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Part I - Paradise

Journal entry: March 31st

'Walking home this evening, I had a spring in my step. The arrangements for my journey across the ocean had been finalized; and I haven't been this excited in a long time. I thanked my parents so many times for all of their help and support. The journey by sea in less than one month will be difficult, but I plan on preparing starting tomorrow morning. I will soon taste fresh salty air instead of today's morning fog!'

Salty waves gently crashed onto the beach, reaching as far onto the sand as the foamy tips could grasp only to fade back into the ocean. The pretty sands were formed by the endless movement of waves and footsteps. This rhythmic cycle included the subtle ocean breeze that made the grasses and nearby palm trees rustle as if they were alive. The sun was shining brightly above, leaving yesterday's offshore storm a mere distant memory. Scattered shells, driftwood, and pieces of kelp were common items to find on the beach, as were the fresh set of digitigrade paw prints being washed away by the waves.

A nude lioness was calmly strolling along the wet sand, not minding when the little crashing waves foamed up to her paws. Her eyes contently combed the beach in search of something special along the natural curve of the coastline.

"The water always looks so calm after a storm." She hummed aloud and glanced out to sea where the pristine blue water shimmered to the horizon like jewels.

"Cassandra! What have you found so far?" A voice interrupted her thoughts. Turning around, a red vixen named Lydia trotted up to her.

"Not a lot so far. Here is what I found washed on this section of beach." She handed over her small buckskin bag.

"Ooh. A pretty conch shell and a whole sand dollar." The vixen smiled.

"Nothing to make another pretty necklace or bracelet." The lioness gave a little frown and touched her necklace with little seashells that were partially buried in her light cream chest fur. Her mate Lydia had a fur pattern that was typical for a red fox: a white front that stretched from her throat to her inner thighs; and a reddish orange that nearly covered everywhere else save for her black "socked" arms and legs. Her large breasts were just a tad larger than Cassandra's; but the ring of skin around each pink nipple was smaller than the lioness's.

"I still like them." She concluded with a nod and placed both back into the bag. "We can put them outside our house or give them to your sister." The vixen suggested.

"Hmm. I don't think Maragi would mind having another seashell or two." Cassandra winked as they resumed walking down the beach together, leaving only their paw prints behind them. The vixen and lioness were spending the late morning beach combing, a pastime the two mates often did when chores were light for the day.

"Ooh." The lioness bent forward and picked up an interesting item.

"What is it?" Lydia peered down curiously.

"I don't know." She stood up with a sandy tattered black cloth in hand.

"It could be something from across the ocean." The fox guessed. It was common for items from the outside world to wash ashore. Bottles, nets, pieces of wood, and sometimes indistinguishable eccentric items managed to find their way onto the isolated island thanks to the ocean currents. The pair zigzagged along the sand and waves in search of something valuable without any luck. Cassandra approached what appeared to be driftwood at first glance, but the features of an arm, fur, tail, and clothes made her heart race. The lioness froze and felt her jaw drop once she recognized the odd shape slumped over onto its side.

"Lydia! There's a person here!" She yelled in shock. The red vixen ran over only to halt beside her.

"Oh my..." The vixen blinked and knelt down by the figure's side. She carefully rolled the unknown person onto its back. It was a red fox just like Lydia. A small line of red was pooled in the sand from a cut.

"I've never seen a body wash ashore before." Cassandra winced and looked away at a dune. The bobbing reeds helped ease the shock. A dozen thoughts ran through her head about who the person was and how they ended up in such a state.

"She's breathing!" Lydia looked up at her mate with wide eyes.

"Alive?!" She couldn't believe it. Both wasted little time despite the shocking surprise.

"Quick! Help me carry her." Lydia draped a limp arm over her shoulder. Cassandra left to the other side and did the same before lifting the heavy body together.

"We need to hurry back to the village and rescue her." She spoke quickly and started marching up the beach.

"Isn't there anything else we can do for her here?"

"No." Lydia huffed. "She needs to receive medical attention. We wouldn't know what to do."

'She is heavy...' Cassandra thought to herself, but was determined to carry her with Lydia to receive treatment. Time was of the essence. Their small village was more than half a mile from the coastline, and connected through the jungle by a single pathway. With some difficulty they carried the unknown fox beyond the dunes and into the jungle where a worn dirt pathway led them home. Lydia and Cassandra didn't know what to make of the sudden discovery, and many thoughts raced through their heads.

"My arms and back are aching. I need a break." Cassandra stopped.

"Mine too." Lydia agreed and they carefully set the fox down on the ground.

"Is she still breathing?" Cassandra sat down.

"Hold on..." Her mate knelt down and checked for a pulse. "Yep." She blew a sigh of relief.

"We need help carrying her."

"You're right..." Lydia agreed and stood up. "I'll run ahead and you-."

"Ouch!" They both looked at each other as a distant yell echoed from nearby. Lydia ran ahead and found an axe wielding figure standing along the edge of the pathway.

'Thank Gaia!' Lydia said a silent prayer. "Augusta! Come here! We need your help!" Lydia called out and waved. The tigress dropped her tool and ran up to the beleaguered vixen. Augusta was tall and athletically built. Her striped coat was beautiful and accentuated her muscular body type very well. Just like the lioness and red vixen, she was also plainly naked except for a pair of copper earrings. Her breasts were athletic and fairly small but possessed two firm pink nipples that poked freely from her white furred front.

"What's wrong?" Augusta followed her to Cassandra kneeling beside the unconscious fox.

"Cassandra found her washed ashore. She's still breathing, but needs appropriate attention." She explained in one breath.

"Don't worry. I'll carry her." The feline offered.

"Thank you!" Cassandra breathed a sigh of relief. Augusta lifted the unconscious fox into her arms and all three hurried up the pathway to their village.

"You're a lot faster than he two of us are!" Lydia happily mentioned as the darker understory began to lighten up from the sunshine above.

"Who are we taking her to?" Augusta asked.

"Bring her to our house, and then find elder Ampira."

"Elder Ampira is still away at the capital." Cassandra stated.

"That's right." Lydia frowned in frustration. "Find Ariel or somebody else who can treat her."

The tropical jungle opened up revealing the mostly flat plain of a small village and surrounding farmland. Several villagers curiously watched from afar as they hurried to Lydia and Cassandra's home located along the edge of the village. However, there was no time to explain what had occurred. The three ladies quickly entered Cassandra and Lydia's home where Augusta laid the unconscious fox down onto a mat.

"I'll get Ariel." The tigress was quick to run back outside.

"Thank you!" Lydia called out.

"There's sand all over her clothes and side." Cassandra started carefully brushing the grains off. "I'm nervous." She admitted.

"We just need to keep her steady. I don't know what else to do." Lydia told her.

"What if Ariel isn't in the village?"

"She is. I saw her yesterday evening." Lydia reassured her mate.

There was a sudden knock at the door before a naked red panda entered the home carrying a small basket in hand. Augusta reentered the house behind her. She had a stocky build with small perky breasts. The dark grey skinned nipples seemed to poke ahead like spear tips. Her face quickly went from surprise to complete focus once she saw the vulpine figure laid out on the mat between Lydia and Cassandra. Augusta remained standing by the door where she quietly watched.

"Thank goodness you're here!" Lydia urgently waved over the red panda.

"When did you find her?" She knelt down by the fox's side.

"Less than an hour ago at the beach." Cassandra explained. "I was walking along the shore and found her washed up at the water's edge on her side. I thought she was dead at first..." The lioness frowned somberly hoping that the unknown person wouldn't die after they carried the body all the way back to the village.

"We managed to carry her from the beach back to the pathway, and luckily we found Augusta to help us quickly carry her to the village." Lydia added.

"Let me see..." Ariel leaned her ear down to the fox's chest. Lydia and Cassandra held their breath.

"The heartbeat is steady..." She calmly spoke and then sat up only to press two fingers against the inner side of the fox's wrist.

"The pulse is good."

"That's good." Cassandra whispered thankfully.

"Is she going to be okay?" Lydia was hesitant to ask.

"At first glance everything seems good: steady breathing; no signs of injury; only one cut right going up the wrist." The red panda reached into her small basket and retrieved a cotton pad and began dabbing the wound.

"Why is she asleep then?" Lydia asked and watched as the fox's wrist was bandaged next.

"It could be exhaustion." Ariel surmised. "None of us know how long she was stranded at sea, or laying on the beach. You two didn't see anything else that had washed up along the shore, did you?"

"No." Cassandra shook her head. "Just seashells and seaweed."

"Hmm... There is a lot of the sand in her fur. Plus, much of her side, tail, and lower legs are still damp." The red panda noted a shoulder. "She must have been there for some time if her fur is like this."

"How much time?"

"It could have been a few hours overnight, or even since yesterday evening." Ariel wasn't completely certain. Lydia and Cassandra looked at each other almost harboring a sense of guilt for lazily strolling along the beach when someone's life was in danger.

"Other than that cut, everything appears okay. There's no serious bruising or any broken bones." The red panda sounded content, but cautious about the fox.

"So the cut isn't infected? There was a little pool of blood in the sand." Cassandra recalled.

"No." Ariel shook her head. "The salt water is fine, but it prevents blood from clotting properly. Although, her fur is all crusted up from it." She touched the fox's forehead.

"Ugh..." A deep grumbling voice startled all of their ears. Cassandra silently gasped as the unconscious red fox started to move a little. The head tilted and a weak cough caused the fox to frown.

