Scars and the Claws That Leave Them

by HakuroNoKage

William Grimm newly transferred to the ZPD from the Ulfhaven Sheriff's Dept. tries to move forward with his life as his past remains a burden that seems to haunt him at every turn. Rated M for everything under the sun, and Nihil Nove Sub Sole. Much love, and many thanks to Darkwolfslayer21 for a cover image for this story, and for so much more besides. It's Nodachi Time.

12. Heathens

Brief A/N: Glad to finally get this out there so I can move on with things. I notice that really this story doesn't have much of a plot per se, rather it's just a series of interconnected character moments. Also a quick shoutout to Darkwolfslayer21 for the Thousand Foot Krutch song suggestion because the more I listened to it the more it fit especially the way I put it. Also a special b-day shoutout to someone who knows who they are: I hope you enjoy the *Ahem* "Paw-cuff fun" when you get to it. Now I am going to try, and get to work on Strife and Perseverance because this is the point where it intersects with Scars und Claws, but I can't even make guarantees with myself.

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Sunday [Week three, Day seven]

The light of the morning sun kissed the Hopps family burrow, and surrounding farm land gifting light to those lapine's who'd awoken. Their first order of business was breakfast before setting out to work the fields mulching the remains of what had been harvested back into the earth that it's nutrients would be recycled, and tending to what still would grow as winter approached. On the first underground floor the doe who was nestled into the embrace of her tod slept deeply surrounded by the warmth of him, and he in turn slept peacefully the scent of his doe so full in his nose that the very neuropathways of his brain wired themselves to link her scent with an inner serenity his subconscious would henceforth ever be mindful of. Even when they could sleep no longer they kept their eyes shut not wanting to leave their bubble of each other's presence until their own subtle stirring against each other, and their stomachs growling duet of vocalized hunger countermanded that desire.

As Nick uncurled his body from around Judy to stretch himself out he couldn't help his smile as he felt her do the same still pressing her whole body into him. She was the first to truly rise on the bed getting up on her hindpaws, and hopping down with a yawn then half-mumble for him to come with her to get food.

"Can't you just bring me a plate, and then when we're done we can go back to sleep?" Nick asked feeling more content in his present location than he could remember feeling in a long time.

"Lazy cuddle-fox if you do not follow me then you do not get food." Judy answered the smile on her muzzle carrying through in her voice.

"Ugh . . . fine, my cuddle-bunny." Nick responded with a yawn enjoying the warm spot they'd made for a moment longer before he got up since without her it was incomplete.

"So what time is it honey fluff?" Nick asked as he admired the sight of Judy in her pajamas thinking to himself that she was undeniably sexy as his eyes lingered on the way the loose cloth hugged the curves of her hips wanting nothing more than to caress that tail of hers looking so soft.

Judy walked around the bed to the nightstand where their phones were charging to answer his question feeling him watch her move. She couldn't help exaggerating slightly the sway of her hips, and looking over her shoulder at him when she reached her destination smirking as he did not hide how his thoughts were written on his muzzle.

"It's just after ten o'clock. Wow I haven't slept in this much in what feels like forever." she answered him unable to hide her blush at seeing him shirtless, and the way his own pajama bottoms accentuated his bulge; 'Fuck, you are sexy' she muttered under her breath as she turned to face him.

"I heard that. Since when did you become a mind reader?" Nick said with a jovial smirk across his muzzle as her scent wafted into his nose, and he could not hide it's effect on him causing his member to swell slightly.

"I guess sly minds just think alike" Judy answered him her eyes widening, and blush rising to her ears as she saw his bulge get bigger. He seemed like a vulpine statue as she walked past him well aware of how his body followed the turning of his head as he watched her pass him so she added "You better walk it off on our way upstairs, hmm."

With that she skipped down the hall, and upstairs leaving him where he seemed stuck on stupid as any male would be knowing he got to say such a tantalizing female was his, and as he followed after her once he regained his senses he was just a little glad she was already out of the hall since if he watched her move in front of him walking it off wouldn't have been physically possible.

When he got upstairs the scents of breakfast overrode him, and his stomach growled in knowing the heavenly smell of blueberry pancakes, butter, and syrup. He entered the kitchen his mouth open to flood more of the smells into his olfactory senses as he shamelessly salivated in anticipation.

"Good morning sleepy heads. I wonder why you two slept in so late" Jackie greeted them with a mischievous grin as she entered the kitchen after Nick.

"Why do you look like . . . someone's been licking you?" Judy asked her younger sister avoiding, and ignoring her insinuation.

"Because they were. I tried to wake up Will, and Layla, but got stuck in that vixen's clutches. Then Will started grooming her in his sleep, and she started grooming me. I only just now managed to get free." Jackie answered with a chuckle before adding "Who took my plate, mom?"

"I did sweetheart so it wouldn't get cold." Bonnie answered her daughter pulling said plate out of the oven where it had been kept warm, and setting it on the table.

"So they're still asleep?" Judy asked grinning at how Nick slathered the pancakes he'd put on his plate with butter before drowning them in homemade blueberry syrup the expression on his muzzle making him look like such a kit albeit a very large one. She couldn't help, but feel happy at how unguarded he was, and that he was comfortable enough here to be so.

"Yes, and I would've fallen back asleep with them as warm, and cuddly as they are. I swear Judy you're onto something with that fox of yours; I think I need to find me one." Jackie answered slightly jokingly as she sat down in front of her own plate using a fork to cut her pancakes into manageable bites.

Judy, and Bonnie both had the same expressions on their muzzles at her words as if to say "Really now?" while Nick looked up from his plate with his mouth full of pancake offering a "Hmmm?" at hearing mention of him, or at least what he thought was mention of him since his food had taken precedence.

"A good mammal is hard to find, and I'm tired of all these bucks being all the same. Maybe it's just me, but there's something viscerally tantalizing about those fangs; I bet they'd feel amazing when used in the right way, and size-wise a fox would be just right where a wolf would be too much . . ." Jackie went on to her sister, and mother before trailing off.

Judy, and Nick both visibly reddened under their fur with Judy nearly choking on the juice she was drinking having never even considered Nick's fangs in that manner let alone any other manner for that matter since they were just his teeth. Nick for his part slowly, and carefully swallowed his mouthful of pancake his thoughts split between remembering yesterday morning's shower, and never wanting to touch Judy with his fangs in that 'right' way . . . unless she wanted him to, but no even then it'd be too dangerous, and wrong of him to even dare. At that point Nick had to shake his head to clear his thoughts before he got stuck in that existential mind-fuck.

Jackie just laughed at their reaction since she hadn't meant her honest words to elicit the response it had before she noticed her mom, and her laughter devolved into a fit of the chuckles. Bonnie could only stare at her daughter with her mouth agape in mild shock that one of her younger daughters would be so blatantly open, and her mind gave her the distinct image of said daughter engaged with a fox in the manner she'd just mentioned.

"I didn't break you mom, did I? Relax. I'm pretty sure I'm going to be single for the foreseeable future unless there's a tree that mammals like Will, and Nick here grow on. In which case Judy you tell me where you found it, and you tell me now because if I have to go ask Layla other things are going to happen" Jackie said jokingly.

"Um, I'm pretty sure we don't grow on trees even though Will seems to have grown like one. At least I don't feel very barky" Nick managed to say still at a loss feeling the fur on his arm for emphasis.

This got him quite the laughter from Jackie, and even Bonnie seemed to recover while Judy just snorted before telling him "Real slick there Nick. Even your lamest jokes are left wondering how that one came to you when you can bark."

"Hey, even I get caught off guard, and I can't bark. What makes you think that?" Nick came back.

At that Judy just grinned mischievously as she pulled out her phone, and after swiping, and tapping at it with her paw it began playing a video recording though the audio was all that mattered. For the three lapine does present at the kitchen table, and the hapless tod to hear were the sounds of muted growls with whimpers, some yips, and clear as day barks. Judy had gotten back from a midnight trip to the toilet to witness Nick in the midst of a dream, and couldn't resist recording him as she did everything in her power not to laugh out loud when even his paws started twitching as if he were chasing, or running from something in his dream. It was all there in the recording, and sly bunny that she was she'd already saved a copy to her cloud storage in case Nick managed to delete it from her phone though she had no intention of sharing the video itself with anyone, but herself. It definitely pleased her to no end how he'd settled back down once she'd gotten back in bed with him, and the look now on his muzzle was worth sharing the audio as she had.

Nick had been torn between his food, and the desire to wrestle Judy's phone from her to delete her 'evidence'. Knowing that paw to paw he was ultimately powerless against her, and that he'd eventually catch her likewise in her sleep decided him so he simply returned to his food. When they were done with their food Nick, and Judy enjoyed their lazy sunday on the living room couch minding the younger kits that gathered around them while Jackie helped her mom with dishes, and then laundry laughing in response when her mom asked her 'Who are you, and what have you done with my daughter?' jokingly.

It was around one o'clock when much to the entertainment of those who witnessed it Layla's head poked above the floor level from the stairway down into the burrow proper her ears erect, and moving to scan for what intel they could provide while her nose likewise twitched doing it's duty to provide additional information. Then Will's head appeared from behind Layla's as he echoed her actions, and the sight the pair of them made elicited laughter from the younger bunnies. As they finished their ascent to the ground floor they gave each other a paw-bump with a shared 'Mission Accomplished' making it known to the kits that they'd done that just for such a reaction out of them before wishing everyone a good morning.

When Judy informed them that it was a good afternoon Will just responded that having just woken up it was still a good morning as Layla yawned in agreement while Nick chuckled at their exchange. While Will was wide awake, and made his way to sit on a sofa adjacent to Nick, and Judy, Layla yawned again as she made a beeline for the fluffle of kits. Walking over to a spot currently out of the way of the awake mammals she dropped to all fours, and circled over it a bit before laying down telling the kits that the nap pile was 'Here'. It didn't take long for those kits present under the age of six to join her, and she was nearly as covered as Will had been yesterday since they stayed away from her neck fur which still bore evidence of Will's 'grooming'.

Will looked on his mate sleeping contentedly with the kits, and unable to help thinking to himself how so motherly she seemed there was a new depth to love in his eyes for her before one thought led to another, and he was thankful no one noticed the tears he couldn't hold back. He could feel it in the core of his gut, a desire to see her a mother in truth, but it filled him with the same existential quandary he always faced concerning cubs of his own, and wedding her formally beyond the mate-bond they shared. While he laid himself out across the sofa he occupied he covered his eyes with an arm internally offering a rare prayer to the Wolf Mother for guidance that he knew nonetheless would go unanswered. He loved her with all his heart, and wanted nothing more from the rest of his life, but to spend it with her; yet the love of his soul belonged to the Wolf Mother, and such was her claim to him that these mere thoughts of claiming a wife, and having children of his own while incarnate filled him with a very real existential dread at crossing lines in the sand he'd put in place long ago. Torn as he was, and seemed would ever be it was all he could do to hold within his turmoil lest he emote it, and rouse his mate.

As he focused on reining in his emotions his mind locked on that one word 'Mate', and its implications for him. Knowing he needed to meditate on this, and hopefully clear his head he got up heading outside. While Nick was engrossed in the joke he was telling some of the older kits Judy turned her head at Will's movement not failing to see that he'd been crying; while the ever caring part of her wanted to follow after him to see what was wrong something told her not to, and she could've sworn she felt a reassuring paw on her shoulder, but she was nestled into Nick who had an arm wrapped around her such that his paw was resting over hers.

