The Mellow Traces
Baby Akira was asleep.
Her parents were not (and wouldn't be ... anytime soon). For they were bare in the bedroom air. With bedroom eyes. With fur just begging to be matted by pillows and sweat. With tails just begging to be tugged and stroked.
With a fire that just NEEDED to be stoked.
Oh, what lovely rhyme and reason!
A giggle (on her part ... on the bat's). And she slipped her arms around the mouse's belly. From behind. Hugging him from behind. Putting her paws over his eyes and whispering, "Guess who?"
"Mm ... "
"Two guesses."
"Two?" Field asked, tilting his head (the paws moving with him, keeping him blinded. "Aren't you supposed to get three?"
"Mouses get two."
"No fair," was Field's retort. His snaky tail, thin and silky ... pink and long ... slithered round her waist. Circling round her waist. As if anchoring his body to hers. So, if one fell ... the other would fall, too. So neither could escape the other.
"Come on, darling ... it's an easy one." Adelaide grinned. A sunset-bright grin. "Two guesses should suffice."
"Mm ... hmm ... " He feigned uncertainty. "Um ... "
Her lips brushed the back of his neck. Her fangs ... skimming over his fur.
"What sharp teeth you have," Field whispered. "Whoever you are," he added, smiling.
A giggle. "The better to bite you with, mousey."
"Mm ... you must be ... " He bit his lip, doing his best to look cute (and succeeding ... with whiskers twitching, and nose sniff-sniffing; always, a constant source of anxious energy). "Must be ... "
"Time's up," was her delicate-as-air whisper. And she turned him around, paws removed from his eyes ... and going to the small of his back. Pulling him belly-to-belly with her.
"Adelaide," he whispered. Breathing her name.
"Yeah ... " Her nose touched his. His sniffing nose to her ... quiet one. "You got me," she confessed, her pink eyes bright. Her pink eyes vibrant. Her pink eyes ... locked to his blue-greys.
"Do I get a prize?"
"Mm ... a gold star?" she suggested.
"A pink one?" he asked. Eyes on her fur. Nose moving from her own nose ... to her neck. Where he breathed in. Of her scent. Of her fur. "A pink one ... I like pink ... "
"You've got a bit of pink on you," she said, a paw straying to one of his dishy ears. Running round the perimeter of it. The edge of it. The inside of his ear was delicate and flimsy and pink. His nose was pink. His ...
A surprised squeak.
Her paw at a firm grip ... on his pink, sheath-less mouse-hood. "A bit of pink," she repeated.
"You're pinker," he said, smiling warmly. Lips mouthing at her fur. Wetting her fur. Breathing out ... on her.
"You're browner," she replied. Her free paw on his side, sliding to his back, to the upper regions of his rump. Eying his honey-tan fur.
"You're sweeter."
"You're cuter."
"You're brighter," he told her. Whispering it into her angular, swept-back ear. Her more powerful ears.
"Is either one of us," she posed, also at a whisper, "going to win this?"
A giggle. A helpless, shy giggle, and the mouse pulled back ... 'til they were nose-to-nose again. "I was gonna let you win."
A laugh. "LET me win? You were gonna LET me win?"
Eyes darted. And he grinned.
"How 'bout we call it a draw? We're both ... silly furs. I think that's as good a categorization as any," she confessed, "to stop on."
"I suppose." He playfully grabbed her paws. Tugging them. Tugging her arms. Trying to draw her backward. To the bed.
She had since let go of his mouse-hood, and now held his paws. Playfully resisting. Holding her ground.
He tugged. "Mm ... "
"Where dost though wish to fly away to, Field? Wherever are you trying to take me?" she asked in proper tone.
"I don't fly ... I scurry," he reminded.
"Ah. Is there a difference?"
"Scurry is ... cuter."
"Is it?" A grin. Showing her fangs.
"Isn't it?" A blink.
She tilted her head. Considering. "You know what? I think it is."
A little squeak. And he tugged on her paws and arms again. "I wanna get you," he said, "to the sheets."
"Why's that?"
"Mm ... you're teasing me now. No more teasing," he said. Dishy ears filling with blood. Turning rosy pink. Turning more sensitive.
