“I’ll see you this afternoon sweetie.”  Juliette said as her ‘son’ got out of the car, her bag in her hand.

“Ok.  See you later mom.”  She said as she looked around at the small sea of kids that were getting out of cars and heading into the building.  “Well this is going to be….interesting.”  She said holding onto her bag as she looked around for her friend.  She had decided that she was going to go to school as herself, as Amelie, she knew that there was a chance that something could go wrong, but she was ready for any risk that might come up.

“You two have a good day,” Brenda said smiling at her children. “And you little missy,” she said locking gazes with her daughter, “I think you need to have a little chat with Josh. If you and Emile are going to be dating I think you need to let Josh know he’s off the hook for your sex ed class don’t you?”

“Yes ma’am,” the wolfbear girl said, her cheeks colored with a little blush as she got out of the car grabbing her book bag and slipping one arm through the straps.

“So I guess this is the big day huh?” Frank said elbowing his sister in the ribs playfully.

“Oh shut up, I’m already nervous enough about this as it is,” Francine said blushing a little darker.

 Nodding off to their left Fred piped up, “looks like lover boy is looking for you, no sneaking off to the janitor's closet for a between class quicky sis,” he said before bolting off in the other direction.

“You know...that goes for you and Audrey.”  Amelia said as she walked up to the little group, wrapping her arm around her lover.  “You two do make a cute pair.”  She said smiling softly.

“Good morning,” Francine said, her voice almost a gentle sigh as she stretched up a little and kissed her lover softly on the lips. Leaning against the wolfdeer she asked, “so… you ready for this? Today is the day we start having classes together after all.”

“I am…..Well almost.”  She said lifting her bag up and smiling.  “I just need to stop by one of the bathrooms and change.”  She said blushing a little.  “I know that I could get into trouble for this...but...you have shown me that I am me….and that means that I am a herm and all that.”  She said nodding a little.  “And that’s who I’m going to be today….and for the rest of the year.”

Francine’s eyes went a little wide, “are, are you sure about this? What if your dad ever finds out? He… he might make you move again and take you away from me.”

Smiling and snickering a little as she pulled her close.  “I think that he is too invested in this church and all that to move.”  She said pausing for a moment, “and if he does decide to move, then they can move, I’m going to stay right here…even if I have to like life on the lamb.”  

Snuggling against her lover’s chest and murring softly Francine asked, “then how do I explain things to people that ask? Are you my boyfriend, girlfriend or what?”

“Just tell them that I am your lover….and as for the boyfriend, girlfriend thing…..it’s whichever one that you want to call me.”  She said smiling and kissing her on the cheek.  “Cause I know if anyone asks me, I’m going to tell them that you’re my fluffbutt.”  She said with a little giggle.

“We better get you inside so you can change,” Francine said, though she wasn’t pulling away from the wolfdeer hybrid. “I think I might like you in a girls uniform, makes it easier to tease you since I can get my paws under the skirt.”

Smiling as she turned in place and started walking with her lover and her arm around her.  “Well you know that I can do the same to you…..and with you in a skirt...it’s really easy access.”  She said giggling, her paw sliding down a little to sneak in a group as they made their way into the school and to the bathrooms.  “Ummmm…..Do…..do I just go in?  I mean I have never been in a girl’s room.”  She said starting to blush.

“Well, I guess then you’ll get to find out if people here really care if you’re a herm or not won’t you sweetie,” Francine said pushing the girls room door open and walking right in, her lover in tow behind her.

As the pair walked into the restroom the four girls at the row of sinks turned to see who was coming in, all of their eyes going wide, not so quiet eeeks escaping them as they pointed at the ‘boy’ behind the wolfbear.

 Amid the commotion they were starting to make,one of the stalls door was flung open, a flash of orange, black and white fur bolting from the small space.

“God damn Franny,” a tiger girl said raising an eyebrow. “Fred said you and your squeeze were already doing the mattress tango, but for real girl? You honestly thought you could slip in a pre class quicky in here?”

“It…..it’s nothing like that.”  Amelia said, blushing at the fact that other people thought that her and her lover were really getting naughty.  “I…..I’m cause I need to change.”  She said holding up her bag, starting to open and reach into the bag.

“Da fuck?” the tiger girl said cocking her head to the side a little. “Change? So your guy is a fancy dandy or some shit?” Closing her eyes and shaking her head she added, “leave it to fancy Franny to pick a cross dressing weirdo.”

“No Barb,” Fran said with a little huff. “You’ve got it all wrong. Amile… is all boy, and all girl too.”

“Wait wait wait wait, all girl too? So are you saying he… she… what the fuck ever is a tranny or some shit?”

“I’m a herm.”  She said with a little huff.  “I have boy bits and girl bits too.”  She said pausing and taking a deep breath.  “I have boobs too.”  She said reaching under her shirt and wiggled a little as she slowly worked her binder down, freeing her chest.  “Oh god it feels good to take that off.”

“So your a…” the tiger girl started, her words trailing off as the wolfdeer reached under the shirt of hir school uniform, wiggling for a little bit. Her eyebrow raised again as the shirt seemed to fill out more in the chest, the supple curves of firm breasts coming into view. “Hmmph, nice pair,” she said softly a moment before her face twisted into a vicious sneer. “Hold the fuck on a minute, you’re wearing a binder aren’t you? The only reason for that shit is someone’s not very happy about you being a herm, probably forcing you to be what they think you should be, am I right?”. 

“Well…….”  She paused, taking a deep breath.  “That’s the short of it…...but….you can’t say anything.”  She said looking to the tigress.  “This has to stay like, right here cause it could cause a lot of trouble.”  She said closing her eyes, “but yes, my mom and dad don’t like for me to present as a herm….and Francien here has showed me that I should be me….that and she has shown me a few other things to.”  She said, blush tinting her creamy fur.

“Arrogant jackasses,” Barbara  snarled, her paws stretched out and the retractable claws of her fingers springing into view. “Jerks like that make me want to claw their eyes out. For fucks sake, why the hell can’t parents just accept their kids for who they are without getting their panties in a wad over what gender they are.” Taking a moment to calm down a little she looked the wolfdeer hybrid in the eyes and said, “well it’s going to be a little impossible for this to stay like right here. It won’t take long before everyone in the school knows about it. The boys won’t be much of a problem, tits sort of cloud their vision.They won’t figure it out for months. I’ll spread the word with the other girls in school, so will these wimps won’t you?” she said glaring at the other girls in the restroom, all of them nodding their compliance. We’ll keep it contained as best we can..But you need to know one thing about Prairie Flats Prep.”

“I…...I know…..”  She said taking a deep breath.  “I know that I need to confront mom and dad about all this and everything….but I figure that if I do this, then they will see that I can go to school as Amelia and everything will be ok, and then they will see that God doesn’t care that I have both parts and all that.  I mean he was the one that made me…..and they say that he doesn’t make mistakes…..I think.”

“God scmhod,” Barb said leaning back against the sinks. “No one but your parents had anything to do with making you, just a shame they don’t realize how special of a gift they got in the deal. Dealing with them outside of here is your problem, we’ll do what we can to keep it quiet until you’re ready to do what you have to. But what you need to know about this place is simple. The headmistress is a real stand up lady, and she takes no shit from anyone, especially when it comes to gender issues. You’re among friends here, even if you don’t really know anybody yet. We’ve got the whole mixed bag when it comes to gender here, and quite frankly no one gives a shit about any of it.”

“That’s pretty much what Francien told me, and a huge reason as to why I’m doing this.”  She said smiling and nodding.  “Thanks to her, I have started opening up more about me and my gender and all of this.”  She said smiling as she turned to hug her lover.  “And it’s so nice to know that you all here are so….kind and everything…..even if you seem a little rough.”

“You wanna know about rough?” Barb said walking towards the wolf hybrids with a toothy grin on her face. “You should ask my mate Jarred about how rough I can be. I know I come off as a badass sometimes, not that I really give a shit,” she said placing a paw on the wolfdeer’s arm and turning hir towards herself. “Welcome to Prairie Flats Prep, and from the sound of it, the first real freedom you’ve had to just be you,” she finished as she grabbed the hybrid in a tight hug, pressing their bodies together for a few moments. As she loosened her grip, letting her arms fall to her sides she looked over to Francine and said, “bet shi keeps you happy when the lights go out, pretty decent package hidden under those pants.”

“Oh…..um…..”  She squeaked out blushing dark.  “It’s not like we have done anything like that…...I mean….um.”  Amelia said lowering her bag to cover the front of her pants.  “I….um...I need to change.”  She said as she slipped off into one of the stalls.

“Come on you bunch of crows, we’ve got things to take care of, and I think these two might need that alone time before class,” the tigress said walking towards the door. “Just remember what we learned in class Franny, if you’re gonna play... play it safe.”

“Sh….she's a little….different.”  Amelia said from the stall that she was getting changed in, a pair of slack getting draped over the door as a pair of boxers hit the floor.  “I mean she’s neat and all….but a little….a lot wild.”  She said as she slipped into her panties and skirt.  Then leaning against the wall to balance herself as she slipped into her stockings.

“Yea, kind of,” Francine said shaking her head a little. “Her dad kicked up a ruckus at the presentation for the sex ed class to the parents. She pounced him back into his seat and read him the riot act for threatening to hurt Ralph because the moose boy , and I qoute, “had his paws all over my daughter.”

“Ok…..she is really wild.”  Amelia said as she gathered up her clothes and slipped them into her bag.  “Ready?”  She asked as she opened the stall door.  “I’ll get to meet this Ralp and Zoe won’t I?”  She asked, blushing as she caught sight of herself in the mirror, a smile forming on her muzzle.  “How do I look?”

