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The first yellow-white fingers of dawn crept into Jak and Airy's leafy bower. One bright ray reflecting off some shiny surface pierced Jak's functional eyelid, startling him awake from uneasy dreams. Panting for breath and his heart racing as though he had been running for miles, he sat upright and swiveled his head frantically about, experiencing a few anxious and uncertain seconds in which he had no idea where he was or why he was here. A tumbling cascade of dream images symbolic of the trials and triumphs of his last few weeks slid past his consciousness in a confusing, anxiety inducing blur. As though he were living the moments again, he was with Airy fighting the kryfes, then Eagle's black blade was drawing a thin rivulet of blood from between Airy's breasts, next he was helpless to stop Autumn from savagely kicking Airy, after that he felt again the nearly overwhelming pain of the steel dagger piercing his white paw, and finally he and airy were staggering in the dark as they escaped from Winter pack. The images passed each in turn through his disoriented consciousness until they dissolved like fog exposed to bright sunlight.

When only thoughts of the present moment were left to him, he closed his eyes again and slowed his breathing, letting his heart adjust to match. Airy was there curled up in a tight ball against him to prove they had both survived. His breathing slowed further. His left paw throbbed dully yet persistently with pain to remind him of the abuse he and Airy had endured and survived. His heart was no longer racing. The continuous rushing hiss of the nearby river with its rolling stones chattering like teeth on a cold day, reminded him they were somewhere safe. His tense muscles relaxed and he lay back down. Only Airy's smell was evident; he could taste no odor of Wolves or any other threatening creatures. Calm finally settled itself upon him.

At peace again, he remembered that they had made it to a comfortable place of security. The brief panic episode upon awakening was gone, and Jak hugged Airy tight to himself. Though pleasurable, the motion initiated renewed throbbing pain across his bandaged white paw. The old healer Wolf had given him leaves to chew that helped dull the pain. They had chewed them last night to so that they could sleep. Now the pain was fresh again and would not go away on its own. Retrieving more leaves would require rummaging through his kit to find them, which might awaken Airy and spoil the perfect tranquility that surrounded him. He kept motionless instead. The pain slowly subsided enough that he could ignore it and enjoy the ambiance. The dawn had always been his favorite time of day, and his most dear possession in the whole world was nestled with her back against his stomach. After so much hardship and terror, making this moment of bliss endure was his highest priority.

Today the world felt softer and more forgiving to Jak than any time in the last month. No one was pursuing or persecuting them. No one was demanding his or her assistance. There was nothing for them to do, but lie here together and recover as best they could from their wounds and aches. No predators large enough to threaten them could easily or quietly reach them in this thicket. As if to emphasize Jak's silent assertion, a harmless little cotton-tailed rabbit moved slowly through their camp. Inoffensive and oblivious to their presence, it hopped leisurely along stopping occasionally to nibble at choice vegetation until it disappeared into the brambles and vines that concealed Jak and Airy's den. That was likely to be the most menacing thing to invade their private hiding spot unless Bolt broke his word or lost control of the pack. This possibility troubled Jak, but what could he do? Airy was not fit to travel with the grievous injuries from Autumn's beating. Jak would once again trust in the honor of his fellow Wolves.

A light breeze made the leaves dance, and Jak was dazzled again by a twinkle of reflected light from the morning sun. He focused his attention on the source. Surprised yet heartened, he found himself gazing upon Airy's steel knife stuck in the bole of a nearby tree. The dagger was a message from Bolt indicating that their location was known, and that they were welcome to stay as long as they needed. They had been followed and discovered but left alone. Winter pack would not molest them. Jak was relieved. His trust had not been misplaced. Gazing lower to the base of the tree, he saw further proof of the message's benevolent intent. A large leather pouch that no doubt held more food and medicine had been placed there during the night. Bolt was bettering their bargain.

More tension drained out of Jak's overworked muscles, and he inhaled and exhaled in deep, slow breaths as he stretched his left arm out and tested the fingers on his damaged paw. The wrapping covering his wound was still tight, but not tight enough to immobilize his fingers. When he willed it, the smallest finger moved as did his thumb, but the middle three would not move on their own at all. No matter how hard he tried, his only reward was pain.

"Does it hurt, Jak?" So gently did she ask that her unexpected voice did not startle him.

"Yes," he answered truthfully.

"Let me see." She took his injured paw in both of hers and gently caressed and tested his pad and fingers. Noticing muscular control only in the pinky and thumb she was satisfied that he could still at least use it for grasping objects.

After a moment of silence Jak continued in a voice tinged with wry regret, "First an eye and now a paw. I fear that by the time that I get you back to Rikifur, there may not be much left of me. I don't think this paw will ever work right again. It's pretty much ruined."

"Nonsense," she scolded him. "Nothing on my Jak is ruined. You are perfect. With only one eye, you saved me from the kryfes. Half-blind you have overcome every obstacle in front of us. You defeated Eagle and Robin. You beat Blue and Autumn. You brought us farther than I ever expected to get. What's the partial loss of a paw to the mighty Jak?"

