After guiding Winters home, his armor cleaned and purified, Veera began to build a fire. As she did so she could feel her hands beginning to shake as fear pulsed through her body, radiating from the place where the warm feelings for her human usually resided. Winters had said nothing since admitting that he had tried to kill fleeing enemies. He’d been silent as she cleaned him at the river and silent as they’d walked back. He’d been silent in the village streets and now sat silently on the edge of her bed, his elbows on his knees and his hands clasped together. Io had been similarly absent, a state of affairs Veera blamed on the VI’s discovery that she was not infallible and could, in fact, make mistakes just like a human. When their home was finally lit Veera walked up to him and placed a hand on either side of his helmet. He didn’t resist.

“I’m going to take your armor off, ok Russell?” She sighed heavily when he gave no response, allowing her fear and frustration to show. With a bit of aid from Io, who popped all the relevant seals, she was able to remove it easily. Winters’ hair fell in front of his eyes once it was freed from its confines, shrouding his expression. His lips were drawn into a thin line and his jaw was rigid and set. Trying her best to ignore it Veera moved on to his shoulders, working her way down his body as his armor soon joined his weapons in the customary spot inside their small home. “Russell, can you stand please? We need to get this off of you.” She pointed to the undersuit. Without a word he stood and began to slowly remove it himself, his fingers fumbling with the offset front seam as his body attempted to comply. She helped him with light touch, despairing as she found his hands cold and sweating. She wanted nothing more than to get him out of his suit, to get him away from the tools of war that he’d been in when he’d…changed.

After she folded and replaced his suit Veera turned back to find Winters laying naked on the bed, their new blanket haphazardly covering him up to his waist as he stared at the ceiling. She couldn’t hold it in any longer. Seeing him like this, going through the bare motions but without any sort of spark, was too much. It was like the man she’d fallen in love with had died, even as his body still lived. Turning her back to him so as to hide her tears, Veera removed her cloak and dress easily, dropping them on her chair before padding over to the bed. “Gods, Russell. What happened to you?” She whispered, gingerly climbing atop him and settling herself down against his body. He was rigid and cold, his muscles tense as he continued to shake. Not knowing what else to do and with Io clearly silent and out of ideas, Veera drew up the blanket and tried her best to warm him with her own fur. As she lay there in silence she counted the tears that fell one by one onto his chest. She’d never imagined the toll of killing would be so great on him. Her sobs filled the room as the fire cracked and burned.

Veera quietly cried herself out, the sounds of Winters’ steady breathing the only thing about him that she could reach to for solace. She didn’t know where the desperate thought came from, didn’t know how it pierced the sorrowful fog of her mind, but she began to speak to him, began to confess some of the fears that had fulminated under the surface for many days and nights.

“I am…a very selfish woman…aren’t I Russell? Do you remember that night? The night we allowed Asha and Zolta to mate here, on this bed? I do. I remember telling you that I wanted something more for us. I was so focused on Asha and her desire to have a cub, so willing to make that my own desire that I said that selfish thing to you. You didn’t choose to be human, did you?” Veera asked, propping herself up and straddling him at his waist. She began running a claw over his chest as she continued, watching him with piercing eyes for any sign of reaction. “No, of course you didn’t choose to be who you are. I never chose to have stripes, or to be a Cauthan instead of a human, but here I am…here we are. Don’t you think that’s something special, Russell? Don’t you think that maybe…I was wrong that night? I asked you for something you didn’t know, something I didn’t even know. I was so excited to be in love, so excited to be loved that I forgot. I forgot that you’re just like me. You also can’t have children because of who you chose to be with. You chose that path anyway…” Veera could feel herself warming slightly as she forcefully rejected the present in favor of fonder memories of the past. Though Winters didn’t show any reaction to her words, his body was slowly responding to her movements atop him.

“I want you to know that I’m sorry, darling. I’m sorry for placing that burden on you. You took it upon yourself easily, just like you do everything else…just like you did tonight.” Veera pressed her hips down and felt him stiffen behind her, his manhood slowly rising to rest between her hindquarters. It was seemingly the only part of him that even cared for the outside world. “You went out there and you saved me. You saved us all; not because you had to do it or because someone ordered you to…but because that’s the kind of man you are, Russell. That’s the kind of man I fell in love with,” Veera whispered, a tension crushing at her heart as her tears began to flow again.

