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Chapter 21: Reconciliation

Ellie woke early the next morning to the sensation of Jason's warm, rough tongue

lapping the base of her left ear. She sighed contentedly, remaining still to allow the cat to finish

the affectionate task. Tingles shot down the left side of her body as the damp tongue reached

inside her sensitive ear, and Ellie twitched slightly at the familiar, yet odd, sensation. She smiled

softly as the grooming continued; many of Jason's feline quirks that had disturbed her early on

were now a source of endearment. She recalled his reaction to her mentioning their grooming

rituals to his parents and smiled a little more. Even if she didn't always fully understand the

significance of his actions, she could understand the deep affection behind them because that

was a feeling they shared.

Jason finished washing her ears then murmured softly, "I think it's time for you to get up,

Sweetie. Katya will be here before too long. Promise me you'll be careful and try to avoid any

fights with Lily."

Ellie pushed herself up on his chest and gazed down at him fondly, "I promise to be

careful. With Katya there, I think Lily will come without too much persuasion. However," she

intonated determinedly. "She's coming with us whether she likes it or not!"

Jason lifted his head and touched his nose to hers, "I know you'll convince her, Ellie."

Ellie slipped off of the cat and proceeded to the bathroom. After she peed, she went to

the kitchen and threw together a quick but nutritious breakfast of grass and clover. She was

munching the greens at the table while Jason watched when she heard a knock at the door.

Jason hopped up, "I'll get it."

He strode from the room, and a few moments later, he returned with Katya. The ginger

cat was wearing a half-sleeve dark blue top with a V-neck. Ellie glanced at the clock on the

microwave: 6:46.

"I'm a little early," Katya meowed apologetically. "Please finish your breakfast." She eyed

the bowl of grass and clover, which must have looked indistinguishable from lawn clippings to

the cat. "That looks healthy," she commented politely.

"Want some?" Ellie offered cheerfully.

"Er, no thanks," Katya murmured embarrassedly.

Ellie finished her breakfast with both of the cats watching her attentively. She felt a little

awkward about their nearly unblinking gazes and considered suggesting Jason make his own

breakfast, but she knew he was waiting until she was done so that she wouldn't have to smell

the frying meat.

"I like when the long strands don't quite make it all the way in her mouth, and she

munches them down," Jason divulged to Katya as Ellie was eating the last bite. "It's adorable."

Katya glanced at him embarrassedly, and Ellie rolled her eyes. She stood and took her

bowl to the sink.

"I'm going to brush my teeth and put on a shirt," she declared. "Try not to get too excited

telling Katya how cute I am, Jason," she added dryly.

After brushing her teeth with the turnip-flavored toothpaste she'd brought from her

parents' house, she dug out of their bag a black denim jacket embroidered with pink and white

daisies that her mother had bought her when the Willowdale mornings began to turn chilly. She

assumed it would be cool underground too. She grabbed her blue satchel and opened the flap

just to make sure her gun was inside. She was heading back to the dining room when Pete

rushed down the stairs with Flora behind him.

"Sorry! I forgot to set the alarm!" Flora called.

Pete bounded into the kitchen with Flora following. Ellie leisurely hopped back into the

room. Flora and Pete were darting between cabinets and refrigerator as they hurried to find

Pete breakfast.

"I-it's okay," Katya meowed embarrassedly. "We can wait."

"Go get dressed, Honey. I'll get your breakfast," Flora instructed.

Pete dashed back toward the stairs, and Flora began to chop carrot and radish, which

she threw together with kale, clover, and dressing. She set the bowl at the near end of the table

as Pete bounded back into the room wearing a green vest and green and white, checkered

bowtie. Ellie thought he was overdressed for the occasion. He leapt into the chair, and Ellie

watched in semi-amazement as he bolted down the salad. She wasn't sure how he possibly

could have chewed it all. When he was done, he shot out of the chair and back up the stairs,

returning breathlessly a few minutes later.

"Ready!" he gasped.

Katya nodded awkwardly.

Flora swooped across the room and caught Pete in a hug. She nuzzled him between the

ears murmuring tenderly, "You'll be safe with Ellie and Katya. I'll be waiting when you get

home."

Pete hugged her back though he couldn't quite reach his arms around the pregnant fox.

He pressed his nose into her white chest fur. "I promise I'll come home. I won't let anything take

me from you and our kits."

Ellie didn't think what they were doing was likely to be much of a risk, but she still

appreciated the tender moment.

"I promise to bring you home safely," Katya meowed sincerely.

Ellie could tell she was also touched by the love between the vixen and buck.

Flora released Pete, and he turned toward Katya and Ellie with nervous determination,

"Let's go."

Pete directed Katya to a highrise several blocks away. Ellie had to squeeze into the back

of the green sports car, but fortunately, the back seats, which would have been cramped for a

cat, were amply large for her. Katya parked in a visitor spot in the highrise's lot, and they all

proceeded to the door. Ellie noticed Katya had slung a lime green backpack over her shoulder.

Pete called up to someone with the last name Archibald.

After a few rings a sleepy voice answered, "Hello?"

"H-hi, we need to get in the tunnels. Can you let us in?" Pete explained.

There was a pause, and then the voice asked sharply, "Who is this?"

"Police," Katya meowed gruffly. "Officer Letova and company. We're tracking a fugitive."

"Y-yes, Officer!" the voice squeaked. The door clicked unlocked, and Katya pulled it

open.

"Thank you. Sorry if we woke you up."

The other line hung up without comment.

Ellie regarded Pete curiously, "How did you know to call them?"

"That's who Chief Schulz called," he explained.

"You don't have to call her that," Katya growled. "She's not even a police officer

anymore."

Pete looked at her trepidatiously, "O-okay" he squeaked.

The tip of Katya's tip flicked, and she murmured embarrassedly, "Sorry, you can call her

whatever you like."

Pete led them to the elevator and then to the laundry room in the basement. He pointed

at a large grate on the back wall, "It's back there."

Katya pulled the grate off of the wall, and Pete climbed inside and lifted a panel on the

bottom of the ventilation shaft to reveal a metal ladder descending into pitch darkness.

"Are there lights?" Ellie asked.

Pete shook his head.

Katya slipped her bag off of her shoulder and crouched to remove a heavy-duty blue

flashlight with a handle. She also removed a belt, where her gun and a taser were holstered,

and looped it around her hips.

"You go first," she told Pete. "I'll light your way."

Pete nodded apprehensively and started down the ladder. Katya slung the backpack

over her shoulders then climbed into the shaft to point the bright, white light down the hole.

When Pete had disappeared, she put the handle of the flashlight between her teeth and climbed

down after him. Ellie followed them, but she was halted by the stench rising out of the hole:

cutting harshly through the undertone of musty Earth was the acrid stench of fear, the bitter odor

of the terror of dozens of species of prey. It's only a smell. Ellie mentally fortified herself then

descended into the dark, rank hole.

Pete and Katya were waiting uneasily at the bottom. Ellie could tell the smell was getting

to them too. The dirt floor of the tunnel was covered with pawprints, and it was as if the terror of

those retreating prey had been embedded in the soil along with their footprints.

"It stinks in here," Ellie quipped to lighten the mood.

Katya and Pete stared at her stonily, which only made her more uncomfortable.

"Let's find Lily and get out of this Tartarus pit!" Ellie piped with as much determination as

she could muster.

Katya smiled slightly and nodded. She pointed the light down the tunnel. "Show us the

way, Pete," she murmured.

They walked in tense silence for what seemed like an hour but was probably much less.

Finally, Ellie couldn't bear silently plodding through the tunnel of terror anymore.

"I'm glad I wasn't in Maplesburg during the attack," she stated. "You must have been

terrified, Pete."

Pete nodded anxiously. He hopped a little faster. Katya picked up the pace to keep up

as did Ellie. Pete glanced back and took a few quick hops forward, putting more distance

between him and them. Katya tried to make up the difference, but he hopped faster. Soon they

were practically jogging through the tunnel, Ellie and Katya loping along behind Pete.

"You know where you're going, don't you, Pete?" Katya meowed.

"Yes," Pete answered tersely. He didn't slow.

"Don't get too far ahead," Katya meowed a little more urgently. "We don't know who all is

down here. Lily and her followers are, but we don't know for sure if we ever caught all of the

terrorists."

Pete froze in his tracks. Slowly, he turned his head toward the approaching cat. His blue

eyes were wide with terror, his features stark in the harsh white light.

Ellie's heart leapt into her throat, "Katya! He's going to bolt!" she hissed under her

breath.

Katya thrust the flashlight at her, and Ellie just managed not to drop it. As she did, Pete

turned his head. After that, everything was a blur. In the same instant, Pete bolted, his feet

throwing dirt back at them, and Katya leapt, flying through the air like a streak of ginger

lightning. The rabbit squealed in abject terror as the cat collided with him and snatched him up

under his arms. Katya stumbled forward a few steps with the rabbit, somehow managing not to

fall on top of him before lowering him to his feet with her strong arms still squeezing him to her

chest. Ellie's heart pounded as she crept toward them. Whimpering, Pete squirmed, trying to

slip away, but Katya held him tightly.

"L-let me go!" he squeaked. "P-please, I-I-"

"Shh," Katya tried to soothe. "Shh, you're okay. I've got you."

"N-no!" Pete whimpered. "Please don't! Please-"

"I'm not going to hurt you," Katya murmured. "Shh, don't be scared."

"I think maybe you should let him go," Ellie murmured anxiously. She didn't think being

held captive by the cat was calming Pete down.

Katya regarded her worriedly, "I can't. He'll run away."

"Please!" Pete squeaked again.

Katya turned back to the rabbit she held tight to her chest. "Shh, think about something

nice. Think about your beautiful wife and kits. I promised I'd bring you home safe to them.

Flora's waiting for you. I promise you'll make it back to her. Don't be afraid."

Pete held still, and gradually, his breathing slowed. Katya tucked her head over his, and

they stood together silently until he murmured, "I-I'm alright now."

"Are you sure?" Katya meowed hesitantly.

"Y-yes."

Katya let him go, and he slowly turned to face her, "S-sorry," Pete mumbled.

Katya smiled kindly, "It's okay. Are you alright now? Do you want to hold my hand?"

Pete hesitated then nodded shyly. Katya took his right hand in her left and motioned for

Ellie.

"You can give me the light," she meowed.

Ellie almost didn't register what she'd said because she was so shocked by the outcome

of the incident. Not only had Katya calmed the timid rabbit down, he'd accepted her comfort.

