Chapter 3

When Lennard first met Harlow, he had recently suffered an injury from a fall. His ankle had turned while exiting The Soft Underside club, where he frequently took lunch. He was able to walk on it, but the fall had shown him how useful an extra set of hands and feet would be. It was also a reminder of his own mortality. He wasn't a young man anymore, and some help around the clinic could be very useful.

In that way, the timing of finding Harlow at the Poldare house in need of employment was extremely fortuitous. He had seen the boy around town before, noticing him working odd jobs for people. But he hadn't really considered him as anything more than the son of the town drunk, a street urchin trying to make ends meet.

With his skewed point of view, Lennard really hadn't expected much from Harlow. The Poldare twins seemed to like him well enough, and they had mentioned his service from time to time. They had told Lennard that he could count and measure, so hiring him for a few weeks while he healed seemed like an easy choice. Lennard was somewhat afraid that he would find his Wanetta and other supplies missing, but he was willing to take the loss for the assistance.

Within the first few days, Lennard discovered how wrong he had been about Harlow. The boy was intelligent and diligent, and he had an almost insatiable curiosity and loved to read.

Lennard slowly grew accustomed to the idea of having Harlow around. He even began to think that Harlow would make a decent physician. He had never actually offered Harlow an apprenticeship, but he began pushing him harder. He began involving him more in the work, and he soon found that the boy was eager and capable. Harlow's results made Lennard extremely happy he had made the decision to hire him.

Harlow had a difficult home life, though. This was something Lennard had little experience with. Lennard's family had been loving and large, and he was the oldest sibling in his family. He knew from an early age that he was going to be a physician, and began absorbing knowledge as fast as possible. He liked to read and ingested knowledge in much the same way as Harlow did now.

Lennard had a boring home life, but once he ventured out, he discovered a new taste for life. He was no longer someone who could be called chaste. He enjoyed the pleasures of the flesh and had no regrets about doing so. But for all the fun he had, he felt like he was missing out as he watched the people around him pair off and become mated. He always thought he would eventually meet his mate as well, but sadly, that never happened.

The years moved on, and Lennard stayed alone. Eventually, he lost hope of finding a mate and accepted that he would be alone in this life. He still enjoyed the company of another person in his bed from time to time, but the attachment associated with finding an actual mate had never come into his life.

He knew that most species were not strictly monogamous, and many Canursids weren't either. However, with their tails, Canursids had the extrasensory ability to find a life mate. Canursid tails imparted many emotions and sensations. When a person of the Canursid species found a highly compatible partner, those emotions were transmitted between the two. It is said that the pair would experience a connection compared only to the overstimulation which occurred with The Bonding ritual.

Sadly, Lennard had never experienced anything quite so powerful. He had all but given up on finding a life mate and starting a family. He accepted his loneliness and was content to visit certain establishments for single Canursids when his urges arrived. He even knew a few of the workers who seemed to particularly enjoy his company. As far as a family, he had long since given up on having children of his own.

But then Harlow came into his life. Over the years, Lennard had grown accustomed to Harlow's company and looked forward to their interactions. The boy was mature for his age, and he would come up with different theories and hold a conversation better than most people in town.

Harlow had been forced to grow up fast, but he had always maintained an innocence and pure heart. Even though his home life continued to deteriorate, he never lost his sense of wonder. Lennard saw the boy as the stand-in for the son he never had.

It was for this reason that Lennard had decided to do something out of the ordinary. Harlow's father was a drunk who rarely interacted with his son. Lennard knew the man would never get around to bringing his son to manhood, so Lennard decided to perform the ceremony himself.

Lennard understood and accepted the risks. He felt the negative outcomes were minimal, especially since Harlow saw him as a substitute father. He hadn't had a specific time or date planned, but with the heightened emotions of the day's events as well as this fortuitous bath-time encounter, he felt the timing was correct.

