FSE

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Behind the Lines

Written By: Spudz

Winter's grip was merciless, unyielding; the landscape suffocated under a smothering blanket of white. As far as the eye could see, trees clung desperately to their foliage, shrugging off the snow that adhered to every tangible surface. The scenery was immobilized in utter silence, and yet... there was still a distinctive beauty to it all.

Through this tranquility, a lone pickup truck rumbled along a narrow snow covered dirt road, slowly picking its way around drifts and fallen tree branches. With two hands firmly grasping the wheel, a grey wolf carefully eyed her surroundings as she steered the hefty vehicle, mindful of the treacherous conditions all around her.

This time of year the roads were poorly maintained, and the locals were typically left to their own devices for getting around the countryside. Not that the hazardous conditions were any trouble for the canine. She had seen many harsh seasons, and knew her way around the area with the best of them. It was only a matter of being patient and taking things nice and slow, although simply achieving that was proving quite difficult.

Leah grumbled to herself, her expression set with grim determination. The day hadn't exactly started off on the right paw for her, leaving her in a dour mood. Normally she was one for keeping an upbeat outlook on things, no matter how bad they got. But today...

A particularly colorful curse escaped her lips as the truck lurched over a snow covered tree branch, jostling the canine about in the cab.

Nothing had seemed to go right since Leah had pulled herself out of bed some hours ago, starting with the hot water heater breaking right in the middle of her morning shower. From there, it had only gotten worse, culminating with a flat tire on the truck. It was like someone was out to get her.

At least her luck had appeared to turn around as the day wore on. Much to her relief, Leah had managed to complete her errands in town without anything else going horribly wrong. That, in itself, was a small victory.

Now, with a bag of groceries sitting in the passenger seat next to her, and a load of general supplies back in the truck bed, the wolf simply wanted to make it back home. The thought of sitting before the comforting fireplace with a book to read filled her with newfound enthusiasm. Maybe she could still enjoy her evening, God willing.

However, Leah's plans were not meant to be...

It happened in an instant. A shadow suddenly appeared scant meters above the tree line, whipping right over her truck in a rapid blur, completely silent as it quickly disappeared from view.

Before she could react, the deafening report of a sonic boom pounded directly into her vehicle, shattering the windshield in a shower of glass. Hands coming up to cover her ears, she fell backwards against the seat, yelping at the sudden assault to her senses as chaos suddenly reigned around her.

A second shadow passed directly overhead in the wake of the first, completely unnoticed to the stunned wolf. However the accompanying shockwave wasn't so stealthy.

The one-two punch of deafening reports left Leah reeling in fright, while the truck skidded off to the side of the road.

What the hell was going on!

It took a moment for her to regain her senses.

The windshield was gone! No, wait... something had shattered it completely. The tiny shards of resulting glass littered the truck cab, as the cold outside air flooded in to snuff out the warmth of the vehicle's heater.

The wolf quickly checked herself for injuries, finding that she was unharmed. Only then did her ears register the deafening roar of noise that inundated the surrounding landscape, a deep, throaty rumble that seemed to pierce the air.

Leah quickly wrenched open the driver door to exit the truck, still unsure what was happening all around her. With boots plopping down into the snow, the wolf swept her gaze across the surrounding tree line, only to find nothing. She then looked up.

Abruptly, the shadow appeared against the backdrop of the sky, higher this time. In that instant, the canine understood what was happening.

The shadow was joined by a second, and then a third... a fourth... suddenly there were too many to count. The aircraft silhouettes flew across the sky in intricate patterns, spiraling and twisting about to her eyes. Yet, there was nothing beautiful about the sight she witnessed.

This was an intricate dance of death, a dogfight between opposing fighter aircraft in a desperate bid to shoot one another down. As she looked on in silence, missiles streaked about, lances of cannon fire flashed wickedly across the sky, and in the midst of it all pilots fought for their lives. The wolf just couldn't tear her gaze away.

So... the war had finally come here...

Leah had hoped the fighting would never reach out to scar this beautiful expanse of pristine landscape. The crippling food and supply shortages had already been too much for her to endure already. But here it was... war... perfectly displayed for her to witness in all its brutal glory.

The canine felt a seething anger roil up within, watching silently from alongside the pickup truck. It just wasn't fair. These fighting superpowers had the audacity to tarnish her land with their guns and bullets. They didn't care what happened to her country, only concerning themselves with their enemy. The hatred for what the aircraft above represented was almost blinding.

The thunderous roar of jet engines continued unabated; the combat above was fast and without mercy. Leah suddenly flinched as an explosion emanated just overhead, catching her by surprise. A fighter had taken a direct hit from an enemy missile, bringing about the aircraft's demise in a fiery inferno that swept across the sky. Only fragmented debris was left to plummet onto the ground.

One by one, pilots fell victim to their enemy, some managing to escape their doomed aircraft, others fated to a quick death as their fighters were consumed in powerful explosions.

She didn't know how long she stood there on the side of the snow covered road, staring up into the sky. It only felt like a few seconds however, before suddenly the fighting ceased.

The sky once more stood empty to her sight, as any trace of the dogfight quickly dissipated or fell to the ground. With the passing of combat, the distinctive rumble of jet engines also faded away, again leaving the tranquil quiet of the snowy forest all around her. It was over just as quickly as it had begun.

Leah blinked deliberately, her anger suddenly dissipating. The full gravity of what she had just witnessed finally hit home.

Right before her eyes, pilots had given their lives fighting for the very causes she despised so vehemently. How could someone throw their life away for such a senseless war? These soldiers fought and died for political figureheads who simply watched from the sidelines in safety. Where was the justice in that?

Leah grimaced, and shook her head to rid herself of the dismal thought. She cared not for why the conflict had started, even with her life so deeply affected by it. But even so, she continued staring up silently toward the now empty sky, wondering simply... why?

A new sound greeted the canine's keen ears... soft and almost indistinguishable against the silence of the snowy landscape. She strained to listen.

After a few seconds, the noise became more defined, until the wolf recognized the distinct flutter of fabric flapping in the wind. Just then, the light afternoon breeze wafted something into her field of view right above the tree line.

Leah was surprised to find the unmistakable profile of a parachute just above her head, with the accompanying silhouette of a pilot hanging down beneath. The vibrant orange pattern of the chute was hard to miss against the backdrop of the sky as it slowly descended down toward the ground below.

Before she could get a good look, the pilot disappeared into a stand of trees alongside the road. The subsequent noise of branches snapping just out of her view didn't bode well for his landing.

There was a moment where the grey wolf didn't know what to do.

Leah had no admiration for either side of the war, and despised the fighting superpowers equally. As far as she was concerned, both were equally responsible for the suffering of her country and those that called its borders home. However, that hatred did not extend to the very soldiers that fought and died for their respective causes. They were merely upholding their oaths, and didn't deserve her ire for simply carrying out their duty.

Clearly this pilot had been part of the dogfight she just witnessed, and had ended up on the wrong side of things. And now he could be injured or possibly unconscious after ejecting from his aircraft. Even if he represented the very powers she loathed and despised, there was no question in the wolf's mind what she had to do.

Steeling herself, Leah quickly moved down the road embankment into the adjoining ditch. The deep snow made the trek difficult, her boots getting stuck in deep pockets of snow several times. Only after a few arduous moments of struggling through the white fluff did the canine finally reach the nearby tree line. Once there, she paused just short of entering the foliage to sweep her eyes across the tangled expanse of snow covered branches.

Roughly one hundred meters in, the bright orange coloring of the parachute hung tangled in the trees, easily distinguishable to her sharp eyes. It was a stroke of luck that the pilot had landed so close to the road.

It took Leah roughly a minute to slowly pick her way through the dense foliage toward the downed pilot. Even though there was no reason for him to hold any hostility toward her, it didn't hurt to be cautious. He probably wasn't expecting anyone to suddenly show up in any case; she didn't want to startle him too much.

A muffled curse suddenly reached her sharp ears as she came to a stop behind a large tree trunk. From the strained tone of his voice, it was obvious the pilot was in distress.

Sighing deeply to steady her nerves, Leah rounded the tree, and came across a sight she had not been expecting. The pilot's parachute was indeed snarled up in the thick branches of the tree overhead. However, what caught her by surprise was the jumbled mess he, himself, was caught up in.

