Chapter 2
The inn was still quiet as the sun began to break over the dock market’s walls, setting alight colorful, thick-woven tapestries still hanging over windows in vivid reds and royal, stately blues.  As Yasuf gestured for Uwais to enter, the long, square shaft of sunlight from the doorway was briefly obscured by the dog’s obese figure, then vanished entirely as Yasuf let the drape he’d held open fall back into place, leaving the interior to reclaim what remained of the morning’s hushed, quiet stillness and dusky shadow.   
Wall sconces held intricate brass filigree lanterns, casting their light into a dazzling kaleidoscope array of pattern and latticed shadow; sending a starfield of exotic beauty cascading out along the walls and spilling over the floors.  Soon, though, something far more enticing and exciting caught the wolf’s attention, as he felt the canine’s paw rest on his shoulder, gently coaxing him into the inn’s main dining area.  
The aroma of lamb perfectly cooked hit his nostrils, followed by warm, fragrant spices; cardamom, the heat of ginger and ground, dried red pepper balanced by the coolness of mint.  More delicious smells beneath those instantly set his stomach into a growl of desperate longing; orange peel and honey, dried apricot and golden raisins with cinnamon.  The wolf’s golden eyes widened when he saw the source; a huge tagine settled in the middle of the room atop a charcoal fire pit, its conical earthenware lid still nestled atop a bowl large enough in diameter for an entire family to sit around and eat their fill from.  Indeed, an assortment of cushions had been arranged around the edge of the charcoal in-ground pit the tagine rested upon for just that purpose.  
On the far side of the circular pit, a figure somewhat obscured behind the tagine leaned forward, grasping a stout rope mechanism that lifted the conical lid when he tugged it, sending a billowing cloud of warm, fragrant steam sighing out into the room.  Yasuf stepped around to grasp the huge lid, helping to swing it clear and set it down on its rim, grunting as he braced part of his robe along his forearm to shield it from the heat.  Rolling it aside, and hefting it down carefully on the floor, the fat canine waddled over to the seated figure, who greeted him with a fond caress to his exposed love handle, cupping and giving it an affectionate rub and pat that set that white-furred belly into a soft bounce.  
The walk to the inn had given Uwais plenty of time to try to mentally guess at just what the canine’s master’s appearance would be, but nothing quite prepared him for an introduction face to face.
As the steam began to dissipate, Uwais caught sight of an unmistakably leonine figure, classically powerful and broad in stature; the wolf guessed the top of his head would come perhaps to the bottom of the lion’s chin.    The rest of the lion’s face was framed in a regal chestnut mane, complete with a meticulously waxed goatee that rounded and concealed his chin.  In the glow of the lamplight, golden eyes met the wolf’s.  Smoothly, the lion rose, hands and feet clad in blackened leather gloves and boots.   Like Yasuf, a fine, billowy sirwal covered the lion’s legs, but where the canine’s was a simple creamy white, his master’s were dyed the rich royal purple hue of deep twilight cast over desert dunes on the horizon.  A silken, white tunic covered the lion’s broad chest and arms, tucked neatly into the wrists of those leather gloves.  The tunic’s collar was trimmed with gold and purple lace, opened to allow more of that proud mane to spill out along his sternum, gathered along the front of his shoulders by a pair of turquoise-studded clasps.  A similar royal purple vest fringed with gold trim draped open over the lion’s torso, catching the lantern light in such a way that the fabric’s color shifted subtly, like the feathers of a peacock to reveal sunset-orange highlights.  
Almost reflexively, the wolf prostrated himself, kneeling on the cushions and bending his torso low and flat towards the lion, who walked around the coal pit to stand directly in front of the wolf like a mighty oak.  When he spoke, the lion’s voice seemed to rumble from the roots of mountains with effortless majesty, and in spite of himself, Uwais felt his arms and legs starting to tremble.  
To the wolf’s surprise, though, that powerful voice held not divine judgement, but faint amusement as the lion rested his hands on his hips and turned his head to regard Yasuf with a grin.  “He’s quite a scrawny thing, Yusuf, I’m surprised in you.  I thought at least you would’ve fetched a plump merchant cat, or found a fine, fat bear or tiger, at least.”
