FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The two awoke in the morning in each other's arms, the sound of birds and squirrels squawking and chattering at each other over territory. They both looked at each other and spoke sleepily, “good morning" then chuckled awkwardly. They both knew they shouldn't be this close together, but were sort of helpless to stop doing it.

Kelsey blinked as she smiled, then began to make plans before they got too comfortable. “We should get a move on, we can be home by the evening if we get going early."

“Yeah. You're right. Here, take your clothes back." Erik nodded.

“Heh. Was just getting comfortable without them." She grinned as he propped himself up enough for her to grab them.

He snickered as he crawled over top of her to open the shelter up and get out into the morning air. It was amazing how close they had gotten over this trip, that he was able to just crawl over her in a small shelter without even a thought. Mere days ago, he was still calling her 'Lady Kelsey'. But her big day was drawing close and he knew he had to get her home to face her destiny, whatever that may be. She was his responsibility out here.

A quick bite to eat, a quick drink of the jarred rainwater, and they were off once again, hiking briskly through the underbrush of the forest towards their home.

“Two more days." He mumbled to himself quietly.

“Hm?" Kelsey looked back to him, her ears perked up a bit.

“Oh, yeah. Good ears, heh." He chuckled, realizing she could hear him quite well. “It's two more days until your big day."

“I know..." She groaned. “I've gotta say, I'm super nervous, Erik."

“Ah, don't be, I'm sure you'll do just fine."

“I have to dress nice and stand in front of the town, and give a speech, and do a really difficult thing... my future is riding on it."

He clapped his hand on her shoulder. “Everything will be fine. Life has a tendency to just work out alright. And if you're nervous, well... Don't worry, I'll be there, cheering you on, or whatever it is I get to do."

She giggled lightly. “I'm counting on it."

Their long trek was finally nearing its end, as they saw the road they had traveled on before.

“Hey, look, it's that highway again." Erik commented, with a hint of joy in his voice. “We're almost there!"

“Yeah! Now to figure out which part we crossed from..." Kelsey stopped on the side of the road, scanning the far side for familiar landmarks. Concentrating on the far side, she began walking again, wandering down the road, waiting to find something familiar. Erik hurried to catch up to her when it seemed like she wasn't stopping any time soon.

Her attention turned to a crest in the road, where another anthro was walking towards them. A stag, carrying a backpack of his own, slung over his left shoulder, trotted along on the relatively clear asphalt path. He looked friendly at first, but then noticed Erik, and stopped in his tracks, that unmistakable deer-in-the-headlights routine. Kelsey noted his body language and spoke up, calling forward to him.

“Don't worry, he's friendly. He won't bite." He looked at her curiously. The irony of him being treated like the dog was not lost on Erik.

“Lady, is that a human?" He asked, slowly getting closer.

Erik groaned. “Yeah. I'm a human."

“But you're monsters."

“Not this one, this one's really nice!" Kelsey insisted.

The stag was still guarded. “Prove it."

Erik tried his best when put on the spot. “About a day north of here, there's a crossroads with four buildings. There's three bandits there, be careful."

The stag thought of the location. “With the tall white building? The raccoon, wolverine and ferret?"

“Yeah, that's the place."

The stag shrugged. “Oh, those guys aren't bandits. They might play it for a price, they'll do anything for a price, but they're mostly just traders."

Kelsey's ears flattened in anger at the memory. “Anything for a price, huh..."

He didn't know what to say. “Did they attempt to rob you?"

“Something like that. For a price... We should go."

Erik stopped her. “Wait. Uh, do you know which way to Goldenmere?" Kelsey easily could have found the path there, but Erik wanted to try to make conversation, even just a bit.

The stag thought for a moment. “Yeah. I came from that way not long ago, got on the road at that cliff over there." He pointed down the road a little bit to a rocky outcropping.

Erik offered him a nod. “Thank you. We're really looking forward to getting home."

“Uh. Right. Good luck." He responded, unsure how to feel about the two, and continued on his way.

“Come on, Kelsey, let's get home." Erik looked to her.

She huffed, having to think about Colton again. “Right."

They reentered the forests at the outcropping, and it looked, and smelled, familiar to Kelsey. “Yep. I remember this tree here. We're on the right path." She brushed a long branch aside and let it go.

