Black Fox: The Vessel - 9. Chapter 9 - Paw Patrol Returns

I was blind. Now I can see.

Since the first conscious moments of my life, I recall pondering the meaning of life. Not just any life. My life in particular. Even when I was way too young to understand existential dilemmas, I felt the spark in me that never let me rest. That always kept me going. Always kept me searching. Searching for the purpose. The purpose of Ian. It always seemed out of reach because I used to assume that the purpose of Ian concerns - first and foremost - Ian.

And here, at last, I discover a strange truth. That I am only a conduit, for a message that eludes my understanding. My own benefit and well-being are irrelevant beyond their potential of giving me the means to safely deliver this message.

I’m a vessel. I’m expendable.

“Ian, mate! Do you copy?” I heard a voice and shook myself out of the daydream. I was at the breakfast table with the Black Fox boys and Mike was grinning at me. I was holding a spoon full of cereal - or at least used to be full of it. Now there was a single sad and soggy cornflake left on it while its friends and all the milk were splattered back into the bowl and around it.

“You look like me after I hit my third bong, mate,” Cayden added. I blushed. I had the worst headache of my life. I couldn’t gather my thoughts and there was only one remedy that - in theory - was within my reach. Owen seemed a little worried, but I smiled awkwardly and he smiled back. I really didn’t want the last day of the camp to be also the last day of my life.

“Come on boys, let’s go on a boat,” Cayden commanded. “See you later, Ian.”

“I’ll catch up with you,” Owen said and a minute later, we were alone.

At first, I was just poking my leftover cereal with my spoon. I wasn’t hungry anymore. Despite the warm morning air, I felt cold.

“I used to think you’re just a whiny little bitch,” Owen said and I jerked my head up.

“I can see why…” I murmured. “What made you change your mind?”

“Nothing. I didn’t. But now I can see you are more than that.”

I rolled my eyes. “Thanks.”

“I’m sorry for bullying you earlier. Actually… I have to thank you. I feel much better than I did when we arrived here and it’s largely thanks to you.”

I wish I could say the same.

“Don’t mention the bullying,” I said in a low voice. “I like strong guys. You have no idea how much you turn me on.”

“About that… I was thinking. I was thinking a lot. About what I had with Alex, about what I have with you and… some other things I’d rather not mention. Long story short, If you’re looking for a boyfriend, go looking elsewhere. I admit you’re sexy and my kind of crazy but… I’m not ready for another heartbreak. I’m sorry.”

“Oh,” I said and my heart skipped a beat. I was expecting this, but I also hoped for a miracle.

“That said,” he cleared his throat, “if you’re looking for a friend with benefits, I think that’s exactly what I need right now.”

My eyes lit up. “Do I? You know... I’m thirteen. I’m not looking for a lifelong commitment.”

We shared awkward smiles.

“Here’s the deal,” he said, “I can tell the boys I don’t feel like boating. Because the truth is, I don’t.”

“That would be amazing,” I whispered.

***

We were making out on his bed. I didn't expect him to kiss me but he did. His lips were hot and firm but soft. It was my first real passionate kiss. It instantly electrified and energized my body. I didn't know how to do it well but he was guiding me gently and patiently. His weight on top of me was comforting and I reveled in his dominance. His hands were strong but caring. We were both very excited.

"Are you good?" Owen asked.

"I'm great," I replied.

He took it a step further and took off my t-shirt. Then he slid my shorts down my waist and soon they landed on the floor. I reached to help him out of his long sleeve, but he stopped me.

"Come on," I whispered. I pulled the shirt up a little more forcefully, and, reluctantly, he pulled it over his head and threw it on the floor.

I flinched when the cold metal touched my bare chest. There was a chain hanging from Owen's neck and there was a tiny silver whistle hanging from it. Immediately, I got goosebumps all over my body. Uh oh, danger.

"Sorry. It's been like this since they took off my cast," Owen said. At first, I had no idea what he was talking about but then I noticed. His right arm was significantly thinner than the left one and the skin on it was darker.

I touched it gently. "It's beautiful. You're beautiful," I said.

"I know it's not."

"It’s true," I whispered and lifted my head to kiss him again. We made out for a little longer.

