{"sf1_id":2034254,"sf2_id":"dmBQP3Qe","title":"Chapter 7: Fox and Wolverine","author":"HeatherOBunn","words":4617,"posted_at":"2023-08-06T15:14:00.000Z","tags":["Cat","Club","College","Date","Fox","Mouse","Novel","Romance","Squirrel","Vixen","Wolverine","dinner","fair"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2034254-chapter-7-fox-and-wolverine","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/dmBQP3Qe","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/e5/6a/e56a12c9-56fd-4473-93d2-bae32cbb8e4d","description":"#7 of Flora: A Tale from Vulpineva\n\nFlora and Lance go on a date.","content":"Chapter 7: Fox and Wolverine  \nClasses kept them busy, but Flora and Cynthia still managed to meet their other friends  \nat lunch or dinner each day. Friday, they spent the afternoon in a majestic maple with Rosemary  \nand Chester. Rosemary carried the mouse up the tree in an old child's hiking backpack that she  \nhad found at the thrift store, but Cynthia was able to sit on the branch with the rest of them once  \nthey reached the top. The mouse was placed between Rosemary and Chester with Flora on  \nChester's left, closest to the trunk.  \n\"Are we still meeting at lunch tomorrow and going to the activities fair afterward?\" Flora  \ninquired.  \n\"If that still works for you,\" Rosemary answered.  \n\"It does.\"  \nFlora kicked her feet, watching other students meandering across the yard below them,  \nwhile she wondered whether she should bring up her conversation with Lance from the end of  \nlab on Tuesday. She had not yet decided whether to go on a date with the wolverine, but she  \nfelt she should decide soon. She'd discussed it with her high school friends, and they'd  \nencouraged her to try it. However, Chester might know the wolverine better.  \n\"Lance asked me on a date in lab on Tuesday,\" she revealed shyly.  \nChester turned to her with a grin, \"He got up the courage, did he? You didn't shoot him  \ndown too hard, I hope.\"  \n\"I, um, haven't decided yet,\" Flora murmured embarrassedly. \"He seems nice.\"  \n\"Did you know he was going to ask, Chester?\" Rosemary questioned.  \n\"He asked me about it,\" Chester divulged. \"I told him to give it a try, but I'm honestly  \nsurprised you didn't say no right away, Flora.\"  \n\"Why did you think I would do that?\" Flora asked bashfully.  \nChester snorted back a laugh. \"Because he's been making eyes at you since you first  \nmet, and you've barely given him a second glance. I assumed he wasn't your type.\"  \n\"I-I don't know if he is,\" Flora admitted. \"He's a little big.\"  \nChester burst into laughter, \"Pff-ahaha, he-he, hahaha, he might be! Hahahahaha!\"  \nRosemary regarded the chortling cat distastefully.  \n\"Th-that's not what I-!\" Flora began to protest before cutting herself off in  \nembarrassment.  \nWhen Chester had calmed down, Rosemary spoke, \"If you think you might like him, it  \ndoesn't hurt to go on a date. If you decide you're not compatible, then you can tell him whenever  \nyou figure that out. If he's a decent guy, he'll accept that. I'm afraid I don't know him well enough  \nto give more advice than that.\"  \n\"If I'd known you might say yes, I might have asked him first,\" Chester declared  \ncheerfully. \"I guess that's what I get for waiting.\"  \n\"Is Lance bi or pan?\" Flora asked Chester shyly.  \n\"Didn't he tell you that? Maybe he was afraid he'd scare you off.\"  \n\"I-I don't mind either way!\" Flora clarified quickly. \"I, um, I was surprised when he asked.  \nI guess I didn't notice him looking at me.\"  \n\"I'm surprised you were surprised,\" Rosemary remarked. \"You must draw a lot of eyes.\"  \n\"M-must I?\" Flora murmured embarrassedly.  \nRosemary sighed exasperatedly, \"Don't tell me no one's ever told you how pretty you  \nare!\"  \n\"I assumed they were just being nice,\" Flora murmured. \"No one really seemed  \ninterested in high school.\"  \n\"I think you're very beautiful, Flora,\" Cynthia squeaked shyly.  \n\"Thank you,\" Flora murmured embarrassedly. \"You're pretty too, and you, Rosemary,  \nand-\"  \n\"I know I'm gorgeous!