Ellie doubted there were many predators who would make Pete more comfortable by holding

onto him. With a distracted nod, she stepped toward the pair and handed the flashlight to Katya.

They continued onward, Pete still leading but with Katya next to him, their hands securely

clasped. Ellie considered them puzzledly from a few steps behind.

They were rounding a corner when another light appeared. Katya quickly thrust the

flashlight into Ellie's arms and grabbed her handgun.

"Who's there?!" a high-pitched voice yelled. "We're armed! Come out with your hands on

your head!"

Katya hesitated a moment before calling back, "Zeta? Is that you?"

There was a pause and then, "Who is that?!"

"It's Katya Letova!" Katya called back.

"Katya!" the voice squeaked. "I recognize your voice!" More quietly, 'Zeta' instructed their

comrades, "It's alright. I know them. Put your guns away."

Katya put her own gun back in its holster. "We're coming toward you, okay?"

"Alight, come on!"

Still holding Pete's hand, Katya led them around the corner and down the tunnel. The

other group was hard to make out because of their bright light shining into her eyes, but Ellie

counted at least five.

"Katya!" a white and black splotched rabbit in a blue uniform top piped happily, stepping

forward from the group. Ellie could tell from their voice this was 'Zeta'. "I didn't think you were

going to join us! Did something happen?"

Ellie surveyed the rest of the group: a black squirrel, a light brown and white splotched

rabbit, and a marmot also in police uniform tops, a hare in a faux leather moto jacket, and a

flying squirrel in a pink knit poncho. All of them were armed, the hare with a crossbow and the

others with handguns.

"We need to speak with Lily," Katya responded evasively.

Zeta's brown eyes fell on Pete, and they widened, "Hey, I know you! Aren't you the

rabbit who's married to the fox? She's okay, isn't she?"

Pete nodded shyly, "Flora's fine. She stayed at home. Our kits are due in a few days."

Zeta blinked quizzically at the last statement but didn't ask for clarification. "I'm glad

she's well." She craned her neck to peer around the front pair, and her mouth fell open as she

got a good look at Ellie. "Y-you're the rabbit from that video!" she yelped in surprise.

Ellie shuffled her feet in the dirt, "Er, yeah," she replied nervously. Did that mean she

thought Ellie was a nutter?

Zeta quickly stepped around Katya and Pete, and Ellie tensed. She had no idea of this

rabbit's intentions!

Zeta grinned widely, showing off her large incisors, and thrust her hand at Ellie. "I'm

Zeta! What you did was so brave! I can't believe I'm actually meeting you!"

Ellie smiled in relief, letting out a breath she'd been holding. She shook the other doe's

hand. "I'm Ellie. It's nice to meet you too. It seems like most people thought we were lying. The

comments on the video were horrible."

"You can't go by what anonymous assholes on the Internet say," Zeta comforted. "What

you went through was horrific, and you're incredibly brave for making it public. I just wish we'd

realized what that fiend is really like sooner."

Ellie nodded in agreement. "That's why we're here. We need Lily's help to get rid of that

witch."

Zeta blinked at her puzzledly, "Oh? I assumed you were here to join us."

"We're here to speak to Lily," Katya repeated tersely.

Ellie nodded, "I think what you're doing here is good, but there might be a way to remove

her without violence, a way that can't be spun as an unprovoked revolt. If we fail, then I'll join

you, and I'll put a bullet in that witch's head myself!"

"We're hoping it won't come to that either," Zeta replied. "We're keeping a close eye on

her, but so far, she's only a nuisance. Lily is hoping she'll leave Maplesburg on her own. If she

starts killing prey though, we're not standing by any longer!"

Ellie felt a twinge of discomfort having the vixen's claim of innocence for the recent

disappearances corroborated again. Maybe that horrible cat really was entirely to blame. "I

understand, but there might be a way to get justice for those she's already killed. We-"

"We want to talk to Lily," Katya cut Ellie off pointedly.

Ellie looked at Katya disconcertedly. Didn't she trust Zeta? Ellie had just met her, but she

already liked the black and white doe. Katya shook her head slightly.

"We need to discuss it with Lily," Ellie concluded awkwardly.

"Do you know Chief Schulz?" Zeta queried curiously.

Ellie nodded. "We've met," she replied vaguely. She didn't want to go into her real

thoughts of the nasty bobcat in front of Lily's loyal followers.

Zeta looked from Ellie to Katya with a puzzled expression before stating simply, "We'll

show you to her."

Zeta led them through the tunnels with Ellie, Katya, and Pete between her and the rest

of her group. We're being escorted; they don't completely trust us either. Clearly, Zeta and

Katya knew each other, and apparently, they both had been police officers. Ellie didn't know for

certain that Zeta had been one of those to resign after the vixen had accused Lily, but she

assumed so. She was here after all. As far as she knew, Katya hadn't resigned, but she sensed

from the guarded way Katya watched Zeta as they walked, that wasn't the only source of

tension between the cat and rabbit. Even so, Zeta had seemed happy to see Katya; Ellie didn't

think there was enmity between them, but they also didn't seem to be friends.

After another twenty minutes or so of walking, they exited the tunnel and looked down a

moderately graded slope into a mammoth chamber. At the center, some sort of train with three

gigantic cars rested on a set of tracks. Fluorescent lights inside the cars and a headlight

illuminated the tenebrous chamber and cast shadows sprawling across the floor and walls as

other animals meandered about the subterranean camp. Ellie estimated around forty animals

among the tents and haphazardly arranged rings of stones. From what she could see, they were

almost all prey though she thought she saw a raccoon. She didn't see the bobcat anywhere.

"Where is she?" Katya asked warily.

"She might be patrolling," Zeta explained cheerfully. "Let's go sit down. She'll be back

before long." Zeta led them down to a ring of rocks with a single-burner, portable gas stove at

the center and motioned for them to sit. "Can I get you anything? Do you need to use the

latrine?"

Ellie wrinkled her nose. Even if she'd had to go, she would have attempted to hold it until

they were someplace with plumbing!

After a couple seconds of silence, Zeta went on, "I'm afraid we need to take any

weapons you might be carrying. It's just a precaution until we know why you're here."

Katya hesitated a moment then unbuckled her belt and handed it to Zeta, "We just want

to talk."

The black squirrel stepped up to Ellie, "Miss, can I check your bag?"

Reluctantly, Ellie handed him the satchel. He removed the gun, giving her a suspicious

look, and dug around for a few more seconds before handing it back to her.

"Zeta, can you pat her down?" he requested.

The black and white doe hopped over to Ellie and gave her denim jacket a quick pat-

down. When she was done, she smiled at Ellie amicably, "I'm sure there's really nothing to

worry about. We're on the same side after all!"

Ellie nodded, but she felt less comfortable now that Lily's followers were armed and they

weren't. She, Katya, and Pete sat on three adjacent stones on one side of the ring, and Zeta sat

on the other side.

"I'll attend to our guests," she piped cheerfully. "The rest of you go on and finish the

patrol."

"Are you sure?" the black squirrel asked cautiously. "I can stay with you."

Zeta waved him away, smiling confidently, "Go on, Flint. It's only Katya and her friends. I

met the buck before, and Ellie practically started this whole thing!"

The squirrel gave Ellie another quick glance before turning and leading the group back

up the slope to the tunnel.

"So," Zeta piped in a genial tone. "How did you three meet? You said you were leaving

Maplesburg; how did Katya find you?"

It took Ellie a second to realize she was talking to her. "Er, well," she answered hastily.

"We already knew Katya before we were captured. She, uh," she paused. She didn't know what

she could say that wouldn't give the rabbit more information than Katya wanted her to have, so

she concluded, "And Pete's wife, Flora, was one of my high school friends."

Zeta frowned slightly. She turned to Katya, "Did you know where she was the whole time

and not say anything?!" she asked with dismay.

"No," Katya answered snippily. "But even if I did, I wouldn't have told you. It was for their

own safety that they left. It was a decision I supported and still do."

"She would have been safer with us!" Zeta argued.

"Lily and I aren't exactly on the best of terms," Ellie admitted sourly. She didn't like them

arguing about her like she wasn't even there! "Jason and I made our own choice. Lily was still

working with that creep when we left. We didn't know about your group until Flora told me."

"Katya might have told you if you were in contact!" Zeta returned.

"Lily left them for dead!" Katya snapped. "She sacrificed them to that monster like all of

the prey before them! If they want to join Lily's private army now, it's not my right to stop them,

but it's not Lily's right to ask them, for anything!"

Zeta's uneasy frown darkened, "Lily's told us what she did. That fiend forced her! You

saw what happened the very first time she stopped that beast from murdering someone. She

had to go into hiding! Without us, she'd be hunted down and killed! What would that

accomplish?! She would have thrown her life away, and that fiend wouldn't have stopped!" she

argued passionately.

"The great hero, savior of one prey," Katya rejoined sarcastically.

"She's saved many more than that, and you know it!" Zeta shot back angrily. "I don't

know why you have such a grudge against her, Katya! You used to be loyal!"

Katya looked away irritatedly. "I don't understand how you still can be," she grumbled

darkly.

Ellie attempted to diffuse the growing animosity by cutting in with a diplomatic, "I'm glad

she's doing what she is now, and I think she can help us discredit the Duchess permanently."

"High praise from Jason's pet," an all too familiar growl came from behind her.

Ellie jerked her head around to see Lily appearing through the gloom of the poorly lit

cavern with another group of armed prey. Reflexively, Ellie scowled in disgust. The last time

she'd seen this cat, she'd left her and Jason to be butchered.

"I'll take it from here, Zeta," Lily drawled unpleasantly. "I can't wait to hear how I can help

now that I finally have Miss Bennett's approval." Her voice dripped sarcasm.

"I'd like to stay if that's alright, Chief," Zeta offered concernedly.

Lily shook her head, "I'll be fine, Zeta. You don't need to get involved."

The white and black doe hesitated but then stood. "I support you, Chief. Whatever they

say, remember we support you."

She hurried away, and Lily sat where she'd been. Lily eyed Katya, and Ellie noticed her

snide sneer falter uncomfortably for just a moment.

"We've come to ask for your help, Lily," Katya meowed coolly.

Lily regarded her silently for a moment then glanced to Pete and then to Ellie. "Where's

Jason?" she asked. Ellie thought she let a tiny bit of concern slip into her meow.

"He's fine," Ellie answered tersely. "He's waiting for us."

"I'm surprised his leash is that long, or did you tie it to a post?" Lily mocked.

"That's none of your business," Ellie responded, keeping her cool. She wouldn't let the

bobcat provoke her.

