He was being followed again today, the beast noted to himself. The same being that had followed him yesterday, and the day before that. It wasn’t a recent phenomenon for the creature, his presence often drew the gaze of any nearby who were not used to him and those brave and curious enough often trailed behind in some vein attempt to learn more about the mysterious visitor. None had stuck with him for so long though, usually his stalkers gave up after an hour or so once his unique charm wore off on them and they found something more interesting to do, so being tailed for all three days he was staying in this little burg for was a new experience. Even then as he padded down the street, the pitter patter of young bipedal feet could be heard behind him, close enough to satisfy their fascination, but far enough to not draw singular attention. It was something worth considering for the lionish canine, but he remained aloof for the most part; the boy following him would abandon his hunt as soon as the one eyed being left town, and Red XIII was used to being alone.

	The Ancient looked back a moment to get a look for the one following him, the youth jumping a bit in surprise at the attention and freezing in place under the fierce eyes gaze. He was merely a cub, from Red’s estimation, and stood out from the majority of the other townsfolk in that he was reminded of a specific companion that the beast once traveled with, his skin being that of the gruff father who’d helped him save the world. It occurred to the canine that there weren’t many with the same complexion that he’d seen on this planet, though it was hard for him to notice; all two legged beings looked the same to him, and it was their scent that became the only remarkable feature as far as he was concerned. The beast took a sniff (which seemed to make the boy shiver) and let the smell from his curious pursuer linger on his mind. It wasn’t the most potent dose, but he could sense desperation. Perhaps he was being followed because there was nothing else to do, or whatever else there could be was too terrible to consider an option.

	He knew it didn’t matter though. They were near the towns’ edge, and the harsh elements of the wild would snuff out whatever frantic interests the boy had, and Red would be alone again. As the beast crossed the edge of civilization and out into the unknown, he heard the cub stop in his tracks. The outside world was simply too dangerous without an escort, and tailing some flame tailed creature wasn’t worth the risk. He had expected the hesitation, and knew the boy would simply turn around and go back home now that his game was ended. The moments of silence seemed to confirm his assessment, which only made the shock of hearing the boy running after him to make up for the lost distance that much more unexpected. The boy was either more desperate than he wagered, or a fool, but either way he didn’t slow his pace, and the familiar rhythm of those footsteps behind him settled back into pattern. It wouldn’t last though, he was sure, once they got far enough away from town the two-leg would abandon him, like all the others.

	It never happened though. They strode further and further from the town until it threatened to be little more than a dot on the horizon, and yet the curious individual never even hesitated in his pursuit. Finally Red decided to put a stop to this foolish fancy, and turned about to face his stalker with a determined stare, something that surprised the boy to the point of having him fall back on his tush. “Go home.” Red stated firmly, perhaps surprising the boy even more with the revelation of his speech, since most beings assumed none but their own species could talk. “I cannot be responsible for you. Go back to where you are safe.” His follower seemed dejected for a moment, looking back at the distant town, than back at Red. He recognized the agony in his indecision, one his ignorant word choice had revealed; perhaps he was no safer there than out here, and his following Red was out of desperate hope more than idle curiosity. The beast just sighed though and turned back on his path again: he wasn’t worth the investment. He wouldn’t be able to protect the boy.

	The confrontation only seemed to make the boy more determined, and he followed Red without hesitation even as the town slipped from sight completely. The Ancient felt a sink in his chest, not daring to put stock in the notion that he might not be alone anymore, he knew this could only end horribly and he would be hurt that much more for his troubles. Still, he slowed his pace enough to allow his stalker to be a bit closer, his pace hesitating a bit before he realized the implications, and took up the closer position happily. He could pretend he wasn’t alone again, for a little while at least. But soon the sun sunk away, and night enveloped the land, bringing with it a harsh cold. He sensed the boys’ chill, his unprotected body shivering in the uncaring freeze. Red knew this would happen, his body built to protect against the elements while most others were too exposed. Out of some sense of pity more than fatigue, the beast stopped for the night and curled up to sleep, his ears twitching as he heard the boy to the same, coiling into the fettle position some feet away as if there was some invisible barrier he dared not cross less he accidentally summon the canines wrath. The poor human chittered and shivered, his own body heat being inadequate against the unsympathetic night.

	Red sighed; the noise would keep him up all night. He silently rose to his paws and slinked over to the cold boy, lying next to him with a huff, the sudden contact with the beast making the human spazz in surprise, but the warmth from his body quelled any irrational urge to distance himself from the object of his desires. He was soothed instantly, the warm red fur acting as his blanket, being unable to resist nuzzling closer to the canine for more of it. His tail twitched, the action bringing about some long buried feeling of paternal longing he was sure he’d abandoned for being too painful to remember. The canines face softened and he pulled his paws around the boy to hold him closer, keeping him warm for the night. He was so tired of being alone, but he didn’t want to be hurt again. He couldn’t trust himself to protect the new ward, and why invest the emotion if it would simply lead to more heartbreak.

	He felt furless hands brush over his belly, making him purr and flick his leg involuntarily, which only made the boy giggled and rub the sensitive area more. It brought an idea to the canines mind though, a possible solution to his worries. He could keep the boy safe, since it was becoming increasingly apparent to him that the following would continue, and if any harm befell the human he simply wouldn’t be able to live with himself, emotional investment or no. But this new idea, now he knew how he could keep the boy safe. With a purr he pulled the boy even closer, making the human blush and nuzzle into that warm fur all the more. Red kept pulling though, the boy sinking into the canines tummy like a big furry mold of dough. The boy didn’t resist or question what was happening for a moment, continuing to sink into what should have been solid matter, the folds of Red’s belly folding around the sensitive human, the warmth of the fur soon giving way to a more wet, musky feeling, and the boy felt himself curl up as he was pulled in so deep. The boy shaped indent in the canines belly soon folded in on itself and smoothed away into its normal shape, though now a great deal pudgier.

	Red purred happily, rubbing a paw over his bulging belly as he felt his new companion curled up inside, being rocked to sleep from all sides as he was surrounded by all the Ancients fur and fat, keeping him nice and warm, and safe. The canine stood up again, his belly swaying under him from the extra boy weight. It gurgled and churned and glorped and burbled as the human within was accumulated, as if becoming a natural part of Red’s form even as he padded along once again. He could practically feel the boy grinning within him, and a tender touch from the other side of his skin like a kiss goodnight. He could only smile and flick his tail happily; the extra weight and feeling of another living being within him had the unexpected reaction of making him feel with child… Red was a father again. He stopped for one more moment to rub over his plashing belly, feeling his new ‘son’ within. He would never be alone now, and he would forever keep his boy close, keep him warm and safe.

	He strode along with new joyous energy, his pudgy bulging belly swaying beneath him all the way.