Impure - Chapter Twenty-Two (Patreon)

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Chapter Twenty-Two

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Rivi had scarcely known such contentment. He had melted into Argos’s embrace before. He’d hugged the coyote, he’d cried into his shoulder, he’d cuddled up against his arm, he’d even somewhat drunkenly draped himself across Argos. All of those moments in and of themselves left him happy, comforted, and content. But this was different. This was their hands entwined, their pads pressed together. This was Rivi, holding Argos’s hand in public, snuggling his arm, and with his head upon the coyote’s shoulder.

Together, they watched the Fractures’ impossible, cosmic display. The images changed now and then, and the Divine and his sandy world faded away. More beautiful and eerie glimpses followed. There were wastelands of broken red earth, and black stone. Airships as large as the Worldstrider yet bristling with cannons drifted over seas of frozen cloud. A gryphon with feathers of purest gold, marked with ebony, stared at the stars through a window in a white wall. A purple sea stretched, with waves crashing against broken stone ruins.

Yet, for all the time he’d spent studying the Fractures, and all the buzzing excitement he’d experienced, knowing he was soon to see them, they were not even his focus anymore. Argos was his focus. There were no more words exchanged, no jokes or teasing. They simply watched something incredible together, savoring one another’s comfort.

This was as perfect a moment as Rivi had ever experienced.

And all at once, it terrified him.

It terrified the cheetah because it could not be. It was not allowed. His family, and the Church would have had trouble accepting it if Rivi chose to court a female canine, let alone Argos. After all, he would be expected to marry, and have children someday. A female canine might bring him companionship, but she could not bear him children. Still, at least in such an instance, exceptions could be made for true love. He would not have been the first member to have a surrogate child, after all. But a male? An impure relationship? It simply would not be allowed for a Church member to actively pursue such sinful blasphemy.

But the more Rivi thought about it, the more he realized that wasn’t what truly frightened him. After all, he’d taken atonement punishments before, he could take them again. And though he hated to think of himself as having privileges did not, the cheetah found it unlikely that he’d end up jailed or in some reform camp to forcibly overcome his impurity. After all, that would reflect badly on his father. And Father certainly wouldn’t want to endanger his new position. As for Argos? Normally, an outsider pursuing an impure relationship with a feline of the Church would be banished, at best. At worst? Rivi didn’t want to think about it. But Argos, he doubted, had little to worry about. If anything, the felines sent to arrest the coyote might be the ones to disappear.

No, Rivi thought, he wasn’t being caught, he was so afraid of.

It was that this could not last.

Argos had warned him of exactly that, from the very beginning. The coyote’s voice echoed through his head.

Whatever this is, whatever it may become? It can only last until this voyage ends.

Rivi gave a small, whimpering mewl. Argos squeezed his hand and nuzzled at his ear. Rivi snuggled more firmly up against his arm, trying to keep his thoughts from spilling out into the open. ‘Whatever’, as Argos put it, had damn sure become something after all. The cheetah knew the word for it, in dozens of languages, and yet he dreaded to use any of them. He’d thought it, and considered, and knew all too well that the terrifying truth of it was growing in him, heartbeat by aching heartbeat.

When this voyage ended, he would love Argos. And then they would say goodbye.

That was what frightened him most.

The cheetah whimpered again, his throat tightening. How utterly unfair it seemed. To be born into a life where such love was forbidden. To tumble into it just the same, only to know it would inevitably be torn away. Perhaps never to be known again. For once in his lonely, solitary life, his own naivety led him to stumble into someone who wanted nothing more than to allow Rivi to be himself. And now, Rivi wanted nothing more in turn than to stay with that person. To hold him, and to be held. And for a short time, they had exactly that.

But when it was over, all they would have of each other were memories.

Argos, at least, would be free to roam the world, and to pursue anyone he wished. Rivi, though, knew he could not pursue love back home even if he found it. At best, he might know a forbidden romance, enacted only in secrecy, and covered in layers of careful obfuscation. More likely, though, Rivi expected nothing of the sort. Even on the infinitesimal chance he ever found someone he loved back home, he doubted he would be willing to risk their safety for a relationship. Instead, he’d probably end up in a marriage of convenience, arranged behind the scenes by those in power who wished to see his father’s lineage and good name continued.

Something about that idea rankled Rivi so completely, so filled him with a disgusted sort of anger it brought about a visceral reaction. His fur bristled, his claw tips slipped free on his bare hand, his ears flattened and his fangs bared. And even before he realized what he was doing, what he was saying, Rivi spat an especially foul curse.

“Fuck you!” Rivi’s snarled deepened, more sharp teeth on display. “Fuck you!”

Argos turned his head, looking at the cheetah, a playful smile on his muzzle. “You know, fucking’s an awfully big jump from holding hands. You sure you’re ready for that, Spots?”

Rivi’s snarl faced in an instant, replaced with horrified, embarrassed laughter. He could scarcely believe what he’d just said. His ears flushed hot, flattening back. His tail hung low, trying to curl around his leg as if it too, was embarrassed on his behalf. “I-I didn’t mean-”

“I know, Spots.” Argos gave the cheetah’s hand a comforting squeeze. “I just wanted to make you laugh, a little.”

“Thank you, Argos.” Rivi smiled at him, then lay his head back down against his shoulder. “It’s just…unfair.” He sniffled slightly. “Us, I mean. And how this has to end.”

Argos grimaced, his ears drooping slightly. “Yeah. I had a pretty good idea. Figured you were either cursin’ your father, or fate. Or both.”

“Both,” Rivi said, staring at the Fractures. One of them now displayed only falling snow. Though Rivi had seen more than enough snow lately, the image was oddly soothing. “Mostly Father, just then, but it was…” He grimaced. “Fate that made me think about him. I’d have cursed the Divines and their cruelties they weave for us, but then I’d really be blaspheming.”

The coyote chuckled. “Suppose you would. You want me to curse them for you?”

Rivi quickly shook his head. “Oh, no thank you. In your line of work, I’m sure you have enough trouble with the Divines without me adding an additional blasphemy atop your tally of…” He trailed off, looking up at Argos. “I’m sorry, that’s terribly insensitive of me, isn’t it?”

Argos shrugged. “Nah, I don’t believe in that shit, anyway. Besides, if there was a hell, or a damnation, I’d definitely already be headed there.”

Rivi flattened his ears back. He stood on his tip toes, just to gently bump his muzzle against Argos’s cheek. “I wish you wouldn’t think that way about yourself. Because I don’t. I’m the one who believes, between us, and I don’t think you’re damned at all.”

“Yeah, well…” Argos grimaced. “You don’t know half the shit I’ve-”

“I don’t know how many more times I can tell you!” Rivi gripped Argos’s hand tighter, almost too tight. A little spark of anger flickered in his heart. He was not angry at Argos, but rather, on his behalf. He simply wished the coyote would stop being so hard on himself. “You are not only the sum of terrible deeds. Especially terrible deeds you’re forced to undertake on behalf of police work, or…” Rivi trailed off. The last thing he wanted to do was start any kind of argument. Instead, he just nosed at the soft, fluffy fur on Argos’s cheek again. “I believe that you’re a good person at heart.” He pulled his head back, offering Argos a coy smile. “And I’m the devout one between us, so that means I’m right.”

The coyote yipped a little laugh. “Is that how that works?”

“No, but…” Rivi leaned against him. “It made you laugh.”

“It did.” A grin lingered on Argos’s muzzle. “Thanks, Spots. I guess we both needed that.” He glanced down between them. “Your hand ain’t too cold without your glove, is it?”