I felt extremely horny when he took off my briefs and my young cock sprang to life. He gave it a few licks as well as to my tight ball sack. I shivered from sheer pleasure.

"Get up on all fours," he commanded.

I didn't hesitate even for a second. I was fresh and clean after a shower but I still felt nervous revealing my pink rosebud to another person. Owen took position behind me and when I felt the soft wetness of his tongue, I almost fainted.

"Oh, Owen, yes…" I moaned. He was gently spreading my butt cheeks with his hands and working my hole relentlessly. I didn't think anything could feel that good. I closed my eyes and buried my face in the pillow, focusing solely on the sensation.

When he slid one of his hands lower to touch my balls and then my cock, I exploded.

"Uhh, Owen, not… not yet… ugh!" I grunted and before any of us could react I came on the sheets.

"Sorry," Owen mumbled behind me.

"What are you sorry for?" I panted. "For giving me the best feeling of my life?"

"Well, not for this specifically."

"Nothing says sorry like taking someone's virginity," I said, not caring to change my position.

Owen chuckled and picked up a bottle of KY he prepared just for this occasion. A few moments later, I felt his lubricated cockhead pushing against my sphincter.

"If you feel any pain, just let me know."

"Okay," I grunted. "So far so good."

There was a mix of fear and excitement as I felt Owen try to breach my final line of defence. His pushes were gentle at first, but I must've been loose from his tongue work because, without any warning, I felt him slip inside me.

"Oh," I gasped.

"Does it hurt?"

"No, you just startled me. Keep going."

"Good boy," he whispered and the heat coming from his body made me hard again.

It didn't take long for Owen to bury his fat cock all the way inside me. He was big enough to push against my prostate without even trying. The feeling was incredible.

"So amazing," I breathed when he started moving inside me.

I saw stars. I was moaning with his every slow thrust that seemed to reach all the way to my heart. I felt like an addict who finally got a dose of his drug after days of starvation. Wait… I was one.

"So amazing, so amazing," my mouth articulated without the participation of consciousness. His pace changes were perfect and his powerful thrusts happened exactly when I needed them.

"I'm close," he whispered somewhere from beyond the astral plane I found myself in. "I can prolong it if you want."

"Yes, sir, please," I managed.

Without another word, Owen pushed his cock all the way in and kept it like that for a minute. I was sweating. Then, very slowly, he went back to ploughing me. His shaft was like a slow train, lazily retracting from my love tunnel just to forcefully ram back and make me squeal in ecstasy.

"Thank you… thank you…" I repeated between the pushes and noticed he was picking up speed again. It was coming.

"Oh yeah, take it," he said and grabbed my hair from behind. The pain was almost as wonderful as the pleasure he was giving me.

“Aaaaa!” I moaned

When he reached full speed, it didn't last long. Owen let out one loud grunt after another and started filling me with his juices.

There are no words to describe the feeling. Unless you’ve tried shooting heroin, which I hope you haven’t. My brain was instantly filled with happiness and all my fatigue vanished like an ice cube in a volcano.

Then I came. Again. I collapsed on the bed and smeared all the fluids into the sheets. It felt so amazing that suddenly my worries were all gone. Just bliss.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Owen said. “It must’ve been pretty intense for you, eh?”

“A bit intense, yeah. Please don’t pull it out yet. I need you in me.”

“You’re crazy,” he laughed but did what I asked. He pressed me down with his body and I wouldn’t care if I died right here and right now. But I also felt the metallic token jabbing my back. A thrill went down my spine and I almost passed out from the conflicting sensations.

“Could you take that necklace off?” I asked. “It jabs my spine.”

“No, I can’t.”

“Okay.”

“I was just kidding,” Owen said and put the necklace away before covering me with his body again. His meaty knob inside me was like a missing puzzle my soul was born without.

***

“You should go,” Owen said.

I think I fell asleep because my mouth and eyes were a bit sticky. I felt wonderful. Rejuvenated and refilled with energy.

Owen was sitting on the bed and I was still laying on my belly next to him.

“Okay, let me use the bathroom and I’m out of here,” I said and got up reluctantly.

