Fork cut into cake. Chilled, layered ... lemon cake. Lemon-velvet, to be exact. And the squirrel, with a piece of cake on the silver, shiny fork ... guided it upward.

Assumpta blinked. Eyes crossing (involuntarily) at the confection being held in front of her nose. Blink-blink. Sniff.

"Try it," was Azure's gentle prodding. "It's good."

The snow leopard hesitated.

"Come on," he urged. Brown eyes bright. "It won't bite ... "

"I am capable," she said quietly, "of feeding myself."

"I know ... " A patient smile. Whiskers twitching, nose sniffing (from all the scents from all the food, all the furs ... all around them).

They were seated at a small, round table. In an icy-white banquet hall. The murmur of voices. The lectures, the talks ... over.

Now, supper.

Now, conversation.

Now, this.

Now, him ... and his insistent playfulness. Raising his eyes (in wait).

And, looking around (somewhat self-conscious at being the only predator in a hall-ful of prey ... she looked to him. Asking, "How good is it?"

"Best cake I've ever had."

She raised her brow. "That is an exaggeration."

"It's not!" he insisted. "It's served cold," he said, of the cake. "Made with lemons and sugar and ... "

"And where, exactly, do the snow rabbits obtain lemons?"

A giggle. A shrug. "Dunno. Maybe they're fake. Maybe they're from a food processor." He wiggled the fork. "But it tastes great." He still held his arm out.

She let out a breath. Opened her muzzle.

And he placed the fork (and piece of cake) on her raspy, feline tongue.

She closed her maw.

He withdrew the fork (slowly).

And she (slowly) chewed.

Their eyes met.

"Well?" he whispered.

"It has a good ... texture."

"How does it taste?" he prodded.

"It tastes," she admitted, "good." She had been sampling more foods lately. Prey foods. Field had insisted she eat something called ‘macaroni cheese' ... she had done so. Admittedly, it had been pleasing. But she wasn't about to make a habit out of eating any kind of noodle. No matter what was on it. And she had stayed away from sweets ...

... much to her mate's chagrin. He enjoyed feeding her things. Strawberries and things. And sweet things. How she would bite the berries with her sharp teeth, how the juice would drip down her lips. How he would gently lap it off.

The squirrel, beaming, put his fork down.

Assumpta's eyes darted. She hadn't seen Oliver yet. Wasn't sure she wanted to ...

"I'm glad you let me come."

She turned her attention back to Azure. Back to her mate. "You say that," she observed, "as if ... as if," she said, "my permission was required."

"Wasn't it?"

"I would never stop you from doing what you wish."

"You didn't have to let me accompany you, though."

She made a face. Saying, "I do not know where this topic is headed."

"I'm just glad to be with you," he said. "That's all. It's ... special. To go out with you. You're so graceful," he said. Eyes on her.

Assumpta was wearing a black dress. Straps on her shoulders. The black countering her luxurious, snow-white pelt (with the stripes and spots of grey). Her whiskers, her angular ears ... her cool-blue feline eyes.

Oh, but she could trigger a thousand sighs!

And often did (from him).

She opened her muzzle. Shut it. "Thank you," was her eventual whisper. Compliments ... she never knew how to take them. They flustered her. Enough to where she would almost rather NOT be complimented at all. Less awkward that way.

"You're welcome," was his returned whisper.

"I can still taste the lemon," she said, eying the salt and pepper shakers. And eying him. "Are you cold?" They were on the snow rabbit planet. In B'Hala Province, the southernmost continent. In one of the larger cities. And, snow rabbits, like all ice furs (Assumpta's kind, the snow leopards, being no exception) ... kept their interior/indoor temperatures rather cool. Sometimes, to where you could see your breath.

"I'm okay."

But she could see, now and then, his teeth giving a little chatter. "Are you sure?" she pressed. Concerned.

A little nod. "I'll be fine ... "

Assumpta nodded. And opened her muzzle to say something more ... but didn't. Feeling a tiny friction of pleasure. Feeling a sudden arousal. Her eyes focused on the squirrel.

"What?" he asked. Blinking.

She could tell he was feigning innocence. She could always tell. A predator could always see through an act.

"Mm?" He smiled (slightly). Blinking again.

