The two-vehicle convoy had traveled for most of the day and passed through two checkpoints, one of which was not on their intel. The third one which they were supposed to pass through was just coming into view before a small town where they were due to stop for the evening. The checkpoint was at the base of a small downward slope overlooking the town that was a quarter mile from where the checkpoint was set up.
The last two check points were more recently set up and more temporary with cement caissons and the living arrangements were trailers and tents. This checkpoint was obviously a more permanent fixture with a well-constructed guard house accompanied with a fenced off barracks area. Jack also pointed out gun fixtures to either side of the road that had been made out of reinforced cement and thick plated armor at angles specifically designed to deflect projectiles fired at them.
"They knew we were coming the moment we crested the hill." Jack said in an almost impressed tone.
"The placement is perfect except for not having the high ground advantage." Leon mentioned back.
"Is travel with the two of you going to be like this all the time? The last checkpoint didn't have enough of those cement things and you said it was poorly protected because of some cliff or something." Meredith rolled her eyes as she spoke. The two had gone on for almost an hour after clearing the last checkpoint critiquing the hastily set up
Jack chuckled, "Well most likely, but I'm glad to hear you are paying attention."
Meredith grumbled as the truck pulled up to the striped gate that stretched across the road. Two guards came out of the guard house dressed in ankle length jackets and Ushanka hats. Both carried automatic rifles though these carried them in a relaxed way as one stayed at the front of the vehicle looking through the windshield as the other approached their driver.
As the driver rolled his window down the guard leaned forward glancing into the vehicle, saying in a board voice. "Papers." The skunk's eyebrow raised however when he saw the female in the back. Once the travel documents where in his paws he immediately looked for the ownership permit that was in the stack of documents. "Everyone out of the vehicle please." He said as he backed up from the door.
"Sergeant we are in a bit of a rush." The driver stated but at the motion of the guards rifle he grumbled and opened his door first as the others did shortly after.
As Meredith opened her own door a blast of the cold winter air hit her like a wall. She pulled her jacket close to her and pulled the hood over her head as she stepped out of the vehicle to what was obvious him undressing her as she stood silently and being sure to look away as was expected of her.
"Sergeant this is very irregular." The sound of the mammals in the rear vehicle closing the doors behind them got the attention from the guards in the gun placements as the mounted guns rotated to them.
"Irregular as having a hybrid traveling as she is? I've never seen a hybrid fox bunny before, have you Bernard?" The guard's eyes never leaving Meredith as he spoke.
"Can't say that I have Sergeant." The private who had been positioned at the front of the car smiling. "Bet she's on her way to a fat officer too. Waste if you ask me."
"Hmm probably, now why don't you just take off that jacket like a good hybrid give my boys a little show." The sergeant smiled. "Maybe some of my boys can warm you up a bit before you get on your way. I'm sure what ever skunk you end up in bed with will be more of a disappointment than my boys. Might be a bit of fun." His eyes wandering along Meredith's body even with her jacket covering up all but her pointed muzzle.
Since their attention was all on Meredith and hoping for at least a cheap thrill they hadn't noticed that the other two mammals had not yet gotten out of the vehicle, nor had the Sergeant completed checking the paperwork in his paw as he should have. "I said off with the jacket you filthy Hybrid!" His rifle starting to raise.
Meredith shivered before she started to remove the warm jacket not because of the cold she knew would bite beyond her fur but because of the way the skunk spoke about her, and because of the way that same male was now looking at her. The cold air brushing over her belly as the two Males she could see learned at her. Her hood falling off her head as she slowly slipped the jacket off her shoulders. One of her ears flicked up and focused in the direction of the gun placement to her left when she heard a voice from within 'I bet she would be a good ride' the deep voice carrying easily to her ears. Her other ear however lifted when the door where Leon had been siting closed.
Leon held back for a few moments. Not because he wanted to put Meredith through what he knew the men here would do. These men had been stationed out at a remote check point for months at a time, so their actions were predictable since hey hadn't noticed the two ranking officers in the vehicle. He however couldn't come to Meredith's rescue, not in the way he would have prefered. As he stepped out of the vehicle, he put his cap on and slowly pulled on black gloves. "Sergeant, I am going to assume that having noticed my hybrid in the vehicle you felt further inspection was needed, and just forgot to check that her owner was also present?"
Leon stood tall and proud in his uniform, as he walked around the back of the vehicle and passed Meredith before turning and giving her a slow review. "Get back in the vehicle Hybrid, you're no good to me frozen to death." Turning back around with his paws now held behind his back. "Now Sergeant, are you going to finish checking our documents? My mammals are hungry and I am tired."
The Sergeant stared at the rank and citations on the uniform in front of him and quickly released his rifle to let it hang by his side from the shoulder strap. "Yes sir, of course." He rifled through the documents in his paw coming to Leon's last and as he did he looked up at the skunk in front of him. "I am sorry sir, I had no intention … " He stopped when Leon held up a paw.
"I'm sure you were just concerned that the situation was odd and, in your haste, to do your duty you overlooked my presence. We are cleared to move on yes." He made this as more of a statement then a question as he smiled at the Sergeant.
