As expected, Risha, Merees and Leorin were in the audience and were among those who applauded the loudest.
"That was awesome" Leorin exclaimed afterwards, his face sporting an excited grin.
They all decided to go and congratulate the troupe on a successful show. However, they found their path backstage blocked by a large, broad-shouldered gorilla wearing a livery.
"The Audience isn't allowed backstage" said the gorilla, holding out a hand the size of a manhole cover. "I have to ask you to turn back."
He uttered these words in a tone which made it clear that if those he addressed failed to comply, he would have to be physical.
"That's alright" Merees said, calmly meeting the gorilla's piercing stare and flashing her most winning smile. "We are friends of the actors."
"Is that so?" Replied the gorilla, crooking his left eyebrow. "Then I suppose you have some proof of your acquaintance?"
The Trio exchanged glances. Then, as one person, they shook their heads. A dismissive snort escaped the gorilla's nostrils.
"Just as I thought. Look, we have fans coming here claiming to be friends of the actors all the time and its my job to keep them away. Now, why don't you three take a hike? You'll find the exit over there" he finished, pointing at it with a thick index finger.
"I assure you, we really are friends of the actors" Merees insisted, she was still smiling, though her smile had become somewhat frayed around the edges. "If you would just go and get one of them, you would see that we are telling the truth."
The Gorilla crossed his arms, the corner of his upper lip curled up menacingly, revealing a long, yellow tooth.
"That's not going to happen. Now, I will count down to five and if you haven't left this building by the time I'm finished, I will lift you up by the scruff of my neck and throw you out. Normally, I wouldn't treat ladies in such a rough fashion, but frankly I don't see any ladies present."
If looks could kill then Merees would have been guilty of murder.
"Of all the rude, impudent louts" she hissed through clenched teeth. "I warn you, ape - you may be bigger than me, but in strength I'd say we're equally matched and if one of your sausage fingers so much as touches any of us, I promise upon my father's crown, that I will snap it like a dry twig."
She took a step forward. At that point, Merees bore a closer resemblance to her half-sister the Queen than she ever had. A lesser man, faced with the anger that seemed to envelope her like a cloak would have fearfully backed away.
Credit where credit is due: Though a few nervous beads of sweat had appeared on his brow, the gorilla was not cowed. Instead, he too, took a step forward, cracking his knuckles menacingly.
Risha had anxiously watched the scene with her brother and was just about to step between the two antagonists before anyone got hurt. Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind the gorilla:
"What's going on?"
All activity seized. Turning around, the gorilla found himself looking at none other than Sara. She had left the reception that was being held backstage for the actors to answer nature's call and was heading back when the sight of the gorilla evidently involved in a quarrel with someone had caught her attention.
"Its nothing, Miss" the gorilla said, his manner towards the porcupine-girl standing in bright contrast to the dismissive way in which he had addressed the trio. "Just a bunch of intrusive fans. I'll soon have them out of here, don't you worry."
"Well" Sara said, feeling generous. "If its autographs they want, I think I can be of help. Please, let me pass."
Reluctantly, the gorilla did as he was told. He would have preferred it if Sara had simply headed back to the reception and left him to deal with this problem. However, there was nothing he could do. After all, his employer had given him and the rest of the theater's staff, to obey any request or command from the visiting acting troupe as though they were his own.
As soon as the gorilla moved out of the way, Sara found herself face to face with none other than Leorin. For a moment, the cat and the porcupine stood there, unable to meet each other's gaze, their cheeks colored a light shade of red. Looking for support, Leorin turned to sister. Risha gave him a look that seemed to say: You can do this. I've got your back.
Feeling reassured, Leorin turned back to Sara, forcing himself to look at her directly.
"Hello" he said, after having cleared his throat.
"Hello" Sara replied, looking visibly revealed that Leorin had taken the lead.
"You look good" Leorin said, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.
Sara was wearing the tutu covered in glitter that she had appeared in on stage.
"Thank you" she said, her blush becoming more pronounced. Leorin's heart skipped a beat.
At this point, the gorilla, having observed the dialogue that took place between the two children could not help but step in.
"Miss" he asked. "Do you know these people?"
"Of course" Sara replied. "They are friends of ours. That reminds me" she continued, clasping her paws together. "You must come and meet the others, I'm sure they'd be delighted to see you again so soon."
Her proposal was accepted gladly. As the trio followed Sara backstage, Merees turned back and saw the gorilla standing there, looking quite ill at ease. No doubt he feared that she would complain to his employer. Good, she thought, turning her nose up. Let him squirm. How dare he doubt the word of a Vinolian princess?
