One: Maggie’s New Job

Her phone kept buzzing and Maggie was doing her best not to notice it, if only because it was likely to be Hank sending her messages about how she cared so much about the job compared to him and his needs. Maggie was actually grateful for a distraction, but not at the level she was getting as the mountain lion sat on a chair in the Mayor’s office. Alongside Windancer there was Chief Bogo on hand as well as the rather unusual face of Head of Intelligence, Captain Prim, a rat that was not normally seen because of her jobs and duties but was looking very unhappy. In fact, Maggie Pawsley was well aware that the situation she was in was rather awkward and maybe a bit too much of a distraction. She was not too sure she was taking this in properly but it felt well above a secretary’s pay grade.

“Can… can you run that by me again? I mean… I know you’ve said you’ve been checking me out and I’m clear from any of the links to the Lynxley bad business but… you just said that there are other members of the Cat Council that are of concern and that I’ve now got to help keep some witnesses hidden?” Maggie was confused, it seemed Milton Lynxley had known how to manage everything good and bad. He’d covered his own wickedness through the operation of Snow Cat Security, which had taken on a variety of groups including the more wintery of the leopard subspecies and been a perfect place to hide a leopard from the Doa Clan and a jaguar from the Manchado family. She should have guessed and she knew exactly who it was because one of them was often on security at Milton’s Council office but stayed in the office during the meetings… but this couldn’t be any worse. “Oh crap…the Doa really are trying to get into Zootopia, aren’t they?”

“Even more so with the Lynxley out of the picture, the leopards looking for power in Tundra Town are likely to pair up with their leopard brethren to build up a network and start their business of shipping contraband in from Safari City. There is still an illegal meat market out there and the Doa are the ones with their paws in it. We’ve only had this information because of the figure in Witness Protection and well, Milton Lynxley knew and so did the head of the Amur Leopards, but we need you to know because with it being your job to allow an election in the cat council for someone to take Milton’s place… we need someone who can get the details to us, prevent leopard or jaguar taking position and the tigers… but also take one of our number in.” Chief Bogo stated with a groan, meanwhile Mayor Winddancer was suddenly looking excited, recalling one of the many movies he’d been in where he’d played the undercover gangster. Maggie could practically see it rolling around in his head and she gave a heavy sigh as she looked to Prim.

“Well… I know Milton was into a lot, as the Head Secretary and Assistant to the Cat Council Head, I can get information to you all without much trouble and I think I know who are in our protection… but there’s problems. Milton’s issue has meant there are elections currently in the cat community and within the next week I’m going to be introducing the new representatives and there’s no telling who or what…” Maggie began, knowing very well just how much trouble was involved in this. She then grimaced as he put one of her big paws to her sunken in cheeks and grimaced. She’d read the newspaper about the two-hundred escaped prisoners and how very unpleasant the situation had become as she grimaced. “I’m aware that Rodrigo Machado is still in your care, but his eldest son escaped and that he’s probably going to try and take over and cause trouble. But I also heard that he and third son Babatunde of the Doa Clan ended up scrapping in prison and put a blood hit on each other… so that’s going to be a topic of concern… not to mention… you’re still going to be investigating members of the council for their Milton links, right?”

“Exactly… but we’re going to plant an operative into the council, we’ll inform you of the operative tomorrow as the elections take place then?” Prim questioned, the black and white rat looking sleek and neat as she stood on the block emblazoned with the image of Winddancer. Maggie gave a soft sound of relief, glad to hear that they were at least doing something and she nodded her head firmly. But then her phone buzzed again and this time, it was obvious they wanted her to read it. Maggie turned to her handbag, pulling it up and gently unclipping the black top before unzipping and then taking out her bright pink phone with its squishy marshmallow character bulging out to make them all blink a moment.

“Oh… good news… Kali has been re-elected as Lion Representative again. You don’t have to worry too much about infiltrating the lions then, after-all Kali’s been going out with one of your officers, right Chief Bogo?” Maggie stated with a pleasant smile, knowing that there was no way a matriarch like Kali Hussein would ever be in a situation of concern. She was one of the most trusted figures in Zootopia and yet Maggie noticed the way Bogo was clearly trying to figure out which of the other old captains it might be. Even Prim looked to be trying to figure it out and Maggie was surprised; the lions were all over the situation as it was a bit of a scandal and she gave a nervous chuckle. “Uh… it’s Officer Johnson… I thought it was something everyone in Sahara Square was going on about... a handsome young officer the same age as her grandkids being seen at the opera and the dancing studios, going around with her to restaurants… everyone assume it was one of her grandsons… but I heard Bush Baby Tabloids got sued not to release the photo of them kissing, no doubt by Kali’s eldest son, he’s so fickle.”

“Whoa… now that’s lucky, not to mention… Kali’s likely to be the kind of power that can take on the tigers… looks like you’ve already got your officer… an Undercover Lover…” The Mayor stated, looking suddenly like he was building up a story for a spy movie and Chief Bogo’s paw was scraping against his face again whilst Prim looked intrigued. It was certainly a good idea to try and get Bob to pick up what he could, but what about everyone else? Prim then straightened up and cleared her throat gently.

“Anyway… yes, with the issues the cat community is going to face form the Lynxley fallout and the clambering for power, not to mention how much the Lynxley’s kept the others in line… there’s no telling what is going to be headed our way so having our ears to the cats will mean more chance to prepare. No matter what, the copies of reports you hold from meetings we will require and any information you can give us. But most importantly we need the Rosetta family to be kept safe… we can’t rely on anyone in Sahara Square or Rainforest Heights, so we need you to scout out who would be the best to take on their protection.” The rat stated and Maggie nodded her head gently. She really was not sure what was happening but she was aware that from now on she was going to get pulled into unpleasantness she doubt she would ever truly be ready for. She gulped heavily as she considered it and then nodded her head again.

“Okay… so I get all the results in by three tomorrow afternoon, I’ll come to Police Headquarters at four and send the results to you as I go so that you can pull their files up. I’ll compare whatever information I have on them with you and then we can move onto areas of concern and I can make sure to talk to their assistants and bug their offices or the meeting or anything you need me to do.” Maggie stated firmly, knowing she could do whatever it was they needed as long as she was not actually sticking her neck out. It was not that she did not appreciate the importance of such a position and it was certainly not about glory, but she was very much aware of how much danger she could be in and then another text came through and she checked it. “Oh… Vladimira Morozova has taken the tiger position, I heard Kiril had not been well lately… but that’s not a good thing, is it?”

“That’s the first step in our concerns… Vladimira is particularly icy and harsh…. If anyone’s wanting to get back at the Lynxley’s it would be the Amur Tigers. But I’m surprised to be fair, tigers tend to be a little more traditional and choose male representatives and wasn’t it the Fangmeyer family that were looking to be the top position?” Prim questioned, turning up towards Bogo who gave a soft pout. He had heard about it from Priti Fangmeyer, her father had wanted to get into it to step away from the entertainment industry, he was a master choreographer that had trained Gazelle’s choreographer and well, it would have been a break from the traditional three tiger families to take the representative seat. Bogo looked uncomfortable but then Maggie waggled her paw gently.

“Actually… Vladimira is much more shrewd than her father and she’s got kids in good positions around that are on better terms with the Zootopia Elite, I mean her husband is quite nice too and soft. She could be the better candidate because she appeals to all groups but… more importantly… if we’re offering her for example… a chance to totally remove Lynxley power… she’ll take it. She’ll probably also take a chance to hit out at the leopards and jaguars… so maybe we could approach her to protect the Rosetta?” Maggie stated, she’d had Vladimira come into the office once or twice when her father hadn’t been well and her doting husband Vasiliy was such a beaming and happy fellow who’d been so polite. Vladimira had been stern but appreciative and she’d moved the logistics firm away from some more dubious dealings. “I have the slight feeling she might have been a source of tips on the catnip movements in the docks, after-all she moved her shipping line from there once there was the first whisperings.”

“You uh… you actually have quite a bit of useful information there. I think we’ve chosen the right cat for the job. Alright, with that settled I think we should be in a situation where we’ll have all the information we need and a way to handle it. Chief Bogo… is this satisfactory to you?” Captain Prim questioned, pausing to suddenly groom her whiskers in a display of confidence and hinting she was comfortable with how things were being approached. The big buffalo was remaining looking stunned, he like many of the mammals born in Sahara were all very much aware of Kali Hussein as like matriarchal along with the elephant mothers but… that she was dating one of his officers… that was a surprise! “Chief?”

“Uh… yeah… I better talk to Officer Johnson then…” Chief Bogo stated with a dumb expression upon his muzzle. He really was not sure how he was going to broach that but, maybe it was actually something like Johnson was trying to get with her granddaughter or great-granddaughter? He was going to have to approach it very carefully and with that sorted, the two officers stood up, hook paws with the puma and then left, leaving Maggie sitting on the chair in the Mayor’s officer as the horse waited for the door to close and then immediately bowed his head.

“I am so sorry Maggie… it’s a lot of pressure and I said it wouldn’t be fair on you but they think you’re the only one who can be trusted. But I told them, if you say it’s too much I’m dropping it and making sure your safe!” Brian stated, stretching his hooves out to grip her paws and hold them gently. Maggie smiled, gripping his hooves back and smiling before nodding her head with a soft chuckle.

