THE JACKAL AND THE AARDWOLF
Here's a story I wrote a few years back. It was inspired by a painting by that wonderful artist Dark Natasha. This is about a lonely Aardwolf that one day encounters someone he believes to be the love of his life.
Comments and Critiques welcomed.
Jack&Arrd 2015.txt UD: 10/01/15
STORY: THE JACKAL AND THE AARDWOLF WORD COUNT: 7,806 WRITTEN: 01/20/02 By: Zycaneus
WARNING: The following story contains scenes that depict graphic homoerotic and non-consensual sexual encounters between humanoid animals and scenes of violence. It is not intended for minors or those that may take offense to such topics.
* THE JACKAL AND THE AARDWOLF * It is said, as the sun rises from its night of rest into a sapphire sky, that if you listen carefully enough, you can hear the termites within their mounds singing to the new day. Well perhaps you could if you were an Aardwolf-man, like Saleem. Born to the tribes of the Sun-Mound Keepers, Saleem appeared to be a humanoid rendition of an Aardwolf. His striped, silver-gray fur glinted in the light of the early dawn as he strode out from his small tent to begin his day's work tending his precious termite nests, which were the staple food of his people.
It was an important task that Saleem performed, and he took his work very seriously. Although not without a sense of poetic reflection.
"Oh where have you come, Oh little ones? Are you waked to greet the dawn? Down the grass, down the lawn, Flown like the fallow fawn."
Saleem announced in his throaty voice, speaking to the nests, many of which dwarfed him by several feet. For Saleem was a dreamer and fancied himself a poet, although more a hopeless romantic then anything else, he found escape from his solitude in the contemplation of stringing words together to form sing-song spoken melodies and verses that only he could fathom the full meanings of.
At least it kept his mind off the hard work he had to perform every day. Tending to termite mounds was indeed backbreaking, and for the most part thankless labor. After all, for the most part the only thing the termites want is to be left alone. While it is the termite farmer's task to keep access openings in their mounds so every day large amounts of the white insects can be drawn out to be bottled up in clay urns and transported back to the village. Yet knowing when the nests can be so disturbed without serious hard being done to the main colony was the secret knowledge only a true termite farmer possessed. It meant being as much in tune with the ebb and flow of the Earth herself, of the seasons and the circle of life, as the termites themselves.
Saleem stretched and greeted the rising sun in the traditions of his people, entwining the stubby fingers of his paw-like hands then turning his palms outward towards the new light while dropping to one knee.
"It is always proper to pay homage to your superiors." Saleem assured himself in his usual philosophical frame of mind he preferred to maintain. He was just a simple termite farmer after all, and quite satisfied with his lot.
As he retrieved his digging rod and prepared to extract a bit of breakfast for himself, his nose caught a scent on the wind that froze the Aardwolf in his tracks. Paused in mid-stride . . . suddenly intensely aware of his surroundings, his sensitive nose tested the slightest nuances of the breeze, his every muscle tensed like a spring. After a brief moment, he gave a sudden leap sideways and rounded a tall mound to face his opponent. Lying between the mounds, was a huge rock python, waiting motionlessly for the Aardwolf to walk unsuspectingly around the mound.
Saleem snorted threateningly and clutched his probe with its razor sharp obsidian tipped digging trowel aimed at the snake. Finding itself outmaneuvered, the snake, far from being cowed by the Aardwolf's menacing stance, merely turned and nodded in Saleem's direction, its mouth dropped open in a soundless laugh. Then the snake rose up until it was at eye-level with the Aardwolf. Saleem stood his ground and the two antagonists regarded each other for several moments. . .each judging the others' mettle, each looking for signs of weakness. Eventually the snake let out a sigh of a hiss and nodded to Saleem, "Very good! It hissed, "perhapssss next time you won't be sssso alert." Then the snake turned to leave.
Saleem knew the snake wasn't in the mood to take on an opponent who was armed and ready for it. It preferred prey that could be caught by surprise and subdued before the quarry had a chance to resist. Even so, Saleem breathed a sigh of relief he watched the snake slide soundlessly out of sight, as he well knew how dangerous such a creature could be. Saleem only lowered his weapon when the python had disappeared completely.
Living by himself as he did. . .as all termite farmers termite farmers did, had its dangers as well as its pleasures. It took Saleem several moments to realize the encounter had left him shaking. Although it certainly wasn't the first time the python had stalked him in his own territory, and Saleem knew it wouldn't be the last, but the idea that had he been just slightly less vigilant this morning could've very well been his last.
