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I woke to the same furred female laying upon my chest with the same long tail haloed around me as i had for the past week. The only difference lying in that under me instead of the cold hard, slightly lumpy ground was a rather nice bed.

We had turned in early almost right after supper being tired by the travels of the past week and more and me more so for having to deal with a troublesome girl like Veira. Yet the streaks of morning light started to creep in the room from behind the shutters, making bands of light across the floor. I never bothered making a fire last night since summer was almost upon us and temperatures were rising every day. Yet I wished that I had one going to warm the room this morning. On the road I always wanted to get up quickly and get Veira off me, yet now in bed with a heavier blanket over us the warmth was just so enticing that I was sluggish about getting up as I had been for most my life. And in truth there was little to be done for now, until breakfast came knocking.

I had decided last night to head further east towards the fire worshiper's land on the border a day or so inside the Wilds area proper. There was a rather large trading town there the name escapes me but the path east beyond the turn off to Joliam there was not another town before it it was again a bit longer than a week's travel on foot. But since Veira show'd she can keep up with me in a rather pathless journey here I'm sure we can make average time to that town on the road. I just must check with the innkeeper about the conditions there and then again with Vicktoria before I set off but. I noticed that she had a rather large collections of silk rolls in her home, which she undoubtedly received as payment of some sort. Now being that this town is the first stop out of the silk producing lands around Joliam the price that silk would normally fetch here should be small compared to another week or greater journey elsewhere. Compound that now with this being a place where broken wagons, limped into or were waylaid form weather and forced to sell good to get back on track and the prices would be lower still from there being an abundance. Best still would be that the residents of this village would have little need of such luxury threads so that those received in lieu of coin payment would just sit around as apparently is the case for Vicktoria I should be able to get a price as low or perhaps even lower than if I was to buy a spool in Joliam. I could likely make a gold or two profit just by taking what I could reasonably carry from here to the next town.

I noticed as I was thinking these things that Veira's breathing had changed and that she was awake but not moving. 'I'm awake Veira No need to stay still on my account."

"Yet you are were doing the same for me to let me sleep a moment longer."

"No actually, I'm just enjoying laying down on a bed for it is the last one I will see for a week or so and besides until the food arrives I have nothing to do." of course I would not tell her that I enjoyed the warmth and softness of her fur nor that I was becoming accustomed to her weight against me as we slept. No doing so would encourage her further.

"Ah, so you like the feel of my fur upon you now, or the warmth that my coat provides and covers you with then. I shall have you return the favor then and help me to warm up further Tal'keelis." She said perhaps too astutely as she took hold of my hand and drew it near her sex.

"Oh, hmm, you're right. I should." I slid out from under her and out of bed much to her surprise. I struck a match and set it to the hearth intending to have a bit of fire that I was thinking about while I waited for breakfast.

"Ah! Tal, that is most certainly not what I had envisioned." Veira said surprised at my action.

"But you wanted warmth right? And behold here is a fire to warm you just as you wanted. Now I also might suggest you cover up to keep the little heat that your thin body produces trapped close to you."

"Tal, I can understand you would not know this but the fur I have is for very much such a reason as that."

"Oh is that so? Then I should wonder as to why you are cold at all since I seem to remember making sure you were clothed last night before bed, so you should have be doubly warm."

"If I am cold it is because my body seems to have need to match your countenance towards me."

"Haha, If that's the reason that you may find yourself cold forever. I should perhaps see about a wool jacket for you then, for right now I should be able to get a good price on one left from this past winter.Perhaps a brown wool one to match your fur."

"It could hardly be said that brown is the color of my fur or would match it in any such way. As a cloth merchant I should think you would know these things." This little play with her was a nice escape for me at least of the mindless doll I had following me or the demanding feisty girl she was trying to be last night. Perhaps she's still about the same mask as it was last night, just not longer angry since I of course never went to call upon the Gre'nahk serving girl.

She didn't have a chance to respond to me as a knock was at the door announced that breakfast had arrived. Veira immediately went into a scowl on her face as much as she can manage at least. But it was actually the innkeeper at the door and not Elis so her scowl was wasted and she quickly went about having a more pleasant look on her face.

"Here ya are he said as he sat down a platter that had two bowls of porridge as well as a loaf of bread from last night and a few slices of ham to go with it as well as some milk it seems. A good meal for the beginning of a journey to be sure.

"You two be heading out after the meal or a bit later. " The man asked trying to know when to get the key back from us and the tip I'd wager as well.

"No not right away, I have to pick up supplies from Vicktoria and then rearrange them before we can be off so in two hours or so I'd guess." I made sure to say her name a bit louder for emphasis that I wasn't appreciative of his little joke from yesterday and the innkeeper picked up on it with a smile.

"Oh yes, yes I forget that she's a woman sometimes. I think its the kick the door open and off its hinges when i'm drunk aspect of her that makes me do that." He said jovially. "But thats fine by me just don't be skipping out of town before you return the key I don't like having to have new ones made by that girl."

"No worries, I'll be leaving my thing here while I fetch the new supplies. By the way I was meaning to ask is there any news from the east I was thinking of perhaps heading to the fire worshipers lands and then perhaps south till the coast."

"Hmm naught out of the ordinary from anyone that's come from that way recently by means of Terrace. Beyond that can't really say the flame priests do their thing wage'n a bit of war to the south like they do every summer it seems, yet they never manage to get a hold over those smaller kingdoms there, they all have backing from the Hawk ya know. They stop the Fire from advancing and that keeps the Hawk happy cuse they don't like those people at all, or more its ta Breck and Unbridled that make up a good chunk of their armies that the Hawk doesn't like. So I'd wait till fall to head south or ya might get caught up by a war party other than that there's no problems between them and us Wilders. We've been at peace for as long as I can remember and I don't see why that would change. It would be right boring ta have to stand guard in them parts. With Teal and Rugesh, and Ah'komeli clans all along the border its not like they can just move on in it'll be a real war with little places to stage from, won't be good for their kind, plus they seem a bit afraid of these lands for some reason."

"Is that so, I can't help but think that with saying those things right off the cuff like that, that you might have been involved with a militia from terrace or some other town on the border then.

"Ha perhaps I was, makes no difference now past is past, just look ahead and I better get to the other travelers lest they get a bit feisty with me being late with their breakfast." He said as he left us to go about our own business and him to his

I was feeling refreshed and eager to get out of the area where my name could be recognized. Since Veira looked like she would have another little tiff like last night, I had her come along to see the giant blue woman.

Vicktoria was of course already up and about by this time. She had her stand open and ready hoping to catch the other travelers for last minute supplies as they headed out of town or perhaps just waiting for others to come buy and pick theirs up as I was doing. Either way she greeted me from a distance with a wave. We exchanged pleasantries and 'good mornings' when we reached her stand.

"Right here is whatcha wanted, down to the last bit perfect for whatcha needed. And this here be the knapsack I have for this one then it seems." She said as she handed the knapsack to Veira who was a bit scared of Vicktoria it seemed for she wasn't standing tall but rather more of hiding behind me eyes glued upon the giant before us. "Come on little one I'm not gonna eat ya, I'd eat the human first, no fur easier on ta belly. She said with a smile which despite its row of large razor sharp teeth failed to convince Veira that she was harmless for some reason.

