As Winter Falls: Ch. 4 - Dark Secrets and Shining Angels

Story by Kreo on SoFurry

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#4 of The Chronicles of Xanu Windbourne: Part 1 - As Winter Falls


Chapter 4 Dark Secrets and Shining Angels Raajna watched as Xanu bolted from the cabin nude. She felt a thrill of fear from remembering the look in her friend's eyes. He was terrified. It was then she heard the soft wail herself, the distant scream causing her blood to run cold. She jumped out of bed and slipped her nightgown on. As an afterthought, she reached out and grabbed one of the daggers Master Bek had given Xanu from the bedside table and followed her friend out into the night. He was fast. Amazingly so, and she felt herself struggling to keep up, eventually falling a great deal behind him. Where the hell had he gotten this speed from? She had always been faster than he was, but now he had left her alone in the darkness, running far ahead. She kept running, though, following Xanu's scent and the sounds of panicked screams. Just as she was finally reaching the point where she thought the sounds were coming from, she heard a loud, throaty roar, that of a bear. She froze, heart hammering. Then came a sound that chilled her to the bone. It was the scream of an enraged feline, eerie in the night. The feral howl ripped through her body, making her knees grow weak. She knew it was Xanu. Horror-filled thoughts flowed through her mind in a single instant, and she became certain the bear had killed her best friend. The trembling cabbit made a move to step into the clearing, unthinking, when she was suddenly knocked from her feet by a tremendous explosion. Raajna's world swam as she lay in a heap at the base of a tree, dazed. Her thoughts were fuzzy; save for the single image of Xanu's ripped and torn body lying in the clearing with the bear standing over him. Gripping the trunk of the tree in steel resolve, she struggled to her feet and pushed into the clearing. The carnage that was revealed before her as she stepped into the moonlight came in a rush, making her sick with dread. A massive, headless carcass was sitting against the edge of the clearing, impaled on a broken tree. Blood was flowing freely from the gaping hole where its head had once been, the skin split down the length of the dead bear's entire body, showing its innards, which, as she watched, spilled onto the dewy, blood-soaked ground. She felt her stomach heave and staggered slightly, swallowing the bile that rose in her throat. The cabbit heard the sound of soft sobbing drifting from behind a wall of fallen trees and she made her way toward it, anything to get away from the image of death behind her. She wanted more than anything to fall into Xanu's arms at that moment, to cry on his shoulder. He would help her, she knew. He had always been there for her in the past and she longed then for his gentle embrace and his soft voice telling her everything was fine, rebuking her for not staying at the cabin. The scene she stumbled upon, however, threatened to stop her heart. The first thing she saw was Xanu's bloody, lifeless body lying face-up in the lap of someone she vaguely recognized. She choked on a scream and staggered forward a few steps, unbelieving. No... he couldn't be... Not him... please, God, not him... She fell to her knees, her vision fading. All she could see was Xanu's face, fur matted with dark blood. He was dead, she was certain of it. Her knight was dead, and her heart began to break, knowing that she would never feel his arms around her again, never again feel his warm lips against hers. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she watched the ground drifting slowly up to meet her. I want to die... It was her last thought before her world faded to black and she knew nothing more. * * *

K

  • * * Golden light streamed in through the window of the hospital room, bathing the male feline's gray fur in its warmth. He gazed through the glass down on the small town as the people went about their business as usual. Xanu was angry; angry at himself, angry at Kynra, angry at Ghilan Bek, and angry at Raaj. "Stupid girl," he whispered as he turned his head, gazing at the cabbit's unconscious form. She had been in a comatose state for nearly four days now. The doctors had said she hit her head while in the woods and was also likely traumatized by the bloody scene she had walked in on. She was expected to wake up at any time, but as the days had passed, she had continued to sleep, oblivious to the world around her. He stared at her beautiful face, which was framed by her short, auburn hair as it shone in the light of the early afternoon, the events of the last few weeks coming, unbidden, to his mind. He remembered her sweet, smiling expression as she had cheered him on during training, her eyes sparkling, and her gentle, pleading moans as he had moved against her in the cold nights, feeling her heated inner muscles caressing and milking him to ecstasy. Xanu felt another wave of rage boil up inside him and he turned to look out of the window, spotting Master Bek and Kynra as they walked toward the building, a bouquet of flowers in the old wolf's hand. His fury turned cold and his eyes narrowed. The explosion in the woods couldn't be explained by the teenage boy, but perhaps, the old master could shed light on the events that transpired that night in the clearing. The entire town had felt it. The great blast had washed over the foot of the mountain, sending birds scattering in all directions into the cloudless night. Residents of the town had awoken in a panic, the windows of their homes rattling as a sonic boom slammed into the wooden and brick houses, nearly causing enough alarm for the bell tower to chime its warning. From what Xanu had gathered, the swordsman had been the first on the scene, rushing to make sure the three teenagers were safe before