He massaged his neck-mane with a handpaw and then adjusted the small necklace his mother had gave him. It was a reminder that his own father had one day disappeared from his termite farm, never to be seen again, and while it wasn't known for sure what had happened to him, it was generally accepted he had become a meal for one of the giant serpents that roamed their world. Saleem found unwanted images flashing into his mind, of times he'd seen the giant snakes killing their prey. . . of hapless animals, some far more dangerous then any Aardwolf . . . struggling their last as they were slowly crushed in the coils of the serpent. Of watching them being engulfed until their bodies were nothing more then a distended swelling in the middle of the serpent's long body. Saleem imagined how it might feel to die like that and shuddered uncontrollably for several moments.
Saleem fought to put such thoughts out of his head and attacked a ripe mound recklessly as he pried out a morning meal. The long sharp digging tool he carried had a hollow handle with a plunger that ran it's length, and that plunger in turn had a sort of mop on the end, treated with a special honey mixture. Thus once the sharp obsidian spade broke through the outer protective crust of the mound, Saleem could thrust the tool deep into the colony and draw out hundreds if not thousands of termites all stuck fast to the sticky honey. Saleem had chosen a mound that had been recently repaired, (one of the curses of the termite farmer was the termites were always furiously repairing any openings in their nests) and plunged his feeding staff deep into it.
Saleem ate his fill of termites, and probably far more then he should've. But he needed it to calm his nerves from the encounter with the python. It was after all one of the best perks to being a termite farmer, that he always had the choice of the freshest meals of any of his people. When his belly was wonderfully full again, Saleem took a brief rest while he fixed himself a cup of hot honey-mint tea. As his full belly and the soothing tea took effect, Saleem's mood began to return to his usual philosophical state of mind. He really did enjoy his station in life. Perhaps not as glamorous as village chief or shaman, but he enjoyed his solitude. At least that's what he often told himself.
Once the hackle-raising events of the morning wore away, the rest of the day seemed to become as routine as ever. Saleem worked his mounds, breaking open those that he determined to be 'ripe' for harvest while repairing and feeding those that needed more time to grow. Nor was his day lacking in other things to think about. Once or twice Saleem paused to watch the long caravans of the wildebeest and antelope tribes pass by, a long parade of colorful wagons and carts the nomadic tribes used to bring their lives along with them wherever they wandered. Once he scented a pride of lions as they hunted along the grasslands, more or less following the caravans of prey species. Generally though, the lion clans didn't bother with Aardwolves. Not when there was bigger and much more satisfying meals to be had. Still Saleem didn't tempt fate and made a point to hide behind his mounds until they had passed.
It was about the time for Saleem to break for his noontime nap when he scented something new on the wind. Saleem wasn't quite sure what he recognized in this new scent, but while something in his deep memories told him he should know the species, he couldn't picture what creature it could've belonged to. Still, the scent didn't trigger his hackles to rise so trusting in his own instincts Saleem wasn't particularly worried for his safety from whatever had entered his domain. What he didn't like however was that the scent was coming from the direction of his camp. Easily hoisting his digging probe, Saleem quickly but quietly made his way back to his sleeping quarters.
It was there that he found a silver-backed jackal-man in his tent, rummaging going through his storage bags. Saleem almost laughed at the smaller canine, relieved it wasn't something more dangerous while at the same time angry that the jackal-man had the nerve to ransack through his personal belongings. The jackal was so intent on what he was doing that he didn't notice the Aardwolf approaching until Saleem grabbed him by his bushy tail and yanked him backwards onto the ground.
The Jackal let out a loud squeal of alarm as he fell onto his butt. The large sack he had slung over his back clanged and rattled as it was jostled about. But amazingly he was up again so quick that it caused Saleem to jump a step backwards as well.
"Hey what you doing? Oh are you the owner of this tent? I didn't know the tent had an owner... no really I didn't! Well I'm sorry I suppose I'll just go now... you're not angry are you? Oks, I'll be on my way... now...." The Jackal said in such rapid succession that Saleem had to struggle to keep up. But the Jackal wasn't waiting for him to sort things out and was already walking away. Saleem caught him by the arm as he tried to get by. He wasn't quite sure why he didn't just let the jackal go . . . perhaps he thought it'd be nice to make the jackal understand that it wasn't right to go through other's abodes in case the jackal might consider trying it again when he wasn't looking. The little fellow hadn't honestly sounded at all apologetic. Or perhaps there was some deeper sense of wanting someone to talk to, even if that someone was an obvious thief. But again, before Saleem could get a word in, the jackal was talking.