Hanging upside down from the tangled bundle of his parachute cords was that of a rather confused dingo. His dark green G-suit, which was adorned with several patches across the front and shoulder arms, identified the fur as a fighter pilot. Moreover, his helmet had already been removed and discarded to the snow, allowing her to take in his striking features.

The dingo hovered above the snow about a foot in the air, supported fully by the parachute cords. While he slowly swung about still reeling from the harsh landing, her gaze was inadvertently drawn toward his russet tail, which hung down limply behind him. Obviously, he had not planned on coming down in such an awkward fashion.

The pilot's ears perked up, as he suddenly realized he wasn't alone. With a sharp intake of breath his head snapped around toward where she stood, the shock of finding her there clearly evident in his striking brown eyes. The abrupt motion caused him to spin slowly in the snare of his parachute cord.

For a moment the two furs merely stared at one another, neither sure what the other would do. The stalemate lengthened, until Leah pursed her lips.

"Please... I'm here to help you," she spoke earnestly, trying to put him at ease with her hands raised before her.

His ears twitched keenly; it was clear he didn't understand her. The adrenaline was still pumping after the harrowing fight that had nearly cost him his life.

"I won't hurt you," Leah spoke again, taking care to keep her voice calm and reassuring. If he couldn't understand her, then she could still try easing the tension with merely her tone. She didn't dare move toward him though, not after taking note of the handgun tucked into a holster at his side.

The dingo's eyes scanned the surrounding woods anxiously, looking for any threats. However, none were to be found. There was only the young grey wolf, who continued to regard him uneasily.

A wave of bewilderment washed over his expression, and then... finally... a moment of resigned clarity, as if the full gravity of his situation had finally hit home. With a heavy sigh, the dingo visibly calmed himself, ears pinning back, eyes screwed shut. When he once more looked toward her, there was nothing but disgrace and humiliation in his eyes.

Leah took note of his shame with a pang of guilt. He was an esteemed fighter pilot, the pinnacle of his nation's military. And now, here he found himself, dangling upside down from a tree in the most humbling of circumstances. The feeling of being so helpless must have been hard for the pilot to cope with. It looked like he just wanted to find a rock to crawl under.

Overcoming her apprehension, Leah moved toward the stricken canine.

He watched her carefully as she approached, his perceptive eyes never leaving her own. For what felt like an eternity, her boots crunched into the snow with each cautious step, seemingly echoing off the surrounding tree trunks in the silence of the forest.

Finally, Leah reached him, bringing about a second of indecision for the grey wolf. Just how was she going to get him free? The jumble of cords was an absolute mess at first glance, and didn't seem like something she could untangle by hand. That left the only option of cutting the lines, although her axe was still back in the bed of the pickup truck.

The dingo suddenly spoke, uttering a curt sentence in his own language. The meaning of his words was lost to her. She could only stare at him in confusion.

Seeing her lack of understanding, the pilot jerked his muzzle up toward his waist, drawing her attention to a small pocket with the hilt of something protruding out the top. It only took her an instant to realize what he wanted her to do.

The utility knife was smaller than she had expected, only designed for general purpose use as opposed to killing someone. It was her understanding the tool was on hand for situations such as the one the dingo found himself in, although having his hands immobilized by the parachute cords made using it difficult. Lucky for him, she had been around.

With care, Leah set about cutting the lines with the knife one by one. The task was made difficult by the fact that his weight was fully suspended by the cords, forcing her to work the blade through the tangled knot in a methodical fashion. In spite of her efforts, frustration quickly got the better of her, resulting in the tool cutting through one too many lines.

The jumbled mess of parachute cords holding the dingo abruptly came loose all at once, provoking a yelp of surprise from the pilot as gravity suddenly reasserted itself with a vengeance. There was no time for him to react, before he plopped down into the snow face-down in a twisted heap, leaving only his tail poking out above the soft white slush. Leah cringed at the forcefulness of his fall.

Yet, she was relieved to see the pilot quickly gather his senses and pull himself up out of the snow to sit down awkwardly on his haunches. With his facial fur covered in the white fluff, he blinked in confusion, trying to make sense of what had just happened.

It was just too much for the grey wolf. As much as she tried not to... she just couldn't suppress the laughter that escaped her muzzle at the sight of the dingo in his disheveled state.

The pilot tilted his head to the side in curiosity, her sudden mirth catching him by surprise. For a moment he simply sat there looking at her, unsure why she found his predicament so funny. But then he turned his gaze down, only to find himself covered almost fully in snow. Just the tiniest smile graced the corners of his muzzle at the discovery.

Together the two furs reveled in the comedy of the moment, serving to break the tension between them. Even with a language barrier, there was still always an opportunity to share a humorous account.

Leah's smile suddenly disappeared as she caught sight of the pilot's patch on his shoulder, which identified the nation he fought for. She realized in that moment that he was down behind enemy lines. A sudden urgency came with this startling realization. She had to get him away from the scene quickly, before the enemy came searching.

"Come on, we need to move," Leah spoke quickly with newfound anxiety.

Her words were met by a puzzled look from the pilot. He had no time to try and guess at what she had just said, as a firm hand came down to quickly grasp his arm and yank him to his paws.

The dingo voiced what seemed to be a surprised question, studying her with a quizzical look. His gaze briefly swept out across the surrounding trees once more, before returning to her.

She responded to his words by motioning with a finger toward the flag patch on the shoulder of his G-suit, and then nodded up toward the parachute still snarled in the branches above them.

He visibly started, comprehending what had caused her sudden anxiety. It was now that his survival training took over, prompting him into action.

With her help, the pilot pulled the chute down from the tree branches, and hid the fabric under a blanket of snow. After the task was complete, he stood and checked his emergency radio and gun, before turning toward Leah once more, as if to ask: now what?

She realized that he didn't know how she had gotten here so quickly; the truck was out of sight from where they stood in the woods as it was. She had already helped him this far...

The dingo uttered a surprised yelp as his arm was seized in her grasp once more. Before he could voice any protest, she quickly led him off toward the nearby road. It was best that they didn't waste any more time.

When the road came into sight, along with the still idling pickup, the pilot realized what her plan was. There was still apprehension in his expression as he followed in her wake through the dense snow, yet the prospect of merely getting away from the crash site was a far more desirable option than spending the night exposed out in the woods.

Once they had reached the snow covered road, Leah guided the pilot over toward the back of her pickup. As luck would have it, there was a fairly large tarp stored in the truck bed, which would be perfect for concealing him. She couldn't very well let the dingo sit in the passenger seat, not without running the risk of someone noticing him as she drove; he would stick out like a sore thumb, and almost certainly attract unwanted attention.

The pilot, for his part, was quick to catch on, and moved to vault himself up over the tailgate. Once she had moved some tools to the side, he then shifted to lie flat, before covering himself with the tarp to fully conceal his form. It certainly wasn't the most comfortable position, but he understood the necessity for keeping a low profile.

Her passenger now safely hidden, Leah shifted her gaze back to the woods from which they had just walked. There were two distinct sets of paw prints in the deep snow. For a moment she hesitated on the verge of going back to conceal the tracks, but then thought better of it. Without the parachute giving away the pilot's landing location, the chance was quite small that search parties would discover the trails, and link them to the tracks of her truck tires.

"Stay down and try not to move," she spoke tersely to the concealed pilot. He may not have directly understood what she said; nevertheless, the tone of her words got the meaning across all the same.

Leah felt a little guilty jumping back into the comfortable cab, although the heater was now a moot point with the windshield missing. Even so, the dingo was still outside in the cold lying down on the hard unforgiving truck bed. Someone had to drive though.

As the truck slowly began to move, she had to wonder just what she was doing. Since the start of the war, she had sworn never to take a side in the fighting. And yet, here she was helping a downed pilot escape from his enemy. Did that mean she had become part of the conflict?

No... that wasn't true. What she was doing was merely helping out a fur in distress. Had he been fighting for the other side, her decision would've been no different. Although, by helping him, she was no longer just a neutral civilian caught up in the war. From now on, she would have to proceed carefully.

