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Chapter 7: Fox and Wolverine

Classes kept them busy, but Flora and Cynthia still managed to meet their other friends

at lunch or dinner each day. Friday, they spent the afternoon in a majestic maple with Rosemary

and Chester. Rosemary carried the mouse up the tree in an old child's hiking backpack that she

had found at the thrift store, but Cynthia was able to sit on the branch with the rest of them once

they reached the top. The mouse was placed between Rosemary and Chester with Flora on

Chester's left, closest to the trunk.

"Are we still meeting at lunch tomorrow and going to the activities fair afterward?" Flora

inquired.

"If that still works for you," Rosemary answered.

"It does."

Flora kicked her feet, watching other students meandering across the yard below them,

while she wondered whether she should bring up her conversation with Lance from the end of

lab on Tuesday. She had not yet decided whether to go on a date with the wolverine, but she

felt she should decide soon. She'd discussed it with her high school friends, and they'd

encouraged her to try it. However, Chester might know the wolverine better.

"Lance asked me on a date in lab on Tuesday," she revealed shyly.

Chester turned to her with a grin, "He got up the courage, did he? You didn't shoot him

down too hard, I hope."

"I, um, haven't decided yet," Flora murmured embarrassedly. "He seems nice."

"Did you know he was going to ask, Chester?" Rosemary questioned.

"He asked me about it," Chester divulged. "I told him to give it a try, but I'm honestly

surprised you didn't say no right away, Flora."

"Why did you think I would do that?" Flora asked bashfully.

Chester snorted back a laugh. "Because he's been making eyes at you since you first

met, and you've barely given him a second glance. I assumed he wasn't your type."

"I-I don't know if he is," Flora admitted. "He's a little big."

Chester burst into laughter, "Pff-ahaha, he-he, hahaha, he might be! Hahahahaha!"

Rosemary regarded the chortling cat distastefully.

"Th-that's not what I-!" Flora began to protest before cutting herself off in

embarrassment.

When Chester had calmed down, Rosemary spoke, "If you think you might like him, it

doesn't hurt to go on a date. If you decide you're not compatible, then you can tell him whenever

you figure that out. If he's a decent guy, he'll accept that. I'm afraid I don't know him well enough

to give more advice than that."

"If I'd known you might say yes, I might have asked him first," Chester declared

cheerfully. "I guess that's what I get for waiting."

"Is Lance bi or pan?" Flora asked Chester shyly.

"Didn't he tell you that? Maybe he was afraid he'd scare you off."

"I-I don't mind either way!" Flora clarified quickly. "I, um, I was surprised when he asked.

I guess I didn't notice him looking at me."

"I'm surprised you were surprised," Rosemary remarked. "You must draw a lot of eyes."

"M-must I?" Flora murmured embarrassedly.

Rosemary sighed exasperatedly, "Don't tell me no one's ever told you how pretty you

are!"

"I assumed they were just being nice," Flora murmured. "No one really seemed

interested in high school."

"I think you're very beautiful, Flora," Cynthia squeaked shyly.

"Thank you," Flora murmured embarrassedly. "You're pretty too, and you, Rosemary,

and-"

"I know I'm gorgeous!" Chester declared jovially.

Rosemary sighed with mock exasperation, "No one ever said cats were modest."

Flora smiled, feeling less tense and embarrassed thanks to her friends' sense of humor.

"Lance originally wanted to go to the activities fair together. But I thought Cynthia would want to

go too, so I don't know what we're going to do if we do go on a date."

"I could always take Cynthia if you wanted to go with Lance," Chester offered.

Flora glanced down at the mouse, who had looked up to regard the cat with trepidation.

"I, um, I guess that would be okay," Cynthia squeaked. The nervousness in her tone

suggested she was less than comfortable with the arrangement.

Chester looked down at her with concern, "If you're not comfortable with it, that's okay. I

suppose you don't know me as well as Flora."

"I trust you," Cynthia replied agitatedly. "It's just, um, I-I'm not so sure I could handle your

claws."

