Battle of the Heart

Rias never thought he would have been so thankful when he saw Lamar coming towards him, safe and sound. He really was falling hard for the human, which was a very, very bad thing. His kind did not tolerate such matings. Even matings between males were frowned upon in this time when their numbers were dwindling and wild kits just weren’t making it to adulthood as often. The fact that Lamar was human would make it so that they would be hunted for the rest of their lives.

‘Why the hell am I thinking like this anyways? So what if he’s hot, and kind too. He’s a fucking human! A member of the same race that’s enslaved me since I was a little kit. I can’t possibly be falling for him, can I?’ Rias shook his head to try to clear it, but memories of last night when he had fallen asleep in the warmth of Lamar’s embrace still plagued him, and he couldn’t shack them.

Anni was holding Lamar by the arm, but he released him as soon as he got close to Rias. The gold fox knelt down and released his bonds before promptly standing again. Rias sprang to his feet, winching as his bunched muscles screamed in protest. He immediately went to Lamar, wanting to know for himself that the human was safe.

“You okay?” Lamar asked in a concerned tone as Rias came up.

The fox nodded stretching his arms above his head, “stiff and sore and fucking pissed off but yeah, I’m okay. What about you, they didn’t do anything to you did they?”

Lamar smiled, thankful that Rias seemed like his old self. The fox had been so heavy hearted after the fight, Lamar had been worried that he wouldn’t see the bubbly side of his friend again. The human’s smile broadened, yes Rias was his friend. The fox didn’t hate him, he had even defended him when they had been overrun, an act that had surely saved Lamar’s life. Perhaps his hopes weren’t so far fetched. Perhaps he and Rias could create some sort of family together. Lamar knew his family would never take him back now, and Rias didn’t seem to have anyone. Maybe there was hope.

“Hey space case, you gonna just sit there smiling like some imbecile or are you going to answer me?” Lamar couldn’t help but laugh at the annoyed look that the fox gave him. It was one of slight announce, concern, and curiosity. Rias was turning his head to the side, his ears perking up. Did he even realize how cute he was?

“I’m fine Rias, but what’s going on?” He now turned to Aani, “you said you wanted me to help you, to prove my loyalty. What, exactly do you plan to do?”

Aani nodded and walked over to a fire, gesturing for the pair to join him. He settled down on the soft dirt surrounding the flames and waited for Lamar and Rias to do the same. Lamar sat opposite to him, surprised by how comfortable the cool ground felt beneath him. He gasped when Rias didn’t sit down right away but transformed into a giant silver fox instead. Lamar had been longing to see Rias in this form, and it seemed he had been right when he had assumed that Rias would be stunning. His fur was the same color as it was in half form and it shown brightly in the fire’s light. The fox laid down behind Lamar, his blue eyes glowing. The human leaned back against him feeling protected with Rias at his back. It was odd, just a short while ago Lamar had feared Rias, now he looked to him as a protector.

Once the three of them had settled in Aani began to explain the foxes’ plan. Aani sat up straight and regal, his eyes on Lamar as he spoke. The human knew he was judging him, even now while they sat together by the fire. “Our plan is a simple one. We will surround the human settlement and kill the humans as they go to leave. This will free their foxes and let us rid ourselves of some enemies in the process. The job of your foxes and yourself is simple but will be imperative to our plan. You will have to go into the settlement. You are to be our eyes and ears inside. You will keep a close watch on the behavior patterns of the humans. As soon as you know they are aware of what we are doing you will send us a warning and we will go in and kill all who remain. At that time it will be your job to set the place on fire, destroy as many of those accursed stones as possible, and help the freed foxes escape. Do you understand?”

Lamar could not answer right away, he was too much in shook. They were going to kill everyone, every human in that place was going to die? If he hadn’t found Rias, if he hadn’t learned the truth about foxes he would have been just like them. He might have even been down at that camp, waiting to be slaughtered. He just couldn’t give up on humanity so easily. He was going to have to find some way to save those foxes without killing all of the humans.

“I can’t be a part of that plan, Anni. I want peace between the foxes and the humans, and I have no intention of leading human’s to be slaughtered.” He felt Rias tense behind him. He knew how the fox felt, he may have just signed their death sentences. The gold fox just sighed and looked down, “so you have changed your mind about helping us, that is unfortunate. I had hoped I won’t have to kill you, and more importantly Rias as the fox seems determined to stand by you, even when you insist on leading him to the grave.”

Lamar closed his eyes, trying desperately to control his racing heart. It was one thing to throw away his own life to defend his beliefs, it was another thing to give up Rias’ life. “Are you the only gold fox here?” He asked in a voice he hoped sounded calm.

Aani nodded, “Our group consists of myself, and seven silver foxes.”

Lamar’s eyes widened in disbelief, “You can’t honestly think you’re going to be able to take on so many enslaved foxes with those numbers? I can guarantee there are at least a couple dozen gold foxes there, and I don’t even know how many silver foxes. If you go against them you’ll just be killing your own people.”

Aani raised an eyebrow, “I see your point, but there is little that can be done. Foxes are not pack animals by nature. To have even a group such as this gathered in rare. This is exactly why we intend to take as many of them on as we can in one on one fights.”

Lamar sighed, it felt like talking to a brick wall. A brick wall with fangs and claws, that was. “You can’t hope to be able to take out enough of them, not without alerting the whole group. You’d just be throwing away your lives. Let Rias and I go, we have already managed to free one fox. I know that with time we can do more. I’d rather not force him to fight, and if I could take his place in that arena I would. This isn’t just about me though, Rias wants to fight. He’s been forced to fight against his own kind for so long now, it’s only right that he has a chance to fight for them instead.”

