Alps growled long and low as he faced Lunaris.  
                who was this guy?  How did he get in here?  Why would the guards let a character like this 
                in?   Alps looked over 
                to Nidaja and Nita.  They 
                both looked very concerned as they put their clothes back on, 
                and very irritated.  Alps glowered.  If he was a bounty hunter, what was he doing here..?  Alps swallowed reflexively.  This guy.. could kill him.. And he knew it..Alps 
                looked to nidaja.  She 
                was not going to help it seemed.  
                She was now sitting on the bench where Alps should have 
                just stayed today.  He held firm to his staff.  he got himself into this, he would either get 
                it out, or get some nice rest in the hospital afterwards.  He lowered his voice, trying again to seem 
                more threatening.  ".. 
                I am not going to go easy on you.. you interrupted something very 
                private, without an audience.  
                how.. did you get in here anyway.?" he asked.  
                Nita and Nidaja looked at each other and nodded.
                    "Yes..right.. before Alps cleans your 
                clock, you better tell us.. how you got in here.  This is NOT the kind of place you just walk into.." Nita grumbled.
                    "Your majesty.." Lunaris said, 
                with noble flair. ".. I am a bounty hunter, and am here on 
                official business.  Your 
                guards do not know me, and made quite a fuss to my getting in 
                here, but this was important.. so I let them.. go to sleep for 
                a little while.."  He 
                said.  He smiled cruelly.  ".. Just as I will do to your little whelp, 
                who can't even hold a stick correctly!"  And with that, he lunged for Alps, and tapped his stick to the side, 
                somehow wresting it from his hand.  
                It clattered over by the bench, leaving Alps unarmed.  Lunaris brought his staff up to attack.  Alps felt overwhelmed, and was thinking as 
                fast as he could, which made everything seem to move in painfully 
                slow motion.  Alps did the only thing he could think of.  
                He dropped to his knees, as he would if a mistress or master 
                was going to punish him.  Lunaris' swing missed Alps' head by mere inches.  
                Alps Then did something that surprised even him.  
                He lunged.  With all his weight and strength, he put his 
                right elbow into Lunaris' side, under his ribs.  Lunaris skidded back a little, holding his side as Alps got back 
                to his feet.  Nidaja applauded.
                    "Way to go Alps!  Protect your mistress at all costs!  You heard him!  He overpowered the guards.  His 
                reasons for being here cannot possibly be worth that kind of breach 
                in security!  Take him 
                out!  That is an order." she said, but remained 
                seated.  Alps moved back 
                over and got the stick.  A 
                little defense was better than none, he supposed, even in this 
                fight.  He looked to Nidaja again.  What 
                was she talking about?  She 
                was the best fighter here, why did she not want to fight him?  Alps sighed.  This was a terrible position to be in, but he really did not have 
                a choice now but to see it through.  
                He began to think about Nidaja and the way she held the 
                weapon when she practiced.  Alps 
                moved his hands to hold it like hat, using both hands to get better 
                control of the weapon.  He then rushed Lunaris.  He made several attacks, but they were all 
                blocked.  Alps memorized 
                how Lunaris blocked his attacks, which was fortunate for him, 
                as he was able to block them himself when Lunaris launched a few 
                of his own this time.  The vibrations that ran down the stick with 
                Lunaris' powerful attacks were painful to Alps hands, and Lunaris 
                was wearing black leather gauntlets, so he did not feel that, 
                Alps was sure.  When one is being attacked, and feels they 
                might lose their life, some odd things go through their mind.  For Alps, he remembered being a slave.  There were times as a slave where something 
                was too heavy for him to move, so he let some of that weight work 
                for him, back when he was moving stones.  
                He lowered his voice again, and panted out, already getting 
                fatigued.  ".. Are you not tired of playing yet?  
                Let's end it already.. gimme all you got, cur!" he 
                growled savagely.  Nidaja, 
                in the corner of his eye, looked shocked.  Alps growled again softly.  he would not let this guy fight with Nidaja.  
                He would not go down without giving it everything he had.  