Having stepped onto the back porch Will surveyed his surroundings looking for at least a stand of trees somewhere across the surrounding acres of farmland. For his luck all he found was a lone old oak tree atop a hill a fair distance away, but it would do, and seemed to almost call to him as he headed for it. With so much open space the taller than average wolf stood out no less thanks to his white fur in the sunlight though only Stu seemed to take notice of the movement in the corner of his eye. Turning his head to focus on what had caught his attention he saw Will heading towards what he had affectionately dubbed his 'Thinkin' Tree', and noted Will walked like a mammal who had quite some pondering to do.

The walk to the hill was a bit of a blur for Will as he held in his mind his purpose though as he walked up the hill the gears in his head lurched wanting to turn as he held them back. Only after he'd run a paw along the trunk of the thick old tree to get a sense of it, and seated himself in it's shade cross legged at the roots beginning the breathing exercises to sink himself into a meditative state did he let the gears of his mind turn, but then only to get himself into the state he sought. Once he was in a meditative state he brought back that singular thought of 'Mate', and how it related to him. From this singular concept he explored branching avenues like spokes from the hub of a wheel completely oblivious to even the sunlight as it bathed him having chased away the shade he'd originally ensconced himself in.

Only the sounds, and scents of dinner roused Layla who still half asleep said "Fluffle Attack!" as she opened her eyes. As she sat up, and shook off the rest of sleep's web she noted she didn't have to contend with any kits hampering her movement by laying on her. The realization that she was currently alone, and that all those warm small bodies were gone when they had felt so comforting left her feeling an almost foreign melancholy until Judy spoke to her.

"You're finally awake. What was that about an attacking fluffle?" Judy asked smiling easily.

"No it's Fluffle Attack. In my dream I was at a metal concert, and one of the opening bands was a group of bunnies, and hares playing some very angry mix of punk rock vocals, and metal instrumentation. That was their band name, and they were pretty good." Layla answered.

"Okay" Judy replied with a laugh before adding "Dinner is just about ready, and I couldn't find Will. I figured you'd have better luck."

"Sure I can find him. I know his scent anywhere" Layla responded with a smile.

"When you find him tell him he is voted out of storytelling duty by me. Is there a story he has that doesn't have death in it?" Bonnie hollered from the kitchen.

"Haha I sure can though I was going to do that anyway because I want to tell a story. Maybe once upon a time there was a story he could tell where someone didn't die, but that time has long since passed." Layla hollered back jovially.

"If you're looking for Will" Stu chimed in as he came inside through the back door "He's been under my thinking tree. He looked like whatever was weighing him down required quite the deep thought."

Layla rose to her hindpaws, and made her way to the back porch. She lit a cigarette while she scanned the grounds easily spotting the lone tree atop the hill, and sure enough there was her wolf like a statue of a monk. While she made her way to him dragging from her cigarette as she went she wondered what this time had been burdening him. He always was the brooding type she mused to herself trying to carry the weight of the world until he broke, and even broken he would get back up to shoulder more. The only times she ever knew him to let it all fall away, and be utterly open with another were with her, and Lola though even with them there were undoubtedly things he would not share.

When she reached the hill she crushed the butt of her now killed cig into the dirt with a hindpaw before making her ascent not bothering to hide the noise of her approach. Even as she neared the top, and was sure he undoubtedly heard her he remained motionless. The last of the sunset's light touched them with fading fingers of warmth as she crossed the final few feet between them. When she reached him she wrapped her arms around his neck, and rested her head atop his, yet he still did not stir so she moved slightly to lick his nose.

"It's time for dinner isn't it?" Will asked as he came out of his meditative trance.

"That it is. Oh, and Bonnie, and I want you to know you've been voted out of telling the kits bedtime stories because I want to tell one, and even your happy stories involve dying one way, or another." Layla told him.

"That's fine with me, not sure what I'd tell them tonight if I were." Will responded as Layla stepped back from him to let him rise. Back on his feet he smiled at her warmly as he asked "You catch what's for dinner?"

"I don't fish." Layla deadpanned before laughing at her own comeback, and adding "No, I don't know what's for dinner."

While they made their way down the hill Layla wondered at the fruits of his meditation. The sense of his emotions she got made her think that somehow he'd trapped a fresh breeze within himself, as light hearted as he seemed. They were nearly back at the house before her curiosity got the better of her desire to just enjoy how free he seemed for once rare as such occasions were.

"From what Stu said you came out here with quite the heavy thoughts. Care to share how you lightened your load?" She asked him as they stepped up on the back porch.

"Nope. If I talk to anyone about it it'll be Nick. Don't worry you'll find out eventually." Will answered with a warm smile before wrapping her in his arms to kiss her as passionately as he felt.

When they finally parted they managed to make it inside, and head to the dinner table where they joined Nick, and Judy where they were sitting. Stu couldn't help, but ask if the 'Thinking Tree' had helped Will any to which he responded that it had which as he did so he subconsciously emoted his lightheartedness which seemed to infect everyone around him with Layla most surprised since she was keenly aware of it. For a good five minutes that felt longer about halfway through dinner Nick, and Will together made a sport of who could make Bonnie blush more either with compliments ranging from how good dinner was, to just how welcoming she, and her whole family had been. Stu who couldn't help his own laughter at the way the two canids played off eachother one-upping the other with eloquent words of kindness eventually came to his wife's rescue, or at least he tried to before Will changed tack, and tried getting her to laugh at a dirty joke that for all his effort went right over her head though Judy, and Jackie were left nearly rolling on the floor while Abby, and Nick just facepawed.

After dinner was done, and all the dishes had been cleaned the kit fluffle swarmed Will curious as to what story he would tell on his last night as their storyteller. Layla told them that tonight he'd be listening with them to the story she was going to tell, and they were no less excited to hear what she would tell them. Once everyone had gathered downstairs Layla looked at Bonnie for reassurance, before giving Will's paw a squeeze taking one last moment to prepare herself.

"So far Will has told you a legend, and a bit of personal history, but I think tonight you all deserve something a bit more positive." Layla began with a smile before continuing "What I have for you adorable kits tonight is a love story. Now boys don't you dare fuss till you've heard it. I promise this one has a little something for everyone."

"A long time ago, many lifetimes in fact, there was a lonely orphan girl who spent her days in the orphanage she lived at helping with chores where she found she had a talent in the kitchen, but what she excelled at best was caring for the children younger than her. While many of the children she helped care for eventually were adopted by loving families she was always sad to see them go. Despite how well she got along with the other orphans she didn't really have any friends, and old as she was though she wasn't much older than some of you she had begun to lose hope there was a loving family who would see her, and welcome her into their arms." Layla opened her story before taking a deep breath as the telling seemed to flow out of her.

"One day when it seemed to the girl that her loneliness could reach no greater depths a husband, and wife who for all their trying couldn't have any children came to the orphanage" Layla continued "the girl saw them, and her first thoughts of them were that they seemed kind, but she kept her distance as they spent time with the other children figuring they'd choose someone else like all the others she'd seen before. She had lost herself in her daily chores cleaning around the orphanage successfully paying no mind to the husband, or the wife, and so she didn't notice how the wife had taken notice of her. It caught the girl quite by surprise when as she went about her duties in the kitchen losing herself in the work she enjoyed there were suddenly the paws of the wife helping her. The girl didn't realize it, but the wife had seen something of herself in her, and so wanted to at least try to get to know her. At first the girl was understandably hesitant about accepting the wife's help in cooking lunch for everyone, but there was a warmth in the wife the girl knew as she too felt such a warmth in her as she'd helped take care of her fellow orphans. The girl made up her mind to let this stranger help her, but she made no effort to make herself seem more pleasing in the hopes of being adopted, yet there was an honesty in this that the wife recognized. That day as the wife ate with her husband there at the orphanage she talked to him about the girl, and the sincerity with which his wife spoke of this girl moved him. For the next week the husband, and wife visited the orphanage, and though they did their best to get to know the girl she didn't think anything of it since to herself she thought they were just as friendly with all the other orphans, and the girl made no effort to hide how she truly was wearing her loneliness like a skirt while she kept the kindness, and caring she showed her fellow orphans around her like a shirt. When the day came that the husband, and wife did adopt the girl the happiness she felt was tempered by her nervousness at how her life would change. It took a while before she began to grow closer to the husband, and wife, but as she did she found herself not caring about the loneliness she once felt. The wife taught the girl everything she knew of cooking, and couldn't help her little bit of pride at how she'd shared with the girl her love of reading. The father who had made his money as a soldier though after surviving grievous wounds could no longer fight saw a strength in the girl he sought to foster, and so he did so by teaching her not only how to fight, but when to know to use words where a sword would not do to make peace."

"The girl grew tall, and fair under the care of the husband, and wife she called mother, and father." Layla said with a smile as she paused for a moment to gauge her audience, and had to stifle a chuckle as Will was as wrapt in her words as most of the kits before going on "When the girl was of age to be wed despite the suitors who did come to seek her paw she turned them away for she felt in herself a calling to see the world. Her mother, and father supported her in this though such was the love for her that had grown within them they didn't want to see her leave. Her mother did her best to delay the girl leaving as long as she could, but her father who had been praying to all of the angels that hopefully at least one would listen had been granted a vision in his sleep that upon waking he could not remember, but it filled him with the sense that his beloved daughter would be alright. Her father was the one to finally convince his wife that it was okay to let the girl find her own way since with them she would always have a home. When the day came for the girl to begin her journey her father gave her his sword that he'd had blessed, and her mother gave her a book of poetry, and wise sayings they both loved before both her parents wished her well, and told her that they'd always love her, and she would always have a home with them."

"Leaving the city she'd known her whole life was a huge step for the girl" Layla continued "But it did not really faze her as she got caught up in seeing new places. Now in these times travelling alone was not something someone did if they could help it, and even moreso if they were a girl, but the girl had faith in her sword arm, and all her father had taught her. At first the girl didn't really have in mind which way she would journey first so she followed her gut, and headed north. Every new forest she walked through was filled with new sights, and smells the experiences of which kept the loneliness, and homesickness a lone traveller normally feels non existant. It happened by chance one night when she was in the northernmost forest of the land she'd been wandering through that she awoke to a stranger clad in a black hooded cloak that hid his features tending her fire which had been dying. She pretended to be still asleep as she watched him breathe fresh life into the fire, but as the growing light revealed his face she couldn't help her sudden gasp in shock. The stranger who had restored her fire from the embers had bright yellow eyes that seemed permanently feral, but what struck her most were the scars across his muzzle."

Layla paused again at this point to give Will a knowing grin as he would soon know from her telling what the title of this story was though she was telling a much different version than was commonly popular about a french inventor's daughter, and an enchanted castle where lived a transfigured prince.