“Pretty sure you will at lunch, they’re kind of hard to miss even in a room full of kids that are coupled up. A red panda and a moose kind of stick out like a sore thumb, especially with the throng of girls following him around like a gaggle of feral geese,” Francine said looking her lover up and down. “You look,” she started, walking over and wrapping her arms around her lover, “you look amazing. That school uniform fits you like a glove and,” she added her paws slipping down to the wolfdeer’s waist, pausing for a moment before they slipped lower. As she slipped one paw up and under hir lovers skirt, that paw giving the herms rear a tender squeeze she finished her thought. “I think I like the way your butt feels in panties more than the boxers.”

“I don’t have too many pairs of panties, so I picked out the best pair that I had….I knew that you would get a kick out of them.”  She said smiling.  “A little silkie number that rubs all the right place if you know what I mean.”  She said snickering before wrapping her arms around her lover and returning the butt fondles.  “And if you’re not too careful you're going to make us late for class.”

“Nope, we’re not going to be late the first day I have my ummm, sexy lover with me for the whole day,” Francine said pulling back a little and reaching behind herself to take Amelia’s paws in her own. “Though we may be late for one later, depends on how… worked up you get with those panties rubbing you and you rubbing my belly and cuddling with me in sex ed.” turning and nearly dragging the wolfdeer behind her she said, “come on, we need to get to homeroom, it’s just three doors down the hall.”

“And knowing you….the feeling of it pressing against that butt of yours is going to get you worked up too.”  She squeaked out as she was drug through the hall on the way to homeroom.  “Not that it’s a bad thing.”  She said snicker.  “So….is there normally a lot of homework and all that?”

“Not usually, and since we have the same classes  I don’t think it would take us long to do it anyway,”Francine said as they entered their home room and she led Amelia to their seats, one of the small tables each with a pair of chairs on one side. “This is our table, and holding paws and sitting close or cuddling is allowed, we just have to keep both paws in sight at all times in here.”

“Alright, let’s see who’s slacking in the hallways,” a cheetah woman in her late thirties said as she walked in, her rollcall book open in one paw. Glancing from the book to the students in their seats she stopped when she got to the two wolf hybrids near the center of the room. She paused for a few moments before returning to checking the roll. Once she finished she made her way to the table Francine and Amelia sat at, bending down to speak quietly to the pair. “I believe there has been some mistake” she began furrowing her brow a little. “My roll says this seat should be occupied by an Emile… and you most definitely do not look like you would be him.”

“I am Emile…..or Amelia.”  She said smiling.  “It’s kind of a long story, but I’m Emile…..Just dressed a little differently.”  She said reaching into a bag to pull out a small wallet and from that an I.D to show to the teacher.

“I see…” the cheetah woman said softly. “All right, you all know the drill, you have fifteen minutes until the bell for your first class. You may talk quietly or work on homework from yesterday.,” she said as she stood and turned to look at the class.“Other than that as long as I see all paws at all times you are free to do as you wish… within reason naturally.” Turning her attention back to the couple at the table she said, “if you two will follow me, we need to have a  word in the hallway,”

“Yes ma’am,”Francine said nudging her lover and getting to her foot-paws.

“Y….yes ma’am.”  Amelia said as she got up, slipping the wallet into her pocket as she followed the teacher out to the hallway.  “We’re not in trouble or anything are we?”

“No,” the cheetah said quietly closing the classroom door behind them. “I only need to be clear on the situation. If one of you would be so kind as to enlighten me as to exactly what I’m seeing when I look at the pair of you I would appreciate it.”

“You see a herm and her girlfriend.”  Amelia spoke up, blushing and wiggling a little.  “I know that you’re supposed to see a male….but…..I am a herm it’s just that dad introduced me as a male that day….I was just feeling more boy than anything.”  She said thinking of a way to cover all of her bases.

Narrowing her eyes a little at the youngster before her Mrs. Edwards said, “I doubt that is entirely truthful. But it is not my job to pry into your homelife unless it clearly causes you distress and affects your academic endeavors. My only remaining question is what do you wish to be called in class?”

“Amelia, female.”  She said smiling a little, still doing her best to act like there was nothing wrong at home when it comes to her gender.  

“Then Amelia it is,” she said reaching for the door knob. She paused before actually opening the door, turning to look the wolfdeer hybrid in the eyes as she said, “if you have any problems at all here, come and see me first. I’ve also been assigned as your and Francine’s student counselor.”

“Thank you.”  She said smiling and nodding.  “So far, I have had no trouble….it’s been amazing this morning.”  She said as the group turned and headed back into the classroom.
Homeroom went by quickly, as did the pairs first and second period classes. Francine felt less bored in her english and math classes with her new lover beside her than she had with Josh. Maybe because of the naughty things they had done together? Or was it something deeper, something she felt when she was with the deerwolf hybrid that she never had with the otter boy?

“So, ummm, think you’re ready for our next class? It may be a little much…” the wolfbear girl said blushing brightly.

“The next one is the sex ed one right?”  She asked, taking a deep breath.  “I will do my best not to get a boner or anything…..but I am ready for any chance to rub your belly and snuggle.”  Amelia said with a giggle.

“Well you’ll get a good chance for that,” Francine said pulling Amelia closer. “Though if you do get, ummm, stiff…” she said blushing brighter and wiggling a little, “I think I can help you keep it under wraps, mostly.”

“Oh my…..”  She said smiling and snickering a little, “and just how would you do that?”  She paused a moment.  “I do have my bag I can hold that in front of me….or something like that.”  She said as she walked with her lover to the next class.

“Actually your bag get’s put in the back of the room, but … well you’ll see soon enough,” Francine said squeezing her ‘mates’ paw a little tighter. “Come on we’re early so we get first choice of seats, and I have just the one in mind I want.”

“Oh.”  She said softly as she was lead down to the classroom.  “Why do I see a big pillow nest.”  She asked as she pulled into the room, smiling at the sight.  “Oooooh my.”  She said smiling and looking at her lover.  “I like this.”

With a little snicker Francine said,” those aren’t pillows silly, there couches, sort of. More like really big bean bag chairs,” as she pulled her lover along behind her. “That big green one is the one I want.”

“I thought you might get here early,” a voice said behind the pair. “Good we need to have a little chat before class.”

With a bit of a start the wolf bear turned around, ”yes ma’am Ms. Pergandy.”

“I’m afraid you’re without a mate until at least after the first of the year, Josh and his father are out of the state to take care of a family issue,” the grey squirrel said as she walked closer to the pair. “From my talk with them it sounded like they may take longer than the break to resolve things.”

“Oh, ummm, that’s okay,” Francine said cocking her head to the side a little. “Maybe… maybe Amelia could be my mate until then?”

“Amelia? Is this my new student? I thought…” the older female began before the wolf deer spoke up.

“Yes ma’am I’m the new student.”  She said smiling a little.  “And yes it says that I’m a male but I’m a herm…..I was just presenting like that, that day.”  She said again trying to pretend that it was normal.  “It’s kind of a long story.”

“I see,” the teacher said offering her paw to the wolf deer. “Well as you know Francine,” she said turning her attention to the other hybrid, “non standard couples are more than welcome, and encouraged to be open and honest with each other within the limits of the class.” Turning her attention back to Amelia she added, “welcome to Prairie Flats PRep and to sex education Amelia. I hope you find the class helpful and informative. I do however need to know in what capacity you will be acting as Francine’s mate.”

“Ummmmm.”  She paused, thinking for a moment.  “I guess that I would be the mother…...father…..herm…..”  She said tilting her head a little.  “I’m going to go with mother.”  She said nodding.

“Alright, then I’ll need to send the final permission paperwork home with you for your parents to read over and sign so we can get you set up. You will need a recent physical, including a gynecologist's exam, then we can get you fitted for your sim-suit.”

“Ummmmm.”  She said blushing and wiggling.  “If I be the father, can I not have to go see the gynecologist?  I mean….It’s that I really don’t like doctors and all that, that’s all.”

“That would make it easier for them, and would be perfectly fine,” the grey squirrel said nodding slightly. “Alright then, Francine, Amelia will be your mate from now on unless Josh returns and then you’ll have to decide. In the meantime you two should take your seat and get ready for class.”

“Yes ma’am,” the wolf bear said smiling brightly. “Come on,” Francine added tugging her lover along behind her.

When the pair got to the odd little couch thing Fran stopped pulling the wolf deer in front of her and turning her lover to face her. “Now, get comfy so I can do the same,” as she playfully push the herm backward and down to sit on the fluffy seat, smiling and winking to her lover.

With a little giggle the wolfdeer wiggled and snuggled into place on the beanbag chair.  “Oh….this is nice….I know what I want for Christmas.”  She said smiling and watching her lover, “one of these and you in it.”

Turning as she spoke Francine said, “that’s exactly the idea,” as she sat across her lover’s lap, grabbing one of the herm’s paws and quickly sliding it under her shirt. As she got settled in she leaned in and whispered,”in here you can rub me just about anywhere, as long as it’s not too naughty.”

“Oh…..Oh my.”  Amelia said blushing and wiggling a little.  “I think that this is becoming my new favorite class.”  She said smiling down to her lover as she let her paw start rubbing along her belly, starting out in slow circles, slowly working it’s way up towards her chest.  “Just how naughty is too naughty?”  

Laying her head on Amelia’s shoulder, murring happily the wolf bear whispered,”for now you’re about at the limit,” laying one paw on her chest just above where her lover’s was rubbing her. “Just be patient for a little bit,” she began blushing a little as the rest of the class started filing into the room.

“I told you Jarred, I don’t know why I can still feel Ralph rubbing up his girl and their kids, God stop being all jealous will ya?”

“Sorry Barb, it’s just… I want to be the only one rubbing your belly . I mean why wouldn’t I?” the aoudad replied, blushing brightly as he realized he was talking louder than he intended.

“I don’t care how they do it, I thin it feels wonderful,” a ferret girl said blushing as she flopped down on one of the other beanbag couches.

“Get settled people, we have a few things to go over today before the holiday break starts. And a few things to review about practicing safe sex… just in case,” their teacher said as she closed the classroom door behind the later arrivals.

