It's Always Darkest Just Before the Dawn

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Okay so here's my newest project. Took me three months to get it done and that was mainly writers block. I'm warning you now there is minor vore (snake voring a feral deer) and NC ageplay between a cub and an adult. No character is under 13. I hope you guys like it and without further ado....

Get to reading!

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A large sigh echoed out from a small cave near sunset. Inside of the cave an obsidian-scaled cobra lay sprawled over the floor. A quick look over the naga would tell anyone he was underweight, his shiny scales sunken in a bit around his ribs. Long trips tend to do that to nagas when they don't eat like they should. His name was Zurui and this had been his cave for the night while he was traveling.

Zurui remained sprawled across the floor lazily as he waited for nightfall to set out, the clouds outside, however, told him tonight would be a good night to stay in the cavern. The sun set rather quickly as quiet rumbles filled the valley below the cave. The sky flashed a light gray before another bout of quiet rumbles filled the cobra's hearing. Lifting himself from the ground the serpent dragged across the smoothed floor of the cave and out the entrance. At least with the rain and thunder working for him, he could have some chance at nabbing a snack.

As he neared a clearing he saw something a bit odd for the area. A pair of deer grazed in the open expanse between the trees and the mountains. "Awww they look so cute together...I should ruin that", he mumbled with a sly grin. With that thought in mind he lowered into the tall grass and crept further along edging closer and closer before he was about three feet from the mother. In one fluid strike the cobra launched at the mother. Before she even had time to react Zurui's arms wrapped around her slender neck as he sunk his fangs in. The fawn realized something wasn't right far too late and Zurui's tail swept him off his legs where they coiled around him.

Luck had to have been on his side or else whatever gods watched over them had hated these deer. The doe's struggles died out within a moment of the initial bite as his venom went to work paralyzing her body. Her frantically kicking legs slowed and went limp against his coils as the steady rising and falling of her chest destabilized and broke down into short, small gasps. The powerful muscles in her neck went limp almost immediately after the bite, but it did nothing to silence her until the venom had even claimed her lungs.

Plucking his fangs from her neck he sat up a bit and looked at the fawn. Its fear was visible by now as its eyes bulged a bit and its legs kicked frantically against everything in range. "Now now you'll spoil my meal you brat. Calm down and wait your turn." he mumbled as his coils wrapped around the young cervine's neck. A slight squeeze silenced the fawn quickly but kept it alive. Returning his attention to the doe he unhinged his jaws above her head. His clawed hands guided her head into his gaping maw. His lips sealed around her neck as he leaned down, his lips sliding slowly over her neck as he swallowed once.

The doe's breathing remained shallow and Zurui had hoped not to waste that. With her breathing so slow and considering where she was going she would most likely never wake up again which was both a let down and a good thing to the cobra. Being fully grown, she could have done serious damage inside of him. Returning his mind to the task at hand the serpent pushed her legs in flush against her chest as his jaws claimed her shoulders with only a slight hesitation. By now her body was beginning to bulge his neck a bit. Flexing his coils lightly around the fawn to ensure the little one was still there he swallowed again, claiming her chest as well.

His jaws continued creeping over her limp form until all that remained was her rear legs, and in a moment even those disappeared into his pink gullet. Zurui waited a moment, letting the bulge of the doe sink into his coils before he began making his way back to the cave with the fawn in tow. It would be a while before he could down the smaller deer but how often did he get to eat this much nowadays?

<M><E><A><N>~<W><H><I><L><E>

Out in the rains a young fox trudged through the trees looking for shelter anywhere. His clothing consisted of a simple bolt of cloth wrapped around his waist and held on with a leather string. His russet colored fur was slick and matted down by a combination of humidity and the rain as he slowly made his way out of the forested area in the light drizzle. As he made his way towards his only landmark, a mountain his people deemed evil in their superstitions, he thought of the events leading to his expulsion from his village.

His name had been Set when he lived with his people, but after being caught with his brother he had been banished. Having been in a dominant position when his father's friend found the pair of them, Set was accused of rape, incest, and mating with another male. He had essentially hit the holy grail of forbidden acts in his village and was lucky his mother had been able to talk the other villagers out of a more severe punishment. To make matters worse he had only just turned 13.