“Hurry up. The boys may be back any minute,” he prompted.

“I told you, I’m going,” I said.

Ten minutes later I was cleaned up and dressed. Owen was still sitting on his bed in just his boxer briefs and mindlessly fidgeting with his silver whistle.

“I’ll be going now, Owen.”

“See you around,” Owen said without looking at me. I sighed.

“Look, I know we’re not boyfriends and I don’t want to be clingy but… I wanted to talk to you some more. Could we meet after dark?”

“Why?”

“I’ll tell you when we meet. It’s pretty important.”

“Maybe another time.”

“Oh,” I frowned. “If you ever change your mind, I’ll be stargazing on our boat tonight. Take care, Owen,” I said and left the cabin, taking the hint that he wanted to be alone.

I forgot to wash the delight off my face and I was greeted outside by Sarah’s and Kevin’s concerned faces with my guard down.

“Hey, mates? What are you up to?” I asked. They just kept staring at me with judging looks on their faces. “What?”

“Come with us,” Sarah said and forcibly grabbed my arm.

“Ouch! Can’t you be more delicate?” I complained but I was smiling like a fool. They were not in a mood for jokes, though.

A few moments later, the door to our cabin closed behind us. Kevin pulled a chair to the middle of the room and Sarah made me sit on it. Then, they stood over me and I felt like I was about to be interrogated by the police.

“Okay, what’s it all about?” I asked cheerfully but beneath my clothes, I started sweating.

“We borrowed your red sketchbook,” Kevin said and my smile faded. I looked at him trying to guess his intentions but he didn’t even wince.

“Very well, just in the future, make sure to ask me before you borrow it. Now give it back.”

“First, we’re gonna need some answers from you,” Sarah said and her voice wasn’t any less serious than Kevin’s.

“You know you can ask me questions without stealing my personal things?” I asked.

“Are you having sex with Owen?” Kevin asked.

“Yes,” I said and smirked. This one was easy and looking at their shocked faces, they probably expected me to lie.

“Ian!” Sarah hissed. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking my friends are a couple of jealous virgins,” I said.

Sarah opened her eyes wide and I thought she was going to slap me.

“Okay,” Kevin interrupted but I could see in his eyes that he didn’t take it well. “Next question. What’s in the forest?”

I shrugged. “Trees? Shrooms? Spooky frogs?”

“Tell us,” Kevin was unamused. “Or else my parents are going to find your sketchbook. The one with all the nudes and where you wrote that you have a crush on my dad.”

“Fuck, jeez, I just told you everything. What else do you want me to say? To reassure you about your hallucinations? Or maybe I should tell Sarah about the very real beast that attacked you under the shower a few days ago?”

Kevin lowered his eyes. “I already told her,” he whispered.

I looked at them and suddenly felt guilty. I really didn’t want to be an arsehole, but I’d do anything to make them drop the case.

Then, Sarah spoke quietly. “Show him, Kev.”

Kevin took out his phone from his pocket and browsed for several seconds. I noticed his hands started shaking as he was doing that. I started getting a bad feeling. When he found what he was looking for and turned the phone to show me the screen, I saw a few pairs of red dots attached to black wolves’ heads coming from behind the trees. The photo was made in the middle of the night with a flashlight and everything was black and white.

“When I dropped my phone in the forest the other day, I accidentally must’ve triggered the camera. I just found it in my gallery today.”

For almost a full minute, we stared at each other. My last line of defence had fallen. They were scared.

“Tell us, now, or else everyone sees your sketchbook. And the photo”

I sighed. “You leave me no choice, do you?” I said and stood up. Instinctively, they backed away. I was slightly taller than them and finally, I could use this advantage.

I started sniffing the air around me. I sniffed to the left and then sniffed to the right. I immediately caught the scent. It was my scent, after all. Skin, sweat, even some traces of stale, dried cum. All mixed with an unmistakable flavour of old paper and charcoal. I walked around the room for a while, ignoring Kevin’s and Sarah’s confused looks. It was almost like following the alluring scent of a freshly baked pie in old cartoons. The scent led me straight to Kevin’s neatly made bed. I removed the cover but it wasn’t there. Then I saw it, just under my feet - Kevin’s backpack. I picked it up and fished my red sketchbook from one of the compartments.