"Do you have any water?" Ariel whispered.

"Yes, I'll get some." Lydia hopped to her paws and darted over to fetch a gourd of well water. The red fox shifted on the mat and turned his head only to make a groggy noise.

"Is she okay?" Cassandra kept her mouth covered, but watched the figure stir. Lydia knelt down with the water in hand. Ariel touched the fox's forehead with the back of her hand.

"No fever." She confirmed. "She's waking up. Give her some space." All of the women inside the home watched in silence as the fox shifted and grumbled as if trapped in a nightmare. A pair of eyes barely opened like slits in the crack of a door.

"Are you in any pain?" Ariel asked. She didn't receive an answer as he coughed again.

"We have water." Lydia offered.

"Do you need water?" The red panda asked, and brought the gourd to his lips. A hand suddenly struck the gourd, spilling a little water onto his muzzle. However, the red fox didn't care. With the help of the red panda, the water tipped into his mouth. He drank at least two mouthfuls despite coughing up half as many. After a refreshed sigh, his labored breathing eased considerably. Ariel set the gourd aside.

"Can you talk?" Cassandra blurted out a whisper.

"What's your name?" Lydia asked a moment later.

"I... I'm..." The weak voice didn't finish through his dazed and confused expression.

"You?" Cassandra didn't hear him clearly.

"Stop pestering her. Now is not the time to ask questions." Ariel mumbled to them.

"No... I..." The red fox's eyes scrunched shut as he failed to speak fully. Arms moved as he tried to sit up, but Ariel firmly stopped him.

"Do not sit up. You need rest." The red panda recommended in a soothing voice, and placed a hand on the center of his chest. He reluctantly settled back down and peeked at his surroundings before closing his eyes. Everyone watched eagerly as his chest rose and fell. It only took a few moments for the mysterious person to fall back asleep and become unresponsive. That brief moment of wakefulness almost felt like it hadn't happened.

"She sounded really hoarse." Cassandra mentioned.

"She could've been at sea for a long time and became dehydrated." Ariel suggested. "But other than that she appears healthy." The red panda thought to herself for a moment.

"That's great." Lydia smiled at her mate. "We might have saved someone's life."

"Mmhm." The lioness happily nodded with relief.

"She will likely wake up again by this afternoon. Make sure she has plenty of rest and doesn't over exert herself."

"Shouldn't we come get you when that happens?" Lydia asked.

"No." She shook her head. "She may need water or help moving, but little more. Of course, if anything changes for the worst please come get me."

"So she will recover just fine?" Cassandra asked.

"I believe so." The red panda nodded with confidence. An odd noise caught Lydia's ear.

"Is that noise outside?" The buxom red vixen looked over at Augusta who was still standing by the door. The tigress nodded.

"Sounds like there's a commotion out there." Her ears perked up before turning her head to the door. The tigress cracked the door enough to peek outside.

"You've got a crowd out there." She looked back over her shoulder. Lydia, Cassandra, and Ariel all went to the door. Peeking outside, over two dozen people had gathered outside of their home. Some were still carrying items in hand: a rank, garden hoe, and a bow among others.

'You'd think people had work to do...' Lydia thought to herself.

"What's going on?" A Doberman asked.

"Is someone hurt?" Another spoke.

"Who was Augusta carrying into the village?" They stepped outside to address everyone but the flurry of questions caught them off guard. Looking over, they spotted a few women at their window attempting to look inside.

"Stop! Get back from the window." Cassandra shooed the women away from peering inside and closed the shutters.

"Everyone stop-!"

"Why are all of you gathered around my sister's house?!" A threatening voice called out from the back of the crowd. People cleared as a strong lioness named Maragi approached. Her arms and legs were toned, but she had a slight pudginess to her belly. She bore a scar that trailed from her left side under her breast to her abdomen and another along her arm. The scowl on her face was anything but friendly.

"What's going on here?" She asked her younger sister, Cassandra.

"Everyone listen! This is what happened." Cassandra called out as the crowd became silent. "Lydia and I were walking along the beach this morning when we found a body laying on the shore." She spoke as several murmured. "I was afraid that it was a dead body, but she was still alive. We carried her back with Augusta's help, and then Ariel checked her over." She placed a hand on the red panda's shoulder who gave an affirming nod.

"That's correct." The red panda spoke. "She needs rest, not a crowd of villagers making noise outside this house." She frowned. A few in the crowd looked away guiltily.

"Who is she?" One of the villagers asked.

"We don't know who she is." Ariel explained. "We don't know where she came from, either a village, the capital town, or from across the seas."

"Across the seas?" The possibly had several of the women in the crowd chattering amongst themselves like gossiping birds.

"Is she okay? What happened to her?" An Akita spoke up. "Why was she on the beach?"

"Yes, she is in good health. She briefly woke up, but we told her to rest." Ariel stated. "We aren't entirely sure what happened, but she was washed ashore. It is possible that she was lost at sea." The crowd of villagers murmured openly amongst themselves.

"What's her name?" A raccoon holding a garden hoe over her shoulder asked.

"She said..." Cassandra looked at her mate unsure.

"I don't think she said what her name was." Cassandra realized.

"She wasn't able to say much." The red vixen added. "She could only mumble for a while before falling back asleep."

"She has a deep voice like my sister and Augusta." Cassandra mentioned.

"She might have amnesia."

"She could just be very exhausted." Another noted.

"That's what Ariel told us." Lydia looked at the red panda.

"Yes, that's what I believe." Ariel nodded. "The best thing we can do is go back to our normal daily tasks and allow her to recover. Standing here and guessing isn't going to help any of us." Ariel told all of the villagers. Most of the villagers departed at the red panda's behest, but a few stayed.

"You scared me to death when I saw you running to find Ariel." A Doberman stepped forward and gently slapped Augusta's arm. The canine's fur was obsidian black with tan markings. She had large breasts, but a mostly slim figure.

"We're fine Zenobia, but I was worried about the person Lydia and Cassandra had found."

"It's exciting that someone has survived being at sea." A middle aged raccoon farmer spoke up.

"Mmhm!" Cassandra agreed with the raccoon. "I hope that she makes a quick and full recovery."

"Hasn't this happened before?" A petite border collie named April asked.

"The only time someone washed upon our shores in my lifetime was over a decade ago." Maragi pointed out. "It's almost never heard of."

"I barely remember that." April mumbled.

"That's because you were a little pup back then." Augusta teased.

"It was awful." The raccoon set her garden hoe down and folded her arms with an unpleasant frown. "The body had washed ashore and several of us had to dig a grave. I cried for part of the night." Maragi looked away but didn't say anything.

"We should be glad the lady is alive, whoever she is." Lydia agreed. The others nodded.

"Where do you think she came from?"

"I don't know. Another part of the island?" The red vixen shrugged.

"Maybe she is from across the ocean?" Zenobia surmised.

"Could be, but how is that possible?"

"There was a storm off shore the other night, wasn't there?"

"Yes, but I doubt a foreign ship would sail so close to Ezo. There's no current around the island, so you would likely strand yourself. It's also illegal."

"Some people are risky."

"I didn't see any pieces of wood or anything else from a shipwreck." Cassandra mentioned.

"That's right." Lydia agreed. "We found a small piece of black cloth, but that could've come from any loincloth or sash. We left it in the sand."

"Should we send someone to the capital and see if someone has gone missing?"

"I don't know... We should wait for elder Ampira to return from the capital." Lydia suggested.

"When will that be?"

"Two or three days." Cassandra answered.

"She may wake up and be able to tell us everything as soon as tomorrow." Ariel asked. "I trust that you two will be in charge of caring for her in your home?" The red panda looked at the lioness and red vixen.

"Oh!" Lydia and Cassandra looked at each other.

"Of course." The two grinned and answered in unison.

"That is good to hear." Ariel humbly smiled. "Please give her some space and privacy to recover." Ariel reminded everyone before departing.

"You two don't have to worry." Augusta mentioned. "All of us can help whenever you need it." The tigress kindly spoke. April, Maragi, Zenobia, and the raccoon nodded.

"Thanks." Cassandra bowed. "I just hope she is sleeping soundly." The lioness looked back at the closed door.

There was only darkness as the sensation of cold water swirled around Aaron. He was floating listlessly under the chaotic waves above that trapped him. Unable to move, only pushed and pulled by nature's waves left him utterly powerless in their wake. He was uncomfortable despite not feeling anything.

'I'm lost.' The words sounded muffled inside his own thoughts. The lingering sounds of someone yelling overboard and shouting were a distant memory. Pleasant memories of sunshine, fields, and cooking food were also void and empty. It felt as if he was trapped in nothingness itself! But the the water that surrounded him began to violently churn and swirl like a windstorm. He was tossed like a ship at sea during a massive storm. The rushing sound of water filled his ears like a roaring waterfall. A growing sense of fear made him want to escape, but there was nowhere to flee. The sensation of being in free fall terrified him. The deafening roar gradually died down as the light grew and brightened until colors emerged.

His eyes suddenly blinked awake, faster and more focused than before. His surroundings were blurry at first, but quickly adjusted to the well lit space around him. The roaring noises had dissipated in an instant, and he found himself in silence.

"Huh?" He felt funny. The preening silence gradually faded, and ears wiggled as sound gradually returned to him.

'I'm in a room.' The red fox blinked, realizing that he was staring up at a ceiling. The fox was no longer swirling in a dark mass under the chaotic waves. He was laying flat on mat covered by a sheet.

