FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

This story is copyright Denver Demchuk 2007

The dice rattled and rolled across the table to a stop, showing 6-4-6 in the dim light of the fireplace and candles surrounding the common room. The other players groaned slightly, the Otter tugging on his whiskers, Heron ruffling feathers, and the four or so other humans and hybrids.

Otter? Heron?

Ok so it's not exactly normal by what I thought reality should be a few weeks ago. Coming home from work, I had checked my mail and found a package resting in the slit. Something only slightly larger than a paperback novel, however, the surface was stiff like wood. The whole thing was wrapped with brown paper and displayed postage from the U.S.; the name of the sender was Scorch, a friend from that orientation I had met online. Taking it up to my apartment, I waited until I was seated at my desk before tearing off the packing.

It was an old tome by the looks of it; leather/wood bound covers and spine still showing traces of dust in the corners under the metal bindings. Leather was dyed black, the bindings of silver with three stones set into the front of it. One Obsidian, one Moonstone, the last between them was a combination of both. Like a Full, New, and Half Moon.

"What the hell?" I muttered, running my fingers over it gently before opening the cover. The Pentagram I wore around my neck turned ice cold and there was a sudden flash of light, blinding in its brilliance. Everything around me vanished, including the chair and ground as I was thrown into oblivion...

...Waking up to find myself in a field staring up at a Lupine that had her sword drawn and pointed at my throat. I stayed still, closing my eyes a moment, wishing that this was a dream before opening them again and seeing the same scene as before. The female was around 5'6", dark green cloak hung down to her ankles, plated leather kilt, and a chain mail covered corset. Opening my palms, I waited to see if this being could speak in English before making any assumptions at all about what the hell had happened to me.

"Well? Are you dumb, deaf, or just plain crazy?" she asked in a surprisingly pleasant voice that wasn't helped by her bared teeth. Raising an eyebrow, I chanced a look around and found myself lying in a field not far from the edge of a forest, the sky normal in color, yet just seeing her told me something wasn't right.

"None of the mentioned disabilities, Lady," I said slowly, returning my gaze to her face and almost having to shake my head again. Her golden eyes were almost hypnotic...

"Lady?" She replied with a chuckle, lowering her weapon and stepping back. "Hardly that Lad. But I would like an apology for ruining my shot at the Greevus I was hunting." Holding out her hand, I took it and was helped to my feet, somewhat surprised at the strength of her grip.

"I humbly apologize then for disrupting your hunt," I told her, giving a partial bow and feeling a little foolish for doing so. My clothing hadn't changed though my shirt was gone and the only things I still had on were my shoes, socks, and pants. I wasn't exactly strong but my body was well toned considering the job I had. Caucasian, dark brown hair and emerald eyes, I stood a good 6'3" in height and was of medium build, face clean-shaven. Holding on a moment longer, I nodded as I came to terms with the fact that I wasn't dreaming. Whatever had happened, I wasn't dreaming. "My name is Denver. I have no idea where I am at the moment..."

"What do you mean by that?" She said, tilting her head, the bared teeth fading somewhat with a quizzical grin. "You know your name but not where you are? You expect me to believe you just fell from the sky?"

"Well if not, I have no other explanation," I said, shaking my head and spreading my arms. Her gaze dipped slightly and suddenly, her hand snaked out to catch my right wrist.

"What's this?"

Looking at my hand I was shocked to see what appeared to be a metallic spider web of a glove. Silver bands wrapped around the back and palm of my hand, allowing freedom of movement for all fingers. On the back of my hand were two stones, one of obsidian and Moon stone combined, as in a waxing/waning moon, the other was a full Moonstone. Turning it over, I found an Obsidian one about the size of a small coin nestled in my palm. It was just the same as what had been on the cover of the tome I had received. The book however, was gone.

"I have no idea," I murmured, running the fingers of my left hand over it. She raised an eyebrow again and stared at me hard for a long moment.

"Well, if you don't know we should at least find someone that might," she said, turning away to look up at the sun. "For now, perhaps a place to rest for the night would be more preferable. My name is Arosha Moonflow. Now that we're introduced to each other, lets get back to town, the last thing we want to meet is a Feral at night..." From the tone in her voice, I got the feeling it was probably the best idea as well...

