Chapter Sixteen

“Baby Steps" 

By

Furry Sith Lord

Lou entered his bedroom and locked the door behind him. Leggo was sitting on their bed

in only his boxer briefs with his tail wagging rapidly and his tongue was hanging out of his

mouth as he panted. He looked like a little puppy instead of the brave wolf he was. Lou’s heart

went out to him and reminded him why he loved him so much.

Lou opened their private cabinet and removed a bondage paddle that looked like Swiss

cheese as there were holes all over the paddle portion. In theory this was supposed to hurt more

because the hole cut down on wind resistance. Lou never noticed any difference between this one

and a regular one.

Leggo tried to look submissive by lowering his ears and looked at the floor but his tail

would not stop wagging. They had been longing to mate with each other but event had kept them

apart and both were extremely horny. Lou was pleased in a way that this gave him an excuse for

some foreplay as part of the role play they were doing.

Lou looked down and saw that Leggo was pitching a tent in his underwear. This made

him smile as he lightly hit the paddle against his hoof.

“Leggo,” Lou said sternly and Leggo slunk his posture to appear more submissive. His

tail began to wag even faster. “Why did you steal Merrik’s underpants and give them to Lyon?”

Lou had to force himself to not jump on his husband and begin kissing him as he undressed. He

was really curious what the plan was but the look of his lover excited him. He was beginning to

pitch a tent of his own but his suit was hiding it.

“Tyger was angry and yelled at us to put the underwear on our heads and leave him

alone. Then he said something about running around like morons.”

“Wait, Tyger was involved? Why were you bothering him with Merrik’s underpants?” Lou asked, annoyed. He knew both he and Ben had been waiting some time to themselves so they could do what he was about to do with Leggo. Except that as far as he knew they were not into BDSM.

“Well… I took them and wasn’t sure what to do with them. I asked Lyon but he said to ask Tyger. Tyger yelled at us and then said to run around with it on our heads.” Leggo explained. Lou had the idea now that Tyger was being sarcastic but his dad and brother took it literally. 

He heard a sudden commotion in the hallway and opened the door just as Lyon ran by and Mel chased after him with his underwear on his head. Lou groaned as he shook his head then yelled at them to approach him. They both looked embarrassed as they stood before him as he glared at them. 

Lyon was in his underwear and Mel stood there with his own underwear on his head. He had to adjust them so he could see clearly through them.

“What are you two fools doing?” Lou asked. 

“It was his idea.” Uncle Mel said as he pointed at Lyon. Lou shifted his gaze towards Lyon.

“Tyger gave us the idea.” Lyon said as he smiled broadly showing his teeth fangs.

“All three of you are impossible.” Lou said as he slammed the door closed on them. Leggo sat on the bed with his tail wagging rapidly. Lou sighed knowing it was gonna be a long day. 

In his bedroom Tyger and Ben sat facing each other. Tyger was at a loss for words as he looked into his fiance’s eyes. 

“Well? Stop stalling, we’re alone now.” Ben said softly yet sternly. 

“Are we? Everytime we try to get some privacy some fool intrudes and we get… interupted.” Tyger said as he attempted to stall but Ben raised an eyebrow and Tyger felt his resolve weaken. “Alright, you win. Let’s discuss things.”

“So what do I tell my family?” Ben asked. He had been trying to get Tyger to visit his family at their request. Tyger had been dreading this because Ben mentioned that he thought they were trying to get money from him. 

Tyger had thought to involve his father in this but he was having second thoughts. He knew his father could easily handle them but he was starting to realize that he needed to learn how to handle things. He was not a little cub anymore and he could not let his father hold his paw forever. Especially if he hoped to run the family business one day. 

“I’m gonna get you!” He heard Merrik shout but his voice was slightly different. It was kinder, softer, than how Merrik usually sounds. Tyger guessed his father must have turned him back into Uncle Mel. This made Tyger smile because he liked Uncle Mel better. From the sound he guessed Uncle Mel was chasing Lyon. 

“OK. I’ll visit them but I can’t promise anything. I’ll be on my best behavior.” Tyger said. 

“I don’t want you to be anything other than what you are. My family has done enough damage and I don’t want you to be a part of them. I only want them to meet you to know that I am moving on. They can accept it or whatever. All I know is that my real family is you!” Ben explained. 

