{"sf1_id":2022796,"sf2_id":"214JM8Gm","title":"Chapter 20: Wolfsbane","author":"HeatherOBunn","words":7878,"posted_at":"2023-07-12T14:20:00.000Z","tags":["Buck","Cat","Chapter","Duchess","Evidence","Fox","King","Lesbian","Novel","Queen","Rabbit","Royal audience","Thriller","Tickling","Tod","Vixen","dinner","tom","trust"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2022796-chapter-20-wolfsbane","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/214JM8Gm","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/e1/19/e1196580-91ed-4737-a0d7-ffcbdb7ec315","description":"#20 of The Murderess of Maplesburg: Reign of Terror\n\nThe heroes have their audience with the King.","content":"Chapter 20: Wolfsbane  \nJason and Ellie arrived in Wolfsbane that afternoon. Katya had given them the address  \nof her hotel when Ellie called. Once again, Jason booked the room without Ellie present, and  \nthen they met Katya in her room. Katya answered the door with a look of relief and hastily  \nushered them inside.  \n\"I can't believe you made it!\" Katya exclaimed. \"When you told me you'd gotten away,  \nEllie, I almost fell over! I was sure either I'd be going alone, or it would only be me and Jason!\"  \n\"You can thank Edgar and Flora for that,\" Ellie replied.  \n\"When I get back I will!\"  \nEllie smiled awkwardly, \"Er, well, I'm sure Flora would love to meet you, but Edgar, he's  \nstill with the Duchess as far as I know.\"  \nKatya blinked her kelly-green eyes in surprise, \"Oh. He didn't get away?\" she asked  \nworriedly.  \n\"He chose to stay,\" Ellie replied briskly. \"Edgar's alright, but he's devoted to the  \nDuchess. I don't think he'll ever leave her.\"  \nI'm sorry, Ellie. Jason knew Ellie was disappointed that Edgar had chosen to stay. She'd  \nwanted to save the pine marten from the Duchess' grip, but this must have been the final  \nconfirmation that she had failed.  \n\"The King's court is at four PM tomorrow,\" Katya changed the subject. \"Is tomorrow  \nokay, or do you want to wait?\"  \n\"I want to do this right away!\" Ellie declared. \"She's been causing trouble long enough!  \nBesides, Lily might do something if we wait too long!\"  \nKatya swished her tail uncomfortably, \"Oh, right,\" she murmured.  \nJason had been listening quietly but now his ears pricked in surprise, \"Huh? Lily? What's  \nshe up to?\"  \nEllie looked at him embarrassedly, \"Sorry, Jason, I forgot to tell you. Lily's formed some  \nsort of resistance force. They're going to remove the Duchess themselves if she becomes too  \ntyrannical.\"  \nJason remembered jokingly suggesting something of the sort, and he was shocked to  \nlearn it was coming true. \"Really?!\" he gasped. \"Who told you this?!\"  \n\"Flora,\" Ellie answered. \"She suggested I join it, but, but I don't know. I decided not to.  \nI'm not sure this will work, but I don't trust Lily. Besides, innocent people might get hurt if they  \nuse violence.\"  \n\"They aren't really going to do anything,\" Katya put in scathingly. \"They're nothing but  \nLily's personal bodyguards. She didn't stop serving the Duchess until it was her own life at  \nstake! Lily's pretending they might do something so that she has people to die for her if the  \nauthorities find her!\"  \nEllie frowned, \"You think so? I'm not sure Lily would stoop that low. Flora said Lily sent  \nher away because she's pregnant.\"  \nJason didn't believe it at all. Lily wouldn't sacrifice those under her like that. If she had  \none redeeming quality, it was a sense of responsibility to those she led. However, he didn't see  \nthe point in starting an irrelevant argument, so he let it go.  \nKatya growled, \"There's no telling how low she'd stoop.\"  \nEllie didn't respond, so that was the end of it. After a moment, Ellie piped, \"I guess we'll  \nbe waiting most of the day tomorrow. I'd like to explore the capital, but I guess that wouldn't be a  \ngood idea.\"  \nKatya shook her head, \"You should stay in your room until it's time to go to the King's  \ncourt. I'll bring you food.\"  \nEllie sighed, \"Oh well, we can always come another time. My friend Charlotte lives here  \nsomewhere. We could come visit her, Jason.\"  \nJason smiled, \"Sure, that sounds nice.\"  \nKatya looked at them conflictedly, \"It sounds like you think this is going to be over. I wish  \nI had your optimism. Even if the King does something, I doubt we'll really be safe. It's easy for  \nsomeone like us to disappear.\"  \n\"I won't let that witch ruin our lives!\" Ellie declared determinedly. \"We'll be prepared if  \nshe comes for us, but we won't live looking over our shoulders!\"  \n\"You were already captured once,\" Katya pointed out. \"It could happen again, and the  \nnext time it might be both of you.\"  \n\"It's either take that risk, live in hiding, or leave the country,\" Ellie argued. \"After she's  \nbeen exposed, her influence will be reduced. She could still offer a reward, but any bounty  \nhunters had better come prepared. We won't go easily next time.\"  \n\"Maybe she'll give up once she's been discredited,\" Jason offered hopefully. \"Or maybe  \nshe'll just get bored and forget about us.\"  \nEllie gave him a dubious look, \"You didn't see how happy she was to see me,\" she  \nresponded darkly. \"I thought her hug would crack my ribs.\"  \nKatya snorted, and Jason and Ellie stared at her. Her whiskers twitched, as she  \nsuppressed a smile.  \n\"It's not funny, Katya!\" Ellie rebuked. \"She wouldn't stop touching me! I spent my entire  \ntime there being fondled by that creep!\"  \nStrained, \"Sorry, Ellie, I, I'm sure it wasn't, but the way you put it, it sounded like a kid  \ncomplaining about their grandma,\" Katya replied.  \nEllie sniffed disdainfully, \"Hmph, maybe a grandma from Tartarus! Although, Edgar  \nwould tell me she's too young for that, thirty-something or whatever.\"  \n\"Is she really?\" Katya queried amusedly. \"The way she speaks, I assumed she was  \nmuch older.\"  \n\"That's what Edgar says. It only makes the way she treats grown adults more  \ndisturbing,\" Ellie answered.  \nKatya smiled, \"If your ribs aren't too sore, I'd like to give you a hug, Ellie.\"  \nEllie blinked, \"What for?\"  \n\"Just being you and cheering me up,\" Katya answered. \"I've been down since Bree and I  \nbroke up, and thinking about how hopeless this all is really hasn't helped. But despite that,  \nyou're still determined; you still get fired up. I'm glad you made it, Ellie.\"  \nEllie stepped up to the cat and hugged her, \"I'm sorry to hear about Bree, but I'm glad to  \nsee you too.\"  \nEllie and the ginger cat hugged for several seconds, and Jason began to feel a little  \njealous. However, as Ellie broke away, she turned and wrapped her arms around him. Jason  \nhugged her back.  \n\"Kitty hugs, I'm collecting all the kitty hugs,\" Ellie murmured into his chest fur.  \nJason petted her head then nuzzled her between the ears.  \nKatya sighed wistfully, \"It's too bad I can't borrow her.\"  \nEllie turned her head to peer at the female cat sidelong. Jason noticed the insides of her  \nears turning pink, and he grinned. He nuzzled Ellie's head again; he wouldn't trade her for  \nanything.  \nThe next twenty-three hours were uneventful to say the least. Ellie and Jason went to  \ntheir room, and Katya brought them their meals. Aside from chatting with her when she stopped  \nby, reading, or trying to find something worth watching on tv they didn't have a lot to do. Jason  \nmight have napped, but he was too anxious. Ellie was anxious and fidgety too.  \nFinally, Katya arrived to take them to the King's court. The ginger cat was carrying a tan  \ncanvas bag over her shoulder that presumably contained the evidence Lily had stashed. As they  \nwalked across the bustling city, Jason noted the number of foxes. Everywhere you looked, there  \nwere two or more red foxes, and other fox species were nearly as abundant. Jason spotted gray  \nfoxes, swift foxes, fennec foxes, kit foxes, arctic foxes, Rüppell's foxes, corsac foxes, and even  \nzorros including hoary foxes, culpeos, chillas, pampas foxes, and Sechuran foxes. Jason  \nwondered what fraction of the Wolfsbane population was some sort of fox; by the look of things,  \nit might have been one in four.  \n\"I've never seen so many foxes,\" Ellie muttered. \"That must be why they aren't as  \ncommon in the rest of Vulpineva. They're all here.\"  \n\"Are you okay?\" Jason murmured.  \nEllie glanced at him sidelong, \"I'm fine. Just because I don't like that witch, doesn't mean  \nI mind foxes in general.\"  \nThey arrived at the palace without incident. Jason didn't think the building looked all that  \nold, and he assumed it had been constructed within the current King's lifetime. The outside was  \ncomposed of white bricks, and the reddish-brown roof was lined with corroding copper gutters.  \nAside from the sheer size of the rectangular building, Jason didn't find it particularly remarkable.  \nThere was, however, a gorgeous white marble fountain encircled by the white gravel cul-de-sac  \nthat featured the elegant forms of two dancing vixens in flowing gowns. The water spurted up  \nbetween the stone foxes and rained down in glittering droplets that caught the late afternoon  \nsun.  \nIn contrast, the inside of the palace took Jason's breath away. Through the heavy oak  \ndoors, which were ribbed with cast iron, was a magnificent hall filled with gleaming white marble  \nand glittering gold. The floor and walls were all marble, and halfway up to the high ceiling, the  \nwalls were inlaid with crisscrossing patterns of gold. From the ceiling, which must have been  \ntwenty feet high, hung five crystal and gold chandeliers. Polished marble columns lined the  \nsides of the wide hall, and at the back, atop a marble dais, preceded by a crimson velvet carpet,  \nwas an enormous golden throne big enough, Jason thought, for an elephant to sit in. In the seat  \nof that glittering throne was a gigantic crimson cushion with golden tassels, and perched atop  \nthe cushion was King Frederick the Sixth of Vulpineva.  \nThe King was an elderly tod, and the red fur on his muzzle had turned to silver. As he  \nsat in his grandiose throne, he was just a bit hunched, but his amber eyes were clear, proud,  \nand intelligent. He wore a midnight blue vest embroidered with gold, an indigo cape, and a  \ngolden crown. His crown was a simple ringlet that sat between his pointy ears, but the front  \ndisplayed a massive ruby encircled by diamonds. While he looked somewhat comical, dwarfed  \nas he was by his seat, Jason couldn't help but feel intimidated by the presence of the powerful  \nfox. However, as the next group in the line before the throne stepped forward to bow to him, he  \nsmiled warmly, his eyes and mouth assuming an aspect of kind, fatherly attentiveness. And  \nJason felt a little hope that he would be willing to help them.  \nAside from the line of two dozen or so animals of various sorts waiting to petition the  \nKing, there were many others milling about the grand hall and chatting in small groups. Most of  \nthe latter were red foxes attired in clothing ranging from extravagant to lurid. There were a few  \nother animals among them in more practical jackets and gowns who Jason assumed were  \nwealthy citizens or elected officials. On either side of the King's marble dais were two dozen  \nguards, each holding a pike and wearing a velvet magenta jacket. The jackets were decorated  \nwith two vertical golden bars down the middle that were crossed by several horizontal golden  \nbars, each half the width of the jacket and tipped with a curvy-lined arrow. The guards were  \nnearly all carnivores, but Jason did spot a wild boar among their ranks.  \nAs they waited their turn, Jason listened interestedly to the petitions of the groups in  \nfront of them. Four separate groups had brought infants to be blessed. Another two groups had  \npersonal disputes they wished the King to settle. One group was concerned about the state of  \nVulpineva's national forests. One group wanted a pardon for an imprisoned family member, and  \nfinally, a red tod--Jason was shocked to recognize Lord Larchwood! --was quickly sent away  \nwhen he began grousing about the market price of tomatoes.  \nAs their turn neared, Katya whispered, \"I'll do the talking at first if that's okay.\"  \nEllie and Jason nodded. Jason suspected Ellie was as grateful as he was to momentarily  \nbe spared the responsibility; she was looking a bit nervous.  \n\"You do have to bow though,\" Katya murmured under her breath, her eyes on Ellie.  \n\"That isn't a problem, is it? I heard, um, well, they said you might be anarchists.\"  \nEllie hissed back annoyedly, \"I'm not an idiot! I'm not going to disrespect the person we  \ncame to ask for help!\"  \nKatya nodded embarrassedly. Jason considered reassuring Katya that they were not, in  \nfact, anarchists, but he decided it wasn't important. Besides, maybe Ellie did consider herself an  \nanarchist after all that had happened. Jason considered himself a social democrat.  \nAt last, it was their turn to speak with the King. Jason and Ellie bowed low while Katya,  \nwho was wearing a sky blue, pleated skirt, curtsied. The King smiled warmly and nodded for  \nthem to begin.  \n\"Y-Your Majesty,\" Katya began nervously. \"We've come from M-Maplesburg to beg for  \nyour help. We have, uh, it's a delicate issue, Your Majesty, but it's about Her Grace, The  \nDuchess of Gooseberry.\"  \nThe King nodded solemnly, \"I've been monitoring the situation. Let me extend my  \ndeepest apologies that what happened in Maplesburg was allowed to occur. That cults, like the  \none that attacked you, have been able to fester in Vulpineva is nothing less than a complete  \nfailure on the government's part, and I take full responsibility for the disaster and the lives lost.\"  \n\"We appreciate that, Your Majesty,\" Katya murmured awkwardly. \"But, um, what we  \nneed to tell you isn't about the attack or, um, even the job Her Grace has been doing since then.  \nIt began before that, a long time before actually. It's about prey who've gone missing or, or been  \nfound murdered, Your Majesty. W-we believe that, um, that Her Grace may be involved, Your  \nMajesty.\"  \nThe King frowned concernedly, and most of the people in the room began to whisper to  \none another furtively. Their suspicious whispering nearly set Jason's fur on end; he forced it to  \nstay flat.  \n\"I think we should discuss this in private,\" the King pronounced. \"My guards will show  \nyou to a room where you can wait.\"  \nHe motioned with a finger, and two guards, a wolverine and a lynx, marched from the  \nright side of the throne to stand on either side of their group. The guards led the three of them  \naway to the right. Jason couldn't help but feel they were being arrested.  \nThe guards took them to a luxurious sitting room containing three powder blue sofas  \nembroidered with silver and a large fireplace. The room was well lit by four lamps with blue or  \nsilver shades and a black ceiling fan with a trio of bulbs, but there were no windows. Jason,  \nEllie, and Katya shuffled across the thick blue carpet and sat together on the sofa to the left of  \nthe one facing the shadowy hearth. The wolverine stood in the door they had entered, and the  \nlynx crossed the room to occupy the other exit. It didn't look like they were going to escape  \nwithout overpowering at least one burly carnivore with a pike. Katya, Jason, and Ellie  \nexchanged nervous glances, but they were afraid to speak. They sat in strained silence for what  \nseemed like an eternity until, finally, the wolverine stepped aside, and the King shuffled into the  \nroom.  \nThe elderly fox sat on the sofa across from them, regarding them with concern. Jason  \nthought he looked more worried than he had in the throne room. He also looked older, more  \ntired. \"What do you have to tell me about the Duchess of Gooseberry?\" he asked worriedly.  \nKatya began, \"She, um, we believe-\"  \n\"She's a murderer!\" Ellie squeaked.  \nJason and Katya stared at her, flabbergasted by the rabbit's bluntness; however,  \nexamining her, Jason could tell she was nervous. Ellie sat stiffly with her feet crossed and her  \narms folded in her lap. She kept her eyes on the King, but Jason thought she looked ready to  \nbolt.  \nThe King rubbed his snout where it met the top half of his face, \"Oh dear,\" he murmured.  \n\"How many people has she killed?\"  \n\"Y-you don't seem that surprised, Your Majesty,\" Katya murmured nervously.  \n\"It's happened before, not with her, but I had concerns,\" the King admitted.  \n\"We don't know exactly how many it's been,\" Katya answered his question. \"I think it's  \nbeen going on for a while, years maybe, but recently, prey's corpses started appearing in  \nMaplesburg.\"  \n\"Not just murdered,\" Ellie added. \"Butchered! Horribly tortured and cut apart!\"  \nThe King sighed wearily. \"I assume the evidence is incontrovertible. It always is.\"  \nKatya nodded, \"It's significant, but we also have witness testimony. These two saw her  \nkill a rabbit, and they were imprisoned themselves by Her Grace.\"  \nThe King eyed Jason and Ellie a moment, frowning. Recognition flared in his amber  \neyes, but he spoke calmly, \"I recognize you, the cat and rabbit from the video. She responded to  \nyour accusations. I'll want to see evidence to corroborate your accounts.\"  \n\"I have the physical evidence here,\" Katya stated, lifting the tan canvas bag from her lap.  \nThe King nodded, \"Show me.\"  \nKatya plucked a baggie containing a strand of red fur and stapled to a sheet of paper  \nfrom the bag. \"This hair was found with the partial remains of a rabbit named Bartholomew  \nPotter. These lab results confirmed it was from a red fox,\" she explained.  \n\"That's the rabbit we saw her kill,\" Ellie put in, sounding more confident.  \nKatya pulled out a second baggie and printed report. \"This fur was found by the home of  \na family of squirrels who were kidnapped and murdered, Michelle Jeannet and her children  \nAlbert and Julie. The lab report identified it as wolverine fur. Her Grace employed two  \nwolverines as her guards.