The fat dog snuggled himself up against the lion’s side with a splay of his floppy ears, as a deep, sonorous rumble of contentment sounded from the latter’s chest.  Uwais felt one of the lion’s large paws reach down to lightly rub along the back and sides of one of his pointed ears.  “Come, friend, there’s no need for that around me, let’s have a proper look at you.”  Uwais got to his feet, and stood as straight as he could.  Seeing the dog and lion side by side make it all the more apparent just how scrawny and lean and pathetic-looking he was.  Lifting one massive paw beneath the wolf’s muzzle, the lion cupped it and tilted it upwards until their gazes met again.  The wolf’s stomach twisted at the prospect of being inspected and handled, but here, there was no indifference of the slave master regarding a potential purchase in the lion’s gestures or movement, as those huge paws remained surprisingly gentle and deft.  
The lion slipped a pair of fingers along the wolf’s dark lips, lifting them, then ran a fingerpad or two along his smooth, white teeth, inspecting them closely.  Giving a kindly scratch to the nape of the wolf’s neck, a slight frown and furrow came over the lion’s features, when his fingers next probed and felt over the hard, protruding ridges of vertebrae plainly on display, as they slowly stroked down the wolf’s spine.  
“Hmmmn… very scrawny indeed for what you know I want.  Where… did you say you found him, again, Yasuf?”  
“On the streets, Master… I, ah…”  The rotund dog rose one paw to the back of his chubby neck, right along the leather of his collar, where it dug into that wider, plump collar of fur, and rubbed it lightly.  “I sort of… used up all the money you’d given me to pay off a merchant... and a guard…”  
“He’s in fair enough health otherwise, and still young, but…”  The lion’s paws fell away after trailing up the very pronounced tuck of Uwais’ abdomen with palms large enough that they briefly spanned and felt every single rib along the wolf’s starved sides.  A disappointed sigh issued out from the lion’s nostrils in a slow, regretful exhalation.  “Yasuf, even you ought to know he’s simply too small.  He’s got the height, I’ll give you that, but fattening him up the same as you, that’ll take a year, at least, and we don’t have that kind of time to spare.”  The lion turned to rejoin Yasuf’s side, his tufted whip of a tail swaying like a lazy serpent behind him.  
Tugging the corpulent canine lightly in against him, the lion rested one large paw on the exposed fur of his pet’s love handle, giving it a jostle that set that entire round belly into a rolling wobble.  That booming, distant-thunder rumble of a leonine voice chided,  “I asked for you to find -fat-, Yasuf.  At least someone who could give this noble girth and appetite a run for its money.”  The lion’s paw kneaded firmly into the canine’s side for emphasis, fingertips disappearing into a pillowy-soft fold of fluffy plumpness, as Yasuf’s tail began to wag wildly, in spite of the disappointment in the lion’s words.  “And you bring me a starving vagabond?  I just can’t make that work fast enough, my dear pet.”
Yasuf took a deep sigh, and nuzzled in along that exposed mane.  “With all due respect, Master, I think our lupine friend here could fare even better than anyone else you’d hoped me to find.”  The fat dog gazed from his master, over to Uwais with a knowing wink.  “Yes, I know he’s not much to look at now, but… try to see his potential.  Was I in any better shape when you found me?  What better symbol of your wealth and generosity could there be than letting everyone watch you turn an alley stray as fat and round as the full moon?”  
At that, the lion looked over Uwais once more, slowly, golden eyes scanning from head to toe in renewed consideration, stroking the immaculately brushed goatee of his mane with a few fingers and a thumbpad.  
“Think of the message you’re hoping to send… how he’s another symbol of what your wealth can do… take the most vulnerable and with your aid, guide him to prosperity that commands attention and awe.  Consider the proposal we’re working to secure…”  At this, the canine leaned in closer to whisper into the lion’s ear, before gesturing back to Uwais. 
“I’d even personally see to his feeding, and the results, if you’d allow me?  If he’s not fatter than a seal before winter by half a year from now, I can promise you I’ll give up my extra portions just to keep him well-fed every single hour until he is.  I promise you, I’ll have him so fat, he’ll make hippos resemble snakes.”  
The lion gave a chuckle at that, and nudged the dog’s thick, billowing side with an elbow.  “And you’re so sure he’s keen on becoming three times the wolf he is now?  Eating like a locust swarm every hour of the day?”  
The rotund dog’s muzzle split into a wider grin, as he nodded, enough to set his plump cheeks into a dimple and the extra chin below his muzzle into a bounce.  “Actually, Master?  That’s precisely the reason he wanted to meet you.  He told me himself, he desires to be at least as well-covered as me.  He won’t only just accept it… he actually covets it.” 
