Searching for Galahad Part Two

Story by JinyaKat on SoFurry

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#2 of Searching for Galahad


Friday

Mae stood in front of the mirror, arms above her head and crossed at the wrist, slender neck moving from side to side. Yosshi watched her move as she laced her patchwork dress. The dress had very simple boning, accentuating her shape and giving her a break from the steel boning of the many corsets she would be wearing this weekend. She wanted to go for a common urchin look until the shoot with Scotty after lunch.

She applauding her friend once the dress was on properly. "When you're done posing, we can head out and take a look at the other vendors."

Mae crossed one foot behind her and spun gracefully, arms flowing down to her sides. She wore a lilac harem outfit, beaded with shimmery silver coins that jangled as she moved. To Yosshi, Mae was the most talented dancer she had even met and it was more than her ability. She loved the art and it showed in her face whenever she danced or even wore something as simple as a coin scarf around her waist.

"Let's go and meet your Sir Galahad!"

Yosshi couldn't wait to get downstairs. If he was on his way to the floor yesterday, then maybe he would be there today, with a booth or manning a booth. It would take about an hour to trudge through, but maybe she could limit the area. He was holding swords, so the weaponry and armor section would be the first area to look. But first...

"Hello there, ladies!" Bebe called from the Curtsies booth as they approached. "You two look so lovely. And you wear that dress so well, Yosshi"

"Thanks, Aunt Bebe." Yosshi remembered that her aunt and uncle woke up and left early, Bebe to work the booth and Scotty to roam around the Con with his camera, taking pictures and connecting with other photographers. As promised, she would only wear costumes from Curtsies.

Bebe handed Yosshi a small stack of business cards. "Now I know I promised not to keep you working non stop, but if anyone complements you on that dress, you tell give them a card. It's a great way to advertise."

"Ooh!" Mae squealed, pointing down the aisle. "Zills! I need new ones! I'll be right back!" Without waiting for an answer, she was gone.

The lioness eyed her niece. "Now, honey, I know it's been awhile since you're been here, and you've grown up a great deal, but...just be careful. Your mother would never forgive me if anything happened to you here."

"It's alright. I can take of myself now, Aunt Bebe. I'll even keep an eye on Mae, but she's really tough too."

"Okay, scoot off. Remember to turn your cell phone on, and you two be back here in two hours so we can get you all changed."

Ah yes, the time when Yosshi would pretty much be in a corset for the rest of the day. Luckily the hotel had lovely climate control as opposed to the heat of an outdoor Faire. The less she had to sweat, the better.

Waving at Mae as she passed, she made her way to the weaponry section. She looked around, idly glancing at the swords and axes and other marital tools, searching for Tobias. Sniffing proved difficult with the various scents of other folk, steel and polishing oil in the air.

A sign caught her eye, a brown sword hilt with amber cat slitted eyes superimposed over it on a deep green cloudy background. "Swain's Swords" was written in white scrolling beneath the hilt. She'd never seen that vendor before, and decided to stop there for a moment to admire the work. The various rapiers and swords shone in the light, all with the same brown leather hilt wrapped with copper wiring.

"Yosshi, right?" A familiar voice called to her from the booth itself. She looked up and into Tobias' face. He stood before her, behind the booth, tan sleeveless tunic left untied at the neck revealing lighter shaded fur at his throat. His scent was unmistakable, musky, tinged with a bit of oil and leather, perhaps from the brown gauntlets he wore on his wrists.

And still, words were hard to form in Yosshi's brain. "Yeah..."

She promptly kicked herself. Way to sound vaguely intelligent, girl.

Tobias uncrossed his arms, holding out a paw. "It's good to see you again. It's been a very long time."

A thrill passed through her as their paws met. To actually touch him was amazing. "Same here. I'm surprised you remembered me."

"You're hard to forget," He briefly shook his head, as if he was clearing a thought. "I mean, you look very unique."