"Should I get more water?" A voice floated around his head.

"This should be fine." Another angelic voice answered.

'Who said that?' He wondered where the voices came from. Blinking several more times, the fox suddenly found two women looking closely at him. The soft brown eyes of a lioness, and the golden eyes of a red vixen were intently staring right back at him.

"Are you feeing alright?" A soft soothing voice spoke to him.

"Um..." He touched his forehead only to feel a tinge of soreness.

"Do you need any water?" The other asked him. The male fox lowered his hand and looked at the two of them. Other than their matching necklaces, both females were completely naked as they hovered over him. Their large breasts seemed to dangle in front of him like ripe melons. The lioness's chest was covered completely in cream fur, and she seemed oblivious about her wide areolae being visible too. The buxom vixen with the white furred chest was equally innocent.

Something felt odd about the situation but he couldn't quite place it. Why was it odd? The aching of his entire body, particularly his head, absorbed a lot of his focus. Glancing at his lap, he was wearing a pair of short pants that reached just below his knees, but nothing else.

"Water?" The red vixen offered again.

"Oh. Yes." He spoke with a raspy voice, and gradually sat up on his own only to feel lightheaded. His muscles were stiff, particularly his neck and head. They ached sharply.

"Don't sit up too fast." The lioness and vixen gave him room, but advised caution. The male steadied himself, but remained seated. Each lady was seated by either side of him, but didn't interfere. He was handed a small cup of water, and he gratefully accepted. His throat immediately felt much better.

"Do you need more?" The vixen asked as soon as he finished.

"No... Where am I?" He looked around their humble little home.

"In our village. Clusina."

"Where?" He didn't understand.

"Clusina." The red vixen stated quietly.

"You're on the island of Ezo." The lioness told him, but those words meant nothing to him.

"I don't know. Where are those places?" They made no sense to him.

"She does have amnesia." Lydia whispered to her mate.

"Can you tell us your name?" The lioness asked. The male fox nodded.

"Yes, I'm..." He paused to think. "My name is... Um." His brow knitted into frustration until a moment of lucidity came through. "It's Aaron." He quickly spoke and breathed a sigh of relief.

'Did I almost forget my name?' The fox fearfully wondered.

"Aaron? That's an odd name." The women remarked politely.

"I'm Cassandra." The lioness introduced herself.

"I'm Lydia." The vixen stated next with a warm smile. "Have some hot tea too." She offered a small steaming cup. "We made some earlier."

"Thank you." He accepted the cup and peered into its contents. A thin trail of steam rose from the dark liquid only to dissipate. He took a sip only to grimace.

"It's bitter." He frowned but held the warm tea in his hands.

"Sorry." Cassandra bashfully smiled.

"Can you tell us what part of the island you are from?" Lydia asked.

"Island?" His face scrunched up in confusion. "What island?"

"Maybe saying the village names will help stir your memory." Cassandra suggested.

"Mmhm." Lydia nodded in agreement as Aaron looked at them with a curious innocent stare.

"Are you from the village of Hydra?"

"No." The name sounded odd to him.

"What about the village of Melos?"

"No." He slowly shook his head.

"Did you come from the village of Borsa?"

"Borsa... No." He shook his head. That name wasn't familiar to him either.

"Maybe Nomira?" Cassandra guessed only to receive another No from him.

"Sibir? Naxos? Konta?" She rattled off three more, but he shook his head. "That's all of the villages on the island except for the capital. Are you from the capital?" She asked instead. The image of a large clock tower flanked by tall buildings appeared in his mind. The loudness of horse drawn carriages and crowded streets bustled with noise as a mixture of vagrants, businessmen, and average citizens all mulled about the midday scene.

Blinking, Aaron found himself still seated between both naked women. The images had felt so real, like true memories, but they had dissipated so quickly.

"Um..." He felt over his arm, but instead of soft fur, there was a coarse texture. His fur was uncomfortably matted from the sand and seawater.

"Do you feel alright?" Cassandra asked.

"My fur is stiff and stuck together." He noticed. His fur appeared spiky in several places, and grains of sand even fell out of his arm fur.

"You should take a bath in the stream outside of the village." She recommended. "Your fur is all spiky and I'm sure it will feel much better to get all of that salt and sand washed away."

"Your clothes should be washed too." Lydia noted the fox's odd short pants.

"Mmhm." Cassandra hummed in agreement.

"Ok. Where is the stream?"

"Just outside the village. It will be a short walk." Lydia explained.

"Can you stand up alright?" The lioness looked at his legs.

"Yeah. I can stand up." He took his time shuffling forward and firmly planted his hands on the mat. His body felt stiff and weak but the dull pain didn't prevent him from moving around.

"We can bring a warm wet cloth and bucket instead if you like." Lydia offered.

"No thanks." He shook his head. For some reason the idea of washing off in a stream sounded a lot more refreshing than a bath. The male fox took his time, and managed to stand up without much help. His joints popped and muscles pulled, but he felt normal after a brief moment of lightheadedness.

"Are you sure you're okay?" The lioness cautiously asked.

"Yes, I feel fine." He felt confident in saying that. Cassandra walked alongside him to the door.

"Let's go!" Lydia happily retrieved a small bucket and towel before following them outside. Sunshine stung the male fox's eyes, but once his vision cleared and focused he found himself in a small village. The dwellings were basic and small for the most part, resembling cottages. Thin trails of grey smoke rose from several roofs, thatched or wooden. No paved roads existed, or even dirt roads for that matter. Bare pathways linked many houses together where paws frequently traveled.

Further away, he could see other villagers who appeared just as naked as Lydia and Cassandra. Most were entering or exiting houses, likely retiring for the day.

"Sorry, it's still bright out." Cassandra bashfully smiled.

"But everyone is still gone." Lydia noticed. Thankfully the crowd of villagers from earlier in the late morning had remained dispersed.

"That's good. You can follow me, Aaron." The lioness told the male fox. Cassandra led him by the side of their house and up a pathway bordered by grass. Lydia followed from behind. The soft chirping of crickets and the occasional bird was constant on either side of them with every step. The fresh air was humid and warm, but not hot given the mid evening time of day.

Walking behind Cassandra, Aaron had an intimate view of her backside. The naked feline had wide motherly hips that accentuated her curvy body. She walked with a slight natural sway in her step that mimicked a gentle breeze passing over grass.

'She is beautiful.' Aaron thought to himself as they walked. The stream was barely a minute's walk from their house, and soon enough, the sound of flowing water made Aaron's ears perk up. After a few more steps, the stream suddenly appeared from between the taller grasses.

The waterway wasn't very wide, and didn't appear very deep, but it had a noticeable current. Across the water was the edge of a forest, or at least a large patch of trees that was impossible to see beyond. The path ended with a wider opening along the edge of the stream. Only clover sparsely grew from the frequent foot traffic. He looked up and down the stream, but no one else was there.

"Don't worry. This is a quiet spot during the late evening, so no one will bother you." Cassandra promised. Lydia set the towel aside for him and filled the bucket up halfway with water.

"Take all the time you want Aaron." The buxom vixen told him as she stood up. "We're in no hurry."

"Thank you."

"I'll be at the stump we passed by close to our house." She told her mate.

"Mmhmm." The lioness nodded as Lydia walked back down the dirt path. Aaron removed his only garments with his back turned to them before slipping into the cool water.

"Ah, that's nice." The fox breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'll take these and clean them thoroughly with Lydia." Cassandra walked over and picked up his pants.

"Thank you Cassandra." He looked over his shoulder.

"You're welcome." She started to walk away with his pants in hand. "This is not like any loincloth I have ever seen." The lioness looked over the material and wondered if the fabric was a unique blend. She looked back over towards the stream where Aaron was bathing and blinked before giving a quick second glance at the naked fox.

'Oh my.' Cassandra thought to herself before hurrying back to the pathway. The lioness quickly caught back up to her mate who was already seated on a stump with the bucket resting between her paws.

"There you are." Her mate impatiently spoke. "Give me Aaron's clothes so I can wash them."

"Sure. Umm, here..." The lioness handed the short pants over, and the vixen promptly dunked them into the bucket.

"What's wrong?" Lydia could tell Cassandra had something on her mind.

"Don't say anything to insult her, but..." The lioness paused to nervously nibble her lip.

"But what?" Her mate didn't understand why she was whispering so secretively.

"Aaron has a very big clitoris." She glanced over her shoulder towards the pathway. "I think it's a serious birth defect. I haven't seen anything like it before."

"Oh my." The red vixen's eyes widened. "Well, if she's okay with it and doesn't seem bothered then I think everything will be fine." She reasoned.

"I think you're right." Cassandra nodded understandingly. "I don't want to bring anything up that will make her uncomfortable."

"Although, now I'm curious." Lydia admitted. "What does it look like?"

"It's not gigantic." The lioness told her. "It's like a regular one, but it's so big that it dangles out." She parted the top of her labia using two fingers.

"What? You're exaggerating." Her mate looked at her.

"No I'm not."

"You saw something else." Lydia didn't believe her. "Maybe a finger or her hand was there instead." Cassandra frowned and started to doubt herself.

'Maybe all of the excitement has gotten to my head.' The lioness thought to herself and sighed. "It's been a long day." She mumbled and wiped her forehead.

"Can you pick me a lot of lavender to put in this garment when I go to dry it?" Lydia asked while scrubbing.

"Of course!"

