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After I recovered from my initial shock I transferred the ribbon from its previous page to the one with the locket and my piano and placed the book on the shelf again. I then went to wash up with a really quick shower. I didn't want time to think, but that plan failed when I left my sanctuary and got to the floating platforms. They are the quickest way through Concord, but Concord is so big that it gives you too much time to think. My mind kept going back to the locket around my neck, what it had to do with my piano. Normally I would have shrugged this kind of thing off, except for Charles last words. I knew what he meant by Key now, but Secret? It has something to do with our cruxes.

I grabbed onto the railing of the platform and leaned over it, looking for an answer from the trees and wildlife growing in the main entry way. I disappeared down another "crystal tube" and shot out into a gigantic ball room, mirrors staggered across the room with elegantly painted walls, with complex designs. Charles had convinced me to dance with him in this room, for the first time since I got off the pole. Can that even be considered dancing, on the pole I mean?

I shook my head, dismissing the memories I had in the Raised Tail, but it seemed to only unlodge one specific memory from the Raised Tail. One of the other "dancers", the one that actually cared about me, the one I had a relationship with before I just sort of...left. Before all the complexities of the Vale, I never did say goodbye to him.

"Jace, don't go. This guy is...bad." He was one of the few people that could actually see Charles in the place; he was actually the one that pointed him out to me.

"Brad it's ok. I can defend myself, and I think I...know him." Brad's slitted eyes widened, he knew I didn't have my memories. Brad was a black gecko with yellow spots all over his back and round muzzle, his underbelly a soft cream color. He didn't have much muscle, just a full slender body, his appeal isn't really his body, but what he can do with it. He has got to be the most flexible guy I know, and he really knew how to dance. He could dance circles around anyone and I mean anyone. He was the first one I had ever trusted after I came out of the Vale. We even had some meaningless, and I assure you, amazing sex. Looking back, I didn't really leave him the way I should, without even another word.

Later I learned that Brad was Vale seer, but he didn't even know, and the only reason he didn't like Charles was because seer's usually get a dark feeling when Vallings are around. Vale sight is more common with reptilian animals, like Brad, and Max's "lover" as he calls her.

"Ok, but if you don't show up for your shift tomorrow night...I'll call you in." meaning I had twenty four hours to call him and tell him I'm all right. I think I missed my deadline by about five years late. Why was I remembering him now? I thought about Brad and how I left him, standing in the back alleyway behind the Raised Tail illuminated by red florescent lights. He was left with a promise that was destined to be broken, I never even called him, as a matter of fact I deleted him from my contacts only a week after on my cell and a week later I changed my number.

If I could go back and change how I did, Brad probably would have been with us right now, in Concord, not as a Valling, but as a guest. Vallings can have seers in Concord if they get permission from the Three first. That probably would have been a dream come true for Brad, he was so in love with fantasy, practically begged me to play his trading card game with him, and he could draw, not as good as Charles, he was more of the painter. He had a few ink paintings in his room in the apartment we shared of wolves, probably me, and others of nude lizard women covering their "parts" with their arms. That's the thing about Brad, he was one hundred present gay, but he liked boobs. Boobs have to be one of my least favorite parts of a woman, sure they feel good, but...they serve no purpose in being so big.

I rolled my eyes, now my mind can wander off of the regret of Charles, but then onto other regrets, and boobs. Ugh!

I had reached the back of the practically empty hall, some furs scrubbing the floors, moving and shifting the water in tendrils to get in-between the tiles of the complex mosaics of the floor designs. Yah, you know how back in the Chamber of the Three Skyla "passed" Sinew. Well, if you don't "pass", the Three make you live in Concord doing simple chores and making weapons and other necessities for Vallings outside of Concord instead of doing Vale missions outside of Concord, like me. Some are even masters of some magical arts and help train other Vallings. I would never be able to do that, I would go stir crazy. It may be an opulent one, but Concord would become a prison.

I was put into another tunnel, you may be thinking if this is the only way through Concord, no, there are thousands of hallways and elegant rooms between large ones that you can walk through. The platforms are just faster. I was coming to the Grand Dining Room and it was almost exactly Six, I had spent too much time going crazy in my sanctuary, I wanted to get there a few minutes early. Then I shot out of the tunnel, hundreds of other platforms flying around me. Some filled with ten or more furs and some completely empty heading for the raised platform were they all eventually go until summoned again. The ceiling was ten stories high, balconies ridding up the sides of the walls. Golden light playing off the giant chandelier hanging from the mirror ceiling, the crystal design practically reaching from one end of the football field sized room to the other. Many long mahogany tables, most stretching from one end of the room to the other, covered the main floor with cream and black checkered tiles on the floor. Red and gold trimmed wall paper and dark wood paneling covered the walls. There were many railings and columns of dark mahogany along with the smaller round tables in the balconies. On the far sides were the entrances of angels made of complete gold.

My platform dropped me off at one of the higher balconies next to a large round table, various black and red, gold trimmed vases of roses and red carnations set in the center. I pressed a button at the underside of the table.

"Please redirect the rest of my team to this table please." I said half paying attention to what I was saying. I didn't even hear the "Yes sir." that came from the table in response. Thousands of furs and scales dotted the room, all eating or talking to someone at their table, making a consistent hum of chatter as a soft music played mysteriously from nowhere, but everywhere at the same time.

The first to make it to my table was Sig, he came flying up, and webbed arms spread wide as a small globe of red blue light guided him to the table.

He landed gracefully, his chest heaving from all the flying he had been doing. He gave a small bow in greeting and then he gave me a "You look different" look by cocking his head to one side and knitting his eyebrows.

"I feel different," I said a slight smile playing across my face, "now why don't we get something to eat." I said trying to change the subject and Sig got the message. He just pressed a button at the bottom of the table and a menu materialized in a soft glowing light. It was more of a phonebook; they could make anything in Concord, from grilled elephant, to some of the most exotic animal orientated food. For instance, Sig is part...Vampire Bat...

