Cracks in the Stone

Story by KlausNightfur on SoFurry

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#5 of Time, Confusion, and the Feelings that Arise

Well... I'm not quite sure how I feel here. On one hand I did portray what I wanted to get across, yet at the same time it might not be my best work... Well I suppose I should not expect every chapter to be perfect! I will just do what I can and make sure the next chapter is better!

Comments and critiques are always welcome and wanted!!! :3


Kathleen purred as the sun's warmth seeped into her fur. The contrast between the warm outdoors and the icy chill of the classroom was a welcome change, though classes were made all the more difficult when one knew of the beauty of the day passing them by. The feline shrugged her backpack off and sat on a nearby stone bench. It too was nice and warm under her, adding to her comfort. She watched her peers move on to their next destination before pulling out her phone. A short message awaited her to which she responded quickly. At first it had seemed a bit awkward, the random meeting and the long talks about anything and everything. Yet now it had become something of a pleasant experience for her. She had never really paid much attention to the collie and he usually left her alone since she was dating his brother, aside from the occasional wink alongside a comment about her looks. Kat never imagined that the two of them would ever be able to hold a conversation, much less become close friends. It seemed to her that Flynn's absence was affecting him just as much as it affected her. She supposed it was not really a wonder why the two of them had finally found some common ground. Her thoughts were stirred by the presence of another sitting down beside her. His black fur did nothing to conceal his muscular frame. Obviously Conall had already lost his winter coat.

"Well that did not take long. Are you starting to wait on me now?" Her voice was playful, a tone that had come much more easily as of late.

"Nah, of course not! I just happened to be in the neighborhood. You got lucky really." He winked and grinned boyishly. Kat found it oddly charming. Then again, Conall himself was oddly charming. He had been a bit abrasive at first; awkwardly fidgeting as he tried to make an attempt at intelligent conversation. She had begun to think he really was as much of an idiot as Emrys said. Now she knew the truth behind the façade. Conall was intelligent, funny, and even compassionate when he wanted to be. It was a strange change in her mental image of him, an almost Jekyll and Hyde transformation though maybe not quite as drastic. "Anyway, how was class? I assume you were bored out of your mind again?"

Kat chuckled, "Well if you find eukaryotic organisms interesting then I guess it was not entirely boring."

"Riveting. I think you have just convinced me to change majors."

"Oh? Well you could join me in the wonderful world of biology, though you may have building withdrawals."

Conall's eyebrow raised curiously, "You do know I'm an electrical engineer right? I don't build in the stereotypical way people think of when regarding an engineer. That would belong to the Civies."

"My apologies for the obvious insult. However shall I make it up to you?"

Conall looked genuinely thoughtful for a moment, "Lunch. At the DD. On me?"

"I usually don't turn down a free meal, but I have another class this afternoon. General Chemistry to be exact. We are going over the periodic table today, how could I possibly miss that?"

"Well I hate to drag you away from such an interesting topic. I suppose Old Ben's special will just have to be enjoyed by myself..."

Kat almost drooled on herself. Ben's special was a traditional steak and mushroom pie. Perfectly cooked in a gravy with just a touch of Guinness for flavor. "You just convinced me."

Conall chuckled, "I thought that might get you. Besides the periodic table is an easy topic in that course. I can help you if you feel like it is just too much to handle on your own, though I think you'll be fine."

The feline smiled and stood, stretching languorously. "Well we better head on! I would hate to keep Ben waiting." Conall nodded and stood, grabbing both of their bags as he began walking towards the parking lot. 'Hey! I'm not an invalid you know. I can carry my own bag."

Conall glanced over his shoulder, his tail curling contentedly. "Chivalry isn't dead my dear Kat. Even I can be a gentleman at times. Besides, I would never hear the end of it from Flynn if he found out that his mate was being treated with anything other than the utmost respect."

Kat grinned, hiding her surprise as she followed. Her tail would have given her away, what with it swaying curiously, but she had enough self-control to keep that out of sight. She would not let him know that he had shocked her with that comment; that would give him a bit too much satisfaction.

Brandon grunted as he pumped out the last few reps of pull-ups. He was soaked with sweat from the heat of the day. A perfect day for a playground workout. The gravel underneath his paws crunched as the shepherd padded his way to the nearby bench on which his belongings lay. He took a long drag from a water bottle and settled down to rest. The park around him was empty save for the usual furs out for a jog. Passing females never seemed too busy to give him an admiring stare as they ran by. He made it a point to give a friendly smile to each one he caught checking him out. It was flattering, yet he found it to be no more stirring than the wind on this placid day. He couldn't help but wish for a light breeze to help cool him even though he had known the heat would be a bit more intense today. Spring always came in a wave of heat here, which was not saying much since it never really grew cold in the first place. Brandon enjoyed the heat, thrived in it. He could lose himself in the warmth of the day, but he had more important plans for this afternoon. Plans that he could not possibly change, nor did he want to.