Rivi shook his head. “No, it’s fine, thank you. Your hand is keeping it nice and warm. I’ve…” He leaned in again, whispering to Argos. “Never done this before.”

“I know,” Argos said, rubbing Rivi’s hand with his thumb.

The cheetah mewled a few sheepish giggles. “I must sound like a terrible prude, to someone like you.”

The coyote only shrugged. “You are who you are, and you believe what you believe. Nothing else to it.”

“Thank you, Argos.” Rivi lay his head back against the coyote’s shoulder.

Argos was silent for a little while, staring at the Fractures. Rivi watched them too. The images changed, shifting from one otherworldly scene to another. In one, snow shattered and soon reformed into a roiling dust storm. Another was cut apart by Ethereal Blue, only to forge itself into a grand expanse of stars and nebulae. Curtains of beautiful, silvery rain cascading across stone-studded hills filled another. All the while, people snapped photographs. Yet Rivi was happier, simply taking it all in with Argos.

“You wanna know what she said about us?” Argos glanced towards the glass enclosed room nearby. “Iosa, I mean.”

“I should imagine something like…” Rivi leaned Argos a moment, watching the gray vixen. Now that the Fractures were not filled with emptiness, she was watching through the windows, while snacking on everything available. When she spotted Rivi looking, she waved to him. Rivi lifted his free hand to wave back. “Don’t get attached to that cheetah, he’s a civilian and we’re on a mission!”

Argos gave a single bark of laughter. “Not exactly. Well, okay, yeah. First, she yelled at me about exactly that. We smoothed it over, though. And then, just the other day…” Argos’s breath caught. “To make the heartbreak worth it.”

Rivi pinned his ears. “Sounds like she already knew… Well.” Rivi squeezed Argos’s hand. “It’s going to hurt now, isn’t it.”

“Yeah, Spots.” Argos swallowed. “It’s going to hurt. It’s going to hurt a lot. But that’s life, ain’t it? Pain and hardship, they’re just part of the puzzle. I guess the rest of it wouldn’t mean shit if we didn’t have sorrow, to help define our happiness.”

Rivi’s throat threatened to close up again. He tried to clear it with a few little growls. “That’s quite poetic, Argos.” He sniffed. “I must say, I do like her suggestion, at least. If we’re destined to tear out one another’s hearts, then…” Rivi swallowed. “We may as well make the most of together, before the inevitable.”

Argos slowly turned his head. “Is that what you think I’m gonna do to you? Tear out your heart?”

Rivi managed a little smile. “Not literally, I should hope. My life shall feel emptier without you, but I should like it to continue just the same.”

The coyote chuckled. “I guess more what I meant was, you already feel like it’s gonna be that bad?”

The cheetah sighed, staring out across the ship. His eyes roamed the many people on the VIP deck, lingering across couples laughing together, leaning on one another, holding hands, or comforting each other. Though their displays of affection were open and public than back home in feline lands, it wasn’t as if married lovers did not hold hands in public, or lean against one another.

“Argos, I could ramble on and on about how I’ve never had this, before.” He gestured between them with his free hand. “This simple affection. I could remind you how back home, holding your hand could get me thrown in jail, if I were not my father’s son. But…” Rivi’s voice trembled. “But do you know why saying goodbye to you will truly tear my beating heart from my chest?” A few tears ran down Rivi’s fur. He wiped them away, taking a shaky breath. “It’s because you are the first person, in all my life, to simply accept me, for who I really am. You accepted me as the person I feared I was, and you encouraged me to accept myself. You told me I was just fine the way I am, and that no one has a right to tell me otherwise. And…” Rivi whimpered, wiping away a few more tears. His throat ached, tightening up. “And damn it if I’m not starting to believe you. But when I say goodbye to you, I will probably never hear those words again. Except in my memories, when I think of you.”

“Fuckin’ hell, Spots,” Argos said, his voice cracking. He looked away, rubbing his eyes.

“If this ended between us, right now?” Urgency grew in Rivi’s voice. “If this was as deep as our feelings grew, as far as we went, together? Then still, would our parting rip away my heart, simply because you offered me acceptance.” He turned to put his gloved hand atop Argos’s, squeezing them both. Rivi nearly hissed his words, his tail lashing. “So yes! I agree with your friend! If heartbreak be our destiny, then absolutely, let us embrace it! Let us cherish these moments together, and earn our coming anguish rightly!”

Argos wiped a few more tears away from the gray fur of his cheeks. “And you tried to tell me you ain’t good with words.”

Rivi managed a whimpering giggle. “I have my moments, when I’m not tripping over my own tongue, or blurting out my most private and embarrassing thoughts to strangers.”

“Or calling strange coyotes handsome,” Argos said.

“Well…” Rivi reached up with his gloved hand, brushing it across Argos’s cheek, smoothing down the thick fur. “At least I was right about that. The strange coyote was handsome.”

Argos smiled at him, gently grasping Rivi’s hand. “If you say so. The cheetah’s more handsome, though.”

“Liar,” Rivi said, looking away. He curled his gloved fingers through Argos’s, holding both his hands now.

“Fine, we can be equally handsome.” Argos glanced at their intertwining fingers, and their pressed pads. “Spots, you remember this morning, how I said I wasn’t sure if you’d be comfortable being asked out, just yet? I kinda get the feeling, you be growin’ to the accustomed to the idea.”

Rivi’s own smile quickly returned. “The evidence does seem to be pointing in that direction. However…” He straightened himself up, his shoulders squared. “I’m a respectable gentleman. I shan’t allow you to ask to court me.” He waited a bit, just enough for Argos’s ears to start to droop. Then he squeezed the coyote’s hands. “Not in public, anyway. You shall have to ask me in private, as befits an equally respectable gentleman.”

“Ain’t nothing respectable or gentlemanly about me.” Argos leaned in, nuzzling at one of Rivi’s ears. “But I’ll happily pretend for you, Spots. How about we have that conversation later, back in the room? And if you’re amenable, maybe we go out for drinks, and a romantic dinner.”

Rivi shuddered at the coyote’s attentions. “If I was amenable, that sounds lovely. But you’ll have wait and see, won’t you?” Then he blinked. “Actually, weren’t we to meet Iosa and her brother for dinner?”

Argos snorted, easing back but still smiling. “Less romantic dinner, then. I’ll romance you the next night.”

Rivi glanced away with a sheepish laugh. “Or, depending on how many imperial lagers I accidentally consume, you might inadvertently find yourself romancing me back in the room.”

Argos laughed at that, but then quickly shook his head. “Oh, no. If anything physical happens between us, it ain’t gonna be when you’re drunk. Ain’t nothing gonna happen that I can’t be sure you you’d still do sober.”

The cheetah squeezed Argos’s hands. “I appreciate that. Honestly, I’m torn on…” He released Argos with his gloved hand, waving it in a little circle. “All that. I will certainly admit, how embarrassing it may be, that there is a part of me that finds the idea of indulging in such things with you incredibly exciting. There’s also a part of me that doesn’t think we should.”

“And I hope you know, I respect whatever choice you make.” Argos cupped the cheetah’s chin. “That’s why ain’t nothing gonna happen if you’ve drank too much. Cause you can only properly weigh a choice like that when you’re sober. And it is your choice. I ain’t never gonna put no pressure on you, for nothing.” 

Rivi stroked Argos’s arm through his coat sleeve. “Thank you. But, if it was your choice, I could imagine I’d be subject to several new experiences.”

Argos only smirked. “Spots, I’d give you a ‘new experience’ tonight, before we even went to dinner.”