He now went by a new name that had been given to him when he was banished. Tsumibito was his new name. In his village it meant "The Sinner", and was a mark of his sins against the laws of his people. A quiet flash of light followed by an enormous crackling brought him back to the storm before him. "I need to find some....where...." Set's words were cut off by a small hole in the side of the mountain. He broke into a near run as he darted back and forth between trees towards the cave.

Zurui yawned as the storm picked up around him, the quiet rumbles growing into loud claps of thunder as he hauled his catch up the mountainside and into his cave. What he found inside was just a bit more surprising then what he held in his coils at the moment. On the ground of his cave laid a quivering bundle of fur. Taking a moment to quickly silence the fawn in his coils, he eyed the small fox with a grin. It appeared luck was on his side today. With the young deer limp against his coils Zurui silently moved around the fox, the sound of his movement muffled against the soft soil of the cave floor.

Set stirred a bit as the harshly cold wind that chilled through his damp fur was cut off slightly. Perking his ears, he opened his eyes. The sight that greeted him only made him quiver more. A large serpent loomed above him as he laid there in such a vulnerable state. With a soft sigh he curled up on the ground, he didn't care anymore. He had lost his home, his family, and now it was looking like his life would soon follow.

Zurui couldn't seem to wrap his mind around why the fox hadn't at least made an attempt to run. He gave a small shrug and tugged the deer in with his coils before tossing it against a wall to let it sit for a moment. There was a bit too much to eat at the moment even considering what he was. Pulling a few logs off of the wall where he kept his firewood he searched a bit and smirked. With the logs in place he gripped a small smooth stone with a symbol etched on it and mumbled something quietly. The fox shivered slightly as the logs caught fire rather suddenly.

"Hey if you're going to hole up in my cave could you at least make yourself useful?" Zurui mumbled, poking the fox lightly with his tail. His answer was a whimper from the fox as he curled tighter. With a small sigh he scooted the kit towards the fire leaving the vulpine a few feet from it. Set uncurled a bit as he felt the warmth of the fire loosening the water from his pelt. Keeping his ears splayed he looked from the fire to Zurui timidly.

"I'm Set." the fox mumbled.

"Oh so you can speak. Well then would you mind telling me why you're in my cave?" Zurui asked as he shifted his coils a bit to place a particularly bulged coil near the flames.

"Storm." Set replied, sitting up and placing his elbows on his knees. He was pretty sure by now that he wouldn't have been able to escape the snake. "You're going to eat me aren't you." Set mumbled resting his chin on his arms.

Zurui looked over the small fox and cocked an eyebrow at him. "I'll pass. You're too small...wouldn't be worth the effort." he replied. Set seemed disappointed at that. He didn't consider there to be too much for him to live for anymore. Zurui didn't fail to take note of that. Wrapping his tail around the fox he pulled the limp ball of fluff closer. "You don't look near old enough to be out on your own you know." he said quietly.

"I'm not." Set mumbled. "I'm only fourteen. My village banished me." He said settling into the snake's coils. "I'd like to not think of it." he mumbled again.

"Ah, well I know how that goes." he said, coiling around the smaller fox almost possessively. "Well since you haven't got anywhere to be," Zurui said quietly, "why don't you stay with me?" he added.

"You want me to stay? You don't even know me." Set mumbled.

"Well it's up to you. I can offer you protection and a place to stay." Zurui said softly as he relaxed onto his coils.

"I don't need to be protected." Set mumbled.

"Well then I'll give you a choice." Zurui said quietly. "You can come with me and I will give you a place to live. Or..." he said as he leaned closer to the fox. "I can leave you here to whatever will happen." he added with his lips next to Set's ear.

The fox gave a small shudder in the naga's coils. "I...don't know what I want right now." He said perking his ears slightly. "What would I have to do?" Set asked looking up at Zurui's black nose scales.

"Well I need someone who could clean. That's why I'm out here." Zurui said quietly. "I was supposed to pick up a male a few cities over but when I got there he had been sold off. But I think you will be better since you're younger." he added with a small squeeze of his coils.