All alone at the stream, Aaron thoroughly washed his fur and removed the crusted salt and sand from his body. His bandage had been discarded behind him along the shore. Gradually, the gritty texture in his hands was replaced with smooth softness. The fox's fur returned to its natural coat pattern: a brilliant snowy white front like Lydia's; fiery orange back and upper limbs; and black socked arms, legs, and tipped ears. With wet fur sticking to his body, his slender but wiry muscles were defined typically for a young adult.

"That feels a lot better." Aaron blew a content sigh as he washed his face a final time. Relaxed, he stood in the waist high water and felt the droplets fall from his fur. However, with the time Aaron had alone, his thoughts became a source of worry.

"I don't know where I am." The fact bothered him, but there was nothing he could do about it.

'Where am I from?' He asked himself. His gaze dropped down to the water where he looked at his vague reflection on its moving surface. However, no matter how much he tried, the fox couldn't think of a single answer. There was nothing, not a single memory to draw upon. With a belated sigh, he stared out towards the trees across the stream. An occasional chattering bird didn't provide any answers either.

'I can't remember...' He thought silently. The fox should've felt more anxious or at least worried, but neither feeling manifested. 'Why can't I remember anything?' Aaron calmly wondered. He ran a hand across the stream's surface, agitating the water. Turning around, he looked back at the field of grass but was unable to see the ladies' house due to a small bumpy hill.

The idea of running across the grass crossed his mind, and then the sudden flash of different scenery appeared before his vision. It was the memory of him running through a large field while swatting a stick as a young fox kit. There was laughter and then yelling as he struck the empty air and then the tips of tall grasses. The brief vision ended with a loud voice calling his name.

'Yes! Those are my memories!' He blinked and realized excitedly. Aaron felt some relief that there was something he could remember besides his own name. A little bit of excitement coursed through his veins as well.

"I went to a field before running and playing." He thought aloud, but was interrupted by a loud growling in his stomach. Looking down, he felt the pangs of hunger gnaw at his belly. He clutched his growling stomach.

"I haven't eaten anything." Aaron felt famished. Looking around, Lydia and Cassandra still hadn't returned.

'I should be ready for when they return.' The red fox waded back and emerged from the stream. He shook off the excess water, already feeling much better physically, and grabbed the towel laying in the grass to dry himself. A subtle breeze reminded him that he didn't have his clothes to wear.

'Lydia and Cassandra don't wear anything.' He looked down at his naked body. Aaron decided to remain modest after he dried himself, and wrapped the towel around his waist. It wouldn't take long to finish drying off in the breeze. As soon as he did so, Cassandra appeared along the pathway and walked towards him.

"Wow, you look much better!" The lioness smiled.

"Thank you. My fur feels a lot better now."

"You removed your bandage." She noticed. "How is your cut?" The lioness curiously looked at his upper arm.

"It feels okay-" The sudden growling of his stomach caught her ears.

"Haha. Lucky for you and me, Lydia started cooking a few minutes ago." She pointed over her shoulder. "You're our guest for dinner." The lioness led him back down the pathway.

"How big is this village, Cassandra?"

"Oh, Clusina is a small village." She told him. "I believe all of the other villages are larger... or maybe most of them are. I have only visited two of them, so I don't know for certain." Cassandra explained. "My sister has been to a few more villages and even the capital a few times."

"It's very peaceful here." He noted.

"Mmhm! I like that about our village. It isn't very big or noisy." The lioness agreed as they reached the end of the pathway to the house.

"We had your garment drying on a line." She walked up to his pants hanging on a clothesline, and felt them over. "They dried off quickly!" Cassandra was surprised and handed them over.

"Thank you for cleaning them." He was happy to have them cleaned.

"Of course. Of course." She grinned. "You can get dressed if you like. I need to check and see if Lydia needs anything. Come on in when you're done." The lioness politely left him by the side of the house. Aaron was glad to have his pants back and promptly hung the towel up in its place. The red fox stepped to the front of their home and looked at the neighboring houses. They all looked very quaint and homely, like a little personal paradise. He could hear someone chopping wood not too far away. The faint squealing laughter of kids playing could be heard echoing across the houses. Aaron thought about the memory of running through the field and playing before entering their house.

"Mmm." The smells of cooking greeted his nose with a hearty aroma, Lydia was tending to a fire in the hearth with a piping hot kettle. There appeared to be a few more things cooking, but his nose was bombarded with so many pleasant smells.

"Please take a seat!" The vixen called out to him while cooking. "Dinner will be ready soon."

"I'll join you in a moment, Aaron." Cassandra appeared from one of the two back rooms. The red fox sat down on a provided mat beside a low table, and Cassandra soon joined him with a lantern in hand.

"Everything smells great. What is she cooking?"

"Lydia is better at cooking than I am." The lioness admitted with a shy grin. "She's cooking a few different things. You'll see." She explained. The fox's tail swished subtly in anticipation for a good hot meal.

"Do you have any family?" Cassandra asked.

"I... I don't know." Aaron bit his lip and slowly answered.

"A mother? A sister? An aunt?" She guessed for him.

"I'm not sure." He could only see an outline instead of a fully visible figure. He felt frustrated and looked away only to feel a hand rest on his shoulder. Cassandra looked at him and her brown eyes were kind and understanding.

"Don't worry, Aaron." She grinned. "We'll help you until you can remember everything."

"That's right!" Lydia called from the hearth.

"Thank you. I appreciate it." He was happy to have their willingness to help.

"Of course!" Cassandra smiled.

"Dinner is ready!" Lydia called out cheerfully and approached them with a large tray carrying a few small plates.

"Everything looks delicious!" His mouth watered at the spread.

"Then eat!" Lydia told him. The starving fox happily treated himself. By the time Cassandra and Lydia had eaten their portions, Aaron had eaten nearly double that.

"You have quite the appetite!" Lydia remarked with surprise when they finished.

"I was starving..." He admitted and contained a burp. "But it feels good to be full." The fox grinned to their amusement.

"I'm glad you liked everything." The vixen felt proud.

"Thank you again for the food."

"Of course, of course." She happily waved a hand. The sun had already begun to set while they had eaten. The light quickly faded, dimming the room's interior. Cassandra lit the lantern before it became completely dark.

"Is there anything new that you remember?" The lioness asked.

"It's only been a few hours." Her mate calmly spoke.

"I know, but I wanted to ask..." Her ears fell flat.

"Yes, there is something." Aaron quietly spoke and immediately garnered their attention. "When you mentioned the capital earlier... I could see a busy road..." He closed his eyes. "And there's tall buildings with lots of people walking around the streets." Aaron stated before opening his eyes.

"That sounds like the capital." Lydia beamed a smile.

"Maybe that is where you are from!" Cassandra sounded optimistic, although Aaron remained uncertain. "But how did you end up at the beach by our village?" The lioness wondered. The red fox merely shrugged, unable to remember,

"You could've been fishing with a group and then the tide could've pulled you out to sea." Lydia elaborated her theory.

"The people I saw in my memory, or thought..." He wasn't sure how to word it, "they wore more clothes than any of us." He pointed out.

"Hmm. Yeah, people in the capital town tend to wear more clothes than anyone in the villages." Lydia recalled.

"I have his feeling that I'm supposed to be somewhere." He admitted.

"We're waiting for Elder Ampira to return from the capital, so maybe she will have some insights about what happened to you."

"Who is that?"

"She's one of the elders."

"And who are the elders? Are they just old people?"

"Hehe, no!" Lydia laughed. "They're highly respected women of Ezo. One represents each village in the capital.

"Sorry! I didn't know-" He paused to yawn.

"It's fine, but it is completely dark out now." The red vixen noticed the only source of light left was from the lantern. "We should go to bed."

"It's been a long day..." Cassandra stretched her arms and agreed.

"Where do you want me to sleep?"

"We tidied up the mat and sheets for you." Cassandra gestured to where he had originally woken up. The two ladies gathered the dishes and set them in a basin of water while Aaron made himself comfortable.

"We will leave the curtain open in case you need anything." Lydia mentioned with the lantern in hand.

"Okay. Thank you." He watched them retire to the other room and prepare for bed. They left the curtain open as promised. The lantern was turned off as they laid down, sending the room into darkness. Faint glimmers of moonlight filtered into the main room from the shutters. He could faintly hear numerous crickets chirping outside in the early night. The fox stared at the home's interior, barely outlined in the darkness. Being inside a house should've felt familiar to him, but everything felt so different and alien.

'What kind of house did I live in?' He closed his eyes and went to sleep.

Aaron found himself trapped in dark swirling water. There was no light to see with, no escape, and not a single soul was able to hear his cries for help. He was pulled under by the ocean's mighty grip. Swimming furiously, he found the surface once again only to feel rain pounding onto his head. He bobbed up with a large wave only to be pulled under once again. The fear of drowning made his heart race as he struggled to breathe...

'Ah!' Aaron woke up with a frightening start and immediately sat up. A sheet was tangled around him, but was quickly pulled off. The fox was breathing quickly and his eyes were wide awake. He wasn't swallowed up by the ocean, but rather laying in a quiet humble home.

'Lydia and Cassandra...' He remembered yesterday's events. Looking over his shoulder, the noren curtain was still open revealing the red vixen and lioness were still asleep in the other room, side by side in their bed.

"Just a bad dream..." He sighed and wiped his forehead. The sound of a bird chirping outside caught his attention. Aaron stood up and quietly approached a window before opening the shutter. The chirping bird quickly flew away, but morning sunshine greeted him in its place. He had a nice view of the grassy field that barely sloped up, hiding the stream nearby. Lush green treetops were visible in the distance. Everything he was looking at resembled a picturesque scene from paradise.