"What-What-What? Didn't I say I was sorry? I don't belong here so just let me go. I'll be away and not bother you again. You don't want me to bother you anymore do you? " The Jackal was not only talking a mile a minute but was struggling fiercely to work his arm out of Saleem's grasp. Because of his larger size, and muscles hardened by years of physical labor, the Aardwolf had little difficulty holding onto the jackal-man. And he gave the jackal a shake to quiet him.
"Listen you!" Saleem growled, although somehow he didn't think he sounded as mean or angry as he intended. "I just want to know why you thought you could go through someone's tent like it was your own."
"Hey hey... I like said I was sorry didn't I? Let go! What do you want from me anyway? Let go! Do I have to get on my knees and beg you for my life? Let me go! Am I to be expected to kiss your feet? Let-go-let-go! Are you going to beat me? Come on! Let me go! Let me go!"
The jackal man seemed to be becoming so frantic to get away and Saleem sensed that he might resort to violence any moment. Not really wanting the situation to turn ugly, but also not liking the idea of losing control, Saleem brought his digging spade up to the jackal's throat. The result was instantaneous, the jackal froze in place, his eyes going wide with fear.
"H-h-h-hey now! " The Jackal stammered, "No need for that! I'm not dangerous! No! Not at all! In fact I'm probably the most un-dangerous type you'll ever meet." The Jackal added a small grin, and looked at Saleem through big sorrowful eyes. "I'm nothing you need to worry about! Really I'm not... I-I'm a pass-e-fist! I'm totally non-violent! Please don't hurt me!"
Saleem had enough. He knew he wasn't going to get anywhere with the jackal and so sighed and let go of the jackal's arm. "Oh go on... I'm not going to hurt you. Just don't let me ever catch you in my things again. Go on... get out of here."
The jackal backed away quickly, "Oh thank you kind sir... may bright blessings be on you and yours and may the bards sing of your merciful heart."
Saleem snorted in annoyance and turned to enter his tent.
But the Jackal paused at the edge of the campsite. For a moment he stood there, looking as though he'd just remembered something. His muscles were still tensed and ready to bolt into the thicket in an instant, yet the longer he gazed in the direction of the Aardwolf, the more a dawning light seemed to ignite in his eyes.
The jackal then took a few steps back towards where Saleem was in his tent, trying to repack all the things the jackal had pulled from their hiding places. Saleem didn't like messes, and the thought of someone else making a mess that he'd had to clean up wasn't putting him in any good mood. Then he realized the jackal-man was still standing there, watching him intently. Saleem turned and stood up to confront the Jackal again, drawing himself up to his fullest height to appear as intimidating as he could.
"What are you still doing here?" Saleem demanded to know. "I thought I told you to leave."
But the Jackal quickly placed his hand paws together and bowed deeply in a show of supplication. "Oh a thousand-and-one pardons my lord. . . but I just wanted to ask of your nobleness, are you not of the clans they call 'Aardwolves'?"
Saleem sighed, sounding exasperated with the jackal but nodded . "Yes I believe that's how they refer to my people at the great gatherings of the clans. Now, you be off! I've a fine mess to clean up here that you've left me."
But the jackal made no move to leave, instead he remained bowed and looking up at the Aardwolf with an odd glint in his eyes. The Jackal dropped his head so Saleem couldn't really see the sly smile that played across his face. The jackal licked his lips and when he stood up again his eyes flowed over the Aardwolf's body as though making some secret assessments. When he spoke his voice was calmer, controlled, and sounded quite respectful.
"Oh I am really sorry that I went through your tent. Can you forgive me? What can I do to make it up to you? By the way, my name is Iniko, what's yours?" Saleem had gone back to picking up his belongings but turned to regard the jackal man's new admission. Well at least he liked the fact that the Jackal-man seemed to be honestly remorseful this time. Perhaps, Saleem thought to himself, the jackal might not be such a bad sort after all. Perhaps, he'd had someone to talk to for a change.
"I'm called Saleem." He said without any of the growl he had used a moment ago.
The Jackal bowed again humbly, "I am deeply honored to meet you fine sir."
Saleem thought he could feel his ears blushing at the jackal's venerations. "Well then Iniko, perhaps if this turns out to be a friendlier encounter I can say that I'm not sorry to have met you. If you truly wish forgiveness for trashing my tent, well I suppose there wasn't anything actually broken, not real harm done. I suppose I can forgive you for that."
The Jackal brightened and bowed again. "You are truly a kind and generous soul lord Saleem. If there's anything I could do to make amends for my nefarious deed, you need only speak. I am yours to command."
Saleem shifted uncomfortably, there was something very enticing about the way the jackal was acting. It stirred deep feelings within the darkest confines of his mind and soul. Feelings that he'd been taught by his elders were just not proper thoughts for a Aardwolf male to harbor.