                He .. Alps thought for a moment, and realized it.  
                For the first time, he truly realized it, through and through.  He loved Nidaja and Nita.  Deeply.  He 
                would protect them both, even if it meant his life.  
              Lunaris rushed with a very powerful thrust aimed at Alps' throat.  
                Alps slightly, just slightly moved to the side, and thrust 
                as well, so that Lunaris' thrust grazed the side of his neck, 
                and his own staff found a home with a deep *thud* in the middle 
                of his tummy, just under the overlap of his leather armor.  He keeled over in the force of a thrust, which 
                Alps used to use to clean chimneys.  
                And then spun around backward, to Lunaris' side, and brought 
                the staff down on the back of his head with a strike worthy of 
                fifteen years of woodcutting experience.  
                Lunaris went down like a bag of wet sand.  
                Alps held his staff rigidly, looking at Lunaris, panting, 
                unable to believe he actually hit him.  He looked at Nita and Nidaja.  Both of them had their jaws agape.  He moved over to them and said softly,
                    "I... I did it..  I beat him.." he was still unable to believe 
                it.  Of course it was luck… 
                he had no idea what he was doing, but by luck alone, he protected 
                the queen.  He blushed slightly as he thought of being 
                rewarded.  Not in the sheets, 
                where he was used to it, but by a medal or something, in front 
                of strangers.  Nidaja jumped up and rushed past Alps, to Lunaris' 
                side.
                    "Omigosh!  Lunaris!!" she knelt by him, and began to shake him.  "Get up!  c'mon, he didn’t hit you THAT hard!"  Alps dropped his stick and looked at Nita.
                    ".. Wh.. what the.." he stammered.  
                Nita shook her head, and began to laugh loudly!  
                Alps blinked, and looked over at Lunaris.  
                He was sitting up now, holding his head.
                    "Ahhh.. shit.. thought you said he was 
                a slave, Nidaja.." he brought his hand back.  There was a nice coating of blood on it.  Nidaja took out a handkerchief, and applied 
                it to stop the bleeding.  "Man... 
                that was a knight's swing if I ever felt one.. Am I the one who 
                the joke is on.. or was he the one we were testing?  
                Which is it?"  He 
                remained sitting down in the dirt, his hand wiped off on the kerchief 
                as he held it to his head himself.
                    "Don't worry, Lunaris.. Nita will heal 
                that right up.. I.. I did not think Alps would actually attack.."  
                Nidaja said, very apologetically.  
                The white furred slave looked to his mistress.
                    ".. Umm.. this was.. a test?" he 
                said, now pleading more than anything.  
                After all, he was responsible for the injury on the large 
                and menacing wolf.  Nita 
                sighed softly and replied:
                    ".. Yes Alps.. this was actually a test 
                that Nidaja put together to.. well.. to see how far you would 
                go to protect me.  You 
                are around me more than anyone else now, and she just wanted to 
                make sure that you would put your life on the line to make sure 
                I was safe.  That's a big 
                deal around here.  All 
                of our guards are given the same test.  Not usually by Lunaris, but sometimes.  I don't think I have seen any of them actually BEAT the tester though."
                    "Well.. " Lunaris said, getting 
                to his feet.  ".. 
                I was told you were a slave, and to go a little easier on you.. 
                But after you blocked a few of my attacks, I felt you had some 
                training, so I kinda went all out on you.  I severely underestimated either your abilities.." 
                he glanced up and down the slave, ".. Or your luck..  
                But I will say this, Nidaja.. He's got some natural talent.  
                Too bad he was not trained from a child.  
                He'd be a match for me, I assure you.  
                He learns fast.  Teach 
                him if you like.  He'll 
                be valuable."  Alps smiled, and nodded, his face warming, 
                and his entire body feeling light and numb, as the adrenalin lost 
                its hold.  He felt like 
                he was going to be sick.  ".. 
                Though.. no to say I am not gonna get you back for this.." 
                Lunaris said.  Alps' heart sank.  ".. 
                There will be a rematch, once you are trained.  Then we will see who wins."  Alps looks to Nidaja, who only shrugged.
