FSE

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The sun was just starting to set, and not a moment too soon. I had been sweating for much of the afternoon and evening despite wearing a wide brimmed hat to shield my head from the powerful sun. My modest backpack felt heavy on my shoulders. The linen robes I had been given were light and breathable over my plain clothes too, but the brutal heat of the desert was nothing to take lightly. Standing atop a large dune, I wiped my forehead and watched several people a short distance away set up camp for the night.

The people were somewhat shorter in stature than average humans and most other anthropomorphic peoples, but their large ears made up for the difference. No one appeared to be in a hurry or tired even as they had work to do. The tribe of fennecs had little trouble, if any, in such an inhospitable land. They thrived in the hot environment as if the sun was their source of strength.

The fennecs were notorious for their ability to produce and harness fire; and were commonly known as fire fennecs or fire foxes to foreigners like myself. It was an incredible phenomenon not replicated in any other parts of the world. I had been with them for two days so far to learn about their fire wielding abilities as well as their changing way of life. Being human, much of their livelihoods fascinated me as much as the tall tales surrounding them.

The creation of life itself to the tribe was as unique as their harsh environment. The stories varied, but the sun was always the originator of all life and gifted the use of fire to the fennecs of the desert. The celestial body's warmth and light was at the center of their beliefs because of this. The fire fennecs also had access to and acted as gatekeepers to the sacred fire temples in the secluded red sandstone cliffs of the central desert. Few outsiders had ever laid eyes on them, and I humbly hoped to gain access to at least one before my journey was over. They were the only reason I would consider the difficult task of traveling so far to a desolate region. I wanted to learn about their traditions, particularly their ability to produce and wield fire.

I was currently traveling with one such tribe of foxes through the desert. They had been difficult to reach due to another reason as well. A small portion of the western desert and adjacent coasts being controlled by the Tawadue, a primarily feline group of people who concealed their bodies in public and were wary of foreigners. My guide, a knowledgeable older fennec male of the same tribe, walked up the small dune towards me. Slightly hunched over, he almost appeared feeble but his paws were steadfast leaving behind faint divots in the smooth grainy slope.

“Yes, Nusartu?" I slid down the sand to save him from climbing a few extra steps.

“Our camp is set for the night if you wish to rest in one of the tents." He spoke with old age evident in his voice. “But preparations are being made for a fire dance if you would like to join in." He offered.

“Thank you. I'd love to watch, and I need to rest."

“Yes, we had a long journey today." He grinned knowingly and turned around. We stepped down the dune together and gradually made our way across the open sands. The elder fennec wore a hooded cape, common for elders during the daytime, but only wore the bare minimum underneath. He didn't have an intimidating appearance, but then again he could've burned me or any enemy alive in mere moments.

The tribal fennecs were not primitive despite living in the desert for much of their lives. One might have expected a truly isolated people, but technology had managed to penetrate far into such a harsh environment. I hadn't seen phones, vehicles, or anything truly electronic; but modern conveniences like mugs and round cups had replaced older items. Canteens had become commonplace too, but the occasional gourd was still used to store water. The tents themselves were of modern design as well.

The ones that comprised their nomadic homes were set up across a small dune away from where all of the night's activities would occur. The reason was simple. It was easy to start a fire, but difficult to extinguish, especially in a location where there was limited access to fresh water. There was no need to risk a stray flame or ember landing on a flammable material! Nusartu led me to the closest open air tent where the dancing and fire techniques would be practiced through the night's fire dance.

“You can sit here if you like." He offered and stopped by a quieter spot, away from the gradually growing groups.

“Thank you. It's nice to sit down again." I removed my robe and backpack before taking a hasty seat beside him. My legs felt the not so subtle twinge of soreness from another day of walking across hot sand.

“You can relax. It is nighttime." The old fennec reassured me with a knowing smile. I merely smiled and stretched my legs. I directed my attention to the space before us.

Several individuals were smoothing out the hot sand to create a more level area. Another was tracing the symbol of the sun in the center with a foot paw. Although, I spotted a taller figure with a different fur coat pattern amongst some of the fennecs. The lighter cream colored front was not different, but her sides and limbs were a tan brown coloration with her backside and tail being much darker like chocolate. Her more modern hairstyle and earrings were the real giveaway though.

