Family Tails

A Story of a Mixed Family in the Genetic Age

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Names of actual businesses, their products, etc, are the property of their respective owners.

Story and characters © 2013 Ronald J. Lebeck

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Chapter 22

Thanksgiving Day was cold and clear, and when the sun finally rose, its light sparkled on the recently fallen snow. Ron and Rob had both awakened early to get started cooking the turkeys and ham in their big smoker, and begin making pumpkin pies and other goodies.

Helga had flown up from Texas the day before, arriving in the early evening. Stepping out from the terminal, Helga was thankful for the long down-filled coat and wool scarf Lupina had picked out for her, for the temperature at the time was minus eighteen degrees, a lot colder than it was in the part of Texas The Center is located.

"I see what you mean about how cold it gets here," Helga said.

"This is nothing," Rob said as they waited for Ron to bring his large SUV around, "It'll be down to minus forty to minus fifty before long, particularly where we live at."

"Then you will need someone to keep you warm on these long, cold nights," Helga teased suggestively, putting her arm around Rob's waist.

Rob grinned to himself, imagining what it might be like snuggled against the Norwegian forest cat G.E.L.F. who is becoming increasingly closer to him.

Helga was sleeping on the sleeper sofa in Rob's living room, so when Rob got up, he moved about silently, not wanting to wake his guest. Helga stirred when Rob slipped out the front door with his contribution of meat for the smoker.

"Hey Rob," Ron greeted his friend as he tended the smoker.

"Howdy Ron," Rob returned the greeting.

Ron opened the smoker so that Rob could put in the ham that he had brought. Ron already had two turkeys in the smoker, along with some sausages.

"Want some coffee? Got some made already," Ron offered.

"Sure, sounds good," Rob said, accepting the offer.

When they got inside, Lupina was already up and making breakfast.

"Hey baby," Lupina said with a smile, wagging her tail.

"'Morning, luv," Ron said heading towards her.

"Hi, Rob, you're up early too, eh?" Lupina greeted him with a little wave.

"Howdy Lupina. Yeah, I had to bring that ham over so we could get it into the smoker, Rob replied.

Ron wrapped his arms around his mate from behind and nuzzled her behind her left ear.

"Smells good, baby," Ron said after taking a deep sniff.

"It's just sausage and eggs, dear," Lupina giggled.

"That smells good, too," Ron murmured in her ear, and gave his mate a little squeeze.

Rob watched Ron and Lupina for a moment, and then thought to himself, "They're certainly happy together. I wonder if it could be that way with me and Helga?"

"Rob?" Ron said getting his friend's attention as he brought a couple of mugs of coffee over to the table.

"Huh? Oh, thanks," Rob said, bringing his thoughts back to the here and now.

"Thinking of something, or just spacing along?" Ron asked with a little grin.

"A little of both, probably," Rob replied, taking a sip of his coffee.

Ron had an idea what his friend was probably thinking about.

"How was having a woman in the house for once last night?" Ron asked.

"Different. She slept on the sleeper sofa last night," Rob replied.

"I would be surprised if she wasn't," Ron smirked.

"Surprised about what, dear?" Lupina asked as she placed a plate of eggs and sausages in front of Ron. "Want some, Rob? I made plenty," she asked Rob before her mate could reply to her first question.

"No thanks, Lu, just coffee for me right now. I'm going to make something for Helga and I in a bit," Rob replied.

"Oh, Rob just mentioned that Helga slept on his sleeper sofa last night," Ron finally got to reply.

"Oh, well, that's how it was for me and Rosie, and I heard it was the same for Lizzie," Lupina grinned.

"Heh, I remember--that's three for three there, Rob. I guess we'll see what happens tonight," Ron said with a grin.

"You know I wouldn't jump into the sack with a woman I'm not married to," Rob said flatly.

Lupina got behind Rob and leaned down, resting her crossed arms across the back of his shoulders.

"We G.E.L.F.s don't think like that, my friend. If we find someone we like, and they like us, then we mate. It gets a bit more involved for some during mating season, but other than that, that's just the way it is. If you really like Helga, show her, let her know how much you care. You don't have to get fancy, just be a good person to be with. She's already interested in you, so loosen up already!" Lupina explained, giving Rob's shoulders a little playful shake when she finished.

"Aye Rob, she likes you sure enough. Put Helga off too long and she might think you don't like her enough," Ron added.

"Yeah, you were made for each other," Lupina said, giving Ron a wink as she headed back to the stove.

Rob wondered what Lupina meant by that as he finished the rest of his coffee.