returning to the town to calm the fearful townsfolk. Leading a rescue team of ten men, Bek had returned to the clearing, demanding that no one speak of what they saw except to tell the town that Kynra had been saved by Xanu from the bear as she walked through the woods. He said for them to spread the word that the boy slew it with an arrow, which he shot into the maw of the beast. Many of the townsfolk weren't satisfied by the old wolf's simple explanation, and rumors began to circulate that Xanu had tied an explosive to the arrow, which would account for the sheer amount of blood and the loud boom that rocked the town. Bek had done nothing to discourage these rumors, which frustrated Xanu, simply because they made him sound reckless. But, as the old master had been quick to point out, going after the bear at all was incredibly reckless, and carrying explosives would have, perhaps, been a smart idea. The days had passed, and Xanu had become a hero among the townspeople, though he did not want the recognition. The treatment the folks in town were giving him was one reason for his cold fury. All he truly cared about in the days and nights since the incident was getting an explanation of what truly happened, explosives aside, and being there when his best friend finally woke from her deep slumber. He turned to the door as it opened quietly and the two, Kynra and Bek, entered. Kynra made a beeline for her savior, plopping down into the cushioned window sill beside him and offering a sweet smile. He returned it, his smile somewhat forced. It wasn't that he didn't want to see the female, quite the opposite. He found himself wanting her to be near him, but didn't want his temper, which seemed to grow worse as the hours passed, to hurt her in any way. The poor girl had been through enough. They had spoken with one another over the past few days, and it was obvious to Xanu that she wanted to stay with him at the hospital. However, her father would hear none of it, and insisted she come home each night after being released. Her cut was deemed minor, and she had been stitched up and released within a day with the order that she take bed rest. Even so, she had returned to school and walked each day to the hospital with the instructor so that she could visit with Xanu, who had been held two days longer than she. The boy's eyes drifted from the girl's shining stare and gazed at the old master, who looked solemnly back at him. The two watched each other for a moment, Xanu's cold fury colliding with Bek's deep, caring resolve. Finally, the old wolf sighed, turning to Kynra. "Would you be so kind to leave us for a moment?" His voice was kind, but commanding, and Kynra looked at him, hurt, but rose. Xanu couldn't help but watch as her hips swayed, the girl padding easily from the room, lithe form moving with what the male could only assume was an intentional display of grace, used for his own benefit. She stopped at the door and glanced back, giving Xanu one last look, the blue of her eyes seeming to lance straight to his heart, before turning, her fluffed white tail flowing behind her. The door closed and Xanu breathed in deeply, letting out a sigh as he berated himself for lusting after even such a magnificent creature as his best friend and dear companion lay in that very room, comatose. He returned his gaze to Master Bek, his fury returning with a vengeance. Bek leaned forward, seeming to search himself for the right words to begin their conversation. Now, more than ever, the wolf seemed his age, the graying fur around his muzzle standing out more and his frosty gray eyes weary as he looked upon the youth. Finally, he spoke, his voice just as strong and commanding as always. "Xanu," he began, eyes locking with the boy's, "what do you remember of that night... The night you fought the bear?" Xanu's eyes narrowed and he turned to gaze through the window as he spoke, "Everything. And not just from the night with the bear." He turned back to the old master. "I killed them, didn't I? The day of the raid." Bek hesitated. "Yes..." His voice was soft, laden with regret. Xanu gave a short, scornful laugh, his eyes returning to the horizon over the great river. It was a few moments before he spoke again, and as he did, he could hear the mirth dripping from the words as he vented his anger at the old one. "My father was with them, but you already knew that, didn't you?" He paused. "I still dream of it. The night of the bear, I remembered his face as they cut my clothing. Everything came back to me, Bek. It all became clear." Xanu rounded on the wolf. "Do you know what it feels like to have watched as your attackers' bodies were ripped apart in front of you, your father among them, and not understand what had happened? You should have told me!" He found his voice had risen to a scream, tears welling up in his eyes as he relived the terror he felt there in his parents' living room as his emotions were unleashed in a blast so powerful it shredded the frail bodies of the pirates surrounding him and painted the walls red with their blood. The old wolf sat there, staring at the floor. He looked far frailer in that moment than Xanu could ever remember seeing the old swordsman. He didn't speak for a long time, and the feline began to regret his words, however, he knew that he had meant them. "I'm sorry," Bek said at length, "I thought that if I never gave the power a chance to grow, it would fade away." "Why...?" Xanu's curiosity now mixed with his anger, "What were you afraid of?" "You." The answer was simple, but it drove a lance of shock through the teen. He forced a laugh, thinking it was a failed attempt at a joke. "Yeah, right." His grin faded, however, when the warrior looked up at Xanu, his eyes cold. "Y-you were..." The feline stammered, the seriousness of the answer sinking in. "Yes," the wolf told him, "I was. I was terrified of what power you