A King's Legacy Chapter 11:
Stahl would never admit it to the human, but he had definitely been missing out on sleep as of late. Holding Aster close to himself, as he had been able to the past few nights, had left him far too restless for any real reprieve due to his light sleeping, but the wolf was happy to make that sacrifice. Still, Aster was happy to see the beast finally catching up on that rest as the roles were reversed for a change.
Aster was sitting up against the corner of the makeshift bed, the wolf's head resting on his lap in slumber as the boy gently stroked the fur between his ears. He couldn't help but think on how nice it was to be able to cradle the knight like this for a change, for him to be the one standing watch, so to say. As the beast began to stir from his dreams a moment later, Aster watched his eyes at first flutter, and then finally part just enough to let that piercing, silvery-grey gaze look up to find his own. The human smiled down at the drowsy beast, speaking softly as he continued tracing his fingers over the wolf's brow.
"Good morning, Stahl. I hope you've rested well?" The wolf certainly had.
Waking up to the sensation of the boy's hands stroking his fur was already a welcomed treat for the beast, but to open his eyes and find the human staring softly down at him with those gold-specked, brown eyes? It was more than enough to make the wolf grateful for whatever situation had led them here.
Aster's sunburn had mostly faded with the hare providing the periodic relief of shade, and his lips had healed up pretty well from their blisters in the cavern. Stahl rather liked the stubble that dotted his human's jaw now, as it seemed Aster was shaving it all along, even at the wolf's estate. The wolf figured he'd have to find out why later, as he was still basking in his pleasant awakening at the moment.
When the boy had spoken his soft words, Stahl let out a mighty stretch as his tight muscles moved his tired limbs in protest, encompassing the entire bed with his larger frame as a few of his bones cracked in response. Aster watched in odd fascination as his wolf let out a hefty yawn in the process, opening his maw wide, showing off the impressively sharp teeth inside. The beast's long tongue darted forward in the action, suspended in the center of his muzzle. The realization of the actual length of it made the boy blush the slightest bit. The wolf finally gave his response after he had settled back into his comfortable position, giving the human his contempt, signature fanged smile as he pushed his head back into the wandering touch.
"I can't remember the last time I slept so peacefully, if I'm being honest." The beast nuzzled his head further into the boy's administrations, relishing the sensation of his rough, but smooth fingers darting through his fur. Aster looked away a bit in his guilt when he spoke.
"Sorry, I know you haven't been sleeping that well... Because you had to deal with me... But thank you, for keeping me warm back there." Stahl's smile only intensified as he dismissed the need for such an apology.
"Don't be, I wanted to do that. I think I enjoyed being your warmth for a bit, and I'll do it all again should you ever find yourself needing it... Or even just wanting it, Aster." The wolf moved his left hand up to rest lightly on the boy's bared side, rubbing his darker calloused pads on his palms gently across his human's soft skin, occasionally grazing him just a bit with a tender claw as he kept staring up into such soft eyes.
A gentle breeze brushed against the wolf's pelt then, as he realized something he had completely overlooked before. Stahl was laying naked on the bed. He was completely bared before the human, which meant Aster had definitely had his chance to see all he may have wanted to of the beast, and maybe even more by the time he had awoken. As if the boy realized the wolf had finally picked up on that fact, his blush became just a bit more apparent before he spoke in a nervous tone, mindlessly stroking at the star shaped tuft at the center of the wolf's brow.
"Sorry, Your clothes were pretty dusty, and the bed is actually pretty clean, so I hope you don't mind... I needed a little help getting you here, but I managed to get your armor and stuff off myself... I- I'm sor-"
The wolf interrupted his boy before he could even say it.
"Don't be. Thanks for looking out. Besides... I don't mind if you look at my body, Aster... You can explore it all you want to." The wolf stretched his frame back out once more, giving the boy full access to look wherever he wished, inviting him to touch wherever he wished... Stahl could smell the boy getting excited, but didn't want to push him too far yet. He would let his human take the lead.