Late evening found us on the outskirts of a small town that looked as if it had seen better days. Buildings of wood and a few of stone were spaced evenly, but some were lopsided, a few holes boarded up with a shabby attempt to conceal their presence. Something behind us shrieked slightly and I jumped, turning around to see a large lizard rush past bearing a rider, the beast a Raptor if I wasn't mistaken. 'Where the hell am I?' I thought, watching it run down the street and vanish around a corner.

"What? You look as if you've never seen a Rimmaden Riding Lizard before," Arosha said, noting my expressing with a look of amusement.

"Not...where I come from," I replied. "Usually we use horses for riding around." It was a partial truth, but not a whole one.

"Equines? In the larger cities, you'd get the crap beaten out of you for saying such things," she told me, chuckling slightly. "There are a few Feral ones left, but most have already been changed through hundreds of years of being like this." Keeping silent and making a mental note not to suggest such a thing in the future in this world. We found an Inn where Arosha paid for a single room for us to stay in, the bed decent for the most part, though the Bovine Innkeeper gave us a startled look upon hearing the Lupines request.

It was a decent size, the bed something close to a queen size and with a down filled mattress and pillows, the quilt thick though there were little to no sheets to speak of. Arosha didn't even wait for me to close the door as she started undressing, my eyes becoming riveted on her body. Breasts bounced slightly as she removed the corset armor the nipples visible through the short cut fur, the skirt falling with the rest of her clothing. I turned away just as she looked towards me, slowly starting to get undressed as well, but left my boxers on.

"I hope you're not uncomfortable about sharing a bed with a woman," she commented, making me jump slightly as she touched my shoulder.

"Not...really. Just been a while since I've done so," I replied, turning and looking into her eyes. "First time with a Lupine as well..." She reached up and caressed my face.

"Don't worry, I'll not do anything to make you uncomfortable, or at least, I will try not to," she said, coming a little closer. "It's just for warmth, nothing more..."

I allowed her to pull me to the bed and lay me back upon it as she pulled back the covers, quickly slipping beneath them before pulling the fabric back up. Arosha's fur was almost silky soft, arms and hips a little damp from sweat and there was the smell of her, so much different from a true dog, almost fresh, pleasant. Snuggling closer, I could feel her fur-covered breasts pressing against my right side, the nipples slightly stiff as she draped an arm over my chest, the other slipping behind my head. Her muzzle rested upon my shoulder as she sighed, apparently content and enjoying the fact that she had someone to share warmth with. I shifted my position a little and she raised her head, looking down at the tented sheets over my crotch, causing me to blush a little with embarrassment. Reaching down with a bit of a grin, she stroked my erection a little, fingers caressing ever so lightly. "It's good to know that males still find me appealing," she whispered, kissing my cheek. "Do you wish to do something else besides keeping warm Denver?" My whole body stiffened at the suggestion, including my shaft, which didn't help matters any. I stammered slightly and was quickly stopped by Arosha kissing me passionately, one of her hands wrapping gently around my member and squeezing it. Groaning, I thrust up into her hand, slowly loosing control of myself. A part of me seeking comfort in this new world I was in, the other half running on instinct.

Her hand moved a little faster as I parted my lips to taste her, Arosha's toung slipping around my own and tickling the roof of my mouth a little. Hands slid up her sides to her breasts, running through the soft fur, as I smelled the forest and sweat covering her. I teased her nipples as they hardened, pinching lightly, pulling on them just enough to make her growl with pleasure, as she pressed against me hard, her lupine toung diving deep into my mouth as she moved to straddle my waist, moist sex grinding against my shaft as she released me. I had a brief moment to catch my breath before gasping and arching back, driving my manhood into her canine sex hard as her vulva parted to take me in eagerly, making Arosha whine with pleasure. Coming to rest upon my hips, the lupine growled and flexed the muscles of her vagina around my shaft as I writhed slightly beneath her, the feeling indescribable after having gone a long time without such intimacy. Sitting up carefully, I kissed Asrosha's nipples, nuzzling her breasts lightly before starting to suckle ever so gently, running my toung over them from time to time as she started to slide herself back and forth in my lap, riding my manhood slowly, grinding it against her cervix. Nibbling a little harder on Arosha's nipples, she settled into a rhythm, slowing when she felt me tense my hips and continuing after the moment had passed, her vagina squeezing and massaging my shaft as gently as her hands had. I raspberried her right nipple and was rewarded by the lupine gasping as her vagina quivered, then clamped down tightly on my member as she gave a low howl, cum seeping out around my shaft as I smiled, dragging my nails down her back. I continued suckling a little longer before pulling back and looking up at her, thrusting my hips up to meet her own and feeling her shudder. "Gods, it's been such a long time since I had someone please me like that," she murmured, pulling herself off of me slowly, only to grind her soaking pussy against my manhood again. Groaning, my hands cupped her ass and squeezed lightly, my lips brushing her own.