could one day wield, knowing that your father had turned out to be such an evil man. I decided that day to watch you. Did you ever wonder why the Council of Elders allowed you to claim independence? It was because of your father's legacy. They, under my insistence, felt it would help you sever ties with him, your very blood. They told me I was to watch over you and deal with you appropriately if you ever showed signs of darkness." At that, the feline rose to his feet, pupils growing large. He was waved back into his seat at the window by the old wolf. "Let me finish, boy, before you panic." His eyes were stern and Xanu sat, but stayed on edge. "As I was saying... They told me to watch you for signs of darkness, and I did. For years I watched over you, taking you in as something of a nephew as I did so. I grew to love you as an uncle, boy, and I soon found that I couldn't kill you, should the need arise. I grew afraid. I knew you didn't remember anything about the day your parents died, and I resolved to keep it that way in hopes that your power would fade, as the Arts often do if they aren't allowed to manifest." The old one paused, watching Xanu's face light up with more questions. He waved them off and continued. "I don't know if you know of my past. I was once a priest in the Order of Dar'zentiil. We were a small faction of warrior priests, each a master in the Art of Wind. One day, our abbey was attacked by an enemy faction. There was a great warrior among them and, when we showed resistance, he opened the ground under the abbey without a thought, destroying our order without a care. I, the sole survivor, was out running a message to a friendly faction in a call for aid and I returned to find my brethren all slain, the stone walls of the temple reduced to nothing but a small pile of rocks." The old one paused and Xanu felt more questions bubble to the surface. He was about to ask one when the warrior continued. "To my own shame, I fled, becoming a wandering swordsman. I hid my talent and avoided the places of the world that were rich in the Arts. Finally, I found a small port town on the banks of the Dranao, standing in the shadow of Don Mustif, the lone mountain you know so well. The Arts, I found, were not known here, and I knew that my talents would not be needed among the peaceful residents of this village. After a number of years, I was asked to become the headmaster of the school, the Council having knowledge of my priesthood, and that is how we come to what I am today. My shame never left me, you understand. It has followed me all these long years and, I fear, I will never be rid of it." The old one's voice trailed off. Xanu was silent. It was a lot to take in. Finally, his curiosity rose again, driving him to ask the one question that was plaguing his mind. "What are the Arts?" Bek chuckled, as if remembering something from his own childhood. "Picture a world where everyone is born with the power to manipulate one of the five elements: Wind, Earth, Water, Flame, and Lightning. Each soul, when trained, can control their respective element to varying degrees. Imagine a set of twins is born. There is no guarantee that they would both be born with the will to govern the same element as the other, or to the level of power the other might be able to reach. One might be gifted in the Art of the Flame while the other might control the Art of Water. Say you train each of them in their respective element equally, and the one with the skill in the Art of Water finds that he can, say, draw the moisture from the air around him and launch a bolt of ice like an arrow from his fingertips while his brother, who is gifted in the Art of the Flame, can only raise the temperature of the room by one or two degrees. Such is common when it comes to the ancient Arts and, in some places in the world, the Arts have become a way of life and a symbol of status." Xanu stared at the master skeptically. The idea that such power existed was absurd, even for the boy, who often daydreamed that he had the power to control such things when he was younger. He decided to test the old master. "So..." he began, a slight smile pulling at the corners of his mouth, "wouldn't the world fall into chaos with such power running rampant? I mean, if anyone can use it, there wouldn't be anyone to stop someone from using that power on his fellow furre, would there?" Bek grinned. "Very observant, Xanu. I'm impressed. Truthfully? Yes, the world would fall into chaos if everyone possessed the level of power that the Water-Twin we discussed had. Fortunately for us, that type of power is rare, most having been given the level of power only slightly greater to that of the Flame-Twin. You and I, Xanu, are freaks of nature. In this day and age, our kind of power is found only in the highest reaches of society and within the most vicious parts of the battlefield. Few Temples of the Arts exist now, most factions having killed one another off in their struggle for domination over the millennia. I may have been a paladin of my order, but we lived a peaceful existence, taking young cubs gifted in the Art of the Wind and nurturing that gift. Does that answer your question?" "Yes," Xanu began, but immediately, another question rose to take its place, "what does this have to do with me, though?" As far as the teen knew, his power hadn't manifested in any of the five described Arts and he began to wonder if there was an unspoken Art the old wolf had left out. "You, my boy, possess a terrifying level of prowess in the Art of Wind." He held up his hand when he saw Xanu open his mouth to speak. "Before you ask how I know this, let me explain. As I was passing your home during the raid, just before the explosion, I felt a spike in power that made my fur stand on end. You must understand, I've never, in all of my years, felt that kind of raw power and, as the door of your house flew out of