Sparks of an Ancient Light - Chapter 2
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- The Sparks of an Ancient Light - Chapter 2
A heavy weight of emotion issued from Samuel's bedroom. Laying before the heater, Ibiza Pushpath raised her head. The dragon tugged at the spines along her jaw, then rolled onto her side. She turned her head toward the couple's room. The weight of Sam's disappointment was palpable. 'I've done something. My presence has caused Sam grief.'
She got to her feet, then moved along the hall to the bedroom. Passing several other bedrooms filled to the ceiling with old odd ends, Ibiza arrived at Sam's room. "Sam?" The lion rolled his head to meet her gaze. "Hi, Ibiza. What's up?"
"Please do not be sad," she peeped, and entering the room she hopped up onto the bed. The couple chortled as the dragon sat upon Sam's chest. "Hey! Heh!"
"I can feel your disappointment." Ibiza said, reaching down with her lips to deliver a kiss, "Please tell me what I've done."
Sam chortled, "Oh, it's nothing you did, today was supposed to be a big day for me." Ibiza became alarmed, "I know I've ruined something!" Sam wrapped his arms around her. "No, sweetie. You haven't. I just had an important interview today."
He sighed. "Really important, actually."
"Well, you'd better go!" "No, I have to do my real job and look after you. I can re-apply sometime later." Ibiza head-butted his abdomen, "No, you need to go, I insist!"
"Sorry, it's out of my hands." "Is it that Kromhaut, then? Has he told you no?" She turned to Mayalee, "You must tell Kromhaut that it is important for Samuel to embark upon his interview! He must be allowed to go!" The dragon was visibly angered, and Mayalee'd become more than a little concerned about the temper that was increasingly manifesting within the dragon, 'Just like Rosemary.' "Okay, let me talk to him."
"Yes, do," Ibiza chuffed, then hopped off the bed and stalked back up the hall, "Samuel, gather your things! Whatever you need to bring with you for your job-thing." "Ibiza," Sam said as gently as he could, "You are not in charge here."
She flattened her lips, then smiled, "You're right." Sam inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, before Ibiza added; "But, if Kromhaut will not be agreeable, then neither will I."
Mayalee furrowed her brow. Sam looked to her, and despite his desire to stay and look after the dragon, he did indeed wish to keep his important appointment. "Okay, Krom says you can go." "May, I don't think-" 'Please,' she said silently. He smiled, then swallowed a nervous lump. "Alright."
Ibiza graciously masked her triumphant smile - actually, no she didn't. Hopping from foot to foot, she watched Sam gather his things, then move to the garage to start the car. Mayalee went out to see him off, then returned to the parlor where she cast Ibiza a sideways glance. "What?" The dragon asked. "Sam really should have stayed here."
"What about Herald? Where does he go? Can't he help babysit me?" "He carries out a different mission. Sam and I work on behalf of the living, while Herald looks after the dead."
Ibiza cocked her head, "Where do I fit in? From what I gather, I straddle a curious boundary between being nether dead, nor technically alive."
"That's actually a fair assessment of your physical state. You're more like Rosemary than you realize." Sam thumbed the garage door opener. Mayalee ushered the dragon deeper into the home so that she'd not be seen, should anyone look in through the garage door. Inside the car, Sam rolled away and made haste getting out onto Genstrasse Lane. He ventured north, toward the downtown corridor where he caught the Autoway Four, a main Union highway linking the various animal states that made up the continent-wide Tine Government. The State of Brandenburg was a very orderly place, and so navigating it's busy cross-town arteries was considerably easier than in other places.
'I'm sorry about this complication,' Sam said to his spiritual partner. 'There is no need for apology,' replied a gentle voice, 'I am pleased that you may keep your appointment, I know how important this interview is for you.'
'Ariadne, what is the convergence?' 'It is as it implies, an alignment of all higher dimensions.'
'Even this one?'
'No,' Ariadne said, his voice ladled with uncertainty, 'I believe Ibiza's body shall represent the third dimensional realm. Only her form will be affected during this alignment.'
'When will this alignment occur?' 'In one quarter century.' Sam sighed, 'So, we have time to figure out Ibiza's situation before anything else happens.' 'Assuming nothing further happens,' Ariadne added, 'But, for what it is worth, I wish you the very best of luck on your interview.'
"Thanks," Sam said aloud. The dragon departed. Sam and Mayalee could always tell when the dragons were gone. It was like a lid was closed over their minds, trapping their thoughts inside their skulls.