"Glad you enjoyed it," I whispered, rubbing her back lightly.

"Then perhaps I can return the favor," she replied, turning herself around and looking back with a sly grin as her tail rose out of the way to reveal her sex to me, the meaning all too clear. Moving to kneel behind Arosha, I ran my hands along her sides, slipping around the front of her body to massage her breasts a moment before resting on the smooth furred hips before me. Sliding myself between her thighs, I rubbed myself against her sex and shivered as a low guttural groan escaped my throat as she reached down to guide the head of my shaft back into the lips of her vagina. Hilting myself with a single thrust, she whined and arched backwards, her claws digging into the mattress as the lupine flexed her hip muscles, her pussy clamping down on my member. I gasped as she ground herself against me with each thrust into her that I took, my balls slapping against her clit as I increased my speed from behind, feeling myself growing ever closer to release. Arosha howled as she came again, her orgasm making her vagina rubbing against the underside of my members head, causing me to arch back and hilt myself inside of her hard. I groaned as wave after wave of my seed spurted from the tip of my shaft as it throbbed inside of Arosha's warm pussy, our juices mixing and seeping out of her. Feeling the lupine shift slightly as I braced myself with my hands on either side of her, I groaned again, the action having caused her vagina to tighten itself around my slackening member. I lay back carefully, Arosha whined and looked back at me as she pushed her self up and grinned, moving her hips again and being rewarded with another groan from me.

"Mmmmm...For an...Outlander," she told me, flexing her sex once more before pulling off of me and turning around. "You sure had a lot to give me...More than most humans I've been with..." I shivered as she drew her toung along my shaft once, then she moved up to lye beside me. I was incredibly tired from what had just taken place and my mind was racing a mile a minute at the same time. It took almost all the strength I had left to return Arosha's embrace as she straddled my waist once more, being careful not to press against my moist shaft. I fought to stay awake, the full shock of what had just happened to me; being torn from my own world, waking in one I had only dreamed of, making love for the first time in years, to a creature of the one I had stumbled into. All of this, finally brought sleep to me...

***

Waking up slowly, I reached out to caress my lover gently, only to find the bed was empty. "Wha-" I looked around the room and the memory of last night hit me hard, causing me to sit up quickly and take in the unfamiliar surroundings. The room was more sparse of furniture than I had thought last night, the only thing that looked as if it had been taken care of was the bed. Sheets were rumpled and slightly sticky from lovemaking last night, a small piece of parchment lying at the end of it along with a leather pouch. Taking them, I tossed the pouch a couple of times and heard coins clinking around inside of it. Opening the piece of parchment, I read the note and smiled slightly.

Will be gone for few days. Going to see if I can hunt down an old friend. Knowledgeable in magic and artifacts. Already paid for room for a week. Money for clothing. Wait for me.

Nodding, I opened the pouch and found around 35 gold coins inside, each of them stamped with a stag and a lioness on the opposite side. Markings were placed along the edges but they were unlike anything I had ever seen before. The only difference between them were the small crests below the main pictures. Slightly different in one way or another, not unlike coats of arms belonging to different families. Getting dressed as well as I was able to, I went downstairs and strode over to the bartender, gesturing for him to talk with me if he wasn't busy.

"What can I do for you Sir?" he intoned, setting down the flagon he had been cleaning to concentrate on me, eyebrows rising again as he took in my clothing and footwear.

"Do you know where I might be able to find a Tailor?" I asked, still smiling a little, though unsure exactly what to say. It wasn't that difficult to see these beings as people, just...Unusual.

"Yes Sir. I take it you're new to these parts?" He asked in return, taking in my denim pants and leather dress shoes.

"You could say that."

"Well, the best place to get proper clothing 'round here would be Indel's. A Spinnester, but fair as they come when dealing with your coinage. She's down the street to the left, past the blacksmiths and Wayward Vixen Tavern, just at the end of the street before the river," he told me, nodding carefully to the door so that his horns wouldn't cause any of the hanging stein flagons to fall from their hooks.