"Oh... I see." Set said quietly. "Well I don't have anything better to do now." Set said quietly.

"Good we'll leave tomorrow." Zurui said with a grin.

<M><E><A><N>~<W><H><I><L><E>

Kael's nose met the cold, wet ground again for the fourth time in the last half hour. He has been tracking his older brother for the last three days. It had taken a full day and a half before an opportunity to slip his mother's watchful eye had presented itself. The rain had not exactly made it easier for the young fox. "Dammit." Kael cursed as he perked his ears towards a nearby hill.

Kael's tail gave a soft wag as he spied a light in a cave. "Set..." he whispered, breaking into a run. Reaching the cave he immediately knew Set was not there. The small cavern reeked of liquor and musk. His nose burned as the smell hit him and caused him to sneeze. A wolf sleeping against the wall woke with a jerk, his eyes immediately spying Kael and moving to grab him. The fox let out a yelp as he was snatched by the wolf's powerful paws and slammed to the wall. In the amount of time it took Kael to get his bearings the other two occupants were awake. "Now what 'ave we got here." The wolf said with a drunken smirk.

Kael could feel his fur curling under the stench radiating from the lupine as he squirmed in his muscular hold. "Put me down!" Kael yipped. The wolf just sneered at the fox.

"Well lookee here Kirtu we got us a fox!" the wolf said with a wag of his tail.

"You woke us up for that Nare?" a voice yelled from behind the lumbering wolf. A black panther stepped into view and smacked the wolf eliciting a yelp from the drunken lupine.

"Well didn't you say we was lookin' for a fox Raeki?" Nare growled back at the panther.

"Both of you shut the hell up!" Kirtu yelled from the back of the cave, making Kael, Nare and Raeki look back at him. From the shadows Kael made out the hazy outline of a slim body and tail. As Kirtu stepped into view that long, prehensile appendage reached out and wrapped around his waist prompting Nare to release the fox. His scales were a typical green befitting a reptile and had an unusual shine to them. His eyes followed the lizard's tail up to his body where their eyes locked.

"Now then. What is your name fox?" Kirtu asked calmly as he dismissed the wolf and panther with a flick of his wrist.

"K-kael..." the young vulpine said shakily.

"That's a nice name." the reptile said softly. Kael began to feel the male's tail loosening before it moved up to brush lightly under his chin. He was scared out of his mind by now and all he wanted to do was run but somehow his legs were frozen in place. Worse yet he had begun to murr softly as his tail wagged gently behind him."Good boy...just relax for me...nothing will hurt you while I'm here." Kirtu cooed softly as he stepped closer.

Kael began to feel hazy as he continued to stare into the lizard's eyes. He felt the reptile's hands drift across his chestfur and up over his head to scritch lightly against his ears. He would have melted in Kirtu's hands if it were possible but instead he found himself getting aroused. This didn't go unnoticed by his captor who seemed to be feeling the same way. Kael found himself being picked up, his legs placed on either side of the lizard's hips. He gave a soft whine but was shushed by Kirtu with a soft nuzzle.

Kirtu reached down and shifted Kael gently just before the fox felt a nudging under his tail. He let out a quiet whimper but couldn't seem to make his tail go down. Kirtu's hands lightly pushed Kael's hips down eliciting a moan from both of them as the reptile's cockhead slipped into Kael's tight tailhole. Kael's body went limp against Kirtu's as tears began to dampen his cheekfur. He didn't want this, he wanted his brother back.

Kirtu meanwhile smiled at how far the fox had fallen into his hold. Rolling his hips once he sunk about four inches of his slick reptilian member into the vulpine with a happy churr. Kael's claws extended and dragged against the hard scales on Kirtu's chest as he whined softly. The lizard holding him up only hissed softly near his ears as he drew back a few inches before beginning to ram his six inch member into Kael. The vulpine couldn't help moaning out as Kirtu's member nailed his prostate. The reptile's lips pulled back into a grin as he pounded into Kael's rear, nearing his orgasm. With a small hiss he rammed his hips up against Kael's rear, burying his member into the vulpine's hole as the remaining half inch that remained outside of him began pulsing as it pumped Kirtu's cum into the fox.