Harlow was at a point in his development where his hormones were growing stronger than his common sense. If he were to act on them before becoming a man, his life might be forfeit. In the best-case scenario, he and Mika would attempt The Bonding and would be inseparable, which would lead to their staying in town and Harlow losing his opportunities to become a physician. Lennard simply couldn't allow such an intelligent and driven young man to end up as a lonely old miser, a simple worker, or a drug-addled loser like his father.

Lennard said matter-of-factly, "To start, I want you to touch my tail."

Harlow's eyes widened. He had not expected this. It was taboo to touch another Canursid's tail.

"Go ahead," Lennard said. "It's part of the ceremony. You need to understand how these things work." He brought his tail up out of the water and presented it to Harlow.

Harlow looked at the tail floating in the air just above the water. He knew that a Canursid's tail was a powerful sensory organ, capable of picking up on things that normal senses couldn't. It was also what made Canursids unique. Most species had a certain ability or trait that made them special. For Canursids, it was their tail.

This would be the first time Harlow would interact with another person's tail. He looked at Mr. Haramin, who smiled politely at him. The older Canursid's body language was relaxed, but his eyes were filled with anticipation. He was waiting for Harlow to move forward and begin the ceremony by touching his tail.

Slowly, Harlow brought his hands up out of the water. He gently reached out his fingers to the proffered appendage. He didn't know what to do with it, though. He had absolutely no experience in this area. He ran a finger along the length, but kept it on top.

"Oh, come on, boy," Lennard said with a chuckle in his voice. "We've known each other for over two years now. You know you're not the first to touch it, and I'm too direct for such gentle tickles. Grab the thing and give it a good feel."

Harlow felt his cheeks flush at his mentor's words. He knew that Mr. Haramin liked to be direct and get things done. It made sense that he would want Harlow to show some confidence. To do what was necessary, even if it made him feel squeamish. That was part of being a physician.

Harlow inhaled deeply and grabbed Lennard's outstretched tail. He wrapped his fingers around it tightly, his hand barely fitting all the way around. Lennard's tail was like his body, thick and strong. Harlow's fingers came into contact with his thumb on the bottom of the tail, where the fur was much different than the rest.

Instead of the short, coarse hair that covered the rest of Lennard's tail, the fur on the underside was extremely soft. Harlow's eyes widened again. This was something he had never felt before. His fingers and thumb seemed to melt into the fur. He brought his face close to the tail where he held it.

He could see his fingers resting on the bottom of the tail, but the fur there was different. Rather than laying down flat like the rest of the tail, a ridge of hair rose up. It was slightly longer than the other fur and felt inexplicably soft.

The change in composition couldn't explain the change in sensation he was experiencing on his fingertips though. They felt as though they were submerged in the softest, most feathery fur imaginable. It was as if they were drowning in velvety softness beyond compare.

“It’s softer than anything, isn’t it?” Lennard asked softly. A wide smile crossed his broad face.

Harlow held on to the tail a little longer and replied, “Soft isn’t the right word. Soft doesn’t even start to explain. There’s no comparison. My tail is nothing like this.”

The smile on Lennard’s face widened, if possible. “That is why we’re here.”

Harlow's brain started to put the pieces together. Mr. Haramin had said that the ritual would allow him to feel pleasure. The ritual was to make his tail have a soft underside like Mr. Haramin's did. Like all adult Canursids, he realized. He moved his fingers through the soft hair gently, feeling along the tail and watching the fur as it reached out to touch his fingers like it felt an attraction to them.

Lennard shifted, folded his legs, and said with a shiver, "I think that's enough for now. A person's tail can be very stimulating. Besides, it's time for you to allow me to touch your tail."

Harlow hesitated for a few seconds. He was still a little apprehensive, but now that he had a better understanding of the ritual, it made sense that he would need to allow Lennard to touch his tail.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

He somewhat reluctantly let go of his teacher's tail and shifted his position. He moved to his right and allowed his own tail to float up into the space where Lennard's had been. "Okay. I think I'm ready."