Saleem sucked in his breath at Iniko's open-ended offer, his gaze flowing over the Jackal in a totally new light. While almost as tall as the Aardwolf, he was barely half Saleem's weight, dressed in only a colorfully embroidered breachcloth, and a wide-brimmed hat. The more he looked, the more Saleem was beginning to think of this sender, lissome-bodied creature as attractive.
"Really?" Saleem inquired hesitantly, part of his mind sternly remembering the warnings and edicts instilled upon his youth by his elders, while a long neglected part of him was demanding to be acknowledged. "Are you saying that you'd be willing to do anything I asked of you?"
"Oh but of course my liege, put me to whatever tasks ye wish. I am a good worker and I want to do something really nice to please you." The jackal said sounding very sincere. He even dropped to his knees and laid his ears back, offering his neck to Saleem in a sign of total submission.
Seeing the jackal being so subservient towards him brought those old feelings up from where they had been hiding for most of his life. Aardwolves as a whole were essentially loners at heart. Their 'village' as they liked to call it was actually spread out over a rather large tract of land with enough space between each small hut to hardly classify it as a village at all but more a people that lived totally apart from each other and only came together from time to time to trade or mate. Even mates didn't stay together for longer then it took to procreate. Then it was up to the females of the species to deal with actually raising the young while the males returned to their solitary lives on their termite farms. Most were quite satisfied with the arrangement, preferring the fond memories of intense, though brief love affairs as opposed to having to put up with a mate year round.
But Saleem had been different. Even from a young pup he had dreamed not of winning the challenges and contests against his fellow males, to earn the privilege to mate, but of one day winning the heart of another compassionate and caring male and together they would share a termite farm, in companionship and love. It was a beautiful dream, that had long ago been firmly squashed by his elders. Or so they had thought. In truth Saleem had held onto that dream, keeping it as a closely guarded secret as he wished that someday a miracle would make his forbidden dreams come true.
Until this moment! Could it be that the miracle had at long last come to pass?
Saleem stared at the jackal on his knees before him, with his bare neck arched towards the Aardwolf in submission and licked his lips. His mouth seemed to go suddenly dry and as his handpaw shook slightly as reached out to stroke the Jackal's offered neck.
"You're such a nice little fellow." Saleem murmured, not really sure what to say. "Your light brown fur is so smooth and your silvery mane accents you well, you are a very handsome fellow I'd say."
The jackal smiled up at him. "Oh thank you master. I do wish to please you so much. Did I tell you how much I've been looking for a master? A master just like you? Please! Please! Give me a task! I want to show you how obedient a servant I can be."
"Iniko?" Saleem breathed... his body felt like there was an electric charge going through it.
"Yes master?" The jackal responded expectantly.
"Have you ever had the arms of another male hold you?"
The Jackal cocked an eye ridge quizzically and he lowered his muzzle so Saleem couldn't see he wasn't smiling anymore. "Er . . .what do you mean master?"
Saleem shifted from footpad to footpad uncomfortably, and his ears felt like they were blushing so bad they were on fire. But he resolutely continued to stroke and caress the soft fur around the jackal's ears. "I. . .I mean, have you ever felt. . .the love of another male? The love like that usually given to females? That type of love?"
"Oh shiiii. . . ." the jackal exclaimed as his worse suspicions proved true, but quickly pretended a coughing fit, and somewhere in his hacking and sputtering he may have uttered a "damn!"
"Iniko? Are you all right?" Saleem inquired, hoping he hadn't just lost his opportunity of a lifetime.
Iniko kept his head bowed to where the Aardwolf couldn't see his face but instead took Saleem's handpaw and nuzzled against it. "Oh . . I'm . . . fine! Master!" He managed to spit out, although were Saleem able to see the jackal's face, it would have been quite plain that he wasn't at all happy with this turn of events. His face went through a variety of emotions in rapid succession, most of which alternating between anxiety and anger. He caught himself beginning to pant and swallowed hard to get a hold of his emotions. Then without looking up but wrapping both of his hands around Saleem's as he continued to nuzzle, the jackal mustered his most passionate tone of voice, even though he had to grit his teeth to do so. "Oh master . . . I . . .I just couldn't believe my . . . wonderful luck, that you might allow me to serve you so . . .intimately." And Iniko ended with another hard swallow. Then he forced himself to smile and brought his gaze up to meet the Aardwolf's.