"Thank you," I said, nodding and getting ready to head out the door when I felt a heavy hand fall upon my shoulder.

"Wait a moment now, you can't be going outside without a shirt or vest Sir," the Bovine told me, Stepping back and looking under the counter for something. Bending down, he soon came back up with a bundle wrapped in coarse cloth and twine, and handed it to me. Taking the bundle, I undid the twine and soon found myself holding a white shirt, dark leather vest that was full of holes and stains, and a couple leather bracers stitched with silver thread that stood out against the black hide. "Those 're from a guest we had here one night. Poor beast died the second night he was here, something to do with his heart the healers say." That last comment sent a shiver down my spine, but I wasn't about to turn down anything offered to me at this moment. Donning the shirt and vest, I was surprised to find that they were a perfect fit for me, the bracers as well once I figured out how to get them on properly.

"Thank you very much," I said, bowing slightly out of respect.

"Eh now. Don't go doing stuff like that to me. Someone's likely to think I'm more important than I actually be," he said, chuckling and giving my shoulder a light punch that nearly sent me into the tables of the common room. Staggering slightly, I straightened myself and laughed a little myself as I nodded and left the Inn, rubbing my shoulder only once I was out of sight.

The day was cloudy but not as could as it could have been, still the smell of the air said that there was going to be rain, but only once I had gotten past the animal smells. It was like walking through a barn, yet not exactly as bad as it could have been, most of the smells coming from the sewer system that consisted of a deep ditch in the center of the street covered with metal bars placed at intervals along the stone street. 'Probably smells better after a good downpour,' I thought, trying to ignore some of the things I saw floating out of the alleyways in small rivers of their own. I passed the blacksmiths after pausing a moment to watch them at work, late morning having allowed them to stoke their forge fires high to an already roaring inferno, their forms silhouetted against the blaze. It had been a dream of mine in the past, to become a blacksmith as a hobby during the days I didn't work, yet something else always called me away from pursuing that. Dreams of other worlds and drawings of them that I created seemed to be more important than anything else when it came to hobbies. Friends had always been there, yet not companions or lovers. Not in a long time, anyways. 'Why did I make love to Arosha last night?' I thought to myself, shaking my head slightly. It was not something I could easily answer, and in truth, I wasn't sure if I wanted one. I looked up at the sound of wood hitting wood and found myself before the Wayward Vixen, someone on the second floor closing the shutters of the windows. The sign was straightforward as to the name of the place though there were no words upon it. Just a voluptuous female fox with her shirt partially open to reveal the curves on one breast, holding a cloak on her left arm while the right one was raised and bearing a flagon of ale. Slit skirt was pulled back to reveal her left leg and part of her ass. From the looks of it, they were closing the doors in preparation for tonight's activities. I could already guess what they would be. Past the Tavern, I could see the shop sign for Indels ahead, letters golden against a silver spider web background where an arachnid stood holding out a piece of blue fabric. Wisps of silk and spider web lay around the door and also covered some of the holes in the front of the building, adding another hint to the kind of being I would probably be encountering here.

The door opened soundlessly, no chimes sounding as I stepped over the threshold and froze. Every color of fabric imaginable was neatly stacked on shelves or displayed on tables, all of which had a light covering of web that was deliberately patterned with markings I had never seen before. Going over to one of the bolts of cloth, I touched it and was amazed at how smooth it felt, as well as how strong the web that covered it was. Each strand was as thick as a piece of yarn from my own world that could often be found in Wal-marts or even Zellars stores. Yet it didn't break like ordinary spider silk.

"Are you just looking or are you planning to buy something, young Sir?" asked a gentle voice behind me, making me jump ant turn around at the same time. I had not even heard the being come up behind me, let alone move to close the door I had entered through.