"Paradise..." The word made him think about a painting that hung on a certain wall. It had an expensive frame and detailed an outdoor scene bordering a cottage.

'Where have I seen a fancy painting before?' The fox wondered.

"Morning. Did you sleep well?" A calm voice interrupted his thought.

"Oh. Good morning." He saw the naked vixen standing nearby. Cassandra was sitting up in bed, stretching. "Well... for the most part." He didn't want to talk about his recent nightmare.

"That's good." She bent forward and gathered the messy sheet from where he slept. He couldn't help but notice that her breasts seemed to battle for space for the moment she was bent forward.

"We wanted to take you to the beach where we found you the other day." Lydia mentioned as she stood up.

"The beach?"

"We aren't sure, but there's a chance we might find something washed ashore that was yours. If not, then you could remember something." She sounded hopeful.

"Mmhm!" Cassandra yawned as she slowly walked into the main room, still stretching her arms up towards the sky.

"I'd like to go then." Aaron felt his tail sway behind him. "You seem tired though." He grinned at the lioness.

"I tossed and turned a little bit."

"Yeah. I think you smacked me in your sleep once or twice." Lydia frowned.

"Oops." Her mate offered a bashful smile. A sudden knock at the front door echoed into the little house.

"You can come in!" Lydia called out. A red panda emerged as the door opened.

"Good morning!" Ariel cheerfully smiled. Aaron noticed that the red panda was completely naked just like Lydia and Cassandra, but was pudgy and thicker along her torso and thighs. Her breasts hung a little from their own heaviness and possessed wide dark areolae.

"You look much better than yesterday." Ariel was happy to see Aaron in a healthy condition.

"Do I know you?" He didn't recognize her at all. However, the red panda chuckled at his blank expression.

"She looked you over with us when we brought you to the village, Aaron." Cassandra explained.

"Ah, so Aaron is your name." The red panda hummed.

"Unfortunately that's about all I know." He admitted.

"My name is Ariel." She introduced herself. "Now we get to meet officially."

"It's nice to meet you." He shook the buxom red panda's hand.

"Your voice still sounds a little scratchy to me, but that's nothing to worry about. How are you feeling this morning?" The red panda was quick to ask.

"I feel okay." He moved his arms without any discomfort.

"Any dizziness or lightheadedness?"

"No."

"Any pain or discomfort?"

"No."

"How is that cut doing?" She touched the fox's upper arm.

"It feels fine." He watched the red panda comb through his arm fur and look at it.

"Everything looks great." She retracted her hand with a smile. "But you don't remember much?"

"No." The red fox shook his head with a frown. "I'm afraid I don't remember anything else."

"Don't worry." She reassured him. "Your memories should come back a little at a time and then very quickly. Just enjoy your stay with Lydia and Cassandra. You're in good hands." The red panda smiled at the two ladies.

"That's right!" Cassandra beamed a smile.

"Have you dealt with amnesia before Ariel?" Lydia asked.

"Only once, but it didn't last very long." The pudgy red panda explained, and curled her long striped tail around her waist. "A young woman had it after falling from a rooftop, if I remember correctly." She stated. Cassandra winced at the possibility of falling from a roof.

"Isn't a courier coming by soon?" Lydia asked. "We could ask if anyone has gone missing recently."

"The courier was last here two days ago, I think." The red panda recalled. "She won't return for maybe another three or four days."

"Ah, okay." The vixen nodded.

"If anyone knows anything, then we will hear it from Elder Ampira."

"I wanted to ask how Amanda was doing." Cassandra interrupted with a bashful grin.

"She had an upset stomach yesterday, but she is doing well this morning." The red panda nodded. "It's common during pregnancy, but I have been keeping a watchful eye over her."

"That's good to hear. Her belly is already pretty big." Cassandra giggled and outlined how large the villager's belly had become.

"What are you three going to do today?" Ariel asked.

"We wanted to go back to the beach with Aaron to see if anything else washed ashore."

"I would prefer if Aaron stays in the village." Ariel told them.

"But we wanted to go to the beach with him." Lydia frowned unhappily.

"You said everything looked fine." Cassandra added.

"I think Aaron should remain here in case anything happens." The buxom red panda remained steadfast. Lydia and Cassandra were a little crestfallen at her suggestion, but didn't challenge her.

"What should I do?" Aaron asked her.

"Whatever you like so long as you remain in Clusina for the day." Ariel told him. "Walk around the village, look at the farms, relax here, or meet the villagers if you're up to it. Everyone here is friendly, more or less." The red panda grinned. "I would advise against lifting anything very heavy for another day too."

"You can follow us to the trail if you'd like." Lydia suggested.

"Okay..." The male felt dejected about not being able to go with them.

"If you don't feel well then please come see me." Ariel offered. "My house is down this main pathway through all of the other houses beside a pair of banana trees." She motioned with a hand.

"Are you going to be home all day?" Cassandra asked.

"No, I'm going to check on Amanda again a little later this morning." She told them. "But I will be home after that. Did you have any other questions before I go?"

"No." Aaron shook his head.

"Thank you for coming by to check on Aaron again." Lydia politely said.

"Of course. You're very welcome." The red panda smiled. "Have a nice day. I will see all of you later." Ariel said before leaving their home. Their smiles faded once the door closed shut.

"We don't have to go if you need us to stay with you." Cassandra offered.

"No, please go." He eagerly spoke. "I want to know if you find anything on the beach."

"If you're okay with us-"

"Come with us to the pathway!" Lydia excitedly waved to the door. "The sooner we leave, the faster we will come back if we find anything." Aaron nodded in agreement and went with them outside. The morning air was warm but not humid. A few crickets were still chirping in the grasses nearby. Some other villagers could be seen around their houses, preparing for the day ahead of them. Aaron could see Ariel walking away through a main grouping of houses.

"Is that where Ariel lives?" He pointed to where the red panda was walking.

"Yep. It should be the last house if you follow this path." Cassandra pointed. "Although, everyone knows where she lives if you have any trouble." He felt much better knowing where he could get help, if needed.

"We!ll take you to the pathway that we are using." Lydia led them out of the village and towards the jungle along a different path through short grass. A figure was slowly walking ahead of them with an axe in hand.

"Augusta!" Lydia called out, and the tigress stopped in her tracks, spun around, and hurried towards them. She had an athletic build with broad shoulders and toned muscles. Her breasts were covered in white fur but were small, matching her strong build. She was completely naked as well, except for two matching green earrings. The pretty line of her womanhood was tucked beneath the messy down white fur of her groin, and nestled between her well muscled thighs. Her stripes were pretty and striking as well.

"The last time you yelled out my name there was an emergency." She mentioned with a sigh of relief. "You're awake!" Her eyes widened at the sight of Aaron standing before her.

"Yes, since yesterday." Cassandra smiled.

"Just so you know, Aaron, Augusta here was able to carry you back to our house in no time at all."

"Oh wow, thank you." The fox quickly spoke.

"I was just helping like anyone would have." She downplayed it and didn't want to take credit. "It's nice to properly meet you." She simply spoke and shook his hand.

"It's nice to meet you too."

"We have a favor to ask." Cassandra innocently smiled.

"What's the favor?" The tigress gave her a suspicious look.

"Can you stay with Aaron for a little while, and maybe look around some of the village? We wanted to comb the beach for anything that might've washed ashore.

"Why not go together then?"

"Ariel said I shouldn't, or at least I should stay in the village today, just in case I don't feel well." Aaron explained.

"Is that okay?" Lydia asked hopefully.

"Sure, I can stay in the village for a little while this morning." The tigress shrugged.

"Thank you!" Cassandra hugged the lioness tightly.

"No problem." Augusta grinned and patted the lioness's back while Lydia held back a laugh.

"We appreciate it. Thanks." Lydia told her.

"We won't be gone for very long!" Cassandra added. "Take care!" The lioness and vixen departed down the jungle pathway, leaving Aaron with Augusta.

"Hmm..." The tigress thought to herself for a moment, axe still in hand. "I guess we can walk around part of the village if you want."

"Sure. That's sounds good." Aaron nodded. The pair walked along a wide arc by a few fields and houses. A few farmers, all women, were outside tending to a variety of crops; however, potatoes and rice were most common.

"Clusina is a small village in the southeast of Ezo supported by farming, fishing, and hunting." She stated only to pause. "I guess there isn't too much else to say." She mumbled to herself. Aaron was annoyed and a little dumbfounded by her lack of interest. The tigress wasn't one to talk much, and carrying an axe didn't make someone very approachable.

"Do you work as a lumberjack?" He presumed from the axe.

"Pretty much. Since I'm strong; I chop down trees, help repair homes, or anything that requires a good amount of force. My mate Zenobia helps me with just about everything, but she's the mischievous type." She said with a little grin in the corner of her mouth.

"I guess you have to keep a watchful eye with her."

"That's true." The tigress nodded. "We live in that house." She pointed at a small cottage style home nestled amongst a few other houses.

"Augusta!" A female voice called out from behind. Looking over, a Doberman quickly approached them while holding her chest with an arm. It only took the blink of an eye to see why. She had large black furred breasts that contrasted with the soft pink colored skin of her areolae.

"Hey Zenobia." Augusta greeted her.

