The Bat & the Cat, Ch. 11 by Neosate < Submission | Inkbunny, the Furry Art Community

Keywords male 1189677, female 1079359, wolf 192646, canine 189166, dog 171422, feline 149981, hybrid 68521, horse 59144, herm 43998, lion 42659, bat 36675, equine 36115, m 28939, f 24403, hyena 18906, hermaphrodite 18690, cheetah 15692, arctic fox 7565, pain 6086, australian shepherd 1314, angst 543, h 447, trauma 418, tundra lion 120, bearded dragon 84, engagement 67, basenji 55, giant fruit bat 37, reconciliation 26, family reunion 17, otter- 2

Author's Note: This chapter begins immediately after the events of

. For context, it is recommended that you read that story before proceeding. I hope you enjoy, and am sincerely grateful for your support.

The Fall of the Roman Empire, Part IV:
Mea Culpa
~~~~~
The Bat & the Cat
Chapter 11: Til the Day I Die

Marblecliff, NH - Warehouse District
“Okay, y’all,” Nathan said as he wiped the sweat from his brow. “I reckon the place looks good enough for now. Let’s call it a night.”
“I can’t believe how much we got done,” his office clerk exclaimed. “It doesn’t even look like the same place.”
“All it needs now is new flooring,” Hank remarked as he finished sweeping up the dirt and sawdust. “And then we can get all the equipment in here and set up.”
“I’m takin’ care of that on Sunday while Val and her parents are off at church,” the Australian Shepherd said. “Gonna drop Piper off with the neighbors and come on in, probably ‘round ten or so. Ya’ll can come in too, if ya want, but ya don’t have ta. I’d just like ta get it all done so I can enjoy the holiday with Val and Piper since schools are closed, and then on Tuesday we can start takin’ clients. I’ll buy breakfast and lunch.”
“Yeah, sure,” the Otter man shrugged. “I’ll have to double-check, but I don’t think I’ve got anything going on.”
“I can come in for a bit,” Soraya replied. “But I can’t stay past two. Nick and I are having some friends over to watch the Patriots.” The Basenji woman got a thoughtful expression and asked, “Actually, why don’t you guys come over and watch it with us? Bring your significant others.”
“Ya know I moved here from Colorado,” her boss grinned. “I reckon that’d go over real nice with everyone else since they’re playin’ in Denver.”
“Not when the Broncos lose,” Soraya teased as she pulled the office door closed behind her and locked it. “Maybe if Peyton Manning -”
“Shhh!” Nathan said, holding up a paw to quiet her. He had his head turned, looking towards a cluster of other warehouses several dozens of yards away. “Do ya hear that?”
“No,” said the Otter. “What is it?”
The Basenji woman furrowed her brow in concentration as she attempted to isolate the noise her boss was hearing. “I do. It sounds like… a fight, maybe?”
“Could be trouble,” the Australian Shepherd said solemnly. “We should check it out.”
Opening the truck, Nathan reached behind the back seat and pulled out his Remington 870 and a pawful of shells while Hank retrieved his holster from under the passenger seat and disengaged the safety on his 9mm. Soraya grabbed a flashlight from the toolbox in the bed and tested the batteries. The trio carefully approached the alley where the noises were originating from, with Hank taking point due to his military training. Using the adjacent warehouse for cover, he quickly poked his head around the corner before stepping out into the open, waving his friends to follow.
A group of people were standing over something, kicking and punching away at it. Whatever, or whoever, it was didn’t seem to be putting up a struggle, nor did it sound like it was even registering the pain. Because of the darkness, it was impossible to guess how many attackers there were, or if they were armed, but Nathan knew they had to interfere. Pointing his shotgun skyward, he pulled the trigger.
The ensuing boom caused the group to flee. While it was still too difficult to know for certain, if he had to guess, he would say that there were six to eight assailants, but he couldn’t say for certain what their species or genders were. For now, though, what mattered most was assisting the lump lying in the slush and snow, and the trio rushed to see what they could do to assist.
“It” was some sort of Bat, as evidenced by the wing membranes beneath her arms. The Australian Shepherd assumed the victim identified as female, due to her very feminine appearance, despite the fact that her lower body had been stripped of clothing to reveal a rather obvious penis. Crouching down beside the victim, he gave a sigh of relief. “She’s breathing.”
“I know her,” Hank said gravely as he knelt down beside his boss. “Her band practices across the street from the house.” Utilizing the bit of field medic training that he’d received from his now-wife, he gave the Bat a quick visual inspection. “No signs of any major bleeding. Temperature’s a tad low.”
“No tellin’ whether or not those guys’ll come back,” the Australian Shepherd said. “We caught ‘em off-guard, but we shouldn’t risk lettin’ ‘em regroup. Is it safe to move her?”
“Not really, but it ain’t safe to stay here, either,” the Otter man replied as he glanced around at their surroundings. “What’re you thinking?”
Picking the girl up in his strong arms, Nathan looked to his employees and said, “Soraya, look up the number for Marblecliff General. Tell ‘em we’re on our way and to be ready. Hank, call the police and wait back at the office for ‘em, then show ‘em where this all happened. Tell ‘em what ya saw and where we’re goin’.”

~~~~~

The Residence of Xavier and Alice Rikkers
“They shot her!” Ross screamed. “Ohmygodohmygodohmygod… Megan! MEGAN!!!” The Tundra Lioness dropped to her knees in despair when she heard the thunderous sound of the shotgun go off over the phone. The device fell and hit on the floor, cracking the screen. Her Aunt Alice was at her side, comforting her, as well as Jordan and Elena, her cousins. As the tears streaked down her cheeks, she sobbed, “They shot her. Megan… I’m sorry, Megan. I’m so, so sorry...”
“My niece heard gunfire,” her Uncle Xavier said into his phone. “She thinks they shot her.” He snapped his fingers, causing his wife and children to look up. “Give me Ross’s phone.” Jordan, the younger girl, picked up the device and carried it obediently to the Cheetah. “Okay. Her number is six-zero-three two-one-nine five-five-five-five.” Pause. “You can trace the signal back to her phone?” Pause. “Okay, officer, thank you.” Pause. “Her mother’s name is Lucinda Conroy, would you like her number or address?” Pause. “I see. Is there any way you can give us an update?” Pause. “No?” Pause. “Okay.” Pause. “Yes, I understand.” Pause. “Good-bye.”
Alice looked up at him, desperately searching his features for good news, but all he could manage was a deep sigh. “They’re going to trace Megan’s phone and get a unit out there. They’re also going to contact her mother and inform her of what’s going on.”
“Hello?”
The strange voice caused everyone to look up. Ross began to lunge for her phone, but her aunt restrained her. Xavier looked at the screen; the call was still in progress. Holding the device up to his ear, he replied, “Hello? Is Megan all right? We heard a gunshot.”
“That was my friends and me chasing them off,” the male on the other end of the call answered.
“Chasing who off?”
“My co-workers and me heard what sounded like a fight, so we came and checked it out. Bunch of people beating up on the poor girl,” he explained. “She was breathing, but it looked pretty bad. My boss took her to Marblecliff General. I called the police and they’re on their way here and there now.”
Ross leapt to her footpaws and dashed out of the house, still in her pajamas and socks. Xavier looked at his family and ordered, “Get your coats and shoes on. Now. We’re going to the hospital. Honey, can you please grab some clothes for Ross to change into, and a pair of shoes? I get the feeling she might not come home for awhile.” As he walked over to the coat closet, he asked, “Can I get your name, please, and those of your co-workers?”
“Sure thing,” the male replied. “My name’s Hank Heartken. She was taken to the hospital by Nathan Shepard and Soraya Espinosa.”
“Thank you, Mister Heartken,” the Cheetah said as he pulled his coat on. “If you would like, I can send a car to pick you up.”
“That won’t be necessary, but thank you. My wife is on her way now to get me. I guess I’ll see you at the hospital?”
“I look forward to meeting you, Mister Heartken. Thank you for saving Megan.”

~~~~~

Sunday, January 19, 2014
Marblecliff General Hospital
Megan groaned softly as consciousness began to return. Her wish hadn’t been granted, after all; she was still alive. At least she thought she was alive, because she definitely wasn’t in Heaven and not even Hell should be as terrible as she felt. She tried to open her eyes, but couldn’t, and she felt a surge of panic race through her. She was lying down, and made an effort to sit upright. The attempt caused her to nearly scream in pain. Nearly, though not because
the pain wasn’t overwhelming; she simply couldn’t.
She felt a gentle paw on her shoulder and heard her mother’s comforting voice. “Hey, hey, hey! Relax, Megan, baby. Relax. You’re in the hospital. You’re going to be alright, but you need to try and stay calm, okay?”
She slumped back and gave a weak nod.
“You were attacked. Do you remember?”
Megan nodded again.
“Good. That’s good. Okay. First of all, they broke your jaw. It’s wired shut so it can heal, but no talking, please. Okay?”
A sob escaped the teen Bat’s throat and tears began to flow from the corners of her eyes, but she managed another nod of her head. She struggled to raise her left paw, fingers stretched out, and her mom took the clue, interweaving their fingers together.
“You’ve also got several other broken bones: a few ribs, your right forearm, and your right leg is broken in two places. Your wings were torn in a couple of spots, too, and have been stitched up, and you have eight staples in the side of your head behind your left ear.”
“Hey, look who’s awake,” an unfamiliar female voice said cheerfully. “How are the eyes?”
“Still swollen shut,” Lucinda answered. “Can you get her a smoothie and something for the pain?”
“I sure can. I’ll be right back,” the woman said sweetly. “Is it alright if some of her visitors come back to say hello before the painkillers knock her back out?”