It was an arachnid, but only similar to those I had dreamed of in other stories. Besides the normal three segments of the body, a fourth had been added to it. Four legs supported the abdomen and thorax, then came a surprisingly humanoid upper body, complete with small curves on the chest that I took for breasts, yet wasn't really willing to touch them in order to find out. The head was covered with eight glistening black orbs for eyes, the two largest ones centered just above mandibles and two smaller appendages that stroked them from time to time. Four arms extended directly from the shoulders, from beneath the silks covering the rest of the body. Exoskeleton was lacquered black with blue streaks and orange hair that seemed to sprout from any part not covered by cloth, including the arms and legs. Hands were three fingered with a crude hook of a thumb being the last, grooves running along the underside of each finger as it raised a hand to try and calm me. "My apologies for startling you, Sir," it said again, voice gently and full of amusement in a strange sense, the sounds like small gurgling and pops of liquid. "I forget that sometimes it is best to announce ones presence after is has been announced by the trigger lines set before the door."

My mind went racing as the logical side took over, saving me from looking like a complete asshole.

"Like your feral cousins use theirs to capture prey, instead, you use them to tell you when a customer is in the store," I commented, smiling and seeing the others mandibles twist in what I took for it's own version of the expression.

"Exactly. You're quite intelligent for a human. I like that."

"Are you Indel?"

"Since the day I hatched," she bubble/chuckled, giving what passed for a curtsy, and tilting her head. "Might I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"

"Denver, Weaver Indel," I replied, getting over my uneasy feeling when around spiders of any size. She chuckled again and reached up with to of her arms to grab hold of a network of thick silk cables, her legs twisting around and bending at what looked like an awkward angle to grab hold of a few others. I tried to follow her as she skittered around me but was stopped from doing so, two hands gently resting on my shoulders to keep me in one place. "I hope you aren't thinking of inviting me over as dinner later," I commented, shifting a little uneasily.

"Nothing so feral or basic as that, young Denver," she replied, lowering herself again and placing a hand under her 'chin'. "I usually make orders for feral meat or take the thieves I catch to my...table. Now, what are you looking for exactly? Breeches; shirt, cloak or something else?"

"Cloak and possibly a new vest would be preferable. Unfortunately, I've only got around 35 gold pieces to use, Weaver Indel," I said, looking around and feeling like I had made a bit of a mistake coming here. Any clothing made from the silks in this store would have been worth close to a couple hundred or more dollars where I came from. Not even silkworms created stuff this smooth.

"Don't worry about it. Most of the beasts in this town have anything more than ten gold to their names besides those that own businesses. I have to keep my prices low enough so that they can afford what I make," she said, going over to a set of doors covered by the webs and started to cut them off quickly and then eat them like cotton candy. Not surprising but still, strange to my eyes. Inside were gossamer covered objects that hung on hooks set into the top of the wardrobe and lay on the many shelves beneath it. Each of which had a strange mark dyed into the surface as well as a bare patch to allow Indel to see what color lay underneath her webs. Looking at me again, she gave a chittering sigh and turned back, finally pulling out three covered items and setting them a nearby table. "Try these on," she said, tearing off the covering of one of them and handing me an emerald green cloak, the clasp a crescent moon with a woman seated upon it, arms around her knees and looking up at something in the distance. It was light and hung easily on my shoulders, the fabric stopping just below my ankles, and lined with something that felt almost like animal pelt. "That's lupine you're feeling on the interior. I've managed to make a deal with the Groomers down the street on the other side of the river. They sort the fur and clean it, I take it off their hands and put it into some of the clothing I make, giving them enough of my products to cloth their families through the seasons."

"Nice material," I said, taking it off after a moment. "Good fit too."

"Of course it is. My kind have a unique talent for sizing up others," she said, folding it up and opening the next package...

...In the end, I spent only 10 gold coins on a cloak, two vests, a pair of breeches, and a silk back pack that was water proof like the rest of the things Indel made. I actually spent more time talking with her than I did looking at the clothing she laid out for me to try on, seeming to enjoy it as much as I did. Her appearance no longer bothered me and in a way, I got the feeling that she was being motherly in her own way.

It was after noon by the time I got back to the Inn, after stopping at a supply story and buying a small leather bound book, some ink and a quill to write with. I handed the bartender three of the coins I had left with my thanks before going to one corner of the room to start writing. This draw more than a few gazes from the other people in the common room, some chuckling and making jokes about it while others merely watched, the sound of dice filling the background. What I wrote about was no surprise, at least to the way my mind was. Everything that had happened after I had got home from work yesterday, I made sure to mention, as well as the thoughts on how I was transported to this world. I heard something leathery flap above me and looked up to find a bat anthro hanging from one of the copper perches above me, his gaze intent upon the book I had open before me. Closing it quickly, I leaned back and smiled in greeting.