"I seem to remember at least once when I needed you to save my life, but if my Captain still thinks that I can serve, then I am content." Earlier in their relationship, the 'Captain' moniker would have irritated Airy, but she had come to love it as a term of endearment knowing now that Jak meant it only as a gentle tease. Turning to hug him, searing hot pain flashed across her chest forcing her to gasp, curl back in on herself and mentally relive the agony of Autumn's kicks.

Jak held her snugly but not tight. "Shhh. Shhh. Shh. You have to stay still, Airy. I don't think anything is broken, but you are very badly bruised. You must rest at least a paw's fingers of days or more before you will be able to continue our journey north. I will get the cheeka leaves to chew to make the pain go away."

"No. Not yet, Jak. I want to lie here next to you and enjoy the dawn first with a clear mind." As Jak had done with his pained paw, Airy rested calmly until the agony diminished to a slight ache that she could tolerate. When she could speak again without aggravating the soreness, she asked, "Jak, what did I purchase with that beating? I was sure that you needed to talk to Bolt so that you could finalize some critical part of the plan. The way you two were acting, I knew it was something important. What was so important that you had to talk to him?"

Jak had hoped that she would not ask. "It wasn't that." Jak paused uncomfortably. "Bolt and I had already discussed everything that was needed to set up the challenge with Blue and prepare the pack to accept it."

"What?", she shouted, instantly regretting the action. Gritting her teeth against the resurging pain, she continued in a softer voice, "I was beaten nearly to death for nothing? Arrgh. Now I hate that bitch even more than ever."

"I'm so sorry, Airy."

Confused and angry, Airy continued to press Jak, "But I saw you two talking when Autumn was kicking me. What did you say that was so important that Bolt waited so long to stop her?"

"If I had known what you were going to do, I would have begged you not to do it." Jak was silent for a moment and then sighed. "I told Bolt that I would not fight Blue unless Bolt swore to me on the love for his family and his pack that if I lost, he would have you taken safely to Manenron. I demanded that he deliver you to the care of Ice Eyes and no one else and explain who you were and what you meant to me. My son has honor and would have treated you well. I did it so that if I died in the fight, I could die in peace. It was a selfish act, I know. I am sorry you suffered for my peace of mind."

Airy's anger melted away like ice in spring. Jak spoke so sweetly and with such sincere contrition that a sob caught in her throat. How could this dangerous Wolf be capable of great feats of strength and bravery and yet be so gentle and tender? "Selfish? Oh, Jak. That's not selfish. It means you really care for me." She had to pause to wipe her eyes and running nose. "Maker, Damn it. You're making me cry."

"Are they tears of happiness or sorrow?"

"Happiness! How could I be sad in your arms?"

"Then let the tears flow while I hold you and share your happiness."

Continuing to rub her moist eyes with the backs of her paws, she carefully pushed herself deeper into his cuddling embrace mindful of the tenderness she still felt in her chest.

Jak became acutely aware again of Airy's femininity as she snuggled her rump against his belly in response to his inadvertent gallant behavior. The small triangular nub of her diminutive Rabbit tail twitched back and forth across the short fur on his belly, much as it had in his earlier fantasy at the hot pools. While vowing to himself to take more of the ubrick roots that helped control his sexual desires, he concentrated on the pain in his hand to keep himself from getting an erection just in case the effects of the bitter root had worn off since his last dose days ago. Airy soon settled down, though, and they lazily watched the bees and other insects begin to drone and move slowly from flower to flower as the morning advanced and the day continued to warm. Bird songs provided a musical background as the sun gradually rose higher and the morning chill was swept completely away.

Six nights passed before Jak thought Airy was healed enough to resume their northward journey. Winter pack had done well in provisioning them for the upcoming trek. Most of the food consisted of dried fish and meat. Jak kept the meat rations hidden from Airy knowing that there might not be enough dried fish to last them their journey across Cat country. He would keep the meat jerky as a food for himself of last resort. Setting it all aside for the upcoming trek, he fished, caught small game fowl and foraged for their daily needs while Airy rested. Airy was content to remain immobile during this period and let Jak nurse her back to health. The cheeka leaves kept her in a quiet torpor for much of the time. When Jak was not gathering food or performing other preparations for the journey, the two of them sat or lay by each other chewing the leaves in silence. Unknown to Airy, Jak had also been chewing the ubrick each day to keep his loins quiet.

When it rained, they stayed under a large oil soaked animal skin that Jak had found among the Winter pack gifts and had strung over a sapling he bent and tied to the ground. When it was clear and sunny, they sat basking in whatever patch of sunlight worked its way into their comfortable bower. At night, they slept together as usual but still chastely. Neither one understood the true depth of the other's love, and were further encumbered by their misconceptions of the other's needs and true desires. Jak loved Airy for her bravery and her acceptance of him as one of her own, but was afraid of how his feelings, if acted upon, might destroy Airy's destiny to become queen of Rikifur. Airy loved Jak for his gentleness and the selfless sacrifices he made for her, both of which increased her yearning to deepen their relationship beyond the 'bond' that Jak had said made them like brother and sister. Despite her desire to become intimate with Jak, she was either in too much pain or addled by the cheeka leaves to contrive a way to overcome Jak's seeming reluctance to love her beyond merely cuddling.