But she counted out everything for us to see then set it all inside the knapsack where it all just fit. Which means that the extra space in my pack is in fact available to attempt to pick up some silk with. "Say Vicktoria, I noticed that you seem to have a rather large supply of silks in your house, seems to me to be a bit strange seeing how you deal in selling supplies and such things to travelers and merchants." The moment I mentioned it I knew I was right about how she came to get them. She immediately took a greater interest in me and assumingly my coin purse.

"Yeah them rags, every so oft I get them miserable lots who can't pay coin after I fetch all their needs an they offer me that an I take it cuse its too much work to put the things back away, then I never can get rid of em cept once a year maybe when I go ta Greatwood for ma blacksmithin things before winter. Last year I had to pay back a friend and haul some things fer him so I didn't take the silks at all. You interested then?"

"All depends on the quality and price but I wouldn't mind taking what I can carry with me till the next town or so."

"Hmm, would rather have coin now and if I shake ya i'll bet ya'll jingle with coins so have a look. But don't ya trying to get too friendly with em cuse I know prices too much talk ta too many silk merchants not too.

"Of course, and these are also all a year old as well so you know that affects the price right from the start."

"Merchants, all coin too many pockets, and too much words" She said as she waved her hand dismissively as she brought a dozen or so spools and twice that many folded half spools.

They were all of average quality and up nothing cheap at all here, but nothing really rare or exceptional quality either. I guess the cats of Joliam know which ones to hang onto in a pinch, the cheap ones that can sell quick to most folk or pass off as better quality to the unknowledgeable and the best of the wares which always has a market for the comely women wishing to outdo each other.

I picked out a few of the more choice designs from the folded spools which seemed to be the better of the lot. Taking the silks that were red, yellow and orange, colors of the flame that were favored greatly by the fire worshipers. Despite her saying that she let them go far too cheaply she seemed more than welcomed to sell them to me

We then set back to the inn briefly to pack the silk away as well as pay what I promised to the inn keep before heading out. I intend to turn a small profit with the silk to at least make up for the supplies. So it was with full packs that we set out from Split-Rock Falls.

The road was well traveled at this point, being well worn by the feet of people and beasts coming and going to Joliam. Yet that well worn path swiftly turned to the south and up the Durus mountains, while we continued due east towards Terrance. The path became slightly overgrown with grass and weeds while yet being well marked and kept clear enough of larger and deeper vegetation that Desova often used to reclaim the roads for itself.

"Ah, Tal what are we to do once we arrive in the next town? Terrace the innkeeper said it was correct.'

"Look for someone to take you off my hands of course Veira."

"And how shall you go about that, if Split-Rock Falls could not have a place acceptable for me how shall this next place."

"Well at the worst since this is close to the border there will likely be some slavers there, you should fetch 25 or 30 gold I would say. That kind of money would greatly help me set up some where. At best Terrace is a small town and should have more opportunities for work for someone unskilled at everything like you."

"I am most certainly not unskilled in everything Tal, and you would not give me to slavers as that violates your conscious."

"Mmm perhaps, but if worse comes to worse it is a possibility I must consider as having you around violates my conscious enough as it is. So I guess then I would be break even on the whole ordeal of having you"

"You are indeed a cruel man Tal. I am yet skilled at many things yet you refuse to let me make them known unto you."

"Oh? and what are those? These sexual things you seem to think you are so adept at for having witnessed them in your 'training'. If you indeed had skill in those areas then perhaps you would have found a way to get me to consent to bedding you. However you seemed to have failed in that regard many times already.

"I can hardly be put to blame for your strange and unconventional sexual intrigues."

"Intrigues? Ha, I don't think that is quite the word you were looking for. Besides you're really only interested for two reasons. 1. You somehow think that if you can bed me that I will decide to keep you, which of course is false. 2. You're in heat and not thinking with your head. I've noticed how you did not try anything sexual the first night together but these last few days you have been quite antsy."

"Ah, how did you?..... No you cannot smell it yet. No, that is not correct regardless. I am only at the beginning of my cycle it does not affect me as such yet. I did not attempt to engage you much the first night for I divined that you were just nervous about having me. I did not fathom that you would actually abandon me. Yet I can thank the spirits for guiding me back to you so that I may amend my earlier ineptitude, and yet have you as my husband."

"That's still your goal huh? Good luck with that fuzzbutt. It doesn't matter which mask you try to wear around me, they are all false and while some may be preferable to others, none of them will make me want to be with you."

"Tal'keelis, you do not understand of which you speak I am myself as you wish me to be yet you show no change in demeanor. I should think that you do not understand what it is that you wish for.

"Is that so Veira? I think it would be funny then to know why you suddenly changed your attitude completely after Elis visited you in the room. Did she tell you to be more forward with me? Or was it that you should emulate another that yo believe taht I like? I can see in your actions bits of Karen who you do not know aside from a brief if not amusing encounter. It was the same as night and day like snuffing out a candle, like putting on a new mask, and your personality changes. This is exactly what my father and your grandfather said you would do. It is what you were trained to do. Isn't that right Veira? You were trained to do this to learn what pleases me and to then become it. But I am not helping you with your task and you are hopelessly shooting arrows praying that one fo them will find its mark. Yet they have not and the time you have to find that mark is not dwindling as you may think it is Veira. It simply never was, even if you make yourself exactly as I would want my wife to be you can never be it. Because at its core it would be nothing but a fake empty mask that I would be wed to. How can i respect one who would willingly wear the mask of another instead of showing their own face. Is it such a hard thing to do Veira? Cannot you not see that the reason why you can never please me lies not in your inability to match my desires but in your own inability to give voice to your own desire and to be yourself?"

"You say these things of masks again Tal, yet I do not understand."Veira looked at me with her green eyes that seemed to hope that I would not press further. I wonder about her when she gets defensive like this, when I speak of her being false, is it because she is trained so or does having to think about herself as a free minded person scare her?

"Liar, you understand full well. I may not like what you are Veira but I can recognize that you are not some dumb little thing. Your Grandfather is marvelously cunning as is your father if he would not let his emotions rule him so easy. Should I think that you are infinitesimally less than they?" I said to try and press something true out of her. In truth she really is quite intelligent, too much so to play her role I believe.

"I am nothing compared to them I am just a female of the Shifting Sands clan, attempting to do my small part and bring honor unto my ancestors." She said looking down with a distant expression

"Bullshit Veira, you've said the exact same line before. Tell me how many times were you told the that growing up? When did you start to actually believe it? You know that Elis ran away form the exact same thing that you went through, she was and is stronger than you for it." I pressed the attack, trying to see if I can get her to crack.

"That low breed would have fetched so small a price it could hardly be called a loss for her dreg of a clan to lose her. Yet you would call that strength." She spoke with obvious disdain for the female, not a part of that is fake I can be sure, and perhaps all of it is not.

