Chapter 4- making friends

"Good morning," I look up from my bland as fuck bowl of Grain-O's. It had a tiger on the box, so I thought it would taste like Frosted Flakes. I was so wrong! The taste reminds me of fiberboard with a hint of mint.

Kaia, wearing her blue slip, kisses me on the head as she walks to the fridge.

I set down a regulation manual I was skimming. "I was thinking maybe I could use a change of venue." Her ears perk up, "change of *venue*?"

"Yeah, I think I'm going to hate this bullshit, maybe I can get a job as a cop." I've always wanted to be a police officer, if it wasn't for failing the psyche eval I might have become one in my last life.

She laughs out loud, than covers her mouth when she sees how I'm looking at her. "Oh, I didn't mean to make fun... The application requirements are tough. And you aren't very athletic." Clearly, she didn't see me bang out those pushups this morning.

I clear my throat "well, I'm going to look into it after work today."

I muscle down my last spoonful of cereal.

"Ok, I'm sure you will do great, let's just not get our hopes up. My cousin wants to become a cop and he's been having difficulty getting into the academy, high requirements and long waits."

"Noted. I have to get going, I don't went to be late." I put my bowl in the sink and head to the door.

"Ok, I'll see you this afternoon," I give her a little two fingered salute and head out the door.

She jogs up to me and turns me around, "I love you," she says and gives me a kiss. I smile at her and reciprocate "I love you too, and tell Gavin I love him too." She pats me on the butt as I walk out the door.

That was some garbage cereal, at least it didn't get soggy and my teeth feel super smooth and clean. Maybe I can stop someplace along the way and grab a protein bar, or something. I recall there is a food store on my way to the bus stop, I'll just stop in there and grab something. I check my pocket, 10 dollars, how much is the bus anyway? I shrug as I come to the door of Kwikmart. The bell door chimes as I walk up to the cashier. Only three aisles listed, carnivore, herbivore, and utilities. The cashier is a little female pig, about 2/3rds my height wearing a grey kwikmart uniform polo shirt with her name 'Sheri' on it.

"Hey, um." I look at her name badge, "Sheri, do you guys have any protein bars here?"

She nervously nods at me while looking towards the back of the store. I glance down her line of sight. About 8ft away two big mammals, they have their backs to me, from here looks like a hyena and a panther. They seem to be talking to a third person in the corner.

I walk towards the back. As I approach I start to realize how much bigger than me both these guys are.

"Where is the money?" The panther says to someone I can't see.

I deepen my voice as much as I can, "what's going on back here."

The panther turns to look at me, I can see they have some little tan fox kid pinned up on the ice cream machine, with a bloody nose and swollen eye.

"You don't want none of this puppy chow," the panther says, while the hyena holds the kid off the ground by his shirt.

"Are you two really shaking down a little kid?" I say,

"KID! hah! This little fuck deserves what he gets. You just move along and mind your own business." He brandishes a claw in my face, each black claw nearly 2 inches long.

"Very well, and thank you for your time." I say quickly backing away. I'm not fighting two big predators, least not with out a plan. I make a lap through the store. Cooking oil, 6 pack of beer, bbq starter fluid, Pilot lighter, big jar of pickles. I control my impulsiveness when I hear a meaty thud and whimper.

"Call the police," I tell Sheri and I pour some crisco on the floor in her line of vision. "Hey! I have to clean that up!" She says.

"Sorry," I saw as I pull a can of beer off plastic retaining ring on and set on the counter.

"Hey, Mister Panther!"

He turns slowly while saying in a deep gravely growl, "Oh, you don't know when to-." His sentence is cut off by a beer can pelting him in the head. He brings his arm up to cover his head, so I aim low, catching him in the groin. He crumples to the ground as the hyena charges past him, keeping his hands up to guard his face. He takes three steps and slips on the crisco. I pelt him with two cans, the first striking him in the nose, the second in the mouth puncturing the can spraying beer all over his face and shirt.

