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The AdvAnTAGE Project: Passion’s Fire

By Mantrid Brizon

(06/14/2021)

Part 1: The Old Flame

The sharp fizzing fills his ears and the scent of sulfur packs his nostrils. Holding the elongated match, he stares into the dancing flame, its orange and yellow glow so peaceful and serene. With a heavy sigh, he tips the tall glass jar and sticks the long match down into it, lighting the charred wick near the bottom of the glass. Setting the candle back atop the rack, he waves a hand, snuffing out the match flame.

“Lighting another one?”

Turning his head, Aaron Mizrelli glances over his shoulder and finds Pastor Jim standing behind him.

“Hey, Jim. Same one as last time, but it’s almost gone. I’ll probably use a new one next week.”

“What are you doing here, Aaron? As if I didn’t know...”

“You sound annoyed.”

“No, just concerned.” Pastor Jim replies.

Though his tone is very casual, the look on his face is telling. They’d never been close friends, but ever since Aaron’s wife, Patty, died four years earlier in a car accident, he’d spent more and more time in the local church.

“There’s nothing to be concerned about.” Aaron murmurs.

“Isn’t there? I mean, Lord knows I’m happy to see you in here - it’s more than most people do these days - but I literally set my watch by your visits... It’s not healthy.”

“It’s just a candle.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about, and you know it...”

Pastor Jim’s face becomes stern but earnest, almost fatherly. Though he’s the same age as the thirty-year-old Aaron, he still exudes spiritual authority. With an arm outstretched, the Pastor leads the gloomy Aaron toward a pew and the pair take a seat.

“Besides, that’s a Catholic tradition. I mean, I know why you do it. We had her funeral here.” The Pastor begins.

“Yes, I remember.” Aaron quips.

“But let me ask you something... Do you think Patty would want you spending so much of your time here? Sulking and mourning?”

Aaron merely shrugs his shoulders.

“The answer is ‘no’... I remember, I’d just come here to lead the church that year. I met her and she was a bubbly, cheerful ray of sunshine.”

“I know...” Aaron murmurs, his eyes welling with tears.

“The last thing she’d have wanted for you was to sit in here and sulk for years upon years, in this place. No offense to my boss, but come on... The good Lord gave you life to live, you know?” Pastor Jim speaks softly, resting a hand on Aaron’s shoulder. “You have many, many more years ahead of you. You should be out living it, meeting new people, finding a good woman and starting a family. It’s what He would want, and I think it’s what Patty would want, too.”

“Jim?”

“Yeah?”

“Would you still hassle me like this if I tithed more?”

“Well, it couldn’t hurt! Heh... No, but seriously, it pains me to see you here, suffering. Even Job’s pain didn’t last forever. I know it seems bad right now, but He still loves you, and so long as you have breath in your lungs, it can get better... This, too, shall pass.”

Aaron’s heard this speech before, many times, in fact. Pastor Jim’s repeated and concerted efforts to push him out and back into the world have almost become routine, but this time it feels different. Something inside of the young man yearns for an end, for a cessation of his pain. Looking to the Pastor, he slowly nods his head.

“So, same time next week or will you surprise me?” Pastor Jim asks with a warm smile.

“We’ll see...”

Rising from the pew, Aaron heads for the doors and steps out into the warm sun. A pair of teenaged boys jog past him, waving to the man. He waves back. Walking toward his car, Aaron passes an elderly couple walking their little dogs. They greet him warmly and he reciprocates. Everyone in town knows Mr. Mizrelli. As a skilled lawyer who fell into a lucrative practice performing both bankruptcy and business law, he’s one of the highest paid people working at his firm, and the wealthiest man in town; his boss stays in an even wealthier area, outside of town and much closer to the Kentucky border.

Aaron’s wealth is only overshadowed by his personality, which, until the untimely death of his wife, was warm, passionate, extremely considerate and personable. Though he’s quieted considerably and has mostly kept to himself these past few years, he finds it genuinely difficult to be rude to people, making him an overall positive, if somewhat somber, staple in the community. As he climbs into his car, his gold painted BMW, he realizes that he’d failed to go shopping. He often forgets the small, household tasks, a problem he never had before Patty’s death. With the day to himself, he decides to use it to accomplish these tasks and begins by driving to the local market.

Entering the establishment, he glances around, noting the sparse crowd on the warm, Tuesday afternoon. The cashier, Debby, stands at her station, scanning the items of two men, a short, mixed race man and his taller, bearded, Caucasian companion, who always seems to wear a rocker vest. They notice him right away, giving subtle head nods in unison, though they say nothing. Those guys are always so secretive, rarely talking with the people who live in town. Even Aaron, who knows everybody by name, struggles to recall ever speaking with them. Debby, on the other hand, spots him standing in the foyer and immediately smiles and waves.

“Hi, Mr. Mizrelli!” She chirps.

“Hey, Debby. Working hard?”

“More like hardly working. Just don’t tell my boss that.” The twenty-year-old chuckles.

Grabbing a basket, Aaron explores the modest store, perusing the shelves for provisions. He passes the two men, who carry their bags outside before promptly setting them in the back of a fully restored, blue and silver 1975 Chevrolet El Camino. After taking the time to patrol the isles, collecting all that he thinks he needs, he makes his way to the registers, where only Debby is working.

“How are you today, Mr. Mizrelli?” She asks, scanning his first item.

“I’m alright. You?”

“I’m doing good. Just left the church?”

“Seems like everyone knows my business these days.” He murmurs.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to prod. You’ve just got that routine down. It’s been that way for years.” She hastily remarks.

“It’s alright. Pastor Jim already hit me with that earlier.”

“Oh?” She glances up at him, her hands swiping item after item with considerable skill.

“Yeah. He told me that I should probably not come in so much.”

“How often does a church man say that?!” She giggles.

“I just like to light a candle for her, you know?”

“Patty?” Debby asks in a soft voice.

“Yeah...” He sighs, glancing down at the floor. “I started the day of her funeral... Seemed right, to keep her memory alive.”

“I didn’t know you still did that. I remember, but I was still in school when she passed. Fifteen, I think?” She remarks, tapping a finger against her cheek and glancing toward the ceiling.

“God, am I that old?!”

“No! I just-”

“I’m kidding. It’s just funny how fast time flies... I guess I never really stopped to think about how long it’s been. Four years doesn’t sound like a lot until you put it that way.” He seems to think aloud.

“I’m sorry if I, uhm... So... What did Jim say?” She sheepishly asks.

“That I should move on. That Patty would want me to live my life.” He calmly but somberly answers.

Looking over his features, she cannot help but pity the melancholy man.

“I think he’s right...” She begins, an almost motherly warmth in her voice. “Four years is a long time, long enough to put the past behind you. You’re too young to be living that way. That’s what retirement homes are for!” She chirps.

“I suppose you’re right.” He flashes a little grin. “But even if I did try to meet someone, it’s hard enough just to keep house by myself!”

“Oh, yeah. You do have that huge house, downtown. Hmm...”

“Well, it’s large, but it’s not like the Simmons’ Manor outside of town. Now that’s a huge house... I wonder how those guys in the El Camino afforded that place.” He thinks aloud.

“Trust funds?” Debby shrugs her shoulders. “I know there’s four of them, so... Oh! Have you thought about an AdvAnimal?!” She asks with a snap of her fingers.

“Huh?” He raises a brow.

“They’re letting people Welcome them now and I hear that they make great companions! That might be something to try! If it wasn’t so difficult or expensive, I’d probably do that myself!” She chirps.

“Really?!”

“Sure! Why not?” She cocks her head, flashing an innocent, perhaps even naïve smile.

“Well... It’s bringing an AdvAnimal into the house...”

“I mean, are they really all that different from us? They’re certainly not animals!”

“I sometimes forget that you grew up with them already being around... God, now I really feel old!" He chuckles. “But that’s not what I meant.”

“Oh?”

“I mean, I’d be basically adopting an adult because of... Housework? Loneliness? Either way you slice it, that feels kind of... Wrong? Selfish? Needy? Maybe even a little desperate.”

“Oh... Hmm... Well, think of it this way! If you met some woman, she could have all sorts of baggage, like kids or a psycho ex, and even if she didn’t, there’s no guarantee she’d want to help you with that stuff anyway. She might have a career or just not be interested in playing house right now, you know? Then you’d be in the same boat. You’d probably have to hire someone at that point. At least if you Welcomed an AdvAnimal, you’d have company and then you’d also be taking them out of some Unifact barracks or wherever it is they live before they’re Welcomed, and giving them a really nice home! They get a nice place with a good man supporting them. You get company and maybe some help around the house. That’s a good thing for both of you! That’ll be $89.56.”

“You make an interesting point.” He mutters as he retrieves his wallet.

After paying for his things and returning to his car, Aaron sits for a moment and ponders what to do next. With the rest of the day to himself, he decides to spend it at home, as usual. Stepping into the large, six bedroom, three bathroom manor, however, it feels dark and empty, even though the sun shines through the light colored curtains, which Patty had picked out shortly after they moved in. Making his way into the kitchen, he pauses at the sight of their wedding photo, still hanging on the wall in the main hall. He looks at it daily but for some reason it hurts a little more today. After putting away his groceries, he opens the cupboard and collects a bottle of brandy.

“Just one drink won’t hurt...” He murmurs to himself.

One drink becomes two and then four. In short order, he’s consumed nearly half of the bottle. By eight o' clock at night, he finds himself sitting on the sofa, sobbing as he stares at their wedding photo, which he’d pulled from the wall. The television plays in the background.

“I’ll see you later... Much later.” Mel Gibson’s character tearfully remarks.

“Oh, shit...” Aaron sighs and sniffles. “If only you could see me now... I probably look so pitiful.”

Setting the wedding photo aside, Aaron tilts his head back and gazes at the ceiling. His thoughts return to Pastor Jim, Debby, the market girl, and all of the countless others in town who’ve tried to pull him out of his funk these past four years. They’re right; he always knew they were, but his heart just couldn’t bear to let go. Perhaps, even now, he still cannot let go, but he’s sick and tired of being miserable. This is no way to live.

Part 2: The Process

After sleeping it off and waking up with a hangover, he takes a shower, makes a relatively healthy breakfast of lean ham and organic eggs and then sits at his computer. He’s cleared his schedule for the day, calling the firm and telling them he needed more time to himself. It’s not often that he abandons his work or his boss, but for as much as he’s done for them, they’re more than accommodating. After taking twenty minutes to tap on his desk, staring at the screen and debating whether or not he should even bother, he finally rests his fingers over the keys and begins typing.

Bringing up Unifact’s web page, it’s absolutely covered with photos of, and information about, the AdvAnimals. If you didn’t know better, you could easily forget that the company’s main game is pharmaceuticals. Beginning the process of Welcoming an AdvAnimal, he’s first forced to make an account on their website. It requires everything from his name, address, income range, and for Americans, a social security number. He finds it odd, but as a lawyer who specializes in business accounts and bankruptcy law, he’s confident that anything nefarious will appear in the fine print, which he’s always keen to read.

After creating the account, he’s given a questionnaire. Before he can start, however, he finds himself looking at a peculiar page. A warning requests that he be completely honest, even if the questions “seem intimately personal”, and that any discrepancies in the background check and follow up interviews, plural, will result in immediate rejection.

“Jeez. They’re acting like I’m trying to meet with aliens or visit the ark of the covenant.” He remarks to himself.

Agreeing to the terms and conditions and then clicking on the “NEXT” button, he finds himself staring at a long page with a series of questions. It almost looks like an online job application, and a bar at the top lists stages by category. First is personal information. As he reads, these questions all seem rather benign and borderline nonsensical.

“What does my favorite color or food preferences have to do with anything?” He wonders, scratching his head.