"Don't tell me he decided your feet weren't that tasty after all!" Lily gasped with

counterfeit shock.

"He prefers other parts," Ellie replied smugly. "We live together now."

Lily scoffed, "Good for you. I assume you didn't come here to attempt to make me

jealous about my ex. You're welcome to him."

"You brought him up," Katya pointed out irritatedly. "Let's get to the point. We spoke with

the King on Friday. I showed him the evidence you'd hidden. It wasn't enough, but he said he

might listen to your testimony."

Lily stared at the ginger cat blankly for a moment and then asked incredulously, "And

what?! You think now I'm going to give myself up?! Turn myself in so that the King will believe

there's a problem?! Don't tell me you're still naive enough to think he'll do something!"

"Maybe you will be arrested!" Katya snapped. "You're an accomplice to murder! The

King seemed ready to do something when we first told him! He only said the evidence wasn't

enough!"

"So you'd like to see me executed so long as the Duchess gets a slap on the wrist," Lily

growled.

"That's not what I want, but it's better than you getting all of these people killed to save

your skin!" Katya rebuked. "You know that if you killed the Duchess, the authorities would hunt

down and execute your entire militia! They'd say you were no better than the terrorists! So what

are you really doing here?!"

"We're preparing for whatever has to be done," Lily answered coolly. "Playing tattletale

to the King got you nowhere. What's going to happen here if I go get myself arrested?"

"I'm sure the others will handle it," Katya argued. "Zeta or Flint will take over here. Only

you can give your testimony on how you helped the Duchess."

"You might be arrested too," Lily rejoined. "It's not only my life you're sacrificing here.

Every one of us could be killed to cover this up."

"I'm willing to take that risk!" Katya declared. "I used to think you were willing to give your

life to protect others too! I see this militia really is nothing more than a desperate attempt to save

yourself! That's the only person you've ever cared about!"

Lily gave Katya a wounded look, "I'm sorry I disappointed you, Katya," she muttered

bitterly. "I tried to protect you from what I knew. Vulpineva's rotten; there's nothing we can do to

change that."

"We can try!" Katya urged. "The King isn't the Duchess! I'm not saying there will be

justice, but if he censures her, she'll be discredited. She won't have the power she does now!

Please, Lily! Please be the person I believed you were and help us bring her down!"

Lily regarded Katya conflictedly and then turned a sharp eye to Ellie, "I'm sure you'd be

delighted to see me hanged, rabbit."

"I wouldn't be," Ellie averred. "If you do this, I might even forgive you for leaving Jason

and me to die."

Lily scoffed, "'Might.' How generous. How can I refuse an offer like that?"

"I'll forgive you," Katya meowed earnestly. "And I'll do whatever I can to convince the

King you were forced to do what you did. Like Zeta said, the first time you stopped her from

killing someone, she was ready to kill you. He'll have to take that into account!"

Lily sniffed contemptuously. "He doesn't have to do anything."

"I'll do what I can too!" Ellie proclaimed. "I'll tell him how you put your life at risk to save

prey during the evacuation."

"You weren't there," Lily replied pointedly.

"Zeta could tell him," Katya stated. "I'm sure she'd do anything she could."

"I would, Chief!" Zeta's voice piped.

Lily turned her head sharply toward the sound, "I thought I told you to leave!"

Zeta poked her head out from behind a nearby tent and quickly bounded over beside

Lily, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Let me help, Chief. I know you've always wanted to help

people! That fiend didn't give you a choice!"

Lily regarded the white and black rabbit conflictedly, "You think I should do it then? You

realize we might all be killed to protect that bitch."

"We won't be!" Zeta piped determinedly. "We'll make the King understand! He could

have arrested Katya and Ellie the first time, but he let them go, knowing they might not come

back! Katya wouldn't be here if she didn't think there was hope!"

Katya gave Zeta a grateful look, "That's right. We're trying to prevent further bloodshed,

not get you or ourselves killed."

"We can do it, Chief!" Zeta declared. "We'll all have your back!"

Lily turned to regard Ellie dubiously, "Even Jason's pet?"

Ellie rolled her eyes at the bobcat's incessant insults. "Yes, and if we're successful, I'll

even give you that hug you've been wanting."

"I suppose with rewards like that in store, I can hardly say no," Lily meowed dryly.

"You'll come?!" Katya gasped in surprise.

Lily nodded.

Katya blinked at Ellie in astonishment, "I can't believe it! You were right, Ellie!"

Ellie smiled awkwardly, "I'm not sure she would have agreed without Zeta." Ellie gave

the other doe a grateful smile, "Thank you, Zeta."

"I said what I said because I know it's who the Chief really is," Zeta retorted. "She's not

the callous person you think she is!"

Ellie could still remember Lily telling her she deserved to be killed by the murderous fox,

but she held her tongue. This rabbit clearly had a very different experience with the bobcat, and

perhaps Lily had made progress. Perhaps Katya's cynical interpretation of Lily's actions was

wrong, and she wasn't merely trying to save herself. If she really came with them and confessed

her involvement in the Duchess' crimes, Ellie would have to admit that was the case.

"It's going to be cramped in Jason's car with five of us," Katya remarked with mild

concern.

"I assume mine's been impounded," Lily remarked dryly.

Katya shrugged, "I don't know. I don't think Officer O'Connor has been doing much to try

to find you. He doesn't like the Duchess either, he's just cooperating to save his own skin."

"It should hold six comfortably if one of the rabbits sits in the back," Lily informed them.

She glanced at Zeta, "Go find James."

Zeta hurried away.

"The idea was for me to drive," Katya explained. "So that I could pretend to be arresting

you if we were caught."

"As long as it's not Jason's pet behind the wheel," Lily replied dryly. "She might try to

wrap me around a tree."

Ellie sighed wearily. She was already tired of the bobcat's company. After a minute, Zeta

returned with a chipmunk.

"Do you remember where we left my vehicle, James?" Lily meowed.

"I think I can find it!" he returned cheerfully. "Are you going somewhere?"

"Wolfsbane, evidently. If we don't come back, you and Flint need to follow this through.

Zeta's coming with us."

The chipmunk nodded solemnly, "We will."

Lily stood, "Let's go."

"Right now!?" Zeta yelped.

"Unless our guests are staying overnight, we should get going. It's a four hour drive to

Wolfsbane, and we have to pick up Jason, wherever he is."

"He's at Pete's house," Katya informed her. "We need to drop Pete off too."

Lily glanced at the black and white buck pensively, as if trying to place him.

"His wife is the gray fox," Zeta told her. "We met them during the evacuation."

Lily nodded. "How's your wife?"

"F-Flora's fine," Pete squeaked.

"How about the kits?"

"Th-they're due in a few days."

"I thought you said she's a fox," the chipmunk squeaked in confusion.

Lily gave him a withering look, "You've never heard of a sperm bank, huh?"

"Oh, er, right," the chipmunk squeaked embarrassedly.

"I'm glad for the clarification too," Zeta murmured to him sympathetically.

Lily looked at Katya, Ellie, and Pete impatiently, "Well, are we going or not?"

Katya and Pete leapt up from their rocks. Ellie made a point of standing slowly,

stretching languidly to irk the obnoxious cat.

"You need me to carry you or something, Bennett?" Lily growled.

Ellie finished stretching and smirked, "Nope, I'm ready."

The chipmunk led them to a tunnel on the opposite end of the tunnel from the one they'd

entered on. As they entered the tunnel, Zeta fell into step beside Ellie.

"You never told me how you and Katya met," she piped genially.

"She pounced on me," Ellie stated lightly.

Zeta's brown eyes widened, "She did?!"

"It was a misunderstanding," Katya stated embarrassedly from behind them where she

was walking close beside Pete, ready to offer a hand if he became too anxious.

"We were investigating the murder of Daniel Planter," Ellie clarified. "I was trying to get in

to talk to Lily." She eyed the bobcat's back spitefully, "That was before she got us thrown off the

case."

Lily halted and turned toward her angrily, "If you'd kept your nose out of things, you

wouldn't have put me in the position you did! I tried to protect you and Jason. You didn't let me,

but now you want to blame me for what happened!"

"You could say sorry!" Ellie retorted. "I know you didn't trust us enough to tell us what

was really going on, but if you'd told us that witch was responsible, things might have ended

differently!"

"I'm sure. You would have been the hero and brought the evil fox to justice," Lily rejoined

sarcastically.

"I would have put a bullet in her head when we got there!" Ellie snapped.

Lily rolled her amber eyes and turned on the pad of her foot, tromping after the

chipmunk, who had stopped a few yards ahead to look back nervously.

"Things aren't that easy, Ellie," Zeta murmured sympathetically as they followed. "I know

you would have been justified, given what that fiend did to you, but if you'd ever succeeded in

killing her, you would have been executed."

"I know," Ellie grumbled. "Jason says the same thing."

"I think if you gave the Chief a chance, the two of you could get along," Zeta replied

softly. "She's a good person. She's angry because she's frustrated by how bad things are."

"She's never liked me. I'm not the one who's never tried."

Without looking back, Lily growled, "The first time we met it was so you could scream at

me for doing my job wrong."

"You were nothing but hostile from the moment we arrived!" Ellie shot back.

"Zeus blast me! Both of you need to grow up!" Zeta snapped.

Ellie was stung by the friendly rabbit's rebuke, and they walked in silence the rest of the

way.

After another three-quarters of an hour, they arrived at what appeared to be a dead-end,

a slab of stone filling the tunnel in front of them. After some poking and scratching, the

chipmunk triggered some mechanism, and with the grating sound of stone grinding stone, a

panel slid a few inches in and then to the right to reveal an opening. The other side turned out to

be a temple of some sort. Ellie thought she recognized it as a temple to Gaia, but it had been a

while since she'd bothered brushing up on her religious trivia. As might have been expected, the

temple was empty. No one Ellie knew gave the gods much thought except on special holidays,

and she was fairly certain it was all fantasy anyway.

Fortunately, after having made the lengthy journey, they found Lily's crimson SUV

parked in the back. Lily unlocked the mid-size SUV and retrieved her uniform top and cell phone

from the driver's seat.

"Phone's dead of course," the bobcat remarked. She handed the keys to Katya, "Guess

you're driving; better make sure it starts before we get too excited."

Katya climbed in, adjusted the seat so that she could reach the pedals and put the key in

the ignition. The vehicle started without issue.

"I guess you're good then," the chipmunk stated. "I'll see you when you get back."

"Yeah, see you," Lily replied.