Lennard reached out his large hands gently. One hand gripped Harlow's tail near the base, while the other took hold of his tail further down and pulled slightly. The boy's tail extended out. Lennard's hand, the one near the base, encircled the entire appendage. His fingers touched along the underside of the tail, and his claws lightly grazed the skin.

Harlow let out an audible gulp as he felt the sharp claws come into contact with his tail. The description Lennard had used earlier about ripping open came into his mind and his pulse quickened. He grit his teeth anticipating a painful scratch.

With a gentle yet firm motion, Lennard began to slide his hand downward along Harlow's tail. As he moved, his claws gently cut open the tightly wound hair still bound together. It was this freeing of the hair underneath the tail which many young Canursids tried to do on their own and what led to improper bonding. With each hair freed in this manner, Harlow would be able to sense more and more.

Lennard knew the experience would be a stimulation overload. He knew the ceremony would end with Harlow having his first climax. He completely understood what Harlow was going through, because his father had released his own tail in this fashion. This was the way a Canursid child became an adult.

Only a finger's breadth down, Lennard felt Harlow’s body begin to spasm. He froze momentarily to let the young man breathe and acclimate.

“It’s very stimulating isn’t it? Now you know why it’s taboo to touch a person’s tail without consent.” he said and began moving his hand down Harlow’s tail again. He spoke the incantation in a whisper.

Immediately upon feeling Lennard’s touch, Harlow’s groin area became hot. His body was reacting in a way he had never experienced before. A shiver ran through his body, and he knew with certainty that Lennard felt his body spasm. He froze in shock.

Lennard continued to slowly slide his hand down Harlow's tail. With every slight movement, Harlow felt new waves of pleasure and excitement wash over him. He could almost feel each individual hair begin to rise as it was released by Lennard's claw.

This was definitely the first time anyone had touched Harlow's tail. He had even refrained from touching his own tail for fear of being seen as a pervert or something. Not a single hair had been released from its tightly woven prison until now, so Harlow was intimately feeling each extrasensory hair as it sprang to life.

As the man's large hand slowly moved further down. Harlow was awash in pleasurable, intense feelings. His body shuddered with the waves of stimulation. His brain stopped reacting, it was a complete sensory overload. He was left unable to move or think. He even felt as though he was having a hard time remembering to breathe.

There was more going on than just waves of pleasure rushing through Harlow’s body. Emotions flooded into him. Joy, pride, and excitement; these emotions were not his own but they entered his mind through his tail. He could sense Lennard's emotions. He could feel the pride he felt in Harlow. The joy of being able to bring him into manhood. He could feel his mentor’s excitement being able to perform this ritual for the first time.

There was still more, though. Something deep within Harlow's mind opened. It was like a wall crumbled, unlocking an entire section of his mind that he had always known he had, but never knew existed. The new area opened up and expanded outward, flooding Harlow's body with emotion and insight.

The new area of his mind moved beyond Harlow's body. Within seconds, he could perceive Lennard's body, but not his physical body. Instead, he sensed the mental image that Lennard held of himself.

He could also feel the loneliness that Lennard knew too well, as well as the desires that Lennard held within his heart: friendship, goodness, and a need to help others and put their lives above his own.

There was also something dark. He held this at his core, almost like it was a part of Lennard that he dared not release. It burned and writhed and fought against the boundaries that Lennard used to keep it in place.

His mentor's large hand neared the end of his tail. Harlow's brain was beyond being able to comprehend anything but the amazing sensations occurring within his body. He shuddered as the ecstatic electricity pulsed through his body. He lost the ability to control himself, and with one last epic spasm, he released his seed into the water.

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Finally the large hands slipped off of his tail and Harlow’s vision slowly came back into focus. The memories of the ritual felt blurry, only the sensory overload remained.

Harlow Looked down between his legs and confirmed his suspicions. He had never actually experienced an ejaculation before. He knew what it was and how it was achieved, but books couldn’t correctly describe the actual feeling of it happening.

Harlow looked around the room, trying to remember how he had gotten there. The last few minutes had become a blur of emotion and pleasure. He was still in the tub with his mentor, Lennard, who was smiling at him from the other side.