I lost sight of the panther, he must have ran down the other aisle. I look to my left as he grabs me by the shoulder, pinning me against the cash register. Cocking his right arm to rake my face with his claws. I bring my shin up to strike his testicles, while simultaneously striking him in the throat with the blade of my paw. His paws go to his throat as he gasps for breath. I take this moment to one handed grab my pickle jar off the counter and smash it on his forehead. I brace my back against the counter and fling the panther off me with both legs pushing him into a rack of chips. The hyena is getting his feet back under him, I pelt him with another beer that he blocks with his arms and stumbles. I grab the starter fluid, spraying it on the hyena first.

I glance behind the hyena, looking for the little fox but he's gone. Mission accomplished, I'm fucking out!

I make for the door, the panther is standing up, wiping his eyes, blood gushing from his nose. I drive my knee up, propelling myself forward and thrusting the bell of my foot into his sternum, knocking him back into the now empty rack for chips.

I open the door and start to run, that panther might be out, but I don't know about the hyena. If Kaia couldn't seen that, ingenuity for the win! Not athletic my ass! I jog 3 blocks at a brisk pace before hoping in the bus. I'm just in time as the driver has his hand on the door lever when I entered. I look for a free seat but they are all occupied. I raise my arm to grab hand-paw rail, I wince in pain and gab my shoulder with the other paw. I'm bleeding, that fuckers claws got me.

What a dangerous world, some people have 4 times your mass, and are born with lethal weapons.

I try to examine my wound through the little holes in my uniform shirt. At least it's dark blue, maybe no one will notice. I look up and notice that all of the passengers are looking at me. I guess I'm not the only one with a powerful nose.

"Do you need a doctor?" A light Grey female wolf asks me.

"Probably, but I need to get to work on time more. I'll clean my wound when I get there."

"Yeah, I hear that. What happened?"

"I don't like bullies."

"What was it? That looks like a tiger got you."

"No, it was just a panther, but he was big. And a hyena."

"Wow, you fought a hyena and panther and walked away clean?"

"Well, it was less walking, more running and I wouldn't say clean."

"Does it hurt?"

"Not that much." I lie. It really, really hurts. Feels like Freddy Kruger gave me a celebratory slap on the shoulder. If he did all this by grabbing me, he would have shredded me with that slap. I start feeling less talented and more lucky.

"Well, I hope the person getting bullied appreciated it." She said.

"He was a little tan fox boy, he ran off when I drew their attention."

"Typical, he mighta been in on the scam to rob you and left when you started to win." she says with disgust.

"Well, if he was trying to scam me, he earned the 10 dollars in my pocket." I shrug, then wince when it agitates my injury.

"I'm Abigail," she extends a paw.

"Kyle, pleasure to meet you," I shake her paw with my left.

She looks at my wound and says, "what stop is yours?"

I struggle to pull a piece of paper out of my pocket, "red 4 line to green 2, 3rd stop."

"That's an hour away, how about we exchange numbers so if you get in trouble you can call me?"

"I appreciate it. But I'll just call my wife if I need help." I wiggle my wedding ring finger, without taking pressure off my shoulder.

"Oh, I didn't mean anything like that. You helped a Mammal in need, I'd like to help you if you are in need," she smiles at me.

I start to feel a little nauseous, this bus must have a medical kit or something.

"I'm sorry, if you'd excuse me, I just had an idea." I start making my way to the front.

"What is it?" I heard her, but pretend I didn't. I get to the driver, a porcupine wearing a blue uniform and cap. He looks at me in the rear view. "Stay behind the line while the bus is in motion."

"Do you have a medical kit?"

"Are you hurt?" He asks, until he seemingly noticed my blood soaked uniform. The dark blue has been turned black. But only on the shoulder where I am applying pressure. "Jeepers, were you attacked!?"

"Yes, but not on the bus. Just let me have the medical kit."

"It's right there!" He points towards the console where there is a small white kindergartners lunch box sized medical kit. I grab the med kit with my good paw and pop open the medical kit. Great, at least there is peroxide and some gauze in here.

"Let me help you." Abigale says.