~~~~~

Ross was pacing the width of the Emergency Room waiting area, anxious to receive an update on Megan’s condition. Despite Aunt Alice’s pleas for her sit down and try to rest, the teen Tundra Lioness couldn’t. After several long months of being apart, she and Megan had been right on the verge of reconciling… And then this happened, and she blamed herself for it. If she hadn’t been so insistent on Megan calling her back immediately, rather than waiting until morning, she wouldn’t have been attacked.
She had been a hysterical wreck as she overheard everything happening to her beloved Bat over the phone, powerless to do anything but listen. Her aunt and cousins had fought to comfort her, to keep her calm and quiet so they could listen for any clues as to who was attacking Megan, but all Ross could hear was each gut-wrenching thud as the love of her life was being beaten to death. Even now, the sounds echoed in her memory, and then there was the gunshot.
She hadn’t known it at the time, but that loud boom was the sound of her beloved’s salvation. Unaware of this fact, however… Ross’s entire world had collapsed around her for what could only have been a few minutes, but felt like an eternity.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Vivy, Jack, Tessa, Makena, Riley, and Leo all sit up quickly. Her Aunt Alice was gently easing her daughters’ heads from off her lap, and the three strangers who had come to Megan’s rescue had stopped their conversation. She stopped her pacing and turned to see Megan’s nurse - who just so happened to be Jack’s mother - heading their way.
“Hey, Mom,” the reptilian boy said as he gave the woman a hug. “Any news?”
“She just woke up, so if any of you want to go back and see her, that’s fine. Just no more than two of you at a time, okay?”
Addressing the rest of the room, Ross turned to them and asked, “I’d like to go back first, alone, if no one minds?” Vivy was the only one that looked as though she might object, but the Giraffe girl managed to keep her mouth shut, so she went back into the E.R. to apologize for hurting the love of her life.
She stopped outside of the ‘room’ Megan was being treated in - really, it was just a giant cubby hole with a privacy curtain - and rapped her knuckles against the wall pocket intended for patient charts.
The curtain swung aside and Lucinda was there to greet her. The older Bat woman pulled her in close for a comforting hug. “Ross, Dear,” she said. “It’s so good to see you again.”
“You too, Miss Conroy,” the Tundra Lioness replied. “May I speak with Megan, please?”
“One minute,” Lucinda answered as the curtain swung back into place. Several seconds passed before she returned. “Okay. I have to warn you, though: her jaw’s broken so she can’t talk, and she looks worse off than she is. I’m going to go make some calls.”
“Okay,” Ross said, “but my Uncle Xavier’s here, somewhere. He already knows what’s going on and is giving you paid leave until Megan recovers enough for you to return.”
“He’s such a sweet man,” the Bat said warmly. “He’s a big old softy, even though he acts and talks all strict and formal. I’ll have to find him and say thanks.”
“The guys that rescued Megan are out there, too,” the girl added, “in case you wanted to say anything to them. I’m sure they’d like to see how she’s doing.”
“Okay, I’ll find them and tell them to come back once you’re done.”
Ross drew the curtain closed behind her as she entered the room, and turned around to see Megan lying there in the hospital bed. Though her eyes were swollen shut, the corners of her mouth were curled up into an exhausted smile, and her left paw was facing palm-up, her slender fingers beckoning her to come closer.
The sight was enough to cause the girl to gasp as she rushed to her side. “Megan! Oh, God, thank God you’re alright! I heard a gunshot… I thought they’d killed you and that I’d lost you forever. I’m sorry, this is all my fault. Please forgive me?” She took the Bat’s free paw into her own and held it gently.
Despite being told that she couldn’t speak, Megan managed to force the words through her clenched teeth. “‘Snah yur fall. Nuffin ta furgev.”
“Now, now,” Mrs. Millen said as she returned with Megan’s ‘dinner’ and a fresh IV bag, “if you won’t stop talking I’ll have to stop allowing visitors.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am,” Ross apologized guiltily. “How about this? I’ll limit the conversation to ‘yes’ and ‘no’ questions, and you tap my paw with your finger to answer. One tap for ‘no,’ two taps for ‘yes,’ three if you don’t understand the question, and four if you want to change the subject. Does that sound okay?”
She felt two gentle taps against her palm.
“Excuse me for just a minute,” the nurse said as she leaned over Megan’s body and carefully tucked the smoothie against her chest, secured it with a blanket, and parted the Bat’s lips to insert the straw between her teeth and the side of her mouth. “Your Mom said you would probably like strawberry banana.”
“She says ‘yes,’” Ross answered for her, as she felt two more taps. Nurse Millen walked around to the other side of the bed and took down the empty IV bag then hung up a fresh one. Looking up, the Tundra Lioness asked, “What’s that?”
“It’s Nurofen Plus,” the woman answered. “Ibuprofen and codeine. It will help with the swelling and the pain, but she’ll be knocked out again here soon.”
“Okay,” she said. “Megs, I’m not leaving, but there are a lot of people out there that would like to see you. Is it okay if I let them come back? I’ll rejoin you after they leave, and keep your mom company.”
Another ‘yes.’
“Okay,” she said as she stood up. Leaning down, she kissed her ex-lover gently on the forehead. “I’ll be back soon. First, I’m going to send back the people that saved you. I love you, Megan.”
Ross massaged her temples as she wearily walked back to the waiting area. Before she’d gone to the back to see Megan, the clock in the lobby said ten-thirteen A.M., which meant that she’d been awake for nearly fifty-two hours. As if that wasn’t exhausting enough, in that time she had broken things off with Jeremy then listened helplessly as the girl she loved was beaten to within inches of her life.
“If you guys want to go back and see her before her meds knock her out again, she’d like to see you,” she told the trio that had saved the Bat’s life. “Well, not really ‘see,’ since her eyes are swollen shut, but she can use echolocation. Or maybe not, since her jaw’s broken… Anyway, you know what I mean. I’m tired and rambling, sorry.”
“No problem, Miss Ross,” the Australian Shepherd, Nate, replied with a tip of his hat. “Thank ya.”
“You look wiped out,” the woman that was with him added. “When Megan falls back asleep, you should try and get some rest, too.”
“Ma’am,” Hank said as they passed her on their way back to Megan’s room.
Sitting down next to her Aunt Alice, the young Tundra Lioness asked, “Where did Uncle Xavier go?”
The older woman gave a tired smile and answered, “He had to run an important errand, but he should be back any minute now. Hey, can you stay here with Elena and Jordan while I run and use the restroom?”
“Yeah, no problem.”
“While I’m up, I’m thinking of getting a coffee from the cafeteria. Can I get you anything?” her aunt offered.
“Coffee sounds good,” the girl replied. “No cream, two sug-”
“ROSS!” an excited voice squealed from down the hallway, accompanied by the echo of tennis shoes rapidly slapping against the tile floor.
“Ufff!” Ross huffed as the little ball of white fur leapt into her lap. “Hi, Popi.” Confused, she looked back down the corridor where her Uncle Xavier was walking next to her mother and Nini. “What are you guys doing here?”
“Aunt Alice called us and told us what happened to Megan,” her little sister explained. “So Mom got us tickets on the first flight out to Boston. Is she going to be alright? I like her.”