“Is that a coyote?" I was surprised to see the female coyote with the group. Her only clothing was a black piece of scrap fabric that covered just enough from around her waist. Her breasts were bare like every female in the nomadic group, but she was happily standing by a few other fennecs, awaiting for the fire dance to begin.

“There are no qualms if an outsider wishes to participate, so long as they are knowledgeable about the art of fire." Nusartu leaned over and told me.

“Can she create fire like you?" I looked at him wide eyed. “I have never heard of such a thing."

“No." He grinned and shook his head. “She is traveling with us like you, and wants to learn more about how we use fire." The mysterious coyote lady carried thin chains attached to rings on her fingers with little metal cages on the ends. A material inside would hold a steady burn even while being swirled in the air with a skilled set of hands.

“How did I not see her before?" I mumbled to myself, and made a mental note to talk to her at some point. My attention turned once again as the squeals of children, or kits as they are called, echoed into the warm night. Several darted around the adults preparing the sand, playing their own little games for fun. One in particular concentrated and formed a weak little flame in its hand only for a younger kit to try and steal it for himself. The flame dissipated and a wrestling match ensued with both tumbling to the ground in a squalor.

“When are children taught to use fire?" I asked Nusartu.

“Once they are able to hold fire without burning their hands." He demonstrated by cupping his hands. A small flame of warm orange and yellow appeared above his palms, flickering as if resting atop dry tinder. However, he dissipated the flames and parted his hands.

“Although, there are other times when a child is observed emitting little flames or producing heat."

“So a parent or someone else in the group will teach the kit is interested in learning or shows an ability towards using fire?"

“Yes, that's correct, but children are not taught advanced techniques like fire breathing until they are older. I'm sure you can imagine childishness and fire having a combustible relationship." Nusartu teased causing me to grin.

“I understand your point." I imagined an ill behaved kid crying out fire while burning a toy in hand. “Are all fennecs of this tribe, or others, able to use fire?"

“Yes, for the most part." He gave a slow nod. “There are a few rare individuals who are unable to use fire. It can be a difficult skill to master. Partly because of this, some from the desert tribes have left to seek work elsewhere. Most of them are males, and that leaves a lot of females in each nomadic group. This would've been unheard of when I was your age, but times have changed." He looked at my clothes with an experienced eye. I wondered how modern technology and contact with the wider world would change their traditions. Was there a future that had fennecs driving vehicles across the sands instead of walking on foot?

A masked male fennec appeared from one of the open tents and walked towards the center of the flat sands, carrying a porcelain jar in his hands. The mask was white and had several red markings to produce a vulpine face with unique features, but the jar had a flowery design.

“That jar contains sacred ash." Nusartu told me before I could ask the question. “They spread it to make the symbol of fire over the outline of the sun symbol in the sand." He explained, but that only created more questions. I watched the masked fennec open the jar and carefully pour handfuls onto the ground. As much as I wanted to see what pattern was being created with the sacred ash, I remained seated.

'It's too dark to see anyway, and I don't want to get in everyone's way.' I reasoned.

“We're about to start." The elder fox tossed his cape aside onto a towel and revealed his decorative white loincloth with a scarlet red trim. He also wore two copper armbands and a small leather corded bracelet. Despite advancing age, his body was fit and wiry. One couldn't be too lax in the desert after all.

“Are you going to stay here and watch?"

“Of course!" I nodded despite feeling tired. I wouldn't pass up such an opportunity now! The elder gave a nod and turned away. He shot a testy fireball into the air before trotting up to the center of the unfolding action.

'Wow.' I was impressed and reached over and opened up part of my backpack before pulling out a leather journal. The cover was worn, and at least a dozen pages had writing or sketches that I had drawn over the past few days. I pulled out a pencil next, and quickly dated the following page.

'We are one day's travel from the nearest oasis. I believe it is called 'Washota' by the fennecs, and is known to never dry up.' I wrote. 'My guide Nusartu invited me to watch a fire dance under the starlit sky…'

“The night sky is beautiful out here." I took a moment to look up once again, fascinated by the beauty of the stars. 'I have never seen the sky like this before, but it has always been above me my entire life.' I wrote before glancing at the group of foxes once again only to see that one was still drawing a pattern with ash.

A trio of mothers also watched while tending to their children ranging from infants to toddlers. A pudgy grandmother was doting over her crying grandchild in the lap of its mother. The mother beside them was nursing the hungry mouth of a toddler in her lap.