“I’ll be the first to admit that my family is awesome. However, a part of me wishes I still had my original family. I had siblings but I can’t even remember them at all other than remembering I had some. Lyon is my only sibling now. Thanks to my parents the two of us are blood! 

Do you remember when Lyon flipped out when he saw his birth father? He remembers him but I can’t no matter how hard I try. All I see are my dad and my father! At least you know where you come from.” Tyger said. Ben grabbed him and pulled him close against his chest. 

“Lock the door,” Ben ordered and Tyger reluctantly broke away to obey him. “We deserve some us time.” 

“Gonna get you!” Uncle Mel shouted again as Tyger heard them running past his room’s door. 

“Na’ah,” Lyon replied and Tyger chuckled. 

The next morning everyone, except for Lyon, was grinning happily. Lou and Leggo knew from their smiles that Tyger and Ben were finally able to spend some time alone. Lou and Leggo were as eager as their boys were to get some alone time after everything had happened. They were now content that they had been able to get the time together that both couples needed. 

Lyon had been up late playing video games once Uncle Mel went home. He was happily entertained as he played with his buddies online. Surprisingly, he skipped watching a repeat of The Power Fur Rangers as he joined with his gamer friends. He was anxiously waiting for the new season to start so he could watch what new adventures The Power Fur Rangers got into. 

“I hope you two used protection.” His father whispered to Tyger. 

“Did you?” Tyger challenged being annoyed that his father would ask him something like that. 

“Of course we do. It’s not only used to prevent disease and block pregnancy. It also is somewhat cleaner when used.” His father explained. 

“We don’t mount each other because we’re not into that. We have other ways to express our love.” Tyger said. 

“No judging. I only want my sons to be happy. I hope you are comfortable enough to come to me if you want to order some adult toys to play with.” Lou said privately to him. 

“There is something that we need to discuss. Ben would like me to meet his family.” Tyger said.

“Do you still want my help?”

“No, I realized that this is something I gotta do myself.” Tyger replied. 

“Good boy,” Lou said and he chuckled as he saw Tyger grimace. He had not meant it in the canine sense. Lou then spoke to the family more openly as he discussed the day's events. 

“I have an important meeting to discuss the humans with the government. This will decide what is to be done with them.” Lou said. 

“So what will happen to the humans?” Tyger asked. Lou adjusted his tie nervously as he thought about how to answer. He saw the family watching him  as they all wanted to know the answer. 

“I’m gonna do everything I can to try and help them but when they followed BH, it made things… difficult. How can I convince the government that the humans are too uncivilized to know that what they did was wrong?” Lou asked. 

“Tell them just that.” Lyon replied immediately. 

“And if they don’t believe me?” Lou asked and everyone fell silent again as they thought of an answer. This was the problem that was weighing heavily on his mind. He figured all the humans would be turned into slaves and their entire species would never see freedom but live as slaves forever. 

Did they deserve this? Justice should be served for all the species that were turned into pets yet the humans seemed so juvenile in their understanding. How could they be educated if society kept them as slaves with no chance of earning their freedom? This was why Lou had to fight for them because if he didn’t then no one else would. 

His claws were hurting him as they scraped along the rocks he was trying to dig through. He could see nothing in the complete darkness that surrounded him and he did not even know if he was digging in the right direction to escape the cave in. His only source of light was gone now and he did the best he could.

He had thought about trying to build a fire but he knew it would use up all the air faster so he chose the darkness. He had lost count of how long he had been trapped in her and seconds felt like years. His fear that he was going to die in the tunnel that was originally designed as an escape route was imminent. 

His resolve was weakening as he fought to control the fear and panic that was building within him. More and more he wanted to hyperventilate but his desire to escape had allowed him to stay focussed enough to try and die his way out. Once his lanturn had died he knew this was the beginning of the end for him. 

He was not sure he was making any progress no matter how much he dug. He would dig until he used up all his strength then he would lie there waiting for his second wind to come. 

All he felt was stone and the ache of his claws. He held onto the hope that he was making some progress no matter how small. If he did not then he knew he would quit and die. Hope was the only thing keeping him alive.  

He laid down panting as the last of his energy was used up. The last of his will was gone and he felt a lump in his throat as he realized that he was going to die and there was nothing he could do. His body ached as he waited to fall asleep and wondered what, if anything, would happen once he died. 

