Hunting Expedition

Reid slept on Stelio’s back. When he awoke they’d traveled forty miles to a large canid encampment. Howling wolves ran toward their alpha king, tails wagging, and hopping around. Stelio returned the puppy gestures, forcing Reid to hold on tight as he hopped around his people.

‘Ha, these guys are seriously wolves.’ Reid counted over eighty wolves, shifting back and forth in a tent city with armed guards.

“Dude, what's going on here?” whispered Reid.

“Hunt party. Loyal people. Vorkest not safer. King not safer,” replied Stelio in a slow, broken English.

“Aww man we need an elf, and I need to learn Canid-la.”

“Eh? Why need Reid learn Canid-la?” asked Stelio.

“Uh..well..I mean.. ‘Ge omir Canid-la chad-en syl loa’..heh heh...did I say that right?” blushed Reid, who said (roughly) ‘Speak Canid-la travel together is pleasant.’

“Kwa? Reid omir-ne Canid-la? Hahhahahahah! That’s really something man!” responded Stelio.

“What? Dude you just spoke perfect English!”

“Ha ha, no! You heard perfect English, look in front of you!”

Reid glanced up to see the elf Bridana waving at him with an amused smile. Reid smiled back and hopped off of Stelio.

“So, even you’re part of this ‘hunting party’ scam hunh!” joked Reid to Bridana, while he scanned the large encampment.

“Hello again Reid. I’m truly sorry for any misfortune that befell you. I am afraid the intelligence we had was..not accurate.”

“Yeah tell me about it. My dog Kerod got killed and I never even got to Ashtoni before everyone on Cionis knew where I was. I thought I was on a secret mission?”

“It was a secret..but spies..” she turned away embarrassed.

“Hey don’t worry about it, we’ll come up with plan B...but um..Hey Bridana, there’s something I gotta ask you in private,” said Reid, glancing over at Stelio in his man form speaking with his counsel and officers.  

“Of course, you must be weary from travel. We can speak in my tent, come.”

Reid followed Bridana to her tent. As he walked he met eyes with a beautiful auburn haired canid lady who passed him. The lady wore a heavy but stylish outdoor gown and walked straight to Stelio. Reid stopped to watch her.

Stelio bowed and gave the woman an uneasy smile, as she hijacked his crowd with a joke. They all laughed. Stelio chuckled too.

“Hmph!” muttered a squinty eyed Reid, turning to catch up with Bridana.

Bridana’s Tent

Bridana slept in a lovely tent. Green and gold embroidery laced edges. The inside spacious with fur comforter and a small serving table. They sat together at the table and discussed events. Reid told her about the large grey and black wolf who stole his GPS ‘key.’

“His name is Brycius, he serves the warlock, but mainly Mia,” said Bridana.

“So he’s a bad dude, got it.”

Also their run in with the red guard.

“A dangerous group who believe in tyranny by majority,” she explained.

“Hunh..commies hunh?”

“Co..commies?” asked Bridana.

“Uh, don’t worry about it, I was a political science major in college..I studied regimes like these.”

“Uh..I have no idea what you just said, but what was it that you wanted to ask me personally, captain?” she asked.

“Right..hmm...hey uh..I don’t feel like a girl anymore. In fact I feel even more manly!”

“Ha ha, well, when your manhood returned, it arrived like a youngster going through changes.”

“Yeah, yeah, puberty, i kinda figured that...but here’s the thing...that king..even if I’m not around him…”

Bridana caught on. “Let me guess. You have an affection for him?” she asked.

“Affection? Ha ha, nah this ain’t affection lady…I can’t stop thinking about him...this is a problem right?” asked Reid.

Bridana paused at the question, both for its audacity and so she could formulate an honest answer.

“Reid...it’s not the silver. Silver fog has been used for millennia by breeders of rodents and primates to change the creatures gender for temporary purposes. Silver fog itself cannot exist outside the swamps for very long. Once it leaves the body it dissipates into nothing. ...So all I can say is the silver may have introduced a feeling for Stelio..but if you retained it...Those feelings are entirely yours, Captain.”

Reid stood and paced the small tent. Truthfully he’d never looked at another man in his life, and never wanted to. Tall, light brown eyes, dark hair, Reid got all the chicks in high school and beyond. But now, things were different. And he found himself, suddenly jealous.

“Hey..who’s that beautiful lady that approached Stelio out there?” asked Reid.

Stelio’s Plague

Stelio’s counsel exited his tent. The auburn haired lady in attendance dismissed all servants and guards and remained with Stelio.

“Mirana, it’s good to see you cousin. I didn’t expect you to make this journey with our hunting party,” said Stelio, pouring her a cup of honey water.