Saleem smiled warmly and reached down to lift the jackal to his feet. Then hugged him to his bosom. Saleem gazed into the Jackal's soft yellow eyes with obvious lust. Suddenly all the years of pent up desires that had been denied came crashing to the fore. "Oh Iniko, your fur is as soft as featherdown, your body as shapely as a work of art. It has been far too long since I held someone in passion. I need you! Please do not refuse me."
Iniko was still trying to keep a smile on his muzzle and had just opened his mouth to say something when Saleem pulled him into a kiss. The Jackal's eyes flew open as the Aardwolf pushed his muzzle sideways around Iniko's jaws. Held tight so he couldn't back out of the cross-jawed kiss, Iniko squeezed his eyes shut as he endured the Aardwolf's long tongue hungrily exploring the insides of his mouth and tried desperately not to gag.
After several generous moments Saleem broke off the kiss and hugged the Jackal to him, nuzzling up and down the canine's furry neck. Iniko put his muzzle on Saleem's shoulder and made weird ugly faces as he tried in vain to expel the taste of the Aardwolf's saliva. The Aardwolf's heavy handpaws were traveling all over his body. Exploring the contours, feeling and caressing the muscles. But when Iniko felt the Aardwolf's swelling maleness beneath his loincloth rubbing against his own, he decided it was time to take control of the situation.
"Oh um... master? May I make a suggestion?" Iniko ventured anxiously. But instead of an answer Iniko found himself pulled into another crossed mouth tongue kiss and while he endured that the Aardwolf's handpaws had slipped beneath Iniko's brightly colored loincloth and finding the Jackal's buttocks began kneading and massaging them while pulling the smaller canine against his throbbing groin hard.
When the Aardwolf had parted mouths with him again, Iniko made an even more impassioned attempt to separate himself from the overly amorous Aardwolf. "Master, please! I know about these things... please let me show you an even more enjoyable way to use me."
With some effort, Saleem let the jackal loose from his grip and Iniko stepped back a pace or two to catch his breath. He licked his lips and forced a smile. "Master, I have some things in my belongings that are meant to . . . Well greatly increase the pleasure of lovemaking."
Saleem started towards him again, "We really don't need any help my dear friend, You're all the stimulation I require."
Iniko backed away while still trying to convince the Aardwolf to do it his way. "Please sir, I want to be as pleasing as I can and how can I do that if you don't allow me to use all that is at my disposal to make your pleasure as wonderful as it can be?"
It was obvious that Saleem didn't want to wait, but he allowed the jackal to push him back to where the grass was thick and soft and had him lay down. "Now you rest there master." Iniko said to the Aardwolf who gazed up at him through lust filled adoring eyes. "Just let me get my things and I'll teach you what I learned in the temples of pleasure."
"You were in the temples of pleasure?" Saleem asked after the Jackal as Iniko got his things. Of course Saleem had heard of the legendary temples where pleasures beyond imagining were to be had for a price.
"Oh yes, I was one of the best courtesans there. I pleasured many a king and lord in my time." Iniko informed him as he pulled out a skin of wine and a chalice he'd found at another campsite. Into the chalice the Jackal poured the smooth red liquid and then as he made sure his body hid his actions from the Aardwolf, he added a white powder and mixed it quickly. Then he returned with the chalice and presented it to Saleem. "Here you are master. The first step of being pleasured in a proper way must always begin with a fine wine. And, I'll have you know, this is a special wine that has very special spices in it designed to increase the sexual experience."
Saleem hesitated, he didn't like to drink, his only experience with alcohol had been a painful lesson learned early in life. But if this enticing jackal that wanted to be his love mate said it was good, he'd make an exception. "Sounds wonderful." Saleem said as he took the chalice. And sipped it. "Been a long while since I tasted wine. It's very good." Then Saleem caught a hold of Iniko's wrist and pulled the Jackal into his lap. "But not as good as you." And before Iniko could react, Saleem was kissing and embracing him again.
As Saleem pawed Iniko's colorful loincloth off, and his heavy handpaw groped the Jackal's groin, Iniko urgently tried to distract him. "Oh but master, master... you really need to drink it all to get the full benefit of the potion."
Saleem stopped his lovemaking again and with a "Oh-what-the-hell!" Snatched up the chalice and drained it in one gulp. The drink made his head spin, but not in an altogether un- pleasurable way. "YES! Saleem exclaimed, shaking his head. "That's some potent stuff there." Then he looked at Iniko who was smiling at him expectantly. "Now my pet! Your master needs you!" With that, the sexually enraged Aardwolf grabbed the jackal and began to seriously ravish him.
