Echoes

by Tempe O'Kun

  Six suppresses a laugh, watching them go, ears flopping against my face.

  I smirk. “Looks to be more than just us enjoying ourselves.”

  “You reckon we might go enjoy ourselves a trifle more privately?”

  Before I can reply, shouting draws my attention— a pang of discord cutting through the revelry. I turn.

  Two bucks loom over an ocelot waiter. The bigger one has the scrawny cat by the apron, whiskey dripping off the both of them. The second white-tail staggers up, stabbing a thick-nailed finger at the frantically apologizing feline. The music staggers and stops.

  “Is there a problem here?” An empty shot glass rolls against my bare hind paw.

  “None a’ your concern, batty.”

  “Afraid I have to disagree.” I adjust my badge, letting it glint in the lantern light.

  Folks clear back, forming a ring around the deer and me. Both bucks level a steel gaze at me. The big one laughs, hot whiskey breath washing over my face. “You ain’t the sheriff here.”

  “Quite correct.” I feel my years of law school sneaking up on me. “But your sheriff wouldn’t be too pleased if I let mayhem descend on his town.”

  A crackle of tension runs through the crowd. The deer stare me down.

  His wings spread in an amiable manner. “Besides, I’m sure our spotted garçon is eager to bring you a free round.”

  The ocelot mews in agreement.

  “There. Seems to me you’ve got every reason to be reasonable.” Smiling as one hind paw caresses my gun, I wait for their response.

  Six smirks at me, having seen this play before.

  The big deer’s paw releases, leaving impressions on the cat’s apron. He sneers. “Better be the good stuff, or we’ll have ourselves some trouble.”

  Tail wrapped around himself, the feline pads back to the bar in a spotted flash.

  I wait to see the drinks delivered, the smaller deer moving to flank me. I don’t back down an inch, waiting until the fine cervines have their drinks in hand before I declare the matter settled. The band cobbles a song back together as I walk back to my thief.

  “Nice talkin’, lawbat.” She tips her hat. “Though ya could’ve gotten me a whiskey in the bargain.”

  “You’ve always got to push your luck, don’t you?” I tap her boot with my toe. “Can’t just be content that I adopted your method of defusing bar brawls?”

  “Ah could be made more content.” She gets that scoundrel smile. “Care to see about that privacy we spoke on?”

  My own muzzle mirrors it. “I feared you would never ask.”

  I let my gaze slip over the deer to see they’ve stopped hassling the help. We rise from our table and pick our way through the crowd, Six breaking off for a customary shot of whiskey “for luck” and emerging with a half bottle.

  “That’s a lot of luck.”

  “I aim to get luckier.” She gives a wink and takes a swig.

  Before I can inquire if legal tender featured in this transaction, the music kicks up again, drowning my concerns in a surge of merrymaking. I sigh.

  Through the press of bodies, we head toward the door. The air hangs thick with musk and cheap liquor. Six offers me a drink, but I decline. If I loosen up any more tonight, I’m liable to fall apart.

  I hear hooves behind us. A derisive snort.

  Figures: Six does the stealing; I do the explaining. I reach to straighten my badge and turn around.

  Our mule deer friends have decided to make further jackasses of themselves. “Your friend stole our bottle, batty.”

  “Did I?” The hare takes another gulp, causing me to wince. “Seems they all look alike.”

  “Six.” I lower my ears to show I’m serious. “Give them their drink back.”

  A stare flickers between the bunny and I for an instant, then she shrugs and tosses the bottle back to them.

  Both deer fumble to catch it with thick fingers and just general thickness. Their antlers rattle together, catching long enough to cause them to spill half of what was left.

  Leaving them to untangle themselves, Six and I head out the front door, the dancing stags and the noise of the party fading behind us. We crunch a few steps onto the gravel before I lift an ear at her. “Did you need to steal from them?”

  “Wasn’t so much a need as a sense of fairness.” My thief lectures like a gray-muzzled professor. “They went and hassled it off that kitty, so ah went and gained what they’d ill-gotten.”

  “It would’ve been easier for everyone if you hadn’t.”

  “It would’ve been easier still if ah hadn’t gotten caught!”

