Shadowgray
�This is no place for a lady,� a quiet voice said through the thick air of silence.
Akira looked up through the dark and saw a tall figure standing about six feet away from her. She said nothing, only looked.
�Stand up, Assassin,� said the man. �I have a job for you.�
She stood and raised her hood, properly hiding her bright-colored hair, blending completely with the shadows. �How can I be of service to you?�
�Come with me, though do not follow too closely. I don�t want to be seen with an Assassin.�
Inside this human�s palace, female anthro slaves were everywhere, wearing scarce anything save for a small collar, and some wore bracers, some shackles. The man was greeted by at least five of them when they came in, and he briskly kissed each of them and sent them off.
�Come this way, Assassin,� he said shortly.
Up a winding staircase Akira followed this man until they came to a long hallway, the end of which being two large wooden doors carved with dragons, and appeared to be made using some redwood. They paused here, as the man used a silver key that hung on a chain about his neck to open the mighty doors.
In the circular room past the doors, the walls rose upwards for at least two stories, and they were covered with books. A fireplace, a large four-poster bed, and a desk were all carved from the same redwood as the doors, all dressed in a deep, blood red in one way or another. The room seemed to have no ceiling, only escalating higher into the heavens.
The man directed Akira to the center of the room.
�I first must be sure that you are able to do my bidding, Assassin. Take off your cloak.�
Akira took the heavy cloak off and tossed it to the side, standing now with no clothing, even more nude than the slaves. Her black, gray-striped fur glistened with an unnatural sheen as if just washed, and her waist-long red hair fell over her shoulders and down her back, some in front of her amber eyes.
The man studied her from a distance for a while, then finally approached her to inspect her weaponry and poisons. He took the leather rope from around her waist and lied it out on the bed, taking every weapon out in turn and examined every blade, every arrowhead, even her short bow. He then took each of her poisons from the rope, and, holding them gently by their leather bags, asked Akira what was in them.
�Dragonsrose� shadowbane� nightshade��
Finally he returned to her and removed her dagger bracelets, inspected them, and set them on the bedside as well.
�It appears that you are physically equipped to do the job, but emotionally?� the man required of her.
�Emotionally?� Akira asked, suspicious. �Just what is it you expect me to do?�
The man walked to one of the windows in the room and gestured for her to follow. She stood at his side and he pointed down to the crowd below the towering palace; all merely people going about their daily business, shopping, working� but Akira noticed one cloaked figure standing somewhat out-of-the-way, a human Assassin, she noted to herself.
�You see him, then?� the man asked. �My brother has promised this Assassin a large sum if he brings him my head.�
�So it is the Assassin I must hunt?�
�It isn�t so simple, feline.� The use of her species name made Akira�s fur edge up slightly, before she could calm herself down. �He is well-trained, and will be difficult to hunt. If you don�t get close to him, the job will never be properly done.�
�You want me to become his ally?� Akira asked incredulously.
�Merely pretend to love him, seduce him until you can get him unarmed and vulnerable. If you bring me his head, I will pay you double the amount placed on mine.�
�Which is how much, might I ask?�
�I believe the sum on my death is about fifteen-hundred silver,� the man replied carefully.
�So I would receive three thousand, only for killing this Assassin?� Akira shook her head. �There must be something else you want.�
�Oh, there will be, feline. But I will require that of you after you have proven to me that the Assassin is indeed dead.�
Akira walked back to the center of the room. �I�ll take the job,� she said without looking at the man. �I�ll use him to his extent� then waste his useless carcass.�
The man turned, a devious smile on his face. �Good,� he said. �But first, we shall have to change your appearance somewhat. That hair of yours attracts far too much attention.�
�My blades��
Akira walked angrily through the heavy crowd, grumbling to herself.
�My poisons, my arrows��
Her hood was down, though the cloak she wore was not her own; it was a deep violet color, the same color as her hair was now; a color suitable for hiding in dark places, but it was not the black she had grown to love.
Finally she reached the gates of the town and passed the guards without even a pause or nod, then stopped only five meters from the town entrance and turned back, standing awkwardly in the empty field.
�My bow, my cloak� he took them all!�
She continued walking away from the town in a miffed cloud of regret. When the town was no longer in view, she removed her cloak and lied it on the dampened grass, then lied back on it to watch the sky darken into night. The fact that she was unable to protect herself with her weapons or poison, as well as the blatant truth that she had no armor, didn�t bother her when she was out away from civilization.
