{"sf1_id":2033336,"sf2_id":"Wel9NPNm","title":"Chapter 3: Fox and Mouse","author":"HeatherOBunn","words":7501,"posted_at":"2023-08-04T14:44:00.000Z","tags":["Cat","Chapter","College","Dorm","Food","Fox","History","Mouse","Novel","Predator/Prey","Romance","Squirrel","Vixen","Wolverine","assistance","crutches","disabled","nap","roommate","test"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2033336-chapter-3-fox-and-mouse","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/Wel9NPNm","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/86/1d/861d96a0-24d7-46c4-ad2b-5b338e0ee556","description":"#3 of Flora: A Tale from Vulpineva\n\nFlora meets Cynthia.","content":"Chapter 3: Fox and Mouse  \nIsabelle had reappeared by morning, and Flora stealthily slipped out of the room without  \nwaking the red vixen after donning a sky blue pleated skirt that ended an inch and a half above  \nher knees and throwing her green book bag over her left shoulder. After a quick breakfast of  \ntoast, turkey sausage links, and tea, she took a brisk trot around the campus to fully wake  \nherself up and get some exercise. Then she proceeded to the chemistry building to take her  \ntest.  \nLance and Becca had not yet arrived when she entered the tiered lecture hall with its  \nlong, curved maple tables facing the marker board and projector screen at the front of the  \ntrapezoidal room. Only a few students were already present. The tables and chairs decreased in  \nsize toward the front of the room from puma-sized in the back to rabbit-sized in the front. Flora  \ntrotted down the left side ramp, around the front-row table, and up the right side ramp to the  \nsecond row.  \nAs she was sitting down, a small door in the front left corner swung open with a robotic  \nwhine, and a little brown and white wood mouse with a magenta backpack and a cast on their  \nleft leg hobbled in on a pair of crutches. Flora watched as the mouse climbed the gently graded  \nleft ramp until they disappeared behind the front row table. After a moment, when the mouse  \ndidn't reappear, Flora curiously checked the edge of the table to her right: there was a little rope  \nladder extending from the maroon carpeted floor up the right inner wall of the four-sided table to  \na tiny trap door that Flora had mistaken for a hole for one's computer cord. Flora turned back  \ntoward the left end of the front-row table, but the mouse hadn't reappeared. Concerned that they  \nwere having trouble climbing the ladder with their injured leg, Flora stood and trotted back  \naround the front of the room. She pulled out the rolling, black plastic chair at the first left spot on  \nthe front table and crouched down to peer underneath. The mouse stared back nervously from  \nthe shadowed underside of the table, one-third of the way up the ladder with their crutches  \nresting at the bottom.  \n\"Can I help you?\" Flora asked softly.  \nThe mouse started at her warily for a moment then nodded.  \nThe mouse was about the size of an apricot. Flora carefully wrapped her left hand under  \nthe mouse's arms. She picked up the crutches in her other hand and slowly withdrew mouse  \nand crutches from under the table before standing to gently place the mouse on top, transferring  \ntheir crutches to them one at a time before removing the support of her hand.  \n\"I hope there's a desk and chair for you to work at,\" Flora remarked concernedly.  \nThe mouse pointed toward the front of the room, \"There are some on the professor's  \ndesk,\" she squeaked.  \nFlora bounded down from the first-row tier to collect a miniature desk and rolling chair  \nfrom the rectangular desk that held a wooden podium emblazoned with RCV's seal and the  \ncomputer and panel to work the projector as well as a block of a dozen or so little desks and  \nchairs of three different sizes. Flora selected a desk and chair that seemed to be the right size  \nfor the mouse and hopped back up beside the first-row table to arrange them on the smooth  \nveneer wood surface.  \n\"Do you need any more help?\" Flora asked.  \nThe mouse shook their head.  \n\"Alright, just shout or wave if there's something else I can do.\" Flora hopped down to  \nproceed back to the other side of the room.  \n\"Thank you for helping,\" the mouse squeaked.  \nFlora turned and offered her a warm smile, \"No problem.\"  \n\"My name's Cynthia by the way,\" the mouse added.  \n\"I'm Flora.\"  \n\"Good luck on the exam.\"  \n\"You too.\"  \nFlora returned to her seat at the right end of the second table. More students slowly  \nfiltered in with Becca taking the seat in front of Flora and Lance taking the one behind. They  \nwished each other luck, and a minute or so later, the professor, a lanky red vixen in a sleeveless  \nblack dress, strode down the right side of the room with a stack of multisized papers, some  \nwider than the vixen and others not even a notecard. The latter were held together with tiny  \npaper clips so that they wouldn't blow away.  \n\"Face down until everyone has theirs,\" she instructed. She distributed the tests and  \nglanced at the analogue clock on the front wall, \"You may begin.\"  \nThere was a rustle of paper as everyone turned over their exams. Flora picked up her  \nmechanical pencil and began.  \nThe test was challenging, but Flora found her high school class and recent studying had  \nprepared her well. She answered the short answer and multiple choice questions, read through  \nthem again to make sure she hadn't misread anything, and then looked toward the professor at  \nthe front of the room: a small stack of completed tests was resting on the rectangular desk  \nwhilst the red vixen silently worked at the computer. Flora stood and quietly carried her exam  \ndown to the front of the room and laid it on the pile. The professor glanced up at her and smiled;  \nFlora smiled back shyly. She glanced toward Cynthia's seat as she turned around: the mouse  \nwas still working. After a moment's hesitation, she turned back to the professor.  \nShe murmured softly, \"May I wait until Cynthia's done?\"  \nThe red vixen blinked at her questioningly.  \n\"The mouse with the injured leg,\" Flora clarified bashfully.  \nThe professor glanced toward Cynthia and back to Flora bemusedly, \"Are you two  \nfriends?\" she asked in a curious whisper.  \n\"Sort of,\" Flora explained self-consciously. \"I want to make sure she gets down okay.\"  \n\"You can wait.\" The professor looked back to the computer.  \nFlora returned to her chair. She didn't want to stare at Cynthia in case it distracted her,  \nbut every so often she gave her a sideways glance to check whether she was still working.  \nAt last, the professor stood. \"Alright, pencils down,\" she ordered. She quickly walked  \naround the room to collect the exams. \"I'll have the results to you by Thursday. I hope to see  \nsome of you in class this semester.\" She added the final tests to the stack on the desk before  \nreturning to the computer.  \nFlora slung the straps of her backpack over her shoulders and quickly made her way to  \nCynthia's seat. The brown and white mouse looked up at her shyly.  \n\"How do you think you did?\" Flora asked genially.  \n\"Pretty well. You?\" Cynthia squeaked nervously.  \n\"I think I did pretty well too,\" Flora replied. She offered the mouse a friendly smile that  \nshe hoped was reassuring; she knew being approached by someone so much larger, especially  \na predator, was most likely making the mouse nervous. \"A couple of my friends and I are having  \nlunch soon. Do you want to join us?\"  \nCynthia considered her uncertainly for a second but then smiled shyly, \"That sounds  \nnice, thanks.\"  \n\"Do you mind if I carry you?\"  \nCynthia shook her head, \"It's been hard getting around campus with this broken leg. I'd  \nappreciate the help if you're willing. I can't move very fast, and I'm afraid someone will step on  \nme again.\"  \nFlora frowned concernedly, \"Is that how your leg got broken to start with?\"  \nCynthia nodded, \"I wasn't watching where I was going, and a dog stepped on me. I was  \nlucky it was only my leg but unlucky that it was right before I had to start school.\"  \n\"That's terrible! They should have assigned you someone to help you,\" Flora replied,  \ndisturbed by the mortal risk Cynthia had been callously left to. \"I'll help you get where you need  \nto go as long as you need me to!\"  \n\"Th-that's very kind of you,\" the mouse squeaked embarrassedly.  \n\"It's the least I can do,\" Flora returned firmly.  \nCynthia picked up her book bag from beside her seat and swung it over her shoulder. \"If  \nyou can get the crutches, I'm ready.\"  \nFlora tucked the crutches in a side pocket of her bag, and then she scooped Cynthia up  \nin her hands. \"Let's see if Rosemary and Chester are in the cafeteria yet.\"  \nCupping Cynthia carefully in her hands close to her chest, Flora carried the mouse  \nacross campus to the dining hall. They got some funny looks, but Flora refused to let them  \nbother her: Cynthia needed her help! There were big cats and deer here who might not even  \nnotice if they crushed the mouse under paw or hoof. Flora felt a protective instinct toward the  \ninjured little mouse, and she knew if she didn't help her that might mean no one would.  \nFlora found Chester along with Lance, Becca, and Amber at a large, circular table on the  \nprey side of the cafeteria. Rosemary had not yet arrived.  \n\"Hi Flora! How did your test go?\" Chester queried cheerfully.  \n\"I think it went pretty well,\" Flora answered. She glanced at Lance and Becca  \ninquisitively.  \n\"It was all review for me,\" Lance told her.  \n\"I think maybe I tested out of the first semester,\" Becca admitted. \"But I might not have.  \nThere was a lot I didn't know.\"  \n\"Who's your friend, Flora?\" Chester asked, changing the subject.  \nFlora blushed, realizing that she'd momentarily almost forgotten the mouse she was  \nclutching against her chest. \"This is Cynthia. Cynthia, these are Chester, Lance, Becca, and  \nAmber.\"  \n\"Hi,\" Cynthia squeaked nervously.  \nChester gave the mouse a friendly smile, \"Nice to meet you, Cynthia.\"  \n\"Cynthia has a broken leg, so I'm helping her get around,\" Flora explained. She sat  \nCynthia on the table and removed her bag to drop it on the seat next to Chester. \"You can leave  \nyour bag if you want,\" she told the mouse. \"I'll help you go through the line.\"  \nFlora carried Cynthia to the meat station and set the mouse on her shoulder by her neck.  \n\"Hold on tight to my fur,\" Flora cautioned. \"Is there anything you wanted from here?\"  \n\"N-not really,\" Cynthia squeaked.  \n\"I had sausage at breakfast, so I think I'll pass too. How about at the plant station? Can  \nyou see?\" Flora moved closer to the plant station so that they could see what was there.  \n\"I think I'll just have egg salad,\" Cynthia piped. \"I think they have it at the salad bar.\"  \n\"That sounds good to me too,\" Flora decided.  \nEach station, including the salad bar and pellet and drink dispensers, had four different  \nlevels. Smaller animals queued themselves under the counter of the level above them. Flora  \nutilized the third level, which was a little high for her with the counter just over her shoulder.  \nRabbits and squirrels filed through under this counter, and mice, voles, and shrews used the  \nshortest level. Large animals used the level situated well above Flora's head. First, Flora  \ngrabbed two pieces of rye bread from the bread box.  \n\"What kind of bread do you want?