"Aw ... " She withdrew a paw and put it to his cheek. Cupping his cheek. Looking into his eyes. "So, what's the plan?"
"We fall like leaves," he whispered, eyes closed, "to the mellow traces of the sheets."
"And then ... ?"
"We do what young bats and mouses do ... when they're in love. When it's late at night. When they're mates. When they don't wish to feel any loneliness or fright."
"So, we make poetry?" she said, smiling, tilting her head ... at his words. "Is that what young bats and mouses do ... make poetry?"
"Music, more like."
"More like love," she whispered. "We make love. Let's not compare," she said, with a warm smile, "love to any ... art. Love IS art. And, as an art, cannot be described ... as music, as ... for love is an art of its own. It deserves its OWN name.
There is no ... comparison," she said, backing him up to the bed.
He shuffled on his foot-paws. "Would not love, though, by any other name ... feel as good?" Field posed.
She gave him a playful shove. "Too much thinking, Field. No more thinking ... "
He squeaked! Falling to his rump on the sheets, the mattress ... bouncing a bit, foot-paws still on the floor, but upper body at a lie-down on the bed.
"You gonna crawl your way into the middle of this thing, or am I gonna have to drag you?" she questioned.
"I can crawl. I can crawl," he defended, wriggling, crawling to the middle of their bed. And reaching his arms out.
She took hold of them. Chittering as he ...
... pulled her to his chest.
She huffed a bit. Their bare bodies, their warm, furry forms ... snugged.
She put her muzzle to his chest. Kissed. Delicately kissed.
And, oh, his paws ... how they roved through her pink fur. Her bright fur. Over the delicate, fleshy wings of her ... that ran down her furry arms and furry sides. And a paw straying to her breasts ... cupping one ...
She exhaled through the nose. Whispered, "You don't know ... what you do for me, darling." She closed her eyes. Nose, again, buried in his fur. Breathing in ... and out. In ... holding her breath. And out. "How I worry about you. I know you took our exile hard. I know you wanted to ... take me home with you. Live on a farm with me. Just us, in the countryside ... I know you wanted all that ... "
"We'll find another planet, maybe," he whispered back. Very delicately (so as almost not to be heard). "We'll find a new home ... "
She nodded, her nose going up and down in his fur ... as she did so. "I know we didn't plan on being parents, either. I mean, I ... "
"Darling ... Adelaide ... "
"Mm ... don't shush me," she whispered.
"Well, I ... "
" ... need to hear it. Need to hear it said. I know you, Field. I know that, daily, you need to be told ... that you're loved."
"So do you ... "
"I know. But you're the needy, mousey one ... you're so fragile. Sometimes, I fear you'll ... things will break you. But they never do. But I'm always here to pick up your pieces. To put you back together again. I want you to know that ... "
"I do know ... "
"I love you," she whispered. "And I need you. And I want you ... " Each sentence growing bolder, more permanent. "And we'll be okay."
"I love you, too," was his weak, airy whisper. His paws clutched at her. "I need you, too ... and I ... " He began to stutter, flushed. Blushing. "I want you, too ... "
Her eyes open, the bat brushed a paw around the edges of his ears. "I'll never tire of your shyness."
"I thought you said," Field confided, flushing, furry chest rising, falling. "I thought you said ... no more thinking. Too much thinking. No more ... thinking," he said, huffing. Her paws running up and down his sides.
"I'm talking, not thinking."
"But you have to think to talk ... don't you?"
"Mm ... can't you think of any way," she asked, eyes glinting, "to shut my muzzle?"
"Maybe."
"Well, then ... steal my breath, Field," she asked. "Leave me breathless."
He tilted his head, his muzzle, and ... did as told. With relish. With ... lips meeting hers. Soft, sweet, succulent ... this kiss! How it lasted, for seconds. For seconds more. How warm hint of wetness (of their tongues behind those lips) ... was there. How the taste was evident. How, when the kiss was broken, a little smack-smack sound resulted.
How she, with her eyes closed, put her head on his shoulder. How she, huffing, said, "I can still breathe ... I fancy," she confessed, lost in the art of this ... " ... fancy that I would like to be turning blue. From so many breathless kisses."