The lion’s muzzle slowly spread into a toothsome grin to match the canine’s, as one large paw rose up to rub between Yasuf’s ears.  “Does he, now…?” 
The wolf wanted to stammer out a protest, as his eyes went wide, but found himself instead having to swallow a fair muzzleful of saliva when the aromatic scent of that perfectly cooked, seasoned and spiced lamb stew filled his nostrils.  Too delicious and savory to ignore any longer, his stomach chose that particular moment to let out an intrusive grumble despite the warm meal already inside.  The lion seated himself back down atop the cushions, with Yasuf settled right at his side.  That leonine paw gestured outwards, bidding the wolf to sit as well, so he did. 
“If what Yasuf says is true, I have a very simple proposition… surely a wolf with such an irregular diet could easily accomplish it.”  The canine’s master nodded to the fragrant lamb tagine in front of him, and spread his arms wide.  “Eat.  As much as you can possibly hold.  And if you manage every bite?”  The lion smiled to Yasuf, and stroked a huge paw over the canine’s corpulent, exposed belly, splaying his fingers wide enough that the wolf could see how each digit visibly sank into the yielding fur and plump flesh beneath.  “I can promise you a life of ease and decadence you’ve only ever dreamed about.  As fat as Yusuf, here, under my care.  Fatter, even, if you’ve really got the desire you’ve told him about.  All you have to do is show me you’ve truly got the stomach for it.”
Settling himself cross-legged in front of the tagine, Uwais had to gulp once more in hunger, as he simply stared for a moment at the bounty in front of him.  His ears perked at the sound of footsteps behind him, and he looked over his shoulder to see a plump tiger kneel beside him, offering a plate stacked full of freshly-baked flatbread to serve as both utensil and side dish. 
Picking up a soft oval of flatbread, the wolf scooped up a heaping portion from the earthenware bowl, and brought it to his lips for a nibble.  Finding the temperature had dwindled just enough that he didn’t risk scalding the inside of his mouth for the sake of a hearty muzzleful, Uwais took a large bite, and slowly began to chew.  The tender texture of diced lamb hit his jaws first- then the rich, creamy sauce it had marinated and cooked in- flavors came next; ginger, saffron, cinnamon and coriander, the warmth of cardamom and cumin, followed by the sweetness and brightness of fresh honey, and orange peel.  Flakes of dried red pepper sent a wonderful fire up into his nose, and as he continued to chew and stuff another bite in that made his cheeks bulge, he could taste the softened, caramelized crunch of onion, and something more chewy and sweet- taking a moment to inspect what he’d heaped onto that flatbread, he noticed dried, thin-sliced apricot and sweet, plump golden raisins.
Simply put, to a wolf such as him, a lamb dish like this was the best thing he’d tasted in over a decade.
Inside his belly, the wolf’s hunger flared like a fire fed fresh, dry kindling, in spite of the breakfast he’d been treated to not half an hour ago.  Taking a greedy swallow, the muzzlefull vanished down his throat to quickly make way for another.  Down in that pit of his belly, deep in his core, it felt like a key being turned, a perfect combination of tastes and flavors and mouthfeel all sliding like a lockpick into a tumbler.  It was like a set of old shackles being cast off, and in one glorious instant, whatever shyness or hesitation, or trepidation had laid claim over the wolf’s core was replaced with ferocious hunger.  
Not just hunger, but a burning, desperate desire to feed and be full.  Beyond full, even- like flowers turning towards the sun to open their petals, an autonomic response brought on by the sudden, apparent unending abundance of food in front of him.  His gaunt state only seemed to exacerbate the urge, lending it a desperate edge that all predators to some degree felt; feast like there’s no tomorrow, because you never know when you’ll eat this well again.  
Licking his fingers clean, Uwais grabbed another dense oval of flatbread and shoveled a heaping portion onto it, having to lean forward over the tagine to keep from spilling onto the plush cushions he was seated on.  It didn’t take long for that sitting position to transform into an eager kneel, like a traveler lost in the desert days without water, suddenly finding a crystal-pure pool to drink from.  Another bite, and another, and soon, the wolf tilted his head back with each eager swallow, until he was inhaling every single morsel the moment it reached his jaws.  Nothing truly mattered more at that moment than filling his stomach as full as possible.  Even if he’d wanted to pause, to glance around to gauge how well his feasting met his potential master’s approval, his hands simply obeyed his stomach, as did every other sense.  His heart pounding like a military procession’s drums, and his lungs panting a canine thunderstorm of hunger, every bite of flatbread was sheared away, while the tender chunks of lamb fairly fell apart into delicious, savory shreds between his teeth.  
