Story Notes:
This is basically your standard "Bad guy try to take over land. Here sword. Go kill" thing.In other words this was an idea I came up with out of boredom as I wait for college to start. I'm planning a sequel to this story (STORY, not chapter. I actually plan on finishing this story. Shocking, huh?) but those of you who have been following my writing for the past however long it's been know that's probably not going to happen since I'm a lazy shit like that.But enjoy anyway.
Chapter 1
For legal purposes, I don't own these characters, they're owned by Nintendo, these characters are fictitious and not meant to represent real people or events, blah blah blah. Less talk, more yiff.
===
The sun rose over the mountaintops, as it always had every morning.
It seemed like a stupid thought, but with the way the world was in right now, the female Glaceon wasn't sure how much longer she would be able to see the sun. She stood out over a cliff face, a sturdy breeze sending a slight shiver down her spine. With a sigh, she packed her gear and tent, dousing the fire with a quick breath of ice.
She gazed once more over the landscape, admiring the sunbeams as they split along the mountain peaks. She pulled her cloak tighter over her light metal armor as another breeze whistled by, ruffling her blue mane slightly. She looked back at her Arcanine with a sigh. She was an Arc Rider, an established inter-providential police force that enforced the laws throughout the Mainland. Recently they had been regarded as corrupt and untrustworthy since a few power-hungry leaders had ascended to the Council.
Her Arcanine looked up and yawned. It arched his back and stretched, its claws scraping on the rock. She tossed her equipment over the saddle on the Arcanine's back. She rubbed its head after tying her bags down. "And how are you today, Stradius?" she asked with a smile.
"I'm fine, Lyria, thank you for asking," he replied with a murr.
Lyria jumped onto Stradius' back. "Well, let's get moving. We have to meet Alaric at the summit in a few hours."
Stradius growled a bit. "You know how hard it was getting up here. Let's hope the trail hasn't frozen overnight."
She leaned forward, resting her torso on top of Stradius' head. "Oh don't be such a sourpuss. You're just mad because you got snubbed by Reila last night."
"I'm not the only one who got snubbed," he replied, a chill to his voice as he followed the path.
Lyria ducked under a pine branch that snapped back and almost hit her in the face. "You know I didn't do that because I wanted to," she replied, trying hard to keep her voice from cracking.
Stradius didn't reply and Lyria didn't push the issue further. Instead, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath through her nose, inhaling the scent of the mountain. The smell of pine trees and the fresh mountain air blended together to create an intoxicating aroma that made her shudder. She loved the mountains and wanted nothing more than to return to them forever.
Sadly though, she doubted that she would have the opportunity. She was already seeing one of the Council members, a rather slimy man who would gladly stoop to stealing from children for his own gain. She didn't love him in the slightest, but she had agreed to an arranged marriage for her family's sake. They had run into trouble after bandits had attacked their farm in the 4th Providence, leaving nothing but burned crops and one lame Ponyta.
She desperately wanted to leave her arranged marriage with the wretched man, but knew that he would mark her as a traitor and have her executed. She knew Alaric loved her and she loved him as well. The torment she experienced every time she saw him was indescribable; she loved him more than anything and yet she couldn't have him.
She wiped away a solitary tear that had slid down her cheek. She took another deep breath to gather herself and shook the thoughts out of her head. She had made her decision, and like it or not, she must live with it.
"Something on your mind?" Stradius asked as they came to a stop near a creek.
Lyria climbed down and filled her canteen in the creek. "Just the usual thoughts that keep plaguing me."
Stradius lowered his head to the water and lapped at it for several minutes to quench his thirst before replying. "You know that you can still back out of the deal, right?"
She rolled her eyes. "And be accused of treason and hanged? I don't think so."
He nudged her hand with his nose. "You're clearly miserable. Run away and hide."
She put her canteen back in her bag. "And spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder and hiding my face? That's not living."
"You're just stressing yourself out," he said with a growl. "And you're trying to defend your situation instead of doing the logical thing and trying to find a way out of it."
Her hands balled into fists. "I'm sorry if I don't want to end up having to hide for the rest of my life or ending up hanging from the gallows!"
"You're stubborn and your judgment is clouded by your own misery and self pity!"
She started to draw her sword when someone crashed through the bushes. "Hey! Don't be killing each other!"
Lyria whirled around, seeing Alaric running up to them. His Arcanine, Reila, followed after him. His hand was on his sword, ready to prevent any bloodshed between the two of them. Lyria saw the alarmed Umbreon charge through the brush and her eyes instantly filled with hot tears.
Without saying a word, she leapt over the creek and dashed off into the trees, both angry and ashamed for having lost her temper. She continued to run, weeping the entire way. Tree branches and bushes scraped at her face, arms, and legs as she ran. She finally came to a stop in the middle of the trees and sat down on a log. She sniffed and wiped her eyes with her tail, Stradius' words still echoing in her head.
Was she really this stupid? She could easily back out of the deal and hide or escape to the Islands. But if that answer was so easy to attain, why was it so hard for her to do it? All she had to do was sneak out one night and travel by herself to the port town in the 8th Providence.
She gritted her teeth. It was so easy, but she couldn't do it. She didn't know why she couldn't simply run away. Why was it so difficult?
Her lowered ears perked when they picked up the sound of someone walking between two trees. She turned and saw Alaric, who had somehow managed to track her all the way from the creek. She wiped her eyes again, turning her back to him to hide her shame and anger. Alaric sat down next to her, not saying a word for fear of upsetting her more. He looked around the forest, giving her the choice to speak when she wanted. The sky had clouded over, threatening them with rain. One thing he had to admit about the mountains, the weather almost seemed to match the moods of those who traveled through them.
