Collared and Leashed {for ofguilt}

[CleverFox]

Fury could tell just by the tensing of the human's muscles that he wasn't a fan of this particular travel arrangement, not that the prince himself really much cared. He wasn't in the business of catering to the needs of others and most certainly not ones that he had already decided were going to be not only his slave but also his pet. Such a thing was laughable really and the fact that Fury had a sadistic streak that had pretty much earned him the nickname that he bore only made that even more evident.

His large ears flicked forward as he heard the growl that escaped the human's throat and that was almost enough to make him laugh were it not for the fact that it was so pathetic. "You would be wise to watch yourself boy, in my country such things are taken as a challenge and you don't want to be issuing one of those. Especially not to me and in your condition," Fury told him, a slightly menacing quality to his lilting voice as he gave that little warning. He could have just acted on his instincts and taught the human his place right fast but for whatever reason decided to inform the hapless creature that he was skating on thin ice so to speak.

He fell quiet at that point, holding the reins of his stallion in one hand and allowing the other to hang at his side, conveniently near the hilt of his sword should he happen to need to draw that at any point during the trip. Fury wasn't really sure if the human was stupid enough to do that or not but he wouldn't put anything past him and wasn't going to be caught unaware regardless of how weak and frail his new pet seemed to be at the moment. That would be the height of stupidity and he was not going to sink to that level.

The silver fox was allowing his thoughts to wander however he snapped back to reality when he heard the human first clear his throat and then speak. His single violet eye shifted to the one in front of him while at the same time his ears once again flicked forward and back, the crown prince debating that one for a moment. He wasn't really pressed to return to the palace anytime soon but neither was he feeling inclined to humor this human while he splashed around in muddy water either so in the end he simply shook his head, despite that the human was facing away from him and couldn't see the gesture.

"You will have the chance to have a proper bath once we have reached the palace, for the moment I'm not stopping so you will just have to deal with being dirty," Fury told him, not sure of what was going through the human's mind right now and not really caring very much either. "It should not take long to reach anyway," he added as a sort of after thought, not sure why he was giving the slave a status report since it really just wasn't required. Perhaps it was to taunt him, perhaps he was doing all this to exercise control, not even Fury could really say for sure but he was admittedly enjoying himself despite the human's filthy condition.

Even as he said this Fury directed the horse to keep walking past the water, his gaze once again focused ahead, his thoughts squarely on their destination and what he was going to have to do with his pet once they arrived. He would need a bath, that was for certain, and there was also the matter of getting appropriate clothes for him, along with a new fashion accessory in the form of a collar, to mark him as the pet that he was. Fury didn't share any of this with Mikhail however since there was once again no point nor purpose, it wasn't as though he were going to be allowed a say in the matter.

[ofguilt]

"As you say. We may both enjoy the dirt, then."

Mikhail forced a lofty tone into his voice to cover his disappointment. He watched the dingy pond receding from the corner of his eye, and with it, its scant possibilities of escape. Not that he blamed his captor for refusing him. It was the intelligent thing. Unfortunately, most of these creatures were quite intelligent, as well as strong, or else humans wouldn't have fallen into their claws so readily. Despite understanding that, he'd despised the animal people from the moment he could understand their cruelty. Well, not all were cruel, but more than enough.

At least in defeat he could savor Fury's close proximity with his none-too-washed skin and clothes. Didn't these creatures have a better sense of smell? For the next few minutes, he occupied his mind with imagined scenarios of Fury's disgust or discomfort. It kept him from dwelling on his own feelings.

But, the sight of an approaching city tossed him back into reality. Was this the place? Yes, it must be. Mikhail sat up straighter and kindled some haughty pride for his expression. All eyes would be on them, he would bet, with a Prince riding into their midst. He wasn't about to resemble a trembling, broken-spirited creature held in a bastard's clutches. No, he planned to glare at each and every one who dared look at him in curiosity.

"This is your city, yes? What is the name?"

He was curious despite himself, and couldn't keep that from his heavily-accented voice. As a child, he'd always wished to travel the world. That's before he discovered how unforgiving the world itself and its inhabitants were. But, the ghost of that desire remained.

[CleverFox]

Fury twitched an ear forward as Mikhail told him that they could both enjoy the dirt, the fox not really bothered by that despite his very keen and acute sense of smell. Given the level of training that he had undergone to be able to withstand tortures a bit of a smell wasn't going to deter him even if it was more unpleasant than it would be for a human. Fury didn't let on to this fact however and instead he simply said, "It is of little consequence." He meant more or less everything but figured that the slave would just take it that he meant the dirt and leave it at that.

