FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Virtually Real Chapter 59: It's All a Dance

Prowl-Ar Leader of the Shadow Runners can shift into black tiger and bull forms

Jordan/Wolf Ships doctor can shift into wolf and tiger forms

Kyle: Created from Red XIII's game character he can shift into his original form, eastern dragon, lion, and wolf.

Shock: reporter turned team diplomat can shift into a fox

Rider: Team therapist can shift into a sabretooth

Mahan Ship's AI computer

Trace: Prowl-Ar's oldest son can shift into a brown tiger/leopard hybrid with caramel stripes.

Tye: Trace's twin brother can shift into a yellow tiger with red stripes

Fenrir Ulfgar: The God Fenrir of Norse mythology. He turned his back on fate for the love of his soul mate.

Raulin: Fenrir's mate, a human looking to be in his twenties except he is over two hundred years old having been sustained by Fenrir's divine power.

Madam President of the United States: Not a fan of LGTBQ or Furrys but at least willing to work with them as needed. 1000 times better than the previous president.

As we walked through the forest we were assaulted by sounds, which if I didn't know better, truly seemed demonic. The discomfort of my erection and feelings of lust told me exactly what those sounds were. The musk was so thick now that it was easy to smell.

The gray wolf laughed. "You shouldn't have entered the forest. Now you will present yourselves to the Alpha and we'll have three more new pack mates."

"Not likely. Now that I know what is happening I can ignore it." Jordan said.

I could hear the strain in his voice. "Pause game. Mahan, please scan Jordan."

"Tiger, I'm fine let's just get through this part and then spend the next couple of days working it out of our system."

"Jordan, I love you and your health is always on my mind, but right now I'm concerned what an effect the hormones are having on the babies."

Jordan gasped, "Mahan?"

"The scans are strange. But then they usually are when your offspring are involved. They seem to be converting the hormone that reaches them into growth energy. Where I projected thirteen months until you were full term, it is now closer to nine months. However, though sped up their growth is seemingly normal and they are health with no ill effects. If you continue with the exposure in game I project Jordan will come to full term in five or six months. However, I can have a blocker administered if Jordan feels it is necessary."

"So the babies are in no danger?"

"Not as far as the scans show."

"Ok, we'll continue. However, I want you to continually scan and at the first sign of danger switch over to emergency medical mode and apply the blocker, but only if they are in danger. Does that settle your fears?"

"Mahan, can a counter agent be administered rather than a blocker?" I asked.

"Yes, if the hormones are neutralized by the medical nanites. However that may pose more of a risk. I'll only take such an action in a worst case scenario."

I smiled at Jordan, "I trust you with my life and the lives of our children. I know you would never do anything to risk their health so the decision to continue is up to you."

"Computer, resume game." Jordan ordered.

The temporary fear that the hormone overload might hurt our unborn children had killed my libido. It took only seconds of being plunged back into the game for it to return. Jordan might not present himself to the pack Alpha but that didn't mean we wouldn't participate in our own way.

Soon we could see the glow in a clearing. The full moon was reflecting off the surface of a pond lighting up the area as bright as day. There were wolves everywhere both feral and lycan forms and they were all mating. Lycans with ferals, ferals with lycans, and humans with everyone.

"What is this? You've brought three new pack initiates? I thought only the knight commander was left." The Alpha turned toward us. He gently held a human against his belly. The man was knotted and somewhat swollen. With each movement he would ejaculate as though the last vestiges of humanity were being forced out of his cock.

"Admiring my new mate? When the moon rises tomorrow my little priest will transform and together we will enter our church and re-consecrate it."

The priest reached up and scratched the Alphas chin. "Multiple times, I hope."

I was confused and the Alpha must have noticed.

"You were under the impression we took the priest and his guards by force?"

The priest laughed and then coughed up some cum. "The only one that didn't come by choice was the Commander. Unfortunately he was put in charge when our original commander was accused of inappropriate behavior."

"Inappropriate behavior?" I asked, wondering what that could be considering the state of the humans in the area.

"They caught me relieving some tension at the last full moon, the order is strict about knights always being pure. I escaped and came here knowing what was waiting for me and that my men would follow." A man said, even as he continued thrusting into the feral werewolf in front of him. Within moments he was occupied as a lycan form entered him from behind.

I shook my head, "No, we're not here to join your pack."

I was surprised as the Gay pulled me against him grinding against me and groping my crotch. I pushed his paw aside then winced in pain as his claws tore through my thigh as he was yanked back and flung away.

"No one touches my mate without permission!" Wolf roared. He'd shifted to his anthro tiger form, his white fur glowing in the moonlight. "Oh god! Tiger! I thought you'd pushed him far enough you wouldn't get hurt" Wolf mentally yelled.

"I'll be fine" I growled as I once again shifted to my anthro tiger form. "We came here to negotiate. Though it seems the only monster we have to talk about is the scared Holy Knight Commander back in the village."

The alpha laughed. "So you are more than you seemed. Still all three of you smell of wolf taint. Are you sure you're not tempted to join us?"

"Why would they be?" Fenrir asked.

"Because of everything my Alpha can provide." The priest answered.

Fenrir laughed, shifted to feral firm and started to grow. Everyone was forced to move aside as he grew to at least ten meters at the shoulder. "My father was a god and my mother a giant. I am the god Fenrir, devourer of the world, and their servant. Do you believe, as a simple pack alpha, you can offer anything that would temp the ones that can make a servant of a god?"

Once again I locked down my thoughts, hard, but I know Wolf had seen what I'd imagined. Me in my human form squirming inside the giant wolf's sheath.

A massive amount of pre flowed from his very erect cock causing the lake to turn opaque and most of the wolves to run down and drink deeply. Fenrir quickly shrank down to normal size. "Now about that holy knight commander."

