REDEMPTION

— by Jeff Karamales

Chapter 9
Carry On
 

RETURNING to the American Furmankind Institute was done by commercial air carrier, and while Sofiya and Richard sat in First Class, it didn’t prevent the other passengers of the plane from staring at the two Furs, or the pointing of fingers and whispering. Even though they spoke, were polite, many of the other people, the flight attendants included, were a little too intimidated to approach closely to the anthrofoxes unless they absolutely had to.

This wasn’t as upsetting to the vixen as it could have been and the little red fox was somewhat relieved by the lack of intrusion. It was difficult enough dealing with the loss of her father. The four days that had passed since the man succumbed to the series of strokes he’d suffered resulting from blood clots that had formed around the amputation site of his left leg, had given her the time to overcome the immediate shock. She doubted that she would have fared as well as she had without the individual next to her.

It seemed that ever since Sofiya had come to the Adirondack Institute that she’d been depending on the silver fox male, Richard. From overseeing preparations to the quarters for the Stockholm Furs, then the others from Toyohashi and Buenos Aires and getting the disparate individuals acquainted, he’d been there for her. When she doubted her own abilities, Richard had bolstered her with his faith in her.

In retrospect, doing all of this without the other Vulps would have been very difficult at best, though she felt it would have been impossible without the stalwart Fur.

Sofiya could let her guard down around the American. She didn’t have to always be the colony leader and was allowed to be herself, express her doubts and voice her hopes. Richard placed no expectations on her to always have the right answers to problems, nor did he jump in to solve her problems for her, content and confident in her abilities to handle difficulties that might arise.

Richard treated her as a complete equal.

And then there was the moment when Sofiya had finally admitted her feelings about the male.

She’d been terrified at first, reluctant to give in to the attraction she felt. Sofiya was still too used to men, even the ones that were furry and no longer fully human, that felt females were delicate and should be protected. Even Aleksandr had acted that way to a degree. It was understandable as she had felt the same way about her husband, wanting to shield him from things. But Richard was not only willing to let her face her own trials, he trusted her to be intelligent enough to ask for help when a problem was too great for just her, and that there was no shame in seeking that aid, but until she did, he would support her, but he wouldn’t fight her battles for her.

He’d summed up his view just as they boarded the plane. “We’re part fox now,” the American had said. “You don’t see any battle of the sexes when it comes to males and females working to bring down game or defending their range or den. They work as equals. And you know what? I’m okay with that.”

Richard had held off telling her the extent of his feelings until just a few short hours ago prior to boarding the plane that would carry them back to New York. When she’d asked him why he’d waited, the reason was the most sound, most sincere, that she’d ever heard. He had wanted her to deal with the shock of her father’s death, to mourn before adding to her already taxed emotional burden. As Nikoli had told her, Richard was a good man.

Her father had been right.

Again.

“You have a new life now, my Sofiya,” Poppa had said from the hospital bed. Despite the numerous little strokes he’d suffered with the final one that had been physically devastating and eventually killed him, he’d been very passionate when he spoke to her. “Go to your new world and leave all of the pain that you have suffered on this one behind. That young one behind you…he loves you, my child. I can see it in his eyes and the way that he fights to keep from reaching for you with every tear that falls. Take the opportunity that you have been given and find a better life than this one with him, and if you cannot find it, build it! Raise your children on your new world better than we have raised ours here on this one and avoid our mistakes. All I ask in return is that you plant roses for your mother and me when you get there to remember us.” He’d grasped her hand with such strength then. “And Sofiya…remember that I will always love you…my daughter.”

Those had been his last words he’d spoken to her.

It had prompted Sofiya’s tale of what had led her to the Anthro Human Colonization Project in the first place. What had amazed the vixen was that Richard hadn’t rejected her after the confession.

Now they were on the way back to their friends, the Atlantic Ocean beneath them, and Richard’s paw-like hand entwined with hers. Even though she was still grieving over the death of her father, the future lay ahead of her and she had a partner that she could face it with. Their entire relationship was built on a foundation of trust and respect.

And love. Oh, yes. There was most certainly love.

Together they would carry on and soon go and create that world her Poppa had mentioned and dreamed of for her.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a small child with flossy white-blond hair that had a tiny green ribbon in it and large blue eyes appearing next to the arm of her seat, a delighted smile making her pink cheeks puff out.

“Doggie!” the little girl enthused and stood on tip-toes to reach a hand out and pet Sofiya’s arm.

Despite the lingering ache in her heart, the vixen couldn’t help but smile at the child. “No,” she said softly. “I am a fox.”

“Foxxie!” the girl crooned loudly with a giggle

“Yes. That is correct,” Sofiya encouraged.

Emboldened by the friendly response, the little girl made her way to the Fur’s knees and climbed up. The process was aided by convenient handfuls of Sofiya’s leg fur and eventually her clothing. Once on the red fox’s lap she promptly sat down and grabbed one of Sofiya’s hands, holding onto her thumb while running her hand over the smooth fur where it turned black.

Several other passengers had heard the commotion and watched the interaction. At first there were wide-eyed looks of fear, wondering if the strange creature, no matter what they’d heard about Furs from the news, would gobble the little girl up. At the female Fur’s response, taut expressions softened, and not a single passenger in the first class section could look away as anthrovixen and child treated each other tenderly, the little girl awed with her wonderful new friend, the red fox with gentle patience and delight.

