Okay, I was going to wait to upload this chapter, and start on this story until after I was done with Scars, but I couldn't help that this just wanted to get out of me. Inspiration for even doing this story is thanks to Striped Up by AlbineFox though this is going to be a completely different animal compared to that fun story about a wonderfully bad kitty. Now, there are going to be some recurring elements, and recycled names from Scars that will pop up here, but this is a completely unrelated story taking place in a different universe so to speak. Fear not those of you who follow what I do, Scars isn't going anywhere, and Ch.19 of Scars will be forthcoming after I finish chapter two of this story, and there still is Strife ch.2 to get done, and out at least once I'm done with the Scars 'Ulfhaven Arc'. Also a note on the title song of this chapter since that seems to be a gimmick of mine - it's the opening theme from Wolf's Rain sung by Steve Conte.
He woke up in a forest laying in snow, surrounded by pine trees as sunlight dappled over him through their branches. While his eyes adjusted to the light, and took in the forest around him it was the smell of the trees flooding his nostrils that sent his brain from zero to a hundred miles an hour. That wonderful pine smell was so strong in his nose as if he'd shoved a broken twig up there, but he hadn't, and it was almost confusing until other scents started to register that he couldn't place. There was a familiarness to these other smells he couldn't quite place as he wracked his brain, and it wasn't until he heard the movement, and tracked it until he could see it's cause that like gears sliding into place some part of his mind told him 'Those are birds. What you are smelling are birds.'
He didn't even question how he was able to smell them when they were up in the trees as he focused on this one sense, and all the information it could bring to him. It was as he was following his nose that he actually saw the appendage as his eyes finally got their intel reports delivered, and the machinery of his thought processes ground to a halt. Slowly, and tentatively he reached up a . . . 'paw?' . . . to touch first his nose then the rest of his face. That his appendage for touching things was a paw he ignored for the moment as he confirmed 'Yes, your nose is that black thing out there. No it doesn't feel any different than you're used to your nose feeling other than the coldness, and wetness. How about the rest of your face? Face? This is a muzzle.'
If there had been anyone to witness him they surely would've had a deep laugh just watching him as he "discovered" his muzzle. First he used his . . . 'Are they still fingers if this is a paw?' he thought as he didn't hesitate to firmly touch his muzzle confirming that it was indeed a part of him. From there he touched his teeth, but when that caused him to have an involuntary shudder from the sensation he moved on to his cheeks then the top of his head, and finally his ears. Having confirmed his general head shape, and that it was indeed his head he stared first at the back of his paws then turned them over pad side up pondering 'So I am a wolf, and I has paws. Have, I have paws; where did that thought come from? Anyway I has paws, I has ears/mimi, and I has a tail.' At that he rather determinedly sought out the attached appendage, and found himself chasing the damn infernal thing 'Why won't it stay put!?' until he realized himself, and stopped sitting on this haunches. It wasn't until he managed to get a hold of the thing that he managed to link the sensations he'd been getting from it to the fact that it was his tail, and from there after letting it go found himself able to wag it at will.
With a jubilant leap of triumph he gave a yip in feeling accomplished, and found himself standing on his hindpaws. He stretched out his arms for balance as his sudden position change caused him to wobble a bit before he dropped down to all fours finding the position his mind told him was 'natural' quite so. Doing his best to give himself a final once over he found that his fur, or what he could see of it was white, and for some reason he couldn't pinpoint it filled him with a sense of being himself. From there he turned his mind towards the predicament of his location thinking to himself 'If I were a cat I could climb a tree for a better vantage. Well the best I could do is at least start moving, and hope I run into something. With these trees I can't really tell from the sun which direction is which until it starts to set. I guess until then I'll just follow my nose.'
That is exactly what he did hoping he'd find a clearing, or something to get a better view of the sun so he could at least have his bearings. As he wandered he occupied his mind by exploring every new scent he came across though he wasn't able to locate the source of all of them to identify what they were. Eventually as the sun started to set he managed to figure out where west was, and from there the other three cardinal directions. With this information he paused to consider which one to head in 'This is a northern climate so if I want civilization that direction is out, so hmm . . . East, South, or West?' The direction he settled on was south in hopes the clime would get warmer not that he was that cold to begin with deciding to rely on his senses of hearing, and smell to alter his course as necessary.
He had almost started losing track of how many days he'd been travelling, and as he reminded himself it was only day three. The nights had not been easy as he burrowed himself into the snow for insulation as he slept. He'd awoken at some point each night to the sound of his own howling from dreams he couldn't recall, but that left him feeling more than just alone. They left him feeling as if everyone he'd ever known, or cared about was dead, and he'd never see them again which in turn caused him to howl outright in expression of the pain until he fell back asleep.
The days had been better if for no other reason than that while awake he was free to at least sniff out new things as he went along. Part of him wanted to know whatever it was that was in those dreams that left him howling, but that part was ignored as he thought back to the one dream he could recall having had it last night. There had been a white she-wolf in front of him, but she hadn't said anything, or done anything other than give him a warm smile, and look at him with eyes like a golden moon full of love. Even when he'd woken up he still felt the sense he'd had in the dream that he knew her, and it filled him with an odd sort of longing he couldn't place.
That morning his thoughts wondering who she was, or how he knew her got him going after he ate some snow for the water though he was careful to not eat all he wanted so that it wouldn't in turn lower his body temperature. He spent most of the day doing his best to stay on a straight southerly course on the assumption that there'd more likely be something resembling civilization in that direction as opposed to east, or west of wherever it was that he was. The sun had been gradually making it's descent as he neared what looked like the edge of the forest. In hopes that it was at least the edge of the forest he picked up his pace unconcerned if all he found was more expanse of nothing. As he broke the tree line he saw that for quite a ways the ground was clear other than the snow, and as excited as he was to have the change in scenery he started running. It felt so good to run that at first he lost himself in the action closing his eyes momentarily until with his eyes back open he spotted a figure a ways away.
His first reaction was to stop dead in his tracks, and train both his nose, and ears on the figure along with his eyes. The figure looked like him although it was on only it's hindpaws, and it's fur was russet with black ears. From the distance between them he couldn't hear much, but as the wind shifted he could smell the figure. 'So not just a fox, but a vixen.' he thought then realizing the smaller canid might see him as a threat he swiftly laid down, and visibly wagged his tail not that it needed to be told twice since he was genuinely excited to see someone else. He kept his head up though to maintain his line of sight on the vixen, and his ears remained erect in alertness.