A shy smile. Ears burning. The mouse ... his whiskers twitching, his tail (no longer around her waist) snaking in the air. "And lose your pretty shade of pink?" A shake of the head. "I won't have it ... you're too beautiful to change."
Adelaide opened her eyes. Lying on her side. And she took a deep breath. And gave a warm smile. "Alright," she promised. "Okay, this time ... we're really gonna ... not talk. We're just gonna ... "
"Let it happen," he whispered, a paw on her belly. Nodding. For he was ready ... more than ready. Had been waiting all day ... for this. For her.
For the two of them ... alone. The two of them ... antsy.
For this duet.
A quiet nod. Staring at him. Loving to look at him. His trim, slender form. His twitching motions.
He kissed her again. Her cheek. And her neck.
And she tilted her head. And opened her muzzle, huffing ... outward. Breathing in.
His kisses were small, shy. Little mousey nibbles. And they went down her neck. To her shoulders. To her breasts. He paused, mouth on her breast.
"I heard that," she whispered.
"Mm?" He pulled back a few inches, ears burning. Cheeks flushing hot ... beneath his fur.
A secretive smile. "I heard that," she whispered, locking eyes with him. "In your mind. I heard that ... stray want ... "
He shrugged bashfully. Smiling, looking away. And back to her. "Well ... "
"Go ahead," she whispered. Eyes sparking. "Take a sip ... just don't," she said, grinning, "drink me dry." She was still lactating.
His eyes stayed on hers for a moment ... and he nodded, and ... put his muzzle back down. Down at her breasts. Where me mouthed, slowly, slowly ... until he settled on her right nipple. And he slipped his lips over the nub of it ...
She closed her eyes. Sighed!
And the mouse suckled. Softly, gently ... suckled. A little sucking sound resulting ... from the motion of his lips. And little streams of drool filtered out of his mouth.
The bat arched. Feeling his tongue worm around on the nipple. Prodding her.
The mouse's nose flared. Whiskers twitching, brushing her ... as drops of her milk met his tongue. Giving rise to a more desperate suckling.
"Whoa ... whoa," she panted, giggling. "S-slow, slow," she said (soothingly). Stroking the fur on the back of his head. Scritching behind his ears.
A squeaky sound from his throat. A non-verbal "sorry" ... and, eyes closed, he kept suckling.
"It's okay," she whispered. Sighing. "Oh ... "
The mouse tasted of her milk. A bit more, a bit more ... and went to the other nipple. And repeated the same motions. To the same sensual result.
And when he pulled off, huffing, eying her ...
... she gave him a toothy grin. Vowing, "My turn to suck."
The mouse's ear-tips burned with heat. "Um ... "
"Don't want me to? My subservient rodent ... doesn't like it?" She was already slithering down his body.
"I ... d-do, I just ... you're ... " The bat's tongue was built for helping to catch and eat insects. It was longer than the mouse's tongue. And more versatile.
"I overload your senses, huh?" A giggle. Though she'd tried (several times), she'd never gotten him to climax ... from giving him oral. The mouse was simply too sensitive ... and had too much stamina. She always had to pull off him, panting. Had to go a different route. But she always tried. Oh, she didn't mind trying ... and, one day, she would get him. She grinned at the thought.
"Yeah ... " A swallow.
"I'll give you what you can handle," she teased, grinning ... as she said it. In her element. Strong, passionate ... playful. But very tender ... in how she touched him. Very feminine ... in her presence. Oh, he loved her. Oh, the air she gave.
"Well, I ... I ... " He stuttered.
She wasn't wasting any time. Her lips were already sliding, sliding over pink, smooth flesh. Sliding down. Halfway down. Pausing. And she chittered from the throat. And the vibrations, they made him shiver. He squeaked aloud, craning his neck. Eyes shut. And she slid the rest of the way down. And paused. And pulled back, lips sliding, sliding slickly ... to his tip. Where her tongue, it licked the underside of the head. And at the slit. The tip. And her lips, forming a ring round him ... went back down. Eventually settling into a gentle bobbing motion.
The mouse laid still. As if paralyzed. Panting, panting ... furry chest rising, falling. Paws clutching at her pink fur. The fur of her shoulders.