Aster just remained silent, his face was practically on fire as he slowly turned his gaze to look further down at the larger body sprawled out in all its glory... Willingly and completely exposed and vulnerable to the boy's whims. With a shaky hand, Aster simply reached his right hand down just a bit to gently rest it on the lighter, softer fur of the beast's burly chest. His fingers found purchase once more, as he began to graze over the soft fur and powerful muscle beneath his touch. The wolf just closed his eyes, and relaxed into the boy's soothing administrations. However much or little he could get of this touch, he would be satisfied with.
Aster played with the torso, paying great detail to the feel of the wolf's musculature, and the strong sensation it gave him to simply graze against it. The boy glanced down a bit further, and finally got to see his first real peek at what laid beneath the fuzzy, snug sheath of his wolf. He couldn't have withheld his gasp if he had wanted to, something that made Stahl feel just a bit smug about the reveal.
Aster figured the wolf would be big, and was completely fine if he wasn't... But he hadn't really expected the thickness of the tip that was poking out about an inch or so from it's warm hiding place. It was a deep red, and still grew harder by the second, expanding wider, and pushing free from it's confines ever so slightly as it did. Stahl wasn't going to tell the boy that this was still just the start, and figured he'd let his human find out for himself.
Aster grew silent, as he could only stare in awe of such an encompassing sight. This was real. This was actually happening. His breath was accelerating, and his touch began to tremble against the wolf as his lust, nervousness, and desire sunk their demands into his mind. He... He wanted to grab it. He wanted to know how his wolf tasted... The boy shuddered under the sheer weight of such longing, looking down into his wolf's soothing eyes once more.
"By the gods... What have you done to me, Stahl Aschefell?" The wolf let out a light bark of a laugh, and quickly leaned up to lick the human's nose before he answered him.
"Only the same as you've done to me, Aster Venatus." The knight brought his hands up to gently grasp the back of Aster's head, and pulled him down to press into his own muzzle as they shared in the bliss of their upside-down kiss. They lost themselves for a moment, before Aster finally pulled free, reluctant to break the heated contact between them, but knowing there were other matters at hand. His desire would have to wait just a short while longer.
"...Just give me a little more time Stahl... Tonight, before tomorrow's moon... Our duty calls first." The wolf understood, and finally asked what he had avoided in order to spend a bit more private time with the human.
"So, you ARE going to tell me where exactly we are then? And what is going on? And how we got here? And where everyone else is? And whose bed we are in?" The human chuckled gently, and shifted so the wolf could sit up and get a quick rundown of their current circumstances, and what had happened with the musicians. Stahl listened quietly to the recount, a bit stunned at what he had heard.
Prince Tyfin sat emotionless across from the leader of the tribe he found himself now in the company of. The tribe of orcs he, and the people with him, were at the mercy of. His expression was kept blank by years of keeping his wits in stressful situations, but his mind was certainly troubled by his predicament. A weakness he couldn't afford to show at such a critical time when so many lives were resting upon his shoulders.
The lion was surrounded by different orcs, but they certainly seemed more civilized than the stories he had heard... They wouldn't be putting debate on the table if they weren't. There was a goal here for them, Tyfin just had to figure out what it was. The orc leader sat on a small pad in the far end of the room, across from where the lion now sat on a similar mat in the center. The prince made note of the differences he saw compared to what he had been told about the species. Assumptions would only hinder him here.
They did have a lighter, greenish tint to their skin, and two large tusks protruding from their larger, bottom jaws as the prince was told, but they seemed surprisingly similar in stature to the average beast in most other ways. The lion expected them to be much more uncultured, but they all wore clothing, and most even seemed to have their own preferences for that as well. Much like Aster, these creatures mainly had fur on top of their heads, with many having shaved a good portion of that hair close to the scalp. Some completely shaved the fur, and some grew it long passed their waists. These were diverse, sentient creatures. They could be reasoned with. They had the chance to wipe out the entire group of beasts, and had instead chose to meet with the prince. Tyfin couldn't afford to squander such a gift in his circumstance, and lightly bowed his head forward as he clearly spoke in a well practiced voice, showing all due respect for his opponent.