He hoped that this vixen wouldn't run away, and could help him internally praying 'At least let me show you that I'm friendly.' To his pleasant surprise she took a step towards him, and his tail wagged all the harder in response not that such a thing seemed possible. The vixen was cautious as she slowly made her way towards him, but when she got near enough to be in earshot she stopped causing an involuntary whine to escape him that didn't go unnoticed by the vixen.
"You're not savage are you?" he heard the vixen call out to him causing him to tilt his head to the side in curiosity since he didn't understand what she meant.
"You're not going to attack, or eat me are you?" she asked her original question differently, and he shook his head as violently as he could.
"Absurd." the thought had been so strong in his head that much to his own surprise he said it. The shocked expression across his face was priceless, and earned an unbidden giggle from the vixen.
"You're definitely not savage if you can talk. So I take it you've been the cause of those howls that've woken me up in the middle of the night?" The vixen responded to him.
"I . . . Whoah . . . I can talk? Holy Fuck I didn't think I could do this; damn this is gonna take some getting used to. Okay, where was I? Oh, yeah what the fuck do you mean 'am I going to eat you'? You're the first person I've come across after being alone for days, and I very much need your help so why would I eat you? Not to mention you're a fox, a vixen, a fellow canid. You are the farthest from food you could possibly get. Though I will say you do smell really good; I can't remember the last time I smelled a pretty girl." The words just seemed to flow out of him since up to that point all he'd had were his thoughts, and he hadn't bothered with trying to talk to himself feeling the endeavor would be useless.
"So you're saying I smell pretty?" She asked him to which he nodded, and she responded "Well that's the nicest thing someone has said to me in a while although coming from a strange, and naked wolf it could be taken as a little creepy."
"I kinda can't help that. I woke up back there in the woods alone, with no idea where I am, or how I got here. I may not be able to help being strange, but I can at least tell you my name so I'm not a stranger. It's David by the way." David told her.
"Well David my name is Evalyn." the vixen introduced herself.
"I can't tell you how happy I am to meet you Evalyn, and I must say that is such a beautiful name for such a lovely vixen." David told her smiling broadly before he got up, and asked her unable to hide his sadness in considering her fleeing him "If I come closer will you run away?".
"You said you needed my help, and clearly are quite friendly if not a little flirty." Evalyn replied with a smile adding "Why would I run from you?"
"Because you could just be a mirage created by my hunger, and loneliness, and that's what mirages do the closer to them you get. This is just a desert of frozen water after all" David replied tentatively taking a step towards her.
When her response to his words was to take her own step towards him he couldn't help the wagging of his tail, and as he began walking towards her she in turn walked towards him. When he reached her he got close enough to lift his muzzle into her right paw which was hanging at her side, and feeling that she was quite real he closed his eyes unable to not cry he was so happy. She surprised him when she got on her knees to bring herself to his level, and started stroking his head reassuringly with her paw. The comfort he felt at her touch, and knowing he really wasn't alone only made him cry harder his sobs moving her to wrap her arms around his neck.
"Thank you." David said with a final sniffle once his emotions had run their course.
"For what David?" Evalyn asked him soothingly stroking his ears that he held against his skull.
"For being real. For showing me the kindness you already have when you didn't need to." David answered pressing his neck into her savoring the contact of another mammal.
"Well, thank you David." Evalyn responded.
"Why are you thanking me?" David asked lifting his head to look her in the eyes.
"Most mammals seem to naturally distrust foxes just for being foxes with even other preds calling us sneaky pelts; thank you for not being like that, and not assuming I'd be offering to help you if I can just for my own gain." Evalyn told him, and the deep hurt he saw in her eyes caused his heart to go out to her. Then she said to him "I've never seen a wolf with eyes like yours. Don't take this the wrong way, but they're really pretty."
"Having not exactly had a mirror handy I'll just take your word for it, and thank you for the compliment I'm not used to those from girls." David responded with a smile before saying with clear seriousness "If I hear anyone say such mean things to you I will bite them, and they'll have brought it on themselves."
"David! You can't just go biting people; you'll get in serious trouble." Evalyn admonished him with a light swat to his nose, adding "That's a really funny word 'handy' what does it mean?"
"Fine, I won't bite them, but then I'll just be mean to them right back." David replied taking her cuff of his nose to heart before raising his right paw as he explained looking at her curiously "This is a paw, but these are fingers, and I can use it like a hand. To say something is handy is a way of saying it's useful, or as I just used it I meant having a mirror nearby to use."
"Huh, okay. Still kind of a weird word. Most mammals would've just said nearby, or at paw." Evalyn responded with a chuckle.
"Hmm, alright well I'll try to keep that in mind." David told her grinning that she found his word choice amusing.
"Well, David we can't just stay here chatting in the snow. How about you come with me back to my home? You said you were hungry, I can at least get you something to eat, and I bet after spending so long outside you could use a shower." Evalyn suggested.
"Lead the way, and thank you. Thank you very much. A shower sounds like heaven." David replied with a genuine smile.
With that David followed her though while she walked on her hindpaws he stayed on all fours matching his pace to hers so that his neck stayed roughly alongside her legs. While they were walking Evalyn couldn't help her curiosity, and kept up their conversation.
"So how long were you out there in the woods?" She asked him.
"Well I woke up around three days ago I guess. That's the earliest I remember." David answered.
"How did you sleep at night, and not freeze? You're fur isn't as thick as an arctic wolf's." She inquired.
"I dug myself into the snow for insulation. I read it in a book once, and am glad that though it was fiction that bit of information was true." David replied.
"Do you like reading?" Evalyn asked glancing at him curiously.
"Do I like reading?" David repeated her question as a rhetorical before telling her "I don't like reading; I love reading. By the time I was twelve I was reading at a college level."
"Wow, you sound like my mom; whenever she get's into a book she tells me not to bug her because she's reading." Evalyn told him with a laugh.
"Hmm, it sounds like you're mom, and I are going to get along just fine." David replied with a chuckle before asking a question of his own "How old are you Evalyn?"
"I'm sixteen." she answered asking in return as they neared a tall apartment building "How old are you David?"
"I don't really remember . . . I know I'm at least twenty-one. Of that I'm sure since I know I can buy alcohol." David answered her question causing him to get lost in thought about how he knew who he was, but couldn't really remember much about himself, yet he still knew things from his past.
"Maybe how you ended up naked in the woods has something to do with why you can't remember certain things?" Evalyn offered her muzzle scrunched in curiosity much as his was.
"Your guess is as good as mine, and I'm covered in fur so I'm not naked; shave off my fur, and then I would be quite naked." David said with a laugh at the thought of being furless before saying "Anyway, is this where you live with your mom?"
