Rose Hip Tea,
Second Cup.

It had been a few days since having gotten to the new town and for the most part, the mother and daughter were used to the change, almost welcoming it.  Chou did have to admit that being here and away from her husband did take a weight off of her chest, but she did worry about the other family that she had left there, and just how Hana would handle the new school and all of the other changes.

Today the pair had a few things on their list to do, a nice as it was getting to stay with Eva and George, she wanted to find her own little place, she knew that Hana was dieing to have her own little room.  So apartment hunting was top of the list, along with going to see the school that Hana would be going to.

Having parked the car and getting out, her and her daughter made their way up to the school, coming to a stop at the front gate, taking in the sight of the school.  The large main building the first thing that they saw, modern looking and well kept, something quite different from the schools back in Jonestown.

“You shall not pass…” a voice said ominously as the big furry head of a sheepdog came into view, the male walking towards the gate from the small guard shack off to the side.

“But we have an appointment.”  Chou said looking at the sheepdog, cocking an eyebrow.  “My daughter is going to be going to school here and everything.”  She said as she looked down at her daughter who was peeking around from behind her, giving the other dog a funny look.

“Name, age, and height of the supposed new student if you please,” the male said, his expression hidden behind the thick, straggly fur that hung down over his face.

“Hana Jin, Thirteen, and one hundred and sixty centimeters.”  Chou said looking at the dog.  “I can see the name, but the age and height?”

“Age tells me she’s a freshman, height tells me that she’ll fit through the doorways,” the sheepdog said with a grin that the mother dog couldn’t see for all the fluff on his face. “We had a giraffe kid show up that we had to have go in through the cafeteria loading dock, poor boy can't get through any of the other doorways from the outside.”

“Ok, that makes a little more sense.”  Chou said shaking her head a little.  “So is someone meeting us here, you going to take us someplace or what?”  She said smiling a little at the strange dog.

“Sorry ma’am, but I do not leave my post for anything, your guide will be…” the sheepdog said before a female voice cut him off.

“Your guide will be me, hello, my name is Jada,” a cheetah girl around the same age as Hana said as she walked towards the pair. “Really? I make one little comment about taking it up the butt and this is what I get stuck doing?” the cheetah girl muttered under her breath.

“Oh my.”  Hana said with a little snicker.  

“Someone said something about you walking funny didn’t they?”  Chou asked with a little snicker of her own.  “So I take it you’re the one that’s going to be showing us around.”

“Yes ma’am I am… and no, it was a comment when someone asked me about a rumor they heard. About the guy I’ve had a crush on since fourth grade and him freaking out when I visited him at the Tennyson Center.” Turning back towards the school building the cheetah girl said, “if you ladies will follow me, we’ll start in the main office, the headmistress would like to speak to you both before we start the tour.”

“Hmmmm.  I would offer some advice, but I’m sure that it would be contributing to the delinquency of a minor.”  Chou said smiling as her and Hana followed the cheetah.

Without turning to look the older female in the eye Jada said, “I doubt it, he thought I would go all crazy on him because he butt humped his brothers girlfriend. What I was so pissed about was that he wasn’t doing it to me instead.”

“Did you tell him that you wanted him to stuff it in?”  Chou asked with a little shrug, hearing her daughter letting out a surprised little squeak at what her mom was saying.

“That’s what sucks balls and swallows about where he’s at,” the cheetah admitted more freely than she had thought she would. “We can’t even touch each other, let alone have ten minutes alone together.”

“Well I’m sure that you two can come up with other things….I mean….it’s always fun to tease a boy by telling him what you would do to him.”  Reaching out and putting a hand on Jada’s shoulder.  “Just when you get a chance….tell him that you like him...or want him to stuff your butt….then take it from there.”

“Worth a shot,” the cheetah girl said as they got to the front door of the school building. “Okay, professional face on now, I don’t need any more problems today. If you’ll follow me to the main office.”

“Thank you sweetie.”  Chou said warmly.  “You have been a wonderful help so far.”  The mother said as she followed her, glancing around the room, her daughter doing the same.  “This is quite a nice school so far.”

As the trio waited the door to Mrs. Mapplethorpe's office swung open, a large rhino woman walking out as she spoke to a badger teen. “I don’t care how much they like it when he rubs Zoe’s belly. That is no excuse for ten girls to lay in wait for him and nearly mug the boy the instant he walks into the building. If Zoe goes off on one or more of them I will have the whole bunches behinds in a bucket by the end of the day.”

“And that would be out headmistress,” the cheetah said with a little giggle.

Snapping her head around at the sound of the cheetah girls voice, giving the teen girl a wilting glare the rhino woman walked over to the group.  “Mrs. Jin I presume,” she said offering a paw to the raccoon dog woman in greeting.

“Yes.”  She said reaching out and taking the rhino woman’s hand and shaking it.  “You must be the headmistress, Ms. Mapplethorpe.”  She said smiling warmly to the other woman.

“Yes, I will assume that Jada has been regaling you with her horrid punishment for a transgression,” the older rhino said shaking the raccoon dog womans hand firmly.

“She did mention something about that, but she seems like a big sweetheart.”  The older dog said smiling.  “Very helpful and all.”

“Hello Ma’am.”  Hana said speaking up as she looked up to rhino lady.  “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Hello, you must be Hana, it is a pleasure to meet you young lady,” Mrs. Mapplethorpe said extending her hand to the younger female dog. “I think, if you give it a chance, that you’ll like it here at Prairie Flats Prep.”