Sig opened to a page in the book and pointed to it, knowing exactly where it was, and instantly a glass of "wine" appeared on the table, steam lazily rolling off of it. I sniffed the air and the smell of horse and sickly sweet copper filled my muzzle. Blood doesn't bother me, just drinking it like it's fruit punch does. Knowing Sig I would have to go through at least four more glasses before he is full, but he drank it like it was wine, sip by sip, swirling it in his glass so it wouldn't clot, and then taking another sip. He is so sympathetic, always thinking of how is actions feel to others and changing them so that they become bearable to look at.

I pressed the button at the bottom of the table, and when I didn't respond, a menu came up, materializing in a soft glow like before. I opened it up to the stakes, and I knew exactly what I wanted, I pointed to the top sirloin with a side of garlic mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans as the vegetable and regular wine as a drink. I needed something to relax me, and liquor was the easiest thing at hand.

My meal started to materialize when Jewel and Zap came to our table on a platform made for two, or should I say three, Zap was dwarfing the thing so it looked like it was only made for two. The two joined us with their noses rubbing up against each other's, smiles playing across their muzzles.

"Hay, Jace, what's our mission?" Zap said, never taking his eyes away from Jewel.

"Our orders aren't arrived yet, I was just taking Sinew to the Three for his Judjment."

Jewel snapped her head to me, a look of concern played across her face, something rare for Jewel, "Did he pass?"

"Three for three, at least that's what I though Zenith voted for."

"I thought that only Skyla needed to pass him." Zap said in a slightly confused tone.

"Sinew only needs Skyla's vote, Zap," Jewel said turning to him, "but being accepted by all three is a rarity. The only reason Thorn passed me was because I offered to sleep with him, he thought it was a joke so I passed."

"Why don't we wait till I get hear before we break out the initiation stories." Sinew came in on a platform, him standing in the middle, one paw in his pockets, the other one had a relaxed grip on the railing. He was wearing a black T-shirt, a deep red dress shirt on with gold trim, black dress pants and shoes. He was looking down on all of us with an air of fake condescension. That's when I noticed something.

"Did you get your ear pierced!" Sinew looked confused for a second as the platform dropped him off. He brought the paw on the railing, his right hand, to his right ear were a single, small gold band was protruding from about mid ear. His cuffs weren't put on so the wrists of the shirt hung open and flared out.

"I didn't think you would care." He said in his regular nonchalant tone, talking to me as if the situation in front of the sanctuaries hadn't happened, "You let Valen get toe rings all the time."

"Yah! On her toes not shoved into her ears!" I don't know why it bothered me so much, "What on earth compelled you to get your ear pierced!"

"Because," he said, a slightly predatory gaze making his eyes look down on me as he tilted his head to the left a little to show off the ring, "I met this complete stranger in front of the sanctuaries that completely ticked me off. I felt so angry that I decided to do something wild and crazy to make myself feel better." There is the vengeful Sinew I knew. My cheeks burned in embarrassment, thank the Gods that my skin was covered by my black fur, "I thought I wasn't going to like it," he continued, "but now that I look at it from a different angle," he said eyeing me, "I think I like it a lot."

He then moved over to me and sat at my left side so I would be forced to look at his earring. I pried my eyes away from Sinew to look at Jewel, Zap, and Sig, all of their eyes wide. Sig had this look on him that said, "Did we miss something?" I gave him a look that said, "You have no idea."

I then grabbed my menu and noisily plopped it down in front of Sinew, "Point at what you want and it'll be hear in seconds." I then grabbed my silverware and sophisticatedly started to cut up my stake into small bites. I then gave a look, more of a glare really, to the rest of them that said "Shut up and order your damn food." I instantly heard two buttons click.

I heard Valen before I saw her, "Doc, look at the beautiful carvings in the wood, and those creatures in front of the tunnels are made of wood! The trees used to make them must have been gigantic! And the chandelier is so big and shiny!" Then I saw a platform hover up to our level. Valen was in short jean shorts with a rainbow striped tank top with a tight black sweatshirt. Doc was in his silk robes, his incense burners looped through his sash.

Dock looked exhausted, both Sinew and Valen were children of Skyla so the chances of failing were very small, and knowing Valen, she would be ecstatic about passing. I could tell that Valen had passed by the way she was so existed, but then she always was.

"Hay Sinew!" she shouted, "Did you pass too!"

"If you passed Valen," he said not taking his eyes off of his menu, "then I definitely passed."

The platform touched down and the two got off, "What did you say?" she said in confusion.

"I said that I am happy that we both passed. I was thinking if one of us passed the other would be a shoo-in." I rolled my eyes. He is in a really snarky mood, but I can hardly blame him.

"Ok, Valen I just want a quiet meal," Doc said, "just push the button under the table in front of your chair and a menu will appear for you to look through. When you find something you want just point to it and it'll materialize in a few seconds." Dock propped himself up in the chair between me and Jewel, making Valen sit in-between Sig and Zap, as far away as possible.

Valen started to talk to Sinew and Sig about her initiation as she scanned the menu. So far, none of the Vallings we have brought to the Three have failed. That's more than some groups can say. Jewel had made a fruit salad with an ice cream Sunday with licorice on it. Zap had gotten a rack of barbecued lamb ribs that he was mercilessly devouring, his white shirt getting stained all over, and a glass pint of bear was in front of him, already half empty. Doc got a fresh eucalyptus salad. Two empty wine glasses were in front of Sig and he had a third in his hand.

Sinew finely found something, and a BLT sandwich materialized in front of him, a large glass of ice water to the side. Valen stopped talking long enough to point at something and a slice of cake popped up in front of her.

"Really," I said to Valen, "Carrot cake. Way to follow the stereotype, at least eat something healthy with it." Valen rolled her eyes and pointed to something farther down the list and a bowel of steamed carrots and squash came up next to the cake.