'I hope their baby teeth aren't sharp.' I half joked to myself and started sketching the mothers together. One of the mothers laughed as her child grimaced after tasting its own hand covered in sand.

“Kwahhh!" A sudden animalistic yelp sounded off. The masked fox scurried away with the jar of sacred ash in his hands. With no other introductions or exotic proclamations, the entire group standing around the sun pattern shot a fireball each into the night sky and began to dance.

There were no drums or any other musical instruments being played. The sounds reaching my ears were natural, but also surreal. The subtle whooshing of flames dominated the quiet early night with the occasional voices ranging from all ages echoing around. It was a unique combination that I hadn't heard before.

Each fennec had their own line, or “orbit" around the fire and sun pattern like moving planets. Special moves were showcased in a mixture of poses that seemed endless: from single stomping steps to leaps, bounds, jumps, spins, and crouches leading to beautiful flames. One fennec vixen was able to outstretch her hands and created a ring of fire around her upper body. Others breathed fire with or without the aid of a hand.

The coyote lady was expertly wielding her two chains and swirling two now burning balls of fire around her while she hopped along. The rambunctious kits towards the edge of the level area and open tents were mimicking the adults. Jumps and leaps became stumbles and hops accompanied by playful squeals. There was so much to take in that I didn't know what to start sketching first!

A female fennec trotted away from the dancing group and towards the same open air tent that I was seated under. She wore the traditional fennec clothing of tight fitting black pants and a red sash around her waist. The bottoms were bandaged to just above her ankles leaving her feet bare. She wore nothing more like the rest of the vixens. Her bare chest was a normal sight to any of the foxes. It was a sign of being a woman, and nursing infants. Her breasts had a bell shape from their own heaviness as both swayed or rolled from the subtlest of movements. Even walking across the even sand gave them an indiscreet bounce.

The lone female stopped by an adjacent tent to retrieve a bulky teapot with some cups before sitting close to me. She poured herself two cups before holding them in her hands with two fingers apiece pointing downward.

“Cute big ears." I smiled and began to jot something down.

“I heard that." A female voice made me pause and loosen my grip on the pencil. Glancing over, the fennec lady was looking back at me with a sly look across her vulpine face. One of her large fluffy ears was dialed back facing me like a sensitive antenna.

“Oh uh, sorry." I grinned.

“It's fine." She grinned back at me. My gaze lingered on her pretty face before realizing her hand was extended with a steaming cup of tea. The contents were maybe lukewarm a moment ago.

“Hot tea?" She offered and stretched a leg out.

“Oh." I looked at her hands and figured out what she had done. “Thank you." I accepted the cup. The ability to wield fire had far more possibilities than simply shooting balls of fire into the night sky. The lack of fuel for a conventional fire would've been a difficult challenge for anyone else. I brought the cup to my mouth and felt the steam warm my nose. The aromas were light with a mixture of earthy and flowery notes. It was a nice treat with the nighttime air becoming cool.

“Do you like watching fire dances?" She suddenly asked me.

“Yes. This is the first one I have seen." I remarked.

“They are a lot of fun." She agreed and sipped her hot tea. “Are you writing or drawing about it?" Her curious eyes glanced at my journal in hand.

“Both." I happily replied. Our attention was drawn back to the dancers and their beautiful flames. We watched the males and females alike shoot impressive balls of fire, create rings of fire, and so much more. At random moments a fennec would switch to take a break and allow others time to show their graceful fire skills as well. Despite all of the action happening in front of me, I found myself glancing over at the pretty vixen seated beside me for a moment or two.

“The coyote woman is very talented with those chains." The fennec quietly remarked. The canine was twirling both chains in her hands at a quick speed causing the flammable balls to look like orange and yellow discs.

“She is…" I did my best to watch and sketch her figure in the pages simultaneously.

“I'm going to join them again." The female fox rose up and wiped any lingering grains of sand off her black pants. “You should dance too." She suggested to my surprise.

“Oh! I appreciate the offer, but no thank you." I readily declined. “I am nowhere near as coordinated as you or anyone else here." I would've been downright embarrassed to dance before the tribe. Outsider or not, I didn't have a talent for dancing.

“Watch closely." The vixen enticed me with a glimmer in her eyes that acted like starlight. I watched her sashay away with intrigue and readied my notebook and pencil in hand. The pretty fennec began walking around like an entranced ballerina, one arm craning above her head and the other poking out beside her.

