A biography a human

chapter six:

“Master"

Thinking back on my master, Gernan, makes me realize how lucky I was to be given to him. I could've been given to a cruel master who would've used me, probably sexually. I still have all his things with me: his letters, his journals, his memorandums and above all, his own personal diary, the one that he started when he was just a young wolf. Sometimes, when I feel depressed as he is no longer in this world, I look through his things, reread his letters or skim through his diary. I feel as though I need to repay all he has done for me. That is why I am going to deviate from my life for a just a moment to describe my master's life as a tribute to him and his noble kindness.

My master Gernan was born on the 12th day of the 7th Lunar month in the 17^th year of the “The Silver Disc Establishes Peace" Era during the 7^th Regnal year of the Alpha Lycan Kutlar, 3025 years after the great anarchy.

Born to the noble family Koff, a family known for its long military history. According to the Koff genealogy, his earliest ancestor served by the side of the first Alpha in his crusade against humanity. Gernan would always boast about this, especially if his was angered or insulted.

“My Alpha! Beta Gamma Gernan is a military man! He has no experience in civil administration to be the Prime Beta! And thus he should not be appointed to such a position and every one knows that he has a sympathy for the Foxe-!"

“Watch your words, Beta Zeta Rustem! Was it not my ancestor who served the as the first Alpha's sword bearer? Me and my family have always been loyal to the Kutlar pack dynasty and if we are to talk about senseless rumors, everyone knows you serve not the Alpha but his Human consort Jao!"

“Now, now my Betas this is not the way we discuss politics in the Alphate! Beta Zeta Rustem's last comment was in bad taste and Beta Gamma Gernan you know better than to bring my harem into the politics of the Alphate! Now, court dismissed!"

“Yes Alpha!"

When my master was a young wolf, he joined the army like so many others before him. Though his family background insured he would get a head start in it unlike the rest of the common recruits, he was still very humble and was well respected amongst the army. He would eat the same food and sleep in the same tents that the rest of the army used and this won him their undying love.

While serving, he met and befriended Alpha Lycan's second eldest pup Wuffrim, who was also serving in the army. His father, the Alpha, feared greatly that the prince was becoming too spoiled and pampered by palace life and thus sent him into the army with orders to his superiors not to treat him any better than the common recruit.

The two hit it off immediately, becoming more like litter mates than friends. I even heard it was even rumored that the two were lovers but I found that absolutely fictitious and most untrue, mostly likely a rumor spread about by Wuffrim's ambitious older brother Prince Ragnar in order to discredit him from the succession, but he did not last long as he died quite strangely in his sleep after he and Wuffrim had dinner together. They it was said it was heart failure from eating too much lamb. But I should digress from such hearsay and stick to the facts.

The two wolves became fast friends during a punitive raid in to the territory of the foxen mercantile republic during the second Wolf-Foxen war of 3053 A.A.

My master did many feats of great bravery during this war that made him a hero in the collective eyes of the whole Alphate, as well as getting him promoted to Brigadier when he was just in his late 20s.

Then in the year 3056 A.A, Alpha Lycan died and Prince Wuffrim ascended the throne as Alpha Wuffrim II initiating the era named “Marshall Dawning" and made his first action of his reign making Gernan field marshal and general of the entire Wolven army.

My master would always say that this was his proudest moment in his life and would often reenact it with any one who came by.

“I, Gernan of family Koff, hereby graciously accept this baton of the army and vow to the Alpha and to the Alphate that I will expand and defend the borders of our great Alphate for as long as I stand and like Canis with his eye, I will sacrifice everything upon it" He would repeat to his guests, often on his knees holding the baton above him with his ears flat and his tail tucked in deference, his eyes full of pride.