It was only after the fourth whole piece of flatbread he’d shoveled in, with as much of that lamb topping it as he could manage did the wolf give a thirsty lick of his lips as the desire for something to wash down the savory, rich dish beckoned, promising even more refreshment.  Looking up from the feast, his eyes darted around for any sign of a drink.  Nearly on cue, the fat canine raised a wineskin, bulging and swollen to nearly bursting with liquid.  Fairly rolling to his feet, Yasuf’s belly wobbled and bounced almost as fully as that vessel he settled into the wolf’s waiting paws.  “Drink up, Uwais…”  
 Uwais gulped down the offered drink with grateful abandon; now given permission, he was anything but delicate with his appetite and thirst.  After years risking drinks from the public fountain and livestock troughs, he couldn’t have cared if the offering had been nothing more than months-old soured ale.  It was, in fact, a crisp pear cider with only the merest bite- afternoon refreshment for nobility, with hardly enough alcohol to make a song sparrow tipsy.  Given the wolf’s starved condition, it was a serendipitously astute choice.  The tart, still-cold cider coated the inside of the wolf’s throat in way that as he swallowed, sent a shudder of unrestrained pleasure through him.  Higher and higher, the wolf tipped the wineskin, his throat visibly bulging and squeezing to pull each swallow down his parched throat.  
It felt satisfying in a way the wolf couldn’t begin to articulate.  Not just physically, but emotionally, too.  Satisfaction and contentment welled up from inside him with every gulp and swallow.  To a wolf, being so well-fed was practically synonymous with peace and security.  The pack leader that could see every pack member’s belly filled and satisfied would be one assured to keep the peace as a steadfast provider.    With comfort and security came, thoughts of home.  Of family… 
A slowly growing lump in his throat forced the wolf to lower the wineskin with a thick cough, bringing a furred forearm up to his muzzle to wipe cider from his whiskers and chinfur, but also slide his forearm discreetly along the bottom of one eye.  Old memories threatened to resurface, but as he’d done many times before, he squeezed his eyes shut, forcing himself to concentrate on the food in front of him, on the task in the present.  Only when the stinging, longing ache that had slipped into his core had faded and passed away, did he bring the wineskin to his muzzle once more, and concentrated instead of how good it felt to truly drink and eat to his stomach and heart’s content for the first time in years.
He drank so eagerly, he could feel the sweet, delicious cider actually pouring and splashing down into his belly.  Uwais became dully aware that for the first time in recent memory, he was getting full, and the sensation was incredible.  Every wolfed-down bite of food had seemed to simply vanish into the abyss of the wolf’s ravenous hunger until now.  Now, there was a distinct sensation of repletion, of tautness to his stomach, stretched full, and letting out sonorous gurgles of contented digestion.  It was a feeling that his stomach was a suddenly tangible and noticeably filled and changed part of his body- that tight sensation persistent, but not in the least uncomfortable.  
If anything, it urged him to keep on swallowing mouthful after mouthful, bolting each bite down with an ever-present gusto.  The more he ate, the more he was rewarded with that sensation of well-being that made his very core thrum with satisfaction, like a perfectly-tuned instrument.  So intent was his focus on bringing bite after bite to his muzzle, that it came as something of a surprise when he found himself needing to lean forward to reach the farther side of the tagine’s dwindling supply, only to discover his stomach protruding out in a noticeable curve, pressing down against the sash around his waist.  
With a blink and a soft grunt, the wolf eased himself onto his hands and knees, slowly crawling around to the opposite side of the tagine, where lion and dog both reclined.  The pair had made themselves comfortable, with the lion still caressing his massive paw over the hound’s round middle, fondly giving a squeeze along its front.  Uwais watched as fingers splayed wide to sink that golden mitt into that creamy-furred swell, each digit denting into inches of fat beneath, or grasping a paw-filling lovehandle to roll and caress, as the canine settled his head against the plushness of his master’s mane.  Upon seeing Uwais crawling over, the overfed canine’s floppy ears perked up, as did his head.