“Hey, hey - She’s going to be fine. Let’s get everyone else, okay?” With a gentle tap on her little sister’s hip, Ross said, “C’mon, get up so I can give them hugs.”
The girls rose to their footpaws and the eldest daughter took a few steps forward to close the gap between her and her mother, wrapping the older Tundra Lioness in a comforting hug.
“Hey, you,” Diana said as she held her baby tightly. “How’re you holding up?”
“I’m tired, but I’ll manage,” she responded as they separated. “Aunt Alice went to get me a cup of coffee.”
“Hey, Ross. How’s Megan?” asked Nini, the middle sister.
“She’s… she looks pretty bad, but she’ll recover,” Ross explained. “Still, it could have been a lot worse.”
“Your uncle says that you were forced to hear it all over the phone,” Diana Goldmane remarked. “Ross, I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine how terrible that was.”
For the third time in less than forty-eight hours, Ross began to cry. She’d been terrified as the events in question unfolded, and she was still an anxious, jittery mess while she described what she had overheard to the police. Now, though, she was both relieved and exhausted.
“I asked her to call me, no matter how late it was, I would answer,” the teen explained. “When she got my message, she was at a warehouse rave, so she stepped outside. We were discussing getting back together when they attacked her. From what I could hear, it sounded like they were going to gang-rape her until the found out she’s a herm; that’s when they started beating her.”
“Oh my God,” her mother gasped.
“And then the gunshot… I seriously thought that…” Ross’s voice cut out as the emotion overwhelmed her and she pulled Diana in for another comforting embrace.
“What about Megan’s mother? Where is she?” the woman asked as she held her daughter. “I’d like to meet her, plus it might help her to talk with another Mom.”
“I don’t know,” she sniffled. “I haven’t seen her ever since they told me Megan was awake.”
“So, are you and Megan back together now?” Nini asked as she joined the hug.
“I don’t know,” Ross said with no small amount of uncertainty. “We were still in the middle of discussing it when they attacked her. It sounded like things were heading that way, but we never actually agreed to try again.”
“I was upset when I heard about you breaking up with her,” Diana muttered into her daughter’s hair. “She was such a good influence on you.”
“You should have said so,” the girl complained.
Her mother chuckled. “You might of gone against my wishes,” she explained. “Not that you were rebellious or anything, just fiercely independent. You’ve always wanted to make up your own mind, and nobody was going to make it up for you. I was afraid that if I said something, you never would have worked things out with that sweet girl.”
A slight grin formed on Ross’s lips as she considered her mother’s words. “There might be some truth to that. Aunt Alice says I get that from you, you know.”
“I know she does.”

~~~~~

Maykere couldn’t help but notice the family of white Lionesses standing around in the waiting area, carrying on a conversation. She’d wanted to get there sooner, but as a small business owner, she had a responsibility to her clientele to make sure that the piercing parlour was open. It took several calls, but she was able to convince Rick, one of her former employees, to come in and cover for her.
The day had started normally enough, with her waking up at 6:30, taking a shower, and then proceeding to watch the morning news while she ate her breakfast. There was one story about an attempted-rape-turned-hate-crime that caught her attention and she turned the volume up for, but other than that it was a rather uneventful broadcast. It would have been an entirely different scenario if the police hadn’t withheld the name of the victim in that beating.
She actually hadn’t found out that it was Megan who had been attacked until right as she was leaving for work and checked her cell phone. She had a habit of turning it off when she got home in the evening; the device was her connection to the outside world, but her apartment was her shelter from it. If there was an emergency, she was still old-fashioned enough to keep a landline for people to reach her. Megan had that number, but she hadn’t called.
Vivy, however, did not know her home number, or that she even had one. The Giraffe teen had practically flooded Maykere’s cell with text messages and voicemails, telling her that Megan had been brutally beaten early Saturday morning, and urging her to get down to Marblecliff General immediately.
She’d also said that Ross, Megan’s ex that she just couldn’t seem to get over, was there.
The Mare spotted Vivy sitting with a small group of teens a few yards beyond the cluster of white felines and walked over to join them. She was acutely aware of at least one pair of eyes behind her watching with no small amount of interest as she carried a rather large bouquet of flowers. “Hey,” she greeted her friend as she approached. “Sorry, I keep my cell turned off when I’m at home, but I got here as quickly as I could. How’s she doing?”
“She’s back asleep now, but she was awake earlier,” the Giraffe teen answered. “They’ve got her on some good shit. Anyway, it isn’t pretty, but she should make an almost-full recovery.”
“How ‘almost’ are we talking?”
“It’s hard to say,” Vivy explained. “Depending on how well she heals, there are chances that she’ll have some short-term memory loss, or have a slight limp, or get TMJ. It’s probably not likely that all three will happen, but we won’t know until she’s had ample time to recover.”
“Oh Dear,” Maykere gasped as she slowly sat down next to her friend. “How did this happen?”
“From what we’ve been able to piece together, after the concert Friday night she went to a rave down in the warehouse district with Makena and Tessa,” a reptilian male answered as a Hyena girl and a Bearded Dragon girl waved in acknowledgement. “She was pretty upset about seeing Ross at the dance with a date and needed to blow off some steam. Anyway, apparently after leaving the dance, Ross broke up with her date and called Megan to try and work things out. Megan stepped outside to take the call and a bunch of guys followed her out.”
“Some people who were working late in a nearby warehouse overheard what was going on and managed to break it up, but by then Megan was already pretty bad off,” a male Wolf continued. “But if they had been just a few minutes later it could have been too late.”
“Meanwhile, Ross overheard everything,” an Aardwolf girl interjected. “Her uncle called the police while she was forced to listen to them beat her.”
“It’s my fault,” the Hyena girl, Makena, spoke up. “If I hadn’t invited her to come along with us-”
“Shut up,” the Bearded Dragon sitting next to her hissed. “Your friend was hurting and you encouraged her to have fun. The fault belongs to the pussies that attacked her. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Ross is one of those Tundra Lionesses over there, I assume?” the Mare half-asked, half-stated as she tilted her head back in the general direction of the group she had passed when she entered.
“Yeah, the one that looks like she’s about have a panic attack,” the Bearded Dragon answered.
“She’s pretty. So how did you guys get the news?” Maykere inquired.
“My Mom works here and was on-duty when they brought her in,” the reptile said. “Megan lives in the apartment above us, and Mom knows we’re in a band together, so she called me as soon as she could. I called Vivy, Makena, and Riley. Vivy called you, Makena texted Tessa, and Riley got a hold of Leo through Facebook.”
“Sorry about that,” she explained. “I typically turn my cell off when I get home so I can enjoy some peace and quiet. I should probably give you my home number, just in case.”

