Cadi, Chapter 3
#4 of Cadi, Volume 1: Origins
The two of them wound up at a coffee shop right near the park, Cadi buying the two of them coffee before they sat down out on the deck. The doe was sitting so... adorably awkwardly in the seat, holding her coffee cup in her hands and looking at it very intently... except when she glanced up at the tigress.
Cadi, for her part, was sitting just so nice and relaxed in the chair across from the doe, unable to stop just drinking her in with her eyes. The hunger behind that gaze was palpable, even to passers-by. After a long moment, the doe swallowed and looked up to meet Cadi's gaze, "So... I... I've never seen you around here..." she said, her eyes flicking to the shopping bag, "Are you... new here?" Her voice was... just so sweet and musical that it set Cadi's senses alight.
Cadi smiled and nodded, "Yes. I got here just last night and only made it to the TOA this morning... I was getting some things for myself when I saw you in the park, and... I just couldn't help myself. I hope you don't mind."
The deer let out a little squeak and shook her head, "No... I don't... mind... at all... I just... you caught me by surprise... I feel like I attract a lot of attention... but it is usually guys... and you are... well... female..." she said, taking a long, deep breath... sounding a bit as though that part was a bit of a relief. "So... you're new here... and new to being a Fur?"
"Fur?" Cadi asked, tilting her head for a moment, processing it, "Ah... a human-like animal... yeah, Fur sounds a lot easier to say than that," she said with a laugh. "Yes, I'm both new here and new to being a fur. Though, the funny thing is that I'm not new to having fur... I was a wild tigress before I came here and was changed to be like this."
"Oh..." the deer said, her eyes wide as they looked into Cadi's golden gaze, "You were... a real tiger... but now you're here? And you're... a Furry... oh..." she said, Cadi catching just a hint of tongue as it darted to lick at her lip before retreating. Such a curious little tell. "Even back when I was human... I always thought that tigers were... so pretty... I got so jealous of Jasmine in the cartoon Aladdin... just getting to snuggle up to a tiger like that..." she said, her breathing a little strong as she sat there, "Anyway, I... I kind of wasn't surprised when I became a fur... with how much I love animals... and I wasn't really upset... just... upset that everyone looked at me like I was going to get them sick with being a Fur, too..." she said, her ears falling a bit as her expression sank.
Cadi just reached across the table, gently cupping her cheek and stroking it softly as she looked into the doe's eyes, which very quickly snapped back to Cadi's. "Well, then it is good that you are here... where you don't have people looking at you like that... and, for myself... I wouldn't mind letting you snuggle up to a tiger," she said with a little glint in her eye while Dorran was kind of impressed with that line. "So, my sweet little deer... what's your name?"
The doe's cheeks somehow went even redder than they had been before. "I... oh... I'm... Dawn..." she said, swallowing hard as she looked into Cadi's eyes, her brain trying to kick over. The first thing that it was really able to latch onto was a simple question of, "Do... you really mean... that... you would like to snuggle with me?" Her tone was so adorable and hopeful, but afraid to hope.
Cadi smiled, just caressing Dawn's cheek with her fingers... so nice and softly, "Yes... I would very much like to snuggle with you..." she said, her thumb trailing to brush across Dawn's lips. The doe half tried to kiss... or possibly to suck on the tip of Cadi's thumb, but it was gone too quickly for that... such a horrible tease for the doe.
Later that day, as the lunch rush was starting to die down at Carla's restaurant, two late-coming patrons walked in. "Welcome! Just have a seat wherever, and I'll come to get your order," Carla said, not fully registering the new arrivals.
Cadi laughed softly, smiling at the rabbit as she stood there with Dawn by her side. She'd changed into some of her new clothes, wearing a red shirt with a white jacket and black pants. She shook her head a little that Carla hadn't recognized her. "Sure thing, Carla," she said, causing the rabbit's ears to perk up.
She looked back at the pair, her eyes going wide. "Cadi! Love the new clothes. And who's your friend?" She was quite excited to see the tigress like this, clearly much more in charge of herself.
Dawn blushed and lowered her head while Cadi smiled broadly and wrapped her arm around her pet, "Carla, this is Dawn... and she's a little bit more than just a friend," she said with a laugh, leaning over to nuzzle her lovey's head gently.
Carla's eyes went wide and her jaw dropped as she rushed over to the two of them. "Oh! Oh! I see!" She smiled nice and big at Dawn, clearly very delighted for the two of them. "Well, have a seat, and I'll get you guys something special, so when things quiet down, we can chat," she said, walking off with a bounce in her step.
Cadi and Dawn found a table by one of the windows, sitting down before Carla brought them some food and a couple of drinks. Thankfully, they didn't have to wait long for things to die down and for Carla to come to sit with them at the table. "Sooooo... what's the story?" She was very excited and quite focused on the pair of them... it was honestly kind of cute.
Cadi smiled and chuckled, shaking her head a little. "Well, I was out shopping for a few things and took a moment in the park... while I did, Dawn, here, caught my eye, and I just kind of... couldn't help but go and introduce myself..." she said with a little laugh, making Dawn blush badly at that.
Carla grinned from ear to ear, "Well... I'm sure you were very nice in how you introduced yourself... So, go on..."
"Well, we went and had some coffee and chatted before we went back to Dawn's home, and I learned a bit about human... or, Fur relationships. So, to cut a long story short, and leave out the juiciest of details, Dawn and I are now mates." Cadi's hand moved to scritch softly at the back of Dawn's neck, making the doe's face light up as she tilted her head back and leaned into the touch.
This thrilled Carla, who was just beyond delighted for the two of them. "Wonderful... that's really amazing... so I guess you won't need that spare apartment anymore?" She laughed softly, and Cadi shook her head.
"I really do appreciate it last night, but no... I'll be moving in with Dawn. Carla, you have to come and see her apartment one of these days, it is adorable! Almost as adorable as she is." She was beaming as she leaned over and kissed Dawn's cheek softly.
Carla laughed and smiled, just able to take in how in love the two of them were. "Whatever else, if you need a job until you can figure something else for yourself, I wouldn't mind having you help out around the restaurant."
Cadi thought about it for a moment before she nodded her head, "I don't see why not... and you're at least going to understand how much I have to learn," she said with a little laugh, smiling and shaking her head as she let out a heavy sigh, just leaning in against Dawn to help ground her.
"I guess it is agreed, then. Don't worry about it today, but we'll get you going tomorrow. Tuesdays are usually slow days, anyway, so it'll be better to break you in," she said with a little laugh.
"I appreciate that," Cadi said with a grin, shaking her head as she just took a deep breath and snuggled in against Dawn, who just looked as happy as could be. A love, a home, and now a job? Things would be alright.