FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter Five

Aulus and Akul approached a little cottage home that had a working water wheel. The sound of pouring water from the large wheel drowned the normal forest noises of birds and other wildlife. The dense trees around the property and road blocked most of the sunlight from penetrating above, leaving mysterious shade. They stopped at a bend in the dirt road. It veered right and followed a creek upstream, but a walkway of wooden planks resembling a dock crossed the water directly ahead.

"Oh? A creek." It wasn't on the map. Akul liked the scenic space with the house resting on the opposing bank.

"What is that giant thing for?" She pointed at the water wheel.

"Probably used to irrigate something, or it's connected to a mill to grind grain." Aulus guessed and looked over his map. "We can follow the road and hope it crosses at a narrower point, or cross here-"

"Let's walk across the little bridge!" Akul tugged him to the creek. The water didn't appear much deeper than half a meter in some places, but the aged planks concerned him. A few small birds flew away as a pair of large paws stepped across the planks followed by a pair of shoes. Below them, the clear water flowed with a quiet rush. The wolf stepped across carefree, but the human was careful.

"Some of these planks are broken." Aulus carefully stepped over the small gap.

"It's so peaceful here." She took a deep breath and hopped off the final plank. "I can imagine taking a nap here or a shaman meditating by the wheel, connecting to nature." The wolf's tail wagged as she spoke.

"Connecting to nature huh?" Aulus joined her on dry land and tapped a tree wondering how that was supposed to work.

"Yes! Everyone is conscious of nature in the forest villages, especially shamans. Finding a remote place to sit and observe is very important." Akul explained.

"What do they do? Talk to a tree?" Aulus mused.

"Hmm... I don't know." Akul looked around the little forest.

"You don't know?"

"I'm not a shaman. Sometimes one will sit and meditate in a secluded part of the forest even if it's pouring rain."

"Why?"

"Because a shaman chooses to become closer to nature. It's a spiritual exercise." That didn't make any sense to Aulus, but he didn't bother delving further into the culture and customs of the wolf's tribal village. The dirt road joined another where a sign was located and continued northward. Unlike most of the rural signs that they had passed, this one had several wooden slabs pointing in different direction. The largest one pointed northward along the road. Aulus paused and read the signs.

"Aren't we going this way?" She pointed further along the road.

"Hold on for just a moment." He pulled out his map to double check. His eyes scanned over the top half keenly before methodically rolling the paper into the backpack. "This is it." He quietly remarked.

"What? Ambrosia?" Akul blankly looked at the sign. Her ear flickered hearing a sharp chirping from a chickadee.

"Yes." Aulus nodded.

"Here?" Akul hopefully looked around the trees.

"No, ahead." They resumed walking. The overhanging trees surrounding the pathway resembled a tunnel with a ray of light at the end. Akul raised her nose.

"Are we almost there?" She asked. "I can smell salt in the air."

"We'll see past these woods I suppose." He said as they entered the sand mixed pathway. The light grew stronger, peeking through the thinning woods as they neared the end. All the steps they had taken since the great southern forest suddenly bore fruition. They emerged from the trees at the top of a small ledge and were greeted by a radically different sight. Akul's jaw dropped in disbelief.

'...!' The city was much bigger than the previous towns Aulus had taken her to. There were so many buildings of brick, stone, and wood of varying sizes. The wolfess would never have imagined a village of such size had she stayed in the forest. The buildings farther away looked as if they were piercing the sky. "Oh my..." Akul could hardly believe that so many people lived in one space. The she wolf's eyes scanned the endless tall buildings before looking out to the water. Docks lined the small space of coast that they could see, almost to the rocky point in the far distance. The harbor's dark waters extended out to the sea and horizon. "What is that?!" She barked and pointed at a large galleon ship in the harbor. "There's more!" Little fishing boats, modest sized caravels, and even a second galleon all occupied the vast waters. It was impossible from the distance, but crews were busily moving them into port, out to sea, or unloading all the cargo that they could. Many seagulls were coasting in the air, circling the massive ships in search of easy food.

A small littered brook that emptied into the bay stood between them and the vast urban environment. "There's so much..." The tribal she wolf didn't know where to start.

"There are a lot more houses and buildings than this." Aulus smiled and led the dazzled wolfess by her hand down the small dirt road to a bridge.

"Really?" The roads had a dozen or so people crossing at any given point rather than the scant one or two in the south. Two horse pulled wagons shuffled across the bridge, clopping noisily over the first section of cobblestone. Aulus and Akul followed behind. The she wolf received a glare or two, but otherwise went unnoticed in the open area. 'Wow!' The wolf looked over the edge down to the little brook barely three meters below. An old husky trudged by with a sack slung over his shoulder, nearly hitting the curious tribal wolfess.

"Come on. Don't slow people down." Aulus tugged her along. They crossed into the city. Trees and dirt pathways were replaced by buildings and cobblestone streets. The streets varied between wide lanes and thin alleyways. There was little open space, if any, among the endless expanse of two or three story buildings. Flags flew atop towers or church spires. Not a single section of Ambrosia was quiet and calm either. There were plenty of people in the cobblestone streets wherever they walked. Sunny yellows and dark blues were worn among other blander russet shades of clothes. Akul felt like her head was spinning to take in all of the action and colorful scenery. A woman was airing out laundry on the second floor from a window. An old tiger and human were laughing together over a funny story. A lady Ocelot shrieked as a bucket of water accidentally spilled on her. Several kids were playing around a vegetable cart from the countryside while their parents purchased food. Akul's ears dialed around, enable to focus on a single sound for more than a fleeting moment.

'It's so noisy!' The wolfess could only compare it to a strong wind that rustled every leaf back home. For Aulus it was like any town, but on a far grander scale. Guildhalls, large markets, and endless buildings! Ambrosia was so big and busy that no one noticed Akul for longer than a glance.

"The whole place is decorated..." Aulus noticed streamers hanging from balconies that connected buildings across narrow streets. Lanterns were decorated and the city's atmosphere had a very upbeat tone. "Why are there so many decorations out?" Aulus asked a passerby.

"There's a big festival coming up!" The tiger gleefully answered and continued walking along the street.

"Thank you!" Akul barked. "What kind of festivals do towns celebrate?" Akul asked.

"Sometimes to commemorate a battle, the birth of a historical figure, or because they want to party and have a fun night." The wolf looked around for a moment.

"Where do they put a bonfire big enough for the city?"

"A city won't use a bonfire because some buildings can catch fire."

"Then where does everyone gather?"

"Throughout the entire city." Aulus motioned with a hand. "Anyone will celebrate wherever there is good company and something to drink." Akul wondered how many more people could fill the streets.

"It's all so exciting!" She gave an enthusiastic yip. Aulus was excited too, but for entirely different reasons.

'My chance at a fortune is here.' He greedily grinned and tightly held the straps to his backpack.

"Can we go see those giant things in the water, Aulus?"

"What? You mean the ships?"

"Yes!" She excitedly barked.

"Sure. We have plenty of time for that." He led her down narrow streets of shops and small homes to a set of docks along the seaside cobblestone street. The wooden pathways leading over the water to the docked vessels reminded Akul of a maze. Crewmen were busily unloading cargo, and several merchants were haggling over exchanging paper currency or coins. Orders were shouted or barked aloud, especially if someone dropped a crate of goods. Aulus walked Akul towards the galleon in the busy dockyard. The ship bobbed gently in the calm waters at the end of the dock. The sounds of little waves slapping against wood and crying gulls filled the air.

"Haul up the line!" A Samoyed barked from a ship's prow. A young cheetah scurried across the dock to follow orders. Aulus stepped forward but the she wolf stopped him and clutched his hand tightly. She gave a low warning growl at the large vessel. Akul had never seen anything so massive in her life.

"What's wrong? It's just a ship." Aulus reassured her.

"But... Will it jump out of that water at us?" She nervously asked. The massive sails reminded her of wings.

"No! Think of it as a giant hollow log floating on the water." He knocked on an old wagon wheel propped against a customs building.

"How are they made?" She crept around an empty barrel to get a closer look.

"With a lot of trees and hard work."

"It's like a monster from a story." She watched the crew haul up the sails.

"A monster?" Aulus smiled. "Those monsters might hold the fortune that I'm looking for."

"You're buying a ship?" She gave him a bewildered look.

"No." He laughed. "There's so much cargo aboard each one... It's the greatest zero sum game."

"Zero sum? You're not making any sense."

"If I give someone a single coin for a rabbit pelt, then that person has the money. He's richer and I'm poorer. A single ship like this has traded goods and money hundreds of times." Aulus explained. Akul's nose wrinkled at the summary of rich and poor.

"But you have the rabbit pelt. Isn't that worth something?"

"Yes, but he has the money now.

"But you bought it."

"I can't pay for something with a rabbit pelt."

"Why not? We do it all the time in the village."

"This is a city, not a village." Aulus stated. "Besides, it's easier to carry a coin instead of a rabbit pelt." The wolfess rolled her eyes but didn't see any point in arguing its him. "Let's find a place to stay at for the night." Aulus waved for Akul to follow him. The she wolf stared at the docked galleon before following him away from the docks. Nothing about the large environment ceased to amaze the tribal wolf.

"How does a city get so big?" The she wolf looked around the streets that they crossed.

"They all start small like your village."

"I... I can't imagine that." The difference between her village and Ambrosia was too immense. However, the tribal wolfess was curious as ever to the environment around her. "Why are these streets narrower than the one from the bridge?"

"Probably because of carts drawn by horses or oxen. They take up a lot of room and need the space." He explained. While the canine asked numerous questions, Aulus remained on the lookout for a place to stay. He spotted a few skinny two, three, and four story inns but didn't bother with them. They were likely communal where several guests shared a room and a large bed; but he didn't want a place where the chance of theft was potentially high. 'Id consider a hospital, but I don't want to risk the chance of falling ill.' He noticed a large stone building with a large green painted cross. The next inn he spotted had a picture of water on its hanging sign.

"What does that sign mean?" Akul asked.

"It means they own a bathhouse, or have easy access to one."

"So they have a house that you can take a bath in?"

"Yes... It's in a good area too." He looked around the well maintained buildings in the area. No shanty homes, debris in the street, or vagabonds. 'I just hope they have some rooms available so close to a festival.'

"Are we going in?" Akul was already at the open double doors.

"Stand behind me." He hurried to her. "I don't want anyone to easily see that you're naked."

"Ok." She shuffled into line as they entered. The wolfess didn't like his attempts to hide her nudity, but she understood why he had to. Inside was a much quieter and calmer place than the outside streets. A few people were talking inside a lobby that connected to three hallways. Her nose wiggled at the funny smell of a large wooden keg and several barrels beside it. Akul looked around the new environment curiously and bumped into Aulus.

"Careful."

"Sorry!"

"Good day to you sir. How may I help you?" A pudgy badger greeted Aulus from behind a podium.

"Hello. Do you have any rooms available?"

"We have two." He readied a quill and ink to mark one off.

"How much is it per night?"

"Six copper pieces."

'That's expensive, but I should expect as much.' Aulus thought to himself. "Deal."

"Splendid." The badger smiled. "We have complementary breakfasts until high noon for each night that you stay."

"What breakfasts do you offer?"

"Usually biscuits, jams, and anything seasonal on hand."

'That's not bad...' Aulus silently noted. "Is there a fee for the bathhouse?"

"Nope. It's funded by city taxes." The badger informed him.

'Not bad...' Aulus thought as he paid the owner.

"Here is your key. Room twelve is down this hall. Make sure to lock the door when you leave and close your window at night." He bade them a fair stay.

"What are taxes, Aulus?" Akul inquired as they crossed the lobby and walked down a hall.

"A merchant's worst nightmare."

"A nightmare?" She didn't understand.

"No. You don't have to worry about it though, Akul." He turned to their door. "This must be it." He opened it and they stepped inside. Their room was expectedly small, but quaint. A single bed in the corner adjacent to a window, small table, and a chamber pot filled up close to half the room's floor space. "We have a nice view." He looked outside the window. Their corner room was located above a slope that opened up a visible section of the dark blue harbor. Plenty of terra cotta, timber, and the occasional thatch roofs were visible along the upper coastal section of the city. The tribal wolf's claws clicked over the wooden floors.

"And a good bed." Akul felt the covers and mattress before jumping on. "Nice and soft..." The wolfess stretched out on the mattress that was far better than any other inn. 'Not even the softest deer fur on peaty soil is softer.' She grinned with satisfaction. Aulus tinkered with his gems, making sure none had received a scratch and buffing any dullness away for a deep luster. The tribal wolfess stared up at the ceiling for a while before shifting anxiously. Laying down after witnessing a tiny piece of the magnificent city equalled the end of an adrenaline rush.

"I'm bored." Akul sat up on the bed.

"Bored?" Aulus half grinned. "You love sleeping on beds."

"Yeah, but I'll be sleeping on it all night. This is such a big town, and I know there's a lot to see here." The wolfess jumped out of bed and held her hands up. "There's plenty of daylight. What can we do?"

"Hmm." He thought for a moment. "I could really use a bath." He thought aloud. His hands weren't clean and his entire body felt dirty after weeks of traveling on foot.

"Your scent is... stronger." Akul nodded.

"Then it's settled." He waved for her to follow. The curious wolf eagerly walked with him back downstairs. "You'll love the bathhouse." Aulus promised. "It's one of the few places where it's normal to be naked outside your forests."

"Nudity is normal." She rolled her eyes.

"Not in a city." He reminded her. The wolfess frowned and followed him outside to the back of the inn where the bathhouse was. The wide one story brick and marble building was in the midst of numerous wooden and partial stone buildings. They were likely inns and other establishments in need of its access. A wide open entrance split into two corridors, one left, and one right. Plenty of echoing voices were heard from outside the open entry. "This side is for males, and this one is for females. They're exactly the same."

"Does this mean I have to go in this one?" She pointed and asked.

"Yes." Aulus nodded. "We can meet up right here when we're done."

'Another dumb town rule.' Akul looked at the entrance to the female side and promptly entered. The floors were covered with cream colored tiles, and the walls were a similar color. The lack of a roof allowed the sunlight to warm and brighten the space. The female's side was completely empty except for a lone grey vixen maid who was trimming her claws by the pool's corner. Akul's ears fell back, wishing that Aulus hadn't pointed out the need to separate. There were two separate pools, a warm one for washing, and a hot one for lounging. Shelves held a few towels and other basic necessities for bathing or lounging about. Her claws quietly clacked across the tiles, creating a subtle echo that whispered in her ears. She dipped a paw into the lukewarm water.

'I know people outside the forests live differently, but this...' Akul looked around and sighed. She could hear laughter echoing from the males' side. It was too boring and lonely for the normally social wolf. The she wolf frowned and growled. "This is silly!" Akul barked, startling the maid. "Sorry!" She apologized. 'Why do I have to hide from everyone else while bathing?' The she wolf stormed out of the room.

On the males' side Aulus was relaxing in chest deep lukewarm water. A red fox to his left and tall tiger to his far right both wore similar content expressions. There were a dozen or so lounging in the tempting waters. Another dozen were enjoying the friendly atmosphere by talking on one of the many benches where clothes and belongings were stored along the wall.

'I feel like I'm in Akul's village.' Aulus mused. He scanned the steamy air but noticed quite a few heads turning. Their eyes opened fairly wide in surprise.

"Is that a wolfess?" One wondered aloud. Aulus's eyes widened and he turned around. His jaw immediately dropped.

"Akul!" He stared dumbfounded as the wolfess unabashedly walked up to him before wading in. Most of the other males were slack jawed as well.

"Hey Aulus." She leaned back with her elbows up giving the males an eyeful. The old males didn't seem to pay any more attention and resumed their conversations, but the younger ones were fairly distracted having a nude female amongst them. A few whistles sharply echoed throughout the bath.

"You could at least submerge your chest!" The red fox beside Aulus spat. Akul splashed hot water onto his face. "Ah! That's hot water!" He whined and wiped his face.

"What are you doing here?!" Aulus squeaked like a trapped mouse.

"No one is in the other bath, and I wanted to take one with you." She simply answered with her characteristic grin. The human's face turned red like a tomato.

'Everyone's staring at us...' He groaned to himself. Akul didn't take any notice and contently washed herself in the warm water with the extra company. Plenty of young males had to cross their legs for precaution, but no one dared to complain.

"Where are you from?" Akul struck up a conversation with the fox she had splashed hot water on a moment ago.

"Nouvice. It's a nearby coastal town." He raised a hand in case she decided to splash him again.

"Are there giant ships there too?"

"No." He looked at her oddly. "Where are you from?"

"We're not from around here. I'm from a little village in a big forest in the far south. Aulus here," she pointed to the human, "is from a town near my home."

"Well... Ok." His eyes darted between her eyes and chest. The fox shifted his legs underwater uncomfortably. "Why did you travel so far to here?"

"Aulus is here to sell a pile of ge-Ow!" She yipped feeling a strong pinch underwater. Akul looked at him in confusion, but the look on his face told her to stop talking about it. "What?"

"It's bad enough that you walked in here like that." He mumbled.

"What do you mean?"

"Are you finished?" Aulus got out of the water.

"I guess so." Akul stood up only for the tiger to readily jump up as well.

"Let me help you out." The tiger kindly offered. He helped pull the she wolf out of the water.

"Thank you." Akul smiled, clearly fine with the close contact. The striped feline's facial expression stiffened seeing that the wolf was dripping wet and completely naked. A few active murmurs and whistles echoed around them.

'Aww man...' Aulus felt his cheeks redden.

"What?" Akul noticed the tiger's gaping stare.

"Nuh-nothing!" He bashfully looked away and stepped aside. Aulus covered the oblivious she wolf with a towel.

"Where do we lay down to dry?" She looked around expecting an open area for the sun to shine.