"Hahaha." Evalyn couldn't help her outburst of laughter "I'm sorry, but that's too funny picturing a wolf with no fur. You're not wearing clothes so you are naked, and for now please stay on all fours. We barely just met, and I don't think I'm ready for that kind of eyeful. Yep this is where we live, and I'm kinda going to have to sneak you up to our apartment. The last thing I need is for our neighbors, or anyone else seeing me bring you inside."
"It is pretty funny to picture, and would be plenty embarrassing even for me." David chuckled before adding "I like the sound of your laugh. Don't worry I will spare your eyes. Okay, you lead the way, and I'll be stealthy like a cat. I really can't thank you enough Evalyn for all you are doing for me. There's no way I will ever be able to repay you, but I will try. You are an angel I don't deserve, but am no less grateful to have met."
"Luckily for us there's stairs right by the back door." Evalyn said as she paused by the door in question grateful he couldn't see her blush that his kind words had ellicited.
David only nodded in response, and crossed the threshold as she opened the door. Once she was inside behind him she led the way to the stairs, and he followed her up resisting the urge to run up the stairs since he found climbing them on all fours relatively easy, and almost fun. They travelled up four flights of stairs though when she paused at the landing to peek through the door to the floor where her apartment was he was glad for the rest. With a paw she signaled that the coast was clear, and David found it fortunate that the apartment door she went to was relatively close to the stairwell they'd ascended.
Once they were both inside they both breathed a sigh of relief that caused David to chuckle before his stomach audibly growled which got a chuckle from Evalyn.
"Alright, you said you haven't eaten in at least three days so give me a minute, and I'll warm you up some leftovers." Evalyn said to him.
"Thank you, though I don't need much. Rule one of eating after having not for a while is don't gorge yourself." David replied.
"Okay. Good to know." Evalyn responded as she walked into the kitchen with David following her.
"Hey! What are you doing?" Evalyn asked with a giggle when she opened the fridge, and he poked his head inside sniffing around the shelves that were within reach of his muzzle.
"Investigating." David answered with a grin explaining "I'm still getting used to being able to smell everything, and it's like I have to recatalogue scents in my brain. You would not believe how long it took me to figure out I was smelling the birds in the trees, or how much I would've given just to catch one of those little taunting little morsels."
"Okay, well we've got some leftover fish that's still good, and some chicken which would you prefer?" Evalyn asked him.
David closed his eyes focusing on what he could smell his nostrils flaring before he answered "I think the fish. I smell the rosemary, and ah it's heavenly."
As if to reinforce his statement he started to drool, and had to swallow it before it left his muzzle earning a laugh from Evalyn who said "Fish it is."
After she pulled out the plate the fish was in she got a different plate, and put a couple filets on it then popped it in the microwave for only a couple minutes. When it was done she pulled it out, and turned towards him though her muzzle was confused as she looked at him causing him to tilt his head, and raise an eyebrow.
"Well, I'd put this on the table for you, but then you'd have to stand up to go sit. I can turn around while you go sit, or put it over there then turn around so you can sit." Evalyn said in answer of his unspoken question.
"Nonsense, just set it on the floor. Please." David told her with a nod.
"Really? Wouldn't you rather sit, and eat, and use a fork?" Evalyn asked it being her turn to tilt her head, and raise an eyebrow.
"I've spent the last couple days completely on all fours, and have enough practice eating snow for water. We can save you teaching me how to eat like a civilized mammal later." David told her with a grin.
"If you say so." Evalyn replied setting the plate on the floor in front of him.
He didn't hesitate once she'd set it down to first put a paw on the plate to keep it from moving then make quick work of the filets though he did savor smelling them up close before he took his first bite. Evalyn couldn't help watching with wide eyes as one moment the plate was full of fish, and in short order he was already licking it clean.
"That was like watching a reenactment of primitives eating." Evalyn commented once he'd lifted his muzzle from his task licking his muzzle clean.
"I'm glad you enjoyed the show. I'm here for as long as you decide to let me stay." David told her with a grin.
"Are you feeling better now?" Evalyn asked him with a chuckle.
"Very much so, yes. I'd lick your face to show my thanks, but you're kinda out of my reach." David answered.
"You don't have to do that." Evalyn said quickly holding up her paws though this time he did see how she blushed under the white fur of her muzzle, and inside her ears.
"Why are you blushing? Licking is like one of the most natural things canines do." David asked curiously tilting his head as he saw his words cause her to blush even more.
"I'm not blushing, and you don't need to kiss me like that just for giving you food. It's only what any decent mammal would've done." Evalyn told him.
"Your pretty red fur only hides so much of the fact that you are quite blushing dear Evalyn, and how else would I show my gratitude? Though I think I get where our signals are crossed." David told her with a grin adding "Now for me to really kiss you I would have to stand up on my hind paws, but I'm not going to be so forward with you."
"Hehe" Evalyn sort of tittered before saying "Okay, well how about that shower."
"Mmm, yes some hot water, and getting clean sounds like more of heaven." David responded turning around so he could get out of her way.
Evalyn picked up the plate from the floor, and set it on the counter before showing him the way to the bathroom. As she led him down the hall David couldn't help relying on his sense of smell in gathering information.
"I take it this room is yours since your scent is stronger past that door, and the one over there at the end of the hall is your mom's since she smells different than you, and from the lingering scent of water this third door is the bathroom." David said.
"You really have a good nose. I mean I smell the same things, and of course you do you're a grey wolf, but well . . ." Evalyn trailed off before saying "Let me grab you a towel so that when you're done you at least have that to cover yourself with."
While she retrieved a towel from the linen closet David managed to open the bathroom door himself by rearing up on his hindpaws, and manipulating the door handle with his forepaws feeling quite pleased by his success.
"Alright I'm just going to set this on the counter for you." Evalyn said as she stepped in to the bathroom enough to do so before turning to head back into the living room.
"Um, Evalyn." David said causing her to pause, and turn back around towards him "I kinda am not the most steady on my hindpaws. I hate to be a bother, but could you turn the water on for me. I think I'll be able to handle the rest, but I will leave the door open in case I need to holler for you."
"That's no problem. I've been wondering why you were on all fours when I found you. Are you really not used to walking on your hindpaws?" Evalyn asked as she moved past him, and got the shower going.
"To be honest, and this may sound weird to you I guess, but I'm not pulling your leg; when I woke up in the woods my natural inclination was to walk around on all fours. I did manage to get on my hindpaws temporarily, but it was very wobbly." David answered her.
"You got the bathroom door open though." Evalyn said.