Several minutes passed, before the pickup rounded the final bend in the road. It was here that the dirt path opened up into a small clearing, where a humble two story house resided; the wolf's home.

It was a modest residence, situated far away from the hustle of civilization, with only the comforts of electricity and modern plumbing to live by... and that was all Leah really needed to be happy. The normally grassy lawn was now covered in deep snow, leaving only the house itself and picket fence standing above the fluffy white covering. Winter's grasp was indeed strong this year.

Uttering a sigh, Leah carefully maneuvered the truck into its proper spot in front of the small garage, and then killed the engine.

The sudden absence of noise and vibration caused her passenger to stir in the truck bed. Hesitantly, the dingo peeled back a corner of the tarp to peer out, surveying his surroundings.

"It's ok, this is my home," Leah spoke reassuringly, exiting from the truck cab. "You can stay here for now."

Her words, combined with a warm smile, seemed to put the pilot at ease. The dingo sat up further, wincing slightly as sore muscles protested the movement. The bed of the truck had been most unforgiving.

He spoke in reply to the effect of thanking her for her hospitality, returning the wolf's smile with one of his own.

Leah nodded her head and motioned for him to follow her, before turning to wade through the snow toward the door. The prospect of getting indoors to warm up was quite appealing after everything they had both just gone through. The pilot probably shared in that same desire, as he didn't hesitate following in her wake.

Up the front of the house they trudged, passing through the picket fence, and finally, once the wolf had opened the front door, into the comforting warmth of the residence. Once inside, her guest exhaled in relief, making Leah wonder just what was going through his head at that moment.

Simply having a roof over one's head did wonders to improve the odds of survival. Surely he had never expected to end up in such a place after punching out of his aircraft over enemy territory, especially with the local population as sparse as it was.

Watching the vast expanse of forest rise up to meet him on the ensuing parachute ride down must have been one of the most frightening things the fighter pilot had ever experienced, and yet, here he was now in the company of a friendly local, who had decided to open up her house to him as a place of safety. To say that he was lucky was a gross understatement of the grandest proportions.

Leah's ears splayed back slightly as she tried to place herself in the pilot's position. A shiver ran down her spine at the mere thought of it all. Yes... she had made the right decision taking him in under her care.

No one had followed them here as far as she could tell, and the pilot's landing spot was a good five miles up the road. For now, at least, it was safe to relax a little.

Standing just inside the door, Leah removed her bulky winter jacket, and gave a quick shake to ruffle her thick grey fur. With a content sigh, she then turned to regard her guest, only to find his eyes roaming across her newly exposed form approvingly. The heavy coat had done her modest feminine figure no justice.

Panic suddenly overtook the dingo upon catching her gaze. He quickly looked down to study the floor between them sheepishly, uttering an awkward cough in the meantime. A silence took hold, leaving the awkwardness to grow between the two furs. Neither could think of anything to say, not that it would've done any good with the language barrier and all.

They had gotten this far. Now what were they supposed to do?

Finally, Leah couldn't take the discomfort any longer. "Well, let me get you settled in."

His ears perked up at her words, the dingo tilting his head to the side without realizing it. He remained silent though, watching instead as she moved over toward the nearby fireplace.

Embers burned from the proceeding night's fire, still infusing the space in soothing warmth. With a few added pieces of timber, and a little work with the poker, the grey wolf soon coaxed a flame back into existence to the satisfying air of crackling wood. It was far easier to simply let the fire smolder continuously throughout the day as opposed to starting a new one each night.

While she labored, the pilot padded over to stand alongside the nearby couch, admiring her work quietly. When, at last, the fire was properly burning once more, she turned to meet his appreciative smile.

There was a certain rugged charm about him, complemented by a humble and modest air that surprised her. Fighter pilots were supposed to be arrogant, self-righteous bastards, so full of themselves that it was a wonder they could even take off in aircraft with their egos weighing them down... or, at least that was how the movies typically portrayed them. The dingo was anything but that. Since she had met him, he had taken pains not to overstep himself, instead only humbly following her lead.

Leah suddenly realized she was now the one staring awkwardly. A blush welled up beneath her fur at the comprehension.

He didn't seem to notice her discomfort though, or didn't show any outward signs at least. Instead, the dingo motioned with his muzzle toward the inviting cushions of the couch, silently asking her permission if he could sit.

She nodded her head weakly. "Go ahead."

All of the stress seemed to disappear from the pilot's countenance as he plopped down onto the couch with a soft groan, ears pinning back fully, eyes closed. No doubt, it was the first time he had been able to truly relax since entering the cockpit of his doomed aircraft many hours ago.

Leah took possession of a nearby chair, facing the relieved pilot from the opposite side of a small coffee table. Watching him essentially melt into the cushions was enough to bring a mirthful grin to her muzzle. However, she realized with a start that she still didn't know his name.

For almost a minute, the pilot remained there sprawled on the couch, simply relishing the comfort of it all. When he finally did open his eyes once more, he was greeted by the wolf's warm smile. In the ensuing silence, she brought a hand up to motion to herself.

"Leah."

Her name provoked another tilt of the head from her guest, although he caught on quickly. Mimicking her motion, he brought a hand up to rest against the dark green fabric of his G-suit. "Lucas."

"It's nice to meet you, Lucas," the grey wolf replied sincerely. She was surprised to see recognition splay across his expression at her words.

The dingo hesitated a moment, brow furrowing in thought. "Nice... meet you... Leah."

She was taken aback by his reply. So, Mr. Pilot could actually speak a little of her language after all. His sudden triumphant grin elicited a chuckle from the wolf. Before she could see just how much of her language he had mastered though, Lucas gave her a wink and turned his attention to another matter.

Reaching a hand up to one of the pockets of his G-suit, the dingo quickly rummaged around within, until he produced a thick folded slip of paper. While Leah looked on curiously, he then carefully opened the article onto the table between them to present a small detailed map.

The wolf eyed the topographic map keenly, finding herself unable to read the foreign words spread out all across the diagram. However, ignoring all the written information, she could begin to pick up local geographic features. Yes, this was a map of her country.

Leah's gaze was drawn back up toward Lucas. The pilot made a sweeping motion with his hand all around the two canines. "Where... here?" He followed his question by poking the map with a finger.

Rubbing her muzzle thoughtfully, the wolf continued to study the map with her eyes, looking for landmarks she recognized. It only took a few seconds to spot the river that ran a few kilometers south of her house, along with the nearby lake. From there it was only a matter of triangulation.

Picking up a pencil from the coffee table, Leah carefully marked a small X to signify where they currently were.

Lucas grimaced. As she looked on, he took the pencil from her hand and began marking a series of dashed lines near the country border. Once he was done, he then motioned with the eraser to one side of the divide.

When Leah didn't understand right away what he was showing her, the pilot brought his shoulder around and pointed to his country's flag. That finally brought things into perspective for the grey wolf, drawing a small gasp of astonishment from her. Seeing the actual frontline drawn so close to her home surprised Leah deeply. She knew the war was close, as the earlier dogfight had shown. Even so, actually distinguishing where the war zone was on the map had come as a shock.

The wolf's residence was a good fifty kilometers inside enemy held territory. While the frontline was near, it was still much further away than Lucas probably had thought, judging from the way he gazed unhappily at the map.

Leah knew the prospect of him making it back to friendly ground through such an expanse of enemy held territory was not good. Either he would have to wait and hope the front would come to him, or somehow initiate a rescue mission to whisk him back to safety.

Leah knew the dingo was in a tough situation. Thus, she decided right then and there that she would help Lucas in any way she could.

"Wait here," she spoke, moving to stand from her chair.

The pilot shifted on the couch to follow suit, but was stopped by her raised hand. Instead, he fell back onto the cushion with a look of confusion, and remained there as Leah padded over toward the stairs.

Leaving Lucas downstairs, the wolf made her way up into her bedroom, where she paused next to one of the two dressers in the room. A sudden conflict of emotions welled up within her as she stood there, one hand grasping the handle of a drawer. The clothing kept within the dresser had not been touched in almost six months. It had been so long since she had opened it...

Shaking her head, Leah forcefully shoved the painful thought out of mind. Before she could go back on her decision, the wolf yanked the drawer open and quickly procured a set of clothing, taking a moment to shake out the light dust that had accumulated over time. There was a time and a place for her to dwell on the past, and now was not that time.

