Refuge
Late birthday present for Arctic Sekai and another preview to the Heartbreakers. Enjoy =3
Refuge
A Heartbreakers story
"Somehow I knew this was going to happen."
Arctic tugged her heavy woollen cloak a little tighter around her shoulders as a strong wind threatened to tear it from her grasp. The white wolf had watched a host of dark clouds roll in for the past half hour as she followed a well-worn mountain path. The "Mount Kaysell Run" is what they called it back at the Heartbreakers Guild and for nearly five years it has been the responsibility of the warriors of the guild to patrol it for bandit activities.
"How did I end up in this?" Arctic steadied her horse as the sound of thunder rumbled overhead, recalling the heated discussion she had with the Guild Mistress. "Oh yeah."
It had only been a few weeks since she had returned to the guild after her own self-styled exile. Forced back after the incident in which her tavern and base of operations had been shut down due to murder accusations and the alleged dodgy deals done in secret. Something Sonya had promised to look into, especially after Arctic had helped with the recent incursion.
"This may be true Arctic dear," the tigress Sonya had told her. "But after what happened leading to your ... well, departure. The members feel you need to pitch in while you are here in order to rebuild trust in you once more."
"Trust?" The white wolf spat in disgust. "More like they wanted to get me as far away from the guild as possible."
"Perhaps but fear not as Maryssa and Zane will be accompanying you on this run." The red headed feline said with a smile.
"Oh Goddess, why him?" The assassin growled and turned away. Sure he seemed like a competent warrior but to the wolf he was arrogant and infuriating.
"Because this is his first time on the run and I want experienced fighters to go along just in case-"
"In case of what?" Arctic cut in. "There hasn't been a bandit in those mountains in years. Not since the days of the Three Tyrants."
"Maybe so but it is still a paid contract and one that will be fulfilled." Sonya stated, looking at her friend with accusing eyes before the wolf snorted and turned away.
"Fine I will do it but under protest." Arctic muttered and stomped out of the office.
This was two days ago. After packing their horses the three had set off north to fulfil the guilds long running contractual obligation.
Another rumble of thunder rolled overhead and a flash of lightning brought the woman's attention back to the present and the problem the bad weather will bring. Rain was annoying in the best of cases but the storm would make it much harder to travel the path. Arctic muttered and looked over her shoulder and the trail behind her. No sign of the others yet.
"Okay. Not a good idea scouting ahead."
At first riding on while her companions had checked in with the outpost seemed like a good idea, especially if it meant the wolf didn't have to put up with the tiger; but now with the weather turning foul a small part of her wished both him and Maryssa were with her.
"Steady girl." Arctic cooed while stroking the side of her horses head in an attempt to calm the animal. A large crack of thunder suddenly broke overhead accompanied by a bright flash of lightning that made the warriors horse rear in fright. The wolf struggled to control her beast but couldn't stop it bolting for the nearest group of trees.
"Dammit, stop!"
The frightened horse ran on despite the girls efforts to reign it back under control. The wolf noticing the clump of trees getting closer and closer.
"To hell with this." Arctic growled and decided to abandon her horse, the assassin leaping to the side and hoping her honed reflexes would aid in her escape. Unfortunately the white wolf didn't account for the uneven ground hidden by the long grass and she rolled several times when she landed, the sloping hill adding to the womans momentum of her tumble until she slammed into one of the trees.
Arctic gave a loud howl of surprise as her armour took the brunt of the impact, her head taking a rough glancing hit from the hard bark.
"G-got ... to ... find..." She murmured struggling to her hands and knees, her head spinning in a mix of pain and vertigo. Just then something wet fell onto the back of her head as the rain began to fall. "Juss...great..."
The young wolfs vision blurred and she fell forward onto the ground unconscious. A figure appear from behind a nearby tree having witnessed the warriors predicament and started to move towards her.
Arctic floated naked on a warm fluffy cloud, the girls blue hair spread out as she stretched in contentment. Nothing around to give her worry, no annoying grey tigers, no demanding white tigers, in fact no tigers what-so-ever.
"Wish this would last forever." The woman purred with a smile but her reverie was disturbed by a loud peel of thunder. "What the..?"