The forest was quiet and slightly chilly, with the occasional call of a whippoorwill echoing through the trees. The pine trees whispered with every breeze, a few needles showering down on them like light snow. The sun had hidden behind the overcast sky, giving the scene a downcast and gloomy feel. He shivered slightly and wished he'd brought his cloak.
Lyria sniffed again. "You know...I didn't push you away because I don't want to be with you..." she whispered.
Alaric nodded; he'd figured that out when she walked away weeping. "I know; it's because of that Councilman you're engaged to."
"Don't remind me," she said, her voice cracking. She silently cursed herself for starting to cry again. She dug a claw into the palm of her hand to stem the tears.
"If you want me to leave you alone, I will," he said with a note of melancholy to his voice. His ears lowered slightly. "I hate seeing you in pain all of the time."
She sighed and stood up. "I'll be in pain regardless of whether or not you leave me alone."
Alaric got up as well and hugged her, their armor meeting with a dull clank. Lyria hesitated for a moment before hugging him back, resting her head on his shoulder. She could feel his warmth through his long-sleeved tunic and armor. She could feel his love for her pouring from the simple embrace; she only wished that she could return it.
"I think I'd be worse off if you did leave me alone, Alaric."
He lowered his head and licked her cheek, tasting salt. "I couldn't leave you like this if I tried."
She buried her face into the side of his neck, suddenly aware that she was crying again.
===
By the time Alaric and Lyria had reached the summit of the northern mountains, a light cold drizzle had begun to fall from the sky. The wind had picked up, buffeting the two young soldiers with a chilling wall that froze them to their cores. To make matters worse, the road from the mountain range to Madrenstadt, the capitol of the 1st Providence, was almost completely flat, broken only by a sparse copse of trees.
Alaric looked over the flat landscape and pulled his cloak tighter around himself with a sigh. It was at least two days' journey back to Madrenstadt, and this weather looked as if it were going to be staying for a while. He waited with Reila for Stradius and Lyria to return from scouting ahead. On the way to the mountains, Alaric had heard about the bridge over Oorton Gorge being on the verge of collapsing.
A strong gust of wind made Alaric shiver hard and move closer to Reila's warm flank. "Gods above, it's freezing," he said through his chattering teeth. "The weather was so nice yesterday. What happened?" He regretted not bringing a heavier cloak.
"I'd try to start a fire but with this wind, it'd go out in an instant," Reila replied. "Hopefully Stradius and Lyria will return soon so we can get moving."
As if on cue, Stradius returned with Lyria on his back. She jumped down, trying to warm her hands. "Well Alaric, those rumors you heard were right. The Oorton Bridge is almost out. I mean Hell, it wouldn't even support either of us on foot, much less us plus the weight of Stradius and Reila."
Alaric cursed. This was exactly the sort of thing he had wanted to avoid. "Well great. We're going to have to go around, which is going to add another three days." He sighed with disappointment. "I was hoping I'd be home soon."
Nevertheless, he climbed onto Reila's back and pulled out his map as they went west to the 2nd Providence where the Oorton Gorge ended. He traced their path; it would take them at least two days to travel the length of the Gorge that began in the heart of the easternmost 8th Providence, passed through the northern regions of the 1st, and then ended slightly past the border of the 2nd.
After the two-day trip to the edge, it would take another two to three days to get from there to Madrenstadt, which was in the dead center of the 1st Providence. He folded the map and put it back into his bag. He was grateful that they'd found the bridge was out before they'd attempted to cross. He at least hoped that the weather would clear up before too long.
Lyria, however, was grateful for the extension. She didn't want to have to return to the horrid Councilman so soon. Besides, he was probably off visiting the brothel houses and wouldn't notice her return until she put out for him, which wouldn't happen unless there was a ring on her finger. ...no matter how much she dreaded that day.
She looked up to the sky and felt the drizzle on her face. She smiled, loving the chilly wind and rain. Her turquoise eyes gazed up at the gray clouds, wishing for snow. Autumn was on its way and she longed to be out in the snow before she was inevitably locked up as a wife.
She lowered her head and looked off into the distance. She saw a small village ahead; possibly a mining town set into the cliff face. She looked to Alaric, who also seemed to be studying the town. "Should we stop here? We can pick up again tomorrow morning."
He nodded, clenching his jaw to keep his teeth from chattering. "Yeah, hopefully they'll take us in. I don't have a whole lot of money on me."
She shrugged. "Neither do I."
Stradius and Reila broke into a run for the town, Alaric and Lyria having to lean forward to keep from being blown off. The rain, formerly a drizzle, began to pick up, hammering the two riders. Alaric closed his eyes against the gale-force rain that stung his face. Lyria was able to keep her eyes open, not bothered at all by the freezing rain.
They reached the town, Alaric putting his hood up. Lyria left hers down, the rain starting to soak her soft blue mane. Alaric turned to her. "How much do you have? I'll go look for an empty room while you find somewhere to keep Stradius and Reila."
She nodded with a smile as she untied her coin purse from her belt and tossed it to him. "You just want to get out of the cold," she said, sticking her tongue out playfully.
"What can I say? I'm drenched and cold." He caught her purse and stuck it in his pocket. "I honestly don't know how you can stand it."
With a shrug, she twirled around, her cloak fanning out behind her. "I feel at home in the cold."
Reila cleared her throat. "I don't mean to be rude, but could you lovebirds stop the chatter? We'd like to get out the rain as much as you two."
Lyria led the two Arcanine down the muddy street, Alaric watching her go. He knew full well that he was her only source of comfort and companionship, yet he couldn't help but feel a deep sadness. He knew she was dreading the day she married the Councilman. He'd overheard her saying several times that she was planning on committing suicide before they could consummate their marriage.