“I’m fine Brian… to be fair I felt like I was so useless when that all happened, I want to help. Besides it's a good distraction from Hank’s crap. I still can’t believe he decided our relationship was one ‘open’ and two… one where I was supposed to not be successful.” Maggie sighed, glad for the chance to just relax and being around Brian a little more. Brian heaved a snort of relief and then shook his head, his luxurious mane swinging as he agreed and then Maggie smiled. “I’m glad you proved you’re a hero again, remember you are your own hero.”

“And you’re stronger than you think Maggie. Remember what we learnt in therapy, the when we ask for help it means the worst is already behind us. You and I know that and I am so sorry with how Hank betrayed you but I know… you can overcome it. Also, if they put too much pressure on you, you just need to tell me!” Brian continued, making it clear that the friendship they made in their time in a special therapy program to help those with eating disorders, still rang true. Maggie was very thankful, especially as she’d been afraid of Milton having pushed behind Brian to be the Mayor, but she stood up and went to give him a gentle hug. He gave a soft snort in response to it, feeling her cuddle him and then release her to step back towards the door as Maggie turned to him and thanked him before leaving.

Maggie stepped out of the office and then turned to her phone again to see what Hank had messaged her about. Most of it was that her decision had upset their parents who had wanted them to get married and Maggie took a deep breath. As she dared to lift her big plush tail for a bit of balance going down the steps, she made sure to block the number so the handsome rock climbing instructor that had actually made the decision to dump her because he’d been making overtures about commitment and technically been cheating constantly. It felt good to block him, but she knew that he would appeal to his parents who were old friends of her father and her father would try and push them back together the way he’d pushed them together in the first place. Maggie pressed at her forehead where a headache was building and then was suddenly distracted by a leaf fluttering on the street, her eyes widening with excitement before she shook her head but then found herself laughing about the things that caught cats.

She marched on down the street into the main highway of Savanna Central, noticing the various shops she was passing and then noticing a place she hadn’t actually visited in a while. She’d need to catch the train to get to her apartments just before Tundra Town in the Rocky District, but she was drawn to the familiar form of a café just in front of the park, on a corner that had a big milkshake icon on the side and an advertisement of ‘Packed with Protein’. She padded over, noticing that there was a gnu gently cleaning what looked like a brand new window and ensuring the stickers were upon it and Maggie gave a grimace. She’d heard that during the protests about the predators, the café had been vandalised but she felt bad not to have come out here then… not to have seen her.

Cautiously, the puma stepped to the doorway and looked inside, almost afraid to see whoever might be on duty but relieved when she spotted it was an aardvark. Carefully, she stepped inside and noticed three of the tables and chair were occupied but the rest was empty, it was a nerve wracking but she stepped inside and heard the bell tingle. The aardvark lifted a paw in greeting to her and Maggie straightened up looking unsure, waggling a paw before then stepping forward. She swung her thick tail forward, holding onto it and stroking and massaging it for reassurance as she gulped anxiously and then looked towards the different options before spotting the familiar one she always asked for.

“Uh… could… could I get the uh… Preemo Protein with blueberry but could I get some cream twirled on top?” Maggie questioned, twirling her hand onto her black tail tip and lowering her head because she felt so anxious. It had been a year since she’d last been in here and now she did not know if she was asking for the moon with this. But the aardvark beamed in delight and beckoned Maggie to sit down, only to mention she needed to pass the Preemo shakes onto the chef in the back. It was normal and Maggie thanked her before settling down in her usual spot, her tail onto her shoulder as she stroked down it both for reassurance and for grounding. She still found it hard to eat outside of the home, she always felt there was less control and yet as she stroked her tail and told herself that there was nothing to worry about, she heard the sound of the blender and it soothed her. It was strange how the smell of the cotton candy air reeds always made her smile, she had so many good memories in here and so she calmed as she considered the situation.

They could not have given her a more dangerous task if they had wanted to, aside from going after the two hundred escaped prisoners of course. She knew that amongst the many cats that was likely to be problematic and will move herself into the fore would be Emira. The Caracal was a lawyer and she’d been Milton’s friend and she was the one who’d set Kattrick up with his fiancée, not to mention the concerns on whether Emira might have been climbing into Milton’s bed. She doubted that, but it was a better cover to her going to see him that being involved in anything illicit and Emira had also set Pawbert’s tent up in the desert too. She was also likely to be in on the meat trade, something about her always more menacing than usual and she’d seen her react to rodents before… if anyone was going to make chaos it would be her, but would it be under Milton’s control and instruction?

“Preemo Protein with blueberries and cream on top… in a pink tinted cup because I know you like the way the pink colour shows up on the cream.” Maggie almost leapt out of her chair, turning around with a nervous look before seeing the familiar fluffy face of the cheetah café owner. Maggie found herself unable to stay anything, her heart squeezing that the figure had remembered and then she was surprised as they sat with her, smiling as softly as he always did. “Benji told me Bogo was going to see you and that I should look out for you… I heard from the grape vine about Hank… did you want to talk about it?”

“Oh… oh Tiffany… I think I’m about to have a very, very chaotic next few weeks and you don’t know how much I would love to talk to you about these things…” Maggie began, but she was building up to the ‘but its not fair after how I ended things’, only for Tiffany to grip her paws very gently, letting the plump tail slip down as Tiffany beamed at her softly.

“We were friends first and I never assumed we stopped being friends. I’m here for you Maggie, you clearly need it.” Tiffany stated and Maggie sighed, she had always loved Tiffany and going to Hank had just been her obedience to her father and his hopes for her to be happy, but she’d always been happy with Tiffany and she was so glad to see her now.

At the Palm Hotel, the richest and most exclusive rooms in the whole of the Sahara Square, the staff were practically bowing and scraping to the figure that had arrived that evening after going to watch the hotel’s evening entertainment, the Springbok Dancers. The staff made sure there were no cameras going to follow them, few staff on hand so the rumours did not spread and they made sure everything was to the satisfaction of one of the richest cats in Zootopia, Kali Hussein the Matriarch of Hussein Pharmaceuticals. The lioness marched strongly despite her elder age with her nose up and her ears weighed down by a variety of different earrings, the more she could carry in her ears and bands about her neck, the more wealth she was shown to have. Her tawny body was wrapped in a red shawl over a dress bearing the traditional tribal markings of her own family group as she strolled around Sahara Square, always reminding them that she had come from very humble beginnings and had not and would not forget her roots.

“Please ma’am, we’ve got the phone rigged up to go the manager’s office so you have no need to talk to receptionists or members of staff that aren’t aware of your situation. If you would request a turn down crew…” The elegant oryx concierge bowed his head gently before then opening the door to one of the more exclusive suites that had a bubbling fountain at its centre, cushioned seating and a four poster bed that was wrapped in gossamer curtains. However, a gentle paw lifted and she turned about to face him with a forever noble expression upon her face although her voice was slightly rough and rattled as she spoke very gently to him.

“As always everything is perfect and I would not want to inconvenience your team, its been a busy night and I hope the Springbok Dancers are given your full attention. Offer them whatever they would like and put it on my tab, I would like to thank them for the dignity and grace they showed and reminding the van Veldt of their heritage.” Kali stated gently, which made the oryx bow even lower to the ground before he left her and her young companion to their room. As soon as the door closed she heard the gentle chuckle from the figure beside her and she looked over her shoulder with a soft snort. “You know their granddaughter… the problem is that Morn van Veldt has a tendency to forget that his grandmother was patron of the arts back in the day and was the one to put the money behind the dancers. Morn could have at least paid for their travel and advertised them… but he doesn’t like to be reminded his father was not born in Zootopia.”

“You risk getting on his nerves with tonight though, thankfully he thought I was your grandson Felix but… I know his niece is also on the force and of course Felix’s cousin is one of my fellow officers too… Felix might be quite willing to cover for me but its putting you at risk of ridicule. Your children still are not happy with this situation, except Safiya of course.” Officer Bob Johnson had recalled how stunned he’d been the day he’d been helping with the peaceful protests Gazelle had bene holding and he’d seen the intimidating Kali Hussein amongst them. When it had gotten a little aggressive and someone had thrown a bottle that had struck him on the brow, he had not expected the lionesses to have come straight to him to help him heal the wound and well, he couldn’t get the image of her out of his head and so when he’d ended up dragged to his mother’s attempt at a fancy party for her book launch. He’d not expected a book about equalising relationships between predator and prey by his psychiatrist mother would have drawn her in but, as he’d been bombarded by his mother’s friends who kept asking her to write a book about raising a son that represented Predator Authority, he’d received a tap to the shoulder. He’d ended up spending the evening with Kali and she’d invited him to some fancy stuff, his mother pushing because they could use Kali’s influence but if his mother knew what was going on between them… she really would write a book!

“They’re just very much stuck on the memory of their father, Hakim was a wonderful husband, a great philanthropist and of course… an excellent doctor. But it was a different time, as much as I loved him, there was always something absent in it. I could never put a claw on it but, around you I feel like I’m living my life anew and I feel like we’re very much more in tune.” Kali chuckled softly as she stepped to the bar in the room and decanted some special milk for cats to drink, pouring it into a glass with ice and then offering it to him as Bob stepped over to her side. He took her paw gently into his, steering it up and kissing it gently before the pair then kissed gently before she passed the milk to him with a chuckle. “Heh… are you afraid about spending the night with me in a fancy hotel room like some sugar baby?”