"No wait! Master! Master?" Iniko desperately called but the Aardwolf was beyond hearing anything but his intense passion. He kissed and licked the Jackal all over as he rubbed his lance of passion through the jackal's soft fur. Iniko tried his best to appear to play along, while trying to delay the lustful Aardwolf in any way he could all the while watching with growing anxiety that his potion wasn't working. To his surprise, (and perhaps even revulsion) the Aardwolf's erotic pawing was beginning to provoke his own sexual arousal, and before long he found himself thrusting quite willingly into the Aardwolf's paw.
Iniko had almost decided he could endue this after all, when he found himself trapped on his back beneath the Aardwolf, his legs up around Saleem's neck, and felt the hot, throbbing rod pushing against his tailhole. Realizing what the Aardwolf was about to do to him, Iniko determined that was going farther then he was willing to play this game. "Oh shit! No I can't do that! Master please... don't do that!" He begged but there was no stopping the Aardwolf and after several intense moments of struggle Saleem's lusting rod forced its way past Iniko's virgin entrance and plunged deep into his rump. The Jackal's eyes went wide with surprise and pain and he squealed like a puppy as he was driven backwards into the ground. Saleem's powerful grip was unbreakable as he held the jackal around his hips and plunged himself into the soft wonderful innards. Iniko was beyond all pretenses of self-control, he snarled and screamed and cried and whined as he was invaded and violated in ways he could never have imagined. As Saleem's thrusts became harder and more rhythmic, Iniko's squeals became short, sharp, yelps in time with the Aardwolf's plungings. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Saleem's passions exploded within the Jackal and he fell forward onto Iniko, collapsing on top of the smaller canine, and almost immediately began to snore, although his throbbing shaft continued to pump hot cum into the Jackal for several more moments.
For a long time, Iniko just lay with his tongue dangling from the side of his mouth, gasping for every breath, totally trapped beneath the weight of the Aardwolf. It was quite a while before the jackal began to regained enough of his senses to where he could try and push the dead weight of the unconscious Aardwolf off of him. It wasn't an easy matter in the least. Not only was Iniko so sore he could barely think, but his bottom was doubled up beneath the Aardwolf and on top of that, the Aardwolf's cock was still firmly planted in his incredibly sore rear. It took a lot of work in his condition and position to roll the Aardwolf's body off of him, and Iniko yelped again as the larger male's still-throbbing shaft finally slipped from his tailhole. Iniko curled up into a fetal position and lay there clutching his stomach and crying for a long time before he felt well enough to drag himself to his feet again.
Once on his feet he staggered about whining and barking angrily. "Ahh shit! Shit! SHIT! Why? WHY? Did I let him do that to me? Iniko turned his attention back to the sleeping Aardwolf and in a fit of anger kicked him savagely in the ribs. "Take THAT you fucking pervert! Damn you... damn it all!" And the jackal clutched his stomach again as the kick had sent fresh waves of pain throughout his tortured innards.
"DAMN! You better be fucking worth all the pain and suffering you've caused me."
Then the jackal walked right up on top of the Aardwolf and squatted down on his belly, grinning evilly as his weight made the unconscious Aardwolf gasp for breath.
"Like that do you?" Iniko asked with a cruel toothy grin on his muzzle. "Well let me just tell you something you sick pervert, If I can't get a decent price for you at the slave auctions I'm going to enjoy skinning you alive and selling your pelt down in the seediest parts of the big city where there's sickos that would pay a handsome price for a fine soft pelt like yours to dump their seed on. In fact, I'd skin you right now but I remembered that there's a secret sect of the Baboon clans that hold ritual sacrifices and are always looking for rare species. They're very rich and pay huge prices to those that can acquire something that's exceptionally rare. That's important to them you see. And from everything I've heard, your kind is about as rare as they come around there. In fact maybe the first thing I'll do when you wake up is force you to tell me where I can find more of your kind. Maybe I'll just sell that information to the slavers so they can put you all in cages where your kind belongs. You obviously don't do very well on your own else you wouldn't be such a rare breed now would you? Although personally I wouldn't care if the highest bidder for you was just some clan of predators that wanted an unusual main course for some special feast."
Iniko stepped down off of the sleeping Aardwolf and arched his back, groaning and whimpering as he worked the kinks out of it. "Fagh! Not only do you rip up my insides you damned near break my back while you're at it." Angry again the Jackal turned and kicked the Aardwolf in the thigh. Then kicked him again for good measure. "I will promise you this, you will suffer! I will personally see to that. Beginning with your walk to the slave auctions. You will be bound and hobbled so you can neither run nor fight back. You will be muzzled and blindfolded so only by obeying me will you get anything at all to eat. And of course you will be my packhorse until I sell you and I have a nice whip to make sure you don't walk too slowly. And when you're thirsty. . . "
The Jackal got a very evil grin on his face, then went and stood over the Aardwolf's head and there proceeded to relieve himself on Saleem's face. Iniko watched his yellow water soaking the Aardwolf's muzzle and he began to laugh. "Now that's more like it! That can't be any worst then your stinking termite breath.!" And Iniko stuck out his tongue in extreme distaste as he remembered the feel of Saleem's slimy tongue in his mouth. He shook his finger at the Aardwolf "You're gonna wake up with your arms tied behind your back, your legs hobbled, your eyes blindfolded and your snoot full of your master's piss. Yeah and you WILL learn to call me master, mister termite breath!"