"Allow me to demonstrate." David said before turning, and using his right paw in a swiping motion he shut the bathroom door then as he did when he opened it he reared up actually balancing on the door itself before he managed to turn the handle. Since this time he had to open the door inward in relation to his orientation towards it the act was a bit trickier. He stepped back with his hindpaws, and as his front half fell forward to the ground the door managed to open marginally. To get it fully open he used his left paw to swing it open by putting pressure on the edge then bringing his paw towards himself in another swiping motion.
"Okay. I believe you." Evalyn said before noting "You sure seemed to know how to get that door open, though."
"Oh the cat paw trick? I . . ." David paused as his words triggered the ghost of a memory, and he found himself staring at his right paw which he lifted, and turned the pad side upwards "I've seen it done before . . ."
"David" Evalyn said hoping to distract him from the sadness she saw welling in his eyes.
"Hmm?" he responded setting his paw down, and looking up at her blinking away the tears that had threatened to form.
"When you're done with the shower we have a fur dryer." Evalyn told him.
"Okay. How does it operate?" David asked.
Evalyn tilted her head at him curiously, but took it in stride that he wouldn't know how to use the most vital of technologies at the disposal of long furred mammals. She moved over to the floor vent that was next to the shower across from the toilet, and pointed with her paw at the wall where there was a switch, and two dials.
"It's super easy, just adjust the force, and temperature with the dials, and then turn it on with the switch." Evalyn explained.
"Ah, I see. That is super simple; thank you for pointing it out though. I'm pretty sure I'd have walked right by it, and just toweled dry as best as I could." David said giving her a grin before adding with a gesture towards the toilet "Also it's good to know that if I ever get thirsty there's a water bowl right here."
"Don't drink from the toilet. That is so gross. Why would you even think to do that?" Evalyn responded shocked by his suggestion though she couldn't help a laugh in picturing him actually doing it.
"Oh, trust me I wouldn't do that. I just wanted to make you laugh." David replied with a chuckle.
Evalyn just shook her head as she left the bathroom so he could shower, and David couldn't help his grin as he watched her walk away thinking to himself how grateful he was to have met her, and so far at least befriended her. Then he turned towards the shower itself, and managed to get the curtain to part for him as he got in. As the perfectly hot water washed over his head he closed his eyes savoring it though he kept his ears against his head to keep the water out. While he moved around under the spray to get the rest of himself wet he noticed the amount of dirty water flowing down the drain, and was surprised he was actually so dirty when he hadn't felt all that unclean. Once he was satisfied his fur was wet enough he moved to sit outside the spray of the shower head so he could grab the bottle of fur shampoo, and figure out how just to scrub himself down.
For this particular task being on all fours proved to be the main complicating factor, but he was determined to manage, and only ask for Evalyn's assistance if he truly found himself stuck. As it turned out he was actually able to get his front, and most of his sides lathered up, and rinsed clean from his sitting position with relative ease. He was also able to get his tail clean though that proved an interesting experience as the sensations of his paws on the appendage sent tingles up his spine that culminated in him giving his body a full shake. He also managed to get his neck fur in particular well scrubbed clean even the back of his neck, but that was as far as he could clean though he did try twisting this way, and that to reach the fur along his spine.
"Evalyn." David called out adding "Tasukete."
"What's wrong David?" Evalyn asked worriedly as she entered the bathroom doorway.
"It would appear I have reached an impasse, and must beg your aid in my endeavor." David said poking his head from behind the shower curtain on the end opposite the shower head.
"How can I help?" Evalyn asked grinning at the amusing way he used his words.
"I for the life of me cannot reach my back." David told her with a slight frown his muzzle showing his consternation.
"Hahaha." Evalyn couldn't help laughing at his muzzle which wasn't helped by the fact that the water stuck his head fur down against him before telling him "I'm sorry your muzzle expression was just too funny. Did you try standing on your hindpaws to reach better?"
"I'm glad you find me amusing, and no I didn't, but I don't think that'd work too well either with me keeping one paw on the wall to keep from falling over. We can work on getting me used to walking upright like you do later, yeah?" David told her.
"Alright, fair enough. I'll help you just give me the shampoo, and hold still." Evalyn told him as she approached him.
"Here you go." David said as he passed her the shampoo which he'd kept closed on the floor of the shower within his reach.
After she took it from him she slid the shower curtain back, and couldn't help a giggle seeing the line of still dirty fur that was evidence of his lack of reach. Getting a dollop of the shampoo in her left paw she set the bottle down then rubbed her paws together before she began lathering up his back. David couldn't help closing his eyes as he savored the comforting feeling of her paws on him, and did his best to hold still for her as all he wanted to do was get closer, and press himself into her touch. While she got his back lathered up which didn't take very long at all Evalyn told him that she'd let her mom know via text that she'd made a friend, and wasn't home alone, but that her friend would need her help which they could talk about when she got home later. She also told him she'd gotten in touch with her friend Kiera who was a grey she-wolf, and would be bringing some clothes for him since she had a brother who was going to college, and could spare at least a pair of sweatpants, and a t-shirt. David couldn't help, but thank her profusely until her claws running through the fur of his back towards his tail caused his back right leg to start involuntarily scratching his underbelly much to her amusement. When she was done she told him she'd be in the living room on the sofa before leaving him to rinse, and then get dry.
Having gotten his fur rinsed clean David turned off the water, and then shook his fur dry which was effective at getting at least most of the surface water out. Then he got out of the shower, and standing over the fur dryer vent reared up balancing against the wall to fiddle with the dials seeing that one was clearly for temperature, and the other for fan strength. After setting the fan strength to full blast, and the temperature to in between the middle, and maximum he switched it on. The feeling of the hot air blowing through his fur was more amazing, and even better than the feeling of hot water washing through his fur, and feeling clean. He couldn't help vocalizing his pleasure at the feeling, and ended up lingering in the hot air a little longer than necessary, but when he was done he found he didn't need the towel so he made his way to the living room where Evalyn was.
"I take it you enjoyed the fur dryer?" Evalyn asked with a giggle as she looked up from her phone at his entrance.
"Oh, my gods yes. For that alone I seriously owe you my life." David responded smiling at her as he made his way to the sofa.
When she patted the sofa cushion next to her inviting him to sit next to her he obligingly hopped up on the sofa. He wasted little time, and no pretense curling up next to her, and using her lap for a pillow which he was thankful Evalyn didn't mind. When she began idly stroking his head, and ears he let out a contented sigh soon enough falling asleep.
Evalyn who was checking her muzzlebook while she waited for Kiera to text her when she got there couldn't exactly place why it seemed the thing to do to pet him as she was, but felt reassured that he seemed to enjoy her touch. When his breathing changed indicating he'd fallen asleep she couldn't help turning her muzzle from her phone to watch him. He looked so at peace, and that he seemed so comfortable around her in turn gave her a sense of comfort. When he started dreaming with his paws twitching as well as his eyes, and lips as he let out soft growls she had to stifle her laughter, and couldn't help using her phone to record him though she had no intention of sharing it with anyone except maybe her mom.