the frame at me, I thought I had just encountered the pirate leader and was facing my own death. I am strong in the Wind, but to compress the air within such a small space so rapidly, then release all of the built up energy in an outward explosion powerful enough to blast a heavy wooden door from its frame with enough force to crush any person behind it is a truly terrifying ability. Most can only centralize their power onto smaller areas, but you, boy... you sent an outward attack centered on your own body. In my experience, there are precious few that can pull off something like that. Anyway, when I approached, ready to meet my own death in my defense of the people I'd grown to love, and saw that a mere child had been the epicenter of the blast, I knew that it hadn't been simple coincidence that I had settled in this small port town. Then, after five years, you displayed another portion of your terrible power. I know exactly what you did, because I've seen it done before. When you released the arrow, you created a cushion of super-compressed air around it. When the arrow struck the target, it disturbed the sealed air, creating a rapid expansion strong enough to rip the immense girth of the beast apart. Xanu... when I saw it performed, it was by a true master of the Wind Art. No one without training should have been able to duplicate it, yet you did. Something tells me, boy, that your destiny is far greater than anyone in this village has yet imagined, for good or for evil." Xanu was silent, but still skeptical. "I'm sorry... I'm just having trouble swallowing all of this. This kind of stuff only happens in books and stuff. Isn't this tale a little over the top?" Bek growled suddenly. "You witnessed the two occasions yourself and you question my integrity on the subject? What would you have me do, prove it to you?" Even as he spoke, a rose lifted from the table and drifted slowly into Bek's hand, all without the wolf touching it or making a move to motion it toward himself. Xanu's eyes grew wide and the old master grinned, his annoyed air vanishing like smoke in the wind. "Classic telekinesis, performed by using a combination of an air cushion and a vacuum to lift an object into the air and move it, a unique ability exclusive to the Wind Art, as long as you know how to concentrate." Xanu gulped, his pupils growing large again as the blood drained from his face. "I... I want that kind of power..." Bek nodded, a worried expression crossing his face. "I thought you would... It will be hard to learn, you know. Many years of training await you if you choose to walk this path, and you may well give up before the end. But right now, we need not think of such things. Come, as Kynra and I were walking here from the school, she expressed a wish to spend a day with you. Even now, she waits for you in the lobby. I told her I would send you down when I got done talking with you." Xanu turned and gazed at his friend, the afternoon sunlight shining on her face, bringing an angelic glow from her brown and cream fur and shining through her auburn hair. His heart ached for her to awaken, but he also knew he needed to take some time away, if only to get some fresh air. He sighed. Reading his emotions, Master Bek rose and laid a hand on the teen's shoulder. "I will watch over her, boy. You go relax and stop worrying. It will make you like me, aged before his time." Xanu gazed into the wolf's gray eyes and saw them twinkle with a smile. He returned it. Xanu took one last look at Raajna and turned toward the door, reaching for the handle. He stopped as his fingertips touched the cool metal. "If she wakes up, how will I know?" Old Bek looked at him, his eyes carrying a deep love for the boy. "I think you will know." He watched as Xanu disappeared out of the door, closing it softly behind him. The old one turned his eyes to the sleeping form of Raaj on the bed, a pang of regret in his soul. "I'm sorry, child. Perhaps if I had told him sooner, you would yet be awake and with him. I don't know if you can hear me or not, but know this: that boy loves you dearly. Please come back to him soon." She heard him. * * *

K

  • * * It was the end of the third week of October and the weather was warm, the recent cold snap having faded into memory. Xanu found Kynra right where Bek had said he would. She smiled sweetly at him and he returned it, his smile genuine this time. She was dressed in a simple white t-shirt and a short denim skirt that showed off her hips and thighs. Xanu's eyes glanced over her form quickly, his smile unwavering as he resisted the urge to stare at her white-furred legs. He found himself wondering suddenly what it would feel like for them to slip over his hips as he pushed into the female, the thought coming unbidden to his mind. He blushed and pushed it from his thoughts, ashamed that he was thinking such things as his beloved friend was lying above them in a coma. Xanu felt Kynra take his arm and lean against him. He thought of Raaj and how she would always do the same. He stiffened slightly and felt Kynra withdraw. The male looked over at her and saw a slightly hurt look on her face. He sighed, wanting to say something to get his mind off of the cabbit. "So... Bek told me you wanted to spend some time with me." Kynra nodded. "Yeah... I was wanting to get to know you a little better... We haven't had much time to talk yet, and I was thinking we might be able to go swimming or something. I heard there was a small creek running through the woods just south of town with a waterfall that cuts the bottom of the stream out, making it deeper." Yeah, he thought, I'm sure you've seen it numerous times as you've crept through the woods in the late hours of night. Aloud, his words were less criticizing. "Yeah... Sandy Creek... It runs about a mile south of my cabin as it makes its way to the Dranao. This time of year, though, it will probably be