Chester briefly glanced at Flora's hand on the branch beside him, "Flora has claws

though. I mean, she has to, or she couldn't climb up here."

Cynthia looked down and straightened her whiskers bashfully, "I, um, I guess I forgot

about that."

"I'll take you if you want me to," Flora reassured her.

"N-no, I, um, I'll be fine with Chester," Cynthia murmured embarrassedly. "I don't want

you to feel like I'm a burden."

"I don't feel that way," Flora told her firmly. "But if you don't mind, I'll tell Lance I can go

with him. I guess we can see if we have similar interests then."

They didn't see Lance at dinner, but afterward, when she and Cynthia were back in their

room, Flora texted the wolverine to tell him she would go to the activities fair with him.

Really!?! Awesome! I'll see you at lunch before then! he texted back.

Yeah, see you.

Flora set down her phone. She still wasn't sure Lance was her type, but she wanted to

give him a chance. With her limited dating experience, she wasn't really sure who she would

connect with romantically.

"How do you know who you like, Cynthia?" Flora asked.

Cynthia blinked up at her from her bed where she was scanning her own phone, "I just

do, I guess."

"I don't know what kind of guys I like," Flora groused. "I don't even know if I only like

guys!"

"I, um, guess you have time to figure it out," Cynthia offered.

"Is there anyone you like?" Flora asked.

"I, um, I'm not sure," Cynthia squeaked bashfully.

"It sounds like we both need time to figure this out," Flora decided. "I'm going to take a

shower."

Flora showered, and once they were both ready to sleep, she scooped Cynthia up onto

her bed and got them both situated. It was now routine for Cynthia to snuggle herself into

Flora's white and light brown neck fur, and once Flora had rested her head, she gently scooted

the little mouse close.

"I don't think you need to worry about finding someone, Flora," Cynthia squeaked softly.

"You're one of the kindest people I know."

"Thank you, Cynthia," Flora murmured.

Flora knew enough to understand that the universe didn't owe someone happiness for

being kind, but she still hoped Cynthia was right. As much as Flora loved and cared for her

friends, she nevertheless wanted to find that one person to spend her life with, and she wanted

to have meaningful romantic encounters along the way. Maybe Lance would be the first of

those, and if they weren't ultimately right for each other, maybe she would learn something

about herself to help her find the next person.

* * *

At the end of lunch the next day, Chester took Cynthia, and then Flora and Lance parted

with Chester, Cynthia, Rosemary, Amber, and Becca to head out to the student activities fair

behind the student union. The others would be going to the fair as well, and they'd certainly

bump into each other; however, Flora and Lance would have time to discuss their interests

without the others' interruption. The activities fair was bustling with students. Lance let Flora

walk in front as they made their way between the folding tables that had been set up along the

sidewalk for the event. The first table Flora stopped at was the outdoors club. The table was

personed by a porcupine and a blue jay, and their hand-written poster read 'Hiking, Boating,

Camping, and More!'

"Are there many places to hike around Wolfsbane?" Flora asked.

"There are several nice parks," the blue jay replied. "But we get access to a bus so that

we can go hiking or camping in larger forest areas. We can also rent boats to paddle up the Fox

Claw River."

"I think I'd like to sign up," Flora decided.

The blue jay pushed a pen across the table with their wing, and Flora added her name

and email to the lined sheet, which was held in a clipboard.

"Do you want to sign up, Lance?" Flora asked, offering him the pen.

The wolverine smiled amiably, "Sure, I like hiking." He filled in his information. "I really

like Winter sports too. Do you do those?" he inquired.

"There's not a lot of snow in Wolfsbane, and the river doesn't freeze. So not really," the

blue jay answered.

"I like to skate and cross-country ski," Flora told Lance. "I guess it comes from growing

up up North."

"How about downhill skiing and hockey?" Lance asked.

Flora smiled awkwardly, "Erm, not really. I've never been downhill skiing, and I'm not

really all that competitive when it comes to sports."