He went inside the Inn, lowering his hood as he passed through the doorway. A warm and welcoming fire crackled in the fireplace on the far wall. The scent of baking bread and cooking meat wafted from the kitchen in the back, making his stomach growl. A few patrons glanced over in his direction as he entered, but went back to their conversation after determining that he wasn't anything of interest.
He walked up to the front desk and the hotel keeper glanced at Alaric's armor with a disdainful eye. "I suppose you'll be wantin' a free room, then?"
The comment threw Alaric for a moment; he'd never been spoken to that way. "No, no. I'll pay for one."
He put down twelve of their combined forty coins and the keeper handed him a key. "Just don't be causin' no trouble here. Arc Rider 'r not, I'll throw ya out on yer hindquarters faster 'en you can spit." As if to emphasize his point, the keeper fired a great gob of mucus and saliva into a spittoon clear on the other end of the room. It hit its mark with a ping.
Alaric watched it go with a hint of disgust. The habit of hawking like that had always struck him as barbaric and sickening. "I'll keep that in mind." He walked away half expecting the keeper to spit another wad in his direction, but he left through the front door gratefully spit-free.
He pocketed the key and headed off to find Lyria. As he went down the street, he noticed that several of the townspeople gave him the same reproachful look as the innkeeper had. He started to feel a little uncomfortable; he knew the Arc Riders were starting to become unpopular and mistrusted throughout the Mainland, but he had no idea it was this bad.
He turned down an alleyway, picking up the stench of a Ponyta stable. As he rounded the corner, a filthy beggar woman held a small child that hurled a rock at Alaric's back. "Dirty filth!" the child shouted, the rock bouncing off of Alaric's armor with a muffled clang. "You leave us alone!"
The woman snatched the child up as Alaric turned around. She stared up at him fearfully as the child struggled and fought in an attempt to free himself. "Please don't punish him, sir. He is but a child and he doesn't mean any harm by his actions."
"Lemme go!" the child managed to wrench his ragged tunic from the woman's grasp and beat at Alaric's legs with a stick which bounced off of his boots with dull thuds.
Finally having enough, Alaric grabbed the stick from the child's hands and knelt down. "Child, I'll tell you this once. I will not punish you, but the next Rider you treat this way might not be so kind and understanding. I know you probably don't trust us, but acting like this is a good way to get yourself and your mother here in a lot of trouble."
He handed the child the stick. "Now I have to ask you not to do that again. Do you understand?"
The child looked into Alaric's red eyes with an emotion so complicated that he himself could not determine what it was. Alaric saw misery and pain in the child's eyes as well as a strong will to fight. "I can tell you're very brave, child. You'd make an excellent soldier."
The child looked up at him with a small amount of admiration. "A soldier? Really?"
Alaric nodded with a smile. "But part of being a good soldier is knowing when to fight and when to hold back. Attacking a Rider is a very foolish thing to do, especially during these times. I realize that you fight to protect your mother, but what would she have done if I had decided to beat you?"
He looked down. "...I dunno, really."
"So don't be attacking Riders. They might not be so nice next time."
The child nodded, and Alaric stood up and headed off, hoping to the Gods that the child didn't attack another Rider. He had seen plenty of people die since he received his mount. He could witness a slaughter of a village of men and not be affected by it. But the one thing he could not stand was seeing a child or woman killed.
He found the stable, his nose assaulted by the stench of manure and old hay. Lyria sat on a narrow bench just outside the building, staring up at the sky with a wistful look on her face. Alaric couldn't help but notice how striking her shiny turquoise eyes were. They expressed every emotion that she felt, and they were always changing. Her eyes shimmered in the fading light of the chilly dusk as the street lamps were lit.
"Are you alright?" Alaric asked, sitting down next to her.
She looked over at him as if coming out of a trance. "Hm? Oh yes, I'm alright." She giggled. "Just thinking to myself."
Alaric put his hood back up, his breath flowing from his mouth in a wispy cloud. "Thinking? About what?" It was a stupid question; he already knew what she would be thinking about.
"Just how life is going to be later," she replied with a sigh.
"Oh? And how's that going to be?" he asked more out of curiosity for what she thought would happen to him. He stood to leave and she got up as well.
"I'll end up locked away in a tower, only seeing my husband when he desires another son. He'll spend most of his time either away or with the city call girls as he always does."
They turned a corner onto the main road. "And then what?"
She thought for a moment. "You know, I haven't been able to come up with anything for you past you being promoted to Grand Captain of the Arc Riders."
He laughed. "That's too huge of a step for me, don't you think? You know how I can't stand the politics of the higher council."
She smiled at him. "I think you'd make a great Grand Captain. You're smart, you're friendly but you get the job done. A lot of people respect you, Alaric."
He snorted as they entered the Inn and headed upstairs. Alaric ignored the glare he received from the innkeeper. "Well the moment you know of anybody who respects me, you let me know." He unlocked the door to their room and Lyria darted in front of him.
"I respect you, Alaric. More than you know," she looked into his eyes with a heated defiance. If there were any lies, they were well hidden.
Alaric closed the door, not wishing to discuss the matter any further. He knelt down in front of the fireplace and tried to get a fire going. He growled in frustration as his last match went out without so much as a flame on the tinder. He removed his armor and threw his cloak back on, rubbing his arms to try and keep warm. Why did it have to be so cold all of a sudden?
Lyria had removed her armor and cloak as well. She slid her boots off and tossed them with the rest of her equipment. "...I don't want to do this, Alaric."
He sat down next to her on one of the beds. "Do what?"
