A Fox in the Works
                    Singularity Collapse

                             By

                         Fox Cutter
    Chapter Seven

I swam through the sea of gray, feeling hands moving over me
as I was thrown to the ground. I felt my clothing first
pulled at, then cut away as I unsuccessfully tried to fight
against them. I was hit a few more times, but only slaps,
nothing like the punch I had received before.

I fought every second, trying to regain control of my body,
to clear my head and to find a way out of the situation I
was in. Slowly I fought my way to the surface, my eyes
starting to focus on the ground as it moved beneath me. I
felt like I had been thrown over someone's shoulder, and I
could tell from the air moving through my fur that I was now
nude.

Twisting myself, I found my body unresponsive to my
commands. With some effort I could flex my fingers a few
inches, but it was unhelpful. I could now feel the tight
bonds that were around my wrists and ankles, tying my limbs
together and making me as mobile as a sack.

With a soft groan I tried to shift myself, and felt a heavy
hand on my rear, grabbing hard at my tail to stabilize me. I
wanted to claw at whoever it was, but I was as helpless as a
child for the moment.

I laid my ears back, trying hard to focus on the world
around me, and finding it harder than I was used to. One of
my eyes was starting to swell, and it was causing everything
to blur just a bit.

The stone was replaced by hard-packed ground as I was
carried outside; the sunlight felt warm on my nude back. A
moment later I started to feel pins and needles running down
my legs as sensation started to return.

Flexing my toes, I felt the tips of my claws poke free. So
far no one had done anything about them, and I wondered if
anyone knew they were there. Relaxing my toes a bit I let
the claws retract, keeping them hidden for as long as I
could.

A piece at a time my body started to come back under my
control, and I was able to turn my head to the side,
watching as I was carried through the palace courtyard. The
place was busy, but no one seemed to notice me as I was
carried past them and back into the palace.

It wasn't a hallway this time, it was a large room, with
tables and chairs and a few other items that I could see.
Four other men were in the room and they jumped up as I came
in.

"Is that what I think it is?" one of them asked.

The man carrying me laughed and dropped me on the table,
rolling me onto my back and exposing me to all of them. "A
gift from the King," he said as he pulled me over the table
until my legs were hanging off the edge.

"I get first crack at it," another man called as his hands
started to work on opening his belt.

I rocked my head from side to side, feeling my mind start to
settle back into its place, just as the edge of panic was
starting to set in. I tried to fight it back, but it was
coming on fast.

"Oh, no, I should get it first," the one who carried me said
as he cut the ropes that held my legs together. "I have the
most seniority of you all."

Another man laughed, "We should let the kid have the first
go, he's never gotten to dip his dick before," he suggested,
which brought a gasp from the youngest of the group.

The one who carried me let out a laugh as he walked around
the table, "Why not, I think he's earned it."

"Thank you!" the young man said as he rushed to the table to
look me over, his hands running over my belly to gently
fondle my breasts, then downwards to stroke between my legs.

I jumped at his touch, pulling myself away from him, an
action that elicited a laugh from the men around me. "Oh,
it's feisty," one called out.

With a snort I pulled away from the young man, slowly
lifting my head to look at the group of men. It felt like I
was moving through water, everything was heavy and slow.
Still the men stood back as I pulled myself from the table
and stood on my feet, wobbling as I tried to catch my
balance, my tail swaying heavily against the floor.

The men just stood back, laughing at me while I struggled
with my legs as I moved so that the length of the table was
between myself and them. I tried to twist my hands so I
could get my claws on the rope around my wrists, but with no
luck; it was just too tight.

"Go get her," one of the men said, slapping the youngest on
the back. He stumbled forward, and the tent in the front of
his pants showed how was eager he was to get on with raping
me.

I took a few steps back and looked around, trying to see
what I could do to get out of the situation. In my haste to
move I had managed to put all five men between myself and
the only way out of the room, and I wasn't going to be able
to do much unless I got my paws free.

The young man got closer, a smile on his face as he walked
around the table and moved towards me, his hands busy
undoing the belt of his pants.

I gulped, trying to cover my exposed body with my bound
paws, my eyes watching him as I noticed the knife on his
belt. It was nearly a foot long, and if I could get my paws
on it I could cut my bonds.