I gave them a triumphant smile as I waved it next to my ear. They just stood there petrified.

“Next time you plan to blackmail me, find a better hiding place,” I said.

My heart was beating fast. I stuck the sketchbook into the waistband of my shorts, passed right next to them and went out to catch some late summer air.

***

Avoiding Sarah and Kevin for the rest of the day wasn’t hard. I just hung around with the Black Fox boys who luckily welcomed me in their gang. Owen wasn’t interacting with us and I was doing my best to give him space.

“So anyway,” I asked while we were playing on Mike’s Xbox. “How did you come up with the band’s name?”

“I did,” Josh said, “why?”

“I was just curious. It’s pretty uncommon,” I said, tensing up to hear what their reply could be.

It was Mike who spoke. “You don’t know Josh. He watched every anime series ever created on the planet Earth. One of them is called Black Fox and we didn’t have a better idea for a name.”

“Shut up, you all loved it,” Josh said. “And it’s not a series. It’s a movie. It came out the same year we started the band.”

“Oh,” I said and looked at Owen who was reading a book on his bed. “I thought that maybe you’ve seen, you know… an actual black fox.”

It worked. Owen stopped reading for a second and looked at me.

“That would be so cool to see one,” I continued without taking my eyes off of him. “They’re such rare creatures. It would be so cool if one of us saw one. It’s like, magic,” I added and had to stop myself from winking at Owen. I didn’t have to. My words left the desired effect on him.

“It’s not magic, mate,” Mike said, sounding a bit presumptuous. “It’s genetics. It’s like albino foxes but reversed.”

“Your brain cells are reversed, mate,” Cayden blurted. “Give me the controller if you’re not playing.”

***

I wasn’t thinking about anything specific when I felt someone step on the boat. It hobbled a little. It was docked next to the pier which was unlit and it was a safe meeting place at this late evening hour.

“Stargazing during a full moon, huh?” Owen asked when he sat next to me.

“I’m more like moon gazing,” I said, looking directly into his eyes.

He sat next to me and we enjoyed the cool evening air and the starless sky for a little while.

“I thought you weren’t coming,” I said quietly.

“You made me come.”

“You made me cum twice.”

He snorted. “Okay, why are we here?”

“To talk about you. Can you tell me about the whistle? Who gave it to you?”

Owen instinctively grabbed it beneath his shirt. The tension became palpable. The moon was low in the sky and its blurred reflection on the lake surface was shining almost as bright as the original.

“Did the foxes give it to you?” I whispered.

I had to wait for a few dozen of my quickened heartbeats before he spoke. “How much do you know?”

“Oh, I know everything. How much do you know? Did the foxes tell you anything?” I asked and chuckled when he didn’t reply. “Of course they didn’t. They never do. They think that protecting the likes of you from all the dangers of this world includes protecting you from yourselves.”

As expected, when I looked to the side, Owen was staring at me with his eyes and mouth wide open. “Then go on, tell me!”

“Shh…” I silenced him. “Let’s not wake the others.” I stood up and repositioned myself and sat in front of Owen, as close as I could without sitting on his groin. “There’s something I need to check first. You have to trust me.”

“Okay,” he whispered and I sensed he was trembling.

“Look me in the eyes,” I said. The moon was behind my back now and it was reflecting in Owen’s eyes. Now, in this light, there was no doubt. At first, unnoticeable, the pale blue sparks were dancing in them. I had to stare for a long time to find them but considering he was not awakened, this meant the gene was exceptionally strong in him.

“Why are you smiling?” he asked, not sharing my excitement in the slightest.

“You’re beautiful. Now, let me show you something,” I said and pulled out a small pocket knife. With lightning reflexes, Owen grabbed my wrist so hard I almost dropped it. “Easy,” I laughed, “you can barely cut through butter with this toy.”

At first reluctantly, he released my hand. “Then what do you need it for?”

Instead of replying, I directed the pointy end at the thumb of my left hand and quickly pressed it. A thin stream of blood escaped the opening. I wiped the edge of the knife with a napkin and gave it to Owen.