When Leah returned downstairs, Lucas was no longer sitting on the couch. She found him standing next to the fireplace, admiring a small picture framed above the hearth. As she approached the dingo, he turned to regard her fondly with a smile, and then caught sight of the clothing in her hands.

However, Leah looked past the dingo toward the picture. Within the small frame, two wolves smiled back, holding hands together happily in front of the very fireplace he stood next to. Her own face was easily recognizable, and the other...

Leah's ears splayed back as she moved forward past Lucas to gently place the framed picture face down on the hearth. When she turned back to face him, the look of bewilderment was plain in his expression.

"Here, change into these," she spoke softly, handing the clothing over to Lucas.

The pilot studied the offered outfit, and then turned his gaze back to Leah. She could see the questions forming in his mind. But... he didn't pursue the subject, instead only nodding his head in thanks to her generosity.

The understanding was clear in his eyes though... the picture... the clothing that was too large for the wolf to wear... he didn't have to speak her language to know when a subject was sensitive.

Leah looked back toward the face down picture frame, another surge of conflicting emotions welling up within her. Why did she feel this way?

"You can change into that for now," she spoke, gesturing vaguely to the clothing held in his hand. "I'll be downstairs if you need me. I can't have a broken water heater with a guest in my home, after all."

She left Lucas standing there next to the fireplace, holding the clothing in his hands awkwardly. Not looking back, Leah hurriedly opened the nearby door leading into the basement, and quickly descended down the stairs. She had to find something to busy herself with, to think things over clearly. The broken water heater was the perfect distraction she needed.

For Leah there was no better way to cope with stress than the methodical task of repairing a broken piece of equipment. The chore usually required nothing but logic and systematic troubleshooting, always allowing her time to clear her head. When she just needed a moment to think things through, a little wrench time did wonders.

Never mind the fact that she was leaving a perfect stranger alone upstairs in her house. The pilot seemed like a trustworthy guy though. She had no reason to believe he would do anything to harm her. Perhaps, he wanted some time to gather his own thoughts as well.

Leah had already tried repairing the heater's faulty pilot light the day prior. In spite of her efforts though, fixing the part had turned out to be a lost cause. Nonetheless, the wolf quickly set about trying her luck once more, picking up right where she had left off. Her heart really wasn't in it though.

The pliers in Leah's hands were quickly forgotten, as her thoughts continued to dwell on the dingo. She felt herself drawn to him, and yet, another part of her resisted it. Why were her emotions so conflicted? Lucas was just like any other guy she had met, who just so happened to be a fighter pilot for a foreign country. She hardly knew anything about him. Hell, he had scarcely spoken more than a few words to her since they had crossed paths. But, there was just this charm in his countenance that she couldn't ignore. It reminded her so much of her mate...

The wolf's hands tightened their grip around the pliers at the sound of the basement door opening just above her. She kept her eyes on the broken pilot light, listening with ears swiveled about toward the staircase.

Wood creaked rhythmically to the tune of bare paws contacting each step of the stairway. Still, Leah didn't turn to look.

It was only when she felt the presence of Lucas kneel down next to her that the wolf let her eyes settle on his own once more. The clothing she had given him was just a tad too big, but still seemed to fit comfortably enough. Without the dark green G-suit, his sandy brown fur stood out more prominently, even in the dim light of the basement.

Leah suddenly let out a small gasp, visibly starting as the dingo gently rested a hand on her shoulder. His gaze was kind and understanding. In that moment, she found herself comforted by his sympathy.

"Leah."

He spoke her name soothingly, almost in a whisper.

She could only sit there in awkward silence, lost in his striking brown eyes. She made no move to resist as the dingo carefully gripped the pliers in her grasp. His touch was firm, but considerate, leaving the wolf to stare at her suddenly empty hands in confusion.

With the tool in his possession, Lucas spoke once more in his own language. His words were soft and reassuring to the wolf's ears, the meaning lost to her... yet, understood in a tacit manner; he was asking for her permission to help with the repair.

Surprised by his actions, Leah could only nod slightly in reply, eliciting an amused smile from the dingo. Her approval given, he took his hand from her shoulder and slid himself closer to regard the broken part with an expert eye. The repair at hand was anything but straightforward.

Leah watched as the dingo set about taking apart the pilot light assembly, noting that his hands worked the pliers and accompanying tools with practiced ease. His expression took on a look of concentration, tongue poking out the side of his muzzle, brow furrowed, ears twitching periodically as he worked. She found it all quite fascinating to observe; almost like a student watching the master at work.

For almost an hour, the two furs sat together in the silence of the basement, save for the noise of Lucas's handiwork. No words needed to be said, as both simply enjoyed the company of the other. There was just a relaxing calm about it all, which helped lessen the tension.

When the pilot light was properly installed back into the water heater once more and relit successfully, Lucas stood from where he sat with a groan of effort, loosening stiff muscles with a lengthy stretch. He then reached a hand down to the wolf.

Leah took his offered hand timidly, and felt herself gently pulled to her paws alongside the dingo to regard him fondly; his grin was one of triumph.

She, herself, had thought the job was undoable, and yet Lucas had proven her wrong. The thought of taking a hot bath without the need to boil water over the fireplace was quite appealing to the wolf. She didn't want to know how long it would've taken to fill the tub using such a labor intensive process.

"I must admit I'm surprised you managed to fix that," Leah spoke, the amazement clear in her tone.

Lucas's grin grew wider as he took a cheesy bow, causing the wolf to chuckle. Of course he didn't understand her. Yet the connotation in her voice was clear enough.

Leah gave the pilot a playful look, deciding she had to reward the canine for his work. "I should get dinner cooking." She assumed correctly that he had not eaten since morning. The day was already well into late afternoon, and it wouldn't be long before the sun dipped below the horizon to let night reclaim the countryside.

Turning toward the nearby staircase, she beckoned Lucas to follow with an enticing smile. Times were lean at the moment, and meat was hard to come by, especially beef and pork. However, the grey wolf had managed to buy a sizeable portion of pork roast from the local grocer earlier in the day... and what better excuse was there to cook it than a hungry dingo who had just fixed her water heater?

Lucas watched the wolf as she climbed the stairs back up into the house, her bushy tail swaying about rhythmically with each step. When Leah paused halfway up the staircase to regard him questioningly, the dingo finally snapped out of his daze and moved to follow her, but not before she had caught his eyes roaming across her shapely figure.

Smiling to herself, Leah waited for the pilot to catch up before continuing... he was certainly quite the character.

***************

It was roughly an hour later when the sun finally dropped below the surrounding trees, casting a swath of brilliant hues across the western sky as the day slowly faded into night. Even before evening came, clouds had begun to build across the horizon, hinting at the coming storm that would blanket the landscape throughout the hours to come.

The prospect of harsh weather hardly bothered Leah and her guest though. Within the comforts of the wolf's home, the fire burned strongly in the hearth, bathing the space in soothing warmth. Plenty of wood was readily available to last well into the night and following day; there was nothing to do but settle in for a nice cozy evening.

Dinner had already come and gone, leaving naught but empty plates and dishes atop the table, along with two very satisfied canines. Between the two of them, they had devoured the pork roast entirely, a couple baked potatoes roasted in the fireplace, and a helping of steamed brussel sprouts picked from a local farm... it was a meal fit for a king, although Lucas hadn't thought so initially.

The dingo had eyed the steamed sprouts with a dubious look when Leah first brought them out of the pot. Obviously he didn't think highly of the humble vegetable, and had made a point of leaving his helping untouched, provoking the wolf's indignation. Only after enduring her wicked glare for nearly a minute did he actually try the sprouts.

Much to Leah's satisfaction, Lucas had found them rather delicious, evidenced by how he made short work of what remained on his plate; it was the best compliment he could've given her cooking.

Now with dinner all but a memory, the two canines enjoyed the afterglow of their filling meal in front of the roaring fireplace. As the crackle of roasting wood continued to radiate from the hearth, both Leah and Lucas sat together on the couch, watching the flames dance about in the otherwise prevalent silence of the den.

