Here is the 77th installment. Hope you enjoy it.

Notes now live at the end of the chapter, so here is the obligatory, on with the show.

Sadly, I do not own and thus can claim no rights to Zootopia or its characters. They belong to Disney.

It continues…. No, for realz, it's not dead. Obviously, updates will be farther between, but it is not dead. Please enjoy.

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Terry and Fran…

As they lifted off, Fran, secure in their seat in the cockpit. "So, Terry. When did you get a seat set up specifically for a rabbit like myself?"

Chuckling as he made some adjustments and they gained altitude over the city. "Nothing special really. The seats are generally universal and just need a few adjustments to accommodate most small to medium and the smaller side of large mammals. So I just made the adjustments. That said, if you become my full time tech, we'll make sure and get you your own seat, like mine."

Fran nodded with a smile of the promise and looked over their console. "Interesting. We'll have to see how this goes. So where is this first stop?" Pulling up the navigation map and finding the flight path overlay. "Oh, wow. This is awesome, and I could even print it to file for filing. This is going to take some time to learn."

"Well, once you have it mastered, I'll teach you to actually fly this beast."

"I look forward to it."

A few minutes of quiet later, they landed in a public pad area and taxied to a slot. Terry turned to Fran. "Okay. You know why we're here, but I can't pick them up until they message me. So… I want to… Can I…"

Fran chuckled as they unstrapped, having done their checks and secured the Cerebel. "The controls are very intuitive. Now, for whatever you are going to ask me. Unless it's having sex in your bunk, I'm likely to say yes to most anything. You already know I'm not a virgin. Well, that is true in all ways, and for mammals like us, that's a few extra ways others don't get to enjoy." Grinning at the blush in Terry's ears and showing through his cheek fur. "I'm sure you realize that rabbits are a lot more open about sex than most others."

Terry gave a nod as Fran continued. "Well, that's one of the ways I got past my rape. The support from the family. Arranging, on my comfort, the chance to experience sex without judgment or the violence of what happened. So, you, if and when we get there, as long as the fact that I'm very much not a virgin isn't an issue for you, have nothing to worry about."

Still clearly nervous, Terry nodded. "Actually… My mom works nearby, and I wanted to introduce you. If you are up for it. I mean, I've already met your parents, and you heard as much as I did that they don't expect us to make it back without becoming mates."

This gave Fran pause, but after a moment they nodded. "Okay. That's only fair. Suddenly terrifying, but fair. Your meeting of my parents was a very different circumstance. This is more typical. Are they going to be okay with us moving this fast? I mean, we are here for you to pick up the rings."

Terry nodded in understanding. "My mom is going to love you. Your biggest fear should be her smothering you."

"Your mom was the jack rabbit, right?"

Terry nodded again. "Right. Though she's about Nick's size. So smothering you is a real risk."

Fran sighed. "It needs to happen, and I think we would both prefer it happen before and not after we're official. The draw we have already experienced shows that once we're alone at the swimming hole, well…" Giving Terry a smoldering look. "All bets are off, not that I think my family would be taking bets."

Terry chuckled. "Yeah. It's just… Mom can be a bit much."

"That's most mom's. Lets go, before we let ourselves get distracted."

With that, Terry led the way off the Cerebel, out a regular hatch with a self deploying stair ramp. Securing it, they checked to make sure the enrollment of Fran in the security system worked. Once confirmed, they then paid the parking fee and walked towards the exit.

Two blocks over, and only a block past the jeweler, they came upon a travel agency. Images of distant places, tropical paradises, and ancient ruins covered the windows at all levels, with a clear target audience depending on the height of the image. Through the gaps between the posters, Fran could see a very large rabbit, about as tall as Nick, if not taller, their ears putting them even taller.

Terry looked down. "Ready?"

Fran shook their head. "No, but that won't change any time soon." Rather than waiting, Fran stepped forward and pulled the door open, stepping inside to Terry's terrified gasp.

The rabbit, who had not turned towards the door, only an ear, spoke up as they worked on something. "I'll be right with you. Just got to finish this up."

Fran smiled, looking back and motioned for Terry to follow, who did clearly reluctantly. Terry slipped into the door, allowing it to close, then reached back and locked it. The click getting an ear flick from his mom. "I don't have any cash, and I can have my cards locked before you get half way down the block, so trying to rob me is pointless. Besides, there is a VPD station literally across the street."