“Wow…..does the class always start like this?”  She whispered to her lover as she watched the students walking into the classroom.  “It kinda makes me want to go through and get into one of the suits and all that.”

“Sometimes,” Francine said blushing brighter. “One of the rules of the class is that we don’t have to pull any punches in what we discuss. Some of the kids get a little raunchy with it but no question is off limits.”

“Great…...I already feel like I’m going to catch fire from all of the blushing.”  Amelie said smiling and snickering a little as she looked around the room before nuzzling against her lover.  “But it feels good to...to feel normal like this.”

Tilting her muzzle up and kissing her lover on the cheek Francine whispered, “I think you’re even prettier when you blush.” Snickering and wiggling a little in her lover’s lap she added, “and from the feel of what’s poking me in the tush it’s a good thing I’m sitting in your lap.”

“I…..That’s not fair.”  She said blushing darker.  “And yes….I blame you for that thing that’s poking you…..You and your sexyness.”  She said as she returned the kiss, “just try not to wiggle too much or I might need some new panties.”

“Then I better sit still a little, I can’t … take care of that for you right now, then again,” she  said wiggling just a little.

“So anyone know where mooseface and Zoe are? I haven’t seen them in like two days now,” Barbra asked as she cuddled up to her boyfriend, the aoudad’s paw rubbing little circles on her belly. “Hang on a sec fur face,” she said, a little murr in her voice a she pulled her shirt out of her skirt and hiked it up under her developing breasts. “Okay, now back to the touchy feely.”

“Things like this would never have happened in my old school…..I’m sure that this would be considered heresy or something.”  She said glancing from Barb and her mate to her lover.  “At least this is going to be an interesting time.

“Alright now that everyone is settled in,” Ms. Pergandy said coming around her desk and leaning against it. “First off for those who may not know, Ralp and Zoe are headed out East to visit his sister Daisy for the holidays. As for the questions about the suit input, that was handled by Bio-Gen, seems they developed a portable repeater system that works through Ralph’s phone. So those of you that enjoy it so much you don’t have to do without the belly rubs,” she explained, her last statement getting a round of giggles and a few sighs of contentment from the room.

“Hear that lover boy?” Barb asked leaning against Jarred’s chest, her muzzle pressed into the underside of his. “You still got some competition, better keep working on taking care of me and our little rug rat.”

“Ok, the suit things are interesting.”  She said looking down at her lover.  “And you will be getting all the belly rubs that you could want.”  She said smiling as she kissed her lover on the head.  “And it sucks that I don’t get to meet them yet.”

“Yea it does, I think you would get a kick out of Zoe, she’s a little wild and maybe a little mouthy, but she’s really nice and Ralph… he’s what a guy should be,” Francine said nuzzling her lover’s neck.

“Hehe I can handle that wild tigress’ mouth….I think that I can handle like most anything.”  She said smiling and resting her chin on her lover’s head, her paw slowly starting to rub at her tummy.

“Now to today’s lesson,” the teacher said bringing the classes attention to herself, the cubs falling silent other than soft murr’s, purrs, and other happy noises from the girls. “As we discussed yesterday, as a girl or woman’s pregnancy progresses and the ‘morning sickness’ eases up…”

SCENE BREAK

Okay, next class is chemistry,,” Francine said pulling her lover behind her into the science lab. “This class was kind of boring with Josh, he really sucks at science and I ended up doing all the work.” 

“I do like science….and I will try not to blow anything up…..”  She said with a little snicker.  “Or sneeze at the right moment and scare the guy in front of me and cause him to spill dye on his fur…...Man did he look weird with bright blue paws.”

Snickering into her paw Francine said, “that would be funny.”  Laying her paw on her lover’s she looked into the wolf deer’s eyes. “So, our last class is study hall, we can get our homework done and out of the way before we head home. What’s the plan for then… sexy?” she said blushing darker than she had in her life.

“Well…...I think that a certain wolfbear wants to do some snuggling….or something a little more...or a lot more naughty.”  She said smiling as she leaned in and kissed her lover on the lips.  “How is that for a plan?  Or you could come over to my house and help set up the tree and all that.”

“The snuggles and.. stuff sounds like more fun,” francine said blushing even darker. “That and your dad kind of scares me a little.”

“Yeah…..I don’t blame you there.”  She said softly.  “But from the way that you’re blushing I think that you're thinking of something more than snuggling.”  She said as she leaned in.  “Are….are you thinking about going beyond blowjobs?”

“Meep,” the wolf bear squeaked,. “M...maybe, I mean,” she said trailing off as she stared into her lover’s eyes. “I, I want you to be my first… if that’s what you want.”

“And…...and I want you to be my first too.”  She said blushing as dark as her mate was.  “But...I want to be able to do it right...you know….snuggled in bed and all….”  She said as she leaned in, kissing her lover on the nose.  “Just need a way for us to be together and alone….and to be prepared.”

“We’ll have to figure things out, and find a way then. I… I really want this Amelia,” the wolf bear girl said quietly as the teacher walked into the room.

“Good afternoon class, if you’ll check your project boxes you will find a new one for after the holiday break. I’m giving you the information now so that you can look it over and make plans and preparations. Chemical analysis methods wil be important for your science classes in the future, no sense in waiting until then for you to begin critical thinking,” she explained as the teens settled in.

“We’ll talk more after class,” Francine said as she straightened up in her seat. “I can’t wait for study hall today.”

“That makes two of us.”  The wolfdeer said as she turned her attention to the front of the room, wiggling just a little at the thoughts that were running through her head.

Science class passed fairly quickly, most of their time spent cleaning their equipment and the lab room in preparation for the coming holiday break. When the bell rang ending the period Francine took her lover by the paw and led hir out of the room and down the hallway to their last class of the day.

“Finally, now we can do what homework we have that has to be turned in tomorrow,” Francine said as the pair sat down at one of the two person desks. “So are you coming home with me or checking in with your parents first?”

“Ummmm  I think that it would be best for me to call and tell them that I’m going to your house to do homework or something.”  She said setting her bag on the desk.  “I think if I go home they will want me to stay there and help with the tree and visit with family and all that, and you know how my family is.”

“Okay, just… don’t get yourself into trouble with your dad because of me,” Francine said looking down at the desk for a moment. “I… I don’t want your dad getting mad and maybe making you stop seeing me.” Looking up again and into Amelia’s eyes she added, “I couldn’t stand it if he took you away from me.”

“You don’t have to worry about that.  Him thinking that we are doing homework will keep him happy.”  She said smiling to her lover, pressing a paw against her cheek.  “And as for stopping us…..I don’t think that he would… I think that seeing us has him thinking that I’m embracing just my male side, you know, becoming that son that he wants…..I swear that’s he’s started looking for doctors and all that.”  She said letting out a sigh before kissing her on the nose.

“Why does he have to be so pig headed? Can’t he see you’re perfect the way you are?” the wolf bear said, her words followed by a look of anger. “Does he just not get that you’re special?”

“Oh I’m special to him, I’m going to grow up and see that I’m meant to be a man, and that I’m going to take over a church and lead people to salvation.”  She said taking a deep breath.      

“And to be honest….I’m getting sick of all of the religion and stuff.”  She said taking her lover’s paw.  “I just want to live life as me, Amelia Delphine Lamer….with you by my side and all that.”

“I’d like that, a lot.” Francine scooted her seat closer to her lover entwining her arm in hirs as the two settled in to work on the little bit of homework they had to do.

“I guess that I’m going to have to stand up to him about all this one day.”  She said shaking her head.  “But that’s something for another time, this is going to be a good day and have a happy ending.”  Amelia said smiling and snuggling up to her lover as they got started on their homework.

The two sat quietly, working on homework, wrapping it up before the last bell of the day rang. When it did they made their way quickly to the front of the building, the wolfbear families dark blue Impala coming into view almost immediately as they sprang from the main entrance. They nearly ran to it, Francine opening the passenger's side rear door and nearly dragging her love behind her as she crawled inside. 

“So, you two excited about tomorrow?” the mother bear asked glancing into the rear view mirror for a moment.

“Yes ma’am,” Francine said cheerily. “One more day, and an easy one at that and then almost two weeks of no school.” Wrapping her arms around the closest of her lover’s and laying her head on hir shoulder she added softly, “ and lots of cuddles and snuggles with you.”

“Yes ma’am.”  Amelia said smiling and nodding as she put her hand on her lover’s.  “Getting to spend time with Francine, lots of food…..just got to survive my crazy family.”  She said smiling and nodding.  “Might have to sick your daughter on them.”  She said with a little giggle.

“Ummm mom, where’s Fred? He didn’t meet us out front and you didn’t wait for him,” the wolf bear asked her mother.

“He going over to Audry’s for a while,” the older female replied. “That works better for me, the three of us need to talk,” she added glancing into the rear view again. “I have a few questions to ask and I think it would be better if your brother weren’t around.” Before her daughter could respond Catherine got right to the heart of the matter. “I want to know something, and I don’t want to be lied to.”

 Francine tensed up, worried about what her mother was about to say next, glancing nervously to her lover then catching her mother’s stern look in the rear view mirror. 

“I know the two of you have been… fooling around. Don't try to deny it, and no one had to tell me about it either so don’t blame your brother. I have no doubt he knows, and that he and Audrey have been doing the same. Neither of you give me credit for having a nose or knowing the scent of sex on my cubs,” she said as she drove them towards their home. “So tell me straight, just how far has it gone between you two?” 

“We haven’t done….”Francine began pausing when her mother glared at them again in the mirror. “We haven’t done anything too naughty just… ummm, oral sex things.” 

“I see, and is that how you would put it as well Amelia?” the bear woman asked.

“Ye….yes ma’am.”  The wolfdeer said, blushing.  “The most that we have done was oral.”