The feline nearly swallowed his tongue. “That, uh…” He coughed a little. “Tantalizing a possibility as it may be, would perhaps be a little too soon.”

“Which again,” Argos said, releasing him. “Is why it’s your choice.”

“Understood.” Rivi struggled to tamp down on the shivers and tingles that particular idea unleashed through his body. The last thing he wanted now was to suffer any sort of embarrassing ‘excitement’ in public. Then again, Rivi thought, between the multiple layers of clothing he wore to combat the cold, and his long coat, he wasn’t sure anyone would notice. Movement in red drew his attention, and he turned, pointing towards Iosa, happy to have an excuse to change the subject. “Oh, here comes Iosa!”

The gray vixen strolled across the deck, her bright red coat buttoned up tightly against the cold. A few of the other press on the balcony glanced at her, then returned to taking photographs of the Fractures. By now, they were more than halfway past prime viewing. The journalists and photographers remained focused on taking pictures. Rivi hoped that meant not many of them had noticed that two males were holding hands and cuddling in public. Though he doubted every nation’s peoples were as restrictive and hostile towards impurity as his, he also had no way of knowing who was as open as Argos, and who was not.

Iosa’s eyes flicked down to Rivi’s uncovered hand, still entwined with Argos. “Well look at you two lovebirds! Don’t you look adorable.” She paused, glancing between them before smiling at Rivi. “Well, one of you looks adorable, anyway. The other’s a mangy old coyote.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Argos said, pretending to scoff at her. “You’re just envious that you and I never looked this cute together.”

Iosa tapped her chest. “On the contrary, I looked that good for both of us.”

Heat flooded Rivi’s ears to be so called out, and yet, his embarrassment was short-lived. Instead, it was quickly overwhelmed by an odd sort of happiness. Though he knew Iosa was in The Club, as they called it, it still felt ever so good to hear her call them adorable, together. In Rivi’s mind, it helped to validate whatever he and Argos were becoming. That it wasn’t just the two of them who had accepted one another, but someone else entirely. It was almost as if they were just another couple, in Iosa’s mind.

Actually, Rivi thought, were they a couple? He flattened his ears, murmuring to himself. “Not quite, Rivi. We haven’t made it official yet!”

Iosa gave a happy laugh. “Don’t worry, Mister Rivimiralous. You needn’t officially be an item, to be adorable together.”

Rivi coughed. He hadn’t realized he’d said that aloud. But, at least he had no need to defend his thoughts, or deflect her. “Argos told me what you said, about us. About heartbreak.”

Iosa flicked her ears back. “Did he?” She waved their entwined fingers. “Then I’m guessing this means you agree.”

The cheetah looked down, staring at his own bare hand pressed against the coyote’s. The sight was almost surreal, in a way he doubted the other two would ever quite comprehend. “It does.”

“Good!” Iosa tucked her hands into her pockets, beaming. “I’m glad for both of you. I think I could tell, from when he first brought you to dinner, that you were going to hurt him. And I don’t mean intentionally, or cruelly. Only that he was going to get attached to you. You won’t be the first goodbye that’s broken his heart.”

“Alright, alright,” Argos said, glancing at the cheetah. “You don’t need to be filling Rivi’s head with all sorts of wrong ideas about me.”

“On the contrary.” The cheetah smiled, his tail swishing. “I don’t mind hearing about your former lovers, if you wish to share. I’m under no delusions that you aren’t infinitely more experienced in relationships than I. If…” He glanced at Iosa. “Either of you have wisdom gleaned from former heartache, then I would be happy to hear it. Perhaps, when we must part…” Rivi grimaced. “It will prove a useful balm on my own aching heart.”

“Shit, Spots.” Argos grinned at him. “You’re really knockin’ these poetic metaphors through the goal, today.” He nudged Iosa. “I think he was fakin’ having all those troubles with the wrong words.”

Rivi giggled, shrugging. “If only I was. But thank you.” He turned towards Iosa, still holding Argos’s hand. “You did mention, that first night I met you, that Argos has a habit of gathering strays?”

Argos grunted. “He don’t need to hear about the stray.”

Iosa only smirked at the feline. “I’ll tell you about her at dinner, tonight.”

“Goddamn it.” Argos sighed. “Of course you will.”

Rivi flicked his ears back. “Well, only if Argos is comfortable with me hearing about her.”

“I’m fine, Spots.” Argos rubbed his neck with his free hand. “It’s just kinda embarrassing, that’s all.”

Iosa poked the coyote on the nose. “He just doesn’t like it because it proves he’s a big softie at heart.”

Rivi smiled at the canine. “Well, I’ve already discovered that, so he needn’t feel embarrassed.”

“You ain’t heard the story yet.” Argos crinkled up his muzzle after Iosa poked it. “Your brother still joining us?”

“As far as I know, yes.” Iosa tucked her hands into her coat pockets, moving to stand alongside Argos near the railing. “Unless of course, you two would rather dine alone. I don’t mind taking Calix somewhere else to let you have the night to yourselves.”

The cheetah quickly shook his head. “Your thoughtfulness is appreciated! But that won’t be necessary. It’s important to keep one’s word, after all. And I’m looking forward to getting to know your brother a little better. I’m sure I’ll be left with a better impression of him than our first meeting.”

Iosa snorted. “Don’t count on it. But alright then.” She leaned against the railing, watching the Fractures in the distance. “You know, if they always looked like this, I might enjoy them a little more.”

Rivi turned towards them as well. One of the holes in the sky now displayed a raging storm, roaring across a rocky landscape. Another had groups of aerial gunships squaring off above a river, with a black dragon swooping amidst them. The other two showed scenes even more alien. One looked to be little more than a blasted, reddish landscape, against a backdrop of stars. Another showed bipedal creatures Rivi was not at all familiar with, some small and furred, with two sets of eyes, others vaguely feline, with tufted ears and extra fingers with extra knuckles in turn. A tall, scaly lizard-like creature loomed above them, similar and yet different from the known species of the broken world. All of them wore elaborate armor with strange lights, with very strange guns affixed.

“Oh!” Rivi gasped, glancing at Argos. “I’m sorry, but…I really should take a photograph of that one. Those might be uncatalogued!”

Argos released his hand. “Do what you gotta do, Spots.” He waggled his fingers. “This is available any time, after all.” He glanced at Iosa. “Wanna help me get the cat some more photographs?”

“Why not,” Iosa said, moving to one of the camera cases. “He is a journalist, after all.”

Rivi swiftly unlocked his Cystal Colormaster 7-5 case. “Argos, I do hope you’re not upset. Please don’t think this means I wasn’t serious about you being more important-”

“Spots.” Argos opened a case. “Take a breath. And don’t worry about it. You still got a duty to do, and you made your point pretty emphatically when you took your glove off. Besides…” He smirked as he retrieved the camera, adjusting a few settings. “If I’m gonna be your boyfriend, I gotta be supportive of both your career, and your hobbies. And photography’s both, right now. So, let’s get some pictures of…” He stood back up, turning towards them. “Whatever the fuck those things are.”

“Thank you, Argos,” Rivi said, standing back up. He turned towards the railing, lifting his camera. “I’m not entirely certain these entities are uncatalogued, but I’m not familiar with-boyfriend?!” He whirled towards Argos, wide-eyed.

“You’re not familiar with boyfriend?” Iosa stepped back to the railing, the last camera in her hands. “Perhaps you should get to know him first, then. Rivi, this is Argos.” She inclined her head towards him. “He’s a good coyote, most of the time. When you can get past the drinking, and the ego. And the gambling. And the fist fighting. And that funny coyote smell.”