The complement made her smile double in its width. Before she could thank him, an orange vixen slithered from behind a display in a cloud of perfume. Her black hair was pulled at the top of her head in a topknot, leaving the ends to drape around her face and shoulders. Wrapping a black silk clad arm around Tobias' arm and her tail around his waist, she eyed Yosshi possessively.

"Hello there," she purred in a way that was nearly feline. "Welcome to Swain's Swords. You see we have the best selection you'd even find. If you got any questions, be sure to let us know, okay?"

It was as if the bottom dropped out from beneath her. The look, the arm, the pet name, it all said "He's mine" louder than the vixen could ever say. Blushing furiously, Yosshi shook her head, muttering some vague goodbye before walking away as fast as her trembling legs could carry her, dropping a couple of cards as she went.

The tears didn't start until she had turned a corner out of the weapons section. Of course, how could she be so stupid to think that he would wait for some skinny little cub like her? Of course he would be mated by now. Someone that wonderful probably couldn't stay single for long even if he tried.

She practically bowled Mae over before the bunny was able to get her to stop. Seeing her tears, Mae growled, "What did he do you? I'll rip him a new tailhole..."

"He didn't do anything, Mae. I just...could we go for a walk? I need a little air"

Tobias shook the clingy vixen off his arm. "What is wrong with you, Cicero! Are you going to scare away every female customer we get?"

Cicero pouted. "But Toby..."

"And stop calling me 'Toby'. I've hated it even when we were dating. Weren't you doing inventory or something or are you ready to take your shift up here?"

With a huff, she flounced back behind the display where their register and records was. Tobias rubbed his temples. Leave to Cicero to put on the jealous act the one time he actually wanted to speak to another female. She never got it completely though her skull that he wasn't interested in being her boyfriend anymore. Damn shame she had a great head for numbers.

"Don't forget that you're meeting Thomas at Replicas at 4...or I could cancel that meeting if you're going to be such a grump."

...and for connections. Cicero had been in the Faire scene so long that she knew everyone worth knowing. If it wasn't for her at the start, Swain's Swords wouldn't have the business that it did. But it still didn't give her the right to try to dictate his life. He stepped around to the front of the booth and picked up a dropped card.

"Curties: Beautiful costumes to made any lady or lord shine, all designed and handcrafted by Lady Bebe Townsend."

He knew of Bebe, she was good people. Once Cicero took over front duty, he'd go find her booth and ask about Yosshi's whereabouts. With luck, finding her wouldn't take long, and they could talk. At the very least, he owed her an apology.

One hour later, he didn't even look back at Ciero as he made a beeline to the clothing and accessory section. The lioness sitting at the booth beamed up at him as he approached. "Tobias Swain, I knew you'd come my way sooner or later. I recognize my trousers anywhere."

"Hey there, Lady Bebe. How's your mate doing? Still taking shots of cute girls in costume?"

She nodded. "As per usual. Matter of fact, I sent him, my niece and her friend off in my best to the garden for a session 30 minutes ago. Oh, you've got of my cards. Yosshi is such a good girl, I know she'd do a great job of passing those out."

"Yosshi's your niece?" He then remembered, the family he returned her to were lions like Bebe. "Yes, you should be proud of her, she's a great salewoman."

Making his leave, he headed up one flight of stairs back into the lobby to leave out the back entrance leading to the hotel's garden.

The garden was the hotel's crown jewel, lust and green with a little waterfall pouring into a pond teeming with lily pads and other plantlife. Patches of flowers dotted the area in various shapes, rings, circles, surrounding trees and benches.

Tobias found the group set up near a thick oak tree. Both girls wore chemises, the rabbit in white, and Yosshi in an ivory matching her hair. Over them, matching hunter green velvet sleeveless dresses tightly cinched in their bodies, accenting their lovely shapes. Yosshi held a basket of flowers in the crook on one elbow and leaned against the trunk while her friend sat at her feet, legs folded to the side, a daisy wreath in hand. A simlar wreath crowned Yosshi's head.