"Ok smart alec," I said in a playful tone, "why don't I order smoked rabbit next time." I saw her eyes bug out.

"That's horrible!"

"That's my stereotype."

"I wanted cake...and carrots, and squash sounded good too. What I am has nothing to do with it."

I just rolled my eyes and continued to eat my stake, "Who put a bee in your undies." Valen said.

"Sorry Valen, but I haven't been...feeling well." I shot a sideways glance at Sinew's ear ring and then I turned my focus back to the table. I didn't join in on the conversation for the rest of the meal, I was given many opportunities, but I just gave some "Yah" s and "Uh Huh"s to avoid conversation.

That's when I started to really feel the empty chair between Sig and Valen. I looked up, "Does anyone know were Max is?" all of them looked at each other, waiting for someone to respond.

"Sorry guys," looking suave as ever he was wearing an open black dress shirt with a white one underneath, only three of its buttons done to show off his golden furred chest. He wore some dark jeans and no shoes. His cloths were flapping in the wind as he hastily hovered towards us rather calm and suave. Not a hair out of place in his flowing mane.

Why does Max always have to make himself seem like a sex god. I ignored the sirring in my loins as he came down off the platform and walked his way over to the table, clicking the button underneath with his tail.

"What took you so long?" I said in a slightly annoyed voice.

"I had to wash up after my...time spent with Adeline. She has this thing about feet and tongues that makes things get really messy."

"I'm assuming that's why you're not wearing any shoes?"

Max shrugged, "She wanted to keep them. Said she liked my smell too much to just let them go."

I saw Zap take in a breath to ask something, but I heard a thump under the table, "Ouch!" he said and looked at Jewel. Her eyes saying "If you so much as ask what her fur color was I'll emasculate you in seconds." And Zap kept his mouth shut.

Max opened his menu and knew exactly what to get. He pointed to something and a whole pork tenderloin was put in front of him, teaming with herbs and spices adorning the top with a small glass of whisky, on the rocks, and a tall glass of what looked to be diet soda.

That's when I noticed I was being too, well, ass-holey. I grabbed my wine glass and took a sip, "Max," I started, "sorry about my current mood and..."

"No," he cut me off, "we all know why." He said, his eyes softening to an understanding glow and raised his small glass of whisky, "A toast." He said, reminding me of my promise, "Not just for my B-day, but for all the brave soldiers of Concord that have fallen this past year. One of which we all knew and loved." I felt the pain start to emerge, but that's when Max ended his speech and moved his glass in to say he was over and everyone took their drinks and a round of vibrating glass could be heard.

"Thanks Max," I said looking into my wine, "that...means a lot."

From that point on the conversations were about times with Charles and all the good times they had. Zap kept talking about how they would kill demons effortlessly and still joke about it. Jewel talked about how she would get jealous of his superior fashion sense, but how he helped her pick out her favorite dresses. Valen talked about how Charles would help her practice her fighting, and would help her paint her nails. Doc talked about how they stumbled around until they found me and got the team in order.

I looked over to Sig, he was looking into his sixth wine glass, tears flowing off of his muzzle and into the dark liquid. I reached over and patted his paw on the table and he looked up and wiped his face while doing it in a dignified way.

That's when I realized everyone was looking at me and Sig gave an "I'm ok" look and took another sip from his glass.

"Do you mind if I interrupt?" A deep and growling voice came from a floating purple shear. We all turned and bowed our heads quickly before letting Zenith continue.

"I hate to pull you away from your dinner Jace, but I need to brief you on your next mission." I looked down at my empty plate and put my crimson napkin on it.

"I was done anyway," I said getting up, "I'll meet you guys back at the group sanctuary at the eighth bell."

"Eight in the morning?" Max asked almost disbelieving, but when I gave him a hard look he got real quiet.

I pushed in my chair and turned to the floating sphere, "Ok Zenith," I brushed some imaginary crumbs off of my pants, "where are you going to brief me."

"In The Chamber of the Three," he said leading me away, "then only in a safe and secured place you'll tell your team the details of your mission."

"Why all so cloak in dagger?" before Zenith answered my question the sphere evaporated and Zenith only uttered one more sentence before his link was gone.

"Don't keep us waiting."

***

I stood in front of the double doors for the second time today, the crystal tower piercing the sky like the Sky Needle in Las Vegas. Never been there on anything but business, had a bad lust demon snatching up desperate guys. Nasty little girly too, every time she had sex with someone she had the rights to that persons soul and became stronger, or in this case sexier. By the time we got there she was able to even subdue me, and she was still in a female form. The only reason I could kill her was because I could resist her enough to blast her with a crystal of pure sunlight underneath the human skin and into her demonic essence.

The doors opened silently and I was greeted by the floating crystals. I stepped onto the seal on the floor and was instantly weightless as I floated up into the air, and then the familiar sight of the Chamber of Three was before me as I stood in front of the three thrones.

"We have a very important request for you Jace," Zenith didn't waste any time as his voice rumbled through the chamber, "we want you to help us repair the Vale."

I was taken aback, "What?" my cool and calm veneer completely shattering, "How?"

"By going into the Vale itself." Thorn said as if it was the simplest thing in the world.

"But," I said turning to all of them, "I have no idea where to begin, I thought the Vale repaired itself."

"Yes," Skyla said tentatively, "it does, but since McAlester has gained the power to tear the Vale, we need a more...efficient way to heal it."

"So how will going into the Vale help us mend it faster?" I said regaining some of my senses, "If anything it will tear it apart even more. We will have to break it apart to get to the other side, and to make it back we will have to leave the rift we made open."

"It is a matter of grave severity," Zenith said and he lifted his hand and an image of the earth appeared with an adulating milky film over it. The whole thing was a mixture of different shades of blue "Do you see the rolling movement over the earth? That is the Vale." He said before I could answer.