"Ok, hold this." I hand her the medical kit, and carefully work my arm out of my sleeve and let my shirt hang. The bus jostles. I nearly fall over, but I grab the paw rail with my good paw and catch myself.

"Here you can have my seat." a young male leopard says. He moves out of my way and stands nearby holding a paw rail.

"Thanks sir." I sit and pour some peroxide onto my shoulder. Bloody peroxide washed down my arm and pools on the floor of the bus. The peroxide puddle touched the feet of the antelope sitting next to me, he complains under his breath.

I gauze my shoulder, for as much as I bled my wounds aren't terrible. But I can barely see it through the fur. I just tape some gauze on and call it a day. "This is your stop." says Abigail.

"Oh, thanks". I stand up, pulling my shirt on over my fur wet from peroxide and blood.

"Have I earned your number?" She asks as I step off the bus.

"Nope." I salute her through the glass of the closed bus doors. She smiles at me through the glass and mouths something, but I couldn't make out before the bus left.

I walk one block to the next bus, and only receive a few glances. The bus driver gave me a funny look before asking for my Apex ID. So this must be an exclusive transport for employees of Apex Industries.

Looks like everyone on this bus is a predator. Mostly wolves, with a few big cats and a brown bear.

I sit next to a young male wolf. I look at his name ID tag clipped to his left pocket, Gilbert Duclaw, hydro-electric engineer. I clip mine to the same spot. He looks at mine, then my fucked up shoulder.

"Your uniform is out of spec." I'm very confident a blood soaked uniform is out of spec.

"Thanks,"

He just turns back to whatever he was looking at on his tablet. I try to get a peak, I'm pretty sure I saw a lot of fur and no clothing. He noticed and leaned against his window angling the tablet so all I could see is the cover. He smells strange, I take a sniff "hey keep your nose to yourself!" Other people look at me. So I guess sniffing each other is frowned upon. All those dogs I watched sniff each other's butts back when I was human would be ostracized in this culture.

"Sorry, just smelled something weird."

He gave me a dirty look and resumed looking at whatever he was looking at.

At least the ride was pretty quick. I get off with a few other wolves.

The bus dropped us off at a bus terminal inside a small parking garage. I see several buses parked in a row and the occupants are going to rail cars. I hope I'm paid for this travel time, it's been about 90 minutes since I left my place, and I haven't even started working.

I'm trying to figure out which one I'm suppose to get on. Kaia's instructions didn't mention a rail car. As I look at the instructions I smell Kaia's scent in the paper and start to feel home sick. Wow, Kaia got me good, I don't know what it is. I've known her for 2 days and I'm more into her than any girlfriend I can remember. Maybe this body remembers her smell and touch as a source of comfort, and that's translated to me somehow. Or she is just so kind and patient...

I sniff the paper and can almost see her when she was handing it to me with that cute smile on her face.

"Hey Kyle!... what are you doing?"

I take my face away from the paper and turn to see who's calling me. I see a big black wolf with a W pattern on his face, and a white chevron above his collar bone. He cringes when he sees my right shoulder.

"Geez, what happened to you?"

Kaia told me her brothers name, but I forgot it. Lucky it's on his ID badge.

"Hey Levi, got into a fight with a panther and Hyena."

Levi is a big wolf, he's a good 5 inches taller than me, and muscular. He's almost as big as that hyena. Hes wearing a dark red uniform and his badge says Security. He's wearing a taser on his belt like the ones the police had and a radio.

"You can't go to work like that, we need to take you to the infirmary, they can properly clean your wound. Come with me."

"I don't want to be late." I say as he gestures for me to follow him.

"I'll have security tell your supervisor. Besides, I'm not really asking you." He looks at me and I can feel my fur standing on end. Then he smiles and waves for me to follow, which I do.

I don't know if I like how he said that to me, almost threatening,

"So what happened?"

"They were beating up a kid, so I laid a trap, fucked them both up. Once the kid got away, I ran away too. The panther grabbed me at one point and that's how I got hurt."

"That's some story, wish I was there to see it. Never took you for the heroic sort". He boards a rail car and holds the gate to a rail car for me. Once I enter he closes it and presses a button.

