Pride

Ember folded his ears and scowled at the big cat as he approached. It had been months since they last spoke, leaving off in an aggressive display of pent up emotions and heartbreak. Though he continued to glare at Moscow, Ember's heart was shattering at the sight of him. He looked healthy, well-fed and his fur was gleaming. The wolf let a sigh escape his parted jaws as he forced himself to sit taller, looking larger than he really was. "You look like you've been taking care of yourself. How have things been with Crevice?" It took all he could muster not to snarl the other cats' name as he spoke and his heart skipped a beat when Moscow's ears folded back and his whiskers twitched. "I haven't been with Crevice, thank you. Where have you been?" Moscow's eyes raked over Ember's nasty pelt, taking in the mats and burrs and unkempt thicket of tail fur. Ember tugged his tail closer and glared right back at the cat. "I've been around. Actually, I think I've found someone I love."

The wolf glanced at Moscow's face and was surprised to see the hurt in his eyes at his spoken words. Quickly, he shuffled his feet and cleared his throat. "I think, I'm not too sure. He's a domestic hybrid and he certainly isn't uh, you know, you." Ember's one good eye looked back towards Moscow, but the damage had been done. The large cat was hurt and Ember could see the hard lines of muscle in his jaw tense up as he took a step closer and sat beside the wolf. "What is it you called me out here for anyway? To rub it in my face that you found someone you might love?" Moscow's voice was hard and he refused to lift his gaze to Ember and the wolf could only shake his head. Minutes passed in silence as the two gazed about the forest they had chosen to meet in. It was an old favorite of theirs, so many memories shared in the clearing where they sat. As they sat in silence, Ember scoffed at a memory, a smirk of a smile lifting his lips as he shook his head and chuckled to himself. Moscow flicked his round ears and glanced down at him.

"What's got you all worked up?" Ember let out a content sigh and shook his broad snout once more. "I was just thinking of that night I brought you catnip and you let me experience your absolute addiction first hand." Moscow's muzzle lifted into a small smile, letting his tough exterior crack for just that minute. "It's just the way cats are, I guess. It's nothing I can do to stop it. Why do you remember that? Over all the fights and arguments we ever had here?" Ember's shoulders fell with a deep outward breath. "I don't want to remember the bad, the way I treated you like dirt when I saw you run around with Crevice. For fuck's sake, look at me. I've run off with Cree, I met a domestic named Dom and I've had more than plenty of scrapes with my brother. Moscow, I need you, you were the one that kept me sane. Kept me clean!" Ember flicked his tail out from his side and stamped it down with a fore paw. "I've let myself go without you to give me guidance. Please, can you forgive me?"

Ember watched as Moscow's smile fell and his face took a more serious look to it. "I don't know if I can do that, Ember. Oh don't look at me like that." Moscow gazed down at the wolf, taking in his pleading green eye and blind blue one. "You know why I can't just trust you and take you back. We've been here before. You apologize, I very stupidly accept and it starts all over again. We argue and bicker too much to be a stable couple and you know it." Ember sighed, his frail frame sinking to the ground beside his past lover. He folded his ears and glared grumpily at a bug that crawled over a stem of grass. Another few minutes passed before Moscow laid beside the tired wolf, pressing his flank into Ember's. "I know there's a lot that we can't see eye to eye on, but we can still be friends. Would that make you feel a bit better?" Ember turned his bright gaze to the large cat and gave a tired nod. His heart felt like it was about to burst, like he had finally lost the one piece of himself that made him sane. "Thank you, Moscow." Ember flicked his tail as Moscow bent to lightly kiss the top of his head. "You're something else, Ember, you truly are."

The sky had grown dark and the two males had stayed put, firmly pressed against one another as they spoke of the past and recalled gentle memories. As the stars began to dot the moonlit canvas over head, Moscow cautiously began to lap at the wolf's fur. Ember made no move to pull away and made no noise of complaint. Instead, he lay still, letting the soothing rasp of Moscow's tongue lull him into a sleepy trance. Neither of the two moved, or spoke a word even as Ember rolled onto his back and neatly tucked his paws against his chest. Moscow continued to clean the mats and dirt from his fur, and Ember had to fight the urge and ignore his beating heart. Eyes closed, the wolf simply let Moscow pick his way over his thick coat. Moscow didn't seem to mind and perhaps this was his way of saying sorry they couldn't be together. Still, Ember found it increasingly hard to ignore the burning in his gut.