"I call it only what it is Veira. You can call it determination, free will, resolve or courage if you like as well. If it were not for the fact that I was tired and not in the mood, I would of gladly given her a good lay while you waited in the room alone. She was pretty I think. Breasts on the small side I think her tail wasn't as nice as yours i'll give you that it truly is a fine one. But then she had that scar on her face, that was really sexy as well. It gives her character, something that you lack entirely Veira." I spoke with a smile, thinking of the first Gre'nahk serving girl that I have ever seen while making myself seem to be longing for her, baiting Veira to anger.

"Have you finished mocking me yet Tal'keelis? I understand I am not very good at my role, it was for that reason why I above my sisters was chosen to become a Human's wife. It was said that it should be easier to hide my deficiencies with a human than with a Gre'nahk. I am poor at my designs and understanding the minds of males and thus poor at being a mate." Her long, lush tail was flicking back and for and her ears were twitching a sure sign of annoyance with me.

"Well good admitting that is something I suppose. Are you sure you are supposed to say things like that while wearing a mask Veira? I might start to become suspicious that you are not as you seem to be if you keep this up." I smirked and dismissively waved my hand to get rid of her words.

"Tal'keelis you are an ass." She said as she balled his fists up and looked straight at me. Her rather cute little nose was scrunched up and she was scowling fiercely at me.

"Haha, good, good keep going, let you true emotions come out for a change. Tell me besides saying that I am cruel how much you hate me for what I put you through. How you detest your fate that I have altered from a life of submissive comfort to what will inevitably be a life of work and hardship. Tell me Veira, don't hold back we have plenty of time on this road for the next six days or so." I said as I tapped her on the nose a few times.

"You still misunderstand me Tal. I do not hate you and I shall never do so. I do not believe that it is possible for me at this point to do so even. You have still twice saved my life, and shown kindnesses to me when you had no obligation to do so. You have shared your bed with me against your determination to keep distant from me. You have sheltered, fed and clothed me this past week, when by your own words the vows you made to me were meaningless.

"Such a troublesome girl you are Veira. Oh well, I will find you a good person to take care of you in Terrace until you start to understand the world better." Yes this is much better than her acting the part of the doll. Much more entertaining, perchance it will make this trip a short one.

Despite giving it strong consideration, I again let Veira lay with me to sleep. Yesterday ended up being a bit more entertaining than i would like yet she really didn't do or say anything that got under my skin. We ended up making good time and covering more ground thatn I thought we would. Passing by the turn off to Joliam made me feel much more at ease as that road was one know for the ocassional bandit to set up camp beside. The one were were now comfortablly on, was used much more rarely making it less attractive to bandits hoping to make a living. Add to that the fact that caravans from the fire worshippers lands were usually armed and often very well armed makes me think It should be a rather uneventful journey

"Alright fuzzbutt off of me time to get moving. I would rather continue hard this morning so grab some way bread and fruit from the pack and lets be off quick." I said to the golden blanket that was flung over me. It seemed that she managed to keep her clothes on last night which was a welcome change for her usual.

"Ah, as you wish Tal." Veira said as she moved her tail away from me and with it the blanket of warmth that I secretly had enjoyed during the night.

Summer seemed to be coming on strong now soon the days would be hot indeed as would the nights and blankets and clothes would be little welcomed. It may be perhaps a bit early for it to stay as hot as it seemed this week would be, yet the signs all pointed to perhaps a rather burning summer. The kind which scorches crops, devourers the rain and makes all people and beasts below its rays sluggish and lazy. Farmer would break during midday, doing thier work around morn and eve. Merchants wold likewise shut up shop and wait out the midday heat before returning to ply their goods on the market. And of course the children would run and play regardless.

The tall trees seemed to thin a bit as we headed further east. Still tall and towering, reminding us ever that we were in a forest. They seemed to take notice of all who passed underneath their bows, letting none travel unnoticed.

"So Veira, still having that little spirited mask on today? What shall we argue about now?"

'Tal, I do not think that I wish to argue with you on any subject. It does leave me with a most disagreeable feeling afterwards."

"Ha, that is just because you lose Veira, if you win it would feed your ego a bit."

"And does winning an argument against one such as I seem to boost your ego Tal?"

"Oh, not particularly Veira, you are terrible at it to be sure. Yet it is something to pass the time and if I must take yo along I may as well try to get something positive out of it."

"So tell me this Veira, why does you clan treat its females so poorly? In all the Wilds i do not think there is another race which treats the opposite sex as poorly as yours does. Why is that."

"I should think that is a rather poor topic for conversation Tal."

"Is it now? Then what else do you suggest we should talk about."

"Tell me how I can earn you love."

"Haha, I don't think love is something that is really earned Veira, and besides if it is I think you are already past your chance at that if it is true. We are too different, you and I." I said picking up the pace making her strain a bit to keep pace with me as we walked.

"Tal, I have noticed that you are different as well from the other Humans which I meet in Green Briar. So how is it that we can be too different when we both are different from they?"

"I don't follow your logic Veira, if you can call it logic. I am a human they are humans we are all Wilders, what more is there to be different."

"Your face is different as is your fathers and that elder, Ma-sul as well. You three are not the same as them. Your names bear this out as well. Tell me, is it not so?"

"Oh that ha, yes you are right there my grandfather as well as a few others in Green Briar moved from the northwest coastal valleys of the Wilds. South of the Skypeaks from the homelands of the Vestige unto the coast. It was a lush farm area with plentiful rain, which was destroyed or mostly so, during what we called 'The night of fire'. Many of Skypeaks erupted and chocked out that land a few decades ago. I don't think any village or town there survived that. Even now there are only a few Wilders who make their home in that area for lava covers most of it in its hard black crust. But of course that does not make us any different from other humans, just a different clan if you will perhaps."

"Then you grandfather and my foremother would have lived in close to the same area."

"From what your grandfather said yes that is likely so, why does it matter?"

"I know that my great-grandmother bore many children to her mate there besides my grandfather. And I know that several of them took humans from those lands as their mates. Including which was a very successful merchant whose family name was Alos, Da-cass Alos. I was wondering if perhaps that was your grandfather?"

"And how would it be Veira? I am here and we cannot breed with any but other humans. I do not like where I think you are going with this Veira"

"Ah, but I asked my grandfather and he was sure of it not being so only very rarely happening. Additionally he was sure that the family name of Alos was very rare, that it was a young family name. He was sure that the man which took one of his sister to mate looked very much like your father."

"It was not him my grandmother was a human, there is no blood but human blood in my line. Yet what you say may be true for my grandfather was the second son. The first, the elder acquired everything of his parents when they suddenly died and tossed my grandfather out, where he had little choice but to became a poor farmer. He never associated again with his brother for that insult and he oft told me he believed that his brother had a hand in his parent's deaths."

"There is no need to be ashamed of these things Tal, if you are part Gre'nahk then what of it. Many of the Wilds are part of a different race, I am part Vestige and part Ah'komeli. My line has traces of both in them. I'm sure your grandfather was just ashamed of being poor and moving into a human town with a Gre'nahk wife that he changed his story and took a human wife which you assuredly thought of as your grandmother."

