Chapter 11

Story by Tesslyn on SoFurry

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#11 of The Mating Season: A Life of Dreams


Chapter 11

". . . had to make sure you're alright," Lea was saying to Roan. "And later, you're going to tell me the truth!"

Roan groaned as his mother smoothed his mane and walked out. They were in the guestroom he would occupy while Zaldon healed him. Zaldon was removing his sling and bandages at the corner basin, and Roan watched with suffering green eyes as the great white wolf murmured his encouragement.

"Hold your breath . . ." Zaldon said soothingly.

"Ah!"

"There we go: sling off. Let's get you on the bed . . . no, don't scratch it!"

"Sorry . . ."

"That's the staff Zaldon was going to give you," Julyan said in an undertone. "Why did you take it, Yuri?"

Yuri bit her lip and leaned the staff against the wall. Back when she first left with Kilyan and Theo, Yuri knew Julyan had wanted to stop her taking the staff, but if it was going to help her find Roan, then he was content to remain silent . . . until she returned. Now he was looking at her with scolding lavender eyes.

"I needed it," Yuri muttered sheepishly. "I needed it to save Roan . . ."

"Lift the sheet! Your corner is dropping!"

"Sorry."

Yuri and Julyan were preparing the guestroom. Standing on opposite sides of the bed, they lifted a sheet between them and smoothed it over the mattress.

Julyan shook his head, coming to her around the bed. "You've always used your paws to cast spells," he said, placing a paw on her upper back. "Since when have you needed a staff? And a staff that was supposed to be a gift!"

Yuri hesitated. Zaldon and Roan were drawing near. Zaldon had his arm around Roan as he helped him. Roan was grimacing in pain. The two of them hardly seemed to notice Yuri and Julyan's whispered conversation. Zaldon helped Roan stretch out on the bed, and they watched as the great white wolf sat beside Roan and carefully stretched his injured arm to its full length. Roan moaned again.

"Where is Theo?" Zaldon wondered. "He should be here, holding his partner's paw."

"I'll get him," Yuri volunteered.

Zaldon frowned, not looking up from his work. He was examining Roan's arm with large gentle paws, and Yuri knew he was feeling for the places where his magic would mend. "No, you won't," he said and glanced at her. "Nice try. You stay upstairs so I can speak with you when I'm done. Julyan? Would you go and find Theo? And bring wine."

Julyan laughed lightly. "Wine?"

"He's going to need it. Me too," Zaldon said wearily.

Julyan smoothed his paw down Zaldon's long white mane. "Alight, honey. Lea asked me to help with supper, so I might have to send the wine up with someone else."

Zaldon nodded and leaned back to kiss Julyan's paw when it touched his face.

Julyan glanced at Yuri. "Come with me - into the hall."

Yuri nodded dismally: Julyan was going to lecture her too. She took her staff up from the wall and followed Julyan out. Behind them, they could hear Roan's moans of agony as Zaldon carefully began healing him.

"A-Ah!"

"I know . . . here, bite on this cloth Julyan left for you . . ."

"Ow! Zaldon . . ."

"I know. Theo will be here soon."

Out in the hall, Julyan faced Yuri. Tall and silver in the gloom, his lavender eyes looked down at her, caught between scolding and worrying. "You took your present without even asking. It's partly my fault for not stopping you, but now Zaldon is upset. He wanted so much to surprise you!"

"No," Yuri said sheepishly, "he gave it to me early. I . . ." She glanced at the staff. The white crystal was glowing softly, thrumming as it filled the hall with its gentle light. She silently marveled that it reacted to her emotions so intensely: at the moment, she was calm, so the staff was too. Thinking of Tyne back on the ship, she knew the staff had almost pushed her to murder. She should be rid of it . . . but she looked at it and couldn't let it go.

"You?" Julyan prompted.

"Zaldon took it back when I had a bad reaction to it," Yuri admitted heavily. "Roan was in trouble!" she protested. "He needed me! So I took it . . ."

