My Daughter
My Daughter
I have always wanted to be a father, but never expected to actually become one. I could never keep a girl friend long enough to even ask them to marry me, let alone procreate with me.
But the day my little bundle of joy fell into my arms, I couldn't have been happier. The day though is still very vivid in my mind, every little detail.
It was the day humanity very nearly vanished from the face of the earth.
In 2020 humans discovered a special form of uranium. It's nuclear capabilities were more than a hundred thousand time greater than any other form. They called in U834, and not only did it change the worlds opinion on nuclear energy. Nuclear power plants could now power entire continents, and fuel rods would last for decades. But secretly, it changed the face of warfare forever.
Soldiers could completely irradiate single buildings, killing those inside with tremendous amounts of radiation. Which would then fade away to a more than safe level in mere minutes. But for years scientists couldn't figure out how to create the same effect on a larger scale. No matter what they tried, they couldn't even replicate a normal nuclear explosion.
But then in 2033, they finally managed to get it right, and it was their doom. Russian scientists figured out how to create a normal nuclear explosion;
"Less than a megaton," they had said. They were wrong. When the bomb went off, not only did it incinerate the compound, but the entire of Russia felt the explosion and felt it's affects. The world felt it.
Radiation hit the stratosphere, and scientists watched in horror as it spread around the world, what little was left of the pollution in the atmosphere held the radiation inside, allowing it to spread worldwide.
Hundreds of thousands died in the first day, the radiation lasting much longer than usual, turning the sky blood red, turning rain into acid that stung the skin.
Yes that was the day my daughter came into my life.
I lived in the city on that day, the sun was setting and the sky looked like it was on fire. I was fervently packing my car, I was leaving the city as looters and bandits had taken over, and nearly all the city's police had been killed in the first few hours following the explosion, and living in a large American city meant that they would be on every corner almost. I had made the decision a few years ago to purchase myself a fire arm, and not just a handgun. I also got myself a rifle. And old assault rifle and plenty of ammo, and a former military class sniper/hunting rifle.
My assault rifle, was slung over my shoulder as I packed, and my handgun and ammo could be seen on and in my camo-clad pants that were very similar to soldiers fatigues. In fact most of my clothes were army fatigues.
My neighbours Liz and David, a nice couple, had rushed up to me. Liz who had been pregnant the day before pushed a small bundle of blankets into my arms. I tried to refuse and give it back to them, but they wouldn't take it back.
"She'll be safer with you!" Liz shouted at me, tears streaming down her soot covered face, from one of the hundreds of fires.
'She?' I thought. I pushed aside some of the folds in the blanket, and gasped.
"Wait!" Liz and David were getting into their car. "This isn't a baby!"
"Yes she is!" David slammed his car door, and was about to drive off when they were ambushed by some bandits.
David was shot in the head in the first few seconds, and Liz was dragged out of the car.
"Death is too good for you bitch! We're taking your husband's debt from your flesh," One of the bandits was holding her harshly by the arms as she struggled against him. They hadn't seen me yet, and lucky for me there was only four of them. Quietly I placed the child down in my car. Raised my rifle, and flicked it to semi-auto.
Liz was screaming at me to finish her, not to let them take her.
One of them looked at me, he raised his own gun and pointed it at her.
"You kill us she dies, then you die!"
The others drew their weapons and pointed them at her. Unknown to them, I was aiming at Liz, her face in my cross-hairs. She saw me hesitate.
"DO IT!"
I squeezed the trigger.
The round tore through her forehead, spattering her captors face with blood. In the seconds that followed, I gunned down the bandits, one shot to the chest each. From that moment on, I would never know how their child... my child was the way she was.
I picked her up and looked at her more curiously.
She wasn't human, that's for sure. She had features like what a fox would have. A narrow muzzle, light fluffy reddy brown fur and a white tummy. Fox like ears, feet and even a small bushy tail.
Not having made preparations for another being other than my dog, and not having enough time to actually get anything for it, I had to keep her in my arms.
The drive through the city was one of the worst things I've ever had to go through. I made sure to lock the doors and keep my pistols holster unclipped so I could get at it quickly. One of my rifles also sat on the passage seat, in easy reach.
The Fox child lay on my lap, it slept peacefully, unawares of the chaos around it.