When he'd been asleep maybe twenty minutes, and was in the middle of another dream full of soft growls there was a knock at the door which surprised Evalyn, but David's own surprised reaction shocked her more than the knock had. He bolted up in a flash off the sofa, and facing the door let loose a defensive growl his hackles so up it looked like he had a mohawk along his spine.
"Easy David, it's probably just Kiera." Evalyn told him, but he didn't start relaxing till she placed a paw on his head.
"I told you to text me when you got here for a reason Kiera." Evalyn said through the door after she'd used the peephole to verify it was her friend who'd knocked before opening it.
"I know, it's a habit I'm sorry. So why exactly did you need me to do you the huge favor of bringing you some of my brother's old clothes that he won't miss, and what was that growling?" Kiera asked looking at Evalyn before her gaze turned, and she caught sight of David her eyes widening.
"Oh my gods, Evie how did you get a savage wolf in your apartment, and why is he not destroying anything. How are you not dead?" Kiera machine gunned out.
"Okay, you guys are going to have to explain to me what you mean by savage, and clearly Kiera since I am able to speak clearly then I am not a savage." David said to her before Evalyn could respond.
"Then why are you naked?" Kiera asked without missing a beat.
"I woke up like this. Three days ago more or less in the woods of wherever this is." David answered before adding with a grin "And as Evalyn, and I discussed earlier shave off my fur, and then I will be naked."
"Pfft, hahahaha." Kiera couldn't help laughing outright at that suggestion before managing to recover enough to say "Okay, so I take it you've been the one howling in the night Evie's been telling me about."
"David, you don't know where you are?" Evalyn asked having picked up on what he'd said.
"Nope, I do not." David answered with a shake of his head adding "From the weather though which is my kind of weather I'd assume we're somewhere in the northern reaches of this planet."
"Well you're in for a surprise then, but before we get into that why are you on all fours? Isn't that uncomfortable?" Kiera asked.
David just grinned broadly deciding to show her rather than tell her, and with a determined push off the ground got his torso up while taking a step forward with his right leg to get himself in a standing position though he was quite wobbly on his feet, and had to hold his arms out for balance. It was all he could do at the moment to simply stay standing, but as he maintained his upright position it clicked in his head that his issue wasn't his body's inability to stand upright, but his mind telling him that being on all fours was the proper way. His grin seemed stuck on his muzzle because as that bit of information was clicking into place he didn't fail to notice not only that he was taller than both females, but that their eyes widened as they both glanced down getting quite the eyeful.
"David! You said you wouldn't stand up until you were dressed." Evalyn admonished him though it wasn't very effective since he could clearly see her trying, and failing to not stare at his wolfhood.
"Oh, my. That's a bit bigger than my brother." Kiera said softly, but not inaudibly as her blush reached her ears.
"Well I hope I'm still in the average range. I'd rather not be too big for most females. That said though I think this tongue of mine is the more important tool for that kind of task." David responded before dropping back to all fours, and saying to Kiera "To actually answer your question of why I was staying like this it was so I wouldn't give Evalyn the eyeful you inspired me to give her. Also if you do have clothes for me I very much would appreciate them so I can start getting used to walking upright like you two are."
"I can't believe you just said that . . . about your tongue . . ." Evalyn muttered blushing rather obviously.
"I'm just being honest." David told her unable to not lick his nose showing off the length of his tongue in response.
Evalyn, and Kiera both were quiet for a beat after that, and David could clearly smell their slight arousal. Seeing his nose flare, and greedily drink in the air only made both girls blush harder. It took Kiera a moment to really register what he'd said about wanting to get dressed, but when it did she hastily passed him the grey sweatpants, and white undershirt she'd packed in her messenger bag which David took in his jaws before heading to the bathroom to dress himself.
He didn't bother shutting the bathroom door, and started by rearing up on his hindpaws to set the clothes on the counter before using a paw on the counter to steady himself as he got his legs under him. From there he had to think through just how he would go about getting dressed before he made the attempt. His first order of business was to grab the sweatpants then turn around so he was resting his lower back against the countertop, and do his best to get first one leg then the other in the sweatpants without falling forward. It proved a bit tricky, and for a moment he certainly thought he was going to fall, but he managed feeling quite accomplished with his success. From there getting the shirt on was a simple matter since he was still using the bathroom counter as a sort of crutch for balance. Once he was dressed he made his way out of the bathroom on his hindpaws though he used a paw along the wall to stay steady. As he came around the corner into the living room he found the girls had moved to the sofa, and doing his best to not fall back on all fours he made his way towards them.
"I already owe Evalyn more than I could repay for the kindness she had already showed me, and now for the clothes on my back, and to my name I owe you too Kiera. Thank you." David said to her as he took very careful calculated steps.
"You're very welcome, David." Kiera responded before asking "Why are you walking so funny?"
"Kiera!" Evalyn said chidingly.
"It's okay Evalyn. What do you mean Kiera?" David said raising an eyebrow.
"Watch me" Kiera said as she got up, and took a few steps in a loose circle before explaining "Your walking on your toes. Try using your whole foot."
"Okay . . . like this?" David asked as he lowered how he was standing putting pressure on his ankle that wasn't painful, or uncomfortable.
"Yeah, now try taking a few steps." Kiera encouraged.
David's muzzle took on a look of focus, as he tried putting first one foot then the other in front of him in this new way which as he could see from how Kiera was standing was how they managed to walk so balanced upright. Soon enough he was doing more than taking tentative steps, and was actually walking properly which caused him to yip excitedly as he circled the coffee table before he embraced Kiera in a firm hug.
"Thank you so much." David said nearly crying he was so happy as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Your welcome, again." Kiera responded before blushing up to her ears said to Evalyn "Evie you know what you forgot to have me bring?"
"What?" Evalyn asked.
"Underwear." Kiera said with a bit of a whine.
"Oh, uh . . . sorry." David said swiftly letting her go as he understood what she meant.
"It's fine. I mean I already saw it, and it's not like you meant to get so close. Like that anyway." Kiera responded clearly flustered.
"I think I should say this now. I am already relying so much on your kindness as it is while I still am very much a stranger to you both. I may flirt with you because I think you both are really pretty, but I'm not going to try to do anything more than that; not only would it be wrong of me simply because I am already indebted to you, but you both are underage while I am not, and while I'm not really bothered by that fact, since you both are old enough so to speak, I'd rather not get in that kind of trouble." David felt the need to tell them both.