\" Chester declared jovially.  \nRosemary sighed with mock exasperation, \"No one ever said cats were modest.\"  \nFlora smiled, feeling less tense and embarrassed thanks to her friends' sense of humor.  \n\"Lance originally wanted to go to the activities fair together. But I thought Cynthia would want to  \ngo too, so I don't know what we're going to do if we do go on a date.\"  \n\"I could always take Cynthia if you wanted to go with Lance,\" Chester offered.  \nFlora glanced down at the mouse, who had looked up to regard the cat with trepidation.  \n\"I, um, I guess that would be okay,\" Cynthia squeaked. The nervousness in her tone  \nsuggested she was less than comfortable with the arrangement.  \nChester looked down at her with concern, \"If you're not comfortable with it, that's okay. I  \nsuppose you don't know me as well as Flora.\"  \n\"I trust you,\" Cynthia replied agitatedly. \"It's just, um, I-I'm not so sure I could handle your  \nclaws.\"  \nChester briefly glanced at Flora's hand on the branch beside him, \"Flora has claws  \nthough. I mean, she has to, or she couldn't climb up here.\"  \nCynthia looked down and straightened her whiskers bashfully, \"I, um, I guess I forgot  \nabout that.\"  \n\"I'll take you if you want me to,\" Flora reassured her.  \n\"N-no, I, um, I'll be fine with Chester,\" Cynthia murmured embarrassedly. \"I don't want  \nyou to feel like I'm a burden.\"  \n\"I don't feel that way,\" Flora told her firmly. \"But if you don't mind, I'll tell Lance I can go  \nwith him. I guess we can see if we have similar interests then.\"  \nThey didn't see Lance at dinner, but afterward, when she and Cynthia were back in their  \nroom, Flora texted the wolverine to tell him she would go to the activities fair with him.  \nReally!?! Awesome! I'll see you at lunch before then! he texted back.  \nYeah, see you.  \nFlora set down her phone. She still wasn't sure Lance was her type, but she wanted to  \ngive him a chance. With her limited dating experience, she wasn't really sure who she would  \nconnect with romantically.  \n\"How do you know who you like, Cynthia?\" Flora asked.  \nCynthia blinked up at her from her bed where she was scanning her own phone, \"I just  \ndo, I guess.\"  \n\"I don't know what kind of guys I like,\" Flora groused. \"I don't even know if I only like  \nguys!\"  \n\"I, um, guess you have time to figure it out,\" Cynthia offered.  \n\"Is there anyone you like?\" Flora asked.  \n\"I, um, I'm not sure,\" Cynthia squeaked bashfully.  \n\"It sounds like we both need time to figure this out,\" Flora decided. \"I'm going to take a  \nshower.\"  \nFlora showered, and once they were both ready to sleep, she scooped Cynthia up onto  \nher bed and got them both situated. It was now routine for Cynthia to snuggle herself into  \nFlora's white and light brown neck fur, and once Flora had rested her head, she gently scooted  \nthe little mouse close.  \n\"I don't think you need to worry about finding someone, Flora,\" Cynthia squeaked softly.  \n\"You're one of the kindest people I know.\"  \n\"Thank you, Cynthia,\" Flora murmured.  \nFlora knew enough to understand that the universe didn't owe someone happiness for  \nbeing kind, but she still hoped Cynthia was right. As much as Flora loved and cared for her  \nfriends, she nevertheless wanted to find that one person to spend her life with, and she wanted  \nto have meaningful romantic encounters along the way. Maybe Lance would be the first of  \nthose, and if they weren't ultimately right for each other, maybe she would learn something  \nabout herself to help her find the next person.  \n\\* \\* \\*  \nAt the end of lunch the next day, Chester took Cynthia, and then Flora and Lance parted  \nwith Chester, Cynthia, Rosemary, Amber, and Becca to head out to the student activities fair  \nbehind the student union. The others would be going to the fair as well, and they'd certainly  \nbump into each other; however, Flora and Lance would have time to discuss their interests  \nwithout the others' interruption. The activities fair was bustling with students. Lance let Flora  \nwalk in front as they made their way between the folding tables that had been set up along the  \nsidewalk for the event. The first table Flora stopped at was the outdoors club. The table was  \npersoned by a porcupine and a blue jay, and their hand-written poster read 'Hiking, Boating,  \nCamping, and More!'  \n\"Are there many places to hike around Wolfsbane?\" Flora asked.  \n\"There are several nice parks,\" the blue jay replied. \"But we get access to a bus so that  \nwe can go hiking or camping in larger forest areas. We can also rent boats to paddle up the Fox  \nClaw River.\"  \n\"I think I'd like to sign up,\" Flora decided.  \nThe blue jay pushed a pen across the table with their wing, and Flora added her name  \nand email to the lined sheet, which was held in a clipboard.  \n\"Do you want to sign up, Lance?\" Flora asked, offering him the pen.  \nThe wolverine smiled amiably, \"Sure, I like hiking.\" He filled in his information. \"I really  \nlike Winter sports too. Do you do those?\" he inquired.  \n\"There's not a lot of snow in Wolfsbane, and the river doesn't freeze. So not really,\" the  \nblue jay answered.  \n\"I like to skate and cross-country ski,\" Flora told Lance. \"I guess it comes from growing  \nup up North.\"  \n\"How about downhill skiing and hockey?\" Lance asked.  \nFlora smiled awkwardly, \"Erm, not really. I've never been downhill skiing, and I'm not  \nreally all that competitive when it comes to sports.\"  \nThe next table Flora stopped at was for the biochemistry club. \"What kind of things do  \nyou do?\" she asked the red vixen at the table curiously.  \nThe vixen eyed Flora suspiciously with a frown before answering, \"We hang out and chat  \nabout class. Sometimes we share advice on classes we've taken.\" She paused and probed  \nFlora with her eyes a moment longer.  \n\"Um, I think I'll pass, thanks,\" Flora responded hastily. She quickly trotted by the table.  \n\"What was that about?\" Lance murmured under his breath when they were a few tables  \naway.  \n\"I think she was trying to figure out if I was the vixen from the rumors,\" Flora whispered  \nuncomfortably. \"My old roommate has been saying bad things about me.\"  \nLance frowned disconcertedly, \"That's awful. I'm sorry.\"  \nFlora responded with a small nod; she didn't want to talk about Isabelle at the moment.  \nThe red vixen had continued to take covert shots at her in their writing section, and worse, it  \nseemed like most of the other red foxes in the class knew who they were directed at.  \nFlora stopped at the next table out of pure curiosity. Written with flourish in calligraphy  \nand surrounded by what appeared to be writhing tentacles were the words 'The Eldritch  \nSociety'. The table was personed by a crow in a white fedora and a completely black cat with  \nwide green eyes.  \n\"What do you do?\" Flora queried.  \nThe cat blinked at her owlishly, \"We prepare for the return of the Great One.\"  \nFlora frowned in confusion.  \n\"The Great Old One!\" the crow cawed. \"Our Lord Cthulhu!\"  \n\"Oh, I see,\" Flora returned awkwardly. \"Thanks for your help.\" She continued by the  \ntable.  \n\"Didn't you want to join?\" Lance teased good-humoredly.  \n\"I'm honestly still not sure what they were talking about,\" Flora whispered  \nembarrassedly.  \n\"Cthulhu. It's a Lovecraftian monster.\"  \n\"Oh. I, um, I think my friend Ellie might have mentioned something about that before.  \nShe's into horror.\"  \n\"You're not, I take it.\"  \nFlora shook her head, \"I'm into more romantic stuff, but I do like fantasy as long as it  \ndoesn't get too dry. What do you like?\"  \n\"I like horror and science fiction,\" Lance answered.  \n\"You'd probably get along well with Ellie,\" Flora concluded.  \n\"I'm having fun with you,\" Lance returned reassuringly.  \nFlora turned back to smile at him, \"I'm having fun too.\"  \nThey met the others about two-thirds of the way through the tables.  \n\"How's it going?\" Chester meowed cheerfully.  \n\"Fine,\" Flora answered. \"I, um, I wouldn't suggest signing up for biochemistry club. I think  \nIsabelle's gotten to them. The only one I've signed up for so far was the outdoors club.\"  \n\"O-okay,\" Cynthia squeaked nervously from Chester's hands.  \n\"Are you two doing alright together?\" Flora inquired.  \nCynthia nodded.  \n\"Check out the swing dancing club,\" Rosemary recommended. \"We all signed up for it.  \nIt'll be fun.\"  \n\"Alright,\" Flora agreed.  \nThe groups continued past each other.  \n\"Hang on one second,\" Lance requested. \"I want to sign up for intramural street hockey.\"  \nFlora waited whilst he wrote his information.  \n\"You didn't want to sign up, did you?\" he asked when he was done.  \nFlora shook her head.  \nNext, Flora stopped by the photography club. But she didn't have a camera, and it  \nseemed too expensive to get a good one. After that, they came to the swing dancing table, and  \nFlora added her name to the list before offering the pen to Lance.  \n\"Er, no thanks, I can't really dance,\" Lance responded awkwardly.  \n\"I've never done swing dancing either, but it might be fun,\" Flora replied.  \n\"I'd rather not,\" Lance stated uncomfortably.  \n\"Okay,\" Flora set the pen back on the table.  \nShortly, they reached the end of the tables. Flora turned back and tried to see if she  \ncould pick out the others in the throng. She noticed Lance looking at her and met his dark brown  \neyes with a shy smile.  \n\"It was fun comparing our interests,\" she stated. \"We should try to do some more stuff  \noutside sometime. Can you climb trees? Rosemary, Chester, and I climb one occasionally. We  \ntook Cynthia up last time.\"  \n\"Um, I can, but I'm not that comfortable with heights,\" Lance admitted.  \n\"Okay, we can go for a walk sometime, just you and me or with the others if you want.\"  \n\"Would, uh, would you want to go on more of a 'date' date soon?\" he asked uncertainly.  \nFlora smiled bashfully, \"Sure, I want to get to know you better.\"  \n\"Could we go to dinner tomorrow?\" he pressed anxiously.  \nFlora shifted on her feet and swished her tail behind her embarrassedly, \"I'll have to  \nmake sure Chester can help Cynthia, but I think so.\"  \nHe grinned, \"Thanks! I really like you, Flora.\"  \nFlora returned a small smile. She certainly felt like she knew Lance better now, but she  \nstill felt for him what she felt for any of her friends. He was handsome enough, she supposed,  \nbut there wasn't a spark yet. He likes me much more than that. That knowledge made Flora feel  \na little bit awkward, but she supposed one proper date wouldn't hurt.  \n\\* \\* \\*  \nChester gladly agreed to take Cynthia to dinner, and since Cynthia seemed comfortable  \nwith that arrangement too, Flora agreed to go to dinner with Lance on Sunday. Chester stopped  \nby their room to collect the mouse and take her to eat with him and Rosemary whilst Flora and  \nLance visited the French restaurant by the café she and Cynthia had visited the other day. Flora  \nhad suggested it as neither of them were familiar with Wolfsbane yet, and the French restaurant  \nwas quite close.  \nUpon hearing his knock, Flora let Chester in, and the beige tabby bounced across the  \nroom before crouching beside Cynthia's bed, where she was seated. He held out his hands in  \nfront of him, \"Is my mousie friend ready to be in my claws?\" he teased good-humoredly.  \nCynthia nodded shyly, and Chester scooped her up in his hands and stood, clutching her  \nto his chest.  \n\"Thank you for your help,\" Flora addressed the cat.  \nChester smiled affably, \"No problem. It's kind of fun getting to have my own little prey.  \nGood luck with Lance!\"  \nFlora was less sure about the statement before it, but she smiled and nodded in  \nacknowledgement of Chester's encouragement. Chester left with Cynthia.  \nWith Cynthia in good paws, Flora donned a sleeveless, crew-neck, dark green dress  \nwith a wavy bottom that fluttered around her knees when she walked. She slipped the carved  \nwooden bracelet Charlotte had given her around her left wrist, checked her fur for any disorderly  \npatches, and hastened out of her room to meet Lance on the sidewalk outside of her dorm. The  \nwolverine was already waiting, and he waved when Flora stepped out the door. He was wearing  \na maroon dress shirt, and as Flora approached him, she noticed he looked more nervous than  \nusual. Reciprocal nervousness fluttered in Flora's chest, and she smiled shyly.  \n\"Hi Lance!\" she piped, trying to hide the timidity in her voice lest it be mistaken for  \nmisgivings about the date. I want to get to know him better. That can't hurt, right?  \n\"Hi Flora, you, uh, look lovely this evening,\" Lance mumbled bashfully.  \nFlora swished her tail anxiously, unsure how to take the awkward compliment, \"Erm,  \nthanks, you look good too.\" She paused. \"Umm, do you know the way, or should I lead?\"  \n\"I looked it up, but if you know, I'll follow you.\"  \n\"Okay.\"  \nLance self-consciously held out his right hand, \"May I?\"  \nAfter a heartbeat of hesitation, Flora placed her left hand in the wolverine's larger hand.  \nHis hand gently closed around hers, engulfing it in a warm, furred and padded cocoon. Flora  \neyed his sharp black claws and the coarse black fur of his enormous hand and thick arm with a  \nsmall amount of trepidation. They might both be carnivores, but there was no question which  \nwas the more powerful. She yanked herself away from the agitating reverie.  \n\"Alright, let's go,\" she chirped.  \nThey made their way across campus. Flora's agitation caused her to walk somewhat  \nfaster than she otherwise would have, and she occasionally tugged on Lance's arm. For the  \nmost part though, they walked side-by-side. Flora glanced up at the wolverine several times  \nduring their short walk, but he seemed to be nervously avoiding her eyes. Instead, Flora  \ncontemplated his muscular form: he was only a little over a head taller than her but much  \nstockier, powerfully built. Flora had heard that wolverines had once hunted prey much larger  \nthan themselves, and she didn't see any reason to discredit this rumor when she examined her  \ndate.  \nThey were greeted in the restaurant by a European polecat wearing an embroidered  \nblack vest and black bow tie. \"Good evening. Will two be all for you?\"  \nLance nodded, \"I have a table reserved for 'Firth'.\"  \nThe polecat grabbed two off-white cardstock menus and motioned for them to follow.  \nThe dining area was carpeted midnight blue and enclosed in walls painted charcoal gray while  \nthe wood of the tables was almost ebony. Pairs of white stick candles in crystal holders burned  \non each table, and soft overhead lighting was provided only by a dimly lit crystal chandelier  \nhanging above the center of the room. Silverware was laid out on midnight blue cloth napkins  \nand included three sizes of forks, two spoons, and two knives. Despite being almost entirely  \nfilled with diners, the room was nearly silent except for the clink of silverware and glasses and  \nthe occasional quiet murmur uttered under the breath. Flora found the overall atmosphere  \noppressive though she thought it might have been elegantly inviting with more light and a livelier  \nchatter of voices.  \nThe polecat silently led them to their table near the center of the room and laid the  \nmenus at their places. \"Your server will be with you shortly,\" he murmured. He turned and left  \nthe room as silently as he had entered.  \nFlora and Lance slipped into their seats. Lance's seat creaked, causing Flora to give a  \nlittle start. She nervously glanced around the room, but no one seemed to have been disturbed  \nby the noise. She met Lance's eyes in the candlelight: the flames glinted in his dark brown and  \nblack orbs. The expression of his dark features was difficult to read in the dim, flickering light.  \nShe smiled self-consciously.  \n\"I hope it isn't too expensive,\" she whispered. \"It looks like it would be.\"  \n\"It is a little, but you don't need to worry about it. I'll pay,\" he murmured.  \n\"I can pay for my own if you want,\" Flora returned worriedly.  \nLance slowly shook his head, \"I want to. We can split the bill next time.