The car was attacked several times by people wanting to escape the city, but a quick flash of my weapon was enough to scare them back.
The highway was in utter chaos. Most people of that time who lived in the city owned a very small vehicle only big enough for two people and a few items. This meant none could cross the divider onto the other side of the road, which was deserted but for a few people holding signs saying that 'The End Was Nigh.'
Luckily for me, I had kept my old four-wheel drive, which easily mounted and crossed the two foot tall divider. Down the highway I listened to the radio, which was being blanketed with messages for people to stay inside, and not open the door to anyone other than properly uniformed police.
I however was lucky I left when I did. Overhead flew dozens of Chinook transport helicopters and a fleet of hundreds of police cars roared past and forced me to the side of the road as they roared past. One car stopped and asked me where I was going, but I never got to answer him as the vehicles behind him forced him to keep going.
I knew from the size of the force they were intending on locking the city down to control everyone.
Yes that was the day the world fell apart.
Most governments dissolved into near dictatorships. Many law enforcers turned cruel vigilantes. But where I was headed no one could find me, I wouldn't let anyone find me.
There were many things that the worlds scientists didn't know about U834's radiation. When it hit the atmosphere, it's life was increased. U834 was preferred to other uranium's because it's radiation was so shortly lived. But high up in the atmosphere its life was extended. Instead of lasting mere minutes, the radiation lasted more than month.
But other than those that died in the initial explosion, no one else died from the radiation. It did something completely unexpected.
It stopped people from dying. It killed off the gene every living person had that caused humanity to grow old and die. Scientists had known about it for years, but could never do anything about it. U834's radiation completely wiped it from human genetics. Processes that would usually start to fail in a person's fifties kept working perfectly, humanity now faced the prospect of living for an eternity.
The first few months were the hardest on me and the fox child. Or rather should I say that it was the first day that was the hardest. I had never even held a two day old baby, let alone one that looked like a fox. The trip up to my 'Safe house' was really difficult. I made a vow that I would keep the little girl safe, at least until I could give her to a good home.
One of the first things I did was stop to get 'it' some food. Lucky every American service station was practically a mini super-market. I managed to get 'it' a bottle and some milk, but didn't know what else it would be able to eat.
Sitting in my truck, 'it' suckled readily from the bottle. A smile caressed my face.
"You must of been hungry little one," I murmured to her. That moment was the first time I had even thought of her as a 'Her.'
She finished the milk off, and opened her little eyes. At that moment my heart melted. As I looked into those bright eyes, I felt that I couldn't give her up, even if I wanted too.
"I'll make it work."
She smiled at me, and all I could do to stop tear from falling was to smile back. She hic-upped at that moment and I laughed, and patted her back.
Even though I had never been in the military, playing dozens of shoot-em up video games, had trained me like a soldier. I knew how to walk quickly and quietly, while still being able to hold a weapon steady. I knew how to hold every different type of firearm properly. I had taught myself how to dismantle and clean all three of my weapons.
I knew that I would need supplies to care for my new little girl. I pulled up to a large shopping centre when the sun was beginning to set, which had had its front doors smashed. A red and blue light flashed in the doorway showing the alarm was going off. I knew though police would not be coming, they were all trying to take back control of the cities and the little town would be the last on their list of things to do.
I loaded my rifle and pistol, there could still be people in there.
Ordering my dog to guard the car, and the girl, who was thankfully asleep, I moved towards the smashed doors, rifle raised.
The glass from the door crunched under my heavy boots.
I heard a gun being loaded, and turned towards the sound, rifle at the ready.
"What you want bro?"
The dark skinned man was shaking as he held the weapon. Probably thought I really was a soldier, the way I move and act, sometimes I forget I'm not one either.
"Supplies," I gazed down the sight at him aiming at his chest.
"Yeah? That all you want?"
I nodded.
"Soon as I have what I need I'll be gone."
"You want much?
I shook my head this time.
"Jimmy! Back away from the truck, this man alright!" he called out.
I lowered my weapon into a resting position, and another dark skinned man came around behind me, giving me a wide berth.
"Tell me what you need bro, and we'll hook you up k!"
"Sure," I was still wary of the two, but allowed them to lead me to where I needed to be.
"Ammo, baby food, bottles, clothes? What the hell man?"
"I have a safe house out some place safe, and a baby daughter."