“Heh… I think I prefer toyboy…” Bob chuckled, but he was so glad to be around someone that was not only fun but she was much more down to earth, did not try to climb ladders and certainly did not try to excuse his desire to be a cop as replacement for the lack of a father figure. He took the chilled milk and drank some gently, knowing it was the most expensive brand but that if he’d have asked for some lower end one she would have gladly switched it. Kali didn’t push for him to be anything, she didn’t even mind that he’d just worn a neat white shirt and black trousers today but no tie or jacket to make him collapse in the humidity. “Kali… I’m not afraid of being with you tonight… but I’m a little unsure if there are a particular set of rules I need to adhere to with you. I don’t like the thought I could be too enthusiastic or…”

Her lips pressed to his to silence him and he quivered in excitement as she smirked and then gently began to unbutton his shirt….

To Be Continued in Chapter 2

Chapter 2 – Officer Johnson

To think he would ever have been able to attract the attention of an exceptionally rich cat was sort of his mother’s dream, but that this queen would be older than his mother and someone everyone viewed as the mother of all lions… it was awkward. When Bob Johnson had gone on his very first date with Kali, he’d though nothing much of it but that he’d obviously been pretty embarrassing. However, they’d continue to chat and message, always sharing jokes and she would send him messages during boring meetings, paws and phone under the table, about how much she wished she was not old and expected to act old. Bob could get it, when he’d been a kid his father had died and his mother had decided instead of letting him just be a kid he had to be an adult and their relationship had changed… but that’s why he was not surprised when his mother had seen him kissing Kali’s paw, leaving her car from their third date and it still rang around his head.

Are you choosing her because she is more motherly to you? This is not grounds for a good relationship Robert… you can’t replace your mother with an intimate adult partner and it screams you need to see someone in my profession.

Bob’s mother always made everything about her, that had been her whole spiel during his teenage years, every achievement was about her being a good mother. But when he’d decided against going into architecture and instead joined the police academy, that was ‘oh I tried my best but I couldn’t be the authority figure he wanted and now he’s becoming the father he thought he should have had, but I never took on another partner because I didn’t want him to be neglected’… that really had not been it. He’d not wanted to be an academic because it hadn’t been what he’d wanted and with Kali… she respected him, laughed with him and it was just amazing. Was he in some weird complex based relationship with her? He really did not want to think so and Kali did not think so as he watched her gently removing her earrings and then returned her paws to the hem of his jeans.

“There are no rules… I’ll tell you if you’re not doing well and you’ll know when you’re doing great. I do insist on protection, but because its just sensible, I’ve also got a lot of lubricant on hand because that is useful with me. But tell me, is there anything you don’t want me to do, things you don’t want me to say or do?” Kali questioned, glad to feel as she undid his zip and felt the bulge that Bob was as aroused by her kiss as she was feeling right now. She was surprised by the hot sensation in her belly, the tingling in her groin and the fact her nipples were wrinkling with the anticipation of being fondled. She was aware though, Bob’s family dynamic meant there was likely to be things that could trigger him and she did not want to trigger something that would only make him think of his mother and yet Bob could not help but chuckle.

“I think as long as we call each other Kali and Bob and just say yes or no… deeper or faster and the like… keep it simple, it’ll be fine. I’ll be honest Kali, I haven’t been with anyone for a little while, if I’m rusty you have to…” Bob began again, clarifying he did not want to be too much and yet her paw sat on his lips and he looked into her big reddish brown eyes as she fluttered her long lashes, her elegant muzzle making his whole body tremble with anticipation. She then slid back onto the selection of thicker square cushions and gently brought her paws to her back. As Bob watched with his throbbing erection starting to push up against his pants, Kali gently unhooked things from her back and then dropped her paws to the bottom of the dress, slowly steering the fabric up to show a body that was not thin and not flabby but aside faded colour on her sides and more silver edges to her sides and belly, she looked quite elegant and her bra hanging loose made his nostrils quiver in anticipation.

“I’ve got two more to take off and you’ve got three… I think you have to remove something now.” Kali chuckled teasingly as she lounged back, proving she’d removed her tights with the dress and in her soft aqua coloured underwear, she sat back looking expectantly towards the heavy gulp from the young male. Bob looked to himself, he was wearing his underwear and his paws in their socks. With a playful smirk he lifted one paw up onto the cushion, showing off the taunt muscles in his legs and then began to slowly slip the long black sock off his paw with a soft and slow wheeze of pleasure as Kali clapped her hands. “When you do the other, you have to do music… like this…”

Bob gulped as he heard her humming and then watched her hands stretch back behind her neck to gently unhook the bra with its higher strap. She then gently began to wiggle her shoulders as the clothing went slack and gently began to shimmy. As she did so, the straps slid down her arms and her cups sat loosely upon her bosom, slowly the natural bulge of the breasts were pushing themselves up and out. Finally, pulling her arms in, her bra was pushed off as she wiggled and then the straps slid down her arms as she leant forward, shimmying again to show off that despite age her breasts were still voluminous and perky. She gave a soft sigh of pleasure as she felt it fall off and then lounged back suddenly with a proud smirk. She then stretched a hind paw out to prod at his remaining sock.

“Your turn.” She growled playfully and Bob gave a heavy gulp, swelling within his pants and then casually lifting the other paw up onto the bed. He then slowly gripped the edges of the sock and began to give strange sounds he was trying to make into some kind of seductive display. But as he rolled his sock down, he’d pause and give a gasp and roll it back up before rolling it down again. Kali gave a soft giggle, clapping her hands and then trying to hide the louder laugh she wanted to produce as he slid the sock to the end of the paw. As it sat on the end of his paw, he then swung his paw, arms out to balance and making the sock swing around as Kali gave a hoot of delight and was clapping her hand. The sock flicked off and she dove on the bed to grasp it. “Oooh… a nice display… sure you haven’t done this before?”

“This is a first…” He chuckled and then gently slid himself onto his knees and onto the bed. Kali then smirked before rolling around, pushing her hips up towards his face. He crawled over her back, kissing the back of her neck and then down her spine, it was a little more prominent but he’d been with very slim girls that were similar before and her fur was softer and smoother as he kissed down. She gave a soft sigh of pleasure and then felt him hook his teeth onto her underwear as he gave a playful growl. “Now… I’ll help you with this…”

“Then I’ll help you…” Kali growled and suddenly hoisted a paw up onto his shoulder and then another, suddenly arching her back with surprising suppleness as he gripped hold of her knickers. She swung her paws about his underwear and as she rolled he was peeling her out of her underwear as she pushed her face into his groin. Bob had to grip the fabric tightly, almost gasping in disbelief as he felt her muzzle barging and pressing hungrily into his groin and making him want to moan out in desperation. Kali though was freed of her underwear and suddenly lounging in his lap with a chuckle. “You going to get naked now?”

“Heh… you always give me a shock… but a happy one.” Bob stated, gently climbing over her so she could hook her own teeth carefully at the hem of his pants. Kali then gently pulled his underwear down, giving a soft gasp as his thick cock bounced suddenly against her face, fully erect and desperate. As soon as she peeled his underwear down to his knees, Kali opened her mouth and rather casually took his cockhead into her mouth. She began to pump and squeeze, sucking powerfully and making Bob brace into his knees and paws against the bedding with a moan of desperation. His hips wanted to jerk but he had to tighten the muscles so he did not as Kali hungrily stuffed his meat into her mouth. He shivered and groaned in delight, stunned by her eagerness before he spotted she’d left the lubricant beside her and he managed to go onto his elbows.

As the elder lioness was hungrily sucking him down, her tongue rolling and pressing against every exciting spot on his member, Bob grabbed the bottle. He poured it casually onto her pussy, pleased by the scent and noting too it was a spermicide, although he was not sure he could get her pregnant he was not unhappy by the use of such protections. He then brought a paw to her pussy, stroking the liquid into the folds and then opening his mouth. He pursed his lips to pinch around her fattening clitoris and began to suck at it gently to encourage her to get wetter. Kali noticed and her legs spread wide and she moaned as she continued to suck on him and Bob began to gently shift a digit into her opening.

The pair panted gently, blowing warm air onto the pussy and then sighing happily as he was able to start slipping his digit in deep. He felt her insides squeezing about him but then relaxing as he sucked, the way her pussy seemed to pout for him and let him in deeper mingled with his growing desire and the pleasure of her mouth working his shaft. He probed a second digit in, groaning at her actions as she seemed to be drawing him in deeper. He quivered and tried to tighten his muscles as he gently inserted the second finger into a hot passage that was starting to fill with honey. He felt her squeezing his digits more and he sucked at her clit and pumped his digits, urging her to open out and be ready for him.

Kali groaned and then gently steered his cock free from her mouth. She then turned her attention to mouthing and grasping her lips about his balls, his cock slapping a little wetly onto her chest and against her neck. She opened her mouth wide to push her tongue against his balls and make them heat as he shuddered and panted with anticipation, adding a third finger. The pair continued to tease and paly with one another happily, panting and moaning at the other’s fuss before Bob was able to get a fourth finger in without too much resistance and then Kali stopped, leaning back with a desperate pant.

“I’m ready for you now, if it gets too tight you can squeeze my nipples and I’ll rub on my clit, it should open it out a little more then.” Kali panted, her eyes shining with a hungry expression as Bob licked his shining lips in anticipation. He would be careful, as much as she did not want him to worry he was going to make sure he did it properly as he gently turned around the face her. Their lips came together in soft, strong sucks of one another as they moaned and sighed. They rubbed chins and cheeks, their whiskers straining and their ears pinning back as they gave guttural growls of pleasure and continued to press their chins and necks together for a moment. Then Bob carefully stretched his paw out to where he’d also spotted the condom she’d left, it was lubricated and slippery as anything, but he pinched the tip, slipped it over and then rolled it down gently as she gave a growl of pleasure. “It always makes me happy that you practice safe sex.”