"Good, good," The bear behind the camera was telling them. "Now Mae, look up at Yosshi. Good, good, now pause." He moved closer to them, and pressed the shutter. "Now you can put the wreath on and stand up. Yosshi, give me the basket please."

The tigress stepped forward, arm extended and noticed Tobias immediately. The basket slipped her fingers and dropped to the ground, spilling flowers.

Scotty turned around. "Who do you see, honey-oh, Tobias! When did you stalk over here?"

Tobias knelt down to pick up the flowers at the same time Yosshi did. "I wasn't here long. I'm sorry I startled your model." While his answer was for Scotty, his eyes didn't leave Yosshi's as they refilled the basket. "I'd like to just watch, if you don't mind."

The bear's gave a jovial laugh. "Not at all. We're actually wrapping up. These two have to watch the booth for us so we can catch the costuming panel. Just leave the basket here, Yosshi and head back to the tree."

Silently, she did as she was asked. The next couple of poses had her and Mae holding hands, moving in a slow circle, smiling like children at play. Tobias decided that she looked far better smiling that that sad face she gave him moments ago. It almost reminded him of 7 years ago, and that thought sobered him. Was he actually fawning over this girl? She'd be 19 now if he had his math correct. Too young for him anyway. These thoughts made him no better than the two he personally smashed up for attacking her.

But he couldn't help but notice that she grew up and filled out quite well. A soft breeze lifted their skirts a bit, revealing twin cute feet and a shapely calf. The dress wasn't nearly as revealing as the outfit she wore last night as a barmaid, no plunging neckline to speak of, but it gave enough of a hint of sexy curve that made his thoughts wander in spite of himself.

Scotty put the cover over his camera and started packing the stand. "Okay ladies, we're all done here. Oh, Yosshi, are you still up for that Ophelia shoot on Sunday now that you've been in the garden? That willow tree is the perfect spot next the pond."

"No problem, Uncle Scotty. I think I can stand getting a little wet," she replied, removing her wreath.

"Ophelia?" Tobias asked, watching her toss her head to and fro, shaking any stray petals from her hair.

"We want to stage Ophelia's death scene from Hamlet in the pond," Yosshi replied, this time not meeting his face. "Uncle Scotty insists I wear just a chemise."

Scotty snorts. "It's symbolizm. White, for her untouched purity. You're perfect for it. Let's be off, ladies."

Yosshi rolled her eyes in response, and Tobias could guess the reason for her discomfort. Wearing white in a pond would reveal a great deal of her "purity". Wet cloth clinging to her every curve...wait! "Just a moment," he called to Yosshi as they headed back to the lobby. "Yosshi, about earlier..."

She turned stiffly, still not looking up. "It's okay, Tobias. I just wanted to thank you so much for what you did for me back then. I've waited for so long to tell you...just that. Excuse me, I've got to catch up."

Tobias was a little confused at her lack of her earlier enthusiasm, until he remembered that he never even mentioned that he and Cicero weren't together. No wonder the girl was so down. He had to return to his booth, but promised himself that next chance he got, he would explain.

Yosshi waved goodbye to another happy customer. Mae got a call from Paul and now an hour later, was still chatting with him, leaving Yosshi by herself.

No worries though. Selling her aunt's creations was a piece of cake. All she had to do was help the customer find complementing colors to match their fur or shower them with praise when they manage to figure it out all by themselves. She even got a director of a Con several states away to leave his business card so Bebe can contact him about outfitting his cast for next season.

Even with her successes, she still couldn't get Tobias out of her mind. Why did he stick around to watch the shoot? Did he want to explain his mate to her? And why did his eyes on her make her so nervous? Though she managed to follow Scotty's instructions as usual, she was afraid that she would step on her own tail or Mae's feet. And earlier than that, picking the flowers. She wanted so badly for him to tell her that her own eyes were lying back at his booth. That female wasn't his, and she, Yosshi, was all he was waiting for.

