FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Counter Earth Chronicles- Dual Realities

Chapter 7: How Do You Describe Something That Is Unknown?

March 11th YOE 35

04:11 PM (Counter Earth)

"And how was your day at school Mr. Collins?" A stern looking St. Bernard asked the black haired teen.

"It was fine overseer thank you for asking." Corey responded to the image that was projected on his pad.

"I understand that you are having some difficulty with Calculus?"

"There are some concepts that are beyond my comprehension overseer."

"I wouldn't worry about it, you will never use it outside of your education anyway." The canid beastial replied. "Say shouldn't you be home by now human? You wouldn't be delaying your arrival for some reason?"

"You mean to like join some rogue faction and try to over throw the empire?"

"Not funny human. Not funny in the slightest."

"Relax, I got home safely thanks for asking." The teen said eyeing the apartment building where he lived with his father.

"You young human, you know the rules." The he beast started reciting to Corey.

"School then home and nothing else in between." The teen said to his beastial overseer. "If I didn't know any better I would say you beastials are trying to control us."

"We will talk tomorrow." The canid beastial said ending his transmission.

As he entered the orange and brown high rise Corey wondered if he should even bother to do his homework. Was his overseer truthful about never using Calculus?

The teen entered the building and made his way up the stairs to the third floor. Exiting the stairwell he found the door to his apartment ajar.

He peeked in to see two men talking to his father. One appeared to be a green ogre- a big green brute with long ears, yellow eyes and protruding teeth from a slack-jawed jawline. The other individual was a scruffy black haired individual in a brown blazer and green pants. Both appeared to be in heavy discussions with the younger Collins' father.

All three looked at Corey as he entered the apartment.

"Home from school?" Chris asked his son.

"Yeah." Corey said staring down his father's guests.

"You have a fine looking child there." The ogre said looking at the black haired teen. "He could be of use to us. You both could."

"Friends of yours pop?" The younger Collins asked the older who was wearing a long brown jacket and boots and had his hair tied off in ponytail.

"I sure do hope so." Came the reply.

"I will be in my room- um, homework you know." The teen said walking past the two visitors.

Corey hated coming home to sights like this- his father engaged in business transactions with... well it was best that he did not know. Probably goons representing yet another thug his father was coddling up to. Maybe he should find something... anything to do after school instead of coming RIGHT home- and for the rest of this evening he should stay inside and lock his door.

March 12th YOE 35

4:24 PM (Counter Earth)

"Human, I am sorry but I must ask you to leave." The peahen said sternly approaching the table Corey Collins had been seated at.

"What? Hey? I am minding my own business!" The black haired teen said looking around the section of the World Five City Archives the avian had found him in.

"You can't be here without permission even if you are quietly working on math problems." The peahen said crossing her wings staring at the teen's homework on his pad.

Apparently she had been watching him for some time.

"I don't understand why?" Corey said looking up annoyed feigning not to know the reason why.

"You must have permission of your overseer to be here you filthy stinking human."

"And what makes you think I don't?" The teen shot back.

"This."

The librarian pulled at small pad she had been carrying on her person and displayed its visual to Corey. It was a picture of him seated at the same table with a large red x over him.

"Security feature to keep your kind from roaming all over the place don't you know."

"Oh." The teen gasped after being discovered. "Am I in trouble?"

"If your overseer finds out or the knights." The female avian responded. "If I were you, I would study elsewhere."

"You are thinking that I do have an elsewhere." The teen replied sarcastically.

"What about your home or where ever it is you reside?"

"You are assuming that it is a pleasant place to be ma'am." Corey said looking at the peahen who was now scowling at him.

"LEAVE!!"

"Okay, okay... this is me leaving!"

Corey picked up the pad he had been working on and marched past the librarian grumbling a few choice words as he left.

As he walked out the two story marble structure in the heart of downtown he decided that it would be in his best interest to head home in case word did get back to his overseer or worse he could be picked up by a knight patrol who was looking for second class citizens who were out of their designated areas as well.

It was a twenty minute walk from the World Five Archives to the three bedroom apartment Corey shared with his father. As he entered the foyer of the building still sulking about being kicked out of the library, he noticed that something seemed off. Even more so than the day before.

As he made his way to the third floor he noticed there was no one around. The floors of the building needed to be swept and the stairwell needed new wallpaper.

As the exterior door to his apartment opened, Corey noticed a peculiar smell greet his nose. It wasn't food, he couldn't remember when his father last cooked. It wasn't cleaning agents either he would be so lucky. No... it was the smell of sex!!

He moved from the entrance past the common area, the kitchen and bathroom. Yup his father's room was closed and there were noises coming from within- happy noises.

"Christopher that is the biggest one I have ever seen!!!" A female voice said from the other side of the door.

"Your assets aren't bad either hun, now c'mere..." The male voice said.

"What game are we going to play now?" Another female voice asked.

"How about patty-cake?!" Chris replied. "Find your pleasures where you can!"

**giggle**

"UGH!!" Corey grumbled to himself. Yesterday it was goons and now bimbos. He really hated coming home especially when his father was chasing tail and from the sounds of it he was entertaining a few ladies.