In their unrequited lovelorn state, neither of them noticed the true miracle, which was that they had broken the cultural and species barrier that had kept their peoples apart for so long. Each saw the other as a complete person now, and not some alien breed. The shapes of their ears, tails and snouts had become irrelevant. Jak's references to changes were coming true on a personal scale for both of them, and Airy was one step closer to her destiny.

While struggling with her yearning for Jak, Airy found herself sighing contentedly knowing that being near Jak was enough for now. Soon enough they would have to face perils again, but there was still time in this enjoyable place to work things out with Jak before they had to run in fear and become hunted again. She was determined to enjoy these few days of pleasant rest with Jak and learn everything about him that she could. Whenever the languorous effect of the cheeka leaves wore off and before the pain of her injuries would return, she and Jak would lay together and converse about their pasts, their homes and peoples.

Airy told Jak of the many wonders of Rikifur. The legend of steel, wheeled carriages drawn by horses, paper and writing, mathematics, counting by tens, irrigation, glass, buildings nearly as tall as the fir trees, aqueducts and canals, and currency. Jak understood the utility of these things but was most puzzled by the concept of money. Coming from a culture with little in the way of goods that could not be made by anybody, he just could not fathom a system beyond barter. He took Airy's word that it was important.

Jak recounted to Airy all of the herb lore he could remember from Moon. He discussed the flora and fauna that was indigenous to the lands east of the Earth Spine. Mostly he talked of leadership, and all that he had learned in his long reign as the dominant Wolf of Blackrock pack. Airy's knowledge on this subject was not small, but Jak's experience was unlike hers. Where she had been born to the role, Jak had spent his life earning his status. Having had to secure his people's respect and devotion with his own actions and deeds, the advice he divulged was precious to her. Jak's amazing ability to lead by inspired devotion made her wonder how much of the respect that she had thought she had earned was really the result of her people's obedience to her inherited station. Did they accept her as leader and obey her simply because they had to?

When Airy confessed her doubts to Jak, he seemingly changed the subject by asking, "Why did you let Autumn live?"

"Why?

"Yes. Why? You had every right and reason to want her dead. She was willing to help Blue kill us. She threw your food on the ground and deprived you of adequate water. She would have kicked you to death if Bolt hadn't stopped her. So why didn't you return the favor?"

Why had she not? Airy thought she had known, but now she was uncertain. "When she was there in front of me pinned to the floor, the hurt and humiliated part of me wanted to kill her and feast on vengeance, but what good is such a meal? Like anything consumed, it is soon gone and nothing lasting is left in its place. Another part of me actually felt sorry for her. She had lost everything she believed in and fought for. It was pathetic. How could I kill something brought so low?"

"What then was the real reason?"

"It was only a fleeting thought at the time, but I see now that I was worried about Bolt."

Surprised, Jak asked, "Bolt? Why did you worry about Bolt?

"Bolt saved us. Well, he actually helped you to save us. I wanted him to succeed even after we were gone. He is a good Wolf. I mean a good person. I don't think the other Wolves would have liked to see a Rabbit kill one of their own. If the roles had been reversed, I know what my feelings would have been. Before I met you, I would have been upset to see a Wolf killing one of my kind, even if the Rabbit deserved it. Me killing her could only help to build resentment against Bolt since I was with you, and you were the one who was about to make Bolt their new leader."

Jak listened attentively to Airy's explanation, proud of her progress. "That sounds to me like the kind of decision a queen would make. I would be proud to kneel at the feet of such a ruler," and he did kneel.

"Now you are teasing me."

"I am serious. You are progressing well and making wiser decisions all the time. Helping Bolt was the right thing to do for ourselves and for the good of Winter pack. The protection and hospitability on their lands that we are enjoying right now are due in part to your action of restraint and strategic thought."

"Do you think Bolt will make a good pack leader?"

"I do. His example has made me think a lot about leaders and the way they are chosen. You were born to your role as a leader. It came as a part of who you are. I had to fight to be leader and fight to maintain it. Is one way better than the other? I don't know. In the packs, you always get a strong leader, but not necessarily a wise or benevolent leader. I have known Wolf leaders who held on to their power by intimidation and abuse of the rest of the pack. A freakishly strong leader can keep power even when doing harm to the pack. Packs suffering like that tend to fall apart when unhappy people leave and join other packs.

"In Rikifur you say your leader is selected by the Maker. That sounds ideal, but have you never had bad leaders born to the role of king?"

Airy thought of her brother, who would be king if she never returned. There had been a few others like him who were not wise. "Yes. We have." She did not elaborate on the consequences of the bad leaders.