Terry chuckled, the sound causing the rabbit to spin. "I don't think that is my intention, mom."

Her entire appearance lit up as she leapt over the counter, all but tackling Terry. "TERRY!"

Terry laughed as he caught his mother in a hug. "Hey, mom. Where's dad? He's usually still here this early in the morning." Setting her back on her feet.

"Oh, he'll be back in just a minute. So unlock the door again. He was picking up some things from the print shop on the corner for me."

Terry reached back unlocking the door, which opened a few moments later allowing a short, but wide, Siberian tiger to enter carrying two very heavy boxes. Terry quickly relieved him of one of the boxes, to his surprise as Fran slipped outside and grabbed a third box that was propping the door. The tiger was only a little bit taller than Mike, and much shorter than most Siberian or other tigers, but also very stocky.

"Terry! Hey, son! Good to see you. Heard you scored a huge contract that had you working for the council and the Wolford pack at the same time."

Terry nodded, setting the box he'd relieved his father of on the counter, then taking the box from Fran. "I did. A hell of a thing."

Both his parents were in mid-smile when they froze, his father about an inch from setting the box he still had on the counter next to the one Terry had placed there. Both turning slowly and locking eyes on the fourth mammal in the room. Being the sudden center of such intense attention had Fran's ears falling behind their head and sliding closer to Terry. With a nervous save. "Uhm… Hi. I'm Fran. Fran Hopps."

Terry chuckled nervously. "Mom. Dad. This is Fran Hopps. We met at the actual Hopps burrow where I was picking up their parents and some friends and other family, to bring them here. As I know you heard on the news, someone tried to poison Judy HoppsWilde and her friends. We're officially out in the open now. Von is. So mom, now would be the time to get on opening that new office in Zootopia. I can even hook you up with the Hopps and Wildes, in order to get your paw in the door. I'm sure Vivian Wilde, Nick's mother, would be happy to partner with you."

Exchanging a look with his mate, Terry's father took a deep breath, and then gasped. "Terry! You are giving off pheromones! What?!"

Shrinking slightly. "Yeah. That's kinda why we're here. I'm taking Fran up to the swimming hole, once Retters messages me and we pick up my rings. Fran and I have connected in ways neither of us have ever with another. Give us too much time alone and nothing else to do and we can't seem to control ourselves."

Fran nodded. "It's been a really amazing thing, and strange. Then again, the doctors always said that I would need a much stronger connection to my future mate than most to get things going. Then again, that's pretty common with the silver furred members of the family. I mean, it took a fox to get Judy going."

They both locked on Fran, Terry's mom speaking. "Do you understand…"

Terry put up his paw, stopping his mother. "Mom. Fran is just like me. Branded before they realized what was happening, but they prevented the doctor from doing worse."

Fran nodded. "Yeah." Pulling the loose shirt off their shoulder and showing the brand. "Mom and Dad destroyed the doctor. They work at BuggaBurger, because they can't get a job anywhere else and still owe millions from the judgment. I've had a few relationships, like Terry, but no one has ever actually had me dreaming about them, like that."

Terry gasped. "Fran. Why would you say that?"

Laughing, Fran looked up at Terry. "Why not say it? It's true. It's a first. The most attracted I've ever been to another mammal and I didn't even dream of kissing them. You. Well… I took a quick shower before I found you in the Cerebel this morning. I did things."

Terry's ears were on fire and the blush in their cheeks clear as day, turning their fur pink. "Oh gods." Looking up at their parents, their heart froze. He couldn't tell what their mom and dad were thinking. The looks on their muzzles were completely stone.

Terry's mother looked down to see his tail wrapped tightly around Fran who was nervously petting the tip. His mother looked to his father and they clearly shared a thought. She turned her eyes back to Terry and Fran. "And you decided to just, what? Spring this on us before you pack them up to the swimming hole and have your way with them? Were you planning on telling us you planned on taking them as your mate?"

Terry's voice froze in their throat, Fran reaching up and gripping their paw. "Terry got us going early to make sure we could meet you before the jeweler messaged him. We realize that the relationship is kinda fast. We have spent hours talking. We've exposed our souls to each other. I explained what happened to me in the full gory detail, including the pregnancy that confirmed that I'm fully functional." The gasp of horror from Terry's mother was ignored. "The beasts that did that won't be getting out of prison any time soon, and while I miscarried, they were able to do genetic testing. It wasn't my genes that were the problem."