"My name is Tyfin Tonitrus, I am the crown prince of the kingdom of Alora, but I suspect you are aware of that already per the beastmen you sent to intercept us. If I may ask, what are you hoping to achieve with this meeting?"
The leader of the orcs was large, a hair under eight feet with an imposing build. His hair was shaved on the sides, but pulled back down the center, trailing passed his neck. The creature had unusually large bottom fangs, even among the other orcs present. Most of the green skinned creatures had black markings on their skin, with the leader having more than any other proudly displayed on his well forged body. Prince Tyfin was very much surprised when the orc bowed slightly, showing the lion equal respect per modern standards, before answering in an educated, steady, and firm voice of his own.
"Prince Tyfin Tonitrus of Alora, I must first apologize for my methods. We had to ensure any who would attempt to fight us were rendered unable to do so. Still, I regret having to use such a tactic. My name is Crag, I am the chief of our tribe."
The orc paused for just a moment, seeming to ensure he worded everything correctly. It appeared the prince wasn't the only one proceeding cautiously, which made sense considering the history between the species. The orc continued.
"The first goal I hope to negotiate is peace between our forces for both the duration of your stay here, as well as for the storm that has descended upon our lands. We have much to discuss, young beast king, but you will need to give your word there will be no hostility from your kind towards ours. Our ancestors quarrels should rest with them, we cannot afford to neglect the present for the actions of the past. Will you agree to this, as the future heir of your kingdom?"
The prince was completely unprepared for such refinery or eloquence from an orc of all things. These couldn't be the same savage creatures he was led to believe they were. The way their history books made them seem to be. The lion realized he was still holding on to some of his preconceived prejudice, and knew that was all it was now. He smiled, happy to be proven wrong as he answered the orc.
"I only want a reign of peace for ALL who share this world. If that is what you are working towards, then you are an ally to my goal. You have my word, if my people remain safe in your care here, Alora will return the favor however you may need, within reason and ability, of course. Now, tell me what you wish to discuss, orc chief Crag. I give you my full attention." The leaders were silent for a moment, both relieved they had managed to find a starting point at minimum. It was Crag that broke that silence.
"First, would you tell me about the human who travels with you? I was led to believe they had been wiped out from your father's crusade... And yet, one bearing the golden, Peacekeeper's Shield of legends accompanies the exterminator of mankind's own cub. Do you know what that shield truly is, beast prince?" Tyfin nodded before he answered.
"Yes. It's one of the five legendary bloodskills gifted by the sun goddess herself to keep the peace in this world... The only one of the five anyone has seen for nearly a century now." This was one of the main arguments the young lion had made in defense of sparing Aster at his trial. The orc nodded, elaborating a bit further.
"Correct. Orcs do not possess the ability to have bloodskills, but we are knowledgeable on them. I assume you know the rules of skill incarnation?" Tyfin confirmed he did.
"Skill incarnation happens when all users of a bloodskill are wiped out, and their entire bloodline eliminated. When nobody left alive bears one of the skills gifted by the moon goddess, her gift searches for a new namesake to serve. This phenomenon is what you refer to correct? But unless I am mistaken, the other four legendary skills gifted by the sun goddess have been lost, as they have never been inherited by anyone outside the original line, all of which are long dead... Save for Aster, the shield-bearing human you speak of." Crag confirmed as much, ensuring they were on the same page before he continued to his point.
"And if I told you that the five feral beasts those legendary skills were created to defend against were returning to these lands, would you understand how important that human would be in that situation?" Prince Tyfin let his emotion slip through his steeled facade for a moment in his shock at the statement. The legendary beasts were returning?
"Are you certain? This is no light claim you make." The prince was hoping for a better answer than the one the orc gave him after he took a short, silent pause.
"Our hunters have been encountering hoards of feral beasts migrating from the area around your kingdom... Ferals that are running from something... Ferals that grow anxious, and attack anything that approaches, even many which were normally docile and harmonious with others now lash out. Mother birds are abandoning their nests, leaving the changing winds to carry the souls of their unhatched away. Fiends are becoming more and more common, increasing in number and gathering in masses, attacking and picking off smaller villages as they grow in number... All of this within a week... The lands are falling out of balance, and descending into chaos..." The orc paused again, his demeanor shifted as he braced for a harsh refusal, and he looked the prince straight in the eye to make sure he could read his reaction before he continued.