Jak did not notice her hesitation because we was wondering if there might be better way to choose a leader. "Bolt was chosen by me to be leader. He did not fight for the position, and I am not the Maker. He wasn't trying to become the leader. In fact, he did not want it. I forced it on him. Blood Paw did the same when he transferred leadership in the first pack. I wonder if there is a lesson there." Jak shook his head. "If there is, I can't fathom it."

"If leadership isn't taken or given by the Maker, then who would decide?"

"I don't know, and thinking about it makes my head spin, although that could also be from the cheeka leaves. I think some sword practice is necessary to clear my head."

His wounded white paw and sore muscles from the fight with Blue were less a bother to Jak than Airy's bruised ribs, so Jak had begun practicing for hours each day with Airy's sword. While lying propped up against the bag of provisions, she gave him instructions in its use as she had promised when they had first agreed to their pact. The sweet, sentimental reminiscence of that initial encounter brought a few silent tears to Airy's eyes. His willing capitulation to her authority and the gratitude she had experienced from that gesture was branded in the region of her memory where the most wholesome thoughts dwelled. She found herself crying a lot lately, correctly deducing that it was an after effect of the glorious feelings of love she had for Jak. Upon seeing her tears, Jak stopped practicing with the blade and hovered over her, worried that she was in pain. His relentless and earnestly endearing fussing and his suggestions to chew more cheeka leaves only deepened her sentimental mood. Overwhelmed by emotion and needing some space, she convinced him that she was just homesick and distracted him by criticized his sword fighting form and sent him back to practice more.

Truthfully, she had to admit to herself that there was little to condemn. Though a bit short for him, the long slender blade that she had carried over the Earth Spine became each day more like an extension of Jak's arm. Never before had she see anyone master the weapon so quickly. He was like a furry bolt of lightning as he practiced advancing, retreating, thrusting, cutting and parrying. Every move was precise, controlled and perfect. By the end of the sixth day, she knew she could not stand against him in one on one combat even though she had trained for years with the same weapon. She worried what an army of his kind could do armed with such weapons and was grateful he was so obviously dedicated to her and Rikifur.

Having fought in many small skirmishes with other packs and the Deer and Rabbit people of the West, Jak was keen to learn all about how the Rikiguard fought its wars. Airy explained to him how the Rabbits battled with combinations of archers, spear wielding cavalry, and swordsmen with shields, how they used catapults and boiling oil as defensive weapons on their castles and the different types of swords they used and how they were utilized. Compared to a broadsword or great sword the sword he was training with was deliberately made relatively thin and light because it was specially designed for speed against unarmored foes.

"What is a great sword, and when would you use it?", asked Jak.

"It's a larger, broader sword that requires both hands to use. We use those against armored foes, which sadly means against ourselves," she replied.

Jak paused in his relentless drills with the sword and was silent for moment. "I thought you were one united people, not separate kingdoms like the packs."

It was time for her to let Jak know the truth. "We call it a kin war when people of the same kingdom fight each other. It is a terrible thing to kill our own people." Airy grew thoughtful. Jak waited patiently for her to continue, sensing her reticence on the subject. "Not everyone is happy with the social order. Sometimes people rise up in rebellion because they don't like the rules, or they don't like how little land or wealth they have or over an argument about the Maker. There have even been wars fought over the right of my family to rule Rikifur. Not everyone believes that the Maker made our family special. We are always on the alert for traitors trying to overthrow our dynasty."

Performing the salute she had taught him, Jak began by pointing the sword down towards the ground at his side with his arm outstretched while gravely proclaiming, "I am loyal to your family..." then drawing it up vertically in front of his face he paused, "... to you, Airy, ..." before extending his arm upwards towards the heavens, "...and to Rikifur. Though I am not your kin, you can rely on me to end any war that is started against you and your family." With that said, he returned to his exercise of destroying imaginary opponents with even more vigor.

On the morning of the seventh day, Airy was able to move about freely with very little pain. Only a vague tightness remained, and Jak agreed that exercise would be good for her now. It was time to continue their journey. He removed the bandages that had bound her into immobility, pointlessly avoiding looking at her breasts that he had seen so many times already. They were ready to begin what Jak considered to be the most dangerous part of their journey so far, crossing Cat country. During their rest, Jak had augmented the stores provided by Winter pack with food more suitable to Airy's tastes. Since he did not know how far they had to go, he had to strike the best balance he could between speed and starvation. The more food they carried, the slower they would move. If he did not take enough, they would either go hungry or have to spend time foraging. He erred on the side of more speed and less food, reasoning that there was no point in being fat when you were dead.

"We are going to have to move as far and fast as we can each day," Jak said as he explained his preparations to Airy. "I have never met a Cat. I don't know what to expect from them except death. Speed is our best defense. I have heard they live more dispersed than the Wolves. We may be able to sneak through and never encounter them. There will be no time for anything but movement and sleep and probably not much sleep. They can see very well at night."

Airy listened to Jak's advice and then became pensive and silent. Her nose began to twitch subtly but noticeably.

Sensing her disquiet, Jak asked, "What's wrong? Are you afraid of entering Aserth?"

"No, Jak. It's not that. It's something else."