"The stranger told the girl to continue resting while he kept the fire, and kept watch, but she could not resist her curiosity towards him. Her first questions were if he was a lone traveller like her, and if he was willing to tell her how his appearance came to be what it was. The stranger couldn't say why he so easily shared his story with her that night, but it did him good to tell another soul. He came from a land farther to the north, and even farther west where one would swear the sun went as it set. There he had been given the sacred charge by the angel of his kind to be the guardian of his home, but when a roving band of mercenaries burned his village to the ground he arrived to late to protect anyone. As he wept over the ashes surrounded by the bones of those he'd sworn to protect he had taken up his sword in his paws, and was about to fall upon it when the angel of his kind appeared before him. The remorse he felt for failing his duty moved her to forgive him, and she stayed his paws from burying the blade through his heart, but for all her words to him he could not forgive himself. So resolute was he in his condemnation of himself that he angered the angel before him, and so she laid a curse upon him that until he avenged those he'd failed to protect, and learned to forgive himself he would appear to others not as he truly was, but as he saw himself at his worst, and as she uttered her curse she slashed his face the scars of which constantly hurt him that he may pay penance. He told the girl that since then all those years ago he had indeed journeyed alone hunting those mercenaries he vowed to devour with his own fangs when he found them. As the stranger finished his tale the girl fell back asleep lulled by the sound of his voice, and the stranger couldn't help the warmth in his smile as he watched her sleep. While the girl slept her dream was a vision of the angel of the stranger's kind weeping; as the girl neared the angel in her vision the angel spoke aloud how she never cared if the son of her's ever avenged those he failed so long as he learned to forgive himself, but he'd lost himself in his curse, and quest for vengeance; the tears of the angel before her moved the girl in ways she couldn't describe as she embraced the angel in her vision promising that she would do everything she could to help him. From that morning when the girl awoke forward she promised to the stranger he would no longer travel alone since she would be with him, and though he thought to protest since why would such a beautiful maiden be willing to journey with as beastly a monster such as he, so adamant was the girl that he relented to her. As the phases of the moon passed, and they wandered across the lands seeking the mercenaries the peoples they encountered thanks to the girl were more open about rumors of the roving band they sought, and began spreading stories about the two calling them the Monster, and the Maiden. It was a cold, and moonless night when they found their quarry, and the stranger told the girl to wait outside the mercenaries camp while he fell upon them. Those mercenaries who had quite the bounty on their heads for all the wicked things they'd done had no warning, and stood no chance against the Monster who went after them fangs first. He was tireless as he went through their camp, but he was also careless in his lust to kill them all. The Maiden saw that he was surrounded, and couldn't stay still as he was outnumbered facing the mercenary's leader a mammal called The Hunter so she rushed to his aid fighting back to back with him. As they had travelled together so many months the Maiden had come to know the Monster as so much more than his frightening appearance for there was a kindness in him that seemed to shine forth at every opportunity, and the Monster had come to appreciate the Maiden not so much for her beauty as for her strength, and how she brought out of him the goodness he thought long dead. It took them being outnumbered fighting back to back to realize the friendship that had grown between them had become love, and that love between them allowed them to finish off the mercenaries including their leader whose head the Monster bit off with his own fangs. However having obtained his vengeance only left the Monster feeling as cold as the tundra in winter for though he had obtained his measure of justice for his home that was no more he still had not found a way to forgive himself for failing his home in the first place, but the Maiden was like his own personal springtime sun. His paw in her's she led him to her home feeling it was time to return, and desiring to introduce to her parents the mammal she knew in her depths was worthy of her; as he followed her back south to the city she called home the frost that had gathered in him thawed until it was completely gone. When they finally reached their destination the Monster had ceased to care about hiding his fearsome countenance because it mattered not to him how others saw him with only fear since when the Maiden looked upon his face she did so with love, and that was enough for him. For her own part the Maiden no longer saw the scars across his muzzle, or the feralness in his eyes because his heart was in her paws, and she knew his soul. As they traveled through the city back to her home the Maiden marveled at how much had changed in the time she'd been gone, but it all fell away when she saw her mother, and father as they were returning home. When she called out to them it took them a moment to recognize her so much had she changed, and when she introduced them to her monster whose real name has been forgotten they were no different in their fear of his appearance, but there was nothing in his body language that suggested a threat. Moreso the kindness, and goodness in him was as clear as day in his voice, and the loving way he spoke to their daughter so though they had their reservations they welcomed him into their home. That night after dinner her father wanted to speak alone with this mammal who had won his daughter's love as a father is want to do; for all the times the Monster had spoken with the girl of his feelings concerning his home, and how the angel of his kind cursed him it was his speaking of these things to her father, and her father's wise, and understanding words as a fellow warrior that helped him finally forgive himself. The Maiden, and her mother were just walking out to bring their males inside for bed when they witnessed first the embrace the two shared, and then as if by magic how the face of the Monster healed, and the feralness left his eyes revealing just how handsome he originally had been, or as the Maiden insisted he always had been. After that night the two were eventually married, and they settled down as caretakers of the orphanage where the girl had started her life though under their care it no longer was an orphanage for such had been their reward from many kings for finally taking out the mercenaries who had terrorized so many they turned the place into a permanent home for all the abandoned children of the city, becoming mother, and father to all of them. Of course if they lived off of that money alone eventually there would be none of it left so how they managed to support their home in the long term was through turning the home they made into a school where they taught all they knew to their children, and the children of others."

With a yawn Layla finished her tale, and told the kits to sleep well as she wished them good night. Will with a yawn of his own picked her up, and carried her in his arms to bed where soon enough they were asleep like logs. Judy, and Nick weren't too far behind them though Judy paused long enough on her way after Nick to agree with Bonnie that Layla was better at telling the kit friendly stories with Nick adding from down the hall that next time he wanted a chance to tell the bedtime story which Bonnie, and Judy both agreed to let him have.

Monday [Week four, Day one]

His work alarm woke them at oh-five-thirty with "A Martian Winter" by Angel Vivaldi though only enough for Will to silence it before he rolled over into the warmth of his mate, and fall back asleep. They slept for another two hours before the need to use a toilet roused them both. When they got back to the guest room they'd been sharing all weekend Will only bothered to spray himself with an aerosol scent neutralizer so he could forego a shower while they got dressed, and packed their things. He was wearing his Tiger Army shirt while Layla wore her Koukaku Kidoutai one. Once they were upstairs where they could smell breakfast Will set their duffle by the front door before following where Layla had gone into the kitchen.

"You know Bonnie I'm going to miss your cooking, and the warmth of your home. I didn't realize how much I needed these nights in the comfort of being underground until I now have to leave." Will said to Judy's mom as he sat next to Layla.

"Well I hope you both know that you're more than welcome here" Bonnie responded as she set plates of food in front of them.

"Then hopefully we can come up with more reasons to come visit with Judy in the future" Will replied with a warm smile as she sat across from them with a mug of tea in her paw.

A duet of yawns announced the presence of Nick, and Judy as they entered the kitchen. When Nick yawned again as he stretched in the doorway Judy gave his chest a light back-pawed smack as she told him to stop yawning since it was making her yawn; her statement was punctuated by her yawn, and it was all Will could do not to comment on how fucking adorable, and cute he found the sound of it. He would've told Nick to yawn again just to hear it again, but he wasn't exactly in the mood to irritate Judy.

After they'd sat at the table the five of them enjoyed breakfast along with amiable chit-chat. Nick felt the need to mention since Bonnie's wonderful cooking as he put it reminded him that it'd been awhile since he'd visited his own mother, and asked Judy if she would join him with paying her that visit later today. For a moment Judy couldn't respond as she processed Nick's request before unhesitatingly, and rather exuberantly telling him she'd love to meet his mom causing Nick to grin happily. Once they were done Judy, and Nick went back downstairs to pack while Will, and Layla helped Bonnie with cleaning the kitchen, and doing the prep work for lunch; Bonnie could swear as she later would tell Stu that as they helped her the two of them added more to the warmth a mammal would feel upon entering the Hopps home than was already present.

Once they were packed, and it was time to depart, which Stu had come back in for as if on cue to see them off with Bonnie, they exchanged their goodbyes. Judy hugged her parents warmly, and for once Stu managed to hold off on the water works while Will packed their stuff in the trunk of his Shelby. Nick shook Stu's paw first as the buck assured him he was always welcome in his home, and was surprised when Bonnie just hugged him. Layla couldn't help herself from hugging Bonnie, and thanking her for the motherly support she'd given to a relative stranger surprising everyone, but Judy as she called Bonnie 'mom' while she did so. Will for his part was just going to wave as he stood next to the open driver side door, but he was superseded by Layla, and Bonnie both insisting he give at least 'mom' a hug goodbye so that he did before shaking Stu's paw, and telling him he looked forward to the next time he could lend a paw with the farm insisting he would happily be paid with fruit, and Bonnie's cooking.

Their goodbyes said the four of them got settled in the Shelby, and as Will drove them towards the road back to the city Layla for the trip was DJ with her phone plugged into the aux cable. Once he'd hit the road that'd take them all the way into the city she got them started with "Carry Me" by Eurielle, and followed it with another of her tracks called "Hate Me"; Nick like Will was more of a rock & roller, but definitely found the songs quite pleasant while Judy got the artist's name from Layla to get more of her music for herself much to Layla's amusement. Then the song shifted into "All of Me" by John Legend.

It wasn't really the kind of music Will listened to of his own volition, but he knew all the words to this song. He thought to himself how uncanny it was Layla would be playing it since his enjoyment of how the lyrics related to him, and her he kept private even from her. As he listened it took quite a few of the fibers of his being to not sing along, but to just appreciate the song, and it took the rest of his fibers to not tell Layla the thought that occurred to him which was that they should totally sing a duet of this song, and make it their wedding track. The emotions that went through him brought tears to his eyes that he managed to hold back until the song Layla intentionally played next as if she meant to elicit from him his response was "Be Somebody" by Thousand Foot Krutch.

The water works he had managed to hold back could no longer be reigned in as the lyrics triggered the memories in him of how as they served side by side he'd fallen for her inner strength, and how she'd won his heart when at his lowest moment he'd given in to all the darkness in him, yet she'd brought him out of it. It was all he could do to keep his Shelby in a straight line at an even speed as traffic allowed him to push somewhere between seventy five, and eighty miles per hour while in as evenly calm a voice as he could manage, tell Layla to not let the next song be such an emotional one with only the tracks of his tears betraying him.

Layla just grasped his free right paw in her left, and managed a smile in response. She likewise had been crying thanks to those two tracks. "All of Me" had made her think of just how close they'd bonded such that they neither had, or needed a wedding ceremony, and "Be Somebody" made her relive memories of how alike in their emotional solitude they'd been when they met, but somehow he'd gotten her to open up with the way he was such a perv, and a goof at the same time he was ultimately a kind mammal; she would never forget when she realized she loved him that dark night when the goodness in him he nearly let die before she called him back from the abyss.

In deference to Will's wishes Layla turned on her phone's shuffle, and the first song it gave them was "Down" by Motograter. The song was just the tonal shift they needed allowing Will, and Layla to both recover somewhat. Will managed to slip into 'Driver-mode' keeping them cruising along with traffic at an easy seventy-five miles per hour while Layla took her phone off shuffle going back to singling out the songs she wanted to listen to. Nick, and Judy who weren't just along for the ride nonetheless gave the two their space for a stretch since they for their own part had not been unaffected by the music.

The next track Layla purposefully played was "Not Alone" by All That Remains which kept the car quiet as Will cranked the volume a little higher though not too much for Judy's ears while still maintaining his pace at the speed limit. Traffic as usual down this road was sparse save for cargo trucks, and if he wanted to he could floor it back to the city, but the simple act of driving listening to tunes was one Will enjoyed almost as much as flat out racing; internally Will had two reasons for keeping his speed legal, he wasn't really in that much of a rush to be back in the city, and he wanted to show Judy that he could drive like a sane mammal. Next on Layla's impromptu playlist for them as they steadily ate up the two hundred, and eleven mile distance of road was "We Stand" which was also by All That Remains.

"Okay, you play the next track from this album, babe." Will said to Layla.

"Hehe alright beastie" She responded before adding "Don't worry Judy let us get the morning metal out of our systems, and I'll change up the genres"

"Actually I think the metal is growing on me at least with how frenetic in can be; like it would make good running music, or something like that." Judy said while "Whispers [I Hear Your]" began playing.

"No Judy you must not fall to the ways of the dark side" Nick jokingly admonished.

"I find your lack of faith disturbing" Will added doing his best Darth Vader impression.

"Hmm... I think it'd be interesting seeing what kind of metal you end up liking best, Judy. To give you an example of just how varied bands can be, Will here isn't really that big a fan of death metal, but likes the bands where you can actually make out the lyrics like Slayer, Gojira, and Dagoba." Layla said.

