Strength of Heart
Another story granted to me by a fine, creative mind on FA. I'm really happy with how it turned out, and I hope you enjoy it. I tried a new formatting style with this...I hope it turns out better than my older stories. Enjoy!
Nikti couldn't help but be a little uneasy. It was her first visit to her doctor in a few weeks, her tests had finally come back after who-knows-how-many delays, and now the aging, but sharp-as-steel doctor that had seen her since she was born was keeping her waiting.
She slumped back in the hard plastic chair and churred so loudly that the young secretary heard the noise through her headphones, and perked up slightly over her desk to look at her. Nikti shook her head, and the girl slouched back down, bobbing her head to her music.
What the hell was taking so long? She looked about the waiting room. It had been empty since she got here, and that was five hours ago. Doctor Kentz was indeed there, she saw him swish by the hall; Apparently he was just so busy he couldn't even come out and personally tell her to wait just a moment longer, or even give her an excuse.
Finally, after what seemed like more than a day had gone by, Nikti's pointed ears twitched as she heard the familiar click of the Treating Room's door open. The fox's eyes brightened, and she jumped down onto all fours, quickly striding across the room towards the door. She never bothered to look up as she entered, deciding it would be more fun to berate him for taking so long when he had sat down and was eye-level with her.
She jumped up on the bed, folded her legs under her backside, and crossed her forelegs across her chest. It was then she noticed that the normally smiling face of her favorite man to see was now lined with stress, and his eyes were bloodshot.
"Did you sleep alright, Brian?" She straightened slightly, looking up at him. Doctor Kentz looked down at her comparatively tiny -almost child like- body. Nikti was no child, but she was so sweet, innocent, and unique that he could never see her as anything more than the beautiful young daughter that he never had.
He reached out -as was their tradition when they visited- and stroked the soft reddish gold fur on her cheek, then her neck, where his hand came to a rest holding her shoulder. He looked into her eyes- those sweet blue eyes that had never lost their glimmer of strength and hope since the day she was born. He kneeled, taking both of her hands in his.
"No- Brian...no- please don't tell me..." Nikti saw the tears starting from his eyes, running down the wrinkled, reddening skin on his cheeks, and off his chin. "Please!"
"Nikti," Was all he could say, "I- all night- I looked over the results, every letter, and every number. As much as I hate to say it- I'm going to lose my daughter."
Nikti knew that meant her. He had been there when she was born, predicted she would never last more than a week, and had since been with her as she grew, doing every test he could think of to find out how she had survived. Nothing had come up, nineteen years of testing, and all anyone could say was that she was the strongest girl they had ever seen.
She was his daughter- her father was a common pet, a fox, and her mother had left Nikti with the hospital when she had been told there was no reason to pursue raising a child that would be dead by tomorrow- he was the only one she ever had. Of course she had foster parents- but no foster parent gives a damn about their kid, especially not in a family of five boys and two girls.
She had been abused more times than she could count, and Brian had always been there to hold her in his arms when she cried; when she needed birth control in case her brothers decided wearing the rubber jacket wasn't as fun anymore, and when she needed someone to talk to that wasn't a gurgling three-year-old sister.
Now, all her strength, her will to live, it faltered, and she squeezed his hands tightly, tears breaking from her eyes and flowing freely down her cheeks. They hugged, both crying into one another's shoulders. She cried because her life was about to be cut short; he because he would lose the only girl he had ever loved like family. They sobbed together for what felt like an eternity, but it was all too quickly cut short when the graying doctor stood straight.
"I'm so sorry Nikti, but according to this-" He flicked his hand at the folder on his desk, "you have about...five days- a hundred twenty hours, maybe a few more if you fight to the last moments."
Nikti steeled herself, taking a deep breath, and looking Brian in the eyes. "I- thank you for being there for me Brian, I couldn't have gone on for this long without someone like you."
Brian squelched a sob in his throat, and hugged her again. "Nikti, I love you like a daughter."