Jak could see that she was struggling with something important. Her nose was twitching faster as she wrestled with whatever was bothering her. "Whatever it is, you can tell me. I think that we are way beyond keeping secrets from each other."

With a half-smile she replied, "I hope you are right, because what I have to say ... to confess, should not be kept a secret. I can't keep it a secret, and I don't want to go into peril again until I have my say ... and I hope something more."

Puzzled, Jak could only wait for her to elaborate. She hesitated. She wanted Jak to love her the way she did him. She wanted him to grab her, tear her clothes off and take her right here in their private glade. She desperately wanted that, yet found herself reliving the same mental arguments that had played over and over in her head the last six days. Self-doubts and the strictures of her own culture warred within her, threatening to tear her apart from the inside. Her stomach was cramped and her head spun akin to the way her body had reacted to the Maker's air at the high pass. Would this disqualify her from becoming a queen? He is not a Rabbit. Others of her kind would no doubt think her a disgusting deviant, but she would not be breaking her vow. In her people's eyes, Jak was no more than an animal. He could never be her mate. Never be her king. To Airy, though, he was not an animal. He was a person just like any Rabbit. He certainly looked like a beast, but he was as much a person as Airy was. Perverted or not, her love for him was more than the brother-sister bond for which she and Jak had pledged themselves. She knew that her father and advisors would say it was just an infatuation; the rescued doe falling for her hero, but Airy knew it was more profound than that.

It was true that by all logical reckoning, this relationship made no sense. How could she explain to herself this intense hunger for him considering his species, age, and appearance? She had never felt herself having such strong yearnings for any buck she had ever met. Even warriors she had fought beside had not become this dear, the feelings this intense. This was something more, something inexplicable. She stood now as she had at the high pass, with all of the arguments against her love for Jak on the west side being consumed in flames. To the east was uncertainty and possible pain and suffering, but also the potential for a greater destiny, a destiny of life long happiness and love. She was afraid again of taking those steps into the unknown, but not because it was wrong, not because of the social consequences of making love to Jak, but because of the consequences of his possible rejection. How could she live with that? Is this what love is then? Uncertainty? The torture of quivering, expectant suspense? As she had at the pass, she was prepared to take those steps again. Whether the result was happiness or despair, she had to know. She turned away from the fires and fears in her mind and once again took the first step on a journey into a new life.

So internally contorted had she become, that she could only hoarsely gasp the words that she had now decided to say. "Jak, I love you." There was a brief pause, but before Jak could say anything, she recovered and elaborated, "I don't mean love like our blood bond or like two warriors, Jak. I mean it in the Rabbit sense of husband and wife and the Wolf sense of favorite mate."

To her relief Jak did not recoil or reject her confession. He seemed initially shocked, but then every physical bodily expression he was capable of making immediately showed tremendous joy and happiness. He swept her into his arms and completely off her feet. Though the hug was sudden and unexpected, he was amazingly gentle and she felt no pain from her injuries.

"I love you the same way, Airy."

No tears came forth. She felt only a sense of great serenity. Her nose stopped twitching, and the pure sense of relief was more profound than her escape from either the volcano or the madness of Winter pack. Wrapping her legs around Jak's waist she snuggled into his furry neck as Jak licked the top of her head and ears. The sensation was so erotic, she felt emboldened to press forth with the second part of her confession.

"Jak?", came her muffled voice from somewhere deep in the fur of his neck.

"Yes?"

"Will you show me what mates do?"

He stopped licking her, but did not put her down. "Airy, you are my princess. I have to protect you. I have to keep you virgin so you can be queen. I swore fealty to you."

"I know, Jak, but when I said I wanted to be your mate, I meant mate." When Jak did not immediately respond, she pushed on, "Things are different now. The future is not so certain for me as it once was. The chances of us making it to Rikifur alive are slight. Could I be queen one day? Perhaps. Am I here with you now, in danger? Definitely. I like to feel you pressed against me, Jak. I felt it that first night you slept with me to keep me alive. Even when I thought I hated you, deep inside of me love was germinating. It has only grown with each moment since. We could die tomorrow, Jak. I am not afraid of death like I used to be, but I am afraid of dying without fully experiencing our love. Jak, I want you to ..." Jak clamped his finger and thumb on top and below her snout, respectively and gently shut her mouth before she could say the words that they both wanted to hear.

"Hear me please, Airy, before you say anything more. I have deep and overpowering feelings for you, also. This love is real. I know. I have experienced it before and never thought I could feel this way again. I was ready to die when we met. I feel as if I did die and have been reborn into a new life. You are my new life and what I live for. Right or wrong, I see you as of my own kind, or maybe myself as your kind. I'm confused about what I am anymore." He shrugged at his own bewilderment. "It doesn't really matter. I ... I love you as a mate, too. I have tried to love you as my princess only. That has been hard. Because I love you so much, I don't want to do anything to hurt you."

Airy broke free of Jak's gentle grasp of her snout and nuzzled and licked behind his ears. "Jak, how could you hurt me?"

"I sat on your wounded leg once."