"Well, I'm not, I just don't like bullies. Gotta look out for the little guys"

"Yeah, but who gonna look out for you? If you get killed Kaia is going to be heart broken. Does she know about this?"

"No, I'd prefer she doesn't find out 'til I get home. I don't want her to worry."

He crosses his arms, his muscles strain against the fabric of his uniform.

"Ok, ok, I get it. You're a prime specimen. If you flex any harder you'll tear your uniform and be out of spec."

He must have liked that because he laughed so hard he had to hold his sides.

I laugh, but in response to how hard he laughed.

The rail car comes to a stop at the security barracks. He walks me in and takes me down to medical where a female ocelot in scrubs tended my wounds. It didn't look that bad, until she shaved the fur showing red puncture marks and a gash across the back of my shoulder.

"Damn Kyle, you were going to work in a trash compactor with these open wounds". Levi says shaking his head.

The nurse nods agreeing, "you're lucky, but keep your wound clean, be careful not to rip your stitches and you should be fully healed in 10-14 days."

I thank the nurse, and Levi takes me to my duty station, where my supervisor was not all to pleased that I was late.

"Kyle, start at Mammal Resources then work your way to clerical." he barks at me.

"Yes sir, Im sorry but what am I doing there?"

"Empty the trash cans!"

Damn, I had a feeling it was something like that. On to the grind!

My day consists of pushing various sized trash bins, while emptying the trash cans of other animals that get paid much more than I do.

I've been emptying trash cans for 2 hours and I'm almost done with Mammal Resources. The floor is a grid of 10 by 10 cubicals in the middle. Surrounded by glass walled offices on the parameter and 4 elevators, 2 on north wall, 2 on south wall.

Everyone is friendly, exchanging pleasantries with me.

"Kyle, Kate asked for you, something wrong with the printer in her office," a male ocelot accountant says. Everyone on this floor wears a black, grey or charcoal suit. I start to wonder who is the bigger bitch, but it's definitely me. I approach Kate's office, its the only one with fogged glass.

The door has a big gold bar that say Kate Winfall on the door.

I open the door and step inside, Something smells funny in here. I sniff and it seems to be permeating the whole room. The office is easily the size of my whole apartment. The carpeting on the floor is so thick and plush when I stand on it the fibers curl over the top of my feet. The back wall is a giant flat screen TV that basically IS the wall, playing an image of desert dunes with the sun setting. It's barely 12pm... A large desk sits in the middle of the room. The surface appears to be black marble. Behind that is a regal looking throne of an office chair, high back, curves back and plush yellow cushions contrast the black leather exterior. A small female cheetah sits on the chair, wearing a woman's business coat and nothing else that I can see. The females in this world don't have all the curves of a human woman, but I notice everyone covers their bodies. Kaia demonstrates it wouldn't have been inappropriate for her to walk naked in our apartment. Maybe it's different for cats? I mean, this is Mammal Resources, and she appears to be in charge of it. Two more modestly sized chairs sit in front of the desk.

"Have a seat." She orders from her throne.

I sit, even these chairs are magnificent.

I shift my butt around feeling how the cushion contours to it and my tail.

"Hi Kyle, how long have you been here?" She says with a sultry voice.

"I honestly don't know." I glance at the contents on her desk. A planner, a pen, and a photo of her standing next to a male cheetah and 4 young cubs ranging from 2-4. She notices me look at the photo and lays it flat on her desk.

"Are you happy where you are?"

"Oh, yes absolutely." she stands up and sashays around to my side of the desk. Swishing her hips in an extremely exaggerated manner. She definitely isn't wearing any pants. I start to realize what that smell was.

"I've noticed you around here, I've noticed you... noticing me". She says while leaning back on her desk.

I try to change the subject "I was told your printer wasn't working, did you want me to fix that?"

"No, I have something else I'd like you to take a look at." She sits on the edge of her desk and crosses her legs like this is a scene from indecent proposal.

I quickly stand up, "Um, yeah, isn't there a rule against sexual harassment?"

"No, why?" She says flatly.