~~~~~

“You must be Ross,” an unfamiliar voice announced as its owner took a seat beside her. “Megan’s told me so much about you.”
“That’s me,” she responded as she looked up to see the older Mare to her right. “I’m sorry, but who are you and how do you know Megan?”
“I’m sorry. My name’s Maykere,” the woman answered with a warm smile. “Megan is one of my more frequent customers. I operate a piercing parlor on the east side.”
“Do you visit all of your customers when they end up in the hospital?” Ross asked as she quirked an eyebrow at the newcomer. “Not to mention bring them flowers?”
“Of course not,” Maykere chuckled. “That’s simply how we met. But a lot of people that walk through my door are trying to cover up some kind of emotional trauma with physical pain. I could tell just by looking into her eyes that Megan was in turmoil, so she and I got to talking and became friends.”
“Just friends, or more than friends?” the Tundra Lioness asked, angry with herself for feeling jealous of the beautiful woman sitting beside her after driving Megan away.
“My, straight to the point, aren’t we?” she chuckled nervously. “While I would have liked for Megan and I to become involved romantically, she’s still head-over-heels in love with you. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
“I see,” the teen said as she relaxed slightly. “So, you say that people use the physical discomfort of getting pierced to distract themselves from emotional pain? If you don’t mind me asking, how regular of a customer is Megan?”
The Mare shifted nervously in her seat. “I’m sorry, I didn’t come over here to make you uncomfortable. Maybe I should-”
“No, tell me,” Ross insisted. “I blame myself for everything that happened to her. I want to know.”
With a deep sigh, the woman replied, “Okay… She and I had four sessions.”
“And are the areas that she had pierced… painful?” Ross asked.
“Three of them, yes. I’d prefer to leave which ones to your imagination,” Maykere stated anxiously.
“Both sets of genitals, maybe her belly... And her tongue?” the Tundra Lioness guessed as she ticked off the possibilities.
“Her nipples,” the Mare corrected her. “She was afraid that a tongue piercing might affect her singing. She replaced the hoops in her nipples with barbells, and got vertical barbells to make crosses.”
“So then?” Ross asked, cocking her eyebrow and pointing towards her lap.
“Yeah. Get ready to rethink the way you make love,” the woman grinned. “Also, get yourself on birth control, if you’re not already. Condoms won’t stand a chance and trust me, you won’t want her to pull out.”
“I see,” Ross muttered as the jealousy swelled up inside of her. “So you and she did…”
“Have sex? Yeah,” the Equine responded. “Made love? No. That, I’m afraid, is an action she reserves just for you.”
“So what?” Ross growled. “You’re just going to step aside and let me have her? Fuck that shit. If she really means that much to you, you should be fighting for her.”
“Ross,” Maykere said gently as she placed a paw on the girl’s arm. “She chose you before she and I even met, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t win her over. I know for a fact that when you two get to talking about it, she will take you back. I’m just here to offer you both my support and my blessing. I want her to be happy, even if it’s not with me, but I would also like to remain friends with her. With both of you, if you’ll give me the chance.”
“If she takes me back,” Ross sighed, “I’ll give you a chance for Megan’s sake. I trust her… you, not so much. Not yet.”

~~~~~

“Hello, Rosaline,” a deep, rumbling voice called from her right. The teen Lioness lifted her head off of her mother’s shoulder and looked to see who had addressed her.
“Grandfather?” she asked in disbelief. She hadn’t seen the man face-to-face since she was a cub, but she had felt his presence all her life. The elder Mountain Lion had funded her school, and was the source of her mother’s income. His strict rules had shaped her entire family’s structure. It was the reason she was planning on studying medicine. It was those same rules that she had broken that had gotten her sent to Marbleciff. Ross even secretly believed they might have been the reason her father had left. And yet here he stood, looking about the same as she had seen him last at his estate nearly eleven years ago. She stood up and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him warmly. “You know that’s not my name, right?”
“You’ll always be my little Rosaline,” Gallden Decker explained as he returned the embrace. “I hear there is this hermaphrodite that has warmed the heart of my Rosaline. I thought that I should be here to offer my support and see for myself how deeply you care for this young person. They must be truly remarkable.”
“She is,” the girl sighed deeply. “So… You aren’t bothered by the fact that she’s a herm?”
“Herm... I have never cared for that word. To say I am unoffended would be a lie, but I’ve never seen you go so far off the path for one person ever before. For this, I must see this individual for myself.” Ross’s smile turned to a thin line at his words.
“Come. Take a walk with me. The fresh air will do you some good,” he said as he broke up their hug. Together, they turned and started walking towards the exit. “Alice says that you haven’t been yourself ever since the two of you broke up.”
“What can I say? Megan makes me want to be good enough to deserve her love,” Ross stated. “She completes me.”
“Your mother says that Megan has a child,” Gallden said. “You were afraid that by not being in this child’s life, Megan would not be any better than your own father. What changed?”
“I met the mother,” the teen explained. “She and the baby are both doing well. She showed me pictures of him, and he’s beautiful. He has Megan’s eyes. But she’s afraid that if it becomes known that Megan is his father, it will complicate all of their lives.”
“I see. I take it, then, that this woman has some position of authority over Megan,” he concluded. “A teacher, or perhaps a police officer.” The automatic doors slid open and the pair stepped out into the crisp January air.
“She’s a teacher, Sir,” Ross remarked. “Latin.”
“And how is it that Megan managed to impregnate a woman but not have any idea who?” her grandfather asked. “And a teacher, no less.”
“They were both manipulated,” the girl explained. “Megan’s ex is extremely controlling, and likes to toy with the lives and emotions of others.”
“This ex you mention, is she still a problem?”
“She tries to be, but Megan is stronger now than she was back then,” the teen Lioness answered.
“Because of you,” he stated.
“I can only take part of the credit for that,” Ross clarified. “True, when they had first broken up, Megan was an emotional wreck and I helped her get past that. But it didn’t take long for our roles to reverse.”
“Yes, I heard that you seemed much happier,” the elder Lion chuckled. “The famous Ross temper had all but disappeared.”
“Until I found out about the cub,” Ross muttered. “Then I had to fu- I mean mess everything up.”
“This Megan must be quite the remarkable young Bat to get this many visitors,” he said. “It seems like two-thirds of the people in the waiting area are here to see her.”
“She really is.”
“You know, it’s hardly fair to compare her situation to your father’s,” Gallden observed. “Codix Goldmane is an incredible man. He is well-learned, charismatic, and as sharp as a tack, with a drive I have yet to see matched. For those reasons, I allowed him to court my eldest daughter, and most likely why she said ‘yes.’ I may even respect his accomplishments, but I will always judge him by his greatest failure. You and your sisters are growing up to be incredible young women, and he’s missing out. But that’s his decision. It sounds to me like someone else made the decision for Megan.”
“I understand that now,” the girl said with a weak smile. “I only hope I wasn’t too late.”
“Do you remember when you were little and we would all go out for brunch on Sunday mornings?” her grandfather asked, suddenly changing the subject.
“I do,” Ross replied. “That was my favorite time of the week.”
“Well, what do you say you and I go and have brunch together and talk for a bit?”
“That sounds wonderful,” she answered with a big smile. “I know just the place.”