"Actually, David the legal age here is sixteen." Kiera informed him.
David opened, and closed his jaw a couple times as he processed that before he managed to respond "Good to know, but I stand by my previous statement. So don't tempt me. Evalyn, please say something."
"You wanted to know why we both thought you were savage, right?" Evalyn said doing her best to steer them away from the subject they were on.
"Yeah, I really don't get that." David replied thankful for the subject change.
"So we could tempt you?" Kiera said sticking to the subject that the other two were trying to dodge adding "If you're so indebted to us what's to stop us from having you pay us back in that way?"
"I'm a guy, and find you attractive of course you could tempt me, but that doesn't guarantee I'd give in, and it would be wrong of me to pay my debts to either of you with sex so don't even think it's an option. End of story." David told her boring his eyes into hers.
"Okay, okay. I won't push that subject then, but just so you know you aren't so bad looking yourself." Kiera responded before she truly met his gaze, and said "Whoa . . . I've never seen a wolf with eyes like yours both yellow, and blue at the same time; they're really pretty."
"Yellow-green ring around the iris, blue-grey around that followed by an outer ring of dark grey?" David asked since he still hadn't availed himself of a mirror, but knew what his eyes looked like.
"Yeah." Kiera nodded.
"Hmm. Well, thank you Evalyn told me the same thing herself." David said with an easy grin before adding "Now what is all this savage business?"
"Well for no apparent reason mammals, specifically predators, have been going nuts out of nowhere. They start moving about on all fours, and will attack anything they can. There's been a couple maulings, and luckily so far that's the worst of it, but no one can figure out why, or what to do about it." Evalyn explained.
"Yeah, and it doesn't help that because of all of it prey are ostracizing us more as if we're all dangerous when if you ask me an elephant not watching where they're walking is just as dangerous for anyone smaller." Kiera added.
"Wait what? How the hell does an elephant survive in the lower arctic?" David asked looking at her with his head tilted, and ears erect in total curiosity.
"Right, you don't know where we are." Kiera said with a giggle.
"Hey, don't make fun of him!" Evalyn admonished her.
"I don't care. So what if I only really know my name, and who I am, but can't remember anything else. I'll just relearn everything I can so tell me where are we?" David responded though there was an edge to the flippant way he said it that brought Kiera up short as much as his words themselves did.
"You're serious?" Kiera asked her shock evident on her muzzle.
"I am. I really don't remember anything; I mean I know my first name is David, and I'm at least twenty-one because I know I've bought alcohol before. I know me, and things I've been through, but people I've known like my parents, or where I'm from I couldn't tell you." David answered her adding "My first real memories, the things that stick out are waking up in the woods, realizing I have a muzzle, I has paws, and my fur is white. What really sticks out the most was the dream I had of the white she-wolf with golden eyes like a harvest moon that were so full of love, and those fucking birds in the trees taunting me; if I get my paws around one I'm fucking devouring it."
"Wait, you had a dream about a white she-wolf with eyes full of love that were like moonlight through amber?" Evalyn asked curiously sharing a look with Kiera.
"What did she say in the dream, or what did she do?" Kiera asked pointedly.
"I did. She didn't say, or do anything other than just smile at me. I felt like I knew her, and there was a longing in me I can't quite put my . . . paw . . . on." David answered them pausing as he looked at his own paw reminding himself that it wasn't a hand though he only knew the meaning of the word, and couldn't remember what a hand was supposed to look like.
"The Wolf Mother came to you in a dream, but didn't say anything? Usually when she appears to us in our dreams it's to tell us something important." Kiera said.
"The . . . Wolf . . . Mother . . ." David repeated slowly as tears began flowing unbidden from his eyes then asked "Why am I crying?"
"It's okay David." Evalyn said reassuringly as she wrapped her arms around him for emphasis.
"Anyway, you wanted to know where we are. We're in Tundratown which is one of the four main districts of the city of Zootopia. The other three main districts are the Rainforest District, Savannah Central, and Sahara Square." Kiera explained doing her best to change the subject.
"Okay, I take it from the names each district has a different climate, or how else would you explain elephants in this city." David said wiping his muzzle then asking "How exactly does that work?"
"Climate walls, like the one between Tundratown, and Sahara Square; on this side it blows out super frigid air while on the other side it's exhaust vents heat." Evalyn answered as she let him go.
"So it's like a really big air conditioning unit? Sounds like quite the sight." David said.
"They definitely are massive." Kiera replied before her phone started ringing.
"Hey, mom." Kiera answered her phone.
"Yeah. Okay. Alright I'll be home soon." Kiera responded to what her mother was saying.
"She want's you home before dark?" Evalyn asked after Kiera hung up her phone.
"Yeah, she said she didn't want me late for dinner, but I know she's just worried about me making it home safe. This whole preds going savage crap has her more worried than usual." Kiera told her.
"I know what you mean; I didn't tell my mom I was going to go into the woods to find out who was howling because I knew she'd worry. She was actually going to call the police if we heard it again just to be safe even though I kept telling her those howls sounded more sad than anything." Evalyn replied giving David a grin.
"Well hopefully she doesn't call the cops on me anyway, hehehe. And I think my nights of howling out like that are done." David said a little nervous at the thought of cops, and how they'd have reacted to him if they'd been the ones he'd come across instead of Evalyn.
"I don't think she will. Evie's mom is really nice. I kind of think of her as my second mom." Kiera assured him with a smile as she got her stuff together.
"We'll see, but I think she'll agree to help you much as I have." Evalyn added optimistically.
Once Kiera was ready to head out Evalyn, and David both wished her a safe journey home with Evalyn giving her a hug goodbye, and David insisting on doing likewise thanking her again for the clothes though he was careful to not get quite as close as he had before. Evalyn went back to the sofa where David joined her again curling up next to her though this time he rested his head against her leg, and not on her lap enjoying the way she idly stroked his head after he'd nudged her free paw indicating he wanted her to do so.
"You really like me doing this, huh?" Evalyn asked him as she checked her phone, and read the text her mom had sent.
"I cannot tell you how comforting it is, but if your paw gets tired you can stop." David told her closing his eyes, and sighing contentedly.
"Alright, though I don't really mind. To be honest with you David besides Kiera who's been my friend since we were little you're the first mammal to trust me so openly, and treat me like just another mammal instead of as a fox." Evalyn told him though the way she said the last word caused him to lift his head to look up towards her eyes.
"Evalyn, fox is just a descriptor of your species not some word defining who you are as a person. If anyone can't see past the species your soul was born into then that's their loss for never getting to know the kind soul beneath your fur. Besides how indebted to you I feel for how much you've helped me already I am truly glad you were the first person I met in this world." David told her with open, and clear sincerity.
