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Chapter 1: Old Friends

Fumus city was mostly quiet as steam flowed out of pipes; small rats and other pests inhabited the streets. The houses lay quiet in the darkness; the city, residing in an underground cavern that spanned for thousands of miles, was pitch black save the stray flashlights of the wandering guards. Lights above the city lights made high pitch whines as they slowly started to turn on, and after a time the residential doors throughout began to open as the inhabitants of the city awoke and started towards their workplaces.

Lights poured from house windows while vendors set to the streets with their wares, starting to pitch up their stations. A gray fox whose eyes twinkle with mischievous intent as he tries to pawn his wares off to the next unsuspecting fur, a badger whose size can intimidate those who pass by into buying his fruits, a gecko proudly displaying his selection of fish fresh from the nearby underground river. Voices ringing with merriment call out from the theatre as actors finish setting the stage for their morning performance. Steam obscures the top of the theatre and other high-rise buildings with luminescent signs beaming company names and advertisements through the less dense portions.

As the city started to come alive a call of a guard rings out as he chases a thief, an artic wolf by the name of Nathaniel dressed in the customary red of their king's guard chased after a red fox. "Latro! Get back here, you know well that you shouldn't be stealing!"

Latro grinned back at the police officer with a sly smile on his face, "Oh Nate you know that stealing is so much fun, especially when I can mess with you." The fox jumped up onto a vendor's stall and then bounced up onto the roof of a house, the fox balanced on the edge of the building and grinned down at the wolf. "Nate, you know going to that guard school changed you."

Nathanial snarled at the fox, "You know damn well that I finally grew up, you should do the same, Latro!" The fox chuckled and turned around and flicked his tail tauntingly before walking off, Nathanial sighed and put his paw to his head. "For once, Latro... can't you just listen to me?"

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Latro hopped from roof to roof eating the meat that he had stolen from a vendor, his teeth ripping apart the cooked meat. The thief had stolen from the same vendor for the last three weeks, at first the vendor had been alright with the odd snatching of his food but now he was infuriated with Latro. Latro had easily avoided the guards that had been sent at him at first but was surprised when he had run into Nathanial, his old friend had left a few months prior.

Latro closed his eyes as he sat down on a pipe which ran hot with steam but the fox's thick clothing kept him protected from the heat, "Damn it Nate... how could you let yourself become one of those damned guards?..."

A voice shocked him, "Easily, I decided to grow up, Latro. You know if you continue being a thief you're going to be thrown in prison, right?" Latro sighed as Nathanial sat down next to him, the wolf held his paw out and Latro ripped off a piece of meat and put it into his friend's paw. Nathanial took a bite of the meat and sighed as steam blew past them, "Technically I'm supposed to be dragging you off to prison right now, but I guess I'll make an exception for now..."

Latro chuckled, "Nate, you may have taught me how to be a good thief, but you could never catch me." Nathanial laughed but said nothing, the steam of the city coalesced above the pair as it traveled high into the air and disappeared as it went high into the sky. The pair was silent as they sat above the bustling city, "So Nate... did you want to go with the guards?"

Nathanial grimaced, "Not at all, believe me Latro I put up more of a fight than any other person, but they caught me after an hour. I was pushed into a trolley and was sent to guard school."

Latro was quiet for a few minutes as they watched a car drive by, spewing out steam, "So how long did it take for them to break you?"

Nothing was said for a few minutes before Nathanial started to laugh, "Who said anything about them breaking me? Latro they never broke me, do you honestly think they could break the iron willed wolf of Fumus City?"

Latro looked at his friend with surprise, "So is this whole guard thing an act then?..."

Nathanial looked out at the city with a somber look on his face, "No... I really am a guard Latro, I have the certifications and everything." Latro looked at his friend for a moment before standing up, his whiskers twitching in silence. Nathanial stood up and pulled off his guard hat revealing messy hair, "Latro, you need to be much more careful from now on. Next time I come after you I'll have to put you in jail, do you understand?"

Latro turned and started to walk towards the edge of the building, "Latro!" The fox froze and turned around to face the wolf who had a concerned look on his face, "Latro, don't steal anything big. You know that the royals will have your ugly mug on every wall faster than you can blink if you steal anything too big."