Soon Sam arrived at the central recruiting office for the national police service. He was directed to park in a special visitors area, where he set his steam-powered vehicle's thermostat to pilot, and locked up.
Feeling optimistic, Sam hurried over to the administration office. The Union Police Force was primarily dominated by horses, but Sam hoped he could slip in under the required hiring quotas for non-equine animals. The waiting room was crowded with wolves and horses who didn't seem to have a scheduled appointment, but Sam was quickly called into a side office for his scheduled meeting. A burly brown horse met Sam and shook his hand, "I am Sergeant Blackstone, please sit down."
Sam did, whilst the horse reviewed his application, "Preston, that's a Shannonvali name. You from up that way?"
Aware that the interview had started the moment he walked in, Sam answered the question as carefully as he could, (mostly on account of his fictional past!) "My great-grandmother married an eagle, I inherited the name."
The horse stuck his face into Sam's application, avoiding eye contact. You should know that among animals, this gesture would be considered extremely rude, especially given the nature of the interview. "That must have been pretty scandalous for back then," now he made eye contact for rudeness' sake, "Shit, it would get you some funny looks now."
"I suppose love doesn't care what species you are." The horse grunted, (to dismiss Sam's reply,) "How did they procreate?"
"Pardon?"
"The eagle, how did he procreate with your grandmother, if she was a lion."
"Oh, they tried really hard I suppose!"
Another grunt, "I see your wife is a mouse, carrying on the family tradition of odd parings?" Sam flicked his long whiskers, "You could say that." "I see you have a class one credit rating," he again peered over the top of the application, "How do you manage that, if you're presently unemployed?"
"I hold a lot of stock and assets." "How do you two fuck, anyway? If she's a mouse and you're a lion?" He leveled his gaze at Sam, "Unless you're hung like a squirrel."
Sam took care to not betray any emotion as he inwardly laughed, 'Oh, you have NO idea!'
Rising from his seat, Sam made for the door; "I'm sorry for wasting your time, officer, I was under the illusion that this was a professional police force."
"Mister Preston, please, this line of dialog was part of a character assessment, and you did great!" The embarrassed horse stuck out his hand, "Please, I hope you weren't too offended!"
Sam took the horse's hand and shook it. "Alright."
A pair of feline officers emerged from a side office to meet with Sam. One was a short female serval, and the other was some sort of male spotted leopard, "Hello, Mister Preston! I'm Special Agent Tull, with your permission I'd like to run a background check on you and have you meet with one of our councilors."
Sam knew he was poised to be hired! "Certainly,"
Tull nodded, "You knocked this initial interview out of the park!" He scribbled an address onto a note, "I'd like you to report to this address straight away, you'll meet with Allomere Clemens."
Sam got into character; "Yessir,"
The leopard tapped his heel on the tile floor, "You have your assignment, carry on."
Sam took the address, slipped it into his pocket, "Yessir!"
"And Sam," Blackstone asked, "Just how did your grandparents have children?"
Sam winked at the horse; slipped out of the office. As he walked back to his vehicle, an odd tingling climbed up his spine, but as quick as it'd come, the sensation ceased. Arriving at his run-down steam-powered car, Sam slid behind the wheel and prepared to push off. He checked his mirrors, then began his journey deep into Brandenburg's sector of the capital district. Soon he found himself within a maze of nondescript office buildings. Many bore no names, whilst some offered cryptic titles. Sam understood that they were government offices. 'Well, I am being interviewed for the national police service,'
Stationed along some street corners were large police cruisers with stern lions at their helm. As he passed them, Sam turned his head to meet their gaze. Their stern faces became friendly as they nodded to Sam. He smiled warmly, pleased beyond measure that they seemed professional. 'I'll do the same for other animals if I get the job,'
Then, he happened upon the address he sought. Sam rolled into a well-manicured facility and parked in a visitor space. The building before him loomed large. Not in a thousand years had a structure seemed so imposing.
"Looks like Kreighoff Manor," he murmured, recalling the ancient headquarters of his old garrison. Making his way into a sheltered causeway between the two halves of the building. There was a nice fountain with fish who peacefully swam about. Sam paused to admire their bright colors, whilst a lingering scent of fish food and algae hung in the air. A large camera globe observed him, Sam knew the interview was already well underway.
He drew a breath, then entered the reception area. "Hello, I'm Sam Preston," he said to a lioness seated behind a window. She nodded to him; reached out for his appointment slip. Sam handed it through the little hole. "Doctor Clemens will be with you in a moment."