Erik blocked it with a raised forearm. He looked back to him. “Not gonna get me with that one again."

She flashed a toothy grin. “You learn well."

Nothing bothered them as they walked through the final stretch of bush. Finally, the town came into view. Kelsey's eyes lit up looking at the rather squalid homes.

“Ah, Erik, isn't it beautiful?" She looked back at him, then forward to the town again. “We're finally home."

“It is a nice place. It's good to be back in familiar territory."

They walked together through the streets as Kelsey greeted people who recognized her. People didn't

really greet Erik, but he didn't feel particularly offended. They still weren't really sure what to make of him. But he knew they both returned with two full bags of stuff, and that was their mission.

Erik was reminded of something. “Hey, you still want to do something tomorrow?"

“Of course! I told you, I'll come with you for whatever it is you're doing, but I need you to know that tomorrow is going to be a very busy day. I'll make time just for you, but it can't be too long, okay?"

“Sure, it shouldn't take too long, if all goes according to plan. Maybe, like, fifteen, twenty minutes? And I'll help you prepare if I can, but I think it's going to be your family helping you more than... me."

She waved her hand. “You're family, too."

He couldn't help but smile. “Thanks, Kelsey."

“But you're right, it'll actually mostly be my mother. She's going to be all over me, making sure everything is just right..."

Approaching the farm, and walking under the gate with the 'Decker Farm' sign, they neared the home. The family was gathered outside, huddled around, talking to one another.

“Hey!" Kelsey called to them, waving an arm to be more visible. “We're back!" They noticed her, Shirley gasping and sprinting to get to Kelsey. She ran surprisingly fast, but she was a fox, after all. She quickly grabbed Kelsey and hugged her, doting on her as any caring mother would.

“Oh, Kelsey! We were so worried! You were gone for way longer than you said you would be! I told you to be careful!" There was an obvious, excited gekkering to her scolding voice.

“We ran into some trouble, fought some guys, got a little off path, but... Erik got me back a few days earlier than it would have taken."

“Oh, we heard about the fight, that's just terrible! Bandits!"

Kelsey backed out of her mother's tight grip and cocked her head. “You... heard about the fight...?"

Erik grumbled and pointed forward, knowing exactly why. “Him."

Kelsey could see clearly now. Her father, sister, two young brothers, and Colton. She sidestepped her mother and stormed toward the big white wolf, ears flattened and tail down. Erik winced slightly and started to follow, knowing things were about to get heated again. “You! What are you doing here?!"

“I came to see if you were alright, but nobody had seen or heard from you at all. The town isn't that far away, so we figured something must have happened." He tried to explain, as the rest of the family gathered up. Shirley covered her mouth, not quite sure what has happening.

“We had to go another way to not run afoul of your fucking mercenaries again! Ended up having to boat across a lake to get back in time!"

Will raised an eyebrow. “Mercenaries?"

Kelsey pointed a clawed finger at Colton as she looked to her father. “This goon hired some mercenaries to kidnap me so he could pretend to beat them up and save me. That's why he gave me directions to this far off spot in the first place! The salvage there was shit! Not to help me, or the town, just so he could try to bed me early, and bypass the whole suiting!"

Will, Shirley and Kerry all glared at him. Kerry was the first with the quip, as usual. “Oh! Gross!"

Will growled. “Colton! You know how important it is to her, to us. You have to earn her heart, you can't just usurp her wishes because you're horny. That's why the suiting exists in the first place, to keep people on the path of love." He poked Colton in the chest with a finger.

Shirley shrugged, disillusioned with Colton. “So he saved you from his own mercenaries?"

“No! Erik did!" She protested loudly. They all looked to Erik with surprise. “Before they could even signal Colton, Erik grabbed a hammer and ran into the building, beat them with it and pulled me out."

“Erik! That's so violent. You beat them with a hammer?!" Shirley looked at him with surprise.

Erik didn't know what else to say. “What other choice did I have? I didn't know this was some act, she was just kidnapped by bandits. I had to do something, so I leapt into action."

“Impressive... and you said he also got you back here faster?"