Smiling and taking her hand and giving it a shake, she nodded.  “From what Eva and George told us, I think that I will like it here.”

“Yes, it seems that you have some interesting teaching methods and stuff here…..Are there any open positions by any chance?”

“Well, I would have to check to be certain,” the rhino woman began to say with a slight grin. “And your work history and other things would have to be checked of course. But I do believe there may be an opening for a Junior class history teacher, though we are always looking to expand our foreign languages department.”

“Well I can speak my native tongue...and a little Chinese too.”  She said smiling.  “As for the work history and all that, it’s all there and ready to be checked, I have my papers and stuff from back home too.”

“Excellent, we can discuss it over coffee after you and Hana have finished your tour of the school and she’s settled in her classes for the day,” Mrs. Mapplethorpe said nodding slightly.

“That sound’s great.”  Chou said smiling, “I have been looking for a good place to get coffee since we moved here.  So where do we begin?”

“Since the least favorite place in the school is out of the way,” Jada said with a little giggle. “We may as well get the second least favorite out of the way and start with the gymnasium next.” “Jada… dear,” the rhino woman began to say before the cheetah spoke up.

“Strictly from a students point of view. The last place we want to have to report to is the main office. And not many of us really like physical education classes that much.” Turning to look at the headmistress she added, “though since you started letting us do things other than volleyball and basketball… gym class is getting a little more interesting.” 

“With PE and all that.  Is there like a track team or anything like that?”  Hana spoke up, “Maybe soccer.”

“Yes, on both counts,” Mrs. Mapplethorpe said with a big smile. “Prairie Flats Prep competes on every level possible in intramural sports. We have all of the standard sports, including soccer, tennis and golf teams.” Her smile widening  bit more she continued. “But what I think Jada is referring to is the addition three years ago of the adventures club.”

“Adventures club?”  Hana said cocking her head a little.  “That does sound interesting.”

“It’s a blast,” Jada said motioning for the raccoon dog girl and her mother to follow her as she spoke. “Last month we went to an indoor skydiving place. The month before that we went hang gliding up in the mountains.”

“Mom…..can I?”  Hana asked looking up to her mother as they followed along.

“Sure…..and I think that I might have to come along on some of the trips…..they sound like they are a blast.”  She said smiling down at her daughter before going back to looking around the school as they walked to their destination.

“Don’t get me wrong,” Jada began reaching over and putting a paw on the puppy girls shoulder. “I mean you have to keep your grades up and not get into trouble at school to stay in the club, part of the rules and all that. But I love it, with the way my parents both work and all… it saves me a lot of spending time in an empty house alone.”

“Well I’m sure that I can handle the keeping the grades up and all that.”  Hana said smiling to Jada.  “You know, if it’s ok with mom, when we finish getting moved, I’m sure you could come stay at my sometimes.”

“That would be… nice,” Jada said with a grin. As they entered the cavernous gymnasium she pointed off to her left. “Over there are the girls showers and locker room. The boys are on the opposite end over there,” she added pointing to her right. “And over there,” she began pointing towards the back wall of the room, “is... “ she paused as she turned to look in the direction she was pointing. A sneer crossing her muzzle she finished, “the biggest ego centric prick in the school.”

“So my old boss.”  Chou spoke up with a little snicker.  “The kinda prick that thinks his crap don’t stink and they are the makers gift to everyone?  Something like that?”

“Something like that,” the cheetah said under her breath as the Palomino boy strutted over to where the  trio stood.

“I couldn’t help but notice such visions of beauty entering the room together,” the horse boy said bowing to the two female dogs with a flourish. “Allow me to introduce myself, before you stands the  earthbound God known as Zeus.”

“You…..are…..a…..dork.”  Chou managed to get out before bursting out into a fit of laughing, Hana snickering and shaking her head.  “I thought that my old boss was bad, but damn you take the cake.”  She said with a snort as she kept giggling, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.

With a loud harumph, the Palomino boy turned to walk away, “yet more ignorant naves I see. Women, they don’t know what they want until you tell them what they want.”

“I’m sorry…….I think that I had something stupid in my ears.”  Chou said cocking her eyebrow.  “I know just what I want and I don’t need you telling me what it is…..cause right now….I just want to put you in your place.”

“Mom….you're too old to do anything like that….Let me.”  Hana said smiling and snickering a little.

“Little one, don’t think that I won’t take you over my knee and thoroughly enjoy peeling down those panties and soundly spanking that cute ass of yours… before I take you and make you mine,” the horse boy said with an over confident smirk on his face.

“Mom…..can I?”  Hana asked looking up to her mother.

“I have no recollection of the event of which you speak.”  She said smiling and nodding.

“Ok.  Tell you what stud muffin…..you pin me and I’m your’s…..I pin you….your mine?  Fair enough?”

Looking down at the smaller dog girl Zeus snickered loudly, “okay, sure, fair enough my little chew toy.”

Taking a deep breath, putting one paw forward, one hand close to her midsection, the other up and in front.  “Ok.  Pin me big boy.”  She said smiling.

“Like a photo to a cork board,” the horse boy said rushing the smaller girl and trying to wrap her up in his arms quickly.

The moment that his arm was close enough she reached out and grabbed it, turning in place as she brought his arm around behind his back, with a swift kick to the back of his knees and a shift in her weight she brought him down with her sitting on him, holding his arm.  “The push pin is too dull for the cork.”