It didn't take them long to arrive in Illyria's capital city of Thrace, the city more than a little bit busy currently, with people filling the streets, however at the sound of Fury's stallion coming through the people gradually turned and then started parting to allow him passage once they started to realize that it was their crown prince. Of course lots of whispering erupted upon seeing the heir to the throne of Illyria riding behind a mere human and such a ragged looking one at that, everyone curios as to why that was the case. Granted they took great care to keep their whispering exceedingly low key lest the prince himself hear it and take issue, none of them wanting to cross the royal whose nickname was well earned.

A fact that everyone was aware of.

Fury's attention shifted from the people that were parting ways to allow them passage back to Mikhail when the human asked him what the name of the city was. "Thrace," he replied quietly, actually giving the correct answer though it could be considered a miracle that he chose to answer at all. "Soon we will reach the palace," he added as a bit of an after thought and also as a warning, aware that the human was not going to be happy about that but not caring. "A word of caution, should you decide that you wish to try and escape you will find out how discipline is handled here in Illyria," Fury told him, an ominous tone coming into his lilting voice as he gave that piece of advice.

It was a warning but one that he actually hoped the slave wouldn't heed considering Fury rather liked the idea of giving him a taste of just what it was that he had to look forward to so long as he kept the crown prince's interest. Whether it was better or worse than what he had to look forward to should he lose that interest was something that was completely in the eye of the beholder but that was something that Fury wasn't going to dwell on.

Instead he continued to guide the stallion along until they reached the gates of the palace, the guards immediately opening them and greeting him upon his return, Fury nodding to them curtly and continuing to the stable. Reaching the stable yard he dismounted gracefully, lightly jumping to the ground and then looking at Mikhail as he said, "Come." It was short, simple and to the point, Fury keeping his violet eye focused on the human as he waited for him to obey or else to be stupid and try something, whichever he may be inclined to do.

[ofguilt]

As the city gates neared, Mikhail tossed his head and hardened his expression to best advantage. He would not allow himself to be seen as the sum of weakness, filth, and thirst. Instead, he planned to wear those almost as battle scars as he rode through the streets with the prince. His shadowed eyes and heavy, yet sharp features were made for prideful glares and he knew it too well. But he hadn't reckoned on his own curiosity.

The people, the architecture, their clothes, the soft, lilting words drew his fascination as he and Fury traveled into the heart of the city. One cruel little bastard did not an entire people make. It was almost a relief to draw in small bits of information from the people and their mannerisms, instead of using Fury as an example of Illyria itself.

Of course, they attracted attention. Mikhail couldn't help a smirk at the surprised glances and whispers hidden behind the hands of curious townspeople. Aha! So he was right, and his captor's choice was considered eccentric. Why did the princeling feel the need to flaunt his strange preference for captives throughout his city? It must not be a common event, he thought, or else the people wouldn't glance twice at the two of them. The people also seemed a bit--reticent at the sight of their prince. He wasn't certain how to interpret their caution. It seemed a proper reaction to his rank, and yet perhaps it had more to do with his cruelty.

Either way, he kept his thoughts on the matter to himself. Though he did repeat the name of the city when Fury offered it to him. Thrace. It was simple, yet strong. Not so elegant, but it seemed a good name for a capital.

When Fury 'warned,' him about the consequences of escape, Mikhail answered with a cold smirk that bled into his answer. Fear of punishment would not hinder his actions. "This, I understand. Do you think Dacia is so different?"

Mikhail soon drained all of his attention into the looming palace. A thousand difficult escape attempts presented themselves, if he could memorize the proper positions of the towers, windows, trees below. The guards must be avoided, of course. He burned as much of the details as possible into his memory, as it was possible he wouldn't be allowed back here without chains, guard, or at all. At first he barely registered the nearing stables but then focused on them hungrily, committing their location to his mind as well.

He shot a glare at Fury before dismounting. The human's bound hands and aching legs made for an awkward, jarring landing. His muscles held him up for a moment before collapsing him to the hardwood stable floor. The sharp scents of straw and horses melted into his exhaustion, making him feel as if he could sink into the very floor. Hunger and thirst were godlike hands that crushed him from the inside. Still, he did not wish for that brat of a prince to help him, whether or not he actually intended to.

Mikhail rolled to his feet and stumbled after his captor. Any resistance would keep until he'd been fed and bathed--assuming Fury meant to offer him those basic needs.