"I don't want to marry him," she said. Her hands clenched and a tear rolled down her face, dripping from her nose. Alaric wiped another tear away and she looked over at him.
He took one of her hands in his own, surprised at how warm it was. She glanced down briefly but didn't object. "So don't do it. Just sneak out one night and head to the Eastern Islands."
She tried to laugh but it came out sounding choked and forced. "You sound like Stradius."
"I can't stand seeing you this upset, Lyria," he said. He closed both of her hands in his. "You have to do something."
"I want to, very bad. But I can't. I just can't." She pulled her hand out of both of his and turned away from him.
Alaric sighed and placed a hand on her shoulder. She turned her head and looked at him. "You know I'd be willing to help you get away if you really wanted to."
She turned back towards him. "Do you mean that?" He could tell she was guarding against what she really wanted.
Regardless, he nodded. "If it meant your freedom I'd go to the gallows in your place."
She smiled softly and wrapped her arms around his neck. Acting on instinct rather than reason, she pulled him towards herself and kissed him. Suddenly realizing what she was doing, she broke the kiss but didn't let him go. She felt electrified; alive. What was going on?
They stared into each other's eyes for a moment longer before they kissed again, this time Alaric embracing Lyria also. She pulled him closer, holding him tightly as her tongue bumped against his mouth. After a second, Alaric's tongue met her own. Lyria felt her face starting to go hot as they kissed, exploring each other's mouths.
Alaric paused to remove his cloak before kissing her. He pulled her closer to him, and felt her hardened nipples rubbing against his chest through their tunics. He slid a hand up her side, and she turned her body slightly, her breast moving into his hand. She moaned softly as he caressed and squeezed the soft mound, his thumb tracing around her nipple.
Lyria slid Alaric's tunic off before he did the same to her. He rubbed her nipple again, pinching it softly. She let out a quiet squeak of pleasure, nuzzling his neck. He laid her down on the bed, leaving her breasts alone for an instant as he started to slide her pants off. She helped him the best she could, wriggling out of them. She lay before him, completely naked. With any other male she would have hidden under the sheets, too shy to move.
But with Alaric, she didn't care at all. He smiled at her. "You're so beautiful, Lyria." He knelt down on the bed, gently spreading her legs while removing his own pants tossing them away to some corner of the room.
He leaned over her and kissed her briefly before moving down her neck to her shoulders. Lyria ran her hands through his black mane and ears as his kisses descended to her breasts then to her belly. He stopped midway down her stomach for an instant before resuming, the intoxicating aroma of her moist pussy driving him insane. He ran his tongue around the quivering lips, loving the taste. He felt her shudder in pleasure and his cock starting to harden.
He gave the outside of her cunt a hard lick, causing Lyria to arch her back and moan again. She reached up and massaged her breasts while he worked at her. Noticing his stiffening member, she stroked it with her tail, getting it harder much quicker. He slid his tongue into her, pulling her hips closer to his face as he did so. She cried out, wrapping her tail around his cock.
Alaric felt Lyria's tail wrap around his length and loved the feeling of her soft fur on its sensitive skin. He stuck his tongue as far into her as he could go, trying to get as much of her juices as he could. Lyria continued to rub her breasts, while tugging on Alaric's cock with her tail. Alaric slid his tongue out of her and slid up, sitting next to her. He kissed her, stroking her cunt with his left hand while teasing her breast with his right.
Lyria found Alaric's cock and rubbed it with her hand as they kissed. She moved her hips into his hand as he stroked her, starting to feel her stomach tighten. She started to breathe harder and quicker. Alaric knew what this meant, so he rubbed her clit with one finger while stroking her pussy with another. She moaned a few more times before she came, her juices soaking his hand.
She broke the kiss, panting and dizzy. She laid down on her back, gazing up at him. "This is wrong..." she whispered, but her heart told her she was lying. This wasn't wrong.
"We can stop now if you want," Alaric said, licking her ear.
She pulled him down on top of her. "No, Alaric. I don't want to stop this." She kissed him and nuzzled his neck. "Please...take me."
She spread her legs again and held Alaric close as he slowly pushed into her. He punched through her hymen and she cried out, tears of pain springing to her eyes. She dug her claws into his back, holding him tighter.
When Alaric was fully inside her, he held for a moment, enjoying the tight warmth of her cunt. He carefully pulled back and pushed in, thrusting into her gently, trying not to hurt her too much. She kissed him again, pulling him as close to her as she could, wrapping her legs around his midsection.
He wrapped his arms around her back, supporting her head with his hand as he went, kissing her the entire time. She ran her claws through his fur, pushing her hips against his. With each thrust she could feel his cock pressing against her womb, sending a wave of pleasure through her body each time. She felt passion start to take over the both of them, and soon she felt as if she were merely watching, not actually involved in their lovemaking.
She broke the kiss and looked into his eyes for a moment. In that one instant she received multiple messages that came from the depths of Alaric's soul. In his eyes she could see his love and passion for her as clearly as she could see his desire to please her. She licked his neck and cheek as he kissed her neck and shoulders.
Alaric could feel his knot starting to grow with a slight feeling of disappointment. Lyria felt it too and continued kissing his neck. She locked her legs firmly around his middle, making it clear to him that she wanted it all. She held him tighter as his knot popped into her body, holding him in place.
Hearing Alaric nearing the edge, she stopped kissing his neck. "Make me yours, Alaric," she whispered.
He suddenly pressed her hips against the bed as she felt waves of his hot seed pour into her womb. She held him tight as he trembled, unleashing every ounce of cum that he had deep inside of her.
When he had finally finished after what seemed like minutes, Alaric rolled off of her and laid next to her, gazing into her eyes. He pulled her against him and kissed her. "I love you, Lyria."