Well, at least he wasn't engaging in illegal activities or was he? Regardless, it looks like he was on his own for dinner.... again.

He walked into the kitchen area where he noticed a large circular bucket. It reminded him of a croc-pot he had seen in a museum. This wasn't here yesterday. He stared at it closely.. Food Automator.

Was this one of those replicators he had heard about? Since when could his dad afford that? Right his activities, illegal, illicit and otherwise. Should he try it out? Why not?

The black haired teen studied the device- there was a display screen and a large button in the center. That was it. He pressed it.

***Please state your request***

Corey thought for a moment "HIBACHI CHICKEN with lemon, sesame seeds, teriyaki sauce, soup, stir fried vegetables, teriyaki noodles, rice and a side salad."

***Processing****

***Processing****

Was this going to work? Corey thought to himself.

***Error! Cannot complete request. A subscription is required.***

It figures!

"What can I get without a subscription?" The younger Collins asked the device.

***Your meal is ready***

The lid of the bucket opened to reveal the replicator's dish of the day. A single grain of white rice. Uncooked.

Corey rolled his eyes as there was a loud knock at the front door. The teen made his way from the kitchen through the common area to the foyer of the apartment.

As he opened the door, behind it were two knights of Sovereign. A female dhole and a red panda. The two appeared quite menacing in their blue uniforms with yellow highlights.

"Junior knight Tima! Junior knight Tandor! Um, what happened to junior knight Fulli?" Corey ask thinking about the bat that rounded out the trio who knew him and his father all too well.

"No longer a junior knight." Tima replied bluntly.

"Wow, she finally got promoted." Corey said folding his arms behind his head. "It took long enough, I thought all three of you would be junior grade forever."

Tandor grit his teeth to that snotty remark. "Corey Collins, where is your father? We have come here to collect him."

"You mean this isn't a social call? Come on you are here often enough!" When that snarky reply received no play. Corey dug a little deeper. "For what?"

"Theft, extortion, blackmail." The female dhole replied.

"Oh, you mean the usual." Corey smiled back at the two frowning knights.

"And conspiracy." The red panda added.

"Well that is a new one." Corey said as the dhole walked passed him, through the common area. She looked at a tracker on her wrist confirming the older Collins whereabouts in the apartment before entering the master bedroom.

There was a bit of commotion and then three scantily clad women ran out of the apartment. A blond, brunette and red head in various stages of undress.

"Three at one time?" Tandor replied. "Well that is a new record."

The red panda and Corey watched as Tima emerged from the bedroom with Chris Collins.

"Tima, Tandor! How is it going?" Chris asked as the dhole made sure his hands were bound and pushed him out of the apartment wearing just about nothing.

"How long will he be gone this time?" Corey asked the red panda.

"Let's see he will be judged, punished, judged again, punished again, corrected and reconditioned." Tandor replied. "Hard to say."

"You mean the usual." Corey replied. "Great that means I will have the place to myself!"

"Not really, you will be coming too." The junior knight said placing his paw on the teen's shoulder.

Corey looked up at the beastial. "WHAT?!"

"Guilt by association and you were in a place you were not supposed to be in this afternoon... your overseer was furious when he found out." The red panda smiled.

Corey and Chris Collins were taken to Sovereign Castle where Chris was interrogated, and imprisoned. Corey on the other hand....

"Miss Fulli!" Corey smiled at the bat frowning at him from the other side of a nice looking desk in a posh office.

"That is knight Fulli- mid-grade."

"I heard, congratulations on the promotion. Nice office, with a great view, beautiful desk and comfortable chairs." The teen said to the she beastial.

"What were you doing in the city archives this afternoon?"

"Um, my homework..."

"You were there without permission."

"Well I didn't ask my overseer for obvious reasons; you know he wouldn't allow it. He would have said you know the rules- humans are supposed to be human designated areas only."

"Why didn't you just study at school?" The brown bat asked.

"Over crowded and not enough spaces where one can find privacy madam knight."

"What about home?" The she bat asked.

Corey looked at the knight in such a way that she felt stupid for asking a question she already knew the answer to.

"You have seen my home? Frankly I hate being there.... with him."

"Well he is not exactly father of the year." Fulli replied placing her paws underneath her chin.

"No he is not, and you have seen how unstable my family life is, say you wouldn't be looking to adopt a cute, enthusiastic youthful ward who is in need of a real guardian and a stable loving home would you?" Corey asked batting his eyelashes and smiling.

"No." Came the swift reply. "Don't you have any other relatives?"

"You haven't reviewed my file in a while have you?" The black haired teen said smiling. He then took a pad the female knight had on her desk, pushed a few buttons and then gave it back to her.

Fulli read through the file. "Your mother died when you were young, what family you did have was part of the eradicated rebellion and now it is just you and your father."

"In other words my life has been tough madam knight." Corey said like he was reading some epilogue. "I could really use a change."

There was a brief pause while Fulli decided what to do with the younger Collins.

"Corey you committed a serious transgression this afternoon." She began. "But your old man's transgressions are much more serious. You won't be seeing him for a while."

"How much of a while?"

