Finally Unfrozen
"Some-fur has to operate the controls, from up here," Advance said. They were in the control room (of the tea factory). "And some fur has to lure Mandy out into the brewing area ... and another fur has to ... wield the electrical plug. And stick her with the discharge."
"I'll do that," said Audrey. "That last part," she added.
"You will not," Peregrine countered.
"Perry ... "
"I'll be Mandy's ... lure," whispered Advance. "You two ... Peregrine, you can operate the controls," he told his fellow mouse.
"But ... "
" ... darling ... I'll be fine," said Audrey.
"But ... " A sigh. A little nod. "Alright ... " Though his eyes darted with worry. And his heart was at a scurry-scurry.
It was mid-morning, and ... Mandy wasn't here yet. But she would be. Soon. And the three furs were working over their plan (one final time). Feeling rushed. Their voices at a hush.
The lights in the room were dim, and the windows that covered one wall ... looked out on the floor below, which was ... sparse.
"We should, uh ... get into place," said Advance, whiskers twitching. The pinon mouse ... his large ears swiveling. A bit hot. He was nervous. Being alone with Mandy (again), and ... worried that, if they failed ... what would the retribution be?
Consequences would result ... no matter the outcome.
But, oh, how much worse they would be ...
... if this failed.
And the pinon mouse ... filtered to the door. Paused. Looked to them. And nodded. And slipped out. Into the hallway, and ... going to where the lobby was. Where he would intercept Mandy, the cheetah ... when she arrived.
Peregrine and Audrey were left alone in the control room.
"Well," Peregrine whispered. "I, uh ... "
"I'll be fine ... "
"Let me do it."
"Wielding the electrical plug? Perry ... it's dangerous."
"Which is why I should be doing it. I'm ... I'm the male, right? I'm supposed to protect you, right?"
"You're also a mouse."
"So?" He twitched.
"Darling ... when Mandy lunges at you, claws extended, teeth bared ... you'll panic. That's no fault of your own. That's ... no detriment to you. But ... I'm a skunk. I'm neither predator OR prey ... I can face her. I can look her in the eyes. I don't doubt your courage, and your will ... or your intent, but you know ... that of the three of us involved in this, I'm the one best-suited to attack a cheetah."
Peregrine swallowed, looking to the floor. Nodding slightly. "I guess ... a mouse versus a cheetah would be ... does sound like a bad idea, huh?"
"I'll be fine, Perry ... " The skunk put her paw underneath his chin. Lifting his gaze a bit. So she could see his grey eyes. "Mm?" She smiled warmly. Softly.
And he had to smile back. Just had to ... oh, what she could do to him, and ... oh, his heart. It was careening out of control. More and more in love with her. Closer and closer to her. Figuring out, by the hour, much she meant. How much she was worth. A few days ago, he'd been worried about ... staying in one place. Worried that, out of fear, he would scurry away. Would lose her. But, now, he was feeling ... such a sensation of need. Dependence.
He was addicted to her.
She leaned forward. Put a kiss on his cheek. Another, closer to his lips. And then ... his lips, exactly. Spot on ... sweet, soft ... succulent. Muzzle to muzzle, tilted, and ... drawing back. And she swallowed, licking her own lips (quietly).
"I love you," he told her. He'd always been afraid to say those words ... out loud. For fear of rejection. For fear of ... he didn't even know. Fear. Those words were powerful. Were strong. To speak them was to deal with heavy, committed things. And ... but he no longer feared them. Or maybe he did. But he wasn't going to let it stop him. So, he said (again), "I love you ... Audrey ... and ... " He cleared his throat, flushing, his ears turning a rosier pink. "When this is over, and this town is free of this conspiracy, I just ... when all the fear is gone, I'll ... I want it ... " He trailed. He didn't know what he was trying to say. He just wanted to say SOMETHING. Felt he needed to say something. But ... the words ...
"I know," was her response. "We'll let our hearts go wild ... unfettered. Unchained. We'll frolic in the light."
A smile. "Mm ... something like that, I guess." He padded a single step forward, leaning his head against hers. Nuzzling her with his twitching, sniffing nose. Getting her silky scent. "Tonight," she promised, "we'll celebrate ... mm ... "
"Yeah?" he whispered, breathing deep. Sighing ...
"Yeah ... and the sort of celebration I have in mind requires ... that we both be in attendance, so you stay safe," she said. "And I will, too. I love you, too, Perry ... " A squeeze of his paw. A lingering, and ... she pulled away, opening the door.
"What should I do?" he asked of her. Not knowing why he asked it, and what he even meant ... by it. What should he do about his fear, or ... the worry, or ... being left alone in the control room? To pass the anxious minutes?
"Pray," she whispered. "And think of me ... " Her eyes glinted, and her smile was ... so full of life. Like him, a battered fur. A simple fur. Who'd lived a hard-earned prairie life. And was now on the cusp of feeling that ... emotional healing ...
... was here.
Joy ... was here.
Just a few paw-steps away.
All they had to do was ... own the day.
Their time was now.
