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Counter Earth Chronicles - Dual Realities

Chapter 42: Nothing Ever Is Going To Be Enough

October 6th, YOE 35 (Continued)

8:00 AM Lady Ursa's Chambers (Castle Wundgore)

"You are holding back on me Alex." The female ursine warned- eyeing me carefully."

"I know."

"You also know that you are going to answer my questions to the best of your ability." She said, issuing another direct command. "Let's start the night of our fight. You know, when you walked out. How did you exactly leave the castle so fast?"

I looked at the newly promoted commander.

"You can tell me yourself or I can MAKE you tell me." Her voice, a stern warning.

"Site to site transporter." I reluctantly admitted showing her my PDA.

(Site to site transporter! That is how I am going to get out of this! I just have to push the button!)

"You obtained another?"

"It was a gift, one that allowed me to depart the castle fast." I replied. "Like I am thinking about doing now."

(Why did I just tattletale on myself?!)

"You will use it to take me with you." The fierce ursine warrior said, removing the device from my hand and examining it.

"Yes mistress."

She then gave it back to me. Without thinking I pressed a button.

*FLASH*

We arrived at a particular home office in a particular neighborhood in the basement of the city.

"I know this place. This is the Stuyvesant neighborhood where we met that community leader." The brown ursine said looking around.

She read my silence like a book.

"He is more than a community leader isn't he?"

"He gave me that device." I replied, trying to hold back information. Thanks to Sir Ram's device, I couldn't.

"For what purpose?" The female brown bear asked studying the room.

"....."

"Out with it now." She ordered me.

"To join his group; the new resistance." I blurted out.

Lady Ursa was already walking around the study. She sat in a nice chair that was flanked by a mahogany desk. She looked at the bookshelves throughout the room which were missing books while she scented the air. She realized humans had been in and out of that room.

"This new rebellion, they are responsible for the human disappearances throughout the empire overseers have been reporting, the knight core's efficiency and effectiveness drop and the events at Castle Wundagore."

"Yes mistress."

"That afternoon at the diner with myself, Tauren, Lurie and Sorren... you lured us away from the castle."

"I did not want any of you to be taken." I replied frowning

"Alex, you were in league with them!!"

"Yes."

TRAITOR!!!" She said picking me up by my armpits and pinning me against the door to the study.

I don't know if she was more mad than shocked or more shocked than mad.

"What did they offer you to negate your support for the empire? To go back on your beliefs and even me?!"

"Spirited Spirit. Remember him? He was thrown aside by your master and cast out of the empire despite my fervent disagreement. Well, he was rescued and we were reunited." I replied indignantly.

"You know many of those you- we worked with were taken that day in the castle Alex."

"The same individuals who turned a blind eye when Spirit was de-evolved and those from World Six were judged and punished?! The same individuals who were indifferent to my being experimented on when I was punished by your master for questioning his actions. Weren't you one from that group too mistress?"

"Alex, were those in the rebellion working to free those from the lost colony too?"

"Not that I have heard. But I think it was in the works."

(Oh crap! I said too much.)

"So what other missions were you privy too?" The golden eyed ursine asked me while I was still pinned to the door.

I looked at her stoic expression bordering on anger and rage.

"You can either tell me yourself or I will make you tell me." She grumbled.

"I wasn't. Each operative works independently only coming together for big expositions."

"So you didn't know about the pending attack on Castle Wundgore?"

"No, only that something big was coming."

"So what missions WERE you involved in?"

"Disrupting the knight core's persecution of humans as much as I could for the most part."

"OH, so that was YOU who caused us to look bad in front of the High Evolutionary. What else did you get involved with?"

"....."

"Speak!" Commander Ursa ordered me.

"Helping second class citizens escape from being under the influence of your master."

"What does that mean?"

"The leader of the new rebellion established a new city away from the empire where humans can live out their lives free from beastial oppression." I replied fearing that she was going to make me start vomiting the truth.

"The missing persons!"

"They just relocated outside of the empire mistress. Believe it or not there are those of us who don't want to be dominated, manipulated or controlled by animal people anymore."