A clapping sound echoed through the gym, the three females heads jerking towards the sound. “Not bad at all,” a jet black Fossa in her late thirties said as she silently walked across the wooden floor of the room. “Classes… or home schooled in the traditional ways?”

“Traditional ways of Taidō.”  Hana said smiling up to the fossa, before getting up off of the poor horse boy.

“It’s tradition in the family that we all learn it and everything.”  Chou said looking to the fossa.  “Chou.”  She said sticking her hand out to the other woman.

“No disrespect intended,” the Fossa said as she placed her paws together and bowed at the waist. “Huizhong, and it is a pleasure to make the acquaintance of you and your daughter.” Bowing her head lower still she added, “other things should be kept to the traditional ways as well, to show proper respect for ones family and homeland.”

Taken back a bit, Chou and Hana smiled at the sight before the two placed their paws together and bowed.  “It’s quite a sight to run into another that follows the traditional ways.”  Chou said softly, before straightening back up.  “If I might ask, were you born there and moved here?  Or born here with a traditionalist family like me?”

“I was fortunate enough to be born in the land of my ancestors. My parents brought our family to this country when my father was wrongly accused of espionage. A pack of lies told by a coward that will not face me to answer for the wrong he has done to my families name and our honor,” the Fossa said as her eyes narrowed to glowing golden slits in anger.

“Far more interesting than our story.”  Chou said softly, “I was conceived in a small province in Japan, mother and father moved here, but kept all of the old traditions.”  She said nodding a little.  “We do go back home each year and visit family and friends there.”

“An honor, and a luxury I am not afforded because of one fools lies and deceit”. A few moments of silence passed before her look softened greatly, “but there will come a time when he will answer for his ways. If not to me, than to my family.” Looking down at the prone equine boy, still stock still and in shock on how quickly and easily the smaller puppy girl had pinned him she said, “As I have told you would happen Zeus, the time has come when your butt shall pay for your mouths speed and your arrogance. As agreed, and so are you honor bound to be hers in any way she wishes.” Turning to the younger raccoon dog she smiled sweetly, though to Hana it seemed there may be a bit of a smirk mixed in as well as she said, “he is now yours, what do you intend for him?”

“I’m think that I will use him for a bit of a pack mule so to speak...till I can think of something more…..suiting.”  Hana said smiling.  “And the first thing….You need to know that…everyone….girls included are your equals….Got it?”

Zeus started to sneer at the imputant little puppy girl, before the sound of sharp claws clicking against the hardwood of the gym floor drew his eyes to the Fossa. “Before you answer, I remind you of what your father said the last time we had words over your behavior.”

With a heavy, drawn out sigh the Palomino boy said, “yes… I got it, my queen.”

“Queen Hana…….I like that.”  She said smiling.

“So Jada….Ms. Mapplethorpe, were is our next stop….I fear someone might get a big tail from all the new power.”  Chou said with a snicker.

“I think that should be the library,” the older rhino woman said stifling a snicker of her own. “Jada, if you would lead the way dear.”

“Yes ma’am,” the cheetah girl said with a huge grin on her muzzle. Turning to the other girl she said, “you have to see this to believe it. It’s more like a geek fun house than a library.”

“I do like to read, but mom is the nerd.”  Hana said with a snicker, glancing back at her mother.

“Hey…..I might be a nerd and all that, but you are my kid, so that means that you get it from me….so that makes you a nerd to.”  The older raccoon dog said, poking her tongue out.

As the quartet of women started towards the exit Huizong cocked an eyebrow at the horse boy still on his knees a few feet away. “Get on those hooves boy, your queen will not wait for you, serve her well and perhaps I will not embarrass you by telling your father it took her less than ten seconds to put you on your backside.”

Looking at the teacher wide eyed he stammered out, “but… but I have to get to class…”

“No, what you have to do is live up to the responsability you willingly took upon yourself with your arrogance and stupidity. You are hers now, to command as she sees fit. Do not dishonor yourself, or your family with more stupidity.”

“Yes ma’am,” he responded dejectedly as he got to his hooves. “God help me if dad finds out about any of this,” he muttered under his breath turning towards the gymnasium doors to follow after the women.

Huizhong watched the retreating equine boy, a sly smile spreading across her face wide enough to bear her teeth a little. As the door closed silently behind the teen, she pulled her phone from her pocket, quickly finding and dialing a number in her contacts. “Mr. Chamberlin,” she said with a strange lilt in her voice when she heard the older male equine answer. 

“Miss Huizong… what did the idiot do this time?” the deep bass voice asked with a heavy sigh.

“Finally met his match, in the form of a barely teenaged girl,” the Fossa replied barely holding back the urge to laugh out loud.

“Wait… a girl… put him in his place?” Zeus father asked, an obvious chuckle threatening to burst out in an instant

“In his place and on his face in the gym a few moments ago. You said you wanted to know when it finally happened,” she said turning and walking back towards her office.

“Most definitely,” the older male said with joy in his voice. “Tell me, this young lady that outclassed my fool of a son, anything special I should know about her? Or maybe more precisely, if she might be amenable to…. helping me teach the boy a lesson he sorely needs?”

“Well… when he admitted his defeat, and I reminded him of what you said after his last incident. He did refer to her as his queen, which the puppy girl did seem to get a kick out of,”

“Excellent, if I might impose on you just a bit further, would you see if you 
can convince this girl to meet with you and I after school while I… impose his punishment? I think she will find it even more to her enjoyment,” the man said, his voice sounding more than a bit conspiratorial. 