Zeta hopped over to the tiny, striped rodent and swept him up to hug him to her chest,

"Bye, James! We'll see you in a few days!"

She set him down, and he bobbed his head embarrassedly, "Bye, Zeta."

He turned and ambled back toward the temple with a goofy grin plastered across his

face. Ellie thought his steps were a bit giddy.

Zeta smirked after him and then gave Ellie a knowing grin. "So, which of us is taking the

back?"

Lily ended up in the front passenger's seat with Ellie and Zeta in the two middle seats

with a cup holder between them and Pete with the bench seat in the back to himself. Katya put

Flora's address into her phone and started back across town to the fox and rabbit's domicile.

* * *

Flora smiled at Jason as the front door closed, "It's just us then. What would you like for

breakfast?"

"I'll make us breakfast if you want," Jason offered awkwardly.

"I can manage," Flora replied cheerfully.

"I, uh, just feel like I should do something since I'm eating your food."

"You can wash up afterward," Flora chirped. "Does steak and eggs sound good?"

Jason nodded, "Yeah, thanks."

Jason sat at the table whilst Flora got the beef filets and eggs out of the fridge.

"How would you like your eggs?" she queried.

"Uh, however," he murmured.

The gray fox gave him an amused look, "I'm not going to bite. Does over-easy sound

good?"

Jason nodded embarrassedly.

Flora got to cooking, putting two cast iron skillets on the gas burners and spooning

coffee grounds into the cold drip machine. Jason tried not to watch her too closely, carefully

studying the backyard through the window; he didn't want her to think he was staring.

Occasionally, he glanced toward the kitchen and saw her bushy gray, black, and light brown tail

sweeping behind her as she busily checked the eggs and steaks. Jason thought she was very

pretty and felt a little guilty for the observation. Ellie would agree, he tried to reassure himself.

Before long, Flora brought him a mug of coffee and utensils, also placing a carton of

cream and a jar of sugar on the table. Jason added a little cream to his coffee. A minute later

she set a plate with an egg, a steak, and a piece of whole wheat toast in front of him. She then

sat across from him with her own plate, silverware, and mug. Jason noticed she had two eggs,

and her steak was also fifty percent larger than his. She added cream and sugar to her coffee,

gave it a stir with her spoon, and took a sip.

"It's nice that we're getting to spend a little time together," she commented sunnily. "We

haven't gotten to talk, just the two of us, and I know Ellie can be a little aggressive about getting

in her say. Why don't you tell me a little about yourself? Where did you grow up?"

"Maplesburg. My parents' house is in East Maplesburg as well, actually."

"So you've been here your whole life, hmm?" She sliced off a piece of steak and popped

it in her mouth, chewing as she regarded him interestedly.

"That's right." Taking her cue to eat as they talked, he cut off a piece of egg and

transferred it to his mouth.

"And you were going to be a police officer, isn't that right? I think Ellie mentioned that."

"Er, yeah, I guess I'm glad I didn't now."

"I think many do their best despite circumstances," Flora rejoined. "But I understand why

you feel it was the right decision." She smiled, "You met Ellie, so clearly, you picked the right

path."

Jason felt his ears getting warm, "I guess so," he murmured.

Flora tore off a corner of toast crust, dipped it in her egg yolk, and ate it before asking,

"Did you ever think you'd be with a rabbit?"

Jason shook his head embarrassedly. "I never imagined it until I realized I had feelings

for Ellie." He ate a piece of steak.

"Funnily enough, I never thought I would be either. My closest friends were all prey, but I

guess I assumed I'd find a nice tod someday." She sliced off a piece of egg and speared it on

her fork but paused before putting it in her mouth. "Not that there aren't plenty of nice tods out

there. Foxes get a bad rap, but we're like anyone else. To be honest, I didn't really try to find a

tod." She ate the egg.

"You must have realized more quickly than I did," Jason noted. "Ellie and I worked

together for years before I realized."

Flora nodded. She gulped down a piece of steak then asked, "Do you think you were in

love all that time or that your feelings developed over time?"

"Uh, the latter, I guess."

Flora nodded and sipped her coffee. "It might have taken me longer if Pete hadn't been

so obviously smitten with me. I'm pretty sure he fell in love the first time he saw me," she

chirped jovially. She grinned toothily, "Although, he didn't understand it at first because he

assumed any predator that got him alone would gobble him up. He probably thought it was a

new flavor of fear."

"I don't think I could have gotten together with a rabbit who was afraid of me," Jason

murmured embarrassedly. "If I couldn't reassure someone that I didn't want to hurt them, I'd

probably try to avoid them."

"I'm sure that's what most people would do," Flora replied understandingly. "No one

wants to be treated with suspicion, but I felt that Pete needed my help. I knew his fear was

unjustified, and I wanted to help him through it. I suppose that if he hadn't needed me as much

as he did, I might not have fallen in love with him." She smiled pleasantly, "It's completely

different between you and Ellie, I'm sure."

Jason nodded, "Ellie would be furious if I thought I was her keeper. If anything, she

thinks the opposite."

"I wouldn't say I'm Pete's keeper either," Flora returned patiently. "He can handle

himself, and he does his part. What he needs is a sense of security, and that's what I give him.

Pete's hyper-aware of his vulnerability, so he feels better knowing someone's looking out for

him." She took a bite of toast.

Jason bobbed his head in acknowledgement and transferred the last of his egg to his

mouth.

"I'm sure you look out for Ellie as well," Flora suggested. "I know she doesn't need and

wouldn't appreciate how far I go with Pete, but I'm sure you'd do whatever you could to keep her

safe."

Jason nodded, "And she'd do the same for me. We look out for each other."

"I'm glad to hear it," Flora chirped cheerfully.

They finished their breakfast, and then Jason washed up. He washed the dishes then

used the soapy water to wipe the grease off of the stove. Afterward he returned to the table

where Flora was still seated, scrolling through the news on her phone.

"Is there anything else you'd like me to do?" he offered.

Flora looked up at him and blinked her green eyes curiously, "Are you always this eager

to do housework?"

Jason flipped his tail embarrassedly. "I don't mind," he murmured.

"I'm sure Ellie appreciates that, but I don't feel comfortable asking you to do more. Have

a seat if you'd like."

Jason sat.

Flora flipped her cell phone over and gave him a pensive look, "I'd like to ask you

something, but if it makes you uncomfortable, you don't have to answer. Is that alright?"

Jason nodded nervously, wondering what it would be.

"How do you think this will all turn out? With the Duchess, I mean. Do you think she'll

ever give up trying to catch you?"

"I don't know," he answered honestly. "I hope so."

"What if she doesn't? What if you're both captured again?" she pressed.

"We'll try to get away."

"What if you knew you'd never get away? What would you do then?"

Jason frowned uncomfortably, "I, uh, I guess-"

"I'm sorry! You don't have to answer!" Flora apologized hastily.

Jason shook his head, "It's fine." He took a deep breath. "I guess we, we'd try to make

the best of it. At least we'd still be together."

Flora looked relieved, "You don't have any sort of suicide pact then."

Shocked, Jason yowled, "What?! O-of course not!"

"I'm glad. I know how much Ellie hates the Duchess, so I was concerned about what she

might do in that situation."

"Ellie wouldn't ever give up," Jason declared passionately. "And I wouldn't leave her."

Flora smiled warmly, "I can tell you really admire her. Ellie's lucky to have met you. It

makes me feel good to see my friends happy, and that means both of you now."

Jason dipped his head embarrassedly and smiled, "I'm luckier to have met her."

Flora grinned toothily, "Oh, I don't know. I'm sure you're both very lucky, but I suspect

Ellie's assertiveness would rub many carnivores the wrong way. If I'm not mistaken, you like it."

Jason blushed. "Is it that obvious?" he murmured.

Flora smiled warmly, "Maybe, but I'm sure Ellie appreciates that too."

Jason knew that she did, and thinking about it gave him a warm feeling of pleasure.

"I really hope everything turns out alright, and the four of us can be friends," Flora

declared. "I would be sad to lose Ellie again, but I think I'd feel a little better knowing you were

with her, wherever the two of you go."

"I hope we can all be friends too," Jason agreed warmly. While Jason still felt somewhat

uncomfortable around her timid husband, he had no reservations about the friendly fox. He

hoped he could get along as well with Ellie's other friends when they met.

* * *

They arrived outside of the forest green domicile a few minutes after 10:00 AM. Lily

thought she vaguely recognized it though the prey evacuation seemed like ages ago with

everything that had happened. She turned her head to eye the timid black and white rabbit in

the back.

"Tell Jason to get out here," she instructed him.

"I think we should all go in for a minute so that we can say hi to Flora," Zeta piped

cheerfully. "Also, I'd like to use a proper bathroom before we leave."

Lily supposed it would be a good idea to properly wash her hands if nothing else. There

hadn't been water to waste on such things in the tunnels, and she'd been using hand sanitizer

after she'd used the latrine.

"I'm sure Flora wouldn't mind if you wanted to take a shower," Ellie offered. "It's not that

late. I think there's time."

Lily sighed, but Zeta gazed at her hopefully, "Can I, Chief?"

Lily nodded resignedly, "I suppose there's time," she muttered.

"Drag Lily in with you!" Ellie jeered. "It's probably been years since she washed

properly!"

Lily shot the obnoxious rabbit a dirty look.

Zeta's ears pinkened, and she stammered flusteredly, "Er, I, uh, I don't, um-"

"I'm not taking a shower with or without you, Zeta. Calm down," Lily growled irritatedly.

"Er, right, sorry, Chief," Zeta murmured.

They climbed out of her SUV, and Lily let the others go before her as they climbed up

onto the tanish gray porch to reach the gray front door. The buck unlocked it, and they filed

inside. They found Jason Brown and the gray vixen in the combined kitchen-dining room at the

six-seat dining table. Jason eyed Lily nervously, but the vixen hopped up. Like the buck had

said, her kits were obviously due soon.

"Lily, it's good to see you!" she bounded across the room and offered her hand.

Lily shook the fox's hand politely.

"Hi, Flora!" Zeta piped happily.

"Zeta! I wasn't expecting you!" the vixen chirped in joyful surprise. She offered Zeta her

hand with a beaming grin.

Zeta shook her hand as well. "You might want to wash that now," Zeta jested. "We've

been washing with hand sanitizer for weeks."

The vixen looked a bit disturbed at this revelation.

"Actually, besides saying hi, the reason we came in was to ask whether it's okay if we

use your bathroom," Zeta went on. "I'd like to take a quick shower if you don't mind."