"Does that include you Alex?"

"Look at our relationship- you were only using me to alleviate the symptoms of your condition."

"Initially, but I also gave you a home, love and affection in return...." The warrior bear countered.

"Did you really or was it just compensation for my abilities that gave you and the knights an advantage against the empire's enemies?"

That comment received a growl from my ex who I noted didn't answer.

"So you left me for Spirited Spirit then? That crazed canine?"

"It was a bad side effect from his flawed transformation from canine to beastial."

"You were quite the couple in the Maximum. Tell me something Alex? Do you still have feelings for him?"

"You mean someone who loves me for me and only me and not for my abilities? The answer is yes."

"Do you love me?" She asked point blank.

"Did you ever love me?" I countered, feeling tears well up in my eyes.

"I do Alex. In Spite of your flaws and poor decision making, yes I do."

"I do too. But those feelings are at a bottom of a pile- buried under anger, resentment and bitteness which is why mistress it will be very very very very difficult if not impossible, for us to reconcile." I replied, crossing my arms indignantly."

"I disagree pet."

"Commander Ursa do you have a big fat reset button stashed somewhere?" I said goading my former beloved.

"Why yes, pet I do." She cackled her snout moving right next to my ear..

"Hmm?"

"ALEX WINTER of planet Gaia... our relationship will resume as if there were never a separation; you will acknowledge and dismiss your feelings about what happened before, during and after your final judgment, your incarceration and your reintegration afterwards like it NEVER happened. In light of these events you will be re-integrated into the fold and you will assume that our relationship has become even stronger as a result of it."

(Not a reset button, but it might as well been!)

"You will give me kisses in the morning, massages in the evening and make love to me orally or otherwise, twice a day or more as compensation for your transgressions against the empire."

"Yes mistress."

A tear welled up in my eye as the female brown bear finished reprogramming her little human- something all my sessions with Sir Ram didn't quite accomplish.

"Spirit...." I cried.

"I am not heartless. I will let you retain your feelings for the tian mountain dog as well. I know you share a special bond with him ever since the Maximum; may he light fire in your dreams and fantasies when I do not for the rest of your existence. Now come, I want to learn as much about this new rebellion as possible." She said lowering me back to the floor and opening the door to the study. "I plan to make sure that it is the last human rebellion the empire ever sees."

(So focused. So determined.) I thought to myself as I watched the bare behind of my warrior bear who was too engrossed in her new mission to realize that when we teleported from her chambers we forgot a few things...

(Should I say something?! Nah. I wasn't ordered to.)

It would be my punishment to her for my reprogramming and the loss of my free will.

9:02 AM Master Koala's Lab (World Three)

"The empire has reported a 96% decrease in protests, curfew violations and other acts of human disobedience across the five cities today. Quite a strange occurrence. But a welcome one." A ostrich reporter for the hub news service opined. As usual it fell on deaf ears; the Koala scientist was engrossed in deep research.

"Okay little dragonfly camera show me more of this Alternate Counter Earth."

He checked the coordinates on his reality observation machine. His camera was exploring World Four today. Instead of a vibrant marble metropolis, he observed toppled buildings and much ruin.

It was as if a great battle between kaiju had taken place there, destroying homes, businesses and infrastructure. In the midst of this he did find a lone office building still standing. In front of it a female harpy stood guard. Her human half was purple, with red eyes and snaggled teeth. Her avian half had broad brown wings and yellow talons.

In front of her the luckless residents of the destroyed city bowing toward her as if she were some type of god.

"Our master has taken a good look at all of you. You, you and you have been rejected." She said pointing to four rabbits in the front row.

They stood and sobbed.

"But he has accepted you." The harpy said holding out her paw to a sun bear who was seated next to the rabbits. "Your individuality will be added to the whole."

The bear eagerly shook the harpy's paw.

"I made it!!! No more suffering!! I am of the ONE!" She shouted as her fur vibrated.

"No." Demona corrected her.

"We are ONE now and forever." The two creatures said in unison.

"ONE? What is going on here?!" The Koala thought out loud. Regardless he better record what he had just observed for later analysis.

