“Y'know, there's a problem with me going sightseeing with you.” The squirrel held his tail and his temper as they sat in traffic.
Bridger sighed, knowing his friend was annoyed, “I know. You can't see anything.”
“Yeah, but that guy just went on and on about 'great views' and 'beautiful scenery' and 'fantastic pictures' even after you told him I'm blind.”
“Most folks just wouldn't know what to do if they couldn't see. They rely on their eyes and take them for granted.”
“Well, that doesn't help me. He acted like I didn't even exist.”
“We'll just have to discover San Francisco in our own way.”
“Screw San Francisco. I say we do this meeting and get our tails out of here. This place is loud and rude. The only thing slightly familiar was that annoying kid that jumped on my tail. Not a friendly introduction to a town that's supposed to be so welcoming.”
“I'd like to see something. What about that pyramid thing he mentioned?”
“The Transamerica Pyramid? You can't go in. He said they're tearing that down because of the big earthquake ten years ago. We felt that down in Copperdale. I heard it took them two years to get the Golden Gate Bridge drivable again.”
“We could at least go see the bridge.”
“Whatever. They're your eyes.”
“When we make it to the next exit, we should be close to the place. The navigator has been saying 2 minutes to the destination for the last ten minutes we've been stuck here.”
Chester sat quiet as they crept towards the turn and down the ramp. They followed the directions to the building, but there were no parking spaces near it.
“Okay, where do we park?”
The dash navigation beeped, “Available parking”, then showed blue Ps all over the map, most with dollar signs on them. While they watched, the closest one disappeared.
“I guess we should pick quick.” Bridger tapped a P and the navigation led them to it. He found a spot and slid his card. “Okay, it's about 3 blocks. Do you need me to carry you?”
“I'll walk.” Chester found the door handle and got out of the car, then walked to the back and waited for his friend.
Bridger sighed as he got out and locked the car, then walked around it. “What's the matter, Ches?”
The squirrel let out an exasperated sigh as he found his friend's thick thigh and they started walking. “Today has just been a mess from the beginning. San Francisco doesn't like me and I don't like it.”
“Come on now, we haven't even seen much of it. I'm sure it will get better and the folks seem pretty nice to me.”
“That's my point. You can see and people can see you. I'm just tagging along while you enjoy the sights and the attention. Most of the tourist spots are about looking at things from far away. Museums are no good because they won't let you touch anything. All I've enjoyed touching so far is you.”
Bridger uncomfortably ignored the comment and the squirrel's paw roaming over his butt before returning to his hip. “We could ask about some music shows or something.”
“Do we have time for that?
“We can make time.”
“Mommy look, a squirrel!”
Chester froze, twitching his tail, and held it tight against his back in anticipation of another stomping.
The mother yanked her child back by her arm, “I see it, honey.”
“I want to touch it,” the little girl plead.
“Mr squirrel doesn't want to be touched” She hurried her daughter past, avoiding looking at either morph, or any other person on the sidewalk.
Chester sighed and pulled his tail around to hold it in front of him, “It's not that I don't want to be touched. I just don't like to be pounced on.”
“I understand.” Bridger rubbed his friend's back and looked around as they resumed walking. “There are a lot of other morphs here. I'd say as many as there are humans, maybe more.”
“Makes sense if the Morph Assistance Office is around here.”
“Should be the next building.” Bridger read the directory in the doorway. “Fourth floor. Do you need to use the elevator?”
“My feet work just fine.”
Bridger waited at each landing as Chester made his way up the stairs. The squirrel stubbornly tried to hide his panting as he reached the fourth floor, but Bridger noticed. “Are you alright?”
“I'm fine. Let's just go in.”
When they opened the door, there was already a crowd in the waiting room with every seat filled. Bridger made their way to the end of the line and they waited for their turn at the window. The mouse behind it greeted them with a smile, “What can I do for you today?”
“We have an appointment at ten o'clock with Ms divine?”
“Devygn, yes, and you are?”
“I'm Bridger Mustang,” he decided to leave out part of his name and avoid being a BUM here, “and this is Chester Crimson.”