“I love you, Russell Winters. I love you because of everything that you are. I know now that I never needed…more from you,” she promised, raising herself with her legs and reaching between their bodies to grasp his length and position him at her entrance. Her body tensed as she sobbed again. “I never wanted it to be this way. I never wanted to see you like this. I never meant to ask you to be anything more than what you are so please…wherever you are…come back to me!” She cried to him, lowering herself in an attempt to join their bodies in the only other way she could think of. Her own biology revolted, refusing to allow easy passage. She wasn’t aroused. She wasn’t ready. Her muscles wouldn’t relax. Her body wouldn’t open or obey. Instead she felt only pain and discomfort as she attempted to force his manhood into her. Another sob wracked her body as she rejected him against her will. Collapsing forward, her hands on his shoulders, she made a final plea to her human. “Save me.”

-----

Did I…die? No…no that’s right. I’m not dead. I’m the one who killed. This is the forest isn’t it? Wait…where’s Xan? What happened to him? I don’t…remember. Veera…Veera is that you? You sound so…far away. Good. I’m…glad. I always knew this would happen someday. I always knew I’d enjoy it too much, that I’d kill because it made me feel powerful. I’m glad you’re far away from me…somewhere safe I hope, somewhere warm…far warmer than this.

Is this…the river? I don’t recognize this place. Why are…why are you still here Veera? I thought you’d gone. Run Veera; please run I don’t want you to…I…that’s a sweet song. Maybe I’m allowed this one last thing then, before the end?

Wait Veera, don’t do this to me. You can’t! Without my armor I’ll…no…please stop!

Russell Winters felt himself coming unmoored with each passing moment as the weight of his armor, the only thing keeping his soul grounded and safe, was stripped away. By the time the last piece fell from his body he didn’t know where he was anymore, his mind consumed by flashes of a blade, arcs of crimson, and screams of terror. His world was black. He was one with Kel, the void of the universe. The souls of the dead, the souls that he’d killed, ferried him on to the place he deserved. He couldn’t feel the fire, couldn’t see Veera, couldn’t control his movements…if he was moving at all. He simply didn’t know. It felt like he was underwater, no sounds but the muffled call of the deep. He tried to listen but he couldn’t. As he floated in the cold dark a new weight fell onto him. It was different than the others, lighter somehow and yet heavier than all the rest combined. He tried to move, tried to respond in kind. He was afraid. He didn’t want to die. A toe twitched, and his universe shrank.

He was looking down at Mara, darkness shrouding the side of the planet he called home. There was a faint sound, a voice on the solar wind. He reached for it. A finger moved, and his world shrank again.

He was in the forest, naked and cold in the dark. The cries of the fleeing survivors rang in his ear but something else was there too. Something warm and wet struck his face. He looked up, and the forest gave way.

He was inside the city walls, gazing down at the macabre scene he’d created. He could feel the bodies stirring, could feel them reaching for him but something else reached for him too. Something touched him. He felt his body respond and he was blinded by light. As it faded Winters found he could move his eyes. He looked around.

This is…I’m home? I…I can move I think? Yeah that was my hand, that’s working. There’s light and heat. There’s a fire. We’re…alive right? I think I’m alive. I wouldn’t have an erection if I was dead…would I? But wait, if that’s true then…Veera…what are you…I can’t hear you. Wait, let me try. I think I can just…

“I’m sorry darling…”

Why are you sorry Veera? You did nothing. I’m the one who’s sorry.

“You saved us all…”

No…you’re wrong Veera. You didn’t see; you weren’t there!

“I love you because of everything you are…”

How? How could you…wait…don’t Veera! You didn’t want this!

“Come back to me…”

I can’t Veera…you said it yourself. I already saved you.

“Save me!”

Winters felt his heart throb painfully, once and then twice. He blinked once, and then again. He felt his limbs respond to his commands, felt the sensation of fur atop him. His conscious mind gasped like a suffocating man breaking the surface of a frozen lake. It struggled to keep up as it reacquainted itself with his body, his status, his position. He felt something warm between his legs, something uncomfortable. He felt tears splash against his face and claws press into his shoulders. He looked up and saw Veera’s eyes shut tight in fear and desperation. He looked down, saw where her hand had been, what she was trying to do. Not like this. He willed his body to move, and it responded.