"You are... stimulating me."

"Elaborate," he responded (perfectly mimicking predatory demeanor).

Her eyes were half-open. She sighed. "You ... " She shook her head, frowning. "Your foot-paw is brushing my ... " She trailed. "You know what you are doing," she accused.

"There's a tablecloth around the table. No one's gonna see." He had a bare foot-paw under her dress, between her legs. Squirrels were agile acrobats. Were very limber. Azure was able to keep his foot-paw up there. Was able to tease her with his toes. Running his big toe slowly up ... slowly down ... somehow, having wriggled into her undergarment.

She shouldn't have been caught so off-guard. Too much time around prey, she reasoned.

Perhaps she was losing her edge?

The snow leopard quelled a rising purr. Trying to maintain composure.

Azure grinned.

"I do not think this is ... appropriate," she said, "for the current time and place."

"You're just upset I snuck up on you like that."

"I was ... distracted."

"By what?"

"This room," was all she said.

"Well, now you're distracted ... by something else." A giggle.

"You are making ... it difficult for... " Her eyes shut. She exhaled slowly. "Ah ... " A huff.

His toes ... wriggled. Pressed.

A purr.

"Later, yeah?" he asked. "We'll ... continue this ... later?"

A dry nod. A swallow. To be bested by prey! But, oh, it was ... okay. He was her mate. She would let him get away with it (she always did ... but only him).

And the squirrel retracted his foot-paw. Giggling.

Assumpta smoothed her dress. Sipped at some water.

Azure smiled. Sipping at his own water. Peering at her over the rim of his glass.

And their eyes met.

And she saw (in him) such a devotion ... such an ease (that, when they'd first met, hadn't been present). Such ... a spark. She saw that, after a year together, he was no longer afraid of her (or her instincts). Was not ashamed to be mated to a predator.

"Want more cake?" he asked. Shyly. How could he possibly be (suddenly) shy? How could he go from bold to shy ... in mere blinks of an eye? What brought about these emotional changes?

Would she ever entirely understand him?

"Darling?"

"No," she whispered. "I am fine." Pause. "Thank you."

A smile.

And she knew, suddenly, WHY she loved him. Or why anybody loved anybody ... and, yes, the physical element was key. Was important. Was necessary. But love wasn't born from that. Rather, the other way around ... physical intimacy, at is most pure, its most unabashed, had to be born from strong emotional roots.

But her emotions were dulled, so ... how was this love possible?

Was he feeling enough for the both of them?

Or was she more like prey (more, like, say ... Pyro, for instance) ... than she'd ever imagined?

Before Luminous' own exile, she was exiled from predatory society (back home) for "prey-like leanings" ...

Assumpta traced a finger along the chilled perimeter of an empty dinner plate. Not making eye contact, whispering, "You have an inner light." Pause. "It is like ... a fire inside of you. When I look at you, I feel warm. I didn't know my heart could ... thaw," she confessed, "like that." Still not looking at him. But so vulnerable (something that didn't come easily for her).

Azure eyes watered. He swallowed, taking in a breath.

"I do not tell you enough ... that I love you." She looked up. Directly at him.

The squirrel gave a sniffling smile.

"I have upset you?"

"What?" A sniffle. "No ... " He blinked his eyes dry. "No," he whispered. "You're ... I'm very happy."

"You were going to cry ... "

A shy nod. A pause. And he reached a paw across the table. Squeezed her own paw.

She squeezed back. And when she turned her head, she saw a snow rabbit standing a few feet away.

"Oliver," she whispered.

A nod on the rabbit's part. "Assumpta. It is agreeable to see you again."

"Yes," was her response. She blinked. Frowning a bit. "It is."

Azure's eyes darted from Assumpta to Oliver. "Hi," he said, piping in.

Oliver gave the squirrel a nod. "Hello."

"I met Oliver," Assumpta explained, "last year. At Pelios Station. When we first visited the snow rabbit's world ... he was on the repair teams assigned to Luminous."

"Oh ... okay." Azure nodded. Smiled.

Assumpta leaving out the rest of the story. About how she'd accepted Oliver's veiled invitation to ... breed. How she'd done it. How she'd loved it. How it had been one of the best experiences of her life. Oliver was a rabbit, and was prey. But was a SNOW rabbit ... and, therefore, was more like her ... than not. And ... the experience ...