Both parents giving up the act to sport ear to ear grins, Terry's mother wrapped Fran in a sudden hug. Neither saw her move. "Oh my gods! And you are okay?"

Fran chuckled from within the hug. "I am. I had my family to help, and our openness about sex and all gave me the support I needed. I always knew that what happened wasn't my fault, but a violence the same as someone simply beating you up. I am very lucky that way, and even then, they made sure I got lots of counseling and helped arrange positive experiences. I guess in that way I am lucky to be a rabbit and a Hopps."

Releasing Fran, she sniffed them. "Oh! And you too? All woken up?"

Fran nodded. "Yeah. It's kinda crazy. One of our other stops is going to be the store on the corner to pick up several packs of condoms. They confirmed that birth control and suppressors don't work on me because of, well…"

Terry's dad chuckled. "Same with Terry. So he's always been careful."

Fran smiled up at Terry's father. "So he has told me. Given the attraction we feel, we have been very open. We already know where we are going to end up, likely later today. We want to be safe. Since we know that both Terry and I are fertile from a sperm perspective, and I'm fertile the other way as well. While we do want kits, and if it happens, it happens. We're going to try to at least get past this initial physical attraction and be together. We realize that we're likely going to be fully mated by the time we get back. But we actually want to be a couple for a while before we bring kits into the equation, though we do plan on them." Giving a nervous chuckle at the shocked looks from Terry's parents. "We've talked, a lot."

Terry's mom grinned. "Well, I guess so. How do your parents think about it, Fran?"

Fran looked away slightly embarrassed. "Probably already planning the rabbit wedding to coincide with Nick and Judy, and a few others this coming fall or spring. As we were heading out there were jokes about betting on us being mated by the time we got back and no one willing to take said bet."

"Oh dear." Laughing lightly. "Well, we are happy for you both. Now, what did you say your last name was again?"

"Hopps, ma'am. As in, apparently, the burrow from which the founders of Von were driven. I've not paid a lot of attention to what has been going on. I mean, mom and dad have held several dinners for us kits that have mates outside of species, which I suppose is going to mean me shortly. As long as Terry doesn't get cold paws."

Terry's dad laughed and pulled Terry into a side hug. "Oh, I don't think we need to worry about that. Terry has always dreamed of finding the mammal that they connect with, that can get their engine running. If he's found that in you, then he's not going to let you go."

Terry blushed deeper. "Daaad. Oh gods, just kill me now."

Fran chuckled. "As if my mom and dad, along with Vivian were any better the moment they figured out that you were interested in me. Hell, I'd say they were worse. I'm sure mom said something about keeping me happy or needing to fertilize the back forty."

Terry nodded. "Yeah, there was a comment to that effect."

Terry's mom grinned. "Well, then we have nothing to worry about. So, any plans other than the swimming hole? Where you can both be naked in nature with no chance of anyone else showing up there?"

Terry shook his head. "Talk. I have some burgers for us to grill up so I can prove that I do actually know how to cook. Apparently Domi has been dating one of Fran's sisters for some time. She was signed up as Judy Hopps midwife, yes… that Judy Hopps is Fran's older sister. They are meeting with the council this afternoon or tomorrow. They're supposed to call us once they have things figured out and then we'll return, or Kev will escort them.

I mean, Fran knows that I'm picking up the rings. Unless I screw up royally, I think we're going to be very distracted with each other. Don't know how much swimming we are going to be doing. Also, Fran has been training online to be a flight tech. Their skills are almost perfectly in line with what I need now that Kev has his own ship. They were doing some basics and just watching on the flight here from the Sheeriton."

Terry's mom smiled. "I see. That's great. So you two can keep your paws to yourself, at least while you are doing other things. Who is staying at the Sheeriton? You have a separate contract there?"

Terry laughed. "All the contracts I've gotten in the last few days have overlapped. Kraven Wolford was tapped by both the Pack Council and the City Council to provide escort and liaison for the WildeHopps and their entourage while here. He, on behalf of both councils, tried to contract me at the same time Maria did. She of course has precedence, given she fronted the money to get my business off the ground, literally and figuratively."

Terry's dad Chuckled. "Ah, the mysterious Maria. Wait, are you saying that she was trying to contract you for the same reason Kraven was?"