Meanwhile, the pilot's emergency radio, which had been stored within a pocket of his G-suit, sat on the nearby table, silently listening for any broadcasts that might be sent out for him. Since dinner, the dingo had managed to contact his superiors briefly and inform them of his condition, drastically changing his predicament for the better. Now, his colleagues knew he was alive, and would no doubt begin planning a rescue mission to pull him out from behind enemy lines.

It was Leah's understanding that the dingo had been instructed to stay put where he was and wait for further instructions. She certainly didn't mind the idea of him staying with her longer. The wolf found herself appreciating his company. It had been several long months since she had shared her house with another fur.

With a smile, Leah slowly slid across the cushions of the couch, until she felt herself brush up against the warmth of the dingo. Her sudden closeness took Lucas by surprise. He turned his head to regard her questioningly, meeting her affectionate smile with muzzle half ajar. As Leah snuggled in closer however, he recovered his composure and returned her smile fondly.

She felt his arm carefully move to wrap around her form, allowing the wolf to rest her muzzle comfortably against his chest with a contented sigh.

Everything was just right...

And yet, as much as the two canines wished to forget about the world around them, the war was not that forgiving.

Leah felt the dingo's body suddenly tense up, his sharp intake of breath denoting his heightened alertness.

She sat up alongside him, confused by his sudden change in demeanor. It only took a moment though, before her ears twitched perceptively, quickly picking up the very same sound that had caught Lucas's attention... the unmistakable noise of a diesel engine rumbling toward the house.

There was no time to think.

In a rush, Leah bolted to her paws, pulling on Lucas's shirt sleeve as she did so. It was obvious from his horrified look that he had come to the same realization as she had.

The dingo quickly followed her lead and managed to grab his radio and gun. When he hesitated, she forcefully guided him toward the nearby staircase, and practically pushed him up the steps.

There were not many places to hide someone in the house. His best bet was to take shelter upstairs, where the windows allowed for a quick escape route out onto the bordering roof. From there, the adjoining tree line offered a good means of getting away without being noticed. She just had to make sure he wasn't discovered.

Hearing the vehicle pull up next to the house, Lucas paused on the first step of the staircase, and gazed back toward the wolf. The look in his eyes was clear... he didn't want to leave her alone to face this.

But Leah had already made up her mind. "Go!"

He wavered a second longer, grimacing as the sound of the diesel engine cut off outside. Finally though, the dingo realized he really had no other choice, and nodded gravely before bolting upstairs. There was nothing he could do but place his full trust in Leah.

The wolf watched Lucas silently until he disappeared up the stairs. Satisfied that he was now out of sight, she then padded toward the nearby front door, unsure of what awaited her on the other side.

Looking through the peephole, Leah couldn't see what was going on outside in the darkness. Yet, there was definitely someone there, judging by the commotion she could hear.

A group of shadows morphed into the wolf's view through the peephole, appearing spookily out of the darkness. She pulled back just as a firm knock rapped from the other side of the door, almost startling a yelp out of her.

This was it...

Steeling herself, Leah undid the locks, and slowly eased the door open to let the interior light shine out into the darkness.

There were six of them, all soldiers in uniform, each armed with a weapon. The first, a husky, stood in front of the others, and only carried a handgun holstered at his side. He wore a smile that appeared affable at first glance, yet upon closer inspection, carried with it a cold professional air. Leah found the soldiers behind him much more frightening.

The remaining group of five each carried a menacing assault rifle in hand, although they took care to keep the business end of their weapons pointed down away from her. Only one of them, a wolf with fur as black as the night that surrounded the soldiers, kept his eyes on her, while the others appeared somewhat bored.

Leah felt a cold chill run down her spine at the wolf's unwavering gaze, which sized her up shrewdly. His golden eyes almost glowed, seemingly looking right into her soul. She felt herself wanting to shrink away from his presence.

The husky cleared his throat politely, drawing Leah's attention back to him. "Good evening ma'am."

She was surprised to hear him speak her own language so fluently. His uniform identified him as part of the opposing military to Lucas, but he didn't have the qualities of a common soldier. Leah correctly assumed that he was some sort of translator.

"I'm sorry to disturb you this evening," the husky continued. "I just need to ask you a few questions."

Leah's eyes momentarily settled on the black wolf, who continued to scrutinize her silently. "I wasn't expecting any... visitors tonight."

"Unfortunately, we've been asked to question everyone in the local area," the translator spoke, nodding his head over toward the wolf behind him. It was clear now that the other canine was the ranking officer of the group. "Were you out driving this afternoon?"

Leah held her gaze on the husky. "Yes, I went into town for some supplies. Took me several hours."

At her reply, the translator turned back to the officer. For a brief moment they conversed in their own language, until the husky once more regarded her.

"Did you notice anything in the sky during this time?" he asked next, keeping up the line of questioning.

"It was hard not to. There was a skirmish of fighter aircraft directly above me on the way back."

The translator nodded his head. "Ah... well, it is our understanding that at least one enemy pilot ejected somewhere over this region. Did you happen to see any parachutes during that time?"

Leah managed to keep her expression neutral, feigning ignorance. She could feel Lucas's eyes on the back of her head. "No... I watched the sky for some time but didn't see anything after the fighting was over."

Again, the husky conversed with the officer, and then once more returned his attention to Leah. His expression was unreadable, putting her on edge.

In the intervening silence, she decided to take a chance. "Why must you bother me with this nonsense? I have no love for your country or the other side." She leveled a finger at the husky, her sudden flash of anger putting him on guard. "This war is meaningless. You fight against one another, and only my nation and its furs suffer as a result!"

The husky brought his hands up defensively, trying to calm her. "Please... we're just looking for this downed pilot by checking with the locals to see if they've seen anything."

Leah was undaunted. Her fury was genuine, even if what she said wasn't entirely true. "I don't care! You bastards bring this war to my doorstep, and then have the nerve to ask me for help? No... I refuse to help you, and I refuse to help your enemy as well. You can all burn in hell for all I care!" She took a step forward, no longer afraid of the soldiers' weapons. "Now... get off my land."

The translator opened his muzzle to respond, but stopped short of words. He looked back toward the officer for help.

Leah's brash words had actually broken the wolf's poise, his unwavering glare momentarily faltering. Even though he had no grasp of her language, her tone made things crystal clear; she would be of no help to them.

A tense quiet prevailed between the two sides and lengthened.

Recovering his professional composure quickly, the officer spoke in a crisp and short manner. At his order, the other infantrymen snapped into action, and systematically filed off the porch of the house toward the nearby parked military transport.

The black wolf stayed though, allowing the translator to move past him to follow the others. His eyes remained squarely on Leah's own, piercing and unyielding once more.

In spite of him, she returned his regard resolutely, never faltering.

Finally, the officer pivoted about on his paws and moved toward the truck, leaving Leah standing in silence on the porch.

She watched, frozen in place, as his outline very nearly disappeared into the night. Quickly thereafter, the vehicle's diesel engine rumbled to life once more, and, with tail lights casting an eerie glow against the surrounding tree shadows, the truck swiftly vanished into the night.

Leah stood for several minutes on the empty porch, listening to the fading noise of the vehicle's engine, until once more the silence of the night reclaimed the landscape. Only then, did the wolf breathe a heavy sigh of relief. What the hell had she been thinking?

Leah had challenged a group of armed soldiers, each more than capable of killing her with the mere pull of a trigger. There were so many ways that could have ended badly; however, in the end, her risky strategy had worked. Thank God the soldiers had shown some restraint. She had been reckless to say the least.

With a light sprinkle of snow beginning to fall in the night, the grey wolf turned and moved back inside her house, happy to once more be out of the cold.

A storm was coming, and Leah knew it wouldn't be long before it overtook her.

***************

That night, sleep didn't come easily. What felt like hours of tossing and turning underneath the covers ultimately ended in frustration for the grey wolf; there was just too much on her mind.

Sighing in defeat, Leah sat up in her bed. The storm outside was now raging in its full fury, pelting the nearby window with a vicious wind. It was almost like a monster was trying to force its way into the room, to envelop her in a suffocating cloud of bitter cold. The thought alone, made her shudder in discomfort.

