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After the usual morning routine of Aceh's training and one of Eric's ready made breakfasts I was standing atop the wagon as usual as we travelled. I had learned to close my eyes and keep my breathing steady and focus on the moment entirely. I shut out everything around, entering almost a meditation like state my body reacting to all the bumps on the road by itself. It's a very relaxing thing, just clearing your mind and not thinking about anything. It makes you feel like all your problems don't exist.

"MALLL-AKYYYEEE!" I heard someone yell from behind; snapping me out of my trance and making me almost lose my balance. I managed to regain my balance and turned round to see Jason smiling at me in the wagon behind the one I was standing on.

"Yes Jason?" I asked with an annoyed tone but a smile on my muzzle.

"Just making sure you're doing all right up there bud!" He smirked. "Ya haven't fallen at all today."

"Yeah well the day is young. It's only just gone midday."

"Hehe true but we'll be at Rengilar Village in the next couple of hours."

"Really? Never heard of it."

"It's a little place, not much business there but it's the first Village, or the last depending on which way you're going, heading north from Zangar until you hit the Archillian Desert*. Good place to take a wee break before heading further north and restock on some supplies. We usually make a point of staying there for a day before continuing on to the next village. We got a lot of friends there."

"Can't wait to see it." I smiled.

"You'll love it. Lots and lots of pretty young males and females. Perfect for a guy your age."

"Gee...thanks." I rolled my eyes.

"Aww come on!" Jason whined. "You're only young once and ya gotta have your fun while you can. Besides I'm sure you'd appreciate someone else other than Aceh giving you a massage." Jason winked.

"We'll see." I replied before turning round.

"Pffft! Trust me, you'll have hot young males and females throwing themselves at you when they see you!" I cracked a smile at his remark, I still didn't believe them when they said I was good looking, even if that were true I don't think I'd be ready to move on just yet. The memories of Rose and I are still fresh and the scars they'd left with me even more so thanks to the constant nightmares every night.

Deciding to worry about it later and focus on not falling fifteen feet to the ground I closed my eyes and cleared my mind focusing on nothing but the sound and movements of the wagons and the occasional squawks from the Dando's* that pulled the wagons along.

DANDO** *-* _ Large two-legged birds that are slightly larger than an ostriches, but look like Dodo's. Commonly used to pull wagons or as cattle.**_

Each shift of the cart over uneven ground called for immediate action on my part so I could maintain my balance. I learned a lot over the past few days about all the little things to help you maintain balance. Keeping a low centre of gravity was a main one; a simple raising of an arm, wing or tail could prevent me from having a nasty fall. This training also allowed me to hone my reflexes.

I was pulled from my trance when a whiff of an unfamiliar smell assaulted my nostrils. It was a sweet fragrance, one that almost brought happy memories to the forefront of ones mind. Opening my eyes I saw that on either side of the dirt road were fields of purple wild flowers, as far as the eye could see. I couldn't help but smile as I surveyed the land and took deep breaths of the sweet air. I noticed that in the distance there was a village, Rengilar Village.

"Don't breath too deeply Malakye!" I heard Cody giggle and looked to see him peeking up at me.

"Why?" I asked curiously.

"Because these flowers are Lytium flowers. They only grow here in Rengilar Valley."

"Is there something special about Lytium flowers I should know about?"

"Lytium flowers are used by some as a powerful hallucinogen." I heard Michael behind me say. "If you burn or smoke fresh Lytium flowers, it gives the one inhaling it a high, but in high doses it causes them to see things that aren't really there and in extreme cases, death." I gulped nervously and held my breath. "HAH! Don't worry though Malakye, Cody's only pulling your leg. Breathing in their scent like this isn't dangerous at all, it's only if you inhale the smoke from burning Lytium that you need to be careful."

"Phew..." I began to breath normally again. "Anyway we're nearly at Rengilar Village." I said looking ahead.

"Yup." Michael replied. "Although it wasn't always called Rengilar Village. It was renamed that about ten years ago after the last attack on the village. It wasn't until the surrounding tribes agreed to protect the village that it was officially recognised as a settlement, so it was given a new name. What it was called before was an insult to all those who resided there so it was decided it was best to rename it."

"What was it called?" I asked curiously. Michael opened his mouth to speak but paused as if he was hesitant.