Terry nodded. "Turns out she was Judy HoppsWilde's college roommate. There are so many stories in flight right now I can barely tell what's real and what's not at this point. I just know I'm getting paid. Maria put them all up in the Sheeriton's Imperial Suite as well as some adjoining rooms to make sure everyone had privacy.

I forget what chef they have lined up for dinner tonight, but apparently Maria is bringing in world class chefs to cook for them personally, and so she can spoil Judy. Being ZPD, Judy can not apparently accept all the gifts that Maria would want to shower on her."

Terry's dad nodded. "Okay, are you ever going to tell us who Maria actually is? I mean they are obviously rich, especially to secure the Sheeriton's Imperial Suite. I think that's like ten thousand a night."

Terry's mom groaned. "With adjoining rooms, a lot of mammals, access to the private landing pads…" Turning to her computer she pulled up some information. "You have to take it for no less than two weeks, and it's fifty thousand a day. Plus private chefs, security, and gods know what else. That's probably going to cost her a million or more. My gods, who is she?"

Fran shrugged. "We know, but we have always known her as Maria, because we knew her as Judy's room mate before she was famous. I guess she's going to be doing a concert as a gift for Nick and Judy for their wedding. Since she can't give them a house and such."

Terry's mom shook her head. "What species did you say she was again? A singer?"

Terry shook his head. "I didn't say what species, and I'm not going to. I will see about maybe introducing you though. Now that we're public, I expect she will follow through on her threat to make me her personal pilot."

Terry's phone buzzed, and glancing at it he grinned. "That said, we need to go. Mom. Dad. Fran and I will visit soon, and I'll call you tonight, okay?"

His mother glared at him. "You better. I want to hear all about it." Turning her attention to Fran. "Just as I'm sure your parents have threatened Terry. You keep him happy and we don't have problems. Hurt him, and I'm sure I can arrange a one way trip for you somewhere. You making it to the destination is the question."

Fran nodded. "I fully understand, ma'am. I have no intention of letting go of the first mammal in my life that actually gets my body generating pheromones. Terry is a one in a billion treasure. It is not hyperbolic to say that I love him with all my heart and soul already. I feel connected to him, drawn to him, like some magnetic force. This is not some infatuation. I have had those, and even that never actually got me going. I wasn't kidding when I said they actually had me dreaming about them, like that. I can't wait to find out just how inadequate my dreams were."

Giving both Terry and Fran a hug. "Good. Then get going. The sooner you get up there, the more time with each other you have."

With a quick exchange of numbers so that they had Fran's and they had Terry's parents, Terry and Fran headed out. Fran stood outside the jeweler waiting for no more than five minutes for Terry to rejoin them. They then, just as Fran mentioned, and to Terry's internal embarrassment they didn't think about, stopped by the corner store and purchased several boxes of appropriately sized condoms. While they both wanted to feel the other. They knew that there was a very high risk.

Back in the Cerebel, they lifted off and Terry gave Fran some direction on what they needed to do in order to confirm the flight path to the swimming hole, and what to watch as they gained altitude and speed in order to get there quickly. Fran was quickly mastering the basic systems they needed to monitor and adding other systems, changing the layout of their console as they went to better organize the data. All of which impressed Terry.

Once they were at altitude, Terry showed Fran the external cameras, and they spent a few minutes looking down on the landscape and back at the city. "It is truly beautiful, Terry. Especially from this height. However, do we really have to go this high to get to this swimming hole? I mean, we're going to be at more than 23,000 meters." Pulling up their flight plan and looking it over, seeing the reason why. "Oh! Oh, wow! We're going over the Glotera crater ridge, instead of around it. I don't suppose there are a lot of pilots, or craft that can get high enough to get over the ridge. I've only ever seen satellite photos of it. It has its own weather inside."

Terry nodded. "It does. The rim of the crater is an average of 25,000 meters. The pass we're going through is one of the few low spots that is wide enough for anything to get through. There are even several peaks that hit 50,000 meters. Von uses one of those as our space launch facility and is looking at another as the base of a possible space elevator. Given all that. The Cerebel is one of the few craft rated for the altitude, and has the power needed to deal with the winds and environment crossing the pass entails. It's called Death's Gate, for a reason.

There are plenty of cracks that go as low as 5000 meters, but they're not something anyone but an experienced caver would want to try and traverse. There are also caves that link from our valley, which is actually another impact crater, just a tiny one in comparison, into the main crater. We've also bored several tunnels through the mountains and into the valley. Still, there are amazing species that exist nowhere else in the world, in there. All the research on those species was done by Von scientists.