"Fenrir I think it's time for you and your mate to have some alone time. I certainly need some time with my mates." Jordan said.

Fenrir glanced at me, quickly nodded and took off.

"Wolf; we came as quickly as we could." Shock started, but went silent.

"Um, Jordan, what's going on? Why is our tiger naked and covered in what smells like wolf pre-ejaculate?" Kyle asked.

I looked down. I was naked and covered in a slimy substance. "When?"

"Don't!" Everyone yelled.

The damage was done my mouth was filled with the slime and it was like a flare had exploded in my mind.

***

I cracked an eye open. My head hurt. Oh god, my ass hurt just as much. Hell, even my cock felt like it was on fire but that, at least, was being soothed. I glanced down to see a feral wolf licking me clean. I'd have yelled but I couldn't. I couldn't even moan.

"Don't worry, the effects will wear off in an hour or two. It's all part of the transformation process. Let me just say you and your companions make very sexy and colorful werewolves. Just relax and let the boys clean you up, then we'll talk more." He rolled me on my side and I could see Wolf was receiving the same attention. I gasped a little as I felt a tongue work its way into my ass.

"Just go with it. As I understand it they need to clean off the excess fluids so we can recover faster. Do you remember anything from last night?"

"No, the last thing I remember was being covered in something."

_ _

"Fenrir's precum. He's really sorry by the way."

_ _

"Sorry? Sorry for what?" Another wolf approached and started licking my face and forced its tongue into my mouth.

"Like I said just accept what they're doing. It's alright my big alpha wolf."

"What?"

"Fenrir didn't realize, when he grew so large that you were right between his legs, He literally drenched you in his pre. It seems because of your shifter genes drinking that in is all it took to turn you into a sex driven werewolf. Well, considering how far into heat I already was . . . then Kyle, Shock, and Rider. We're all werewolves, or I guess you now have a third wolf shift. And both Rider and Shock have second wolf shifts."

"We'll that isn't so bad."

_ _

"Um, the reason Fenrir is sorry is because we're all connected to him just like Raulin. Oh and because he and Raulin returned here now Raulin can also assume wolf form. Fenrir refuses to say which one of us, did the deed, but I wouldn't blame either of them at all if they chose you."

_ _

"Did we . . ." I trailed off deciding maybe it was best not knowing.

"Have sex with more than our mates? I honestly can't remember much after basically attacking you so you'd take me first. However I do have flashes of multiple wolves and a couple of how jealous I was as I watched you mount the Alpha. God you made him howl like a bitch for more."

_ _

"As the one seemingly least affected I can tell you we all took and were taken by most, if not every member of the pack." Rider interrupted.

"Wait, you can hear our thoughts?" Wolf asked.

_"It seems we're all telepathically connected now thanks to Fenrir."_Kyle said.

_"Would everyone just shut up already? These wolves are doing wonders for our recovery and all the noise isn't helping me get off again."_Shock mentally yelled.

That was all it took. All the work I'd put into ignoring all the stimulation broke and I orgasmed again. But it wasn't just me, we all felt it as one.

"See? Few more like that and you recover." The Gray wolf that led us to the alpha said lifting my head and smearing me with his pre "Here, new pups need nourishment suck like mothers teat." He moved slightly so I could see another wolf presenting himself to my wolf.

"Heh, it's just a game, we might as well enjoy it. And as I remember that gray was really sexy." Wolf mentally laughed.

The gray smirked as I looked into his eyes and then he slid his cock into my mouth.

***

I was shaken awake by a human. It seemed I had been moved after being "fed" several times; since I was on a bed with a straw mattress. The human placed his finger against my lips and then beckoned me to follow. Several others were sleeping in the room with me but none of them were my mates.

I paused and gestured at the fact I was naked. The man shrugged and pointed to a pile of rough spun clothe at the side of the bed. I looked it over and decided it wasn't my style. I reached behind me and when I brought my hand back around I was holding my pouch. I reached inside and pulled out my regular clothes. At least the ones set for the current world. The man continued to watch me, almost possessively, so I had to dress normally rather than activating the smart clothe.

Once dressed I followed him out.

"First off you need to know your old life is over. You're part of our pack now and as such you belong to me. I am one of the pack's betas. I'm the gray wolf you met first by the way. You will call me sir or master."

"My mates-"

"No. As I said you belong to me now. This is how the pack works. New wolves are divided between the Alpha and the Betas. I made sure the Alpha knew you were mine. He was fine with that since he wanted the big black one. We were rather surprised the Wolf God honored us with such powerful new blood. I can easily see you becoming a new Beta with new wolves of your own next spring."

"I don't think you understand. I am already the leader of my own pack."

"No you don't understand-"

"Wolf, Fox, Drake, and Saber. Wake up, activate your clothes and come outside. Oh and shift as well. It seems these werewolves intend to split us up." I doubted anyone was asleep any longer at the sound of Kyle and Jordan's roars. "I tried to tell you we're not the same."

The man stared as Kyle came bounding over in full dragon form. Wolf was close behind in his white tiger form.

"I figured this form was more appropriate, my Tiger." He mentally informed me as he came to stand at my side.

Shock leapt to my shoulders in feral form and let out a scream "Damn it! Don't do that right in my ear." I yelled.

"Oops, sorry about that." He thought as he jumped down and shifted to Anthro form.

Rider joined the group with a naked human draped over his shoulder. Well, almost naked since he was wearing Rider's collar. "Tiger, I like this holy knight captain. He's a warrior who not only knows his place he's also very accommodating and turns into a cute white wolf so I'm keeping him."

I did a double take as his words sank in. It seemed Rider had taken it on himself to deal with the human problem we'd had.

"This isn't right. You all turned, the magic paralyzed you, as it does all first changed wolves. Each of you accepted the gift from your master and his subordinates. You should be listening and doing what you're told."

I couldn't help myself, I just had to start laughing.