“Yeah, after we escaped the crossroads, we ended up having to go another direction, and got stuck on it. He managed to ferry us across a big lake just to save a few days of travel. Just so I could get here in time."

“I didn't want her to be late." He explained. “The suiting is important to her. Even though this jerk is her option..."

Colton was always armed with some extra platitude, it seemed, and this time was no exception. “I may have messed up, stupidly, but, I'm still here in town for her suiting. I've come to stand, as I knew I would those years ago when I first met her. I've kept my promise."

“The gall of you to stand here and say that shit!" Kelsey furiously pointed back down the road. “Jus- Get outta here! Go back to wherever you're staying and leave my family alone!"

“B-"

“Get!"

He sighed in resignation and began walking towards the town, into the low sun, him and Erik trading deathly stares as their eyes crossed paths.

When Colton was finally gone, Kelsey groaned and put the backpack down. Her voice drained of anger and turned to depression. “I... I think I just need to sleep. I need to get to bed."

“Oh. Okay, that's fine. Do you want dinner first?" Shirley asked.

She responded with a low tone and began to trudge back to the house with her bag dragging in the dirt behind her. “I'm not hungry."

They all stood in silence for a moment, trying to understand the situation, as she trudged away, as loud as her paws would let her. Will looked to Erik. “Did all that really happen?"

“Of course. I'm not lying."

Kerry shook her head. “I've never seen her so upset before. She never skips food."

“She's heartbroken, K- uh, Lady Kerry." He almost forgot how Will told him to respond. “She trusted Colton. He was the only one on her list as a suitor. Now she knows he's a creep, but everyone is still expecting her to be recognize him because they know those two have history, and he's in town to stand at the suiting." He explained with his arms out. “I know her enough by now, she's been betrayed. She feels trapped, like the tradition that she had grown to love is now locking her somewhere she doesn't want to be."

“Poor sis... I have to help her." Kerry shook her head again and ran after Kelsey.

Shirley approached Erik and, surprisingly, hugged him, too. “Erik, thank you for all you've done. You probably didn't have to do all that you did, but I'm glad you did. I don't know what's going to happen now that you've exposed Colton's duplicity, but... you seem to have kept her quite safe."

“I did my job keeping her safe, for sure. But as for the other thing, I just don't know, either. I fear for her. The suiting is in just over a day. I don't know what she's going to do."

“We'll figure it out tomorrow." Will interjected. “It's too late today. Come have dinner, and then you can get some sleep too. You look exhausted." He sniffed the air. “And, uh, maybe visit the baths if they let you in..."

“I am exhausted and... kind of stinky. Sorry, sir."

Erik finally awoke on his old pile of hay after days in the bush. The hay was downright comfortable compared to the dirt, the food was good, the shelter was more effective, and he felt refreshed as he stretched himself awake. The only thing that was missing was the warmth that a second body provided, but he could get by without. It was a new day; Kelsey's last day before the big event. And, perhaps, an opportunity for Erik to prove his mettle yet again. He picked up the duffelbag, now only carrying the panel and battery, and made for the house. The gun, he kept in the shed. The rest, he would be giving to the town as supply. As he approached the house, he stopped outside the door. He knew he shouldn't just walk in, so he knocked. Will answered the door.

“Erik?"

“Good morning, sir. I don't know if I'm really allowed to, since there's always work to be done, but I had some light plans, and was wondering if Kelsey wanted to come. She said she did before, but I know she's busy..."

He nodded. “I'll go check."

He sat down on the deck, and waited for a response. He watched the clouds go by, a chipmunk run across the deck like he wasn't there, and a hummingbird zip in to touch a potted flower. Eventually, she did come out. Her eyes were lightly red and tired, but otherwise, she looked ready to go.

“Hi Erik." She said, a slight smile. “I told you I'd come, and I keep my word. But father says for neither of us to be gone long."

He smiled back. “I knew you would, Kelsey. I can't guarantee you can be around for this, but I'll try."

She still had no clue what he was planning, but put her hand forward. “Lead the way." As they began walking, she spoke up. “Oh, maybe if we have time, I'll introduce you to Jenny. Maybe."

He had forgotten about the bunny. “Oh yeah."