It was during 3057 A.A that the Alpha declared war on the Ursine Confederacy for control of the Baltic sea and my Master was to head the campaign. It was an enormous success, if people before had reservations about him they didn't anymore. City after city, fortress after fortress of the Ursines fell and it was during one of the sieges that he captured a young human man, he was quite attractive, slender and dainty with golden blond hair, eyes dark black like the night with a soul just as dark to match. During the siege, his parents were killed along with his gentle Ursine master who was said to be his lover. Because of his handsomeness, Gernan sent this young human to the Alpha to be a part of his western harem as a gift to his lord and for all the Alpha has done for him.

After his great success with the conclusion of the war, my master returned in triumph hailed by all even the Alpha himself.

It was a year after this great success that Gernan's beloved mate died Yena. I wish I could talk more about her but I cannot, as my master hardly ever spoke of her and their time together, it was much too painful for him.

The year was 3066, the year I was taken from my humble island home, brought to the center of the world, “Lupercal," capital of the immense Alphate and ruled by the Alphas of the Kutlar pack dynasty and gifted by two Wolven daughters to their lonely father who happened to be the toughest and top-most general of the Alphate. Is not fate strange?

“Iskander? It's time to wake up, Human puppy. It's morning time." Groaning slightly upon hearing this deep and gruff voice I rolled over onto my side, content to sleep longer before feeling a series of pushing motions on my back.

My subconscious mind did not want to wake now, for it was experiencing a most wonderful dream. During the night I found myself reclining upon a shiny, metal couch upholstered with a cushion that felt like a cloud and shaped like a curve on its side. Getting up to look around, I saw a whole wall made from glass which showcased the outside world and it was a world that could only exist in that of the distant past, a whole landscape of glass towers as far as the eye could see with large metal flying craft darting above them. I did not want to leave this place, wanting instead to be here forever amongst the dreams of the past where a human could be free and have no worries of beasts of fur and fangs. It was a beautiful illusion, but it was just that and nothing more, just a fancy.

“Daddy, let me sleep for a bit longer. Please?" My groggy voice answered back as my body slowly came to, my lethargic senses coming back to me after a long and peaceful trip to the abyss of much needed sleep. My nose was greeted by the strange scent of slight animal muskiness, very akin to the ones around the hunting dogs back home, but the scent was different though, it had a crisp spice to it and it gave forth an image of a clean forest, it was quite nice and comforting.

“Iskander, wake up now." My barely waking mind just wanted to ignore this voice, I was sleeping so soundly for the first time in many months, all my fears were gone and I felt extremely peaceful.

“Well, looks like you leave me no choice." With that, I felt two dull claws begin to creep onto the side of my stomach. All of a sudden, I was wide awake unable to control my giggling and squirming.

“Looks like my pup, Neith, was right about this." Gernan replied back, a slight amused chuckle in his voice.

“Please! I beg you! Stop, I can't stand it!" I pleaded with him, all the while laughing in-between like a maniac. Looking up towards my master, I saw his electric yellow orbs filled with joyous felicity. He did not look like a cruel wolf, he looked like a kind, old dog enjoying himself with something small and cute.

“How can this wolf be from the same beings who hurt daddy?" My mind debated, while filled with confusion.

“No, no Xander! He is just a bad as those wolves who killed daddy! Don't grow to like them!" I snapped back at myself bitterly.

“Not unless you wake up, pup." He said and I was unable to bear it anymore.

“Okay, okay I'll get up!" And with that, he stopped and brought me to his big, fluffy arms into a massive hug, my small head pressed to his bare chest as a smooth tongue lapped on my forehead lovingly, I could sort of see behind him, over his broad, scar-ridden shoulder to see a big grey tail furiously whipping back and forth, back and forth; so fast it was creating a whooshing noise.

“Deven was right, they are like dogs." I thought to myself, slightly amused at such doglike behavior in such a ferocious beast like a wolf and a former warrior no less.

After he let me go, he sat there with me looking down at me. He then cocked his head and finally spoke again with a chuckle in his voice.

“Aw, you humans have such expressive faces, I can read every emotion on your face like the page of a book." I found myself quite embarrassed at this remark and tried to compose myself which further amused him as I tried to beat the emotion out of my face while a vibrant blush took over my plum cheeks.

