FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"Morning sir!"

The well-dressed beaver simply provided his books to the braided doe, inspecting the stack beside her.

"Oh, we got a half-off sale on used biographies, auto or otherwise!" Cindy proclaimed while scanning the hardcovers.

"Hundred pages or more just ten bucks!"

The rodent snapped off the receipt, crammed it in the pages of his largest volume, and rambled toward the exit.

"..... Pardon the expression..." Cindy twiddled with her hooves as a young buck neared her with his own hardcovers.

"... You can get one of these for five if you're writing something for school.."

The deer's eyelids draped just an inch above his irises, and his lower jaw monotonously chomped as she scanned the bar-codes.

"Um, I don't think you're supposed to eat he-"

The adolescent seized the receipt and books, and sailed off.

Cindy groaned as she tapped her digits on the counter.

She peeked away from her post and to the nearest window, observing the assorted mammals departing the building below her. Her eyes trailed toward the bronze plaque by the door. She recollected her first visit to this library, how she inquired her mother who was on the "shiny stone".

This memory was unfortunately interrupted by that night. That Sam Hein of the previous year.

She pictured herself the pale white office of her apartment, while her previous customer brought a familiar snout to mind at a laptop.

"Ronald, I'm ready."

Her hoof quivered clenching her nostalgic snapcase as the male peered away from his laptop.

"What are you watching again?"

"The Oxorcist."

"Seen it."

"Well, this one's the 2000 rerelease with extra footage. You remember any scene with the fawn doing a trippy crab walk last time you...?"

"Maybe."

Cindy exhaled at Ronald's flat reply.

"Come on, it's Sam Hein. Don't you want any last thrill before November?"

"Look, I've been meeting with Mr. Rammhein for the past month, and I'll be damned if I don't get this project finished by the end of next month. You know, that movie'll probably be scarier if you watch it alone."

"I waited weeks to watch it with you."

"Well sorry, but Rammhein just sent me the blueprints for his new sound-stage and I'd like to get a head start while I can."

The doe retreated from his door.

"Sorry. I didn't know. When will you be off?"

"I dunno, maybe the 5th of November, 5 PM. We can meet at your place next time"

On that exact date, Cindy lingered on her bed, glaring at the front door. About a quarter after seven, she typed on her Carrot phone to him

To this day, Cindy still had no reply.

"Ahem?"

Cindy shot back up to a stallion.

"I said, where are the audio books?"

"Wha- Oh! Uh, they down to your left, two shelves after the TV dvds..."

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it..."

Cindy slumped back into the roller as the horse disappeared. She crossed her legs as she inhaled the scent of desert flowers. Cindy cherished Spring in Sahara Square. Even after Courting Day, or as her family called it, "Twitterpating Day", she'd examine young couples conversing, eating out, attending to a movie, or just taking a stroll. More noticeable, there was a recent brisk increase in inter-species pairings. Besides the rabbits with mice and the tigers with jackals, she observed more predator and prey couples. Even in her own library every day, she'd often welcome at least two pairings like a weasel with a lion, or an antelope with a bear, or a fox with a squirrel, or something like that. All thanks to "Predator Seeking Prey", by Dawn Bellwether.

Dawn Bellwether. 5 years earlier, Cindy would've cringed at that name. Not only had Bellwether endangered the balance between predators and prey, but those glasses shielding seemingly-innocent eyes and that perky smile she wore gave prey like Cindy a bad name. Ever since Dawn had been imprisoned, Cindy had been trying her best to look presentable without being conspicuous, especially before the ZPD. Cindy kept her head down even lower after Dawn was released, bidding good morning, and wishing the best of luck to every mammal, especially predator, who walked up to her. As months flew by, she'd forgotten who Bellwether even was, until one Tuesday evening. The skinny, short, googly-eyed ewe was plastered on every newspaper on the shelf downstairs, being hailed as a hero. She had apparently foiled a massive plot to gas all of Zootopia with lethal night-howler, putting her own life on the line in the process. Cindy had her suspicions, of course. Maybe it was all an elaborate hoax, or some other sheep with a similar name, maybe a relative. Most sheep looked alike, after all. But as she saw Dawn's face in more magazines in more stores by the day, Cindy ultimately accepted it. A week later, a fresh blue 347-page hardcover novel appeared on the top bestsellers stack seven feet from her desk.

"Predator Seeking Prey" was wrapped around Cindy's mind for three months. What happened to Dawn? How much had she changed? What was it like to be with a predator? Dawn's reputation had flipped so dramatically, there must be something she was missing.