\"  \n\"Jason found that,\" Ellie reported proudly.  \nKatya withdrew three more baggies with strands of red fur. \"There weren't reports  \nattached to these, but they're labeled with the names of three prey who went missing in the past  \nfew years. However, I checked, and their bodies were never recovered.\"  \nThe King frowned, \"Then where did the fur come from?\"  \nKatya hesitated, \"W-well, you see, Your Majesty, we believe Her Grace had help, not  \nonly from her bodyguards but, um, from our chief of police, Lily Schulz. I believe Officer Schulz  \nrecovered these hairs before disposing of the bodies.\"  \n\"Is there anything else?\" the King inquired.  \nKatya withdrew a photograph of a footprint in the mud. \"This is also labeled with the  \nname of a prey who went missing. It looks like it could be from a wolverine.\"  \n\"Is that all?\" the King returned.  \nKatya nodded.  \nThe King shook his head, \"This isn't nearly enough. In fact, it's nothing. No individuals'  \nDNA matched; you only know species. Half of your samples don't even have that!\"  \n\"W-we have witness testimonies!\" Katya added. \"Reports of a black sedan consistent  \nwith one Her Grace owns and figures consistent with two wolverines!\"  \n\"And there was that coyote who recognized one of the wolverines who abducted Mr.  \nPotter!\" Ellie put in. She paused, and her ears drooped, \"Though I don't know if he ever spoke to  \nthe police, and I don't think we got his name.\"  \nThe King shook his head again, \"Whether you're telling the truth or not, there's nothing I  \ncan do on evidence this thin!\" he declared.  \n\"We were there!\" Ellie protested desperately. \"We saw her kill Mr. Potter, and she  \ntortured us!\"  \n\"And with the evidence you've shown me, it's more or less your word against hers,\" the  \nKing responded decisively. \"In fact, all of this evidence could be fabricated! Why isn't this case  \nbeing handled by the Maplesburg police?\"  \n\"I-I'm an officer,\" Katya murmured embarrassedly. \"But you see, Officer Schulz was  \npreventing us from investigating properly, and I'm sure she helped dispose of some of the  \nbodies. Otherwise, where did the fur come from?\"  \n\"Where indeed?\" the King returned pointedly. \"Perhaps if I had her testimony that she  \nacted as an accomplice in these disappearances, that would be a start. Without that, there's  \nnothing I can do, nor would. The Duchess has taken on a daunting task in returning stability to  \nMaplesburg. If this is all there is against her, I won't disturb her work.\"  \n\"You have to!\" Ellie cried. \"You can't let her get away with it! She's killed so many prey!\"  \nJason thought the tod looked a little uncomfortable as he shook his head again.  \n\"I'm sorry. I'm sure it's difficult for you, but I need evidence,\" he replied. He stood, \"My  \nguards will show you out. Good evening.\"  \nJason, Katya, and Ellie watched as the King left the room through the opposite door from  \nthe one they'd entered, his indigo cape flowing behind him. The wolverine and lynx marched  \nover to the couch they were sitting on, and the three of them quickly stood and allowed the  \nguards to march them out the front doors, which the guards closed behind them. They stopped  \njust outside, and Jason looked down at his feet disappointedly.  \n\"At least we tried,\" he muttered despondently.  \n\"We can't give up!\" Ellie protested.  \n\"He said it wasn't enough, Ellie,\" Katya rejoined miserably.  \n\"He said he'd listen to Lily!\" Ellie countered. \"We just have to find her and drag her back  \nhere to admit what she did!\"  \n\"Good luck,\" Katya replied darkly.  \nJason looked at the rabbit interestedly, \"No, you're right, Ellie. If we could convince Lily  \nto give her side, she'd have more details about everything that's happened.\"  \n\"Why would she?\" Katya muttered gloomily. \"She'd have to incriminate herself.\"  \n\"That's what'll make it more convincing,\" Jason stated. \"He can't dismiss her as simply  \nsomeone with an ax to grind, and since her account will corroborate ours, that will make our  \nstory more credible.\"  \nKatya looked at him dubiously, \"You really think it's worth a shot?\"  \n\"We have to try!\" Ellie declared. \"I'll drag her here myself if I have to!\"  \nKatya smiled, \"You're still determined, Ellie. Alright, let's find her.\"  \nThey made their way back to the hotel, and about an hour later, Katya brought Ellie and  \nJason the dinners they'd ordered from a nearby Thai restaurant.  \nJason answered the door, \"Thanks, Katya.\" He took hold of the plastic bag Katya held  \nout for him, but she held on.  \n\"Can, um, can I eat with the two of you?\" she murmured self-consciously.  \n\"Er, yeah, that's fine,\" Jason answered awkwardly. \"Come in.\"  \nKatya gave him a shy half smile and followed him into the room. Jason set the bag on  \nthe dark wood desk and extracted the to-go boxes: there were two trapezoidal containers of  \nwhite rice and three cylindrical, plastic containers with their meals. Ellie had gotten the green  \ncurry with vegetables. Jason had gotten the red curry with chicken, and Katya had gotten Pad  \nSee Ew with chicken. Jason and Ellie sat at the foot of their bed on the white linen sheets, and  \nKatya sat on the black mesh desk chair.  \n\"Did you get enough vegetables in yours, Jason?\" Ellie inquired conversationally.  \nJason poked through the green beans, bamboo, peppers, and basil with his chopsticks  \nto snag another piece of chicken. \"Uh-huh.\"  \nEllie smiled at him and turned to Katya, \"How about you, Katya? Is yours good too?\"  \nKaya awkwardly nodded, \"It's good, thanks.\"  \n\"We're going to find Lily, and we'll make her come back with us and explain how she's  \nhelped that witch murder people all these years!\" Ellie assured her. \"I had no idea it had been  \ngoing on for so long! I thought it started with Danny!