“I can try, would you mind if her mother joined us? I believe she would want to be present for anything regarding her daughter, she is quite old school as am I,” the Fossa asked.

“Not at all, I think she may have to be my eyes on him to insure he does not overstep his bounds again with what I am going to do to him,” the equine man said as his voice dropped even lower in pitch.

Zeus trudged down the hall towards the gymnasium slowly, dreading what his father would say this time. He didn’t really know why, but every time a pretty girl got in his sight he had an overwhelming need to make her his. It had been that way for the last three years, and it made him an insufferable ass no matter how hard he tried to stop himself. After the last incident, less than a month ago, his father had threatened him with one of two options. One was being sent to a military school to learn how to be a real man’ and not an arrogant prick. The other… he would only say that it would be so totally shaming that the boy would shape up and learn how to treat a woman right. Or he would guarantee no girl would ever look at him and see anything but the fool the boy had become. Until this moment he wasn’t sure which worried him more, he opted for the later. He knew what it would be like in military school and wanted to avoid that option at all costs.

He paused at the closed oak door, hesitant to knock, yet knowing he had no other choice. Two quick raps on the polished wood quickly brought the voice of the gym teacher, informing him to come in. As he entered the room the Fossa didn’t turn to look at him as she added, “take the seat next to your father Zeus. Now before we begin, a few simple ground rules,” she began as she leaned back in her chair and locked her eyes on the equine pair across from her and to her right.”First, I am here as an intermediary. This is a disciplinary action between the parties involved. My purpose here is to insure that whatever is agreed upon does not violate school rules, etiquette, or disrupt the learning of either of these students or their classmates.”

“Ms. Jin, if you would please tell me exactly what my son did that was so appalling to you?” the older of the equines asked turning to the younger of the raccoon dog females.

“Well….he made…..rather adult remarks to my little girl.”  The older dog said, slowly nodding her head.

“I see,” the man said as he turned to look at his son. “Still trying the same lame stud routine?” he asked waiting for the teen to answer.

“Yes sir…”Zeus replied casting his eyes to the floor. “I try to stop myself dad, I really do I just… can’t”

“Regardless,” the larger male said with an audible sigh. “You have been warned about this too many times. Now it’s time to pay the piper for your deeds. You know the options… which do you choose?”

“Not… not military school,” the horse boy said hanging his head low. “My big mouth will get me in more trouble there than it does here.”

“Then it seems a lesson in humility and honor are needed. There is much you should know about your ancestors that I have been hiding from you, and your brother and sisters Zeus. I think now that it has been a grievous mistake to do so,” the older equine male stated as he turned to the young raccoon dog girl and her mother.”Perhaps, had I been truthful with them… my eldest son would not have turned into the arrogant ass that he has. Our family comes from a small European coastal country originally. Only two generations have been born here, myself and my siblings, and our children,” the older horse male said settling back in his chair again. “Our homeland is a monarchy and still ruled by a king and his queen. Our family has ties to the royal family and have had for the last twenty some odd generations.”

Zeus’ eyes widened a bit, this news suddenly catching his full attention as his father continued to speak. He had no idea where the tale would go but he was certainly liking the possibilities that were suddenly flooding his mind.

“The reason that I have hidden this from you, and in fact from everyone son, is because of how some members of society might treat you because of that association. For over one hundred and fifty years our family has proudly and faithfully served the ruling family,” the man said, a note of pride in his voice.

“So you're like…..a family of royal servants?”  Hana asked, tilting her head little bit.  “Like the Dynamo and his samurai?”

“Very similar indeed,” Alexander replied nodding his head slightly. “We have been the keepers and caretakers of the royal family, their property and their safety for these many years. When I met and fell in love with my wife… I felt it was time for a part of our family to seek a new path.”

“So…...Zeus isn’t going to be my samurai?”  Hana asked looking from the male to the older horse, seeming a little dejected.

“Not at all dear girl. My point is that in keeping his heritage from him I may have inadvertently made a very big mistake. He has never learned respect for others to even a hundredth of a degree of what our family has stood for. In his place at this age in our old life, he would know his place. Not only in his own family, but in the larger scheme of things. I think it is a skill he is sorely in need of a lesson in.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Zeus spoke up shaking his head from side to side. “So what are you saying… I’m supposed to be her butler or something?”

“Something like that.”  Chou spoke up.  “Like she said you would be her samurai.  You would be in charge of protecting her, helping her, and well…..following all of her orders.”  She said looking down at the male, smiling.

“No way,” Zeus nearly shouted gripping the arms of his seat tightly. “I’m not being told what to do by a little girl.”

In a flash Alexander was on his hooves and hovering over his son, starring the boy in the eyes. “You will do as you are told boy. You made the challenge and you will live up to the terms. Your defeat has sealed your doom and you will pay the price,” Leaning forward, pressing the tip of his muzzle hard against his sons he pushed the boys head back as he spoke again. “If she tells you to, you will be her butler, her maid, her cook, her damn pawstool if that is what she needs or wants. As a flippant wise crack you named her as your queen, you are now honor bound to serve her, to honor her and to protect her no matter the inconvenience, pain or cost to yourself. You will do so without question, without complaint and without concern for what anyone may think of you for it. As of this moment your primary concern is to serve your queen in every way that she commands you.”

“Don’t worry sweetie.”  Hana said smiling.  “I won’t be too….mean.”  She said with a little snicker.

“And I will be around to make sure that she doesn’t go…..too overboard.”  Chou said looking to the father.