"That will be up to the High Evolutionary."

"That still won't be long enough." The black haired teen retorted.

"What was that?"

"You know what is going to happen- after he is judged, punished then corrected. The correction therapy won't stick and he will be back to his old habits again." Corey said folding his arms behind his head. "It is like you washing your fur, lather rinse and repeat."

"It sounds like you have come to expect it?"

"Grown tired of it and him is more like it." Mr. Collins said to the bat.

"I have what I want for now, you are free to go. I have contacted your overseer. You are restricted to school and then home for the next few weeks."

"So obey the rules?"

"Or we will come for you." The lady bat replied.

And so Corey was returned to his father's apartment. As he entered, he realized that he would have some peace and quiet for a little while away from his old man.

The next week Corey obeyed. He went to school, then home. He managed to take additional helpings from the cafeteria to cover breakfast and dinner. In a weird way, he enjoyed being on his own, but he dreaded the day his father would return.

Another week went by and Corey received a message from one of the goons he had met the day before his father's incarceration. It said that their boss still wanted Chris to work for him and they were working to secure his release.

The younger Collins just stared at the message on the viewscreen in the apartment. Was his father that important? He thought about his life living with his old man after his mother passed away. How many times had he run afoul of the law? How many times has he been taken in? How many times had Corey been taken in as accessory? Most importantly how many times would it continue to happen? That afternoon a tiny seed was planted into the teen's mind. Hmm....

It was the afternoon of the following day that he received word from the St Bernard that his father had completed his reconditioning; he would be returning home soon. Corey looked at the message on the view screen.

"NO."

He couldn't go through this again. The teen realized that he had reached his breaking point with his father, the knights and even his overseer. He walked to a closet packed some clothes, grabbed a back-pack-tent device and few other supplies and left the home he miserably shared with his father possibly forever.

The next thought he had to consider was where did he want to live? The basement was an overcrowded slum. What about his friends? He could stay with some for a while- but then he would be bouncing from home to home. The black haired teen realized the forests south of World Five might be the perfect fit. He could camp there under the stars away from the basement, his father and the knights. At least for a while. There was still his tracking chip though he would need to concern himself about. One thing at a time though. Maybe he could find a way to remove it or block it?

Corey made his way out of his father's apartment, the neighborhood to the south end of the city and into the forest. It was a long hike for him especially dodging knight patrols.

He managed to set up camp as the sun was setting. The backpack he was carrying quickly transformed into a tent. With some minor modifications he could make it look like a rock or even a fallen log. That would disguise him from patrols. He just needed to find a fresh source of water for drinking, cleaning and even bathing.

Corey pondered this while eating lunchtime leftovers. There were several creeks in the forest. There was also the large lake around World Five. Hmm.... Why not collect water from the sky every time it rained? Yeah! That is the ticket!!!

So Corey laid down to bed grateful to be away from his good for nothing father and the even overbearing empire. He was away from it all wild, and free!

Sometime during the night the black haired teen's restful sleep was broken by loud thunder claps and cloud lightening.

*KRACK*

"Well, at least it isn't raining. Maybe it is passing north or south of here." Corey said listening carefully.

No sooner had he said that the heavy rain came in sheets and torrents like he was camping underneath a waterfall.

"Damn March storms!"

He couldn't help but take a quick peek outside... his water collectors were filling fast! Corey would have enough drinking water for the next several days at least, maybe even the week. Could there be possibly enough to even bathe in?

*CRASH*

A nearby lightening strike brought his attention back to what was going on. The cloud to cloud lightening had transitioned to cloud to ground lightening.

Hey! Should I be in a tent, in the forest during a thunderstorm? The thought tickled his mind as Corey noticed that the hairs on his arms and seemed to be standing up by themselves, even the hair on his head was standing straight up. A dire warning.

"OH CRAP!!!"

Corey ran out of his tent diving right into a brown tree trunk as a bolt of lightening struck the ground nearby.

*KRAKK*

That was too close! The black haired teen pondered what to do next. Where should he seek shelter? Under the trees was not the best idea. He thought to himself as another bolt of lightening lit up the sky. The trunk of this tree was soft and warm. It felt kind of nice. Wait, what?

The teen turned around and ran his hands over the brown 'tree'. It was damp and had this brown, wet moss all over it. Upon closer examination, that wasn't moss it was fur. Brown fur and it was moving!

"...shouldn't have done that..." a raspy voice rumbled.

Corey looked up and realized that his 'tree' was seven feet tall with yellow eyes, shaggy brown fur, huge paws, sharp black claws, broad shoulders which were covered by a shaggy mane.

"WHOA!!"

Its most startling features were the snaggly teeth, thick arms and legs, those huge paws that could easy hold his head in them, the tan flat stomach, shapely pecs and the thick waist that was exposed for the world to see.

Had he been discovered by the knights of Sovereign? No. It didn't appear to be a knight. But a large beastial, a canid beastial who was soaked.

"I had to otherwise I would have been fried like my camp there." The teen said finding his voice.

"...but now you are it..." The creature grumbled.

"It? Tiny what are you getting at?" Corey said trying to look the creature over in the pouring rain.