[CleverFox]

There was really no basis for the caution that the inhabitants of Illyria in general and Thrace in particular, harbored toward their prince and future heir considering that Fury was actually guilty of no cruelty that was directed toward any of them. No, he saved that for the people that he viewed as actually deserving it and considering that Illyria was frequently engaged in wars and other such disputes there were no shortage of war criminals and the like that he could take out his sadistic compulsions on. Though that meant little to the people who had heard of the prince's exploits of course, the Illyrians thinking that it would only be a matter of time before Fury grew bored with criminals and started doing things on a larger scale.

His father after all was well known for his cruelty, even directed toward his own son though fewer knew about that side of their king considering just how closely Fury guarded that secret. Still it was only natural for them to assume that the son would be the same as the father and so they feared him.

Which was just fine as far as Fury was concerned since if they feared him then they were less likely to attempt anything, not that he couldn't defend himself but even the untrained masses could present a problem if in a large enough group so Fury wasn't fool enough to think that he was untouchable regardless of his rank and fighting prowess. That was something that he was not dwelling on for the time being, the silver fox instead answering the question about the name of the capital and then going on to issue a warning of what would be the consequence should Mikhail decide to escape.

Which was something the silver fox was hoping he'd be fool enough to try but that part he was keeping to himself lest he dissuade him purely on that basis.

The crown prince arched a brow when asked if he thought that Dacia was so different, Fury shrugging his shoulders as he said, "I know little of their customs to be quite frank. Illyria has had limited dealings with that particular nation." Which meant that they hadn't gotten onto the radar enough to be viewed as a threat and had nothing that the Illyrians deemed valuable enough to take since that was basically how their country operated. They continued on to the stables and upon arriving there Fury nimbly dismounted and then ordered Mikhail from the horse, not even making a move to unbind him and instead just keeping his violet eye focused on his captive to see both whether he would dismount as he had been ordered and if he did just how gracefully he'd be able to do that.

It was not nice but Fury had never boasted about being a nice guy so he simply didn't care.

He watched as Mikhail made it off the horse before promptly falling to the floor of the stable, a smirk playing across Fury's lips as he watched this little display, making no moves to help his new pet. His ears flicked back and forth and his tail waved like a pendulum as Fury watched and waited to see what the human would do, part of him wondering if the creature would just lay down and die now. Admittedly that would be a disappointment since he had brought him all this way but if that was to be the creature's fate then there was little he could do about it. It seemed as though he did have some tenacity in him after all as the human stumbled to his feet and admittedly Fury was a small degree impressed by that even if he wouldn't admit to that fact out loud.

"And here I thought you were about to die," he commented idly as he lead the way to a room that had a large bath, seeming almost like a swimming pool it was so large. A couple of servants stepped forward and Fury gestured toward Mikhail with a careless wave. "See to it that he is bathed and dressed in more appropriate clothing...once that has been taken care of bring him to my chambers," Fury commanded, both servants bowing low as they said, "As you wish Prince Tristan." The pair of kitsune, young in age and with reddish orange fur covering their ears and tails, waited for Fury to leave the room before turning to Mikhail.

"Take off those rags that you're wearing and get into the water, I'm sure it'll feel nice," one of them spoke up, his gray eyes focused on the human. His tone wasn't harsh and he made no moves to force Mikhail to do anything though if that became necessary then he would seeing as he had to obey the orders of his prince regardless of how Mikhail felt about them.

[ofguilt]

"You will not find I die easy," he said, his voice and posture bristling with pride despite his poor condition. If Prince Fury expected a delicate slave who faded like a hot-house flower only to be tossed aside like a rag, he was sorely mistaken. He'd seen, known, even befriended a few unfortunate creatures of that ilk. His core of strength would keep him from such a fate. If he died, it wouldn't be of weakness or sorrow

Then the water came into view and he no longer cared about his captor. He stared at it as only a man could who had only drank from leaves and shallow mud puddles for the past week.

Mikhail ripped at his leathers with shaking fingers, losing a button or two in the process. He did not care. The unlikely attendants and his new master faded out of his mind at the sight of the rippling liquid. In less than a minute, he was immersed to his neck, lapping at the stuff with little regard to his dignity. It soothed his thirst and his sore body all at once.

Only then did his thoughts and observations return to him. He eyed the kitsune creatures warily. Their kind were assigned to bathe humans? How they must resent that! Or, he thought they ought to. He peered at them with wary curiosity as if to gauge their thoughts. He had no intention of resisting the pretty bath attendants.

But Fury? Now that he was feeling a bit more relaxed, less insanely thirsty, his prior anger began to seep back into his mind--the feelings that had driven him to escape his country in the first place. Those cruel, and complex memories had nothing to do with this foreign Prince, but he found him to be similar enough to his former Lord and Lady. He could deflect those feelings onto him, as well as himself. Suddenly, he very much wanted to arouse that creature's anger. Shake him, strike him, anything to bring out the cruel beast within.