She kissed him back, still enjoying the feeling of his swollen knot inside of her. "I love you too, Alaric."
And with another embrace, they fell asleep in each other's arms.Chapter End Notes:As always, comments/feedback/death threats are welcomed and appreciated
===
The sun rose over the mountaintops, as it always had every morning.
It seemed like a stupid thought, but with the way the world was in right now, the female Glaceon wasn't sure how much longer she would be able to see the sun. She stood out over a cliff face, a sturdy breeze sending a slight shiver down her spine. With a sigh, she packed her gear and tent, dousing the fire with a quick breath of ice.
She gazed once more over the landscape, admiring the sunbeams as they split along the mountain peaks. She pulled her cloak tighter over her light metal armor as another breeze whistled by, ruffling her blue mane slightly. She looked back at her Arcanine with a sigh. She was an Arc Rider, an established inter-providential police force that enforced the laws throughout the Mainland. Recently they had been regarded as corrupt and untrustworthy since a few power-hungry leaders had ascended to the Council.
Her Arcanine looked up and yawned. It arched his back and stretched, its claws scraping on the rock. She tossed her equipment over the saddle on the Arcanine's back. She rubbed its head after tying her bags down. "And how are you today, Stradius?" she asked with a smile.
"I'm fine, Lyria, thank you for asking," he replied with a murr.
Lyria jumped onto Stradius' back. "Well, let's get moving. We have to meet Alaric at the summit in a few hours."
Stradius growled a bit. "You know how hard it was getting up here. Let's hope the trail hasn't frozen overnight."
She leaned forward, resting her torso on top of Stradius' head. "Oh don't be such a sourpuss. You're just mad because you got snubbed by Reila last night."
"I'm not the only one who got snubbed," he replied, a chill to his voice as he followed the path.
Lyria ducked under a pine branch that snapped back and almost hit her in the face. "You know I didn't do that because I wanted to," she replied, trying hard to keep her voice from cracking.
Stradius didn't reply and Lyria didn't push the issue further. Instead, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath through her nose, inhaling the scent of the mountain. The smell of pine trees and the fresh mountain air blended together to create an intoxicating aroma that made her shudder. She loved the mountains and wanted nothing more than to return to them forever.
Sadly though, she doubted that she would have the opportunity. She was already seeing one of the Council members, a rather slimy man who would gladly stoop to stealing from children for his own gain. She didn't love him in the slightest, but she had agreed to an arranged marriage for her family's sake. They had run into trouble after bandits had attacked their farm in the 4th Providence, leaving nothing but burned crops and one lame Ponyta.
She desperately wanted to leave her arranged marriage with the wretched man, but knew that he would mark her as a traitor and have her executed. She knew Alaric loved her and she loved him as well. The torment she experienced every time she saw him was indescribable; she loved him more than anything and yet she couldn't have him.
She wiped away a solitary tear that had slid down her cheek. She took another deep breath to gather herself and shook the thoughts out of her head. She had made her decision, and like it or not, she must live with it.
"Something on your mind?" Stradius asked as they came to a stop near a creek.
Lyria climbed down and filled her canteen in the creek. "Just the usual thoughts that keep plaguing me."
Stradius lowered his head to the water and lapped at it for several minutes to quench his thirst before replying. "You know that you can still back out of the deal, right?"
She rolled her eyes. "And be accused of treason and hanged? I don't think so."
He nudged her hand with his nose. "You're clearly miserable. Run away and hide."
She put her canteen back in her bag. "And spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder and hiding my face? That's not living."
"You're just stressing yourself out," he said with a growl. "And you're trying to defend your situation instead of doing the logical thing and trying to find a way out of it."
Her hands balled into fists. "I'm sorry if I don't want to end up having to hide for the rest of my life or ending up hanging from the gallows!"
"You're stubborn and your judgment is clouded by your own misery and self pity!"
She started to draw her sword when someone crashed through the bushes. "Hey! Don't be killing each other!"
Lyria whirled around, seeing Alaric running up to them. His Arcanine, Reila, followed after him. His hand was on his sword, ready to prevent any bloodshed between the two of them. Lyria saw the alarmed Umbreon charge through the brush and her eyes instantly filled with hot tears.
Without saying a word, she leapt over the creek and dashed off into the trees, both angry and ashamed for having lost her temper. She continued to run, weeping the entire way. Tree branches and bushes scraped at her face, arms, and legs as she ran. She finally came to a stop in the middle of the trees and sat down on a log. She sniffed and wiped her eyes with her tail, Stradius' words still echoing in her head.
Was she really this stupid? She could easily back out of the deal and hide or escape to the Islands. But if that answer was so easy to attain, why was it so hard for her to do it? All she had to do was sneak out one night and travel by herself to the port town in the 8th Providence.
She gritted her teeth. It was so easy, but she couldn't do it. She didn't know why she couldn't simply run away. Why was it so difficult?
Her lowered ears perked when they picked up the sound of someone walking between two trees. She turned and saw Alaric, who had somehow managed to track her all the way from the creek. She wiped her eyes again, turning her back to him to hide her shame and anger. Alaric sat down next to her, not saying a word for fear of upsetting her more. He looked around the forest, giving her the choice to speak when she wanted. The sky had clouded over, threatening them with rain. One thing he had to admit about the mountains, the weather almost seemed to match the moods of those who traveled through them.
The forest was quiet and slightly chilly, with the occasional call of a whippoorwill echoing through the trees. The pine trees whispered with every breeze, a few needles showering down on them like light snow. The sun had hidden behind the overcast sky, giving the scene a downcast and gloomy feel. He shivered slightly and wished he'd brought his cloak.