"Tiger, are you alright?" Kyle asked.

That set Shock to laughing as well.

"Okay, is this just a human thing I'm not getting?" Rider asked.

I gasped before answering. "You don't give orders to cats. They always do what they want to do. And we're all part cat."

"He is a fox not a cat." The gray said, pointing at Shock.

"Silly doggy, how many foxes have you seen with tiger stripes? I'm also part cat." Shock replied.

I noticed Wolf close his eyes and shake his head. _"You've come up with some really weak excuses before, but this is a new low."_He thought.

_"Maybe, but other than it being Fenrir's fault, it's the only explanation I can come up with. Plus I can tell Fenrir already feels guilty enough."_I thought back.

"You're such a caring leader. I'm so glad I'm your chiot."

"Uh, I guess I'd better take you to meet the Alpha then."

We all looked at each other. It seemed we all heard the sadness in his voice.

The knight captain finally woke up from the jostling of the walk to the church. "Um, can someone tell me what happened and why I'm naked?"

"What do you remember? I asked.

"I was in the church with two of the adventurers. The howling started, like it has every night, and two more adventurers entered saying that their leader was in trouble. I remember thinking it was my fault for being such a coward. I grabbed my sword and headed for the woods. Then I was doing unholy things with creatures like you. Then I woke up unable to move and then waking up just now. This is hell isn't it? I've sinned and gone to hell."

"Would that be such a bad thing?" Shock asked. "Consider carefully before answering. Aside from the confusion has it been a good experience or a bad one?"

Rider chuckled. "If his erection rubbing against my shoulder is any indication, if he says anything other than pleasurable, he's lying."

"Good god, how can he be horny? Even I'm worn out." Shock asked.

"You remember more than some of us, which might have something to do with it." I answered only paying a little attention to the conversation. I was watching our guide. He was acting . . . well broken. Surely not being able to keep me as his slave couldn't do that much damage to his ego.

_"You're feeling sorry for him? He wanted to make you his slave."_Wolf mentally reminded me.

"I know. Plus you're the only wolf I really need."

_ _

"Careful we're all wolves as well now."

"You're jealous." I thought in surprise. "Jordan, you are and always will be my Chiot. You know I already have one wolf slave and a couple that are wolf like except from alternate realms."

"Are you thinking about taking this one as a slave as well?"

"No, well I hadn't considered it until just now. Wait is that it? You're jealous because your wolf slave turned out to be a player character that is only interested in his mate? You know if I did take this wolf as a slave I'd expect you to make sure he knew his place in the pack was under you." I chuckled mentally, "I meant as your subordinate but physically under you is a hot image as well."

"So, if you make him your slave it'll be my fault for putting the idea in your head?"

_ _

"No, you know me, I wouldn't make anyone a slave unless I thought doing so would save or at least improve their lives." There was a creek as our guide opened the church door snapping me out of the mental communication.

"Alpha?"

"Gray? Rethinking your trade already?"

"No Alpha, only they aren't affected by the ownership magic."

"After you traded all of your sub pack to the other Beta's you were unable to bond with the one you wanted so badly? You know this will make you an outcast until next full moon, if we have any pups come of age in that time who would choose an old wolf like you."

"Yes Alpha, but it's not just my pup, yours is free as well. In fact all of them are."

By this point we'd all entered the church. The Alpha glared at Jordan. "Pup, service your Alpha."

He leaned against me and kissed my cheek. "I don't have an Alpha, I have mates.

"Fine then, if you want to do this the hard way I'll dominate you until-"

"Sit." I ordered. I was surprised but the Alpha sat.

"Remember well, you are speaking to the wolf who keeps the God Fenrir as his slave. Do you really thing I'd allow anyone other than my mates to have power over me? As you can see we've dealt with your human problem so we will be continuing on our journey. I suggest you don't try to stop, or follow us. Oh and one last thing, Gray, I believe you are called, my mate seems to have taken a liking to you so you can join us, but make no mistake you will be a pleasure slave that any of us can use to pleasure ourselves."

"You might as well go. You've lost all status in the pack, and at your age you're not likely to win it back. Besides, after the performance last night, everyone knows that one would be using you as his bitch within the week." The alpha sneered.

"Even in his frenzied state he was better than you ever were." Gray mumbled.

"What was that?"

"We were just leaving." I growled as I slipped a collar over Gray's head and pulled him toward the door.

"Ok Love. I think I understand your character in this game a bit better. You obviously find Gray attractive, but the only thing you're thinking about is making him feel better." Jordan thought.

"Not to slow things down, but haven't you noticed we're a couple of slaves short?" Kyle asked.

"Yeah, what happened to Fenrir and Raulin?" Shock asked.

"They're taking some personal time. Remember Fenrir is a god so they'll catch up eventually."

"That's fine with me, it's not like I could take advantage of Raulin before, but now I have a holy wolf knight for that."

"Hey, I have a name." The Knight stated.

"Really? I thought I'd just call you pale cheeks." Rider laughed.

"What do you mean? My cheeks aren't- Oh!" He gasped as Rider gave his bare ass cheek a slap. "My name is Marius and if you'd let me retrieve my clothes and armor I can easily walk on my own."

"We need to go now. It is unlikely the other Beta's are going to be happy with your freedom and retrieving your belongings, what might be left of them anyway, is too much of a risk." Gray said. We followed him to a second gate at the opposite side we'd entered. The guards didn't question us, likely due to Gray's presence.

"You didn't have to do that, you know." I thought to Wolf.

"You wanted him, but you'd never have made him your slave for fear of upsetting me. Am I wrong?"

I wanted to say that he was wrong, but I couldn't lie to him. "Okay, you're right but-"

"No, none of that. After all I agree that he's attractive and I expect you to share him with me. The thing that made me want him as a slave for you is how he obviously has a lot of intelligence. After all he gave up everything for you. I couldn't just let him be abandoned after learning that."