Sitting up the wolf saw that her resting place had turned from a cute fluffy white to a dark scary black and angry points of lightning were also poking from the confines of the changed cloud. Arctic could feel something cold and wet on her forehead.
"Oh damn, that's right." She cursed as the memories of what happened came back to her and consciousness returned.
Blue eyes blinked several times as Arctic took in her surroundings. She was not outside in the pouring rain, in fact it was a dimly lit bedroom that the wolf didn't recognize. She also noticed the strange face of a young panther who was seated next to the bed wetting a cloth that he had been using to damp her forehead. And one thing the assassin discovered was she was very naked.
"Where the hell am I?" Arctic grumbled while hugging the bedcovers tight to her body, the young man perking up a little.
"Oh you're awake, thank goodness. Please don't be afraid." The panther stood slowly and called out to someone in the next room. "Father, she's awake."
The wolf wanted to sit up but her head still felt dizzy so she chose to take things slow.
"Wh-who are you?" How did I get here?"
"My name is Allain ma'am." The feline bowed to her. He looked to be in his late teens and wore simple clothes, his dark hair looked neat and trimmed and he regarded the woman with wide green eyes. "You had an accident on the trail and I found you and brought you here. Good thing too with the rain coming down."
"Lucky for me then." Arctic slowly sat up still holding the blankets against her and looked around. She couldn't see her clothes in the room and assumed they were hanging somewhere to dry out, at least this is what she hoped.
"Uhm, are you a soldier ma'am?"
"Well," Arctic started to reply and saw a look of anticipation in Allain's eyes. "Yes I am."
The young man became excited and began to babble.
"Have you fought in any battles? I bet you are a skilled fighter? Have you killed a lot of enemies?"
The wolf couldn't help but grin at the felines enthusiasm and was about to answer his eager questions until an older, well-built man appeared at the bedroom door.
"Allain, please don't badger our guest."
"I-I'm sorry father." The youth looked sheepish and quickly rose from the chair next to the bed and left the room, Arctic felt some sympathy for Allain.
"You didn't have to do that." She said as the second panther made his over to the bed and sat down. He carried a wooden tray upon which sat a steaming bowl of stew.
"He's a good boy." The man laughed a little and offered his guest the meal. "We don't see many soldiers now a days since they drove all the bandits off. My name is Johann by the way."
"My name is Arctic." The woman replied taking the tray and resting it on her lap, the wolf only noticing how hungry she was after smelling the freshly cooked food. "Thank you. I was patrolling along the path when the storm hit and my horse bolted."
Johann nodded and sat back. "Yes, I found her in the woods and brought her back to shelter out the rain in our barn. Was a good thing too my son found you."
"I must remember to thank him too." The woman smiled and ate slowly. "It's funny though I don't remember this place being on any of the maps I checked."
"Well that's probably because our farm is a little ways from the trail." The handsome panther explained. "The regular soldiers who came through are always welcome to rest and eat. This extends to any who keep our lands safe from robbers." He gave the girl a big grin as he stood. "You eat up lass, you need to regain your strength."
Arctic felt her cheeks redden a little and hoped that Johann couldn't tell in the dim light of the oil lamp lit room. She watched him casually exit and caught sight of Allain peeking around the door frame; the assassin smiling broadly as she ate the delicious stew.
"This is very good, did you make it?"
Allain slowly stepped back into the room and nodded a little.
"I helped with it ma'am. See we grow the vegetables here on our farm and mom and sis sometimes go into town to trade for meat and spices. That's where they are now." The panther explained as another rumble of thunder passed overhead. "Though I reckon they are hold up at the inn until the storm passes."
Arctic didn't react when the panther mentioned his mother or sister and in fact the more he spoke the more at ease the wolf felt.
"Father says I am old enough to get out and look for a good woman to ... well ... you know?" Allain looked embarrassed to say it but bold enough to mention it to a stranger.
"So you haven't been with another then?" The pretty femme asked before suppressing a laugh at the youth's reaction.
"Oh gosh no ma'am!" The feline stammered and shuffled his feet in an awkward way.
"Then I think I know the best way to thank you for helping me."
A hand snaked out to hooked the young man's trousers and tug him onto the bed, the blanket falling down to reveal Arctic's perfect bosoms.