"I know- and I love you like the father that didn't beat or rape me." She kissed his cheeks again and again, "I'll miss you."
With those words, Nikti leapt down from the patient bed, padded over to the door, wrapped her paw around the handle and pulled it open. She gave one last smile, the most difficult smile she had ever felt cross her face, and left. As her white-tipped tail flashed out of the room, Brian sat on the bed and looked over at the folder on his desk. He reached over and pulled it closer, opening it.
As tears kept running down his cheeks, he slumped over into his computer, pulled the tiny vile of Nikti's blood from the plastic packet stapled to the folder and scanned it again. He opened the e-mail, wiped his eyes with his sleeve, and carefully requested that the Capital lab analyze it again. He also opened up a small calendar, and set the end date one hundred twenty hours from then. The calendar set a marker on the gap between Thursday and Friday of that week. After midnight, on August twenty first, the most special girl he had ever known would be gone. Claimed by the rarest disease that ever affected furs. The message sent successfully, so Brian closed the calendar, shut down the computer, and rested his head in his arms.
"Susan, hold all appointments." He muttered. Then, upon not hearing a reply, barked at her: "SUSAN!"
"Yeah, yeah!" She replied sourly from the other room, the loud, splattery pops of gum being chewed between each word. "jeez, psycho much?"
Brian closed his eyes and shut out the chewing noises, this was going to be a long day...
-
Nikti had kept her smile on for over an hour, managing to hold the torrents of emotion at bay with a solid steel dam that she had built from ten years old. She had closed her eyes when her blood was taken, bit her tongue when her brothers took turns having their way with her, smiled whenever she was told of another way she was supposed to die, and simply shrugged everything off. She was beginning to crack now; the smile that kept her going for so long had faded, curled, become almost menacing.
A child walking across the street looked at her as she slowed for him to cross; his eyes widened and he bolted the rest of the way in less than a second. For a moment, she looked back curiously at the young boy, and then she saw herself in her mirror. Her eyes were red, and the cute smile that could melt hearts was now pulled back in a crazy grimace.
Her car screamed to a halt, and she swore at the steering wheel as she pounded it with her fists. The whole car shook as she thrashed around inside, breaking CDs, snapping her mirror ornament against the armrest, and pounding her forehead against the wheel, screaming every curse word she knew. She flailed violently towards her enraged reflection in the window, smashing her elbow through the glass. The window burst with a snap, and sparkling safety glass rained down on her lap, tearing long streaks into her blouse, and the tender flesh underneath.
The white cotton quickly flushed crimson as blood began to weep from the wounds as her body cried in its own way. With her good arm, she hit the steering wheel one final time, and swore up at the heavens. The atheists had been right all along- what kind of a God would let something like this happen? How was this fair?
Her heart thundered in her chest, and blood began to stream from her arm even faster. She was starting to get dizzy, and a coldness- it reminded her of her step-dad's hands- wrapped around her body, making her body -especially sensitive flesh- tremble. She cried, letting her head fall down on the steering wheel, and closed her eyes. The horn roared in her mind, but quickly faded into a hollow droning that was pushed to the back of her mind.
Maybe this was better- now she would be free from the waiting- death would be quick, instant, and positive. She would die now, no waiting, no worrying, relatively little pain, it was perfect. Nikti smiled in her sleep, ready to follow the black-cloaked demon as he led her to the afterlife.
-
The cold, lifeless hands of death gripped her shoulder, shaking her viciously.
"Ease up," She groaned, "I'm already dead, no need to beat me up."
"Nikti!" â€"That wasn't death's voice...it was more raspy than this...this voice sounded more like-...Tiere! The hands shook her again, begging for her to open her eyes. Nikti complied, and was immediately repaid with a brilliant flash of light, and Tiere's face suddenly right over hers. She wasn't in her car, but the feeling of glass prodding her backside through her jeans assured her she was close. Tiere held her in his arms, begging for her to come back. Nikti struggled for a moment, wrapping her bloodied paws around his back.