"There isn't a place for that in the city. You'll need another towel." He led her to one of the long benches near the shelves for storage. Akul merely wrapped it around her back and midsection, leaving everything else openly displayed. Plenty of eyes were watching them to Aulus's dismay. "Here." He handed the dripping wolfess another towel. "You'll need plenty." Most of the males intently watched the canine beauty dry off before she finally sat down on a bench. Aulus only wished that she didn't spread her legs so much while facing everyone else.

"You know, this is a nice place to bathe." Akul mentioned. "It would have been nicer if they joined both baths though."

"Yeah. Imagine that." He murmured, wishing that Akul's fur would dry faster. The time seemed to crawl by with so many eyes watching her. A panther sat down beside Akul and took his shirt off. His eyes glanced at her briefly before snapping back.

"Breasts? You're a female!" He looked her naked body over.

"Yes. I am." The wolfess giggled.

"Me oh my. You are a very beautiful canine." He picked up her hand and kissed it.

"Thank you." Akul's ears fell back at the physical compliment. Aulus gritted his teeth jealously and glared at the forward feline. The big cat had a distinct bulge in his pants to no surprise.

'You're clearly a gentleman.' Aulus abruptly stood up and faced the wall before dressing.

"You're friend is uptight." He mused.

"Aulus is always shy about his body." The wolfess found it funny that he turned away to dress in the nude friendly environment. Aulus tugged his shirt on and looked over his shoulder.

"Are you dry yet, Akul?"

"Pretty much." She nodded and stood up.

"Alright. Let's go."

"Bye." Akul waved to the panther.

"C'mon. We're done." He ruffled a hand through his damp hair.

"Why don't you take a bath more often?"

"There aren't a lot of good places to bathe privately in my hometown. There's a creek, but everyone uses it as a sewer."

"Yuck!" She wrinkled her nose. One of the three towels in her hands slipped free. "I'll get it." She bent over.

'Don't bend over...' Aulus tried to stop her, but it was too late. All of the males behind her had an open view. A series of roars, shouts, and whistles erupted throughout the tiled baths.

"They're a loud bunch." Akul obliviously giggled.

"Just throw them in the waste basket." He pointed to a large wicker basket. Akul weaved by two males.

"Aren't you getting dressed miss?" A raccoon with a shirt slung over his shoulder asked. A few other males nearby were listening intently on an answer.

"Oh, no thank you. I don't like wearing clothes." Akul kindly answered. Most of the males could hardly believe their ears and roared with surprise.

'Goodness...' Aulus sighed.

"Lively bunch." She snickered as they left the bathhouse. "But you should hear a pack of wolves howling at midnight."

"Only you Akul." He shook his head. "But please don't do anything like that again."

"What? All I did was take a bath beside you."

"You can't just prance around naked in the city. It's considered lewd, and we can get into a lot of trouble."

"That's so... silly." Akul frowned only for a hand to stop her.

"Please Akul. I don't want anything bad happening to you."

"I can take care of myself." She answered.

"Just remember that we aren't in the forests anymore."

"I won't forget." Akul promised.

"So, what are you in the mood to eat?" Aulus paused by the inn's wall.

"What do we have in the pack? Dried meats, bread, and nuts."

"We should eat something good that only the city can provide."

"Venison with herbs?" Her tail wagged.

"Not... Exactly." Aulus said. "I have something different in mind." They went to their room for a little money and returned to the busy streets. Akul followed Aulus through narrow and wide cobblestone streets.

"Where are we going to eat?"

"Some place that has fish or other seafood to eat."

'Hopefully away from those things...' Akul saw a horse drawn cart being piled with waste from chamber pots.

"Excuse me, do you know where we can find someone who cooks fresh fish." Aulus stopped and asked an old husky and opossum chatting by the side of an old building. Their modest peasant status was apparent from their short, yet basic and clean clothes. Their brows raised up at the sight of Akul.

"Sure. Roger cooks well. He lives in the small house right over there." The old husky pointed across the street.

"Thank you." Akul said as they left.

"You're welcome ma'am." The opossum tipped his red feather hat. "By the sea, she was naked Julian!" He shook his stunned friend. Aulus and Akul approached the wooden house.

"Sounds like this Roger guy can treat us to a nice meal." He knocked and Akul was surprised to see only the top half of the door open.

"Hello-ooo." An otter answered only to see Akul's uncovered bust.

"How did you do that?" Akul peered inside and examined the door. The short mustelid's eyes widened at the close up view of the mottled grey canine.

"Are you from a brothel?"

"A what?" Akul didn't understand.

"Ahem. We'd like to come inside before dark, please." Aulus tapped the door's lower half.

"Of course!" He quickly let them in. "What might your name be, sir?"

"My name is Aulus. You must be Roger."

"Indeed I am." He deeply nodded. Akul looked around the room lit by two candles and one large open window. It was fairly bright from the direct source of sunlight. A few conch shells and sand dollars decorated the walls along with a pair of old oars, rope, fishing line, and other various household items. A silver genet sat at a lone table, leisurely eating something. "And... Who might you be?" Roger gazed at the lovely nude tribal wolfess.

"My name is Akul." He's touched noses with him in tribal fashion.

"Oh gosh!" The otter melted and felt his knees quake. Aulus rolled his eyes.

"We heard that you cook what you catch very well and wanted a taste for ourselves."

"Sure! Anything that I have!" The otter eagerly offered.

"We'll take whatever catch you had today, and cook something extra for the lady." He didn't waste time to run into a back room. 'He was easy to schmooze over with Akul.' Aulus sat down at a small square table. Akul curiously looked at the various items in the fisherman's home. The silver genet caught sight of her, but didn't say anything.

"What are these used for Aulus?" She pointed at the oars. "They're like those funny long weapons."

"The oars? They're nothing like a halberd. You use them in a small boat to row across the water."

"Oh." The wolfess sat down in the uncomfortable chair. "I thought they were weapons."

"You can definitely hurt someone with one." Aulus chuckled. They heard a clatter in the other room. "He sounds busy back there."

"Whatever he is cooking," she sniffed the air, "smells great." In little time Roger came out with a steaming plate full of food.

"Enjoy!" The otter graciously set the plate between them. Aulus and Akul looked at the steaming crab, bread, and grilled fish hungrily.

"Thank you! Do we have to eat a certain way?" Akul asked.

"Eat however you like." The otter happily said. "You're my guests for the hour. Make yourselves comfortable. I'll be right back with a drink for you two." Roger scurried back into the other room.

"It all smells so good Aulus!" The wolfess smelled the plate full. "What kind of food is it?"

"These are crab legs, toasted bread, melted butter, and cod." Aulus pointed out each morsel. "All on a fine plate too." He added. The wolf's nose delightfully took in the lovely smells, but something soured the aromas. A small dish of liquid in the middle was the culprit. Her nose wrinkled at the sauce's odor.

"What is that?"

"It's garum."

"It smells rotten."

"It's a sauce made from fish guts." Aulus told her. The wolfess roughly swallowed and looked away from the dish. She watched the silver genet dip something in the fish sauce before eating it. 'Ew!' The wolf looked back at the more delectable seafood before her. Roger came back with two cups in hand and set them on the table. The drink was a golden orange with little bits swirling in its mysterious shade.

"Enjoy." Roger let them eat together in peace. Akul looked at Aulus expectedly.

"This is orange juice." He took a swig. "Mm. Tangy." Akul lifted the glass and drank some. The liquid stung her taste buds and left a tangerine taste in her mouth.

"Wow. That's good." She lapped up more.

"Don't fill up on juice." Aulus cut the cod in half and started eating. Akul looked at the plate and picked up a crab leg. Her hands curiously felt the hard exterior.

"How do you eat this?" She licked the bland shell.

"You crack the shell open." He demonstrated with a small leg and pulled the red and white meat out. Akul licked her lips at the armored food. A loud crunch made Aulus sit up straight. He blinked and saw Akul with a chomped crab leg between her teeth. Bits of shell fell as she opened her mouth to pick the meat out. "Only you Akul..." He shook his head. The tribal wolf smiled and wagged her tail as he resumed eating. Two talking figures passed the house's open window.

"Did you hear about the ship lost at sea, the Silver Sling?"

"Yeah. It's been two weeks since it was supposed to return to port."

"I talked to a captain of a schooner after a day at sea, and he claimed that the galleon is sailing back to port very soon."

"How's that possible?"

"The Silver Sling lost its main sail from a fire. Without much wind the vessel has been crawling across the ocean waters."

'Silver Sling?' Aulus' ear leaned in on the conversation nearby.

"That ship has been so slow coming back without a main mast at everyone thought it sank from a storm." The lion continued. "I bet every aristocrat and merchant who hasn't sold their stock is going to sell cheap. Whoever buys it will be rich."

"You have the information, but no money to act on it."

"I'm a poor fisherman who loves to taste wine." The lion chuckled.

'Rich huh?' Aulus thought about the eavesdropped news. 'Maybe I should visit the docks tomorrow.' A satisfied sigh caught his attention. The human looked back at their table and found Akul leaning back in her chair with an empty plate. "Eat enough?" He grinned as the wolfess gave a drawn out yawn.

"Mm! It was delicious." She licked her lips several times. "Not quite like venison though."

"I'm glad that you like the rich tastes of the city." He scooted his chair back. "Let's get back to the inn. It'll be dark soon." Navigating any city at night was dangerous, especially if you ran into a band of ruffians.

"I bet it's spooky at night." She agreed and stood up in an elegant stretch.

"Are you two finished?" Roger sped out of the back room.

"Yep. Thank you for the wonderful food and hospitality, sir." Aulus paid him a bronze and copper coin, far more than what the fresh catch was worth.

"All my pleasure!" He smiled and shook their hands. "Come visit anytime you two want."

Aulus and Akul returned to their room with some sunlight to spare. The delayed ship, the Silver Sling was on the human's mind every step back.

"Everything is safe and sound." Aulus noticed his untouched backpack and Akul's buckskin bag on the floor. "How do you like the city so far?"

"It's very interesting!" The human froze feeling Akul's powerful nose smell his neck.

"What?" He looked over his shoulder.

"You smell nice now." Akul giggled.

"Nothing escapes your nose."

"Nope!" She cheerily replied and rested her hands on his shoulders. "You're tense." Her hands felt the human's uptight muscles.

"We have two big days ahead of us." Aulus told her. "After trading we will leave early the following morning." The she wolf looked at the waning sunlight through the open window in dismay. Her first hours of daylight in the giant mystique city were already over. It was an opportunity that she would only experience once in her life. "How many days are we able to stay in Ambrosia, Aulus?" She watched him close and lock the window, dimming the room.

"Only two I suppose. I don't imagine someone like you wanting to stay very long."

"I don't mind. Don't you want to stay here longer? It's such a big place and there's so much to do." Akul surprised him.

"I thought you didn't like visiting towns anymore?"

"But there's so much more to explore here. It's like I'm in a forest of giant stone huts." The wolf giggled at her own choice of words.

"Hmm... I guess we could use an extra day to look around."

"Good! I want to start at sun up." Akul gladly laid down in the bed and rolled around for a moment. 'Clean fur... and a soft bed.' The she wolf spread her limbs across the comfy surface. Aulus organized his belongings ready for tomorrow.

"Enjoying yourself?" He mused at the naked she wolf sprawled across the bed.

"Yes." She wore a cute grin and watched him disrobe down to his only undergarment. The wolf wiggled her nose at the sight of the white linen. "Can you sleep with me naked?" She kindly asked as he approached the bed.

"Naked? Why naked?" He held onto his final undergarment. The wolfess shrugged.

"Why not? Everyone in my village does."

"We're not in a village Akul. Why do you think entering the male's side of the bath caused so much trouble?"

"I don't know. There isn't a male or female side in the forests, only a place to bathe in the scenic nature." She poetically spoke. Aulus sternly locked eyes with her only to soften his gaze.

"You aren't going to let me say no, are you?" He bluntly spoke.

"No." She cutely shook her head. He sighed and conceded.

"Don't laugh or look." He turned around to disrobe.

"Why would I laugh at you? You never laughed at me or anyone in my village." She watched the undergarment fall to the floor.

"Well... It's just us this time." He oddly felt nervous talking about it. Akul rolled her eyes at his odd fear of being naked. Aulus turned around and the she wolf's brow lifted in surprise.

"Why are you holding yourself? Nothing is going to fall off." She covered her muzzle to hold back a laugh. The human frowned feeling his face turn a shade of red standing before the reclined she wolf. He closed his eyes in mild frustration.

'Why did I listen to her-?' He tensed feeling a pair of hands reach under his arms. "Wait a second!" He tensed as Akul pulled him into the bed. Aulus found himself laying on his side facing the wolfess on the other side of the bed. Their fronts were snugly joined together and an arm securely wrapped over his back. A furry leg comfortably tangled with his own too. Aulus could feel his privates buried somewhere below in her fur. "Are you sure this is alright?" He asked. A smooth and warm tongue washed over his forehead in reply.

"Yes." She giggled. "Isn't this better?" Akul grinned. The human couldn't deny that he liked sleeping with her this way. The feeling of her fur against his bare skin was divinely sensational.

"Well... It isn't bad." His slow answer had her convinced.

"Mm. I like it too." She snuggled closer.

"Why are you so determined to have me sleep naked like a tribal wolf?" He asked.

"Villages always encourage strangers in the forests to try nudity. I guess we didn't ask you because of your short visit and the celebration." Akul grinned and rubbed a hand down the middle of his back. "Besides, It feels like I'm sleeping with your clothes and not you." She added.

"It's definitely just me now." The human felt her warm fur all over his front and side.

"Mmhm." Akul nodded. "Your skin is smooth." She admired the human trait. Aulus stared at Akul while her padded hand explored his back. Her amber eyes resembled the finest gems. They were warmer than her fur, and always attracted his gaze. A pink tongue slipped out and licked him.

"What was that for?" He wiped his nose.

"You." She licked her lips and smiled. Aulus rolled his eyes to her amusement. "Goodnight Aulus." She loosely held her arm around him and closed her eyes.

"Goodnight." The human held her side in a similar manner. He had nowhere else to place his arm and tried falling asleep. Despite the comfy arrangements Aulus found himself staring at the she wolf's face, wide awake. He could hear an occasional footstep from the hall quietly thumping along or doors shutting as other retired for bed. 'I'll find the best ways to sell my gems and get rich.' The excitement made his head buzz. It took an effort to contain it. As night fully settled in, he wondered if Akul was asleep. Her slow breathing made him think so. He carefully shifted in bed and remembered that they were naked together.

'She is soft.' Aulus liked her fur caressing his skin. 'And warm.' His gaze attempted peeking down their snugly joined fronts, but they were too close and it was too dark to see. 'I hope nothing arises in the morning.' He thought to himself, but oddly wasn't worried about it. 'She wouldn't care anyway.' The human finally yawned. He touched noses with her before closing his eyes.

Aulus stretched as he woke up in the warm and cozy bed. A smooth, wet tongue washed over his face. The brief warmth that accompanied it reminded him of a kiss.

"Akul-" He looked to his side only to bump noses with the tongue wielding canine. The wolf quietly chuckled and licked his nose. The human wiped his face.

"Good morning." She chirped with enthusiasm. Her warm amber eyes greeted him like lovely little gemstones.

"Morning. Sleep well?"

"Yes." She warmly replied and patted his front.

"I did too." He grinned.

"I thought so."

"When did you wake up?"

"A little while ago. I could hear some people outside." The wolf flicked an ear. As much as Aulus wanted to snuggle in the warm bed, he sat up and stretched causing a joint or two to pop. "Can we lay in bed for a little longer?" Akul wrapped her arms around his torso.

"No. I think we slept in long enough." He patted her hand and glanced at the window. Plenty of mid morning sunlight peeked through the shutters. Akul playfully gnawed on his arm to reconsider. "Silly wolf." He laughed and wrested his arm free. She licked her lips and sat up as well.

"You're right. We did sleep in for a while." Akul acknowledged and stretched with flexibility to her digitigrade paws. The wolfess arched her back next and shook her body, letting her hair settle and fur fluff out. Akul glanced at her human companion. "Oh." She flicked her tail up so that it covered Aulus's lap. "Can't let you be naked." She teased.

"You're too funny." He crawled over her anyway and got out of bed. Akul looked at his naked body in the full sunlight. He was thin and wiry, but not without a faint definition of muscle in some places. His legs were covered in hair, but nowhere remotely close to the degree that she was! His torso was a paler white than his extremities because of the clothing that he always wore. The thick curly patch of black hair on his groin held his scent better than most other places. Akul licked her nose. She liked him in the nude. It was more normal to her than covering any spot with a piece of cloth. Aulus stood on his toes and stretched his arms behind his back.

"You look normal." Akul grinned.

"Normal? I look naked." Aulus peeked around his naked skin.

"Either way you are handsome." The wolfess was happy to see the human's entire form.

"Oh... Really?" He turned around and rubbed his neck shyly.

"Yes! You have called me beautiful before."

"That's because you are." Aulus could feel his face flush a subtle shade of red. The wolf simply watched him wearing a happy smile.

"What about every female that wears those long clothes to their paws?"

"They wear dresses and other things because they believe it will make them more beautiful by showing a wealthy status. You know, to catch a male's eye."

"Clothes make someone beautiful?" Akul wondered aloud. In her village such a statement would confuse everybody.

"Alright." Aulus hummed and picked up his clothes. "Today is our big preparation day."

"Big day?" Akul watched him dress. "What are we going to do?"

"I'm going to look around the marketplace and find the traders that will be most interested in buying my gems from me. If some don't want to buy from me outright, then I might have to convert the gem to shares in a commodity they are interested in first."

"What am I going to do?"

"Um. What do you want to do?" Aulus asked.