Yet, that was madness. How was he to survive such impulses? As he floated on the water with a stony, far-away expression in his eyes, he wondered he ought to have died earlier on the road, after all.

[CleverFox]

A wide grin fell across the face of the handsome kitsune when Mikhail decided to inform him that he wasn't going to die easily, far from angered by that. "That simply means that you will provide me with more entertainment, I will hardly complain about that," Fury said in a calm voice, his single violet eye focused on his slave. Truthfully he had little experience with humans and how much of an endurance they had or how resilient the species was so this was going to be a learning experience for the young kitsune prince. It was at this point that they reached the bathing chamger and it was immediately clear that Mikhail was happy about this at least, Fury watching the way that he reacted to the water for a moment before issuing the orders to the two attendants that had followed them into the room.

The twins, Cade and Cale, acknowledged the orders of their prince, their gazes going simultaneously to the human and they had curious looks on their faces since kitsune were naturally inquisitive in nature and this pair were young and had never seen a human up close like this. Cade spoke up and told him to take off the rags that he was wearing but it seemed as though he needed no prompting, for which the young kitsune were grateful.

Fury regarded the scene briefly and then made his way out of the bathing chamber and to his private suite, his single violet eye shifting to the door as he sat down on a chair to await the arrival of his new pet. He trusted that Cade and Cale would be able to handle him in his weakened state so there was no need for him to linger and there were guards positioned around so that should do away with any hope of escape should the human think to go that route.

Cade stood by and watched the human in the water while Cale went to find clothes for him, returning with a plain white tunic and a pair of pants that were equally devoid of color. However they were clean which was more than some slaves would have been afforded, the twins taking the order to find him adequate clothing literally and thinking that their prince would want him clean if he was planning on keeping the human around.

"So how did you come to be here," Cade asked as his gaze once again shifted to the human, his tail swishing back and forth behind him as he waited to see if the man was going to answer. He didn't expect it to be a pleasant answer or a fond memory for the man but he was curious and so he wanted an answer, the young kitsune actually hoping that he got one but he wouldn't really be all that surprised if that was denied him. And he wouldn't really be able to blame the slave all that much either since he knew that it had to be difficult, things weren't exactly easy for them and they were servants and more or less free.

[ofguilt]

Mikhail's body lured him away from his troubled thoughts. His shoulder muscles clenched and relaxed with pleasurable tension, his parched lips grew smoother as his thirst eased. If only he could spend a week in these waters. He might be able to forget all his new troubles as well as the ghosts of the old ones. It took a few minutes for him to rouse himself from the bath's tactile pleasures and reluctantly glance around for the strange attendants or his new 'master.'

All he saw were the two fox-eared creatures staring at him with identical curiosity.

He despised their species and made no bones about it. As long as the non-humans murdered his people for sport, tortured, and enslaved them, he would never change his mind about them. That didn't mean he hated every last one of them. Innocents were innocents, regardless of species. Even though he'd watched more than a few round-eyed children grow up into vicious brutes. Perhaps one day these gentle servants would become masters with jaded tastes and eyes glazed with violence. But not today. For now, he could manage a little wary courtesy.

As he swam closer to the edge of the pool, he shot a glance at one of the two. Not quite a glare. The other had run off for some reason. Along with Prince Fury, it seemed, for his new master wasn't anywhere in sight. He did notice the silhouette of a guard just visible at the edge of the nearest doorway. Thoughts of escape rose to his mind and fell away just as quickly. Although he felt much relieved, his body hadn't the stamina to face hard riding, battles, and wilderness just yet.

Instead, he climbed from the water and sat at the edge of the pool. The lack of clothes didn't bother Mikhail; he'd never been one for modesty. His strength, well-muscled build, and scars were all hard-earned through years of training and weapons-work. Well, some of the markings had other sources, like the healed gouges at his throat. His fingers drifted up to stroke the hardened skin before he could stop himself. After serving his former mistress instead of his master, he understood why some human slaves found nudity uncomfortable or frightening.

Then, the missing attendant hurried in with the white tunic and trousers in hand. Mikhail frowned before he could stop himself.

"Worst color for me," he said, since he couldn't recall a better word for 'unsuitable,' in Illyrian. He shook his head and added: "But, I thank you," in his heavy accent. He pulled the tunic over his head and donned the pants with some reluctance. Only children, virgins, and religious acolytes wore pure white in his country. He couldn't think of anything less suitable for himself. But the clothes were clean, well made, and not something ridiculous or fetishistic. Though he would attempt to procure other garments for his escape plans.

