Warmth of your Arms Chapter 2
Sometimes, life brings a change to your life you never knew you needed. Sometimes, fate finally decides to tell you you chose wrong. Sometimes, your heart proves that it can love more than one person...Even if it's in a different way. Sometimes, experience decides to step in and grant you something new, something exciting. And sometimes, you are torn apart with the decision to take what you are offered. Sometimes, these things happen when you least expect it.
I am no exception.
It had started the day after I'd finally worked up the courage to ask my fiance to stay the night in my bed. If you knew anything about her, or me, you'd know this was a big thing. She and I had been very... Well, we had preferred to save the larger physical acts for when we were legally married. So, asking her to sleep in my bed was getting extremely close to the boundaries we'd put on ourselves and our self-control.
It was also the same night I finally told her I loved her.
That morning had been wonderful. I'd woken up, so delighted to have my beautiful squirrel wrapped inside my arms... Her breath had been light against my chest, and her red-brown fur had contrasted beautifully against my black panther fur. To any photographer and artist, it would have been the perfect picture scene... Two loves, complimenting colors, curled under a blanket as streams of sunlight poured through the window.
For a few minutes, I laid there and enjoyed that. The pure, simple joy of watching her sleep had filled me with such a strong sense of protection and love... I told myself that this was the way it was meant to be, for the rest of our lives. Waking up next to eachother in the morning and feeling that the world was never going to destroy what they had.
Before she could wake up, however, I heard the sound of the door buzzing below.
Cursing lightly under my breath, I very carefully slipped my arms out from around her and got out of bed, heading to the closet and grabbing my robe. It was a simple, red silk robe that went down to about my mid-calf, and wrapped well in the front... I always wore it on the days I stayed home, simply because it revealed nothing to anyone who happened to visit or if I had to walk outside. Right then was one of those moments I should have probably jumped into baggy clothing.
Wondering who could possibly be calling this early in the morning, I made my way down the wooden stairs of our farmhouse and silently opened the door, peeking out to see if it was a soliciter or someone I actually needed to see.
What I saw had my jaw nearly dropped to the ground.
Standing in my doorway was possibly the most gorgeous fox I'd ever seen. His hair, white and spiked, stood up in different directions and looked almost the color of the snow coating the ground. The same pure color was at the bottom of his muzzle, cutting in half the reddish-orange fur so common to his breed. It cascaded down, making my eyes follow it down his bare, well-musled chest... Indeed, all he was wearing was a trench coat and black pants. His arms, equally strong-looking as his chest(and the rest of him, for that matter) were crossed- Until he saw my face.
And then the strong man I saw instantly turned into the most adorable one.
His face softened, and a pair of gorgeous blue-gray eyes were lit up as he stared at me. The tail I hadn't noticed before, and noticed now was probably fluffier than it should have been, was suddenly wrapped around my waist- and the arms I'd been admiring earlier had pulled me into his chest in a bone-crushing hug.
"Mistress! I knew I'd find you!" He exclaimed, just as he let me go and looked positively as if he was going to start chasing his own tail at any moment. He looked for the world as if he was a poor man and I was a mine of gold. So much hope registered in his eyes, and happiness poured off of him like a fountain.
I hated to disappoint him.
"I'm...Sorry, you must have made a mistake." I remember saying. At my words, I remember sub-conciously kicking myself for the way his face fell and it seemed to almost devastate him. "I don't know who you are... And there's no way I can be your 'Mistress'. I'm engaged." To emphasise my words, I held up my hand- on which was the hematite ring Kheisa and I had decided would be our stone.
"But...Everyone said 'Tala' lived here..." He said, gesturing towards the town. "I followed stories of a panther woman named 'Tala' leading an army... It led me here, and when I asked around in town, they told me I'd find her here... And you look like her. I can't have made a mistake!"
When he'd first said Tala, my blood had frozen, and my body became stiff. That wasn't a coincidence. No one else would know the name; I had gotten it from an experience in my life I doubt anyone else had ever known. He knew my name. Therefore, he knew who I was. Still...I didn't remember him at all. "I am Tala...But that doesn't change the fact I still don't know who you are."
His face suddenly changed to one of puzzlement, and just as his paw went to reach for something on his neck, I noticed the collar. It was simple, black leather... Small enough to look to anyone else like a choker. Still, there was no denying the silver spikes that came from it...Or the silver dag dangling from the center.
"You should remember me... If you don't believe me, look. This collar was given to me when I was assigned as your guardian." He leaned forward, enough to where I could read the inscription of the tag. He wasn't lying. There, in intricate letters, I saw the words that proved he was right...Or just some new kind of insane stalker.
"Guardian to Tala..." I read, very quietly, out loud. He leaned back, staring into my face, trying to decide what I was feeling. Even I didn't know for sure what to say... There was the proof, in my face. Here he was, from wherever he was from, trying to find me... Telling me he knows me, telling me I somehow am his mistress... And I don't remember him at all.
Pausing, I considered. There was one possible way I might know him...But that would mean I really didn't at all. You see, on my way to the place I live now, somewhere along the line I lost my memory of my childhood. The most I remember is waking up in the woods, age seventeen... Starving to death, and being dehydrated to the point of near-death. That was my earliest memory, and not one I enjoy...
But perhaps he was from before I lost my memory. Maybe he was the key to knowing who I'd been.
"There's something you should know." I said, before perking my ears to the sounds above. There was slight thumps coming from my bedroom...The sounds of paws hitting the floor, and heading towards another room. "I can't explain it now; My fiance just got up. Go to the coffee shop on the corner of Carriage and Vaughn at three o' clock. I'll be waiting for you."