\"  \n\"Yeah, uh, I guess they were disposing of the bodies somehow before that. I don't know  \nwhy that changed, but I guess it's good it did. Or we still might not know,\" she murmured  \nuncomfortably, looking down at her fried noodles. She looked up at Ellie anxiously, \"Do you  \nreally think we'll be able to find Officer Schulz?\"  \n\"Flora knows where she is,\" Ellie answered confidently. \"The trick is to get her to come  \nwith us, but I think, with you there, we should be able to convince her.\"  \nKatya looked back down at her food, \"Why would that make a difference?\" she  \nmurmured shyly.  \nEllie frowned, \"Last time we were all together, Lily seemed to like you. She didn't want  \nus 'corrupting' you, as I recall. Has that changed?\"  \nKatya didn't look up, \"I guess not,\" she mumbled.  \n\"Are you worried about seeing her?\" Ellie asked gently.  \nKatya looked up conflictedly, \"No, I don't know, maybe. It's just, um,\" she paused, and  \nJason saw tears welling in the ginger cat's kelly-green eyes. A fat pair of tears dropped into her  \nnoodles.  \nEllie quickly set her food aside and hopped up. She placed a hand on Katya's shoulder,  \n\"It's okay. You can tell us if you want to,\" she soothed.  \n\"It's just that I trusted her,\" Katya sobbed. \"I, I looked up to her, and she was,\" she  \nstopped and wiped a hand across her eyes.  \nEllie picked up Katya's other hand from her lap and grasped it in both of hers, \"We  \nunderstand. She was your mentor. It's hard to be betrayed by someone like that.\"  \nKatya nodded miserably. \"But it wasn't just her. First, first, I lost James, and then Officer  \nSchulz, and now Bree left too.\"  \n\"I'm sorry, Katya,\" Ellie murmured sympathetically. \"We won't leave you, I promise, and  \nwe're here if you want to talk about any of it.\" Ellie lifted Katya's carryout container off of her lap  \nand set it on the desk behind her. She leaned across Katya's lap to hug her under the arms,  \n\"You're a kind person, and you'll find someone kind to make you happy,\" she murmured.  \nKatya put her hands under Ellie's arms and stood, lifting Ellie with her and then holding  \nher up with Ellie's head beside her own as she hugged Ellie back. Ellie hugged Katya's neck  \nand pressed her cheek to the ginger cat's. Jason watched the two of them a second longer then  \nset aside his food and stood. He reached his arms around both of them, sandwiching Ellie in the  \nmiddle. Katya smiled at him shyly before rubbing her cheek against Ellie's.  \n\"The two of you are lucky,\" Katya murmured. \"Despite everything you've been through,  \nyou have each other.\" She rubbed her cheek against Ellie's again. \"I wish I knew another you,  \nEllie.\"  \nEllie turned her head to peer sidelong at Jason teasingly, \"Not another Jason?\"  \nKatya smiled embarrassedly, \"Um, well, no offense to Inspector Brown, but I'm not into  \nguys, even the really nice ones. I'd like there to be more people like Jason, but I really want an  \nEllie of my own.\"  \nJason wasn't offended, but he did feel terribly awkward. He let the two women go and  \nsat back down.  \nEllie glanced at him quickly before turning back to Katya a bit embarrassedly, \"Er, well, I  \ndo have a sister who you might like. I'm not sure how she feels about girls, but she really likes  \ncats.\"  \nKatya smiled shyly, \"Is she as fiery and determined as you?\"  \n\"Maybe more,\" Ellie emphasized. \"Her name is Farida. I can put you in contact with her.  \nShe's in medical school, so I guess, uh,\" she paused and blinked at the cat embarrassedly.  \n\"Actually, I don't know how old you are.\"  \nKatya smiled softly, her whiskers twitching with amusement, \"I'm twenty-two.\"  \n\"Alright, Farida's twenty-five, so you're close,\" Ellie concluded.  \nKatya smiled a bit wider, \"How old are you, Ellie?\"  \nEllie scowled, \"Old enough not to answer.\"  \nJason blinked in surprise, \"I thought you were only twenty-eight.\"  \nEllie shot him a dirty look, \"I am. My birthday isn't until November.\"  \n\"I turned twenty-six in January,\" Jason volunteered. He wasn't sure why and instantly felt  \nawkward about it.  \n\"Now that we've established I'm the oldest,\" Ellie drawled annoyedly.  \nKatya smirked, \"It's okay, Ellie. I like older women too,\" she teased.  \nEllie huffed and rolled her eyes, and Katya nuzzled her cheek again before setting her  \ndown.  \n\"Let's finish dinner before it gets colder,\" Ellie grumbled.  \nThey went back to eating. Katya seemed much more cheerful than before, and Ellie  \nquickly recovered her optimistic attitude. When they had finished their meals and put the empty  \ncontainers in the trash or recycling bins as appropriate, Katya stood.  \n\"Thanks for letting me eat with you. I know we didn't get to, um, spend a lot of time  \ntogether before everything that's happened, but I hope I can consider you friends.\"  \nEllie grinned, \"Of course you can! I considered you my friend before, and you've only  \nproven your friendship to us since then.\"  \nJason nodded, \"Ellie's right. You've been a friend to us since we first met.\"  \nEllie stood and hugged Katya, and when they broke away, Katya stepped in front of  \nJason and opened her arms to him. Jason stood and hugged the ginger cat as well though he  \nfelt a little embarrassed. With an exchange of goodnights, Katya left their room.  \nEllie stepped in front of Jason and hugged him tightly. \"Thanks for helping, Jason,\" she  \nmurmured. \"I know you feel a little uncomfortable around her, so thanks for helping to cheer her  \nup.\"  \n\"I don't think I did much,\" Jason replied self-consciously.  \n\"It was enough.\"  \nEllie showered while Jason groomed himself, and then they watched tv together with  \nEllie sitting in his lap. Jason let her control the remote, and they ended up watching a campy  \nfilm about demon possession.  \nJason only half paid attention, silently contemplating Ellie. Katya was right: Ellie was  \nrelentless when she knew what was right. Jason admired that tenacity, but he also realized that  \nher determination was a comfort to Ellie as much as it was to Katya. Ellie didn't admit defeat  \nbecause she had faith that the world could be better, and she needed that belief to be true.  \nPerhaps she was naive, but Jason loved that in her too.  \n\\* \\* \\*  \nThe next morning, Katya brought them breakfast from the hotel's continental buffet. Ellie  \nwas getting tired of hard fruit and stale muffins, but she accepted hers graciously. Katya ate with  \nthem again, and when they were done, she spoke.  \n\"I guess we'll be driving separately. Where do you want to meet when we get there?\"  \n\"We should meet at Flora's house,\" Ellie answered. \"She can show us how to find Lily. I'll  \ngive you her address.\"  \n\"Be careful on your drive back,\" Katya warned. \"If you're captured again, you might not  \nget away.\"  \n\"We could go together,\" Jason suggested. \"You're still a police officer, aren't you? If you  \ndrove and we were pulled over, you could pretend you were arresting us.\"  \nKatya frowned, \"I kind of need to take my car home, but that could work on the way  \nback. How many does your car hold?\"  \n\"Five, four comfortably,\" Jason answered.  \nKatya nodded, \"Alright, we'll do that on the way back. Lily is also wanted, so it's probably  \nfor the best.\"  \nEllie gave Katya Flora's address, and then they left. Ellie drove first, keeping a careful  \neye on their speed; she noticed Jason glancing at the speedometer as well. Several hours later,  \nthey arrived outside of Flora's forest-green, two-story house. Katya's kelly-green sports car was  \nalready parked on the street in front of the abode. Ellie knocked on the door, and Katya  \nanswered it along with Flora.  \n\"You made it!\" Flora exclaimed with relief. \"Katya has been telling us about your  \nexperience with the King!\" She herded them inside hospitably, \"Come in, come in.\"  \nFlora led them to the living room where Pete was waiting on the pale green loveseat.  \nThe pregnant gray fox sat next to the black and white rabbit and wrapped her arm across his  \nshoulders. Ellie and Jason sat with Katya on the matching sofa with Ellie in the middle and  \nKatya on the right.  \n\"I'm sorry your meeting with the King didn't go well,\" Flora continued. \"But I think you  \nshould have better luck with Lily. Pete has offered to show you to their base.\"  \nEllie blinked, \"Really?!\" She was more than a little surprised the timid rabbit would go  \nwith two predators to find yet another predator. Ellie would be there too, of course, but she  \ndoubted she'd be much comfort.  \n\"It's t-too risky for Flora to go!\" Pete squeaked. He sounded determined but also  \nextremely nervous.  \n\"I'm sure I'd be fine,\" Flora commented a bit amusedly. \"But I wouldn't want Pete to  \nworry. He's convinced the kits are coming at any minute.\"  \n\"They could!\" Pete defended himself anxiously. \"They're due next week!\"  \nFlora smiled and nuzzled his head. \"Either way, I'll be staying here. Pete can show you  \nthe way through the tunnels, and I think they'll be less concerned the fewer carnivores are with  \nyou.\"  \nJason frowned worriedly, \"Is that going to be a problem?\"  \n\"They're wary of allowing predators to explore the tunnels,\" Flora explained. \"But Lily  \nknows you, and you'll be with Pete and Ellie. So you should be fine.\"  \n\"Maybe he should stay!\" Pete squeaked anxiously.  \nFlora nuzzled the base of his ear and murmured soothingly, \"You'll be alright; you know  \nJason.\"  \nPete looked up at her worriedly, \"B-but what if the kits come while we're gone?! You  \nmight need someone to drive you to the hospital!\"  \nFlora smiled gently, \"You won't be gone long,\" she soothed.  \nPete shook his head, \"We don't know how long we will be! Someone should stay!\"  \nFlora looked up at Jason questioningly, \"Would you mind, Jason? I don't want Pete to  \nworry about me.\"  \nJason stiffly nodded once; Ellie thought he looked terribly embarrassed.  \n\"You probably won't have to do anything,\" Flora stated cheerfully. \"We'll just chat, and  \nthey'll be back in a few hours.\"  \nJason nodded again, a bit less awkwardly, \"Alright.\"  \n\"I don't think we should go until tomorrow,\" Ellie declared. \"If it takes too long to convince  \nLily, we might have to spend the night with her or bring her back here for the night, and I'd  \nprefer not to do either.\"  \nKatya nodded, \"Okay, I'll go home then, and I'll meet you here tomorrow morning. Is  \nseven okay?\"  \nEllie nodded reluctantly. She didn't really want to get up that early, but she supposed it  \nwas better to give themselves more time.  \n\"You're welcome to stay here for the night, Katya,\" Flora offered cheerfully.  \nKatya smiled at her awkwardly, \"Er, well, my apartment is just across town. Thanks for  \nthe offer though.\"  \n\"Alright, I insist you say for dinner though,\" Flora pressed good-naturedly.  \n\"That's not necessary. I have plenty of-\"  \nFlora's kelly-green eyes flared dangerously, and Katya froze with her mouth still ajar and  \nher own kelly-green eyes wide.  \n\"I wasn't making an offer,\" the vixen spoke softly, her eyes staring daggers at the ginger  \ncat. \"You'll stay for dinner, or you won't set foot outside of this house with Pete.\"  \n\"A-alright,\" Katya stammered nervously. \"I-I'll eat with you, no problem.\"  \nFlora's visage brightened back into her former sunny expression. \"Thank you, Katya. I  \nhope you understand. I trust Ellie's judgement, and I know she wouldn't have brought you here  \nif she didn't trust you. But I want a chance to get to know someone personally before I entrust  \nthem with Pete's safety.\"  \nKatya nodded embarrassedly, \"I understand.\"  \nOnce again, Ellie was glad Jason wasn't so protective of her. She would be mortified if  \nhe ever demanded to talk with someone before she left the house with them. She would have  \nbeen mortified if her father had acted that way, let alone her partner. However, Pete didn't seem  \nto mind; in fact, he snuggled closer to Flora, more calm and content than he'd been since they  \ngot there. Flora gave him a squeeze with the arm wrapped around his shoulders.  \n\"Well, I think Pete and I should get started on dinner,\" Flora chirped. \"You're welcome to  \njoin us in the other room or wait here until it's ready.\"  \n\"Is there anything I can do to help?\" Katya asked awkwardly.  \nFlora smiled pleasantly, \"We'll find you something to do.\"  \nThe cat, fox, and rabbit left the room. Ellie and Jason remained on the couch. They'd be  \nfixing meat, and while Ellie was slowly getting more used to the smell, she preferred not to  \nbreathe the fumes from the cooking flesh. Besides, it will give Flora and Pete some time with  \nKatya.  \n\"I thought she was going to jump on her for a second,\" Jason murmured. \"Something  \nabout her reminded me of the Duchess just then.\"  \nEllie stared at him, aghast, \"Flora's nothing like that monster!\" she reprimanded. \"How  \ncould you say that, Jason?!\"  \nJason winced, \"I, uh, just meant how she looked when she got angry. They're both  \nfoxes; they're bound to look a little similar.\"  \n\"They're not even the same genus!\" Ellie rejoined. \"And everyone gets angry  \nsometimes.\"  \n\"I didn't mean anything by it,\" Jason murmured sheepishly. \"I'm sorry, Ellie.\"  \n\"Hmph, I suppose I can forgive you this time,\" Ellie replied snippily. She eyed the  \nuncomfortable cat sidelong and felt a little guilty about her sharp tone. She scooted over next to  \nhim and leaned her head against his shoulder. \"I understand what you meant, Jason,\" she  \nconceded. \"She looked pretty fierce for a second there. It certainly scared poor Katya.\"  \n\"I guess even Flora has a temper,\" Jason concluded. \"She seems so gentle most of the  \ntime.\"  \nEllie laughed softly, \"Heheh, she's ruthless if you make her really mad. Once she shut  \nme in a wooden chest and sat on it until I apologized for spilling paint on her fur. I was in there  \nfor over an hour.\"  \nJason looked at her quizzically, \"Why didn't you just apologize?\"  \n\"Because she ran into me!\" Ellie returned irately. \"She should have apologized!\"  \nJason chuckled softly, \"Haha, what made you give up then?\"  \n\"It was getting hard to breathe! I didn't want to smother,\" Ellie answered tersely.  \nJason nuzzled her head, \"I'm surprised you didn't let yourself pass out,\" he teased.  \nEllie sniffed testily, but she still leaned her head back against his shoulder. Jason could  \ntease her for being stubborn; he was her sweet, silly kitty, after all.  \nAbout half an hour later, Flora called them into the other room for dinner. The table was  \nset with five places; only the end closest to the kitchen was empty. Flora placed Katya on the far  \nend and sat next to her with Pete on Flora's left. Jason sat in the other seat next to Katya, and  \nEllie took the one across from Pete so that the herbivores could have their food at that end.  \nThey were having barbeque sandwiches: shredded pork for the carnivores and shredded  \ncarrots and chopped broccoli for the rabbits. There was also macaroni salad with a creamy  \ncashew sauce and chopped beets, spinach and dandelion salad with sweet vinaigrette dressing,  \nand savory cornbread muffins.  \nEllie had some of everything except the pork while Jason had his sandwich, some  \nnoodles with only a few pieces of beet, a small pile of spinach, and a muffin. Katya avoided the  \nspinach but tried the macaroni salad along with her sandwich and muffin, and Flora had some of  \neverything, even sampling a spoonful of the filling for the rabbits' sandwiches. They ate in placid  \nsilence for several minutes before Katya spoke.  \n\"How many kits are you having, Flora?\"  \n\"Four,\" Flora answered cheerfully. \"Two tods and two vixens. Pete's pleased he'll only be  \noutnumbered by species,\" she joked.  \n\"How did you decide to have your own?\" Katya inquired. \"I mean, since you can't, um,  \nmake them together.\"  \nFlora smiled amusedly, \"Pete suggested it. I would have been happy so long as we got  \nto raise a family together.\"  \nKatya looked at Pete questioningly, and the rabbit glanced at her nervously before  \nsetting down his fork.  \n\"Er, well, it, it's just that,\" he looked up at Flora, who turned to smile comfortingly at him.  \n\"Go on, Pete. You can tell them,\" she reassured him.  \n\"I-I just thought Flora should have kits of her own. She-she's so smart and beautiful and  \nkind; I wanted her to pass that on.\"  \nFlora smiled at him lovingly, \"Pete sees me through rose-colored glasses, but I'm glad  \nwe made this decision. I think it's brought us even closer together.\"  \nEllie thought Flora's excessive modesty was a bit annoying, but the tender affection  \nbetween the pair filled her with warmth despite that.  \nKatya turned to her and Jason, \"What about you two?\"  \nJason shifted embarrassedly in his seat, \"I, uh, don't think we've decided. I guess it's up  \nto Ellie.\" He looked at her sidelong.  \n\"We haven't decided,\" Ellie agreed. She was happy to leave it at that.  \n\"I'm not sure it's something I'd want,\" Katya admitted. \"Kittens are cute, but I don't know  \nif I'd want that responsibility. It would have to be with the right person for sure.\"  \n\"Whether you decide to have them or not, I hope you find your own right person,\" Flora  \nreturned warmly. \"I may have only met you today, but I think you're a lovely person. And I'm  \nconfident Pete will be safe under your protection.\"  \nKatya flicked an ear, looking quite embarrassed. \"Thanks, I, um, th-think you're lovely  \ntoo,\" she murmured self-consciously. She quickly looked away from Flora, and Ellie noticed her  \ndusty pink nose turning scarlet.  \nEllie couldn't tell whether Flora had noticed the slip. They finished dinner in silence, but  \nKatya didn't recover her composure, focusing all of her attention on her plate. When they had  \nfinished, Katya stood.  \n\"Thank you for dinner,\" she murmured. \"I'll, um, see you all tomorrow.\"  \n\"Alright, see you, Katya. Have a good evening,\" Flora replied.  \nKatya nodded once in acknowledgement then made a hasty exit. They heard the door  \nclose a second later.  \n\"I think I embarrassed her,\" Flora commented worriedly.  \nEllie nodded in agreement, but she didn't think it was her place to elaborate.  \nFlora and Pete put away the leftovers, and Ellie and Jason washed the dishes.  \nWhen they had finished, Flora approached them with a pack of cards. \"We didn't get to  \nplay last time the two of you spent the night,\" she reminded them. \"Would you like to play  \nsomething?\"  \nEllie nodded cheerfully, \"Sure, what did you have in mind?\"  \n\"I think you mentioned euchre, but you can choose something else.\"  \n\"Euchre's good. How should we split the teams?\"  \nFlora smiled amusedly, \"I assumed we'd play with our partners, but if you want to do  \ngirls versus boys or rabbits versus carnivores, that's fine too.\"  \n\"Rabbits versus carnivores sounds ominous,\" Ellie jested. \"Let's do that.\"  \nFlora fetched Pete, and they seated themselves with Ellie across from Flora and Jason  \nacross from Pete. Flora sorted the cards, and Ellie got the first deal. Ellie soon regretted her  \ndecision. Pete played immediately before Jason, and each time, he studied the cat nervously as  \nif he thought he'd attack him if he played the wrong card. The black and white rabbit only called  \ntrump once: they got two points, but they could have gotten four had he called it alone. In the  \nend, Jason and Flora won ten to five.  \n\"Do you want to play again?\" Flora asked as she collected the cards.  \nEllie shook her head grumpily.  \nFlora stood and lifted Pete out of his seat, \"It looks like it's time for this bunny to pay the  \nprice!\" she chirped playfully. She hefted Pete over her shoulder and marched out of the room  \nwith a wink at Ellie.  \nEllie blushed, her cheeks and ears getting warm.  \nJason watched the pair go before turning back to her embarrassedly, \"I think that was  \ngoodnight,\" he murmured.  \n\"I guess we should get ready for bed too,\" Ellie suggested to change the subject.  \nEllie took a shower, and when she returned to the living room, Jason had made their bed  \non the sofa. He was lying on top of the covers, and she silently crept to the arm of the couch  \nand popped her head over his.  \n\"Boo!\"  \nJason yawned and smiled amusedly, \"I heard you coming up the stairs.\"  \nEllie frowned. She placed her hands on the arm, and with a powerful jump, flipped over  \nit, landing on Jason's stomach. She heard the breath whoosh out of him as her rear impacted  \nhis belly. She sat up and turned her head to peer back deviously.  \n\"Did you hear me coming that time?\" she teased.  \nJason shot up and wrapped his arms tightly around her, squeezing her to his chest. \"It's  \nnot smart to jump into a predator's claws,\" he growled playfully. Still squeezing her tightly in his  \nright arm, he brought his left hand to her belly and lightly traced a finger through her fur. \"I seem  \nto remember promising to tickle you,\" he purred softly, his breath hot on her right ear.  \nEllie squirmed in his grip, pushing her feet against the couch to slip away, but she was  \ncaught fast by his powerful hold.  \nJason purred louder and his fingers began to mix through her belly fur, slowly at first,  \nteasingly. He knew she couldn't get away, and he wanted her to anticipate what was coming.  \nEven the anticipation was too much, and Ellie fought against giggles as she vainly struggled to  \nfree herself from the cat's arm.  \n\"Heehee, snrk, heeheehee, snrt, n-no!\"  \n\"I'm going to make you wet yourself!\" Jason growled with mock ferocity. He wiggled his  \nfingers rapidly, mercilessly tickling the helpless Ellie.  \n\"Akk! N-no! Eeheeheehee, eeheeheehee, eeheeheeheehee!\" Ellie squealed.  \nHer feet scrambled frantically against the yielding couch cushion as Jason tickled her.  \nThe irresistible elation from his wriggling fingers coursed through her body, making her  \nstruggles more frenzied but less effective. Jason held her easily, and his deep purring cut  \nthrough her own squeals, the rumble filling her ears as his chest vibrated against her back. Ellie  \nwas soon gasping for breath as she laughed uncontrollably, but still Jason didn't relent.  \n\"Eeheeheeheehee, s-stop! Eeheeheehee, I, eeheeheehee, I'm going to,  \neeheeheeheeheehee, wet the couch!\" Ellie squealed.  \nJason redoubled his efforts, \"Are you?!\" he growled triumphantly. \"I don't believe you,  \nbunny! Pee and make me believe you!\"  \nEllie was laughing too hard to protest further. Her feet scrambled frenetically, but her  \nmuscles were getting tired. Her diaphragm was starting to ache. Her belly spasmed in protest to  \nthe merciless elation, and she felt it squeezing her bladder. If she hadn't used the bathroom  \nbefore getting in the shower she would have peed by now! Lightheaded and gasping for oxygen,  \nshe felt her struggles slowing. She was getting weak from exhaustion and hyperventilation, and  \nsoon she wouldn't be able to even try to escape. She had just resigned herself to the idea of  \npeeing down Jason's leg when the tickling abruptly stopped. Ellie giggled and gasped until she  \nwas able to calm herself.  \n\"I think you've had enough,\" Jason purred satisfiedly. He lay down, pulling her down with  \nhim, and then rolled her onto her stomach. His arms gently wrapped around her, he grinned up  \ntoothily. \"Did you like that, Cutie Pie,\" he teased.  \nExhausted, Ellie flopped her head against his chest. \"I'll get you back,\" she muttered  \ndarkly. She shut her eyes.  \n\"All wiped out, are you?\" Jason teased.  \nEllie grunted in reply.  \nJason stroked a hand down her back, and she felt his cool nose touch her ear. \"I love  \nyou, Ellie,\" he whispered.  \nEllie smiled. Perhaps she could spare Jason her revenge this one time. Jason continued  \nstroking her, and she drifted to sleep, soothed by his loving caresses.  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"The Murderess of Maplesburg: Reign of Terror","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2022263-chapter-19-rose.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2023439-chapter-21-reconciliation.json"}}