The child’s mother appeared at the divider between the first class and business sections, though one of the flight attendants stopped her and put a finger to his smiling lips before pointing out where the little girl sat with the furman female. The woman’s first impression was that a situation was about to unfold and her daughter was in mortal danger. Then as she did a double take, she realized her baby wasn’t in danger at all. If anything she was giggling as first one Fur and then the other would playfully flick their tail at the little girl’s neck, tickling her and getting a high, pure laugh in return. Never one to really believe that Furs were as benevolent as many of the news stories and magazine articles had claimed, the woman watched. While she didn’t feel anything physical, her perception shifted on her entire outlook on the world, as did those of many of the other passengers from the chance encounter.

The child finally figured out what was happening and with surprising speed reasoned out who was going to gently tickle her and wound up catching both of the Furs’ tails in her arms and buried her face in the soft, luxurious brushes of white tipped copper and ebony with unabashed delight.

The woman walked up to where the two Furs were entertaining their unexpected visitor, a smile of wonder that matched the one on her child’s face. “I hope Abby hasn’t been too much of a bother,” she said in a clear English accent as the little girl let go of the two tails and caught the vixen in a hug, laughing again as a cold nose was pressed into the skin of her neck.

“She is a delightful little girl!” Sofiya replied happily, careful to keep her teeth from showing overly much. The vixen carefully passed the girl back to her mother. “You should be very proud of her.”

“I am,” the woman said, her head inclining in gratitude for the compliment. “We’ll leave you to enjoy your flight, but I hope you won’t be too upset if she finds her way back to you again.”

“Not at all,” Richard informed the woman, also smiling. “Maybe one day we can have a daughter just as lovely.” He added a wink and grin when Sofiya’s head whipped around to regard the silver fox.

“I’m sure you will,” the woman said with another genuine smile before turning back to the seats she and her daughter had, the child waving energetically.

“And there’s a person that will never again see us as beasts or monsters ever again,” Richard said as he leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes. Without looking, he unerringly found Sofiya’s paw-like hand and gave it a squeeze before lifting to his muzzle and brushing his thin, vulpine lips across the furred knuckles.

“Did you mean what you said about a daughter of our own?” Sofiya asked after several long moments.

The silver fox cracked an eye open and looked at the vixen. “Yes. But only if you agree.”

Sofiya reclined her seat back and also closed her eyes, still holding onto Richard’s paw and sighed. “I do not think we shall stop at just one. I think six would be sufficient.”

“And if we have a son, we’ll name him Nikoli,” Richard commented without stirring, though there was no hiding the smile when Sofiya kissed him softly.

***

MARCELO was waiting at the gate to the complex grounds with his cart as Martin pulled up in the passenger van that the Institute had been approved to purchase that summer and tried to put on a warm and inviting expression as the facility guard got out and helped the two Furs out, handing them their small travel bags with a small smile and nod.

The Vulps looked a little rumpled and drawn, but their demeanor, especially Sofiya’s, didn’t look as if they were debilitated by their grief.

Of course, the Director noticed that the two were holding hands and were a little more friendly and warm with each other than before they left.

“Sofiya, I wish there was something I could say that would help,” Marcelo began, “just know that you have my condolences. If there’s anything I can possibly do, please let me know.”

The vixen smiled wanly and unashamedly touched the man on his upper arm with gratitude. “Thank you, Marcelo. It is most appreciated and you are being a good friend. To be truthful, I am simply looking to getting a full night of sleep.”

Marcelo nodded and took Richard’s hand in greeting. “I thought that might be case. I’ve had the cafeteria drop some dishes off in both your rooms for you.” His expression became slightly mischievous. “Though I think I could have had them delivered to just one.”

Sofiya only smiled while Richard looked slightly guilty. “Um…well…” the silver fox stammered.

“Richard, you’re an adult. I think we can trust the two of you to approach this maturely, don’t you?” Marcelo asked. “Put your bags in the cart. I’ll drop you off. And I don’t want to see either of you working until tomorrow. Agreed?”

“I will certainly not argue,” Sofiya replied.

“It’s been a long week,” the silver fox concurred.

“Though after we have recovered, it will be good to return to training for the mission.” The vixen put her bag in the very back and grabbed the canopy bar to swing herself onto the back seat.

Once at the Educational Wing building, Sofiya went to her room while Richard headed to his, a promise to return in a few minutes once he had his travel bag situated and grabbed the food that Marcelo had delivered so they could eat together. The vixen was unprepared for what waited for her, though.

When the silver fox knocked lightly before opening the door, he found her sitting in the middle of the room crying. A quick look around told him why as every available flat surface that could hold a vase, bowl or pitcher was covered with something that contained flowers, some purchased while others had been handpicked, and cards from the rest of the Vulps contingent and no few of the Institute staff.

Richard had to settle for putting his tray on a chair as there was no other space available and sat down next to the vixen, his arms wrapping around her as he pulled her close. “I think you were missed,” he said with a smile and rested his head against hers.

— NEXT CHAPTER —

Unless otherwise noted, all material © Ted R. Blasingame. All rights reserved.