I was still moving slowly, too slow to take the blade and
free myself before the men in the room would be on me. I
needed a way to delay them, even for ten seconds, so I could
get free. After that I had to get out the door and away from
them. As the math fell into place in my mind I frowned. I
had a plan, but I didn't like it, but I also didn't think I
had any choice in the matter.

My would-be rapist moved ever closer to me, a smile on his
face as he reached my end of the table and just kept coming
closer to me.

I raised my paws up to touch the fur on my neck, flexing my
fingers as he drew even closer to me. I watched him intently
as he moved, waiting until he was just two feet in front of
me. His arms were reaching out for me when I made my move.

With as much power as I could muster I lunged forward, my
face moving up until my lips were brushing his as I threw my
weight against him. My paws were at his neck, pulling up his
chin as I forced one leg around his, hitting the back of his
knees and forcing them to bend. As he started to crumple my
weight caused him to fall backwards, and hoots started to
rise up from the other men.

As we fell I moved his head, aiming as best I could so the
back of his neck came down hard on the edge of the table. I
felt his spinal column sever under my fingers as we
continued our trip to the floor, landing half under the
table as the men still cheered, taunting their friend for
the fall, not yet realizing that I had killed him.

The young man had his mouth open in surprise, trying to gasp
like a fish out of water, but it wasn't coming, nothing
below his neck was working anymore, including his lungs.

"I'm sorry," I whispered as I pulled my paws away from his
neck and reached down for his knife, pulling it free with a
single tug. I twisted it in my paws until the edge was
against my bonds, and with short work the rope was sliced
open, and I was free.

By now the other men had fallen silent, unsure what was
going on as the scent of piss started to fill the room. "You
OK?" one of them asked. I only had a few seconds left to
keep what advantage I had.

Pulling myself back I exerted all my strength and jumped up
onto the table. I landed hard on the wood, my claws out as I
kept the knife held tightly in my paw. The men jumped at
this, worry starting to spread over them as they reached for
their weapons.

I started to run down the table, my toe claws cutting into
the wood as with three short strides I crossed its length
and leapt at the men. Most of them scattered, but the one
who had brought me in moved to catch me.

We crashed together, sending both of us to the floor. As we
went down I plunged my blade into the shoulder of his sword
arm, ripping through the flesh as we rolled over the ground.
I carried through with my roll, and jumped to my feet. I
pulled the blade free, slicing through more of his shoulder
in the process, and started to run to the door. Throwing it
open I rushed out into the courtyard, searching for a way to
escape.

Sadly, having a nude lioness rushing into the courtyard
holding a bloody knife was not a way to avoid attention. The
fact that three more men rushed out after me a moment later,
swords drawn, didn't help any.

I had no time to plan, no time to think, and my body was
still heavy, holding me back as I ran through the courtyard.
I didn't have time to get a horse, and the guards were
starting to gain on me.

Twisting around, I ran for the drawbridge. I rushed past
stunned servants and a few guards as I crossed onto the
wooden bridge, my feet pounding on the boards. The guards at
the end of the bridge started to converge on me as I neared
them, their swords drawn.

I dove at them, hitting the ground with my shoulder and
rolled under one sword, and past the rest of the men. I slid
off the bridge and onto the dirt road as I pulled myself
back up onto my feet and started to run into the City of the
Crown.

"Get it!" someone's voice yelled behind me, fading as I
tried to put some distance between the Palace and myself. I
took a moment to glance over my shoulder, and was
disheartened to see three horses crossing the bridge, the
riders my remaining rapists.

The town was like most towns I've seen, small buildings with
narrow roads and people milling about, most of whom stopped
to stare as I ran past.

"Catch that homunculus!" someone yelled as the sound of
horse hooves grew nearer to me with every passing second. I
was panting hard, my limbs aching as the feeling started to
fully return to them.

I turned around a corner, provoking a yell from a woman whom
I nearly hit. I danced around her, losing precious time and
speed as I continued on. I was moving through the alleys
now. Some were barely wide enough for me to fit through, let
alone the men following me.