As he turned to walk away, I quickly slid back into the house, silently closing the door behind me and rushing quietly to the kitchen. Once there, I pretended to be searching the cabinets and fridge, looking deep in thought. In actuality, I knew exactly what I was fixing for breakfast. Kheisa was a vegetarian; So, for breakfast during the winter, I usually fixed her a small bowl of apple cinnamon oatmeal, and something sweet...Usually crepes with a different filling, or pancakes with varying syrups or something included.
Just as she was coming down the stairs, I was getting out the usual things I needed to make her oatmeal with. She fixed her adorable eyes on me, blinking sleepily. Her hair, black during the winter, was ruffled... And being around 4'9, she instantly melted my heart just by stepping into my eyesight. Her big, bushy tail was wrapped lightly around her front- It seemed she hadn't actually changed, but gone to get her slippers. It was about this time I noticed... It was particularly chilly.
"Good morning, dear one." I spoke softly, leaving my ingredients to go wrap my arms around her. I loved how soft and delicate she was... Running the local army around here, I was far from too feminine. I had scars on me; I was more muscled than a normal woman, and until recently, I'd chosen to sport no hair besides my fur. That had been because, originally, I'd wanted nothing more than to run purely as a panther... And had shunned anything society usually placed on me besides wearing clothing. Kheisa, however... She spent most of her day taking care of our animals, and thus was much softer, and usually smelled very woodsy. She loved cooking for me, too... And also was very kind on her fur.
"I was just cooking you breakfast." I explained, inhaling her scent briefly one more time before backing up and gesturing to the counter. "I was thinking the usual oatmeal I make you...But also some chocolate-chip pancakes? Either that, or blueberry...What do you think?" I walked back over to the counter, looking around for the things for the breakfast I made myself. This morning, I was craving eggs, sausage, hash browns, and bacon... Along with my usual morning coffee. People usually would think I drank pitch-black coffee...But the truth was, I loved trying the different flavored creamers. Currently I was trying the seasonal eggnog flavored... As I picked it up, I realized I was almost out.
And that I needed an excuse to leave the house today.
"I don't know..." Her voice still had that sleepy quality to it, and it was all I could do not to pick her up and snuggle her to death. She often created those reactions in me...So different in how I acted around anyone else. She made me feel that soft spot in my soul that had to exist for someone... And I was pretty damn sure it would only show itself around her. "What're you having for breakfast...?"
"I'm having eggs, bacon, sausage, and hash browns, dear." I responded, before turning my head just slightly to smile at her. She'd settled at the little bar we had in the middle of the kitchen, her elbows rested on the top as she watched me. Her head rested in her paws, and her ears were perked up- bushy and tall, just like they always were in the winter for her particular breed. Eurasian red squirrel...So different, and exotic. "Although, I'm pretty sure you don't want that..."
She gave a slight laugh, her eyes sparkling as she shook her head just slightly. "Actually, that sounds great." She paused, reading the shock on my face as her smile widened a bit. Her tone turned teasing,"What, did you think I didn't eat on the nights I fixed you meat?"
We both laughed at that, and I quickly returned the oatmeal and pancake stuff to their places- Before beginning to fry up our food. The entire time, those beautiful, glowing eyes of hers followed my actions. This was the way it'd always been for us... Simple, easy as breathing. It wasn't hard for us to love eachother, and in fact, was as natural as the sun coming up every day.
Just as I finished, she followed me into the dining room- Where I sat our places(right next to eachother, of course) and began to dig in. "So, dear... I know we were going to do some wedding planning today, but I remembered I have some Christmas shopping to get in that I missed. I'll be gone for a little while, at least...Because after shopping, I forgot I had an appointment with someone wanting to join my army. They use a gun...And you know we've been looking for someone with a gun." I said, cautiously, as I took a long drink of my coffee and smiled over at Kheisa.
"Alright." She paused, and I heard the crunch of bacon. My ears perked, and I knew she was thinking about something...Something she wanted to tell me. Probably something involving the wedding plans she found out, or the state of our miniature vineyard. We both adored the farm we'd bought...Such a low price for it, too. It already had a wine cellar with various older bottles, and the vineyard itself- Along with a barn for our horses, a forest behind all of it we could ride around in on nice days...
"So... I tried finding out more about that potion we talked about." Her voice was calm, but that sent a sense of shock through me. I hadn't expected this particular conversation. "The owner told me that it wasn't particularly difficult to do that kind of potion for two males...Except, well, the birth part was complicated... But for two females, it was incredibly difficult to manage it in a natural way. So he gave me a deal. This particular potion is drank by the woman to get pregnant...Which, we agreed that maybe it'd be safer if I did... And shortly after, she'll start getting the usual pregnancy signs. The catch is the price, and the fact that you have to go to him and give him part of your DNA."
Gulping, I took another bite of my food. Kheisa and I had discussed this before...We wanted a child of our own.
"There's magic involved...He wouldn't say what, exactly, but it's not scientifically possible." Kheisa went on, suddenly explaining intricate details of the conversation. The state of the shop- The looks of the man who would be doing the magic... All of it was laid out for me to think about and meditate on. If I wanted, I'd have to go by there this afternoon, and he'd have it for us shortly after our wedding day. Otherwise his next available appointment was a month from now.
"Alright, dearest. I'll go this afternoon." I said after a moment, before feeling my fur crawl in nervousness. First, I had another appointment to attend to.