A small ball of orange and yellow fire appeared in her hand, burning as if it rested within a hearth. Her steps, careful and planned, carried her halfway around the symbols in the sand before she suddenly changed tempo. The vixen jumped and leapt, shooting short bursts of flames from her hands only to create more. She landed and swept low to the ground while brandishing her fire. Her breasts jumped and swayed with her.

In the most spectacular move, she leapt with both foot paws and tucked her arms down. The move gave one the appearance of flight, albeit briefly, with a beautiful flame shooting down like a tail. I watched wide eyed as she stuck a quick landing in the sand. Her feet pivoted and she leapt in another graceful arcing motion. The flames erupted from her hands like an erupting volcano. All around her, other fennecs were creating their beautiful dances and flames. It was like seeing fireworks for the first time as a kid.

I barely noticed a few glances given towards me, but I was too entranced in the lovely fennec vixen's performance to care. Before I knew it, Nusartu and a pair of foxes were excitedly walking towards me.

“Hey, uh-." I snapped to attention, but it was too late.

“Come and dance with us!" They quickly surrounded me. I left my notebook and pencil alongside my backpack as I was pulled to my feet by several hands. Nusartu and the two vixens hauled me over to where the others were dancing. The mysterious coyote lady was standing outside the outermost ring of parading fennecs.

“Hold on! I can't use fire like a fennec." I tried making an excuse.

“You don't need to." One of the vixens said.

“I can't even dance." I admitted much to Nusartu's amusement.

“You don't need to dance." The coyote lady spoke up and stepped towards me. “Just move however you move and have fun." Her carefree explanation sounded easy enough, but didn't ease my easily embarrassed nerves. She handed me one of her chains with the small ball still alight with yellow flames.

“This thing is still burning!" I held it at arms length.

“Haha, yeah!" She laughed at my reaction. “Just twirl it around while you go around!" Her laid back attitude would've been funnier to me if I wasn't going to “perform" in front of everyone. Seeing no way out of it, I jumped with my best foot forward. I nearly tripped on my second step and kicked up a lot of sand to stop myself from falling over.

'That was close.' I thought and stood up. A pair of kits close by laughed and began mimicking my move, only to devolve into kicking sand around one another.

“Just hop and skip a little if you like." Nusartu encouraged me.

'Easier said than done!' I did my best to mimic some of the more skilled jumps and moves, but I was content just to land on my feet. Twirling the chained ball of fire was no easier either. I had to duck to avoid hitting myself in the face.

“Hey!" A familiar female voice sounded off beside me. Glancing to my left, I found the fennec vixen who had given me tea at my side. The orange glows of others' flames illuminated her body in the dark with a cozy effect.

“Hi there."

“Glad to see you get off your tail-er rear and move a little." She smiled at me in mid stride.

“Thanks." I flashed a grin as she blew a brief stream of fire into the air and danced away. I stumbled some, and nearly tripped at least once, but I managed to eke out a semblance of rhythm as I circled around the center with the other fennecs. Beautiful flames danced all around me as I closely witnessed their nimble acrobatics firsthand. The oranges and yellows darted around and illuminated the sand around everyone. Shadows appeared, disappeared, and reappeared from many angles as the sources of light did.

I was enjoying myself, carefree and happy even though I was clumsy. A few claps and cheers were given as everyone was enjoying themselves. The passing time seemed endless with the rush of excitement and thrill of joining the fire fennecs in their dance.

I eventually I decided that I had jumped around enough once I completed a dozen or so circular laps. Many of the fennecs clapped as I half hobbled away out of breath and returned the fiery chain to the coyote lady.

“You did great!" The canine laughed and patted my back.

“Well done!" The vixen from before trotted up to me. “I was surprised Nusartu, Shapash, and Inouya got you to join us!" She giggled and placed a hand on my shoulder. I felt how warm her palm was even through my shirt, but it didn't surprise me.

“I was too!" I agreed. “But you danced beautifully." I told her, still out of breath. “I can barely dance at all."

“You could use a little practice, but you move well." She praised me with a light tease as well.

“Thanks." I blew a sigh and relaxed as we returned to the open air tent. However, the vixen beside me didn't sit down.

“Why don't you come to my tent?" She winked and smiled warmly. “We are known for our hospitality."

“Oh!" I was taken aback by the offer as the vixen gathered the pot of tea and both cups. I glanced back at the dancing fennecs and found Nusartu talking with another member of the tribe. 'I suppose Nusartu will check on me in the morning.' I reasoned.