“This is so embarrassing, I feel like a baby"

“Ha, ha, ha! If you're trying to hide it you're not doing very well! I sometimes wonder how you little humans survived without our guidance." This remark was too far for me. My brows furrowed and against my better judgment, I snapped back him.

“I'm sure if your kind didn't come along we would've done a lot better!" The moment those words came out of my mouth I instantly regretted it and I expected a paw to come down upon my cheek, its course, sandpaper-like pads rolling over my skin while a pair of claws pierced my skin.

I flinched and closed my eye, squinting and anticipating the blow to my face that surely should come from such a remark like that. What an idiot! I was not only insulting a wolf that could turn me to ribbons if he so pleased, but the general wolf of the entire Alphate's army. My entire life was in his paws.

Then I heard a great booming noise like thunder coming from my master and I thought to myself, “This is it Xander you're dead." Then I felt a patting motion on my cheek. Needless to say, I was incredibly confused. Where was the pain? The punishment?

Consciously opening my eyes, I saw my master Gernan, his head thrown back in thunderous and jovial laughter while another paw slapped his thigh. It was a while before he finally composed himself again, not completely though as he snickered quite a bit afterwards, before he again spoke again in his deep tenor voice.

“You such an amusing little pup, aren't you? And very witty too." He said as he caressed my chin, his hard but smooth pads gently rubbing it.

Then all of a sudden, the door burst open with a large bang as it hit the wall and looking towards it I saw a Fox with a very worried and frantic expression on his face.

He was like most foxes I have seen before in storybooks, a reddish orange fur all over with white and black highlights. He was wearing a long, black robe with voluminous sleeves that reached to the wrists, which was now disorganized after his frantic rushing probably.

“Master, master!? Is everything okay? I heard such strange noises downstairs. Do you need me to get the doctors or the guards!? Did that human attack you!?" The Fox said, his words going a mile a minute and his very yappy, squeaky accent was not helping with being understood as it all sounded more like shrill screeching.

“Him attack me!? I would love to see him try! Pantaleon, my good fox, you worry too much, I am very much fine. I was just playing with my new human pup." This Pantaleon then visibly relaxed, his wild-like eyes calmed down and his soot colored ears pressed flatly against his orange head in slight shame while he panted to catch his breath.

“Please forgive me, master Gernan. I am such a fool, I should've known better and not disturbed you. It will take a while for me to get used to that pup being here."

“Pantaleon, I'm glad you're so vigilant and don't stop it either. Next time, it could be something serious. You know how often that human snake in the west harem says he will get rid of me one day."

“Yes master" The fox named Pantaleon then turned and was about to leave before Gernan interrupted.

“Wait, Pantaleon don't you want to meet the newest member of our household?" Gernan said as he placed his paws on my shoulders, rubbing them slightly.

The fox man stopped and nodded his head in affirmation and he began to approach me very warily, his head leaning forward as he slowly walked, his orange slit eyes filled with cautious curiosity as his white and black tipped tail swayed gently from side to side, almost like the movements of a snake.

Finally, he came to the side of the bed which Gernan and I were sitting, he eyed me up and stood there very awkwardly as though he did not know what to do with me. It was Gernan who broke the awkward silence.

“Come on, Pantaleon you can touch him. He doesn't bite like the Consort does." The fox then reached out his black tipped arm towards me, his eye never leaving contact with me the whole time like he was afraid that I might snap on him.

Then after what felt like to be too long, he made contact with my arm first, just a poke than gentle rubbing. I wanted to snap back and say “Just get it over with!" But I held myself.

“He's so soft." Pantaleon said in awe, finally coming to the conclusion I was not wild and was going to bite him.

“Ha, you should hear him speak! The pup has a sharp tongue." With that comment Pantaleon jerked his paw back and looked terrified.

