Leaving Home

Story by KitTheSoulless on SoFurry

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#2 of Tales of Ethorian: Legends of Alchemy

In this chapter, a strange festival brings Vael and Alex close but a strange messenger brings grave news at the worst moment possible.


With the bandits dispatched and the mysterious white fox healed and well, it wasn't long before the merchants caravan was moving again. Soon the forest parted and the sweet smell of fine wine and honey-mead wafted on the gentle breeze. On the horizon was the small village of Encarra, a place known far and wide for their elegant and often very potent drinks.

"Hey you two," called the feline merchant woman from the front of her covered wagon, "We'll be in Encarra in a little under an hour."

"Alright," Replied, Vael, poking his head around from the back of the wagon to smile at her. "And thank you for offering to take me home."

"Think nothing of it," said the feline merchant, returning the smile. "By the way, I don't think we've met. The name's Katarina, Katarina L'Sarren."

"Oh, right. I'm Vael Kirrali." said Vael, nodding his head slightly before adding, "So you're the merchant who always comes to our town with pelts from Reialla, right Miss L'Sarren?"

"Usually and just call me Katarina, alright sugar?" laughed the feline woman.

"Oh, alright." Vael said with another nod, "Well, when you get unloaded find me before you settle on a price for the wine you're leaving with. I can get you a better deal."

"Alright sugar, I will." Katarina said with a nod, her voice taking on a somewhat curious sound as she added, "Tell me though, what were the herbs you put in that box back there for?"

Vael just shrugged and gave a simple, "Just a hobby of mine." before pulling himself into the back of the wagon.

* * *

As the merchants wagon passed into the town of Encarra, Vael suddenly hopped out the back, heading quickly towards the towns only tavern; which looked more like an estate. With a wave over his shoulder the slender white fox called back, "Get yourselves settled and unloaded, I'll come find you later." cheerfully.

"Hey, wait up!" called out Alex, hopping from the back of the wagon just as fast and catching up to Vael in mere moments. "I'm coming with you."

Vael just stopped in his tracks, spinning to look at Alex for a moment before smiling, "You know, you don't need to-"

Before he could even finish the sentence Alex stepped past him, "I know," he said in passing with a smile, "but I want to."

Vael just looked Alex over a moment, giving pause to think before shrugging. Giving a smile and a nod, he chimed, "Alright." and started back off towards the tavern.

Within moments of walking into the tavern, a massive white fox swept Vael off his feet with both arms, lifting the slender thing off his feet with ease. "Welcome home!" boomed the large man as he hugged Vael tightly.

Gasping for a moment, Vael smiled and winced as the same time, managing a raspy, "Hello.. Father." and even gave the much larger fox a peck on the cheek before adding, "Too tight.. Can't breathe."

With a laugh the much larger fox set Vael down, ruffling his headfur, "Sorry, I've just missed you." he said with a smile. It wasn't until now that he noticed Alex and actually gave him a look over before glancing back to Vael, "Who's your warrior friend?"

"Oh, right," Vael said scratching the back of his head. "Dad, this is Alex. Alex, this is my father." he managed, motioning between the two with a sheepish grin.

With a booming laugh, the larger white fox extended a paw, chuckling through a simple, "Darius Kirrali."

Alex took his grip at the massive mans wrist and as he felt those thick fingers wrap around his own wrist in turn he gave a nod, "Alexander Ashwood. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Aah, so your Marius' boy. That explains the armor." Darius said, still chuckling.

"You know my father?" came the somewhat confused question from Alex, though he shook the mans arm firmly regardless.

"I fought beside him when we won our freedom lad." That chuckle was gone and Darius' tone took a somewhat serious one for a moment. "Either way, the Ashwood family is always welcome here."

Alex just nodded, looking up at Darius a moment longer before pulling his paw back. With a faint smile, Alex went to say something but his words were cut short as a loud cry came from outside.

Vael and Alex took a moment to exchange looks before Alex suddenly dashed for the door, slamming through it into the sunlight, a worried look in his eyes. Vael meanwhile just gave a smile to Darius before stuffing his paws into the pockets of his trousers and sauntering out.

* * *

The town square was alive with the sound of joyous laughter and a spectacle to be seen. A lanky young wolf in a simple grey tunic stood in Lady Katarina's wagon - now unloaded and uncovered - howling and holding up a fistful of the bright green herbs Vael had packed into a small box in the back. Several of the villagers surrounding the wagon cheered along with the wolfs howl.

Alex burst through the doors of the tavern, out into the bright sunlight ready for trouble but seeing the villagers actions he stopped, staring for a long moment at everyone and everything that was to behold before him. He didn't understand their actions, 'All this, over a bundle of herbs?' he thought.