"A chaos that began many years ago when your father chose to carve out an entire part of our world, Prince Tyfin. When he killed the humans along with the last line of defense that was keeping this threat at bay, The human king Calium Aureus... And yet his shield is carried on by that boy, a boy now in your service. I cannot find it within myself to consider all of this as mere chance. I believe the heir to that shield was guided to be where we need him, to stand before the darkness that looms ahead, just as his father had once planned to do... Before he was framed for the murder of your own mother, Queen Talia of Alora, and stricken down by your father."
Prince Tyfin was understandably alarmed at so many revelations, but he kept his feelings mostly in check. He was skilled at reading people, and knew some friction was forming under the orc's skin.
"My father did what he believed was justice, something I have both adamantly, and openly opposed for over fifteen years now. I believe his treatment of the humans was harsh, selfish, and surely a dark mark upon my family name that will be forever carried forth, recorded as one of the lowest parts of our history. Do not assume I believed his choice to be the right one... You say the last human king was framed for my mother's demise, can you back up this claim? And if I may, how exactly did King Calium plan to combat this threat?" The orc shook his head before he answered, satisfied with what the prince had said.
"I cannot prove anything, and I can only speak based upon what information the previous chief had passed down. I do not know the full story, but I can share what I was told, if you wish to exchange such information, that is." The prince persisted, whatever the orc had to say, he would hear it. Crag lowered his head a bit and closed his eyes before he began telling the lion what he knew.
"Queen Talia, your mother, was slain in a battle against a demon through use of blood magic... The only magic that originated from humans. The culprit was revealed to be among the allied forces of the human kings, which had been sent to assist in the battle. When the perpetrator was questioned before his life was taken, he told your father everything... Or at least, everything he had wanted the beast king to believe... It worked, and your father's rage and anguish over his loss was redirected at the humans he believed responsible... After the first two human kingdoms were reduced to nothing more than piles of rubble, the beast king set his sights on the lands of the last human king standing, the unmistakable father of that boy you travel with, the previous bearer of that shield."
Tyfin only listened closely, so far, their intel on the situation was mostly the same. However, it would seem what had bothered the young prince the most about the story was also a sentiment shared by the orc. The entire crusade was based off of the information provided by the very murderer who supposedly ended his mother's life. Information that was far from reliable to anyone with enough sense to see it. Had his father not been so rash, things may not have gone as far as they had. Crag continued where he left off.
"The chief before me did not know the extent of the last human king's plan to deal with the return of the beasts, nor the beastmen that came bearing down upon his lands... However, he was still sent a request for aid... One that he passed on answering, not wanting to be involved in your war, resulting in the elimination of the kingdom... That is the shame we orcs shall carry... The human king Calium was a true ally to us, and even helped establish trade, better education and agriculture, and an overall higher standard of living for our tribe that you see the fruits of today... A tribe that once ruled on brute force alone. A tribe that had been at war with other races since the beginning of time, and yet, he extended a hand of peace when we were nearly destroyed by both our own foolish ways, and our lawless rule... We turned our backs to our allies in the hour of their own greatest need, and we have suffered great loss for our passive choice..." The orc took a deep breath in, pausing to gather himself.
"The human king was clearly not the kind that sought war between the races, as such, I do not believe the true culprit was brought to justice, and the blame was successfully shifted elsewhere by whoever had orchestrated the assassination, for whatever real reason they had to do so. Tell me, prince of beasts, do you believe this to be out of the realm of possibility?" The prince solemnly confessed his answer.
"It's a very plausible conclusion... One I have thought on many times myself. Although, I will admit I wasn't aware the orcs had made peace with the human kingdoms... I respectfully had no idea how far your kind had advanced, and I apologize for such an oversight on my behalf. I never considered your people shared my own ambitions for uniting our world." Crag continued, satisfied with the answer The young prince had given him.
