Chapter 8: Pollux

A week's worth of traveling blindly brought the mates to the vast desert of grass. Few streams cut the dry soil,and the small watering holes were undoubtedly dangerous. Dylin would rather risk dying of dehydration than drink the poison in those ponds. Still, they followed Fen's lead, his instincts directing them ever northward. Red, glowing eyes prowled their campsites in the dark of the night, and huge, bizarre animals shared the water as they stopped to refill their skins.

But without a new stream for three days, they were nearly doomed. Unless the next day brought them unguarded water, they would perish on these withered grasslands.

As Dylin crested the next hill, a city rose among the grass, streams of people flowing in and out of this exotic destination. Somehow, they were able to survive here, somehow, they had fresh water. They had to.

The travelers carefully skirted the farms that seemed to spring from the ether as they made their way to this miracle. Armed humans patrolled the carefully kept fields, crossbows at their sides. When they came to a huge road, the grass beaten down until the hard stamped earth was revealed, Dylin bartered their remaining food for two scarves from a peddler, artfully draping them around their heads to ensure that no one could see their ears, and Fen blinked,his cherry red skin half blistering under the scorching sun.

Dylin, at least, tanned a dark golden brown, similar to the many humans entering the mysterious city.

Together, the couple joined the steady influx of people and goods making their way into the oasis, melding into the crowd while keeping wary eyes on the soldiers by the gate. No human with a crossbow and sharpened steel blades was trustworthy enough for the two to reveal their species. Nor their mission.

But the soldier relieving the gatekeeper, it couldn't be what Fen thought. He was simply a human, wasn't he?

A turn of the man's head revealed the upright and fitted ears of a true wolf, his amber eyes gleaming as he traded friendly words with the human. His chocolate fur and golden eyes betrayed no fear, and no one in the crowd of people seemed to notice the anomaly. *The soldiers were Wolves. And no one cared.*

Maybe, just maybe the crossbows of the people were for other creatures,darker beings residing on the plains, and not the simple Wolves.

The further into the city Dylin and Fen traveled, they realized it was true. Men and Wolves lived in freedom and peace, here in this desert paradise. They even saw Wolves on four paws, armored and ready to protect the city state.

Fen almost couldn't believe his eyes.

The weary pilgrims stopped by a weather beaten tavern, a crescent moon and stars adorning the wooden plaque above the door. Loud sounds of happy drunks spilled from the swinging doors, as well as cheerful music on flutes and drums. "Maybe we can get some water here," Dylin tasked, his voice raw with thirst. Fen placed his hand over his Alpha's throat, focusing his will on sending relief to the irritation. His ridiculous Alpha had insisted Fen was getting their last mouthful of water, and now was paying the price.

"Let's get you some water, my love."

The noise inside the tavern was nearly unbearable for the Wolves' sensitive hearing, but Fen pushed through, making his way with Dylin to the bar, where a busty woman scrubbed a tankard with her strong hands. She gave them a sunny smile, brushing her dark curls from her tanned face. "'Ow can I help ye? Welcome to the Moon and Stars, sirs. I'm Marika." Her light caramel eyes flicked away for a second, to a pair of humans drunkenly attempting a jig to the raucous music in the corner. "Break anythin' you twits, an' I'll tar your hides!"

Fen hid his grin at the woman's ferocity, as the rough clad men stumbled out of the far door. He assumed the patrolling soldiers would intervene before they caused too much trouble.

"How much for some water? We traveled a long way." Dylin's voice was still hoarse despite Fen's efforts, still raw from lack of drink.

For an unknown reason, Marika laughed in disbelief. "Are you messin' with me?" She shook her head as she filled two large jugs full of crystal clear water from a sweating barrel behind her. She pushed the cool metal into their hands with a benevolent grin. "Water is free 'ere. For everyone, even Wolves." Her eyes studied the carefully draped fabric covering their heads, adding, "Pollux wouldn't be here without your kind. Without Kaní."

Fennis hastily guzzled his water, the cool relief the greatest thing he could imagine in that moment. To his right he spied Dylin copying his movements, and Marika filled a pitcher as they finished the drink. "Thank you, we've come a long way." He grinned, as he filled his jug a second time, Dylin already working on his third.

"Are ye from Providence, by any chance?" Marika asked, as they finally had their thirst quenched. Her caramel eyes looked between the Wolves a soft frown on her face. " I only ask because that damn Morningstar keeps harassing our farmers." Her frown deepens slightly, as she adds, "Especially the lupine ones, if you know what I mean."

"We escaped that place, luckily." Dylin's hand found Fen's, and he gave it a squeeze. "His soldiers killed so many of us."

"Was there a bit… The soldiers seem a bit unnatural to ye?" Marika leaned across the polished stone bar, he voice dropping so that she could only be heard by the couple. "I heard rumors from some of the guards. They weren't right, they said."

Fen's heart grew cold as he realized what the visions were warning. "They had black liquid coming from their eyes, didn't they?"

"An' nose, an' mouth, and every bleedin' orifice." Marika glanced around, ensuring that no one was paying attention. "Worst part was, the lads insisted it moved on it's own."

With a final recommendation of cheap lodgings, Marika left them to finish their water, their hearts filling with dread.

-:-

The wonders of Pollux were the brightest at night, when the colorful crystals in nearly every window shone with their own light. Dylin and Fen trotted through the city on their four paws, their quest forgotten for just one night.

Dylin spotted a beautiful purple weed growing in the cracks of the street, and caught it up in his teeth, offering the flower to his mate with a wolfy smile and a wagging tail. His Omega's bright blue eyes lit up, as he delicately sniffed the violet blossom.

*Oh, no.* Fen pawed at his nose, doing everything he could to hold in the waiting sneeze. *Dylin!* Fen's burst of breath blew a cloud of the thick yellow pollen directly into his Alpha's nose, causing it to itch.

Fen, the traitor, laughed at his sneezes.

Further into the night they went, they spied a swirling cloud of lights, and followed the glow to a garden, realizing it was a swarm of harmless bugs. Each of the insects glowed with their own radiance, like tiny candles flickering in the twilight.

Continuing onward, they spied a sparkling fountain, where beautiful fish swam amongst fragrant lotus blossoms. The creatures simmered in the moonlight, their scales a dizzying array of fluorescent orange, luminous black, and iridescent white, as they paddled on gossamer fins.

When Dylin finally laid his head to his pillow, he could swear he saw the glazier's flames reflected in Fen's eyes. The burly man had the most delicate skill to turn colored sand into stunning designs. Fen had insisted that it was magic.