"Where your wife then bro?"
"She... Ahh, died. Killed by criminals as I... we were escaping the city."
"Ahh, sorry to hear that bro."
To my surprise I actually found a baby seat I could put her in.
I piled the new supplies in one of the few containers in the back of the truck. I drove off a few miles before stopping to fit the new baby seat, and putting her in it.
I drove throughout the night, stopping several times to feed and change her. By dawn I had stopped at an abandoned petrol station, and fell asleep with her in my arms after emptying the bowsers of as much fuel as I could.
I awoke to the barrel of a handgun in my face. The man called Jimmy and his boss from the shop before stood outside my truck.
"Sorry bro, you talkin' 'bout your safe house got me thinking, I want that place. Worlds going ta shit, your place probably the safest place ta be."
Jimmy gestured with his gun.
"Outta the car bro.
He opened the door for me, and I got out trying not to disturb her.
"Gun!
I reached down.
"Slowly!
I unclipped the holster and slowly drew the weapon, and held it out to him, grip first.
"Good, that wasn't hard now was it? Get in the truck boss!"
"How do you think you'll find the place?" I was slowly trying to slip my hand behind my back.
"It'll be in your GPS bro."
Crap, I'd forgotten about that. Hoping I could use the fact about them not knowing where it was to bargain with them on its location. Of course I would never give them the real location, just somewhere I knew they'd get stuck and I'd be able to retrieve my belongings later.
Suddenly there was barking from the back seat of the truck.
"Shit there's a massive dog in here!"
'Boss' bailed from the car, and my dog, which they'd woken from her sleep, growled and barked at him. The little fox was awake and crying now, and I tried to calm her down.
"Get the fucking dog outta the truck now bro!"
I complied with a loud whistle.
My dog went silent, and moments later stood next to me. My hand had reached the small of my back now, and Boss and Jimmy were getting back into the truck.
I had them in my hands now.
"Hey Jimmy."
He looked at me as I threw one of the combat knives I kept on me.
It sunk to the hilt in his chest, and he slumped onto the steering wheel.
Boss hadn't realised what happened, giving me a chance to move forward and pick up my gun.
"Get out!"
He did so with his hands up. It was obvious Jimmy was his bodyguard.
"You gonna shoot me bro, in front of your daughter?"
"No one will question my motives."
I didn't let him respond. Quickly covering her ears, I squeezed the trigger.
Boss fell to the ground.
I opened the driver's door and pulled Jimmy's body out, taking back the knife. I drove off a fast as I could. I knew no one who find out what I did for months, if ever. But something inside me, made me want to get away as fast as I could.
"I should give you a name."
I held her, quietly humming to her. I'd... We'd been... travelling for a few days, and I still hadn't given her a name. I thought for a while, until she opened her eyes. It was the first time I had actually looked into them properly. They had a slight crimson tinge to them.
"Rose. I'll call you Rosemary, because your eyes remind me of such a beautiful flower."
She smiled at this and reached furred little hand up to me. I let her wrap her fingers around one of my fingers. Rose smiled as broad as was possible.
When we finally arrived at the house, the sun had almost set. Rose was fast asleep, but I knew she would be awake again soon. She hadn't been feed for a few hours.
As soon as I'd opened the door to the back seat of the car, my dog bolted out and ran for the tree line.
"Don't go too far now, Jenna!"
I gently lifted Rose from out of her car seat, and carried her inside. Thankfully she stayed asleep long enough for me to bring all of the supplies into the house the entire day had black clouds had been covering most of the sky. And as I called Jenna into the house, thunder rumbled off over the hills.
Rose began to cry. She never liked thunder while she was little.
I watched as rain raced up to the front door, and Jenna pelted inside. She refrained from shaking as I went to get a towel. Jenna was a good dog, actually, she's not really a dog. She's a wolf, and I smile at how much affection she shows me. In fact many people balk at how I came across her.
She would have only been a week old. I was hiking in a part of Yellowstone National Park when I heard a tiny howl from nearby. It was saddening, but he mother had been attacked by another wolf, or perhaps a bear. Whatever had caused the injury, the mother and nearly all the pups were dead, she was the last one left alive. I had picked the pup up and taken her as fast as I could to a ranger. Who then took her to a vet. I was lucky I found her when I did, the vet said she was mere hours away from dying.