“Ah yes, I have Chester Crimson for ten o'clock with Lilly Devygn. If you'll have a seat, she'll call for you from that door over there.” As she indicated the other side of the waiting room, a door opened and a leopard called out, “Camille, Harper Camille.” A whitetail doe got up and hurried to the door and a ferret quickly took her seat.
“Is it always this busy?” Bridger asked the mouse.
“Most days. We do a lot here. Just find a seat and Ms Devygn will call you when she is ready for you.”
“Thank you.” A young lion took their place at the window as Bridger led Chester across the room. He was clearly the tallest one in the room and it made him feel a little uncomfortable standing over everyone.
Suddenly, a jittery looking small dog bolted from his seat and out the door to the stairs. Everyone looked at each other in confusion for a moment, then the girl beside the now empty seat smiled at Bridger and gestured for him to take it. He smiled back and sat down, then picked up the squirrel and sat him on his knee. This got him a restrained squeak followed by a backhand to his chest.
“Sorry. Do you want me to put you down?”
“Are people staring?”
Bridger looked around at the crowded room, some were watching them and trying to hide their amusement, “Um, not really.”
“Then I'll stay right here.” Chester slid back and let his butt find his friend's crotch as he wrapped his tail around the horse's shoulder.
Bridger was starting to think that it might not have been such a good idea to hold the squirrel and his fluffy tail in such a crowded room when he heard the girl beside him giggle.
“You two make such a cute couple. How long have you been together?”
“Um, we met yesterday.” Now he was really regretting picking Chester up, but at least the squirrel was hiding the growing bulge in the horse's lap.
“Oh, well that must have been a magical moment.” She shifted in her seat to face them more.
Bridger thought about how he nearly made the blind squirrel roadkill, upset him even more by picking him up repeatedly, covered him in a surprising orgasm, then bred his drunk girlfriend in front of him, and didn't see how it could be called magical. Before he could explain their odd situation, Chester eagerly leaned across his lap to answer.
“Oh, it was very magical. We ran into each other by shear luck and he swept me off my feet. He's got a big … heart, and I know I rub him the right way. He just covers me with all his … compassion and fills my friends … with joy.”
The girl excitedly put her paws on Bridger's arm and leaned closer, “Ooo, I just love love. So, are you two here to arrange your marriage?”
Bridger was wide-eyed and considering throwing the squirrel across the room as he chittered salaciously in his lap. “Um, we're not…”
Chester started giggling as his tail flitted about.
“Aw, but you'd make such cute mates.” The dark-haired girl deflated, resting her chin on the horse's arm, between her … paws?
Bridger realized that she didn't quite have human hands. Then he noticed a thin, black tail flicking on her thigh, at the edge of her skirt. He looked closer and realized that she didn't appear to have human ears on the sides of her head, though her long hair made it difficult to tell for certain. “Um, excuse me for asking, but why are you here?”
She lifted her head and her tail slid off of her leg, “Well, I was … released … and just got here and I'm hoping to find some others like me.”
“Morphs were freed over two years ago.”
“Yeah, well, my master decided not to tell me.”
“Aren't you human?”
She slowly reached up and pulled the hat down from her head to reveal two black cat-like ears, “I'm what they call a nekomimi, or catgirl. I look mostly human, except for these deformities.” She looked at her paws, then used them to hide her ears.
“Wait, what? Let me see.” Chester held out his paw and the cat girl looked at it curiously
“Crimson, Chester Crimson.” The voice pierced the din of the crowded room.
Bridger waved to get the attention of the wolf in the door as the cat girl pounced on the squirrel in his lap to hug him. “I'm sorry, but we need to go now.”
“Aw nuts, but I wanted to pet the kitty,” Chester imitated the kids that chased him.
The cat girl backed into her own seat, blushing shyly, “Sorry. Oh, I'm Koneko.” She grabbed the squirrel's paw.
Chester shook her paw and smiled, “I'm Chester and the big guy here is Bridger.”
The horse stood up, still holding the squirrel, then turned and shook the cat girl's paw before heading for the wolf at the door.