Walking with him, her mood seemed much happier. She smiled more, her arms swung a bit with her tail, and the notion of this surprise excited her. She was almost back to her normal self again. “Come on! You've gotta tell me where we're going! Just a hint?"

“It's... a place in town."

“Hmm. What could it be?"

He stopped outside of Vera's house. “It's this."

“The Elder? You're taking me to see her?"

“I don't know if she wants to see you, but... I want you to meet her. Plus, I have a gift for her, and you'd might as well be there for that, too."

He knocked on the door. In a moment, the raccoon woman answered.

“Oh, Erik. Good morning. I don't recall any appointment..."

“I came on my own volition, actually. I have a gift for Vera. But, I've also brought a friend." He explained. She looked through the door a bit more to see Kelsey, standing by nervously. “If she's receptive to it, I'd like for them to meet as well, while I prepare the gift."

“Hmm. I'll run it by her. Give me a moment, please." She closed the door.

It was quiet while they waited. Kelsey eventually spoke up. “Do you really think she wants to meet me?"

“I don't know. But I think it's time she opened up a bit more to her fellow people."

The door eventually opened again, and the woman waved them in. “She accepts. Please, come in, and I'll tell you the rules, miss Decker."

They entered into the living room, where Erik previously met Vera. The room was just as stuffy as always, and Vera still sat in the corner.

“Here they are." She said, as she ushered them in.

“Thank you, Rebecca." Vera replied. The raccoon actually had a name. First Erik had heard of it.

Erik waved to her as he entered, with Kelsey behind him. “Vera, this is Kelsey, of the Decker family."

Kelsey bowed her head. “It's an honor, Elder."

The dark corner of the room offered a sagely nod. “I'm pleased to meet you. You certainly are a lovely young woman. Forgive my staying here in the dark, but I stay here for good reason."

“Vera, my friend. I think... Kelsey can handle the truth."

“That I'm a monster?"

“You're not a monster, just had bad things happen to you. It's not your fault, and you shouldn't hide from it."

Kelsey spoke up. “I'll accept you however you wish, Elder. If you want to be seen, or not, I will accept it."

Vera was silent for a moment, as she stood up, a slight groan to her. She entered the light finally, the gangly, golden retriever mutant becoming fully visible. She was wearing an extra-large black Rush t-shirt today, the ever-prevalent 2112 with Star Man motif. Kelsey was taken aback, somewhat shocked, but didn't overreact. “Erik was the lucky one, being frozen to be enslaved. Those of us who didn't get frozen were made into monsters. You can see, now, why I don't show my face in town." She explained. “That old world is dark, and not much light that once came from it remains. I'm but a shadow myself. The light, now, is this world. You, and your fellow anthros, young Kelsey. You're beautiful, not I."

“T-thank you, Elder..." She didn't quite know what to say. “I believe everyone has their beauty, you included... But I believe this meeting was really for you and Erik, not me."

Vera smiled a bit, her face twisting yet again. “What a noble answer for a sharp mind. Yes, your gift intrigues me, Erik. What is it?"

He slipped the bag off of his shoulder, and took out the battery pack, hopefully, fully charged. “This, Vera."

She looked at it carefully. The open plug socket on the top interested her. “Is that...?" He quietly nodded, then walked over to her music box, and unwound the cable. Her voice began to change from old woman into excited youth. “No. No way. You didn't. Really?"

“Really. If it charged right, that is... don't get your hopes up just yet."

“Oh Erik, this... this is..." He plugged it in, and she hastily pushed the power button on it. It surprisingly started up, the blue LED in its face lighting up. “...just magical." Without another word, like a moth drawn to the flame, she focused purely on the box, scrolling a wheel on it quickly. “Who knows how long the battery will last. If I only get one song..." She pushed a button.

The air in the room came alive with a light string twang. More. A soothing solo melody. Erik knew immediately what it was. Kelsey listened, almost as enraptured as Vera was. Vera chose the one song she knew she needed to hear, just one more time. It had to be. Stairway.

“Oh." Vera staggered back to her chair. She could hardly stand the wave of emotion. A tear rolled down her strangely furred face. “Lost for over fifty years... alive once ag- shh, Vera." She shushed herself.

