Written by Richard Pike

Disclaimer: These stories may contain, but not always, the following materials: Nudity, violence, Adult language and Adult situations. Essentially, consider it like any 'R' rated movie, for it contains mature themes and will not be suitable for younger readers. Also, some links may lead outside this site to mature theme pages. (No pornography though, so you can rest easy inthat. It will mostly be to related pages, and artwork, done for this story or in conjunction with it.)

Legal notice: This story is Copyright © 2000 by Richard Pike. This story may not be sold or used for commercial profit in any form or fashion. This story may not be modified in any way. This story may not be posted on a mirror site or any other Internet site without the written permission of the author. This story may not be distributed on print, magnetic, electrical or optical mediums.

***

The low hum of an engine filled the cabin of the moving van, lulling most of its occupants to doze and sleep. In the rear of the vehicle one was slowly doing the reverse, regaining his senses after having been out the better part of the day.

Without moving Sian could tell he wasn't in good shape. A dull throbbing pulsed through his left shoulder and his left leg felt like it was punctured by a thousand needles, each intent on digging in further than the other.

Turning his head slowly and carefully to the left, Sian found he couldn't see much in the blanket of darkness. All he really could make out was a shapeless lump that might be someone near his side, possibly covered in a blanket. Looking to the right, he could see out the front windshield and the small amount of light that a crescent moon was casting into the cab.

The twin shadow of perked ears peeked above the drivers seat back, colorless in the moonlight. As he sat and watched, one twitched slightly in idle movement, followed by a tail-tip flicking into the soft beam of light for a moment. It told him nothing of where he was or who he was with, but he was sure they didn't mean him harm.

If it had been one of the raiders, he wouldn't be alive at the moment. They took exceptional delight in torturing and killing anyone they captured. It gave him shivers just thinking about it, causing a new wave of pain to sweep through his injured body.

The noise must have been enough to wake up the sleeper next to Sian, for next thing he new there was a dark shape hovering over his face and the faint scent of ivory wafting past his nose.

"Felix, wake up! I think he's coming around." A young feminine voice said, coming from the dark shape above him.

Out of sight of Sian's eyes, another dark shape sat up from the folded back passenger seat, turning and making its way back to him. "Let me check him." a deeper female voice said softly, blocking out what was left of his field of vision.

He felt a gentle touch upon his good shoulder, followed soon by a soothing cool feeling passing through his body. The pain soon dulled to a strange numbness, which Sian didn't find unpleasant but just a little disconcerting.

"He's healing well, but I could do so much more if we were home. All of my supplies got left behind when we made that hasty departure from New Houston." spoke the voice above him again, assuming it was the one called Felix.

"Yeah, we heard it all before. I said I was sorry about that. Not my fault that the Idwar gang decided it would be a good time to try and take on a few extra slaves." He heard yet another rather husky female voice say from the drivers seat, "I had to get us out of the area there and then."

Felix spoke up, the shadow of her form turning to face the front, "I'm sorry Theo. It's just that it took me so long to gather those things." she said sorrowfully, as if they had meant the world to her. "Enough! Enough already! I don't want to hear another word about it! I'll buy you all new shit once we get home!" Theo said in exasperation, her tail being highlighted in the dim light as it flailed about the back of her seat.

"Hey, calm down! Felix, Theo, it isn't important right now. It's in the past, let it go for the moment until we are home." The young voice said again. Sian found he was having trouble following the conversation as it went on, the cool feeling lulling him back into slumber. The last thing he heard was all three voices picking at each other and wondering if he really was better off where he was.

***

It was near noon the next day when Shenjii saw Sian start to awaken again. She quickly pulled out a cold compress from the cooler and put it to his head, smiling softly at the male mink.

"Well, good morning sleepy head. I was worried for a while you were going to go into a coma and stay there." the mixed black and white mink said to him.

Sian tried to sit up, only to sink back down against the bedding as pain welled up from. "Oh man, that hurts like hell... Where am I? He asked, getting his first real view of the vehicles interior.

Shenjii's smile broadened as she swept an arm around the cramped interior, "You're in our van. We picked you up before the rest of the convoy left. You're own group left you for dead. Thank your lucky stars that Felix can sense life and found you when she did."

Sian nodded slightly, his shoulder giving him a twinge of pain as he did so. "My bike?" he croaked, suddenly finding his throat very dry as the realization of what almost happened went through his mind.

Shenjii opened a small canteen and gently tilted it against his lips, "Sorry we couldn't save your bike. Theo said we didn't have time to pick you up and still get your bike. Not that it would have mattered, the thing was a twisted wreck."