Sauntering out behind him, Vael came up beside Alex and explained, "It's Silk Weed," with a smile, leaning a little against the armored fox, "It's the base component in all of our medicine here. Every year, before winter comes one of us goes to collect it from the forest."

Taking in everything Vael was saying, Alex eyed the box of herbs now before simply saying, "But there's so little.. Will it be enough?" curiosity and even a hint of worry edging his tone.

"Enough for a winter, yes. Silk Weed is a potent herb, even a little of the medicines we make from it will go a long way to curing an illness."

Silently, Alex nodded before giving Vael a glance and a faint smile. After a moment he turned his attention back to the crowd, murmuring, "So that's why you were out in the forest then?"

"Mhmm," was all Vael managed before the wolf atop the wagon noticed him and lunged, vaulting from the wagon, over the crowd to land a few feet away and kept moving. In an instant he was behind Vael, an arm around the white fox as he pulled him into the sunlight.

"Our savior has returned!" cried the grey-clad wolf, his voice carrying over the crowd, causing them all to hush and turn, "For decades we've sent our Chosen into the western forest in search of these precious herbs," he continued, holding the fistful of green herbs up for all to see, "to keep us safe and well during the harsh winter. This year that honor fell on our beloved Vael. So tonight, we feast in his honor!"

As he watched Vael dragged off into the crowd of cheering villagers, Alex just stood, stunned and starring for a few moments before looking over his shoulder to Derius, murmuring, "So, this is normal.. right?" sounding half amused and possibly even a little worried.

Derius just laughed and nodded, "This is as normal as it gets around here, lad."

After a moment, Katarina found her way through the crowd, looking rather uncomfortable as she pushed her way past a few of the villagers and finally made her way towards Derius. "Derius Kirrali, right?" She called to him from a distance, though he didn't give him a chance to reply before adding, "I'm Lady Katarina L'Sarren, Head of the Merchants Guild of Meronna."

Derius gave her a quick look before nodding with a smile, murmuring, "Lady L'Sarren, I've heard great things about you." through a quiet chuckle.

"Likewise," Katarina said with a smile, motioning to the tavern door, "Shall we head inside? We have much to talk about."

With a faint chuckle Derius nodded, "Strait to business, hmm? You live up to your reputation," he said, motioning her through the door with an added, "After you lass."

With that, the two slowly vanished into the dimly lit tavern, left to the business at hand while Alex was left to his thoughts. Such didn't last long however, as a voice from the crowd called out his name and a young lapin woman suddenly grabbed the poor mercenary, dragging him into the mass of ecstatic villagers.

* * *

As the sun began to fall and the sky burned a soft red with the last fading light of day, the Village came to life more than ever before. At the heart of Encarra, a massive bonfire began to burn, warming the air throughout the village and illuminating it's core. The air was thick with the smell of roast boar, fresh bread and so many other fine foods, accompanied by the usual soft scent of honey-mead and fine wines. The villagers danced to the melody of exquisite music played by the young musicians of the village, the bows of twin fiddles carried by deep drums and warring with the skillful fingers dancing over a hand-crafted ocarina.

The Autumn Festival had begun, filling each villager with a sense of hope and joy and at the heart of the celebration was Vael, dancing with some of the other villagers, his usual leather trousers and tunic replaced with heavy robes of a soft white, hemmed in crimson and gold.

Alex meanwhile stood aside, his body armor replaced with a simple white tunic; though his leather trousers remained. He leaned against the wall of the tavern, still watching in amazement as he nursed a large stein of honey-mead. Unlike before however, his eyes didn't roam from person to person but instead, held their gaze on Vael, studying his every move.

As the music played and the dancing villagers swayed, Alex tipped his stein back, taking a long drink of the sweet golden liquor. In so brief a moment he never would have expected to be grabbed, nor pulled out into the open.

"You're not getting away tonight," Vael exclaimed happily as he led his catch by the paw, "Not without dancing."

Alex nearly choked on his drink at the very thought of it. "Oh no, I don't think -" he began but fell silent, awe-stricken as Vael snatched his drink away and drained it's remains quickly.

"Come on, live a little." said Vael through a slight grin, tilting one ear to the side as he added, "Just once, for me?"

As much as he wanted to walk away, to simply return to his place in the shadows, Alex - now lost in a pair of beautiful violet eyes - gave a sigh and murmured, "Alright, but just this once."

As the music played and Vael began to sway in time with the melody, Alex couldn't help but stare in awe for a moment, lost in the grace and beauty of the figure before him. The moment passed quickly however and somewhere between the music and his companion's grace, he fell into step with the white fox, their bodies entwining - moving together as one - with the melody

At a table near by, a young lapin woman in light robes of grey and black bodice leaned over Derius, "You know," she whispered to him, motioning with a slender finger to Vael and Alex. "If you ask me, I'd say your boy's a might.. sly."