“I see,” she replied matter-of-factually. “I suspected as much, but let me tell you both right now I will not go into a rage or lecture you on the risks you are taking. I think the class at school is more than covering that subject. My issue isn’t with what you’ve been doing, I don’t even try to fool myself into thinking you, or your brother, wouldn’t be at least curious or experimenting by now,” she said as she pulled into the driveway of their home. She turned off the engine, unfastened her seatbelt and turned to look the two in the back seat in the eyes. “My issue is far more with where you’ve been doing it. I don’t like the thought of you two sneaking around behind my back. Prairie Flats is a nice place and all, but it still has it’s fair share of creeps and perverts that would take advantage of the both of you.”

“We… we’ve been careful about where we do things together,” Francine spoke up a little meekly. “And careful about not doing anything…”

“Franny,” her mother said in a soft and caring tone. “With what that sex ed class is teaching you I doubt you would take any unnecessary risks as far as your actions go. But I was a teenage cub once myself. When the itch comes on you may not think too clearly about exactly where you are. Your father and I have discussed it, and to be honest if you're going to be fooling around I’d much rather you do it where there is someone that can answer any questions you may still have or intervene if things go… weird.”

“Do…..does….that mean that we can fool around in Francien’s room and stuff as long as we’re safe and all?”  Amelia asked tilting her head a little.  “I…..Um….” She stopped, blushing dark.  “You’re parents are so cool.”  She said turning to her mate.

“Yes, it does,” the mother bear said rubbing her forehead with one large paw. “I was about your age,” she continued looking her daughter in the eyes, “when I started fooling around with the boy I had a crush on. We weren’t careful enough about where we… did things and it almost went very bad for us. If his father hadn’t been out looking for us…” she said trailing off a moment lost in a memory. “”The point is that I would rather know where you are, and who you’re with. There are some ground rules though and I expect you both to follow them to the letter.” 

“Oh, okay.” Francine said wide eyed. She couldn't believe that her mother had just given the pair what amounted to a green light to take their relationship, and their sexual exploration further, and in her own bedroom at that.

“First off is no being even partly nude outside of your room… or the bathroom if you go to clean up together. Second, no and I mean no unprotected sexual contact, at all. Third, if either of you say no to something that means no, period. No discussion, no talking the other into it. If you do try something and find out it hurts or you don’t like then say so, and stop means stop.” Turning her attention to the wolfdeer hybrid she said, “one additional rule that applies to you in particular young lady,” she said as a slight grin came to her muzzle. “If you decide that you want her to be your first as a woman, then you need to let me know. As strange as this may sound I will understand and do what is necessary to help make that happen.”

“Well…..I…..Um do want her to be my first in every sense of the word.”  Amelia said blushing darkly.  “So….um….that help would be nice.”  She said as she gave her lover’s paw a squeeze.

“Then when that time comes I’ll help in any way I can,” the mother bear said turning and starting to get out of the car. “Just remember that just because you have a safe place  and can do things, that doesn’t mean you have to be in any big hurry to do things.” After the trio had exited the family vehicle and started towards the front entrance of the house the older woman looked over her shoulder and asked, “ so, do we need to make a trip to the drug store before the winter break starts or are we good until after the first of the year?”

“Well…...um I think that we should go to the drug store.”  Amelia said blushing and wiggling a little.  “I don’t have anything like that at my house…..and I know that mom and dad would end me if I asked for them or something….I think I know what I’m going to get Francien for Christmas.”  She said with a little giggle.

“Oh my,” Franny said as her eyes went a little wide and a deep blush colored her cheeks. “I do know what I’m getting Amile for Christmas, though she may have to keep ummm, it hidden from hir dad.”

“Well I’m sure that I can do that I have a little box of girl cloths under my bed that he never messes with….that and he doesn’t have the key to it.”  She said smiling as she pulled a little key out of her pocket.  “He knows that there's cloths in there so he doesn’t really care.”

“Oh… no no no no no, nothing like that,” the wolf-bear hybrid squeaked out, blush tinging her cheeks a deep red. “God there’s no way I'd get you anything like that, I’d die of embarrassment if anyone ever found something like that.”

“Just one thing before you two head off upstairs,” Brenda said ushering the pair into the house ahead of her. “Try to keep the noise down, and no getting too carried away with each other until AFTER we make a trip for… supplies. Got it?”

“Yes ma’am,” Franny squeaked, her face catching flame from the  intense blush that colored her neck and cheeks.

“Yes ma’am.”  Amelia said with a little giggle as she watched her lover blushing.  “You are so cute when you blush like that.”  She said leaning over, kissing her mate on the cheek.  “And I know just what we can do while we wait.” 

Taking her lover by the paw and heading towards the stairs the wolf-bear hybrid blushed a little deeper and said, “then why don’t you come up and show me.”

“Well we are going to need some chairs and pillows.”  She said smiling as she was lead up to the bearwolf’s room.  “Oh and a nice big blanket.”  She said with a little snicker.  “I want to build a little snuggle fort with you.”

“Oh… well then I better swipe the chair from Fred’s room, and get that big blanket from the upstairs linen closet I guess,” Francine said smiling and wiggling her  shapely rump a little as she led the wolf-deer down the upstairs hallway. “Just how much snuggling do you have in mind sweetie?”

“All of the snuggling.”  She said smiling.  “I can get the blanket if you get the chair.”  She said snickered as she reached out and gave the wiggling hybrid butt a fondle or three.  “All the snuggles, kisses and things like that.”  She said as she slipped off to the linen closet.

“Get the blanket dork,” Francine said giggling as she twisted away from her lover and walked down the hallway. After quickly retrieving the desk chair from her brother’s room as well as a folding metal one he kept hidden in his closet the wolf-bear nearly ran to her bedroom, sliding through the open doorway and judging the door with her hip. “Here we go Amilia, how long till snuggles?” she asked as she unbuttoned the  jacket of her school uniform, slipping it off and hanging it up on the coat tree beside her bedroom door.

“Just a few moments.”  The wolfdeer said with a little giggle as she started setting up the chairs before laying out the blankets and pillows that they would be snuggling on.  “There is an art to this….”  She said poking out her tongue and starting drape the blanket over the chairs and making sure that it would hide them.  “There we go.”  She said nodding at her handy work before slipping out of her uniform jacket, tossing it onto the coat tree.  “M’lady.”  She said holding up the blanket.

Giggling softly and kicking off her shoes Francine skittered under the blanket, slowing down to a slow crawl once she was on her paws and knees. “Don’t just stand there,” she said with a bit of a grin looking back over her shoulder and wiggling her exposed, panty clad rump at her herm ;lover. “All the belly rubs and nibbling on my neck every time you got a chance today has me a little… hungry for your snuggles.”

“You don’t have to ask twice.”  Amelia said blushing and licking her lips, kicking her shoes off before slipping into the fort.  “Mmmmmmh I can’t help it….there is something that is just so tasty about your neck.”  She said as she snuggled up to her lover, pulling her close.  “And all that teasing….naughty words and all….such a bad girl.”  She said as she leaned in and started kissing at her lover’s cheek.

Nuzzling into her lover’s soft, tender kisses the wolf-bear began to fumble with the buttons of her lovers blouse. “I was serious about being hungry for those snuggles,” she said a little impatiently. “Mom already said it was okay for us to fool around so…” she added, trailing off after popping the top three buttons of Amelia's blouse open and slipping her paws into the open shirt.

Blushing and wiggling a little as she watched her lover opening her shirt and then slipping her paws in, rubbing and teasing her chest fluff.  “Mmmmmh I can see.”  She said smiling and letting her paws come to rest on her lover’s hips.  “Don’t get too worked up….we have plenty of time to snuggle and more.”  She said, pulling her lover close, starting to kiss her neck, sneaking in a nip or two as she did.

“I… I’ll try not to,” Franny whimpered softly,shivering a little and with one paw behind her lovers head pulling those wonderful lips tighter to her flesh and fur. Her free paw quickly undoing the remaining buttons of the wolf-deer’s blouse. “I, it’s okay if we don’t do anything else for a while,” she panted to her lover, her paw now making quick work of the buttons of her own blouse.”I just, I need you. I need to feel your soft fur and warm paws on me. If you want to touch me that is.”

Licking at her lover’s neck as she pulled back to wiggle out of her shirt, she smiled.  “And that’s just what I’m going to do.”  She said with a loud murr, her paws reaching out to help get her lover topless too.  “Lots of snuggles, kisses, nibbles, and when we get the stuff...more.”  She said as she pulled her lover close again, holding her tight as she pressed her lips to Franny’s, wiggling her tongue into her muzzle.

Francine murred softly yet happily as she felt her lover’s tongue wiggling into her muzzle. She reached out wrapping her arms around the wolf-deer and pulling hir tighter as she fell back onto the mattress beneath them. Holding the kiss, entwining her tongue with her lover’s  the wolf-bear let her paws slip slowly down hir back.. She kneaded the firm flesh of her lover's shapely rear as they traveled lower wrapping her fingers over the hem, tugging on the material as she melted into the kiss more.

Letting out a happily little more as she felt her lover starting to kiss her, paws starting to rub and tease her butt.  Her tail wiggling a little as she felt her lover starting to tease at the hem of her skirt.  Her own paws resting on the wolf-bear’s hips before starting to slide up her sides, teasing and taking in every little rise and fall of her body.

Francine moaned lewdly into her lover’s muzzle, the wolf-deer’s paws teasingly traversing her body. Hir slow, steady pace almost maddening as she shivered, or was she wiggling? under hir ministrations. Fran stopped fumbling with the hem of hir skirt, her paws instead grabbing the firm orbs of her lover’s ass and pulling the wolf-deer hybrid down onto herself.  She moaned louder as she strained, pushing her hips upward and pressing the obvious bulge under Amelia’s skirt into her groin.

Breaking the kiss as she felt herself being pulled closer, her bulge teasing her lover and causing her to moan out from the sudden touch.  “Oh….I want you so bad.”  She squeaked out, blushing dark as she started nipping at her lover’s neck.  “I just….ffffffff.”  She gasped out.  “I just want to show you just how much I love you and everything.”  She said, going back to nipping, kissing and licking at her lover’s neck.

