly contemplating something. "Fine.", he said. "You want her cleaned?", he asked.

"Of course. This whole cage reeks of piss and seed.", the feline said, her nose scrunched in disgust for emphasis.

Backser rolled his eyes. "Come.", he said towards Kiria.

She followed, wondering whether to consider the distinction a blessing or curse.

---

Thoroughly cleaned and tidied, Kiria entered the small tent with a sense of unease. Though she wasn't yet certain what the feline intended with her, she had worrying suspicions, and she was now far from optimism.

Already seated there upon a chair, the cat observed her with hungry eyes. For the moment she was still clothed, thankfully. But as Kiria neared, she stood up and swiftly approached the nude wolfess.

"Much better.", the feline chirped as she circled around Kiria, her warm breath brushing over the nape of her neck as they came uncomfortably close together. "You might not be the prettiest, but the way you carry yourself…", the cat said as she placed her hands upon the wolfess's shoulders, her voice steadily lowering to a whisper. "...it stands out.", she cooed in Kiria's ear.

"I am-… was… an officer of the Imperium.", Kiria said, a great sense of shame washing over her.

"I see.", the cat began absentmindedly as her digits first moved onto the scruff of Kiria's neck. "Not that it matters much now.", she then added as her hands began to slide down Kiria's back. "You may address me as Takia.", she said.

Kiria nodded. "I am-..."

"No matter. Slaves do not require names.", Takia cut her off.

Kiria nodded once more, a sense of realization temporarily taking her mind to other matters. None within this camp actually knew her name besides the other slaves. None had actually asked it. It chilled her to realize how little she mattered.

At that moment, however, more immediate matters beckoned her attention, as Takia's hands slid under her arms and took hold of her breasts.

"Modest.", Takia commented, her fingers kneading the lupine's soft parts. "But no matter.", she then said as her hands began to glide along Kiria's form, one towards her mouth, and one down below. "All that matters is you have a slit…", she said right as her left hand descended below Kiria's pubic mound. "And a tongue to please my own.", she concluded, her fingers rudely prying into Kiria's mouth.

Kiria felt repulsed as she tasted the cat's digits taking holding of her tongue. In a sense, it felt like a prelude to what she would next be forced into.

"Come now. Wetten for me.", Takia whispered in her ear as her other hand now more intensely pried at Kiria's lower lips. Though she wasn't at all willing, her body seemed much more receptive to such attentions, and soon, after some careful trailing along her folds, she felt her groin dampen in response to the soft touch. "Good girl.", Takia whispered.

The feline then walked around to Kiria's front, her hands continuing to flow across her back and shoulders. She smiled for but a moment, then leaned in and placed her lips upon Kiria's own, only to force her tongue in the wolfess's mouth.

Kiria grimaced internally at the slimy feeling of the cat's tongue coiling and sliding along her own. Though her taste was masked with fine herbs, it was still vaguely tinged with ash and meat.

As they unfused from one another, the cat then slowly lowered herself, enjoying the feeling of Kiria's breasts and then navel area pressed against her face. It was almost pleasant, Kiria realized much to her shame, yet made her tense all the same.

Once the cat made her way past Kiria's groin, she paused and moved upwards, her tongue drawing a long line along the wolfess's slit. She seemed to sniff around the area, feeding her appreciation for the wolfess's particular scent. Then, abruptly, she plunged her muzzle into Kiria's crotch, her lips pressed against the lupine labia as though delivering a passionate kiss, her tongue penetrating Kiria's depths as it had done to her mouth moments ago.

Kiria's breathing hastened. Though she felt a distaste for the feline's damp and slick tongue coating her sex in saliva, the base sensations of her insides being massaged like this, along with the feline nose pressing against her clit, sent tingles of pleasure up her spine. She hated it, yet found it exhilarating all the same.

At that point, Takia broke their 'kiss' and pulled back, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand in satisfaction. She straightened out and looked at Kiria expectantly.