He answers each question via typing. Yellow, steak, not really into sports, and on and on. By the hundredth question, he begins to wonder if this is all even worth it. Clicking the “NEXT” button again, he’s taken to the medical questionnaire. Using the multiple choice options and the dropdown tabs, he makes it clear that he’s had no surgeries, including a vasectomy, has no issues with impotency, no serious mental or physical health defects, to his knowledge, and he has no allergies to any foods or animal fur, save for an intolerance to lactose. The next series of questions has yet another warning at the top, urging people to answer the following questions completely honestly.

“Marital status: Single, Married, Divorced, Widowed, Polyamorous.”

Clicking on “Widowed”, several new options appear, asking for the details about his spouse’s gender, life and death and his current mental and emotional state. Though he finds it all far too personal, he cannot help himself; he’s so curious as to what they’re hiding beyond this screen that he answers each question. Before long, he’s admitted to depressive feelings and a brooding loneliness that’s becoming all-consuming. In an odd way, he feels somewhat relieved through his admissions. Finally, he comes to the final stage. It’s a simple page with one final question.

“What’s the best time to reach out for a phone interview?”

Upon opening the dropdown menu and clicking “Anytime”, he’s given a prompt revealing that he has, in fact, been approved for the first of two follow-up interviews. He’s then logged out of the system and finds himself staring at Unifact’s homepage.

“Huh... That wasn’t exactly what I was-”

Ring, ring, ring! Shifting in his seat and reaching into a pocket, Aaron produces his cell phone. He doesn’t recognize the number. A new client, perhaps?

“Hello?”

“Is this Mr. Aaron Mizrelli?” A woman’s voice asks.

“Speaking.”

“Hello, Mr. Mizrelli! I’m Stacy from Unifact!” She chirps.

“Wow, that was fast!”

“Do you have time to conduct your phone interview?”

“Uh... Sure!”

“Excellent. Now, I’m going to ask a series of questions, and I’d like you to answer them as honestly as possible.”

“Okay.”

“Which sounds like the most appealing vacation spot to you? The tropics, the African savannah, a temperate zone or the arctic tundra?”

“... Is this a joke?!”

“I’m sorry?” The woman sounds genuinely confused.

“Did someone put you up to this? Are you friends with that prankster, Bobby?” Aaron asks, scrambling out of his chair and peeking out of the curtain, at the house next door.

“I assure you, sir, I’m a genuine employee of Unifact conducting a pre-Welcoming phone interview. These questions serve a very specific purpose.” She coolly replies.

“Uh-huh... Alright! I’ve always found the savannah to be fascinating and I always liked that Toto song. You know, the “rains down in Africa” one?” He answers half facetiously.

“Uh-huh!” She chirps.

Aaron can hear her typing in the background. Is she reading from a script and scrolling down, documenting what he’s saying or both?

“What best describes you? Hot, cool or in between.”

“I have no idea how to answer that question...” He replies.

“Let me rephrase. Are you passionate and carnal, calm and genteel or some mixture of both?”

“When and where? What’s the context?”

“Whenever!”

“... What does this have to do with AdvAnimals?!” He raises a brow.

“Just answer the question, please.”

“I don’t know... Passionate, most of the time.”

“I see... Mmm’kay... Now then! How often do you say you exercise?”

“...”

Stacy proceeds to ask increasingly personal questions, ranging from his level of personal activity and habits, all the way to his preferred body style. Simultaneously perplexed, unnerved and enthralled, the lonely and confused man continues to answer every question. It’s as though he’s under some sort of hypnotic spell; he cannot take the phone away from his ear even if he tried.

“Alrighty!!!” She suddenly exclaims, startling him and causing him to jolt as he relaxes on his couch. “You’re all done!”

“I am?”

“Uh-huh! Seems we have several candidates who are right up your alley. One in particular seems perfect. When could you come in for a meet and greet?”

“I suppose if I called the office I could sort out my schedule and possibly-”

“Would tomorrow at noon work for you?!”

“... What?”

“Well, according to my computer, your address is approximately a two hour drive from the Indianapolis center, so that would give you time to wake up, make yourself presentable and arrive right on time!” Stacy exclaims, radiating the energy of a high-school cheerleader.

“Uh...”

“We have a candidate, Paige, and I think you’d be a good fit for each other. Everything is lining up, and so far she seems eager to meet you!” She chirps.

“Okay...” He murmurs, unsure of what to make of this turn of events.

“So, can I put you down for noon?! You’ll receive email confirmation and I can add a wake-up call if you’d like!”

“Sure. Why not.”

“Excellent! Wear something presentable, but dress comfortably. Be yourself. The final decision is on her.” Stacy warns.

Without even allowing him the chance to thank her or even say goodbye, she hangs up. Within seconds of taking the phone away from his ear, he receives an email. Checking the sender’s address, he’s surprised to find that it appears to be legitimate. Browsing the Unifact website reveals a list of “Welcoming Agents”, among which Stacy is listed, right down to the number that called him, and her email address, which matches the sender of the email he’d just received. Everything points to this being a genuine part of the process. Though he finds himself growing excited, something inside of him begins to feel uneasy. Perhaps this isn’t the best idea?

Shaking off the strange feeling, he decides to give it a shot. After all he went through just to come this far, it wouldn’t make any sense to back out now. He has a light snack before going to bed, forgoing dinner altogether. Aaron is jolted awake by the sound of his phone ringing as it sits upon his nightstand. Picking it up without even looking, he swipes the screen and is surprised to hear Stacy greeting him.

“This is your wake-up call, Mr. Mizrelli! Paige will be waiting for you at noon, so get yourself ready and head out in the next hour!” She chirps.

“Mmrrmmm... Okay.” He grumbles, rubbing his eyes.

“Oh, and please avoid wearing any strong colognes.”

“Why?”

“The AdvAnimals have stronger senses than we do, so we ask that for the first meet you wear your natural scent. ‘Kay?!”

“Yeah, alright.”

“Excellent! See you at noon!”

As before, she promptly hangs up the phone before he has a chance to respond.

“I hope she’s not like that when she’s off the clock.” He murmurs whilst staring at his phone.

Climbing out of bed and hopping into the shower, he hastily washes and then dresses himself, only to realize that he hasn’t been awake long enough to stomach breakfast. Instead, he decides to eat on the way, so he grabs his keys and heads for the door. While driving through town, on his way to the highway, he pauses when he sees the church. Pastor Jim is propping open the doors to allow the morning breeze inside. It’s Wednesday, and on Wednesdays they have an after school program for the children of the parents who attend. Seeing Jim, Aaron waves. After waving back, Jim heads inside. Overcome by the desire to speak to someone, anyone, about what he’s doing, he pulls into the parking lot, hops out and darts inside.

“Hey, Pastor Jim! Excuse me, Jim! Do you have a minute?!”

“Sure. What can I do for you? Is it next Tuesday already?!” The man of faith asks, checking his wristwatch.

“Ha-ha... No, I just wanted to talk to you. Something’s on my mind and-”

“Are you alright?” Pastor Jim steps closer, a worried look on his face.

Motioning toward a pew, Aaron and the Pastor sit beside each other and Aaron explains everything. Jim looks quite surprised when he reveals what some of the questions were, though for his own sake, Aaron skips many of the more confusing and risqué questions. Jim listens in silence, nodding his head and rubbing his shaven chin. The one-sided conversation lasts all of five minutes.

“So? What do you think?” Aaron finally asks.

“About the questions or your decision?”

“I don’t know... Both, I guess.”

“Well, I think you should listen to your heart.”

“That’s remarkably unhelpful...”

“Yeah.” Pastor Jim smirks.

“But what if I’m wrong? What if this ends up being some huge mistake? What if I bring some AdvAnimal home and she’s just a hyper-evolved animal? I mean, they’re all mute, but can they reason? What if she tears up my house? What if the stress of caring for what could effectively be an overgrown child stresses me out even more?! Then there’s the fact that they even exist... I mean, they were first grown in a lab, so do they have souls?” Aaron thinks aloud, leaning back in the pew.

Resting a hand on his shoulder, Pastor Jim gives him a little squeeze.

“I don’t think you’re seeing the big picture, here.”

“How’s that?” Aaron furls his brow.

“God made the Heavens and the Earth. He also made us, correct?”

“Yeah.”

“Then he also gave us our capacity for thought. Science is within His realm, so by that logic, He had a hand in the AdvAnimals, too. Perhaps He steered the scientists toward this path, because He wants AdvAnimals to exist for some reason?”

“You think so?!” Aaron asks.

“Sure! As for their souls... You’ve met my dog, Joseph?”

“Yeah. He’s a good dog.”

“He’s a very good dog, and unlike my mother-in-law, he has a wonderful personality. I think any creature with that much personality must have a soul.”

Aaron cannot help but chuckle.

“What’s that say about Margaret?” He asks.

“Thank the merciful Lord I won’t have to spend eternity with her.” The Pastor nudges him with an elbow.

After sharing a laugh, Pastor Jim pats Aaron on the back.

“My point being, AdvAnimals seem quite sentient, ergo I think He must’ve given them souls as well. The breath of life, and whatnot. Personally, I think you should go for it. If it makes you happy and does something good for one of His creatures, then where’s the harm in Welcoming one?”

“Okay.” Aaron says with a little smile.

“Where are you headed to so early, anyway? You don’t normally go to your office until later in the day.”

“Off to go and meet her.”

“Who? The AdvAnimal?!” Pastor Jim’s eyes grow wide.

“Yeah. They sprung this on me pretty fast.”

“I see!” The Pastor chuckles. “Well, good luck!”

“Thanks, Jim. Thanks for being there for me.”

“That’s kind of my job, isn’t it?” The Pastor grins. “But you’re welcome.”

Returning to his car, Aaron stops at a fast food place before making the two hour drive to the Welcoming Center, in the heart of Indianapolis. Upon setting foot in the massive skyscraper made of polished, black steel and mirrored glass, he’s struck by how sterile and lifeless the place seems. Both the exterior and the interior are almost clinical, like a lab that builds microchips. Everything inside is white or chrome, with large, open spaces and modern but minimalistic furnishings. Approaching a single, black metal and glass desk, a young, dark-skinned woman sits behind it. She turns her eyes away from the screen only to glance at Aaron before looking back at the screen. Suddenly, she perks up.

“Hi! I’m here to-”

“Hello, Mr. Mizrelli! Paige is all ready to meet you!” The woman chirps, casually cutting him off. “Please follow them to the interview room!”

“Who?”

The young woman points with a brightly painted fingernail, and upon turning around, he finds that she’s pointing at a door that’s built into the wall. If it weren’t opening, he’d have never known it was there. Standing in the doorway are two men, one wearing a black suit and matching tie, with mirrored sunglasses covering his eyes, and another man in a more conventional uniform. It’s similar to a hospital orderly, with a white smock top and pants, and generic, solid white athletic shoes.

“Right this way, Mr. Mizrelli.”

The suit-wearing man speaks with an inhuman monotone. It sends a shiver up his spine, which he somehow manages to hide. Walking past the young woman’s desk, he glances back as he approaches the door. She clicks a button on her mouse and begins typing, never once looking back at him. Her smile has faded as well. Her chipper personality felt so forced. Once he’s close enough, the man dressed like an orderly motions with a hand.

“Right this way, sir!” He chirps, speaking with much more emotion and leading Aaron into the pure white hallway. “She’s in Greeting Room ‘C’.”

“And how long is this interview?”

“However long it needs to be, I suppose. For most people it’s about four or five hours.”

Aaron blinks, his eyes growing wide. How could it possibly take that long? Leading him toward the door, the man in the bland suit stands to one side, positioning himself beside it as though he were a bouncer at a nightclub. The other man presses his hand against a black plate built into the wall, only for the a green light to flash behind the plate and the door to abruptly slide open with a soft, whooshing sound.

“Wow... The future is now, huh?”