His mind was hazy as if he was in a point somewhere between being asleep and awake. He heard a loud crash and he turned his head and realized that his eyes were closed as he squinted as light shone in. Was this death? He thought to himself. 

“I found him.” BH heard the familiar voice of Maxx and he felt the hooves of Maxx light him up. Maxx made a noise at the smell of sweat, blood, and filth that covered him.

“This is him?” Bear said and BH squinted wondering why Bear did not recognize him. It took him several minutes for his eyes to adjust to the light. Bear was standing there in an expensive suit. BH suddenly saw a slave collar around his throat and realized why Bear did not know him. 

“Wha… ahh…” BH stammered to talk but his dry mouth made it difficult. Bear grabbed his face and examined him. 

“Get him some water.” Bear ordered and he felt Maxx lay him on a blanket on the ground. BH wanted to talk but he just did not feel like he had the energy to do it. 

“So you found him but why is he important?” Bear asked Maxx. 

“I couldn’t just leave him to die in there. Plus I’m sure the government will want him to answer for what he made the humans do.” Maxx said. BH saw a slave collar on him as well but the bottle pressed to his lips took his full attention as he hungrily swallowed the water. He quickly stopped and gagged as a pain filled his tummy that felt as if he had been punched. He had trouble breathing but he desperately wanted more water. It was then that he also realized how hungry he was. 

“That deer is supposed to have a meeting this afternoon. Will there be enough time to get him ready?” Bear asked. BH suddenly felt a snap as a slave collar had been placed on him. 

“You will obey me,” Maxx ordered as he pressed a thumb to the plate on the front of the collar. “You will not lie or be deceptive in any way. You will answer every question that is asked of you.” Maxx continued to order him. He suddenly took away his thumb. “Do you remember the rest I’m supposed to tell him?” Maxx asked Bear. 

“Were you given orders to do this? I thought you were doing this out of pity.” Bear replied incredulously. 

“It is out of pity but I figured in the long run it would look good for your rep if you brought in a wanted criminal.” Maxx explained. 

“But how am I gonna explain how we found him?” Bear asked. BH had finished the bottle of water and through his stomach still hurt he was starting to feel a little better. 

“I… hadn’t thought of that? Maybe we should ask Lou to come up with something. He seems smarter than us and can create a reasonable excuse.” Maxx looked at BH and though his mind was still a little foggy he suddenly realized a slave collar had been placed on him. He pulled at it but no matter how hard he tried he could not pull it free. 

“Relax friend. You’re not going anymore, not that you are in any shape to. Consider it justice. Either you die in that cave or you spend the rest of your life as a slave. Which would you prefer?” Bear asked. BH felt the collar urging him to answer truthfully but he was not sure which he did prefer. They both seemed exactly the same.

“Neither.” He replied truthfully. The bull and polar bear laughed though their laughter scorned him. They were technically not laughing at him but it felt as if they were. 

“Sorry you feel that way sport, but you gotta pick one.” Bear replied and BH sighed. His life was over either way and he guessed that neither of them truly knew who he was. He had considered them friends but they no longer knew him. 

Lou grunted as he slapped Leggo and his love moved away in surprise. The wolf had been creeping around him sniffing him and it was starting to really irritate him. 

“Stop acting like a puppy!” Lou said but part of him hoped that he had not hurt Leggo’s feelings. He knew Leggo had meant no hard.

“But you smell sooo good and it’s my favorite cologne.” Leggo protested. 

“Sorry, but I need to be on the top of my game and you’re….. distracting me.” Lou replied. He adjusted his tie and his expression softened as he looked at him. Leggo was cowering slightly and Lou feared that he had slapped Leggo a little too hard. 

“Want me to get a newspaper for you to roll up?” Tyger said and they suddenly became aware that he had been there waiting for them. Like a typical feline he had crept in unnoticed. 

“That won’t be necessary,” He joked then sternly turned to Leggo. “Will it?” 

“I’m going, I’m going.” Leggo complained and he ran off to find Lyon to play with. Lou sighed then turned to address his son.

“You know he means well, he just,” Lou tried to explain.

“Acts like a puppy. I know. But we need to stay focussed and you need to be on point. You know this. I just don’t want dad distracting you and the humans suffer for it.” Lou leaned down and kissed his son’s head. He hesitated a moment before he realized that he was still missing his antlers. 