"...names not tiny..."

"Sorry big guy. So do you have a name?"

"...experiment..."

"Like made in a lab? That explains why you seemed different from the typical beast folk around here. By the way I don't know if anybody told you it is not a good idea to be out in the middle of an electrical storm."

As the creature was about to respond, a thunderbolt struck another tree behind them. It was followed by a loud thunderclap and the shriek of something not liking being electrocuted.

"Erroooo!!!"

"What was that?!" Corey shrieked jumping backward.

"...it follows..." The were-creature responded.

"Um, I don't understand."

"...it was hunting me, now it is hunting you..."

"It? What's it?"

"Corey what are you doing out here?" A dark form said stepping out from behind a tree.

"Dad?"

"The knights are after me again we have to leave NOW." Chris said extending his hand to his son." The elder Collins looked like he had been worked over by every member of the knight core. Bloody, cut, bruised, bleeding and drenched.

"You mean more running and hiding from the knight core because of your 'illicit activities'. The younger Collins said while the were-creature stared in the direction Corey was.

"You know I only do what I do to survive. The scale is tilted against us, always has and that will never change. Come, we must leave now."

"No, not again, not ever; I am tired of running, hiding and living like this." The teen said standing up to his father.

"You are my son you will do what I tell you!" Chris shouted.

"No, you may be my father, but you have never been much of a dad!" The teen barked back.

"...what are you seeing..?" The were-creature said looking at the black haired teen.

"My worst nightmare."

"...that is how it hunts..."

"How it hunts?"

"...it takes the shape of what you fear..."

"You mean what I am seeing is not really my father?" The teen said glancing back at the wolf.

"...then it strikes and strikes until you are dead..." The wolf warned.

"We need to go!!" Corey shouted grabbing a paw-finger of the he beast. As he did his father disappeared and the were-creature froze in its tracks as the manifested fear switched prey.

"You have been very bad little pooch, I am afraid I will have to put you down." Dr. Pina said malevolently.

Corey looked up at the were-creature who was paralyzed with fear. Whatever it was, was hitting him hard. He then stared at what had him so scared through the pouring rain and lightening, Corey saw the true form of what hunted the both of them.

It was a large brown weird humanoid creature. I had a spade like head with red eyes. It had long arms and legs with a boney torso and very poor posture.

"Yish!! I think I liked it better when looked like my dad." The teen said grabbing two of the wolf's paw fingers.

"Human why are you out here?" The creature said shifting into Corey's overseer. "You are not where you are supposed to be- in an area where you aren't allowed to be in."

"Will you muzzle yourself!" Corey shouted as he was picked up by the brown were-wolf and carried off into the forest as more cloud to ground lightening was seen.

"...must find someplace to hide..."

"Good idea, do you know of some place?" The teen realized that the lab experiment was more than just a beastial. The exaggerated features were a tell tale sign.

"...cave up ahead..."

The brown were-creature carried the black haired teen into small opening the two squeezed inside.

"Wow, that thing is... is..."

"...relentless..." The wolf said completing the boy's sentence.

"Any idea how to stop it?"

"... no..." The brown wolf grumbled.

"Next you are going to tell me that it is indestructible."

The brown wolf then snorted.

"Whoa!"

"...creature was created to be..."

"So you and that thing have been playing a game a deadly game of tag?"

"...as long as it is hunting me, it is not hunting anyone else..." The werewolf countered.

"That is very noble of you big guy, but that sounds like a hellish existence."

The werewolf nodded.

"There has to be some way to get that thing off your tail."

"...you could remain it..."

"That is not the slightest bit funny. There is got to be a way to stop it."

"...there is not..."

"What about dissuading it?"

"...no...."

"Can we neutralize it?"

"...no..."

"What about an off switch?"

The werebeast shook his head.

"You are a ray of sunshine this morning." Corey retorted as the creature grumbled.

*Growl*

"We better figure out something for when that thing finds us. You can start by telling me everything you know about that creature and yourself for that matter." The teen said placing his hand on the were-creature's paw.

"Damn, I am it again."

Meanwhile the creature continued to stalk its prey through the drenched forest. It lost count of how many times it had been struck by bolts of lightening. It didn't matter it was compelled by its creator to kill whoever was it. Right here, right now it was that black haired teenager who had run deeper into the woods.

The creature angled its head toward the ground where it saw paw prints of the were-creature. They seemed to be more defined like it was carrying something- the boy! Not far from here.

It's eyes glowed a deep shade of red as it hobbled westward in pursuit. It wouldn't be long now! It so looked forward to killing the boy.

The creature soon reached a opening between two rock structures. A cave! It scented the air. The young human was nearby!

"Errooo!!!" It shouted in the pouring rain.

"...it is here..." The were-beast grumbled.

"I know! I know!" The teen whisper-shouted as he heard Fulli approach.

"Mr. Collins your overseer reported you broke curfew, I am taking you in." The mid-level knight said as she entered the cave.

"Over here madam knight!" The younger Collins called out.

The she bat approached the teen and extended her paw out to grasp his hand. Well that is what it appeared to be. But in reality it was a long arm with a flesh shaped scythe ready to hack and slash him.