There are species that are extinct elsewhere in the world, and most world shattering for the likes of Dawn Bellwether and other prey supremacists. There are species that have not evolved intelligence. Similar, genetically related species in there that are not sentient like us. Our scientists have been studying them for a long time to figure out what the differences are. They seem to be genetic, and only minor differences."

Fran shook their head. "That's… That's amazing, and terrifying at the same time. One has to wonder what our world would have looked like if the asteroids hadn't hit our world."

Terry nodded as he made some adjustments, Fran watching and monitoring. "It's an amazing thing to think about. There are a few sentient species here that are not found anywhere else. Species like the Smilodon. They're extinct in the rest of the world, but there is a population of almost ten thousand here. They're really neat, and really friendly, though we won't likely run into any since we're not going to be down into the basin itself."

"That's very cool. How advanced are they?"

"Not very, but they were tribal before we made contact a few centuries ago. They now live in a few small towns and villages. We taught them to fish better, sustainably, and to farm the non-sentient species. Let me tell you, it came as much of a surprise to them that there were versions of the species they hunted for food that were as, if not smarter than them, as it did to us that there were still living species that were not."

"Wow… I am not sure what to think about that."

"Well, those thoughts can wait. We're approaching the pass, so get your game face on."

Fran nodded and turned fully to their consoles. "Okay. I'm as ready as I'm going to be. I see you flagged engine temp as something to watch. Oh, I see. Keeping things hot and making sure heat transfer to the maneuvering is always going. I'm on it."

Terry chuckled lightly. "I know you are, and that gives me more confidence that you recognized what you were needing to do."

A tense twenty minutes later, they were through the pass and into smoother air, zipping quickly about a quarter of the way around the rim and down to about five thousand meters. There, they circled slowly a clearing that had a picnic table, a charcoal grill one would see at a dedicated campground, and several benches set up to look out past the cliff that the clearing was at the top of and out across the entire bowl of the crater. Landing to one side where a clear pad had been created, they spent a few moments securing the Cerebel. Terry then led the way off the craft and into the crisp air.

Both mammals take deep breaths of the crisp, yet warm air. Terry looked down at Fran and enjoyed the look of simple wonder as they looked out across the basin of the crater. "It's warmer here than you would expect due to the depth of the crater and how it creates its own weather. Atmospheric pressure is actually also higher, so while we're at five thousand meters above sea level on the outside of the wall, inside it's like being at only two thousand."

Fran shook themself out. "It's… It is amazing. To think, the asteroid hit that created this, and the other craters, were the catalyst for the world we know."

Terry nodded as they stood next to Fran. "The fossil record is pretty clear. It should have been a global killer and pretty much wiped out all life on the planet except some microbes and maybe deep sea fish, but it wasn't moving that fast. I mean, you can see the tip of it, that central peak has been tested and confirmed to be the top of the asteroid."

Fran shook their head and looked up at Terry. "That's insane. One has to wonder though. The fossils show that there were tool users out there in the world before the hit. The cave paintings they found in Europaw and such."

"Yet, whatever those species were, they were clearly wiped out if not during the impact, shortly after in the winter and ice age that followed. All the other species, well most of them anyway, taking their place as tool users and self aware."

"Right. Now…" Pulling out their phone and taking several photos. "Now… I don't see a swimming hole, but I do smell a waterfall and hear a stream from that direction." Indicating to the left as they faced out into the crater. "I assume the swimming hole is back that direction towards the face of the mountain?"

Terry nodded. "It is about a five minute walk. So let's grab our things, the lunch, and head out."

Shortly thereafter they were hiking down a well maintained trail when Fran whispered up at Terry. "We're being followed."

Terry nodded. "That we are. Didn't expect anyone to be up here, but it seems we will have company after all. You're going to get to meet one of them after all."

Stepping out into another clearing, though this one was hidden from the air by the canopy of trees. A huge, olympic sized pool of crystal clear water. The pool was fed by a waterfall on the mountain side, and a small stream draining towards the cliff. Fran felt their breath stolen by the view. Looking up at Terry, tears in their eyes. "It's beautiful."

Leaning over, Terry and Fran shared a deep kiss. "I'm glad you like it. Now come this way. I want to show you a different angle." Leading the way over a small mammal made bridge over the stream and to a small pier that jutted out over the pool.

