Horizon Ridge Out where the lightning splits the sea

Kerberos was met with a warning and though he was puzzled he obeyed, pausing at the place he had been when she had issued it, the water lapping eagerly at his toes and for once Kerberos did not turn his attention to the Sea. "Oh, uh, ok," Kerberos accepted her explanation and understood that by social dictation that was probably more or less his cue to take his leave. He didn't. Even the socially awkward Aok knew that he should be on his way, but something had cemented him to the earth that he stood upon, cold and soggy as it was; and she hasn't chased him away. If she truly wanted him gone she would have chased him away, right? Right. Kerberos was moderately surprised in himself, that he hadn't graciously accepted the invitation to leave. That was uncharacteristic of him, even considering that at Atka's decree he had pushed to shed off the "hermit" shell he had built around himself. He was a man, a man of Atka and the Sea but a man nevertheless. After a few moments of silence she broke it, inquiring for his name and offering hers and her rank as an incentive, Kerberos guessed. Pied. Her name was Pied and her rank was Gamma. "Kerberos," Kerberos' lips spliced to speak. "I am Kerberos."

A shape dissolved out of the shadows in the form of a male jumping in front of Pied like some gallant knight come to save the damsel from the dragon or something. It annoyed Kerberos slightly, when in all honesty: he'd done no wrong. He obeyed Pied's wishes - even if he didn't fully grasp why she wanted him to stay away, or why he felt compelled to stay, why there were embers smoldering to life in his stomach without any rhyme or reason. If wolves could have blushed, Kerberos would have been fire engine red when the male blatantly said that he wanted to be alone with his mate so he could fulfill his sexual urges with Pied who was sexually receptive. As it was, heat burned beneath the fur of Kerberos' cheeks and shame grasping him at the natural but uncalled for desires for Pied - this strangers mate - that he was feeling. Of course not, because other males meant potential competition. What in the hell? Kerberos couldn't believe the competitive tenor of his thoughts. That just wasn't Kerberos. He shied away from conflict. He was a obedient boy. "Ok, I was just making sure she wasn't hurt, I didn't realize she was in heat," It was his first time experiencing it - as in being near a female in heat - and he really hadn't known. It was time for Kerberos to depart, for real this time, so they could copulate with one another, but when he tried to make his paws move they refused. Atka give me strength to leave and get far enough away so I don't hear anything. It was a fair thing to ask of the Mother of Light but she refused, her rumbling refusal striking like ice in his heart. At the end of the day, he feared Atka more than he did anyone else. She wanted him here, though he failed to see why.