“Yeah, something like that.” The man chuckles.

With a wave on his hand, he ushers Aaron inside, and the nervous lawyer finds himself standing in a much more pleasant room. With pastel pink walls and red carpeting that’s as soft to the touch as it is to the eyes, it’s a warm and soothing room, though dimly lit. A semicircular desk sits in the corner directly in front of him, though this one is made of cherry wood. Before this desk are two chairs. A woman sits behind the desk, her black hair pulled into a high bun and small, oval glasses resting atop her thin nose. She wears business casual, with a dressy skirt. The pale, thirty-something has a bookish appearance, like a young librarian.

Sitting in the chair across from her, on his left, is another person, mostly obscured by the back of the wingback chair. With long, golden hair and black highlights, she at first appears to be a human, but as she lifts and turns her head he notices the rounded ears that crown the far corners of her head. Golden fur covers them, with black fur forming a border that wraps around the edges. Though he’s struck by the fascinating sight, he’s left speechless when the creature glances over her shoulder and reveals her face. It’s so cat-like and yet so human! Covered in golden fur with solid black spots, her muzzle, neck and chest are cream colored. She has the features of a cheetah. Her snout is both prominent but short, the nostrils of her black, cat-like nose flaring somewhat as she leans a little closer and sniffs the air.

She coos, her modest smile growing. Does she like the way he smells? Slowly opening her eyelids, her vivid, yellow orbs scan his form and her lips curl around the corners of her snout in a very human-like fashion. Her eyes are cat-like in color, but not in design; they look so human! As her smile continues to widen, she flashes a toothy grin, revealing omnivorous teeth, but elongated canines that are borderline fangs. She looks so pleased to see him! Extending a hand, she motions with dainty fingers, four in total, plus a thumb. Aside from the long and sharp, black claws, which he cannot ignore, this part of her body seems very human.

“Please, Mr. Mizrelli! Have a seat! I’m Stacy, and this is Paige!” The woman behind the desk chirps.

“A pleasure.” He says, extending a hand.

He first shakes Stacy’s hand, only to naturally shift toward the other person in the room. Glancing down, he’s briefly startled by her claws as Paige slips her slender fingers into his palm. Giving him the softest of squeezes, she briefly rubs the soft skin on the back of his hand with her thumb. They don’t shake hands, merely holding them for a moment. She slowly pulls her hand away, her soft fingertips dragging over his skin. Something about this makes his cheeks flush; he can feel the warmth on his face.

“How are you feeling, Mr. Mizrelli?”

“Please, call me ‘Aaron’, and I’m feeling... Nervous. Excited. Maybe a little shy!” He admits as he claims the seat beside Paige.

“That’s perfectly natural.” Stacy replies, a small smile gracing her delicate features.

Glancing over at the AdvAnimal, he’s briefly struck by her physical form. Her arms are slender, but her legs are very toned and athletic. They emerge from broad hips, much like any human woman has, before reaching her animalesque double ankles and her large, paw-like, digitigrade feet. With a skirt around her waist, her furry legs are on full display. He can see some of that cream colored fur on her inner thighs. She doesn’t wear any shoes. Each toe is crowned with a similarly sharp claw, like her fingers, only thicker. As his eyes scan upward, he admires her flat belly. She’s looks very fit, like a woman who jogs several miles every day.

Aaron flushes even more, unable to avoid Paige’s large, perky breasts. They’re confined to a tightly fitting crop top that seems to be made out of a spandex-like material. At least a 36D cup, if not an E cup, they’re absolutely perfect. Plump and full, yet very perky, they’re like something a supermodel or a top-billing actress or porn starlet would have. They almost appear fake, but as the AdvAnimal twists her body and leans back, making herself comfortable in the old fashioned chair, they jiggle ever so slightly, just like natural breasts. A thought crosses his mind. It seems almost cruel and unusual to confine them so tightly in her black crop top.

“Oh...”

“Is something wrong, Mr. Mizrelli?”

“Huh?! No! I mean, I’ve just never met an AdvAnimal in person before. She’s pretty!”

Paige’s already wide smile somehow grows even wider and she bows her head, looking away rather bashfully. She brings a hand to her face and covers her mouth as she softly giggles, clearly flattered by the compliment. It’s such a human response that it instantly changes his opinion of her, cementing her sentience and her humanity in his mind. Why was he ever worried?!

“Alright, Mr. Mizrelli. This is the final interview. Unlike the previous questionnaire and the phone interview, this will be far more natural.”

“What was with those questions, anyway? If you don’t mind my asking.”

“First and foremost, it weeds out the window shoppers. By making the questionnaire absurdly long and personal, we ensure that only the most sincere remain. Also, it does actually help with pairing you to the proper AdvAnimal... Anyway! I will only ask a handful of questions, and only as you spend time with Paige. Tell her about yourself. Let her get to know you. If she likes what she sees, if she approves of you, then that’ll be it. You’ll be free to take her home.”

“Tonight?!”

“Tonight.” Stacy nods her head. “Are you ready?”

“Well I guess I better be!” He chirps.

“Hehe!” Paige giggles.

“That’s the proper attitude.” Stacy grins.

Shifting in his chair, Aaron looks into Paige’s eyes, gazing into her topaz spheres for what feels like an eternity. He’s startled by how beautiful they are. Her eyes are the perfect shade of yellow to accentuate her colorations. As she looks into his cobalt orbs, they dazzle. He looks so enthralled, so enamored and yet so shy and nervous. Clearing his throat, he turns his head and looks toward Stacy, who sits back in her own chair, elbows on the armrests and fingertips tapping together.

“I’m sorry...” He begins, letting out a nervous chuckle. “I don’t really know where to begin.”

“Take your time. Perhaps start with your feelings?” Stacy suggests, placing a thumb beneath her chin and her index finger against her cheek.

“Should I start with how I feel about my mother?” He jokes.

“Heh... Whatever works best for you.” Stacy softly chuckles. “Maybe share your aspirations or what made you seek out an AdvAnimal’s companionship?”

Subtly nodding his head, he takes a deep breath and exhales, trying his best to relax. Turning his attention back to Paige, he says the first thing that comes to mind.

“I knew a girl named Paige, once. She was nice. I always thought that was a pretty name.”

The bashful AdvAnimal girl bows her head once more, looking up at him and batting her long, feminine eyelashes. Stacy reaches for a pen and legal pad and begins to write, glancing between the paper and Aaron.

“Do you get to pick your names or are they just sort of given to you?”

Paige raises two fingers.

“The second one?”

“Mhm!” She nods.

“Oh! She has a voice!” He chirps.

“You thought they didn’t?” Stacy asks, glancing up from her legal pad.

“Well, everyone knows they’re mute, so I guess...”

“Why don’t you tell her about Patty?”

Aaron’s heart sinks. He glares at Stacy, who now has a cold air about her. She sounds so sterile, so clinical, as if she were merely sitting with a patient for the first time. Paige’s rounded ears twitch as she perks up in her chair. She cocks her head to one side as she examines Aaron’s swiftly changing demeanor.

“How do you know her name?” He asks in a pained growl.

“It’s part of the standard background check.” Stacy nonchalantly replies.

“I never used her name in my answers...”

“You were warned of the thoroughness of our background checks, Mr. Mizrelli. Upon checking your records, we then checked your late wife’s records.”

At a loss for words, Aaron merely stares. His angry eyes soften as he looks away from the human behind the desk and toward the floor. Focusing on the empty space between them, his mind wanders. Seeing the pain in his eyes, Paige leans over in her chair and reaches out for him. Gently resting a hand on his upper arm, she rubs him very tenderly. Stacy takes a note.

“Thanks, but you don’t need to do that.” He murmurs, glancing at Paige.

“She’s concerned about you.” Stacy retorts on the AdvAnimal’s behalf.

Reaching across his body, Aaron rests his hand over Paige’s, and as he softly rubs the back of her hand, she seems to become even more shy. As she bows her head and averts her eyes yet again, he wonders if perhaps she’s even a little embarrassed.

“Are you okay? You look nervous.” He asks the cheetah girl.

“Uh-huh...” She subtly nods her head.

“Uh-huh, you’re okay or uh-huh, you’re nervous?” He speaks in a warm voice, a little smile spreading across his lips.

Shifting her eyes upward and focusing on him, Paige merely shrugs her shoulders.

“Okay.” He chuckles. “I’m kind of both, myself.”

“Why is that, Mr. Mizrelli?” Stacy asks, preparing to write on her legal pad.

“I said you can call me ‘Aaron’. Anyway, meeting new people is always tough.”

“Especially when your experience is very limited.” Stacy remarks.

“What do you mean?” He furls his brow.

“You’re her first visitor.”

“Really?!” He gasps.

“Mhm...” Paige shyly admits.

“And you’re how old?!”

“She’s nineteen, Mr. Mizrelli.”

“Nineteen... I was seventeen when I first met Patty, and I already had over a decade of experience with the world and neighborhood kids. No wonder you’re so shy!” He turns toward the AdvAnimal.

“We socialize them with other AdvAnimals, but it’s better for the bonding process if we keep their interactions with humans to a minimum.” Stacy casually interjects.

“In that case, I guess I probably should start at the beginning.”

“Would you perhaps be more comfortable on the couch?” Stacy suddenly asks.

“Huh? What couch?”

As Stacy points toward a corner, he turns in his chair and finds a mock living room set up in the opposite end of the room, far to the right of the doorway.

“Oh... Looks comfy!”

Rising from his seat, Paige is quick to follow him, as is Stacy, who brings her legal pad and pen with her. Claiming another wingback chair for herself, Stacy continues to take notes as Aaron tells Paige about himself. He starts with the basics - his likes and dislikes, his aspirations and goals - before moving on to benign stories from his childhood, glossing over all but the most interesting details until he reaches the period of his life where he decided to become a lawyer. Paige sits and listens intently. Though he feels that his monologue should be rather boring, the AdvAnimal girl seems enthralled, nodding from time to time as she listens to him.

Her big, yellow eyes never leave his, and on occasion, when he makes a joke or tells a funny story, she scoots a little closer as she giggles. Several times, she’s asks him questions using a small device on a nearby coffee table, a device that looks like a shrunken laptop which could fit atop two hands. He wasn’t expecting her to be literate. It makes the conversation flow so much easier. While Paige seems very interested in his past and his hobbies, Aaron is more interested in her life’s story. Paige, however, is quick to skip that discussion, claiming that there isn’t much to tell.

She never went to a normal school, being taught by Unifact, grew up only with female AdvAnimals and a few human teachers, and has no hobbies yet. For all intents and purposes, she’s a blank slate, waiting for the right person to show her the world. It tugs at Aaron’s heartstrings, and brings them even closer together, emotionally and physically.

“That’s alright.” He speaks softly, resting a hand on her shoulder and rubbing her soft fur. “Everyone has talents, you just need to discover them.” He assures her.

Sharing the moment, Paige and Aaron gaze at each other, her knee against his leg and his hand on her shoulder. The AdvAnimal girl scoots a little closer, allowing him to drape an arm over her shoulder as she rests her head against his. Meanwhile, Stacy continues to take notes, silently observing. The time ticks by and after checking her wristwatch for what seems to be the hundredth time, Stacy clears her throat.

“Well, it’s been six hours.”

“It has?!” He gasps.

“Aww!” Paige whimpers and scoots even closer to him, pressing her hip against his.

“Yes, it has, Mr. Mizrelli.”

Stacy flashes a strange grin. Is she amused or touched? He cannot tell. Looking over to Paige, who now sits so close that one of her legs nearly drapes over his and her clawed hand rests near the nape of his neck, her arm hanging over his shoulders, she seems quite disappointed.

“Is that the time limit or something?” He asks, still focusing on the AdvAnimal.