Lyria sniffed again. "You know...I didn't push you away because I don't want to be with you..." she whispered.
Alaric nodded; he'd figured that out when she walked away weeping. "I know; it's because of that Councilman you're engaged to."
"Don't remind me," she said, her voice cracking. She silently cursed herself for starting to cry again. She dug a claw into the palm of her hand to stem the tears.
"If you want me to leave you alone, I will," he said with a note of melancholy to his voice. His ears lowered slightly. "I hate seeing you in pain all of the time."
She sighed and stood up. "I'll be in pain regardless of whether or not you leave me alone."
Alaric got up as well and hugged her, their armor meeting with a dull clank. Lyria hesitated for a moment before hugging him back, resting her head on his shoulder. She could feel his warmth through his long-sleeved tunic and armor. She could feel his love for her pouring from the simple embrace; she only wished that she could return it.
"I think I'd be worse off if you did leave me alone, Alaric."
He lowered his head and licked her cheek, tasting salt. "I couldn't leave you like this if I tried."
She buried her face into the side of his neck, suddenly aware that she was crying again.
===
By the time Alaric and Lyria had reached the summit of the northern mountains, a light cold drizzle had begun to fall from the sky. The wind had picked up, buffeting the two young soldiers with a chilling wall that froze them to their cores. To make matters worse, the road from the mountain range to Madrenstadt, the capitol of the 1st Providence, was almost completely flat, broken only by a sparse copse of trees.
Alaric looked over the flat landscape and pulled his cloak tighter around himself with a sigh. It was at least two days' journey back to Madrenstadt, and this weather looked as if it were going to be staying for a while. He waited with Reila for Stradius and Lyria to return from scouting ahead. On the way to the mountains, Alaric had heard about the bridge over Oorton Gorge being on the verge of collapsing.
A strong gust of wind made Alaric shiver hard and move closer to Reila's warm flank. "Gods above, it's freezing," he said through his chattering teeth. "The weather was so nice yesterday. What happened?" He regretted not bringing a heavier cloak.
"I'd try to start a fire but with this wind, it'd go out in an instant," Reila replied. "Hopefully Stradius and Lyria will return soon so we can get moving."
As if on cue, Stradius returned with Lyria on his back. She jumped down, trying to warm her hands. "Well Alaric, those rumors you heard were right. The Oorton Bridge is almost out. I mean Hell, it wouldn't even support either of us on foot, much less us plus the weight of Stradius and Reila."
Alaric cursed. This was exactly the sort of thing he had wanted to avoid. "Well great. We're going to have to go around, which is going to add another three days." He sighed with disappointment. "I was hoping I'd be home soon."
Nevertheless, he climbed onto Reila's back and pulled out his map as they went west to the 2nd Providence where the Oorton Gorge ended. He traced their path; it would take them at least two days to travel the length of the Gorge that began in the heart of the easternmost 8th Providence, passed through the northern regions of the 1st, and then ended slightly past the border of the 2nd.
After the two-day trip to the edge, it would take another two to three days to get from there to Madrenstadt, which was in the dead center of the 1st Providence. He folded the map and put it back into his bag. He was grateful that they'd found the bridge was out before they'd attempted to cross. He at least hoped that the weather would clear up before too long.
Lyria, however, was grateful for the extension. She didn't want to have to return to the horrid Councilman so soon. Besides, he was probably off visiting the brothel houses and wouldn't notice her return until she put out for him, which wouldn't happen unless there was a ring on her finger. ...no matter how much she dreaded that day.
She looked up to the sky and felt the drizzle on her face. She smiled, loving the chilly wind and rain. Her turquoise eyes gazed up at the gray clouds, wishing for snow. Autumn was on its way and she longed to be out in the snow before she was inevitably locked up as a wife.
She lowered her head and looked off into the distance. She saw a small village ahead; possibly a mining town set into the cliff face. She looked to Alaric, who also seemed to be studying the town. "Should we stop here? We can pick up again tomorrow morning."
He nodded, clenching his jaw to keep his teeth from chattering. "Yeah, hopefully they'll take us in. I don't have a whole lot of money on me."
She shrugged. "Neither do I."
Stradius and Reila broke into a run for the town, Alaric and Lyria having to lean forward to keep from being blown off. The rain, formerly a drizzle, began to pick up, hammering the two riders. Alaric closed his eyes against the gale-force rain that stung his face. Lyria was able to keep her eyes open, not bothered at all by the freezing rain.
They reached the town, Alaric putting his hood up. Lyria left hers down, the rain starting to soak her soft blue mane. Alaric turned to her. "How much do you have? I'll go look for an empty room while you find somewhere to keep Stradius and Reila."
She nodded with a smile as she untied her coin purse from her belt and tossed it to him. "You just want to get out of the cold," she said, sticking her tongue out playfully.
"What can I say? I'm drenched and cold." He caught her purse and stuck it in his pocket. "I honestly don't know how you can stand it."
With a shrug, she twirled around, her cloak fanning out behind her. "I feel at home in the cold."
Reila cleared her throat. "I don't mean to be rude, but could you lovebirds stop the chatter? We'd like to get out the rain as much as you two."
Lyria led the two Arcanine down the muddy street, Alaric watching her go. He knew full well that he was her only source of comfort and companionship, yet he couldn't help but feel a deep sadness. He knew she was dreading the day she married the Councilman. He'd overheard her saying several times that she was planning on committing suicide before they could consummate their marriage.
He went inside the Inn, lowering his hood as he passed through the doorway. A warm and welcoming fire crackled in the fireplace on the far wall. The scent of baking bread and cooking meat wafted from the kitchen in the back, making his stomach growl. A few patrons glanced over in his direction as he entered, but went back to their conversation after determining that he wasn't anything of interest.