Being the age she was, she needed full time care, which I was more than willing to give. And when it came time to release her back into the wild, she didn't want to leave. The ranger rang me after a week asking me to come down and deal with her. They had left her several times deep in the forest, but each time she had made her way back to the ranger station and pawed at the front door.
When I returned she was so happy to see me she accidently scratched my arm with her claws.
It wasn't long before I found my furry little girl crawling around the floor of my cabin. I did almost trip over her in the first few days. But it was when she was about one and a half did things start to change. It was late at night, and I had put her to bed about an hour earlier. I was cleaning my hunting rifle in preparation of the following day in which I would have to go out hunting for some deer or something similar.
I had just removed the bolt and was giving it a clean, when I heard crying from my room. Rose had woken for some reason, so I had put the gun down and went to see what was wrong.
When I got in the room, she had managed to rise to her hindpaws and was clinging to the rail of her crib I had gotten for her, crying her eyes out. She reached out her arms to me and I leant down and took her into my arms.
I tried to calm her down, and eventually she stopped crying. But her tears had soaked her fluffy cheeks.
"What's wrong Rose dear?"
"D...daddy."
My eyes widened and I held her in front of me.
"Wha... what did you just say?"
"Daddy! Daddy, daddy!"
I held her close and she snuggled into my shoulder. I couldn't help but start crying. She had spoken her first word, and it was 'daddy.' I still didn't think of myself as being her father.
I felt her lick my cheek, one of her more animal like traits, and looked at her as she made a funny face at the salty taste of my tears.
I laughed lightly and kissed her forehead. Then went to put her back down in her crib, when she cried out and grabbed onto my shirt.
"Daddy!"
"Don't you want to go to sleep Rose?
She looked at me.
"Yes sleep, or no sleep?"
"N... no."
I smiled as we went back into the living room. She was already asleep again by the time I sat down in my chair to resume the cleaning of my gun. It was clear, that even though she said she didn't want to sleep, she couldn't keep her eyes open.
"All you wanted was a cuddle," I kept my voice to a whisper, and gave her another kiss on the cheek. She smiled and snuggled closer to me, her fuzzy ears tickling my neck with their occasional twitching. With a smile on my face I resumed the cleaning of the gun.
"When can I come with you!?"
Rose was having one of her little moments.
"I told you already Rose, when your old enough."
"But I'm older now!"
"Your only Five, Rose. I and you asked me if you could come last time I went hunting!"
"Yeah, and that was ages ago!"
"It was only two weeks ago, Rose."
She pouted and crossed her arms.
"It's not fair!"
I knelt down in front her.
"Why do you really want to come?"
She was starting to sniffle, trying to hold back tears and prove to me she was old enough.
"I just wanna come!"
I pulled her close and hugged her. Only five years, and I was struggling to look after her properly. One other thing I hadn't expected was how different she was to a regular child. She was incredibly energetic, and I was already struggling to keep up with her, when we played outside.
She had also grown a very full head of hair. Which I was surprised at her actually getting, it's dark red locks framing her face very beautifully.
I brushed a couple of those red locks out of her face.
"If you do exactly as I say, you can come."
Her eyes brightened at this.
"Really? I can come?"
I nodded, and she squealed in delight.
"Go get your coat then."
She skipped off, stopping for a moment to give Jenna a bear hug.
"I get to come too Jenna!"
I went outside to load up the truck, my feet crunching in the fresh layer of snow that had feel the night before. I forgot to say where my house was. My work before the world went down the pisser, was very well paid, allowing me to fulfil one of my childhood dreams. I had used my plentiful money to build a reasonable home out in the Alaskan wilderness.
Being winter, the snow was nearly falling all the time. Jenna followed and waited patiently for me to open the door to the garage.
The truck was getting on in its life, but still started first time, every time. I made it a point to replace parts in the truck if they broke, rather than having them fixed. I preferred to have parts that were new and wouldn't break quickly.
I started the engine and drove it out into the open, Jenna Jumping right into the back tray as soon as it had come to a halt. Rose emerged from the house moments later in her coat and ran over to the truck and let me lift her into the passenger seat. I helped her buckle up her seat belt.
"Ready to go honey?"
She giggled and nodded.
"My feet are all wet now daddy!"
"Well if you wore your shoes you wouldn't have that problem."