\" she asked Cynthia.  \n\"White is fine.\"  \nFlora crouched down but found she couldn't see the mouse-sized counter under the  \nrabbit-sized counter. \"Excuse me,\" she addressed a chipmunk standing on tiptoes to reach the  \nsecond counter.  \nThe chipmunk jerked his head toward her in surprise, \"Y-yes?\" he squeaked.  \n\"Could you grab a plate and two pieces of white bread for my friend, please?\"  \nCynthia waved bashfully, and the chipmunk stared at her incredulously, \"Erm, alright.\"  \nHe crouched down under the shorter counter and reappeared a few seconds later with  \nthe bread and plate. Balancing her tray on one arm, Flora took the plate from the chipmunk's  \ntray between thumb and forefinger and placed it on her own.  \n\"Thank you so much,\" Flora chirped cheerfully. \"Have a nice afternoon.\"  \nThe chipmunk watched them disconcertedly as she stood then returned to serving  \nhimself. A cottontail rabbit helped get Cynthia some egg salad and followed them to the drink  \ndispensers to get apple juice for her too. Flora got a glass of ice water.  \nFinally, they returned to the table, where Rosemary was now also seated with an  \nenormous mountain goat wearing a charcoal gray duster sitting in a chair a bit to the side.  \nBecca and Chester looked a little uncomfortable about the much larger mammal's presence.  \nFlora also felt a bit of trepidation as she approached the table; the fluffy white, horned mammal  \nwas over ten times her size!  \n\"Hi Flora!\" Rosemary chirped cheerfully as she approached. \"Come say hi to Alex.\"  \nFlora paused a couple steps from her seat and smiled up at the mountain goat  \nnervously, \"Hello.\"  \nThe mountain goat dipped their head in austere acknowledgement.  \nFlora set her tray and Cynthia on the table with the mouse between her and Chester,  \nmoved her backpack to the floor, and sat down.  \n\"This is Cynthia,\" Flora introduced the mouse to Rosemary. \"Cynthia, this is Rosemary.\"  \n\"Hey,\" Rosemary greeted the mouse. To Flora she stated, \"Alex and I still need to grab  \nour lunch. You can tell me how your dinner went when we get back.\"  \nRosemary sprang from her seat, and Alex stood slowly and followed her, clomping away  \non their heavy hooves.  \n\"How are they going to eat with us when they're too big for the table?\" Becca  \ncomplained.  \n\"They could pull another table closer or sit on the floor if there's room,\" Lance suggested.  \n\"How would you sit with us if I didn't let you sit on my bag?\"  \nThe nine ounce stoat, who wasn't even as big as Rosemary, frowned, \"It's not as big a  \ndeal if you're smaller. You can even just sit on top of the table like her!\" she eyed Cynthia, who  \nlooked uncomfortable at being singled out.  \n\"We could all sit at their table,\" Flora suggested. \"There would be plenty of room then.\"  \n\"Then we'd all have to sit on the table,\" Becca groused.  \nAlex ended up simply holding their tray in their lap. The mountain goat had three short,  \nthick digits--each tipped with a triangular hoof segment--on each hand, one which served as a  \nthumb, and they held a rubber-handled fork between this and the next hoof as they shoveled  \ngrass and kale salad into their mouth.  \nRosemary, Cynthia, and Alex got introduced with the others. Cynthia, it turned out, was  \nalso from Maplesburg but from a different area of the city than Rosemary, and Alex was from a  \nsmall town in Northern Vulpineva, an hour's drive to the West of Willowdale. Few large animals  \nlived in major cities where the housing prices for them were exorbitant, and even in Willowdale,  \nFlora hadn't known anyone larger than a lynx.  \nWhen they had finished discussing their homes, Rosemary turned her attention to  \nFlora's roommate predicament. \"Alright, so I take it your dinner went badly, but it must not have  \nbeen too bad since you didn't need us to rescue you.\"  \n\"There was no point,\" Flora replied embarrassedly. \"They were all convinced I hate other  \npredators by that point. I just said I felt sick and got up and left.\"  \n\"Oof,\" Rosemary responded sympathetically. \"I guess on the bright side they won't want  \nto eat with you again. Did your roommate say anything?\"  \n\"It was my fault I couldn't get along with them, of course,\" Flora replied sourly. \"She also  \ntold me she'd been worried about me when I got back to the room, but I don't buy it. She just  \nwanted me to feel guilty about something else.\"  \n\"She sounds like a piece of work,\" Rosemary commented. \"Could you look into getting  \nanother roommate?\"  \n\"I guess so. Do you think I should?\"  \n\"I would,\" Rosemary replied bluntly.  \nFlora sighed resignedly, \"I don't suppose I could room with you.\"  \n\"I don't think they'd let you pick, maybe next year if you still want to.\"  \nLance cut in, \"I'm not sure they'll let you change unless you have evidence of physical  \nabuse. From what I've heard, you've only had arguments. They'll probably want you to stick it  \nout and learn to get along unless it becomes a detriment to your schoolwork.\"  \n\"It could be harassment if her roommate won't leave it alone,\" Rosemary argued.  \n\"It could,\" Lance agreed. \"But if she drops it, then Flora doesn't have much of a case. It's  \nonly been a couple days; I'd wait and see.\"  \n\"If she brings it up again, I'll ask her to stop, and if she doesn't, then I'll ask for a room  \nchange,\" Flora decided wearily.  \n\"Do you think they'd let you room with me if they knew you were helping me?\" Cynthia  \nsqueaked, having silently listened until now. \"Then you wouldn't have to say it was because of  \nyour roommate.\"  \nFlora blinked curiously at the little mouse, \"Would you want to?\"  \n\"It would be easier than for you to come find me everyday. Besides, you won't even fit in  \nthe mouse section of the dorm; you'd have to wait for me to come out.