FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

~ Chapter 6 ~

At 10:00 am I got off the bus in front of the zoo entrance. The parking lot was shimmering in the heat as if I was looking through a veil of water. My sandals quickly warmed up on the sidewalk and I was glad I didn't drive. Tar on the parking lot was turning into a viscous goo like used gum. Many people trailed thin black threads behind themselves as they walked towards the entrance. The forecast called for highs in the mid-90s and 64% humidity. Unfortunately rain's not going to happen any time soon so all of us just have suffer.

Escaping the torrid blast furnace with my life and stepping inside the building, I felt renewed energy lift my spirits. Air conditioning was certainly a godsend and something I wish I had back at my place. It was like a kiss from an ice cube and my skin prickled at the change.

My eyes adjusted to the change of light a little slower than I wanted and I stumbled on the rubber-backed rug safeguarding the museum from various messes caused by mud, grime, dirt, and tar threads. I wound my way through the various gates, paying my way in, museum exhibits, vendors, souvenir shacks, and other zoo-gawkers to the outside food court, looking for Cade.

For about an hour I sat underneath a blue-striped umbrella sipping on a Coke. Visitors walked by with food, without food, with kids, with lovers, holding hands, screaming, happy, crabby, alone, in packs, talking, silent, large, small, young, old, about as diverse of a population as the zoo its self held. But throughout my people-watching, I didn't catch even a hint of red wolf anywhere. My heart sagged.

Around eleven I threw away my empty, soggy, paper cup and left the food court. It didn't seem possible an hour ago that it could get any hotter, but it was shaping up to be one of the hotter days of the summer. The humidity played pranks with my fur and I felt continually damp without a hint cold or rain. I should've gotten a refill.

I found myself in front of the timber wolf exhibit, leaning on the wooden railing, wishing I was down there relaxing in the pool or under one of the shady trees. Every bench that I came across to this point was filled to the brim with people trying to escape the heat. God, why did I ever come here in the first place? It's always been too hot and miserable in the day to do anything and places like these are always crowded. Parks are good, but it's muggy out. Malls are nice to get out of the heat, but they're the most crowded places on earth.

Fuck it, Cade's not going to show up. He probably thought the weather had gotten too bad, too. Shit, I wish I had his cell phone number with me. Wait-

A scent of mint wafted across my snout and a shadow appeared beside me. Immediately my spirits rose again and I turned with a smile on my face.

"Cade!"

"Yup!" his smarmy grin filled my vision and his eyes danced. He was briskly chewing one of his blue mints like gum.

"Where were you?" I frowned.

"Trying to find a place to get out of the heat and away from the crowds," he said matter-of-factly. He grabbed my hand, "Come on, I'll show ya."

We meandered through the crowd of people. I sometimes lost sight of Cade, but still felt his hand guiding me through the mass of bodies.

"How'd you know I'd be at the wolves exhibit?" I asked as we were dodging.

"I didn't!" Cade called back, "I sat at the food court for a bit, then realized that it'd be getting too hot out. I scoped out a place, came back, still didn't see you, so I just followed the crowd. Guess I got lucky!"

"Smart ass!" I yelled forward. Cade cackled.

We rounded a corner and jumped the stream of people. Ahead of us was a rock structure with a ramp leading down into the façade. Trees shaded the out-of-the-way area and yellow construction tape blocked the ramp.

"Where are we?" I asked, getting a hold of my breath.

"Nocturnal Creatures exhibit. It's under construction, but they're only painting it. Here." Cade ducked through the tape and lifted it up for me. Glancing around, I followed and we entered the unlocked door. Immediately the difference was noticeable. The inside was as cool as the main building but considerably darker. The past hour and a half in the sun was forgotten and the chills set upon me at once.

"Oh," I exclaimed reactively, "It's cold."

"They have to keep it relatively cool, for the animals," Cade explained, "These are one of the most comfortable animals in the zoo with this kind of weather out."

"I bet," I gazed at a flying fox hanging onto a small limb.

"They only get cooler, come on." Cade half-dragged me towards the center of the exhibit where the larger creatures were held. Small, dim light bulbs recessed into the ceiling were our source of illumination and light strips along the ground guided us to our resting spot, a large open rotunda with large windows that looked out onto various environments. One section of the windows wasn't lit at all. In one held a den of fennec foxes. In another there were plenty of trees and the illuminated eyes of aye-ayes. Loris, kinkajous, zorros, quolls, and all other types of creatures surrounded us. We sat against the far, blank wall so we could see all of the exhibits. Cade crawled between my legs and rested his head against my chest. I wrapped my arms around him and breathed in his scent mixed with mint.

"Try this," he said, holding up a drink. I didn't know he had one, all this time.

"What is it?" I asked as a surprisingly ice-cold liquid hit my stomach. For a second I felt brain freeze.

"It's Sprite, a lemon Italian ice, and a couple of my mints crushed together. Keeps me cool."

"Mmmmm," I murmured, "It's good. And you're warm."

Cade giggled. I felt every exhale against my chest.

I perked my head up as a new creature entered the man-made forest. It looked around for a while, sniffing the floor and then moving on, presumably through a hidden tunnel.

"A red fox," I said, bemused.

"Yep," chirped Cade, "It was cute." He paused for a bit, then twisted his head to look at me, "Do you ever wonder why there aren't more animals that have sapient counterparts?"

I chewed on that statement for a bit before answering. "Nope. I never had, actually. I should ask Bruise that next time I see him."

"Who's Bruise?" Cade asked, resting his head again.

"Bruise. Bruiser, the bouncer at Infinitá."

"Oh you mean the guy with the hawk and elk tattoo?"

"That's him. The hawk symbolizes speed, dedication, and good vision."

"And the elk?"

"Dunno. He didn't tell me that."

"Well. You know what I think?"

"What?"

"I think the elk is Hehaka."

"Who's that?"

"Hehaka is the animal spirit associated with..." he hesitated. Then with a slight humorous waver in his voice he said, "...manly powers."

I laughed at that, feeling Cade bounce with every outburst. It felt good; something I hadn't experienced in a long time. I no longer regretted being at the zoo, nor with Cade. If we were to get caught, then so be it. Just being there like that was worth any trouble or hassle in the future.

We stayed that way for who knows how long. The animals came and went and I think both of us dozed off for a little bit. It was peaceful and comforting. I held onto Cade a little tighter, like an old, stuffed teddy bear in a child's arms.

"We should go before the workers come back," Cade yawned.

I let go of him and we both stretched, his tail lightly brushing my legs. "This way."

We followed the rest of the exhibit to the exit where Cade dropped his soda concoction in the trash. Checking to make sure we weren't being watched, we ambled out of the darkness into the glaringly bright sunshine.

The rest of the zoo was great. We rode the monorail around the park and made fun of the people below, we wandered through the botanical garden, the indoor atrium - as well as the aquarium, and caught an outside raptor show.

It was late afternoon by the time we left the zoo, dodging most of the mid-day heat only to catch the radiant heat that had collected in all things rock and metal. Families with small children and groups in matching t-shirts were marching out the doors also; returning home or wherever they came from.

"Where to now?" Cade turned to me, face bright from the days activities and glowing from the dropping sun. A halo of red surrounded his face and his eyes sang.

"Infinitá?" I shrugged.

"Sounds wonderful!" he grinned.

We held hands for the entire bus ride there.