"Well Slayer essentially spawned Death Metal the way Black Sabbath spawned Metal itself though they're part of the Big Four of Thrash Metal alongside Metallica, Megadeth, and Anthrax. Also Dagoba is more Industrial Metal like Fear Factory, and Gojira are more Progressive Death Metal. Though I now vote for some Aliaj, and Slain if you would darlin'." Will explained offering Layla his phone.

"Actually don't need your phone, I have them on mine." Layla responded with a smug grin scrolling through her phone.

"Just how expansive is metal music? I mean I'm not unexposed to rock & roll; my mom is a fan of Elvis, and The Beatles while my dad likes Pink Floyd, and King Crimson." Judy asked.

"For every genre Rock has Metal goes there too though it started from Traditional style like Sabbath to Power like Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden, and on into Thrash, and Death along with Progressive at least in a somewhat chronological progression" Nick explained before Will simply had to interject.

"Why did no one tell me your parents dig artists I love!? You tell them next time I'm over we're rocking out to the classics. I mean it." Will said though no sooner did the words leave his muzzle than Layla started "Pain" by Aliaj which silenced him.

"I'm surprised you didn't want me to play Angband mister 'I love Iranian Metal'" Layla said to him jokingly.

"What can I say other than I do" Will responded with a laugh.

As the track from Aliaj ended Layla was swift to put it on one of her personal favorites from Slain their track "Superhero".

"Is this band also from Iran?" Judy asked.

"Nope they're from India, and are an excellent example of progressive metal. Go figure I love their music so much, but it wasn't until I actually looked up the lyrics online that I realized just how those lyrics are . . . christian friendly to put it nicely. That usually is the kind of thing that turns me off from a band, go figure the exceptions to rules hehehe" Will answered.

Will could practically feel the curiosity coming from the back seat so before they could ask questions, and incite him to ranting, or saying more than he cared to he told them "Look as an angel incarnate religion is the one subject I don't like discussing the most so please don't ask."

Much to his appreciation Layla backed Will up by saying "It's one thing for knowledge of his angelic nature to be isolated amongst those that know him personally, but if it became widespread can you imagine how the religions of the world would want to use him? It's not his place to interfere in the free will of mammals to believe what they want, yet they would force his paw, and no one would like what that would lead to."

The rest of the drive back to the city went smoothly with the conversation taking it's turn through different lighter subjects while Layla eventually let her phone's shuffle setting play what it would. They got back into the city proper just around half past noon, and got Nick, and Judy back to their respective apartments by thirteen hundred wishing both of them each a pleasant evening with Nick's mom. Once they were back at their own apartment the clock was encroaching on half past thirteen hundred, and while Layla's priority was packing a bow of cannabis Will's was rolling on the bed to express his gladness to be home which he was as much as he had enjoyed his four day weekend.

While Layla joined him on the bed to smoke a little weed as they relaxed back into their space they talked over inviting some company for a housewarming of sorts. Layla had gotten the interior of their apartment about as decorated as either of them would have it, and Will kind of missed both Benji, and Jade. Since they didn't have that much space to host all of Will's coworkers they decided to keep it small only inviting Mihoshi, and Sage besides Benji, and Jade. The cannabis did it's trick of getting Will hungry not only for lunch, but dinner, and likewise in the mood to do the cooking as well.

Having been gone for four days most of the leftovers in their fridge were in need of tossing, or devouring though Will expressly wanted panang for lunch, but Layla managed to convince him to make do with what was on paw for lunch promising they'd have curry for dinner tomorrow night relying on his lazy streak. What sealed the deal was her guarantee she'd place their order for panang, and rice ahead of time that she'd pick up. Once they'd killed their second bowl, and the last of their cannabis on paw Will went nose first to the fridge to rustle them up whatever was still edible, and as they ate they discussed what to fix for dinner. Will texted Benji to get his opinion also asking if he could likewise ask Jade, and Mihoshi for theirs as he passed on the message to them that they were invited to his place for the warming of the house as he put it.

While they waited for Benji to get back to them they moved to the sofa where Will sprawled out with Layla on top of him, and they couldn't help their dozing which got interrupted by Jade texting Will that she was happy with whatever he decided to cook, and Mihoshi who texted that she likewise was up for whatever. Benji's responding text was that as outspoken as Jade was concerning his, and Layla's skill in the kitchen he left it up to them to surprise him. So they fell back to square one in terms of what to fix as Will was no longer hungry, and at a loss for what to fix while Layla feeling it was up to her to settle the menu got lost in thought.

"A mammal gets tired of too much chicken despite all that can be done with it though I'd be up for frying it. Why don't we go with fish?" Will suggested with a yawn.

"You know we forgot to ask Sage, but I like your fish idea, and the frying." Layla responded.

"I'm pretty sure she'll second this idea of fried fish, but then the question becomes what kind of fish do we want to fry, and is there a store that will have what we need that isn't as far as the Tundra Town Fish Market." Will replied as he got on his phone to text Sage.

"Well, hmm how about just simple panko breaded tilapia, and you can just zoogle the nearest supermarket." Layla suggested.

"It's simple, and not too heavy plus I can pick up some teriyaki sauce while I'm at it. Alright it's a plan." Will said with an easy grin running a paw under her shirt to stroke her fur. With his unoccupied paw Will checked the time seeing his phone display that it was in the hour of fifteen-hundred.

He figured it'd take him about an hour to do the shopping, and be back with their company arriving between seventeen-hundred, and about eighteen-hundred-thirty. Before he even considered getting off the sofa he very purposefully focused on his scent before specifically marking into Layla's neck then giving her muzzle a long, and loving lick. He wrapped his arms around his mate then flipped so she was between him, and the back of the couch so she would not be displaced as he rolled backwards off the sofa onto his hindpaws to head out phone in paw as he zoogled the nearest super mart.

Layla just lay there on the couch enjoying the fading sensation his tongue left as she chuckled to herself how much she enjoyed whenever he rolled them in unison like that. As she sat up with her own mission in mind to pull her laptop on the coffee table towards her where she'd left it the smell of him on her was so strong it was like he hadn't left, and it took a minute for the full depth of it to register. When it did the message in it combined with her purpose of finding the specialist she needed to see, and hopefully setting up an appointment for tomorrow brought her to tears. She knew better than most how Will knew things of canid behaviour that were essentially 'lost knowledge'; the way he could specifically mark a mammal as under his 'protection', and direct his howl were just some of it - angel that he was incarnate his inner knowledge came from instincts, and past memories he'd sussed out over the years he'd been amongst the awakened mammals of the world.

It was one thing to mark a lover with your own scent as a way to express your claim to them, but the pheromones that possessed her nose screamed here was his 'mate'. She could not help how she broke down for a good five minutes because here she was behind his back going to do what she could to bear a kit with him with the blessing of the Wolf Mother, and he had pretty much used the old ways to shout to the world she was his wife; as she thought the word that summed up the scent message he left upon her it shocked her out of her tears, and with no small amount of fear she voiced to the air "Mother what has he done? Please have mercy."

It didn't take her long to zoogle the right doctor she needed to see, and a quick phone call to their office downtown later she'd secured an appointment for herself tomorrow afternoon. That bit of business done she had a long hard think about what to do concerning the marking she now bore. Her first gut response was to shower, and wash at least some of it out before getting heavy with some scent neutralizer, but she realized that if she did that it would wound him more than she could bear to consider. She did at least decide to shower since she hadn't this morning, and hopefully it would mellow the scent of him on her so as not to outright assault their guests. It was a message that they could only interpret one way, and as much as she needed Sage at the moment he too would need Jade, and Mihoshi tonight since she wasn't going to sleep with him till at least tomorrow night, and he surely needed to sink is fangs into someone even if only a little.

Meanwhile Will had driven to the local super market making sure to note it's location since he'd probably be there often enough to get to know a few of the mammals working there. Once he'd gotten the requisite fish, and teriyaki sauce plus some more rice for good measure he wandered down every aisle for whatever might catch his fancy. He had lingered in the ice cream section staring long, and hard between the gelato, and the frozen yogurt with already a couple quarts of custard style ice cream in his cart before he gave in and got three pints of sea salt caramel gelato, and a quart each of strawberry, and blueberry frozen yogurt. In the section where the spirits were kept he unhesitatingly got the largest bottles they had of black rum, spiced rum, and honey whiskey along with three six packs of Feller Alpine-Life beer in the bottle. After the one time he'd had Irish porter out of a can he'd sworn never again to drink beer out of anything other than glass; black beers were his favorite, and that Irish beer, of all things sacred, out of a can had tasted like soy sauce without the salt. Reminiscing about the beer made him think of the growlers of oatmeal stout, and undiluted double barrel ale he'd always get from the local brewery Flamerock-Strider up in Ulfhaven, or the really good Fog Slicer double IPA from the Forgotten Cove brewery he'd visited while camping in the Califurnia Redwoods. He made a mental note to remind himself to go back there for a camping trip with Layla; deep down he missed the Purcific Ocean as of all the oceans of the world it was his favorite, but as his thoughts wandered there he had to shake his head, and himself free lest his desire to chase the dying sun take hold.

As he was wandering down the aisle where one could find pasta, and pasta sauce he came across a middle aged vixen struggling to reach a can of said sauce that was just out of her reach so with complete ease he walked up behind her, and got down for her the can of sauce.

"Would you like just one ma'am, or two?" Will asked her with a smile.

"Why thank you. I think I should get two just to be safe. My you are tall for a wolf" she replied while he got her down a second can still grinning.

"Not a problem at all ma'am. It is my pleasure to help others when I can, especially lovely vixens such as yourself. Yeah Grey Wolves think they've got the canid height market in their paws till they get a load of me, or my sister; we are the proud freaks of Arctic Wolves. Back home they even call us the Guardians of Ulfhaven" Will said with an easy laugh.

"Oh, you hush. I'm old enough to be your mother." she responded with a slight blush.

"What can I say? I have a soft spot for foxes. An arctic vixen is my adoptive sister, and my mate is probably the world's tallest red vixen. Besides you look very good for your age I'd say you weren't far past forty" Will said to her maintaining his friendly smile.

"I passed forty a good decade ago, but thank you nonetheless for your flattery. You've quite made my day that much better since my son told me he was going to introduce me to his girlfriend, finally. You know I've always wanted to visit Ulfhaven; I hear it's one of the few places a fox can go where we're just another mammal as welcome as any other canid." she replied.

"It very much is, and not only do we have even fresher fish than you'd find in Tundra Town we have some truly breathtaking natural wonders. Though if you do visit I recommend you grow out your winter coat, and pack warmly because even in summer it's pretty chilly also go to the Grimm house, and tell Marie her son sent you; she runs a small bed, and breakfast, and you will be most welcome free of charge." Will told her.

"If I manage to go there I will be sure to. Your family name is Grimm? You don't seem so grim to me at all, quite the opposite in fact." she said kindly.

"Funnily enough you're not the first fox in this city to tell me that, but I do have my moments when I live up to the name not that I much like them on any account" Will responded with another laugh.

After that they went their separate ways with Will browsing a bit more getting stuck staring at the barbeque sauce selection salivating at the options before he grabbed five different bottles with the thought to use some for chicken on a later night's menu, and have plenty of the stuff on paw since he could, and had before drank straight from the bottle especially the one labeled for being garlic heavy. When he got stuck again in the produce section just breathing in the scent of the fruits he saw the older vixen again, and seeing her near the cucumbers could not resist talking to her again.

Will couldn't hide his absolutely wolfish grin as he said to her "Mine's bigger."

When she turned to him slightly surprised he added "Cucumber, I mean. Mine's bigger" while he lifted a paw which indeed held a larger cucumber.