“No, but considering the depth of your conversation, I believe it’s sufficient for her to make her decision. Could you give us a moment, please?”

“Sure.”

Rising from their seats, Stacy escorts Aaron toward the door. As it opens, she turns to him and looks to him with a startlingly stern expression.

“Please don’t take offense if she doesn’t accept you. Considering your background, we have many more candidates that might suit you.”

“Alright...” He murmurs.

Paige’s ears perk as she sits on the couch, her eyes growing wide and brow furling. If Aaron didn’t know any better, he’d say she looks quite surprised by Stacy’s warning. Stepping out of the room, the door whooshes as it closes behind him. His brow raises in surprise as he finds the exact same suit-wearing man still there, standing in the exact same spot. As still as a statue, he continues to guard the room. It isn’t until after a long stare that the man slowly turns his head and looks at Aaron. His expressionless face reminds him of a cyborg, and yet he’s certain he can see a pulse on the somewhat pale man’s neck.

Clearing his throat, he steps aside and leans against the wall, slipping his hands into his pockets. It feels like an eternity as he awaits Paige’s decision. What could Stacy and her be discussing? Why is it taking so long for him to receive her answer? Why is his heart racing so fast?! After a long while, the sliding door whooshes again...

Part 3: First Impressions

Standing on the other side of the opened door, Stacy and Paige look toward Aaron, who leans against the wall, his hands shoved into his pants pockets.

“Hey, there.” He pulls out a hand and waves.

“She’s made her decision, Mr. Mizrelli.” Stacy begins.

“Oh?”

“Mhm!” Paige nods.

“... Dare I ask?” He flashes a nervous grin.

“You’d better prep your spare bedroom.” Stacy replies, her strange little smile returning.

With that, the AdvAnimal rushes up to him. She moves almost silently, though her toe claws click on the white tile floor. She stops only a few inches away, her head tilted back as the five-foot-five girl looks up at the six-foot-tall, blond-haired man. She grins from cheek to cheek, flashing her pearly white, omnivorous teeth and her startlingly long, fang-like canines.

“That’s good to hear.” He begins, speaking softly.

Reaching out a hand, he rests it on her upper arm and Paige’s body tenses up, her smile softening and her mouth hanging open. She glances at his hand, a strange look on her face. Has he upset her?! He takes his hand away. Only when she shifts her eyes and gazes into his before taking a step closer does he realize that she greatly enjoys it.

“Mmm!” She seems to whimper, asking for his attention.

“I think we’ll get along famously.” He continues, once again gently rubbing her furry arm.

“Ooohhh...” She coos, her eyes narrowing.

He cannot help but smirk. If he didn’t know any better, he’d say that she was smitten, but they just met!

“Are you alright?”

“Huh?! ... Mmhhmm!” Paige snaps herself out of it and then vigorously nods her head.

With Stacy and the nameless guard in the suit taking the lead, they bring Aaron and Paige deeper into the facility and into another room. In this room is a large cardboard box sitting atop a wheeled cart. Writing on the side says, “ADVANIMAL SUPPLIES. TYPE: FELINE, SHORTHAIR” There are more of these boxes alongside it, though they differ in their labels. Some are for rodents, others for canines with both long and short hair, some for equines, and still others for marsupials, rabbits, ursines, mustelids, amphibian/reptilian and “OTHER”.

“This is her care package. It contains the basics. Mostly specialized hygiene and fur care products. Things that aren’t commercially available, yet.” Stacy begins.

“I’m not going to have to come here every week and buy AdvAnimal food, am I?”

“No.” She chuckles. “Every food you can eat and most medicines suitable for human females are compatible, as are most toiletries. However, there is a small handbook inside, with a list of things to be wary of. There’s also a list of numbers for various hotlines, including an emergency contact number, should she fall ill or endure any... Conditions.”

“What sort of conditions?”

Glancing back, the stone-faced Stacy looks between a genuinely perplexed Aaron and the innocent Paige, who stands with her hands clasped before her groin as she watches the man intently. Stacy’s eyes shift downward, focusing on Paige’s flat belly.

“... Nothing in particular.” She speaks softly. “It’s just in case anything should occur.”

“Oh... Makes sense, I suppose!”

“Normally, the Welcoming fee for an AdvAnimal of any type is $10,000.00 but since this is a special case-”

“It is?!” He asks, rather surprised by both the cost and his case’s status.

“Yes, it is. Since this is a special case, that’s being mitigated to $1,000.00 to cover the processing costs, as well as the care package.”

“Oh, okay. That’s not so bad!” He chirps. “Wait! What about clothes?”

“That’s on you. We do include access to our AdvAnimal clothing store, which contains many ensembles that’re tailor-made for each breed, though in the case of things like panties and bras and most tops, you can just take her to any conventional store. Human dresses will work, too, though she may want to fashion a slit for her tail to fit through. Any orders placed at our online store will be shipped directly to your home in a plain, brown box. A signature will be required to complete delivery.”

“Alright. And shoes?”

“We sell those too, specially made to fit their digitigrade feet, though Paige actually doesn’t like shoes.”

“Really!” He remarks, once again surprised.

“Yeah. Some AdvAnimals seem to prefer being barefoot, for whatever reason. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Personal preference, I suppose.” Stacy remarks, shrugging her shoulders.

“Huh...”

The suit-wearing man stands guard over Paige and the box as the orderly returns to push it toward the parking lot. As soon as they step outside, Aaron can see the awe in Paige’s eyes. It’s obvious that she’s rarely, if ever, been outside of Unifact’s facilities. In many ways, it hurts him to see such a lively creature deprived of stimulus for so many years. He has a lot to teach her! After loading the box into the trunk of his BMW E Series, Aaron and Paige climb into the car. Stacy and the orderly wave to them, while the suit-wearing man stands as still as a statue, his mirrored sunglasses seemingly focused on him through the reflection in his rearview mirror. Aaron finds it quite unsettling.

“So, what kind of music do you like?” He turns to her as they sit at a red light.

Paige merely shrugs her shoulders.

“Oh, right... Hm...”

A car honks its horn, and Paige looks over to see a woman and her young children waving to her. She smiles and waves back. Her ears twitch as Aaron turns on the radio.

“Hmm?!”

“Here. Play with the radio until you find a station you like.”

“Oh!”

She clasps her hands together before her ample bust, her eyes lighting up and her open-mouthed smile giving her the appearance of pure innocence. Aaron cannot help but smile at the mere sight of her. He drives along the highway while Paige plays with the scan button, switching from station to station. She briefly listens to hip-hop, country and rock, and even a Metallica song, but nothing seems to satisfy her. Hearing the sweet sound of a violin, she instantly freezes, her eyes growing wide. Slowly but surely, she turns up the volume knob. To his surprise, Paige seems quite fond of classical!

“Well, aren’t you the sophisticated girl.” He chuckles.

“Mmm!”

He repeatedly glances toward her as they drive further away from the city. She seems both confused and in awe of the wilderness, briefly rolling down the window so that she can smell the air. The cheetah woman visibly relaxes as the drive progresses, and Aaron isn’t sure if it’s because she’s growing used to the car ride or if she’s enjoying to clean, country air. Perhaps she’s delighted to be away from Unifact? That’s a depressing thought, which he shakes from his mind. Who could ever deprive such a human-like creature or even an animal for so long, keeping them locked away in labs and bunkers?

Finally, after a two hour cruise down the opened highways and two-lane blacktop, they make it back to Aaron’s little town. Though it’s just past eight o’ clock, there’s still some daylight left, and many of the townsfolk are still out and about. They spot Aaron’s golden BMW from a mile away, as it’s the only car like it in the modest village. Seeing the AdvAnimal in the passenger’s seat, however, gives them pause. Debby walks with her boyfriend, Steve, as she leaves the market after a shift. She stops and points, turning to her boyfriend before waving rather ecstatically at the pair.

“Oh, hey, that’s Debby from the grocery store!” Aaron begins.

“Hm?!”

“She’s the one who suggested I Welcome an AdvAnimal.” He explains.

“Oh!”

Paige rests an arm on the door and leans over, poking her head out through the opened window. With the wind fluttering her long, gold and black hair, she waves a clawed hand back at the strange but friendly woman who’s responsible for her Welcoming. Reaching his house, neighbors take notice as Aaron opens the car door for Paige.

“Hey, A-A-Ron!”

“How many times do I have to tell you that joke isn’t funny?”

“A few more. So! Who’s your new friend?!” Mr. Stenson asks.

“This is Paige. I just Welcomed her.”

“I see that!”

“Well, isn’t she something!” Mrs. Stenson chirps, emerging from the side door of her home. “She’s the first AdvAnimal in town!”

With an arm around his wife, Bobby and Mary Stenson make their way across their lawn and toward Aaron’s driveway. They stop at the short hedgerow that separates their properties, getting a closer look at Paige, who politely waves to the middle-aged couple. Standing at the edge of his yard, Bobby cannot help but eye the AdvAnimal woman’s figure, which is quite remarkable. Minus her long, slender tail, large, paw-like feet and animalesque head and face, she has the body of a supermodel. Bobby’s wife notices, narrowing her eyes and smacking her husband’s chest with the back of her hand.

“What?”

“Well, we’d better get inside. Got a lot more gardening to do tomorrow.” Mary chirps, taking her husband by the arm before leading him toward their front door.

“See you around, A-A-Ron.”

“... Dickhead.” Aaron smirks.

He struggles with the box, though only because of its awkward size. Paige is quite helpful. She first steadies the box, then follows Aaron’s instructions and digs his keys out of his pocket before unlocking and holding the door open for him. Stepping into her new home, Paige is once again in awe. With wide eyes, she marvels at the grand, wooden staircase, the steps and support beams painted white and the handrail a nicely stained oak. Setting the box aside, Aaron rests a hand on the small of her back.

“Mmm...” She glances back at him, leaning a little closer.

“Ready for the grand tour?”

“Mhm!”

Leading her throughout the house, he shows her around each and every room, starting with the living room.

“And there’s the TV. You can watch whatever. I keep the remote right there.” He points to the coffee table as he plops down on the couch.

“Ooohhh...” She coos, sitting down on the soft and comfy couch.

“Did you get to watch a lot of movies or TV at Unifact?”

“Mm-mm.” She shakes her head, scooting closer and tucking herself under his arm.

“Oh... Well, uhm... I-I guess I have a lot to show you, then.” His voice quivers slightly, his face flushing as Paige cozies up to him.

“Mmm!” She closes her eyes and smiles from cheek to cheek, resting her head against his chest.

“S-so, uh... How about I show you the rest of the house?”

Hastily getting up, he takes her into the dining room, then the kitchen, then a studio. It hasn’t seen much use since Patty died. She was the artist of the family, and an easel still sits in the corner with an unfinished work covered in a dusty, paint-smeared cloth. Paige immediately notices the change in Aaron’s voice and posture. A sadness creeps into him as he swiftly leaves the room. Making their way up the stairs, Aaron picks up and carries the large box, which he’d left in the foyer.

“My bedroom and the guest rooms are up here. They’re about the same, but you can pick whichever one you like best.”

Paige stops in her tracks as she passes a framed picture. It sits on a slight angle, having recently been moved. In it, Aaron stands in a tuxedo, while a woman wears a beautiful, white dress. The dark-skinned woman with dreadlocked hair stands beside the tall, Caucasian man, their arms around each other as she holds a bouquet. He realizes right away that she isn’t following him, as her claws had been clicking on every step. Turning back, his little smile fades and he clears his throat. Turning her head, she looks up at him and then glances back at the picture.

“Me and Patty, when we got married... Come on... The rooms are up here and it’s getting late.” He speaks in a melancholy voice.

Making a note of his reaction, Paige no longer points out any of the photos of Patty, of which there are many. It’s obvious that Aaron has been trapped in the past, pining for his long-dead wife.