“Your turn.”

Owen took the pocket knife from my hand and hesitated just for a second before puncturing the skin on his own thumb.

"This better be worth it," he said, examining a slowly growing crimson droplet.

"It'll be worth dying for. Give me your hand."

Owen extended his hand. I slowly hooked his four fingers with mine and pressed our punctured thumbs together.

For a while, nothing happened. Then it did. The lonely, pale sparks in Owen's eyes slowly started intensifying. In just a few heartbeats, they turned into gleaming, pale but bright blue light.

"Your eyes…" Owen whispered.

"Your eyes," I replied in awe. "look in the water," I said. "But keep holding my hand."

We both bent over the railing and looked into the dark pond. It was too dark to see our faces but two pairs of gleaming eyes were like marbles in the water - his blue, and mine red. Then we sat back in the boat and looked at each other again.

"Who are you?" Owen whispered. "Who are we?"

"We're relics, Owen," I whispered back. "There are many like me but you, Owen, you are special."

"Is that why your people are after me? What do you want from me?"

Instead of replying, I took Owen's thumb to my mouth and sucked it. The electrifying sensation I've been feeling ever since our blood mixed exploded in my nervous system. The air glowed red around my eyes. I had to force myself to let him go.

"This," I said. "Most of us want this. There's war. It's been raging, on and off, for centuries. Most of us didn't want you dead, but some got too addicted to your blood. That’s why there are so few of you left. And those who are left… their genes are weak. Just strong enough to quench our thirst. Barely enough to be detected. Not nearly enough to be activated. You on the other hand…”

“So, you want to drink my blood.”

“Not only your blood. All your body fluids are precious to me. But I would never kill a Moon Boy.”

“A Moon Boy?”

“That’s who you are. There’s a different gene that makes Moon Girls and they say it’s extinct. That’s why with every generation, there are fewer and fewer of you as the gene becomes lost to natural selection. You may very well have the strongest gene on the planet. Only like two centuries ago, you’d be considered one of the weakest.”

“So how did you know about me?” Owen asked. Our hands were still touching.

“When you raped my mouth on the second day of the camp, I felt it immediately. I hadn’t known this feeling before but when I felt it, I knew there could be no mistake. So anyway… How did they find you? The foxes?”

“One of… your kind… it hunted me. It all started at the end of June. I kept seeing it and it was trying to get me. Then the foxes came to the rescue just when it was about to… I’m not sure anymore what it was about to do.”

“It wanted your blood, Owen. It doesn’t necessarily mean it wanted to kill you. It was probably starved. As I will be if you abandon me.”

We went silent for a few minutes and I let Owen take time to make sense of it all at his own pace.

“I made you addicted,” he whispered, barely audibly.

“Yes.”

“I won’t abandon you. I will feed you until I die.”

“Thank you.”

“Why am I so horny?” he asked.

“It’s our combined blood,” I said and made him touch my hardness through my shorts. “See?”

He grabbed my chin firmly. “We can talk later. Let’s fuck.”

I just smiled and proceeded to get myself naked.

We fucked for hours. First, on the boat. I sucked him and then he put it in me. Then we went into the water. We went just deep enough to make water reach Owen’s chest and he impaled me with his cock, holding me by my butt. Whenever we felt tired, we made our bloods touch and Owen was hard again in no time. I can’t count how many times we came. We kissed as our red and blue eyes shone in the darkness. We might’ve been seen, I don’t know. I couldn’t care less.

“We can’t be together,” Owen said as we lay exhausted inside the boat, my body resting on top of his.

“I know,” I said, massaging his chest gently. Our eyes were slowly returning to their natural colours.

“I won’t abandon you, though. I promise. I meant it. It’s all my fault.”

“They won’t let me be with you,” I said.

“The others?”

“Yes. And the paw patrol.”

“The paw patrol?”

“The foxes. We call them the paw patrol. They’ll want me dead.”

“Who are they?”

“Guardians. They didn’t tell you anything, did they?”

“No.”

“They are born as animals. I think they’re awakened when they come in contact with Moonblood, but it’s not exactly clear.”

“Why do they protect us?”