The laugh he got from her in response he found absolutely delightful, and internally he did a fist-pump in victory.

"You just could not resist that movie quote could you? What would your mate say to you flirting with me?" she lightly chided him.

"Oh she wouldn't really care, and probably have laughed at me being unable to resist being such a goof-ball. It's kind of my thing while grocery shopping. I will do, and say quite outrageous things just for a laugh, and I don't care who overhears me. Why just the other week I was at a store, and a jaguaress was saying 'meow me-meow' as she went back to work so I actually meowed in response. It was hilarious." Will responded mirthfully.

"I find it very hard to believe you can meow like a cat." she replied looking at him rather skeptically so he meowed in response causing her to drop the vegetable she held.

"If you'd like to record me doing that again with your phone I'd be more than happy to do it again" Will said unable to not chuckle at her totally flabbergasted expression.

She didn't hesitate to pull out her phone, and when she nodded that she was recording him he happily meowed again for her a couple times.

"How did you ever learn how to make those sounds?" she asked curiously after she stopped the recording.

"I've been with more felines than I can count, and have always been talented with my tongue. I even have a minor in linguistics, and am something of a polyglot." he answered.

While he left her to finish her shopping he pushed his cart over to check out having already gotten more than he had intended to. As he waited in line he smiled back at her when she got in line behind him before a young tod caught his eye. The tod was still just a teenager, but Will could tell he was trying to leave without paying for something, and the mammal on loss prevention duty hadn't spotted him so as a cop Will took action leaving his place in line. Before the tod could make his clean getaway Will had him securely with a paw by the back collar of his hoodie.

"Alright kid what is it you've got that you don't have the money to buy. I'm a cop so don't struggle just show me" Will told the lad as if he could read his thoughts, and having his own experience with pilfering things it wasn't hard for him to know how the lads mind was turning.

When the lad pulled out what he was attempting to steal which was cold medicine he spoke almost frantically "My mom's sick, and I don't want her to have to go to the hospital. We don't have the money to handle hospital bills. It was bad enough when I broke my arm last year."

Will's heart went out to the youth who clearly was about to start crying so he told him "Then you get in line with me, and I'll buy the medicine for you. My job is to help mammals son, and the last thing I want to see is another fox have to resort to crime. I hate those stereotypes more than most. I call foxes family."

Once the boy had given him the medicine Will let him go, and as he got back in line the tod said to him "Thank you, sir."

"Don't mention it son. I'm just doing what any mammal should. Now if you need anything else at all you just call me. I will always be in your corner." Will responded handing him his card with his work number on it.

The vixen Will had befriended couldn't help, but wipe away a tear as she thought to herself how she wished her son could've met such a mammal when he was still a kit, and was about to say as much when the specieism against foxes just had to rear it's ugly head as a sheep of all mammals decided to add her two cents.

"Shouldn't you have arrested him for attempting to steal like the fox he is. How can you believe a thing he says?" the sheep said from where she stood in an adjacent line.

"You clearly did not hear me when I said I Call Foxes Family. If I did have him arrested where would that leave his mother? Now you are lucky you horrid twat that I'm off duty, and unarmed elseways I'd order you out of this place at gun point. As it stands if you don't want me to throw you out, or worse leave while you still have the chance, and get what you need elsewhere." Will responded with his voice dripping with disdain, and malice. Thankfully the brainless sheep noted that even the other prey near enough to witness, and overhear what had occured looked at her as if they quite agreed with Will, and rather indignantly she did leave.

When she was gone all who had witnessed all this including the store workers nearby all applauded Will which he accepted bashfully telling them all that he was only doing what was right, and that he abhorred specieism as the sin it was since in the eyes of the gods all mammals were brothers, and sisters adding that we all bleed the same blood. When it came time for him to pay for everything he was getting, and the medicine for the tod's mother the clerk insisted on giving him the employee discount, and the medicine for free, but Will would have none of it even when the manager came up to insist upon it. Seeing that Will wouldn't be swayed the manager himself decided on a compromise telling Will that he was always welcome in his store, and the tod that if he needed more medicine for his mother to come by, and he'd get it on the house as long as he promised to stay out of trouble, and pay it forward which the tod did most sincerely.

Once out of the store Will placed a paw compassionately on the tod's shoulder, and told him "Take care of yourself lad, and your mom, and don't forget that if you ever need anything even if it's just to talk about stuff you can't share with anyone else don't hesitate to call me. I've got your back."

After the tod thanked him again, and said he would the lad hurried home while Will made his way to his car, and loaded his goods into the trunk of his Shelby. As he was finished, and had just shut the trunk he saw the vixen struggling slightly with the weight of her bags as she walked towards the nearby bus stop so he unhesitatingly walked over to her where he insisted on not only carrying her bags, but also giving her a ride home, and at least help to her door.

"I can manage just fine. Haven't you already done enough good for one day?" she tried to refuse him insisting her apartment was only a couple of bus stops away.

"I have not, and I believe you can manage, but what kind of gentle-mammal would I be if I didn't offer you help with both my paws?" Will responded emphatically.

Seeing he would broker no further argument she relented saying "Very well, and thank you. You are too good a mammal for this world. May the Mother set in stone that you're most certainly a wolf worth your fur."

"It is no problem at all ma'am" Will said as he took her bags, and led the way to his Shelby adding as he walked with tears in his eyes "She already has it quite set in stone, and it's precisely why I'm on this earth among other reasons"

"Quit calling me ma'am you're making me feel older than I am. My name is Mary-Anne by the way" she said when they reached his Shelby, and her eyes widened at the sight of it before they narrowed seeing his vanity plates, and she gave him a back-pawed smack to his arm as she told him "Why on Gaia's green earth would you put that on your license plate?"

"Well met Mary-Anne my name is Will" he introduced himself as he got the trunk open again, and as he made space for her groceries he added "You may not think so, but often enough 'Fang Devil' is an apt description of me."

"Well count me as a mammal who disagrees" she responded.

"You know there's a club. I'll have them make you a jacket" Will joked.

She just smacked him again for his sass with quite the motherly expression on her muzzle which Will couldn't hide his amusement at before he shut the trunk, and moved to open the passenger door for her. Once he'd pulled in front of her apartment building that really was only a couple blocks away he got out quickly enough to open the door for her to get out even offering her a paw in assistance which she just brushed away insisting she wasn't a grandmother yet. Will just chuckled in response before shutting the door once she was out then going to the trunk to retrieve her groceries.

When they entered her building Mary-Anne was greeted by both her landlord who was a red wolf, and his daughter Will noted was a coywolf.

"Grandma Wilde you're back" the girl said running forward for a hug.

"I am sweet child" Mary-Anne responded warmly embracing the girl who couldn't be much older than four.

Her father on the other paw couldn't help, but notice Will saying "You're the very cop I just finished reading about. I hope you don't mind, but I must shake your paw brother"

"You were reading about me?" Will asked as he took the wolf's paw in his own after shifting all he carried to his left paw.

"I was, here in the latest issue of 'Our Voice'. I'm Jake by the way Officer Grimm" the wolf said holding up the issue of said magazine that was in his other paw.

"Ah Eris' article." Will said in understanding before the girl's words registered, and he turned to Mary-Anne who had picked up the little girl "Mary-Anne your last name is Wilde? I am friends with your son, in fact he was the first officer I worked with when I started here at precinct one."

"I meant to ask if you knew my Nicky when you said you were a cop. The Mother truly brings us together for a reason" she responded before turning to the girl in her arms "Alright Leah I need to set you down so the nice officer can help me get my groceries upstairs."

"Can I come too? Did you bake any cookies?" little Leah asked as she was set down.

"I sure did. I made peanut butter cookies earlier" Mary-Anne answered with a warm smile.

Little Leah just followed them upstairs happily while her father called after her to not spoil her dinner which she said she wouldn't with Will chuckling all the while. Once they were at her apartment on the third floor Mary-Anne let them in, and Will set down her groceries on her kitchen counter before Mary-Anne offered both him, and Leah each a cookie unable to hide her own mirth at seeing the two of them with identical expressions of happiness on their muzzles as their tails wagged.

"Thank you Grandma Wilde. You make the best cookies" Leah said once her mouth was no longer full of cookie.

"I agree Mary-Anne. Now I feel right as rain" Will added.

"Well if you'd like another one Will" Mary-Anne replied holding the plate of cookies out towards him.

"Don't mind if I do" Will said taking two, but only so he could give Leah one saying to her with a smile "Don't tell your dad"

"Thank you mister Will, I won't" Leah replied before saying goodbye to them, and running off.

"After seeing you with that boy earlier, and Leah just now I can't help thinking one day you'll make quite the father." Mary-Anne said to Will as they watched Leah's tail disappear past the doorway.

"There's a club. I'll have them make you a jacket." Will couldn't help, but say again with a laugh before adding "Hopefully one day I will. Though I've mentioned adopting with my Layla we haven't really talked about it much yet."

After that Will said his goodbye to Nick's mom, and made his way back to his Shelby. Jake stopped him when he was back on the ground floor to tell him not to be a stranger, and that surely he was a wolf the Mother was proud to call one of hers at which Will couldn't help, but hug him telling him he wouldn't, and that he was going to make him cry saying such things. Once he was back on the road Will drove in silence with his window rolled down enjoying the wind as it buffeted him. When he got back to his place with Layla he was grateful the door opened for him automatically, and thanked her for her rigging it to do so.

"Like I said it'll only do that if one of us is already home. I wanted it that way since I'm usually here all day, and what if one of us had to run past the door for some reason while it was empty? By the way babe you only went for a pawful of things; what did you splurge on that we will have to finagle into the fridge? Your lucky we only have like two pies left in there." Layla said to him as he set his bags on the counter

"Other than what we needed to make dinner which sounds even better right now I just got us plenty of frozen treats, more booze, and some barbeque sauce. I'll wait till everyone shows up to regale you with my adventure" Will responded as he took out everything he'd gotten starting with the booze.

"I had been wondering what was taking you so long. You bought enough booze alright, but mmm honey whiskey . . . Let's see you also got enough frozen custard, yogurt, and gelato to comfort a depressed girl for days, and I think you're telling me something with all this barbeque sauce." Layla joked with him.

"I need some of it for everyday use, and some for some sort of dinner maybe later in the week." Will replied with an easy grin before his mind registered her scent as she got closer, or rather his marking of her, and how it had faded.

"You took a shower. You know I've always loved it when you smell like strawberries" Will said to her, and not giving her time to respond he was on her holding her arms back as he pressed against her bodily his muzzle meeting hers, and his tongue forcing into her mouth. For a long moment as she returned his kiss it was as if he was trying to engulf her form with his, and to an extent he was. Having reached a resolution Sunday he couldn't help himself from the ways he expressed the outcome of that resolution as he worked up to finally voicing it to her.

"Thank you for not completely washing me out of your fur." He said to her as he released her.

She stayed close to him as she took his muzzle in her paws to look into his eyes. He saw the confusion in hers as she said to him "I could never do that, but why did you do that so specifically?"

He could see the tears welling in her eyes as he took a moment to consider how best to phrase his answer. He caressed her muzzle with a paw as he responded "It seems like all my usual ways of expressing my love for you are no longer enough. They are not enough for me to show you the full weight of how much you mean to me."

He could only smile as her response was to step into him embracing him with her muzzle against his chest. Will knew he needed to tell her what he'd decided sooner rather than later, but at the same time he wanted to keep it in his back pocket until he'd had enough time to think over the particulars. As he held her resting his muzzle on top of her head it occurred to him that marking her as strongly as he had was probably showing one of the cards in his paw a little too soon, but he couldn't help himself.