I sigh, "look, I'm flattered, but I'm married."

She steps towards me, I retreat back but forget about the chair I had just risen from and fall into my seat.

"I'm married too, that's what makes this so exciting." she kneels in front of me and runs her claws tips up my thighs.

"I love my wife!" From her kneeling position she jumps onto my lap straddling me. I'm pretty impressed takes a lot of lower body strength to do that.

"This isn't about love, now let me see that big knot!" She gropes me through my pants.

"Ok, that's fucking enough!" I stand up pushing her to the floor. I feel a tinge of pain from my stitches. She lands on her butt and looks up at me.

"This resistance is ruining the mood!" She slaps the carpet in anger.

"Look! I'm here to take out your trash, if you are looking for a wolf to pound you out. There must be ten thousand other wolves in this building you can fuck, pardon my language".

She stands back up dusting herself off.

"How very assertive of you... I was under the impression you where an omega."

"Who told you that?"

"Your file, somehow an omega like you married an alpha female. She could have had a bright future, but instead she is married to the garbage man. But with my help you could be more, how would you like to be my assistant? Pays four times as much, and has many *benefits*."

"No thank you, ma'am, as you said, I'm a garbage man, not a prostitute. Do you still need me to fix your printer or may I resume my duties?"

She smirks at me, "Very well, it's your loss"

"Yes, and I mourn it deeply." I turn and leave her office. Ahh, she got her stink on me. I made my way to the bathroom, a little bit of soap and scrubbing... I can hardly smell the sexual assault. Maybe I'll roll in some garbage to improve my smell.

"You can't seriously want to be a garbage man?" Oh, come on!

"Mrs. Winfall, This is the males bathroom."

"So?"

I turn around to face her, fully dressed now in a white coat, white blouse and white slacks. She must love white...

"I'm thinking about a career in law enforcement."

She laughs with this soft, yet condescending tone. "You? You must be joking. Well, if you aren't going to take this seriously, I have my eye on other applicants."

"Good luck." I walk past her towards the exit

"You might want to dry your pants more.. thoroughly. I can make out your little friend there."

I just continue out the door, that conversation makes me very worried. Are there really no rules about sexual harassment and work place abuse? What might Kaia be experiencing? In order to put my fears to rest, I'll need to talk to Kaia when I get home.

On my lunch break, I discovered the cafeteria vending machines. I swipe my ID and I can pick one of any number of sandwiches. I selected crayfish sandwich, hoping for another experience like yesterday. But it was far from the same.

When I first came in here I was surprised I couldn't smell any of the vending machine contents. I just assumed the machines are sealed. But even when I received my sandwich and removed the plastic seal, the sandwich almost had no smell. And when I put it in my mouth, it was very bland. Like eating styrofoam.

I think by now on, I'm going to go with a bag lunch from home. I wonder if Kaia is a good cook? I think about calling her to see how she and Gavin are doing. I pull out my cell phone, 1, 1, 1, 2, it unlocks. I really need to change that code. I open my text messenger and...

I have no texts in memory...

have I never texted anyone, or my phone doesn't save texts...

I start to compose a text to Kaia, 'you'll never believe the day I've had, what are you two up to?' Before I can press send.

"Hey, I missed you this morning." Says a white wolf with a stripe of grey running up his muzzle and blending into his forehead. Wearing a blue uniform like mine.

"Oh, hey!" I look at his name tag "Derrick, good to see you, sir?"

He pauses.

"What's up?" I inquire

"Nothing, you ok bud?" He comes and sits at my table.

"Well, a jaguar ripped up my shoulder.,"

"Was she hot?" He lolls his tongue, like a pervert.

"No man, it was a guy."

He pauses again, making a sour face.

"Kyle I didn't know you went that way..."

I grumble "I got in a fight with a Jaguar, and he raked me with his claws"

"Oh, that makes more sense. Never took you for a pillow biter. Did you call the police?" His body language relaxes.

"No, it's not a big deal. Rather not talk about it anymore." I rub my eyes.

"Alright. Well, are you coming over for cards after work?"