"Not at all, have a nice long soak if you want," the vixen offered cheerfully. "Is there

anything else I can get you?"

Zeta looked at Lily questioningly.

"We're fine," Lily answered. "Once Zeta's washed, we need to head to Wolfsbane." She

glanced at Jason and glanced away. "We're taking my vehicle," she told no one in particular.

"Thank you for coming, Lily," Jason murmured uncomfortably.

Lily glared at the tabby, "I didn't come for you," she growled.

Jason winced.

Zeta hopped over to the seated cat. She stopped and clasped her hands behind her

back, shyly tilting backward and forward on her long, furry feet. "Hi, I'm Zeta. You must be Ellie's

partner, yes?"

Jason nodded embarrassedly, "Yeah, I'm Jason."

Zeta smiled cordially, "I just wanted to tell you that I think what you did was very brave,

not just the video but when you were captured especially. That fiend starved you, but you didn't

give in. You must really care about your friend."

Jason nodded, his eyes downcast and tail trashing behind him. "I couldn't hurt Ellie," he

murmured awkwardly.

Zeta smiled a bit uncomfortably, "I guess we can talk during the ride. I'm going to shower

so that we can go." With that, Zeta quickly bounded out of the room.

The vixen hurried after her, "I'll show you where the bathroom is," she called after the

retreating doe.

Lily sighed wearily and followed them.

It turned out that the guest bathroom was in the basement. Lily followed the vixen and

doe down the stairs.

"Towels are in the cabinet under the sink," the vixen was explaining. "Should I get you

the blow drier?"

"Yes, please."

The pregnant fox rushed past Lily, and Lily stepped up to the bathroom door.

"Do you mind if I use it before you do?" Lily requested.

Zeta stepped out of the way, "Go ahead, Chief."

Lily peed, gave her hands a good scrub, and used a damp washcloth to wipe down her

head and neck, which she couldn't reach with her tongue. When she came out, Zeta was

waiting with the blow drier.

"Done, Chief?"

Lily nodded. She pushed past the white and black splotched rabbit, but Zeta called to

her before she could head upstairs.

"Is there something I should know about your history with Ellie's partner?"

Lily turned around grumpily, "It's personal," she growled.

Unperturbed, Zeta went on, "I understand, but as much as you've butted heads with

Ellie, you seemed even more uncomfortable when we saw him."

Lily sighed wearily; Zeta worried too much. "It's nothing. We used to date a long time

ago. I just find it annoying what a sycophant he's become to that rabbit."

Zeta frowned worriedly, "In what way? You don't mean because he didn't eat her, do

you, Chief?"

Lily scoffed, "Of course not. You'll understand when you watch them longer. You were

embarrassed by how Pete acted when we first met him. It's basically the same thing but

flipped."

Zeta cocked a long white and black ear in confusion, "Are they more than partners

then?"

Lily rolled her eyes, "I thought you were eavesdropping. They're fucking now,

apparently."

Zeta's brown eyes went wide, "Wha? How do you know that?"

Lily frowned, "Really, Zeta? She practically gloated about having had his tongue inside

her. I don't see how you were confused. You like to be coy about why you need to get home to

Petunia, but we all know you're having sex."

The flesh of Zeta's ears turned pink, "Well, yeah, but we're both rabbits. It's easier to

guess."

"The married couple whose house we're currently in are a rabbit and fox," Lily drawled.

"Maybe they hold support groups for predator-prey couples."

"If they don't, it's a heck of a coincidence!" Zeta declared. "I'm starting to wonder if I'm

missing out!"

Lily smirked, "Maybe you are. Take your shower. I'll see you upstairs."

Zeta stepped into the bathroom and closed the door, and Lily headed back to the first

floor. Upstairs, she found that the other five mammals had moved to the living room. The vixen

and her husband were on the pale green loveseat, and the other three were on the matching

couch. The rabbit was between the two cat's and the only space was on Jason's left. Lily

plopped down next to the brown tabby but looked the other direction.

"I think what you're doing is very noble, Lily," the vixen spoke after a few seconds. "I'm

sure it's a terrible risk to have to admit your role in the Duchess' murders, but your courage

means there might finally be some justice for those she killed."

Lily stared at the fox uncomfortably a moment before stating, "There's nothing noble in

this at all. She wants to kill me now. I'm better off with the mercy of the King than her revenge."

"I don't think you're being fair to yourself," the vixen rejoined. "The reason she wants to

kill you is that you saved a life, and during the evacuation, you put your life on the line to save

even more lives. Your actions show it's about more than self-interest."

"Tell that to the prey she killed before, to the bodies I burned to hide her crimes. You

might think it started recently, but it didn't. It's been going on for years."

"How many prey?" Ellie asked harshly.

Lily eyed the white and dark brown rabbit uncomfortably, "I didn't keep track."

"Too many for you to remember then!" Ellie shot back.

Lily sighed wearily.

"The point is what she's doing now," the vixen responded pointedly. "We all agree

helping the Duchess was wrong, but we also need to consider what choice she had. I'm sure it

would have been difficult or even dangerous to deny someone in her position."

"We're going to do what we can to convince the King that was the case," Katya told the

vixen. "It should help that, as you said, saving someone from the Duchess was what got Lily a

warrant for her arrest."

"I'll defend her to the King, but that's as far as this goes," Ellie averred. She glared at

Lily, "I don't care to see you hanged when we know that witch will get off with a slap on the

wrist, but if you think I'll ever forgive you for all you've done, think again!"

Lily smirked sardonically, "As usual, your magnanimity astounds me, rabbit. Fortunately,

you're neither my judge nor my jury. When all this is over, perhaps I'll open a shop. I've had

enough of conspiracy and death."

"Maybe you could run for City Council," the vixen suggested. "Most people still consider

you a hero, and since you know the truth about the Duchess, you could help Maplesburg hold

her at arm's length."

Lily looked at her skeptically.

"If you don't do that, I think you could find some other way to help people," Katya

suggested. "I've been thinking about going back to school."

Lily eyed the ginger tabby curiously, "For what?"

"Law maybe or social work."

"You can probably do social work with your degree from the Police Academy," Lily

suggested.

"I'll look into it, thanks," Katya meowed.

"Maybe I should run for Mayor," Ellie piped. "Once everyone knows what that witch has

done, they'll understand that we tried to warn them!"

"You're going to quit our practice?" Jason mewled worriedly. "I don't know if I can do it

on my own."

"You could be my secretary," Ellie quipped.

Lily rolled her eyes; she certainly wouldn't be voting for Ellie Bennett.

After about forty minutes, Zeta came back upstairs, sans her dirty uniform top, with her

white and black fur all fluffed up. She eyed the full couch hesitantly.

"You can have my spot, Zeta," Ellie offered. "I'll sit on Jason's lap."

"It's time to go," Lily countered. "We want to get there tonight."

"There's still time!" Ellie shot back. "It's only a four hour drive!"

"The idea was to leave after I'd showered," Zeta replied self-consciously.

"I need to use the bathroom quick before we leave," Jason stated. He hopped up from

the couch and quickly left the room.

Zeta glanced after him embarrassedly, "Maybe I should have been faster."

"He could have gone upstairs if it was an emergency," Ellie stated matter-of-factly.

It was more discussion about Jason using the bathroom than Lily thought was

necessary. He's probably taking a dump.

Zeta sat between Ellie and Lily.

"Earlier, we were discussing what careers we might pursue when this was over," Ellie

informed Zeta. "Are you going to return to the police force or try something else?"

"I was thinking about running for Mayor," Zeta declared. "We need someone in office

who knows what that fiend really is!" She glanced at Lily, "Unless you were going to run, Chief."

Lily shook her head, "I'm not taking any position where I have to talk to that bitch ever

again. Flora suggested City Council, but that might be too close to her too. I'll support you if you

run though."

"Dang, there go my chances," Ellie quipped.

Zeta looked at her awkwardly, "Were you planning to run?"

Ellie smiled, "Probably not. Jason needs me at our practice. I suggested it earlier, but I'll

feel comfortable knowing you're in charge."

Zeta smiled shyly, "Coming from you, that means a lot, Ellie. Thank you." She turned to

Lily, "And from you, Chief. I hope I can live up to your expectations."

Lily smiled softly, "I'm sure you will."

Zeta gazed up at her warmly a moment longer before looking down at her long feet with

a shy smile. Lily wanted to put her hand on her shoulder or knee, but she knew Zeta was in a

relationship and didn't. A second later, she wondered why she had considered such a public

display of affection at all.

Jason returned, and the four of them stood from the couch. The vixen and buck stood as

well.

"Have a safe trip!" the vixen chirped. She gave Ellie a hug then offered her hand in turn

to Katya, Zeta, and Lily. "It was good to meet you, Katya, and it was good to see the two of you

again."

Jason stepped toward the vixen to offer his hand, but after a moment's consideration,

she hugged him instead.

"Thanks for keeping me company this morning, Jason. We'll see you and Ellie soon."

Standing close to his wife, the buck also shook hands with their departing guests, but

when he got to Katya, he stepped forward and hugged her around the middle.

"Thanks for keeping me safe back there," he squeaked sincerely.

Katya smiled and hugged him back, "I'm glad I could help."

When they broke apart, they noticed the others gawking at them, and their expressions

shifted to embarrassment.

"Did something happen?!" the vixen squawked. "Why am I only hearing about this

now?!"

Katya smiled nervously, "It was nothing serious. Pete can tell you about it."

The buck hugged his wife, "I'll tell you after they leave," he murmured.

The vixen looked worried, but she nodded. With final goodbyes, the three cats and two

rabbits made their way out to Lily's red SUV.

Lily took the front passenger's seat once again whilst Zeta took the back. Jason and Ellie

sat behind Katya and Lily, respectively. With Katya driving, they started on their way.

They had been driving down the southbound freeway for about twenty minutes when Lily

decided to try to talk to Katya. The ginger cat knew everything now. Or close enough. Maybe

now, Lily could try to tell her how she felt.

"You may not want to hear this, but I see a lot of myself in you, Katya," she murmured.

Katya sat up stiffly, her hands gripping the wheel tighter. She didn't look at Lily, keeping

her eyes fixed on the road.

"I mean before everything went to Tartarus," Lily clarified. "I know you said you used to

look up to me, but you're more the person I wish I'd been than I'll ever be. If it means anything,

I'm proud of you."

Katya rapidly blinked her eyes, and tears dropped into her lap. She sniffed wetly.

"I'm sorry!" Lily apologized hurriedly. "I get that-"

"Shut up," Katya growled.