Kael sniffled quietly as he was held up by the lizard. "You're gonna sell real nice for us", the lizard said with a smirk as he passed the kit off to Raeki.

<A> <F><E><W>~<D><A><Y><S>~<L><A><T><E><R>

Set was panting by the time they made it into the town Zurui claimed to live in. The little fox sat on the naga's coils after the serpent had decided it faster to carry him them let him trudge along behind him. As they made their way down the dirt road through the township a considerably taller building loomed over them. "Ah there it is." Zurui said with a smirk. Among the city's buildings, which were mainly brick or stone and mortar structures, the one Zurui had nodded towards stood over them all. Where most had a main floor and, if they were lucky, a loft, Zurui's had a second floor to it along with a loft above that.

"This is where you live?" Set asked incredulously. Zurui turned his head and grinned at the fox.

"Yup and I think you'll love it here." Zurui said with a smile, as a pink-furred bunny ran up to them.

"Master! You're back!" She said with a small twitch of her tail.

"Sayel you're done with your chores already?" Zurui asked the bunny girl with a smirk. Sayel's ears drooped a bit making her seem pathetically cute.

"No Master..." she said defeatedly.

"Well then what do you think you should be doing?" Zurui asked with a smile.

"Doing them..." Sayel admitted somberly.

"Wrong." Zurui interjected before shifting his coils a bit to let Sayel see Set. "I need you to take care of him for now hun." he said before looking at Set. "Put him in Kirt's room for now and get him a set of clothes." Zurui said before nudging the fox's head with his tail tip. Set promptly fell off of Zurui's coils with an audible yelp before jumping up and dusting himself off. "Set be a good boy and go with Sayel here. I have a bit of business to tend to before dinner." Zurui said before slithering away.

Set nodded just before his wrist was taken and he was pulled off by the excited bunny. Zurui just shook his head with a smile and made his way down the street. A few streets over he opened a door and made his way into a small building with fog in window. "Ah Zurui. I thought you'd be coming in today." said a mouse behind the counter.

"Glad to know I'm that predictable Kilan." Zurui replied.

"If this is about your order I'm going to be finished with it in just a few moments." Kilan said as he set a collar and an engraved metal plate onto the counter.

"Ah about that. I'm afraid I'll be needing it changed a bit." Zurui said. "Instead of an adult's collar I'll need one suited more to a red fox kit if you could." Zurui said with a look of dismay.

"Oh not a problem at all Master Zurui." Kilan squeaked as he removed to collar from the counter. As the stout rodent hopped from the step stool and skittered to the back of the shop Zurui noted the craftsmanship in the plate of the collar. The symbol on it was one of his own creations, a bold circle around a silhouette infinity symbol with a pair of fangs laid into it. At the tips of the fang shapes a pair of small rubies had been inlaid to complete the silvered plate.

Kilan returned a moment later holding a smaller, lighter colored collar. "Perfect." Zurui said with a smile at the mouse. Pulling a leather punch out of the drawer under the counter, he punched a pair of holes into the leather. His tiny hands clutched a pair of studs which he put into place before flipping the collar. On the underside of the studs he spread the leaves which he spiked into the leather to fasten the plate into place.

"There we are Master Zurui." Kilan said handing the cobra the collar.

"Kilan...You don't have to call me Master anymore." Zurui murmured as he smiled at the mouse.

"Sorry Zurui. Old habits." Kilan said with a grin.

"I'll see you again when I need more of these made Kilan." Zurui said lightly displaying the collar.

"So you'll be needing one tomorrow then?" Kilan said with a perk of his ears.

"Why tomorrow?" Zurui asked.

"Oh I see. Yesterday the prey ring announced a 'slave' auction tomorrow." Kilan said seeming a bit shaken by the thought of that.

"I see...in that case yes I'll be needing another." he said looking back at Kilan. "I'll bring the money for the next collar tomorrow. No rush old friend." Zurui said as he slithered out the door.