Harlow looked at Lennard. He still saw the man he knew, the mentor and teacher he admired. But he saw something different as well now. He saw a lonely man who wanted to have a family. He saw a person who had dreams and emotions, desires and needs.

Harlow felt a wave of compassion for Lennard. He knew that Lennard had never been married or had children. He had dedicated his life to his work, and he had never had the time or opportunity to build a family.

Harlow's feelings towards Lennard began to change. They were confusing and not at all what he expected. He had idolized Lennard since becoming his apprentice, but now a deeper desire was beginning to grow. He focused and really looked at the big man.

His dark gray fur lay wet and clinging to his body. The lighter gray around his muzzle showed his age, but it also gave him a distinguished look. The lightening of his fur had also stretched up to his ears, as had his sweet smile. His dark lips were slightly upturned at the sides, and his eyes were an icy blue beyond anything Harlow had ever seen.

All of the small details that Harlow had never paid attention to before now caught his eye like they never had before. He realized that he was attracted to Lennard, and the realization both excited and scared him. He didn't know what to do with these new feelings, but he knew that he couldn't ignore them.

"How are you feeling?" Lennard asked politely.

Harlow's mind was still reeling from the experience, but he managed to focus on Lennard's voice. It was deep and sonorous, and it seemed to hold him in its grip. He imagined Lennard whispering in his ear while holding him tightly, and he felt a wave of heat wash over him.

"I'm...I'm good," he said. "I'm great, actually."

"Is that always so intense?" he asked, hoping that Lennard would be there to do this to him again.

"No," Lennard said. "This was just your first time. The Bonding is always the most intense, but any time your tail is stimulated, it's enjoyable."

Harlow hesitated before asking his next question, not totally sure how to word it correctly. “Was I inside you? I mean, my mind. Could you tell I was inside your mind?”

Lennard raised an eyebrow at this. “You went inside my mind?”

There was an awkward pause and Harlow looked down at his feet and remembered he had ejaculated at the end of the ritual. They were both still sitting nude in the tub. For some reason he didn’t find the situation as odd or awkward as he thought he should have.

“It felt like it. I could kind of feel things about you.” Harlow spoke meekly to his mentor. He wasn’t sure how better to explain it.

Lennard’s eyebrow raised even higher, if possible, and his smile widened. “Some Canursid’s can form an empathic bond when their tails are connected. I’ve never heard of it happening during The Bonding or without both tails being in contact, though.”

Lennard slid closer and placed his hand on Harlow’s shoulder. “I’ve known there was something special about you since you started working for me. Maybe you are a little more empathic than most. It would explain why you are always so kind.”

Harlow heard the words, but his attention was drawn to Lennard’s touch. The simple gesture of placing his hand on Harlow’s shoulder, a gesture he had done a hundred times before, now became something more. It was as if electricity pulsed from Lennard’s fingers, and the shock ran down Harlow’s spine. He didn’t understand why or what it meant, but he couldn’t tear his gaze away from Lennard’s eyes.

Lennard smiled at him, and the kindness in his face was overwhelming. His eyes had always been a cool blue, but now the color seemed more intense, deeper, and much more inviting. Harlow was mesmerized, and stared into them deeply.

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Lennard watched Harlow intently. Harlow's eyes remained locked on his own. There was something drawing the boy's eyes to him. Lennard glanced down and could see Harlow's manhood was filling with blood once again. Lennard knew something had gone wrong. It looked as though Harlow may have formed a sexual bond with him rather than a fatherly bond.

Lennard had warned Harlow about the dangers of performing The Bonding wrong or with someone other than a father. He had told him of the possible outcomes and the addictions which could occur. He had made those sound like the worst possible outcome. But now Lennard realized he may have been wrong. He realized this was probably the worst possible outcome.

Lennard contemplated the situation. He had known this was a possibility, but he had focused more on scenarios where he and Harlow bonded as father and son or teacher and pupil. That is how it should have gone. A shadow of fear encompassed his heart. He had done something wrong.