“I’m not going to have him do anything that will get him hurt or anything……”  Hana said giggling a little.  “He’s kinda a little cute to be that mean to.”

“You mean after school and on weekends right?” the younger equine asked looking up to his father.

“No, I mean twentyfour hours a day seven days a week, if that is what she chooses,” his father said in reply.

“Don’t worry…..I’ll give you free time and all that, if you’re a good little boy.”  Hana said smiling and putting her hand on his shoulder.

“Okay, I guess I get this and all but..” Zeus said looking from the younger puppy to her mother and then to his father. “So I’m like on call to her? If she wants or needs something she calls me and I go do it right?”

“How can I put this……”  Chou said pausing for a moment.  “You are her…..property…..she want’s you to do something….anything you are to do it…”  She stopped again.  “If she want’s you to get her a cookie, then you do it….get it?”

“Right I get that, she calls me on the phone and I go over to your house and do it then leave right?” the horse boy asked, still not getting the implications of what he had gotten himself into.

“You are as insufferably dense as you are arrogant,” Huizong nearly screamed at the boy as she leapt from her seat and bolted around her desk. “You are her servant and protector now. At her beck and call at all times. How in the name of Buddha do you think you are going to protect her at her home while you lay up on your lazy butt at your home?”

“Yes…..I hope that you don’t mind sleeping on the sofa for a little.”  Chou said snickering a little at Huizong’s reaction.  “So…..get it now or do I need to spell it out in crayons?”

“But… my classes, and my friends… my life…” the equine boy  said looking from one to the other of the adults in the room. 

“Are a distant memory as far as you are concerned until your obligations are fulfilled and the terms of your challenge met,” his father said with a stern look on his face.

“But… I’m a senior this year… you know the best year ever?” Zeus said almost pleadingly.

“And it can still be just that…..if you’re a good boy.”  Hana said smiling and patting him on the shoulder.  “I’m sure that you can be a good boy….you seem like a sweetie when your not being a dick.”

“That band of poster children for birth control you call friends do not have what you do right now. An obligation to fulfill and an opportunity to become a better man before it is too late. Hopefully this will teach you as much about yourself as it does about having honor and humility,” the older man said as he rose to his hooves. “Well I believe his fate has been set ladies, I should get him home and packed and inform his mother of what is going on before I deliver him to you and your daughter this evening Ms. Jin.”

“That sounds good to me, I will have a little cot for him and all that ready.”  Chou said smiling and bowing at the waist to the male before straightening up.  “So Hana, ready to head home and get things set up for our little guest?”  She asked smiling and snickering to herself.”

Smiling and humming a little tune as she moved around the house, the older raccoon dog had turned part of the living room into a little bedroom for Zeus, which translated to an air mattress, and everything like that.  Having done that she bussied herself with getting a little dinner cooking for her and her family, new members included.

Knocking on the door Zeus turned to his father again, “but I don’t even know what this… samurai thing is, let alone what they do or don’t do. I mean, what if she wants me to something… weird or something?”

“I’m sure you will do fine son, and if it bothers you that much you could always ask Ms. Jin about the samurai,” Laying a paw on his son’s shoulder Alexander added, “and don’t worry so much, Hana seems like a very sweet and innocent young lady. Besides what’s the worst she could ask of you?”

“I don’t know… did any of our ancestors ever have to… you know ‘service’ the person they were taking care of?” Zeus asked, a concerned look on his face.

Alexander looked at this son oddly for a moment before the boys meaning sank in fully. Giving the boy a harsh scowl he said, “those who are in service to a royal family protect them. That includes keeping any personal or private information, or the goings on of the members of the family one may gain knowledge of secret as well. If any of the members of our family were to be in such a compromising situation… they would have performed their duty to it’s fullest and never spoken of it to anyone… ever.”

Smiling as she pulled the door open, “afternoon gentlemen.”  Chou said as she stepped to the side.  “Come in, come in.”  She said as she motioned for them to enter.

“Is that my samurai?”  Hana asked happily as she walked out of her room, dressed in a long shirt, her night clothes no doubt.

Alexander lay a paw on his son's shoulder gently guiding the boy forward towards the young girl that was now his charge. Once at arms length the older male poked him in the shoulder, urging the younger equine into motion on his own. 

“Yes, my queen. I am here to honor myself and my family in your service if you will have me,” he said before bowing at the waist, his head down and eyes cast to the floor.

Smiling at the sight of the male bowing, she did the same before straightening up.  “Such a good boy so far.”  Hana said smiling, “now, come, sit….I know that mom and your dad are going to talk and stuff.”  She said motioning for him to follow them to the sofa.

“Yes ma’am… I mean, as you wish of me my queen,” the younger palomino boy said as he followed the younger dog girl to the living room area. As he did a breath of wind from somewhere blew across her path, momentarily lifting the hem of her long shirt just enough that he caught a brief glimpse of the swell and curve of her panty clad rear end. Clearing his throat to hide the near slip of a soft moan he asked, were… you getting ready for bed my lady Hana?”

“Well…...kinda….this is more my lay around the house be lazy clothes.”  She said smiling and taking her seat on the sofa, wiggling a little to get cozy.  “I hope you don’t mind my choice in clothing….I don’t have anything super….fancy.”