“Hunting party? Haha, my good king, you can label this what you want, but everyone knows these are your loyalist forces,” she said accepting the cup, and placing it down to move closer to Stelio.

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Stelio slowed her advance and proceeded with diplomacy.

“Mirana..I understand my uncle’s intentions. And I agree we need to unite Vorkest again, and be canids again.”

Mirana’s face turned dour. “How dare you imply I'm only here on my father’s intent? Stelio, we were raised as pups together. And I know how good you are and what good you want for Vorkest.”

Stelio pushed back.

“You may know me Mirana, but your family-”

“Yes, my family is old guard, as is yours, dear cousin.” She moved closer to him.

“Stelio, I can give you an heir. An alpha king or queen. The child would unite-”

“Mirana...I’m weary from journey. I’ve lost comrades today. And if you have not noticed there are forces at work against all of Cionis and Vorkest,” said Stelio.

Mirana remained composed.

“Stelio...You’ve always been a visionary...but if you think you can single handedly rescue Cionis..then you truly are a fo-”

“Hey, knock knock!” interrupted a voice at the tent entrance.

Stelio and Mirana turned to the entrance, and Stelio smiled.

“Captain Reid, right on time, please come in!” 

Mirana frowned at the earthman.

“Hello good sir, how long were you standing there?” she asked Reid.

“Long enough!” he winked at her, she squinted at him.

“Uhh..Mirana, perhaps we can discuss matters another time, I have business with the captain.”

Mirana stared daggers at Reid.

“What sort of business?” she asked Stelio.

“We’re trying to ‘save the world’ business, my lady,” answered Reid, bowing politely.  

Mirana understood, the elf must have told the earthman who she was.

“So, you’re Captain Reid. The earthman everyone is enamored with.”

“Not everyone, obviously. But don’t worry, I’ll rub off on you.”

“Hopefully not too much, good captain.”

She curtseyed to Reid, turned and did the same to Stelio, “My king, we’ll speak again.”

Everyone bowed and Mirana left the tent. Stelio shot a smirk at Reid.

“What dude? Don’t look at me like that, I’m not the one kissing my cousin!”

“She’s my second cousin and we weren’t kissing, but why would that matter to you.”

“I’m sorry what? It sounds to me like you’re not acknowledging the problem before us,” Reid moved close to Stelio with an aggressive stance.

However the king, at six foot three, stood taller than Reid’s five foot eleven. The king couldn’t help but smile.

“Heh, and what problem do we have, little captain?”

“What? You dog, I oughta belt you- Mmph?” The king silenced Reid with a kiss. After ten seconds, Reid fought back.

“Get off me you brute!...You see what I mean? You don’t think this is a problem?” he asked Stelio.

“Aye captain, I'll admit it is.” He pulled Reid to him and held him close.

“Oh why does this feel so nice...stupid wolf..I wouldn’t even know what to do with you. Ima man dammit!” barked Reid, girlishly pounding Stelio’s safe and warm chest.

“As am I,” replied Stelio pulling Reid over to his full size cot.

Reid lay on top of Stelio’s chest, and Stelio asked him.

“Reid...you told Mirana..”

“Who? Oh your kissing cousin, yeah.”

“Ah?..(sigh).  You told my cousin Mirana you were here to speak to me about, “saving the world”..........did you mean it?”

Reid hugged Stelio tight, and hid his face in Stelio’s chest.

“Maybe, what do we need to do to save this world?” asked Reid, getting kissed on his head by Stelio.

“We need to destroy vast armies...and institute power with people making decisions...The doctor called it..Dema-krasee,” answered Stelio.

“Democracy?..Holy shit... that doctor told you about democracy...heh...hunh...I guess that’s almost worth saving a planet for.”

“Oh, you're familiar with this form of government?” asked Stelio, delighted.

“Yeah bro (kiss) I am (kiss)..but it ain’t easy..(kiss)..but not to change topics again...but what does your beautiful cousin want?”

“To have my puppy,” grumbled Stelio.

“Gross! That bitch is your cousin!”

“Second cousin. Is this not common where you’re from captain?”

“...Actually it is..heh heh, it’s still gross though,” laughed Reid.

“Well, if you want to be the mother of my child maybe Mirana will stop her advance hahaha!” laughed Stelio..

Reid didn’t laugh. He lift his head from Stelio’s chest and squinted an evil stare in Stelio’s (grey green) eyes.

“Eh? Captain...I was joking..”

“Were you?” asked Reid, still staring..

“Captain, why are you looking at me like that?”

“ Because...maybe I want to have your puppy...you fool king...”

“ …..What?”