Oliver looked back to the snow leopard. "I saw your name on the attendance list. I am glad that Luminous is here. She is a great ally."

"Yes," was all Assumpta said. She was ... nervous? Why? Predators didn't get nervous. They didn't get uncomfortable. What was wrong with her?

"You have great cake," Azure said. Smiling.

Oliver, smiling with his eyes (the way he did ... the way his kind could do), said, "We enjoy cooking."

"I would cook more," said the squirrel. "I mean, vegetables and stuff. I'm a botanist. I'm the ship's botanist," he explained. "But ... we've been in space a long time."

"So I gather."

Assumpta listened to the two of them talk. Her one-time love (even if they'd only spent a few hours together) ... and her current love (with whom she'd spent the past year). Azure was (apparently) oblivious to any history (other than simple friendship) between her and Oliver. Or maybe he could pick up the vibes, and ... simply chose not to think about it. Or maybe ... he knew, and ... it didn't bother him.

The past was the past.

But the past ... was so much a part of what made the present ... the present, and ...

‘Headache logic' ... this kind of thinking. She made herself stop.

Another snow rabbit came into view. A femme. Who nodded at the three of them, before looking to Oliver. "I was wondering where you were."

"Am I needed?" Oliver asked, slender, white ears ... wiggle-waggling.

"No. I was just ... wondering where you were," the femme repeated.

Oliver gave that eye-smile (oh, to be able to do that). And told the others, "This is Annika."

"She your mate?" Azure asked (before Assumpta could ... though, to be honest, Assumpta wasn't intending on asking ... even though she'd wanted to know).

"My partner ... we do not take mates," he said, "like you do."

"Why not?" Azure asked. His bushy tail was arched over the back of his chair.

"It is difficult to explain. Our culture ... our environment," Oliver said.

"So, you have ... open relationships? Or what?" The squirrel made a face.

"It's not like that," Oliver whispered.

"I do agree with Azure," Assumpta injected.

Oliver looked to her.

"You make good cake," she finished.

The eye-smile. And a head-tilt. "I shall have to find the recipe. Have it sent to your ship."

Annika took one of the seats at the table (and Oliver did the same). And the femme rabbit asked, "Is your crew-fur okay?"

A blink on Assumpta's part.

"I am the constable of Orbital 9. Security chief, as it were. I was there during the attack. Your crew-fur ... a mouse, I believe ... he was hurt."

"He is okay now," Assumpta said.

"That is a relief."

The snow leopard met the snow rabbit's eyes. Two femmes ... who'd both shared the same male (and that male sitting at the table).

And, still, Azure remained either unaware or un-bothered ... by any of the silent tension. But he did scoot his chair closer to Assumpta. Now sitting beside her. And the two snow rabbits sitting opposite them.

"You two," Oliver observed, "make an interesting pair."

"So we've been told," was Assumpta's reply.

"Everyone has been looking at you," he continued. "For most of the night. Surely, you've noticed their eyes."

"Eyes do not intimidate me."

"I noticed, yeah," Azure said. "But ... I mean, I love her. We love each other. Every time we're around other furs, they always ... whisper, you know, behind our backs. There's a lot of pressure. I mean ... they ask us why. Why we're trying. Why ... we'd want to. Sometimes, they have the nerve to ask."

"I do not question your love," Oliver responded. "That is not my intention."

"I know ... "

"I am just observing that the two of you ... stand out."

Assumpta took a sip of water. "How have you been, Oliver? Since we last met?"

"I have been promoted," he explained.

"I heard."

"I am one of the engineers in charge of the orbital stations. We have many stations in our system, as you know. Many in orbit."

A nod.

"I have been promoted to oversee them. To coordinate repairs and upgrades. I am stationed on Orbital 9. That is where I met Annika."

The snow leopard's paw went for her mate's. Beneath the tabletop. Clasping ... her paw to his. Squeezing it. The motion unseen. But letting the squirrel know (if there was any doubt) where her heart was. Who she would rather cling to.

"You have changed since we last met," Oliver told Assumpta.

"How so?"

"I do not know. But I see it in your eyes."

Assumpta tilted her head.