“This is my room...” He motions with his head.

“Ooh!” She pokes her head inside, glancing around the room.

“And these two are free for the taking.”

Looking to the left and to the right, Paige takes all of a second to make her decision. Sight unseen, she claims the room directly beside Aaron’s. He sets her box atop the bed and stretches his arms and back.

“Man, that’s a big box! You must have some fancy toys in there, huh?”

“Hehe! Mm-mm!” She shakes her head.

Opening the box and digging through the contents, he finds a thick layer of packing peanuts. She finds and removes several sealed bags containing brushes, specialized nail clippers and other various odds and ends. Inside is a tiny laptop, identical to the device he’d seen her use. She presents it to him, along with a charger, which he promptly plugs into an outlet near her nightstand. Finding the booklet near the bottom, she brushes off the peanuts, which static cling to her furry fingers. He chuckles as she tries to shake them off. As she turns to him to give him the small book, he can see a very brief but melancholy look on her face. It disappears as soon as she looks away from the book and into his eyes.

“Are you alright?”

“Mhm!”

Plopping down on the bed, she gently bounces up and down as she tests the softness of her mattress. She looks pleased, but then again, she’s looked that way ever since she agreed to live with him. Turning her attention toward him, she cocks her head slightly, staring at him for a moment.

“So, do you like it?”

“Mhm.”

Softly patting the space beside her, he turns and sits down. Scooting a little closer, she reaches behind him and places her left hand on his left shoulder, her right hand on his right forearm, and her head against his right shoulder. His face flushes as she sighs with delight, shifting her head and softly nuzzling his shoulder with her snout. Unsure of what else to do, he slips an arm around her back and rests his right hand on her right hip. Her cat-like tail sways to one side and curls around his waist, hooking him.

At that moment, Paige tilts her head back and very softly nuzzles his neck with her pink, feline nose. As she nuzzles him, the soft fur of her muzzle gives him a tingle. She sniffs his flesh, again sighing with delight. He cannot help but tremble, both from the shock of her behavior and the pleasant sensation. Why does he like it so much?! Her fingers coil, squeezing him a little tighter. She puffs air as though she were struggling to breathe; he can hear her faintly gasp, as though from arousal.

“Mmmm...” She coos, nuzzling his neck some more.

Suddenly, she gives his neck a lick.

“H-hey! Uhm, are you hungry?! B-because I could, uhm, make you some dinner.” He nervously asks, trying to get up.

“Oh!” She lifts her head, her eyes lighting up.

“That’s a yes, huh?” He nervously chuckles.

“Mhm!” She nods.

“Okay. How’s steak sound?”

“MMM!!!”

“Yeah, that’s my favorite, too.”

Heading into the kitchen, Aaron cooks a steak dinner, just as he’d promised. Paige pays close attention to where everything is placed, watching him as he collects food from the fridge and freezer, spices from the well-hidden spice rack, then traverses around the island and cooks with a skillet on the stovetop, with olive oil that was stowed in the cupboard. It’s a pleasant though somewhat awkward dinner, made more difficult by the fact that Aaron is the only one who can speak; Paige can only pantomime, hum and coo, as she doesn’t have her communication device with her. Still, he takes the time to get to know her a bit better, asking her only yes or no questions.

After dinner, they sit and watch TV in the living room. He’s surprised by how close she wants to be to him. She cuddles up to him so quickly; it’s as if they’d known each other for years. Then he recalls how she’d licked him and a whirlwind of thoughts emerge. Was that a benign sign of AdvAnimal affection or something more? In fact, if he had to compare their current situation to something, he’d say it was akin to a young couple about a week into their newly intimate relationship. Glancing at a wall clock and realizing the lateness of the hour, he ushers them up to bed, just as he feels a stirring. Paige seems quite excited by this, until he leads her to her bedroom door.

“Aww...”

“What’s wrong? Aren’t you sleepy?” He turns to her.

Paige merely stares, her head turned and her brow softened as she rests a clawed hand on the doorknob.

“Well, you don’t have to go to bed yet. You’re not a child or anything. I’m just tired, and I need to wake up early, tomorrow.”

She doesn’t press the issue, but Aaron can tell that something is bothering her. However, he has to return to work tomorrow, and they already stayed up far too late. Lying in his underwear and relaxing in his bed, Aaron can hear Paige’s toe-claws as she walks through the hall. She seems to be pacing by his door. Soon, though, she enters her bedroom, adjacent to his own, and as the door closes, he feels a sense of peace. The house suddenly doesn’t feel so empty.

“Yeah...” He murmurs, rolling over and slipping a hand beneath his pillow. “I have a good feeling about this... This was a good idea...”

Part 4: A Night On The Town

After sleeping in their respective rooms, Aaron awakens to the faint smell of breakfast cooking. For a brief moment, he wonders if he’s dreaming about a day when Patty was still alive. He’s had several dreams like this, but he quickly remembers that she’s gone. Despite this, he recognizes that faint but delicious aroma anywhere. Climbing out of bed, he puts on some clothes and heads downstairs. Poking his head into the kitchen, he turns his attention toward the stove.

“Hey, Paige? What are you cook-... Paige?!”

“Hmm?”

Standing at the stove, he finds Paige wearing only her birthday suit; the naked AdvAnimal glances over her shoulder, her feline tail swaying as she lifts up a spatula, as if to wave to him with it. His wide eyes scan her exquisite form. For a split second, he recalls that Patty never had a figure that good, a thought that makes him feel somewhat ashamed and uncomfortable. Closing his eyes and shaking his head, he pushes the thoughts from his mind.

“What are doing? Why aren’t you wearing clothes?”

“Huh?” She cocks her head.

Turning around to face him, Aaron gets a good look at the nude AdvAnimal cooking in his kitchen. Unable to help himself, his eyes scan her form. Starting from her face, which is both strikingly human and animal, to her very humanoid body. Her sleek shoulders and spindly arms lead toward a large and perky bust, with small, pink nipples crowning each breast. They’re stunning, almost hypnotizing. Her ribcage slopes in the most attractive way, leading to a slim waist and a washboard flat belly. Her entire front is covered in a short coat of soft looking, cream-colored fur.

As his eyes continue to drink in her splendor, he looks beyond her broad, feminine hips and her hourglass figure, right at her groin. He can see a bit of pink flesh betwixt her furry legs, between her toned thighs. Just then, his face turns beet red. Her vagina, from that angle, appears flawless. It’s as though her entire body was sculpted for raw sexual appeal. Aaron’s manhood begins to swell, unnerving him. Why does he find her so attractive?! She’s not a human, after all. Once again pushing the thoughts out of his mind, he forces himself to stare into Paige’s big, beautiful, topaz eyes. She smiles so innocently, then points at the skillet with the spatula.

“Yeah, I can smell the cooking, but why are you naked?” He asks again.

With a perplexed look on her face, she turns her head toward the utility room and points with the spatula. Focusing his much weaker hearing, Aaron begins to make out the sound of the washing machine.

“That’s right; you only have that one set of clothes!” He exclaims, resting a hand on his forehead. “Oh! Wait right here!”

Dashing up the stairs, he heads straight for the main bathroom. Stepping inside, he looks behind the door to a small hangar, and hidden behind a few suit jackets that he rarely wears, he finds a bathrobe. The soft, royal purple robe once belonged to Patty, but she died before she ever got a chance to wear it. He’d left it hanging, right where she left it. For a brief moment, he sighs and feels the sorrow returning. Clutching the bathrobe, he ponders whether or not to give it to Paige, but recalling how aroused he felt in her presence, there’s no other choice. He makes his way downstairs and presents the AdvAnimal with the robe.

“Here.”

“Ooohhh!” She coos.

“You can wear this in between laundry, and when I get-”

He large breasts jiggle as she twists her body at the waist and moves her arms, balling her fists and swiftly slipping her clawed hands through the arm holes. She shifts her upper body, giving him an excellent view of her femininity, right up until she ties the robe closed. With her hands on her hips, she grins from cheek to cheek and looks to him. If he didn’t know any better, he’d say she was waiting for a compliment.

“Very pretty!” He chirps.

“Mmm!” She coos, her eyes closing as she cocks her head to one side.

“Anyway, I’ll take you shopping later today, alright? So... What’cha’ makin’?!”

Turning back and grabbing the handle of the skillet, she shows him the bacon and eggs. It’s picture perfect, and ready to eat. Aside from the initial awkwardness, the breakfast is pleasant, however, Paige looks devastated when Aaron informs her that he has to go to the office, just down the road. She whimpers and whines and gives him a hug that seems like it’ll never end. Is that normal? Though she eventually lets go and allows him to leave, she sits in the living room, in a chair by the window, pouting as she watches him head to his car. It bothers him tremendously, seeing her in the window and sulking.

The drive to work, though incredibly short, suddenly feels like it takes forever. His mind keeps returning to Paige. Once at work, he informs his coworkers and his boss, Mr. Devlin Packwood, about the new AdvAnimal sharing his home. They’re all quite curious about the unseen creature and several of his coworkers remark that he already seems more chipper than usual. Is he? He never realized. Was he always so melancholy?! The thought of leaving Paige alone, in her sullen state, eats away at him. He struggles through his work, so after barely five hours at the office he decides to leave early. It isn’t even three o’ clock. On his way out, he asks Mr. Packwood for more time, to help Paige adjust.

“Time to adjust?” The middle aged man with graying hair furls his brow.

“Yeah, Dev. Everything is new to her. Having an AdvAnimal is nothing like getting a pet at a store or a shelter. Right now I’d say it feels more like having a well-adjusted teenager, who can’t talk back. She needs to learn the layout of the house and get comfortable with my routines and stuff.”

“I know that. My Penelope is in the process of getting an AdvAnimal to keep her company and be her bodyguard while she’s off doing whatever it is she likes to do these days. I just didn’t realize it would be that long of a process.”

“Have I ever asked you for anything before?”

“You ask for things all the time!” Devlin chuckles. “But it’s alright. You’ve been with us for years. Last year alone you won us a multi-million dollar case and found a high-value client for the firm. If you need time, take the time.”

“Thanks, Dev.”

Considering that Aaron is on the fast track to becoming a partner, Devlin would’ve been a fool to turn him down; another law firm would gladly take him in. Anything to accommodate his rising star. Upon returning home early, Aaron steps inside and calls out to Paige. Before he can even close the door, she emerges from her bedroom, now fully dressed. She dashes down the hall and leans over the railing, looking down on him from the second floor.

“Hey, there! I came home early so-”

Before he can finish his sentence, the AdvAnimal tumbles over the railing, rolling forward, her long hair flailing outward. Completing the roll, she lands with a rather soft thud on her large, paw-like feet, a hand resting on the floor and between her feet as she squats down. Her tail is rigid, subtly curved behind her buttocks, like a cavalry sabre, as if to stabilize her.

“Paige?! Are you alright?!” He races up to her.

Lifting her head, she reveals her wide smile before darting up to him as if nothing had happened. Had she done that on purpose?!

“Eee!” She squeals with delight, leaping at him and throwing her arms around his neck.

He stumbles backward, nearly pressed into the doorframe as her large breasts smoosh against his chest.

“Woah! Hey there!” He chuckles, wrapping his arms around her slender frame.

“Mmm!” She coos, her tail swishing wildly about as she nuzzles his face.

“I’m happy to see you, too! Are you alright, though? You scared me!”

“Mhm!” She nods, still nuzzling him with her short snout.

“Oh... Good!”

Though his heart is still racing from what looked like a fall, he’d be lying if he said that he wasn’t flattered by her affectionate reaction. It feels good to be so wanted. However, a part of him worries. With a hand gently rubbing the small of her back, feeling her soft, yellow and black fur, he pulls his head back and stares into her glimmering eyes. Her smile grows as his cobalt blue orbs begin scanning her soft features. Her fingers coil and she brings her face closer to his, almost as though she were waiting for something.