"Oh, you know she's probably awake by now and wondering where you're at," Lupina reminded Rob.

Looking up at the clock on the wall, Ron said, "Yep, I imagine so. It's 0708 hours now, so it would be 1008 hours for her."

"I guess I'd better head back to the house," Rob said and then got up to put his coat on.

Rosie came into the kitchen rather sleepily, wearing a flannel robe, while Rob was getting ready to go back home. She gave him a little wave and then put her arms around Ron's neck. She leaned in and nuzzled her mate, and sniffed as he lifted a piece of sausage on his fork.

"Bite?" Ron asked as he held the morsel up to Rosie's mouth.

Rosie grinned and took the offered piece. "M-m-m, 'morning, big guy," Rosie said after she swallowed the bite of food.

"Good morning, Rozer-dozer", Ron said affectionately, giving her a kiss.

Rosie gave Lupina a quick nuzzle, and then headed for the coffee pot.

"We'll be over later this afternoon," Rob said when he was ready to go.

"Leaving already?" Rosie asked Rob, thinking that he had just come in.

"Yeah, just came over to put a ham in the smoker and have a cup of coffee," Rob replied.

"Oh, well, I guess I'll see ya later," Rosie said, and she gave Rob a quick, friendly hug before he left.

On his way back to his house, Rob thought about what Lupina and Ron had said. He felt conflicted for several reasons--he still had issues stemming from past relationships that he knew he had to move past if he was going to get any further with Helga. According to his own beliefs, he felt strongly about being married to a woman before having sex. In his wilder, younger days, that wasn't always the case, but as he got older, Rob had re-evaluated his life, and chose the particular path he now followed. While he and Ron didn't share the same beliefs, they both respected each other's views, even if they didn't always agree. Now that he had to contend with the fact that the woman he's falling for isn't human, and he wasn't sure how that fit into his beliefs. He understood what lupine had said, and he had to consider how Helga viewed things, too. Being no longer purely human himself, due to the genetic enhancements he and the others volunteered to receive over thirty years ago, helped a little in his decision making process. Helga's body may be that of a genetically re-engineered animal designed to walk upright and physically do things that humans can do, however, her mind is the most human-like aspect of her--she thinks (more or less) like a human and certainly is very intelligent, caring, and...so desirable! Until the state will allow humans and G.E.L.F.s to get married, for now he might have to consider other possibilies...and that gave him an idea. Making a sharp turn, Rob headed towards the glade. Since he was wearing his snowshoes, walking through the snow was easier than it would be without them.

It had been a while since he had last been in the glade, not since the one-year anniversary of Lola's passing from this world to the next. Rob found the grave marker he and Ron had made for her, and brushed the snow from it. He knelt down in the snow and thought about his old friend. Before Helga, before Lupina and Rosie, he had never met anyone--two or four-footed--quite like Lola. They had formed an unusually close bond with each other, and he had become as much a parent to her kit, Magnus, as she had been. Although she had only been with him for four years, if he could believe what Ron, Lupina, and Rosie had related what Sesi had "told" them, Lola had lived at least twenty-two years, if not a bit more than that. He knew that some house cats have lived that long, though he had never heard of a wild cat living that many years. Maybe there was something to Atka, Sesi, and Lola having once been lab animals. Magnus certainly seemed to be aging slowly, just as his mother had.

"Lola, I miss you, old friend," Rob said quietly. The air in the glade was still, overhead the northern lights danced silently in the starry light--dawn at this time of year was still a while off. He sat with his eyes closed and prayed for guidance. After a moment, in the still darkness, he thought her heard a faint whisper in his mind.

"Follow Sesi."

Rob's eyes popped open.

"Wha...?" he whispered to himself.

Rob slowly turned to look behind him--through blurry eyes, he saw a shape on top of the rock, and his heart leapt into his throat. For a fleeting moment he thought he saw Lola standing there looking at him! Rob rubbed his eyes and looked again--a white wolf leapt on top of the rock and then looked intently at him, the aurora overhead gently illuminated her white fur in an otherworldly shimmer.

"Follow Sesi."

When she heard the front doors close, Helga stretched and got up. It was unusual for her to lay in bed this long, even though she knew with the time difference it was still early in the morning here. Magnus, the young male lynx friend of Rob's, was lying near the fireplace. Helga remembered Rob mentioning something about how it was the kit's mother's favorite spot near the end. Helga wondered why Rob chose to give the kit the name Magnus, but then she had only been introduced the day before, and still didn't know much about the kit's personality. Helga went to the bathroom and took care of the morning necessities. After she gave her fur a good brushing, Helga got dressed and sat in the recliner to wait for Rob to return.