“I don’t know. And whatever they tell you, don’t believe them. They have their own goals but they’ll never tell you what they are.”

“Oh god,” Owen sighed.

“What?”

“It’s… it’s a lot.”

“I know. Don’t worry. The foxes will protect you at the cost of their life. They even followed you here.”

“They’re here?”

“Yes. I mean, they’re not far.”

“They didn’t protect me from you.”

“Yeah, guess I slipped past,” I said and kissed his nipple. He ruffled my hair.

“I’m sort of feeling relieved,” Owen said. “I thought you guys were all evil.”

“Some of us are. Some are not. Like with all people.”

I stood up. I scratched my soft cock and felt good naked under the moonlight.

“What are you doing?” Owen asked.

“I have to go. I hope I’ll see you soon.”

“Let’s go back together. I’m feeling sleepy, too.”

“I’m not going to bed, Owen. I have to deliver something. Oh, and I can show you my animal form if you want to see it.”

“Do I?”

I chuckled. “You can turn around if you don’t.”

He didn’t budge. “Take care of my clothes, please,” I said.

Then I changed. It took just a second of concentration and a moment later, I was staring at Owen with my puma eyes. He looked as if he’d seen a ghost.

“See you later, Owen,” I showed him and jumped in the water. I don’t think he understood.

***

My mind was clear as I ran through the forest. Soon after I entered, I shook the water off my dark amethyst fur. Before long, the first wolves started howling my safe passage. Yet, I was closer to death than ever before in my life. The scents of the forests attacked my nostrils with full strength.

It surprised me when I saw a young black wolf blocking my path. His eyes were hostile.

“Hi Alex,” I showed him.

“Hi Ian,” he showed me back. “I can’t let you pass.”

“You can’t stop me.”

He ran towards me without any warning. I dodged his claws at the last second as he swung his paw and I got ready to retaliate. But then something heavy pinned me down from behind. I couldn’t move. They rolled me on my back and I found myself staring into the gleaming red eyes of three black foxes. Alex soon joined them and I looked up at him.

“Traitor,” I showed him, squinting my eyes.

“He’s mine.”

“Not anymore.”

“Goodbye, Ian,” Alex showed me and locked his jaw around my throat. His fangs pierced through my skin and I started choking. The foxes were watching without emotion as my life was fading away from me. The wolf, the foxes, their red eyes, the trees, the moon, all started spinning around as I was saying goodbye to everything I knew.

With my final bits of consciousness, I sensed the intense scent of wolf fur in the air. Alex and the foxes must’ve felt it too, because they tensed and in a mere second, darted into the black forest, leaving me there, half-dead.

I lay there motionless, gasping for air as I sensed the other wolves coming. Their leader bowed over me and his crimson eyes were just a few inches away from mine.

“You’re useless, young puma,” He showed me. “Pull yourself together and run. He’s hungry.”

With the greatest effort, I stood up, stumbled on my exhausted legs, and dashed up the hill.

~ meanwhile ~

“He escaped,” Alex managed when he and the foxes changed into their human forms, away from the danger. “It’s my fault. I should’ve just ripped his throat.”

“It’s not your fault, Alex,” Ryan said. “You’ve never killed a person. We should’ve done it ourselves.”

“I have to go there.”

“Alex, don’t. He’ll kill you even though you’re his son. You have to live and fight another day.”

“Owen’s blood was inside this boy,” Alex said. Ryan and his sisters just looked at him in silence. “Don’t worry about me. If I can’t persuade him, I’ll run away and join you here.”

“You’re a traitor in their eyes. They won’t have mercy.”

“I will be careful,” Alex said and they all hugged. Then, he closed his eyes and changed into his wolf form.

“See you soon,” he showed them.

***

He ran through the dark forest, following the scent of the boy puma. He had to stop him.

Alex sensed them surrounding him before he saw the first pair of gleaming, red eyes. When those appeared, he slowed down and watched the others join it. The boy didn’t need to turn around to know they were behind him, too.

Alex recognised their leader immediately. He was younger than he thought - probably just a little older than him. His red eyes screamed death.

“Hello, Sean.”

“Hello, Alex. I need you to come with me.”

END OF SEASON 3