Cindy's heart sprinted as she dwelled on these questions, begging to find the answers. She glanced around the shelves. Only seven customers spread across her floor.

She strode from the chair, swelling her appendages and backbone, then breezed over to the Bestsellers Tower, captured the first book with the name "Dawn Bellwether" printed on, and sped back to her desk.

She shaved the litter from dust cover as she analysed the capacity of customers again. The same seven mammals were skimming the isles. She pried it open.

"The wolves of the world of Animalia come in all shapes and sizes. From the sizable red wolf with it's dusky auburn fur, to the arctic wolf with it's thick and luxurious white pelt, to the more compact and sandy colored desert wolf. Wolves are as diverse a species as sheep, goats, or any other mammal on the planet. However, from a cultural standpoint, the wolf usually falls under two types when it comes to mammalian history: The North Mammalia wolves who were native to the continent that would later become the home of Zootopia, and the Great Northern Wolves of Norwulff and Sibearia."

There was quite a bit of wolf history recorded in the first ten pages, but Cindy didn't mind. She'd always had an attraction to wolves and their histories, cultures and beliefs as far back as her fawnhood. The idea of traveling in packs implied a sense of familial symbiosis, which made her more mournful when she heard of a wolf celebrity splitting from his or her pack. Cindy always envied wolves in that sense. So many bucks in her life have battled tooth and nail to become her "mate" in her high-school and college years, only to bail and go "this just won't work out". While she estimated there were a fair share of wolves who were like that, she'd at least be content with a first-time relationship.

While Cindy didn't bawl her eyes out while reading Dawn's story about being separated from a childhood friend within a week, it did get her thinking "OK, that's understandable." She remembered how her first teacher in elementary told her that predators interacting with prey "wasn't normal". This was the only thing that kept her from communicating with any wolves or foxes, or other cubs with sharp teeth or claws. No matter how friendly they seemed, and no matter how little prey there were in her specific school, she didn't take any chances. Consequently, all she had to keep her company were various books about wolves and their traditions. She'd always think about talking with, playing with, or sharing her favorite books with one, but pull back under the risk of looking weird. As the years went by, however, none of her following tutors mentioned anything about predator and prey interaction, though she still kept away from predator schoolmates just to be safe. By her mid-Junior High years, though, she'd decided to take her chances, and had asked various wolves to go with her to the annual dance, only to learn that they already had their own partner, whether it be another wolf or a different predator, like a vixen or a tigress. Cindy managed to befriend a couple of wolves in high school, but they'd often tell her at some point that they either were moving away, or going to a different university than she was planning. Cindy was lucky to have a somewhat tolerant father, though her mother was a bit more pencil-pushing. Now, Cindy realized how much the mind of a true specist could warp their child, even though she still didn't endorse the actions Dawn took from her father.

What really got the waterworks going, however, was Dawn's reunion with Vernon Hunter, the wolf she'd befriended back in her childhood. In spite of her reputation, he was adamant in keeping her safe, even trying to take her from the hands of the ZPD at one point. Cindy barely even noticed her tears dripping on the pages where Dawn foiled her father's plan to create an exclusive Ewetopia, exposing herself to deadly night-howler gas in the process. Cindy was slightly embarrassed to be caught crying by one or two customers, but she didn't care. The idea that the wolf credo had rubbed onto Dawn Bellwether of all mammals, to a point where she was willing to die to save her new mate, had her reduced to a whimpering little fawn. Her tears grew more frequent as she read how Vernon was so heartbroken by her sacrifice, that he vowed to watch over her every minute at the hospital, even willing to skip his graduation. This was exactly what Cindy always wanted in a mate: An unflinching loyalty to her. A desire to put her needs and safety above his own. Vernon was exactly how her books described the average wolf family, and she desperately wished he was her "puppy".

"Ahem?"

"Oh!" Cindy was zapped back to her desk as if shocked by a touch of static electricity, and immediately looked up to find a tall, slender wolf standing before her. He was dressed in a handsome white collared shirt, and had a fancy pompadour atop his head. His blueish-grey pelt shone in the sunlight projected from the windows, and his blue eyes glimmered like the most expensive jewel necklaces. His neck was decorated with a magnificent patch of fur, probably enough to stuff a pillow, and if not, his cheeks would certainly help. The dashing canine gazed back at her, his tail slowly swishing, before suddenly turning down and clearing his throat.

"Sorry, uh... Do you know where I could find any other copies of-of 'Predator Seeking Prey'?"