freezing." She shrugged. "I don't care much... I can handle a little chill, besides, once you get used to it, you wont feel it anymore." She smiled as she spoke, a purr in her voice beckoning him to join her. Finally, he gave in. He could use a little distraction. He nodded. "Okay... Fine. But remember it wasn't my idea to do this." She beamed, taking his hand and pulling him toward the path that led to his cabin. They talked as they walked or, rather, Kynra talked as they walked. Xanu listened politely, finding her company comforting, which surprised him. Normally such a talkative girl would have gotten on his nerves long before this, but as he grinned as she described how she used to play practical jokes on the servants of her father's household, he found that he was not only attracted to her body, but her personality as well. He learned that she had only ever known the life of the wealthy and one of the things that fascinated her about himself was the minimalistic way he lived, never buying more than he needed and always working to achieve a little comfort here and there. She explained that it was obvious to her that he had money enough to buy himself a patch of land and have a respectable home built upon it, but chose instead to live in a small forlorn cabin out in the woods, far from town. Kynra questioned him about his choice to live alone in the woods and he waved it off, not giving her a straight answer. He didn't exactly feel comfortable telling her too much about himself. At least more about himself that she couldn't figure out by watching him, which, she confessed, she had been doing all summer. Finally, they found themselves at his cabin. He excused himself and walked into the dim light of the living room, stepping into the bedroom, the floorboards creaking under his feet. Throwing open a drawer, he pulled out a pair of blue swimming trunks. He checked to make sure Kynra wasn't watching, and stepped out of his jeans. Pulling the trunks up and tying them securely around his waist, he turned back into the living room and stepped back into the afternoon sun to find Kynra waiting patiently for him. He returned her beaming smile and led her into the woods on the south side of his home. Suddenly, he saw Kynra bolt past him, leaping through the trees with amazing agility. He growled playfully and instinct took over as he chased after her as if she were Raajna and they were racing to Sandy Creek like they had as children. He didn't put all of his effort into the race, but caught up to the white-furred female easily. He shot her a dazzling grin before pulling ahead and leaping into the branches of a tree as he passed under it. Kynra looked up at him, an astonished look on her face as he began running and leaping from branch to branch, all the while easily keeping pace with her. Xanu smelled water and heard the soft rumble of the falls. He reached up, pulling his black t-shirt clear of his body and coiled his leg muscles, launching himself forward through a thick canopy of leaves. He cleared the trees in that moment, hurtling out into open air. Time froze as he looked out over the waterfall, which he sailed over, his gaze locking onto the dark water below. He hurled his shirt from himself as he began his twenty-foot descent toward the freezing water. He hit the water, icy needles driving into every inch of his body and forcing the air from his lungs. Xanu struggled for the surface, his head finally breaking through, followed by a gasp and a grunting cry as he cursed loudly. He heard a lilting giggle followed a few moments later by a splash just to his right. The male cursed again and swam aside as he waited for Kynra to break the surface much like he did, squealing because of the cold shock of the water. He saw her white fur rising through the darkness and watched as she broke the surface like a dolphin, throwing her head back. Time seemed to slow for Xanu as he watched her fling her long blonde hair in a glittering arch through the air, her glistening body rising from the water, showing that she had leapt into the freezing darkness completely nude. His breath caught in his throat, but not from the cold of the creek as it flowed around him. Then time returned to normal and Kynra's bare breasts dropped back under the water's surface. She was gasping, but smiling as she got used to the sudden cold. They tread water, Kynra smiling as she slowly drifted closer, Xanu staring at the female, his eyes wide as he came to terms that she was naked under the surface of the creek. He glanced down to make sure, and saw her body, distorted, but white fur undisrupted, confirming his beliefs. His gaze returned to her blue eyes, which were now quite close to his own, as he felt her leg brush against his. She was still smiling, eyes sparkling in the afternoon sun. "You know..." she began, reaching up and slipping her arms around his neck, "I never got a chance to properly thank you for saving my life, Xanu..." She purred his name, sending a shiver down his spine. His body had already gotten used to the cold and her body felt warm against his as they tread the dark water, neither able to touch the bottom. The mist of the falls settled into Kynra's eyelashes and the velvet fur of her face, frosting her beautiful features with tiny crystal droplets. The two-thirty sun shone upon her, the droplets shining like thousands of diamonds. He held his breath, staring at her as he felt his mind go numb. Seeming to take his silence as a queue to proceed, Kynra leaned in and kissed him softly, her gorgeous eyes closing. Xanu groaned, his heart beginning to pound in his chest as the weight of what was happening came crashing down on him, sending a jolt of arousal through his muscular form. His lips parted and he kissed her back, his tongue slipping over her lips as she opened her mouth, accepting his tongue with her own as she melted into her first kiss. They