Mandy slipped inside the front door. Silky. Smooth. As was her way. She moved with a confidence built on control. Control of herself (and her own abilities). And control of others. She craved control. It was why she was so addicted to this Conspiracy, and why ... she was seeking to run it. Seeking the thrill, the ...
" ... morning," said Advance. Quietly. Not meeting her eyes. He couldn't. Not after what she'd done to him, and ... how he'd been so weak, and ...
" ... good morning to you, too. Mm ... isn't it, though?"
"Mm?"
"A good morning," the cheetah purred, taking a step around him. Padding in a slow circle around him. Looking him over. "Like something," she whispered, "the cat dragged in." A pause. A fierce, golden gaze. "We'll have to do something about that."
"Well, I ... "
"Groom your fur." She put her paws on his side. Patted him. Smoothed his fur, and ... tugged at his clothing. "Mm ... " She seemed distracted, her pupils dilating. As if she was analytically dissecting her prey.
"I, uh ... the tea," managed Advance, feeling chills. Trying to step away. "The tea ... I want to give you a proper tour of the brewing floor."
"You already did that."
"But I, uh, the ... I found a way to more effectively," he said, "mix the mind agent ... made it more soluble. I mixed a batch."
"When?" She titled her head. Her black spots seemed to be like black holes. Don't start at her fur ... or you'd get hypnotized.
"This morning."
"I didn't authorize you to brew anything yet ... "
"I wanted it ready for you."
"Why?" She put her paws on his chest. Pushed him to the wall. Teeth showing. "Answer me, mouse ... "
"I ... I ... thought it would please you ... "
"I am in control here. I tell you when to ... "
" ... to control me. I'll drink it. You can control me," he squeaked, writhing. Trying to get away.
The cheetah paused. Leaned back, relaxing. Intrigued. "Really ... " She tilted her head. Eyed him. "Why?"
"I ... thought it would ... please you," he repeated, twitching. Speaking erratically.
A slow smile spread across her lips. "You like being dominated?" She didn't wait for an answer. "Well, of course, you do ... you're a rodent. You're prey. Still ... that you would be the first to test the contaminated tea ... such loyalty," she purred. "I didn't think you had it in you."
And he didn't. And he was hoping she didn't recognize that ... hoping she would buy into this, as she was doing. Stay with it, stay with it ...
"Alright. Lead me to it."
Advance started to scurry off, squeaking, nearly tripping ...
... as her paw crushed his tail in a steely grip. "Walk," she advised, "where I can see you." Where she could pounce him ... if she needed to. Within striking distance. She wanted him to stay within striking distance. "Keep your backside to me ... now, move," she yanked his tail.
"Ow," he yelped. Feeling a sharp pain ...
And she let go of the tail, shoving his back ...
... and he stumbled forward, submissively leading her to the brewing floor. The main part of the factory. Through the doors, and into the open ... near the big vats of tea. Near all the equipment. Where the raspberry flavoring was mixed in, and ...
... above, in the control room, Peregrine, who'd been pacing back and forth, back and forth, unable to calm down, glanced out the windows.
There!
Advance came into view. Shaking ... scared ...
... and Mandy right behind him. Taller. Stronger. A lithe huntress. A robot. More than a match for the three of them combined.
But no match for the elements. For electricity.
Perry eyed the controls. What ... which button ... and he froze. Eyes widening, whiskers twitching. He squeaked ... button, button ... which button!
Calm down, calm down ...
... think, think, think ...
... blue! Blue one. Sky-blue ... button.
He swallowed and pressed it, and ... heard a hum. And saw the indicator light turn on ... full power.
The vats began to stir. Began to purr ...
... like how Mandy purred. "Mm ... the sound of progress."
"Over here," Advance said. Pointing to a small set of steps. "We can ladle some ... I'll drink it."
"You've being cooperative," noted Mandy. With more than a hint of suspicion in her voice.
Advance took a step forward.
"You smell ... you've been around other furs."
"I'm not allowed to have friends?" he asked.
"No, no ... I smell other furs ... " She froze, nose to the air. "A ... "
" ... skunk?"
Mandy whirled.
Audrey, electrical plug in paw ... three-pronged head to the cord, and ... all she had to do was stab it into Mandy's fur. And the volts would flow. The discharge would kick back ... maybe shock Audrey a bit, too, but ... no, the brunt would go into the cheetah.
"A skunk," spat Mandy. Saying the word "skunk" as if it were a curse word.
Audrey padded forward.
Advance backed away, scurrying round the corner of the biggest tea vat.
Mandy turned to glimpse the fleeing mouse ... " ... coward!" she hissed. "You're not ... getting away," she huffed, her rage flaring. Her predatory instincts coming into full swing. "You're my toy, mouse. You're my ... prey."
Audrey padded closer, preparing to lunge, but ...
... Mandy growled and lunged first, without even looking in Audrey's direction. Hitting the skunk's stomach, breasts ... knocking her down, sending the corn flying like a lost rope. The end of it sizzling.
The cheetah swung a fisted paw at the skunk ...
... who twisted out of the way.
Mandy's paw punched the floor. She yelped ... hissed, and ...
" ... Advance ... g-get out!" Audrey yelled.