I looked at the rippling surface of the Vale over the earth and saw that it was quite even and strong, actually I didn't see any rifts in it at all, "So what is the big deal, what's the rush. The Vale looks completely healthy, as a matter of fact it looks like it is perfectly fine."

"You don't understand Jace," Skyla said in a worried voice, "this is the Vale...three hundred years ago."

"So?" I said slowly, looking back at Zenith, "What was it you wanted me to see?"

Thorn raised his hand and the Vale changed, some scratches tears formed onto the surface exposing a red earth underneath, "This is the Vale two hundred years later, some unknown force has caused the Vale to tear and started to mend itself." The cuts and rips started to move and sift and as soon as they healed new ones formed, smaller ones, but more cuts all the same.

"The Vale for the next two hundred years cuts started forming and healing and we didn't pay much attention to the breaks," Skyla said raising her hand, "but after the last one hundred years..." I then saw thousands of scratches form out of nowhere, even parts of the shreaded vale were fluttering in the invisible wind, red lit up the image and I saw that the Vale was in tatters.

"So this is how the Vale is going to look in, what, fifty years or something?" I asked.

"No," Skyla said, "This was the Vale fifty years ago."

"What!" I shouted, "Why didn't you do something sooner?"

"We didn't think that something could be done to heal the Vale," Skyla said.

"Until recently," Thorn put in.

"What do you mean recently?"

"We actually have come to a decision to ask for help," Zenith said lowering his head in shame, "from the only god we still have contact with."

"Who would that be?" I said raising an eye brow.

"Mortals know her as the Grim Reaper," Thorn said rolling his head as if in an eye role, "but her real name is Madison."

My blood ran cold and I felt a dark feeling pierce my heart, "You're talking about the goddess of...Death!" I shouted in a mixture of surprise, "You want to risk my teams life by going to the realm of the dead and ask Madison for help! Why on earth would you think that she would help us!"

"Because she is the one who created the Vale in the first place," Zenith said, "we just want to know how we can fix it, we don't need her to do anything. We will do whatever it takes, we just want you to convince her to tell us."

I stopped listening when I heard them say "she is the one who created the Vale..." I shook my head, "What do you mean," I said thinking back to the stain glass ceiling of the grand foyer of Concord and its depiction of the Three creating the Vale, "I thought that you three were the ones that created the Vale a long time ago?"

"We gave Madison..."

"Nothing," Zenith's voice boomed through the walls of the chamber, cutting off Skyla, and lightning flashed far in the distance of the endless space seen through the windows. "You needn't know the exact details of how the Vale was created to heal it, but you will need to know how to heal it if you want to save Concord itself."

I knitted my eyebrows, "What do you mean?"

"Concord's complete existence depends on the Vale." Zenith explained, "The Vale acts like a tether to hold the massive concentration of energy in one aria that you, and your friends, know as Concord. And if things progress the way they have," he said gesturing towards the image again, "and with McAlester tearing the Vale apart," the Vale started to tear apart rapidly until it started to fall apart into what looked like threads, "We have only one year until it completely collapses and Concord falls apart."

"Well," Jace said thinking it over, "What's so important about Concord? If it fades then we will just build a new one. It's just a place, nothing more."

"I don't think you fully appreciate the gravity of the situation," Thorn spat at me, "If Concord falls, then every Valling will die!"

I felt like the rug...or crystal in this case, had been pulled out from under me, "How the hell does that happen?" I snapped, not believing what I was hearing.

"The energy that gives you your power is tied to Concord." Skyla said in an almost sad voice, "if Concord falls, every Valling will lose that power...all of it...all of it at once. Normally Vallings can't lose that much power at once, they have to let it off slowly, but the power is kept stationary at your core by the energy of Concord and Concord is held stationary by the Vale, and the Vale uses the human plane of existence as an anchor. Thus creating a very stable system of power, but this power, the power of the Vale, isn't stable and constantly shifts and turns. If the anchor holding the energy in you is removed, then it will tear you up inside and leave you empty of all of your life force."

"In other words," Zenith's voice boomed, "mass death, hysteria. Natural disasters brought on by the massive influx of energy. Billions of people and Vallings dead in an apocalyptic flux of Rem."

The image in front of me showed the vale tearing apart and collapsing on the earth, but that was only the beginning, the whole red sphere that was earth fissured with spider webs and dirt flew up like a dust cloud on the surface of every continent, the oceans reseeded and over flowed over continents, the natural wind currents blasted the surface of the earth and lava bleed out of the fissures of the earth. Then, just before the earth looked like it was going to fall apart...it stabilized with nothing the same. Dark veins of lava ran around the planet, new land formations and continents had formed and some had completely vanished into the oceans and seas.

"Now do you understand the severity of this situation," thorn said in a dry and exhausted voice.

I was speechless, "Why didn't you do something sooner?" I asked.

"We tried," Zenith said in a level voice, "but our efforts to mend the veil have all but failed, all we've been able to do is slow the possess of the deterioration."

"That's why we need you to do this mission," Thorn said, "It is safe enough, Madison has already arranged for your transportation and stay at the manor."

I gave a soft growl, "You want me to bring my team into the Manor of Death! No living thing can survive there!"

"We understand why you think it is dangerous," Skyla said, "but Madison has arranged it so that you and your team can stay there for a while and not be affected by death. She has stalked up nectar to sustain your physical bodies on the heavenly plain."

"Your safe Jace," Zenith growled a bit, "Madison is bound by our contract. No harm will come to you or your team."

"Please Jace," Thorn said rubbing his forehead in exasperation, "don't put up some damn fight about morality and how you don't want to endanger your team, because we all know that you're going to do it anyway."

I suppressed a growl and bowed my head, "Is that all?"

"It is," The Three said in unison, but their voices sounded exhausted, "you may go, and may the gods be with you."