Sam sat in a nearby chair, but quickly stood as a door opened. "This way," a hawk said, gesturing with his wing. Sam entered a hall; passed many doors before he was directed to a side office. "How are you today?"
"I'm well!" Sam replied in a cheery, professional tone. "So, you want to be a police officer?"
"That is my desire, yes."
The hawk smiled, "Any particular reason?"
"My friends all tell me I'd make a pretty good officer." Allomere smiled as he opened a notepad with his foot. Sam was asked what he thought about pregnant females who consume alcohol. He answered as carefully as he could. He was asked what he thought about child abuse. Again, Sam answered as carefully as he could.
"Now," Allomere said, "You have a female between you and her large mate. The female is attempting to keep you from arresting her mate while the male is becoming aggressive and combative, what do you do?"
There was actually an Imperial Army procedure for this very situation. Sam remembered his old training manuals, because he'd written some of the procedures for his troops. Sam answered the question. Allomere reached up with his foot to scribble something into his notepad, "Have you ever been employed by any local police agencies?"
"No, sir."
"Ever been in the military?"
(Sam almost answered 'Yes!') "No, sir."
Allomere closed his notebook, "Very good! Our interview is concluded. If you'll wait here, someone will be in to escort you out."
"Thank you, sir."
Allomere waved his wing at Sam as he departed. A moment later, the lioness from the front reception area appeared to escort Sam out of the building. He noted her toned arms and figured her to be a former officer. He said nothing to her, for she initiated no conversation, except to thank Sam for visiting.
"Goodbye," he replied. Sam crossed the lawn to find a police cruiser parked next to his automobile. A pair of lion officers appeared to be running Sam's license plate. As Sam approached, one of the officers beckoned to him, "Is this your car?"
"Yessir,"
"Could you please stand to the rear of the cruiser?"
Sam did as he was instructed. A crackling came over the police radio. It was a series of code words which the officers replied to with their own coded language. Finally, the larger of the two lions took out his handcuffs, "Sir, this vehicle is reported stolen."
Sam swallowed, because the car could very well have once been stolen property. He nodded to the officer, "I purchased it from a junk yard, hopefully we can get it all sorted out."
Now handcuffed, Sam was placed in the back of the cruiser and driven out of the office park. After a quick hop on the interstate, Sam was taken to a police sub-station. The officers said nothing to Sam, and he said nothing to them. Something at the back of his mind told him that this was all a little too convenient. He suspected they wanted Sam to feel what it was like to be arrested, before he was hired as an officer.
The car rolled to a stop inside the facility. Sam was taken out and led inside. There, his pockets were emptied and he was photographed. Placed in a holding cell, Sam's handcuffs were removed. 'Okay, any minute now they're going to come in with big smiles and tell me I'm hired.'
Several minutes ticked by, nothing happened.
Sam did his best to be comfortable as he waited. Minutes passed to hours, and still no one came for him. Finally, a pair of lionesses entered the cell, "Mister Preston?"
He got to his feet, "Yes?"
They presented him with an orange jumpsuit, "Put this on, you'll be moved in fifteen minutes. Can you provide us with the phone number of a family member, someone we can notify on your behalf?"
'Boy, they're really laying it on thick!' Sam thought as he provided his contact information. Next hour, Sam was placed in a jail cell with another lion, a young male who'd been caught shoplifting.
The youth glanced at Sam as he was brought in, then hopped up onto his upper bunk. Intrigued, Sam used his powers of mind to investigate the young lion's motives that ultimately led him to jail. It was as he suspected.
"You know you don't have to steal stuff to get your dad's attention."
The other swung his head down, "What?"
"Your dad, I'm going to guess you were trying to get his attention?"
The youngster retreated to his upper perch, "Leave me alone," "Okay, sure, but if you'd like to hear how you can really get his attention, just let me know."
A moment later; "Okay, what?"
"Hmm?" Sam replied.
"What's your big secret?"
Sam smiled, "Your old lion is not ignoring you, he simply doesn't know how to be a father. Do you follow?"
The youngster poked his head down, but said nothing to Sam. The elder smiled, "What's your name?"
"Dimitri,"
"Hi Dimitri, I'm Sam."
"What do you mean he doesn't know how to be a father? He knows a lot, or he seems to." "Does your dad have a temper?" "Y-yes," "Roars a lot?" Dimitri nodded.
