Dawn Rising

Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter 3: Diversionary Tactics

It had been four days since the Laguz Alliance (with the aid of the Greil Mercenaries) had sacked the Begnion fortress of Flaguerre, their first major victory. They had finally reached their next objective on the campaign, the fortress of Mugil, and Ike, Titania, Soren, Ranulf and Skrimir were having a strategy meeting.

“The problem” said Ranulf thoughtfully, “is that they’ve already sealed the gates. They’ll have several months supply of provisions, and dedicated wells in there. Our campaign requires a quick and decisive attack into the heart of the Empire – we simply don’t have time to lay siege, and we’d no doubt have the central army hoving into view in no time at all. But if we leave it, then we’re leaving enemies at our backs.”

Skrimir yawned loudly. “Beorc are all the same. We will run them down and crush them, just like we did before.”

“Skrimir.” Ranulf’s expression was pained, “Please listen. Just this once.” He looked entreatingly at Ike.

“Well, Soren, what do you think?” he said, his own irritation rising. The young lion was rapidly becoming a problem; his obtuse refusal to listen to tactics was going to put them all in danger, and Ike certainly didn’t want to be the one to present King Caineghis with his nephew’s corpse and an angry Begnion army.

“Good grief!” said Soren darkly, “The Flaguerre survivors will have warned Mugill of our advance. That’s so obvious even you must have anticipated it. You don’t have a plan?”

“Do not mock me, beorc boy!” thundered the lion, his sharp canines showing dangerously, “Why should I bother with plans? No soldier would cower behind stone walls after being challenged to a battle! We will issue a challenge, and they will meet it. We have no need for plans!”

“Do you realise how completely absurd you sound?” replied the mage, his face marked with icy contempt, “The enemy did not build the fortress so they could stand outside of it. They will not come out of their own accord.”

“But—Those beorc cowards! They will hide from us!? What do we do? I do not know how to fight cowards!”

“Don’t you get it?” said Ranulf desperately, “That’s what we’re trying to decide! Think Skrimir. Just try.”

“No! That’s your job, Ranulf! You’re my second in command. Think of a way for me to use my strength! Anything else is a waste of time. I’ll be in my tent. Tell me when you have a ‘plan.’” With that he left, ignoring his deputy’s parting entreaty for him to stay. Silence hung over the group for a few seconds, before Soren broke it.

“This is ridiculous. I’m amazed that someone was desperate enough to make that fool a general.”

“I’m tempted to agree with you on that,” sighed the remaining laguz, “but there is a reason he’s here. Gallia has never had to invade another country before. We have no experience and no tactics, and the general laguz mindset doesn’t exactly lend itself to such thoughts. The King cannot leave Gallia, and General Giffca is busy, meaning that Skrimir is really the only one available to command the army.

“I understand.” said Soren, his expression saying that he wished he didn’t, “Laguz choose their leaders based on strength. If Skrimir is to be the next king, this war is the best opportunity for him to learn about tactics.”

“Exactly. Since that’s the case, we need all the help we can get. Please, lend us your wisdom. Without your help, this war’s outcome is certain.”

“You can count on us, Ranulf.” said Ike.

“We’ve told you already. We’re here to help.” agreed Titania, then she noticed Soren was keeping silent, “Soren, say something!”

“Well, well.” said Ranulf wryly, “Looks like your strategist isn’t fond of Laguz yet.”

“I’m sorry Ranulf.” she replied sadly, “He’s gotten better, but…”

“Soren.” said Ike, sternly, “Ranulf helped us out. On top of that, he’s our client. It’s our turn to return the favour, and our job to do it right. Got that?”

“Fine.” said Soren grudgingly, “But it’ll cost you more.”

“Thanks, all of you. We appreciate the help.”

“I’ll come up with a plan, but it’s going to take some time to consider and execute.” mused the mage, “What’s the likelihood of General Fat-head rushing off and throwing himself and the army on the enemy spears in the meantime?”

“Very high.” said the laguz, with yet another pained expression. “I can’t see him sitting around for more than an hour or so at the most.”

“What we need,” said the paladin, “is something to distract him for a while then… diversionary tactics, if you like. Does he have any hobbies or anything?”

“I have a ball of string.” said Soren sarcastically, “Perhaps the kitty can go and play with that?”

“Not really.” said Ranulf, ignoring Soren, “He’s a pretty simple person. His only interest is fighting, which is exactly what we don’t want him to do. Hmm… I suppose we could… no, never mind. Stupid thought.”