As the sky faded from an orange to pink, then slowly purple and growing ever darker, Akira�s eyelids grew heavy. She mindlessly played with the soft fur between her breasts as she ebbed away from reality, until finally she was asleep.
Akira was suddenly awakened by voices nearby. She silently donned the violet cloak in the darkness and sat very still on the grass, moving only her ears to gain knowledge of who was speaking, and from where.
�Bah de looks o� et, we�ll be fi�teen �unnert siller richer bah mornin�, eh, boss?�
�Only if he leaves the place alone, Mit. We have no chance of goin� after him if he�s surrounded by felines.�
Akira flicked her ear irritably at a firefly that just wouldn�t leave her alone. She glared at it evilly, her eyesight greatly diminished by the spell the shaman used to change her eye color. Swatting at the small fly, Akira unwittingly gained unwanted attention.
�Look! Look, oo�er there, boss!�
�Hush, you idjit. I�m gonna go check it out.�
Akira swirled her head around to face the direction she sensed the voices from and saw a figure approaching her. She merely watched him approach, waiting for any sign of aggression or reason to attack.
�What are you doin� out here, missus? Don�t you know how long the moon�s been in the heavens? This is a dangerous place for ladies.�
The Assassin only stopped talking when he was close enough to make out Akira�s feline features, her grayed eyes studying him with caution.
He crossed his arms and stared down at Akira with sudden contempt. �An anthro,� he said.
A small gecko anthro hobbled out of the darkness to the Assassin�s side, looking down to Akira. �Ooh, she�s a purdy �un, ain�t she, boss?�
Akira stood and faced the Assassin, holding out her paw carefully. �Mine name is Akira,� she said quietly.
The Assassin didn�t take her paw, but he did look at it as if he were accepting the offer, then he looked back to her. �What are you doin� in these parts?� he asked.
�I was banned from my tribe, and searching for a place to stay. I have no silver, no weapons.�
�An� nu clothes!� The gecko had lifted up her sleeve and peeked in. Akira whipped her arm from within his reach with a steady snarl, and the small creature hurried back to the Assassin.
�If you value your life, you�ll watch yourself, reptile,� she growled.
�If you value your life, feline, you�d better get clear away from this field. This is our place, mine and Mit�s. And we don�t like trespassers.�
�Epescally pussy-cats!�
Akira growled at the gecko.
�Come on, Mit, we got things to do.� The Assassin started to walk away. �If the cat ain�t gone by mornin�, we�ll skin �er.�
�Yus, boss.�
The two disappeared into the darkness, leaving Akira alone. She plopped back down on the grass, growling to herself.
The morning sun released its light throughout the field like an ocean of warmth. Akira had been awake for hours now, and she was wandering mindlessly through the field when she noticed a human kneeling at a newly dug grave. She hid out of view and watched.
The man was wearing black clothing, black boots that came to his knees and black tights, and the traditional shirt that, in Akira�s opinion, was a little too puffy. He had black hair that was cut short in the front and slightly longer in the back, little curls formed at the base of his neck. His eyes, Akira noticed, were also black.
�If it�s the last thing I do, I�ll avenge your death, old friend.�
The man�s voice seemed very familiar to Akira, but she did not dwell on his identification, for he stood and donned a black cloak. Lifting the hood, head lowered, he began to walk in her direction. Akira, realizing that it was too late to move, stayed put, and the man noticed her with his piercing black eyes. She stood very still as his features sharpened, and she realized who he was.
�I thought I told you to get out of my field, cat?�
Akira didn�t answer the Assassin; instead, she directed her attention behind him, towards the grave. �Your gecko friend?� she asked.
The Assassin�s features softened somewhat. �Went down in battle, he did.�
�Poor guy,� Akira said with mock concern. �Are you going to be all right?�
�Why is it your concern?� the Assassin asked sharply. �Out of my way, feline. I have a job to do.� He started to walk off, and Akira leapt to his side.