"I'd like to explore this city. It's like a forest to me."

"I'm afraid it's nothing like your forests except in vastness."

"It is a big place." She acknowledged. He approached the bed and patted the she wolf's side.

"I'll leave you a little money if you want to shop for something." Aulus gave her a few coins. "Just don't eat your way through the city." He made her giggle.

"I won't." Her smile made him feel happy. The human started to turn away, but she reached up and held his arm for a brief moment. "Stay safe."

"Don't worry. I'll be alright."

"Good." She returned a toothy grin. "I'll see you back here."

"Ok. I'll see you soon." Aulus nodded and left. The wolfess watched him until the door quietly shut. She sniffed the money and wrinkled her snout.

'Dirty.' Akul sneezed. The wolfess yawned and stretched again before getting out of bed. The floorboards beneath her paws were warm from the early morning sunlight. The noises of people outside caught her ears. 'The city is such a loud place.' She turned and approached the window. Akul peeked outside and saw the vastness of the city from the harbor full of ships to the countless rooftops and streets. People were starting their busy days and others were continuing to decorate the city for the upcoming festival.

"Where to start?" She excitedly asked herself and retrieved her little leather hand bag. The wolfess slung it over her shoulder and left the room in a hurry. The little hallway was empty but the lobby had a dozen or so individuals talking in groups. Akul waltzed right through but bumped into someone by accident. "Sorry." She apologized.

"No worries-Ah! You're the wolfess from the bathhouse!" The panther fully turned around along with a few of his canine and feline friends. The scruffy males didn't look too clean to the wolfess.

"I remember you too. You sat beside me."

"Yeah, we were just getting to talking before you and that other guy had to leave. Why were you in the males' side?" His tail twirled as he asked the question.

"There was only one person there and I wanted to be with Aulus. Where I'm from its normal to bathe together."

"Wow. I need to go there." The panther chuckled with his friends.

"Why don't more females show up to the bathhouse? I would've stayed if I wasn't the only person there."

"Bathhouses have a reputation of being rowdy." The panther mused. A few of his friends chuckled and smiled at each other. "But you're welcome to join us there, or anywhere if you'd like."

"Oh. I appreciate the offer, but my friend and I won't be in the city long enough to visit the bathhouse again." She tried to move past him, but a hand caught her wrist. "I didn't catch your name."

"It's Akul."

"That's exotic." He warmly purred. "Where are you going in such a hurry?"

"Thank you." Her tail briefly wagged. "I'd like to talk but I have to explore the city before we leave again."

"Oh." He appeared dismayed. "I'll see you around then." Akul departed.

'I don't like how they look at me.' She glanced over her shoulder and noticed that they were keenly watching her rear. The wolfess exited the lobby and then the inn where she was greeted with the bustling urban environment. There were so many people doing many different things. A black robed tiger holding open a big book was preaching to a small group; noblewomen with long dresses gossiped as they strolled down the street; and poorer souls wearing only undergarments and tunics were having a tough time saddling a rowdy horse.

'Where to start?' She looked around with bright eyes and wondered. Each street was like an entire village in size with people making their ways in all directions. A male cougar glanced at Akul but continued walking. His eyes snapped open.

"Woah." The lanky big cat skidded to a halt. "Nice tits."

"What?" Akul tilted her head in confusion.

"Uh. I like your... chest." He flashed an unsure grin.

"Thank you." She smiled and walked across the street much to the cougar's surprise.

'What?' The feline blankly watched her disappear through the shifting crowd. Akul darted between horse drawn carts across the street were some food carts were.

'I have never seen so much fruit before!' The wolf looked at all the exotic colors, shapes and sizes, most of which she had never seen before. Male and female vendors alike cried out what they were peddling and at what prices to passerby.

"Fresh apples." A plump female opossum offered the shiny red fruit to the wolfess.

"No thanks." Akul continued along the street. 'Do I want to stay on the main road, or go down a narrow street?' She paused to peer down the dark alleyway. The curious canine took a few steps only to smell a foul odor. 'Ugh. Is that waste?' Akul's nose scrunched at the shallow gullies. A drainage pipe was visible, leading it all underground after a good rain. A bucket was suddenly emptied into one from a window before disappearing. The wolfess noticed that no one was around except for a male coyote unabashedly urinating into the dark ditch. At the street's end waste was being piled onto a cart by two half naked males.

'At least the forest is clean and has privacy.' Akul returned to the sunnier main street where vendors peddled their goods. The wolfess darted across the busy street and resumed exploring the mysterious city. The wolfess peered through open shop windows and gazed at numerous items like clothes, hardware, fabric, books, foods, and plenty more. Any writing on the signs perplexed her, but she could guess what kind of store it was based on the goods it held. Akul tried looking through an opaque rectangle of glass in one building, but was unable to see anything. The illiterate wolf stared at a sign with strange blue and white wavy markings on it. "Hmm." Her nose wiggled curiously.

"What's inside this building?" Akul asked a female otter sweeping the space around the entrance.

"This is a ladies grooming spa that I own." She finished sweeping and looked up at Akul. "Oh my! You're naked! Don't you need a coat miss?" The female otter hastily spoke.

"Miss?" Akul was confused at the titular word. "But I don't wear clothes."

"You don't? A robe? Gown? Anything?"

"No." She shook her head. The female otter tapped her foot for a moment.

"At least get your fur cleaned up. It's messy." The lady concluded and led Akul inside by her hand.

"But I just bathed-" Akul looked down and realized that her fur was messy.

"Every lady is getting groomed for the festival tomorrow." The otter talked. "I would be surprised if a single person wasn't preparing for it today."

'I was so excited that I forgot to brush it this morning.' Akul thought. A wave of fragrant smells bombarded the wolf's nose. Inside was a long space where the front had two waiting benches. The middle and back area had several sections blocked off by a low privacy wall from the front so only heads and shoulders could be seen. Plenty of females were having their fur groomed among other aesthetic treatments. The humid air reminded the tribal wolf of the bathhouse that the inn owned. She suspected there was an area in the back to bathe where large windows were open for fresh air and sunlight.

"Please take a seat. I'll let you know when someone is ready." The otter gracefully walked to one of the middle spaces. Akul reluctantly plopped down on the wooden bench. A mother shiba inu was nursing an infant beside her.

"Aww, he's very cute." Akul peered closer at the little canine face.

"Thank you-" The mother glanced up only to give the naked wolf a wide eyed look. "Why are you naked?!" She leaned away and protectively held her suckling infant son as if Akul's mouth was hungrily foaming.

"No it's ok. I'm from the large forests to the south. In my village no one wears clothes."

"That's not normal." The shiba inu scooted away on the bench for good measure.

"I used to think the same thing, but I think I know why everyone else wears clothes." Akul thought aloud. The mother eyed the she wolf suspiciously. "It's a cultural thing, and if you were raised that way then you can only see it that way. It's such a strong taboo that it's like stealing."

"Ok." She didn't lower her guard at the curious wolfess.

"Are you here to have your fur groomed?"

"No. My sister is." The shiba inu looked at a visible female husky head behind the first private wall. The husky and the leopardess brushing her back were talking and laughing together.

"You're next miss." The otter lady called out to Akul.

"It was nice talking to you two." The wolfess stood up and followed the owner towards one of the semi private spaces. From glimpses Akul saw other ladies of varying ages having their fur groomed, pedicures, manicures, massages, and the like. To the she wolf's curiosity most wore towels to cover themselves.

"Did you decide on something more miss?"

"A full groom will be fine." Akul didn't want to use all of her friend's money just in case.

"Do you need anything else? Painting your claws, a new hairstyle, washing your paws, trimming your claws, or at least filing them." The female otter couldn't help but notice the tribal she wolf's thick claws on her hands and paws.

"Uh. Not thanks. I'll-"

"Oh please miss, at least have your paws cared for. You aren't swearing any shoes." The lady otter insisted. Akul was directed to a small space with a high table to lay on. A blanket and pillow helped soften the wooden surface. "Full body grooming, Rhea, and anything else she asks for." The otter knocked on the wall before walking away. A young adult grey vixen tidying the bench turned to face Akul.

"Do you need a towel miss-You're already naked!" She looked up at the strong she wolf and dropped her brush. It clattered on the floor.

"No thanks." Akul picked the brush up for the vixen. The smaller vulpine blinked and looked at the empty pegs on the wall where clothes are supposed to be hung. Akul laid down on the bench, letting her paws hang off the edge. Rhea looked at the she wolf nervously.

"What do you want me to do?" She fidgeted.

"I want all of my fur and hair groomed." The wolf giggled and stretched her arms up.

"Ok." She lathered her hands up with a sweet smelling fragrance and rubbed over the tribal lady.

"Mm. That feels good." Akul mumbled at the gentle, yet firm hands on her.

"You're as strong as you look." The vixen meekly worked over Akul's toned arm and shoulder. The tribal wolfess possessed the strength rivaling most males from a hardy lifestyle. Akul relaxed and rolled over when needed as her fur became sleek from the applied scented oil.

"What is this aroma that smells so nice?"

"Lilac." Rhea said as she finished rubbing the she wolf's tail. Akul listened to her pad over, wash her hands, and then return with the brush in hand. The wolf expected Rhea to start grooming her, but peeked an eye open only to find the bashful vixen staring at her.

"Is something wrong?"

"Well no... I've never seen a lady tall like you, or with paws." The bashful started grooming the wolfess. Akul's tail thumped happily.

"I'm from a large forest to the south. We all have paws."

"Oh. I haven't heard of such a place before." Rhea worked over Akul's arm, and the she wolf loved every minute of it. The grooming, aromatic smells, and quaint atmosphere of ladies chatting was very relaxing for the tribal wolf.

'Just like bathing at the lake.' Akul smiled as she rolled onto her front.

"So... what are you in the city for miss? The festival?" Rhea guessed.

"I traveled here from the southern forests with a friend. What is the festival in town about?" Akul asked as the vixen lifted her leg up to groom the fur underneath.

"Long, long ago most of this city was covered in fields and forests. Back then Ambrosia was a modest town under attack from pirates. One day a large enemy fleet was approaching from the sea and there was little the town could do. Everyone expected a ruthless fight without a chance of surviving. One of its leading citizens prayed at a shrine in the forest for the entire night, and a huge storm at sea sunk the pirate fleet. This saved Ambrosia from certain destruction." Rhea told the archaic tale. "I don't know if it's true or not, but it makes for an interesting story to celebrate."

"How does everyone celebrate?"

"Oh, lots of dancing, partying, gambling, and drinking all night. The poorest farmers to the richest merchants participate."

"Aulus is a merchant." Akul thought aloud.

"I bet he's checking out the docks where customs is. Many merchants come to the city throughout the year to trade for exotic goods."

"Really? How many?"

"I don't know... Hundreds?" Rhea guessed.

"Wow..." Akul wondered how many villages it equalled.

"A lady German Shepherd merchant was here yesterday. I painted her claws and she told me so many stories of the towns she traveled to."

"She's probably been to a lot." Akul giggled as her paws were brushed next.

"I'm sure!" Rhea grinned and returned to the wolf's head. "Sit up and I'll get your hair." Akul cracked her back as she sat up. Fingers and the brush combed through the long silky grey strands. "You're hair is gorgeous." Rhea admired her tribal counterpart.

"Thank you." Akul grinned as her hair was taken care of and any other picky place.

"Ok." The vixen huffed and stretched her fingers. "That's all your hair and fur." The wolfess slid off the table and stood up.

"My fur feels smooth and soft!" Akul admired the hard work put into her coat. "Thank you so much! I love it." The taller tribal wolf hugged the groomer.

"Eep-!" She jumped. "Uh. You're welcome." The vixen patted the wolf's arm until she was released. The grey vixen smoothed her facial fur before wiping her hands on the apron. "That will be a half silver piece." Rhea stated. Akul blinked at the vulpine in confusion.

"Half?" The tribal wolf picked up her satchel and pulled out the half dozen or so coins that Aulus had given her. "Do I bite one in half?"

"Uh... This one will do." She picked the small silver coin from the canine's palm.

"Thank you." Akul put the rest in her leather bag and sling it over her shoulder.

"Don't forget your clothes miss!" The grey vixen called.

"I didn't bring any. Bye!" Akul left in the buff much to her surprise.

'She didn't bring any?' Rhea blinked. 'Then where did she have the coins?' The vixen set it aside and washed her hands again.

The tribal wolfess resumed perusing the city streets in her newly groomed fur. Her confident strides were occasionally met with stares and glares.

"Is she really naked?"

"Wow, a naked lady in broad daylight."

"How rude!" Akul heard several remarks, but ignored them all. The she wolf navigated an uphill dirt street where a tiger merchant was unloading barrels of wine with the help of a samoyed laborer. The two and three story buildings towered over her creating abstract shade along half the street. 'How can huts be built that high?' She wondered. The only thought that came to mind was putting one in a tree.

"Ooh." Something new caught her amber eyes. Beyond an apple cart, her eyes caught sight of a certain shop at the corner. Inside, There were lustrous tapestries of many bright colors, belts, hats, leggings, and other pieces inside the store. 'Aulus did say that females were beautiful in clothes...' Akul recalled their conversation in the morning and entered. The shop owner was a young woman wearing a long heavy blue dress with her hair braided in a ramshorn style; a clear mark of wealth that the wolfess was oblivious to.

"Good morning miss." The woman kindly greeted Akul. "How..." Her voice trailed off when she noticed the wolfess wasn't wearing anything. "Oh my! A lady mustn't be seen naked!" She shuffled over and led Akul by the arm behind a stack of four barrels.

"What lady? I'm always naked." Akul didn't understand.

"You came here naked miss?!" The woman was shocked. 'This is no ordinary customer!' She thought.

"Miss? My name is Akul." The wolfess blinked. An awkward moment of silence passed between the very different females.

"Uh. Maybe I'm going about this the wrong way. My name is Mary... May I help you with something then, Akul?" She rephrased her initial question. "I'd be happy to find some nice clothes for you."

"I'm not searching for any particular clothes." Akul admitted.

"You're not?"

"Do you have something that can help me catch a certain male's eyes and affection?" Akul surprised the shop owner.

"Most males would already have their attention to your naked body." The young woman grinned modestly at the obvious fact and kept her gaze averted.

"I realized that while traveling. They even stare while I bathe or even walk around here, but their attention is not the same as-"

"I'm back!" A boisterous voice entering the shop declared. Mary and Akul walked out of their hiding place. The tribal wolfess watched a red fox enter. The vulpine was dressed exquisitely in a deep maroon robe. The upper half was tight fitting but the lower half opened up revealing a starkly clean pair of pants. "No good leather prices at the market, but I did get some linen and dropped it off at the house." He kissed his wife.

"Thanks." She smiled. "We have an... interesting shopper here." Mary motioned. The vulpine directly approached Akul, and was not phased by her presence.

"Hello. I'm Astoro." The red fox kindly introduced himself. "Has my wife attended to something you like?"

"I am Akul. Well... I don't want something that will hide my body like a shirt or dress."

"Hmm. That's tricky." The fox thought aloud and tapped his foot. He walked over to a small stack of scarves and started searching through them.

"What do you have in mind, dear?" His wife asked.

"Your white and many shades of grey are pain colors, Akul." He paused and thought aloud. "You can use a lively color to the eye. Ah, here we are! This will work beautifully." He held up a basic blue paisley scarf with tassels. The fox wrapped the middle around her neck twice. "Here." He finished and stepped back. "One hangs on your back, and the other on your front or side so you aren't hiding anything." Astoro was pleased.

"I do like it." She stepped around causing the fabric to sway or drape on her.

"You look beautiful Akul." He smiled. "And if it's too hot, then you can loosen it."

'Aulus will like it too.' Akul thought to herself. "Thank you! This is the first time I've worn something that wasn't a necklace or bracelet." The wolfess shook his hand.

"I take it that you are not from around here." Astoro guessed with a knowing grin.

"I'm from a village far south."

"Is everyone there naked?" He joked.

"Yep!" Akul nodded. "We don't care to wear clothes." Astoro looked at his wife and they both shrugged

"Huh. I haven't heard of such a place before. If I ever travel that far to the south, then I will have to visit."

"Please do. We love having visitors and encourage them to try nudity too."

"I don't know if I'll agree to that!" Astoro and his wife chuckled at the idea. "But I have to ask. If you don't believe in wearing clothes, why are you so interested in buying a scarf?"

"She wishes to catch a male's eye." His wife added. The tribal wolfess coyly nodded with her ears pinned back.

"Ah, I see." The red fox smiled brightly. "You must love him greatly if you wish to bend an important rule."

"He isn't one to admit something until he's ready, kind of like a rock you have to work with to get a good shape." Akul compared Aulus to making an arrowhead.

"Hardheaded on the outside, but soft on the inside?" Mary looked at her husband with a knowing smile. The grey fox rolled his eyes.

"Maybe you could at least let him know how you feel." Astoro thought aloud. "There is a town not too far from here where giving someone a flower is considered showing your love."

"That's a good idea!" Akul hopped in place. "Oh. How many coins do I have to give you for this?" She remembered and opened up her little tribal satchel.

"A bronze and a copper coin." He curtly answered. It took the wolfess a minute to figure out the correct combination, but she had the item paid for.

"Good luck with your love." Mary bade Akul farewell.

"Remember, a river is softer than a pebble, yet it can cut any stone with time." Astoro parted some words of wisdom for the she wolf to dwell on. Akul stepped outside and back into the noisy urban environment.

'He sounds like a shaman...' She paused and thought over his advice. The shaman of her village was a quick witted, old timber wolf who always had the time to pose a tough riddle. Akul could imagine him contently sitting beneath a tree, eyes closed while he focused on the nature of the forest. It certainly wasn't easy imagining Aulus doing the same! 'I wonder what Aulus has been doing today.' The wolfess thought.