“So... Erm... Are you going to be like this every time I get home from work?”

“Huh?!” Her ears droop and her lips curl into a frown.

It’s at that moment when he realizes the gravity of the situation.

“Hm... I’m going to change into something more comfortable, before we go out.”

Heading upstairs, Aaron is somewhat surprised when Paige follows him, a little smile on her face and her eyes glued to him as she walks barely two steps behind. He enters his room and turns to close the door, but she’s already standing inside. He furls his brow as he looks between her and the doorway. Realizing that he wants to close the door, she steps the rest of the way into his room and does it for him.

“I was going to change clothes...” He reminds her.

“Mhm!”

Reaching up her hands, she grabs onto his tie and begins to loosen it. Is she going to help him undress?! He places his hands over hers, stopping her.

“Can I have a minute of privacy?”

“Aww...” She pouts.

With her ears drooping and her head bowed, Paige reluctantly leaves the room. Shuffling her large, paw-like feet, her claws scrape on the hardwood floor. Even her Cheetah-like tail hangs low, the black band and cream-colored tip dragging on the floorboards as she slowly slithers out of his room and into the hall. As he begins to change his clothes, he takes out the small booklet from his nightstand drawer and dials the hotline number.

“Hello, Mr. Mizrelli.” A familiar voice greets him through the speaker of his cell phone.

“Hel-... Stacy?!”

“Yes, Mr. Mizrelli.” She replies.

“This is the help hotline, right? The 800 number?”

“Yes.”

“Huh... How did you know it was me?” He asks, raising an eyebrow.

“How may I assist you?” Stacy asks, ignoring his question.

“Uh... Well, I’m just wondering about... How do I say this... I went to work today and Paige was really, really excited to see me?”

“Oh?! And what did you do about that?!”

“I hugged her and told her it was nice to see her.” A perplexed Aaron replies.

“Oh... I see...” Stacy murmurs.

She sounds almost disappointed. Did she misinterpret his words? It seemed pretty clear to him.

“Anyway... I told her I’d have to leave again and she looked sad. I mean, really... If it was disappointment, that’d be one thing but this... This seems different, you know? Is that something I should be-”

“AdvAnimals don’t appreciate being separated from their bonded partner.” Stacy begins, casually interrupting him.

“Bonded partner?”

“If you can, try to mitigate your time apart as much as possible.”

“What about running errands? Trips to the store and stuff like that?”

“It’s illegal for any establishment to ban or regulate the presence of AdvAnimals. Any such issues should be reported and said establishments will be met with legal action. We have a defense fund set up for that, should you have the need.” Stacy replies with the cool confidence of a lawyer.

“Okay... But what about work?” He retorts.

“Hmm... Can you bring her with you?”

“...”

“Or perhaps you could adjust your schedule at your firm to allow for more work done from home. Meetings at the firm and paperwork and preparation at a home office?” She suggests.

“Uhm... I’ll see what I can do.”

“Good. Just don’t worry, and try to be patient. This process takes time.” Stacy assures him.

“Alright. Thanks.”

“Feel free to call us if you have any further concerns.”

And just like that, Stacy hangs up without ever once saying goodbye. Curtness must be a company policy. Slipping his cell phone back into his pocket and the booklet into the nightstand drawer, he opens his bedroom door and steps into the hall only to find Paige sitting in the fetal position, right beside his door. With her arms wrapped around her shins, her chin on her knees and her tail curled around her right side, she looks rather sad. Seeing him, however, perks her right up. Leaping to her feet, her eyes scan his new outfit, a comfortable but rather tightly fitting polo and slacks, with running shoes instead of dress shoes.

“Ooohhh.” She coos, resting a hand on his chest and slowly stroking him.

“Thanks.” He says with a little smile. “So, ready to see the sights?”

“Mhm!”

“Alright, then. Let’s go for a drive. We can go shopping, too.”

Stepping out of the cool house and into the warm sun, Paige closes her eyes and smells the air before letting out a happy sigh. Resting his hand on the small of her back, Aaron leads her toward his car. He can’t help but notice how everyone stares as they drive down the residential street, watering their front gardens and mowing their lawns. Even as they cruise along the small streets of the quiet town, absolutely everyone takes a second look. It doesn’t bother Paige, however; she looks at all of the people, and to those who wave, she waves back.

It’s somewhat akin to an overly friendly dog, excited by absolutely everyone who gives them attention. Reaching the local clothing store, they park in a parallel parking spot. No sooner than they step out of the car, Debby, on her day off and walking hand-in-hand with her boyfriend, turn a corner. They immediately spot the pair. With her eyes wide, Debby dashes up to them.

“Oh, wow! Looks like you took my advice, huh?!” She chirps

“Yeah.”

“What’s her name?”

“Paige.”

“Oh, that’s so pretty! It fits her!” Debby gushes, clasping her hands together just beneath her chin. “Hi, Paige! I’m Debby, and this is my boyfriend, Steve!”

“Hello.” Steve waves.

Paige waves back, before stepping sideways and gently pressing herself into Aaron’s side. Turning her head, she looks up at him, as if for guidance, and rests a clawed hand on his chest.

“Aww, she’s so adorable!” Debby giggles. “So, are you showing Paige around town?”

“Well, that, and I need to buy her some more clothes.” Aaron replies.

“Oh, okay! Let’s go, then!”

Though she motions for them to follow her, Paige looks back at Aaron. It’s obvious that she prefers his direction. As soon as he shrugs his shoulders and motions with a hand, the AdvAnimal begins following the bubbly young woman. Sitting with Debby’s boyfriend, Steve, on the chairs placed beside the dressing rooms, Aaron sits back and watches as the exuberant cashier shows Paige around the well-stocked women’s section. The AdvAnimal browses the selection while regularly glancing over to Aaron, making sure that she’s never out of his line of sight. Meanwhile, Debby bombards her with questions, which she answers in her own way.

“Are you a fan of dresses and skirts or do you prefer pants?”

Paige pulls a skirt and top combo from a rack.

“Yeah, skirts are the best! I noticed you’re wearing a crop top. Do you like tube tops, too, or maybe tank tops?”

Paige nods her head.

“Good! You definitely have the body for it! Hmm... Lights or darks? ... Good choice! ... How about this dress? You never know when you’re going to need to dress up! ... Oh! What about swimming?! Do you like swimming?! ... Then you’ll need a bathing suit, too!”

After about twenty minutes of browsing, the women return with large piles of clothes bundled in their arms. Aaron’s eyes grow wide as he watches them heading for the dressing rooms.

“Damn...”

“Leave something for the rest of the ladies.” Steve chuckles.

“It’s not that much, smartass...” Debby rolls her eyes.

With Debby as her guide, Paige enters the dressing rooms and begins trying on outfit after outfit. Debby, whose body type is almost as exceptional as the AdvAnimal’s, joins her with a selection of her own, albeit a smaller and more modest one. In a matter of moments, Paige emerges from the dressing room, her feminine form wrapped in an elegant, if tightly fitting dress. The red and gold fabric clings to her body in the most appealing way. Aaron’s eyes grow wide.

“What’d’ya think?! Isn’t she a doll?!” Debby gushes, wearing a similar dress.

“Wow...” Steve murmurs, his eyes growing wide as he stares at Paige.

“Hey! I’m over here!” Debby huffs.

“Huh?!” Steve flashes an innocent grin.

“You’re beautiful.” Aaron replies in a soft, calm tone.

Of their comments, his is the one that makes Paige bow her head and bashfully look at the floor as she hides a toothy grin. They soon retreat to the dressing rooms, to try on something else. The pair return, this time wearing summer dresses, which are much looser and far less revealing. Still, the Cheetah AdvAnimal astounds them with her good looks. The yellow dress with a black outlined floral pattern seems to accentuate her natural colors.

“You know, this one really matches with your hair!” Debby exclaims. “When did you dye those highlights?”

“Mm-mm!” Paige shakes her head.

“Wait... You mean that’s natural?! Wow!”

Yet again, they disappear into the dressing rooms, only to emerge dressed in rather short skirts and tightly fitting tank tops. As Debby performs a 360 degree spin, Paige watches her. Once the human has finished her display, the AdvAnimal imitates her. Aaron cannot help but notice how much larger and fuller Paige’s breasts are in comparison to Debby’s, who was already known for her physical beauty. Many a man has told her she should seek a career in modelling, before trying to get her phone number. To their credit, they were never lying about her looks, and Steve often receives compliments from his peers on the attractiveness of his girlfriend.

As Paige twirls, Aaron notices the subtle curvature of her buttocks, where her cheeks meet her thighs; either she’s wearing the skirt too high, or it’s just a tad too short to conceal it. He gulps, his fingers tapping nervously on his knees. He glances over to Steve, then to Debby and Paige, wondering if they notice his growing erection. In an effort to conceal it, he crosses a leg and rests a hand on his shin, leaning over to one side of the chair and shielding the view of his crotch with an arm.

“Very lovely.” He remarks.

Once again, Paige grins from cheek to cheek, before disappearing with Debby into the dressing rooms. Once again, as they sit and wait, Steve glances over to Aaron several times.

“Ahem... So...” The twenty-year-old leans closer to the older man.

“Yeah?”

“Are you looking forward to being with Paige?” The young man asks in a hushed voice.

“Sure! It’s nice knowing that someone will be home whenever I-”

“No, no, no... I mean being with her...”

As the young man’s eyes widen, his brow raises and as his head bows forward, the hidden meaning behind his question becomes clear.

“Oh... Erm... I don’t know about that.”

“Why not?!” Steve asks rather loudly, and with considerable surprise.

Aaron is speechless, unable to think of a proper answer. For a split second, he actually considers it, only to force the thoughts from his mind. After seeing the look on Aaron’s face, Steve raises an eyebrow.

“I mean...” He lowers his voice and leans closer. “Ever since all of those big name actors and actresses came out with their AdvAnimals, like that chick, Anna-Maria something-or-other, it’s almost normal. No one’s gonna judge you, least of all me. Hell... If I had an AdvAnimal and she looked like that... Heh...”

“What about Debby?”

“She’d either play dress-up with her or leave me for an AdvAnimal of her own. That’s one of her favorite things to talk about, honestly.” Steve replies.

Aaron doesn't know what to say. The frankness of his young companion is almost as startling as what he actually said. Glancing down, Steve points a finger toward Aaron’s waist.

“Is that a ‘yes’?” He smirks.

Realizing what he’s pointing at, Aaron turns away, his face flushing as he covers it with a hand and clears his throat. Steve softly chuckles, shaking his head as he leans back in his chair. Moments later, Debby and Paige return, only to show the men their outfits before heading back into the dressing rooms. This cycle repeats itself several times; Paige tries on outfit after outfit, each one somehow more arousing than the last, even when they become less revealing. Why is she affecting him so much?!

Aaron’s struggle reaches its peak when the AdvAnimal emerges from the back room for the last time. She’d picked out a bikini, and though it’s worn over her bra and panties, as per store policy, the way the stretchy, dark purple material clings to her form is just too much. By now, he’s forced to hide the bulge of his endowment by untucking his polo shirt and draping it over his waist. Though Steve says nothing, even Debby notices how Paige is affecting Aaron. The AdvAnimal, however, seems oblivious. Either that or she’s just very coy, never pointing out or accepting credit for his state.

“That’s so pretty! ... OH! You should wear that to Mr. Stenson’s pool party!” Debby exclaims, literally jumping at the thought. “Are you two going to his 4th of July party?!” She turns to Aaron.

“That’s the Friday after next, right?” Aaron asks.

“Uh-huh!”

“Uh... Sure. Why not?” He replies.