They stood in silence listening to the song. Kelsey had never heard produced music. She sat down on the floor and got lost in it. Erik sat down with her. Vera might never hear it again. She melted into her chair as the nostalgia washed over her. Erik couldn't help but feel emotional, as well, seeing both of them overwhelmed by it. They didn't seem to care that the speakers in the music box were beginning to break down, and had a slight crackle to their sound.

When the song finally ended, Vera struggled herself back to life, and turned the box off. She didn't want to keep using the precious battery power.

“Erik. Did you do this for me?" She asked him.

“You mentioned Zepplin, I saw the battery pack and just thought it would be a nice gesture, for all of us, to hear a song again."

“And you hauled it all the way from wherever just so I could hear Stairway again?"

“It'll be useful for other things, but this was the big secret I had in store for it."

Erik looked to Kelsey, who sat calmly, her tail wagging gently across the carpet under her, her paws stretched out behind her to prop herself up. “But I also wanted Kelsey to hear it. I wanted to share a little piece of my old world with her."

She was a bit astounded, she kept getting these thoughtful gifts from him. “Did... you have lots of this music back then?"

“There were all kinds, from all sorts. Millions of songs. You could never hear every song, it was just impossible. Most were obscure. But some were big. Stairway to Heaven... it was a big one, alright." Erik explained.

Vera nodded lightly. “And the three of us, now... we're some of the only people who have ever heard it. Well, Rebecca I'm sure overheard it, so four."

Kelsey felt like she belonged to some elite club. “Wow. That's amazing. Thank you so much for sharing, Erik. And for sharing this moment with us, Elder."

Erik smiled to her, but turned to look to Vera again. “Vera, I have a request of you. Something that's been on my mind for a bit, that only you can really do."

“Oh? What's that?"

“You need to get out more." He stated simply. “The people out there won't hate you. And being cooped up in here all the time isn't letting your knowledge get out. I'm helping to educate some, starting with Kelsey, but could always use some help."

She blinked, and looked down at her fuzzy feet. “Erik... you're right, I know. I've been thinking about that since I last saw you. I haven't been spreading the knowledge I do, or did, have. I've been so self-conscious about my looks, my being, that... I've kind of failed in my duty as an Elder." She shook her head. “I... I'm going to be better, Erik. You're right."

Kelsey stood up and bowed her head. “I'm happy to hear that. All of this, actually, has been incredible. And thank you, Elder, for sharing your time with me. I'd love to talk more, but today is a very busy day. My suiting is tomorrow and I have a lot of planning to do."

“Of course, my young friend. You're welcome any time. Maybe I'll see you outside for a change."

Kelsey put a paw on Erik's shoulder before turning to leave. “See you soon, Erik."

“Of course, see you soon, Kelsey." As she walked off, her fingers dragged off of his shoulder, a light, playful touch, and a slight desire to not let go, tempered by her appearance with him in a public space.

Erik was left in the room alone with Vera again. He took a seat, because he knew there were still things to talk about.

“So, it's her suiting tomorrow, is it? Good to see the tradition is being upheld by some."

“Yes. She's very nervous, and very worried, the poor girl."

“Nervous, sure, it's an emotional time. But worried? How come?"

Erik sighed. “Kelsey has spent a lot of time out of town, scavenging places. She hasn't met a lot of men that could be suitors. One was recently married, and that leaves only one other option; a handsome, strong and popular wolf, Colton."

Vera thought on the description. “He sounds great. What's the catch?"

“Colton doesn't care for the tradition. He just wants the sex, and he's been trying to get it for a while now, but she insists on upholding the tradition."

“Right..."

“Recently, he decided to hire some guys to kidnap her and act as bandits, so he could kick their butts and save her, assuming that then she would reward him."

She winced a bit. “Okay, that's scummy... I assume she didn't?"

“He didn't even get a chance to save her. I did. His plan totally fell apart because he didn't plan for her to be there with anyone else, that is, me, and he was outed for it. Now she's pissed at him."

She chuckled. “Oh."

“But that's bad for her, because what she thought was going to be a sure thing for her suiting is now... a bad choice. She either takes the creep, or has nothing and looks like a failure, and gives up on the tradition."