“So Uncle Mel is back?” Lyon asked Leggo. This made Leggo’s tail wag as he smiled.

“Yup, hopefully things go back to the way they were once all this is over.” Leggo replied. Lou smiled as Lyon hugged his dad. Tyger looked at him like you try that on me and you’ll need to change your suit. 

“Always the feline,” He remarked and smirked as he looked at his son. 

“Do you want to go over your speech?”

“No, I’m nervous enough as it is.” Lou answered. He reached for his briefcase and took a moment to adjust himself before confidently marking towards the front door of the mansion. 

The ride to the meeting filled him with mixed emotions as he thought about how his reputation will be affected by this. This could have far reaching effects that could also affect his company. Yet he knew he was doing the right thing. 

When he arrived and the door of his limo opened it was hit by a barrage of reporters taking his picture with their cameras flashing lights. He raised his hoof to help protect his eyes and he vaguely heard reporters shouting rapid fire questions at him but the distraction of the cameras made it difficult to hear what was asked. 

When the transports holding the captive humans arrived, the reporters shifted their focus as they investigated the humans. The lights and the shouting frightened them even more than they already were. 

Ben reached out to hold my paw as I watched my father leaving for the historic meeting. We had all wanted to go but part of my father’s back up plans needed us to keep away in case he needed to shift the blame solely on himself. 

He could say he was independently acting on his own self best interests. That way his company and his family would not be targets if they tried to attack him for defending the humans. 

“Things will be fine.” Ben said to me. “Lou is an accomplished business-fur and I’ve never known him to do something without having several plans in case one fails he has others as back up.” 

“I’m not worried about him, but the humans. I’ve been wracking my brain and I can’t think of a single way to help them.” I replied and he gave my paw a tighter squeeze then a second later relaxed it. 

“Maybe that’s the problem, you’re only thinking in terms of one way instead of multiple at once.” I turned and stared at him as he smiled at me. 

“What are you saying?”

“Let’s discuss this as we pack or are you planning on bringing no clothes when we visit my parents?” He asked and I sighed then Lyon bumped into me as he was rushing out. 

“Where are you going?” I asked and he stopped briefly to turn to respond.

“Dash’s… I wanna make sure he’s OK.” Lyon said then he ran off as we watched. I didn’t bother shouting after him because he was too busy running. Ben was pulling on my arm to get me to follow.

We entered my room and he reached for his suitcases under my bed. He pointed at my closet to encourage me to grab mine. I really was not sure why I was dragging my feet but I looked for any excuse to delay things. Ben was eyeing me as he opened the drawer we kept his stuff in. 

I listened to see if I could hear what my dad was up to. He usually got bored without Lyon or Lou around to play with. I thought I heard him drinking from the toilet and grimaced at the thought. 

“Ehem,” Ben remarked. I went to my door and yelled so my dad could hear me.

“Hey dad, With Lyon running to check on Dash, maybe you should check on Uncle Mel or Uncle Jon.” I shouted and I instantly heard him stop drinking. I thought I could picture him there with water dripping from the wet fur on his face. 

“Bye guys, have fun.” He yelled and I heard his feet scampering as he ran to his car. 

“We have the place to ourselves.” I said suggestively. Ben frowned as he stared at me.

“Pack.” He said simply and my resolve drained. I grunted, then tossed the suitcase on my bed and opened it. I found a couple of old items I had missed the last time I unpacked and tossed them in the laundry. 

“I’m sorry,” I muttered and Ben again stopped and stared at me. 

“About what?” 

“I’m… dragging my feet because I’m scared.” I confessed.

“I know but it’ll be fine. Of the two of us I feel the worse. I’ve known them my whole life so I know what they are like. I already know the shit they’re gonna pull. This isn’t a visit for me, it’s a goodbye.” Ben explained.

“You don’t have to cut them out of your life.” I replied.

“I know. They spent their lives making me feel welcomed but now that my soon to be husband has money they suddenly care about me. I don’t believe it for a second, but I want them to know that I no longer have room for the likes of them in my life. They never had time for me before so why should now be different? Because they think they can try a bleeding heart story and they expect you to cave and give them money.” Ben explained and I smiled at him and it took him a second before he returned it. 

“One thing I’ve learned is that things never go as planned. That’s why my father always has several plans going at once. Whatever happens… we’ll get through it… together.” I said and we kissed. 

To Be Continued…