"Evening, Young Sir. What is it you're scribing in that little thing?" He asked. Black fur covered the avian creature that helped gray/silver eyes stand out from under the bushy brows. Blue headband held back braided strands of hair, those in turn kept together at the nape of his neck by a gold hairclip. Surprisingly, the bat had an extra set of arms besides the wings on it's back, though the fingers seemed to be webbed as well. Clothing suggested that he was a wanderer, a strip of leather on his chest was held on by a few strands of leather cord. Beads and bones decorated most of it, along with dyed patches of strange symbols.

"Just thoughts, Sir," I replied, putting them into my pack. "Is there something I can do for you?"

"Not me as much as the others playing Che'Magra over there," he told me, gesturing to the table in the other corner of the room. There were about five furs sitting around it, the sound of dice echoing from the tabletop. "They want to know if you'd be willing to join them for a couple rounds..."

"And see how much gold I can loose to them?" I commented, raising an eyebrow. The stranger grinned and nodded slowly before gesturing to my right hand.

"You aren't a magic user are you?"

"What makes you say that?" I asked, my smile fading slightly.

"Just the aura that glove of yours gives off. I can see energies around people and things, as well as tell if someone is using them," he told me, giving an upside down shrug. "I usually watch the games and make mention as to whether someone is cheating in that way."

"Small bloody chance of that," I said, chuckling and standing up. "I don't know how to use it anyways."

"Good. Let's hope you don't learn how while you play the game." He said, grabbing a handhold and tentatively placing a clawed hand on my shoulder, and gesturing to see if it was ok for me to give him some support. I nodded, he swung himself to the floor and hobbled over to the group and talking with them a moment before gesturing me over. "These fellows will take you through the rules and whatnot easily," the bat said, giving a toothy grin. "By the way, I'm Nannrec of the Silver Path Clan." He went to another support pillar and climbed up to another perch.

The first few rounds, I lost, one gold piece each time, not willing to bet anymore on the next roll before a winner was declared. The rules were simple really. Every player anted up then everyone rolled, those that rolled numbers 3 and lower were out and the others continued. After the initial roll, bets were made as to who would win this next round. Three dice were used in the game, any doubles, and those numbers counted as twice their value. Triples counted as three times their value except for triple 1's. If someone rolled three 1's, then it was an automatic win. After I got used to things, everything seemed to shift in my favor for the most part. I'd lose a few times, then win the next seven rounds or so, the pile of money before continued to grow with each successful toss of the dice. At the end of the evening, long after the common room fireplace had died down to embers, I had well over a 100 pieces of gold lying before me, the other players grumbling slightly and glaring at me.

"You sure he hasn't been cheating, Nannrec?" Grumbled the badger sitting across from me, pulling a dagger from its sheath and fingering the edge slightly.

"Positive. You know that I would tell you as soon as I saw something out of the ordinary," he replied, grinning and giving another strange shrug. "He won everything fairly."

"Well then, if his luck holds, I want to challenge him to another game tomorrow," he said, putting the blade away and standing with a groan. "That was a good run tonight, Outlander. Tomorrow, we shall see how Fate favors you..."

I started slipping the coins into one of the pouches left by the other players and glanced up at the bat for a moment.

"So, were you expecting me to lose or just be humor for the others tonight?" I asked, grinning a little even though, I was a little pissed at myself for having been dragged into it. Arosha had entrusted the money to me for clothing, not gambling.

"I expected you to win," he replied, chittering and looking down at me with a fanged grin. "Just not so well."

"I suggest that next time you don't try to do something like that to me," I muttered, turning away from the table with two small bags full of coins.

"As you wish, but...You will play tomorrow night won't you?"

"I don't know..."

***

As it turned out, I did join in the next game, and the one after that, betting only a fraction of what I won the next game. Now here I was, involved in another game on the fourth night and winning again, still not using whatever magic powers the glove I wore possessed and still under Nannrec's watchful eyes. As the 6-4-6 was left to the lamplight overhead, I pulled in the pile of coins from the center of the table with a smile.

"Enough of this, another round I say," bellowed a Grizzly, pounding the table with a fist and tankard at the same time. The waitress came over carrying another tray of ale and a flagon of water for me, something that had become a joke to the others that played. He tipped the vixen with a few of the coins he was using for the game, and picked up a new flagon, draining half of its contents. Taking the water, I sipped at it and picked up the dice again.