"But they hurt when I wear them!"
I gave her a kiss on the forehead and got back into the drivers seat, and we headed off, up one of the tracks I used for hunting. We drove up it for about an hour, before I stopped the truck in a clearing and Jenna hopped off the truck.
"Where are we daddy?" Rose tried to peak out the window at the trees.
"The hunting grounds."
I got out and helped Rose out as well, then retrieved my rifle. Jenna was sniffing around the edge of the clearing, trying to find some clues as to where any deer might be.
"What's Jenna doing daddy?"
I slung my rifle and took hold of her hand.
"She's trying to find where some deer might be."
We walked over to where Jenna stood waiting, the snow here deeper than back at home.
"The snow's cold daddy! Can I ride on your shoulders?"
I bent down and picked her up, she giggled as I gently swung her onto my shoulders, her fuzzy hands gripping my forehead. Our breath crystallised in front of us as we followed Jenna through the deep snow, my legs occasionally sinking up to my knees in some spots.
"You're lucky you're so big daddy!" Rose giggled.
"You'll be this bog one day too."
"Don't be silly daddy, I'll never be as big as you!"
It took Jenna and myself a while to track down the deer, but I took the opportunity to teach Rose a little about tracking animals. Showing her how tracks, broken vegetation and even droppings could all be used to determine how long ago an animal had been there.
We climb a small hill and Jenna dropped to her tummy peaking over the top. I took rose from my shoulders and told her to be quiet and crept up to where Jenna was. Down below us was a small heard of deer. I un slung my rifle and looked down the scope at them.
"What are you doing daddy?" Rose kept her voice below a whisper.
"I'm scouting, seeing which one would be the best. You see, We only take one's that are poorly, injured or sick. This way, we can stop any of them that might, from suffering.
I saw one at the back of the heard, limping a little. I sighted on its leg to see that clearly had been broken, and was now on an odd and painful looking angle.
"Cover your ears darling."
She did so, and looked away. I slowed my breathing and sighted on the animal.
The gun shot echoes around the trees and the deer dropped from the bullet to the head, the rest of the heard scattering from the guns report.
Jenna bolted for the kill, she knew she would have to protect it until I could return with the truck.
Rose had a grin look on her face as we made our way back to the truck.
"Are you ok honey?" She didn't reply, just stopped and stretched her arms out to me. I picked her up and carried her the rest of the way. It was slow going back to the kill, and Rose fell asleep in her chair hugging my arm.
It took the better part of a half hour to get the deer onto the back of the truck, and I took the moment to drain it as well, so Rose wouldn't have a chance to stumble upon me doing it back at home.
That night as we ate our dinner, Rose was a little hesitant to eat her meat.
"Aren't you feeling hungry tonight Rose?"
She just shook her head and got off her chair, coming around to me. I pushed back from the table and let her climb into my lap. She clung to me tightly, so much so, that I could tell something was bothering her, and I had a fair idea on what it was.
"What's bothering you honey?
I kissed her head and rubbed her shoulder. She started sobbing, her ears laying flat to her head.
"I just feel sad about what happened to the deer today daddy!"
"It's ok, you don't need to come next time."
"No! I still wanna come next time."
I couldn't help but laugh lightly at her stubbornness.
As she grew, she changed even more. Initially she was a little disturbed at what I did to put food on our table. But by her tenth birthday, she had managed to get over her emotions. When her sixteenth birthday came, I gave her, her own rifle, mainly so she could feel a little more free. She often asked to go hunting on her own, and I would need to lend her my rifle.
Now she could go whenever she felt like it, and I knew that with Jenna, no harm could befall her.
It was around December when winter was at its worst, when the inevitable happened.
I was sitting in front of the fireplace, Jenna curled up at my feet, writing a letter when she came into the room.
"Dad," Her voice was quiet, but I still heard it clearly. "I need to ask you something, something important."
Not looking up from my letter I began to say;
"Ok honey, now when a man and a woman love each other very much..."
"No dad, not that. It's something else."
I put my pen and paper down and looked up at her. Her ears were flat on her head, and her tail motionless. These simple things told me she was nervous. I gestured for her to come and sit next to me, but instead she sat down on my lap and put her arms around my shoulders.
Despite how big she was now, she wasn't very heavy. I put my arms around her, and she rested her head on my shoulder.
