Nadine stared at the screen of her phone, expression blank and paw holding the device tightly. Ralph and the feline had just finished their shift, a mostly boring day that began with a group of jaywalking tourists and ended with the lupine helping an old lady across the street, when she noticed she had a missed call. It was a slow enough day that she would have felt it vibrate, yet apparently the tiger hadn't. What added to the officer's confusion was that it was a no name number, but it felt as though she should know it.

"Hey Fangmeyer, move over."

Nadine glanced over to the demanding voice to see Trunkaby motioning with her trunk for the feline to move. She was in the locker room, sitting in front of hers and a wall of others. Hers was open, as she only noticed the missed call as she emptied her pockets. The tiger scooted to the other end of the bench she was sitting on, not flinching when it bent in the middle. She went back to looking at her phone and the mysterious call.

"What's that?" the megafauna asked.

"My phone," Nadine replied curtly, the message of missed call visible on the screen.

"What about it?"

"I missed a call."

"So, call them back," the elephant huffed, "No reason to look so down."

Nadine turned to her co-worker, who was in the middle of unbuttoning her uniform. "What do you mean I look down?"

Trunkaby rolled her eyes, "You look like someone spilled your milk."

"No, I don't."

"Yeah you do," the megafauna pressed. As her massive hooves deftly finished the last buttons, she pointed with her trunk at the feline. "You got that look that my daughter gets when she's trying not to show how upset she is." Trunkaby leaned forward, right hoof pulling at the velcro strap on her left shoulder of her kevlar while her left elbow rested on her knee. Her gaze narrowed, "It's this squinty look." She pointed again with her trunk at the tiger, "Just like that."

The striped mammal glared at the larger female before looking away. A nagging feeling at the back of her mind prodded her to remember how important this number was, yet it felt impossible. Nadine placed her phone down on the bench between her and Trunkaby, and focused on undressing. She hadn't even undone her duty belt, let alone the rest of her uniform.

The feline stood and started with her belt, fiddling with the clasp as it seemed reluctant to budge. Eventually it lost the struggle, and Nadine moved onto her uniform shirt and kevlar. The tiger's not sure how much time she wasted staring at her phone, but Ralph was more than likely done. It was their weekly dinner with Uncle Aarav and Auntie Zaina. Though it would have been preferable to go at the end of the week, that was normally when her mother and-

Nadine froze, paws in the process of pulling off her kevlar. Slowly, the feline's wide-eyed gaze moved from staring indifferently at the contents of her locker to the black screen of her phone.

It had been her mother.

That's who called.

But why?

The feline felt like the wind just got knocked out of her, and gingerly she lowered herself back to the bench. She rested head between her paws and leaned forward onto her knees. There was no reason for her mo-former mother to call. If her fa-former father had fallen ill, then Auntie Zaina would have called. Nadine couldn't figure any reason for them to call her. She wasn't their daughter any longer!

"Uh oh, I've seen that look before," Trunkaby commented wryly, waving a digit at the feline with a smirk, "someone's in trouble!"

"Keep your trunk out of it," Nadine growled weakly, though her heart wasn't in it. As much as the tiger didn't want to admit it to her nosy co-worker, she was right. Someone had to be in trouble for her former mother to call. Something had to be wrong. The feline picked up her phone, trying to expression blank, as she hit the power button. She stared at the missed call once more. The officer was about to unlock her phone, when she felt the fur on the back of her neck stand. Nadine whipped her in the direction of Trunkaby, just in time to see the megafauna shifting back and turning her head.

"I think I'll call later," the tiger stated pointedly, glaring at the pachyderm. Trunkaby mumbled something that the feline couldn't hear. Nadine rolled her eyes, then continued the task of undressing. She really would call later...but maybe after talking it over with Ralph...


"So, what are you gonna do?"

Nadine glanced down at Ralph, the wolf lying on top of the feline. He was only wearing boxers, allowing the two mammals fur to intermingle. Orange and black mixing with grey as yheir white stomachs pressed together combining into one. The tiger wrapped her arms around the lupine, and hugged him closer.

"I don't know," she murmured, pressing her muzzle against the side of the wolf's, "I just...don't know…"

Nadine had called her mother when she arrived back at her and Ralph's apartment. The tiger was surprised when bad news didn't greet her, instead the other feline called to arrange a meet up between the two. "To see how she's doing," as her former mother put it. The officer didn't know how to respond, and quickly made up an excuse to end the call. After that, Nadine remained silent the rest of the night. Not that she was normally talkative, but even the large mammal noted how unusually quiet she was being.

Ralph didn't say anything during the phone call. He worked quietly on their dinner, boiled chicken with baked carrots and zucchini, as the feline sat at their kitchen table with her cell pressed to her ear. As her former mother prattled on about how excited she was about seeing Nadine, the lupine offered Harold's food to the tiger. The wolf watched the striped mammal spoon out four pellets for her betta fish, no more or less. He walked back to the kitchen as the feline watched her lovely pet locate then attack his dinner. To an outsider, Ralph's actions may have seemed odd, however it was just what Nadine needed. A gentle reminder of how good their life was in the form of the pet the tiger's parents never would have allowed. The wolf didn't need too, the steel chain with the silver ring around the larger mammal's neck was proof enough. An unconventional mark, but a mark, nonetheless.