"I possess the final letter the human king sent to the chief before me, the details do not reveal much, but it may give us some clues as to unraveling this mystery, as well as how we may hope to stand against the threat that approaches... But should you wish to hear it, you must include the boy in this conversation. Allowing him to read the note may be one of the only ways my tribe may repent for the foolish betrayal of our allies, and his father. The boy should know."
Prince Tyfin shuddered a bit. "The boy should know." It was the same thing that demon had spoken, more or less. The prince took on a somber expression before he filled the orc in on the true manner of the restrictions on the human, as well as what he could never be allowed to know of his heritage, that this was part of the conditions required to have Aster spared in the first place. Crag listened patiently, but spoke his disagreement afterwards.
"I understand why you had to do what you did, and the fact you managed to have the human spared is perhaps even more unbelievable considering who was on that council... But keeping your allies in the dark is exactly the kind of thing that led our ancestors before us to their near demise. I wish to be part of a new order for this world, one that unites us through similarities, and our differences. We need to be better for the sake of our people. We need to be better than the King's before us were... We need the strength of that shield, and we need it unhindered by the shadows of doubt that lies can cast." Crag stood from his place then, satisfied with where the conversation had ended.
"I will give you three days of rest to ponder your decision, beast prince. Please, enjoy your stay with us as our guests while your soldiers get to relax for a short reprieve. We will continue this when you have decided, your people should be waking shortly, I am sure they have many questions for their prince... But know this, beast prince..." The orc spoke lower now, showing respect, but also determination as he finished his words.
"The boy will learn of his roots soon enough, if you choose to keep that information hidden from him, it may be the cause of your own undoing..."
The lion only nodded once, accepting that warning for what it was. The beast prince stood, and made his way towards the exit of the structure. As he passed through the doorway, Rust jumped up from his waiting place by the threshold to join the prince once more. Tyfin smiled at the cub, hiding all traces of worry as he thanked the young fox for standing guard for him. If nothing else, he could spare a little heartache for his people when he could. Even if he knew that sometimes, that may not be the best thing to do.
The pair casually conversed as they made their way down the rough road through the orc village to the cluster of buildings the other beasts were waiting inside of when suddenly, a loud crash of flailing bodies came barreling through the wooden door on one such abode.
Captain Rixator was wrestling with two orcs as the door exploded into splinters of wood from him forcing the head of the first through the timbers, where the orc crumbled in place. After he had succeeded in knocking the first out, the great bull grabbed at the orc hanging around his shoulders, desperately trying to hold on as the bovine rampaged, and flung the green skinned creature far over his head, sending it into a nearby wall with a crash, and a wail of pain. The bull stood in place, nostrils flaring as he turned his confused gaze to the lion and the fox watching on in shock. Before either had time to react, Captain Rix snatched a hold of both, throwing them over his shoulders with ease as he began running full speed towards the outskirts of the foreign place.
"CAPTAIN RIXATOR!" Prince Tyfin screamed in his attempt at calming the bull, "Stay yourself! These are not our enemies!"
The bull never heard the prince, already dead set on reaching safety with the lion and the cub in tow. If nothing else, Captain Rixator was certainly one to prioritize his duty, and his current priority was making sure his prince was safe from the notorious orcs known for their savage ways. Nothing would have likely stopped the beast's escape, had it not been for another door opening a short second later.
As Mollis stepped into the street, he held a hand up towards his fleeing captain, casting a simple spell his way that made the bull stop in his tracks as his hooves were raised just out of reach of the ground. The great bull grunted and thrashed in his suspended frustration as the gentle rabbit made his way over to his captain, giggling softly at the larger beast's ability to jump to conclusions. Mollis didn't mind, as he had plenty of experience handling it over the years with the bull.
"Captain... Did you even try to hear what the orcs had to say?" Mollis was quite amused at this chaos, silently reveling at how adorably dense his captain could be sometimes. The bull was a brute, and often wise in many ways, but patience was NOT his strong point. The bovine only furrowed his brow, finally realizing he may have misread the situation as he spoke in his burly defense.