Cindy's ears flattened, her cheeks flushed in anxiety, and she did her best to hide her own fluttering tail. "Aren't they over there?" She pointed to the Bestsellers Tower.

The wolf looked behind him at the stack of hardcovers, then back to the doe. "Already looked there. Guess you're all out."

"Oh, no!" Cindy leaped from her seat and held her hand out in a "stop" position, then noticed the few other mammals staring at her and the wolf. She immediately returned to her chair with a forced chuckle. "We've-we've got plenty of other copies. Most of them were already checked in. If you want, I can give you one..." Cindy reached for the "checked in" cart beside her and glanced at the selection it offered, but none read so much as a "Predator" or a "Prey".

"H-here, I'll help you find it."

Cindy stepped out of her roller, and trotted over to the stairs, with the wolf following her.

Once they reached the bottom floor, Cindy turned to a second cart, and found the familiar violet spine with the fancy romantic cursive font reading "Predator Seeking Prey".

"Here we are. Thinking of broadening your-your options?" Cindy grinned as she handed the book to her customer and held her free arm behind her, trying not to stare.

The canine blushed and flattened his ears. "Sure. You-you could say that." He took the copy and drummed his clawed fingers on the back cover.

"That's nice." Cindy walked with him back upstairs.

"Yeah, to me, it's just-just kinda weird dating another wolf. You never know how related you could be."

Cindy giggled as she sat back at her desk.

"Well, that's a pretty slim chance, but you know, go ahead. 'Try-try everything'."

After the wolf chuckled, they remained silent for what felt like a whole minute.

"Will that be all, sir?"

"Yes."

"Alright..." Cindy printed the receipt. "This is due back by... The thirteenth of April. Enjoy!"

"I will." The wolf replied before slipping the paper between the intro and title pages.

Cindy kept her friendly smile as he exited.

After her interaction with that particular customer, Cindy persisted with her own copy. She shed more joyful tears as she read about Dawn's visit to her future in-laws, and Vernon's steady attempts to make her happy, even threatening to renounce the pack if his father spurned her. Once again, Cindy envisioned her own wolf by her side, vowing to stay with her through thick and thin.

She didn't even realize it was seven PM until five minutes after, when she had to politely escort the two remaining patrons out before locking up.

She ended up renting one of her own books, and concluding it that night.

By that point, Cindy had her own arms draped around her waist, picturing her dream canine.

She giggled as she fiddled with her ears and tail, and shifted her legs out from the covers in her stifling humid bed.

She most recently reminisced what Dawn had described about her nights with Vernon, how he "had a penis the size of a grilled sausage, and testicles the size of the heftiest grapes", and how the knot secured them for what felt like the most heavenly two hours.

Cindy was normally not one to dwell on visualizing her possible mate's man-parts, but she swooned at the idea of literally binding herself with a wolf, whoever that may be.

Her hooves instinctively crawled down her thighs, drifted the hem of her lavender nightgown, and skidded her digits underneath the brim of her panties.

Cindy was admittedly a bit hesitant of her lover seeing her underwear. She often sported somewhat-fanciful decorative garments on her own time, particularly ones with delicate frills, with her current pair hued in light pink and adorned with red hearts.

She eventually shifted her panties down from her buttocks to her knees, then her feet. She pictured her canine companion sinking his teeth into her undergarments, and carefully plucking them off while exhaling on her slit with a devilish smirk on his snout.

After kicking the panties off, Cindy traced her hooves along the clitoris, picturing the tip of a thick red rocket gently prodding it.

She flattened her ears and bit her lip as her blood simmered.

Within a full minute, the doe packed herself.

Cindy remained on her back, her eyes locked, and her throat emitting various satisfied sighs.

Her fingers spread her crevices, and her other hand lightly traced one of her moderate breasts.

She wanted a wolf badly.

She wanted a towering, firm, faithful canine with her right now.

She wanted him to attach with her and supply her with healthy cubs.

The notion of keeping the wolf population plentiful made her perspire.

She fanned her nightgown as her thrusts accelerated.

"Take this off..."

Cindy caressed her clothed belly, giggling at the fantasy of a couple of paws playing with it.

"Take it off..."

Cindy's voice rose with this request and her legs unfolded.

"Get this rag off me..."

She jerked at the hem of her nightgown, tortured by the excessive heat spilling in her room, unfazed by her faulty air conditioning.

"Get this rag off me!"

Her limbs and spine trembled as she heard a little rip, her nonexistent lover obeying her demands.