“Isn't that dangerous!? He could cut off your finger master." Gernan then started to laugh again very ferociously.

“Oh, Pantaleon! Pantaleon! Thats just a figure of speech, my friend. It just means he's very confident with is speech."

“Forgive me, master, I do not have that much experience with humans in general"

“Now, now, there's no need to apologize."

“Now master, if you would like, breakfast is ready."

“Oh, good, I hope you did not forget to get my little human some food?

“Of course not master, I prepared a dish for her as well"

“Did he just say that I'm a girl? How dare he! Stupid Fox!" I fumed to myself.

“It's a he, Pantaleon." Gernan said trying hard to hold back another fit of laughter at such a mistake like this.

“Well now, little Iskander would like to have Breakfast now. I'll let you sit on my lap." Gernan said to me in a very patronizing and cutesy way that further plagued my massive embarrassment.

“But master, that breaks the etiquette for humans! They must sit on the floor! Everyone knows that!"

“Screw the etiquette, I want my new little human to sit on my lap! And if anyone disagrees I will fight them." I have never felt more helpless than I have now, it was so degrading hearing them speak of me like this.

“Why is happening? This all feels like a giant, embarrassing nightmare!" I thought to myself as Gernan lifted me out of bed and carried me out of the bedroom, all the while I looked around at the layout of the mansion.

While being carried, I saw another fox in another hall that was connected to the bedroom. He was much smaller then than Pantaleon. He was peeking out a door looking right at me, his orange eyes full of wonder and excitement.

Exiting the bedroom, I saw I was in a wood paneled hallway that had delicate engravings carved into it. On the walls, I saw some various portraits and paintings arranged across the walls, including one large portrait of what looked like a younger looking Gernan wearing shining armour.

Then I was carried down a flight of stairs that lead into another hallway very similar to the one before, where we then finally entered a room with many windows on its side that were covered up with red, silk-screen curtains that gave the whole room a pink glow in the morning light. The room was further lit by lamps that sat in the four corners of the room, as well as a large one that hung above the table.

At the center of the room was a massive table, to me it looked like a table for giants. Surrounded by eight backless chairs, the legs of it were carved wolves with yellow gems inserted for eyes and silver for the claws.

Gernan then took his seat at the head of the table and did as he said he would and put me on his lap at the table, despite the etiquette barring humans from sitting in high chairs.

I saw Pantaleon leave for another side room with a sliding door of cloth which was connected this one. After while, he finally returned with two silver plates with domed covers on top, which he placed in front of us and removed the domes.

This was the first time I got to see what a wolf Anthro, or that matter any Anthro ate. Upon the dish was a piece of raw meat and examining it further, I saw that there was some spices on it. I found this also strange and the thought of eating raw meat made me sick to the stomach.

Looking at what I received for food, it was a dish of cooked meat! It looked like maybe pork or something and smelled amazing. This was the first time I saw a real food in a long time and unable to bear it anymore, I just grasped it and devoured it as quickly as possible which drew the amused attention of my master.

“My, my aren't you a hungry little one" Gernan commented back in awe and being so happy to have eaten something filling like this, I nodded my head happily at him, my mouth chock full and unable to speak anything, while trying to mumble out a thank you.

“Hey, maybe this isn't so bad after all. I could really get used to this." I thought to myself as I savored the cooked meat and thinking back on it now, it was really quite bland, but it did not matter to me in the slightest as it was the first piece of meat in many months. But then a deep sense of shame entered me for thinking such a treasonous thought about staying.

“They killed my daddy! How could I think such things about these monsters and think of how disappointed Grandpapa would be in me!" Devan's words returned to me then in this moment of turmoil.

“Accidents can happen, you know."

Then I remembered grandpas words.

“My strength runs through your veins"

Then Maria's.

“Be brave!"

Then my father's last words echoed forth in my head reminding me again of what they did to my father. I felt so conflicted, but also extremely angry. I did not know what to do, I felt as though I was just one giant coward.