"Excuse me...girl." Yosshi's nostrils where suddenly filled with heady perfume. The female in question stood before her table, paw on her hip. "So, you work here, do you. I couldn't help but notice that you knew Tobias. May I ask from where? I honestly don't remember you and we go everywhere together..."

"...we go everywhere together..." She just wanted to rub it in, Yosshi thought, a little embarrassed that her attraction to Tobias was so obvious to her and not him. "We met 7 years ago here. I haven't been back to RenCon since, though."

The vixen raised her paw, absently looking her claws over. "Wow, I bet you were just a little cub then, a little young for blades, huh? Well, I'm glad you're interested in 'our' swords now, but they're not for amateurs, got it? I suggest you be very careful." With that, she gave Yosshi a nasty smile and slipped away.

Yosshi was surprised to find her teeth clinching with a soft snarl. She understood the thinly veiled warning and it's meaning. What she didn't get was why her? Tobias was a handsome male, surely he got his share of attention. Or perhaps the vixen did this to every female who looked at him twice. Her face relaxed as she realized that she was now feeling pity for him for having to deal with that.

"Hey, Yosshi? We want her as our waitress!" Paul called out as soon as he and his friends were seated later that night at the pub. Yosshi wanted to hide behind the mugs sitting on the bar.

Terry, the lemur head of pub operations, gave her a tiny shove. "You heard him Just think of the nice tip you'll get from repeat customers. You won't be getting much once those belly dancers get going, trust me."

As she walked to the table, she had to remember her smile and saunter, even as Tobias came into view. She wished dearly that Mae didn't go to that drum circle and was here as moral support. "Hello guys, our specials are on the board above the bar, and Eastern Mysteries will be performing tonight, so don't be so quick to leave."

Paul laughed and poked Tobias in the ribs. "Believe me, we know. Bring us some ale and we'll figure out what we want, okay?"

Yosshi returned behind the bar to get the ordered mugs, swearing that she can feel Tobias' gaze on her. That was alright, she thought. He can look. Any red blooded male seeing her in this outfit would look. It meant nothing. But why couldn't she get his face, his scent out of her mind?

Her question was quickly answered as she spin around and right into Tobias, who now stood at the bar, stopping before she deposited four mugs of ale onto his tunic.

"I was on my way back to your table," she squeaked in surprise.

Tobias laughed, much to her annoyance. "I wanted to catch you before you got there. I'm afraid that I wouldn't be able to get a word in to you edgewise with that pack. What are you doing for lunch tomorrow? I really do want to talk to you before the Con ends."

Technically, she had the whole day to herself. Mae stayed the entire time of their shift on the phone with Paul and her penalty was to have the morning shift all by herself. Yosshi also didn't have barmaid duty that night either. She wanted to make it to the swordplay demo and listen to the Faire band showcase. But why would she want to spend it with someone who was already taken?

Her muzzle moved before her reason could catch up. "Sure! When's good for you?"

"I'll be free around 1, so I'll meet you in the lobby."

Yosshi was certain that she was wearing the sappiest grin in the history of sappy grins. Lunch with Tobias was good enough for her right now.

The pub lights dimmed, stage light illuminating the stage. A petite brown mouse, ornately costumed for dancing, parted the curtains and stepped out onstage. "Good eve, dear gentles, and thank you for coming! We are Eastern Mysteries, and we are more than happy to entertain you! So, without further ado, ladies?"

An oboe's wail cut though the ensuing silence, quickly joined by drums as five other females, dressed the same as the mouse, joined her on stage, hips rolling in rhythm. Beat by beat they stepped, moving into formation. Much to Yosshi's surprise, the vixen shimmied her way to the front before leading the troupe in a spin on one foot, once, twice, three times, much to the delight of the audience. It didn't take long for her to flash an angry glare in their direction before molding her face back to her performers smile.

