Chapter 7.

The boys hurtled into a chair and sent it crashing to the floor. Ferine gasped, voices echoing throughout the room.

"Get off me!" Aure released an avian shriek and clawed at Reja's spine.

"This is my home! Mine!" Reja snarled and snapped his sharp teeth, aiming for Aure's throat, but the Kythe twisted away and released another ear splitting shriek. Chunks of grey fur and feathers quickly surrounded them.

Ferine stormed across the room and gripped Reja by the scruff, tearing him off Aure and tossing him to the floor.

Reja landed on all fours and darted beneath the table. Aure ducked safely behind his mistress and scowled towards the Foll's hiding place.

"Go inside!" Ferine pointed towards the bedroom and Reja hissed, peaking out beneath the table.

"But I live here and he was..." Reja started to protest but Ferine clicked her tongue warningly.

"This home belongs to my brother and his meo. You own nothing. Go to the bedchamber and be quiet!" She barked, voices booming.

Reja flinched and scuttled towards the curtain, grey tail tucked between his legs.

"Ooh, my precious songbird. Did he hurt you?" Ferine cooed and scooped Aure into her arms. She ran her hands over his downy sides, lifting the feathers carefully and checking for injuries.

Aura smiled and nuzzled against her chest. Ferine glanced over at Syl who was watching them with wide eyes.

"Are you cold?" She asked more gently.

Syl nodded cautiously and she lifted the green blanket off the floor and draped it around his shoulders. Her red eyes fell on his thigh and the dark bruises forming from Elvyre's fingers.

"Change is never easy." She murmured and scratched lightly under Aure's chin. The Kythe closed his eyes and released a soft croon. "But I have a feeling you'll do well. Not like the Foll." Ferine clicked her tongue again. "Or my Aure, for that matter. He was challenging. I had to clip his wings, but look how happy he is now."

Fear skittered up his spine and Syl wrapped the blanket tighter around himself.

Aure used to have wings and Ferine had cut them off.

What must that have been like? To be able to leap into the sky and soar through the air. Only to have someone drag you down to earth and keep you there.

"I have a little more work to do and then I'll take a look at you." Ferine walked back to her chair and placed Aure in her lap, an arm around his waist. Aure turned his head and looked at Syl. If looks could kill, Syl was certain he'd have dropped dead on the spot.

He turned away and watched the curtain warily. He hadn't known Reja long, but he could already guess what would happen. Sure enough, it wasn't long before he heard something shatter.

Ferine's head whipped towards the noise and her breath hissed between her teeth. She stood, face tight, and marched for the curtain. Syl was tempted to cover his ears, when he heard Reja howl with despair.

Guilt gnawed at him; this wasn't fair. Syl didn't quite understand what Aure had done, but he knew the Kythe had provoked Reja. Sure, the Foll had overreacted, but he was traumatized, and his mewling sobs tugged at Syl's conscience.

He should say something. Ferine had cut off parts of her beloved Kythe to discipline him. What might she do to a pet she didn't care about?

Besides, Elvyre had told Syl to care for Reja and he was certain the Talaya wouldn't have approved of his sister's discipline.

Syl climbed off the couch and landed awkwardly on his feet. Shards of pain ran up his legs and he stumbled towards the curtain, pushing past the heavy fabric.

Ferine had Reja by the scruff again and she was opening the door to the washroom. "If you can't be civilized, you can stay in there!"

"Don't lock me in!" Reja was thrashing in her hold, small body trembling and eyes glassy with fear. The washroom wasn't a cage, but Syl could understand why Reja was scared to be confined, after his nightmarish past.

"Wait!" Syl half-ran towards them, clutching the blanket around his shoulders. "I'll go in too."

Ferine glanced down at Syl and dropped the Foll inside the washroom, shutting the door quickly. "Go back to the couch!"

Her red stare was intimidating and Syl's mouth went dry. "Please, let me. I can calm him down." He said quietly.

Muffled yowls and furious scratching sounded on the door.

Ferine sighed and smoothed down the front of her ivory tunic. "Can you really?"

"...yes." He hoped it was true, Reja had been upset when they first met. But now he was hysterical. He might not listen to Syl at all.

Without warning, Ferine grabbed Syl's arm and opened the door a crack. She shoved him through the gap and Reja collided with him in a burst of speed.

In the next instant, Syl was blinking up at the ceiling. Calming amber lights rippled over the metal surface like water and his body felt soft and numb. Someone was speaking.