The next table Flora stopped at was for the biochemistry club. "What kind of things do

you do?" she asked the red vixen at the table curiously.

The vixen eyed Flora suspiciously with a frown before answering, "We hang out and chat

about class. Sometimes we share advice on classes we've taken." She paused and probed

Flora with her eyes a moment longer.

"Um, I think I'll pass, thanks," Flora responded hastily. She quickly trotted by the table.

"What was that about?" Lance murmured under his breath when they were a few tables

away.

"I think she was trying to figure out if I was the vixen from the rumors," Flora whispered

uncomfortably. "My old roommate has been saying bad things about me."

Lance frowned disconcertedly, "That's awful. I'm sorry."

Flora responded with a small nod; she didn't want to talk about Isabelle at the moment.

The red vixen had continued to take covert shots at her in their writing section, and worse, it

seemed like most of the other red foxes in the class knew who they were directed at.

Flora stopped at the next table out of pure curiosity. Written with flourish in calligraphy

and surrounded by what appeared to be writhing tentacles were the words 'The Eldritch

Society'. The table was personed by a crow in a white fedora and a completely black cat with

wide green eyes.

"What do you do?" Flora queried.

The cat blinked at her owlishly, "We prepare for the return of the Great One."

Flora frowned in confusion.

"The Great Old One!" the crow cawed. "Our Lord Cthulhu!"

"Oh, I see," Flora returned awkwardly. "Thanks for your help." She continued by the

table.

"Didn't you want to join?" Lance teased good-humoredly.

"I'm honestly still not sure what they were talking about," Flora whispered

embarrassedly.

"Cthulhu. It's a Lovecraftian monster."

"Oh. I, um, I think my friend Ellie might have mentioned something about that before.

She's into horror."

"You're not, I take it."

Flora shook her head, "I'm into more romantic stuff, but I do like fantasy as long as it

doesn't get too dry. What do you like?"

"I like horror and science fiction," Lance answered.

"You'd probably get along well with Ellie," Flora concluded.

"I'm having fun with you," Lance returned reassuringly.

Flora turned back to smile at him, "I'm having fun too."

They met the others about two-thirds of the way through the tables.

"How's it going?" Chester meowed cheerfully.

"Fine," Flora answered. "I, um, I wouldn't suggest signing up for biochemistry club. I think

Isabelle's gotten to them. The only one I've signed up for so far was the outdoors club."

"O-okay," Cynthia squeaked nervously from Chester's hands.

"Are you two doing alright together?" Flora inquired.

Cynthia nodded.

"Check out the swing dancing club," Rosemary recommended. "We all signed up for it.

It'll be fun."

"Alright," Flora agreed.

The groups continued past each other.

"Hang on one second," Lance requested. "I want to sign up for intramural street hockey."

Flora waited whilst he wrote his information.

"You didn't want to sign up, did you?" he asked when he was done.

Flora shook her head.

Next, Flora stopped by the photography club. But she didn't have a camera, and it

seemed too expensive to get a good one. After that, they came to the swing dancing table, and

Flora added her name to the list before offering the pen to Lance.

"Er, no thanks, I can't really dance," Lance responded awkwardly.

"I've never done swing dancing either, but it might be fun," Flora replied.

"I'd rather not," Lance stated uncomfortably.

"Okay," Flora set the pen back on the table.

Shortly, they reached the end of the tables. Flora turned back and tried to see if she

could pick out the others in the throng. She noticed Lance looking at her and met his dark brown

eyes with a shy smile.

"It was fun comparing our interests," she stated. "We should try to do some more stuff

outside sometime. Can you climb trees? Rosemary, Chester, and I climb one occasionally. We

took Cynthia up last time."

"Um, I can, but I'm not that comfortable with heights," Lance admitted.

"Okay, we can go for a walk sometime, just you and me or with the others if you want."

"Would, uh, would you want to go on more of a 'date' date soon?" he asked uncertainly.

Flora smiled bashfully, "Sure, I want to get to know you better."

"Could we go to dinner tomorrow?" he pressed anxiously.