Back at the house Set removed his loincloth in the room Sayel led him to and eyed the room a bit. Sayel had told him to wait in there and she would be back but so far she was no where to be seen. Set began looking through the room and almost came to opening a door on the back of the room when Sayel reappeared with his new clothes. She giggled quietly when Set curled his tail between his legs to cover himself while he blushed.

When she set the clothes on the bed it struck him that the pile seemed a bit too large for just one pair. He eyed here again and realized she was naked as well. She just smiled at him and led him through the door in the back of the room. As it had turned out the room was a bathroom and Sayel immediately set herself to drawing a bath. "W-what are you doing?" Set managed to ask finally.

"Well you're so dirty I figured you could use a bath." Sayel replied wiggling her tail at him. Set could only blush deeper as her actions showed more of her body to him. He could make out the outline of her labia against her fur and what almost had to be the velvety pink of her vagina. His blush grew further as he felt his member stirring in its sheath. "Well are you getting in?" Sayel said as she looked back at him.

"Duh...I mean...uh yeah." Set mumbled as he walked up and tried to slip into the bath. His eyes nearly popped from his head as he felt Sayel's paw grab his tail and move it away from his crotch. He faltered and stumbled into the bath with a splash as Sayel giggled.

"You boys are always so shy." she said between fits of laughter. Set resurfaced and splayed his ears before grabbing her wrist and pulling her in too. Sayel meeped as she was pulled off balance into the tub, her splash further soaking the floors. "Hey! That wasn't nice." She pouted at Set. Set meanwhile was busy blushing his face into a very scarlet red as he realized exactly where his hard on was resting. Sayel was oblivious until she shifted a bit and felt it brush between her legs.

Sayel corrected the problem quickly by shifting a bit before she grabbed a bottle from the shelf above Set's head. Uncorking the small glass bottle she poured a bit of the purple covered liquid into her paw and began lightly massaging it into Set's chestfur. Set blushed deeply at this, only his mother had ever washed him before. After a few minutes the pair rinsed off and began drying off, Set shifting around to keep his bits from Sayel's view. As they exited the bathroom, however, they found themselves caught by an elderly looking tiger.

"You two done having fun?" He asked with a smirk. Sayel lowered her ears in shame as Set hid behind the doorframe.

"Sorry Kirt..." She said quietly. "I was just giving Set here a bath and..."

"I see well Master Zurui is looking for Set there." the large feline said leaning off the bed a bit to spy Set behind the door. "Get dressed and go meet him in his study." He said before getting up and walking out the door. Kirt closed the door behind him to leave the children to getting dressed.

<M><E><A><N>~<W><H><I><L><E>

Kael sat up in a wooden cage as a door opened again. He made out the figure of one of his captors, Raeki and splayed his ears. Nearly every time the damned panther came near him it was to fuck him and he was barely over their last rutting. "Hey Kael. Dinner." He said quietly.

Kael let out a relieved sigh. It appeared this would be one of the few times the panther was not on a personal visit. A tray was placed near him by Raeki who then smiled at him gently. Kael frowned and bared his teeth a bit at the panther. "Relax kit. After you're done I'm supposed to give you a bath. You're getting sold tomorrow so no one will touch you tonight." Raeki said softly.

"Bet that must be depressing for you huh." Kael spat as he glared at the larger male. Raeki smirked.

"You know you liked it. Every time I felt over that sheath of yours you were out and your knot was swollen. You even came a couple of times." The feline said with a wide smile. Kael's response was another growl. "Whatever pup. I'll be back in a bit to get you bathed. Until then you should eat." Raeki said as he closed the door behind himself.

<B><A><C><K>~<A><T>~<T><H><E>~<M><A><N><S><I><O><N>

Set timidly opened the door to Zurui's study before he was pushed into the room by a giggling Sayel. The little fox splayed his ears as he picked himself up before Zurui's hands lifted and steadied him. "Are you alright?" Zurui asked while moving his coils to shut the door. Set nodded and wagged his tail softly. "I have something for you." Zurui said with a smile as he retrieved the collar from a nearby table.