"Shut your mouth you presumatisable bitch. You know nothing of my grandfather or my grandmother even if she died before I was born I know the type of man my grandfather was and he would never be unfaithful to his HUMAN wife for any reason. Don't you think my father would not know if he was born to a Gre'nahk, that I would not know my own line? It is not a long proud one, my father made everything that he has because my grandfather set him up to be successful. There is no bastard Gre'nahk child in my line and if there was an Alos who took one I hope he died childless and alone if not burnt alive in the night of fire. For none of those other despicable men were of any aid to my grandfather."

"Ah, I am sorry Tal, but..."

"Sorry? Sorry for what speaking out of your ignorance? Like your slave owning grandfather would speak truth from behind his forked tongue."

"My family are most certainly not slavers Tal."

"Really? Then what do you call yourself, if not a slave. Even if they don't put you in shackles you and all your sisters are slaves. And what happens when the slave is of no more use them him then what Veira? What happens then? Then doesn't he strip them and use them for his own pleasure before throwing them away on the roadside."

"...Tal,....how could you say....."

"Say what exactly what happened? The truth? Your race is a bunch of slaving bastards like the Hawk and would sell everyone they know to curry favor."

"You say such things because you despise that your grandfather was a lazy peasant who displeased the spirits who in turn justly destroyed his homeland. Your own words said he was a lowbreed, a useless one, kicked out from his own clan even, truly a simply and pathetic man."

"You little whore, i'll teach you to speak ill of my ancestors."

"And how will you do that by running away, yes Tal'keelis Alos you seem to be made in the mold of your grandfather indeed."

*SMACK* I struck Veira hard across her face and little muzzle which knocked her off balance and she fell to her knees. The sound was deafening in among those towering trees. It seemed for a moment that all the bugs and creatures of the forest stood silent to witness that act. I didn't mean to strike her that hard. Really I didn't wish to strike her at all but it just seemed like I was watching myself as I did so. And yet I did Veira was on her knees one hand on the dirty ground the other touching the side of her face which I struck. She had no words and no tears she just stared blankly off in the distance. I grimaced a bit as I saw a bit of blood coming out the end of her small pink nose and then there was the redding underneath her short fur that I could detect.

I don't know how many times in my life I can say that I have been ashamed of my action but right now is one.I didn't want to hurt her really just shock her enough to shut up. And yet, and yet I could not find it in me to apologize to her. To break down the hard face that he words had set upon me. I just started walking again down the path not bothering to look back at the wounded Vixen on the road behind me.

A figure quickly fell in line behind me head down and silent. It remained like that for the rest of the day. I quicken my pace even more to quench my anger at both her words and my actions. I could hear her gasping for breath as I pushed on harder and harder, not stopping for lunch or a break until the sun started to beach the treeline.

How dare she speak such about what she knew nothing about. Where in her foolish little mind did she come up with the idea that I was part bastard Gre'nahk. It may well be that I was not speaking praisingly of her line but I spoke from fact she suppositions and poor ones at that.

I noticed a little break off from the path and what seemed like a little pond nearby and decided that this was as far as I would go tonight. I threw down my pack and started looking for food to throw in the pot. I was hungry tired and still angry. I noticed Veira gently set down her pack which contained mostly clothing for her as well as the fresh rations purchased from Vicktoria. She was panting heavily, her fur seemed almost matted with sweat. She obviously was not used to having to do a little work. I know her kind takes the heat well so a little summer warmth is nothing to them.

"Fetch water for the pot if you wish to eat." I said curtly to her as I took a bit of dried meat to tide me over while I build a fire.

We ate in silence, I simply am not in the mood to be kind to her in the least perhaps a little sleep will give me time to cool off and get on with her. She seemed to at least be genuinely angry with me, which is a positive from a helping her break out of her shell I guess. But she certainly struck a poor chord with me that she shouldn't have. Tonight she sleeps alone.

"Across the fire from me you." I said as I tossed her one set of light blankets. She said nothing as she simply laid them down on the ground avoiding eye contact with me completely. Daring not to voice a complaint or her sorrow.

I awoke before Veira as it seems to be the usual, despite myself I cast a glance over to her sleeping across the dull orange embers of the dying fire. She was curled up into a ball the best that she could her face completely obscured by her tail, which besides covering her face was doing who knows what else beneath the thin brown blanket that I had purchased from Vicktoria.

I might not feel the greatest for yelling at her as I did yesterday but she hit a nerve with me intentional or not and lugging her around with me doesn't put me in the best of moods to begin with. Still Terrace will hopefully offer some relief to having her around.

The small pond that we made camp by a little off the main road was in fact now that a good amount of light was shed on it by the morning rays, a bit eerie. It seemed too shallow to be as devoid of life as it was. Yet the water was sweet not bitter and there were infact animal tracks that I can make out in the sand so the water itself was fine. Yet I could clearly see that I could wade across this pool which was too warm for this time of year as well, perhaps its part hot spring and that keeps it from being clogged up with water plants.

The trees even seemed to be none too eager to encroach on the pond as there was a good deal of pebbles and small stones between them and the water's edge. The trees even did not overhang the water much at all. Indeed it seemed as there was a hesitation among the plants to touch this place, like it was small pool cupped in the hand of a god.

I left my clothes on the shore and waded in the morning was warmer than the last few had been and the water was nice being the first chance I'd had to bath in well, since I jumped in and saved Veira over a week ago. I wanted to move from split rock falls before anything unforeseen could happen so I never bothered to wash in the river there nor did the innkeeper mention anything about baths in the inn so I was stuck.

Yet this water was so refreshing it didn't seem to matter a week's worth of traveling dust gone as the soft yellow and blue rays of morning light was the only thing that seemed to bare witness to my relief. Near the shore as I made my way back there was the perfect wet stone in size and shape and since I had not included one with the original supplies I set out with it would be good to grab such a simple thing if necessity availed itself of me using my blade and if nothing else I can sharpen my dagger at night to avoid looking like I should talk to Veira.

Plucking it from the pebbly barren pond floor, there was a swift flurry of water moving as soon as I reached my fingers around the stone and started to lift it up. Pain in my hand throbbing, numbing pain as some small shelled creature fled from its apparent home underneath the rock. I quickly dashed out of the pond making a bit too much splashing noises. But the pain was intense, much more than something like a bee yet I can feel it pulsing with every heartbeat. The thing must have stung me with something. Hopefully it will pass soon like a bite but first I need to get back to camp and take a better look at the wound.

The seconds seemed like hours it took me to walk back to the camp Veira had apparently awoken while I was gone and was building up a fire for breakfast, but I guess the sight of me hurrying nude clutching my hand had alarmed her, funny that.

"Tal, what is the matter, are you injured?" Veira said concern permeating her voice as she rose up from the fire.

"I wouldn't be running here nude clutching my hand in pain if I was not not now would I girl? Fetch a bit of clean water to boil for that pot quick." I said through clenched teeth, the pain was growing and that was worrying me. I could feel it seeping from the palm of my hand where I was stung or bit slowly down my arm. So cutting the would and trying to suck the venom out is the best I can do. At least the throbbing is getting somewhat milder or perhaps that is my imagination.

