Attempted vengeance...

The oni funeral ceremony was a simple one, presided over by an aged oni which seemed to fill the role of shaman, assisted by his young apprentice. God's Eye identified the elder as a Spirit Mage, one of very few oni mages Fenrir had seen. It took a full day to finish the burials, but the majority of that time was spent transporting all the dead to their final resting place atop a windswept ridge high on the slopes of one of the mountains surrounding the valley in which the village was situated. It was very cold, enough so that for the ceremony, on top of wearing their own cloaks, both the succubi huddled together under Fenrir's as well.

They hadn't needed to come along, but Nelith said it showed respect and honored the dead, and that showing that respect would solidify their alliance with clan Aqun still further. Also, she added, it showed that all of Fenrir's followers were committed to the alliance.

The oni dressed warmly, but it seemed they had some natural resistance to the cold. But then, considering how high up in the Kharos mountains they lived, Fenrir supposed that could hardly be considered surprising.

On the trek back down the mountain, Fenrir found himself walking beside Sataareth. "During the ceremony, the Ariqun referred to the spirits of the dead finding their way to the council halls of their ancestors. It made me wonder what you believe regarding the afterlife."

"If an oni dies having lived an honorable life, he goes to the halls of his ancestors, where he joins them in preparing for the Final War. If he has lived dishonorably, he goes to Hel, a realm of great and terrible trials. By these trials, he is either molded into someone worthy of joining his ancestors or utterly destroyed."

Fenrir nodded slowly. "I see." Internally he thought, 'So there's a concept of hell here too? Not quite the same as back on Earth, though. I've noticed that the succubi occasionally use hell as an expletive; does that mean they share the oni's belief, at least in part? I should ask at some point.' Aloud, he said, "How does that tie in with the gods? Melanoche, Carnachias, Marstolle, etcetera? Or do you not believe in their existence?"

Sataareth threw him a slightly confused look. "Of course we believe they exist. What simpleton would not? We believe that it is they who sit in council with our ancestors and judge our spirits when we die, and it is they who watch over those who are sent to Hel and shape their trials there."

Fenrir tried to imagine Carnachias sitting in a council with the spirits of past oni. '...Yeah, I don't really see it. Marstolle, sure. Melanoche, maybe, though I never got the sense her values align with the oni's much. But Carnachias? Pretty much all she cares about is sex, and the oni aren't all that sexual in nature, at least not overtly.'

He turned his attention back to Sataareth. "What do you believe regarding other races?"

"That the gods have made provision for them, each according to their nature. It would not be fair to judge a succubus by an oni's standards. Their purpose in this life is not the same."

"I see." The two walked along in silence for several minutes, then Fenrir asked, "What's this Final War you mentioned?"

"It shall be the last and greatest war, a war so vast all others which came before shall be as nothing beside it. There are disagreements on what exactly shall be the enemy. Some believe the void which is the end of all things is the opponent which must be fought, some believe it is the Light-races and all their hosts, others believe it is a great evil which the gods have sealed away for a time. They believe that all the wars, pain, and suffering we mortals suffer in this life is merely to temper us that we may gain the strength to stand against this great evil."

"And what do you believe?"

Sataareth paused on an outcropping where the trail doubled back on itself, looking down over the valley below. "I believe those I mentioned last are right, but only partially so. I believe that we shall fight evil itself, in all its many forms. As they do, I believe that this world is only a training ground, not of the body but of the spirit." He raised his eyes to meet Fenrir's. "What we do here, the choices we make, the suffering we inflict or ease; all this directly strengthens or weakens that which we shall all have to face in the Final War. It may mean the difference between victory or defeat."

Fenrir could not help but be struck by the quiet conviction in the oni's words. It brought it home to him that, race of warriors though they might be, it did not mean the oni were one whit less wise than any 'civilized' culture with its books and scholars. In fact, considering the discipline to which they held themselves, they might well be more wise in some ways.

"How many others believe as you do?" he asked the oni.

Sataareth shrugged. "I know of several, but it is not a topic which comes up often. Nor are the details of what we shall fight considered to be of great importance. It is enough for many to know that there shall be a fight, and we must prepare for it."

Fenrir nodded, and a moment later they rejoined the stream of oni making their way back to the village, their conversation shifting to lighter topics. As they walked, however, Fenrir determined to ask Nelith what she believed regarding the afterlife sometime. After hearing the oni's beliefs, he harbored more than a little curiosity about what other races believed on the subject.