“Heh… well… it’s the right thing to do, isn’t it?” Bob chuckled, but he was rather aware now that when he did something like this, it made Kali feel a lot younger and like her body was appreciated. Even if she probably could not have children again at her age, the fact he was still handling himself as if that could be possible made her feel even more excited. Bob liked the way she got a kitten’s flare for mischief in her eyes as he did it and gently, he brought himself to her velvety lower lips and calmly slid himself into the beckoning, slick mouth below as Kali gasped in pleasure.

“Bob… you’re not small are you?” Kali chuckled, blushing heavily with her pupils widening with excitement over what was going on as gently, he eased himself into her body. She gave a groan, feeling the bubble of pressure climbing up ahead of it and the stretch in her body. There was no burn but she could feel a slight ache in her hips and a sensation like her hips might crack, but it was filled with even more pleasure by the way the barbed cockhead was strafing old points that had been ignored for a while. She took steady breaths, not clenching down on him and leaning back and rolling her hips up to help him. Once Bob was full sheathed within her warm body, he was panting heavily but felt perfectly positioned as he lounged over her chest and licked at her clavicle in a slow, pleasant drag. “That’s beautiful.”

“Ready when you are…” Bob whispered, almost hoarsely because he was holding back the desire to clasp her thighs up and hammer into her. She needed the slow, passion-fuelled movements that were going to make them both feel satisfied and loved up. He groaned softly as his hips rocked a little, testing the waters to see if she was willing for his movements and of course, she gave a sharp gasp of pleasure for the sensation. Kali gave a groaned of delight and then her mouth pressed to Bob’s in another soft kiss before he purred softly. “I love you.”

“I love you too… so shall we enjoy ourselves?” She panted, her voice breathy and her mouth open, her eyes glittering with her ears straining forward. When they kissed again her paws wrapped about his back, her claws tapping along his shoulders for a moment as if testing him too. Bob and her kissed again more hungrily and then their noses pressed together as he began to rock steadily back and forth. Slowly, he plunged in as deep as her body would allow, feeling her almost snap about him before then relaxing as if releasing him from a deeper kiss. He gave a soft wheeze at the sensation and rocked his hip back gently, feeling her paws and claws start to knead into his shoulders, telling him he was doing well as he plunged in deep again. He ground a little, feeling her pinching and clenching about him with more speed before then sliding back, the movement smooth as she gasped gently in pleasure.

They kissed again and then Bob let her lean onto his shoulder, the pair of them almost curling into one another as Kali began to pant and gasp softly as Bob became faster. He felt her body welcoming him with hungry grasps and boiling wet pleasure that made him melt as h shuddered in desperation against her. Her hot breath wafted against him and her paws kneaded against his back so that Bob could not help but groan with pleasure as he hooked his paws gently around her waist and then started to move. Slowly, he began to pull back with his hips and then rub near the entrance, making Kali gasp more and her insides beckon for more of him. But Bob was careful, panting gently to push himself in a little deeper but to keep grinding as Kali moaned and her insides squeezed about him tightly. Then gently, Bob let himself plunge in deeply again, feeling the hot honey within bubble, squelch and squeeze around his form as he rubbed in deep and Kali groaned against the pressure.

The lion lay over her more carefully, not letting her take his weight but getting enough purchase as her legs wrapped about his hips for more strength. Kali was showing off just how agile and flexible she remained as steadily, Bob began to thrust and pump himself back and forth, rubbing into a spot that made her insides clench and clasp as she gave lower growls and heavy pants. He licked his lips at the pressure he could feel building up within him and he groaned softly alongside her as they both continued to rock back and forth, working hard to make her feel good. She groaned and whined at the pleasant sensations as Bob was rubbing right onto the best spot and he groaned out happily as he felt her insides sucking and squeezing him deeper.

“Kali… Kali I love you…” Bob groaned, knowing he was coming towards his end but he felt her warmth wrapped about his entire body as she held him gently. Bob continued to rock steadily, trying to hold himself from ending too soon but feeling her kneading paws to his shoulders and back and nuzzling into her breasts. She kissed at his face and his brows, nuzzling her chin against his thick mane and they both moaned and sighed hotly with pleasure as they grasped and squeezed at one another as Bob was rubbing himself into her.

Kali’s eyes were watering, she had not felt the heat in so long and she had not felt this satisfied in a while either. Her eyes were glittering and her body felt as young as it had ever felt, the pains and aches of tomorrow for then alone as she moaned out happily. Her body felt like a pool of liquid and she could still feel the pressure building with the damn fit to burst as Bob’s cock seemed to be striking at the right weakness within the wall. She moaned and growled, licking into his mane and even biting at it, glad he was licking her chest and nipping at her too as he continued to thrust with his hips before their unexpected bliss came to an unexpected height.

Perhaps it was because it had been so long, but where Kali had been used to longer sessions and Bob had been trying so hard to hold back, the fuse they’d lit finally reached its end. In a glorious, guttural groan together that was a stifled roar, the two lions reached their peak together with a torrent and a gush. Kali felt his sheath swell within and then her own body flood about him as she felt the shock and ecstasy roaring out of her throat and her legs tightening to keep the moment just a fraction longer. As she felt him relax his muscles and yet continued to kiss her, Kali’s head went back and she could swear her paw pads were now sweaty as she moaned happily.

“Oh Bob…” She purred happily as Bob groaned softly, his whole body zinging with pleasure at the relief of himself. But carefully, he steered himself free, knowing not to let himself linger and yet, as he pulled back both of them gave gasps of surprise at a sudden sensation of heat and fluid and then Bob pulled back carefully. His cheek fur was going rosy as he pulled free and noticed the sheath slowly deflating from an obvious leak. He gave a soft swear of frustration, removing it from himself and then cautiously going to the en suite to clear himself up, Kali chuckled as she lounged back with a sigh. “I think we were both too desperate darling…”

“As long as I haven’t hurt you or done something… although if I have, I’m taking responsibility.” Bob stated, only to flush as he looked at himself in the mirror and found himself thinking about not only marrying Kali but getting her pregnant. He quickly dunked his huge head under the taps though, shaking his fur and giving a groan because he knew damn well how stupid that thought was. Well… the pregnancy maybe… but he did wonder if perhaps one day, she and he might consider marrying? But as he cleaned up Kali was aware of a phone call coming in and she grimaced before denying it and sending a message to the worrying son that she was not to be disturbed… sometimes she felt like they were trying to parent her….

Tiffany and Maggie were enjoying a lunchbreak together; the puma had spent the morning boxing up all of her items from her ex’s flat before he was back from groping backsides as a rock climbing instructor. She had not been surprised though that when she’d turned up, there’s been a pretty little jaguarundi lounging in his bed that hadn’t realised he’d gone out. Maggie made sure to be quiet, she didn’t see the need to wake the poor girl and no doubt it was only going to be a disappointing day for her. But with everything gathered and her items removed from the kitchen, and the fridge, Maggie had brought it all to the shop and set it up in the apartment above. Tiffany had been there to help her and it had been a chance to reunite and bond and remember how it was always so nice between them as they’d settled for a lunch and Maggie had groaned as her phone had been pinging like mad.

“Oh dear… that sounds like a LOT of work.” Tiffany stated, looking towards her with a nervous expression as she then took her shake and took a heavy slurp. She was aware just how busy everything had been for Maggie with the whole Lynxley affair, but she was aware because Cousin Benjamin had been messaging her all morning, that Maggie had to help out with bigger problems and needed support. He didn’t have to ask Tiffany to give support, the cheetah had found that the dating scene was not exactly what it used to be and no one quite got her the way Maggie did, plus leaning more into the demisexual spectrum, Tiffany did not always find it easy to just bounce from partner to partner and these days all the apps were just for hooking up. “I will tell you straight up when I was asked to put my vote in I went with Elijah Whiteclaw, he’s been doing a lot to encourage opening up cat gyms for different animals and encouraging wellbeing based exercise above body mass index stuff. I was actually surprised because he popped up out of nowhere recently to throw his hat in.”

“Yeah he was a surprise, I mean I voted for Quinta because despite the fact she’s getting on, I’ve worked with the Jaguarundi and she’s easy to work with… Elijah’s going to be interesting, especially considering he just retired from the racing circuit at the top position. I guess that’s the best time to retire, just before anyone else can beat you.” Maggie sighed, shaking her head as she looked at the results that were sent to her after being double-checked by the guys who checked for voter fraud. She was stunned too that Elijah had suddenly added her number to a group chat he called ‘Cat Council’ and was filling it with positive posts that meant he’d never sat in a meeting before and was going to regret everything soon enough. “He’s going to be overwhelmed pretty quick… but looks like Bruce Summers got the Lynx position… glad it went to a Bobcat and one who is going to be a good representative in councils for the lynx. He’s got huge shoes to fill…”

“Well, metaphorically but also physically, doesn’t he have to get his shoes custom made by the rodents?” Tiffany questioned, trying to make it sound a little like a bad joke and making Maggie’s face wrinkle with a smile. But Maggie was looking even more drained as she began to look down the list and then thought to show Tiffany that not only had Vladimira taken her position but also Mateo Balaam had gotten through for the Ocelot grouping and he was a pain as Tiffany gave a grimace of frustration. She was shaking her head in disbelief before then giving a heavy sigh of frustration. “Were you surprised? Vladimira’s got the position she most wanted and Mateo has been running a smear campaign and reminding all the small cats how much he hated Lynxley and opposed any interference in Marsh Market… I know one of the jaguar candidates had been tying to prevent that acquisition too… who’s in for the jaguars?”