Veira returning quickly enough with the pot washed and with a bit of water in it and immediately set it up its hook over the fire before sitting down next to me as I was sucking the poison out, which I did for awhile before the whole thing started to leave me a bit light headed. The skin around the wound had now started to turn blue which despite my limited healing knowledge I knew was a bad sign. Veira gasped at the wound and piled on the remaining wood to the fire hoping to make the water boil faster.

By the time it was at a boil and had cooled enough to wash the wound with without burning me, the pain had spread all the way up my arm and starting to ring my collarbone. Worse still my left hand and arm was going numb. No this was nothing like a bee sting. I thoroughly doused the wound and then frantically searched my pack for the only thing that I thought could help. The three green vials Ferra had given me. They were meant for poisons from plants but it couldn't hurt to try them now. I popped the cork off and quickly drank the green sludge contained within. The bitter thing slowly swimming down my throat as I grabbed out a piece of clean cloth to wrap the wound site with.

I don't think I have ever been as afflicted by something in my life. Short of vomiting the combined pain and fear of the creeping numbness the venom was putting into could not be worse. Feeling it reach my head, I was sweating like I was in a desert at midday. Veira was next to my trying to coax me to a sitting position against my pack, which seemed like a very good and very bad idea.

I was starting to feel lightheaded and drowsy, both effects of the venom reaching my head and both very bad. I have to stay awake just an hour or so and this poison will run its course and the stuff from Ferra will kick in hopeful and eat up the remainder of the poison in my body. Yet plants and animals have very different poisons..... No, I can't think like that, it will work and I will get better I just may be weak for a day or two from this.

I think setting out the fur blankets in summer was quite a foolish idea but right now, it seems to be very much needed. I don't think I can ever remember a early summer morning that was quite as cold as today. The sun seems to be all wrong for the morning as well, the light is far too sharp with shades of red and orange instead of yellow and blue.

"Ah! Bless the spirits you have awoken Tal. I was trained in some basics of healing but this kind of thing is unknown to me please tell me what I can do to aid you. You fell asleep quite suddenly and you were tossing most violently until I set blankets upon you and laid upon you to keep you warm and easy your struggles."

Yes, the water,poison and illness. Everything's not alright. Veira was on top of my nude as was I from bathing still. SHe was still embracing me tightly while a couple blankets were covering her as well. I was in a cold sweat, yet both alive and still lucid, both things to be thankful for in such a circumstance.

"It is evening of the same day Veira?" I asked somewhat scared to receive an answer.

"Yes, Tal. I think perhaps the worst should be over now. Shall I make you something to eat." She licked my face as she said this and while I tried to protest, I found that I was quite unable to move in the least without great effort.

"No, and no Veira." I said weakly. " I don't think I could hold anything down besides the fact that I doubt I could move to eat." My vision was waning and the pain had not lessened yet it still thankfully was only affecting half my body with its wretched pain.

"Ah, should I fetch for you the other vials as well? Surely more cannot hurt but increase its potency in healing you." She gave me a look that pleaded to let her do something so I consented.

"Go ahead and grab them Veira" She was up and back in a flash, helping me drink the other two vials before laying back down to rest upon me. Some time passed like that, just a dead silence filling the air. My body could feel little and do less, and my vision was starting to blur. My body was now failing to cope with the poison that had spread throughout me. It would slowly eat away at me until I drew my final breath, all for a stone. Having Veira tend to me and lay upon me like this was perhaps the worse of the lot. Had I not just yesterday argued and struck her? Did I not make her sleep alone to cause her further pain and yet her she was upon me doing all she knew to comfort and help me.

She is a loyal one at least. Still there is no fruition in her loyalty. She would of just been used and abused like the others of her kind and appreciated the small acts of kindness a male might have bestowed upon her. It is hardly something that could be called a virtue in this sense.

"Veira I can't see myself getting better from this I can barely move as it is. My body does not respond to my call. The medicine Ferra gave me is gone now and had no effect, my vision is blurring and I grow weaker with every breath. In addition to all this everytime my heart beats I can feel a pressure upon all my skin as if every vein wishes to break out of my body or explode. No, there is nothing you can do for me. I think I should be dead by sunset, if not sunrise for sure. Just take the gold I carry and head back to Split-rock Falls and do what you will with yourself." Perhaps I can live and perhaps I am just being too dramatic and getting some small comfort in trying to distress Veira further, yet...I do think I shall not recover from this. She is best to leave me and as for me this is the result of breaking my oath it seems. The Wilds themselves have seen fit to punish me where no person could. Hmmm, these are wondrous lands.

"I shall do no such thing Tal. I shall stay by your side and thou shall recover. I will not hear otherwise from you. I pray thee however to please tell me what I can do to help Tal." She said with watering eyes.

"I said already Veira leave me for I'm done and I think I should like to die in peace rather than having my last minutes of peace my life has left to be stolen from me by having you hang over me." Veira just started nuzzling my chest, apparently satisfied with doing that instead of responding.

It is funny to whatever gods there be perhaps to see me in such a condition. A man lays dying trying to reflect back upon life and yet has around him one with the audacity to hope for a different result. Mentioning nothing of her constant pestering and unsure demeanor to further distract me from my final broodings. But I still wonder if perhaps this is oft what it is like for many as their end comes. Does the shaman treat the wounded hunter the same or the nurse to the soldier? Are the last moments of life when one should be seeking absolution for their life, instead broken by those whose flame of life still burns brightly. Is death not as the sunset but rather the snuffing of a candle fast and absolute. Or does one simply close his eyes and slowly loses his consciousness to sleep for the last time. How would man ever know in fact which of them it be. For no man returns from death to say. But I think it matter not which it is, my life is my own I made my choices and shall now die by them. Good or ill I care not.

"Ah, good morning Tal. I shall make you a light soup. You must have something to eat so you can regain your strength." Veira said merrily as she give me a lick on the cheek seeing me stir from my restless slumber.

The night had been wretched, scene from my childhood warped and degraded to monstrous creatures all around me. Friends and family none were spared from the corruption of my mind. Yet through all the gaping warped maws, black fetid claws, and polluted slimy hands that tried to reach after me, they could not touch me. I was ever surrounded by a golden glow which the creatures of my mind could not get past. I was only subject to watching these horrors unable to escape or move as they came and approached me, wailing and cursing. I tried to run from those horrors in my mind yet I could not, I tried to speak but couldn't. I could not turn away but was forced to watch these corrupted version of those I knew, those I loved and called friends try and fail to drag me down with them.

"Ah here Tal, sip this I pray it will help you regain your strength. You were most restless in your sleep last night." Veira said as she gently lifted my head and put a bowl to my lips. It was somewhat thick, tasting of cheese and onions.