"I THOUGHT WE WERE UNDER ATTACK! ONLY THOSE WISHING TO MEET DEATH HESITATE IN THE PRESENCE OF ENEMIES, MOLLIS!" The prince just sighed, still firmly held in his soldier's grip while he spoke.
"Once again, Captain, THESE ARE NOT OUR ENEMIES. Now, would you please put me and Rust down so we may clear up this entire misunderstanding? You're being disrespectful to our hosts, and we owe them an apology for this!"
The bull snorted once more in frustration as his hooves were gently returned to the ground by the hare. The bovine released his hold on the two smaller beasts a moment later as the prince began gathering his people from the other huts nearby to explain their stay after abashedly apologizing to the victims of his soldier's rampage. Most of the prince's people happily welcomed the chance to rest, and with that, the beasts began trickling off to explore a bit of the town they had found themselves in. Stahl warned Rust not to cause too much trouble as he parted with the fox. The knight then left with the human, curious to see what the boy wanted to show him so badly.
Aster had been awake through the initial first contact, so he had already familiarized himself with a bit of the layout beforehand. There was one thing he was DYING to do, and the human soon found himself standing at the edge of a surprisingly clear river running along the western end of the town. They were certainly still in the Crimson Sands, or at least near the border, but the landscape had splashes of life around this area where the earth softened up a bit, and the climate felt just a little less harsh than before. Slowly but surely, the group had found themselves clear of their first great trial.
As the human looked across the simple, flowing stream, his eyes lit up in sheer delight, something that made Stahl happy to be present to experience it with him. The boy turned to the wolf, spilling his excited thoughts.
"THIS IS A RIVER RIGHT? IT'S SO MUCH BETTER THAN I EXPECTED IT TO BE! HOW FAR DOES IT GO? LOOKS LIKE FOREVER! I CAN'T EVEN SEE THE END OF IT!"
Stahl laughed at both Aster's unexpected reaction, and his own oversight. The wolf had assumed Aster just really wanted to take a bath, never even considering this was the first time the human ever had a chance to see water like this... Stahl felt a bit guilty about that, but didn't want to ruin the experience for the boy. He spoke, contempt in that moment.
"Just you wait, Aster, I'll show you the ocean some day too... The mountains, the forests, the towns... You'll see it all, and I can't wait to be there to see it all right beside you... To see you in utter awe of the world you have yet to live in." The knight leaned in close to the human for a moment, quickly licking at the tip of Aster's nose before he continued, motioning to the water as he spoke.
"But until then... Want to jump in? Captain Rix was actually right about one thing... We do both stink pretty badly. I like your scent, but still... it has been over a week..."
It was Aster's turn to laugh, as he agreed with the wolf, he had looked forward to rinsing off the desert dirt just as much as the beast had. The pair made their way to the edge of the cooling water a moment later, stopping at the ends of the earth. Stahl looked over to his human again, flashing that fanged smile of his deviously down at Aster before he spoke.
"Time to strip these rags off!"
The wolf casually placed his large hands on the bottom of his filthy shirt, pulling it up and over his head in one swift move. Aster couldn't have looked away from such a dazzling display of his solid frame if he had wanted to. Which he very much did not. To see his powerful arms flexing in that way as they shifted up, and over his torso, revealing his gorgeous coat and the firm muscles that rippled across his frame from such a simple action made Aster feel the same types of things he had back at their room. The human eyed the beast in delight as the wolf dropped his pants, kicking out of them as his fuzzy sheath and balls swung freely from their confines. Stahl turned to the boy, pointing at him with that cocky expression Aster was coming to know so well.
"Your turn! Strip!" Aster's face flushed immediately, struggling to give his answer.
"Wait! Here? But... There's people around... I can swim with my pants on... I think." Stahl wasn't having that.
"We need to wash up, and it's easier to do so and clean those pants while you aren't wearing them. Besides, it's hard to swim in clothes, and I want to swim naked with you, is that too much to ask for?" Stahl finished his rebuttal with an exaggerated pleading look to Aster, clasping his hands in mock begging. The human looked away, knowing if he stared at the wolf he would cave. He almost managed to hold his ground.