Argos glared at her. “Coyotes do not have a funny smell.”

Iosa perked a single ear. “Oh, so that’s just you then?”

The cheetah cleared his throat with a nervous growl. “I didn’t mean…” He licked his nose. “I mean, I did mean…” He mewled. “But I didn’t mean…”

Iosa nudged the coyote. “I think his needle’s stuck in the groove. You can reset him?”

Argos snapped a quick picture. “Spots, take another breath. Take two of them. If this becomes an official thing, that is what I’m going to be. Your boyfriend. That’s how these things work.”

The cheetah coughed a few times. “Y-yes, I suppose if we courted, you would be the boyfriend. Does that mean I’d be the…” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “Girlfriend?”

Argos glanced over, shrugging. “Only if you wanna be. I figured I’d be your boyfriend, you’d be my boyfriend. But if you’d rather see yourself as my girlfriend, that’s fine with me. I’ll see you that way, too. And anyone who don’t like it can fuck right off.”

Rivi swallowed, considering it. “Do…” He worked his words around in his muzzle, considering them carefully. “Other people see themselves, other ways like that?”

“Some do, yeah.” Argos took another picture. “Iosa and I know a few, in The Club. Told them the same thing, they gotta be true to themselves, what’s in their head, and their heart. So, Spots, if in your head and heart, you’re female? Then you’ll be my girlfriend, if we’re courtin’. You just lemme know how you want me to refer to you, okay?”

Rivi slowly nodded. He lifted his Colormaster, focusing on the unusual bipedal creatures on display. From the looks of things, they were arguing about something. Behind them, glass panes flickered with images, and text in languages Rivi had never seen before. He quickly took a few photographs, even as his mind was slightly distracted by the information Argos presented. Back home, he’d never heard of such people. And yet, why would he? Rivi was certain they were forced to keep their true selves as secret as any other impure person.

“Argos…” Rivi slowly lowered the camera. “Do you think I’m wasting my time? Taking photographs, writing notes, planning a book to show people the world, when…” He hissed. “When they wouldn’t even want people like me to exist? Or people like you just mentioned?”

The coyote grimaced, turning towards him. “Nah, Spots. If anything, I think what you’re doing is important. I know your Church is gonna edit the hell out of anything they let you publish, but…” The coyote shrugged, glancing at the Fractures. They were shifting again, shrieking bolts of Ethereal Blue slicing them apart. “The only information your people ever get, is what the Church tells them. What the Church shows them. Like you said, you don’t even get newspapers or radio broadcasts from other countries, unless they’re allowed with your Church. You have a chance here, to show people the world outside their borders. The more reality you can slip past the Church censors, the more you can show your people they’re being repressed, the better off they’re going to be. As for what most of your people think about us?” Argos lifted his camera, taking a few more pictures. “That only changes with time, and with exposure. I ain’t sayin’ go home, spread your book around, and then give a big speech where you announce you’re impure once you’re a national hero. But, if you become some kinda celebrity, and you start, ever so slightly chipping away at the idea that impurity is some kinda disease, that the impure should be shunned, or jailed? I ain’t suggesting you do anything that puts you in danger, but it’s gotta start somewhere, right? Hell, maybe you can slip a few pictures through, or a few descriptions about people being openly affectionate. Just start putting the idea in people’s heads, that maybe the rest of the world’s moving on from all this puritan bullshit, little by little.”

Rivi smiled to himself. “I rather doubt that will work, but…I’m glad you think my work is important.” He returned to his photography, as the next images pieced themselves together.

“Think about it this way, Spots.” Argos swished his tail, brushing it against the cheetah. “If all your people ever hear about the so-called impure is demonization, than how are they ever gonna start to change their minds? They’re all so damn brainwashed because they’re only ever given one perspective, their entire lives. And that perspective is enforced, sometimes violently. Now, I as sure as shit ain’t excusing their bigotry. I’m just saying I’m not likely to change without someone finding a way to expose them to a few more points of view.”

“That makes sense.” Rivi fidgeted with his camera, adjusting dials. “Do you really think we’re brainwashed, Argos?”

The coyote scowled, his ears back. “Sorry, Spots, that wasn’t a very thoughtful way of putting things. I should have said-”

“No, you’re probably right.” Rivi sighed, staring at the masses on the deck below. “You’d certainly know better than I would.” The cheetah managed a little smile. “I like your idea, though. To try and…show my people some of what they’ve been forbidden to see.” His tail flicked in thought. “I don’t know how much of that I’ll be able to get through the censors, but it’s certainly worth a try.”

“It damn sure is.” Argos tucked the camera under his arm, then clasped Rivi’s shoulder firmly. “But for now…” He swept his hand in a grand gesture towards the Fractures. “These will be gone soon, so you may as well get a few more shots while you can.”

Rivi looked up. By now, they were nearing the edge of the prime viewing angles. Soon, it would more and more difficult to see into the Fractures themselves. And then before long, they would once more just be odd, triangular shapes cut on the horizon by the Ethereal Blue. Not only that, but one of them flickered, like a light bulb about to die. The image within wavered, blue sparks swirled. Rivi took a few shots of its death throes, just before the window inside it went dark. Once more, there was nothing beyond the Fracture but emptiness.

The cheetah looked away from that one. He did not wish to gaze into that again. Instead, he focused on the three remaining Fractures. One of them displayed great, sweeping plains. A heard of scaled creatures ran across it, their powerful bodies not unlike wingless dragons. Some of them were shades of green, others brown or gray. Rivi was not especially familiar with them, either. He was not sure if the Fracture Scholars had catalogued those either, so he made certain to take plenty of pictures, just in case.

“You know,” Rivi said, still looking through his camera. “If I was truly the first to document something new through a Fracture, it’s possible it could be named after me.”

“That’d be great, Spots!” Argos batted at the cheetah with his tail.

Iosa leaned around the coyote to address Rivi. “That would be pretty incredible, in fact. I hope you do just that, Rivi. And as I’m sure Argos has told you, there are several other Fractures we pass on the way, too. You’ve certainly got plenty of chances.”

Rivi and the other two continued shooting picture until nothingness reclaimed the remaining Fractures. Rivi lowered his camera, trying to avoid looking directly into them. Even without viewing them straight on, Rivi could not shake the disconcerting feeling that the shimmering walls of Ethereal Blue were the only thing holding back the dissolution of their very world. That non-existence itself waited within the Fractures, hungry and yearning to consume all that remained of the Cosmos. Of reality. If the Ethereal Blue ever faded, then…

The cheetah shivered, turning away. “I think that’s enough photography for today.”

“Probably for the best.” Iosa leaned over the railing. “Lotta other people are starting to pack up and head back inside, already. You wanna try and beat some of the crowd, or you wanna stay out and watch the blue lightning fade into the distance?”

Rivi considered it for a moment. Already, the triangular shapes of the Fractures themselves were becoming less distinct as the ship began to leave them behind. “Given all I’ve seen today, I think I’m alright with heading back inside, now.” He turned to smile at the coyote. “I wouldn’t want poor Argos to freeze his ears off, without a hat.”

The coyote just chuckled. “You’re one to talk, with your ears poking out from under yours.”

“Yes, and they’re ever so cold.” Rivi rubbed one with his ungloved hand. “And now, so is my hand without yours to keep it warm.” He dug a glove back out. “Unless you object, I’m putting my glove back on for now.”

Argos took a few final shots of the Fractures on Rivi’s behalf. “Yeah, Spots. I have serious objections to your comfort and lack of frostbite.”