"I'm here." She said.
Tiere nearly cried, squeezing her body even closer, "Not for long..."
"I know-" She replied, the prickling of blood running down her arm now just a mild annoyance. "I'm sorry Tiere. Not all of us can live like you humans do."
"No- No!" He shook her, but stopped himself, realizing he was likely doing more harm than good, "why did you have to do this to yourself? Why?!"
"Do this to-..." Nikti paused- Had that really happened? The steady ache of her arm, and the strange feeling of hot, viscous fluid running from her arm confirmed it. "Myself..."
Tiere lifted her small frame in his arms, and Nikti blacked out as he carried her away from the vehicle. Maybe now death would take her. She had said her last goodbyes to the only friends she had ever known, and she was in the capable hands of Tiere. He would hold her when she died- just like a dream she had weeks ago- though she was much older in the dream, and her kids were there too.
She could never have kids- she was nearly positive her body couldn't handle the strain of bearing a child, but it had always been a dream of hers ever since she had left her foster home.
Tiere had been the only male that had ever befriended her though. Every other man was afraid of her, a girl with the body of a twelve year old -that developed early- begging for sex made them squeamish. Though she had never seen Tiere as the kind of guy that would obey her wants. Even on her heat cycles he would turn her down, no matter how much she threatened or tempted him.
She often stayed with him when she was in her cycle; he kept the neighborhood dogs away from her and made sure she never made a stupid mistake she would regret later. She wondered what he would have been like as a mate -if she survived-. Anyone so caring and devoted to not taking advantage of her would have been the best lover she could ever ask for, even if he was only a human.
Despite the coldness, the sorrow, and the anger taking over her body, warmth still began to blossom in her heart. And as she imagined him making love to her, through the rest of her body. The warmth kept building until she could feel the cold prickle of sweat running through her fur and down onto-...wherever she was.
It suddenly surged up and focused on her arm, and Nikti's head snapped forward, shrieking sharply as her arm exploded with agony. She looked over to see Tiere holding a ball of cotton, a horrified look on his face.
"I'm so sorry!" He backed out of the range of her claws, "it's to stop the bleeding."
"No..." She moaned, "Why couldn't you let me die?"
"I'd never let my friend die on me, Nik, we've got so many years left." He came closer, brushing the hair out of her eyes, "How would I live without you?"
Nikti couldn't tell him, not yet- she was still too woozy from all of the blood loss, so she laid her head back. "I don't know ...I just..." She trailed off, closing her eyes. Tiere grabbed her wrist gently, checking her pulse. The wounds were covered with cauterizing spray, and her heartbeat was getting stronger, he silently thanked the gods.
-
Nikti awoke with a start, her good hand pinned under something warm, soft, and...heavy. She opened her eyes, but could only see black- the exception being the two orange strips of light on the wall across from her, streaming in from the window above her. Street lights. It was obviously late, but she wanted to pull her arm free, so she tugged gently, slowly pulling her hand free as the weight on her arm began to roll.
"Nikti?" Tiere's tired, yawning voice broke the silence, "You're awake?"
"Yeah," She whispered back, "can I have my arm back?"
"Huh?" He felt her fingers wriggling under his ribs, "Oh, yeah...Sorry."
Tiere reached over and turned on the light, flooding the room with pale white light. Nikti looked down, realizing she was nude from the waist up, as was Tiere. Her now-free hand instantly snapped up and covered her chest, more of an instinct than a fear of being ogled. Tiere laughed, "Don't worry Nik; I've seen them all night...though I have to say, you're lucky to have such a build, despite your size."
Nikti looked down at herself, moving her arm. She was slim, taut, firm-bodied, and her breasts were that perfect size- they didn't bounce if she didn't want them to, but there was enough there to play with if anyone felt so inclined. Unwittingly, she toyed with the mounds on her chest, squeezing them together and rubbing them.
"If you keep that up-" Tiere pushed her hands away gently, giggling. "It's going to get a little tougher to resist you."