Lily snapped her mouth shut and looked down miserably at her lap.

After a minute, Katya went on, "Not that long ago, I would have done anything to hear

you say that, that you were proud of me. I don't want to hear it now. I'm going to try to forgive

you when this is done, but you'll never be the mentor I needed."

Lily continued to stare miserably at her lap for a few moments before murmuring sadly,

"I'm sorry, Katya. I wish I could have been who you thought I was."

"Maybe you're what I deserve," Katya replied bitterly. "No one I care for stays with me.

James was murdered. You helped that monster. Bree found a new girlfriend in a different city."

Lily looked up at the ginger cat. "You deserve better," Lily stated firmly. "I'm sorry I tried

to stop you from being friends with Jason and Ellie before. I was trying to protect you, but I see I

only hurt you more."

Katya sniffed again. Lily didn't know what else to say. She looked out her window and

watched the passing countryside.

Lily was startled from her morose reverie some minutes later by a muffled squeak of

anger.

"Hey! Sit down and get your tail out of my face!"

She felt a hand on her arm and turned to see Jason out of his seat and crouching

between his and Ellie's. His sea green eyes gazed up at her sympathetically.

"I'm sorry, Lily," he murmured. "I'm sorry you had to go through all of this."

Lily pulled her arm away, "Sit down and put your seatbelt on."

Jason obeyed, but he kept looking at her sadly.

"I don't need your pity, Jason," Lily growled.

Jason shifted nervously in his seat but didn't look away, "I just feel like I'm partially

responsible. I should have been there for you. I shouldn't have let so much animosity come

between us. If you'd had a friend to confide in, then maybe this wouldn't have happened."

"I pushed you away for a reason, Jason," Lily growled. "You still don't understand! It

didn't matter whether you were right. You were supposed to choose me! It wasn't about the

truth! I hated you because you didn't love me enough to let it go!"

Jason looked down at his lap uncomfortably, "I'm sorry, Lily," he murmured weakly.

Lily snorted contemptuously and turned back toward her window, "We weren't right for

each other," she muttered angrily. "You've found someone you really love now. It's better we

didn't try to have something that wasn't real."

Lily spent the remainder of the drive moodily staring out the window. Her anger burned

away to a dull ache and then snuffed out completely, leaving her hollowed out emotionally. She

knew why she hated Jason, and it wasn't anything to do with his proclivities or fondness for

rabbits. She hated him because he'd betrayed her. She hated him because she'd loved him only

to find out he didn't really love her. He's such an idiot. She eyed the reflection of Jason's pet

rabbit in the window behind hers sullenly. Lily wanted to hate the rabbit for taking him from her,

to have someone else to blame rather than the feeling that she hadn't been good enough. Lily

hadn't wasted her time watching their video herself, but enough people had told her about it.

Apparently, Jason had found someone he was willing to sacrifice everything for. Lily wanted to

blame her, but she knew that was absurd. She didn't like the rabbit, but Ellie hadn't hurt her the

way Jason had.

Finally, they arrived at the hotel. Katya and Zeta went in to book their rooms while the

fugitives waited in the SUV. When they returned, Katya handed Ellie a pair of key cards.

"I got you a room with a cat-sized queen," she stated. "It's room 1208."

"Thanks!" the rabbit piped. She handed one card to Jason.

"They didn't have an available room with three beds," Zeta stated apologetically. "I told

them one in our party was a bobcat, so hopefully the two will be big enough. Katya and I can

sleep together if you want, Chief."

Lily nodded in acknowledgement.

Rather than go in all together, Lily, Katya, and Zeta went first while Jason and Ellie

waited by the car to go in after a few minutes. Katya let Ellie know their room number as well in

case she and Jason needed them, and then the three of them headed into the enormous hotel.

Lily glanced at the name as they walked under the balcony: The Pearl Inn. Lily found the lobby

underwhelming, given the implied luxury of the name, and the room was clean but

unremarkable. Fortunately, there were indeed two bobcat-sized queens along with a dark wood

writing desk with a magenta mesh office chair, a television on a dresser matching the desk, and

a white nightstand with a digital alarm clock between the beds.

Lily peeled the copper-colored bedspread off of the bed farther from the door and

plopped down. "Now what?"

"We'll go to see the King tomorrow," Katya answered. "I don't think he even holds court

on Sunday."

"Am I supposed to air this all in the middle of the throne room?" Lily asked dubiously.

Katya shook her head, "Last time, he sent us to wait in another room when we told him

why we were there."

Lily was relieved to hear it. She didn't want to be dragged away by an angry mob.

Zeta hopped up next to her and put her hand on Lily's, "Everything will turn out alright,

Chief," she piped optimistically.

Lily smiled at the white and black rabbit softly, "Thanks, Zeta."

Zeta clasped her hand around the side of Lily's--her hands were too small to reach

around very far--and gazed up at her fondly, "No matter what happens, Chief, I'll always be on

your side. I'll believe in you even if I'm the only one."

Lily smiled back at her, but she looked up as she heard the door to the room close.

"Where did Katya go?" she asked worriedly.

Zeta squeezed her hand, "I think she just wanted to give us some privacy, Chief."

Lily looked back at the rabbit curiously, "Privacy for what?"

Zeta looked up at her silently a moment before asking softly, "Chief, Lily, how long has it

been since you and Jason broke up?"

Lily frowned. She didn't want to discuss her feelings about Jason. "Five years."

Zeta placed her other hand on top of the one she was holding, "And in all that time,

you've never been with someone else, have you?"

Lily scowled, "Get to the point, Menten."

Zeta leaned closer, "Please don't push me away, Lily. I know it still hurts. I could hear

that during the drive. I want you to know you don't have to be alone. I like you. I really like you."

Lily frowned in confusion, "Don't you already have a girlfriend? I thought you and Petunia

were together."

Zeta smiled softly, "We are, but we've been considering bringing a third into our

relationship. I was texting Petunia during the drive, and when I mentioned you, she was very

enthusiastic. I know that you've probably never been with a rabbit before, and maybe you've

never been in a polyamorous relationship or even with a girl but-"

"I've been with girls," Lily interrupted. "Not with a rabbit or in a 'poly' whatever you called

it, but I mostly dated girls before I met Jason."

Zeta's smile brightened, "I really like you, Lily, and I know Petunia would like you too. I

wasn't so sure about being with a carnivore, but after thinking about it and seeing how happy

Jason, Ellie, Pete, and Flora are, I'm willing to try it. I want to try it with you."

Lily considered Zeta pensively. She did like her, but did she like her that way? Besides,

she would look quite the hypocrite if she got with a pair of rabbits after she'd given Jason so

much grief over his relationship. Who cares what he thinks?! Maybe Zeta was right to bring up

how long it had been since she'd broken up with Jason. Lily had known he wasn't coming back.

She definitely knew that now! Yet she hadn't really allowed herself to move on. She'd pushed

herself in other areas but clung to her bitter feelings toward the tom. It was time to stop letting

Jason Brown ruin her life! Lily met Zeta's affectionate gaze, and she gave herself permission to

open herself up to that affection. As Lily stared into the rabbit's dark brown eyes, she felt

warmth begin to fill her chest. It spread throughout her body, and Lily felt cold, disused parts of

her awakened as if by the warm sunlight of Spring after a long Winter. She felt her own smile

widen into a happy grin.

"I like you too, Zeta," she murmured. "And I liked Petunia for the brief time I knew her. If

you're willing to try it, then I want to too."

Zeta threw her arms around Lily's middle and hugged her tightly. "I'm so happy, Chief! I

want us to be happy together!" she squeaked joyfully.

Lily took Zeta under the arms and gently pulled the rabbit off of her to hold her in front of

her face. Lily smiled at the rabbit warmly, "You don't have to call me 'Chief', you know. I haven't

been your chief of police for weeks."

Zeta reached her arms around Lily's neck, and Lily allowed her to pull them together

until their noses were touching. "I know that, Lily," she murmured affectionately. "But I'll always

have faith in you like I did when you were."

"Even if you're the Mayor, and I work in a shop?" Lily asked amusedly.

"Yes," Zeta breathed.

Carefully, Lily lay back on the bed, lying Zeta on top of her chest. The much smaller

rabbit, who was two-thirds Lily's height and one-fifth her weight, pushed herself up on her

forearms and gazed down at Lily fondly.

"I don't know how long Katya's going to be, but it'd be a bit awkward if she walked in on

us," Zeta breathed. "Still, I'd like to sleep in the same bed with you tonight if that's okay. I'll ask

Petunia if it's alright too, but I think she'll just be thrilled to know you said yes."

"That's fine with me. I only hope Katya won't be jealous. She's been through an awful lot

recently. Her girlfriend even broke up with her."

"I heard, but I don't think she'll begrudge us our happiness. Katya will find someone who

loves her. She's a sweet girl."

"Do you like her then?" Lily queried.

Zeta shook her head, "Not like I like you."

Lily stroked her hand over Zeta's long ears and down her back, and Zeta flattened

herself out on Lily's chest with a contented sigh. Lily continued to stroke her soft fur, and the

feeling of Zeta's warmth and closeness filled her with joy. It had been so long since she'd felt

like this! She was used to suppressing her warmer feelings because she'd learned what they

could cause her: heartbreak after heartbreak. First, it had been Jason and then Chief White. It

was another way she related to Katya: Lily had also been hurt by people who couldn't be there

for her or who didn't love her the way they should. And maybe, with what she'd allowed the

Duchess to force her to do, Lily had also begun to believe she didn't deserve to feel this way.

But now, she was going to atone; she was going to help put an end to the vile vixen's

murderous games. Maybe she did deserve to be happy. If I don't, Zeta does, and this makes

her happy too. Perhaps Zeta's good karma would bleed over just enough to help Lily out too.

A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door. "Can I come in?" Katya's muffled

meow sounded through the door.

Zeta rolled off of Lily's chest, landing softly on the bed beside her, and they both sat up.

"Come in!" Zeta called.

The lock clicked, and Katya pushed the door inward. Hesitantly, she wandered back into

the room. She quickly glanced at the two of them and then away. "I guess she said yes," Katya

murmured embarrassedly.

Lily turned to regard Zeta curiously, "You told her?"

Zeta looked up at Lily with an amused smile, "When we were booking the rooms. Katya's

not a psychic, you know."

Lily looked at the ginger cat embarrassedly. She hoped Zeta was right that Katya

wouldn't be upset to see her happy when Lily was largely responsible for Katya's own

unhappiness.