And Annika asked, "Did you enjoy the conference?"

"Heh ... enjoy?" Azure asked. "Mm ... rather stiff. Is it okay if I say that?"

"Stiff?" she asked. Blinking.

"I don't know ... I just came for the cake." A bright grin. Looking around the table. At all the serene, icy muzzles. "Well, the cake and ... uh ... company," he said, voice faltering. He cleared his throat and took a sip of water.

Assumpta squeezed his paw more firmly. As if afraid to let go. These snow rabbits ... they were, in many ways, like her. And because of that ... they could peg her. Figure her out. They could peer through her soul. Or so it seemed. So she imagined. Maybe she was just paranoid. Or ... but snow rabbits ... fascinated her. They were so alluring. It was why she had fallen for Oliver so quickly. Given herself to him so readily.

It was why, even now, she was ... intimidated by his presence. As if trying to quietly impress him. As if ... scared of being judged by him.

It made no sense!

"Well, we are glad you came," Annika told him. And looked to Assumpta. Her eyes giving a sense of ... ease, maybe? Non-combativeness. "We wish for you to be our friends. We wish for no ... distance. Despite how different we are. And despite the different directions from which we've traveled," she said, "to arrive at our present."

Assumpta nodded at this. Taking it as a veiled sign that ... Annika KNEW ... about her fling with Oliver. Knew about what they'd shared. How strong it had been. Knew, and ... was not bothered by it. And wished there to be no awkwardness.

The four of them continued to chat ... for a few minutes more. Until Oliver stood, and Annika stood, too, and they ... left. Together.

Assumpta watching them go.

Azure was quiet for a bit, still sitting next to her. He looked at the table-cloth, and then to her. "You ... knew him?"

"I knew him, yes," was her response.

"You, uh, ‘knew' him in the ... spiritual sense? You imprinted with ... "

"Yes," was her whisper. Meeting his eyes. "I imprinted with him," she said, referring to the commonly held belief (among religious furs) that, to yiff with another ... was to imprint your soul upon theirs. To give part of yourself away. To leave a spiritual stamp ... on the one you were intimate with. One that would forever remain ... " ... but that was a year ago," she whispered. "Before I met you. I mean, before ... we became friends, and ... before I began to love you. I love you now. I do not love him. I do not anybody else." A breath. A shaky exhale. "I am sorry ... "

"Hey," Azure whispered. Squeezing her paw. Looking so fragile ... next to her. "Hey, don't be sorry ... nothing to be sorry for."

"I did not wish to tell you," she confessed (still whispering).

"Think I was gonna be jealous?"

"I do not know ... " She sighed. "I thought you might be angry."

"If it was before we met ... why would I have reason to be angry? A lot of furs," he said, "find loves, find mates ... that they proceed to love and lose. Sometimes, we mess up like that," he said. "Sometimes, it doesn't work."

A nod.

"We all have pasts, but ... we all have a present. We have a future. I mean, our ... we," he said, trying to word ... whatever it was he wanted to word. "I don't plan on ... letting you go. I don't plan on LETTING," he corrected, "go."

She wasn't sure how to respond to such romance. So, she nuzzled his neck. Gave him a little nip ... on the back of his neck. On his fur. His pelt. And gave a purr.

He closed his eyes.

She pulled her muzzle an inch or two away, whispering, "I believe I would like to try some more cake."

A smile. Remarking, "Too bad snow rabbits don't dance. Too bad there's not music. Cause I would dance with you right now," he said.

"I do not know," she confessed, "how to dance. I have never danced."

"Well ... I've never really danced, either. I don't think ... any-fur," he confessed, "actually KNOWS how to dance. It's just ... spontaneous. I just ... " He took a breath. Ears swiveling at all the voices in the room. "Can we go home?" he asked. Eyes opening. Looking shy and ... a bit overwhelmed. "Back to Luminous, I mean?"

"Yes," was her whisper. And, again, she nipped at his neck. "We will go home."

"Can we dance in the dark ... in our room?" he whispered. With innocence that only a rodent could muster.

"We can try."

"Trying's half the fun," was his response. Was his smile. "But, first, we need more cake." A giggle. "Yeah?"

She eye-smiled ... just as the snow rabbits did. "I believe we do."



