Laska and Me - Chapter 7

Tenth grade proved to be a turning point for Laska’s academics. I suspected Adam had more to do with it than I did. Regardless, I was happy she was applying herself to school. From the start of the year she was hitting top marks, though she still avoided all the extra things she had, and still did, complain about – namely that she didn’t particularly care for most of her classmates.

 

When I asked about her plans again, she told me she was happy with going to MGU. The reason she was putting more effort into her studies was mostly just a test of herself – little more than a means to show herself that was she capable. Or so she said, anyways.

 

Fair enough, I suppose.

 

 

 

Another highlight of the year came in the winter - Eralia managed to land a new job.

 

She had been complaining about the commute to the museum ever since she moved in with me, but could never find something locally that appealed to her. That is, until she saw an ad for a manager of a local motorcycle storefront and shop. The owner was looking for someone to replace himself as the manager, and wanted someone who really knew the ins and outs of motorcycles and powersports.

 

Her previous management experience combined with her history as a sponsored racer and natural charisma proved to be just what he was looking for, and he hired Eralia on the spot after the first interview. She was shocked she’d got the position so easily, but was excited about it nevertheless.

 

Unfortunately it meant that she’d be working more hours, but the pay was better, the commute short, and it came with a host of side benefits and perks. She could bring in anything she wanted to work on and use shop equipment, provided it didn’t take up space meant for customers. There was also the huge bonus that she could get parts at wholesale prices.

 

To no one’s great surprise, Eralia’s interest in sportbikes was rekindled in short order. Being around all the bikes stored at the shop, along with talking to the other employees there had proven to be the impetus for her renewed desire to race on tarmac. And, of course, that desire trickled down to Laska as well, who’d already expressed interest before.

 

So, using the shop’s connections, she acquired a pair of machines for her and Laska to fix up over the winter, and convert them over to racing trim at the same time. Thus, the two of them often spent long nights over the weekend at the shop, wrenching and talking – or so I assumed. I never really bothered tagging along.

 

Around the same time, I began seeing Zoe less and less. Fortunately, it wasn’t due to her and Laska drifting apart or having a falling out. According to Laska, Zoe had managed to land herself a boyfriend. I was a little curious as to what sort of guy would go for the hulking wolf – she was over 190cm now – but I never got the chance to meet him.

 

Laska’d said he was actually rather short, almost as tiny as she was. Apparently, Zoe loved being able to dote on him. She even liked carrying him into bed whenever she wanted to have sex, which was ‘all the fucking time,’ to use Laska’s words.

 

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t slightly jealous of him.

 

Otherwise, days came and went, and before I knew it the first vestiges of spring had arrived, followed by the warmth of summer, and then the school year was over – much to Laska’s delight.

 

More than anything else, she was looking forward to her first track day on her new motorcycle. Despite attempts to appear nonchalant, I could tell Eralia was getting just as worked up as Laska. Whenever they’d talk about it, both their eyes had this bright sparkle about them, and you could hear the longing in their voice.

 

Then, the day they both pined for finally arrived.

 

At the track, I discovered things were far more organized and… strict than what I was used to with motocross. All motorcycles had to go through a tech inspection, and apparently had to adhere to quite a few rules regarding what had to be present, as well as what couldn’t be on the machine.

 

“It’s simple when you think about what they’re trying to do,” Eralia explained to me. “Prevent fluids from dumping onto the track surface, and try to minimize debris when someone crashes.”

 

She was wiggling into her new suit, which was made a little differently than her motocross one. The hard armor was significantly less prevalent, and the leather was thicker all-around. The knee pucks were probably the other major addition; the thought of dragging your knee along the asphalt at high speeds was kind of… scary.

 

“So that’s why all the bolts on anything oil or fluid related have to be safety-wired, and why any headlights and such need to be taped. It’s kind of ‘common sense’ stuff if you think of it like that.”

 

“Hmm, I see…” I said, looking from her to the pair of motorcycles. Eralia had opted for a matched pair of bikes for the two of them, saying it’d make things more fun.

 

Turning back towards Eralia, she was bent over, fastening her boots over her leather leggings. Leaned over like that, it was hard not to stare at her… considerable assets, even though I’d seen them plenty with they weren’t constrained by anything.

 

Just like in motocross, Eralia and Laska both wore skin-tight compression clothing. Neither of them seemed to care that the crisp morning air made their lack of a bra extremely apparent, even when it was obvious people were slowing down as they went by in order to get an eyeful. Why is it that these women never seemed to have any modesty when it came to motorcycles?

 

Laska was listening to us chat, working herself into new suit. During the lull in our conversation, she piped up with her own question. “You said earlier that they don’t group us up by displacement, right? So how are we supposed to keep up with the more powerful bikes?”

 

“Because it’s just a fun day, remember? In an actual race we’d be in the lightweight class. Rather than grouping people up by engine size and type, it’s by skill level here,” she said, checking the fit on her leathers as she pulled the one-piece garment over her shoulders. “Today, it’s not a race. It’s simply folks wanting to have some fun. You can’t really push a bike out on the streets, so this is a safe place to stretch your legs, so to speak.”

 

Satisfied with the fit of her tight leathers that accented her athletic figure, Eralia unzipped the top and left it open to relax. “Besides, isn’t it better to pass someone who has a bike with twice the power of yours, because they don’t know how to actually ride?” She said with a cocky grin.

 

“Hrm, I guess... though I don’t think I’m going to be passing many people my first time here…” Laska replied, frowning somewhat. “Plus being in novice group makes me feel… slow…”

 

Eralia sighed, then shook her head. “Don’t worry about that, Laska dear. Just relax and have a good time – I’ll be in novice with you.”

 

Hearing that Eralia would be in the same group with her instantly brightened Laska’s mood. Then, my daughter turned to me. “How come you don’t want to ride with us, dad?”

 

To be honest, I was terrified. Dirt was one thing, but ripping around on a track? At that kind of speed? Dragging things?

 

Maybe in the future, but not now. However, I couldn’t let a pair of girls know they were both braver than I was. Even I had my pride as a man. “Oh, just not that interested, you know? Besides, I’d like to see how you two do first.”

 

They both cast questioning glances in my direction. Eralia had asked me before, and then, as now, I declined. She gave up with a sigh, but Laska pressed the issue. “Why not? It’ll be fun with all of us!”

 

“Er, well, you see…” I stumbled through my words, searching for some kind of excuse. Laska’s bright, innocent gaze made lying to her all the more difficult.

 

But, just as I thought I’d wind up telling her the truth, I was saved by a voice from on high.

 

A loudspeaker crackled to life, and a grizzled voice declared that the rider’s meeting would begin soon. As such, everyone participating was required to attend – the meeting would be at the control tower. “Oh, looks like you two gotta get going,” I said, working quickly to change the topic.

 

Her gaze lingered on me for a moment longer, regarding with some measure of suspicion. Behind Laska, Eralia simply stood with paws on her hips, smirking. More likely than not, she had deduced the source of my hesitance.

 

Finally, the uneasy standoff between Laska and me was broken by Eralia. “Well, let’s get going,” she said. Laska nodded, and then the two of them began walking down to the tower.