“Do you have an idea?” inquired Ike.

“No. Honestly, its nothing. We’ll think of something.” For some reason, there was a slightly wary look in his eyes, as if he didn’t quite trust the three of them with something.

“Ranulf,” said Titania gently, “if we don’t do anything about this, then the war will be over before its begun. We’re all friends here – you know you can tell us anything, anything at all.”

“Okay then.” he sighed, “You’ve always been fair with me, so I’ll be fair with you. But what I am about to tell you must remain a secret. I’m sorry to ask you to do this, but can you please swear that you will never repeat what I say to anyone apart from yourselves.” They all did, even Soren whose curiosity had gotten the better of him.

“Right, thank you. We laguz have something we have vowed to keep secret from beorc. Seven hundred years ago, the laguz leaders met at a council in Serenes, and a treaty was drawn up called the ‘Accords of Serenes’ that binds every single laguz to this secret, and the punishment for breaking it is death, so you appreciate the need for secrecy? Breathe one word, and every single laguz out there would tear me apart. And what’s more, they’d kill you for knowing too. The secret is… we have a mating season. And we’re in it now.”

It seemed to take a great deal of physical effort for Ranulf to get the words out, and he seemed to be trembling with fear and blushing with embarrassment at the same time. The men were nonplussed, and Titania, blushing slightly, cleared her throat.

“Umm. That’s fascinating Ranulf… but what exactly has that got to do with anything?”

“But you see,” murmured Ranulf, reddening further, “its more than that. It’s all consuming. For two months of the year, our drive, our urge to mate steadily increases, until at the height of the season the entire race is plunged into an orgy that lasts for several days. Oh Goddess, I can’t believe I’ve told you all this… this is awful. You must think we’re disgusting and uncivilised. After all, you mate for life while we rut like animals.”

“Oh yes.” agreed Soren with rare cheerfulness.

“Shut up, Soren.” said Ike, “Ranulf, you don’t need to be ashamed. We’re different species – its only understandable that we would have different mating habits.”

“Agreed.” said Titania, whose face had turned beet-red and who was very pointedly looking at the tent’s roof, “That’s the way the Goddess made you. It’s fine… but don’t you think you should sit down or something Ranulf? Your thoughts are obviously getting the better of you.”

Ranulf suddenly became very aware of the large, very apparent erection pressing through his trousers.

“Oh, bloody hell!” he cried, and in one motion he grabbed a chair and sat down close at the table, pulled in so that the top pressed into his midriff, and thus hid his groin from sight. “I’m sorry about that. You have to understand what its like! Just the mention, just the thought of sex and my body acts on its own. And we’re only two weeks into the season too… its going to get a lot worse yet.”

“What I don’t understand,” said Ike, “is why it’s such a secret. I mean, you’re only embarrassed on our account, but your ancestors wouldn’t have been. Why all the cloak and dagger?”

“That’s easy.” said Soren, still smiling, “It’s tactical. In the field, laguz have the strength and speed advantage over beorc. But if a beorc general knew that for two specific days the enemy would only be interested in sex and nothing else… heck, a platoon of grannies armed with knitting needles could take Gallia.”

“Exactly.” said Ranulf, “The others wouldn’t be ashamed – I think I’ve just been hanging around beorc for too long. Unfortunately, because of the revelation about the heron massacre, we’ve had to declare war when we are most vulnerable.”

“Hang on.” said Ike, whose mind had been racing, “How come we never noticed any sign before. I’ll grant that most beorc aren’t familiar with laguz, but the Mad King’s War lasted nearly a year, and there were laguz with us throughout.”

“Ah yes. Do you remember those two months you were at sea, on route to Begnion? Do you remember that Lethe and Mordechai spent a lot of time in their cabin?”

“Oh.” said Ike, his eyes widening in surprise, “Oh. I just assumed it was because Lethe hadn’t got over her dislike of us yet, and that he was just keeping her company. I had no idea… wow, that’s a really hard mental image to get.”

“I don’t think either of them would ideally have chosen the other as a partner.” agreed Ranulf, “But they were trapped on a ship alone together. You may not know this, but we have long pregnancy periods too – Lethe gave birth a few months after Ashnard’s downfall: two male cats, and a male and female tiger.”

“Lethe’s a mother!?” exclaimed Titania, shocked.