                    "You could have at least waited in the 
                main hall until we got back you know." Nita grumbled.  ".. I am a little upset that you just.. 
                watched us like that.. That's not very nice..'  
                She huffed softly.  Lunaris 
                laughed and shook his head.
                    "It's nothing I have never seen before..  
                And I do come here on business.  
                I have heard rumors that the cat burglar known as "The 
                Lion" has been spotted nearby.  I am here to catch that nefarious thief, and 
                bring them to justice.  I 
                will keep my eyes open around here, and make sure that if that 
                burglar is lurking about, they will be caught, with your leave 
                of course.."  He bowed to Nita courteously.  It was a definite change from his actions earlier.  
                Alps sighed softly.  He was very much taken for that one.  He smiled softly though.  He had exceeded expectations.  He had perhaps made his mistress.. his beloved 
                Nita happy.  Nita and Nidaja 
                both got up, dusting off their clothes and nodding to Alps.
                    "Come on, Alps.. let's go inside.." 
                Nidaja ordered softly.  Or 
                was it an order?  Alps 
                had, in the past weeks, begun to feel less and less like a slave.. 
                and more and more like.. a friend?  
                He was happy though.  Happier 
                than he'd ever been in his life.
              
                
                 
                
                
                    Later that night, Alps found himself straightening 
                up his room.  Again.  Alps' quarters themselves were as large as 
                the home his previous mistress owned.  
                his quarters were attached to Nita's, and across from Nidaja's.  When he had first moved in, he had regular 
                slave quarters, which were still better than anything he had in 
                the past.  He worked less than he used to, and, unaccustomed 
                to what to DO with free time, since he never had it before, he 
                cleaned.  Alps finally 
                sat down, but just as he was seated, he heard the sounds of footsteps 
                tearing down the hall.  A 
                fast paced walk that Alps was not used to hearing here.  
                Alps opened his door, and saw Neit moving swiftly around 
                the corner.  It was a bit late for her to be out and about, 
                and she was not given clearance for this floor in the first place.  Alps decided to follow and catch up with her, 
                so he could send her back to the floors of the castle she was 
                allowed to be on.  Alps 
                plodded along behind her, and saw her shadow hook the next corner.  
                Alps moved faster, his footfalls reined for silence so 
                as not to wake his mistress while doing morning chores and making 
                breakfast.  He watched her tail vanish behind the doors 
                to the rooftop garden.  The 
                door swung shut behind her.  
              Alps canted his head slightly.  He 
                found himself wondering intently what she was up to.  He looked up and down the carpeted and tapestried 
                hallway.  No one else was 
                around.  He did not want 
                her to get caught and get in trouble, since she was, after all, 
                his guest.  Alps opened the door carefully, and looked 
                around.  The garden seemed 
                empty.  This was the only door that went to it.  He wondered if she was laying down someplace?  Perhaps she liked sleeping under the stars 
                and that is why she snuck up here?  
                He quietly looked around, and began to walk.  
                As he neared the north tower corner of the rooftop garden, 
                he heard the soft clink of metal.  
                He followed the direction of the sound, and found Neit 
                behind some hedges with a backpack, and dark clothing.  
                Alps gritted his teeth.  
                He asked softly,
                    "What are you.. doing?"  Despite his voice being so soft, it seemed 
                like a scream as it broke the silence.  
                Neit paused for a second, then cried out, and fell over.  She looked up and rubbed her rump, smiling 
                at Alps, and blushing.  Alps 
                looked intently into her eyes, worried that she was stealing food 
                or something and coming up here to eat it.  
                "What's in the pack?" Alps asked curiously.
                    ".. It's.. Ahh.. I was.. "  Neit looked away and thought for a while.  
                She then smiled softly and rubbed the back of her head.  
                ".. I was.. waiting for you.." she said.  
                ".. I wanted to use this on you.."  She reached into the pack, and pulled out some rope.  Alps blushed deeply.  Nidaja and Nita had already done that to him 
                before.  He shook his head 
                softly.  ".. Neit, we will get caught up here...  