"I was wondering where you were." The Doberman said and placed her arms on her hips, allowing her breasts to drop and hang naturally by their own weight. Effectively naked, she wore a beaded necklace around her waist with a pair of tassels trailing down her legs.

"Why? What's going on?"

"I wanted to help you chop and gather wood today, but you weren't on the pathway in the jungle."

"Help?" Augusta covered a half grin that emerged on her face.

"Oh come on." Zenobia grinned. "I'm not as strong as you, but I can be handy with an axe." She did a full swing and chopping motion.

"Lydia and Cassandra wanted me to show Aaron through the village."

"You can come with us, Aaron." Zenobia didn't mind extra company.

"Ariel told me that I should stay in the village today." He explained. "So I can't go."

"Oh." The canine slowly nodded. "Oh!" Her gaze suddenly became focused with intrigue. "You're the one they found on the beach!" She gasped.

"And Augusta carried me." The fox added.

"That's right! It's great that you're doing okay."

"Thanks. Um. You two can go into the jungle if you want."

"Are you sure?" Augusta and Zenobia asked in unison.

"I'll be fine." He insisted. "I won't leave the village."

"Okay. We'll be back in the village by mid afternoon if you need anything." Augusta told him.

"Take care, Aaron." Zenobia smiled kindly. "I won't tease you too much, ma'am." The Doberman joked luridly to her mate.

"Thank you." Aaron watched the two ladies walk away towards the jungle. Just before they left his sights, the Doberman reached over and rubbed the tigress's rear. The fox blinked and wondered if he had imagined that or not.

'Odd...' The male fox thought to himself and wandered along the outskirts of the village. 'I think Augusta mentioned that they were mates.' He recalled and didn't think much more of it. The tigress wasn't very enthusiastic to show him around the village anyway. He felt it was better for them to enjoy their regular day.

Far away in the distance he could see a few kids running around one house, shouting as they played. The faint memory of running through the fields playing struck a nostalgic chord within him. Other vague memories were attached to it: being told to finish a plate of food; make sure your tail was well groomed; and being respectful to strangers.

'Being a kid.' The thought made him happy. Along the closest houses facing the fields, a mother genet was climbing a ladder made from wooden poles and thick branches lashed together. A toddler was playing close by under the supervision of an adolescent. A different more heavyset genet was washing something in a soapy bucket while whistling a tune.

'I don't want to bother anyone while they're working.' He wiggled his nose and kept walking. The fox also didn't want a lot of attention to himself. After wandering along a dirt path leading away from a few houses, Aaron found a solitary spot to observe what he wanted.

"This is a nice spot." He sat down on the fallen log at the edge of the field and watched the two farmers work in the fallow dirt. A mountain lioness and husky were hoeing a section of ground until the earth became a soft brown color like the rest of the fertile plot. Both of their breasts hanging naturally below subtly jiggled and shook from their body's motions. However, neither were bashful at the fact. They seemed fine with working completely naked in the early morning. Shirking one's duty was not an option either way. Aaron watched them work diligently under the golden sun.

A pair of raccoons, one older and one younger each wearing hats, approached the feline and canine with buckets and another hoe in hand. They were nude as well, but the younger raccoon wore a very meager loincloth piece that only covered her sex.

"Good to see that you're walking around just fine this morning, Larissa!" The husky stood up and greeted the older raccoon with a smile.

"I'm afraid I've been better." She sat down on a stump with a relieved expression.

"What's wrong?" The husky asked.

"My feet are killing me." The older raccoon huffed and rubbed her foot.

"Still?" The mountain lioness sounded surprised.

"Mom has been complaining about her feet hurting ever since she stepped on a rock one night." The younger raccoon explained.

"Both are starting to ache now."

"Why is the other one starting to hurt?"

"Did you step on another rock?"

"No. It's hurting because I have been walking on it more." The older raccoon sighed.

"Bah! You should've told me so I could take care of that for you." The husky cracked her hands together with a grin and knelt down before Larissa. She pulled her friend"s feet into her lap and began rubbing one dark sole.

"So embarrassing..." The raccoon's daughter looked away with a frown.

"Haha, you'll definitely want friends who will do this for you when you get old." The mountain lioness teased the younger woman. Meanwhile, Larissa wore a content smile.

"I wish you were my personal masseuse!" She hummed appreciatively as the husky rubbed her feet.

'All of them are athletic or at least strong.' Aaron watched the unfolding scene and noticed the women could work hard. Even those with pudgy bellies or sagging breasts had some notes of strength only partially worn away by age. There wasn't a hint of idle laziness, or at least no one could afford it when you had to work in some fashion to make a living. The simple life of farming in a village had an idyllic tone where leisure was rare valuable time. It was rigorous work that lacked an easier life of a modern city, but it was stable and earnest.

"Hey there." A strong lioness approached him. She did not carry anything with her and was naked like every other villager he had met, save for two bracelets on her wrists.

"Hello." He sat up as she stood before him.

"My name is Maragi." She introduced herself. "I'm Cassandra's older sister."

"It's nice to meet you. I didn't know Cassandra had a sister." He shook her hand, and noticed her firm grip. Unlike her younger sister, Maragi was sturdily built and had small breasts. The tanned brown peaks of flesh poked freely ahead. They both shared the same wide feline hips though.

"Yep, we are sisters. Sometimes people don't believe us since we are so different." The lioness sat down beside him. He noticed what appeared to be a rough dotted line on her upper left arm.

"How did you get that scar?" He asked Maragi.

"Oh, this? I was bitten by a shark." She played it off cooly with a grin.

"You were bitten by a shark?" His eyes widened.

"Yep. It happened the same year I received this shark bite too." She lifted her left arm and showed him her side. Along most of the strong lioness's side was an arc of scar tissue where something very large had taken an exploratory bite out of her.

"Oh wow..." The fox's eyes traced down from the bite just beside her breast all the way down her torso to her hip. "How did you survive?"

"I had to punch the shark in the head. It swam away as soon as I hit the nose." She clenched a fist. "It happened when I was spear fishing off the coast, past a sand bar."

"You could've been killed." He winced.

"My only hope was to fight back." The lioness pointed out. "I could've been bitten anywhere else and bled out, but I fought and survived. Sure, anyone who walks into the ocean knows there is always a potential for danger. Living on a large island will teach anyone that, but getting attacked changes everything. For example, some people like to wear shark necklaces to look dangerous or cool, but that's one thing I wouldn't want to wear without earning it first." She grinned and held up a fist.

"You're really tough." Aaron acknowledged.

"Heh, Thank you." Her tail swayed happily from the compliment. "What about you? Where are you from and how did you end up here?" Maragi asked.

"I have no idea." He shrugged. "I don't really remember anything since I woke up yesterday."

"Oh. So it is true that you have amnesia." She realized.

"Yeah." He admitted with a sigh.

"Do you know if you're from Ezo, or from somewhere else?" The lioness inquired.

"I don't know. Cassandra and Lydia have asked me that, and maybe the capital sounds familiar, but I'm not entirely sure."

"So where's my sister and Lydia at right now?" Maragi looked around.

"They went to the beach."

"Why there?"

"To look for anything washed on shore that could've been mine or anything to help my memory come back."

"Ok. That's not a bad idea." She nodded. Their ears perked up hearing the farmers talking loudly all of a sudden.

"Stop! You don't have to carry all of that by yourself."

"I'm fine. I can still walk." The older raccoon huffed angrily.

"Not at this rate..."

"We can just leave the tools here for later." The mountain lioness suggested.

"Nonsense!" She insisted.

Aaron and Maragi noticed the farmers had completed whatever work was needed in the field, but were having a little trouble carrying everything back, including a few buckets full of fresh dirt.

"Can I help them?" He asked Maragi. The lioness was surprised by his question.

"Sure. They'd appreciate it." She nodded. The red fox stood up and walked across the soft earth over to the four women with Maragi close behind.

"Hey, I can help." Aaron offered.

"Hmm?" The farming ladies turned to look at him. "Who are you?"

"I'm Aaron."

"Oh!" She realized. "You're the person who Cassandra and Lydia found on the beach!" She excitedly said. The rest of the farmers crowded closer with fascination in their eyes.

"Um. Yes." He said as they crowded closer to him, and began asking questions.

"Did you really wash ashore?"

"How did you survive?"

"Where are you from?" The husky inquired.

"I'm not sure where I am from." He answered.

"Are you joking?" The husky tilted her head questioningly.

"It's true." Maragi spoke up. "Aaron woke up with amnesia."

"You don't remember anything?" The younger raccoon was astonished.

"Well, I am starting to remember a few things, but it isn't enough to understand." Aaron wasn't sure how to explain the feeling.

"Aww. You poor thing." The older raccoon spoke up. "I know Cassandra and Lydia are taking good care of you, but if you need anything, all of us are more than happy to help." All of the farmers nodded.

"Thank you. I appreciate it." He smiled.

"I'm Larissa, and this is my daughter Naomi." The older raccoon introduced herself.

"Hello." She politely waved.

"I'm Anza." The mountain lioness introduced herself.

"And I am Helen." The husky said as her tail wagged.

"We were just carrying a few things back to Amanda's house until we realized none of us have enough hands to carry everything back." Anza explained.

"I'll help." He offered.

"Thank you, I appreciate it." She smiled.

"If we offer to help, she bites our hands." The husky mumbled.