Julyan nodded, studying Yuri anxiously. "Well, Roan is safe and sound now. So we're going to stop using the staff, aren't we?" He lifted his brows, and Yuri felt like a pup to hear the scolding tone in his voice.

"Yes," she relented, flattening her ears.

Julyan smiled. "That's my angel. I'm going to send up that wine. If Zaldon corners you, remind him that I didn't stop you. Hell, tell him that I gave you permission. I should take my share of the blame. Serves me right." He playfully pinched Yuri's cheek and she giggled, shrugging him off.

Yuri watched happily as Julyan went down the stairs. She had never called him Papa the way she did Zaldon, but Julyan would always be her other father. She thought of Ayawami and knew he would approve, that he would be happy to know his little girl had not only survived but was also surrounded by so much warmth and love. Kilyan was right: Tyne's actions had not destroyed her!

Still thinking of Ayawami, Yuri went up the hall to her old room and passed through the door. Most of the houses in the sun village had doors, not curtains - especially the wealthiest houses. Yuri's door had been painted orange by Julyan, who believed the color would make her smile each time she opened it.

Yuri stepped inside and her room was just as she'd left it. She and Enya had moved out last winter, and now, in the spring, they shared a modest home not far from Zaldon's. But for one year, Enya had spent each night slipping from her guestroom and into Yuri's bedroom. They would exchange whispers and kisses as they held each other in Yuri's bed, dreaming of the day when they would finally be on their own together.

Smiling as she thought of those warm nights, Yuri sat on the edge of her bed and glanced around the room. Her old basket of toys was in the corner, and in it, the little doll that looked like Enya. Paper flowers hung from the ceiling, and Yuri waved her paw, conjuring a magical gust that made them dance. It was here in this room that she, a pup, would write Enya childish letters. It was here in this room that she, a teenager, touched herself for the first time and thought of Enya.

Yuri's ears pricked forward when her door creaked open. She thought with dread that it was Zaldon, but she was surprised to see the young boy who'd been standing downstairs with his father. He had not come with Keeno and Zalia the day before, so she had never met him. But when they returned that afternoon, she had noticed him standing with Keeno - it was difficult not to. He was very handsome, in the same soft, pretty sort of way that Julyan was. He was not muscular in the least but slender and tall and only slightly toned. On his upper arm was a talisman with white feathers, and Yuri's eyes traced in wonder over the white tattoos dyed in his blue fur.

That his fur was blue was still a shock to her. It was clear that he was related to Keeno in some way . . . but a moon wolf related to Keeno? She never would have guessed. And she couldn't understand it: moon wolves seldom dyed their fur with tattoos! But this boy was dyed. There were even white lines dyed around his slanted eyes. His eyes were, perhaps, the best part of him: they were so beautifully shaped and vibrantly bright, the color of the sea!

The boy halted in the doorway. He was smiling and carried a staff. The staff was made of white wood, and at its top, white feathers were tied to its gnarled branches. His wild curly mane tumbled around his handsome face as he entered the room and quietly closed the door behind him. He said a string of words in a language she didn't understand.

Yuri blinked. She answered in moon wolf: "Who are you? Where are you from?"

It was the boy's turn to blink: he had never heard her language before! Definitely not a moon wolf then.

"Ah, you are not of the river then?" the boy answered in common tongue and his accent was sharp. He looked at her curiously. "But . . . how can it be? Your fur is like mine. You carry a staff . . . like I do."

Yuri stiffened as he came closer and the crystal on her staff glowed brighter. The boy halted when he noticed the glowing. He was still smiling and calm.

"I'm a moon wolf," Yuri explained, feeling awkward. "You said something about the river?"

The boy looked at the crystal. "I make you nervous?"

"A little," Yuri admitted.

"That could be a good thing," he said. She was surprised when he sat carefully on the bed. He moved slowly, as if he didn't want to startle her. He was so close now, she could smell the strong musk of his soft cock and balls. His penis was pink as his nose. It lay quietly between his thighs . . . touching the bed sheets.