“I have to do something. I have to get back at them for killing daddy" My torturous thoughts were finally broken by a stroking feeling on the top of my head. Looking up I saw Gernan.

“You're such a good pup, aren't you? You'll keep me company right? You will make sure this old wolf doesn't get too lonely, won't you now?" His eyes were full of gentle kindness, so unlike the wolves that took me and killed my father.

“What am I going to do?!"

After sharing breakfast with my master, or should I say more accurately gobbling up mine and then watching my master eat his quite normally for the next few minutes, much to my nausea. I was quite surprised by their table manners as Gernan ate with a fork and knife. I was expecting him to rip apart the raw meat with his claws before shoveling it into his maw like a beast.

Watching him eat so politely made me feel very embarrassed because what I did with my own food. For I ate it the way I was expecting him to, like an animal.

Pantaleon, for the whole time we ate stood by Gernan's side, his paws folded inside his sleeves and would occasionally refill his glass with water whenever it happened to be empty. The drinking cup was very strange-looking, unlike anything I have ever used before, the lip of the glass was more funnel like at one side and when Gernan drank from it, the funnel-like lip would line up perfectly with the front of his maw.

After Gernan finished eating and wiping his muzzle off of any juices or greases, he stood up and then putting me down on the ground before he kneeled down to be at my level.

“Now Iskander, pup, I am going to take a bath and change out of my sleepwear. Pantaleon will take you to my study while I am doing this and keep you company. Right, Pantaleon?" Pantaleon then curtly answerd back a “yes my lord" after which Gernan turned around and left.

The fox then took me gently by the hand and proceeded to lead me out of the dining room back into the hallway going in the opposite direction of the stairwell which my master Gernan was now going up.

Pantaleon and I then arrived at a sliding door which opened to reveal the same study I was in yesterday. I was able to finally get a better look at this room than I had before. There was a couch at the end of the room with a desk and chair on the right side facing a window which showed a large garden. The rest of the room was filled with bookshelves filled to the brim with books, it was like a miniature library. I had not seen so many books before in my life, especially compared to the mere handfull I saw before in the church back on Safehaven.

I was led to the couch and Pantaleon set me on a pile of pillows that were placed next to it. Pantaleon also took his place sitting on a low stool, his paws folded on his lap.

We both sat there in awkward silence for sometime. Occasionally a bird chirping or the sound of the wind blowing on the branches of the trees out in the garden would break this silence and sometimes I felt the urge to ask a question, but I would always lose courage before I even opened my mouth the whole time, the fox sat there like a statue, similar to the ones back in Safehaven's church that stood vigil during the long drawn-out sermons.

Thinking of Safehaven made me very homesick and made a hole form in my stomach. I wanted to cry again but not while in front of this strange fox watching me or for that matter, any anthro.

“Just think of happy thoughts Xander, just happy thoughts." I repeated over and over again in my head. The only problem was all my happy thoughts were of Safehaven which did not help me at all.

“Just don't think of anything Xander." I finally concluded to myself.

Finally, Gernan returned after what seemed like forever and he wore clothes very much the same as yesterday's but in blue with silver highlights. His fur was slightly damp looking and he smelled as he had before, but was more toned down in scent. His tail began to wag slightly when he saw me.

“Iskander, how cute you look sitting there!" He said as he took his seat on the couch behind me and running his fingers through my hair.

“Pantaleon, you may go now, I wish to read some before I am to go to court this morning."

“Yes master." And the fox left the room, leaving me with Gernan. He then got up and went to one of the many bookshelves and proceeded to scan the spines of the books before finally settling on one and siting back down again, reading it while he returned to running his fingers through my hair

“Uh Gern-um, I mean master, you are going?" I nervously uttered out, slightly frightened that I was disturbing him during his reading.

“Yes Iskander, I am expected at the court today, but don't worry, I will be back in time to share dinner with you tonight and maybe I will bring you a present too as well."