remained like that for a few moments before Kynra finally pulled away, a deep blush darkening her ears and cheeks. She swam away from him then, sliding through the water with a gentle backstroke, letting the current take her. All the while, her eyes never left the male. Xanu accepted the subtle invitation and followed, striking out and pulling himself through the cold stream toward the beauty. She soon reached the rise of the creek bed where the waterfall's influence could no longer reach, and Xanu watched as she lay back on the smooth incline, white fur framed by the tan of the sandy bottom. He allowed the current to take control, and he drifted lazily toward her. Just as he was about to swerve aside and come to rest on the incline beside her, she caught his body and pulled him against herself. His heart began to hammer once again as he felt her legs open and lift around him, the crotch of his swimming trunks coming to rest against her. He could feel her swollen lower lips through the thin fabric of his swimming trunks as they pressed against his sheath through them, and he stared into her smiling eyes, knowing then what the girl had meant about ‘thanking him properly.' However, she stopped and gazed at him, eyes questioning. "Xanu... I..." Her words were halting, unsure, "I want to know what...she...means to you." Kynra didn't need to speak a name; the male knew exactly who she was referring to. Xanu's brow furrowed. It was a tough question to answer. In truth, he felt a deep love for Raajna. Whether it was a romantic love, he didn't know. So far, Raaj had shrugged off any hint of passion he had showed her, seeming to not want anything to do with being his lover, despite how many times they had mated. After a moment of thinking, he decided to tell the truth. "She... Is a friend," he began, wording his answer carefully, "we've known each other for as long as I can remember... I don't know what my true feelings toward her are, but I know she is only interested in being friends. She's expressed the desire to not become true lovers...many times..." His voice trailed off. He looked into Kynra's blue gaze and sighed, trying to ignore the sudden ache in his heart. Xanu smiled, hoping it didn't look too forced. She acted as if she were leaning in for another kiss, but at the last moment she tilted her head, nosing against his ear, purring. "Xanu..." She spoke his name barely above a whisper, but he heard it as if the lone mountain itself had spoken in Kynra's sweet voice. The sound sent shivers through him. Xanu felt Kynra blush, the heat of her face against his muzzle. "I... I want to know what it's like..." Her words were nervous, almost trembling. He slowly ran a hand down her side and over her hip, marveling at the softness of her fur under the water as he waited for her to continue. Finally, she did, seeming to be encouraged by his gentle touch, "w-will... Will you mate me... like you do her?" Xanu knew exactly the occasion she was remembering. He thought back to the night of sweet romance he had given Raaj, only to have it shrugged off the next morning, the cabbit acting as if it had never happened. The male turned to look at Kynra, who was biting her lower lip, ears a deep shade of pink, blue eyes nervously searching his expression for an answer. He felt arousal surge to the surface, knowing what she was asking him. In the three and a half years since becoming sexually active, he hadn't imagined mating with any girl but Raaj, and the possibility of doing so both frightened and excited him. Kynra was the opposite of Raaj in nearly every way, being infinitely more innocent and delicate, but she seemed to be just as adventurous and bold as the cabbit... in more than one way. He added the last thought to his assessment of her character, feeling her warmth still pressed to his crotch. Finally, after staring into her eyes for some moments, he answered her by pressing his nose under her jaw, planting a series of soft kisses down her neck. She moaned, her head laying back into the water. He pulled away from her and took her hand, drawing her back into the deeper water. She gazed at him curiously, but followed, trailing behind him as they swam against the gentle current toward the rocks just under the falls. Xanu pulled himself up onto one of the boulders and offered his hand to the girl. She took it and he helped her scramble onto the slick, algae-covered stone. Standing, he held her hand as he led her behind the waterfall, revealing a beautiful alcove that had been dug into the cliff face over the centuries. It was the perfect depth for them both to lie within. The floor of the cave was covered in sand, much like the rest of the creek, the walls slick and covered in blue-green algae. Xanu watched as Kynra made a face of disgust when she reached out to steady herself as she stepped into the alcove, her fingers slipping through the slime. He laughed, his deep voice echoing within the small space. She looked at him in feigned anger, reaching out and wiping her hand through the fur of his chest. After sticking her tongue out at him, Kynra held her hands behind her back and turned to gaze at the waterfall, which covered the entrance of the shallow cave. The water within the alcove was crystal-clear, the light from outside reflecting from its surface onto the walls, creating shimmering waves of light that danced over the two teens. "It's... beautiful..." Her soft voice echoed around them, mixing with the rumble of the falls, which had grown considerably louder since they had stepped behind it. Xanu nodded, not replying as he sat in the shallow water. It was the first chance he'd gotten to survey her body. She was posturing herself before him as if she had forgotten her own nakedness, or didn't care, and he had a full view of her gorgeous form. Her breasts were a good deal smaller than Raajna's, perhaps a B-cup compared to Raaj's C, but