~~~~~

A gentle knock at the doorway helped to pull Megan from her codeine-induced haze. Looking up, she saw a familiar smiling face looking back at her, and realized the swelling had subsided just enough for her to see again. “Hey, you,” Maykere said warmly as she walked into the room. “Vivy told me what happened. Are you going to be okay?”
From her bed, the teen Bat managed a slight smile and nodded. Reaching into her purse, Maykere produced a small tablet and brought it over to her friend. “I hear your jaw’s broken, so I brought you this to make communicating easier.” Megan made a look of protest, but the Mare held up a paw and reassured her, “Don’t worry yourself about it. I used to use it for the parlor, but after upgrading my inventory and payroll management system, I discovered that the new software wasn’t compatible. It’s just been sitting around the apartment collecting dust. Plus, it has a few games on it to help keep you entertained in between visitors.”
Megan hesitated as she took the offered device, and Maykere spoke up again to lay her remaining worries to rest. “Honestly, it’s no big deal, but if you’d like you can give it back to me after you get those wires taken out.”
The Bat lay in her bed, examining the tablet’s interface as she attempted to figure out how to launch the word processing app. With a chuckle, the equine woman leaned in and said, “Here, like this.”
[Thank you.] Megan typed out once the program was open.
“No need to thank me,” Maykere replied as she sat down at the girl’s bedside. “I can’t help but feel responsible for all of this. I mean, I could have closed the shop early to be there at the dance, but I decided not to. If I’d have been there-”
She was interrupted by what sounded like a combination of a grunt and a whimper coming from Megan. Looking up with tears in her eyes, she saw the Bat staring back at her with a fire in her amethyst-colored eyes and a disapproving frown on her muzzle.
[It’s not your fault. You have responsibilities. Stop blaming yourself, because no one else blames you.] With a soft sniffle, the Mare dried her eyes and gave a meek nod.
The pair settled into an uncomfortable silence after that. They both knew there was an important matter to discuss regarding the future of their not-quite relationship, but given recent events, neither knew how to broach the subject. Finally, after what couldn’t have been more than a minute and a half but felt like hours, Maykere spoke up. “So I heard from Vivy that you and Ross had been talking about getting back together…”
Rather than type out such a simple response, Megan nodded.
“I met her in the waiting area, you know. Ross, that is,” the Mare said uncomfortably. “She seems like a lovely young woman that cares deeply for you and genuinely regrets hurting you. I can see why you still love her.”
The Bat regarded her with a melancholy smile before typing. [She gave me strength and courage in a time when I had none. The girl you know is only possible because of her.]
“Well, I wanted to tell you that if you two want to reconcile, I won’t stand in your way.” The woman managed to choke out the words as the emotions began to overcome her once again.
[I’m sorry.]
“What are you apologizing for, Silly?” Maykere actually managed to laugh. “You made it abundantly clear that you still had feelings for Ross and weren’t ready for anything serious. It’s my own fault for leaving myself open to heartbreak.”
[So then, you aren’t upset with me?]
“Megan, the only way I could ever be upset with you is if you didn’t choose what you believe to be best for you,” she responded as she leaned over and took Megan’s paw into her own and gave the back of it a gentle kiss. “But I hope that you and I can continue being friends.”
[Of course!]
“Good,” Maykere said with a slight smile. “I hope you bring Ross by the shop sometime. I’d like to give her some shiny new baubles for you to play with.” The Bat shot her an incredulous look in response before she laughed and continued, “Okay, you got me. Maybe a small part of me also wants to give her a little bit of pain for taking you away from me, but I promise I’ll be good. Mostly.”

~~~~~

The Flour Shop
“And here’s a picture of Megan and I goofing around, trying on different costumes,” Ross explained as she held her phone up for her grandfather to see. “She’s supposed to be Ledo and I’m Amy from an anime called Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet.”
“It looks like you two have a lot of fun together,” the older male responded with an approving grin.
“Yeah,” the young Tundra Lioness answered with a wistful sigh. “I wanted to put together an outfit for an anime convention and she offered to come along. She doesn’t quite share - or even understand - all of my interests, but she was always very supportive.”
“That’s a very important trait when selecting a mate,” Gallden replied. “though sometimes I wish that your mother had a little less of it.”
“Grandfather…” Ross said after a brief delay. “Have you heard from my father? Do you know where he is? Mom won’t talk about it.”
Gallden paused, carefully placing his utensils down onto the table. “Your father... He’s a very eccentric man. I don’t simply mean his odd tendencies, either. I’m saying that he lives outside of normal society. I used to put my resources into keeping tabs on him, but that turned out to be pointless.”
“What do you mean pointless?” Ross asked. “You couldn’t find him?”
“Codix himself can be found… Eventually. However, the man travels to some of the most peculiar places in the world,” her grandfather explained. “I’ve had people looking for him in New Zealand, only for him to call home later that week from Peru.”
“Peru? What was he doing in Peru?” Ross asked, curious to hear more.
“He was working with a non-governmental organization, which he would not tell me the name of, providing clean water and other supplies for disaster relief in 2007. He’d seen many families torn asunder after an earthquake wrecked the coast, and wanted to see how his family was doing.”
“I... I didn’t know that’s what he was doing all these years,” the girl said with a trace of awe in her voice.
“Sweetheart, nobody knows what your father does,” the Mountain Lion responded with a dismissive wave of his paw. “When I finally met him, he was part of an aeronautical engineering company in Europe. He told me he was in America meeting an old acquaintance, and only later did I find out that person was none other than your sister’s fiance’s father, Prince Leoric Greatwolf.”
Ross sat there, silently processing this new information. Gallden slid his paw across the table and placed it on hers.
“I know you have complicated feelings with regards to your father, Rosaline, but there’s no way he could ever be the father you deserve. And I think that’s for the best.”
“Are you saying I should just forget about him, Grandfather?” Ross asked, tearing up.
“No, Rosaline. I’m saying you should change the way you think of him. He loves you, and he always will. But Codix can’t stay in one place, even for you and your sisters. He’s tried, and every time he did, your mother became pregnant again, but too many people need his skills, too many people have benefited from his... unique way of life, and too many people would be hurt without his interference.”
“So what, we should all have to suffer so he can go do whatever the fuck?” the teen snarled.
“Ross!” Gallden growled angrily. “I understand you’re upset, but you will not speak to me in such manner. That stops now.”
“I’m sorry, Grandfather,” she muttered.
“I think that the man cannot simply stay home and be happy when he has the ability to ease the suffering of others,” Gallden rationalized.
“It’s just so unfair. Nini and Popi may not have seen Mom hurt the way she was, but I did.”
“I know,” Gallden comforted as he leaned back in his seat. “Unfair is a good way to describe the situation, but labels do nothing to make you suffer. That is entirely up to you. You can either spend your whole life wishing for something out of your control, or you can accept your father for who he is and maybe develop some semblance of a healthy relationship with him. Either way, he will still love you.”
Ross sat there, quietly crying to herself. She was so tired, and this was all too much for her to handle right then. She sniffled and wiped the tears from her eyes, ready to continue. “I… I’ll have to think about this, but I think I get what you’re saying.”
Gallden nodded. “You have much time to decide what to make of your father, but right now is not about him, is it?”
“No… you’re right, Megan is what’s important to me right now. You’re saying I should be focused on her.”
Gallden shrugged. “That’s up to you, Rosaline. There are a lot of fish in the sea, and you’re so young. Are you certain this person is who you want to live the rest of your life with?”
“Til the day I die, Grandfather,” Ross stated as she leaned forward over the table. “I’ve never been so certain of anything before. I don’t tend to believe in things like fate or destiny or any of that crap, but meeting Megan has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’ve tried to quit her, but I couldn’t think of anyone else like I do about her. I don’t ever want to let her go. Never again.”
Gallden’s eyes narrowed, meeting Ross’s eye-to-eye. “And what if I retracted my support? Is this Bat worth more to you then your family, or your stability in life?”
A cold chill hit the back of Ross’s mind under her grandfather’s scrutiny. He could very well do that, and making a living would be difficult. Still, she’d have Megan, they could get a place together. She’d get a job, perhaps a student loan. People make that sort of thing work all the time, and they didn’t have someone as wonderful as Megan. The more she thought about it, the less Gallden’s threat scared her.
“Don’t play coy with me, Grandfather. You wouldn’t do that to your eldest granddaughter, not when I’m this close to getting into college. Even if you did, I’m sure I could convince you to fund us. Like being able to name my first kid or something. You like that sorta thing, right?”
“Ha!” The older Mountain Lion laughed to himself. “Now there’s that fiery granddaughter I love. As much as I would like to pick my great-grandchildren’s names, that won’t be necessary. You really do love this person?”
“Woman,” Ross corrected him. “And yes, more than anything.”
“Then there’s only one thing left to do. Come, Rosaline, we have other places to go.”