"I'd like to suggest your father is actually a very good father, and he's trying the best that he can to stay a good father, by being a little distant from you," Sam sighed, "Because he's afraid that if he gets too close, he'll lose his temper and hurt you."
"Ohhh," Dimitri breathed. "If you'd like your dad to get closer to you, try and give him a lot of space. I think you'll find he'll respond to you if you respect his boundaries."
"But he's my dad, he has responsibilities-" "Does he feed you?" Sam asked, "Does he provide for you?"
"Yeah," Dimitri sighed.
"Then his responsibilities to you have been met."
"Okay," Dimitri replied, "Let me think about all that."
Sam understood that the conversation was over, so he left Dimitri alone. As the hours wore on, the light coming in through the small window faded, until it was dark. At the end of the hall, an officer could be heard entering. Footsteps approached. "Dimitri Hagar?"
The boy hopped down from the top bunk, "Yeah?" The officer opened the cell to release the youngster, "You're released."
Dimitri glanced at Sam. His eyes spoke volumes, but like his father, Dimitri had difficulty expressing his feelings. Sam nodded to him as Dimitri was led away. The cell door closed with a firm click.
Sam was left alone.
The evening deepened into night. Beyond the heavy doors, Sam could hear the shunting and banging of police officers as they performed whatever duties they were assigned. Sam drifted off to sleep as the random noises became softer and less frequent.
Next morning, Sam was awakened by an officer opening his cell, "Samuel Preston?"
Sam rolled from his sleeping cushion, "Yes?"
"This way,"
The officer led Sam out along a narrow hall to a secure car park. Sam was handcuffed across his front, then loaded into a white van with two other felines. A driver took his place behind the wheel. At the other side of the car park, an officer opened a large powered door. The van rolled through the door, which slid closed as they exited. Now underway, the van drove a short distance to one of serval Union courthouses. Once the van arrived, junior police officers took custody of Sam and led him to a holding cell within the court. Inside, Sam noted that some of the other prisoners were muzzled.
Sam was taken to a holding room that looked more or less like a regular waiting room, though there were large metal rings in the floor to secure prisoners, which Sam was now attached to.
It wasn't long before a lion entered, wearing a black business suit and bearing a briefcase, "Mister Preston?"
"Yes?"
"I'm Bernard Ganz, I'm your court appointed attorney."
Sam began to feel less and less certain that this was all a ruse, "Yes?"
"I guess you were driving a stolen car," the lawyer glanced at a series of papers, "Well, we'll get this all sorted," he paused to look Sam up and down, "You've never been in trouble before?"
"No, sir,"
"Fine, now, is there anything you need to tell me? About this car, or anything else?"
"I purchased it from a junkyard auction about five years ago, all of it's paperwork appeared to be in order, I don't know how it could have come up stolen,"
Bernard nodded, "Well, sometimes these things happen," he closed his briefcase, "What we'll do today is enter a plea of not-guilty. You'll be released, and given a court date. In the meantime, I'll do some research on your car and see if I can figure out who sold it to the junk yard you purchased it from, sound alright?"
"Yes, thank you."
After a moment, an orderly entered to release Sam from the metal loop holding him to the floor. Sam was led into a courtroom where a large giraffe female presided over a case. A wolf was found to be implicated in a burglary. The giraffe judge took the wolf's plea, and then scheduled a court date for him. Then, it was Sam's turn; "Samuel M. Preston?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"You are charged with possession of stolen property, a class one misdemeanor, how do you plead to this charge?"
"Not guilty,"
"Plea of not guilty is entered, accused will report to the Union Police Academy in Albany on June seventeenth to begin his training!" (Sam's knees nearly buckled, he was so relieved,) "Good luck, Mister Preston!"
Outside the chamber, Sam was met by his 'attorney,' Bernard Ganz. Sam's muzzle split into a broad smile as he greeted the lion, "Hey! How is my case going?"
"You're screwed!" Bernard chimed as he shook Sam's hand, "Because I'm going to be your training officer!"
Tears blurred Sam's eyes, "You guys got me pretty good!"
"You handled it like a champ!" Bernard said, "And, you'll of course be paid for all of the time you spent in the clink."
"Do you guys do this to every recruit?"
Bernard weighed his answer, "Actually," he leaned in close, "Some of your answers really surprised our psychological examiner, he wanted to see how you'd react to being arrested."
"It sucked," Sam chuffed.
"Bear that in mind," Bernard replied, "When you're on the street. A wrongful arrest could ruin someone's life."