“Uwais, come over, let me help…?”  He asked hopefully, sitting up straighter, and nudging himself closer to the wolf, gave the cushion right beside him an inviting pat.  The fat dog cast a brief, questioning glance over to his master, who smirked and nodded his approval.  “You may help feed him, but he must finish it all, himself, Yasuf…  I know it’s delicious, but if he manages, the two of you will have countless feasts to enjoy together.”
As Uwais settled himself at the canine’s side and resumed his hungry lunges towards the tagine’s irresistible contents, Yasuf for the moment, simply made sure the wolf was supplied with a steadily refilled wineskin and another plate of naan fresh from the brick oven.  Only a third of the huge earthenware’s contents remained, and it was becoming more and more evident with every single bite the wolf took, now, where all of that delicious food was ending up.  
The wolf could feel it, too- that steady, growing sensation of fullness, of repletion.  His belly rounded out into a smoother, tauter curve that pressed out the lighter gray of his belly and chestfur.  Every swallow he took only added to its size, now, growing wider and pushing it out into an increasingly ball-round shape.  The wolf was still too busy glutting himself to notice, but Yasuf regarded the remarkable change in the lupine’s midsection with a warm, fond smile.  Everything he loved about his own noble girth only helped him admire the small, subtle details- the way that belly’s upper curve slowly swelled and relaxed with every panted breath, or how it noticeably drooped when the wolf got on hands and knees to scoop another delicious muzzle-filling bite of savory, spiced lamb.  
Each bite still only stoked the wolf’s hunger, like dried kindling feeding a healthy fire.  Despite how full he was growing with every swallow, instinct bade Uwais to continue as long as there was still food to be enjoyed in front of him.  Any wolf knew the instinctive delight and nearly uncontrollable urge to gulp down a bellyful and then some, when the chance presented itself.  For all he knew, he might never wind up eating this well for another year or more, and his starved figure all but begged his stomach to swell and contain every last morsel.  
It wasn’t much longer before his current position made eating awkward, as leaning forward to grab more from the tagine pressed and squashed the stuffed swell of his stomach out against the top of his thighs, preventing him from leaning forward as far as he’d like.  Curiously, he pressed his hand in against it, feeling the delightful sensation of it curved outwards so solidly, so visibly round and full for the first time in years.  He rubbed his palm and splayed his fingers against the fur, feeling how it bounced and rocked against the top of his lap.  
After considering a few moments how best to position himself, he settled his legs out to one side, shifting his weight on his hip and thigh, so he could prop himself up on one elbow and forearm, taking a moment to marvel at the fact that his belly now held enough sustenance stuffed into it that he had to shift himself around in the first place to get comfortable.  When was the last time he’d truly eaten this well, or felt so satiated?  
Uwais took a moment as he chewed another hearty, savory muzzleful to savor that warm glow of pleasure nestled within his belly, and steadily radiating outwards until it wrapped his whole body in comfort.  It was a pleasure that suddenly increased twofold when Yasuf cuddled right on up beside him, much to the wolf’s surprise.  Nestling an incredibly plush love handle up right against the wolf’s side to keep him settled mostly upright, Uwais’ golden eyes widened when he found his cheekruff directly in contact with one of Yasuf’s soft, chubby pectorals.   That warm aroma of cardamom and vetiver on the dog’s fur mingled with the corpulent canine’s pleasantly warm, natural scent.  In spite of lounging right in front of a tagine settled atop a pit of glowing wood charcoal embers, he could feel just how much body warmth Yasuf alone radiated.  One of the white-furred dog’s hands settled on the wolf’s far shoulder in what nearly felt like an embrace.
This close, the wolf was only more aware of just how simply and wonderfully fat the dog was, especially in that belly.   As round and stuffed and distended as his own stomach had grown, it still was barely half the girth or size of Yausf’s own.  With the dog sitting cross-legged beside him, it only served to push that belly out wider, bulging over the brown sash that held his brighter blue mantle and royal purple hip scarf in place.  The desire to reach out and simply press his hand into that curve was irresistible, but no sooner had the thought nearly committed itself to action, than Yausf leaned forward, belly rolling down against the top of his thighs, pushing into his lap.  A thick circle of flatbread in his hand, the canine scooped up another heaping portion of the lamb tagine, and brought it right up to the wolf’s muzzle.  