\"  \nFlora smiled at the mouse gratefully, \"That's a good idea, Cynthia. Thank you.\"  \nCynthia blushed, \"You're the one helping me,\" she murmured embarrassedly.  \n\"Looks like your good karma might pay off after all,\" Rosemary declared amusedly. \"I  \nwonder if they'll still give you a fox-sized double or put you in a single instead.\"  \n\"We don't know if they'll let us room together yet,\" Flora replied embarrassedly.  \nRosemary grinned toothily, \"I think they will. I just wish I could see your roommate's face  \nwhen she finds out what's happened.\"  \nImmediately after lunch, Flora carried Cynthia to the Residential Life office. Rosemary  \nand Chester came along but waited outside.  \nThe bobcat at the front office desk looked up as Flora slipped through the door. They  \nfrowned grumpily as Flora approached the high desk, but Flora forced herself to speak rather  \nthan turning and retreating under the cat's forbidding amber gaze. The oak desk had a counter  \nin front for visitors to write on, which surrounded the bobcat's working area on three sides. The  \nentire thing was bobcat-sized, and Flora had to stand on tiptoe to poke her chin over the top.  \n\"I, um, we need a room change,\" Flora piped hesitantly.  \nThe bobcat looked back down at their monitor, \"The form is online if you're having  \nroommate trouble,\" they replied boredly.  \n\"It's, um, for a different reason,\" Flora squeaked. \"We need to room together.\"  \nThe bobcat looked up, \"We?\" they asked laconically.  \nFlora carefully placed Cynthia on top of the counter, \"Me and her.\"  \nThe bobcat stared at the two of them, their bored expression shifted to one of interest  \nand mild incredulity. \"The two of you want to room together?\" they repeated.  \n\"F-Flora's helping me get around,\" Cynthia squeaked nervously. \"I, um, I broke my leg  \nbefore school, and I'm having trouble getting around alone. Flora said she'd help me, but it'll be  \nharder if she has to come get me whenever I want to leave my room.\"  \n\"Couldn't someone else help you? Like your current roommate?\" the bobcat inquired.  \n\"Flora is the only person who's offered. Besides, my roommate is a vole; she can't help  \nme the way Flora can. I'm afraid someone might step on me again if I can't move quickly  \nenough.\"  \nThe bobcat frowned at Cynthia worriedly, \"I see what you mean. It's a bit irregular  \nthough; we room students based on size. You'll have trouble using the facilities in the fox-sized  \nsection of the dorm or even getting in and out of the room.\"  \n\"I can help her with that,\" Flora stated.  \nThe bobcat regarded them pensively for a moment. \"Are you both sure? It's a lot to take  \non, and, uh, one of you is quite a bit larger, and a fox.\"  \n\"I'm not worried about that,\" Cynthia replied firmly.  \n\"I'm going to help her either way; this will just make it easier,\" Flora stated.  \nThe bobcat nodded, \"Alright, give me your names, and I'll see what I can do.\"  \n\"Flora Mason.\"  \n\"Cynthia Sharpe with an e on the end.\"  \nThe bobcat turned to their computer, typed in the names, and then clicked around for a  \nfew minutes while Flora and Cynthia watched anxiously. \"I don't have any fox-sized singles or  \ndoubles available,\" the bobcat informed them. \"Obviously, Miss Mason won't fit in the mouse-  \nsized rooms. The best I've got is a rabbit-sized triple, but you might get another roommate at  \nsome point if you take that one.\" The bobcat looked up and studied Flora for a moment. \"You're  \nnot too big, but your ears might brush the door frame.\"  \n\"That's alright,\" Flora replied.  \n\"The room is three thirty-seven in Hollow Oak Hall. I'll put in a work order to have the  \nappropriate furniture transferred. It should be ready in a day or two. You'll get an email when it  \nis. Once you've moved, let us know so we can cancel your access to your current rooms. Do  \nyou need anything else?\"  \n\"I don't think so. Thank you for your help!\" Flora piped cheerfully. She plucked Cynthia  \noff of the desk and exited the building.  \n\"So?\" Rosemary asked impatiently as Flora stepped outside.  \n\"We're getting a rabbit-sized triple. It won't be ready for us to move in for a couple days,  \nbut we can manage until then.\"  \n\"Great! Hey, I saw a cool looking silver maple on the way over here. Do y'all want to  \nclimb up it and chill?\"  \n\"If Cynthia's comfortable with it, I will,\" Flora answered.  \n\"I think I'll be okay,\" Cynthia squeaked shyly.  \n\"I want to take my bag back to my room first though,\" Flora added. \"I don't want to climb  \nwith it or leave it on the ground for someone to get into.\"  \n\"Okay, I'll show you the tree, and then you can join us after you drop off your bag.\"  \nAfter seeing which tree Chester and Rosemary were going to climb, Flora took Cynthia  \nand their bags back to her room, leaving the green and magenta bags on her desk. When they  \nhad returned to the tree, she considered the mouse in her hands.  \n\"I think Rosemary should carry you up the tree; it will be safer,\" Flora decided.  \nCynthia nodded her acceptance, and Flora waved to the black squirrel.  \n\"Rosemary!\"  \nRosemary crawled down the tree headfirst and looked at them questioningly, still  \nhanging from the bark with her yellow tartan skirt once again inverted over her torso.  \n\"Can you carry Cynthia up?\" Flora requested.  \nRosemary jumped down and held out her hands to accept the mouse. While Cynthia  \neasily fit in Flora's hands and even one of her hands if needed, she overflowed the squirrel's  \nhands.  \n\"I don't really know how to do this,\" Rosemary admitted. \"I ought to have some sort of  \npack.