***
Back at Sam's residence, Ibiza sat perched upon the back of the sofa like a giant pet grasshopper, patiently waiting for her owner to come home. Mayalee entered the parlor, "He'll be back soon, Ibby, you can come down off the sofa." "I asked you not to call me that." The dragon murmured.
"A couple of months ago, Sam and I agreed to go have dinner out, in case he was hired." She paused to tug at her long black hair, "I don't suppose you could stay here on your own?"
"Of course I can," Ibiza glanced back at the mouse, "I'm not a prisoner here." "I know, uh, Ibiza. I just want to make sure you'll be alright."
"I am going to go and inspect the area where you said I appeared. You say the ground may show me things? Memories of events that have happened?" "Yes," Mayalee replied, "But, don't you think Sam and I should accompany you?"
Ibiza slid down onto the large padded cushions. "I think I am perfectly capable of looking around," she held up her paws, "And, no one will see that I am a dragon, because I will hide in your spirit world."
That prospect actually made Mayalee more uncomfortable, "Uh, just please be careful, Ibby. That's Glroafin's realm." She quickly added, "Glorafin is Kromhaut's sister."
"I'm sure she is as charming as her brother," Ibiza smirked, "So go, have your dinner, I'll return sometime soon."
"Ibiza, it's really important that you not reveal yourself to anyone, okay?"
The dragon smiled, "I promise." Just then, the garage door opened. The pair rushed through the hall toward the door that led into the garage. Sam laughed as they threw themselves at him. Inside, Sam regained them with his tale of being arrested. Surprisingly, Ibiza understood all of the concepts involved in being a police animal, and how the interview process should be conducted. "Go, have your dinner." Ibiza said, "I will conduct my own investigations, and return to tell you what I may discover, if anything."
The dragon disappeared from normal sight, but in the familiar's special vision, the dragon appeared as a ghostly white entity. Mayalee was stunned that her normally black eyes now appeared as extremely bright spotlights, 'Great,' she thought, 'Ibby is sure to be low-key to any ghosts she might encounter.'
'Until we meet again,' Ibiza said, then slipped from the home. Sam looked after her, "That was a funny way to say 'I'll be back soon.'"
"She isn't coming back," Mayalee sighed.
Later that evening, Sam and Mayalee arrived at their selected restaurant. The couple had to be careful of late, as they were recognized by an animal who'd seen them decades before. Mayalee chose an outdoor cafe restaurant near the mid-city district, not far from the police headquarters.
Seated beneath a cozy patio, Sam poked at his fish fillets, whilst Mayalee munched on a salad. 'What's on your mind?'
"Oh, I was just thinking about Herald and Ibiza," he answered aloud. 'Yes?' Mayalee silently continued on account of her mouth-full of food.
"I'm beginning to think it might finally be time for Herald to go, he's fulfilled his obligations to us."
'That's up to Kromhaut,' Mayalee began, but Sam reminded her that part of their function as familiars was to serve as their dragon's conscience. "Okay," she said, "What are we going to do without Herald? He's pretty irreplaceable."
"We need to replace him with someone else."
Mayalee scoffed, "Krom will never go for that," "I've been thinking about Ibiza," Sam said, "And the more I do, the more I feel she should replace Herald when he retires." Mayalee rolled her eyes, "That's crazy! She has Rosemary's mind! You can't expect her to be trustworthy!"
"Don't you remember what Herald was like when he was released from his ship? He was awful!"
She took a sip of her mineral water, "Okay, point taken," she took another nervous sip, "I dunno Sam, Rosemary is a different sort of crazy. If Ibiza really does have her marbles, it could be catastrophic to allow her to be a spiritual guide."
He sighed, "Everyone deserves a chance." The mouse momentarily thought of Rosemary herself as a possible replacement for Herald, before she dismissed the idea; "Why did Rosemary change her name, anyway?" Sam shrugged, "Maybe for the same reason Herald changed his, because she felt ashamed."
Mayalee looked to the animals seated around them, as some long-past memory came to her. Sam cupped his hand over hers, "If she feels ashamed, it might mean that she's sorry."
"She put a lot of animals to death, Sam."
"And Herald murdered a lot of marine mammals, but look how dignified and fatherly he is now, even though he's still as hard-headed as a highland goat!"
She had to admit he had a point. "May," he said, "We need to consider Ibiza, or even Rosemary. I think one or both of them should join us."
"No, Sam..." she whispered, "I have to draw a line there, I just can't spend an extended period of time with Rosemary, not like that."