~~~~~

“Megan, Honey, there’s somebody I’d like for you to meet,” Lucinda said as she stood up and walked to the door. She opened it up and leaned out into the hallway. Megan couldn’t hear what was being said, but after about forty-five seconds, she came back in, followed by an Arctic Fox woman and a young Fox-Bat hybrid.
“Megan, I’d like for you to meet Jessie Conroy,” her mother said as she pointed to the Vixen. Then, with gesture towards the shy crossbreed, added, “And this is Melissa Conroy… your sister.”
“It’s wonderful to meet you, Megan,” the woman, Jessie, said as she stepped forward. “Your mother has told us so many wonderful things about you.”
“I never told you about them, because I knew how angry you are at your father,” Lucinda explained. “And you have every right to be. But when he passed away a few years back, Jessie contacted me and we’ve kept in touch. I was going to tell you after you graduated so that it wouldn’t disrupt your studies, but after everything that just happened I realized that none of us know what the future holds and it wasn’t right for me to keep this big of a secret from you.”
“Yes, Sweetie,” Jessie said softly, “I know that this has to be… all kinds of weird, but I think that this would be for the best.” She was smiling, while the whole time the younger crossbreed was looking around the room, looking a little lost.
“Your father may have been an ass,” her mother said, before catching herself. She looked at Melissa and said, “Oops. Sorry. My point is, keeping the two of you apart because of his mistakes isn’t fair to either of you.”
“I think that it would be good for Melissa, too… I mean having a sister - I’m sure it will be a good influence on her.” The mother Fox patted her daughter on the shoulder, nudging her a little.
“It’s… Umm,” the girl paused, clearly unsure of what to say, given the novelty of the situation. “It’s nice to meet you,” she continued sheepishly as she took another step closer while looking at the Bat lying in the bed. “It’s kinda weird knowing that I have a sister that I never met… Kinda like something out of an anime or something.”
“I know that this has to be a lot to take in, especially given all the things that have just happened, and I can understand if you’re a little iffy on us being a part of your life… I just ask that you give us a chance. Is that fair?” The Vixen asked.
Megan shifted slightly in her bed and tapped the display on the tablet several times. Her mother leaned over and read the screen. “She says, ‘I’ve always wanted a sister.’” Lucinda smiled and gave her daughter a gentle kiss on the top of her head, being careful to avoid the bandages. Megan shook slightly as she quietly laughed and added, “‘If this is what it took for us to meet, I’m glad I only asked for one.’ Oh, you, stop.”
Jessie let out a little giggle of her own. “I’m relieved,” she said as she let out a soft sigh, “and I’m sure if we had known that things would have gone like this, and that you wanted a sister, we might have shown up sooner.”
“This is going to be so weird telling everyone back home,” Melissa stated as she looked from her sister to her mother. Her posture relaxed a little as she started opening up a little more. “I didn’t think that I would ever get to say that I have a sister.”
“You know, you came pretty close to having a little brother or sister more than once,” the older Fox said with a little snicker. “Trust me, it wasn’t because your father and I didn’t try.” A little bit of blush tinted her cheeks as she spoke.
“Mooooom!” Melissa whined loudly. “I don’t need to know about your love life… That’s kinda gross.”
“You know… That might have been a little over the line,” Jessie glanced from her daughter to Megan, and then to Lucinda. “I’m sorry for saying that. This is all kind of unusual for me, too.”
“Don’t mind my mom; she can be a dork sometimes,” Melissa teased as she walked up to the bed and rested her paw on Megan’s. “I mean like a really big dork.”
There was a gentle knock at the door, followed by someone carefully pushing it open. Ross poked her head inside the room and asked, “I’m sorry, is this a bad time?”
“Of course not, Ross, honey,” Lucinda said as she stood up and waved the teen feline inside. “What’s going on?”
“My Uncle Xavier is taking everyone out for dinner, his treat,” she explained. “He invited you and your friends to join them.”
Chuckling, the mother Bat said, “These aren’t friends, Dear. They’re family. This is Megan’s half-sister, Melissa, and her mother, Jessie. Girls, this is Ross.”
Megan made a grunting noise to grab her Mom’s attention, and typed a few words, causing the woman to smile. “This is Ross, Megan’s girlfriend.”
Melissa tilted her head slightly as she looked from her half-sister to her girlfriend and gave a soft smile. “Uhm, hello,” she said shyly as she held out her paw. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ross,” Jessie greeted her, then cast a look in Megan’s direction. “You two make quite a cute pair.”
“Hi, it’s nice to meet you, too…” the exhausted Tundra Lioness returned, clearly confused as she shook Melissa’s offered paw. “I don’t understand. Half-sister? What does that… How?”
“That’s still something of an awkward subject,” Lucinda explained. “We’ll tell you about it later, if that’s okay with you.”
“Wait, hold on,” Ross stopped her, rubbing her temples, “Half-sister… you’re talking about Megan’s father? He’s here?”
“Ross!” Popi exclaimed, panting as she skidded to a halt in the doorway. “Uncle Xavier wants to know if you-” The cub stopped mid-sentence as she saw three strangers staring back at her. “Oh, uhm, hi. I’m Popi, Ross’s sister.”
“Hello, Popi,” the elder Bat woman greeted her. “I’m Megan’s mother, Lucy, and this is Melissa, Megan’s sister, and her mother, Jessie.”
“Hello,” the young hybrid said, giving a shy little wave to the newcomer.
“Hi. What was I going to say?” the young Tundra Lioness asked. “Oh yeah. Everyone’s getting ready to go out for dinner, so if you guys want to go, you need to be out front in the next ten minutes.”
“I just had a big brunch with Grandfather,” the teen Lioness explained, before looking to the others. “So I can stay here and keep Megan company and talk. My family would love to meet you, though, Mrs. Conroy. All three of you, I guess, since you’re Megan’s family.”
“What do you say, Jessie?” Lucinda asked. “Feel like grabbing a bite to eat?”
“Now that you mention it, Melissa and I haven’t eaten since before our flight,” the Vixen answered. “I suppose we could go for some dinner. What do you think, Sweetie?”
“Huh?” the young hybrid asked, pulled from what seemed to be a lively conversation with Ross’s little sister.
Chuckling, Jessie said, “I take that as a ‘yes.’”
“Are you sure?” Lucinda asked, looking at Ross.
“Of course I’m sure,” the Tundra Lioness answered as she helped Megan’s mom stand up. “You’ve had a rough day-and-a-half or so; an evening out with nice people will be good for you. Go relax, then get a refreshing shower and sleep in your own bed. We’ll see you in the morning, okay?”
Lucinda leaned over and kissed Megan on her forehead. “It sounds like you two have important things to talk about. Fine, then, I’ll help Melissa and Jessie get settled in for their visit, and we’ll see you both tomorrow. I love you, Sweetheart.” Then, looking to the Vixen, she asked, “Are you two ready?”
The mother Fox smiled to Megan and said, “Take care.” Then, turning to face Lucinda and then her daughter, added, “I’m ready. I’m pretty sure Melissa is, too.”
“See you tomorrow, oneesan,” Melissa said, opening up a little more. “Food sounds good right now.”
Once the trio collected their coats and hats and closed the door behind them, the Tundra Lioness took her place at Megan’s bedside. “So, a half-sister, huh?” Ross asked as she sat down in the chair Lucinda had recently vacated. “That’s pretty wild. Did your dad come, too?”
[He died in 2012, apparently.] Megan typed out in response.
“Ouch,” the Tundra Lioness said. “How are you handling the news?”
[An apology before he died would have been nice, but I can’t really say I’m grieving. But I was happy to find out that I have a sister.]
“And you’re okay with the fact that he moved on, leaving you and your mother to struggle, while he found happiness with another family?” Ross asked.
[Of course not. But don’t you think it’s better to salvage whatever good I can from the situation?]
“Maybe? I dunno, Megan. I’m not you. I feel like that would just hurt me more knowing he went on to have another family. Like… well, it doesn’t matter anyway, so fuck him. I’m just glad that you’re happy about having a sister.”
[She kind of reminds me of you, in some ways.]
“Oh?” Ross asked with a grin. “Is that a good thing or bad?”
[It seems that she loves anime.] Megan typed out. [Maybe even more than you do.]
Laughing, the teenaged feline replied, “Oh, we’ll have to see about that. Would you mind if I took her shopping while she’s in town? I could take her by your work, let Heather know how you’re doing, and see if she can use your employee discount.”
[Well now I have to say ‘yes.’ If she ever found out I refused, I’m afraid her tsundere side might come out.]
With a fake gasp of surprise, Ross teased, “Oh my God! Did you just make an anime joke?”
[What can I say? I’ve learned a few things working in the store. I’m not a baka.]
Giggling, Ross leaned in close and whispered in Megan’s ear, “I love it when you talk nerdy to me. It’s very… kawaii.” The Bat shivered at the tickling sensation of her girlfriend’s breath. “Speaking of anime, you dyed your hair white, like that wig you tried on when we went shopping for cosplay stuff.”
[Well, I remember you said it was a good color for me, and I thought it would fit the tone for the dance.]
“I like it a lot,” the teen feline replied as she ran her claws through Megan’s hair. “I think you should keep it.”
[So what’s with the keen interest in spending time with my little sister?]
“Well, I figure I should get to know my future sister-in-law, maybe even see if she’d like to be one of my bridesmaids,” Ross explained as she shifted slightly in her seat and reached inside of her coat, producing a small box. She took Megan’s paw into her own and eased herself off the chair and down onto one knee beside the bed. The Bat’s eyes grew wide with surprise and excitement as her girlfriend continued. “Megan Conroy, I know that this isn’t the most romantic place or the romantic time to do this, but these past eight months living without you have shown me how badly I need you in my life, not just now, but forever. And everything that happened this weekend has made me realize that I don’t want to wait another minute to make it official. My grandfather took me out for lunch, and then we went ring shopping, and apartment hunting… So I’m asking you, as the woman who loves you more than anything and will never allow you to get hurt ever again… Megan Conroy, will you please do me the honor of being my wife?”

~~~~~

Monday, January 20, 2014 - Shortly After Midnight
The Apartment of Lucinda and Megan Conroy
“Please excuse the mess,” Lucy said as she opened the front door and turned on the living room lights. “A few days ago I wasn’t planning on having guests, and I’ve been otherwise busy ever since.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it,” Jessie reassured her as she stepped into the apartment with Melissa in tow. “I’m used to things being a little messy, and given all that’s happened, well, who could blame you?” Meanwhile, Melissa looked around the area, not saying anything as she took in the sights of the strange new home.
“I’m not really sure how you want the sleeping arrangements to work,” the Bat woman said. “But Megan’s got a full-sized bed, I have a queen, and there’s the couch. If you want, I can sleep in Megan’s bed and you two can share mine, or if you each want your own space I can take the couch...”