I would like to think that perhaps I might indeed regain my strength, but that is a fools hope. I seem to have lived to see another dawn yet my body is weaker still and I am two days from civilization. I do not think I could rise if I wished it,my vision is blurry, and my body cold all over. I think I would have refused the kindness of Veira if I could or perhaps I could but yet I still held out some hope that I would recover with care.

"Wonderful Tal, your strength shall come back to you soon I am sure of it. Yet you seem to be cold, I have retrieve your clothing left upon the water's edge. Shall I help you cloth?" Veira said tenderly as she set the bowl aside and snuggled up close to me. She was still quite nude as it seems she is very comfortable with being, yet I am not so.

"Yes, my pants Veira, help me with them, I should like to be halfway decent when death find me."

"Then perhaps thou should stay naked for I shall not allow death to claim you until you have done so to me at the least." She said with a smile as she helped me put something on before quickly laying down with me again throwing a blanket over the both of us.

"So ah, Tal, where shall we head after Terrace? Do you truly intend to head into the fire worshipers lands and to the south? I should think that the Wilds are better suited to establish a new life then they. For the people are a better kind of a certainty." Veira spoke after some while laying upon me. I had my eyes closed but could not find rest again nor did I really wish to.

"I will travel back into the Wilds from there yes but you will stay there and start a life for yourself." I said wearily. I don't want her to get the impression that even if I am relying on her to become well that it gives her leave to continue with me.

"Ah, and are you able to force me to do so Tal? For I shall follow you regardless of whither you go, for you are the mate my ancestors have given me." The fox said as she pressed herself against me tighter, paying no mind to the anatomy of her body that she was grinding against me, to warm me no doubt.

"I will not spend the little remaining strength I have in pointless arguing with out at this time Veira. And stop grinding yourself upon me.'

"Ah, sorry Tal. I shall just lay here with you while you rest then."

"Do that then and stay quiet." I told her and indeed she seemed to take heed to my words. Setting herself still, resting her head upon my chest as she had done when we slept.

There was nothing but the sounds of insects to be head around us. The sun lazily rose higher and higher in the sky as I was constantly slipping in and out of sleep. Veira stayed still atop me her tail tip rhythmically swishing back and forth being the only clue to her being awake. Then suddenly her ears perked up and turned to the direction of the road.

"Tal, there are two people coming down the road. Light footsteps, Ah'komeli or Gre'nahk. What should we do if they are not friendly." Veria fidgeted restless beneath the blanket, seemingly unsure of what to do.

"They likely are traveling by the road but you should fetch my sword and keep it ready, my dagger is still at my side. Not that I would be able to rise and use it if need be. Just pretend like we are a pair of lazy travelers resting a bit at midday and take little heed of them. We are off the main road they may not even bother to take notice of us."

"Ah, Tal but if they are not friendly as you say?" Veira said with worry in her voice.

"Then you must let them take what they will in exchange for our lives. Hmm, yes toss my shirt there into the bushes and out of sight, better to be deprived of good than goods and gold." Honestly there is little need to worry bandits have never made a habit of actual traveling roads looking for targets. In all it is likely just a traveling merchant and apprentice from Terrace, who will just pass on by without a second thought.

Slowly I started hearing the footfall of the travelers approaching slowly at a leisurely pace. They seemed to be just enjoying the sun and not passing conversation between themselves. Veira was restless against me the whole time. She honestly should be much better faking things for how she acts.

"Look there my little cutlet, seems we are not the only couple out for a stroll this day." A male voice said as his pace quickened towards us.

"Indeed dearest, a Gre'nahk and a Human, quite a pair coming from Joliam I would bet." A female voice replied happily.

"Well perhaps they could help us out with our problem if that is the case then. You know how generous fellow Wilders are compared to those dastardly fire worshipers." The male said with amusement in his voice. Not a good sign to be sure. I tensed at his voice and Veira immediately noticed my sudden change and brought the sword closer to her.

"Oh do you think we should impose upon them they look so happy resting there besides that cursed pool. Clearly they are not from these parts. I wonder if they are in fact afflicted with the curse of that spring, my love."

"Oh, perish the thought, to be struck with such a loathsome ailment, it is too much for my delicate heart to fathom. Oi! strangers you see us talk and yet do not give us a friendly hail. Is something the matter?" The male said as he entered the clearing of our camp. Clearly a pair of Ah'komeli bandits, carrying only a water-skin at their sides and the short curved swords favored by those cats.

"Greeting Friends" Veira called them lazily as she stretched and sat up a bit keeping the sword under the blanket, her hand on it. "My mate and I are resting a bit under the warm noon sun before traveling to Terrace. Would you disturb two lover as yourselves and break us from our embraces?" Veira asked slyly, putting on a good mask for dealing with trouble.

"Indeed we would not wish to trouble such if there was not great need for you see were have been accosted by bandits and lost our gear and purse. Surely as fellow good folk of the Wilds you could help a pair of lovers as yourselves out this day." The male kept on eyeing around our camp for valuables.

"Indeed I do wish we would be able to help, but we are a poor lot with little besides what we need to travel unto my mates hometown." Veira spoke with a sigh. A poor play by her, for bandits seeing an easy mark and thinking perhaps that we are injured would not be so easily dissuaded from a mark such as us.

"Spirits! Hear that my little riblet, a Shifting Sands Gre'nahk says her mate is a poor one! I can say that I have never heard that before." The male said with a laugh before coming to a wicked smile.

"My, my, my most wonderful and they appear to be such a miserly sort as well. I cannot fathom how the Wilds could ever put up with such a sort as they. Do you think we could do the Wilds a service here today dearest?" The female spoke as she drew her sword and planted a sloppy kiss on the side of her mat's muzzle.

"I most certainly do my little rump roast. Such a tender sort as the female however I simply could not stand to harm such as her, even if it is for the good of the Wilds. Perhaps we could take her to Terrace as she wishes and to the 'market' there? Yes, yes that and we could help this miserly noble here become more earthly as we Wilders are by allowing him to rid himself of his possessions. I think that doing those things would in fact help the both of them immensely." The male said drawing his sword as well.

"Oh yes she would be wonderful at the 'market' there, love. On you feet now you two, up and we'll make this easy and painless. Don't and well, it is a shame at all the creatures that Desova has which can kill a man, most wouldn't even waste time on those lost travelling in these woods." The female made moving motion with her swords as she joined her mate in grinning mischievously.

"Ah, I am afraid we are not as you seem good people, my mate is a poor merchant and has as you said fallen ill to this pool. Would you not pass by if you cannot aid him?" Veira spoke a bit more hesitantly.

"But we are my dear, you will go to 'market" and your mate here shall be left alone, no harm done at all. Now up then." The male looking at me seeing me sweating with pale face decided it must have been true what Veira spoke of me and seemed to take no further notice of me. The female was inspecting Veira's pack seeing what goods they would about to loot.

Veira rose up quickly keeping me mostly covered sword in hand, she quickly drew it froth from the scabbard and setting into a poor stance pointing the sword at our would be ascoster.

"Put that scary thing down there girl before you ruin your value, valuable-less things get thrown away dead you know. The male growled seeing Veira determined to fight him.