The bat's eyes closed ... as she bobbed. As she suckled.
And Field squirmed a bit ... " ... mm ... mm ... "
Minutes.
And the mouse, huffing, felt his fur mat with sweat ...
... until she pulled off. Huffing. Huffing. "Oh ... mm ... " Pulled her muzzle off and crawled over the top of him, on her fours above him. The mouse on his back. And she looked straight down into his eyes. "I'd keep going, but ... there's so much more," she breathed, "to do."
A swallow from him. A breath. And paws and arms going to her, around her back, and ... pulling her down!
A chitter!
A squeak!
And they were belly-to-belly. Her furry form lying flat atop of his. Muzzles together. In a kiss ... brought on by proximity. By want. Desire. By love.
Oh, they fell into each other ... and, oh, yes ... into the mellow traces of the sheets. Finding a rest that only existed here.
And the end of this passion, of this night ...
... at the moment, was nowhere near.
A tangle of furry limbs (and wings) and tails ... and little moans and rubs.
Chitter!
Squeak!
A paw tracing ...
... along his brow. With a medical scanner.
"I've been getting headaches," said Wren. Sitting on a bio-bed.
"Headaches?" Kody asked. They were in sickbay.
"Yeah ... "
A pause. "Well ... would you care to elaborate?"
"No. That's why I'm here. So, YOU can tell ME what's wrong. Why would I come here, otherwise?" the Captain asked.
"I don't know." A slow, steady look. A pause. Putting the scanner aside. "Headaches, hmm?"
A blank nod.
"Not resting? Not eating?"
"I do both ... maybe not enough, but ... "
"Something on your mind, then?"
"Something's always on my mind. I'm the captain of this ship. The first rodent captain on the first ship of prey, and ... I get us banished from home. So, we're stuck ... floating above a frozen planet. Bartering with snow rabbits. Fighting off wasps ... who knows what else. Yes, I have a lot on my mind."
"Sarcasm never worked on you," the rabbit told him. "You come off as bitter ... when you're sarcastic."
"Doesn't everyone?" the squirrel met the rabbit's eyes.
"Not everyone."
"Like you, I take it?"
"My sarcasm is funny," Kody insisted, reaching for another scanner.
Wren didn't respond. Simply listening to the beep-beeping of the various monitors ... and he sighed. Said, "I'm just tired."
"Repression can do that to you."
A blink. A head-turn. "What?"
"It can eat away at you. Burn up all your energy." Kody met Wren's eyes ... not breaking the contact. "I know how you are. We have a past ... remember?" His voice was quiet.
Wren swallowed. Got off the bio-bed. Took a step. "A past," he said, back turned to him. "But not a future." It was as if the sentence ... was meant to be an insult.
"So, next time you come to my quarters at 3 AM, wanting to give me muzzle ... I'm to turn you away?"
There was dead silence. Wren's tail quavered.
"I didn't think so," Kody whispered.
Wren swallowed, turning around. "I came to you ... last week," he said slowly, trying to keep his breath steady, "because I had some ... demons," he emphasized, "that I needed to work out. I couldn't tell Rella."
"She wouldn't understand?"
"Most furs don't."
"You're not giving her any credit."
"I gave my family credit. It was a mistake. Same thing happened to Field. Field's not repressing anything ... why would you think I am?"
"This isn't about Field ... anyway, he is, too. You can see it in the way he speaks and moves. But Adelaide allows him to feel what he feels ... and he channels it ... into her. She allows him to be as wispy and waif-like as he naturally is. Doesn't scrutinize him for it. And she takes the dominant role ... they make it work. Why? Cause he honestly loves her. And she loves him. But I'm not sure that you're in love ... with your mate."
"That's pretty arrogant, you know. To question whether I love my mate."
"Then why are you yiffing with me ... behind her back?"
"Why are you letting me do it?" Wren countered.