\"  \n\"Oh, maybe we should think about it and try another day,\" Flora suggested. She didn't  \nwant Cynthia to be hurt because they hadn't prepared to transport her properly.  \n\"There's a tree I noticed on the way to the exam today that might be nice,\" Cynthia put  \nin. \"Not for climbing, but the branches hang low, and there's a sheltered space underneath.\"  \n\"Can you show us where it is?\" Rosemary asked.  \nCynthia nodded.  \nChester climbed down, and then Cynthia directed them to the tree with Flora carrying  \nher once again. The tree was a white spruce, and as Cynthia had noticed, its lower branches  \nnearly touched the ground. They crawled underneath and found a comfortable space around the  \ntrunk beneath the lowest branches. The ground was covered with soft, dry needles, and the  \nentire recess smelled sweetly of evergreen.  \n\"This is nice,\" Chester remarked. \"I could take a nap under here.\"  \n\"It's nice in a secluded sort of way,\" Rosemary agreed. \"I still prefer the tops of trees.\"  \n\"It's cozy,\" Flora added. \"Thanks for showing us this place, Cynthia.\"  \nCynthia straightened her whiskers beside Flora embarrassedly, \"I'm glad you like it.\"  \nThey enjoyed the quiet seclusion of the shady enclosure for some minutes before  \nRosemary asked, \"Do you feel weird at all having Flora carry you, Cynthia?\"  \nCynthia glanced at Flora before turning toward the squirrel embarrassedly, \"A little. It's a  \nbit embarrassing, but I really appreciate it. I've been anxious about getting around, and I feel  \nrelieved now that I have help.\"  \n\"I assume she was the one who offered,\" Rosemary remarked.  \nCynthia nodded, \"I wouldn't have been able to ask even after she helped me,\" she  \nmurmured self-consciously.  \n\"I think I'd feel a little weird about letting a predator carry me,\" Rosemary commented. \"It  \nwould be weird letting anyone carry me but even weirder if they were a predator.\"  \nFlora thought she understood where Rosemary was coming from, and while the  \nsquirrel's comment made her feel a little awkward, she didn't protest. It made sense that  \nRosemary might feel some instinctive apprehension against letting a carnivore pick her up.  \nHowever, Cynthia didn't take it as well.  \n\"Flora's a carnivore, but she's not a predator!\" the mouse squeaked indignantly. \"I  \nwalked by lots of prey, and no one offered to help me until Flora did! She's a good person who  \njust happens to be a fox!\"  \nRosemary blinked at the upset mouse, momentarily nonplussed. \"I get what you mean,\"  \nshe offered conciliatorily. \"I didn't mean any offense. I'm not sure it's an offensive term though,  \nat least not anymore than 'prey' is. Maybe it would be better if we could forget which species  \npredator society excluded so they could eat them, but it really wasn't that long ago.\"  \n\"I appreciate your concern, Cynthia,\" Flora added embarrassedly. \"But I agree with  \nRosemary; I am a fox. That doesn't mean I don't genuinely want to help you.\"  \n\"There aren't good and bad species,\" Rosemary explained. \"There are only people with  \nmore power to exploit and hurt others, and sometimes species is a factor in that.\"  \n\"Except, like, fleas and mosquitoes,\" Chester chirped flippantly. \"Fuck those parasites!\"  \nRosemary looked at the tabby incedulously, and he winked roguishly. The squirrel rolled  \nher eyes but smirked.  \n\"I think we agree,\" Rosemary told Cynthia. \"I'm sorry if what I said made you think I was  \ninsulting you or Flora. I'm glad things worked out for the two of you.\"  \nCynthia looked down embarrassedly, \"Maybe I do feel a little uncomfortable about it,\"  \nshe murmured. \"But Flora's so nice, so I know I'm wrong!\"  \n\"I understand,\" Flora consoled. \"And I don't blame you for being a little apprehensive. I'm  \nsure I would be if someone so much bigger wanted to pick me up no matter what species they  \nwere.\"  \nCynthia looked up at her with a glint of determination in her dark eyes, \"I trust you,  \nFlora,\" she averred. \"I'll get over my discomfort.\"  \nFlora smiled down at her warmly, \"I'm sure you will.\"  \nChester flopped over onto his back and wriggled playfully in the spruce needles. \"We  \nalways have the most intense discussions,\" he remarked amusedly. \"Doesn't anyone want to  \njust take a nap?\"  \nRosemary leaned over and ruffled his beige and black belly fur with one hand. \"You're a  \ndoof,\" she scolded affectionately.  \nChester grinned toothily, his golden eyes twinkling with amusement, \"I hope so.  \nSomeone has to lighten the mood.\"  \nFlora smiled at the tom appreciatively. Perhaps Chester was right; they didn't need to  \ndwell so heavily on their angst. With her room with Cynthia secured, Flora could see a fun and  \nexciting year ahead of her. That was supposed to be part of college too: learning and gaining  \nnew perspectives but also having fun and enjoying themselves. She'd already made friends,  \nand she knew there must be many other friendly people here. She wasn't alone like she'd felt  \nwhen her parents had left.  \n\"I could take a nap,\" Flora remarked cheerfully. \"I don't have any more exams to study  \nfor. I don't think there's anything I need to do until the welcome seminars on Thursday.\"  \n\"I'm done too,\" Cynthia responded.  \n\"Do all of you want to take a nap then?\" Rosemary asked with mock exasperation.  \nChester grinned teasingly, \"Looks like you're outnumbered, squirrelie.\"  \nFlora turned and flopped over as well. Rolling onto her side, her eyes met Chester's  \ngolden eyes around the trunk of the spruce. He smiled affably, and she felt her ears get a bit  \nwarm. She smiled back embarrassedly but lifted her head as she felt Cynthia snuggling herself  \ninto her belly fur. Flora wrapped her bushy tail over her legs and tucked it over the little mouse  \nbefore laying her head back down. She smiled warmly at Chester, content that she had a place  \nat this college and friends to share the experience with. She closed her eyes and soon dozed  \noff.  \nFlora wasn't sure what time it was when she awoke, but she was feeling a bit hungry,  \nindicating that it may have been getting close to dinner. Cynthia was still snuggled against her  \nbelly, and when she pushed herself up on one arm to see around the trunk, she saw Rosemary  \nwas lying on her back with her head propped against Chester's abdomen. Cynthia stirred beside  \nher, and Flora pulled away her concealing tail.  \n\"Were you comfortable?\" Flora murmured softly.  \nCynthia smiled bashfully and nodded. \"You didn't mind, did you?\" she whispered.  \nFlora shook her head. She sat up fully, scooping Cynthia onto her right thigh, when she  \nheard a yawn and saw Chester stretching on the other side of the tree. He rolled onto his back,  \ncausing Rosemary to flop onto the needle cushion where her dark eyes popped open. Chester  \nsat up and grinned down at the squirrel before booping her nose with a finger.  \n\"Did you like your pillow?\" he queried good-humoredly.  \n\"I did until it moved without warning,\" Rosemary groused.  \n\"That's a risk you take,\" he quipped.  \nFlora slipped her cell out of its holster to check the time, \"It's six fifteen!\" she yelped. \"We  \nslept the whole afternoon!\"  \nChester yawned again, stretching languidly, then smiled amusedly, \"So? We didn't have  \nanything else to do.\"  \nTrue as that may have been, Flora was still dismayed; she felt she should have done  \nsomething!  \nStill seated on Flora's leg, Cynthia piped, \"It was nice. We should do it again sometime.\"  \n\"Is anyone else, like, famished?\" Chester yowled. \"I'm surprised Rosemary wasn't the  \nfirst up; my stomach is growling!\"  \n\"We haven't done anything since lunch, you lump,\" Rosemary admonished.  \nChester glowered down at the squirrel grimly, \"Imagine such callousness toward a  \nstarving friend,\" he muttered with mock gravity. \"What will you lie on when I'm skin and bone?\"  \n\"I'll have to have your pelt stuffed, I suppose,\" Rosemary sallied. \"That is unless you can  \nmanage the walk to the cafeteria.\"  \n\"I'm hungry too,\" Flora interrupted the pair's increasingly absurd banter. \"Let's go.\"  \nThey crawled out from under the spruce and were just stepping back onto the brick  \nsidewalk when a fox yelped, \"Flora?! Is that you?!\"  \nFlora jerked her head toward the voice and spotted Moxie a few steps down the  \nsidewalk to her right.  \nThe swift fox bounded forward, \"It is you! Were you under that tree?!\" she asked  \nincredulously. \"What were you doing under there?\"  \n\"We, um, were taking a nap,\" Flora admitted embarrassedly.  \nMoxie eyed Rosemary and Chester in surprise, \"All of you?\"  \n\"Cynthia and I were tired after our exam this morning,\" Flora murmured lamely. Did  \nMoxie think they'd been doing something besides sleeping? Flora felt her ears getting warm.  \nMoxie thrust out her hand to Rosemary, who stood as high as the small fox's lower  \nchest. Flora noted that Moxie was a head shorter than Chester, who was a couple of finger  \nwidths shorter than herself.  \n\"Hi Cynthia, I'm Moxie,\" Moxie introduced herself.  \n\"My name's Rosemary,\" Rosemary corrected. She nodded toward Cynthia cupped  \nagainst Flora's chest and then Chester. \"That's Cynthia, and this is Chester.\"  \nMoxie looked toward Flora in confusion, and Flora tilted her hands so that the vixen  \ncould see Cynthia more easily.  \n\"Hi,\" Cynthia squeaked shyly.  \nMoxie's hazel eyes widened at the sight of the little mouse.  \n\"We were going to dinner. Did you want to come?\" Flora offered before Moxie could ask  \nany more questions about the mouse.  \n\"Er, I just ate, sorry,\" Moxie returned distractedly, her eyes still focused on Cynthia.  \n\"Were-\"  \n\"You should join us sometime,\" Flora cut her off. \"Are things going alright with Stella?\"  \nMoxie looked up from Cynthia to meet Flora's gaze and smiled genially, \"Yeah, I'll see if  \nStella wants to come too. I know the others were a little hard on you the other day, but Stella's  \nnice. We've been getting along great.\"  \n\"That's good. Let's catch up again tomorrow, and you can let me know what she said.\"  \n\"Alright, see you around!\" Moxie turned around and strolled away.  \nFlora and the others went the opposite direction toward the cafeteria.  \n\"Was that one of the foxes you ate with last night?\" Rosemary asked after a moment.  \n\"Yeah, she seemed nicer than the others though,\" Flora replied.  \n\"What about 'Stella'?\"  \nFlora flicked an ear awkwardly, \"Er, well, she didn't seem too bad. I didn't really talk to  \nher.\"  \nThey made their way to the cafeteria, and Flora once again took Cynthia to get her food.  \nRosemary followed because she was actually small enough to reach the mouse-sized counter.  \nFirst, Flora stopped by the meat station: they were having burgers, hotdogs, and fries along with  \nwhat appeared to be barbecued pulled pork. Flora decided the latter looked good and stepped  \ninto the line. She grabbed a bun and was just about to pile it with meat when her eyes caught  \nthe label: 'Barbecued Rabbit'. Flora's heart instantly dropped into stomach, and she felt like she  \nmight throw up. Gingerly, she used the tongs to put back her bun.  \n\"Y-you didn't want anything here, did you?\" she asked Cynthia uncomfortably.  \n\"No.