The fox turned around and stood at the edge of the building, "Nate, I've always followed your rules. Why should I stop now?" He grinned at his friend who smiled in return, "Now if you'll excuse me Nate, I have this ugly ass guard following me."

Nathanial couldn't help but burst out laughing as his friend jumped onto another roof and took off running.

Chapter 2:

Quae looked at the vial as he swished the liquid inside around; the amber colored liquid seemed to gain a fiber like consistency to it as he turned it. His eyes slitted as he turned the vial to the light, "Perfect... the fibers will soon be ready to be tested..."

As the snake slithered around his lab he smiled as he poured the contents of the vial into his hand revealing the liquid having turned into long fine golden fiber, Quae started to thread the golden fibers into a loom and carefully started to patch together a golden mat. His hands slowly weaving through the strands to bring them into a square piece of fabric, "The last one is finished... Archie!"

A banging noise from the back of the laboratory and an accompanying yip of pain signaled Archie's approach, "W... what is it Quae?" A grease covered coyote approached the snake holding his head.

Quae looked at the coyote with a grin on his face before looking confused at Archie's pained face, "Is something wrong Archie?"

Archie growled in irritation, "Quae, you do know that I was taking a nap under the pipes?" Quae perked his lips innocently, Archie sighed as he finished rubbing his head. "Anyway... what's so important that you have to wake me up?"

Quae turned around grinning showing off the golden mat; Archie gasped and walked up to the scientist carefully taking the mat into his paws. "This... this is the last one..." Quae nodded not saying anything, Archie grinned showing off his canine teeth. "I'll put this in right now!"

The coyote ran off to a sheet covered object. As he slipped off the cover Quae smiled as he looked at their creation, "It's almost done..."

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Nicholas sighed as he walked into the guard building, all around the building it was a bustle of activity as guards ran around getting documents to one another and putting prisoners and cells. As he walked towards the back room he stiffened up as an arm slid over his shoulder, sighing heavily Nicholas looked over to find himself looking at the face of his "friend" Rarus a rather sleazy looking tiger. "So how did your first day of guard duty go buddy?"

Nicholas shrugged off the tiger's arm, "It went fine I'll have you know Rarus, thanks for your concern though."

The tiger feigned a hurt look, "You make it sound like I don't care Nick, don't you remember those great days in guard school?"

As the pair approached the back room Nicholas shot the tiger a dirty look, "I remember you making fun of me in my "dorky" clothes."

The pair walked into the break room of the guard building, Nicholas attempted to get away from Rarus but found that he couldn't easily give the tiger the slip. Rarus walked right behind him and continued to talk, "But that was when you were still a dirty thief Nicky boy, now you're just like the rest of us. A law abiding guard, infallible, loyal, and above all a servant to the king."

A growl escaped Nicholas's lips as he turned around and grabbed Rarus by his collar, "First of all, don't you dare call me Nick! I only allow my friends to call me that, second of all don't you dare throw the guard schpeal at me, I heard it way too much when I was going to guard camp and I don't need you telling it to me now!"

The room had gone quiet as the wolf had picked up Rarus, there was silence for a few moments as the tiger's eyes flashed with anger before a grin slipped over his features once more. "I'm sorry Nicholas, don't you worry. It'll never happen again..."

Nicholas threw the tiger to the floor, "See that it doesn't Rarus..." He turned and quietly walked to the edge of the room and sat in a chair, as the wolf simmered there some of Rarus's lackeys helped him from the floor. Steam poured out of a small stove as it cooked some food, conversations slowly started back up as Rarus walked out of the room. Nicholas sighed as he leaned back in his chair, he watched out the window as a dirigible flew by spewing out smoke.

A hand appeared in his vision as it pulled down a shade, blocking the outside world. Nicholas blinked as he set his front chair legs back on the ground to find himself looking at the familiar angry face of the trainer of the trainee guard division, "Nicholas!" The Rottweiler barked in his face, Nicholas coughed a few times as the smell of raw meat flowed into his nostrils.

"W... what is it Infestu?" Nicholas stuttered as he stood up, even though he was no longer a trainee the Rottweiler could still scare him shitless.