She yanked the gown even more, with a slightly louder tear passing every second, but it still remained.

Cindy pulled her fingers out to grasp the other side of her sleepwear and traced them to the little hole in the center.

She strained a bit as she jerked both sides, and tore the entire dress open, her bare fur and genitalia now in full view of the moonlight.

She forced her fingers back in, huffing and puffing with every jab.

She gritted her teeth, and bounced on the springs in her bed growling.

Her legs were now fully fanned out, and her eyelids shot open, revealing a pair of shrunken irises.

"Yes-yes-yes-yes-yes-yes-yes-yes..."

Eventually, Cindy roared as she arched her back with one final shove.

She collapsed on the sheets as her flower burst, and her chest swelled ever so slightly with each breath.

Her center ceased leaking and her blood cooled down, only to rise back up the moment she saw her nightgown reduced to a rag, before snatching a new dress.

"M'aam?"

"Mmm? Oh! Sorry, sorry..."

Cindy hastily scanned the zebra's hardcovers, and supplied the receipt.

"These'll be due by the 20th of April. Have a good day sir."

As her striped patron trotted to the exit, Cindy landed back in her roller, observing the endless corridors of shelves.

"How many of these books have actually been borrowed? Do we really need this many shelves?"

Cindy's thoughts vanished as she spotted a cougar approaching her desk.

"Ahem, how can I help?"

"I can't find 'Cooking for Predators 301'. It should have been on shelf 2847.6."

"Strange..." Cindy's hooves danced on the keyboard before firmly squeezing "enter".

"Ah! Sorry, there was some kind of miscalculation... It's shelf 3647.8."

The feline glanced back at his slip of paper for a solid ten seconds.

"Huh... Guess I need new glasses..."

"I wouldn't jump the g..."

She paused as the feline trudged toward the exit.

"Hmmf..."

Cindy resettled into her chair. She inhaled the air conditioning and sighed at the scent of Spring in Sahara. The scent that brought to mind a soothing beach at the crack of midnight, the recent salt water draining on the sand.

It was this time of year that she both admired and loathed. Twitterpating Day. When mammals typically whiffed the scent of one they idolized, and confirmed whether or not they were meant to be together. If yes, they'd attempt to make themselves as presentable as possible.

Cindy had a few buck visitors recently who always sported some kind of fancy cologne, or polished antlers, or sharpened hooves, but none of them excited her. She still had her heart and mind aimed at that special wolf.

"Pardon me?"

Cindy lifted her head off her arms to find a familiar snout.

"I think the-the return slot door's jammed or something." The silver wolf bore "Predator Seeking Prey".

"Oh. It's probably overflowing again. Lemme go see..."

She followed the canine downstairs, as an alternate scent swam through her. One of a flower slowly surfacing from the snow at the beginning of Spring, resuming it's journey to fully develop. It was unlike any Twitterpating Day at her library, or any artificial perfume her admirers wore. Cindy simultaneously speculated how she smelled, at least to wolves.

They reached the cart by the tiny compartment just a few feet away from the detectors, and Cindy forcefully yanked it away, taken back by the assorted hardcovers, paperbacks, dvds, audiobooks, and other products splashing on the floor.

"Sorry. I'll take care of these. I'll just put your book back too."

"Thanks."

The doe sorted all the scattered materials onto another cart.

"So, did you enjoy that book, Mr..."

"Lupito. Steph-Stephen Lupito."

"Oooh, that sounds exotic."

"Yeah, well, my folks come from Africatan ancestry."

"Cool. I'm Cindy Doeson."

"Oh, that's a pretty name, Cindy."

The doe beamed as he spoke.

"Anyway, yeah, I really enjoyed it. I was pretty surprised learning Bellwether had a predator friend at all..."

"I know, right?"

"I've always wanted a prey gal myself. I used to invite a few squirrels or a skunk to the dance back in High School and college."

"Any luck?"

"Ehh... They'd always just say 'you're a great friend' or 'I like you as a brother' or something like that, and I'd barely hear from them again unless we happen to meet at graduation."

Cindy's ears wilted with his own at this statement as she fitted the final book on it's shelf.

"You think these might have anything to do with that, Cindy?" Stephan extended his unsheathed claws, and displayed his gleaming fangs.

"Oh, nonsense. I'm sure they just already had their own sweetheart. I'm sure plenty of other girls would've swarmed you for that dance. They'd be lucky to have a wolf like you looking out for them."

"If only..."

By this point, Cindy had returned to her desk.