“She always was – that was her second litter, and she’s had two more since then. That said, we don’t take family connections as importantly as you beorc do; we’re a collective society. She does like her children though, and spends a lot of time with them when she’s in Gallia.”

“Fascinating as this is,” interrupted Soren sardonically, “I fail to see what your mating habits have to do with the present situation.”

“Don’t you see?” said Ranulf uncomfortably, “I’ve got Lethe and her sister Lyre – I don’t think you’ve met her yet – under my command. I could get them to… distract Skrimir for a while.” He let the implication sink in for a moment.

“Is that… morally okay?” said Titania, looking troubled.

“They’ll be fine with it. Lions are the rarest of the three beast laguz, so they stand a chance of conceiving a future king of Gallia – it’s a great honour.”

“It’s the best plan we’ve got.” shrugged the mage, “I say do it. It’ll buy us time, and if it relieves some of the idiot’s tension, so much the better.” Ike nodded his agreement too, and with a final heavy sigh, Ranulf excused himself.

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Lethe and Lyre had both been up for it. In fact, as soon as they had seen his still hard erection pressing outwards, they had thrown themselves on Ranulf, for the season was affecting them as well, and he had had to fight both against them and instinct. They were now outside Skrimir’s tent on the edge of the laguz encampment, and they were mercifully alone.

“Okay. In you go.” he whispered, eager to get rid of them. The smell of their arousal was driving him wild. Suddenly Lethe’s face was before him, and his lips met hers as he kissed her vigorously, their tongues dancing over each other. His hands instinctively went to her breasts as she ground her body against his. He could feel Lyre’s hands at his crotch, vigorously rubbing his straining manhood through the material. After a moment, she had undone his flies and pulled out his 10 inch penis, throbbing with the lust within him. She began to pump him with both her hands, and he broke the kiss he was giving her sister to throw back his head and moan. Lyre opened her mouth to take him in, but he placed a hand on her head, stopping her. Fighting against every urge in his body, he panted: “By the Goddess, go. Just go.”

His body was telling him, and his mind’s eye was showing him what he should do. He should push them to floor, and ride them hard, screwing them until they were all spent. His loins longed painfully for it, and his cock twitched violently in expectation, but he succeeded in sending them through the tent flap, leaving him standing alone, and with his manhood standing very proudly to attention.

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Skrimir was training. It was, after all, imperative that the general should be the strongest fighter on the battle field; no puny beorc was going to get the better of him! So he was doing pull-ups from a bar attached to the main strut of his large and sturdy tent. The floor was scattered with cushions, laguz disliking the confined feelings of beorc beds. A pack with some spare clothes in it lay at one end, and some (unread) books on tactics which Ranulf had given him were stacked in a corner, but other than that it was fairly empty; he preferred to travel light, like a laguz should. Custom dictated that he should have the largest tent, but he could have made do with much smaller.

“…498…499…500!” he barked as he dropped from the bar. He gave his arms a vigorous shake, revelling in the strength coursing through his body. He felt ready for anything, eager to take on whatever the beorc could throw at him. His sharp ears caught the sound of muffled voices from outside, but he ignored them. No, now was not the time to be sitting around – it was the perfect time to attack! He would go right now and rouse the troops, and Ranulf’s tactics be dammed.

He heard the tent-flaps move behind him, and assumed it to be Ranulf (he thought that was one of the voices he had heard). “Ranulf, gather the soldiers. We have wasted enough time…” he trailed off as he turned around to discover that it was not Ranulf, but two female cats. Fist against chest, they both saluted smartly, but there was a strange smile playing about their lips, and a strange light in their eyes. His nose caught the sent of something on the air, something that sent an electric buzz straight to his groin. He shook his head to clear his mind of the visions that suddenly flooded it, and tried very hard to ignore the feelings in his body.

“You… I recognize you. You’re Ranulf’s lieutenant… Lethe, right? And you, I don’t know, but I’d say you’re her sister. What do you want?” He was trying to be business like, but he was also uncomfortably aware of the two women before him. His eyes, unable to help himself, roved from Lethe’s long, shapely, beautifully bare legs, to the way her sister’s top moulded itself to the shape of her breasts. Damn, he should be focusing on fighting, and nothing but fighting.

“My name’s Lyre, and I am her sister. How very perceptive of you…” she purred, that troublesome smile still hovering on her dainty lips. She leaned forward, looking up at him with her bright blue eyes; the position gave him an even greater view of her cleavage, and he felt his manhood stir eagerly in his pants.