“I thought you might.” Rivi pulled his glove back on, wriggling his fingers into its fur-lined confines. Then he crouched down to pack his Crystal Colormaster away in its hard-shelled case. “Thank you for your help. I can’t wait to see how well these all turn out. I dare say, if I take near this many photos of every major sightseeing event, I shall run out of film long before this journey is over.”

Argos laughing, winding the film forward. “You know you can buy more on the ship, right? Hell, we ain’t even been to any of the major shopping districts.”

“You should take him to the Steerage Market.” Iosa returned her borrowed photography equipment to its own case, then waved at Argos. “Pack yours up. I’ll carry them for you.”

“Oh, thanks, Iosa.” Argos did just that, and then passed Iosa the case. “And Rivi and I already talked about visiting steerage. The market would be fun. We also got some good tips on locations to visit from a kobold elevator worker.”

“Suspicious tips, anyway.” The cheetah slung his case’s strap across his shoulder. “Did you know they recommended a place called The Dragon’s…” Rivi lowered his voice to a whisper. “Whore?”

Iosa’s ears perked up. “Oh, they opened up the Worldstrider branch again already?”

“That’s what I said!” Argos flashed her a grin.

The cheetah stared at them, his ears splayed. “You both know of this place?” He sighed, chuckling under his breath. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.”

“It’s a dragon-owned gambling house,” Argos said. “Based out of the Winged Isles, but since there’s no law but airship laws out here, they’ve got a few branches aboard the big city-ships like The Worldstrider. Mostly in steerage, though…” Argos adjusted his coat sleeves. “I hear they’re in talks to open a high-class establishment in First Class, too.”

“I cannot say I’m eager to visit that sort of business,” Rivi said, scrunching his muzzle. “But I also cannot say the idea isn’t at least a little tempting. However, I might prefer to simply visit such a place when we stop at the Isles. The food and drink venues in steerage sounded enjoyable, though.”

“They also tend to hold big dances, and parties down there,” Iosa said. “Though I’m not sure if they’ll still do that with all the refugees.”

“According to the elevator kobold, there’s one coming up soon.” Argos held his hand out to Rivi. “You want me to carry that camera?”

The cheetah shook his head, smiling. “No, thank you. You carried two of them all the down here, you needn’t carry anything back.”

“Yes, Argos,” Iosa said, turning away. Her tail bumped against the coyote’s leg. “You can take a butler break. Why don’t you carry Rivi, instead?”

“Very well.” Argos turned and acted as if he was going to pick up the cheetah.

Rivi giggled and danced away. “Oh, no you don’t! I have legs and am perfectly careful of using them!”

“You guys heading in?” Jaye stood up from her camera and offered Rivi her hand. “It was a pleasure to meet you, Mister Rivi.”

“You as well.” Rivi shook her hand, seeing no reason to refuse what was intended as a friendly gesture from someone who simply didn’t know his ways. “I look forward to seeing your article in The Alimos Endeavor.”

A smile lit up the woman’s face. “Oh, thanks! It won’t be till after we’ve departed the ship, of course. Might be a multiple-part series, too.” She tucked a hand into her coat and retrieved a small piece of paper. “Here, take my card if you want.”

“I’d be happy to.” Rivi took it, scanning her information. “I’m afraid I don’t have one to offer you in return, but I could write my information, if you wanted.”

“Yeah, why not.” Jaye pulled out another card, along with a pen, and passed them to the cheetah. “Actually, maybe we could do sort of an informal interview of each other. May or may not ever make it to print, but your job sounds pretty damn interesting.”

“Certainly!” Rivi quickly wrote down his name, and his title, and a few other bits of information he thought might be pertinent to a journalist. “We could meet for a coffee or something and bring pen and paper?” He glanced over his shoulder. “Argos, does our room have a phone number?”

The Coyote smirked. “Yes, Spots.” He put a hand on Rivi’s shoulder. “But I’m afraid it’s not public.” He glanced at Jaye. “Just dial the operator and ask to leave a message for him. He’ll call you back. Sorry for the inconvenience.”

“That’s alright.” Jaye took her card back when Rivi had added his information. She returned it and her pen to her pocket. “It’s been a delight to meet you both.” She lowered her voice, grinning. “You make a cute couple.”

Rivi’s eyes went wide. He gasped, nearly swallowing his tongue. Though he tried to speak, all he managed was to gape at her, the inside of his ears flooding with uncomfortable heat. Argos put on arm around the cheetah’s middle, gently pulling him back from the woman, lest he stare at her in shocked embarrassment for the next hour or so.

“Thanks, Jaye.” Argos pulled Rivi closer. “Don’t mind him. He’s still coming to terms with the idea. His people ain’t exactly accepting of…” He grunted. “You know.”

Jaye sighed. “I do, unfortunately. Too many people aren’t. But I wish you both the best of luck.” She smiled at Rivi. “And I hope to hear from you about that co-interview. I promise not to ask about…” She gestured between him and Argos. “This.”

“Th-thank you,” Rivi finally said, struggling even for those words. “G-goodbye.” The cheetah’s legs wobbled beneath him as Argos led him back towards the glass-walled Press Suites. “A-Argos! Sh-she called us a…a…” He couldn’t bring himself to say the word.

“She sure did, Spots.” Since his other hand was free, Argos opened the door and held it open for Iosa. “After you, Milady.”

“Thank you, Sir.” Iosa slipped inside, then propped her shoe against the door to keep it open for the others.

“But…we’re not even…” Rivi stumbled a few paces, trying to collect himself. Warm air rushed across him. “That, yet! I mean, not officially. Although, Rivi…” He looked around, his ears flattening. “Taking off our glove does signify…” He caught himself. “Oh, I’m thinking out loud again.”

“You are, and it’s adorable.” Argos hugged him with one arm, then eased away. “People call it like they see it, Spots. We weren’t exactly hiding it from the people around us.”

Rivi took a slow, steadying breath. “I suppose not.” He gulped, then turned towards the others. “She didn’t seem put off, at least.”

The coyote shook his head. “Nope, not at all.” A grin crept across his muzzle. “How’s that feel?”

“Umm…” Rivi shifted his camera, then wrung his hands. “Quite confusing, if I’m honest. Part of me is happy, but the rest of me is wondering why she’s not calling the vice police, or something.”

Iosa put a hand against Rivi’s arm. “It’s going to be an adjustment for you, Rivi. And that’s expected. If it makes you feel any better, Black Star doesn’t have any vice police. Hell, the only secret authority they recognize is ours.” The vixen yipped playful laughter, then glanced at the coyote. “Besides, that human was right. You two do make a cute couple, however unofficial it may be for the moment.”

“Damn right we do.” Argos pulled Rivi close again.

Iosa gestured at the cheetah. “Only because he’s doing all the heavy lifting. The spectacles and spots and bashful expression on his side are completely outweighing all the scruffy, flea-bitten mange on your side of things.”

Argos glared at her, his ears back. “I do not have fleas! Or mange!”

“And he’s not scruffy,” Rivi said. “Why, he even brushed his fur this morning!”

Iosa perked a single ear. “Did he then?”

Argos held up a hand. “Lemme handle this, Spots.”

“Tell me, Rivi,” Iosa said, her voice all velvet and venom. “Was that the first time he’s brushed it all trip? Because normally he just crawls out of bed and throws on whatever dirty clothes he’s got lying around.”

“I do not!” Argos pointedly turned away from her. He gestured at the buffet of snack foods. It was picked over, by now, but plenty of morsels remained. “Say, Spots, you want any of this food before the rest of the press gets in here and finishes it off?”