“Trouble… her name is Sofia de Sangre, which is more than a little worrying but she says it was a legally changed surname by her grandfather to make them appear unique compared to others out there. But why blood? Doesn’t help a lot of us have suspected that she’s just a face for the jaguar crime syndicate although I know she’s actually not too bad. She’s a purely business cat working on the riverboat transportations and the jungle remedies as well as rare and exotic plants but... those aren’t exactly careers away from crime are they? But she’s clearly the legal face of the organisation and I’m going to have to talk about that with the Chief more… just glad I’m not dealing with that knowledge on my own!” Maggie stated with a heavy sigh, but she didn’t like the leopard candidate either… she’d never heard of him. She hadn’t heard of the Clouded Leopard, the bay cat or even the Pallas cats that had been voted in thus far and she was not too sure that Gordon the Wildcat might not actually be one of the police plants. She liked Gordon though; he was doing well to take his position because he’d been a pillar of the wildcat community and been fostering better relationships with Little Rodentia. But she sank back into the seat with a groan before she felt the long tail of the cheetah stroking against her own long tail. Her whiskers twitched and she was surprised at the show of understanding before Tiffany gave a chuckle.

“At least you have reliable Mother Kali and Dulguun… the lion and the snow leopard will definitely keep everyone in line and certainly their not interested in the all the drama. That’s a point though, Dulguun is probably the better choice to pass Snow Cat Security into, he’s the head of the Snow Leopards so I’m sure they’d differ to him rather than to the tigers. But then again the Amur leopards might want a chance for position… hmm… who is in charge of Snow Cat Security now?” Tiffany asked, knowing that the only thing that had been really working hard to keep the situation between all cat families calm had been the security teams. Timberland Security was wolf based and certainly only a few government figures trusted them with that job, cats did not trust dogs and yet for bringing it up, she could see Maggie’s head sinking.

“That’s the question… Lynxley Estate falls into the care of his Legal Counsel, his lawyer and well… she’s just managed to gain the seat for the Caracals, knocking our dear serval from his seat.” Maggie grimaced and Tiffany’s eyes widened in concern as she realised who it was and Maggie nodded her head. “Emira Kocak…”

The High Security Prison in Zootopia was used to handling the varying legal representatives that came through its doors. They were often exhausted defence attorneys trying to make sure that everyone had representation no matter what and the kind of corporate lawyers trying to deal with all sorts of things that have caused chaos. Generally, it was simple and everything made sense and with the phone rooms things were monitored and everyone was scrutinised. They did not normally feel like they needed to straighten up and act like they really were doing their work, but when Lawyer Emira Kocak was visiting it was different.

When she came to the office to log in, the sheep in the room past her the clipboard but made sure it was a brand new pen he passed to the cat that no one would eve see smile. Her delicate paws hooked it up and with ease she filled it out and passed it back. Her polite but straightforward manner was always appreciated, but for a small predator she gave the air of something more dangerous and her ability to pull a crowd to her side meant that anyone who could afford her on their side was guaranteed to win. Emira seemed to know exactly what to say, seemed to always have the receipts and when she was taken through to be scanned, the female officers scanning her over always were polite and apologised for the inconvenience.

Emira would nod, she understood it all and they would check her over but also feel like any moment she might turn around and order something, and they would obey. It was almost terrifying because she had a dark aura that insisted she got her way and yet she never said or did anything unpleasant. But the guards escorted her to the room with the phone wall and then went to decontaminate the phone she was to use. As they peeled away and insisted they were there when they needed her, she nodded and thanked them gently before turning to hold the phone and watch as Milton Lynxley stepped forward with a wicked smile.

“I hear congratulations are in order and Bruce thinks he can hold my position… but we’re not here for business, I genuinely want to know how my dear friend Emira is doing…”

Three: Lynx

Emira was not a being that anyone liked to get on the wrong side of, but they were not someone animals wanted to be on the good side of either. She was like the necessary nasty, the sharpness and seriousness that prevented recklessness and yet the savage justice that hooked you by the scruff. Life with the caracal was always an uncomfortable balance between what was possible, what was logical and what was barely legal… everything had purpose, everything was precise and Emira was someone everyone wished they could afford but only a few really could.

“So you’ve been voted in ahead of the serval… unusual… I guess the caracal groups are nervous about the situation. It’s a shame really, all my years of service and friendship with my fellow lynx and they all think I’m some hideous wretch because of one simple lie.” Milton stated, placing his giant paw to his chest and being theatrical; it worked with his case for the staff here to still think he was playing innocent and that at worst he was covering family legacy but that his son had been the one to take it too far. Besides, what did they have on him? A stolen paten to animals long dead, the damage was done and the lynx had gotten everything else legally… sure it was a messy foundation but everything else was solid. They did not have any proof that he was involved in the attempted murders to cover this up… they only had his son Pawbert. “What’s the mood amongst the cats?”

“Infinite disquiet, the unsettling manner of your fall has left doorways open and cracks glaring. There is a desire to hide and stay away, to conceal ourselves because this has tarnished us all over again… but there is also a bias.” Emira stated very gently, her words careful and concise but the older lynx’s ears twitched, this meant that Emira had an angle to play on for him that could be very useful. Milton sat back, knowing she’d share this with his lawyer only if he approved and of course, saying it here would be helpful because then it was made public knowledge and Milton was in a position were getting anyone else in his predicament paid to assist him… well, the known assets were frozen but Milton had other funds. Emira blinked very slowly, her long lashes practically fans waving from her eyes as she spoke again, slowly. “Carrot Farmers of Bunnyburrow once firebombed the Lynxley Offices that were working on a natural bug resistant strain of carrots that would mean subsidies for crop loss would be removed in place of the seed, saving the government millions but meaning carrot farmers were countable for their own poor harvests. Photographic images display several of the Hopps family members, including her grandmother and father. Letters to the governor to prevent it includes her signature as a ‘concerned kitten’. We have reasonable doubt on the officer’s motive when acting out… not to mention, the officers were on the run from the law when they did what they did. They broke procedure and there is enough evidence to say members of the ZPD were in pocket to suggest corruption. We might have to put it all on Pawbert though… are you comfortable with this?”

“Everyone knows the hogs had gambling problems… make it more well-known and see if you can find any proof of the rabbit’s family getting any compensation for lost crops during that time that was flagged as suspicious. She might think she’s got more for now but we know the game and it also means a personal request on your part, if you’d aid me… Emira.” Milton questioned softly and the caracal looked to him for a moment before slowly blinking. It was such a slow, seductive flutter that Milton knew it was the approval and the willingness of his old friend. Sometimes he cursed the fact she’d never been the type to climb into bed with someone, if made her all the more tempting and dangerous to him. But if rumours were true, she had ended the last beasts to have dared to touch her stumpy tail in a humiliating display. But with her approval he then spoke very gently to her. “Pawbert has someone you will need to speak to, I think you already know who it is or he would not have been able to set up camp in your patch… you’ll have to talk to them to learn where Pawbert got the venom.”

“Interesting, but done.” With that, the caracal stood up and though her face showed no emotion at all, her eyes of gold seemed almost to turn into liquid metal. However, rage was building within her because she knew exactly what and who Milton was talking about and so calmly, she stepped to the door and was let out. Milton was well aware that they were going to have to throw a lot of stuff at the wall to see what stuck, but Emira was very good at digging up dirt and she was the only cat he could trust would be motivated by money, not loyalty, especially in this matter.

“Emira is highly respected, Maggie… I’m quite sure she’s not going to be problematic for everyone but will actually do her job and will try and make a point to put the cats in better standing. But she is someone we’re keeping an eye on as best we can, her position as a lawyer does make things… awkward. But what about Vladimira… I’ve come face-to-face with her father and have had him laugh in my face before so… anything you could tell me on this.” Chief Bogo was looking at the results of the election and he was feeling a bit confused by it. He barely knew any of the names for the cat groups and he’d needed Clawhauser to come in and read it to him and get super excited that Bintang Bay was in for the Bay Cats. Bogo had been a bit dumbfounded by Clawhauser starting to sing in a different language until he’d explained to him about the Bornean Bay Boys, a cat boy band that Bintang was the manager of and the biggest young act climbing in the charts. At that, Bogo had been a little worried that it meant Gazelle was becoming for the older audience only, but he’d been shown some of the videos and then been hid his phone into his draw when Maggie had arrived. “Although Dulguun is a pleasant relief, I remember him doing throat sing at the Grand Buffalo Brunch last year… the Yaks play his stuff a lot and I have to admit, it’s not bad.”

“I’m confused, what we were talking about?” Maggie had not been focusing, most of Bogo’s assumptions on all of the animals involved was a complete inability to understand any of what was going on. Plus he was being dismissive about the power and problems that Emira would bring the situation. Not only that but he was not really focusing on the right thing, Vladimira was not a problem, she did not represent the old country as much as newer tigers. She had a son in dance school and was putting money into the tiger dance schools that Gazelle even hired from. She pondered if this was just a bovine thing about the bigger cats and then Bogo gave a soft grunt.

