Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 RedTails - Reckonings The Missing Lynx



   On the peaceful shores of the lagoon, a lone, small figure stood upon
the warm sands.  Clad in naught but the light of the perpetual day here in
the Beastlands, Frelic awaited the arrival of his otherworldly teacher.

   This inner world had remained unchanged since his last visit two years
ago, when at the tender age of 11, the young Moors Elf was brought here to
bond with and begin his rigorous training under the stern guidance of Lynx.
He regretted staying away from the Beastlands for so long, but the past two
years had been too hectic for him to get away, what with one adventure
after another.

   A graceful lynx padded down the beach, then came to a halt and
transformed into a humanoid form, still very feline and furry, but now with
all the alluring feminine curves which mortals find so attractive.  She
wrapped her arms around the young Elf, her paws gently kneading his soft
smooth bottom and her muzzle pressing hard against his lips.

   He returned the gesture of course, causing her to purr.  "Mistress Lynx,
it's so good to be with you again.  It has been such a long time..."

   "Yes, my pet," Lynx purred, "far too long in fact.  I fear you may have
forgotten much that I taught you those six decades ago."

   Frelic blinked in confusion, "Six decades, m'lady?  But, it has only
been two years since..."

   She shushed him by placing a finger to his lips, "For you, it has been a
mere two years; but have you forgotten the time differential between the
Mortal and Immortal Realms?"

   Frelic nodded as he recalled, "Ah yes, m'lady.  'Tis thirty to one, so
that one year on Niath is thirty years here."

   "Correct, my pet.  Your negligence saddened me, but we will address that
soon." Lynx took him by the hand and led him to a large flat rock at the
edge of the lagoon.

   "What will the first lesson be?" Frelic asked.

   Lynx set her furry butt down on the warm ledge, pulled her apprentice
over her lap, and conjured a riding paddle.

   "Your first lesson," she said, giving his bare, upturned bottom a couple
taps, "never neglect your training." The paddle struck his behind, causing
a loud SMACK and a pained yelp to shatter the silence.

   "But, m'lady," Frelic whimpered, "with all that has happened, I could
never find the time..."

   She silenced his protests with another hard swat, "Time is never a valid
excuse.  You wish to become a Wild Mage, you will make the time for your
training.  It was two years by your reckoning, therefore your reckoning
will last two minutes..."

   Frelic sighed and nodded, "Aye, m'lady."

   "By your reckoning," Lynx growled.

   "Oh, hell," he moaned, realizing too late what was in store for him. 
Firmly held down, Frelic could do nothing but close his eyes as the lesson
commenced.  As the burning pain quickly spread through his bottom, he
resolved to never again neglect the Beastlands.