A chuckle escaped her. "I forgave you for that a long time ago. I love you, Jak and not just as my friend and guide and not just as bonded warriors. I love you as if you were my husband."

"I want you that way too, Airy, but I can't be selfish. I have nothing to lose, and you have everything to lose. If you want me to love you in that way, I will gladly do that, but it has to be right for you. Do not do this for me. You are youn,g and your life is full of promise. I don't want you to suffer because of me and my desires. I said I was reborn, but in truth, I'm old, Airy. I stopped counting many years ago, but I must be nearly, by your counting, fifty turns of the seasons. Don't sacrifice yourself for a broken and tired old Wolf that no one else wants."

"I'm not doing this for just you or me. I want this for both of us. Where is either of us without the other? Lost. Dead. I want you, Jak. You want me. I want you more than I want to be a queen. If I can't have you and be queen, then I will be just Airy and have only you. The role of princess was forced on me at birth. Yes. I still want to be queen, still want to serve my people, but this is my choice - not someone else's choice. Damn the priests! Damn the rules! I have been told what to do and made a slave to the desires of others for too long. What is the point of being queen if I can't be happy and have my true love? You are my true love, Jak."

"Are you sure? You are young. There may still be others of your own kind who ...". This time it was Airy who clamped Jak's muzzle closed, but it took both of her paws.

"Don't be fool, and don't think that I am a fool. I know there might be another I could love maybe even as much as I love you, but why should I give up certain love for potential future love? If you taught me anything, Jak, you taught me we can change the rules. Wolves and Rabbits can be friends. Who are the rules for anyway? They are for us and everyone. If the rules get in the way of a better life, then they need to change. A son should not have to drive his father away. Lovers should not be separated by that same stupid rule. True love should not be denied as the price of being queen. A leader can be chosen. We have changed, Jak. You and I. A Wolf and a Rabbit in love. When has that ever happened? I believe that we can change the rules for everyone. You changed the rules and selected the leader for Winter pack. What else might we be able to do, Jak?

"That's a dangerous path to take. What about tradition?", he mumbled through the grip she had on his muzzle.

"I know, but I think it is part of my destiny. Traditions can be good and bind us together, but they can also be bad and drive us apart. To me, now, breaking the rules feels right. I feel that you and I can change the bad rules that hurt our peoples and make a better world."

Airy threw her paws up and growled in frustration borne of uncertainty. "I don't know, Jak. Maybe I am a fool. It may just be that I think that I am something that I am not, but being with you has changed me, and I cannot go back. If I have to change the world to make it work for this new me, then that is what I will do.

"And think on this - who is going to know anyway, Jak? Rikifur is a long way away, and you and I are very close together. Even if we make it back to Rikifur, no one will be able to tell what we have done. I have been a very physically active doe my whole life. My barrier broke a long time ago. There is no test the priests can use to prove or disprove my virginity. It's not like I can get pregnant with your pups, or kits, or whatever they would be called. Everyone knows that is not possible between kinds." Pointing north she continued, "I don't want to cross that river until I have made love to you." She emphasized her point by rubbing herself against his kilt and pushing his uninjured right paw up under her shirt.

Jak surrendered under her assault of her conviction and her passion. They kissed warmly sharing each other's tongue. Jak's was long and agile and explored inside Airy's mouth. The sensation took her back to her fantasy at the pool. She could feel herself growing warm and moist between her legs at the thought of where she really wanted his tongue. Her chaperones had told her that many bucks would not do it or did not like it. She wondered if Jak would do it.

"Jshak?" she garbled his name as she tried to speak around his tongue.

"Yes?"

Hesitantly she asked, "Would you lick me down ... there?", while rubbing her pubis against him to make her meaning clear.

His smile turned almost feral at the suggestion, and he detached her from their embrace and set her standing on the ground. With exaggerated formality he asked, "Airy, may I remove your shirt?"

Maker! He will do it. "Yes," she gasped. Slowly, he lifted her shirt over her head, and took his time examining her body again, reveling in not having to pretend that he was not interested. Kneeling in front of her, he spoke again, quietly asking her, "May I kiss your neck?"

"Yes," she replied understanding that he was playing the gallant for her.

He began licking and nuzzling her neck softly and slowly with his amazingly long and muscular tongue. He had licked her before, and she had felt the sensual nature of it, but now the electric feeling it induced in her was magnified manifold. Just as she was wondering how long he would linger so far from her goal, he asked, "May I kiss your breasts?"

She wanted that. "Yes."

Moving downward slowly with his tongue in constant contact with her fur, he reached the bare, erect nipple of her left breast and used the tip of his tongue to gently trace circles around the edge where her fur met bare skin. Airy shuddered at the contact and put her paws on his head in order to hold onto him and keep him from stopping this pleasurable act. The contact between his warm tongue and the sensitive surface of her nipple was almost too much to endure. She had been a ticklish kit, and this felt like an adult version of being tickle tortured by her friends, except with divergent consequences. Once when being tickled as a child, she had peed herself. It had been very embarrassing. Now she felt equally wet in her undergarments, but she knew her bladder was not the cause. Spasming from each soft lap of his tongue, she was grateful when he spoke again.