I think about it and shake my head.

"Are ya sure? Ashley is making Beignets!"

"Making what's?"

"Beignets, ya know fried dough, powdered sugar, with that delicious vanilla dipping sauce. Beignets! Basically an orgasm in your mouth."

"I'll pass, thanks, maybe another time. I have drugs for my shoulder pain that will likely leave me flat on my ass."

"Yeah, you don't want to fall asleep first at the cards party. Someone might orgasm in your mouth, but to be honest. The beignets would make it worth it." He laughs so hard he starts to cry.

"Alright, text if you change your mind." He leaves wiping a tear from his eye.

After he leaves I start to laugh, that was kinda funny for a joke about a dude busting a load in a sleeping man's mouth. Reminds me of my time in the service. Some of those guys get so bored waiting around for something to do. They would play semi-vicious pranks on each their. Nothing to vulgar as Derrick jokes about mouth rape. But Saran Wrapping someone to their bed, or spraying hot sauce in someone's mouth was free game. You definitely needed a good place to hide when you slept during daylight hours.

I look at my phone again, time to go, I pop the rest of my sandwich in my mouth. Intercom Speakers come to life "Kyle Wulfric, Report to compactor #3." I sigh, alrighty, let's see how complicated this machine is.

It's under water?!

Compactor 3 is water cooled, and whomever designed this thing felt the most effective way to cool this machine is to submerge the motor, without anyway of lifting it out for repairs. I suit up in a dry suit, and down I go. I have dive training from my time in the Navy and this isn't all too dissimilar.

At least this machine seems fairly simple, it uses rivets to hold the putter casing in place. They gave me a gun like device that heats up and cuts the rivet and another that nails in hot rivets with a bolt when you press in the nozzle. They call them the X-tractor, and RT-bolt gun.

Luckily there is plenty of floor space down here. As I take the machine apart I lay the pieces down on the floor from left to right. Looks like a sprocket sheered off one of the gears. I take it apart, replace the sprocket with a new one, supplied to me from above and reassembled everything using the parts from right to left.

My heart leaped into my throat when they started to power up the machine, it seemed to stall and fail before running smoothly.

As my day comes to an end, I follow some coworkers into a locker room. I wish I had known about this earlier. Luckily the lockers have our names on them, so it only took me 10 minutes of walking in circles to find mine. Combination lock, 4 digits, 1, 1, 1, 2, click, it opens.

I chuckle to myself, what an idiot, but at least a consistent idiot. Inside my locker, there are 3 more jumpsuits, some button down shirts, slacks, a sport coat, a trash bin on the bottom and some hooks with a tie and several utility belts hanging from them. There are two scent spray bottles on the top shelf, neutralizer and sea-salt. I spray my whole body with the neutralizer and then spritz on some sea salt. Just the important spots, neck, pits and groin. Satisfied that I no longer smell like a dirty flea bag. I pull a fresh uniform out of the locker and slip into it.

On my way home I do a Zoogle search for a police academy application. There is an online application that requires a $100 entry fee. I pull out one of my credit cards and fill out the application.

It was fairly long, I almost missed my first stop. The questions are mostly common sense, psyche profile type stuff. 'If you found money, what would you do?' and a,b,c answers.

The rest are mechanical, math and English questions. They all seemed very easy, so either I did great because they are easy. Or I did terrible because they are harder than I thought and I got them all wrong.

On my way home from the last stop, I pass the Kwikmart food store. It looks as if nothing had happened this morning. I look through the glass and it all looks clean and put together. There is a teenage wolf behind the counter with headphones on his ears drumming the counter top with pens.

"Hi," a female voice says from behind me. I turn to look at her, a pure white female wolf wearing a poofy black jacket, and tight blue jeans. She greets me with a smile, but she pants slightly between her sentences. It's barely 60 degrees and she still has her paws in her pockets. What's in those pockets that warrants suffering in this heat? A small fire arm or knife perhaps, I wonder to myself.

"Are you looking for some company?" I notice her checking me out, her gaze pauses briefly on my wedding ring.

