Interlude: Where the heart is

Story by Tygriss on SoFurry

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#5 of The story of Dusk

Well I planned on this been the finale but I have had a hard time with carrying on writing. Largely in part because I seem to be overlooked quite a bit here now and partly private matters.

I decided to write this as a bit of further development of Dusk and Sheliah's relationship. Nothing smutty, just a bit of tasteful nudity and heartfelt love.


At a small airport in Japan, an agitated vixen stood with her ear pressed to the receiver of a public phone. "Come on...pick up," Dusk growled under her breath, her hands balled into a fist inof frustration before a voice answered sleepily on the other side.

"Hello...who is this?"

"Sheliah, it's me...are you okay?" Dusk said as she noticed the tiredness in her mates voice.

"Dusk? It's 2am in the morning," the wolf mate of Dusk's answered before she paused as well."Wait...shouldn't you be on the flight right now?"

"There was...an air traffic incident and all the long distance flights are cancelled. I won't be seeing you for at least a couple more days..."

"Oh...I see," came Sheliahs' depressed reply. _"Just...get here safe, that is all that matters right now,"_the smoky grey female said, trying to keep the emotion from her voice as a lump formed in her throat.

"I'm sorry my love...hey I have an idea. Can you not spirit walk here and come grab me?" Dusk said in a moment of revelation.

"No...Dusk. I c-can't,"_Sheliah said in a distraught voice. _"I...am not well. And Wolf can't because, even though our numbers are few, there are still other wolf shamans he has to pay a visit to."

"Oh...I'm sorry," Dusk replied in a mollified tone, her ears drooping slightly. "Look you just hold tight okay and rest well, I'll be there before you know it."

After she got a tearful confirmation from the wolf and a bye, I love you, Dusk hung up and gave a heavy sigh. She knew how Sheliah was feeling. The distance felt as though she was minus the half of her that mattered.

She stood just at the edge of the airport in one of her custom made items. Half leg pale blue jeans with a concealed pouch inside to hide her dual gender and an ash grey crop top that did little to hide her prodigious chest.

Turning away from the public telephones she glanced to her side, noticing quite a few males staring her way. At one point she would have been flattered but now it sickened her and made her miss her mate all the more.

Then she remembered passing a resource terminal on the way here, sort of a digital library where she would be able to find information on airports, sea and ocean traffic and other information.

Making her way, she put a little of her old charm on to bag a few free minutes of a terminal before quickly downloading some maps and times onto her mobile before phoning a local taxi. "Take me to the closest docks please," she asked the driver in Japanese, having remembered most of the language after regaining her memories.

"Well it will cost you, I don't care how pretty or sexual you look I ain't doing this for free," he said in a gruff voice. Popping a red breast free she winked flirtatiously to him before he folded his arms and bluntly stated, "I'm gay."

Giving a groan, she shrugged inwardly before handing the yen over for the drive. "Can't blame me for trying right?" She said quietly, suddenly feeling ashamed that she showed signs of her old self. She needed Sheliah as much as she needed her, to save her from herself.

*

Sheliah hung up, her ears wilting as sorrow turned her heart to an icy lump She knew Dusk was missing her as much, she could hear in her tone of voice. She was the type that tried to hide things but the wolf felt like she had known Dusk for years instead of the short while they had being together.

Sheliah knew she couldn't spirit walk anymore, for to do so would be to toss the new life developing inside her to the winds. She had no idea how her love would react but the grey wolf knew for a fact, with all her heart, it meant the world to her.

*

"Here we are miss, though if you don't mind me saying why do you want to be at these here docks? There is nothing but fishing vessels," he said in curiosity as she climbed out.

"Don't you worry about that, thank you for getting me here," she said before stepping through the open gates. Here merchants bartered for the freshest catches of the day. But Dusk wasn't interested in buying fish.

She wrinkled her nose at the pungent fish scents and flattened her ears at the insistent, loud calls by the men as they jostled for the best prices for their produce. Ignoring the looks her buxom figure attracted, she glanced around before spying a small fishing raft heading out to open waters.

Ducking behind a waste bin to hide, and struggling not to pass out from the overpowering smell of fish guts, she fished around in her bag and took out a dark blue, full body leotard.