Still laughing, the jackal turned away from where the Aardwolf lay with the intention of retrieving his slave bondage equipment, only to meet the lunge of the rock python face first. The python had struck for the back of the jackal's head so when he turned it just so happened his slender muzzle was so aligned that it went completely into the snake's maw before the jaws closed on his head. The Jackal's screams of surprise and pain were effectively cut off by the snake's throat as the python pulled back from his strike, its rows of backward curving, fishhook-like teeth hooked deep into skin and flesh as it dragged the hapless canine back into his waiting coils. The jackal's limbs were a blur of motion as it battled and clawed desperately trying to survive, until they were pinned helplessly against his body by the snake's powerful coils. Yet even within the crushing confines of the snake's coils the jackal's body continued to jerk and squirm violently as it struggled for life.
Under normal circumstances, the snake would've waited until it had squeezed the life out of its prey, and not even considered attempting to eat it until it was decidedly dead. But due to the convenient grip it had on the jackal's head, with the canine's muzzle already positioned for swallowing, the snake allowed its jaws to unhinge and began to draw its still struggling prey into its maw. The Jackal's slender body fit nicely down the snake's throat, slipping in without hardly any effort at all. So by the time the jackal's lungs finally gave up trying to draw in air, his shoulders were already bulging out the sides of the snake's long throat. The Jackal's legs jerked and his body shuddered as his muscles fought for oxygen. His heart beat valiantly until it burst from the effort as his rib cage was compressed into the serpent's maw. Even dead his nervous system refused to give up and his bushy tail whipped back and forth as his leg muscles strained and contorted until they too were sliding down the snake's throat. Hyper-active to the very last, his toes continued to twitch as they disappeared forever into the serpent's maw.
Then the python 'yawned' luxuriously, lifting its long body to help the large lump slide its way down to its stomach. Finally it turned its attentions to the unconscious Aardwolf. Noting the Aardwolf was still alive and not dead as the snake had assumed, it examined him intently, sniffing him over with many flicks of its sensitive tongue. Tasting the pheromones rising from the furry body. When it had satisfied it's curiosity, it withdrew and with a hissing chuckle, it pondered aloud to the sleeping Aardwolf, "Ssssso... even in helplessss ssssleep you manage to avoid me. And perhapsss even more then that, it would ssssseem I have done thee a great favor in stopping thissss one from hissss planssss for you. Ssssso rest well my furry friend assss today I give you your life, but perhapssss one day I sssshall return and take back my gift."
Then the rock python turned and slithered away to find a safe place to digest its fine meal.
* * *
The copper-colored sun hung low in the afternoon sky. It had begun its fall down to the horizon as Saleem began to stir. At first, he drifted in between that blissful state where dreams still danced vividly yet the light of consciousness beckoned one away. Then as his mind rose up through the levels towards cognizant awareness the pain began. First it was a dull spike driven through his head. Sharp and cold! A force that made his brain swell inside of his skull and threatened to make his head explode. Instinctively, his handpaws lifted up to grasp his throbbing head, but the sudden movement triggered waves of nausea to rise from his stomach. Saleem's body demanded to be allowed to just lie still but he forced himself to roll onto his side in case he did loose the contents of his stomach, so as not to end up choking on his own vomit. Saleem stayed like that for a long time before the world stopped spinning around and around.
It wasn't the first time Saleem had been drunk, although as sick as he'd been back when he was a cub, who had on a dare snuck into his elder's stores and stolen a skin of strong liquor which he and his litter mates disobediently sampled, had made him so ill that he swore he'd never tough the evil stuff again. So why had he let the jackal talk him into getting drunk again? Saleem wondered how it was that so many other animals could imbibe in considerably larger quantities of alcohol and not end up so ill?