"-so sorry. Very sorry." Rough licks lapped over his cheek and Syl turned his head away, groaning when pain sliced through the back of his head.

"Are you alright?" Small hands tried to pull him upright.

"M'fine." Syl sat up gingerly, closing his eyes when the room spun and his mouth watered sickeningly. Fur pressed against his brow and he realized he was resting his head against Reja's shoulder.

"We should sit on the bench." Reja lisped and tugged gently on Syl's back.

With Reja's help, Syl was able to climb up on the bench and collapse on the pillows. He felt nauseous and his head pounded.

"Syl? Are you very hurt?" Reja pressed against his spine and a fuzzy tail wrapped around his belly. He didn't know where the blanket had gone.

"No." Syl mumbled, eyes closed. "I just want to lie here for a bit."

"Me too." A purr rumbled against his spine and hands pulled at his shoulders. He turned heavily and then all of him was enclosed in warm silky fur.

Strangely enough, Syl felt safe with Reja, even after everything that had happened between them. He should probably be concerned about that, but his mind couldn't focus on anything for long, and the thought slipped away.

.....

He woke to furious hissing and growling. Reja was trembling against him and his arms and legs clamped tight around Syl.

"Calm, little Foll." Ferine's voices were soft as a summer breeze. "See the blood on the back of his head. I need to look at him."

"You pushed him!" Reja spat, legs tightening around Syl's hips.

"And you probably knocked him down!" Ferine countered, duo voices sharpening like a blade.

Reja's growls faltered. "I didn't mean to. I just saw a gap in the door."

"I know you didn't, sweet thing." Ferine murmured in gentler tones. "Don't bite me or I'll be upset."

Hands gently touched Syl's head and his eyelids were lifted one by one. Then a cool substance was dabbed onto the tender spot on his skull and he was given a cold drink that reminded him of lychee. The pain in his head faded, but that was all. He was still disoriented and tired.

"Is he ok?" Reja spoke beside his ear.

"He'll be fine. Are you hungry? I'll let you out if you behave."

"Yes. I'll be good." Reja's hoarse voice sounded strange, choked, as if he had to force himself to speak.

Syl reached out a clumsy hand to pet the Foll's spine reassuringly. He wasn't prepared for the roaring purr in his ear or the rapid licks on his cheek and mouth.

Ferine carried them back into the cold living area. Syl managed to drink another glass of juice, while Reja scarfed down a plate of meat.

One moment he was alone, eyes closed, and the next Reja was snuggled up against him - keeping him warm - Syl didn't turn away when he felt licks on his mouth, coaxing his lips apart.

He could feel the sharp ridges of Reja's teeth and taste the saltiness of his meal. A rough tongue encircled his and hot breaths entered his lungs.

The Foll's purrs reverberated in his ears and thrummed through his chest. Fur feathered against his cheeks and Reja's wet kisses became more demanding, until they were breathing together as one and Syl's scattered thoughts clouded completely.

He wasn't sure when he became hard or when their groins pressed, but suddenly Reja's sticky cock was grinding against him, little barbs tickling, and heat spread through his pelvis.

"Be gentle Reja. My brother will be home soon and then I'm taking him to the clinic." Ferine said and Reja withdrew from their kisses to reply.

Cool sweet air filled Syl's airways and he panted, feeling a trickle of saliva run down his chin. He was so dizzy, the ceiling appeared to be sliding sideways.

"I'll be very gentle." Reja lisped, sounding just as breathless as Syl and then that barbed cock trailed over the human's balls and pushed against his entrance.

"Ah!" Syl shivered as Reja pushed inside. The pain was sharp and liquid warmth filled him, slicking his buttocks, and making the Foll's entry smoother.

Reja licked and sucked at his neck, purr rumbling, as he fit himself into Syl's body. His cock was small, but the barbs stretched Syl wide, nudging places that made his dick throb and his breath catch.

The Foll started a steady pace. Thrusting slow and hard. Fur slid over Syl's sweaty chest and rubbed against his cock, feathering over his balls. It felt amazing.

Reja lapped at Syl's jugular with needy little mewls. Spreading warm saliva and chafing skin with his rough tongue.

"Ha-aa!" Syl's overheated skin felt so sensitive and his knees squeezed Reja's hips hard, making his calves cramp. He couldn't even remember lifting them.

Reja hissed and his pace quickened, thrusts becoming quick and shallow. Syl gasped as fire pulsed through his thighs, tensing muscle and making his spine arch.