"...Shit ...FINE! YOU WIN." Aster let out a heavy sigh of defeat, Stahl actually wanted to howl in delight at his victory!
Aster removed his shirt easily enough, and took a seat to remove both of his boots shortly after, setting them aside with his headband. The human stood once more, and nervously brought his hands to the pants around his waist, looking away in embarrassment as they lingered there in his reluctance. Stahl stepped closer to the boy, and gently reached down to cup his smaller, fumbling hands in his own as he looked the human softly in the eyes, speaking slowly.
"It's alright, It's just you and me. You know I would never try to do anything to make you uncomfortable... So if you want to leave them on, it's alright, I unders-" The wolf was cut off quickly.
"NO! This is the only thing you've really asked me to do for you... The one thing that wasn't to help me in some way. I'm doing this, Stahl!" The human pulled his hands free from the wolf's own, took a deep breath in to focus his courage, and snatched his pants down to his ankles in one fell swoop as his blush flared to new heights.
Stahl didn't dare miss the opportunity to see the boy in his natural glory, as he greedily eyed the surprisingly well endowed, swinging tool of the bared human before him. His mouth watered at the very sight. While he had seen the boy naked before, this was the first time Aster had chosen to share a view of his body with the beast, making it all the more meaningful to him.
The human's tool was similar to Stahl's own, but completely different all the same. Where Stahl's sheath had connected to the flesh of his groin, Aster's hung loosely, and it seemed the sheath itself was attached to the member, instead of simply containing it. Aster's balls were decent sized, with a few hairs scattered over them. Stahl noticed the fur around the boys tool was shaved low, much as the human's face had been until recent, but not quite as close. Overall, it shaped the piece pretty well in the wolf's opinion. As Aster looked away in embarrassment, Stahl brought up a hand to gently rest on his chest before he cooed to the human.
"Aster... You're truly a wonder to behold." As tender as the beast was being, the human only flushed more at the compliment, reluctant to see it. That was alright, Stahl would remind him of it until he did believe it someday. The boy finally glanced back to the wolf a moment later, steeling his panic, motioning to the inviting water before them as he spoke in an embarrassed, hushed tone.
"Well... Shall we? Or do I have to stay out here like this all day?" The wolf smirked before quickly giving his response.
"I would definitely be alright with that." Aster didn't think it was nearly as amusing as the wolf had, but relented when the beast offered his hand to the smaller human once again before the pair stepped into the soothing water to rinse off and relax together. Or so they had hoped.
After a few short minutes of being submerged, a mighty bellow interrupted the pair as Captain Rix announced his approach with Mollis and Prince Tyfin in tow. Aster only shrunk behind the wolf when he heard the call, desperately trying to hide his nudity behind his beast of comfort. Stahl was happy to be his shield for a change, as he greeted the approaching trio cheerily.
"HEEEEEYYYY CAPTAIN RIX! THE WATER IS AMAZING! COME ON IN!" Stahl barely contained his laugh as Aster squeaked in protest behind him, not wanting company while being so exposed. The large bull bellowed back his intent to do exactly that, already stripping the little clothing he did wear as he made his way towards the water.
When the heavy bull revealed himself, Aster shuddered at the sheer size of the imposing weapon that swung between the beast's knees. Aster was sure of only one thing about the sight... That his captain's dick would surely kill some of the people that ever attempted to take the monstrous thing. There was just no way... The boy's thoughts were drawn away as the bull splashed heavily into the river, tossing the discarded clothes carelessly over his shoulder onto the bank. Mollis spoke next, giving the wolf a knowing smile.
"Hope we aren't interrupting... Prince Tyfin wanted a word... But since we are already here..." The hare stripped his own clothing then, his fuzzy little tail wiggling cutely as his rear shifted free from the confines. The hare had a very slender frame, but a decent amount of curves where they accented him the best. Something about the way the hare disrobed made something flutter within the human before the rabbit closed his eyes and eased himself into the water, sighing in relief as he settled into the relaxing current.
"Ahhh... This is the stuff. I've been DYING for a good bath for days..." The rabbit trailed off, cracking open one eye towards the lion on the bank before he continued in a playful manner "Prince Tyfin, care to join us?"