Rivi mewled musical feline giggles, shaking his head. “As tempting as it is, I think I shall save room for dinner.”

“You heard your boyfriend, Argos.” Iosa grabbed his tail, dragging him backwards towards the door for the press hallway. “Now, come along, and tell me about this new grooming ritual you’ve apparently started. Clean clothes and brushed fur? What’s next, a shower?”

“Ow!” Argos staggered backwards a few steps. “Ow, my tail! Come on, Iosa!” He finally pulled free and spun around to glare at her. “You know I shower.”

Iosa opened the press door and held it for the other two. “You didn’t used to.” She glanced at Rivi. “He must have started on your behalf. You’ve really had an effect on him!”

Rivi followed the coyote into the press corridor, still giggling. “Somehow, I doubt anyone who dresses as stylishly as he does has only just started maintaining proper grooming recently.”

The hall was much more nicely appointed then austere security checkpoint and basic stairwell they took on the way up. Recessed lightning gave its wood panels a warm look. Portraits of famous journalists lined its walls. The carpet was a dark green color, plush and new. Rivi was thankful the kobold had pointed it out, earlier. A few other journalists meandered down its length ahead of them, while a few more followed Iosa inside.

The vixen trailed behind the other two. “Oh, you should have seen Argos before! Dirty, matted fur, stained clothing. He was a real mess! Why, the guild had to spray him down with a hose between missions just so they could stand the smell of him long enough to give him his next briefing!”

“Oh, no,” Argos said, descending a set of thickly carpeted stairs. A brass railing lined the stairway. “Don’t you start comparing me to Shitsy Stinkass.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it, Argos!” Iosa padded down the stairs after Rivi, pausing just long enough. “I’d never insult that bear that way.”

Argos threw his hands up. “Come on, Iosa! That’s just cold.”

The cheetah grinning, walking at Argos’s said as they approached a doorway. Muffled voices told Rivi it led back into the VIP viewing deck’s inner sections, probably somewhere near the break room where they’d met with Jeremor. “I don’t know, Argos. I’m afraid you sort of walked right into that one.”

The coyote just yapped gentle laughter, reaching for the door handle. “Don’t you start in on me too, Spots. I don’t think I can handle both of you at once.” He paused to glance at Iosa over his shoulder. “And don’t even think about-”

“That’s what he said.” Iosa smirked, her rusty-red furred ears splayed at smug angles. “To Linha and me.”

Rivi put a hand over his muzzle, trying to stifle his laughter. “Oh, goodness.”

Argos pulled the door open, holding it for Rivi. “Don’t listen to her, Spots, she’s just-” Argos put his arm across Rivi’s chest, barring his way. In an instant, everything in Argos changed. All the laughter and kindness was gone from his voice, and in its place was only menace. It was all too clear he was suddenly not addressing Rivi. “Step back. Now.”

Just outside the door, stood a tall, broad-shouldered lion with a reddish, unkempt mane. Rivi recognized him immediately, from his first day on the ship. He’d nearly stumbled into the lion at the time, and the large feline spent the next few minutes glaring daggers at him, and worse at Argos. The long, gray and black coat he wore told Rivi he’d been outside on the deck just now. This time, the tiger and panther who’d been with him previously were gone.

Instead, a second, a smaller lion stood alongside him. This one had a black mane, and by lion standards, an unusually slender build. Yet, something about the way he held himself, all confidence and a dangerous sort of smugness, suggested he was slender in the same way Argos was. A body of tightly coiled muscle that was probably every bit as powerful as the larger feline next to him. And where the red-maned lion wore a coat, the black-maned lion did not. Instead, he was dressed in a long-sleeved white shirt, with a golden jacket left open. A crimson scarf adorned his neck, hanging across his chest like a tie.

“Told you it was him.” The red-maned lion ignored Argos’s instructions, folding his arms over his broad chest. He glared down at Rivi. “Took me a minute, but I remembered where I knew him from. And it weren’t no newspaper.”

“Yeah, that’s him alright.” The other lion’s voice was almost too smooth. It was suave and honey-sweet, with the lilting edge of the far frontier. It reminded Rivi of the way Argos talked, but with derision instead of confidence. “That’s definitely Daddy’s boy. And with a Guild escort, too. Daddy really didn’t spare any expense to keep his precious little impure kitten safe, did he?”

Rivi’s eyes widened, heart pounding. They knew who his father was?

“First, and only warning.” In a single, smooth motion, Argos pushed Rivi back to Iosa, even as he stepped forward to put himself between the cheetah and the lions. “If you so much as think about touching him, I will fuck up the both of you all across the deck.”

The lion with the black mane held his hands up. “Oh, who said anything about touching precious little Rivimiralous? Why, he’s got an entire nation to represent. He’s got to look his best, you know. But, speaking of touching…” He glanced up at the taller lion. “What was it you saw again, Gara?”

“Well, it was the damnedest thing.” Gara tilted his head, glaring right past Argos, his eyes piercing Rivi. “I seen the Wandering Scholar, up on the press deck. Holdin’ hands with some fuckin’ impure dog. His porter, he told me. But he ain’t your porter, is he.”

The black-maned lion shook his head. “Not likely. Guild associates would be awful pricey to serve as porters. So, I’ll have to assume Daddy hired them to keep his little boy safe, out there in the big, dangerous world. But yanno…” He tapped a single, unsheathed claw tip to his chin. “That makes me wonder what else he might have hired them for? Say…” He smirked at Rivi, waggling the same finger at him. “Didn’t your daddy just pick up a nice, fat promotion?”

Rivi hissed at the taller felines. “My father’s title has nothing to do with my companions!” His eyes flicked from the lion’s single, unsheathed claw, over to his taller companion’s folded arms. Then his breath caught when he realized something. “Argos! Neither of them is wearing gloves!” Where Rivi came from, at least, that only ever meant trouble. It meant they wanted their claws free.

“I know, Spots.” Argos slowly, dramatically, began to unbutton his coat. “Listen, boys. You’ve already identified my employer, and my dear friend’s father, so I think we can dispense with the rest of the bullshit. You want me to fuck you up right here in public, or you wanna go somewhere quiet first?”

Iosa grasped Rivi’s arm, pulling him further from the doorway. “Argos?” The vixen’s voice was hushed, yet terrifying, like a muffled gunshot. “Yes, or no?”

Rivi’s pulse pounded in his ears. All at once, it was if there was no else around. The crowd just beyond doorway was forgotten. The journalists queuing up behind them to leave the press area were ignored. There was only Argos, and Iosa, standing between Rivi and two suddenly very hostile-looking lions.

“No.” Argos pulled his coat off, and folded it across his arm. “Stay with Rivi.” Then he took a single step towards the tallest lion. “You still ain’t answered my question. You want me to choose for you?”

The lion finally glanced down at Argos. A sneer twisted his muzzle, a deep-seated hatred gleaming in his eyes. “Ain’t no one talking to you, Dog.” He spat the last word like a curse. There was something twisted in that lion’s head, Rivi was certain. Gara sounded almost as disgusted with canines as he was with impurity. The red-maned lion’s attention snapped back up to Rivi. “Now, you listen here, you little shit!” He unfolded his arms. “Why they ever picked an impure little worm like you to be our Wandering Scholar, I’ll never know. But you represent us, now! You represent all of us! So you damn sure can’t be holding hands with no fuckin’ dog, you hear me?”