“Commander Ranulf sent us.” said Lethe, advancing, “He thought you could use some pleasurable company to relax with.” Skrimir suddenly realised that the sisters were now very close to him; he could feel their warmth, and could clearly smell their arousal on the air. Damn Ranulf! This was low, even by that sneaky cat’s standards. Perhaps this was part of what he called ‘tactics,’ and Skrimir came to the realisation that this was one battle he was not going to win. The thoughts of fighting were draining from his mind as fast as the blood was rushing to his crotch.

Lethe and Lyre were now so close they were pressing against him, their bodies pressing against his chest, and their bright eyes looking up into his mischievously. “I’ve heard,” said Lethe, her voice dripping with expectation, “that lions make the best lovers. That their fierceness on the battlefield is matched only by the fierceness of their love making. Why don’t you show us?” His rock-hard dick had formed a tent out of his baggy trousers, and her hand made straight for it, gripping him through the material, and after a moment Lyre’s hand joined hers. Together they rubbed him, and his mind blanked at the exquisite feeling of their agile fingers, and his arms unconsciously crushed them against his body, each hand moving to caress a petite ass. Suddenly, Lethe and Lyre stopped toying with his erection to move to his belt. In a nimble motion they had undone and removed it, and in a fluid motion they grasped his shirt, pulled him over, and yanked it off.

For a moment they took in Skrimir’s naked torso, admiring his heavily muscled chest and arms, and by the sight of the throbbing lust that was threatening to tear his trousers apart. He brushed his mane of red hair out of his eyes with a still-gauntleted hand.

“Hey, that’s not fair now.” he smirked, “If I’ve got to take something off, then so have you.”

“Fair’s fair, sister.” grinned Lyre, “We’ve had the treat of seeing him topless. Let us return the favour.” They quickly pulled their tops up, and Skrimir watched with pleasure as their breasts bounced free. A moment later he kicked off his sandals, and his grin grew as they leaned over to undo their boots, their breasts dangling seductively. His hand went to his penis, clutching it through the tight material, stroking himself as he viewed them. Lyre’s bust was slightly larger than her sister’s, but both pleased him. Their nipples were like wide, pink, rose petals, and his body ached to handle them.

“Now, now General.” said Lethe, walking over to him and removing his hand, “That’s our job. You have to learn to delegate.” She and her sister pulled his pants down, and he stepped out of them. Finally released, his foot-long inch dick stood proudly before them. Kneeling, they brought their faces to it, kissing and licking it, their hands playing all over his length. Grunting with pleasure, he pressed his hands against the backs of their heads. All thoughts of fighting had been banished; the only thing he could think of at that moment was the incredible feeling in his member.

The sister’s shared a glance and a smirk, then Lyre cupped her breasts, and sheathed his cock between them, then began to pummel him with them. This brought his pulsating head near her mouth, and her tongue flicked out, deftly drawing it in a circle around his circumference. Combined with the smooth rhythm of her breasts around him, the ministrations of her tongue had him moaning ecstatically, each deft movement filling his body with fiery pleasure. Then she stopped drawing circles, and began to tease at the hole on the head, forcing it open with a wondrously agile tongue. Lethe, meanwhile, went to his balls, licking and fondling his scrotum expertly.

Unable to help himself, Skrimir put his hands in Lyre’s hair and forced her mouth down over the head of his dick. She welcomed him easily, and she was able to take a substantial number of his inches in, all the while still massaging him with her breasts. He thrust instinctively into her, feeling the quivering slickness of her tongue against his length. He quickly increased in tempo, feeling the urgency building in him. Lyre let go of her breasts, instead grabbing his length with both her hands, fellating him furiously while she jerked him. In a moment he reached climax, and her eyes widened in surprise as he shot a torrent of cum into her mouth. She swallowed some, but there was too much and it forced its way past her lips, a stream of pearl running down her chin to spatter on her hanging breasts.

Skrimir withdrew from Lyre’s mouth and sat down on the cushions, panting, his muscled torso covered with sweat. His manhood, slick with saliva and cum, was still rock hard. Suddenly, Lethe was straddling him, and his cock was pressing hard against her shorts. She pulled herself against him, kissing him passionately. Their tongues fought for dominance, sliding wildly over each other. She tasted wonderful, her mouth having a light, dusky cinnamon flavour to him, and he could feel the hard points of her nipples pressing into his chest. His dick throbbed anxiously between them, needing her. After a moment, she broke the kiss.