“I…, you make me feel so,” Fran squeaked out, her paws crawling down her lover’s backside only to creep back up under the thin fabric of hir skirt. “Oh God Amelia, you make me feel tingly all over. A good kind of tingly, I want you really badly too, but…” she said trailing off, a deep blush flooding her face. “I’m kind of scared too.”

“I know.”  She said smiling and kissing her lover on the forehead.  “We can take this as fast or as slow as you want to.”  Amelia said with a murr, perking her butt up a little as she felt paws on her butt.  “I want everything to be perfect….but then with you, I’m sure that it will be with you...I mean you are like the best.”

“Damn it Francine,” a slightly angry voice called from outside of their pillow fort. “You two better not be in there playin hide the weiner and getting stuff all over my favorite blanket.”

“MEEP!” the wolf-bear squeaked out, inadvertently jerking her arms down and pulling her lover tightly to her groin. 

“I swear to God if my blanket ends up sticky or crusty,” the wolf-bear boy started before being cut off by another voice behind him.

“They’ll wash and dry it and put it back in the closet,” his mother said scowling down at him. “Now you get your fuzzy backside in that room and clean it up like I told you to do yesterday before you end up on the bad side of me,”  the bear woman said turning her son and shooing him out the door.

“Oh God… mom,” Francine shouted, her arms flailing out, paws grabbing at the blankets and pillows surrounding them. “We’re gonna be in…” she started to add, her voice trailing off when the makeshift structure of the fort toppled down onto the pair.

“We weren't doing anything too naughty.”  Amelia said sitting up covered by the blanket.  “We were just snuggling…...and kissing…..and maybe paws were wondering a little bit.”  She said starting to look for her way out of the pile of blankets that were now on top of her.

“Y… yea, we weren’t doing anything dirty,” Francine piped up from under the blanket pile. “We weren’t even naked yet…”she added as she flipped around a little trying to find a way out of the blankets.

“If I thought you two were up to more than you should have been,” the bear woman’s voice said as the blankets seemed to be nearly ripped off them, “I would have been in here sooner. The only reason I’m in here now, other than you two being a little too  quiet, is that we need to go to the pharmacy before your father gets home “

“Ummmmm…..I have never bought anything like that before.”  Amelia said as she finally poked her head out from under the blankets.  “I…..ummmmm….is there a certain kind that I should get or something?”  She asked tilting her head a little bit.

Brenda’s eyes went wide for a moment as the wolf-deer’s head poked out of the pile of blankets at last. A smirk spreading across her face as she replied. “I was planning on making Fred ride along. I’ve no doubt he can give us some advice on the right kind of condoms for you considering who his girlfriend is. If I were you two though, I’d be a bit more concerned on what kind of a story you are going to tell your parents about that,” she finished taping her head behind her ear as she turned and left the room. “Fred, hussle it up boy, we have a short trip to make before dinner.” 

“That?”  She asked tilting her head a little more.  “I thought that I would tell them the same thing that I always do, that I was here…...studying or something like that.”  Amelia said as she turned to the lump in the blankets that was her girlfriend.

“Overlook her, my mom is weird,” Francine said as she worked on wiggling out of the blankets. “I wouldn’t worry too much about…” Her face froze in an instant, eyes wide as dinner plates and her jaw dropping nearly to the bedsheet beneath her. “OH MY GOD...” she screeched, her paw thrusting forward, one finger pointing to the wolf-deers head. “I… your… we…” she stammered slowly leaning towards her lover. “Oh fuck,” she whispered,her eyes going still wider, “your…. horn.”

“Horn?  What about them?”  She asked as she reached up, touching the one that was still there before moving over to the nub of the other.  “Oh…..why did this have to happen.”  She said with a little huff, before starting to dig through the pile of blankets.

“How…. how did it even break like that? I thought those things were stronger than bones?” Franny said before her paws shot to her cheeks, tears starting to well up in her big green eyes. “Oh God, how are we going to explain this to your parents? If, if we tell them what we were doing… won’t your dad go all ballistic and stuff?”

Pausing for a moment before the little light went off.  “Oh…..I will tell him the same thing that I tell him every year…...they…..well that one finally fell out.”  She said smiling to her lover, before pulling her close.  “And…..deer horns fall out in the fall or winter…..you didn’t break me or anything…..I just want to know why they never both break at the same time.”  She said with a little huff.

“Ohh…” the wolf-bear girl said tilting her head to the side a little. “So this is, normal?”

“Yes…...it’s totally normal.”  Amelia  said with a little snicker.  “This happens every year…..normally it’s happened by now…...I guess the move messed with the internal clock.”  She said shaking her head a little.  “But yeah, in a day or two this,” she pointed to the other horn, “will fall off to, and in the spring I will start growing a new pair and all that…..the trees here will fear me or something.”

“Okay, I guess that makes sense,” Franny said crawling out from under the blankets and getting to her foot-paws. “We probably better get presentable so we can go get… stuff,” the wolf-bear girl said turning to look at her lover as she started to button her blouse. “Though I may need to change panties…” she said stepping closer to where her girlfriend still lay on the bed. “It feels like snuggling with you got me really, really wet down there.”

“Oh….oh my.”  She said with a little squeak.  “Well….soon I will be able to help you with that.”  She said smiling and licking her lips as she stood up.  “It’s a little weird with just one horn…..I feel off balance.”  She paused for a moment, smiling ear to ear.  “You wouldn’t happen to have some super glue would you?”  She asked as she started to get dressed.

 “No,” Franny said with a little giggle, tucking her blouse back into her skirt. “So ummm, I guess since you’re used to this happening it won’t put a damper on our fun time will it?” Francine asked wiggling her tush a little as turned her back to her girlfriend. 

Snickering a little as she poked at her lover’s butt.  “Not at all.”  She said smiling and picking up the horn after finishing getting dressed.  “You want this?  I’m sure that you can find a use for it…..poking people…..or something like that.”  She said as she took her lover’s other hand.  “Ready?”

“Nah, I’ve got you, and I think it’ll be a lot more fun poking you, and maybe getting poked back,” the wolf-bear girl said as a deep blush colored her cheeks a deep pink. “Yea, ready,” she added as she followed her lover out of the room.

“I’m sure that we will both make sure the other is good to go on that front.”  Amelia said blushing and smiling.  “Oooooh the thought of you all wrapped up in a bow for me.”  She said wiggling a little.  “Ummmmm…..we need to go before my mind gets to wondering too much.”  She said blushing and glancing down at her skirt.

“Another sermon”
“Of choking smoke”
“& billowing rage…”

“Are you sure those are the right ones for us?” Francine asked her brother, a scowl on her face as if she wasn’t quite sure whether or not to believe him. i mean I know Amelia is part wolf too, but are you sure?”

“Jesus  Franny, you should know better than I do. After all you’ve already seen hir dick right?” the wolf-bear boy asked with a smirk on his muzzle.

“You know….with they way that you say that it makes me think that you want to see it.”  Amelia said with a little snicker.  “I think that they are the ones that we need…..cause you know….knot.”

“I’ve got one thanks,” Fred said rolling his eyes. “Any way those should be fine unless your like hung like a horse or somethin’.”

“No… shi’s not that big or anything,” Franny said blushing hotly in her cheeks.

“Emile Delphine Lamer.”  A voice called out, causing the deerwolf to turn to the end of the aisle, the sight there causing her to freeze up.

“Ummmm.”  Was all that she was able to stammer out when she saw her father standing there, her mother coming around the corner to join him.

“What are you doing here…..dressed like that….and looking at….”  He paused, narrowing his eyes a little.  “Something that will get you into a lot of trouble.”

“It’s…...it’s not what you think.”  She managed to squeak out.

“I don’t know.  I looks like my son is cross dressing, and about to sin by laying with another male, and not even mentioning the whole marriage part.”  His eyes turning to Fred.  “Let me guess, this is the one that you have been ‘studyinging’ with.”

“Not even,”the wolf-bear boy said frowning at the wolf man. “Afraid Emile,, or whatever it is  you want to call him… hir, isn’t really my type. Well okay in a way maybe shi is, but…” 

“Oh shut up Fred,” the hybrid girl piped up stepping around her brother. “I’m the study partner sir.”

“Well then, do you want to tell me why you have my son dressed like a girl….and why you two are looking at such inappropriate things?”  He asked glaring at the wolfbear, “just what are you planning on doing with him?”

“Dad…..please.”  Amelia said looking up to her father.  “It’s…..it’s.”

“Emile….I’m talking to your friend here….I will deal with you in a moment and when we get home.”  The father said turning his gaze back to the other hybrid.

“I had nothing to do with how Amelia is dressed,” Francine said standing straight, her head held high to stare the wolf man in the eyes. “Well that’s not entirely true. To be honest it was hir idea, and I support hir in the decision. It’s not cross dressing for someone like her to wear the clothes shi feels comfortable in,” she stated clearly, if maybe just a bit louder than she had intended as she walked towards the larger male maintaining eye contact the entire time.

“That’s not how it looks.”  He said looking at the girl, not backing down or wavering.  “He never dressed or acted like this till he started talking to you.  Emile is my son….wearing this,” he said pointing to his ‘son’, “it’s crossdressing.  As for him being happy...I don’t think that some girl with ill intentions concern, but I assure you that he is happy with his life, with becoming a part of the church.”  He took his eyes off of Francien and laid them on Emil.  “Come on, I think that it’s time that you went back home and get dressed in something more appropriate….and stop associating with this…..harlot.”

Her look hardening a little at the older man’s comment the wolf-bear girl stopped in her tracks. “Excuse me? What did you just…” she began to ask, her voice raising in pitch quickly with each word.

“Francine, a slightly deeper feminine voice called out from the next aisle over. “Mind your tongue, but speak your mind child.”