Rivi’s ears drooped, his tail sagged. The lion was right. He did represent their people. He couldn’t be…The cheetah gnashed his teeth. No, Rivi, we don’t have to listen to people like him anymore! He doesn’t know us! His thoughts slipped out into the open, escaping him as an angry snarl. “You don’t care about us! We can’t make you accept us, but we don’t have to listen to your…” He snapped his teeth. “Your bullshit!”

Iosa curled her arm through his, ushering him a little further back. Journalists behind them backed away, murmuring. Iosa whispered into Rivi’s ear. “Wait for it…”

“The fuck did you say to me?” Gara snarled right back at him. “And what’s this ‘we’ bullshit? Did being impure break your fuckin’ brain, too? Now, you listen here, you little shit!” Gara stormed forward, trying to push past Argos, jabbing a finger in the air. “You better-”

And then Argos punched him in the throat.

“There it is,” Iosa said, her voice filled with smug satisfaction. “Now watch your boyfriend work.” 

Rivi struggled to comprehend what he’d just seen. The blow was so fast, so decisive, the cheetah’s eyes scarcely followed it. One second, Gara was snarling and brushing Argos away, and the next he was stumbling backwards, clutching his throat in both hands, gagging. Even then, Argos kept moving, kept striking the lion. Argos moved faster than Rivi had ever seen a person move. In a blink, the coyote struck the larger feline at least another half dozen times. The side of the knee, the groin, the solar plexus, and a bevy of what Rivi imagined were pressure points that would have made Gara scream had he been able to draw a single breath.

As the lion staggered and stumbled, Argos just kept moving. He stepped in behind the choking lion, grasping at one of his arms. He wrenched it from his throat, twisted it behind him, then kicked out across the front of the lion’s leg, and used his arm to shove him forward, tripping him. The lion toppled over onto his belly like a felled tree, still gasping.

Just as quickly, Argos was on him with a knee placed just between the lion’s shoulder blades. Argos took his folded coat off his arm, twisted it up, and wrapped it around the lion’s neck. He crossed his arms, cinching it down around Gara’s throat. Then he yanked it up, hoisting the lion’s head off the ground, even as his knee remained pressed into his spine. Gara grasped at the garment, his eyes bugging out. His tongue protruded from his gaping mouth, but no sounds came out with it.

Argos leaned down, snarling into the choking lion’s ear. “Are you talking to me now?”

Rivi stared, his jaws completely agape. Never, in all his life, had he ever seen anything like that. The cheetah didn’t even know people could move that fast. It was, quite possibly, the most terrifying and exhilarating thing he’d ever seen. He started forward, wondering if he should try and help Argos, even as he knew the coyote didn’t need his help.

Iosa’s grip prevented him from getting closer. “Let him handle it, dear.”

As Gara fought just to breathe the black-maned lion merely watched his associate struggle, a bemused expression on his face. A smirk twisted up his muzzle, his ears cocked to amused angles. “I told you not to make him angry, didn’t I?” He clucked his tongue once, his tufted tail flicking. “You’ll have to excuse my overzealous associate. He does sometimes let his temper get the best of him. And believe it or not, I did try to forewarn him not to antagonize the Guild’s finest-”

“Am I supposed to know you?” Argos glanced up, his ears back. For someone busy choking out a much larger opponent, Rivi was struck by just how casually Argos spoke. If anything, he sounded annoyed by the other lion’s prattling. “Or are you just keep doing that whole, ‘I know you, but you don’t know me’ bullshit till your friend here passes out?”

“Well, I was, but…” The lion reached into his golden jacket. “But if you’re bored already, we can skip to the end.”

Argos gave a low, rumbling growl. “I really don’t think you wanna draw on me, Lion.”

“Nor do I, my canine friend.” The lion pulled his hand back out, clutching something small. “For while I am duly armed, I’m not currently in the mood to test my quick draw skills against you, and your sharpshootin’ friend back there, in the hallway.” He opened his hand, flashing Argos some kind of badge. “While givin’ you my name would be too easy, I’m sure you’ll find it somewhere in those fancy guild books you got. They got a section on the Heralds, right?”

The coyote’s right ear twitched, ever so slightly. “You ain’t a Herald. You ain’t pious enough.”

Rivi gasped. The Heralds? He’d heard of them before. They were from his homeland. Even with his father’s position, Rivi didn’t exactly know what The Heralds did, but he’d always had the feeling they were connected to the secret police. He believed they were some manner of overseas intelligence assets, working directly for the bishops. That sort of information wasn’t something he was often privy to. He’d heard about them only in bits and pieces and speculation. But from what little he did know, Argos was right. The Heralds were even more pious than he was.

“That’s right!” Rivi jabbed a gloved finger at the black-maned lion. “If you were a Herald, you wouldn’t be caught hanging out with a ruffian like that!” He waved at the lion. “And you’d have a lot more respect for my father, and his title.”

“Huh…” The lion made a show of scratching at his ebony mane. “Maybe you’re right, Mister Impurity. Maybe I’m not a Herald.” He lifted the badge, flashing it to Rivi. It was gold, emblazoned with a fanciful trumpet and banner. “Maybe I just killed one and took his Badge to flash around. Tell me, do you think that makes me less dangerous, somehow?” He tucked the badge away, his expression shifting to a twisted grin that was all sharp teeth and predatory smugness. “Or more dangerous?”

“Only thing it makes you,” Argos said, still choking Gara. “Is next in line to get fucked up.”

The black-maned line perked a single ear, his grin remaining. “Oh, is that right?” He glanced down at Gara. The larger lion’s struggles were quickly growing weaker, his eyes rolling back. “Is that gonna be before, or after you choke my associate to death? Because, even for a guild member? I’m not sure Black Star’s gonna look real kindly on a public murder.” He lifted his hand, waggling his fingers in a playful wave to the assortment of gnolls pushing through the nearby crowd. “Howdy, guards! Just havin’ a little tiff here. No need to start chamberin’ rounds in your rifles.”

Argos snorted. “I ain’t gonna kill him.”

“Yeah, I’m certain you got plenty’a experience with the fine lines between life, and death.” He glanced down at the lion again. “Feel free to keep on choking him, if you like, but I do believe you’ve made your point.”

“Have I?” Argos lowered his head, snarling into the lion’s ear. “Have I made my point? Nod once if you’re gonna listen to the dog, next time.”

Gara nodded his head, weakly tapping at the coat around his neck.

Argos quickly unwound it from the lion’s throat. He rose from Gara’s back and stepped off of him with a swift spinning motion. Somehow, in the same motion, he not only pulled his coat back on, but undid the buttons of his waistcoat, leaving his pistols freely displayed. He turned towards the murmuring crowds, and the guards that kept them back during the altercation. Argos flashed his guild badge, though given they hadn’t rushed in to break things up, Rivi suspected they already knew who the coyote was.

“Lemme guess,” the lion said, crouching down help Gara into a seated position. “You ain’t afraid to turn your back on me, cause you figure I won’t gun you down in front of the guards? Or is it cause your vixen friend in there woulda shot me first?”

“I think we both know the answer to that.” Argos turned back towards the lion. “I don’t know what the fuck you want, and as I suspect you’re not in a hurry to tell me, I think I better just have the guards drag your friend down to the infirmary.”

“Want?” The gold-jacketed lion stood back up, a hand over his crimson scarf. “Why, I just wanted to catch a glimpse of the famous Wandering Scholar. Who, according to my nearly strangled companion, has himself a new boyfriend. Course, that sorta gossip is beneath a person of my station. Besides, I’m sure it’s not like Mister Scholar’s got a reputation for being punished for impurity, or ever been kept outta jail by his daddy. Who…” He clasped his hands, shaking them as if delivering exciting news. “I hear just got the promotion of a lifetime, right abouts the same time a certain infamous Guild duo was traveling through the feline homeland. A duo who in fact it now appears, are protecting dear Daddy’s boy. Surely, a grand coincidence, and nothing more.”