"I want to know why I don't have a mother. Why I don't look like you."
"It's hard to explain dear."
"Please try Daddy."
I sighed heavily, and stroked her arm.
"A few days after you were born, there was a great calamity, one that has long since past, but its effects remain."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"You'll see, but let me finish before you ask any questions. You parents, your real parents, lived right next to me, back when I lived in the city, a place where buildings reached the sky, and people crowed there in their thousands.
"The day of this calamity, everything was insane. Good people became nothing more than petty thieves, and gangs and mobs ruled. Your parents came up to me as I was preparing to escape the city, they gave you to me. I don't know why, but they must of thought that you would be safer with me, than with them.
"Moments after they put you in my arms, they were attacked, your father was shot, and your mother was taken captive. She knew what they would do to her, and that she was better off dead. She asked... no begged me to shot her. Stop them from being able to hurt her.
"I did so, and then shot the men who had, in my eyes killed her.
Rose didn't say a thing for a few minutes, but I saw a few tears streak her cheek fur.
"Are you ok?"
She nodded and kissed my cheek, her wet nose leaving it with a slight tingling feeling.
"Daddy, I want a mum. I don't want you to be alone anymore."
"It's not as easy as that honey. It's not like I can just go into town and buy one."
She giggled at this, and cuddled closer to me.
"But you could at least starting looking for someone. Someone you can be happy with, someone I can be happy with."
"I already have someone."
She looked at me questioningly.
"Who?"
"You sweetheart. I don't need anyone else in my life, other than you."
"That's sweet dad," She sniffed back some more tears, and got off my lap, curling up next to me and resting her head on my shoulder. It wasn't long after that she was fast asleep.
The next week, I needed to go to the closest town and get supplies. It turned out that Rose wasn't the only one of her kind, a year or two after the explosion, nearly every different country began reporting more just like her. Now nearly a quarter of all the people in the world, were Anthropomorphic.
People named their race Furs, as nearly every single animal group was among their furred ranks, with the majority being canine or feline. But there was a fair amount of bovine and equine like furs as well, even rarer though where scaled ones, who were separate from the other Furs preferring to be called scalies.
The town near me was only small, and very few Furs inhabited the area, Rose being one of about a hundred.
What was even more surprising was that Fur's had been around for much longer that Rose, with thousands in their twenties and thirties.
Several, who lived in the town were this age, most of them looked like either foxes or wolves. A few were Deer, but most Furs were born in more heavily populated areas.
I parked the car near the general store and Rose, who came with me jumped out and ran over to the store.
I entered a few moments later and found her chatting excitedly with a Grey furred Wolf Fur. Liam pointed down the aisle and Rose had to refrain from running down there as fast as she could.
"What was all that about?" Liam looked up from what he was doing.
"Rosie wanted to know where Anya was, told her she was down there, stacking shelves."
I smiled. Rose and Anya were very good friends, even though Anya was only a few years younger than me. I followed Rose down the aisle and found her and Anya talking in a hushed tone. Rose had her back to me, and I put a finger to my lips as Anya glanced up at me.
Rose didn't notice I was behind her, until I scoped her up and tickled her tummy.
"Daddy! Stop.. it!" she managed between her giggles. I put her down and Anya embraced me.
"It's been a long time since you came down last."
"Yeah, Rose was practically itching in her seat on the trip down.
She looked down at Rose, who was practically hugging her leg. She seemed sad.
"Rose can you give me and Anya a little time alone? Why don't you go give Liam a hand with what he's doing?
Rose made an audible sigh and meandered halfway up the aisle.
"Keep going!" I told her when she looked back.
"Why did you do that?" Anya was a little concerned.
"Because you seem to be a little anxious over something. Tell me, what's bothering you?"
Anya put her hand to her forehead.
"It's nothing."
I placed a hand on her shoulder.
"When others say that it's always something."
"It's just, my landlord, he told me the other day that he has to move and sell his houses. His son wants him to be closer and houses in their area are really expensive. He said that I could buy the house off him, but I don't have nearly enough money for it, I'm just managing to scrape by as it is.
She was starting to cry a little, so I pulled her into a hug.
"I have to move out today, I was just about to finish up so I could go and finish packing before you and Rosie came."
"Do you have anywhere to go?"
She shook her head.