"A-are you sure?" There was a hint of reluctance in the panthers voice but also the sound of eagerness.
"I don't mind." The wolf smiled and drew the teen into a soft passionate kiss.
Clumsy hands came up to cup the woman's breasts and a moan of appreciation escaped her lips as he firm flesh was fondled. Arctic wondered for a moment if this was the right thing to do but the thought was swept aside by a strong feeling of lust.
"You are so beautiful." Allain whispered while dipping his head and kissing down the girls neck. His touch going from an inexperienced young man to that of a lover who knew how to please a partner.
"Flatterer." Arctic gasped as the felines warm mouth reached her chest, her nipples hard and aching as they were engulfed in wetness.
All thoughts of the teenager's father slipped from their minds as the panther quickly stripped off his tunic and britches, the only thing on Arctic's mind was the young man's impressive length that stood hard and firm.
"I think you will make any woman happy." Her eyes twinkling as the youth pulled away the blanket and moved to kneel between her legs.
"Then let me make you feel happy tonight." Allain replied in a more mature way than he let on and pushed forward to probe and penetrate the wolfs wet sex.
Their lips met in a hot kiss as the panthers hot prick eased all the way into Arctic's welcoming passage, the wolfs mind spinning with list as her young lover gyrated his hips and grinded his pelvis against hers.
"Oh Goddess. A-are you sure you haven't done this before?"
Her question went unanswered as Allain began to thrust and pump his throbbing cock into the wolfs tight clutching pussy, the pair groaning and grunting as the sex become more heated and passionate.
Arctic wrapped her legs around the panther's waist and rocked up to meet his hard, deep thrusts. Her body trembling more as the youths pumping came faster.
"That's it baby, fuck me hard. Drive your cock into me, make me cum."
Panting heavily Allain did just as she asked. His movements coming more quickly as the writhing wolf beneath him tensed and arched before climaxing and covering the feline's rampant prick with hot nectar. Feeling the heat around him the panther howled in joy as he unloaded and torrent of hot seed into Arctic's quivering pussy. The two rocking and jerking as Allain pushed deep to flood his lovers' womb.
"That's the way kitty." Arctic panted and rubbed the teens sides. "Very good for your first time."
"I hope you are treating the lady properly son."
Both of the lovers turned at the voice to see Johann standing at the door. His shirt was laying discarded on the floor and there was a bulge in his pants after having watching the sexy display on the bed.
"F-father...I, uhm..." Allain tried to explain but Arctic cut him off.
"Why don't you come over here and show him a few things?"
It was strange to say in the circumstances but to the wolf it felt like the right thing to say. The older panther smiling and shedding his trousers before coming to join the two on the bed.
As the storm raged outside within the home a sea of passion raged just as much, with Arctic showing the young panther all the delights a woman could bestow; the feline's father Johann also showing the wolf a thing or two. Late into the night the three indulged in steamy sex as the assassin gave as much pleasure as she received, eventually falling asleep between the two men.
Donk, donk, donk.
Arctic growled in annoyance as someone tapped lightly on her forehead.
"Wake up sleepy head, the world needs you."
A womans voice filtered down through the haze of sleep and slowly the white wolf opened her eyes.
"Good morning Arctic." Maryssa's happy smiling face came into view, the red furred vixen sitting in the edge of the bed. She was clad in her guild garb and was toying the end of her blonde ponytail. "Must have been a good night."
"What the?" The assassin exclaimed and sat up quickly then scrabbled for the covers to hide her nakedness. "What are you doing here? Where is Johann and Allain? Wait ... Where's Zane?" The wolfs eyes narrowing at the last question.
"Whoa, whoa there." The fox hopped up from the bed as Arctic moved suddenly. "In order. We are doing the "Run", remember? Who is Johann and Allain? And Zane is outside checking the farm out. Oh and seriously," the smaller femme said motioning to the modest acting wolf. "It's nothing I haven't already seen."
Arctic wanted to scowl at the playful vixen but her attention was drawn to the chair near the bed. Her clothes and armour sat there, all dry and neatly arranged as if someone had cared for it.