I took only a moment's pause to grab a piece of clothing as
I ran past, and to pull it over myself trying to preserve
what little modesty I had. It was only a shirt, and covered
me to my hips, but left a lot exposed. Still it was better
than nothing.

My chest was heaving when I finally came to a stop, my arms
and legs aching from the exertion. Sweat was dripping down
my face and off my whiskers. I was a few feet away from the
end of a narrow alley, hiding in the shadows as I tried to
compose myself.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it!" I said as I held myself against
the wall, the bloody knife still held tightly in my paw.
Rhea was captured, and hopefully still alive, Samantha was
captured, and Ravindar was probably in just as much trouble
as I was.

I didn't know what to do. I was in a bad place with no easy
way out. I could catch a ripple home, but that would mean
leaving my friends alone, which was unacceptable. I had to
find a way to contact them. Ravindar was my best choice. We
had only been separated a couple of hours, and I might be
able to catch up with him.

With a sigh I placed my head on my free paw, my ears falling
back as my tail drooped onto the dirty ground. "I screwed
this one up big time," I said to myself, noting with a frown
that my wedding band was gone. That was going to cost
someone.

At least I was in one piece; that counted for something. I
also now had a damn good reason to learn how to control my
shape shifting ability. If I could make myself male again I
could move faster than as a female.

"Got'cha!" someone said from my side as I felt a hand grab
my shoulder. I snapped my head around, my hair flying, to
find one of the guards in the alley with me, a smirk on his
face. My paws flashed, and the knife went through his wrist
and cut into the wall with a snap.

He screamed, his fingers spasmed open as I pulled away from
him. I tried to take the knife but it was stuck firmly in
the wall. My eyes narrowed as I saw two more men behind him.
I spun on my bare paws and ran out of the alley and into an
open-air market, plowing into a group of people and sending
all of us tumbling to the ground.

I untangled myself from them, clawing at them when I had to,
but soon I was on my feet once more and running hard. The
delay was a costly one, my attackers were just a few feet
behind me. The one whom I had wounded was following the
others cradling his injured arm.

"Stop that homunculus!" The lead man yelled, bringing the
market to a stop, allowing me to slip between the people
that filled the streets. That only lasted a few moments
until many of the men in the market turned their attention
to me.

Then something hit me on the back of the head, sending me to
the ground. My muzzle landed hard in the dirt and I coughed
as the dust rushed into my nose. I pulled myself up, my
heading ringing as I saw an old man holding a cane like a
club.

I turned from him, stumbling over the ground as I tried to
keep moving. my head swimming from the pain. I could hear
the guards behind me and gaining, as I came onto a stone
bridge over a narrow road twenty feet below.

Grasping the edge of the bridge I looked down, my body
rebelling as I shook. The pain was intense and my vision was
starting to swim. The guards were only a dozen yards behind
me, and gaining ground as I felt my legs start to fail. I
tried to hold myself up, but twisted and collapsed against
the rail of the bridge.

Under me I could see a wagon moving, the horse pulling it
with slow and plodding steps. The back end was pilled high
with loose straw. Without much thought I threw myself over
the bridge. Feeling the air rushing through my fur as I fell
gave me a moment of near clarity before I landed in the
straw, the force of my fall burying me deep inside of it.

I had enough presence of mind to pull the straw over me
before the guards could reach the edge of the bridge, not
that it would fool them for long. As I lay there in the
straw, panting hard and trying to compose myself, the pain
finally overtook me and everything simply went away.

* * *

"Wake up," a voice said, forcing its way into the darkness
that had fallen over me. I groaned softly and pulled my eyes
open, finding that all I could see was the straw I had
fallen in. Starlight hung over everything, casting it all in
a silvery glow.

I lifted my head, groaning from the pain that lanced over
the back of my head and neck. "What--" I started to say,
finding my tongue thick in my muzzle.

"About time," the voice came again as I felt the ground I
was on shift under me.

I craned my head around, and found a man looking back at me.
His eyes glinted in the starlight and his face was framed by
shaggy dark hair. "Hello," I said, or tried to say, the
words came out as a croak that ripped at my vocal cords,
straw falling over my eyes.