"Ahahahaha, that little thing wants to fight I think my stud. Please be gentle with her. Here let me take care of our poor noble for you then." The female licked her black lips as she approached me. I could do naught but stare her down in my condition. This indeed seems how it will end for the both of us dead or at least me dead and Veira going to some illegal slave market.

My sword wobbled in Veira's hand, the weight too much for her, besides the fact that she likely had never touched a sword in her life before this moment. The male ran at her hefting his sword aloft, intending to send it crashing down against my sword and out of Veira's hand after which she would likely be beaten unconscious.

Yet Veira's tail shot up in the air straight up and well over her head and she made as she was trying to whip him with it as the male closed within striking range. He tried to strike out at the tail across his body and at the sword. Veira quickly dropped her tail to the ground and stepped back. Her tail had made the male misjudge the distance between him and Veira. His sword finished its swing completely missing mine. Before he could recover and bring his sword back in front of his body Veira sprung from her position and jabbed at his exposed side with my sword. Both hands firmly on it, she struck true sinking it into the male.

The male howled in pain as Veira struck him and then with all her might she tried to slice the sword through his side by planting her forward foot and spinning around. As she did so the sword sharpened by Jannis easily freed itself from the Ah'komeli's side. The sudden freedom sending Veira falling on her butt midway in her spin the sword flying out of her hand.

The Ah'komeli turned as she heard her mate's cry of agony as he stumbled a few steps forward towards Veira before collapsing to the ground his hand clutching his side trying to keep his innards from spilling out. It would be a useless task, as Veira had managed to hit him just to the side of the spine and cleanly sliced the sword through his side, before falling backwards from the sudden movement of the sword being freed from the accoster's side.

The female saw this and let out a feral cry and turned her blade from me to Veira who defenseless since she had landed on her butt with my sword off to the side behind her. It would be over in seconds I realized as soon as Veira started to look for where the sword landed the cat would lunge at her and cross the distance between them and before Veira could grab it and put up any kind of defense she would be run through and I would shortly join her.

Perhaps the adrenaline running through my system was enough to will my body to move now or perhaps the spirits had just decided bless me this once. Either way I found the strength to rise up from under the blanket and I one swift move drew the knife at my side and lunged for the Ah'komeli, she had slowly stalked in towards me gloating over my illness. I Didn't have enough force to get myself to a standing position before I made my move, no It was one of pure desperation from a prone position. I thought I would only be able to get halfway to her before my strength failed but with the two stuttering falling steps I managed to take before my legs failed me put me close enough to her to strike. With both hands on the knife I sunk it into the small of her back a bit above the tail, with my left hand on the pummel, I thrust the blade a second time hearing a crack as the blade severed the assailant's spine. I just grinned as she screamed in pain and fell flat on her face her blade flying out of her reach.

Breathing heavily I crawled over to her intending to land a killing blow this time to the unarmed cat. She heard me grunt in exertion and managed to herself turn over. Fear filled her eyes as she tried to move away from me in vain, her legs now useless. Claws extended she swung at me I blocked with my knife and she yelped as two of her fingers were severed by her own force meeting my blade. Her pale green eyes started to fill with fear as she realized perhaps for the first time her mortality. She slowly moved her head side to side and mouthed "no" as her voice failed to heed her call. While she locked eyes with me I pierced her heart with my knife, then using her ribs as a guide moved the blade to the right until it found its way free at her side. She collapsed with a final cry and looked over to the body of her half dead mate as her cursed and struggled against his fate, as her heart made its final few beats.

"Veira, finish off the male." I said my voice failing as was my strength. I collapsed onto the dead female my head coming to rest upon her furred stomach. I could do nothing more, my body ached all over, several muscles were aflame with pain. I know I had felt something pop as I first sprung from the bed as well. Any possible recovery for me had just acquired an increased time frame. No matter it was a slim chance to survive as it was before. My life is firmly beyond my control.

Veira seemed to of gathered her wits and retrieved my sword and stood up trembling as she made her way over to the mortally wounded male Ah'komeli. He growled and snarled as she approached him, her paws feebly holding the sword in front of her. The way she looked it was a miracle that she managed to use it in the first place. She seemed fully out of it as she approached him muttering "sorry" over and over again in her quiet voice before raising the sword up above her head and letting it fall down upon the cat. It made a sickly "tslunk" sound as the sword imbedded itself halfway in the cats neck. Veira left the sword stuck in the cat's neck and fell to her knees her eyes wide as the cat's last breath gurgling out his lips his mouth filling with blood which stained the sand around him. The sand greedily drinking up the sticky lifeforce it was feed.

"Keep it together Veira they're dead your not, come over here and help me move back into the shade." I said weakly, not knowing how much longer I would be able to will my body to respond to me at all. She needed something to get her mind off what just happened so she may as well help me. She staggered over to me with a blank expression but managed to help me to my feet and back to the spot I was resting at before.

After helping me lay down her feet gave way and she collapsed on top of me sobbing. I was too weary to come up with comforting or reassuring words, or anything to push her away. I just wrapped my arms around her and let her cry into my chest as my consciousness slowly started to fade away. The two dead Ah'komeli still bleeding out feet away from us.

I awoke to birds chirping and the soft streams of morning light. I was covered once again with my blanket and alone. I smiled to myself for a moment, feeling a bit relieved that Veira had finally gathered the sense to move on down the trail back to the village and let death claim me peacefully.

"Ah, Tal you're awake, I shall have some breakfast prepared for you in a moment, the water is almost finished boiling now." Veira called out cheerily to me. I guess that's another strike against her common sense even if it does help me.

I looked over to see her kneeling at a small fire with the cooking pot suspended overtop it. She was nude as she had been the past day and a half, the morning light reflecting over her golden fur making it appear to shimmer. No, it appears she was actually a bit wet. So she must of just washed in the pool and her fur hadn't yet finished drying. Foolish to enter such a thing were I had been mortally wounded, yet I don't think I ever mentioned to her what it was that injured me in my own panic. She appeared to be fine now the events of the past day naught but a memory. I cast my eyes around and could see no sign of the bodies just a few patches of dried blood on a path towards the small pond. She'd managed to dispose of the bodies after breaking down like that. She had some good strength within her after the shock wore off it seems. Perhaps that is why she is wet then setting the bodies to soak in the water away from us a bit seems wise.

I closed my eyes intending to drift back off to sleep when the warm morning light I was enjoying was blocked. I opened my eyes fearing what I would see and I was right. Veira was there kneeling next to me her face inches from mine. "Thank you Tal for saving me yesterday and for comforting me after that ordeal." She said as she quickly moved in and kissed me. Her long pink tongue invading my mouth for a moment before she started licking my face before resting her head on my chest, nuzzling me. She pressed herself tight to me as the first night together in the woods, I could feel the squish of her breasts and her two pairs of tits against my bare skin as she lay on top of me. I was too surprised to react in the least even if my whole body was not aching and still pained by the poison and the exertion I put it through yesterday.

"The spirits truly arranged for me to marry a perfect mate." She said happily as she continued to nuzzle into me.