“Yes ma’am,” she replied sharply. “Mr. Lamar, ‘he’,” she started pointing to Amelia, “never dressed like this because, I can only assume, you never allowed it. Amelia is not your son, shi is your hermaphroditic child. No one has a right to tell hir what gender shi is, not even you.”

“I am his father….and as long as that is the case then yes I have a say in that.  I am the head of this family, I know what’s best for my family.”  He paused, taking in a deep breath.  “And I don’t need someone like you telling me how to take care of, or deal with my family.  I think that it’s best that you go back to your mother, Emile is coming home with us…...and I think that it would be best for him not to see you anymore….you’re doing nothing more than corrupting the poor boy’s mind and soul.”

“Dad.”  Amelia squeaked out, a little louder this time.  “She….she’s not.”

“Come on Emile.  We’re leaving….I have some chores at the house that need doing...that will be a good start for your punishment.”  He said glaring at his offspring.

“Why do you hate your own child so much?” Francine asked with an odd look in her eyes. “You force Amelia to be a boy in public, is it that shi embaresses you? Or is shi an abomination in your eyes?”

“Yes….the sight of him dressed like this is embarrassing for me and him I’m sure.”  He said looking back to the girl.  “and he’s not an abomination….just a little misguided, but that will be fixed…..I have enough of this, I’m starting to think that you’re being raised in a Godless house or something….”  He said pausing a moment, “I would be happy to help you find the path to happiness and heaven.”  He said offering a warm, rather knowing smile to the wolfbear.

“How can you help me find a path that does not exist?” Francine asked straight faced. “You stand here, speaking of a God that in one breath is said to be loving and kind, and in the next instructs that children are to be taught to fear him. You say you will help me to find heaven, but didn’t Jesus Christ himself say that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are like children?”

“And you know that the good book has been translated several times through and through, there are some things that get a little mixed up.”  He said pausing and taking a deep breath.  “I tell you what, you come to my church one sunday for a class and I will help clear all of this up for you.”  He said with that same knowing smile.

“Dad….just….please.”  Amelia starting to speak up.

“Come on sweetie.  Let’s get you back to the car….if we go out the back way no one will see you dressed like this.”  The mother said.  “And it’s a good thing that your brother and sisters aren't here to see this.”  She said as she started to walk to the wolfdeer.

“I’ve read the bible from cover to cover sir,” Francine said staunchly. “I have attended a church for several years. I don’t need or want you to clear all of this up. But maybe you can tell me why you defy your own good book and it’s teachings? Does it not say in Matthew, chapter 18 verses 5 and 6, ‘And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.’ Amelia isn’t misguided, your demanding that shi be what you want her to be is misguided. By doing that you're committing  a sin yourself. Forcing Amelia to be what you want, and not letting hir be the wonderful, amazing person that God made is your sin, you have spit in the face of your own God and imposed your own will upon one of his most prized creations, one of his children.”

“While you are right about the verse and everything.  I have not sinned...this is what he wants.”  He said taking a deep breath, only to have another voice cut him off.

“No!”  Amelia barked, glaring at her father.  “I don’t want this.”  She said in a huff.  “I never wanted any of this.”

“Oh honey...you're just confused.”  The mother deer said as she took her daughter’s hand.

“Yes dear.  All of this time that you spent with this heathen has….clouded your vision.”  Marc said looking from his son back to the hybrid.  “It looks like I’m going to have to make sure that you’re not exposed to such rable.”  He took a step towards the bearwolf.  “Do you see what you have done to my son?  You have corrupted him.”

“No!”  The deerwolf said, louder this time, pulling her arm away from her mother’s paw.  “She had nothing to do with corrupting me….she has helped me….made me see that I’m more than Emile….more than the son that you want me to be.”  She said taking a deep breath.  “I’m not a male, nor am I female….I am me….and God loves me for that….why can’t you?”

“Emile!”  The mother barked.  “Don’t speak to your father like that, you're just confused.”  She said just taking her daughter’s hand again.  “Come on, your father will handle things here…”

“Yes.  Go to the car….I will handle you and your punishment later.”  He said glancing at his son.  “I think that I need to have a word with this one’s mother….let her know that she needs to be set right.”

“No!” Amelia barked again.  “Dad….mom, I’m telling you both.  I’m not confused….I know what I feel...and I know that I feel way better getting to be Amelia than Emile.”  She said taking in a deep breath.  “I owe a lot to Francine for showing me this….for showing me that I wouldn’t be turned to salt or struck by lighting for being me.”  She pulled away from her mother again.  “I love both of you...but I am not your son Emile….I am your child, Amelia….No one in this town cares that I am a herm….I have been going to school as one this whole time.”

“That’s it.”  The father said walking past the wolfbear.  “You're coming home and we are going to settle this.  I will pull you out of that school if I have to….I will hire someone to come homeschool you if need be.”  He said walking up to his daughter and taking her arm.  “Come on Emile.”  He said starting to pull her.

“I will go home, but you’re not going to take me out of that school….or make me live this lie.”  The wolf deerling said as she was taken down the aisle.

“Listen here.  You will not tell me what I will and will not do.  I don’t care how big you think that you are, but you’re not to big to be taken out back and beaten with a switch, do you hear me?”  The man asked in a demanding tone.

“Excuse me,”a voice said loudly from behind the wolf man. “I would strongly suggest that you unhand that child before you rile me up any more than you have.” A low snarling sound was heard, growing louder as it seemed to draw closer. “I kept my muzzle closed while you insulted my daughter, I kept quiet while you demeaned your own child. But threatening hir with physical violence is the last straw. I don't give a single damn that you are hir father. Child abuse will not be tolerated here, or anywhere,” a large brown bear woman hissed out as she bore down on the man. “You have made a huge mistake threatening a child in my presence sir, I lived through your kind of discipline personally, and as long as I can do anything about it no child will ever have to live through it again. Your biggest mistake was making those threats in a public place that is monitored for security reasons. I have no doubt the proprietor will be willing to provide the videotaped evidence of your threats to the authorities.”

“Well I can see where your daughter gets her attitude from.”  The man said shaking his head a little.  “As for the way I discipline my daughter, that is up to me….and I’m fairly sure that it’s not a crime to spank a child.”  He said brushing the woman off as he turned and started back to walking out of the store.

“I thought that this town would be a little more...wholesome.”  The mother deer muttered to her husband.
.
“Why do you defend him like that? Is he beating you as well?” the bear woman asked staring the deer woman in the eyes.”Surely you can’t believe that living under his tyrannical control is wholesome for your children. Living by the word of God is one thing. Bastardizing it to fit your view is another completely.”

Stopping and turning on her heels the deer’s glare could have bore holes in steel.  “Ma’am, I assure you that he has never laid a hand on me….and has only ever spanked the kids a paw full of times and only when it was warranted.”  She said with a huff.  “I think that it would be best for you to mind your kids and let us handle ours.”  With that, she started to open her mouth to say something only to be stopped by her daughter.

“Just come on….Let’s go home….get this over with and all….”  Amelia said in a rather defeated tone.  “This is just making a scene.”  With that the father shot her another glare before they started to turn and walk off again.

“I’m sorry Francine,” Brenda said more softly.” As I feared it was a waste of time to try to help Amelia. Until the God he claims to follow and love opens his eyes to his own shortcomings he and his family are as lost as the Israelites in the desert.”

Turning and look at the woman again, “You know what….from the sound of it, you think that you can raise my son better, that you can make him more happy to be with you living a life that wasn’t meant for him.”  He said pausing a moment.  “You know what…..you take him….it seems like he isn’t grateful for the things that I have given him and the life that I offered….so.”  The father wolf said letting go of her arm, the mother looking up to him, somewhat shocked.

“Honey….”  She said, only to be shot a glance that silenced her, that kind of glance that told her knew what he was doing.

Brenda held up a single finger as she started to speak. “Before you take a single step Amelia, answer me these questions.. One, do you love your parents. Two, do you believe that they love you. Three, are you grateful to them for all the things they have given you in your life. Last but not least, do you feel that your father accepts you for who you are, or for what he wants you to be?”

“I……”  She paused a moment, thinking before starting to speak, softly and looking at the ground.  “I’m sure that they love me, I’m not sure if it’s me...or Emile though….I love them….I just wish….they didn’t want me to be something that I don’t want to be….and the only time that they don’t care if I’m Emile or Amelia is when we are home, and I’m not to sure about that.”  She said, her eyes never leaving that one spot on the floor.  “Just tell me why.”

It was clear that the father was beyond stunned at what his daughter said.  “Well…..it’s….”  He stopped, looking for the right words, stammering and running through them in his head.

“It’s…..it’s because it would make you look bad as a preacher….or so you think it would.”  She mumbled.  “That’s why we left the other town…..it’s not because you got an offer to plant a church here….is that why you treat my brother and sister’s better….why you don’t make them be something else?”

“It…..”  He muttered, still stunned.  “It is.”  He said in a near whisper.

“Emile, we still love you….it’s just that….things need be a certain way….people might not look at your father the same way if they knew that he had a herm daughter.”  The mother spoke up, her voice nearly as quiet as her husband's

“So that’s all that you two care about.”  Amelia said, looking up to the two.  “You only worry about how the people see you and the church……”

“Your an idiot,” Francine said shaking her head and looking at the two adults before her. “That may have been true where you were before. You may have lived in a town of narrow minded idiots, but this is Prairie Flats. Here people honestly don’t care about that kind of thing.”

Shaking her head slowly Brenda spoke up now. “Fools, you don’t even realise the harm you’ve been doing by forcing your own child to hide who shi is for your own benefit. You preach the words but ignore their meaning. You tell your congregation to love their children while you shun everything that makes Amelia your most precious gift from God.”

“I thought that you loved me…..at least a little bit.”  Amelia said, tears starting to well up in her eyes.  “Or was the love just to make us look good for the church?”