However, he didn't have to ignore them much longer as Moscow gently ran his tongue down Ember's chest. The wolf bit his tongue, holding back a groan as he tested the waters. Was Moscow simply making sure he was clean? Or was he leaning into a bit of play? Ember's breath came out in a hitched gasp as Moscow finally bumped his nose against his sheath. This was definitely play! Moscow made no eye contact as he lifted a large forepaw and carefully placed it on the wolf's sheath. As his soft, well cared for paw pads worked their magic,Moscow brought his snout to Ember's and leaned into a slow kiss. Ember's cock throbbed and poked from his sheath as Moscow's paws massaged him and called him from hiding. He craved this, he had been craving this the whole time they'd been apart and his other partners had never drawn him into such a state. Ember was shivering, panting heavily and thrusting his hind quarters as Moscow drove him mad. "Slow down, we're doing this my way."

Ember gave a groan in pitiful protest as Moscow trailed his kisses down his chest and to his cock. The wolf had to bite his tongue and sink his claws into his own chest so he wouldn't push the cat to move faster. Moscow's whiskers tickled his belly and he shivered as his warm breath whispered across his chest. Gently, Moscow wrapped his tongue around the wolf and took him into his mouth, making his partner buck and huff in glorious protest. Finally, it was too much and Ember moved his fore paws to press the cats head down, down onto his throbbing shaft. Moscow made no move to pull away and instead took all of the wolf's cock in his mouth. Ember groaned and thrust with his hind legs as he gripped Moscow's scruff with his paws. His knot began to swell and Moscow groaned with the change in size, but he stayed put. Ember's breath was short panting gasps as the cat swirled his tongue over his cock. Suddenly, the wolf gasped and thrust upwards, spreading his seed down Moscow's throat. Try as he might, Moscow gulped as much as he could, but had to pull away to breath as Ember kept going. The wolf let his head fall back to the cold ground, his chest rising and falling in quick succession.

As they caught their breath, Moscow lapped at the wolf's chest to clean him up, playfully pressing his nose against Ember's cock, teasing as he went. "Think you have anything left in you?" Ember peered down at Moscow as the cat spoke and he nodded as a shiver passed through him. "I'm not usually so quick to bust. It's been a while." He lapsed back into silence as Moscow gently nosed him into rolling onto his belly. Ember groaned playfully and stood to his full height, ready to wrap his strong legs around the barrel chested big cat. "Not today. You're not the only top you know." Ember gave his partner a hard look and stepped back. "You know I'm not a bottom right?" Moscow's eyes gleamed with mischief as he gently pinned the wolf down with a massive paw, holding him still as he crawled over his back. "It's time this old dog learned a new trick, don't you say?" Ember bared his teeth in a mock snarl but said nothing as Moscow's sharp cock poked at his rear. If he was willing to admit it, Ember might say it actually felt nice to be mounted.

After a minute of feeling Moscow struggle, Ember lowered his rear and laid on the ground. He'd seen enough cats to know they had an odd way of breeding. Just as he adjusted, Moscow's searching cock had found its place and he buried himself deep in his mate. Ember grimaced at the pain but he bit his tongue and bared down for the sake of his partner. However, he wasn't ready for the speed of which the cat could move and he jerked away as Moscow began to thrust into him. The wolf didn't get far as some sort of instinct drove Moscow to clamp his teeth into his scruff and press his heavy self onto Ember's back. The wolf could feel himself loosening for Moscow and he began to pant with pleasure once more. Moscow bit down a little harder and thrust one last time, giving up his seed in quick little thrusts. Ember groaned with each and felt himself burst as well, splashing the grounds beneath him in white. When Moscow moved to pull away, he pressed himself backwards until they were laying on the ground once more, firmly tied together.

Ember twisted away from Moscow and lay facing him, a smile on his face and his eyes dropping drowsily. "I love you, Moscow." The big cat sighed and sat up, though he leaned down to give the wolf one last kiss on the temple. "Don't say that. Please, don't hide who you really are for me. Take pride in what you are and quit closeting yourself when others probe for the real you. Find someone who can love you at your best and worst, Ember. Don't let anyone take advantage of you for an easy lay." Without saying any more, Moscow turned and padded back into the forest, the darkness of the night swallowing him up as he left the wolf with a final goodbye.