-----

Veera was at the end of her rope. Her body wouldn’t cooperate and Winters remained lost to her. Fear dominated her mind and forced her to quiver atop him as tears were pressed from between her closed eyelids. She was completely unprepared as an arm encircled her, pulling her tight to Winters’ suddenly animated body. Her yelp of surprise punctuated the night as she was flipped over effortlessly, the blanket long forgotten as her eyes flew open and beheld the most beautiful sight they’d ever seen. Winters’ blue eyes danced in the firelight. They were alive. They were looking not through her, but at her.

“Darling…please speak to me!” She whispered, raising her hands to his face. Her pads felt wonderful to him. He remembered the first time they’d met. They’d been calloused from non-stop work in her field and her grueling life. Now they were soft and smooth. They soothed him, just like she did.

“Feather kitten…” At those words Veera felt herself break down, the trials of the hours long raid and its aftermath flowing through her before being finally banished as she threw her arms around his neck and pulled him close. He was alive. He was ok. He was back. Her legs eagerly followed suit, wrapping around his thighs and ensuring that he had no choice but to remain in her hold, to stay with her.

“Are you really back, Russell? Please tell me you’re back. I don’t…I can’t go through that again. Seeing you like that was just too much. It was like you weren’t even alive…” Winters sighed as she continued to whisper in his ear, allowing himself a moment to revel in the feeling of her. She was soft and warm, tender and supple. He didn’t bother hiding his thoughts.

“I don’t…ever want to leave you again,” he told her softly, leaning his head forward to capture her lips in a kiss that he felt would save his soul. Their tongues joined one another almost immediately, thrilled to be connected again as lips locked and mingled. Veera moaned deeply, allowing all of her stress and fear to bleed out of her as the touch of his mouth set her alight. The feeling that had eluded her before began to swell and grow in her belly just like when he’d massaged her, when he’d made her feel good. His free hand roamed over her body as he supported himself, indulging in the soft fur of her chest before moving further and around to grasp at her behind. Her tail whipped and she purred for him as his shaft brushed across her slit. His body responded eagerly to the touch and he suddenly broke their kiss.

“Veera, what were you trying to do back there?” Her feathers quaked with embarrassment and fear as she looked away from him. She’d not felt such shame since she’d accepted Gentia’s charity.

“It was the only thing I could think of, the only thing left…to bring you back to me. I just couldn’t fathom being alone again…even if it meant that.” Her words slammed into him like a war hammer, the lengths to which he’d almost forced her to go becoming clear in his mind. He shook his head violently to dispel that miasma before leaning down to claim her ear.

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“No, my love. Never again,” he promised between tiny nips and bites, beginning to feel her body come alive under him, pushing and rubbing. “We promised…we would find something more.”

“I don’t want more!” Veera cried desperately, her claws raking along his back just hard enough, just the way she knew he liked it. If her previous words had been a blunt instrument, her next statement filled him with molten fire. “I want you. I want us! It’s more than enough…”

“I want you too,” he growled, moving to her neck where he licked and bit, his hand still running over her thighs and ass, grasping and stroking, creating a wonderful electrical connection between every point of contact between their bodies. Veera hugged herself close to him, allowing that sensation to explode over her front, her feathers a riot of black and gold. He was warming up again. “I want us.”

“Then take me!” She demanded, pulling back to look him in the eye as she bucked her hips into him. “Make me yours Russell…mate me.” With a silent nod, Winters lowered their bodies fully to the bed, resting on his elbows and knees just above her. His right hand cradled her head as he kissed her and rubbed her ears. His left moved to rest on her flank, a calming presence that steadied her mind and body.

“Are you sure, Veera?” He asked, feeling the heat of her center on his manhood. She smiled warmly at him, in no mood to ever deny him but happy that he asked.