"You know I try to make sure my slaves have a mates. Unfortunately I don't think Gray and Marius would be a good match." I thought.

"I agree. We'll work on that as we travel. Speaking of which Gray just stopped."

I glanced up and Wolf was right. Gray had come to a stop in the middle of the trail. "This is the boundary of the pack's territory. If I take another step then I am truly an outcast and I'll never be able to return to my home."

"Do you want to return to your pack?" I asked.

"No! I want to be with you! I understand you're already mated, but I don't mind. Even if I'm just your slave there is something special about you. Even when in the sexually frenzied state you were gentle and caring. It isn't a trait found much in young werewolves."

"Yeah it takes quite a bit of work to get him in a state where he'll play rough with his us." Shock said.

"He sleeps with you as well?" Gray asked.

"We're all mates so we sleep with each other. You're Prowl-Ar's slave so technically you belong to all of us the same as Marius." Kyle replied.

"And the two you left behind?" Gray asked.

"They're a special case. Rider captured Raulin and Fenrir came to defend his mate. I captured him to protect the world from him. In exchange for accepting this new fate Fenrir only asked that we treat him and his mate like normal slaves rather than pleasure slaves." Wolf answered.

Another thing you need to know before you leave your pack for good is that we are all from another realm and we intend to return there as soon as we are able. It is a place where no one has to fight to survive. A place our slaves can live in safety."

"Wow! And you're going to take us there?" Marius asked.

"That's right sweet cheeks. Just as soon as we can get the portal open again." Rider replied.

"That, will be for later. Right now we need to find a place to set up a shelter."

"There's an area about an hour's walk further down the path. We camped there when traveling to the village." Marius said.

Gray stepped forward and we were moving once more.

***

It wasn't much of a camp. Just an area cleared of brush with places for campfires. It might be different if we had tents. Or any supplies. If it wasn't for the fact our uniforms were actually nanite fabricated we wouldn't even have that.

"Well, it looks like we're starting over again, except this time we don't have any bedrolls, packs, or food. I suppose we could hunt." I said.

"That wouldn't be wise. Sure there is game to be had but it is exceedingly dangerous outside the territory maintained by the pack. We lose one or two cubs every couple of years because they leave the boundaries." Gray said sadly.

"We didn't have much trouble traveling here." Marius said, as I pulled clothing out of my pouch. It wasn't armor but it would serve as covering, and if Rider let him walk he'd be thankful for the shoes.

Gray looked at the pouch. "How do you have so much stored in there?"

"It's simple, the pouch is empty."

"I just watched you remove items from it."

"Okay, so it's empty to anyone other than myself and my mates."

"Oh so your companions can use it as well?" Marius asked.

"Not companions, mates." Rider said.

"Maybe you'd understand the term husbands better. Rider, Wolf, Kyle, Prowl-Ar, and I are married to each other." Shock added.

"So Prowl-Ar is your Alpha and all of you are his betas?"

"No, well not exactly. I am sort of the leader most of the time, but any of my mates could easily lead in my place. It also means, as my slave any of my mates can use you."

"That goes for you as well little knight." Rider added.

Marius gulped and looked around at all of us. "That- That's a lot to take in."

"Don't worry, we're not going to force you against your will. Or all take you at once, unless you want that of course." Shock said, with a big grin on his muzzle.

"I, well I can't deny I did like the feelings I had last night after I became a wolf. Though I'll probably regret the loss of my powers."

"Your powers?" I asked.

"Yes Holy knights can purify any toxin or poison, we can heal any non-mortal wounds ours or others, and we can return the undead to the afterlife. However the cost of this power is we have to always have pure thoughts and actions."

"If you were so pure you wouldn't have changed." Gray said, with a grin.

"What do you mean?" Kyle asked before I could.

"The pack doesn't take anyone against their will. They have to want to change. This want and need draws them to the forest during the nights of the full moon."

"I wasn't drawn there." Marius quickly said.

"Actually, you did run into the forest and we followed you." Rider pointed out.

"I- that was to protect- Why would I-" Marius bit his lip and shut up.

"The pup makes the first move not the elder wolf. In this way we can be sure it is what the pup wants. We're not savages after all. Still you were taken by everyone here except the fox. And I can't be certain but I only know of one that was taken by him."

"Are you saying I topped someone" Shock asked in surprise.

"You mean you don't remember?" Gray asked in surprise. "You were the only one taken by the Wolf god and the only one to take his chosen one. Admittedly it was strange, new pups don't usually have the power to change other pups, though having the god of wolves anointing you as he did may have had something to do with it."

"That doesn't sound like me." Shock said in surprise.

"The great transformation often frees parts of ourselves we don't know we have." Gray explained.

"Okay I admit it. I've done things. Things I should not have done. But my powers weren't taken. At night on guard duty, I'd let a fellow knight . . . do things. He insisted I wouldn't lose my abilities because he was the one doing things I was just the one he was doing them to. I believed that had to be true, but I know what I felt, and I enjoyed it. I even looked forward to our late nights on watch together. When he was caught with another I took over his command. Partly because I couldn't believe he was doing those things with others, but also so I could escape before he could reveal me." Marius confessed.

I laughed. "Don't worry so much. We're not going to judge you for having feelings like that. In fact it means you're going to fit into our group of adventurers quite well. Plus you'll have even less to worry about when we're finally able to travel back to our own world."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Gray asked.

"Okay, you know how the gods live in another realm?"

"You mean heaven? Are you going to sacrifices us?" Marius started to yell.

"No! Let me try another example. Okay, let's say Gray liked Wolf more than me. What would have happened?"

"Well, I wouldn't have left the pack since I'd still have my subordinates to look after."

"Marius, what would have happened if you'd been caught being sinful while on guard duty?"