Layla couldn't help her thoughts as she clung to him. Here was her pillar of strength through so much blood, and death, and such a warm pillar he was, yet now he was also the reason she felt like breaking down completely. She couldn't escape thinking of what she hid from him, and how his marking was quite the unsubtle hint of something she didn't want to consider. She couldn't bring herself to even dare in hoping things would flow in that direction when she already had him as close as any mammal ever could.

They were interrupted by the knocking on their door, and Will was the one to let go so he could answer it. When he opened it he was quite surprised since he'd expected Sage, and Mihoshi, but there with them were Jade, and Benji.

"Hey guys! Come on in, I'll get dinner started momentarily" Will greeted them moving out of the way to let them in before shutting the door.

Before anyone had much chance to say anything else Layla had taken Sage by the paw, and was leading her to the guest bedroom only saying "Sister I need you."

Will took his mate's behavior in stride, and seemed to ignore the oddity of it as he went about giving the other three a proper greeting.

"Hoshi-chan it's good to see you" Will said giving her a quick hug before turning to Benji saying with arms wide open "Get in here Benji buddy. I've missed your hugs, and it's only been four days hehehe."

That done Will's attention fell on Jade whose right paw he took in his left to kiss the top of it more for an excuse to get the scent of her in his nose before he put pressure on it to force out her claws he presently licked much to the confusion of Mihoshi, and the shock of Benji while Jade was as horrified as she'd been the first time he'd done it.

"Will what the . . . why would you do that?" Benji asked being first to find his voice.

"Do you know how it makes me feel to have you of all mammals do that to me?" Jade said to Will as she withdrew her paw, and shuddered.

"I don't get it. I mean it is weird he'd lick your claws; what am I missing?" Mihoshi asked the two cats.

Jade just shuddered again before she managed to answer Mihoshi with Will just standing there all the while as if nothing was wrong "I actually had to look it up after he did it the first time. It's the kind of thing no sane mammal does, like letting a vampire bat feed from them directly which apparently as I heard from Autumn this wolf does . . . it shouldn't really be a surprise . . . Anyway licking a cat's claws, showing affection for our very tools to kill has quite the varied meaning depending on context. The first time he did it he'd asked me to kill him, and did it to both show trust in me, and ask for mercy. Now, however with his attitude of 'long time no see' he meant it as a lover in the old days would've."

"Didn't you?" Jade asked Will who looked quite pleased with himself.

"Of course I did. Though you should know you're only the second cat I've ever done that with." Will answered before turning to walk into the kitchen, and gesturing for them to follow him he continued "If Layla is going to have her fun with Sage then I'm having mine with you, and Mihoshi."

"You're so sure of that." Benji said to which Mihoshi added a "Yeah" while Will went about getting the ice cream put away in the freezer then dinner proper started.

"Considering the last time I got any was friday morning with that sexy kitten" Will responded with a wink at Jade before finishing his thought "And Layla absconding with our pack sister I am quite certain of how my night will end."

"So what are you fixing us for dinner?" Jade asked changing the subject, and reaching for the bottle of black rum.

"Well I'm going to start by getting the rice going, and a pan hot" Will answered as he pulled a skillet from a cabinet to place on the stove before grabbing the rice which was in an airtight canister. As he got six cups of rice, and twice as much water in the cooker which filled it to the maximum he continued telling them tonight's menu "the main entree is panko breaded tilapia which I will fry good, and golden"

Mihoshi couldn't help, but laugh seeing both Jade, and Benji start to drool as Will spoke. She didn't hesitate to get a photo of the both of them, while Will got one just of Jade making sure to close up on her muzzle before making it her contact photo in his phone. Meanwhile in their guest bedroom Layla was having a much needed conversation with her pack sister.

"Okay what's up?" Sage asked before she finally had a chance to register Will's scent on Layla, and stuck her nose into Layla's neck.

"That's part of it, but it gets more complicated" Layla answered tears threatening to overwhelm her eyes.

"More complicated than him using his scent to shout to the world you're his 'Mate', or should I say 'Wife'?" Sage said incredulously.

"Don't use that word, please. Yes it gets more complicated." Layla responded before looking around as if she feared being overheard before whispering in Sage's ear "I miscarried Saturday morning, and the Mother had come to me the night before to tell me I have her blessing to bear his kit. She made me promise I wouldn't give up on him, or us."

Sage just looked at her with eyes as wide open as could be barely managing to say "Fuck that's a lot to process."

In a more normal tone Layla just added to it "I still haven't told him, and tomorrow afternoon I'm seeing a specialist so hopefully next time it takes. I've been lucky he was happy just to sleep next to me over the weekend, and not do anything; I need you to stay with me tonight, and he needs Jade at least if not Mihoshi as well."

"Just come here" Sage told her with open arms as she sat on the bed which Layla did unable to hold back her tears as she nuzzled into Sage's bosom.

"Listen to me Sister" Sage began as she comfortingly stroked Layla's head, and ears "You can't marry him, and he can't marry you; we both know that, but how he's marked you is proof enough that if he could I'm pretty sure he would. When you bear your kit with him, and that is practically assured since the Mother has given you her blessing you may need to legally marry him, but only as a necessary formality. You should be happy my sister, no other canid let alone any other mammal can say they are quite as blessed as you so directly by the angels above"

For a good ten minutes all Layla could do was cry into Sage giving release to the emotions that were tearing her apart. While Sage did her best to soothe her Layla who was eternally grateful for it promised herself that she'd come clean to Will tomorrow evening. If she had to deal with all this for much longer than that she didn't know how she'd manage.

Will who was quite distracted with being host to his friends as he cooked was only partially aware of his mate's inner turmoil, and likewise only just noted as she, and Sage both went into the bathroom just as he'd finished frying the last of the fish. Jade after pouring herself, and Will alike a couple shots of the black rum he'd bought lent her most welcome paws to mixing drinks for Benji, and Mihoshi as Will had told her to have at the bar.

Benji had wasted no time wanting all the juicy details about Nick, and Judy, but Will didn't exactly give him much to go with telling him that as far as he could judge they'd both made the first move in unison so the betting pool was off, and that he didn't really have much else to say though he did recount how he, and Judy had worked together to reunite that kit with his mother Saturday.

"Surely more than just that happened. Come on . . ." Benji pleaded with him.

"Sure stuff happened, but what of it is really worth retelling? I wound up in charge of bedtime stories for the kits until Layla, and Bonnie voted me out; Judy's little sister Abby who is just lovely is going to be working in our forensics department here pretty soon; I almost had to tell Abby, Jackie, and a couple of Judy's other brothers, and sisters about something only Layla, and Sky know that I'd like to take to the grave; Oh, and Nick, and I got peeped on by Jackie, and some of Judy's other younger sisters till Abby rescued us which prompted me to explain a few things to Nick as well as tell him I want him to join my pack. Honestly Benji I do have a story for you, but it's from today, and I can't tell you till Sage, and Layla are out here to hear it." Will said.

Before Benji could process everything, and respond, or Mihoshi, and Jade could either Sage was out of the bathroom telling Will "Just so you know, no vixen for you tonight"

"No problem I figured as much" Will barely managed to respond before Layla spoke neither looking, or sounding as if she'd been crying at all.

"You did not almost tell a bunch of rabbits about that verboten mission, and what's this I hear about you giving does an eyeful?" She told Will sternly.

"They were curious, and thanks to Nick being there an eyeful of us was all they got. Look it got brought up in the course of conversation where I explained how if a mob of prey sought to kill me I'd have to let them if I didn't escape them, but I was able to dodge it by flipping the question. By the way for his answer when I asked him Nick is definitely a better mammal than I am." Will defended himself.

"Word For Word. What Did You Say?" Layla enunciated every word brokering no argument.

"After I gave them the whole 'I'm not aware of any such activity, or operation' line I had to give them something before they assumed to worst. So I told them it was classified, and asked what they would want to see done to one of their kind if they found he was a mammal trafficker with a taste for eating merchandise. Abby said drop the sick fuck alive into a barrel of hydrochloric acid to which I responded wasn't far from the truth; told 'em I tore off his arms, and fed him to sharks. Nick said when I asked him that he'd see the mammal eaten alive if doing so wouldn't in turn lower the mammal delivering said justice to the same level as the sick fuck." Will told her which seemed to satisfy her though she gave him a glare for good measure.

"There wasn't really a mammal like that, was there?" Mihoshi asked.

"There very much was." Layla answered.

"So what really happened?" Benji wondered.

"Ben you know how redacted my file is. That mission is so classified it's not even in there, and the one copy of that report that exists in the ZIA Director's office doesn't even mention what really happened. Layla, Sky, and I are taking it to our graves." Will said flatly

"I know I shouldn't ask, but what species was the sick fuck?" Jade couldn't help, but inquire though she had sense enough to not say 'you ate' at the end.

"All I'm willing to say further on the matter is that he was a prey mammal, and so was his chef. Now if you don't mind that particular subject is closed, and since my hopefully mollified mate is here I have a much better story to tell." Will said.

Jade, Mihoshi, and Ben took up seats at the kitchen table with their plates as Will served them while Sage, and Layla sat at the kitchen counter with Will remaining standing. They all enjoyed the first few bites of fish, and rice which Will if he said so himself was quite proud of having only lightly seasoned the panko since the teriyaki would be the main complimenting flavor to the subtle white fish, and rice.

"Alright you had quite the adventure on your quest for dinner's ingredients. Regale us." Layla said with an easy smile having gotten over her cross-ness at finding out what he nearly let slip.

"Okay so there I was at the nearby super mart." Will happily began "I'd gotten the stuff for dinner pretty quick, but felt like browsing to see what would catch my fancy. I was walking down the past aisle when I came across this vixen having trouble reaching a can of pasta sauce so I helped her out, and maybe flirted a little since she totally does not look as old as she really is. Well after that we ended up in the same check-out line, and I happened to notice a tod who was probably barely fifteen try to make it out without paying for something. I caught the kid, and had him reveal what he wanted to steal. Turned out he was trying to steal cold medicine for his sick mother since they couldn't afford a hospital visit. I told him I'd buy the stuff for him, and once he gave it to me I let him go. While we were in line some dumb twat of a sheep had to say something specieist about foxes so I told her the fuck off. She was lucky I was unarmed because even off-duty I'd have ordered her out of the store at gunpoint. Once she was gone the whole damned store felt the need to applaud me, but I told 'em I was just doing what was right as any mammal should. The clerk tried to even give me the employee discount, and the medicine for free, but even when the manager seconded it I would have none of it so the manager said I'd be always welcome at the place, and told the kid if he needed any more medicine he'd get it for free so long as he stayed out of trouble, and payed it forward. When the tod, and I were outside I gave him my work card telling him he could call me for anything even if it was just to talk, and that I had his back even if no one else did. Once he took off I got my stuff loaded in the Shelby, and that vixen from earlier was struggling with her stuff so I helped her. Insisted on giving her a ride home, and carrying her stuff to her door in fact. Once we were there I met her landlord who is a red wolf, and his daughter who the most adorable coywolf I've ever seen, and found out the vixen is Nick's mom. Well the little cub Leah followed us up to Mary-Anne's apartment, and we both got some really good peanut butter cookies in the deal; when Nick's mom offered me a second cookie I even took two just to give Leah an extra one." Will finished his story practically beaming just remembering little Leah, and how happy she was he got her a second cookie.

Benji couldn't help but go "Awww . . ."

"Just fuck me" was Jade's comment while Mihoshi felt the need to ask "Do you have any brothers?"

Sage could only laugh, and answer Mihoshi with "He only has sisters, and quite a few of those."

Layla likewise was amused with Jade's blunt reaction responding to her with "Tonight he's going to since I need Sage-time."