10:46 AM Wilderness (World Five)

"....what do you think...? The brown were-creature asked his boy.

"A non-descriptive, undisclosed cave hidden in plain site." The black haired teen replied.

"...this area of the forest is isolated..."

"You mean not many pass through here beastial, human or otherwise." Corey Collins said eyeing their prospective new lair.

"...it took a while to find some place hidden away from the knights, what do you think...?" Rumble asked his boy again.

"If you are fine with it, I am fine with it." The black haired teen replied to his wolf.

Rumble was taken aback, no snide remark or snappy comeback?

"...are you okay..?" The were-creature asked sniffing his human.

"If you say I am okay, then I am okay." Was Corey's prompt reply.

Rumble just looked at him.

Was he feeling well?

To Be Continued....

[MEANWHILE]

October 6th, YOE 35 (Continued)

8:00 AM Sector 6992 (Open Space)

"Life signs?" Hue asked Panda Lee.

"I am not detecting anything! Nothing! Not a single one. They are all dead!!" She ran to one of Cassia's outstretched tentacles sobbing.

"Hon hon, remember it is not life as we know it." The red tentacled eyeball said softly.

"Yes... right." She said, wiping her tears, composing herself and returning to her station. "Yeah, robotic life signs."

"How long do they have before they descend into the atmosphere of that grey and beige planet?" My fierce ursine warrior asked.

"A few hours at the most." Milo replied looking at the read-out on his station.

"We have to help them dear." Cassia said to her mate.

"Well we are rather limited in what we can do. Our ship simply isn't equipped for this type of rescue." Red tentacled eyeball replied. "We are more like a compact hover vehicle when Attack Beast is needed."

"What about their ship?" My sexy red-eyed lioness asked.

"Right, perhaps we can help the robo bears help themselves?" I said throwing it out there.

"It depends on how much damage their ship took." My perfect person observed.

"Okay this will be an away team of five. Lady Ursa you are the muscle and security. Alex and Shakara, you will help the wounded. Cassia and Hon hon see if you can assist the robo bears in getting their ship operational." Mr. Manassas said barking orders.

"Alright the captain has spoken; we have our orders." The female brown bear replied.

Hue and Cassia pulled their skyship right next to the crippled spaceship. After suiting up, we forcibly opened a doorway into Raizi's ship.

"A circular design." Shakara commented. "Very unique."

"I will say it is a elaborate spiral." I added looking at the rounded metallic hallways which started at the extreme perimeter.

"Infinite diversity in infinite combinations." The yellow tentacled eyeball announced. "I am familiar with this design; all corridors lead to the center of the space-craft."

"In its center we will find the bridge." My bear knight surmised.

"Wow this is a mess." Panda Lee replied, leading the way. I watched her backside wiggle as she walked down the corridors which were littered with debris and remains of some of the unfortunate.

*GASP*

Shakara and I ran to inspect a pink robotic bear lying on its side, its face smashed by falling debris.

"Offline." I replied. Running my tri-angular scanner over it.

"As in dead or as in temporarily deactivated?" Panda Lee asked.

"Well... I don't know." I replied evading the question.

So we continued toward the bridge stopping by several communications panels to try to contact anyone there. Not only were external communications down but so were internal.

"This ship has seen better days." Cassia replied. "And it is all our fault."

"Not necessarily." My perfect person countered. "Raizi knew the risks. We all did."

At last we reached the center of the ship and a big oval door.

*KNOCK* *KNOCK* Lady Ursa said, tapping the door.

It opened- barely. Behind it was Raizi wearing a neutral expression, his right arm dislodged right eye hanging from its socket.

"Chaundoonians! Welcome aboard. Sorry about the mess..."

(Humor?!)

"No, Raizi we are so sorry!" Panda Lee said, running up to hug the robotic bear.

He was taken back.

"It was probable that this might have been the out-come. But it was a calculated risk."

"Thank you for attempting to help us. We are now here to help you in anyway we can. What is the status of your ship?" Cassia asked, looking at the circular bridge which was painted in various shades of grey.