“Sorry, I was thinking about something else but the other cats I haven’t got much intel on… the jaguar and the leopard though I’m putting out feelers to find out more and contacting friends outside of Zootopia for information. I’m quite sure that the leopard is fine but the jaguar seems to be a front. But that’s why I was asking about Vladimira. Snow Leopard Security was Milton’s invention to push out leopard and tiger domination in Tundra Town, everyone knows that, but is Vladimira going to try and snatch the security contracts? Is she the type to use underhanded methods to do it?” The buffalo questioned and yet Maggie still felt she was not sure what was going on. Why was the buffalo making assumptions on the tigers? She shook her head gently, rubbing her cheeks gently and then giving a soft groan.

“Vladimira is actually who you want in this position, she will put money into the shares in the security firm that will become available, I think Emira handles that so she will probably be the one I need to ask about when and what’s happening… but Vladimira will grab it before the Amur Leopards and Snow Leopards can snatch it up. Not only that but if she knows there are shares up for offer she’ll encourage Mister Big to take shares and thus keep the peace and prevent the leopards thinking they’ve got control. Emira will ensure the law is followed and Vladimira will make sure that the security firm will branch out. Plus Vladimira will hire the security firm too, making sure they still have jobs and present and prevent wolf takeover in the region. You’ve got to understand, in Tundra Town its still cats and dogs in many cases, Mister Big’s kept the situation calm by handling the fish factories that feed most of the residence. Vladimira will want to pull more animals in that aren’t dogs.”

“I don’t get this predator thing; prey animals tend to be more willing to work together and understand one another’s abilities and needs and thoughts… let alone share their skills out. I always just assumed it was a caaa…” Chief Bogo began, about to say that he saw most of this kind of thing amongst cats and yet if he said it he’d come off in a very bad light and Maggie’s expression was becoming frustrated, her whiskers twitching. He then cleared his throat gently before then turning towards the cougar with a little sheepish expression, noticing the black tip of her plush tail wagging and twitching with her obvious disappointment. “Uh now… let’s just go through the list so… the tigers have Vladimira who can be vouched for, the lions have Kali whom everyone can vouch for, the caracal group have chosen Emira who we are cautious of but think we can work with. Now, Babafemi the leopard has potential to be problematic but we’re not sure… Dulguun is secure and Sofia the Jaguar is potentially the face for the jaguar group…”

“Yeah, Sofia has come in before as an intermediary and we just have to make sure not to put the Rosetta Family in her view. Actually, I’ll talk with Ari because she’s an Amur leopard in Snow Leopard Protection and she can dress them up as her relative and come in for the council meetings instead of them. Now the cheetah have chosen Elijah Flyfoot… he’s the athlete… I’m actually surprised my group chose him; I was quite sure our Jaguarundi was going to step into place again.” Maggie continued, going through the list and pointing out the picture, she was not actually sure if Flyfoot was not just his nickname because they’d said he virtually flew in a sprint race but like most cheetah he’d been slow at first before hitting his speed so each of his races had always been nerve-rackingly close, but then she pointed to the lynx. “We’ve got Bruce the Bobcat, like the most chill cat although its rather clear you’re going to be on his bad side.”

“Look, we work on tips and Hogsbottom assured me that there was sign of catnip growth in his garden centre… admittedly it was actually a fake plant but, we do follow the rules.” Bogo began, but he knew Bruce would be doing his best to keep everyone comfortable and well, he recalled the bobcat looking very angry. However, he was also starting to wonder if that had not been Hogsbottom’s uncomfortable relationship with Lynxley, they hadn’t dug in just yet because there were too many to be checked but… wasn’t he being reminded over and over that he had holes in his officers? “Yuni the Clouded Leopard is against authority and likely to cause trouble, she does the quiet protests where she hangs upside down from lampposts overnight… but this could work for our favour with the fact she’ll call things out. Then there’s Bintang the music producer… how’d he even get involved in this?”

“Bintang’s father-in-law held the position before and apparently was going to pull investment in the next show without him showing he had ‘some plan for the future’… I don’t understand it myself but that’s how it can be. Anyway I’m sure he’ll be reasonable, Mateo’s one that’s a bit more unusual. He’s an ocelot and I’m pretty sure I’ve worked with him before when he’s been an editor for the flyer and updates on the website, but I’m surprised he’s come through. Then again I would think he’s someone you really can rely on.” Maggie stated with a pleasant expression on her face as she thought about it. Mateo was funny and always eager to help everyone out he could but boy, that bisexual cat’s love life was messy and he had moments where he’d left relationships because he’d felt tempted, it hadn’t gone through but he’d burnt his bridges enough to cause a great deal of chaos for trying to bring them back.

“I don’t know him either… but if he’s worked in the council before then maybe he’s gained some trust. But then with Kiril… I know him and he’s a good representative for cats, always wanting to stop Milton from giving cats a bad name and if I recall he’s come around here to ask about introducing small cats onto the force. He’s a diversity rep or something so we know we can trust him.” Chief Bogo stated, making Maggie nod her head. She had to admit that him and Bruce would actually work well together and no doubt Kiril the Pallas Cat would have the chance to speak his truths and make a point for all the leopard cats in the Council and in Zootopia. Maggie could trust him and then came the final member as Bogo gave a soft swear under his breath. “Oh no… Gorgon for the Small Cats?”

“Gordon McTavish is a brilliant politician and his independent party is gaining traction amongst small mammals. He’s got a lot of good ideas and you can guarantee if you were perhaps… to pull him into this… he would actually be of real use to you and be more than willing to protect others and prove that the small cats can do it.” Maggie chuckled softly, but Bogo gave her a rather unimpressed face and she wondered if this was how Bellweather had used to feel around Lionheart. But she shrugged her shoulders gently all the same and then gave a chuckle as she thought it over. “But I can guarantee, if you’re worried about Emira, you’ll want to make friendships towards Vladimira… it will be your best choice.”

“I know… and I recently learnt I might have a good in…” Chief Bogo could not help but snigger as he thought about how Officer Jackson had come to him with concerns because his daughter, Officer Jackson, was dating a Morozov! At least, he was sure it was the daughter and he was sure it was a Morozov, but that was always something that made Bogo’s head spin… Morozova had kept her family name and not taken on her husband’s even though her children had. But at the same time he was sure that Jackson had said that the particular tiger was a dancer… would the Morozov let one of their cubs be a dancer?

“Malysh…” Within the find library and office decked out in wood with a rich red hue that was similar to but not a rare species, Vladimira Morozova was rubbing her temples as her ears pinned back and her earring hoops tapped behind her cheek fur. The Amur tigress was looking to the latest trash magazine for any kind of ridiculous gossip that was coming out about the Lynxley. She had cats out looking for details, she’d even requested help from non-cats because she needed to find out where Lynxley had embezzled some of the monies that were owed to her company by his company and also find out where his missing was-to-be-daughter-in-law had gone, because everything had been passed to her. Vladimira was quite sure Emira knew, but something else was catching her in the paper and she was calling out to her ‘babe’ although he was not listening. “Malysh! Urgh… VASILY VASILIVICH RACHMANINOV!”

“Coming my gorgeous one… my dearest… Lapochka…. Aah…” There was the distant sound from a room where there had been some dance music playing, making it clear that Vasily had been practicing his robot moves again and probably making his frozen shoulder ache even more. The big Amur male leapt into the hall and skidded on the freshly waxed wood only to lunge to the door and open it, swinging himself inside and then bounding over to his wife. She stared at him, blinking for a moment to see that he was in a grey sparkling leotard with a spaceman’s helmet on. He realised the expression and he gave a soft chuckle. “I over did it?”

“Have you seen this?” Vladimira couldn’t hide the sudden smile the slid onto her face, smirking at how ridiculous but wonderfully fun her husband could be at times. All the same she was tapping to an interview page with a big fluffy tiger who was wearing a puffy jacket that was lime green, sunglasses with reflective diamante around the frame, glow stick necklaces and in the company of the Kitty Claws, one of the judges from ‘So You Think You Can Prance’. Vladimira had no idea her son had been going into that whole show because she did not like to pry, but Vassily looked giddy as his thick brows lifted.

“Oh yes… Little Kiril is going by the stage name Stripzar… oh… I can see the concern now.” Vassily was giddy at first, so glad their youngest was having a chance to live out his dream, but upon hear the name and saying it aloud he grimaced. Had that really been the best choice? He opened his mouth as if to make a suggestion but then pulled back from it, grimacing because it was certainly not something he ever wanted to deal with as he looked to his wife and Vladimira took in a deep breath as her ears pinned back and hoops clapped at her white cheek fur.

“I’m not going to get involved, he wants to do his dancing and I promised I would let them choose… besides, his stage name protects him but…” Vladimira began, although why had he chosen such an awful name? It really was an absolutely awful name; it made him sound like a stripper. Was that what her son was doing now? Was he a stripper? But then she pointed to one of the other pictures that seemed to be bothering her more and making her fear more that he was a stripper! “Urgh why is he wearing what looks like an official police uniform?”

“I don’t think it is official… that would be illegal, right Lapochka?” Vassily stated, although this time saying the nickname it came through a little mangled and almost sounded like something different. Vassily noticed the brows lifting and the dead pan expression falling upon his wife’s face and then giving a soft blush through his grey glittered face. “What, I thought you liked ‘little paw’… right?”