Though he’d never really liked his neighbor, Bobby, all that much, a good portion of their small town goes to his annual 4th of July pool parties, especially since the public park is attached to his corner lot. Perhaps it would be a good thing for the both of them to attend the gathering? Looking over at Steve, Aaron is struck by the expression on the young man’s face. Turning toward the older man, Steve gives him a strange glance. It’s a combination of approval and perhaps even a little jealousy, complete with a congratulatory head-nod. Is Steve encouraging him to show off his bikini-clad AdvAnimal?! Clearing his throat, Aaron checks his wristwatch and then returns his attention to the young women.

“I hate to rush this, but I have a lot more to show her, today. I’d like to take her to my office, the church and Floyd’s diner.”

“Oh, that’s fine! That was the last one, anyway!” Debby chirps.

“Oh, good! My butt’s fallen asleep!” Steve teases.

“Ha-ha... You’re lucky I don’t make you pay for all of my stuff.” Debby retorts, flashing a little grin.

As the women emerge from the dressing rooms in their original clothes, they turn toward the woman sitting behind the counter a short distance away. Debby passes several articles of clothing back to her, while Paige glances down at her full arms.

“Anything we don’t like, we give to Nancy, here, and she puts it back. I just really want these two.” She explains, passing most of the clothes back to the store’s employee.

“Oh.”

“Did you have any favorites?!”

“Hmm...”

Slowly turning toward Aaron, Paige bows her head, shifts her eyes and flashes the most innocent of expressions as she lifts up everything she’s carrying.

“Really?!”

“Mmhhmm.” She nods.

“Wonderful...” He sighs, shift in the chair and reaching for his wallet.

“Lucky.” Debby murmurs.

After buying almost $1,200 worth of clothes, including a few packs of panties and bras and a handful of fashion accessories, like scrunchies and a few chokers, Aaron finds himself walking out of the store with no less than six heavy bags. Loading them into the trunk, he stretches his arms and sighs.

“So, ready to take a walk and see the sights?”

Turning to Paige, he’s struck by the look on her face. She seems quite concerned about his suggestion to abandon the car. With a furled brow, she turns toward the direction of the house, just over a mile away, and points with a claw.

“Oh, this is a small town. Don’t worry about your stuff. Come on...” He steps closer, smiling warmly and resting a hand on the small of her back. “Let me show you around.”

With a bashful grin, she nibbles on her bottom lip, slowly nods her head and follows his lead. It isn’t long before they reach Pastor Jim’s church. Stepping inside, Aaron stops in his tracks. He completely forgot that today there is another event for the local children. The small horde of kids between the ages of four and twelve turn and stare in awe at the well-known Aaron Mizrelli and the strange AdvAnimal lady. Before Pastor Jim or the attending parents can speak a word, they abandon their table and race toward her, eager to see the furry humanoid up close.

Worried about Paige’s reaction, he turns to her only to be amazed by how pleased she appears to be; she has no problems with the little humans crowding around her. Though he’s rather inexperienced with kids, as he and Patty never had the chance to have any, Paige seems to be a natural, letting them touch and pet her and gently petting a young girl’s head, making sure her claws never scratch a single one.

“She’s so soft!” A young girl exclaims, holding Paige’s hand.

“Huh fuwh in pwetty!” A little boy remarks with his childish lisp.

“I wish I had a tail!” A little girl whines.

“If you had a tail, I’d pull it!” A slightly older boy quips.

“Jeffy, that’s not nice!” A pre-teen scolds the giggling boy.

Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Aaron turns back to see Pastor Jim smiling at him. With a subtle motion of his head, the Pastor steers him away from Paige, giving them a brief moment to themselves.

“What’s up, Jim?”

“Nothing. I see you have your new friend.” The Pastor begins.

“Yeah. She definitely has personality.” Aaron quips.

“I can see that.”

“So?”

“Well... She’s more... Feminine than I was expecting, though it’s hard to say if that’s a bad thing...” Pastor Jim comments, glancing back at Paige. “The kids certainly seem to like her.”

“Yeah.”

Looking over to the AdvAnimal, who’s still swarmed by the children, Aaron can see the familiar gazes of several local men, who watch from the background. The wives don’t seem to notice, all of them fawning over the strange and intriguing new creature, though at least one of the mothers gives Paige a somewhat jealous glare, crossing her arms before her chest and narrowing her eyes.

“She’s certainly drawing a lot of attention...” Aaron murmurs, his eyes scanning the crowd.

“Well, of course! She’s the only AdvAnimal in town!” Pastor Jim chuckles. “But how are you doing? Are you alright?”

“You know...” He turns his attention to the Pastor. “I’m adjusting a lot faster to her than I thought I would... It was almost overnight. I kind of like it. I almost feel like... Like I have a reason to keep going, you know?”

“Good.” Pastor Jim flashes a little grin. “I’m glad to hear that. I hope this all works out, for the both of you.”

“Yeah. Me, too.” Aaron can’t help but smile.

“So... Do I have a new parishioner?” The Pastor chuckles.

The pair share a laugh as Pastor Jim pats Aaron on the back. He doesn’t bother waiting for an answer, instead eager to continue with the planned activity. Glancing back at the AdvAnimal, Aaron’s startled to see the look on her face. The only word for it is “elation”. Recalling what Stacy had told him, it’s clear to him that Paige had managed to hear everything he’d said, despite the small horde of obnoxious, shrieking children gathered around her. She cut through the cacophony of their shrill voices and grabbing hands, only to tune in on his conversation with the Pastor, and be flattered by his admission.

Approaching the AdvAnimal, Aaron carefully wades through the children and ushers the Cheetah girl toward the door, while the parents and Pastor Jim corral the disappointed younglings. With his hand on the small of her back, he gently rubs her soft, warm fur, his thumb caressing her spine. She coos and leans into his side, keeping as close to him as he will allow, which is considerable.

“I didn’t know you were so good with kids.” Aaron can’t help but comment as they walk down the street and away from the church. “You seemed really good with them.”

Paige, ever silent, merely smiles and nuzzles him. She reaches behind her back and grabs onto his hand, only to pull it closer, making him place it on her hip as she imbeds herself into his side. Her warmth is comforting, but more than that, it’s heartwarming. Even when she begins to nuzzle him again, in a manner that’s decidedly more than friendly, even for someone who’s part animal, he finds himself enjoying and even craving it. Passing by several modest attractions, including an old Civil War statue and a preserved WWII cannon, Aaron and Paige find themselves roughly three miles from his car and standing before his office.

“This is it. Packwood Law. Hey!” He turns to her.

“Hmm?”

“Want to see my office?!”

“Mhm!”

Immediately upon entering the building, the pair are instantly recognized and Paige is once again bombarded by curious onlookers. This is something they’ve both come to expect, and the AdvAnimal and her companion take it in strides. Making their way through the office, every single employee is keen to introduce themselves, especially old Devlin. With an entourage of employees following them, Aaron shows Paige his office. She’s immediately intrigued by the décor, which is quite rustic. She examines his framed pictures, chairs and desk, before once again being distracted by the curious secretaries and interns.

Using this rare opportunity, Aaron pulls his boss aside, and as they stand in the corridor he very quietly informs him about Stacy’s suggestion. He asks without asking, remarking that it would be nice if she could occasionally join him in his office, for her benefit. To the young lawyers surprise, Devlin Packwood instantly agrees.

“You can bring her anytime you like! So long as you can still do your job, I could care less if you bring her every day!” He exclaims.

“Wow, okay... Thanks, Dev!”

“Oh, no need to thank me.” Devlin grins.

With that, the older man glances at Paige, who stands alongside a few of the secretaries, near Aaron’s desk, answering their myriad of questions with head nods or shakes. The old lawyer leans over and tilts his head down, ogling the AdvAnimals buttocks as her back is turned. For some reason, Aaron gets the feeling that Devlin would enjoy seeing Paige wandering the halls of the office. With that final problem now resolved, Aaron makes a point to take Paige back home, but after leaving the office and a long but enjoyable walk, there’s still one last stop to make.

Entering Floyd Crowe’s diner, Aaron introduces her to the owner and his family, who comprise the staff of their modest business. By strange coincidence, Floyd greatly resembles Russell Crowe. For this reason, he’s earned the nicknamed “Rus”. Rus cooks them a fine lunch of lamb chops and corn, which Paige seems to enjoy. After eating, Rus and his family sit with Aaron and Paige for a while, chatting and getting to know the new resident of their town. The AdvAnimal seems most interested in Aaron’s words, though she treats everyone with kindness and respect, something he’s come to expect from her.

Afterward, they return to the car. It’s untouched, just as he said he’d be. The pair drive back home, and Paige spends the next several hours sorting her new clothes, stopping only to attend to her companion. Leaping from the second floor and landing with cat-like grace, just as she had earlier, Aaron turns back as he stands before the stove, only to see Paige glaring at him from the doorway. Storming up to him, she snatches the spices and package of meat from his hands, only to close her eyes, cock her head and flash another innocent smile. Pressing the back of a hand into his side, she gently pushes him away from the stove, which he’d just turned on, before directing him to sit at the table.

“So, you’re taking command of the kitchen, now?”

“Mhm!” She nods.

She appears very eager to serve him and sets the food aside. So far, he’s only seen her cook a simple meal of bacon and eggs. Can she cook something more complex? In fact, now that he dwells on it, he’s not sure exactly what Unifact teaches the AdvAnimals. They’ve never revealed that information!

“So... You can cook more than breakfast, huh?”

“Mhm!” She replies, using a claw to cut open the package of meat as easily as a knife.

“I see... What can you make?”

She glances over her shoulder and smiles, then reaches out and collects a large cookbook, which sits in the corner near the well-hidden spice rack. Lifting up the book, she looks back at him once more with an expression that says, “name it!” Aaron smiles, then chuckles.

“How did I ever make it without you?” He asks, gazing into her eyes.

“Mmm!”

Part 5: A New Flame

Before they know it, more than a week has passed. Aaron awakens bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, with a spring in his step. It’s Friday, his second one with Paige, and each day since she came into his life has been better than the last. In fact, last Tuesday was the first in four years where he hadn’t lit a candle for Patty. It simply slipped his mind. It’s remarkable how much good Paige has done for him. He makes his way downstairs, lured by the smell of Paige’s fine cooking. He glances around the home as he heads into the kitchen. Everything is neat and tidy. As it turns out, Paige is also a good homemaker and seems to enjoy sprucing up the place.

Even though she joins him whenever he goes to work, she somehow finds the time to keep everything in order. Granted, he’s followed Stacy’s suggestions and performs all of his legal research and preparations from his home office. Seeing the Cheetah girl in the kitchen, wearing a frilly, pink apron over a modest dress, she turns back and smiles. Resting his hand on the small of her back, Aaron leans in and rests his head against hers, briefly nuzzling her cheek with his nose. It’s become easier to show his growing affection for the AdvAnimal, though they still sleep in separate rooms and he often struggles with thoughts of allowing their relationship to become more intimate.

Paige has made at least one push for that, though he’s certain that she’s made many more subtle gestures. He knows that she’s receptive to him, as she’s spied on him in the bathroom and once tried to join him for a shower. However, something about making love to her just seems... Off? Fast? Strange? Perhaps even disingenuous? Maybe, to a certain degree, it’s all of the above? One thing is for certain, he’s never slept with a woman he didn’t proclaim to love, and while he certainly feels something for Paige, can he really call it love? Perhaps in time. In any case, he can’t imagine life without her, and every day with her brings him peace.

“Is it almost ready?” He asks, slipping his arm around her slender waist and giving her a squeeze.

“Mm-mm.” She shakes her head.

Leaning over, she types on her tiny laptop with one hand. It sits well away from the stove, between the stove and the sink.

“I just started, but I can find you when it’s ready.” Her message reads.

“Okay. I guess I’ll be in my study.”