"Communication, stabilization, propulsion are down. We are descending toward the planet below."

"Right we need to start with the most urgent problem." Panda Lee said, finishing her hug.

"You would do that for us?" The robo bear's captain asked.

"Your people, our people we are friends." My perfect said person crossing her arms.

"Yes, let's stop the falling first." Cassia replied. "Your engineer... we will assist them."

"Negative. My chief technician is permanently off-line." The bear replied. "His injuries are too severe."

"Wow. Okay. Who is the next most knowledgeable of your ship's operations?" Cassia asked.

"Centurion, help our friends help us." Raizi ordered.

A small blue robotic bear approached. "Yes sir."

"Mistress, I have a feeling Cassia and Panda Lee will need your muscle, brute force and strength." I said to my warrior bear.

She agreed.

Shakara and I watched the three bears and tentacled eyeball leave the bridge.

"Raizi if you don't mind, Shakara and I would like to start treating the injured and wounded."

The ship's leader nodded.

"Let's start with the handsome, daring and very attractive captain." The red-eyed lioness said, sashaying her ass over to our first patient.

"You didn't even hesitate." I said as she kneeled and started scanning him.

"Hey, I have a thing for bears little cutie."

"So do I." I said joining her.

9:02 AM Central Hanger (World Seven)

"Professor, how goes it?" The white furred were-creature asked.

"Well...." The blond archeologist replied as Corey and Rumble stared at the jigsaw puzzle of a platform before them.

"One percent inspiration ninety-nine percent perspiration." Corbin said looking at the S'mar warriors who were taking a break after struggling to assemble the platform.

"Mind if I take a crack at it professor?" Mr. Collins asked.

"On one condition." Was the blond archeologist's response.

"Fine." Corey said, crossing his arms.

Soon Dawn's hands were all over him- rubbing his head, neck and shoulders.

"So soft! Is your condition permanent?"

"More like a dream come true." The white werewolf said to the blond human. "I have heightened senses and abilities I could only fantasize about when I was human."

"....looks complicated...." Rumble grumbled.

"It is canine." Club acknowledged. "I realize I hate jigsaw puzzles."

"Oh ye of little faith." The former black haired teenager said he analyzed the problem. "We just need time and some patience. Okay let's see. Rumble collect those pieces over there, Axe can you grab these here and Club that pile by you?"

Dawn and Corbin watched as the former human directed his wolf and her S'mar protectors where to place the pieces of the disassembled platform.

"AMAZING." Dawn gasped.

"That is just, just wow." Corbin admitted.

"There you go."

"Quite impressive human canine!" Axe said, slapping Corey on his back.

"Now we need to figure out how to break down this platform and reassemble it in outer space." Professor Stern said, placing her hand to her chin.

"My Dawn, I would suggest before you do, perhaps you should number the pieces before we disassemble them?"

"...Platform should also be tested..."

"Good suggestions everyone. We should learn how to use this too, it is going to be a busy couple of days." Corbin's adoptive mother replied.

"Does the planet even have a few days left?" Corbin asked.

10:46 AM Central Chamber (Perna Pride Village)

"You seem very tense today." The sand dragon observed while kneading the maned wolf's shoulders.

"I am Pulse." Naka replied as the masseuse deftly moved between Kiwi, Song and him in such a way you couldn't tell that it was only one person performing the massage.

"May I ask, what is wrong?"

"The leadership of the pride will not hold an audience with me." The knight replied.

"That's because they made it rather clear that they would not grant us passage through their territory." Song said. "I am having trouble taking what they said as fact."

"I am not. Impale and Stab have shown me the gray nothing." Kiwi said to his adoptive parents. "It is an impassable void at the end of the pridelands; it might as well be the world's end. It is fortunate that they did not let us pass."

"Yet somehow Club was able to pass through it." The wolf said as he watched his kitty cat being worked on.

"Probably before it had become what it became." Pulse replied, moving lower on Naka's back from Song's paws.

"So we can't proceed forward and we can't go backward. So what does that leave?" The maned wolf asked.

"We remain the pride's prisoners while we wait for rescue or for the gray nothing to reform into something that is passable." The beautiful chakat replied.

