Guru had collected his unconscious no-fur in his arms and was leaning against a tree. His whole body screamed that he needed rest as well but he would stay awake as long as Spitfire couldn't protect himself. Recent events suggested his troublesome ginger-haired no-fur could more than take care of himself when fully conscious, but the Blonde tom wasn't going to take any chances with him.
Thank the gods the candy trick worked. They had gotten lucky with that. Well, more than lucky. Their bond was so strong Spitfire had seen through Guru's attempt to make the medicine he needed and done it himself. Guru hoped there was something wrong with him that made his heart skip a beat. The no-fur had a psychotic break and had beaten the Blonde tom to the point of tears. He wrecked his body.
And Guru still loved him.
Guru didn't blame Spitfire for what happened. He couldn't. He knew the other side of Spitfire, the one who walked straight into the demon's den for the sole purp
Jinx sat quietly, absorbing what Guru was saying. He finally nodded. "Okay. I said that you could have whatever you needed. I meant that."The tom looked over at Spitfire. The no-fur hadn't moved since he had been laid in the window seat. "Gran, can you get something to help wake Spitfire?"Pushing himself up from the floor, Jinx tried to keep the swelling of hope in his chest under control. It was going to be a tough undertaking and there were no guarantees. But he couldn't help himself. He needed to believe that there was hope. He couldn't let himself think that he had lost Lexi. Not now, not when he'd only just found him."First thing’s first. I'm gonna keep you busy. I need a good auric circle with a homemade sigil to focus on. If we are going to use the card,then it should be something that draws from it. But the best chance of success to capture and contain an auric soul is to use water. How do you feel about finding a jar or something about ya
Waking up was the worst idea he had yet.Spitfire groaned as his eyes cracked open. His entire body was stiff and sore. He was cold in some places and hot in others. Breathing was like running sandpaper over his throat. The only thing in the entire universe that didn't suck right now was the comforting presence of his tom. Guru was sitting next to where Spitfire lay and the no-fur could hear his soft, deep voice. He couldn't understand a word the tom was saying, but the vibrations of him speaking was comforting nonetheless.After what felt like ages, Spitfire groaned again and attempted to speak."My everything hurts.""I'll bet it does. So what I'm about to ask may not be the best timing." Guru was kissing, almost grooming Spitfire's red-honey hair. "We need to work some magick. I can be gentle."Spitfire stretched and made a whining noise as his muscles all protested the movement. "No. I can't."He curled in on himself, half-heartedly push
The last thing Jinx wanted to do was hang out in the much too small room while Spitfire and Guru were having sex. They would be practically in his lap and that was way too close for anyone's comfort. He entered the kitchen, surprised to find that the table was repaired.Gran was sitting at the kitchen table, humming while he worked yarn over a pair of knitting needles. Jinx made a beeline for the pitcher of melting snow on the counter. It had lemon slices in it and the water that was filling the bottom half looked clear and cold. Jinx's paw was nearly to the handle when he was smacked by one of Gran's knitting needles."That is not for you. Those others will need this when they are done." The lean tom smiled and steered Jinx towards the table. A large pitcher of what looked like iced tea waited with three glasses full of ice. "You can have some of this."Jinx didn't feel like arguing. He just nodded and let himself be led to the table. He stared out the kitchen
Doll was feeling better than he had in a while. The toms who took care of the small Gods gave him and some of his fellow no-furs a great feast this morning. Then it was a few hours of reeducation, which the no-fur didn't mind so much anymore. He was getting the hang of the tricky affirmations they had to learn about how generous their gift to the toms was and how it was all they lived for.But how could he not be pleased? He'd gone right to the front of the line. While he would have gladly served the toms coming to enjoy the garden party, he was whisked away after being told he was going to give his essence to one of the great rituals that helped heal the toms and their world. What an amazing opportunity to serve!As he made his way down the steps to the Room of Awakening, Doll noticed the robe the toms had given him was so soft that it felt like fur against his skin. There was something oddly comforting about that. Maybe he was remembering what it felt like to sleep a
Gods, he wanted that to be his Doll asking how he could serve Hades's needs. But it wasn't. But it was, and yet again not.Hades snarled. It was all too confusing. His mind was still lingering partway in the horrible dreams. He wasn't sure if this was or wasn't real. But like every time he was given a chance to escape, he fought his way through and tried again. No reason to make this time any different."I need the auric circle broken so I can move." Hades forced his raw throat to scream.He wasn't sure where Doll was or who else was in the room. The ritual couldn't have actually started because there weren't screams and whimpers of no-furs being mangled and raped. Nothing was making noise but Doll and the rumbling bass of a tomswearing. Maybe one of the priests."Anything will do. Just break or blur one of the lines."Hades tried to summon up any energy. He had to have some of that god aura he took from King left. They hadn't done anything t
Wound arrived first and was beginning to become concerned that something had gone wrong. He was glad he thought to bring a pocket watch as the hand sailed past a second minute. Jinx wasn't in danger yet but if he didn't show in the next minute or so the healer might have to get proactive.Trips in and out of the Underworld were complicated even for the most seasoned of auric power users. Jinx had the power of an Underworld-enhanced Orangelo Chariot tarot card and now Wound worried it was not enough for two. As it was, Wound's Topside glamour felt like it was taking more power than it should after he had to boost the journey with some of his demon aura.He looked around. If Jinx ever got here, he'd be amazed by how well he'd pinpointed their location. Wound certainly was impressed with himself. He had been deposited just a little bit of a walk away from the Curtains. He took a minute to appreciate their majesty without wondering what sort of expectation the waterfall ha
"So, uh, just how attached are you to those toes?" Jinx asked as he poked at the snapping turtle with a stick.So far, this quest sucked. They were soaking wet in a cold, dank cave behind a magic fucking waterfall. An ungodly huge turtle was trying to eat his traveling companion. Jinx might have dropped Lexi in the river in the first two minutes. Oh, and lest it be forgotten, his first act upon his glorious return to his homeland had been to yak up the entire contents of his stomach onto the enchanted fucking grass.Jinx just wanted to go home. Back to his bar where things made sense and he was in control of everything.If it wasn't for Lexi, that was exactly what the Orangelo tom would have done. Because fuck all of this questing bullshit. The mystical Fountain was probably on the top of the huge mountain he had seen looming over the falls, and they probably had to climb the whole way up."I could probably re-attach them if you had to--" Wound stopped talking, tilting his head to the
The room where Agent had left King in his cage had been dark and quiet for a very long time. But when the no-fur returned, he changed all of that.Agent was snarling before he ever threw the door open, bringing in the bright lights of the hallway. He was swearing as he turned on every light in the room, continuing well past when they were blinding. Finally, once he'd made two full circuits of the room, ending when he slammed the door shut again, Agent turned to look at King."Things not going as planned?" King was cautious, keeping his tone even though it still had a slight mocking quality because the Black Devil was pretty pissed off. Whatever the little bastard had dosed him with had worn off quite a while ago. And the water bottle wasn't magically self-replenishing either. The big Black-fur was thirsty, cold, and so over the only two positions he could find any kind of way to bend his body into. "Something a no longer captive God of the Underworld could help you with?""I have a se