  I groan. We got through, hides unscathed, and that’s what matters. I lead her into the twilight, away from the yee-haws and guffaws.

  “Hey!” A voice from behind slows us. “Get back here! We’d like a word.”

  Another voice: “Don’t those big ears a’ yours do nothin’?”

  The deer have followed us. One carries the whiskey bottle, the other nothing but bleary malice.

  “Hoof it, pointies.” Six spins on a booted heel and jabs a finger their way. “We’re not in need a’ your sass.”

  The deer take up positions on either side of us, pawing at the dirt.

  My right hind paw itches my left thigh, happening to be near my gun.

  They glare. The big one spits, lowering his antlers. “We take exception to that. Do you know who I am?”

  She smirks. “Some little pricket who can’t hold his liquor.”

  Having found just the wrong thing to say, Six shoves me out of the way. The smaller deer charges her, rack first, in a clamor of hooves and hollers. My thief hops high, yanking him down by the antlers. The big one rushes forward to assist and gets a boot to the gut for his trouble. Whiskey sloshes from his bottle as it tumbles through the air.

  The first one swipes at her with hooved fingers. Six dodges, and hurls him into a post. With a glance around, she smooths her ruffled dress, one paw on a pistol. The deer stay down. Seems she knocked the fight out of them.

  With both our drunken foes moaning on the ground, I press a wing to my forehead. “Was that really necessary?”

  “Ah was defendin’ your honor.” She snatches the fallen whiskey bottle from the road and downs the last of it. She tips it my direction with a disreputable wink. “Someday, ah’ll have to make an honest lawbat of ya.”

  “I reckon I’m honest enough.”

  “Ah figure that’d be the only direction it’d go.” She chucks the bottle aside. Ears raised like a cavalry banner, the bunny throws an arm over my shoulders. “Aren’t ya glad ah hauled you outta your room?”

  I squirm, glancing around. “I think we’d best head back to it now.”

  “Why? Ya reckon we’re plum out of deer to fight?”

  I take her paw. “I’d reckon there are things I’d rather do than wander out here all night.”

  Her ears drop, her grasp closing on mine with an unsteady grin. Once in a blue moon, I do manage to surprise her.

  I squeeze her paw a little. “Shall we go?”

  Her bravado returns. “Back to that hole in the wall? Bosh! We’re going to mah room.”

    

  Six Shooter no sooner clicks the lock shut than I’m kissing her.

  My wings fumble over her body, reacquainting myself with her curves. We lean against the hotel room wall together. It’s heaven.

  “Mmmmm… Missed you too, lawbat.”

  I rest my head on her chest. Her scent hides in leather and dust, but I drink it in like exotic nectar.

  “Easy there, sugarwings. No need to go nuzzlin’ my chest fur off.”

  I waggle my hips. “You’re the one with a paw on my hindquarters.”

  “Oh hush up!” She swats me on the rump, flustered. “Let me see about gettin’ some light
in here.” She slips from my embrace. A match flares from nowhere, and she lights the oil lantern on the nightstand. The room runs small, but with fine furnishings. Blue enamel washbasin in the corner, plump oak dresser, and a wide, pillowy bed.

  The bunny turns, arms crossed over her dress. “You gonna preach at me about stealin’ the money for this room?”

  I smile. “My lips have other plans.”

  “Good.” The bunny fights a running battle with the voluminous fabric all the way across the room, and only near the bed do I become sure the foe could be overcome. I’d have helped her, but I value my life. Panting in a vest and trousers, finally free from the dress, she seems more a lady than moments before, more my lady. She tosses the garment to the floor.

  I pick it up and fold it over a chair.

  She seats herself on the bed, kicking her boots up on the fine blankets.

  “Six, don’t muss up the bed so.”

  “Ah shelled out twelve damn dollars for this room.” Her ears drop, giving me a rush of giddiness greater than any plummet in flight. She smiles. “So why shouldn’t I?”

  “Because…” I slip in behind her, wrapping her in my wings and delivering a light kiss to her cheek. “…we’ll be putting it to good use.”

  She chuckles, settling in along my body. Kicks off one boot, then the other, letting them flop to the floor.