Corey acted like he was going to reach for the creature's limb but at the last possible second dodged right and gave the creature a hard push. It stumbled forward.

"TAG!! YOU'RE IT!! Do it do it now!!!" The teen shouted as he dove out of the narrow entrance to the cave just as the brown were-wolf sealed it. "That should take care of our problem permanently."

"......" The brown seven foot tall wolf grumbled.

"Trust me it is over, that thing will never bother another person again human, beastial or otherwise." Corey said grabbing the wolf's paw.

"...how can you be sure..?"

"You said that thing was indestructible and would relentlessly hunt until it killed it's target; essentially whoever was 'it' right?"

The werewolf looked down at the drenched teen.

"Well, what happens if that creature becomes 'it', I mean its own target?"

"...very cunning..."

"Why thank you even if I do say so myself." Corey said smiling in the rain.

"................"

"So you are a escaped lab creature huh? Looks like you could use a friend. You know what? I could too." The black haired teen said as the two continued to walk away from the cave. Loud screeches were heard like a fierce battle was raging inside.

"..............."

"I could teach you a lot about stuff you don't know, you know?"

"...like what...?"

"Well for instance sentient beings don't walk around with their peckers or bums on display for all to see for instance, not like I was admiring the view." Corey snarked.

The were-creature looked down at his groin and then back up at the teen.

"You have a lot to learn Tiny."

"...name's not Tiny..."

"Yeah, I guess we will have to find you a name too. Stick with me. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship." The teen remarked. "But first we better get out of this storm."

To Be Continued....

[MEANWHILE]

March 11th YOE 35

4:11 PM (Chaundoon)

A wandering pair of hunter-gathers make their way toward a distant forest far away from the safety and comfort of World Seven....

"Water!! I need water!!" The black haired teen groaned beneath the heat of the twin suns.

"...here..." Rumble said handing him one of their five canteens.

It felt weird within the were-creature's paw, like it was too lite. He moved on to the second, third, fourth and then fifth with the same result. He then returned to the first opening it for his boy. A single drop fell out and hit the ground.

"Gee I wonder how that happened?" Corey said adjusting the crossbow and quiver of arrows strapped to his back.

The escaped lab creature grinned and shrugged his shoulders.

"...consequence of being careless, wild and free..?"

Corey cut his eyes at the brown werewolf.

"...perhaps we might find something in there..?" The Rumble said pointing.

"Well, this is just... just wow." The black haired teen said to his wolf.

"...we're not in World Seven anymore..." The seven foot tall former lab experiment grumbled.

"Ya think? It is not every day that you see a forest of large glowing mushrooms and toad stools. But the emerald sky is a nice touch too." Corey said noticing how the sky seemed to transition as they entered.

"...planet has a bizarre beauty all of its own..." Rumble said placing his massive paw on his boy's shoulder.

"Yeah, you won't find this on Counter Earth." Corey said looking up at a extremely large translucent light blue mushroom in from of them. "This thing is so large we could camp on it."

Rumble tossed his boy a playful glance.

"You would like that wouldn't you?"

"...view would be nice..."

"Do you think we could cross it before the suns go down?" The black haired teen asked his white loin-clothed wolf.

Rumble stood up straight and inhaled deeply while Corey cocked his head at him like a confused puppy.

"...no..." The were-creature's answer was followed up by a grumble.

*urr gurgle gurgle*

"Hey it isn't that bad big guy..." Corey started to say as he looked up.

The sound was not coming from the wolf's maw but from his mid-section right above his loin-cloth.

Corey placed his hand on Rumble's flat tummy. "Looks like you're hungry, you can have some of the left overs from last night."

"...can't..."

"And why is that?"

"...there aren't any..."

"In other words you finished off not just our water supply but our food supply too?!" Corey said indignantly looking at Rumble who tried to smile innocently while his stomach just complained.

"Sometimes I think you are nothing but a bottomless pit."

"...you know you love me..." Came the were-creature's retort which caused the teen to blush.

"Right, then let's first focus on replenishing our supplies, then find some place to settle down for the evening." The black haired teen said to the brown werewolf.

The two walked through the forest admiring the trees, and the numerous mushrooms some were as small as stones others were the size of rocks and still others were taller than the two together.

The pair walked around those they could and climbed over those that blocked their path. While atop a particularly yellow bell shaped mushroom, Rumble spotted a stream. The wolf jumped off causing the toadstool to glow a light blueish hue.

Corey hesitated.

"...what...?" Rumble asked.

"Don't you find it strange that no one is around? I mean the other areas we have traveled have been well inhabited- mimics, mud folk, mere folk, marsh folk, tree folk and even cave needles. But here- nothing." Mr. Collins observed.

"...if there is nothing to hunt then we fish..." Rumble said smirking at his boy.

Corey watched the former lab creature make his way to the stream which glowed a light blueish- grey hue pretty, but also very eerie. Rumble squatted right along the shore.

"What's wrong forget how to fish?"

"...no..." came the answer from the kneeling wolf who crouched just enough for the teen to get a good look at his werewolf's butt as he dipped a paw into the water.