“Come on, Uwais, you can do it… you’re nearly there.”  Yasuf rumbled encouragingly, waiting for the wolf to open his muzzle before lightly pushing a good, thick bite on in, then a second just as soon as he’d swallowed the first, keeping his muzzle as well-stuffed and filled as his stomach felt.  As the bites progressed, each one seemed to demand more and more of the wolf’s focus and willpower to manage.    The feeling of being hand-fed was a strangely, curiously delightful one, leaving one of the wolf’s hands free to see to the task of hitching his waistband sash a couple inches lower to offer his paunch the room it was pressing for.  Yasuf was a diligent feeder, careful not to stuff more than the wolf was prepared to bite free at any given time.
 As the full, packed sensation in the wolf’s stomach grew to the point that it threatened to become a distractingly steady ache, the dog’s hand came to rest on that swell, and began to gently stroke through that bellyfur.  Kneading and working his fingertips into the firm flesh of that taut belly in such a way that the wolf’s ears tipped back, as did his head, Uwais basked in the relief it swiftly brought.  After a few more bites, another wineskin stuffed with that sweet, fresh pear cider was hefted right against the wolf’s waiting lips.  As cool as a fresh oasis pool, tingles of pleasure chased every gulp and swallow, replacing the dull ache however briefly with a stuffed, overfilled, indolent sort of comfort.  The crisp bite of pear and alcohol contrasted with the richer, savory and spicy flavors of the lamb tagine, making every swallow all the more refreshing.  Uwais’ throat visibly tensed and bulged with each thirsty swallow, as Yasuf carefully kept the flow going for as long as the wolf was willing to drink. 
A winded pant that left the wolf’s muzzle partway open was enough of a signal to draw the wineskin back, giving Uwais a few much needed seconds to catch his breath.  His muzzle creased in a series of uncomfortable wrinkles as he continued to pant, nestled against Yasuf’s pillowy side.  The canine’s hand slipped down the front of the wolf’s belly to where it bulged over the sash around the wolf’s waist, gently cupping his palm along its lower curve, and slowly began shifting it around in broad, circular rubs. 
No sooner had the canine began stroking and shifting that swollen, stuffed stomach about, then the wolf felt and heard a gurgle rapidly rising from the bottom of his chest, up through his throat.  With a splay of his ears, that rising sensation of pressure found its way out of his open muzzle in a truly thunderous belch that set his cheeks crimson beneath their fur, and the canine into a hearty laugh, as he hefted and patted the wolf’s swollen gut. 
Uwais could feel how heavy his belly was, the way it bulged outwards and pushed itself into that wonderfully round shape, bulging as smooth as the wineskin he’d just quaffed.  As Yasuf’s paw settled along that filled-out lower curve and lifted, the wolf could actually feel how it plumped wider out to the sides to tuck and press smoothly along the insides of his upper arms.  Yasuf’s fingers splayed, and his palms gently pushed into the front of that belly, giving it a slow, kneading squeeze.  From top to bottom, then from side to side, the fat dog’s digits tenderly stroked and caressed every inch of that increasingly tighter, rounder belly.  
Uwais had to stop himself from whimpering when Yasuf’s thumbs briefly traced along the divot of his navel, it felt so good to both eat and have his stomach rubbed in such a way.  He could feel his belly stretching, his skin pushing and swelling away from his ribs farther and tauter with every greedy bite and swallow.  This had to have been the biggest meal the wolf had ever tried to consume, ever.  Never had his stomach been so sorely tested in every sense of the word, but more than that, never in the moment had the prize seemed so tantalizing, either.  Any rhetorical misgivings he had regarding the thorny nature of captivity melted away, as his body rejoiced in the simple, pure delight of such an expertly-prepared meal, and in such overabundance!  
Would it really be that bad of a life, being this lion’s pet?  
Yasuf’s hand caressed up along where the wolf’s belly began to round out from below his chest, sinking his fingers through the coarser outer guard hairs, until blunted clawtips found the swelled-taut skin beneath.  Steadily, the dog began tracing diagonal furrows along the hem of the crimson sash that crossed from the wolf’s hip, up over his opposite shoulder.  Where it crossed his belly, it draped along a hemisphere of plumpness that simply hadn’t existed scarcely half an hour ago.  His stuffed stomach was quickly demanding more and more of his energy to start digesting the massive meal within, and as he chewed his way through another muzzle-filling bite, he couldn’t help but picture how much healthier such a meal would make him… how much bigger… happier.  Already, he began imagining what it would be like, to eat this well every single day from now on, for the rest of his life.