"I am not that old yet." Larissa short a glare at her husky friend but didn't fuss any further about it. Aaron and Maragi carried the garden hoes and followed the farmers to the village houses. Passing by, Aaron could see more intimate moments of village life than sitting far out in a field. A female shiba inu was nursing her infant under a clothesline while an older child was holding onto the mother's knee. With the canine mother's head tilted back, it was tough to tell if she was napping or relaxed while her daughter nursed.

"Respect your mothers!" An unseen stern aged voice called out from inside one house. Aaron glanced around, but didn't see who made the comment. The chopping of wood also echoed from close by.

They walked towards a certain house that faced the fields where a very pregnant petite papillon was sitting outside. Her belly was distended giving the impression that she would go into labor at any moment. Her breasts were small compared to Lydia and Cassandra, but they were heavy in appearance despite their perkiness. Her nipples were plump and her areolae were dark and wide, ready for the little one's mouth to latch on very soon.

The expecting mother was in good company. A middle aged jackal with sturdy legs and saggy breasts was standing beside her and wearing a loincloth. A lithe flat chested border collie was also nearby. They were all essentially nude with the exception of simple garments or jewelry, but that didn't faze Aaron.

"You haven't given birth while we were gone have you, Amanda?" Helen called out to the papillon.

"No!" She called back with a little smile. "But I'm ready any day now."

"She won't be saying that when the contractions start." Larissa giggled.

"We brought back the buckets of dirt that you wanted."

"Thank you. That heavy rain from a few days ago washed out some of the dirt from my flower beds, and I really needed to add more."

"You'll have plenty to work with."

"How have you been Kanasi?" Anza asked the middle aged jackal.

"I've been well, which is more than what Larissa can say about her foot." She chuckled as the older raccoon huffed, but held her tongue from delivering a snappy remark.

"Hehe." The mountain lioness giggled.

"But I've been keeping April and Amanda good company this morning." She nodded towards the papillon and the flat chested border collie. "You know, that reminds me of that little story about the little girl who caught a cricket."

"The what?" Naomi gave her a funny look.

"The one where the girl keeps the cricket and feeds it so it makes music for her." The jackal explained. "I guess I'm their old cricket today, singing songs for them." She grinned and pointed at April and Amanda.

"Oh gosh." Larissa giggled.

"Who are you?" Amanda noticed the red fox carrying a garden hoe in hand.

"I haven't seen you before." Kanasi added.

"Aaron offered to help us carry our tools back with Maragi." Helen turned to the red fox and lioness.

"This is who Lydia and Cassandra saved." Larissa stated.

"Oh, so you're the survivor!" Kanasi was immediately intrigued.

"We're going back to my sister's house since they're returning soon." Maragi took a gentle hold of the fox's arm. "They'll gossip your ears off." The lioness whispered to him.

"Okay." He nodded.

"Thank you both again for carrying our tools for us." Anza said.

"It was nice finally meeting you." Larissa added.

"You're welcome!" Aaron said before departing alongside Maragi.

"She'd make a good mother." Larissa remarked. "She's very sweet, calm, and polite."

"Any woman can become a mother." Naomi shrugged.

"That's true physically," she acknowledged, "but I mean the attitude and character. Aaron is kind and caring even to strangers like us."

"I was going to add that she would need breasts. She has such a flat chest!"

"At least I'm not the only one." April grinned.

"Oh, that naturally happens when you become pregnant." The jackal waved a hand dismissively. "Your breasts are a perfect example of that Amanda. You were just as flat chested as April before you became pregnant."

"They are nice handfuls now." The papillon cupped both and gave them a gentle rub.

"And very soft." Her mate, April added.

"Don't jiggle or squeeze them too much." Kanasi elbowed the border collie playfully. The pair chuckled only to notice Amanda was staring off.

"What's wrong?"

"Something isn't quite right with her." The pregnant papillon mentioned.

"Who? Aaron?"

"Yes."

"What so you mean?" Her mate didn't understand.

"I haven't seen clothes like those before."

"Not even in town?"

"No." She shook her head. "Not even in the port of Inoki."

"So what?"

"That means Aaron is not from this island." The papillon explained.

"Doesn't that mean she came from across the ocean?"

"That's what I think, but something else just seems off." She insisted.

"Well..." April thought about it. "Like what?"

"The way she is." Amanda told them. "When I went to Inoki I saw how everyone acted different from us. The way that they dressed was the first thing I noticed."

"I don't know..." The middle aged jackal wasn't entirely convinced. "You might be right, but then again I don't know how I would act if I had amnesia."

"Probably like a fish out of water." April giggled.

"Her physique, voice, and flat chest remind me of the men I saw..." The papillon waved a hand in front of her upper body. "What if she's actually-."

"Amanda..." April stopped her mate. "There's no need to spread rumors. When she recovers her memory, then we will get all the answer our gossiping ears want to know." The others seemed to agree, but the papillon looked away skeptically as a breeze ruffled her fluffy fur.

***

"You don't think they'll take much longer, do you?" Aaron asked Maragi.

"I'm not sure." She admitted. "They could spend an entire day and then night on the beach. Did they tell you how much of the beach or how long they would be out there?"

"No." He shook his head. They were back at Lydia and Cassandra's house, waiting for their return.

"I'll wait a little longer before I go then." She hummed.

"I was curious about what Lydia and Cassandra do." He mentioned.

"What do you mean?"

"Augusta told me that she was a lumberjack and helped repair homes and move things since she's strong. Zenobia helps her."

"Cassandra used to fish a lot." Maragi nodded slowly. "Although, that changed after my first shark attack. She was very scared and helped me recover. I think she swore off going into the ocean after my second attack."

"What does she do now?"

"She has been adjusting by helping Lydia with everything. Lydia is really good at cooking, but she also tends to different herbs." She pointed to a shelf where some dried bundles were that he hadn't noticed before. "But she still loves going to the beach with Lydia. Those two are inseparable."

"Even though she won't go in the ocean?"

"Yep." Maragi affirmed. "It's a little ironic, but you're on dry land instead of in the water."

"Do you still fish?"

"I will from a canoe, but no more diving and spear fishing." She waved a hand. "I have always been protective over my little sister, so if something bad happened to me, I know it would effect her a lot." Aaron nodded without saying a word. He could only imagine the pain of losing someone so close so suddenly.

"Okay." Maragi stood up and stretched. "I'm going back home for lunch. Did you want to come with me?" She asked.

"Thank you, but I'll wait here for them."

"Alright. I'll see you later then." The lioness departed. Now alone, the red fox patiently waited for Cassandra and Lydia to return home.

'I wonder how long it will take them.' He had no clue how far the beach was from the village. All the fox could see from the village was forest in the distance. Thinking about the beach only reminded him of the ocean. The previous night's dream about the dark water pulling him under made a shiver crawl up his spine. Shaking his head, the fox focused on something else for the time being.

'That story the jackal told...' Aaron thought about the little tale he had overheard while helping the farmers. The fox could see himself sitting on a carpet by a fire, listening to his mother tell a story. The crackling and popping of wood would go unnoticed, but he would eagerly wait for someone to come home while it snowed outside. A sudden noise as the door opened made him perk up.

"We're back!" Lydia triumphantly spoke as she stepped inside with Cassandra.

"What did you find?" He was eager to see.

"We found this along the beach." Cassandra revealed a small booklet with a black leather cover. A lengthy string with a weighted metal piece was tied around securely to keep the pages closed.

"Yeah... That's my journal!" Aaron's eyes lit up as he recognized the item.

"It's yours?" Lydia was surprised and handed it over.

"I would write small things down, like the dreams I had the night before." He touched the small leather booklet with great interest.

"A dream journal? How neat!" Cassandra liked it.

"What kind of dreams did you write down?" Lydia was curious.

"Let's see..." The fox was eager to find out. Aaron quickly untied the string and opened up the flimsy leather cover to the first pages. However, much to his dismay, the ink from the wrinkled pages was rendered illegible from an unknown amount of time floating at sea. It was almost as if his memories had been transcribed into an indecipherable language to prevent him from remembering.

"What is it?" Lydia noticed that he quickly became crestfallen.

"I can't read any of it." He showed them. "The water washed away or blurred most of the ink. They're just wrinkled pages with black scribbles now."

"I'm sorry." Cassandra apologized.

"It's not your fault." He told her. "I'm happy that you found it anyway."

"I have seen books or journals like yours before." Lydia mentioned. "Cassandra's sister bought one at the capital before, I think." She turned to the lioness who nodded.

"Yep, I know my sister has one."

"I know Ariel has one too, or maybe a few, because she writes a lot, but what's the little piece?" She curiously looked at the item dangling at the end of the white string.

"This?" Aaron held up a small metal wheel shape with eight knob shaped spokes pointing out from the center. "I don't know..." He rubbed his head and thought. "But it has something to do with sailing ships."

"Ooh. That's definitely something you'd find at a port town like the capital." Lydia reasoned.

"What did you do while we were gone?" Cassandra asked.

"Augusta showed me one part of the village's fields, but then Zenobia the Doberman found us and I told them it was fine to leave me. Then I met your sister Maragi." Aaron stated.

"Nice! I didn't think she would run into you! Some say it's hard to tell that we are sisters." Cassandra grinned.

"That's the truth." Lydia teased.

"She was very nice to me. We talked a while and then helped a few farmers carry some of their tools back to a house."

"Ariel said not to lift anything heavy." Lydia reminded him.

"No, it was just a garden hoe." He explained. "After that we came back here, but she left to eat lunch."

"I'm glad you two got along. I've heard people say my sister can look kind of mean or growl too much." Cassandra mentioned.