 

Free from their pressure and left to my own devices, I looked around the grounds for what had to have been the tenth time.

 

Compared to the motocross events we’d been to, there were far more people here. Whereas I was used to 40 or maybe 50 people, there had to be over a hundred here. Yet, everything was fairly tidy – people setup in neat rows along various access roads, and generally made sure traffic would be unimpeded. But, as I’d come to expect, Eralia and Laska were the only two female riders that I could see.

 

Considering how brash, bold, and tomboyish many monstergirls were, I was always surprised to see most of them avoided this hobby.

 

Despite the occasional lecherous glance, most of the guys here simply treated my girls as ‘one of them.’ They’d engage in the same friendly chats with them as everyone else, and basically were fairly polite and often humble. The image of the headstrong ‘motorcycle racer’ and reality were rather different.

 

Eventually the meeting ended, and the duo returned. After a bit of idle chatter, mainly about how the meeting was pointless and nothing more than an opportunity for the event sponsors to talk, Eralia then told me that as soon as the first session began things were going to get loud. There were no noise limits here, and these engines could make quite the howl when they were run without any exhaust baffling. She recommended I took something for the inevitable headache now, rather than later.

 

Eralia was correct. More than I had imagined. Especially since I didn’t even consider that we were situated along the only lengthy straight on the track. The novice group went out last, so the three of us had to endure the banshee-like screams of high-strung inline-4s and the baritone thrums of v-twins. Whenever a machine went past us down the straight, throttle pinned, any conversation had to be delayed as it was nearly impossible to talk over the cacophony.

 

Soon it was time for them to head out. The two of them put in earplugs before their session, as they’d be in the thick of all the noise. Gearing damage was a very real possibility, according to Eralia. Watching them put their plugs in was far more amusing for me than it had any right to be.

 

If I thought the earplugs I had used in the past were bulky and uncomfortable, I could only imagine what those two furry-eared women thought. The foam plugs were absolutely massive – at least 3cm across for Laska’s. Eralia was at least able to get away with narrower ones due to her more slender ears.

 

Once all their gear was on, they saddled up and rode off towards the starting grid, Eralia leading the way for the inexperienced Laska. I waved them farewell, and they returned the gesture… though Laska wobbled a bit when she attempted it. No doubt she was blushing with embarrassment under her smoked visor.

 

While they were out on track, I went headed over to one of the turns that was a little down the way from our camp. Eralia and Laska’s bikes had been painted up in a similar design, but with their favorite colors. Eralia was sporting a deep purple scheme, whereas Laska went for a bright orange.

 

As most of the other machines were black or white, it made picking them out of the crowd fairly easy.

 

Eralia looked the part of the shaky veteran trying to find her bearings again, at least compared to what I’d seen from a few laps of one of the advanced groups. When Laska came around she was slow and steady, almost like someone who was out on a Sunday ride through the countryside. I felt bad for finding her stilted, stuttering turns somewhat amusing, but most of the others in the group were the same way.

 

But, that didn’t matter to her. When they came in and hoisted their bikes up onto the rear-stands, Laska was all smiles and mirth. Even Eralia was looking absolutely joyous. Outside the bedroom she was never one to really express much emotion, so it was a shock to see such an unabashed smile from her like this.

 

Seems like the sportbikes were here to stay.

 

“So Laska, what do you think?” Eralia said, working her helmet off.

 

“Amazing! It’s so much faster than on the dirt! And when I’m leaning over like that… why didn’t I get into this sooner?!” Laska spoke fast and excited; how long had it been since I’d seen her like that? Her enthusiasm was certainly infectious, as I found myself smiling along with her.

 

“But, I dunno, I feel really… slow…” Laska added, setting some of her equipment down and heading over to the trailer.

 

“You got pretty quick in the dirt, and a lot of those skills will carry over here,” Eralia answerd, perched atop her bike. “Like knowing how to control and manage the bike when the rear end breaks loose – that’s something most street-only guys can’t do well.”

 

“Rearry? Rhy’s thad impordand?” Laska mumbled, stuffing her mouth full of the between-session cashews that we’d brought along.

 

“Laska, please,” I interrupted. “At least swallow or just… not hang your mouth open so far when you’re packing your cheeks full of nuts.”

 

I realized, moments after I said it, how my comment could be construed.

 

Eralia did, too. And she was quick on the draw.

 

“Maybe she needed to open that wide for Adam’s nuts?”

 

That really ought to have offended me, making comments about my darling daughter like that. But, she knew me well. Laska’s horrified, embarrassed expression wasn’t helping things any, either.

 

“Damn it, that’s not funny,” I said, biting my tongue to prevent myself from laughing. Unfortunately my lips and cheeks were already contorted beyond hope, betraying my true reaction.

 

Laska began to blush fiercely, then she scowled. “Hey!” she shouted, glancing angrily at Eralia. “I told you that in… damn it!” She then snapped her head around to glare at me as I struggled to contain myself.

 

“Dad! You two are assholes!”

 

All the while, Eralia sat there, looking smug. “It’s okay dear, you’ll get the hang of it one day.”

 

I refused to look at either of them. Instead, I suddenly had to use the bathroom, and powerwalked away lest I dig myself in deeper, or hear anything else I didn’t wish to ever know.

 

 

 

Later in the day, one of the officials came over during the lunch break and inquired about Eralia. The control riders couldn’t figure out why someone like her was in the novice group, and wanted to push her up to intermediate at the very least.

 

“Oh, I want to stay in the same group as her for today,” she said, nodding at Laska.

 

The man hummed, looking at Eralia with a shifting expression. “You look kind of familiar. By chance, did you ever ride professionally?”

 

Shifting her gaze to Laska and me for a moment, Eralia suddenly seemed slightly nervous. “Er, yes…” she said, hopping off her seat and standing.

 

The official narrowed an eye, cupping his chin. “…You’re, Eralia Soudce, aren’t you?”

 

Earlia bit her lip for a moment, then sighed. “Yes, I am, but don’t go saying that. I’m here to have a good time with… my daughter,” she said, glancing back at Laska. “I don’t want any attention, and, I’m perfectly happy riding alongside her.”

 

Alternating his gaze between the anubis and the cheshire, the man was likely skeptical of her statement that she was Laska’s mother. He then looked at me, and I waved and nodded in response.

 

“Fine, you’re adhering to the rules so we won’t force you anywhere… and I suppose I won’t tell anyone,” he said reluctantly. “But, I’d just like to say that it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

 

Former pros were probably not a common appearance at a small track like this, so it was easy to believe she’d be treated as something like a celebrity.

 

With a wave, he bid farewall and went back to the control tower.

 

Laska, who had concealed her shock rather well during the previous exchange, now let her eyebrows crest high in disbelief. “Do… you really think of me as your daughter?” she asked timidly.

 

Now that I thought about it, never once had Laska called Eralia something other than her name, and the same held true for whenever Eralia referred to Laska. Until now, anyways.

 

Eralia scratched at an ear, shifting her weight from one leg to the other. “Well, sure. I’ve been with you guys for long enough. I thought we figured this out long ago after that incident where we had to pick you up from the hospital?”

 

“I, er… ah… thanks,” came Laska’s mumbled, hesitant reply.