"How long will that take?" The brown haired pre-teen asked.

"Longer than you have." The sand dragon replied, moving on to Naka's hind quarters.

"Pulse?" The white chakat asked.

"This pride does not keep prisoners forever; they will make their decision soon; you will either be an offering or a sacrifice. It is the same with those who are donated to the pride from neighboring tribes and clans."

"That is what happened to Salamanca." Kiwi replied. "She was donated by her clan to Perna Pride. They decided she could best serve the tribe as a healer."

"She became a peace offering." The white chakat concluded.

"I watched two of the chieftains determine the fate of two lagomorphs females recently as well." The maned wolf added.

"Oh you mean the dancers." Pulse replied. "The pride decided to accept them as offerings as well."

"What if one is deemed a sacrifice?" The wolf asked the sand dragon, scared to know the answer.

"That means the four chieftains have determined a donation or prisoner can benefit the pride in other ways- most often it does not benefit the donated individual." The sand dragon said, taking a somber tone.

"Meaning?" Kiwi asked.

"Exactly as the title implies the pride can test their weapons, tools or concoctions on their sacrifices or use them to train up and coming warriors in hunting, fighting and killing techniques. Some survive, some don't. A few here in the chamber were culled days before your arrival in the canyons."

Naka, Song and Kiwi looked up at the dragon.

"How?" The brown haired boy asked.

"You don't want to know." Pulse replied. "But Kiwi helping Pierce with her pregnancy this morning might have been an advantage for you three."

"Massages are over dragon." Two warriors with spikes said marching into the central chamber.

"Crunch and Slash. Good morning to you. You haven't come for me I hope?" The sand dragon bowed meekly.

"Soon. But not today." Crunch snickered. "Although I did put in a good word for you; I like your massages."

"Ahem, these three have an audience with the chieftains." Slash replied, patting Kiwi on his head.

He looked worriedly at his parents.

"Yes, little one, your fates has been decided." Slash replied stone faced.

Naka, Song and Kiwi exchanged glances with each other before being led out of the central chamber by the two warriors.

11:00 AM Chamber Of The Four Kings (Perna Pride Village)

Naka, Song and Kiwi were brought before into the chamber and made to kneel before the four seated chieftains.

"This looks bad." Kiwi replied, looking around. He saw Stab, Impale, Shred, Salamanca and Pierce- their faces with neutral expressions.

The four chieftains wearing clothing- Red Sword, Black Scythe, Hatchet and Lyre had their weapons mounted behind their chairs.

This was serious.

"Prisoners the time has come." The green-eyed female who held an instrument across her waist said starting Naka, Kiwi and Song's final judgment. This morning she, like her siblings was wearing a loincloth and cape. Hers were red and orange respectively.

"While on a journey your caravan violated our territory." Black Scythe began.

"But chieftain it wasn't on purpose!" The maned wolf shouted.

Naka found two spears shoved in front of him for that outburst. Instinctively he started playing with the remote control for the Chado's space-gate.

*click* *click* *click*

Like before nothing happened. But his family's final judgment continued.

"The prisoner will remain quiet." Red Sword replied sternly,

"As punishment for that transgression you became our prisoners, our test subjects. You were poked, prodded and studied while we debated what we should exactly do with you. Should we let you continue on your journey or halt it completely?" Hatchet asked standing. Her white loincloth and red cape looking very ominous.

"Naka, Song and Kiwi your fate has been decided." Lyre added.

"It would be foolhardy to let you guide your caravan into the impassable abyss." Hatchet continued.

"It would also be a death sentence to let you return to the pridelands and possibly run across another pride less hospitable and less merciful than ours has been to you." Red Sword said, piling on.

"But it is also unwise to let you continue to drain our supplies and resources without adequate compensation to the pride." Black Scythe added. She looked stunning in her green loincloth and cape.

"That caused us to ask what exactly should we do with these stranded travelers?" Chief Hatchet said placing her paw under her chin.

This was it! Naka continued pressing the button on the remote, begging and pleading for it to work. Still nothing happened.