He tapped his claws on the table, "Alright, let's talk about this later,"
"Much later," she added.
Sam leaned back in his seat, "Whoever we do select for our fellowship, they'll be with us forever. We need to choose carefully."
Mayalee smirked, "Doesn't 'fellowship' have an overly religious connotation?" He leaned forward, "Kromhaut is sorta our god."
She chortled, "You know, Krom told me about the young lion you were in jail with. You really seemed to be a great help to him, I think you should consider yourself for Herald's position."
"Yeah, but I helped someone who is alive, Herald helps the dead." Just then, a red-tailed hawk entered the restaurant, accompanied by a pretty red fox. Sam's mouth fell open, "Allomere?"
"Sam!"
Allomere gestured for the waiter to place his avian-specific chair at Sam's table. The hawk's companion shyly seated himself and smiled to Mayalee, "Hello,"
"This is my husband, Timothy," Allomere said with undisguised pride, "What a coincidence meeting you here!"
"This is my wife, Mayalee." Allomere bowed to her, as Timothy glanced at Sam. The fox broadcast a fairly explicit but rather cute fantasy involving himself and Sam. The lion attempted to betray no reaction whilst Mayalee smiled. "I must compliment you on your 'suggestion' that Sam be arrested."
"I hope you're not too sore about that," Allomere replied, "I was so taken by your answers, I wanted to see how you'd react to real pressure," Timothy imagined himself kneeling behind Sam. The lion snorted. "Feeling alright?" Allomere asked. Sam nodded, "Just a tickle in my throat."
Mayalee glanced at Timothy. There was something about the fox, she almost felt she'd seen him somewhere before. For the sake of Sam's embarrassment, I won't relay what Timothy is presently imagining. Thankfully, a pair of waiters arrived to take the party's order. After they'd gone, Sam indulged Timothy by reaching across the table to cup his large hand over Timothy's, "So, what do you do for work?"
The fox visibly reacted to Sam's touch. "I work for a bookstore." "Ah," Mayalee chirped, "I love bookstores!"
"Me too, that's why I couldn't think of anything else I wanted to do." Allomere nodded, "What about you, Sam? What do you do?"
"I'm unemployed right now." The hawk nodded, "Yes, that's what your application said. But what about before that? How did you come into so much knowledge?"
"I'm something of a historian. That was my passion when I was younger."
Allomere nodded, and accepted Sam's evasive answer. 'He thinks you have experience as a soldier.' Mayalee silently relayed. 'Well, he's not wrong,' came Sam's reply.
After dinner, the four seemed reluctant to part, with Timothy perhaps the most unwilling to end the meeting. As Timothy was drawn to Sam, it seemed Mayalee fancied the hawk. Allomere didn't need to read minds to know she was lonely. "It's only half past seven, would you like to come over to my place?"
Mayalee answered a bit too quickly, "Yes!" Allomere was understanding. He offered the familiars his address, and then departed with his husband. Mayalee ushered Sam to their own car, and then checked a map. "Just west of Financial! That's a nice area!"
"Allomere probably makes a lot," Sam said as he fired up their car's boiler, "He's the go-to councilor and criminal profiler for the Union Police."
Sam could practically see a giant thought bubble above his wife's head, "What?" he chortled. "Wasn't it cute how Timothy fancied you so much?" Sam smiled, "He sure did." Mayalee patted his thigh, "And I really liked Allomere, so, what if we got Allomere and Timothy to join us?"
"Join us? As familiars?"
Her smile became bigger and bigger the more she thought of it. Sam could see that Kromhaut was on the defensive, urging his mouse to be cautious, but Mayalee was having none of it. Her mind was made up, "We need help, Sam. They'd be perfect."
"May, what we need is a spiritual guide, that's Glorafin's purview. Do you really want Allo and Timothy to have to deal with Glorafin?"
She balled her fists in frustration, "Ariadne is the Incarnation of Transition! That's a spiritual function! They could work with sprits through his auspice!"
"We're going to upset the balance," Sam warned. He reached over to cup his hand on her thigh, "I know how much you want this, I know you want Herald to be able to retire, and bring in some new friends, but we have to do this right!"
He noticed she was weeping, "Come on, May, we're almost there, pull yourself together!"
"Sam, I don't know if I can hide who I am anymore," she looked to him, "I'll either have to retire, like Herald, or have a new pair of friends I can fully confide in," she choked back a sob, "I need those boys," "What about their families?" Sam asked, "We'll have to orchestrate some sort of disappearance to mask their lack of aging! Their families will lose them! Do you really want that for them?"
