FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

“That's all for this shift, Alinadar," the Red Vixen said. “Consider yourself off duty." It had been a “standing around day" for Alinadar, as she'd come to think of them. As her mistress the Red Vixen's bodyguard, there was a distinct lack of bodyguarding to do while the Scarlet Claw was in transit. Mostly Alinadar was required to just follow at the Red Vixen's heels while her mistress took her daily tour around the ship, checking in at everyone's station, before discussing the ship's status and potential new targets with the first mate, Lt. Zan. Standing around looking decorative wasn't much of a job, but Ali was good at staring at the walls, thinking about nothing in particular.

“Thank you, Mistress," Ali said, then bowed. Her stomach was grumbling, so she headed down to the combination mess hall/rec deck on the deck just below the bridge, where there would be food waiting for any crew that might also be off shift. She grabbed a meat sandwich and a fizzy drink for herself, not meeting any of the other crew in the eye as she took an empty table for herself, back against the wall. She spent a few moments with her eyes shut, enjoying the taste of real vat meat in her mouth, not the soya paste she got on the Relentless.

“Hey, Alinadar?" she heard someone ask. Ali's eyes popped open, to see a dark-skinned human woman in her late twenties standing nearby. It was one of the engineering techs, Nitra. “Could I talk to you for a second?" Nitra said, sliding into the seat across from Alinadar. Ali frowned in confusion. Most of the crew didn't want to have much to do with Ali. They all knew that she'd been part of Bloody Margo's crew of pirates. The only reason she was on the Scarlet Claw was because of the Red Vixen's mercy and whim, after Ali had been sorely wounded and captured after attacking one of the Red Vixen's refueling bases.

“Is there a problem?" Ali asked, her voice a little sharp.

“No, there's no problem," Nitra said. “I just… wanted to thank you, for what you did two weeks back when we went planetside on Glyph."

The Red Vixen has been away on her own private business that day, and Ali and other members of the crew had gone down on shore leave. Alinadar had been wandering on her own, having no one to pair up with, when she'd seen Nitra and one of the other female crew getting harassed by a male downsider human. Ali hadn't even had to draw a weapon, merely growling softly and flexing her claws behind the male's back. He'd twitched, turned around, and upon seeing that she was armed and annoyed, spat a curse in Nitra's direction and backed off. Ali had turned away, tail lashing, the urge to attack, to cut loose and hurt that idiot human almost overwhelming her.

“It wasn't anything," Ali told Nitra.

“It meant a lot to me," Nitra said. “I'm a tech, not one of the fighting crew like yourself. And I know you don't seem to… get along… with everyone else. I just wanted to let you know I appreciated what you did." She reached out and placed her hand over Ali's paw.

Ali snatched it back, as if she'd been shocked. It had felt like a shock, but when she flexed her paw it didn't tingle like it had been real current. She rubbed the spot where Nitra's fingers had touched the back of her paw, lowering her gaze. “Sorry," Ali muttered.

“My fault," Nitra said, sounding contrite. “I didn't realize you didn't like to be touched."

“I don't know if I like to be touched," Ali replied. “I mean, um, you didn't do it on the Relentless, unless Doc was patching you up, or someone was handing out discipline." She rubbed between her ears unconsciously.

“But you've been on the Claw for almost two years now…" Nitra began to say. “Does the idea of being touched scare you?"

“No," Ali said automatically. “It's just… I… haven't been."

“Would you like to try?"

Which was how they somehow ended up in Nitra's quarters, and Ali stripped out of her vest and blouse, just wearing her pants, sports bra, and ever-present collar.

“Now, this is important," Nitra said carefully. “If you start feeling uncomfortable, or scared, you tell me, and I'll stop immediately. Don't be afraid to say anything."

“Okay," Ali said, hiding her confusion. Nitra wasn't armed, didn't even have claws or fangs. How could she scare Ali?

The human woman reached out, one pale brown fingertip barely brushing against the fur of Ali's shoulder. Nitra's finger began to move down, stroking the black fur of Ali's bicep, down to the white of her forearm, then lightly brushing against Ali's black paw pad. A deep shudder ran through Ali, her breath growing ragged. The pressure of Nitra's finger was barely there, yet it felt electric, making Ali's heart race as she pressed her eyes shut, just wanting to continue to feel.

With both palms Nitra reached under Ali's arms, stroking her sides, thumbs running through the fur of her belly, making it tremble. “Are you okay?" Nitra asked.

“Yes," Ali gasped.

“Do you want me to stop?"

“No!"

Then Nitra reached up and cupped Ali's face in her hands, fingers stroking the tufts of fur over Ali's cheeks. Ali blinked rapidly, her vision suddenly blurring. “Why am I crying?" she asked.

“Because you've never been touched, and you are starving," Nitra replied. Ali leaned forward, her lips parting, and then Nitra's mouth was upon hers.

As first kisses went, it was awkward. Human and foxen mouths just weren't compatible, but their tongues made up for it. When they came up for air, Ali asked tentatively, “Can I touch you too?"

“Yes," Nitra said, smiling at her.

“Can I touch you all over?"

“Of course, you can."

They spent all night exploring each other's bodies, until Ali's hunger was finally sated.