Aulus was walking through the center of town without direction. The bustling noise of Ambrosia didn't distract him like they did to Akul. The human could think about the real reason why he was in Ambrosia without the pretty wolfess occupying his thoughts. Money. More specifically gold or silver. He had checked several places to sell his gems: guild halls, workshops, smiths, and a host of other places assessing potential prices. All were relatively stable with reasonable prices, but it wasn't enough for the human even though he was in the best place to sell. The gems were worth more than their weight in silver or gold.

"It won't be easy making more than what I have in my bag during a day." He thought aloud. His gems were worth a small fortune, but the human wanted more and that would require some risky movements. 'I'll have to hedge.' He acknowledged the obvious fact, but the opportunities weren't always as obvious. Making great money was hard without greater efforts. One choice came to mind: the eavesdropping on the two fishermen about the Silver Sling, a ship two weeks late from arriving back at port. 'Why not check it out?' A little extra greed pulled him to the docks. Crying gulls and the ocean breeze commanded the scene along with the occasional fisherman pulling in a recent morning catch. His steps thumped over the wooden docks in search of a customs official, or anyone with knowledge of the scheduled shipments returning.

"Ouch! I cut my finger!" A yelp caught Aulus' attention. Around a large building a coyote was clutching the afflicted finger. His female canine counterpart looked more annoyed than consoling.

"Go get it bandaged or something." She pointed to the building. He whimpered and hurried inside. The female grey coyote rolled two small barrels towards a high class lion sitting at a small desk with paperwork. Stamps, candle wax, and other necessities were at his disposal. "Here are the last two." The female stated before hurrying inside to find the male coyote.

"Thank you." The lion immediately wrote something down.

"Hello." Aulus approached the lion. "Can I ask you about buying stock of a ship?"

"Hi. You can ask me." He looked up. "I work for the Exchequer of the city."

"Good. Is this where I can purchase stock to a ship?"

"Yes. The market for that will reopen one hour before high noon and close in the evening. However, tomorrow will be a madhouse around here." The lion told him.

"What do you mean by a madhouse?"

"A lot of ships are due to arrive in port tomorrow, just in time for the festival. Everyone will want to make a lot of money to celebrate. You'll be in the fray of merchant families, guild masters, and people who have no idea what they're doing."

"How many ships are expected to arrive tomorrow?"

"I have a list of incoming vessels for the next two days, as well as those who failed to reach port recently." The lion thumbed through a few sheets of creamy brown paper. "I can write you a copy." He dabbed his quill in some ink and fetched blank piece of parchment

"Thank you." Aulus patiently waited before receiving the wet inked list.

"Take care, and don't lose all of your money here." The feline warned with a little grin. Aulus went on his way back to the inn and looked over the paper.

'The Basket Vent, King's Chest, Rose Armory...' He read off the funny names of nearly two dozen vessels from the size of a little cog to a regular schooner and big galleons. His eyes glanced at the very bottom and noticed the 'Silver Sling' galleon was included among the rest, but with a vastly lower stock price. 'Should I really buy as much as I can?' His thoughts strayed and nearly led him into a stone wall. Aulus folded the paper and slipped it into his backpack. Back at the inn he walked to their room and opened the door. A naked grey furred figure was facing away, brushing her fur.

"Hey Akul. Did you find anything while you were shopping?" The figure spun around. His eyes widened seeing a white and grey feline face instead of a canine one staring at him in shock. A loud feline shriek pierced his ears as claws were drawn.

Akul entered the inn with confident strides and reached their temporary room. The wolfess quietly crept inside. Aulus was sitting in a chair with his back turned to her. A predatory grin emerged on her muzzle as she tip toed up behind him. The human perked up feeling a claw poke his back.

"How do I look?" Akul stood before him with her hands on her hips. The human eyes up the lovely naked wolf. The groomed fur gave her a neater appearance, and the blue scarf that didn't hide anything was a nice touch too.

"Wow. You look... Nice." He managed to say.

"Thank you-Oh my! Is that a cut?" The wolfess cupped his cheek and lowered her nose to him. There were two red lines that traveled from the corner of the human's eye and across his cheek to his chin. Aulus winced as she examined and smelled his face.

"It stings." He grumbled only to feel her lick his superficial wound. Aulus sat back when he normally would've complained. It wasn't an everyday occurrence for a naked female to be bent over, licking his face.

"How did you get cut? I'll fight whoever did it to you." Akul dried some of the spit with the back of her hand.

"It was an accident. I walked into the unlocked room across from ours, and a grey cat was undressed."

"That happens in the village too." She mused. Privacy in a village hut was far more difficult than simply trekking a short distance into the forest. The human's nose twitched.

"You smell different." He noticed the fragrant lilac aroma on Akul. "Your fur looks nice too." He traced over her arm.

"Thanks! I had it groomed today at this place a female otter owned." Akul stood proudly with her hands on her hips. The naked wolfess was a beauty to behold. Her front white fur was neatly combed, not to mention her various grey colored facial fur, and the rest of her body.

"Oh... Sorry for staring." He bashfully looked away.

"It's fine." She grinned and stuck the tip of her tongue at him. "I like how you stare at me. It's different than the way most males and females do here."

"You like me staring at you?" Aulus didn't believe her words.

"It's a good stare." She beamed a giddy smile as his eyes returned to her newly groomed fur.

"They did a good job." He rubbed the soft white fur along her tummy. Her tail wagged profusely at the kind comments. "You're more beautiful than a flower."

'A flower!' Akul suddenly remembered what Astoro told her earlier.

"So what did you do today?"

"Oh. I explored a lot of streets, had my fur groomed, and then I bought this scarf. I talked to a few people too."

"You talked to people?" Aulus felt his heart sink. 'I hope someone didn't report her to the authorities.'

"Yep! Most were friendly and understood my tribal customs. It feels as if I visited a dozen villages in one day." The wolfess beamed.

"What about everyone else?"

"A few people stared at me, but none of them look at me like you do." She remembered the enamored look in the human's eyes when they first met on that dirt road outside the great forests.

'I guess that's not so bad.' Aulus felt a little better. 'The last thing I need is for her to be arrested for public indecency.' Unlike a smaller town or village where Akul's tribal customs could be explained, a city like Ambrosia wouldn't care.

"Come sit on the bed so I can clean you again." She tugged his arm. Aulus did as she wanted. The wolfess snuggled up beside him. "Tell me what you did today." She said before licking his face again.

"Let's see..." He relaxed as the smooth, warm appendage washed over his skin. "I went to a few guild halls to find out what prices they would exchange for certain gems. One guild master was a stout hard at hearing badger. It was funny watching him yell at someone for raising their voice at him." He ruffled the wolf's fluffy mane and silky hair. "The two workshops I visited were decent too. However, I'm very interested in the dockyards where customs is. I can risk a lot of money from selling gems to buy stock in ships."

"How does... that work?" She asked between laps.

"If a ship brings more goods, whether value or quantity than expected then I make more money. The opposite is also true. It's risky." Aulus thought about the inside information that he heard yesterday. "Akul, my neck wasn't cut." He felt her licking lower. The she wolf raised her head and smiled. "Silly wolf." He ruffled her head fur only to have his whole face licked.

High noon was very close and the opulent city of Ambrosia was busy as ever on the day of its famous celebration. People were finishing decorations for their homes and the streets along with masks to wear. Gulls were circling in the air or patiently waiting for an easy lunch from an unsuspecting fisherman. Aulus and Akul were walking to the docks where the giant ships arrived and listed in port. The she wolf was wearing her paisley blue scarf and her little buckskin bag. Aulus was wearing his typical clothes and backpack throughout their journey. He had already sold a majority of his gems for a nice amount of gold and silver coins in the morning hours. The wolf could hear them jingle if he stepped too high or low.

They stopped at the edge of a stone building facing the docks. Two small fishing vessels were bobbing in the calm harbor, circled by a few lingering seagulls. Aulus simply stared at the forming action on land where dozens of people were gathering to make quick gains or losses in joint stock companies. City officials and owners alike were ready to see who and what arrived for the sake of taxes or profit.

"You aren't talking much." Akul softly spoke.

"I'm a little nervous."

"Why are you so nervous?" She placed a hand on his shoulder.

"My whole journey was meant for this." He acknowledged. "I also had a dream last night where I made a risky move at the docks today and then found myself being chased all the way back to where I met you. I bet that sounds stupid because it's just a dream." He shrugged.

"Dreams are very important Aulus. You can talk to my village's shaman and he will help interpret it." Akul suggested.

"Why should I talk to someone about it when it's just a dream?"

"Dreams can mean many things to different people, and a shaman understands them best." She explained.

"Ok." Aulus found her tribal view about it outlandish, but at least she was more than willing to listen. A few shouts caught their attention as a brawl broke out. It quickly resulted in a few guards hauling away one cheetah away. The little skirmish made Aulus all the more excited and nervous. Akul could practically smell the human's feelings through his behaviors.

"Why did you come all this way to sell the gems?" She asked.

"To get the best price for them. I'm not selling them for half their worth in a little town with only a single workshop."

"So you're selling them to get more coins?"

"Yes."

"What are you going to do with all the coins you will get?" That was a question he had started wondering about too. Having a fortune and a comfortable life was obvious enough, but the details remained obscure even when he was so close to getting it. There would be plenty of time to consider any options while traveling back south, but where would Akul fit in it all?

"I guess I'll have plenty of time to think about that after today." He slipped his backpack off and handed the wolfess his two remaining gems. The rocks sparkled in the sunshine in her padded palm.

"Why are you giving me the last two?"

"I've seen just about every jeweler and gem worker in this city. They'll have an advantage if they see me again so I want you to sell them for no less than five gold coins apiece." Akul nodded but didn't fully understand. She looked at the two shiny gems in her hand and carefully placed them in her little buckskin bag. "I'll meet back up with you here, ok?"

"Good luck." She gave him a tight hug and licked his forehead.

"Thanks." He patted her back before wiping his forehead and leaving. Akul stood by the stone building's corner and watched Aulus melt into the crowd of gathering people. Her untrained eyes guessed they were rich and poor, merchants and well-to-do peasants alike.

'If there's anything to this clothing stuff then I can tell what each person does.' She took a deep breath. Clothing held a scent very well, and not just unpleasant ones like body odor. A butcher smelled like meat, a carpenter smelled like wood, and so on. The wolfess wiggled her nose and glanced up at the clear sky. Right as the sun reached its apex in the sky a bell tolled. Once, twice... twelve times in total. Then everything in the dockyard changed. The trading hub turned into a madhouse of angry ants to the tribal wolf. Everyone was shouting, walking fast between the crowded groups, exchange houses, and customs officials.

'By the spirits!' She watched her Aulus in the middle of it all frantically stay on top of any inkling of news, buy whatever he desperately wanted, or sell. After a couple of minutes Akul was panting as if she had been running around too. "Goodness..." The wolf had to turn away. 'I guess I can't help by standing here.' She placed a hand on her little handmade bag. With determination she set out to find a jeweler. Narrow foul smelling alleyways were avoided. After some exploring the wolfess found herself in a richer section of town where merchants and nobles alike lived. Rather than shanty wooden homes, each house was mace of stone or at least mostly made from stone. They were no larger than their poorer counterparts, but they were certainly well kept. 'Pups are pups no matter where they are from.' She mused seeing a few youngsters playing in the street. Akul trekked up a series of cobblestone steps and followed a round stone wall without being noticed.

"Hm?" She paused feeling something soft underneath her paws. The wolfess bent down and her eyes widened. "Moss!" She nearly barked in surprise and felt the lines of green growing between several grey stones. Akul raised her nose and caught wind of a familiar smell. The wolf wandered around the quiet section of town before stumbling upon a maple tree growing near a high wall. "I haven't seen a tree all day!" She ran up to the lonely maple. Akul set her scarf and buckskin bag aside before grabbing the trunk. The rough bark felt familiar and wonderful against her body in the forest of houses and stones. The wolfess slid down to the ground and stretched her legs out. "Mm." She flexed her toes and dug them into the soft peaty soil. 'I miss feeling dirt beneath my paws.' The wolf sighed and leaned against the tree. It was nice to feel some sort of familiarity in the vast city. 'I bet it looks beautiful during autumn.' She could imagine the lovely yellows, oranges, or reds its leaves could produce during the later months. The wolfess took a moment to relax before standing up. She brushed her fur clean but noticed something was missing.

"Where did-" She caught a sliver of blue out of the corner of her eye. Around the corner a short figure was hurrying away with her belongings. "Hey!" She barked and the figure ran away. Akul sprinted after the thief into an alleyway and back onto a busy street.

'Where did he go?' She looked around before using her nose. Her eyes lit up and the wolfess bolted to her right, weaving between people.

"A naked wolf?!" A man leapt out of her way. Ahead, the figure took a sharp left down a narrower street. Akul kept pace and dodged a wave of bath water being dumped out from the third floor above. Chickens scattered and elders yelled as the wolf caught up to the youth.

"Gotcha!" She barked and tackled the person to the ground.

"Get off me!" The wolfess was surprised to hear a young voice yell at her. The thief was a young human, barely an adolescent, but that didn't abstain him from the crime he committed. In his arms were Akul's belongings.

"Hand everything over." She warned him. His eyes widened at the size and strength of the tribal canine. The human needed little more reason and quickly submitted. Akul quickly checked her bag. "All of it." She growled. The shaking hand handed over the two gems. Akul put them back in her bag and looked at the cowering youth beneath her. She took pity on him. "I won't punish you if you tell me where I can sell those two gems for a fair price."

"Sure! I can do that!" The adolescent boy quickly jumped up when he was freed. Akul put on her scarf and bag before following him. The wolfess was led across a section of town to a row of open shops. Smoke from forges and the loud sounds of hammering metal became the backdrop of the city. Deep yells from inside were hard to miss too.

"Get some water boy!" Someone yelled. A young leopard scurried out of the shop with an empty bucket.

"This way." The human led Akul into the shop. Akul's eyes adjusted to the dimmer environment. A rough handmade fence or more simply a draping sheet divided this shop from the next. Rocks, pieces of metal, and numerous black metal tools crammed up most of the little space.

'It's hot in here.' Akul huffed to herself. The human boy stopped and pointed at an individual in the back of the dirt floored place who was hammering away at a piece of orange hot iron. "He is good with gems." The blacksmith was a burly bear and badger hybrid. His body was heavily built, particularly his arms. Despite his wolf-like strength he was Aulus' height, about a full head shorter than Akul.

"Thank you, and stay out of trouble." She patted his shoulder. He nodded and skittered away. The young leopard from earlier ran past Akul and filled a little metal trough with water. The blacksmith used a metal clamp to dip the hot metal into the water with a steamy hiss. "Um, hello." Akul stepped forward.

"Huh?" The bear badger hybrid wiped his eyes and looked up at the nude wolfess. "Oh my!" He suddenly composed himself. "What may I help you with ma'am?"

"I was told that you may buy a gem or two from me at a fair price."

"Ah, well I am known to buy items at good prices." He nodded.

"I need to sell these two gems." She held out the two little glistening rocks. The smith keenly looked at both. The wolfess could see his eyes dancing with imagination about the things he could do with them.

"They are high quality." He mentioned with a slow nod. "I'll give you five gold for that one, and... four for the other."

"Five and four?" Akul closed her palm. "I need five for both."

"I won't buy then." He folded his arms and refused to yield. The she wolf didn't like where this was going.

"Is there a way that we can settle this?"

"Not unless it is nine gold." He shook his head. Akul frowned and nibbled her lip in thought. The wolfess didn't want to wander around town for another person to sell to, especially when she was only one gold coin short for Aulus. An idea struck.

"Why don't we wrestle for it." She smiled. "That's a popular thing where I am from."

"What?!" His jaw dropped. "I cannot wrestle a woman in the street!"

"Oh." Her ears fell back in disappointment before a second idea came into mind. "I guess you don't want to lose then..."

"Lose?" He clenched he teeth at a challenge of strength. The tribal wolf could see that she had baited him. "I can't wrestle you in the street half naked, but maybe we can arm wrestle for it."

"I agree." Akul grinned. "You can give me the extra coin if I win."

"And If I win then you have to sell them for eight pieces." He smirked at the seemingly easy deal. They sat down at the blacksmith's working desk. The bear-badger and wolfess offered their right arms and locked hands. The adolescent leopard assistant made sure all was fair.

"Go!" Both used all their might to out muscle each other but it remained a tense standstill.

'He's strong like a wolf.' Akul grunted and gave it all her might.

'Don't stare at her chest!' The blacksmith shook his head and focused, but the canine's nudity didn't help his concentration. His hand slowly started losing ground. He strained and fought hard as his hand continued to fall. Akul brought his hand down with a resounding thud. The leopard assistant could hardly believe that a naked she wolf beat his master at a test of strength. She barked triumphantly. "Give her the coins." The smith hung his head in defeat. His assistant nodded and gave Akul the ten coins in exchange for both gems.

"Thank you!" Akul turned to leave.

"Wait!" The hybrid called out. "Please don't tell anyone that I lost to you." He begged.

"I won't." She smiled and left. Outside, she ruffled her fur. 'Ah... It's much cooler out here.' She took a much needed deep breath. Akul picked out one of the coins and held it between a thumb and fore claw. 'It is heavy.' Akul looked at the cross symbols on each side. The wolfess didn't think much about it and placed it in her bag with the rest.

***

Back at the docks where the maddening trading began at noon was now a quiet area with only a dozen or two dozen individuals remaining.

'Where's Aulus?' She looked around. There were quite a few disheartened males and females.

"That was a fair day." A richly dressed tigress sarcastically mumbled.