"You gonna try to meet up?" Ralph pressed softly, lying his head on the feline's chest as he spoke.

"I don't know."

"Maybe...you should do it."

Nadine blinked, "What?"

Ralph sighed heavily, rising then falling on top of the tiger. "She's still your mom, and she probably still cares about you."

"How would you know?" Nadine grumbled.

The wolf chuckled dryly, "I don't...but after meeting with my mom…" He shifted against the larger mammal, "...it's had me thinking."

The tiger's brow rose, "That's rare." Ralph chuckled again, this time genuine, and the feline smiled meekly at her successful joke. She was getting better.

"All kidding aside," the lupine chortled, "It's something I've been thinking about it," He lifted his head off the larger mammal, "I think you should see her."

Nadine bit her lip. Ralph was using his big, beautiful amber eyes against the tiger. It was her only weakness...well that wasn't true. There was also his smile, tail, tongue, laughter, bad jokes, body, tongue, chest fur, paws, tongue, and support. Did she mention tongue? Emotionally, Ralph's most important aspects were his support and his caring gaze. They shone with unbridled emotions, a reflection of the male's soul. On the rare occasions that the wolf tried to lie, his eyes always gave him away. Now, he was staring so optimistically at the female that she wouldn't be able to bring herself to say no. Still, memories of kithood reminded her of her former mother's manipulation.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Nadine sighed, breaking her gaze from the wolf and looking to the side, "She could...say something…"

"Like?"

"Something," the feline retorted curtly, her frustration beginning to rise.

"Such as?" Ralph pressed.

"Like how I'm a disgrace!" Nadine seethed, baring her teeth as her ears pinned back, "How much shame I've brought to the family! How-why, I just-" The tiger couldn't finish her thought as an emotionally charged roar escaped from deep inside of her. When she was finished, the feline panted heavily as she glared up at the ceiling. The feline stayed that way until she felt a tentative tap on her shoulder from the lupine.

"Uh, Nadine," Ralph started slowly, trying to sound calm though his voice shook, "Your, uh, claws are out, and are uh, digging into my sides a bit."

The tiger urgently released her hold on the wolf, moving her paws to his shoulders. With ease, Nadine pushed the lupine's upper body off her chest to try and examine any possible wounds. There didn't seem to be any damage, but it was possible that-

Two paws clasped the feline's cheeks, cutting off her line of thought. She blinked as the wolf rubbed soft circles on her. "I'm fine," Ralph stated, "not even a scratch."

Nadine eased the male back onto her chest, now self-conscious of their size difference. She gingerly wrapped her arms around the lupine, ears pinned and unable to look at the wolf. "Sorry," she mumbled.

"It's ok," the lupine replied softly, running a paw over her pinned ears, "You didn't hurt me."

The tiger grimaced, "I could have…"

"And I hurt you by suggesting go see your mom," Ralph retorted easily, "even though it wasn't my intention." They stayed that way for several quiet moments, the wolf continuing to pet the feline as her mind played through her past.

There was truth in the lupine's words. The other female gave birth to Nadine. She must still care for her former daughter, at least the officer always thought as much. Sure, she disciplined the young cub when was bad, reminded her the importance of always appearing happy, manipulated the daughter whenever possible and quashed any form individuality that may have bloomed in the tiger's life, but that didn't mean she never loved the feline.

Right?

Nadine groaned, "I need to see her."

Ralph paused his ministrations, "Why?"

The tiger grimaced, momentarily making eye contact with the lupine before looking away. "I think...I need to ask some questions…"

"Good questions?"

Nadine hesitated, then shook her head. "No... I don't think so."

The wolf scowled, "Ok…" He ran his paw back over the feline's head. "Will it...help?"

The tiger opened her muzzle, then closed it. She wasn't sure.

Ralph chuckled dryly, a sad smile crossing his muzzle. "Do you want me to come?" Nadine shook her head. The lupine sighed, "Ok...but be careful." The wolf ran his paw down her cheek until he cupped the larger mammal's chin. He tried to smile reassuringly, but the uncertainty and the feline's own cryptic responses obviously didn't help. Eventually, the smaller mammal leaned closer and placed on soft kiss on his lover's lips. "Just remember," Ralph mumbled, momentarily breaking their embrace, "that I'll be here waiting for you."

"I know," Nadine whispered back, eyes closed as she felt the wolf's warm breath against her face, "it's my favorite thought."

The couple delved into their love for each other. They pushed aside future worries, and left that for the next day. At that moment, and the moments afterward, the wolf and tiger had each other. And that was enough.


Hello Readers,

This is the beginning of an anthology/ arc focused on different mothers or maternal figures in my story. It'll start with Nadine's, but I have plans on focusing on Luna Wolford, Duchess, and even possibly Nick's mom as well. I don't know if I'll focus on other figures, but I'm also open to suggestions as well. Let me know what you think!

-CG