"It's probably best I don't tell you... if you say it while we're there you might get into some bother, some folks there are still pretty sensitive about their origins."

"Well ain't cha Mr. sensible and caring!" Jason mocked giving Michael a playful nudge. "And yer a know it all too!" Jason smirked.

"Well one of us should be." Michael retorted. "After all you only think with that thing in your pants!"

"I wasn't hearing you complaining last night!" I laughed and tuned out their little tiff. They did that once in a while where they would argue over something trivial. They'd argue for hours then make up with each other by having sex. I swear that they did it just to have an excuse to have sex.

"Haha!" Cody giggled looking away from Jason and Michael and back up at me. "So how're you doing up there anyway?"

"I'm doing fine, I'm getting used to how the carts move."

"You think Aceh will give you the afternoon off from training?"

"Dunno. Probably not. He's a harsh and strict Master, but I can't really complain since I asked him to teach me. Why do you ask?"

"Well I was hoping we could spend some time together. We didn't really get to hang out much after the first day back in Zangar and you've been training with Aceh all the time since then... it would be nice to just hangout for a change. I could show you the sights!"

"Sounds nice, but I can't go asking for time off from my training. I'm sure if you ask he might let you have you're way."

"Hehe! Maybe you're right!" Cody giggled before sinking back down out of sight. I could still hear Jason and Michael arguing behind me, they were almost outright yelling at each other now, insults flying. I tuned them out and once again cleared my mind like before, closing my eyes.

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

I felt the wagon stop, opening my eyes I looked to see that we were outside the village. One of the guards that stood at the entrance walked towards the front of the wagon where Eric and Aceh sat. After a brief exchange of words the guard waved us through. I remained atop the wagon as we entered the village, and looked around and couldn't help but smile. This place was amazing! Everywhere you looked there were stone buildings, no wooden ones to be seen, the wolven village I grew up in didn't have a single stone building and even in Zangar only about a third of the buildings were made of stone. Here every building was made of stone, the only wooden structures were the stalls that vendors sold their goods at or the occasional wooden shed around the back of a building. The village was certainly a lot smaller than Zangar, only around twenty or so buildings, not including the markets that lined the streets, but each building was large and had two or three floors.

To top it all off, everywhere flowers and trees grew, most villages clear away all forms of natural vegetation to build or farm but here it almost seemed like the village was one with nature. Everyone had a smile on their face and cubs ran around playing, their laughter piercing the air above the other noises of this place while adults went about their daily tasks. I got a fair amount of attention from the locals since I was standing atop the wagon, not your typical sight to be fair. I waved to some of the cubs and smiled as they pointed and stared and ran along side the wagon.

We moved to the far end of the village where there were large wooden enclosures with lots of wagons parked inside. We were guided to a place to park and then our Dando's were unhooked from the wagons and taken to a large stone building just outside the enclosure, which must be where they looked after the animals. Eric paid several gold pieces to the attendant who thanked him and made his way off.

"You can come down now." Aceh said looking up at me. I smiled and leapt to the ground, landing with a graceful thump. "You doing well, keep your balance."

"Yeah well it's easy once you get used to it."

"We do more training now."

"Umm... Aceh?" Cody interrupted, his voice timid and his ears flat on his head in nervousness. Aceh looked to Cody and made a noise to show that he was listening. "Could you maybe let Malakye off with the training today? I'd really like to show him round the place since it's his first time here and all." Aceh just stared at Cody for several long moments and I could see Cody literally shrink under his gaze.

"Malakye do some exercises, then can go with Cody." Aceh responded and Cody's ears perked up and he couldn't help but smile. "You do fifty push ups and fifty squats. Then you go with Cody." Aceh said to me.

"Got it thanks." I responded with a smile. Cody giggled happily, his tail swishing behind him.

"Well then, once you and Malakye are done come by the usual place for dinner." Eric said before turning and walking off with Aceh, Michael and Jason in tow. Cody stayed behind with me.

"Well then, I'd better get to my training."

"Okay! I know a great spot for it!" Cody said grabbing my hand and dragging me behind him as he ran. Cody led me to a spot just outside the village next to the river. It was amazing, wild flowers grew everywhere and the _ Gummi trees* _ that littered the area gave it a very private feeling, the sound of the river made for a relaxing sound. A warm breeze blew through the area rustling the flowers and trees, wafting their scents throughout the area.