\"  \nFlora let the topic drop. She felt a little guilty since she had suggested the restaurant, but  \nshe didn't want to argue if Lance felt it was his duty to pay, regardless of how silly she found this  \nsentiment. Lance didn't need to pay to spend time with her; they were friends. You're here  \nbecause he wants to be more than friends, a little voice reminded her. Flora swished her bushy  \ntail, which extended between the vertical wooden bars of the back of her chair, and crossed her  \nright ankle over the other. She nervously brushed her right index finger over her right-side  \nwhiskers.  \n\"Um, I guess I ought to decide,\" she murmured embarrassedly.  \nShe quickly swiped up the menu and studied it carefully, trying to ignore the swirling  \nfeelings of doubt, nervousness, and guilt stirring inside her. Perhaps she shouldn't have agreed  \nto come. Was she leading him on? He was a friend, but she didn't think she felt the way he did.  \nWas there some way she could tell him that wouldn't hurt him? I ought to at least give him the  \nchance of this one date. Flora began to study the menu in earnest; she decided on the  \nratatouille with polenta.  \nAfter a couple more minutes their server, an elegant silver tabby in a royal blue blouse  \nwith short, ruffled sleeves at her shoulders, arrived. \"Would you like anything to drink?\" she  \nmurmured.  \n\"Water's fine,\" Flora whispered back.  \n\"For me too,\" Lance added softly.  \nFlora was a little relieved that Lance hadn't ordered any alcohol. While she'd been old  \nenough to drink since she'd turned eighteen in June, she hadn't partaken. Samantha had once  \ngotten them some beers during their sophomore year of high school, and aside from tasting  \nrevolting, it had made her feel horrible afterward. Flora wasn't anxious to try it again.  \n\"Are you ready to order, or do you need a few more minutes?\" the cat asked.  \n\"I'm ready,\" Flora answered. \"I'd like the ratatouille with polenta.\"  \n\"That's one of our vegetarian dishes. Is that okay?\"  \nFlora nodded, and the cat turned to Lance.  \n\"Er, I'd like the duck confit,\" Lance murmured.  \n\"Would you like the vegetables or the side salad?\"  \n\"Uh, can I substitute the roasted potatoes?\"  \nThe cat nodded, jotting their order on her notepad. \"I'll be right back with your water.\"  \nShe left.  \n\"You didn't have to order one of the cheapest things,\" Lance murmured embarrassedly.  \n\"I just picked what sounded good,\" Flora returned.  \nLance frowned doubtfully, but he didn't argue. Flora knew that, for a more carnivorous  \nmember of her order, it might seem strange to select a vegetarian meal, but Flora found  \nvegetables had a wider range of flavor than that provided by meat. She ate meat as she  \nneeded, but when she felt she'd had enough, she liked to broaden her palate with different  \nplant-based foods.  \nThe tabby soon returned with their glasses of water. Flora sipped hers and awkwardly  \ncontemplated her date. What else should they talk about?  \n\"You're from Rowansburg, aren't you?\" she inquired quietly. \"What's it like there?\"  \n\"It's a college town,\" Lance answered. \"About three thousand students at the university  \nand nine thousand residents in the surrounding city.\"  \n\"It's even smaller than Willowdale then,\" Flora commented. \"Have you ever been  \nsomewhere as big as Wolfsbane? I haven't.\"  \nLance shook his head, \"No, but on campus Wolfsbane doesn't seem so different. The  \natmosphere is pretty similar, except for all of the red foxes.\"  \n\"That's like saying the meadow is 'pretty similar' to the forest except for all the trees,\"  \nFlora returned pointedly.  \nLance chuckled softly, \"Heheh, I guess so.\"  \nFlora went on in an irritated whisper, \"They're so arrogant and selfish! In my writing  \nsection, they're just horrible! They talk like Vulpineva is for them alone!\"  \n\"I guess that's what happens when you have all that money and privilege,\" Lance replied  \nawkwardly. \"Are you having trouble with them in class?