(Very nice indeed.)

"Well?" Corey asked joining him. The teen watched the former lab creature hold his paw into the water for a moment before flicking a small multicolored fish onto the shore.

"Gee that is kind of small." He observed.

"...then catch a bigger one..." Rumble grumbled.

"Says the creature with huge paws and claws." Was Mr. Collin's sarcastic reply.

The teen received a glare from the feral fisher-wolf.

"Next your going to say let's make a game out of it."

"...let's..."

Realizing the arrows in his quiver were a bit imprecise for spear fishing, the teen looked around to see what was in their surrounding area to work with. He also couldn't use the method Rumble was using but.... did find a few fallen branches. Yes this would do nicely.

And so the feral pair sat by the shore of the stream and started their fishing competition. Carefully the former resident of World Seven scanned the water looking for the perfect prey- no that one was too small, that one was too swift, but that one over there was slow and very stupid. The teen stabbed at the fat multicolored fish that was about the size of his hand only to ARGH!!!

*SPLOOSH*

Well that was miss, a big miss!

"Well, I guess I am not thirsty any more. Hey Rumble could you help a guy out?" The teen called out as he watched the wolf.

*FLICK*

*FLICK*

Rumble was like a machine- he had collected three fish by the time Corey had taken the fall into the drink.

The brown were-creature looked at the drenched teen. "...no..."

"WHAT?" Corey said trying to regain his footing.

"...you lose..."

"HA!! HA!! HA!! Now would you give me a paw?"

As Rumble extended his paw to reach his boy, he lost his footing and

*SPLOOSH*

"EW!!! Wet dog! I will be smelling that for the rest of the evening." Corey said staring down his wolf.

"...better then smelling wet human..." Rumble said finding his footing. The two both snickered.

Corey and Rumble made their way back onto shore, settled down underneath a large orange toadstool which could have easily doubled for a weeping willow tree.

Rumble managed to catch three moderate size multi colored fish to Corey's one, winning their little game. Of course the wolf gladly shared his catch with his boy but not before rubbing it in just a little.

"This has to be the most colorful fish I have ever seen! As long as they are safe to eat I suppose... they are safe to eat right?"

The werewolf just snorted in response.

As evening became night, Corey started a fire to cook their catch underneath the emerald sky while their clothes dried off. Rumble refilled their canteens with water from the stream.

"Not bad if I do say so myself."

"...you just did..."

"Here." Corey said handing the former lab creature a fish on stick before checking on their clothing which was drying on a smaller bell shaped mushroom near by.

"...do you miss your former life..?" Rumble asked as he tried to figure out the proper way to eat fish on a stick.

"That was rather abrupt." The teen retorted trying not to stare too much at the nude were-beast in front of him. "You mean our lives here on Chaundoon or Counter Earth?"

"...here..." The wolf said as he pulled the fish off of the stick and started eating it.

"Nah, World Five or World Seven I was tired of the city- being confined. It was time for a change."

Rumble's ears perked up at his boy's revelation.

"Don't get me wrong, I do miss freckles, small fry, that horny lioness and the rest of our family, but you and I my friend are living the dream; we are feral, wild and free hunter-gathers exploring a strange new world in a distance part of the universe. It doesn't get much better or adventurous than that." Corey said as he sat down and started eating.

"...exploring the unknown..."

"Yes! Live the adventure!!!" Corey said digging in to his fish.

Rumble fell silent as his boy started eating then he started trembling.

"Rumble?!" Corey asked.

The were-creature rose and darted behind the large mushroom.

The black haired teen soon heard loud doggie wines.

"Rumble?"

The brown werewolf was standing above a patch of clover.

"Oh." Corey said walking over.

"...have to go badly..."

"Well don't let me hold you back." The teen said as the wolf glared at him. "Yeah right."

In the year or so since he finally house broke Rumble, the were-creature would not relieve himself without the boy's assistance. Like it was some sort of failsafe to make sure he didn't go where he wasn't supposed to.

"Well, this looks like a good spot as any; that patch of clover does look a little dry."

The teen approached the nude wolf. He then rested his head around the small of Rumble's back and gently reached around the creature's waist to his brown sheath which he gently grabbed and pointed.

When the werewolf whimpered, Corey realized he needed further encouragement. The black haired teen moved his right hand upward to rub the wolf's bladder reassuring him.

In the next moment a trickling sound was heard then crescendoed as the patch of clover received a warm golden shower.

Rumble spent the better part of the next minute voiding his bladder while Corey aimed.

When the wolf had finally finished the teen heard his wolf some make weird sounds he had never made before.

"...you can let go now..."

"I don't know holding werewolf penis is a nice revenge after losing our fishing game." Corey teased. He also noted that Rumble's testicles seemed to be quite heavy as well.

The teen was sure that the wolf was blushing underneath that brown fur of his.

"...it was the fish..." Rumble said after his boy released him.

"Well, you were whizzing for an awful long time. I think you had been holding it since we arrived in this forest."

*snort*

"...it was the fish..." Rumble protested.

"It wasn't the fish." Corey had just enough time to say before his eyes suddenly went wide and he started trembling.