“Well?" She stood up.

“Sure, I'll go with you." I agreed.

“Nice. You can follow me then." She left the open tent. I rushed to gather my backpack and journal before following her up the gentle slope of the dune.

“My name is Rishi." She introduced herself.

“I'm Oliver." I introduced myself in turn. “I like your name."

“Thanks. I like yours as well." She grinned. “Where exactly are you originally from?"

“I'm from the Prato Hills in a region called Mugello." Her large ears wiggled at the places as I named. “It's very far away from here." I thought about a map and the distance between two large continents separated by a big ocean.

“I see." She nodded. “A few foreigners have visited us over the years since I was a kit, and they have traveled from strange sounding places."

“That's what originally inspired me to come here. There were several things I had seen on the internet about people who had travelled here-."

“Internet?" Her head tilted slightly as her ears wiggled.

“Sorry I mean photos. I saw pictures of fire fennecs before." I didn't want to bog anything down by having to explain technology to her.

“Ah, with the camera things they carried. I've seen those before." She nodded.

“Yes. I saw fennecs holding fire, walking in the desert with nothing more than what you're wearing, and many other stories. It didn't seem real to me."

“It's true that we don't wear much, but we keep robes like yours in case of sandstorms, and also for when we visit Tawadue towns or cities." She casually stated.

“You do?"

“Yes. No woman is permitted to bare her breasts in public, and we abide by their rules. Although, I have seen one leopard woman whose entire robe was pulled off by a friend." She giggled.

“Haha. Wow that must've been quite a sight." I could not have imagined anything like that happening during my brief stay there. “I know how peculiar they are with clothing. I had to travel through Tawadue territory just to make it this far." I told her, and took a final look over my shoulder at the fire dance behind me. From the vantage point I could see several figures still shooting flames while dancing. Most of the kits had tired out. One mother was even walking not too far away and heading towards the desert encampment.

We descended the small dune to where the camels were kept and regular tents were set up. The evidence of modern technology was most profound in their living quarters. Many of the tents were completely modern in design like a typical desert camper would possess. Although, some families retained their more traditional appearances. One large tent had an awning like opening leading to its main entrance supported by several old poles.

“This is my home." She took me to a small modern beige colored tent that was roughly two meters tall. Rishi wiped her foot paws on a small carpet before she went inside. I removed my footwear and followed her only to pause inside the dark entryway, unsure if I should feel my way forward.

“Is there a light-?" I barely asked before she flicked a quick finger sending a spark through the dark air. It landed in a small rustic looking lantern, and instantly illuminated the entire tent.

“Wow." I couldn't help myself from saying. The vixen glanced over her shoulder and grinned at me.

“Come in." She happily gestured and closed the entry flap behind me. The tent's materials were breathable, a necessity for the hot weather; but also sturdy to withstand persistent winds. The space itself was small and humble, but very personable. A pair of small decorative carpets led across the middle of the tent where a thick circular cushion rested close to the bright lantern. A large folded sheet at the end of the tent could've been a place to sleep, but I wasn't very sure. A large canteen rested by a long soft cushion which would have acted as a pillow.

Rishi placed her tea set alongside some small baskets and a little wooden chest before retrieving some incense to burn. She pinched her index finger and thumb on the tip of the sticks to light before setting them aside.

“There. Welcome to my home." She proudly showcases her living space. “Sit wherever you like."

“Thank you very much!" I was honored and set by pack and robe aside. I took a seat before the round cushion and made myself comfortable. “I couldn't think of a better place to stay while in the desert."

“Maybe an oasis." She smiled at the thought.

“I'm looking forward to visiting it. It is called Washota, right?"

“Mmhm." The fennec nodded. “It is deep enough to swim in, and that oasis never dries up through the year. I love going there." She sounded more excited to visit than me. Then again, seeing a large pool of water after weeks of sand dunes would change one's perspective on the value of water.

Rishi bent over and unraveled the bandages that kept her black pants bound just above her ankles. Once her red sash was untied, it all effortlessly fell around her foot paws. She didn't seem shy at all about disrobing and being naked in front of me. That didn't come as much of a surprise given how little the vixens or todds wore throughout the day, but it still felt special since I was alone in her presence. She bent over again, granting me a second side view of her breasts as they naturally hung from her chest.

“You're comfortable wearing all that?" She looked at me with a curious expression.