“Malysh, as much as I love to call you in the old language, your accent makes it sound like you’re calling me a reindeer.” Vladimira chuckled, although she was glad for the distraction and her husband was quite right. But at the same time she still found herself thinking over what he meant, only to be distracted by a soft chuff and her mate’s big cheeks rubbing against hers and jingling her hoops. He’d taken off the helmet and was spreading glitter onto her, but there was no way she didn’t love this as she rubbed her chin to his with a soft chuff in return before Vassily gave a soft chuckle in response.

“Gotcha… actually it explains why Babushka used to roll her eyes and flick my ears so much as a kid. But what’s gotten you worried? I know he’s going out with ‘an’ Officer Jackson, but he wouldn’t wear her work clothes.” Vassily stated and he rubbed at his chin suddenly a he found the chair near the desk to sit on finally. He did not mind that he’d coated his mate in glitter on one side but Vladimira was intrigued. She’d heard about it but Vassily was the one their youngest two loved to talk to the most. Vassily though was starting to think and then he was giving a wickedly happy smile as he gave a soft chuckle. “Or is it that he’s flaunting this relationship? They’ve been together eighteen months you know, about time a certain piece of jewellery comes to play…”

“Were we so fast?” Vladimira sighed, pulling her hands up to rest her chin upon and pout towards her husband. She often tended to think that they were very slow and respectful about their relationship but Vassily was grinning. Clearly he was remembering it all so much better than her, but he always remembered the right dates and the years when she was so busy. He wrapped his paws around her own with a loving expression upon his face as he kissed the wedding ring on her fingers and making her sigh softly to coat her paws in glitter.

“We weren’t as slow as your father wanted… but is it really such a bad thing darling? Oxana’s made a point she’s never going to get married and is intent on her career and Konstantin is more likely to get a lamppost pregnant than any girlfriend…” Vassily stated, looking suddenly a little frustrated at the thought that their eldest was far more interested in work and did not seem to have a single sense of romanticism within him. Vassily though realised what he’d said and was suddenly all grinning teeth trying to pull his paws away as Vladimira’s eyes widened.

“Wait… wait… when was this about a pregnancy? I was thinking about how he’s hanging out with a cop and being a dancer.” Vladimira barked suddenly and as her mate’s paws were pulling back, she suddenly snatched her paws back around his. He gave a slight whimper and she squeezed his hands firmly. “Vassily… Vassily…”

Suddenly, Vassily was able to pull free of his wife’s paws and hooked up his space helmet. He hurried towards the door, knowing that his wife was going to do everything to find out what he’d seen but he didn’t want to tell her. He was not even sure of what it was he’d seen and so as he reached the door and pulled it open, Vladimira hopped up and padded after him with a grunt as she skidded down the hall with his helmet back on.

“Come back here… don’t even think of hiding something from me.” The two tiger jogged down the hall, it was actually rather fun and it was not as if they were going to hurt each other. It was just that Vassily needed to be somewhere that he held the high ground and nowhere that she might pin him down and tickle his toes until he gave in. It normally would then lead to cuddles and the pair of them teasing one another and him reminding her that he knew exactly where she loved a good scratch, but with her new job he was not quite sure she’d be so willing for that kind of fussing. However, he hadn’t even opened a door when he felt her suddenly pin him against it, his body tingling with excitement for the rough action although it was very embarrassing to think so. “Vassily!”

“Alright I saw him buying a pregnancy test but who knows, it might be for his sister.” Vassily stated, although the sudden gasp from his mate did make him freeze for a moment as he turned to face her, looking more than a little sheepish on the matter. “Which I guess is not good either…”

“Urgh… can you just do me a favour and find out where that caracal is hiding the lynx-bride… I think she’s the one who has the remaining stock we need to buy.” Vladimira groaned, stepping away from him to slap a paw to her face. She really did not need this family stuff right now when she thought everything was finally turning her way. She needed focus and of course, Vassily was her right paw in most matters as he took her paw, kissing at her knuckles to make her flush and look at him with a side-eye that insisted he always seemed to know how to win her over.

“Oh… no worries there my lovely… I hired the top private detective on it, under my name and radar of course.” Vassily beamed as he rolled about to face her and Vladimira then stepped back over to him. He wrapped his paws about her waist, pulling her close as she gripped hold of his sides and pressed her forehead to his. She was glad he could go straight back to serious so swiftly and she was grateful for it as he nuzzled his nose to hers. “He’s going to bring a report in at the end of the week and the kids will be home for the weekend.”

Vladimira’s ear flicked, she spotted one of the bear employees heading towards them with a series of documents she needed to read over. Vladimira was aware that she needed to get back to work, but she found herself wrapping her arms about her mate more tightly and nuzzling into his neck. Vassily’s fur almost rippled and he looked down at her, glitter still all over his face as he beamed to her.

“Aah… I did right… right?” Vassily questioned, only to get his chin tickled and feel a soft kiss to his lips. He gave a low growl of delight and pressed his nose to hers again as she gave a soft chuckle, the bear feeling rather awkward where he was. “Ooh… oh my love… you sure you don’t want another cub?”

“Pfft… if I could fill the household with babies…” Vladimira teased, and then suddenly tapped his nose before slowly walking away as her husband looked after her in confusion for a moment before giving a gasp. “eh… I love you Vassily, and don’t worry, Konstantin is dating.”

“What? Why didn’t my son tell me! Dang mummy’s boy!”

Four: Transparency

The council room was rowdy as the members were heading in and meeting in the hallway. Everyone had something to say to everyone else and as always there were the scoffs of irritation, the chuffs of greeting and the occasional bemoaning that this kind of job even existed. Maggie had spend the afternoon preparing the room and with the security, she’d made sure to put the right cat in the right place and then, well, she’d felt bad about it but Chief Bogo and the others had asked her to plant the listening device in the flower pot at the centre. She felt awful for it, but this was all going to help in the long-run and finally, the time was right and she turned to the large Amur leopard standing by the door.

“You can let them in Jun, no doubt they’ll argue about the set up.” The cougar sighed as she turned to the fluffy leopard that nodded his head calmly and then stepped to the door. Jun was the stockiest of the Amur leopard within Snow Cat Security and normally he was actually and headquarters training new recruits, but she’d had to switch him out with the ones they needed to keep secret and he was appreciative of their care. But Maggie was pinned her ears back and looking as long in the face as a donkey as she could hear the chaos outside and then Jun opened the door.

Just as the door opened, the big broad snow leopard with his long whiskers and his slight stomach swung his arm out to push Jun and the door back against the wall as he rumbled with laughter that it was ‘good to be back’. He was followed by the smaller cats, all of them darting in and looking out at the table with anxious expressions. They all were trying to get out of the way of the snow leopard’s super thick tail that was swinging about around him as he took any chair and pulled it back. He sat himself down and gave another rumble, his sound being muffled by Kali complaining at him and then noticing the anxious bay cat standing next to him. Kali began to give him a lecture about not seeing the correct name plates and immediately the two elder cats were nagging at each other.

Emira slid into the room with a calm expression, stepping over to her seat but suddenly finding herself face-to-face with the bobcat. He was not happy and immediately began to poke at her chest with a big paw and start threatening her for what she’d done. The situation was then interrupted as the brand new cheetah spotted his name and sat down, pulling his chair out between the two and sitting down casually, separating them but winding the bobcat up so they were soon arguing too. In the meantime the clouded leopard had taken her chair over to a corner of the room behind a pot plant and sat there with a black hoodie pulled right over her head. This Jun had noticed and he’d gone over to her to try and convince her to sit down, she was looking miserable and Maggie had to agree with her as the leopard and jaguar stepped to the door, only to freeze and stand there with their lips curling. They stepped in but it looked like they might be about to have a fight.

“Oh no… everyone! Please! EVERYONE!” Maggie began, trying to call through the strangely loud room as Gordon had started poking Mateo the ocelot and was, as always, not aware of his volume as Kiril the Pallas Cat was putting on noise cancelling headphones. Maggie tried again, giving out a violent cougar roar to catch their attention, but it only made the roaring cats roar out loudly as if they were being competed with and there was just nothing but chaos as everyone was yelling and nagging, when Vladimira appeared, apologising to Maggie for running late, noticed and then gave the roar that silenced them all.

“QUIET!” She locked eyes with each other them, everyone sitting down at the table rather than saying anything and dropping their heads. No one wanted to look at the tiger and Maggie’s ears dropped as she looked anxiously towards the big tigress to gave a soft groaning sound of frustration as she went to settle down. Maggie looked to her and then looked to the rest of the group before then giving a steady sigh of relief. She wanted everyone settling down around them and then straightened up from her seat, stroking her clothing downwards and then giving a soft gulp before she looked to them all.

“Hello everyone, I know there’s a lot that’s been happening in Zootopia lately, I am aware too that the concerns about predators may have dropped but the concern about us cats and our power within Zootopia is being questioned. The fact that cats have served as mayor at least six times in the past hundred years has meant we’ve held the majority and we’ve always gotten rather good handouts from it. Even within the various fields there are… entertainment, transport and even in the administration and police… we’ve always had good representation and we’ve always been viewed as sophisticated, wealthy and stylish… but that’s the problem.” Maggie began, looking to them all and knowing that most of these cats were raised in good situations or had worked hard enough that the days without wealth were practically forgotten. Maggie knew this was difficult to bring up, this was already making eyes narrow at her and she gave a soft sigh. “We need to make it clear that the corruption of the Lynxley is not a cat-wide pandemic. We need to work harder to consider our outward appearance to other mammals and reptiles and how we’re now going to be scrutinized for our wealth as much as for our nature.”