"No, I'm headed home." I say.

"Are you married?" She asks, as I start to walk. She follows me from the front walking backwards. This lady asks a lot of questions, my suspicion of her increases.

"Ma'am, all due respect. It's been a day, I'm ready to go home and take a nap."

I continue, but as I speak I gesture towards the bus stop behind me, while looking for anything suspicious in a greater than 180 degree arc. "I just got off the bus," I say as I glance around spotting a black luxury sedan cruising at a walking pace behind me. The windows are tinted, the sun glares on the windshield making it impossible for me to see the driver. I'm not going to lead these people back to my house. I decide I'll try to lead them on a detour.

She grins at me, "A handsome guy like you, must be a lucky wife,"

I stop at the building before mine and turn to go inside. As I enter the first floor she stops outside, "not coming up?" She stopped at the door to the building, maybe I can bait her her.

She looks at me curiously,

"No, I'm not one to breakup a happy home." She says, with a coy grin.

"Who said it was happy? I have some time and money." I lie, I have neither. I just need her to follow me out of eyeshot of that car full of her backup.

"Honey, I don't think you can afford me."

I shrug and go up the first flight of steps. Damn, I'm definitely being followed, this must be as result of the confrontation I had this morning. I go up to the second floor, and pull out my cell phone.

Kaia answer the phone "Kyle, you're late, did you get lost?"

"Yes, but I'll be home in a little bit, maybe 20-30 minutes."

"Ok, I'll start making dinner."

In the background I can hear Gavin speaking excitedly but I can't make out what he is saying.

"Gavin can't wait till you get home, he made you something today."

"Well, I can't wait to see it, I'll see you in a bit."

"Ok, See you soon. I love you". She sounded a little worried

"I love you too."

I hang up.

I knock on an apartment that I believe would have a window over looking the street. No one answer, I knock again. After about a minute, I use a credit card to jimmy the latch and enter the room. Stale air hits my nose as the door opens... Perfect, the place is vacant. I close the door and glance at the street, that white wolf is leaning into the window of that black sedan now parked in front of this building. After a few minutes of her talking and looking at the building she gets in and the car pulls away.

I go back down to the front door of the apartment building, I glance both ways and don't see that suspicious sedan. I start to take of my uniform top and then I see it.

Fuck, my name badge, now they know my name and I don't know who's looking for me. But I feel like this has something to do with those two predators I fought with this morning.

I tie my jacket around my waist and wait for a small group of mammals to walk past me. I step out next to this family of wolves, walking with them till they pass my actual residents and I dodge in, quickly sprinting up the stairs till I get to my floor. I take a moment to slow my breathing and enter my apartment.

I sniff the air, but only smell something delicious cooking, myself, and my family.

Gavin runs out of the kitchen and hugs me, "Daddy! Look what I made you at school!" He goes to school I think.

He pulls out a bead bracelet made of red, blue, and black beads, with a section of beads with characters on them spelling #1 DAD.

"Thanks Gavin". I slip it onto my wrist, it's a little lose. "This means a lot to me." I pet his head and notice the fur on his neck looks matted. I casually run my claws through his neck fur for a few seconds before he protests "Daddy, that tickles, get off me." He pushes my paws away. I shrug, I'll get a brush and fix that later.

Walking into the kitchen I join Kaia, hugging her waist from behind. She leans into me, "good day at work?"

"It's been a day, that's for sure."

She shifts around in my grip and sniffs at me intently. She looks at my shoulder, the fur being shaved makes it visible smaller even through my t-shirt. "What happened to your shoulder?" She asks looking very concerned.

"It's nothing, some guys where beating up a little kid, so I intervened. One of them grabbed me during the altercation and his claws cut me. I got some stitches at work, it's fine." I say calmly,

She seems to become more agitated, "let me see."

I pull my collar so she can see my shoulder without taking off my shirt.

"What kind of predator? This looks like a lion grabbed you."

"Big ass Panther and Hyena."

"Did you call the police?"

"No, its over, don't worry about it."

She hugs me and squeezes me a little more firmly than I would like.