That evening was mostly occupied with more drinking, feasting, and sparring. Unlike the victory feast of several days before, it was not nearly as formal an event, being held mostly on the two principal training grounds of the village. These training grounds, unlike the one behind the council hall, were both large enough to hold multiple sparring partners at once and were situated near the center of the village. They were placed perhaps thirty feet apart, with a large firepit in between for the double purpose of giving light and cooking food. From what Fenrir could tell, it seemed to be a popular spot for the younger oni to gather in the evenings.

On this evening at least, there were also several older oni present. Fenrir watched as two of them sat a table, critiquing the sparring over their evening meal. Both were clearly veterans of the battlefield, and their comments showed just how deep their understanding of warfare ran. Fenrir found it well worthwhile listening to them; their insights made for valuable lessons.

He was interrupted in this pursuit by an oni to whom he had earlier promised a spar. Glancing around, he found Katari deep in conversation with Asaara, Nelith chatting with several other oni over near the bonfire, and Koreen over near the drinks table doing her best to get absolutely plastered again. She seemed to have developed something of a taste for oni ****. Satisfied that he was unlikely to be needed for a while at least, he accepted the renewed invitation and moments later was out on the training ground, matching his strength and skill against that of his opponent.

Much of the evening passed in this way, one oni after another sparring with him, eager to test themselves against the great lupine. He didn't win all his duels, but he was able to give a good account of himself, and win or lose, each spar taught him more about swordsmanship. He was beginning to understand why so many seemed to use the sword; it was a very versatile weapon. But he wasn't sure he wanted to give up the greater reach of his battleaxe, and it wasn't as if it was particularly limiting either, as weapons went.

Bowing to his latest challenger, Fenrir made his way off the training ground, directing his steps to where Nelith had been sitting and watching. "Wow, Chief, watching you fight is like poetry in motion. Kinda hot, too, for some reason."

He grinned at her. "You sure you're not just horny?"

"Hell if I know," she shrugged, grinning back. "But I'm definitely not going to complain if you wanna fuck me."

"Somehow I'm not surprised," Fenrir said, laughing. "But," he added, growing more serious, "I'm curious about something. Just now you mentioned hell. I've noticed Kira doing that too from time to time. Where are you pulling that word from?"

"Hell?" Nelith paused, thinking. "I'm not actually sure. My old mistress used it sometimes; I'm pretty sure that's where I picked it up. I have no idea where Kira knows it from. Why do you ask?"

"Well, where I'm from, it's a realm of the afterlife. It's also said to be where demons come from, though that's referring to a very different type of demon."

Nelith cocked her head. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well, demons there are more malevolent spirits than actual physical beings like yourself. But back on topic, so you don't know where the word comes from?"

"No, sorry, Chief. I've only ever heard it used as a swear; till now I didn't even know it meant anything in particular. But what made you ask now of all times?"

"Earlier this evening, I had a conversation with Sataareth and he told me a little about what the oni believe regarding life after ****. Apparently, if an oni has lived dishonorably, when they die they're sent a realm called Hel, where they're subjected to various trials that either mold them into an honorable person or destroy them. Since you succubi use the same term from time to time, I was curious if you had a similar belief."

"Oh. No, I have no idea what happens to a succubus after she dies. Never really thought about it." Nelith fell into thought for several long seconds, staring at the ground in front of her. "I can't remember ever hearing anything about an afterlife for succubi either; maybe once we die, that's it?"

Fenrir shook his head. "I rather doubt that. Souls aren't so easily destroyed as that."

The dark-haired succubus shrugged her slender shoulders. "Then your guess is as good as mine. Maybe someone like Halicarnassus might know, she's supposedly a high priestess of Carnachias or something like that."

"Maybe I'll ask her sometime, if our paths ever cross."

"For my sake, I hope they don't," Nelith shot back, smirking. "If she ever got her claws on you I'd never get a chance at your dick again."

"Oh, ye of little faith," Fenrir grinned at her.

"Hey, I'm just saying. If there's anyone in Ruyanei who can outfuck you, it's her. And considering how you make me feel when we fuck, she'd definitely hog you all to herself if she ever got a taste of you."

"You've got a point there, I suppose. But don't forget that I have a will of my own."

"Supposedly she's super good with illusions and stuff like that, not to mention that she's a grand succubus. There'd be nothing that even you could do against her Charm, Chief."

"I wouldn't need to. I'm immune, thanks to a certain-" Fenrir stopped short. His keen ears had caught Koreen's voice, a sudden panic in her tone and, unless he was much mistaken, cut off in the middle of a word as though suddenly muffled. He sprang to his feet, ears forward and eyes searching the direction from which the sound had come.