“Yeah, why?" I didn't understand, and the question caught me off guard.

“Just asking." Rishi shrugged and folded her pants. “I didn't know if humans kept their clothes on or not. Rebecca the coyote wore clothes like you did when she first arrived, but she wears the cloth around her hips now."

“Humans definitely keep their clothes on, but not as strictly as the Tawadue."

“Do you only wear those clothes when you travel in public? Is it a travel thing?" She seemed just as confused as me.

“Well… no." I didn't know how to answer that. “It's a normal thing?" I scratched my head. “People where I'm from always wear something, unless they're bathing in private. Did Rebecca the coyote say where she was from?" I tried thinking of places where a coyote like her would go topless in public, or maybe she was a naturist of sorts?

“Hmm." The fennec thought for a moment. “I don't recall. I've only spoken with her once before." Rishi sat down across from me only to lay back with a pleasant sigh. Her large breasts rolled off center from her chest without care. She stretched her legs out towards me and propped her foot paws up onto the round cushion directly in front of me. The fennec had plantigrade feet like any human, but the her foxy anatomy gave them a much more unique appearance. Like any canid anthro, she possessed four blocky toes with soft pink pads underneath each. A larger main pad covered the ball of her foot that appeared soft. Her thick clear claws didn't appear intimidating, but resembled dainty spikes atop each blocky digit.

“You still have sand in your fur." I found little grains embedded in her coat.

“I do?" She blinked and peered at her foot paws.

“I'll brush it out." I offered before Rishi sat up.

“Ok." She was a little bashful at first, but relaxed into my exploratory touch after a few moments. The fur was the same soft golden sandy color as her backside and tail, making it a little difficult to see grains of sand hiding underneath. However, I found that her fur was short and soft. Her toes flexed as I touched her main pad and discovered it was soft and warm. I found my self rubbing her paw pad more even though the sand was gone.

“Your pads are soft and warm." I remarked and used both my hands to properly massage her.

“You sound surprised." She grinned and watched me.

“I half expected them to be tough and cold."

“Fennecs are never cold." She giggled. “Warmth and life are one and the same to us."

“That sounds poetic…" I mumbled hoping to remember it.

“Oh. That feels nice." She sighed and her ears fell back when I hit a tender spot. I sat back, content with myself rubbing her foot paws. The oddly intimate moment coupled with the aromatic incense was relaxing. I switched from one foot to the other, and she lazily let her foot fall to the side. I caught an accidental glimpse between her legs. Even with a pretty light cream furred front, it wasn't difficult to notice the line of her womanhood nestled beneath a little fur.

'Should I say something?' I discreetly adjusted myself. Thankfully, the fennec wanted to talk about other things of interest to her, and didn't notice anything awkward.

“Is it true that all foreigners like you live in one place their entire life?" She asked while I rubbed her other foot paw.

“Well… where I'm from you typically move out on your own when you become an adult, but your family can move when you're a kid. It happens sometimes. From there you find the place you want to be, but it can change every couple of years."

“Every couple of years? Is that why you travel to see the world, because you are stuck in one place for so long?" Rishi asked.

“That could be a reason." I found it funny. “But some people travel a lot for their livelihoods. I wanted to see interesting parts of the world." I finished rubbing her foot paw and set it down.

“Thank you. That felt very nice." Her foxy smile felt much more personable. Rishi sat up with a relaxed pose and pulled her legs in.

“It's the least I can do for your hospitality." I glanced around her little tent.

“What is that book you are carrying for?" She pointed at the journal beside my backpack and robe.

“Oh, I write down my travels; where I've been, the people I have met, and everything like that. It is all about fire fennecs like you. I also draw people and places that I find interesting or beautiful."

“You can draw?" She looked at me with surprise. “Can you show me?"

“Yeah, I can show you." I got up and handed her my journal. “I love sketching since it captured a moment personally rather than creating a picture, and a lot of older books used to have them. I think they're beautiful." Rishi felt the leather cover before opening it.

'I wonder if she can read.' I watched her flip through the first pages until she found a sketch of a Tawadue house and a fully dressed leopardess. Her large ears perked up with interest as she thumbed through and found more recent sketches of fennecs.

“You have a talent for drawing." She admired the little doodles and poses that I had recently drawn.

“Thanks. Describing everything in writing is always good, but being able to draw explains things better than words. It's much better than my dancing." I made her laugh.