                You are supposed to stay on the bottom two floors!" 
                he chimed.  Neit got up 
                to her feet.  ".. 
                No no.. I mean.. I want you to use it on me.  
                I have never been.. tied up, and you are the only one I 
                trust to do it.  I wanna 
                have some fun.  I will not get to stay here forever you know.. 
                I have to get back to town soon, since The guards have likely 
                already caught those bad people that were after me.  
                I knew it would no be long.. just.. one time.. I wanna 
                be completely overpowered and taken by someone I trust.. since 
                I gave you my virginity.. I wanted it to be you.."  
                Neit seemed very nervous.  
                Alps smiled softly and looked around.  
                He WAS off duty tonight, and Neit was obviously telling 
                the truth, as nervous as she was.  Alps nodded softly, and said, in almost a whisper, 
                placing a paw on her cheek,
                    "I have.. wanted to try this too for 
                a while.. but since I am a slave, I could not.. You.. really want 
                to try this?" he wagged his tail slowly, feeling the heat 
                building in his body.  He had made love just this morning, and yet, 
                so readily, his body begged for more.  
                He wondered if he would ever tire of it, but decided he 
                likely would not.  Alps 
                stood up and Neit stood up as well, holding her pack.  
                There was plenty of rope in it, and a knife, as well as 
                some other tools that Alps could only guess has some other pleasure 
                purpose.  The wolf looked 
                around a bit, and then smiled, pointing over at a place in the 
                garden.  There was an ivy-covered 
                archway with railing that Nita would hang flowers form to get 
                them out of the sun if it was too hot.  
                It was a sheltered area, and just perfect for Alps' intents.  He led Neit over to it.  Neit 
                looked back at the tower for a moment, and sighed, before following.  
                Alps brought her under the archway, just a short, shady 
                place, lined on either side with benches.  He took the pack happily from Neit, who sighed 
                again, and then smiled, seeming, perhaps, a little more comfortable.  
                She slowly undressed, as Alps began cutting and tying lengths 
                of rope. When Alps turned around, he saw her lithe, youthful body.  
                She was well muscled, and perhaps was a slave or servant 
                herself, by the looks of it.  Alps moved over to her, and placed his paws 
                on her hips.  He leaned 
                forward slowly, and brought his lips to hers, then felt a pang 
                of.. guilt?  Perhaps.  He 
                was in love with Nita, and naturally was more inclined to share 
                himself with her.  Nita 
                had made sure to tell Alps that he was welcome to be with Misha, 
                Nidaja, Misty, Uri, or anyone he wanted.  
                So he did.  
              Alps let his tongue slowly snake into Neit's muzzle, feeling her 
                warm against his body, her touch elegant and sensual as she began 
                to undo Alps' belt, an then shirt, unbuttoning and untying with 
                unusual comfort and skill.  Alps' 
                clothing fell away.  He then moved back just a bit, and looked at 
                the lovely girl, her amber eyes tracing Alps' body a moment, a 
                soft blush on her cheeks.  Alps 
                leaned down and picked up a pair of slipknot rope cuffs he had 
                fashioned.  He pulled Neit's hands up carefully.  She watched curiously as Alps placed the rope-cuffs on her.  Her arms were held high, and she almost had 
                to stand on her toes.  Alps 
                smiled as he looked into her eyes, the rope cuffs were linked 
                over the railing for hanging plants, but they held Neit pretty 
                securely too.  Alps place his paws on her hips, and slowly slid down her body, 
                letting his own body caress hers.  
                Alps inhaled deeply and let his tongue slide out, and over 
                her breasts.  He traced her areola as sensually as he could.  
                This was not someone he had to pleasure.  This was someone he was sharing pleasure with.  
                He was just being nice and giving back what he was about 
                to take after all.  Alps 
                was not sure why she wanted this, but he was not about to deny 
                it to her, and let someone less trustworthy in hr eyes have to 
                be the one to do it.. to make this fantasy come true.  
                He closed his hot muzzle over her nipple, and began to 
                suckle softly.  