“I see. Traditions can sometimes be tricky, there's sometimes ways to bend them around as they're needed. Hmm." She touched her fingertips together in front of her face as she thought. “Erik, this might sound stupid, but... what about you?"

“What about me?"

“You don't have anyone. Right?"

“No, last one I had is probably long dead by now."

“Dumbass. I mean why don't you take Kelsey?"

“But... I'm a human."

She felt like she had to explain this a bit better. “Erik, you don't have to be an anthro to know she's crazy about you. You can't see that?"

He felt put on the spot. “I... I know. She's great, Vera. And I'm pretty sure she feels the same way about me. We've been pretty close. But we've never said anything. I'm a human, she needs a good anthro man that can give her what she needs, and lots of healthy kids. Not some pink ape who fell out of a freezer a couple of weeks ago."

“Erik. You're not a pink ape to her. Have you learned nothing about anthro body language yet? Can't you see how she looks at you? Her ears, her tail? That touch when she left? It gave me chills." She chewed him out pretty well about the subject. “I'm practically a fossil and I can see it. You're special to her. Whether or not you understand it, you're on her list. If you stood, she would recognize you, absolutely no doubt."

He still wasn't entirely convinced. “I'm still kind of a stranger to her, and she kind of is to me. Maybe that mystery is good, I don't know. But to marry a stranger? Seems to be a bit quick, don't you think?"

“It's either that... or she marries the creep. Ball's in your court."

“You really think she would take me?"

“It would cause some confusion, it's unorthodox. But I'd bet my music box on it." That seemed like she was pretty sure to him. “Besides... she marked you. She's keeping you." She snickered a bit under her breath.

He squinted, unsure what she meant. “What?"

“You don't just smell like you've been around her in the bush. You smell like her territory."

Maybe it was his hand, maybe it was when she really backed into him during their encounter. “Heh. Oh." He couldn't smell anything in particular, but everyone else could, it seemed.

While Erik spoke with Vera, Kelsey had returned home, and began to work with her mother in her bedroom on what dress she would be wearing for her suiting.

“White dress? Flaxen dress?" Kelsey asked Shirley, as she held up two different linen dresses. Simple, but elegant enough. “Not that it really matters."

“What do you mean, dear?" She responded, stitching some fabric together with an old needle and thread.

“I'm still stuck with that dickhead Colton. Everyone knows he's on my list, I can't just not recognize him if he stands. And he will stand."

“Dear, don't be like that."

“It's true! He knows he's my only option, he's got me up against a wall. He won't get me early, but worse even, I'll still be married to that snake."

Shirley didn't fully know what to do. “No other options?"

“No. N-nothing I've made permanent like that."

She looked to her daughter slyly, knowing something was there. “Oh? Am I detecting something?"

“It's... it's complicated."

“Well, of course it is! Everything is complicated."

“Tell me about it. I fucked up with Colton. I can't afford to make that kind of mistake again, but I'm also out of time." Kelsey huffed. It was hard to talk about. “Mom, am I just... dumb? How- how will I know that a man really loves me, and isn't just using me?"

Shirley tried to think of some examples. “He'll help you without being asked, but never go too far, he'll give you nice things just because, he'll let you into his life.. and most immediately, he'll stand for your suiting, no matter what happens."

“And how do I know if I really love him, and it's not just some trick, or this blasted heat?"

“Hm. Does he make you feel safe? Does he make you feel happy? Does he make you laugh? Does he amaze you? Does he make you feel like you're weightless when you walk with him? Can you be vulnerable around him?"

She was speechless. It perfectly summed up the last few days. “...Yes."

Shirley stopped her stitching to look at her, deadly curious about this possible gossip. She was, after all, a vixen. “ All of them?"

“Definitely. Maybe, all this time... I never knew what love was? Real love?"

“This... incredible man you're talking about. You haven't been around many others besides Colton. It's Erik, isn't it?"

“Yes." She covered her face with a paw, not sure whether or not she should be embarrassed.

Shirley was taken aback. She knew they had been friendly for the trip, but not to what extent. “I didn't know you had fallen for him. That explains a lot..."

She threw herself down on her bed and put the dresses aside, then covered her face with both paws again. The jig was up, and all pretense of being the cool child went out the window. She turned helpless so fast. “Oh, I have, I have! He's awesome, damn it! What do I do?"