“Are you trying to tell me you intend to free the entire fox population by winning them in single battles?” Aani’s voice held a touch of scorn. Still, he wasn’t ripping out their throats, that was a plus.

“No, I intend to do what I can. I may not be able to free them all, but I know that every life I save matters. My hope is that if I continue what I’m doing I can change things from the inside. I know you won’t believe this, but I think there are good people among the filth of the slave rings. If I can make them see that the foxes under their command are not just animals, then maybe I can change things. Please, give me time. If you give me a chance and I still don’t come through then kill me. It will cost you nothing, and it will give you time to create a large enough force to stand a chance against the slavers.”

Aani did not answer right away but instead sat ridged, his face showing no emotion. Lamar fought the urge to reach behind him to Rais. He had to remain strong, and he had to look confident. That and his and Rias’ friendship was a new one, and it was still on uncertain ground. Lamar was amazed the fox was acting in such a personal manner as it was. It was almost as if being around his own kind had spurred some possessively protective instinct in the fox, and Lamar was surprised though not necessarily unhappy to find it directed towards him.

“Very well, I will accept your terms. Every eight years we foxes have a Gathering. It is the only time that we are all together, and it is at this time that we will decide what to do with the humans. The next Gathering is a year away. You have until then to do what you see is best. I have one more condition however; I will be accompanying you as well. This will ensure that you can not escape us and it will give me valuable insight on the inner workings of this vile system you seem so eager to change.”

Lamar blinked in surprise and Rias tensed behind him. “That can never work. The humans will know at once that you’re not my slave. They’d end up either killing or enslaving you, and I don’t know what they’d do with me.”
Aani waved his hand, seemingly unconcerned. “I will be wearing a stone, but I will have the other half as well. I will look the part, you need not worry.”

“What about the fact that you won’t be fighting? That will draw way too much attention.” Lamar was clenching at straws now, trying to make the gold fox see sense.

Aani seemed unconcerned, however. “This will not be a problem because so long as I deem you cause a worthy one I will fight for you. If I don’t then I will simply kill you and leave, so either way your cover will not be compromised.

~~**~~

Gabe whimpered as he sat hunched up at the bottom of the tree that he had been tied to. He hadn’t seen the Master or Rias since he had been haled away from them the night before, and he was beginning to fear he would never see them again. The wild foxes around him had been kind enough, but they wouldn’t let him anywhere near Lamar. Gabe was so afraid for the human. Lamar was the only master he had ever known to treat his foxes with such kindness. He had felt that he was finally part of a family with Lamar and Rias, and now the family was being ripped to shreds.

“Um, are you okay kit?” Gabe looked up expecting to find one of the wild foxes but was instead met with the timid eyes of the silver fox his master had won from the fight. The first thing he noticed was that this fox was standing unbound, instead of being tied up like he was.

Gabe bared his fangs at the other fox, the fear and anger he’d had pent up all coming out at once. “So I see you’ve chosen a side. How easily you abandon the man who rescued you from that monster.”

Aryan frowned as he knelt down beside the younger fox. “I don’t understand why you insist on backing that human. He is a master, just like the others. I-I didn’t know what else to do. I mean these are our people right? They’ve got to be better than a master.”

Gabe looked down as he fought to keep his voice from shacking. “You don’t understand. Master is different, he’s not like the other humans. I do know what it’s like to be free because he freed me. Not only that but he let me stay with him, and he continued to take care of me. He’s the only family I have, and I’m not going to let him go.”

“If he freed you then why do you still call him master?” Aryan’s usually timid voice held a certainty that might just be as strong as Gabe’s bond with Lamar. It was clear that this fox had been badly hurt by humans, and he had a long way to go before he would trust them again.

Gabe swallowed, trying to think of how to explain that. “My relationship with master has always been good. I just don’t want it to change now that I’m not his slave, so I figure if I act the same he’ll likely treat me the same.”

“Is that why you’re still calling me master?” Gabe’s head snapped up at the sound of Lamar’s voice, and he looked with wide eyes at the human he so idolized. Lamar was walking up to him, unbound and in perfect health. A rather grumpy looking Rias stood behind him, but he smiled when he saw Gabe looking his way. “Hey kid, how’s it going?”

Gabe gave a weak smile, his relief at seeing the pair far outweighing his discomfort at what Lamar had just overheard. “Master Lamar, Rias you’re alright! I was so worried about what they might have done to you. When they wouldn’t let me see
you I thought the worse.”

“Yeah well we worked it out. More importantly Gabe, I want you to stop this behavior. I treated you the way I did because you’re a person, not because you were my slave. That won’t change now or ever so please, for my sake as well as your own, stop treating me like your master.” The severity of Lamar’s voice surprised Gabe. He couldn’t think of a time that Lamar had taken such a stern tone with him. ‘Does it really bother him so much? I just don’t understand it.’

“What should I treat you like then Mas-I mean Lamar? I mean, if I’m not a slave than what am I to you?”

Lamar was silent for a moment, a calculating look on his face. Gabe could swear he heard his heart pounding, he could currently feel it. When Lamar spoke his voice was very quite, but it held a conviction that struck Gabe at his core. “You’re my family Gabe, you and Rias together. You both mean the world to me, and I would never dream of letting either of you go.”