"You said Zane is outside?" The wolf waited for her companion to nod before reaching for her clothing. "And Johann is the owner of the farm, Allain is his son. Didn't you see them when you came in?"
"Really now?" Maryssa rubbed her chin in serious thought as Arctic got dressed. "I think you'd better come outside, there's something you might want to see."
The change in mood from the fox surprised Arctic and she collected up her armour and followed outside where a tall grey tiger, dressed similarly to the woman, appeared from around the side of the farm house.
"Well they are there just as you were told." Zane said to Maryssa and then upon seeing Arctic he gave a mock bow. "Ah our wayward "sister" has been found safe and well, we were soooo worried."
"Stuff it Zane." The wolf muttered clearly not in the mood for games. "What did you find? And where is the guy who runs the farm?"
The tiger looked to Maryssa who shook her head to indicate that the wolf didn't know before motioning behind the house. "Back there."
Shaking her head at the pair, Arctic set off in the direction the tiger pointed out, stopping in shock as she rounded the back of the house. There she saw four graves, each with a carved tombstone that had the names, Johann, Celeste, Allain and Bonnie marked on them.
"What's going on?" The wolf asked taking a step back and turning to the others.
"Well," Maryssa began. "While you were out being a lone wolf, no pun intended, and Zane here was getting "briefed", "the tiger sighing at the inference. " I was chatting with some of the locals and learned about this place."
Glancing from one to the other, Arctic frowned. "What about this place?"
"Seems about five years ago there was a family living here. Really nice one too, always willing to help weary travellers on the road, allowing the soldiers who patrolled the hills to take shelter if they needed, all the Good Samaritan stuff."
The white wolf nodded slowly as Maryssa told her story. "W-what happened to them?"
"One night a band of brigands came through, and discovered what they were doing and, well..." The vixen turned to look at the line of graves. "Group of soldiers on patrol turned up the next day and found them. They managed to kill off most of the bandits before the rest got away." Maryssa sighed sadly. "Out of respect the soldiers buried them with honours due to the services they performed."
"But...but, that's not possible." Artic stuttered looking from the fox, to the tiger and to the graves. "Last night...I was... I mean..."
"That's another thing." Zane went on, coming over to the wolf and placing a hand on her shoulder. "One day a couple of dodgy travellers came into the outpost raving about ghosts and monsters along the path so the commander got a force together to investigate and found the farmhouse in perfect order and looking as if people were still living in it. Being superstitious he left the place as he found it and made it a standing order to avoid the house due to it being haunted."
"But it doesn't end there." The vixen said standing up with them. "Stories started to circulate about a travelling merchant who got lost in the hills and was saved by a panther who knew the area well, even let the guy stay at his farm for the night. I heard some stories from the girls at the guild when we got the contract to run patrols up here, friendly family living on a farm, offering shelter and food to the weary. Even going so far as getting sweet loving comfort."
Artic glared at Maryssa as the fox grinned at the last part before looking to the graves again.
"I think this is why Sonya wanted us to do the patrol this time." Zane said. "To check out the farm to see what we made of it."
The wolf looked at her cared for armour and slowly began to put it on. "Well Mr Expert, what do you think?"
Zane carefully studied the look on Arctic's face before giving a soft smile.
"I don't think there is any reason to worry." He looked to the graves. "I reckon they died doing what they believed was right and because of the sudden way they were killed they think they still need to look after those who travel these hills."
"You don't think they are monsters?" Maryssa asked, helping Arctic with the girls armour.
"Only to those who want to harm others." Zane shrugged. "It's kind of like they have the power to look after themselves against those who want to hurt them now."
"I...agree." Arctic said thinking about what Zane had said.
"Come on, we should get moving, it's a long road to patrol." The tiger said turning back and heading to the front house with Maryssa following him. "Tell you what, we are coming back this way in a day, if you want we can stop in and take another look around."
"I don't..." Artic said as something caught her eye. In one of the windows of the houses upper level she saw the figure of Allain who waved to her, with a smile she waved back. "Sure, why not. Who knows what might happen."
Turning to join her companions the wolf had a good feeling, perhaps fitting back in with her former allies wouldn't be so hard after all.
Arctic (C) Arctic Sekai; Zane, Maryssa and the HeartBreakers (c) Jaffah 2014