they were no less rounded and perky, her pink nipples standing erect as they pushed through her milky white fur. Kynra's hips weren't nearly as wide as his friend's either, but he found they were perfectly proportioned to the girl's petite figure; lithe thighs leading up to a firm bottom and long tail, which was normally fluffy but was now drenched in water, the fur clinging to the skin. She saw him, then, and blushed. He felt her gaze sweep down his body, coming to rest on his swimming shorts, her blue eyes lingering on his crotch. He grinned as he got the message. Rising to his knees out of the water, Xanu untied the bindings that held the trunks up when wet. He hooked his thumbs under the waistband and slipped them down over his hips, revealing himself fully to the girl, whose eyes widened when she saw his fully erect manhood, pulsing in the cool air. She moved in closer as he continued kneeling in the shallow water, which rose halfway up his thighs in this position, reaching out and taking it into her hand. He groaned when he felt her fingers close around it, offering her a smile of encouragement as she began to stroke him slowly. Placing his hands on her hips as she lowered herself to her knees before him, Xanu pulled her in close to himself, kissing her softly. As their tongues swirled against each other, Kynra continued to lightly stroke Xanu's heated shaft, even as his fingertips trailed from her hips down over her pubic mound. The male felt her spread her legs slightly as he slipped his fingers between her lithe thighs, running them lightly over her slit and finding that Kynra had much less of a camel toe than his friend did, the white feline's swollen, virginal lips bare and warm to the touch. He found he enjoyed being able to rub the girl without having to part the folds of a camel toe in order to gain full access to her most sensitive regions. He slipped a finger along Kynra's heated sex, using her own arousal to slicken his finger pads as he lightly stroked them against her swollen clit, drawing a sweet moan from the girl. They continued to kiss, stroking each other, each enjoying the other's soft moans. Finally, just as Kynra began to buck her hips against Xanu's touch, she gasped, releasing him and gripping his wrist. To his surprise, she pulled his hand away from her sex, breaking the kiss and staring at him, panting slowly. He gazed at her questioningly. "I... I want to come for the first time with..." she halted for a moment, blushing, "with you inside...me..." Xanu gulped and Kynra blushed deeply. The male felt his shaft jump as he thought about Kynra's warmth engulfing him. He nodded and kissed her neck as she pulled in close, pressing her body against his. She rose slowly, awkwardly trying to position herself correctly. Xanu chuckled and pushed her away, watching as she gave him a hurt look as he sat back onto his heels, his shaft standing just above the surface of the water. Kynra seemed to get the idea then and rose, moving to stand over the male. Xanu grinned, seeing the girl's crotch a mere inch from his nose and resisted the urge to lash his tongue across her light pink clit. She dropped to a squatting position over him, taking hold of his shaft and positioning it at her entrance. He stopped her, knowing what she was about to do. "Kynra," Xanu began, taking hold of her arm, "don't plunge down on it. It will hurt at first and I don't want you to suffer worse pain than you have to." His words caused her to pause and look at him, biting her lip. It seemed to him that she hadn't known it would hurt. He sighed and slipped out from under her. Taking her hand, he led her to a boulder nearer to the waterfall that was mostly devoid of algae. He instructed her to sit on the boulder and lean back, bracing herself with her hands. She did so, and he slipped in between her legs, dropping to his knees so his shaft was level with her entrance. He took it into his hand and looked up at her as he pressed the head against her sex. "Like I said," he spoke soothingly to her, "it will hurt at first, but it will pass quickly and be replaced by pleasure, so don't panic." He watched as she nodded fearfully and cursed inwardly. He was no good at this... The first time he and Raaj had mated, she was in the throes of heat and had, as she had told him, barely felt the pain. The same wasn't true for Kynra, and he realized then that neither one of them knew what to expect when his shaft penetrated her hymen. Well, here goes nothing, he thought to himself and began to push forward into Kynra's hot folds. He groaned as he felt the mouth of her warmth envelope him, feeling her hymen not long after. He reached up and caressed her face. "Okay... This is it." She nodded to his words and he saw her tense slightly. Then, with one quick, unintentionally brutal thrust, he drove himself into her. Kynra squealed, her entire body shuddering and he leaned forward, kissing her neck and shoulders as he whispered comforting words into her ear. Drops of virginal blood dripped into the water under them and were immediately swept away by the gentle current within the shining alcove. It wasn't long, however, that Xanu felt the white-furred female begin to relax and he gazed into her blue eyes, which were slightly wet with tears from the pain. She offered a smile. "I'm okay now..." The words were whispered. Xanu nodded and began to move then, gently pulling out of her sweet warmth and slowly pushing back in. She was much tighter than Raaj, the slick, heated walls wrapping around him and gripping him strongly as he moved, causing him to groan softly from ecstasy. Glancing down, he saw that his shaft had a small amount of blood on it from the ripping of her hymen. He looked back up at her and smiled, acting as if he hadn't seen it, leaning forward as he thrust back in and kissing her tummy. He kissed his way up Kynra's body as he continued to move against