There was a firm series of rumbles, everyone looking irritated at the fact they were being told they were going to be judged for something they felt they deserved. Certainly it was making the big snow leopard give a soft hiss of frustration, his whiskers and hackles curling as he suddenly smoothed the fur down with a scowl upon his face. He was certainly angered that anyone would think he was involved in any kind of corruption or what Maggie was probably hinting at… underhanded actions to keep a monopoly. That was certainly not the situation and he looked towards the tiger and then across to the leopard and the jaguar, then towards the bobcat that was nodding his head before waving one of his absolutely massive paws.

“If I can say something… Miss Pawsley… Council…” Bruce waggled his paw and Maggie nodded so he stood up and she sat down. Everyone went quiet and flicked their golden eyes towards the bobcat as he gave everyone some cautious looks before then pushing out his chest. He looked proud and prepared, which was shocking considering whose seat he was filling and everyone was nervous as he twitched his whiskers and began. “The Smaller Cats have not held as much position as the Big Cats… but Milton’s power over a lot of us and our businesses has meant we’ve all been considering the situation and just how much danger we are all in. During the Predator Protests windows were smashed, business was lost and now we face the same thing. Our best bet is to remove all ties to Lynxley, cooperate with any police probes into the situation, open up completely and show everyone we’re not the same and I’d say easily hiring reptiles can help with our overall image.”

“Opening up? You mean letting the government spy on us and rifle through our personal things in order to prove we’re not corrupt? Weren’t the police the ones who were corrupt in the first place? Why not pressure them to show the same attitude to the hogs, hippos, rams and zebra that proved themselves to be under Milton’s paw!” The jaguar, Sofia growled, standing up suddenly, knocking the table and looking as if she might lunge across the table to attack him. Bruce remained standing for a moment, before Maggie cleared her throat for them both to sit down. They glowered at one another and then sat themselves down, only for Kali to give a soft wheeze and lift a paw.

“I agree there needs to be a little more openness, most of us have not made our fortune through links with Milton but through perseverance. However, there is a witch hunt going on amongst the predators that was started with the actions of Mayor Lionheart and Bellweather. We need to make ourselves more friendly, less guarded and above all to make it clear that none of us have gained anything through shady business. I know for some of us that might come across as preachy or we may have some dark histories, but we’d better be prepared…” Kali began talking very calmly until she was interrupted by Vladimira who gave a sudden hiss.

“Not to be offensive sister… but the big issue is that Zootopia wants to know what we’re doing, get involved in our lives to see every minute detail and to have reason to hate us. They’re going to use media against us… thus I have a proposal I have been considering for some time to try and move my own family’s business away from the old rumours of my grandfather’s time and more into the light. Sadly, the current events prevented me bringing it up before, but if you are all willing, I will explain.” Vladimira was not the sort of tigress that no one expected to want to be open and no one was going to question. All of them were locking eyes upon her, their nose wrinkling in anticipation as she gave a soft hiss of frustration all the same for their expressions as she settled back down with a soft growl. “Are you willing to listen?”

It was clear that everyone was a little nervous, but considering how much strength Vladimira had it was almost worrying that something might happen if they did not listen to her. But the faces were not happy, many of them were scowling and looking angry. Maggie was a little worried though, no one had talked anything through with her and that could easily mean that Vladimira was about to make the whole room explode in anger. She could also see from the corner of her eye that Emira’s eyes were narrowing and staring towards the tigress with obvious fury. It was pretty clear that the caracal was not going to be happy about it and curiously Maggie wondered if this was on purpose to annoy her too.

“Very well…” Vladimira began, hearing no grumbles of no and nothing much else. The tigress then pushed her chest out and gave a soft wheeze before then gently beginning the story. “…due to things happening within my own family life, including a son whose getting into dancing… my household was approached by one of those reality television programs to create something and introduce our lives to others. I was not sure about it at first, but perhaps if I suggest they come to film the Cat Council and our members and begin to understand just what we actually do for our communities… maybe we can look less like the Lynxley family. This is my thought.”

There was silence, though many ears pinned back and lips curled to show teeth for the idea of letting anyone into their private lives like that. Certainly it made even Kali spin her head about to look to Vladimira in shock, never expecting the usually closed off tigress to be so open. It made Kali’s paws come together and her tail joined many others in twitching gently with frustration. Shockingly, it was Sofia who leapt up and turned her chair over, giving a hiss of fury and then turning to stomp out in disgust. For a moment the big leopard security went towards her but Maggie waved a paw to usher him back and curiously it was the new leopard who had a chuckle about it.

“Jaguars with dangerous links might not be appreciative of their shadowy lives coming into the light. But I’ll bite… I haven’t anything to hide.” Babafemi chuckled softly as he straightened up in his seat. Oddly it was not the response Maggie was expecting. She’d assumed the response from Sofia and maybe a response from Kali due to her relationship, but not the leopard? A few of the other cats were looking funny and then Bintang raised a paw. He was still new so it was clear he was not sure how the rules worked but Maggie pointed to him and everyone turned to give the bay cat some attention. When he realised this was the go ahead he cleared his throat but remained looking pensive.

“As long as we’d be able to put some parameters in about what they filmed. I mean… I’d rather not have it aired on television how much I hate my father-in-law.” Curiously, that simple phrase was enough for everyone to start cackling in delight, thoroughly amused and the rest of the meeting became obsessed with it. Despite the fact that everyone was still cautious about things, the idea at least that the council could be filmed was enough to make everyone forget about what was concerning Maggie. She didn’t have the heart to bring it up of course, just monitored Emira throughout, if only because Emira had not disagreed despite every look on her that seemed to insist she hated the thought.

Then again… caracals rarely smile.

Emira was driven home in a wildebeest taxi, she tipped her driver well and was calm and regal as she arrived at the gated community and climbed out of the vehicle. With a soft wheeze she calmly stepped to the gate, flashing her ID to the dog at the booth who would have known her without it. He nervously greeted her but she ignored him as she strolled on towards the apartment block that was inconspicuous save the gate and guard. As she then scanned her key fob and then entered the building, Emira was greeted by an attendant who then pressed the button for the elevator and informed her that her mail had been delivered to the hall and she’d had no unexpected deliveries or visitors.

Emira had nodded her head in acceptance of this, she said nothing as she closed the elevator door and then climbed up to the seventh floor. She sat below the penthouse, these apartments were the whole floor, all of them at least three-four bedroom with access to the gym and pool on the third floor and well, they were luxury. They were small and designed for animals of a smaller size like caracals and most cats and dog species, it would be a tight squeeze for a lion or a tiger but not impossible. Calmly Emira put in her keycode and stepped into the hall where three packages and two letters sat there waiting for her. Emira then checked the camera at the wall, making sure she could see the red light flash and then calmly stepped to a panel beneath it.

Emira put in a code, a little box opened and she looked to a small screen, noting the point it had last recorded and checking them… just the cleaners and the door-dog delivering the parcels. There was no sign either of the locked room being opened or touched, it was not its cleaning day after-all. Emira then closed the box and left the camera going as she padded to the room and then tapped in a code, unlocking the room but stepping into the kitchen to collect something. She opened her fridge door and pulled out a cheesecake, carefully cutting a piece and carefully settling it onto a plate with a neat fork designed with a cutting edge for the dessert. She then also took a cold bottle of milk from the fridge and poured it into a tall glass before then strolling towards the door and calmly using her elbow to turn it. It opened with a click and she stepped inside to see a figure snoozing on the bed with a fan blowing over them.

“Oh… you’re back already… how did it go? Whose replaced father?” The figure on the bed was a lynx and her stomach was oddly round as she sat herself up on a luxurious bed. She clearly had needed the sleep, big bags sat under her eyes but it was clear she was overly hot with the fan blasting over her and her clothes being little more than underwear. It was obvious she was feeling exhausted and frustrated as she sat herself up only to reach for a bag of ice cubs in a bucket of ice by the bed and gently laying it at the top of her belly. She felt a sudden ripple within and gasped in shock, only for Emira’s paw to gently lay upon the ice pack and steer it up. Emira took a cloth from nearby, laying that over the fur and then the ice upon it, making the lynx give a soft sigh. “Thank you.”

“The bobcat has replaced your father-in-law. There’s also an interest amongst the Council to let the press in as some reality television situation. I did not argue because I could see this as a good thing…” Emira began, her tone blank and almost unfeeling yet somewhat lighter than usual. It was almost a surprise to the lynx to hear it and her eyes widened in disbelief, whether it was about the bobcat taking the position or the idea of the cameras, but Emira continued. “Milton wants me to put someone into the mix to help lay the blame on Pawbert and to pint out the gambling issues of the hogs… which you can attest to…”

“You actually want me to go on the stand? But what about spousal privilege? Well… I… I guess we weren’t actually married, just engaged but… they’re assume I’m biased and want my partner back.” The lynx stated, looking more than a little anxious as she stroked her belly. She then drooped her ears and gave a heavy groan. Emira stroked her face gently as the figure looked to her almost pathetically and then gripped her hand against her face firmly. “I don’t really care about them being locked away forever… what I care about is how they roped me into this chaos with them. What if this does become an investigation into the hogs… they’ll come looking for me and we have no idea what they’d do to me now Milton can’t protect me or his grandchild.”

“Don’t worry Portia… I’ll look after you both.” Emira stated gently and then Portia leant forward to press her lips against the caracal’s and Emira accepted it.