Set's ears perked as he watched the cobra lift the collar and hold it out for him to see. Zurui brought his hands forward and lightly slipped the collar around the vulpine's neck. "There. Now everyone will know you're mine." the cobra said with a smirk.

"What does that mean?" Set asked, splaying his ears a bit.

"Nothing bad Set. Just now people will know you're with me. There's a lot of perks when you belong to one of the richest guys in town." Zurui said with a grin. "Don't worry about that for now though, you need to rest alright? You can start work tomorrow." Zurui said while escorting the fox out the door and down the hall.

<T><H><E>~<N><E><X><T>~<D><A><Y>

Zurui set out from the house after setting Sayel and Set to work cleaning the house. He wore a conflicted look upon his face as he made his way through the streets towards the commotion he knew would be in the market. Sure enough and true to the rodent's word, there was an auction going on when he arrived. He gave a nod towards a few of his friends around the crowd. This particular group sold here once a month with whomever they had managed to catch. But one thing stood out about this group, under the table they sold their 'stock' as prey for the highest bidder.

Amongst the crowd only eight people where aware of this besides Zurui. Seven of these people were Zurui's friends who were adamantly against the prey ring. The other was a tiger by the name of Zulehn. Most prey ring auctions Zurui's lot managed to buy all of the slaves that the prey ring had too sell but a few times now one had slipped their grasp. As the crowd regrouped for the next lot to be sold Zurui slid into place.

Kael's tail drooped low as he was led onto the platform where Kirtu announced his opening price. Raeki held his shoulder from behind with one hand while the other held a rope leash around his neck. His price jumped immediately after a bid from a tiger out in the crowd. Another bid lifted his price again, after a few moments only two bidders were still going. "Three hundred Vails!" Kirtu exclaimed above the roar of the crowd. "Going once! Twice! So-"

"Six Hundred Vails." Zurui yelled from the crowd. Kirtu's voice caught in his throat as the crowd fell silent. Zulehn glared at Zurui as a growl built in his throat.

"S-sold!" Kirtu exclaimed before motioning Raeki off towards Zurui. Zulehn moved closer to Zurui and growled audibly to clear the people from his path. When he was a foot away from Zurui he finally spoke.

"That was my prey snake." he said with a snarl. Zurui's head turned slightly as his hood spread a bit.

"Seeing how my bid is the one they took I'd say he's mine kitty. Why don't you go piss on a rug somewhere." Zurui said with a hiss. Zulehn's snarl grew louder as his claws flexed out a bit. "Try it Zulehn and you'll take that fox's place." Zurui said as his lips drew back revealing his fangs to the tiger. The feline quickly gathered himself and glared once more before walking away.

"Excellent purchase Zurui. You'll definitely enjoy this one." Raeki said as he traded the collar off to the cobra in exchange for the small pouch of money the serpent offered him. "Careful, he's a fighter." Raeki said with a smirk before he walked away.

Zurui looked down at Kael and lightly tugged the leash. "C'mon pup." he said quietly while leading the fox away. Kael expected to be pulled along but surprisingly enough Zurui slithered slowly so the pup could keep up. "I live just up ahead. You're the second fox I've gotten this week." Zurui mused at Kael. The fox gave a soft whine as his tail tucked. He was led up the small flight of stairs to Zurui's house before Zurui stopped to open the door. Kael tried to make a break for it when the cobra's grip seemed to loosen.

As he turned, his hips snagged on Zurui's coils which the snake had held up to catch him. Zurui brought the fox up to be eye level before he said anything. "You're safer here than out there." the cobra said softly. Kael felt himself carried in the door before he was set down. "Sayel!" Zurui called into the house. From around a corner the pink bunny darted towards the pair before eying Kael confused.

"But....you were just in there..." Sayel said softly pointing to a door up the hallway where Set's head was peeking out.

There was a small clatter as Set's paw went limp and dropped the broom he was holding. "Kael?" he whispered breathlessly.

"Set..." Kael said softly. The pair were joined in a tight hug, neither able to speak while Sayel and Zurui looked from the pair to each other, both seeming very confused.