The teen quickly stepped in front of his were-creature and started peeing on the patch of clover Rumble had just watered.

The former lab creature placed both his paws on the boy's shoulders as he watched Corey make his bladder gladder.

Like his wolf, the teen peed for the better part of a minute, perhaps maybe even longer. When he had finished the was a wry grin on his face.

"Ok maybe it was the fish." He reluctantly admitted.

"...told you..."

"Noted. No more multi colored fish and let's never ever speak of this again." Corey said as Rumble returned the grin.

"What?"

"...you have a cute butt..." The were-beast said lifting his paws off his boy and looking down at his backside.

"Yours isn't bad either." The black haired teen countered. "Nor your sheath, your mane and that flat toned stomach."

"...um, thanks..." Rumble grumbled.

"I just hope that water from the stream doesn't give us the same reaction."

The teen and his wolf decided to camp on top of the orange mushroom. As the emerald sky turned black the pair watched the heavens observing the stars.

"...what's that one..?"

"Those stars there seem like they are forming a ring."

"...and there..?"

"A triangle."

"...what's it name..?"

"I am not sure if it even has one. The constellations here are quite different from those on Counter Earth." Corey observed as he felt Rumble's pelt. "Your fur is no longer damp."

"...nor our you..."

"Perfect timing." Corey said as he cuddled next to his wolf.

The were-creature lifted his left arm up and then down pulling his boy close to him.

Corey found a sweet spot between the werewolf's left pectoral muscle and his shoulder. The teen rested his head there.

Rumble was soon fast asleep. Well they had walked a long distance prior to their arrival at the mushroom forest. Corey shortly joined him. Rumble's fur was so soft.

Corey's dreams were vivid and graphic that night. The teen dreamt that he and his werewolf were combing the shoreline of a large body of water perhaps it was the sea. It didn't seem like a lake because there was a salt water smell in the air.

They spent the afternoon fishing. As evening came, they made camp along the coastline a simple tent just large enough for the two of them. As nightfall came, Corey was feeling especially energetic so charged that he decided to do something really wild. As his were-creature laid down for the night, the teen removed his clothing and crawled to his wolf then underneath Rumble's loin-cloth.

When the former lab experiment looked down he realized the black haired teen was underneath his undergarments. In fact Corey was wearing Rumble's loin-cloth!

The were-creature was about to say something, but as he opened his maw his lips were met with the human's who kissed him deeply, passionately. Afterwards the teen cuddled his wolf resting his head right in the middle of Rumble's chest.

Mr. Collins tried to fall asleep but couldn't something seemed off; he didn't quite feel like himself. Well he was wearing his wolf's loincloth WITH him and he was lying in such a way that their penises were touching. In a way it did feel right. He was communing with his werewolf. But why did he feel so weird was it something they ate or drank that day? What about the area they had explored- did it have some type of flora or fauna he was allergic to?

The boy went to turn his head when he caught a glimpse of his right arm- his skin seemed to be crawling. What the? Corey watched as white fur sprouted from his arms and then traveled downward covering his body.

He suddenly grew very warm. His ears elongated as did his nose and mouth. No way?! He was transforming?! He looked at his hands and then feet. They were transforming, shifting into paws, his fingernails were becoming claws and he felt something jutting out of his spine. It must be a tail forming.

"Rrrr.... rrrr." The boy moaned as he felt the most excruciating pain as his bones realigned and shifted. When it all ended the boy was a boy no longer two were-creatures were lying on the shore a brown werewolf and a white werewolf.

Corey couldn't believe that his deepest desires had come true. But why? How? He surmised that the area they were in must be enchanted somehow.

"Incredible!" Mr. Collins awoke with a start before looking around. "Aw crap it was just a dream, but an awesome one."

But it was so real and so intimate. As the teen finished looking around, he realized he was lying on his werewolf's torso. The creature didn't seem to mind; he had his boy in a loving embrace- resting his chin on the teen's head. That position had made its way into Corey's dream.

The teen felt safe and protected in the former lab creature's arms but he realized there was a bit more going on. Rumble was humping as if he were inside a imaginary lover. Every now and again he would make a slight wine.

Corey casually looked down at what was going on between the were-creature's legs- he saw a red penis sticking out from its sheath.

Rumble's programming was invading his sleep again. Since moving to Chaudoon it had become impossible for the werewolf to impregnate she wolves in effort to make more of his kind. So every now and again his mind would try to acquiesce to his programming through his subconscious. That was also why his testicles were quite heavy when Corey felt them earlier.

The teen decided to help his wolf out. Gently he broke Rumble's embrace, crawled off the wolf and sat down by his friend. He took hold of the fully erect werewolf's penis with his hands- his left holding the base while his right deftly slid up and down the red tip. He started slow at first, then increasing his speed doing his best to simulate a she-wolf's cub tunnel.

There were some further doggie whines as the sleeping werewolf's dream started matching what was happening in reality.

The teen sped up his motions as he noticed the werewolf's testicles seemed to be contracting.

*whine*

UH OH!