Evalyn's response to his words was to fall over on to him resting her head on his ribs as she couldn't help crying softly. David let her cry into him doing his best to reach his right arm around her since he was on his left side, and with his right paw he stroked her head much as she'd been doing to him. His heart went out to her, and a part of him swore to himself that no matter what it took he'd be there for her as best he could in whatever way she needed him.
"Thank you David, and I see what you mean this is really comforting." She said as her tears stopped, and she couldn't help taking his right paw holding it to her muzzle as she pressed into it before telling him "My mom sent me a text that she'd be home a little later than usual since she's picking up dinner, and she really wants to meet this new friend I've made."
"Well do be sure to warn her that I'm a guy, but that I'm not just some . . . how would you say this? Not just out for sex from the first pretty girl I can get my paws on." David asked her.
"You mean a 'tail chaser'?" Evalyn asked as she flopped her tail over her side the tip of it resting against the top of his head.
"Oh, hello there fluffy appendage. Nice to meet you." David said with a grin addressing her tail which she flicked against him in response.
"Really? You're talking to my tail?" Evalyn asked unable to suppress a giggle.
"There's the sound that is music to these ears." David said with a grin before telling her "Just so you know I will make a total fool of myself just to make you laugh. As a loyal wolf, and friend to you it is a sacred duty I take upon myself without hesitation."
"Oh, my gods you are too cheesy." Evalyn couldn't help, but laugh outright leaning her back against the sofa.
"I come by it honestly, I assure you." David told her.
"You know David if you wanted to you could call me Evie like Kiera does. I wouldn't mind." Evalyn said to him casually as she turned to her phone tapping out a response to her mom.
"Well, perhaps I will, but for now I think I'll stick to using your full name. I really like the sound of Evalyn; it really is a lovely name just to say." David responded honestly.
"You know for someone who is so adamant about not wanting to get in my pants you sure have quite the honeyed tongue, and keep saying the kind of things that would get me to let you in my pants." Evalyn told him.
"Evalyn it's not that I don't want to get into your pants, or Kiera's for that matter. I'm a male those thoughts are there in my mind, but I am already indebted to you, and reliant upon you because right now you're the only friend I've got. It would be wrong of me on too many levels to try, and sleep with you in that way; now if you wanted me to actually sleep next to you, or at your feet I'd willingly be your personal bed warmer. To be honest that you are trusting me to be so close to you makes me want to be worthy of that trust, and of being your friend; if I were to seek sex from you just because I can that would be a betrayal of the trust you are putting in me." David responded seriously adding "That I even have that kind of chance with a girl as beautiful as you has me feeling like a fish out of water"
"Okay, David." Evalyn replied.
They stayed as they were lying against each other enjoying the companionable silence the fell between them. In no time at all it seemed though it was only half an hour they were both roused by the sound of Evalyn's mom putting her key into the lock of the apartment door unlocking it before she opened it. David had been the first to move swiftly getting off the sofa, and onto his feet while Evalyn a little slower in her movements did the same standing next to him. As soon as he saw Evalyn's mom step through the door David swiftly spoke the first thing that came to his mind.
"Hello, my name is David. For the kindness your daughter has shown me I am now, and forever in her debt. To have raised such a one you are surely no less a kind soul, and you are both truly daughters of the Wolf Mother whom she looks upon fondly with all the love in her heart." David introduced himself before he fell to his knees, and slid his paws forward as he bowed to her his nose nearly touching the floor instinctively performing a dogeza.
With his gaze firmly upon the floor David who didn't move a muscle didn't see the effect his words had on Evalyn whose eyes teared up, or her mother who was simply struck speechless her eyes wide in evidence of her shock.
"Hello, David. I'm Lorelei. What kindness has my daughter shown you?" Lorelei asked him managing to find her words.
"I was hungry, and she fed me. I was naked, and she clothed me. Most of all I was alone, and she embraced me as a friend." David answered his tone almost reverential before he rose up into a seiza, and added "Even if I spend the rest of this life trying I will never repay my debt to your daughter, and if you agree to help me much as she has I will likewise be in your debt."
"How can I help you?" Lorelei asked her muzzle scrunching contemplatively.
"I . . . need a place to stay at least until I can find a job, and get on my own two feet." David answered keeping his eyes locked on Lorelei's.
"And if I refuse?" Lorelei replied.
"Mom!" Evalyn exclaimed, but Lorelei help up a paw silencing her daughter.
"You'd be well within your rights to do so; there's no reason for you to help me, and nothing I can offer you now in recompense. I spent the last couple nights curled up under the snow; it wasn't so bad." David told her with a shrug.
"Don't you have a family?" Lorelei inquired raising an eyebrow.
"Lorelei, I woke up three days ago in the middle of the woods north of here with nothing but my fur. I know my name, and who I am, but as for memories of anything before I woke up; nothing. I figured I was somewhere in the far north considering the climate, so I started heading south figuring I'd run into something, or anything really. When I cleared the trees Evalyn was the first person I saw, and I cannot tell you how grateful I am that she didn't run from me." David explained matter of factly.
"Well, I can tell you're not lying to me." Lorelei said staring into her eyes to gauge his reaction which didn't change, and noted "I've never seen a wolf with eyes like yours half blue, half yellow."
"So, Evalyn." Lorelei turned to her daughter staring at her pointedly "What were you doing heading towards the woods?"
Evalyn folded her ears back, and tilted her head lifting her muzzle to expose her throat before answering "I wanted to find out who was howling so sadly."
"My sweet Evie I'm not mad at you. A little concerned you'd let your curiosity get the better of you, when for all you knew it could've been a savage wolf, but not mad." Lorelei told her daughter before gesturing with the bag of takeout chinese food she held in her paw "Now let us sit, and eat since there is much for us to talk about, and I'm tired of holding this."
At that Evalyn went back to where she'd been sitting at the end of the sofa, and David likewise got up only to sit down cross legged on the floor next to Evalyn's legs his position perpendicular to hers while her mom occupied the other end of the sofa. Once she was comfortable Lorelei got into the back of food, and passed her daughter one of the styrofoam containers which she said held her daughter's favorite kung pao chicken along with some fried rice, and potstickers. She then passed her daughter another styrofoam container which held the same contents as the one for her daughter to give to David, and pulled out her own container of food which held broccoli chicken with mushrooms, and chowmein before passing them their chopsticks.
"Thank you, thank you, mom. You're the best." Evalyn told her mom happily after she'd passed David his food, and broken apart her chopsticks wasting no time using them to pop a pot sticker into her mouth.
"I hope you don't mind David I got you the same thing I got Evie." Lorelei said misinterpreting the way he stared at the container of food.