  Her breath and weight feel good against me. One by one, I undo the buttons of her vest. I slip a wing inside, caressing the gentle curve of her breasts. My wing membrane smooths her soft fur and traces over the bare warmth of her nipples. I give both mounds a tender squeeze.

  “Mmmmm… Ah tell ya, lawbat, the way you’re playin’ with those, ya don’t seem to mind they’re small.”

  “Mountains might look pretty to some, but hills are where I’d have my picnic.” I drape my muzzle over her shoulder, teasing my tongue along her neck to her right breast, toying with her nipple. I take it in my lips and lick with impassioned vigor.

  She hums, pleased. Those bunny toes splay against the white bedspread. “Ohhh… That feels nice...”

  After giving the same treatment to her left breast, I kiss my way back to her drooped ears, losing myself in the delicate smoothness. My wings slip behind her, exploring the curve of her back beneath the open vest. Smiling like a dreamer, she pulls the garment over her head. Afforded full access, I allow my wings to roam over her slender, powerful body.

  By this point, my trousers feel a trifle constraining, but I hesitate to remove them, enjoying this moment. Six seems to be enjoying it too, judging by how her paws drift between her legs, rubbing herself through the fabric. This sight has me pressing up against her, my erection hot and hard against her fluffy tail. I reach down and take over for her, feeling the heat I’ve stirred up in this bunny. She breathes harder, kissing my cheek appreciatively. After a few more moments, I find myself longing for a more direct approach. Reaching her gunbelt, I rub my wing thumbs over the buckle. She hesitates a moment, glancing to the door. Then with aching caution, she unclasps the belt and slides it from her hips.

  My gunbelt joins hers on the nightstand a moment later. I kiss her neck. The vest falls to the floor. Her naked fur brushes my wing membranes. We nuzzle. My wing thumbs trace up her body, down to unbutton her fly.

  I slip under the fabric, through fur softer than a daydream. Six moans. I knead the tender flesh of her mons. Her body arcs against mine. My wing thumbs trace around her lips. Pure heat.

  My wing thumbs tease their way into her folds. Juices soak them, lubricating my efforts, in and out, deeper and deeper. Her legs spread, her muscles clench and release, her breath warms my muzzle.

  “Jordan… Ooh...”

  In. “Hmm?” Out.

  “W-would ya mind terribly…?” She spares a loaded glance at my lips, and licks her own.

  I smile. In. “Taking a shine to that, huh?” Out.

  A nod. “That is, if you’re agreeable…”

  “My pleasure.” I ease her forward, onto her elbows. Motion stirs the scent of soap from the blankets. Classy place indeed.

  I work her trousers down from her hips. Her tan fur washes out to ivory between her legs. Even in the dim lantern light, it gleams like a lotus. Drawing comparisons to the Odyssey my Classics teacher never intended, I set about exploring this blossom with my tongue.

  A fluffy tail twitching against my sensitive ears, I lick along both of her outer, then inner lips in turn. Her juices run sweet over my lips as they press in. The bunny on my tongue squirms, gasping my name. Her breathy tone causes a surge in my loins.

  I wipe her fluids off my smile, catching my breath. She reaches back, tugging her trousers off. A simple matter of pulling them over her hind paws and she lies nude before me, looking back with vulnerability in her eyes and a blush under her fur.

  Freed from layers of cotton, leather, and trail dust, her body’s slender and powerful, wound tight as a watch spring. I see about lessening the tension.

  My tongue gets back to work for a good while, until I spare glances, musing on her. Watching her body shift atop the sheets in pleasure sends my heart racing. “You’re beautiful.”

  “Don’t talk with your lips on me, Jordan.” Her ears flush crimson, framing her smile. “Tickles somethin’ fierce.”

  “My apologies, ma’am.” I laugh and take the opportunity to remove my own pants. Out of my sheath and erect, my member aches to bridge the gulf between us. “Permit me to make it up to you.”

  Six’s shapely bunny rump sways before me, even as she clutches the pillow before her. “I—uh—can’t imagine how a gentleman might go about that.”