Fran looked out from the end, down into the water that was deeper than they expected, allowing it to be safely dived into. Turning back around they found Terry on one knee and a nervous smile holding a ring box. Terry's paws flashing to cover their muzzle, tears pooling in their eyes. "Terry? I mean… I know we talked about it, we picked up the rings."

Terry smiled. "Yes, and I cannot think of a better place to do it than here. To propose to the most beautiful mammal in existence. Fran Hopps. I know we have not known each other that long. Not even a barest few days. Yet, I feel myself drawn to you in ways I didn't think was possible, given my condition. You admitted to having dreams. Well I have as well, and I have never, not once in my life had a dream like that. I find I cannot see my life going forward without you in it. It is crazy, and I think we will both want to hold off on things like a claiming bite. A predator thing I get from my dads side."

Fran grinned. "I know what that is. Nick bit Judy. We've all learned a lot about predator customs as of late."

Nodding, Terry took a deep breath and continued. "I don't want this to be just a fling for us. I want this to be more than just a proposal. If we do this, if you agree to take me as your mate. I want to swear to you now. Sure, it will only be between us, but I want us to be fully committed."

Fran could do nothing but grin. Stepping forward, Fran lifted Terry's muzzle to theirs and shared a slow but passionate kiss. "Terrance Jacobi Siberius." The use of their full name froze Terry's breath in his chest. "You are right, we have not known each other long, and yet it feels as if I have waited my whole life to meet you. It's a strange thing to feel like I know you when we have only just met. Yet, as you say, I cannot see my life going forward past this moment without you in it.

We are two of a kind. Two mammals in need of that one mammal that can complete them. Given our circumstances, that is a rare mammal indeed. I have found that mammal in you. We work together almost without thought. Your scent sets me off in ways I never thought I would experience, and it isn't in a lustful way. Well…" Giving a lusty grin. "Not just in a lustful way. I want to lose myself in you, to fold myself into you and never come out unless you are beside me. I feel as if you complete me. You fill the hole in myself that has always been there."

Terry nodded. "Francise Merrideth Hopps. You express my own feelings for you. To let you go, to walk out of this place, climb aboard the Cerebel and leave here, and not have you as my mate. This causes physical pain just to think."

Fran nodded with a grin, several tears of joy slipping down their cheeks. "Then as we are on the same page. As we seem to have been from the moment we met. I Francise Hopps do swear myself to you, Terrance Siberius. I am your mate, as you are mine. Heart and soul bound, as by the grace of Saren and Karma brought us together. Let no one and nothing sever us apart. Do you take me as your mate, as I you?"

Terry grinned with a happy chuckle. "That's supposed to be my line. I Terrance Siberius do hereby swear myself to you, Francise Hopps. I am your mate, as you are mine. Heart and soul, bound by the grace of Saren and Karma. May Panthera grant us their blessing that no one and nothing sever us apart."

Pulling the rings from the box and setting it aside. Terry paws the larger one to Fran then presents their paw. Fran then slips the ring onto Terry's finger with a brilliant grin, then offers Terry their paw. Terry then slipped the ring over their finger. The two smash their muzzles together almost violently as they lose themselves to each other for several long moments before coming back up for air.

Fran looks down at the brilliant ring, a central blood red ruby and shining stones like moonlight on either side. "It's beautiful."

A cough from the shore had them both turning to see a massive mammal in nothing but a loin cloth. They were mostly feline in appearance, almost like a tiger in body shape crossed with a cougar in color. Though it was impossible to not know what they were by the massive teeth extending well past their jaw line. "Forgive, visitors. What name are you known by?"

Terry laughed as he stood, holding Fran next to them. "Hey, Berrius. Don't play like you don't know who I am."

Chuckling. "Hello Terry of the merged soul. It is good to see you. What brings you to this sacred place?"

Terry grinned up at the Saber tooth. "I found my mate. The other part of my fractured soul. They are, as you have called me. One of a broken and fused soul."

Fran waved nervously. "Hello."

The grin of Berrius was all teeth and joy. "Is true?" Getting a nod from both mammals. "This is truly glorious then! What name are you known by?"

"I'm Fran… Fran Hopps."

"Welcome Fran Hopps, to Gherule. At least this is what my people call the crater your people call Glotera. We did not know the reason our world was shaped as it was, and our legends and stories made some claims we know now were very untrue."