The crystal started to fall away from under my foot paws and I was starting to sink back down when I heard Zenith mutter, "...isn't going to help..." before his rolling base vanished amongst the humming crystals.

***

I met my team in one of the posh briefing rooms, yet another crimson room with gold designs stitched into the wall paper and mahogany furniture with gold trim and elegantly designed pads and throw pillows.

My team didn't take the news very well, Doc didn't mind so much because he is a child of the dimension Death, his power stems from that realm, but other than that, not to many happy faces. This wasn't going to be an easy thing to make them do, but I knew they would go, but without question...now that's another story.

"Why do we have to go!" Jewel shouted, "There are hundreds of other teams that they could have sent, plenty with the power of death on their side!"

"Because Jewel!" I roared back, "The deal was made with Zenith and he wants to send someone from under his jurisdiction to reinforce his agreement with her!"

Jewel scoffed, "Down play it by calling Madison, the Black Orchid of Night, a 'her'. Madison isn't just a person we can kill or stand up to if she gets out of control. She can take our life with her breath alone, Jace. This is a huge risk you're taking! Why did you accept this mission?"

"Because the Three need us to do it." I shouted, but honestly, I don't know why I gave up the fight so easily. Never the less, Jewel staved her tongue and crossed her arms and turning away. She mumbled something under her breath, an ancient curse or something, and went back over to Zap and wrapped herself in his arms, putting his paws on her breasts. The blush on Zaps face was visible even through his orange fur. Her silence didn't last long.

"I see how it is," she started, "The Three over your family. You always were Zenith's bitch."

I growled in rage and I walked right up to her and pointed my foreclaw right in her face, "Don't forget what I have sacrificed to keep my team safe Jewel, what I have given up to keep you alive." Jewel's eyes were locked with mine and I could see the gears turning in her head. It didn't take long, she looked off to the side.

"When do we leave?" she said giving up.

I pulled back, satisfied, "Tonight. We don't have any time to waist. The Vale is fading fast and Madison is the only one who knows how to fix it. It's just a reconnaissance mission, nothing more. We only need to get the formula for the Vale. Zenith says that Madison has made the arrangements for us to stay there as long as it takes to learn how to mend it so it won't be that long. So we're...we're just going to grin and bear it."

I could tell that I didn't really choose the best words. I could feel everyone tensing up and getting ready to "grin and bear it". I wish Charles were here, he always knew just how to clear my mind and pull through a speech. Damn it! I gave a little shake of my muzzle and forced the clouded thoughts out of my head and focused my eyes back on my team mates and I didn't like what I saw.

I couldn't help it. I turned away and left the briefing room and into the main room of the group sanctuary. The oval room was nothing but a balcony that opened up to show the nearly endless drop down and climb up in the quarter tower. Several doors leading to some bed rooms lined the walls and a sanctuary gate was at the opposite end along with a platform dock. The echoing sound of other furs walking on the floors up and down, conversing as they move from room to room bounced off the walls despite the padded wall papers and their complex patterns. I walked briskly into one of the side doors and into my room. The group sanctuaries weren't customized and tailored to anyone's particular style, but they definitely gave of that filthy rich feel.

Flowing satin and silk fabric wove its way from the canopy of the round room and down the walls and lined the floor to ceiling windows, drawn back by gold ropes so they can be drawn as curtains. In the center of the room was a giant circular bed with fore ivory pillars around it with gold trim. The bed itself had white silk sheets with gold thread patterns sewn into them and a back board that looked more like the back of a couch with ample throw pillows making a mound of comfort as the space behind it was lined with three mirrors that reflected the gold and crystal chandelier that hung from the apex of the cloth canopy.

I closed the door behind me and leaned against it and took in a few deep breaths and put my paw to the locket and felt the familiar weight of it again. Now a days it felt so much heavier and I couldn't help but feel my eyebrows knit together as I pulled it to my eyes.

"What are you trying to tell me Charles?" I whispered, and when the locket didn't give me an answer I pulled it off and threw it onto the ivory dresser against the wall and started to take off my shirt to get ready to pack. I started to undo the buttons one by one, my paws following the curves of my pecs as I continued down my shirt. I got about half way down when I looked up into one of the mirrors to see Sinew leaning against the door in its reflection.

"Didn't anyone tell you how to knock before entering a room?" I asked sarcastically with a soft growl that he probably didn't hear as I finished taking off my shirt.

"Yeah," he said looking at his claws absent mindedly, "and I did, you didn't answer when I did so I simply took your silence as an "enter"." He finished by cracking his neck and flicking his ear with the new piercing in it.

"Well, leave," I growled, "I need to pack." I stated as I pulled my undershirt off, leaving my torso exposed.

"Stop trying to avoid me Jace." He growled, "you didn't even unpack your case yet."

I took in a breath to say something, but I only exhaled. I hadn't even realized that I hadn't unpacked yet. I put my thumb and foreclaw to my forehead.

"Ugh," I wiped my face with my paw and I looked up at the ceiling, letting my eyes get lost in the muted colors of the room and the extravagancy of it all, only to have my momentary moment of space be clenched by the claustrophobic pressure of my current task at hand of rallying my team when I can't even rally myself, let alone pack already packed things.

"I didn't," I groaned, "did I?"

Sinew walked over to one of the windows and looked out into one of the court yards, "Yeah," he muttered, "you didn't."

I sighed, "I promise Sinew," I started, "I haven't been avoiding you. I-I just have a lot on my plate right now" I cursed myself for stuttering again.

"Well," he said with his eyes drooping, "it sure as hell felt like you were."

I knitted my eyebrows, "What happened to calling me master?"

Sinew gave a little smile "I guess the earring is going straight to my head master." He muttered as the morning light washed him in a glowing halo of radiance. He really did look like some strong heavenly blade imbedded in mortal flesh.

"Sinew..."

"I'm sorry master." Sinew cut me off, "I thought you needed help getting over...your loss, but...I see now that I was only making things worse." Sinew lifted a paw and up to his ear and started to take out his piercing.