Layla's comment of course got a laughing fit out of Will, Jade, and Mihoshi which she'd partially intended with her phrasing with Will saying "Oh, babe. Is that with just your paw, or both of hers?"

"Can you not use that phrase? At least around me?" Sage asked unable to hide her own grin in amusement.

"I don't get it." Benji said getting a chuckle out of Layla.

"It's a euphemism for masturbation buddy" Will explained with a grin.

"Oh" Benji said before the full ramifications of that euphemism being used around this particular Sage struck, and he laughed until he was winded.

Once they were done eating Will, and Layla just loaded then ran the dishwasher while Sage got what leftovers there were put in the fridge having to fight off Jade's paws as she playfully tried to steal bits of fish. Layla could only laugh at Jade's antics while Will just gave her a look that stopped her cold when she saw it. His muzzle said it all; his desire for her plain across it along with amusement. When the six of them adjourned to the living room Will made a beeline for the stereo which he plugged his phone into getting the music started with "Somewhere I Belong" by Linkin Park. Mihoshi was quite pleased with his choice of artist giving him a crisp high paw out of her appreciation while Jade who was on point got more drinks going for everyone.

As she sipped her honey whiskey on the rocks Layla enjoyed the song that reminded her of back when she, and Will were going to the same college, and how they both were. The song Will played next was "What I've Done" also by L.P. which prompted Layla to down her drink, and get another from Jade with more whiskey, and less ice. When she saw Will headbanging like an idiot with Mihoshi she couldn't help he smile as she swallowed more whiskey glad that he didn't seem as depressed as he usually was when he listened to these songs to bring him out of it.

It wasn't long before Layla needed to relieve her bladder no thanks to the alcohol which she promised herself to abstain from starting tomorrow. When she got out of the bathroom she noted the song had changed to "The Light" by Disturbed, and Will had left his place in front of the stereo to do shots with Jade, and Sage while Benji, and Mihoshi enjoyed the teasing banter the three threw at each other. Layla of course in her own drinking had not kept track of Will's so she threw what she felt was a much needed wrench into their fun.

"How many?" Layla asked Will sternly.

All he could manage was to hold up six fingers in response his muzzle displaying a mix of confusion, slight fear, and pity. Layla in return simply held up three fingers before swiftly turning to walk away back towards the kitchen. She had barely made one step forward before Will had crossed the distance between them wrapping his arms around her to embrace her from behind saying "Sometimes you worry about me when you don't need to, my love. Thank you."

Layla stopped to turn around in his grasp so that her head was pressed into his chest asking him "Why? Why is it what I fear most even after all we've been through?"

"You cannot let your fear kill your mind. Face your fear; allow yourself into, and through it. When you draw your inner sight along where it has gone there will be nothing; only you shall remain. How else do you think I mastered the darkness within?" Will said to her.

"But . . ." Layla began to protest.

"No contestations. Must I tell you how it will happen, near as I can tell when I could very well be wrong?" Will asked her.

"I do not want to hear. Don't you dare." Layla responded doing her best to seem angry in her sudden bout of melancholy.

"Guy's what's wrong?" Benji asked ever a mammal reach his heart out to his friends.

"I used to be afraid of one thing above all else, and it was me." Will started to explain despite Layla's efforts to dissuade him deciding to punch, and elbow his ribs not nearly hard enough when his muzzle proved impossible for her to hold shut while he continued "I feared that part of me that loves blood even though I don't need it. Until I embraced it I wasn't able to move through it, and once I had I found myself beyond it. My vixen here? She's afraid of my death. Specifically that my life will somehow be cut short, and I will either have a paw in it, or not lift a paw at all to prevent it. Laya, my love, mein liebe, melme endanyo you forget I would've lost myself if it weren't for you; do you forget why?"

"Never. I'm sorry; I wish I could tell you why I'm like this for no reason." Layla said giving up her fight as he addressed her visibly going slightly limp in his embrace.

"There is no need for you to apologize. How many times was I no different?" Will responded encouragingly.

"Too many times to remember you self sacrificing suicidal nutjob." She replied bemused before bursting into sarcastic exasperated theatrics "For as many times as thou hast taunted death I dare not tempt you to devour a mere pawful of walnuts"

"You dare tempt me wench?!" Will said with feigned outrage before he couldn't hold back his laughter "I shall wag my tail in death's face, and need not touch those vile delicious things . . ."

Hearing him mention how he found walnuts delicious made Jade remember the night she offered to share honey walnut shrimp with him only to find that though he loved the dish the nuts literally would kill him, and she could not hold back her laugh from this rushing her paws to her muzzle as she realized herself.

"That's kind of morbid guys" Benji said.

"How can you even joke about walnuts like that?" Mihoshi asked incredulously.

"Clearly you have never smelled, or tasted honey walnut shrimp. We can joke about it because if I really was going to poison myself I'd choose alcohol." Will answered gesturing with his empty shot glass.

"It has walnuts, so of course I wouldn't even smell it let alone taste it. Just how crazy are you?" Mihoshi retorted.

"Better to ask just how devil-may-care he can be. You should tell them how you met Naomi" Layla answered her with a laugh.

"Even I don't know this one. I want to hear it." Sage added encouraging Will.

"Okay, okay. First things first, Jade, shot me" Will said indicating for her to refill his glass.

Once she had, and he'd downed it he began his brief recounting of the events "I was in San Furcisco on a simple intel gathering mission backing up Jack. Well as quick as a buck can get off he already had the intel we needed, but insisted on following up on it with tailing a side target while he had me split off to track an informant back to their safehouse. It took some doing, but I managed, and it ended up being worth it. You think Judy has good instincts wait till you get a load of Jack. Hehehe Sky sure does." Will joked thanks to the effects of those seven shots before going on "So anyway I'm in little china it's late, and I'm too hungry to care what I eat so I follow my nose to this chinese restaurant. Once I'm in, and at a table all I can do is focus on the smells as I'm ruled by my hunger. The waitress gets back with my water, and I don't even have the wits to flirt with her I just point at what a waiter is carrying to another table because it smells divine, and whatever it is I want to devour it. So I finally get a plateful of what I see are shrimp fried golden with a sauce that has me drooling, and not caring who sees. Now for the record I thought they were praline pecans. Anyway I'm savoring my first bite enjoying the perfectly fried shrimp complemented by honey sauce, and nuts when out of fucking nowhere I'm tackled out of my chair by a very pissed off she wolf. I'm getting yelled at in mostly japanese with english thrown in, and am just barely able to respond in kind as she's punching me in the face. It took me a minute to restrain her paws, but then she bit me, and well I bit back to say the least. Once she calmed down enough I tried explaining that I just wanted to eat my food so what the fuck was her problem. She explained she'd lost her girlfriend not a month prior to suicide by eating the same dish I was, and that those were walnuts I was munching on with those delicious little shrimp. It took quite a while to convince her I wasn't trying to kill myself, I just wanted food, and had gotten the first thing that smelled good. She ended up joining me for dinner, and while I picked out the walnuts to finish the shrimp we talked, and one thing led to another as they say. To this day we still laugh about it."

"You just picked out the nuts, and still ate the shrimp? Wouldn't the residue of walnut still be toxic enough to make you sick?" Mihoshi asked as she downed a shot she needed just for hearing Will's telling of his story.

"If I weren't a foot taller than your average grey wolf? probably. You should've seen Naomi's face when I tried to convince her just to try one shrimp, and then her look when she did." Will answered with a grin in remembrance.

The rest of the evening went along similar lines with Will proving to be something of a very pervy if not outright flirtatious drunk even flirting with Benji until Mihoshi revealed she'd started drawing a Shonen-Ai manga with him, and Eris as the main characters. This of course caused him to change tack, and he went after her like the incubus he was wanting to see her handiwork for himself. While Will was reading on Mihoshi's phone the first couple pages she'd drawn Benji had to go since he had to be at work earlier than the rest of them, and when Will hugged him goodbye Benji felt just a little more of Will than he expected.

Once Benji had left Layla managed to slink off with Sage into the guest bedroom leaving Will alone with Jade, and Mihoshi. The girls got quite the example of how he could get with his inhibitions lowered. The look he gave Mihoshi when he returned to the living room was alone enough to get her fire started, but then he showed off the length of his tongue, and she returned the lust in his eyes with lust of her own. Jade who had been changing up the tunes to Pantera's cover of "Cat Scratch Fever" couldn't help the way she let her claws come out, and went after her own piece of Will.

Mihoshi gave a yelp, and Jade purred when he picked them both up to carry them to his bed, but he stopped in the doorway having enough wits to realize he couldn't carry them both through it. For a long moment he actually debated who to set down as if doing so would indicate preference for the other before deciding it wouldn't because it didn't, and setting Jade down. Once they were in the room it was a bit of a drunken race to get naked first, and somehow for his size Will won. While his focus continued to be on Mihoshi, Jade used his distraction to grab Will's black fuzzy paw-cuffs, and her purple ones. Mihoshi saw where Jade was going, and together they got him cuffed to the steel rings that jutted out from the wall for just such a purpose.

With their captive secure Mihoshi forced her lips, and tongue against his while Jade used her fangs, and claws in his neck, and across his torso to rile him further. Jade could not help the purely predatory look of satisfaction she had seeing her efforts succeed as evidenced by his bucking hips, and throbbing mast. When he felt Jade take him in her mouth bobbing along his length he could only growl into Mihoshi's mouth which only made her more wet before he pulled away from her to order her to give him her sex. When she hovered herself above his muzzle to tease him he would have none of it as he strained against the cuffs, and lifted his head to reach her which he did using every inch of his snout, and his tongue which once he had in her, and wriggling she came down around him allowing him to really put it to use inside her.

As much as Jade's actions pushed him towards the edge it was the sounds he got out of Mihoshi that were pushing him over, and knowing him well enough to sense this Jade moved so that she could take him with her sex which left her in the perfect position to lean forward to fondle Mihoshi, and nibble her where she could, and would outright bite him. They were quite the mass of fur, and motion as Mihoshi orgasming around his muzzle catalyzed Will coming inside Jade whose inner muscles clenched around him in her own orgasm. That was only round one, and the girls as they switched positions went for round two not that Will would ever complain.

The way Mihoshi was tighter around him than Jade had been, and she wasted little time, or effort taking him all the way including his knot put him unable to not sink his fangs into Jade, and take from her chi. At the same time the taste of his seed in Jade did something to him he would never be able to explain; it both repulsed him a little, but pushed him to do what he did with more fervor. When the girls were finally done with him they each took a side to lay next to, and on him while leaving him quite restrained where he too fell asleep.

---

At about the time Will, and Layla were welcoming their visitors several blocks away Nick, and Judy had arrived in front of his mother's building.

"Hey Nick how's it going?" Jake greeted the tod when he saw him.

"It's going good. Gonna have dinner with my mom, and my girlfriend." Nick responded.

"Uncle Nicky!" came Leah's shout before Nick could introduce Judy to the red wolf.

"Well hey there sweetheart" Nick said to her getting down on a knee so he could hug her as she rushed him.

"I haven't seen you in soo long." Leah said before she noticed Judy, and asked "Who is your friend?"

"Leah this is Judy my partner at work, and my girlfriend. Judy this is Leah whose father Jake over there is the landlord." Nick introduced them.

"She's really pretty" Leah tried to secretly whisper to Nick before saying to Judy "Hello, it's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too Leah, and you're pretty too" Judy responded with her friendliest smile.

Leah just blushed under fur then ran to hide behind her dad before her mother called her to dinner with orders to drag her dad with her. Jake just looked at Nick knowingly before telling him "Don't say it."

"I'm in the same boat?" Nick replied curiously at which they both had a chuckle that Judy joined in.