As he turns and pulls away, he can feel her lips as she hastily kisses his cheek. Turning back, he looks her over for a moment. With her head bowed forward and her brow softened, she looks up at him with innocent eyes. Reaching out a hand, he rests it on her furry chin. As her eyes widen with surprise, he lifts her head, leans in and gives her a long, proper kiss on her lips. It’s the first time he’s done that. Pulling back, their lips briefly rub and he can feel her breath shaking. He’s unable to explain what made him do it, though he doesn’t regret it, especially when he sees the look on her face. With a little shiver, she slowly opens her eyes, before smiling innocently and licking her bottom lip.

“You know where to find me.”

“Uh-huh...” She coos, staring at him as he leaves the room.

Making his way into his study, Aaron isn’t sure exactly what to do. He doesn’t have any work to accomplish, as he’s already finished the paperwork for his last case. Opening up the closet, he looks through some of his old belongings, wondering if perhaps it’s time he clean up his personal spaces. He feels he should strive to be as tidy as his companion. As he glances around the closet, he finds his old gun cabinet. He’d almost forgotten about it. How long has it been since he last opened it? It was definitely before Patty died. Back then, he was getting into shooting sports, and had built up a modest collection, as far as weapons collections go.

It takes him a while to remember where he even hid the key, and as he digs it out of a secret compartment in his desk drawer, he begins to worry about the weapons within. What if they’ve all rusted?! Opening up his gun cabinet, he’s surprised to find the weapons looking exactly the way he vaguely remembers them. Pulling out several, he sets them atop his desk before taking a moment to search for the familiar, plastic tube, which holds his maintenance kit. He takes a seat, his four pistols lined up on his desk and sitting neatly atop the green felt cleaning mat.

He picks up a weapon and examines it. He never stored them loaded. In some ways, he’s thankful for that. The first few days after Patty’s death, he was an absolute mess. Though he’d been depressed for years afterward, that was the closest he’d come to using them in the worst possible way. Only his religious beliefs kept him from taking his own life, and now he’s grateful that he didn’t. Paige has given him so much to live for! Picking up his Beretta 92FS, he turns it over, examining it closely.

“Okay... How do I do this again?”

Setting it down, thoroughly perplexed, he then chooses his Ruger Mk II Standard. He examines the stainless-steel pistol, struggling to remember how to field-strip the firearm. Just then, the doorknob turns and Paige walks in. With two plates balanced on her arm, she stops in her tracks at the sight of the firearms atop his table.

“Oh, hey! I didn’t know you’d be done that fast.”

She shifts her eyes between Aaron and his weapons, a look of great concern on her face. It’s only then that he realizes what might be bothering her.

“I used to do a lot of plinking, and I was thinking it might be something we could do together, if you’re interested.” He swiftly explains.

“Oh!” Her look of worry fades.

“I just don’t remember how the heck I’m supposed to take these apart. It’s been a while...”

Approaching his desk, she sets the plates aside, then takes a seat beside him. Leaning over, she reaches for his Beretta. As she leans over, he can smell her sweet scent, radiating off of her shoulder. He drinks in her scent only to lift up his head and sit back when she glances over to him. With a little smirk on her face, she turns to him and holds up the Beretta. Taking out the empty magazine, she locks the slide back before showing him the disassembly lever and locking button, then proceeds to field-strip the pistol with ease.

“Huh...” He furls his brow.

After quickly reassembling his Beretta, she turns to the Ruger Mk II Standard and does the same thing, field-stripping the far more complex twenty-two as though she’d been trained.

“How did you do that?! I guess you’ll need to teach me, huh?”

“Hehe!”

Leaning in, Paige steals a kiss, showing him a little more passion than their first, only moments earlier. After that, she flashes an innocent smile and heads for the kitchen. She returns moments later with two glasses and her tiny laptop tucked beneath an arm. The pair eat breakfast together, while the AdvAnimal tries to teach him how to disassemble and clean his weapons, occasionally using her device to describe certain parts. He tries to keep up, but sometimes her lingo is difficult to follow, and she often does it for him, showing him how to maintain his firearms.

Though he finds it quite curious, it’s one of the few times in the past nine days that they’ve truly done something together. Before that, it’s been mostly cohabitation; while they’ve spent a lot of time together, none of their activities have been very cooperative. She doesn’t interrupt him when he’s working, though she’s always there, nor does he help her with the cooking or cleaning, as she seems insistent on doing it herself. Perhaps this could be their thing?

“You’re good at this!”

“Mmm!”

Turning her head, she nuzzles his face, only for him to turn his head and steal another kiss. With a softened, even vulnerable expression, she leans a little closer. Resting a hand on the back of his neck, she’s eager for more. Aaron doesn’t disappoint. He kisses her again and again, and before he knows it, he’s taken it a step further. Their tongues very gently, even sheepishly, caress each other. Though she pushes herself closer, eager for even more, he feels uneasy. Right as she begins to slither up and onto his lap, he pulls their lips apart.

“Wait...”

“Hmm?!”

“I, uhm... I’m not sure if I’m ready...”

“Mmrrrmmm...” She whimpers, her round ears drooping.

“I was in a very dark place before we met, and this is still so new... I just... I want it to feel right, you know?”

Turning toward her tiny laptop, she types with one hand.

“When will that be?” Her message reads.

“I don’t know.”

“I care for you so much. I want to be with you. I want to claim you and I want you to claim me. I want to comfort you, in all ways.”

Reaching out a hand, she rests it on his inner thigh, before sliding it up and very gently groping his manhood through his pants. His face flushes.

“I’m trying.”

Though she lets out a soft sigh and looks quite disappointed, she slowly nods her head. He feels a tinge of guilt for rejecting her, and his mind wrestles with both his heart and his carnal desires. Perhaps he does love her and just doesn’t know it? Perhaps he doesn’t, but once he’s inside of her, the love will come later? Maybe being with Paige isn’t a proper replacement for Patty, but then again, she’s already a more attentive and physically attractive a woman than Patty was. But he and Patty had such a deep connection; their love was real! Maybe he’ll develop that connection with Paige, too?

On and on the thoughts race through his mind, and before he knows it, it’s almost time to leave. It’s Bobby Stenson’s 4th of July pool party, and he can hear guests both in the park and in Bobby’s backyard. With a single head nod, Aaron signals to Paige. They disappear into their rooms, only to emerge in their swim outfits, him in his dark purple and gold bordered swim trunks, a gift from Patty almost a decade ago, and her in the dark purple bikini and a black choker. Making their way outside, the eyes are immediately upon them. Shouts of “Hey, Aaron! Hi, Paige!” come fast and furious.

Once next door, the attention only continues to increase, at least for Paige. The younger children immediately race up to her, while their older brothers and fathers stare, their eyes aimed suspiciously below her neckline. Joining her with the children, Aaron dives into Bobby’s pool, staying close to the AdvAnimal. He notices a faint but feminine musk coming from her fur as she clings to him, and again he feels himself growing aroused. He manages to stave off an erection. After spending some time playing with Paige and the children, Aaron hears a familiar voice.

He’s called to the edge by Mary, who asks him if he’d mind helping Bobby with his large and exceedingly expensive barbeque. Only when he’s on his own, watching from the distance, does Aaron notice just how many eyes are on his companion. He can see their lust, poorly hidden behind many men’s faces. In fact, it seems that only the elderly couples, who can be seen in the nearby park, show a disinterest or outright unease about her. The older generations never did embrace the AdvAnimals the way the Gen Xers, Millennials and their children have.

Paige seems oblivious to all of it, ignoring both the lustful gazes and the uneasy glares. She tosses a beach ball back and forth with several pre-teen girls, who seem eager to befriend the AdvAnimal.

“Man, you are one lucky guy...”

Glancing over to his right, Bobby Stenson flips a burger with a spatula. With his eyes locked onto Paige, the older, married man shakes his head.

“I am, huh?” Aaron asks, probing Bobby’s thoughts.

“Hell, yes! She’s got the body of a goddess!”

Realizing how loud he’d spoken, Bobby quiets down and glances to and fro. Thankfully, Mary hadn’t heard him. With a hushed voice, he leans a little closer.

“So, what’s it like? Is being with an AdvAnimal really different?” The older man asks.

Glancing back at Paige, he watches her as she swims toward the edge and motions for him to join her. She leans forward, her large breasts sitting atop the edge of the below-ground pool as she draws him in with her clawed fingers, a wide, toothy smile on her face.

“I assert my fifth amendment privilege.” Aaron finally replies, a little smile spreading across his lips.

“That good, huh?” Bobby chuckles.

“You have no idea.” The thirty-year-old lawyer cannot help but rub it in.

Bobby chuckles as he shakes his head, flipping another burger, before calling out to the crowd.

“Who likes it rare?!”

Making their way into the front door, the sun setting in the background, Aaron flips on the hallway lights. He glances at Paige, who turns back to him, her arms lifted as she brushes out her damp hair with her claws. His eyes scan her form, his lips curling at the corners. She glances back and slows her pace, startled to see him ogling her like this. Closing the front door behind him, he steps closer and slips an arm around her, her arms still raised. Pulling her close to him, she gasps as her ample bust bangs against his chest as he brings them together. Her back arches and her flat belly presses into his, her breasts smooshing into his chest.

“Ooohhh...” She coos, her eyes narrowing as she rests her hands on his biceps.

“I’ve been thinking...” He begins, nuzzling her snout before kissing her cheek.

“Hmm?” She tilts her head back, as his lips work toward her neck.

“You mean so much to me. You make every day worthwhile. I haven’t even lit a candle since we’ve met.”

“Huh?”

Lifting his head, he looks down at the AdvAnimal, his arms around her elegant form, the sight, feel and faintly musky smell of which already begins to arouse him.

“Every Tuesday, the weekly anniversary of the day Patty was killed by a drunk driver, I’d go to the church and light a candle for her.” He speaks, his voice shaking.

“Aww.”

“I was so alone for so long, but not anymore. I have you, now... I want you, Paige. I want to be with you, and... I’m ready.”

Hearing those words, her topaz eyes gleam. With her mouth agape, her lips form the happiest of smiles. Before he can say anything else, she places a hand at the back of his neck, pulling him down as she kisses his lips with more passion that he’s felt in a long time, perhaps even in his entire life. Over and over, their lips caress, and soon he can feel her tongue. French kissing had always been a favorite of his, but Paige is truly gifted at it. Her hands explore his toned body, before coming to rest on his hips.

Just as her thumbs hook his swim trunks, he pulls the strands of the bow knots from the back of her bikini top. Leaning backward, she glances down as her top slips away. Shifting her eyes and looking so innocently up at him, she pushes her shoulders forward, her arms drawing in. Her top falls over her large breasts, before tumbling to the floor. She pulls him in, her fleshy nipples against his chest. He doesn’t stop there. He can’t. Untying both sides of her bikini bottom, it opens like a flower, peeling back and falling to the floor, revealing her splendor to him. With a firm push, Paige shoves his swim trunks down to his ankles.

“Ooohhh!” She coos, taking his manhood into her hand and gently stroking it.

“Come on, babe...”

“Hmm? EEE!!!”

Without warning, Aaron sweeps her off of her feet and picks her up, carrying her in his arms like a bride.

“Let’s go to our room.”

With another kiss, she giggles and holds onto him as he carries her up the stairs and into his bedroom, shutting the door with his foot. He doesn’t hesitate; the fear, anxiety and all of those worrying thoughts have left him. After taking Paige’s virginity, evidenced by the stains on the sheets, their relationship truly blossoms. Moving into his room, which he called theirs, she sleeps beside him every night, and for the first time in years, Aaron has true peace. No more lighting candles, no more depression. She’s given him everything he needs and more. The pictures of Patty are soon replaced with pictures of Aaron and Paige together. His passion has found a new target, and the fire burns strong. It always makes them smile when people call her “Mrs. Mizrelli”.