"Undress me.", Takia requested, her arms splayed to the sides in beckoning gesture.

Kiria nodded meekly and approached, already fearing what was to come. Though the merchant woman had seemingly granted her greater affection than any within the camp, she was still a woman, and Kiria's particular desires were quite incompatible in that regard. With that in mind, she unbuttoned the feline's robes and undid the binds of her shirt, soon finding herself face to face with a pair of breasts more sizeable than her own. The rest of her attire the feline removed herself, then sat upon the chair at the middle of the tent, legs spread and presenting a strip of furless flesh Kiria would've preferred not to look at.

"Come. Kneel.", Takia instructed.

Kiria slowly did as told, the scent of the feline's arousal hitting her nose harsher than that of any man she'd been forced to service. It was vaguely fish-like and musky, and it stirred her insides.

"Go on, girl.", Takia beckoned as she grew impatient.

Against every instinct, Kiria leaned in towards the pink slit with her tongue out. It visibly glistened with feminine juices before the first lick, only further putting off the wolfess. As her tongue made contact and slid along its fleshy length, the flavour that hit her was dull, salty, but also sour in a way quite unlike that of male parts she'd tasted. All the same she found it revolting, yet continued on.

As her lapping grew more frequent, so the taste faded, yet as her efforts intensified, the feline grew worryingly restless. Kiria felt a leg press at her back, then a second, their bulk threatening to pull her in and smother her.

"Do as I did, girl. Make love to my slit.", Takia said, her breathing growing laboured.

Feeling only regret awaited no matter her choice, Kiria closed her eyes shut and plunged her muzzle deep between the cat's legs. As her tongue forced its way in between the fleshy folds, a new, even more sour taste hit her, and at that point, the weight of what she was doing hit her in full. She gagged, but kept going. Then once again, at which point she found herself unable to back away, the feline woman's legs holding her in place.

"Go on. Finish the job.", Takia ordered, one of her hands now grasping Kiria between the ears.

Desperate to get it done with, Kiria began to move her tongue in and out, her mind desperate to ignore the tastes and shapes she came across and focus solely on the simple mechanical motions of the act. She could hear the cat's breath quicken and feel her grip tighten.

"Mf!", Takia gasped, at which point she seemed to constrictingly wrap herself around Kiria's head, pressing it into her crotch from every side.

Kiria felt ready to pass out, her passageways now blocked off by cunt and thighs, yet she continued to lap at the oyster-like flesh. She was forced to endure this for but seconds more, however.

"Ah…", Takia sighed as she finally unfused from around Kiria and leaned back, unleashing her mouth.

Kiria readily took the opportunity to back off and take a deep breath. Though glad it was over, she felt more unclean than she had in days. The scent would linger in her mind for quite some time.

"Not bad for a first-timer. Not that good either.", Takia commented as she got up and began to redress.

Kiria remained on her knees, head bowed in shame. All she could focus on for the moment was the smell. She feared the nausea she felt would only grow worse the longer she had to stomach it. The moments passed without reprieve, only the shuffling of silken clothes to accompany Kiria's growing sickness.

Once dressed, without a word more, Takia left the tent, though Kiria remained alone for merely a moment before Backser came in. He carried a bottle and damp washcloth.

"Here.", he said, handing Kiria the cloth. "Wash yourself off.", he said.

Kiria did as suggested, and thoroughly scrubbed her muzzle and face. The smell yet lingered. Though she felt a sense of gratitude, she wouldn't give voice to it.

"Wash it down.", Backser then added, handing the bottle.

As she took a whiff of its contents, she found she smelled mostly alcohol, with a faint hint of apple. Without hesitation, she took a large swig. Then another. It helped wipe away the taste.

Kiria handed back the bottle with a nod. Though she was grateful, she hardly felt like showing it. Not to him, nor anyone else within this camp. Backser, however, seemed quite content with this. Perhaps out of empathy, though Kiria doubted it.