It had been several hours since the sudden visit by the foreign soldiers on her doorstep. After those tense few moments, Leah had found herself unable to relax. Together with Lucas, she had ended up huddling next to the fireplace, listening anxiously for any possible sounds that would herald the enemy's return.

Mercifully, no more vehicles had come; and now with winter baring its full might, there was no chance of any unexpected visitors, at least until the next morning.

Even so, neither Leah nor Lucas had been put at ease by the thought. The hours had come and gone in almost complete silence, until finally Lucas had managed to convey the fact that he was tired and wished for sleep.

Leah had obliged accordingly without hesitation, setting up the couch as a makeshift bed for the dingo. Sleep had seemed like a good idea to her as well, yet retreating upstairs to follow his example had proved futile.

The howling wind continued to hammer against the bedroom window as Leah slowly brought herself to her paws. In the darkness of the room she felt a pang of fear well up... the thought of being alone unnerved her.

Leah shook her head, surprised at herself. Of course the emotion was irrational; she had lived on her own for several months. Besides, what harm could a simple snowstorm do? Only pups were afraid of such nonsense.

Sighing, the wolf decided to head downstairs. She certainly wasn't getting any sleep at this rate. Perhaps, she could find a chore to keep her mind off things.

Taking a moment to straighten her nightgown, Leah made her way out toward the staircase. The hollow echo of the violent storm outside reverberated throughout the ceiling rafters. However, the fireplace continued to burn on downstairs, keeping the chilling cold at bay outside.

Coming to stand at the top of the staircase, the wolf watched the flames of the fire flicker about within the hearth down below. She had to smile at the sight of Lucas's tail dangling over the side of the couch, which faced away from her toward the fireplace. At least one of them had managed to find sleep.

Ever so carefully, Leah tiptoed down the steps, trying her best not to make any noise. When she reached the bottom, Lucas came into full view; she was surprised to find him wide awake. His eyes stared into the fireplace emptily, the dingo appearing lost in thought. He didn't even notice her presence next to the couch.

Leah didn't know what to do. She couldn't help but let her eyes roam across his body, which stood bare save for the pair of shorts she had given him. His sandy brown fur, interrupted by a prominent swath of white down his chest and stomach, was quite distinctive, flowing in line with the contours of the dingo's physique.

Leah finally uttered a polite cough, nearly causing Lucas to jump out of his fur with a startled curse. Twisting about, he found her standing next to the couch in nothing but her nightgown. The surprise on his face was met by her cheeky smile.

For a moment, the two canines regarded one another... until Leah made the first move.

She had no idea what came over her.

"Leah?"

The dingo's question was ignored.

With deft skill, she slid herself into his lap to straddle his waist, her golden eyes full of lustful mischief.

Lucas's muzzle hung ajar in shock, eyes wide with surprise. He watched as the wolf traced a finger across the fur of his stomach, gently circling the subtle curves of his abs.

Blinking deliberately, he opened his mouth to speak, but was silenced by a gentle touch of the wolf's finger against the tip of his muzzle. To her amusement, he actually went cross-eyed for a brief instant.

Leah held him at her mercy, overcome by a surge of raw excitement. The simmering passion that had slowly intensified over the day now burned as bright as the vibrant flames within the fireplace hearth. She just couldn't resist it any longer...

The wolf pushed Lucas back down onto the cushions with a forceful hand, her countenance one of a predator cornering its prey. Their muzzles hovered just inches apart.

He whispered her name, feeling her supple feminine form press enticingly against him. In that breathtaking moment, Leah met his lips in a passionate kiss.

The dingo tensed up beneath her as her maw close around his own. She gave herself to Lucas, revealing her true desire to be with him. She wanted nothing else. He hesitated only an instant, before wrapping his hands around her. The dingo's muzzle parted as he melted into the kiss, tongue wrestling fervently with her own.

Leah reveled in his intimacy; her senses reeled from the pure passion of the moment... the warmth of his body that penetrated through her clothing and fur, the feel of his own soft fur yielding to her roaming hands, the sensual taste of his maw as their kiss lingered in the throes of bliss... she never wanted it to end.

Leah felt herself slowly guided down onto her back, their zealous embrace never faltering. The prey had become the predator...

The dingo loomed over her, his touch dominating, yet compassionate and gentle. Uttering a murr of approval, Leah pulled him down closer against her, submitting herself to his will. Oh... how she had missed the intimate feel of another upon her heated body.

Their impassioned kiss finally broke, both canines rendered breathless.

Leah felt a tug at the bottom hem of her nightgown. Panting softly with arousal, she let Lucas slowly guide the fabric up and over her head, exposing more of her multifaceted grey fur to the fire's light. Her lace bra quickly followed suit, done away by expert hands to join the nightgown in a heap on the nearby floor.

Leah gasped quietly, feeling the dingo gently cup her exposed breasts... massaging the supple flesh within his loving grasp. The wolf's back arched against the cushions of the couch, nipples growing wonderfully hard beneath his kneading fingers. His touch was absolutely delightful, teasing her so perfectly; she could do nothing but writhe about, caught up in her growing arousal.

However, Lucas's hands suddenly released their hold on her tortured breasts. His pause elicited a pitiful whimper of need from the wolf beneath him, as she looked up to meet his charming brown eyes.

Lucas's gaze was clouded with lust, hungry to explore her lithe physique more. But he held back. In that moment, he asked wordlessly for Leah's permission to proceed. His sudden courtesy caught her by surprise.

Smiling, the wolf leaned up to affectionately lick his muzzle, giving herself to his desire. It was all the encouragement Lucas needed.

Their lips met once more in a brief fervent kiss, before he slowly slid himself down Leah's shapely form.

Panting, she watched in hungry anticipation as Lucas lightly grasped the hem of her underwear, and pulled the clothing down her slender legs, being mindful of the wolf's elegant tail. The troublesome undergarment was soon tossed to the side and quickly forgotten, leaving Leah's fur fully bare against the flickering light of the fireplace.

Lucas drank in her naked beauty, licking his chops with newfound excitement. As he kneeled above the prone wolf, Leah's eyes drifted down to his tented pants, which strained to keep the male's growing arousal at bay; an exhilarating shiver ran down her spine...

The dingo followed her gaze downward, and smiled sheepishly. Doing away with pomp and circumstance, he swiftly set about undoing the button and zipper of his pants, before standing alongside the couch to slide the clothing down his legs, along with the underwear beneath.

Leah gasped softly, catching sight of the dingo's fully nude physique for the first time. His tapered malehood stood fully erect out of the sheath, throbbing rhythmically with his heightened arousal. Her pulse quickened at the anticipation of having that wonderful knotted erection buried within her completely. Leah uttered a soft feral growl of need... he certainly was gifted.

Spurred on by her seductive invitation, Lucas rejoined the grey wolf on the couch, sliding himself gently atop her. He paused only long enough to tenderly grace each of her sensitive nipples with a kiss, making Leah squirm beneath him at the tickly sensation, before the dingo's eyes found hers once more.

"Please..."

The wolf's breathless words were cut off by Lucas's muzzle pressing hungrily into her own. Their bodies ground against one another, hands roaming freely about.

A stroke of the dingo's throbbing length against her inner thigh sent a rush through Leah. The wolf spread her legs further apart, trying to bring him closer. The desire to mate was overwhelming... she wanted him inside her now!

Lucas had other plans...

Her eyes suddenly went wide, feeling his hand brush ever so slightly against the bare flesh of her sex. Instinctively, she arched her hips, and was rewarded with another sensual stroke of his fingers, drawing a heady moan of delight from the wolf.

His touch was insistent, dancing across her outer folds, occasionally parting her lips ever so slightly. Leah growled once more into their kiss, voicing her growing impatience. She couldn't take much more of his teasing.

Suddenly, Lucas plunged a digit into the wolf, drawing a sharp intake of breath from her. He met little resistance, as Leah's arousal coated the fur of his hand. He added a second, thrusting his fingers as deep into her quivering folds as he could.

Leah's body went rigid, her back curving at the sudden pleasurable assault. She broke the kiss and pulled him closer, resting her muzzle against the nook of his shoulder, imploring Lucas to continue.

The dingo never relented, his invading digits repeatedly thrusting into her sex. All the while, his malehood continued to rustle the fur of her inner thigh, just begging to satisfy her burning itch to mate. Yet, he continued to torment her so cruelly... well, two could play at this game.