"You have to be careful, what if you where killed or seriously hurt?"

I open the fridge and pour myself some juice while saying "I wasn't and I couldn't just ignore that."

She sighs and tends the food she's cooking. Looks like fish, and mashed potatoes with berries mixed into the potatoes.

We sat and ate, Gavin told me about his day at school. Apparently he goes to a pre-K school for gifted youngsters in a better part of town. Most of his class mates are prey animals. He's the only wolf in his class of 14, the only other predator is a 6 year old lynx.

Kaia anticipated me being late and took the day off work. Tomorrow I need to get home on time so Kaia can do an evening shift at the Cactus Cafe.

I played some video games with Gavin, taking this opportunity to brush his fur while it was his turn. Unfortunately, he sucks, so his turns were often short, and I'd have to die intentionally as to not monopolize the play time. We need more games two players can play at the same time.

Kaia declines to play with us, seemingly satisfied with just watching. She seemed unusually happy to just watch.

After Kaia put Gavin to bed, we had some time to cuddle in bed and watch tv.

Kaia seemed to sniff me very intently, I kept remembering all the people who got mad at me for sniffing them. But I suppose it's not inappropriate for your mate to sniff you intensely.

All evening I kept trying to think of an unobtrusive way to ask about her working conditions. I would hate to think anyone has treated her the way I was treated by that cheetah bitch.

"How do you like working at the Cactus Cafe?" I ask.

"It's fine, I always wanted to be a doctor. But I didn't have time for school. I had Gavin young and my pack wasn't particularly supportive. So it's always just been me and you." Oh man, that line of questioning got detoured real quickly.

"Do you regret it?"

"Not for a second, sometimes things can be difficult. But I have everything I need." She gives me a squeeze.

"Are you treated well at work?"

"Yeah, my boss is nice to me, it's the customers that frustrate me, why?"

"I just heard about someone getting harassed at work and being touched inappropriately"

"No, my bosses are all lions."

"Why? Did someone touch you at work!? Was in your shift manager?!" My shift manager is a 50+ year old male wolf, does she think I asked her because he molested me at work?

"No, no, that old man didn't molest me."

"Ok, good. But if he did, you'd tell me right? If anyone touches you I'll rip their throat open!" She grows, mimicking biting and thrashing.

"Remind me not to get on your bad side."

She kisses me and says while giving me a toothy smile "don't get on my bad side."

"So a big cat wouldn't try to have sex with you?"

She shakes her head "no, why would a lion want to mate with me? That's disgusting." She shivers in disgust.

I don't know if she is naive, or interspecies sex is considered gross and perverse. Figures I'd be stuck working with the only perverted cheetah in the city.

She pokes me in the stomach, I turn and look at her.

She props herself up on her elbow. "Did a lion try to touch you?"

"No!"

"Because I'd bite his throat out too." She smiles.

I laugh "I can protect myself."

She touches the skin on my shaved shoulder. "I can see that."

"Hey it was a Panther and Hyena. The panther was easily twice my weight. I think it was an impressive display of ingenuity."

"Husband, I have such faith in you, and I know you don't remember. But we went to a wedding last year, and one of the festivities was a king of the hill style wrestling game, and well... you didn't do very well. You have your strengths," and physicality isn't one of them." She puts her paw on my chest.

"Well, perhaps when my shoulder is recovered I'll show you". I grin proudly.

She laughs "you think you will be able to best me? You've never been able to beat me. I'm a champion among our pack!"

I sigh deeply,

She notices my confidence deflate,

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel bad. You are my everything, this just isn't one of your many gifts." She grins at me deviously before continuing "You know all this talk about people touching my husband makes me think I need to take you so vigorously, that you are drained leaving nothing for anyone else."

I think about her statement and that's not even an attracted proposition. Before this conversation I was actually thinking about this being the night, but now...

"My shoulder kinda hurts, and I'm tired from my pills." I roll over onto my uninjured shoulder.

"Ok, my mighty defender of the weak". She kisses my cheek and caresses my back. I look back at her and she's reading a book in one paw while scratching my back with the other.