"Oh, I don't mind at all." David told her looking up at her, and wiping drool from his muzzle.
"Do you not know how to use chopsticks?" Evalyn asked in between chewing her second pot sticker.
David just grinned at her, and raised an eyebrow before breaking apart his sticks, and rather pointedly opening his container of food which he sniffed deeply drinking in the scent of it then picking up a potsticker with his chopsticks in his right paw bit it in half chewing slowly.
"He performed a perfect dogeza, and you asked if he knew how to use chopsticks?" Lorelei had a chuckle at her daughter's expense.
"Don't ask me how I knew to do that, but it seemed the proper thing to do considering the situation." David said after he swallowed the other half of his potsticker.
"That reminds me. When you called me to help you wash your back David you said what was it? 'Toss kitty'? What did that mean?" Evalyn asked him.
"Hahaha" David laughed before explaining "You mean tasukete? It's Japanese for 'save me'. Another Japanese word for you is Gyoza which is what potstickers are called."
"Do you speak Japanese?" Evalyn asked curiously.
"Not fluently, but apparently I know several words. I know I'd like to learn it fluently." Davi answered.
"Did I just hear you correctly Evalyn? You washed his back for him?" Lorelei asked her daughter raising an eyebrow.
"It was the one part I couldn't reach while on all fours." David quickly explained though when Lorelei simply raised her other eyebrow he leaned over to the coffee table to set his food down careful to lay his chopsticks flat, and not sticking up like funeral incense then told her "Allow me to demonstrate."
"When I woke up it was easier for me to walk about on all fours." David said as he got up on all fours taking a few steps around further explaining "Rediscovering my appendages was quite the experience. I particularly had a time getting a hold of my tail" at this he demonstrated chasing his tail much to both vixen's amusement before he sat on his haunches, and grabbed it.
"My success caused me to give a yip, and leap in victory which actually got me standing on my hindpaws" David continued showing them how he stood rather unstably on his toes before dropping back down to all fours adding "Evalyn can tell you how even like this I can manage to rear up, and open a door, or if I had to probably a few other things, but one thing I found I couldn't do was reach my back. In fact I didn't really get the knack for walking upright like you do so easily until after I'd gotten dressed courtesy of Kiera bringing me some of her brother's old clothes, and she corrected my mistake."
With that David went back to where he'd been sitting next to Evalyn, and tucked back into his food first polishing off his remaining gyoza then working on the kung pao chicken, and fried rice.
"So, David you're essentially having to relearn things we normally take for granted?" Lorelei asked.
"That, and then some. There's a world worth of history I simply don't know, or remember, and if some of the things Evalyn, and I've talked about are anything to go on there's a lot of etiquette, and customs I need to learn too." David answered.
"Kind of like a kit, but you're already an adult so you'll be able to learn a bit faster." Lorelei noted before nodding to herself, and telling him "The Mother came to me last night in my dream, and she told me she was sending me one of her wolves who would need my help, and that I would know when I met him. After what your first words to me were, how could I doubt that you are the wolf she spoke of? For you to so easily, and sincerely say my daughter, and I are true daughters of the Mother . . . that is the highest compliment a wolf could ever say to any other canid, and you said it to us a pair of foxes; I will not soon forget it. You can stay with us for now, and I will do what I can to help you; it's fortunate for you that I'm a lawyer, and it shouldn't be too hard for me to help you get proper identification, and other papers."
At her words David couldn't help crying not only because of his happiness that she wasn't throwing him out into the snow, but also at her mention of the Wolf Mother, and her words.
"Are you okay, David?" Lorelei asked a little stunned that what she'd said would get quite the reaction out of him that it was while Evalyn who was closer to him put a paw on his shoulder comfortingly.
"One of her's . . ." David said with a sniffle as the tears streamed from his eyes before he set his food down on the coffee table, and got up walking over to Lorelei gesturing that he wanted to hug her. When she got up that is exactly what he did crying into her shoulder as she returned the embrace her heart as a mother going out to him.
"Thank you, thank you so much." David told her adding "I will pay you back as soon as I'm working, and can, but I will never stop owing you. The both of you. I swear this the Mother as my witness."
"I'll hold you to it, but what kind of child of the Mother would I be if I didn't agree to take you in especially after she asked me help you? What kind of example would that set for my daughter?" Lorelei responded.
Their moment was interrupted by Evalyn's phone ringing which she promptly answered.
"What's up Kiera?" Evalyn asked.
"Okay, I will." Evalyn responded before she hung up her phone confusion written on her muzzle.
Evalyn grabbed the television remote, and turned on the t.v. then changed it to the local news channel ZNN. The three of them watched as the anchors delivered a special report detailing the arrest of Mayor Bellweather for attempted murder of an Officer Judy Hopps, and for being the mastermind behind the predator's going savage. The report then cut to the Chief of Police Bogo giving a short statement that thanks to the efforts of Officer Hopps in an undercover operation the source of the predator's going savage had been found which he stated was due to them being shot with a serum derived from Nighthowler flowers, and that Officer Hopps' efforts along with aid from a citizen to remain unnamed had led to the Mayor confessing during her attempt to murder Officer Hopps. When the report cut back to the anchors, and they brought up the press conference that Officer Hopps had spoken at following the arrest of former mayor Lionheart Evalyn turned off the t.v. mumbling about having heard the important part.
"Well, I'm glad that's finally over. Hopefully now things will start going back to normal." Lorelei said as she sat back down on the sofa.
"Yeah, now we can stop living in fear." Evalyn agreed to which David nodded while they too sat back down.
Once they were done eating, and Evalyn had quite the laugh at the way David panted from the heat of a pepper that had been rather potent Lorelei told David he was welcome to the couch while she excused herself to go take a shower. David helped Evalyn clean up the remains of dinner, and then they sat back on the sofa chatting idly about the strange, but definitely good day they'd had topped off by the great news that the whole 'savage predator' business was done though David noted that now that the idea of one nefarious mammal was out in the open the chances of another trying something similar existed so they weren't totally out of the woods, but would at least be better prepared.
"Evie the shower's free." Lorelei called out as she exited the bathroom.
"Okay!" Evalyn hollered back before telling David "I'm gonna go take a shower then hit my bed, so good night."
"You know I could join you, and wash your back since you washed mine." David suggested with a wink, and a grin letting her know he was only teasing.
"Good night, David." Evalyn told him with a grin.
"See you in the morning, Evalyn." David replied smiling back at her.
After she left he made himself comfortable on the sofa stretching out his full length on his back, and drifted off to sleep feeling quite content, and optimistic for the future though it remained uncertain.