Flora shifted on her feet and swished her tail behind her embarrassedly, "I'll have to

make sure Chester can help Cynthia, but I think so."

He grinned, "Thanks! I really like you, Flora."

Flora returned a small smile. She certainly felt like she knew Lance better now, but she

still felt for him what she felt for any of her friends. He was handsome enough, she supposed,

but there wasn't a spark yet. He likes me much more than that. That knowledge made Flora feel

a little bit awkward, but she supposed one proper date wouldn't hurt.

* * *

Chester gladly agreed to take Cynthia to dinner, and since Cynthia seemed comfortable

with that arrangement too, Flora agreed to go to dinner with Lance on Sunday. Chester stopped

by their room to collect the mouse and take her to eat with him and Rosemary whilst Flora and

Lance visited the French restaurant by the café she and Cynthia had visited the other day. Flora

had suggested it as neither of them were familiar with Wolfsbane yet, and the French restaurant

was quite close.

Upon hearing his knock, Flora let Chester in, and the beige tabby bounced across the

room before crouching beside Cynthia's bed, where she was seated. He held out his hands in

front of him, "Is my mousie friend ready to be in my claws?" he teased good-humoredly.

Cynthia nodded shyly, and Chester scooped her up in his hands and stood, clutching her

to his chest.

"Thank you for your help," Flora addressed the cat.

Chester smiled affably, "No problem. It's kind of fun getting to have my own little prey.

Good luck with Lance!"

Flora was less sure about the statement before it, but she smiled and nodded in

acknowledgement of Chester's encouragement. Chester left with Cynthia.

With Cynthia in good paws, Flora donned a sleeveless, crew-neck, dark green dress

with a wavy bottom that fluttered around her knees when she walked. She slipped the carved

wooden bracelet Charlotte had given her around her left wrist, checked her fur for any disorderly

patches, and hastened out of her room to meet Lance on the sidewalk outside of her dorm. The

wolverine was already waiting, and he waved when Flora stepped out the door. He was wearing

a maroon dress shirt, and as Flora approached him, she noticed he looked more nervous than

usual. Reciprocal nervousness fluttered in Flora's chest, and she smiled shyly.

"Hi Lance!" she piped, trying to hide the timidity in her voice lest it be mistaken for

misgivings about the date. I want to get to know him better. That can't hurt, right?

"Hi Flora, you, uh, look lovely this evening," Lance mumbled bashfully.

Flora swished her tail anxiously, unsure how to take the awkward compliment, "Erm,

thanks, you look good too." She paused. "Umm, do you know the way, or should I lead?"

"I looked it up, but if you know, I'll follow you."

"Okay."

Lance self-consciously held out his right hand, "May I?"

After a heartbeat of hesitation, Flora placed her left hand in the wolverine's larger hand.

His hand gently closed around hers, engulfing it in a warm, furred and padded cocoon. Flora

eyed his sharp black claws and the coarse black fur of his enormous hand and thick arm with a

small amount of trepidation. They might both be carnivores, but there was no question which

was the more powerful. She yanked herself away from the agitating reverie.

"Alright, let's go," she chirped.

They made their way across campus. Flora's agitation caused her to walk somewhat

faster than she otherwise would have, and she occasionally tugged on Lance's arm. For the

most part though, they walked side-by-side. Flora glanced up at the wolverine several times

during their short walk, but he seemed to be nervously avoiding her eyes. Instead, Flora

contemplated his muscular form: he was only a little over a head taller than her but much

stockier, powerfully built. Flora had heard that wolverines had once hunted prey much larger

than themselves, and she didn't see any reason to discredit this rumor when she examined her

date.

They were greeted in the restaurant by a European polecat wearing an embroidered

black vest and black bow tie. "Good evening. Will two be all for you?"

Lance nodded, "I have a table reserved for 'Firth'."

The polecat grabbed two off-white cardstock menus and motioned for them to follow.