�Let me come with you, sir. I cannot protect myself, you know, and you are now without companion��
The Assassin stopped and looked at Akira. �Don�t you know what I am?�
�An Assassin, sir. Who else, besides a poisoner, wears black such as you?� Akira flicked her tail. �I can be stealthy, quiet even. I can keep you warm at night��
At this the dark man seemed interested. �Very well, feline. Akira, did you say your name was? I�m Keild.�
�Keild,� Akira said softly. �Interesting name.�
�Whatever the name may mean to you, feline. Oh, I mean Akira. Forgive me if I slip now and then � I�m not used to female company.�
The night came upon them quicker than usual, signaling that the cold season was ahead. Keild built a fire while Akira sought out a lake to bathe in, for she was feeling unusually filthy. She came upon one not too far from their camp, and removed her cloak before getting into the water. After she felt cleaner, she climbed out of the warm lake and shook what water she could from her fur, then climbed a tree and allowed her tail to hang from the high branch, twitching.
She noticed that she felt different. It had been about thirty moons since she last felt this way, and remembered with a sickening feeling what it was time for. At least her companion was human and could not smell the scent that she gave off unintentionally during her Heat, but that did not affect her actions and her mood. Who knew what she might attempt?
As she was sitting on the branch, waiting for her fur to dry, Akira heard a noise behind her. She turned and was promptly attacked by a large, muscular feline anthro, knocking them both to the ground. The male had her pinned and peered at her with moonlit eyes, his gray fur taking on the appearance of ash. Akira was about to scream when the creature spoke.
�I mean ye no harm, m�lady� I just smelled yer scent from my tribe, and it be the sweetest scent I smelled in years�� The male opened his jaws and licked the fur between her breasts and her throat with a warm, pink tongue, then nuzzled under her chin and began purring.
Akira tried to squirm away, but she was unable to move at all. The feline allowed his knees to touch the dirt ground below them and he cradled the back of her head in his massive paws. �I won�t take ye without yer permission, beautiful lady� I�ll leave ye if that�s what ye wants, no problem, really� jus� yer so pretty, an� ye smell so sweet��
�P-please, sir, leave me unscathed,� Akira begged meekly.
The male seemed disheartened, but he stood and allowed Akira to part from him. She stood at least six feet away from him and donned her cloak quickly, then turned to face the creature again. His eyes were friendly, very warm and glowing as if the yellow hue was actually the moon.
�Don�t you have a tribe to protect?� Akira asked gently.
The male lowered his gaze and twitched his tail in the dust timidly. �Well m�lady, where I come from there aren�t any beautiful ladies like yerself� an� if I went back there by myself, well they�d have me scarred is what they�d do.�
�Scarred?� Akira asked.
�Doesn�t yer tribe have scarrin� fer animals that break the rules?�
Akira cocked her head. �What rule did you break by coming here?�
�Never to be tempted by the female of mine own species, never to attempt to mate with another unless the Elder says it�s okay. No offense, my beautiful lady, but the Elder doesn�t like outsiders.�
She nodded. �I understand.� Akira crossed her arms and looked into the water next to her feet, a few wet locks of violet hair falling over her gray eyes. �What�s your name?�
�I am called Shadowgrey,� he answered softly, and Akira noticed that he had come closer to her, so that he was only perhaps two feet away from her. She allowed her eyes to meet his and she smiled softly.
�Come with me, Shadowgrey. You can stay with us.�
As the two felines neared the camp, Keild was preparing some food. He looked warily towards Shadowgrey, and asked as Akira was within hearing distance, �Where�d he come from?�
�He can protect me,� Akira answered when she arrived at the camp. She sat on the lush grass and Shadowgrey sat very near her.
�The way that cat looks at you � you�d think he knew ya all his life,� Keild noted. Akira looked up to Shadowgrey and the giant cat looked down to her, smiling gently.
�He�s just friendly,� Akira told Keild.
�Well, friendly or not, this big guy can stay up and watch while we sleep. No monsters�ll be after us as long as we got such a big cat here.�
Akira looked to Shadowgrey. �Is that all right? That you watch over us while we rest, Shadowgrey?�
�Anythin�, m�lady. I would kindly watch over ye.�
�Very well, Akira,� Keild said. �Let�s get to sleep. We�ve got things we gotta do tomorrow.�
Akira walked over to Keild and knelt down, looking back to Shadowgrey before she lied down alongside the Assassin. She felt Keild place his arms around her and she closed her eyes, trying with great difficulty to control her feral urges and get some rest.