 

Never one to miss an opportunity to poke fun at her, Eralia took it a step further. “And yes, my dear, that means I love you.”

 

Twiddling the tips of her paws together, Laska then turned away slightly. “…love you too,” she said quietly.

 

Eralia simply smiled.

 

Such exchanges between these two were a rare sight. I knew they cared about each other, but they never really said much or showed much in the way of affection. It was nice to see them come together, sharing a unique hobby together. Maybe I’d stay out after all, if only so it could remain ‘their’ thing.

 

 

 

Throughout the rest of the day Laska seemed to improve bits at a time, spurred on by advice from her mentor. And, despite her attempts to hide and lie low, other people began to recognize Eralia – or maybe the official let it slip - and soon word spread. While there weren’t any huge crowds or anything, people would come by often enough so that we had little time to ourselves. They’d ask her questions, express jealousy at how I’d managed to land ‘a hottie like her,’ and inquired as to who Laska was.

 

“Oh, she’s my daughter and protege,” Eralia had begun to say, no longer pausing before the ‘daughter’ word. She’d even started to play with saying it in different ways, as if testing the word.

 

Then the conversation would switch to Laska, her abilities, and of course, questions of her scars. She always was rather uncomfortable about people digging into her past, so we wound up playing it off as a motocross accident. Visor came up, rocks got at her face. Nasty stuff, really.

 

During some conversation, Eralia had mentioned that she’d be coming to this particular track often since it was close by. Soon as that knowledge got out, there was a rush of requests for one-on-one training sessions and the like. Some guys offered impressive sums of money, but she’d always turn them down, claiming that she already had a long-term student under her wing.

 

Whenever Laska would hear things like that, she’d glance at Eralia, and a faint smile would appear.

 

All the praise they received really did make me think that I had something very special in those two. It’s one of those things you know, but don’t really think about or appreciate. Sometimes you may even take it for granted. Reflecting on that a bit, I really was a lucky man to have those girls.

 

And then the unthinkable happened. I heard words I never thought I’d hear, nor did Eralia from her reaction.

 

A fellow that had been milling around for a few minutes wanted to chat with Laska. He’d asked her what her relation to Eralia was after a few other things. Normally, whenever she was asked this, she’d just refer to her as ‘Dad’s girlfriend,’ or something similar.

 

Laska fidgeted for a moment before replying. “Oh, she’s my mom,” she said, that same faint smile from before appearing as she spoke.

 

Very simple words, really. The man simply nodded, perhaps wondering like the official at how an anubis was her mother. Perhaps suspecting complicated matters, he accepted the answer and didn’t press further.

 

Laska gave her response in a low voice, probably with the intent of preventing Eralia from overhearing her. Her attempt at secrecy was not a success.

 

I simply quirked an eyebrow, but Eralia… well, apparently that was some sort of magic phrase. A slight twitch of her ears, tail, and face were all I made out initially, but then she went completely… soft. Even though she was talking to some others, the atmosphere around her had changed entirely. It was like she had heard some of the best news of her life, but had to contain herself for the time being.

 

And then again, someone had asked about Laska’s relation, and again she referred to Eralia as ‘mom,’ who nearly melted every time. I know it was a joyous moment when Laska called me dad for the first time, but she seemed to be on the next level.

 

 

 

As the day began to wind down and people started packing up and departing, we were alone for the first time in several hours.

 

Seizing the opportunity, Eralia approached Laska from behind and wrapped her paws around her in a surprise hug. Laska was startled and looked over her shoulder, and after a moment she turned in Eralia’s grasp and hugged the anubis back. She nuzzled her face against Eralia’s shoulder and closed her eyes.

 

How long they stayed like that I couldn’t say. Neither of them said a word the entire time. Eventually they broke apart, both smiling.

 

“So you heard me, huh?” Laska said, kicking a pawfoot against the ground.

 

Eralia looked down briefly, clasping her paws together as her arms hung down in front of her. “Yeah, I did… it means a lot to me, more than you probably think.”

 

This was a rare occasion indeed. The number of times I’d see Eralia vulnerable like this could’ve been counted on one hand.

 

“…Thanks for doing all this for me, mom,” Laska said, still kicking at the ground and wiggling her hips side to side.

 

For the barest of moments I saw Eralia’s expression waver, and her eyes tighten. But, she managed to keep her composure. I wish I could’ve said the same about myself, but watching the exchange had coaxed a tear or two from me.

 

“Anything for you, dear. Now, how about we get packed up and head out, huh?” Eralia said with a smile.

 

Laska gave her another hug. “Sure,” she replied after the two separated.

 

 

 

--

 

 

 

The rest of the year was a bit like that – or the summer, anyways. Laska improved rapidly under Eralia’s tutelage, and made the jump to intermediate after just three days’ worth of sessions. There was talk of beginning to race next year, but they’d have to wait and see how things went.

 

Their relationship had become more intimate, and I found myself slightly jealous at all the hugs and such they shared. But, I was also very happy for them. I’d always considered the three of us a family, but now it was beginning to genuinely feel like one. There was one last step to take, but for some reason I was still hesitant. We were already close and committed, so was that really necessary?

 

Other than that, life was… smooth. Laska turned 17, entered 11th grade, and was doing well there. Eralia was enjoying her job, and I did what I always did, I suppose; tended to the home, cooked, and did the errands. I often thought myself as the spitting image of the housewife of ages past. It was a somewhat disconcerting thought at first, but I got used to it. Hell, I even came to like it.

 

According to Laska, Zoe was doing great, though I never saw the girl much anymore. Two, maybe three times a month at the most. Her relationship with her boyfriend was developing nicely – something that gave Laska mixed feelings. She was happy for her friend, but also rather jealous because she couldn’t be with Adam. I think she made do, however, considering her acquisition of a webcam and suspicious rearrangement of her room so that her bed and PC were inline. Such is the life of someone in a long-distance relationship, huh?

 

 

 

Then, as the holiday season of winter was fast approaching, I got a surprise request from Laska. She asked if it would be possible for Adam to visit for a few days or a week before or after the holiday. He would be paying for his travel costs, but needed a place to stay since they couldn’t afford a hotel room.

 

Pushing down the protective father instincts was a bit difficult. Obviously, I knew what they were going to be doing a lot of, after all. But, they had known each other for a year and a half now, and despite the distance and time, they still wanted to be together. Who was I to get in the way of their passion? My decision was aided by Eralia’s suggestion that we take a little vacation of our own, and leave the house to the kids.

 

Of course, we wouldn’t just leave before meeting Adam. Had to make sure things were in order, and all.

 

Eventually the fated day arrived, and Laska set out in a rush of anticipation to the airport on her own to pick him up.

 

Eralia and I finished up our packing while she was gone; we’d be leaving later that night to a couples resort.

 

The young, happy couple arrived back earlier than I’d figured. Honestly, I’d expected them to have a little… detour on the way back, but apparently they had more self-control than I gave them credit for.

 

Laska bound inside and waved Adam in, practically giggling with excitement. He looked little different from the quiet, contemplative kid I met back then. The two of them standing side by side, I saw he had a bit of height on Laska; he was probably about the same height as I was, maybe a touch shorter. However, his slight built made him look thinner than Laska, though that may have been due to her curves. His thin appearance and slight scruff on his chin fit the ‘artist look’ in my mind rather well.