“Yes, I’m sure love,” she replied as she took his lip between her teeth, feeling her body surge with life and heat. She could feel her nether lips getting slick as her legs adjusted to keep their hold on his lower body; could feel how the protective ring of muscle that formed her entrance was relaxing. “I’m ready for you. Please, give yourself to me.” Veera sucked in a breath along with her partner as he complied, bringing his head to her entrance and pushing inside of her. It was beyond anything she’d ever felt before, an involuntary gasp leaving her lips as her human slowly stretched her. After a brief moment he paused, rocking his hips back so that he rested just outside of her again. She mewled hungrily at him.

“It was a lot, yeah?” He asked tenderly, rubbing his thumb slowly over her cheek and bringing his forehead to hers. She’d never felt more loved.

“It was, but I can take it. I want to take it,” she reassured him, leaning into his soothing touch.

“Place your paws against my chest, ok?” Veera complied, bringing her hands from around his neck to press gently against his pectorals. Winters gave her a small smile. “If it’s ever too much, use them, alright?” She nodded, her amber eyes wide with excitement as he took her silent agreement as permission to continue. With relative ease, his tip now coated in her essence, Winters slipped back inside of her, filling her just a bit more than he had the first time before withdrawing again. Their eyes locked on one another, constantly feeling each other out, seeking the soul of their partner as Winters continued his unhurried conquest of her body. Every thrust he drove deeper, eliciting desperate moans of pleasure from Veera as her claws pricked his chest. Her core was hot and tight around him.

“Gods…Russell!” Veera gasped as she felt herself stretched again and again. The only thing more thrilling than the knowledge that she was taking him into her was the fact that her body was, somehow, accommodating him with each thrust. She had no idea how she was doing it, but the sense of completion she felt as she accepted Winters into her was bliss. He may have been a human, but as far as her body was concerned he fit her well.

Veera’s thighs strengthened their hold on his lower body as their mouths clashed, his eager lips drinking in her purring moans. What had begun as an acute, mildly painful sensation of discomfort had slowly changed to a warm, fulfilling conquest; the feeling of his manhood inside her distributed more and more along her channel, diffusing the pain and heightening the pleasure. After what seemed a blissful eternity she felt him stop moving. Her breathing was shallow and panting, every contraction of her diaphragm reminding her of the fact that Winters was inside her. She felt so full. Opening her eyes and breaking from their passionate kiss, Veera saw a particularly pleased human looking down at her.

“Go ahead, take a look,” he encouraged, feeling a surge of satisfaction as he watched Veera’s eyes travel down his body before widening with shock.

“You’re…oh…oh Russell…aaah!” As she looked down Veera had been treated to the delightful sight of their two bodies joined at the hips, his shaft completely vanished inside of her. They had mated. They were one. Any reply she might have given him morphed into a blissful cry of pleasure as Winters contracted the muscles of his pelvis, causing him to pulse inside of her. Her body responded immediately, involuntarily contracting around him in waves. Her cry was soon joined by the moans of her lover as he felt her body accept him into her. “You sound…you feel…so good!” She gasped as he started to move again, easing into her at a measured pace that allowed her to savor all of the wonderful new sensations that her body was capable of. The sounds of her slick nether lips began to fill their home as his hips met hers, skin against fur.

“Damnit Veera you’re…how the hell are you doing that?!” Winters ground out, burying his head in the crook of her neck as he tried to keep a steady rhythm through the thrumming pleasure that Veera was instilling in him. The walls of her maidenhood were moving around him in slow, repetitive, undulating waves from her entrance all the way to what he could only assume was the beginning of her womb. The biological implications were clear and it drove him damn near insane. Her body desperately wanted his seed. In the moment his Cauthan grew bold beneath him.

“How is it?” Veera asked urgently, not knowing how to answer his question. He picked up the pace in response to her contractions, earning a tiny yelp from her. “How do I feel, my human?” Winters gasped as she began whispering in his ear, his body feeling the fires of sex coursing through him at her words. Her silky, pleasure-addled voice was sweet and decadent in his ear. He knew he’d soon be addicted to it.

“It’s…unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. You’re so hot I’m going to melt. And…gnngh! Yeah, whatever that thing you’re doing with your hips is. It’s like you’re trying to…”

“Yes, my wonderful lover!” Veera moaned, arching her back as a particularly violent thrust left her feeling lightheaded, blood rushing to her ears and feathers. “I do want it! I want it very, very much!” At her words her lover stopped just for a moment, raising his head up to capture her ear again. He bit down, hard.