Nikti laughed, "Yeah right, I've been stark naked in front of you, legs spread, and begging for you to fuck me. You didn't even breathe differently."
Tiere wrapped his arm over her shoulders, sliding it under her head and pulling her upper body closer to his. She laid her head in his arm, nuzzling gently into his chest, and snaked her wounded hand over his body, letting it hang over the other side.
"Tiere- I wanted to tell you something before." She looked up at him, "we don't have forever together- I only have five- no- three days left."
"What?" Tiere cried, suddenly terrified, as though he had been shot. "No- you're so- but you're walking, talking, you're still healthy."
"This isn't like cancer or those other diseases, apparently." She touched his cheek, pushing him back down, calming him slightly. "All I know is that it's coming, and I don't see why I'd want to wait. That's why I wanted you to let me be."
Tiere's eyes watered, and he quickly turned away, wiping the tears across the back of his arm. He turned back, forgetting his bloodshot eyes and held her closely. He couldn't think of how it would feel to lose her. Such a happy, cheerful girl that brightened every day of his life since he met her, and now, even her strong will was destroyed. If she couldn't be strong, how could he?
"Don't you want to do something special before- you know...?" He asked.
"I don't know, there's nothing I've ever wanted to do- ...well, I've always wanted children, but it's too late for that now." She sighed, "It would still be so wonderful. I wish I could mate someone I loved, just to have that moment where I felt complete."
Tiere tightened his hand over her shoulder, trying not to hint at what he was thinking. "It's not too late for that, you know."
Nikti looked up at him, "You're right...but who would want me? I'm four foot nine, screwed up, and I'm going to die in a week. Does that scream ‘attractive' to you?"
Tiere smiled, kissing her forehead, "it does to me."
Nikti blushed, did he just say that? "Tiere- we- could we do this together? I mean, could you? In a few days, I'll be gone, and I'd have a piece of you with me. Would you be okay with that?"
"I would miss you forever, Nik." He kissed her forehead again, blushing lightly, "but I also want you to be at peace with this world before you leave. I would do anything to make you happy."
Nikti sat up, moaning sharply as her arm sent a twang of pain up her spine. She fell back, disappointed. "Not tonight I guess...I'm tired, hurt, and weak. Maybe tomorrow night?
"Alright- though it's pushing close to your last day." He reminded her, and then mentally kicked himself.
"I know, but it will make for a magical final moment." She hugged him with her good arm, "although....if you're really feeling it tonight, you could warm me up a bit."
Tiere's surprised expression asked the question for him.
"I don't mean- silly." She gave him a playful slap on the chest. "I mean a massage, so you can get to know me more...intimately. "
"Ohhh." Tiere ran a hand up her stomach, and she hummed in approval.
Nikti couldn't keep herself from moaning softly as Tiere's hands traced along her curves, carefully smoothing every inch of fur, touching every inch of flesh, and rubbing the muscles that ached from stress. Her body melted, and she could feel herself start to lose control over her own actions. She rolled onto her side, presenting her backside to Tiere, and he lovingly worked the kinks out of her back, played with her behind, and even began to play with her tail; running his fingers through the thick, fluffy fur along its length and rubbing the tip against his chest like a sexy paintbrush. Her jeans were already crumpled in a heap on the floor, and Tiere took the time to carefully remove her underwear as well, setting the pink satin on the floor gently. He returned to rubbing her tail with one hand, and playfully squeezing her thigh with the other.
This only turned Nikti on more and more, and soon enough, she was sure that he could smell how heavy the air had gotten with her sweet, powerful scent. She was nearly gagging on it, there was no way a male couldn't have noticed, human or not. She gasped sharply as his hand finally ventured between her thighs, cupping her cunny in his palm. Her hips began to move -much to her own shock- and began massaging the tender flesh between her thighs against the heel of his hand.