Some number of hours after she had fallen asleep, Akira woke to find that Shadowgrey had fallen asleep on his watch. It was probably still safe, however� there were not many monsters that would attack a party of three without cause.
Keild, who was still holding her about her waist, stirred in his sleep. �The guy�s not a very good watchcat, is he?�
�He�s good company,� Akira said quietly.
�He was attracted by your scent, I�ll bet.�
Akira�s ears faced the Assassin. �How-�
�Why else would that beast have followed ya?� Keild�s hand found its way to one of the clasps on Akira�s cloak. �Besides, it makes ya more submissive��
Akira tensed up; her tail becoming rigid and the claws on her hind paws kneaded the air. Keild reached his hand inside the cloak and grasped her right breast, then leaned forward to have her lie on her back. He kissed her muzzle roughly, his free hand loosening the remaining clasps. Akira, overcome by her feral half, made herself vulnerable to him, her soft purring only making the experience more exciting for the Assassin. As the open cloak fell to the sides, revealing Akira entirely, the Assassin moved so that he could enter her with ease when he was ready. He kissed her now more forcefully, his hands groping and touching her until she was almost completely feral in character, and then, as he kissed and bit on her neck, he decided it was time.
Shadowgrey, by this point, had awoken and realized what was happening. He dropped to all fours and his tail puffed out, the fur on his neck and back raised, and he was snarling and growling with a ferocity that he had seemed to lack only minutes ago. Keild paused and turned his head, facing the feline.
�What, upset that you didn�t take the chance when you had �er?� Keild mocked. �You can finish up when I�m done�� With that, he licked Akira�s face and neck as a cat would, almost continuing the job.
Shadowgrey leapt into the air and threw Keild off of Akira, who had regained what little of her humanity remained. Akira gathered up her cloak and ran off, behind Shadowgrey and into the darkness.
�What�s the big deal?� Keild demanded after readjusting himself.
�You would take her without her word?� Shadowgrey growled menacingly.
Keild grinned. �Did you hear her objecting? I believe she was quite enjoying it.�
The cat snarled and lashed his tail about. �In her Heat, she isn�t fit to make such decisions. You know that, human!�
�Precisely why I was taking advantage of th-�
Shadowgrey had risen and grabbed the Assassin by his two massive paws, the human dangling by his neck like a worm. �You will pay dearly for your evil deeds, in the dirt!� And the lifeless form that was once the Assassin was then crushed into a bleeding, broken mass, blood mingling with sweat and mud.
Akira kneeled in the lake, sobbing uncontrollably. Eventually she lied down; half of her furred body in the gently lapping water, while from her waist up lied dirtily in the half-wet sand. Her eyes and throat hurt from sobbing, and her soul hurt for her inability to control her feral side.
Shadowgrey walked warily from the dark that surrounded the pool and picked Akira up in his mighty arms, then carried her into the water until its depth was at his waist. He knelt down in the water and sat Akira on his knees, using his paws to massage her fur, gently touching everywhere to get the sand, dirt and grief off of her. As Akira relaxed in his arms, Shadowgrey ran his fingers through her violet hair and gently kissed her forehead.
�My beautiful lady, I will protect ye, purr.�
�Thank you, Shadowgrey,� Akira said, looking him in the eyes. She smiled and relaxed against his chest.
�Was the Assassin a friend of yers?� he asked carefully. �I hope by the stars that he wasn�t, for I��
�No, Assassins don�t have friends� we�re all a bunch of back-stabbers��
Shadowgrey almost dropped Akira in his alarm. �Y-you are an Assassin, m�lady?�
Akira�s paw found its way to the fluffy, soft fur that was at Shadowgrey�s collar. �I am. But don�t worry� I wouldn�t kill you, I wouldn�t betray you. You watch over me, and I think I love you.�
Shadowgrey was silent, all the new information sinking in. He held Akira closely and said, �I don�t mind what ye be, m�lady, my beautiful lady, purr. I�ll watch over ye until the moon sets on my time.�
The mighty gray cat carried Akira out of the water and lied her on the grass, positioning himself over her to lap the water from her fur. She purred and enjoyed the experience immensely, but did not allow her feral attributes to show.
Akira led the way through the bright streets of town, carrying with her a bag made of newly skinned rabbit fur, and Shadowgrey following closely behind. Shortly they came to the palace that the man who had given Akira the job owned, and they walked in without knocking.