              This elicited a soft moan from the lips of his guest, as she wrung 
                her paws a bit in the makeshift cuffs.  
                She arched her back a little, pressing her chest against 
                Alps' careful and tender muzzle.  
                He let his teeth scrape over the slowly wrinkling, firming 
                flesh of her nipples to send that wonderful static through Neit's 
                body.  Alps switched breasts, 
                letting her hang there helplessly being pleasured as best Alps 
                could.  He was, after all, 
                now pretty much trained for this.  
                Nita and Nidaja were not afraid to tell Alps what felt 
                good, as he was their source of pleasure, so he was left with 
                a deep working knowledge of lovemaking than he could share with 
                Neit.  He slowly slid down 
                to his knees, and placed his paws on Neit's rump.  With a soft squeeze, he pulled her forward, 
                his head held low, so that it moved between her thighs.  Alps raised again slowly, so that Neit's knees 
                were draped over his shoulder.  
                She was able to sit somewhere perched there, her legs wrapped 
                over his back, and his muzzle was in the place that he very much 
                enjoyed having it.  As he inhaled deeply again, he took in Neit's 
                scent.  That scent worked 
                its way through his entire body, and he felt his length harden 
                quickly.  that scent.. that wonderful scent of sex, always 
                aroused Alps so quickly.  
              He slipped his tongue out of his muzzle, and into his fortunate guest.  
                As his tongue slid between her swelling labia, he tasted 
                that familiar and precious tang of her nectar.  Eagerly then, he began to move his tongue.  
                Neit was very vocal of her enjoyment of it, swearing softly, 
                and moaning loudly as her hips moved in slow rhythm, side to side, 
                back and forth, eager for ever single touch of Alps' skilled tongue.  
                The pink velvet rasped over her clit with each in and out 
                stroke, her hips pushing forward as it entered and drawing back 
                slowly as it exited, taking the pleasure Alps offered greedily.  
                Alps held her rump, keeping her in place, as a great deal 
                of her weight was supported on the rope.  She was already breathing heavily, and her 
                nectar already coated the wolf’s muzzle.  
                His eyes shut slowly as he resigned himself to enjoy the 
                meal he was about to make of this near virgin girl.  
                Slowly, painstakingly he used his tongue, letting the tip 
                slip deeper, curling slightly to tease with fluttering deep inside 
                her over her g-spot.  Neit began to pant more heavily, shaking her 
                head.  
              ".. 
                Oh.. A.. Alps.. I want you in me.. I wanna .. cum around you.. 
                I wanna let you feel me all the way down your .. thick.. oh goddess.."  She hung her head, panting, her mind seeming 
                completely swept away by lust.  
                Alps wriggled out of the grasp of those legs, and pressed 
                his chest to hers.  He was slightly taller than her, which was 
                going to make this a bit easier.  
                As he pressed against her, Alps gasped, Neit very agilely 
                wrapping her legs around his hips.  
                He gritted his teeth as she pressed his length against 
                her sex.  The white lupine 
                looked into the tan-furred female's face.  She looked back longingly.  "... Since the first time.. we were together 
                like this.. I have lusted.. longed.. fantasized.. I have nearly 
                gone mad for want of feeling it again.. Just one more time from 
                you.." she panted, before she began to move her hips, the 
                angle changing just enough that, willing or not, Alps was swallowed 
                into her hungry body, fully, her wet tunnel pressing around his 
                entering length and then eagerly milking along the full stretch.  Nine inches buried deeply inside her, she used 
                the rope binding to lift herself up a little, and slide back down, 
                her motions no less effective than if Alps were in missionary 
                position with her, and making love franticly that way.  
                Alps brought his hands to the railing too, leaning his 
                head back, moaning as the pleasure overtook him.  
                Already, he was panting.  
                The wolf held rigid though, his hips barely moving, but 
                unable to be completely still, with this kind of enticement.  
                Neit continued to rather desperately impale herself, already 
                far along in her pleasure.  But 
                she seemed to be holding back as well.  
                Perhaps waiting for Alps to have his.  