Tiere took a quick breath, his mouth slightly agape as he watched her body move on his hand, the warm embrace of her scent beckoning him closer and the enticing warmth of her flesh at his fingertips, begging for him to feel just a bit more. He resisted, sliding his hand free, but ensuring he tickled every inch of the moist tender flesh as he pulled back.
Nikti groaned in dismay, and rolled over onto her back. His teasing little stunt had both made her extremely aroused and completely put her out of the mood. She could wait until tomorrow now. Her hands instantly raced to her crotch, rubbing furiously at the damp flesh. She could wait...but her body was a different entity altogether. Tiere lay back as well, shutting his eyes and trying to ignore the soft, wet smacking noises her fingers made along the inside rim of her aching cunny.
He wanted her so badly now, he could feel his desire warring with the restraint that kept him from stripping down right there, and driving himself home in her. He rubbed his shaft through his underwear gently, throwing the covers over himself to cover up as he fantasized about finally making love to her. All the natural thoughts rushed through his mind, the pleasure, the soft moans of approval, the louder moans of ecstasy, and the screams of bliss, the scent of their fluids melding, the touch of her fur against his skin.
Tiere pulled his hand away from himself, tucking it behind his back and rolling onto it, making sure he could hold off on his own temptations. Nikti was worth waiting for; their experience had to be special. Not like their first concert, or the first time she had kissed him. This had to be perfect.
He would kiss her, touch her, hold her, love her- then when she was finally aching for him, he would make love with her. He smiled at the ceiling as Nikti continued feverishly pleasuring herself next to him, the wet slapping noises becoming more and more desperate, and her moans more exhausted. She rode the rush of a good climax, and nodded off to sleep as Tiere lay next to her, smiling and tasting the air.
She was beautiful, so cute and innocent, but so wild and passionate that it was hard to compare her to a child. Tiere had loved her all along, from the day he met her he found her to be such a unique character that he was compelled to learn more. Everything he had learned of her from then on only drew him closer. Even this experience, massaging her nude body, feeling her fur between his fingers, twenty four hours from now, he would get even closer than he had ever dreamed, or hoped. Now that it was a possibility, Tiere closed his eyes and let sleep take him.
Nikti appeared before him in the warm emptiness of the dream-world, and suddenly they were clasped together on a soft velvet blanket. He kissed her neck and smiled as his hands held her close. If only dreams could come true...
-
Nikti had awoken early, the sun had barely begin to peek over the horizon as she slid off the bed and wrapped herself in the velvety blanket rolled up at the foot of the bed. The delicate fabric made her skin tingle, and she hugged it close. Her breasts ached, her thighs tingled, her entire body stung with prickling warmth. She groaned and held her hand between her thighs, quickly padding over to the couch in the other room. She remembered now- the nineteenth of August was the start of her autumn cycle. Her body begged her for satisfaction; Even if only from a single finger, the lightest touch was promised to be rewarded with bliss.
Nikti shook her head, pushing the desire to the back of her mind and yanking her hand away from her clutching cunny. Her juices began to pool in the blanket as she leaned on her side and fumbled for the TV remote. It was hidden inside a slipper under the couch- she squinted at the device, wondering how it had gotten there before tugging it free and brushing the lint off the soft plasti-rubber buttons.
The modest-sized widescreen snapped to life as she pressed the little red button on the top of the remote, and the roar of canned laughter filled the living room. Nikti panicked, nearly dropping the remote as she scrambled for the volume-down button. The laughing waned away into silence, and with her ultra-sensitive ears, she hear Tiere stir.
Oh no - she panicked, shutting the TV off and hiding her head under the mound of blankets wrapped around her. When her cycle started, she was most sensitive to attraction, desire, and stimulation. Nikti bit her tongue, if she saw him, there would be no way to say no- her body wouldn't let her.
Nikti held her breath as Tiere's heavy footsteps came nearer, the floor creaked as he leaned into the living room and looked around. The floor creaked again as he turned and walked to the kitchenette directly attached to the living room. She exhaled, he didn't see her.