Derius just shook his head, murmuring, "His choice doesn't matter, so long as he's happy." before taking a large bite out of a piece of roast boar.

With a grin, the lapin woman slipped onto the large man's lap, wrapping her arms around his neck loosely as she murmured, "And what of you?" with a mischievous smile. "How can we make you happy tonight?"

As the melody came to an end and both Alex and Vael stopped, they found themselves nose to nose, Alex smiling faintly and Vael's cheeks aglow with a bright pink hue. They hardly noticed the numerous eyes that were upon them, nor heard the cheering over their display. Both vulpine figures were simply lost in the moment.

After what seemed like an eternity for the two, Vael slipped past Alex, his cheek brushing across the swordsman's shoulder faintly as he whispered, "Come with me." with a smile.

Silently the swordsman obeyed, following the robed fox into the shadows between a pair of houses and past, into the vast reach of a now moonlit vineyard.

* * *

As the sound of the music and the warmth of the fire faded, replaced by the cool night air and the sounds of distant crickets, the two vulpine figures found themselves alone. By moonlight the two stood, concealed by the night among the posted vines where only the spirits bore witness.

Without thought or hesitation, Alex gently grabbed Vael, pressing his body against a thickly-vined post as his paw parted the white fox's robes. Fingers trailing through the snowy fur slowly, Alex's paw made it's way down as he pinned Vael to the post, locking maws in a deep and passionate kiss.

Vael gasped into the kiss as he felt Alex's fingers part his soft vaginal lips, massaging his clit gently and sending waves of ecstasy through his body. Breaking their kiss as a faint pink creeped over his cheeks, all vael could manage to say was, "Be gentle."

As Alex pressed another kiss to Vael's lips, the white fox's paws fiddled with the binds of his trousers, loosening them enough to let them fall, revealing Alex's already half exposed member. With their kiss soon broken and Alex's falling to nuzzle Vael's neck tenderly, Vael stroked a paw slowly over the vulpine shaft, feeling the rest of it's length slowly revealing itself.

With Vael's paw guiding him, Alex pressed his tip against the white fox's virgin passage, wrapping his arms around him gently as he sank his length into her warm cunt.

With a sudden mixture of pain and pleasure as he felt the vulpine member tear through into his depths, Vael cried out, stifling the sound through gritted teeth as his eyes snapped shut and his head tipped down.

Giving pause for Vael's body to stretch, Alex slid a finger under Vael's chin and as he slowly relaxed, brushed another tender kiss over the white fox's lips as he slowly pulled back, allowing all but his tip to slip free before pressing in again.

As their ecstasy grew, the sound of their passion carried just far enough to catch the attention of a young wolf, nestled in the foliage of a distant tree. The young wolf watched the scene unfold, his amber eyes taking in each detail.

After long, the grey wolf smirked, murmuring, "Sly dog," as he sprang from the tree, hitting the ground in silence and taking off towards the two in kind, "It'll be a shame to tell him."

His hips keeping time like like rhythmic ocean waves, Alex's knot quickly began to swell, his passion only fueled by Vael's stifled moans. Sweet release was nigh for the two until the sound of a cleared throat caused them both to freeze, fur raised in a mixture of shock and fright.

"Lord Ashwood," Began the wolf, amber eyes studying the two, "I br-" he tried to finish the thought, only to be cut off.

"Damn it Lyran!" snapped Alex, pulling back from Vael, leaving him leaning against the post as he spun and grabbed the ashen-furred wolf by the scruff, "You'd better have a damn good reason for this!"

Vael simply watched, pulling his robes tight around himself once more, fighting to hide the bright pink hue that burned in his cheeks.

Never losing his composure, the wolf looked Alex in the eye, studying him for a moment before explaining, "Your father sent me to find you." coldly, suddenly batting the fox's paw away from his neck with a growl, "To tell you that Meronna is under siege."

Caught off guard, Alex stared stunned at the grey wolf in disbelief but when he could see the serious look in those amber eyes he quickly gathered his trousers, cinching them tight.

"Tell Katarina I'll be heading back to Meronna," said Alex, his tone carrying the cold weight of an order as he started off swiftly towards the distant forest.

Standing there stunned, Vael looked to Lyran, studying his every feature for a moment before suddenly taking off after Alex, "I'm coming with you." he called to Alex.

Alex suddenly stopped, spinning on his heels, his gaze falling on Vael as he gave a simple, "No."

"I've made up my mind, I'm going with you." Vael said, almost glaring at Alex in turn.

"It's too dangerous," Alex began, trying to justify his choice but he was quickly cut off as Vael passed him by.

"I'm going with you and there's nothing you can say to change that."