“No… you look good in it…” Zeus said blushing a little before he stammered out, “I mean it looks hot on you… I mean you look hot, is it hot in here?” he finished looking around the room, anywhere but over at the young teen girl only half dressed as he sat down beside her. “I mean… you look fine, and it’s not my place to critique what you wear or don’t wear,” he said blushing  bright pink in his ears the moment the comment left his muzzle. “I was just… wondering if there was anything you wanted me… to do to, you…, I mean for you before you retire for the evening. Or any other way I should service you…. I mean take care of you is all.”

“You are…...so adorable.”  Hana said smiling and snickering.  “And it’s a little bit before bed time silly….I mean mom cooked us dinner and all that.”  She said putting a hand on his leg.

“Oh sorry, I… I’m sorry for being such a jerk at school. I just... “ Zeus said blushing furiously, the insides of his ears turning a bright crimson. “God,”: he sighed dropping his head,. “I don’t really even know why I do that stuff. It’s like  I open my muzzle to say something nice… but all that comes out is insults and brash comments.”

“See I knew that you weren't a complete…..dummy.”  Hana said with a little snicker.  “You just got to get a handle on your words.”  She said patting his leg.  “Don’t worry.  I will help you with it.”

“That would be great,” the equine boy said looking into the puppies eyes. “It seems to get worse when I try talking to girls. With the guys it’s not so bad, but with girls… I make an idiot out of myself and shoot my hoof off before I have even half a chance.”  Closing his eyes and shaking his head he added, “I can’t believe I’m even talking about this.”

“Well this is how you find out things.”  Hana said happily.  “And I mean, your learning, look at yourself now…..you're talking to a girl and you're not shooting yourself in the foot or anything like that.”  She said pausing for a moment.  “I think I might know why…..have you ever had a girlfriend?”

His blush growing an even deeper shade of red he quietly said, “not really, at least not since I was seven or eight.”

“When you see a girl….you just get a little too caught up in the idea of being single, so you say all that stuff about yourself, and trying to make yourself seem like a super man to impress them.”

“Hana have you been reading my psychology manual again?”  Chou called out from the other room.

“Just a little of it.”  She said with a little snicker.

“I don’t know… maybe,” Zeus said falling silent for a few moments. As a strange look came over his features Zeus looked into the raccoon dog girls eyes again and said, “you know… I think it did kind of start after Yolanda dumped me back in the third grade.”

“So she is right, you’re trying to impress all of the girls, cause you were dumped.” Chou said from the kitchen.  “You feel like you're less of a man cause you were dumped and you feel you need to change it.”

“But….girls don’t want a super show off of a male.  They want someone that is there to be with them and all that, not someone that can lift like a hundred pounds while dancing an Irish jig.”  Hana said with a nod.

With a little snicker the horse boy said, “can you even see me trying a dance like that with hooves? I’d be flat on my face in ten seconds.” He looked from the puppy girl to her mother and asked, “why can’t I do this with regular girls?”

“Hey…...I am a regular girl.”  Hana said with a little huff.

“Well you are right, you look like you're more suited for river dancing.”  Chou said with a little giggle.  “And well….it’s because it would seem that, that girl left an impression on you….making you feel like you have to go after a certain kind of girl...that you have to go after the cheerleaders and beauty queens.”  She said pausing for a moment.  “Or something like that.”

His eyes going wide Zeus said,”how… that’s mainly the very kinds of girls I go for. That’s… kind of messed up when you think about it.”

“You have to realize that you need to go after a girl not for just her looks, but her personality….You can have the best looking girl out there and she would treat you like shit….Just kind of using you as arm candy, or for something else.”  Chou said shaking her head, “That’s why you get to know them first silly boy.”

“I’ll remember that,” the horse boy said with a quick nod of his head. Looking back to the younger of the two he said, “so… what do I need to know about this samurai thing. What has my big stupid mouth gotten me into this time?”

“Well….you as my samurai are tasked with taking care of me.  You are to protect me...and just generally follow the orders that I give you….like if I told you to bark like a dog….you would have to do so.”  Hana said smiling.  “But don’t worry, I’m not going to be too mean about it or anything like that….as long as you listen.”  She said smiling up to him.

“I think I can do that, though I don’t think dad has much confidence in me.” Zeus sat up straight and turned to Hana and said, “Time to prove him wrong. No time like now to get started, command me my queen, test me and see if I have any hope of measuring up to your expectations.”

“If that’s what you want.”  The little girl said smiling.  “Rub my paws…..mom and I were walking around all day….and they are a little sore.”  Hana said snickering a little.

With a little giggle the equine boy knelt down beside the couch  Reaching down and taking her foot-paws i his hands he said, “as you wish my queen,” lifting them and setting her bare paws against his chest as he leaned forward a little. “Never done this before… so tell me if I’m doing it wrong,” he said as he took on of her foot-paws in his hands and began to slowly and gently knead and massage it.

“That’s a good boy.”  She whispered as she felt the boys paws working on her feet, causing her to murr and just about melt into the sofa.  “You sure that you haven’t done this before?”  She asked smiling before looking up to the adults.  “I think that he is going to be a good samurai.”  

Smiling broadly, his back to his son, Alexander looked the older raccoon dog female and said, “I notice that you and your daughter are equally traditional at home. I wonder though, do you think the boy can handle what he’s gotten himself into?”

“I think that he can…..I think that it might be a little for him to get used to the cooking if has never eaten it before.”  She said with a little snicker, “we like our food rather….spicy.”  She said as she motioned to the oven behind her.  “Other than that I think that he will do fine…….it’s Hana you have to be careful with….she’s a little too smart for her own good sometimes.”