*****
Backstage, a spread of various delectable-looking fruits and cheeses had been laid out for the members of the troupe to enjoy. Each of them had also been handed a glass filled with a sparkling, almost transparent liquid. Everyone was in high spirits, thanks to the success of the performance and so they toasted both themselves and the theater and its director.
Eramus was soon engaged in a conversation with an aardvark sporting an embroidered purple vest and a monocle in his right eye. Upon seeing that Sara had returned, accompanied by the trio, a delighted smile appeared on his face and he waved for them to come over.
"How wonderful to see you again so soon, my friends" the old faun beamed at them. "Tell me, honestly, what did you think of the play?"
"It was very funny" Leorin piped up. "Right, guys?" He said, turning to Risha and Merees .
Both of them nodded in assent.
"Yes" said Risha, "I can't remember the last time I laughed so much and, judging from the audience, I wasn't the only one."
"I am pleased that me and my comrades have brought so much joy to our friends" said Eramus, while twinning his beard. "Of course, any actor would have been inspired to deliver the performance of their lives when performing at a theater such as this one."
"The Maestro is too kind" said the aardvark with a pleased expression. "It is an honor for my theater to once again house a theater troupe as renowned as his."
"I take it then that you are the owner of this establishment?" Merees asked.
"Where are my manners?" Eramus said, shaking his head with a comically self-reproaching look on his face. "Allow me to make the introductions: My friends, the gentleman you see before you is the Marquis Gianni, the backbone of this fine city's cultural life. Marquis, the two flowers of womanhood lighting up this room with their presence are Princess Merees and her friend Risha. The Fine lad our Sara has taken such a shine to, is Risha's brother Leorin. They all arrived on the same ship as us and were instrumental in helping us defeat the pirates I told you about before."
Upon hearing this, Marquis Gianni looked suitably impressed.
"Indeed" he said, almost dropping his monocle. "It is always a pleasure to meet other friends of Eramus, especially" he added, bowing deeply to the two women before him, "ones as lovely as you two."
"Aside from being a patron of the arts, Gianni is also a notorious ladies man" said Eramus. "Usually, he's quite successful." He turned to the Marquis. "However, I'm afraid that these two fishes won't bite."
"I understand" the Marquis answered, giving Merees and Risha a meaningful look. "In that case" he continued, "let me congratulate the two of you. I hope you realize that you are both very lucky."
Risha and Merees gazed at each other, their fingers intertwined.
"We know" they replied in chorus.
With introductions out of the way, Marquis Ginnai called for a waiter to bring three glasses with the same liquid that the troupe had enjoyed.
"Don't worry" Eramus said to Risha, when Leorin was handed a glass. "Its quite safe for children to drink."
Risha raised her glass to her mouth and took a sip of the liquid. It tasted the way she had imagined it would: Fruity and refreshing. She could not help smacking her lips appreciatively.
"Help yourselves to the spread" the Marquis offered. "I do believe there are some left."
Since they hadn't eaten in a while, this generous offer was gladly accepted. While the trio was enjoying the delicacies, Marquis Gianni turned to Merees.
"I couldn't help but notice by your accent that you hail from Vinoli, Princess. I take it then that you are one of Sharan's children?"
Inside Merees felt a twinge of pain upon hearing her father's name. She could only nod, knowing that her sorrow was written on her face. Then, she felt Risha squeeze her hand and smiled.
Realizing that he had made his new acquaintance feel uncomfortable, the Marquis decided to switch topic.
"I am hosting a little party at my villa in two days" he said. "It would be my pleasure if you ladies and your brother, of course, would attend." He handed them each a small card with an address printed on it.
While this conversation took place, the two youngest people had gone off on their own. Now, the two of them were seated on a large trunk standing in a far corner of the room. Neither of them had mentioned the kiss from before.
"Do you want some?" Leorin asked, offering Sara a melon cube from his plate.
"Thank you, I'm good" the porcupine-girl replied. Leorin shrugged and popped the cube into his own mouth.
"I really enjoyed your performance" He said earnestly, after he had swallowed.
"Thank you, I'm glad you did."
"By the way, where is Isso? I didn't notice him when we came in."
Indeed, the ocelot was nowhere to be found.
"Oh, he quit" replied Sara, while kicking her feet.
"Really?" Leorin said, surprised at hearing this.
"Yes, he took his belongings and his share of our earnings and left. Rufus was not happy about that, because Isso was the creator of most of the special effects we use."
"Well, I'm glad that he quit" Leorin said, crossing his arms. "I didn't like him, he was a jerk."
Recalling the times that Isso had been genuinely kind to her, Sara felt the need to come to the ocelot's defense.