“I wouldn’t want you to put out- Uhm, that is, I wouldn’t want to put you out,” Jessie stammered with an embarrassed blush and a nervous smile. “I’m perfectly fine with sleeping on the sofa.”
“And I can take oneesan’s bed, if you don’t think that she’d mind.” Melissa spoke up as she turned to the mother Bat.
“See? Everything’s good to go,” Jessie said happily, before turning to her daughter. “And I’m sure that you want to go play that game of yours or watch those Japanese cartoons or something, so what do you say?”
“Thank you, Ms. Lucinda, it’s been really nice getting to meet you and everyone, and dinner was really good,” the young hybrid spoke, seeming more and more relaxed around her new family.
“Well, Ross’s uncle paid for dinner,” the woman explained, “but it’s been wonderful getting to meet you and your mother face-to-face.” She let out a deep, long sigh. “I just would have preferred it to be under better circumstances.”
“When things start off like this, that just means that they have a stronger foundation,” Melissa reassured with a slight bow.
“Well, after seeing how you and Megan get along already, I’m sure that you two will be close, and I’m pretty sure that you’re making friends,” Jessie added with a slight snicker. “I thought there for a second that I would have to get a crowbar to separate you and Popi.”
“Well, she’s like, really cool. I mean, most of that family is cool,” the Foxbat answered with a nod. “But anyway, good-night, momma. Good-night, Ms. Lucinda.” She turned and started to walk off before stopping to ask, “Ummm, where would Megan’s room be?”
“Down that hallway, first door on your left. The bathroom is right across from there, and the linen closet is that narrow door at the end of the hall, in case anyone needs fresh towels or washcloths,” Lucinda explained, pointing out each location as she spoke.
Melissa nodded as she was told where to find everything, before giving a little bow and slipping off to Megan’s room now that she knew where it was. “It’s nice to see her getting to meet more people and becoming a little more social,” Jessie remarked with a smile as she turned to the other mother. “I mean, it’s better than her sitting around playing all the games that she does, or having her nose stuck in a book. You know, it might be a little late, but would you care to have a little coffee and chat for a short while? Or maybe a little more wine.” She giggled slightly, seeming more relaxed now that her daughter was off doing her own thing.
“Sorry, no wine here,” Lucinda replied. “I’m a recovering alcoholic. But I can make some coffee if that’s what you want, or tea.”
“Oh,” the Vixen remarked softly. “Well, tea does sound good right about now. I’m sorry, I didn’t know about the alcoholism.” She rubbed the back of one of her ears softly, likely a nervous habit.
“It’s not really something I talk about, since I’m not very proud of it,” the Bat woman said as she lead Jessie towards the kitchen. “But I was a terrible mother to Megan during that time, and I promised both her and myself that I would never drink again.I haven’t had a drink since May.”
“Congratulations. It’s courageous of you to work so hard to better yourself and mend your relationship with Megan,” the Vixen praised her host as she sat down at the small bistro-style dining table. She leaned forward slightly, letting her elbows rest on the table. “You know, I was a little intimidated at first when it came to meeting you.”
“Me? How so?” Lucinda asked, not looking back over her shoulder as she prepared a pot of hot water.
“Well, for one thing, Howard used to talk about you and how he was stupid for leaving you,” Jessie explained. “Then one day, I convinced him to show me some pictures of you, and you looked so radiant.” She paused for a moment, obviously feeling nervous, before continuing, “But now, after meeting you face-to-face, I can see why he spoke so highly of you. He really was an idiot.”
“I won’t argue that he was stupid for abandoning us just because Megan was born third-gender,” the Bat woman replied, stopping what she was doing for just a second as a shiver passed through her body. She could sense that Jessie was taking her in by the tone of her voice, and she liked it. It had been so long since anyone had admired her form. “But there’s no way he was stupid enough to show off his ex wife to his new one.”
“Yeah, I hate to say, but you would lose that bet,” Jessie challenged with a little giggle. “I remember this one photo most of all… I don’t remember where he said it was taken or what you two were doing, but you were in a lovely dress, the both of you standing on a wooden dock overlooking a body of water. You were stunning in that photo… I mean, you still are… Umm… You know what I mean.” The Vixen shut her muzzle and bashfully looked around the room, trying to hide her blush and embarrassment.
“Well, as much as I enjoy the flattery,” Lucy said as she put the pot on the stove to boil, “my ex-husband is one of my least favorite topics of conversation.” She walked over and sat down across from the Vixen at the table she normally shared with Megan. “So, tell me, how long are you and Melissa planning on staying in town?”
“Is it still flattery if it’s true?” Jessie asked before looking back to the other mother. “Don’t answer that. I don’t know. At least a week, maybe more; we’re not too sure on that front just yet. I guess it depends on how well things keep going between Melissa, Megan, and everyone else. That, and how long y’all want to put up with us.”
“Well, you’re both more than welcome to stay here until Megan gets released from the hospital, but after that she’ll need her bedroom back,” the female Bat replied. “Are you sure it won’t interfere too much with Melissa’s schooling?”
“Oh, that’s not an issue at all. She’s ahead of most - if not all - of the kids on her grade level,” the Fox answered with a serious nod. “And if we stay longer, I can get her work sent up here.” She paused for a moment. “As for Megan getting her bed back, I can let Melissa have the sofa and I’ll take over the floor. Or, I could steal your bed sometime.” She laughed at her poor attempt at a joke.
“I… I’m not so sure that would be a great idea,” Lucinda answered as she looked away awkwardly, a rose hue shining through the fur on her neck and cheeks.
“I mean, uhm…” the Vixen paused as she realized she was only making things more uncomfortable. “I’d only steal it when you’re not around… I mean… You know what I mean.” It was suddenly clear where Melissa got her awkwardness from. “So anyway… How about that tea?” she asked in an obviously desperate attempt to change the subject before she dug herself a deeper hole.
“Right. Sorry,” Lucinda said in an almost-whisper as she returned to the small kitchen to finish preparing the offered drink. Something in the way that this other woman was looking at her was making her anxious, but she couldn’t figure out if that anxiety was good or bad. “Would you like any sugar? Honey?”
Jessie smiled, and made no attempt to hide the blush that was forming on her face. “Just a little sugar, please. And if either one of us is sweet enough to deserve ‘Honey’ as a nickname, it’s you.”
“Huh?” the Bat woman asked, confused by the reply she’d been given. Replaying the question and subsequent answer in her mind, she gave a shy chuckle and explained, “I’m sorry… That was supposed to have been two questions. Would you like any sugar or honey?”
“Right,” Jessie said with an almost silly-looking grin. “Sorry about that; I might be a little more buzzed than I thought. Just give me some sugar.” Realizing what she’d just said, Jessie erupted in a fit of giggles before adding, “Honey.”
Shaking her head, but unable to hide a slight smile, Lucinda prepared two cups of tea, one of them with two spoonfuls of sugar. “I hope you don’t mind taking this conversation to the sofa? I’ve had a long day and I could use a chance to prop up my footpaws.” She handed the mug with sugar to the Vixen when she reached the table.
“Sounds good to me,” the Fox replied as she stood up and followed her to the sofa in the next room. “It has been a rather busy day.” When she sat back down, she wiggled a little in her seat, tucking her legs under her. She took a small sip of the tea and let out a little murr. “You got this just right: not too sweet, but sweet enough, you know?”
“It’s how I normally like mine,” the Bat explained. “I just decided I shouldn’t have sugar this late, or else I’d be up later than I should. But thank you.”
“Well, if you change your mind, I’d be happy to give you some,” the Vixen countered with a little snicker before taking another sip of her tea. “You know, it’s still a little weird. After Howard died, things were a little rough. I think that it hurt Melissa more, but we knew that he would want us to keep going and be happy.” She took a deep breath, looking into her cup of tea. “And once things settled down, I was so worried about contacting you. After the way that he painted you, putting you on such a high pillar, I was worried that you would be… more critical of me and everything. I’m so glad that you’re such a sweetheart. He wasn’t kidding when he said that you were one of the nicest, sweetest people, and it’s true… I mean, you and Megan are both welcoming us into your lives so graciously… I’m… I’m moved. And Megan… You’ve raised her to be such a fine young woman.”
She looked to her right to get Lucinda’s response, realizing with an awkward blush that she had been rambling on for some time. It turns out that she need not have worried, because in that brief time the Bat woman had fallen asleep, her head almost touching Jessie’s shoulder. With a smile, the Fox took another sip of her tea before setting it on the side table. She then carefully reached over to take the untouched beverage from Lucinda’s lap, not wanting to wake her yet, and set it down next to her own.
“Lucy, Sweetie… I think it’s time to get you to bed,” she said, reaching over to lightly nudge her.
“Hmm?” the Bat murmured drowsily. “Sorry, what did you say?”
“I think it’s time to get you to bed,” Jessie repeated herself, smiling warmly. “You passed out on me as I was rambling on and on.” She stood up and stretched her lithe frame. “Need a little help?” she asked, offering her paw.
“Maybe just a little,” Lucinda replied as she accepted the assistance. “My legs feel like they weigh a ton.”
Carefully helping her up, the Vixen smiled again. “Come on, Honey… where’s your bedroom?” She asked.
“It’s the door right next to Megan’s room,” the tired woman answered as she waved her arm in that general direction. “End of the hall, on the left.”
“I swear you just get more and more cute,” Jessie teased a little as she followed the sleepy woman’s directions, helping her over to the bed and sitting her down. “There you go….get some sleep, Honey.” The Fox said with a slight blush as she turned to leave.
“Wait,” Lucinda mumbled, weakly grabbing the Vixen by the wrist. “Dun’ go. Stay here wiv’ me.”
Jessie’s blush continued to intensify to the point she wondered if her white fur would be permanently stained pink. “You don’t need to ask me twice,” she answered softly as she patted the back of the woman’s paw, before making her way around to the other side of the bed. “Good night, Honey,” she whispered as she climbed into the other woman’s bed.
The Bat woman wiggled her way over into the middle of the mattress until their noses were mere inches apart. “Z’ nice,” she sighed as she draped a wing over her companion’s side. Then, she gave Jessie a soft peck on her muzzle and muttered softly, “G’night, Sugar...”
Jessie was caught off guard by the wing being draped over her side and more so by the little kiss. She smiled as she closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of the other person snuggling with her.