 

“Dad, mom, this is Adam,” Laska beamed, urging him forward.

 

Adam smiled gently, and shook my hand and Eralia’s paw in turn. “A pleasure to meet you.”

 

“Nice to meet you as well, Adam,” I said, replying in kind.

 

Eralia said much the same.

 

And then Adam’s eyebrows furrowed slightly as he studied my face. Instantly I knew he remembered my face.

 

“This may sound strange, but I feel like we’ve met somewhere before…” he said, adding a laugh to dispel his uneasiness.

 

I shared a nervous, furtive glance with Eralia before responding. “Is that so? I must look like someone you’ve met before…”

 

He cocked his head slightly, thinking, looking elsewhere to avoid giving the impression he was staring. A cold sweat broke out on my forehead. “Must be,” he said, relaxing.

 

Anxiety drained me from as I let out a breath I’d been holding. That was one cat I didn’t want to let out of the bag.

 

Introductions completed, we then made our way into the living room. The young couple sat together on the couch, Eralia took up in the recliner, and I was relegated to a chair burrowed from the kitchen. Perhaps I should look into buying more furniture.

 

Leveling my gaze at the pair, I realized I didn’t know what to say. There were many things I wanted to ask, but for some reason I couldn’t bring myself to vocalize my thoughts.

 

Fortunately, as ever, Eralia had my back.

 

“So, is Laska the only reason you’ve flown out here?” She asked, leaning forward in her seat slightly.

 

Adam laughed nervously, scratching at the back of his head. “Y-yeah, I guess… I mean, yes!” He said, starting to blush.

 

Confident yet shy, huh? Laska smiled lightly after his answer, slipping a paw over his hand and squeezing lightly. They shared a happy little glance .

 

Not one to miss a beat, Eralia grinned and pressed on. A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes at the same time. I almost felt bad for the boy.

 

“That’s quite a distance to travel for a lay! Couldn’t you have just found a girl where you’re living? Or is Laska just that good?”

 

My daughter blanched, I coughed, and Adam looked stricken. Though, to give him credit, he responded quickly. “Er, well, yes, she is that good… I mean, she’s a great woman…and, uh…”

 

“Damn it, Eralia!” Laska protested immediately after Adam’s well-intentioned, if a bit awkwardly phrased response.

 

The anubis simply tittered to herself.

 

Was she attempting to test the boy, or simply teasing him?

 

Both he and Laska were burning deep crimson now, so his comment was likely true in the manner Eralia had implied.

 

Time to throw the boy a rope.

 

“So, Adam,” I began loudly to draw attention to myself, “why don’t you tell us a little about yourself? Laska’s told us all about you, but I’d like to hear it from the man himself,” I said, leaning back and smiling.

 

He seemed to appreciate the topic change. “Ah, well, as you probably know I’m the same age as Laska, though my birthday is a little later than hers. And, uh, I’m into art and design and stuff, and want to go to college for it.”

 

I nodded a bit. “I see. Art huh? You’ll have to show us your work sometime.”

 

He smiled, and then lifted a finger under Laska’s necklace. “This… is one thing,” he said, jingling the three little trinkets that were suspended from the chain. “Er, I didn’t make the necklace, but I designed the pieces. Had to have a friend cast the silver, though.”

 

“Oh? I didn’t know that. That’s pretty neat,” I said, shifting. Even Eralia seemed mildly impressed.

 

The two youngsters shared another smile, squeezing their intertwined hand and paw. Eralia and I exchanged our own amused look. I suppose this was young love, huh?

 

While I searched for something else to say, Eralia took charge once again. “So tell us a little about your family. They’re the reason why you had to move, right?”

 

Adam frowned, then nodded. “Yeah... Dad got a promotion at his company, but had to move to take it. We were gonna be going to a small town far away from any large cities. Mom was happy ‘cause she didn’t like the city much. Too cramped, she’d say. Made sense, ‘cause of how long she is.”

 

“Long?” I inquired.

 

“Oh, yeah, my mom’s a lamia. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t blame them for moving. Dad was happy with his new job, and mom liked the rural area. School is okay I guess, but everyone is so… boring there.” Adam sighed, looking a little frustrated. “Most everyone is… human as well…”

 

I smirked. Couldn’t blame him for preferring girls like Laska over human women… I’m the same way, really.

 

After a brief pause, he continued. “I think dad knew about my… problems, and knew it’d be harder once we were out in the sticks. So, the night before we left, he took me aside and gave me some money. When I asked him what it was for, he smiled and told me about a place called The Rendezvous… where I could, ah, find someone for the night, and come back a confident man.” Complicated emotions played across his face; no doubt the contrived events that led to his meeting Laska could be considered both good and bad fortune.

 

Well, at least I could count on him to be truthful. His words were almost a perfect match for what he’d told me that night. As creepy as it may have been to think ‘Hey you’re alright, you can come over and fuck my daughter,’ that’s basically what I felt. Thus far, everything seemed to point to him being a good kid. Someone who’d love Laska and treat her right. Couldn’t say I liked how they met in what amounted to a whorehouse, however.

 

While I was preoccupied with my thoughts, Eralia kept the conversation moving. Eyes twinkling anew, she leaned forward further, grinning enough so that her upper fangs revealed themselves. “That’s pretty cute. So you lost your V-card to Laska huh?”

 

Why must she be so focused on sex? I face-palmed, letting out a long sigh.

 

“Haha…ha… yeah… but at least my first time was with someone I, er, care about,” Adam stumbled out, rubbing at the back of his head.

 

Almost sounded like he was going to say ‘someone I love,’ but changed his words at the last minute. Judging by Laska’s reaction, she was expecting him to say it as well. Her mouth was bent in a half-frown, one of her brows lowered. He was probably going to hear about that little mistake later.

 

So, he was also someone to not throw that word around so carelessly. Or, more likely, he was still young and bashful. Can’t say I was any different at that age… or until not all that long ago, really.

 

“Come on mom, can’t you talk about something else?”

 

Some of the whimsy faded from Eralia; Laska’d figured out she was weak to the m-word and would sometimes use it to keep her in line in circumstances like these. “Fine, fine, I was just having some fun…”

 

“Well then,” I started, shifting the attention away from Eralia. “Other than art, what are you interested in, Adam?”

 

“Oh, well, thanks to Laska I’ve started getting interested in bikes and such… though I don’t think I’ll ever be able to match her passion for them.”

 

“That so? Have you ridden at all?” I asked with a smirk.

 

Looking down, Adam seemed to descend into a minor sulk. “Ah, no, I want to, but my parents think it’s too dangerous…”

 

Eralia snorted. “Dangerous? The only reason people think it’s dangerous is because of all the fools running up and down the streets without a care in the world,” she spat out. From my experience, this could be a touchy subject for her.

 

The tense air around Eralia lingered for a moment, but then vanished as a thought crossed her mind. “If you want, we can show you the ropes real quick. There’s a big parking lot around my shop you can putter around on.”

 

“Really? That’d be okay?” Laska shot back.