"Hold on everyone. Before the next round starts, I have a question to ask," intoned an Otter that sat across from me, holding up one hand before standing up and turning to a Rabbit female that stood behind him, dressed in a violet/blue Gypsy attire. Complete with golden chains and a length of silk running from her hip to a gold ring worn on one finger of her left hand. White furred with hazelnut eyes, she listened in silence then pulled back to look up at him, her eyes full of fear and a little bit of understanding. Waiting for a brief moment, the Otter rested a paw on her cheek and she nodded finally, stepping onto his chair, then moving to stand upon the tabletop itself.

"Wha-"

"Please, just let me explain. I don't have anything to offer for this round, however, my servant has agreed to be my marker for the money I owe to the winner. She will stay with the winner of this round and do whatever is asked of her until I can pay the money owed," he said, looking around at the others and watching as they nodded in agreement before his gaze settled upon me.

"I cannot accept those terms," I said, sitting back and crossing both arms. "Where I come from, it is an...un-welcomed act to do such a thing. Especially if it makes the one being offered uneasy or is against his or her wishes... Therefore I must excuse myself from this round."

"You sit down and play, Outlander!" the Grizzly roared, standing up as did the others, their protests drowning out the conversation in the common room. I started in surprise at this turn of expression on the other players faces as well as the anger I could sense. I felt something drop to the ground beside me, and a chitin covered hand rest upon my shoulder.

"It is extremely rude to back out at such a moment as this and when an offer has been made that all the other players have agreed to. Che'Magra can only end by mutual agreement of the players or at the stroke of Midnight," Indel said, her glistening black eyes swiveling slightly to look at me. "Here, it could cost you one or more of your digits as well for the insult you've given to the Otter, Yuman Silverstream and his Servant." Looking at the rest of the table, I could see that four weapons had indeed been drawn and were pointed in my direction, the one named Yuman not being one of them. He simply stared at me, clicking his claws on the tabletop.

"I understand where you are coming from, young Sir," he replied finally, gesturing for the others to put away their weapons and sit down, the lapin female looking at me with surprise and amusement. "However, you must keep in mind that you're not in your lands any longer. Besides, I asked Rinnela's approval before offering her as my bet in this game. She has free will and has been my lover already, many a time before this evening..." The lapin took a graceful step closer and knelt down to stare into my eyes, her smile growing with each moment.

"Do you not find me attractive, Sir?" She asked, bending lower and tilting her head to the side, causing her ears to fall to either side of her neck, breasts swaying slightly under her cloths.

I shifted slightly as I took in her beauty, the desire in my loins growing with each moment as the primal part of my mind reacted to what was before me.

"I do, Lady Rinnela," I replied at last, looking at her Master and the other players. "I will continue then, though I pray that I do not win your companionship this round." Tossing in five coins for ante, I shook the cup and tossed the dice...

6-3-6, which gave me a total 25 points, allowing me to stay in the round. The Heron rolled 3-2-2; Grizzly came up 2-4-3, Human ranger rolled 5-4-4, and the Equine 5-4-5. All of our gazes turned to Silverstream, as he took the cup and dice and shook the ivory cubes around.

5-5-5

"What's the starting bet for this round?" The Equine said, picking up a stack of coins and jingling them a little.

"How about...30 a piece, not including Lord Silverstream since his bet covers the coins to be paid later," Growled the grizzly, leering at the lapin as she blushed noticeable under her fur. They nodded and tossed in the appropriate amount of coins while I held back a moment. 'Probably going to regret this,' I thought, sighing and gathering my coins.

"Lets raise it to...60," I told them, sliding a small pile of coins into the center to join the others. They looked at me with a mixture of amusement and uncertainty before adding their coins to the pile. I rolled...

6-6-6 for a total of 54. Human and Equine backed out of it, along with the Otter, but the Grizzly was as stubborn as a mule, quickly taking the dice and giving them a long shake before dumping them upon the table.

6-6-6. Shouts of surprise and laughter filled the room after a tense silence, players and onlookers alike all trying to talk to us at once while I smiled at the only opponent left in the round.