He walked up to the front desk and the hotel keeper glanced at Alaric's armor with a disdainful eye. "I suppose you'll be wantin' a free room, then?"
The comment threw Alaric for a moment; he'd never been spoken to that way. "No, no. I'll pay for one."
He put down twelve of their combined forty coins and the keeper handed him a key. "Just don't be causin' no trouble here. Arc Rider 'r not, I'll throw ya out on yer hindquarters faster 'en you can spit." As if to emphasize his point, the keeper fired a great gob of mucus and saliva into a spittoon clear on the other end of the room. It hit its mark with a ping.
Alaric watched it go with a hint of disgust. The habit of hawking like that had always struck him as barbaric and sickening. "I'll keep that in mind." He walked away half expecting the keeper to spit another wad in his direction, but he left through the front door gratefully spit-free.
He pocketed the key and headed off to find Lyria. As he went down the street, he noticed that several of the townspeople gave him the same reproachful look as the innkeeper had. He started to feel a little uncomfortable; he knew the Arc Riders were starting to become unpopular and mistrusted throughout the Mainland, but he had no idea it was this bad.
He turned down an alleyway, picking up the stench of a Ponyta stable. As he rounded the corner, a filthy beggar woman held a small child that hurled a rock at Alaric's back. "Dirty filth!" the child shouted, the rock bouncing off of Alaric's armor with a muffled clang. "You leave us alone!"
The woman snatched the child up as Alaric turned around. She stared up at him fearfully as the child struggled and fought in an attempt to free himself. "Please don't punish him, sir. He is but a child and he doesn't mean any harm by his actions."
"Lemme go!" the child managed to wrench his ragged tunic from the woman's grasp and beat at Alaric's legs with a stick which bounced off of his boots with dull thuds.
Finally having enough, Alaric grabbed the stick from the child's hands and knelt down. "Child, I'll tell you this once. I will not punish you, but the next Rider you treat this way might not be so kind and understanding. I know you probably don't trust us, but acting like this is a good way to get yourself and your mother here in a lot of trouble."
He handed the child the stick. "Now I have to ask you not to do that again. Do you understand?"
The child looked into Alaric's red eyes with an emotion so complicated that he himself could not determine what it was. Alaric saw misery and pain in the child's eyes as well as a strong will to fight. "I can tell you're very brave, child. You'd make an excellent soldier."
The child looked up at him with a small amount of admiration. "A soldier? Really?"
Alaric nodded with a smile. "But part of being a good soldier is knowing when to fight and when to hold back. Attacking a Rider is a very foolish thing to do, especially during these times. I realize that you fight to protect your mother, but what would she have done if I had decided to beat you?"
He looked down. "...I dunno, really."
"So don't be attacking Riders. They might not be so nice next time."
The child nodded, and Alaric stood up and headed off, hoping to the Gods that the child didn't attack another Rider. He had seen plenty of people die since he received his mount. He could witness a slaughter of a village of men and not be affected by it. But the one thing he could not stand was seeing a child or woman killed.
He found the stable, his nose assaulted by the stench of manure and old hay. Lyria sat on a narrow bench just outside the building, staring up at the sky with a wistful look on her face. Alaric couldn't help but notice how striking her shiny turquoise eyes were. They expressed every emotion that she felt, and they were always changing. Her eyes shimmered in the fading light of the chilly dusk as the street lamps were lit.
"Are you alright?" Alaric asked, sitting down next to her.
She looked over at him as if coming out of a trance. "Hm? Oh yes, I'm alright." She giggled. "Just thinking to myself."
Alaric put his hood back up, his breath flowing from his mouth in a wispy cloud. "Thinking? About what?" It was a stupid question; he already knew what she would be thinking about.
"Just how life is going to be later," she replied with a sigh.
"Oh? And how's that going to be?" he asked more out of curiosity for what she thought would happen to him. He stood to leave and she got up as well.
"I'll end up locked away in a tower, only seeing my husband when he desires another son. He'll spend most of his time either away or with the city call girls as he always does."
They turned a corner onto the main road. "And then what?"
She thought for a moment. "You know, I haven't been able to come up with anything for you past you being promoted to Grand Captain of the Arc Riders."
He laughed. "That's too huge of a step for me, don't you think? You know how I can't stand the politics of the higher council."
She smiled at him. "I think you'd make a great Grand Captain. You're smart, you're friendly but you get the job done. A lot of people respect you, Alaric."
He snorted as they entered the Inn and headed upstairs. Alaric ignored the glare he received from the innkeeper. "Well the moment you know of anybody who respects me, you let me know." He unlocked the door to their room and Lyria darted in front of him.
"I respect you, Alaric. More than you know," she looked into his eyes with a heated defiance. If there were any lies, they were well hidden.
Alaric closed the door, not wishing to discuss the matter any further. He knelt down in front of the fireplace and tried to get a fire going. He growled in frustration as his last match went out without so much as a flame on the tinder. He removed his armor and threw his cloak back on, rubbing his arms to try and keep warm. Why did it have to be so cold all of a sudden?
Lyria had removed her armor and cloak as well. She slid her boots off and tossed them with the rest of her equipment. "...I don't want to do this, Alaric."
He sat down next to her on one of the beds. "Do what?"
"I don't want to marry him," she said. Her hands clenched and a tear rolled down her face, dripping from her nose. Alaric wiped another tear away and she looked over at him.
He took one of her hands in his own, surprised at how warm it was. She glanced down briefly but didn't object. "So don't do it. Just sneak out one night and head to the Eastern Islands."