“Well, he did this to himself, and I do honestly think it’s past time he learn better and about himself at all. I normally wouldn’t be so frank about this... “ the older equine said, pausing for a moment and glancing over his shoulder to the pair in the other room. “Please, I can only hope that you do not misunderstand my meaning on this, or my concerns about it. But considering your daughters age, and my sons lack of experience with females because of his habits. Should I make a… preventative stop down the street and leave a package for him or am I being overly male on this?”

Letting out a little snicker, “I have that covered…..now….I’m sure that you might want to be the one that gives them to him.”  She said pausing for a moment before starting to dig through her bag.  “It would be rather…..awkward for me to give them to him….he might blush himself to death.”  She said smiling as she slid the older male a box.

Taking the box and slipping it into the pocket of his sport coat he said, “you know… many parents would admonish us for even considering allowing this to take place. Let alone all but pushing them to do it.”

“She went into her first heat not that long ago….and I’m sure that it’s just a matter of time, and I know that I’m not going to be able to stop it, so I just want her to be safe.”  Chou said taking a deep breath.  “I don’t want her to end up in the same boat that I did.  My mother never told me anything about it and well….one heat stricken night with a friend when I was just out of school led to her.”  She said taking a sip from her tea.  “I am grateful for her mind you….I just wish I was a little better off when I had her.”

“I understand your stance completely,” the horse man said nodding a little. “I had ‘the talk’ with Zeus when he turned twelve. Not that I think he was paying a great deal of attention after he heard the word sex. I will advise though that you might want to keep an eye and an ear open for them when it happens. For all of his false bravado and bluster, and he doesn’t think I know this, but my son the lady killer is still a virgin.”

“Well I think their first time will be interesting.”  Chou said with a little snicker.  “I know that Hana there has been watching porn on the computer….she does good trying to cover her tracks, but she doesn’t do it fully…..so….I will keep an ear open for the two….make sure nothing gets broken or anything like that.”

“I’m sorry,” Alexander said chuckling a little. “But surely you can understand… are you sure about this? I mean I understand having control over things and all. But her first time… with an older male… and of all things a horse?”

“Well if she is anything like me….”  She said trailing off.  “I have thought about that kind of thing, but I also know that, that little sneak there has gotten into some of my…..things…..so she isn’t as innocent as you would think….”  Chou said pausing for a moment.  “And yes….I am a bit of a size queen….I think the whole family is like that.”

“I see,” the equine said raising an eyebrow sharply. “As long as you are certain, and assuming they go there…” he said pausing a moment and frowning. “Who the hell am I kidding… IF they go there. The only real question is how long before they do. I’m certain that my son will treat her gently, it’ll probably scare the hell out of him no matter how much hormones and pheromones are driving him to mount her.”

“That’s why I’m not all that worried about them getting hurt.”  Chou said smiling as she looked over to the two.  “He might not act like it, or seem like it, but he is smart, and I’m sure that he is fairly level headed.”  She said nodding.  “So between the two…..they should have it.”

Shaking his head slowly and chuckling softly Alexander looked the older raccoon dog in the eyes for a long moment before speaking. “And the boy thinks this is a punishment… he’s in for a few more lessons than he can even imagine.”

“True.”  She said smiling.  “And by the time that you get him back, he will be a good, proper little son.”  Chou said nodding, about this time the buzzer on the oven going off.  “Care to join us for dinner?”

“It is an interesting proposition…  but I think letting them get settled would be better idea and make it less stressful on him.” He turned towards his son and added, “besides, he has a brother a year and a half younger at home that is going to shit a brick when I tell him he owes me for the bet he lost. His older brother will not be in his forties before he has his first sexual experience.”

“Ahhhh…..you two never made a bet about who would get laid first, him or his brother?”  Chou said with a snicker as she got up and turned to the oven, opening it and with a mittened hand pulling out a pan and setting it on top of the stove.

“That would be his two year younger sister, I love her but the girl thinks entirely too highly of herself. She has a personality that is like sandpaper,” the horse man said letting out a whicker before putting a paw to his muzzle. “The only one of his siblings that doesn’t owe me on this is his youngest brother. He thinks the sun rises and sets in his oldest brother and nothing could ever change that in his eyes.”

“Well….see he’s the smart one.”  Chou said smiling as she started setting out the plates at the table.  “He knows his brother’s potential.”  She said nodding.  “Now, you get on home…..we have a samurai to train.”  She said with a snicker.

“If there are any problems… or he passes out on her, call me and I’ll talk him down,” he said pulling a business card from his pants pocket and handing it to Chou. “Then again, if he does anything that I could tell the other kids to tease him about let me know that as well. This little situation does not get him out of all of the trouble he has brought on himself. But for now I’ll step back and let him learn some things from an unlikely teacher. Perhaps by the time his ‘horrible sentence’ is served,” the older male said putting up air quotes in emphasis, “he will have discovered his true self and like what he finds.” Turning towards the young pair he adjusted his coat and said, “Zeus.. if you would see me to the door please, I believe your dinner is ready and I need to get home to the rest of the herd.”

Zeus looked into Hana’s eyes and nearly whispered, “may I see my father off my queen?”

“Yes you may….then it’s to table with you to have dinner with us.”  Hana said smiling down at the male, watching as he did as he was told, the raccoon dog getting up and heading off to the table.