"So, hav-have you considered a predator mate? I mean, I noticed you reading it the other day, so-so I thought..."

"Who hasn't? Who wouldn't want a tall, strong mammal looking out for them?"

"Well, I've seen a few soft flabby predators."

"I like my mammal big either way."

"What if he's only 'hungry' for you?"

"I'll figure it out myself, and I'll quit his pack."

"Pack?"

"Um... I mean, or his pride, or-"

"Excuse me!"

Stephan cut back to discover an irritated mink behind him.

"Oh! Sorry! Didn't see you there!"

He peered back at Cindy.

"Could we talk at a different time?"

"Sure. When were you thinking?"

Stephan reddened as he remained before Cindy.

"May-maybe next week? April the 30th?"

"Sure. What time?"

"Three PM?"

Cindy peeked at the calendar on her Carrot phone, her ears flattened at the view of the glaring mink behind Stephan.

"Yeah, we could do that."

"Alright, see you then..."

"Bye."

Stephan immediately advanced to the exit, reading back every other second at Cindy scanning the books.

Cindy spread on her roller as the sun lingered right at the corner of her window.

She patted her hooves together as she monitored the unlocked sliding door.

It opened. Cindy shot up and sank back in her seat when she noted a moose entering.

Meanwhile, Stephan eyed through the window in his apartment at the canyon-shaped building just 200 feet away.

He glanced down to his claws, and began to trace his soft digit around it.

He faintly yelped as the tip jabbed his finger, and found a tiny red trickle on the side.

His ears flattened at this sight, and he let out a stifled whine.

"This is due back by the 14th of May. Hope you enjoy."

Cindy went back to fondling with her white pen as she glanced back at the entrance.

Her eyelids drooped as the melody of the ink tip ejecting and retracting rang through her ears.

"Excuse me?"

The doe surged from her seat to spot the familiar grey canine ranking over her.

"Sorry. We-we were gonna meet today, right?"

"Y-yes I think you said that."

"Should we do it here? Now?"

Cindy flashed around the area, occupied with only a minuscule portion of customers.

"Sure."

"OK."

Stephan hauled up a nearby stool, and positioned himself by the desk.

"So, you think pred and prey couples are j-just a fad?"

"No. At least, I hope not."

"Same here."

"Well, either way, I'm surprised that Dawn Bellwether of all mammals started it."

"I know, right?"

"Were you... Concerned about it at first?"

"Sort of. Not gonna lie, I originally thought her whole 'saving the city' was just a phony attempt at becoming mayor again. Then I heard about her new book, and I assumed it was just gonna be a pathetic sob story. Then everyone started saying good things about it, so I gave a shot."

"Same thing happened with me. Gotta say, that Vernon fellow's got bigger balls that Dawn could ever describe..."

The two chortled at that for a brief moment before Stephan cleared his throat.

"In that sense, I kinda wish I was Dawn..." Cindy trailed off.

"I was a bit shocked when he threatened to leave the pack and all. My dad would never allow that, even if I wanted to..."

"I'd actually be sort of OK if he did. I think it would have been sweet to start a new pack just for his floofie. Not that I'm not glad they got hitched the way they wanted to after all..."

"Like starting a new species?"

"Exactly." Cindy glowed at the concept of a poofy white lamb with tiny wolf ears, growing fangs, and a playful beating tail.

"You know, Vern already had a steel gut giving Dawn a chance in the first place, childhood aside. If she were saddled with me back then, I'd have moved back to the Meadowlands."

"Well, he's got that nose."

"Hey, you never know. I've never really bothered using my own nose since... Well, you know."

"What?"

Stephan remained on his metal stool, then released a low exhale.

"Ever since that cop said something about 'biology in predators'."

Cindy winced at that statement.

"I started keeping my sniffing to a minimum, so I didn't look hungry. I didn't even wanna whiff any prey-owned snack bars or restaurants..."

Stephan reduced his head as he released a mild whine.

"Every single day, I'd look in the news and hope it would all end well." Stephan's eyes darted at the tiny scab on his finger from that morning.

Cindy's ears repealed as she recognized the ripples in his eyes.

"And to think I looked to... Her for that?" She heard his paws tenderly crack with his voice as he ground them into fists.

"That two-timing piece of..." He buried his snout into his arms and began sniffling.

Cindy extended her hoof to reach his back.

"I'm sorry that happened."

"No, it's OK. I just get emotional. I'm just glad she's done with that shit."

The doe brushed the cloud of fur sticking from his collar, moderately amazed with how much more velvety wolf fur was than she'd first assumed in her fawnhood.