                
              Alps placed one of his hands on Neit's rump, as she worked her body 
                harder against him.  Alps 
                gasped as he felt her cervix impact slightly on the tip of his 
                member, from how hard she was dropping herself on his length, 
                trying hard to take him in as deep as he would go.  
                Alps' hips began to jerk spasmodically.  
                Despite all the time he had spent with Nidaja working on 
                his staying power, Neit was quickly taking him to his peak.  
                Alps grunted softly, and returned Neit's eager thrusting, 
                her chest pressed tightly to his own.  Alps could feel her rock hard nipples through 
                the thick soft fur of his chest.  
                He could feel Neit's juices running down his leg.  Alps shut his eyes tightly, and felt a warm 
                tingling surge through his body.  
                He barked out a soft warning to Neit.  
                
              ".. I.. I'm gonna cum!"  
                The male wolf winced slightly, and then felt all hell break 
                lose in his companion.  He 
                strained against the rope, and cried out with pleasure, bucking 
                heavily as hot fluid surged down his legs, and spilled over his 
                feet.  Neit was a bit of 
                a gusher.  Alps nearly 
                fell, but held tight to the railing as his own orgasm tore through 
                his body, the lovely Neit pounded even harder against him, nearly 
                taking him off his feet as she squealed with orgasm.  
                Alps held tightly to the railing, his hips pressing up 
                hard into the writhing, bucking female as thick, virile ropes 
                of lupine essence pulsed into her, much of it returning from her 
                tight body, to run down his quivering legs, so heavily did she 
                thrust back on him.    
              Alps finally felt his sweating palms slip, and he lost his grip, 
                falling onto his back, leaving the still tied up Neit hanging 
                there.  He could not believe how quickly that had happened, 
                as he tried to regain his senses, sitting there on the path at 
                Neit's feet, in a pool of their juices.  
                He looked down at his lap.  
                Utterly drenched.  He 
                would need a shower.  Bushing slightly, and panting, he looked up 
                in time to see Neit stifle a scream as a pair of female hands 
                wrapped around from behind and grasped her breasts.  
                Neit looked behind her to see Uri.  
                She and Alps BOTH blushed deeply.
                    Alps had not even considered the possibility 
                of Neit and him getting found by Uri, who was very attached to 
                the same sex.  He had no 
                idea how to deal with a conflict over Neit being.. well.. more 
                fond of Alps' sex as a rule.
                    "Naughty Naughty little Neit.. Taking 
                a wolf here in the garden and not offering to share.." Uri 
                growled.  She grinned brightly.  Uri was also already naked, and her fingers 
                were wet.  She had obviously 
                seen the whole thing.  Neit 
                wriggled and whimpered a bit as Uri kissed along the back of her 
                neck.  "Ohh.. but I know the REAL reason you 
                are here.."
                    "w.. wait.. I'm not like that!  I'm not!  Ask 
                Alps.. I like.. Oooh.."  
                She whimpered trying to struggled, but, being tied up, 
                there was not much she could do.  
                Neit stopped struggling a moment, as Uri whispered something 
                to her.  She gasped, and her eyes went wide, and she 
                just hung her head.  She 
                said, in almost a whisper then, after a while, Uri's hands still 
                tight on both her breasts, "... Y.. Yes.. I understand.. 
                and you.. promise not to say anything?" she said, seeming 
                nearly in tears.  Alps 
                watched between them, curious, and a little frightened.  Was Uri going to do something bad to Neit?  
                Why would she?  Alps moved to the bench, canting his head softly 
                again, trying to figure it out, as Neit pressed her hips back 
                against Uri, her head hanging low.  
                Uri growled from behind her ear.
                    ".. I promise.. but the wolf.. needs 
                to help out.." Uri said, beginning to softly massage Neit's 
                breasts.  Alps stood up shakily.  He was not sure how much help he could be, 
                since Neit had really taken it out of him.  
                his legs felt like jelly.  
                Uri looked to Alps.  ".. 