"May I kiss your belly?"

Wanting desperately for him to keep moving down her body she acquiesced again, "Yes."

His tongue found her belly button recessed within the fur of her tight abdomen. Though not as sensitive as her nipples, he was closer to her objective, which made it more stimulating. To her delight, he did not loiter there long.

"Airy, May I remove your pants?"

"Yes. You must. I mean you may."

Smiling at her urgency, Jack untied the front drawstring with agonizing slowness, and then the rear drawstring that enclosed the opening for her tail with equal deliberation. After her pants dropped down about her ankles, she now only wore the small cloth that covered her sex. The material was wet in front from her vaginal juices. Jak inhaled the heady aroma and his memory took him back to the hot spring, to the moment when Airy had emerged from her bath. Here was the proof that Airy had been experiencing these feelings for him even then. What a fool he had been for taking so long to understand. The smell was as he remembered, like yet different from Wolf females, who had a heavy, musky allure. Airy's smell was sweeter somehow like the freshness of spring with just enough bitter tang to know that it was not all innocence and downy fluff.

"May I kiss your thighs?"

The suspense was becoming intolerable to Airy, and she wanted to say 'No' and force his snout between her legs, but she also wanted this slowly progressing ecstasy to last forever. Unable to do more than enjoy the experience, she replied, "Yes."

He began by deliberately tracing the faint tiger stripes with his tongue and the tip of his nose. Then, nuzzling and licking her inner thighs where the stripes didn't reach, Jak gently spread Airy's legs apart deliberately rubbing his snout against the cloth covering her wet opening as he scrubbed her thighs with his tongue. Each time he did, Airy shook and quivered in response. The smell of her this close was incredibly enticing, and Jak found himself no longer able to resist the ultimate target of his wandering tongue's attention.

"May I remove your underpants?"

At last, she thought with an almost panicky expectation for what would happen next. "Oh, sweet Maker, yes." Airy now stood completely naked in front of Jak. She was glorious in her youth and beauty. Though he had seen her nude before, it had not been during the delightful ecstasy of the act of lovemaking. The word exotic did not begin to describe how Jak perceived her. She was so unlike any Wolf female he had ever mated. He wished to explore every bit of her body by touch, taste and smell and vowed that he would do so if it took him the rest of his life. For now, though, one particular spot was in desperate need of attention. Having performed this act many times before, he knew what to do to make it special for Airy. Slowly he lay backward with his paws on Airy's buttocks drawing her down gently to her knees with her spread and dripping vagina directly over the end of his snout.

Airy was so tense with anticipation, that her orgasm nearly erupted upon her when his warm breath first blew across her exposed and moistened labia. His tongue followed immediately after, slowly and purposefully caressing her sensitive bare flesh from top to bottom. Gripping tightly to a fistful of his braided head fur she had to arch her back and lift herself off him occasionally to prevent herself from cumming too soon. His tongue was long enough, though, that she could not escape it entirely, and she quickly lost the skirmish to stall her orgasm. Biting her lip, she shuddered with her climax and whimpered in pleasure. Jak's licking changed from a soft caress to the greedy action of drinking the sudden increase in fluids as Airy rode the orgasm to its convulsive end.

So drained was she by the event, Airy felt the need to collapse on Jak and recover, but Jak would not let her go. His powerful paws held onto her butt firmly and kept her where he wanted her. When he was done drinking from her chalice, he tugged her down tight against his snout and gradually slid his tongue between her folds. "Ahhunhh!" Airy jumped and trembled at the onset of this new intrusion into her previously secret world. With methodical precision, Jak's tongue moved in and out, each time a frustratingly small bit further, each time the intensity of the pleasure was substantially greater. When Jak's tongue found its limit, the end of his snout found her clitoris, and Airy nearly lost control of her body. In and out went his tongue and back and forth moved his snout with Airy rocking in rhythm to maximize the sensation. Unlike at the pools, this time Airy did not muffle her scream or try to drown it in any way when the insanely powerful zenith of her second orgasm wove through her body like the waves of an earthquake travelling through the ground.

This time Jak did let her down and placed her rump on his belly with her head cradled between his knees like a pup, or in her case, a kit. Jak was busily licking the rest of her wetness from his snout while she felt more flowing from inside her to soak stickily into his belly fur. She was too exhausted, too completely satisfied to care, move or do anything but breathe slowly and lethargically for a while.

Jak was content to let her enjoy the post coital moment. There was not much else he could do anyway. The ubrick root was still in his system. It was having its now not so beneficial effect. He had enjoyed giving Airy pleasure, but felt none of the rush in his loins that should have accompanied the act. It was a disturbing sensation that left him a little rattled and wondering if he had done something permanent to himself. No. That could not be. Moon was infallible on the subject of herb lore. He just needed time to let the poison leave his system, but nagging doubts remained.