\"  \nFlora sighed wearily, \"It's mostly Isabelle, but the others know what she's doing. Even if  \nthey don't agree with it, they haven't done anything to stop it.\"  \n\"Have you tried going to the professor?\" Lance asked concernedly.  \nFlora snorted in sardonic amusement at the suggestion. \"Dr. McLaughlin is barely  \npresent! I doubt he'd have any idea what I was talking about if I went to him.\"  \n\"What have they been doing?\" Lance inquired. \"If you don't mind saying,\" he added  \nhastily.  \n\"It's all snide remarks and innuendo,\" Flora explained. \"But depending on the  \nopportunity, I either am prey, can't be trusted with them, or would rather have them in charge.  \nTo be honest, if it meant those arrogant jerks wouldn't be, I probably would prefer the last one.\"  \n\"I'm sorry,\" Lance murmured awkwardly. \"Are your other classes going alright?\"  \nFlora nodded embarrassedly. Perhaps this hadn't been the best time and place to vent  \nabout Isabelle and her cronies.  \n\"That's good. And we, er, I mean our other friends and I, we know that you're not like  \nthat, what the red foxes in your class said, I mean,\" he finished embarrassedly.  \nFlora smiled softly, \"Thank you, Lance.\"  \nThey were silent for several seconds, and then Lance spoke again, \"I really like you,  \nFlora. Not because you're pretty. Er, I mean, you are pretty, but, um, also, you're really kind and  \nsweet. When I, um, when I've seen you with Cynthia, you're so gentle, and I can tell how much  \nyou care. I want to care for you like that, Flora! I want to make you feel safe like that too!\"  \nFlora blinked at the candle-lit wolverine across the table, unsure how to respond to his  \nconfession. She felt his comparison to her relationship with Cynthia was odd. Flora didn't think  \nshe really needed someone to take care of her; she could take care of herself. In fact, she  \nwanted to! Did Lance think her gentleness and compassion made her weak? Did he think she  \nwas naive? Perhaps she was naive, but the longer she considered what he'd said, the more  \ncertain she was that she didn't need his protection!  \n\"I appreciate that you like me,\" Flora murmured after several seconds. \"But I think we  \nshould remain friends, Lance. I don't want a partner who feels he needs to protect me.\"  \nLance stared at her for a moment then lowered his gaze. \"I understand,\" he murmured  \nsadly.  \n\"I'm sorry, Lance,\" Flora apologized anxiously. \"I like you, but maybe we're just not right  \nfor each other. I'm sure there are lots of people who would like you to care for them like that, but  \nthat's not what I want.\"  \nLance nodded dejectedly.  \nThe remainder of their meal was held in awkward silence with the exception of a few  \nhesitantly interjected inquiries about the other's meal, made for the sake of politeness. The  \nratatouille and polenta were quite tasty, but Flora would have enjoyed them more in less doleful  \ncompany. She felt awkward and guilty about the distress she'd caused Lance, but she wasn't  \nsure there was anything she could do about it short of changing her mind, which wouldn't have  \nbeen fair to either of them when she was certain it would have only led to greater heartbreak  \ndown the line. I need a partner who knows they can rely on me too, Flora decided. Perhaps she  \ncould have proven herself to Lance, but she didn't feel it was wise to start a relationship with the  \nintent to change someone's mind, particularly on a point that might reflect deep-seated  \nattitudes. Perhaps Lance would learn more and change his own mind, and if he did, then  \nperhaps Flora would give him another chance.  \nAt the end of the meal, Flora offered to pay for her portion again, but Lance insisted on  \npaying the full bill. He walked her back to her dorm--without holding hands this time--and they  \nsaid their goodnights.\n\n  \n  \n\n","series":{"name":"Flora: A Tale from Vulpineva","previous":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2034029-chapter-6-classes-begin.json","next":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/2034257-chapter-8-shower-fiasco.json"}}