"Of course, yes sir" The skunk saluted as the other ran back to the guard house to lift the gate.
Leon walked over to the Sergeant and stood shoulder to shoulder with the other skunk. "Next time, be sure to check that the owner is in the vehicle before you try to get a quick fuck in. I will think about not reporting this Sergeant, you best prey that that hybrid can do what I paid for, and perhaps I will be in a good enough mood." Turning on his heals he walked back around the way he had come and slides into his seat.
As the vehicles start moving again they pass by the gun placements and the guards. All of which salute as they pass through. Once they were through Leon turned to Meredith, "Are you all right?"
Meredith stiffened when her paw taken into Leon's, but she relaxed quickly. "I'll be fine."
"I didn't ask if you would be ok." Leon said as he gave his mate's paw a gentle squeeze.
"I thought I'd be ready for it, even after you all warned me. Even back home I get looks but that." Meredith shivered. "They would have … "
Leon nodded, "Yes they would have. I am sorry that I let it go for as long as I did. I would have rather it not have, but … "
"You have to maintain an appearance. I know." Meredith had sat up strait in her seat. "And I must maintain my'n."
Leon squeezed her paw a little more. There was nothing for him to say that could make this situation better for her. The best words of encouragement actually came from the most unlikely source. Jack turned around in his seat to face Meredith, a look of actual sympathy on his face. "No mammal should have to go through this, its wrong. Hopefully, with a little luck, what we do here will help to change the situation for many. At the very least we are protecting the ones we love back home."
Meredith looked up at the hare and smiled, at the same time her paw gripped Leon's back. "Yah, like you love anyone back home."
Jack shook his head before turning back around and planting his back against his seat. "You, Meredith, are your father's daughter, and I actually mean that as a compliment." After a few moments he glanced into the rear-view mirror and noticed Meredith looking back at him through the same mirror. "You'd also be surprised." He stated plainly.
Meredith smirked and shook her head but before she could respond Leon leaned forward and spoke. "Really, the infamous cold hearted Jack Savage? What did you do to her to get her," after a second of thought, "Better question what do you do to keep her?"
"Well I'm told bunnies are good at multiplying." Meredith offered with as dead pan of an expression as she could manage, though the edges of her muzzle started to twitch upwards. When even the driver laughed she could no longer hold her laughter in and she no longer tried to. As she calmed, wiping a tear from her eye, she leaned her head against Leon's shoulder.
Leon nuzzled the top of her head as he peaked out the front windshield. "Seems smaller than I remember."
"You've been to this town before?" Meredith looked up at Leon.
"Yes, this is where Liz and I grew up."
"Best if you stay out of sight then Leon, we don't want anyone recognizing you." Jack spoke from his seat without turning around this time.
Leon could help but smirk at the unintentional admittance. Intelligence that Jack had never learned. "My dossier missing some information was it Jack?"
"There are gaps, perhaps you can fill some of those in when we get back?"
"Perhaps, one spook to another. But you're buying first round." Leon wrapped his arm around Meredith and pulled her close. Leaning to nuzzle against her head. "When we get to the hotel, stay by my side but slightly behind me. Never outside of reach though." Leon kissed the top of her head before sliding his arm away from behind Meredith as the vehicle came to a stop. When his door was opened for him he stepped out and nodded at the valet held the door. Infront of him was a three story brick building with large windows and double doors in the front. He nodded at the valet before taking a few steps away from the vehicle, looking over his shoulder as the door was shut to verify that Meredith was standing next to him.
Leon had to hold back the frown that he wanted to display at having her next to him, her head down in a look of defeat that pained him to see. One of the things he loved about her was her strength and vibrance. To see her like this, even if she were only acting, caused him pain. When Leon turned around Jack had taken up a position to Leon's with Zoe, Evie, and Butch behind him scanning the street.
Leon led the way into the lobby of the hotel, the lobby was open, two elevators located directly ahead of them with the reception desk to the right. A scattering of white chairs and a couple of couches were placed in the corners of the room. The atmosphere was calming with cool blue paint. At the desk was a smiling arctic vixen dressed in a black knee length skirt and jacket, with a crisp white blouse.
"Guten Nachmittag" The vixen said as she looked over the group of mammals before her, her eyebrow raising as she reviewed the odd mix of predator and prey, though her expression changed slightly when she recognized that the female she had thought originally was a red fox was actually a vixen. Leon caught the change and was internally interested that she didn't scowl. The brief change he had seen was a brief sadness before it was hidden behind her smile once again.
Leon held up a paw politely, "Sprichst du Englisch?" His voice brought the vixen's attention back to him.
"Ahh Da, I mean yes sir." Looking up at the skunk she took note of the rank. "Do you have a reservation?"
"Yes we do, Schmidt" Leon waited for the vixen to look up their reservations as he retrieved the travel papers from Jack, as well as the permitting documentation for Meredith.