"You don't really believe that do you Veira?" I asked a bit weary of hearing such things from her. Now was not the time for such things,even if I did need her help to help me recover.

"No, Tal I do not. And no I'm not lying." She said a bit sadly as she stopped nuzzling me and just closed her eyes listening to the sound of my heart beat. Time just slowly drifted for a bit my mind was not functioning enough to come up with any sort of response to this new line of her's.

"Good." I simply said and closed my eyes again intent on trying to sleep. Yet Veira would not have it.

"I believe that my grandfather used me as a bartering chip to form an alliance between our towns. I believe that the spirits of my ancestors lead me to you when I was hurt, cold, afraid and being chased. I believe that you are a wonderful male and I believe that I will become the perfect mate for you, even though I am not such at this time. I am also grateful that the mate my ancestors steered me to wants his female to be a strong one, so from that desire I will be able to become someone they can be proud of. I am not leaving you no matter what may come Tal. No matter what you say or do to me I will stay with you, it is my choice, none others. You must only choose how you will use me." She said as she started again with the ministering licks and nuzzling.

"I guess at this point after all that has happened I really don't have much of a choice do I? You even saved my life yesterday, what else can I do but accept." I said wearily. This was not something that I wanted to think about at this time, nor was it something I wanted despite what she had done for me. Had she really finally taken a stand and put away these masks of hers?

"No, Tal, you have a choice. I will follow and try to serve you no matter what, but I cannot take away your ability to accept or reject me. I may think of you as my mate but you need not do likewise. You saved me yesterday, the Ah'komeli would've killed me when I fell down after.....hurting...her mate." Veira's breathing slowed for a moment as it appeared that the memories of her killing another person came back to haunt her.

"Veira, that makes little sense." I said my frustration with this entire ordeal starting to overwhelm me. "I would be dead if you didn't stab the male in the side. The rest of the gibberish that you're saying would just complicate our relationship further, how exactly would you just follow me if I do not support you? It is already difficult enough to take you around with me, It's time for me to just end this now. I either am or are not your mate and husband completely and fully, no will of others attached to it. This with only one rule: you must never lie to me, no matter how displease the things you say may be. Choose." I said managing to will my hand to rise enough to put it under her chin and turn her head towards me, locking my eyes with hers. It really is enough, if she can do enough to stand and risk her life and overcome her own fears then I guess life with her may not be so bad. I was even starting to feel some strength come back to my limbs, so perhaps I will not be dead soon.

"You're mine then!!" She replied quickly her brain instantly realizing what I was telling her to say. She understood of course that she had already given herself to me in oaths and I was now doing likewise, finally from her point of view I'd wager. Her eyes started to tear up again as I lifted myself up a bit despite my body's protest and kissed her deeply for the first time.

I would like to think that it was a long passionate kiss but it was not, my body still ached, I was out of breath and I now had a big fat fox laying upon me, which despite its common occurrence lately I was still not used to. The kiss lasted only a few second but it was enjoyed by the both of us. Our tongues danced together and intertwined briefly for the first of what i'm sure will be many more times before parting and I laid myself back down.

"Good girl" I said weakly and set my hand on the back of her head and started stroking her hair. Moving my fingers through it, exploring the base of her two little horns, slightly fuzzy horns I might add and scratching her head. As she contently let me minister to her in this way, little tears still falling from her eyes upon the my bare skin of my chest.

"Why the change Tal? You have stated many times that you did not desire me. Was it my actions that persuaded you to change your thoughts?" She asked wondering out loud after sometime of me playing with her hair and horns, which from the way she was moving her ears she seemed to enjoy immensely.

"Hmm well I guess, I was laying here immobilized admiring you foxy body and decided that i've seen you naked too many times to not have laid you, so this was my only option for recourse." I said with a mock sigh.

"Tal-Keelis, that excuse is far from the truth I feel" She said her lips pursed in a little pout and her ears were laid back, but the mock anger couldn't hide the fact that the corners of her mouth curled upwards into a smile on her face.

"It was the female." I said after a long pause my eyes set looking beyond Veira to where the Ah'komeli had fallen. "Looking into her eyes as she died and watching the life go out of them as she looked at her mate who did naught but raged at his end and never looked at her. I think that was the saddest part of dying for her was to see the one she loved forsake her for anger as they both neared death." I said my mind trying to call upon those haunting last images of that females eyes as the life left them and the green flames burning within became gray, cold and bleak, while I laid upon her hear dead and dying body.

"Honestly Veira I still don't really want you because I wanted to raise a family and think you are a poor choice for a wife, but I can't in good conscious deny someone who has doing nothing but good things to me because of such a simple thing on my part. I could not find fault in you when we first meet and I was looking to. Now after what we have been through and what I have seen of you since then, I would be disgusted with myself if I did try to make you happy at this point. Besides its not like you're not an extremely pretty thing with those nice breasts you so often press up against me. I'm sure I will grow more accustomed to having you for a wife in time. With how willing to please you are i'm sure you do just fine in bed as well......after i'm recovered, so you will have to sate yourself until then." I said with a grin and stroked her head. I felt tears fall to my chest again, as she stayed silent. Letting the words sink in or perhaps trying to ingrain this moment in her memory.

I just let her silently sob for a moment trying to find some words that could bridge the gap that was still between us. "I honestly don't know how good of a husband i'll be for you Veira." I was talking just to say something to avoid letting the weight of silence crush me. "I may still demean you without trying or become embarrassed to have a non-human as a wife in public. I could look down upon you because you oft do not think for yourself. Or perhaps I might lash out in anger at you because..."

"That's enough Tal'keelis." Veira interrupted me by pressing a furred finger to my lips before leaning in a giving me a small kiss. "I am not worried about any such thing or anything else that you could say at this moment." She said as I looked into her wet eyes and smiled a bit. If she could act this well i'm sure we'd have already been mated.

"No," she continued "I know you are the type of male that will strive to treat me well, even when you did not desire me you treated me better than most of my clan's females are treated. I do not think you shall find that I am very hard to please either. So just rest for now and let me take care of you until you recover from the poison, and you shall recover it will not do for you to leave me alone now. And if you wish I shall most certainly allow you to watch me 'sate' myself as you put it until you recover." She said sweetly with a grin, giving me a quick lick on my nose before rising off me and set about doing something by the fire. My energy had not nearly returned enough to keep me awake without such lovely stimuli. As my eyes started to close again, I caught myself wondering, if I really could treat her as an equal after how I had acted to her before now.

Finally now we have a couple! I wrote most of this ages ago and just touched it up a bit this week as I edited it. So now we have Tal and Veira together, but Tal remains injured. how will they get to Terrace and what fate awaits the new mates there? Chapter 8 is the first chapter so far that will deviate from my original design for this story.

The next piece of this series I will put out will be a small interlude not directly connected with the main story but will serve a bit as a guide to the geography and races of the Wilds as well as foreshadow a few points that will become relevant in the future .

I hope you all have enjoyed the story so far, and will continue to do so. I would appreciate it if you would tell me what you are liking and disliking about the story which stands at over 100 pages now. Thanks for reading and have a great day everyone.