He shook his head, reaching out to push more of the straw
off my face. It scratched over my nose, causing me to
sneeze, which in turn caused my head to hurt even more.
"Where did you come from?" he asked as he pushed more of it
away.

I coughed and spit out, "Fell," through thick lips. My right
eye was barely open, and I couldn't get it open further, the
other eye was itching and both were watering pretty badly.
"Allergic," I said, or tried to, the start of the word being
cut off by my tight throat.

The man frowned, and pushed more of the straw off of me as
lightning slashed through the sky above. a moment later the
thunder rolled over us. "I better get you inside," he said
as he shoved his arms under me and lifted me up. I could
feel the straw clinging to my fur, pulling and pricking at
the skin under it. I felt my weight sink between his arms,
my tail dropping free and falling to the ground as he turned
away from the wagon.

I dropped my head on his shoulder, reaching up with one paw
to grasp at his shirt as my head spun. I felt ill, every
move causing my stomach to twist. I suspected that I had a
concussion of some sort. I wanted to reach back to touch the
back of my head, but I couldn't lift my arms.

A fat drop of rain landed on my face as we entered a small
building. The cold water ran over my fur and over the matted
hair under my eyes. I whimpered softly as I shifted in the
man's arms. My breathing was labored, my throat sore as I
tried to say something.

"No, don't speak," he told me as set me down on something
soft. "You look pretty bad," he told me as he brushed a hand
over my fur to touch my forehead. "You're also hot to the
touch," he told me.

I whimpered, lifting my paw up to touch my nose, it was too
dry and rough. I moved it higher to brush the inside of my
ears, feeling the familiar warmth. "No fever, just hurt," I
managed to slur out.

He nodded and walked away from me, out of sight.

I reached up to touch my swollen eye, whimpering as pain
lanced through it. It was from where Rodrick had hit me, and
was already one hell of a shiner. A black eye, a concussion
and a face swollen from an allergy attack; I must have
looked like hell.

Shifting on my back, I lowered my paw and tugged at the
shirt I had on, trying to cover myself the best that I
could. I blurrily focused on the roof, finding it a rough-
cut wood with a few cuts and burns on the surface.

"Here," the man said as he returned to my side. One of his
hands slipped under my head, tilting it forward as he
pressed a glass to my lips. Something warm and wet washed
into my muzzle, and I gulped at it, feeling it roll down my
throat, soothing the roughness for just a moment as it slid
past.

"How do you feel?" he asked as he pulled the glass away.

I closed my eyes, and let out a long cough that shook my
whole body for a few moments. He reached back to pat my back
as I gasped in a breath of clean air. "Better," I managed to
croak out.

He nodded and used a wet cloth to wipe at my cheeks. I could
feel the crust around my eyes being washed away. To generate
so much muck I had to have been tearing up for hours.

"Where am I?" I asked, the cotton in my mouth starting to
fall away as he pulled his hand out from under my head and
ran the cloth over my nose.

The man paused for a second to push some hair away from my
face. "On the outskirts of the City, outside the walls" he
told me.

My eyes were starting to grow heavy as I pulled my arms a
bit closer to my sides. "Safe?" I asked, realizing that it
was something I shouldn't have said.

He gave me a smile. "Yes, you're safe here; I'm not going to
turn you in for now. I take it you caused the ruckuses at
the market this afternoon?"

I gave him a short nod.

"You'll be fine in a day or two," he said as he stroked my
chin.

I twisted a bit, trying to push away his hand. "What did you
give me?" I asked him, coughing a little as I spoke-- my
throat was starting to clear.

He gave me a smile as he took his hand from my face,
"Something my mom taught me how to make; it cures nearly
everything."

"I hope so," I managed to say, my eyes so heavy I could
barely keep them open. The sound of rain falling on the roof
above me started to fill my ears.

The man dropped something warm over my body, under which I
gratefully curled up, mindless of the pain it caused me. "My
name is Aster," he said.

I curled a bit tighter. "I'm Fox," I said as I drifted off
into a dark and dreamless sleep.

   To Be Continued...

-----

This story is copyright 2005 by Fox Cutter. Hardcopy
reprints limited to one per person, all other rights
reserved. This story may not be distributed for a fee except
by permission of the author, and this copyright notice may
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