 

Eralia nodded. “He can even use my bike. Doesn’t bother me if he drops it. It’ll be cold, but our parking lot is kept pretty clear of snow and such.”

 

Both their eyes fell onto Adam, who had yet to say anything. “Er, well… maybe… but I don’t want to impose…”

 

Waving a paw in the air, Eralia gave a chuckle. “Not at all. In fact, if I insist. I assure you that once you try it, you’ll be hooked… although,” she trailed off and dropped her chipper voice, “if your parents won’t let you have one that might be a poor idea to get hooked on something and then not be able to have it.”

 

Then she looked between the pair. “I think you’re already dealing with that.”

 

Surprisingly, Adam seemed to enjoy that comment. For the first time all night, he wore a goofy grin that wasn’t born out of embarrassment. “Well, doesn’t that make it all the sweeter when you can finally enjoy something you yearn for?”

 

I had to bite my lip to prevent myself from laughing. He was way too serious for that corny line, but, looking at Laska, it still had the intended effect.

 

It really did break my heart to see her look at another man with such a sweet expression, but damned if it didn’t make me happy at the same time.

 

Eralia was tickled pink as well, though she made little effort to control her amusement.

 

 

 

For several more hours we all chatted together, dipping into Adam’s past and hobbies. He’d even agreed to take up Eralia’s offer of an introductory ride before he left, though he insisted Laska be the one to teach him.

 

Soon it was time for us to head off to the resort. The place was only an hour’s drive away, so leaving in the early evening wasn’t an issue. We left Laska and Adam money for food and a few things if they wanted to go out and hit the town, and then we were off.

 

Once down the block, Eralia wasted no time in torturing me.

 

“I bet you they’re already naked.”

 

If only I knew why she did this to me. “Yeah, probably, but you say that like we’re going to be any different. At least, compared to you, I imagine their love will be pure as new fallen snow,” I said matter-of-factly.

 

“Ho? Are you saying I’m… dirty?” she said, leaning over and whispering inches from my ear.

 

“Yeah, you are… and yeah, I’ve come to enjoy it.”

 

Grinning madly, she pulled back, satisfied by my answer. “Oh dear, I’ve corrupted you, haven’t I?”

 

I shrugged.

 

“Welllll,” she drawled, changing the topic away sex of her own accord. Quite the rarity, really. “What do you think about that Adam kid? I like him.”

 

“Yeah, he’s a pretty good match, I think. Did you see the way they kept looking at each other all night?”

 

She laughed through her nose. “Oh, of course. But can you blame them? I bet they both wanted to tell us to get the hell out so they could go at it.”

 

“No doubt about that… but it means we get some time to ourselves, eh? I wonder why we didn’t think of this sooner. I’ll have to thank Adam for giving us the impetus to get out for a few days.”

 

Eralia simply grinned lasciviously at me. She was most certain to keep my attention focused on her during our time away from home. Not that I was in a hurry to complain.

 

--

 

Our getaway was quite the experience, and as I stepped into the house I realized I was far more exhausted now than when I left. Some vacation. And it was all thanks to the anubis behind me with her insatiable drive.

 

When Eralia stepped in, she sniffed the air a few times, then her nose and face wrinkled up. “Hate to tell you honey, but I think the kids may have outdone us.”

 

“That bad, huh?” I said, looking around. The place looked better now than when we left. I suppressed my imagination as best I could, lest I ponder the reasoning for their thorough cleaning.

 

We’d made sure to call in advance of our arrival. Several times. So, we found the two of them cuddled up on the couch, decent and proper.

 

After a bit of chit-chat, we all headed down to Eralia’s shop so Laska could instruct Adam in the ways of motorcycle riding. It was most amusing watching him learn the controls, but after an hour he could manage basic clutch control and the like. After three, he had most of the basics down well enough to cruise around the parking lot without drama. Surprisingly he never once dropped the bike, much to Eralia’s relief.

 

Sadly, before long the time for him to leave had come. We decided to go along with Laska to the airport to drop Adam off, figuring Laska would appreciate the show of support. We all continued to chatter in the car, or rather the two kids did most of the talking while Eralia and I listened.

 

It was remarkable, in a way, listening to them. He’d spent just under a week here, and in that time they’d manage to grow even closer. They talked and discussed things like they’d been in each other’s company for a long, long while. Although, I suppose they had been speaking to each other via the internet and such for over a year now.

 

Soon we reached the airport, and it came time to say goodbye to Adam.

 

I’ve never seen such a mixture of joy and sorrow as when I watched those two part ways outside the terminal. They hugged for a seemed like an eternity, punctuated with sporadic kisses, frozen in place as throngs of people washed around them, like a rock splitting a stream.

 

Beside me, Eralia let out a girlish sigh, resting a cheek on her paw. “Ah, young love,” she whispered.

 

True, I wouldn’t have thought knowing each other in-person for such a short amount of time could generate such fondness. Watching them… I was happy, I suppose…and saddened. I thought to myself, ‘My little girl has another man in her heart,’ and I wondered if there was room for both of us. Is this something all fathers with daughters felt at some point, or was I just immature?

 

Sensing my mood - or maybe she read my expression - Eralia wrapped an arm around me and drew me in close. She didn’t say anything, but her warmth and consideration was ample comfort. I squeezed her back, resting my head against hers.

 

Cutting time dangerously short, Laska and Adam finally broke apart – though they quickly gave each other one last hug and a kiss. Then, with a wave, Adam disappeared into the airport.

 

Laska walked slowly over to us, smiling and sighing all the while. A few tears marred her face, but I pretended not to notice.

 

“Ready to go?” I asked, returning her smile.

 

In place of a verbal response, she came straight over to me and threw both her arms around me in a bear hug, nearly pushing Eralia aside in the process. Wiping her tears off on my shirt, she then let out a long, stuttered sigh before looking up at me.

 

“Thanks, dad…for everything.”

 

It would seem I had the answer to my prior quandary. Really, I shouldn’t have doubted the size of my little girl’s heart.

 

I gave her a fierce squeeze in return, picking her up off the ground slightly. She let out a little squeak, but I wasn’t letting her go. “Anything for my little girl!” I said cheerfully, planting a kiss on her cheek.

 

Typically, she’d struggle and squirm whenever I did that, but she just kept on smiling.

 

Eralia rolled her eyes broke off from us, heading towards the car.

 

--

 

In the days that followed, Laska seemed to be in her own little world - love struck like nothing I’d ever seen before. It really was cute to see her act so girlish for once, especially considering she wasn’t depressed or mopey that Adam had left.

 

Rather than bemoan his departure, all she could chatter about was how nice it was to be with him, and how much she looked forward to the next time they could be together. Once a week or so had passed, the high she was on began to fade and her life more or less returned to how it had been, though her disposition seemed to have been permanently elevated.

 

Time did its usual, speeding through winter, spring, and even summer.

 

Laska finished 11th grade with little fanfare and a solid GPA. If she kept it up through her final year of high school, there was little doubt she’d be accepted at most universities. As it was basically a given that she’d be attending college here, it gave her the option of staying at home while she went to classes.

 

Eralia and I were a little conflicted on whether or not it’d be worth it to put her up in dorms so she could experience that part of college life, but ultimately decided to defer to whatever Laska wanted to do.