Unfortunately, no further sound was audible over the grunts and clashing of blades from those sparring and the conversation of the other oni. "What is it, Chief?" Nelith asked, looking up at him.

"I thought I heard Koreen in trouble," he answered, still searching the crowd for any sign of the blue-skinned succubus.

"Here? But the oni are friends, and besides, wouldn't they be in huge trouble if they messed with any of us? Koreen probably just tripped or something."

"...Yeah, that's possible." But despite his words, the direwolf did not relax. Instead, he began threading his way through the oni in the direction from which the sound had come. Nelith slipped off her seat and followed, concern showing on her face as well.

Koreen was not where he had last seen her, drinking with several oni near the drinks table, and glancing around revealed that apparently the group she had been drinking with had broken up, as he could see several of its erstwhile members scattered throughout the gathering. He cast his gaze about, his nose testing the air and his ears swiveling to catch any and every noise, all his senses on the alert for the slightest sign of his missing succubus.

Then, just beyond the furthest reaches of the torchlight, he saw a tankard, lying discarded with a little **** still dripping from its rim into the dirt below. Closer investigation revealed it to be Koreen's; her scent was plainly marked upon it. Fenrir examined the ground around where it had lain, finding several tracks among the general mess of oni footprints that appeared to have been made by someone in a hurry.

The scent attached to one of the sets was vaguely familiar, though he had to think for a moment before he remembered who it belonged to. The moment he did, however, he leaped after its owner with a snarl already forming on his countenance. The tracks belonged to one Vashedin, the Unproven who had made such a nuisance of himself at his first meeting with the oni back at his castle.

Koreen was drunk. She knew it, of course; most of the reason she had been drinking was to achieve this state of floaty happiness where all her worries and troubles seemed to sort of fade into the background. Not that she had all that many. Ever since she had accepted Fenrir as her lord and master, a lot of her previous worries didn't seem nearly as important as they used to. The fear that he might turn out to be just the same as everyone else she had submitted herself to was not so easily shaken, however, despite all the evidence she had to the contrary.

Not usually, anyway. A sufficient amount of **** did the trick pretty well, and she had passed that point several drinks ago. She was just glancing around to try to find out where the big guy had gotten to when a voice, also somewhat drunk, husked, "Hello, succubus. Come to my tent with me and you shall experience ecstasy."

The sound was like cold water poured over her mood. It wasn't the first time Koreen had been propositioned even this evening, but the obnoxious tone and the way this oni had already slipped an arm around her shoulders to fondle one of her boobs was definitely far more presumptuous than she was going to tolerate. "Stop that!" she snapped, pulling away. "I'm not interested in -mphh!" The asshole had kissed her!

"Come now, do not be like that. You will like it," the oni said, trying to kiss her again.

She slipped under his arm and retreated a few steps. "I said no! You better stop this right now before my master kicks your ass!"

Rather than having the intended effect, this speech only made the oni's face harden into an ugly snarl. "I tried to do this the easy way. You have no one to blame but yourself for what happens next."

He bore down on her with massive strides, and Koreen didn't even have time to turn to run before he had grabbed her and was lifting her off the ground. She tried to yell for help, but a large hand clapped roughly over her mouth before she'd gotten more than half a word out. Her eyes darted about, looking for anyone who was seeing what was happening to her, but she had been on the edge of the torchlight already and everyone nearby seemed to be focused on a spar happening on the training grounds just then.

He carried her between the tents, avoiding the main thoroughfares until they came to a small tent -or tepee, as Fenrir had called them- near the outer wall of the village. There was another dark shape waiting there, and it followed as the one holding her ducked through the entrance.

"Are you sure about this, Vashedin?" The second one questioned as the first placed her on a bedroll, being careful not to release her mouth. "She does not seem as though she wants this."

"Succubi always want it," the one named Vashedin grunted. "She is only pretending not to. Perhaps she likes to be taken roughly. Now come here and hold her arms and mouth."

"But what if she is not pretending? We shall be exiled, or worse." Notwithstanding his words, the second oni did as he was told, pinning Koreen's arms above her head with one hand and covering her mouth with the other.

"Of course she is only pretending. Look at how wet she is already." It was true; as much as she wanted to obey Fenrir's directive to keep her body for his exclusive use and disliked letting this Vashedin in particular have his way with her, the rough handling had turned her on and being pinned down so effortlessly -she was far too small to even think of wrenching herself free from the two mountains of muscle that loomed over her- was only making it worse.

She glanced up at Vashedin brandishing his fingers in front of the other oni, her juices glistening in the dim light of the small fire in the center of the floor.