"Gotcha!" Tiere pounced on her from the other side of the living room, having gone around through the kitchen to surprise her. Nikti shrieked, surprised, but unusually pleased to have him on top of her. His hands wriggled into the blankets, cupping her round behind, then her sides, ribs, shoulders- what was he doi- Nikti cried out as she felt his fingers dig into her armpits, tickling her ferociously.
"You Sonnuvabitch!" She struggled, though she was imprisoned by the blanket that she had been hiding in. "Haha! Stop it! I'll kill you- I swear- haha! Swear to God!"
She bucked against him, knocking him off her back and onto the floor. But not being beaten so easily, Tiere grabbed the blankets, tugging her down on top of him. She yelped as her body slumped into his lap, and was once again assaulted by his lightning fast fingers. Tiere had started to laugh as well, her giggles almost as infectious as her smile.
Only a few moments had passed before either one was too busy laughing to do anything other than lay on the floor and hold their sides. Nikti had almost forgotten about her heat by then.
Tiere wiped his eye, laughing so hard he had managed a few tears, and rolled Nikti off of him, unraveling the blanket around her as though she were a delicate prize. His cheeks reddened as the last layer slid off, and her slender sexy body lay fitted against his, right at his fingertips. Nikti's heat came back so quickly, she bucked her hips as the sensation hit her body.
"Nik," He leaned down and kissed her, cupping her cheek in his hand and lifting her head closer. Nikti had forgotten about resisting. She was naked, her knees were on either side of Tiere's waist, and this kiss- it was definitely perfect.
Tiere inhaled, the enticing scent of her heat, her warm breath, and the sweet aroma of cappuccino lip gloss filling his head. Now was the time- his body, mind and soul told him so. He would have waited had Nikti wanted to- but the way she was rubbing her bare crotch against his underwear, he could tell she had no interest in holding off for even a second.
-
Tiere backed against the couch, pulling Nikti into his lap and kissing along her neck. The air was quickly filled with soft, pained moans as he tasted her fur on his tongue, biting the flesh gently. The river of juices that oozed from her ran down his stomach and soaked into his briefs, making him shiver. He wanted her -now- but there was no way he could last until she climaxed.
Nikti felt her body lift in Tiere's arms, and found herself elevated a few feet above the floor in his comforting grip when she opened her eyes. He set her on the couch and kneeled on the floor, setting his head on her thigh. She looked down into his eyes, and he looked back. In the silent moment, his inquisitive eyes asked if he might taste her, and she replied with an openly desperate yes.
Nikti shivered as his tongue dragged along the length of her cunny for the first time, stimulating every inch of the outside flesh in one broad, blissful stroke. In the next moment, he pushed her knees apart with one hand, held her hand with the other, and drove his tongue deep into the dripping treasure between her legs, tasting her depths.
Nikti wailed in ecstasy, her dull claws digging into Tiere's palm as he pleasured parts of her that had only seen stimulation through force and anger. Though there was no time for that now- every thought of her brothers was washed away in one shock of heavenly fire that coursed through her veins as Tiere's tongue found something she had never felt. The delicate flesh on Tiere's tongue quivered and convulsed, and a strand of thicker fluid dripped from her cunny, running onto his tongue.
Nikti bucked, then recoiled a bit, pushing his head away, "please- Tiere..."
Nikti didn't have to finish her sentence- Tiere knew exactly what she wanted now. He hurriedly stripped off his briefs and sat next to her on the couch. Nikti grabbed his shaft, and before he could take a breath, mounted herself right above the tip of his length. She held for a moment, lowering herself just enough to let the tip touch the slick folds of pink flesh, and letting a stream of her juices flow down the length of his shaft. He groaned as the hot fluids aroused him even more, running down like a hot, liquid tongue that found every perfect spot. His length throbbed- and there was no way either of them could wait any longer.