He quickly went over the entire process, but everything had gone right, there should be nothing out of the ordinary. The only thing that Lennard could think of which could have created this outcome were if Harlow already had some slight attraction to him already.

Lennard knew that Harlow had always looked up to him, and he had always been kind to him. But he had never thought that Harlow had feelings for him in that way. He had assumed that Harlow's feelings were purely professional.

Fortunately, Lennard had considered some possible negative outcomes. This was at the very bottom of the list of things which could have gone wrong though. He silently wished Harlow could have simply forgotten his actual father, which was a side effect he thought both of them would have been happy to deal with.

The first idea Lennard thought about was abandoning Harlow. He could just let him go, push him away, and hope that he would find someone else to continue his studies with. There was a chance that Harlow would be able to find a suitable replacement for Lennard and not fall into addiction.

However, Lennard doubted that he had the strength to do something so calloused. He had never been one who could easily cause pain in others, even when it was for their own good.

Lennard's second idea was to marry Harlow off quickly. He had heard that sometimes a person of the opposite sex could provide enough stimulation that the bonding became a secondary desire. This would allow Harlow to continue to live and function normally.

However, there were a few problems with this plan. First, it would be very difficult to find a suitable mate for Harlow quickly. Second, even if Lennard was able to find a mate for Harlow, the two of them would have to avoid each other as much as possible. This would make it difficult for Lennard to teach Harlow to be a physician.

Lennard also knew that Harlow was not interested in any other professions. He had already tried his hand at many different things, and he had not found anything that he was passionate about.

The third option, and probably the best option for Harlow, would be to accept the bonding. He would have to take Harlow as lover and apprentice. This option was suboptimal for Lennard, though.

Lennard wasn't completely opposed to it if he was being honest with himself. Of course, he generally preferred the company of females, but had never found himself an actual mate. He had some enjoyable experiences with males in the past, but those had always been unplanned and often became awkward afterward.

There would be other obstacles to overcome with this choice as well. The age difference would be a great difficulty. Harlow was old enough now to be considered a man, especially since he had completed the bonding. But most people would find Lennard's mating with someone so young as disturbing, if not unlawful. He would certainly lose the trust of many people in town, and he may even face ostracization or exile.

Speaking of unlawful, if the church found out that Lennard was the one who performed The Bonding ritual and then took Harlow as a mate, there would be some serious consequences. This town wasn't exactly run by the Ailuropoda church, but the mayor deferred to their system of laws and judgment. Greenby didn't even have an actual sheriff.

The final option, and one that was rarely done, was to send him on a crusade of the heart. The basic idea of such a crusade was to give the young person a quest to find something non-existent in a place fraught with danger, thus the young person would die trying to please their bonded. It was an archaic practice and hadn’t been done for generations.

Lennard wasn't sure where he could send Harlow anyway, he didn’t have the heart to do so even if he did. He was a lonely man who enjoyed having Harlow as an apprentice. The thought of taking him as more was disconcerting. Harlow wasn't Lennard's first choice for a life partner, but since when did life go as planned? Could he learn to see this young man as something more?

Lennard looked down at the lovestruck pup and debated. Harlow had said some strange things about feeling what was inside Lennard. It was true that when unlocking the tail's underfur, it also unlocked the ability to become empathic. However, that generally took years to develop.

There were, of course, savants, but those types were rare and usually thought of as socially awkward. Harlow had some trouble understanding or becoming close to people, but Lennard assumed that was due to his upbringing.

The more he considered it, the more he looked at this young man whom he had known for years now. The more his mind came around to the idea of keeping him to himself. He deserved to have someone always by his side, and Harlow had been there for years already.

Technically, Harlow was already always by his side, at least during work hours, so the transition wouldn't be great. Their mentor and apprenticeship was well established now, so their true relationship wouldn't be difficult to hide either.

"He is pretty cute," Lennard thought to himself.