~~~~~

8:43 AM
Marblecliff General Hospital
“Good morning, Ms. Conroy,” Mrs. Millen greeted them from the nurses’ station as they stepped off the elevator.
“Good morning,” Lucinda and Jessie returned in unison, causing the Vixen to blush with embarrassment.
“Sorry, habit,” she said meekly.
Megan’s mother disregarded the mistake, instead asking the reptilian woman, “So, how is she this morning?”
“Pretty good, I think,” the nurse replied. “It looks as though the swelling around her eyes has gone down a lot.”
“Well, that’s great news!” Jessie spoke up.
“And she had the biggest smile on her muzzle when I peeked in on her just a little bit ago.”
“Oh?” Lucy asked.
“They’re probably still asleep, but follow me and I’ll show you.”
Mrs. Millen escorted them to Megan’s room and gave a gentle knock, loud enough to be heard if the occupants of the room were awake, but gentle enough to not disturb the sleeping duo. After several seconds without a reply, she carefully eased the door open.
Megan did indeed look better; the swelling had gone down considerably, and she had a large, almost silly-looking grin on her lips as she slept. The fingers of her left paw were interlaced with Ross’s, while the Tundra Lioness had lowered the side railing of the bed to rest her head against Megan’s thigh.
“They make an adorable couple,” Melissa observed as she slipped into the room under her mother’s arm and took out her phone and snuck up closer to the bed to take a picture.
“Melissa!” Jessie hissed at her daughter. “Get back here right now!”
After snapping the photo, the young Fox-Bat quietly hurried back out into the hallway before letting out a giggle. “I’m sorry, but they were just so airashīdesu.” After receiving blank stares from both mothers, she rolled her eyes and explained, “It means ‘adorable.’”
“So, I guess ‘congratulations’ are in order?” Mrs. Millen asked.
“What do you mean, ‘congratulations?’” Megan’s mother asked, her voice a mixture of confusion and hope.
Laughing, the nurse replied, “I take it you didn’t see?”
“See what?” Jessie asked. “We didn’t want to disturb them.”
“I took a picture,” the young Foxbat offered as she pulled the image up on her phone and held it up for the reptilian woman to see.
“May I?” Mrs. Millen asked, before Melissa gave her the device. She ran her fingers over the screen for a few seconds before holding it up for the trio to see. “See? Right there.”
“Congratulations is right,” Jessie replied with a huge smile.
They were looking at a close-up picture of where Megan and Ross were holding paws. There, barely noticeable between two of the Tundra Lioness’s fingers, was the most exquisite engagement ring Lucinda had ever seen. She couldn’t help herself but to discreetly reach out to her side and take Jessie’s paw into her own, a motion that did not go unnoticed by the young Foxbat…
Melissa couldn’t help but smile. “Does this mean I can stay in Megan’s room?”

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The Bat & the Cat, Ch. 11

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