The lion only smiled, surprising Aster as he simply began to undress himself. The human was shocked the prince had actually agreed so easily, and found himself watching with a good deal of curiosity... Prince Tyfin had been fully clothed for their entire trip, never once revealing his body to his people, so Aster really didn't know what to expect, but it certainly wasn't what he saw.
As it turns out, the crown prince of Alora was in INSANELY great shape, completely taking the human by surprise as his golden fur sculpted the perfectly toned body in regal decadence. Aster even felt his breath hitch a bit at the sight, as the tufts of fur that came to points along his frame only accented the big cat's shape, making for a dazzling display of a beastman. The prince certainly had an air of royalty, even without his clothes, and a decent sized tool of his own from the looks of it. Aster was feeling heavily overstimulated as the lion prince waded into the water, joining the other four present with casual greetings. The four beasts idly talked a bit while Aster shied away from the conversation, hiding behind his wolf, his mind occupied by naked images of the beasts he had grown close to before the prince brought up what he had came to discuss in a heavy tone.
"Aster... We need to talk... We need to talk about many things..."
Stahl's own breath caught in his throat, as he realized by the lion's serious demeanor that Aster was about to learn the things he had been prohibited from learning, or at least, some of them anyways. Perhaps the wolf wouldn't have to keep those secrets from his human any longer. Stahl certainly hoped not, the guilt of lying to his boy had been gnawing away at his conscience, especially after Aster had so boldly declared he didn't want to lie to Stahl back at his estate. The wolf grew still. The hare, the bull, and the boy made no movement, listening intently as the prince began speaking to his trusted, and gathered allies. As he finally began telling Aster what he felt the boy should know.
Rust was wandering among the shops, idly peeking at the strange merchandise offered by the orcs as he killed some time. The fox was young, but he wasn't stupid. His uncles needed some time alone, and they had been forced to babysit him long enough, so the cub didn't mind giving them their privacy. Besides, he was very much intrigued in learning about the strange wares before him. The orcs were all kind towards him, answering his questions to the best of their abilities, and the fox was actually enjoying his solo trip because of it.
The cub wandered on, until he saw Oust a short distance away disappear inside of a particularly popular building, the unmistakable smell of alcohol confirmed to the young fox it was certainly a tavern of sorts. The cub was curious about what the tiger was doing, but knowing how grumpy the beast could be, decided it would probably be best if he just left him alone. The small fox walked on a bit further, when a familiar smell and sound assaulted his senses.
There was the smell of smoke in the air... There was the unmistakable ringing of metal clashing upon heated metal... There was no doubt, there was a blacksmith nearby.
A familiar sense of peace washed over the cub, the feeling of security he had found in his father's own forge where the fox had assisted him with his crafts. A sense of nostalgia that made the cub want to cry in a homesick manner for his longing to see his parents followed it shortly after. He missed his mom... He missed his dad... But he would stay strong. He would use this to grow, just like his uncle Stahl had asked him to back at the cave...
Rust balled his fists, determined not to cry in his predicament. There were many interesting wares made by the orcs, Rust was certain the blacksmith here would have equally foreign methods to his creation... The fox would find out what he could, so he would have something worthy to bring back to show his father, a new method of forging... So he could prove both just how much he had grown, and how much he had learned, despite their circumstance. The small canine beamed brightly at the thought, making his way towards the ringing strikes of steel with both a renewed sense of purpose, and a lighter heart than he had felt in days.
Thanks for reading! The next chapters should answer many of your biggest questions, and 13 will finally bring some real spice to the story. There is still plenty to come, but we are probably somewhere around 25-30% of the way through the first book. (For sure 2 books, Probably 3 by the end, could be 4 by the time I start the third but that's kind of hard to call at this point.) I appreciate those that take time to leave their thoughts, or a simple review or rating. (I've been trying to remind myself to make more frequent paragraph breaks for those that made the suggestion, and still am actively trying to be better at proofreading as well as improving my grammar, so thanks for the patience.) See y'all next chapter! -Pup Bayou