"I'm just glad that I came out even." A lion walking with her spoke. "Who would have guessed that a ship lost at sea for weeks would return to port with enough spices and exotic goods to make a single man rich."

'Are they talking about Aulus?' Akul explored the docks and searched for him. The only human she saw was an old man crying over his wasted savings. The sound of a door bursting open made her jump. "Aulus!" She barked and ran up to him. The smile on his face was the biggest that she had ever seen.

"Akul! I made the successful trade!" He cheered and danced around her. The wolf heard a distinct heavier jingle in his backpack.

"I sold your gems for ten gold coins."

"That's even better!" He jumped around excitedly. She had never seen him so excited before! The human full of excitement and accomplishment set out up the cobblestone street.

"Where are you going?" She followed him.

"To celebrate!" He half skipped ahead.

"But the sun is about to set." Akul looked over her shoulder at the lowering celestial body. It didn't matter to Aulus. The wolf chased after him through the thickening crowds in the streets all the way to a wide building with plenty of decorations.

"Let's go inside." Aulus marched inside the very crowded building. The whole party atmosphere perplexed Akul. There were no large fires, storytelling, singing, or simple games being played between adolescents and elders. Groups large and small were talking loudly and drinking something that Akul's nose wasn't fond of. A strong wine was being poured into large mixing jars with water, and empty mugs were ready to be filled. Akul reluctantly followed Aulus inside.

"What does this say?" She pointed to a wooden sign on the wall with the picture of a decorative bottle.

"That's gin. My grandfather always told me that gin would make you sin." He patted her back and laughed. The wolf cocked her head to the side wondering what that meant.

"Where are we?" She nearly had to bark for the human to hear her voice.

"This is a tavern!" He yelled above the noise. "You get many types of drinks in one!"

"It's very loud and crowded." Her voice drowned in the noise. A hand suddenly pulled the wolfess aside.

"Hey beautiful." She recognized a familiar voice.

"You're the panther from the inn!" Akul looked at the grinning cat's face.

"Enjoying yourself Akul?" The sultry look in his eyes only made the discomfort worse.

"Not really... Why are you here?" Her nose detected one of those pungent drinks on his breath.

"The same reason why everyone else is here." He spoke in his typical deep voice and smiled. "To have a good time."

"This isn't what I think as fun-" Her body stiffened up. She looked down and saw hand rubbing her chest, targeting her sensitive spout of flesh in the center. 'This feels wrong.' Akul fidgeted and wished that he would stop, but it continued. "Stop touching me there!" She tried moving, but an arm held her fast.

"Calm down hot blooded Akul." He purred. "Let's just have some fun." The panther's other hand dipped between her legs. Akul watched in shock as his two friends started groping her. Hackles raised, the she wolf snatched the feline's hand and twisted his fingers back. The panther's cries were drowned out in the loud environment. His friends immediately retracted and backed away. "H-hey!"

"Listen to me." She coldly stated. "If you ever touch me again I will break bones." The fire in her eyes burned into his mind. He nodded and whimpered when she let go. Akul sniffed the air and looked for Aulus through the crowd. 'Where did he go?' She walked around in search, nose held high. A thorough search through the sour and sweet aromas led her to a small table where Aulus was sitting. He was emptying a large mug of some drink as another was delivered to him. 'I hope that isn't what everyone else is drinking...' The wolfess wiggled her black nose. Her eyes widened as a female skunk slipped into the chair beside him.

"Hey handsome. You wanna have a fun night?" She slunk up beside him.

"I've had the best day of my life! I struck it rich at the docks today." He boasted. "Down at the docks I had the best decisions." Akul's jaw dropped. After all the times Aulus had told her not to tell anyone about why he was visiting the big secret, he simply told a complete stranger.

"All that coin must be weighing you down." She remarked with a sleek grin. The skunkette's scent burned in Akul's olfactory.

"Who is this, and what are you drinking?" Akul asked Aulus.

"Who is this mistress? Someone you left in an upstairs loft?" The lady skunk snickered. Aulus looked over and noticed Akul at the table. He burst into laughter.

"Mistress? Akul my mistress?" He laughed harder until his face turned red. Akul held her tongue, but the she wolf's hackles raised as her ears pinned back threateningly.

"What a silly name." The skunk added. Akul slammed the table with her fist causing a loud ruckus. "Humph!" The lady skunk hiked her nose up and left. Akul gave a confident snort.

"Akul, you didn't have to do that."

"She was all over you and I didn't like it." She frowned. He heartily laughed and spilled some of his wine.

"She's just being friendly Akul."

"Not when you told her about your trading."

"It's fine Akul. I promise." He lifted his mug.

"You're drinking that stuff, aren't you?"

"Mm." He responded, but didn't have any interest in stopping. Akul tugged on his shirt sleeve.

"Can we go to an inn or some place to stay, Aulus?" She interrupted his drinking escapade.

"Let me finish this first!" He greedily gulped down the mug full. She let out a sigh of relief and softened her demeanor when he finally stood up. "Alright, if I need to tuck you in and tell a tall tale." His lips curled into a cheery grin.

"Thank you-" The she wolf's eyes widened feeling a hand grab her rear. An ocelot wearing an ugly smirk stood behind her.

"Hey beautiful. It seems you're ready-" A swift wolf fist struck the feline's jaw, cleanly knocking him out.

"Grr." The wolf growled at him before leaving. Akul followed Aulus outside only to pause in surprise. They were in the first hour of dusk and torches and lanterns were being lighted along the entire street. Akul's eyes widened at the magnitude of people everywhere that had gathered in such a short amount of time. The streets were alive with numerous lanterns and inhabitants partying. Partygoers wore odd spectacled jewels, rich garments, and even partial masks with little bells. Music was being played everywhere on lutes, flutes, drums and curved trumpets. Dancing, laughter, and feasting weren't limited to any particular space. Many people were wearing ornamental masks with numerous decorations and designs. Beaks, pointy ears, partial masks, and more creeped the wolfess out. Kids were excitedly playing in the streets with masks of their own, undoubtedly getting into trouble but nowhere near the level of mischief their adult counterparts. Aulus and Akul weaved through the crowds and encountered a surprisingly empty street. Spectators on both sides cheered wildly at four fast approaching horses. They galloped past them and towards a marker where a victor was proclaimed with cheers.

"Yes! That's DiMarzo for ya!"

"The horses could use some ale too! Haha!"

"I could run faster if I could have your hand in marriage." A flirtatious tiger attempted to swoon a long furred white cat.

"Oh, do tell." She teased.

"I will catch you by the nethers." He kissed her. Akul could hardly believe her ears. The tribal wolf didn't like the partying atmosphere. It was loud, lewd, and disturbing but Aulus cozied up to it all. They reached an inn overflowing with people. Everyone was so tightly packed that neither Aulus nor Akul could squeeze through.

"This one is crowded!"

"Can we stay at a different inn?" She asked.

"We can go wherever you desire Akul." Aulus giddily replied. He had all the wealth in the world to care for his grandfather and him to live an easy life. Plus, Akul was right there by his side! Through all the crowds, laughter, drinking, and partying Aulus spotted a sign. Weaving and bumping into people led them into an open door inn. Cigar smoke created a haze throughout the building's main hall. Oil lamps and a large fire in the hearth lit the building as if dawn had broken through the clouds. Akul coughed and waved a hand in front of her face. A chorus of laughs spontaneously erupted in one corner of the room. It was a rowdy place where nearly everyone was drinking a mug of ale. Some round tables had groups of people playing with dice or cards, wagering coins as they played.

"Hey! A naked lady!" A male Australian shepherd stood up and raised his ale.

"Hey!!!" Dozens of others stood up and cheered. Akul's ears pinned back in embarrassment only to see Aulus cheer too.

"Aulus!" She glared at the human but he shrugged her off. Everyone returned to gambling and laughing about stories as they drank while Aulus rang up the innkeeper.

"Hello! Do you and your lady friend desire a room for privacy?" A happy skunk approached the human.

"Yes, we'd like a room to stay for the night." He replied. Akul didn't bother listening to the details and waited for Aulus to arrange their accommodations.

'This place is horrid!' Akul coughed from the thick clouds of smoke in the confined air. A tug on the wolf's arm brought her out of the thick haze.

"C'mon Akul, I got us a room." Aulus held up a key. "Third-no, second floor."

"Thank goodness." The wolf followed Aulus in a curvy line to a set of stairs.

"You're acting funny." She steadied him as they climbed the stairs.

"It's a funny day Alul!" He mispronounced her name and laughed. Above the haze they found their room, but it took Aulus a moment to fit the key in the keyhole. The tired she wolf patiently waited. Her head and paws ached. She wanted to curl up in bed with Aulus and snuggle with him before falling asleep together. The door opened revealing a room of decent size with a table and two well furnished chairs. A large window with newly painted shutters and clean floors added to the wealthier atmosphere. Several candles were at their disposal as well, but there was one thing that Akul did not want two of.

"Two beds?" Her tail hung low, and ears flattened against her skull.

"Can you light this match for me Akul?" Aulus attempted to, but his hand continuously missed. "I keep missing it..." The wolf held the tiny wooden stick between her fingers carefully. Akul struck the match and lit the candles. "Thank you! Thank you!" He giggled and sat down. Akul approached one of the beds while Aulus poured a majority of the coins onto the table with a loud ruckus. "One... Two... Three..." He began counting them with delicate care and soured speech. The tribal wolf traced her hand down the deep purple sheet. The fine silk was nice to touch, and the mattress wasn't stuffed with noisy straw or oats, but she would rather sleep on moss with her Aulus. The wolfess sat down and looked up at the human who was self absorbed with his newly acclaimed fortune.

'Doesn't he want to sleep beside me?' Akul watched him fondle coin after coin in an odd love making ritual. He didn't take his eyes off the shiny metals just like the panther had eyed her. The muffled sound of something breaking nearby caught her attention. Partying crowds inside the inn's lobby and the surrounding streets easily echoed into the room's wooden walls. The noise outside was louder than any smaller town that they had stayed at overnight. Akul folded her ears, unable to do anything about it. The partying and celebrating was very loud to her sensitive hearing meant to hunt.

"It's loud downstairs." Akul softly spoke. "Are there any crickets to listen to?"

"You can open a window." Alus offhandedly replied without getting up. Akul frowned and hopped out of the bed. She opened the shutter styled window only to hear two foxes outside gekkering loudly with laughter. No soft sounds of crickets, frogs, a gentle breeze, or even the rare hooting of an owl were there to lull her into sleep.

"Humph!" The wolf immediately shut the window and returned to the bed. She stared at Aulus with longing eyes. Her hand lightly touched where the panther had groped her. The she wolf wanted the human's comforting touch more than anything right now. "Aulus?" She spoke but he continued touching every coin. "Aulus, can you come to bed?"

"Not now... I will soon." He half answered without much thought. The wolfess sighed. Minutes ticked by without avail. Even with every coin counted, organized, and stacked Aulus didn't budge from his greed and alcohol filled stupor. Akul rolled over and closed her eyes.

'Where is my kind and caring Aulus?'

Chapter Six

Loud snoring broke Akul's peaceful, yet lonely slumber. The wolfess reached through the covers to poke Aulus, but he was not sleeping beside her. Amber eyes snapped open hearing a second round of the awful throaty noise. It was nothing compared to the soft snoring that her father often did. Across the dimly lit room she could see Aulus slouched in the same chair from last night. His jaw was ajar, drooling, and the table had a messy stack of coins.

"Aulus." The wolf grumbled. The loud snoring continued and further agitated her. "Aulus!" She finally raised her voice. The human grumbled and shut his mouth. His slow motions reminded Akul of a slug waking up.

"Ugh... My head." He wiped his mouth and closed his eyes.

"Are you alright?" She rolled over and asked. The human grumbled and cleared his throat first.

"I'm probably hung over." He groaned and stretched crudely that reminded Akul of a dying animal.

"What does that mean? Should I get some medicine for you?" She sat up and worried.

"Naw-" He cut himself off with a yawn. "I drank too much." His calmness about it helped ease her worries. Fully awake, Akul rubbed her foot paws over the wooden floor before standing up in a full stretch. She walked over to the window and opened the shutter. Aulus covered his eyes as bright sunshine filled the space. For the first time the city was quiet where only the seldom sounds of gulls, carts rattling across the stone streets, or the random passerby talking created a tiny noise. The buildings, large and small silently stood firm resembling trees in a forest.

'It is like a forest...' She stared across the city with mixed feelings. Litter from the celebrating was everywhere. Akul glanced over her shoulder at Aulus gradually collecting himself. 'But the city isn't a forest.' Her ears folded back soberingly. The weird celebrations of drinking, lewd behavior, and rough partying didn't make sense to her. They were nothing like the singing, dancing, and storytelling of her village. 'What would everyone back home think?' She wondered.

"Time to get up-!" Aulus yawned and painfully stretched. A loud knock at their door alerted them both.

"Open up!" A male voice ordered.

"I'll get it." Aulus steadied himself. Hunched over, the human shuffled towards the door and unlocked it. The door burst open and four uniformed guards marched in. They wore cuirasses and secured rapiers hung at their waists. "What's going on?"

"You're under arrest for public indecency and nudity." A cap wearing raccoon pointed at Akul. Two sturdy badgers and a Doberman apprehended the wolfess.

"Get off! Don't touch me! Aulus!" She barked for him to help, but the human was talking to head raccoon policeman.

"Stop struggling or we will add another charge against you." One of the badgers huffed.

"Don't worry Akul! Just follow them." She heard the human's voice. The wolfess was marched down the hall and downstairs to the street where she was practically paraded through the city.

'This is terrible.' Onlookers watched and some teased the naked tribal wolf to her embarrassment. She would occasionally stumble over a rock, discarded mask, or trash left in the street from last night. The guards would simply push her along. They eventually reached an open area in the city. The distant noise of crashing waves and seagulls told that they weren't far from the water. Akul was brought to another set of armed city guards.

"Put her in the pillory stocks." A voice directed them.

"Ay, sir!" The Siamese cat and Doberman nodded. They led Akul to an open area where people were mulling about their normal morning duties.

"What's going on?"

"You are to be put here for the entire day unless someone pays your bail." The feline answered.

"I don't know what that means!" Akul barked. The feisty canine was directed towards a wooden and iron device. She was bent over where her wrists and neck fit into the groves before the top half was shut on top and securely locked.

"There! You're not going anywhere." The Siamese and Doberman backed away. Akul watched as city people passed by. Most didn't take much notice of her bent over facing the wide street, but a few did.

"She's been stripped of her dignity." Her ears heard someone say.

'What does that even mean?' Akul wrinkled her muzzle and wondered. The frustration of being stuck in the city slowly sunk in as others taunted her humiliating plight. 'Please hurry Aulus!' She closed her eyes and prayed to the spirits for a quick rescue. It was all that she could do in such a bad situation. Her eyes shot open feeling a hand touch her exposed rump. Despite the device's heavy weight, Akul stood up and turned around.

"Wha-!" The male collie who had been prodding the wolf's rear gaped at her in surprise. The wolfess swiftly kicked the townsman and sent him tumbling backward. Akul firmly placed a paw on his chest while he was down. Any other frightened onlookers ran away.

"Don't ever touch me there again!" She growled.

"Ok! Ok!" He wheezed for mercy. The wolfess let up and he scrambled away. The Siamese cat guard watched the unfolding scene with wide eyes.

'We've got a problem...' He thought and alerted other guards. "Put her in a Jail cell before she hurts anyone else!" Everyone scrambled to calm the wolfess down and freed her from the pillory.

'Much better!' Akul cracked her neck and rubbed her wrists. She was quickly led by several guards to a stone arched entrance where steps disappeared underground. Inside, torches gave lighting to a murky interior that spooked the wolfess. She jumped feeling cold stone underneath her paws.

"Keep walking." The Siamese guard prodded her along. Sensitive ears detected noises below.

"Ugh!" Akul pinched her nose at the horrid stench of filth inside. "What kind of place is this?"

"You're in prison now." A guard answered as they took a left down a dark corridor only lit by torches every five or so meters along a wall. The internal noises were much stronger now. Along both sides of the corridor were metal doors keeping thieves, thugs, tax cheats, and other criminals locked away. Some were moaning, others were crying or shouting angrily, and a few were laying motionless. The suffering appeared endless until she was halted at one of the cells. A guard unlocked and opened the metal door. The tribal wolf was shoved into an empty cell. Akul was too stunned to jump when the metal door slammed shut with a loud rattle. Her stone "room" was faintly illuminated from the nearby torches along the wall. Chains hanging motionlessly in the back from a spike in the wall, and an empty bucket laying on its side were the only other items with her.

'Is this what prison is?' She vaguely remembered what Aulus told her about how people outside the forests kept wrongdoers in dark places for years. Akul held onto the bars only to recoil at their rusty chill. The wolfess started shaking fearfully. There was always something to remind the wolfess that time was a constantly moving phenomenon. A falling leaf, a bird flying overhead, or the dwindling of a fire were more than enough in the forest. In the dark prison there was only darkness in the faint torchlight where only moans and anguish broke the silence.

"Let me out of here!" Akul's cries only drowned into echoes of sorrow. The wolfess slumped against the cold bars and cried in her hands.

***

The sound of rattling awoke the wolfess curled on the stone floor.

'Who's there?' Her eyes focused to see through the dim lighting. Three figures were at her cell door. One picked through a heavy metal ring of keys.

"Are you sure this is the one?" A male asked. He peered through the bars, but couldn't see anyone inside.

"This is where we put her." The door opened with an ear bleeding screech.

"Akul?" A man stepped into the dim stone cell. Akul recognized that voice and jumped up. Her tail wagged knowing it was Aulus.

"You came to save me!" She tackled him with a strong hug. The human wobbled when she set him back down.

