War

Hey all, I busted my butt to have this update ready. As far as I know the next update will be on Monday night possibly Tuesday morning. I'll let you know if that changes.

On a different note, I was so sad! So little response for my minor smut =(, so little love. But thank you to those who did review and rate, your efforts have not gone overlooked. Before that chapter update I wasn't sure how I wanted this story to go, I'm sure now. And I'll have you all squirming in your seats I can promise that >.O

PS. plz check out my other short story. Backroom Fun, it's only a oneshot but lost of nice smut. Plz view and it tell me what you think!

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13

Cat sat curled on the rocky bank, her arms wrapped about her legs pressed to her chest as she listened to Azel dress. She didn't watch, she was so deeply embarrassed and confused. A man had never seen her but he had seen her in full now, she had never done such an act either. Now that she had to her it really didn't seem so bad. But now she was deeply confused, he had apologized to her repeatedly after, he was unable to meet her gaze. He hadn't watched her when she had pulled on her dress again, the fabric sticking to her still wet skin. She began to worry if she had done something wrong but his voice broke her thoughts.

"We should head back, we're behind in our morning chores."

He turned and began walking back, making her stumble and trot to catch up with him. His voice had sounded flat; he still wouldn't look at her. She swallowed down her worry, they had been doing so well, getting along without feeling awkward or out of place. She couldn’t stand him being so lost as he was now. She set her jaw and closed the distance between them, he stopped as she wrapped her arms about his waist and rested her cheek against his back. She listened to his heartbeat and sighed as she nuzzled him.

"You did nothing wrong Azel, I aided you as you wished, I wasn't opposed to pleasing you. You've done nothing to harm me." He was quiet and still for a moment until she felt his muscles move under her grip, his hands came up to meet hers and gently pried her from him. He turned around to face her, finally meeting her questioning gaze with his own cool one.

"You are something else Cat, you adapt so well it's startling." His words were filled genuinely with awe and admiration. "But I don't want you to please me simply because you are my slave and I'm in need. The next time we do something like that, it will be at your own free impulse, understood?"

She nodded, a little hesitantly, but he turned on his heal with her answer and continued his pace back to camp. She was a little taken with his words and had to stumble and run again to catch up once out of her daze. Men were so confusing.

********

Azel didn't want to talk anymore, he felt horrible. He had messed up to the point of no return. There was no way in hell he would EVER do that to her again. She had asked him, nearly begged him to spare her and he pushed her to the point of almost rape. He was disgusted with himself and wished he could blame it on drunkenness, but he hadn't had a drop since taking the town. He was looking forward to breaking down camp, putting out the fire and bedrolls and tent and such, it would give him a reason to burn off his anger at himself and to not talk. He paid her little mind, her forward attempt at fixing what he had inflicted on himself assured him that he hadn't hurt her extensively; he felt any other girl would have been in such hysterics he would have wanted to kill her. But not Cat, not his versatile Cat. He sighed and rolled his bedroll a little more violently than necessary. She was HIS Cat now; he was getting himself into deep waters now. He could feel her watching him, moving at a much gentler rhythm than himself, he could see the look of worry on her face without even looking at him, but she spared him her questions. Once the bedrolls were secured he helped her finish breaking down the tent, she was about as good at putting it away as she was at setting it up. She looked a little disgruntled when she figured this out but he didn't feel in the mood for comforting words. His temper had run out by the time he finished the chores but his mood had turned foul.

They left camp in silence as he lifted her easily into the saddle again, she leaned against him tiredly but she didn't fall asleep. He tried not to pay her too much mind, and was glad to see she knew when to stay quiet. She peered up at him from time to time but when he would look down at her she would quickly find something else to look at. He wondered if her mind was still back at the lake, her face kept turning a pretty pink color every now and then and she seemed a bit distant. He couldn't really blame her, he didn't like to brag on himself but he had been told by many sources that he was no amateur in bed, rather far from it really. He had seen that after-look on many a girls' face, even ones that were far from maidens themselves. He smiled at himself at this thought and sat a little taller in the saddle, he checked the sun, it was nearly ten he guessed. They had gotten a far too late a start, they would spend one more night in the woods and probably reach the army tomorrow at midday.

******

Cat sighed and shook her head, she would put her memory aside for good now, it wasn't proper for her to think about what she had done. She smiled to herself, despite her wanting to forget. She had done well, she had pleased her keeper, at least she knew she was good at that. She set her jaw, she would have no more thoughts on the matter, Azel had said it would be her choice the next time anything happened, and she didn't plan on anything for a while. Besides, she was far too shy to start anything on her own. She looked to the sky and decided to try to sleep again. It was still early and she was tired from getting up at that strange hour. At any rate, riding with Azel was dreadfully boring. She decided she would sleep and after lunch maybe she would walk to avoid so much time in the saddle. The pace he was setting wasn't so fast, she could easily walk along side the stallion, it would keep her mind busy as well, or at least she hoped.