"My name is Yaholo, beautiful one," the boy said, watching Yuri's steadily with his intense eyes. "I came this afternoon with my father. I met my cousin Enya and her parents. Her grandparents too. They have tried to be kind but . . ." he frowned. "This world is confusing. I . . . have never been away from my tribe before. The world is large and beautiful . . . I feel overwhelmed."

Yuri looked at him curiously: he sounded as if he needed someone to talk to. "Do you regret coming? You have a wonderful family. You should give them a chance."

Yaholo smiled and his eyes crinkled up. "I only regret that my mother is angry with me. She did not wish for me to come. But I love it. I love knowing my family . . . are we related?"

Yuri smiled: he didn't have a clue who she was! "No," she said, amused, "but we will be soon."

Yaholo looked at her, hardly listening. "What is your name?"

Yuri's lashes fanned down shyly. She wished he would stop staring at her. "Yurisia." She didn't know why she said it.

"Yurisia," he repeated fondly. "You make me feel . . ." He glanced at the crystal on her staff and smiled. "And I make you feel."

Yuri looked at the crystal and blushed: it was glowing a passionate pink that throbbed, pulsing its gentle light against the walls. She could feel her clit throbbing in time with it, hard and hungry each time she breathed the sweet musk of Yaholo's fur.

Switching his own staff to his other paw, Yaholo cupped Yuri's cheek. Yuri's heart pounded when his lashes fanned down and he looked at her lips. Why was she letting this happen? But the crystal pulsed and her clit pulsed - then he smoothed her long mane back over her shoulder and kissed her. His tongue slid in, timid at first, then strong. Yuri was trembling. He could really kiss and it was making her melt. She moaned and her lashes fluttered when his careful fingers slid between her pussy lips. He sighed and whispered something in his language, then kissed her again - hard.

"Ah!"

Yuri and Yaholo broke apart when they heard the scream. Yuri's eyes went to the doorway and she thought she was going to die: Enya was standing there, mouth open, staring at them in disbelief. Her disbelief soon cooled to cold fury. She flew into the room, curls streaming, and Yuri winced when she snatched Yaholo's staff and bopped him on the head with it.

"Ow! Cut it out, Enya!" Yaholo cried.

Enya didn't cut it out: she kept hitting. "Paws - off - my -- female!" she shouted on each hit.

"Ow - ow - ow -- ow!"

"Enya - stop! He didn't know!" Yuri begged. Her staff glowed yellow with shame.

"Ha! But you knew!" Enya accused. She shoved Yaholo's white staff in his chest and stood over them both, paws on her hips as she glowered at them. "Get away from her!" she suddenly cried and yanked Yaholo up from the bed by his arm.

Scowling, Yaholo backed away from the bed, clutching his staff in one paw and his sore head in the other. "What am I supposed to know here? Tell me so I never forget!" He looked at Enya sourly. "Am I not allowed to get to know your wedding guests?"

Enya looked at him incredulously. "Wedding guests?! Yuri is going to be my wife!"

Yaholo froze, looking between the two females. ". . . oh," he said at last, and Yuri saw his cheeks go beet red. He looked at the ceiling. "Oh god."

"Spent my whole life," Enya said angrily, folding her arms, "protecting you from my cousins!" She looked at Yuri and shook her head. "And now it's happening again! Why don't you just marry my cousins if you love them so much!"

Yuri looked at her miserably. "Enya, don't do this . . ."

"Don't do what! React to another betrayal! First you fucked Zane and now this? And don't think I don't know about Roan," Enya went on, her lip curling. Her arms were still folded and she tapped her foot, looking on the verge of tears. "I was going to pretend I hadn't figured it out, but the goofy way the two of you were acting all year --"

Yuri held out her paws. "Enya - if you'd let me explain --"

"What is there to explain?" Enya sniffed. "It's obvious: I'm not good enough for you. I don't have a penis!"

Yuri and Yaholo winced in unison. No doubt, Zaldon and Roan were hearing this down the hall.