He could see himself reclining on a pile of cushions within one of the island’s finest hanging gardens as the shade of night brought the stars glinting far above him, the moon nearly as round and full as he was.  It would be after one of his master’s decadent parties, where food beyond compare and measure were served course after course throughout the evening and into the night.  As the bustle and revelry died down and gave way to the calm nighttime music of exotic birds seeking roost, and the distant murmurs of exchanged goodbyes, every single leftover portion of food was offered to Uwais and Yasuf.  
His corpulent canine companion kept every inch of his rotund girth in the daydream, but as for Uwais… he’d grown easily twice that size.  Seated against the cushions, the wolf’s belly bulged so full and round, it swelled out far enough to settle down against his knees.  Not content with taking up so much space simply in front, its roundness bulged seamlessly into thick, broad love handles that settled above plump hips and equally plush thighs, those love handles so wide and thick, he could settle his forearms against them like cushions.  The lupine backside that neatly flattened the overstuffed cushions beneath it was so wide and ample, Uwais could feel the way each cheek positively bounced in counterpoint, shifting up, then falling with a hearty jiggle at every waddling step he took, like a pair of small pillows stuffed side by side below his tail.  
In fact, as he stroked over his belly, his fingers met with rolls of wolf fat so thick he could happily knead and rub them about, the thickness shifting and yielding with a sluggish, pillowy bouncy softness, made all the more delightful by the realization that so much physical comfort and pleasure was a too-real part of him, now.  A part of his very figure that he carried around everywhere he pleased.  No matter how cold the night air came, or what chill blew in from the wind-swept island cliffs late at night off the sea, he felt a constant warmth surround him that only inches of extra fat could offer.  It was as if someone had taken sheepskin blankets to swaddle his torso and abdomen beneath his fur, and beyond that; even his thighs, forearms and neck held plumpness so apparent, any trace of his former self was all but indistinguishable for how plump and rotund he was.  
It all felt so very much the opposite of how he’d been living his life; instead finding some inconspicuous corner to curl up and hide in for the night, fighting to keep the cold from cutting through his exposed bones standing out against his fur, he was now so good and fat and comfortable out in the open, unable to be anything but noticed and doted on.  Gradually, he became aware that he was cuddled against Yasuf’s own cushy side, with the canine fondly reaching a paw out to rub and stroke a slow circuit from the side of the wolf’s plump pad of a chest, down the bulging roundness of his side, rubbing the ample roll of his lovehandle that pressed against the canine’s own.  The corpulent canine whispered a few friendly, tender words into the wolf’s ear, warm and soft, as he brought a pawful of moist, rich caramelized pudding to Uwais’ lips.  The pudding had been cooked just firmly enough to hold a soft, jiggly consistency, while the bottom was caramelized to a warm, solid golden-brown, able to be folded over itself in a thick, sweet roll.  Opening his muzzle wide, he took bite after delicious bite, with Yasuf gently pressing each next muzzleful in past his lips and neatly into his jaws.
“Eat up, my friend… just a few more bites, and you’ll grow as plump as you please…”  Dully, Uwais became aware that he was still, in fact, back in the inn, snapped back to reality.  Glancing to the tagine, the wolf found himself briefly stunned to discover its contents had been thoroughly demolished, with Yasuf holding one final folded-up flatbread filled with the very last of the tagine right in front of his nose.  When he leaned forward to close his jaws around the final few bites, a pleased rumble sounded from the cushions behind him, followed by that deep, majestic leonine voice, though it was hushed with pregnant expectation.  
“Tell me, little wolf, would you truly be willing to gorge yourself so well every single day, were you free to do so?”
Yasuf had slipped the final bite against the wolf’s lips, as Uwais tried to swallow, panting through his nose, and wincing with effort at how hard this most effortless of actions had suddenly become.  Against the strain of his stomach’s protests, against the fog of sleep and food coma that tugged at his will to keep his eyes open, pulling him ever deeper into the nerveless respite of sleep, he summoned every fiber of his will, of his desperation and eagerness to escape the life he’d been trapped in for three years and more.   Willing his jaws to work and grind the mouthful down, bit by bit, he tipped his head back, and gave a hard, deep swallow.  If the lion spoke any more, or offered any words of congratulations or affirmation, they were lost to Uwais as his overtaxed, replete figure settled against Yausf’s fat-padded side, and he let sleep claim him, muzzle making a pillow of the dog’s softened chest.