"You didn't really know him" she said, looking down at her shoes.
Leorin could not argue with that and so, he decided not to push the subject further. Besides, he did not want to get into an argument with Sara over someone he didn't like.
Shortly afterwards, Leorin's sister called out to him that it was time to leave.
"Wait a second!" He shouted. He then turned to Sara and returned the kiss she had given him. "See you" he said, as he jumped off the trunk and rushed to the exit.
*****
Two days later.
It was quite late when Marquis Gianni's party finally came to an end. There were only a few guests left and so, their hosts thanked them all most profusely for having attended. They in turn thanked him and with good reason, for they had enjoyed themselves immensely: The food and drink had been of the highest quality and once they had finished eating, the guests were treated to the sight of fireworks lighting up the lagoon, while the melodious tunes provided by a hired orchestra filled the air, inviting those who felt inclined to turn the Marquis' garden into a ballroom.
The Trio had been among the last guests to leave. At one point during the party, Leorin had disappeared and Risha and Merees had spent some time searching for him, calling his name. They had finally found him sleeping under a table, curled up in a ball. Risha had woken her brother up, but it soon became clear that he was too tired to make the walk back to the hotel, so Merees carried the small cat on her back.
"Do you want me take him?" Risha asked, as the two of them walked the streets of Tiraliros.
"No, its fine" Merees replied. "He hardly weighs anything. "By the way, I have to say I'm impressed: I didn't know you were such a good dancer."
"Well" Risha said, feeling very pleased. "I was top of my class in dancing at my boarding school."
"I believe it. Which school was it?"
"St. Alma's."
Merees nodded, as if she had expected that answer.
At this point, it may be wise to inform the reader about the workings of the Vinolain educational system. Basically, it works like this: Public school lasts from the age of seven to twelve and is paid for with taxes. Many upper-class families opt to not put their children in public school, choosing insted to hire private tutors. Risha's and Leorin's parents had not done that, however. Although, Nasari had taught her children to read and write before their seventh birthday, she and Jeraddin had believed that it would be good for them to attend the village-school and make some friends.
After public school is over and done with, most Vinolian children enter into an apprenticeship, often under their parents, but sometimes under a relative or a friend of the family. Those children whose parents can afford it, however, are usually sent to one of the boarding schools found across the country. There, they continue their education until their turn eighteen.
Among these boarding schools, the most prestigious one for girls was St. Alma's.
"Did you enjoy going there?" Merees asked.
Risha shrugged.
"I guess."
The Truth is that Risha had never wanted to attend a traditional girl's school. Her dream had been to follow in her father's footsteps by attending the same officer's school that he had in his youth. Nasari wouldn't have any of it though and this led to some heated debates between mother and daughter.
"There are women in the army" Risha, age ten shouted, stamping her small foot angrily. "Not many, but there are! I don't want to go to some crummy girl's school, I'm going to become a general and protect our country, like dad!"
"Young Lady" Nasari replied, her voice sharp. "You are going to St. Alma's and that's final."
"No, I won't!" Risha shrieked. "I hate St. Alma's and I hate you..you bitch!"
And with those parting words, she rushed from the room which had served as the scene for this latest argument, but not before she had spitefully reached out and shattered which stood on a pedestal.
Later, as Risha lay on her bed, staining her pillow with tears of self-pity, her father entered her room.
"Your mother is very upset" Jeraddin said. "You really hurt her feelings."
Risha lifted her head from the pillow, glaring at her father with red eyes.
"Good" she replied hotly before lying down again.
Letting out a heavy sigh, Jeraddin sat down on the bed.
"Risha, your mother loves you" he said, touching his daughter's back. "You know that, right?"
Once again, Risha lifted her head up.
"Then why won't she let me do this?" She sniffled, staring at her father with red-rimmed eyes. "It's because I'm a girl, isn't it?" She asked, bitterly.
Smiling, Jeraddin shook his head.
"No, sweetie, that's not it. I doubt that your mother would allow your brother to join my old school when he's of age. Your mother just does not want either of her children to end up in a situation where they risk being killed, or would have to kill others. And to be honest, neither do I."
Risha had not considered this. It dawned on her that she had behaved unfairly towards her mother. She began to feel ashamed and as usual when that happened, the inside of her ears became warm.
"How long am I grounded for this time?" She asked in a small voice.
"You aren't grounded" came Jeraddin's reply.
Risha stared at her father in surprise.
"You don't mean..." Her voice trailed off.
"Yes" Jeraddin said sternly. "Your mother and I talked it over and we decided that the time has come for you to receive your first spanking."