"Enya . . ." Yuri pinched the flesh between her eyes. Not now. Did this have to happen now,_when they were getting married and so close to being happy? She glanced at Yaholo, who was standing guiltily against the wall with his staff. Oh, _why did she let him touch her?

"You don't even have an excuse this time," Enya said, looking at Yuri in disgust. Tears suddenly sprang to her eyes, and the blue spheres shone beautifully. "God, I've been a fool. Why didn't I see it? You're always with some male! You wrote Talib all year - he gave you that damn staff! Didn't he? Admit it! Where did it come from? Or did it come from another boyfriend? Roan maybe?"

Yuri scowled. "Now you're being ridiculous," she said, fangs flashing. "Ridiculous and dramatic, like the rest of your ridiculous and dramatic family --"

"If you hate my family so much, then maybe you shouldn't join it!" Enya shrieked.

Yaholo stood stiff and uncomfortable as Enya whirled - dramatically - and stamped to the door. She halted abruptly when Yuri shot to her feet and waved her staff. The door slammed shut in Enya's face, whipping her curls back. Enya turned slowly, and she and Yaholo stared at Yuri: Yuri was levitating off the ground, and the crystal on her staff was glowing red.

"You are going to listen to me," Yuri said, her voice echoing back on itself: me, me, me.

". . . wow," Yaholo whispered, and Yuri thought she saw his cock stiffen a little. She pointed at Enya. "Come here!"

Enya's mouth fell open and she screamed softly to find herself soaring across the room. She slammed hard into Yuri's embrace, and trembling breasts to trembling breasts, she looked up at her lover in awe, who hovered over her, looking like a menacing sea goddess as her silky mane billowed like water.

"I love you!" Yuri growled. You, you, you. "And I love your pussy! And I'm going to marry it!"

Enya blushed bright.

"Do you understand?" Stand, stand, stand.

_ _

Enya nodded dumbly.

"Good!" The crystal stopped glowing. Yuri lowered to the floor - then folded Enya close and kissed her passionately. Enya's lashes fluttered as she as overpowered. Yuri was still holding the staff, and it thrummed near Enya's ear. The staff frightened her. She felt her heart thudding even as Yuri's insistent tongue filled her mouth. She tried to get away, but Yuri held on with hard fingers.

"Y-Yuri --" Enya whimpered.

"Mm - be still," Yuri growled. Still, still, still.

_ _

Enya's heart leapt: that was not Yuri's voice! She broke away violently, and Yaholo gasped when she snatched the staff and snapped it over her knee. She tossed the broken pieces away defiantly. Yuri's eyes had been glowing, but the light faded from them and she blinked, as if a fog had lifted.

"En . . . Enya," Yuri panted.

Enya pushed the pale tresses back from Yuri's eyes and peered into them. "Thank god - it's you," she whispered and hugged Yuri close.

Yuri blinked, straining to understand what had just happened. She had been aware of it all, but the crystal, it had been pushing her on and on - drumming on her heart until she relented, until its darkness crept inside. As Enya hugged her, she peered beyond her lover's tan curls and saw the staff lying in pieces on the floor: the crystal had cracked. Yaholo met Yuri's eyes, and they both knew that it was the breaking of the crystal that had restored her . . . not the staff itself.

"Yuri," Enya whispered breathlessly, "say something! You were just possessed!" She pulled back to look at her.

"I love you, Enya," Yuri answered. "I don't need a penis. You're one big penis all by yourself," she said, and Enya giggled.

"You mean it?" Enya whispered - so miserably, that Yuri realized for the first time what insecurities her lover had been harboring.

Yuri kissed Enya tenderly on the lips. "Yes, baby. I mean it."

They smiled at each other.

"I hope," said Yaholo, clearing his throat, "it's not too late to offer my congratulations?"

Enya looked at him from Yuri's arms and laughed. "Just keep your paws off my female," she said, "and we'll be good."

Yaholo grinned and nodded.