Stripping off her clothes she wriggled and made as little noise as possible as she put the tight, hugging material on, her ears and muzzle being the only thing poking out. Even her tail had been worked into a special custom sleeve for the red tip would give her away like a beacon. Fully kitted she looked like a living latex figure as she quickly and quietly stuffed her clothing inside her bag.

Quickly looking around to check the coast was clear, she slung her travel bag over her shoulder, thankful it was of a similar material before focussing on the boat. It was just within viewing distance.

Forming a hand sign she had worked on remembering since her trip to Japan, she suddenly vanished in a black puff of smoke.

A moment later she appeared on the boat, but no sooner then she had made it on Dusk was having to quickly scramble onto the small cabin roof and lay flat to avoid being spotted as a trawler man walked by. "Well, all I have to do now is keep my eyes peeled for one of the local planes and go plane hopping...piece of cake," she said sarcastically at the task that lay out before her. "What a girl will do for love," she whispered, closing her eyes as Sheliah came to mind, her lovely figure, mysterious smoky grey fur with the white shaman paint on and those mesmerising purple eyes. "We've both fallen completely under each others spell...haven't we Sheliah?" Dusk whispered to the wind, a small tear running down her black muzzle to be whipped off in the sea breeze.

*

Sheliah looked on over to her side as she crawled into bed with a soft sigh. She had been trying to fill in her time with as much work as possible, tending the gardens and doing as much shaman work as she could. But that was limited now Wolf had another to supervise and with her unable to spirit walk, she could really only meditate and astro project. She had thought of going to the shamans focussing point, Spirit Mountain, by car but the climb up would prove a danger now. Sure she talked to Wolf via their link but she longed for company. Even when he had stopped on by the odd time he could see she wasn't happy around him and he knew. Even if his nose hadn't picked up the subtle change in her scent he could feel inside her mind the hormones gearing up. She needed Dusk, they both knew they were only truly happy together now.

Looking over to where her brimstone coloured lover slept, her hand brushed her side only to feel how cold it was, her fading scent making her heart ache terribly. Her purple eyes shimmering, she felt Wolf's little tap on their link but for once, she didn't want to talk to him. She just wanted to be left alone with her thoughts.

Shutting their link she vowed to apologise to him, after all he had been so good to her to be treat this way. As the tears threatened to spill she angrily rubbed at her eyes before squeezing them tight, trying to shut the aching loneliness out and wondered if a spirit marriage was wise. It was hardly practised and served as a double edged sword. On the one hand it heightened the couples awareness and feelings of each other which made for more fun and a deeper love that was neigh on unbreakable; on the other hand though the further apart they were the more it hurt the other, and she felt guilty for Dusk must be going through as much heartache as she was.

Sheliah vowed to make up for it, there would be no harm to come to her little passenger yet and that surprise could wait, maybe she could disguise her shift in scent with perfume? Squeezing her eyes shut again, she tried for the fourth time that night to sleep.

*

A puff of black smoke heralded Dusk's appearance in the village centre, very few worked at night around here, and for that she was grateful for. Bending over onto hands and knees, she panted heavily for breath causing her huge chest to wobble and sway as the fabric seemed to exaggerate the motions. With her eyes closed as she tried to regain her breath, willing strength back into her tired, wind beaten body. The vixen was surprised she had managed to make it here without resting. She had stowed away on boats, a cruise ship and found out the hard way she could not just vanish inside a plane and had to hold on for dear life onto a wing.

She was tired and really needed a good rest but she refused to do so here, the only way she would rest at all was back in the arms of her mate. She could feel it, a powerful pull towards the village edge where her home, "their home" she reminded herself, lay. With a deep breath Dusk stood up on trembling legs and took a few steps forward before passing the fountain. Upon catching her reflection she noticed what a mess her fur was in. The red and black hair was all tangled and knotted, and her fur was ruffled, now she paid attention she stunk of rotting sea food and engine fumes.

She was just debating whether to strip here in the dark and bathe in fountain water before she felt Fox, her appointed spirit guardian, tap on her mind. "Fox? What is it?" Dusk thought wearily, just wanting some peace right now.