"I'd likely be dead."

"Both of those worlds exist, along with all others for every small decision and action that takes place. Now, most of those worlds when they are identical simply cease to be and the you that is strongest continues on often not noticing or if you do notice it's as a feeling that what is happening happened before."

"I don't understand." Gray said.

"Okay let me simplify it as much as possible. There are many worlds and we can sometimes open a magical doorway allowing us to travel to them. One such world we've made into our home. It is where all our slaves live. Also my pouch is connected to another world where I store things."

"Oh, okay. Um, do you have anything to eat or bed rolls?" Marius asked.

"Yeah, gather some firewood. Oh, and remember no less than three people in a group and make sure you can see camp at all times."

Rider and Shock took the two slaves to collect some wood. While Kyle and Wolf joined me.

"So, what do you have?" Wolf asked.

"Instant meals and ration bars. It's not like I can store fresh produce in the vault."

"So basically the worst thing we could imagine." Wolf said.

"No, it's not that bad. I'll pull out several instant meals and you two can figure out how to make them better or accept them as they are. Just trust me when I tell you the ration bars, while they'll keep you alive, you'll seriously question if that's what you really want." I pulled out seven instant meals. As expected they were all the same. Macaroni and cheese with tomato based meat sauce. Not the best choice but still palatable. I also pulled out a small pot and a couple of bottles of water.

"So you do have to cook it?" Kyle asked.

"No you can eat it cold but it is better heated. You just put water in the pot over a fire once the water is hot you place the packet in and let it heat for a minute or two.

"When we get back to house I'm setting up my own vault in an ice cave in order to keep fresh food." Kyle said, shaking his head.

"Maybe two, one to a cellar for keeping things cool and dry but not frozen." Wolf added.

I left them to their plotting and checked out the camp area. It wasn't much but we shouldn't need much. I dug around in the pouch until I found what I wanted. I pulled the ground cloth out. It took a while and there was no way to stuff it back in but it would work for our purposes. It was coated to be moisture resistant on one side and hold heat on the other. If we shifted to our smallest animal forms we should all be able to curl up on the cloth and get a good sleep as long as it didn't rain.

***

Kyle and Wolf didn't even wait for the others to return. I guess they tasted the rations cold and decided they weren't edible. They paused the game in order to think of alternatives.

I didn't really understand, I'd often eat them in games and I didn't think they were that bad. Sure they were a little flat and you couldn't really tell what sort of meat was in them. Shock tasted it and said it wasn't as bad as some of the things he ate to survive before joining us and Rider said they were much better than his rations had been.

When they continued to insist they could make something better, Mahan gave them the nutritional requirements they needed to match or exceed. My heart breaks at the stricken look on their faces when he informed them the game meals were basically the same as the ship's stored emergency rations.

So with the game on hold once again I thought I'd find out how world events were going after our last meeting. Instead Rider, in his role as ship's councilor ordered me to get some alone time. Or in his words "Take some time to be alone and focus on your own happiness" and not the happiness of others even if making others happy was what made me happy.

"Computer, load program wind staff practice stage." The program initialized. I was back stage of a theatre where I could choose my costume. I looked in the mirror and sighed. This was so pathetic, but oh well. I chose a wind staff mid-way between my human form instrument and my tiger form one and shifted, to my new wolf form. My fur the same as my tiger form but the black wasn't as dark and intense as Wolf's fur. Almost like it was the deepest shade of blue or purple possible but not true black. I could tell I was smaller than Wolf, but then that was to be expected. After all I was a wolf and he was a dire wolf.

I looked over my costume choices. I needed something I could easily move in but wouldn't get in the way or impede my movements. I wanted to just download Wolf's work on the style but he refused to allow that. He wasn't good enough yet. That meant creating my own wolf style and hoping it would work with his. Since this was just a basic practice I went with just sweat shorts. I spent the rest of the day working out basic notes, scales, and movements that weren't painful. I probably worked too hard because when night rotation came I curled up with my mates and fell asleep almost immediately.

My wonderful mates even let me sleep in. Still after waking I immediately went back to practicing. I had breakfast in VR. Sure Kyle and Wolf didn't think the food was fitting, but I'd survived on it for years so it didn't bother me. A little after noon ship time I felt ready to try some songs. I don't know why, but wolf form felt best suited to rock and roll. I started by changing into costume. Mostly a lot of leather belts, harness and jock strap. I was covered in fur and my tail covered my backside so it wasn't indecent. I looked in the mirror and couldn't help laughing, I looked like something out of a comic book from the mid 1990's. I changed the costume colors to bright yellow and even added a medallion of a black "X" on red. I checked the mirror again.

"Hello, Hero Wolf X-treme."

Having already learned a few seemingly appropriate songs for tiger style I started one. It was . . . okay. Technically is was correct but it didn't sound right.

"Computer generate copy and run through the song while I observe." Again it didn't sound right. I stood up and played the recording again this time mimicking the movements. It was better but still missing something. "Computer, change copy to Jordan in wolf form."

Jordan was bigger, meaning his staff was also a different size to the one I was using. I started again. Halfway through the song I realized what was wrong. Computer create duplicates of Kyle, Rider, and Shock in their wolf forms. And restart program." This time the sound and feel was perfect. No wonder Jordan was having trouble with it. Wolf style required a pack rather than a lone wolf. After several songs I decided Wolf style was good enough.

"Now for the style I've been avoiding." I shifted to my anthro bull form. This form was actually much easier to learn. It was a lot like tiger form except the movements had less grace and more power. The style made sense for country western music. I changed into tight jeans I kept the harness but changed it to dark blue and removed the hero medallion finished with a cowboy hat modified to fit my horns. Once again, that night I fell asleep quickly but feeling accomplished.