As the pair of males walked side by side towards the front door, Alexander reached into his jacket pocket taking the box in his paw. “Give me your paw a moment,” he said pulling his own from his pocket, the item hidden from his sons view. “Now, I don’t know that this will be necessary,” he began as he took hold of his sons wrist and clasped their paws together. “But I think it prudent to be prepared for whatever circumstance may arise,” he finished as he released the younger equine’s hand.

Zeus looked at his father oddly for a moment before glancing down to his paw. His eyes going wide he stammered out, “Dad… these… her… no. I mean no way would I… not with… she’s too young for that and I…”

Lowering his voice, certain that the young canine girl could hear him despite it the boys father cocked an eyebrow at his son and asked, “are you saying that she isn’t good enough for you? Or are you  not good enough for her?”

“What?” the surprised equine hissed out before lowering his voice as well. “No, nothing like that it’s just… she’s younger than I am… and I don’t even think she thinks about stuff like that. And… and you know I ‘ve ever…” he said trailing off.

“I’m not saying it will happen, nor am I saying it won’t, or can’t, or shouldn’t. You are within the age limits of the state, and if it is consensual between you both… you should at least be enough of a gentleman to be prepared.” Struggling to keep from snickering in his son’s face he added, “Zeus, my son. Your mother and I are both well aware that you will not remain a virgin forever. If your first lover is meant to be this unusual girl… then so be it. “ Turning to look at his son fully, placing his paws on the boys shoulders shaking him a little he continued. “If it does happen, and you both want it to then remember these things. Take your time, don’t be in a rush to get it done and over with. Trust your instincts and be, thoughtful, kind, and gentle with her, she’ll probably be just as scared as you will.”

“But dad, she’s kind of… well, not a equine and all that,” Zeus said shaking his head in disbelief. Seeing the suddenly disapproving look his father gave him he quickly added, “That’s not what I mean and you know it. I mean… could a girl her age… and size even take… that?”

“If it be the will of the fates...I guess you will find out won’t you?” his father said with a bit of a grin. “Son, I was once a teenager myself, though you may not believe that. When teens of the opposite sex, and of a like mind are together…  a most magical experience may happen. It is a once in a lifetime thing, and it should be special and memorable for both parties.” Alexander reached out and opened the front door, stepping out and half turning for a moment he said, “just remember that if you hurt her, or anger her… what she did to you today will be nothing,” then turned back and walked out closing the door behind himself.

“Come on Zeus…..your dinner is getting cold.”  Hana called out from the table, her and her mother snickering a little bit.  “You don’t want to miss out on mom’s cooking….it’s the best.”  Pausing a moment she looked up to her mother, “did you make mild curry or is it the good kind?”

Walking back to the table to join the women, still a bit stunned that his father would suggest what he had the equine boy sat in the empty chair between the younger raccoon dog and her mother. The steaming plate of food quickly getting his attention he looked it over as he said, “I… don’t think I’ve ever had this. What is it?” he asked turning to the younger canine female.

“Its curry and rice.”  Chou said smiling as she took the lid off of the plater.  “And this is baked salmon, old family recipe.  I just thought about it…..have you eaten with chopsticks?”

“I’ve tried to a few times, but I usually get more food on me than in me,” the horse boy said leaning down and inhaling deeply. “Someone said the problem was I hold them wrong or something like that.”

“It’s like holding a girl’s hand….you have to be gentle but firm.”  Hana said nodding as she held up her hand, showing him.  “See.  Like this.”  She said taking his hand and holding it, showing him how to do it.

For the next few minutes Zeus attempted to duplicate what the younger canine was showing him, not quite getting the hang of it and indeed getting more of the food on himself than in his muzzle. “Could you show me one more time Hana? I just don’t quite get how it’s done,” he asked. The puppy girl leaned over closer to hm, taking his paw in hers again and manipulating his appendage with her hand as she scooped up a bite from his plate and guided it to his muzzle. He giggled a little as she put the bite of food in his mouth before going back to his plate again. As she got close to his muzzle with another bite of food, she leaned a little closer, pressing herself against his side her modest breasts pressing into him slightly. Tilting her head back she whispered into his ear, “think of it like you’re eating M&M’s with two little sticks. Small bites but a lot more of them. Let it sit in your mouth a moment or two and savor the taste, the flavors of the spices, the texture of the rice. The one of a kind  flavor of the dish…”

Zeus shivered slightly when he felt her warmth against him, a small shudder running down his spine when he felt the firm, supple mounds of her bust pressing into him as she leaned closer and guided the food to his mouth. The warmth of her body pressed against him, the sound of her sweet, whispered voice in his ear, her breath tickling the short fur and causing his ear to twitch slightly. He shuffled his legs suddenly, his hooves nearly tapping out a beat on the floor beneath him as he resisted lurching forward in his chair as he felt his cock surge to half mast in a moment, tenting his pants noticeably as he tried to hide it from the puppy girl.

“Hana…..I think that’s enough of a lesson for now.”  Chou said with a little snicker.  “Zeus….would you like a fork?”

“Oh mom, he was just getting the hang of it….I think.”  She said leaning back a little, giggling at something before going back to her meal.

“No…” the horse boy squeaked out hoarsely as he fidgeted in his chair a little. “I think I can do this now… thanks to Hana showing me,” he added blushing a bright shade of red in his ears and neck. “I should be fine.” Their meal continued, Zeus slowly getting the hang of using the odd eating utensil and getting most of his food in his mouth. As they ate, he could hear the girl beside him randomly let out a little giggle. Turning to glance at her he found her blushing a little before averting her eyes and focusing on her plate again several times.