Nikti and Tiere groaned in unison as his shaft spread the tight pink flesh, and sank inside her. Nikti howled as she reached half-way on him -the pain of being filled so deep almost unbearable- but pressed herself lower, pushing the limits of her body for him. Something popped inside her, and she hilted suddenly, echoing a sharp cry that Tiere had also uttered.
Nikti leaned forward, lifting her chin and exposing her neck to him -an instinctual response that Tiere took hold of by nipping gently along the satin-like white fur along her throat. She murred in response, rocking her hips against his gently. The soft murr quickly blossomed into a moan as he shifted under her, moving his length around inside her tightly clenching insides.
Nikti shuddered, tiny burst of bliss escaping her body as her inevitable climax built inside her body. She gripped his shoulder, turning in his lap and leaning back. He caught her, setting her head on his shoulder and reaching up under her arms, groping her breasts gently, kneading them in his hands, and rolling the pink nubs between his fingertips.
Nikti rose in Tiere's lap as he massaged her breasts, then pushed herself back down, hilting hard and nearly bursting with orgasm. Tiere cringed as he felt her tight, tender flesh slam open to receive him only to be hit hard anyways. Nikti lifted herself again, the tip of Tiere's shaft stretching the outer lips of her cunny, threatening to pull out. Just as it started to slide free, Nikti slammed back down, hilting herself viciously.
Tiere held his own, resisting his orgasm as long as he could to ensure she climaxed with him. It was a silly dream, to say the least, but it would end a perfect moment between the two lovers. He began to buck lightly inside her, pushing both of their orgasms to grow.
Much to his shock and pleased surprise, after a few thrusts, Nikti threw her head back and wailed in surreal ecstasy. Her cunny suddenly flooded with her own sweet juices, and spilled onto the couch. Tiere had actually outlasted her.
Of course that mean nothing, Nikti regained her composure moments later, calmed her quivering legs, and turned half-way in his lap to look at him. She leaned close, looking up at him with eyes that could make solid steel melt. One gentle twist, and a slight squeeze, and she drained his body of every drop of seed he had. With a shuddering moan, his hips snapped up, pushing him deeper than he had been, and pumped every drop of his seed directly into her womb.
"Nikti," He panted heavily, but kissed her neck and continued, "You're going to have such beautiful babies- perfect little kids that we can love forever."
Tears ran from Nikti's eyes as she leaned in and hugged him, "tell me more."
"I'll be with you every step of the way, my love." He hugged back, "I'll take care of them, play with them, teach them about life, and we can celebrate their first Christmas together...and their second...third...fourth...until they're big kids, and we watch -holding hands- as they leave for college."
Nikti wept into his shoulder, "Would you?"
"Without a doubt," He answered, caressing her head against his shoulder. "I love you, Nik, and I love our children."
They both knew it was a lie- but it made her complete. She had been given the right to have children- a pack of pups. They would grow up with her in the afterlife- she hoped. Tiere's eyes watered, and soon, he began to cry as well. The only woman he had ever loved was leaving this world in a few of the shortest days he had ever had the displeasure of suffering through.
-
Doctor Kentz opened his home computer, analyzing the disease that was killing Nikti. As he scrolled through the pages of chemical analyses, a small red marker appeared in the bottom corner of the screen. His calendar had reminded him that an un-named event was occurring three hours from now. Brian opened the notification, and immediately remembered what the notification was for. At twelve thirty seven- Nikti's mind would be overwhelmed by the virus, her body would shut down, and her amazingly gifted life would be cut tragically short at nineteen years.
-
Tiere held Nikti close as she lay in bed, massaging her stomach like a pregnant mother feeling her child. It had been only a day since they had mated, but Nikti had lulled herself into an almost trance-like state. She felt her children writhing inside her, waiting to be freed. Soon she told them, soon, you'll be free my loves, and I'll be with you forever.
This was their final night together. Tiere had held her close for eleven straight hours, waiting for the moment when her head would fall limp, her heart would stop, and their love would end forever.
"Nik?"
"Yes?"
"Are you feeling okay? I'm going to get a drink to calm my nerves." Tiere said, sliding away slightly.