The next morning I was up early and Kyle made me breakfast however it was a combined effort since he used a recipe from Jordan, and followed it without experimentation. Fenrir and Raulin returned from their self-imposed exile looking much worse for wear. I sent then To Jordan to be sure they hadn't gotten too rough.

I spent the next few hours learning and perfecting Wolf style. I figured since I was the only bull onboard that style could wait.

Taking a break I stretched out in the shade of some unnamed world letting myself cool off. It was easier to cool down as a human but it didn't change the fact I may have been pushing the limits of overheating in wolf form. It was going to take time to fully acclimate to being a wolf. Unlike with first shift events this form didn't come with a learning period which meant learning as I went.

"Kyle reports that they should have a solution to the rations completed by the end of the day. They're still not happy about the matter generated meat. However, like the colonies they've accepted that it isn't as bad as trying to raise livestock on the ship."

My eyes shot open. "Mahan, the colonies have reached self-sufficiency, correct?"

"Yes, and factoring in food generation and the controlled environment, they produce a large surplus. Some is sent to the station and the Mars Colony. The rest is sent to areas where food is in short supply. It doesn't always get to the intended destination but our contacts are doing their best. While we can't fully end world hunger the Furry Nation has greatly reduced it, as well as improved relations with the people of those nations we are aiding."

"I need you to run an analysis on Earth. Food production, supply, and consumption. Be sure to take into account the surplus the colonies send to Earth, the reduction of consumption due to immigration to the colonies, and the reduction of Earth supplies sent to Mars."

"This will take some time."

I lay back and waited. I may have inadvertently caused a nightmare scenario.

"Captain I've completed the calculations."

I woke slowly trying to remember what calculations, but it quickly came back to me. "And?"

"At the end of the current growing season, unless the main food producing countries can open new trade agreements or increase current ones their economies may collapse."

"What is the president currently doing?"

"One moment. She is about to meet with the representative to the UN about your little meeting. After doing a deep scan I am certain she does not know about the impending crisis."

"Call her, and remind whoever answers that I could just appear but I'm being diplomatic and calling first. Also brief Shock so he can contact the other food producing nations. Set up for virtual holographic communication." I switched my costume to my uniform as the chamber reconfigured to resemble the oval office.

"Mr. Nightiger I do not appreciate-"

"Activate holographic interface." The president sat in front of me and I noticed I had two guns pointed at my head.

"You might as well stand down. He's already shown this is a solid holographic projection and if you fire he'll be unharmed." The President Ordered.

"Madam President, I know you don't like or trust me; however I realized something earlier today and had Mahan run some checks. The U.S. economy is on the verge of collapse."

"Uh huh, from the latest reports it's the strongest it's ever been."

"I think several factors may have been overlooked." I brought up the graphs of projections and did my best to explain.

The President looked completely dumbfounded. "You- you've ruined us."

"No, there is a way out. Shock is informing the other food producing nations, I'm not going to give you an unfair advantage, however the nations that you export to are not being informed. The best way out would to be to have the right people set up deals to increase the amounts exported at the current agreed upon price. The importer is basically getting more without having to pay more."

"But-"

"Yes, the economy is still going to take a big hit. Also you can increase the amounts donated to nations in need. Again it won't help the economy but it will increase the United States international standing. It also means your government, while taking a hit from economic woes won't have to deal with a complete collapse. It'll also give your administration political clout as you work to recover."

"Are you doing this to make yourself look like some sort of savior?" She asked.

"No, believe it or not I don't like seeing people suffer. If that means helping you so the citizens don't suffer then I'll put aside my dislike and pride and do everything I can to help. In fact I fully expect you to blame the whole thing on . . ." I trailed off for a few moments. "I was going to say the Furry Nation. However they aren't to blame. So, even though I felt the need to provide this information for free, I ask if you have to make accusations or blame someone, please only blame me, and not the Furry Nation. After all as the nation's leader it is only right that the blame should fall on me alone."

"You know, this is completely off the record, but I both respect and hate how fucking noble and self-sacrificing you are. It makes all leaders, no matter how good they try to be, look bad in comparison. If you send me a copy of your projections I'll make sure they get where they need to go. And again off the record I don't hate you I hate the fact that you are more compassionate and human, even though you're not human, than anyone else I've ever met. Of course I'll deny that fact if anyone ever asked."

"Understood. I'll let you get back to your meeting so you can listen to how evil and unjust I am. Mahan, close link."

I switched back to my Wolf Hero Extreme costume and started in on practicing again. After a couple of hours I was completely exhausted but it had taken my mind off things and I felt it was my best performance yet. The computer even added in minor variations and slight errors to my mate's doppelgangers to make it more real. I sat on the edge of the stage and flopped on my back. I didn't think there was much more I could do to improve the form. All I could really do from here on out would be to adapt new songs. As I lay there I noticed the harness was pulling at my fur so I unbuckled it.

"Ah, but you look so hot with it on." Wolf said, sadly.

I sat up and noticed that Wolf, Shock, Kyle, and Rider were all on the stage with me. "How long?"

"Just the last two songs." Kyle said.

"I sort of told everyone you were cheating on taking time off after Mahan let me know about the impending crisis. So once I passed on the messages I snuck in to make sure you weren't up to any other work. I couldn't believe what I saw. You on stage with fake versions of us. When I asked Mahan what was going on he informed me that Wolf Style only worked as a pack style." Shock explained.

"Of course he was quick to inform the rest of us and we convinced Mahan to hyper educate us with what you'd accomplished so far." Kyle added.

"Of course that took time so we only got here to participate in the last two songs. Still, I didn't realize how much work went into playing one of these things or how much it resembles a style of fighting. I might just develop my own style in the future." Rider continued.

"I- I sort of stopped practicing when no matter what I did it just didn't sound right, If course I learned tiger style, but wolf style just wouldn't work. I never considered it was because it required a full pack to make it sound correctly." Wolf finished

"So does this mean you're ready to continue the game?" I asked.