The Foll yowled and his body shuddered. The barbs on his cock stretched wide and sliced into Syl's insides. The pain was shocking and intense and Syl came so hard, he sobbed out a breath.

"Enough, Reja!" Ferine's voices rung out and Reja's body softened all at once, arms loosening around Syl's torso.

Syl's head rolled bonelessly and he blinked stinging sweat from his eyes. His chest heaved and he had trouble focusing, but he could vaguely make out Aure's bright yellow eyes watching them, from his perch on Ferine's lap.

"Mine." Reja purred softly in Syl's ear and nuzzled his temple.

.....

Syl didn't remember falling asleep, but he was roused by duo voices raised in anger.

"...another one! We have no room!" Deep voices were saying. Syl tried to recall the Talaya's name, but his mind still wasn't working right. Cynen?

"We're not keeping him. I just couldn't leave him back there." Elvyre said, voices low and apologetic.

"I know you, 'Lyre. It's going to blink its pretty eyes at you and the next thing we know there's three pets in our cabin. Three!"

"You have my word, he's not staying." Elvyre assured.

Angry tongue clicks sounded, followed by brisk steps, fading rapidly. Cynen must have left. Elvyre's cool voices sighed.

"Forgive us, sister. Cynen hasn't been himself these past months." Elvyre said.

"He's exhausted. It's understandable." Ferine said comfortingly. Her voices sounded near, above Syl's head, and he could guess he was in her arms. "Go after him. I can take the Dreen to the clinic for you."

"Are you certain? You've watched them all day." Elvyre said.

"It's no trouble. Place him here."

Syl felt a soft body jostle in beside him, but his head hurt too much to open his eyes. Warm fingertips stroked his cheek and he smelled the sweetness of violets. Elvyre.

"A concussion, you said?" Elvyre asked.

"Nothing to worry about. But I'd like to examine him and see how his system is assimilating." Ferine said.

"I'll pay for the expenses, of-course-"

Their voices finally faded out.

.....

When Syl woke again he felt better. A touch smoothed strands of damp hair away from his eyes and he peered up at Ferine's sharp features, silhouetted by scorching lights.

"Any discomfort?" Her voices breezed.

"No, I feel good. Thank you." He felt wonderful, in fact - the dizziness, and the ache in his shoulder, was gone.

But with a clear head, memories inevitably came flooding back. His heartbeat quickened and cold sweat beaded on his brow.

He remembered Reja's mouth on his and pain inside of him, as if he'd been cut. Had he been raped again? No. He hadn't fought Reja. He knew he hadn't. He'd enjoyed it, even with the pain.

But he hadn't been feeling well. Would he have done it otherwise? Maybe. But did that make it ok? Did his Human morals have any place here at all? Or would they only make it worse.

He couldn't feel any pain now. Had Ferine healed him there? She must have and she had been in the same room as Syl and Reja. She had witnessed everything.

Mortified, Syl lowered his eyes and felt them burn with tears. Just a week ago he hadn't been able to cry, now he didn't seem to be doing anything else.

He felt the Talaya move closer and then warm blue lips brushed his cheek. "Shh, poor small thing."

Ferine smelled fresh and feminine, like a mother, and Syl felt his lip tremble. Her long fingers slid gently through his blond hair and her mouth moved to his temple, kissing softly. It was soothing and his breaths started to slow.

A harsh, chek chek chek, sounded and Ferine lifted her head with a frown. "Stop that Aure! You know I love you. Now come up here and watch him."

Aure leapt up on the table and landed in a crouch beside Syl, startling him. Ferine smoothed back the boy's glossy black hair and kissed the tip of his pointy nose. "Behave."

She walked over to an unconscious boy on a blue glass table. He was small and child-like, with fuzzy pink fur that thinned to nothing on his concave belly.

The fur on his thin neck and knees was gone and the bluish flesh underneath looked raw. His delicate hands and feet were resting in bowls filled with white liquid and his tail ended in a bloody stump.

"What happened to him?!" Alarmed, Syl pushed up on his elbows and felt sharp claws prick lightly against his chest. A chill coursed down his spine as he looked up at Aure.

"Lie down." The boy ordered and Syl eased back down slowly.

This close, Syl could see the Kythe was larger than himself. Physically, Aure's bird-like limbs resembled Syl's, more than Reja's did, but there was nothing Human in his reptilian stare.