Katya turned back toward them and smiled shyly, "I'm happy for you. I know how much

you respect her, Zeta, and I think that," her kelly-green eyes focused on Lily for a split second.

"Lily can really benefit from being with someone as kind as you."

Lily recognized that Katya's statement was hardly a compliment to her, but she nodded

in agreement, nevertheless. "I suspect that I can," she replied sincerely.

Zeta took Lily's hand in both of hers and held it in her lap. "You have a lot of good

qualities, Chief. You're brave and determined, and you really care about those you lead. I've

never once doubted that you would look out for me."

Lily looked down at the rabbit affectionately, "I'll always look out for you. I'll try to be the

person you think I am and more. I know that I've been cruel, and I want to be better. Katya's

right that I could learn from your kindness."

Zeta gazed up at her fondly, "I believe in you, Lily. If you want to change, then I know

you can, and I'll be here to help you."

Katya coughed softly, and they looked back at her.

"Sorry," she apologized hastily. "I looked into when the King's court is tomorrow. It's at

four PM like usual. I'll go get our food when you decide you want dinner, but if you'd like some

privacy, I'll go hang out with Ellie and Jason until then."

"I think we're finished with our discussion," Zeta answered. "I need to talk to Petunia

more, and I think she'll want to meet Lily again before anything goes much further. If she says

it's alright, do you mind if I sleep with Lily tonight? We won't be doing anything, just sleeping."

"That's fine," Katya replied. "I'm sure you'd rather sleep with her than me."

Zeta smiled warmly, "Thanks, Katya."

Katya went on, "There's not a lot to do until tomorrow afternoon, I'm afraid. I wouldn't risk

Lily wandering the capital. Potentially, you and I could go somewhere, Zeta, but I don't think that

would be fair to the others."

Zeta nodded, "I agree. We'll just hang out until it's time to leave tomorrow."

"Alright, then, do you mind if I hang out with Ellie and Jason?"

"Hang out with whomever you want to," Zeta answered cheerfully. "You don't need to

worry about hurting our feelings."

"Thanks, I'll see you later then," Katya replied briskly. She turned on the pad of her foot

and marched back out of the room.

"Maybe she was a little upset," Zeta spoke worriedly when Katya had gone.

"I think she felt more awkward than upset," Lily responded. "Anyway, she seems to be

getting along better with them than us, or at least better with them than me."

"As long as she's okay," Zeta replied worriedly.

"If she's upset, I'm sure Ellie and Jason will be happy to commiserate with her," Lily

responded dryly. "They can argue about which of them hates me more." She paused as

realization dawned on her. "I suppose this means they'll know about us," she concluded

awkwardly.

"Does that bother you?" Zeta asked, concerned.

Lily hesitated a moment to consider. Why should she let what either of the private

inspectors thought about her bother her? She didn't like them; they didn't like her. That was all

there was to it. If they wanted to deride or scorn her over something new, what difference did it

really make? "No, it doesn't bother me," Lily answered firmly.

Zeta leaned her head against Lily's arm, "You know, I don't think they really hate you,

Lily," she murmured.

Lily gave the rabbit a dubious look.

Zeta looked up at her and smiled softly, "I think you should try apologizing. I know you

were forced to do what you did and you tried your best to keep them out of it, but it doesn't hurt

to say you're sorry. What they went through was truly terrible."

"It'll only embolden Bennett," Lily replied darkly. "If I admit it was my fault, she'll hold it

over my head forever. She'll be even more unbearable to deal with."

"I guess I don't know her that well, but she seems nice to me," Zeta returned. "What

makes you think she'd hold a grudge like that if you apologized? I'd think she'd be more likely to

hold onto it if you didn't."

"She likes to have power over predators," Lily growled. "Look at poor Jason; it's what

gets her off."

Zeta snorted back a laugh, "I think you're a little obsessed with those two. Does it matter

what their relationship is like if they're happy with it?"

"You were uncomfortable about Pete!" Lily returned defensively.

"Jason isn't terrified of prey," Zeta replied simply. "Pete has issues he needs to work

through. Besides, I think I was wrong about that; they seemed happy. I think he was particularly

afraid when we met him because of the prey-devouring terrorists. I was afraid too; everyone

was."

"I'll think about it," Lily compromised. "If you get to know her better and decide you like

her, I'll try to make things alright between us."

Zeta hugged Lily's arm, "Thanks, Lily."

I'm lucky to have a friend as nice as her, Lily considered. Lily was grateful that, despite

knowing what she'd done, Zeta still liked her, still wanted to be in a relationship with her! Zeta

thought better of Lily than she thought of herself. Lily understood Katya's reaction much better. I

hope Jason and Ellie will be less of a disappointment to her.

"I'm going to text Petunia now," Zeta told her. She hopped up to nab her cell phone from

the nightstand where she'd left it and was soon tapping away with her thumbs.

Lily didn't want to be looking over her shoulder, so she got up and went to stand by the

window. Their room looked down on the hotel's outdoor swimming pool. While Wolfsbane was

closer to the Equator and thus warmer than Maplesburg, it was the second week of October,

and no one was in the pool.

Lily let her mind wander, and it went to the most pressing concern. What would actually

happen to her tomorrow? Zeta, Katya, and even Ellie had all promised to defend her, but what if

the King wasn't convinced? Would she be arrested? Would she be sentenced to death?! Lily

had known that was a possibility when she'd agreed to come, but she'd also hadn't had much to

live for. Either she would live on the run until the Duchess captured and killed her, or she would

kill the Duchess and be executed. With those as her other options, throwing herself on the

mercy of the King had seemed like her best choice. She hadn't really thought about what would

come after that, but suddenly, she could see a future for herself, a future with Zeta and Petunia

where she might even find happiness. It gave her something to live for; it also gave her

something to lose. A sickening ache began to grow in Lily's stomach. If she were executed or

spent the rest of her life in prison, she would never have that life, but if she didn't risk her life

tomorrow, she wouldn't have it either. Even if Zeta could accept her decision, Lily's two options

with the Duchess would reassert themselves, and she would probably never have the goodwill

of Katya or, at the very least, Ellie ever again. She had to do this, but now, she truly felt the

weight of her situation. Her meeting with the King tomorrow would determine how she lived the

rest of her life.

"Petunia says we can share a bed!" Zeta piped happily from across the room.

Lily started then turned toward the white and black rabbit, trying to smile, "That's good,"

she meowed.

"She's excited to get to know you better!" Zeta continued. "But she was concerned about

the size of our flat if we all decided to live together."

Lily looked at Zeta blankly for a moment, her stomach still churning with worry over her

gravely important interview. "I'm excited to get to know her better too," she offered

unconvincingly. "And, uh, if we decide to live together, we, uh, we can live at my house."

Zeta frowned worriedly, "What's the matter, Lily? Are you having second thoughts?"

Lily shook her head, "No, I just," she felt the burning sensation of tears beginning in the

corners of her eyes and turned away. "I want to be with you and Petunia, but what if, what if I

can't? We don't know what the King's going to decide."

Lily felt a touch on her right arm and turned to see Zeta looking up at her in concern.

"I promise, no matter what happens, I won't give up trying to get you free. Tomorrow,

we're all going to do our best to convince the King to pardon you. You were forced to help that

fiend, and I won't let you be punished for her crimes!"

Lily felt a pair of fat tears drip down her cheeks, "I know you won't give up," she

murmured thickly. "I don't deserve a friend like you, Zeta."

Zeta stepped between Lily and the window and wrapped her arms around Lily's middle

tightly, "Well you've got me anyway!" she replied fiercely.

Zeta held her tightly, and after a moment, Lily gently hugged her back, her left arm

across Zeta's back and her right hand on the back of Zeta's head. They stood like that for

several seconds until Zeta looked up with her mouth spread in a smile and tears glistening in

her brown eyes.

"I promise I'll do everything I can, Lily," she vowed.

On an impulse of affection, Lily picked Zeta up under the arms and hugged the rabbit

tightly to her chest. Zeta wrapped her arms around Lily's neck, tucking her head under Lily's

jaw. She pressed her nose against Lily's neck, and Lily felt her hot breath through her fur.

After a few seconds, Zeta murmured softly, "I'm here for you, Lily. You're not alone

anymore. You don't have to bear this on your own. We'll bear this together, and we'll get

through it."

Lily felt more tears welling in her eyes, and she blinked them away. She squeezed the

rabbit a little tighter, and Zeta nuzzled her neck. Eventually, Lily began to feel embarrassed by

her outburst, and she set Zeta down.

Zeta smiled up at her, "Why don't we go sit back down. We can talk about what we're

going to tell the King tomorrow if you want. That might set your mind at ease."

They returned to the bed and discussed the facts about how the Duchess had taken

advantage of and coerced Lily as well as which examples of Lily's actions were most important

to demonstrate her character to the King. Lily wasn't sure whether the example of when she had

shot the bobcat cultist to save Zeta and the rats and mice was a good one as she felt guilty

about hesitating as well as about killing a member of her own species. However, Zeta felt the

entire story of Lily's actions during the evacuation was essential. They talked until they were

interrupted by a knock at the door.

Katya's meow sounded through the door again, "Can I come in?"

"Yes, come in!" Zeta called.

Katya pushed through the door and regarded them awkwardly before speaking, "Ellie

and Jason have decided to order dinner from a Caribbean restaurant a few blocks away. Did

you want to look at their menu too? We can order together, and I can pick up the food when it's

ready."

"That sounds good to me," Zeta piped. She looked up at Lily, "Lily?"

Lily nodded, "If that's what everyone else wants it's fine with me."

Zeta pulled up the restaurant's menu on her phone, and she and Lily looked it over.

When they had decided, Katya called to place the orders. Lily noticed that all three cats had

ordered the jerk chicken while Zeta ordered a salad with mango dressing and fried plantains,

and the final order--Ellie's by process of elimination--was vegetable gumbo.

"They said it would be about twenty minutes," Katya concluded.

"I'll go with you to split the bill," Zeta offered.

Katya nodded, "Thanks, Zeta."

Deciding to walk, the two of them left soon after, leaving Lily alone. Lily used the

bathroom and poked around the hotel room, examining the minifridge and opening the drawers

on the dresser and nightstand. Someone had left a copy of the Bhagavad Gita translated into

Vulpinevan in the nightstand. Otherwise, there was nothing more interesting than bottled water

to be found. Lily turned on the television and flipped through channels until she heard the door

unlock. She turned off the television and stood. Zeta pushed through the door carrying a plastic

bag with three paperboard to-go boxes.