While it was true that the staring females at the park did not arouse his more primal side, it was not due to his preference for males. In fact it was not so long ago that he enjoyed the company of male and female alike. The reason for his apathy towards them was due to his own sense of loyalty and love for his mate. Emrys had captured his heart quite easily. The kind eyes and strong yet sensitive disposition tugging on a part of him lying long dormant within. Brandon turned and spotted the jindo heading his way. The canine was obviously sweating himself, though not quite as much as the shepherd. The light blonde fur glistened in the afternoon sun, his blonde hair disheveled yet still quite perfect as it swayed in his own self-made breeze. His running shorts hugging the rather ample rear of the slender jindo. The sight took the shep's breath away. His mate was beautiful to behold and Brandon felt a yearning to take him in his arms here and now.

Standing, the shep waved to his mate letting him know that he was finished with his own workout. Emrys detoured over to him, panting softly as he slowed though Brandon knew he was not quite finished as the jindo continued to run in place. "Someone is going all out today. How much more do you have?"

Emrys thought for a moment, "I think one more lap ought to do! Care to join stud?"

Brandon grinned eagerly, "How could I possibly turn down such a sexy creature?" The jindo's reddening cheeks gave him reason to chuckle softly before taking up a similar pace to his mate. The furs jogged two-wide along the soft dirt pathway through the park. No words were shared as none were needed. They could each feel the happiness emanating from the other, and neither one dared disrupt the beautiful serenity of the moment. This is what Brandon had longed for, this feeling of being a whole entity once more. Emrys truly made him complete. This feeling, this love, was something worth cherishing.

"What an ass on that one! Geez if he had a shirt on I could swear that was a chick! Fucking fag is messing with my head Butch!"

"Slutty little fuck. Let's get around these queers before we catch something."

Brandon felt himself tense, his body shaking with silent fury. How could anyone be so ignorant? He refrained from turning around for fear of losing his control. The shep glanced at Emrys, whose own demeanor had remain unchanged. He was still smiling, winking as he noticed his mate's gaze. The shepherd quickly calmed down. Who cared what anyone said. He would not allow his temper to get away from him and ruin such a perfect day. It was then that he noticed the two others passing them by.

Each one went to a different side, sneering and making offhand comments as they passed. Brandon kept his eyes on the doberman passing his mate. The motion was slight, but the shep was sharp enough to catch the jindo's hindpaw slip in between the large canine's legs. The doberman went down in a storm of obscenities. The sight made the two lovers laugh as they continued along their way. Brandon had all but forgotten about the Great Dane coming around his side.

"You little prick I saw that!" He growled as he sped up to get around the shepherd. Brandon threw his arm out, slamming it into the Dane's exposed neck. The ground met the canine in a matter of seconds. He sputtered and coughed as he tried to stand and pursue the two furs. He grinned as his doberman friend passed.

"Little fucking cunt! You'll both pay for that!" Brandon prepared himself to jump in front of the approaching dog, yet surprisingly it was he who was taken down. The doberman slammed into him pushing him off his hindpaws before slamming him to the ground. The air left the shepherds lungs as he fought to pick himself up. His arms instinctively raised to protect his head as the doberman rained punched down onto him. The only thoughts in his mind were of Emrys. The Jindo was unprotected and the Dane would be up soon. A voice distracted the doberman just enough to allow Brandon a solid hit. The canine fell in a heap and the shepherd sprang to his feet. The doberman would be out for a while, only the Dane remained.

Emrys was backed up against a tree with the larger canine bearing down upon him. Brandon growled and rushed the Dane, slamming him into a nearby tree and wrapping a forepaw around his throat. He grunted as he lifted the massive dog and squeezed tightly. The Dane clawed fought desperately to free himself, but the shepherd held. Brandon was seeing red. This bastard threatened the one he loved. This was an unforgiveable act that would be repaid ten-fold. He threw the Dane to the ground and delivered a solid kick to the abdomen. Over and over he kicked, making sure to hit the same area each time. The liver was a prime target in this type of situation. Enough blows to the liver would produce a feeling of terror as a series of uncontrollable reactions occur within the body. He would not kill the Dane, but the mongrel would never forget the experience. He left the shuddering canine where he lay and checked on Emrys. The Jindo was a tad shaken, but unharmed.

"I believe we should head home love. These two will be in no shape to get revenge, but I would rather not have to do anything more drastic." The jindo nodded and the two furs took their leave.

"How did you learn to fight like that? No offense intended but I just never really felt that kind of vibe from you before. You were... well I guess the word that comes to mind would be primal."

Brandon sighed and forced himself to smile at his mate. It was not something he wanted Emrys to see. Obviously the universe did not intend on letting the shepherd hide anything from the jindo. "Odd family situation... It's a long story but I kind of had to learn how to defend myself. In any case you seem to be the one full of surprises. Why did you trip that guy? I swear I did not see that coming."

The slender canine grinned devilishly, "That's what he gets for grabbing my ass without permission."

"Huh... Well if I had known that I would have done a bit more damage to that one..."

"To be fair the Dane was kind of about to acquaint me with his fists. So I am glad you were unaware."