"Mouse!"

Field turned. Blinked. "Hi," he said. In his wispy, airy way. He cleared his throat. Shifting his daughter in his arms.

"Heh ... didn't mean to scare you," said Pyro.

"Wasn't scared."

"Just jumpy, then?" A grin.

"I'm always jumpy," Field whispered. Sitting at one of the tables. In the mess hall.

Pyro took a seat across from him.

Field, holding the baby in his arms, looked up. "Was there ... something you wanted?"

A shrug on the wolf's part. "Just hungry."

Field squinted. Whiskers twitched ... and tail snaked.

A chuckle. "Not for mice!" Another chuckle, shaking his head. Red eyes glowing with mirth. "I don't eat sentient furs ... well ... not most of the time."

Field couldn't tell if that was a joke or not.

Pyro just grinned.

"You're in a good mood."

"Yeah, well ... " Another shrug. And eyes daring. "Had a good night."

"Yeah?"

A nod.

A pause.

"I have a mate now."

Field smiled shyly. "Congratulations."

"Yeah ... " A smile. "Dotna. She's ... my mate."

"I can totally see the two of you," Field admitted, "as a couple. Honestly ... "

Pryo sighed, leaning back in his chair. Eyes glowing. And he looked at the baby. "What's her name?" he asked. "I don't think I ... anyone ever told me."

"Akira," said Field. Softly. "Her name's Akira."

"That's a good name. A strong name," Pyro said. Nodding in approval.

"Well, femme bats ... by tradition, have names that start with ‘A,' so ... it was Audrey or Akira, and ... we liked Akira." Field looked into her eyes. "I just ... it doesn't seem real, you know? That it should be real. She's my daughter. I have a child ... " He shook his head. "It scares me," he whispered.

Pyro just listened.

"I'm so worried about being a good parent. I just ... I'm so worried I'll mess it up."

"I don't think you will. I mean, I haven't been aboard this ship for very long, but ... from what I've observed of you, you seem to have your head on straight. I mean, it's not gonna fall off, is it?" the wolf asked. Grinning.

Field smiled and said, "Probably not."

"Well, then you'll be fine. You won't fall apart," Pyro assured.

Akira chitter-squeaked ... and gurgled. And stretched ... in Field's arms. Getting antsy.

"She tired?"

"Probably," Field said. "But that's not what she wants ... she's hungry."

"So, give her some baby food."

"Heh ... I don't have the proper ... equipment," Field said, "to do that."

"Oh." A chuckle. "That would make sense! I mean, I would hope you wouldn't have the equipment ... I mean ... I'll shut up now."

The mouse giggled.

"So, where is the milk-femme, hmm? Doesn't she know an order's been placed?"

"She's on duty. On the bridge. And, yeah, she knows ... she can sense it. But ... I watch the baby when she has to work, and she watches her when ... I have to work. And ... Ketchy watches her when we need some privacy." A pause. "I mean, the whole crew is our family. They're so kind to us. It's been hard, but they've ... you know, everyone's helped out ... you know, with things." The mouse went quiet. "Yeah, mommy's on the bridge," Field whispered, putting his muzzle on Akira's head. Giving the softest kiss. "Your mommy's on the bridge," he whispered, eyes closed.

Pyro smiled at the sweetness of the scene.

There was a momentary quiet.

Outside, the planet. The station. The stars.

And Pyro said, "I, uh ... I don't think your mate likes me."

Field opened his eyes. "Mm?"

"Adelaide. I don't think she likes me."

"Why do you say that?"

"She bristles when I come near. The other day, I came on the bridge ... to go to the ready room, to talk with Wren. You were at her station, and ... when I walked past the both of you, she bristled."

"Well, she's ... very protective of me," Field said.

"Do you need protecting?" Pyro asked.

Field looked to the window. And nodded. "Yeah," he whispered. And looked back to the wolf. "She doesn't trust you."

"Why not?"

"Back home, bats were ... brought to near-extinction ... by the predators."

"I'm not a predator," Pyro whispered.

"I know, but ... in our universe, you are."

"I'm not from your universe."

"But you're here NOW," Field emphasized. "And ... from our experience, from what we know, from what's imprinted in our brains ... you are a predator. Until you prove otherwise."