Lucas abruptly shuddered as the wolf brushed a finger across his canine erection. She quickly returned his favor in kind, caressing a hand along the sensitive flesh of his length more forcefully. The dingo groaned softly above her, his body tensing as each sensual stroke brushed against his partially swollen knot.

Grinning to herself, Leah seized his length in her grasp, and wrapped her fingers around the base of his knot... a canine's weakest point. His helpless groan above her filled the wolf with satisfaction as she ruthlessly squeezed and pumped, grinding against his sensitive flesh.

She could feel his knot begin to swell, signifying the male's heightening pleasure. He panted, eyes unfocused, yet he still strained to bury his own fingers within her tormented folds, bringing her closer to her own peak.

Together they pleasured one another, the slick and sloppy sounds of their foreplay mingling with the canines' subdued cries of pleasure. Their passion quickly intensified, heralding the inevitable conclusion both furs so desperately sought... until.

"Leah..."

The dingo's voice was strained, almost a whisper. He spoke again disjointedly in his own language as he pulled away from her, trying to find words between breathless pants.

Leah's ears folded flat, afraid she had done something wrong. However, he finally managed an overwhelmed smile, putting her back at ease. He had been right on the brink, and didn't want to ruin what was to come...

Slowly, the dingo slid himself off the couch, gently drawing Leah by the arm to join him atop the plush throw rug situated just before the fireplace. She let herself be guided by his caring touch, until she knelt beside him, gazing into his eyes fondly.

Their muzzles met briefly in one last kiss, before Leah turned away to stand on all fours, presenting her hindquarters to the dingo. She let her instincts guide her, flagging her tail to the side, displaying her arousal to the eager male behind. She could feel his hungry eyes upon her form.

Lucas's hands wrapped around her waist as the dingo moved himself forward and gently pushed her legs further apart. His warmth permeated through her fur, sending a shiver of anticipation down her spine.

Leah stifled a gasp, feeling the male's tapered tip gently come to rest against her slightly puckered lips. Her breath quickened, ears splaying back with anxious expectation. Time seemed to stand still around the two canines.

Wrapping his arms tighter around her waist, Lucas rocked his hips forward, claiming the grey wolf's sex for his own. Her muzzle fell open with a sharp intake of breath, feeling the canine's tapered length slip into her aroused folds... it had been far too long since she had last been taken by a male.

Lucas restrained his feral desires, instead moving gradually, making sure not to provide Leah any discomfort. Her sex squeezed his length mercilessly, inundating both canines with pure unadulterated ecstasy as he slowly thrust deeper.

The dingo's hips were soon flush with Leah's, his length buried so perfectly within the wolf's sex. He held himself there, panting, allowing her to adjust to his intimacy. Leah simply couldn't take it any longer...

She looked over her shoulder, tongue lolled out sideways, eyes full of untamed hunger. "Please... don't hold anything back!"

Lucas's ears twitched, the dingo taken by surprise at her sudden wild appearance. He didn't have to understand her language to know what she wanted. The passion in her golden eyes was unmistakable.

He growled approvingly, and pulled his hips back, slipping his rock hard erection from her wonderful sex. The sudden emptiness provoked a desperate whimper from Leah. Yet, her dissatisfaction lasted only an instant, before Lucas submitted to his baser instincts, and proceeded to fuck her with reckless abandon.

His hips surged forward, smashing against the wolf's haunches, jerking Leah's head back as she uttered a surprised yelp. The dingo buried his malehood fully within her, stretching her wide magnificently.

Lucas never relented, drawing quickly back to thrust powerfully forward once more, scraping the tapered tip of his length against the sensitive inner folds of the wolf's quivering sex. His pace increased steadily, furry balls slapping against her clit on each powerful stroke.

Waves of pleasure washed over Leah's awareness, feeling the canine's cock slam into her with such raw intensity. She panted arduously, overwhelmed by the sheer passion of their mating, unable to do anything but ride out the male's rhythmic onslaught.

The fire continued to burn brightly beside the two mating canines, reflecting the fiery passion of their coupling. The snowstorm... the war... all was forgotten as the world fell away around them.

The dingo's knot quickly expanded, his rapid thrusts never letting up. Uttering a heady groan of delight, Leah found herself pushing back against the male's plunges, grinding the swelling bulge powerfully against her tortured outer lips. The desire to feel his knot wedged firmly within her was overwhelming.

Lucas intensified his effort, pounding against the wolf's abused haunches with newfound vigor. The raucous slurping and sucking of their mating resounded throughout the room, building steadily with his increasing efforts to tie with Leah.

Suddenly, the dingo rammed forward with everything he had, and finally shoved his swollen length into Leah's abused folds. Her sex gripped his erection like a vise, locking the canines together perfectly, heightening the sensual pleasure of their coupling.

He pulled himself closer to Leah, thrusting his malehood in quick, frenzied plunges, the canine's knot holding him firmly within her. His hips were a blur, his motion becoming frenzied.

Lucas's grunts grew louder and more strained; the dingo leaned over her form as his peak rapidly approached.

Leah felt herself pushed closer toward an unseen ledge with every wild thrust of the male above her. The wolf's body hungered for his release, squeezing his knot ruthlessly. Her breath came in quick labored pants. There was only the ever present rush of bodily pleasure, which threatened to overwhelm her.

Her breath suddenly caught; the edge of the cliff loomed directly before the wolf. Leah could only hold on, ears pinned back, lips curled upward in a silent snarl... it was too much!

Lucas suddenly tensed up above her, his arms squeezing tighter around her waist, almost lifting Leah off the floor. With a raspy growl, the dingo bucked his hips wildly against her haunches, his peak overtaking him in an overpowering rush.

The male's knotted erection jerked powerfully, shooting thick jets of his potent seed deep into Leah's heated folds, sending the wolf careening over the edge. Tilting her head back, she howled, overcome by the tidal wave of ecstasy that washed through her. The intense euphoria drowned out her surroundings, leaving naught but the two mating canines.

Leah's sex rhythmically squeezed the dingo's length, coaxing more of his cum from his furry balls. Her howl rapidly faded into a pitiful whimper as she felt Lucas shudder uncontrollably above her.

Together the two canines savored the euphoric ecstasy of their release, caught up in the pinnacle of it all. The intense waves of pleasure seemed unending to Leah, as she felt the dingo slowly rock his hips against her trembling form, still filling her sex with his wonderful seed. She wished the moment could last a lifetime.

After what felt like a blissful eternity, Lucas's body relaxed, until he finally went motionless above her. Both furs fought to catch their breath, panting strenuously, tongues lolled out. The afterglow of their coupling hung over the tied canines like a soothing blanket.

It was Lucas who made the first move, carefully guiding the two of them down sideways onto the plush throw rug. Using the front of the couch as a backrest, he pulled the wolf closer against him, allowing them to both watch the flames continue their endless dance within the nearby hearth.

Leah savored the satisfying feel of Lucas's knotted erection lodged completely within her, still throbbing weakly from his ebbing climax. His labored breath wafted across her sensitive ear as she shifted herself for a more cozy position. Simply feeling the dingo nuzzled up behind her... it was comforting, just to have someone to share a wonderful experience with once more.

With a peaceful silence taking hold, Leah felt her eyes begin to grow heavy. Sleep tugged at her awareness.

Sighing deeply, she rested her muzzle on the dingo's arm and closed her eyes.

She never wanted him to leave...

***************

"Leah!"

...

"Leah!"

The second callout jolted the grey wolf awake. With a start, she bolted up to sit upright, finding herself still on the plush rug before the fireplace, the fire now nothing more than embers. Daylight bathed the living space in ample light... morning had come already?

Leah suddenly noticed the absence of Lucas next to her. Her eyes darted about in a panic, quickly finding the dingo standing nearby fully dressed. Something was wrong...

The pilot's pistol was holstered at his side, while he held his emergency radio in a hand. He wore a worried look, putting the wolf on guard.

"What's wrong?" Leah asked, swiftly getting to her paws. She didn't care that she was still wearing nothing but her fur.

The tone of the wolf's question was not lost on Lucas. Her concern was plain to see.