“A present? What kind?" I excitedly shot back, forgetting my homesickness.

“That collar of yours they gave you looks very hard and must hurt. I don't want my human to be uncomfortable. I am planning on getting a better one for you." My spirits instantly fell upon hearing this as it reminded me of what I was, just a possession. But he was right, my collar was hurting and maybe it would be better.

“That would actually be nice Ger-master!" I said looking up towards my master.

“What am I doing? I should not be appreciating this, what would grandpa think of me being okay with a better collar!" My thoughts shamefully stabbed back at me reminding me of what had happened back on Safehaven, My self-admonishments were then interrupted by Gernan cradling my chin between his two fingers.

“I am happy to hear that Iskander. Don't worry, you won't be alone here, there is Pantaleon and Elyk, his mother Iahle and the rest of the servants to keep you company while I'm away, maybe you could watch them while they're setting up your bed."

“Elyk?" I queried at the unfamiliar name.

“Oh, I forgot you haven't met him yet, he's Pantaleon and Iahle's kit" That was probably who that other smaller fox I saw was, I instantly thought to myself remembering him peeking through the door at me.

“I think you two pups could get along very well, even though he's a few years older than you."

“Really?" The thought of it of another child here made me slightly hopeful even though he was not human.

“I think I saw him when you were carrying me out of the bedroom. I saw a fox through one of the doors." Gernan's ears perked up at this and then he snickered.

“That's Elyk alright! He has seen humans before but none as young as you before, so he must be very curious about you, most likely as a potential playmate. He never had any litter-mates to play with when he was a kit, he was an only kit quite a rare occurrence."

“Why is that rare?"

“Unlike you humans, which, most the time only have one or two pups at a time, we Chimeras have multiple pups at a time, anywhere from three to five" I sat there listening in curious wonder at all this information being given to me. He further continued on

“Sometimes in less fortunate families, one or two pups die in infancy and also-" Gernan was cut off by the opening of the sliding door followed by Pantaleon's voice.

“Master, I'm sorry to interrupt you, but it's getting very near to time to go to court!" Gernan's eyes widened and he stood up immediately.

“By Canis, I almost forgot!"

“I figured as such, master, that's why I brought your court robes."

“Quickly now, bring them here and put them on!" Pantaleon rushed in carrying a folded pile of red cloth, upon which sat a black high open cap very similar to the ones that I saw being worn outside the forum of the moon, but much more ornate looking, giving the impression of status and rank with accents in red matching the robe.

Pantaleon then placed the headpiece on Gernan and proceeded to put on him the ankle-length robe that had slits on the sides that went up to the waist of it so that he could walk unrestricted. It was a bright scarlet red fire, which was tied together at the waist by a black belt and from which a sword hung. Finally Pantaleon put on the last article of clothing, a black Toga-like sash with a red trim that hung down to the hem of the robe and held in place by a jeweled broach on the shoulder.

After all this was done, Gernan turned towards me, gave my head one final pet and told me to be a good human while he was away and with that, he left the room along with Pantaleon escorting him While sitting there, I heard the front entrance of the manor open, then after a while, close with a bang, signaling to me that Gernan was gone, leaving me alone for the first time in a long time and I just cried, letting out my pent up emotions and sadness. I longed for someone to just hold me and tell me everything is going to be fine and hug me tight. But I was all alone with no one but monsters who see me as weak and pathetic. I was so lost and scared, though my master was gentle and kind I still felt like my life is over and I will never be safe.

I laid down upon the pillows before me, clutching one of them tightly in my arm, wishing it was my grandpa who would protect me from harm and keep me safe.

I was left with the realization that I had no one. I am truly orphaned in all ways and for the first time, I seriously prayed for help from anyone, it did not matter if it was the human God or Canis, Ursine and Felide. I just prayed to anyone who might me out there to just take mercy on me.

“I want my mommy."

“I want my daddy."

“I want Maria."

“I want to go home."

“What am I going to do?"

 “Please help me!"