The dining area was carpeted midnight blue and enclosed in walls painted charcoal gray while

the wood of the tables was almost ebony. Pairs of white stick candles in crystal holders burned

on each table, and soft overhead lighting was provided only by a dimly lit crystal chandelier

hanging above the center of the room. Silverware was laid out on midnight blue cloth napkins

and included three sizes of forks, two spoons, and two knives. Despite being almost entirely

filled with diners, the room was nearly silent except for the clink of silverware and glasses and

the occasional quiet murmur uttered under the breath. Flora found the overall atmosphere

oppressive though she thought it might have been elegantly inviting with more light and a livelier

chatter of voices.

The polecat silently led them to their table near the center of the room and laid the

menus at their places. "Your server will be with you shortly," he murmured. He turned and left

the room as silently as he had entered.

Flora and Lance slipped into their seats. Lance's seat creaked, causing Flora to give a

little start. She nervously glanced around the room, but no one seemed to have been disturbed

by the noise. She met Lance's eyes in the candlelight: the flames glinted in his dark brown and

black orbs. The expression of his dark features was difficult to read in the dim, flickering light.

She smiled self-consciously.

"I hope it isn't too expensive," she whispered. "It looks like it would be."

"It is a little, but you don't need to worry about it. I'll pay," he murmured.

"I can pay for my own if you want," Flora returned worriedly.

Lance slowly shook his head, "I want to. We can split the bill next time."

Flora let the topic drop. She felt a little guilty since she had suggested the restaurant, but

she didn't want to argue if Lance felt it was his duty to pay, regardless of how silly she found this

sentiment. Lance didn't need to pay to spend time with her; they were friends. You're here

because he wants to be more than friends, a little voice reminded her. Flora swished her bushy

tail, which extended between the vertical wooden bars of the back of her chair, and crossed her

right ankle over the other. She nervously brushed her right index finger over her right-side

whiskers.

"Um, I guess I ought to decide," she murmured embarrassedly.

She quickly swiped up the menu and studied it carefully, trying to ignore the swirling

feelings of doubt, nervousness, and guilt stirring inside her. Perhaps she shouldn't have agreed

to come. Was she leading him on? He was a friend, but she didn't think she felt the way he did.

Was there some way she could tell him that wouldn't hurt him? I ought to at least give him the

chance of this one date. Flora began to study the menu in earnest; she decided on the

ratatouille with polenta.

After a couple more minutes their server, an elegant silver tabby in a royal blue blouse

with short, ruffled sleeves at her shoulders, arrived. "Would you like anything to drink?" she

murmured.

"Water's fine," Flora whispered back.

"For me too," Lance added softly.

Flora was a little relieved that Lance hadn't ordered any alcohol. While she'd been old

enough to drink since she'd turned eighteen in June, she hadn't partaken. Samantha had once

gotten them some beers during their sophomore year of high school, and aside from tasting

revolting, it had made her feel horrible afterward. Flora wasn't anxious to try it again.

"Are you ready to order, or do you need a few more minutes?" the cat asked.

"I'm ready," Flora answered. "I'd like the ratatouille with polenta."

"That's one of our vegetarian dishes. Is that okay?"

Flora nodded, and the cat turned to Lance.

"Er, I'd like the duck confit," Lance murmured.

"Would you like the vegetables or the side salad?"

"Uh, can I substitute the roasted potatoes?"

The cat nodded, jotting their order on her notepad. "I'll be right back with your water."

She left.

"You didn't have to order one of the cheapest things," Lance murmured embarrassedly.

"I just picked what sounded good," Flora returned.

Lance frowned doubtfully, but he didn't argue. Flora knew that, for a more carnivorous

member of her order, it might seem strange to select a vegetarian meal, but Flora found

vegetables had a wider range of flavor than that provided by meat. She ate meat as she

needed, but when she felt she'd had enough, she liked to broaden her palate with different

plant-based foods.

The tabby soon returned with their glasses of water. Flora sipped hers and awkwardly

contemplated her date. What else should they talk about?

"You're from Rowansburg, aren't you?" she inquired quietly. "What's it like there?"