"I could get used to living here," Helga thought to herself. "I could get used to being with this man, too, if only I had a clear sign that he wants to be mates."

Sesi jumped off the rock and walked straight to Rob. She licked his face and gave him a wolf hug.

"Hey old gal," Rob said, hugging the old wolf.

After they greeted, Sesi tugged gently on the sleeve of Rob's coat.

"I don't feel like playing right now, Sesi," Rob said.

He was getting cold just kneeling there in the snow, and was thinking of going back home where it's warm. Sesi darted a little ways away and looked at Rob, but then came back and tugged on his sleeve again. She quickly darted a short distance away in the same direction."

"Wuf!" she said, staring at Rob.

"Follow Sesi," came the faint whisper somewhere in his mind.

She trotted a ways farther away and stopped to look at Rob one more time.

"Wuf!"

"What? You want me to follow you?" Rob asked.

"Wuf!"

"Sesi, I need to go home and warm up," Rob insisted.

"Wuf!"

"Oh, alright, hold your horses!" Rob said, causing Sesi to give him a strange look.

Rob got up and brushed the snow off his Arctic pants. He then followed Sesi into the forest, but not before pausing for one more glance back. Looking once more at where Lola's body was buried, his eyes misted over as he recalled the scent of her fur and the throaty purr she had whenever she curled up with him. Before he could blink, a slight wisp of a breeze blew past him and for some reason he followed its direction, which led back towards the rock. Again, for only the briefest of moments, he thought he saw a ghostly form standing on the rock.

"Lola...," Rob said before his voice caught in his throat.

When he blinked, the apparition he thought he saw was gone.

Sesi led Rob along a path that he had not been aware of before. Even though he could usually see well enough in the dark, he had trouble keeping his eyes on Sesi's white fur against the snow. It was almost as if she was there, and not, and then there again just when he thought he'd lost track of her. Before he knew it, Rob saw his house suddenly come into view.

"I've never knew this path was here before," Rob thought aloud to himself; it had considerably shortened his walk back home.

Sesi bounded up the steps to the front deck and stood there by the front door, waiting for him. On a whim, Rob looked back to see where the path was...and he couldn't find it.

"That's odd," Rob said to himself.

He could see his trail in the snow back to the trees, but he couldn't see it after that.

"I'll look for it later," Rob muttered before going up to the door. As soon as he opened the front doo, Sesi barged her way inside.

"Hey!" Rob said somewhat loudly in surprise.

Helga heard Rob's voice outside, so she got up and quickly opened the inner door, thinking that perhaps he could use a hand to open the door while he brought in some firewood. Helga wasn't expecting the surprise company that came through the door. Helga gave a startled, and very cat-like cry that immediately woke up Magnus.

"Mrr?" he said, popping his head up in surprise.

Neither Sesi nor any of the rest of her pack came inside Rob's house very often if Ron wasn't with them, so this was quite a surprise to Magnus. Helga had not been introduced yet to any of the wolves she had been told about, so she was unsure what to do. Rob shut the outer door and came inside, finding Helga flattened against the wall next to the door. Sesi had not come inside very far, just a little over two meters, before she turned around and sat down. Magnus got up and stretched a little before coming over to greet Sesi. Helga watched in fascination at how the two animals seemed to be so friendly towards each other. After removing his snowshoes, he shut the inner door, Sesi got up and walked over to Rob. She gently took a hold of his coat with her mouth and started pulling him towards the fireplace.

"Okay, okay, I get the hint already, ol' girl. You want me to get warmed up," Rob said, and he removed his gloves, coat, and stocking cap, laying them on the recliner. Once Sesi was apparently satisfied, she walked back to Helga, wagging her tail as she approached. Helga stood still, not knowing what the wolf would do next. Rob watched carefully, hoping Sesi wouldn't suddenly act aggressive towards Helga. This was one time Rob wished Ron were there since he is a lot closer to the wolves than he is. Sesi sniffed Helga over intently, recognizing a few faint, lingering scents of her other friends. Satisfied, Sesi gave Helga a few licks on the hand, and then walked a few paces towards Rob, stopping for a moment to look back at Helga.

"Wuf."

Helga looked at Sesi and then gave Rob a puzzled look.

"I think she wants you to come over here," Rob said.

"Wuf!" Sesi said, wagging her tail a few times, and then went over to Rob and sat down.

"Rob...this is a wild wolf, am I correct?" Helga asked as she cautiously made her way to where Rob was by the fireplace.