He hesitated a moment, and then spoke frantically. When Leah cocked her head to the side in puzzlement, showing her lack of understanding, he visibly started, as if suddenly remembering that she didn't speak his language.

Lucas spoke again, this time gesturing to the radio. He then spun his free hand around quickly in a circular manner, before pointing out toward the snow covered field through the nearby window.

With a sharp intake of breath, Leah realized what the dingo was trying to say... his colleagues were coming for him.

Her assumption was verified as the radio crackled to life, broadcasting a grainy voice that spoke in the pilot's language. Lucas listened intently for a brief moment until the channel went dead, and then uttered a short contrite reply. Even though his voice was calm and professional, the nervousness was easy to see.

Leah tore her gaze away from the dingo, unsure what to do. In the ensuing silence, she resolved to find some clothing.

She left Lucas standing next to the hearth and quickly ascended the steps toward her bedroom. She could feel his gaze upon her as she climbed the staircase, but the wolf didn't dare look back.

Once upstairs, Leah found herself rummaging through her dresser halfheartedly, her thoughts caught up in a turmoil of emotions.

She didn't want to see Lucas go. The thought of losing him was utterly painful to think about. He had filled a part of her life so perfectly that had been empty for some time. He had given Leah a close relationship she could cherish once more.

And yet, the wolf knew she had no right to keep him from his duty as a military soldier. Lucas was fighting for a cause he believed in, and she couldn't interfere no matter how much her heart wanted her to. The best thing she could do was help him escape to fight another day, emotions be damned.

Besides, she had only known him for one day, and they didn't even speak the same language. And... in that time she had raised tail and mated with the dingo. Had she been too rash?

No... there was an affability in Lucas that she felt herself drawn toward. In the time they had spent together, she had been truly happy. The wolf wanted to stay with him, to grow closer to him. The notion of him leaving felt like the last missed opportunity for her to push past the horridness of that fateful day several months ago... an opportunity she would never be given again.

The war, and by extension life itself, had no sympathy for Leah though. It was her own fault for allowing herself to get so close to him, full well knowing that the pilot couldn't stay with her. She had let her feelings cloud her judgment, and now she would pay the price for that mistake.

Several minutes later, Leah returned downstairs fully dressed. She found the dingo staring emptily out a window, his back turned toward her. Sighing, she shoved her feelings aside, and moved to join him.

Neither canine said anything as they both looked out into the snowy landscape beyond the window. The storm that had raged overnight had added quite a few inches to the snowfall already on the ground. Leah didn't know how long they remained there in silence, nor did she care. In that moment, everything was just right.

The radio abruptly crackled to life once more. The graininess that had been quite evident with the earlier communications was now far less pronounced, signifying that the transmission source was close by. Leah didn't have to understand what was spoken between Lucas and the voice on the other end to know that it was time for him to go.

When the radio cut off, the dingo turned to regard her. His expression was awash in conflicting emotions.

"Leah..." He moved to embrace the wolf, wrapping his arms gently around her, pulling her close. "Thank you."

Hearing him speak in her own language was just too much for her. She buried her head against his shoulder and hugged him back, hoping she never had to let go.

Yet, the wonderful moment couldn't last forever. Steeling herself, Leah slowly pulled away from him, and stared dismally at the floor between them. She heard the dingo sigh deeply, wavering... but then he turned and moved away from her.

Leah looked up and watched as Lucas paused at the door, a hand resting on the handle. He stood there motionless. There was nothing but dead silence...

The dingo's pointy ears perked up keenly, causing Leah's to do the same. At first there was nothing... until the faintest noise could be heard emanating from outside.

Leah's ears twitched, trying to determine what she was hearing. The sound was rhythmic, a low and guttural pulse that continued to grow louder. Soon she could discern the unmistakable resonance of rotor blades slicing through air... a helicopter.

Sighing once more, Lucas opened the door, allowing a rush of cold air to sweep into the house. As he stepped through the threshold, Leah found herself following, to emerge out into the wintery landscape.

The two canines stood on the porch of the house, searching the surrounding sky for any sign of the approaching helicopter. The thumping of rotor blades had grown quite perceptive. It sounded like the aircraft was almost directly on top of them.

Leah let out a startled gasp as the helo suddenly raced into view directly over the tree line, scant meters above the highest branches. The helicopter was huge, far larger than she had been expecting... the damned thing looked like a bird of prey, and was at least the size of a city bus!

The helo banked hard over the open field, rapidly bleeding off airspeed as it set up to land a few hundred meters from where the two canines stood.

A new sound suddenly caught the attention of Leah. Her ears instinctively swiveled about to the source, which was barely audible above the roar of the helicopter turbines. It was a diesel engine... that could only mean one thing!

Leah whirled about toward the nearby road, just as a military truck rolled into view slogging through the thick snow. She was almost sure it was the same vehicle from last night. This was not good...

The dingo uttered a curse beside her, drawing Leah's gaze back to him. Their eyes met in that instant.

Lucas stole a quick glance back to the helo, which was still in the process of landing. He knew full well what would happen to her if he left the wolf behind. There was only one thing he could do.

Leah yelped as the dingo suddenly seized her by the arm, and forcefully pulled her behind him as he started out into the snowy field. She could do nothing but try to keep her balance.

The new snowfall made their progress difficult. Behind them, the sound of the diesel engine grew louder, putting more haste in their steps.

The helo loomed large before the two canines as it set down into the snow, kicking up a flurry of white spray with its rotor wash. Inside, Leah could make out several fatigue-clad soldiers, who quickly disembarked from the rear loading ramp to set up a perimeter.

There was shouting now behind the wolf, what sounded like orders. The fur on the back of her neck stood on end. Still, she didn't look back, only concentrating on keeping up with Lucas.

The soldiers positioned around the helo suddenly brought their rifles to bear on the unseen targets behind Leah. Menacing flashes of light exploded from the barrels of their weapons, lancing volleys of fire down range to suppress the advancing enemy. Her keen ears picked up the distinct hissing of each bullet whizzing by.

The report of rifle fire stirred up behind Leah. Shots began zinging by in the opposite direction, intending to kill her. The wolf's mind screamed to keep moving... safety was only a few meters away!

Leah's vision tunneled in on the helicopter ramp as the swirling mass of snow from the rotors enveloped her. The firefight exploded all around; she could see bullets impacting into the aircraft's hull... she wanted to dive for cover. Yet, the firm grasp of Lucas's hand on the wolf's arm kept her going. They were almost there!

Leah was very nearly thrown into the helo as they finally reached the ramp. She had no time to think, instead throwing herself to the deck. The dingo quickly fell on top of her, protecting her from harm as the soldiers around them swiftly ran back into the helicopter.

There was a sudden upward surge, which pinned Leah to the floor of the aircraft, and then... the sound of gunfire slowly faded away, replaced instead by the ever-present whir of the helo's engines.

Leah panted strenuously from a mix of exhaustion and fear as she felt Lucas remove himself from atop her body. When the wolf finally managed to sit up, she was greeted by the curious regard of the very soldiers that had just saved her life. Obviously, they had not expected Lucas to bring a passenger along.

Leah looked over and watched as the dingo conversed tersely with what she figured was the crew chief of the aircraft. It was quickly apparent they were discussing her presence aboard, evidenced by how the German shepherd motioned to her as he spoke.

However, Lucas held his ground, and the officer soon relented. With the argument apparently settled, the pilot then turned his attention to Leah with a weak smile.

His offered hand to her was accepted with her own grateful smile, allowing the dingo to pull Leah to her paws. She soon found herself guided over toward a canvas seat to sit in disbelief. Only now was the wolf realizing what had just happened.

Leah had just abandoned her house, and most likely her country, to flee for her safety. All of her memories, all of the years she had spent growing up in that quiet corner of the European countryside, she had left it all behind.

The fear that Leah felt stir up within her was suddenly gone, as Lucas took the seat next to her and tenderly wrapped an arm around the wolf, allowing her to snuggle up close to him. While the helicopter raced westward toward a great unknown, she uttered a relieved sigh, and closed her eyes, smiling once more.

Her future was all but uncertain. Yet, one thought put the wolf at peaceful ease.

She would never be alone again...