"It's a college town," Lance answered. "About three thousand students at the university

and nine thousand residents in the surrounding city."

"It's even smaller than Willowdale then," Flora commented. "Have you ever been

somewhere as big as Wolfsbane? I haven't."

Lance shook his head, "No, but on campus Wolfsbane doesn't seem so different. The

atmosphere is pretty similar, except for all of the red foxes."

"That's like saying the meadow is 'pretty similar' to the forest except for all the trees,"

Flora returned pointedly.

Lance chuckled softly, "Heheh, I guess so."

Flora went on in an irritated whisper, "They're so arrogant and selfish! In my writing

section, they're just horrible! They talk like Vulpineva is for them alone!"

"I guess that's what happens when you have all that money and privilege," Lance replied

awkwardly. "Are you having trouble with them in class?"

Flora sighed wearily, "It's mostly Isabelle, but the others know what she's doing. Even if

they don't agree with it, they haven't done anything to stop it."

"Have you tried going to the professor?" Lance asked concernedly.

Flora snorted in sardonic amusement at the suggestion. "Dr. McLaughlin is barely

present! I doubt he'd have any idea what I was talking about if I went to him."

"What have they been doing?" Lance inquired. "If you don't mind saying," he added

hastily.

"It's all snide remarks and innuendo," Flora explained. "But depending on the

opportunity, I either am prey, can't be trusted with them, or would rather have them in charge.

To be honest, if it meant those arrogant jerks wouldn't be, I probably would prefer the last one."

"I'm sorry," Lance murmured awkwardly. "Are your other classes going alright?"

Flora nodded embarrassedly. Perhaps this hadn't been the best time and place to vent

about Isabelle and her cronies.

"That's good. And we, er, I mean our other friends and I, we know that you're not like

that, what the red foxes in your class said, I mean," he finished embarrassedly.

Flora smiled softly, "Thank you, Lance."

They were silent for several seconds, and then Lance spoke again, "I really like you,

Flora. Not because you're pretty. Er, I mean, you are pretty, but, um, also, you're really kind and

sweet. When I, um, when I've seen you with Cynthia, you're so gentle, and I can tell how much

you care. I want to care for you like that, Flora! I want to make you feel safe like that too!"

Flora blinked at the candle-lit wolverine across the table, unsure how to respond to his

confession. She felt his comparison to her relationship with Cynthia was odd. Flora didn't think

she really needed someone to take care of her; she could take care of herself. In fact, she

wanted to! Did Lance think her gentleness and compassion made her weak? Did he think she

was naive? Perhaps she was naive, but the longer she considered what he'd said, the more

certain she was that she didn't need his protection!

"I appreciate that you like me," Flora murmured after several seconds. "But I think we

should remain friends, Lance. I don't want a partner who feels he needs to protect me."

Lance stared at her for a moment then lowered his gaze. "I understand," he murmured

sadly.

"I'm sorry, Lance," Flora apologized anxiously. "I like you, but maybe we're just not right

for each other. I'm sure there are lots of people who would like you to care for them like that, but

that's not what I want."

Lance nodded dejectedly.

The remainder of their meal was held in awkward silence with the exception of a few

hesitantly interjected inquiries about the other's meal, made for the sake of politeness. The

ratatouille and polenta were quite tasty, but Flora would have enjoyed them more in less doleful

company. She felt awkward and guilty about the distress she'd caused Lance, but she wasn't

sure there was anything she could do about it short of changing her mind, which wouldn't have

been fair to either of them when she was certain it would have only led to greater heartbreak

down the line. I need a partner who knows they can rely on me too, Flora decided. Perhaps she

could have proven herself to Lance, but she didn't feel it was wise to start a relationship with the

intent to change someone's mind, particularly on a point that might reflect deep-seated

attitudes. Perhaps Lance would learn more and change his own mind, and if he did, then

perhaps Flora would give him another chance.

At the end of the meal, Flora offered to pay for her portion again, but Lance insisted on

paying the full bill. He walked her back to her dorm--without holding hands this time--and they

said their goodnights.