 

The summer saw her return to sportbike riding at the track, and she continued to excel there as well. With Eralia’s help, she dropped time off her laps nearly every session. Soon she was ready for her first race… after some significant equipment upgrades, anyways. All sorts of things were ‘required’ for racing sportbikes that didn’t quite exist in motocross, and for some reason it was all terrifyingly expensive. Even at wholesale costs, Eralia spent enough money during that season on all sorts of ‘extras’ that she could have purchased a third bike. Whenever I asked her about it, I was told that she went for the inexpensive things.

 

I wondered if Laska realized how much money Eralia was spending on her?

 

And, at any rate, they seemed to click together more closely on tarmac than they did on the dirt. I couldn’t explain why, but it just happened. Maybe because I was a non-factor, so they felt it was more of ‘their’ thing? Well, it was nice to watch them act like… mother and daughter, though sometimes they reverted back to something more akin to sisters. Usually after an argument over something.

 

On the last race of the year, Laska managed to place a respectable 10th in a grid of 19 people. Not bad at all for someone as inexperienced as she was.

 

 

 

Laska’s 18th birthday was surprisingly uneventful. We had a small party for her that ended on a quiet not – no more brothel shenanigans or going out late with her friends. After that, her final year of high school began.

 

When her first day started, I think that’s when I really realized she was almost grown up. She was a bright, attractive young woman now, and soon she’d be leaving me. Either into dorms at the university, or moving out on her own when she landed her first serious job after graduating. It was a remarkably ambivalent feeling. Seeing her make it on her own would certainly fill me with pride, but at the same time it would be quieter and lonelier without her around.

 

Eralia would sometimes poke fun at me whenever I talked about these things, but knew she’d miss Laska too.

 

 

 

Sometime in the fall, my dizzy spells began occurring more frequently; often several times a week. I finally broke down and went to a doctor at Eralia’s behest. But, all the doctor told me was that it was probably an inner-ear defect that was simply becoming more apparent with age. Her exam and testing regime wasn’t particularly thorough, but I figured if she didn’t seem to be alarmed by things, I shouldn’t be either. Eralia was still somewhat concerned, but seemed to accept the results.

 

 

 

During the approach of the winter holidays, Laska had asked if Adam could stay for a week, like he did last year. Of course, I agreed – it was kind of an obvious thing, really. Laska was thoroughly delighted, and immediately went back to her room. Most likely to tell Adam the good news.

 

While I was setting about making plans for the resort trip, my thoughts lingered on how long Laska and Adam had been together. Then on how long Eralia and I had been together.

 

Quite a few years had come and gone, and yet I was content all that time to call her my lover or girlfriend.

 

Why not call her my wife? It had a nice ring to it. My wife. “This is my wife, Eralia,” I whispered to myself when I was sure no one was around.

 

The more I thought about it, and the more I repeated it, the better it sounded. The more it made me smile.

 

It was something I’d thought about it before – several times, in fact. But, for whatever reason the notion would soon drift away. This time… this time it stuck with me. Maybe it was seeing Laska and Adam together? Maybe it was just a natural development of being together for so long. What started as something of a fling blossomed into a romance that was exhilarating and put me at ease; was both passionate and comforting.

 

 

 

I considered it, mulled over it, and pondered it for several days. Marriage was certainly stuck in my mind, and wasn’t going anywhere.

 

When I finally reached a point in my thoughts where I was absolutely sure I wanted to marry Eralia, I then decided to talk to Laska about it. She could keep a secret, and I’d kind of like to hear what she had to say. Or maybe I just wanted to make sure she would agree with my decision?

 

One evening when Eralia had gone to the store, I decided now was the time to discuss things with my daughter.

 

“Hey Laska,” I began, knocking gently on her bedroom door. Years of experience had taught me that opening her door at random usually resulted in… awkwardness.

 

There were sounds of rustling and other such coming through the door. Awkwardness averted. Well, whatever; those were the facts of life with a teenage cheshire cat.

 

“Oh, come in dad,” she answered after a few long moments.

 

Opening the door slowly, I poked my head in first to check around, making sure everything was in order before proceeding.

 

Laska was seated at her PC, spun around to face me. “What’s up?”

 

“Not much… well, maybe something,” I said, sitting down on her bed.

 

“Is that so…? So what is it?”

 

I came to the realization that breaking the question was going to be more difficult than I had anticipated. “Well…” I began, trying to force my words out.

 

Laska quirked an eyebrow, shifting her eyes across the room before looking at me sideways. “What are you so nervous about? What’s wrong?”

 

I sighed, then closed my eyes and scratched at my hair. “Nothing… it’s just…” I paused again. Now frustrated with myself, I took in a deep breath, closed my eyes, and just blurt out my question, avoiding any form of tact. “What do you think of me marrying Eralia?”

 

Silence.

 

Her chair creaked a few times, and I opened my eyes to see what she was doing. Laska was biting one side of her lip, the other end hooked up in a huge grin. Well, that probably meant she was fine with it, right?

 

My heart beat loudly a few times as I waited for her answer. She changed which side she bit down on, the opposite end then hooked up now that it was free. “Really?! What took you so long?”

 

And, just like that, my anxiety vanished. Or, my anxiety specific to this situation, that is. “I… don’t know,” I said, turning to look at the ceiling for a moment before meeting my daughter’s eyes. “Never really thought about it before… but I’ve been thinking it over hard for the past few days.”

 

“…Yeah, that sounds like you alright,” she said, her orange eyes twinkling. “I bet she’s been waiting for you to pop the question for at least a year or two.”

 

“Really? You think so? How come she hasn’t said anything?”

 

She shook her head, still smiling. “She’s… probably happy enough that you’ve loved her as much as you have all these years.”

 

“What exactly do you mean?” I asked, leaning forward.

 

Twisting her chair back and forth, Laska let out a short laugh before returning to a lop-sided grin. “Yeah, dad, that’s you, alright. I guess you can’t see it because you’re part of it,” she said, bringing her paws together. “But you two are always so… close.”

 

“Is that so…?”

 

I was somewhat in disbelief, but then again, I didn’t have Laska’s perspective.

 

“Think about it, dad. You two almost never fight, you do everything together, always make time for each other… and you do it every night for like hours,” she said, snickering for a moment before turning serious again. “I’ll admit, I’m a bit envious of you two… and not just because Adam and I can barely be together. You guys have the kind of love I’ve always dreamed of, dad.”

 

Great. She’s picking up more and more of Eralia’s mannerisms. Like mentioning sex at every turn. She did have a point, though. I’d always accepted the things we did as… things couples did. Was what we had that rare or special?

 

“I suppose… but can we please avoid talking about sex?” I complained.

 

Laska rolled her eyes. “Considering how much you’re around Eralia, I’m amazed you’re always on edge when it comes to sex.” She let out a sigh. “Anyways, when were you planning on asking Eralia the question?”

 

Leaning back somewhat, I thought for a second. “I was thinking of asking her when we go out to the resort this year.”

 

I still wasn’t sure how exactly I’d ask her; hadn’t quite thought that far ahead. Though I did have an idea of some things I wanted to do already, such as the wedding bands.

 

“…And?”

 

I shrugged.