Stirring from her state of ease, she surprised herself when her teeth lightly chattered together making a purring sound. That was something she had never done before and of which she had not thought herself capable. It felt right to do it, though. Stretching out her legs, she placed her feet over Jak's shoulders. "Oh, Jak, that was just as I had fantasized it would be. You've done that before haven't you, you naughty Wolf."

"I won't deny it, but I also won't discuss past mates unless you want to."

"Hmm. Probably not. I prefer to pretend that you are mine and always have been mine."

"In a sense it is true. White Paw had many mates, but he is dead. Jak never mated until now."

Agreeing with his reasoning, Airy leaned forward and kissed him repeatedly as she spoke. "Yes. You are my Jak. My sweet Jak." Tasting herself on Jak's kiss, she sat up again and twitched her nose, while her tongue darted in and out of her mouth. "Is that how I taste?" She was not sure about the flavor herself. "Do you like it?"

"Yes. You are delicious."

She seemed dubious. "I'm glad one of us does."

Laughing in his typical deep growling manner, Jak replied, "It only matters that the right one does. I hope this eating of Rabbits is not forbidden in Rikifur."

A playful grin spread across Airy's snout. "And what about your turn? Though not as experienced, I know something that you might like." She turned about so that her rear was in Jak's face and began searching under his kilt.

"Uhhh, Airy that's not going to w...," Jak was interrupted by Airy tickling his snout with the end of her small tail. The distraction was quite effective because it put her powerful smell close to his sensitive nose and simultaneously made him want to sneeze.

"Quiet now. I said it's your turn. You have done enough for the moment." As she spoke, she had pulled his kilt up and unwrapped his loincloth to expose his genitals. His equipment seemed to match the descriptions she had been given so far.

"But I'm trying to tell you ..."

"I'm in charge now, Jak. I am your princess and captain." Tentatively grasping his fully sheathed cock as her chaperones had described the act to her, she slid it down exposing his limp red penis. She was twice puzzled, first because she had been expecting a pink color like the Rabbit bucks and second because it was not hard. Her chaperones had explained how rigid the bucks would become at just the slightest touch, so she was puzzled why Jak was not responding. Jak provided the answer after bench-pressing her up by her abdomen, turning her back around and holding her suspended above him.

"Listen to me, Captain. It doesn't matter how strong an order you give, that soldier is not going to stand at attention."

Airy was worried. Did Jak think her ugly and didn't want her. Almost crying, she asked, "Why not? Don't you find me attractive?"

"Ancestors, no. I find you undeniably attractive." Jak hesitated, uncertain how to explain. "I have been chewing some roots that prevent me from getting an erection."

Now Airy was puzzled. "Why would you do that?"

"Because I have had these urgent feelings for you since the pools, Airy. I did not want to force myself on you and destroy your chance to rule in Rikifur. I did not know that you had come to this decision, that you would want me this way."

The spark of realization flashed in her brain. It was not that he did not want to. It was that he could not. She was mortified. Jak's ears were nearly flat on the back of his head. Had she embarrassed him? "Oh, Jak. I'm so sorry."

"It's OK. This is just a bit disturbing to me that's all. I have never had this problem before. It's scary. It feels like a part of me has died inside."

He looked so sad to Airy. Trying to repair his ego she said, "It's not you Jak. It's the roots, and it's me. I should have listened to you. I am always too impatient and impulsive. I need to learn to be patient and thoughtful like you. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. The effect will wear off eventually," Jak hoped, but smiled anyway for Airy.

"When?"

"A bit eager?

"Yes. When?"

"I don't know. A few days I think. I didn't always listen closely to everything Moon taught me."

"Put me down, and let me hug you then."

Jak obeyed. "Yes, Captain."

"Do you know that I love and hate it when you call me that?"

"Then it's only half bad."

Airy snuggled against Jak's fur and rubbed her snout against his while scratching up and down the sides of his chest and across his broad shoulders with her tiny claw like nails. Enthusiastic for the future and the prospect of making love to Jak repeatedly, she sighed happily in deep contentment.

During their days of rest and recuperation, Jak had built a small raft to carry themselves and their gear across the Elv so they did not have to brave the icy waters. He carefully lashed Airy's weapons, armor and their other supplies to the deck. The river was smooth here but thirty yards wide with a strong current and deep enough in which to drown. He did not want either one of them weighted down by equipment if something were to happen to upset the raft. They set out soon after their morning love making session. The river crossing was uneventful. Jak dismantled the raft and threw the pieces downstream keeping the leather ties that he had used to lash the wood together. He explained that he did not want to leave any evidence of their passing for the Cats to find.

Standing on that northern bank of the river was a goal towards which they had struggled for nearly twenty days. They both felt ambivalence borne from the mating of the rival feelings of relief for having achieved this goal and fear for what lay head. Vacillating between dread and desire to move on, they stood transfixed with all of their equipment strapped to their bodies, surveying the long uphill climb in front of them across what they thought to be the most dangerous place on earth. Reaching out to each other, they held paws, and drew strength from a more powerful emotion, love, allowing them to continue.

[End of Chapter]