Up the winding staircase, past the redwood doors, Akira emptied the contents of the bag onto the wine red carpet in the center of the room.
�Here is the Assassin�s head, as promised,� Akira said. The human moved the head around with his foot to get a better look at him, then nodded.
�Good work, Assassin,� he said. �Was he carrying anything of interest?�
Akira reached into a pocket on the inside of her cloak. �This pendant, some silver� a dragon dagger.� She held the proffered items out in her paws.
�You can keep the dagger and silver,� the man said with a smile. �You�ve completed the second job already, Assassin, by bringing me this pendant.� He took the heavy stone necklace and placed it on a shelf near the window.
�How will I receive my payment?� Akira asked shortly. �And where can I get my equipment back?�
�Your equipment and pay will be downstairs, in the foyer by the door.�
Akira bowed slightly and turned to Shadowgrey. �Let�s go wash up, then we�ll get something to eat.� Shadowgrey nodded eagerly at the mention of food.
As they left the town, Akira removed the violet cloak and tossed it to the side. They came to a calm pond and Akira went into the water, but Shadowgrey just stood at the water�s edge and watched her, a saddened look on his face.
�What�s wrong, Shadowgrey?�
He shook his head slowly. �Yer scent is too strong, m�lady. I must stay out here, fer now.�
Akira walked out of the water and up to Shadowgrey, taking one of his oversized paws and, ignoring the verbal objections that his body would not obey, placed it firmly on her chest.
�It�s yer Heat, m�lady. Ya�d never fergive me if I took advantage of ye,� Shadowgrey meekly stated. �I jus� won�t do it.�
Akira looked down. �That�s not what your body is saying, Shadowgrey.�
The cat pulled himself away from her, crouching to cover himself shamefully. �I can�t, m�lady.�
She walked in front of him and crouched on the pads of her hind paws, leaning forward to kiss Shadowgrey gently on the muzzle, but in his attempt to avoid the kiss, he fell over backwards, taking Akira with him. She lied with her chest firmly against his stomach and her weight was on him now, making it almost impossible for him to hold back any longer.
�Please don�t make this mistake, m�lady�� he begged as a final try.
�This is no mistake, Shadowgrey,� Akira said, climbing over his body to kiss him softly on the neck and muzzle, happy to know that he was reacting to her now.
Shadowgrey rolled Akira over so that he was on top of her, licking and kissing every part of her body that was within reach, and he pressed himself closely to her as he whispered, �Does this feel right, m�lady?�
Her voice was barely a whisper, but he heard, �So right, Shadowgrey. I�m yours.�
Shadowgrey then pulled upwards gently, finding his way into her and plunging as deep as he could on the first push, grunting slightly as if he believed that it had to be more, pressing against the grass with his hind paws, then he pulled halfway out and back in again. His heartbeat was racing, and inside his mind he could just hear Akira�s labored breathing. He pulled completely out for a moment, reaching down with his right paw and using two of his fingers to slide into the opening there. He moved around until he found the little clitoris, which he jiggled slightly just before pulling his fingers out and plunged his organ deep inside of her again.
Akira�s gasping breaths were now accompanied by small sounds. Shadowgrey worked faster, his hind paws digging little holes into the ground as he labored to push harder, and finally he shoved upwards one final time and kissed Akira gently on the muzzle as he released.
For several minutes Shadowgrey did not pull out of Akira; instead, he leant on his elbows and purred and licked Akira�s neck until she was breathing almost normally. He felt her tighten around his organ and he sucked in a quick breath, wondering how it could be possible that he could go again. Akira leaned forward and kissed Shadowgrey�s muzzle, one of her paws gently touching his back. He kissed back and mumbled, �Again, Akira,� though because he was already physically spent, he pushed into her three times before he released, then finally he pulled out of her.
�Thank you, Shadowgrey,� Akira said gently.
�What am I to be thanked for, m�lady?� he asked, though he was still slightly winded.
�You called me Akira, before.�
Shadowgrey paused and looked thoughtful. �So I did, m�lady. Akira, because we were equals then. I was not some pet.�
�We are equals, Shadowgrey. If anyone is to be anyone�s pet, I am to be yours.�
Shadowgrey pulled her close to himself, purring and kissing her gently. �I love ye, Akira.�
�I love you, too, Shadowgrey.