"Easy! My head is still unsteady." Aulus rubbed his temples. "Let's stop by a coffee shop or something." She still nuzzled him for a good moment before letting go. Some of the guards chuckled as the human wiped his face.

"Thank you." Akul's arms securely hugged his waist for security as they left the dark cell.

"Alright. Let's get outta here." Aulus followed the guards up the corridors and stairs. Plenty of slurs and vulgar words were shouted at the pair as they left. Sunlight blissfully stung their eyes as they reached the city's ground level. They left the dungeon without looking back. "Ok Akul, you can let go of me." Aulus tried prying off the wolf's iron strong arms from his body.

"Sorry!" She couldn't stop wagging her tail though.

'You're feeling better...' He thought to himself.

"Why was I put in there? It was terrible!" She rubbed her arms.

"Because you broke one of the city laws." Aulus flatly answered.

"What law? No one told me about a law, and I didn't do anything wrong."

"I don't have time to explain again." Aulus turned onto another street and looked around the various shops and buildings. "Ah, here it is." He walked to a modest building with "coffeehouse" on a big sign.

"What's in here?" Akul asked as they entered.

"To you... Medicine drinks." He shrugged. The whole place smelled nice to Akul, much better than the inn she was stuck at last night, the jail, or even the streets outside. Herbs and spices of all kinds teased her curious black nose. A young female cheetah and woman were only other people inside. Aulus sat down at a little round wooden table in the corner window while Akul chose to remain standing.

"What can I get for you two to drink?" An apron wearing leopardess approached their table.

"Something mild for a headache." Aulus asked.

"Nothing for me." Akul shook her head. The feline nodded and soon returned with a steaming cup for the human. Akul noticed that it didn't smell like wine, ale, or water. Aulus took several sips and leaned back in the chair.

"Ah. My head doesn't hurt so much now." He relaxed.

"Why does your head hurt? Did you hit it?"

"No. I drank too much last night."

"You mean that ale stuff?"

"Kind of... I had ale and wine."

"You should not drink that evil stuff, Aulus."

"Evil stuff..." He giggled to himself much to her annoyance and gulped down more of the the herbal drink. "We have to go soon." Aulus mentioned.

'Thank the spirits.' She wasn't disappointed by the news. "Why?"

"Because I told the guards that I would take you home and have you dressed. They believed me because last night's partying and all that... stuff." The canine's ears folded back at his lie, but she was happy to hear that they could leave. "Oh. I have your bag and scarf." Aulus handed them over.

"Thank you." She faintly grinned at her recovered belongings. "Do you want your coins back?" The human's brown eyes lit up excitedly at the metal coins despite his hungover state. "When I was in that jail people were moaning in pain, and yelling too. It was dark and filthy. I haven't been so scared in my life." She shivered only to notice that his eyes were focused on the coin between his fingers. "Are you even listening to me?"

"Huh? Of course I am." He didn't even make eye contact with her. Akul frowned and crossed her arms. The human hastily finished the herbal drink and slapped a heavy coin down on the table. "Thank you for the drink ma'am." Aulus waved and left with Akul.

"The ground Is filthy." Akul stepped over a discarded mask and burnt out torch. Burying unneeded things was common practice in her village, but very little was wasted unlike the city. Her nose could always smell traces of sewage on every street.

"Hey!" A booming voice halted the duo in their tracks. "Stop you two!" A group of four townspeople approached them from across the street.

"Who are you?"

"My friend claims that you and your wolfess injured him last night." The barrel chested human slapped the back of an ocelot wearing a cloth around his muzzle. The feline shied away and moaned fearfully when Akul made eye contact with him.

"I didn't hurt anyone, and neither did Akul." He frowned.

"You're a liar! No one gets knocked out just walking around." The man threw his hands around and yelled.

"Aulus... Let's go." Akul urged him to leave.

"No, no, no." He shrugged her off. "He is challenging me." The buzz in his head from last night lingered with enough inhibition. The backpack was given to Akul and a little ring was formed around the two humans.

'Why is he doing this? We are leaving!' She didn't like it.

"No spitting or throwing dirt." The rules were agreed upon and they hastily circled each other. The spectators grew in number and shouts of encouragement were given to speed things up. Eventually Aulus and the man traded punches and grappled, but the fight wasn't much of a contest. Akul clenched her fists as she watched Aulus get pummeled by the larger human. A heavy punch to his gut sent him reeling backwards to the wolfess.

'Damn!' His body ached. The wolfess put her little leather bag in Aulus' backpack .

"Mind if I butt in?" She tapped his shoulder.

"No! Not at all!" He gasped feeling his stomach churn from the beating. The she wolf stepped by him and strode up to the opposing human flaunting an early victory. "Excuse me, but I want to fight for his honor and our safe passage." Akul placed her hands on her grey and white furred hips. The human eyes up the naked wolfess with a bewildered expression.

"I cannot fight a woman." The man found the challenge obscene and demeaning.

"Then allow me." Akul socked him in the jaw sending the barrel chested man stumbling backwards into a stack of hay. The crowd roared as the man struggled back to his feet in a daze. He shook his head and regained his focus.

" I won't stop if you beg for mercy." He scowled and lunged at Akul. The wolf stepped to the side and landed a solid punch to the man's gut. He bore the pain and swung his arm. She caught his fist and twisted his arm. "Agh!" He wailed in pain. Out of the corner of Akul's eye, the wolfess saw money being exchanged hands. 'People bet money over a fight?!' The she wolf's anger and frustration boiled over.

"You go Akul!" Aulus cheered as the wolf easily pounded the burly human into submission. The one sided fight quickly wrapped up. Se wiped her hands and left the ring of onlookers. "Wow! You pummeled that guy into the ground!" Aulus congratulated her.

"Gather your things and we can leave." She walked by him, already departing. Aulus watched her in astonishment. He looked back at the crowd helping the defeated man up.

"W-wait up!" He scrambled to follow after her just as a few policing guards broke up the rowdy crowd.

"Which way do we leave?" Akul looked over her shoulder and asked without stopping.

"Straight ahead." Aulus struggled to keep up with the wolf's longer strides. Without any crowds, pulled carts, or food stands, the naked canine caught nearly everyone's attention that she crossed.

"Oh my! She's naked!" A mother hushed her accusing voice.

"A naked canine? Wasn't she being jailed?"

"Why is she naked?"

"Someone must have partied night." The tribal wolfess folded her ears at the last snide remark.

'I have to get out of here.' She hurried up the main cobblestone street with determination. Aulus tagged along with his heavy backpack. Akul finally felt some relief when they reached the bridge where the forest was in sight. 'Thank the spirits.' She walked ahead confidently and slowed her pace.

"I thought you were going to leave me behind!" Aulus reached her side and caught his breath.

"Don't fall behind." She urged him.

'What's gotten under her fur?' He wondered and approached the bridge with her. "Uh oh." Aulus spotted an armed guard collecting tolls from people leaving the city. 'If they find out what I'm carrying I will have to pay a fortune just to cross!' A farmer with a full sack was allowed to pass and Akul stepped forward. A serval guard's eyes widened at the tribal lady.

"Woah... Uh one penny is your toll." The male feline had trouble not looking over the tribal wolf's nude body.

"Toll? What toll? I didn't have to pay anything when I entered the city." She placed her hands on her hips.

"At least cross your arms Akul." Aulus whispered but the wolfess didn't hear him.

"It's for bridge maintenance... because you're carrying goods across." He meekly answered.

"Carrying goods? I'm not carrying anything!" She raised her voice at him. Others entering the city on the other side noticed as well as others behind them.

"I uh can see that-"

"Then I don't have to pay to cross!" She scolded the guard. Aulus quietly slipped around Akul while she was barking at the poor serval guard.

"Ok miss! Please pass through!" He moved her along.

"My name is Akul." She growled and crossed the bridge. Everyone watched her leave, but not Aulus following close behind her. Akul walked steadfastly up the dirt road above the creek to the point that overlooked the city. A few ruins of a buildings were visible in the grass and undergrowth of weeds and sea oats. The stone walls were almost connected by a middle wall, but most of the rocks had crumbled to the ground. Akul paused by the ruins and took one last good look at the ocean. They were greeted by a fierce gust of wind from the coast. Dark clouds were rolling towards them across the sky, fanning out like a plume of thick smoke. A storm was fast approaching. The vast murky water and its choppy waves caused the numerous giant wooden vessels to bob as they listed in port. It was the exact spot where she had first seen the mythical city of Ambrosia a few days ago. The maze of wood and stone would forever remain a place of excitement, intrigue, and oddities for the tribal born female. Ambrosia was an experience that she would never forget. A salty breeze compelled her to move on.

"Boy, am I sore!" Aulus yawned loudly and stretched. "I shouldn't have accepted that guy's challenge, but I passed through without paying a toll." He received an angry glare from Akul. "What?" The wolfess turned down the path and waved for him to follow. Their walk along the wooded country road was oddly quiet. That rarely happened with the chattery tribal canine. "What's wrong Akul?" Aulus asked the wolfess. He tried talking ahold of her hand, but she swatted him away every time. "Akul, please tell me-" The wolfess halted and spun around to face him. Aulus took a frightened half step back. The normally kind and loving she wolf's ears were pinned back, hackles raised, and her muzzle was wrinkled revealing the tips of her canines. Even her amber eyes were burning angrily at him. "Are you... ok?" He meekly asked. The trickling of rain quickly grew into a shower, but neither moved an inch.

"No!" She roared, further stunning the human. "I was thrown into a dark room and had to fight someone for your stupid mistakes! What did I risk my life for? You or those stupid metal rocks?!" She barked. Aulus pitifully stared at the angry tribal wolfess. "If this is how you're going to act from now on, then I'd rather go straight home alone!" Akul stormed away as thunder rumbled in the distant. She found comfort at the base of a large tree where there was a ring of dry ground. 'Oh spirits...' The she wolf took a much needed sigh and listened to the pouring rain. The sound of rain always eased her worries back home. Her eyes stared ahead at the foreign forest wishing her friends and family were within a howl's distance. She picked up a small rock and tightly clutched its hard surface.

"Everyone outside of the forests are so strange..." She mumbled to herself and stared at the rock in her palm. The city was splendidly beautiful, but it could never compare to her village in the great forest. 'I did meet a few kind people though.' The wolfess faintly grinned. The three runaway youths and their parents, the married shop owners who sold her the scarf, the cow milker in Kesselring... They made it worth while. 'Aulus...' Her ears folded back. 'That money changed him.' She bit her lip and wiped her eyes.

'What have I done?' Aulus sank to the ground as thunder crackled throughout the air.

If she chose to split up then the path back home would be far more treacherous. It would be harder for them both, and Akul could get lost. His relationship with the wolf tribe would suffer immensely either way. Most importantly he'd lose a friend, his best friend, and something that all the fine wine, partying, and gold couldn't replace.

Akul's gaze did not waver from the wet leaves and forest floor. The heavy rain was sobering with its pounding silence. Her ears perked up hearing footsteps cautiously approach in the wet leaves. Her nose already knew who it was. Aulus stopped behind the wolfess and took a moment to collect himself.

"I'm sorry Akul." He quietly spoke. The wolfess turned around and looked up at him.

"Why do you and everyone else love those stupid things so much?" Her amber eyes were distraught. He shrugged knowing that any answer wouldn't satisfy her anti materialistic lifestyle. His silence only seemed to further upset her. "Answer me!" Akul barked.

"It's money Akul-" His quiet answer was swiftly cut off.

"Money? Money?!" She barely contained her enraged voice. "What can money do for you Aulus? Can it be your friend? Can it skin a deer? Can it cook, raise a family, or heal you?" The wolfess challenged him.

"No." His answer was almost too quiet for Akul's exceptional hearing.

"Then why do you love it so much? The coins, cold metals, and shiny rocks! What would you not do for it!" The she wolf stopped yelling and noticed how hard she was breathing. Aulus could see how distraught Akul was over everything he had done. "You act as if a shaman casted a bad spell on you." She bit back most of a growl.

"I did act stupid. I let the success get to me, and then I drank wine and ale..." His memory was a tad fuzzy a out the specifics, but Akul's emotions told volumes. "I can't tell you how sorry I am Akul." He acknowledged his mistakes and gave a heartfelt apology.

"I never want to see those things when I'm with you." Akul stated seriously. "It's-Your eyes look blank and dark when you stare at them!" She growled in frustration. The wolf immediately flattened her hackles and calmed down. But a tense feeling remained inside her. 'What if he doesn't change?' She worried.

"I promise." His soft answer surprised her. Aulus sat down beside her. "I'm sorry for all of the stupid things that I have done. I never meant to upset you." He picked up the wolf's larger hand and held it. His soft touch warmed her. "I'm glad that you wanted to travel with me." Aulus intertwined his fingers with her bulkier ones. A thick claw tapped on the back of his hand.

"I'm not the only one who wanted it." A grin briefly emerged along her muzzle. "It's fun seeing all of these different villages, towns, or whatever they are called," she sighed, "but I miss the great forests and my tribe."

"I'm a little homesick too." He admitted. "But I'm definitely not as resilient as you are, Akul."

"You're a very kind person Aulus. You offered medicine to my brother, a complete stranger when we wrongfully tied you to a tree."

"I kind of miss that tree." He made the wolfess giggle.

"It would be a good place to tell that story." Akul fondly remembered the edge of the forest overlooking the large field and snaking dusty road.

"Do you want to go straight to your village? It will be a lot faster than going south to my home first, and then going back north."

"No." Her answer surprised him. "I want to visit your home."

"After all of this?"

"Yes. Your village won't be like the city. They will know about my tribe, fur trapping, and won't bother me over my choice to be naked." They didn't say anything after that for a while. The passing downpour and rumbling thunder cleared, but a different rumbling was heard in their bellies.

"We haven't eaten all day." Aulus chuckled as he reached for his backpack. He shuffled through its contents. "Well... We forgot to stock up on a few foods in Ambrosia."

"How much do we have?"

"Enough for a day or two." He estimated and pulled out a map. His eyes scanned the closest town to the southeast of Ambrosia. "It's the afternoon..." Aulus calculated the time required to cover the distance and shop for some food to last a few extra days. "Do you want to go to La Castanza with me?" He asked. "It's a small town about three or four miles from these woods." She shook her head.

"You can go to the town. I'll stay here."

"No inn? No-"

"No." The wolfess solemnly shook her head. "I want to sleep in the forest tonight." Her amber eyes were certain in the decision.

"Ok." Aulus handed her what they had left. "Eat as much as you want. I'll be back before dark with enough to last until the next town." He stood up and departed. Akul watched him disappear through the underbrush.

***

Other than a random crow cawing, the fields and trees were the only company Aulus had while he made the three mile trip to the town of La Costanza. He constantly looked at his side wishing Akul was walking with him. It was so quiet and lonely without her.

'Just imagine if I went by myself for the whole journey.' He shuddered at the thought. 'I probably would have chickened out.' Traveling alone with only a knife left little defense from roving bandits, corrupt officials, and too many other possible hazards would be too dangerous. The town came into view as he climbed a third rolling hill growing hay. He slid down the wet grass and hurried across the last poppy filled field. The town of La Costanza, like any town, was calm and quiet compared to Ambrosia. There were fewer people and carts on the dirt streets, their clothes were plainer, and the buildings were less grandiose too. Aulus didn't wander around and sought out anyone selling food. He wanted to return to Akul before nightfall. Even the fuss of an inexperienced rider being bucked off a horse didn't catch his attention. The ringing of a small handbell led him to a bakery. The overpowering smell of flour and breads filled his nose. He waited in a fast paced line before being called up.

"How may I help you sir?" A pudgy apron wearing tabby cat asked.

"I need a loaf of bread..." Aulus rambled off a short list an looked to his right to ask Akul what she wanted, only to remember that she was back in the forest. "And a dinner roll." He quietly added. Aulus paid the baker and left the shop. His simple shoes quietly stepped along the edge of the wide street.

'That was... boring...' He thought. Usually Akul would have a flurry of questions for him, easy and impossible to answer. The human looked up from the plain dirt street and noticed a figure was sitting outside that he hadn't noticed before. A female husky was sitting in the dirt against a brick building aglow from the fading sun's rays. She was dressed in old cloth that wasn't even fit for use as a cleaning rag. Her fur was equally disheveled and dirty, masking a normally shiny black and white coat. Aulus stared at her as he walked by. The canine held out her hand, but the human looked away. She clutched her sides and stared at the ground. Aulus stopped at the corner of the bakery and stared at the dinner roll in his hand. The poor canine's ears perked up hearing footsteps approaching again. She looked up and noticed the human looming over her, creating a dark shadow. The husky fearfully blinked only for a hand to reach out holding a freshly baked roll. Her muzzle lifted into a grin and accepted the little gift.

"Thank you sir." She answered in a hoarse voice. Aulus merely nodded and continued on his way. Her feeble hands tore the roll in half only for something to drop in her lap. The odd little object glistened in the sunlight. She gasped and picked up a gold coin. The canine looked up and down the street but the strange human was gone. "God bless you sir." She covered her eyes and cried. Aulus walked out of town smiling.

By the time Aulus traveled down the road and crossed the meadow, the sun was already dipping below the horizon. The shady forest was darkening quickly, and that worried Aulus. Pretty soon he wouldn't be able to see past his face. He marched through the leaf covered grounds with loud crunches.

"Akul!" He yelled. He waited for an answer but received none. The silence unsettled him. 'Did she leave me?' He suddenly panicked. "Akul!" Aulus desperately called out. "Akul!"

"I'm over here!" A voice finally called out to his left.

'Thank goodness.' He sighed and marched through the leaves and found her with his belongings. "I'm back!" He breathlessly waved. The wolfess was leaning against the bottom of a tree trunk. Her tail wagged as she sat up.