The rabbit was quiet. His eyes darted for a second. And he answered honestly, "Cause you're the only one who's ever been kind to me. I mean, REALLY kind ... to me. And because I have many weaknesses. And you happen to be one of them. You tempt me ... and expect me to resist?" A breath. "Everyone on this ship thinks I'm some kind of ... crude, crazy fur ... they think I'm callous. That I don't care about anything. They think I'm one of those eccentric doctors. And you're starting to treat me like one of them. You wanna use me to ... satiate your hidden desires? You want to do that, and have the gall to ... snap at me," the rabbit accused, "in front of others. Telling me not to talk about ethics. Telling me ... "
"Just stop, okay?" the squirrel interrupted.
"You came to ME. You brought ME along ... on this mission. Why? Cause you wanted me around? Why am I here, Wren?"
"Is that rhetorical?" the squirrel asked.
"Again," the rabbit said, nodding. "Bad at sarcasm."
Wren's whiskers twitched. "I'm not ... wanting to have an affair with you. That's what this is gonna be ... if it isn't already."
"So, you've given me oral a few times ... in the past few weeks. So, I pawed you off. No one knows."
"Adelaide and Field ... they'll know. I have to purposely avoid them. Cause I'm afraid they'll find out."
"I'm not telling," Kody said, stepping to his desk. Sitting in his chair. Turning his head. "And I'm not forcing you into anything."
Wren shook. And turned to leave.
"Going back to her?" Kody asked.
"I love her," Wren replied.
"Then best keep her warm. Give her a kiss ... from me."
Wren glared. And reached the doors, which opened with a swish.
"Oh, Wren," Kody called.
"What?" The squirrel stopped for a moment.
"What about your headache? Don't you want some medicine?"
"I can live with it," was the response. Before the doors closed.
A pained look tracing ...
... the wolf's brow. As he stared at the food processor.
"Hello."
Pyro spun, nearly dropping his glass. And let out a breath. "Oh ... wow, I didn't see you there."
Assumpta, from a table in the corner, nodded. Tilted her head. And squinted. They were in the mess hall. After-hours, the lights were dimmed in here. She was here because her mate, Azure, was going to be in hydroponics ... until after midnight. Cataloguing and securing a small shipment of ice plants brought aboard from the snow rabbit's world. He was going to devote a little corner in the bay to "ice flowers."
Upon hearing this, she'd suggested he plant edible things, too. Being that they were relying on hydroponics more and more ... for food reserves (as, sometimes, they hadn't enough energy to make constant use of the food processors). The squirrel had, therefore, agreed to plant some "ice fruits" ...
"Didn't think anyone was here."
"Is that why you came?"
"I was hungry," Pyro said, eyes darting around.
"If you're hungry, you should acquire food. Not a beverage," she said. Of his glass of water.
"I'm thirsty, too," Pyro managed, clearing his throat.
The snow leopard eyed him. And nodded to the chair on the other side of her table. "You may join me."
"Heh ... an honor, I'm sure. I've been given permission?" Pyro grinned, sitting across from her.
"You are the new crew-fur."
"Guilty as charged," was the wolf's response. Another grin.
Assumpta was nibbling on something ... some kind of fish dinner. Fish, macaroni ... something.
Pyro glanced at her meal.
"I am ... branching out," Assumpta explained. "I was told I had a dour culinary palate. I am attempting to expand it."
"Ah ... "
"You may order your food now, if you wish."
"Well, I'll wait," was Pyro's response.
Assumpta cut off a piece of fish ... very properly. With a knife and fork. Oh, her teeth were sharp. She was a predator, alright.
Her ice-blue eyes narrowed. "I scare you?"
"What?"
"I scare you. I can smell it. I can hear it, too."
"Hear it?"
"Your heart," she explained.
"Oh ... well ... no. I mean, no ... "
"The rumor on the ship," she continued, almost sagely, as if having knowledge that he, himself, did not. "The rumor is that you are from a mirror universe. And that, in your universe, wolves are prey. And squirrels are predators. That all the roles are reversed."
"Something like that."
"Yet you still have the teeth of a predator. The eyes of a predator. Are you not a predator?"
"No," was the whisper. "Would I be scared of you, otherwise?"
"So, you ARE scared of me?"
Damn. She had him. Pyro's red eyes darted. "Well ... alright, fine. Okay. You are intimidating. And don't say you aren't, okay? You're like this ... forbidding ice queen."