"Dusk? How are you here? You just suddenly showed up," came Fox spirits confused, light voice. "Never mind that, Wolf will also know you are here. He may not be your guide but he is almost as attuned to you as he is Sheliah. He has been so worried about Sheliah, she even shut him out. I think..."

"DUSK!" Wolf's angry growl vibrated around the centre, luckily there was just shops here and sheltered enough to prevent nearby dwelling from looking on. She felt the link with Fox suddenly vanish as the vixen saw in front of her the angry, snarling form of Wolf, looking like he would enjoy mauling her right about now.

"Okay...what the hell is your deal Wolf?" Dusk said in a tired groan, a hand to her head in a weary expression.

"Don't give me that!" Wolf snarled at her, his ears far back and teeth bared. "Do you know how much your absence has pained my charge? Do you?! Sheliah's heart has been crumbling with you gone and even shut me out. If it wasn't for the fact it would destroy her I would shatter the link made at your spirit wedding!"

He was in a foul mood and not looking to show her any mercy. Wonderful. Straightening herself and squaring her shoulders, Dusk folded her arms under her large chest and glared straight back at him. "I get that you are upset Wolf, but it was something that couldn't be helped. I am tired, I am worn out and I have missed her terribly as well. So you either get the FUCK out of my way otherwise there will be a fight," she growled; her own blunter teeth showing in her snarl as her bushy tail lashed.

Wolf seemed taken aback by her threat before closing his eyes as though searching her feelings. When he opened his brown eyes again he gave a wolf's chuckle. "So, you have become stronger in your week away I see," he strode up to her, all signs of malice gone before nudging Dusk as she collapsed into an exhausted heap on his back. "Forgive me, I had to make sure a mistake hadn't being made. Now I know without a doubt you are right for her. I will take you to Sheliah for I doubt you have no more strength right now," he finished before strolling off at a causal trot, easy enough for the vixen to hold on to.

*

Dusk slid off Wolf's back at the large double doors to the small mansion. Bending over, she gave Wolf a kiss on the head with a promise that from now on she will always be by her mates side before Wolf had to excuse himself, having left a shaman in training partway when he sensed Dusk's presence.

Trying the door, she sighed and muttered a soft curse to find it locked, they never did get round to getting a spare key for her sorted. Taking a step back, she crouched down and gathered what strength she had left before vaulting herself up onto the roof entrance and scaled around towards the bedroom. And there she lay, with the double glazed window open and only a thin sheet covering her form due to the stifling night. Her perky nipples showing through the sheet and her braided hair splayed like an exotic silvery curtain.

Climbing through the window she stepped up to the bed, breathing in Sheliah's scent, that of her own tinged with the tangy scent of the exotic, rare herbs she grew in her garden. A number of things flitted through the young vixens mind. To kiss her muzzle, to mate with her like sex starved animals, to hear her voice call her name, to express each others love for each other. But over riding that was the tiredness she felt, and to just feel her body next to her own.

Undressing, she decided everything else could wait, including the shower as she stripped the leotard off before climbing under the sheets. "Mmh?" Sheliah stirred as she felt the weight on the opposite side before being confronted with those dazzling blue eyes of Dusk as she looked tenderly at her mate. "D-Dusk? How did you? I mean, you can't spirit walk so how...I mean..." she tripped over herself before calming down. "Is this a dream, are you really home Dusk?"

In answer, Dusk pulled her head forward into a love filled kiss. The wolf's purple eyes shot open before tearing up in joy and closed them shut, pulling Dusk tight so their breasts mashed together and kissed deep and long, both women basking in the closeness, the familiarity, the feeling of being whole again.

After a minute they pulled away, both looking dreamily at each other. "But Dusk, how? You weren't supposed to be back for a while yet? How is it you are here in twelve hours?"

"Its a story I will tell you in the morning my love," Dusk spoke in a voice filled with love, if not tinged with exhaustion. "For now hun, let us just enjoy tonight of being together."

With no complaints from the older wolf, they both wrapped their arms together, Dusk's head finding its way under her chin. That night, they slept better than they could remember in years.