"And even if she is not pretending, long before we are done with her she will be asking us for more. I know what succubi are like." Vashedin undid the sash holding her kimono closed and bared her body to both the oni's gazes. "You see? She does not even wear smallclothes."

"How do you know what succubi are like? Have you even seen one before?" Despite his skeptical tone, the oni's eyes fastened greedily on the heaving mounds of her boobs.

"Y-Yes, I have! And Kabath has told me much about them. He once had a succubus **** for a time."

"But even so..."

"Enough! If you wish to leave so badly, then go. But I will be enjoying her body to the fullest."

The other oni did not move.

"I thought as much," Vashedin muttered. "Now..." he pulled out his cock, already rock hard, and placed it at her pussy. Koreen tried to shift away, but her legs were immediately pinned down and she received a stinging slap to the side of one of her tits for her trouble.

Vashedin bent close to her ear, his eyes glinting with malice. "Savor this moment, succubus, for after the pleasure will come much pain. You have your master to thank for that, and the humiliations he caused me. But I am generous; I shall allow you one last evening of ecstasy before you shall have to pay for your master's sins." He palmed one of her boobs, kneading the flesh a little too hard to be comfortable. "So save your strength for when the punishment begins. -Not that it will do you much good anyway."

Koreen glared up at him. What the hell was he talking about? What had Fenrir ever done to him, besides saving him and his entire clan, and why should she have to pay for it? But no answers were forthcoming, and he was once again placing his cock at the entrance to her pussy.

His head was just starting to part her outer lips, Vashedin's eyes greedily fixed on her teary eyes and contracted brows, when the tepee was nearly torn out of the ground by the sudden entrance of a dark shape. All eyes immediately snapped to the interruption, and Koreen could have cried for relief as she recognized the familiar outline of Fenrir.

He took in the situation at a glance and leaped for Vashedin with the quickness of thought, claws extended. Vashedin let out a curse, fumbling for the shortsword at his waist, but he was far too slow to draw it and Fenrir's claws tore through flesh, sinew, and bone alike as though they had been air. As if time had slowed, Koreen saw the forearm of the oni describe a circle in the air, blood spurting from its end, before it landed with a heavy thump on the ground. She raised her eyes back to the oni, who let out a bloodcurdling scream as the pain of having his arm severed hit him.

Fenrir struck again, but with surprising agility Vashedin threw himself backward, tearing open the tent wall at the bottom and disappearing beneath. As quick as he was, however, Fenrir still took another toll in the form of a deep wound across one of the oni's calves as he crawled out. Then he turned back to Koreen, and as the terrifying light faded out of his eyes she realized she had been holding her breath.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his tone gentle, concerned.

"Y-yeah. You got here just in time." Koreen let out a shaky breath.

"Chief, that guy was the same one who didn't want to take no for an answer during the victory feast," Nelith said, stepping forward from the door. Koreen twisted to look at her, only now realizing that she was there.

"Was he, now?" The direwolf's tone was so dark Koreen couldn't help but shiver despite the fact that it wasn't directed at her. He noticed, and took her in his arms, holding her close. She melted into the embrace, taking comfort in his warmth and strength and closeness.

"Yeah," Nelith replied. "I didn't recognize the other one though."

Koreen glanced around, realizing for the first time that the oni which had been holding her arms had vanished at some point between Fenrir bursting into the tent and Vashedin making his frantic escape.

"Doesn't matter. I've got his scent; there's nowhere he can hide from me." Fenrir pulled Koreen's kimono closed and, still holding her in his arms, stooped to leave the tent. Nelith followed as he made his way up through the village towards their guest quarters until he asked, "Can you find Katari and bring her to our tepee, Nelith?"

"'Course, Chief." She peeled off back towards the training ground, though not without a backward glance at Koreen.

Koreen wasn't sure what he was planning, but at the moment she didn't really care. She was too busy being overjoyed, not so much that she had not been **** after all but that Fenrir had actually come to save her. She didn't know how he'd known she was in trouble, but being saved instead of abandoned for once was such a relief that she hardly even knew what to do with the feeling.

Vashedin finally goes for ****, not having forgotten the humiliations he's suffered at Fenrir's hands the first time they met. The fact that they're all his own fault seems to have escaped his notice somehow. He didn't account for Fenrir's vigilance, however, and literally pays an arm and a leg for his foolishness. Elsewhere, Fenrir enjoys digging into oni culture some more and tries to do the same for succubus culture, but is foiled by Nelith's lack of knowledge.
Next chapter we get into what Fenrir does in retaliation, both to him and to his helper. But for now,
Enjoy!