*********
Later that day…
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"Are you going to eat?"

She stirred a little and forced herself to sit up. They had stopped, she decided it was lunchtime but the position of the sun told her it was later than that. Azel was already sliding out of the saddle and she followed him, declining his offer to help. For some reason she didn't quiet want him to touch her. It didn't seem appropriate. She settled herself on the ground after making sure there were no bugs or snakes with her foot. Azel rummaged around in one of the various packs on the saddle. She watched him intently, her stomach growling at her from time to time. He was still in a fowl mood, but she could do nothing for it. He sat next to her with a sigh and handed her a portion of cheese and bread. It wasn't anything special, and she looked forward to another stew that night.

"Eat as much of that as you want, we'll reach the army tomorrow at midday." She blinked at him, a surprised expression on her face.

"The armies are so close to each other? Why not merge them together?" Azel smirked at her, bread in his mouth. She regretted making a comment. She knew he was far more experienced in war than she was, there had to be a good reason for the separation.

"The army at your village is fragile and crucial to our success. It will deliver a crushing blow. The army we're going to now has a separate purpose. It will give the first the muscle it needs to succeed."

She wasn't at all satisfied with his explanation, but it didn't look as though he would explain further. She ate her food quickly, not happy with the bland cheese, but she at least would have a bed to sleep on soon. She hadn't realized how long it had been since she had slept on a nice bed. He finished before her and readied to ride again. She swallowed her last bit, stretching as she stood, brushing away the leaves and dirt from her dress. He mounted his stallion and stared at her expectantly.

"Are you coming?" She nodded, a little smile on her lips.

"I want to walk." He rolled his eyes at her as she placed her hands on her hips stubbornly.

"You'll get tired." She lifted her chin at him.

"When I get tired then I'll ride. That saddle is murderous, and I'll stay out of it as long as I can."

He answered her by urging the horse into a walk. She smiled at her victory and followed after. The forest looked so much prettier than when she was riding. She could touch the trees and leaves and admire the underbrush and plants. It made Azel nervous that she wasn't she wasn't as near as he'd like; he kept turning in the saddle to look at her. She never went far from him, she had no idea where she was, she would be lost without him to guide her. He seemed on edge just the same, it made her a little worried as well, he seemed preoccupied with the forest around them, as if he expected something. This went on for a long while, but nothing ever happened and she brushed it off for Azel just being himself. The sun was nearly set by the time Catherine's feet began to ache. Azel must have noticed her dragging and decided to stop for camp. It was just another small spot, nothing special about it. He went about setting up the tent while she went to fetch some water. She had to walk nearly ten minutes but the stream was small and clear. She wouldn't get a bath that night but the water was cool. She knelt and took a long drawn drink before filling the bucket.

She walked back, a slight lean and stumble in her step from the weight of the bucket. When she returned, Azel had already gone; she hadn't expected him to wait for her. She set the water on the fire to heat it; it would be ready for him by the time he returned. She regarded the tied stallion with a curious eye, his eyes were rolling, as if something was wrong, his nose flaring in slight panic but he didn't make a sound. She walked over to him quietly, loathe to actually touch him but she looked at him calmingly. She untied one of the packs containing the cheese and bread and walked it back over to the fire. She was starving, and Azel might not be so lucky with his hunting that night as he had the night before. She broke off a chunk of cheese and nibbled at it contently. The tent was already set and calling for her. She was tired, but her hunger beat her out, she would wait for her meal. The stallion pranced about, pulling against his lead and crying out loudly at her. She jumped up to her feet to calm him, afraid that he would get away but froze as she saw what the stallion was screaming about. A huge gray wolf stood staring at her from across the fire. His head was down low and his ears back but he didn't growl or show his teeth at her. His legs were long and slender, making him look like an excellent runner. But his body was too thin, his ribs and hips stood out to a painful degree. Blood ran down his right leg from his shoulder that had been laid open to the bone. His stomach was drenched red and rose high like that of a greyhound, too close to his spine to be healthy. His paws were large and spread wide to help support his exhausted body. She realized he was licking his lips and staring right at her, or rather at the cheese in her hand.

She swallowed hard at the hungry look in his sharp blue eyes. She tossed the cheese over the fire to him and he pounced on it with more force and energy than she had thought his body possessed. She realized then how BIG he was, his shoulder would easily reach her hip of not the bottom of her ribs. He swallowed down the cheese without even chewing and looked back to her again expectantly, only four feet between them, the fire in the center. She reached back into the bag and pulled out the remainder of the cheese, it was a block half the size of her head, she held it out to him in her hand. He walked around the fire cautiously, his gaze shooting from her to the cheese then back again. Only a foot of space between her hand and his muzzle, but he was too skittish to close the distance. She laid it on the ground and he took it, dragging it away from her to eat it in safety. He watched her cautiously and swallowed it down. She sat down again and watched him; he seemed to relax once she was in a sitting position. He crouched down to eat then, only turning his ear towards her when she moved or shifted. He finished off the cheese, licking his chops noisily and sniffing the ground for more. He looked to her as she pulled out the rest of the bread, it was only half a loaf, she hoped it would be enough. She tore off a fistful and offered it to him. He pressed his ears back and crawled towards her, his neck outstretched as far as it would go. She smiled as he opened his large jaws and carefully took the bread from her hand, moving back again quickly to eat it. She did this several times with him; by the end of the bread he was near enough to her for her to feel his body heat. He seemed comfortable and content and it gave her an opportunity to look at his wounds closer. She didn't dare touch them, for fear of him snapping at her, but she could tell they were old, the blood was dried hard and the flesh dark and stiff. But she noticed he walked with a certain stiffness and wondered if his limp would be permanent. She decided it must have been the reason why he couldn't catch food on his own.