"Maybe later this afternoon." Wolf said.

"Yeah, I just want to lay here." Shock added.

"After a little cat nap." Kyle said, as he yawned.

"Nap." Rider rumbled almost incoherently.

Wolf rolled on his side and placed his hand on my chest. "Just make sure you save this costume."

"You like it then?"

"Uh huh." He answered, sleepily.

I smiled and added the costume to my uniform options then joined my mates in their napping.

***

I woke to the feeling of being pushed.

"So this is where you've been hiding." Tye said, nudging me with his foot.

"I bet if they found us like this they'd accuse us of being lazy." Trace laughed.

"Both of you cut it out. Prowl-Ar's been working hard to develop wolf style for the wind staff." Kyle groaned.

"You're right, lazy. All of them are just lazy. Probably can't even carry a real tune."

"If I didn't think you two miscreants would enjoy it I'd give you a spanking." Wolf growled.

"Oh yes daddy." Trace responded.

"What do you two nightmares want?" I asked sitting up.

"We were watching your performance and after giving you a short nap we thought we'd show you what professionals can do." Tye said.

We all groaned but moved off the stage. Trace and Tye changed their uniforms into fantasy formal wear as a NPC chorus moved to the side of the stage.

"In a lost corner of space three nations existed. One in the west, one in the east and a small nation separating them. The central nation wasn't powerful and had to rely on its neighbors for nearly everything, but its citizens were hard and fiercely loyal. The king of the nation conceived a plot to change this He would engage his daughter to the heirs of both countries and she would marry the most powerful. And so our story begins"

Tye started moving and the dance began.

"In the Kingdom of the west the ruler had a single son. He was carefree but he treated everyone as equals and the people loved him. Yet everyone thought he looked so sad."

Tye's dance took on a melancholy sound.

"You see more than anything he wanted to find love, yet he knew this would be denied him since before birth he had been engaged to the princess of the middle kingdom. He did not love her, how could he? He didn't even know her. Yet there were greater reasons he knew he would never find love with her even if he had."

Tye's dance ended as he moved to the back of the stage.

"Now we move to the king of the east. He lost his parents to assassins at a young age but did his best to rule his country. He was fair but hard. The one thing he wanted was to be free. However He was the king and so was forever tied to his throne. He too disliked the thought of being engaged to the princess of the middle kingdom. Not that he hated her or anything, it's just he could see that the Middle King was looking for power. On more than one occasion, when the time came he considered simply turning his kingdom over to the Princess and traveling to the west to live the life of an adventurer."

Trace let his song die and moved back as well.

"However over the years the king of the middle lands had revised his plot so many times that now he planned to kill off both rulers and take all the lands as his own. Of course his daughter would have to be disposed of eventually but that wouldn't be much of a problem for an absolute ruler. At last the time had come and he invited the two young men to meet their fiancé. First he would force one to kill the other and then he would kill the victor while he was recovering from the battle."

Both Trace and Tye moved forward again now dressed as commoners.

"On their first night they slipped away from their guards the prince to find a good time and the King to find a bit of freedom. What they found was each other."

The two cats faces off but it wasn't in battle stances the music they were dancing to blend and became a single song.

"While their meeting was unexpected these two imposter commoners felt something they never realized they had been missing. Each knew their illicit romance would only be for a single night yet they danced into the wee hours of the morning even sharing a kiss before parting."

The song had turned sad and even Rider was wiping his eyes as Trace and Tye embraced each other one last time kissing and then flinging themselves to opposite sides of the stage.

In the morning the evil king called them to the courtyard. Both were so busy remembering the night before they barely even glanced at each other. The Evil King announced that he would only give his daughter's hand to the stronger of the two. They turned to face each other and the moment their eyes met they knew each other.

Both laughed and started a complex dance battle that was more sensual than tactical. They stopped abruptly. Facing the audience.

"They told the Evil King that a marriage arranged by their parents, before they were born, wasn't worth starting a war. They laughed as one declaring their true love and pledging to combine their kingdoms. Suddenly as they turned to leave together they were struck down by the Evil King's guards. He in turn was immediately killed by the princess. Who knew of her father's plotting and knew the only way she would survive is if they were all dead leaving her the one true ruler of all three nations. In their final moments the lovers stretched out their hands linking their fingers knowing they had found what they had yearned for all of their life."

The chorus disappeared and the twins got back up. "So what do you think of a professional performance?" Trace asked.

"The dancing was perfect and the songs worked, but that story was the absolute worst." Shock stated.

"Actually that was one of the better ones. At least the heroes were together when they died. The majority of compositions have evil winning." Tye stated.

"Well, then re-write it with the heroes overcoming evil and being together at the end." Kyle growled before getting up and leaving. Shock and Rider followed without a word.

"They have a point you two did splendidly, but that ending really needs to be re-worked. Maybe having the princess, overcome with the sight of their love, save them."

Tye smiled, "That would make a better ending. Thank you Papa, we'll work on it. Now it's time for you two to spend time with our little brothers and sister."

I got up and offered Wolf my hand. As he stood I smiled he was starting to show. "Not long now and we're going to have to shut down the game."

"Why is that?"

I rubbed his belly. "Because I can't have my husband tiring himself out walking through a virtual forest with these two."

He blushed, "I can keep going for some time yet."

"Okay, you're the doctor, but the slightest sign of stress and that's it.

Wolf waved me off. "I'm fine, come on we've got our other children to attend to."

Still I could tell he was happy that I was being so attentive.

***

Mahan reported on the president's meeting with the representative on the aliens. It seemed she didn't care about Mars, Synths, or anything else the representative had to report. Her entire focus was getting the meeting over with and having an emergency meeting with the agricultural department.