“But I can teach you to dance." She giggled. “I cannot draw."

“It takes a lot of practice. I even tried drawing you tonight." I showed her the most recent pages. “But it was getting dark, and it was tough to clearly see the pages."

“You did?" She looked back at the book with intrigue. Her eyes scanned each pose that I had tried to capture, albeit fairly quickly.

“They're only doodles, so-."

“I love them!" She exclaimed happily, even causing her tail to wag for a moment. “These are all of the moves I make when dancing: when I walk and toss a fireball into the air and leap to shoot flames down at the ground…" Rishi was captivated by each little sketch.

“Thanks, I'm glad you like them." I felt bashful about her praise over such simple drawings.

“Can you draw me now?" She asked with excitement in her eyes. It was difficult to turn down her request.

“Just a fast sketch like this?"

“Yes! Like the ones you made tonight, but with me sitting here." Rishi handed me my journal.

“What pose do you want me to draw?" I reached over and grabbed my pencil. I thoughtful expression emerged on her face only for an idea to form. The fennec leaned back slightly and posed with and arm resting on the cushion. She tucked one leg in for modesty and looked at the tent's entrance.

“How's this?" Her eye looked at towards me and winked alluringly. Her naked front was in full view, but with an aesthetic beauty of her femininity. She was naked and bare like the untamed nature that her people endured and thrived in.

“I like it!" I was quick to speak and readied my pencil. “Can you stay like that for a few minutes?"

“Yes." She nodded and kept her gaze fixated. I started drawing with a steady hand, aiming to impress her.

'I wish I had brought a camera.' I couldn't help but think to myself. Even though I loved sketching, I secretly wished I had brought a nice camera to capture a moment like this. Rishi was very beautiful and how many more chances would I have an opportunity like this? I drew her large ears, content gaze, and relaxed body with just enough detail. Her fluffy tail, subtle roundness of her belly, and slim arms came next. I lingered on her chest and legs before finally finishing.

“Here. How do you like this?" I cracked my knuckles and revealed the sketch to her. The fennec hopped onto all fours and peered at the page with curious round eyes.

“Aww. I love it!" She admired the simple pencil work.

“Thanks. You look very beautiful."

“Thank you." Her large ears briefly fell back from the compliment. It was hard not to call a woman beautiful when she was completely naked in front of me, especially when she was on all fours letting her breasts naturally hang within plain sight.

“Did you want to keep it?" I offered.

“Oh! Yes, but…" She looked around her tent for a moment in thought. “Can you hold onto it for now? I don't want to lose it."

“Sure, I can do that." I obliged and stood up. I returned my journal to my backpack. However, once I turned around, the fennec vixen was kneeling before me with a wry smile across her short cream furred muzzle. The amorous look in her dark brown eyes took my breath away.

“R-Rishi." I froze as her hands rested on my legs. She gave a firm tug to my trousers, pulling them down to my thighs. I didn't stop her and she only hesitated to glance up at me with a knowing look in her eyes. Apparently it was something that we both wanted. I relented and held my breath as she more delicately pulled them down below my knees, letting them pool around my ankles. Part of my mind still did not believe what was happening. Was I still watching the fire dance? Had I fallen asleep?

Rishi didn't say anything, not that she needed to. The vixen was gentle as she drew her hands up my legs. The warmth from her palms made my muscles shudder in anticipation. She gently held me just below the hips, and blew a hot breath over my naked groin. I tensed and instinctively grabbed her large ears.

“Careful with my ears." She gave me a brief frown.

“Sorry." I placed my hands on her shoulders instead. She opened her mouth and a different hotter sensation blew over my groin.

'Steam?!' My eyes widened at the visible breath leaving her mouth. Goosebumps immediately formed on my arms as the air felt cold by comparison. It shouldn't have come as a surprise that a fennec could raise their own body temperature, but feeling it so directly was almost surreal.

“Is this going to burn?" I had a sudden fear that she could scald me with her own saliva! She did her best to hold back a laugh, but couldn't help herself.

“No! I won't burn you." She giggled and kept a warm smile across her face. “Just relax."

“Okay…"

“Thank you." Her focus lowered once again. A soft kiss from her fuzzy lips alone stirred my arousal awake. I could feel every hot breath from each exhale, bathing my skin with delightful warmth. Her tongue slipped past her lips and slowly swept up my flaccid length from tip to base, only to repeat. The heat gave a sensation as if the vixen had created a fireball with her tongue to lick with. My heart thudded pleasurably as desire pulsed through my veins. I sighed and my length quickly grew until I was throbbing hard with my tip pointing directly at her face.