\"  \nFlora stepped out of the meat line and over to the vegetable station where she and  \nCynthia both got fried tofu, white rice, and sautéed brussel sprouts. Cynthia's brussel sprouts  \nwere chopped into eighths and smaller. Cynthia also got a small salad with feta and a sweet  \nvinaigrette, and they both got ice water. The three girls found Chester already at a table with  \nLance and Amber. As they sat down, Flora noticed disconcertedly that the tabby had gotten the  \nbarbecued rabbit.  \n\"You really take the omnivore thing to heart, huh?\" Chester remarked curiously. \"Do you  \nonly eat meat once a day, Flora?\"  \n\"Once or twice,\" Flora remarked uncomfortably. \"I didn't know they made rabbit; it  \nsurprised me.\"  \nChester blinked his golden eyes at her in confusion, \"You've never seen it before? I think  \nit's pretty common. I guess beef, pork, and turkey are the favorites, but they make all kinds.\"  \n\"I've only seen those and a few others, like mutton and venison,\" Flora admitted.  \n\"Willowdale has a lot of rabbits,\" Lance pointed out. \"Maybe they don't like to sell small  \nmammal meats.\"  \n\"I guess, but they're all the same really,\" Chester responded. \"It's all cultured in vats.\"  \n\"I wouldn't want to know what rabbit tastes like!\" Flora blurted out in distress. \"Most of  \nmy friends are rabbits!\"  \nChester regarded her with a mixture of curiosity and surprise. \"Huh, I've never really  \nthought of that.\" He glanced at Cynthia, Rosemary, and Amber, \"I've had squirrel and mouse  \nboth.\"  \n\"Fox squirrel or gray squirrel?\" Amber asked.  \nChester shrugged, \"They don't specify that. You know, for all I know, none of it tastes  \nlike the real thing. How would anyone know these days?\"  \n\"Do they make cat?\" Amber asked.  \n\"I've never seen it.\"  \n\"That doesn't seem fair,\" Rosemary declared. \"What if I want to know what kitties taste  \nlike?\"  \n\"It's not actually legal,\" Lance informed them. \"Have any of you heard of the Peatsburg  \nMassacre?\"  \nFlora, Chester, and Rosemary nodded.  \n\"Do you know what led up to it?\" Lance questioned.  \nNo one nodded.  \n\"Chester?\" Lance probed.  \n\"It happened because dogs can't control themselves,\" Chester replied sourly.  \nFlora regarded the tabby concernedly. Was there something about this historical event  \nthat made the easy-going cat uncomfortable?  \n\"I suppose that's how a cat would describe it,\" Lance acknowledged. \"It started soon  \nafter the illegalization of predation. A Peatsburg meat factory run by dogs started producing cat  \nmeat. No one really knows how they got the starting material, but it became very popular among  \nthe canine population. Cats weren't happy, but there were other meat factories. And they simply  \nboycotted the offending one.\"  \n\"The trouble really started when King Philip issued the Meat Purity Decree. There had  \nbeen some concern in other cities about unknown meat cultures being sold, and carnivores  \nwere worried about engaging in symbolic cannibalism. The decree ordered that the origin of all  \nmeat cultures be genetically verified and products be labeled appropriately. Well, when the cat  \nmeat was genetically sequenced, it was found to actually be of canine origin.\"  \n\"The riots began almost immediately. Dogs claimed that the incident was the result of a  \nfeline plot, and several cat-owned businesses were burned. Many cats fled the city or took  \nrefuge in local temples. On the third day of the riots, an army platoon, largely composed of felids  \nand mustelids and led by the red fox lieutenant Charles Graf, arrived to quell the riots. The  \nrioters engaged the platoon, and Graf ordered the soldiers to fire on them. Twenty-seven dogs  \nwere killed. Graf then had the offending meat factory razed. Afterward, King Philip updated the  \nMeat Purity Decree to state that all meat must be of prey origin, and that's been the law ever  \nsince.\"  \n\"That sounds about right,\" Rosemary remarked dryly when the history lesson was done.  \n\"It's illegal because predators put up a fuss over something prey just have to accept.\"  \n\"Cats didn't put up a fuss!\" Chester protested. \"They were the victims! For all we know,  \nthe owner of the factory knew it was dog meat the whole time!\"  \n\"Wouldn't they have falsified the test then?\" Amber suggested.  \n\"They might have known the jig was up and blamed cats to turn their customers against  \nthem instead,\" Chester argued. \"If they'd gotten the cells from a specific cat, they would have  \nhad a clearer target.\"  \n\"Or maybe it really was a 'feline plot',\" Rosemary sallied. \"Maybe the cats were all  \ntwitching their whiskers while they watched the dogs eat dog meat.\"  \n\"If it was, then the dogs deserved it,\" Chester replied. \"You'll notice it wasn't cats who  \nwanted to eat dog.\"  \n\"What's the difference if it's all grown in vats?\" Rosemary rejoined amusedly.  \n\"It just shows that dogs are jerks,\" Chester replied snippily. \"They have no manners.\"  \n\"Have you noticed there aren't any here?\" Flora asked awkwardly. She knew cats and  \ndogs often disagreed, but she felt awkward as a canid--though not a canine--herself.  \n\"That's because red foxes hate them,\" Chester replied. \"The capital of Vulpineva is  \ncalled Wolfsbane for a reason!\"  \nFlora nodded in acknowledgement of this common knowledge. Wolves had once  \nattempted to overthrow the Vulpinevan monarchy, believing themselves more worthy rulers than  \nthe diminutive red foxes. The revolt had ultimately failed because the wolves were unable to  \nrecruit other species away from the silver-tongued vulpines. The allied forces had expelled the  \nwolf militia from the capital then surrounded them before slaughtering them without quarter at  \nthe command of the vengeful King Ferdinand. The capital was renamed from Foxglove soon  \nafter. Dogs, who were the result of eugenics experiments gone horribly wrong (or right  \ndepending on your perspective), were the direct descendents of wolves and thus also loathed  \nby red foxes. Why coyotes and other canine species were caught up in their ire was less clear.  \nFlora collected her glass, utensils, and napkin onto her tray, having finished her meal.  \nShe eyed the empty spot on Chester's plate where his sandwich had been. \"I still don't want to  \ntry it,\" she decided. \"I don't want to try anything that might taste like one of my friends.\"  \nChester offered her a charming smile, \"That's your decision, and I respect it.\"  \n\"What if you met a pig or turkey?\" Rosemary queried.  \nFlora frowned uncomfortably, \"I guess it would already be too late then, but I prefer not  \nto know.\"  \n\"I don't think any prey really cares either way,\" Rosemary commented. \"Like Chester  \nsaid, it isn't real, but if it makes you uncomfortable, then of course you should do what you think  \nis best so long as it doesn't compromise your health.\"  \n\"It won't,\" Flora assured her. \"I'll eat the ones I'm already used to. I guess they're the  \nmost popular anyway.\"  \nAfter Flora took their trays to the conveyor, she and Cynthia said goodnight to the  \nothers, and then Flora took Cynthia back to the dorm to collect her things. The golden summer  \nsun was beginning to dip behind the white marble edifices that silently watched over the fox-  \nfilled campus.  \n\"Flora,\" Cynthia squeaked quietly.  \n\"Yes?\"  \n\"I, um, wouldn't be afraid of you if you ate cultured mouse meat like Chester.\"  \nFlora looked down into her cupped hands to smile reassuringly at the little mouse, \"I  \nappreciate that, but I still wouldn't want to know. I wouldn't want to look at you and remember  \nwhat it tasted like. Does that make sense?\"  \nCynthia nodded, \"It does. I think you're sensitive to, um, things like that. I think that's why  \nI trusted you; I could tell you were genuinely concerned.\"  \nIsabelle was sitting in her bed when they arrived in her and Flora's room. She eyed them  \nas Flora retrieved Cynthia's magenta bag from the desk and the crutches from her own bag's  \nside pocket. Cynthia directed Flora to her dorm, and Flora finally set her down outside of the  \nmouse-sized elevator she would take to the basement.  \n\"Is there a time I should come get you for breakfast, or do you want to text me when  \nyou're ready?\" Flora asked.  \n\"I can text you,\" Cynthia answered shyly.  \nThey exchanged numbers.  \n\"Thank you again, Flora,\" Cynthia squeaked.  \n\"I'm happy to help. Goodnight, Cynthia.\"  \n\"Goodnight.\"  \nCynthia entered the elevator. Once the doors had closed, Flora stood and returned to  \nher own dorm room. She wasn't looking forward to what Isabelle might say about the mouse,  \nbut she comforted herself in the fact that she wouldn't be the vixen's roommate for much longer.  \n\"I see Stella was right. I didn't want to believe it,\" Isabelle remarked as Flora stepped  \nback into their room.  \nFlora bit back an angry retort. Why wouldn't this vixen just leave her alone?  \n\"Do you know how it looks for you to carry a mouse around campus?\" Isabelle scolded.  \n\"People will have thought you were going to eat it!\"  \n\"I don't care how it looks or what people think!\" Flora shot back. \"Cynthia needed my  \nhelp! I couldn't let her get stepped on again!\"  \nIsabelle groaned exasperatedly and rubbed her snout with two fingers in annoyance. \"I  \nunderstand that was your intention,\" she returned, her patience noticeably strained. \"But people  \nwill talk, and then no one will trust you. Is that what you want?\"  \n\"You're only concerned because you think it might reflect badly on you,\" Flora accused.  \n\"You won't have to worry about that! In a few days, Cynthia and I will have a room together, and  \nyou won't have to worry about me anymore!\"  \nIsabelle scoffed, \"As if they'll let you room with a mouse!\"  \n\"They already did!\" Flora replied triumphantly. \"I don't know if you'll get a new roommate,  \nbut my room with Cynthia will be ready in a few days.\"  \nIsabelle stared at her in shocked horror, \"Flora! I-I've been trying to help you! You can't  \nleave me for a mouse!\"  \n\"You have your friends. Besides, you don't even like me!\" Flora rejoined.  \n\"I want to like you,\" Isabelle whined. \"Please give me another chance.\"  \n\"Cynthia needs my help. I don't even know why you want me to stay, but it's already  \ndecided.\"  \n\"People will think there's something wrong with me if I lose my roommate before classes  \neven start!\" Isabelle wailed.  \n\"I'm sure you'll find a way to blame it on me,\" Flora replied dryly. \"Just tell them I'm  \nrooming with a mouse; that ought to make them talk.\"  \n\"You're a cruel vixen, Flora,\" Isabelle rebuked acerbically. \"You only care about your  \nown pride, for how well you placate prey no less! One day, you'll realize you're still a predator to  \nthem, and then you won't have anyone left!\"  \nFlora grabbed her towel and toiletry basket, \"My friends know I'm a predator, and they're  \nmy friends anyway. That's what you don't understand!\" She stormed out the room and into the  \nshower.  \nThe hot shower helped calm her down, but unfortunately, Isabelle was still present when  \nshe returned to the room. However, the red vixen refused to look at, much less speak to, her. As  \nfar as Flora was concerned, it was an improvement. She read a couple chapters from her book  \nbefore going to bed, exhausted from the stress of the day.  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"Flora: A Tale from Vulpineva","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2032989-chapter-2-the-royal-college-of-vulpineva.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2033339-chapter-4-the-vixen-in-the-northeast-wing.json"}}