"Katya took the rest to Ellie and Jason," she stated as she turned around to step into the

room, the door closing behind her with a soft thud. "I think she intended to eat with them as well.

If you want, we could join them and all eat together."

"Do you want to?" Lily asked hesitantly.

"Only if you feel comfortable," Zeta answered.

"Ellie and I would probably just get into an argument," Lily replied awkwardly.

"We don't have to if you don't want to," Zeta concluded. She set the boxes on the desk

and took the two smaller ones from the top. "The other is yours."

Lily took the box. "You can have the desk if you want it," she offered. She took a

biodegradable plastic fork and a napkin from the bag and sat on the end of the bed.

Zeta sat in the mesh magenta office chair with her boxes on the dark wooden desk.

They ate in silence for a couple minutes.

"Is yours good?" Zeta asked.

"Mmhm," Lily mumbled around a bite of chicken.

"You can have one of my plantains if you want," Zeta offered.

"Thanks." Setting her box to the side, Lily stood and stabbed one of the banana-like

slices with her fork. She took a tentative bite: it was inoffensive enough, so she ate the rest.

"How was it?" Zeta asked.

"Okay."

"Do you want another?"

"No thanks."

They finished their meals and tossed the empty boxes in the trash.

"Is there anything you want to do?" Zeta queried. "We could see if there's anything on

tv."

Lily nodded, "I need to groom myself, but you can see if there's anything you want to

watch."

Lily went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wiped her head and neck down with a

damp washcloth. After running the furry side of her hand over the damp areas to dry them

somewhat, she returned to the bed and began grooming herself with her tongue, starting with

her right arm. She soon became aware of Zeta watching her curiously, and she felt a little shot

of embarrassment, licking a bit faster.

"Are you going to lick your whole body?" Zeta asked interestedly after a few minutes.

Lily paused from washing her creamy white chest fur and pulled her tongue back into her

mouth before looking up, "Yeah."

"Even your butt!?" Zeta squawked in shock.

"I've washed myself in front of you before, haven't I?" Lily returned in confusion.

"I didn't think it was polite to watch," Zeta returned matter-of-factly.

"You're watching now," Lily replied embarrassedly.

Zeta looked away, "Sorry, I won't if you don't want me to."

"I don't care," Lily murmured.

She went back to washing and soon felt Zeta's eyes on her again. Lily felt another tingle

of embarrassment, but she ignored it. Zeta wasn't seeing anything she couldn't normally see.

Lily had gotten her top back when she had retrieved her SUV, but she felt uncomfortable

wearing her police uniform. And since they'd left their weapons in the back of the SUV before

going into the vixen and rabbit's house, Lily hadn't even been wearing her belt nor had Zeta

been wearing anything since her shower. However, as she approached her rear, she began to

feel too uncomfortable with the rabbit watching her and paused again.

Lily mumbled embarrassedly without raising her gaze, "Could, um, could you-"

"Sorry! I won't watch!" Zeta apologized hurriedly. She hopped up from the chair and

hurried to the bathroom.

Lily finished her bath more comfortably. When she was done, she switched places with

Zeta to brush her teeth again.

"I'm sorry, Lily," Zeta spoke contritely when Lily exited the bathroom. "I should have

offered to go somewhere else at the start."

"It's okay," Lily murmured embarrassedly. "If, uh, we're going to live together then I

guess we'll get used to stuff like that."

Zeta grinned, "I hope so! I guess since we're going to be in a relationship, I can say this:

I think you're stunning, Lily; you're absolutely gorgeous."

Lily's cheeks flushed with heat, and she suddenly felt shy, like she was a schoolgirl

again, though Lily wasn't sure she'd been shy then either: it was a foreign emotion. She turned

her head away bashfully, "You think so?"

"Of course I do! Your pretty back spots, your fluffy white belly, your beautiful golden

eyes, your big fluffy cheeks, and the cute little black tufts on the tips of your ears, what's not to

love?"

Lily turned back to her with a small smile, "I think you're pretty too."

Zeta grinned wider, "Really? What's my most winning feature?"

"Your smile," Lily answered immediately. "You have a beautiful smile."

Zeta obviously hadn't been expecting this answer and her playful grin softened, "Really?

Even with my big goofy incisors?"

"Especially with those," Lily answered sincerely. "And your big brown eyes and your

pretty splotches, and your overall bunny cuteness: great big ears and feet and little fuzzy tail."

"If you like rabbits so much, how come you've never been with one?" Zeta teased.

Lily blushed again, "I don't know. I don't think I've ever felt this way about those things

before. Maybe I love them because they're part of you, Zeta."

Zeta's teasing smile shifted to a warm one, "I think it's the same for me, Lily. I've never

really thought about being with a carnivore before, but with you, it seems right."

They held each other in their affectionate gazes a few seconds before Lily spoke, "You

never did find something to watch on tv. You were too enthralled watching me wash."

Zeta smiled embarrassedly, "We'll look together."

Lily propped one of the puffy pillows against the dark wood headboard and sat back in

the soft bed. It had been weeks since she'd had a soft bed to sleep in, she realized. Zeta

collected the remote and crawled across the bed, stopping beside Lily to prop up another pillow.

Zeta sat down and leaned herself close against Lily. She turned on the tv and went to the

schedule. Lily watched her scrolling through the different channels for a few seconds before she

turned her gaze toward the rabbit instead. After a moment, Zeta quit clicking the remote and

looked up, apparently aware of Lily's gaze. Zeta stared back at her for a second then glanced

back to the remote and hit the power button. She tossed it onto Katya's bed then pressed her

nose against Lily's side.

"Hold me again like earlier, Lily," she breathed.

Lily twisted herself to pick Zeta up and brought their noses together.

Zeta wrapped her arms around Lily's neck loosely, "Let's lay down, like before Katya

interrupted us."

Lily turned ninety degrees and lay back, her legs stretching over the side of the bed as

she lowered Zeta onto her chest.

"She's just going to interrupt again," Lily pointed out with gentle amusement. "She can't

stay with Ellie and Jason all night."

Propped on her forearms, Zeta gazed down affectionately. "Even a few seconds is worth

it."

Lily stroked her hand from Zeta's head down to her scut, and Zeta relaxed on top of her,

nuzzling her nose into Lily's fluffy white chest fur.

"You smell okay for licking yourself clean," Zeta commented amusedly.

Lily lifted her head to touch her nose between Zeta's long ears: she smelled of warm

sage and sweet peaches. "You smell nice too," Lily breathed.

Zeta rolled over onto her back and took Lily's left wrist in her hand, placing Lily's hand on

her soft belly. Zeta stroked one hand over the furry top of Lily's and delicately ran her fingers

over Lily's retracted claws.

"Do they bother you?" Lily asked curiously.

"No," Zeta murmured. "I know what they could do, but I know they won't. I trust you.

There's something freeing in that. There's something arousing."

Lily felt her ears get warm, "You like them then," she murmured.

Zeta stroked Lily's hand again, "They're part of you; you're who I like."

Lily ran a finger of her right hand down Zeta's forehead to her nose, "You're who I like

too."

Their tender caresses weren't interrupted until some time later. Lily had lost track of

time, but when she looked at the clock following Katya's knock, the backlit digital display read

7:32.

Zeta rolled off of her and sat up, and Lily sat up as well.

"Come in!" Zeta called.

Katya entered the room. Briefly glancing their direction, she proceeded to the bathroom.

When she came out, she dug around in her lime green luggage bag and removed a paperback

book. She turned on the rounded conical, stainless-steel lamp that was directed toward her bed

from over the nightstand, propped a pillow against the headboard, sat back, and opened her

book.

Katya glanced in their direction again, "Just let me know when you want to go to sleep,"

she murmured self-consciously. She started to read, but after a minute she looked back, "Did

you figure out where you're sleeping, Zeta?"

"Petunia said it's okay if I sleep with Lily," Zeta answered.

Katya nodded and went back to reading. Lily was unsure what to do. She didn't want to

make Katya uncomfortable by cuddling with Zeta, and she didn't want to disturb her reading by

turning on the tv.

"I'm going to go see if the front desk has something for me to use tonight so that I don't

have to use the ice bucket," Zeta stated matter-of-factly. She hopped off of the bed and out of

the room.

Lily was well aware of what Zeta meant. She'd helped Zeta and other rabbits find

suitable receptacles for their caecotrophs multiple times during night shifts on the force, while

she'd been camped out in the tunnels, and during the evacuation. The idea of her using the ice

bucket, however, was somewhat disturbing since Lily had no idea whether the hotel cleaned it

or not, and she decided to go without ice, regardless.

Lily turned to sit back against her pillow. Several minutes later, Zeta returned with an

aluminum pan, which she left in the bathroom. Then Zeta collected her phone and sat beside

Lily on the bed. Lily's phone was still dead in her SUV as she didn't have her charger with her.

With nothing else to do, she watched Zeta browse the news and social media until Katya

decided it was time to go to bed. After Katya had turned off the overhead light, she shut off her

lamp and slid under the white bedclothes.

Zeta handed her phone to Lily, "Can you put this on the nightstand?"

Lily complied, and then she and the rabbit slid down under their blankets as well, Lily on

her back with Zeta on her left.

"Lily," Zeta whispered.

Lily turned her head toward her, and in the cool moonlight, she could see Zeta's dark,

glimmering eyes looking back at her.

"I'd like it if you'd hold me," Zeta murmured under her breath.

Lily hesitated only a moment then nodded. She turned over on her side and opened her

arms to let Zeta in. Zeta rolled onto her side, facing Lily, and scooted across the linen sheet until

her nose was pressed into Lily's fluffy chest fur. Lily adjusted her left arm under Zeta's head and

gently wrapped her right arm over the rabbit with her palm against the back of Zeta's head. Zeta

sighed contentedly and tucked her legs up against Lily's belly, snuggling herself closer against

Lily's torso. Lily tucked her own legs up under the rabbit, nestling Zeta between her torso, jaw,

arm and thighs. She could feel the warmth of Zeta's breath and the gentle rise and fall of her

chest.

Lily felt Zeta's warm body nestled against her own, and she kept her eyes open in the

pale light, unwilling to slip into unconsciousness just yet. This was a precious moment, and she

didn't want to let it go so easily. Perhaps, she'd have many more such moments with Zeta and

with Petunia too, but that wasn't guaranteed. If this was the only night she got to sleep with Zeta

in her arms, then she wanted to remember it, so she stayed awake until, finally, the weight of

her eyelids and the exhaustion from the flurry of emotions she'd experienced in the past twelve

hours won, dragging her into a world of agitating dreams.