"B-but ... "
"Just go ... " It wasn't like the mouse was contributing to this fight in any way (as frozen with fear as he was), and ... what Audrey had in mind ... " ... go ... " A foot-paw kicking, from the ground, at Mandy's shin.
The cheetah, lithe, nimble, twisted ... and raked her claws at the skunk's arm. Slicing through the fur and to the flesh, and drawing bright-red blood ... which matted the black fur. Dark red on black, and ...
... the skunk's tail flickered. Flickered.
The cheetah ignored what was intended as a natural warning sign ... and clawed again ...
... as Audrey crawled away, on all fours, tail raised and flickering. The white stripes showing like snowy marks against the night-black. Tail arched. Flickering.
"Opening your flank to attack ... skunk ... you ... " Mandy froze. Suddenly getting it. Suddenly realizing what she was dealing with. What she was facing, and turning ...
... too late. Turning to run ... too late.
Audrey's glands released the spray. The molecules quickly disseminating in the air, and ...
... the cheetah howled, hissed, and ... gagged, shaking, blindly trying to attack Audrey (in spite of this).
And the skunk, unaffected by her own weapon, calmly got to her foot-paws, nursing her bloodied arm, and ... grabbing the fallen electrical cord with her good paw. Picking it up.
The cheetah, with each breath, sucked in the scent ... which was the most unreal thing ... she'd ever been assaulted with. Incapacitating. She couldn't think, couldn't ... she just shivered, coughing ...
... and Audrey hesitated. She was a kind fur. She was rough and tumble. Was rural. Knew about life and death, but she'd never ...
" ... killed anything? The fur caught between worlds ... where does your allegiance lie? If you kill me," Mandy gasped horribly, "you're a predator. If you don't, you're as weak as prey ... either way, you're lost."
"No ... no, you're the one, Mandy, who's lost. That's lost. You ... have lost," Audrey said quietly, "this time."
"There are more of me. I'll be replaced by another ... " Cough ... sickly coughs. The skunk spray still hovering in the air. In her nostrils. Sticking to her fur and clothes. (And the two mice, Peregrine and Advance, even from the control room, behind the windows ... where they now were ... even THEY could smell it, and ... their noses wrinkled and twitched, and they eyes watered from it ... but they were only getting a trace ... Mandy had gotten the full brunt.)
"Mandy, if there are more of you ... advise them to steer clear of Sheridan, Wyoming. And maybe you'll be smart enough not to mess with a skunk. We may be pretty," Audrey taunted. "We may be silky, sensual ... furs. But we can be as gritty as the rest of them. Do NOT," Audrey growled, "hurt mice ... and do NOT ... push my buttons."
"You're a fucking ... "
STAB! Stabbing Mandy with the electrical cord, and ...
... shriek! Howl!
And the resulting electrical discharge overloaded her circuits. Fried her, and ... she lay limp. Defeated. Done.
And Audrey let out a deep breath, taking a step backward. Breathing, swallowing ... a bit shaky. And she looked up at the control room window. And sighed, and ... offered a weak smile. Still nursing her own bloodied arm, and ... tail still raised (in defensive position).
Peregrine's worried, caring eyes ... no longer distant, no longer glazed over from fear ... they met hers. And held that gaze.
"I'll come up to you," she mouthed. "Better yet ... outside."
His eyes raised.
"Outside," she mouthed quietly ...
... and Peregrine nodded.
And a minute later, the three of them were outside. In the mid-morning sun. In the blue, hearing the birdsongs, and ... seeing the greenery of the waving trees.
Oh, but there was a breeze!
"Your, uh ... your factory's gonna have to be shut down for a few days," Audrey said sheepishly. Apologizing. "That's how long it'll take for the scent to go away."
Advance nodded ... and smiled with relief. "It's okay. I mean ... after this, I need a rest, and ... when the other prey in town here about this, they'll ... we'll have our town back. They can't control us anymore. Guard trolleys or not. We'll find a way to ... liberate this town, too."
A slight giggle at the pinon mouse's enthusiasm ... and she looked to her mate. And ... held her breath. "Perry," she whispered.
The mouse threw his arms around her. Eyes watering. "Mm ... I, uh ... you were remarkable!" He beamed and pulled back, eyes welling. "You were ... grace and poise and ... strength. I never could've done that," he admitted. A giggle, eyes darting. "I, uh ... I know, now, why you needed to be the one to attack her. I, uh ... couldn't have hit her with your arsenal."
A chuckle. Her arm hurting, throbbing, the gash healing ... blood drying on her fur, but ... the bleeding had stopped. She would be okay. "We both need a shower ... badly ... "
A sigh ... and a look at her arm. A look of concern.
"It's sore, but ... it'll be fine. Just need a few days' rest, is all ... "
"I'll be your medicine," Peregrine promised. The mouse named for a falcon. Showing such empathy. Such emotion. Finally unfrozen.
And the skunk hugged her mate ... and kissed him on the cheek. A sloppy, sighing kiss.
And Advance watched, blushing ...
... as the sun rained down on them. Absorbing into their fur. Casting them all in such a hopeful glow.
Faith, hope, and love. Now, in this light, in this ... victory ...
... all of them could grow.