In Vinoli it was forbidden for parents and guardians to administer corporal punishment to any child below the age of ten. As such, the most common way to discipline unruly children was to confine them to their chambers for as long a time as their parent saw fit. As such, being spanked was not merely a punishment, but also served as a rite of passage; the first real step on the journey to adulthood. Some families even went so far as to throw special parties on this occasion; inviting friends and family. This was not a wide-spread practice however and both Nasari and Jeraddin found it to be in incredibly poor taste.
Upon entering the living room, Risha found her mother seated on the couch. Next to Nasari lied an instrument which the lynx-girl had never seen before, though one glance at it was enough for her to deduce its purpose. Said instrument was a small, wooden paddle with a bow tied around its handle. The Paddle had originally belonged to Nasari's mother, who had used it to discipline her daughter. When Nasari had been a mother for the first time, the new grand-mother had gifted her the paddle and had told her that it had been in their family since the time of her own grand-parent's time. Nasari had put the paddle away in a closet and there it had remained, until now.
"Well, Risha" Nasari said, looking at her eldest. "Do you have anything to say?"
Risha swallowed, her eyes traveled towards the paddle. In her mind she could already feel it dancing on her bottom.
"I apologize for my behavior earlier" she said, looking her mother in the eye. "I behaved unacceptably and I am sorry for it."
"You believe me, right mom?" Risha asked, her voice a nervous quiver. "That I am sorry?"
"Of course I believe you" Nasari replied. "However, that does not mean that you are off the hook. You understand that, don't you?"
Risha nodded.
"Good. Now, take off your belt and lie down here" Nasari said, patting her lap.
At the time Risha was dressed the same way as all Vinolian children are during the warmer months of the year; in a short-sleeved tunic that ended above the knees and was tied together with a belt. Having removed the belt, Risha lied down across her mother's lap. Once her daughter was in position, Nasari hiked up the now loose-hanging tunic and pulled down the panties underneath. Digging her tiny claws into one of the sofa cushions, Risha shut her eyes tightly and steeled herself, waiting for the punishment to begin.
She did not have to wait long; Nasari raised the paddle and brought it down with an audible smack on the left side of her daughter's butt, causing Risha to inhale sharply, tears running down her cheeks. Moments later, the right side got the same treatment.
The Punishment continued in this fashion for some time, with Nasari altering between striking one side of her target at the time, or hitting it square in the middle. With every kiss they received from the paddle, Risha's buttocks, which by now had assumed the color of a ripe tomato, would give a slight jiggle, followed by a gasp from its owner.
Finally, Nasari decided that Risha had been properly disciplined and put the paddle aside. She then helped Risha up to a sitting position on her knee.
"There, there, sweetie" Nasari cooed, stroking the fur on Risha's head, while the lynx-girl cried softly into her chest. "Its all over now and I must say I'm proud of you."
"You are?" Risha sniffled, looking up at her mother.
"I am" Nasari said, planting a tender kiss on her first-born's forehead. "You took your medicine without complaint, which is more than I can say for my first time."
"I did?" Despite the heat emanating from her throbbing tush, the lynx-girl could not help but feel her heart swell with pride upon hearing this. "Still" she added, "I am not in a hurry to go through this again."
"And I am not in a hurry to inflict a punishment like this on you again" Nasari replied. "However, the worst part is over with, for now. Now, I want you to lie down on your back again, your father should return any moment."
Risha lied down, wondering what would happen next. Just then, the door opened and Jeraddin entered the room, carrying a small jar. He was followed by Leorin, who eagerly ran up to the sofa.
"Risha, play with me!" Leorin demanded, shaking his sister's shoulder.
"Leorin, leave your sister alone" Nasari admonished her son. "She needs to rest."
His ears lying flat on his head, Leorin looked at his mother with disappointment in his eyes.
"I'll play with you later" Risha assured her brother. "Why don't you draw something in the meantime?"
"Good idea" Leorin said and went away to find pen and paper. Meanwhile, Jeraddin knelt down by the couch.
"How are you doing, sweetie?" He asked, gently stroking one of Risha's ear-tufts..
"To be honest, my butt feels as if you could fry an egg on it.
Jeraddin glanced at the referred part of his daughter's anatomy and nodded.
"Yes, I know that feeling" he said, smiling compassionately. "Don't worry though, I've got the remedy for that right here."
He showed Risha the jar he was holding and undid the lid and dipped his paw in it. He then held the jar out to Nasari, who did likewise.
"Its cold" Risha whined, squirming slightly as her parents began applying the healing ointment, working it into her red hot rear end.