He sipped at the water greedily, feeling the luke warm liquid flow down his parched throat. When he paused for a moment, he smiled a Shenjii, taking a moment to size her up.

She didn't look that tall, perhaps a foot shorter than him, and her fur was a soft black color with a white bib that ran up under her chin. Sian thought she was kind of cute, though a bit young for him.

He shook his head a little to clear his head and get back on track, bringing on a new wave of pain from his shoulder. Shenjii placed a comforting hand on his good arm and waited for it to pass.

"Calm down, you're safe here. We'll be getting into Salt lake soon, and you can get back to your group then. You only have a twisted leg so they have no reason not to take you back. And the hole in your shoulder is healing fine. Felix can really work wonders when she has to." Shenjii said, gently taking his hand into hers and giving it a squeeze.

"Thank you. You've already done so much for me, I think... Is there anyway I can repay you?" he asked.

"Sure! Can you get us a distributer for a '76 Chevy van?" Theophan's voice yelled into the back.

Sian looked a little surprised at the sudden outburst, having almost forgotten there were others in the vehicle. "Uh, I don't think I can. Sorry. I could look around though. I have a buddy that knows the location of a few virgin scrap-yards."

If it weren't for the fact that Theo was driving, he was sure she would have jumped on him and given him a hug, "Really?! Do it! And any other parts you can get too! We'll give you some good items for trade."

He was almost too shocked to reply, "Sure... How do I contact you?" he asked, looking towards the front of the van but only seeing ears and tails from the front seat occupants.

Shenjii was quick to answer, cutting the other two off, "Oh, it's easy!" she said as she pulled a small wrinkled card from one of her pockets and handed it to him. "Here."

Sian looked the car over, gingerly moving his good arm to get a better look at it. It wasn't anything fancy, but it did show they were fairly successful at what they did.

Allied Mayhem Incorporated.
We offer the best in convoy escort services at the best prices around.
4353 New Harlin street, New York Enclave.

He smiled up at Shenjii, "Thanks. I'll make sure I get hold of you guys next time I'm up that way. For now, I think I'll be laid up from doing much till I healed."

The young mink smiled back at him and moved past him and made her way up front, tapping someone on the shoulder sitting in the passenger seat, followed by a few whispers.

There was a quick exchange of seats, and a black furred mink moved back towards him. "Nice to see you awake and coherent. It's nice to see I can still do wonders with only a few things on hand."

Sian smiled in return as her name came back foggily, "You're Felix, right?" he said, shifting slightly to look at her better.

Felix grinned and nodded, "Nice to see you remember me. You've been in and out more than a whore on Saturday night, and I didn't know if you would make it." she placed her hands on his chest lightly, looking thoughtful for a few moments.

He watched her as she did this, a perplexed look crossing his face, "What are you doing?" He asked, again thinking he was in the company of a bunch of nuts.

Felix just smiled at Sian as she pulled her hands away, "Why, checking your wounds, of course." she said as if were the most natural thing in the world.

He stared at her for a few moments before speaking, "You mean... You're a healer?" he said in a tone of voice that implied something beyond a run of the mill medic.

Felix laughed softly and nodded, "Yes, I am a 'healer'. And you're damn lucky I am. No way you would have made it with anyone less out in these field conditions."

He only moved his head a little, awe-struck at having such a person in his presence. Healers, the few that were known, had an unexplained ability to heal and cure those that needed it. But it was such a rare thing, that the few that were known to exist brought a high price for their services.

And here he was, being treated by one. And all they wanted in return was autoparts! He could give them ten vans that were fully functional and it wouldn't cover the healing she had used on him.

Sian was flabbergasted, unable to speak as the wheels turned in his brain. He was truly lucky to have been found by this group of minks. And they all acted as if it was nothing special.

Felix could see how he was acting and patted him on the shoulder, "Hey now, just calm down. It's not that big of a deal, really."

He got his jaw working again and squeaked out, "But... abilities like yours are expensive! I would never be able to pay you back for it."

She smiled at him again, "Consider it a freebie. I've never charged for my skills unless we needed it. But if you would keep it quiet, I would appreciate it."

He nodded slightly, leaning back against the blankets, "Sure, I can do that." he said softly, suddenly feeling tired again.

Felix gently patted his cheek, "We'll be at the end of the run in a few hours. Until then, get a bit more sleep, you'll need it to heal properly." She turned away as Sian's eyes drooped close, leaving him to nap until the trip was finished.