*click* *click* *click*

"Well the canine and feline are natural leaders having led an exodus from their previous world to this one." Red Sword replied, his red loincloth and cape were very prominent.

"They also kept the members of their caravan safe and protected." Lyre added.

"That is because these two are fighters and defenders as evidence in our fight with the Yowie." Hatchet observed.

"And their son?" Black Scythe added.

"He suffers from night terrors. Most likely from horrors he has seen on their journeys." The red loinclothed leader said to his siblings.

"You know us too well chief Red Sword." Naka replied.

"You have been studied since your arrival here in the Marble Canyons canine." He commented.

"We have learned much about the three of you." The female warrior in the white loincloth and red cape commented.

"So what should be their collected fate?" Impale and Stab's mother asked.

"They would make fine sacrifices- the canine and feline's prowess would benefit up and coming warriors and we could continue to use their boy to test our weapons on." Chief Hatchet observed.

Naka, Song and Kiwi collectively felt their hearts stop at the proposed scenario.

Okay so Perna Pride was a tad more civilized than the other prides. But they were still naked, aggressive, bloodthirsty savages... all of them.

"But no. Someone has interceded on your behalf." Chief Lyre said bringing the judgment to a halt.

Say what?

"Tonka, come forward." Red Sword ordered.

"Yes chieftains?" The leech boy said entering the chamber. He kneeled right next to Kiwi.

"You offer yourself to this pride for the rest of your natural existence?" Black Scythe asked the boy.

"Tonka what are you doing?" Kiwi whispered.

"Yes in good and bad times, in sickness and in health, I dedicate my knowledge, my experience, my strengths, my weaknesses... my everything to this pride so that it can continue to prosper." The white leech said without hesitation. "Power be to this pride!"

"Very well this pride accepts your donation, in exchange for your friend's lives." Hatchet said sitting.

"Chieftains?" Song asked.

"As I have said. Naka, Song and Kiwi your fates have been determined. You will be staying here with us while awaiting rescue or for safe passage through the gray nothing to become possible if it ever does."

Naka, Song and Kiwi were dumbfounded.

"Chieftains?" Mr. Goodfellow stood, joining Tonka.

"Perna Pride has accepted you four as offerings. You possess qualities and strengths that would be highly beneficial added to our own." Red Sword announced.

"What are you saying chieftains?" The chakat asked.

"Naka Wolf and Song Chakat of the wandering caravan- you are now recognized as provisional S'mar; you will be trained as hunters."

"Kiwi and Tonka are too young to begin warrior training; you will be accepted into the pride as servants."

"And what of our guides Bow and Pestle?" Kiwi asked not really wanting to know the answer.

"They are from competing prides boy." Hatchet replied abruptly.

"But chieftains they are our friends." Kiwi protested. "We have trusted them with our safety since setting foot here in S'mar territory. They led us here."

"Sounds like they aren't very good guides are they?" Was her snide remark. "They will remain prisoners for the time being."

"We will decide their fates at a later time." Black Scythe added.

Naka in the interest of preservation of yourself and your caravan your journey has ended." Lyre said gently.

"In its place we offer you a comfortable life within our territory." Black Scythe replied. "Now there is just one matter to attend to."

"Who will assume responsibility to train the canine and feline?" Hatchet asked.

Pierce and Shred stepped forward from the crowd in the chamber. Pierce standing behind Song and Shred behind Naka.

"And the leech and human?" Black Scythe asked.

"I will." Salamanca said, placing her paw on Tonka.

"I will." Impale said placing his paw on Kiwi. Stab did the same.

Naka was stunned. This meeting turned out to be much better than he thought it would be.

11:24 AM Sector 6992 (Open Space)

"Thank you Alex Winter. Thank you Shakara Kubari." The robo bear's captain said.

"Well we did what we could." I said looking around at the patched up crew of his space ship. "But we should really get you back to our medical facility."

"How are the others making out?" The sexy lioness asked.

"In-ship communication has been restored."

"And the rest?" My devious person asked.

"Centurion, what is your progress?"