“We were just trying to do what we thought was best for you.”  Marc said looking down to his daughter, his face showing just a little hint of emotion.  “And we still are….you just have to trust us.  We love you and want the best…  This place might be ok with you being a herm, but you’re not meant to be one...You’re meant to be a male, to grow up and have a family, father them and even one day plant a church of your own.”

“And what if that’s something that I don’t want?”  She asked tears starting to roll down her cheeks at this point.  “What if I want to be with Francie and be Amelia?  What if I don’t want to start a church?”

“Sweetie….it’s just a passing phase.”  Bridgett said shaking her head a little.  “Trust me I went through one when I was at your age.”

“You’re mother is right sweetie.”  Marc spoke up.  “You just have to trust us.”

“I….I don’t think that it is….and I don’t know if I can trust you two or not….at least knowing all of this now.”  She said looking up to them, shaking her head.

“You can trust us. We’re your parents, we know what’s best….”  The father said holding his paw out, reaching for his daughter’s arm.

“I will not presume to tell you what is best, or what you should do Amelia,” the mother bear said softly. “Know only this, no matter what your decision, as long as it is of and by your own free will that God has blessed you with I will support you in it.” 

“I don’t think that I can.”  Amelia said as she looked up to her father.  “Not after all of the things that were said and revealed.”  She said taking a deep breath.  “I know that trust can be rebuilt….but it would have to be a lot of work….for one, I want to be me...I want to be Amelia all the time...I want to see that you are trying and really do love me for me.  DO you think that you could do that for me?”

“You're an ungrateful little whelp.”  The father said in a near bark.  “You're the one that’s now taking the love that we are giving you and trying to turn it against us….You’re trying to make it so that we feel bad.”  He paused for a moment.  “We love you and we will always love you, but you will not come under my roof and make demands like that.”

“We are your parents and we do know what’s best for you…..if we need, there will be tough love.”  The mother spoke up, “I’m sure that there is a switch with your name on it.”

“You want us to trust you and everything, well that’s a two way street…. you have to trust us too.”  Marc said, the holier than thou glare returning to his face as he looked down to his daughter.  “It’s that or the highway.”

“Well then….that shows me just what I want to know.”  Amelia said returning the glare.  “You don’t love me, and I don’t think that you know what’s best for me either…..”

“Come on.”  The father said taking his daughter’s arm and starting to pull her out of the store.  “We will finish this talk when we get home.”

“Call your father,” the mother bear said to her daughter passing her purse to the younger female. “Find your brother and both of you wait for him to get here,” she said flatly. “Momma’s probably going to jail today,” she whispered as she drew back her arm, large paw drawing up some and claws glistening in the overhead lights of the store. “Get your filthy paws off her now,” she bellowed before grabbing the male wolf by the back of the neck and bodily throwing him to the ground. The moment he fell she grabbed Amelia’s arm pulling the hybrid girl behind her and taking a stance between hir and the mother deer.”I see the look in your eyes, unless you want to get hurt I’d stand down if I were you,” she said between gritted teeth. Looking down at the wolf man sprawled on the floor at her foot-paws she added, “and I’d just stay put until the police get here if I were you. You’ve pissed off a momma bear, even a fool knows that’s a very bad idea.”

“We’re not going to stoop to your level.”  She said pulling her phone out of her bag and starting to dial the police.

“It seems this is all it takes.”
“To force the angels to wake.”
“To bring their ivory faces.”
“Buried deep within their wings…”

“Once again from the beginning ma’am,” the big, burly german shepard said as he flipped the pages of his notebook. “I just need to make sure we have all the facts straight as you see them,” he finished looking the deer woman in the face. After a few minutes of double checking the information, making certain that her recollection of the events did not change significantly he sighed heavily. “So the short of it that your… daughter has an issue with her dad and doesn’t want to go home with him, is that right?”

“No, our son didn’t want to come home cause he is in trouble…..my husband took him by the arm to take him out of the store and to the car so that we could go home….that’s when that crazy bear attacked.”  She said taking a deep breath, “So you should be arresting her.”

“Your son… is a cross dresser then?” the shepherd asked cocking one eyebrow.

“Well…..something like that…..this isn’t going to be in the news or anything like that?”  She paused a moment.  “Our son is a herm….but we don’t really want that getting out or anything.”

His eyebrow going higher the officer said, “whoa, hold up there. This dispute involves a hermaphrodite? I’ll need more information, and I need to speak to the child involved immediately.” His expression changing drastically he added, “the accusations you make against Mrs. Shlotzhauer are pretty serious, we’ll have to see how this thing plays out before anyone is taken into custody.”

“What are you talking about?  She attacked my husband…..”  She said with a huff, “you can talk to Emile….but that daughter of the woman has his head all turned around….he doesn't know what he wants.”

“I don’t dispute what your saying ma’am,” the officer offered in an even, non committal tone. “But I need to make sure we have all the facts, and for that I need to talk to everyone involved.” Turning around he saw the wolfdeer hybrid being held by another wolf hybrid that appeared to be roughly the same age. “I take it that’s your son and the girl you spoke of?”

“That would be Emile…...I think that you need to talk to him away from that girl….I know that she will be there whispering things in his ear so to speak.”  She said glaring at the wolfbear.  “I swear that’s why all of this is happening.”

“I’ve been on the force for ten years,” the older male said tersely, “I think I know how to handle my job ma’am,” the officer said before walking over to where the two teens stood. “You must be Emile, I need to speak with you privately about what happened, if that’s okay with you,” he said as he knelt down in front of the pair.

“My name is Amelia.”  She said looking up to the officer.  “But I will tell you whatever.”  She said, still clearly shaken up by what was happening.

“Alright then,why don’t we… “he began, pausing a moment as he looked up. With a bit of a grin on his muzzle he started over, “Let’s try this again, I’m officer Goodwin,and this,”he added motioning to the female jerboa officer that was walking up to them as he spoke, “is officer Stenton. She’ll be sticking to us like glue while we talk if you don’t mind.”

“Nice to meet you two.”  She said smiling a little bit, “and thank you.  I don’t mind the other officer, I just want things to be done with….I….I’d say that I want to go home but I think that I’d rather stay here.”

“Alright,” he responded as he turned to the female officer, you good with this Jen?”

“No problems with you Stan, you know that,” the jerboa woman replied with a soft smile. “Looks like you were expecting me.”

“Knew you were on the duty roster for today, soon as Amelia’s mom said shi was a hrem I expected you to show up.”

“I guess I need to leave huh?” Francine said giving her girlfriend another hug. “I’ll be over there,” she said pointing to the end of the aisle. 

“Ok.”  She said softly as she hugged her girlfriend.  “So.”  She asked turned looking to the jerboa.  “What do you need to know?  Other than I’m a herm which you seem to know.”

“Yes ma’am,” the older female said smiling sweetly, “we do know that, and it’s why I have to be here. No female can be questioned by a male officer without a female officer present. Since you are third gender that means we both have to be here.”

“Okay, can you tell us what is going on here in your own words Amelia?  I’ve heard your mother's version of the events, now I need to hear your side of things.”

“Me and my girlfriend, brother and mother were here to buy somethings, Dad comes around the corner and sees me dressed like this.  Big tirade and all that.  I don't want to go home so he grabs me by the arm and starts pulling me out of the store to take me home cause I have a switch with my name on it…..Girlfriend’s mom...well….flips him and pulls me out of the way, boom here we are.”  Amelia said looking to the officer.

“Wait, your dad throws a tirade over you being dressed like this? Can you tell us why?” the female officer asked tilting her head a little.

“Well, short of it is, he doesn’t want me to be dressed like a female when I’m out and about, something about having a herm kid would make the church look bad or something like that.”  She said in a rather cold tone.

“I see,” the shepherd man said, a frown coming to his face instantly. The male looked up, motioning to another of the male officers near by. “I think officer Stenton may have a few more questions for you, I think I have all that I need at the moment though. Officer Hooks will be taking my place while I go deal with things,” he said before turning away and walking off towards the wolf father of the hybrid child.

“So what’s taking you all so long.  That crazy woman attacked me…..She needs to be thrown into jail…”  He said taking a deep breath.  “I will get a lawyer if I need to.”

“We aren’t allowed to give you legal advice,” officer Goodwin said as he walked up to the wolf man. “But you may want to get one on retainer. I understand that Mrs. Holzhauser attacked you sir, and you are by all means allowed to press charges against her. One of these officers can handle that if you wish, but I have a few other questions that I need to ask first .Your daughter has stated sir that you were attempting to remove her from the premises against her will, is that correct sir?”

“Yes, I was trying to take my son home…..He didn’t want to leave that trouble maker that he was with...so I took him by the arm and started leading him out.  Is that a crime here?”  He asked looking up to the officer, stone faced.

“Only if a threat of physical violence was either spoken or implied in the act of attempting to remove her sir,” the shepherd man said scribbling the information down into his notebook..”According to other witnesses  to the altercation, you may have provoked the attack against you, Any idea why  onlookers would make such an assumption sir?”

“I did no such thing.  I didn’t raise a pawpad to that woman…..She was the one that was attacking me for the way that I am raising my son.”  He said cocking an eyebrow.  “She is the one that jumping into my face as I was trying to leave.”

“I’m afraid I don’t understand sir, why would she be attacking you for the way you are raising your daughter? How would a stranger even be aware of that sort of information?”

“Her daughter and my son have been hanging out and as it looks, she has him crossdressing….I started reprimanding my son for that, and then her daughter started talking back to me, getting into my and my son’s discussion, and then as I was trying to leave after a long talk with her, her daughter and my son, she attacked me for the way that I was going to punish my son.”  The father wolf said shaking his head a little.

“We may need to come back to the punishment part of that sir. But first, your child introduced hirself as Amelia to multiple officers including myself. Yet you refer to hir as your son, I am confused, which gender does he or shi identify as at home?”

“She as far as I know….but what has that got to do with this?”  He asked cocking his head a little.