Rivi flattened his ears. Part of him wanted to shout at this arrogant lion that his father had nothing to do with meeting Argos and Iosa. That his real porter had simply abandoned him, and meeting these two was purely good luck. But somehow, he doubted the lion would listen. Besides, whoever he was, Herald or not, he already seemed to know an awful lot about Rivi. For that matter, he seemed to know a lot about Argos and Iosa, too. Or did he? It wasn’t as if they hadn’t been flashing their badges to the guards, all trip. And if either of the lions had ever worked for the Church, it was certainly possible they were familiar with him, and his own history, given his father.

Maybe, Rivi thought, he should just say nothing. And yet that didn’t seem right, either. While they might not listen to him, they were here because of him. Argos had fought to protect him. Argos could have been hurt because of him. Rivi didn’t want to just stand there, silent, as if this situation had nothing to do with him. He knew people like these lions would never accept him, and there was nothing he could do to change that. But that didn’t mean he had to sit there and let them spit their damn bigotry and conspiracies at him without him so much as offering a single word in his own defense.

The cheetah stepped forward, though Iosa stayed glued to his side. “So what if I held the coyote’s hand? Yes, I’m impure, what a surprise!” Rivi threw his hands up, an angry snarl creeping into his voice. “But do you know, in my entire life, how many people do you think have known that, and still treated me with kindness? Two.” He held his two fingers, then pointed at Argos and Iosa. “And they’re right here. The two of them have done more to make me feel like a person, a whole person, than anyone ever has back home. So yes, I held his hand! If you don’t like to see that, perhaps you should look somewhere else next time! All I want is to be allowed to live my life as I choose and complete my pilgrimage on behalf of our people.”

He gave a snort, glancing at Gara. “As for you, what is it? You hate me because I’m impure?” He gestured at Argos, not wanting to use his name. “And you hate him because he’s a coyote? With all that hatred in your heart, no wonder you swear so much! You’ve no room left for piety. You may despise me for choosing to hold his hand, but I’m clearly the far more devout one between us. So, what does that say about you?” Rivi put a hand to his chest. “You need not bully and harass me, just because you think I’m going to…”

The cheetah growled in frustration. “Make our people look bad to the rest of the world, just because I’m a little different from you. I won’t. And, when my pilgrimage is finished, and my book is done? If you don’t want to read it simply because I’m impure?” Rivi narrowed his eyes, hissing. “Then don’t damn well read it! Now…” He lifted his eyes back to the black-maned lion. “I suggest you take your ill-mannered friend to the doctor before he makes Argos angry again.” 

The slender lion laughed, and gave a mock bow, flourishing a hand. “As you say, Sire.” He helped Gara up to his feet, letting the bigger lion brace an arm around his shoulders. “Well then, if you’ll step aside, Mister Guildsman?”

Argos slowly moved out of the way. He glanced at some of the gnolls nearby. They’d drawn their rifles, but hadn’t actually aimed them at anyone. “Couple of you mind escorting these gentlemen down to the infirmary?” He locked eyes with one of the guards. “Make sure the doctors take down all their information.”

The gnoll gave a small nod of understanding, then gestured with his rifle. “Move your ass, cats. Fuckin’ troublemakers.”

“Fuckin’ troublemakers.” The black-maned lion gave a hearty laugh. “Oh, I like that. Oughta get it printed on a hat, or something. Fuckin’ troublemaker. Yeah, that’s what I am.” He slowly walked Gara past Argos. “Yanno, Mister Orphan, maybe it was you I was hopin’ to catch a peek at.” Just as they’d passed the coyote, the lion glanced back over his shoulder, that same dangerous, predatory grin on his muzzle. “Be seein’ you all around.”

Argos glared at him, unblinking. “I’d better fuckin’ not.”

The lion only laughed again, pushing through the crowd with the guards behind him. “It’s a big ship, but it’s a small world aboard it. I’m sure you’ll see me again, Fuckin’ Troublemaker that I am.”

Only when the lions were completely out of sight did Argos turn and rush back towards Rivi. He grasped the cheetah’s shoulders, all of his anger and menace gone in an instant, replaced only with concern. “Spots, you alright?” He looked him over, then smoothed back his ears, whimpering. “You okay?”

“I’m fine, Argos,” Rivi said. He took Argos’s hands in his, smiling. “No one even got near me, thanks to you.”

“I know, but…” He looked away, cursing. “Fuck! That fucking lion. I knew we shoulda looked into him from the moment he gave you that weird look. I’m sorry, Spots, I shoulda-”

“Argos!” Rivi squeezed his hands. “Stop! There’s nothing you could have done that would have prevented that. They must have seen us from the deck below, and come here to wait for us.”

“I know, but…” Argos suddenly grabbed Rivi, pulling him into a tight hug. “Fuck, Rivi, I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have hear shit like that.”

“Argos…” Rivi hugged him back, leaning his head against the coyote’s. “I’ve heard insults like that all my life. I’ve just…” He swallowed, nuzzling against Argos’s cheek, heedless of who might see. “Never had anyone to stand up for me, before. So, thank you.”

The coyote swallowed, tears brimming in his eyes. He eased back, smiling at the cheetah. “I shoulda stood up for you faster. I shoulda shut his fuckin’ bigot mouth the moment he opened-”

“You were magnificent, Argos.” Rivi squeezed his hands, grinning. “Stop second-guessing yourself. If anything…” You scared me almost as much as they did! That was what he was about to say. In his head, Rivi meant it as a compliment. But he feared Argos would not take it that way, and he selected his words more carefully. “You tried to give them a way out. They just refused to take it.”

Argos chuckled. “They usually do. Still, I’m…” He glanced down, staring at the floor. “I’m sorry you had to see me like that, Spots.”

The cheetah slowly shook his head, ever more glad he hadn’t mentioned how frightening Argos was for a moment. “Nonsense, Argos. You were exhilarating! I’ve never seen anyone move like that.”

“That was nothing,” Iosa said, leaning closer to the two of them. “You should see him in a real fight.” She swept a hand towards the door. “We really ought to have this conversation in private, though.”

“Suppose so.” Argos took Rivi’s hand, guiding him out into the hall. Then he paused, glancing down at their twined fingers. “Oh, sorry, Spots. You want me to let go till we’re back in the room?”

Rivi only smiled at him. His ever-confused brain, and his anxious instincts all screamed at him to stop holding the coyote’s hand in public, gloves or not. But his heart said otherwise. “Argos, half this deck just heard me admit to being impure. I think that ship has sailed, as far as this crowd is concerned. So no, I don’t want you to let go.”

The coyote smiled at him, squeezing his hand harder. “You sure did, Spots. I told you, you were strong.” Argos led him through the crowds. People quickly parted out of their way. Argos ignored their murmurs, glancing back at the cheetah. “You told those fuckers off like you’d written a damn speech. Proud of you, Spots.”

“Thank you, Argos.” Rivi’s ears warmed, not with embarrassment this time, but with pride of his own. “I guess I was feeling inspired by…” He swallowed. “Someone else’s belief in me.” As they made their way towards the lift, Rivi glanced between Argos and Iosa. “I don’t suppose either of you know who that black-maned lion was?”

“Not yet,” Iosa said, her ears back. She bared a few fangs. “But we will.”

“Yeah.” Argos snarled: a low, menacing sound. “He just made himself Guild business.”