"Let's talk about something else, OK?"

Stephan took one last whimper before mopping his eyes and erecting his torso.

"Alright. Whatch'a got in mind?"

Cindy returned her roller to ponder a bit.

"Oh, you heard of this comic Beastars?"

"We-well, I've only heard about it, but I haven't read it, or seen the Petflix Pandame."

"I'm still catching up with the latest issue. You know what it's about, right?"

"Yeah, teen wolf falling in love with rabbit, but also kinda w-wanting to e-eat her... I dunno, that just sounds so iffy for me."

"I see... Well, it was mentioned at Otterly High's Banned Books meeting here. That's actually what introduced it to me."

"Got a thing for that kinda stuff?" Stephan cackled.

"Well, it's just interesting seeing authors directly tackle hot button topics."

"Same for movies and TV. ZNN's having a field trip with the Petflix series."

Cindy twittered at that. "Yet Japanda doesn't seem to have trouble with it..."

"Wow, there must be more savage attacks there without Night howler for them to take the premise so lightly..."

"Actually, there's apparently just some kind of artsy-fartsy reason about Legoshi representing-"

"Excuse me?!"

Stephan swerved immediately to find a squirrel holding a miniature stack of rodent-sized softcovers and bitterly beating his foot just below the stool.

"I'd like to check out today, mutt!"

"Oh, sorry-sorry sir." The wolf swiftly rose and repositioned the wooden furniture out of the squirrel's path.

As Stephan made for a nearby magazine stand, Cindy hastily accepted the rodent's products.

"I'm very sorry sir. I should have seen you-"

"Don't apologize, just do your rutting job." The squirrel bluntly replied as she scanned the barcodes.

Stephan's ears shot up at this, and he glimpsed back to find Cindy's ears retracting while she printed the receipt.

"Have-have a good day, sir..."

The squirrel snagged his books, and stomped down the tiny stairs leading up to the doe's desk.

Stephan paused when he detected Cindy's customer muttering "stupid grazer". The scent he'd associated with Cindy, that of a daisy meadow coated in sweet dew, had been soured.

He distinguished her swiftly wiping her eyes before assisting the next customer, then he turned to the squirrel, and furrowed his brow.

Stephan halted the rodent's path, his arms crossed.

"What did you say to her?"

"Outta my way, mutt!"

"What did you say to her?" Stephan's tone magnified with the repeated question.

"Nothing."

"You called her a grazer. Didn't you?"

"What do you care?"

"Well, she scans line-lines and lines and lines of rentals six days a week just so you can have some entertainment!"

"So?"

"So, if I were you, I'd go back and apologize."

The rodent scoffed at this.

"Is there some new law in town? Am I supposed to treat everyone with the uppermost respect every day?"

"Well, that-that's how I'd treat her."

The diminutive patron groaned.

"Even if I wanted to apologize, I'm not going all the way back up those steps!"

"I'll stand here all day till you do."

"So be it..." The rodent began to tread around the canine's leg, only to be interrupted by Stephan's foot.

"Move it, mutt."

Stephan refused, and the squirrel strode around him again.

The wolf took another advance back to block his path.

Every time the diminutive rodent took a step, the larger canine stomped in the way, until they were located at the security scanners.

"Fine! I'll go back to that stupid gal!"

Stephan followed the squirrel as he retraced to the desk and hiked up the rodent stairs.

The squirrel glared at the doe attending to the rest of her patrons.

"Seriously, do I have to?"

Stephan merely retained his assertive posture. "You'd find me quite moved if you did." He delivered a sarcastic grin.

"Fine. Excuse me?"

Cindy had just completed her latest receipt when she heard him.

"Can I help you, sir?"

Cindy trembled a bit as she found the familiar rodent.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For-for calling you a grazer..."

He turned to Stephan, who quirked an eye back.

"And saying 'do your rutting job'..."

Cindy returned to the wolf, then back to the squirrel.

"Apology accepted. Thank-thank you."

"And thank you, sir." Stephan replied as the customer trotted back down, grumbling along the way.

He looked at Cindy, who simply gazed back, one of her ears flittering.

"Sorry 'bout all that."

"It's alright. But, let's talk somewhere else from now on, OK?"

"Sure. Where and when?"

Cindy drummed her hooves on the desk.

"How-how about that Snarlbucks on Southwest Camelback? May the 9th at 5 PM?"

"Gotcha. See you then." Stephan escaped from the remaining impatient customers and made for the exit.

To be continued...