"It was a good day after all then." Lydia nodded. "You can come with us to the beach tomorrow to look around again if you like." The vixen offered. "But speaking of chores, we need to brush the wash bucket clean." She turned to Cassandra who was already fetching a brush.

"Got it!" She held it up.

"I can do that." Aaron offered.

"Really? You don't have to."

"I've been sitting in here for a while anyway."

"Thank you Aaron. We really appreciate your help." The vixen smiled graciously.

"You're welcome." He had no qualms helping either of them, and went outside.

"It's nice having an extra lady to help around the house." Lydia smiled to Cassandra.

"Mmhm. It's very nice of her to offer a helping hand. She's very nice."

"I'll be curious to know what Elder Ampira has to say when she arrives tomorrow. Maybe Aaron's memories will return by then." The vixen guessed.

"I hope they return soon." She agreed. "Since we have the afternoon to ourselves now..." Cassandra stepped up to her mate with a sultry look in her eyes. "Maybe we can have a little fun." The lioness drew a gentle finger around one of her mate's nipples, teasing the sensitive pink skin.

"Ohh. Mmm." A grin curled onto her lips. "I'd like that." She watched her nipple begin to harden from the circling finger.

***

The afternoon was hot but not unbearably so for Aaron. Having finished his little chore of washing the two buckets for the ladies, the fox wanted a brief break. Walking back to their home, he sat down by a wall with a shutter and prepared for a nap in the sun.

'A good rest could help jog my memory.' Aaron closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. 'I need a break anyway.' He sighed contently, and sat down with his back resting against the side of the house.

"Huh?" A muffled sound from inside the house caught his attention. A muffled giggling voice vanished, sparking his interest. The fox stood up peered through a small opening in the shutter's open blinds. He could see into the house fairly well from the hearth to the walls.

'That's Cassandra.' The lioness was laid on her back with her strong legs spread out so her knees were fanned out, but her paws were drawn up below her. Her large breasts were rolled off center, but anyone's attention would've been drawn to the clearly visible line of her awaiting sex. The gaze in her eyes was different, but he couldn't see what she was looking at. Aaron stared for a moment, not sure what to make of her vulnerable pose. A subtle shuffling noise directed his eyes and ears to the left. Orange fur came into view.

'Lydia...' Aaron recognized the red vixen as she crept forward on her hands and knees to the lioness sprawled out before her. Her heavy breasts hanging between her arms subtly bounced and shook from her body's movement. The vixen's white tipped tail swished and swayed in a slow dance behind her. A few words and whispers were shared that he couldn't hear.

Lydia laid down between the feline's legs and rested her hands on her partner's warm thighs. The vixen slowly rubbed her fingertips in circles akin to an erotic massage, brushing against either side of her mate's womanhood. Hands wandered and changed methods; rubbing the top of the feline's cream furred mound and slowly tracing a finger up and down the line of her sex with gentleness.

Cassandra wiggled her hips and blushed from the teases, craving more and more. Lydia blew a kiss before lowering her head. Aaron's eyes widened as his heart began to beat faster. He watched the vixen's tongue lap along the lioness's folds so sweetly and tenderly, producing many soft yet passionate moans and grunts from her lover. The red fox couldn't look away even if a loud clap of thunder had erupted behind his ears. He was completely mesmerized by the erotic sight unfolding before his very eyes.

Cassandra writhed and cried out softly as her lover's tongue lovingly danced over her eager sex. The lioness's strong legs tensed and trembled at times, rising up and down as her back arched, but never pressed against Lydia's head. Her torso gyrated and wriggled as she struggled to lay still enough for her partner to continue pleasuring her. Hands grabbed fistfuls of the sheet in a vain attempt to hold on. The grimacing look of pleasure etched onto her pretty feline face was unmistakable of what was to come. Another guttural cry slipped past her lips as she lifted her legs only to tense them. Her thighs shuddered and shook only to suddenly relax. Both legs plopped down to the floor with a thump, and she was quick to nudge the vixen's head off. Cassandra whispered something between breaths that he couldn't hear. The lioness breathed heavily as Lydia eased off, but not before planting a few more kisses along the feline's wet lips.

The vixen rose up, letting her large breasts sway a little and show how hard her nipples were from arousal. However, the lioness's were already taut as well. Cassandra's folds were completely wet and flushed with arousal and desire. The lioness appeared completely spent, as if she had run a record mile. Lydia whispered into her partner's ear and traced a hand up the side of her hip and tenderly cupped a breast only to start kneading the soft feminine mass. The vixen rose up and hiked a leg over Cassandra's, pressing their hot sexes together. The lioness reached up and began lightly fondling the vixen's larger breasts dangling before her. Hands groped one another's breasts as Lydia began grinding their hips together in a gentle gyration. Just then, something clicked in Aaron's mind.

'Wait!' His eyes widened as he ducked from the window. "I shouldn't be watching them... do that." A sudden sense of shame washed over his face as it felt red hot. Glancing down at his pants, he suddenly felt the contagion of arousal had a full grip on him. The stiff tightness of a pitched tent in his shorts had him flustered but also confused.

Unearthed memories flashed before his eyes. Peeping into a women's bathhouse as a teenager; an argument with a grey female wolf tutor; running down a dock naked to skinny dip in a lake; dating a grey vixen from a wealthy family; kissing the grey vixen...

'Bianca was her name.' He recalled the previous girlfriend's name, what she looked like, her favorite clothes, angelic voice, and even her scent. Aaron could only stare blankly ahead at the grassy ground as the memories kept pouring forth like a river.

'My dad... works for a bank as an executive." He remembered a large intimidating building situated along a busy street, and a smartly dressed male fox standing before a heavy fortified door. The image of a middle aged red vixen wearing a bonnet and beautiful dress flashed before his eyes next.

"Mom..." He whispered only to feel his eyes water as the image of his family started to piece itself back together.

"Wait..." A sudden realization dawned on him with his new memories. "Where are all of the males?" He felt stumped by his own question. Something felt terribly wrong as a pit formed in his stomach.

"I'm the only man in this entire village." His mouth gaped in shock. 'How can an entire village of only women of all ages exist?' He felt incredibly anxious, and the realization dawned on Aaron that he was very far from home. The names of Brookhaven, Dufort, Lemonshire suddenly sounded familiar even though he didn't quite know where those places were located.

'I am not supposed to be here.' The realization scared him. 'Wherever here is.' The fox quietly crept away and followed the pathway up towards the stream. Old memories began colliding with new ones as he starting piecing his temporarily shrouded life back into order. The image of a sailing ship, his belongings in hand, and chattering seagulls felt most recent, as if it had happened mere weeks or even days ago. The red fox was so lost in thought that he didn't even notice he had stumbled upon several women bathing the stream.

"Huh?" He blinked, barely registering it was the exact same spot where he had bathed the previous day. Ariel the red panda and Zenobia the Doberman were both sitting at the opposite side of the stream. The flowing water level only reached a little bit above their waistlines, leaving their breasts in plain sight.

Augusta was sprawled out onto a towel on the opposite grassy embankment behind them. Two others he didn't know were further downstream, washing each other. All of the women were beautifully naked. The nudity suddenly felt inappropriate, and yet he liked it at the same time. The oddly conflicting feeling didn't feel novel. It was as if the amnesia had numbed him from his true feelings.

"Hey, Aaron!" Ariel suddenly called out and waved at the idle fox. "Come here! We were just talking about you."

"Yeah, come in for a bath with us. The water is nice and cool." Zenobia smiled and waved for the fox to join them. Snapped from his stupor and mental rush, the fox didn't know what to do or say.

"Uh, no thank you." He managed to shake his head.

"Aww. Why not? The water feels great." The Doberman stated.

"You're always wearing that funny loincloth dress thing too. You can wash it here in the stream. We can help." Ariel suggested and Zenobia nodded in agreement. Aaron stood frozen by the water's edge like a hollow tree. The last thing he wanted was to disrobe before several women taking a bath. As if sensing an opportunity for mischief, Zenobia reached around Ariel and grabbed the red panda's breasts before jiggling them.

"Haha, stop that Zenobia!" Ariel squealed.

'I need to go.' Aaron immediately turned around to walk down the path only to run into someone else.

"Larissa!" It was the older female raccoon farmer.

"Opps! Sorry." She grinned. "I didn't expect you to turn around." She giggled. "Were you going to take a bath? We can get each other's backs or fronts if you like." His untrained eyes glanced down at her bare chest and noticed her saggy breasts and the grey skin of her nipples plainly looking down at his legs. He felt his heart race inside his chest, but didn't have time to sort all of his feelings and revelations in a single moment.

"Sorry! Um. I was just uh... going back." He nodded towards the pathway.

"Don't be silly. You just got here." The raccoon giggled. "Where's Lydia and Cassandra?" She asked. "Are they home?" The images of the two women making love flashed through his mind, causing his cheeks to blush a bright red.

"Uh. They're... busy." The foxblinked and felt how dry his mouth had become.

"Are you alright Aaron?" She asked with concern. "You look nervous."

"I um... Yeah. I'm alright." He lied. "Sorry, I just need to go." The fox quickly walked past Larissa and hurried down the dirt pathway towards the village.

"Where did Aaron go?" Ariel called out from the water.

"Is she alright?" Zenobia asked.

"I don't know." The older raccoon shrugged. "She had to go somewhere."

"Just leave her alone." Augusta mumbled and covered her eyes from the sun as all three ladies watched Aaron disappear from sight.