"Point taken. Anyway we won't be having any trouble from those two. I have seen their type too many times. The Doberman might want a piece but he won't try it without some help and he will likely go after me if he does have the testicular fortitude for revenge. The Great Dane? He won't recover mentally from that for at least a few months. There is something about that kind of terror that stirs the flight response from even the most rugged individual." Brandon allowed himself a smug grin. It had been far too long since he had been able to feel the rush of a good fight. Being able to protect his mate made things all the more sweet. Glancing over at Emrys, he noticed an odd glimmer in the canine's eyes. "Something the matter?"

"I just have never really had anyone stand up for me before, other than Flynn..."

"Oh? Flynn the protective type?"

"You could say that... but none of my previous mates ever stood up for me the way you did. They either retreated or stood there awkwardly until we could walk away. Flynn always seemed to be there to stick up for me though..."

"He must be a good friend. You should treasure that."

"I do! Flynn is my best friend! We have always been together."

"Well, now you have me as well. So the collie will have to learn to share." Brandon blushed as Emrys smiled brightly. All surroundings ceased to be in the light of this smile. The two furs walked paw in paw together. Enjoying what remained of this perfect day.

Flynn stared at the phone in his forepaws in silent contemplation. His afternoon class had been cancelled so the opportunity to call Kat during her lunch break was too good to pass on. It was with no small amount of eagerness that he dialed the feline's number, so the sound of her voicemail was more than a damper on his good mood. Kat's professors had the habit of being long winded depending on the subject material, so Flynn was relatively sure that she had been kept over again. A shame really, when he thought about how little he felt they had been able to talk with one another as of late. The collie was not afraid of growing apart, it was not his way to worry about such things. The two were too connected for such a thing to be a factor. Still, it was frustrating to know that a phone call was the only way he could be with her at such a distance.

Oddly enough, he thought back to the night a couple of weeks back. He had awoke to find Emrys curled up in his arms. His best friend lay still and silent; his breathing a peaceful rhythm. The collie remembered just how happy it made him to see Emrys there beside him. It was as if waking up beside the jindo filled in the hole that his being away from Kat opened. The jindo's scent seemed to overtake him at the time; a pleasurable, almost sweet scent that touched something within him. He had inhaled it so loudly that he thought he would disturb the sleeping canine. Luckily he had not stirred. The collie then closed his own eyes and sleep soon returned to him.

His own thoughts that time had been the push to try and be more attentive to his mate. It was not Emrys being there that had made him so happy. The collie needed someone to hold, to protect. He wanted to feel needed by another. It had never occurred to him before, but now it was clear. The feelings he had experienced lately towards Emrys were simply due to the fact that his friend did not need him anymore. The jindo's new mate would take care of him. Flynn had no one left to find physical solace in, so he decided to increase the small amount of comfort he received from hearing Kat's voice by calling her more often. It had worked to an extent, yet she was busy with the other parts of her own life. A phone conversation was not always an option anymore.

Flynn looked up at the sound of an opening door. Emrys' face beamed as he waved a fond farewell to his mate. The two had obviously just come from a workout as Emrys tank top was soaked and clung to his slender frame.

"Well someone is home early! How'd you manage that one? I assume you are not skipping class." The jindo gave a small giggle as he walked towards the refrigerator.

"No, nothing like that! Our professor had something urgent come up so class was canceled. Where's Brandon? I thought he would be coming in with you."

"He'll be back soon! He forgot a change of clothes so he went home to shower." Obvious disappointment laced that last bit.

"Well I guess I will find some way to get out of your hair when he does! I would hate to be a third wheel."

"Oh shut it puppy. You know that is never a problem! Brandon really likes you. In fact he said just today that he would like to get to know you better!"

Flynn smiled and nodded. Honestly he was more than happy to spend some time with the two. It would be good to see them together. Seeing his friend so happy warmed his heart. He had been wrong to suspect Brandon was anything like Conall, happily wrong. "It would be my pleasure. He has to have my seal of approval anyway."

Emrys smiled and bent down to rummage in the drawer where they kept a supply of bottled water. Flynn blushed as his eyes were drawn to the jindo's shorts riding precariously high. They perfectly conformed to the canine's rear, which the collie had to admit was not unpleasant to look at. In fact there was no doubt that it was one of the nicest he had ever seen. He wondered if it truly had the soft yet firm feel it looked to possess. The thought made him blush brightly. What was he thinking? One moment his mind was filled with thoughts of Kat and now he could not get Emrys' rear out of his head. The collie shook it off and turned so that his friend was out of his field of vision.

"I... am going to grab a shower..."

The jindo smiled as the last of the water drained from the bottle. "Ah I was thinking the same thing! Great minds right?" Emrys gave the collie's shoulder a light squeeze as he passed.

Flynn blushed as a vision of the jindo flashed before his eyes. Water running over his slender frame, caressing every inch of silky fur. He was glad his friend was out of sight. For now, it was time for his usual meditation period. Hopefully this time it would truly ease his mind.