“Much better." Rishi admired her handiwork and moved one hand to gently grip me at the base. The warmth from her hand alone spread to my surrounding skin. She tilted her head slightly and licked just under my tip with the casualness of licking an ice cream cone. I grunted as my length jumped from the simple touch. Her hand gave a few warm stroke before she returned to licking my length with devilish steadiness. My eyes rolled up and my legs tensed.

“Stand still." She mumbled between a lick, but her words only fueled my arousal.

“Ungh!" I suppressed a moan only to feel her stop. I caught my breath only to look down and hold it all over again. The fennec vixen opened her mouth causing steam to escape as she enveloped my entire length. The wet heat was indescribable, but more pleasurable than anything I had felt in my entire life.

“C-Care-."

“Mmhm." She knew what I was going to say and hummed. I shuddered from the subtle vibration, and her teeth gave a very gentle nibble to remind me not to pull out. My heart was lodged within my throat at the sight and sensations I was processing. Her beautiful dark eyes looked up at me a final time before closing. Rishi started slowly bobbing her head back and forth.

“Ohh God!" My breaths came quickly as her ravenous tongue slurped and swirled around my entire length sealed inside her furnace hot maw. Staying still for her nearly drove me insane. The sudden wave of intense pleasure was relentless. My member throbbed and jerked constantly under the care of her heat and slick tongue bathing every inch of my sensitive skin. My heart thundered within my chest and my breath came quick as I neared a climax. It could've lasted only seconds, but it might as well been an hour. I silently cried out as I spilled my seed into her open mouth, and she coaxed every drop out until she gave one final sticky lick.

Rishi opened her mouth and a large waft of steam escaped her mouth. She backed away from my feebly twitching wet length. The cooler air barely chilled my nerves.

“Uhhhhgh." I meekly spoke. My entire body was trembling from the raw intensity. Still kneeling before me, Rishi was as calm and composed as when she danced with fire in her hands.

“Mmm. A little warmth on the palette." She hummed and less than gracefully licked her lips with a flicking tongue that had my heart threatening to leap out of my throat again. I started feeling lightheaded, and sat down with an exasperated sigh. Rishi wiped her mouth with a cloth before sitting beside me.

“You're quiet." She softly noticed.

“Heh… I was already tired." I breathed. “I'm exhausted now." She found my choice of words humorous.

“It is late." She noted the darkness outside. “We can lay down if you'd like."

“Yeah, I'd like that." I kicked off my pants and shuffled over to the folded sheets. The thought of laying down in a bed sounded heavenly enough. I relaxed only to feel how tired I had become. My muscles were sore from walking across the desert with the tribe for the past two days; I participated in a fire dance, and now Rishi had drained my remaining energy. The fennec laid down and snuggled up to me. I was greeted with soft fur and a lovely radiating heat.

“Your body is so warm." I found her touch irresistible and placed my hand over hers.

“Fennecs are never cold." She reminded me. I nodded in agreement and soon found myself petting her large ears with a gentle hand. My eyes began to close only to feel her stir beside me.

“Let me blow out the light fir-." She paused and perked up her ears. I lifted my head in the direction of her gaze.

“Nusartu?!" I was shocked to see the elder fennec peering inside the tent, but the look on his face was hardly surprised. He was still wearing the loincloth from dancing, and carried a ball of fire in his palm to see in the dark.

“Don't tire yourselves out all night. Remember," he calmly told us, “we are packing up before noon tomorrow."

“Uhh… Oh yeah, the oasis." I had nearly forgotten, and felt a light blush on my cheeks.

“Don't worry." Rishi reassured the elder. “We will wake up in the morning and be ready to help."

“Thank you." He offered a kind grin in return. “You two… sleep well." He chose his words carefully before bowing out. I sighed and lowered my head once again. Rishi looked at me with a grin and swished her tail. She blew out the lantern descending the tent into darkness. However, the faint lights of fire flickered in the distance. The vixen returned to my side and laid down with me.

“Don't wake me up. I want to sleep like this as long as I can." I placed my arm around her.

“I won't." She promised as I fell asleep, wondering if the oasis visit would be the start of a much longer journey across the vast mysterious deserts.

End.