_ Gummi Tree _ - A tree that bears white flowers during the summer. It grows to about twelve feet in height. Vines grow from the branches and the white flowers grow from the vines. The flower is poisonous, despite the pure beauty of it it has been nicknamed the widow-maker flower, from a time when scorned wives would add the flower to their husbands meals.

They would then die in extreme pain from stomach cramps, until their stomach would burst from the corrosive poison of the flower.

"Wow... this is amazing." I said taking in the beauty of the scene.

"Yeah... I found it a couple of years back when I first visited. I was going through a bit of a rough patch then... it helped to have this place to escape to."

"Rough patch?" I asked. Cody didn't reply, he just walked over to a large Gummi tree and slumped against the trunk. "Cody?" I moved and sat next to him.

"It was back when I first joined the group. I had run away from home after my parents found me in the arms of another male. Being their only child they took it pretty badly and my father beat me." A tear ran down his muzzle.

"Oh Cody..."

"I stowed away on one of Eric's wagons when he travelled through town and managed to remain hidden for a day before the found me. I was so sure that I'd be taken back home... I was terrified. I begged Eric to let me stay." He laughed, the tears still streaming down his muzzle. "This village was the first one we came to, we travelled up the _ Dalton River* _ from the West where the Fox tribes reside. In truth, I think Eric did it for me. He's never travelled back over that way since then. We stayed here for a few days and I would constantly come here, it was like my own little world. I was homesick, and wanted to go back desperately, yet was terrified of doing so. I remembered how angry my father was, I thought it was my fault that I liked other males. That I was worthless, scum... and a whole lot of other things my father had called me between the beatings."

_ Dalton River _ ** **** - A river that flows from East to West across the **** ** _ Tribal Lands*. _ A wind known commonly as** _ Hesh'na _'s breath or **** ** _ Hesh'na _ 's favour, blows from West to East allowing boats to sail up river against the current if they have a sail.

"Cody, I'm sorry that happened to you."

"It's not your fault. It was while I was here that Aceh found me. He showed me that it was all right to be gay. For a guy that doesn't talk much he can certainly get his point across." Cody joked a smile crossing his muzzle, we both laughed.

"You say he showed you?" I asked curiously thinking on what Cody had said. Cody simply smiled and I immediately got the picture. "Oh."

"Yeah."

"So are you and Aceh... you know..." I struggled for the word to finish my question.

"Mates? No, simply... friends with benefits." I nodded in understanding. Cody wiped the few remaining tears from his muzzle and turned to face me, his muzzle inches from my own, I could feel his breath on my face. I felt my breathing hitch as the air changed, my heart began to pump hard in my chest, I felt the gap between our muzzles get smaller until Cody abruptly stood up. "Thanks for letting me get that out. This place kinda gets me a little emotional."

"It's all right Cody. You're my friend, I'm glad you're willing talk to me about something so personal." I said, feeling my heart rate return to normal and a strange feeling of disappointment wash over me...

"You'd better start you're exercises or we won't have time to visit all the places I want to show you."

"You're right. Aceh will know if I don't do them, I don't know how he does it but he seems to know every move I make even when he's not in sight." I joked, getting up and walking over to a clear spot to begin my push ups. Cody watched me and gave some light conversation while I grunted through my push ups, the last ten proving to be particularly gruelling. Upon their completion I stood up and stretched my arms and saw that Cody was watching me with a smile. I smiled back and began to run through my squats. I looked at Cody as I did them and thought back to a couple of minutes ago, he had tried to kiss me hadn't he? I didn't know what had happened at the time but now I realised that that was what had happened, but for some reason he was the one to stop it. Why did he? I know that Cody has feelings for me, even I'm not that naïve not to notice them. I honestly don't know how I would have reacted if he'd kissed me, thinking back on it I felt... excited. Did I want it to happen?

"Fifty!" I said aloud breaking me out of my thoughts as I realised I had finished my exercises. I hadn't realised that I was counting as I did my squats; I had been deep in thought.

"Great!" Cody chirped, jumping to his feet. "Now I can show you the sights."

"Sounds good." I replied and began to follow him into the centre of the town.