                I want you to release her from the ropes, and help her lay down 
                on the ground, and then I will tell you what to do .. You can 
                just watch a bit, like you did with me and Misha on the boat.." 
                she said, smiling warmly.  Alps saw that warm and caring smile again, and felt comforted.  
                Uri was not trying to hurt Neit at all.  
                he spoke soft to the slightly frightened girl.  
                ".. It's okay, Neit.. Uri's nice.  
                She won't hurt you.. she is just wanting to teach you about 
                some of the other nice things lovemaking has to offer you.. She 
                knows even more than I do.."  
              Neit nodded emphatically, almost too quickly, as Alps undid the bindings, 
                and as soon as they were undone, he felt a sinking blow to his 
                gut, Neit's knee, and she was off.  
                Alps was on his knees, coughing deeply, half choking, from 
                the force of it.  Alps was immediately supported by Uri, who 
                called out furiously after the fleeing girl.  
                ".. Neit you BITCH!  
                Forget it!  You 
                are on your own now!  I would get off the continent of Amani as fast 
                as you can, since your face will be on every wanted poster in 
                the country!" she screamed.  
                Alps croaked out softly.  
                Uri held him against her chest, caressing him as he caught 
                his breath, and finally managed to get out,
                    "Uri.. what did you do!?  What did you say to her.. why did she..  oohhh..'  Alps 
                felt like he was going to be sick.  
                His tummy was really very tender after sex, because he 
                was so relaxed.  Uri cooed 
                softly, and caressed Alps' ears gently.
                    "Oh Alps.. I am so sorry.. I saw her 
                from my bedroom window the other day, spying on you and Nita, 
                and sneaking around, and when I talked to Lunaris earlier, he 
                told me about a cat burglar.. And when I saw her tonight, with 
                the rope, going to the north tower, I knew.  I did not think she would hit you when I told 
                her.  I was gonna have 
                some fun with her before I turned her in though.. I did not expect 
                her to hit you.. I thought she at least liked you a LITTLE bit.. 
                I hate seeing you get used like that.. next time I see he, I will 
                put a boot right between her eyes.."  
                Alps sputtered and fell forward, into Uri's arms.  
                That hurt a lot.  All 
                of Alps' life as a slave, he was being used, and it never hurt 
                like this.  He sighed softly, 
                and said,
                    "Nita.. will be angry with me wont she.. 
                when she finds out I invited a thief into her home?"  Uri shook her head softly.
                    ".. No.. Nita was proud that you wanted 
                to help someone.  She will 
                be mad at Neit, not you.." Uri said.  
                ".. Don't worry about it Alps.. you have a lot more 
                happy memories here to live.  
                Throw away this bad one.."  
                Uri helped the wolf to his feet.  
                Alps kisses her lips tenderly, and Uri leaned forward slightly, 
                into the kiss, her eyes closing.  She blushed, just a little, and said, in almost 
                a whisper.
                    "You know.. that is the first time a 
                guy has ever kissed me like that.  
                I mean.. you and I.. we've slept together.. but .. I mean 
                .. it was for fun.. I.."  
                She went silent, and kisses Alps again, holding him in 
                her arms tightly.  Alps 
                sighed deeply as the nude pair kissed under the ivied archway.  Uri was right.  There were a lot more happy memories to come.. he should not worry 
                about the sad ones.. but, as he thought about it.. Alps knew he 
                would still always have *some* happy memories of Neit, and he 
                secretly hoped she found her way out of Amani safely.  
                Uri took Alps' hand, and led him back inside.  
                They passed his room however, much to Alps' curiosity.  He looked to Uri and whispered lightly, not 
                wanting to wake anyone, 
                    "Where.. are you taking me..?"  
                He stepped lightly behind her, still nude as she pulled 
                him through the quiet halls.
                    ".. It's a special place.. that I usually 
                only take Misha.. but to apologize.. and to thank you for the 
                kiss.. I will take you.. just once.."  
                And with that, she led him along the hall, and when she 
                reached the end, she pulled a brick out of it' socket.  
                Beneath it was a door handle.  
                She turned the crank, and the wall swung open soundlessly.  
                Uri put the brick back, and motioned for Alps to follow.