Yuri rubbed her nose against Enya's, and they were twisting tongues - as Yaholo watched and started to get hard - when Zane burst in the room. Everyone looked up: tall Zane was carrying two small bundles in his arms. He was so big, he made them look incredibly small.

"I should have known you two were off somewhere making out," Zane complained, rolling his eyes as he lumbered into the room. He nodded in greeting at Yaholo, who nodded back. "I wanted Yuri to meet my puppies!"

Everyone crowded around Zane, who smiled at the dark gray bundles. The pups were sleeping gently. One had his back to the room while the other was sprawled with his pudgy arms and legs dangling over Zane's arm.

"This one is Zee," Zane whispered, nodding at the sprawled puppy. "And this rude one is Mio - wake up and say hello!" Zane gave the other pup a hard lick on the head, and he yawned and turned over, blinking sleepily at the surrounding strangers. Seeing his father, he smiled, cooed, and snatched at Zane's nose with a pudgy paw.

Zane chuckled.

"Awwww," Enya and Yuri said in unison.

"Wanna hold him?" Zane asked Yuri.

Yuri's lashes fluttered but she nodded. Zane passed her Mio, watching fondly as he cradled him near her big breasts. His eyes lingered on her tits a moment, but catching Enya's glinting eye, he rolled his eyes and looked away.

"And you can hold Zee," Zane said, passing his other son to Enya.

Enya cocked an eyebrow as she carefully accepted the bundle. "Zee?"

"We named him after me," Zane said proudly. He drew himself up and wagged his head, making Yuri giggle. "But we call him Zee so things aren't confusing. And him . . ." he nodded proudly at Mio. "We named him after Mora and Nyssa's grandfather."

Yuri and Enya sat on the bed, each cradling a little one and making kissy faces at it. Yaholo drew near, watching the infants curiously. Yuri offered to give him Mio, but Enya cried, "Not where his paws have been!"

Yuri and Yaholo avoided each other's eyes as Zane looked at them curiously. Yuri stood and let Yaholo look at Mio instead. Yaholo drew nearer and his pretty eyes softened when Mio turned over to look at him.

Zane leaned against the wall and folded his big arms. "How's Roan?" He frowned. "And where the hell is Theo? Any other time and they're inseparable."

"He . . . went out in the garden," Enya said carefully, and Yuri's ears pricked forward: what did she know?

"They're fighting," Yuri said dismally, "about the shipmaster, aren't they?"

Zane lifted his brows. "Shipmaster? What's going on? What happened to my brother?"

"Zane, don't start. It's none of your business," Enya scolded.

Zane snorted. "The hell it isn't! Roan's my brother! What did Theo do to him? Why'd he really get hurt?"

"It's none of your business," Enya repeated, cuddling a sleeping Zee close as if to shield him from his father's words. "Roan doesn't need you to look after him!"

Zane's face darkened. "If he hurt my brother --"

"Stop it," Enya warned. "You haven't been here a day and already you're acting stupid."

Zane glared at her. "Maybe if Theo didn't give me a reason to act stupid --"

"Did it ever occur to you," Enya said over him, "that Roan may have hurt Theo?"

Zane bit his lip.

"No, it didn't," Enya said dismissively and rocked Zee in her slender arms.

Zane shook his head stubbornly and pushed himself away from the wall. "Just know this: if Theo hurts Roan, I will stupidly punch his teeth into his neck!"

Enya rolled her eyes.

"I'm not kidding!" Zane swore.

Yuri looked up from Mio and frowned. "Theo is your friend and you love him," she scolded, and Zane flattened his ears. "He would never cheat on Roan, so you have nothing to worry about," she said with conviction.

Zane snorted. "_Please,_Yuri. You didn't grow up hanging out with Theo - I did. I've seen the way guys throw themselves at him!"

"Be that as it may . . ." Yuri said, thinking of the male who had practically thrown himself on Theo that very morning, "Enya is right: mind your business and let them work it out." She turned away and halted. Everyone looked at her.

"What is it?" Yaholo wondered nervously.

Yuri guiltily pushed her mane behind her ear and laughed. "I forgot Kuza."