"The ship's propulsion remains offline. Stabilizers are still down."

"How long until they return to service?" Raizi asked.

"One moment."

"Longer than we have." I heard Panda Lee shout.

"But the tractor beam is operational." Cassia replied.

"That will have to do. Chaundooners on behalf of myself and my crew, I must ask you for a additional favor: can we have a tow?" Raizi asked.

Cassia and Panda Lee weren't able to restore all critical ships operations. But they did get enough up and running to help our saviors out of their predicament. It must have been weird and humbling seeing this huge spaceship being pulled by a much smaller one. Kind of like a yacht being towed by a waterski.

12:15 PM Double Drop Falls (Perna Pride Territory)

"Arms up." Impale ordered Kiwi.

The pre-teen did as the S'mar warrior ordered. Kiwi gasped as the feline lathered every inch of him.

"Big breath now." Stab ordered him.

"Kay!"

*dunk*

Kiwi was dipped underwater in the pool formed by the waterfall.

"There nice and clean." Salamanca said observing the ritual. "It is your turn Tonka."

Naka and Song watched as Stab and Impale emerged from the water and started to dry off Kiwi while the leeches bathed as well.

After Tonka and Salamanca returned to the shore, it was the chakat's turn.

"Come." Pierce held out her paw to Song. Naka watched as his lover was similarly bathed by the feline warrior. When they emerged from the pool it was his turn.

"Now." Shred said, leading the maned wolf to the water.

Song, Kiwi, Naka and Tonka were washed and dried by the members of the tribe who would become their teachers and instruct them the ways of the S'mar.

As Shred finished drying Naka, Kiwi started to reach for his shirt, shorts and undergarments but was stopped by Stab.

"Huh?"

"You are part of this pride now." She said gently.

"You should dress as such." Impale added.

"Clothing is reserved for senior, senior, senior leadership and those of high rank." Pierce smiled while the brown haired boy blushed.

"Remember when Club and Axe joined our tribe, they had to adapt to our customs and traditions?" The white chakat asked her son. "It will be the same for us here."

"Well at least the weather is warm enough here that clothing doesn't really matter." The maned wolf, newly nude replied.

"Un huh." Kiwi said, realizing that everyone present could see him as he truly was.

"Besides, doing laundry around these parts must be a breeze." Naka smiled meekly.

"You mean a breeze to do laundry or the breeze our formerly covered body parts will now experience because they are all out there in the open for everyone to see?" Song asked her beau.

"It looks like we finished just in time." Pierce said to Shred as the four chieftains arrived.

"What happens now?" The white leech asked the green leech.

"The ritual concludes." The green leech said the white.

The four chieftains lined up behind their former prisoners.

Red Sword behind Naka. Black Scythe behind Song. Hatchet behind Tonka and Lyre behind Kiwi.

Impale, Stab, Pierce and Shred, presented a bowl of red paint to the four chieftains.

"In line with our traditions these acolytes will receive their markings." Red Sword said dipping his paw fingers in the bowl of paint as his siblings did the same. "These markings signify your former lives and your former tribe honored but not forgotten." He said drawing on Naka's upper back.

"These markings signify what is before you- your new tribe." Black Scythe said drawing on Song's back."

"These lines here signify that you dedicate and submit your everything to this pride so that it remains healthy and strong." Hatchet said painting on Tonka's back and chest.

"And these markings signify your position and rank within Perna Pride." Lyre said painting red lines on Kiwi's hands, arms and chest. "Servant."

"Hunter." Red Sword said as he drew lines on the maned wolf's torso and arms.

"Hunter." Black Scythe said as she painted the chakat's paw's and chest.

"Servant." Hatchet said as she finished painting Tonka.

Song looked at her wolf, son and his friend, the four chieftains and the rest of the pride that had assembled for the acceptance ritual. After violating the savages' territory, being taken prisoner and failing repeatedly to convince their leadership of letting them continue their journey home, they had been inducted into their pride as provisional members!

In respect it did beat the alternative but residing in the Marble Canyons was going to take some getting used as well as the societal norm of walking around with a bare backside and frontside...

To Be Continued....