He yawned, pulling her away from her thoughts as she stared at his inch long fangs. Strangely, his teeth looked like oversized puppy teeth, but he was far too large to be a puppy. He shook his head tiredly and rested his large muzzle against her leg, actually closing his eyes to sleep with his ears ever vigilant.

"Cat." Azel's voice was barely a whisper but it was enough for a low growl to emit from the chest of the wolf and his head to rise. He didn't move other than that. He stared at the animal for a moment, she thought it would attack from the provocation but he didn't, only stayed still, the rumble in his chest coming to a stop.

"Are you alright?" She nodded to him, taking her hand and lightly trying to coax it back to a relaxed state. She was shaking, for fear that it would turn on her but he didn't.

"He wandered into the camp, he was starving and he's hurt. I gave him the rest of the cheese and bread and he seemed content with that. I don't think he'll eat me." Azel moved carefully into the camp, several rabbits in hand that he set to his side to be sure they didn't get snatched. The wolf seemed uninterested.

"I wouldn't be so sure of that Cat, that's not a wolf you're petting there, that’s a bane hound."

Her eyes shot to his at his words; she had heard that name before. She had always thought them to be fake; something made up to scare little children. She knew they came from the other side of the divide to the far north, where it's so hot few can bare it. But they grew so large a man could ride them, she had heard stories that many of the soldiers to the north really did.

"Azel he's too small to be a bane hound." He smiled to her and set to cleaning his kills, watching the animal carefully, but he still seemed uninterested.

"He's only a puppy. Maybe six months old." She looked down at her content animal; it explained the way his fangs and teeth looked.
Azel's gaze swept over his sad state, the blood and his thinness.

"After we eat, if he'll let me, I'll look at his wounds. He needs some attention." She looked to him, but he was caught up in his work.

"Is he staying then?" Azel sighed, but still didn't look at her.

"If he wants to. I won't make him, and neither will you.

The truth is, bane hounds are expensive, and the way he behaves he had to be a pet at one point or another. They're very handy to have around if they're brought up right, and to have one stumble up to you for free is a good deal. Even if he is a little beat up." She smiled at his slight softness and stroked the large head in her lap.

"I never took you for an animal person Azel." He dropped the meat into the boiling water and wiped his knife clean.

"I'm not, he's yours if he chooses to stay."

Catherine gazed down at the content animal in her lap, his eyes were closed, his body almost relaxed. He rested his good side against her body as she sat as still as she could. They ate, the hound giving little notice of food being near to him, she was very thankful for that. Azel set his bowl aside and moved towards the hound. As if he had been awake the whole time his body tensed and his ears perked while a growl rolled up his throat. She could feel the rumble of the sound in his chest against her leg. Azel only paused and stared at the animal until she growl ceased. He advanced again and she continued petting him to try to comfort him. Azel stroked his thick gray coat with his hand before getting a better look at his shoulder.

He didn't linger over the wound long before looking at his stomach. Surprisingly enough the blood there wasn't his own and there was no wound. He went to his packs and brought back a small leather pouch. Catherine looked at it strangely. It looked full to bursting and was dark with water sealing oils. He opened it and with his fingers scooped out a large glob of white paste. Azel gave her a look as if to say 'be ready', she felt her hands snake up to the head of her hound and urge him to lie back down. He did so with little resistance and she was surprised that he only growled low in his chest as Azel filled his infected wound with the paste. She let him go when he was finished he inspected Azel's work with a strange intelligence and didn't lick away the paste. Azel stood and wiped his hand clean before stripping off his shirt and going to the tent.

"Aren't you going to tie him up or something?" Azel stopped for moment and stretched, his lean muscles moving beautifully beneath his skin.

"I told you, it's his choice to stay or go. I won't tie him. If he's still here in the morning then he's made his decision." With that he disappeared into the tent, Catherine looked to her possibly new pet that was staring right back at her. She reached out and pet him lightly on the head and around his ears.

"I'm going to bed, I hope you'll be here in the morning."

He licked her hand as she stood but he stayed where he was, lying near the dying fire watching her go. Inside the tent Azel was in his usual state, eyes closed, hands behind his head, seemingly asleep. She smiled, knowing that he wasn't and that he's want her close the moment she got under her covers. She wasn't going to make him ask this time, she lay down and moved close to him, urging him to hold her. He took the hint and rested his chin against her shoulder, his arm resting over her side. She smiled to herself as she settled in to sleep, she could do at least a few things for him.


Okay! All done, plz R&R, I'll be so sad if I get so few responses on this chapter too. Toodles!