The trainer poked him hard in his chest, "You were seen today with Latro Momenti, you know damn well that anyone who finds that fox is to bring him in!" Nicholas started to open his muzzle but grunted in pain as Infestu shoved his finger into his chest once more, "Especially since you're his friend, you know that if he doesn't become a guard before he turns twenty that we'll be forced to have him executed!"

Nicholas clenched his fists tight and nodded, "I know that sir..."

Infestu grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him in close breathing heavily into the wolf's face, "Apparently you don't Nicholas! Not only will he be executed but you will be thrown out of the guards and executed with him, such is the promise that you made to the council! Is it not?"

The wolf bit his lip, "Yes sir..." Infestu held him for moment breathing heavily before heaving the wolf over to the stove with its surface burning hot from the hot steam burning underneath it; Nicholas gasped in horror and pain as Infestu grabbed his hand and shoved it on the hot surface. "Owwwwwww!"

Infestu's face was grim as Nicholas howled in pain, the wolf howled for a few minutes before the Rottweiler let him go and dropped him to the ground, whimpering as he licked his hand. The other guards in the room were gaping in horror at Infestu who stared the wolf coldly, "That was nothing compared to the pain of death Nicholas, if you don't shape up and catch your old friend you will feel pain greater than any other!" The Rottweiler adjusted his own hat on his head and turned to walk out the door, all of the guards gathered around the collapsed form of Nicholas who went unconscious from the sheer pain of having his paw burned.

Rarus grinned as he stood by the door, "Serves him right..." He stood from the wall and walked back through the busy building to the doors.

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Latro hopped into the steam filled alley, a grin adorned his muzzle as his tail flicked playfully as he walked to the back of the alley and knocked on the brick wall. For a moment there was no answer, Latro turned his head to peer down the alley to make sure no one was following him, per regulation.

As the bricks slid open he turned grinning to face the usual face of his friend but gasped in terror as he realized that it was the face of the king's personal guard, "What the fu...?!" But before he could finish his shout he found a damp cloth being held to his muzzle and his eyes fluttered as he passed out.

The rhino smiled as the fox fell into his arms, "Alright... now to bring you to the king." The rhino hoisted the small fox over his shoulder with no effort and walked out of the room leaving behind a group of unconscious thieves.

Chapter 3:

Latro choked and sputtered as he was pulled out of the ice cold barrel of water, the rhino threw him to the ground sputtering. "Dry yourself off; I'm going to tell his majesty that you're here." Latro shivered as cold water rolled down his pelt, servants rushed around him cleaning up the water as the rhino knocked on a fancily adorned door.

The fox shook his pelt spraying water over the nearby servants who shot him dirty glances, "F... fuck... what is this all about?" Latro stood up and looked around, the room that he stood in obviously was the royal palace. "What's going on here...?" He muttered as he glanced around, the carpet underneath him being stained by the water running off of the fox.

"Welcome Latro Momenti, to my humble abode." Latro froze up as a voice carrying a magnitude unlike any other he'd ever heard before rang throughout the hall, the thief turned to see king Lividus, a noble looking falcon slowly walking down the stairs dressed in royal gown.

Latro turned towards the king with a nervous gleam in his eyes, "What do you want with me?" He asked impetuously as his tail flicked behind him nervously, Latro fought desperately with control over his ears so they would not bend back in submission.

The king smiled kindly and gestured as he spoke, "Before we get to what I want from you, what would you like from me? Food, drink, I could offer you a fine wine..."

The fox snarled at the king, "I don't want anything from you! Let me out right now, I have a family to get back to!"

The king closed his eyes as his claws touched the ground floor, "Why my dear fox, I would like nothing more than to get you back to your family... safely." The threat hung in the air for a moment before the king continued, "Seeing as you don't need anything I'm thinking we should get down to business, please follow me Latro."

The fox turned to run towards the entrance of the castle but was stopped by the king's guard, the rhino dwarfed him by a few feet. "Where are you going thief?" The rhino asked in a deep base, Latro narrowed his eyes and turned around slowly and started to follow the king.