"Did you run all the way back?" She noticed how tired he was.

"Just about." He nodded and dropped his pack to the ground. "Did you eat?"

"Mmhm. I was getting ready to sleep, but I waited for you."

"That's good. Sleep sounds really nice right now." He yawned. The wolfess smiled and stuck her tongue out at him.

"Let's rest then." She laid down on her back in the leaves. Aulus stripped down to his last undergarment and crawled to the nude she wolf. Akul patted her tummy for him to lay on. Without complaint he laid down on the she wolf's front as she wanted, resting his head on her chest. Akul's fur was soft and warm as it always was. The wolfess smiled contently. The only place she could keep him away from the greed was in her arms. "Tired?" She asked resting her hands on his lower back, rubbing little circles into his muscles below. Aulus merely replied with a slow nod enjoying the light rub. The human avoided a disastrous pitfall with her, and best of all, they were on good terms again.

'Thank goodness.' He relaxed. Akul noticed his eyes shut, and a tempting grin emerged on her thin black lips. She hooked her thumbs under the hem of his underwear and pulled the final garment down his thighs. A foot paw quickly rose and stripped it away leaving the human completely naked. He was too tired to complain and nuzzled close to her.

'I finally got him out of his clothes outside for once.' She mused watching the human fall asleep. Being naked was a sacred thing to a tribal wolf even though it was "practiced" daily with little thought. Bare fur, or in the human's case of bare skin, was meant to be bare in the tribal mind. She ran a hand down his back. 'Aulus looks so peaceful and adorable while he sleeps!' Akul licked his forehead before contently laying back and closing her eyes. "Have sweet dreams Aulus." She whispered, never wanting to let him go.

Akul grumbled as she sat up in their pile of leaves. 'I shouldn't have drank all that water last night.' The wolf carefully stood up so that she didn't disturb Aulus peacefully sleeping. Her muzzle lifted in a grin as she trekked a small distance in the woods.

'I hope that our biggest troubles are behind us.' She sat down on the edge of a fallen tree and relieved herself. 'I guess we're going south from now.' She grinned and looked towards the east. The sun's rays were faintly visible as dawn was minutes from beginning. It reminded her of the many times that she had gone hunting early in the morning. The sun still hidden beneath the horizon with a faint glow, the smell of deer lingering nearby, and the feeling of a bow and arrow in hand. It was much more pleasant waking up in the forest to birds rather than a city full of loud chatter. Akul hummed, hoping to return to her village with Aulus soon enough. 'Maybe he will stay-' A rustle in the leaves caught her ear.

"Aulus?" She looked over her shoulder but there wasn't a human standing behind her. A stout badger was standing behind her, wielding a hand knife. He wore ragged clothes and had a foul smell that made Akul's nose burn.

"Listen closely. Give me all of your money and valuables, then I'll let you two live." He held the weapon up to emphasize his point. Any of the early morning fog remaining inside the wolfess angrily dissipated. Akul growled and rose to her paws. The badger's eyes widened at the canine nearly a full head taller than him. She stepped forward and he attempted to step back, but a swift hand caught his wrist. The knife dropped to the ground with a soft thump in the dead leaves. The wolf applied pressure to his wrist. "Ah!" He wailed and fell to his knees. Akul released the would be robber's hand and he scurried away to wherever he came from.

"How rude." The wolf flattened her hackles and walked back to camp. She found Aulus sitting up in their makeshift bed. "You're awake." Her tail wagged.

"Yep." He stretched. "I heard a noise out there. What happened?"

"Eh." Akul looked over her shoulder and back into the woods. "Nothing. Must've been a deer."

"Oh." He slowly nodded. "What route do you want to take south from here?"

"What routes can we take?" She sat down beside him.

"I'll show you." He pulled out his map. "We are here." Aulus pointed to a spot directly below Ambrosia. "Upriver leads directly to my town of Solstershire." Akul studied the lines.

"What other ways can we go?" She asked.

"Along the roads this way, or through the countryside closer to the river, or ride a boat if we can find a ferry that will take us. There should be some paths along here."

"Let's go through the countryside." She recommended. "The forest is beautiful out here."

"Sounds good to me." He put the map away. The rugged and forested terrain would take an extra two days to cover the same distance as traveling on the road, but it didn't matter. Aulus had his gold and Akul. They gathered their things and set out along through the woods. Leaves softly crunched beneath their steps along a worn path. The forest around them was damp from the passing shower the day before. Fronds and little oak saplings were bright greens among the dark beds of leaves on the forest floor. Aulus adjusted his shoulders from the backpack's weight. The heavy gold coins were kept hidden at the bottom of the bag, and neither discussed anything about them. A similar unsettling weight rested in his gut.

'Has she really forgiven me?' He glanced up at the expressionless wolfess walking beside him. "Akul?"

"Hmm?" She looked down at him.

"Are you still angry at me?" He asked. The wolfess hesitated before answering.

"No." She firmly answered, but gently grasped the human's hand. The intimate gesture and soft pads comforted him. Aulus knew that she was telling the truth.

'Things are finally back to normal.' He clutched her hand close. The she wolf suddenly broke off and ran to the edge of the path.

"Look Aulus! It's a caterpillar!" Akul spied the little creature crawling along a low hanging branch. She watched it crawl along for a moment. Then the she wolf suddenly backed off and covered her nose. "He tried to crawl on my nose." She chortled. Aulus found himself smiling at the funny spectacle.

"I don't know how I could've been afraid of you when a bug can make you laugh."

"I protect those who I care for." She placed an arm around him. Aulus smiled as they walked through the woods. Even though they had a long and possibly treacherous journey back home, he felt optimistic because he was with Akul.

"What would you normally do during a day in the village?" He asked.

"I'd wake up a little after sunrise. My dad is usually up before then, but I'll wake him up if he isn't already. My mom will either be cooking, foraging, or talking with her friends. On a typical morning I'll ready my bow, quiver, and arrows. There will be a hunting group to join unless I want to hunt alone, patrol the edge of the forest, or forage with my mother. Then there's cooking, watching pups, listening to elders tell stories." She fondly remembered daily village activities.

"What would you two forage for?"

"Usually berries or nuts when they are in season. Occasionally I'll help collect items for our shaman, or we'll see who can collect the most faster."

"You race your mom to forage?" He found the thought of Akul and her mother Ginmei scrounging the ground for food amusing.

"Yes! You might say that I'm... very fast."

"I have a feeling there's plenty more that you're not telling me."

"You'll find out when you visit the village again." She grinned.

"Alright." Aulus smiled in return. "I'll hold you to your words."

"Are you doubting me?" Akul bumped his side. "I can smell out a forage bush in the middle of a forest." She motioned around.

"That's only if you're in the southern forests." He downplayed it. Her tail flicked up excitedly.

"First one to bring something back first wins." She challenged him. He met her gaze equally.

"Deal!" They broke off in opposite directions in search of forgeable foods. After running by a few trees the human paused and looked over his shoulder. "Can't see her now." Aulus paused and looked around the green undergrowth. The scenery was typical of his hometown and Akul's village but vastly different from the urban environment. Bushes and trees had replaced walls and houses. People were replaced with wildlife. They were only a day and a half's away from the giant splendor of Ambrosia, yet here he was in the middle of a small forest. It reminded him of how easy he could get lost while traveling. A noisy bird flew overhead to a certain oak covered in ivy along its trunk. The branches seemed to spiral and stretch up towards the sky itself where green leaves had unfurled, as if a floating cloud of shade. He wondered if she noticed little things like that every day in the forest. Aulus looked around and found a bush with little red berries. 'These don't look edible.' He remembered dozens of them lining part of the path. A few moldy nuts and root sprouting acorns later, the human finally found something worth considering.

"A mushroom, huh?" Aulus hadn't seen a mushroom exactly like it before, but he plucked the fungus and examined it. A thin red line along the edge of the fungus resembled a halo, but nothing else seemed out of the ordinary. He took a testing bite. A sudden aftertaste made him grimace. "Yuck! I don't think it's edible." He dropped it and spit out what he could. 'Better wash it down.' He took a swig from the canteen and returned to foraging. His search for food didn't lead to any fruition though. After searching through the thickets, he tossed some sticks aside and gave up.

"I bet Akul is gloating and waiting for me on the pathway." Aulus stopped to rest by a tree. He grinned at the thought of the nude wolf bouncing around and laughing at her victory. 'Ugh.' He frowned and clutched his stomach. His gut felt funny, between nausea and discomfort. He waited for it to dissipate, but standing around only seemed to worsen the sensations. "I don't feel well..." The nausea turned dizzying. Aulus managed a few more steps before grabbing the trunk of a tree to support himself. The leaf covered ground woozily spun below. His mind tried making sense of the sudden spell, but the sickening sensations proved overwhelming as the minutes ticked by. He collapsed onto his hands and knees before panic set in.

"Akul!" His shaky voice called for help. His stomach purged itself several times and his calls for help grew weaker. "Akul..." His trembling body rolled over as the forested world spun around him. 'Oh gods...' The sickening dizzy feeling only worsened when he closed his eyes. He clutched his body, unable to move as if the ground had swallowed him whole.

"Aulus?" A distant voice barely reached his ears. "Aulus?!"

Darkness. Floating darkness. Aulus couldn't tell if he was dreaming nothingness or if the world around him was nothing. The experience felt like an eternity to the human. An unsettling confusion set in. He didn't want to be wherever he was.

'I am breathing.' The thought slowly formed in his mind. The darkness began to dissipate, and external sounds began entering his mind. He moved his extremities only to grumble in reaction. His body felt sore and somewhat nauseous.

"Aulus!" The familiar word dully chimed in his foggy mind.

'Who said that?' He wondered.

"He's waking up!" The same voice excitedly said with more clarity. Then, as if to wash away the nightmare, Aulus opened his eyes. Staring scarcely an inch from his face was a black nose. He could see a familia grey and white furred face with two triangular ears standing attentively. The furry canine face stared at him with an ajar muzzle. Two rows of fur leading from her amber eyes looked wet.

"Akul?" His voice sounded rough.

"Yes?" Her sweet voice replied.

"Where... Where are we? It's dark." He noticed how dim the room was. His eyes darted around and noticed that he was inside on someone's bed with a blanket covering him.

"It has been raining all day." She softly spoke. Her ears could easily hear the constant thrum of rain. "But we're inside." Akul was quick to reassure the distraught human.

"Do we have anything left in the pack to eat?" His nauseous stomach growled noisily. The she wolf looked over her shoulder at something he couldn't see.

"Well... Not exactly." Akul stood up. Aulus tried holding onto her arm, but the she wolf patted him reassuringly. She stepped back and a different figure approached. He was greeted by a brown and white coated ermine.

"Hello Aulus. My name is Melanie." She softly spoke to the woozy human. The lady was wearing a simple gown with an overcoat that could double as an apron. "How do you feel?"

"Terrible... What happened?" He asked Melanie.

"I should be asking you the same question." She stated. "Your wife told me that she found you unconscious with a pale face."

"Wife?" He was confused.

"Your wife Akul, the wolfess." Melanie slowly explained for him.

"Oh! Akul." He nodded. "Sorry. I don't feel well." His gruff voice apologized.

"I know that you don't feel well." She smiled. The ermine reached out and held the human's hand. "I need you to tell me what happened to make sure that you get well quickly." The human took a moment to soft through the hazy darkness. An image of a forest; him and Akul walking on a dirt path; the mushroom...

"Oh." He scrunched his face uncomfortably as the pieces began falling into place. "I picked a mushroom... but I only took one bite." He remembered.

"Ah." She leaned back with a knowing look. "You ate the Devil's Halo."

"Devil what?"

"Eating that local mushroom can lead to nausea, dizziness, and vomiting. Eat too much and you could've died." She explained. A shiver went down the human's spine.

"D-Died?" His weak head spun at the word.

"You're very lucky to have such a caring wife." She told him. "She's at your side most of the day, and she slept on the floor beside you at earlier."

"I'm not married." He mumbled. The human closed his eyes and stopped talking.

"Aulus?" Akul grabbed the human's hand, but he didn't stir. His front continued rhythmically rising and falling underneath the cover.

"It's okay." A soft voice reminded her. The ermine place a gentle hand on the canine's shoulder. "His body is really tired. He's been through a lot." Melanie reassured the worrisome wolf.

"Yeah." She nodded and stood up. "He has." Her hand stroked the human's arm. Knowing that he was recovering made a world of difference to the she wolf.

"Come to the kitchen. You need to eat something." Melanie suggested. "There's no sense in you falling ill too." The wolf stubbornly remained by his side.

"What about Aulus?"

"He won't be eating today. His stomach won't hold anything yet and he needs to rest." The wolfess reluctantly left Aulus alone and followed the ermine into a little kitchen. A large kettle was cooking above a fire in the hearth. The crackling flames were a much livelier noise than the gentle thrum of rain outside. Melanie lifted the kettle's lid and smiled. Akul's nose twitched at the strong smell, and her mouth watered. "I'm glad that I made a big batch." She set the lid aside. "Have a seat if you'd like." She motioned to the idle table. Akul merely slid to the floor and relaxed. The ermine didn't say anything as she hummed a rustic tune and ladled a bowl of hot vegetable soup. "Here." She handed it down to the quietly sitting wolfess. Akul couldn't help herself and went for a lick, accidentally scalded her tongue.

"Ah! Tch."

"But be careful. It's hot." Melanie swiftly cut and gave her a thick slice of bread too. The wolf hungrily downed the soft solid and lapped up the hot soup. She was surprised at her own appetite.

"Mm." Akul licked her lips before letting out a much needed sigh. She hadn't eaten for the whole day, and the necessary act was very humbling after what they had been through. Finding Aulus unresponsive was bad enough. The wolfess remembered how panicked and frightened she had been while running through the forest barking for help. The image of a pale Aulus in her arms made the canine shudder.

"I cannot thank you enough for helping us." Akul felt the tension physically leave her body knowing that Aulus was in good hands.

"You're very welcome Akul." The brown and white ermine grinned. "I can't turn someone away in need of help." The she wolf simply nodded.

'He's alive.' Akul soundly thought.

"You keep eating, and I'll wash his clothes. I can smell them from here." Melanie grabbed the human's dirty garments hanging nearby and stuffed them into a ready bucket of water. Akul watched the ermine and continued eating.

"Are you a shaman?" The tribal wolf bluntly asked.

"What do you mean by shaman?" She took her overcoat off and rolled up her gown's sleeves to her elbows.

"Someone who knows medicine, illnesses, and can communicate with the spirits."

"I do know a lot about medicine, but I cannot speak to a spirit." The ermine held back a chuckle at the idea. "People who know medicine are normally called physicians."

"Oh. In my village they're called shamans."

"A village huh? I take it that your home is no ordinary village." The ermine presumed and started washing the human's clothes. Akul tilted her head at the odd scrubbing noise that Melanie made with the metal washboard.

"I'm from the large southern forests. We hunt and forage to live but don't use coins to trade, or wear clothing."

"That sounds very peaceful." Melanie nodded. "Does that mean you don't know how to wash clothes?"

"No one in my village knows how to." Akul grinned. "We think clothing is unnatural, and encourage others to be nude."

"That explains why you are only wearing your bare fur."

"I have the toughest time telling who is male or female in clothes, what species someone is, and anyone's age." Akul admitted. "I usually wait for them to speak to find out."

"If my gown wasn't tight fitting around my upper body then I guess you couldn't tell." She acknowledged. "Did many people visit your village from outside your forests?"

"No." She shook her head. "A fur trapper was rare, and only one or two ever visited the village."

"Then everywhere you have been with Aulus must have been a big adventure for you." Melanie continued washing the human's clothes.

"Yep." Akul licked her chops as she finished eating. "Thanks for the food."

"You're welcome." She grinned and set a shirt out to dry. Renewed noises from the other room caught Akul's sensitive ear.

"Aulus!" She jumped up and was kneeling at his bedside in an instant. The human weakly stirred and blinked for a moment before settling down. His half lidded eyes looked confused and helpless. It pained her to see him like this.

"Akul?" His voice was weak.

"I'm here." She whispered reassuringly. He didn't say anything for a moment and stared into her eyes.

"Akul... I don't feel well." He grumbled.

"You'll feel a little better tomorrow." She promised. He reached out to her, and the wolfess immediately held his hand. A tired yawn silently sneaked out. "Don't you worry. I'm laying down with you." Akul grinned and lifted the covers.

"I would be in a lot of trouble if you weren't sleeping with me." Aulus gave a quiet laugh as the tribal wolf crawled into bed with him. He invitingly lifted an arm for her. She scooted forward and embraced Aulus in a comforting hug. He pressed himself as close as he could, and settled in. The soft fur on his bare skin felt divinely warm and soft.

"How are you feeling?" She softly asked.

"I'm a little cold." He shivered from the brief exposure to the cooler air. In seconds a furry leg hooked over him and two hands were rubbing his backside. His head was tucked under her jaw and his face was buried in her downy white neck fur. Aulus stopped shivering in a few moments under the wolf's tender care.

"Better?" She asked.

"Yes." He sighed and relaxed into her little rubs, akin to a massage. 'What would I do without her?' He thought. The wolf supported him every step of the way even though he was a jerk to her so recently. She was his protector and friend for the whole journey. "Akul." His muffled voice was barely audible for the wolf.

"Hm?" She asked and continued rubbing.

"I'm sorry." The emotional words surprised her. She stopped and listened to him. "I never meant to push you away." His arms hugged her as strong as they could. Akul's ears pinned back and she gave him a tight squeeze.

"I thought I lost you Aulus... But I'll never give up on you." She softly replied. He stared into the white downy neck fur while the quiet moment passed. He felt a little warmth grow inside his chest. "Get some sleep. You need it." The she wolf patted his back and encouraged him to rest. He nodded and closed his eyes, surrounded by her protective embrace. Akul felt him fall asleep as his breathing relaxed. 'You're the one who is ill, but I feel much better when I'm with you.' The wolfess restrained herself from licking his face and waking him up.