"You know it's going to take me some getting used to" Judy said to Nick as they climbed the stairs to his mom's apartment.

"What is Fluff?" Nick asked as he led the way though she stayed in step with him.

"Hearing you refer to us as boyfriend, and girlfriend, and me doing the same. I mean I already see you as my boyfriend, and I am your girlfriend; ya know what I mean?" Judy explained.

"Yeah I do. If I didn't already know Jake, and how he's in an interspecies relationship I probably would've just said you were my partner to be on the safe side." Nick said.

"Jake's in an interspecies relationship? But Leah looked just like him only her fur was a little different." Judy asked curiously.

"Jake's married to a coyote named Emily. Leah is a coywolf." Nick explained.

"A red wolf, and a coyote . . . can all canids interbreed?" Judy asked the next logical question.

"Honestly I don't know. I guess it takes mammals trying, and succeeding to find out. Like how lions, and tigers can interbreed" Nick responded.

While they'd been talking they'd made it up to the third floor, and quickly enough they were at Nick's mother's door. Judy had gotten lost in thought over their conversation, and Nick knocking on his mom's door snapped her out of it so she prepared herself with her best smile to meet the vixen.

When the door opened Judy was surprised at how youthful his mother looked as if she were only a decade older than her son. That explained how he likewise seemed so young for his age she thought to herself.

"Hi mom" Nick said smiling at her.

"Nicholas Piberius Wilde." his mother said evenly surprising both Nick, and Judy whose expression identically were 'why is she mad?'

"You tell me your going to introduce me to your girlfriend, yet you failed to mention to me that she'd be the Judy you are always talking about." She said to them with a certain mirth in her eyes as she gave him a necessary grilling before turning to Judy, and wasting no pretense on embracing her saying "I was hoping it'd be you he was bringing with him."

"So what's got you fired up, mom?" Nick asked as she headed back into her kitchen waving them inside.

"Like I need a reason with you Nicky" She responded with laughter in her voice before adding "You two plant your tails at the table, and I'll tell you once I've got us served up some dinner"

"May I ask what you made? It smells delicious." Judy asked.

"I made us a vegetable lasagna. Nice, simple, and tasty" Nick's mom answered turning towards Judy before she scrunched her muzzle saying "Where are my manners? Nicky have you seen them? They run away from me sometimes. I'm Mary-Anne, Judy, but if you're comfortable calling me mom please don't hesitate. As often as my son has spoken of you, and so highly I feel I know you a bit already, but there I went forgetting to properly introduce myself. They say it happens in old age."

"But you don't look much older than forty Mary-Anne." Judy complimented her adding "Now I know why Nick seems so much younger than he really is."

"Mom you're embarrassing me. Carrots - I mean Judy isn't all I talk about with you." Nick said.

"You know Judy you're the second mammal to tell me that today, which reminds me, but first Nicholas you had better get used to me embarrassing you in front of such a lovely girl it is my job, and I take it seriously. If she runs away after one too many stories then she wouldn't be the right girl for you, but I get the feeling that won't be the case. Secondly, Nicholas you had better not tell me you call your bunny 'Carrots'. That is rude, and mean since she has a perfectly good, and pretty name, and she is not a vegetable" Mary-Anne said to Judy before laying into her son because a grown tod he may be, but he was still also her kit, and she had every right to correct him as needed.

"It's okay, mom I don't mind his nicknames for me. I get to call him 'blueberries' after all though I would never have thought of it without Will" Judy said with a devious grin not failing to notice the way Mary-Anne's ears perked while she finished plating portions for the three of them.

"It's just the kind of rapport we have, mom." Nick added before telling Judy under his breath "Don't tell her that's even more embarrassing."

"And what is so embarrassing about you calling him 'blueberries' that he doesn't want me to hear?" Mary-Anne asked as she set plates in front of them before going to retrieve her own.

"Oh just the fact that part of why I get to call him 'Blueberries' is because as Will put it Nick here has some 'blue-berries for carrots'." Judy answered with a laugh. It took Mary-Anne only a second to process the innuendo before she was laughing as if it was the funniest thing she'd ever heard, and it was in quite a while.

Nick meanwhile buried his muzzle in his paws while his mom went about getting the three of them each glasses of water. Once Mary-Anne had set the glasses on the table, and taken her seat she remembered that she'd wanted to tell them about their coworker she'd met at the store.

"So when I was at the store earlier I ran into a bit of trouble" Mary-Anne began though Nick interrupted.

"What kind of trouble?" he asked concernedly.

"I was going to tell you if you'd listen" she answered giving him a look that made Judy giggle "I was having trouble reaching the sauce for the lasagna when a wolf came to my rescue. He was quite the handsome fellow, and even flirted with me a little because as he said he has a soft spot for foxes. We went our separate ways, but again when I was looking at the vegetables, in particular cucumbers, he came up to me again to flirt using that one line from that movie 'Animal House'. You know the one, Nicky. Well anyway when I said to him 'what would your mate say to you flirting with me' he just said she wouldn't care since that was just how he was then he mentioned . . . why don't I show you?" Mary-Anne paused to pull out her phone, and show them the video of Will meowing.

When she saw the look of shock on both their muzzles seeing Will meowing she said "I know isn't it just the craziest thing? I mean who knew a wolf could make that sound, let alone so accurately."

"Actually mom the first time I saw him do that I was practically on the floor I was laughing so hard, we're just shocked it was Will you came across" Nick explained to his mom.

"Oh yeah he had said he worked with you after he heard Leah call me 'Grandma Wilde' like she does, she is such a sweetheart." Nick's mom responded.

"You know, mom if you really want to see something" Judy said pulling out her phone, and queueing up a video before turning it towards Mary-Anne, and pressing play.

As the video of Will howling with Nick, and Layla, Mary-Anne didn't hesitate to wrap a paw around Judy's, and get as close to the phone as she could. When the video was done Mary-Anne's jaw was as open as it could go, and it took her a good minute to come back to her senses.

"So that is what his mate looks like, he wasn't kidding when he said she was probably the tallest of us in the world, and damn is she a pretty one; her fur is such a bright red. I had no idea we could howl at all; Gaia above Nick that was adorable." Mary-Anne said.

"You were telling us about your trip to the store eventful as it was." Nick reminded his mom to change the subject thinking to himself 'What is with the girls in my life embarrassing me to each other? Is it some weird sort of bonding ritual?'

"I was, and I didn't even get to the best part, but first Judy you send me that video. I absolutely must have it." Mary-Anne said before continuing with her story "Alright, so I ended up in line behind Will as you call him, and while we're waiting he notices this young kit who's probably no older than fifteen. Before I, or anyone else knows it he's got the kit by the back of his collar, and is telling him that he's a cop, and to just show him what it was he was trying to steal. Turns out the kid's mom was sick, and while he couldn't afford medicine, they could afford a hospital bill even less so he was trying to steal cold medicine. Well Will just tells him that he'll pay for the medicine for the kid, and won't let him go until the medicine is in his paw. I couldn't help thinking to myself how I wished you could've met a mammal like him when you were only a kit, but then Judy came into your life, and I am no less grateful. Will made it a point of telling the boy that if he ever needed anything he could call him, and that he'd always be in his corner. Then this Sheep in another line had to add her two cents asking why Will didn't just arrest the boy, and how he could believe he really had a sick mother. Will just went off on that sheep saying for everyone to hear that he calls foxes family, and that if she didn't get out of the store he'd throw her out. She looked around, and even the other prey were looking like they agreed with Will so she left, and when she was gone I don't know who started it, but we couldn't help clapping for him. Well, when it came time for him to pay for everything the clerk wanted to give him the employee discount, and the medicine for free, but he wouldn't hear it not even when the manager came up to say so too so the manager just told him he'd always be welcome in his store, and told the tod if he needed more medicine he could come get it on the house so long as he stayed out of trouble, and paid it forward. After that I paid for my stuff, and it ended up being heavier than I expected so it took me a minute to get out the doors; Will hadn't left yet, and insisted on helping me not only carry everything, but driving me home, and carrying my things to my door. Leah followed us up because she wanted a cookie, and you should've seen the look on both their muzzles when I'd given them one; then I offered him another one, and he took two just to give her one. I couldn't help, but tell him he'd make a good father one day, and that he's a mammal too good for this world." Mary-Anne finished her telling of what had happened.

It was all Judy could do to keep Layla's secret, and not say that soon enough Will just might be a father. She was thankful for Nick's response to his mother being what it was.

Nick pulled out his phone, and pulled up the zootube video from that monday four weeks ago now to show his mom. When it was done, seeing his mom put her paw over her mouth in response looking as if she might cry he told her "You should hear him tell the story of how he saved his adoptive sister Sophie's life, and she became his sister. You know how I told you I was spending the weekend in Bunny Burrow at Judy's family's farm? Well as you saw earlier Will, and his mate Layla were with us, and Saturday Will told me he wanted me to join his pack, but that he'd give me time to think it over."

At this new bit of information Mary-Anne couldn't help her tears, but they were happy ones as she felt the Mother had blessed them all for allowing into their lives such a noble example of what a mammal should be. After taking a moment to recompose herself she said to her son "I should think it wouldn't be too hard a decision."

"Mom, after all I've seen of him, and heard from him I'm still not sure I could call him my alpha." Nick responded.

"And why not?" She asked incredulous.

"So far you've only seen his good side. I have a better idea of what's on the other side of that coin than you do." Nick answered trying futilely to dodge the subject.

"And like what would that be?" His mom pressed causing him to give Judy a pained look so she did what she could to come to his aid.

"Mom, Will may be probably one of the best mammals we know, but he's had to kill with his fangs before; albeit they were bad mammals, and it weighs on him such that he would rather eat this lasagna than fresh salmon when given the choice." Judy said to her.

"It goes more than that Judy . . . The story Layla told us about the desert wolf whose head he bit off, and limbs he ripped off for raping, and killing that desert fox is just a piece of it . . . I only have my suspicions, but please don't ask me to voice them either of you."

"And why not? It seems to me he's only done what he has to, to mammals who deserve it." his mother asked him.

"Nick, what kind of suspicions?" Judy asked.

"Undoubtedly, mom. Judy I don't want to lie to you, or hide anything from you, but this . . . After seeing his wings, and knowing that he really is the Mother's Sword, and Shield; even if I never call him alpha I owe him at least to keep my suspicion to myself, and if I find out I'm right take it to my grave. If I'm right then you are the one mammal I cannot tell." Nick answered them.

"Why am I the one mammal you could never tell if you're right about whatever it is you suspect of him?" Judy asked wanting to understand.

"Nicholas, what did you call him?" His mother asked, and Nick was at least grateful her attention was diverted from the subject at paw.

"Judy he asked us both not to ask. Mom we both saw his wings saturday, and he even blessed me saying 'May you know me as I am, and may the love in you never falter, or fade'; he's the one who said he was the Mother's Sword, and Shield."

While Judy looked lost in thought since she was trying to figure out what it was Will had said not to ask about Mary-Anne took a moment to process what her son had said, and saw clearly that he was telling the truth.

"We really did see his wings, and we weren't the only ones that night who did" Judy said having decided to let it go, and not press Nick any further.

"My son . . . My son . . . My son . . . " Mary-Anne started "Mother above how much of your paw is in this? Nicholas I believe you about Will more than you realize."

With that Mary-Anne shifted the subject to more lighter fare, asking them things like how else their weekend went, and how they went from just friends, and partners on the force to together as they now were. A couple hours later it was time for them to leave, and though Nick had offered to walk her home Judy insisted on spending the night at his place; even though she'd need to wake up early enough to get her clean uniform from her place since she wanted to cuddle with her fox, and Nick wasn't exactly about to argue anything different.