King Lividus was quiet as he walked in front of Latro, the thief observed his surroundings as they walked to who knows where. The hallway they walked down was adorned with fancy chandeliers and tapestries adorned with descriptions of the royal family's lineage, on the opposite spectrum there were also well kept steam pipes running up and down the hall's walls. Latro glanced at the king once more, "Why do you need me here?"

Lividus was silent for a moment as they passed by a servant who bowed respectfully to him, "I need you to obtain something very special for me."

They rounded a corner and Latro could see that they were heading towards a single door at the end of the hall, "Why do you need me to obtain this, couldn't you just do it yourself? I mean you are the king of the kingdom."

As they reached the door, Lividus set his hand on the doorknob and turned around letting Latro get a glance of his eyes which seemed to glow with a dangerous light. "This is something that only somebody of your stature could obtain; I wouldn't want to dirty my hands by taking from one of my loyal subjects." The king then turned the doorknob to reveal a greenhouse full of trees; Latro gaped as he saw rows and rows of trees heading back for miles. "Welcome to the kingdom's tree farm, this is what supplies the kingdom with air."

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Nicholas gingerly held his bandaged paw away from his body as he walked down the sidewalk of the town, cars rushed by him spewing out steam which carried high into the air. "Damn you Infestu..." The wolf bumped into a coyote who looked excited, "Oh... I'm sorry sir."

The coyote grinned at him, "It's no problem, it's my fault for running. Have a great day!" As the coyote ran away from him Nicholas realized that the coyote was covered in grease.

"Well... that was odd... I wonder what he's in a rush about..." Nicholas blinked a few times before turning back to walking down the sidewalk, as he passed by an alley he froze as he realized where he was. His gaze turned to the alley to see that it was where he had lived with Latro, "Latro..." The wolf stood at the entrance of the alley for a few minutes thinking about what he should do, after being nearly run over by an extremely impatient bear he decided to walk down the alley.

As Nicholas walked towards the wall at the back of the alley he clenched and unclenched his hand nervously, "What will they do when they see me...?" HE looked at himself to look at his civilian clothes, even the quality of his casual wear set him apart from his old friends. After standing at the wall for a few minutes he finally gave in and knocked on the wall, he waited for five minutes in front of the wall and started to think that he had went into the wrong alley.

Nicholas frowned as he realized that no one must be in, the wolf glanced around and walked to the side of the alley and felt around the bricks in the wall until he found one that slid in. As the brick slid into the wall the secret door opened up, the guard took a deep breath as he stepped into the thieves home and gasped as he saw all of his old friends unconscious on the floor, "What happened here?!"

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Archie grinned as he ran away from the wolf, he was on his way to grabbing the last component for his machine. He had ordered the part weeks in advance just to make sure that it would be ready for when they finished the main parts, the coyote's whiskers were twitching madly in excitement as he slammed a door open. The store owner, a mole, jumped at the sudden sound. Archie grinned at the owner, "Nathaniel, is it ready?!"

Nathaniel pulled a handkerchief out of his shirt pocket and wiped his forehead, "Yes it's finished, though I really wish you would come into my store quietly for once Archie. You know how much I hate people slamming my door open like that." Archie smiled apologetically at the mole and drew up to the counter setting his hands on the counter, the mole looked at the coyote's hands with minor disgust. "Archie do you have grease on your hands?"

Archie gasped as he looked at his paws and realized that they were covered in a thick coating of black grease, "Oh! Sorry Nathaniel, I'll fix this right away." The coyote wiped his hands off on his overalls and grinned at the mole as he showed him his newly cleaned off paws, Nathaniel sighed rolling his eyes before pulling a small box out of a drawer in the counter. Archie smiled as the box was set in his hand, "Thank you so much Nathaniel, you have no idea how much this means to me and Quae."

Nathaniel sighed deeply, "I'll have you know that gold isn't easy to work with Archie, I just barely finished making that yesterday. If I had known how complicated this little piece was I would've charged you more, now get out of here."

Archie chuckled as he shoved the box in his overalls pocket, "Thank you again Nathaniel, I'll see you later." The mole waved over his shoulder as Archie sprinted out of his store, the coyote roared with delight as he sprinted past the inhabitants of the town. "I'm on my way Quae, we're finishing up the machine today!"