“You first.” With a rumbling growl he promised her completion and set upon her body, his teeth and lips leaving trails of fire along the shell of her ear, down her jawline, and over her neck and shoulders. His hands roamed over her fur, earning moans of delight as he felt just how beautiful her body had become. Veera’s jaw went slack and her eyes lost focus as the sensations began to overwhelm her and a curious force began to build in her core, right where her lover was thrusting strongly inside of her. It was like a pool of liquid lightning was being spawned within her, slowly growing and building as he lit the rest of her senses ablaze. Smells became crisp and clear. Her fur stood on end. She felt it capture her left leg first, felt it close tight around him and refuse to let go. Her right leg followed suit, locking in place and quivering as her entire lower body began to shudder from sensory overload. For the briefest of moments Veera panicked. She reached out to him.

“Russell! Something is…happening to me! I’m not…I can’t-” Her fears were immediately silenced as Winters responded to her plea and her tone of voice. In one deft motion he rested all the weight of his upper body on his left shoulder, bringing his left arm under her to support her upper body and head. His right arm moved lower, supporting her lower body in a firm grip that had her tail lashing against him as she was held entirely flush against his panting form. The feeling of being completely weightless while he continued to enter her was beyond exquisite and her body reacted easily, the pool of electricity flowing up into her chest and through her arms before it shot straight to her brain and addled her thoughts. “R-Russ…” He closed his eyes and gave her his heart.

“I’ve got you Veera. I’ve got you and I’m never letting go. Come undone for me…please.” With that final whispered plea Veera’s world shattered. She wailed into the night as fire ignited in her center and blazed through her. Her talons flexed and curled while her claws sank deep into his back. Her cathartic cry turned into a long, panting moan as Winters continued to hold and love her through the pain of what he knew would be at least a few shallow wounds in his back. The only thing that mattered to him in that moment was to prolong Veera’s peak of pleasure, to extend her orgasm as best he could. Fortunately for him his body responded to the situation well, too far gone for a bit of pain to override the pleasure of feeling Veera’s release quake through her entire body. The pain was just one more sensation that helped drive him to the precipice. With a deep, animalistic cry of his own Winters felt himself tip over the edge, spilling his seed deep into Veera’s womb as her passage did its best to sustain his orgasm; all the while she rode out hers. “Veera…I’m cumming,” he gasped.

“Oh gods! Russell!” She cried his name yet again as she felt him release within her, the pulsing of his manhood sending wonderful aftershocks through her body. There was no doubt in her mind that they had both discovered that special something she’d wanted, that something more. With tears in her eyes she captured her lovers lips in a final kiss to end all kisses that brought them both down from their orgasmic highs into a post-coital mess of limbs, fur, sweat, and even a bit of blood. They both tasted of mint.

Even in the aftermath Winters proved a consummate lover, using his tongue and lips to gently caress his mate and ease her down softly from her first climax, biting her lip as he slowly slid out of her. Veera mewled as she felt her body respond in the natural Cauthan manner, trapping his seed within her as the muscular ring of her opening closed shut. “All…mine…” she managed, finally allowing herself to splay out on the mattress beneath him, the warm smile of her lover all the reward she ever needed, to say nothing of the incredible sensation of fulfilling her womanhood. She giggled as a thought struck her.

“Care to share?” Winters asked, wincing as he rolled off of her and onto his side, still running his hands idly over her body. Everywhere he touched her body sparked in response. It was heaven.

“Nothing much…” she assured him between breaths. “Was just thinking that I could get addicted to this.”

“For both our sakes, I hope you do. That being said,” he winced again as he reached a hand behind him and came away with blood on his fingers. “I hope it doesn’t end up like this every time.” Winters laughed before quickly pressing his lips against Veera’s. “I know that look in your eyes, love. Trust me; I would never, ever give any of what we just did up. It was…everything to me,” his voice dropped as he gazed into her eyes, hoping she understood just how much it meant to him that she’d brought him back from the brink of his own mind. “I don’t know if this is what you…” he looked down for a moment. “What you wanted in the end, but I’m never going to forget the way you looked and felt as you came for me. No human has ever been able to do what I just did…and billions upon billions of us have existed.” Veera had been about to giggle at the absurdity of his statement until it suddenly struck her as profoundly beautiful. Running her fingers over his chest she repeated it to herself, testing it out.