Corey had just enough time to point the trembling penis at an angle away from him and its owner (instead of straight up) before it erupted. It was not unlike a geyser. Thick werewolf jizz shot out from the penis in copious globs that missed the edge of the mushroom landing somewhere in the distance. Rumble fired off 15 good ropes of puppy batter into the darkness.

When he had finally finished the were-creature let out a long wine while the teen watched the red tip retreat back into its sheath. He then felt the wolf's scrotum. It was very smooth and now smaller in size. Rumble needed that release very, very much.

As the teen laid back down on the wolf's torso a lingering question tickled his mind. It had been six months since their arrival on Chaundoon, six months since Rumble had mated. Corey wondered if swollen testicles would be the least of the former lab creature's problems- would not being able to fulfill his prime directive have a more adverse affect on Rumble? Time would tell he guessed.

As the teen rested his head on that smooth fury plump chest. Those huge arms embraced him one more and a chin soon rested on his head. He was about to drift off to sleep once again when...

*BOOM*

*CRASH*

"So much for sleeping under the stars." Corey said holding out his hand as the rain started to fall.

"...nuts..." The werewolf said stirring. He tossed his boy on his back and darted underneath the orange mushroom as the storm intensified.

"Cloud to cloud lightening." The black haired teen commented watching the flashes.

*KRACK*

"...no cloud to ground..." Rumble said as lightening bolt hit a small blue mushroom not far from them.

Before Corey could comment the lightening bolt left the blue mushroom and entered a larger one that was green nearby.

"Did that lightning bolt just shoot sideways?!"

"...yes..."

"Now that is new."

"...Corey..." Rumble said grabbing the teen as another bolt cascaded from the sky hit the ground and shot out in several directions. The were-creature darted behind a small tree that was hit by a horizontal lightening strike. The energy radiated in all directions.

"Thanks big guy. But I have a feeling we will be glowing for awhile."

"...must get out of this storm..." The were-creature said cutting him off.

The teen scanned their immediate surroundings mushrooms, dirt and gravel for a far as the eye could see.

"Where are we going to go?"

"...away from here..." The former lab creature tossed the Corey on his back and collected their clothes as they raced away trying to avoid the horizontal lightening strikes.

"Right! Left! Right! No! Your other right!" Mr. Collins directed while bouncing up and down on Rumble's back. "Watch out that one almost got us!!"

"...Not helping..." Rumble said as the two nearly hit a large something standing in their path on the forest floor.

"Rumble look out!" Corey shouted as his wolf dodged at the last second.

Corey jumped off and turned to face the whatever it was which he soon realized was a person.

"Hey!!! Buddy it is not safe to be out in a electrical storm!!" Corey started to say as Rumble caught up with him.

"I was about to say the same to you." The being responded.

"...WHOA..." the were-creature exclaimed.

Standing before them in the middle of the pouring rain was what looked like a lion and ogre rolled into one. The being stood just as tall as Rumble was green, slightly muscular, with a feline looking face, red eyes, orange mane, dark shirt, dark shorts, white vest, long arms with a pronounced jawline with two fangs and slightly hunched stance.

The two watched in awe as the electrical bolts seemed to dance around the creature instead of striking him.

"You two look like you are in need of shelter. Care to join me?"

"Yes, please!" The teen said.

"Of course this way." The creature said.

Corey and Rumble watched at the being descended into the ground before him. At first the two were dumbfounded before they realized it was a angled walkway. They followed him into a underground tunnel illuminated by glowing crystals.

"You are lucky I came upon you when I did. The storms around here can be quite fierce."

"...thank you..." The werewolf said.

"So what are you a lion or a ogre?" Corey said thinking out loud.

"...manners..." Rumble said smacking Corey on the back of the head to remind the boy not to make fun of the creature that had just saved them.

*whack*

"OW! I mean thank you for saving us. We thought that it was odd that this forest was uninhabited."

"It used to be inhabited." Their host responded cryptically.

"...this seems familiar..." Rumble said looking around.

"Um so how often do storms like that happen?" The black haired teen asked their rescuer.

"Frequently."

"Well thanks for the save ogre-lion."

"Nino."

Nino led the two to a burrow with a table, some chairs, and a wash basin all made out of stone.

"You may take shelter here." The being said smiling.

Corey decided to take a quick look around while Rumble dried off. "Wow this is vast, but cosy. You live here by yourself?"

"My clan lived here until a few weeks ago. Now I am the only one left."

"...what happened..?"

"Early one morning I heard this strange sound."

"Strange sound?" The black haired teen asked.

*WUUUUUUUD*

"When I went to see what it was I discovered that I was the only one here in the warren. Everyone else was gone." Nino replied.

"Group vacation?" The teen said trying find an answer.

"I don't know. I stayed behind to look after our ancestral home hopping that they would return, they haven't."

"...so it is just you here...?"

"Yes. I haven't had visitors in ages would you like something to eat or drink? I think I have some fish I caught from the stream earlier."

"Thanks, but we had our fill of fish." The teen responded.

"What's wrong... it didn't agree with you?" The ogre-lion teased.

"You could say that." Corey said sitting down at their host's table wanting to hear more about the mass disappearances

To Be Continued....