 

Her mouth hung open slightly, looking at me with hooded eyes. “That’s some great planning, dad…”

 

She mirrored my slouch in her chair as she spoke. Folding her paws across her chest, she tapped against her arms. Quite the disapproving reaction from my daughter.

 

 “Okay, well… do you have any suggestions for uh, what I should say?”

 

Her movements ceased. “I think you already know,” she said, a little playful grin adorning her features.

 

What was she getting at, I wondered? “Do I?”

 

“Just… be yourself, you know. Be straight forward with her. No gimmicks or surprises. She’d probably like that the most.”

 

My eyebrows knit together. From what I’d known, women loved having big surprises dropped on them. Good surprises, anyways. “Really? Nothing extravagant?”

 

She nodded. “I don’t mean to just walk up and say ‘Hey let’s get hitched,’ but, if it was me… maybe while you’re already doing something together?”

 

Made sense, I suppose. I think I was beginning to understand what she was getting at. There was still the question of the ring, however.

 

 “Do you think I should propose with a ring or something?”

 

“Ehh… she’d probably scold you for wasting money on jewelry, seeing as how she doesn’t wear any,” she said, shifting on her seat to lean forward towards me, resting her elbows across her knees.

 

“Hmm, I was thinking the same thing, honestly…”

 

This conversation had been surprisingly short and to the point. Plus, Laska seemed downright thrilled at the prospect of Eralia becoming her ‘actual’ mother. Still, I wanted to ask.

 

“So you’re fine with me marrying her?”

 

Her smirk broadened at my question. “Of course, dad. You know I’ve come to think of her as ‘mom’ anyways by now. May as well make it official, right?”

 

“…Right,” I said, returning her smile and standing.

 

Walking over to her, she got the hint and stood as well. Giving her a tight hug, I sighed happily. “Thanks sweetie, means a lot to me that you’re okay with it.”

 

“Haha, I can’t believe all the things you worry about. If anything, I should be offended you’d think I wouldn’t approve by now.”

 

“Yeah, yeah,” I said, letting her go. “You know I worry about things all the time. Anyways, I need to go figure out exactly what I’m going to do, I suppose.”

 

She sat back down, spinning once in her chair before grinning at me. “Don’t worry so much, you’ll figure something out. You’ve gotten through worse.”

 

Heading towards her door, I paused and grinned. “You mean like you? Yeah, I guess everything else is pretty easy by comparison.”

 

She fake-scowled at me, then shooed me out of her room.

 

--

 

Following Laska’s advice, I elected to forgo an engagement ring. Obviously, I still wanted to get her something, but the ‘what’ proved to be a big question that I considered all the way up until the day we were to leave.

 

It seemed no matter what I thought of, it wasn’t ‘good enough,’ or just seemed… silly, I guess. Like it was just a token gift I’d purchased because I was supposed to, rather than because I wanted to. Unfortunately, my indecision on the issue essentially forced my hand on the issue. I sincerely doubted I’d find anything worthwhile at the resort to use as a gift.

 

Laska picked up Adam from the airport, and all of us had another long chat. This time around, however, it was more catching up than interrogating him. He hadn’t changed much – still the same height, same hair, though it looked like he filled out some. The way he and Laska would share glances and touch one another hadn’t changed either.

 

From what Laska had said, Eralia and I didn’t behave all that differently. I didn’t think we were this overt, but considering we’ve kept glancing at each other while the two kids talked, maybe Laska was right.

 

While chatting, I discovered he had intended to come to MGU, and would stay in a dorm or an apartment. Laska was simply beside herself in excitement at the prospect of having him nearby, but it’d still be almost a full year until that happened. Three years ‘together’ and they’d only been around each other in-person for about a week, though soon to be two weeks. Even then, they harbored a passion for one another that I’d rarely seen. And she supposedly envied the relationship Eralia and I had?

 

Would they wind up marrying and raising a family of their own? Most likely, I concluded, smirking during our talk. Well, I wasn’t quite ready to give approval for Adam to marry my daughter, but I was pretty close.

 

Daylight began winding down to evening, signaling that Eralia and I should head out. I’d picked a different resort this time; a little farther away, but it looked nicer than the place we had been to last year.

 

Bidding farewell to the youthful duo, already looking like they were about to burst free from their clothing, we took our leave and began the drive.

 

 

 

The first day at the resort was mostly just us settling in, enjoying our first night and day alone together in quite a while. Age had done nothing to dampen her enthusiasm or passion, though it had worn me down some. She was able to work around that little downside, however, much to my delight.

 

Tired and exhausted the following day, we wound up lounging in bed until well into the afternoon. And, since we had no plans for anything in particular, we decided to stay in bed almost the entire day and night. Eating, watching TV, cuddling, and of course, frequent bouts of intimacy. Really, the only time we weren’t in bed is when we decided to make use of the hot tub and shower… and when the sheets had to be changed.

 

Hedonism at its finest.

 

The day after, however, I did want to get out of the room and do something. As to what, I didn’t quite know. It just had to be… something. While the room was indeed nice, and spending the rest of today and the next two days in Eralia’s arms was certainly alluring, it felt like a waste not to check out the local area for at least a few hours.

 

Freeing myself from the anubis’ grasp proved a challenge.

 

I thought she was asleep, but no sooner did I creep towards the edge of the bed than did she wrap her arms and legs around me, clinging tightly. She was sporting a toothy smile and sleepy eyes, giggling like a woman half her age. “Where do you think you’re going? C’mon over here, you beast~”

 

Her voice was like a siren’s song, but I knew if I gave in I’d never escape her clutches. Firm resolution was needed. Unfortunately I could not locate any, so I’d have to settle with meek mewling.

 

“Don’t you want to go check things out? I’ve heard there’s uh…” I paused, desperate for some kind of excuse. There was an info booklet of sorts on the nightstand, and the cover seemed to feature a forest landscape. I could make out most of the word ‘Trail.’

 

That’d have to do.

 

“There’s some nice… hiking… areas and such around here. Wouldn’t it be good to get out? Let the staff clean up the room? We could use another set of sheets, too…”

 

I attempted to wriggle free of her as I spoke, but she wasn’t having any of it. The more I squirmed, the tighter she clung to me, giggling and laughing as I struggled. Then she began to lick and nibble on my ear.

 

Defeat was imminent unless I took drastic measures.

 

Reaching out, I managed to grab the end of the nightstand, and slowly dragged myself and the swarthy anubis towards it. Closer, towards the edge, I managed to hook a leg down, and with one mighty push shoved myself off the bed, taking Eralia with me. She let out a surprised yip, falling half-off and releasing me as I hit the floor.

 

A half roll away from the bed, I stood, looking down triumphantly at the fallen goddess. She twisted herself to face me, though she was still dangling awkwardly – her ass and legs were still up on the bed, her head near the floor; the tips of her ears bent in as they pressed on the ground.

 

Glowering at me for a moment, she finally hauled herself up to a sitting position on the bed.

 

“Don’t you want to snuggle with me?” She complained, letting her ears lay down dejectedly.

 

“Sure honey, but why not get up and do something other than me for a while? I said as I made towards the bathroom.

 

She grumbled for a while, but she as I was about to dip into the bathroom she perked up. “Well, how about we shower together then, hmmmm?”