Terry shook his head. "Berrius, you can drop the act. Fran, I told you they were just primitive tribes before. They're hardly that now. They have embraced everything we, that being Von, has brought to them. They serve in the defense forces, they're natural engineers and the planning of the space elevator is lead by a team that is at least a third Smilodon."

Berrius chuckled. "Fine. Spoil my fun. A pleasure to meet you, Fran Hopps, and congratulations. I am again Berrius. I am what I think you would call a park ranger. I keep track of things, make note of visitors, and ensure they don't damage our cultural sites. While we know now that many of our ancient stories were just the ideas and hopes of a people too primitive to understand, we still seek to preserve our cultural heritage. Something the people of Von have worked tirelessly to help us ensure we do, while bringing us up to their level."

Terry nodded. "I brought Fran up here to propose, and to enjoy the swimming hole. We are not, however, planning on using the slide."

Fran looked up at Terry. "Slide?"

Terry nodded. "Yes, in ancient times, Berrius people, well those of the tribes that lived on this side of the crater, would perform a ritual climb. There are carvings and paintings behind the waterfall I wanted to show you. They would then cleans themselves in the waters, which are believed to have healing properties, some of which have actually been verified. Some unique mineral compounds. They then would move down the stream towards the cliff. As the water gets faster, it has smoothed its path to the point it works as a very simple water slide.

They would ride that slide right over the edge and off the cliff. The pool at the base is deep and wide. Nearly three hundred meters deep, and is really a moderately sized lake. The goal is to make the dive and survive. Actually pretty easy, because it is so deep and wide, but a terrifying fall at the same time."

Berrius nodded. "Sadly, not every young one was careful in how they controlled their fall, and while wide, it is not infinitely so. Some sought to push the limits and aim for closer to the shore. Some missed, and you can imagine the results."

Fran blanched and leaned against Terry. "Oh dear. That's sad."

"It was. We now have a net set up. Still, there are those that seek to keep the tradition and will remove or cut the net. So I come up here to check periodically, and repair it when it needs to be. In fact, we had a young one just this past week that completed the dive. Though they used the slide, were caught by the net, then climbed around the net, slipped under it, maneuvered on the underside of the net to where they would hit it, and then let go. Thankfully they were not one to try for the shore."

Fran nodded. "Oh my. Well, I'm glad they were okay, and I'm sure to be in a great deal of trouble too."

Berrius rolled his eyes. "Yes, but not as much as you might think. We actually hold a dive annually. Their trouble is that the jump will not be recognized, and they are barred from jumping for the next five years. As I said before, we try to preserve our culture. We do not turn away from it, and while it is surely dangerous, so too is you and Terry flying through Death's Gate."

Fran smiled and stepped forward. "Well, I suppose that makes sense, and I'm sure you reinforce that it is dangerous, and seek to dissuade the more daring from shooting for the shore."

"Very much." Looking up to Terry for a moment. "I note the name Hopps. Are you related to the Von founder Hopps?"

Fran smiled. "I'm from the Hopps burrow, from which the founders were apparently driven thousands of years ago. Something the family, my part of it, is only recently learning. All because of Judy and her forcing mom and dad to realize that they were hurting those of us that found love outside the species."

Berrius grinned. "This is good."

Terry smiled wider. "Oh, it's better than that, Berrius. Von is no longer hiding. Someone tried to poison Fran's sister, Judy. The cop, who is married to a Wilde fox and carrying his kits, along with several of her friends. I was contracted to act as their pilot and guide. It's where I met Fran. At the actual Hopps burrow. Von broke secrecy in order to get Judy and her friends the medical care that saved their lives and the lives of their kits."

Berrius looked on in shock. "You mean… I can visit beyond the wall?"

"Take that up with the council, but likely. You can finally present your papers." Looking down to Fran. "You see, Fran. Berrius is a world renowned scholar, but has never been able to present their findings. There is lots of speculation of what their species is, as they've only ever been able to do it via calls where they used a fake avatar. I'm sure they walking out on stage will be as much of a shock as any other revelation they have."

Berrius laughed with a grin. "Oh, this is wonderful. I do hope you will attend."

Terry nodded. "As long as I, that is we, are free. You saw. Fran and I are now official."