As he lay there he noted the length of the shadows and remembered that his afternoon tasks had yet to be completed. That stung deep in his being, that he'd shirk his duties for such a reason as being drunk like one of those worthless layabouts that can't help themselves out of their own way let alone take on any responsibilities. That thought more then anything spurred him to fight his way to his feet in spite of how badly his head was pounding. His muzzle was soaked with some incredibly foul smelling substance. It filled his nose and mouth and reminded him strongly of the smell of urine, but Saleem assumed it was his own vomit. After all, why would some animal take the time to piss in his face? He didn't have any enemies that he knew of that would want to so humiliate him. That made no sense at all. But then neither did the soreness in his side where it felt like a nasty bruise beneath his thick fur.
Saleem staggered over to where he kept a dust pool and dropping to his knees beside it, scooped up pawfulls of the clean, fine powder and rubbed it vigorously into his face and chest fur. It took several applications before the absorbent dust had soaked up all the foul wetness from his fur and he was able to brush his fur clean again. He chewed a handpawful of fresh mint leaves until he'd cleansed the taste from his mouth as well. When he'd finished he found he'd made himself feel a lot better then he might've thought possible. His head still throbbed but not intolerably so. The bruises on his side seemed a mystery, but they too were negotiable. What made him the most angry with himself was all of the work he had planned for the afternoon, that he only had a couple hours before sunset to accomplish. Why had he allowed himself to fall to such a state of decadence?
It was then that Saleem realized that Iniko was nowhere to be seen. Saleem made a quick (albeit as quick as his pounding head would allow) reconnaissance of his farm and camp searching for Iniko. But all he could find with the jackal's travel bag and scant articles of clothing.
What had happened to Iniko? Saleem tried calling for the jackal but the effort only made his head hurt. If Iniko had decided to run away why would he have left all of his possessions behind him? Could the Jackal have wandered away in a drunken stupor? So inebriated that he was easy prey for some passing predator? But then Saleem remembered he hadn't seen Iniko drink anything.
Saleem had picked up the Jackal's soft colorful loin cloth and was holding it as he wandered aimlessly about his farm when he came across the fresh trail of the rock python. Saleem stared at the trail, noting the heavy drag that was much wider then usual and slowly the realization of what happened began to dawn on his already pain-racked head. Saleem sank to his knees and gingerly touched the ground where the snake had crawled. Iniko had been taken by the serpent!
"Iniko!" Saleem choked on the word. And unbidden his eyes filled with tears and his body began to shake. "Iniko!" He sobbed. Remembering the happy oh-so-willing-to-please jackal that had brought him such glorious moments of pleasure. Poor. . .poor. . .Iniko. Who only wanted to be his faithful servant. Saleem clutched Iniko's loin cloth to his face and bawled into it like a pup. He had visions of the loyal jackal defending his unconscious and helpless form from the jaws of the snake. Sacrificing himself to save Saleem from certain death. If only he hadn't been drunk. . .if only he hadn't let himself lose control. Perhaps he could've saved Iniko from such a horrible demise. He would've gladly risked his own life to have saved Iniko.
Saleem rose reluctantly when he had cried out the worst of his heartache. He thought briefly of hunting down the snake and slaying it for what it had done. But after a few moments reminded himself that he wasn't a predator. It might be one thing to be able to make a snake change its mind about attacking by acting menacing. But to actually kill such a powerful and dangerous creature? Would he really be capable of such a feat? Or would he only get himself killed in the process? Providing that he could even find the snake again. And whether the snake died or not . . .would that bring Iniko back? Saleem squeezed Iniko's loin cloth to his bosom tightly as he pouted about what a cruel and unfair world he lived in. To have found love after so many lonely years, only to have lost it so quickly.
With all of his heart he cursed his rotten luck.
By the time the sun had dropped behind the horizon, and the day had been replaced with the darkness of night, Saleem had built a shrine to the jackal. His duties of his termite farm could wait, he needed to grieve the lost of such a dear friend, whom he'd known for far far too short of a time. Most of Iniko' possessions were neatly arranged beneath the wood and grass structure. On the platform, stood the very best clay idol of a jackal Saleem knew how to make. He wished he had more talent in such things. Perhaps it would look more like a jackal then a lump of oddly shaped clay. But it would have to do.
The Jackal's loincloth he still held tightly to his person. He would take that to his bed and sleep with it cuddled under his chin. Memories after all were very important to the Aardwolves, who never stay with their mates for longer then a few weeks at a time. And Saleem found in his heart to be thankful for even those brief memories of love. He raised his muzzle to the cool night sky... tears again began to flow as he cried out his heart to the stars.
"Oh wandering spirits of love's cruel soul For the touch of a body with which to grow old, One day, some way, in the great cycle of life, May we meet again as husband and wife. Till then my love may your gentle spirit fly free. And I pray you find the rewards you deserve so much to see."
-END