 

There really was no winning against her when she got in one of her moods. “Fine, but then we’re going outside and into those trees whether you like it or not.”

 

“Sure, sure~” she laughed out, practically skipping across the room towards me. how

 

 

 

As it so happened, the resort was situated near a nature preserve that was open year-round for hiking and the like. Powered vehicles weren’t allowed on any of the trails, so it wound up being a peaceful, serene trip - apparently most folks had the sense to stay indoors, leaving us mostly alone.

 

 

 

Due to the light snowfall we’d had during the year thus far, there wasn’t more than a light powdery dusting on the ground and trees. While the air was crisp and cold, the bright sunshine provided a sense of warmth to us as we walked along one of the paths.

 

Our breath hung in the air momentarily, appearing as clouds of vapor whenever we stood still. The snow crunched underfoot, and our jackets swished as we traveled and explored. Eralia wore an odd sort of headband that forced her ears down against her head to keep them warm, and her tail lifted the hem of her jacket somewhat in the rear as it swished about whenever she became excited or interested in something.

 

She needed no gloves, however, as the fur on her paws provided all the warmth she needed – and for me as well. Thought it was slightly awkward due to the size difference, I always made sure to take her paw in my hand as we walked.

 

“…So why did you want to come out here?” Eralia inquired as she looked around.

 

I couldn’t very well let her know it was the first, and only, idea that came to mind while in desperation to escape her. It certainly was peaceful and quiet out here, but the chill of the air put a damper on things. And, while there were a number of conifers here, the amount of barren trees worked to detract from any natural beauty that might’ve been present.

 

Hopefully I could make up something convincing as I went.

 

“It’s nice, being alone like this, isn’t it?” I said, tugging on her paw to bring her in closer.

 

Was that a groaning sigh, or a gust of wind?

 

“But we could be alone in the room… and warm…”

 

“Isn’t it nicer to be like this outdoors? Rather than some room?”

 

Eralia looked at me sideways, her ears shifting about underneath the headband. “It’d be nicer if it was, you know, nice out. Even with all my fur I’ve still got a chill,” she said, leaning up against me.

 

Partial success, I suppose.

 

“How much longer are we going to be traipsing about?”

 

We’d been outside for almost an hour now, and even with my thick jacket I was starting to feel cold as well. I decided that we’d turn around or some such once we reached the top of the hill we’d be climbing for several minutes now. It wasn’t a very steep assent, but turning to look behind myself, it was apparent just how far we’d gone.

 

Life is funny sometimes, really. Random plans and actions can often yield surprising results, I thought once we crested the hill.

 

Though it didn’t have the grandeur of mountains, a rather impressive scene had unfolded before us. The path turned to the side, but straight ahead was a sheer drop that overlooked an expanse of evergreens, all capped with dusty snow. Even better, since we were facing east and it was the afternoon, the sun was to our backs, providing illumination without blinding us.

 

Even Eralia seemed to take an interest in the sight laid out before us, judging from the rapid swishing of her tail.

 

And, to top it all off, a tree stump just off the path provided the perfect position to look out over the landscape.

 

I decided to make the best of this opportunity.

 

Walking over, I took a seat on the stump and waved towards Eralia. “Come on, let’s take a seat,” I said, patting my leg. She smiled, and took a seat on the stump as well, nestled between my legs.

 

Leaning back against me, she took my arms and wrapped them around herself. “You’re lucky this just happened to be here,” she said, tilting her head to look at me. “And that I happen to think this is a pretty nice view.”

 

“Of the landscape or me?” I replied.

 

She grinned, then lowered her head to gaze back out across the vista.

 

How enjoyable small things could be when I was with Eralia, I thought. If I’d been alone, I would never have thought to stop and look at this. But, when I saw this view I immediately thought of her, followed by wondering if she’d like it.

 

Burying my face in her hair and taking a deep breath through my nose, I wondered what else I would have missed out on if I was still alone. What I would’ve missed feeling and experiencing. How Laska might’ve ended up had she not been there to provide guidance. I certainly would’ve never had the chance to touch and hold her, to be in her warm embrace.

 

Truly, this was love; what else could it be?

 

And this scene was fairly nice. Great, even.

 

It’d be a shame to waste this chance that was so fortuitously given.

 

Working her headband off and allowing her ears to spring free, I nuzzled against the back of one of them, lightly nibbling along the edge. A throaty little giggle rolled from Eralia’s throat. “You sure love my ears, don’t you?”

 

She couldn’t have said a more perfect line. I smiled. The series of events to follow were drawn in my mind; hopefully she’d follow along. “That’s not all I love,” I whispered.

 

“Such a charmer,” she said softly, her ears flickering from my breath.

 

“Hey,” I began, my heart rate steadily climbing.

 

“Hmm? What’s up?” Her head turned so she could glance up at me.

 

Shifting my hands underneath her, I lifted her up slightly and turned her so she was seated across my legs. She looked at me curiously, and I seized the opportunity to plant a gentle kiss on her lips.

 

“What’s gotten into you?” she asked, eyes glittering as I rested my forehead against hers.

 

“Just wanted to let you know that I love you.”

 

She raised an eyebrow and smiled. “I love you too, dear.”

 

Good thing I was wearing this thick jacket. She’d probably be able to feel my heartbeat otherwise. I wanted to say some kind of romantic lead-in, but my mind was totally blank, except for the one question on the tip of my tongue.

 

It was right there, but still so difficult to utter. I opened my lips several times, attempting to speak loudly and confidently… but I couldn’t. If I loved her so much, why was I having such a hard time with this?

 

Then I felt her soft lips on mine, a lingering warmth remaining as she drew back, pulling my words out at the same time.

 

“Will you marry me?” I whispered, looking into her clear eyes that took up the entirety of my vision.

 

In a flash, a broad host of emotions made themselves known and then vanished across her face. Finally, one settled on her countenance. A radiant, sweet, earnest smile.

 

Running a paw across my cheek, she then threw her arms around my neck, pulling us together into a tender kiss. “Yes,” she whispered as she pulled away, holding the ‘s.’ “Yes, I will, my love.”

 

I wanted to jump and shout with joy, to express to the world how I felt at that moment. My heart pounded, my adrenaline surged, and my mind went blank with excitement.

 

Instead, I did none of those things. I remained still, holding my soon-to-be-wife in my arms, cradling and holding her close. Her arms were thrown around me, pulling me close to her with no less vigor. We nuzzled each other, laughing and whispering ‘I love yous,’ and other such things.

 

It’s kind of funny. Marriage wasn’t something I ever really regarded much. My thoughts on it were something like, ‘if you already love one another, why do you need to be married?’

 

But, in our short exchange, and how we sought each other’s warmth and love at this very moment – I finally understood. Understood what it all meant, and cursed myself for waiting so long.

 

We sat there for an age, the fire stoked within us warding off the cold. It wasn’t until the purplish overtures of dusk settled around us that Eralia finally spoke up. “How about we go back to the room and celebrate our engagement, dearest?”

 

I shifted, and she took it as my agreement, and then stood. “There is nothing else I’d rather do,” I responded, taking her paw in my hand as I stood alongside her.