She tried to laugh but it came out sounding choked and forced. "You sound like Stradius."
"I can't stand seeing you this upset, Lyria," he said. He closed both of her hands in his. "You have to do something."
"I want to, very bad. But I can't. I just can't." She pulled her hand out of both of his and turned away from him.
Alaric sighed and placed a hand on her shoulder. She turned her head and looked at him. "You know I'd be willing to help you get away if you really wanted to."
She turned back towards him. "Do you mean that?" He could tell she was guarding against what she really wanted.
Regardless, he nodded. "If it meant your freedom I'd go to the gallows in your place."
She smiled softly and wrapped her arms around his neck. Acting on instinct rather than reason, she pulled him towards herself and kissed him. Suddenly realizing what she was doing, she broke the kiss but didn't let him go. She felt electrified; alive. What was going on?
They stared into each other's eyes for a moment longer before they kissed again, this time Alaric embracing Lyria also. She pulled him closer, holding him tightly as her tongue bumped against his mouth. After a second, Alaric's tongue met her own. Lyria felt her face starting to go hot as they kissed, exploring each other's mouths.
Alaric paused to remove his cloak before kissing her. He pulled her closer to him, and felt her hardened nipples rubbing against his chest through their tunics. He slid a hand up her side, and she turned her body slightly, her breast moving into his hand. She moaned softly as he caressed and squeezed the soft mound, his thumb tracing around her nipple.
Lyria slid Alaric's tunic off before he did the same to her. He rubbed her nipple again, pinching it softly. She let out a quiet squeak of pleasure, nuzzling his neck. He laid her down on the bed, leaving her breasts alone for an instant as he started to slide her pants off. She helped him the best she could, wriggling out of them. She lay before him, completely naked. With any other male she would have hidden under the sheets, too shy to move.
But with Alaric, she didn't care at all. He smiled at her. "You're so beautiful, Lyria." He knelt down on the bed, gently spreading her legs while removing his own pants tossing them away to some corner of the room.
He leaned over her and kissed her briefly before moving down her neck to her shoulders. Lyria ran her hands through his black mane and ears as his kisses descended to her breasts then to her belly. He stopped midway down her stomach for an instant before resuming, the intoxicating aroma of her moist pussy driving him insane. He ran his tongue around the quivering lips, loving the taste. He felt her shudder in pleasure and his cock starting to harden.
He gave the outside of her cunt a hard lick, causing Lyria to arch her back and moan again. She reached up and massaged her breasts while he worked at her. Noticing his stiffening member, she stroked it with her tail, getting it harder much quicker. He slid his tongue into her, pulling her hips closer to his face as he did so. She cried out, wrapping her tail around his cock.
Alaric felt Lyria's tail wrap around his length and loved the feeling of her soft fur on its sensitive skin. He stuck his tongue as far into her as he could go, trying to get as much of her juices as he could. Lyria continued to rub her breasts, while tugging on Alaric's cock with her tail. Alaric slid his tongue out of her and slid up, sitting next to her. He kissed her, stroking her cunt with his left hand while teasing her breast with his right.
Lyria found Alaric's cock and rubbed it with her hand as they kissed. She moved her hips into his hand as he stroked her, starting to feel her stomach tighten. She started to breathe harder and quicker. Alaric knew what this meant, so he rubbed her clit with one finger while stroking her pussy with another. She moaned a few more times before she came, her juices soaking his hand.
She broke the kiss, panting and dizzy. She laid down on her back, gazing up at him. "This is wrong..." she whispered, but her heart told her she was lying. This wasn't wrong.
"We can stop now if you want," Alaric said, licking her ear.
She pulled him down on top of her. "No, Alaric. I don't want to stop this." She kissed him and nuzzled his neck. "Please...take me."
She spread her legs again and held Alaric close as he slowly pushed into her. He punched through her hymen and she cried out, tears of pain springing to her eyes. She dug her claws into his back, holding him tighter.
When Alaric was fully inside her, he held for a moment, enjoying the tight warmth of her cunt. He carefully pulled back and pushed in, thrusting into her gently, trying not to hurt her too much. She kissed him again, pulling him as close to her as she could, wrapping her legs around his midsection.
He wrapped his arms around her back, supporting her head with his hand as he went, kissing her the entire time. She ran her claws through his fur, pushing her hips against his. With each thrust she could feel his cock pressing against her womb, sending a wave of pleasure through her body each time. She felt passion start to take over the both of them, and soon she felt as if she were merely watching, not actually involved in their lovemaking.
She broke the kiss and looked into his eyes for a moment. In that one instant she received multiple messages that came from the depths of Alaric's soul. In his eyes she could see his love and passion for her as clearly as she could see his desire to please her. She licked his neck and cheek as he kissed her neck and shoulders.
Alaric could feel his knot starting to grow with a slight feeling of disappointment. Lyria felt it too and continued kissing his neck. She locked her legs firmly around his middle, making it clear to him that she wanted it all. She held him tighter as his knot popped into her body, holding him in place.
Hearing Alaric nearing the edge, she stopped kissing his neck. "Make me yours, Alaric," she whispered.
He suddenly pressed her hips against the bed as she felt waves of his hot seed pour into her womb. She held him tight as he trembled, unleashing every ounce of cum that he had deep inside of her.
When he had finally finished after what seemed like minutes, Alaric rolled off of her and laid next to her, gazing into her eyes. He pulled her against him and kissed her. "I love you, Lyria."
She kissed him back, still enjoying the feeling of his swollen knot inside of her. "I love you too, Alaric."
And with another embrace, they fell asleep in each other's arms.Chapter End Notes:As always, comments/feedback/death threats are welcomed and appreciated