“I’m the only Cauthan…to have ever tasted of a human male.” He cocked a brow at her. “You’re right my love. Feeling and seeing you give me your seed was…maybe one day I’ll be able to put it into words. For now though, let me care for you?” Nodding in agreement, Winters propped himself up on one arm and looked towards their pile of equipment. He found himself unable to control a snort of laughter.

“I think we need to care for someone else first. Hey, Io! You feeling alright there?” Veera soon found herself laughing as well as she beheld the VI. If the bare shoulders and smooth, creamy skin were any indication Io had ditched her clothing a long time back, peeking through a holographic window shade with the crimson blush of a voyeur caught in the act all over her face.

‘I…Mein…Gott.’ She managed, walking out of her projection for just a moment before reappearing wearing a silken emerald robe. She took a deep breath and looked at Veera, great shame on her face. ‘Thank you Veera, for doing what I could not. I am…really happy to have him back.’ Veera crawled over to her digital ‘sister’ as Winters pushed himself up and off the bed, grabbing their blanket off the floor and dusting it off before moving to collect the now well-used medkit. He chose to ignore the two pairs of female eyes raking appreciatively over his body.

“What else are you happy about, Io?” Veera teased, her playful nature letting Io know that in light of what appeared to be a happy ending all would be forgiven. Even so the VI squirmed under the Cauthan’s gaze, her hands clasped behind her back.

‘I’m really…happy I got to watch that,’ she admitted, her voice barely a peep. ‘I don’t…think I was able to cum like either of you but…still. Oh, thank you Russell.’ The human winked as he removed his undersuit from atop the pile of Aegis armor. ‘I could definitely stand to cool my capacitors a bit.’

“Take your time Io. And…” He rubbed his neck, shaking his head at what he was about to allow. “As long as Veera’s alright with it, you don’t have to hide when you watch us.” His mate regarded him thoughtfully.

“Was I pretty, Io?” Veera asked.

‘You were beautiful beyond words, Veera.’ The Cauthan shot her human a wide grin.

“She can watch! Now, your back?” Shifting to the side to allow Winters to lay flat on the bed, Veera hissed and winced as she saw what she’d done to his back. He sported five shallow puncture wounds that had, fortunately, slowed their bleeding relatively quickly. Three were on his right shoulder, just medial to the shoulder blade. The other two resided just below his left clavicle. “What do you need me to do Russell?” She asked, hoping that unlike what had transpired in the temple of Kel, her lover could guide her this time.

“Here you go.” He handed her a small blue pouch. “That’s a disinfectant. After you clean the blood off, wipe the wounds with that. Once that’s done, slap one of these on each shoulder.” He handed her two large, green squares, packages that contained standard issue bandages for mild trauma. After their work on Xan there would be only one left. “So yeah that should be it, nothing too-” Winters gasped, his sentence cut short as Veera straddled his waist and leaned over him. He couldn’t help a grunt of pleasure-pain as Veera’s velvety tongue carefully swept over his wounds, cleaning blood and any minute debris from the area. Knowing that he was getting a dose of disinfectant right after Winters didn’t protest, instead feeling his body react well to the sensual and caring nature of her touches. As she worked Veera’s tail swished happily behind her, a reflection of her buoyed spirits. Even his hissing protests at the disinfectant wipe seemed cute and endearing. When her task was complete and Winters’ back tended to, Veera replaced the medkit and returned to her lover, his arms open to her as he invited her to bed. Without a second thought she curled up beside him, pressing her back flush against his chest and indulging in the noise he made as she pressed her ass into his groin, her tail caressing his legs.

“You’re an insatiable woman,” he whispered, bringing his arms around her strong, lithe frame like it was the most natural place for her in all the world. He wanted her to stay there forever.

“You just make me feel good, that’s all,” Veera yawned, feeling waves of fatigue crashing over her and robbing her of capacity for more eloquent speech. With a final, low chuckle that made Veera feel at home in his arms, Winters closed his eyes along with her, sleep finally finding the two of them as the first pale glow of Seil’s light began to banish the darkness in the west.