"Quiet!" he roared, bear muzzle sporting a grim grin, dark eyes flashing slightly in the lamplight. Everyone quickly shut up and looked at us expectantly as the Bear tapped the tabletop with his three-inch claws. "Well, it seems Fate still favors you and me. So, shall we see who she'll bed with this night?"

"You have 120 gold on you?" I asked, locking gazes with him with a cold smile on my face, pushing the remaining coins in front of me into the center of the table at Rinnela's feet.

"Gutsy move, cub. You that confident that you'll win this toss of the dice?" he growled. "Very well then, but I'll roll first."

I shrugged and let him do what he would. The rattling stopped and once the dice cup was lifted, he leaned back with a grin. 5-5-4.

"Nice roll," I said, taking both cup and dice from his paws and shaking everything up for my own roll. I could feel everyone in the room tensing, including the Rabbit and Otter that had locked their eyes on me. Slamming the cup on the top of the table, I closed my eyes and lifted it off the dice. There was a dumfounded silence then a bellow of pure rage from the Grizzly as he moved to leap at me over the table, pushing the lapin out of the way, and ending up tangled in glistening strands of silk. Indel chuckled and chirped as she moved up to the rafters again, pulling her lines tight and spread-eagled the bear quickly. I was confused by the amount of laughter, comments and other sounds surrounding me, turning my gaze to look at the score I had rolled. 1-1-1/

Triple one's, meaning that I had won everything and the game was over. Rounds of drinks were bought and passed around, the majority of which I passed up in favor of water, and conversation reached new heights, mostly about the Che'Magra game. Pulling myself away from the table and out of the crowd, Indel handing me a silk bag containing the coins I had won before I took three steps as I looked up to smile at her. Someone gently touched my arm and I turned to see Rinnela and Yuman Silverstream standing at the bottom of the stairs, the lapin pulling her hand back slightly. I looked at both of them evenly, my expression mostly uncertain as to what to say or do. Surprisingly, Yuman stepped forward and places a hand on my right shoulder, his grip firm.

"I can understand how this might make you feel," he said, speaking just loud enough for me to hear. "Just remember, you're not in your land anymore. Here, you must follow your instincts a little more than your sentient thoughts. Trust me..." I nodded and looked to Rinnela as she moved closer, curtseying slightly. Taking her hand gently, I led her upstairs and away from the crowd of people in the common room...

...Locking the door to my room, I placed my head against the door a moment and sighed, trying to think of how to proceed. Turning to look at Rinnela, I could see that she was almost as uncomfortable as I was, if only a little better at hiding it. Could have been something to do with the animalistic features of her Lapin face as well, either way, I couldn't tell for certain.

"Is...there anything I can do to make you comfortable, Sir?" she asked at last, hands fidgeting with her skirt a little, looking as if she'd rather hug herself due to a chill. Smiling, I said, "I was about to ask the same thing, actually." We shared an uneasy moment of laughter before silence fell once more between us. Removing my cloths slowly after tense moments of waiting, I hesitantly reached for my boxers and stopped myself from removing them as my gaze met hers alone. Rinnela smiled and undid the clasps holding her top and skirt on, allowing them to fall to the floor where she stood. The same strange beauty presented itself to me, similar to Arosha's, yet far softer in outline and slightly more athletic. I could feel my body reacting to what my eyes were taking in, the fact partially obscured by the boxers I was wearing, yet even that was hiding little. Giggling, Rinnela sauntered closer and gently hooked the waistband in both hands stretching it slightly before slowly pushing it down until it too fell to the floor, leaving me bare to her searching gaze. Reaching down, I took her hands before they had a chance to move any closer to my hardening shaft and helped her to stand. "Please...not...not tonight, Rinnela," I said, embracing her as gently as I could, kissing her forehead. "I need time to get used to the idea of you staying here with me..." She breathed a sigh of relief at my words and allowed me to hold part of her weight, face buried against my chest. Walking us to the bed, I lay down carefully with her in my arms, letting her turn her back to me and curl up slightly against my chest. I waited for her breathing to become relaxed, letting sleep claim her first as I rubbed her belly slightly with my right hand, my other arm acting as a partial pillow for her head. Shifting slightly, I shivered as my member rubbed between the soft silky cheeks of her ass, making her moan a little and whisper her masters name, her own hand overlapping my own. Closing my eyes as well, I tried to ignore the guilt I felt as well as the instinct that sang softly within my blood. After a time, I succeeded and soon surrendered myself to the void...