"Sinew," I sighed and walked over to him, "no, I'm sorry." I said, "I haven't really been much of a team leader lately, let alone a master."

I grabbed his paw and stopped him from taking out his piercing, "Don't," I gently kissed his ear and that kiss eased into a little lick on the gold band, "I kind of like it."

Sinew raised an eyebrow and gave a skeptic smile, "Really?"

I gave a smile of my own and pulled him into a gentle kiss, "Really."

Sinew blinked, "What happened to not wanting to do stuff so soon?"

I felt like I was contradicting myself all over the place today, "Maybe, I was wrong." I pulled Sinew into another kiss and I could feel some of the stress in my life fade away, "Maybe I need something to release some of this stress."

"Are you sure?" he asked as I snaked my arms around his waist. I answered him with another kiss, pulling him close as I run my paw through his head fur and as I pulled away I grabbed his chin with my thumb and foreclaw.

"I'm sure." I smiled, "How would you like to be master's little bitch?" I growled into his ear and I gave his ass a little slap, "You've been a pretty bad pup lately," I gave his ear and a little nip, "and I think you need a little punishment."

Sinew's ears folded back and he looked up at me with glittering eyes, "I have been a bad bitch master." He gave me a soft whimper before kissing my collar bone and nibbling on it as he slowly got lower and lower.

"Please," he whispered, "master...will you let me make up for it." He kissed a bit lower, lapping at the top of my pecks.

"Oh," I started and gave his ass a little slap and Sinew gave a little yip, "don't worry pup, you'll make up for it." I dug my claws into his jeans and took a paw full of his voluptuous rump.

Sinew gave a little whimper and the air in the room shifted, the wind moving and whistling as he used his powers to untie the golden ropes of the curtains and blow the fabric over the windows. The chandelier instantly came on, illuminating the room in a soft light.

I gave a soft growl in pleasure. He's been practicing. I gave another little nip on his pierced ear.

"Strip pup," I growled and backed up to sit on my bed, leaving Sinew to work his magic, I just didn't realize how right I was. I could feel the light buzz of energy as Sinew commanded the air in the room to roll around his body, and his crimson dress shirt pulled tight over his chest, outlining his swimmers build as he lifted his arms and the air caught up under the fabric and it blew right off him. The clothing fluttered above him for a minute before twisting and falling onto the floor, and I felt a grin play across my muzzle at how good he has gotten with manipulating his element.

The wind whistled through the chandelier, making light tinkling sounds as the crystal batted against each other and making the light dim further. I gazed onto Sinew, his washboard abs flexed as he took a deep breath and ass he exhaled the fabric cascading over the walls came to life in the wind and fluttered around Sinew. He slowly twisted and turned and danced in the cyclone of fabric like some seductress fan dancer. As his back faced me his arms went down and undid his belt, the wind pulling down his pants slowly only to have the blowing cloths cover up his bubble but just before the nape of his pants fell off. In a whoosh of fabric his jeans were blown under the bed, leaving Sinew in only his crimson jock strap.

I gave a low growl of pleasure as I watched Sinew show off his new prowess, and how he is able to beautifully incorporate it with his surroundings, and my aching member agreed. That boy definitely knows how to keep a horn dog on the edge of his seat. Sinew's dance movements became faster in movement, like a leaf being batted around in the gusting wind. All of his movements were quick, but had a fluid sift to them like that of air itself. He was definitely playing his element here. In one quick motion he linked his thumbs into the elastic of his jock strap and whipped it off and had the curtain fabric flush over my vision of his body, and I watched as the fluttering fabric ever so slowly pulled up like a curtain on some stripper show and I leaned forward in anticipation and SMACK!

I clawed the broken jock strap away from my muzzle to look at Sinew's exposed body, but it was too late, the tease had already wrapped the fabric around his waist with the wind, covering up his groin as the fabric twisted up his body and around his chest. More of the fabric wrapped around him, down his arms and around his legs and knotted around his wrists and ankles and was hoisted up into the air by the seemingly living cloth.

I gave him a growl, but all he did was smirk as he continued his little show, his clothes scattered about the room, but still exposed to his master. One of the swatches around his leg pulled up, and Sinew extended his leg into the air as he spun, his tail batting away a bit of the fabric to expose his little pucker for a second, then it was gone as he tangled himself further into the cloth. As a finishing touch the cloth fluttered around his eyes, blindfolding him before he let himself down on his knees, all wrapped up like a present for his master.

He knelt down before me, his arms splayed up by the fabric at his wrists. I bit my lip to stifle a moan, Sinew was definitely a kinky horn dog. I got up and padded up to Sinew, his breath quick and shallow from exerting such skill so quickly, I wasn't surprised that he was winded, but he still managed to keep from panting and breathed through his nose.

I flicked the jock strap still in my paw at his face and it hit him and he gave a satisfying whimper, "That was a dirty little trick," I paused for a moment, thinking of what a dominate master would say as I decided to go along with the roll playing, "you little bitch." I'm a little kinky too.

"I'm gunna half to punish you for that bitch." I say again, letting the bleak and dark reality of my life fade away and be replaced with the fantasy of a subby bitch and a horny master, "And do you know how bitches are punished?"

Sinew gave a whimper as his tail tucked in-between his legs, but I could see the anticipation he was hiding by the way it tried to keep wagging between his legs.

I grinned and gave his ass a quick slap through the fabric, "If you don't, you're about to find out." I growled into his ear. I walked around him to his front and cupped his muzzle in my paw. I unzipped my pants with my other and pulled down my pants and my under in one motion. My aching member pulled out, the massive sheath sagging a bit, but my swelling member pushed forward out of it, growing and hardening now that it had room too.

"Open," I ordered and Sinew opened his maw, his ears folded back, "now take only the tip," I growl, "do you understand bitch?"