Within Sam's mind, his dragon offered some encouragement; 'The fox, Timothy Buttons, appears to be an orphan. And Allomere has but a single Aunt, with whom he sporadically communicates. This couple would seem to be a good match for our cause.'
Mayalee immediately seized on this information. 'Wow, thanks, Ariadne,' Sam groused.
'It was no trouble at all!' The innocent dragon replied.
Now Sam approached the upscale neighborhood where Allomere lived. The area featured rolling hills upon which were built long slab-like homes. Sam drew some amusement that the homes resembled military bunkers.
"Number six six four!" Mayalee chirped, "That's it!"
Sam felt extremely awkward parking his dilapidated steam-powered car amongst the neighborhood's high-end gasoline powered motor cars. 'Once I'm a cop, I'm going to buy one of those.'
Mayalee hopped out once Sam set the brake. Sam came around to take her hand, then the couple made their way up the long walk to the home, 'What are you going to do?' Sam asked his mate.
She squeezed his hand, 'Let's have a little fun,'
He rolled his eyes as they made their way up to the flat. The hawk's house was situated atop a wide hill, with a long walkway that lead to a nearby park. At the top of the path, the home did indeed resemble a fortified military building. There were no windows, (at least ones facing east,) and the only visible door was a large oak hatch with formidable iron rivets. Sam arched his brow as he knocked. From within, several sliding bolts and locks could be heard unfastening. Mayalee smirked at the display of high security, 'They knew we were coming.'
"Hiya!" Timothy chimed as he invited Sam and Mayalee inside. The couple thanked him as they entered, noting the somewhat odd decor of the residence. 'It looks like a toy shop,' Sam said silently. 'You should see what Timothy is thinking,' she replied.
Sam chortled at Timothy's fantasy, but the fox took his outburst to mean he found the assorted stuffed toys to be silly, "Uh, one of my side jobs is making toys."
"They're lovely," Mayalee said. Sam slipped his arm around Timothy, "You are very talented."
"Ah!" Allomere chirped, "Welcome to my nest!"
The hawk greeted his visitors, then invited them to sit, "So! I'd really like to know how you knew the best answers to a lot of those tough questions." "Is this visit business, or pleasure?" Sam joked, but Allomere seemed oddly serious, "That depends on you. I would actually like to know where you picked up your knowledge."
"As I said, I do a lot of research," Sam replied, "Many of my ancestors were soldiers, and in those times there was very little difference between a police animal and a soldier. I suppose enforcement procedures haven't changed all that much over the centuries."
"Fair enough," Allomere replied, "Your studies have certainly paid off."
Timothy brought a tray of drinks and snacks. Mayalee noted Allomere's continued suspicion, 'He thinks you're withholding information,' she relayed to him. 'Yes, I know,' Sam replied, 'He feels I have actual experience, and he's correct.'
Sam sighed, "Okay, I do have a confession," Allomere glanced sharply at him, "Yes?" "I worked as a security contractor in East Makuria, saw a bit of combat."
"Ah! So you lied about military service!"
"Not really," Sam retorted, "I was not a part of any national force."
Timothy glanced at his husband as Allomere gently clacked his mandible, "Very well, Sam, but I don't understand why you wouldn't wish to list your combat experience."
Sam rubbed his snout, "I never reported the income." Allomere's eyes widened, but in a way he was relieved that all of Sam's pieces had finally fallen into place. "Okay, Sam, but again I have to ask, why didn't you report your income?"
Sam spoke to the hawk in fluent Mantuan, "Watashi wa, jibun jishin o mantovua no minashimashita."
"I see," Allomere replied, though his Mantuan was considerably more rusty than Sam's. "Well," the hawk continued, "I wish you would have provided a complete history in order for me to properly render a decision, but I accept your omission."
"Thank you kindly," Sam said with a bow.
The business part out of the way, the talk turned to more mundane topics. As they chatted, Timothy's position on the sofa inched closer and closer to Sam. The lion finally reached out to pull the fox onto his lap. Timmy wasted no time burying his snout beneath Sam's arm. 'Wow, he really likes your scent.' Mayalee silently chortled. Allomere's feathers fluffed up as he suggested; "Why don't you take off your pants, Sam?"
"Oh? Is that alright?"
The hawk smiled, "It'll help me forget your little omission."