“Does he feel the same?"

She sat up, hitting a paw on the bed with a poof. “I think so! But I don't know for sure. We haven't, you know, directly said it. He's been kind of quiet about it, and so have I. I feel like he doesn't want to make much of a move because he doesn't know how our society works, what'll happen with the suiting, the fact that he's human, you know. He knows I'm holding myself, respects that, and even made sure I got here in time for the suiting."

“So... that explains what I smelled on him. It's not just your smell. You marked him, didn't you?"

She covered her face with both paws again. “W-well..."

“Now, now. When I hugged that man, all I could smell was you."

She peeked out from under her paws at her mother's stern but curious face. “We were... kind of close. Kind of really close."

Shirley held her muzzle with a pensive hand, extremely concerned. “How, uh, intimate...?"

She didn't know what the bases were, but she tried to explain it with as little detail as possible. “He... has magic hands."

She hummed, thinking about the situation. “Oh dear. Was the heat that bad? You couldn't help yourself?"

“Not this time, I couldn't even try. The smell, I... I don't want to say anymore, please, I'm so embarrassed I could die. Not at him, at me." She smacked her hands down on the bed at her side again. It seemed she just couldn't sit still.

“Right. When you make the call, will he stand?"

“I... don't know. I don't know if he understands how the tradition really works."

She tried to think. “Erik, Erik... he seems like a good man. Smart, friendly, healthy, I think. Smells okay when he's clean."

“But not anthro."

“No, he's not." Shirley inhaled and exhaled calmly as she thought. “Kelsey. I think, if you really feel this way... you should pursue him. Not just because of Colton. Erik is clearly on your list, in your heart."

Both of them were extremely conflicted. “But are we able to, you know, have pups? I have to have pups, mom."

“I know, I... I don't know if he's compatible, dear. If we came from humans, and he's still a healthy human, maybe."

Kelsey looked at her mother with sad eyes. “Do I have to be the first to try?"

“Is love more powerful than breeding?" She asked rhetorically. “You might be the pioneer, Kelsey. I can't tell you what to do for this. The suiting is your coming of age, your womanhood. This is your time to shine. If he stands, it's up to you whether or not to recognize him."

“I have to recognize him, mom. I have to." She shook her head in realization. “Oh, no. If Erik does stand, he... Colton will probably fight him. There's already bad blood there."

“Do you think Erik can take Colton?"

“Colton's stronger, tougher, faster, and weighs more. Erik's outclassed. Hmm, but he is smarter. A lot smarter."

Shirley nodded as she looked to her confused daughter. “This is a good opportunity to look back to nature, and the ways of the world. The intelligent species often compete well against the big and strong. A spider will eat a bird if it can catch it. A hummingbird will get nectar even if it's swarming with wasps. The spiny creature won't get eaten. And if the history is true... humans once conquered the world, with all of it's mighty beasts, with nothing but sticks and stones."

Kelsey sighed. “How could I put myself in this situation? One man will give me beautiful pups, the other touches my heart like no one else ever could. And one will probably kill the other. And, I... I have to let it happen, don't I?"

Shirley didn't know what to say. “If things go that way... then it will be survival of the fittest."

Kelsey held her head in disgust. “Mom, I'm scared... I'm never scared like this. I'm scared to make a choice... what's the right future? Who's the right man?"

Shirley had to think of something to take Kelsey's mind off of the grim subject, and back onto the difficult choice in her heart. “Which do you think Colton would like? White dress, or flaxen dress?"

“Colton? I- hmm... maybe white? To match him? But gold is wealthier..."

“Which one do you think Erik would like more? White, or flaxen dress?"

She answered right away. “Flaxen." Her choice was firm. “With buttercups." She pointed a finger directly to a wreath of flowers nearby, a headdress.

Shirley grinned slyly. “You knew just what to choose."

“Y-yeah, I guess I did."

“Why is that?"

“My heart just kn- mmm." She stopped and held her chin in contemplation. Leave it to the vixen to pull out a trick like that.

Shirley smirked and handed her the buttercup wreath. “If it makes you feel better, I hope Erik wins, too. I like him more."