"Haven't I done that already? I mean, the way I act ... I helped you hunt down the wasps. I have a mate," he said, trailing.

"It just takes time ... I mean, I'm fine with you. But, I mean, I ... I can't criticize furs. I just ... sometimes, I'm too nice," Field said, closing his eyes. Letting out a breath. "Sometimes, furs take advantage of me."

"What do you mean?"

The mouse opened his eyes. "What?" A blink. "Mm ... nothing. Just ... my past," he said, trailing. "Some furs took advantage," he said, "of my innocence. My naivete. My ... nature," he said. "I had a traumatic few years. Before I ... got a second chance. Before I was stationed aboard Luminous. And it's been hard, but ... it's been a ride, you know?"

"Yeah ... "

"I mean, it's ... I'm blessed. I ... " The mouse trailed. "I have love all around me. I'm just terrified something's gonna fall from the sky and snatch it." A pause. "I think Chester ... is suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome. I saw him a few hours ago. I tried to talk to him ... I'm a mouse, you know. He's a mouse. I can tell. Something's wrong ... "

"Why are you mentioning this?" Pyro asked.

"I don't know ... just worried, is all. He says there's no problem, but ... you know, I have the same anxiety problems he does. And if I survived an attempt on my life ... I mean, I don't know ... "

Pyro nodded. And squinted. Red eyes glowing. Powerful nose sniffing.

"What?" Field asked.

"She's probing my mind." The wolf's voice, at level tone ... indicated surprise. Eyes ... looking at Akira. "She's trying to probe my mind."

"Oh," Field said. "Yeah, she does that to everyone." He said it ... as if it were a normal, everyday thing. "She doesn't really know she's doing it. And she can't do much with it. Just ... she reaches out, telepathically, with her little feelers ... her mental feelers. She's so curious ... "

The wolf stared at the child.

Field held the baby closer. Saying, "Adelaide told me ... that you can mentally deflect deep scans. That takes a lot of mental training."

"Yes, it does," Pyro agreed. Still toneless.

"She wants to know why ... you have that ability. It's part of why she bristles when you're near. She thinks you've something to hide."

"Just because I don't open my mind," he said, "to telepathic bats ... doesn't mean I'm harboring dangerous secrets."

"Well, you're hiding something. Else you wouldn't be so defensive."

Pyro just cocked his head. "She's stopped," he said. "I can't feel," he said, "the baby's feelers."

"She sensed your unease ... and she backed off. She only reaches for good feelings."

Pyro frowned. "I have good feelings."

"I didn't say you didn't," Field whispered.

"I come from a dark place," Pyro told the mouse. "I've done dark things. It's best that ... they're not aired. I have a new life," he said, "here. A new start. I don't want furs digging in my past. So, if they try and rip it out of my mind ... they're in for a struggle."

"No one's gonna rip anything out of your mind." A pause. "You say Adelaide doesn't like you ... but I don't think you like her. So, how can you lament on her attitude," Field asked, "when you've the same one? Attitude, that is?"

"Field, we best leave this topic alone ... " His voice trailed.

The mouse nodded. Heeding the advice.

Momentary quiet.

"So, Soldotna's your mate, now, huh?"

"Yep ... " A grin from the wolf. "She's great. We had ... " His eyes went to the baby. Remembering her presence. And looking back to Field, the wolf continued. "We had ... Y-I-F-F."

Field giggle-squeaked. "Yeah?"

"Uh-huh." A grin.

"You don't have to spell it, you know. Akira's way too young to ... know any of it. We don't have to talk in code."

"Feel we should," the wolf said. "She seems," he said, of the baby, "rather intuitive."

"Yeah ... "

"What about you?"

"What?"

"You still Y-I-F-F?"

The mouse flushed. Ears turning a rosier pink. "Well, I'm ... a fur, aren't I? Of course, I Y-I-F-F ... where do you think this beauty came from," he said, of the child in his arms.

"Heh ... no, I mean ... heh. Yeah. No, but ... I mean, with a baby and all. Affected your Y-I-F-F life?"