Assumpa made a face.
"No offense."
A head-tilt. "None taken."
Pyro nodded. Sipped his water. Looked around. "Hey, um ... you don't happen to know anything about Dotty, do you? I mean, like ... are you friends with her?"
"Soldotna?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Well ... just curious. I'm trying to get to ... know her better. You know ... "
"If you wish to know anything about Soldotna, perhaps you should ask Soldotna. I would assume she would be the best resource for such information."
A chuckle. "Yeah, well ... I don't know ... heh ... it's ... " He faltered a bit. "I'm rather shy about asking her ... I mean, I want to get to know her more."
The snow leopard's eyes widened. "You wish to copulate with her? You wish to ... "
A flush. "What? No ... I mean ... yes. I mean ... " His cheeks got hot beneath his fur. "Look, I just want to know her better. She's one of the only furs on this ship who doesn't have a mate. I'm new. I'm lonely. We've talked. She seems nice, is all ... I was just wondering if you could tell me ... you know, her likes. Anything ... maybe I could do for her ... that she might like." The wolf trailed.
"I am afraid not."
"There are only, what, eight-three ... or eight-four," he corrected, "furs on this ship? You've been aboard for, what, a year? You don't know anything about her?"
"I keep to myself. I have a very ... small circle," she admitted, "of friends. As you may have noticed, this is a ship of prey. And I am not prey."
Pyro nodded. "Ah ... makes sense." His nose sniffed the air. His heart pounded. Out of intimidation. But ... she had this way about her ...
She squinted.
"Heh ... sorry. Have a good nose."
She resumed eating her fish.
"Well, I'll go ... " Pyro stood.
"You may stay. We can eat our meals ... and talk."
"About?"
"Your universe. This universe. I am sure we can find something to discuss. Unless, of course, you're too afraid of me ... "
A grin. Was she taunting him. Her? With her steely demeanor? Teasing? A nod (on the wolf's part). He chuckled. "Okay. Sure."
The snow leopard eyed him as he went to get his meal. Wondering how one could be a predator on the outside ... but prey on the inside. Was their any trace of normalcy ...
... in this cold war? In this daily stand-off?
"You called?"
The fox turned his head. His fur ... a snowy, brilliant white. His muzzle ... marked with black. His nose black. His paws ... black. And his teeth were an off-white. He squinted. "Yes."
"What is it this time?"
"That ship is STILL there. Still in orbit of their world. Has been for two weeks."
"I am aware of that," said the fox at the door. He held a superior rank. "Our satellites are trained on it."
"I just wanted you to know, is all."
"Well, I DO know. Is that all?"
"The snow rabbits are ferrying them 'supplies' ... constantly."
"Are you implying something?"
"That the snow rabbits are recruiting those furs ... onto their side. That they're going to use that ship to launch attacks on our borders."
"A reasonable assumption. It would not be above the snow rabbits to resort to such things. However, it is too early to say. The thing about being poised to jump, lieutenant," said the superior, "is that ... he who flinches first ... ends up on the ground first. From the other's pounce."
The lieutenant frowned.
"IF and WHEN ... they make a move ... we will respond accordingly. Not until then."
"But that ship ... why are they there? What are they doing there?"
"I do not know."
"I believe we should find out. We have agents on some of the stations, do we not?"
"A few."
"Have one of them board her ... posing as a repair team. A scientist. Anything. If we can get scans of that ship, interior scans ... we would safeguard ourselves from a possible attack."
A sigh. "I will ... consider it. Right now, it is enough to monitor that vessel. That ... Luminous." A pause. "We will destroy her if we must."
"I believe it will come to that. I believe they are in league with the snow rabbits."
"If that is the case, then ... may God have mercy on their souls. But ... that remains to be seen. Now, do NOT interrupt me again ... telling me things I ALREADY know. Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir," replied the fox. Flushing.
"Good." The superior turned and left.
And the lieutenant stared at the viewer. Eyes tracing the image of Luminous ... docked at a snow rabbit station. In orbit. Voice asking quietly, "Where are you from? What are you doing here?" And his eyes darted to the telemetry from the satellites. Right now, it would have to be enough ... just to guess.