Akul blinked through sleepy eyes and gave a prolonged yawn. The night had been long and restless for the she wolf. She had checked Aulus's breathing numerous times only to settle on a calm, constant rhythm. The wolf leaned her head back and peeked down seeing half of a face hidden in her tuft of white chest fur. The wolf brought a hand to his head and gently traced over his cheek with a thumb. His skin had returned to its normal color.

'He was a little loopy yesterday.' She half grinned. 'But honest.' She let her tail wag once to not wake him early. Akul rested her head on the pillow once more and started dozing off. She was just glad to have him in her arms. Her sharp ears failed to hear the soft padding approaching, but amber eyes snapped opened feeling someone poke her shoulder. She looked over and found Melanie standing at the bedside.

"Morning."

"Morning." They whispered. "Is he doing alright?" The ermine asked.

"He's doing alright." Akul whispered back. "Still asleep."

"Good. I have a thin soup cooking for him when he wakes up." She let Akul know before walking back into the kitchen. The wolf returned her attention back to Aulus. She sniffed his skin. A keen sense of smell always gave her awareness of her surrounding. Aulus's scent gave her comfort. Her ears perked up as Aulus started shifting beside her. The human took a deep breath and cleared his throat.

"Morning Aulus." Akul's warm voice softly greeted him. He snuggled back into the wolf's embrace, realizing that he was in her arms. A pair of brown eyes peeked open and looked up at Akul.

"Morning." He quietly greeted her and grinned. Akul's tail thumped on the bed. "I slept well."

"Good." She licked his forehead as if to wash his skin. Aulus enjoyed the little intimate gesture and curled his fingers through her lush fur.

"Bathroom." He felt the sudden urge and tried sitting up. Akul swiftly slipped out of bed and stood out of his way. Aulus managed with difficulty and pressed his feet to the cool floorboards. 'I can't...' He tensed his legs, but couldn't find the strength to balance or stand. He looked up feeling a hand rest on his shoulder.

"Need some help?" Stood up by his side.

"Can you carry me?" In seconds Akul hooked her arms behind his back and under his legs. Aulus was easily lifted and brought outside. His eyes had to adjust to the brighter surroundings. He could tell they were in a part of a forest, or at least a patch of woods. Plenty of trees surrounded them, but plenty sunlight reached the ground. Moss and short grass grew in abundance at their feet. The sounds of birds chirping, and ravens cawing were sharp in his ears compared to the quiet inside. Akul knelt down and carefully placed the sick human on a stump. Aulus held the she wolf's legs for balance and stared at the ground. Despite having a full bladder, he found it a little unnerving to be with Akul like this. The wolfess looked away to give him some sort of privacy. It took him a moment to relax.

"Do you want me to walk over there?"

"It's fine." He relaxed and relieved himself. 'It's more awkward if she isn't with me than if she watches me.' He thought to himself. Akul patiently waited until he was finished.

"You gave the ground a downpour." She made Aulus grin.

"You think of the strangest things to say." He lifted his legs as she scooped him up in her strong arms with ease. The wolfess merely grinned and walked him back to the door. "Where exactly are we at, Akul?" Aulus asked.

"I'm not sure." She admitted and went inside.

'That's not good.' Aulus thought to himself, but his health was more important at the moment.

"There." Akul placed him so that he was sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Ready for something to eat?" Melanie walked in. Aulus quickly grabbed the bed sheet and covered his naked lap.

"Just a minute!"

"Oh! Sorry!" She backed into the doorway.

"She's brining your food." Akul explained.

"Oh." He felt stupid for overreacting. "I am hungry."

"If I could nurse you, then I would." Akul sat down beside him.

"Wolves don't nurse adults." Aulus frowned.

"I would if it meant helping you." She hugged his side with an arm. The wolf's odd compliments always meant a lot to him, no matter how strange they were.

"Is it alright for me to come in?" Melanie stood by the doorway and asked.

"Yeah. It's alright." Aulus didn't see any point trying to dress himself for fifteen minutes when Akul would disrobe him in fifteen seconds. Melanie appeared around the doorway and approached with a steaming bowl in her hands. "Sorry for the fuss."

"It's fine. I have seen plenty of naked males before."

"You've been to a village?!" Akul excitedly wagged her tail.

"Er... No." She admitted. "But I once worked as a nurse in a field hospital when I was sixteen." The ermine pulled out a small tray for Aulus to eat on.

"Something tells me there's a story behind that."

"There was a short, but tough war in the northeast where I grew up. I was called in to help with those injured, and I had a knack for it." She shrugged. "Don't worry about me. You need to eat." She motioned to the steaming bowl.

"Thank you." He gratefully sipped the bland vegetable broth. Melanie placed her hand to his forehead.

"Your fever is gone." She grinned. The spoon in the human's hand noisily clanked against the bowl.

"Mm. It feels good to eat again." He hungrily ate. Akul smiled and rubbed his back while the human cleaned his bowl with ease.

"It's good to see that you have a healthy appetite Aulus." Melanie pointed out. He wiped his mouth and sighed with satisfaction, but something struck him as odd.

"Aren't you disturbed that Akul is naked, Melanie?"

"Disturbed?" The ermine chuckled. "I told you that I was a nurse, remember?"

"I think you did." He couldn't exactly remember.

"Seeing someone naked is far better than the other things I've seen before."

"Ah." He nodded, but wanted to avoid bringing up a painful memory. "So what do you do now?"

"I go to the towns of Livorno and Paetro during the fall and winter to work as a nurse. I stay here at home for the most part during the spring and summer."

"It's a beautiful place to stay." Akul chimed in. "It reminds me of my home."

"I love the scenery around here. The peace and quiet isn't something that you can have in a busy town... Your clothes should be done drying outside, Aulus." Melanie turned around and retrieved an empty basket. "They've been hanging since day break." The wolfess turned to Aulus.

"Let's see if you can walk today." She suggested.

"Walk? You had to carry me outside a while ago."

"You're feeling better after you ate, right?"

"Yeah." The human was sitting up, and he wasn't able to do that earlier.

"Take it easy. Let him rest as much as he needs." Melanie told them. "Your body will heal on its own Aulus. There's no need to push yourself."

"Don't worry. I won't let him over exert himself." Akul promised. The ermine nodded and left to retrieve the human's clothes drying on a line outside. The wolfess moved the little table and empty bowl aside. "Just stand up slowly." Akul encouragingly spoke and crouched on the floor beside him. Aulus placed a hand on her shoulder and started to stand. His muscles were stiff and achy as he straightened his posture. A wave of dizziness suddenly overcame the human. His knees threatened to buckle and he wobbled.

"Don't let go!" Aulus held onto her shoulder and planted his feet on the ground.

"I won't. I have my arm around your back." She reassured him. The dizziness cleared and he took a cautious step forward with Akul. "That's it. One step at a time." Each step became easier for the human and balance returned to his body. A board wood occasionally creak or whine when they stepped on it.

"This isn't difficult-" Aulus froze in front of the door as Melanie came back inside. The ermine was carrying a basket with his folded clothes inside.

"Your pants are still drying outside, but the sun will dry them out by the afternoon."

"Oh. Thanks." He tried subtly covering his nakedness, but the ermine's gaze didn't linger as she went into the kitchen. Aulus released a contentious sigh and walked a few more steps with Akul. "Sheesh..." He felt nervous hearing Melanie walking in the next room.

"Are you alright?" Akul noticed his off demeanor.

"No."

"Why not?"

"I'm naked in someone's house Akul!" His anger popped. The wolfess simply smiled at the annoyed human. The tip of her tongue stuck out cutely and erased his anger. "It's not funny." He tried frowning at her, but wasn't able to hold it.

"You're feeling better." She happily sang. Aulus couldn't stay angry at the tribal female and held her hand as he continued walking around the room.

"Ok. I think I'll get dizzy if we keep going around this room in circles." Aulus sighed as he sat back down.

"You did pretty well." Akul sat down beside him.

"It was a little weird at first, but then again I never expected to get this sick." He rolled his shoulders and relaxed. 'I really can't thank Akul enough.' He stared at his legs and the floorboards. The fact that he could've died alone in the woods from his own stupid mistakes made a chill run down his spine. Akul noticed the human's little shudder.

"Let's go outside." The wolf spontaneously suggested. "Your skin could use some sunshine." She ran a hand up his side.

"Are you calling me a pale ghost?"

"Maybe." She leaned closer and stole a lick from behind his ear. The human playfully pushed her away. "Come on!" She jumped to her paws and took a few steps away from the bed. "Stand up and walk to me again."

"You're always eager." He leaned forward on the edge of the bed.

"I'm not in a hurry." The wolf stuck the tip of her tongue out at him. "You don't need to rush."

"I won't." He didn't see any need to rush when the lovely nude she wolf was facing him. 'Ok.' Aulus stood up and took well measured steps forward. His last step lingered. He reached out and held Akul with the last half step. Aulus took a sigh of relief and leaned on the tall wolfess for support.

"There." She held a strong arm around his side. "You're not dizzy anymore, are you?"

"No, just weak." He managed to straighten his posture.

"You already ate."

"I haven't eaten anything else in more than a day."

"True." Akul nodded and walked him to the door.

"Where are you two going?" Melanie called from the kitchen.

"Outside to sunbathe." Akul opened the door and stepped outside with Aulus. Speckled sunshine greeted them through the tall trees surrounding one side of the house. Even the shade outside was brighter than inside the ermine's house. "No more rain." Akul smelled the air.

"Are you sure that no one else is around here?" Aulus peeked around the sparsely wooded front yard. Everything was a bright fresh green from yesterday's rain, but there were no signs of any neighbors.

"Yes." She reassured the nervous human. "Do you want me to cover you with my tail?" The wolf flagged her fluffy appendage over his exposed groin.

"No." He frowned at the silly idea and brushed her tail aside.

"You should enjoy being naked in the woods." She patted his side.

"I don't want to tire out arguing with you. Where are we going to sunbathe?" He asked. The she wolf looked around.

"The sun is shining right through here." Akul led him to a lush area free of shade to the side of the house. She held his arms for extra balance as he sat down and made himself comfortable. The clover and blades of grass briefly caressed and prickled at his naked skin. Akul sat down behind him and wrapped her arms around his front. The she wolf's digitigrade legs hugged his sides, and her jaw nimbly rested on top of his head while he snuggled against her front. Sunshine warmed the human's skin and the wolf's fur.

'I'm in the buff...' He looked down where his privates were nestled in the clover below. Aulus felt compelled to cover himself even though they were in a secluded section of forest.

"Everything feel good... uh, better than yesterday?" She asked. He glanced at the strong furry arms holding him protectively and snuggled into her embrace from behind.

"Yeah. Thanks for saving me after... all that." He reflected on the horrible ways he acted after making a fortune. Akul softly grinned feeling him hold her arms close.

"I told you that I would never give up on you." She leaned back to lick him. Aulus sat still and let the tribal she wolf lick his neck and face with small strokes.

"Why do you lick me?" He squinted an eye feeling the broad, warm appendage brush close.

"Do you want me to stop?" She tilted her head. Aulus shifted in his grassy seat and hesitated.

"Well... Not if you don't want to." He quietly answered.

"Good." She resumed along his cheek. "It's a... sign of... affection." The wolf explained between licks.

"Affection-?" Aulus sealed his lips feeling a tongue catch the edge of his mouth. A fuzzy sensation subtly buzzed inside him. Akul dried his skin with her arm. She contently smiled and placed her head atop his again. It was a great day to be outside. Yesterday's rain was a distant memory in the clear sky. A bumblebee or two could be spotted or heard buzzing in the warm air in search of flowers for nectar.

"It's nice and quiet here." The she wolf whispered. A little bird seldom tweeted, crickets softly chirped, but the occasionally breeze was the only noise to hear in their temporary garden of Eden. Akul loved all of the natural sounds. It was all equally relaxing for the normally oblivious Aulus.

'I'm sitting in the grass naked.' He took in the moment and wondered what it would be like to live in Akul's village for a while. Not worrying about the future or anything beyond the endless trees was a peaceful lifestyle. Best of all he'd be with Akul, but something nagged at him. 'What about the gold?' There would be no need for it in the great southern forests, and he could not simply throw it away after everything that they had been through. His mind buried the distant conflict and focused on the present.

"Is this what shamans do?" He asked Akul.

"Just about." She nodded. "A shaman will sit in a secluded space in the forest and simply observe nature, or meditate for a period of time."

"Don't they do other things?"

"Of course." The wolfess quickly pointed out. "They have to know every plant that makes medicine, every treatment for illness or injury, all of the village's spiritual chants, participate during every full moon..." Akul pointed out many roles that the central tribal figure played. The concepts sounded so mystical and intriguing to the urban human. "But connecting with nature is what they do most frequently."

"Connecting with nature?" Aulus didn't understand.

"What we are doing right now." She took a deep breath and blew out a content sigh.

"Oh." He blinked and stared into the trees, trying to take it all in like his canine counterpart. "It feels nice." He admitted and took a deep breath of fresh air. It wasn't musty or stuffy like inside a building or the crowded city streets of Ambrosia. 'Nothing to worry or stress about either.' He could see why the wolfess and her fellow villagers enjoyed living in the forest so much. Although the nudity requirement to be close with nature was still a little odd for the human.

"Mmhm." Akul hummed in agreement before yawning. Her legs suddenly stretched out in the grass around him and the warm sensation of fur left his back.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"Laying down. Let me take a nap." Akul laid down in the clover and grass behind him. "I was up all night worrying about you."

"Sorry about that-" He started to apologize, but a knee nudged his side to not worry about it. 'She acts so peculiar.' Aulus thought to himself. He looked around the scenic space beside the ermine's house. The sunlight and shade were fairly mixed. A small row of radishes and onions grew along a sunny section of the house's brick wall. He could see the edge of a clothesline around the front where a little jay used it as a temporary perch. Towards the back of her home the trees were denser, whereas beyond the front was fairly open with young saplings. It truly was a peaceful abode in the trees. He could feel every hair move from a passing breeze. Behind him the female wolf's entire body was in the sunlight, giving her fur a glowing warmth. The slow rise and fall of her stomach was peaceful to watch. Her fur moved like a field of grass when the wind blew. Above the subtle swells of the wolf's breasts, the corners of her thin lips were curled into a sweet soft smile.

The wolf was a part of nature like the greenery surrounding them. Her spread legs left her womanhood open to see in the thicket of fluffy downy fur. She was so naive towards modesty, but then again the wolf's tribal upbringing taught openness in replace of modesty. Aulus placed a hand on her sun warmed leg and felt happy. They were much closer after their trials and challenges. He could feel the unmistakable warm buzz in his chest the longer he stared at her. She was uniquely beautiful, and it wasn't just because the canine was naked around him every day. Akul was adventurous just like him, willing to go far and explore, but for different reasons. The human went to Ambrosia for business, but Akul made it her business to travel with him to the wealthy city.

'I love her.' Aulus privately acknowledged his own feelings. A powerful yawn suddenly overtook the human causing his eyes to water. He wiped them clear only for a leg to nudge him back.

"Take a nap with me." Akul peeked up at him with an open eye. A little grin on her muzzle expected a yes. Aulus obliged and laid down on his side between her legs. His head rested on the wolf's lower tummy. He wrapped his body around her furry leg, hugging it close. The door nearby quietly opened and shut as Melanie came outside looking for Aulus and Akul. She stopped after a few short steps in the grass where she found the two entwined together. The sun kissed naked pair were soundly asleep in the grass and clover. A young bluejay pecked at the ground nearby. Melanie took a moment to observe them fondly.

'They're so sweet together.' The ermine smiled and left them to peacefully nap in the sun.

Melanie clasped her hands together happily. Aulus was sitting on the ermine's guest bed with Akul standing nearby.

"You have a clean bill of health from me." The ermine gave a satisfied nod. Akul barked happily with a beaming smile at the news. Aulus' recovery took four days and both ladies helped get him back to his healthy self.

"Now you don't have to see my manhood anymore Melanie." Aulus happily dressed himself.

"I am a nurse, not an onlooker." She teasingly reminded the human and handed his shirt over.

"It feels funny wearing clothes again." Aulus admitted.

"You've been without them for too long, but they're fresh and clean now."

"Now where are my things?"

"I have the bags." Akul showed her back and held up her small leather bag.

"Remember to use the basil I gave you if you have an upset stomach."

"I'll be sure to remind him." Akul nodded. "It will definitely smell better while we walk." Everyone laughed.

"That's everything then... I guess it's time for us to go Akul." All three went outside. It was sunny and the flora was a striking green. The air was fresh and the opportunities ahead were even greater.

"What direction are we taking?" Akul asked him.

"We can go south along the river. Where's the river from here Melanie?"

"An hour or two's walk that way." The ermine pointed in the direction. "You can follow this path down a while. It will turn right and lead you straight to a small wharf."

"Alright..." Aulus looked down the path with determination. A large canine hand grasped his own. He looked up at Akul smiling back at him. Melanie smiled at the pair.

"I'm going to miss seeing you two snuggled up together."

"We'll miss you too. Thank you for taking care of me, the hospitality, and especially the food." Aulus shook her hand.

"You're very welcome. I'm always happy to help." Akul hugged Melanie heartily next.

"Thank you so much for saving Aulus!" The wolf's tail wagged happily.

"You're welcome Akul." The ermine winced under the strong embrace. Man and wolf returned to the wooded trail once again. "Safe travels back home!" She waved.

"Thank you!" They waved back and walked through the patchy woods with Solstershire and the great southern forests in their sights.