Field giggled. This was not stuff he normally just ... casually talked about. But, right now, he didn't so much mind. Replied, "Not really. We still ... Y-I-F-F ... once a day. Sometimes, we're tired, or we get interrupted ... it's not like it was before, and you might think it'd be worse, then, but it's ... in some ways, it's better. We're more mature. We know each other very well. We're deeply in love. It's very comfortable ... "

"Huh ... yeah?"

A nod. "She does this thing," Field said, "where she B-I-T-E-S my N-E-C-K ... during I-N-T-E-R-C-O-U-R-S-E ... links our bodies and minds, and we ... share each others ... O-R-G-A-S-M-S. Feel each other's thoughts ... and all ... "

"Wow ... heh ... lucky you ... "

"She has a very unique physiology."

"Mm ... I, uh, K-N-O-T-T-E-D ... Dotna last night. It was our first Y-I-F-F together."

"Was it good?" A giggling grin.

The wolf, licking his lips, gave a toothy smile. "Oh, yeah ... she makes the cutest chitter sound ... mm ... "

"I prefer giving O-R-A-L ... you know, rather than getting it. Basically, I always ... let Adelaide take the lead. I'm the S-U-B ... in B-E-D and out of it. I love it, too ... "

"Never would've guessed," Pyro teased.

"Am I that obvious?"

"You come off as ... a bit effeminate ... nothing wrong with that." A grin. "So, you love the P-U-S-S-Y eating, huh?"

A flush. "Something like that ... yeah ... not like I have a fetish about it. I'd ... much rather have plain old ... I-N-T-E-R-C-O-U-R-S-E, you know. I mean, I'm ... a simple mouse. I guess I'm too traditional, so ... but, yeah, I do ... I ... "

"Basically, I can safely put you in the pro-P-U-S-S-Y category, huh? Love doing all sorts o' things with it, to it ... just love it, hmm?"

"Um ... yeah," Field said, blushing. "Heh ... yeah ... "

"I tend to N-I-B-B-L-E and N-I-P ... during Y-I-F-F ... it's a wolf thing."

"I feel," said Field sheepishly, "like we're holding a spelling bee about S-E-X." Spelling the slang word for ‘yiff.'

"Who's winning?" Pyro asked. A chuckle.

"Not quite sure ... " A pause. "Anyway ... I'm happy for you and Dotna. I mean, it's ... I love ... love, you know? Love is great. I just ... seeing furs fall in love ... and being in love myself, and having little Akira here," he said, "exist because of my love. It's ... it's ... it's special, you know?" The mouse looked to Pyro. "Protect it. Protect her. Don't take it for granted."

"I won't ... "

The mouse nodded. Bouncing the baby a bit. Very gently. And whispering things to her. "She IS tired ... I think she's gonna fall asleep."

"Better take her back to your quarters."

"If I move, she might wake up," Field said.

"So, you're ... what, you're gonna sit here for hours, then?"

The mouse smiled. "Why not?" he asked.

A chuckle. "Isn't that inconvenient?"

"More like ... selfless. She needs to sleep. She's comfortable here. In this room. The quiet ... in my arms. She's wanting to sleep. I don't wanna jostle her." The mouse looked up. "Thought you were hungry?"

"Got so enraptured in our conversation," he said, "that I forgot about food!" A chuckle ... and a shrug.

A giggle from the mouse. "Mm ... "

"Well, I'll get my food and keep you company ... while you serve your time as the sentinel of slumber. How's that?" Pyro asked.

Field nodded. And gave a mousey smile.



" ... my word." Adelaide blinked, double checking the long-range sensors. That bat was currently in charge of the bridge (being that Wren and Rella were "relaxing" in the simulation room, and Field was off-duty, watching the baby).

She was at her Ops station. Doing scans and ... checking things.

An ion storm. Is what she saw.

Millions of miles across.

It was coming toward this system. It would blanket everything.

A ship could survive an ion storm ... as long as it powered down and ... rode it out. Ion storms fed on energy. In order to get through it, they would have to go to emergency power. Hole up on the ship (unless they wanted to leave the ship empty and stay on the surface of the planet).

The storm would take a whole day to pass.

It would make planet-fall in 22 hours ... give or take.

Would give them time to batten down the hatches. Secure Luminous, so they could get through the storm ... in her. With each other.

This, no doubt, would be interesting to ride out ...