Sinew gave a whimper and a light nod and with that I positioned my cock into his maw. As soon as my tip touched his tongue he gently closed his maw and I pinched his jaw a little, "did I say you could suck yet bitch?" I growl and his maw shot back open. I gave a little smile at the façade of helplessness Sinew put on so well and gently started to run my cock head over Sinew's tongue.

Sinew whimpered with need and want as I gently rubbed my glands against his coarse tongue, teasing him with what he wanted most.

"Are you going to be a good bitch?" I growl down at him and he gives a little nod while keeping his tongue up to support my cock, "Then start sucking." Sinew's jaw reacted quickly, yet gently, as he closed around my tip. I shuddered as he swirled his tongue against my glands, the coarse appendage lapping over my pointed shaft as he worked the slit, and his efforts were rewarded with a single bead of pre. I could sense the excitement he felt as he suckled down that first little bit of my essence. I gave a sly smile as I pulled out. If he was going to tease me like that, I was going to tease the shit out of him.

I pushed up against him, grinding my sack into his muzzle as my cock laid across his face, slowly thickening and hardening as I continued to push him into my crotch. My member snaked up the length of his muzzle, the throbbing ebony rod pulsed heat across Sinew's visage as I continued my assault on his senses. Sinew opened his maw and started to lap at my sack, but I gave him a sharp hiss and a growl and he got the message as he retracted his tongue with a whimper.

"Did I tell you that you could taste bitch?" I growled, getting more into it.

Sinew simply replied with a whimper and a soft "No." that was muffled by my sack. I bit back a murr from the feeling of his breath on my balls.

"No, I didn't," I growled as I looked down to see the cloth he had wrapped around his waist was tented and I did let a murr slip out. I looked back up at my adorable Sinew, transformed into an obedient slut for his master and I felt my cock throb, and a wad of pre oozed out of the tip. I slowly pulled back, letting my cock spread that pre all over his face and ended at his cool snout where I smeared my pre and Sinew sniffed at it with desire, his maw parting a little to pant, to taste my sent.

I gave a little chuckle, "Does the little bitch want cock?"

Sinew gave a light nod and nuzzled into my tip, "Yes master," he gave a light whimper, "please?"

My cock throbbed again, what kind of master would I be if I didn't let him have some?

"Then lick it clean," I said as I scratched gently behind his ears. Sinew gave a light murr that was almost too soft to hear as he nuzzled up against my sixteen inch onyx pillar and took a long lick, his tongue slowly sliding up my shaft and stopped just before the tip and lingered there, savoring the salty pre that had trickled down before going back down. He did this over and over again and his paw came up to cup my balls and gently roll them as he worked on pleasing his master. I know I should have scolded him for doing that to my balls without permission, but I forgot I was supposed to be a demanding master as Sinew continued to work my shaft.

"Okay bitch," I breathed out, "I think you've earned the right to suck it."

This time I could hear him give a definite murr as he licked up and took my tip in his maw. I gave a murr myself at the feeling and the sight of my cock disappearing into its new sheath. Sinew went down about a quarter of the way and then pulled back up, leaving a slick film of saliva behind as he suckled it little by little. When he went down again, he took a little more and a little more until he reached the back of his throat and gagged a little bit. He was barely half way down, but it was still enough to make my eyes roll into the back of my skull as I gave a deep moan that I turned into a deep satisfied growl.

I gave a little thrust into his maw and forced another fraction of an inch into his maw and elicited a gag. It may have felt good, but I didn't want to make Sinew loose his breakfast, so I gently pulled out to give him room to do his work and to allow me to give little sharp thrusts into his warm, inviting, suckling maw. I let out a low and deep growl at the compromise as Sinew milked my cock expertly, not like he hadn't had plenty of practice with me and...well that didn't really matter right now. All that mattered was the fantasy Sinew was weaving for me.

Sinew's tongue pulled out past his maw as he tried to suck more of the cock in, but I kept it at a reasonable distance as I continued to muzzle fuck him. I could feel the saliva and pre in his maw get fucked around and sucked down as I continued the motion of mating. I continued to fuck him and felt a pang of fear as I let my cock slip a bit too far...but I just slid deeper. I opened my eyes to look down to see that Sinew had suspended himself again and changed the angle of his body so I could fuck right down into his throat. I felt a growl run threw me as I forced more of myself into Sinew who seemed to have gotten some control over his gag reflex that wasn't there anymore as he sucked my cock down.

I scratched between his ears again encouragingly as I fucked him deeper and deeper until I was about three quarters of the way in and let up and pulled out. Sinew gasped and gulped down air and panted out whimpers.

"Master?" he whimpered out, "Where did you go?"

I felt another pang in my heart, he's such a cute slut.

"I'm right here bitch," I said as I turned to walk around him, coming up on the cloth that kept his waist covered, "I think it's time to reward you for that little stunt."

I gripped the fabric with my claws and felt it obediently give as I tore it off of him, revealing his rounded bubble butt. I gave it a little slap and the rest of the fabric on his waist fell away, letting his package hang free in the air. Sinew got the message and spread his legs, revealing his tight pucker. I reached around and put my paw on his muzzle and he instantly started to lap and suck on my fingers, wetting them up and kissing them gently. I gave his ass another good slap and pulled my hand away from his muzzle, now that it had enough lube.

"That's a good bitch," I say kneading the flesh of his ass as I positioned my claws for penetration, "you spread those legs."

I pushed my claws against his back entrance and it willingly relaxed and allowed my claws to enter with little resistance. Sinew shivered and tensed up a bit, clenching down on my fingers and milking them in deeper. I gave him what he wanted and pushed them into the knuckle and gently pulled back out, his saliva acting as a nice lube as I started to move faster and faster. Sinew's muscles relaxed and his body started to sway back and forth in its suspended state. I thought about his body sliding back and forth on my cock by shear momentum alone and my cock throbbed, pre oozing out of the tip as I stroked it.