When one of the creatures asked a curious question, he nearly shot off a curse in response. Now they wanted his story, did they! At the same time he was proud of his trek through the nigh impassible forest. He could speak of that part without rage and guilt constricting his chest.

"How I came? I traveled into Idres re Shacht--" His eyes narrowed as he sorted the words into Illyrian. "Forest of Midnight, from Dacia. For weeks, I fight my way through trees. Then I come to Illyria, cross paths with that Prince Fury. Bad crossing. Now you see where I am."

He thought to end this conversation now, before the dark undercurrents in his voice frightened these children. Well, almost-children. They seemed innocent and gentle enough to call them that. At the same time he realized they might know more about his situation than he could easily find out from others here. It took a moment of self-conflict for him to decide. He finally spoke, lowering his voice so that (hopefully) the guard outside wouldn't catch his words.

"You two. I have questions about Prince Fury. You are young, I know, so I am sorry to ask. First, I see he likes giving pain. Is that true? Other one is, does he go to bed with slaves? Or men?"

Although he phrased it as delicately as he could, he still felt a bit guilty asking them such things.

[CleverFox]

Cade and Cale had grown up in the palace, the offspring of the lady in waiting to the now deceased Queen so although they were servants in their own right they were well treated in the service of the royal family. Which made the pair of youthful kitsune loyal to their master but at the same time each could recognize that Mikhail had been brought here against his will, not an uncommon thing for humans found wandering around in Illyria without a master so they weren't the least bit surprised by it. And they had no qualms with doing as their prince commanded and seeing to it that the human was bathed and then dressed in suitable clothing as the silver fox had commanded.

Despite that they were little more than children even the twins were a match for Mikhail in his weakened state, their kind being possessed of a certain prowess even as kits. So neither of them was worried about the human getting the drop on them and they seemed completely innocent as to any danger, Cale leaving to get clothes for the new slave of their prince while Cade stood by to attend to him should he need anything. Which was an odd thing for a slave to have, an actual attendant, but Cade didn't see the problem with that and he was actually treating the human with the respect that he would show an adult of his own kind. He had no hatred for humans nor did he really think they were inferior...it was just that they had gotten a really bad lot in life so he had no reason to look down his nose at this one.

Cale was gone for a short time before returning with the white clothes, his left ear flicking forward as the human said that it was the worst color for him, that one confusing him since he didn't understand how a color could be good or bad. "It's the best that I could find...I doubt you'd be overly fond of some of the other choices," Cale told him softly, his tail swishing back and forth behind him in an idle, almost lazy manner. It was true, there were worse and more revealing clothes that he could have opted to bring for the man but this had seemed the most appropriate choice and so it was what Cale had gone with.

Cade couldn't care less what the human was wearing or how he felt about those clothes, he was more curious as to how the man had came to be here so he got up the nerve and asked his question, both ears erect and flicked forward as he waited to see if Mikhail was going to answer the question, unable to keep the hopeful look from his face. Much to his delight it seemed as though the human was in a divulgatory mood, Cade and Cale both looking on in interest as he told them how it was that he had came to be here in Illyria and in the possession of their prince.

Once again it was quite obvious that he was not the least bit happy with this situation and Cade looked at him curiously when Mikhail said that he had a question to ask about the prince, calling him Fury and getting a shake of the head from Cale in response to that. "Crown Prince Tristan," Cale corrected softly even though he had no doubt that Fury himself was the one that had given his name as Fury to this human that was not the proper way to address the kitsune and Cale couldn't help but point that out.

Granted all thought of propriety flew out the window when Mikhail actually asked the question, Cade looking more than a little bit shocked and for once rendered speechless. Cale wasn't quite as effected as was his twin so he looked at Mikhail when the man asked first if Fury liked giving pain and then if he went to bed with slaves, or men. Pinning his ears back and dropping his tail Cale shook his head as he said quietly, "Pain is an effective interrogation technique in Illyria and one that is employed commonly but...whether or not he enjoys it I could not say. The other question...is highly inappropriate but...I can tell you that forcing himself on anyone is something that Prince Tristan would not do. He is not a saint but there are some lines that even he won't cross..."

Cale really wasn't sure just how much information he should divulge since he doubted that Fury would be pleased with the topic of conversation, but he still felt that he should point out that the human seemed to be misguided in some areas. Cade recovered himself a bit at this point and gestured for Mikhail to get to his feet while saying, "Come...Prince Tristan bid us escort you to his chambers once you were bathed." He phrased it as though it were a request but at the same time it was clear that a choice was not going to be something that was given to Mikhail.

[CleverFox]

Discontinued due to long period of inactivity. If you ever want to try again feel free to message me.