FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The red panda comes out of the deed's office and looks around. There aren't any houses available, and the one he was promised still hasn't been vacated, and from the looks of it, may never be. Now, he needs to figure out where he and his companions will stay. With a heavy sigh, Nath heads to the park. He needs to tell Teza the bad news.

Knowing she's at the park with her son, he grabs his cart's handles heads straight there. He finds her on a bench, watching her son play.

Seeing him approach, the raccoon smiles and pats the bench next to her.

He sighs as he sits. "I wish I had good news, but there's no places to buy or rent."

She gives him a skeptical look. "Nothing?"

He turns to watch her son Kef play and says, "There's only a couple one or two room places available. Nothing with three rooms."

She sighs and turns back to watch her son. "What are we going to do?"

"Inn for now I guess. I'll keep looking tomorrow, after we see the shaman."

As he continues to watch her kit play with the other children in the park, she starts to think about recent events, and starts to realize just how much he's done for her and Kef.

When her vision started fading, her mate left. Nath was just her neighbor then but he soon realized her situation and would check in on her regularly. He'd often sit and listen to her complain, and offer some kind words. As her sight dimmed further, she lost her job and then her home. He took them in without a thought. He'd helped Kef with his school work, and he made sure she was provided for. Even this trip was his idea.

The shaman here is said to be the best, and might be able to save what vision she has left. During the trip here, they'd met a mink named Niku, who wanted to apprentice under that the same shaman. Niku had given her some eye drops and meds to slow the process. She can already tell those are working.

Nath had offered to pay, but Niku refused, insisting that she was not yet a shaman. Nath still gave her a few coin to cover the cost of the supplies she had used.

Teza looks at him again as he watches her son play. How many times had she cried herself to sleep in his arms? How many times had he carried her to her bed?

She blushes, realizing that she's become fond of him. Then a tear rolls down her cheek as she realizes that he's done all that because he cares about her.

"I'm sorry sir, that is the only room available," the otter behind the counter states. "It's been terribly busy since the new school was completed. There's a lot of teachers here."

Nath frowns. This is the third inn and the only room available is a double.

Teza gently pokes him. "It's the best we've found. Take it."

Unable to argue her point, he nods. "All right."

The otter nods quickly checks them in and hands Nath the key.

When he opens the door to their room, he sees that the bed has a trundle, but it's a small one. He sighs and frowns. "How are we gonna work the sleeping arrangements?"

"Kef will take the small bed. You and I, the large."

He turns to her in surprise. "What?"

"You and I. We will share."

"Uhm..."

She smiles. "I know you have feelings for me, and you're a great roll model for Kef."

He can't help but blush. "I didn't think you noticed," he admits.

"I might be half blind, but I can still see how much you care for us."

He sighs and fidgets for a moment, then takes her hands in his, "What...what would you say...if I asked...Would you to be my mate?"

She nuzzles into him and smiles. "I would be honored," she whispers.

"Does that mean you're my dad now?"

They both look down at Kef, and Nath picks him up. "Yes it does."

The five year old wraps him in a hug. "Good."

Nath chuckles and says, "Go get your things. It's near bed time."

When he sets Kef down, the kit rushes out the door to the cart. Nath turns and wraps Teza in a hug. "Till now, I've been afraid to say this. I love you."

She returns his hug. "I love you too."

Kef comes back in with his bag and says, "They're lighting the night fires."

Nath reluctantly breaks the hug and quickly retrieves both his and Teza's travel bags, and sets them by the dresser. Seeing Teza helping Kef get ready for bed, he readies the trundle bed.

Kef walks up to him and gives him a big hug. "Goodnight, dad." He then giggles.

Nath smiles. "G'night, son."

The kit giggles again. "I have an actual dad."

Nath tucks him in and then gives him a nuzzle. "Get to sleep. Mom and I have a little to talk about before we sleep."

The kit yawns and rolls to his side.

Nath stands and takes Teza's hand, and they step out the door. Finding a bench against the wall, they sit and enjoy the warmth of the nearby safety fire. She lightly sighs and leans into him, and he puts his arm around her.

"I'll go back to the deed's office and see about a two bedroom house in the morning."

"You already have one picked out, don't you."

He blushes. "Yeah. It's nice, not too far from school and the markets, and has running water."

"In the old town district. I know that area well." The old town districts in the villages are all arranged the same. There are rumors as to why, but most people don't care. It makes it easy to get around when you're not in your home village.

Feeling her shiver, he gently picks her up as he stands. She giggles, and nuzzles into him as he carries her into the room, and lays her in bed. After closing the door, he climbs into bed. She rolls to her side and he wraps himself around her from behind.

It doesn't take them long to fall asleep.