Tobias sighed, putting his head in his paw. "For crying out loud, Cicero."

"I wouldn't blame her," replied Yosshi, dejectedly. "I don't think I'd be all that happy if my mate was hanging around other females either."

"She isn't my mate, or my girlfriend." he winced as the music grew louder. "I'll explain tomorrow. Let's get these ales back before my friends wonder where I've been off to."

Sliding between the sheets, Yosshi's stomach couldn't stop fluttering. Luckily Mae was still at the drum circle having a ball and her aunt and uncle were out with friends, giving Yosshi a little time alone to think. She was so thrilled that she actually had a chance with Tobias after all. Even with Cicero's occasional looks, Tobias was just as attentive as he was yesterday. He even joined in with his friends in slipping bills down her corset before they left. In fact, they all double tipped her.

She closed her eyes, thinking about those mischievous (and yes, drink addled) blue eyes twinkling as he tucked a five spot right square into the valley of her cleavage. His paw brushed against her fur, just like her own paw was at this very moment. She had purred a little then, but if that little point of contact caused that much of a reaction from her, then how would his entire paw feel on her body?

How would both of his paws feel?

Cupping both her still clothed mounds, she imagined them as his, gently touching, exploring, soothing. Wiping away the grime left by her assailants long ago, making them beautiful again. This was her favorite private fantasy of all; having him take her away and love her. She could almost feel his warmth as he sat behind her, nuzzling her neck and nipping at her ear.

"You are so lovely," she heard him whisper. "May I touch more of you?"

"Yess," she hissed. "You never have to ask."

Not him. He always would have permission and access to her very soul. One of her dream Tobias' paws lingered at her stomach, toying with her navel while the other flicked at her hard nipples.

"Even here?"

Yosshi arch her body into his hands, letting the one at her belly slip lower. "Yes, lover."

Taking the hint, he reached under her pajama bottom and ran a finger through her swollen maidenhood. "Ahh, you're so very wet. Let me hear you come just for me."

Yosshi parted her legs with a happy purr as Tobias began to stroke her there, teasing her little erect clit with every upstroke, dipping into her well on the way down. The paw on her chest slid up her top, still gently petting her breasts, worrying the nipples with a claw. She felt the urgent press of his erection at her back and it made her all the more excited. "Tobias...will you take me?"

She felt his murr vibrating in his chest. "I will, darling. But not right now. Now, you know what I want from you."

With one quick motion, her bottoms were yanked down her legs. Before she could whimper at the loss of his paw playing with her, two insistent fingers dove inside her warmth, pumping wildly. Between that and his wrist grinding her clit, she wouldn't last long. Forsaking her breasts, he wrapped that arm securely around her, holding her against his chest. His hardness rubbed frantically against her back as they humped against each other, bodies tensing with need.

Yosshi's whimpers increased in volume. "I'm close."

"Look at me," he asked. "I want to see your face when you come."

Her orgasm hit just as soon as their eyes met. Shoving her face in the crook of his neck to muffle her cry, her body shuddered once, twice, soaking his fingers with her juice...

It took a moment for Yosshi to catch her breath and return to reality. The sudden cold dampness under her tail made the return a lot faster. She rolls out of the bed to survey the damage; a wet spot that pretty much took half the full sized bed. "Ick."

At least her bottoms were safely tossed onto the floor, she thought as she went back into the bathroom to clean up. Hopefully with enough towels cover the spot and the A/C on low enough, Mae wouldn't be able to sniff out what she'd done.

A blush warmed her cheeks. Yes, what she just did. It wouldn't be the first time she had masturbated to thoughts of her hero. The very fact made her happy that she wasn't so traumatized by the assault that she could never lay hands on herself. She guessed that the fact that it was Him made it all right.