her, now using more shallow thrusts into her formerly virginal opening. He pressed his pelvis against her clit as he thrust forward, grinding against the lump of sensitive flash and causing the angel to whimper sweetly. His lips found her nipples and he began to swirl his rough tongue around them, bringing keening moans from Kynra's lips. He felt her begin to buck her hips against him, the sweet sounds of passion emanating from her partially open lips becoming more pleading, her movements showing her need for him. Xanu increased his pace, lifting her legs over his shoulders and pushing in deep, driving his shaft into her harder with each thrust. He ceased his oral menstruations and gazed at Kynra, watching as the light danced over her form, rainbows shining on her white fur from the millions of mist droplets, each a tiny prism and each casting its own rainbow into the air and onto the two mating teens. She was a shining angel, a sweet beauty, and time became meaningless as he watched her body bucking against his, her breasts bouncing slightly as she fell into orgasm. She cried out his name, gripping his wrists as they held onto her hips and lying back on the wet stone as she drove herself down as hard as she could onto his mast. He felt her inner warmth spasm, her already tight sex convulsing around him and squeezing his heated flesh as Kynra's passage milked a male for the first time, her juices spilling over the throbbing mass within her. Xanu groaned, mentally noting that Kynra didn't squirt like Raaj did, but knowing that she came no less hard as he felt the sweet, velvety walls stroking him, fast building his orgasm. He slowed his pace, not wanting to spill his passion within her yet. He made a few more thrusts into her as she came down, panting, from her first real orgasm, before pulling out and standing over her. Her blue eyes fluttered open and she smiled at him, joy radiating from the beautiful orbs. Xanu kissed her and she accepted it eagerly, but the male allowed the kiss to linger for only a moment before he pulled away, taking her hand and leading her away from the rock. He knelt in the water and smiled up at her. "Do you want to try the position from before?" He found himself purring as he stared up at the beautiful blonde. She nodded and he guided her back over himself. Just as she was about to push down onto him, he rose to meet her, his shaft punching deep into her warm sex once again, drawing a sweet gasp from the white feline. He wasn't sure if she had expected another wave of pain this time, but knew that what she got instead was pleasure, because she began to moan softly as he gripped her bottom and bucked his hips, causing her to bounce lightly on his shaft. She lifted her legs around him and he looked up at her, only to have her lips come a little too eagerly down to meet his, their teeth colliding, causing the male to grunt in sudden pain. Kynra gasped and apologized, but Xanu grinned and threw her from himself into the water. She landed with a loud splash, followed by a squeal as she watched the male move over her with shocking speed, her eyes flaring wide. She moaned as he kissed her, correctly driving his lips against her own so as to avoid the clanging of teeth. He lowered himself over her body, slipping an arm around the back of her head to keep it from falling under the surface of the water as he took his shaft into his hand and guided it into her for the third time. Entry was slightly more difficult because the water had washed away much of her juices from the outer lips, but once he reached her inner walls, her warm wetness invited him in, allowing an easier entry, and he pushed in to the root with a soft grunt of pleasure. They began to move once again, Kynra clinging to Xanu's muscular frame as he kept a steady rhythm, sliding his manhood through her warmth. Gentle waves radiated outward from the two, lapping at the blue-green walls of the cave. The teens' collective moans echoed around them, and as Xanu's orgasm built, he opened his eyes to realize the water around them seemed to be shining. The light no longer reflected from the surface, but seemed to radiate from the water itself. White light danced through his vision as he grunted, falling from the precipice of his own orgasm, even as Kynra writhed below him, falling with him. Her walls succeeded this time in milking his shaft, his seed spilling deep within her, splashing against the closed opening of her cervix and spreading back down along his throbbing, twitching member. The girl's inner muscles pushed Xanu's seed along his shaft even as more shot into her depths, the warm substance spilling out around the base of his mast and into the glittering water around them. All was white in Xanu's mind: the light, Kynra's fur, and the white-hot sea of sweet nirvana that swept over his form, causing his muscles to clench and his body to tremble. He felt overcome by the light from the water as stars exploded into his mind, his heart hammering as the final shots of his seed entered the shining angel below him. He looked down on her panting form, but could barely see her through the glare upon the water. Even so, he leaned down, brushing his lips against hers, feeling her body respond in a sweet kiss of pure, undiluted passion. He was in heaven. They lay there in one another's arms, reveling in the afterglow of their passion. Xanu stared at Kynra, his green eyes locking with her blue gaze. The light of the afternoon sun continued to shine from the water, reflecting over her face. She truly was an angel, and Xanu could feel himself falling very quickly for her. He leaned in, kissing her softly, one hand slipping around her body to cup her small right breast, giving it a gentle caress as they kissed. They came to him then, whispered words on the wind that called to him as if from a great distance, causing him to sit up, eyes wide. "Come, she has awoken."