"Even Liam can't offer me a bed. He said he doesn't even have enough room for his wife and himself, let alone me."
"I... I can't offer you a bed, but I can offer you a couch."
"Really? You would put me up? Even though I don't know how long it will take me to find another home."
"Of course, as long as you keep the couch made."
She giggled at this.
"When would I be able to move in?"
"As soon as you can. I'll come round after I've gotten my supplies and help you with some of your belongings if you want."
"That would be great!"
She gave me a kiss on the cheek, then walked off quickly to finish her shift. Thankfully she didn't look back, otherwise she would of seen me blushing profusely. Anya was one of those Furs you just couldn't help but feel attracted to.
A snow white fur coat, long flowing Auburn hair, and black socked feet, with her two little toes white instead of black. But strangely she had a blood red marking run down her arm and around her forcep.
"I can't believe Anya get's to stay with us!" Rose really was jumping up and down in her seat this time, as we drove from the store to Anya's house. We arrived, and Rose couldn't get out of the truck faster, bolting inside to help Anya with some of her things.
I got out, once I had put the truck in a good spot, and walked inside, stomping the snow from my feet on the porch. Anya came outside and gave me another hug.
"I've just realised that my car isn't going to be able to make it up the trail to your place."
"Oh, why's that?"
She smiled at me, but the smile quickly faded.
"I don't know to be honest. I haven't started it for a few months since I work just around the corner."
"Say no more, must be nothing more than a flat battery, I'll fix it."
She now smiled broadly.
"You're a good friend, thanks."
As Rose and Anya piled a few boxes on the porch, I used my truck to pull Anya's car from her garage, then parked close to it, and popped both their hoods. I fiddled with the battery cover on her car, and then quickly connected up both our cars by the jumper leads I always kept in the truck.
But after a few minutes I was getting perplexed as to why it wouldn't start.
"Any luck?" Anya and Rose huddled on the porch.
"Nope, I think it might be something in the engine, something I can't fix here."
"How am I meant to get up to your place then?"
Rose just giggled.
"You come with us silly!"
Anya smiled at her and ruffled her hair.
"I guess that's my only option."
The trip back for Rose was excruciatingly slow, as I tried to limit the bumps, knowing Anya would have breakable items with in the four cardboard boxes.
Both Rose and Anya whispered quietly between them, giggling occasionally. Rose had wanted to sit in the back with Anya, which left me alone in the front.
"Hurry up daddy!"
"Calm down, we're nearly home."
She pouted at me, and Anya just gave her a cuddle. Rose had never had a friend around, as she was the only person her age. In fact the three of us made up three quarters of the youth, Liam being the only other person under the age of forty.
As soon as we arrived Rose almost dragged Anya from the car into the house.
"Come on Anya, I wanna show you my room!"
"But I need to get my things out of the truck first!"
"Don't worry Anya, I'll get you things out for you."
She smiled back and followed a very eager Rose inside.
Your probably wondering what Anya has to do with this story. Why would I be telling you about someone other than Rose. Well the reason is just coming up.
Anya had been staying at our house for a little over a month.
Even though I considered he to be a friend, I was beginning to feel something more. Even today, I can't really put my finger on what those feelings were. But now I really think about it, it can't be anything other than love.
It was a few days before I actually decided to act on my feelings.
I was sure she shared them. I had caught a glimpse of something more in her eyes when she would look at me.
Ever since I had offered her a place to stay, she seemed to have a spring in her step as it was. I also felt as though she was occasionally flirting with me. A seductive glance, a whispered word, a brush of her tail against me.
Things that would send someone else into a passionate frenzy.
I asked her if she wanted to go on a walk through the nearby woods. Winter had ended and the warmer, longer days was quickly melting the snow.
As we walked through the tree's I felt something at my side. I looked down my left flank to see Anya's hand around my waist. She rested her head on my shoulder, and a wrapped my arm around her.
"I've been hoping we could have some time alone." Anya's voice was a whisper, yet it seemed to echo through the tree's.
"Why is that?"
"Because you share my feelings."
I smiled at my suspicions being confirmed. She felt the same way I felt about her.
"I know. I've wanted some time alone with you for a while now. I just wasn't sure if you shared them as well. But now I know you do I can do something I've wanted to do for a while."
We stopped walking and she looked up at me, questioning.