Sam rest his chin on Timmy's snout as he pulled his trousers off. The desperately excited fox followed suit, and delivered the biggest surprise of the evening. "Woah," Mayalee breathed, "Timothy, you're really huge." She hopped from her seat to examine the fox's sizable member. "Wow!"
None was more impressed than Sam as he took Timothy into his mouth. Mayalee hopped up and down as her husband worked, "Make sure he doesn't cum! I want to try him out!" Allomere chortled as Sam worked his muzzle across Timothy's length. 'Sorry, babe. I want him to cum in my mouth!'
"Awww!" She peeped as Timothy grasped Sam's cheeks and unloaded into his throat. "Can I be next?" She asked. Timothy softly chuffed as Sam sucked hard, hoping to swallow down every drop. Mayalee pulled off her dress and positioned herself on the sofa. Sam cupped his hand on Timothy's bottom, and guided him over to Mayalee. Allomere hopped from his perch to get a closer look as the tip of Timmy's penis bumped Mayalee's bottom. "Ready?" Sam asked. "Okay," the fox replied; reaching out to grasp the mouse's bottom, "But, aren't I too big?"
"Put it in!" Mayalee moaned. Timothy bit his lip, then pushed his first few inches inside the little mouse. Mayalee groaned, but pushed back against him, forcing more of his length inside. Timothy's eyes widened as most of his penis was now inside her! Sam smiled to him, "Go on, fuck her hard, she can take it."
"O-okay," Timothy peeped. He gripped her tail, then pushed all the way in. Mayalee's moans mingled with Allomere's excited squeaking, "Wow! She's really taking you! How does it even fit?"
Timothy pulled most of the way out; thrust back in, "Oh, fuck," he grunted. Sam took Timmy's hand and put it on Mayalee's hair, "Pull her hair, she loves it." "Oh, oh," he breathed as Sam dragged his tongue along Timothy's backside. "Fuck her hard, Timothy."
The fox rhythmically slapped against her, yanking her hair with each thrust. "Harder," she hissed, "Do it all harder." "She's a lioness!" Allomere chimed, enjoying himself immensely, "I should have guessed the little animals would be the expert bottoms!"
Timothy cried out as he climaxed. Mayalee groaned as she began to clamp down on the fox's penis. "Hey! Ow!" He chuffed, and quickly pulled out. "S-sorry," Mayalee breathed, "You really fucked me good!"
"You put on a great show!" Allomere chimed, "I look forward to our next visit!" Mayalee turned about to take the fox in her mouth. "Well," Sam said, "Hopefully this visit isn't going to end anytime soon."
Later that night, Sam escorted his wife home. "Thanks," he said.
"For what?"
"For not springing anything on them. For playing it cool and not mentioning the supernatural." She poked at his elbow, "If these two join us, Herald would be free to go and be with his husband, everybody would get what they want!"
"What about Allomere?" he asked with a flare of his nostrils, "He won't have any way of knowing what he's getting into until it's too late," he fell silent with a sigh. "Sam, do you regret joining me?"
He sighed, "No, not by a long shot," he glanced at her, "It's just hard being on the move all the time, of not being able to have any lasting friends."
"Like Allomere and Timothy?" She asked, "They could be our friends for as long as we need them."
"This isn't about us," he retorted. "Sorry, that came out wrong," she replied.
The pair continued on, each lost in their thoughts as they made their way back home. At length Sam thumbed their garage door opener as they arrived home, "I'm going to ask that Allomere be able to back out of any agreements, once we reveal to him what we are."
Mayalee understood that his words were not directed at her, but surprisingly, her dragon issued no negative feelings toward Sam's request. Inside, the home seemed terribly empty. "I'm actually wishing Ibiza was here," Sam heard himself say. Now mentally crashing from their earlier emotional highs, the familiars settled into their nighttime routines as Sam thought of the hawk, and his reynard husband. "Holy fuck, Timothy had a huge cock."
"He'd make a horse jealous, I've never seen such a thing attached to a fox." Sam winked at her, "Sampled many foxes?"
"Heh, before I met you I drowned my sorrows with random sexual encounters. It was the only way I could cope." He gently touched her, "It seemed like you needed Timothy, you feeling okay? Anymore sorrows to drown?"
"Sam, I'm so worried about Ibiza. I wonder where she is right now." Sam took her in his arms. "She's right where she needs to be."
- The Sparks of an Ancient Light - Chapter 2 - by Chris Sawyer, 2021