“It seems odd that a hermaphrodite child would identify as one gender in public and the opposite gender at home sir,” the large shephard man said. “What gender shi identifies as matters sir because of the state laws concerning gender discrimination.”

“So you’re telling me that it’s against the law to tell my son what gender he’s supposed to be and act like….that sounds like bullshit….or a cause of the state trying to tell me how to raise my kids.”  The father said shaking his head a little.

Glaring at the wolf man the big shephard all but snarled at him as he said, “that is exactly what I’m telling you. As defined and outlined in the Colorado revised statutes discrimination of any kind against a transgendered or hermaphroditic resident of the state is illegal, no matter the causality nor whom the perpetrator is.” Leaning in closer and narrowing his eyes the officer lowered his voice to a near growl as he added, “and that includes you sir.”

“So you’re going to arrest me for telling my son who he is and all that?  For letting him be a girl at home and a normal man when he is out and about?”  He said pausing a moment, “I want my lawyer….I’m don’t talking about this.”

Turning to the closest uniformed member of the police force officer Goodwin asked, “you heard him repeatedly refer to his child in this matter as his son right?”

“Yes sir, that I did,” the schnauzer man replied.

“All I need to know,” he replied reaching out and taking the wolf man by the wrist. “You have the right to remain silent,” he began as he turned the man around and pressed him forward against the side of the squad car they had been standing beside. “Anything you say can, and will be used against you in a court of law,” he continued taking the paw cuffs from their holster hanging from the service belt around one waist. “You have the right to an attorney,” he continued, snapping the other cuff on before turning the wolf man to look into his eyes again. “If you can not afford an attorney one will be provided for you.” His face now an expressionless mask he said, “you are under arrest for violation of the state statutes prohibiting discrimination against a hermaphroditic resident of the state of Colorado. Do you understand your rights and the charges being levied against you?”

“I do….I can’t believe the state is telling me how I have to raise my kids, this is an outrage.”  He said in a huff as he was put into the back of the cop car.

“Now to go arrest a bear woman without getting gutted like a fish,” officer Goodwin muttered as he turned to walk away, the schnauzer snickering though he tried to suppress it, failing badly.

“It’s all your fault that your father is being arrested.”  The mother deer said, nearly barking at her daughter.  

“And you say that like he doesn’t deserve it.”  Amelia said glaring back at the woman.  “I’m getting to the point that I want to see you end up in there too.”

“Just think of how this is going to look for the church, for the family.”  She said, her voice starting to get louder.  “All cause you want to be some crossdressing fag.”

“Gee, love you too.”  She said, tears starting to well in the corners of her eyes.  “I see how it is, you didn’t ever love me...it’s all about the church….all about looking good and not caring how I feel.”

“We care how you feel….you’re just acting like a child...and I know for a fact that I raised you better than that.”  The mother said starting to walk closer to her daughter.

“No….you raised me to be something that you want me to be, something that I can’t be, something that I don’t want to be.”  She said as she kept glaring at the woman, not wavering.

“We should have fixed you a long time ago….I really am starting to regret not listening to that doctor.”  She said now standing right in front of her.

“Oh you mean that you could have listened to someone other than your god.”  She barked, hair on the nape of her neck rising.  “Fuck you.”  She growled out.

“What did you say to me?”  The deer said in a growl of her own, her paw coming up as she reared back to slap the child.

Stepping between the deer woman and Amelia Brenda let out a low growl of her own. “Not on my watch. I don’t give a shit if you are hir mother, you are not about to hit this child in front of me.”.

“Nor in front of me,” officer Goodwin said as he strode closer to the two females seeming about to go at each other. “Your husband is already under arrest, and you're about to be,” he said locking eyes with the mother bear. “Do I really need to lock up all of the supposed adults involved in this mess today? I have no problem doing that if need be.”

Looking past the shepherd man’s head Brenda said, “once my husband is here I’ll go without incident, until then I’m not about to leave any of these children or let them out of my sight.”

Francine jumped a little, the sound of a song being heard. Quickly she retrieved her phone unlocking the screen and tapping it a few times. “Text from dad, he’s about five minutes away,” she said raising her eyes to look at her mother. “He says he’s probably got enough to bail you out if he needs it without having to go to the bank first.” After a short pause, several dings being heard and the young wolf-bear girl staring intently at the screen again she said, “he’s asking if he needs to take us home first, and if there’s anything else he needs to know about.”

“Officer, when are we allowed to go home?”  The deer mother asked, turning her glare from her daughter to him.  “I have a long talk that I need to have with my son, and all of the trouble that he’s caused his family.”

“I’m not going home with you….I don’t like the way that you do your talking with a switch.”  Amelia paused for a moment or two.  “Honestly, I don’t think that I want to go home with you at all…..I don’t feel safe around you all...I feel like….I feel like I’m some kind of monster around you and dad….and the rest of them...but Piper.”  She said looking to her mother, the tears still rolling down her cheeks as she let out a little sniffle.

“That sounds to me like perhaps a full investigation of your home by child protective services may be in order ma’am,” officer Goodwin said with a scowl on his face. “If you feel that you would not be safe in your own home “ he added turning to look at the hermaphrodite teen, “ then I can call CPS and have someone come to get you and put you in a temporary home for the time being.”

“Well I’m not going home…...and I really rather not have to go to some strange person’s house.”  She said, glancing to her girlfriend.  “Ummmm, if it’s ok with Ms. Scholtzhauer could I stay with them?”  She asked, puppy eyes looking from the officer to the bear mother.  “I mean, I rather not have a breakdown in front of someone that I don’t know.”

“You have got to be kidding me.”  The mother deer said glaring at the officer.  “You're going to take my son away….and send CPS after me just because he doesn't want to go and be punished?”  

“It may seem that way, but the reason is because that your husband, and yourself apparently are discriminating against your own child because of hir gender. As I informed your husband ma'am, it is against the laws of this state to do so and quite honestly that along with your daughter’s comment regarding a switch tends to make me believe that child abuse may be taking place in your home.”

“You pig.”  She growled out.  “How dare you say something like that….Yes we spank our children...but there is no law against disciplining our kids….it’s not like we do it out in the public or anything.”  She said glaring at the officer, seeming to think that she was a lot bigger than she is.

Glaring back at the deer woman, and stretching to his full six foot four height the shepherd officer said, “that ma’am is verbally abusing an officer of the law and the last thing I want to hear from your muzzle.” Raising one paw into the air he waved it breifly before bending it at the wrist and pointing down to the deer woman. Another officer quickly appeared beside him, “yes sir?” they asked in an oddly pitched voice.

 “Escort this woman to her vehicle immediately, and if she opens her muzzle again before she is outside take her into custody for verbally abusing an officer. “We will have to discuss the arrangements for you in a few moments Miss,” he added turning his attention back to Amelia and the wolf-bear girl briefly.

The younger officer, a female meerkat quickly took the deer woman by the arm,” please ma’am, I really think you should leave before things get worse.”

With a huff and a shake of her head she left with the officer.  She knew that as much as she wanted to say something about all of this, that it would be better to just go home, she still has kids there to take care of.

“I think it would probably be better to take you lot home first, then go and get your mother, Jonathan Scholtzhauer said shaking his head slowly. After the freezing reception when we stopped to get your things Amelia, even with the officers there just in case I can understand your reluctance to return home at this time.”

“That’s just the tip of it.”  The deerwolf said looking at the bag that she had packed.  “There’s no telling what she will pull with all of this happening….I did get all the things that I needed.”  She said leaning against her girlfriend.  “And thank you again for all of this….it means a lot.”

“Quite alright dear,” the older wolf father said from the front seat of the family sedan. “I find it rather odd though,” he continued glancing back at the wolf-deer hybrid briefly in the rearview mirror, “that all things considered your situation has come to this.” With a heavy sigh Jonathan returned his full attention to driving. “They obviously forwent the gender assignment surgery when you were born for whatever reason they may have had. Were they so foolish that they didn't consider that at some point your decision of your gender may not agree with their perception of you?”

“I think that’s the case.”  She said taking a deep breath.  “I think that they had some weird logic to it…...that if they raised me as a boy, made me be a boy, that I would be happy with being a boy.”  She paused again to think this time.  “That’s the only thing that I can think of…..maybe that they weren't sure what gender to pick for me and had to prey on it, never got their answer till recently and boom.”

“Ummm, so…” Francine began her eyes growing damp as she looked first to her father then to the wolf deer. “What… what’s going to happen now? I mean, with your family fighting and all that.”

“I don’t know.”  The wolfdeer said taking a little breath.  “I really don’t care as long as I can still see you….and don’t have to see them….Piper is the only one that I worry about.”  She said snuggling against her lover, “but I’m sure that CPS will handle that.”

“I’m still a little hazy on exactly what is going on here,” the grey furred wolf said looking up into the rear view mirror briefly. “Far be it for me to pry to deeply into another family's affairs, but you two please tell me this isn’t just because you're smitten with each other.” Stifling a giggle, taking far more effort than he thought it would Johnatan asked, “and what exactly happened that left you lopsided Amelia?”

“Well to answer the easy one….snuggles were happening, pillow fort fell down and well my horn was a casualty of war.”  She said with a little snicker.  “As for the more long winded one.  My family doesn’t like the idea that I’m a herm and they don’t want me to dress as a girl out in public.  They want me to be their son and just that.”  She said taking a deep breath, “and that is something that I don’t want to be is just a son…..I want to be Amelia...be happy as me...not as Emile.”  She said letting out a sigh.

“Blunt, but to the point,” The wolf father said slowing the sedan to take a sharp corner. “I think I understand things a little better now. Well, let me get you three home then I’ll go and get your mother. From the way things looked when I arrived at the mall, I think it’s best that you kids be as far away from this mess tonight as you can be.”

“That sounds like heaven.”  Amelia said looking to her lover.  “I just want to go some place safe and snuggle….just snuggle and forget all of this mess that’s happened.”  She said leaning up to kiss the wolfbear.