I smiled as we walked through the forest. It seemed we weren't going to have to worry about the United States causing us any problems for a while. I did feel bad for all the farmers that were going to lose money though, Maybe I'd have Mahan set up some sort of relief plan through our undiscovered charitable organizations to help them.

"You seem unusually happy today." Rider said moving up to walk beside me. "Did that little break let you focus on yourself?"

"You should know me better than that. I created the wolf style dance for all of you since I'm happy using tiger style. Oh and I had a holographic meeting with the United States President."

"Seems I'm going to have to speak with Mahan about violating Doctor's orders."

"Sorry, Rider but your orders only applied to Captain Nightiger. This business needed to be dealt with by the Leader of the Furry Nation." Marius said, in Mahan's voice.

"Damn it Mahan. You know that freaks me the hell out every time you do it." Shock yelled.

Marius smirked and gave Shock a knowing look. Then instantly changed to one of concern "Do you hear that?" Maris asked.

"Hear what?" I asked cursing the fact everyone else's hearing seemed better than my own in human form.

"It sounds like a horse in distress." He said as he took off running. We quickly followed only to find both a brown and white horse and Marius wrapped in vines.

"Don't come any closer! I tried to warn your friend but he wouldn't listen." The horse said.

I did a double take and realized he had wings. Small wings but wings none the less. "You're a Pegasus."

"Not hardly. Father and the others can fly, they are Pegasus. I'm just a horse with freakish wings."

"You can talk." Fenrir quickly pointed out.

"Yeah, well I'm stuck in a nest of viper vines. It's not like trying to hide the little magic I have will do me any good."

"I told you I'll save you. A steed as beautiful as you can't-" Marius said fighting at the fines clinging to him.

"Would you stop struggling? The more you struggle the deeper the thorns dig in and the quicker the vines drain your life. If you hold still and your companions are careful they might be able to light torches and get you out."

"If you agree to become my slave I'll get you out." Kyle said stepping forward.

"Don't be stupid. It would take the flames of Tartarus to free me at this point."

"If I could free you, do you agree to my terms?" Kyle asked.

"Yeah, why not. If you're foolish enough to try, and you get caught as well, it won't be long before we're both-"

Kyle shifted and let loose a blast of dragon fire. Most of the vines were reduced to ash and the others holding Marius and the Pegasus released them and rapidly disappeared into the underbrush.

"Y-you're a dragon! Gods I think I'd rather be consumed by the vines."

"Why would I want to eat something as valuable as you?" Kyle grinned and I picked up the thought he'd projected to me through the shard. "I've been reading up on dragons and it seems the western ones like collecting valuable things. I thought I might give it a try."

I rolled my eyes."Great, a single talking horse not much value there. Maybe if he could fly he'd be a valuable scout."

"Were you planning to mate Marius and Gray?"

"Uh, I hadn't considered it. Right now I'm thinking more about getting out of this forest and the finding mates four our slaves."

"Open your eyes at the way Marius is fawning over him." Kyle said aloud.

"Yeah well that's just how knights act around horses. You're lucky he hasn't turned on you yet."

There was a flash and we turned to see Raulin standing over the now anthro Pegasus. "I found out some of us get unique powers once we start traveling with you. After being transformed myself, Fenrir and I discovered I had the power to bestow the gift of transform to others."

"My wings! They're huge!" He jumped to his feet and launched himself into the air only to land face first in the dirt.

"Your wings are about the same size, however they cannot allow you to fly in that form. So now that you're Kyle's slave do you want to tell us your name or should we name you?" I asked.

"It's-" He hung his head and looked dejected, "Stede, okay go ahead and start the jokes and laughing."

"I think it's the perfect name for such a handsome stallion." Marius said, staring unashamedly at Stede's crotch.

I activated his collar's clothing feature, but in my opinion the outfit wasn't much better. If anything the open shirt and skirt probably made him more alluring. Marius still glared at me as if I'd ruined everything.

I know it's probably not my place but we should get moving, before the vines return." Gray said, while watching the undergrowth.

***

I was feeling much better. We'd climbed out of the dark forest into a more alpine setting. Also, the trail had become a proper road.

"Not to be a problem, but we're not going any farther." I looked back and found Gray, Marius, and Stede had stopped.

"Look, we're on a road now so there should be a village soon-" I started.

"That's even worse. This land is cursed if we go any farther we'll be killed." Marius stated.

"Listen, you may be a slave now but you're a former Holy Knight Captain, Werewolf, and what could in any story pass as a battle horse. Add to that Fenrir is a god, and we have a dragon, a dire wolf, a tiger, and arguably the best damn mage in any world in our party."

"It doesn't matter this land is cursed. Even though it took much longer we went around this area." Marius said.

"It's true, I may be a werewolf but not one like what is in this place. These creatures are evil. Driven insane by their transformation they kill just to kill." Gray explained. "The legends about the lord of this land alone would keep a sane person from entering."

"I need to point out I have no contact or control over the wolves in this place. It's as though they are no longer wolves." Fenrir added.

"I know this land and avoid it. Everything here is cursed; from its lord right down to the plants and dirt." Stede said.

"Listen, if we go around it'll take a month, maybe longer. However we can cross this cursed land in only a week, even a few days if we do it as a horse and pack of wolves. We can avoid the villages if need be." Shock pointed out.

"Weeks, months, we don't know when the portal is going to open again so why are you so desperate to go south?" I asked.

"I- I'll tell you when we get there." Shock replied, hesitantly.

I looked at the forest ahead. I wasn't afraid of vampires. Most of us were all protected from mental manipulation and our blood was tainted and likely un-consumable. The only ones vulnerable were Fenrir and Stede. We'd need to protect the Pegasus, but I'd feel sorry for anything attacking Fenrir. "We're going to continue. Everyone shift and let's get across the plateau as quickly as possible." I said, smiling to myself as everyone followed. I only hoped my confidence wasn't going to end the game for us.

***