"Ok we have you for one night, three rooms. I'll need your documents and ze hybrids permit please." When she looked up from her computer she glanced at Meredith and gave a quick shake of her head. When Leon handed over the documents, she quickly reviewed them and then reviewed the permit closely. When she placed the documents back on the desk she also placed three sets of keys, each with a room number written on the envelope they were in. "You are in rooms 313, 314, and 315. We do offer a complimentary holding room for your hybrid."
"No, she will not be needing that." Leon stated sternly. "The hybrid will be staying with me. I don't want her exposed to other hybrids and getting any bright ideas." Leon couldn't help but smirk when he noticed the arctic fox flash an apologetic look at Meredith. A look he was sure that Meredith didn't miss as well. Picking up the documents and keys, he thanked the vixen and passed the keys out for 313 and 315 to the others to arrange sleeping quarters amongst themselves. "Go on and relax. We have a long day of travel ahead of us again tomorrow. Zoe, stay out of the mini bar." His last comment got a chuckle out of Evie and Butch and a mock hurt look from Zoe.
"The kitchen is open until ten with a full menu that you can find in your rooms. Checkout by 10 am or we have to charge for another night." The vixen stated with a practiced tone.
"Danke" Leon said before turning, his paw resting on Meredith's back guiding her towards the elevators.
"Bitte" The vixen said in return, though Leon thought he heard a bit of spite in the voice now behind him which caused him to have to bight back a chuckle.
The others having gone ahead of the pair, Meredith and Leon shared an elevator alone. Once the doors shut Leon looked over at Meredith, "You know she was trying to get you away from me for the night?"
"Oh?" Meredith looked up at Leon with a questioning look.
"Yah, I doubt they have a special holding here for hybrids. Far too rare an occurrence." He looked up as they reached their floor. He held a paw finger up to his lips as the door opened. Leon lead the way out of the elevator and looked briefly at the small signs indicating which rooms where to the left and which were to the right. Leading the way to the right he watched the room numbers descended until they reached 314 and quickly opened the door. Ushering Meredith in ahead of him before closing the door and setting the lock.
The room was sparsely furnished with a king bed, a small desk and chair, as well as a dresser with a TV on top. There was a small bathroom with a shower, a sink, and a toilet. All of the colors were in light browns including the bed spread. Looking around Meredith removed her jacket and sat on the edge of the bed. "Well at least the bed feels comfortable."
"Well the hotels this far from the capital are going to be rustic compared to what I had." Leon glancing around the room. "Are you hungry? Do you want anything?"
Meredith shook her head as she laid down on top of the comforter. "No, since we had that late lunch and after that," she paused to think for a moment before speaking further, "encounter at that last checkpoint I'm just not that hungry."
"I completely understand." Leon shook his head. "I am sorry both for that and what we will probably have to do as we get closer to the capital. While I doubt we will run into any more check point guards like that, you should know that upper level officers once we get closer to the capital will probably be more direct." Leon removed his uniform slowly and hung it up on hangers that were provided by the hotel. "I will not let any of them lay a finger on you Meredith, but you will have to be strong." Walking over to her he nuzzled his cheek against her's softly.
Meredith made a soft purring sound as she reached up and wrapped her arms around him, desiring the closeness and the comfort that it provided her. As she was about to speak however the phone rang causing her to jump. "Who would be calling your room?"
"I don't know." Leon admitted before kissing her cheek and standing up strait to pick up the phone. "Yes?"
"This is the front desk. I have a visitor here that wishes to speak with you. A female skunk, says her name is Gwendolyn." The vixen's voice crisp in Leon's ear. "Shall I send her up sir?"
Leon's eyes widened in surprise, but his voice remained calm. "Yes, please send her up to my room"
"Very well sir." The vixen returned curtly before hanging up the phone.
Meredith noticed the change in Leon and once the phone had been hung up, "What was that all about?"
"That was the front desk. Gwen seems to have followed us for some reason." Leon walked over to his uniform which he had just hung up and pulled the pants back on so that he at least had those and his undershirt on. As he buckled the belt his ears perked at the soft knock on the door.
As Leon walked over to the door he motioned for Meredith to stand to the side, so she would be out of sight when he opened the door, and at the same time his paw unbuckled the top strap of the pistol holster on his hip. Slowly he unlocked the door and opened it a crack to see Gwendolyn standing outside in her riding gear before he swung the door open fully. "Get your ass in here." He nearly growled, his paw reaching out and abruptly pulling her into his room, taking a look up and down the hall before shutting and locking the door behind her.
"What the hell are you doing here Gwen?" His barely contained growl punctuated by a very stern look on his muzzle.
Gwendolyn took a deep breath to calm herself before speaking, her typically emotionless speech tinted in some urgency. "After you left an armored division started moving into town. In fact some had already come into town by the time I made it to market."
"And that is reason to come find me, without travel papers, in the middle of winter, on a motorcycle because?" Leon said impatiently.
"Leon, the soldiers were talking about a rumor among themselves that Natalia herself has been sent after you." Gwendolyn stated as she stared directly into his eyes.
If Leon's fur could go stark white by the thoughts that were going through his mind than he would have been an albino skunk by the time he blinked and looked over at Meredith. "Well, that is news isn't it."