Berrius nodded, their eyes going wide. "Oh… OH! Right. There is no one else up here. I was just checking on the net like I said. Uhm… I'll go now." Pausing and looking at Fran. "Terry and I were lovers, but only briefly. Always friends. It just wasn't meant to be, and with you here, I know why." Leaning over next to Fran's ear and whispering so only they can hear. "I have always loved them, so take good care of them. Claws on their tail base is like lighting a rocket." Standing back up. "I truly enjoyed them, so if you two ever want to have some extra fun, look me up."

Fran giggled. "Don't know about hares as much, but we'll talk."

Terry looked down at Fran. "You guys are like that?"

Fran shrugged. "Some yes. Some no. Time will tell." Yanking him down to their level. "Now, I'm done dreaming. Time for a swim, and then I am going to explore every inch of fur on your body." Pulling Terry into a passionate kiss. Berrius took this as an opportunity to slip back into the surrounding foliage.

Terry and Fran were quickly down to their swimsuits and in the water. It was crisp yet refreshing, and was quickly adapted to. They swam, splashed, kissed, and paws wandered for nearly an hour before they found themselves behind the waterfall. There they looked over the carvings, Terry showing how much of the history of the tribes was recorded there.

He then showed him to a spot just behind the waterfall where it was clear many mammals bound themselves to a mate. It turned out the location had more uses than just young mammals proving their mettle.

There, Terry and Fran finally lost their suits and saw each other in their fur only, lit by the crystalline light of the sun filtered and carried by the waterfall, giving both of them an ethereal glow. There they sought and experienced everything about the other, sharing all of themselves.

Finally leaving the waterfall by jumping into the falls and allowing it to carry them down into the pool and then out where they surfaced with a mutual gasp. They spent some more time enjoying each other on the shore, in the water, and allowing all the feelings, all the needs they had never felt for another mammal with any strength, to control them. They were in the middle of a break, neither bothering to put their suit back on, just enjoying the view of the other as they enjoyed the sandwiches they had packed.

The communicator rang from Terry's pants and after a moment to retrieve it, he responded and they shared one more moment together before cleaning up. getting dressed, and heading back to the Cerebel. Lifting off shortly thereafter and heading back towards Death's Gate and Von.

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Berrius stepped out into the clearing as the Cerebel faded into the distance, a dozen other Smiladon stepping out with him. He turned to the others. "The time of revelation is clearly upon us. You have all seen the reports. Von is open now. The council has already agreed to allow our people to travel beyond the ridge, and not just to Von. My request to personally attend and present at the ZU anthropology convention next month has been approved.

Moreover, you have seen the other reports. The Hopps and Wildes have merged again. They are merged with Wolford Pack, and many more besides. They have collected their gifts of the past, it is time we present the gift of the future. Tellic, you are its guardian. Do you agree?"

A midnight black furred smilodon nodded as he stepped forward. "I do. The reports of Judy and Nick are clear. That they were able to collect the gifts of the past means they are those spoken of. Our position as guardian of the deepest past must lead us to complete the demands of that path set before us."

Another, all white smilodon stepped forward. "As the inheritor of the gift, I can say with confident truth that they are. While there are still many possible outcomes, the strongest. The loudest, are all the best possible, and all but the most distant and strange, lead to the same end. It is reassuring to know we do not live in the worst possible timeline." The group chuckled and moved back towards the waterfall, disappearing behind it.

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A/N

Remember to share the love. Review and Fav. It is the life blood of every writer to know you are enjoying their work. I also want to thank everyone who has Fav'd, followed, and reviewed this little project. I know that isn't much, but to me, it's huge. Even as a writer of original fiction, that you enjoy this means a lot to me as an author. You can check out my original work and link to my Blog, Scribblings, where a lot of it lives by hopping over to dcballard . com ( Direct: ascensionnovel . / scribblings (remove the spaces) because the forwarding is misbehaving.)

If you enjoy this, and you are not also reading my original Log Entries series over on my Blog. Why aren't you? (takes a Nick-esk pose of hurt) Also. I am now posting them on AO3, so you have even less excuse. It's free, ORIGINAL fiction. "An original story told through the log entries of the pilot and captain of an experimental star ship."

You should really be checking out my bestest bud, Bear678, and his story What Foxes May Come.

So keep those reviews and comments coming. And also remember, if you see issues, misspellings, etc... Let me know in PM, I'm under no illusion of being perfect and want to fix those things I miss.