****
The Next year, Risha begun her first semester at St. Alma's. To the lynx-girl's surprise she did not end up hating the place: She made a few friends, as well as a few rivals and she did well in most of her classes. During the holidays, when she returned home, she would regale her parents with some of her more memorable exploits.
This lasted until Risha reached puberty. As usual when that happens, strange and new feelings begin to take hold off a young persons mind. Boys, usually start to really notice girls for the first time and that's what Risha did too.
Once that happened, life at St.Alma's became an ordeal for the young lynx-girl. Suddenly, the simple act of showering together with her classmates, or sleeping in the same room as them became a trial that seemed insurmountable. She was afraid that anything would cause one of her classmates to realize what she was and the thought made a shiver run down her spine.
Now, the reader may wonder why Risha was so anxious about concealing her sexuality? After all, homosexuality had been legal in Vinoli since forever. To that, we must point out that just because something is legal or allowed does not mean that everyone accepts it.
None of Risha's classmates were gay. At least not openly. Indeed, several of them had managed to acquire boyfriends and their interests mostly revolved around boys. At St. Alma's the only person who was openly lesbian was one of the teachers, a badger. She was in a relationship with one of the custodians and although the students respected her authority in the classroom, behind her back they would gossip and make cruel jokes about her.
Thus, Risha's fear of being outed. She was not a teacher and therefore, there was no stopping her classmates from shunning her to her face. The Thought of that happening was more than she could bear. And so, she would join in her classmates' secret jeering of their teacher, though inwardly she admired the badger and cursed her own cowardice.
Even Jeraddin and Nasari were unaware of their daughter's orientation. Risha had heard about a young man who had come out to his parents and they, who had previously loved him, had disowned him and cast him out of their home. Visions of her mother in tears, wondering what they had done wrong and the father she idolized turning away from her in disgust, haunted Risha's dreams and made her sob uncontrollably, until one of her classmates threw a pillow at her and told her to be quiet.
It's been said that the coward dies a thousand deaths, the brave man only once. Eventually, Risha decided that she had had enough of hiding. Once she returned to St. Alma's she would step out of the closet and if her classmates ended up ostracizing her as a result? Well, this would be her last year at school. All she had to do was toughen it out and then St. Alma's would be a finished chapter in the novel of her life. Once that was done, she would tell her parents.
Of course, Risha could not know at the time that none of that would happen. She would never return to St. Alma's or have the chance to come out to her parents. Instead, the murder of a king would force her and her brother to flee their home, leaving their old lives behind forever.
*****
Having arrived at the hotel they were staying at and picking up their keys from the dingo who served as the night-porter, Risha and Merees first put Leorin to bed and then went to their own room, located next to his.
"I hope you aren't tired, yet" Merees said. "It would be a shame if you were."
"Me, tired?" Risha replied, raising an eyebrow. "Perish the thought!"
The Couple began to undress, scattering their clothes on the floor. Soon, they were both in their birthday suit, Merees standing behind Risha. The Lynx could feel the dragon's hot breath on the back of her neck.
As she began nibbling carefully on Risha's neck and shoulders, Merees' left hand started to knead one of her girlfriend's breasts like a piece of dough, while her right hand reached down between her legs.
Risha could feel her mind drifting away and all she could do was moan as her lover's touch sent ripples of pleasure throughout her being.
Then, abruptly, the currents stopped.
"D-don't" Risha said weakly, looking almost pleadingly at Merees.
The Princess said nothing, instead letting the tip of her long tongue sweep over Risha's lips. Then, she swept her partner off her feet and carried her, like a groom would carry his bride and laid her down on top of their bed, which was soon shaking with the force of their love. In the next room, another guest, knocked on the wall to make them quiet down, but neither Risha nor Merees noticed.
*****
Next morning, after they had washed, for this was a modern hotel with indoor plumbing, Risha and Merees went to wake up Leorin so that they could eat breakfast.
"Do you think he noticed any of the noise we made?" Risha asked, as she produced the key to Leorin's room.
Merees shook her head.
"I bet he slept like a log." She lowered her voice. "By the way, you could have warned me before putting your tongue there."
"I thought you liked it?" Risha whispered back. "I didn't exactly hear you protest."
"Sure, but a heads-up would have been nice."
Suddenly, Merees got an idea.
"Next time" She whispered, with an impish look on her face. "Why don't I sit on your face?"
Picking up the key she had dropped, Risha unlocked the door and the two women entered.
"Up and at'em, little brother!" Risha called out. "Its beautiful day outside."
She walked up to the bed and let out a sharp, high scream.
"What is it?" Merees asked, rushing to her side.
Risha did not need to answer, the dragon could see what had provoked this reaction from her:
Leorin's bed was empty.