"I'm not so sure," Rob replied.

"What do you mean?" Helga asked.

"I...can't really explain it," Rob replied hesitantly.

Rob sat down on the edge of the nearby sleeper sofa's bed and he motioned for Helga to sit with him.

"Oh, by the way, Helga, this is Sesi, she's the mate of Atka, and the mother of Amaguq, Kapik, Iluq, and Mumik. Sesi, this is my friend, Helga, she's like Lupina and Rosie," Rob said, making the introductions.

"Woo!" Sesi said.

"Ron says that means she likes you," Rob said with a little grin.

"Wuf."

Helga looked at Sesi in surprise. Sesi looked intently at Helga, staring her in the eyes. Helga could feel the wolf's amber eyes burn into her thoughts.

"Sesi smart, Sesi know man-speak. You hear."

*Gasp!* "I heard that!" Helga exclaimed, and Sesi wagged her tail a few times.

"Heard what?" Rob asked with a confused look.

"She told me, in my head, that she understands us, and she knows that I can hear her," Helga said in amazement.

"Wuf!"

"Ron, Lupina, and Rosie seem convinced that these wolves have some sort of telepathy. I don't really believe it, though they do seem to be exceptionally intelligent," Rob said.

"Man-friend no hear Sesi, man-brother hear. Man-brother mates hear Sesi."

"Rob, she just said, and I think she means you, that you don't hear her. Apparently Ron and his mates can," Helga said.

"Wuf!" Sesi agreed. "Man-brother went away, came back different. Man-brother hear Sesi."

Helga said, "Apparently Ron didn't start being able to hear her until after he received the enhancements given to him at The Center."

"And she told you that?" Rob asked skeptically.

"Yes," Helga replied.

"Big cat-friend like-like man-friend?" Sesi asked Helga.

"I want to," Helga replied, figuring that "like-like" must mean something more than just being friends.

"Man-friend sad, big cat-friend make happy. Man-friend need big cat-friend, man-friend confused, man-friend need mate. Sesi knows."

"Giving a little motherly advice?" Helga asked Sesi with a grin.

"Man-friend, big cat-friend, make nice-nice. Sesi go home, see later."

Sesi got up and gave both Rob and Helga a wolf hug and a lick, nuzzled Magnus and gave him a lick also, and then headed for the door.

"Rob, I think she wants to leave now," Helga said.

"Okay, I'll let her out," Rob said.

He got up and headed for the door. Just before he opened the outer entry door, Rob knelt down and petted Sesi.

"So, you like Helga, eh?" Rob asked quietly.

"Wuf."

"I do, too," Rob said.

Sesi wagged her tail.

After Sesi left, Rob went back to sit down with Helga.

"I wonder what all that was about," Rob said as he sat down.

Helga grinned and crawled to the middle of the sleeper sofa's bed, and patted the mattress next to where she lay.

"Join me?" she asked sweetly, adding a bit of purr to her voice.

Rob found it rather difficult to resist Helga's luminous green eyes looking at him expectantly. Remembering his friend's words, Rob removed his insulated boots, and lay down next to her on the bed.

"That's better," Helga purred, snuggling up to Rob. "Talk to me."

With Helga's gentle, insistent persuasion, Rob opened up to her--something he had not done with anyone for a long time. They held each other, cuddled, nuzzled, talked, caressed, and kissed over the next three hours until their stomachs reminded them that they had not eaten yet.

"Shall we have breakfast now?" Helga asked, giving her lips a lick.

Rob looked at his watch and said, "It's nearly time for lunch."

"Then we shall have...what do you call it? Brunch?" Helga suggested.

"Brunch, yeah. Well then, brunch it is," Rob grinned.

They got up and made the sleeper sofa's bed, and then went to the kitchen to fix something to eat.

Around two o'clock in the afternoon, Rob, Helga, and Magnus headed over to Ron's place with a few other food items to add to the feast that would begin around six o'clock. Miki arrived by snowmobile after being let off at the main road by her father, and was staying until Saturday. When dinner was ready, the table was laden with as much food as it could hold, with other items placed on a card table that had been set up for the purpose. Even Atka and his pack had been invited, though they had their own feast in the heated garage. J.D. was there, in the air-lock entryway, happily munching on a large salad, and Magnus also had his share. After dinner, Ron, Lupina, Rosie, Miki, Rob and Helga, spent the rest of the evening playing games, munching, talking, and generally enjoying themselves. It was a Thanksgiving that, over the coming years, would be joined by children and cousins, in-laws and friends, humans and non-humans, and those somewhere between.