“How was that for you, General?” she purred by his ear. He, however, was far beyond pillow-talk.

“Pants off! Now!” he barked, only managing to resist the impulse to tear them off himself by grasping his manhood in both hands and pumping wildly, the full force of sexual frenzy rapidly consuming his mind.

Lethe stood up, and had just managed to pull her pants down to her knees before Skrimir threw himself at her. She hit the floor on her hands and knees, and in an instant he was on top of her, his hands either side of hers and his chest moulding closely to the shape of her slender back, pressing into her as much as he could, her tail crushed between them. He thrust deeply into her tight, wet opening, and began to pound into her frantically, all self-control swept away by the primal urge to mate. Her hot, electric body writhed under him, her panted moans fed his desires. Faster and faster he moved, the hot tightness around his hard dick filling his entire existence, every inch burning his mind with ecstasy as he fucked her like an animal. His climax seemed to build for an eternity, taking him to breaking point, and then he came inside her, rope after rope of hot cum filling her as she climaxed around him too. He threw back his head and roared, then withdrew, his cock sending one last streamer of his seed over her back, as more streamed from her pussy.

Sitting down, he panted hard, his body still shaking from the tremendous effects of his orgasm. Lethe was in much the same condition, lying breathlessly on the floor with her pants still around her ankles. Suddenly, Skrimir noticed the noises coming from behind him and remembered about Lyre. He turned to face her, and his half-flaccid manhood instantly hardened at the sight of her. She was on her back on the floor, though only her feet and shoulder blades were actually touching it; her body arched with ecstasy as she pleasured herself, one hand furiously cupping a cum-spattered breast while the other drove between her spread legs. He watched in fascination for a few seconds as she explored herself, then walked over, stroking himself as he did. Then he knelt, and slowly rested his cock against her opening, while all the while his face bore an unaccustomed grin.

“Take me, General!” she pleaded desperately, “Take me now, like you did to Lethe! Take me!”

“Hah. My pleasure.” he smirked. The session with Lethe had taken the frenzied edge off his lust, and now that he had his self-control back he was determined to take it slowly. “It seems Raulf’s plan worked, eh? Sneaky bastard, but at least we’re having a good time. Though I don’t think Lethe will be up for more for a while.” Suddenly, a pair of arms encircled his neck, and he felt a pair of breasts press against his back.

“The first rule of tactics, General, is to never underestimate your enemy.” said Lethe, her mouth close to his ear again. She reached down and grabbed his manhood firmly, then slowly guided him into her sister. Still, holding the base of his shaft, she nibbled at his ear. “You think that could finish me off? I could go for hours, General, and by the Goddess I intend to. You wouldn’t want to lose out to a woman, would you?”

His answer was to turn and kiss her deeply, even as he placed his strong hands on Lyre’s thighs and thrusted into her.

Suffice it to say that Soren got all the time he needed and more to form and execute a cunning plan. Skrimir stayed in the tent all night, even if those laguz in nearby tents didn’t get much sleep with all the noise. And, on the edge of the camp, hidden in the shadows of the tree against which he was sitting, Ranulf masturbated contentedly, happy in a job well done.

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Authorial Commentary:

So, about that update… what happened? Well, the answer is that the final semester of my final year at University happened. I actually got most of this chapter written over Christmas, but wasn’t able to finish it until now due to the insane amount of work I had. So now I’m on summer holiday, and so there should be a few more updates before September, when I start an even busier MA course. That said, I have a fairly punishing job this summer, so no promises.

Well, I hope you enjoyed a bit of foray into the world of the Laguz? Their season is not over by a long shot, so expect more shenanigans in future updates. This isn’t just meant to be a “hey-what-if-this-character-and-this-character-bonked” fic. I’m trying to craft a proper story around the events and characters of the game, not just have my favourite characters fuck for the sake of it. That said, the sex is important too. A bunch of young, athletic, good-looking people are not just going to be sitting around doing nothing between fights – any measure of reality is going to include a lot of sex.

Anyway, I’ll stop wittering now, and leave you with some parting stuff. Firstly, PLEASE REVIEW – it makes me really happy, and greatly increases my motivation to write. After all, over 3000 views and only four comments isn’t brilliant. Finally, the next update will mark Ike’s return to a bedroom setting. Excited?