  I kneel closer, my member bobbing up and between her legs. Fur tantalizes my erect flesh. Instinct grips me; I thrust forward, jostling against her clit.

  Beneath me, Six gasps aloud and her body goes stiff. The next instant, she’s rubbing her hips back against mine. “You’d best see about holsterin’ that iron, Sheriff.” Her paw reaches up, caressing my shaft, tucking the head inside her.

  Pressure and slick heat glide down my member as I enter her. A delicate tension eases through my body, curling hind paws and wing thumbs. I press deeper, the vibration of her moans echo through my chest. Her ears smell of whiskey and her fur of rare nights in her arms. I embrace her, muzzle just reaching her shoulder. Her lips meet the base of my shaft with moisture and the thinnest of fur.

  No words pass between us. Six breathes against the pillow, clenching down on me with an occasional shiver. Between my delighted gasps, I kiss the nape of her neck. The bunny ripples all the way down my erection. I whimper, twitching inside her.

  Unable to endure this stimulation for long, I prop myself up along her back and give a few needful thrusts. Hot bunny juice seeps around my swollen shaft, dribbling all the way back to my sheath. I whimper again, in a most undignified manner. Before I know it, I’m gripping her waist and am thrusting frantically inside her, bunny style. As one, we murmur and buck, my stiff member plumbing her depths again and again.

  “Oh! Oh... Oh Jordan, ya just—mmmm—keep to doin’ that.”

  Never one to deny a bunny, I comply. I ride her to a gallop, wings clutching her midriff. Hare ears swing with every motion. The bed creaks in rhythms sweeter than any fiddle. My sac swings, scattering the fluids running down it.

  Tremors of ecstasy trace up my shaft as I bury it once more in my lovely thief. Pulse racing, wings trembling, I whisper her name for it’s the only word my mind can formulate, the only concept my heart can hold. I grit my teeth to keep from shouting. Six begins to bang back against me, timing herself to my efforts.

  That tail fluffs against my stomach, wiggling each time she hunches against me. Her paws wring the pillow, eyes closing slowly as her breathing quickens. Her pelt catches the lantern light like a statue of living alabaster and sandstone, the narrow slits of color at her half-closed eyes a pu
rer blue than skies have ever known. Never have I seen a creature of such singular beauty and I worship her in the only way fitting.

  I’m so close. The urgency of her thrusts says she is too. I run my wings over her bare back, reaching down to perform some gentlemanly service for her clit.

  That does it.

  She writhes under me, whimpering and thrashing against the bed, clenching on me. Her pleasured gasps haul me over the edge, and suddenly my loins are pulsing, spraying long jets of seed in her grasping tunnel.

  “Uuuuuuuuhhhhh! Hah-hah-huuhhh...”

  Euphoric jolts shiver through my body, each culminating in another pulse of semen. My ears flatten against my head as the squeak I’ve bitten back escapes and echoes into the night for all to hear. Around me, her legs try to bounce, but find no purchase, only mussing the fine bedcovers. My wings grip her waist, holding her up and against the surges of my pleasure. I never want to let her go.

  All the world’s troubles are nothing. In this moment, I’d forsake my job, my duty, my life, all for the hare quivering under me in the aftershocks of climax. In this moment, with all that matters in my wings, I know I could even tell her I love her.

  Long minutes pass with us locked in this carnal embrace.

  Though exhausted, I summon the strength to lift off her back and pull myself from her. I guide her onto her back, then collapse atop her once more, sticky and sated. The lantern burns low, dancing in her eyes.

  Panting beneath me, Six looks up with tender blue eyes, then places a hand along the nape of my neck. I take the hint and lean in, kissing her as hot breath stirs my cheek fur.

  I run my wings down her arms, so powerful, so soft. “Is it really so bad being a lady?”

  “You bet yer fuzzy tail it is.” Her tone rings brazen, but my ears pick up a tremble to it. The bunny under me lays unclothed, but not quite naked. She jostles her hips under mine, speaking softer: “Though bein’ a woman… now and then… that ah could come to like.”

  “I enjoy being the man who gets to see you be one. And live to tell the tale.” I nuzzle into a kiss, then pull back, gathering my courage. “The only pity’s how rare it is.”