I took that moment to kiss her. She was a little startled at first, but it was barely a heart beat later, that she pulled me deeper into the kiss. She broke away, her breathing quickened.
"I love you." When those words parted her lips, I could barely contain the emotions that came bubbling to the surface. I pulled her close and kissed her again.
We both stopped when we heard cheering off in the tree's. Anya's ears flattened, and she tried to pull away, but I stopped her.
"Rose come here!"
She emerged from between the tree's her ears were flat against her head, and she had a look on her face like she was in trouble. I beckoned for her to come closer, and she joined us. I put my arm around her, embracing both the people I loved.
"So, you finally told her huh!" Liam didn't stop working as he asked the question he already knew the answer. He was always working, never stopping.
"Yeah, Rose followed us. I doubt she missed a single word."
"So what are you gonna do now?" He placed some cans onto the shelf and walked partway down the aisle, grabbing another box of goods.
"What do you think I'll do?"
"Pop the question, what else."
"What? So soon? Should I wait a little before asking her that?"
Liam shook his head.
"The longer you leave it, in my opinion the worse it can get. You love her right?
I nodded.
"And she loves you, right?"
Again I nodded.
"Ok, you're right Liam. I love her, she loves me. I don't want to be apart from her any longer than I need to be."
"Then why are you still standing here for?"
That night, Anya and me went for another walk, this time I made Rose promise she wouldn't follow. I think though as I left, I saw in her eyes that she knew what was going to happen.
We walked slower this time, trying to take as long as we could before the sun dipped below the horizon, and we needed to go home.
"Anya, I need to ask you something important."
We both stopped walking and she looked up into my eyes.
I knelt down, and took her hands into mine. She was surprised, but still smiled at me.
"You're not doing what I think you are, are you?"
I nodded.
"Anya, will you do the honour, of becoming a mother to Rose, and a wife to me?"
She was silent for a moment. And a tear trickled down her furred cheek. She nodded and dropped to her knees, embracing and kissing me passionately.
"Yes, Yes, of course I will. I've been hoping for you to ask me that for a long time!"
The sun was gone by the time we returned home. Rose came running out to us, almost pouncing on me.
"Did you ask her? Did ya, did ya, did ya!?"
"Yes I did."
She squealed and ran around the front yard.
"Yes! I'm getting a mummy! I'm getting a mummy!"
I don't think I need to elaborate on this further, needless to say, Anya and I married a few months later, much to the happiness of Rose. Not only was she getting a mother, but she was getting a friend that could be closer to her than I ever could.
By the time she was in her twenties, the town we lived near was beginning to expand. And soon the town's population was nearly at ten thousand. Rose started working with Liam, and soon had made more friends. Until, she met Nathan.
I've only ever wanted her to be happy, and Nathan was the perfect person for her. An odd Cat Fur, he and Rose began to get closer. She asked one night if he could come for dinner, I agreed only because I wanted to get to know this guy, that apparently was dating my daughter.
Turned out he was just as good a guy as I could of hoped for. He was clean, dressed nicely, and I never once heard him swear.
Anya felt that Rose wouldn't want to love anyone else like she loved Nathan.
And after four years, he popped the question to her. Not before asking me if he could however. And well, that's the end of the story. Rose is now happily married to a nice man, and she can't wait to start a family of her own.
One just like the one she has left.
He put his glass to his lips and took a swig from the drink.
The people and Furs around him at the table were silent, before one, then the rest of them began to clap.
"Brilliant story Drake."
"And every word of it true," Anya put her hand on his knee, and he stroked her bulging tummy.
"Do you know what it is yet?" Someone asked him.
Drake looked lovingly into his wife's eyes.
"The doctors say it's going to be a baby girl."
A red furred fox in a beautiful white wedding dress, with long flowing blood red hair, came up behind him and put her arms around his shoulders.
"So I get a baby sister do I?"
Drake stroked her arm.
"Yes you do, but your still going to be my baby girl, forever and a day."
She leant down and kissed his cheek, some soft music began playing from the speakers in the room, people and Furs moving to a central area and slowly dancing with each other.
"May I have this dance daddy?"
Drake rose and guided her to the dance floor.
"Anything for my baby girl."
She giggled quietly and licked his cheek, as they slowly danced.
Father and daughter, together forever.