I gave another little growl and gave his ass a little nip making Sinew give a little yip, "Does my little slut appreciate his reward?"

Sinew looked back, but the blind fold kind of defeated the purpose, and he spoke over his shoulder.

"Yes master." he breathed, "It's amazing."

I smiled into his fur, "Would my little bitch like his master's cock in his ass?"

I felt Sinew's ass clench tightly over my fingers and making it hard to move them as he gave a little whine, "Yes..."

At that I gave his ass a little slap and was responded with a yip, "How bad do you want it slut? How badly to you want me to tear you a new one?"

Sinew gave another whine, "I want it so bad master, please, my ass burns to be breed." I felt him clench on my fingers again, "Please master, I need your cock inside me." His ass started to milk fervently, the pucker practically spasming in its need and I felt something of mine spasm. Sinew was panting now, little whines and whimpers escaping his maw on each short exhale.

I pulled my fingers out of him and Sinew gave a little yelp of need as he was empty once again. I repositioned myself and stood over him. I took in the view, and my heart pounded with empathy for the poor slut as he looked back blindly for something anything to help him. I slid my cock in-between his cheeks and he gave a subtle murr and whimpered again as I leaned in and wrapped my arms around him.

"Don't worry Sinew," I whispered into his ear and he stopped shivering, "I'm here, don't worry." I couldn't help it, he played such a good helpless slut that I needed to comfort him somehow.

I slid back and positioned my pucker, "I'll always be here." And I pushed forward, my pre acting as a good lube as I pried open his pucker. Sinew gave a little yelp and gritted his teeth as I entered him. It had been a long time since he had been stretched so it must have been a little uncomfortable. I leaned in and started to lap at the back of his neck as I forced more in.

"Am..." he panted, "am I a good bitch master?" I responded with a sharp thrust and leaned into his ear and whispered.

"A fucking damn good bitch." He shivered as I started to pull out and thrust in, working my cock a little deeper every time, prying him just a little bit wider each time.

I continued my conquest of Sinew's ass, thrusting deeper and deeper, and Sinew would murr and occasionally yelp as I hit a tender spot, but what I noticed most of all was the gentle sway of Sinew's body in his hand made harness. I gave Sinew's neck another little kiss and stood back up and gave his ass a little slap.

"How does my bitch like his ass being filled with his master's cock." I growled as I got almost all of it in.

"Please master," he panted, "it's amazing, please fuck me." He gave a light whimper, "Please."

I gave a little thrust forward, only to have Sinew's body move forward as well. I pulled back and I slid out a bit and I stopped as Sinew's body slid back onto my cock. I chuckled as Sinew gasped at the movement and moaned when he stopped moving again. I pulled out a little bit and thrust into him, and he swung up and on the back swing I thrust in deeply, hitting him balls deep. I gave a growl of satisfaction at the feeling of Sinew's pulsing insides wrapping around my cock like a glove. When I didn't move Sinew started to milk my cock, his ass clenching and unclenching, begging for more as he whimpered, and boy was I going to give him more.

I started with a hard thrust forward and pulled back, sliding out of him again and thrusting forward and hilting him again, only to have the momentum pull him off and the fuck cycle began. I timed my thrusts and painfully held myself back to keep from thrusting wildly into Sinew, to let gravity do the work as I forced Sinew back and forth, each down swing ending with a slap and the occasional yip from Sinew. I had turned Sinew into my own adult swing set, and fucked him like some jungle gym sex toy.

Sinew moaned out in pleasure and panted hard with each thrust, panting harder and harder as pre started to dribble down from his cock to the floor at a more rapid rate. I gave a feral hiss and grabbed onto Sinew's hips and forced him down on my cock. He pulled be forward a half step or two and then we stopped, my knot swelling at the base of my cock. I gave a deep growl and started to piston into him, my onyx cock flying in and out of my German bitch. I couldn't hold back any more, the pleasure was too much to resist as it built to wait for gravity and momentum to run its course.

Sinew let out a high pitched wine and panted hard as I fucked harder and harder. Slaps from my thighs hitting his ass could be heard despite the fur between the flesh beneath. I ground my swelling knot into him and pulled out before it become too big and would force a tie. I started to push my knot against his pucker and just before it would give way I would pull away and continue my animalistic fucking, the carpet beneath me tearing from my claws digging into it. I pushed harder and harder, forcing Sinew's pucker to stretch farther and farther, undoing a good weeks work of neglect as I fucked my little apprentice raw.

Sinew gave a sharp yelp as my knot pushed against his pucker and stretched it almost lewdly before popping in. I gave a deep growl and thrust wildly to burry my bone as deep as possible, the cum practically boiling out of my balls as they rose to deposit their load. I gave a loud howl as I let my torrent of seed flood my little bitch, and Sinew have a howl of joy at being filled, his ass pulsing as his orgasm painted the carpet.

I gathered up Sinew and pulled him close, and I felt the bonds go slack and pull away from Sinew as I felt his feet touch the floor, but barely. I leaned in and pulled him into a gentle kiss as I guided us onto the bed, laying us down on our sides as I gently rocked my hips into his ass, letting the afterglow wash over me in the tie.

Sinew turned to look at me, but he still had his blind fold on. I chuckled a bit and leaned in and kissed his eyes before pulling the thing off, his hazel eyes meeting my ocean blue ones in a wash of passion.

"Better?" Sinew asked as he nuzzled me gently.

I gave the question some thought, feeling the emotions and stress slowly pulse its way into Sinew as I rode the tie.

"Yeah actually," I said as I nuzzled him back, and that's when I formed an idea, "really good."

I gave a slight smile, but I felt a little twinge of fear in my heart at the thought of it, but I knew it was the best thing I could do for the team.

Sinew gave my nose a little quick lick, "Good..." he sighed and closed his eyes.

I'll tell the rest of the team later, I thought as I rested into the afterglow of morning sex.