"I'll be okay, bring me back something- no alcohol though." She patted her belly.
Tiere nodded and quickly walked to the kitchen. He produced a bottle of hard liquor from the fridge, and poured a glass of milk for Nikti. He sat and took a quick swig of the vodka. The rush of alcohol made him shake his head. He took a look at the clock, it was one forty-eight, no- that wasn't right ...He had left at ...nine thirty to get a glass of vodka-...unless he had fallen aslee- Nikti! Tiere hurried back, but he already heard something different in the air.
The sounds of her breathing- they were no longer there. As Tiere rounded the corner, he saw Nikti lying in bed, arms at her sides, hands half-open, and eyes closed. Her face was peaceful- she hadn't suffered. Tiere dropped the glass in his hand, and had his arms around her before it shattered on the floor, weeping like a widow. He lost all feeling in his body, her silky fur becoming a distant memory as all emotion faded away. He could hear her voice echoing in his mind.
"I love you Tiere." The voice kept echoing in his head, "I love you, don't cry."
Tears kept falling, and he held her tighter, "please don't cry, Tiere."
"I left you!" He cried at the heavens. "I left you for a drink, abandoned you in your last moments. What kind of a person am I?!"
"You were always here Tiere, you were there when I needed you before, and you're here now. A few moments doesn't matter."
He felt her touch once again, her hand on his cheek, her arms hugging him, and the delicate kiss on his neck. "You're always here for me."
Tiere hugged her lifeless body, and leaned down, kissing her lips one last time. He looked into her eyes and sniffled loudly. He laid her back down, and set his head on her chest. To his horror, she moved.
"Tiere? Are you okay? What happened?" She looked around, suddenly worried.
"Are- but-...you..." He stuttered. "You're dead."
"Well, so are you then." She replied matter-of-factly. "Because I'm talking to you, and I can feel your head crushing my lap."
Tiere's head sprang up. "Oh my God," He touched her cheeks.
-
Brian called her home. The phone rang once, twice, thrice. The aging doctor's eyes began to water as the phone kept ringing. Finally, a voice answered.
"Hey!" Nikti greeted sweetly, "I'm not home right now, so leave me a message after the beep, okay?"
Brian pushed the phone back into its receiver, and just as he hung his head his computer whined again. A new e-mail.
He shoved the mouse with his elbow, clicking it with his left hand when it was over the link. The file opened, and Doctor Kentz nearly jumped out of his seat.
///[Re:Nikti Mattson:Test Results]///
Greatest apologies, Doctor Kentz, for any stress the previous results caused you and your patient, Miss Mattson. However, Capital Lab and Research is pleased to inform you that the previous test results were indeed incorrect. The blood sample you sent had been corrupted during the sending procedure, and it lead the testing facility to believe it was the Viral toxin: Ditremonium-A, causing the defects in the blood. However, upon study of the most recent sample, tests showed that Miss Mattson's blood was clean of any infection. The tests even showed her immune system was significantly stronger than a normal control subject.
Again, we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.
Sincerely,
The Staff at Capital Labs and Research.
///[Segment End]///
///File Attached: [NM-45F9-K5544-results.doc]///
///[%Fragment-o047921/shell-result=?m*47/query]///
-
"Oh my God!" Tiere lifted Nikti into his arms, laughing as he kissed her. "You didn't leave me!"
Nikti couldn't respond, her own laughter taking up her mind. She had survived. She had taken on an unbeatable virus and beat it. There was nothing that could stop her now. She kissed Tiere, forcing her tongue deep between his lips and entangling it with his. They both moaned into the kiss, groping at each-other's backs.
"Tiere." Nikti finally broke the kiss, taking a moment to breathe.
"Yes, my love?"
"Remember how you said you'd be with me every step of the way?" She looked up into his eyes.
"I meant every word, love." He held her, "I'm going to be there for you and your- our pups."
Nikti's heart warmed, and she hugged him tight. "Thank you love."